Chapter 151 - 150: Number 1

Chapter 151: Chapter 150: Number 1

His voice was calm, devoid of mockery or even much emotion, as if he were asking the most ordinary of questions.

But to everyone outside Panshi Lane, the words struck like a clap of thunder.

All eyes subconsciously turned to Lin Junshi and Zhao Zongzhen at the front of the crowd.

Lin Junshi’s face instantly grew rigid.

The all-knowing smile on his lips had long since vanished without a trace.

Zhao Zongzhen instinctively turned his head, avoiding Chen Yue’s gaze from the water screen.

He was only in the Marrow Refining Realm. Even Cheng Fengjun, a newly advanced Refining Organ Realm expert, had been beaten to such a state by Chen Yue. If he were to step onto the Life and Death Platform, his death would be certain.

Lin Junshi didn’t answer, but his fists were clenched so tightly his nails nearly dug into his palms.

He was filled with humiliation, anger, and a sliver of fear he refused to admit even to himself.

Even against Cheng Fengjun, he, Lin Junshi, wasn’t confident of a certain victory.

And Cheng Fengjun had just been crushed by Chen Yue and left lying in a pool of his own blood.

’If I really stepped onto the Life and Death Platform, would I, Lin Junshi, be any match for Chen Yue?’

He didn’t dare to think about the answer.

Because the answer terrified him.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to save face.

But his throat felt as if it were blocked, and he couldn’t utter a single word. He could only stand there, his face ashen.

Outside Panshi Lane, the other disciples watched this scene unfold, and all discussion, all whispers, died away.

A dead silence fell.

Everyone stared at the figure on the water screen with a mixture of shock and awe.

They never would have imagined that a disciple who had just broken through to the Marrow Refining Realm could retaliate against the Mutual Aid Association with such overwhelming force.

This time, the Mutual Aid Association had truly picked a fight with the wrong person.

Chen Yue waited for three breaths. Receiving no answer, he gently shook his head.

He didn’t say another word, nor did he spare Cheng Fengjun another glance. He turned and walked toward the slowly rising stone gate at the other end of the Guardian Platform.

Beyond the stone gate was the exit of Panshi Lane.

Just as Chen Yue’s figure was about to disappear into the shadows behind the stone gate, the massive water screen on the Guardian Platform suddenly rippled. Then, lines of large characters, as if etched with iron and silver, materialized on its surface.

Panshi Lane · Record Rankings

First Place: Chen Yue

Second Place: Han Qingshi

Third Place: Zhou Jin

...

On the list, the name of the disciple who was originally in first place, Han Qingshi, along with all the names below his, shifted down one line in unison.

And Chen Yue’s name, like a suddenly rising star, firmly took the top spot.

On the water screen, the two words "First Place" glittered under the sun, so bright they made many people’s eyes ache.

Outside Panshi Lane, the brief silence was shattered by an even greater uproar.

"Chen Yue took first place in Panshi Lane’s history?"

"Not exactly the all-time first place. Once a disciple on the record is promoted to True Disciple, their name is automatically removed."

"Even so, Chen Yue’s achievement is incredible!"

"That first place... what was the reward again?"

"I remember the first-place reward is five hundred Contribution Points. It’s not a huge amount, since this is just one of the Panshi Sect’s most basic trial stages. But for a new Inner Sect Disciple, five hundred Contribution Points is still a considerable sum."

When Chen Yue’s figure emerged from the exit on the other side of Panshi Lane, the disciples waiting outside spontaneously cleared a path for him.

Their gazes were filled with awe, curiosity, and an indescribable complexity.

Chen Yue didn’t linger. He walked straight down the mountain path, heading in another direction.

And news of this battle began to spread rapidly from Panshi Lane throughout the entire Panshi Sect.

If killing Jiang Linkuo on the Life and Death Platform had only earned Chen Yue some minor fame within the Panshi Sect and made a few people remember his name...

...then this time, defeating Cheng Fengjun of the Refining Organ Realm while still in the Marrow Refining Realm, truly made all the Inner Sect Disciples recognize his strength and status.

Now, there was no issue with treating Chen Yue as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Refining Organ Realm.

Even some veteran disciples in the Refining Organ Realm began to secretly size themselves up after hearing the news.

’If I were in Cheng Fengjun’s shoes, what would my chances be against that young man named Chen Yue?’

And the answer left many of them silent.

...

On the mountain path on Panshi Peak, leading to Meng Yu Jin’s courtyard.

Liu Wenying was listlessly kicking a small stone by the side of the road, her mind still replaying the scene from that morning in her master’s courtyard. The news of Chen Yue breaking through to the Marrow Refining Realm had utterly crushed her, and the more she thought about it, the more breathless she felt.

As she was sighing in dismay, a disciple she knew ran over, panting, and shouted from a distance:

"Senior Sister Liu, Senior Sister Liu! Big news! Huge news!"

Liu Wenying lifted her head listlessly. "What news? Is the sky falling?"

"This is more explosive than the sky falling."

The disciple ran up to her, bent over to catch his breath for a moment, then looked up, his eyes shining.

"Chen Yue! Your little Junior Brother Chen Yue! In Panshi Lane, he beat up Cheng Fengjun! Beat him until he was coughing up blood and begging for mercy on his knees!"

"What?"

Liu Wenying’s eyes instantly flew wide. "What did you say? Chen Yue? Beat up? Cheng Fengjun?"

"It’s absolutely true! Lots of people saw it with their own eyes. And Cheng Fengjun is already in the Refining Organ Realm! Chen Yue also took first place in Panshi Lane’s history!"