Chapter 113: Defeat

Ning Ling watched as Ye Jiuyao unleashed a devastating palm strike imbued with apocalyptic power, and he roared angrily, “Stop!”

“Oh?” Ye Jiuyao responded indifferently, pressing down with relentless force.

The ten men who had just tried to rise were immediately slammed back to the ground, pressed down harshly. Especially Cao Sisi, whose supple body bounced helplessly against the earth like a living projectile.

The onlookers were dumbfounded, yet inevitably disappointed, for nothing remarkable was revealed.

“Ye Jiuyao, let me out!” Cao Sisi, feeling the heated gazes upon her, was not angry but was infuriated by Ye Jiuyao’s repeated crushing. How could her body be so ineffective? Did she really have no allure? She shouted in frustration.

“Oh.” Ye Jiuyao replied curtly, then gave a sudden, fierce slap to her rear.

“Smack!”

“You…”

“This feels good, but your tone and attitude begging for mercy leave much to be desired. Consider this a mild punishment. If you shout again, I’ll do as I warned last time.”

With that, Ye Jiuyao released Cao Sisi, though his energy still shackled her freedom, leaving her dumbfounded, unmoving in place.

“Ning Ling, is it? If I’m not mistaken, you must be some kind of elder in the sect. Your expression is peculiar, your actions competent, and your cultivation strong. You’re the top disciple of the inner sect, aren’t you?” Ye Jiuyao, having dealt with the others, looked up to Ning Ling in the sky.

“Top disciple of the inner sect? I won’t claim that. But I do call the shots here. Those three old… old men are indeed elders, but today I will bring you down. I’ll teach you what it means not to aim beyond your reach!” Ning Ling retorted fiercely.

“Star-Seizing Hand!”

After Ning Ling’s words, Ye Jiuyao’s internal energy surged, and behind him, a vast power of stars rose, forming a colossal hand seemingly emerging from the void, striking swiftly toward Ning Ling.

“Disperse!” Ning Ling responded with a punch, radiating the force of mountains shattering and earth splitting. With a roar, he clashed against the stellar hand.

“Hmph, you’re the one aiming too high!” Ye Jiuyao snorted coldly, unleashing his energy without restraint. His internal power surged like a breached dam, crashing toward Ning Ling.

The starry hand gleamed even brighter, resembling a jade-green hand. When Ning Ling’s fist met it, no trace was left behind.

“Come down!” Ning Ling commanded.

“Hmph!”

Neither yielded, their fierce contest electrifying the air above. Those watching below were shocked—Ye Jiuyao’s power was terrifying beyond reckoning.

Two consecutive supreme techniques were unleashed. Though their exact rank was unclear, their display held an earth-shaking momentum in Ye Jiuyao’s hands.

The overwhelming force rippled outward like a stone dropped into water, sending shockwaves that stunned the crowd.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re terrible?”

“No.”

Ning Ling answered honestly.

“Well, I’m telling you now.”

Suddenly, Ye Jiuyao’s aura turned strange. A power seemingly alien to him burst forth explosively from within!

“Stick, come forth!”

“What is that?!”

“So terrifying!”

“It looks like something is emerging from the void.”

...

“This kid is truly strange. I, White Brow, may have to take a fine disciple after all. You two can only envy me.”

White Brow, sensing Ye Jiuyao’s power, looked at Cao Zheng and the others with pride.

Yet Cao Zheng and his companion showed no reaction, their faces impassive, seemingly indifferent.

However, deep within, their hearts bled. Ye Jiuyao’s power was so overwhelming, it nearly approached the ranks of core disciples.

If a true fight broke out, even core disciples might be trampled underfoot. At this moment, they truly regretted it.

“Starry Staff Style!”

Ye Jiuyao roared fiercely, as if the heavens themselves revolved with the stars. The long staff in his hand stirred the very winds and clouds.

In an instant, it surged forward, carrying the force of shattered stars.

“Breaking Halberd!”

Ning Ling reacted swiftly, summoning a long halberd imbued with terrifying destructive power, slashing toward Ye Jiuyao’s staff.

The clash of halberd and staff erupted with intense force, sparks flying as metal rang sharply.

Three successive strikes unleashed thunderous power, each like divine lightning crashing in the ears, causing the onlookers to scream in awe.

Especially the golden light on Ye Jiuyao’s staff, which shifted to a terrifying white-red hue when wielded—a life-draining aura.

Their monstrous attacks collided, causing the void around them to roar with muffled thunderclaps. The violent gale swept wildly in all directions.

“So strong!”

“This is Ye Jiuyao’s true strength?!”

“No wonder he disregards us, preferring to fight alone. Turns out his power... is enough!”

The novice and menial disciples showed expressions of awakening.

“This guy must have been cheating since childhood, absurdly strong!”

“Right? And Ning Ling—inner sect’s top disciple—actually lost to him.”

“Looks like times have changed. Such a prodigy has appeared. The grand contest of the Thousand Leaf Sect’s four divisions will be something to behold.”

...

Many whispered below, but the battle above grew ever fiercer, their combat reaching a white-hot intensity.

“Enough playing. I’m laying my cards on the table—time to go all out!”

“Starry Staff Style, final move: Monkey Summoning!”

Ye Jiuyao’s internal energy bubbled like boiling water, a terrifying force hurtling toward Ning Ling.

“Bring it on!”

Ning Ling refused to yield, though inside he was deeply unsettled, sensing Ye Jiuyao’s power was even more terrifying than that of core disciples.

“Shhh…” A sharp sound pierced the air as Ye Jiuyao’s staff struck like a crashing starry sea, unreservedly landing on Ning Ling.

“Pfft…”

Ning Ling could not block it at all. Yet he would not cower, instead spitting blood violently under the strike.

“Ning Ling… defeated!”

The watchers looked in disbelief as Ning Ling was crushed by Ye Jiuyao’s blow. Though they had expected it, the shock was unavoidable.

“Is he... really that terrifying?!”

Cao Sisi, familiar with Ning Ling—after all, the top outer sect disciple and granddaughter of an elder—knew the strength of many inside the sect.

Seeing Ye Jiuyao defeat Ning Ling, she could not help but feel astonished at the depths of his power.

Moreover, Ye Jiuyao’s strike was nothing short of breathtaking.

“Still watching? You three old men hiding there—could you be the grandfathers of that big... big brainy girl? How did you all develop such a fondness for spying?”

Ye Jiuyao’s voice thundered, revealing the three elders who had been secretly watching, now awkwardly caught.

But White Brow laughed heartily. This disciple’s temperament suited him perfectly—reliable, just like himself!