50: Lu Wei's provocation

Inside the fortress, Xun Xiuyuan was talking with Xie Nanqiao, who was recounting the wonderful life story of Old Ancestor Xie.

Xun Xiuyuan listened, his heart filled with admiration.

A knock sounded from outside the room.

Xun Xiuyuan opened the door to find a very refined middle-aged man standing outside.

Xie Nanqiao, seeing the newcomer from behind, called out, "Dad, why are you here?"

Xie Nanqiao, in front of Xun Xiuyuan, even used polite language, giving Xie Shan ample face. She hadn't expected Xie Shan to come and pick them up.

Xie Shan deliberately ignored Xun Xiuyuan, instead smiling at Xie Nanqiao and saying,

"I've come to pick you up for Old Ancestor's birthday banquet. Old Ancestor came out of seclusion yesterday and specifically asked to see you."

"He's always in seclusion cultivating; why does he want to see me? I'm already at the Innate Realm. He promised me that if I reached the Innate Realm, he'd find me a flying exotic beast mount."

Xie Nanqiao pouted.

Xun Xiuyuan saw that Xie Shan had no intention of acknowledging him, but as an elder, he still spoke up, "Junior Xun Xiuyuan greets the Legion Commander."

Xie Shan looked at Xie Nanqiao pouting and felt a surge of emotion. How long had it been since he'd seen little Nan Qiao act coquettishly in front of him?

He then glanced at Xun Xiuyuan again, still without speaking, and instead said to Xie Nanqiao:

"Old Ancestor's promise to you, when you see him, ask him yourself. Let's head back first!"

With that, he walked outside. Xie Shan took out a flying artifact and stepped onto it. From beginning to end, he hadn't exchanged a single word with Xun Xiuyuan. It wasn't that he disliked Xun Xiuyuan, but rather that Xun Xiuyuan's every battle was exceptionally impulsive, and Nan Qiao finding him, he didn't know if it was a good or bad thing.

As a father, not directly opposing it was already his limit.

Seeing this, Xie Nanqiao deliberately linked her arm through Xun Xiuyuan's and stepped onto the flying artifact.

Xie Shan's brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly, then smoothed out as if he'd come to a realization. He controlled the flying artifact and headed towards Qianlong City.

Lu Wenxiu knew of Xie Shan's arrival and felt a sense of awe seeing Xie Shan come in person.

Xun Xiuyuan had risen to prominence overnight! The Legion Commander himself came to pick him up. But then he thought, even without Xie Nanqiao, Xun Xiuyuan would eventually rise; his talent was too monstrous.

Qianlong City.

City Lord's Mansion.

Xie Family.

Today was Old Ancestor Xie's birthday. It was only because Xie Nanqiao hadn't returned from the fortress that she didn't know; preparations had actually begun long ago.

The eight great families from the other three major cities would also come to celebrate, though typically only the younger generation would attend.

When Xun Xiuyuan arrived at the Xie Family with Xie Shan, Xie Lin was standing at the entrance welcoming guests.

Xie Lin knew Xun Xiuyuan and thought highly of him. He enthusiastically said to Xun Xiuyuan, "You're a rare guest, this is your first time here! Nan Qiao, take him to the training ground to look around. The younger generation from all the families are there. Go introduce him to everyone."

"Understood, Uncle. I'll take him to the training ground first, then we'll go pay our respects to Old Ancestor when he comes out."

Xie Nanqiao replied. She respected this uncle very much.

Xie Nanqiao then led Xun Xiuyuan to the training ground, which was already bustling with many people.

Xie Nanqiao's arrival immediately became the center of attention. After all, besides the young disciples of the eight great families present, the rest were the young elites of Qianlong City.

These people naturally all knew Xie Nanqiao and came forward to ingratiate themselves.

After all, whoever won Xie Nanqiao's heart would surely soar to great heights, even though the matter between Xie Nanqiao and Xun Xiuyuan had already spread.

But that didn't stop many young disciples from trying their luck.

Xie Nanqiao politely conversed with everyone. With Xun Xiuyuan by her side, everyone also inquired about him.

When the young talents of Qianlong City learned that this person was Xun Xiuyuan, everyone came forward to greet him. Only a few ignored him.

After all, Xun Xiuyuan was very famous in Qianlong City now, with exceptional talent, and with official support, he was sure to achieve great things.

"Hmph, young man, still wet behind the ears, only knows how to show off and gain fame. Immaculate slaying Transcendent? Even flattery needs to consider facts. The Xie Family's methods are truly ugly."

At this moment, a very discordant voice rang out.

Xie Nanqiao looked at the person: Lu Wei, also considered part of the Lu Family's younger generation, a cousin of Lu Yutian and his brothers.

But he wasn't really of the younger generation; he was almost forty. A few years ago, when he achieved the Immaculate Realm, he proposed marriage to the Xie Family, targeting the then sixteen-year-old Xie Nanqiao...

Xie Shan basically agreed, and the Lu Family also thought it was a done deal, even heavily publicizing it. Later, Xie Nanqiao vetoed it outright.

The Lu Family felt they had lost face over this, and Lu Wei had harbored resentment ever since, so his current mockery was not surprising.

Xie Nanqiao immediately became displeased: "Lu Wei, Xiuyuan's achievements are all real. You shouldn't slander him here. Besides, it was posted on the Legion's official account; what else do you have to question?"

Lu Wei looked at Xie Nanqiao, his eyes fixed on her. She had grown up and become even more beautiful.

Hearing Xie Nanqiao defend Xun Xiuyuan and seeing their linked arms, anger flared within him.

"Legion's post? Xie Nanqiao, I don't need to tell you who is in charge of the Legion now, do I?"

The Lu Family Five Brothers were also present and immediately stepped forward to pull Lu Wei back: "Big Brother, don't speak carelessly. You haven't even had a drink yet; let's go back first."

Lu Wei's words had already committed a major taboo, and the Lu Family Five Brothers quickly came to persuade him.

Lu Wei, being a peak Immaculate Realm expert, waved his hand, breaking free from the Lu Family Five Brothers, and loudly declared, "They dare to do it, and I can't even speak of it? Xun Xiuyuan, everyone says you killed a Transcendent. How about this, let's spar a bit and let everyone see how you killed a Transcendent."

Xun Xiuyuan hadn't said a word since entering the training ground, but he understood the meaning. He just didn't know why this person from the Lu Family was trying to make things difficult for him.

To inexplicably go and spar with someone, Xun Xiuyuan was a bit unwilling. Could he explode exotic beast value or get lottery chances?

Just then, Xun Xiuyuan overheard some people nearby whispering.

"This Lu Wei once proposed marriage to Xie Nanqiao, but Xie Nanqiao was only sixteen at the time."

"There's such a thing? Did the Xie Family disagree?"

"The Xie Family didn't seem to object. I heard it was Xie Nanqiao who disagreed."

"That's true, but the age difference is a bit big."

"Lu Wei later declared that he'd see what kind of genius Xie Nanqiao would find."

"Lu Wei is also considered to have very good talent. He advanced to the Immaculate Realm in his thirties, and he's probably at the peak of the Immaculate Realm now."

"The key is that Lu Wei is very handsome. Xie Nanqiao's standards are a bit too high."

"That's not Xie Nanqiao's high standards. This Lu Wei already has four illegitimate children. How could he be worthy of Xie Nanqiao? The most crucial thing is that this Lu Wei once tried to force himself on Xie Nanqiao when she was only a teenager. If the Xie Family hadn't arrived, who knows what would have happened?"

"There's such a thing? My goodness, could it be true?"

Everyone chattered, their voices low, but Xun Xiuyuan's excellent hearing caught every word.

Xun Xiuyuan's originally indifferent gaze suddenly became somewhat sharp. Looking at Lu Wei, he spoke for the first time:

"So you're the genius who used to pursue Nan Qiao? Still in the Immaculate Realm at over thirty, I wonder where the 'genius' part is?"

Lu Wei, hearing Xun Xiuyuan's words, was enraged: "Xun Xiuyuan, others may flatter you, but I won't indulge you. If you've got guts, get on the arena stage in the training ground."

Lu Wei firmly believed that Xun Xiuyuan was merely being propped up by the Xie Family, preparing the way for Xun Xiuyuan and Xie Nanqiao's future marriage.

How could a teenager in the Immaculate Realm also kill a Transcendent? The Xie Family was pushing things too far.

Xun Xiuyuan didn't waste any more words with him. For such a 'mouth strong king,' it was best to just beat him into submission. He walked directly towards the distant arena.

The onlookers were all stunned to see Xun Xiuyuan's actions. So straightforward?

Then, a surging crowd followed him.

Lu Wei saw Xun Xiuyuan's actions, and the corners of his mouth curled up. He thought to himself, 'You, the person the Xie Family is propping up, watch how I defeat you. And Xie Nanqiao, it's your loss that you looked down on me.'

He then followed towards the arena.

At this time, a group of people was gathered in the distance. The focus of this group was the Wang Family's genius, Wang Junyan.

Wang Junyan was a direct descendant of the Wang Family, similar in age to Lu Wei. This time, he led the Wang Family's delegation for the birthday celebration. His talent surpassed Lu Wei's, as he had advanced to the Transcendent Realm not long ago.

The Wang Family had celebrated this, announcing it to the entire army, so many people present were gathered around him, discussing it enthusiastically.

Seeing the lively scene on this side, this group also shifted their attention.

When they saw someone was about to compete in the arena, they also became interested.

Wang Junyan spoke, "Let's go! Let's go watch too."

With that, he led the way, and the crowd followed.