Chapter 140: Teaching a proud peacock a lesson (Part-1)

Liu Tao led the way, his entourage following closely behind, while Ryan and his group trailed a short distance back. Together, they headed toward Yanwutai.

Within Western Mansion, Yanwutai was also known as the Jidou Palace. Contrary to what its name suggested, it was not a simple ring or open arena, but a vast and orderly hall.

The main hall was divided into three sections.

The first was the Autonomous Challenge Platform. This area functioned much like a private dueling ground, allowing two warriors from the same palace to spar freely. There were no restrictions on strength, no limitations on records, and no ranking consequences. It existed purely for practice and personal challenges.

The second was the Eighth Palace Battle Hall. Here, disciples from the eight outer palaces were matched against one another at random. Strength and combat records were taken into account, ensuring that opponents were of similar level. Victories and defeats in this hall were officially recorded and contributed to rankings.

The final section was the Observation Hall. It was a quiet chamber containing nothing but a massive light screen mounted on the wall. This screen displayed rankings, combat records, and performance statistics. Aside from that, the hall served no other purpose.

As Ryan listened to Wang Bi’er’s earlier explanation, he couldn’t help but feel that the system was eerily familiar. It reminded him of an online game he once played, where one mode allowed custom matches while another paired players randomly based on rank and skill.

Custom mode. Matchmaking mode. Clear, efficient, and ruthless.

As soon as they entered the Jidou Palace, an elder stepped forward and stopped them.

“Judging by your attire, you’re candidates from this year,” the elder said calmly. “Why are you here?”

Liu Tao immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands respectfully. “Elder Qijun, we are indeed candidates for this year’s entrance exam. Since the exam is approaching, this fellow and I wish to gain some practical combat experience and spar with one another.”

His tone was smooth and practiced, clearly not the first time he had given this explanation.

The elder glanced at him briefly, then pointed to a corridor on the right. “If you wish to spar, use the Autonomous Challenge Platform. First passage on the right.”

With that, the elder turned away, losing all interest in them.

Following the directions, the group entered the corridor and soon arrived at the Autonomous Challenge Platform.

The platform consisted of 108 separate rooms, allowing that many duels to take place simultaneously. Ryan and the others found an empty room and stepped inside.

The room was simple and bare. At its center stood a transparent, flowing barrier of energy that covered roughly two-thirds of the space.

“Once you enter the energy barrier, the duel officially begins,” Liu Tao explained with a familiar tone. “If someone admits defeat inside the barrier, or if the system judges them to be seriously injured, the barrier will eject them automatically. That person will be declared the loser.”

Ryan nodded. The design was efficient and clean, preventing unnecessary casualties while still allowing full-force combat.

After understanding the rules, Ryan walked straight toward the energy barrier, clearly intending to step inside.

“Brother Li, wait!” Wang Bi’er called out urgently from behind him.

But it was already too late.

Ryan reached out and touched the flowing barrier.

Boom.

A sudden rebound force surged outward, hurling Ryan backward. He staggered more than ten steps before steadying himself. If not for his solid foundation, the impact might have sent him flying.

“What?” Liu Tao’s eyes widened slightly. He stared at Ryan in surprise.

He had expected Ryan to be sent sprawling in an embarrassing heap. Instead, Ryan merely retreated a few steps, calm and composed.

“Is there something wrong?” Ryan asked, glancing at the barrier. “Can’t I enter directly?”

“That man did it on purpose,” Wang Bi’er said angrily, shooting Liu Tao a glare. “He didn’t tell you that only registered Western Mansion disciples can directly enter the challenge barrier.”

“Only disciples?” Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Then how are we supposed to fight?”

“Normally, only official disciples are allowed to use the Jidou Palace,” Wang Bi’er explained patiently. “Candidates aren’t qualified. However, Western Mansion provides temporary access during the entrance exam period. As long as you obtain a temporary number card, you can use all the facilities here.”

She pointed to a stone platform on the right. “Place your hand in the groove there. One person can only receive a temporary number once.”

Ryan walked over to the stone platform and followed her instructions. As soon as his hand touched the groove, a soft light enveloped him. After a moment, it faded away.

“That’s it?” Ryan asked.

“Yes,” Wang Bi’er smiled. “Look at your arm. A number will appear there. That’s your temporary number. All your results in the Jidou Palace will be recorded under it.”

Ryan rolled up his sleeve. Sure enough, a number was etched faintly on his arm.

59416.

“So that’s my temporary number,” Ryan murmured.

“Enough talk,” Liu Tao sneered. He leapt into the energy barrier with ease, clearly having obtained his own temporary number long ago. Turning back, he crooked his finger at Ryan. “Come on. Let me see what you’re really capable of.”

It was obvious now. Liu Tao had deliberately withheld the information earlier, hoping to make Ryan embarrass himself.

Unfortunately for him, things hadn’t gone as planned.

Ryan smiled faintly and stepped forward again. This time, the energy barrier offered no resistance, allowing him to pass through smoothly.

Once inside, Ryan paused, glanced at Liu Tao, then looked beyond him at his companions.

“Just you?” Ryan asked casually. “Call your people in as well. One-on-one feels a little unfair to you.”

“What did you say?” Liu Tao stared at Ryan as if he were looking at a lunatic. “All of us together? You think that’s unfair to us?”

In his eyes, Ryan’s words weren’t confidence. They were sheer stupidity.

If this were a joke, Liu Tao felt it would rank among the greatest jokes he had ever heard.

Who did this pretty-faced nobody think he was? The reincarnation of the God of War?

“Yes,” Ryan replied calmly. “Call your people in. I’ll take all of you at once.”

His tone was flat, as if he were suggesting something utterly ordinary.

Liu Tao burst into laughter, his face full of disdain. “So this is how far the North District has fallen? No ability, only empty talk.”

“Challenging all of us alone? Are you insane? Hahaha!”

“Can you even beat Brother Tao and you want all of us together?”

“This is the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.”

“Do you even know what realm Brother Tao is in? One finger is enough to crush you.”

“Quick, persuade your friend. He’s clearly lost his mind.”

“What’s the point? He’s hopeless! Hahahaha!”

Laughter echoed through the room. Every candidate who came with Liu Tao mocked Ryan without restraint, none of them believing for a second that he had the strength to back up his words.

Some even turned to Mu Xianling and the others, urging them to talk sense into Ryan.

Yet Mu Xianling, Wang Bi’er, Li Shu, and the rest remained silent, gazing at Liu Tao’s group with expressions that were… oddly sympathetic.

As if they were watching fools perform.

That reaction only confused Liu Tao’s companions further. In their eyes, it now seemed that not only the man inside the energy barrier was crazy, but everyone accompanying him was as well.

Of course, Mu Xianling and the others thought the same thing about them.

Who was truly foolish would soon be clear.

“You really don’t believe I can handle all of you?” Ryan asked, his gaze resting lightly on Liu Tao.

“Believe it?” Liu Tao scoffed. “Who do you think you are?”

“Very well,” Ryan said with a faint smile. “Then I’ll convince you.”

He took a single step forward.

The distance between them was over ten meters, yet in the next instant, Ryan vanished.

Before Liu Tao could even blink, Ryan appeared behind him and casually slapped him on the back of the head.

Smack.

Then Ryan’s figure flickered again, returning to his original position as if nothing had happened.

The entire sequence took no more than a single breath.

“You… you… you…” Liu Tao clutched his forehead with one hand and pointed at Ryan with the other, his mouth opening and closing, unable to form a complete sentence.

“What?” Ryan smiled. “Convinced yet?”

Liu Tao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible! How can you be this fast? What kind of demonic technique did you use?”

The burning sensation on his forehead told him this was no illusion. A clear red handprint had formed where Ryan struck him.

If Ryan had used real force, his skull would have shattered like a melon.

From the moment Ryan moved to the moment the slap landed, Liu Tao hadn’t even registered what happened. His eyes couldn’t track it. All he saw were afterimages.

Too fast.

So fast it defied common sense.

Around them, Liu Tao’s companions were just as stunned.

“W-what just happened?”

“I think I saw a shadow flash past, and then Brother Tao got slapped…”

“I didn’t see anything at all…”

Ryan chuckled softly. “You can call me a demon if you like. I don’t mind. Now tell me, do you still think I lack the strength to challenge all of you?”

He hadn’t wanted to show off. He’d even tried to avoid fighting. But some people refused to believe words and only understood force.

When reason failed, action spoke louder.

“Hmph!” Liu Tao snorted coldly, his pride burning. “That was just a sneak attack. You haven’t shown real ability yet.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep