Translator: Silavin
Deep in Heart Trial City, sprawling manor estates dominated the landscape with their impressive scale. To occupy such extensive territory in this area unmistakably signified membership among the high-tier Forces.
Under Liu Yun’s guidance, Qiao Yuewei obediently followed behind him, arriving before Rainbow Light Pavilion’s manor. Gazing upon this complex whose scale rivalled that of the Namo Imperial Dynasty’s residence, astonishment flickered through her beautiful eyes.
Originally, she had never imagined that the Force backing Liu Yun possessed such formidable strength. Yet now, having discovered this truth, hesitation crept into her heart. Such a powerful Force would hardly risk conflict over an unrelated individual, Would she be implicating Liu Yun into her mess?
*Knock, knock!*
However, Liu Yun harboured no such concerns. He cast Qiao Yuewei a reassuring glance before stepping forward to knock upon the tightly closed manor gates.
Yet whether Liu Yun deliberately knocked too softly to maintain gentlemanly decorum before Qiao Yuewei, or whether the manor’s occupants proved excessively arrogant, after knocking for quite some time, nobody bothered to respond.
“Young Master Liu, perhaps we should go to Young Master Qin’s residence first…”
From within the manor, conversational voices drifted forth. Yet they appeared utterly oblivious to Liu Yun’s progressively louder knocking. Witnessing this scene, Qiao Yuewei called out softly.
Hearing Qiao Yuewei’s voice, the embarrassment on Liu Yun’s face transformed into humiliated fury. Before she could restrain him, he raised his foot and kicked violently at the manor gates.
*Crash!*
The wooden gates could scarcely withstand Liu Yun’s rage-fuelled kick. With a tremendous sound, the wooden door exploded into shattered fragments.
“Who?!”
“Tired of living? Who dares kick on the Rainbow Light Pavilion’s gate!?”
The instant the gates shattered, three or four individuals conversing within the courtyard immediately roared in fury, their gazes shooting towards the entrance.
Witnessing this scene, Qiao Yuewei’s heart tightened. Yet before she could dissuade Liu Yun, she discovered with astonishment that those three or four Early Stage Martial Emperors immediately bowed respectfully, their faces devoid of any trace of disrespect!
“Young Pavilion Master!”
Their form of address shocked Qiao Yuewei even more!
This person who had shown her such considerate care was actually the Young Pavilion Master of Rainbow Light Pavilion, a Force rivalling the Namo Imperial Dynasty!?
“Where are Liu Xin and Liu Min?”
Originally somewhat angry, Liu Yun caught Qiao Yuewei’s reaction from the corner of his eye and breathed a sigh of relief. Without reprimanding the several youths before him, he directly enquired.
“Both Senior Brothers are currently in secluded cultivation…”
Seeing Liu Yun refrain from blame, astonishment flashed through the eyes of all four individuals in the courtyard. This hardly resembled their Young Pavilion Master’s typical style. However, upon noticing Qiao Yuewei behind him, understanding dawned in their eyes. They hastily pointed towards two small courtyards on the side.
“Actually daring not to welcome this Young Pavilion Master.” Liu Yun pursed his lips, muttering before declaring, “Send word back, Liu Mu has committed treason!”
“What? Liu Mu!?” Hearing these words, the pupils of all four youths contracted sharply, their voices rising in disbelieving exclamations.
However, seeing that Liu Yun showed absolutely no sign of joking, they dared not question further. They did not even dare voice half a query about why the Young Pavilion Master had appeared here. Instead, they immediately rushed towards the communication room on the manor’s right side.
…
Over the following days, Heart Trial City’s population surged dramatically once more. Wave after wave of experts endured tremendous hardships crossing the outer region, finally arriving at this destination.
During these rare days of tranquillity, Qin Yichen chose secluded cultivation. When he emerged from his room, Long Qingyao outside clearly relaxed with relief. Unknowingly, it seemed that whenever she could not see Qin Yichen, she felt as though she had lost her sense of security.
“Nothing eventful these past few days?” Qin Yichen stretched lazily, smiling at Long Qingyao as he enquired.
“Li Yuanba came looking for you twice, but seeing you in secluded cultivation, he left.” Long Qingyao pondered briefly before adding. “The Namo Imperial Dynasty hasn’t made any overt moves yet. However, they appear to be pressuring the Golden Martial Imperial Dynasty where Li Yuanba belongs, attempting to make Li Yuanba refrain from interfering in matters between you two.”
“Oh…” Hearing this, Qin Yichen chuckled softly. It seemed the Namo Imperial Dynasty remained quite wary of Li Yuanba. However, Li Yuanba clearly would not disappoint him. Otherwise, the Feng Family’s manor would have long since been destroyed.
“Calculating the time, the Imperial Dynasties Assembly officially begins tomorrow, right?” Qin Yichen pondered momentarily, his eyes suddenly narrowing slightly as he gazed into the distance, murmuring lowly. “Tomorrow at first light, we will immediately leave.”
Long Qingyao raised no objection to Qin Yichen’s proposal. She merely nodded. Having witnessed the immense disparity in strength among fellow participants, were it not for Qin Yichen’s presence, she truly would have been unable to resist withdrawing.
Yet each time this notion arose in her heart, she recalled her Uncle’s seemingly casual words… ‘If you can’t endure, just return!’ Though outwardly gentle and beautiful, deep within her bones, Long Qingyao possessed an unyielding spirit!
“Has that guy emerged from secluded cultivation yet?”
At that moment, a rough voice sounded from outside. As the gates emitted a pained groan, the wooden lock just replaced shattered directly under Long Qingyao’s pained gaze. Subsequently, Li Yuanba’s massive frame forcibly squeezed its way inside.
…
The following day, when the first rays of sunlight tore through the darkness and poured across this enormous city, astonishing fluctuations immediately erupted throughout the urban expanse.
Across Heaven, rushing wind sounds resounded ceaselessly. One after another, figures radiating formidable auras, whether in small groups of two or three, or several Imperial Dynasties travelling together, they swiftly swept out from Heart Trial City.
Qin Yichen had prepared long beforehand. After washing, he opened the courtyard gates.
At this moment, numerous figures already thronged the street outside. They were all prodigious talents who had passed the ancient battlefield’s initial trials, earning entry into the Imperial Dynasties Assembly.
“Haha, Qin Yichen, you’ve finally emerged from secluded cultivation! I was beginning to think you planned to simply return home like this!”
Just as Qin Yichen stepped through the courtyard gates, laughter rang out. A large group approached from the side street.
This group numbered at least a dozen individuals. What proved most peculiar was that identical emblems adorned each person’s chest, clearly indicating they all belonged to the same Force!
Any Force obtaining over ten participant quotas represented considerable rarity among the Imperial Dynasties! At minimum, Forces equivalent to high-tier Imperial Dynasties possessed such qualification!
Compared to them, standing before the narrow manor estate, one Early Stage Martial Emperor, one Peak Stage Martial King, merely two figures, undeniably appeared to be really weak.
Therefore, upon seeing Qin Yichen and his companion, the vast majority within that large contingent frowned, disdain flickering through their eyes.