108: Chapter 108 Affirmation from Leng Ning Shuang: Even if you lose, I will still acknowledge you as my junior brother.

The moment the crimson light shield of the Life and Death Isolation Array completely dissipated, the entire Yunhai Square fell into a brief silence.

All Hehuan Sect Disciples stared blankly at the Law Execution Platform—the figure in moon-white robes still stood on the stage, his clothes fluttering, his expression as calm as if the bloody battle he had just fought, where he faced thirteen opponents, killed ten, and routed three, was merely an illusion.

At his feet, the dark jade surface was covered with scorch marks, sword marks, puddles of melted iron, and... those lifeless corpses.

The silence lasted for three breaths.

Then—

“Junior Brother Xu!!!”

Someone shouted first, their voice hoarse with excitement, yet it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up monstrous waves!

“Junior Brother Xu is mighty!!!”

“One against thirteen! Ten killed! Three routed!”

“With Junior Brother Xu in the Hehuan Sect, what is there to fear from the Meiying Sect?!”

Cheers like a mountain tsunami almost overturned the entire Yunhai Square!

The Disciples who had maintained some restraint could no longer suppress the excitement and ecstasy in their hearts, surging onto the Law Execution Platform like a bursting flood.

Leading the charge were Ning Caihe, Liu Rufeng, and Zhao Yan, who had previously lost to Fairy Caidie.

Their injuries were not yet healed, but they all struggled to stand up, their eyes no longer holding any of their previous scrutiny or aloofness, only pure fervor and reverence.

“Junior Brother Xu!” Ning Caihe was the first to rush to Xu Ruyu. This usually aloof Sword Cultivator was now flushed, and he bowed deeply to Xu Ruyu, “If Junior Brother had not turned the tide today, the reputation of our Hehuan Sect's younger generation would have been utterly lost!”

Liu Rufeng followed closely. Although his face was pale, he smiled brightly: “Junior Brother Xu, from now on, you are the person I, Liu Rufeng, admire the most!

What Meiying Sect demonesses? In front of Junior Brother, they are nothing but chickens and dogs!”

Zhao Yan was even more direct. This hot-tempered man grabbed Xu Ruyu's shoulder, his voice making people's eardrums ache: “Good lad! You really did it! If anyone dares to speak ill of you again, they'll have to deal with my fists first!”

More Disciples swarmed forward.

Some excitedly patted Xu Ruyu's back, some shouted his name excitedly, and some even had red eyes—the frustration and humiliation of the Hehuan Sect's continuous defeats at the hands of the Meiying Sect's provocations over the past few days finally completely erupted at this moment!

Someone shouted first: “Toss Junior Brother Xu up!”

The next moment, dozens of hands reached out simultaneously, actually lifting Xu Ruyu and tossing him high into the air!

“Xu Ruyu! Xu Ruyu! Xu Ruyu!”

The synchronized shouts rose in waves, one higher than the last. Xu Ruyu looked down from the air at the excited, fervent, and sincere faces below, and a complex emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

Just half a month ago, most of these people had scoffed at him, the “Sect Master's Personal Disciple,” believing he was just a pretty boy who had climbed to the top by relying on his looks and luck.

They ostracized him, overtly or covertly, scrutinizing him like prey, even waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

But now...

Just one battle, one victory, completely turned everything around.

In the Cultivation World, strength truly reigns supreme.

Amidst this wave of celebration, two figures quietly appeared at the edge of the Law Execution Platform.

Su Mei and Qingyan stood side by side, their expressions quite complex.

They had missed the entire process on the Law Execution Platform because they were handling some private matters—to be precise, Su Mei was training a newly acquired “Male Companion,” and Qingyan was experimenting with a newly concocted aphrodisiac.

By the time they rushed over, what they saw was Xu Ruyu being tossed into the air by the crowd, and the shocking battle marks on the stage.

“I heard...” Qingyan blinked her innocent big eyes, her voice soft and sweet, “Junior Brother Xu alone killed ten Core Disciples of the Meiying Sect? And even sent Fairy Caidie fleeing in disarray?”

Her tone was full of disbelief. She knew Fairy Caidie; she was one of the Meiying Sect's leading figures of this generation, at the Golden Core Initial Stage of cultivation, with exquisite Charm Technique and formidable combat power.

Such a figure actually lost to a Qi Refinement Stage Disciple?

“Not just heard.” Su Mei took a deep breath, her beautiful face showing shifting emotions, “It's true.”

She had arrived a moment earlier than Qingyan and had already heard the entire process from several familiar Disciples, who spoke animatedly.

Those descriptions—silver-white flames, a strange Formation, terrifying high temperatures that incinerated three people in one strike—with each sentence she heard, her shock grew.

She recalled the absurd scene in Meixiang Court that day, when she inexplicably fell into an illusion and provocatively postured at thin air.

At the time, she still thought Xu Ruyu had merely used some clever trick, or had some protective secret treasure hidden on him.

Now it seems...

“We all underestimated him.” Su Mei murmured softly, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes, which was then replaced by a stronger interest, “No wonder the Sect Master made an exception to take him as a Personal Disciple... Who wouldn't want such a Disciple?”

She looked at the moon-white figure being tossed up and down in the crowd, and her red lips curved into a seductive arc.

The more powerful and mysterious Xu Ruyu was, the more she wanted him.

It was no longer the simple idea of “cultivating a high-quality Cauldron” as before, but... a more complex, more intense possessiveness.

She wanted everything about this man—his power, his secrets, him.

And Qingyan, beside her, still blinked her big eyes, seemingly innocent, but if one observed closely, they would notice a faint, thoughtful glimmer deep within her eyes.

What she was thinking, no one knew.

At this boisterous moment, a cold, white figure passed through the crowd and walked to the center of the Law Execution Platform.

It was Leng Ningshuang.

As soon as she appeared, the surrounding sounds involuntarily softened.

This Senior Sister carried significant prestige among the Hehuan Sect's younger generation; even with everyone's emotions running high, they instinctively restrained themselves somewhat upon seeing her.

Leng Ningshuang walked directly to Xu Ruyu, who had just been placed back on the ground.

The two looked at each other.

Xu Ruyu's face still held a trace of the smile from being tossed by the crowd, but his eyes had returned to clarity.

He looked at Leng Ningshuang, waiting for her to speak.

Everyone held their breath.

They remembered that just before the life-and-death battle began, Leng Ningshuang had publicly “shifted blame,” pushing Xu Ruyu onto the stage. Now that Xu Ruyu was not only alive but had won a great victory, what would this Senior Sister say? Apologize? Or continue to mock him?

Leng Ningshuang was silent for a moment.

Her ice-like eyes stared at Xu Ruyu without blinking, as if trying to see through him completely.

Then, she spoke.

Her voice was still cold, but lacked some of its usual aloofness and arrogance:

“Xu Ruyu.”

She paused, seemingly weighing her words.

“Before today, I had many grievances against you.”

These words were blunt, and many Disciples below secretly gasped.

But Leng Ningshuang continued: “I was displeased with why the Sect Master took you as a Personal Disciple, displeased with why a Qi Refinement Stage Disciple could lord over everyone, and even more displeased with your... seemingly clever tricks.”

Xu Ruyu listened quietly, without refuting.

“But today,” Leng Ningshuang's voice suddenly deepened, “you proved yourself.”

“You proved that you are worthy of the four words ‘Sect Master's Personal Disciple’.”

“You proved that you have not only courage, but also strength.”

She took a deep breath and slowly uttered words that left everyone present dumbfounded:

“For the sake of you having regained our Hehuan Sect's face today—”

“Three months from now, you and I will have a battle.”

“At that time, even if you lose...”

Leng Ningshuang looked directly into Xu Ruyu's eyes, enunciating each word:

“I will still recognize you as my Junior Brother.”

Having said that, she did not linger, turned, her white robes fluttering, passed through the automatically parting crowd, and disappeared at the end of the square.

Leaving behind a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned.

Leng Ningshuang... that Senior Sister who looked down on everyone and was as cold as ice... actually publicly acknowledged Xu Ruyu? And said something like “I will recognize you as my Junior Brother”?!

This was even more unbelievable than Xu Ruyu killing ten people alone!

After a brief silence, an even more enthusiastic cheer erupted!

“Even Senior Sister acknowledges Junior Brother Xu!”

“From now on, Junior Brother Xu is the number one Qi Refinement Stage cultivator among our Hehuan Sect's younger generation!”

“Junior Brother Xu! Junior Brother Xu! Junior Brother Xu!”

The wave of sound almost overturned the sky.

Xu Ruyu stood in the crowd, feeling the fervent atmosphere around him, a polite smile on his face, but his heart was calm.

He was just thinking—this woman, Leng Ningshuang, is quite direct.

No pretense, no coyness; if she admits defeat, she admits defeat; if she acknowledges, she acknowledges.

Much better than those who act one way in front and another behind your back.

Just then.

A voice, like a fine needle, pierced his ear:

“Little Xu...”

It was Lady Qingli's voice transmission.

In that voice, there was a... gravity Xu Ruyu had never heard before.

“Return to Ningyin Hall immediately.”

“Your Revered Master... something has happened.”