Chapter Thirty-One: Shattering Armor with a Single Move

Falling Cloud Pavilion.

After Huang Huifeng’s words echoed across the square, the nearby cultivators’ eyes lit up and their breathing grew rapid.

“As long as we can injure that man, he’ll give us that armor?”

“Is there really such a stroke of luck?”

“If that’s true, then we have to try, no matter what.”

“Indeed, there’s nothing to lose, after all.”

A fervent light surged in the eyes of the surrounding cultivators. Staring at the armor, they couldn’t hide their excitement.

Someone stepped forward to ask, “Manager Huang, do you mean what you say?”

Huang Huifeng stroked his beard with a smile. “Naturally. If you think you have the ability, feel free to try.”

He was extremely confident in the Falling Cloud Armor. Its defensive power was far beyond what ordinary cultivators could shake. He had also just swept his gaze around the crowd: there wasn’t a single Nascent Soul cultivator present.

After all, experts of that level rarely visited small towns like Falling Cloud City. Nascent Soul cultivators were as elusive as dragons glimpsed through the clouds. Wang Ran’s rather unremarkable master, Master Feng Yazi, was a Nascent Soul cultivator himself—his methods mysterious, his cultivation unfathomably deep.

As soon as Huang Huifeng finished speaking, someone in the crowd could restrain himself no longer. A burly, broad-shouldered man strode forward onto the stage, his voice deep and steady as he declared, “I’ll give it a try!”

His words were heavy, his breathing like that of an ox, muscles layered upon muscles. He looked less like a cultivator and more like a mighty mortal strongman.

“What a formidable aura!”

“He must be from the Vajra Sect!”

“I know him! That’s Liu Yi, a core disciple of the Vajra Sect. I’ve heard his signature technique is a four-star art called Bull King’s Strength.”

“Yes, he uses brute force to enter the Dao. Though his techniques may not match the top prodigies of the great sects, his potential is enormous!”

His appearance was quickly recognized by many in the vicinity; clearly, he enjoyed some renown in these mountains.

Liu Yi did not attack hastily. Instead, he circled the high platform, eyes locked on the man wearing the Falling Cloud Armor, as if searching for a weakness.

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

At this, Liu Yi narrowed his eyes, gathered his energy, and in a breath, a fierce wind seemed to arise.

The next instant, he charged forward, arm braced across his chest, barreling toward the armored man.

“That’s the Vajra Sect’s five-star technique, Iron Mountain Crash!”

“I’ve heard of Iron Mountain Crash’s might. To see it today, it lives up to its reputation!”

“Liu Yi is no ordinary man!”

The surrounding cultivators held their breath, watching Liu Yi’s overwhelming charge. On the stage, he moved like a raging bull, spiritual energy coiling around him—truly extraordinary.

Yet the armored man did not dodge at all. He simply thrust out his chest, the Falling Cloud Armor shimmering with light, and took the blow head-on.

When the dust settled, the armored man had only staggered back three steps, entirely unharmed. The armor gleamed as smooth as a mirror, not a mark upon it.

The crowd was astonished.

“Liu Yi’s strongest blow did nothing!”

“This Falling Cloud Armor truly deserves to be called a sixth-grade spiritual artifact—extraordinary!”

“No wonder Huang Huifeng is so bold—this is a rare treasure!”

“Interesting. I want to try as well.”

Another man stepped from the crowd, this one a middle-aged cultivator even stronger than Liu Yi. Yet after a round of exertion, the armored man remained unscathed, his cheeks glowing with health.

Again and again, challengers stepped up in disbelief, only to find the Falling Cloud Armor’s defense terrifying beyond compare. Huang Huifeng’s boast was no exaggeration—this was indeed a treasure.

Huang Huifeng chuckled as he ascended the stage. “Well, my friends, does anyone doubt my Falling Cloud Armor now? Anyone else wish to attempt?”

Below the stage, no one responded. The strongest in the crowd had already tried and failed to breach the armor’s defense. This suit was simply too formidable.

At some point, Bei Minglie had arrived as well. After quietly watching for a while, he decided not to try—he doubted he could break through the armor’s defense either.

Having witnessed the reliability of this treasure, the crowd’s confidence in the upcoming auction soared. Excitement bubbled as all prepared to claim the Falling Cloud Armor at the auction.

Huang Huifeng could barely contain his laughter. Now that everyone had seen the armor’s value, its final price would at least double his expectations.

Just as the crowd was about to disperse, brimming with lively discussion, a middle-aged cultivator clad in blue and purple robes, long hair flowing, stepped out.

“Manager Huang, I would also like to try—may I?”

As Wang Ran strode forward, curious eyes turned toward him.

“Who is he? He wants to try as well?”

“Never seen him—must be a rogue cultivator, judging by his clothes.”

“Ha, how overconfident. If the previous prodigies failed, what chance does he have?”

Within the crowd, Bei Minglie’s eyes brightened as he carefully watched Wang Ran.

On stage, Huang Huifeng smiled with narrowed eyes. “By all means.”

Wang Ran said, “Manager Huang, I specialize in swordsmanship. May I use a weapon?”

Huang Huifeng waved him off dismissively. “As you wish.”

With the sturdiness of the Falling Cloud Armor, it could even withstand a seventh-grade spiritual weapon. He had no fear that Wang Ran could damage it; weapon or no, the result would be the same.

Seeing Huang Huifeng’s confidence, Wang Ran said nothing more. He stood with his hands behind his back, scanning the hall. The first floor of Falling Cloud Pavilion was decorated with various ornaments, including potted plants.

He walked to a large potted plant, casually plucked a twig, and returned to the stage as if nothing had happened.

This action left the onlookers dumbfounded.

“He’s using a twig as a weapon?”

“I thought he’d pull out some rare spiritual artifact!”

“So did I! Who’d have thought he’d break off a twig?”

“To challenge a sixth-grade defensive spiritual artifact with a mere twig—has he lost his mind?”

“How arrogant!”

Many cultivators mocked him openly. Even Huang Huifeng’s face twitched. Such a move was an outright insult—unless he really was some hidden master.

Amid the crowd, Bei Minglie’s gaze grew piercing, locked onto Wang Ran.

Opposite him, the man clad in Falling Cloud Armor flushed with anger, feeling deeply insulted. With a cold snort, his aura surged as he leapt, aiming to land before Wang Ran in a show of force.

Wang Ran, who had been pondering how to use “Army-Breaking Strike” while the man was off guard, was momentarily stunned by this unexpected charge. As he watched the man soaring high, his expression became odd.

The six-star technique “Army-Breaking Strike” could pierce armor and wound the body directly. In Wang Ran’s eyes, the so-called Falling Cloud Armor was as good as useless.

He had just learned the technique and was still a novice, unsure if he could wield it skillfully. He had thought he’d have to seek a flaw in the man’s full defense, but to his surprise, the man had leapt up himself, exposing all his vital points.

Brother, you’re practically throwing yourself onto the spear!

Even Wang Ran, as thick-skinned as he was, felt a twinge of embarrassment.

What a good man!

This fellow was truly generous, creating an opportunity out of nothing!

Deeply moved, Wang Ran unleashed the six-star technique, Army-Breaking Strike.

In a flash, Wang Ran vanished from sight. A fierce gust suddenly rose beside the leaping man, sword light erupting in every direction.

In barely a second, the whirlwind faded.

Wang Ran reappeared, arms crossed, back turned to the armored man, a slender twig between his lips, expression cold, eyes closed in silent composure.

The lingering breeze carried an air of unrivaled mastery.

No one had seen how Wang Ran struck!

Even Huang Huifeng stared wide-eyed in disbelief, anxiously watching the armored man.

The latter stood stock-still, the Falling Cloud Armor unmarked, himself seemingly unharmed.

What was going on? Had that just been a feint?

While the crowd puzzled over the outcome, Wang Ran’s lips suddenly curled into a confident smile. His voice rang out, measured and sonorous: “The momentum of this sword grows fiercer with each stroke!”

As the final word fell, countless sword wounds appeared on the armored man’s body. Blood burst forth, and he spewed a mouthful of blood skyward before collapsing to his knees with a thud.

For a moment, the hall was deathly silent.

A single strike!

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

The scene was so shocking, everyone stared in disbelief, mouths agape, hearts surging with tumultuous waves.

The armored man coughed violently, clutching his chest as blood poured forth.

Meanwhile, Wang Ran stood quietly at the front, a faint aura swirling around him, the solitude of a true master radiating from his form.