Chapter 223: Various Reactions

The several-mile stretch of the river, from Wuxin Bridge to where Huayuzi was slain, ran through the city's prosperous areas, its banks densely lined with brilliantly lit towers, palaces, and pavilions.

The eruption of the formation on Wuxin Bridge was noticed by many martial artists in the riverside buildings, eliciting gasps of surprise.

Li Weiyi, Yang Qingxi, and Huayuzi fought with such speed that their assault, consisting of only a few moves, ended in an instant. Except for a handful of high-level martial artists, most bystanders couldn't clearly discern what had transpired.

Only when Huayuzi transformed into a six-colored peacock and was slain by a single sword strike on the broad Lishui River did the shock truly begin to spread.

Martial artists poured out from the buildings along both banks, creating a scene of utter pandemonium.

"What? Is that Huayuzi, second of the First Rank from the Southern Territory?"

"It's him. His rank is even above our Zuoqiu Sect's First Successor. He's one of the most renowned young masters at this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."

"A Dao Seed Realm senior revealed his identity! The man and woman who killed him... they're very strange. Can you believe they aren't even among the First Rank? Tsk, tsk..."

"Isn't that nonsense? How could two First Rank martial artists be Huayuzi's match? It must have been Ge Xiantong who acted!"

"Not quite..."

The names and identities of "Li Weiyi" and "Yang Qingxi" were soon recounted with embellishment by a Dao Seed Realm martial artist who happened to be nearby and witnessed the entire event, stirring up a huge commotion.

Who could believe that a rising star of the Fifth Sea Realm, Fifth Stage, and a Second Rank martial artist from the Southern Territory, could actually kill Huayuzi, one of the ten young masters handpicked by Du'e Temple?

By the time Bai Shu, Shi Shishi, and Tao Yanyan arrived, the riverbanks were already teeming with martial artists from various factions.

Bai Shu had initially hidden outside the Dong Sect stronghold, preparing to rendezvous with Li Weiyi. Upon seeing three carriages drive out, she sensed something was amiss. When she couldn't find any Jiuli Tribe experts, she had to rush back to South City for assistance.

She had already dispatched martial artists from the Earth Wolf King Army to seek an audience with the Zuoqiu Sect's Successor.

The three of them had arrived ahead of time.

Bai Shu was filled with lingering fear, murmuring to herself, "It turns out that terrifying figures like Huayuzi, Chen Wenwu, and the Two Left and Right Attendants were in the carriages. Fortunately, I didn't act rashly then."

From the accounts of the surrounding martial artists, the three quickly understood everything.

Tao Yanyan was utterly shocked, as if hearing an unbelievable tale. "How did they do it? This... this is completely impossible!"

"My Li Weiyi always creates miracles. It's a pity Bai Shu ran off, otherwise, how would Yang Qingxi get to make a name for herself throughout the world? Oh no, this is bad!"

Shi Shishi's expression changed as something occurred to him.

Tao Yanyan also realized it. She immediately took out her invitation and searched for the location of a nearby Dragon Seed Token, saying gravely, "Li Weiyi must be severely injured. Chen Wenwu and the Two Left and Right Attendants didn't even have time to retrieve Huayuzi's body; they must have pursued them. We need to find them quickly!"

Shi Shishi said, "That's not what I'm talking about! Think about it: once this incident is known, Li Weiyi's and Yang Qingxi's pasts will definitely be dug up. Driven by the sensation of Huayuzi's death, the 'Trickling Stream' incident is likely to be brought up again. What people worldwide will prefer to spread and sensationalize is actually the latter. Oh dear... my Li Weiyi's reputation!"

"Stop messing around, saving them is what's important!"

Tao Yanyan locked onto the location of a Dragon Seed Token and chased after it with the other two.

By the Lishui River.

In the wind and snow, a carriage sped southward.

"Whoosh!"

Chen Wenwu pursued like a wisp of smoke, his handsome and imposing figure landing in front of the carriage, where he intercepted it with a mist wall of spiritual energy.

Holding the Zhige Sword, he cautiously approached step by step.

He dared not let down his guard, fearing he would follow in Huayuzi's footsteps and fall into the schemes of that despicable duo, Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi.

The Two Left and Right Attendants also arrived, attacking from the rear of the carriage.

Chen Wenwu released spiritual energy to investigate, then froze in surprise. He quickly stepped forward and knocked the coachman to the ground.

"My lord... have mercy..."

The carriage window was pushed open.

Inside, terrified screams rang out. It was a family of three; Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi were not there at all.

After searching around, at the bottom of the carriage, they found Yang Qingxi's Dragon Seed Token.

Any other time, Chen Wenwu would have been ecstatic, but at this moment, holding the Dragon Seed Token, his heart burned with rage. He felt as though he was being severely trampled upon and humiliated.

What good was a Dragon Seed Token now?

Huayuzi was dead!

Only by capturing Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi would the three of them have a way out.

Otherwise... it would be death, or a fate worse than death.

The Two Left and Right Attendants, transformed into Ash Spirits, their eyes sparking with fire, surged with killing intent, wanting to tear the three people in the carriage to shreds.

Just then, a Daoist-robed woman from Du'e Temple arrived belatedly, flying to land on a snow-laden treetop. She declared, "If you lay hands on innocent residents, this immortal envoy will take your lives. Each martial artist holding an invitation is warned only once."

No one had expected such a drastic change to occur so suddenly; the battle was over before Du'e Temple's twelve patrolling immortal envoys could even arrive.

The Two Left and Right Attendants reined themselves in.

Chen Wenwu quickly calmed down and analyzed, "Both of them are severely injured, and they also need to conceal their traces and auras. They certainly haven't fled far. Mobilize all forces; we must intercept and kill them on their way back to South City."

"What? Huayuzi is dead?"

Upon receiving Bai Shu's plea for help, Zuoqiu Ting immediately set off and rushed to the vicinity of Wuxin Bridge, where a Zuoqiu Sect scout came to report.

After listening to the scout's detailed account, Zuoqiu Ting also stood there stunned.

It should be known that Zuoqiu Ting and Huayuzi had fought more than once, and he deeply understood the other's prowess. So strong was his combat power that even two Successors combined might not be able to defeat him.

Killing Huayuzi would be even more difficult, its challenge multiplied.

Led by the scout, Zuoqiu Ting saw the massive six-colored peacock corpse on the water's surface. He perceived the sword qi on the wound with his spiritual sense and concluded, "He has become even stronger. How could his cultivation speed be so fast?"

"Quickly dispatch all experts from the Zuoqiu Sect and the Jiuli Tribe above the Fifth Sea Realm, Fifth Stage, to receive Li Weiyi and stop the pursuit from the Far West Ash Region."

He then added, "Before the martial artists from the Far West Ash Region arrive, salvage the corpse and send it to the Prefect of the Prefecture. Present it to Ge Xiantong and Jiang Ning, and congratulate the imperial martial artists on slaying Huayuzi."

Tang Wanqiu sat in the main hall with a grim expression, reflecting on today's defeat. He sought the root of the problem, realizing that he had been too eager for success and acted rashly, underestimating the intellect of the 'Number One Under Heaven'.

The lamps in the hall flickered, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, mirroring his mood at that moment.

Tang Chen, the Second Successor of the Snow Sword Tang Court, entered quickly.

Tang Wanqiu asked, "Have Cang Li and the others returned to South City?"

"Wanqiu, something major has happened!"

Tang Chen said, solemnly yet shaken, "Li Weiyi killed Huayuzi..."

Light quickly gathered in Tang Wanqiu's eyes. He raised his head and asked, "What did you say?"

Tang Chen said, "Huayuzi is dead; his head was severed by Li Weiyi's sword. This is absolutely true. It's said that with that decisive killing blow, five types of combat concepts appeared simultaneously, hovering in mid-air and transforming into five deities—just like the legends and myths in storybooks. Even the ancient Heavenly Emperor in his youth was no more impressive."

"When I just saw Cang Li and the others off, someone happened to arrive to report. All of the Jiuli Tribe members have rushed over there now! This is simply incredible; it happened right near Wuxin Bridge..."

"Wuxin Bridge."

Tang Wanqiu possessed a photographic memory and had long memorized the map of Qiuzhou Prefecture City. After listening to Tang Chen's detailed account, he quickly accepted this incredible fact.

"Regardless of how he did it, the fact remains a fact. It stands to reason that at Du'e Temple, his evaluation is already on par with Luan Sheng Linyou, Ge Xiantong, and Zuoqiu Hong."

Tang Chen's eyes were dark and profound. "Huayuzi is the first among the Ten Great Masters to fall, and he was slain by someone crossing two cultivation realms. I think that as long as Li Weiyi survives, there's a considerable chance he'll be rated as a Hidden Dragon. The Jiuli Tribe is incapable of scheming for the entire realm; the Zuoqiu Sect's standing will thus rise with the tide."

Without Tang Chen having to explain, Tang Wanqiu already understood the gravity of the situation.

This incident affects not just the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, but the entire world's political landscape.

If Du'e Temple firmly supports the Zuoqiu Sect, the Zuoqiu Sect will certainly be the Snow Sword Tang Court's biggest rival in the near future.

Then he, Tang Wanqiu, would suffer a complete defeat at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.

Tang Wanqiu said, "I understand what you mean! Since Li Weiyi is severely injured, the Far West Ash Region and all other factions will certainly pursue them with all their might. They won't let this Hidden Dragon return alive to South City or rendezvous with the Jiuli Tribe experts. For now, we should not play the villain. The Jiuli Tribe still has value for us."

"How about this? Let Wanyan Xiaose go find Li Weiyi. We must adopt the posture of helping them."

West City.

Luan Sheng Linyou emerged from his secluded healing session. He stood on the corridor, his long hair flowing like a silver waterfall, his expression calm, as he listened to the Left Attendant's trembling report from his kneeling position.

"I know! In just seven days, his cultivation has advanced even further."

Luan Sheng Linyou's eyes showed no ripples as he then said, "Mobilize all forces from the Three Chen Palaces, Night City, and Coffin Mountain. Find him and kill him. If you three cannot even deal with a severely injured person, then never return!"

The Left Attendant prostrated himself heavily on the ground, then retreated.

"Ming Niansheng, gather all experts from the Demon Clan, Ash Spirits, Que Rong, and Quan Rong above the Fifth Sea Realm, Third Stage. Tonight, we attack the Vermilion Gate," Luan Sheng Linyou ordered.

Ming Niansheng was quite surprised. "Attack the Vermilion Gate tonight? Shouldn't we first avenge Huayuzi? I think we should use this chaos to deal with the Jiuli Tribe first and catch them off guard."

Luan Sheng Linyou said, "When everyone believes we are seeking revenge tonight, that is precisely the perfect opportunity to seize the Vermilion Gate."

Qijin, still wearing Zhuang Yue's human skin, exclaimed admiringly, "Young Master's feint is truly brilliant! Mobilizing all martial artists from the Three Chen Palaces, Night City, and Coffin Mountain for a grand, city-wide pursuit is merely a facade. This will surely lead the Vermilion Gate's biggest ally, the Zuoqiu Sect, to misjudge the situation and focus their efforts on rescuing Li Weiyi and protecting the Jiuli Tribe."

"After all, the Jiuli Tribe is their true ally. The Vermilion Gate is merely a cooperating partner during the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."

"Who would have thought that we could suppress our anger, despite suffering significant losses, and find a perfect opportunity to unify the Western Territory?"

Luan Sheng Linyou looked at her and said, "Qijin, with Huayuzi's fall, it's time for you to raise the banner and hold the fort. Tonight, I entrust you with the headquarters stronghold and the Longevity Pill tokens of the Ash Region!"

"I will not fail in my mission," Qijin replied.