Chapter 81

"Hey, aren't you friends from the Star Cloud Pavilion? Have you found anything interesting these past few days?"

Yan Qingsong suddenly appeared from behind a stone pillar, grinning as he saw Tu Ze, Zhuo Qian, and the others, and began to tease them.

Behind him, Yan Ziqian, Feng Kai, and others, as well as Nuano from the Water Moon Sect, also emerged, all glancing at Tu Ze and his group.

Tu Ze and his companions were hiding behind a large, dark green stone, with the stones piled up to form a peak, and a narrow stone path running through the middle.

The location of the three second-stage spirit beasts was a few miles behind the stone path. Yan Qingsong and his group could take a slight detour to reach them, so they didn't necessarily have to go through that path.

Yan Qingsong knew this, but he deliberately chose this route, clearly with a hidden agenda.

When Nuano from the Water Moon Sect saw Yan Ziqian and Tu Ze meet again, she couldn't help but smirk, showing a look of interest. She waved to the sisters behind her to stop, clearly wanting to watch the show.

"Feng Kai, which way should we go?" Feng Kai asked with a frown, deliberately.

Yan Qingsong pointed to the stone path behind Tu Ze, his expression natural, "It's right behind them."

"Move out of the way!"

Yan Ziqian, with a cold face, drew the Ice Dragon Sword from its scabbard. As the silver-white blade emerged, a cold and icy aura immediately spread out.

Frosty white mist flowed from his palm, blending mysteriously with the Ice Dragon Sword.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a faint white mark in the shape of a dragon within the sword, appearing and disappearing.

Holding the Ice Dragon Sword, Yan Ziqian led the way, walking straight toward Tu Ze with a cold expression.

Feng Kai and Yan Qingsong, along with the other martial artists from the Shattered Ice Manor, followed with ill intentions, secretly grasping their spirit weapons, their eyes filled with provocation.

Because they had gained the upper hand in recent confrontations, they all wanted to show off in front of the girls from the Water Moon Sect, hoping for another fight.

"Nuano, do you think they will fight?" One of the girls from the Water Moon Sect asked, her delicate face showing excitement. "It's strange, the Shattered Ice Manor and the Star Cloud Pavilion are both subordinate forces of the Senluo Hall, and they are even in the same city. Why are they at odds with each other?"

"I don't know if they will fight, but I do know a bit about what you're asking," Nuano said calmly. As she watched the two groups approach each other, she raised her fine eyebrows and smiled faintly. "Before, there was no Star Cloud Pavilion in Ice Rock City. Both the South and North Cities were under the Shattered Ice Manor. Yes, the Ice Rock City used to belong solely to the Shattered Ice Manor."

The few beautiful girls behind her all listened attentively, their eyes bright.

"Back then, the Shattered Ice Manor was not a subordinate force of the Senluo Hall but a vassal of the Black Iron-level force, the Mystic Ice Palace. The Senluo Hall and the Mystic Ice Palace fought for many years, and in the end, the Senluo Hall emerged victorious. The Mystic Ice Palace gradually declined, and the Shattered Ice Manor, as a subordinate force of the Mystic Ice Palace, was naturally targeted during the conflict."

Nuano's expression became serious, "Tu Ze's father, Tu Shixiong, founded the Star Cloud Pavilion in a small town outside Ice Rock City, which was a minor force, not even at the Green Stone level. However, he performed outstandingly in the battle, leading his subordinates into Ice Rock City and successfully helping the Senluo Hall defeat the resistance of the Shattered Ice Manor."

"Seeing the decline of the Mystic Ice Palace and unable to resist the Senluo Hall, the Shattered Ice Manor had no choice but to submit. Due to Tu Shixiong's great contributions, the Star Cloud Pavilion was promoted to the Green Stone level. The Senluo Hall, fearing that the Shattered Ice Manor might have ulterior motives, allowed the Star Cloud Pavilion to establish itself in Ice Rock City, co-managing the city with the Shattered Ice Manor."

"Many people from the Shattered Ice Manor died at the hands of Tu Shixiong, and half of the city, which originally belonged to them, was given to the Star Cloud Pavilion as a base. Do you think the people of the Shattered Ice Manor wouldn't hate the Star Cloud Pavilion?"

Nuano explained the reason, "So, in the years that followed, although both sides belonged to the Senluo Hall, they secretly competed and fought, never stopping. As the number of deaths increased, the enmity between the two sides deepened, and now even the Senluo Hall can't resolve it."

"I see," the girls understood.

"It doesn't matter to us," Nuano smiled easily. "We just need to watch the show. Let them fight as they please; I enjoy watching them struggle, the more intense the better."

"Right, right," the girl behind her quickly forgot the grudge between the Shattered Ice Manor and the Star Cloud Pavilion, cheering loudly.

"Move out of the way!"

Yan Ziqian, holding the Ice Dragon Sword, surrounded by frosty white mist, stopped in front of Tu Ze and said coldly.

A cold and icy aura spread from the Ice Dragon Sword, the dragon-shaped mark inside the sword becoming clearer, as if about to leap out of the blade...

Tu Ze felt the wound on his chest throb slightly. He gritted his teeth, his expression fierce, taking deep breaths to calm himself down.

He suddenly closed his eyes, avoiding the mocking look on Yan Ziqian's face, and said in a low voice, "Let's go."

He led the way, leaving the stone path behind.

"Go!" Zhuo Qian lowered her head, tugging at Han Feng's sleeve, pulling him away.

Han Feng's eyes were bloodshot, his body trembling like a wild animal on the brink of despair, as if he would explode at any moment.

If not for Zhuo Qian's firm grip and her constant whispers to calm him down, the handsome Han Feng might have lashed out in anger.

Kang Zhi and Chu Peng, along with others, also endured the humiliation, their faces grim, following Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian with their heads down.

They gave up the fruit they had discovered first.

"Disappointing."

"Is this really Tu Ze? Is this really Zhuo Qian?"

"It wasn't like this before."

"Such cowards."

"..."

The martial artists from the Shattered Ice Manor watched them leave with cold eyes, mocking and provoking them deliberately.

"Poor things..." A girl from the Water Moon Sect named Xiaque couldn't bear to watch, shaking her head and sighing, "Tu Ze and Yan Ziqian are at the same cultivation level. If neither of them uses spirit weapons, their strength is actually about the same. Sigh, Tu Ze just has bad luck, without a powerful spirit weapon, he wouldn't suffer such humiliation."

"I heard that Tu Ze has failed four times, and Zhuo Qian has failed three times," Nuano frowned. "To gather enough spirit materials for them, their fathers have gone to great lengths, owing many favors in the Senluo Hall. It's really bad luck that they've failed so many times. It seems they just have bad fate."

"To say they have good fate, Nuano is truly impressive, succeeding on her first try," a girl said admiringly.

Nuano raised her eyebrows, pulling out a white jade ruler from her sleeve, and said proudly, "Your sister Nuano is truly destined for greatness. Master Lu not only succeeded in refining this 'Formless Ruler' in one attempt but also said it was his masterpiece. Sometimes... luck is also a part of strength!"

Nuano lightly waved the Formless Ruler, creating layers of white ruler shadows, dazzling to the eye.

"Yan Ziqian's Ice Dragon Sword is just a seventh-grade ordinary spirit weapon, while my Formless Ruler is a first-grade mystic spirit weapon! There's a fundamental difference! Ordinary spirit weapons are generally only useful up to the late Open Heaven Realm, and when one breaks through to the Ten Thousand Phenomena Realm, they often need to switch to a mystic spirit weapon."

Her face showed arrogance, "When Yan Ziqian breaks through to the Ten Thousand Phenomena Realm, the Ice Dragon Sword will no longer be useful and will become a barrier to his strength. My Formless Ruler, however, can still be used even if I break through to the Ten Thousand Phenomena Realm! This is the difference, and the reason why Yan Ziqian dares not provoke me!"

The girls behind her were all envious, their eyes burning with desire as they looked at the jade ruler in her hand.

"Nuano, we can continue on our way," Yan Ziqian called from a distance, his cold expression gone, replaced by a warm smile, "Together, our two groups can definitely kill the three second-stage spirit beasts and gain great rewards."

When dealing with Nuano, he was humble and polite, partly because of her beauty, but mainly because of her astonishing strength.

"Sure, you lead the way. It's disappointing that you didn't fight," Nuano seemed bored.

"It's Tu Ze's fault," Yan Ziqian laughed, then signaled for Yan Qingsong to take the lead, while he and Feng Kai stayed behind, mixing with the girls from the Water Moon Sect, laughing and chatting as they crossed the stone path, heading deeper into the stone forest.

...

After Tu Ze, Zhuo Qian, and the others gave up the stone path, they went to the other side, their faces dark, and no one spoke.

They had been silent for a long time.

"Whoosh!"

A dark cloud passed over their heads, heading in the direction they had just left.

They didn't notice.

Half an hour later, Gao Yu suddenly appeared. The ghost face ring on his hand glowed with a dark light, emitting a strong mental wave.

Gao Yu's face was dark, his brows furrowed, sensing the mental wave from the ghost face ring and identifying the direction, he walked toward the stone path that Yan Ziqian and Nuano had crossed.

He saw Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian but ignored them, not saying a word.

"Gao Yu!"

Kang Zhi, hearing the sound, suddenly looked up and called out.

Zhuo Qian and Tu Ze, emerging from their gloom, frowned when they saw Gao Yu heading toward the stone path.

They were not familiar with Gao Yu, and because they had heard that he had once brutally killed a girl, Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian viewed Gao Yu as an outcast, psychologically rejecting him.

Gao Yu himself was extremely reclusive in the Star Cloud Pavilion, only interacting with Qin Lie, and not with anyone else his age.

Gao Yu was also vengeful, and he would severely injure anyone who spoke ill of him behind his back. If not for Ye Yangqiu's protection, Gao Yu's extreme actions would have been severely punished by the Punishment Hall.

Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian had no good feelings toward Gao Yu, but he was still a member of the Star Cloud Pavilion. Seeing that he might encounter Yan Ziqian and others, Tu Ze quickly warned, "Gao Yu, don't go that way. Yan Ziqian, Feng Kai, and Yan Qingsong from the Shattered Ice Manor are all there. You'll be in danger if you go alone!"

Gao Yu stopped, turned to look at Tu Ze, and his already dark face became even more sinister, "Yan Qingsong is there too?"

At the Tianlang Mountain, Yan Qingsong had cut off the head of one of Gao Yu's cousins in front of him. Gao Yu had long considered Yan Qingsong his number one target for revenge. Hearing that Yan Qingsong was there, the scene flashed in his mind, and his dark side instantly reached its peak.

Gao Yu's gaze made Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian feel uneasy. "Yes, Yan Qingsong is there, along with Feng Kai and a few others from the Shattered Ice Manor," Tu Ze replied.

"Understood." Gao Yu nodded, then ignored Tu Ze and the others, his face dark, and his speed increased as he headed straight for the stone path.

"Is this guy crazy? We told him the Shattered Ice Manor people are there, and he still wants to go to his death?" Kang Zhi immediately cursed.

"He's insane!" Chu Peng also frowned, "Who does he think he is? He's only at the ninth level of the Artisan Realm. What is he going to do there? Is he looking for death?"

Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian also looked grim, angered by Gao Yu's actions, thinking he was mentally unstable.

"What should we do?" Zhuo Qian stomped her foot, her face showing frustration, "He's definitely going to die. Yan Ziqian and the others won't let him go. This guy is like a mad dog. How did Qin Lie even know him?"

"He knows Qin Lie?" Tu Ze was surprised.

He had either been in seclusion or seeking Master Lu at the Senluo Hall for refining, so he wasn't aware of what was happening in the pavilion.

"Yes, Qin Lie is his only friend in the pavilion. They often spar in the combat room. I can't understand why Qin Lie, such a smart person, would be friends with this psychologically twisted guy. When I get back, I'll have a serious talk with him!" Zhuo Qian gritted her teeth.

"Regardless, Gao Yu is still a member of our Star Cloud Pavilion, and he's Qin Lie's friend. We can't let him die just because he's mentally unstable. We can't stand by and do nothing," Tu Ze said grimly, clenching his teeth, "Let's go! We'll follow him!"

"Brother Tu? You?" Kang Zhi was stunned.

They had just been humiliated by Yan Ziqian and his group and were trying to avoid conflict. Now, Tu Ze was willing to risk more humiliation for Gao Yu?

Kang Zhi couldn't understand or accept it.

He knew that if Tu Ze faced Yan Ziqian again, he would still be at a disadvantage and only invite more humiliation.

They would also suffer, possibly getting injured again.

"If we go back, we might suffer a bit, but if we're cautious, it won't be a big problem. At worst, I'll add another scar to my chest..." Tu Ze said bitterly, "But if we don't go back, Gao Yu will definitely die! He's a member of our Star Cloud Pavilion, and I, Tu, will never stand by and let anyone kill a member of the Star Cloud Pavilion!"

Tu Ze turned back without hesitation.

Zhuo Qian, Kang Zhi, and the others, their eyes red, said nothing, clenching their fists and following him.

They knew that going back would lead to a bad outcome, that they would suffer and be humiliated...

But they all turned back!

...

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