Chapter 107: Great Upheaval

Xu Ziyan let out a long cry, which sounded like a Phoenix Cry and also like a crane’s call. Around Xu Ziyan, eighteen Water Pythons as thick as a man’s thigh suddenly formed. They twisted toward the eighteen Golden Long Spears, wrapping each Golden Long Spear tightly until they were almost completely hidden.

With a loud explosion, the Golden Long Spears inside the Water Pythons shattered into golden fragments that scattered across the sky. The air filled with sparkling golden dust, glittering brilliantly under the sunlight. Amid this dazzling display, Xu Ziyan brought her hands together, and the eighteen Water Pythons merged before her, turning into one huge Water Python. It carried a Mighty Pressure as it charged toward Yang Linglong, who was hovering in the air.

Between Yang Linglong’s hands, a golden light flashed, and a large golden shield appeared hastily in front of her.

“BOOM—”

A deafening sound shook the Duelling Platform. The Water Python struck the golden shield with tremendous force, sending Yang Linglong flying backward.

“CRACK—”

The golden shield shattered, and the Water Python’s force weakened considerably, but it still crashed into Yang Linglong. She let out a sharp cry, and a rain of blood sprayed from her as she spiraled uncontrollably in the air before crashing through a canopy and falling heavily to the ground.

A figure flashed through the air. Yang Rui, from the High Platform, appeared in the collapsed canopy. He reached out and picked up Yang Linglong, who was now unconscious. Looking down, he saw her face had turned deathly pale. Her eyes were tightly shut, her teeth clenched, and blood still trickled from the corner of her mouth. After a quick check, Yang Rui knew she was severely injured, needing at least a year to recover, and if not treated properly, her future Cultivation Level could be harmed.

On the Duelling Platform, Xu Ziyan’s face showed a hint of regret. She knew if she had shown her Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage Cultivation Level, she could have killed Yang Linglong outright. Xu Ziyan quickly dismissed that thought—Yang Linglong was no longer worth her attention. Seeing the Northern Region’s top talent defeated so easily, Xu Ziyan felt a growing desire to join the Sect, where true geniuses gathered.

“I must go to the Sect!”

Xu Ziyan clenched her fists tightly and looked up toward the sky, as if her gaze could pierce through Inner Space to see the paradisiacal Sect.

“WHOOSH—”

The crowd below the Duelling Platform erupted, rushing toward it, jumping and cheering. The Xu Clan disciples especially felt Xu Ziyan’s image grow immensely in their hearts. If she asked them to fight Yang Rui from the Foundation Building Stage, they would charge without hesitation.

Among them, only Xu Tianlang remained still. He gazed at Xu Ziyan on the platform, feeling admiration but also unwillingness and unhappiness. He had always believed he should be the idol of the Xu Clan’s younger generation—that honor belonged to him, and over the years, he had been the frontrunner, hailed as Zhongdu City’s top genius.

But after the battle at Tongyou Valley, everything changed. Xu Lin silently broke through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining Stage, leaving him behind. And now, Xu Ziyan suddenly appeared. He clearly remembered that during the Tongyou Valley battle, Xu Ziyan was only at the Eighth Layer of Houtian. Even after she unexpectedly returned alive, he paid little attention; someone with Postnatal Cultivation didn’t matter to him. Even if she was temporarily called the clan’s young idol, people would slowly forget her over time.

That was normal—in this world, strength was what mattered. Someone with a low Cultivation Level couldn’t be remembered for long. He was confident he would soon catch up to Xu Lin, and no one would recall the lucky Xu Ziyan. The Xu Clan’s future still belonged to him.

But today, Xu Lin’s unyielding fighting spirit deeply shook him, making him doubt for the first time if he could ever catch up. And then Xu Ziyan’s sudden appearance brought true despair. When he saw her again, she had stepped from Houtian to Innate Realm, and then during the fight, she broke through to the Second Layer of Qi Refining Stage, matching his own Cultivation Level.

With Xu Lin speeding further ahead and Xu Ziyan closing in from behind, Xu Tianlang felt lost deep inside, unsure which way to go.

Inside the canopy, Yang Rui quickly fed an Elixir into Yang Linglong’s mouth, then looked up at Xu Ziyan on the Duelling Platform. He unleashed his peak Foundation Building Stage Third Layer aura, his eyes filled with killing intent.

From the High Platform, Xu Haoran rose abruptly, releasing his own Foundation Building Stage Third Layer aura to counter Yang Rui.

“Hmph!”

They both snorted coldly. Yang Rui stood firm, while Xu Haoran swayed slightly, making the difference between them obvious.

“Hahaha, Family Head Xu, your Xu Clan is truly full of talents!”

“Hahaha, Family Head Yang, you are too kind. Today is the day our Xu Clan allies with the Han Family of Juque City. Please, Family Head Yang, join us for the ceremony!”

“Good! Good! Good!”

Yang Rui spat out three “goods” with a mocking expression. He handed Yang Linglong to his companion, then swiftly returned to the High Platform and sat down slowly. His scornful gaze made Xu Haoran uneasy. Turning to Han Kui, the Family Head of the Han Family seated beside him, Xu Haoran said warmly,

“Brother Han, let us make the announcement together!”

“Alright!”

Han Kui stood up and stood beside Xu Haoran on the High Platform. The people below quieted down. Xu Ziyan had flown down from the Duelling Platform and stood at the back of the crowd. Looking up at the High Platform, she saw Xu Haoran beaming with joy, but Han Kui beside him wore a conflicted expression—his eyes held both helplessness and ambition…

Suddenly, Xu Ziyan felt an extremely dangerous warning in her heart…

“Today is a joyous day for the alliance between Zhongdu City’s Xu Clan and Juque City’s Han Family… With our cooperation, the Mortal World under the Taixuan Sect will become even more prosperous! Any hostile forces trying to interfere will face ruthless strikes from us—and even from the Taixuan Sect! Now, let us welcome Family Head Han of Juque City to speak!”

Xu Haoran looked excitedly at Han Kui and gestured for him to proceed. Han Kui, now composed, smiled and nodded at Xu Haoran before calmly speaking to the crowd below.

“Today, our Han Family of Juque City has come to form an alliance!”

“WHOOSH—”

Warm applause erupted from below the High Platform. The Xu Clan disciples especially clapped enthusiastically to welcome the Han Family, as planned.

Han Kui smiled and motioned for quiet with his hands. After the cheers died down, he continued,

“Our Han Family has come to form an alliance today! But…” He paused, scanning the crowd, then slowly spoke words that shocked almost everyone present.

“But… this time, our Han Family is not allying with the Xu Clan, but with the Zhou Family of Canglang City and the Yang Family of Nanlin City!”

Xu Haoran’s face changed drastically. Staring at Han Kui beside him, he lost the ability to think straight.

“Brother Han… you… must be joking?”

“HAHAHAHA…”

Behind him, Zhou Ba and Yang Rui laughed without restraint. Xu Haoran stepped back alertly, putting distance between himself and Han Kui. His mind quickly cleared, and he raced to figure out why the Han Family of Juque City, who had actively sought the alliance, had switched sides.

“Hahaha… Family Head Xu!” Yang Rui rose slowly from his seat, sneering. “Family Head Han is simply wise enough to adapt to circumstances! What? Do you, Family Head Xu, plan to go against the tide?”

By now, Xu Haoran didn’t fully understand what had happened, but his mind was completely calm again. As Family Head for many years, he knew the clan was in grave danger. Since the Zhou Family of Canglang City, the Yang Family of Nanlin City, and the Han Family of Juque City had come together, they must have made full preparations. Moreover, Han Kui, who arrived three days earlier, must have shared all their secret plans from the Secret Chamber with the Zhou and Yang Families. Although Xu Haoran hadn’t told Han Kui about the Talisman Array, the Zhou and Yang Families now clearly knew the Taixuan Sect offered no support to the Xu Clan.

Now, all he could rely on was the Third Grade Talismans in the Main Hall. If he could lure them into the Main Hall, eliminating these Foundation Building Stage Third Layer opponents would be as easy as waving his hand. So, steadying his resolve, Xu Haoran said calmly,

“Since Canglang City, Nanlin City, and Juque City have given me such a grand ‘gift,’ I’ll gladly accept it! Why don’t we go to the Main Hall to discuss this further?”

“Hahaha… Brother Xu, do you still think you can deceive us?”

Hearing this, Xu Haoran’s heart skipped a beat. Did they know about the Talisman Array?