Chapter 756

Chapter 756: Competition Within the Mansion

—

Luo Capital, Night Manor.

The originally leisurely and pleasant flower viewing banquet now had an air of subtle change. Some people gathered out of curiosity or to watch the spectacle, even if they didn’t move, their eyes and ears involuntarily focused on this matter.

After all, compared to the unchanging exotic flowers, such gossip seemed more interesting.

“Senior Sister Xia Yue.”

The woman surnamed Liu looked at Immortal Xia Yue, saying that she was fully devoted to cultivation and did not know about the trivial matters happening at home.

After receiving such an answer, Xia Yue turned around and slowly looked at the man in coarse clothes.

“Although I don’t understand your origins, I think there might be some misunderstanding.” As one of the outstanding members of the younger generation of Xia Jiangtian, Immortal Xia Yue’s words were steady and unassailable.

“I I.”

Yue Guan frowned deeply, with his brow muscles bulging, followed by a slight ache. He wanted to defend himself, but didn’t know how to start. The surrounding people started to whisper among themselves, their slightly contemptuous and mocking gazes making him feel uncomfortable. Even when fighting against higher-level demon beasts in the wilderness, he never felt so distressed.

“I’m not lying; our family’s foundation was completely taken by the Liu family,” he said, speaking about what mattered most to him, but it sounded nonsensical to others.

“What foundation? Looking at your attire, you don’t seem to come from a wealthy family.”

“Maybe someone from a poor village trying to take advantage?”

For a moment, unpleasant remarks filled the air. People might be more willing to believe a pitiful young lady than a rough and ugly man. Yue Guan’s silence only made them believe they were right.

“In my opinion, Jiuhuang Mountain should not have the reputation of being an upper-class sect. What kind of people are they?” Finally, the derogatory remarks reached his sect, which was all he could rely on now.

“I’m not lying! It was her, it was the Liu family, they colluded to deceive our Yue family, causing our family to fall apart and taking away our foundation. They are all heartless wolves!”

His words were like thunderclaps in the crowd.

If Liu Manzhi and Xia Jiangtian didn’t explain and refute properly today, their reputation would suffer greatly. And such matters must be resolved immediately, otherwise, they would become rumors and gossip, making any further defense futile.

“Do you have evidence for what you say? Do disciples of Jiuhuang Mountain always disgrace and slander others?” Immortal Xia Yue’s expression turned cold.

For a moment, the scene became quiet, and the situation suddenly tensed. Both sides seemed ready to fight, when a gentleman in dark brocade clothing walked quickly towards them.

“Gentlemen, please calm down, please calm down.” Third Young Master Ye Zhen of the Ye family also found the situation troubling. He didn’t expect such a significant event to occur during the flower viewing banquet.

He had let Yue Guan in because Jiuhuang Mountain was still considered an upper-class sect, but he hadn’t anticipated that Yue Guan would immediately clash with several of Xia Jiangtian’s disciples, which went against his intentions. Moreover, he couldn’t help either side without damaging the Ye family’s reputation.

Although the Ye family was still one of the six great families in Luo Capital, the situation was much worse than before. Several high-ranking immortals had passed away, and the new generation of experts was not as numerous or deep-rooted. Without extraordinary strength, relying solely on wealth to maintain their position in Luo Capital was no easy task.

If the family business was small, living a low-profile life wasn’t impossible, but the Ye family had been involved deeply with various forces and interests for many years, making it hard to simply withdraw.

“Gentlemen, please sit down. We’ve gathered here, why be so hostile?” Third Young Master Ye Zhen tried to soothe both sides again.

“Today’s matter must be clarified,” Immortal Xia Yue changed her previous amiable attitude and said coldly.

If they swept this matter under the rug today, who knows what bizarre rumors would spread in Luo Capital tomorrow. Besides, the Crimson Tower Sword Duel was approaching, and many upper-class sects were gathering in Luo Capital, having a far greater impact than usual.

“This—” Third Young Master Ye Zhen was momentarily speechless after hearing the servant’s account.

How could they clarify things? Go to He Xingzhou for evidence, who would provide it, and how? Or perhaps force Yue Guan to present his own evidence, otherwise declare him a liar and ruin his reputation.

Even if Yue Guan was lying, doing so would still offend Jiuhuang Mountain. Others might not know, but the Ye family had been operating for so long and understood the true nature of this upper-class sect.

Strength. Although it was located in a barren area, each disciple of the sect was a person with fierce vigor, able to fight to the death in battles, which was not something that could be easily suppressed by ordinary small factions.

—

Ye Zhen stood on the green hill by this small riverside, his forehead sweating and his brows furrowed. In the end, he could only take a deep breath before speaking.

“This matter is beyond my ability and that of the Ye family to mediate. If both parties are determined to resolve this today, then I can only invite Chancellor Qiu to make a judgment here.” Although this would bring animosity from both sides, at least it would remove him from the situation and prevent him from offending them too much. Afterwards, another third party could mediate, and the issue would likely not cause too much trouble.

Ye Zhen sighed inwardly, then felt some envy towards those major sects that came from afar. If there were a seventh-rank expert in the Ye family, things wouldn’t be so difficult.

Unfortunately, just as the Purple Robe Immortal had once said, living amidst the bustling Luo Capital, entangled with many mundane affairs, was like a silkworm spinning its cocoon, making it hard to be as fearless and brave as a newborn. Overcoming mental barriers was also extremely difficult. Perhaps this was the price of being part of a prestigious family; if there were exceptions, their growth experiences would not be like his.

Unconsciously, Ye Zhen thought again of his simple and playful younger sister. Maybe that child was the hope of the family, but unfortunately…

He shook his head and walked aside, preparing to have someone notify Chancellor Qiu.

“Wait,” a dashing young man stepped forward.

Seeing him step forward, Luolan Hill heard some faint murmurs.

“Is Linghu getting involved this time?”

“He might fancy that Shrine Maiden Xia Yue. Didn’t he visit her a few times before? They must be familiar now, so this is a perfect opportunity for a hero to save the beauty.”

“He himself is a member of the royal family’s collateral line, a descendant of the former Jiaonan King. It’s said he works in the Imperial Blood Department and has good relations with many aristocrats, so naturally, he has the confidence.”

This dashing young man stepped forward and came between the two parties.

“How about I act as a witness today?” He then proposed a solution.

“This matter sounds quite complex, and it has been years since it happened. It will be hard to clarify the old matters, but we cannot gloss over it either.”

“Let’s have a match between the two sides, determining right and wrong by the outcome. Afterward, neither side should mention it again.”

This method wasn’t bad at all, and it sparked the interest of many onlookers. Many people began to agree.

Seeing this, both sides knew that continuing their verbal disputes was useless, so they silently agreed.

“But how will you conduct the match? After all, one side has three people,” one of the spectators asked curiously.

Although Yue Guan was only at the fifth rank, he exuded thick energy. Liu Manzhi was also at the fifth rank, but her extraordinary strength seemed somewhat weak, causing concern.

To this, the young man named Linghu said, “We will have three matches, with two wins deciding the winner. However, since Yue Guan is alone, he can rest in between, and someone will treat his injuries, ensuring he returns to his best condition.”

After saying this, he called over his attendant, who took out three bottles of “Pearl-grade” rare potions and placed them on the table.

“These are the ‘Cloud Water Healing Potions’ I received as a reward last year. I believe everyone can feel assured now.”

Looking at the extraordinary potions swirling like clouds in the three glass bottles, others nodded in agreement, praising the prince’s generosity.

However, this move was seen as somewhat contemptible by a few discerning individuals. Determining the winner through a match, the three people on Xia Jiangtian’s side, including two fifth-rank inner disciples, were acceptable. But Shrine Maiden Xia Yue was at the sixth rank, virtually guaranteeing her victory over Yue Guan. Yue Guan needed to win two consecutive matches to win.

Moreover, in such a match, killing the opponent was not allowed. Yue Guan, who was continuously fighting, could easily be found vulnerable or weak by the other side, losing his advantage in subsequent matches.

But for Yue Guan, who was outnumbered, this was the only path left.

The venue was quickly arranged, and the crowd gathered with excitement, not expecting to see the battle of the senior disciples so soon.

Luolan Hill sat in the pavilion, looking down at the bustling scene far away. She shook her head slightly, her gaze shifting to the Ye family young master on the side of the crowd. She thought she would inquire about Ye Ling after this matter was resolved.

She had recently learned that the Ye family indeed had a young generation named Ye Nanke, though he was currently not in Luo Capital. From this, she deduced that Ye Ling must also be from the Ye family.

From her lifestyle at school, it was clear that this little girl was a pampered young lady, her strength far surpassing that of her peers. She always had snacks, and her clothes were made of high-quality materials, suggesting she held a high position in the Ye family.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Luolan,” a familiar voice sounded behind her.

”

“It’s you.”

A young man in his twenties stood respectfully beside the young lady, dressed in purple and white ceremonial robes, with a purple jade hanging at his waist, clearly indicating he was from the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace.

“Have you reached the Sixth Rank?”

Lolan Hill observed this disciple of the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace, recalling his name, which seemed to be called Su Yin (meaning Bright Jade Stone). The characters were quite uncommon, and she had been particularly impressed by them at the time.

“Thanks to Senior Sister Lolan’s guidance, I advanced not long after the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, since then, Senior Sister Lolan returned to Xiangyu, and I haven’t had the chance to thank you personally.”

Although Lolan Hill was only at the Fifth Rank, she could match the Sixth Rank elders of her sect when she was at the Fourth Rank, and now she was likely even stronger. This disciple of the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace would not underestimate her.

Moreover, the matters concerning the Jiuhuang Mountains were unclear to outsiders, but within the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace, everyone was well aware of them, and they all held great respect for this young lady.

“This time, it’s due to the proximity of the Crimson Tower Sword Duel, and the Dynasty has specially allowed the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace to send a few people down the mountain to the capital, so I came to Luo Capital with my senior brothers.”

Afterwards, Lolan Hill asked Zhi Su to sit down temporarily, as many people had gone nearby to watch the duel, leaving the pavilion relatively quiet.

“Who is leading the Condensed Purple Night Illumination Palace now?”

“It is indeed our Sect Leader, Brother Ying Deng, who is personally leading us here. Because we also need to report to the court about the follow-up arrangements for the Jiuhuang Mountains, he has come personally.”

He had a proper appearance and clear eyes. After looking at Lolan Hill briefly, he turned his gaze downward and did not look directly at her.

“How did you recognize me?” Lolan Hill felt curious. Although her current appearance resembled her past somewhat, there were still noticeable differences, including her eyes and hair color.

“Lolan Senior Sister is testing me again. In truth, those who practice the Nine Nether Sequence are not deceived by appearances.” With a simple reminder, Lolan Hill immediately understood.

For ordinary Extraordinary Beings, using soul fluctuations to observe was a useful skill, but Lolan Hill’s perception was already extremely high. Even without such methods, she could easily distinguish between individuals. Over time, she had almost forgotten the advantage of the Necromancer Sequence.

“This is true.” The young lady placed her finger on her chin, pondering.

To others, Zhi Su’s appearance might make him seem like Lolan Hill’s older brother, yet he sat respectfully beside her, which seemed rather peculiar. However, those who knew the inside story would not find this strange.

“Crack!”

A sharp sound echoed as Yue Guan shouted loudly, sending a disciple of Xiasha Jiangtian flying and crashing through a wall, rolling into the grass. The floating red petals in the arena instantly dissipated.

“Xiasha Jiangtian excels in large-scale incantation spells. Such close-range rapid combat would likely put them at a disadvantage,” some spectators commented.

“Yue Guan wins this round.” The Lord Linghu announced, but his eyes seemed less than pleased.

“You can rest for a while.”

“No, I’m in good condition.”

Yue Guan shook his head. His heart burned like fire; how could he stop now? The Jiuhuang Mountain sect was known for its bravery and toughness, not weakness.

“Alright, let’s start the next round.”

This time, it was Fairy Xiayue who appeared.

She wore a red gradient dress, her face covered by a light veil, her eyes like cherry crystal, gazing at the man before her. Upon the announcement of the start, this fairy of Xiasha Jiangtian waved her sleeves, and the broken petals floated up, drifting toward Yue Guan.

With fiery magic surging through his body, Yue Guan took a step forward, his body rushing forward like an arrow, diving into the sea of petals.

Initially, he moved swiftly, burning away these petals with his intense magical power. But gradually, his speed slowed, as if sinking into quicksand, everything around him becoming an obstacle.

In the eyes of onlookers, this disciple of Jiuhuang Mountain was completely enveloped by the petals, unable to move freely, as if trapped in a cocoon. Despite his constant movements, they were all aimless attacks, failing to locate Fairy Xiayue’s position.

At this moment, Fairy Xiayue hovered above the night palace. She wore snow-white, wide wings, a red gradient feather dress, with long ribbons swirling around her, resembling an ancient celestial being.

Xiasha Jiangtian was renowned for their Transformation Feather (Angel Sequence) techniques, and although their spells were generally gentle, they were also resilient. It was not surprising that they controlled this lower-ranked opponent.

After a stick of incense, Yue Guan was already suffocating under the weight of the heavy petals and finally collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

“The second round, Xiayue wins.”

Only one round remained, Yue Guan versus Liu Manzhi.

It was unknown how this once betrothed couple would end their duel today.