"Fubo, I want you to investigate the background of the young man who just sold inner cores. Is he from Hongling Town or a disciple from another sect here for training?" A woman's voice came from inside the Spring Rejuvenation Hall.

This woman was curious when Fubo mentioned that the youth was fourteen or fifteen years old. They were ostensibly here for training, but in reality, they were searching for talented youths from various places. Otherwise, with their noble status, they wouldn't have come to such a poor place. After speaking, Fubo went out to gather information.

"Sister apprentice, you don't think that the young man we just encountered is the talented youth we're looking for, do you? We've been out for almost a year, and we still haven't found a suitable talent. This time we made a bet with our senior brothers. Whoever finds a talent first will have the other wash their socks for a month. Even if we lose, do we really need to settle for such a youth?" A youth who had been silent spoke up.

"Junior brother, you're not being fair. Sister apprentice must have a reason for coming here. In bigger places or capital cities, even if there are talents, they've likely been picked already. That's why we're searching in these smaller places. Maybe we'll actually find someone here."

For talents like them, washing socks was the ultimate insult. They couldn't understand why their master had sent them, senior brothers and sister included, to find talented youths.

"I heard that recently, the Taiyi Sect in Tianxiang Country produced a genius named Jiang Huo, who reached the True Martial Realm at the age of eighteen. And the Dugu Clan in Tianshui Country also produced a millennium genius named Dugu Wuying, who reached the True Martial Realm at seventeen," a young man said.

"You guys don't know yet. Tianli Country also produced a millennium genius who reached the True Martial Realm at seventeen. I never expected there to be such a talented cultivator in the world. We're all in our twenties and still at the Early Spirit Martial Realm. Even if we reach the True Martial Realm, it'll be at least ten years from now. Comparing ourselves to others is just depressing!"

In their eyes, reaching the Spirit Martial Realm made one a genius. In their family, they were considered geniuses, but upon joining a sect, they realized there were many geniuses like them.

The disciples from Danxuan Sect, including Lu Feiyu, Shi Yuanshang, Pei Wenliang, and Wang Yuqing, were all inner disciples of the Danxuan Sect. They had been sent down the mountain by their master to find talented youths. Other major sects had produced geniuses, but their Danxuan Sect hadn't found any outstanding talents yet. In five years, there would be a ranking competition for youths under twenty-five in the entire northern region. If they couldn't find good candidates, their Danxuan Sect would likely end up at the bottom.

An hour later, Fubo returned.

"Young master, miss, I've found out," Fubo said as he entered hurriedly.

As long as you spent a little money, there were plenty of town guards willing to gather information.

"The young man who sold inner cores is Chen Xuan from the Chen family in Hongling Town. He's around sixteen or seventeen, at the True Second Rank realm. It's said that he was seriously injured in an ambush about half a year ago. The doctors had told his family to prepare for the worst, but miraculously, he survived. He hasn't left the Chen family's estate for half a year. Unexpectedly, he's out now for training. Judging from his appearance, his cultivation is at least at the True Eighth Rank, but it's hard to believe he could kill Eighth Rank demon beasts in the Sunset Mountain Range."

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Fubo wiped his sweat and recounted what he had learned.

"True Eighth Rank isn't much in our eyes, but the key is how this kid managed to advance six levels in just half a year from True Second Rank. Could he have had a sudden breakthrough after the ambush?" Lu Feiyu said, puzzled.

"I also feel something is fishy about this. Even with the resources of a big family, it's impossible to advance six levels in such a short time," Pei Wenliang added.

"I heard that the Chen family is holding a coming-of-age ceremony in three days. This boy named Chen Xuan just turned fourteen this year," Fubo continued.

"Hmm, a True Eighth Rank at fourteen is considered a genius. Let's pay him a visit," Shi Yuanshang, who had been silent until now, said.

"Let's wait a few more days until after the Chen family's ceremony. We've been here for so long, what's another three days?" Wang Yuqing suggested.

Chen Xuan walked towards the direction of his family after leaving the family's weapon shop. He had been away for two months, and his parents must be worried sick.

He quickened his pace, intending to return home through a small alley. Although he could take other streets, the alley would save him some time. Most of the Chen family's descendants used this alley. Chen Xuan had been ambushed in this alley before he crossed over.

Today, he walked through the alley again because he felt more than a dozen people following him.

"Last time, you ambushed me. This time, none of you will make it back," Chen Xuan thought to himself.

As he reached the middle of the alley, Chen Xuan stopped because several people blocked his path. Even during the day, few people passed through this alley, so suddenly being blocked meant trouble.

At the same time, more than a dozen men in martial attire emerged from behind Chen Xuan.

"You're all here just for me," Chen Xuan said calmly.

"Last time, you ambushed me with a dozen people, yet you speak so calmly now. Are you stupid?" a middle-aged man in black robes said.

"This kid must be scared out of his wits," a young man sneered.

"The one hiding in the shadows, why don't you come out? Dealing with me alone isn't enough for you," Chen Xuan said calmly.

At this moment, a middle-aged man emerged from a shadowy corner. Chen Xuan recognized him—it was Wu Peng, the middle-aged man who had tried to punish him in the family's weapon shop. He had left quietly when Chen Xuan's father appeared.

"Kid, do you think you're clever because you know I'm hiding in the dark?" Wu Peng said after revealing himself.

"Isn't this a typical trick of your Wu family?" Chen Xuan didn't reveal that his spiritual sense had already detected him.

"You've sent so many experts just to deal with me, the younger generation. Your Wu family really values me," Chen Xuan said sarcastically.

"Kid, don't think you can use your tongue to get out of this. Today is your death date. Last time we failed to kill you, but this time, this will be your grave. Wu Yu, go and kill this kid to avenge our young master," an elderly man in grey robes instructed a young man.

"Finally admitting that you ambushed me last time? Then I'll avenge that day." Chen Xuan emitted an overwhelming killing intent.

Wu Yu, at the late-stage of the Advanced Sky Realm, stepped out from the crowd. According to the information provided by the clan, Xuan was at the mid-stage of the Advanced Sky Realm. This time, the disciples sent out were all martial artists, with the lowest being at the mid-stage of the Advanced Sky Realm. It seemed that they were determined to capture Chen Xuan at all costs.

"This is the consequence of your wrongdoing, from the Wu family's perspective. Die!" Wu Yu swung his sword diagonally towards Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan didn't draw the broadsword from his back; instead, he delivered a punch.

"Wind Thunder Fist!" Chen Xuan didn't want to reveal his trump card so soon. The Wind Thunder Fist had already been perfected by him to the Great Accomplishment Realm. While Wu Yu's sword was still suspended in mid-air, Chen Xuan's fist had already struck his head.

"Boom!" Wu Yu's body fell backward, his brain matter mixed with blood splattering on the ground.

Shock! Chen Xuan's punch caused everyone to inhale sharply. Even at the late-stage of the Advanced Sky Realm, Wu Yu couldn't withstand a single move from him and was killed instantly.

"Isn't this kid at the mid-stage of the Advanced Sky Realm? How could he kill someone at the late-stage of the Advanced Sky Realm?" whispered the young man called Xiaohei.

"The clan's intelligence was wrong. Everyone, attack together and kill this kid to avenge Wu Yu!" someone shouted.

A dozen or so people, wielding weapons, rushed towards Chen Xuan. Wu Peng, the middle-aged man, stood still, his eyes fixed on Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan unleashed the Phantom Nine Transformations, and streaks of afterimages danced among the attackers.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The sound of exploding body parts echoed as limbs were shattered.