Chapter 2164: Encountering a Turn of Events

When Ye Liuyun and his companions arrived at Wuxiang City, they could no longer see any Martial Cultivators of the dynasty.

Yet the atmosphere inside Wuxiang City was extremely oppressive; many people on the streets wore plain clothes, wore sorrowful faces, as if they had encountered some misfortune.

Ye Liuyun was rather curious, so he went to a tavern to probe for information.

"Women! It's better not to be too beautiful! Look at the fate of the Zhao family—utterly ruined and dead!"

"What does being famous or not have to do with it.

It's because villains are in power; those at the crossing bully men and dominate women, lawless and unrestrained!"

"Shh! They heard us; be careful not to get implicated!"

These people were murmuring among themselves.

"Could it be that something happened to the Zhao family?"

Ye Liuyun's mind stirred, and he instructed Yuan Bin to investigate.

"Brothers, we're a few outsiders who came to visit friends; do you know what's going on here?"

Yuan Bin immediately went over to ingratiate himself with those people.

"From out of town?

You're not heading to the Zhao family, are you?"

An older Martial Cultivator guessed.

"Yes, it's the Zhao family.

We just entered the city and felt the atmosphere was very oppressive—has something happened?"

Yuan Bin asked.

The Martial Cultivators glanced at each other and sighed, "You've arrived at a perfect time; the Zhao family is holding a funeral!"

"Heh, the Zhao family not only has a funeral, but also a celebration the day after tomorrow! You really rushed in!"

Another middle‑aged Martial Cultivator forced a bitter smile.

"What… what on earth is going on!"

Yuan Bin asked in confusion.

"Alas, the Zhao family has gotten into big trouble!"

Another Martial Cultivator, who was more straightforward, didn't beat around the bush with Yuan Bin and told him directly.

"Miss Zhao Ming Cheng of the Zhao family, after returning from the Alien Battlefield, saw her strength increase and was coveted by the powerful faction that controls the crossing of the Boundless Sea, which insists on marrying her off there.

Zhao Ming Cheng, equally proud, firmly refused.

After a stalemate between the two families for a while, the crossing side struck directly, killing many young disciples of the Zhao family and wounding their Clan Chief to death.

Now the crossing not only demands Zhao Ming Cheng be married over there, but also wants all of the Zhao family's assets as a dowry! The day after tomorrow is the crossing's date to fetch the bride; if Zhao Ming Cheng does not comply, they will wipe out the Zhao family!"

After speaking, the Martial Cultivator sighed, "What kind of world is this! It's outright robbery!"

"Fine, say a little less! It's not your family that's in trouble, so why complain pointlessly?"

The elder immediately rebuked him, lest he invite trouble.

Another middle‑aged Martial Cultivator kindly advised Yuan Bin, "I think you'd better not join the commotion.

The Zhao family is already unable to protect themselves at this point!"

"Gather more intel on the crossing's and the Zhao family's strength."

Ye Liuyun transmitted the message to Yuan Bin.

After questioning for a while, Yuan Bin thanked them, had the waiter pour a few more jars of wine, and then returned to Ye Liuyun's side.

Ye Liuyun had already heard their conversation, so Yuan Bin need not repeat it.

However, the crossing's strength exceeded Ye Liuyun's expectations.

The Zhongxing Wangchao has three crossings on its northern, eastern, and southern fronts, each controlling the major authority and ferries for traffic across the Boundless Sea.

The Martial Cultivators guarding the crossings are all at the Ninth Layer Late Stage realm.

Moreover, each crossing has at least thirty Martial Cultivators of the Ninth Layer Late Stage.

The number of Martial Cultivators of other realms is even greater.

These three crossings are not under any city's jurisdiction; they answer directly to the Zhongxing Wangchao.

Thus these crossings dominate locally; even when they commit crimes, the locals dare neither anger nor speech.

"Should we intervene?"

Liu Yang transmitted a message to Ye Liuyun, seeming eager to act.

He hadn't sparred with anyone for a long time, probably bored out of his mind.

Ye Liuyun replied, "Let's wait until the day after tomorrow and see. If Zhao Ming Cheng clashes with them, we can act then."

He hadn't expected that a casual stop would bring such a matter.

Though his relationship with Zhao Ming Cheng wasn't especially close, after fighting together for months, he would certainly lend a hand.

Yet the crossing's ties to the Zhongxing Wangchao are too close, and its strength is great; Ye Liuyun doesn't want trouble, so avoiding conflict is best.

So he didn't go straight to Zhao Ming Cheng, but lodged at an inn, waiting to see what the crossing's people would do.

Time passed quickly; on the day the crossing's people arrived, Ye Liuyun and his group were watching from the roadside.

A squinting young man appeared, leading four Ninth Layer Late Stage and over thirty Seventh/Eighth Level Realm Martial Cultivators, storming toward the Zhao family.

"That formation looks nothing like a wedding procession; it resembles a band of robbers!"

Ye Liuyun thought to himself.

After they passed, many people shook their heads helplessly and sighed.

Ye Liuyun asked a nearby elder, "Who is this person?"

"Hmph, who else could it be?"

The sole son of Chen Baotian at the ferry crossing, Chen Tao! Remember this person's looks; from now on, stay far away from him!

That old man kindly warned Ye Liuyun, then turned and left.

Ye Liuyun and the others then followed those martial cultivators from afar, rushing to the Zhao family.

At this moment, the Zhao family's martial cultivators all wore mourning clothes, holding weapons, preparing to fight these people to the death.

Zhao Ming Cheng also changed into a white outfit, her eyes bloodshot as she held her spear and stood before her father's spirit hall to make a final farewell.

"Young lady, they're here!"

A Zhao family disciple ran in quickly to report.

"Let's go!"

Zhao Ming Cheng finally bowed before her father's corpse, then took her spear and, together with the elder and disciples beside her, charged out of the spirit hall.

Ye Liuyun's golden pupils saw Zhao Ming Cheng from afar, and he knew that today's battle was probably unavoidable.

He immediately released his clone, Shen Kuo, and Lu Yao from the Space World, letting everyone prepare for battle.

"Zhao Ming Cheng, are you going to resist to the end?"

Seeing Zhao Ming Cheng and the others ready for battle, Chen Tao was not surprised.

"To avenge my father's death, we cannot coexist under the same sky!"

Zhao Ming Cheng pointed her spear at Chen Tao: "Get out here and die!"

Chen Tao, however, laughed heartily: "I know I'm not your match! But I don't need to fight you myself; these people beside me can today wipe out your Zhao family completely."

Your Zhao family doesn't even have a single Ninth Layer Late Stage martial cultivator; what can you use to resist me?

If you obediently submit to me, I can still leave a way out for your Zhao family; otherwise, you'll all go today to keep that old immortal thing company in death.

"Even if we die in battle, we will never submit to your beastly might!"

A Zhao family disciple spoke out loudly.

"Seeking death! Dare to speak to my young master like that!"

A Ninth Layer Late Stage martial cultivator beside Chen Tao immediately struck out, sending a palm straight at that disciple.

A huge palm print loomed in the air, pressing down on that disciple.

"Attack!"

A Zhao family elder shouted loudly, and immediately four or five elders acted together, barely managing to block the opponent's attack.

That Zhao family disciple also turned pale with fright, yet he stubbornly held his ground, not retreating.

"Hahaha, blocking one palm already strains you; how about another?"

Chen Tao laughed loudly and without restraint.