Su Yi quickly got his thoughts in order.
Xiao Tianque must have learned of the Su Familyâs plans before the battle at the provincial governorâs estate. At the time, word of the massacre at the Western Mountainâs Tea Party had already started spreading throughout the Great Zhou.
Except that, at the time, only a tiny handful knew that Su Yi was the one truly behind it all.
âThe Cloud-Scraping King, Shi Lanshan, is one of the non-Zhou kings who emerged from the Su Family. Heâs stationed within the White Province, and his position is extremely prestigious. They only dared to oust and imprison the family head due to his support,â sighed Xie Yuanshan, anxiety written all over his face.
âSo thatâs how it is.â Su Yi finally understood.
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Simply put, the grand elder of the Lanling Xiao Family, Xiao Zhongying, had colluded with Cloud-Scraping King Shi Lanshan to seize the family headâs authority. The trigger for the entire incident was Xiao Tianque and Xiao Hongqiuâs decision to go to the Imperatorial Province to rescue him.
When he realized this, Su Yi was rather moved.
Saving Xiao Tianque had been as easy as turning over his hand. Whoâd have thought that, upon learning that the Su Family was after him, Xiao Tianque would nonetheless rush to his aid?
His good intentions alone were enough to move Su Yi.
âMiss Zijin, rest assured. This incident arose because of me. Naturally, I ought to be the one to resolve it,â said Su Yi softly.
He planned to pass through the White Provincial Capital anyway, so he might as well lend them a hand while he was at it.
But Zijin only shook her head and whispered, âMaster Su, our opposition doesnât just include members of our Lanling Xiao Family; even someone as prominent as the Cloud-Scraping King, Shi Lanshan, is involved. You⊠Youâd be better off not getting mixed up in this.â
Su Yiâs earlier display of power was terrifying, but just the thought of their foes and the factions they represented lowered Zijinâs spirits.
It was then that Pei Yundu suddenly seemed to realize something, and he blurted, âYoung Lord, dare I ask if youâre Su Yi?â
Su Yi nodded. âThatâs right.â
Pei Yundu instantly gasped, then looked enlightened. He muttered to himself, âNo wonder, no wonderâŠ.â
Zijin and Xie Yuanshan were both stunned. Xie Yuanshan asked, âYour Lordship Pei, have you heard Young Lord Suâs name before?â
Pei Yunduâs expression was instantly rueful. âThe two of you have been imprisoned within the Xiao Family, so youâre most likely not aware of this yet. Of the entire Great Zhouâs younger generation, Young Lord Suâs name is by far the most distinguished!
âAt the Western Mountainâs Tea Party in the Imperatorial Province, even someone as mighty as the Dragonlake Hermit, Qin Changshan, failed to withstand Young Lord Suâs blade!
âLater, in the battle at the seat of the Imperatorial Provinceâs provincial government, Firedome King Xia Houlin, White-Eyebrowed King Cai Jinghai, Heavenbrave Marquis Yue Qing, and the Jade Mountain Marquis, Pei Wenshan, all fell beneath Young Lord Suâs sword. When word of this incident spread, it shook the entire nation and stirred up inestimable uproar.
âIt was due to these two battles that Young Lord Suâs name spread throughout the Great Zhou. How could I not know of him?â By the time he finished, Pei Yunduâs expression was brimming with admiration.
âThisâŠâ Xie Yuanshan was stunned, and waves of shock coursed through his heart. He finally realized that the blue-robed youth before him really wasnât the least bit simple.
Zijin looked dazed too. She thought back to their first meeting outside Guangling City. At the time, Su Yi was still only in the Blood Circulation Realm.
Yet now, just a few months later, he could even kill Xiantian Martial Ancestors like Xia Houlin!
If she hadnât heard this from Pei Yundu, she wouldnât have dared believe it.
âEven the Firedome King died?â Xie Yuanshan gasped.
He was well aware that the Firedome King was one of the non-Zhou kings to emerge from the Jade Capitalâs Su Family.
When he saw the dumbstruck looks on Zijin and Xie Yuanshanâs faces, Su Yi instantly realized that they really hadnât known what heâd been up to lately.
Otherwise, they wouldnât be jumping and exclaiming over every little thing.
He laughed, âHow about it? Would you like to go to the White Provincial Capital with me now?â
Zijin hesitated. âMaster Su⊠Youâre really not worried about the Su Familyâs revenge?â
âI began this journey precisely so that I could visit the Jade Capitalâs Su Family and sever our grudges,â said Su Yi. âDo you think Iâm afraid?â
Zijin paused, but in the end, she gnashed her teeth and said, âIn that case, Iâll have to trouble you. Please, accept this show of respect!â
As she spoke, she started to kneel, only for Su Yi to stop her. âI said it earlier. This happened because of me, so itâs only right that I resolve it.â
Xie Yuanshan perked up; he felt as if the clouds had finally parted, and the sun were shining through once more. He exclaimed, âMany thanks, Young Lord Su. Many thanks!â
But Pei Yundu suddenly seemed to recall something else. He said hesitantly, âYoung Lord Su, I heard that lately, numerous factions have set their sights on you, and that they plan to intercept you on your journey to the Jade Capital. I heard that their ranks include numerous Xiantian Martial Ancestors. Is that true?â
Su Yi nodded, but he didnât explain. âA trivial matter, unworthy of concern. Come on. Letâs go to the White Provincial Capital first.â
The group immediately set off.
The distant, towering gates of the White Provincial Capital entered their field of view.
A group of vicious, indomitable-looking warriors stood guard outside.
Their leader was a middle-aged man in black. He was majestic and imposing, and whenever his eyes moved, they seemed to crackle with electricity.
âHm⊠Why did they come back?â When the man in black saw Xie Yuanshan drive the carriage back to the city, he was stunned; it seemed he dared not believe his eyes.
The lean man beside him burst into laughter. âItâs surely because someone intercepted their path, and they realized they couldnât possibly break through our inescapable net. They must have decided to turn around and obediently turn themselves in. A smart choice!â
The man in black laughed too. When he spoke, his tone was rife with mockery. âXie Yuanshan, didnât you say you werenât afraid to die? Why did you bring the young mistress back?â
Xie Yuanshan said expressionlessly, âOl' Mo, if you donât want to die, youâd best lead your men and get out of our way.â
âHa ha ha! You fled like a panicked dog, and now youâve slunk back in disgrace, but you still dare bark and growl at us? Iâm afraid you have no idea of whatâs in store for you!â The black-robe man threw back his head and laughed into the sky. The sound caught the attention of those nearby, who glanced over, then immediately moved further away.
Xie Yuanshan said no more. He just slowly drove the carriage closer to the gates.
âTo me! Seize them and take them back to the clan!â The man in black waved and bellowed at his subordinates. Instantly, an entire group of warriors charged at the carriage.
Xie Yuanshan drew his sword and attacked directly. Sword light flashed, and several warriors died on the spot.
This bloody spectator left everyone present stunned and in uproar.
Both the man in black and his subordinates thought Xie Yuanshan and company were here because theyâd fled in defeat. They assumed theyâd slunk back to meekly accept their punishment.
Whoâd have thought that wasnât even remotely the case?
âI told you to get out of the way, but you insisted on seeking out your own demise,â said Xie Yuanshan, his gaze cold and sharp.
âYouâre courting death!â The black-robed manâs expression darkened, and he swept toward Xie Yuanshan, shooting through the air like a massive bird.
When he saw this, Pei Yundu, who was sitting on the other side of the carriage, prepared to take action.
Suddenly, a burst of sword light streaked out of the carriage. The black-robed man was still charging through the air when his head flew from his shoulders and fell to the ground.
The flow of human traffic was stunned. Everyone near the gates was in a panic, and many of them shrieked and fled in terror.
Even Pei Yundu was surprised when he saw this.
The man in black was a Grandmaster, and a relatively strong one, too. Yet Su Yi had killed him in the blink of an eye, and from a distance, too!
There was no need to even question it; Su Yi was the one whoâd attacked!
Su Yiâs calm voice emanated from within the carriage. âOnce weâre past the gates, take us directly to the Xiao Family estate.â
âYes, sir!â Xie Yuanshan took a deep breath, then drove the carriage through the city gates.
This was a magnificent three-story building built in the center of a lake. It was surrounded by water on all sides, with a long, white jade bridge connecting it to the shore.
In the grand hall on the top floor, Xiao Zhongying sat at the center of the room, clad in ornate robes.
The former grand elder of the Lanling Xiao Family had only just become the new head of the family, but heâd already fallen in love with his newfound authority. When he gave orders, none dared disobey!
âI invited you all here today because I have something important to discuss with you.â Xiao Zhongyingâs gaze swept across the room, and he said gravely, âI just received intelligence from the Ten Directions Pavilion. Everyone, please have a look.â
He nodded slightly at the elderly servant beside him, who immediately picked up a thick stack of papers and passed them out. Each of the gathered Xiao Family higher-ups got a copy.
Each document was the same, and their contents were quite simpleâ
âOn the fourth day of the fourth month, Su Yi left the Imperatorial Provincial Capital. That night, at Dragonbridge Station, he defeated Skywalk Academyâs palace master, Wang Zhuo.
âOn the sixth day of the fourth month, Su Yi single-handedly slew four Xiantian Martial Ancestors: the Yang Ardent Daoist, Mo Qingchang, Madam Paulownia Blossom, and Shi Chuang. The only survivor was Situ Gong, whom he defeated but spared.
âOn the eighth day of the fourth month, Su Yi proceeded to Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. That same day, the Hidden Dragon Sword Sectâs Text Transmission Pavilion Elder Lu Dongliu, Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Cang, and Second Elder Liao Yunliu joined forces with the palace masters of Jixia and Watermoon Academies, Wang Tu and Helian Hai, then proceeded onto the mountain as well.
âSu Yi left Treasure Temple Yao Mountain later that day, but Lu Dongliu, Wang Tu, and their companions havenât been seen since. Itâs suspected that they encountered calamity on Treasure Temple Yao MountainâŠ.â
When they finished reading the lettersâ contents, gasps rang out throughout the room. Without exception, the Xiao Family higher-upsâ expressions changed.
âIsnât Su Yi just a Grandmaster? How could he possibly be that strong?â someone exclaimed.
âEven an expert as mighty as Lu Dongliu fell? Was that Su Yiâs work too?â exclaimed someone else. A chill coursed down his spine.
âThatâs just too terrifying! This Su Yi kid effortlessly slew the Firedome King and his allies at the seat of the Imperatorial Provinceâs provincial government. Furthermore, every Xiantian Martial Ancestor whoâs tried to intercept him on his journey and seize his good fortune has failed!â exclaimed another higher-up, his eyes wide with surprise.
The entire hall was in an uproar. The Xiao Family higher-ups were all worldly and experienced authority figures, yet now, none of them could remain calm.
As he watched this play out, Xiao Zhongyingâs brow furrowed, and he roared, âWhat are you lot panicking about? Even if Su Yi overturned the heavens, itâd have nothing to do with us!â
The entire venue fell silent.
However, before long, someone said hesitantly, âBut I heard that Su Yi is suspected of having a close relationship with old man Xiao Tianque. Heâs sure to pass through the White Province on his way to the Jade Capital. If he learned about what weâve doneâŠâ
By now, the entire groupâs expressions had changed.
However, Xiao Zhongying only said calmly, âEveryone, rest assured. The White Province borders the Jade Capital, and its territories are under the jurisdiction of the Su Family. If Su Yi dares show his face in the White Province, the Su Familyâs forces will come for him! He wonât even know what hit him!
Having said this, he smiled and said leisurely, âAs for us? âŠAll we have to do is sit back and watch the show.â