"Li Yun?"

Hearing those two words, the many cultivators surrounding Chi Liuyang all revealed expressions of disbelief.

The person standing before them was actually that Li Yun, the same Li Yun whose name had recently spread throughout the sect and stirred up endless discussion.

Under the circumstances where Chi Liuyang had deliberately targeted him, this Li Yun had actually dared to come to their doorstep on his own initiative. More than that, he had done so in such an openly provocative manner.

Was he seeking death?

"Interesting."

A strange smile suddenly appeared on Chi Liuyang’s face. He looked at Li Yun and laughed loudly. "I did not expect that Southern Martial Domain was not entirely filled with cowards. There is actually someone among you with a bit of backbone."

"However, while you may have backbone, you are also far too foolish. You barged into my Crimson Sun Martial Hall so arrogantly. Do you really think you can walk out of here unharmed? Cao Yan, Wang Luo, the two of you take care of this kid for me. Remember, be quick about it."

"Yes!"

Hearing this, Cao Yan and Wang Luo nodded and stepped forward. Sinister grins appeared on their faces.

The two of them were the vice presidents of the Crimson Sun Society. Although their strength could not compare to Chi Liuyang’s, both of them had reached the peak of Earthly Core Realm. Among them, Cao Yan had even entered the Earth Ranking.

Even though he was only near the bottom of the ranking, compared to cultivators who had not entered the Earth Ranking at all, he was on a completely different level.

"Attack!"

With just a glance at each other, Cao Yan and Wang Luo attacked with extreme coordination.

Cao Yan attacked Li Yun from the left. His palms flipped continuously like fluttering butterflies, creating a dazzling display. They looked gentle, but within that gentleness was a hidden, frigid aura.

This move was called the Yin Butterfly Chain Palm. Once it entangled an enemy, it would continue endlessly, making it difficult for the opponent to use their techniques properly.

Meanwhile, Wang Luo attacked from the right. He threw a punch, and fierce Fist Intent poured out like a surging tide, instantly pressing toward Li Yun.

"Vulnerable."

Facing the joint attack of Cao Yan and Wang Luo, Li Yun’s expression remained calm. Not the slightest ripple appeared in his eyes as he indifferently uttered that single word.

Then, he lightly waved his hand and struck out with a casual palm.

In an instant, incredibly majestic chaos qi erupted.

"What?"

"What kind of power is this?"

The expressions of Cao Yan and Wang Luo both changed drastically. This palm strike seemed light and weightless, as if it contained no force at all. Yet when they faced it directly, they felt as if even breathing had become difficult, as though a massive mountain range was ruthlessly pressing down on them.

"Give it everything!"

The two roared and erupted with their full power.

However, even after doing so, they were still sent flying by that casual palm strike.

With a single palm, Li Yun defeated Cao Yan and Wang Luo, two great experts at the peak of Earthly Core Realm.

"This Li Yun is actually this strong?"

This scene caused the expressions of the Crimson Sun Society cultivators to change one after another.

Although Heaven Secret Tower had ranked Li Yun ninety-ninth on the Earth Ranking, they had actually been skeptical. None of them had truly believed that Li Yun possessed such strength.

But now, Li Yun had defeated Cao Yan and Wang Luo with a single palm. This proved that even if Li Yun did not possess the strength of the top hundred on the Earth Ranking, he was absolutely qualified to be listed on it.

"1st level of Earthly Core Realm?"

Chi Liuyang’s eyes flickered. He seemed completely unconcerned by Cao Yan and Wang Luo’s defeat.

In truth, he had never expected the two of them to defeat Li Yun. Having them attack was merely his way of testing Li Yun’s strength.

Looking at it now, rumors were indeed only rumors. The Earth Ranking said Li Yun was at the Half-Step Earthly Core Realm, but in reality, Li Yun had already reached the 1st level of Earthly Core Realm. The information did not match at all.

Furthermore, although Li Yun had defeated Cao Yan and Wang Luo with one palm, Chi Liuyang did not think much of it.

Any cultivator ranked in the top hundred of the Earth Ranking could accomplish this. He could do the same, and perhaps he could even do it more easily than Li Yun had just done.

’Nothing more than this.’

In his heart, Chi Liuyang immediately made a judgment about Li Yun.

"Enough."

He took a step forward and said indifferently, "The game ends here. Li Yun, I must admit that you have some skill, but to be called one of the two great rising stars of this era based on just this is complete nonsense. Now, I will let you understand just how vulnerable you truly are."

In the next moment, Chi Liuyang attacked.

"Fire Phoenix World Destruction!"

A fiery-red long spear suddenly appeared in his hand. As his wrist flicked, the spear vibrated rapidly, and rings of flame erupted from the spearhead before quickly spreading outward.

The surrounding temperature rose sharply. Countless flames condensed into the shape of a fire phoenix, which dove down with a thunderous roar and pounced toward Li Yun.

"The vulnerable one is you."

Li Yun shook his head and suddenly swung his sword.

Whoosh!

A strand of Sword Qi instantly erupted. Its speed was faster than lightning, and with a soft hum, it whistled through the air. With one slash, it directly cut the fire phoenix in half.

"Slow Sword."

Then, Li Yun softly uttered two words and swung his sword again.

This strike could only be described as breathtaking.

In the blink of an eye, Chi Liuyang’s fiery-red long hair was sliced off by the Sword Qi. He instantly became bald, and a tiny wound appeared on his scalp, with faint traces of blood seeping out.

Clearly, if that Sword Qi had been even a fraction lower, it would not have been his hair that was cut off, but his head.

"This... how is this possible..."

Chi Liuyang’s face froze.

His gaze became vacant, and everything else in his mind vanished. He kept replaying that sword strike again and again. The more he thought about it, the more fear rose in his heart.

That sword strike was simply too terrifying.

It had looked like a casual strike, yet its speed completely exceeded his imagination. It was so fast that even though he saw the Sword Qi, he had no time to react at all.

He had only ever felt this way when he fought the number one expert of the Inner Sect, Jian Wuhen.

That defeat had left him depressed and dispirited for a long time, and it had taken him a full half year to recover. Now, he felt that same sensation again. It was the fearful helplessness of facing a threat to his life while being completely unable to do anything about it.

"The society president... actually lost?"

Around him, the cultivators of the Crimson Sun Society all had vacant expressions. They almost could not believe their own eyes.

Their president, Chi Liuyang, was ranked among the top few Inner Sect Disciples and was a powerhouse ranked eighty-first on the Earth Ranking. It was precisely because of Chi Liuyang that the Crimson Sun Society had risen from an unknown small group to its current position as one of the top ten organizations in the Inner Sect.

But now, Chi Liuyang had actually been defeated by a single sword strike.

His defeat had been so easy, so clean, and so efficient. Just as Li Yun himself had said, Chi Liuyang was vulnerable.