Chapter 258 - 255: Disappointment and Expectation
"Me, afraid?"
"Haha! That’s the most ridiculous joke I’ve heard all year!"
The Bai Family estate.
When the Song Family Ancestor delivered the message,
the ever-arrogant Mo Lingfeng was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.
He laughed so hard tears almost streamed down his face.
It was truly the greatest joke he had ever heard!
Him, Mo Lingfeng, afraid of a Cultivator in the Qi Introduction Realm?
What an absurdity!
"Hahaha!"
"That is a good one!"
"There are always frogs in a well who fancy themselves taller than the sky..."
"Perhaps he’s a genius in the eyes of others, but what a pity. In front of Young Master Mo, he’s just humiliating himself..."
Seeing this, the surrounding members of the Bai Family also began to laugh, chiming in with their agreement.
The reason for their reaction,
was not simply because they were intimidated by Mo Lingfeng’s reputation,
nor was it just because the name of the Nanyang Sect forced them to bow and scrape.
It was because over the past few days,
during Mo Lingfeng’s temporary stay at their Bai Family estate,
they had personally witnessed the power of this noble young master before them!
More than ten days ago,
the most outstanding talent of the Bai Family’s younger generation returned from the outside world and challenged him face-to-face.
It happened during a banquet.
Mo Lingfeng was seated at the head of the table.
Without any warning, at the height of the feast, the Bai Family’s number one genius suddenly issued a provocation.
This caused the many Bai Family members in attendance, including their ancestor, to glare at him with anger.
But that Bai Family prodigy showed no fear,
raising his head to meet their gazes with pride.
He was confident he was second to none.
At that moment, an intrigued Mo Lingfeng immediately stopped the surrounding Bai Family members from throwing the man out.
He accepted the challenge.
However, Mo Lingfeng didn’t get up and leave for an open area to fight.
Instead, he remained seated,
and spoke a few calm words:
"I accept your challenge."
"You may make your move now."
"If you can make me take a single step back, or even break a single plate or chopstick on this table, then I lose."
Mo Lingfeng’s words were delivered in an extremely flat tone, as if he were stating a simple fact.
But all the Bai Family members present were stunned into silence.
’What was that saying again?’
’I’ve seen arrogance, but I’ve never seen anyone *this* arrogant!’
As for the number one talent of the Bai Family’s younger generation,
he felt he had been utterly humiliated!
’I may not be your match, but how dare you look down on me like this?!’
The Bai Family prodigy immediately lashed out in anger,
unleashing the most powerful attack he had mastered. The mere aftershock of its aura made the entire palace banquet hall tremble, stirring up a torrential blast of air...
Faced with that strike,
nearly every Bai Family member present had a slight change in expression.
A technique of such power—they were afraid that besides their Soul Emergence Realm Ancestor, no one could possibly withstand it!
And then,
there was no "and then."
That Bai Family prodigy was indeed worthy of being called the number one of the younger generation.
His Cultivation was at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Peak, and his techniques were so formidable that no Cultivator of the same Realm from the Bai Family would have even dared to think of resisting him.
But even a prodigy like him,
in front of Mo Lingfeng,
was defeated with just a single move,
crushed in an instant!
The moment after he attacked, he was sent flying out of the great hall like a rag doll, crashing several dozen zhang away!
And from beginning to end,
Mo Lingfeng had not retreated even half a step.
Not even a single bowl or chopstick on the table before him had so much as trembled...
This was the power of a true top-level genius, a demon whose name shook an entire domain!
Everyone had witnessed that utterly shocking scene with their own eyes!
In truth,
the Bai Family’s number one genius was not weak at all.
Among the younger generation of the five major powers that jointly controlled the Spirit Realm,
he was a prodigy qualified to compete for the number one spot!
But even a genius of his caliber,
was instantly defeated by Mo Lingfeng!
His methods were so profound,
so powerful that no one, aside from the Soul Emergence Realm Ancestor, could even see a trace of him making a move!
As for the others, forget about fighting him—
they weren’t even qualified to watch the battle!
Such a powerful figure...
it made everyone in the Bai Family, from top to bottom, believe that there was no other Cultivator in the Qi Introduction Realm who could possibly be his opponent.
In their eyes,
the one who had now challenged Mo Lingfeng,
was just like their own Bai Family prodigy—another ignorant and arrogant fool who had seen too little of the world.
"He can be proud of himself for daring to challenge me."
"Such courage is commendable. A pity he chose the wrong opponent..."
Mo Lingfeng waved his hand,
quieting the Bai Family members around him.
"This person who dares to challenge me... I don’t know who he is. Do any of you know anything about him?"
"That person’s name is Shen Changchuan. He is a prodigy of the younger generation who has risen rapidly in the past year."
"His greatest achievement was killing a Soul Emergence Realm Demon Cultivator a year ago, despite being at a lower Realm. The feat caused a sensation throughout the entire Tian Nan Domain at the time."
"Is that so?!"
Mo Lingfeng was not the least bit intimidated by Shen Changchuan’s accomplishment. On the contrary, his eyes glinted as he radiated a fervent will to fight.
Compared to bullying the weak,
Mo Lingfeng undoubtedly preferred to fight strong opponents.
This was precisely why he had been able to reach his current level.
"It’s true. It was witnessed by several hundred people... But according to the detailed accounts of the battle that have circulated, that kid’s achievement was largely a fluke..."
At this moment, the Bai Family Ancestor spoke up at just the right time.
He then recounted the widely circulated details of that battle.
"Is that how it was... What a shame."
A look of disappointment appeared on Mo Lingfeng’s face.
Because several hundred Cultivators had been watching from the sidelines on the day of the battle,
the detailed accounts of the fight that had spread couldn’t have been very far from the truth.
But for that very reason,
it only further proved that Shen Changchuan’s ability to defy the odds and kill a Soul Emergence Realm Demon Cultivator was based entirely on luck.
"Fine. So he’s not my ideal opponent."
"But the fact that he could still counter-attack under the pressure of a Soul Emergence Realm expert means he has at least some skill... I’ll just consider it a little appetizer before the main course."
"Give that person his answer. I accept his challenge!"
...
News of the arranged duel between Mo Lingfeng, the prodigy from the Nanyang Sect, and Shen Changchuan of the Tian Nan Shen Clan, soon spread to every corner of the surrounding area.
It immediately sparked heated discussions among the five major powers.
A battle between peerless geniuses at the peak of an entire domain was undoubtedly a massive draw.
For many Cultivators, this might be the only chance in their lifetime to witness firsthand the methods of a demon who stood above all the other young talents in the domain!
One could even say,
it was their only chance to see the ceiling of the Qi Introduction Realm!
For a time,
a great tide of excitement surged,
and countless people eagerly awaited the day of the duel.