Step Down

In an instant, Yukon Astor charged towards Sinlon Astor, his palms glowing like twin suns, aiming straight at Sinlon's chest. Sinlon, with a sneer, disappeared from his spot in a flash, reappearing some distance away. He mocked, "Using such tactics? You think you can touch me? How naive!"

But to his surprise, Yukon vanished too. A bad feeling enveloped Sinlon. When he spun around, he saw Yukon right behind him, his figure towering, his palms radiant with power. Sinlon hastily countered with a backhand palm strike, cloud energy swirling around his hand.

With a thunderous collision, Sinlon was sent flying towards the edge of the stage. He managed to land on his feet, barely avoiding a fall. Yukon remained unshaken in his spot.

Smirking, Yukon taunted, "Thought you could belittle my Splitting Cloud Palm? Now you see its power, don't you?" Sinlon stood up, his face darkening. "Didn't expect you had such a trick up your sleeve. But it's naive to think one palm strike would defeat me."

Yukon's eyes narrowed. "Concealing armor, perhaps? I advise you to surrender. I can't promise to hold back next time."

Instead of anger, Sinlon burst into laughter. "Come at me if you dare, Yukon. Just don't regret it later, and don't blame me for not showing mercy!"

Yukon, infuriated by Sinlon's arrogance, prepared for another attack. His palms glowed again as he lunged towards Sinlon. Just before reaching him, Yukon leaped high, launching a ferocious downward strike towards Sinlon, like a crashing mountain peak.

As Yukon Astor descended like a mountain, Sinlon Astor stood still, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

The crowd was abuzz with confusion. "What's Sinlon doing? Why isn't he dodging?"

"Is he intimidated by Yukon's show of strength?"

"Could it be he's giving up and conceding?"

Even Sinlon himself seemed puzzled by his own inaction. Yukon's previous strike was like a pile driver – fierce and unstoppable. Facing such a brute force, Sinlon's slender frame seemed vulnerable. Would he really let himself be crushed?

Yet, to everyone's surprise, the onlookers at the banquet, except for the scholarly Wang Wenjing, appeared unconcerned. Some even had a smirk on their faces, as if they knew something others didn't.

Caught in his own bewilderment, Sinlon refocused on the stage. Yukon, mid-air, was about to land his crushing blow. Just as his triumphant grin began to form, his fists poised above his head, glowing with intense yellow light, and just inches away from Sinlon...

Suddenly, Sinlon's hand shot forward. A flash of blue light, swift as lightning, sprung from his palm towards Yukon. The speed was so fast, Yukon had no time to react. Before he knew it, the blue light had struck him squarely in the chest!

"Boom!"

The blue light from Sinlon Astor struck Yukon Astor's chest with a thunderous impact. Yukon was blasted backward like he had been hit by a mountain, a stream of blood spurting from his mouth as he crashed to the ground in a cloud of dust.

Ignoring the pain radiating from his chest, Yukon, bleeding at the mouth, glared at Sinlon and shouted incredulously, "You... you've reached the Yellow Cloud realm!"

Sinlon's palm strike, capable of externalizing cloud energy and causing remote injury, indicated his recent breakthrough to the Yellow Cloud realm, surpassing the peak of the Seven Clouds.

Yukon suddenly realized why his previous strike, though hitting its mark, didn't harm Sinlon significantly. Sinlon had already achieved a level where his cloud energy was far more substantial than Yukon's!

Facing a stunned and angry Yukon on the ground, Sinlon sneered and mockingly said, "I apologize for not informing you earlier, Yukon. I've only recently broken through to the Yellow Cloud realm. I hope it's not too late to share the news."

Yukon's eyes blazed with fury. Sinlon had craftily concealed his breakthrough, leading Yukon into a false sense of security before revealing his true strength at the critical moment, thoroughly defeating him.

The audience was abuzz with astonishment and admiration.

"Wow, Sinlon Astor has ascended to the Yellow Cloud realm!"

"At just nineteen, his talent is truly remarkable."

"Indeed, with twenty-one spiritual roots, his cultivation speed is extraordinary. His future seems unstoppable."

Even Meng Yue, the Governor of the Western Liang Army, couldn't help but express his admiration, "Sinlon's accomplishment is extraordinary. To have such solid cloud energy just after entering the Yellow Cloud realm is something most could only achieve after a year or more at that level."

As Sinlon Astor stood proudly on the stage, basking in the acclaim of the spectators at Silverwood City's Spring Pavilion, he appeared unshakable, a rising star within the Avaloria royal family. 

The Eastern Peak's Governor nodded in approval, remarking, "Indeed, Sinlon's prowess is noteworthy. Given a few years, he may well challenge the Myster Stage, matching the likes of us in strength."

However, Magnus Astor, observing from a distance, harbored skepticism about Sinlon's character and motives. 

To him, Sinlon's deep cunning and the manipulation of his kin on the stage painted a picture far from admirable.

Magnus glanced at his brothers, Orion and Caspian Astor, who watched the contest with stoic faces, seemingly unimpressed by Sinlon's achievement in the Innate Stage. Even Gideon and Elowen Astor, seated next to Gideon Astor, the Peerless King, maintained an air of indifference.

After Yukon Astor was carried off the stage, wounded, only Sinlon, in his elegant purple robe, remained. Standing confidently amidst the cheers, he looked towards his royal peers in the pavilion and issued a challenge, "Who else dares to face me?"

Sinlon's challenge was met with silence, as many young royals averted their gaze, daunted by his recent breakthrough to the Innate Stage—a feat rare even among the Avaloria royal family.

Sinlon's heart swelled with pride. Reaching the Innate Stage at such a young age marked him as exceptional among his peers, foreshadowing his future as one of the Fengyunia Continent's paramount warriors.

Sinlon Astor's prowess was evident as he effortlessly defeated another challenger, the second son of the Lord of Guangqing, who also stood at the peak of the Seven Clouds Realm.

 Following this, a remarkable young woman took the stage—a princess of the Loyal Martial Kingdom, known for her skill with a fiery red whip and just steps away from the Innate Stage. 

She fought valiantly against Sinlon but ultimately was bested, further solidifying Sinlon's dominance.

With each victory, Sinlon's confidence surged. 

His exceptional talent, evident in his possession of twenty-one spiritual veins, allowed him to emerge from three consecutive battles without a hint of fatigue. 

His vibrant presence sent ripples of admiration through the crowd, especially among the ladies.

As he challenged the pavilion's occupants once more, most acknowledged their inability to surpass him. Despite their nearness to the Innate Stage, they knew confronting Sinlon would only result in their defeat.

In the midst of this acknowledgment, a booming voice suddenly echoed, "Sinlon, if you're done playing, step down. Let me and the Crown Prince have our turn!"

Before anyone could pinpoint the source of the voice, a flash of silver streaked across the pavilion. In the next instant, a towering figure appeared on the stage, even more imposing than Yukon Astor from before.

"It's Orion Astor!"

The appearance of this formidable figure electrified the atmosphere. 

Spectators rose from their seats, craning their necks and widening their eyes in awe and anticipation. 

The air buzzed with excitement at the prospect of witnessing a clash between such remarkable warriors of the Avaloria royal family.