Chapter 1882: Don’t Let Him Get Close!

"It seems you’re truly afraid of my Wooden Sword!"

Just when everyone thought Yun Xiao wouldn’t change his attack method, this light laugh came from the mouth of the white-robed young man.

In response, Xiang Wenyuan said nothing, unwilling to admit he feared the Wooden Sword, but he was indeed frustrated. Even if the sword couldn’t harm him, its shadowing stance didn’t allow him the opportunity to turn defeat into victory.

To Xiang Wenyuan, the kid before him relied on the advantage of his weapon to suppress him, an Early Stage Hua Xuan Realm expert. Without this Ancient Divine Artifact, the kid would be easily crushed.

Yet even in Xiang Wenyuan’s mind, he didn’t truly believe Yun Xiao would abandon this Ancient Divine Artifact. Discarding such a significant reliance would be sheer folly, wouldn’t it?

"Since you’re afraid, let it be as you wish. We shall both forego weapons!"

However, just when everyone thought their prediction was accurate, the white-robed youth suddenly spoke again, leaving the crowd momentarily bewildered.

"Could this be the eastward attack strategy?"

Wu Jiantong’s eyes flashed with insight as he uttered this remark, leading Duan Wuwei and Ouyang Yi beside him to nod in agreement.

Others also gradually understood, realizing the white-robed kid was indeed calculative—intent on relaxing Xiang Wenyuan’s guard before delivering a lethal strike?

Including Xiang Wenyuan himself, who felt his heart sink after an initial joy, secretly vigilant, fearing the white-robed youth might try some unexpected trick, for he really didn’t dare to face the Wooden Sword of the Ancient Divine Artifact head-on.

Whoosh!

Just as the onlookers believed Yun Xiao acted deliberately, with Xiang Wenyuan in full alert, they heard a gusting wind sound, followed by the sight of the Wooden Sword that cornered Xiang Wenyuan so miserably, obediently flying back into the hand of the white-robed youth.

"It... actually returned?!"

Seeing this scene, even Wu Jiantong was baffled, feeling disappointed. Why abandon such a marvelous tool?

Despite Yun Xiao’s earlier two disruptions to Xiang Wenyuan’s techniques, an Early Stage Hua Xuan realm prodigy, once they learned the Wooden Sword was an Ancient Divine Artifact, their minds eased.

An Ancient Divine Artifact, particularly an unassuming Wooden Sword that, through surprise, caused Xiang Wenyuan minor troubles twice, wasn’t improbable.

To Wu Jiantong and others, this might have been Yun Xing’s ultimate card. Playing it wisely might truly inflict substantial loss or even defeat Xiang Wenyuan.

Long-lasting defense leads to inevitable failure. Although appearing timely evasive earlier, the Wooden Sword indeed hadn’t harmed him, the words he shouted signified an irritable mood, a proper time to capitalize offensively, shouldn’t it?

Why did Yun Xing forego the Wooden Sword, the Ancient Divine Artifact, provoked by Xiang Wenyuan’s taunt, abandoning its advantage?

"Still too young!"

Many geniuses thought so, believing Yun Xing was overconfident, dazed by his two minor triumphs against Xiang Wenyuan, resulting in such foolishness.

But when a heart-baffling Ancient Wooden Sword appeared before them, it could hardly serve as a hidden card. Even deploying it again might not necessarily fluster Xiang Wenyuan.

Between the two, there’s ultimately a gap of a Great Rank. Without the deterrence of the Ancient Wooden Sword, Yun Xing’s attack power must decline, so isn’t the battle’s outcome predictable?

Yet, those observers didn’t know the white-robed youth had far more than the Dragon Taming Sword at his disposal—many cards still concealed.

Yun Xiao’s intelligence far surpassed those spectators. After pursuing with the Dragon Taming Sword for some time, he knew relying solely on its visible True Body couldn’t truly handle an Early Stage Hua Xuan realm genius.

Besides, Xiang Wenyuan, being a genius from Mixed Element Valley, wielding Mixed Element Qi, possessed impressive combat power, surpassing peers of similar rank.

Since the Dragon Taming Sword couldn’t subdue Xiang Wenyuan, why waste effort? Thus he seized the moment after his opponent’s words, taunting before retrieving the Dragon Taming Sword.

"Kid, I must say, you genuinely surprised me, but that’s as far as it goes!"

Freed from the threat of the Dragon Taming Sword, Xiang Wenyuan regained his arrogance, speaking in a deep tone, causing many to feel perplexed.

Even knowing Xiang Wenyuan would ultimately triumph, the memory of him fleeing from the Dragon Taming Sword relentlessly couldn’t fade from their minds.

Xiang Wenyuan’s assurance stemmed from the belief the Dragon Taming Sword wouldn’t threaten him again, taking merely additional caution. However, returning to the earlier dismal pursuit was impossible.

"Oh? Really?"

Upon hearing Xiang Wenyuan’s words, a faint smile appeared on Yun Xiao’s face. As his chuckle faded, his figure suddenly shook slightly, then stood completely still.

"Brother Xiang, be careful, don’t let him get close!"

When Lu Zhanbai saw this scene from not far away, a certain thought instantly surged in his mind, prompting him to warn loudly, because he suddenly recalled the incident in Ancient Wood City.

At that time, Lu Zhanbai, relying on his Hua Xuan Realm Early Stage cultivation, believed that dealing with a Half-step Holy Rank young man was no big challenge, but he didn’t expect to end up being utterly embarrassed by Yun Xiao.

Back then, Lu Zhanbai let Yun Xiao approach carelessly, and then he was consistently at a disadvantage. In terms of pure physical strength or close combat, he admitted that he was no match for the young man in white.

However, Xiang Wenyuan was completely unaware of Yun Xiao’s background. In his view, this young man merely had a slightly stronger Ancient Divine Artifact Wooden Sword, and as long as he dealt with this boy, the Ancient Divine Artifact would naturally be his.

Moreover, Xiang Wenyuan kept his eyes fixed on the young man in white, completely failing to realize that the other party had already used some technique, and that was no longer Yun Xiao’s true body.

Whoosh...

It wasn’t until a powerful sound of wind-breaking reached Xiang Wenyuan’s ears that he was suddenly shocked. Just as he turned his head, a fist was growing larger and larger in his vision.

There’s no denying that this person was indeed a rare genius from Mixed Element Valley; even at such a surprise attack, Xiang Wenyuan still reacted extremely quickly, raising his arms to block.

Bam!

Just as Xiang Wenyuan crossed his arms in front of his chest, the fist finally landed on him with a thunderous impact, and the resulting loud sound made everyone’s heart skip a beat.

These observing cultivators were not only surprised by that loud sound or the energy fluctuation that erupted at this moment, but because they clearly saw that this Hua Xuan Realm Early Stage genius from Mixed Element Valley was forcefully blown three steps back.

"What kind of physical strength is this?"

Beside Lu Zhanbai, Jiang Jingyu had a stunned expression, and being also a Sixth Transition Half-step Holy Rank, he admitted that he would be severely injured, if not killed, under that punch.

Generally speaking, the physical strength of a Lower Ranker, no matter how strong, couldn’t possibly be enough to defeat a Superior from one level above, because the stronger one had the augmentation of Meridian Qi, which was considered a higher tier.

This is also why some Vein Demon Experts, despite their robust physical strength, still can’t fight higher ranks—the division of continent’s Meridian Qi cultivation levels has always been rigorous.

But such rigor seemed completely absent in that young man in white, Yun Xing, who with just his Half-step Holy Rank cultivation, forced Xiang Wenyuan, a Hua Xuan Realm Early Stage expert, three steps back.

Although Xiang Wenyuan was caught off-guard, he ultimately did make the motion to block; yet he was still blown three steps back. The physical strength of the young man in white, Yun Xing, was simply terrifying.

"His physical strength is indeed remarkable!"

Even Lu Zhanbai, who extremely disliked Yun Xiao, had no choice but to nod in agreement. Perhaps only those who personally experience such a formidable physical strength understand how absolutely overpowering it is.

Compared to this side’s two individuals, Wu Jiantong, initially frustrated with the lack of progress, was both surprised and delighted. He suddenly realized that the new friend he met recently, Yun Xing, seemed wrapped in layers of mystery.

Having shown proficiency in the Meridian Refining Technique, possessing an Ancient Divine Artifact, and now displaying such formidable physical strength, Wu Jiantong was extremely curious about Yun Xiao’s origins, wondering what kind of sect family could cultivate such a demonic genius?

"Bastard!"

Setting aside the onlookers below, the participant Xiang Wenyuan had an expression as dark as a pot’s bottom. In his angry shout, there was also a hint of shock; the physical strength Yun Xiao showed indeed startled him.

The sudden strike was undoubtedly a surprise for Xiang Wenyuan, but he was exceedingly confident in his Meridian Qi cultivation, and at that instant, placed both Meridian Qi and even Mixed Element Qi onto his arms.

However, even with this, he was still forcefully blown three steps back by Yun Xiao, which was utterly unacceptable to Xiang Wenyuan, and he understood the significance of Lu Zhanbai’s loud warning earlier.

Whoosh!

And having delivered the first strike, Yun Xiao, now that he was close, wouldn’t give Xiang Wenyuan any opportunity. With his strength now, even without relying on the power of the several Ancestor Veins, he had the chance to fight and win.

Suddenly, in the sky above, fists and bodies clashed again, plunging into an intense battle that was beyond most people’s expectations.