Chapter 172 - 172
Chapter 172: Stirrings in the Zhao and Xue Families
Seeing that Lu Xunxian was about to speak, Luo Qianxue hastily cut him off.
"You don't need to answer right away. Answer whenever you're ready."
"Anyway — I need to go prepare for tomorrow's match."
With that, Luo Qianxue practically fled the scene.
Lu Xunxian shook his head with a wry smile.
He had actually been about to accept Luo Qianxue's offer, but the girl had turned him down before he could.
"Forget it. Once the Tiansheng Grand Tournament is over, I'll confess to her myself."
Elsewhere, Zhao Xiaoyi and Xu Rou were also performing exceptionally well. After all, Saint Monarchs had always been exceedingly rare in previous Tiansheng Grand Tournaments, and both of them had been personally instructed by Lu Xunxian, making them far stronger than typical cultivators of the same rank.
This time, they were all but guaranteed to secure impressive placements in the Tiansheng Grand Tournament.
Meanwhile, in the Zhao Family estate in the Eastern Region.
"What? We've received word that Xiaoyi entered the Tiansheng Grand Tournament?"
Zhao Wuji listened to his clansman's report, a look of shock spreading across his face.
"That's correct. According to the intelligence we received, the Eldest Young Lady entered the Tiansheng Grand Tournament and has already secured an impressive placement."
"Furthermore, it appears the Eldest Young Lady has broken through to the Saint Monarch Realm."
The clansman delivered the report cautiously, though he sounded somewhat skeptical toward the end.
After all, he was well aware of the Eldest Young Lady's talent. Breaking through to the Saint Monarch Realm so quickly still seemed rather implausible.
But Zhao Wuji harbored no such doubts. He rose to his feet with a roaring laugh.
"Wonderful! I always knew my daughter had the talent. Send for my eldest brother!"
Zhao Wuji was not the eldest of his generation — he was the sixth.
However, his extraordinary aptitude for managing family affairs was what had ultimately earned him the position of Family Head.
Upon receiving the summons, Zhao Wutian hurried to his side.
"Sixth Brother, what did you need me for?"
Zhao Wuji and Zhao Wutian shared an excellent private relationship, so there was no need for stiff formalities.
And Zhao Wuji saw no reason to hide anything from his eldest brother. He quickly relayed the news that Zhao Xiaoyi had appeared at the Tiansheng Grand Tournament and had broken through to the Saint Monarch Realm.
Hearing this, Zhao Wutian couldn't help but share in his younger brother's joy.
"Hahaha, that's wonderful news! So what exactly did you call me here for?"
"I intend to go to the Tiansheng Grand Tournament to cheer Xiaoyi on in person. I'll leave clan affairs in your hands while I'm gone."
"Absolutely not. This is a matter of great importance — it requires careful deliberation."
Zhao Wutian advised against it.
After all, the Zhao Family was in a period of rapid growth. It couldn't afford to be without its Family Head for even a single day.
Zhao Wuji realized he had overlooked that point. He patted Zhao Wutian's shoulder and said, "In that case, I'll leave it to you, big brother. And while you're there, tell Xiaoyi that we all fully support her."
But before Zhao Wutian could agree, Li Xianling came rushing in from the side.
"Husband, I heard there's news about Xiaoyi?"
She noticed Zhao Wutian standing nearby and greeted him politely. "Big brother."
"Ah, perfect timing, dear. In that case, why don't you accompany big brother to the Tiansheng Grand Tournament to cheer Xiaoyi on?"
"As for me, there's too much to handle here. I really need to find the right moment to step down as Clan Chief."
Zhao Wuji spoke with complete seriousness.
He had never truly wanted the position. It was only the pleas of many that had compelled him to accept the role.
Now that the Zhao Family had grown so powerful, it was time for him to step aside.
Neither Zhao Wutian nor Li Xianling objected.
They could both see that Zhao Wuji hadn't been happy since becoming Clan Chief.
"Alright, off you go. And if possible, bring Xiaoyi back to me once the Tiansheng Grand Tournament is over."
"She's already reached the Saint Monarch Realm at her age. I doubt even the Patriarchs would insist on forcing her into a marriage alliance now."
Zhao Wuji waved them off.
A Saint Monarch under five hundred years of age was all but guaranteed to break through to the Saint Emperor Realm, with an extremely high chance of eventually ascending to the Immortal Realm.
Only a fool would waste a prodigy of that caliber on a marriage alliance.
After Zhao Wutian agreed, he set off for the Central Plains with Li Xianling.
The news reached the Xue Family not long after.
"What? That Zhao Xiaoyi entered the Tiansheng Grand Tournament and broke through to the Saint Monarch Realm?"
Xue Shenjiang's face was a mask of disbelief when he received the report.
He was well aware of the Zhao girl's talent, but he had never imagined it would be this monstrous — reaching the Saint Monarch Realm before the age of five hundred.
Meanwhile, Xue Qianlong's expression turned impossibly dark when he learned the news. He rushed to his father's side.
"Father, this marriage alliance — can it truly still go through?"
Xue Shenjiang tried to think of something comforting to say, but the words died on his tongue.
After a long pause, he gently patted his son's shoulder.
"Son, it might be best to choose a different match. With your talent, you'll have no shortage of beauties willing to form a marriage alliance with you."
With talent like that, the Zhao Family would never allow Zhao Xiaoyi to be married off.
Xue Qianlong's face was ashen. He exhaled a long breath and steeled his resolve.
"Father, let's go to war with the Zhao Family."
"What are you talking about?" Xue Shenjiang frowned.
"I said — our Xue Family should go to war with the Zhao Family. Our strength is twice theirs; right now, we can still firmly suppress them."
"But what happens once Zhao Xiaoyi grows up? With talent that monstrous, her breaking through to the Peak of the Saint Emperor Realm is a foregone conclusion."
"And when that day comes, our Xue Family will be the ones living at the Zhao Family's mercy. Is that what you want, Father?"
Xue Qianlong pressed on.
His words clearly struck a nerve. Xue Shenjiang's expression darkened as he fell deep into thought.
After a long while, he spoke.
"I'll bring this up with the Patriarchs. But whether we actually go to war with the Zhao Family — that will require their approval."
He patted Xue Qianlong's shoulder once more.
"In the meantime, keep this quiet. Not a word to anyone. We can't afford to let the Zhao Family catch wind and prepare."
"Yes, Father."
As he watched his father leave, a storm of thoughts raged in Xue Qianlong's mind. But in the end, his resolve hardened like iron.
"Xiaoyi, don't blame me for this. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for refusing to become my woman."
"But don't worry — I won't kill you. I'll make you submit to me."
"Heh heh... heh heh heh!"