Novel Full Chapter 350 The Absent Challenger?
Chapter 350 The Absent Challenger?
Lu Xiangyuan versus Bai Zihan!
This wasn’t just a duel between two disciples-it was almost an event. The entire Heaven Sword Sect had erupted into a frenzy.
Betting stalls appeared within minutes; disciples took out their savings, wagering on who would emerge victorious.
The odds heavily favored Lu Xiangyuan-after all, he was one of the sect’s oldest and strongest disciples, standing at the very peak of the Spirit Severing Realm.
Bai Zihan, though brilliant and infamous, was still young, and for most of their lives, they had never even seen him fight.
All that most knew about Bai Zihan and his prowess came from rumors- rumors that certainly seemed exaggerated.
On the other hand, most of them had already seen Lu Xiangyuan’s power and how he won against Chu Ziyan.
High above the dueling platform, the spectator pavilions shimmered with layered protective formations.
There, seated in neat rows, were the sect’s Elders, Hall Masters, and Peak Masters-all had come to witness what was fast becoming one of the most anticipated duels in years.
Among them sat Elder Wu Heng and several other prominent figures of the Anti-Sect Leader Faction.
Their expressions brimmed with confidence and satisfaction; some even wore faint smiles, already envisioning Lu Xiangyuan’s victory and the humiliation of the Bai Clan’s heir.
Beside them, members of the Sect Leader’s Faction were far less at ease.
They spoke in low tones, eyes shadowed with worry.
Though Bai Zihan was not one of them-never officially affiliated with any side -his defeat would hand the Anti-Sect Leader Faction a massive advantage.
It would cause their influence within the sect to skyrocket, make their claims of the Sect Leader’s weakness seem justified, and render their dominance nearly certain.
Some even whispered bitterly,
“If Bai Zihan loses, we’ll suffer for it. It’s his fault for drawing so much attention.”
“Why did he have to challenge Lu Xiangyuan at such a difficult time? He doesn’t know how much we’ll suffer if he loses!”
Many held similar thoughts, even though it wasn’t Bai Zihan’s fault that their faction had grown weaker than the Anti-Sect Leader Faction.
And then there was Peak Master Qinglan.
Her gaze was calm-neither anxious nor hopeful-but beneath that composed exterior lay a quiet expectation.
Bai Zihan was her disciple, at least in name.
Moreover, she had witnessed his brilliance when he fought Bai Xinyue-whose talent had been good enough for acceptance into the Flowing Moon Sect-and won.
So, she didn’t think it was impossible for Bai Zihan to win, though she didn’t think it would be easy either.
Around her, Elders and Peak Masters conversed quietly, their eyes fixed on the stage below.
Whoosh!
A faint tremor rippled through the air above the Main Dueling Platform as a streak of light shot across the sky-sharp, fast, and unyielding.
Whoosh!
It came to a stop above the platform, and from within that sword light stepped Lu Xiangyuan.
Clad in dark blue robes embroidered with silver sword motifs, his presence radiated calm, honed sharpness-the aura of someone who had stood at the peak of the Heaven Sword Sect’s younger generation for years.
Behind him followed several disciples, all from his faction-loyal followers who admired both his strength and his firm stance against the current Sect Leader.
The instant he appeared, murmurs swept through the crowd like a wave. “Senior Lu Xiangyuan!”
“He’s finally here!”
“As expected of him-look at that aura!”
“Bai Zihan must be quivering in fear.”
Lu Xiangyuan landed lightly, the ground beneath his feet humming faintly from the residual qi of his descent.
His expression, however, was far from pleased.
His brows furrowed slightly as he gazed around the sea of faces before him- disciples whispering, elders watching from afar, and several female cultivators practically glowing with admiration.
“Tch!”
He exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing.
“If not for Elder Wu Heng,” he muttered under his breath, “I wouldn’t have bothered with such nonsense.”
One of the disciples beside him, a young man with a flattering smile, quickly spoke up.
“Senior Lu, you’re right. That Bai Zihan may be talented, but compared to you, he’s still a child who doesn’t know his place.”
“Exactly! He’s been making waves only because the Bai Clan backs him. But after today, when you defeat him, everyone will know who the true strongest disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect is!”
Lu Xiangyuan’s eyes flickered faintly, though the disdain in them didn’t fade.
He remembered hearing about Bai Zihan before entering seclusion-a troublesome child with endless scandals attached to his name.
Someone who relied on wit, arrogance, and family prestige more than true strength.
Yes, he had heard about Bai Zihan’s rapid rise to the Soul Formation Realm, the incident with the Mei Clan, and even how he defeated Bai Xinyue, a Spirit
Severing cultivator.
But to Lu Xiangyuan, those things didn’t erase the image of who Bai Zihan was- and he still looked down on him.
“Hmph!”
He gave a faint scoff.
“I was preparing to fight Bai Xinyue, the current Dragon and Phoenix Champion. Tsk! Who would have thought that Bai Zihan would be so eager to get beaten instead?”
The disciples surrounding Lu Xiangyuan nodded eagerly, their voices laced with flattery and confidence.
“Indeed, Senior Lu,” one of them said, tone full of admiration.
“This might seem beneath you, but defeating Bai Zihan publicly will send a strong message. Our Faction will gain even more influence. Once Bai Zihan falls, who else would dare to oppose you?”
Another added with a smirk, “And there’ll be no need to fight Bai Xueqing either. Defeating Bai Zihan is as good as defeating Bai Xueqing.”
Lu Xiangyuan’s lips curved faintly at that, though his expression still carried a trace of irritation.
He flicked his sleeve, brushing aside a loose strand of hair from his head, his voice calm but edged with disdain.
“You’re right. It’s not that this is difficult for me-just tedious.”
His gaze drifted toward the dueling platform, where the crowd was thickest and the atmosphere electric with anticipation.
“But for the greater good, I’ll do it.”
The disciples laughed in agreement, their tones full of reverence.
“As expected of Senior Lu! No one is as selfless as you.” “After today, no one will dare compare anyone to you ever again.”
Lu Xiangyuan said nothing more, but his eyes sharpened slightly, a glint of pride flashing through them.
He had trained for years in seclusion, refining his sword skill and pushing his cultivation to the peak of Spirit Severing.
He had every reason to believe that a mere Bai Zihan-no matter how talented or cunning-would crumble in a single exchange.
As he stepped toward the dueling platform, his robes fluttered lightly in the wind.
The crowd instinctively drew back, parting for him. His every movement carried authority-the aura of someone long accustomed to standing above others.
Whispers rippled once again-
“Senior Lu’s here. The fight’s about to begin.”
“Will Bai Zihan actually show up?”
“He challenged him, didn’t he? If he doesn’t come, he’ll lose all face.”
Lu Xiangyuan smirked faintly at those words.
Lu Xiangyuan stepped into the Main Dueling Arena with grace and composure.
The murmuring crowd grew louder, forming a tide of speculation and divided expectation.
“Senior Lu will win, obviously. He’s already at the peak of the Spirit Severing Realm!”
“Of course! Bai Zihan might be talented, but he’s far too young to match Senior Lu.”
“True… but Bai Zihan isn’t the type to act without certainty. If he challenged Lu Xiangyuan so openly, he must have something up his sleeve.”
That comment carned a few skeptical looks, yet others nodded faintly.
After all, Bai Zihan’s reputation wasn’t built on empty bravado-every time he acted, chaos followed, but so did results.
Even if Lu Xiangyuan held the advantage, had there ever been a case of Bai Zihan losing?
No! So how could this time be any different?
Just because he lost his mind to avenge his fiancée?
Not everyone believed that excuse-especially those who had seen what Bai
Zihan was truly capable of.
Lu Xiangyuan’s gaze was fixed straight ahead, calm and confident, as he
stepped into the center of the platform.
The entire dueling ground fell under his shadowed presence, spiritual qi swirling faintly around him like an invisible storm.
He raised his voice-calm, steady, and echoing across the courtyard.
“Bai Zihan! Come out and face me!”
The crowd collectively held its breath.
A few seconds passed. No movement.
No sound.
Only the faint rustle of robes and the whisper of wind.
Lu Xiangyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He waited a few moments longer, then called out again-this time, his tone
edged with faint irritation.
“Bai Zihan! Are you afraid now that I’ve arrived?!”
Still, there was no response.
A ripple of uneasy laughter spread through the spectators.
“Where is he?”
“Did he run away?”
“What’s going on? Bai Zihan challenged Lu Xiangyuan, but he ran away?”
Even the Elders watching from a distance began exchanging puzzled glances.
Lu Xiangyuan’s jaw tightened.
To stand here before thousands of eyes, only for the challenger not to appear-
it felt like mockery.
His patience, already thin, began to fray.
He exhaled sharply through his nose, his expression darkening.
“Hmph! So this is Bai Zihan? He dares to provoke and challenge me, but when
the time comes to fight, he hides?”
A faint ripple of amusement spread among the Anti-Sect Leader disciples
nearby, their voices dripping with mockery.
“Looks like Bai Zihan’s courage only works from his mouth. All bark and no
action.”
“Hahaha! Perhaps he realized he can’t win after all. Well, I would also run away if my opponent was Senior Lu Xiangyuan!”
Lu Xiangyuan’s aura flared subtly, his Qi rising slowly.
“If he doesn’t show himself within ten breaths,” he said coldly, his voice ringing
out across the platform,
“then I’ll consider his silence an admission of defeat!”