"Prefect Hu, the wind is a bit strong today. Go fetch my cloak," Mo Zhenfu instructed Du Hui, who was standing nearby.
Du Hui, who was eager to test Xue Ren's skills, froze at the words, then seemed to understand something. He could only agree and silently left.
On the other side, Xie Zhenfu also found some excuse to dismiss two of his subordinates.
The political understanding between aristocratic families was deeply ingrained. Even if the Mo, Han, and Xie families were unwilling, they would not undermine each other at such an important occasion. Otherwise, it would be 'you do the first, I do the fifteenth,' and they would all find it difficult to move forward in the future.
Even their own subordinates had to be restrained at this moment, otherwise, once a wrong political signal was sent, they could only blame themselves for any retaliation that followed.
Military affairs were always kept simple. Xue Ren's promotion ceremony was even simpler than Han Yu's. After he stepped onto the stage, he cupped his fists and bowed to everyone, then respectfully accepted the tiger tally, and the ceremony was complete.
Mo Yingshuo, Xie Yanming, and the others below the stage watched, their eyes red with envy.
Xue Ren was the youngest among them, but he had been promoted the earliest.
The He Family truly deserved to die!
"Speaking of which, the Xue Family's recent momentum is quite significant. I heard many prominent families have sent matchmakers to inquire about marriage," Xie Yanming said in a sarcastic tone.
"Many of those families even hold noble titles."
Mo Yingshuo silently tightened his grip on his saber hilt, veins bulging on the back of his hand, but his expression remained calm. He merely sneered in response, "Indeed, it's not easy to marry a virtuous wife from a suitable family nowadays. I wonder, Brother Xie, has your pursuit of that noble lady from the Xue Family made any progress?"
"Hmph!" Xie Yanming snorted coldly and turned his head away.
The 'good news' at Linglong Pavilion that day quickly spread among the aristocratic families. Young Master Xie was now quite famous.
Mo Yingshuo was not one to suffer a loss, always bringing up sensitive topics.
After they had each stabbed the other, both tacitly turned their heads away, each licking their wounds.
Only then did Xue Ren, on the stage, face the audience and ask in a clear voice, "May I ask my esteemed colleagues, is there anyone willing to engage in a martial arts demonstration with me on the battlefield?"
As his words fell, there was a moment of silence on and off the stage, then one person stepped forward, carrying a blood-red longsword inverted, which startled everyone!
The Blood Demon Swordsman — Hu Baihu!
He had once single-handedly slain four Fourth-Rank demonic beasts on the demon battlefield, and even counter-killed them in a group attack. His combat power was not to be underestimated. He had been at the peak of the Forging Bone Realm for many years but had yet to break through the bottleneck. His appearance on stage this time was likely for military merits from the demonstration.
His ascent to the stage was unexpected by everyone. Seeing this, Xie Yanming and Mo Yingshuo exchanged a silent glance, then tacitly turned their anger into smiles.
"Hey! Why aren't you worried at all?" Ning Yue poked Xue Youwei beside him, but was brushed away with a look of disdain.
Xue Youwei looked at Ning Yue with a disgusted expression, as if despising a kept man, and merely said, "Two days ago, Xue Zhenfu summoned him at home."
Ning Yue immediately understood.
To ensure Xue Ren could firmly hold the position of Baihu, Xue Zhenfu had truly gone to great lengths, using both overt and covert methods.
Hu Baihu's appearance on stage dispelled everyone's doubts, earned the respect of his colleagues, and secured the loyalty of his subordinates, while also eliminating any concerns about mistakes or mishaps. Xue Ren's strength was naturally well-deserved, but it was also important to be prepared for any eventuality.
It had to be said, Xue Zhenfu's actions were truly flawless.
So Ning Yue asked again, "What about me? Do I get one too?"
Xue Youwei asked in confusion, "What do you get?!"
Ning Yue silently lowered his head.
On the stage, Xue Ren and Hu Baihu fought with great momentum. Zhao City Lord personally set up a barrier, and two Qianhu patrolled the sides, ensuring no accidents occurred.
There were flashes of saber and sword, a grand spectacle, and the clang of weapons colliding was incessant.
Mo Yingshuo and Young Master Xie's faces grew increasingly grim.
Both of them had seen the world and could tell that Hu Baihu was not using his true strength.
Blood energy permeated the field, and blood-red sword auras covered the sky, appearing menacing and fiercely compressing Xue Ren's movement space, yet not a single one had entered within ten feet of Xue Ren.
It looked like a fierce battle, but to discerning eyes, it seemed more like practice!
Mo Yingshuo truly wanted to stand up and shout 'cheat' at this moment, but after glancing at his unmoving father on the high platform, he could only secretly hide his thoughts and lower his banner.
Meanwhile, Xie Yanming subtly looked at Ning Yue beside him, only to see him still with his head lowered, eyes closed in contemplation, letting his silver-white Flying Fish Robe flutter in the wind.
Xie Yanming smiled and shook his head.
If he couldn't bring down Xue Ren, could he not even deal with a Xiaoqi officer with no power or influence?
The foundation of an aristocratic family was unfathomably deep, how could a mere Ning Yue imagine it?!
He turned his head, his gaze lingering behind him for a moment, then met the eyes of a burly, eight-foot-tall man with thick eyebrows holding a long halberd.
The burly man's brows were tightly furrowed as he watched the stage. When he saw Xie Yanming looking at him, he merely gave an almost imperceptible nod, showing respect but no fear.
This person was among the top ten in the military grand competition, the number one Forging Bone Realm expert of the younger generation in Yongwang Garrison — Zhu Qimo!
Xie Yanming withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and looked back at the stage.
Xue Ren's saber light, which had been compressed to its limit, suddenly flared!
Boom!
A clap of thunder from a clear sky!
A thick, purplish-blue bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere, its instantaneous flash dazzling countless wide-open eyes.
The lightning was guided by the saber's edge. Xue Ren moved as if carrying a mountain, his actions slow but with a mysterious rhythm.
His eyes, like electricity, pierced through the endless blood mist amidst the vast sword light, and his aura instantly locked onto the effortlessly moving Hu Baihu!
Then, with a flash of lightning, it struck down in an instant!
This was the Celestial Mystery Arts — Blooming Spring Thunder!
Hu Baihu's gaze instantly became solemn. He took a deep breath, swung his sword, and turned his body. The endless blood energy sword auras, like young birds returning to their nest, instantly cleared the space in front and behind Xue Ren.
And in front of him, a thick wall of sword aura and blood was erected!
Crack!
The lightning struck, and the thick blood sword aura dissipated rapidly like snow melting in the sun, while the lightning extended forward along the longsword.
Hu Baihu's entire body trembled. The longsword in his hand clattered to the ground, his silver-white Flying Fish Robe instantly charred black, his hair stood on end, and his face was covered in black char, with only two eyes still flickering with a hint of white light, yet they were as dull and frozen as if solidified.
Such an astonishing sight caused a momentary silence below the stage. Even the expressions of some high-ranking officials on the platform turned less pleasant, their eyes subtle, followed by a thunderous clamor from the audience.
"How is this possible? How long has it been since Xue Ren entered the Forging Bone Realm? He actually cultivated a Celestial Mystery Arts without a sound?!" Xie Yanming said in disbelief.
The demanding conditions for cultivating Heaven-grade cultivation methods and their high difficulty were evident. The entire Gu City had fewer than a hundred Baihu, and fewer than half of them possessed such cultivation methods.
And those who could truly wield them with such power would probably be cut in half again!
Xue Ren, at such a young age, possessed such talent and ability, which caused many ambitious individuals to stir with thoughts.
The Xue Family's recent momentum was growing, and some aristocratic families were already dissatisfied!
At this moment, Ning Yue's closed eyes reopened, and an indescribable gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! Jie Mai Qinlong (Arresting Dragon Vein) has been upgraded to the Consummation Realm, comprehending the Martial Dao True Intent — Controlling Qi to Form Threads (Entry 10%)!"
...
