Master, who is this person How dare they trespass on Purple Bamboo Peak

Half an incense stick's time later, the light screen rippled, and Xuanyangzi was thrown out of the Prodigy Tower. He crashed heavily onto the grass and lay there for a long time without getting up.

Sprawled out in a star shape on the grass, he felt as if every bone in his body had been dismantled and haphazardly put back together. It hurt so much that even moving a finger was a strenuous effort.

Staring blankly at the clouds above Purple Bamboo Peak, two trails of clear tears rolled down his cheeks—not from the pain, but from sheer grievance.

To think that he, Xuanyangzi, was the grand sect master of the Qingxuan Sect! Not long ago, he had even used the Great Emperor-level cultivation technique given by Gu Changge to solidify his foundation and break through to the Saint Realm.

Yet today, he had been completely trounced by a mere projection inside a tower. And it wasn't just a defeat; he had been pinned to the ground and beaten to a pulp, without even the slightest chance to fight back.

My Saint's heart... Xuanyangzi wailed inwardly, feeling that the little bit of expert's pride he had painstakingly built up had been completely beaten out of him.

Inside the bamboo pavilion, the hand with which Gu Changge held his teacup was indeed trembling. He wasn't holding back laughter; he genuinely felt that his senior brother looked pitifully miserable.

Coughing lightly, he deliberately teased in a slow, leisurely tone, Senior Brother, you should understand now why Ling Xi and the Lord of Annihilation always come out covered in injuries, right? Is this training ground to your liking?

It is! It's too much to my liking! Xuanyangzi snapped back to reality, crying out with a sob in his voice, which was as hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper.

Junior Brother, quickly tell me, just what kind of divine being's projection is in that tower? How could it be so brutal! My Saint Realm cultivation was like paper in front of him!

As he spoke, he tried to raise a hand to wipe his tears, but the moment he moved his shoulder, he grimaced in pain. He could only let his tears mix with the dirt on his face and run down, further staining his robes that were already torn into strips, making him look exactly like a beggar who had just crawled out of a mud pit.

Just then, the light screen of the Prodigy Tower flashed again, and Ling Xi's figure walked out briskly.

There were still scorch marks from flames on her cuffs, and her breathing was a bit chaotic, clearly indicating she had just experienced a fierce battle inside the tower.

Looking up, she immediately spotted the beggar lying on the grass. Thinking it was some blind rogue cultivator who had trespassed onto Purple Bamboo Peak, she frowned, rushed over to Gu Changge, and said vigilantly, Master, who is this person? How dare he trespass on Purple Bamboo Peak? Your disciple will take him down right now!

Hearing the words take him down, Xuanyangzi was so frightened he nearly bounced off the ground. In his current state, if he were really caught as a thief, the face of the Qingxuan Sect's master would be completely lost to the entire Eastern Region!

He quickly covered his face with his torn sleeves, his muffled voice coming from within: Don't, don't attack! It's me, Martial Niece Ling Xi!

Ling Xi froze for a moment, then leaned in for a closer look. The messy hair, the bruised cheeks, the robes torn to shreds, and that familiar voice—wasn't this Xuanyangzi?!

First startled, her lips then uncontrollably curled upwards, her shoulders trembling slightly. She quickly lowered her head, pretending to look at the ground, just to keep her laughter from leaking out.

Sect Master? How did you... Ling Xi couldn't finish her sentence, coughing twice as she tried to suppress her laughter.

The Lord of Annihilation had also strolled over at some point. Holding a healing pill in his hand, the corners of his mouth were pressed down tightly, but the curve of his suppressed laughter was still visible.

Sect Master Xuanyangzi, take the medicine first. The projections in this tower are not so easy to deal with. The next time you challenge it, you must bring all your defensive artifacts.

Xuanyangzi took the pill and swallowed it as if gulping down bitter medicine. The look he gave the Prodigy Tower was filled with both grievance and anger.

Junior Brother Changge! How is this a place for practice? This is clearly a slaughterhouse! I didn't even have time to catch my breath before I was pinned down and beaten!

Just as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized something. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ling Xi still trying hard to hold back her laughter nearby.

As the Sect Master of the Qingxuan Sect, being beaten black and blue in front of a disciple and an elder—if word of this got out, where would he put his face?

At this thought, Xuanyangzi suddenly felt that his wounds no longer hurt, but his face burned even more!

He had to salvage some dignity!

Stiffening his neck, he subconsciously straightened his back a bit and feigned composure, saying, However... don't think I had it that bad! I fought a great battle with that projection for over a hundred rounds!

In the end, it was only because I was careless that I lost by a single move! Despite how I look, that projection didn't get off easy either!

He secretly added in his heart, After hitting me so many times, I don't believe his hands don't hurt!

Hearing this, Ling Xi hurriedly turned around, pretending to adjust her sleeves, but her slightly reddened ears betrayed just how hard she was struggling to hold back her laughter.

Gu Changge looked at Xuanyangzi's desperate attempt to save face, took a light sip of his tea, and said slowly, Don't be too discouraged. The one you fought just now was the projection of the Great Emperor Hundred Battles in his youth.

The Lord of Annihilation was much calmer. He merely shook his head gently, his tone carrying the understanding of someone who had been there before.

For Sect Master Xuanyangzi to achieve such battle results is already rare. The projection of the Great Emperor Hundred Battles is indeed extraordinary.

What?! The Great Emperor Hundred Battles?!

Xuanyangzi suddenly sprang up to a sitting position, completely forgetting the severe pain in his body, his eyes wide as saucers.

You mean the Great Emperor Hundred Battles who proved his Dao through combat, never suffered a defeat in his life, and single-handedly suppressed the eternal forbidden zones?!

The dejection on his face was instantly swept away, replaced by unbelievable excitement.

At this moment, he suddenly recalled the details of his battle just now.

When that projection attacked, its war halberd seemed to strike straight and true, yet it always managed to change its moves at the trickiest angles, as if it had long anticipated all his responses.

There was one strike in particular that clearly came from the front, yet its aura simultaneously locked down his retreat paths to the left, right, and rear, forcing him to take it head-on. That absolute control over the rhythm of battle was practically akin to foresight!

No wonder! No wonder his fighting style was so fierce! Every move was aimed straight at the vital points; devoid of any flashy tricks, yet every strike was fatal! As that war halberd swung, it carried the murderous aura of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and those eyes were filled with the sharpness of one who has survived a hundred battles!

Xuanyangzi suddenly felt that his wounds didn't hurt at all anymore. Instead, he felt an inexplicable sense of glory. Slapping his thigh in excitement, he said:

So I was fighting the Great Emperor Hundred Battles! Even if it was just his projection from his youth, that is the true Great Emperor Hundred Battles! Losing to such a figure is not shameful at all!

He even started gesturing animatedly, his face beaming with delight: I knew it! How could an ordinary cultivator of the same realm beat me up like this! So it was an Emperor's projection! This loss was worth it! This beating was well worth it!

The Lord of Annihilation chimed in at the right moment: To be able to last a hundred rounds under the lock of the Great Emperor Hundred Battles' battle intent already proves that the Sect Master's foundation is extremely solid. The Sect Master should focus on healing and strive for even greater gains next time.

Xuanyangzi's old face flushed red as he thought to himself: 'Last a hundred rounds'? You actually believed that? I was clearly beaten to the ground in three moves, and the rest was just a one-sided thrashing!

But on second thought, to be able to endure a beating from the projection of the Great Emperor Hundred Battles for so long without passing out... seemed like quite an accomplishment in itself, didn't it?