Chapter 117: A Challenge Issued

“Elder Rong, your disciple has been spouting nonsense and insulting our Moonwatch Sect, repeatedly provoking us, yet he cannot even withstand a single punch from me. Such a person deserves to be beaten to death. As a guest from a superior nation, you surely understand better than we do the principle that those who disrespect others only bring shame upon themselves,” Ji Mo interjected before Lei Wei could respond. She stepped in front of the elderly man surnamed Rong, taking over the conversation.

Logically, Elder Rong was addressing Lei Wei, and as his disciple, Ji Mo should not have interrupted. However, since she was the one who had struck the man, remaining silent and letting Lei Wei deal with this challenge would only make things more difficult for him. Taking the initiative was the best approach, and both Ji Mo and Lei Wei understood this. Lei Wei looked at his young disciple with a complex expression, feeling a mixture of emotions he could not name.

“Heh, young lady, you speak truly. Your strength is lacking, yet you are blind to it. If you were killed by him, it would be well deserved. I blame myself for criticizing you all earlier. Tell me, do you have the courage to accept my disciple’s challenge?” Elder Rong’s gaze fixed on Ji Mo for the length of half a tea break before he gestured toward Yan Wei not far away and chuckled.

“Esteemed guests from afar, you are honored visitors to our Moonwatch Sect. If Elder Rong’s disciple wishes to challenge me, as hosts, we cannot refuse such enthusiasm,” Ji Mo replied.

“Then it is settled. Three days from now, we shall meet on the arena and fight with all our might.” Before Elder Rong could speak again, Yan Wei stood and stepped toward Ji Mo, his eyes burning as he added, “Prepare yourself.”

“Very well!” Ji Mo accepted the challenge with a cheerful smile.

“Master Lei Feng, you are fortunate indeed to have disciples like Young Master Su and this young lady. Such luck makes even this old man envious. Today, I have witnessed the true prowess of Master Lei. It was worth the journey. We shall meet again in three days,” Elder Rong said, turning his attention back to Lei Wei.

“You flatter me, Elder Rong. Though my two disciples are talented, they are far from the caliber of those under your tutelage. We have prepared accommodations on Guest Reception Peak. Allow me to escort your party there,” Lei Wei said humbly.

“No need. We have some matters to attend to. We shall return in three days.” With that, the elder waved his wide sleeves, gathering Mo Cong, who was still lying on the ground unable to rise. In the blink of an eye, the five had vanished from Thunder Peak.

“Sect Master, who exactly is this Elder Rong? His methods and demeanor are unfathomable,” Elder Cotton Rainbow finally spoke with unease, having been silent all this while. There had been no chance for him to interject before.

“If my guess is correct, aside from the Tenth Prince, the others are not truly affiliated with the Haofeng Imperial Court,” Lei Wei replied, but Ji Mo beat him to the response.

“Ji Mo, what do you mean?” Lei Wei asked, focusing his gaze on her.

“I fell into Blue Moon Lake over ten years ago and was fortunate enough to glimpse the outside world. After seeing it, I realized our cultivation realm is but a mid-level one among the myriad worlds. Compared to those grand realms, our strength falls short by more than a mere fraction. The geniuses from those great realms, owing to their unique cultivation methods and environments, possess abilities that grow ever more challenging at higher levels.”

“For instance, those gifted in the Nascent Soul stage from the grand realms can slay cultivators like our Nascent Soul practitioners here with ease,” Ji Mo explained.

Su Ye’s eyes glimmered strangely upon hearing her words, as if lost in thought. Meanwhile, the five elders of Thunder Peak and Lei Wei were stunned. Elder Cotton Rainbow exclaimed, “Ji Mo, are you telling the truth?”

“Heh, Elder, what do you think of my combat strength?” Ji Mo did not answer directly, instead posing a calm question.

Elder Cotton Rainbow stared at her, uncertain how to reply. He had never truly witnessed her power and could only recall the punch she delivered earlier. Reflecting on it now, even at his current cultivation, he felt a chill run down his spine. If he were at the Nascent Soul stage, he would surely not be able to withstand that blow. For a moment, he was dumbfounded.

“If it’s difficult to answer, I will speak for myself. Though I have not encountered other geniuses within our Qingxuan Cultivation Realm and cannot assess their strength, my preliminary estimation is that few peers can surpass me. Yet, Yan Wei, who accompanies Elder Rong, exudes an indescribable threat. Such a person does not seem to be cultivated by the Haofeng Imperial Court,” Ji Mo said, raising her brows.

This was not arrogance but a conclusion drawn after witnessing the Ten Directions Great World and the Yan Clan. Of course, others may have also been blessed with extraordinary opportunities like Ji Mo, but even so, a single imperial court might produce one or two such talents, not an entire group like Elder Rong and his disciples. Except for the somewhat foolish Mo Cong, all others had talents rivaling Baize and Geng Xiao.

Elder Rong insisted he came from the Haofeng Imperial Court, but it was not the highest power within Qingxuan Realm. Four greater empires stood above it. If Haofeng alone could rival the top talents of the Ten Directions Cultivation Worlds, Qingxuan Realm would have long since surpassed many cultivation realms.

“What shall we do? They will challenge us in three days. If they truly hail from a great world beyond Qingxuan Realm, their strength must be formidable. Ji Mo, Su Ye, are you confident you can win?” Elder Cotton Rainbow’s face betrayed uncontrollable fear. It was no wonder his resolve faltered—Ji Mo’s revelations were too shocking.

The Moonwatch Sect was only a fifth-rank sect, mid to lower tier within Qingxuan Realm. Yet Ji Mo suggested Elder Rong and his party might hail from a power far surpassing Qingxuan Realm, and this force was clearly hostile toward Moonwatch. Otherwise, they would not have appeared now and made such aggressive demands. Suddenly, Moonwatch had found itself entangled with a faction whose allegiance was uncertain. It was no surprise Elder Cotton Rainbow was uneasy.

“Elder Cotton, be patient. If their identities are truly as Ji Mo says, there is nothing we can do in haste. For now, we can only hope their visit is mere curiosity and not driven by ulterior motives. Otherwise...” Lei Feng sighed. The sect’s foundation was limited. When facing true powerhouses, there was little choice but to confront them head-on.

(To be continued...)