Chapter 72: The Interruption of Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps (Part-3)

The wind howled, and the air trembled. The invisible auras of the two Upper Exalts collided violently, like two massive beasts crashing head-on.

The impact was terrifying.

Both sides, whether Western Mansion’s experts or the black-clad mercenaries, retreated instinctively the moment the clash began. One step, then another, until they were nearly ten meters away, where the pressure finally became bearable.

Even so, many of them still felt their chests tighten.

The audience farther away fared little better.

Though separated by great distance, the might of Upper Exalts was overwhelming. Even from afar, the oppressive force made breathing difficult, as if a mountain were pressing down on their hearts.

“Damn, are they really fighting? Is that the examiner? How strong is he? And that man in black… this pressure is insane!”

“What’s going on? Why are they just standing there? Ugh, I feel awful.”

“They’re clashing with their auras, you idiots. Of course, you feel it. An Upper Exalt’s battle isn’t something ordinary people can withstand.”

“But we’re almost a hundred meters away!”

“So what? Upper Exalts are terrifying.”

On the rings, the candidates had long since stopped fighting.

Compared to the audience, the pressure they felt was even greater, yet none of them looked frightened. Instead, their eyes shone with excitement, awe, and envy.

They were merely warriors, many not even certain they could reach the Exalt realm, let alone anything beyond.

As for a clash between Upper Exalts, this was something most of them might never witness again in their entire lives.

Under such circumstances, who would still care about discomfort?

“Is this the power of an Upper Exalt? Incredible.”

“With aura alone, they can crush us. I feel so insignificant.”

“One day, I’ll reach this realm.”

“They say to graduate from Western Mansion’s inner ranks, you must at least reach the Upper Exalt level.”

“Graduate? First, think about how to even enter Western Mansion.”

Mu Xianling stared at the two figures locked in confrontation, determination blazing in her eyes.

“One day,” she said quietly, “I’ll reach this level. I’ll surpass them.”

“Don’t worry, Fairy Sister,” Su Sidao said eagerly at her side. “I’ll reach that level for you and protect you.”

She ignored him completely.

Fan Wei scoffed. “Upper Exalt? If I were their age, I wouldn’t even need to train that hard to reach it.”

Yuan Qiong said nothing, only watching with unconcealed envy.

Boom.

Another deafening explosion rang out as the invisible clash reached its peak.

Wang Zongyao staggered backward more than ten steps before barely stabilizing himself. His face turned pale, and with a muffled sound, a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.

He was injured.

In this battle of Upper Exalts, Wang Zongyao was clearly at a disadvantage.

He had lost to Shen Yu.

Although both of them stood at the Upper Exalt realm, the gap of two stars was an insurmountable chasm. Wang Zongyao had already prepared himself mentally for defeat the moment their auras collided. He knew he would lose.

What he did not expect was how completely he would be suppressed.

He had stepped forward out of pride and indignation, provoked by Shen Yu’s arrogance, believing that even in defeat, he could at least test the other party’s depth.

Yet reality struck him mercilessly. Before any true exchange of techniques, he had already been overwhelmed by sheer momentum, injured before a real battle could even begin.

Only now did Wang Zongyao truly understand the terror of the Upper Exalt realm. At this level, a mere difference of one or two stars was enough to determine life and death. The gap was not subtle, but absolute.

The experts of Western Mansion were visibly shaken. They knew very well that the examiner was a genuine Upper Exalt. Yet he had been defeated so decisively. That meant the masked man before them was not only an Upper Exalt, but a stronger one.

Even more frightening was what stood behind him.

The audience might not have been able to sense the details as clearly, but they were not fools. At the opening of the qualification exam, they had personally felt Wang Zongyao’s terrifying presence.

Now, seeing him injured and retreating, they instinctively understood just how terrifying this group of black-clad intruders truly was.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through Wushuang Square.

“This year’s qualification exam is insane. I thought seeing the examiner act was already rare, but now someone even stronger than him shows up.”

“Who are these people in black? They actually dared to fight Western Mansion head-on and even injured the examiner.”

“I’m at the Elite realm, and I can’t sense the cultivation of any of them. Not a single one. Do you know what that means?”

“You’re saying… the rest of them are all Exalts? A dozen Exalts and an Upper Exalt? What kind of force is that?”

“Western Mansion rules the Western Regions, yet these people dare to challenge them in broad daylight. This is going to explode.”

“I don’t think they’re here to cause trouble. They’ve been talking this whole time. It feels like they’re here for something specific.”

Speculation ran rampant, fear and excitement mixing together as everyone tried to piece together the truth.

On the battlefield, Shen Yu glanced at Wang Zongyao, mockery evident even through his covered face. His voice carried an unmistakable sneer as he spoke.

“Well? Examiner Wang, do you see now whether you’re qualified to stop me? Are you still unwilling to step aside?”

Wang Zongyao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and let out a cold laugh. “Fengyue City is just a small place. I never expected it could attract an Upper Exalt of three stars.”

“That is none of your concern,” Shen Yu replied calmly. “Move aside.”

After a brief pause, his tone softened slightly, as if reconsidering. “We truly have no intention of becoming enemies with Western Mansion. This clash was unavoidable, nothing more. If you allow us through, we will find the person we seek and leave immediately. I will personally apologize and ensure Western Mansion’s dignity is preserved.”

It was, undeniably, a carefully chosen compromise.

Shen Yu was giving Wang Zongyao a way out.

Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, if Wang Zongyao simply stepped aside and allowed these people to storm in and seize someone, Western Mansion’s reputation would be shattered. It would appear weak, incapable of protecting even those within its own jurisdiction.

Such rumors would spread like wildfire, shaking Western Mansion’s authority across the Western Regions.

However, an apology, framed as a misunderstanding, was different. It preserved appearances. It allowed Western Mansion to retreat without seeming cowardly.

If another examiner stood here today, someone less stubborn, they might have already accepted.

But Wang Zongyao hesitated.

He knew exactly who these people were after.

If he stepped aside, Ryan would be exposed directly to these terrifying foes. Worse still, it would send a message that Western Mansion could not protect someone it had acknowledged and favored.

How could Western Mansion maintain authority if it abandoned its own people?

Yet the cruel reality remained. Wang Zongyao could not defeat Shen Yu. If the conflict escalated further, the consequences would only grow more disastrous.

He was caught in a dilemma, torn between pride, responsibility, and reality.

At that moment, a clear and steady voice rang out from behind him. “Uncle Wang, let them come in.”

Wang Zongyao stiffened and turned around in surprise. “Hmm?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep