How did a bastard like him become an immortal?

Shi Miaochan covered her mouth with her jade-like hand, a look of surprise on her face. "Young Master Yun, you now?"

Li Muyun smiled slightly, "He's only at the half-step Golden Core stage, but that's enough to deal with him."

Her surprise deepened; Shi Miaochan hadn't expected that Li Muyun would give her another big surprise in just two short months.

Lu Chengyu's lips curled into a sneer, "Such arrogance, trying to act tough in front of a woman, you—"

"Thunder Technique - Crimson Thunder Golden Light Palm!"

Li Muyun stomped his foot and shot out, his crimson lightning surging in his hand and golden light radiating in all directions, as he struck out with a palm towards Lü Chengyu.

The terrifying pressure of true energy made Lü Chengyu swallow his words. He hurriedly raised a palm, covered with true energy, and met the attack head-on.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, both of them swayed slightly. Li Muyun smiled, and the electric arcs in his eyes erupted again. Countless arcs of electricity shot out from Li Muyun's palm: "Thunder Technique - Palm Thunder".

Just as Lü Chengyu was about to dodge, several talismans suddenly appeared around him, and a thick gray-yellow light covered Lü Chengyu. Li Muyun made a hand seal with his other hand and chanted, "Yang Earth Suppression!"

Suddenly, Lü Chengyu felt his body become several times heavier, his movements slowed down considerably, and his expression changed slightly. This immortal's methods were indeed strange; in an instant, he had actually put him on the defensive. Keep in mind that he was a second-level Heavenly Profound cultivator, and a Lü family genius who usually crushed his opponents of the same level.

Under the suppression of Yangtu, Lü Chengyu had no choice but to take Li Muyun's palm lightning head-on. White true energy suddenly erupted, and domineering true energy covered Lü Chengyu's fist. "Peerless Fist!"

The clash between fist techniques and lightning magic resulted in a draw, and for a moment the entire courtyard was filled with the fierce winds of the fists and the intense aura of lightning.

"You wanted to cripple my hand? Is that all you've got? Then I'll cripple you first!"

Looking at Li Muyun with a cold smile, a chilling killing intent flashed in Lü Chengyu's eyes. Daring to compete with him for a woman, he was courting death.

"A superior-grade spirit-level martial skill—Peerless Fist!"

A cracking sound came from Lü Chengyu's fist, and the sharp white true energy erupted again, transforming into a dazzling stream of light on his fist. Accompanied by an unstoppable pressure, it smashed out domineeringly.

"Young Master Yun, be careful. This is a family martial art passed down in the Lü family. Back then, Marquis Zhongyi swept across the world with this unparalleled martial art."

Shi Miaochan reminded him with concern that the four warlords were all among the strongest of the strong, and their family martial arts were profound and powerful, far surpassing ordinary martial arts techniques.

"Domineering Technique - Thunder Fist!"

Li Muyun clenched his fist, compressing all the lightning in his palm. Instantly, his knuckles turned crimson, crackling with lightning. He took another step forward, and with a bang, the ground shattered. He unleashed a punch as if a thunderbolt had struck from the sky!

"boom!"

A tremendous roar resounded, and the two figures were simultaneously forced back. The stone bricks on the ground shattered upon impact, and the immense force shook the earth and trees.

Li Muyun's fists were covered in blood, and his face was slightly pale. After all, he was facing the renowned young marquis Lü Chengyu, so it was obviously not going to be easy for him.

Upon seeing this, Shi Miaochan's pretty face turned pale. She hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe Li Muyun's wound, her eyes filled with heartache.

On the other side, Lü Chengyu's already pale face flushed slightly, but he still smiled smugly, "Overestimating yourself, you think you're my match? Hahaha!"

"Really?"

Li Muyun shook his arm, which was still a little numb from the shock, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He said calmly, "Explode."

Lu Chengyu, who had been smug, suddenly changed his expression. He then realized that there was an energy in his right arm that did not belong to him; it was none other than Li Muyun's Crimson Lightning. He hurriedly activated his true energy to force it out of his palm.

"boom!"

Then it was too late. The Crimson Lightning exploded in Lü Chengyu's hand. He groaned and trembled in pain. His right hand was a bloody mess and charred black.

Li Muyun smiled slightly at Shi Miaochan, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Miaochan, it was this scoundrel of his that touched you, right? I'll cripple it for you."

"Hehehe, thank you, Young Master Yun. It seems that the legendary genius of the capital is nothing more than this. Young Master Yun has only been on the path of cultivation for less than half a year, and he is already so powerful. Someone else is just a name without substance."

Shi Miaochan laughed heartily, deliberately walking up to Li Muyun, taking his arm, and leaning affectionately against him. She shook her head at Lü Chengyu, "Young Marquis, your face is so pale. Could it be that you're weak? If you are, go back and take some tonics. Don't keep thinking about getting married. If you're so weak, you'll be powerless to get married, which will only add to your sorrow."

"You are all very good!"

Lu Chengyu was trembling with anger, but his right hand was seriously injured. If he made a scene here today, he would not gain anything. If the incident escalated and reached the emperor, he would inevitably be punished.

Lu Chengyu gave the two a cold glance and left angrily. Shi Miaochan hurriedly ordered her servants to close the gates, intending to treat the wound on Li Muyun's fist.

However, Li Muyun's face suddenly turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, which startled Shi Miaochan. "Young Master Yun, what's wrong with you?"

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Li Muyun spat out a mouthful of bloody foam. "It's nothing, I feel much better after spitting out the blood clots. The Marquis of Loyalty's unparalleled martial arts skills are indeed well-deserved. After all, I haven't reached the Golden Core realm yet, so I can't gain any advantage."

Shi Miaochan was both worried and angry, and said coquettishly, "Why are you being so stubborn? What if you get seriously injured?"

With a chuckle, Li Muyun circulated his true energy to regulate his breathing and said, "It's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about. I don't think Lü Chengyu will let this go easily, so be careful."

Shi Miaochan rolled her eyes dramatically. "That guy surnamed Lü is lucky today. I sent Sister Zhichun out to gather information, otherwise I would have dragged him to an audience with the Emperor today."

Li Muyun nodded knowingly. Ye Zhichun was a hidden expert in Shi Miaochan's mansion, a Martial Core Realm expert. If she were there, Lü Chengyu would naturally not dare to be so presumptuous.

"I've come today to let you know I'm safe and sound. I'll be taking the autumn martial arts exam in ten days."

Shi Miaochan casually pulled Li Muyun to sit on the steps and said with a solemn expression, "This autumn examination is different from the past. It is rumored that the personal disciples of the four great warlords will participate."

Li Muyun was taken aback. "Isn't there an age limit for the Autumn Examination? Aren't the personal disciples of the four great warlords all over the age limit?"

Shi Miaochan nodded. "That's why this year's autumn examination is different from the past. The age limit for this autumn examination has been raised to thirty-five, so there will definitely be many strong contenders. The reason for this autumn examination is that people from the other three great empires will be participating in next year's spring examination. The spring examination is a national event, and we cannot afford to lose face, so His Majesty made this decision."

Li Muyun frowned slightly, and four names floated into his mind:

Li Tian'ao, son of the First Wife of the Marquis of Tiantu; Huo Polu, eldest son of the Marquis of Champion; Zhuge Danqing, second son of the Marquis of Wu; and the young Marquis Lü Chengyu, whom we just met...