The city was in chaos.
Seeing Elder Liu casually withstand the City Lord's full-force attack, everyone in the City Lord's Mansion realized the situation had taken a dire turn. The City Lord, the strongest individual in Songyang City, was no match for Elder Liu.How powerful was Elder Liu, exactly? Was he an eighth-grade martial artist? A ninth-grade martial artist? Or perhaps the legendary and seemingly unattainable Martial King?
Ye Hao's expression grew heavy. His strongest attack had struck Elder Liu's casually arranged barrier as though hitting cotton, powerful yet futile. This man's strength far surpassed his own.
Initially, Ye Hao had believed Elder Liu was at most a ninth-grade martial artist, but it was clear his strength exceeded even that.
Could he truly be a Martial King?
A Martial King had descended upon Songyang City, and no one in the entire city could possibly contend with him.
"Martial King?" Ye Hao stared at Elder Liu, the words barely escaping his lips.
Elder Liu stood with his hands behind his back, offering no response. But the silence spoke volumes, everyone understood the truth. This was a Martial King. A true Martial King.
As expected of the Kaoshan Sect, a towering force in the Tianfeng Kingdom that rivaled even the royal family. Their foundations were terrifying, fielding a Martial King as their opening move.
As the arrogance drained from the City Lord's Mansion, Wang Chong immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Ye Hao, you must withdraw from this engagement today. Ruyan is already my woman!"
He then embraced Liu Ruyan tightly, his familiar manner making Ye Hao grit his teeth.
Liu Ruyan had betrayed him and their engagement. Judging by the pair's behavior, they had likely been in league for some time.
"You traitors!" Ye Hao's eyes burned red as he ground his teeth.
"Ye Hao, a wise man knows when to yield. If you agree to break off the engagement, I can spare your life," Wang Chong declared, emboldened by Elder Liu's backing. His newfound arrogance made him carry himself as though he were the Martial King himself.
"Oh? And what if I refuse?"
A sudden voice rang out from beyond the reception hall, drawing everyone's attention to the entrance.
A young man clad in black robes strode in unhurriedly. His face was youthful and handsome, and his eyes seemed to hold the stars, deep and full of mystery.
The young man stopped in front of Ye Hao and bowed apologetically. "Father, I've made you worry."
"It's nothing. I'm glad you're back," Ye Hao replied. Though rage had consumed him moments ago, seeing his son return softened his expression slightly. Yet as he recalled the humiliation his son had endured, his brows furrowed once more. He stepped in front of Ye Yu and said solemnly, "Yu'er, let your father handle this."
Ye Hao's face was set with determination, prepared to risk everything for his son.
Ye Yu looked at his father, who shielded him without hesitation, and felt a surge of emotion. His throat tightened.
Stepping forward, Ye Yu said firmly, "Father, let me handle it myself."
Ye Hao saw the rare resolve in his son's eyes and simply replied, "Yu'er, leave everything to your father."
No further words were needed.
Ye Yu turned his cold gaze upon the Wang and Liu families, and upon Elder Liu. His eyes were icy and unyielding. Though he said nothing, his presence conveyed everything.
From the moment Wang Chong heard Ye Yu's voice, he had been staring in disbelief, his face pale with shock.
"Impossible! How are you still alive?" Wang Chong's trembling hand pointed at Ye Yu.
He had personally ensured Ye Yu's death and confirmed it with his own eyes. So who was this person standing before him now?
"You're not Ye Yu. You're supposed to be dead!" Wang Chong shouted.
"Disappointed to see me alive?" Ye Yu replied coldly, watching Wang Chong's panicked display with indifference.
The mockery in Ye Yu's gaze cut deep, and Wang Chong roared, "Even if you're alive, it doesn't matter. Cancel the engagement today and I'll at least leave your body intact."
Wang Chong quickly recovered his composure and adopted a domineering stance.
Standing behind Ye Yu, Ye Hao pieced together the truth from their brief exchange.
So it had been Wang Chong all along, the one who had nearly robbed him of his son.
Fury surged through Ye Hao, and he moved to unleash his spiritual power to cut Wang Chong down.
But Ye Yu raised a hand to stop him, murmuring, "Father, let me handle this."
Those simple words pulled Ye Hao back from the edge. Reluctantly, he stood down, ready to intervene if necessary.
"Leave my body intact? It seems you've already decided your own fate," Ye Yu said, his tone light but edged with mockery.
Wang Chong burst out laughing, as though he had heard the most absurd joke imaginable. "You? A useless wretch who can't even cultivate? You think you can kill me? That's the funniest thing I've heard in my life!"
As the City Lord's son, Ye Yu had been born with a frail constitution, incapable of cultivation. Despite fifteen years of effort and every resource at his family's disposal, he had remained a mere first-grade martial apprentice, unable to advance.
The label of "waste" had spread throughout Songyang City. It was whispered in private, but no one had ever dared say it to his face.
Today, Wang Chong hurled the insult openly, inside the City Lord's Mansion itself.
"Waste?"
Ye Yu's expression turned ice-cold. A black-clad figure suddenly appeared from the shadows and sent Wang Chong flying with a single strike.
The figure returned to Ye Yu's side and stood silently, as though nothing had happened.
This masked figure in black revealed no features, making identification impossible. Yet the aura he had briefly exuded said everything, he was undeniably, extraordinarily powerful.
The figure was none other than Ye Yu himself, transformed to conceal his identity. With his unparalleled strength, disguising himself as a Martial King was effortless.
Why hadn't Ye Yu acted openly? He wanted to preserve an air of mystery. A life of absolute power could grow dull, it was more enjoyable to play the game slowly.
The sudden appearance of the mysterious powerhouse made Elder Liu's heart seize. His expression darkened.
The aura emanating from this figure was on par with his own. Resolving this matter peacefully seemed increasingly unlikely.