Chapter 236 - 224: Nurturing
No matter what a storm Yang Chengxu caused in the hearts of others, Yu Changsheng felt only a brief moment of surprise before he became calm again.
’This Yang Chengxu is certainly brilliant. I wonder if he could withstand my fists if we actually fought.’
’Not every Beast Master is a Body Cultivator.’
Yu Changsheng mused to himself. He only had a rough estimate of his own current strength; the specifics... were hard to say.
However, he had easily slain Tang He, who was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer. In comparison, he believed that in a true life-or-death battle against Yang Chengxu, he still had the better odds of winning.
As Yu Changsheng looked over at Yang Chengxu, the latter seemed to sense it. His gaze traveled across the crowd and, whether intentionally or not, met Yu Changsheng’s.
His gaze was aloof and profound, carrying an inborn nobility. It seemed to possess a soul-stirring power that made anyone who met it feel inadequate and lower their head, not daring to look back.
But Yu Changsheng was the exception. He met Yang Chengxu’s gaze calmly, even giving him a slight nod from across the crowd.
For an instant, the air seemed to freeze, charged with a subtle tension.
Yang Chengxu was slightly surprised, but only for a moment. He looked away, his gaze placid, his expression a mixture of pride and indifference. A faint smile touched his lips, and after a slight shake of his head, he paid it no mind.
"Interesting."
This exchange did not go unnoticed by some in the crowd. They cast furtive glances at Yu Changsheng, their faces showing a hint of amusement.
Of course, Yu Changsheng paid them no mind.
’A prodigy...’
Li Minghan’s brow furrowed. A flicker of resolve shone in his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he unconsciously faltered in his step, as if hesitating over something.
’The Celestial Cyan Sub-Dragon has a noble bloodline. Even without any further enhancement, it can advance to Tier Four unimpeded... The Spirit Dragon Sect would never bestow such a Spirit Beast on an ordinary disciple. Yang Chengxu must have been able to form a Contract with it because of his background and status.’
’The Ten Thousand Beasts Tower is one of the top powers in Wuzhou. My father has already prepared a rare Spirit Beast for me to contract when I reach Foundation Establishment Peak, but I still prefer a Dragon Seed that I’ve raised myself!’
’I will raise my very own dragon!’
These thoughts swirled in Li Minghan’s mind.
Beside him, Yu Changsheng felt a flicker of curiosity but suppressed it. Meanwhile, the group from the Spirit Dragon Sect, led by the servants, gradually departed.
"The competition will begin shortly. During this time, the disciples of the Spirit Dragon Sect will be touring our sect for an exchange. I hope you will all get along peacefully and avoid any conflict."
After Mo Pengchen finished speaking, the crowd began to disperse, buzzing with discussion. Many of the female disciples were already casting lovestruck glances in Yang Chengxu’s direction, their hearts secretly captured.
News about Yang Chengxu spread like wildfire throughout the Wanxiang Sect, causing a huge stir. Even those who weren’t from the Beast Taming Peak had heard of him and were filled with curiosity.
Amidst these surging undercurrents, a temporary calm settled over everything.
As for Yu Changsheng, he returned to his secluded Cultivation to prepare for the competition. During this time, Yun Hejing visited him again. She mostly just expressed her concern, brought him some Elixirs, and told him not to feel too much pressure.
Besides her, he had another visitor: Shen Xingchen. Yu Changsheng was pleasantly surprised and welcomed him in, brewing a pot of tea.
"Senior Brother Shen, what brings you here today? It’s rare to see you. You honor my humble home with your presence."
Yu Changsheng said with a chuckle as he filled the teacups.
"I’ve been busy with secluded Cultivation lately and just came out for a breath of fresh air today. I happened to hear about the competition between your Beast Taming Peak and the Spirit Dragon Sect and figured you’d be participating, so I thought I’d come check on you."
Shen Xingchen smiled back. After sitting down cross-legged, he took a slow sip of his tea, his breathing long and steady.
Before Yu Changsheng could respond, Shen Xingchen paused for a moment and then continued,
"I’ve heard that this Yang Chengxu is not to be underestimated. I’m afraid even I would struggle to be his opponent. When the time comes, don’t overthink things. If you have to face him, just focus on staying alive."
Yu Changsheng’s expression faltered. He gave Shen Xingchen a surprised look, then shook his head with a smile. "Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing."
"Good, that’s for the best." Shen Xingchen nodded. After a moment of thought, he continued, "The way I see it, even saying this Yang Chengxu is from the Spirit Dragon Sect is an overstatement. It’s the Spirit Dragon Sect that’s lucky to have him."
Yu Changsheng was speechless. A resigned smile appeared on his face as he waved his hand and shrugged. "I don’t care what his background is. Right now, he’s representing the Spirit Dragon Sect. If we don’t give it our all against him, does that mean we’ll have to forever be beneath them?"
"Well..." Shen Xingchen hesitated, a bitter and helpless smile on his face. "Never mind. We’ll see what happens. Like I said, just do your best."
"Besides," Shen Xingchen lowered his head, his expression growing serious. He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and let out a slow breath before continuing.
"And if you actually manage to beat this Yang Chengxu... well, you’ll have made an enemy of him. With his background and influence, I’m afraid things could get very difficult for you later on."
Shen Xingchen didn’t elaborate, but the profound look in his eyes made it clear that he had his own suspicions and knowledge about Yang Chengxu.
Yu Changsheng was taken aback by his words. After a long moment, he gave a faint smile and cupped his fist toward Shen Xingchen. "I’ll be careful. Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother Shen."
"Good, as long as you know what you’re doing." Shen Xingchen nodded. This reminder was the main reason he had come.
Based on his understanding, with Yu Changsheng’s strength, there was a good chance he would end up facing Yang Chengxu. That was why he had come to offer a few words of caution.