City Lord Lu had convened this Treasure Appraisal Convention merely as an excuse to get to know the world’s cultivators and cultivate some connections. This was why today’s competition existed; if someone emerged victorious, the Meteoric Iron would be gifted to that person as a way of forging a friendship. This was the City Lord’s true motive.
Si Yan stared at the piece of Meteoric Iron. Although it was pitch black, it emitted a crystal-like luster reminiscent of a radiant stone. ‘The Lihuo Divine Iron, huh?’
He hadn’t expected to encounter such a decent treasure today. Now, Si Yan was slightly worried whether Su Tao’er would be able to handle a sword forged from Lihuo Divine Iron.
However, it wasn’t a major issue. During the forging process, Si Yan could still manipulate those variables.
Soon, a large area was cleared in the center of the City Lord’s Mansion. Since the surrounding banquet tables were situated on high platforms, everyone could clearly see the events unfolding on the arena below.
Many cultivators had already recognized the divine iron, and low gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd. Before long, several groups of people stepped onto the stage to compete.
Several people had already stationed themselves behind Si Yan, seemingly to prevent him from escaping. Si Yan ignored them, however, because he noticed that others had already blocked the exits.
Furthermore, those men possessed impressive cultivation; they were all cultivators of the Xuanyuan Realm, the type who served as Peak Masters, Hall Masters, or Protectors in major sects.
As for the old man who looked like an immortal, he remained seated, drinking alone without moving.
Su Tao’er wanted to go to Si Yan’s side, but she was intercepted by Cheng Yilin.
Si Yan offered a small smile, comforting his youngest disciple. “Tao’er, don’t worry. In a moment, your Master will get that Meteoric Iron for you.”
Everyone froze upon hearing this, as if they hadn’t quite understood Si Yan’s meaning. Nan Tianxing, however, wore a mocking smile. “Pavilion Master Si can barely protect himself, yet he still has designs on the Meteoric Iron… though, I didn’t expect that it was Tao’er who wanted it.”
Su Tao’er already detested Nan Tianxing, yet he continued to be so persistent, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
What was even more ridiculous was her Master. Since a moment ago, he had been repeatedly signaling for her to remain quiet and stay where she was.
Naturally, Si Yan had his reasons. In the end, it all came down to the old man drinking across from them.
At that moment, a winner was decided in one of the matches. Nan Tianxing said brightly, “Since it is something Lady Tao’er desires, then I, Tianxing, shall retrieve it for her!”
Having said that, Nan Tianxing leaped from the high platform and landed on the arena to challenge the current victor.
Nan Tianxing was in the Seven Souls Realm. Being in the Seven Souls Realm before age 30 was already quite impressive. His opponent was merely a cultivator at the Three Souls Realm and was quickly knocked down. However, as soon as he fell, someone else stepped up to take his place.
Seeing that Nan Tianxing was gone, Cheng Yilin actually walked toward Si Yan.
Si Yan paused, recalling the events of the previous night… His gaze couldn’t help but linger on Cheng Yilin’s figure.
Cheng Yilin was clearly disgusted, her chest heaving violently with irritation, but she still said, “In a moment, you will apologize to them. I will mediate for you so that you don’t lose your life.”
“Otherwise,” she continued, “if you die right in front of Su Tao’er, it will leave a shadow on that girl for the rest of her life.”
Si Yan hesitated for a second, thinking that this woman didn’t just have a fiery temper; she also had a thoughtful side.
Si Yan cupped his hands. “Very well, very well. Thank you, Miss Yilin. In a moment, I will certainly kneel and kowtow, begging these seniors for mercy. I hope you will put in a good word for me.”
“Spineless man,” Cheng Yilin huffed before leaving. “But you and I still have a debt to settle later!”
After finishing her threat, Cheng Yilin returned to Su Tao’er’s side.
Su Tao’er asked anxiously, “Sister Yilin, what did you say to Master?”
Cheng Yilin snorted.
“Nothing much, just told him to kneel and beg for mercy later… Also, Su Tao’er, tell me the truth!” She lowered her voice, her expression turning strange. “Have you actually slept with him? If you’ve already lost your purity to him, I won’t cut that thing of his off later. I’ll let him go back with you to see the elders of your family.”
Su Tao’er’s cheeks flushed crimson. She shook her head desperately in denial, her small fists lightly drumming against Cheng Yilin. “No, no, no! Cheng Yilin, don’t make wild guesses!”
“Then I’m definitely cutting that bastard’s thing off!”
“Eh… e-eeeh, you can’t cut it! You really can’t! M-maybe in the future…”
***
While Si Yan didn’t know what the two were whispering about, his attention was focused on the arena.
By now, Nan Tianxing had defeated many challengers. Even those also in the Seven Souls Realm had fallen by his hand.
On the balcony, City Lord Lu, Li Yuxia, and Yang Lingqing were all clapping and cheering.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Luoqing Sect Master (2/2)
City Lord Lu said, “Young Master Nan is truly young and promising. To think he possesses such remarkable cultivation and skill!”
Li Yuxia also spoke with pride, “Of course. My Senior Male Disciple is naturally formidable. He is a rare genius in our Tianjian Sect and even the entire Kingdom of Tiansheng. His father is the current Grand Marshal of Tiansheng. Whether in terms of background or cultivation, even I feel inferior to him. He isn’t like a certain Pavilion Master who lacks strength yet loves to swindle others!”
Listening to this, City Lord Lu felt a surge of excitement. He thought to himself that he must build a good relationship with Nan Tianxing. If the boy gained great influence in Tiansheng in the future, he could look after the City Lord.
After all, he had been calculating his plans for a long time.
After Nan Tianxing defeated another challenger and saw that no one was stepping forward for the time being, he cupped his hands toward the people on the high platform. “I thank the seniors for showing restraint. I am untalented, but I was lucky enough to win a few matches today. I wonder if anyone else wishes to challenge me?”
Seeing many cultivators discussing amongst themselves on the platform, he felt a flicker of fear that someone with deeper cultivation would come down and make him look bad in front of Su Tao’er. Thus, he quickly said in a loud voice, “To be honest, I didn’t originally intend to compete with you seniors for this Meteoric Iron today. However, I am the son of the Grand Marshal, and I am close friends with the sixth young lady of the Grand Preceptor’s household. The sixth young lady of the Su Family wants this Meteoric Iron to forge a sword, which is why I came to challenge. I apologize to all the seniors here! I did not come here to snatch this from you!”
Everyone was shocked by his words.
The sixth young lady of the Grand Preceptor’s house!?
In the Tiansheng Kingdom, the Grand Preceptor had helped the Emperor conquer the lands, and the two referred to each other as fellow Daoists. This sixth young lady of the Su Family was not only the Grand Preceptor’s most beloved daughter, but even the Emperor treated her with great affection! The Emperor had even bestowed his own former sword upon the girl! That was the Emperor’s personal sword! Forget commoners—even an ordinary official could be killed by that sword without any legal consequences!
City Lord Lu and the guests could not help but be terrified. So, Nan Tianxing was on good terms with that sixth young lady!?
To be able to say it in such a setting meant their relationship was definitely extraordinary, and they were far more than ordinary friends! This made them feel that Nan Tianxing’s future was truly limitless!
Consequently, the experts who had been watching and preparing to challenge him went silent. They planned to let the matter drop rather than offend Nan Tianxing. Otherwise, if he ever wanted revenge in the future, they wouldn’t even know how they died.
However, just as City Lord Lu was about to step forward to announce the winner of the martial competition, a long-bearded, white-haired old man appeared on the arena, standing there silently as if he had been there all along.
The old man was very tall, his gaze as sharp as an eagle’s, carrying an edge that made it impossible for anyone to look away.
Nan Tianxing was startled, but he maintained a polite facade. “May I ask who you are, Senior?”
The old man’s eagle-like eyes scanned the high platform before returning to Nan Tianxing. At that moment, the old man spoke. His tone was neither heavy nor light, yet he used his Magic Power to project his voice so that everyone present could hear him clearly.
“Luoqing Sect Master, Luo Shuangyun.”
…
“W-what!?”
City Lord Lu was instantly terrified!
“The Luoqing Sect Master! Luo Shuangyun is here!?”
The entire crowd erupted into an uproar!
One had to know that the Luoqing Sect was a powerhouse in the north! It had thousands of cultivators under its banner and dozens of Xuanyuan Realm experts! As the Sect Master, Luo Shuangyun had been a dominant figure for centuries, a master of the Spirit Emperor Realm at the Great Circle! There were even rumors that he had stepped into the realm of a Half-step Human-God!
He was the kind of figure who could make the earth tremble just by stomping his foot in the north!
Who could have imagined that Luo Shuangyun would personally visit Huanhai Yongle City, and that City Lord Lu was completely unaware of it!
Though Nan Tianxing was surprised, he said casually, “So it is Master Luo of the Luoqing Sect! This junior greets Master Luo…”
“Get lost,” Luo Shuangyun said to him indifferently. “Get off this stage. The person I’m looking for isn’t you.”
Luo Shuangyun’s words were also broadcast via Magic Power for everyone to hear.
If this had been in private, Nan Tianxing would have turned and run without a second thought. But in front of so many heroes and Su Tao’er, he was caught in a difficult position. He said with considerable irritation, “Master Luo, even if you are a senior, how can you insult me in public? My father is the current Grand Marshal; even if you don’t care about my reputation, surely you would care about…”
Before he could finish, Luo Shuangyun interrupted him, speaking slowly as if recounting a piece of history. “Years ago, when the Tiansheng Kingdom expanded its territory to the ancestral lands of my Luoqing Sect, I was prepared to fight to the bitter end. My 2,300 disciples were all ready to fight to the death. But who would have thought that the Tiansheng Kingdom would not attack? Instead, the Tiansheng Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Grand Preceptor—the three of them—entered my Luoqing Sect bearing gifts. The three of them didn’t talk to me about Divine Supernatural Arts; they spoke of the people of the world, the common folk, and the fate of the nation. In just half a day, I was completely convinced. I declared my allegiance to the Tiansheng Emperor that very day, and the Emperor granted me a nominal official title.”
Luo Shuangyun took a step forward and shouted coldly, “Give your father some face?”
“Get lost!!”
Luo Shuangyun’s hand was encased in Stellar Qi as he delivered a backhanded slap. A mere gust of wind sent Nan Tianxing flying off the arena. The dense Stellar Qi was so powerful that it knocked out a whole row of his teeth!
“Never mind a blind dog like you! Even if your father came here himself today, I would see if he dared to ask for that face!”
With that, Luo Shuangyun looked toward the high platform, his voice rolling like thunder. “Which one is Pavilion Master Si of the Destiny Pavilion? Since you killed my son, Qingping, then I have come today to take your life!”
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