"You came to find me as soon as I emerged from seclusion, Ye Han. Your news travels fast." Jiang Sheng's expression turned cold upon seeing Ye Han, a direct descendant of the Ye clan.
The Peach Blossom Domain bordered the Myriad Beast Domain, and friction between the two races was common. Ye Han, a direct descendant of the Ye clan, had a particularly bad relationship with Jiang Sheng.
"Young Master Jiang, don't be so narcissistic," Ye Han sneered. "Someone like you, from a collateral line, I'd rather avoid."
Hearing the words "collateral line," Jiang Sheng slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Ye Han and roaring, "What exactly do you want!"
"If you want to fight, I just broke through to the second stage, upper realm. If you're not afraid of death, I'm happy to oblige!"
At these words, Ye Han's face froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected that Jiang Sheng would actually break through to the second stage, upper realm, after three months of seclusion, putting him a minor realm ahead.
"You, from a collateral line, truly have decent talent," Ye Han said calmly, then his tone shifted abruptly. "But the problem is, can you, alone, defeat all of us!"
Jiang Sheng glanced at the people standing beside Ye Han. Their faces were familiar; they were Ye Han's friends, and their strength was comparable to his own.
"What, in broad daylight, you dare to lay a hand on me?" Jiang Sheng scoffed, pointing at Ye Han. "Although I'm from a collateral line, I've managed to catch the old man's eye a few times with my talent and effort. As for you, despite being a direct descendant, unfortunately, even your third uncle barely remembers you, doesn't he?"
Jiang Sheng's expression was steady, and his words carried full confidence. "Let me tell you, Ye Han, if you touch me here today, I guarantee that tomorrow, your Ye clan will break your legs and personally come to my Jiang family to apologize!"
"You!" Ye Han's anger instantly flared to its peak. He wished he could order his men to immediately cripple Jiang Sheng, but he knew he couldn't bear the consequences of such an action.
"Speaking of coming to apologize, your Ye clan seems to be quite familiar with it lately," Qian Qian said at this moment, standing up from his seat.
"What do you mean?" Jiang Sheng was taken aback and quickly asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Your Ye clan has been looking for someone recently, named Xu Mu, I believe," Qian Qian said, raising his wine glass towards Ye Han with a hint of mockery. "This Xu Mu, we don't know where he's from, was knocked out by a sandstorm and then rescued by Miss Yu from Black Horn City."
"Then, by chance, Black Horn City was vying for a beast mine. This Xu Mu, to repay the kindness, got involved. However, the opposing family hired a direct descendant of the Ye clan, Ye Que, to assist them."
"Ye Que, is that the Ye Que who secured a qualification for the Myriad Races Assembly in advance?" Jiang Sheng asked, surprised.
While the name Ye Que wasn't particularly renowned, such geniuses were rare. Their Jiang family bordered the Ye family, so they naturally had more information.
"That's right, it's that Ye Que. He was probably eyeing their beast mine, looking to make some personal fortune. With his strength, it should have been a sure thing, but in the end, he lost, and lost miserably."
Qian Qian smacked his lips and continued:
"After Ye Que lost, his fourth stage guardian tried to retaliate, but was directly reduced to ashes by Xu Mu's Natal Demon Beast. Ye Que himself was abducted, and the priceless Dragon Seeking Ruler was also stolen. His whereabouts remain unknown."
"This… How is this possible? Someone he casually picked up could defeat Ye Que and kill a fourth stage guardian?" Jiang Sheng was completely astonished. He had been in seclusion for too long and knew nothing of these events.
Although he wanted to see the Ye clan suffer, he couldn't comprehend this situation.
If Xu Mu was so powerful, how was he knocked out by a sandstorm and then rescued by people from a small city?
"Who knows? The Ye clan also finds it incredible, which is why they issued a wanted order, but they still haven't found him. Then, another coincidence occurred: Xu Mu's attire was also plain cloth and a dark saber, and he was holding a white tiger that resembled a tabby cat," Qian Qian smiled and continued.
"In that case, could the mysterious saber-wielding individual who rescued those slave laborers be that Xu Mu?!" Jiang Sheng asked excitedly.
Hearing this, Xu Mu and Qiong Qi, who were standing nearby, instantly tensed up.
"Who knows," Qian Qian shrugged. "The world is vast, it could just be a coincidence."
"And as you said, the Ye clan simply can't believe that someone knocked out by a small sandstorm could possess such strength, nor can they believe that the one who rescued thousands of slave laborers is that Xu Mu. But since the seed of doubt has been planted, they naturally have to search."
Qian Qian: "And because there are cultivators dressed like that all over the streets, the Ye clan has wrongly apprehended many people recently. Among them were direct descendants of some prominent families. Under pressure, the Ye clan people ultimately had to go to their homes to apologize."
"Oh, so it seems your Ye clan is indeed quite familiar with the act of coming to apologize," Jiang Sheng said, nodding with satisfaction after hearing the entire story. He then suppressed a smile and looked towards Ye Han.
At this moment, Ye Han's face was already masked by an undisguised killing intent.
"You dare to discuss my Ye clan's affairs? Do you want to die!" Ye Han roared, leaping from his spot. His folding fan transformed into sharp spikes, aiming to take Qian Qian's life.
"He's my friend. You want to die by harming him!" Jiang Sheng blocked Qian Qian, golden energy condensing on his fist. With a resounding impact, he sent Ye Han staggering back several steps.
"With just this much strength, you dare to come looking for trouble with me," Jiang Sheng said disdainfully, slowly lowering his fist. He appeared calm and effortless, but only Xu Mu noticed that Jiang Sheng's seemingly casually hanging hand was trembling slightly.
"This Qian Qian is not simple," Qiong Qi narrowed his eyes. He also noticed that Qian Qian had shown no panic when Ye Han made his move, as if he was fully confident and unafraid of this direct descendant of the Ye clan.
"Jiang Sheng, I'll tell you the truth, you won't be jumping around for much longer!" Ye Han staggered to regain his footing, then pointed at Jiang Sheng and said sternly, "You don't know yet, do you? Your useless father, in his search for that mysterious saber-wielder, has almost bankrupted himself, spent all your family's money, and even incurred significant debt. He's currently confessing his sins in the ancestral shrine!"
"What!" Jiang Sheng's face changed drastically. He immediately turned to Qian Qian, his gaze sharp, and asked, "Is what he's saying true?"
Qian Qian's scalp tingled, and he stammered, "Uh, this, it's true."
"Then why didn't you tell me, you damned fool! You invited me for drinks as soon as I came out of seclusion!" Jiang Sheng grabbed Qian Qian's collar and roared in anger.
"This, it wasn't me who wanted to find you. Your father asked me to keep it from you," Qian Qian said, his face full of helplessness. "The preliminary selection matches for the Myriad Races Assembly begin in ten days. He didn't want these matters to affect your state."
"To hell with the Myriad Races Assembly! If I can't even take care of my own father, what's the point of living!" Jiang Sheng's expression stiffened. He then released Qian Qian's collar, turned around without hesitation, and angrily strode towards the stairs, facing the Ye clan members.
"Get out of the way!" Jiang Sheng pushed them aside unceremoniously and then rushed down the stairs like lightning, heading home.
Seeing Jiang Sheng leave so abruptly, Ye Han and the others' expressions turned even uglier. They then shifted their gaze to Qian Qian.
"Fool who doesn't know when to quit. You dare to wear this outfit? Don't you know my Ye clan is currently hunting down people dressed like this!"
Qian Qian, while eating meat and smacking his lips, nodded and replied, "I know. So what?"
"So, I suspect you are Xu Mu, and I'm taking you back to the Ye clan for interrogation!" Ye Han sneered. He couldn't use force against Jiang Sheng, but surely he could handle an unknown rogue cultivator?
"Young Master Ye, over there… there's another one." The people behind Ye Han released their spiritual pressure, preparing to apprehend Qian Qian. At this moment, they noticed Xu Mu on the other side.
His attire was also plain cloth and a dark saber, and he had a white cat beside him.
"Hmph, hmph. You can only blame yourself for being blind and choosing the wrong outfit," Ye Han sneered, then waved his hand and roared, "Grab this kid too! Everyone, attack together!"