101: Chapter 101 He seems to have really changed.

After Xu Ruyu's "come at me together" exploded like a thunderclap, Yunhai Square fell into an eerie silence.

The Hehuan Sect Disciples looked at each other, many with shock still lingering on their faces.

They looked at the figure in Moon-White Robes on the Law Execution Platform—not particularly burly, with ripples of aura only at the Qi Refinement Stage, yet standing there now with an indescribable presence.

After a brief dead silence, a young Disciple suddenly whispered, "Is Junior Brother Xu... crazy?"

These words voiced the thoughts of many.

A Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator challenging thirteen opponents at or above the Foundation Establishment Stage? Even if the opponents suppressed their Cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage, what about combat experience, understanding of techniques, and strength of Divine Sense... which of these wasn't a complete crushing advantage?

"Crazy? I actually think..." another Disciple suddenly spoke up, his voice hesitant, "Junior Brother Xu has some real guts."

These words resonated with many people.

Indeed, Senior Brother Ning Caihe, Senior Brother Liu Rufeng, and Senior Sister Zhao Yan had taken turns previously; though they all lost, at least they dared to fight and struggle.

But when great expectations were placed on Eldest Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang, she had pushed Xu Ruyu forward instead.

And now, this "scapegoat" who had been pushed forward not only didn't back down but even uttered such arrogant words as "come at me together."

Regardless of the outcome, this courage had already caused many Disciples who had previously looked down on Xu Ruyu to quietly change their views.

"Well said!" a voice suddenly rang out; it was Liu Rufeng, who had been defeated earlier. Clutching his chest, his face pale, he stared at Xu Ruyu on the platform with a flash of complexity in his eyes. "Regardless of whether he's truly gone mad, at least he dared to stand up. He's better than some people."

These words were pointed, and many subconsciously looked at Leng Ningshuang below the platform.

Leng Ningshuang's expression remained unchanged, but her fingers inside her sleeves clenched tighter.

At that moment, someone was the first to shout:

"Junior Brother Xu is awesome!"

This shout was like lighting a fuse, instantly igniting the entire scene!

"Junior Brother Xu is mighty!"

"One against thirteen! This is the spirit a Sect Master's Personal Disciple should have!"

"Xu Ruyu! Xu Ruyu! Xu Ruyu!"

The mountain-shaking cheers almost overturned Yunhai Square.

These Hehuan Sect Disciples had been suppressed for too long—the humiliation of three consecutive defeats, the provocation of the Meiying Sect riding roughshod over them, and the frustration of their own Eldest Senior Sister "passing the buck" at the last moment...

At this moment, Xu Ruyu's nearly insane declaration of challenge became an outlet for their emotions.

Regardless of whether Xu Ruyu could actually win, at least in this moment, he stood up and said the words they wanted to say but didn't dare to.

On the high platform, Liu Rurao's face completely darkened.

She had brought the elite of the Meiying Sect's younger generation!

Among them, Fairy Caidie was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, a standout among the entire younger generation of the Demonic Path.

But now, they were being looked down upon in public by a mere Qi Refinement Stage kid from the Hehuan Sect, who claimed he would fight one against thirteen?

This was more than just a slap in the face; it was grinding the Meiying Sect's face into the dirt!

"Giggle..." Liu Rurao suddenly let out a charming laugh, but there was no longer any charm in that laughter, only bone-chilling coldness. "Nephew Xu, you certainly talk big. Do you think this is child's play?"

Xu Ruyu looked at her calmly. "This Junior never jokes."

"Good! A fine 'never jokes'!" Killing Intent flashed in Liu Rurao's eyes. "Since my nephew is so confident, then this seat shall fulfill your wish!"

Before her voice had even faded, the Meiying Sect camp had already erupted.

"Revered Master! Let this Disciple teach this ignorant brat a lesson!"

A male Disciple at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, eyes wide with fury, was the first to rush onto the Law Execution Platform.

Then came the second, the third... in the blink of an eye, all thirteen Meiying Sect Disciples leaped onto the platform, surrounding Xu Ruyu!

Fairy Caidie stood at the front, trembling with rage, pointing at Xu Ruyu as she shrieked, "Xu Ruyu! If you lose today, I want you to get on your knees and kowtow to my Meiying Sect in apology!"

"Why waste words with him? Just cripple him!"

"A mere Qi Refinement Stage dares to be so arrogant? You're looking for death!"

The crowd was furious and filled with Killing Intent.

If several Hehuan Sect Elders hadn't already flown onto the platform to stand by Xu Ruyu's side and maintain order, these Meiying Sect Disciples might have already swarmed him.

Elder Hu's face was ashen as he said deeply, "Sect Master Liu! Are these the rules of the Meiying Sect? Thirteen people ganging up on one?"

Liu Rurao said leisurely, "Elder Hu's words are incorrect. It was Nephew Xu himself who requested this battle; my Meiying Sect Disciples are merely following the rules of 'sparring.'"

Why, can the words of a Hehuan Sect Personal Disciple not be held as valid?"

"You—!"

Elder Hu wanted to argue further, but Xu Ruyu suddenly spoke: "Elder Hu, it's fine."

He took a step forward, moving past the protection of the Elders to face the thirteen Meiying Sect Disciples brimming with Killing Intent.

At this moment, everyone saw his expression clearly—there was no fear, no panic, not even a hint of nervousness.

There was only a near-indifferent calm.

"Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters," Xu Ruyu's voice spread clearly throughout the square, "since we are on the platform, let's follow the rules."

Please suppress your Cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage, and we shall have a fair fight."

"Fair?" Fairy Caidie laughed in anger. "Are you even worthy of talking about fairness? A mere Qi Refinement Stage asking all of us to suppress our Cultivation to play with you? Xu Ruyu, do you think that because you have Sect Leader Xiao backing you, you can do whatever you want?"

Xu Ruyu shook his head. "I never thought of relying on my Revered Master's backing."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over those thirteen faces, some angry and some mocking, and suddenly smiled:

"If you are afraid, then get out of my Hehuan Sect."

"I will remember today's humiliation. When I Breakthrough to the Golden Core—"

He looked up, saying each word deliberately:

"I will personally pay a visit to the Meiying Sect. At that time, I will still say the same thing: one against thirteen."

"If you don't dare, leave now."

As his words fell, the entire scene fell into dead silence once again.

This time, there weren't even any cheers.

Everyone was stunned by these words.

Not because of how arrogant they were, but because of the undisguised determination and... confidence behind them.

This Xu Ruyu, he seemed to truly believe that he could do it one day.

The Meiying Sect Disciples' faces were ashen with rage, but for a moment, no one spoke.

Because they suddenly realized—this Qi Refinement Stage kid in front of them seemed different from what they had imagined.

Below the platform, Leng Ningshuang frowned slightly.

She looked at the moon-white figure on the platform, and a memory of the first time she saw Xu Ruyu suddenly flashed through her mind—back then, he had just been taken in as a Personal Disciple by the Sect Master, wearing these same moon-white Disciple robes, his eyes filled with a few hints of undisguisable trepidation and caution. Facing the scrutiny of his Senior Brothers and sisters, he had even been somewhat timid.

But now...

He was still wearing those same clothes, and his aura was still at the Qi Refinement Stage, but standing there, he seemed to have been reborn.

That composure, that calm, and even that nearly arrogant confidence... none of it was faked.

He had truly changed.

Not just Leng Ningshuang, many Hehuan Sect Disciples noticed this as well.

"Junior Brother Xu..." a female Disciple murmured, "seems different than before?"

"Yeah, I used to always think he was a bit... how should I put it, a bit cowardly?"

"But look at him now, facing thirteen Meiying Sect elites without even blinking."

"Could he really have some kind of trump card?"

Rustling whispers began to rise.

On the Law Execution Platform, Xu Ruyu no longer paid attention to those angry Meiying Sect Disciples and instead looked toward Liu Rurao on the high platform:

"Sect Master Liu, to fight, or not to fight?"

"If we fight, then please have your sect's Disciples follow the rules and suppress their Cultivation."

"If not—"

He smiled slightly:

"Then please, Sect Master Liu, take your people and leave my Hehuan Sect."

"My Revered Master is currently in seclusion and it is inconvenient for her to receive guests."

These words were spoken politely, but the meaning couldn't be clearer—either fight or get out.

Liu Rurao stared at Xu Ruyu, the Killing Intent in her eyes almost solidifying.

She suddenly really wanted to know, what exactly did this Qi Refinement Stage kid rely on to dare to be so arrogant?

Did Xiao Nianyin really give him something extraordinary?

Or... was there something strange about this kid himself?

With her thoughts racing, Liu Rurao suddenly broke into a smile. That smile was as seductive as ever, yet it made people shudder:

"Fine, since Nephew Xu is so hospitable, if my Meiying Sect were to back down, it would seem petty."

She looked at the thirteen Disciples on the platform and said slowly:

"Did you all hear that? Suppress your Cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage."

"And have... a good time with Nephew Xu."

She emphasized the last few words heavily.

The thirteen Meiying Sect Disciples looked at each other and cupped their fists in unison: "Yes, Revered Master!"

The next moment, thirteen auras were simultaneously restrained, rapidly dropping from the fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Stages to the Qi Refinement Stage.

Although Divine Sense strength and combat experience couldn't be suppressed, at least in terms of spiritual power fluctuations, they were now on the same level as Xu Ruyu.

Elder Hu and the Grand Elder looked at each other, both seeing the worry in the other's eyes.

But they knew that things had reached this point and could no longer be stopped.

"Activate the Highest-Level Protective Formation."

The Grand Elder gave the order in a deep voice.

Around the Law Execution Platform, layers of Array Pattern lit up, forming a semi-transparent light shield that enveloped the entire platform.

This was a protection sufficient to withstand a full-strength blow from the Golden Core Stage, ensuring that the aftershocks of the battle would not affect those below the platform.

Xu Ruyu stood in the center of the platform, his Moon-White Robes fluttering despite the lack of wind.

He looked at the thirteen predatory opponents around him and slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his eyes were clear.

Inside his Dantian, the Taixu True Qi began to circulate slowly.

In his mind, all the data, Array Pattern, and energy models regarding the "Acetylene Array" surged through like a tide.

Thirteen people?

Perfect.

He could try that long-conceived...

"Area of Effect Mode."