CHAPTER 158: SISCON???

Yu Lingluo hit the ground with a dull thud as the shorty released her grip. She pushed herself up, her eyes widening at the devastation before her. Rubble, blood, and silence filled the teleportation hub. Swallowing hard, she steadied her breathing.

’Xuan’er... he’s furious,’ she thought, her chest tightening as she began walking toward him.

The surrounding crowd immediately erupted in whispers:

"She’s here! Finally!"

"I thought Ye Chen would be crippled today..."

"Serves him right. Still, how can she calm her brother now? Even I wouldn’t dare step close to him."

Their eyes never left Yu Xuan, who stood unscathed amidst Nascent Soul cultivators, his pitch-black gaze enough to make most disciples shudder.

It wasn’t unheard of for monstrous geniuses to leap a realm, perhaps fighting one stage above themselves. But two realms? Effortlessly? Without so much as breaking a sweat? That was something out of nightmares. Or legends.

Shock slowly gave way to calculation. Some disciples slipped away quietly, rushing to report what they had seen to their respective factions.

If Yu Xuan could be drawn in, the benefits would be immeasurable. If not... then there were always ways to make him owe a favor.

Unbeknownst to Yu Xuan, his name had already begun to spread like wildfire.

Yu Lingluo finally reached him. She slowed her steps, studying the pitch-black eyes and the oppressive aura that still lingered around him. For a moment, she spoke softly, almost testing the waters, "Hey... are you alright?"

Yu Xuan gave no response, his gaze still fixed on Ye Chen’s twitching figure.

A faint grin tugged at Lingluo’s lips — unseen by anyone else. Without anyone noticing when, she slipped past his oppressive aura and appeared behind him as naturally as a shadow.

Mei and Xiu Ying, still kneeling nearby, stiffened at the sight. Their stomachs dropped. If she encourages him to continue... if she tells him to crush Ye Chen further, what will be left of him?

Hesitation turned into desperation; they wanted to call out to her, but Yu Xuan’s presence silenced even their thoughts.

Lingluo, however, was in a mischievous mood. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called out brightly.

"Hey, Yu Xuan!"

Still no reaction. His [Telekinesis] rippled faintly, pressing on everyone around them — yet it did not push her back. As if, on some instinctual level, his power simply recognized her.

That only deepened her grin. She stepped closer, so close that her breath brushed against his ear, and whispered in a voice only he could hear.

"Tell me, Xuan’er... do you have a big sister complex?"

The effect was instant. Yu Xuan froze.

His expression twisted into something indescribably complex — equal parts irritation, helplessness, and the struggle to maintain his terrifying facade.

His eyes flickered, and the bottomless black slowly began to recede, returning to their normal black hue.

Then, for the first time since his rampage began, his gaze shifted. He turned toward her.

Yu Lingluo’s answering smile was playful, but behind it was something sharp and sinister. Purplish energy crackled at her fingertips as she suddenly raised her hand and shouted for at him.

"How dare you cause trouble here, you damn brat! You didn’t even greet me!"

Before Yu Xuan could react, her fist connected cleanly with his face.

BOOM!

The impact sent Yu Xuan flying backward, smashing through the already-ruined wall of the teleportation hub. The ground trembled from the force.

Gasps and exclamations erupted from the crowd.

"W-what?! She just... punched him?!"

"She dared to strike him?!"

"Wait?! That was her brother right?! Is there some hidden story to this!"

"How Powerful must she be then, I thought she was a newbie..."

It was a good thing that the building had already been evacuated, or dozens more complain would have arrived. Dust and rubble clouded the air as Yu Xuan’s figure disappeared into the wreckage.

And Yu Lingluo? She stood there with a sweet smile, as if she hadn’t just thrown the most terrifying figure across the plaza.

The teleportation hub was smashed again, as Yu Xuan’s body smashed into its outer wall. A hush fell over the crowd — disciples leaned forward, holding their breaths, half-expecting Yu Lingluo to finish what she started.

From the rubble, a low cough echoed. Then Yu Xuan stepped out, brushing dust from his robes. Not a scratch on him.

He looked at Lingluo with a face that could only be described as deeply annoyed.

"...Really? A punch to the face? That’s how you greet me?"

Yu Lingluo tilted her head, pretending to think, before replying with a sly grin, "Well, you didn’t greet me either. Consider us even."

The crowd froze, dumbstruck. The terrifying youth who had flattened Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators just minutes ago... was actually bickering like a younger brother scolded at home.

"You could’ve just said ’hello,’ you know," Yu Xuan muttered, rubbing his jaw even though it wasn’t sore in the slightest nor there was a beard there. Maybe, he picked that habit as a cultivator (???).

Lingluo’s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Oh? But you looked like you needed to cool down. My punch is the fastest method."

"Cool down?!" Yu Xuan’s eyes narrowed. "Do you even know how much restraint it took not to kill this trash? And here you are, siding with strangers instead of your own brother."

"Who said I was siding with anyone?" Lingluo chuckled, walking right up to him and tapping his chest with a finger. "I’m siding with me. And honestly, Xuan’er... you looked ridiculous losing your temper like that, I have never seen you like this."

He exhaled, glaring down at her. "One day, I swear, you’re going to regret calling me ’Xuan’er’ in public."

"Oh? Are you embarrassed?" Lingluo’s grin widened. "That’s cute."

The crowd collectively lost its mind.

"C-cute? She just called him—"

"Wait, they’re really siblings?! Not just rumors?!"

"Then... doesn’t that mean Yu Xuan is..."

"Kyaaaaa, that’s so cute!!!"

Whispers spread faster than wildfire, speculation spiraling out of control. Amid this Yu Xuan was the only one who felt embarrassed. And again, maybe his reputation will change.