Seeing this, Jiumozhi finally looked at Duan Yu and smiled politely, "Young Master Duan, we meet again."
"Hmph, I don't want to see you again." Duan Yu said irritably.
"It seems Young Master Duan has some misunderstandings about me." Jiumozhi remained unruffled, still speaking politely.
"You, this foreign monk, covet my Duan family's Six Meridian Divine Sword—you're unworthy of being a revered monk." Duan Yu couldn't help but say angrily.
Jiumozhi shook his head unhurriedly with a smile. "Young Master Duan, I was merely making a fair exchange, and all for the sake of fulfilling a friend's wish. Young Master Murong can bear witness."
Murong Fu glanced at Duan Yu and the others present, then said with righteous indignation, "Master, my father has been deceased for many years. There's no need to bring up old verbal agreements."
"Alas, in that case, I can only apologize to my departed friend." Jiumozhi sighed lightly, but took a step back, indicating he would let the matter drop.
"Hmph, a hypocritical and wicked monk."
Suddenly, the cute little girl behind Duan Yu couldn't help but glare and say.
Jiumozhi glanced at her, smiled without a word, exuding the demeanor of a great monk.
The crowd sized him up, choosing silence until they understood the situation better.
Inside the cave, Li Daoqiang watched Jiumozhi with keen interest, a flicker of contemplation in his gaze.
Duan Yanqing, beside him, casually swept his gaze over Li Daoqiang and his pupils contracted.
That look—it was somewhat familiar.
As if sizing up a piece of meat.
"Master, please wait a moment. Which young master or young hero would like to go first?"
Xue Muhua spoke up at this point, his tone full of confidence and without a trace of fear.
With a peerless expert backing him up, he felt an unprecedented sense of security and assurance.
Murong Fu and the others exchanged glances again.
Jiumozhi discreetly observed everyone, a faint gleam of cunning flashing deep in his eyes, remaining silent.
"I'm in no hurry. You gentlemen may go first." Yi Jifeng clasped his hands, elegant and composed.
"I'm not in a hurry either, and I'm not particularly skilled at chess." Ou Jinghao followed up frankly.
Seeing Yi Jifeng and the others act this way, even if Murong Fu wanted to go first, he felt embarrassed and politely said, "How about letting the first to arrive go first?"
Yi Jifeng and Ou Jinghao exchanged a look. Yi Jifeng turned to Kou Zhong and the others, smiling, "These two gentlemen arrived first. Would you be willing to go first?"
Everyone looked over.
Kou Zhong and the others felt a bit of goodwill toward the approachable Yi Jifeng and didn't stand on ceremony. Kou Zhong stepped forward casually and said, "In that case, thanks for yielding. I, Kou Zhong, will go first."
The crowd nodded without further comment.
Just as Kou Zhong sat down, everyone's attention shifted to one direction.
Several figures were approaching quickly.
It was an old monk leading a few young monks, hurrying along.
As they drew near, the crowd's expressions changed slightly.
The old monk's face was tinged with black, looking very much like he had been poisoned.
"Master Xuan Nan!"
Many present recognized the newcomer and exclaimed in surprise.
The old monk's figure halted, and he could barely stand, sitting down directly. A faint golden light emanated from him, clearly indicating he was using his inner energy to resist the poison.
One of the monks with him immediately said worriedly, "Esteemed benefactors, Divine Doctor Xue, our Uncle Master Xuan Tong was harmed by someone and poisoned with a strange, potent venom. So Uncle Master Xuan Nan led us to seek treatment from Divine Doctor Xue. Later, we learned Divine Doctor Xue had come to Mount Leigu, so we came to find you. Unexpectedly, we encountered the Star Devil Ding Chunqiu. Uncle Master Xuan Nan was injured by his poison and rushed here with us. Divine Doctor Xue, please save him."
Su Xinghe and Xue Muhua both changed expression upon hearing the monk's words.
"Where is Ding Chunqiu?" Su Xinghe directly asked in a deep voice.
The crowd was startled, surprised that the Silent Scholar had spoken aloud.
And it was about Ding Chunqiu.
The monk said anxiously, "Just a few dozen li away, he's also heading this way."
Su Xinghe's face showed agitation he couldn't calm.
He stared intently in the direction of their arrival.
Xue Muhua's face was also quite stirred. Ding Chunqiu had really come.
Yet amid the excitement, he still stepped forward to examine Xuan Nan.
The crowd exchanged glances, some frowning.
It seemed the Silent Scholar had no mind left for chess.
But the situation was now quite complicated, and no one knew what to say, so they all chose silence, waiting to see what would happen.
After a dozen breaths, Jiumozhi's ear twitched.
Soon, all the grandmaster-level experts stared intently at the path.
"The Star Devil, boundless in power. Vast in ability, gracing the Central Plains."
......
Faintly, waves of cheers came, and in an instant, they became crystal clear.
A group of people also appeared in everyone's sight.
A line of several dozen people, with a few carrying a sedan chair and a few holding banners.
All of them walked while shouting loudly, their tone full of flattery.
Those who had heard it before were fine, but those hearing it for the first time were all astonished.
Some were dumbfounded.
"What a grand show! Ling Shao, this guy has no shame." Kou Zhong couldn't help but transmit a message to Xu Ziling.
Xu Ziling was silent for a moment, then replied, "He really has no shame."
"What a big air! Sister Mu, who is this? Is the Star Devil really that powerful?" Behind Duan Yu, the cute and lively little girl couldn't help but ask.
Another stunning beauty with a cold, aloof demeanor shook her head, a flicker of disgust and disdain in her gaze as she looked over.
Then, as if thinking of something, she seemed a bit downcast.
Inside the cave.
Li Daoqiang smiled, as if finding it quite amusing.
Duan Yanqing, Blood Saber Old Ancestor, and others also wore faint, knowing smiles, a hint of mockery in their eyes as they watched the procession.
Ding Chunqiu was utterly finished.
Meanwhile, Wang Yuyan's face turned angry, and she glared in that direction, tugging at Li Daoqiang's sleeve: "Husband~!"
"Be good, don't rush." Li Daoqiang soothed.
He glanced sidelong at his mother-in-law.
Li Qingluo's expression had turned icy and fierce.
"The Star Devil, boundless in power. Vast in ability, gracing the Central Plains."
Accompanied by the cheers, the group arrived in the valley.
"Ding Chunqiu, you traitor, how dare you come here?"
Su Xinghe could no longer hold back. Thirty years of patience had turned into hatred and murderous intent.
"How dare you! Show disrespect to the Old Devil, are you looking for death?"
The leader of the group suddenly shouted, aggressive and full of confidence.
Su Xinghe glared at him coldly, ignoring him.
At that moment, an old man with silver hair, holding a feather fan, a faint sneer of disdain on his face, looked down from the sedan chair at Su Xinghe and waved his fan outward.
The man at the front immediately understood and respectfully stepped back.
"Senior Brother, you dare to speak? Who gave you the nerve?" Ding Chunqiu's voice rang out, full of disdain and arrogance.
He clearly didn't take Su Xinghe seriously at all.
(Chapter 3, requesting subscriptions.)
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