Chapter 222 - 220: Going Too Far

Chapter 222: Chapter 220: Going Too Far

Inside Qingyue Building, the largest restaurant in Purple Peak City, Chen Yuan had been patiently waiting for three days. At last, he saw the person he was looking for.

He was a young man in his early twenties. Though dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, he had a quiet, introverted demeanor and looked somewhat dejected.

The restaurant staff politely addressed him as Master Ouyang. Given his status, he should have taken a private room, but instead, he simply found a corner in Qingyue Building to eat by himself in silence.

This young man was Ouyang Yi, the only son of Ouyang Mingcheng, the head of the Ouyang Family’s fourth branch from Purple Peak Mountain.

In the future, the head of the Ouyang Family’s fourth branch, Ouyang Mingcheng, would choose to open the Daoist Palace Secret Realm not for any personal gain, but purely because the family’s main branch had become too tyrannical.

The Ouyang Family had suffered a devastating blow in its early years, leading to a severe loss of members. Thus, they were not a large clan with a huge population like the Shangguan Family, which was divided into a Direct Lineage and Side Branches.

Instead, they were divided into five branches, with each branch receiving an equal share of resources. If a Martial Artist from any branch showed talent, the entire clan would then spend a great deal to cultivate them.

It was precisely because of this system that the Ouyang Family gradually recovered from the brink of annihilation and became a major clan in Ji Province, considered a dominant force in the several Prefecture Cities surrounding Purple Peak Mountain.

However, ever since the Ouyang Family’s ancestor, Ouyang Xun, stepped into the Primordial Pill Realm and took control of the family, this rule had become a rule in name only.

At their lowest point, the Ouyang Family couldn’t even find a single Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist. They were only truly able to breathe a sigh of relief after Ouyang Xun, a Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster, emerged.

But while Ouyang Xun’s talent and strength were not weak, his character was utterly contemptible.

He was extremely selfish and insatiably greedy, willing to forsake righteousness for petty gains.

When profit was at stake, his judgment would be clouded. He was fickle and, despite being a Primordial Pill Realm Martial Arts Grandmaster, was a thorough scoundrel.

Take, for instance, the opening of the Valley God Palace’s branch Daoist Palace. He had clearly promised the Great Brightness Sect, but then turned around and betrayed them when the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect intervened.

It would have been one thing if he had just decisively sided with the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect. But who would have thought that Ouyang Xun would see his secret as a rare commodity to be hoarded, later even dragging the other Four Daoist Courts into the mess? This ultimately led to the Ouyang Family not even getting a sip of the soup.

Treating outsiders like this was one thing, but Ouyang Xun treated his own Ouyang Family members the same way.

He came from the family’s main branch, so he favored them in all matters. He ranked the five branches of the Ouyang Family by strength, clearly intending to make the main branch the true Direct Lineage while the other four became Side Branches.

By now, it could no longer be said that Ouyang Xun merely favored the main branch; he actively bullied and suppressed the other branches, causing the entire Ouyang Family to become divided and disloyal.

And Ouyang Yi’s fourth branch, having the fewest members, naturally became the main target of the main branch’s suppression.

Chen Yuan was currently observing Ouyang Yi from the shadows, contemplating how he should get acquainted with him.

Just then, three young men suddenly walked in from the entrance, heading straight for Ouyang Yi.

"Ouyang Yi, the Ancestral Rite is about to begin, and you still have the nerve to be eating here?

We’re supposed to perform a martial demonstration in front of all the Jianghu People attending the ceremony. I suggest you just give up now. Otherwise, with your pathetic skills, you’ll only embarrass our Ouyang Family!"

One of the young men sneered at Ouyang Yi. He was Ouyang Cheng, a disciple from the Ouyang Family’s main branch, who was used to being arrogant and domineering.

A flash of anger appeared in Ouyang Yi’s eyes, but he didn’t argue with them, simply continuing to eat in silence.

The Ouyang Family’s Ancestral Rite involved inviting some of the surrounding Jianghu Forces to observe. The younger generation of Ouyang disciples would all take the stage for a martial demonstration, intended to show the ancestors the vibrant vitality of the family’s youth.

All of the younger generation Ouyang disciples who participated in the demonstration would receive some rewards in the form of Elixirs and resources.

The first-place winner would even be rewarded with a rare treasure by the family. Of course, most of the time, that first-place prize went to someone from the Ouyang Family’s main branch.

Seeing Ouyang Yi ignore him, Ouyang Cheng acted as if he had been humiliated and, with a sudden palm strike, flipped Ouyang Yi’s table over.

Ouyang Yi couldn’t dodge in time and was splashed with soup, cutting an utterly pathetic figure.

"What are you doing!?" Ouyang Yi roared in anger.

"I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?"

Ouyang Cheng said coldly, "Ouyang Yi, don’t blame me for being blunt. You know what state your fourth branch is in. With strength like yours, getting on stage for the demonstration will only bring shame to our Ouyang Family!

If you know what’s good for you, you’ll withdraw from the demonstration and give the extra spot to someone who needs it. If you don’t, you’ll have a hard time from now on!"

The rule for the Ancestral Rite’s martial demonstration was that each branch had to select one young Martial Artist.

However, the main branch had many members and more young Martial Artists with outstanding strength, yet they still only had one spot.

That was why Ouyang Cheng wanted Ouyang Yi to voluntarily withdraw and give the spot to him.

Ouyang Yi glared at Ouyang Cheng but did not lash out.

’The Ancestor favors the main branch. If I fight them, not only will I get beaten up, but the Ancestor will also reprimand me afterward.

And it wouldn’t just be me; even my father would get caught in the crossfire and be reprimanded by the Ancestor along with me.’

At that moment, Chen Yuan suddenly raised an eyebrow slightly.

’Ouyang Yi’s strength isn’t great; his Cultivation is only at the Qi Casting Realm.

For someone of his age from a Martial Dao Family, this level of Cultivation can only be considered passable.

However, when he got angry just now, I sensed a trace of Dao Essence flowing within him. This power clearly shouldn’t belong to someone of his Realm, which is very strange.’

Seeing Ouyang Yi glaring at him, Ouyang Cheng snorted coldly. "Still dare to glare at me? You’re courting death!"

As his voice fell, he actually swung a slap at Ouyang Yi in front of so many outsiders.

Ouyang Yi obviously couldn’t bear being slapped in public. Just as he was about to dodge, a figure suddenly blocked his path, and a bloody light bloomed before him.

Ouyang Cheng’s slap landed on the bloody light as if hitting a rock. His hand immediately broke, and blood flowed freely.

Chen Yuan said faintly, "There’s a line one shouldn’t cross. You are all from the same clan, yet you act so excessively. Even I, an outsider, can’t stand to watch."

"Mind your own damn business! Causing trouble on Ouyang Family territory... are you courting death!?"

Ouyang Cheng stared at his injured palm, his eyes burning with rage.

Purple Peak City was the Ouyang Family’s sphere of influence. The local Prefect and the City Guard Captain were both related to the Ouyang Family by marriage, and nearly half of the businesses in the city were Ouyang Family properties.

To dare to strike an Ouyang Family member here was practically equivalent to provoking the entire Ouyang Family.

Just as Ouyang Cheng was about to attack, one of the Ouyang disciples behind him pulled his sleeve and whispered, "Third Brother, wait! This fellow has an extraordinary aura. He doesn’t look like an ordinary person.

The family’s Ancestral Rite is about to begin, and many people have been invited by the Ancestor to observe.

If this man is from one of the other forces attending the ceremony, wouldn’t fighting him be a slap in the Ancestor’s face, making our Ouyang Family seem arrogant and rude?"

This Ouyang disciple was more careful and considerate.

He held Ouyang Cheng back and cupped his fist toward Chen Yuan. "My friend, this is all my Ouyang Family’s private business. Is it right for an outsider like you to interfere?

May I ask your name and which sect you hail from? Please state your name, lest our elders know each other and a fight between us damages our cordial relations."

"Don’t worry, I have no connection to your Ouyang Family. I am Chen Jiutian, from the Ning Province Zhenwu Hall."

As soon as he said this, everyone—from the Ouyang Family members to the other Martial Artists in the restaurant—wore expressions of utter shock.

The higher the position on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, the slower the turnover usually was.

But recently, the name Chen Jiutian had been soaring up the Hidden Dragon Rankings, shaking the Jianghu of Qin Province.

Ji Province bordered Qin Province, so how could they not have heard of Chen Jiutian’s name?

In Qin Province, he had joined forces with Qin Suguang and Gu Lichuan to kill the Life-Restoring Saint Hand, Wu Daoquan, and thwart the Red Lotus Sect.

In one fell swoop, he had entered the top fourteen of the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Afterward, because he killed the Young Manor Master of Sword Worship Manor, Zhu Zhaoxiong, the manor dispatched over a hundred Condensing Truth Realm experts to surround and kill Chen Jiutian. Even Zhu Xinwu, a Grandmaster Realm expert, personally took action.

But in that battle, Chen Jiutian used the terrain of Fire Cloud Cave to his advantage, triggering the subterranean fire veins and incinerating them all to ash in one move!

This feat caused Chen Jiutian to rise another spot within a few days, and he now ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

In truth, this ranking was still a bit too low.

This was because no one had witnessed Chen Yuan’s true might when he fought one against a hundred inside Fire Cloud Cave, battling the Sword Worship Manor Martial Artists alone. They assumed that Chen Yuan’s ability to annihilate the Sword Worship Manor experts and Zhu Xinwu relied mainly on the Earth Fire Power, which was why he only rose by one rank.

Regardless, the results of that battle were utterly astounding.

What terrified everyone was not just Chen Jiutian’s strength, but also the ruthless methods he used in that one battle to wipe out over a hundred Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artists, plus a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

They weren’t sure which young prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Rankings had the most potential, but the one who had killed the most people was definitely this Chen Jiutian.

Upon hearing Chen Yuan’s name, the expressions of Ouyang Cheng and his two companions changed slightly.

The man came from Zhenwu Hall, one of the Seven Alliances of the World. He was the thirteenth-ranked young prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, and on top of that, he was a savage who had trapped and killed over a hundred Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artists in a single battle.

Just a moment ago, Ouyang Cheng had accused him of courting death. Now, it seemed he was right not to have attacked. If he had, the one courting death would have been Ouyang Cheng himself!

"So it’s Master Chen of Zhenwu Hall. It was all a misunderstanding. We were just fooling around amongst family. Master Chen, please continue your meal. We won’t be an eyesore any longer."

Ouyang Cheng was too embarrassed to back down, but his companion was sharp enough to pull him away immediately.

After they left, Ouyang Yi cupped his fist toward Chen Yuan gratefully. "Many thanks to Master Chen for righting an injustice and lending a hand."

"Don’t mention it. I just can’t stand to see people bully others like that."

Chen Yuan waved his hand. "There’s a line one shouldn’t cross. To be so aggressive with your own clansmen is going too far.

Also, there’s no need to call me ’Master.’ We’re around the same age; you can just call me ’brother’."

Ouyang Yi fell silent.

’This wasn’t even the worst of it.

They were actually somewhat restrained out here. Back within the clan, the people from the Ouyang Family’s main branch were even more outrageous.’