"Hey, this guy actually dared to provoke Meng Dongxing… he's done for."
Seeing Meng Dongxing make his move, many onlookers instinctively flinched, some even closing their eyes.
Almost everyone could already picture Jiang Chen's tragic fate.
But the tragedy they expected… never came.
Meng Dongxing's strike was fast—but Jiang Chen was faster.
With a flash, Jiang Chen activated his Profound-rank Low-grade Body Technique: Flowing Light Phantom Step, his figure blurring like a ghost as he slipped past Meng Dongxing's claw with ease.
Whoosh!
"He dodged it?!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Meng Dongxing narrowed his eyes, staring at Jiang Chen who now stood several meters away."I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to have some skill."
Jiang Chen's voice was cold."Meng Dongxing, Lingyun Wufu forbids private fighting. Aren't you afraid of being expelled for this?"
Meng Dongxing sneered."Heh… trying to hide behind the Wufu's rules? Naïve.
Rules exist for the weak.
Believe it or not, even if I cripple you today, Lingyun Wufu won't do a thing to me."
He wasn't exaggerating. As the number one Golden Student of the Outer Palace, even a private fight would earn him little more than a warning.
Would Lingyun Wufu really expel one of its top talents over a "lucky newcomer"?
Jiang Chen's lips curled in disdain."You? Beat me?
In my eyes, you—the so-called top Golden Student—aren't worth mentioning."
His voice cut through the square like a blade, the contempt unmistakable.
"Meng Dongxing, I had no quarrel with you. But you just had to play someone else's lapdog and come barking at me.
In that case—let's settle it properly."
Jiang Chen's gaze sharpened."On the arena.
Your title as the number one Golden Student… I want it."
Boom!
The crowd erupted in shock, as if a bomb had gone off.
"Did I hear that right?!""This kid just challenged Meng Dongxing for his title?!"
Some stared at Jiang Chen like he had lost his mind.
Meng Dongxing wasn't just any Golden Student—he was at the pinnacle of the Ninth Layer of Body Quenching,mastered a Profound-tier martial skill,and had even once gone toe-to-toe with a Qi Protection Realm cultivator without losing.
And this newly promoted Golden Student wanted to fight him?
Was this arrogance… or suicide?
Meng Dongxing's face twisted into an enraged grin."Good. Very good.
Since you're so eager to die… I'll grant your wish!"
He turned sharply, striding toward the arena with heavy steps.
Jiang Chen followed without hesitation.
"Holy crap, he's serious!""Everyone, to the square! This is gonna be good!"
The commotion spread like wildfire, drawing more and more students.
Soon, hundreds of disciples surrounded the massive Martial Platform at the heart of the Outer Palace.
As Jiang Chen and Meng Dongxing stepped onto the stage, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Who is that kid? Why would he pick a fight with Meng Dongxing?""Half a year ago, even Li Shengjie—the second-ranked Golden Student—was utterly crushed when he challenged Meng Dongxing!""This kid… he's digging his own grave."