Three years ago, Diao Yadong was a renowned genius of the Diao family. His
most famous feat was defeating a fifth-level Qi Condensation Realm martial artist while only at the third level of the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Realm)
. Afterwards, his fame spread throughout Beiyun City.
After joining Beiyun Academy as an instructor, he quickly rose through the ranks within a year, from a low-level instructor to a mid-level instructor, and then to a high-level instructor.
Within Beiyun Academy, he was considered one of the three great genius instructors, alongside Dongfang Yu and Wang Qingfeng.
Currently, Diao Yadong is at the eighth level of the Physical Body Gathering Realm.
At the Gathering Realm, the dantian is concentrated, and true essence is abundant. Compared to the seventh level of the Qi Condensation Realm, the eighth level of the Gathering Realm not only has more abundant true essence, but its attributes are also completely different!
Qin Mengyao naturally knew about Mu Yun's improvement over the past month, but even with Mu Yun's significant improvement, he was still only at the seventh level of the Qi Condensation Realm.
Diao Yadong, on the other hand, had already reached the eighth level of the Gathering Realm a year ago.
The difference between them was immense!
If the seventh level is considered a martial artist's entry into the inner sanctum, then the eighth level represents a tremendous leap forward in the martial arts lineage.
"Please!"
Looking at Diao Yayun, Mu Yun seemed oblivious to Qin Mengyao, Qi Ming, and the others' calls, walking straight to the center of the arena.
"Good!"
Seeing that Mu Yun had indeed succumbed to the provocation and accepted the challenge, Diao Yayun was overjoyed.
Today, he had lost all three battles in his Advanced Class 3, a truly humiliating defeat.
Moreover, his younger brother, Diao Yayun, had his hand severed by Mo Yang's sword, rendering him a cripple.
If Diao Yayun didn't accept this provocation silently, where would he stand in the entire academy in the future?
"Instructor Diao, I wonder if your words are in accordance with the academy's rules? If I win, I won't be promoted to Advanced Instructor..."
"Of course not!"
Diao Yayun said confidently. "The Advanced Instructor assessment requires defeating an Advanced Instructor from the academy. Instructor Mu, you meet all the other requirements. Defeating me will allow you to become an Advanced Instructor!"
"It's just a pity... you won't win!" These words remained firmly in Diao Yayun's heart.
"Alright, since that's the case, let's begin!"
Mu Yun walked to the center of the arena and said to Mo Yang beside him, "My dear disciple, lend your Qingque Sword to your master!"
"Yes!"
Without saying a word, Mo Yang tossed the Qingque Sword onto the arena.
Using a sword right from the start?
Seeing Mu Yun's action, Diao Yadong was slightly taken aback.
"This guy is terribly afraid of dying!"
Diao Yadong subconsciously thought that Mu Yun used a sword immediately because he understood that in a fight against him, without a sword, he might not even be able to withstand a single move.
"Has it begun?"
Holding the Qingque Sword, Mu Yun said listlessly.
"Begin!"
As soon as the words fell, two figures stood proudly on the arena. Around the arena, many disciples dispersed, watching the two intently.
This battle was even more thrilling than the previous three battles.
Mu Yun had been considered a good-for-nothing before. How did he teach Qi Ming, Mo Yang, and Miao Xianyu to defeat the Advanced Class 3? Was it with Qin Mengyao's help?
After this battle, everyone would understand.
"Mysterious Heaven Primordial Chaos Force!"
With a low shout, Diao Yadong waved his hands, unleashing terrifying true energy like a dragon emerging from the sea, accompanied by a faint, deafening roar.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, explosions resounded on the arena; the arena floor couldn't withstand the explosive power of the true energy and shattered completely.
"Mysterious Heaven Primordial Chaos Force! Diao Yadong actually used this move; it seems he intends to kill Mu Yun!"
"Hmm? No way!"
On the distant platform, Wang Qingfeng shook his head slightly, saying, "Mysterious Heaven Primordial Chaos Force! Diao Yadong's trump card—even I wouldn't dare say I could reliably block it. Mu Yun…"
"How could this be…"
Hearing their instructor's words, the surrounding students were stunned.
They deeply understood how terrifying Instructor Wang was.
As the top instructor of Beiyun Academy, no one knew the true extent of Wang Qingfeng's strength.
Moreover, his class almost gathered the strongest geniuses of the entire academy.
Although he, Diao Yadong, and Dongfang Yu were known as the three great mentors of the academy, everyone knew that he was the strongest of the three. Even Diao Yadong and Dongfang Yu combined were no match for him.
Meanwhile, on the arena, Diao Yadong's power seemed to have reached its peak!
All his true essence surged wildly, gathering around him and transforming into a dragon.
"Roar..."
In an instant, the dragon let out a deafening roar, its violent power surging towards Mu Yun with overwhelming force.
Below the arena, Qin Mengyao, Qi Ming, and the others were already drenched in sweat.
Although they knew Mu Yun was hiding his true strength, they had no idea what his actual power was.
They had no confidence in this battle against Mu Yun.
At the same time, on the arena, seeing Diao Yadong gather almost all his true essence, wanting to kill him, Mu Yun smiled slightly.
"Is this your strength? Nothing special!"
Seeing the true essence dragon hurtling towards him, Mu Yun spoke softly.
His Qingque Sword suddenly appeared.
"Heaven-Mending Sword Dao—Shadow-Mending Sword!"
With a single strike, heaven and earth trembled.
At that moment, everyone felt as if the world had vanished before their eyes, everything had ceased to exist, only this sword remained, piercing not only their bodies but also their souls and wills.
Diao Yadong felt the same way.
In that instant, he felt all his attacks had vanished without a trace.
It was a peculiar feeling, yet undeniably real.
*Bang! *
But as that fleeting sensation subsided, a loud thud suddenly rang in everyone's ears. A scream
followed, and everyone snapped back to reality, only to see Diao Yadong stagger backward, his chest caved in, blood gushing from his mouth. He slammed off the stage, unconscious.
What happened?!
Everyone was instantly stunned.
They hadn't even had time to process all of this.
Mo Yang had defeated Diao Yayun in an instant because of his overwhelming sword intent, but what did Mu Yun rely on to defeat Diao Yadong with a single sword strike?
One strike!
It wasn't impossible for a seventh-level Qi Condensation Realm martial artist to defeat an eighth-level Core Formation Realm martial artist, but those were all exceptional talents.
But for a seventh-level martial artist to defeat an eighth-level Core Formation Realm martial artist in one move was unimaginable.
And the one who did this was Mu Yun.
The useless Mu Yun who had been famous throughout Beiyun City for ten years!
"The match… Mu Yun wins!"
Finally, the referee elder reacted, announcing in a daze.
"Yay!"
Seeing Mu Yun gracefully walk off the stage, Miao Xianyu, Qi Ming, Mo Yang, and the others excitedly ran over.
Although they didn't understand the move, they knew Mu Yun had won!
Their Instructor Mu had defeated the genius Instructor Diao Yadong in one move, achieving victory and successfully advancing to a high-level instructor.
From now on, who would dare call Mu Yun a useless person?
"Phew... I guess that's enough to vindicate you!" Mu Yun murmured to himself, letting out a slight breath.
"Instructor Mu, you're amazing! How did you do that? I feel like my sword intent isn't even as good as yours!" Mo Yang exclaimed incredulously.
"Pah, Mo Yang, don't get cocky. You only grasped your sword intent after seeing Instructor Mu's sword strike. You think you can compare to Instructor Mu?"
"That's right, Mo Yang, don't be so conceited. Diao Ya Yun is only the tenth of the ten genius disciples of our Bei Yun Academy. You're nothing compared to him!"
Hearing Qi Ming and Miao Xianyu's mockery, Mo Yang laughed heartily, completely unconcerned. "Let's go, let's go, Ju Xian Ge Restaurant, I'll treat everyone to a meal!"
"Alright! Well then, you'll have to really bleed today!"
Ju Xian Ge Restaurant is the largest restaurant in Bei Yun City. Eating there isn't about gold or silver, but about spending spirit stones, which are reserved for martial artists!
A single meal can easily cost several hundred low-grade spirit stones.
"Xianyu…Xianyu…"
On the other side, seeing that Miao Xianyu had actually abandoned him and left with Mu Yun and the others, Shao Yu's face gradually darkened.
"That piece of trash!"
Shao Yu said coldly. "That Diao Yadong, what kind of so-called genius? He could be dealt with in one move by me. This Mu Yun is just using tricks. He's arrogant in front of others, but if he were in my Holy Pill Sect, he wouldn't even have a spot as an outer disciple!"
"That's for sure!" someone next to him chuckled. "Young Master Shao Yu is tenth in the outer sect of the Holy Pill Sect. He's at the True Yuan Realm. Defeating someone at the Gathering Core Realm is just a piece of cake for him. This Mu Yun is just a frog in a well!"
"That's true!"
Shao Yu said smugly. "Xianyu is currently bewitched by Mu Yun, but if I can find a way to get her into the Holy Pill Sect, I can naturally get closer to her in the future!"
"What you say is true, Young Master. Miao Xianyu is sixteen years old and a second-grade alchemist. She's more than qualified to enter my Holy Pill Sect!"
"Senior Brother Shao!"
Just as the group was walking and talking, a shout suddenly rang out from the other side, and a figure rushed over.
"Senior Brother Shao Yu, Senior Brother Shao Ming has arrived!"
"Big Brother's here? Where is he?"
"Senior Brother Ming is waiting for you at Juxian Pavilion. He seems to have something very important to do this time, and he needs you to come over now!"
"Let's go!"
With that, the group hurriedly left.
Juxian Pavilion!
As the largest restaurant in Beiyun City, its exorbitant prices deter ordinary people, yet it's always packed.
Mu Yun, Qin Mengyao, and the others arrived and casually chose seats in the lobby on the first floor.
"Hehe, today, our Elementary Class 5 decisively defeated Advanced Class 3! Instructor Mu defeated Diao Yayun, that arrogant genius instructor, in one move! Let's see who dares to call us a useless class now!"
"What genius instructor? Instructor Mu is the real genius instructor now! He defeated an eighth-level Core Formation Realm martial artist in one move!"
"Hehe...that's right!"
Mo Yang and the others were genuinely happy at this moment.
In this world where martial artists are respected, no one wants to be called useless, and everyone wants to have their own dignity.
But before, they didn't have the ability to preserve their dignity. It was Mu Yun who gave them this opportunity!
"Come on! Let's all toast our mentor!"
Twenty or thirty students raised their glasses together, looking at Mu Yun, their youthful faces revealing barely suppressed excitement.