Chapter Thirty-One: Shattering Armor with a Single Blow!

Falling Cloud Pavilion.

After Huang Huifeng’s words echoed across the square, the surrounding cultivators’ eyes lit up, their breaths quickening.

"As long as we can injure that man, he'll give us the armor?"

"Is there really such a good thing?"

"If that's true, we have to give it a try, no matter what."

"Indeed, there's nothing to lose anyway."

A fiery gleam appeared in the eyes of the cultivators all around. They stared at the armor with visible excitement.

Someone stepped forward and asked, "Steward Huang, is this really true?"

Huang Huifeng stroked his beard and smiled. "Of course it is. If you think you have what it takes, you may try your hand."

He was supremely confident in the Falling Cloud Armor. Its defensive capabilities were far beyond what an ordinary cultivator could break through, and he had already discreetly surveyed the crowd—no Nascent Soul cultivators were present.

Cultivators of that caliber rarely visited minor places like Falling Cloud City. Nascent Soul cultivators were as elusive as dragons, seen only in glimpses.

Wang Ran’s master, Feng Yazi, was a Nascent Soul expert, his methods inscrutable, his cultivation profound.

No sooner had Huang Huifeng finished speaking than someone in the crowd could no longer restrain himself. A burly man with the build of a tiger strode onto the stage, his voice deep and resonant as he said, "Let me try!"

His words were heavy, his breath like an ox’s, and his muscles layered upon his body. He looked less like a cultivator and more like a mortal strongman.

"What a powerful presence."

"He must be from the Vajra Sect!"

"I know him—Liu Yi, a direct disciple of the Vajra Sect. His core technique is said to be four-star level, called the Barbaric Ox Art."

"Yes, he follows the path of brute force. His techniques may not match the great sect prodigies in grade, but his potential is tremendous!"

As he appeared, many nearby recognized him. In these mountains, he had some renown.

Liu Yi did not strike immediately upon reaching the stage; instead, he circled the platform, carefully watching the man clad in Falling Cloud Armor, as if searching for a flaw.

The armored man smiled faintly and extended a hand. “Please, fellow cultivator.”

Liu Yi narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he gathered his strength, and a fierce wind sprang up with his breath.

The next instant, he charged, arm braced across his chest, straight at the armored man.

"That’s Vajra Sect’s five-star technique, Iron Mountain Crash!"

"I’ve heard Iron Mountain Crash is remarkable—seeing it now, it truly is."

"Liu Yi does have some skill."

The cultivators watched the awe-inspiring Liu Yi, holding their breath.

On the high platform, Liu Yi’s movements were like a bull’s, spiritual energy swirling around him.

But the armored man did not evade at all. He braced his chest, Falling Cloud Armor shimmering, and took the blow head-on.

When the dust settled, the armored man had only retreated three steps—completely unscathed. The Falling Cloud Armor was as smooth as a mirror, untouched.

Everyone was astonished.

"Liu Yi’s strongest blow had no effect!"

"This Falling Cloud Armor truly deserves to be a sixth-grade spiritual artifact—remarkable!"

"What a treasure. No wonder Huang Huifeng is so confident, daring to boast like that."

"Interesting. I’ll try as well."

Another man stepped from the crowd—a middle-aged cultivator, stronger even than Liu Yi. Yet after his struggle, the man in the Falling Cloud Armor remained ruddy-cheeked, utterly unharmed.

More challengers took their turn, each unwilling to admit defeat. In the end, everyone discovered that the Falling Cloud Armor’s defense was terrifying. Huang Huifeng had not exaggerated; this truly was a treasure.

Huang Huifeng chuckled, stepping onto the stage. “Well, everyone, my Falling Cloud Armor has proven itself, has it not? Does anyone else wish to try?”

Below, the crowd murmured among themselves, but no one stepped forward.

The strongest among them had already failed, unable to crack the armor’s defense. It was far too formidable.

Somehow, Beiming Lie had also arrived, quietly observing for a while but not taking the stage. He judged that he, too, would be unable to breach that defense.

Having witnessed the reliability of this treasure, the crowd’s confidence in the auction soared. Excitement buzzed as they made up their minds to win the Falling Cloud Armor at any cost.

Huang Huifeng secretly laughed, knowing that the armor’s price would at least double after this demonstration.

Just as the crowd was abuzz and preparing to disperse, a cultivator in blue robes, with long dark purple hair, stepped forward from among them.

"Steward Huang, I would like to try as well. May I?"

As Wang Ran stepped forth, nearby cultivators paused, watching curiously.

"Who is he? He wants to go up too?"

"Never seen him before. Judging by his clothes, he must be a rogue cultivator."

"Heh, what arrogance. The prodigies before him failed, and he still wants to try?"

"…"

Beiming Lie was in the crowd too. When he saw Wang Ran, his eyes lit up and he watched intently.

On the stage, Huang Huifeng squinted and smiled. “Please, go ahead.”

Wang Ran said, “Steward Huang, I am skilled in swordsmanship. May I use a weapon?”

Huang Huifeng waved dismissively. “As you wish.”

He was so confident in the armor’s strength that even a seventh-grade spiritual weapon would be hard-pressed to leave a mark. He had no fear that Wang Ran could break through, weapon or not.

Seeing Huang Huifeng so sure of himself, Wang Ran said no more. He stood with hands behind his back, surveying the hall. The first floor of Falling Cloud Pavilion had decorations—potted plants and the like.

Wang Ran walked over to a large potted plant, casually plucked a branch, and returned to the platform as if it were nothing.

Everyone around was stunned by his action.

"He’s going to use a twig as a weapon?"

"I thought he’d pull out some powerful artifact!"

"So did I—who would’ve thought he’d pick up a branch?"

"To challenge a sixth-grade defensive artifact with a mere branch—has he lost his mind?"

"Such arrogance!"

Many laughed at the sight, even Huang Huifeng’s face stiffened—such behavior was downright insulting. Was he truly some hidden master?

Beiming Lie’s eyes flickered in the crowd, fixed on Wang Ran.

Across from him, the man in the Falling Cloud Armor flushed with anger, feeling insulted. He snorted, his aura rising, then leapt high, aiming to land before Wang Ran.

Wang Ran, in the midst of thinking how best to knock the man airborne so he could use his "Raging Gale Severing Slash," was stunned as the man jumped up on his own.

The six-star technique "Raging Gale Severing Slash" could pierce armor and injure the body directly; to Wang Ran, the vaunted Falling Cloud Armor was as good as nothing, completely useless.

But to activate this technique, the target had to be airborne. Wang Ran had been wondering how to get him up there, but the man had leapt himself.

At that moment, Wang Ran could clearly see a white virtual line connecting himself to the airborne man.

Brother, you’re really putting your own head in the noose!

Even Wang Ran, whose skin was thick as a city wall, felt a touch of embarrassment.

What a good man!

This brother truly was a good man!

He had created the condition Wang Ran needed of his own accord!

Wang Ran was deeply moved, then activated the six-star technique "Raging Gale Severing Slash."

In a flash, Wang Ran vanished from where he stood. Suddenly, a fierce wind howled beside the big man, sword light flaring.

In a brief second, the gale ceased.

When Wang Ran reappeared, he stood with arms folded, back to the big man, that slender branch between his lips, face cold, eyes closed, not sparing his opponent a glance.

With the lingering breeze swirling around him, Wang Ran’s solitary figure radiated the air of a peerless master.

No one had seen how Wang Ran attacked!

Even Huang Huifeng stared in shock, anxiously watching the armored man.

The man stood there dazed. The Falling Cloud Armor was unmarked, and he seemed unharmed.

What was going on?

Was it all just for show?

As confusion swept through the crowd, Wang Ran’s lips curled into a confident smile. He laughed softly, his tone rising and falling, "The momentum of this sword... grows ever fiercer!"

As the final word fell, countless sword wounds suddenly appeared across the big man’s body. Blood burst forth, and with a gasp, he spat a mouthful of blood skyward and collapsed to his knees.

The scene fell instantly silent.

Just one move!

One move had shattered the sixth-grade spiritual Falling Cloud Armor!

The sight was simply too shocking!

Everyone stared, eyes wide, jaws slack in disbelief, their hearts churning with waves of astonishment.

The big man coughed violently, clutching his chest as blood flowed freely.

Meanwhile, Wang Ran stood calmly before him, a faint aura of wind swirling around him, the loneliness of a true master reaching its peak.