The brick road of the street was lifted up into the air and was compressed in front of Rant Valo. It formed the Tortoise Fortune's Defense.

Rant Valo lifted the shield to block the magic technique coming towards them from above.

FWOOSHH

The magic technique hit the shield causing it to melt to lava, but that was all that happened. The Tortoise Fortune's Defense was still intact.

"I-Impossible!!"

Nerl Jared shouted in disbelief. This magic technique of his should have easily killed or incapacitated Rant Valo.

"Are you an Early Foundation Establishment stage cultivator?"

Rant Valo asked Nerl Jared. He put down the Tortoise Fortune's Defense, and it shattered into hot molten rocks. Don't misunderstand. Rant Valo simply stopped supplying mana to the magic technique. Otherwise, he would have been able to still use it.

"W-What? How did you know?"

Nerl Jared took a step back in shock. No one was supposed to know that he already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, yet this man in front of him does.

"Idiot. I felt your strength from your magic technique."

The insult just naturally came out of Rant Valo's mouth. Wasn't it obvious that he could feel his strength from his magic technique?

"I-Idiot!? YOU!! Take that back!"

Nerl Jared widened his eyes in anger when he heard Rant Valo's insult. He was a prideful man, and being called an idiot in front of a huge crowd made him incensed.

"Fufufu. Disciple, good job!"

Floriana Sabina laughed and gave Rant Valo a thumbs up. She was satisfied with the way he handled the situation.

Show your insurmountable strength before insulting your opponent for being too weak. That was her way, and Rant Valo did it very well without her even saying it. It was like he was just meant to be her disciple.

"It's nothing."

Rant Valo shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't even used an attack magic technique yet. He doesn't even see this as a proper match.

"Did you hear that? Apparently, Lunatic Nerl is already an Early Foundation Establishment stage cultivator."

"That's scary. No one will be able to resist him."

"I thought he was gonna attend the Sect Tournament that was only for 10th Mana Condensation stage disciples? Did he actually accidentally cultivate to the Early Foundation Establishment stage?"

"LOL. He must be pretty pissed about it so he was venting his anger on this young man, but it seems like he kicked an iron plate."

"I don't know how to feel about this. He reached the Foundation Establishment stage accidentally when most of us get stuck at the 10th Mana Condensation stage."

The crowd discussed with each other. They couldn't believe that Nerl Jared was already an Early Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.

"Nothing? Me? Hehehe, Hahaha, HAHAHA! I'll show you the secret magic technique that I have been keeping a secret."

Nerl Jared's body shook in anger. Rant Valo just pissed him to the max when he said that it was 'nothing'.

"Hm?"

Rant Valo furrowed his eyebrows at Nerl Jared. He was having a bad feeling about this. Thus, he closed his eyes and channeled his trusty magic technique.

"Tide of Bad Fortune!"

Without even the chance to react, Nerl Jared was hit by the burst of white mana.

"H-Huh? Are you trying to scare me? Don't worry! This secret magic technique of mine has a 1% chance of resulting in a mana backlash. You still have a chance!! WAHAHAHAHA!"

At first, Nerl Jared was confused, but when he realized that nothing happened, he continued his monologue.

"Disciple, I don't think we should even worry anymore."

Floriana Sabina smiled at Rant Valo. The moment she heard 'chance', she knew that Nerl Jared was doomed.

"You're right."

Rant Valo sighed, knowing that he wouldn't be able to fully display his magic techniques today.

"Hey! Where are you going! Spear of Fallstreak!!"

Blood leaked from Nerl Jared's mouth as he shouted. He just used the secret magic technique.

The hole in the clouds earlier suddenly brightened again. This time, it was a spear of light that fell towards Rant Valo's group.

"Fuhahahaha! DIE!!"

Nerl Jared became the Lunatic Nerl he was known for. The spear of light traveled fast, but just as it got halfway, it suddenly shattered into dust.

"Huh?"

Those were Nerl Jared's famous last words.

"COUGH!"

A huge amount of blood spattered onto the ground. Nerl Jared grasped onto his stomach and kneeled on the ground. He looked towards Rant Valo in disbelief.

"Master, you're amazing! You didn't even touch him!"

Veia exclaimed in amazement. Her master defeated his opponent without even touching a single hair of his.

"W-Who are you?"

Nerl Jared asked Rant Valo while blood poured out from the corner of his lips. He could feel that Rant Valo was the reason why his secret magic technique failed.

"Me? I'm just a lucky villager."

Rant Valo replied to Nerl Jared with a smile. Nerl Jared's eyes bulged as he felt like Rant Valo was just messing with him. The anger plus the mana backlash caused him to faint.

"..."

"WOAHHH!!!"

"HE DEFEATED LUNATIC NERL!!"

"WHICH SECT IS HE FROM!?"

The crowd around them cheered. This was the first time that they saw Lunatic Nerl be defeated so easily. Usually, it would just be the big shots in the sect that could defeat him.

"Fufufu. Disciple, they're cheering for you."

Floriana Sabina chuckled happily. This is what she wants the world to do. She wants them to cheer for her disciple. It makes her feel proud of him.

"It's all thanks to Master Floriana."

Rant Valo smiled back at her. He wouldn't forget that his achievements were because she took him as her disciple in the first place.

"Little Nerl!"

A loud shout suddenly resounded from afar. It was the voice of an elderly man.

With a whoosh, an elderly man wearing sect robes flew towards the unconscious Nerl Jared.

"Nerl! Are you okay?"

The elderly man lifted Nerl Jared from the ground and shook him, but he got no response.

"You!!"

The elderly man turned his head towards Rant Valo. His face was full of anger.