From Tang Yan’s lip movements, Wan Fei would’ve bet a million times he’d said, “Congrats, Aunt!”

*Damn it, I’m only twenty-two!*

Last time on Cangyun Mountain, she’d been a mess, so she’d let the nickname slide. But now—where did she look like an aunt?

Suppressing the urge to slug her savior, she shot Tang Yan a fierce glare before stomping back to Fang City’s seats.

Tang Yan clearly read the “you’re in for it” in her eyes.

“Huh, Miss Wan Fei, you won—why the sour face?” Fang Xuan teased as she returned, though a flicker of wariness crossed his gaze.

“Hmph, mind your own business,” Wan Fei snapped, still fuming.

“Ha! This competition’s shaping up—three of the top five could be ours,” Cheng Gong chuckled.

“That’s what Song City thought—then they lost,” Wan Fei quipped dryly, throwing shade.

“Oh? Does Miss Wan Fei think Tang Yan could beat Fang Xuan or me?” Cheng Gong’s tone edged with irritation.

“There’s always a bigger fish, a higher sky. Don’t underestimate your foes, Young Master Cheng.”

Cheng Gong laughed, half in anger, and stood. “I’ll check that kid’s number—hope I get a shot at him.”

Wan Fei watched him go, a smirk of schadenfreude curling her lips. “Hmph, still calling me ‘Aunt’? Karma’s coming for you.”

“Hey, kid, what’s your number?”

Tang Yan was chatting with Lin Dongxue when a voice cut in. Turning, he saw Cheng Gong and frowned, puzzled.

“I’m talking to you,” Cheng Gong pressed, pointing at Tang Yan.

Tang Yan’s brow creased in annoyance. He owed no courtesy to someone so rude. “None of your damn business,” he said coldly.

Cheng Gong’s approach had already drawn eyes. Tang Yan’s blunt retort sparked a wave of laughter.

Fury flared in Cheng Gong at the defiance. Spotting Tang Yan’s token flipped face-down on the table, he reached to flip it.

*Slap!*

Tang Yan smacked his hand away.

“Let me see it!” Cheng Gong growled, reaching again.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Get lost!” Tang Yan swatted his hand once more.

“Looking for death!” A chill glinted in Cheng Gong’s eyes as he lunged for the token a third time.

*Slap!*

Another deflection met him.

This time, though, after Tang Yan knocked his hand aside, Cheng Gong didn’t reach again. Instead, he swung a fist at Tang Yan’s wrist.

Tang Yan jerked his hand back, dodging the blow.

Cheng Gong sneered at the evasion. *In the face of strength, pride’s just hot air.*

But as Cheng Gong reached for the token a fourth time, Tang Yan’s patience snapped, fury boiling over.

*Slap!*

A loud crack rang out—not an arm this time, but Cheng Gong’s face.

“Don’t push your luck!” Tang Yan barked.

The crisp slap drew gasps and stares, the plaza buzzing. Up on the stage, even one of the Four Young Masters, Du Shu, was fighting—but Cheng Gong getting slapped stole the spotlight.

“You’re dead!” Cheng Gong snapped out of his daze, face flaming.

*Slapped by a Cloud City nobody? How do I show my face in Fang City after this?*

His fourth-rank Mysterious Stage aura erupted, eyes blazing as he threw a hate-fueled punch at Tang Yan.

“What’s going on over there? Couldn’t wait for the stage to settle it?” Voices in the crowd sought answers.

“Didn’t you see? That Cloud City kid just slapped Cheng Gong!” someone replied.

In moments, word spread through tens of thousands: one of the Four Young Masters, Cheng Gong, had been slapped by Cloud City’s Tang Yan!

Sensing the ferocity of Cheng Gong’s punch, Tang Yan braced himself.

As a Young Master, Cheng Gong’s skill had merit. At third-rank Mysterious Stage, Tang Yan would need some tricks up his sleeve to dominate him outright—a challenge without his aces.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Yan met the attack head-on.

*Whoosh!*

A faint sound whispered from his palm. A bone-white flame flickered briefly and vanished.

With his growing mastery of the Fire Control Art and over ten days refining the Soul-Refining Flame, Tang Yan could now pinpoint its attack to a single target.

The instant the flame appeared, Cheng Gong felt a needle jab his mind, dizziness washing over him.

Though it passed in a flash, it was all the time Tang Yan needed.

*Slap!*

Another sharp crack—Cheng Gong’s face took a second hit.

This time, Tang Yan didn’t hold back. The slap sent Cheng Gong stumbling back several steps.

The first slap had caught few eyes in the suddenness. Now, with everyone watching, every move was under scrutiny.

Seeing Cheng Gong truly slapped again, the crowd froze, dumbstruck.

*Isn’t Cheng Gong one of the Four Young Masters? With that strength, how’s he helpless against Tang Yan?*

“I’ll kill you!” Cheng Gong steadied himself, cheeks stinging, eyes bloodshot as he charged again.

“Great Inferno Burst!” he roared. Countless air currents gathered before him.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* The currents clashed, rumbling dully, his robes flapping wildly.

Stepping forward heavily, a terrifying aura surged toward Tang Yan.

The strike carried a crushing, mountain-like weight.

A full-force fourth-rank Mysterious Stage technique—its power was undeniable.

Tang Yan didn’t meet it head-on. Phantom Step flared, shifting him left a step, followed by Thousand Mountains Fist.

“Third-rank!” Wan Fei and Fang Xuan at Fang City’s seats blinked in shock as Tang Yan’s aura hit.

*He’d been hiding his strength since the competition began!*

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The third strike of Thousand Mountains Fist arced cunningly toward Cheng Gong’s left ribs—his weakest point. Tang Yan was confident his third-rank power could withstand this vengeful blow.

But just enduring wasn’t enough. The Soul-Refining Flame flickered again.

Bone-white flashed before his fist, and Cheng Gong’s familiar dizziness returned. His true energy faltered mid-flow.

*Boom!*

Mind rattled, Cheng Gong’s strike lost its edge. After the clash, he staggered back a step.

*Slap!*

Tang Yan closed in, delivering another clean, crisp slap.