Chapter 93: Strange Power of the Heavens

However, for reasons unknown, he felt no displeasure at all, but couldn't help nodding, looking utterly obedient, and spoke plainly.

"That child Na Lan is born with a strange ability to foresee the unseen and divine fortunes. She saw a hint of an omen on you, and based on innate Yi numbers, she said you…"

He stopped there, and Lu Fan's face showed impatience; he said coolly, "Foreknowledge, with that little girl's half‑baked incantation skill, makes me laugh. And innate Yi numbers—you're at least a Fourth‑tier Peak Great Seal Master; don't you know that techniques involving heavenly Dao deduction are a realm only true Grand Sorcerers can enter?"

At that day's court banquet, Lu Fan sparred with the Na Lan lady; her incantation art was indeed marvelous, even surprising him, but its power was still feeble, nowhere near achieving true foreknowledge.

Ke Da Shi's words were nothing but nonsense; Lu Fan had no time to waste on such matters.

When Ke Da Shi heard this, his expression froze and his aged face flushed, yet a hint of confusion lingered in his brows, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

"Exactly, exactly! That child Na Lan may have an extraordinary talent, but innate Yi numbers are far beyond her reach. Even our former master never had the qualification to practice such things."

Zhao Zhenchuan and Zu Qing Tan both nodded in agreement, but when the master was mentioned, their faces showed admiration and nostalgia.

Ke Da Shi glanced at Zhao and Zu, shook his head, as if saying he wouldn't argue with them. Yet his eyes were indifferent, clearly the Qin Zhen provocation had no effect.

Perhaps they once held grudges, but now, being older, those have faded and amount to nothing.

Lu Fan understood this and gave a slight nod. Even before he appeared, he had sensed that Ke Da Shi wasn't here because of past grudges but had other motives. His eyes flickered, scanning everywhere; instinct told him the other party was looking for him.

Now that it was clear, he had no other thoughts. He inhaled lightly, seeming solemn, and faced the two Sun Wang family heads, his expression slightly grim, saying:

"Can you two tell me why you teamed up with Qin Zhen to cause trouble, and even dared to disrespect the Seal Cultivation Guild?"

The two Sun Wang heads were horrified, having thought they were merely watching the spectacle. They didn't expect that this odd youth would now focus his attention on them.

"How dare you, Lu Fan! In front of the two family heads, you must not be presumptuous!"

A line of guards stepped forward, crowding the Sun Wang heads, glaring at Lu Fan with hostility. Though Lu Fan's methods had been formidable, they were loyal and their perception was poor, so they felt no fear of him.

Everyone around watched like spectators; with the Qin family head defeated, if the Sun Wang families caused further trouble, the Bright Moon Empire would descend into chaos, allowing many minor families to seize the cultivation resources under the four great families and rise in rank.

Some wandering cultivators were also excited. Should the Bright Moon Empire's noble houses fall into civil war, they would become hot commodities, with greatly increased rewards, perhaps even breaking through their bottlenecks and enjoying smooth cultivation thereafter.

Lu Fan gave a faint smile, turned his head slightly, glanced at Qin Zhen, and calmly said, "For a dignified family head to cause such trouble while not a single Qin family member appears—that's indeed odd!"

His expression grew solemn; it wasn't only the Qin family—none of the Lu family were present either. This was indeed abnormal, since his second uncle Lu Gucheng had already reconciled with him, giving no reason for them to be absent from the Doctrine‑Spreading Assembly.

The two Sun Wang heads' faces changed dramatically, filled with horror, terror, and a hint of disbelief.

"How did you know? If you truly knew, why are you here?"

Their words were oddly cryptic, their direction unclear, yet there was a strange undertone.

"Hmph! Sun family head, Wang family head. You both insulted us earlier; we can let that slide, but the issue of Young Master Lu must be answered. Speak clearly, or today the Seal Cultivation Guild will show no mercy!"

Zhao Zhenchuan let out a cold snort, his face hostile, and waved his hand casually. Martial Master Commander Wang Zhao Zhanli arrived with a squad, encircling the two Sun Wang families.

Now is the time for the Seal Cultivation Guild to assert its authority; today is the Doctrine‑Spreading Assembly. If we were to cower, what doctrine would we be spreading? We'd just split and be done.

The two Sun Wang heads' faces changed dramatically, and the nearby Martial Master was even more horrified, trembling.

This is the Seal Cultivation Guild; if we act recklessly, even if we escape today, the aftermath will be hard to rectify.

If the Seal Cultivation Guild arbitrarily issues a wanted notice, tens of thousands of martial artists seeking its services would swarm in, and they would have no peace.

"Commander Wang, the main host has arrived; for now, spare these jumping‑clown tricksters. Go maintain order around the perimeter so that when things erupt, no innocents are harmed!"

At this moment, Lu Fan slowly waved his hand; his voice was low, yet his aura filled the arena. Those focusing here wore shocked, doubtful expressions, bewildered by his words.

In the next instant, the sky above the plaza churned with storm clouds; thunder rolled and formed a massive hand that slammed down, as if it could envelop the entire void and crush everyone.

Lightning and thunder crackled, booming and shaking; a gale roared from above as if the heavens were splitting, ready to crush the void.

Everyone froze, then their faces turned pale with disbelief. Though danger was right before them, they could not react.

Ye Lu stood proudly alone, hands clasped behind his back, calmly gazing upward. The chaotic wind swirled his martial robe, its sleeves fluttering, giving him an unparalleled, carefree elegance.

It seemed like a cataclysmic event, yet to him it was just the ordinary rise and fall of the sun.

However, Zhao and Zu lacked his patience and daring. Almost the instant the thunderous hand solidified, they turned grim, each pulling out half a star plate, performing a finger‑press technique, and instantly mobilized the formation.

The formation shifted, its pattern flowing; across the plaza and the Seal Cultivation Guild's structures, radiant light flashed. Seals sprang from unnoticed corners, as if alive, converging together.

In the blink of an eye, a massive star‑ray array materialized around Zhao and Zu, rotating and shifting like the celestial heavens.

"Rise!"

They suddenly waved their hands, assuming the finger‑press stance, lifting from below.

The hexagonal star‑ray array radiated a formidable aura; everyone present gasped, and the two Guild Presidents stepped forward, using the array's power to block the thunderous hand, saving their lives.

On the side, Ke Da Shi shook his head, his complexion slightly dim. With his insight and mastery of the Seal Dao, he instantly saw that the hexagonal star‑ray array's momentum was superficial.

"It seems Ke Da Shi is worried! How could the two Presidents act together and still fail to subdue the celestial phenomenon above?"

Lu Fan gave a faint smile, turned to the elder beside him and asked calmly, his demeanor relaxed and unhurried.

Ke Da Shi was slightly startled, his gaze complex, and sighed, "Although Zu Qing Tan and Zhao Zhenchuan possess great spiritual power and deep Seal Dao cultivation, this formation has an innate flaw, making it unsuitable for major use!"

He had no reservations and did not lower his voice. Several people nearby heard him clearly; each one's expression changed dramatically, their previously relaxed hearts stirring again.

If Zhao and Zu failed, the crowd present would be unable to resist and would likely be turned to ash by the thunderous hand.

Qi Yue frowned at those words and couldn't help rebuking, "Do not disrupt our formation; the two Presidents are already fighting. If you don't act, that's fine. Your cold words shame me, Qi Yue, to be associated with you!"

The surrounding crowd, hearing this, glared angrily. Earlier, Qin Zhen's men had used Ke Da Shi's name to mock Presidents Zhao and Zu. Now, in crisis, the contrast between Zhao and Zu's performance and Ke Da Shi's is stark.

In the dire situation, Zhao and Zu single‑handedly bore the burden, protecting everyone present; anyone could see it clearly. Even those with ulterior motives dared not provoke, instead they lashed out at Ke Da Shi, just as they had earlier toward Zhao and Zu.

"Hmph! That old fool claiming to be a Fourth‑tier Great Seal Master—it's a lie! I think Qin Zhen's scoundrel brought a counterfeit, deceiving the world!"

"Exactly! Earlier those men spewed insults at the two Presidents, even harming the Guild's reputation. Now it appears they were just setting traps; the Seal Cultivation Guild and its Presidents still deserve our respect and must not be slighted!"

With such provocation, the surrounding people stared coldly, their disgust evident. Yet Ke Da Shi seemed oblivious, silently gazing upward as the hexagonal star‑ray array clashed with the thunderous hand.

Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the storm churned. The massive thunderous hand struck down with a boom, pressing onto the hexagonal star‑ray array.

"Boom—boom—boom!" A series of deep, resonant cracks erupted, like endless summer thunder.

The hexagons of the star‑ray array lit up in succession, dazzling with stellar light, exuding a formidable aura. They formed a barrier resembling a sky of countless stars, supporting the thunderous hand.

"You petty scoundrels, stop now, or we won't be polite!"

Zhao Zhenchuan, seeing the hexagonal star‑ray array block the strike, let out a sigh of relief and shouted loudly, apparently to intimidate the opponent.

At this moment, Lu Fan indeed gave a slight shake of his head, his expression regretful, and said, "If you both pressed on in one go, you could have broken this celestial force. But now, the delay has missed the chance; there's no opportunity left!"