Chapter 1006: Pick Them Off One by One

As Guan Ming's voice fell.

The prodigies of the Moonlight Empire and the Crimson Flame Empire exchanged glances, instinctively puzzled.

For in their memory, not a single name among the top one hundred of the Eastern Region Prodigy List matched this one.

Could this person be an unknown nobody who hadn't even made the list?

Not only were they confused, but even some prodigies of the Great Jin Empire had no recollection of this name.

Only a few prodigies who had previously interacted with the Lotus Heaven Sect remembered Guan Ming.

"I recall this person—Guan Ming is under two hundred years old, possesses a Foundation Establishment realm fourth-layer cultivation base, and is one of the Nine True Disciples of the Lotus Heaven Sect."

"Lotus Heaven Sect? I vaguely remember it's just an ordinary Celestial Realm sect. Their ancestral elder supposedly has only a Celestial Realm third-layer cultivation base, still in the early stage, not even reaching the middle stage—clearly their lineage is weaker than the Ji family where Ji Feibai comes from, let alone comparable to the Cangwu Jiang family."

"With insufficient heritage and mediocre talent barely qualifying as a bottom-tier prodigy, how dare he directly challenge the Eight Great Prodigies of Cangwu?"

"Wait, I get it—Guan Ming is truly clever at exploiting loopholes..."

"Oh? What do you mean, friend?"

"Think about it—Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhi are both proven warriors with real combat records. Who among ordinary people would dare provoke them even slightly?"

"Even we ourselves are not qualified to face them, and the other members of the Eight Great Prodigies of Cangwu have unknown strengths—if we rashly challenged them, we risk falling into a ditch."

"Besides, these people haven't even made the Eastern Region Prodigy List; even if they won, there'd be no significant benefit."

"As for Jiang Yan, he ranks ninety-ninth on the list, with only one recorded victory: killing Zhou Yan. Normally, such a record wouldn't qualify him for the list, but his exceptional alchemical talent and profound expertise earned him a special exception."

"Heh, even if Jiang Yan's strength exceeds my expectations, it can only be marginally higher—alchemy requires immense time to master and refine. For him to earn the title of Little Alchemy King at such a young age through superior alchemical skill, he must have sacrificed considerable cultivation time..."

"So tell me, under these circumstances, how strong could his cultivation base possibly be?"

"Ah, if I'd known, I'd have gone first—now Guan Ming has snatched the chance to gain fame. What a pity."

With these final words spoken, the crowd suddenly understood.

Thus, Jiang Yan was clearly the most obvious soft target among the Cangwu prodigies.

Defeat him, and one could step on his head to gain fame across the Three Empires!

Thinking of this, many prodigies pounded their chests and stamped their feet in regret, wondering why they hadn't acted sooner.

Facing Guan Ming's challenge, Jiang Yan's expression was odd as he suppressed his laughter: "Are you certain you wish to challenge me?"

He had naturally heard the discussions around him.

But considering the vast gap between them, he didn't wish to bully the weak.

That's why he spoke—to urge the other to reconsider carefully.

Yet Guan Ming did not accept Jiang Yan's goodwill; instead, he took it as fear, as proof the other dared not fight him.

My guess was right—Jiang Yan excels in alchemy, but his cultivation and combat power are "mediocre."

This duel—I've got it won! Victory is certain!!

Guan Ming couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

Without hesitation, he drew a crimson battle blade.

"This blade is only top-grade Earth Rank, but it has been my life-long magic treasure for over fifty years—is this sufficient as the stake?"

Seeing the opponent still insisted on challenging him, offering a free magic treasure, Jiang Yan had no reason to refuse.

After all, though he himself had no use for the blade, giving it to his clan members was perfectly fine—no need to waste it.

Thus, he readily agreed and casually pulled out a top-grade Earth Rank treasure herb as the stake.

Then, he reached out with both hands, lifted Bai Fa off his shoulders, and handed it to Jiang Beiyeh to watch for a moment.

After completing this, he strode forward into the circular barrier set up by the clan lord.

Seeing this, Guan Ming hurried in as well, facing Jiang Yan across from him.

At this moment, his heart surged with excitement, his eyes gleaming as if he could already foresee his victory!

But just then, a terrifying sonic crack suddenly pierced the air from ahead!

Guan Ming's smile froze. Before he could comprehend what happened, he felt a searing pain in his abdomen, spreading through his entire body!

Instantly, his pupils shrank, his face flushed, his features twisted in agony!

Under the force of an immensely powerful impact, his entire body was flung backward!

A heavy thud echoed through the entire arena.

Guan Ming crashed heavily to the ground.

At this moment, he felt as if struck by an ancient monstrous beast—every bone in his body threatened to shatter, agony piercing deep into his marrow!

Only after he swallowed a healing elixir, easing the pain and regaining some strength, did he painfully lift his head to look around.

But the sight before him left him stunned.

Behind him, he was barely a finger's width from the barrier's edge.

Had he been pushed just a little further, he would have fallen out of bounds.

Suddenly, Jiang Yan's voice sounded beside him: "Hmm, perfect position. If I'd misjudged the force, you'd have shattered our academy's floor tiles—that would've been troublesome."

Guan Ming jumped in fright, whirling around—and met that familiar face.

"Jiang Yan..."

Though it was midsummer, Guan Ming suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold!

That cold seeped into his entire body, as if freezing all his blood, sinking into his marrow, making him shiver uncontrollably!

Jiang Yan smiled warmly, speaking in an extremely friendly tone: "Shall we continue?"

Guan Ming stiffened, his face pale.

Recalling what had just happened—especially that soul-rending pain—and seeing Jiang Yan's friendly expression, how could he not understand?

One strike nearly took half his life.

If he got another? What would happen?!

Thinking of this, Guan Ming hurriedly shook his head, wobbling it like a rattle-drum: "No more, no more!!"

Having said that, he scrambled up in a rush, not even having the time to attend to his life-bound magic treasure, and fled in panic.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan was dumbfounded and laughed.

He casually took out the Cangwu Token and collected the battle blade that had fallen to the ground.

Then he turned his head, looked at the many prodigies of the three great imperial dynasties, and said with a smile: "If there's only this one person, I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy myself to the fullest."

"So now, is there anyone else who wants to step up and fight me?"

At this point, Jiang Yan's voice paused slightly as he swept his gaze around.

For him, a mere nobody like Guan Ming was nothing more than an appetizer.

Even his own clanswoman had defeated the prodigy ranked eleventh.

As her clansman, how could he fall behind?!

Thinking of this, Jiang Yan said casually: "Since you're all here, so as not to return disappointed, if none of you are willing to step up, then let me pick my opponents one by one......"