Chapter 106 - 103: June Assessment

Chapter 106: Chapter 103: June AssessmentAbove the square, the crowd watched the scene on the stage with shocked gazes. The defeat of Cao Qiudao had caught many by surprise; beforehand, no one had ever imagined that this powerful figure, infamous throughout Green Sun County, would ultimately be defeated by a young man who appeared to be just over twenty... However, no matter how unbelievable it was in their hearts, when they saw the figure kneeling on the ground before their very eyes, they could only forcefully suppress the astonishment in their hearts with reason, and then turn their shocked gazes toward the young figure on the stage. Everyone understood that the crucial contest between the Cao and Tang families had ended with the Tang family’s victory. "He actually won..." Tang Zhen muttered to himself, his palms trembling continuously, evidently extremely excited, and his eyes were also filled with joy and ecstasy. "I knew Brother Ye Xuan would win." Puffing out her little chest, Tang Xiaoyan also revealed a smile, the slight worry in her eyes completely vanishing. "This sword seems to have a whiff of a Heavenly Grade weapon..." On the other side, Nie Tao was recalling the moment Ye Xuan drew his sword; the power of that one strike was simply too great. If it were him, he would only have suffered a crushing defeat under that strike, and the aura released from that sword clearly surpassed the fluctuations of an Earth-grade weapon. Of course, he was not yet certain, but if it was as he speculated, then it was a bit too shocking, as a Heavenly Grade weapon was typically a cherished weapon only possessed by Martial Sect Masters. Swords that could be classified as Heavenly Grade were almost all famous weapons, and there were only a few of them in the entire Tiannan Region. Each Heavenly Grade weapon’s owner was a renowned swordsman in the Tiannan Region, each with brilliant combat achievements and a reputation. "Truly an unfathomably deep young man." Nie Tao made up his mind in his heart—he would definitely cultivate a good relationship with Ye Xuan, and he also felt fortunate that he had helped Ye Xuan before; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. "Family Head Cao, you have lost this duel. According to the agreement, the Cao family must relocate from Green Sun County." Ye Xuan looked at Cao Qiudao, who was half-kneeling before him, and spoke in an indifferent tone. Upon hearing this, not only Cao Qiudao but also the other members of the Cao family down in the arena showed a change in expression, becoming somewhat uncertain. Cao Qiudao’s face turned ugly—if the Cao family were to leave Green Sun County, their power would definitely be severely weakened. However, in the presence of so many people, he could not possibly back out. If only he had known, he would not have made such a huge fuss, only to end up shooting himself in the foot in the end. "Father..." Cao Jian and the other martial artists of the Cao family had now climbed onto the stage. They looked at Cao Qiudao, ready to act on his word, to stir up a battle between the two families, which might still have a chance of turning things around. However, at this moment, the martial artists of the Tang family also immediately moved into action, a direct confrontation, and together with the people brought by Nie Tao, their formation was entirely capable of crushing the martial artists of the Cao family. The atmosphere became somewhat tense, but Ye Xuan remained calm and collected because no matter what the Cao family chose, the final outcome would still not change. "Let’s go." Cao Qiudao was no fool. He knew that acting now would not only bring no benefits but would also bring shame upon the Cao family throughout the entire Great Hua Kingdom, making them a laughingstock among the noble families. They could only take a step back for now, relocate from Green Sun County as agreed. Although they would lose some family power, at least they could still preserve their noble family status. If a conflict really arose here, the Cao family might well be in danger of annihilation. The forces of the Cao family retreated rapidly like a receding tide, and in that instant, deafening applause erupted in the square. Regardless of how young the victor on the stage appeared, the sheer strength he had demonstrated earlier had conquered everyone here... In the Spirit Martial World, everything respects strength above all else. Watching the retreating forces of the Cao family, Ye Xuan did not move to stop them. He believed Cao Qiudao was a smart man who knew how to preserve himself. If the other party was delusional enough to think of going back on their word, then Ye Xuan wouldn’t be so amiable anymore. "The power of the Spiritual Edge Sword is indeed extraordinary." Waiting for the Cao family’s retreat, Ye Xuan revealed a contemplative expression. It was his first time activating the Spiritual Edge Sword in battle, and with just one strike, he had thoroughly defeated Cao Qiudao. However, even with just a single blow, the toll on Ye Xuan was considerable. After an extended bout of intense fighting, the True Qi within his body had been almost completely depleted. As a martial master, wielding a Heavenly Grade treasure sword was no easy feat. Now, Ye Xuan had a rough understanding of the Spiritual Edge Sword’s power and consumption. In the future, when facing enemies, he would have to weigh his options and not use it blindly. With that thought, Ye Xuan turned and leaped off the platform, landing before Tang Zhen and the others. "Family Head Tang, the mission has been accomplished without disgrace." Ye Xuan gave a fist-and-palm salute to an excited and thrilled Tang Zhen, who hurriedly returned the gesture, somewhat tongue-tied due to his excitement. Those of the Tang family also looked at Ye Xuan with fiery, admiring gazes. The strength Ye Xuan had demonstrated earlier had left them with nothing but awe and admiration. "Brother Ye Xuan, from this day forth, you are our Tang family’s great benefactor. Should you command us in the future, we of the Tang family shall not hesitate to die in service." After escaping from the brink, Tang Zhen’s gratitude toward Ye Xuan knew no bounds. Overcome with emotion, he didn’t even care about his dignity and knelt down before Ye Xuan. "Family Head Tang speaks too seriously, please rise." Ye Xuan himself came from a noble family and naturally placed great importance on family concepts, so he could understand Tang Zhen’s feelings. After a brief exchange with Tang Zhen, Ye Xuan then looked toward Tang Xiaoyan. To tell the truth, the conflict between the Cao and Tang families had little to do with him. Whether the Tang family stood or fell, he didn’t really care. His intervention was mostly for Tang Xiaoyan’s sake. He couldn’t bring himself to leave this gentle and kind young girl. In her, he could see a resemblance to Nangong Yao, albeit Tang Xiaoyan lacked Nangong Yao’s liveliness but had an additional touch of vulnerability. "Big Brother Ye Xuan, are you alright?" Tang Xiaoyan, noting Ye Xuan’s somewhat pale face, asked with concern. "It’s nothing, just a great depletion of True Qi. I’ll be fine after a couple of days of rest." Ye Xuan smiled. It seemed this young girl truly cared about him. The fight just now had been against a Hal-step Martial Sect master like Cao Qiudao, which was decidedly not an easy one. Fortunately, he hadn’t sustained any injuries and would recover after a short rest. "Let’s go, let’s head back." Tang Zhen, obviously in high spirits, waved his hand, and, under the envious gaze of many, he led the Tang family back home in a grand manner. Today’s victory was undoubtedly a significant celebration for the Tang family. The Cao and Tang families had been contending in Green Sun County for over a decade, with numerous skirmishes, most of which had seen the Cao family coming out on top. This put a lot of pressure on Tang Zhen and the entire Tang family. Today, the frustrations that had been building over the years were finally unleashed. For this reason, Tang Zhen organized a grand banquet to celebrate the day’s victory. However, as the guest of honor, Ye Xuan wasn’t very interested in such affairs. After drinking a few symbolic cups and staying for a short while, he found an excuse to leave the noisy hall. As the moonlight shimmered like water upon a large tree, Ye Xuan was half-lying on a branch, gazing up at the night sky. In contrast to the Tang family’s festive atmosphere, Ye Xuan’s mood was not one of celebration. He wondered how Ye Tianxiong and the others back in the Great Xia Kingdom were faring. Though their lives were likely not in danger, their situation was certainly not good. However, Ye Xuan knew that now was not the time to return to the Great Xia Kingdom, for he did not yet possess the strength to overthrow the two offending families. Only upon reaching the Martial Sect realm would he be qualified to seek revenge and restore his family’s honor. Before then, he would have to train hard and strive to enhance his strength. Nangong Yao of Xuanbing Mansion, Ye Mei’s mention of Sky Demon Mountain, and his mother from the Demon Clan who was in a location unknown—these were the goals that spurred him to progress. The road ahead was still very long. Taking a swig from his wineskin, a flicker of light appeared in Ye Xuan’s eyes. "In mid-June, it’s the Heavenly Martial Hall’s recruitment assessment for new disciples. In a few days, I’ll set out for the capital of the Great Hua Country." Ye Xuan had made up his mind; joining the Heavenly Martial Hall was essential. Only by being part of the big Sect environment could he accelerate his cultivation pace. Wandering aimlessly on his own would undoubtedly be much less efficient. After all, even Ye Xuan’s achievements in his past life stemmed from rising through the ranks of a Sect. If not for their exceptional capability to nurture strong warriors and discover many talents, the Sect would not have become a ruler of the Spirit Martial World.