Chapter 54

"Your classmate from the outer dormitory?"

After dismissing Zhang Jianfei, Shang Quan finally smiled and asked a question.

Shang Xia smiled and said, "A former competitor from the outer dormitory."

Shang Quan, however, said with deep meaning, "Now he can't even take one of your palm strikes. Xia, your Wuji Realm Primordial Energy must be extraordinary!"

Shang Xia smiled, a hint of pride in his expression.

As they spoke, the uncle and nephew had already arrived at the main hall of the patrol riders.

Seeing no one at the entrance of the main hall from a distance, Shang Quan chuckled softly and quickly resumed his composed demeanor.

Just then, a loud and angry voice suddenly came from inside the hall: "You scoundrel, you blind fool, daring to defame even Brother Yuan. Are you planning to slander me, the supervisor, next?"

As soon as the words were spoken, a weak, coughing voice responded: "Brother Tang, please calm down. It's just the young ones being hot-headed and speaking without restraint. We have guests today, don't let them see a spectacle."

The hall fell silent for a moment, then the loud voice spoke again: "I demote you from the position of deputy squad leader of the patrol riders and cut your salary for half a year... Are you staying here to make a fool of yourself?"

A figure stumbled out of the hall, but upon seeing Shang Quan and his nephew, his face changed, and he quickly covered his face and walked away.

Shang Xia recognized him clearly; it was Jiang Changyu, who had tried to defame him that day.

Shang Xia glanced at Jiang Changyu's retreating back and nudged Shang Quan, whispering, "Uncle Quan, do you know about this?"

Shang Quan smiled but said nothing, and Shang Xia immediately understood.

The uncle and nephew entered the hall, where they saw a man sitting on the main seat. He had a narrow forehead, a wide chin, and a large nose, and he must be the supervisor of the patrol riders, Tang Yuan.

Below the main seat, a middle-aged martial artist was sitting on the right side, and from his attire, it could be inferred that he was also from the patrol riders and held a position equivalent to Yuan Zilu, both being enforcers.

Behind him were five or six patrol squad leaders, including Ji Sheng, Tang Youqian, and Yu Shenglong, whom Shang Xia recognized.

On the left side, only one person was coughing softly, his face flushed but looking somewhat abnormal. It was Yuan Zilu, who had been seriously injured while fighting two Wuji Realm martial artists from the Fengyan tribe during the escort mission.

"Ha ha, what wind brings you here today, Mr. Shang? Your visit has honored my patrol hall. Please, take a seat!"

From the main seat, Tang Yuan let out a hearty laugh, pretending to rise to greet them but remaining by his seat.

Although Shang Quan was only a Wuji Realm martial artist, in the absence of Shang Ke on Tongyou Peak, he was fully qualified to represent the entire Shang family.

However, as the supervisor, Tang Yuan should have at least greeted them outside the hall, but he didn't even leave his seat, clearly showing a lack of respect.

Shang Quan, however, seemed to ignore these details, casually finding a seat and sitting down, smiling and saying, "I dare not, I'm just here to introduce my nephew to Supervisor Tang."

After saying this, he merely nodded slightly at Yuan Zilu and began drinking tea, as if Shang Xia had nothing to do with him.

"Oh~"

Tang Yuan drew out his words, his smile fading, and he sat back in his chair, leaning back for comfort, saying indifferently, "Nephew, what do you want to say? I'm very tired from the recent battles with the Cangling martial artists."

After saying this, he yawned widely, as if Shang Xia's visit had disturbed his sleep.

Shang Xia respectfully said, "I wonder if Supervisor Tang can contact Deputy Mountain Master Ji. I have important news to report!"

"Ah, ha ha..."

Tang Yuan seemed to have heard a great joke, lazily saying, "So you only see me as a messenger? What important news can't even be heard by me?"

Shang Xia respectfully said, "I do have important news to report, please, Supervisor, help me."

Tang Yuan snorted, "Deputy Mountain Master Ji has the responsibility to protect Tongyou Peak and is very busy. Not every trivial matter can disturb him. I don't even know what you want to report, how can I pass it on? Nephew, even with your Shang family status, you shouldn't disturb him lightly."

Shang Xia, seeing this, smiled slightly, his tone cautious and hesitant, "Do you want to know? Should I really say it here? I haven't even told Uncle Quan."

As he spoke, Shang Xia glanced at the others in the hall, as if worried they might overhear.

This made the patrol riders feel disrespected, and several squad leaders sneered, while the patrol enforcer sitting opposite Shang Quan and Yuan Zilu showed a look of disdain.

"Then—shall I really say it?"

Shang Xia emphasized this again, very "seriously."

"Ha—ha!"

Tang Yuan yawned again, unable to suppress it.

The patrol squad leaders didn't even bother to sneer this time.

"The Rose Society is passing messages to the Cangling martial artists. Mountain Master Kuo Chong of Tongyou Academy has returned severely injured!"

Shang Xia spoke slowly, even smiling faintly at everyone in the hall.

But the news he conveyed was like a thunderbolt, shocking everyone present.

Tang Yuan was already startled when he heard "Rose Society."

When he heard "passing messages," he tried to stand up, but in his excitement, he crushed the armrests and fell heavily.

At this moment, Shang Xia revealed the final piece of news— "Mountain Master Kuo Chong severely injured"!

With a loud "thud," Tang Yuan jumped up, overturning the table in front of him, and the chair under him was shattered.

"Clatter—" Yuan Zilu, hearing this news, swayed and reached out to steady himself, but accidentally knocked over a teacup.

"Spit—" The tea Shang Xia had just sipped turned into a mist.

Even he hadn't expected his nephew to reveal such news, and he was completely unprepared.

The patrol enforcer sitting opposite was stunned, unable to react.

"Ridiculous!"

Tang Yuan roared, his Wuji Realm third-layer aura bursting forth, pressing down on Shang Xia like a mountain.

"Young whelp, spreading rumors, do you dare to say such things?"

Shang Quan also shouted, but he quickly moved in front of Shang Xia, taking most of the pressure, his face turning pale.

At this moment, the other patrol enforcers and squad leaders also reacted, loudly scolding Shang Xia for his lies.

Under the pressure of Tang Yuan's aura, Shang Xia found it difficult to speak.

A Wuji Realm expert, even without attacking, could suppress lower-level cultivators with their martial will.

Tang Yuan was at the third layer of the Wuji Realm, on the verge of reaching the fourth layer!

But Shang Quan's timely assistance and the rapid circulation of "Yin-Yang Primordial Energy" in Shang Xia's body allowed him to form energy vortices that gradually eroded the martial will pressing down on him, allowing him to speak.

A young Wuji Realm beginner, though a genius, was only seventeen or eighteen. What could he know?

But when Shang Xia finished speaking, Tang Yuan believed him from the bottom of his heart.

The Rose Society, Cangling martial artists, Mountain Master Kuo, and severe injuries—these were not things that could be fabricated casually.

Not to mention, the "Rose Society" was known to very few in Tongyou Academy below the Wuji Realm.

This was not something a young person like Shang Xia could have access to.

Moreover, as the patrol supervisor, though not in the core, he was part of the academy's upper echelons and had some connection with Tongyou Academy outside the Two Realms War Zone.

Considering the scattered news from Tongyou City and the current situation on Tongyou Peak, it seemed to corroborate Shang Xia's news.

But the more he believed it, the more Tang Yuan didn't want Shang Xia to continue speaking.

So, under the guise of anger at Shang Xia's rumor-mongering, he was actually overwhelmed by a sudden fear.

If that person is really severely injured...

Tang Yuan didn't dare to imagine what would happen next!

But what happened next was again beyond Tang Yuan's control.

Shang Quan's assistance to Shang Xia was not unexpected.

Tang Yuan even wanted to punish Shang Quan as well.

But at that moment, he suddenly realized that the energy around the Shang family boy was extremely strange, not only avoiding the direct pressure of his aura but also forming invisible vortices that were gradually eroding his martial will!

Although the erosion was extremely slow, almost imperceptible, Tang Yuan could confirm that his martial will was indeed disappearing!

This boy is strange!

This thought had just flashed through Tang Yuan's mind when he heard a sigh from below.

"Supervisor Tang, if I were you, I would immediately report this matter. Whether it's true or false, it's no longer within your jurisdiction!"

Shang Xia spoke slowly, but he managed to say it under the pressure of Tang Yuan's martial will.

Even Shang Quan, standing beside him, looked at him in surprise, unable to say a word.

"You..."

Tang Yuan was extremely angry, but as the young man below had said, this one sentence had completely taken the matter out of his control. He could only swallow his anger and say fiercely, "From now on, no one in this hall is allowed to leave!"

After the initial panic, the patrol supervisor finally regained his composure, his gaze piercing Shang Xia like a spear: "Who else knows about this?"