However, when a long, piercing cry laced with sharp hostility rang out, it immediately suppressed all other sounds.

He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi shot out from the most luxurious mansion in the city like twin bolts of lightning. In the distance, they saw a lone figure circling the city at a speed that was in no way inferior to their own.

He seemed determined to flaunt his power; although his speed was extreme, his feet never truly left the ground. Immense power was channeled through the tips of his toes, and though they merely grazed the earth, each contact gouged a deep trench, leaving a trail of yellowish-gray dust billowing behind him like a massive dragon.

Simultaneously, within that piercing cry was an unmistakable tone of disdain and contempt.

Anyone witnessing this scene would instantly recognize the individual as a top master hailing from the West.

Yet, this man possessed astonishing audacity, daring to approach the easternmost city of the Great Plain utterly alone, and engaging in open, undisguised provocation.

This clearly demonstrated the breadth of his courage and a confidence in his own abilities that bordered on the absolute.

By the time He Yiming and the others reached the city walls, dozens of people were already gathered there, including the young masters from the nearby influential families. They stared at the figure circling the ramparts, their faces drained of color in sheer terror.

These young men were usually the focus of attention within their own clans, many of them already possessing late-stage Houtian mastery nearing the eighth or ninth level.

To achieve such heights at their age was already remarkable. With a bit more fortune in the future, advancing to the Xiantian realm would not be out of the question.

But the man showing off outside the city now was simply too terrifying to comprehend. Whether judging by the sheer power displayed in his speed or the sheer audacity of his presence, he was operating on a completely different plane than them.

For these individuals, normally accustomed to looking down on others, being so utterly suppressed in place was a profound humiliation.

Especially that fierce, challenging howl, which felt like a sharp blade continually twisting in their hearts, steadily eroding their confidence and extinguishing any lingering thought of challenging him.

Not far behind these youths, the more than twenty Xiantian powerhouses from various families watched the continually provoking figure in silence. However, being seasoned veterans who valued their lives, they knew better than to rush forward to certain death when they were clearly outmatched.

With their keen sight, He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi could clearly discern the man’s features.

He possessed the typical visage of a Westerner, with a particularly prominent high, broad nose.

Even while moving at such incredible velocity, his face held an expression of surveying the world with utter arrogance and disdain.

Whether this was intentional or innate, it deeply irritated both of them.

He Yiming let out a cold snort. "What immense killing intent, what grand display of prestige."

This man came alone and managed to hold an entire city within the Great Shen’s final defensive line captive for so long, yet no one dared to venture out and meet his challenge.

On this point alone, he was guaranteed fame, at least achieving recognition throughout the Western world.

After a brief pause, Jin Zhanyi’s facial muscles twitched slightly. "Brother He, I can't take it anymore. What in the hell is that fat old man up to?"

He Yiming understood perfectly; the 'fat old man' he referred to was Yu Wuchang.

This city was under Yu Wuchang’s protection. Since a challenge had been issued, he should be the one to act. Yet, the old fellow remained stubbornly hidden, ignoring the open provocation right outside his gates.

Although Jin Zhanyi and the others were eager to fight, they had to be mindful that this was Yu Wuchang’s territory, and they dared not act rashly.

But now, with dust churning outside the city, this single individual was creating an atmosphere as imposing as an army of thousands. To endure this any longer would be tantamount to allowing the entire East to be slapped across the face by this Western master.

He Yiming’s feelings were not yet at their peak, but Jin Zhanyi could no longer contain himself.

He Yiming shook his head slightly. "I don't know, but since that fatty wants to play the coward, let me stand in for him..."

He had barely finished speaking when a figure next to him vanished. In less than half a blink of an eye, a massive roar, utterly matching the intensity of the Westerner's challenge, erupted from the sky.

The two roars collided in the air like twin thunderclaps, causing a series of sharp sonic booms—like beans popping—to ripple across the cloudless azure sky.

He Yiming stared, mouth agape, at the empty space beside him. Jin Zhanyi had launched himself forward without even a word of warning.

Under such circumstances, even if He Yiming were twice as shameless, he wouldn't have the nerve to jump into the fray now.

He was filled with intense regret. Knowing that Jin Zhanyi was a complete battle fanatic, why had he wasted time talking? Such a golden opportunity had been snatched away by him.

The visitor from the West possessed formidable combat strength, but having spent time with Jin Zhanyi, He Yiming was keenly aware of his companion's terrifying power.

Unless the opponent was a powerhouse at the Venerable level, Jin Zhanyi stood no chance of losing.

A wave of gasps rose from the city walls, but mixed within these sounds was an undeniable current of sheer relief.

Whether common soldiers or the young masters of the great families, when they saw the Westerner issue such an overt declaration of war before their defenses, no one felt comfortable. But they knew themselves well enough to realize that stepping forward would only invite personal disgrace.

It was only then that a figure suddenly shot out from a section of the wall, immediately intercepting the incessantly circling Western master. The two clashed instantly. While it was impossible to tell who held the immediate advantage, the continuous sonic booms erupting from the sky confirmed that this newcomer’s martial prowess was in no way inferior to his opponent’s.

A colossal roar exploded between the two men, like the collision of two massive warhammers, sending showers of sparks with every impact. Even the residual shockwaves were enough to leave spectators stunned and helpless.

He Yiming narrowed his eyes. The West was not without its talents. This man's cultivation in the martial path was surprisingly close to Jin Zhanyi’s own level. This greatly surprised He Yiming, eliciting an internal sigh of recognition.

The West was vast and rich in resources, not inferior to the Great Shen. It seemed entirely plausible that several super-experts, just below the Venerable level and comparable to Jin Zhanyi, could emerge from that broad land.

His gaze traveled past the two locked in intense combat, seeming to pierce through the chaos, focusing directly on the distant border cities.

He Yiming’s heart swelled with passion, a powerful urge rising within him to rush there immediately and contend against the powerful figures of the West.

By this time, the taunting roars outside the city had long since ceased.

Both combatants had sensed the other's formidable strength, and in their clash, they had abandoned their earlier casual attitude, gradually becoming serious.

The Western expert was also inwardly puzzled. He had heard that the strongest individual in this city was a very large man—a figure who had even participated in the previous two great wars and held command here for decades. Every master who mentioned him spoke with lingering dread.

He had arrived fully prepared for this confrontation, but unexpectedly, after circling the city a few times, not only had he failed to find his target, but he had instead provoked an incredibly powerful, unbelievably young master.

After a few more exchanges, the Western guest suddenly let out a massive shout. His steps halted abruptly. He took a deep breath, and his body began to inflate violently.

It was as if, in an instant, he had grown nearly a quarter taller. Not just his height increased, but his arms, legs, and torso all swelled noticeably.

At first glance, he resembled a giant.

The outer garment on his body shredded inch by inch, fluttering away like countless butterflies in the sky. However, his undergarment was clearly made of some special material, which merely stretched with his expanding form rather than bursting.

Then, he thrust out his hands, which were now as large as cattail fans, aiming a fierce grab at Jin Zhanyi.

Despite the significant increase in mass, his movements showed no sign of slowing; in fact, they seemed faster and more agile than before.

Jin Zhanyi let out a long laugh. Seeing the opponent’s sudden, intense transformation, he showed not an ounce of fear.

His forward momentum abruptly stopped. His eyes shone with an extreme, brilliant light.

Within those pupils swam excitement and joy, as if this fight with the opponent was the happiest event of his life.

His feet planted firmly on the ground, rooted like an ancient tree, utterly unshaken. Then, he swung both arms, the edges of which flashed with a faint metallic sheen.

He brought his two arms together and thrust them forward, slamming directly against the giant palm of his adversary.

After an initial moment of stalemate, both men, without exchanging a word, deployed their most powerful cultivation techniques simultaneously.

The Western guest, deep in enemy territory, naturally would not dare prolong the engagement; that choice was unsurprising. But Jin Zhanyi matching his ferocity was purely a reflection of his personal character.

A dull, tremendous sound exploded outward. Unexpectedly, the shorter Jin Zhanyi remained solidly planted on the ground. The Western guest, resembling a colossal spirit god, cried out, his body faintly trembling, his muscles undulating like ocean waves.

Then, his massive frame was sent flying backward like a broken-stringed kite, tracing a huge arc before crashing down.

However, the man's cultivation was not to be underestimated. Just as his feet were about to hit the ground, he managed a violent twist, preventing a full fall, and managed to stand his ground precariously.

But the look in his eyes was no longer one of supreme arrogance; instead, it was replaced by an expression of absolute, soul-crushing horror.

This defeat in a contest of raw, unadorned power had utterly shattered his confidence.