Chapter Ninety-Four: The Dignitary

Though the battles on the Ascendant Spirit Arena were fierce, the crowd below was every bit as lively. With a sharp blast, the fellow called Second Wen unleashed a surge of spiritual energy at Great Martial, and the force of it was so thick and heavy that the cultivators standing nearby were knocked back four or five paces, drawing every eye to him.

Great Martial seemed to have known all along what Second Wen was about to do. Speaking of this brother of his, his cultivation was absolutely top-tier; it was only this bastard temper of his that was infuriating. Yet Great Martial had long since grown used to it. With a flick of his hand, he sent out a stream of spiritual energy that crashed head-on into Second Wen's. The impact shook the surroundings violently.

Second Wen barked, "Martial Sour-Wen, if you don't give me an answer that leaves Second Master completely convinced, I won't let you off lightly." His outburst drew even more sidelong glances from the people around them.

Great Martial laughed. "Fine, fine, I'll explain. Tell me, doesn't Elder Guihai Xin count as one of them?"

Second Wen nodded. Of course he knew who the real star of this matter was. Though Jin Tianzuo's cultivation was no small matter, compared with Guihai Xin, who styled himself a sect lord, he was probably still a notch weaker. "Then who else do you say there is?"

Great Martial suddenly pointed to Second Wen's left. "What do you think of that one's cultivation?"

Second Wen followed his gesture and saw Mo Bai. "Ah, this young man is here too? His cultivation is something I can respect." Though he was obsessed with martial arts, he still knew his limits.

At that, the other cultivators also turned to look at Mo Bai. Someone immediately recognized him as the cultivator who had fought a great battle with Daoist Nun Jade Flute before the Guihai Pavilion that day. So he was here as well.

Second Wen bobbed his head and asked, "Anyone else?"

Great Martial was just about to answer when he suddenly felt it inappropriate. He smiled instead and said nothing, which only made Second Wen miserable with frustration. Then, all at once, the arena shook with a thunderous roar, and everyone's attention snapped back to the stage.

Like a wraith, Great Martial appeared beside Second Wen and whispered in his ear, "What do you think of the young master's cultivation?"

Second Wen was so startled he could not speak. He stole a glance at that elegant young noble, yet did not know how to put his thoughts into words. Along the way, this young master had shown neither peak nor valley, leaving the brothers with the impression that he was unfathomable. Though they too were people of Black Jade Ridge, they belonged only to the underlings of the Silver Fox boss. How could they ordinarily come into contact with the supreme core figures of the sect?

Shangguan Qing wore a frosty expression. His gaze swept toward the man called Mo Bai, and Mo Bai happened to be looking back at him. When their eyes met, both felt a jolt in their hearts, each sensing the other's strength.

With a great crash, Sir Unyielding, the guest of honor on the Ascendant Spirit Arena, was flung back dozens of steps, leaving a long scraped trail in front of him. It was easy to see how much pressure he had just endured. Even his handsome scholar's robe had become somewhat tattered.

Jin Tianzuo's eyes flashed as he laughed aloud. "Unyielding, your cultivation today already surpasses what mine was in those years. Given time, you will surely become famous throughout the Crystal Expanse. Retreat."

Sir Unyielding cupped his hands toward Jin Tianzuo and said, "Many thanks, Third Senior Brother, for your guidance. I will remember it. When I return to Falling Leaves Sect, I will certainly convey your regards to the other brothers." With that, he bowed once more to Jin Tianzuo and then drifted down from the Ascendant Spirit Arena.

He then came to the side of Miss Red Grove and gave an awkward smile. "Junior Sister Red Grove, ah, I had hoped to help ease your burden, but I never expected the Guihai family to invite Third Senior Brother. Even if I, Sir Unyielding, wished to help, I am powerless."

Miss Red Grove could only smile helplessly. "Senior Brother Jun has already sacrificed so much for our humble sect, and just now, facing Elder Jin, you held nothing back at all. It is clear that Senior Brother has already done all that could be asked. As for whether Spirit Flower Gate sinks today on this Ascendant Spirit Arena, we can only leave it to heaven." She knew that if it were only against Guihai City, there might still have been a chance. But now that Jin Tianzuo of Falling Leaves Sect had also joined in, there would probably be little good to gain from this. Thinking of that, she looked back again, but still saw no sign of Xiao Xue.

After Guihai Rong'an handed a stack of banknotes to the maid of the Four-Fingered Zither Emperor, he suddenly smiled in a peculiar way. "Miss Nalan, please come out. Even if your Nalan family is the foremost house in the world of spiritual cultivation, you still cannot do much in Guihai City."

The little witch floated out from the shadows, her face full of anger. "Where exactly have you hidden my Brother Xiaohua and Sister Gan?"

Guihai Rong'an put on an expression of helpless incomprehension. "I do not know what Miss Nalan is referring to. I truly cannot understand you."

The little witch snorted coldly. "Guihai Rong'an, no one else may know that it was you who abducted my Brother Xiaohua, but I do."

Guihai Rong'an gave a quiet "Oh?" and said no more, waiting for the little witch to continue.

"Perhaps you don't know who my Brother Xiaohua is. You only know that he is a good friend of my Brother Mo. And since my Brother Mo's cultivation caught your eye, you kidnapped Brother Xiaohua and Sister Gan to threaten my Brother Mo into helping your Guihai City destroy Spirit Flower Gate," the little witch said loudly.

"Miss Nalan, I think this is a misunderstanding. Perhaps someone is trying to frame our Guihai City," Guihai Rong'an retorted, though his words lacked any real certainty.

The little witch immediately replied, "You're wrong. Look carefully into these eyes of mine." As she spoke, her purple eyes suddenly turned, releasing a terrifying violet gleam.

Guihai Rong'an immediately steadied his mind and spirit to resist the little witch's pressure. With a somewhat pale face, he shouted, "Miss, if you insist on forcibly using spiritual power, don't blame me, Guihai Rong'an, for being impolite."

But the little witch said, "Guihai Rong'an, you're mistaken. I'm not showing my power here. I'm telling you why the Sky Path Sect and the Spaceless Clan have become the number one sect and the number one family."

Guihai Rong'an seemed to grow interested. So the one he had captured was actually the young master of the Spaceless Clan! But what exactly was the thread binding the Spaceless Clan to the Sky Path Sect? At that moment, it was as though Guihai Rong'an had glimpsed the edge of a tremendous secret, and his excitement rose at once.

The little witch went on. "The current head of the Sky Path Sect, Master Yun Jin, is my grandfather. The Sky Path Sect's Heavenly Dao spiritual energy, when driven by the Nalan Purple Eyes, forms the most fitting of supreme spiritual arts with the Heaven-Without spiritual energy of the Spaceless Clan. That is why the girls of my Nalan family are born with a strange affinity for the boys of the Spaceless Clan. Besides, Brother Xiaohua and I have been together for so long that we are already in perfect harmony of heart and mind. That is why I know he must be in your hands."

Guihai Rong'an burst into laughter. "Miss, you are quite the storyteller. What you say is far too ethereal. How could there be such a tale of hearts in perfect accord in this world?"

The little witch planted her hands on her slim waist. "Believe it or not. Even if you refuse to admit it, I will still find my Brother Xiaohua. Isn't he right there?" As she spoke, a violet radiance flashed in her eyes and shot straight toward Guihai Rong'an.

At first Guihai Rong'an was stunned, but then he immediately understood the little witch's scheme. All she had said before was merely to draw his attention. Then, by using the Nalan Purple Eyes, she intended to seize him and force him to hand over her Brother Xiaohua.

Guihai Rong'an hurled out a stream of spiritual energy and shook his head with a sigh. "Miss Nalan, you have wronged me. Your so-called Brother Xiaohua is indeed not in my hands."

"I don't care. I won't be like Brother Mo, waiting helplessly on fate and only hoping that you will kindly let my Brother Xiaohua go. My Nalan family has never accepted any threat; everything must be won by our own initiative." Though she spoke, her hands never stopped, and several Purple Condensing Needles shot toward Guihai Rong'an.

Guihai Rong'an thought to himself that this Nalan Xiner had some skill in spiritual cultivation, but she lacked Mo Bai's restraint and composure. So reckless and clumsy, and yet she wanted to rescue someone? Pure fantasy. Thinking this, Guihai Rong'an chanted several spiritual formulas before his chest, and with a faint hum, three spiritual shields appeared instantly before him. Then he simply let Nalan Xiner attack furiously. Guihai Rong'an, however, wore an easy smile. Only when Nalan Xiner was faintly panting did he withdraw the shields and say with a conciliatory laugh, "My Guihai clan has always enjoyed good relations with the Sky Path Sect, so we would certainly never do such a thing. I beg you not to press me so hard."

The little witch's face was full of anger and helplessness. Her cheeks were flushed red, yet she knew there was no way she could capture this man. She said sulkily, "Fine, fine. If I can't take you down, I'll go and kill every last one of the Spirit Flower Gate people for you. Then you'll have no choice but to hand someone over, won't you?" Without waiting for Guihai Rong'an to say anything else, she shook herself and flew toward the direction of the front arena.

Guihai Rong'an chuckled softly. Watching Nalan Xiner disappear into the distance, he called out once, and at once a man came to his side. In a low voice, Guihai Rong'an asked, "What movements has Mo Bai shown?"

The man replied, "He is still at the Ascendant Spirit Arena. Elder Jin is fighting with Jun Unyielding, and that struggle is probably nearing its end. In the next moment, it may be the people of Spirit Flower Gate's turn to take the field. With Elder Jin there, and that Mo Bai as well, the arena should be firmly under control."

Guihai Rong'an nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand. "Continue watching him." The man nodded and vanished at once.

Guihai Rong'an sent his spiritual sense swiftly outward in all directions. After a long while, sensing not the slightest trace of spiritual energy, he finally showed a smile. He was just about to head for the Ascendant Spirit Arena, yet remained somewhat uneasy. So he turned and made for that secret place instead. Little did he know that not far away, a pair of icy eyes was watching every move he made. In a flash of white, that person followed behind Guihai Rong'an like a phantom.