"You seem very angry, but the fact remains that you lost and cried. What else can I say? That's history that can't be changed," Wu Yang stated with a smirk.
He didn't feel threatened at all. Instead, he found the entire situation amusing. The man before him wasn't even close to what he had been before his illness. And now that he had recovered his strength, he was far more formidable than he had ever been.
"Shut up! If all you're going to do is mock me with your worthless tongue, then I'll make sure you can't ever speak again. Let's see what you have to say when I crush you in front of everyone here!" Xu Chenglong threatened with a voice full of malice.
Spirit essence radiated off him in waves, causing the surrounding area to tremble a bit. The cultivation he displayed was at the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, something a Qi Gathering practitioner would find difficult to compete against.
The people in the surrounding streets quickly backed away, not wanting to get involved between the two clans' young masters. They were just ordinary citizens who could never afford to cross such powerful figures.
Seeing this, Wu Yang narrowed his eyes. He didn't wish to cause trouble now, especially not after he had just recovered and finally had a chance to enjoy his freedom. This guy's provocation was both unnecessary and bothersome, making the young man feel irritated rather than threatened.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but lean to Wu Yang's side and whisper, "Young Master, he's already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm while you had been bedridden for so long... You should not risk yourself."
Wu Yang shook his head and petted Xiao Yan's head, still not bothered one bit. Then he looked toward Xu Chenglong and asked in a cold voice, "You wish to fight me now?"
"Are you trying to back off, coward?" Xu Chenglong sneered. His body surged with more spirit essence, gathering around his hands, forming energy-based knuckles. "As if you can. You've insulted me publicly, so you better have the balls to face me and suffer the consequences."
"A bit impatient, aren't you?" Wu Yang commented with a sigh. He turned to his side and gave Xiao Yan a reassuring gaze. "Stand back a bit."
When she saw the smile her young master wore, Xiao Yan's worries subsided. She knew her young master well, and he was not the type to act without thinking things through first. So she moved aside with faith, placing her trust in him.
When he saw that Xiao Yan had backed away enough, Xu Chenglong made his move without hesitation. He appeared in front of Wu Yang in the blink of an eye, throwing out a straight punch aimed at his face.
Spirit energy encased the fist as it zoomed towards him. Its might was such that it tore up the winds, making a slight sonic boom. And with its speed, many could see how determined Xu Chenglong was to beat the man down.
Just when his fist was about to make contact, Wu Yang merely tilted his head to the right, letting it pass through his left cheek without even a graze.
Xu Chenglong's eyes widened in shock upon seeing his move fail. But before he could react, Wu Yang raised his right hand and placed it on his chest, then whispered, "You're too slow."
With that said, Xu Chenglong felt a shockwave of spirit energy slam into his chest. It was heavy and strong, sending him flying off his feet and into a vegetable stand across the street.
Boom!
Wood shattered and vegetables splattered everywhere as the Xu Clan's young master found himself lying flat on the ground, dazed and confused.
The people watching the scene from a distance were all stupefied. In just one exchange, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was sent flying by a punch from someone that had been sick and lying in his bed for over a year.
"Isn't he the young man from the Wu Clan, Wu Yang? The one who had a very severe and strange illness that caused him to become bedridden?"
"He is... but from the looks of it, he seems to have fully recovered and is now even stronger than before. To take down Xu Chenglong in one hit... Heh, it seems that young dragon had not just returned in health but also in strength."
"Well, Xu Chenglong isn't the most accomplished of geniuses either. Still impressive, though..."
A series of shocked and awed whispers broke out among the onlookers. This scene had far surpassed their wildest expectations. It was like a legend walking amongst them. A man who had lost all hope suddenly returning even more powerful than before. This wasn't something one got to see every day.
Xiao Yan covered her mouth in utter surprise, eyes wide. "Young Master, you've also broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
Wu Yang's lips curled up into a mysterious smile, neither confirming nor denying her guess. He simply walked forward, ignoring her question for now and heading toward the pathetic mess of a man trying to get to his feet amidst a pile of cabbages and splintered wood.
With his white hair gently rustling in the breeze and a calm expression on his face, he was the very picture of an unconquerable warrior, untouched by the chaos around him.
"So you still think you have what it takes to fight me? Pathetic. All bark and no bite," Wu Yang remarked, looking down on Xu Chenglong. His posture was relaxed, yet there was a chilling undertone to his tone that made Xu Chenglong's hairs stand on end.
'How is this possible? His illness was said to be incurable. Even if he recovered, he shouldn't be this strong.' Xu Chenglong thought with gritted teeth, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. The punch had rattled his internal organs, and he felt a dull ache throughout his chest.
Seeing that Xu Chenglong's lackeys were hesitating to step in, Wu Yang decided to push the situation further. "Listen carefully, Xu Chenglong. Stay out of my way from now on, or else what you experienced just now will feel like a gentle pat on the shoulder."
With that final warning, Wu Yang turned his back on his fallen opponent and took Xiao Yan by the hand. "Let's go, Sister Xiao Yan. We're done here."
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