Chapter Fifty-Three: The Elephant Duel

South Bank, First Mountain!

Everyone raised their heads, watching as Wang Ran approached, riding on a tide of overwhelming presence. All were struck with astonishment.

“This man… Is this Wang Ran?!”

“Damn it, how could his aura be so strong?”

“Terrifying—such oppressive force!”

Witnessing Wang Ran’s extraordinary aura, everyone’s expression changed. It must be understood that aura is intangible, unseen and untouchable, yet one can sense it. The presence of the strong is often cultivated through life itself; for example, worldly officials, long accustomed to power, naturally move with commanding authority. Take Xu Ke, too—years spent battling in the Hall of Justice have steeped him in blood, making his aura formidable.

Yet Wang Ran’s presence, compared to Xu Ke’s, was a thousandfold stronger—a realm beyond comprehension, almost monstrous. They could even feel that, if they hadn’t just steadied their core, their minds might have been shattered by that force. This aura—it was simply overwhelming.

Wang Ran’s entrance stunned everyone. He had, of course, done this deliberately. No need for subtlety—his arrival must be brash, imposing, and dazzling. The Sovereign’s Aura was the pinnacle of aura techniques; its power could daunt even a Core Formation cultivator, let alone these disciples.

For a moment, everyone looked at Wang Ran with newfound respect, their shock plain to see.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for causing a profound psychological impact on the Hall of Justice disciples. Reward: 25 Dao Points!”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for causing a profound psychological impact on the Hall of Justice disciples. Reward: 20 Dao Points!”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for causing a profound psychological impact on the Inner Sect disciples. Reward: 15 Dao Points!”

A series of prompts flashed through his mind. Wang Ran was delighted, though his face remained calm, bearing the solitary look of a master as he stepped down from the air.

---

“Wang Ran, I’ve been waiting for you a long time!”

In the center of the field, Xu Ke stood tall, his gaze strange as he watched Wang Ran. He had thought Wang Ran was just another untested prodigy, a flower raised in a greenhouse; even with some talent, he hadn’t given him a second thought.

Yet seeing him today, Xu Ke realized how mistaken he’d been. That serene attitude, that transcendent aura—Wang Ran was unlike any other prodigy. Even the celebrated Tony Mu, whom Xu Ke had met, though impressive, paled in comparison—a gulf separated them.

So Xu Ke adjusted his mindset, finally taking Wang Ran seriously. In this world, after all, strength was the measure of all things. The strong defined the righteous, worthy of reverence.

Upon seeing Xu Ke, Wang Ran’s eyes brightened. No wonder he was called the “Overlord Elephant”—his stature rivaled that of a young giant. Wang Ran, standing at one meter seventy-nine, was dwarfed by Xu Ke by two whole heads.

But facing this iron-tower of a man, Wang Ran showed not a trace of fear. He smiled lightly and said, “You must be the renowned Overlord Elephant Xu Ke. Truly impressive.”

“Heh, brat, I’ve told you before to mind your place. Now you know to back down? Too late!” Ma Rulong, still bandaged at the shoulder, leapt out beside Xu Ke, sneering coldly.

Wang Ran didn’t even spare him a glance, ignoring him outright.

Ma Rulong’s face shifted; he was about to erupt when Xu Ke suddenly raised a hand to silence him. Xu Ke turned to Wang Ran and spoke in a deep voice: “With so many disciples from both the inner and outer sect gathered, there’s no need for words. Let’s settle this with our skills.”

Xu Ke was not clever, but he had some sense of honor—unlike Ma Rulong, he didn’t look down on others. Zhao Xiaobai nodded slightly, as if in agreement.

Wang Ran squinted with a smile. “Very well. But a plain fight lacks flavor. Why not add a wager?”

Xu Ke was surprised, unsure of Wang Ran’s intentions. “What kind of wager?”

“The loser shall gouge out an eye,” Wang Ran replied calmly, staring at him.

Xu Ke’s expression changed; the surrounding disciples were equally shocked.

“He’s proposing to gouge out an eye—has Wang Ran gone mad?”

“Yes, the stakes are far too high!”

“Does Wang Ran really have such confidence that he’ll win?”

---

“Will Xu Ke accept…?”

The disciples discussed anxiously; Wang Ran’s wager chilled them to the bone. Though they often carried out missions beyond the sect, and were no strangers to violence, none had ever done something as cruel as gouging out an eye.

Xu Ke’s expression shifted repeatedly. Suddenly, seeing Wang Ran’s half-smile, he burst out in rage: “Are you bluffing? Fine, I’ll bet with you!”

He was the Overlord Elephant of the sect—when had he ever known fear?

He thought Wang Ran was deliberately mocking him, and his composure slipped. Xu Ke’s temper was notoriously explosive; he’d long tried to change, to act with deliberation, but at this moment he couldn’t restrain himself.

Moreover, in his eyes, Wang Ran was just a mere third-layer Foundation cultivator. Xu Ke believed his power would easily crush him.

At once, Xu Ke gathered his energy, muscles surging, and roared: “Wang Ran, my cultivation is the self-created Six-Star Body-Refinement Technique ‘Dragon-Elephant Transformation.’ This elephant is no ordinary beast—it draws from the ancient giants. I now possess the strength of nine elephants; even a half-step Core Formation could fight me, yet you dare to wager? You’re asking for trouble!”

Xu Ke’s voice thundered, his physique swelling again like a giant elephant descending. There was even a faint dragon’s roar—his presence was overwhelming.

Many disciples nearby could barely lift their heads under this pressure. Xu Ke’s strength was shocking.

“Noisy!”

Wang Ran, facing Xu Ke’s oppressive force, was unfazed, tossing out a famous remark.

The disciples were stirred again. Little Sister Yan Wanrou’s beautiful eyes shone—she hadn’t expected Senior Brother Wang to stand firm against Xu Ke’s intimidating presence, even rebuking him with ease. How impressive!

Unlike her admiration, Xu Ke was now furious beyond measure. His temper broke loose; he bent his legs and sprang upward.

This leap was like a wild tiger unleashed, or a raging elephant charging—the force so great that the ground seemed to tremble, his mighty body creating waves in the air.

Xu Ke’s arms swept toward Wang Ran. For an ordinary Foundation disciple, being struck by this blow would crush their bones, even flatten them, leaving no hope of survival.

Xu Ke attacked with thunderous force—fierce and ruthless!