Chapter 196: Dao Master Yan and Dao Master Xia, Colluding for Evil

"You mean, Zhongli Lingyu is of the Demon Race?"

"Possibly even more formidable." Si Yuyan's tone was grave.

"Ancient Demon Race?" Jiang Xun also furrowed his brow.

An SSS-rank Child of Luck is truly extraordinary.

"Highly likely." Si Yuyan nodded.

"Then wouldn't she be an enemy to you all?"

"... Perhaps." Si Yuyan nodded: "But according to what she said, since Wangyue Pavilion has been in Tianling City for five thousand years, it is possible her family was not involved."

"Do you think she would tell me if I asked about her identity next time?"

Jiang Xun thought for a moment and said.

"Who knows, but I think you had better not ask. She is no simple character; what if she thinks you have discovered her identity and decides to kill you to silence you?"

Si Yuyan shook her head.

"Let's not think about these messy things for now, go back and cultivate."

Jiang Xun shook his head, casting these miscellaneous matters aside, and continued to prepare for the Top Ranking Challenge.

————

"Did that kid named Tian Zeyan really defeat Yun Ruling so easily?"

At the same time, Dao Master Xia and Dao Master Yan were drinking tea and chatting at Dao Master Yan's home.

"Sigh, yes. A Sword Dao at the Peak of Initial Stage of Transformation Realm—heaven knows how he defeated Yun Ruling." Dao Master Yan sighed: "I still don't know what method he used to hide my Purple Spirit Banner; there hasn't been a single reaction from it for this entire time."

"The Shangyu Dynasty is putting pressure on me too, saying they want an explanation, and they won't even let me reveal that I am seeking an explanation for the Shangyu Dynasty. What kind of situation is this?" Dao Master Xia said while holding his forehead, feeling a massive headache.

"Shangyu Dynasty? Did Shangyu Li complain to his father?" Dao Master Yan asked.

"Yes, his father went to find the Holy Emperor of the Shangyu Dynasty. The Holy Emperor of the Shangyu Dynasty contacted me personally, telling me I must get an explanation for the Shangyu Dynasty. You tell me, what should I do? Should I beat up He Luyun? It's not even certain if I could win."

"Why dwell on He Luyun? Wouldn't it be enough to discipline that kid Tian Zeyan?" Upon hearing this, Dao Master Yan's eyes rolled, and he came up with a malicious idea.

"Tian Zeyan? That is the Tenth Prince of the Tianyu Dynasty, the only person the Tianyu Dynasty sent to Tianwai Island. How can we touch him?"

Dao Master Xia looked at Dao Master Yan and asked.

"That kid challenged Yun Ruling in order to participate in the Top Ranking Challenge."

"The Top Ranking Challenge?"

"We can have our disciples target him during the Top Ranking Challenge. Although Yun Ruling is no match for him in a one-on-one fight, as long as he is sufficiently exhausted, I believe Yun Ruling can make him suffer."

Dao Master Yan looked at Dao Master Xia and smiled.

"... That's not good, right? Tampering with the Top Ranking Challenge—if the Island Master finds out..." Dao Master Xia was very hesitant.

"Tian Zeyan was clamoring in public today, and everyone finds him unpleasant. Isn't it normal for everyone to besiege him together during the Top Ranking Challenge? Yun Ruling specializes in the soul and attacks the soul. If his own strength is insufficient and his soul sustains damage, can he blame others?"

Dao Master Yan instigated.

"It was he himself who wanted to participate in the Top Ranking Challenge; there were risks from the start. If something happens, the Tianyu Dynasty can't say anything."

"But Ling Shangtian will also be competing. What if he breaks through to Void Refinement and protects Tian Zeyan then?" Dao Master Xia said after thinking for a moment.

"Ling Shangtian is aiming for the top spot. As long as your disciples and mine join forces to attack Tian Zeyan, I imagine Ling Shangtian won't intervene. After all, exhausting his own Spirit Power in such a place is not a good thing for him either."

Dao Master Yan shook his head.

"How many of your disciples are competing?"

Upon hearing this, Dao Master Xia no longer hesitated.

"Eight."

Dao Master Yan held up eight fingers.

"I have twelve on my side. Twenty people—enough to finish him off!"

Dao Master Xia nodded heavily.

This way, he could finally give an account to the Shangyu Dynasty.

————

Jiang Xun returned to his room, not expecting the door to be wide open. After entering, he saw He Luyun sitting in a chair, embroidering on a piece of cloth.

"Master has this skill too?" Jiang Xun smiled at the sight.

"Nothing to do, just passing the time." He Luyun nodded.

"Then, why is Master in my room so late?" Jiang Xun sat opposite He Luyun.

He Luyun did not look up, her hands still embroidering: "You offended Dao Master Xia today."

"He doesn't look like a good person either." Jiang Xun laughed.

"I saw that you care a lot for Gufang Ninglin. Today, when Shangyu Li and the others made a move against her, I thought you would step in, so I acted before you did. They can't do anything to me, but you are different."

"Do you have a guardian by your side?"

"I do." Jiang Xun nodded decisively: "Surely they wouldn't actually dare to make a move on me, would they?"

"Not openly, perhaps, but they certainly will during the Top Ranking Challenge."

He Luyun nodded.

"The Top Ranking Challenge is all about the soul, so they can't do much to me, right? Besides, even if I have a guardian for this Top Ranking Challenge, the guardian wouldn't be able to get in, would they?"

Jiang Xun asked this actually wanting to know if their guardians could get in. If they couldn't, he wouldn't be afraid of anyone.

"They can't get in." He Luyun nodded: "But they might cause irreversible damage to your soul. If that happens, you will inevitably have to return to the Tianyu Dynasty for treatment. The journey is quite dangerous, so it is best to have a guardian following."

"... Master, you've calculated that I will definitely run into trouble." Jiang Xun said with a wry smile.

"Prevention is better than cure. Dao Master Yan is a vengeful person. You took his Purple Spirit Banner and slapped his face; he will not let this rest. Today, you clashed with Dao Master Xia, which gave him exactly the opportunity he needed."

"Although the Xialin Dynasty and the Yanwu Dynasty are not comparable to the Tianyu Dynasty, they cannot be underestimated. Plus the Shangyu Dynasty—because of you, the Tianyu Dynasty has already offended three dynasties. You must keep these things in mind while on Tianwai Island in the future."

"Don't worry, Master, I will make proper arrangements... So, Master, you stood up for Senior Sister today—was it not for her, but for me?" Jiang Xun asked.

"Tianwai Island is filled with descendants of dynasties and royal families; it is a sect, but also a small world, a miniature version of dynastic struggles. The Gufang Dynasty has already withdrawn from the stage."

"On Tianwai Island, you may have a low cultivation realm, and you may choose not to participate in missions, but you must know how to make friends. I have taken you as my disciple; first, I am your master, and second, I am also a member of the He Yu Dynasty. Maintaining good relations with the Tianyu Dynasty is also part of my duty."

"As for the Gufang Dynasty, it is of no consequence to me."

"Telling you this is also something I, as your master, ought to teach you."

"Of no consequence... she is your disciple, after all." Jiang Xun said helplessly upon hearing this. Just a moment ago, she had said: "Bullying my Personal Disciple, do you think I'm dead?"

Jiang Xun had thought she was truly standing up for Gufang Ninglin.

"It is all a transaction; there is no need for you to know the details." He Luyun shook her head: "Let me give you one more piece of advice: it is not worth offending so many people for the sake of the Gufang Dynasty."

"I am not doing this for the Gufang Dynasty; I am doing it for Gufang Ninglin alone."

Jiang Xun retorted.