You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?

"Arrogant enough."

Lin Yue nodded slightly, speaking indifferently, "That genius back then, grew up without anyone to take care of him, couldn't even read or write, yet was taught by a Martial Saint. In just seven years of cultivation, he created a body refining cultivation method rivaling the Demon Clan's highest secret technique and passed the seventh round of the life-and-death battle. And you?"

Yan Fang was taken aback.

"You point so directly at the essence of martial arts, clearly guided by someone who has proved the Dao."

Lin Yue spoke slowly, word by word, "The body refining cultivation method you practice, Three Thousand Hell Body, is honed through great pain and was also created over a thousand years ago by that genius. You've been cultivating since childhood. Now, at twenty-eight, the years you've spent cultivating far exceed his. In every aspect, you fall short compared to him. What right do you have to compare yourself to him?"

"I..." Yan Fang's face turned beet-red, opening his mouth yet unable to utter a word.

Having his secret prodded, he didn't even have time to wonder how the Seventeenth Prince knew about his cultivation technique.

"Is His Highness stronger than him?" Yan Fang finally found a point to counter.

Lin Yue laughed lightly, "Surely my master wouldn't take a disciple who is inferior to me, would they?"

In fact.

After Xiahou Shou reincarnated as Xia Lie, he was the one who killed everyone, refining their souls and bloodline.

Moreover, although Yan Fang's strength was not bad compared to him, the gap was considerable.

Even without discussing cultivation time, nine years ago, he already possessed the strength Yan Fang had now!

A few years ago, even before he broke through the Three Talents Heaven Barrier, his strength allowed him to achieve five consecutive victories in the fourth layer of the Tianxia Building without using "Chaos Reopening." Had he used it, he would have had the confidence to break into the fifth layer of the Tianxia Building.

When converted to the life-and-death battles of the Inner Hall assessments, it was unimaginable, the ninth round!

Most importantly...

In terms of age, even now, he was only twenty-nine.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Lin Yue never thought that Yan Fang's talent and aptitude were all that remarkable.

"Oh? So what His Highness means is..."

Before Yan Fang could speak, the man in the moon-white robe smiled and said, "If one isn't as good as His Highness, they aren't qualified to become the Main Hall Master's disciple?"

Lin Yue glanced at him, speaking calmly, "And if so, what?"

"In other words... if someone is stronger than His Highness, they are qualified, correct?" The smile on the man in the moon-white robe deepened.

"That's one way to interpret it."

Lin Yue seemed not to understand his implication, still speaking calmly, "At the very least, they'd be qualified for me to inform my master."

"Is His Highness thirty this year?" the man in the moon-white robe asked.

"Just turned twenty-nine." Lin Yue replied calmly.

"I am Xia Wuhua, just shy of thirty by a month," the man in the moon-white robe smiled, clasping his hands in greeting, "Since the age fits, if I were fortunate enough to surpass His Highness, might I join the Main Hall Master?"

"You are confident."

Lin Yue's lips curled slightly, "Fine, I will give you this opportunity. If you can surpass me, what harm is there in recommending you to my master?"

"Then that's settled." Xia Wuhua, the man in the moon-white robe, nodded with a smile and added, "However, I hear His Highness possesses a Divine Artifact Battle Saber? Surely the artifact isn't included as part of one's innate talent?"

"You need not needle me."

Lin Yue said indifferently, "Since this is to test your talent, a Divine Artifact will not be used."

"Then I must thank Your Highness." Xia Wuhua chuckled.

Perhaps others hadn't thoroughly investigated the Seventeenth Prince, but he had studied the details carefully.

This Seventeenth Prince broke through the Three Talents Heaven Barrier in only a few years.

The princes all tread the path of Heavenly Reversal. It took at least a dozen to several decades to condense the outline of a path.

Consolidating the outline of such a path in just a few years?

Even if there was a possibility, he was confident he could win.

"Your Highness, being too confident isn't always good."

Yan Fang couldn't help but chuckle, "I heard His Highness is Great Yong's number one genius of this era? My senior brother is also the top genius in our school! Even when facing a Demon Saint avatar in Eternal Night, my senior brother could still contend!"

Upon his words, the crowd erupted.

In the Eternal Night, a Saint could display complete prowess.

Even an average Demon Saint was the ninth layer of Tianxia Building level. Even as an avatar, it would still be near the eighth layer!

To contend with a Demon Saint avatar would mean being near the eighth level, even if not quite there.

This explained Xia Wuhua's confidence.

He had indeed fought a Demon Saint avatar, and while it was merely coping, the gap wasn't large.

So, why wouldn't he be confident in facing a Seventeenth Prince without a Divine Artifact?

"Contend with a Demon Saint avatar? This..."

"Where do these people come from? What school?"

"These days, the eighth layer of Tianxia Building is empty, with almost no one there."

"Sigh, Seventeenth Prince only broke the Three Talents Heaven Barrier a few years ago. This might be..."

Officials familiar with the situation on Great Yong's side couldn't help but frown.

Baili Fengzhi furrowed her brows slightly.

Two years ago, when she and His Highness were ambushed by Duanmu Yan, it was only by using a Divine Artifact that His Highness reached the level of the eighth layer of Tianxia Building. Without it, he was merely at the seventh layer and five consecutive wins.

Over the past two years, though His Highness had mastered the outline of the Water Phase Path, it remained just an ordinary path, leading to a slight improvement with no qualitative change.

Could His Highness be planning to use the Imperial Decree?

If he used the Imperial Decree, His Highness could indeed easily defeat Xia Wuhua, but using it would certainly make others claim his victory as unmeritable...

"Contend with a Demon Saint avatar?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue chuckled lowly, "Then let me test the truth of that."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly took a step forward.

In front of him was the railing of the pavilion's high platform. Normally, if he didn't avoid it, that step should hit the railing.

But...

After taking the step, Lin Yue seemed to ignore it as if he were nonexistent, passing through the railing in a flash, and instantly appeared in front of Xia Wuhua.

Then, he casually swung his palm.

It seemed in pursuit of an endlessly distant sun, penetrating all obstacles like a beam of light!

"Hmm?"

Xia Wuhua's gaze changed slightly, immediately recognizing the danger in that palm.

But he didn't believe that someone who had only broken through a few years could possess such powerful Dao abilities, let alone his self-created true skill being quite formidable!

In an instant, Xia Wuhua also struck back with a palm, compressing space in his hand, gathering enormous power into one.

"Boom!"

With a reverberating roar, the two palms clashed, terrifying forces colliding completely, with the Ancestor Hall's array absorbing and neutralizing the aftermath as much as possible.

Lin Yue stood unmoved, maintaining a calm posture.

Yet Xia Wuhua was jolted back dozens of yards, then stared at Lin Yue in disbelief, muttering, "Heavenly Reversal Path?"

He could scarcely believe it.

But from that palm of the Seventeenth Prince just now, it clearly carried the complex, profound outline of the Heavenly Reversal Path!

To reach such a level in just a few years since breaking through?

It seemed too absurd.

For a moment, everyone present was stunned.

The cultivators from Great Yong were somewhat excited, watching these mysterious martial prodigies who previously held a superior air now face embarrassment when confronting the more terrifying Seventeenth Prince, experiencing their comeuppance!

"Do not panic, my senior brother still has his trump card."

Yan Fang regained his calm, confidently transmitting through divine thought, "His self-created true skill is admired even by our masters, no need to worry."

The many external martial prodigies relaxed once more upon hearing this.

"Seventeenth Prince."

Xia Wuhua took a deep breath, speaking, "This next move, I'm afraid I can't control it well. His Highness still has the chance to concede now."

As he spoke, power within him surged furiously, compressing, and a shockingly formidable aura burst forth.

"This aura..."

In that moment, many were taken aback.

However—

"Boom!"

An even more terrifying, overwhelming force suddenly erupted, unfolding with massive power like a storm, stunning everyone present.

In an instant, Xia Wuhua's pupils contracted sharply, and he vanished, reappearing a hundred yards away.

Yet there was another figure even faster, seemingly penetrating space, appearing right in front of Xia Wuhua.

"Splurt!"

Blood spattered everywhere, Xia Wuhua's body suddenly flung back, crashing into the wall of the Ancestor Hall, a massive nearly torn wound evident across his waist!

In just a moment, he was severely injured!

"With your strength, can you truly contend with a Demon Saint avatar?"

Then, he heard the distant, indifferent voice of the Seventeenth Prince, "What you called self-preservation by space teleportation is known as evasion."