Chapter 59

"Is this a house arrest order from the family?"

Zhao Feng felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

He, who had won the title of the most talented at the Genius Summit, did not receive a hero's welcome upon returning to the clan, but instead faced this cold and heartless house arrest order?

He was certainly not a fool. The one who truly colluded with the Qiu family was not him, but Zhao Tianjian and the other two!

That night, when he returned to the Zhao clan, he was ambushed and faced a pincer attack, clearly a premeditated move.

Qiu Mengyu's invitation to meet him was to delay time and set up this entire situation.

Once the plan succeeded, Zhao Feng dying near the gates of the Zhao clan would be a great irony, making it difficult for the Zhao clan to investigate.

Moreover, a dead genius, a mere branch family member, was not worth the Zhao clan's high-level members pursuing the real culprit at all costs.

Now, the real conspirator had beaten him to the punch.

"Rest assured!"

Zhao Yusong said solemnly, "This matter will be thoroughly investigated. As long as I am still around, they cannot do anything to you without evidence."

"Thank you for your care, Uncle Zhao."

Zhao Feng felt deep respect and gratitude for the elder before him.

In fact, if it weren't for Zhao Yusong's support, he might have faced more than just a house arrest order.

House arrest?

I wasn't planning to go out anyway! Let's see what you can do!

Zhao Feng sneered inwardly, not bothering to explain.

He was just a branch family member, and the clan's high-level members did not trust him.

If he were to explain the truth, he would inevitably expose his true cultivation and strength, leading to a series of new troubles.

Returning home,

Zhao Feng focused on his cultivation, and his injuries were almost fully healed.

Reaching the sixth level of Martial Dao, his strength in Yuyang City was approaching the peak, and only a few Martial Dao Masters could pose a threat to him.

Apart from that, even some veteran martial artists and clan elders were not a concern for Zhao Feng.

"One day, I will leave the Zhao clan, leave Yuyang City, and see the outside world."

Zhao Feng had this wish in his heart. He no longer felt a strong sense of belonging to the Zhao clan.

Since that day in the Blood Python Canyon, when he saw the young girl and several other mysterious people, he had become incredibly eager to explore the outside world.

In the left eye space, the young girl's infinitely profound palm strike was repeatedly practiced.

To this day, Zhao Feng still could not fully grasp the true essence of that palm strike.

In the blink of an eye, nearly half a month had passed.

Zhao Feng calculated his age, which had just turned fourteen.

During this time, he naturally practiced diligently.

The advanced martial arts, "Lingwei Step" and "Withered Tree Breath Technique," both exceeded their peak levels and initially reached the realm of perfection.

Since comprehending the grand momentum in the left eye space from Xin Wuheng and the young girl's "Mysterious Wind Palm," Zhao Feng's understanding of advanced martial arts had become much easier.

It was like asking a Martial Dao Master to practice some low-level or intermediate martial arts, which would naturally be effortless.

Even the top-level martial art, "Pointing Star Finger," did not seem too difficult for Zhao Feng.

At this point, "Pointing Star Finger" was not far from the peak of the fourth level.

Zhao Feng's ability to condense and project finger force from a distance had become much easier, and he even felt the urge to challenge the seventh level of Martial Dao, even though he knew his chances of success were not high.

On the day Zhao Feng turned fourteen, the Zhao clan welcomed a distinguished guest.

In a magnificent hall of the Zhao clan, several core members of the family gathered, including the clan head Zhao Tiancang and the three Zhao clan elders.

At this moment, almost all the highest-ranking core members of the Zhao clan were present.

Except for Elder Zhao Yusong, who was guarding the Xuanwu Pavilion and could not be present, the other elders were all in attendance.

"What virtue and ability does our Zhao clan possess to deserve the personal visit of Master Ye?"

The clan head Zhao Tiancang and the other core members were flattered and looked up to the figure seated at the head of the hall with reverence.

The figure seated at the head of the hall was no longer the clan head!

It was a man in a green robe, tall and handsome, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a reserved and unassuming aura.

He looked like an ordinary person who had not yet advanced to Martial Dao.

However, every move and breath he made made the core members of the Zhao clan's high-level leadership uneasy and restless.

Only those who had reached the seventh level of Martial Dao could deeply feel the terror of the man in the green robe. His cultivation had clearly reached an extreme, with all his aura and power restrained and contained.

"I heard that the Zhao and Xin clans in Yuyang City each have a talented individual with remarkable potential. I have been specially sent by Lord Guangjun to investigate."

Master Ye, with his clear and bright eyes, exuded a faint divine light. Meeting his gaze felt like a candle trying to compete with the moon, dim and powerless.

Upon hearing this, the clan head Zhao Tiancang and the others were deeply shocked, their breathing heavy and oppressed.

Lord Guangjun!

Sweat trickled down the clan head Zhao Tiancang's forehead, and the others' eyes showed reverence, fear, and worship.

As the leaders of a small city under the jurisdiction of Guangling County, how could they not know the prestige of Lord Guangjun?

After all, Yuyang City, where the Zhao clan was located, was just one of the twelve cities under the jurisdiction of Guangling County.

Guangling County, which controlled twelve cities, was ruled by Lord Guangjun.

The story of Lord Guangjun was a legend.

Lord Guangjun was one of the seven dukes of Xiangyun Kingdom, having fought countless battles, reaching the pinnacle of cultivation, with unparalleled martial prowess and a commanding presence.

It was said that he once single-handedly crossed through an army of two hundred thousand enemies, slaying eighteen Martial Dao Masters and nine high-ranking generals.

It was also said that during a beast tide, Lord Guangjun's astonishing strike killed four or five high-level ferocious beasts, each as powerful as the two-winged saber-toothed tiger Zhao Feng encountered in the Hengyun Sky Forest.

It was said that he reached the peak of the ninth level of Martial Dao before the age of thirty.

Now, decades later, it was rumored that Lord Guangjun might have even touched the legendary Saint Realm of Martial Dao!

Regardless of the truth of the rumors, Lord Guangjun was undoubtedly one of the most powerful and influential figures in the kingdom.

In the presence of such a formidable figure, the Zhao clan was insignificant.

Today,

Master Ye, representing the highest authority of Guangling County, had come to the Zhao clan.

For a moment, the core members of the Zhao clan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with fear and a hint of excitement.

"May I ask, which talented individual from the Zhao clan has caught Master Ye's attention?"

The clan head Zhao Tiancang wiped the sweat from his forehead, still feeling uneasy.

Not to mention the legendary Lord Guangjun, Master Ye himself had reached the ninth level of Martial Dao and was likely one of Lord Guangjun's trusted lieutenants.

The ninth level of Martial Dao was extremely difficult to achieve, with each step becoming increasingly challenging.

In the entire Yuyang City, the highest cultivation level was the seventh level, with a few ancestral figures possibly reaching the eighth level.

With Master Ye's strength, killing a regular seventh-level martial artist was no more difficult than killing a cat or a dog.

In the face of such a powerful figure, the Zhao clan had little resistance.

"According to the information gathered by Guangling County, both the Zhao and Xin clans have an outstanding talent, but their names are not clear. However, I just visited the Xin family, and the results were disappointing..."

Master Ye shook his head.

Clearly, his visit to the Xin family had been in vain.

After the Genius Summit, the Xin family's strongest talent, Xin Wuheng, had vanished without a trace.

Nearly a month had passed, and there was still no news of Xin Wuheng in Yuyang City.

Apart from Xin Wuheng, the Xin family had no other particularly outstanding talents, at least not in the eyes of a powerful figure like Master Ye.

"This... Master Ye, without knowing the name of the talent, it is difficult for us to determine who it is."

The clan head Zhao Tiancang's eyes flickered.

Master Ye said calmly, "Isn't it simple? Call out the most outstanding young talent from your Zhao clan."

The clan head Zhao Tiancang and the others exchanged glances.

If they were to choose the most outstanding talent, it could only be between Zhao Linlong and Zhao Feng.

However, Zhao Feng had just been placed under house arrest, suspected of colluding with the enemy, and was being neglected.

"Ha ha, can a mere Zhao clan not select the most outstanding talent?"

Master Ye sneered, his aura faintly appearing.

In an instant, the wind in the hall seemed to stagnate.

The clan head Zhao Tiancang and the others shivered, feeling an invisible pressure that made it hard to breathe.

"There... there is one." Zhao Tiancang quickly said, "Among the young generation of our clan, the one with the highest cultivation is my son, Zhao Linlong. He has already advanced to the sixth level of Martial Dao before the age of eighteen and has recently gained a slight understanding of the remnants of a Saint Realm martial art."

Zhao Linlong!

The other elders were slightly stunned, then nodded in agreement.

Indeed, in terms of cultivation, Zhao Linlong was the best among his peers.

Moreover, his recent understanding of the remnants of a Saint Realm martial art was something even veteran martial artists could not achieve.

"Hmm? Let him come out and see."

Master Ye's eyes showed a hint of interest.

"Bring Zhao Linlong!"

A loud voice echoed.

After a while,

Zhao Linlong, dressed in a loose golden robe, entered the clan hall and greeted the clan head and the elders.

When he saw that the person seated at the head of the hall was not the clan head, he was deeply shocked.

Moreover, the clan head and the elders were treating the man in the green robe with utmost respect.

"Hmm, advancing to the sixth level of Martial Dao before the age of eighteen is average."

Master Ye nodded slightly, but there was no surprise in his eyes.

Average?

Zhao Linlong felt frustrated but dared not show it.

The core members of the Zhao clan were also slightly taken aback, feeling a strong sense of defeat.

After all, in the entire Yuyang City, the only one to advance to the ninth level of Martial Dao before the age of eighteen was Zhao Linlong.

Of course, they did not know that Xin Wuheng and Zhao Feng also had sixth-level cultivation, with Xin Wuheng reaching the peak of the sixth level and both being younger than Zhao Linlong.

Zhao Linlong was already seventeen, approaching eighteen.

Zhao Feng, on the other hand, had just turned fourteen, and even if he only had fifth-level cultivation, his talent and potential were clearly above Zhao Linlong's.

"Show me your martial arts."

Master Ye said expressionlessly.

"Yes, Master Ye."

Zhao Linlong was filled with excitement.

From the looks of his adoptive father and others, he sensed that this was an opportunity to change his fate.

Cloud Shuttle Finger!

Zhao Linlong shouted and performed his most skilled top-level finger technique.

At the same time, he activated the peak-level "Shadow Step" technique.

During the demonstration, Zhao Linlong's momentum was impressive, each finger strike piercing the sky, and his steps were like a ghost, leaving multiple afterimages.

"Good! Good!"

The Zhao clan's elders nodded and cheered.

However, the expression of Master Ye, seated at the head of the hall, remained calm, showing no surprise or joy, and no one knew what he was thinking.