Chapter 706: 706 Palace Double Session
Qiao Guinong’s movements were anything but slow, arriving in front of Yun Xiao in the span of a moment, his hand blade viciously aiming for the latter’s throat. Should the strike find its mark, the boy would instantly meet an untimely death.
"This kid, has he been scared stiff?"
However, just as Qiao Guinong’s hand blade came within mere inches of Yun Xiao, the boy still did not make any moves. Not only did he not attempt to dodge, but he didn’t even put up a guard, appearing completely motionless.
But at this moment, Qiao Guinong certainly had no trace of mercy in his heart. Seeing the boy as weak as a puddle of pus, it was time to send him on his way to meet King Yan.
Bang!
However, just when Qiao Guinong was fully confident that his palm strike would sever Yun Xiao’s throat, a mighty gust of wind suddenly assaulted from an angle, clashing fiercely with his right palm and producing a loud sound.
Thud, thud, thud...
Qiao Guinong, who had been in high spirits, felt a surge of blood and vitality upending within him. The internal injuries from the previous night were instantly aggravated, and he staggered back several steps, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"This power..."
Especially when Qiao Guinong sensed a trace of familiarity in that power, his heart was engulfed by a tidal wave of shock, and his face, riddled with disbelief, looked upward, only to see a familiar figure standing beside the plainly dressed boy.
"Lin Zhenjiang!"
To Qiao Guinong, who had served as the Lin Family’s chief Meridian Refining Master for decades, how could this figure be a stranger? It was none other than Lin Zhenjiang, the contemporary Family Head of the Lin Family, a powerhouse of the Seeking Origin Realm.
Yet Qiao Guinong couldn’t figure out why Lin Zhenjiang would appear so promptly at this place, several miles away from the North Gate of Yujiang City, and moreover, manage to save Yun Xiao’s life in the nick of time.
"It must be that brat Yun Xiao, it’s his trickery!"
Although Qiao Guinong was merely an Earth Rank Low Level Meridian Master, he quickly came to a realization, turning his gaze directly onto the plainly dressed boy, as if he understood something.
At this moment, Qiao Guinong knew he had been outsmarted by Yun Xiao again. This boy must have known that he wouldn’t relent and would find an opportunity for revenge, so he had plotted with Lin Zhenjiang well in advance, leading him into a trap.
Naturally, Qiao Guinong wouldn’t dare to trouble Lin Zhenjiang at the Lin Family, so the only significant enemy he could now find trouble with was Yun Xiao. It was because of this clarity that led to the current situation.
"This boy, truly has a mind as cunning as a demon!"
In contrast to the anger in Qiao Guinong’s eyes, Lin Zhenjiang felt quite emotional at this moment. When Yun Xiao first alluded to this plan, he had his doubts, thinking that Qiao Guinong wouldn’t dare to take such a risk. Now it seemed that it was this boy who had thought one step ahead.
To prevent the straightforward Lin Xuanhao from giving away the game, Lin Zhenjiang had kept this plan from his son. His previous return to the Lin Family was only a ruse; in fact, he had already taken a different route to intercept Yun Xiao and his companion.
As for Lin Xuanhao, he was already stunned with surprise. He had believed that under Qiao Guinong’s pursuit, their fate was likely to be grim, never expecting such a turnaround, with his father appearing at this critical juncture.
Lin Xuanhao wasn’t a fool; his father’s timely appearance must have been well-prepared. Therefore, after his initial shock, his gaze, filled with reproach, turned to Yun Xiao.
"Big Brother Yun Xiao, that was not very kind of you, not telling me about such things!"
Lin Xuanhao gently reproached, for judging by Yun Xiao’s confident and unchanging demeanor just then, he surely must have known the outcome. All along, only Qiao Guinong and himself were left in the dark.
"I wanted to give you a surprise. How was it? Not bad, right?"
Yun Xiao didn’t care at all. Instead, he purposefully explained, causing Lin Xuanhao to instantly smile and nod repeatedly. Such drastic ebbs and flows were indeed thrilling.
"Qiao Guinong, I spared your life last night, yet you remain unrepentant, deserving death!"
Lin Zhenjiang’s expression was far from pleasant. This man had been with the Lin Family for many years, and their relationship had once been decent. Never would he have imagined that they would come to this point, facing life and death opposition.
"Lin Zhenjiang, don’t flatter yourself. Dare you claim that you really showed mercy last night?"
Now that things had escalated to this point, Qiao Guinong had no intention of considering their past relationship. He believed that if not for his multiple tactics last night, he would have died at the Lin Family already. The claim that Lin spared him, he refused to acknowledge whatsoever.
"Since you dared to strike at Xuan Hao, don’t blame Lin for what comes next!"
Seeing the old fellow remained stubborn, Lin Zhenjiang knew any further words were futile. In the next moment, with a mere thought, a surge of Earth Essence swept out, imposing a gravely solemn expression upon Qiao Guinong’s face.
Regardless, Qiao Guinong was merely a cultivator at the Peak of the Qi Seeking Realm, while Lin Zhenjiang’s cultivation had reached the Seeking Origin Realm. The Earth Power they could summon was entirely different.
"Xuan Hao, let’s go!"
Seeing that the battle had intensified, with Qiao Guinong falling into a clear disadvantage, Yun Xiao simply waved his hand and spoke words that left Lin Xuanhao with an astonished look on his face.
"Don’t we wait to see the outcome before leaving?"
Lin Xuanhao seemed reluctant to take his eyes off the thrilling battle before him. How could his elder brother Yun Xiao seem so indifferent?
"Heh, is the outcome of this battle not already obvious? Do you really not believe in your own father?"
Upon hearing these words, Yun Xiao smiled slightly. Lin Xuanhao was momentarily stunned, then he noddingly heavily. He was, of course, aware of the gap between the two sides, so the outcome of this battle needed no further discussion.
"Father, I’m leaving!"
Lin Xuanhao then shouted as a farewell to Lin Zhenjiang, then he and Yun Xiao set off side by side, heading swiftly towards the north.
Bang!
It wasn’t until Yun Xiao and the others had walked several dozen paces away that a loud noise came from behind. Out of curiosity, Lin Xuanhao couldn’t help but look back only to see an elder in green clothes spewing blood from his mouth as he was sent flying backward, the blood seemingly mixed with bits of internal organs.
"Betraying the family, he got what he deserved," Lin Xuanhao muttered to himself, knowing that Qiao Guinong could no longer survive. He then resolutely turned his head and soon vanished into the distance.
A gaze from the south shifted over, watching his barely discernible figure with a touch of endearment. It seemed that after losing his adopted son, Lin Zhenjiang had come to care even more for his legitimate son.
...
Half a month later, Yuyang City!
Yuyang City is a grand city in the Southern Domain of Tenglong Continent, at least several times larger than Yujiang City. When Yun Xiao and Lin Xuanhao looked at the city from a distance, it felt like a colossal beast lying on the ground, with its gaping maw ready to accept any cultivators who entered.
"Brother Yun Xiao, that’s Yuyang City ahead. How about it? It’s much larger than Yujiang City, right?"
Lin Xuanhao had naturally been to Yuyang City before, although in the past he was always with his father. This trip was his first time venturing out alone, so he appeared rather excited and promptly turned around to speak.
"Hmm."
In contrast, Yun Xiao, who was visiting Yuyang City for the first time, appeared much calmer than Lin Xuanhao. After all, in his past life, he was Long Xiao Battle God. Compared to the grandeur of the cities in Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, the cities in Tenglong Continent paled significantly, and really, there was no comparison whatsoever.
"Yuyang City is governed by Douling Commerce. This Spirit Fighting Conference is also initiated by them!"
Knowing that Yun Xiao came from Hidden Dragon Continent, Lin Xuanhao took the time to explain again, piquing Yun Xiao’s curiosity about the so-called Douling Commerce.
"Xuan Hao, tell me about the main power distributions in Tenglong Continent!"
Once upon a time, Yun Xiao only knew of top powers such as the Meridian Refining Master Association and Xuanyin Hall from Tenglong Continent, which were participating in the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference in the Lower Realm.
However, Yun Xiao was also aware that Tenglong Continent had more than just these nine powers. Since Lin Xuanhao mentioned Douling Commerce, he took this chance to learn more about Tenglong Continent.
"There are four top powers in Tenglong Continent, which the local cultivators colloquially call ’The Dual Halls and Dual Assemblies’."
As a native of Tenglong Continent and the legitimate son of the Lin Family, Lin Xuanhao indeed had quite a bit of knowledge and continued, "The ’Hall’ refers to Xuanyin Hall. It is said that Master Xue of Xuanyin Hall is a super-strong cultivator who has reached the Heavenly Rank. His cultivation is unparalleled across Tenglong Continent!"
"As for the so-called Palace, it’s ’Wuyan Palace’. Though named ’Wuyan’ (Flameless), within it resides many strong cultivators of the Fire Attribute. Its overall strength is not far off from that of Xuanyin Hall!"
Lin Xuanhao elaborated confidently as Yun Xiao listened attentively, then he went on, "Brother Yun Xiao, you must have heard of the Meridian Refining Master Association. Along with Douling Commerce I just mentioned, they form the ’Dual Assemblies’."
"The Meridian Refining Master Association doesn’t usually interfere with continental affairs, which is fine. But Douling Commerce spans across every city in Tenglong Continent. Its influence is unparalleled in Tenglong Continent!"
Speaking of Douling Commerce, Lin Xuanhao’s face showed a hint of excitement, as over the years, one could see the trace of Douling Commerce in every city.
After all, most of the cultivators in Tenglong Continent had reached the Spiritual Vein Realm, and those who had reached the Spiritual Vein Realm naturally needed a Meridian Spirit.
Douling Commerce was not only responsible for hosting the Spirit Fighting Conferences in the various cities but was also the intermediary for the entire continent, trading various Vein Demons for cultivators who reached the Spiritual Vein Realm to purchase and refine Meridian Spirits suited for them.
Of course, while this model of Douling Commerce made things convenient for humans, for the Vein Demons, it was essentially a disastrous calamity. Strictly speaking, it was hard to say whether it was good or bad.