Chapter 102: The Younger Generation

Xu Ziyan snapped back to her senses in alarm. She immediately sealed the Illusory Realm Talisman. Using her Spiritual Power, she scanned it and discovered that in just one or two breaths, the Spiritual Energy within the talisman had already depleted by a tenth. She estimated that, at most, this talisman could only last about twenty breaths. Now, with a tenth gone, roughly eighteen breaths remained.

Xu Ziyan had acted very swiftly. The Core Formation Stage Mighty Pressure hadn’t spread far. Even so, people in the few rooms adjacent to Xu Ziyan’s residence sensed that terrifying Aura Pressure, something they’d never experienced before. Xu Qingxue and several others were directly forced flat onto the ground by the pressure. Sweat soaked their clothes, and they nearly lost control of their bodily functions. Fortunately, the pressure vanished as quickly as it came. Just as they felt suffocated to the point of fainting, the oppressive weight receded like a tide. Bewildered, they looked around, unsure what had happened. But they vaguely remembered the source seemed to be Xu Ziyan’s room. Xu Qingxue and the others felt their awe and respect for Xu Ziyan skyrocket instantly. A thought flashed through their minds simultaneously:

“Big Sister Ziyan really is the boss. Just her aura is so formidable. What level has she reached now? Could she have just broken through again?”

Setting aside Xu Ziyan’s comprehension of the Art of Talisman Crafting, the day of the alliance between the Han Family of Juque City and the Xu Family Clan of Zhongdu City finally arrived. Many guests came from various parties. Leaders of the Northern Region’s medium and small Clans personally attended this grand event for the North. Numerous famous rogue cultivators also flocked to attend. Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng of Zhongdu City were naturally present at the Xu Clan compound. Congratulatory smiles adorned their faces, yet sharp glints flickered in their eyes now and then. That morning, Zhou Ba, the Family Head of the Zhou Family in Canglang City, and Yang Rui, the Family Head of the Yang Family in Nanlin City, also personally led some high-ranking members of their families to the Xu Clan.

Xu Haoran and Han Kui naturally walked side-by-side to the main gate to welcome them. After a round of hollow pleasantries, everyone proceeded together towards the Xu Family Clan’s Central Plaza. In front of the Central Plaza, the Xu Clan had erected a very tall and wide High Platform. The Clan Leaders and specially renowned rogue cultivators were invited onto the High Platform. The experts brought by the Clan Leaders and the less famous rogue cultivators had to take seats in the pavilions set up on either side below the platform. Even the Xu Clan’s Hall Masters and Elders were seated within pavilions placed close to the High Platform.

The Xu Clan’s Inner Hall Disciples were currently acting as guards, maintaining order. Because a huge number of spectators from all over the Northern Region flooded in. These people had no seats but formed the largest crowd. They chatted noisily all over the Central Plaza. Sometimes, if enemies encountered each other, there was even the tendency to draw swords. Fortunately, they all remembered this was the territory of the Xu Clan, one of the Four Great Clans of the Northland, and that the leaders of the other three great clans were seated high above them. So they could still suppress the hatred in their hearts, but verbal insults were unavoidable. Keeping order left the Inner Hall Disciples sweating profusely.

Meanwhile, the Outer Hall Disciples of the Xu Clan were now like waiters. They constantly served tea and fruit to the Clan Leaders on the High Platform and the guests within the pavilions. While Xu Ziyan had recently revealed her Cultivation Level at the First Level of Qi Refining Stage, she had not entered the Inner Hall. So the Inner Hall naturally didn’t seek her out. And her current Cultivation Level didn’t really place her within the Outer Hall either. Therefore, the Outer Hall’s manager didn’t assign her any serving tasks. Moreover, every Outer Hall manager had seen the day the Clan Leader personally led the Clan’s higher-ups to wait outside Xu Ziyan’s door. Who would be foolish enough to give work to Xu Ziyan, who was no longer considered part of the Outer Hall? Thus, throughout the entire Xu Clan, Xu Ziyan became the only disciple without duties at that moment.

At this moment, on the High Platform, the leaders of the North’s four great families chatted and smiled pleasantly. No one mentioned the incident that happened that snowy night outside Zhongdu City. It was as if it had never occurred. Right then, from the crowd below the platform, someone called out:

“Patriarch Xu, Patriarch Han, today is the joyous occasion of your two clans’ alliance. Might we request that your esteemed sons engage in a demonstration sparring? It could serve as entertainment!”

Xu Haoran searched for the source of the voice with his gaze but couldn’t find the speaker. Hearing this suggestion, the masses below erupted in unison:

“Let the two young masters display their skills to celebrate the alliance and broaden our horizons!”

Xu Haoran’s eyes swept sideways, crossing the faces of Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng. He thought to himself:

“Did they arrange this? Trying to stir trouble using the hot tempers of the younger generation, hoping to cause an accident that could disrupt the Xu-Han alliance? Or, at the very least, plant a thorn in the side of whichever clan loses? Still, they seem rather impatient!”

However, Xu Haoran currently had no choice but to agree. Thinking quickly, between his two sons, Xu Lin was the more impulsive brat. His eldest son, Xu Qi, was comparatively more temperate. Moreover, Xu Qi’s Cultivation Level and the Cultivation Level of Han Cheng, son of Han Kui of Juque City, were both precisely at the Second Layer of Qi Refining Stage. If the two of them fought to a draw, preserving harmony and avoiding injury would be ideal. Thinking this, Xu Haoran turned to Han Kui seated beside him and said with a smile:

“Brother Han, how about we have my son Xu Qi spar with your esteemed son Han Cheng?”

“Excellent!” Han Kui readily agreed. Seeing that Xu Haoran was fielding Xu Qi, his eldest son, rather than Xu Lin who had already reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining Stage, he understood Xu Haoran’s intent perfectly. He called down to Han Cheng in one of the pavilions below. His voice, though not loud, carried clearly across the entire grounds:

“Cheng’er, you may spar with your Senior Brother Xu Qi. Consider it entertainment for this grand ceremony!”

“Qier, off you go too. Spar with your Junior Brother Han Cheng. Gain some experience!” Xu Haoran also chuckled heartily from the High Platform.

Standing in the center of the Xu Family Clan’s Central Plaza was a Duelling Platform. It was where Xu Clan disciples usually sparred or held year-end assessments. As Xu Haoran and Han Kui finished speaking, two agile figures shot up like spears from the crowd. They traced graceful arcs through the air before landing lightly on the Duelling Platform.

Having just finished her Cultivation, Xu Ziyan quietly appeared at the back of the crowd, her gaze lifting towards the Duelling Platform. On the platform, Xu Qi and Han Cheng had already begun exchanging blows. Both were at the early Qi Refining Stage Realm, having only just learned some basic Magic Arts. What they managed to perform was neither particularly impressive nor sustainable for long. So they tacitly chose to compete with swords.

Both came from families with deep martial heritage, naturally possessing unique understanding in sword techniques. For a moment, the fight was intense and evenly matched. The subtle intricacies captivated lower-realm disciples below the platform. They watched spellbound, feeling that this trip was worthwhile, their understanding of sword mastery benefiting immensely.

However, to those with higher Cultivation Levels, this kind of fighting seemed utterly childish. They merely glanced a few times, curled their lips in disdain, and lost interest. Some sipped tea; others ate fruit; some even started chatting in low voices. Among the youths seated in one of the side pavilions, one young man curled his lip more disdainfully than the rest, his eyes brimming with contempt. He bit into the fruit in his hand with a loud crunch!. He chewed twice, then spat! it contemptuously onto the ground, casually tossing the remainder onto the table beside him.

Looking up towards Zhou Ba on the High Platform, he saw Zhou Ba give him a slight nod. He abruptly rose. Like a large bird, he shot out of the pavilion, circling above the Duelling Platform. He reached out his right hand and grasped towards the sky. Wood-element Spiritual Energy rapidly coalesced in front of his right palm, forming a giant timber. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the wood downwards, aiming squarely between Xu Qi and Han Cheng.

BOOM!

With a thunderous crash, the giant timber embedded itself in the center of the Duelling Platform. Xu Qi and Han Cheng were violently thrown backward, stumbling all the way to the platform’s very edge. They almost fell off. Simultaneously, they snapped their heads upward, furious eyes locked onto Zhou Hao, who was drifting slowly downward. Zhou Hao descended gracefully to land atop the timber root. Dressed in white robes, long hair flowing over his shoulders, hands clasped behind his back, his sleeves and robes fluttered dramatically with the breeze. He gave his hair an exaggerated toss, striking an intensely pretentious pose. Curling his lip, he drawled:

I say, you two Senior Brothers, just what are you doing? Fencing? You two represent the Zhongdu City Xu Clan elites, the Juque City Han Clan elites! Scions of these Clans! At the Qi Refining Stage Realm! Why are you performing Houtian-level routines before the Northern Region’s gathered heroes? Could it be you look down on them?”

The expressions on Xu Qi and Han Cheng’s faces shifted instantly. Xu Qi’s eyes burned with anger, while Han Cheng’s gaze held a more complex reaction.

Xu Haoran’s face darkened atop the High Platform. His eyes turned towards Zhou Ba, the Family Head of the Zhou Family from Canglang City. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Ba preemptively said with a laugh:

“Heh heh heh, Brother Xu, matters between youngsters should be left to them. As seniors, why intervene? Let them get to know each other through this exchange!”

Thus addressed, Xu Haoran couldn’t voice his objections. Yet, deep inside, he felt a surge of icy wariness. As a Clan Leader, he instantly detected something significant in Zhou Ba’s words and manner. His eyes flew to Yang Rui of Nanlin City, who also wore a look of clear approval. Xu Haoran sensed that Zhou Hao and Yang Rui hadn’t come merely to test the Xu Family’s strength this time, but to demonstrate their own power. Did they have some reliance backing them?

Xu Haoran swept his gaze over the pavilion seating the delegations from Canglang City and Nanlin City. He detected nothing particularly unusual at first glance. There was an unfamiliar face present, but that individual possessed only the First Layer of Foundation Building Stage Cultivation Level. Xu Haoran dismissed him as inconsequential.

During this brief moment of hesitation, a figure shot from the crowd below. Straight and sharp as a spear, he thrust upwards. With a sound like ‘thud!’ embedding itself, he landed squarely on the Duelling Platform. He glared coldly at Zhou Hao standing atop the giant timber. A sharp, piercing aura carried his voice:

“Qier of the Xu Clan, Zhongdu City, Xu Tianlang awaits your instruction!” Xu Tianlang declares his challenge.