76: Zhao Hongyu's fight

Yang Kai commuted daily between the Martial Arts Arena and various School mission locations. In a flash, several days had passed, and Yang Kai's winning streak in the Martial Arts Arena had reached a terrifying ninety consecutive victories. After the challenge that Outer Sect Disciple called a "slaughter," no one questioned Yang Kai's position as the top of the Dragon-Tiger Rankings. The Wang family also did not plot any more schemes, and Yang Kai enjoyed a few rare days of peace.

During this period, Yang Kai gained a lot. He completed nine medium-level School missions in a row, three of which, like Thousand Needle Peak, offered special Opportunities. Yang Kai made sure to acquire them during his missions.

Inside the Flowing Cloud Sect's mountain gate was a huge lake. Beneath the lake grew countless algae and plant-type Yao Beasts, which brought Yang Kai a life-threatening danger. If Yang Kai's Physical Body had not been strengthened once again at Thousand Needle Peak, he would have almost perished in that dangerous lake.

However, danger always coexists with Opportunity. By chance, Yang Kai's Divine Sense underwent some mutation. Now, his Divine Sense attacks carry a toxin that can confuse a person's mind. Even if the attacked person has strong Divine Sense, if there is no corresponding antidote, this toxin will continuously multiply in his Sea of Consciousness until it becomes unmanageable and endangers the entire Sea of Consciousness space.

This was also the first time Yang Kai encountered such a Divine Sense attack attached to a physical attack. At that time, Yang Kai did not raise his Physical Body's defense to the limit, enduring a weak whip strike with just his Physical Body. He didn't expect that the true killing move in that seemingly light strike was aimed at his Divine Sense. If his Physical Body hadn't automatically defended him in the first instance, blocking the Divine Sense attack for a moment and giving him time to construct Divine Sense defenses, then this toxin entering his Sea of Consciousness would have been extremely troublesome for him.

From then on, Yang Kai shed his complacency. When performing missions, he would be cautious, facing even the weakest Yao Beast with full effort and retreating immediately afterward, thus accumulating a lot of experience fighting Yao Beasts.

Besides this, he also brought back a lot of monkey wine from a monkey mountain. It not only increased his Physical Body's strength but also subtly improved his Physical Body's quality. Such gains made Yang Kai realize that the Flowing Cloud Sect issued these School missions with the underlying purpose of Cultivating Disciples. School contributions were merely the superficial reward for completing missions. After realizing this, Yang Kai no longer resisted completing School missions, even completing two a day. Each mission brought its own gains, but the greatest gains were the few mentioned above.

"After today's battle, I'll reach a hundred consecutive wins. What should I choose from that outer treasury then?" Yang Kai secretly anticipated, chatting casually with Meng Yun while waiting for the Martial Arts Arena to open.

Meng Yun was also a simple-minded person with strong bluntness. He wasn't surprised that his good brother inexplicably became the top of the Dragon-Tiger Rankings, as if he didn't understand its significance, and continued to interact with Yang Kai normally. Yang Kai was happy about this. Currently, among the Outer Sect, all Disciples regarded Yang Kai as a jackal, changing color at his mention and avoiding him. To still have a friend like Meng Yun made Yang Kai very pleased.

Just as Yang Kai was waiting outside the Martial Arts Arena, a small commotion began to spread rapidly throughout Hongwu Peak.

"Senior Brother Zhao has come out of seclusion! Senior Brother Zhao has come out of seclusion!"

"Oh? Did that boy Hongyu Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment? Why didn't I see any unusual phenomena? That shouldn't be!"

"No, Senior Brother Zhao came out of seclusion early for some reason and is now descending the mountain."

"Nonsense! Why is this boy descending the mountain now instead of taking advantage of his deep comprehension of the Dao to Breakthrough?! I'll go bring him back!"

"No need to go." Just as several Inner Sect Disciples on Hongwu Peak were in a commotion, a resonant voice, like a clear spring, poured over everyone, calming their restless hearts.

"Welcome, Revered Master (Elder)!" Everyone present bowed down, their titles differing, but their reverence for the speaker was identical, for this person was the Peak Revered Master of Hongwu Peak, Celestial Yang Reverent.

"Hongyu still has an unfinished matter in his heart. If he doesn't resolve it, it will turn into a Heart Demon during his Breakthrough, which would be even more dangerous. His descent from the mountain was sanctioned by this old man; let him go." Celestial Yang Reverent's resonant voice conveyed an unquestionable statement, and everyone present bowed their heads in agreement.

"Hongyu, the one who tied the bell must untie it. You must overcome this hurdle yourself; no one else can help you." Celestial Yang Reverent murmured, his gaze piercing through infinite space, falling upon Zhao Hongyu, who was speeding towards the Outer Sect.

"The Martial Arts Arena is open; you can go in. Anyway, you're very fast, so we'll talk after you're done." Meng Yun saw the Martial Arts Arena gate open in the distance and stood up to continue selling the new day's Dragon-Tiger Rankings.

"What kind of wolfish words are those? You're acting strange, boy." Yang Kai saw Meng Yun walking further away, shook his head helplessly, and was about to enter the Martial Arts Arena.

"I, Zhao Hongyu, request a challenge against the top of the Dragon-Tiger Rankings, Yang Kai!"

A loud and clear voice spread throughout the area around the Martial Arts Arena. Yang Kai frowned slightly and looked in the direction of the voice, wanting to know who else was so reckless as to cause trouble. But when his gaze fell upon the spirited and handsome young man, even he was slightly taken aback, asking in confusion, "Zhao Hongyu? Why isn't this boy in seclusion Cultivating to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, and instead running here to trouble me?"

"Zhao Hongyu, challenging Yang Kai now requires a more valuable stake. Winning or losing holds no benefit for you, so why get involved in this muddy water?" Elder Teng's Clone appeared before Zhao Hongyu. The Clone's tone was much stiffer than the main body's, acting entirely according to the main body's lingering thoughts.

"I am willing to offer a drop of Divine Beast's essence blood as a stake, Yang Kai, do you dare to accept the challenge?" Zhao Hongyu carefully took out a pale yellow amber. Inside the amber, a drop of Divine Beast's blood was sealed, which had taken the form of a Divine Phoenix within the amber, appearing extraordinarily mystical.

"What's there to be afraid of? I've long heard that your Body Refining talent and Body Refining attainment, Zhao Hongyu, are unparalleled among the younger generation of the Flowing Cloud Sect. Coincidentally, I also have considerable attainment in Body Refining, so it's a good Opportunity to spar today." Yang Kai laughed and said. He also wanted to know who was stronger or weaker between his unorthodox Body Refining path and a Body Refining Genius who had undergone System Cultivation on Hongwu Peak!

"After today, this Body Refining attainment will be reduced to ashes. If I cannot fight you with Body Refining Cultivation, it will become a lifelong regret for me. Elder Teng, please prepare for us." For some reason, Zhao Hongyu's expression turned bitter after hearing Yang Kai's words, and it didn't seem feigned.