"Alright, I'll give it to you, but I'm afraid you won't be able to hold it!"

As this cold shout came from Xu Ban's mouth, amidst the slightly puzzled gazes of the crowd, he raised his left hand holding the Fire Tree Core and smashed it towards Yun Xiao's head.

Watching Xu Ban's actions, the onlookers suddenly realized his true intentions. This guy didn't really intend to hand over the Fire Tree Core, but wanted to take this opportunity to rough up the raggedly dressed youth.

However, when everyone thought that the raggedly dressed youth was in trouble, they didn't notice the fleeting mockery in Lin Xuanhao's eyes, as someone directly involved.

No one else recognized Yun Xiao, but Lin Xuanhao had already recognized this now famous figure the moment Yun Xiao appeared on the Soaring Dragon Continent.

The past events in Yujiang City and Yuyang City need not be mentioned. From the rumors Lin Xuanhao heard on his way from Yujiang City to Lianyun Mountain, he knew that this Xu Ban was in for major trouble.

Lin Xuanhao even thought that given Yun Xiao's current strength and status, even if he were to directly kill Xu Ban, the Meridian Refining Master Association probably wouldn't say much.

Unfortunately, while Lin Xuanhao understood this, Xu Ban was completely unaware. He only knew that he had powerful backing, and as a Seeking Origin Realm Late Stage genius, what waves could a raggedly dressed youth possibly stir?

"Truly, self-inflicted misfortune cannot be lived!"

Seeing the opponent ready to make a move without saying a word, Yun Xiao helplessly shook his head. Then he exerted force with his right hand fingers, and with a "crack," Xu Ban's right wrist fell limply, devoid of strength.

The sudden, tooth-aching sound left everyone momentarily dumbfounded. They had thought the raggedy youth would end up in a sorry state at Xu Ban's hands.

Who knew that with just two fingers, he could snap Xu Ban's right wrist? What kind of strength did this require, and what kind of gap existed between the two for such a feat?

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Xu Ban cried out in pain as his right wrist was snapped, but due to inertia, his left hand holding the Fire Tree Core didn't halt at all.

At this moment, Yun Xiao released Xu Ban's right wrist, and with a slight, seemingly slow movement of his fingers, he accurately pinched together his two fingers, pointing at Xu Ban's left wrist that was crashing towards his head.

This accuracy and speed were so uncanny that even the observing Meridian Refining Masters were utterly shocked. At this moment, they all knew the raggedly dressed youth's strength far surpassed Xu Ban's.

Yun Xiao had no such thoughts. Xu Ban's left hand halted abruptly after being pinpointed, and Yun Xiao calmly turned his fingers into a claw, extracting the Fire Tree Core from Xu Ban's hand.

At this point, both of Xu Ban's wrists were broken, and the excruciating pain caused sweat the size of beans to roll down his forehead. However, his expression turned fiercely vicious.

"Kid, no matter who you are, since you dare injure me, you'll pay with your life!"

With a tinge of madness in his eyes, Xu Ban's words bewildered the spectators and made Yun Xiao's eyes flicker with a cold light—how shameless.

Before, even the onlookers thought that after what happened, Xu Ban, with both wrists broken, would realize the disparity between himself and the opponent and wouldn't continue to be stubborn.

Who would've thought that Xu Ban—who earlier insisted on who's the bigger fist having the say—now faced a power higher than his own without showing any intent to relent, bizarrely yelling out defiantly instead.

"Seems like Xu Ban must have some backing!"

The watching cultivators weren't fools; if Xu Ban dared to boast knowing he couldn't win, he must have had some trump card, or else he was truly mad.

Crack! Crack!

Despite being a middle-level Earth Rank Meridian Genius, and enduring intense pain in his wrists, Xu Ban forcibly corrected his broken wrist bones, sweating profusely like he'd just been fished out of water.

The severe pain fueled Xu Ban's hatred even more, and in the next moment, he reached to his waist, took out a small bamboo tube.

The bamboo tube was adorned with Flower Mountain patterns, not particularly special. But when Xu Ban slapped the bottom of the tube, and a light surged into the sky, everyone's gaze turned contemplative.

Boom!

A cyan light shot skyward, exploding with a rumble high in the sky, then a luminous pattern appeared in everyone's eyes.

"That is..."

When everyone saw the fireworks exploding in the sky, faintly forming a pattern of mountain stones and flowers, a name emerged in their minds, and their expressions changed dramatically.

"Thick mountains below, blue flowers above, these are the communication fireworks of the Huashan Old Monster's lineage!"

One of the Meridian Refining Masters, quite advanced in age, stared dumbfounded at the lingering mountain flower pattern in the sky, murmuring his words. As these words came out, those around him gasped, confirming their suspicions.

"Old Guo, are you courting death?"

Just as the words left his mouth, a person next to him, evidently a close friend, tugged at his sleeve, speaking words that caused Old Guo to tremble, looking around fearfully as if worried that the so-called Huashan Old Monster might have heard him.

"I never thought Xu Ban would be the direct disciple of Huashan Old Elder. That rough-clothed boy is in big trouble now!"

Another Meridian Refining Master at the Earth Rank Middle Level wore a look of shock on his face. However, in his words, the "Huashan Old Monster" became "Huashan Old Elder," clearly out of caution.

It was previously said that the top Meridian Refining Masters on the Tenglong Continent are not only found on Lianyun Mountain or among the four top forces and thirteen major first-class forces.

Many reclusive Old Monsters have studied Meridian Refining Technique for countless years, and once they emerge, they might be far stronger than the famous Heavenly-grade Pulse Refining Masters of the continent.

Huashan Old Elder is one such figure. It is said that ten years ago, he attended the Meridian Refining Conference but was defeated by that year's champion, returning regretfully.

On the Tenglong Continent, many Old Monsters keep themselves hidden away, but the name of Huashan Old Elder is among the loudest, not because he has reached the Heavenly Rank Third Realm in cultivation, but due to his violent nature that often leads to taking lives at the slightest disagreement.

Thus, privately, many people just call Huashan Old Elder as Huashan Old Monster. But now, since Xu Ban set off the fireworks, it's clear Huashan Old Monster is nearby. If he hears the term "Old Monster," he might vent his anger.

This was the reason behind the previous person's reminder to Old Guo. The unpredictable Huashan Old Monster supposedly doesn't respect even the elders of Lianyun Mountain, let alone ordinary cultivators like themselves.

These Meridian Refining Masters, who have been mingling on the Tenglong Continent for years, clearly know that the Huashan Old Elder lineage only accepts one direct disciple each generation. This disciple is both the senior and closed-door disciple, with new heirs only taken if an accident befalls the existing one.

Though Xu Ban is not very old, he has already cultivated the Meridian Refining Technique to the Earth Rank Middle Level, which is comparable to the top Meridian Refining geniuses of the Meridian Refining Master Association.

Earlier, people were confused as to which family could cultivate such a demon-like Meridian Refining genius. Now that they suspect he is the direct disciple of the Huashan Old Monster, everything becomes clear.

Seems like Huashan Old Elder has held onto the disappointment from not winning the championship ten years ago, and has been dwelling on it for ten years, hoping to reclaim all his lost honor in this Meridian Refining Conference.

Xu Ban is Huashan Old Monster's most proud disciple, and he comes to the Meridian Refining Master Association with no small amount of showmanship.

Huashan Old Monster himself seeks to overshadow numerous Heavenly-grade Pulse Refining Masters to clinch the championship, and if his disciple could also surpass the Meridian Refining geniuses of Lianyun Mountain, that would be a true double blessing.

Xu Ban's Heart Qi is also very high; although his Meridian Qi cultivation is slightly inferior to the geniuses of Lianyun Mountain, he remains very confident in his Meridian Refining Technique.

He hadn't expected that before even reaching the headquarters of the Meridian Refining Master Association, he'd encounter such an oblivious boy who would crush both his wrist bones.

Xu Ban knows clearly that if he doesn't reclaim face, it might greatly affect his Dao Heart in cultivation and further progress in Meridian Refining Technique could be stalled.

However, Xu Ban is also quite self-aware. He knows that with the opponent's two fingers able to crush his wrist bones so powerfully, any further attempts to act might lead to an extremely miserable outcome.

Thus, Xu Ban began to call for reinforcement immediately. His only reinforcement is his teacher, who has already reached the Heavenly Rank Third Realm level.

Xu Ban understands his teacher's temperament very well. Due to the lineage's solo inheritance, each generation has an extremely peculiar temper, and is fiercely protective.

Therefore, Xu Ban believes that if his teacher arrives in time, he will surely seek revenge for him, and perhaps, with his teacher's status, even if these two youngsters are killed, the Meridian Refining Master Association wouldn't say much.

"Huashan Old Monster? Who's that?"

Yun Xiao stared blankly at the Huashan pattern in the sky. With his power of soul, he naturally heard the low murmurs around him, but in the next moment, he voiced a faint doubt.

"Playing dumb, boy, your death day is near!"

Listening to the murmur from the other's mouth, Xu Ban was infuriated beyond words. Considering his teacher's great name, who wouldn't know on the Tenglong Continent, he assumes this boy is feigning and intending to humiliate him.