Chapter 1631: Sending a Message

Wan Guiyi, Wu Xiaofan, and Lou Wucheng sat down, heads bowed in shame, as if all strength had been drained from their bodies.

Just moments before, they had been filled with a fierce fighting spirit towards Zu An, believing he was a worthy opponent.

Now, however, they realized they were the ones unworthy of being his opponent.

A sense of dread also crept into their hearts. Each of them was an absolute prodigy in their respective sects, believing themselves unsurpassed among their peers. Any perceived gap should have been negligible, placing them on the same level—until they encountered Zu An…

Was this monster even human?

"Ah Zu is so handsome!" Qiu Honglei exclaimed, excitedly shaking Yun Jianyue's arm, as if eager to share her pride in her man with her.

"It's nothing special," Yun Jianyue scoffed, "not comparable to how I entered and exited Mount Zi seven times back then." Yet, in her heart, she secretly conceded, *This kid is indeed a bit handsome.*

But she recalled Zu An's sword qi in that move used to be blue; how did it turn golden?

Zu An was actually just as puzzled. Ever since he surpassed level 70, the sword formation’s color had automatically changed, but he hadn't bothered to investigate further; all that mattered was that it looked cool.

Across from him, Yan Xuehen’s eyes flickered slightly, and she felt a pang of regret. She shouldn't have allowed Chuyan to go into seclusion today; Chuyan would surely be upset when she learned she had missed this sight.

Well, I did it for her own good. Otherwise, if she saw Zu An holding Pei Mianman so intimately, she’d probably be furious.

In the imperial court’s camp, Zhang Zijiang proudly declared to the surrounding guards, "Didn't I just say it? Our Lord Zu's divine power is unmatched! How could a mere Daoist elder be his opponent?"

Xie Daoyun, standing nearby, thought to herself, *That’s not what you were saying just now; you were terribly worried.*

However, she wasn't in the mood to dwell on it. She simply rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the man with a smile in her eyes. *Brother Zu is truly handsome,* she thought, *though he'd be even more handsome if he weren't holding another woman.*

"How is this guy so strong!" Unlike the excitement of others, those from Li Hentian were utterly dismayed.

Cai Yu, who had always scorned Zu An, believing he wouldn’t dare accept his challenge, now flushed red then paled. Finally, he threw the sword in his hand to the ground.

The opponent’s cultivation was far beyond his imagination; what was the point of him practicing swordsmanship anymore?

The young monk Jiese from Wuyou Temple glanced sideways and asked Master Jianhuang, "Master, could you have blocked that move just now?"

Master Jianhuang smiled faintly, "This monk and Benefactor Zu have no conflict, so why would I consider such a question?"

"Master, you're being tricky."

"This is called a witty retort."

At this moment, Zu An landed back on the ground and brought the blushing Pei Mianman to Grandmaster Huoling. "Grandmaster," he said, "Miss Pei has expended a great deal of energy and needs rest and recuperation."

With so many eyes on them, their relationship was temporarily unsuitable for public exposure.

"Alright, thank you, Young Master," Grandmaster Huoling replied, snapping out of her daze. She quickly took Pei Mianman and immediately produced a large number of Biluo Palace's healing elixirs for her to consume.

At the same time, she secretly glared at Wan Tongtian. If only he had done the same for her back then, they wouldn't have harbored regrets for the rest of their lives.

Only then did Zu An turn around and scan the crowd. "I believe Miss Pei won fairly and squarely just now. There's no need for any further investigation, don't you agree, everyone?"

The expressions of the various sects in the arena instantly became extremely complex. Those who had just supported Guan Chouhai now hesitated. With Biluo Palace having Zu An’s support, it was unclear who would prevail if a conflict truly broke out.

This guy, Zu An, was unexpectedly strong in cultivation and also represented the imperial court; there was no need to conflict with him.

Guan Chouhai's expression shifted unpredictably, but this matter concerned the honor of Li Hentian, so he couldn’t back down.

He thought, *That move of yours just now was indeed powerful, but I don't believe someone your age could defeat a Grandmaster!*

Just as he was about to speak, Yun Jianyue said with a smile, "I also agree with what Lord Zu said. Miss Pei's victory just now was witnessed by everyone; there's no need to cling to other issues, right?"

Guan Chouhai’s expression changed. Kongming Island hadn't expressed a stance until now, but as soon as they spoke, they supported Zu An.

However, he wasn't necessarily afraid of a mere Kongming Island.

Just as he was about to speak, a clear, cold voice rang out: "Matters on the arena should naturally be resolved by the two parties on the arena. If the elders of every losing party come out to interfere, this Grand Daoist Competition will lose its original meaning."

Everyone was startled. They never expected Yan Xuehen, who was always as cold as an iceberg, to speak up, and her stance was even inconsistent with Elder Li of White Jade Capital.

"Something's strange. This ice-cold woman is being too kind to Zu An; it's unlike her character." Yun Jianyue keenly observed Yan Xuehen, her expression thoughtful.

Qiu Honglei couldn't help but murmur, "I think you, Master, are even kinder to Ah Zu. It's unlike your character. For instance, you came out to support Ah Zu even before Sect Master Yan just now."

"Can it be the same? Didn't I do this for you!" Yun Jianyue almost jumped up.

"Is that so? I thought it was because you and Sect Master Yan became friends with him when you were all in trouble together in the demon territory earlier," Qiu Honglei said with a smile.

"Well, there's partly that reason too," Yun Jianyue admitted, feeling a little guilty. She avoided looking into Qiu Honglei's eyes and changed the subject: "Let's wait and see how things develop."

At this moment, Wang Wuxie stepped forward and said, "Sect Master Yan's words are very true. In arena competitions, we elders indeed should not interfere. Brother Guan, let your virtuous nephew rest well. With his strength, he should still have time to contend for later spots."

After witnessing Zu An's strength, he had originally hesitated. Now that even Yan Xuehen had spoken up, he naturally went with the flow, while subtly reminding Guan Chouhai that Li Hentian still had an opportunity.

Now that the host of the venue had spoken, those who had previously supported Guan Chouhai all switched allegiance and echoed his words.

Guan Chouhai secretly cursed these fence-sitters, but he knew that given the current situation, his continued persistence was meaningless. He merely snorted, flicked his sleeves, and departed. His disciples immediately carried Zhiyin away.

As they left, Zhao Xiaodie couldn't help but glance at Zu An. She felt as if she both disliked him and didn’t dislike him, leaving her somewhat dazed.

After Guan Chouhai and the others left, and with the arena largely destroyed, it was clear that no more matches could be held today. So, Wang Wuxie announced that today's competition was suspended and would resume tomorrow.

People from various factions dispersed, but each one excitedly discussed today's battle, especially Zu An's incredibly cool move, which left all the disciples filled with envy.

However, the older generation of sect leaders were much calmer. They were also shocked at first, but quickly came to their senses. When Zu An performed that move, there was no domain aura, clearly indicating he hadn't reached the Grandmaster realm. Moreover, although this move was powerful, it appeared to be a long-range attack. Once a true master got close to him, he would likely be in trouble.

Having understood these points, the sect leaders of various factions breathed a sigh of relief and resumed their usual cheerful banter.

At the same time, they explained these points to their disciples.

It wouldn't do not to provide psychological counseling. While ordinary disciples under them were fine, merely watching for entertainment, the elite disciples, one by one, were greatly shaken. If they developed self-doubt and inner demons because of this, it would be a huge loss.

Back in the Biluo Palace’s separate courtyard, Pei Mianman originally wanted to find Zu An to express her longing. However, she was overwhelmed by congratulations from everyone in Biluo Palace for defeating Li Hentian’s chief disciple and making history. Furthermore, Grandmaster Huoling, worried about her injuries, guarded her almost constantly to help her heal, leaving her no opportunity to find him privately.

After Yan Xuehen returned, Chu Chuyan found her and asked what had happened. She had seen a great golden light on the golden peak earlier and seemed to sense Zu An’s aura.

With no choice, Yan Xuehen recounted the day’s events to her, and Chu Chuyan’s eyes shone brightly as she listened.

"These people underestimate Ah Zu too much, Master. You haven't seen Ah Zu truly draw his sword yet. I still remember the elegance of that sword strike." Chu Chuyan lost her usual coldness, like a child showing off a toy, constantly recounting Zu An's various deeds to her master.

Yan Xuehen sighed inwardly, *Silly girl, I know more than you do…*

She didn't want to continue the topic, so she said, "That kid is good in everything else, but he's too flirtatious. You didn't see him hugging Pei Mianman in front of so many people today; that little girl probably almost fainted from happiness and excitement."

Chu Chuyan also smiled helplessly, "That guy is indeed annoying in that aspect. Almost every pretty girl around me has some connection with him. If you weren't my master, you might not have escaped his clutches either."

"Cough cough..." Yan Xuehen, who had been leisurely drinking tea, choked upon hearing that.

Chu Chuyan was startled and hurriedly patted her back gently, apologizing, "Master, I was just making an analogy. Please don't be angry."

Yan Xuehen wiped her mouth and calmly said, "Weren't you curious about who sent you that warning letter earlier? At the time, we speculated it was likely one of Ah… ahem, that Zu kid's confidantes, but we didn't find anyone who fit. Now that I think about it, could it have been Pei Mianman?"

Chu Chuyan shook her head, "It shouldn't be her. We were good friends back in Brightmoon City; I know her character very well…"

"If you were good friends, then why did she steal your man?" Yan Xuehen suddenly said coldly.

Chu Chuyan was speechless for a moment. After a long pause, she said, "Manman's personality is to love boldly and hate fiercely. Even if she liked Ah Zu, she would openly compete with me; she wouldn't do such a despicable thing."

Yan Xuehen originally wanted to say more, but suddenly realized that given her identity, she didn't seem to have the standing to say such things. So, she unhappily got up and left, "You should focus on your seclusion."

Chu Chuyan looked through the window in the direction of Zu An’s residence, her gentle eyes holding a hint of doubt: "I wonder what Ah Zu is doing now. Is he with Manman? Hmph!"

At this moment, Zu An was certainly not engaging in romance. Instead, his expression was solemn, as he had just received news from the Embroidered Envoy’s secret channel.