Chapter 108: Challenging the Candidate

In the next two days, the outer gate's new disciples enjoyed a rare quiet; no one came to harass them.

Ye Liuyun took the chance to solidify the Air‑Piercing Finger's space‑traversing ability.

At the same time, he studied many fist styles and incorporated them into Purple Lightning Crazy Thunder.

He summarized a few moves himself: the first, Thunderfire Heavenburn, perfects the fusion of thunder and Golden Crow Holy Fire; a single punch releases both thunder power and Golden Crow Holy Fire, striking down from the sky while mingling Lei Ming's roar, capable of focusing on one opponent or splitting into multiple attacks for a group.

The second, Purple Lightning Annihilation, blends other fist styles; a single punch launches a purple lightning True Yuan as thick as a water bucket, interlaced with Golden Crow Holy Fire, destroying everything before it into ash, far stronger than the original Purple Lightning Annihilation, and it attacks in a straight line.

The third: Purple Lightning Crazy Thunder. This move merges various speed‑type fists and adds spatial insight, emphasizing extreme speed and unpredictability; thunder and electric shock strike simultaneously, and the thunder roar can scatter the opponent's mind, weakening their defense.

The fourth: Thunderfire World‑Ending. This combines many fist techniques; a single punch can mobilize the thunder source within the Sea Transformation and Golden Crow Holy Fire, attacking the opponent with full force. It consumes a lot of True Yuan, emptying a True Yuan Fifth Tier with one punch, but its power is astronomically great.

Although his catalog of moves is still short, together with Air‑Piercing Finger and Overlord Sword Technique it is more than enough.

Moreover, this attempt at fusing techniques deepened his comprehension of the arts; many methods revealed their profound principles and advantages at a glance.

This will greatly aid his future battles, making it easier to spot opponents' flaws and counter or defend.

Of course, cultivation of realms, bloodlines, and Soul is his daily mandatory practice, never missed a day.

Two days later, the area for newly admitted disciples became lively again.

"Why is Yuan Meng here?"

A slightly panicked voice rang out, prompting everyone to look outward.

"Yuan Meng, ranked third on the outer gate ranking, why is he here?" some newcomers asked in bewilderment, their eyes showing awe and apprehension.

Ye Liuyun sensed the commotion outside and saw three people entering the entrance of his residence.

In the middle stood a figure as massive as a vajra, bare‑chested, his muscles like iron knots. Even without trying to conceal his aura, one could feel the immense explosive power in his physique, giving the impression of a ferocious beast that suffocates those nearby.

"Is this Yuan Meng? He seems a disciple who focuses on body‑refining. With just his Physical Body, he might already stand toe‑to‑toe with a True Yuan Ninth Tier warrior!"

Ye Liuyun immediately recognized the strength of this man's body. He also practices body‑refining, but it differs greatly from Yuan Meng's; Ye refines from the inside out, whereas Yuan Meng likely emphasizes external training.

Comparing purely on body‑refining, Ye Liuyun still has a slight edge over Yuan Meng. He has even hardened his internal organs to gold‑iron, something ordinary body‑refiners cannot match.

Yet Yuan Meng's realm is True Yuan Ninth Tier, four tiers above Ye's; Ye estimates his combat power to be comparable to a guard of the Royal Mansion, having reached the half‑step Sea Transformation realm.

Yuan Meng walked forward step by step, each step making the ground seem to tremble, causing the new disciples' hearts to quiver.

As he approached, those nearer felt their qi and blood compressed, almost suffocating.

Huh?

Ye Liuyun noticed that to Yuan Meng's left stood Hu Da Hai, whom he had defeated two days earlier, and another short‑haired youth whose aura was equally strong.

"Huang Wenxuan, ranked nineteenth on the outer gate! Why is he here too? What's going on today, so many masters have arrived!"

Ye Liuyun heard disciples discussing the short‑haired youth.

The top twenty outer gate disciples all exist as inner gate candidates. They each have their own Side Courtyard; the appearance of two today likely has ulterior motives.

Moreover, with Hu Da Hai present, Ye Liuyun immediately thought it might be targeting him.

Sure enough, Hu Da Hai led the two of them to Ye Liuyun's brothers' residence.

Ye Liuyun stepped out of his dwelling and faced the three at a distance.

Song Yi and Li Mengxi hurried out as well, standing together with Ye Liuyun.

Yuan Meng and Huang Wenxuan also turned toward Ye Liuyun's direction.

Other disciples near Ye Liuyun's residence scattered, fearing any association with him might entangle them.

Song Yi and Li Mengxi stood firmly behind Ye Liuyun, yet their bodies were stiff and their breathing rapid.

That intangible psychological pressure made them uneasy.

Only Ye Liuyun remained composed, calmly watching them.

"Hu Da Hai, you're utterly useless, can't even contain a True Essence Fifth Tier?" Huang Wenxuan sneered at Hu Da Hai.

Hu Da Hai forced a weak smile, not daring to retort. In front of these two inner gate candidate disciples, he dared not act rashly.

The top twenty outer gate disciples are cultivated as inner gate candidates, enjoying status and treatment far superior to other outer gate disciples.

He knows their strength well; whether it's Yuan Meng or Huang Wenxuan, defeating them would take no more than two or three strikes.

Huang Wenxuan walked over with a smile and said to Ye Liuyun, "Hand over your senior sister to me, and I'll ensure your safety in the outer gate; otherwise, you'll never know peace again!"

"Just because you're a piece of trash?" Ye Liuyun replied disdainfully.

"What did you say?" Huang Wenxuan's face changed instantly.

These newcomers are too reckless!

A True Yuan Fifth Tier new disciple daring to insult a nineteenth‑ranked inner gate candidate—if he doesn't step in to teach him a lesson, the newcomers will cause chaos.

Ye Liuyun suddenly asked, "I heard you're the nineteenth‑ranked inner gate candidate?"

"Hmph, good that you know! Insult me and you're courting death. I'm not a waste like Hu Da Hai," Huang Wenxuan retorted coldly.

"Fine! Then I challenge you!" Ye Liuyun said immediately.

"Junior brother, you're insane!" Li Mengxi shouted. Huang Wenxuan's strength is not far from Wei Zhen's back then; challenging him would be certain death for Ye Liuyun!

"What?" Huang Wenxuan thought he'd misheard!

"The academy rules allow a new disciple to challenge an inner gate candidate. I now issue a challenge to you—do you dare accept?"

"Hahaha!" Huang Wenxuan burst into laughter. "Did I hear right? A True Yuan Fifth Tier challenges me!"

The surrounding onlookers laughed loudly, some shaking their heads at Ye Liuyun.

"That kid must be crazy, daring to challenge Huang Wenxuan!"

Yet Ye Liuyun remained unmoved, staring intently at Huang Wenxuan.

Sensing Ye Liuyun's provocation, Huang Wenxuan said seriously, "Fine, I accept! Go apply at the Comprehensive Affairs Hall. But if you lose, I'll discard you, and even your beautiful senior sister won't escape my grasp!"

Huang Wenxuan chuckled lewdly, cast a lecherous glance at Li Mengxi, then turned and left.

Yuan Meng, who had previously ignored Ye Liuyun, now watched him with interest before leaving together with Huang Wenxuan and the others.

Li Mengxi felt deeply guilty; after all, this challenge stemmed from her, yet Ye Liuyun bore the brunt of the fallout.

"Senior sister, you need to have a little confidence in me—have you ever seen me do something I wasn't sure about?" Ye Liuyun smiled at Li Mengxi and went straight to the General Affairs Hall to get the challenge book.