Chapter 521 495: Forced to Kneel

High in the sky, two streaks of light—one green, one red—shot through the air at high speed. The green streak was, of course, Zhaang Ye, and the red was the Fire Spirit, newly formed after passing her tribulation.

When Zhaang Ye had left the Sect, the Chief Steward had instructed him that his training excursion could only last a year and a half. After that, he was to return to the Sect and undergo an assessment.

After Zhaang Ye overcame his Celestial Tribulation, he did a quick calculation and realized that exactly a year and a half had gone by. He immediately ended his excursion and flew back toward the Sect.

The Fire Spirit had just endured her third Celestial Tribulation, temporarily freeing her from its shadow. At her strong insistence, whenever they were alone, the Fire Spirit would leave the Fire Spirit Realm to soar freely through the skies. But whenever they neared other people, she would automatically return to the Fire Spirit Realm to avoid trouble.

The journey back to the Sect would take over ten days. Knowing the Fire Spirit was exceptionally skilled in the Fire Control Technique, Zhaang Ye used this time to ask for her guidance in the art of Fire Control.

With Zhaang Ye asking questions and the Fire Spirit providing answers, the journey was anything but lonely.

Zhaang Ye's Comprehension was exceptionally high, and after more than ten days, he had already gained a considerable understanding of the Fire Control Technique. He secretly made up his mind. 'When I get back to the Sect, I'll immediately start learning Alchemy and the Artifact Refining Technique. It's always good to master another skill.'

Half a month later, Zhaang Ye had finally crossed tens of millions of li and returned to the Sect. He passed through the main gate and had just stepped into the Inner Sect when the other Inner Sect Disciples began to stare, much to his irritation.

"Look, Zhaang Ye's back!"

"Heh heh, his three-year protection period as a new disciple ends tomorrow. All those powerful senior brothers in the Inner Sect have been looking everywhere for Zhaang Ye, ready to challenge him. Now that he's back, he's sure to face a long line of challengers."

"Haha, it's not going to be much of a fight. Those senior brothers from the Inner Sect are all cultivation experts. Zhaang Ye has only been in the True Dao Realm for a little over three years; he's no match for them at all."

"Mm, I'd say Zhaang Ye will have to give up Rising Sun Peak on his own initiative. If he hands it over willingly, he can still save some face. But if he gets challenged and defeated, it'll be a complete disgrace."

Overhearing the Inner Sect Disciples' chatter, Zhaang Ye was reminded that he had been in the Green Cloud Sect for three full years. With those three years gone, his protection period as a new disciple was over. All the powerful Inner Sect Disciples were eyeing Rising Sun Peak like tigers, eager to challenge him and drive him off.

'They want to drive me off Rising Sun Peak? I'd like to see who has the guts!' Zhaang Ye let out a short laugh, then executed a Body Technique, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight toward Rising Sun Peak.

When he reached the foot of Rising Sun Peak, Zhaang Ye was stunned to find a small arena had been erected. More than a dozen Inner Sect Disciples were standing around it.

Zhaang Ye was recognized the moment he appeared.

A fair-skinned, clean-cut Inner Sect Disciple with a black bird perched on his shoulder suddenly fixed his gaze on Zhaang Ye and shouted, "Zhaang Ye, you're finally back. I was starting to think you were too scared of our challenges to show your face."

Zhaang Ye glanced over and immediately recognized him. The young man with the bird on his shoulder was Badam, someone he had clashed with before. Badam was ranked twelfth in the Inner Sect, and three years ago he had already boasted that he would challenge Zhaang Ye and drive him from Rising Sun Peak.

Zhaang Ye's gaze landed on Badam, and a smirk played on his lips. "What's this, Senior Brother Ba? You want to challenge me?"

Badam declared arrogantly, "That's right! Zhaang Ye, your protection period as a new disciple expires tomorrow. I will be challenging you to drive you from Rising Sun Peak. Let me tell you, Rising Sun Peak is the best peak in the Inner Sect. Having someone like you live there is a tremendous waste."

As soon as Badam finished speaking, a young man in red robes, idly playing with a small snake, slowly chimed in, "Badam is right. Rising Sun Peak is the finest peak, and the finest peak should be occupied by the most outstanding disciple. Zhaang Ye, you are not worthy of living on Rising Sun Peak."

Zhaang Ye recognized the red-robed youth with the snake at a single glance. It was Xue Piaohong, ranked third in the Inner Sect. He had long coveted Rising Sun Peak and was determined to make it his own.

"Hmph, I agree. Zhaang Ye has no right to live on Rising Sun Peak. Zhaang Ye, if you know what's good for you, give up the peak now. Otherwise, you're in for a humiliating defeat."

The young man who had just spoken was named Jian Zhongxing. Three years prior, he had provoked Zhaang Ye, vowing to personally throw him off Rising Sun Peak when the time came.

Once Badam spoke, a dozen other Inner Sect Disciples chimed in to agree. They all believed that Zhaang Ye was unworthy of residing on Rising Sun Peak.

Zhaang Ye waited for the chatter to die down before slowly stepping onto the arena. His gaze, like a sharp sword, swept across the faces of the Inner Sect Disciples. Each of these disciples had a cultivation at the True Dao Third Layer, yet under Zhaang Ye's stare, they felt an immense pressure bearing down on them!

'This Zhaang Ye... his gaze alone exerts so much pressure. His strength is not to be underestimated! Could he have had some kind of fortuitous encounter over the past year and a half?' Some of the more perceptive Inner Sect Disciples sensed the change in Zhaang Ye and grew wary.

Zhaang Ye slowly retracted his gaze and said with a cold smile, "It seems all you senior brothers have set your sights on Rising Sun Peak and are determined to take it from me. Very good. Very good! In that case, I'll give you a chance. If any of you can withstand three of my moves, I, Zhaang Ye, will pack my things and leave Rising Sun Peak without another word. Come on!"

CLAMOR!

"How arrogant!"

"He thinks he can beat us in three moves? This Zhaang Ye is completely insane!"

The Inner Sect Disciples below the arena all condemned Zhaang Ye's arrogance. These were all cultivators ranked in the top thirty of the Inner Sect, and each had an extremely high opinion of themselves. Zhaang Ye's boast that he could defeat them in three moves instantly ignited their fury.

SWOOSH!

Badam's figure flashed, and he suddenly appeared on the arena. With a slight shrug of his shoulder, the small black bird perched there shot into the sky and began to circle slowly above the stage.

Badam looked at Zhaang Ye with contempt and shouted, "Zhaang Ye, I, Badam, am standing right here. I'd like to see how you plan to defeat me in three moves!"

Zhaang Ye's eyes narrowed. "Watch yourself," he said slowly.

BOOM!

Zhaang Ye's aura erupted like dynamite. The immense presence was like a great mountain crashing down from the heavens, pressing heavily upon Badam. Although Badam's cultivation had reached the Mid-stage of the True Dao Third Layer, his presence was nothing compared to Zhaang Ye's. The instant Zhaang Ye's aura bore down, Badam's body shuddered under the weight!

BOOM!

Then, Zhaang Ye made his move. He took a single step, and a brilliant golden Hand Blade sliced through the air like a dazzling Celestial River, chopping straight for Badam's shoulder!

Zhaang Ye's sudden release of his aura, the step forward, and the chop of his hand were all executed in one smooth, continuous motion. The sequence of actions seemed simple, but they concealed a profound technique. The moment Zhaang Ye struck, Badam was put at an absolute disadvantage. Faced with the incoming Hand Blade, he had nowhere to dodge and no way to evade!

AHH!

Only then did Badam finally realize how formidable Zhaang Ye was. He let out a great roar and abruptly raised both palms to meet the Hand Blade head-on!

CRACK!

The instant Badam's palms met Zhaang Ye's Hand Blade, his soul nearly left his body in terror. He could feel that the power contained within that single strike was unnervingly, terrifyingly immense. The moment his hands made contact, they were met with such overwhelming force that they began to make sickening cracking sounds, his fingers on the verge of snapping!

ROAR! ROAR!

Badam bellowed repeatedly as all the power in his body surged forth. But the force in Zhaang Ye's hand was simply beyond his imagination. Despite his desperate roars, Badam was still being relentlessly pushed back. Under the pressure of that single hand, his entire body was slowly forced to bend, his knees buckled, and it looked as though he would be forced to kneel on the arena!

SCREECH!

Seeing its master in peril, the little black bird suddenly transformed into a black shadow barely visible to the naked eye and shot straight for Zhaang Ye's eyes. This bird was clearly an unusual breed; its speed was astonishing. If Zhaang Ye were the least bit careless, his eyes would be pecked out!

The black bird's speed was extraordinary, but Zhaang Ye's reaction was even faster. Just as the bird reached his face, Zhaang Ye suddenly raised a finger and gave it a light flick!

Scree!

With that single flick, the black bird let out a piercing shriek, shot backward like a bolt of lightning, and vanished into the sky, leaving only a dozen feathers fluttering in its wake.

After dealing with the bird, a cold sneer touched Zhaang Ye's lips. He suddenly put more force into his hand, and with a loud "THUD," Badam was forced to his knees on the arena!

He had cultivated bitterly in the Sect for over twenty years, only to be forced to his knees by a junior who had only been cultivating for three! This was an absolute, monumental disgrace! A humiliation that could never be washed away!

Badam had always been proud and arrogant; he couldn't possibly bear such a colossal humiliation. The color of his face drained from white to green, then flushed from green to red, and finally deepened from red to purple. At last, he violently spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious on the arena floor.

HISS!

Though it takes many words to describe, Zhaang Ye forcing Badam to his knees all happened in the span of a single breath. Only when Badam collapsed did the Inner Sect Disciples below the arena snap back to their senses. These proud disciples all drew in a sharp, cold breath, their faces etched with disbelief. They simply could not believe that someone of Badam's strength couldn't even withstand a single move from Zhaang Ye!

It was utterly terrifying!

-(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)