Chen Feng saw the change in everyone's expressions and realized something was amiss, quickly deflecting, "My mind has been clouded for a long time; I only became clear-headed yesterday. With absolutely no cultivation, how could I possibly fight anyone?"

"Clear-headed yesterday? I suspect your previous confusion was an act!" the thin magician said, his voice chillingly cold.

Qigu Kayent demanded, "Hary Patriarch, what do you mean by that?"

Chen Feng was startled. Hary? Hary Leve? The father of Gubo Leve? The Patriarch of the Leve Magic Family in Dragon Mountain Town! The only Third-Tier Magister!

A Third-Tier Magister was someone capable of devastating half a city with a mere wave of their hand! Although Qigu Kayent, his father, was exceptionally gifted, he was merely a First-Tier Battle Master, utterly no match for him.

Hary responded with affected ambiguity, "You know exactly what I mean!" He then turned to Chen Feng, "Chen Feng, I must ask you to return the 'Jade Bracelet.' A magical protective gear like that is likely of no use to you!"

"The 'Jade Bracelet'?" A collective gasp swept through the hall.

The Great Elder, seated rigidly to the side, asked nervously, "Is the item Patriarch Hary speaks of the 'Jade Bracelet' rumored to be the finest magical protective gear in Dragon Mountain Town?"

Hary sneered, "Hmph! Is there a second one in Dragon Mountain Town?"

Although Chen Feng had no idea what this supposed 'Jade Bracelet' was, seeing the shock on everyone's faces, he knew it must be something valuable. Recalling carefully, he remembered Gubo indeed wore a deep jade bracelet on his wrist yesterday, and many of the magic spells seemed to be unleashed through it. He stated, "I did not take the 'Jade Bracelet'!"

"You didn't? Did it sprout wings and fly away?" Patriarch Hary drew out his words in a strangely drawn-out manner.

Hearing such obvious disbelief, Qigu became somewhat displeased. The conflict between the Magic Families and the Martial Families was not confined to Dragon Mountain Town; it extended throughout the entire Fenlai Empire. The overwhelming power and long-range capabilities of magic elevated the status of magicians, simultaneously causing the status of martialists to plummet drastically. This was the primary reason for the decline of the martial path.

The two great Magic Families of Dragon Mountain Town boasted two Third-Tier Magisters and one Second-Tier Magister. In contrast, the three great Martial Families combined could muster only one Second-Tier Battle Master and three First-Tier Battle Masters! If not for the Empire’s regulation prohibiting open warfare between the Magic and Martial Families, the three Martial Families would likely have ceased to exist long ago.

Because Dragon Mountain Town was rich in resources, especially bordering Dragon Mountain Range—home to numerous Magical Beasts (beasts capable of casting spells) and Battle Beasts (beasts that cultivated Battle Qi), as well as rich mineral deposits—it attracted countless mercenary groups and merchant caravans. The influx of people brought infinite commercial opportunities, and opportunity bred competition. Dragon Mountain Town's five major workshops, seven major inns, three controlling banks, hundreds of apothecaries, and thousands of textile shops and restaurants—every single venture had the hands of the three Martial Families and two Magic Families deeply involved. It was nearly impossible for them not to be in opposition and competition.

However, these were not the most critical issues. The greatest source of conflict between the two types of families was the Access Permit for Dragon Mountain Range!

The value of the Dragon Mountain Range Access Permit was something no one in Dragon Mountain Town was ignorant of. Every merchant, mercenary group, and mining personnel entering the range had to pass through the town's natural magic array!

What distinguished Dragon Mountain Range from all other Magical Beast ranges was the abundance of high-tier Magical Beasts and Battle Beasts on its periphery! While the interior held vast mineral wealth, it lacked many high-tier beasts. Without transmission into the mountain’s depths via the magic array, even the elite Vanguard Mercenary Group, considered the Empire's top corps, could not proceed!

One must remember that a Fourth-Tier Battle Beast was equivalent to a Battle Master, and a Seventh-Tier Battle Beast was the level of a Battle Venerable!

Who, besides those standing at the very pinnacle of humanity, would be so tired of living as to dare assault the Dragon Mountain Range head-on, challenging such powerful creatures?

Precisely because of the array's importance, whoever controlled the magic array essentially controlled the economic lifeline of Dragon Mountain Town!

All signs indicated that the influence of the Magic Families and Martial Families had long been incompatible. The only reasons they maintained a semblance of peace were their fear of Imperial regulations and the fact that the Martial Families possessed a far greater number of personnel below the Battle Master rank compared to the Magic Families!

Magicians required an innate talent for communicating with the elements for their cultivation, whereas the cultivation of Fighters was comparatively easier!

Coupled with the Martial Families being three in number, their overall population base vastly exceeded that of the Magic Families. Therefore, the two powers adopted a policy of non-interference, contesting control over the Dragon Mountain Range Access Permit every five years!

This contest was not a chaotic brawl involving all five families, but rather a competition among the younger generations of both the Magic and Martial Families—those under the age of 25—to determine ownership of the magic array through trials of skill!

And currently, the magic array was under the control of the Leve Family!

Due to all these factors, the Kayent Family, to which Chen Feng belonged, while wary of the Leve Family, harbored intense hostility toward them as well.

Qigu, hearing the slight disrespect in Gubo’s words, replied coldly, "Leve Patriarch, I know your Magic Families can be domineering, but words must be supported by evidence! If you have no proof, even my small Kayent Clan will not tolerate wanton insult! However, if Chen Feng truly committed such an act, I will enforce family law and hand him over to Patriarch Hary for punishment!"

The atmosphere instantly stiffened. Hary had been waiting for precisely this concession from Qigu. A flicker of a smile crossed his previously icy face. "Good! Since Patriarch Qigu says so, it would be unreasonable of me not to produce evidence!"

Hary clapped his hands, and a figure emerged from behind him. Chen Feng focused his eyes and recognized the slightly thinner attendant who had been with Gubo yesterday.

The attendant slowly stepped forward and bowed deeply to everyone in the hall, "Patriarch Qigu, Elders of the Kayent Clan!"

Hary stared at Chen Feng and asked, "Do you know him?"

Chen Feng nodded, annoyed with himself for not considering this person. Now, denying having struck Gubo would be impossible. However, he had only fought; he hadn't stolen anything like the 'Jade Bracelet,' and he still didn't know what the bracelet even was.

Hary gave a satisfied nod to the attendant, who then began to speak, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"I am Stuart, the servant of Young Master Gubo. I first swear to the Demon God that every word I speak hereafter is the absolute truth! Yesterday..."

Swearing allegiance to the Demon God was the greatest oath a magic practitioner could take; violating such an oath meant suffering the torment of ten thousand ants devouring one’s heart. Therefore, when a magician uttered such words, everyone accepted it as fact.

"Young Master Gubo and Miss Feliya were having a private conversation just outside the city. After a while, he walked over here," Stuart pointed at Chen Feng. "At that time, he was attempting to drag Miss Feliya away. Miss Feliya is Young Master Gubo's friend. To pull her away without a word is clearly a breach of noble etiquette..."

Chen Feng was hazy about events prior to regaining consciousness, but hearing this, he felt something was amiss. He prepared to retort but held his tongue. He didn't know the full details, and speaking rashly might only worsen the situation.

Stuart continued, "Young Master Gubo sought out Chen Feng to reason with him. After only a few words, Chen Feng grew enraged, picked up a stone from the ground, and attempted to attack Young Master Gubo! Out of consideration for them both being from noble families, Young Master Gubo didn't press the issue, turning to leave. Unexpectedly, Chen Feng became even more aggressive, assuming Young Master Gubo feared him, and began shouting wildly, using insults like 'Magic Families are inherently inferior' and other curses against the Magic Families!"

Qigu’s brow furrowed upon hearing this. Accusing someone of insulting the Magic Families was akin to issuing a direct challenge to them. Saying such things during this sensitive period was undeniably reckless. He glanced at Chen Feng, who offered no rebuttal, making Qigu lean toward believing Stuart's account.

"Young Master Gubo, pushed past his limits, proposed a duel! In the duel, Chen Feng was defeated and knocked unconscious on the spot. Young Master Gubo feared causing escalating conflict between the Magic and Martial Families by overstepping, knowing that in a fair duel, even death is considered acceptable for the loser."

Everyone in the hall nodded. On this continent, as long as both parties agreed to a fair duel, the outcome—even death—was usually not grounds for revenge by the deceased’s family.

Seeing the nods, Stuart’s spirits lifted, and his speech quickened: "After winning the duel, Young Master Gubo was about to return home, when Chen Feng suddenly awoke and immediately began spewing venomous curses, calling the Magic Families despicable and shameless..."

Chen Feng was fully aware of the events after his awakening. Hearing this fabrication, he roared in fury, "You are lying!"

Hary sneered, "Interrupting others while they speak! The family rules of the Kayent Clan are truly an eye-opener!"

Qigu’s expression darkened, and he shot Chen Feng a chilling glance.

Chen Feng’s face turned ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. "Father, he's lying..."

Qigu snapped, "Silence!"

This command carried a surge of Battle Qi, causing Chen Feng’s head to swim and nearly making him lose his footing. Immediately following, an invisible magical wave locked his body down, rendering him utterly unable to speak!

Chen Feng glanced at Gubo, surprised he would make a move at this moment. But he quickly realized: Qigu’s shout, infused with Battle Qi, had caused the surrounding air to become turbulent, providing the perfect moment for a subtle, unnoticed attack.

Stuart’s expression suddenly turned solemn: "Although Young Master Gubo is benevolent, hearing insults directed at the Magic Families still angered him. Just as he was about to propose another duel, Chen Feng suddenly lunged forward and delivered a punch straight to the Young Master’s chest! This ambush was completely unexpected. Unprepared, the Young Master was instantly severely wounded. My colleague, Peter, and I rushed forward to protect him, only to encounter..."

Here, Stuart’s voice cracked, almost breaking into sobs. "Only to encounter... sob..."

After a moment of heavy weeping, Stuart continued, "We encountered this maniac, Chen Feng, snatching the 'Jade Bracelet' from the Young Master’s wrist and unleashing dozens of spells from it directly onto the Young Master! Waaah..."

"The Young Master immediately fell unconscious... Peter shielded the Young Master and was struck down dead on the spot! It was only because Peter managed to stall him that I had the chance to escape with the injured Young Master..."

Finishing his account, Stuart took a long, shuddering breath. The profound sorrow etched on his face seemed unbearably bleak to the onlookers, making it impossible not to believe his words.

Third chapter expected around 10 o'clock... Old Ya is coding furiously, looking forward to everyone’s recommendation votes and collections...