Hearing the open and veiled mockery from Yunli, Wang Jingchen's anger finally spiraled completely out of control. He clenched his fists, ready to make his move.
But the instant his gaze met Yunli's raised golden eyes, the coldness swirling within them inexplicably made his heart tremble.
An indescribable chill instantly spread through his limbs and bones. He stumbled backward, subconsciously taking two steps back.
Wang Jingchen's subtle intention to attack naturally couldn't escape the eyes of everyone present.
"Hey! What the hell were you just trying to do, you scoundrel?!"
Mo Xin immediately saw through his intentions. She was so furious that she nearly drew her sword on the spot.
Her stance made it abundantly clear—if Wang Jingchen dared to make a move today, then even if Yunli didn't step in herself, Mo Xin would immediately rush forward and teach him a lesson with the sword her master had given her.
"Elder Wang, please keep your young master under control!"
"There's no need for you to concern yourself with that. Especially when the one causing trouble isn't my child."
After hearing that, Yu Ziqin simply closed her mouth and said nothing more.
She knew she had already done everything she could. Continuing to argue would only completely offend Elder Wang, and that would truly be disadvantageous.
At the same time, she couldn't help but grow curious.
Was Yunli acting so fearlessly because Yu Ziqin was present, or because she genuinely possessed strength on par with them...?
At that moment, Yunli watched Wang Jingchen retreat two steps. The corners of her lips curled upward almost imperceptibly, her golden eyes carrying a knowing look that seemed to see through everything.
Only then did Wang Jingchen realize that he had instinctively retreated—and that a trace of fear had actually surfaced in his heart.
From beginning to end, he had convinced himself that his earlier defeat had simply been the result of carelessness. How could some Otherworlder possibly be stronger than him?
That self-deception caused his blood to boil, and the expression on his face became increasingly twisted and ferocious.
Then Yunli spoke again, pouring fuel onto the flames.
"My grandfather once said, 'Like master, like dog.' I had a heart-to-heart with your sword. It told me that you're narrow-minded, arrogant, and utterly lacking in swordsmanship...Now that I've seen you for myself, I'd say the sword wasn't lying. It's not my fault I took your sword. Your heart simply wasn't with the sword."
"You... Hmph! Easy for you to say. You're only talking so much because you're coveting the treasured weapon passed down through my family."
Faced with his harsh accusations, Yunli didn't even bother lifting an eyelid. She was far too lazy to waste time arguing with him.
Clang—
A heavy metallic boom echoed through the room, causing the ground beneath everyone's feet to tremble slightly.
With a casual motion, Yunli summoned Old Mettle.
The massive greatsword was planted firmly into the floor before her. Its chilling blade shimmered with tiny specks of starlight, and its overwhelming weight immediately spread several fine cracks across the hard ground.
Wang Jingchen abruptly fell silent.
The arrogance on his face instantly froze.
He stared at the enormous sword, his heart sinking.
Only now did he truly realize that the girl standing before him wasn't merely eloquent. His previous disdain vanished completely, replaced by genuine seriousness.
After all, Wang Jingchen was a genius from a Hidden Family. He possessed at least that much discernment.
The seemingly unremarkable greatsword stood silently upon the ground, yet it radiated an invisible pressure that weighed heavily upon everyone's hearts.
Behind him, Elder Wang's eyes suddenly widened in shock.
Earlier, everything had happened too quickly for him to observe carefully. But now, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the thick blade seemed to be wrapped in a layer of strange, nearly tangible flames.
As those flames slowly swirled around the blade, they carried an overwhelming aura capable of incinerating all things and cleaving through everything.
With just a single glance, both Wang Jingchen and Elder Wang reached the same conclusion.
The value and power of this greatsword were in no way comparable to the sword Yunli had confiscated earlier. Its level had likely surpassed every treasured weapon in their family.
It was something they had never seen before.
"Is this... the legacy of another world?"
Yu Ziqin's thoughtful gaze rested upon the rusty greatsword, her eyes deep with contemplation.
She knew nothing about divine weapons, but the silence from the Wang family duo had already answered everything.
Even the members of the Muyun City Ability Bureau weren't fools.
Still, none of them had expected that the greatsword Yunli carefully wiped clean every single day possessed such extraordinary qualities.
Mu Yao couldn't help blushing slightly.
After all, when she had first learned that Yunli's weapon was Old Mettle, she had looked down on it completely.
But now...
Mu Yao Ｏ(≧---≦)Ｏ: "I still don't like it! It's way too big and bulky—not cool at all!"
Even Mo Xin couldn't hide the surprise in her eyes.
Having practiced swordsmanship for only a few months, she naturally couldn't understand the deeper intricacies.
But based on all the cultivation novels she had read, she vaguely felt that if this greatsword existed in those cultivation worlds, it would at the very least be a Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Treasure.
Then... what about her own sword?
Its quality probably wasn't bad either, right?
Thinking that it had been personally forged by Yunli, Mo Xin's eyes gradually reddened, warmth spreading through her heart.
Mo Xin (;´༎ຶ◡༎ຶ`): "I'm so touched... I've decided! I'm definitely sleeping with Master Yunli tonight!"
Yunli (๑ᗜ ˰ ᗜ๑): "Hiss~ Even though Old Mettle is right here, why do I suddenly feel a chill running down my spine?"
Clang—
The heavy sound snapped everyone back to reality.
Then Yunli spoke.
"Of course, don't say I'm bullying you. As long as you can defeat my Disciple, I'll return your sword."
The team members: (*ﾟﾛﾟ)??
Mo Xin (ﾟρﾟ): "W-What? Me... me?"
Wang Jingchen and Elder Wang both looked toward the source of the voice.
Sure enough, it was the same disrespectful girl from earlier—Mo Xin.
She pointed at herself with a bewildered expression, her eyes filled with confusion, clearly never expecting the situation to take such a dramatic turn.
Her dumbfounded appearance was completely different from the fiery attitude she had shown just moments ago.
A cunning glint flashed through Wang Jingchen's eyes, and an almost imperceptible sneer curled across his lips.
"Fine. If I lose, then that sword is yours. But if I win..."
His finger pointed directly at the rusty greatsword.
"...then that sword belongs to me."
The greed in his eyes was nearly tangible.
He clearly intended to seize Old Mettle for himself.
The moment this absurd wager was proposed, Chen Yuxuan and the others immediately frowned.
Even Mu Yao and Mo Xin instantly saw through his scheme.
Old Mettle already belonged to Yunli.
The man was blatantly trying to exchange nothing for something.
Naturally, Yunli understood this as well.
However, she didn't reject the proposal immediately.
Instead, she slowly raised her eyes, letting her gaze linger on Mo Xin's face for a brief moment. Countless unreadable emotions stirred within her golden pupils.
Mo Xin nervously stared into those eyes until Yunli finally looked away.
Only then did Yunli give her answer.
"Alright."
That single word left everyone present stunned.
Even Yu Ziqin understood one thing very clearly.
Mo Xin had only become an Ability User roughly three months ago.
No matter how extraordinary her talent was, there was simply no way she could currently defeat Wang Jingchen.
Meanwhile, Wang Jingchen and Elder Wang couldn't help revealing delighted expressions.
Just as Wang Jingchen was eagerly about to accept...
"Wait, Master Yunli!"
Mo Xin suddenly interrupted him.
"When is it your turn to speak here?!"
Having been interrupted once again, Wang Jingchen immediately exploded in anger.
But Mo Xin showed him no courtesy whatsoever.
"I'm the one accepting the challenge, so of course I have the right to make my own conditions!"
"Then what are your conditions?" Yunli asked instead, offering no objection.
Mo Xin gave Yunli a slight nod before stepping forward to stand beside her, facing Wang Jingchen directly.
"There's no need for Master Yunli to put her treasure on the line. Since we're having a match, then naturally..."
She gripped the hilt of her own sword.
"...I'll use my own weapon as the wager!"