Just as Li Guanqi was speaking with Lu Kangnian in the study...
Somewhere in the void of the Southern Domain of the Qingyun Continent in the Great Xia Domain.
Within an ancient pocket realm, mountains and rivers wound through the land, and timeless buildings showcased the immense foundation and heritage of this clan.
Spiritual springs cascaded down from towering peaks, splashing up crests of water shrouded in thin mist.
Occasionally, rare spirit fish seldom seen in the outside world could be spotted swimming through the spring water.
A grand, imposing hall was currently packed with people.
Seated beside Lu Tao was a middle-aged man who bore a seventy percent resemblance to him.
The man wore a navy flowing-cloud robe of intricate design, its collar and cuffs crafted with great refinement.
Atop his head rested an azure fish crown, his hair groomed impeccably, framing an austere and majestic face.
This man was none other than Lu Tao's father, and the head of the branch that ranked first among the eight major branches: Lu Hongyang.
He was a genuine mid Body Integration Realm cultivator.
And seven more people of his standing sat beside him.
In other words... all eight branch families subordinate to the Lu clan were present here today.
Each of them had also brought one disciple from the third generation.
Looking at Lu Tao fiddling with his fingers beside him, Lu Hongyang spoke with a calm gaze. "You went to see that fellow?"
"How did you find him?"
Lu Tao looked up at his father, just about to speak, when a tall, thin youth seated nearby sneered.
"He's merely an outside cultivator. What could there possibly be to him?"
The youth leaned back carelessly in his chair, crossed his legs, and shot a mocking glance at Lu Tao.
"If you ask me, this meeting is utterly pointless."
"Lu Tao, you didn't come away thinking you can't beat him just because you met him, did you?"
Lu Hongyang's expression remained serene, without the slightest ripple in his gaze, as he merely lifted his teacup and took a sip.
Lu Tao understood immediately. He sprang to his feet, unleashing a whip kick that lashed out toward Lu Yun like lightning!
Bang!!
Lu Yun was equally swift to react, raising his arms to block in front of himself.
Yet that tremendous force was not something he could block on such short notice. The chair beneath him instantly shattered, and his body was hurled backward!!
Bang!! Boom!!
Lu Yun's back slammed violently into a stone pillar behind him, causing cracks to spiderweb through the stone.
Before he could recover, a large hand clamped down hard on his throat, lifting him straight into the air.
A teal spear materialized in Lu Tao's palm. With a manic expression, he thrust the spear viciously through Lu Yun's shoulder!
The spear pinned Lu Yun's body securely against the stone pillar.
Lu Tao stepped back slightly as fresh blood slowly dripped down the spear shaft.
The steady dripping sounded exceptionally jarring within the vast hall...
"Yun'er!!"
"Lu Tao!! What are you doing?! He was only speaking among brothers! Did you really have to be so ruthless?!"
Lu Tao's father, Lu Hongyang, maintained his tranquil composure from start to finish, not even glancing their way.
Lu Tao cast a glance at the pale-faced Lu Yun, turned around, and sneered, "Lu Yun isn't qualified to step onto the arena stage in the first place."
At those words, quite an uproar broke out among the people in the hall!!
One had to understand that this 'arena battle' was, plainly put, a war of plunder!!
A high-stakes wager between the Ancient Clan and an outside sect!
No matter who lost, the consequences would be far too severe to bear!!
With his back turned to Lu Yun, Lu Tao ignored the man's resentful glare, turning his head with a cold laugh.
He raised his hand. Across his palm ran a sword cut that had nearly sliced his hand in two!!
Lu Tao looked at the wound on his palm, a flicker of wariness surfacing deep in his eyes.
"Do you see this? This was just a sword ray he unleashed casually."
"He didn't even draw a sword."
Lu Tao was no fool. For this man to draw such special attention from numerous ancient clans, he had to possess extraordinary ability.
The Qianlin Sect?
A mere handful of spirit beasts carrying the bloodlines of ancient great demons—why would Lu Tao ever covet such trivial things?
He had simply wanted to meet Li Guanqi and greet him.
He believed Li Guanqi had already realized this as well. Given the man's intellect and shrewdness, he would certainly figure it out...
The eyes of the other third-generation disciples shifted repeatedly as they looked at Lu Tao. None of them had expected him to have grown so much stronger.
Lu Yun, a late Void Refining Realm cultivator, had been utterly powerless to fight back in his hands!
Suddenly!!
The expressions of many present shifted slightly, and Lu Tao's face turned pale in an instant.
He hurriedly turned around to bring Lu Yun down, pulled out the spear, and swiftly bowed toward the doorway.
Creak!!
The heavy crimson double doors slowly opened. Immediately afterward, a handsome young man dressed in white stepped inside at an unhurried pace.
The young man's face was as pure as jade, and his demeanor was cool and aloof. His deep eyes carried a mature steadiness that belied his age.
His build was slightly slender yet exceptionally upright; merely standing there, he gave off the impression of a treasured sword waiting to be unsheathed.
The youth cast an indifferent glance at Lu Yun and Lu Tao. Cold sweat was already running down Lu Tao's bowed back.
Lu Tao bowed deeply and saluted. "Eldest Brother..."
Lu Wuhen looked at Lu Tao with detached eyes and said softly, "Do not let this happen again. Brothers shouldn't be so heavy-handed with one another."
Blue veins bulged on Lu Tao's neck, his face turning the dark purple of pig liver!!
His eyes became bloodshot, and mucus and saliva dripped from his face onto the floor.
Detecting the abnormality, Lu Hongyang's expression shifted slightly as well, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, Lu Wuhen gave him a faint glance.
With just that single look, Lu Hongyang closed his mouth.
A suffocating tension spread throughout the hall. Though he was merely a third-generation disciple...
He made everyone present hold their breath. For this was the proud prodigy of heaven most likely to take over the Lu clan in the future!!
The one heralded as having the greatest chance to lead the Lu clan into becoming one of the Nine Great Saint Clans!
An innate saint-grade spiritual root, an innate sword embryo physique, and a half-step Body Integration realm!
It was said that the moment he stepped into the Body Integration Realm, he would be a being who grasped Sword Soul Realm sword intent!!
Furthermore, with Lu Wuhen's current strength, he was already capable of slaying cultivators who had newly entered Body Integration.
In the entire Lu clan, aside from the clan ancestor Lu Hengtian, his word carried as much weight as the clan master's!!
"Pfft—!! Eld... Eldest Brother... I was wrong!! I... shouldn't have... approached him rashly!"
Under that crushing pressure, Lu Tao spewed a mouthful of blood, the veins on his forehead swelling as he reached the absolute limit of his endurance.
Lu Wuhen withdrew his gaze and slowly walked past him.
Lu Wuhen's voice sounded beside his ear, as frigid as the snow atop a frozen mountain.
"I do not wish to see a next time."
"Do you understand?"
Bowing his head low, Lu Tao felt Lu Wuhen's overwhelming pressure and icy stare, his heart nearly stopping.
Pushing through with all his might, he rasped, "I... I understand!!"
Lu Wuhen strolled forward, while Lu Tao collapsed limp onto the floor, gasping desperately for breath.
His robes were already drenched through with cold sweat. Just now, he had distinctly felt Lu Wuhen's murderous intent toward him!!!!
With lingering dread, he looked toward Lu Wuhen. By now, the young man had already taken his seat upon the highest main throne!
Sitting in the chair, the youth waved a hand with an indifferent face to shut the grand doors, saying softly:
"Very well. Since everyone is here, let us discuss the wagered arena battle against the Great Xia Sword Sect."
"I assume you all know the background of this affair. This 'wager' is not an order we can defy!"
"If we want to save trouble, gambling is our only option. As for the formal challenge letter... let Ah Tao deliver it."
"However... we must discuss our choice of combatants."
Chapter 773