Chapter 56: Gu Yange Breaks Down

What did you say?

At the mention of Gu Yange’s elder sister, the young man flared up like a cornered lion. His eyes instantly flashed with a fierce glint, and his imposing aura surged once more, making him look as though he intended to fight Yue Qingcheng to the death.

To this, Yue Qingcheng remained completely indifferent. She let out a teasing chuckle and said, "What? Isn't it the truth? Who doesn't know that you, Gu Yange, fall short of your twin sister in every single aspect? As for Gu Yunyan now, I daresay she is already on the verge of breaking through to the Divine Soul Realm, isn't she?

"And you?

"Still lingering at the peak of the late Genesis Mansion Realm. Tsk tsk, the gap between you two is only growing wider by the day.

"If I were in your shoes, I'd choose your sister too."

"You—I'll tear that mouth of yours apart!"

Gu Yange was consumed by fury. In this lifetime, what he loathed most was being compared by others to the elder sister who had entered this world a mere two minutes before him.

In the Tianyan Empire, he was a genius, an elite among the younger generation.

Yet.

There was always one person who overshadowed him.

That person was none of his own flesh and blood, but his elder sister, Gu Yunyan.

There was not a single domain in which he could surpass Gu Yunyan. Because of this, she had become the nightmare residing deep within his heart, a powder keg ready to explode at the slightest touch.

"Tear my mouth apart?

"Just you?

"Gu Yange, you have fought with me for so long; surely you haven't failed to grasp reality yet?

"You and I are simply not on the same level."

Yue Qingcheng smiled faintly, her laughter laced with undisguised mockery.

Gu Yange’s face turned livid. He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails nearly bit into his palms.

He took a deep breath, attempting to subdue his raging fury, yet Yue Qingcheng's words felt like a sharp blade, repeatedly slashing at his self-esteem.

"What do you think you are?"

Gu Yange finally roared, unable to contain himself any longer, "Don't think that defeating a few worthless subordinates gives you the right to act arrogantly in front of me!

"Today, I will make you understand that even if I am inferior to Gu Yunyan, I am not someone you can humiliate at will!"

As his voice fell, Gu Yange shifted, transforming into a streak of light as he charged straight at Yue Qingcheng.

Spiritual energy converged upon his fist, forming a colossal flame-wreathed gauntlet. Carrying raging fury and boundless resentment, it closed in on Yue Qingcheng with overwhelming force.

A trace of coldness flickered in Yue Qingcheng's eyes. Instead of panicking, she let out a light laugh, as though utterly dismissive of Gu Yange's onslaught.

With a gentle sway of her body, she vanished from the spot like a phantom, effortlessly dodging Gu Yange's fatal blow.

"Your speed is passable, but what about your power?"

Yue Qingcheng's voice drifted from behind Gu Yange, cold and crystal clear.

Gu Yange whipped around, only to find that Yue Qingcheng was already standing right at his back. Her palm pressed lightly against his chest, and an immense surge of power erupted instantly, blasting his entire body backward through the air.

"Impossible!"

Gu Yange spat a mouthful of blood as he flew through the air, his eyes filled with disbelief. He refused to accept that he had been defeated so easily by Yue Qingcheng.

Yue Qingcheng watched the airborne Gu Yange, a cold sneer curving the corners of her lips.

She knew the battle was over; Gu Yange had lost the capacity to continue fighting.

"Gu Yange, your state of mind is in disarray. Even at your peak, you were no match for me.

"Let alone now, when you have completely lost your composure.

"Get lost. For Gu Yunyan's sake, I will spare your life. Should you dare to provoke me again, I won't mind depriving the Tianyan Empire of one of its princes.

"You should know that I mean what I say."

Yue Qingcheng spoke indifferently, her tone dripping with disdain.

After hitting the ground, Gu Yange struggled to rise, but his body trembled uncontrollably.

Despair and rage filled his gaze. He knew he had lost to Yue Qingcheng, and he had lost thoroughly.

This battle would become an eternal scar etched into Gu Yange's heart.

And Yue Qingcheng had once more proven her strength, not only surpassing Gu Yange in power, but utterly crushing him psychologically.

After this clash, his gallery of nightmares would feature a new addition right alongside Gu Yunyan—Yue Qingcheng.

Dammit!

Gu Yange glared fiercely at Lin Fan, the youth who had severely wounded his mid-Genesis Mansion subordinate. Had it not been for this abruptly appearing Divine Elixir Realm youth, how could his emotions have been so thoroughly disrupted by Yue Qingcheng?

The defeat of his mid-Genesis Mansion subordinate had sent a wave of panic surging through his heart, and it was precisely this vulnerability that Yue Qingcheng had seized upon to shatter his psychological defenses.

Now, having suffered a heavy blow from Yue Qingcheng, he had finally regained his composure.

Unfortunately.

He had lost the ability to fight on. Even with his state of mind restored, any possibility of contesting Yue Qingcheng had vanished.

"Yue Qingcheng, I will remember this debt."

Uttering parting threats seemed to be a mandatory ritual for anyone making a hasty retreat.

Gu Yange knew that today's outcome was irreversible, but he swore never to let go of this humiliation.

His voice was low and heavy with resentment, every single syllable seeming to drip with venom.

Yue Qingcheng merely offered a contemptuous smile, her eyes filled with scorn. "Gu Yange, the gap between us cannot be bridged simply by keeping a ledger.

"If you truly had any real ability, you wouldn't get beaten by me every single time.

"You're nothing more than a pampered aristocrat relying on your family's profound background. What right do you have to bark in front of me?"

These words pierced straight into Gu Yange's heart like a sharp sword. His expression distorted hideously, but his physical condition refused to support any further combat.

He knew that today's disgrace would remain an indelible scar within his soul.

Drawing a deep breath to forcibly suppress the rage and humiliation churning inside him, Gu Yange turned and left.

He needed time to tend to his wounds, and even more time to plot how to wash away today's shame.

Watching Gu Yange's retreating figure, Yue Qingcheng flashed a cold look.

She knew Gu Yange would not let the matter rest, but she cared little. In this trial ground, there was only one person from the Tianyan Empire worthy of her genuine regard.

And that was Gu Yange's elder sister, Gu Yunyan.

Once Gu Yange had departed, Yue Qingcheng turned her gaze toward Lin Fan, her brows arching with a mixture of admiration and astonishment.

This unexpected pleasant surprise truly captivated her.

She could sense that hidden beneath this young man's exterior lay unfathomable secrets and immense potential.

Perhaps, before long, this youth's name would echo thunderously across the Southern Wasteland.

Today's battle was destined to become a lasting topic of conversation for those in Gu Ningyun's entourage, leaving an indelible stroke across their memories.

As for Lin Fan, this was merely a tiny ripple upon the vast river of his destiny.

He would press onward, continuously surpassing himself along the path of cultivation until he reached the absolute pinnacle.

"Many thanks!"

Yue Qingcheng met Lin Fan's gaze, then cupped her fists toward the youth. Not only Yue Qingcheng, but everyone present understood clearly that forcing Gu Yange to retreat had not relied solely on Yue Qingcheng's formidable strength.

It had relied on Lin Fan.

Using his peak Divine Elixir cultivation to defeat a mid-Genesis Mansion expert head-on, he had thrown Gu Yange into a panic, thereby allowing Yue Qingcheng's words to shatter his defenses and inflict heavy trauma.

All these elements were chained together, and the pivotal anchor of it all was Lin Fan.

"You flatter me."

Lin Fan smiled. Glancing at the ice lotus floating within the pool of fire, he asked, "Is this the ice lotus you were looking for?"

Noticing the youth smoothly changing the subject, Yue Qingcheng pursed her lips and gave him a deep, lingering look before nodding with a smile. "Indeed. This ice lotus is precisely what I need most right now.

"Once I secure this ice lotus, I will accompany you wholeheartedly in your search for that Beast Fire Divine Palace."