Chapter 828

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Shen Yao mocked them, cursing out every single aristocratic family of the Floating City in one go.

System: ……

Although, Host, aren't you scolding a bit too harshly? The point isn't wrong, it's just the expansion of scope — ordinary people are no match for the Host.

The System muttered a couple of sentences in its heart, then spoke again about what might happen in the Floating City.

Of course, they haven't arrived yet, so saying more is just baseless speculation. What if the Floating City isn't as terrible as imagined……

"Listen to your speculation — isn't it even more absurd than mine?" The Floating City's situation simply cannot be good; that can be deduced from the two letters the Lu Family sent over.

Compared to the System's naivety, all of Shen Yao's thoughts are based on reality. To put it more bluntly, the Floating City's current situation will only be worse than what she said, not better.

System: ……

Fine then.

Whatever the Host says goes. In this regard, the System still trusts the Host's authority completely. After all, if you actually compare them, the System's IQ is completely suppressed and crushed by the Host.

It silently sighed, and the System stopped speaking, perhaps not knowing what to say.

Shen Yao defeated the System once again, turned her head, and continued badmouthing the Lu Family of the Floating City with Lu Yan. This time their battle lines were practically perfectly aligned. If Lu Yan weren't still restraining himself with the most basic upbringing of an aristocratic family, cursing them outright would not be an overstatement.

The group continued their journey, balancing work and rest along the way.

Overall, Shen Yao's experience was fine, but the letters sent by the Lu Family were rather frequent, and their content increasingly speechless — either demanding Lu Yan return or urging him to hurry. The letters held not a shred of warmth, filled entirely with schemes.

Shen Yao: ……

When they strike like this, there's no need to consider too much. The Lu Family is really thoughtful, huh.

Because the Lu Family was so thoughtful, Shen Yao also started urging Lu Yan to hurry. The Floating City is so lively — how could they be absent? When it comes down to it, it was the Jin Jue City incident that caused this rather terrible situation. As one of the figures who indirectly pushed the Jin Jue City events, they definitely had to bear witness.

Lu Yan: ……

"Why do you seem a bit happy?" Reaching out to touch Shen Yao's pretty face, Lu Yan felt Shen Yao was thinking too simply. It's easy for the Floating City to fall into chaos, but to make it chaotic in the way Shen Yao wants to see is a bit difficult.

"Because of the Xuan Yuan Clan?" So cowardly. What bitter days have the aristocratic families in the Floating City endured, that they'd only be willing after being trampled on continuously?

"Not just the Xuan Yuan Clan. There are other factors. The situation here is rather complex. However, the Xuan Yuan Clan — they aren't as brainless as they appear on the surface. As early as the previous few Xuan Yuan Family Heads, they were very capable, and the foundation they laid is too solid." They dealt the aristocratic families heavy blow after heavy blow and restricted them again and again. Otherwise, the Floating City would be far from what it is today.

The aristocratic families being scared out of their wits is real. At the same time, they are wary of the trump cards the current Xuan Yuan Family Head holds. In the eyes of these aristocratic families, the Lu Family right now is just a poor kid who suddenly got rich. Lu Yan…… he doesn't think he'll gain the Xuan Yuan Clan's attention, and the Lu Family can't rely on him to exchange for the resources they want.

"I see. But there's a problem here too. Once the Xuan Yuan Clan truly cannot suppress these aristocratic families, the backlash will be the most ruthless."

After all, the grudges accumulated before run deep as the sea. Believing the aristocratic families would let go of hatred and embrace peace? That's even more terrifying than believing Shen Yao would go vegetarian.

Lu Yan smiled. "They all know. But they're all gambling."

The aristocratic families bet that the Xuan Yuan Clan's fortune is exhausted. The Xuan Yuan Clan bets that they can return to their peak.

Right now both sides can still coexist peacefully because of the existence of the external enemy, the Sima Clan. Whether the Sima Clan or the Xuan Yuan Clan ultimately wins, the Floating City's aristocratic families will launch one final resistance.

"They aren't without spirit. They're just better at waiting for the right timing." It's just that the timing isn't easy to catch. Moreover, the Floating City's aristocratic families have lived trembling with fear, walking on thin ice for so many years. Unless they truly can't hold back at the end, they'll find it hard to go all-in.

Shen Yao: ……

Sounds a bit miserable. But they are aristocratic families, after all — a dead camel is bigger than a horse. Instead of worrying about them, they'd better worry more about themselves. After all, Lu Yan is nailed-on to be sold off by the Lu Family to the Xuan Yuan Clan. What if the Xuan Yuan Clan thinks of trying a dead horse as a living horse doctor? Wouldn't Lu Yan be the first to suffer?

Lu Yan: ……

"It won't go that far, but this possibility can't be ruled out either." Lu Yan reached out and touched Shen Yao's pretty face again, instructing her that once she reached the Floating City, she absolutely must not act rashly.

He knew Shen Yao's abilities were outstanding, her martial prowess extraordinary. But besides the aristocratic families, the Floating City had other dangerous forces. If Shen Yao overexposed herself, she would invite a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Hearing this, Shen Yao smiled and made a gesture. "I've always known the times. This trip to the Floating City, I'll be relying entirely on Young Master Lu."

Blinking her eyes, Shen Yao lowered her head and laughed as she fiddled with her pretty nails, freshly painted not long ago. She thought: preserving strength isn't hard. After all, she's just a weak woman.

The weak woman Shen Yao and Lu Yan began speeding toward the Floating City. Only, their travel speed ultimately couldn't match the severity of the Floating City's situation.

Before the two even reached the Floating City, they learned from the letters sent by the Lu Family that after several clashes between the Xuan Yuan Clan and the Sima Clan, the Xuan Yuan Clan had no choice but to retreat in defeat.

Among the losses were those of the Floating City's aristocratic families. Compared to the sincere compensation the Xuan Yuan Clan offered, the Floating City's aristocratic families were more willing to hand over the Xuan Yuan Clan in exchange for their own chance to survive, and to curry favor with the powerful Sima Clan.

The Lu Family — uh, uh, uh — originally wanted to hand Lu Yan over to the Xuan Yuan Clan, but now they've changed their minds. They want to hand Lu Yan over to the Sima Clan.

Shen Yao: ……

"Are they idiots?" Lu Yan hasn't even arrived yet, and they've already sold him out. Not only that, they dare to blatantly state their true intentions in the letter. Their brains are simply not sober.

Lu Yan: ……

He always felt that when Shen Yao cursed the Lu Family, it was like she was dragging him in along with them. Although Shen Yao didn't mean it that way, it's still the surname issue.

Lu Yan felt that this return wouldn't just be about solving the original lingering problems, but also severing the connection between them. Perhaps changing to his mother's surname would be better. Mu Yan — it sounds like a woman's name. But compared to Lu Yan, he could still accept it.

Quickly running through these messy thoughts in his heart, Lu Yan expressionlessly pocketed the letter sent by the Lu Family, putting it away on a high shelf. Anyway, he wouldn't have any more entanglements with the Lu Family in the future. As for the Lu Family's attitude, neither side felt there was any big problem.

…………

As they got closer and closer to the Floating City, the news they received increased. Most heated of all were the reports about the Xuan Yuan Clan and the Sima Clan.

The Sima Clan and the Xuan Yuan Clan have already torn faces. Although the Xuan Yuan Clan struck first, pinning the blame for the evil demons on the Sima Clan, the Sima Clan isn't vegetarian either. They hold evidence in their own hands and backhandedly released it, dragging the Xuan Yuan Clan down into the water as well.

The inside information Lu Yan sent out didn't spread as fast as the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan's mutual self-exposure, but this inside information spread very well to other states. The Luo Family and the Meng Family played a big role, especially the Luo Family. Terrified of being dragged in, they both drew boundaries and attacked the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan, busy to the point of not knowing joy.

The Meng Family was more steady compared to the Luo Family. They first excised their own problematic parts, then followed in the Luo Family's footsteps, ruthlessly trampling on the reputations of the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan from the shadows.

These two are a pair of smiling tigers. Their behind-the-scenes plots and schemes are not few. The Meng Family got lucky with no losses. The Luo Family was pitted especially miserably — truly stifling.

Lu Yan had many information channels. Besides the Lu Family sending letters to harass him from time to time, other aspects also constantly sent letters. Among them were from Lian Tang City, Yuan City, and other cities he had taken over or passed through.

"Jin Jue took the clan members to Yuan City. Right now they're living in the mountain forests outside Yuan City.

Heard they also plan to occupy a few Secret Realms as clan bases. Fan Gui Qi didn't object, just allocated some mineral-rich Secret Realms." Compared to the abdicated Fan Sheng, Fan Gui Qi shows more plasticity in behavior style.

Before, they threw the unconscious Fan Sheng outside Jin Jue City and left directly. Don't know if he'll return to Lian Tang after waking up.

"Host, I know, I know," the system actually paid some attention to Fan Sheng; Fan Sheng was currently staying quietly near Jin Jue City. Although Fan Sheng had lost many of his memories from inside the Secret Realm, this person had a special perception. Even though no one was left in Jin Jue City right now.

The system happily reported Fan Sheng's recent situation to its own Host, and finally sighed that it was fortunate Fan Sheng's memories had been tampered with by the Host, otherwise who knew what this person might do.

Shen Yao:...

"What can he do? At most deliver food rations to the parasite's host body," but if he kept delivering them, without Shen Yao and Lu Yan appearing just in time, relying on Fan Sheng's own abilities, he would most likely be like those people from the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan—unable to find or touch anything.

Resting her chin on her hand, feeling the breeze blowing past her ears, Shen Yao turned to look at Lu Yan riding on the horse.

By now they were very close to the Floating City; all around were travelers heading to the Floating City. Among them were merchants, commoners, and cultivators. Most people knew the situation of the Floating City, but they had no choice but to press forward.

"Tsk, heard the news? Checks are strict lately. Those who can't produce an Identity Token will be locked up."

"They say they're afraid outsiders from other States will sneak in. Lately, the Young Masters and Young Ladies inside the Floating City aren't coming out. It seems really serious."

"If my family weren't lacking this mouthful of food, I wouldn't want to come."

"Who isn't? Don't say, don't say. These are matters for those old masters and big shots. We just look after ourselves and make a living."

The common folk all had a simple worldview. They weren't cultivation prodigies, nor did they have any Fortune. Most were just insignificant specks of dust. Their dreams weren't big—they just wanted to survive. But such a wish was hard to achieve in times of chaos.

The car fleet ahead had stopped at some unknown time, and everyone could only stand in place waiting.

Shen Yao couldn't help but look up and gaze around, her head poking out from inside the Che Xiang.

"Host, the people ahead are checking," the system had already floated over and seen the situation.

"Checking?"

This place was still more than ten li from the Floating City. Those who walk slowly probably wouldn't make it in half a day. Why check anything now?

"They say outsiders from other States have mixed in, and the Floating City received news, so they came specially to check. True or false unknown, anyway those checking people are rough and impolite when they act. Ordinary people can only silently endure. Cultivators with tempers who try to resist get pressed down and taken away. Anyway, the situation is one-sided. For the Host, there's no benefit."

Shen Yao turned and called out to Lu Yan, "It's not intentional, is it?"

Catching outsiders from other States is false; having another purpose is true.

Lu Yan nodded, "Possible."

The two quickly went over their speculation in their hearts, then waited for the Floating City's inspection team to appear.

The sun overhead slowly tilted, and so did the surrounding temperature. Shen Yao sat in the Che Xiang, waving the hand fan in her hand. Suddenly, the curtain before her eyes was rudely lifted from outside.

She met a pair of upturned eyes. Shen Yao was so scared she froze, and the hand fan in her hand fell into her lap.

Swoosh

The curtain was lowered again, and Lu Yan's neither humble nor arrogant answer sounded by her ear, including Lu Yan's identity and the purpose of their group returning to the Floating City at this time.

"Floating Air Lu Family?"

The person who received Lu Yan's Identity Token had an amused expression, sizing them up several times, and finally returned the Identity Token, saying at the same time, "Nothing special."

Lu Yan:...

No need to think much. This person definitely had a grudge against the Lu Family. The animosity toward Lu Yan came more from the Lu Family, even though Lu Yan didn't feel he had any connection to the Lu Family.

"Tsk, feels like on this trip back, we'll face many problems."

Shen Yao secretly leaned against the window to look outside. She could tell the person who just lifted the curtain had some skill. Even besides this team checking openly, there were many helpers hiding in the dark who were more powerful than them.

Could it be there was really some danger among this group? If so, with their attitude so arrogant, were they fishing?

Lu Yan passed smoothly because of his Lu Family identity, but he also felt no small malice. He turned and patted the window beside the Che Xiang. Seeing Shen Yao reveal half her profile, he smiled and said he had a Small Courtyard in the Floating City. This time he'd first stay at the Small Courtyard, and after resting a few days, he'd take her back to the Lu Family to meet those people.

"The Lu Family is willing to wait?"

I'm afraid they haven't even entered the city yet before being sold out by people in the inspection team.

Although the leader had a grudge against the Lu Family, the inspection team wasn't this person's one-man rule. There must be brokers secretly selling information for money. Although the Lu Family Lu Yan belonged to couldn't compare to those top clans, ordinary people would still consider the Lu Family a Pangran Giant.

A single piece of news could earn many Treasures. Not to mention ordinary people wouldn't be tempted—even some independent cultivators would be willing. A bit of resources exposed by the great clans would be enough to benefit them endlessly.