Chapter 116: The Eastern Overlord

Under the watchful eyes of the young master of the Zhang family and the most beautiful woman in Huanglong, Xu Xuan took a deep breath and slowly stood up. "Regarding joining the Zhang family, I’m afraid I cannot agree."

His response stunned Zhang Feng and Zhang Yuhan, completely unexpected.

The Zhang family was one of the top prominent families in Huanglong City—a colossal force compared to small villages or minor sects.

Yet now, a mere youth had decisively refused their invitation.

“Brother Xu, how could you refuse such a great opportunity? Don’t you desire the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer?” Zhang Feng could not understand and looked disappointed.

Zhang Yuhan’s elegant and refined face showed surprise and curiosity for the first time. “If I’m not mistaken, Fengyu Sect is just an insignificant minor sect in Huanglong City. The Blood of the Three Spirit Deer is vital to you, and our clan would never trade such precious spiritual blood to outsiders. I offered you a chance to gain twice the benefit just for my brother’s sake, yet you refused... I must know why.”

Xu Xuan stood, a strange gleam flashing in his eyes. “I have little sentiment for Fengyu Sect, but since joining, I have received protection, enjoyed superior cultivation conditions, earned rewards through effort, and gained cherished senior and junior brothers and sisters, as well as respected friends. The sect has never wronged me. If I were to betray it now, abandoning it for a stronger force, that would violate my principles—‘If others do not wrong me, I will not wrong them; if others wrong me, I will punish them to death.’”

“Well said—‘If others do not wrong me, I will not wrong them!’” Zhang Feng’s eyes shone with admiration, but he seemed less agreeable to the latter half.

Zhang Yuhan was moved as well, regarding the youth with a new gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Is it merely about principles? Is that more important than saving a family member’s life?”

“The Blood of the Three Spirit Deer—I am confident that, with my own strength, I will obtain it soon enough. But to use it as a bargaining chip to make me betray my sect and join another force, binding me and making me a puppet—that would be true sorrow.”

At that, Xu Xuan exhaled deeply, feeling relieved.

To accept Zhang Yuhan’s offer would mean trading himself as a pawn, shackled to the Zhang family, forced to serve them without freedom.

“Well said—exactly my thoughts, Brother Xu. You’re the kind of friend I want to keep,” Zhang Feng said, patting Xu Xuan’s shoulder with genuine warmth.

“I understand,” Zhang Yuhan nodded, a hint of something flickering in her beautiful eyes, as if pondering. This youth, though seemingly mature and unshaken, harbored a deep-seated pride and an incredible confidence.

Where did such confidence come from?

“I admire your character. However, I regret to say that the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer cannot be traded to you,” Zhang Yuhan’s face, as beautiful as a sinking fish, rarely showed a playful smile. “But I will watch closely to see how Xu Xianshi will obtain it through his own strength.”

She remained noncommittal; after all, a minor sect disciple—even with good potential—boasting so boldly was somewhat arrogant.

Xu Xuan smiled faintly, probably understanding her thoughts, but he always followed his heart.

For a moment, the small VIP room fell into a brief silence.

Zhang Feng couldn’t bear it and pleaded, “Yuhan, I know that if you step in, this matter will surely be settled. For my sake, please make an exception this once. Brother Xu won’t skimp on the spirit stones anyway.”

“Regardless of whether he can buy the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer, doing so would violate my principles as a daughter of the Zhang family.”

Zhang Yuhan rose gracefully, her bright eyes flashing a smile as she glanced at Xu Xuan, then prepared to leave.

“Hahaha... The Blood of the Three Spirit Deer? Miss Zhang, who do you think you’re negotiating with?” A reckless male laughter echoed from outside, followed by a maid’s shriek: “Young Master Dongfang, please wait a moment. Let me inform the others.”

“Get lost!” The maid screamed, then was slapped and sent flying.

A tall, imposing purple-haired man strode into the room.

“Dongfang Ba! What do you mean by this? How dare you barge into the VIP building,” Zhang Feng’s face darkened with anger.

Dongfang Ba?

Xu Xuan’s heart jolted sharply as he studied the purple-haired man—square face, large ears, broad shoulders, dressed in a luxurious purple dragon-patterned robe, eyes fierce and unrestrained!

Young Master Dongfang... Dongfang Ba... was this the beast who had crippled his father’s legs?

Xu Xuan’s breathing tightened, a fierce anger and killing intent rising within, but he quickly suppressed it.

“Hahaha! VIP building? Am I, the proud Young Master Dongfang, not qualified to enter here?” Dongfang Ba’s purple hair stood on end as his gaze flashed like cold lightning, an invisible, overwhelming divine consciousness pressure shrouding the entire VIP room.

The oppressive aura surpassed the level of a Qi Refining Immortal Master, making everyone present struggle to breathe.

“When did you advance to the Divine Refinement stage?” Zhang Feng exclaimed in shock. Previously, Dongfang Ba’s cultivation was roughly equal to his, but now Dongfang Ba’s Divine Refinement level completely outclassed him.

“Of course, the Young Master Dongfang has the right to enter the VIP room, but this kind of brazen behavior is beneath the Dongfang family’s dignity,” Zhang Yuhan’s graceful brows knitted slightly, her poetic, clear eyes showing displeasure.

At that moment, two Divine Refinement level divine consciousness pressures emanated from Zhang Tianling Tower, obviously from Zhang family experts, forcing Dongfang Ba to restrain himself somewhat.

“Sigh, Sister Yuhan, I’ve just been missing you and Brother Zhang too much,” Dongfang Ba plopped down on a stool, two young followers walking in behind him.

“Ah!” Xu Xuan’s gaze landed on one youth beside Dongfang Ba, and his expression changed: Brother Jiang!

One of the youths behind Dongfang Ba was the Fengyu Sect traitor, Brother Jiang.

Seeing Xu Xuan, Brother Jiang also gave a startled exclamation.

“You know each other?” Dongfang Ba asked curiously.

“This is a junior brother from Fengyu Sect,” Brother Jiang said with a forced smile.

“Fengyu Sect disciple?” Dongfang Ba’s eyes suddenly flashed sharply, locking onto Xu Xuan.

Suddenly, the divine consciousness pressure of a Divine Refinement Immortal Master, as weighty as Mount Tai, pressed down on Xu Xuan.

Reaching Divine Refinement level allows one to wield divine consciousness—a mysterious power with celestial hearing and earthly sight, surpassing physical cultivation and seizing the creation of heaven and earth.

Facing this pressure, Xu Xuan’s heart steadied. His primordial energy surged forth from flesh and bones, generating a powerful spiritual deterrence that attached to his body.

In an instant, a low hum like a dragon’s roar vibrated faintly around him. His own body possessed boundless divine might, repelling the external spiritual oppression.

“Dongfang Ba, stop! Brother Xu is a honored guest of our Zhang family,” Zhang Feng shouted angrily.

“Ah, I didn’t expect you to be a martial cultivator with such a unique martial art and even comprehend your own martial will,” Dongfang Ba showed surprise, then quickly withdrew his divine consciousness.

Xu Xuan breathed a slight sigh of relief—it was his first spiritual confrontation with a Divine Refinement Immortal Master, even if only tentative.

Hearing Dongfang Ba’s words, a flicker of astonishment passed through Zhang Yuhan’s delicate eyes. She hadn’t realized Xu Xuan was such a gifted martial cultivator, capable of impressing one of Huanglong City’s top prodigies. Had she known this, she might have agreed to trade the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer earlier. Such a talent would surely become a formidable figure in the future, and forging friendship with him would benefit the family greatly.

But now it was too late. Dongfang Ba, reading the situation, smiled broadly. “Young brother, with your martial talent, why not join my Dongfang family with Brother Jiang? Together, we’ll conquer the world. I guarantee you’ll live in luxury. As for the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer, once you agree, I’ll give it to you immediately.”

At this, Zhang Yuhan and Zhang Feng’s faces changed. They hadn’t expected Dongfang Ba to start undermining them so soon after arriving.

“Sorry, I’m living comfortably in Fengyu Sect and have no intention of stirring trouble in Huanglong City,” Xu Xuan sneered internally, suspecting Dongfang Ba had no idea about their deep enmity.

“Of course, if you’re willing to trade the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer, I would be most grateful,” Xu Xuan added, unwilling to forgo any chance to obtain it.

Dongfang Ba was about to reply when Brother Jiang whispered urgently in his ear, “Given the current situation, make sure this brat never returns alive to Fengyu Sect.”

Brother Jiang spoke under a soundproof seal, so no one else could hear unless they had Divine Refinement cultivation.

Xu Xuan noticed Dongfang Ba’s gaze suddenly turn cold, revealing a hint of murderous intent.

He thought: Could Dongfang Ba really dare to attack me openly? Given my current ties with the Zhang family’s young master, I doubt he would be so reckless.

“Kid, you want the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer, right? I’ll give you a chance,” Dongfang Ba said sternly.

Xu Xuan replied with interest but remained cautious, suspecting Dongfang Ba wouldn’t dare act openly and would have some trick up his sleeve.

“Let’s make a bet. I’m very interested in your martial art. If you can hold out a few moves against me, I’ll give you a bottle of the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer for free,” Dongfang Ba said, staring at the youth.

“Heh,” Xu Xuan smiled silently.

“Dongfang Ba, what kind of bet is this? You’re a Divine Refinement Immortal Master, and he’s only a fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivator. What are you scheming?” Zhang Feng sneered angrily.

“This...” Dongfang Ba faltered, and even his two subordinates looked embarrassed.

“Young master, why don’t I fight for you?” A man in dark clothes slowly stepped forward, emanating strong true energy, apparently at the seventh level of Qi Refinement.

A seventh-level Qi Refinement martial cultivator!

“Kid, now here’s the deal: if you can last a hundred rounds without losing against my subordinate, I’ll give you a bottle of the Blood of the Three Spirit Deer for free. Of course, he’s a bit stronger than you by two levels, but in this world, if you want to gain something, you must take risks,” Dongfang Ba said with a sinister smile.

Xu Xuan’s heart stirred slightly. This wager was worth trying.

“Brother Xu, don’t agree to this! The man in dark clothes, nicknamed ‘Ghost Wind,’ is one of Dongfang Ba’s most ruthless and formidable martial cultivators. Even cultivators at the same seventh level of Qi Refinement give him wide berth,” Zhang Feng urged anxiously, his face serious, fearing Xu Xuan might impulsively accept.

(Second update, a few minutes later. Next chapter: The Great Outburst!)