At this moment, in the skies above Heaven-Severing City, with Cai Yueting's arrival, the Sacred Buddha and Ghost Demon Prince finally ceased their conflict.

“I'll let you off this time, for Miss Cai’s sake,” the Ghost Demon Prince said calmly, his eyes swirling with demonic energy.

“One day, I will convert you,” the Sacred Buddha replied earnestly, his face solemn as he retracted his Buddha light.

“Please, both of you, follow me. Many of the other prodigies are already waiting in the tea garden,” Cai Yueting said with a soft smile.

Wearing her red dress, she led the way, the fragrance of roses wafting through the street. The guards parted to clear a path, and the two rivals followed her away.

…

Once the group disappeared from sight, the crowd on the street began to buzz with excited chatter.

“Should we go see what the fuss is about?” Xu Zimo asked with a grin.

“I'm down for whatever,” Dark River nodded.

Xu Zimo asked around and learned the location of Cai Residence.

It was on the same street as the City Lord’s Mansion, surrounded by neatly planted tea trees.

It was said that the current head of the Cai Clan was a tea connoisseur with a large collection of rare and exotic teas.

The spring breeze stirred the tea leaves, releasing their fragrance into the air.

As Xu Zimo and Dark River approached the entrance to Cai Residence, they were blocked by the guards.

“We’re here for the tea gathering,” Dark River explained.

“No invitation, no entry,” one of the guards replied flatly.

“What does it matter if we don’t have an invitation?” Xu Zimo said. “Isn’t this gathering supposed to be for all the prodigies?”

“What, are you looking down on me?”

“If you don’t leave now, I’ll be forced to arrest you,” the guard replied coldly.

“And if I insist on entering today?” Xu Zimo said calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dark River stepped forward, grabbed the guard by the neck, and hurled him away.

“If we’re here to cause trouble, then we might as well make it big,” Xu Zimo said, squinting slightly.

The guard crashed heavily to the ground, drawing the attention of the Cai Clan.

A burly man in a blue robe stepped out of the residence.

“Commander Cai!” the guard called out as he scrambled up. “These men tried to force their way in without Miss Cai’s invitation. I tried to stop them, but they attacked me!”

Commander Cai frowned slightly and stepped forward.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“From Dark Corner Capital,” Dark River replied coolly.

Commander Cai’s expression changed subtly. That place was a notorious haven for criminals and outcasts, universally reviled across the Holyflower Region.

“Do you have invitations?” he asked after a pause.

“Nope,” Xu Zimo smiled. “But I heard this tea gathering was a chance for all the prodigies of the Holyflower Region to gather. There are thousands of so-called prodigies in this world.

How many do you really know? I figured I’d show up and see if any of your Sacred Hua ‘geniuses’ are worth anything.”

“That’s quite the bold claim,” a voice suddenly interrupted from the side.

Xu Zimo turned to see a young man carrying a bamboo sword walking over.

Next to him was none other than Crown Prince Long Yuan.

“And who are you?” Xu Zimo asked flatly.

“I’m not much, really. Just ranked tenth on the Holyflower Tyrant Ranking. People call me ‘Young Master Bamboo Sword,’” the man replied proudly.

“Oh? Only tenth?” Xu Zimo narrowed his eyes, clicking his tongue. “That’s not impressive at all.”

“What did you say?” Bamboo Sword's expression darkened. “Do you not understand the weight of the Tyrant Ranking?”

“I don’t need to. And your rank has nothing to do with me,” Xu Zimo replied.

“It’s just, judging by your tone, you’re clearly not from the Holyflower Region. You seem to look down on our geniuses,” Bamboo Sword said.

“You’re really trying to make me the villain of the entire region, huh?” Xu Zimo chuckled. “But fine, forget the Holyflower Region. Of the four great regions of the Middle Continent, I haven’t met a single worthy opponent among the younger generation.”

“If you're that confident, then allow me to challenge you,” Bamboo Sword said calmly.

“You’re too weak,” Xu Zimo shook his head.

Bamboo Sword froze, and then his face turned deathly pale with anger.

Ever since entering the top ten of the Prodigy Ranking, he’d received nothing but praise and admiration.

This was the first time someone outright called him weak.

“Then please, show me your strength,” Bamboo Sword said, steadying himself and drawing his bamboo sword.

Crown Prince Long Yuan, standing to the side, looked on with curiosity and interest.

Xu Zimo simply smiled and shook his head.

He really had no interest in someone at the Paragon Meridian realm.

Bamboo Sword took his stance, he stepped back with his right leg, leaned slightly to the side, and raised his sword arm.

A Paragon Meridian-level aura burst forth.

RUMBLE RUMBLE

Behind him, his bamboo sword suddenly multiplied into countless sword shadows, filling the air.

They looked so real that it was hard to distinguish illusion from reality.

As Bamboo Sword raised his weapon, all the shadows surged with violent sword intent.

The entire sky turned into a sea of swords, like a prison made of blades.

He gave a cold snort, then lunged forward, bringing the ocean of sword shadows down with him, ripping space apart as they closed in.

The thousands of blades shrieked through the air.

Xu Zimo’s long hair danced in the wind created by the sword aura.

He smirked and slowly raised his right hand.

The spiritforce of the world instantly began to boil, rushing toward his palm.

RUMBLE RUMBLE

As it condensed and fused, Xu Zimo slowly closed his hand into a fist.

And then, BOOM, the entire mass of sword shadows exploded into dust.

Crack-crack-crack!

The sound of shattering echoed everywhere.

At this point, Bamboo Sword was less than a meter from Xu Zimo.

But his bamboo sword had completely disintegrated, leaving him unarmed.

His white robes had been torn to shreds, his entire body soaked in blood.

He looked up at Xu Zimo with difficulty.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a mouthful of blood gushed out.

He staggered and nearly collapsed, only to be caught by a pair of strong arms.

Turning his head, he saw the Abyssal Dragon Prince Long Yuan standing beside him.

Long Yuan's expression grew solemn as he looked at Xu Zimo.

“What’s the matter? You want to challenge me too?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.