Chapter Forty: The Trouble Escalates

When Wen Xuan heard Qian Yuanzi’s ambiguous remark, his brows furrowed and he replied coldly, “What do you mean by that?”

Qian Yuanzi smiled but did not answer Wen Xuan’s question. Instead, he asked, “I heard recently that the vice sect master of your Heavenly Mystery Sect took a husband. If I’m not mistaken, it should be this gentleman before us, right?”

Wen Xuan’s expression grew even more severe as he looked at Qian Yuanzi. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Qian Yuanzi smiled again. “Oh, nothing much. It’s just that people across the Divine Continent of the Eastern Lands are all rather curious about this matter. I’m sure many have investigated it. To be frank, our Kaiyuan Sect also looked into it, even tracing this gentleman’s ancestry thoroughly, but we found nothing amiss.”

As he finished, Qian Yuanzi glanced at Jian Wuji and Ling Kongzi. Noting their curious expressions, he realized that they too were informed about or had investigated the matter. Clearly, he had succeeded in capturing everyone’s attention.

As for the ordinary cultivators present, they listened with great interest, eager for gossip.

“Hmph, my junior sister merely recruited a son-in-law, yet you all seem so invested in it. My apologies,” Wen Xuan replied casually.

Mo Bufan also looked at Qian Yuanzi, puzzled. His identity was impossible to expose—did the other party really have leverage on him?

“Of course we care. After all, the vice sect master’s reputation and strength are both considerable,” Qian Yuanzi continued. “I was quite curious about this son-in-law—whether he was truly, as our investigation suggested, a good-for-nothing. But now that I see him… your Heavenly Mystery Sect certainly has foresight.”

“If you have something to say, speak plainly. Don’t beat around the bush, or don’t blame me for being rude,” Wen Xuan said, sounding rather impatient.

The others were just as curious and fixed their gazes on Qian Yuanzi.

Qian Yuanzi said, “Don’t be so hasty. I simply admire your sect for finding such a rare treasure. Our young sect master—well, it’s no secret, he’s the one who once pursued your vice sect master and was gravely injured—his prized disciple Zhao Wu was defeated by this very man, who is only at the first level of the Nascent Void realm. Truly, a genius in cultivation.”

Wen Xuan was momentarily stunned, not expecting Qian Yuanzi to turn the conversation this way. He snorted coldly. “Everyone witnessed the battle. Do you think it could have been faked?”

Qian Yuanzi waved his hands. “Of course not. The vice sect master’s husband would never stoop to such tricks. But this man must possess something extraordinary.”

Mo Bufan, hearing Qian Yuanzi’s mocking tone, grew angry. “Your disciple was simply incompetent, but now you’re quick to find excuses.”

Qian Yuanzi responded, “We admit our disciple’s lack of skill, but such a huge gap in strength and he still lost? I have to suspect there’s more to it. Only a fool would believe your young sect master would choose a useless son-in-law. We’re all curious about your hidden strengths.”

Mo Bufan gave a small, exasperated laugh and retorted, “If you judge the world’s cultivators by your own pitiful standards, then everyone would be a failure. But, I’m sorry—I’m not one of them.”

Wen Xuan smiled at that. “Well said.”

Qian Yuanzi sneered. “Yes, we must be the failures. Otherwise, how could we occupy Dragonfall Abyss for tens of thousands of years and never gain the Dragon Court Lord’s favor nor be invited inside?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in commotion. Only a handful knew Mo Bufan had disappeared, and even they had assumed he entered by accident, unaware of his true identity. Now it seemed there was a deeper layer to it all.

Wen Xuan frowned at this. He had learned about Mo Bufan’s entry into the Dragon Court from Gao Xiu and had been concerned for Mo Bufan’s safety. Now, with Qian Yuanzi bringing it up, he grew uneasy and shot Mo Bufan a silent glance, inwardly resolving to protect him at any cost.

This boy, it seems, is capable of more than just producing genius descendants—he must possess other talents as well, judging by his strength alone.

Mo Bufan curled his lip. He knew there was no hiding the truth and replied nonchalantly, “So what if I went in? This Dragon Lady was there too and gained a portion of the Dragon Ancestor’s source power.”

“And what did you gain?” Qian Yuanzi asked coldly.

Mo Bufan shrugged again. “If I told you I got nothing, would you believe me?” Without waiting for a reply, he added, “Of course you wouldn’t. You only believe what you want to believe, so spread whatever rumors you please.”

“It’s not just me—no one here would believe you!” Qian Yuanzi’s tone was icy. “Who doesn’t know the Dragon Ancestor loved collecting rare treasures? His palace was filled with priceless objects. Moreover, it is said that the legendary Heaven-Scorching Cauldron and the Yin-Yang Bowl of the War Emperor were both safeguarded by the Dragon Ancestor. You’ve obtained all those treasures and now you still want these young beasts? You are truly insatiable.”

“Nonsense!” Wen Xuan was shocked and shouted at once.

Those two treasures were not things to joke about. If word got out, the supreme beings of the Central Continent would surely come, and the trouble would extend far beyond Mo Bufan—perhaps the entire Heavenly Mystery Sect would be at risk.

Sure enough, the crowd exploded at Qian Yuanzi’s words. Jian Wuji and Ling Kongzi’s eyes gleamed with greed.

Mo Bufan shuddered inwardly—after all, the Heaven-Scorching Cauldron really was stored in his dantian. As for the Yin-Yang Bowl, he’d never seen it. And as for the True Sun Fire, that was even more unspeakable—a treasure no less than the other two.

Long Ling’er’s expression shifted rapidly. She had suspected the Dragon Court held many treasures, but she never imagined those two would be among them.

As the crowd chattered noisily, Long Ling’er raised her voice. “Everyone, I have indeed been to the Dragon Court, but I was unconscious the entire time. When I awoke, the Dragon Ancestor was dead and the palace was in ruins. Other than a single dragon pearl, I saw nothing else. If you don’t believe me, you can break the Dragon Court’s seal and see for yourselves. Fellow Daoist Mo can vouch for me. Isn’t that so, Brother Mo?”

Mo Bufan frowned. This little dragon girl was quick to distance herself and push the blame onto him.

Qian Yuanzi, seeing his scheme succeed, laughed coldly. “Then let’s hear it from this Brother Mo.”

Mo Bufan took a deep breath, feigning nonchalance. “Yes, I met the Dragon Ancestor. He only asked one thing of me: to protect the descendants of those who fought alongside him in Dragonfall Abyss, and if possible, rescue them in his lifetime. That’s why I’m standing here now.”

Qian Yuanzi sneered and turned to Jian Wuji and Ling Kongzi. “Gentlemen, do you believe that?”

Both men bowed their heads and laughed coldly, clearly unpersuaded.

The rest of the crowd wore skeptical, disbelieving faces as well.

Wen Xuan’s expression turned grim. He hadn’t expected things to escalate this far and racked his brain for a solution.

Seeing the crowd’s reaction, Mo Bufan first sneered, then burst out laughing, finally roaring, “You scheming scoundrels! Do you really think the Dragon Ancestor was as shameless as you? He sacrificed his whole life to give you this era of peace, thinking only of his comrades—not petty gain as you do. I don’t know what treasures he had, but he certainly didn’t have faces as ugly as yours!”

His speech was impassioned, but none of the crowd blushed or faltered—if anything, their sneers only deepened.

Mo Bufan, however, paid it no mind. “Believe me or not, but even if I die today, I will honor the old hero’s last wish and save these beasts. Anyone who wants to harm them will have to step over my corpse first.”

As he spoke, he drew his longsword and stared coldly at the crowd.

The orange cat and the other beasts immediately stood behind Mo Bufan, ready for a fight to the death.

The crowd continued to sneer but said nothing.

Wen Xuan sighed, unable to think of a solution. All he could focus on was how to help his brother-in-law escape; everything else could wait.

But just then, a hearty voice rang out from the forest: “Good! Truly my disciple—today, your master will fight and die with you!”

With those words, Ge Qingyang appeared, sword slung across his back, accompanied by several enormous beasts and younglings.

In the blink of an eye, he flashed to Mo Bufan’s side, drew his sword, and faced the crowd. “Ge Qingyang of the Heavenly Mystery Sect—gentlemen, please enlighten me.”

At the mention of Ge Qingyang’s name, Qian Yuanzi, Jian Wuji, and Ling Kongzi’s expressions changed at once. This was a peerless fighter, especially in Dragonfall Abyss where everyone’s powers were suppressed; few in the world could match him here.

“Senior brother!” Wen Xuan exclaimed in surprise.

He had always admired Ge Qingyang, and even as his own cultivation progressed, he addressed him as “senior brother” in every situation.

Ge Qingyang bowed to Wen Xuan with the courtesy of a junior, unwilling to break tradition even now.

Seeing this, Wen Xuan finally stepped forward. “Count me in. It’s been too long since I stretched my limbs. I hope today you’ll give me a chance—though if I kill you all, so much the better. That way, you won’t spread wild rumors everywhere.”

His words were lightly spoken but carried a heavy threat. With him and Ge Qingyang together, unless the crowd fled, it was entirely possible they could kill everyone. At this, the crowd involuntarily stepped back.

“Add the three of us dragons as well. Since this is the wish of our predecessor, we must do our part,” sighed Long Ling’er, pulling her two brothers forward.

As Mo Bufan spoke, Long Ling’er watched him in awe. Others might not trust him, but she had seen with her own eyes how he treated the Fire Lynx mother and child. She found herself starting to believe him, even guessing that the reason the Dragon Ancestor chose him was precisely because of how he treated the Fire Lynx family.

No one present expected the dragon clan to intervene, and for a moment, an oppressive silence fell over the field.