Chapter 703: The Reward: Supreme Elder, A Test
"Little friend Mo Yu, I did not expect to see you here."
The artifact spirit of the Tianxuan Treasure Hall stared at the youth in the corner—the one with that alluring, handsome face—and after a brief pause, smiled warmly.
Seeing that the artifact spirit had recognized him, Mo Yu shrugged slightly and nodded.
"Huh? Mo Yu? He's not from one of the Yuchang branch families. Then who exactly is this person?"
As soon as the artifact spirit called his name, all of the Yuchang Family elders looked stunned, surprise written across their faces.
"The Tianxuan Treasure Hall's artifact spirit… it actually knows him?"
In the corner, Yuchang Ran froze, her beautiful face showing disbelief.
She had always thought Mo Yu was someone incapable of cultivating. But now, clearly, things were far more complicated.
"Could it be… that mysterious powerhouse was actually Mo Yu?"
The thought suddenly struck her—and the more she considered it, the more plausible it seemed.
"This gentleman is…?"
From his main seat, the old patriarch Yuchang Yuan looked between the artifact spirit and Mo Yu, a hint of curiosity flashing in his aged eyes.
"Hehe, Ran'er, it seems this young man came here with you. Perhaps you can explain?" the Grand Elder said kindly, glancing toward Yuchang Ran.
Caught off guard, she rose to her feet, bowed slightly to the patriarch and the gathered elders, then looked at Mo Yu. After taking a brief pause to gather her thoughts, she began recounting in detail how she had rescued Mo Yu midway, how they were ambushed by Gongshu mechanical beasts, and how an unknown expert had intervened.
"Hehe, I see now. Little friend Mo Yu, you must have encountered a dimensional storm while traversing from the Dou Qi Continent to the Great Thousand World, correct?"
The artifact spirit nodded in understanding, smiling gently.
With Mo Yu's level of strength, the only reason he could have ended up stranded on the Ten-Thousand Armaments Continent was if he had been caught in a spatial storm. Otherwise, there was no way someone of his power could have needed rescuing.
"Oh? So he's a powerhouse who ascended from a lower plane?"
The elders of the Yuchang Family exchanged astonished looks.
They all knew that while the lower planes were barren and deficient in energy compared to the Great Thousand World, anyone capable of transcending the limits of such a world and successfully ascending was a true prodigy. Given enough time, they often rose to prominence wherever they went.
That was why hearing that Mo Yu came from a lower world caused such a stir. On the Ten-Thousand Armaments Continent, ascendants from lower realms were exceedingly rare.
Even Yuchang Yuan studied Mo Yu intently, only to find, with surprise, that even with his own Seventh-Grade Supreme power, he couldn't clearly see through this youth's depth.
"Hehe, little friend Mo Yu, allow me to introduce you. This is the patriarch of our Yuchang Family, Yuchang Yuan," said the artifact spirit, walking toward him.
"So you are the Mo Yu I've heard of," Yuchang Yuan said kindly. "The Tianxuan Spirit once told me about a remarkable young man who helped him in a realm called the Dou Qi Continent. If I'm not mistaken, that must have been you."
"To ascend from a lower world to the Great Thousand World… you are truly exceptional among men," added the Grand Elder, smiling warmly.
"More than exceptional," the artifact spirit said, stroking its illusory beard. "The Dou Qi Continent has not produced anyone capable of breaking through to the Great Thousand World for over ten thousand years. Little friend Mo Yu, you may well be the first in all that time. That alone is an extraordinary feat, even by the standards of the Ten-Thousand Armaments Continent."
"The first in ten thousand years?"
The gathered elders exchanged looks of astonishment. Though lower realms were humble and deprived, to be one in countless billions to achieve such a feat—his talent was truly terrifying.
Even Yuchang Ran turned to look at him in shock. The man she had mistaken for a powerless wanderer was, in truth, a peerless genius unseen in ten millennia.
"The senior flatters me," Mo Yu replied with a small laugh. "In truth, there were others from my world who have ascended as well."
The artifact spirit chuckled, then turned serious again. "Now then, Patriarch, tell me—why have you awakened me?"
At that, Yuchang Yuan fell silent for a few moments before explaining the situation with Gongshu Qiu's duel challenge.
"So... Gongshu Qiu himself will fight, challenging the Yuchang Family?"
The Tianxuan Artifact Spirit frowned slightly upon hearing this.
"Yes. I suspect Gongshu Qiu has already advanced to Eighth-Grade Supreme," Yuchang Yuan said bleakly, "so I awakened you to see if there was any hope."
"Eighth-Grade Supreme…" The spirit's voice grew grave. "That is a formidable level even in other continents of the Great Thousand World. Gongshu Qiu has truly been fortunate."
"Fortunate? Shameless more like it!" one elder barked. "He sold his own daughter to the Blood God Clan for power!"
"And his shame bought them immense strength, while we are the ones being cornered," the Grand Elder said bitterly, his face sunken with exhaustion.
At that, the room fell silent once again. Despair filled every face.
"It may not be over yet," the artifact spirit suddenly said, a slight smile tugging at its lips.
Everyone turned toward it at once.
"What do you mean?" pressed Yuchang Yuan urgently.
The spirit's gaze drifted to Mo Yu. "Perhaps little friend Mo Yu can save the Yuchang Family. Gongshu Qiu may be an Eighth-Grade Supreme, but Mo Yu's strength is far deeper than it appears."
The hall fell quiet. Countless eyes turned toward the silver-eyed youth, filled with surprise, doubt, and disbelief.
"Since the Gongshu Family's challenge allows any representative to fight on behalf of the Yuchang Family, Mo Yu would be the perfect choice," said the artifact spirit confidently.
"Hehe… Tianxuan, I respect your judgment," Yuchang Yuan said after a moment's hesitation. "But this matter is grave. Defeating a mechanical beast rivaling a Third-Grade Supreme is impressive, but it hardly proves that Mo Yu can contend with Gongshu Qiu. Entrusting our fate entirely to him might be… reckless."
Mo Yu blinked, amused that they were already doubting him before he'd said anything.
The artifact spirit frowned. "So, Patriarch, you don't believe little friend Mo Yu can prevail?"
Yuchang Yuan gave a bitter smile. "It's not that I don't believe—it's that the opponent's strength is monstrous. If we lose, the Yuchang Family will be stripped bare."
At that moment, a middle-aged man of about forty rose to his feet. "Senior Tianxuan, since this matter concerns our survival, perhaps we should conduct a test. If this gentleman can defeat me within ten rounds, then we can safely entrust him with the duel."
Both the patriarch and the Grand Elder exchanged glances, then nodded.
This man was Yuchang Jian, the Third Elder of the family, a genuine Sixth-Grade Supreme. Even Yuchang Yuan himself could not defeat him within ten moves.
If Mo Yu could, it would prove enough.
The artifact spirit thought briefly, then turned to Mo Yu. "Mo Yu, the Yuchang Family stands on the edge of life and death. I have faith in you, and I ask you to lend your strength.
If you defeat Gongshu Qiu, I will grant you the position of Supreme Elder of the Yuchang Family."
"This…"
The elders exchanged startled glances. The title of Supreme Elder was no small thing. Once, it had even been conferred by the First Patriarch himself, equal in status to the patriarch. It had long been forgotten—but now that the artifact spirit had revived it, everyone understood the weight of the offer.
Granting that title to an outsider shocked them all.
But the Tianxuan Artifact Spirit's expression hardened. "Our family stands on the brink of destruction, and you still cling to foolish formalities? Mo Yu may be an outsider, but if he can defeat Gongshu Qiu, he will be our savior. Does he not deserve this?"
No one dared meet its eyes after that. Indeed, the family was too close to ruin for such scruples.
Yuchang Yuan's face wavered with emotion. Then, gritting his teeth, he declared, "Tianxuan is right. If Mo Yu can defeat Gongshu Qiu, he shall be the Supreme Elder of the Yuchang Family!"
To him, it was a sound trade. If Mo Yu truly possessed the might to vanquish an Eighth-Grade Supreme, granting him such rank was no loss.
Better yet, Mo Yu's limitless potential as a lower-world ascendant could one day bring even greater glory to their clan.
Seeing the patriarch's resolve, the elders eventually nodded in agreement.
"Little friend Mo Yu," said the artifact spirit, turning toward him, "will you accept? Should you prevail, from this day forth, you will be the Yuchang Family's Supreme Elder—your authority second to none, beyond even the patriarch's command."
"Supreme Elder…" Mo Yu murmured, a thoughtful light in his eyes. He did plan to bring the Yuchang Family under his control eventually. Becoming their Supreme Elder first would be a perfectly fine start.
After brief consideration, he smiled faintly. "Since Senior Tianxuan has said as much, I'll lend my hand. Consider it repayment for your past grace—the Emperor-Grade embryo you once gifted me."
"Hehe, my thanks, little friend." The artifact spirit smiled with visible relief.
It could tell Mo Yu's strength was profound and unfathomable. Only those who broke the boundaries between worlds could possess such terrifying potential.
With the agreement made, Mo Yu stepped forward. Facing Yuchang Jian, he clasped his hands respectfully and said, smiling lightly, "Then let's determine it in a single move. If I lose, I'll withdraw from this matter entirely."
The statement stunned everyone. Even Yuchang Yuan and the Grand Elder blinked in disbelief.
A single move?
Yuchang Jian was a true Sixth-Grade Supreme. For Mo Yu to suggest such—it was pure audacity.
"Hehe, Mo Yu, you must be very confident," the elder said after a pause, chuckling softly.
To emerge from the lower realms took unimaginable genius. Mo Yu's words made him curious—was this arrogance, or sheer power?
"Well then," he exhaled deeply, his gaze narrowing, "as you wish."
With a flash, Yuchang Jian shot into the air, hands clasping in intricate seals that blurred in motion as brilliant spiritual light roared out from his body.
Boom!
A towering divine phantom formed behind him, a thousand feet tall. It stood like a golden colossus, shaped as an immense shield covered in archaic patterns that emanated a power of indestructible defense.
"Look! That's the Second Elder's Supreme Dharma Body— the Golden Shield Dharma Body!"
(END CHAPTER)
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