"Let me do it."

A cultivator at the 9th level of the Mortal Core Realm stood up.

He suppressed his cultivation to the 6th level of the Mortal Core Realm and stepped forward. A brilliant light burst from his eyes, causing the surrounding disciples to feel a sense of awe.

"Senior Brother Lu is taking action. This battle is settled."

"Indeed. Senior Brother Lu is one of the top-ranked experts in the Outer Sect, and he reached the peak of the Mortal Core Realm long ago. Even with his cultivation suppressed, he can easily crush an ordinary 6th level Mortal Core Realm cultivator."

"That brat from the Heaven Severing Blade School is definitely going to lose this time."

Seeing Senior Brother Lu step forward, everyone immediately relaxed. Many people even revealed expressions of certain victory.

"Brat, considering that you are only at the 6th level of the Mortal Core Realm, I will allow you to make the first move."

Senior Brother Lu stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Remember this. That strike will be your last."

"Is that so?"

The pale-faced youth laughed loudly, his arrogance fully revealed. Then, he suddenly slashed out with his saber.

"You should first withstand one of my strikes before speaking so confidently."

Boom!

As the saber descended, it sounded like a clap of thunder. It was as if thousands of soldiers were charging at the same time, carrying a vast and majestic momentum. The terrifying saber beam reached Senior Brother Lu in an instant.

"Trivial tricks." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Senior Brother Lu smiled coldly and swung his sword.

However, in the very next moment, his expression suddenly changed.

The Sword Qi he unleashed was instantly shattered by the sharp saber beam, and he was forced to retreat three steps.

"Nothing more than this."

The pale-faced youth laughed and delivered two more saber strikes in quick succession. Each strike was faster and stronger than the last.

Rumble!

Two saber beams slammed into Senior Brother Lu like lightning. In an instant, Senior Brother Lu was blasted backward and fell directly into the lake, becoming soaked from head to toe.

"Impossible."

"This is impossible."

At that moment, the entire pavilion was shaken.

Everyone’s eyes widened, and they could hardly believe what they had just seen.

A dignified 9th level Mortal Core Realm expert, even after suppressing his cultivation, had been sent flying by three strikes from a cultivator of the same realm. This result was simply unbelievable.

"Hmph, useless trash."

Another Heavenly Sword Sect disciple at the 9th level of the Mortal Core Realm snorted coldly and stepped forward.

However, the result was the same.

Within three strikes, he was directly defeated by the pale-faced youth.

Afterward, one Heavenly Sword Sect disciple after another stepped forward. Each of them was at the 9th level of the Mortal Core Realm, and each suppressed their cultivation to the 6th level before fighting. Yet without exception, every single one of them was defeated by the pale-faced youth within three strikes.

Gradually, the atmosphere in the pavilion became increasingly strange.

The faces of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples became dark and heavy, and their expressions were extremely unsightly.

The great Heavenly Sword Sect actually could not find a single cultivator who could compete with the pale-faced youth at the same level.

If this matter spread, all of them would become the shame of the Heavenly Sword Sect. From then on, they would never be able to raise their heads before the disciples of the Heaven Severing Blade School.

"Hahahaha!"

The pale-faced youth laughed loudly, his voice filled with unconcealed arrogance. "Among those at the same level, there is actually no one here who can fight me. The Heavenly Sword Sect, one of the so-called Upper Three Sects, is nothing more than this."

As his laughter echoed across the pavilion, his gaze suddenly turned toward Li Yun.

"I heard that during this Outer Sect assessment of the Heavenly Sword Sect, an Essence Qi Realm cultivator suppressed everyone and took first place. That person must be you, right?"

The pale-faced youth stared straight at Li Yun, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

"How about it, brat? Do you dare to fight me?"

However, after hearing his challenge, Li Yun merely raised an eyebrow. He remained seated in place and showed no intention of standing up.

"Is this kid afraid to accept the challenge?"

"Hmph, it is only natural that he would not dare. So many experts at the 7th, 8th, and 9th levels of the Mortal Core Realm have already lost to that fellow after suppressing their cultivation. How could a mere Essence Qi Realm cultivator like him dare to step out?"

"What number one among the new Outer Sect Disciples? In my opinion, it is all just empty reputation. Perhaps the quality of this batch of new Outer Sect Disciples was simply too poor, which allowed him to take advantage."

Seeing that Li Yun had no intention of fighting, many surrounding Heavenly Sword Sect disciples looked at him with increasing disdain.

Whether or not one could win was one matter, but not even daring to step forward was another. In their eyes, such behavior was simply losing face for the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Li Yun, do you not plan to intervene?"

Seeing Li Yun remain unmoved, Jian Wuchen grew anxious. He lowered his voice and said, "I know your strength. Although that pale-faced youth is powerful, he may not necessarily be able to defeat you. If you step forward and defeat him, you will become the hero of this Moon Orchid Tea Gathering, and even Senior Sister Lan Yue will owe you a favor."

"Is that so?"

Li Yun’s expression remained indifferent.

Under normal circumstances, if the pale-faced youth challenged him, Li Yun naturally would not refuse. However, the people at this Moon Orchid Tea Gathering had shown him no respect from the beginning, and some of them had even deliberately tried to humiliate him.

Since that was the case, why should he bother stepping forward for them?

If this Moon Orchid Tea Gathering ended as a joke, and if everyone present became a laughingstock, what did that have to do with him?

"Li Yun."

At that moment, Lan Yue suddenly spoke.

She looked at Li Yun with a solemn expression and said, "What happened earlier was the fault of my Moon Orchid Society, and I apologize to you for it. However, this battle now concerns not only my personal dignity, but also the honor of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I hope you can take action."

"I heard from Jian Wuchen that you are in great need of five-element spiritual materials. As long as you are willing to fight, the reward for this tea gathering, the Azure Origin Immortal Wood, will belong to you. Furthermore, if you win, I will give you an additional drop of Profound Yin True Water."