"Another genius blocking my path? Really?" Cold Thousand Cheng, better known as the grizzled veteran of the immortal cultivation world, sighed, the soles of his worn boots stirring up a gentle dust cloud. His eyes, sharp and jaded like a sword's edge honed over countless battles, swept over the young man standing before him in righteous indignation.

This was the third genius in as many days. The first had challenged him to a duel over a稀有的灵草, the second over a fragment of an ancient immortal scripture. Cold Thousand Cheng had won both, but the second victory had come at a cost. His immortal artifact, a talisman that had accompanied him through wars and tribulations, had been damaged in the battle. No big deal, he thought, just a minor repair. But the kid's15-year-old face, marred with disbelief and humiliation, had been etched into his mind.

"You... you're trash!" the young genius spat, his voice trembling with rage. "How dare you humiliate me like this?"