“W-What’s going on?”

The disciples of the Moon Watching Mountain snapped out of the shock, then looked at their fallen Senior Brother Fang in disbelief. The weird scene was not an illusion; it was real!

He was instantly defeated?

Impossible!

Nobody saw exactly what happened when Senior Brother Fang was knocked away!

Even so, the senior disciples of Moon Watching Mountain, He Buyu included, were sour-faced after the initial shock.

They saw how Su Ping had merely punched in the most simple way, and his opponent was flung off the stage.

The attack was normal and unremarkable. And yet, it was much stronger and faster than that of anyone who had built a foundation.

“Did he cheat?”

“Did some of his seniors intervene?”

Some disciples of the Moon Watching Mountain were questioning the fact, finding it impossible to accept the situation. Senior Brother Fang, their strongest fellow disciple, had been utterly defeated with lightning speed, and they didn’t even see how Su Ping had done it. There was only one possibility—

He Buyu and the others came out of their befuddlement; their expressions changed a bit upon hearing the complaints of their juniors.

“Humph. Are you sore losers?”

Before He Buyu could say anything, Zhuang Bizhe—who had also recovered from his shock—snorted and said, “Junior Brother Su, is this how the Moon Watching Mountain teaches your disciples? You slander those you can’t defeat?”

He Buyu was infuriated by the latter jumping on the chance to scold him, but he knew he couldn’t argue back. Even they had barely seen how Su Ping had achieved such a result; it was natural for the new disciples to misunderstand.

“Silence,” He Buyu said in a low voice.

The angry disciples were stopped in time, as they were about to lash out because of Zhuang Bizhe’s taunt.

Everybody looked at Senior Brother He with a mix of shock and suspicion.

“Senior Brother Fang lost; his opponent is far stronger than those who have attained the building foundation state,” said He Buyu solemnly.

Not just the disciples of Moon Watching Mountain—many of those from Light Snow Mountain were similarly puzzled. Still, confusion gave way to shock upon hearing what He Buyu said.

Su Ping was far stronger than the terrifying Fang-surnamed fellow?

He already formed the core?

Forming a core in one year…

Many people couldn’t think beyond that point; they looked at Su Ping as if he were a monster.

Ignoring the whispers, He Buyu gazed at Su Ping and imposed pressure on him. “Junior brother, are you really a new disciple of the Light Snow Mountain?”

“Huh?”

Su Ping didn’t feel any pressure; the questioning made him raise his eyebrows.

Before Su Ping replied—Zhuang Bizhe had put on a cold expression. “What’s the meaning of this? Are you suspecting that Junior Brother Su isn’t a freshman? Would you like to check his registration file?”

He Buyu’s expression changed; there was a short lapse of silence before he said, “Senior Brother Zhuang, I’m not questioning this junior brother’s date of registration. I simply want to know whether or not he has pursued immortality before he became a disciple.”

Zhuang Bizhe frowned, realizing why the man made such a question. He looked at Su Ping, also eager to know the answer.

“Yes. I have pursued immortality before,” Su Ping voluntarily answered.

There was nothing to hide. Besides, it would be hard for him to hide it even if he wanted to, as his strength would eventually give him away.

He Buyu seemed enlightened, and he looked better than before. “No wonder you’re so skilled, junior brother. I wonder, what level were you, and where did you cultivate before you were admitted by the Heaven Asking Church?”

“Are you interrogating me?” Su Ping narrowed his eyes and looked down at him.

His question and his condescending eyes naturally imposed a great pressure on He Buyu, who felt that a ferocious beast were staring back at him. All his pores contracted beyond his control; his heart raced and his expression showed it, as he felt anxious and pressured.

This came as a shock for him; such a natural reaction made him realize that Su Ping was too strong and dangerous!

“Junior Brother Su passed the test of the Three Lives Mirror when he was admitted by this sect; there’s nothing wrong with him. You don’t get to interrogate him, Junior Brother He!” Zhuang Bizhe defended Su Ping, feeling angry by the interrogation.

He Buyu, however, didn’t seem to hear what Zhuang Bizhe said. He looked at Su Ping in shock and suspicion. He felt that the situation was absurd, thinking it was a hallucination.

“So, he’s cultivated in the past. No wonder he’s so strong.”

“Doesn’t that count as cheating? It’s understandable that Senior Brother Fang lost.”

“Maybe he’s cultivated for a couple of years. It wouldn’t be surprising even if he condensed a core already. Given another two years, Senior Brother Fang will form the core too!”

The other disciples from the Moon Watching Mountain were all enlightened, feeling much better as a result; they thought that Senior Brother Fang’s failure was glorious.

“This junior brother declared that he wanted to challenge me. Therefore, I can give him a chance,” He Buyu said all of a sudden, shocking all those present.

All eyes looked at him in bewilderment, not expecting him to actively join the competition.

Zhuang Bizhe’s expression changed ever so slightly. He said with an angry voice, “Junior Brother He, are you a sore loser?”

He Buyu replied peacefully, “None of that, Senior Brother Zhuang. It’s just that this junior brother challenged me just now. As his senior, it’s only natural that I practice with him and offer guidance, right?”

Zhuang Bizhe was grave-faced, as he couldn’t really refute that. The heart of the matter was that Su Ping had initiated the challenge, and the challenge had been accepted.

Su Ping had already answered before Zhuang Bizhe looked for a way to respond, “That’s all right.”

He received another round of strange expressions from everyone present, as they thought he was truly out of his mind.

Does he really think he can beat He Buyu, who has been famous for a very long time?

“Junior Brother Su…”

Zhuang Bizhe’s expression changed as he wanted to stop him, but Su Ping simply urged, “You may all come together, if you think it’s unfair for him to fight me on his own.”

The disciples of Moon Watching Mountain were infuriated, thinking the latter was too arrogant since he held them in such contempt.

“I can handle you alone,” He Buyu scoffed. He was determined to find out how strong Su Ping was, and find out what made him so confident. He also wanted to figure out whether or not the pressure he felt earlier was just an illusion.

He simply flashed toward the arena afterwards.

“You may attack,” said He Buyu indifferently, hands behind his back.

“Okay,” said Su Ping and walked toward his contender, unwilling to waste his time.

He didn’t walk too fast; he didn’t sprint, either. He simply took one step after the other.

Still, he seemed to be stomping on He Buyu’s heart with every step.

He Buyu couldn’t retain the indifferent expression on his face any longer; his face was changing as his opponent approached.

Su Ping became increasingly bigger in his eyes, emanating a magnificent aura; just like a mountainous giant that would crush him underneath his feet.

“Huh?”

In the sky—Zhuang Bizhe also noticed this, and was rather shocked.

“You…”

He Buyu’s hands—which had been clasped behind his back in the beginning—were now dangling on his sides. His body shivered, cold sweat dripping from his cheeks. He then regretted being too cocky earlier; he even felt the urge of attacking first to overcome the fright.

Bang! Bang!

Su Ping approached him one step after the other. Ten meters, five meters, three meters!

He Buyu could no longer hold back at that distance. Face contorted, he suddenly attacked, throwing the illusion of a small world right towards Su Ping’s face.

The latter, however, calmly extended his hands and grabbed the small world illusion, to then tear it apart as if it were nothing but a thin piece of paper.

Su Ping swung his fist while the other was coping with shock; the attack crashed into He Buyu’s chest like a golden dragon, knocking him out of the sage. He stayed in midair outside the arena.

In an instant, everybody fell quiet.

The disciples of both factions were astounded.

“No way…” Tang Jingyu mumbled to himself with widened eyes.

The Fang-surnamed young man—who had gotten back on his feet by then—looked at the scene with utmost disbelief.

It was indeed unbelievable!

The power shown by Su Ping was beyond their imagination!

Even He Buyu had been knocked out of the arena with a single punch. It was like witnessing a god being taken down by a mere mortal!

Zhuang Bizhe’s expression changed to one of shock. Even though he despised the people of Moon Watching Mountain, he could admit that Junior Brother He was talented and strong. And yet, the man had been pushed out of the arena by one punch?

That junior brother of his seemed to be terrifyingly strong!

He couldn’t have achieved that with just one year of cultivation, not even if he was a reborn Deity Ancestor!

That is, unless Su Ping had already cultivated to a very high level before he was admitted as a disciple!

In prevailing silence—Su Ping shook his head and withdrew his fist. He was no longer trying to hide his strength. He was ready to explore, having learned the deity aura’s origin from Mu Xuefeng. It would be of little use to stay in the Heaven Asking Church any longer, so he wasn’t afraid of being exposed.

He had only taken part in the competition to repay Master Mu’s favor and help her keep face.

He turned around and looked at his benefactress who was still seated. He smiled upon seeing her shocked and speechless expression, then jumped out of the arena to approach her.

“Master,” said Su Ping obediently.

Mu Xuefeng looked at him, momentarily dazed. “You…”

“I plan to search for the origin of deity aura. Thank you for taking care of me all this time,” said Su Ping respectfully.

There was a slight change in Mu Xuefeng’s expression as she hesitated. However, Su Ping simply took to the clear sky after offering a bow.

The still stunned disciples snapped out of their shock and exclaimed as they watched him soar in the sky.

They didn’t understand the power that defeated He Buyu, but they did know that being able to fly was a telltale symbol of having formed a core.

However, after calming down and mulling over the matter with more care, they realized that forming the core was an insignificant achievement for Su Ping. Having defeated Senior Brother He Buyu, was an indicator of an even greater power!

He was only one step away from becoming a great deity!

On that day—all disciples raised their heads and watched Su Ping soaring into the sky as if he were ascending.

“He…”

Back in the crowd—Ma Bo was stunned for a long time before he finally got a grip on the situation. His heart was pounding; no wonder Su Ping had slapped him away that easily. He didn’t know that the guy was strong!

Realization terrified him, as he remembered how he had mocked the latter. He would have surely been gravely wounded if Su Ping hadn’t been as merciful.

He had learned a lot from the incident, keeping a low profile from then onwards and no longer being arrogant with others, which would benefit him in his future life.

“Oh no!” Mu Xuefeng realized what had just happened; her expression changed as she flashed to catch up.

She had already reached him when Su Ping disappeared from everybody’s sights, stepping out of the void and standing in his way.

“You’re going to the deity rivers?”

Mu Xuefeng extended her arm and stopped Su Ping.

Dazed for a moment, Su Ping then said with a smile, “That’s right.”

“It’s too dangerous.” Mu Xuefeng shook her head. “Like I said, even Deity Kings would have trouble approaching the deity rivers. The rivers seem to be right above us, but there’s actually a long distance in between. They’re so dangerous that even Deity Kings might perish. Even I wouldn’t dare approach them; you certainly shouldn’t.”

Su Ping smiled in return. “I have my ways. Cultivation is all about overcoming difficulties in your own way, right? That’s why it’s fun.”

Mu Xuefeng shook her head, dazed. “That’s not wrong. However, I’m your master; even though I may have failed in fulfilling my responsibility, I cannot stand idle and watch as you get yourself killed.”

Lost for words, Su Ping could only say, “Master, I’m just going there to take a look. I’ll come back if I encounter any danger.”

“I’ll accompany you then.”

“…”

Su Ping suddenly felt a headache. He still wanted to keep his resurrection ability a secret in that site. After some thought, he could only say, “Master, look over there.”

“Huh?”

Mu Xuefeng turned around, but she saw nothing.

Her head turned back, only to find she was alone. She could see the traces left by Su Ping in the void after the flash. What gave her a slight shock was that the traces were shallow; he must have traveled into a deep space and disappeared.

Her eyes were keen enough to tell that her new disciple had mastered the perfect path of space!

“No wonder he defeated He Buyu with one punch…” Mu Xuefeng mumbled and looked up, already knowing he was determined to go there; he would still sneak out later, even if she stopped him then.

Did he come to the Heaven Asking Church just to ask about the deity rivers? But that’s common knowledge… Mu Xuefeng’s eyes glittered. She remembered that Su Ping didn’t do anything during the one year he stayed there, not once thinking that he was a spy. If he were, he wouldn’t have exposed himself for her sake.

Maybe he joined the Heaven Asking Church because of me?

Her eyes rippled for a moment, then she heaved a sigh as she stared at the traces left by Su Ping.

…

In the high sky—

Su Ping moved at a high speed; he wasn’t relieved until he saw that Mu Xuefeng wasn’t chasing him.

Then, he looked at the deity rivers above him and dashed at full speed.

He had already returned to the Star State after a year of cultivation, regaining his peak combat abilities and becoming even stronger!

It was all thanks to Old Monster Ye’s pills, which were all great tonics. The new constitution—brought forth by the dragon and phoenix blood—proved to be increasingly helpful as he rose to higher levels.

His new constitution allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the law of chaos, even though he had grasped it perfectly.