Chapter 50: The Initial Clash

The raging surge of battle intent took even the ruthless elder by surprise. This seemingly inconspicuous boy had actually struck without hesitation—yet the elder was a ruthless elder of the Moonwatch Sect, a master at the Origin Realm!

Su Yang’s swift strike left even Prince Liang momentarily stunned.

As the staff descended, the ruthless elder hastily dodged backward, but Su Yang pressed forward relentlessly. Just as the staff was about to land on the elder, his expression turned dark and fierce: “Boy, you’re courting death.”

A powerful burst of spiritual energy erupted, instantly forming a protective aura shield.

With a resounding crash, the staff struck the shield.

The condensed aura shield began to shatter and dissolve. Witnessing this, the ruthless elder’s face twisted in disbelief: “Impossible!”

“The old man is the one seeking death, not me,” Su Yang said, his entire being radiating strength. After being purified by the Fig of No Blossoms, his combat power had multiplied severalfold. If he were to face Elder Bi again, he might no longer be so passive—he might even be able to kill him outright.

Boom!

The terrifying staff did not strike the ruthless elder but smashed into the stone slab beneath his feet.

In an instant, fragments of stone flew everywhere, and thick smoke spread.

A massive crater appeared before everyone’s eyes, a testament to the sheer force behind that strike.

The ruthless elder appeared behind Su Yang like a shadow, his face beneath the bamboo hat contorted like a demon’s as he howled: “You’re only at the peak of the Third Profound Realm and yet dare to harm me?”

“Prepare to die!” His fist, exuding terrifying spiritual energy, lunged like a venomous serpent toward Su Yang’s back.

Feeling the attack from behind, Su Yang sneered coldly. A punch? He had never feared anyone.

Golden spiritual energy enveloped his entire body. Clenching both fists, he struck back with his right fist, charged with battle intent.

Seeing Su Yang foolishly try to clash with him head-on, the ruthless elder sneered: “Boy, with just your spiritual power, you still want to go head-to-head with me? Such youthful arrogance.”

Su Yang ignored him, his gaze fixed coldly on the collision of their right fists.

First came the explosive shockwave from the spiritual energy clash, followed by the cracking sound of bones breaking. Then a scream erupted as the ruthless elder’s body was sent flying backward. His right fist was drenched in blood, with bare white bone visible to the naked eye...

Everyone was stunned by the scene.

The ruthless elder was injured? How was that possible? He was a ruthless elder of the Moonwatch Sect, a master who had long reached the Origin Realm.

Prince Liang watched the scene with a strange expression, thinking, “No wonder even she feared this boy’s talent. Seeing him today proves he’s extraordinary. Such immense physical strength at such a young age—could the Supreme Bloodline truly be that formidable?”

The Third Prince’s expression flickered with surprise. Only a few days had passed since he last saw Su Yang, yet the latter had improved so rapidly... No wonder the emperor wanted to bring him into the fold.

But soon, the Third Prince’s expression returned to calm.

He seemed more curious about how today’s confrontation would end.

In the General’s Mansion and the National Preceptor’s residence, experts were all shocked by the combat power Su Yang had displayed. How many in the Central Continent could even harm a ruthless elder of the Moonwatch Sect? And here it was a mere youth. Even if they themselves took action, it would be difficult to hurt the ruthless elder.

They had already quietly memorized Su Yang’s appearance. Such a terrifying individual must be thoroughly investigated—either to win him over or to assassinate him.

Others from the major powers remained silent. Though shocked, it was not their place to intervene. The Moonwatch Sect elder’s life was on the line, and they had no reason to throw themselves into the line of fire. Better to watch the drama unfold.

Steward Yu nearly dropped her jaw at Su Yang’s ability to injure the ruthless elder with a single punch.

She was well aware of the elder’s strength. Years ago, the Mysterious Heaven Sect had a sparring match with the Moonwatch Sect, each side sending five disciples and elders, divided into two groups. Steward Yu’s most vivid memory was of this ruthless elder consecutively defeating three elders from the Mysterious Heaven Sect before finally being defeated by a reclusive elder.

Clearly, the ruthless elder’s strength was no joke.

“This boy... how can he be so abnormal? If the sect leader knew, he’d surely take him as a disciple himself,” Yu Qiuyue thought silently.

At this moment, Su Yang smiled after injuring the Moonwatch Sect elder with a punch: “Moonwatch Sect elder? Is that all you’ve got?”

The ruthless elder almost lost his mind at those words.

He had thought a mere Third Profound Realm cultivator could never contend with him—like an ant trying to clash with an elephant.

But after that single clash of fists, the ruthless elder realized the boy’s strength was extraordinary. More strangely, that power was laced with battle intent, which restrained the elder’s ability to pull back, leading to the current outcome.

Watching Su Yang’s mocking expression, the ruthless elder gradually regained his composure.

Just now, he had been too careless, underestimating the boy. But now it was different. A battle-hardened veteran like himself knew better than to underestimate an enemy capable of wounding him.

“Perhaps I’ve been away from the world too long, unaware that the younger generation has become so outstanding—it truly shames me,” the ruthless elder said hoarsely.

Su Yang’s expression slowly grew serious. He saw that the Moonwatch Sect elder’s injured right hand was rapidly healing; the shattered flesh was quickly regenerating.

The elder’s expression was far colder than before.

This made Su Yang wary: “Looks like it’s time to get serious.”

“Boy, what’s your name? Let me see just which family’s prodigy you are,” the ruthless elder asked, not rushing to attack but instead inquiring about Su Yang’s background.

Su Yang replied coolly, “Perhaps you should ask your sect leader, or the disciple he just accepted, Wang Yiyi. Ask her who I am.”

“Hm? You know the Moonwatch Sect leader?” The ruthless elder looked surprised. After all, the boy was barely fifteen and not a disciple of the Moonwatch Sect. How could he have met the sect leader? As for Wang Yiyi, the elder did not know her. He had just recently emerged from seclusion and was assigned here to attend the prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, so he was unaware of the grudges between Wang Yiyi and Su Yang.

“Know is an overstatement—I’ve only met her once.”

“But may I ask, can we leave now?” Su Yang smiled faintly.

“Hahaha! Leave? Do you really think you can walk away? I was careless before, but now that I see your true ability, if you think you can leave so easily, you’re gravely mistaken,” the ruthless elder laughed.

“Then it seems we’ll have to continue fighting,” Su Yang said, gripping his staff as his battle intent flared once more.

Just as the two were about to clash again, a figure slowly appeared before everyone.

“What lively excitement, Prince Liang. The sect leader hasn’t arrived late, has he?”