Chapter 62: The Cigarette Is Already Lit

When Cang Luo's declaration to challenge a Warrior Stage 9 cultivator across realms spread, everyone present first froze, then displayed varied expressions: anger, disdain, excitement, surprise...

Naturally, the anger belonged to the Kong Sheng Academy group; Cang Luo's provocation was not only a supreme humiliation to them but also a slap in the face, a blatant slap directly to Kong Sheng Academy's face.

Just moments ago, Sima Ling had said the exact same thing; he claimed he would challenge a disciple of Xuan Tian Gate at Warrior Stage 9 with his own Warrior Stage 7 cultivation.

Yet the result was that he was easily defeated by Cang Luo, who also possessed Warrior Stage 7 cultivation, and had one arm broken; this slap in the face echoed with a loud crack.

They wished they could tear Cang Luo to pieces right then and there; the name of Kong Sheng must not be sullied!

Unfortunately, this was Xuan Tian Gate in Tongzhou, not the Imperial Capital, and certainly not Kong Sheng Academy; they had no way to deal with Cang Luo and could only teach him a lesson through a fair duel.

However, a Warrior Stage 7 was clearly not his match; even a Warrior Stage 8 might not be able to defeat him. Did they really have to send out a Warrior Stage 9 disciple? Kong Sheng Academy could not afford to lose face like this.

The outer sect disciples could not decide, so they all turned to look at their inner sect elite disciple, Senior Brother Murong Ye, waiting for his instructions...

Li Haoran felt disdain; after observing, he also believed the reason Cang Luo could defeat Sima Ling was the advantage of age, with his Yuan energy reserves far exceeding the opponent's.

But challenging a Warrior Stage 9? That is far too arrogant!

For warriors at Warrior Stage 9 cultivation, it is not simply a matter of whoever has more Yuan energy being stronger; their Yuan energy reserves have reached a bottleneck where they can no longer absorb more, so they instead refine their Yuan energy over and over, making it purer and their Yuan Wheel stronger, preparing for the breakthrough to Martial General.

At the same time, their physical strength and proficiency in martial arts are incomparable to ordinary warriors.

They might only need a single punch to shatter your body into dust...

Zhao Renwu shared the same thoughts as Li Haoran.

The excitement belonged to Gan Lei, Li Zhanxing, and others; seeing Cang Luo defeat Sima Ling with almost no effort, they felt challenging a Warrior Stage 9 was not impossible; winning would be good, but losing would not be shameful, given the cultivation gap between them.

Seeing Xuan Qingqing exclaimed in surprise: "Junior Brother Cang, Warrior Stage 9 and Martial General are only one step apart; their Yuan energy may have already undergone a qualitative change and cannot be compared to ordinary warriors.

With your current strength, even if your Thunderclap Palm strikes the opponent directly, it will not cause effective damage..."

Cang Luo shook his head and said firmly: "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your concern. Even if I cannot win, I must fight. They insulted my brother first, and then mocked Xuan Tian Gate for having no one capable; I, your junior brother, cannot swallow this indignity.

Though we are commoners with low aptitude, having taken refuge in Xuan Tian Gate, we share its glory and shame.

In life, we are willing to fight to the death to defend the dignity of Xuan Tian Gate!

In death, we are willing to become Martial Souls, guarding Xuan Tian Gate for all eternity..."

Cang Luo's voice was resonant and impassioned; Seeing Xuan Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then moved as she repeated: "In life, we are willing to fight to the death to defend the dignity of Xuan Tian Gate... In death, we are willing to become Martial Souls, guarding Xuan Tian Gate for all eternity..."

Hearing Cang Luo's such impassioned oath, all the Xuan Tian Gate disciples present were equally moved, chanting with conviction and repeating Cang Luo's oath.

"In life, we are willing to fight to the death to defend the dignity of Xuan Tian Gate!"

"In death, we are willing to become Martial Souls, guarding Xuan Tian Gate for all eternity..."

The crowd surged with passion, creating a mighty momentum that attracted many disciples practicing martial arts nearby; they came following the sound, and although they did not know what had happened, they spontaneously joined the ranks and shouted together.

Hundreds and thousands of Xuan Tian Gate outer sect disciples shouted the oath while glaring angrily at the Kong Sheng Academy group, making them uneasy; with darkened faces, they could not look anywhere and could only awkwardly whisper to those beside them.

In the crowd, Yun Jiao looked at Cang Luo, appearing at that moment like a devoted little fan...

Seeing Xuan Qingqing looked at her junior brothers and sisters, united as one, and was overwhelmed with emotion; she never expected that Cang Luo, an outsider from the 'Earth' secret realm, would have such a strong sense of belonging to Xuan Tian Gate.

She excitedly grabbed Cang Luo's hand and said with a serious expression: "Junior Brother Cang, we indeed did not misjudge you."

Cang Luo understood what Seeing Xuan Qingqing meant; she referred to Elder Xuan's decision to let him stay and cultivate in Xuan Tian Gate as correct, which could provide help to Xuan Tian Gate after the teleportation array opens to Earth next year.

Cang Luo could only chuckle inwardly; next year's matters can be discussed next year, and who knows what shape things will take; the immediate priority is to defeat the opponent, raise prestige, and pave the way for the faction-building plan.

After the shouting gradually subsided, Cang Luo roared at the Kong Sheng Academy group: "What? Dare not fight? Where has that arrogant swagger from just now gone?"

Facing Cang Luo's provocation, the Kong Sheng Academy disciples were furious and all requested permission to fight from Murong Ye.

Murong Ye smiled slightly, put down the glowing cup in his hand, ignored the requests of his junior brothers and sisters, and instead looked at Cang Luo, asking: "Do you know Cang Huangwu?"

"Cang Huangwu?"

Cang Luo murmured the name softly, not knowing what he meant by suddenly asking this name, and shook his head, saying: "I do not know him."

Seeing that he did not seem to be lying, Murong Ye asked no more; with a slight movement of his fingertips, the female disciple Fang Yi, who had been serving beside him, hurried forward to pour wine.

Murong Ye took a small sip and then said: "Junior Brother Dragon Batian, go and spar with this Senior Brother Cang from Xuan Tian Gate."

The moment his words fell, a roar immediately came from behind.

"Yes!"

With this roar, a majestic, thick-browed, big-eyed, and dignified young man stepped out from among the Kong Sheng Academy disciples.

He walked to Murong Ye's front, puffed out his chest and raised his head, arched his thick eyebrows, and said with firm tone: "This junior brother will surely not fail Senior Brother's expectations and will restore the name of our Kong Sheng Academy."

"Hmm."

Murong Ye nodded lightly, had the junior sister beside him pour another cup of wine, and then said to him: "This cup of wine is still warm; go quickly and return quickly. After you return victorious, this senior brother will toast you again."

Dragon Batian roared loudly: "Thank you, Senior Brother Murong. In ancient times, the Green Dragon Martial Saint Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang, beheaded demons with warm wine; today, I, Dragon Batian, will spar with a little thief with warm wine. This junior brother will be back in no time."

Having said this, Dragon Batian quickly walked to the center of the arena under the expectations of his fellow juniors and seniors, crossed his arms over his chest, glanced sideways at Cang Luo, and said calmly: "Dragon Batian, from the Dragon family of the Imperial Capital, under sixteen years old, Warrior Stage 9... Peak."

The two words 'Peak' were pronounced especially heavily; after announcing his cultivation, Dragon Batian did not wait for Cang Luo to speak and continued: "Do not say that our Kong Sheng Academy bullies the weak; I will stand still and let you have three moves. Hurry and strike, or the wine will grow cold."

Dragon Batian's words instantly enraged the Xuan Tian Gate disciples; one disciple shouted: "This person is too arrogant! Senior Brother Cang, take him down!"

"Exactly, too arrogant! He actually imitates the story of the Green Dragon Martial Saint beheading demons with warm wine; who does he think he is?"

Cang Luo also felt he was very arrogant; not only were his words arrogant, but his name was arrogant too.

Dragon Batian?

Why not call him Dragon Aotian?

Just then, Cang Luo suddenly heard someone behind him whispering about Dragon Batian's background.

Someone behind said the Dragon family of the Imperial Capital was famous, holding high positions in the imperial court; in this generation's direct lineage, Dragon Batian had three older brothers, whose names were each more arrogant than the last.

They were named Dragon Aotian, Dragon Batian, and Dragon Xiaotian!

Hearing this, Cang Luo was speechless and his glasses nearly fell off; he looked at Dragon Batian as if seeing a fool.

There actually are Dragon Aotian, Dragon Batian, and Dragon Xiaotian! Who gave you such brain-dead names?

Next year, or whenever the two worlds connect, if your Dragon family learns that these names are synonymous with 'brain-dead' on Earth, will you be so angry you change your names?

Although the names are silly, the opponent indeed has the capital to be arrogant; reaching the peak of Warrior Stage 9 before even turning sixteen is truly a case where comparing people makes one die of envy!

Glancing back at the excited Gan Lei and others, roughly the same age, yet their cultivation was only Warrior Stage 4...

Cang Luo felt helpless; seeing the opponent still maintain that arrogant posture of "Heaven is first, I am second," he decided he must crush the other hard next, directly using his trump card.

Damn! Still standing still, letting me have three moves?

So incredibly arrogant.

Today is the first day of my power-building plan; only I can be arrogant.

Cang Luo's thoughts spun a hundred turns, and even the satellites in outer space seemed to spin along.

Suddenly, Cang Luo turned to look at a subordinate of Wang Fuhai, who was currently holding something like a cigarette in his mouth, puffing away clouds of smoke.

Cang Luo had asked before; this thing was made from a Grade 1 spiritual herb called Concentrated Spirit Grass, its effect aiding the faster absorption of Yuan Power; it could be placed in an incense burner, lit, and the smoke inhaled, or dried and rolled into cigarettes to smoke just like him.

Cang Luo walked over, thought for a moment that the other seemed to be surnamed Lin, and asked: "Senior Brother Lin, do you still have any Concentrated Spirit Cigarettes?"

"Yes, yes, does Senior Brother Cang want some?"

Lin Qin quickly responded; seeing Cang Luo nod, he hurriedly took out another one and lit it, thinking Cang Luo wanted to restore some Yuan Power, and quickly offered it with both hands.

Cang Luo waved his hand, did not take it, but returned to the arena instead, saying as he walked: "Keep the cigarette lit; I shall be back in a moment!"

"..." The crowd suddenly froze for a second.

"Keep the cigarette lit; I shall be back in a moment..."

Lin Qin watched Cang Luo's back, involuntarily repeating the phrase; instantly his eyes lit up, feeling that Cang Luo's words were too grand, too arrogant, even more arrogant than the opponent.

He raised his thumb in admiration, saying: "Senior Brother Cang is mighty; today I shall act as the cigarette-holding boy, waiting quietly for Senior Brother's good news."

Having spoken, Lin Qin held the Concentrated Spirit Cigarette with both hands before his chest, his expression solemn, just like a devout Buddhist offering incense to the Buddha.

Seeing this, the disciples of Profound Tianmen burst into laughter, causing the group from Confucius Sage Academy to become furious.

Seeing the two junior brothers' funny coordination, Xuan Qingqing could not help but laugh, covering her mouth, her figure swaying like a blooming flower, causing the disciples to turn their heads and stare.

In Li Haoran's eyes, her appearance was like a lovesick maiden gazing at her beloved; he angrily shook his paper fan, and thoughts of killing Cang Luo sprang up again...

Long Zhentian saw Cang Luo acting so pretentious and felt a surge of anger; he sneered: "Do not boast with words; strike quickly."

Having spoken, he secretly activated the Spring and Autumn Palm Technique, preparing to instantly kill Cang Luo after the three moves passed.

Long Zhentian did not take Cang Luo seriously at all; as long as Cang Luo dared to approach, he was confident he could strike him with one palm, rendering him unable to fight, sending Cang Luo to the Western Heaven to meet the Buddha.

However, Cang Luo had no intention of engaging in close combat with him.

Heh!

Standing still, letting me have three moves?

I will summon my Husky and spray you to death with a mouthful of angry spit!

Let's see if you are still so arrogant!?