Hu Zhongyuan’s expression froze, his body halting mid-stride, and a ripple of ease passed through his mind. The next moment, the stone hall echoed with a chorus of relieved sighs.

While the outcome was unexpected for everyone present, it was undeniably the best possible conclusion.

Following this, a haze of confusion descended, leaving them all feeling mentally adrift.

Had the scene they just witnessed—the Heir of Qiantian Mountain forcibly defeating Xuan Yuan Tong, the Xuanwu Master of the Nine Veins of Di Lun, in a sword duel—truly just occurred?

Xuan Yuan Tong also leaned against Zong Shou, his gaze bewildered. His expression was a turbulent mix: relief and satisfaction warring with resentment and melancholy, underscored by a faint sting of mortification.

After a long pause, he remembered to check Zong Shou’s condition. He hastily felt for a pulse, sending a thread of inner energy flowing into Zong Shou’s body.

“He actually shifted to a Spiral Meridian? I see, I see! Using spiraling, intertwined vital energy to circumvent the limitations of the Twin-Vein Body—what an astonishing concept! And all this innate True Essence… I wonder where this child acquired it? No wonder no trace of aura leaks from his body; it must be this Sealing Spirit Array. It also explains how he could practice martial arts and reach such a realm in such a short time! His physical body is now comparable to that of a peak Xiantian master! I don't know how he trained, as he possesses almost no flaws or vulnerabilities. The amount of True Qi his body can contain is several times that of a normal early-stage Xiantian martial master. He actually... he actually broke through the Heaven-Man barrier.”

The waves of emotion he had forcibly suppressed surged once more. Xuan Yuan Tong sat quietly, waiting for his mind to settle.

Even though he had confirmed earlier that Zong Shou had already entered the Xiantian realm, the current moment still brought a fresh jolt of astonishment.

He had believed this boy would likely never be able to pursue martial arts his entire life. Yet, when Zong Shou stood before him again, he offered such a profound surprise.

The Twin-Vein Body, the Heaven-Man barrier—either one would be an unsolvable predicament for an ordinary person. But Zong Shou had stubbornly carved a path through them.

“To integrate two Spirit Veins within his own Twin Veins! This child is truly audacious, practically fantasizing. But judging by the scene, he actually succeeded. Hmph—”

He let out a muffled grunt of disapproval. Suddenly, the massive iron gate at the front of the hall creaked open with a protesting sound. Xuan Yuan Yiren stepped through the narrow opening and froze instantly.

What was going on? Tan Tao, Luo Yan, even Uncle Zhu, were all slumped on the floor, seemingly paralyzed. And Uncle Luo Yan’s head looked nearly swollen like a bun, covered in blood and bruises all over.

Zong Shou was already unconscious in his father’s arms, and his father bore a fresh cut on his wrist. As for his mother, her face was frozen in stunned silence, sitting motionless, her expression shifting continuously.

And Senior Brother Fang Shu was pinned to a stone pillar by four Cloud-Patterned Flying Daggers.

Xuan Yuan Yiren was momentarily speechless, standing rooted to the spot, unsure what to do.

She had expected Zong Shou to have a serious discussion with her father. How had it ended up like this?

Xuan Yuan Tong, however, smiled, gently lifting Zong Shou and standing tall. His expression hardened, his gaze turning solemn.

“From this day forward, this child is the Young City Lord of Xuanshan City! Anyone who disagrees, I will take their wretched life!”

Silence filled the stone hall; no one dared to utter a rebuttal.

Even Lin Shina remained utterly quiet.

Xuan Yuan Tong gave a slight nod, then looked toward Fang Shu. “Nephew Fang, my daughter and the Heir of Qiantian Mountain already had an engagement; only the date needed setting. This marriage is settled today. Your Danquan Sect should have no objections?”

Fang Shu managed a wry smile, glancing at the four flying daggers impaling him, then decisively shook his head. “This is entirely the affair of City Lord Xuan Yuan. Although Junior Sister Yiren joined our sect, this matter must ultimately be decided by the City Lord!”

Fourteen years old, nascent Xiantian pulse, Night Roaming Realm, spiritual sword resonance, unity of spirit and martial power. A person like this—even Danquan Sect would yield ground, even seek his favor. Xuan Yuan Tong nodded with satisfaction. Then, looking at Zong Shou again, a touch of inexplicable annoyance surfaced. The boy had played his cards brilliantly; everything Xuan Yuan Tong possessed would eventually belong to him. His daughter, whom he had painstakingly raised to bloom like a flower, was being snatched away by this fellow today—it was maddening. He felt an urge to throw the boy violently to the ground.

Then, he took a deep breath, and Xuan Yuan Tong’s voice turned suddenly frigid, laced with biting coldness.

“If anything of today is leaked outside, even if you are brothers who have followed me for years, I will show no mercy. Do not say I did not warn you!”

As his voice resonated, a killing aura instantly enveloped the hall.

He did not fear shame, nor did he find being defeated by Zong Shou unacceptable.

It was only the boy’s unified spirit and martial essence that he wished to keep secret.

He silently pondered: centuries or millennia hence, would this child truly have the potential to strive for the ultimate peak of both the spirit and martial paths?

Give him ten years, and this child could chill the Five Continents with his sword and dominate the Cloud Realm! But for now, he was merely a sapling, requiring Xuan Yuan Tong to shield him from the wind and rain.

As this thought arose, Xuan Yuan Tong’s heart stirred. He felt his long-stagnant inner energy suddenly surge like an overwhelming tide. The blockages caused by cultivating too hastily were now being successively cleared. Old hidden injuries were being repaired one by one.

His eyes instantly brightened. He knew that with just one final push, he could shatter that barrier and step into the Tianlun Realm, achieving Celestial status!

“Hmph, whoever objects, I’ll smack them! Whoever tries to steal my woman, hehe, I’ll chop them! Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, until the world is clear. All the soft maidens are mine; no one is allowed to snatch them—”

Zong Shou, lying on the bed, suddenly flailed his limbs, then instantly stiffened. His hazy consciousness cleared with a sharp snap.

In that single instant, he was struck by an extremely dangerous, deeply unsettling feeling.

He cautiously cracked open one eye and saw Xuan Yuan Yiren sitting by the bedside, her face ashen, her beautiful eyes looking down at him with scrutiny.

Zong Shou’s heart plummeted. He immediately prepared to continue feigning sleep, but the soft flesh at his waist was instantly seized and twisted with violent force, completing a full 360-degree rotation.

Zong Shou gasped, opening his eyes fully. He hissed out, “You little viper, why are your hands so cruel? I am your fiancé!”

Xuan Yuan Yiren kept a stern face, her expression serious. “The Heir was talking in his sleep just now. Who were you planning to kill in your dream?”

Zong Shou blinked, feigning deep thought. After a moment, he shook his head. “I forgot. I vaguely recall someone trying to steal my wife. Shouldn’t I kill them?”

A hint of amusement flickered in Xuan Yuan Yiren’s eyes, but her expression quickly shifted back to confusion. “You also said all soft maidens are yours, and no one can snatch them! What is a soft maiden?”

Zong Shou’s heart sank again. Why had the wild ambitions lurking in his heart escaped his lips? And heard by the one person who should never know?

He forced a laugh, scratching his head, his face a mask of confusion. “Did I say that? Yiren, you must have misheard!” For now, the only strategy was to deny everything to the death!

Xuan Yuan Yiren’s gaze darkened as she scrutinized Zong Shou. She then snorted and decided not to press him for the moment.

Zong Shou finally relaxed, sitting up to take in his surroundings. It appeared to be a guest room, simply furnished yet elegant and clean, with every object appearing exquisite and valuable.

Looking out the window, he saw they were situated at a high vantage point, overlooking the entirety of Xuanshan City below.

That was right. How had he fallen asleep? And why was he here? Recalling carefully, when he was last conscious, he was in the Iron Armor Hall atop Xuanshan Peak.

He was preparing to use his torrent of eloquent, irresistible rhetoric to persuade Xuan Yuan Tong to marry his daughter to him—while also displaying his peerless natural talent and achievements in both spirit and martial paths, intending to make those onlookers’ jaws drop.

What happened afterward? He recalled drinking a few cups of wine with Xuan Yuan Tong; he must have gotten drunk.

A deeply uneasy premonition suddenly rose in his heart. Zong Shou mechanically turned his head, then forced a smile toward Xuan Yuan Yiren as he asked, “Yiren, I think I was confused from the drink back then. Did anything happen after? What did my future father-in-law say? Perhaps I should see him again?”

In his previous life, he had gotten drunk a few times before achieving martial success, but his conduct when drunk had always been excellent; there shouldn’t have been any trouble.

He felt a pang of guilt, having lost his senses at such a critical juncture. Yiren must be very upset.

Xuan Yuan Yiren remained silent, staring at him coldly. Just as Zong Shou was beginning to feel uneasy, she finally spoke: “No major incident occurred, except that you beat up my Uncle Luo Yan several times with the back of your sword, turning him into a pulp!”

Zong Shou choked on his breath, then coughed violently, releasing the shock surging through his chest. He remembered wanting to beat that fellow soundly, but how did he actually do it?

After a long moment, he managed to regain his composure. With his mind wandering, Zong Shou picked up a cup of tea from a nearby table and asked in a flat tone, “Then what?”

“Then it was Uncle Zhu. You didn’t hit him, but you subdued him with a single move. After that, you struck Uncle Tan. Two resounding slaps with your left and right swords…”

Zong Shou’s hand trembled slightly, then he regained his composure. Since he had already turned Luo Yan into a mess, beating up these two seemed inconsequential. Truthfully, he had always wanted to hit that treacherous Tan Tao—how did he only manage two slaps?

“And then?” (To be continued)