Chapter 30: Teaching You How to Show Off!

"It's been a long time since I've seen such an arrogant brat. Your bravado is truly gratifying!" As a breeze swept across the square, Di Yi appeared soundlessly, his face expressionless, though a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

Chen Xiang's eyes widened in awe. Damn, that was quite the performance! I should try that sometime—I've just learned a new trick, he thought, feeling rather pleased with himself.

Before Chen Xiang could speak, Li Qiner stepped forward and blocked him, bowing slightly to Di Yi. "Senior, we are merely here to make a purchase and have not instigated any trouble. May I ask why you have followed us here? The cultivators' market prohibits any form of conflict."

She had already encountered this man earlier on the third floor, together with that man in ornate robes. Naturally, she understood that the man in robes was seeking revenge, but she hadn't seen this man before—he must be an elder. And since this was a cultivators' trading ground, the City Lord's Mansion had strictly forbidden any fighting. For now, she needed to stall.

"I only want his head. The rest is none of my concern. Move aside, little girl," Di Yi replied indifferently, not taking Li Qiner’s words to heart. After all, she too was a target—who would heed the pleas of prey?

"This guy's really putting on a show, huh? Not afraid of throwing your back out?" Chen Xiang sneered, pulling Li Qiner behind him. "Step aside and let me see how he plans to take my head."

He had already assessed Di Yi's cultivation: only at the first stage of Nascent Soul. Back when he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, he’d dared to face Nascent Soul cultivators of the third stage head-on. The first stage was nothing to him!

Li Qiner glanced at him anxiously. "Please, don’t be impulsive."

Even with the Frost Scar Sword to boost her power to nearly the second or third stage of Nascent Soul, she was still in the Core Formation stage. The gap between Core Formation and Nascent Soul was a vast chasm, not something a single high-grade spiritual weapon could bridge.

"Kid, I can't be bothered to dirty my own hands. Spare yourself some suffering and cut your own throat," Di Yi said coolly.

To him, Chen Xiang was no threat at all.

"Heh, you old fraud, you’re certainly overdoing it. Come here—let me show you something precious," Chen Xiang sneered. In a flash, using his Three Thousand Thunder Steps, he vanished, turning into a streak of lightning.

Di Yi, who had felt everything was under control, saw his pupils contract in shock the moment Chen Xiang disappeared. What sort of movement technique was this? How could it be so fast?

The next instant, he sensed danger behind him. Instantly, he summoned a large saber surrounded by spiritual energy—a grade-six profound weapon—blocking his lower back.

A metallic clang rang out as a sword tip met the saber.

Chen Xiang’s figure slowly materialized, an innocent smile on his face. "So, old fraud, still feeling cocky?"

Then, with a flash, a dagger appeared in Chen Xiang’s other hand, stabbing lightning-fast into Di Yi’s lower back.

A hiss of pain escaped Di Yi, who was still reeling from shock. He lashed out at Chen Xiang’s chest with his palm.

Chen Xiang dodged easily using the Three Thousand Thunder Steps, and in the next instant, he was back at his original spot.

"Ah, sorry about that—stabbed you in the kidney and left you a bit short. How could I be so careless? I swore never to hit people in the face or cut their kidneys—my bad, truly! Want me to find a dog and replace it for you?" Chen Xiang said, with a look of pain, regret, and sorrow.

Li Qiner couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her mouth at his antics.

The group of cultivators from the Treasure Pill Pavilion watched from a distance. Though Chen Xiang was infuriating, they were nonetheless deeply shocked.

During that close-quarter clash, Di Yi’s aura had slipped out, revealing his first-stage Nascent Soul cultivation. Yet he’d still been caught off guard by that brat, who was only at the third level of Core Formation! How had he managed that?

Di Yi’s expression remained calm; the stab had not been deep. Chen Xiang had used only a grade-three yellow weapon, and Di Yi had managed to defend himself with spiritual energy, so the blade had only gone in a couple of centimeters. Still, it was a humiliation. It wasn’t just his own carelessness—Chen Xiang had genuinely gotten the better of him. For a Nascent Soul cultivator to be wounded by a mere Core Formation junior—he could hardly bear the shame. If the City Lord found out, would he still remain the leader of the Earth Division?

On top of his anger, there was greed in his eyes. That movement technique was too extraordinary—even his own eyes couldn’t keep up with Chen Xiang’s speed; he could only sense his aura. If he could obtain that technique, he’d dare to challenge even fifth-stage Nascent Soul experts!

"Boy, you’ll die miserably, but before that, I’ll let you experience my methods," Di Yi said slowly, his demeanor still calm. In his view, Chen Xiang had only succeeded because of that strange movement technique and his own momentary lapse. Everything was still under his control.

"Oh? Still showing off in front of me? Time for the master to teach you a lesson!" Chen Xiang shook his head, sneering.

This time, Di Yi didn’t waste words. He charged straight at Chen Xiang. Though not as fast, his murderous intent locked onto his target—no matter how fast Chen Xiang was, he could not escape.

"Come on, I'll beat you with one hand tied!" Chen Xiang taunted, actually putting one hand behind his back and beckoning Di Yi forward with the other.

"Be careful!" Li Qiner called out worriedly, forming a hand seal to summon the Frost Scar Sword.

With a gentle wave, Chen Xiang sent Li Qiner flying a hundred meters away with a soft force. "Relax, Qiner, this old fraud can’t hurt me. Watch as I thrash him!"

Her spell interrupted, Li Qiner could only look at Chen Xiang at the center of the square, smiling wryly to herself. It's not a matter of whether you’ll be hurt—the commotion has already alerted the city guards!

Di Yi grew furious at Chen Xiang’s exaggerated arrogance. Did a mere Core Formation cultivator think he needed to be protected from a Nascent Soul master like himself?

With that thought, his incantation grew even more fierce.

"Burning Flame Palm!"

At his shout, a massive flaming hand materialized in the air, pressing down on Chen Xiang with astounding force.

Di Yi was a personal guard trained by the City Lord of Sky Profound City, having undergone brutal selection and missions. Though only at the first stage of Nascent Soul, he could stand toe-to-toe with third-stage cultivators. Burning Flame Palm was his signature technique, a high-grade profound skill he had mastered to perfection.

"Not bad—now that’s what I call an attack!" Chen Xiang exclaimed excitedly. He’d never fought a Nascent Soul master before; everything below Core Formation was a breeze, giving him no real thrill. This attack, at last, stirred his blood.

"Come, try my Mountain-Splitting Seal!"

With a flick of his right hand, a gigantic stamp of energy spun forth—he’d been ready with this technique all along, prepared to strike at any moment.

"To be continued..."