Chapter 330 - Nothing to be Proud of!

The main hall fell into silence once again.

This was a silence born from sheer disbelief – not a single person in the hall dared to believe what they just heard.

"To think that I would meet a Second Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist who dares challenge someone at the Fifth Cycle Origin Core realm, what a sight!" Bayuen remarked in amus.e.m.e.nt. "This can no longer be described as overconfidence. It is nothing short of ignorance! Looks like he would have to suffer a little today to learn not to be so full of himself!"

"This is strange indeed," Dongquan Juewei rubbed his chin in puzzlement.

Rather than feeling offended that a fight was about to break out on his wedding day, he was actually more interested in the thought process behind the country bumpkin.

Was he intending to use a hidden trump card on Chengban?

However, such a plan was doomed to fail before it even started.

With so many elders of the Divine Storm Sect present, there was no way that the country bumpkin would be allowed to use any external treasures to harm a core disciple of the Divine Storm Sect.

Surely the country bumpkin should know that as well!

As for winning by his own strength, the country bumpkin would probably have to start praying in order for a miracle like that to happen!

"Hahahaha!" Chengban burst into laughter once again. "I am kind enough to let you choose what to compete in, and yet of all things that you could have chosen, you actually chose to challenge me to a fight? Are you secretly a masochist or something?"

"Senior Apprentice Chengban, I think this guy is screwed in the brain!" the guy with the forehead scar laughed along.

Their laughter seemed to be contagious as the other attendees of the banquet slowly started snickering one by one, amused by the sheer ridiculousness of this situation.

Yes, the Second Cycle Origin Core realm and the Fifth Cycle Origin Core realm might just be different boundaries within the same cultivation realm. But at the Origin Core realm, every small boundary made a huge difference in terms of combat strength!

It would not even be an exaggeration to say that with the difference of just a single Origin Cycle, any ordinary Origin Core realm martial artist would be able to easily defeat ten others at a lower boundary.

And now, the difference between them was actually three full Origin Cycles!

As if that was not enough, Chengban was also a genius of his own right.

He was a martial artist capable of overcoming the limits of his cultivation level to challenge Sixth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artists, and even claim victory at that.

This incredible talent was what secured his place as a core disciple of the Divine Storm Sect!

While everyone was busy laughing at Lu Tianzi's challenge towards Chengban, Mengxi anxiously sent over a message through voice conveyance.

"I don't know what you are trying to do here, but stop right now," Mengxi cautioned. "Chengban might have a twisted personality, but his strength is real. You don't stand a chance. With his personality, you might even end up crippled from this fight!"

"Don't worry, I know what I am doing," Lu Tianzi replied without looking over.

With how things were right now, he did not want to make things awkward for Mengxi by revealing the fact that they were communicating in secret.

"You!" Mengxi exclaimed in exasperation.

She was warning Lu Tianzi out of goodwill, but the other party actually chose to ignore his advice?

Was that recklessness or stubbornness?

No, it had to be both!

Now, she was seriously reconsidering if she should still recruit such a person to their Southern Faction!

"Since this is a joyous occasion, let's not make this such a vengeful matter," a lady who looked to be in her seventies suddenly spoke up. "Why don't we make this an exhibition match instead? On top of what you have already suggested, each of you can put something on the line and the winner will bring both items back."

All eyes turned towards this old lady.

"Elder Yinghe's words make sense," Elder Donghe immediately nodded in agreement. "Let's do as you suggested."

If they disguised this matter as an exhibition match, at least the festive mood of the event will not be dampened too much.

This way, perhaps the sect leader would not punish them as much after the banquet was over.

"Elder Yinghe must be joking, what can this country bumpkin possibly have that I will ever take a fancy to?" Chengban shrugged.

Elder Yinghe's lips curled up into a grin. "What about the Seven Lights Prism?"

"Oh? That does sound like something worth my time! But would he dare to put it on the line, knowing that he would lose for sure?" Chengban narrowed his eyes at Lu Tianzi.

At this point, Lu Tianzi naturally understood that this Elder Yinghe was just putting on a show woth Chengban in an attempt to obtain his Seven Lights Prism.

However, this was something that he could use to his advantage as well!

"I can wager the Seven Lights Prism, but do you have anything of equivalent value to wager in return?" Lu Tianzi retorted.

"Are you crazy?" Mengxi's voice immediately sounded out in his head once more. "You worked so hard to obtain the Seven Lights Prism, and you are just going to immediately hand it over to them on a silver platter?"

This time, Lu Tianzi did not reply.

He had already said what he could. If Mengxi did not trust him, then nothing he said would convince her anyway.

Just like Mengxi, the other attendees present were shocked that Lu Tianzi actually agreed.

Even Chengban blinked blankly for a moment, surprised by how smoothly things were going.

It was only after Lu Tianzi's words sank in that Chengban finally laughed out once more. "Hahaha! If you are willing to wager the Seven Lights Prism, then I shall put my treasure sword Cloud Splitter on the line! In terms of value, it certainly would not pale in comparison to the Seven Lights Prism!"

With a flick of his wrists, Chengban drew out a sword that was just as long as he was tall.

Apart from its length, it also exerted a heavy pressure on its surroundings, as though it was constantly emitting some sort of forcefield around it.

With his eyes of discernment as an inscription master, Lu Tianzi could tell at first glance that this sword was a treasure at the Peak Origin Core rank!

Seeing that Lu Tianzi was satisfied with his wager, Chengban sneered in his heart. "Now then, shall we begin?"

"Fine with me, but where?" Lu Tianzi asked.

The main hall that they were in might have been big enough, but it was currently being used as the venue of the wedding banquet. This meant that it was packed with dining tables which could be messed up from the aftershocks of a fight.

"If Sect Leader permits it, this place will be fine," Elder Yinghe said with a smile. "Don't worry, with us elders around, a battle among you younglings will not have any effect on the surroundings."

Lu Tianzi nodded in understanding.

Given that the elders were probably all at the Overlord realm, it should be well within their means to contain the aftershocks of a battle at the Origin Core realm.

"This is your day, so you can decide," the Tempest Overlord nonchalantly passed the decision over to his disciple.

"Well, since both sides seem to be agreeable to the terms, I don't see any reason to reject either," Dongquan Juewei said.

"Good!" Chengban grinned before flying into the air. "Let's end this fast then!"

The ceiling of the main hall was almost a hundred metres high, giving them plenty of room to manoeuvre in the air.

"Be careful," Nanlan Qianxue said.

Even though she knew just how strong Lu Tianzi was, she could not help but to feel a little guilty that things had escalated to such a state.

After all, if not for her presence, things would probably have gone much smoother for Lu Tianzi.

At the very least, there would be no need for him to fight against Chengban.

"Don't worry, I have been looking to test my strength as well, so this is a good opportunity to do so," Lu Tianzi assured her before flying into the air after Chengban.

"Don't say that I am bullying you with my cultivation level," Chengban smirked. "I will allow you to make the first five moves!"

"There's no need for that," Lu Tianzi drew the Moon Culler and Torrential Sabre from his spatial ring. "Even without an advantage like that, taking care of someone like you is no problem at all."

"Big words for a small man," Chengban sneered. "So be it then, I just hope you don't regret this later!"

Driving his origin core, Chengban charged forward with the Cloud Splitter in hand.

The distance between them had not been great from the start. Chengban appearing before Lu Tianzi in an instant with the Cloud Splitter raised above his head.

As the Cloud Splitter came slashing down from above, Lu Tianzi immediately swung his sword upwards to meet Chengban's attack.

"He's intending to block it head on?" Bayuen shook his head in disappointment. "Looks like this fight is going to end in a single move."

How would it be possible for a Second Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist to block a direct hit from an opponent three full boundaries above him?

Not even he could do so when he was at that same cultivation level!

Bang-!

A thunderous collision between the two swords resounded across the main hall, creating a storm of energy that spread out rapidly in all directions.

Elder Yinghe immediately got to work.

With a wave of her hands, a protective layer of energy spread out across the main hall. This layer of energy covered not just the ground level where the banquet tables had been set up, but also the walls and ceiling.

She concentrated especially at the spot right below Lu Tianzi, expecting that he would come crashing down to the ground in an instant.

However, the outcome of the collision was far from what she had expected.

Not just her, but everyone looked on in confusion as Lu Tianzi remained in the air, not moving an inch even after receiving the hit from Chengban.

He stood his ground!

"Interesting," Dongquan Juewei rubbed his chin with a smile. "Looks like your prediction is way off, Brother Bayuen."

"How is that possible?" Bayuen frowned in displeasure.

There was no way that his prediction would be wrong.

This Chengban… is he toying with the opponent right now?

That was the thought that lingered in everyone's mind, or at least, everyone except for Chengban himself.

Chengban's eyes widened in shock.

Only he knew just how much strength and effort he had put behind the earlier sword strike, and it was not definitely something that a mere Second Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist should have been able to handle!

"What the f.u.c.k did you do?" Chengban questioned with a trembling voice.

It was not fear that he was trembling from. Instead, his quivering voice was due to a pure and unconcealed rage rising up from within him.

There was no doubt that his opponent had played some trick in the earlier exchange.

But what exactly?

No matter how he thought back to what happened earlier, Chengban simply could not see just how the opponent could have played any tricks.

Yet he was absolutely sure that there must have been some sort of trick somewhere.

How else would a country bumpkin like that be able to take his attack without even flinching?!

Seeing Chengban's look of confusion, it was finally Lu Tianzi's turn to reveal a confident smirk.

"I have actually been worried about your combat strength since you have been boasting about it since earlier, but what is this? You are actually able to become a core disciple of the Divine Storm Sect with just this level of strength?" Lu Tianzi mocked. "If I take you as a gauge, it would seem that becoming a core disciple of the sect is nothing to be proud of after all!"