C18 Genius Trash

"Hahaha, excellent!"

Du Zheng gave a slight nod, his gaze filled with scorn as he looked at Lu Chen.

"I had you pegged as a faker, playing the fool to dodge today's challenge. But now I see, you weren't acting—you truly are a fool!"

"Well, that's just fine. I'll grant you your wish and show you the vast gulf that lies between a mere mortal and a true genius!"

With those words, Du Zheng's feet shimmered with Spirit Force. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance to Lu Chen and launched a ferocious kick at his face!

"Iron Whip Kick!"

"Whoosh!"

But as his foot neared Lu Chen's face, Lu Chen deftly stepped back, causing Du Zheng's attack to whiff through thin air!

"What?!"

The younger spectators gasped in astonishment. Du Zheng's formidable kick had failed to connect with Lu Chen!

"Hmm?"

Meanwhile, the elders narrowed their eyes, perceiving Lu Chen's subtle step back with their superior abilities.

Such precision and combat awareness! His face had narrowly escaped the blow.

"What? A misstep!"

Even Du Zheng himself hadn't realized it. His right foot hit the ground, and he quickly swung his left foot at Lu Chen.

"Whoosh!"

Du Zheng's leg was lightning-fast, slicing through the air with a sound like tearing fabric.

Yet, the outcome was the same—Lu Chen remained untouched!

"Impossible! How could I not hit you? What sorcery is this?"

Du Zheng stared at Lu Chen, incredulous. He had launched two kicks, and yet Lu Chen stood unscathed, as if untouchable!

He was the Du family's top prodigy, one of the mightiest warriors of Vast Dragon City!

"No sorcery here. You're just too slow, that's all," Lu Chen retorted, his voice tinged with nonchalance.

"Too slow?"

"That can't be!"

"Tyrant Tiger Fist!"

Refusing to believe it, Du Zheng's right fist pulsed with Spirit Force as he hurled a punch at Lu Chen.

"Golden Silk Inch Fist!"

Lu Chen's patience had run out. His right hand, ensnared in golden silk, shot forward without a second thought to meet Du Zheng's oncoming blow.

"Boom!"

Fists collided, and Du Zheng stumbled backward five or six steps, his face beet red as his blood and Qi roiled within him.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen stood immovable, like an unshaken bell, not having budged an inch.

The scene mirrored their encounter from a month prior, only this time, their roles were reversed.

"Draw your sword. With a sword in hand, perhaps your defeat won't be as pitiful!"

Lu Chen's voice, icy and detached, cut through the air. The onlookers in the City Lord's Mansion could no longer underestimate the young man who, until recently, had been dismissed as worthless.

"Well done, well done, my boy...!"

Lu Yuanmo, watching from the sidelines, had tears brimming in his tiger-like eyes. His son, who had been unable to cultivate since childhood, had once been a source of endless worry and profound disappointment.

But now, he was effortlessly facing off against the reputed top talent of Vast Dragon City!

"Fine, Lu Chen, you've brought this on yourself!"

Du Zheng, now devoid of any grace, fiercely unsheathed his Wind Slicing Sword and pointed it at Lu Chen.

"This spirit weapon is a high-grade mortal artifact, one of only a few in Vast Dragon City. Besides, the sword is the monarch of all weapons. You won't have any tricks to fall back on this time!"

Regaining his confidence with his words, Du Zheng remembered that just a month ago, he was a mere Grade Four Spirit Disciple. No amount of Spirit Pills could have accelerated someone's progress to surpass his own in such a short time. He just needed to play to his strengths to crush his opponent effortlessly!

"Wind Slicing Sword, Breaking Wind!"

In a flash, Du Zheng's sword lunged at Lu Chen, significantly faster than his previous punches and kicks, showcasing his superior swordsmanship.

But to Lu Chen, a Grade Nine Spirit Emperor in his past life, Du Zheng's efforts were far from a challenge.

"Coming at me?"

A slight smile played on Lu Chen's lips as he released the Spirit Force he had been holding back. In an instant, it surged from his body like a floodgate had been flung open, pouring out wildly.

"Grade Eight Spirit Disciple?!" came a shocked cry from the crowd.

"Gold Chanting Spell, Golden Body!"

In an instant, Lu Chen's body was enveloped in countless golden threads.

The very next second, with just two fingers extended, Lu Chen met Du Zheng head-on.

"Bam!"

To the astonishment of all present, Du Zheng's much-vaunted sword was now caught between Lu Chen's two golden fingers.

"Hiss!"

At that moment, a collective gasp filled the City Lord's Mansion, and even the white-robed elder looked on at Lu Chen with amazement.

"This is impossible. How could you have caught my sword?!"

"You're nothing but trash. You must have used some foul sorcery on my sword. Release it at once!"

Du Zheng was utterly flabbergasted. He tried to retrieve his Wind Slashing Sword, but no matter how hard he pulled, it was immovable.

"I warned you, I'd return the favor for what you've done to me," Lu Chen said, his voice cold as he stared at the bewildered Du Zheng.

"Tyrant Tiger Fist!"

In a frenzy, Du Zheng released his sword and launched a punch towards Lu Chen.

"Striped Gold Inch Fist!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Lu Chen's fists, encased in golden threads, met the attack.

"Bam!"

"Ah!"

The disparity was clear; their clash ended almost as quickly as it began!

A scream, akin to that of a slaughtered chicken, echoed as Du Zheng was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing to the ground.

His hands were grotesquely twisted, hanging limply from his shoulders. A massive gash ran from his palms to his elbows, revealing white bone spurs and gushing blood.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen stood his ground, fists still poised from the strike.

"What a monster!" someone blurted out. The crowd snapped out of their stupor, their eyes fixed on Lu Chen, a mix of fear and awe reflected within.

A Grade Eight had just incapacitated a Grade Nine in a single move!

To defeat a higher grade with such ease, Lu Chen's prowess transcended that of a mere genius!

If they knew that just a month ago, Lu Chen was merely a Grade Four Spirit Disciple, their jaws would likely hit the floor in astonishment!

"Zheng'er!"

Du Chun, previously composed, now lost his cool. It's often said that the older one gets, the deeper the fondness for their children grows. This was especially true for Old Master Du, for whom Du Zheng, his only son, was invaluable.

"Just a duel, and yet you've crippled my son. So young, yet so cruel and merciless. You won't turn out to be a good man when you grow up!"

"I'll cripple you right now!"

"Tyrant Tiger Fist!"

With those words, Du Chun's Spirit Force erupted and he lunged at Lu Chen.

"This is bad, Du Chun, how dare you!"

Lu Yuanmo, witnessing the scene, frantically tried to intervene. But being of equal strength, how could he possibly catch up to Du Chun?

Just as Du Chun's fist was about to connect with Lu Chen, an aged palm intercepted it with a sudden, forceful block.

"Bang!"

"Whoa!"

To everyone's surprise, Du Chun was sent flying, much like Du Zheng had been moments earlier.

"Fighting is based on mutual consent, and injuries are part of it. But what you've done is a violation of the rules. Did you really think I was just for show?"

It was then that Lu Chen got a clear view of the one who had shielded him—it was the elder from the Azure Cloud Sect.

"Rules are rules, and no one, absolutely no one, is above them!"

As the elder's voice faded, a wave of Spirit Force Fluctuation from the Spirit Profound Stage enveloped the City Lord's Mansion, snapping everyone back to reality.