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Cui Chang’an’s words left everyone in attendance stunned.
He was trying to force an Emperor of the Tantai Family to kneel!
Who’d have thought that the typically calm and agreeable leader of the Cui Family would become this overbearing, all for the sake of Su Yi?
Even Xue Huaning and Cui Jingyan were stunned.
This wasn’t as simple as teaching Tantai Chi a lesson. No, this would irrevocably ruin their relationship with the Tantai Family and lead to further conflict!
This price was unquestionably heavy.
But it seemed Cui Chang’an had thought it through, and he didn’t care about the consequences!
Meanwhile, Tantai Chi’s face was ashen, and he was visibly overcome with anger, as if he might die of sheer shame and indignation, or as if he couldn’t believe that Cui Chang’an would try to humiliate him like this.
After all, he was an Emperor!
Were he forced to kneel to some Spiritual Incarnation Realm kid, and if word got out, he’d be reduced to a laughingstock. No matter where he went, others would mock him.
He could forget about ever cleansing himself of this shame!
“Fellow Daoist Cui, the consequences of this decision will be dire. Is a Spiritual Incarnation Realm cultivator worth it?” the yellow-robed elder of the Qu Family said gravely.
Cui Chang’an said indifferently, “Our Cui Family has always had a rule: if someone bullies others in our territory, they shouldn’t blame us for bullying them! It’s true that my father isn’t present, but that doesn’t mean just any old so-and-so can behave atrociously in our home!”
The yellow-robed elder’s expression was instantly unsightly. He’d just been called an “old so-and-so”, yet he ultimately dared not utter so much as a word in protest.
Cui Chang’an was simply too tyrannical, as if he’d been set on fire.
The dark-robed middle-aged man of the Hong Family couldn’t help but interject, “It’s enough to have Fellow Daoist Tantai apologize. Kneeling… is too great a humiliation. Besides, the Lantern Festival is fast approaching. Fellow Daoist Cui, having a falling out with the Tantai Family now of all times would be most unwise. I urge you to reconsider.”
Cui Chang’an said coldly, “Were my father present, would you dare act like this? Would you dare rush over to take advantage of our momentary weakness? Now, you’re urging me to reconsider? Who the hell do you think you are, Hong Xuezhong? Even if the leader of the Hong Family were here, he wouldn’t dare talk to me like that!”
The dark-robed man’s expression soured. This rebuke left him with no dignity left, and with nothing to say in response.
Cui Chang’an had been so mellow just minutes prior. Who’d have thought he’d be so imposing and tyrannical when he lost his temper?
This left the guests’ expressions shifting and uncertain, both surprised and furious.
“Will you kneel? Or won’t you?” Cui Chang’an glared coldly at Tantai Chi, his aura so terrifying that it seemed he was choosing someone to devour. He put enormous pressure on Tantai Chi.
The atmosphere in the grand hall was as tense and oppressive as could be.
Tantai Chi took a deep breath, then gnashed his teeth. “Cui Chang’an, you can kill me, but forget about making me lower my head to some Spiritual Incarnation Realm whelp!”
He was gambling that Cui Chang’an wouldn’t dare kill him.
However, Cui Chang’an merely laughed coldly. “Then I’ll just have to see if your bones are as obstinate as your mouth!”
Before his voice had even finished echoing through the hall, he stretched out his hand and grabbed Tantai Chi.
Tantai Chi had been prepared for this, so he turned and fled.
He was well aware that with his early-stage Profound Illumination cultivation, he was no match for Cui Chang’an. How could he possibly clash with him head-on?
Whoosh!
Tantai Chi’s figure flickered as he activated a secret escape art. It seemed like teleportation, so quick, it was unbelievable.
He was just about to shoot out of Northview Pavilion when Cui Chang’an raised his hand and tapped the air.
Boom!
The formation surrounding the pavilion rumbled, surging with endless, resplendent, golden light. It was like a natural barrier, and it sealed the gate off completely.
Bang!!
Tantai Chi slammed into the barrier of golden misty light, then staggered back and almost fell. The impact left him seeing stars.
The crowd’s hair stood on end. Who could fail to realize that Northview Pavilion was covered in an Imperial-level formation?
Otherwise, how could it have blocked Tantai Chi?
Before Tantai Chi could react, Cui Chang’an appeared before him, then kicked twice in rapid succession.
Crunch! Crunch!
Tantai Chi’s knees shattered with a spray of blood. His face contorted in agony, and he let out a muffled grunt.
The crowd felt chills in their hands and knees; the sight left them completely stunned.
Cui Chang’an’s attack was simple and direct, forceful and tyrannical, with no room for argument. You won’t kneel? Fine, I’ll just have to break your legs!
A lofty Emperor, a terrifying existence the masses could only look up to, had been forced to the ground like some kind of convict.
This bloody, brutal spectacle was unquestionably shocking.
After all, the Profound Dao was like the heavens, and Emperors were like gods.
Who among the world’s countless cultivators would dare believe that one of these “gods” would ever be so thoroughly brutalized?
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Cui Jingyan had never seen anything like this in all her years of life. She stood there in a daze, unable to think straight.
Even the old-timers’ hearts trembled.
It wasn’t that conflicts between Emperors had never occurred before, but this scene still left them unable to maintain their composure.
Su Yi, however, was perfectly calm. Such sights were commonplace for him.
Emperors came in varying levels of strength.
Tantai Chi was a “rising star” of the early-stage Profound Illumination Realm. He was a newcomer of the Imperial Realm.
His cultivation base was even inferior to that body-refiner, Ran Tianfeng.
In his past life, Su Yi would have disdained dealing with someone of his level personally.
Actually, never mind early-stage Profound Illumination Emperors, even Profound Serenity and Profound Unity Emperors weren’t truly unmatched and invincible. Over the years, who knew how many such powerhouses had fallen?
In the eyes of the general populace, Emperors really were as lofty as gods, experts capable of commanding the wind and rain, intimidating everyone around them, and gazing proudly down on the world. They were practically omnipotent.
But in the eyes of other Emperors, they were still ultimately just cultivators in pursuit of the Grand Dao.
“Uncle…” When Tantai Liu, who was still injured after his clash with Su Yi, saw this, he was scared out of his wits. He almost dared not believe this was happening.
“Cui Chang’an, if you’ve got the guts, just kill me. Why use this method to humiliate me?” Tantai Chi rasped, his eyes bloodshot.
“It doesn’t matter why you’re here. Ultimately, you’re still our guest. How could I kill you?” Cui Chang’an said coolly. “Go back and tell your leader that if he wants to get even on your behalf, he’s welcome to come looking for me!”
Then, he swept his gaze across the other Tantai Family experts and waved. “Take your people and go. Be quick about it.”
The Tantai clansmen reacted as if they’d received an imperial pardon. They hurriedly got up and slinked off.
Finally, Cui Chang’an looked at Su Yi. He smiled, but the expression seemed a bit strange. He said softly, “Un-... Err, Young Lord Su, do you think I handled this appropriately?”
He sounded a bit unnatural when he addressed Su Yi, and his tone was warm, but a bit strange, as if he were requesting guidance.
That domineering attitude with which he’d treated Tantai Chi had vanished.
However, most of those present were still in shock, and few noticed this subtle change.
The only exception was Xue Huaning.
She understood her husband’s personality better than anyone. When she saw how he treated Su Yi, she felt increasingly bewildered and confused.
Why would he go so far as to cast aside all pretenses of cordiality with the Tantai Family over Su Yi?
And why does he seem so… ill at ease in front of a young man like him?
Su Yi looked at Cui Chang’an and smiled faintly. He could tell that “Little Chang’an” had already guessed who he was.
But he obviously didn’t want to divulge that, so at least in public. He didn’t want anyone to pick up any clues, so he could only call Su Yi “Young Lord Su.”
“Not bad at all.” Su Yi nodded.
Cui Chang’an instantly sighed in relief, as if a massive weight had lifted from his shoulders.
When she saw this, Xue Huaning’s eyes widened. It was only because she knew that this wasn’t the right time that she didn’t demand her husband give answers right this second.
“It seems we have nothing further to discuss. Let’s end this here, then. The Cui Family… should watch out for itself!” said the yellow-robed elder of the Qu Family. Once he’d said his piece, he left with a swoosh of his sleeves.
“I’m quite eager for the arrival of the Lantern Festival. Let’s see what becomes of Ziluo City then!” The dark-robed elder of the ancient Hong Family said, then led his people away.
There was no point in staying any longer.
Besides, Tantai Chi’s fate had terrified them. They feared Cui Chang’an would lose his temper and humiliate them too.
Cui Chang’an subconsciously looked at Su Yi, who subtly shook his head.
Thus, Cui Chang’an didn’t stop them. He let his guests leave, and soon, only Su Yi, Cui Chang’an, Xue Huaning, and Cui Jingyan remained in the rubble of the grand hall.
The commotion had drawn numerous Cui clansmen over, but without orders, none dared enter the grand hall.
The atmosphere was instantly a bit heavy.
Cui Jingyan’s heart churned; she still had yet to overcome her earlier shock.
Xue Huaning looked conflicted; she’d already realized that Su Yi, a young man she quite admired, most likely had extraordinary origins.
Cui Chang’an, however, was a bit tentative. He looked at Su Yi, as if he had something to say but was hesitant to say it.
Su Yi found this rather funny. Little Chang’an is now the leader of the Cui Family and one of the highest authority figures in the entire Six Paths Royal Territory. Why is it that he still seems so helpless in front of me, just as he was before?
But this made Su Yi recall numerous scenes from his past life, and he couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Countless years had passed, and the people he’d once known had changed.
Cui Chang’an was no longer a young man; he’d already become a world-famous authority figure.
When he compared the boy he’d known to the man in front of him, it really did seem as if a lifetime had passed since their last meeting.
But Su Yi wasn’t emotional for long. He pondered briefly, then said, “Resolve this first. I’ll wait for you in Pinebreeze Pavilion.”
With that, he put his hands behind his back and sauntered off, so composed that it almost seemed as if he were taking a stroll through his own garden.
Cui Chang’an didn’t object. On the contrary, his eyes shone with heartfelt delight and excitement.
Before this, he’d merely taken a guess at Su Yi’s identity, but now, he was perfectly certain of it!
Cui Jingyan wanted to chase after Su Yi, but now, she hesitated. She too had sensed that something was amiss about her father’s behavior, and her heart was full of confusion.
It was then that Xue Huaning, who’d long since sensed that something was amiss, couldn’t hold back any longer. “What… what exactly is going on?”