Chapter 116: Silent Laughter

As soon as Qingxi entered the city, the scene at the gates erupted in a stir. The "freeloader" cultivator also scrambled out of the moat, his face pale with lingering fear, terrified that Qingxi might come looking for trouble.

Typically, merely sounding the Ancient Bell of the Heavenly Venerate was something any prodigy who had mastered a bronze-grade ultimate technique could accomplish; though the sound might be faint, it was enough to gain free entry into the city. As for the prodigies on the Rising Star Ranking, they could all produce a resonant toll, with those ranked higher capable of sending the sound over greater distances. It was rumored that the invincible prodigy at the top of the Rising Star Ranking could ring the bell with such power that the sound carried for a hundred miles, startling half of Ju-Zun City. The resulting shockwave was so intense that even those at the Xiantian realm could not withstand it, being blown back dozens of meters.

The sound produced by Qingxi’s strike carried for over twenty miles. While a far cry from that invincible prodigy, no one dared to underestimate him. This was because he had achieved such an effect with a pure, unadorned punch, without the use of any martial skills or ultimate techniques.

That was truly terrifying.

The captain of the guards wore a grave expression. He leaned over and whispered a few words to a soldier beside him, who immediately rushed into the city to deliver the message to the appropriate authorities.

Not long after, a large group arrived from outside the city. The captain of the guards looked at the leading youth, who possessed star-like eyes and sword-like brows, and quickly clasped his hands in a respectful salute. "So it is the third true disciple of the Zixiao Sect, Xiao Wusheng. There is no need for you and your party to undergo inspection; please, enter!"

"Let us follow the rules," Xiao Wusheng said. He drew the long sword from his back and executed a powerful ultimate technique, unleashing a sword aura ten meters long.

*Clang!*

A resonant bell toll rang out, carrying for fifty miles.

"Wow, as expected of Senior Brother, that's amazing!" The vivacious young woman beside him clapped, her small face glowing with happiness.

Xiao Wusheng playfully flicked her nose and turned to the junior brothers and sisters behind him. "Don't just stand there, all of you."

"Yes!" Following her lead, more than a dozen disciples each unleashed their bronze-grade ultimate techniques, successfully sounding the Ancient Bell of the Heavenly Venerate. Though the chimes were not as loud, they were all successful.

"As expected of the Zixiao Sect’s prodigies. Even their inner disciples could be ranked among the top ten, or even top five, true disciples of any one-star faction," the captain of the guards marveled inwardly.

Though Ju-Zun City was hailed as the premier city under heaven with deep foundations, there remained a vast gap compared to two-star factions.

"Everyone, please enter the city!" The captain stepped aside.

Xiao Wusheng did not enter immediately. Instead, he asked, "Earlier, it seemed a bell toll carried for over twenty miles. Might I ask which prodigy from the Rising Star Ranking produced that sound?"

To send the sound over twenty miles required at least a top-thirty standing on the Rising Star Ranking. Such a prodigy was worthy of Xiao Wusheng's attention.

"This... it is strange. I do not recognize the youth; he does not seem to be on the Rising Star Ranking. However, he achieved that effect with nothing but physical strength—it was truly formidable!" The captain recalled Qingxi’s raw power and still felt a sense of shock.

"Just physical strength? Could it be those bald... masters from the Ku-Chan Temple?" the vivacious girl asked.

"No, that person had hair; he was not a master from the Ku-Chan Temple," the captain shook his head.

Xiao Wusheng pondered for a moment before asking, "Was that person covered in flames and possessed of astonishing speed?"

"Yes, that's it! When the youth first arrived, he was glowing red and smoking all over. He jumped straight into the moat—I thought he was trying to steal water to drink!" the captain added. "I had assumed he was of little consequence, but I never expected such a stunning prodigy. It seems the current Rising Star Ranking is about to undergo some major changes."

"It is him, indeed!" Xiao Wusheng’s eyes narrowed. He was certain that the person who had rung the bell was the mysterious youth who had brushed past them earlier, leaving their clothes singed.

The vivacious girl huffed, "It really was that annoying guy! Senior Brother, once we are in the city, you must demand an explanation from him."

Xiao Wusheng nodded. "I shall handle that in due course." He flicked her nose again and said, "Now do you see why one must remain low-key while traveling? Leaving aside everything else, this youth who appeared out of nowhere possesses such formidable strength. It just goes to prove the old saying: never underestimate the heroes of the world."

"I know, I know, Senior Brother is starting his lectures again." The girl shrugged with an impatient look.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Wusheng continued, "I must speak to you about this properly. For instance, prodigy Qiu Yingying from the Lingyuan Sect of the Eastern Region has broken through to the late Xiantian stage. By executing a powerful sword technique, she defeated the Seventh Young Master of the Evil Moon Sect, rising to thirtieth on the Rising Star Ranking, with the potential to break into the top ten."

"I know that already." The girl covered her ears, clearly unwilling to listen.

The more she resisted, the more enthusiastic Xiao Wusheng became. "And for another example, the one from the Southern Region..."

Watching their junior sister being subjected to yet another sermon, the other Zixiao Sect disciples could not help but suppress their laughter. Such scenes had become the norm within the Zixiao Sect. The first and second senior brothers were aloof and mysterious, while only the third senior brother, Xiao Wusheng, was kind and often offered guidance to his fellow disciples, earning him great popularity.

The only issue was... he had a few too many life lessons to share.

The captain of the guards watched the girl’s slumped shoulders and the endlessly eloquent Xiao Wusheng, wiping a bead of sweat from his own forehead. After a long while, the Zixiao Sect disciples finally entered the city. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"As expected of a two-star faction; their inner disciples can practice bronze-grade ultimate techniques. I'm so envious!"

"Forget bronze-grade; I don't even have iron-grade. Without comparison, there is no pain..."

"And that man with the endless flow of lectures, he must be the legendary tenth-ranked Xiao Wusheng, right?"

"That’s him!"

"Just as the rumors say—even if he can't beat you in a fight, he can bore you to death with his logic. I’ve truly witnessed it today."

The onlookers resumed their daily discussions, growing increasingly excited.

...

Meanwhile, Qingxi had already found a place to change his clothes. Dressed in a white robe, he sat by the window of a restaurant, listening to the chatter of the patrons. The most discussed topics were the recent withdrawal of the Otherworldly Demons and the shifts in the Rising Star Ranking.

News of the senior sister, Qiu Yingying, was among them. Upon learning that she had reached the late Xiantian stage, defeated the Seventh Young Master of the Evil Moon Sect, and climbed to the thirtieth spot on the ranking, he felt quite surprised.

"Senior Sister is indeed worthy of her reputation. Previously ranked fifty-seventh at the mid-Xiantian stage, she has now broken through her cultivation and, after obtaining the *Nine-Fold Sword Waves*, has jumped directly into the top thirty. Truly impressive. It seems that not only I, but others are also making progress."

"It is just as they say: cultivation is like rowing a boat against the current; if you do not advance, you retreat."

Qingxi murmured to himself. He was just about to find a secluded spot to delve underground and search for treasures like ley lines when a particular piece of news caught his attention.