When Lei Zun-zhe's voice, laced with dread and fury, echoed across the heavens, the crowd was struck with astonishment. Their gazes instinctively turned toward the group suspended in the sky—more precisely, to the young man standing at the forefront alongside another figure.
Excitement and anticipation surged in their eyes, for they knew at once—the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting was about to take a dramatic turn.
Even the other three Dou Zuns could not remain indifferent, much less their disciples. In truth, many had accompanied their masters precisely because they had heard whispers of Xin Yu's return to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
With Ming Cheng's strength being no secret, it was only natural to assume he would make an appearance—if not before the Grand Meeting, then surely during it—to settle the debt Lei Zun-zhe owed him. That alone was enough to justify their presence beyond simply observing this season's Four Pavilion gathering.
The possibility of both Ming Cheng and Li Mei arriving had stirred no small amount of curiosity. After all, who wouldn't wish to witness with their own eyes the terrifying young man—of the same generation as themselves—who had thoroughly suppressed Lei Zun-zhe, a figure considered equal to their own masters?
"So, that is Ming Cheng…" Mu Qing Luan murmured softly, a trace of intrigue in her voice. Her intelligent eyes scanned his countenance, and even she found herself momentarily shaken by the oppressive might that lingered around him.
"It is actually him. What a powerful aura… It seems he has undergone tremendous physical refinement," murmured Tian Ying, the disciple of Jian Zun-zhe, his voice filled with shock. A sense of danger welled up within him—one far denser and more oppressive than anything he had felt from his own master or the other Zun-zhe.
"He actually came…" Wang Yan, the disciple of Huang Quan Zun-zhe, could hardly believe what he was seeing as he stared at Ming Cheng in disbelief.
"…"
Feng Qing Er's expression darkened. Her Wind Lightning Strength within her body trembled faintly in Ming Cheng's presence. It wasn't due to raw strength—but rather the Emperor Thunder surging within him.
'No wonder Teacher is so desperate to obtain that Emperor Thunder…' Feng Qing Er whispered inwardly, awe blooming in her heart as she felt the majesty of that incomparably powerful lightning.
While the disciples were caught in the whirlpool of their own thoughts and emotions, their masters fared no better.
After all, they could sense the terrifying power radiating from Ming Cheng even more clearly than their disciples could—and they understood what it meant.
At first, Feng Zun-zhe, Jian Zun-zhe, and Huang Quan Zun-zhe gazed at the group with calm, even amused expressions. Jian Zun-zhe and Huang Quan Zun-zhe held a faint trace of smugness in their hearts, while Feng Zun-zhe stared deeply at Ming Cheng, his eyes filled with intrigue.
However, the moment they truly sensed the profound strength hidden within the young man, those composed and amused smiles silently vanished from their faces.
"The loud rumble of thunder and the howling wind in Lightning Mountain have fallen eerily silent since his arrival… Perhaps the rumors are true—that the Emperor Thunder is the mightiest of all lightning-type heavenly treasures," Feng Zun-zhe muttered, his voice low and grave.
His gaze swept across the mountain range, noting the strange stillness in the air. Despite the dense Wind Lightning Strength lingering in this place, not a single bolt of thunder answered, nor did the wind dare stir. Even he had to admit—Ming Cheng's strength had far surpassed his expectations.
A solemn light flickered in Huang Quan Zun-zhe's eyes. He could feel the terrifying might radiating from the young man, an oppressive pressure that made his heart sink.
Though he held great pride in his own cultivation as a Dou Zun, he could no longer deny the truth—there was a vast chasm between them. He doubted he could last even three exchanges before falling to Ming Cheng's hands.
Jian Zun-zhe nodded slightly, his fingers stroking his beard, his expression heavy with thought. His eyes shifted toward the white-haired lady beside Ming Cheng. "Regardless… weren't Ming Cheng and Li Mei only Two-Star Dou Zuns just a few months ago? Why does it feel like their strength has advanced?"
"They likely found a great opportunity within the Stormcoil Mountain Range," Feng Zun-zhe replied, sighing with a trace of envy in his tone. "I heard they ventured into the inner region… perhaps some treasures there had been waiting all this time for its rightful master to arrive."
He paused briefly, the light in his eyes sharpening as a grave expression settled on his face. His voice dropped, carrying the weight of tension. "Regardless of what they obtained… this matter will not end quietly."
Their gazes swept behind Ming Cheng and the masked figure. Two of the women stood quietly behind the two of them were clearly Dou Zun-level experts. As for the little girl beside them, they also find her faintly curious as she is a Dou Zong class whom is part of this group.
However, the two figures that drew their wariness the most were the red-robed man and the masked figure standing beside Ming Cheng.
They could not sense any aura from these two.
The more they tried to probe, the more obscure their presence became—shrouded and unfathomable. The red-robed man gave off an inexplicable pressure, while the black-robed youth had completely shut off any attempt at soul observation, making it impossible to discern his cultivation.
The group surrounding Ming Cheng was strange… and terrifyingly strong.
And above all, one truth remained certain—they knew this confrontation would not end in peace.
…
"Ming Cheng, don't you think it's inappropriate to appear uninvited and disrupt the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting?"
Lei Zun-zhe's expression darkened, a gloomy heaviness settling in his heart. Even without focusing on the whispers around him, he knew—this matter could no longer be ignored or avoided. He would have to face it himself.
Ming Cheng let out a soft laugh, his voice carrying a sharp edge of ridicule. "Lei Zun-zhe truly has a sense of humor. If my arrival is considered inappropriate, then what would you call the act of four Dou Zuns ambushing someone of the younger generation? Was that your idea of fairness—just because you couldn't accept defeat?"
"Hmph. So you're upset because you lacked the ability to call for help?" Lei Zun-zhe sneered coldly, trying to match the young man's biting tone with mockery of his own.
Ming Cheng chuckled lightly, his ridiculing smile deepening. "Why would I be upset—when the four of them paid a heavy price for their foolishness? One of them even lost his life by my hand."
That mocking tone drew a few suppressed chuckles from the crowd gathered atop the mountain peak. Though many feared offending Lei Zun-zhe, they couldn't help but stifle their laughter behind raised sleeves and cupped hands.
Lei Zun-zhe's expression twitched, his eyes burning with fury as he growled in a low, heavy voice, "Do you truly intend to disrupt the Grand Meeting and offend all four pavilions at once?"
Ming Cheng and the others inwardly sneered. This old fox was as cunning as ever. Given Lei Zun-zhe's current strength, the odds of him defeating Ming Cheng were practically zero—especially with Li Mei standing by his side.
However, if Lei Zun-zhe were to retreat now, not only would his personal reputation collapse, but the name of the Wind Lightning Pavilion would also be dragged through the mire. Worse still, a retreat at this point could plant the seeds of a heart demon, crippling his path of cultivation in the future.
And Ming Cheng? He was never one to let grudges slide. After all, Lei Zun-zhe had nearly turned him into a cripple by joining forces with those who owed him favors to launch an ambush.
Thus, in a desperate move, Lei Zun-zhe tried to drag the other three pavilions into the matter. Though he hated Ming Cheng to the bone, he hoped that the others—unwilling to provoke unnecessary conflict—would pressure the youth into backing down.
Unfortunately for him, someone had already anticipated this very tactic. Lei Zun-zhe's plans have already been predicted by this person.
"Rest assured, Lei Zun-zhe. None of the pavilions will be offended."
All eyes turned toward the masked figure standing calmly beside Ming Cheng in the sky. His voice was neither overbearing nor timid, but carried a steady confidence that made others listen.
Lei Zun-zhe coldly snorted, his gaze narrowing. "Since when does a mere Dou Zong dare to interrupt a conversation between two Dou Zuns?"
"Unfortunately for you," Ming Cheng replied with a light shake of his head, "he isn't just some random Dou Zong like the chiefs of your four pavilions. He is the Mansion Master of our Moonlit Chaos Mansion—Xiao Hua."
Those words struck like thunder.
Many among the crowd blinked in disbelief, thinking they must have misheard. The idea that the Mansion Master of the rising Moonlit Chaos Mansion was merely a Dou Zong—while the four Hall Masters were at the Dou Zun level—was simply too absurd to accept.
"Unless you're deliberately mocking us or taking us all for fools, you'd best come up with a better lie, Ming Cheng," Lei Zun-zhe sneered, his tone dripping with contempt.
The audience stirred uneasily. Even the other Venerates and their disciples began to frown, their expressions darkening. Ming Cheng's words felt like an open provocation, as though he were making a mockery of them all.
"Lei Zun-zhe, he's capable of defeating Ming Cheng—let alone someone like you, who wouldn't last five exchanges against him. Furthermore, two Dou Zuns have already fallen by his hand. Is that not qualification enough to become the Mansion Master?"
The voice that responded wasn't Ming Cheng's, nor Xiao Hua's—it was Li Mei's. Her light chuckle, like the ethereal cry of a phoenix, carried through the air with a grace that made hearts tremble. Even Feng Qing Er found herself momentarily stunned, her gaze drawn in as though enchanted.
"Lady Li Mei, you must be joking," Lei Zun-zhe scoffed, his tone laced with disbelief. "How could a mere Dou Zong defeat a Dou Zun—unless the so-called 'Dou Zuns' were made of glass?"
"You're right," a calm voice responded.
As he spoke, Xiao Hua slowly lifted his mask, revealing his face to the world.
In that moment, gasps rippled through the crowd.
His countenance was utterly peerless, carrying an aura of grace and quiet power. Even among the countless proud and talented young men they had encountered, none could compare.
Mu Qing Luan and Feng Qing Er both felt their hearts tremble, their breathing quickening ever so slightly as a faint warmth rose unbidden in their chests.
They had encountered countless outstanding young men across the Central Plains, yet none possessed the striking, otherworldly presence of the man before them.
His jet-black hair, like strands of raven silk, flowed lightly in the breeze that whispered silently through the mountain air. It trailed down his back, tied into a high ponytail secured with a golden ornament, accented by a ribbon of deep crimson.
What caught the eye most were his unique eyes—crimson in the left, cyan in the right. One held a fiery brilliance, the other a tranquil depth. Together, they mesmerized all who met his gaze, invoking both awe and serenity.
His face, bearing a calm and composed smile, was a masterpiece of elegance. Every feature—sharp, flawless, and perfectly symmetrical—seemed carved by the hands of a divine artisan. There was no blemish, no flaw, only a silent nobility that radiated from his very being.
For a man like this, his looks alone were enough to make countless maidens lose themselves in a heartbeat.
Seeing the stunned reactions around them, the members of Xiao Hua's group could only sigh quietly. Ever since he passed the ninth trial of the Heavenly Judgement Lightning, not only had his strength advance by one star, but even his appearance and aura had undergone a profound transformation.
Though they had long grown used to Xiao Hua's current appearance, to outsiders, he was simply too dazzling—his presence an irresistible beacon that captured every gaze.
Xiao Hua paid no heed to the stunned reactions around him. He had long grown used to such gazes. With a composed smile, he spoke calmly, "That's why, once I defeat you, Lei Zun-zhe, I trust you'll be willing to join that collection of shattered glass."
His words were light, but the intent behind them cut like a blade.
The crowd snapped out of their daze instantly. Though they had been momentarily mesmerized by his appearance, it was his words that truly left them shaken.
"Hmph! Have you forgotten that the other three Pavilion Heads are present as well?" Lei Zun-zhe's voice grew sharp, layered with threat. "Continue to act this overbearing, and not even you will leave unscathed, boy!"
Though Lei Zun-zhe dismissed Xiao Hua's words outwardly, he remained wary. With three Dou Zuns standing behind him and that red-robed man—whose aura was still an enigma—he believed he still held the advantage. But the unknown always breeds caution.
Xiao Hua, however, simply shook his head, a calm smile still playing on his lips. "As I said… the other three pavilions will not interfere."
First, Xiao Hua turned his gaze toward Feng Zun-zhe, a serene smile on his lips. He cupped his hands respectfully and said, "Feng Zun-zhe, this junior would like to show you something."
"Mansion Master Xiao, I don't believe this old one has had the honor of meeting you before. I wonder what it is you have that might capture these aged eyes of mine?" Feng Zun-zhe raised a brow, his expression showing mild curiosity. Though puzzled by Xiao Hua's sudden gesture, he remained courteous.
After all, the young man before him was the Mansion Master of the rising Moonlit Chaos Mansion. Even if Xiao Hua was only at the Dou Zong level, his position warranted respect with four the status and strength of the four Hall Masters.
Moreover, the other party remain polite to him. Hence, he will reciprocate the action and remain courteous to him.
Xiao Hua gave a light nod and, without a word, retrieved a token from his storage ring. With a wave of his hand, he sent it gently toward Feng Zun-zhe.
Under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, Feng Zun-zhe furrowed his brows slightly and caught the token in his palm. As he slowly opened his hand, a wave of heat radiated from the item—strangely both scorching and chilling at once.
The sensation was hauntingly familiar.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the token, a flicker of realization beginning to stir within his heart.
The faint smile on Feng Zun-zhe's face slowly froze the moment he sensed the fiery heat radiating from the token—a paradoxical heat that was both scorching and chilling at once. In that instant, it felt as though the entire stadium had fallen into stillness.
Feng Zun-zhe's body stiffened, as if he had turned into a statue. His gaze locked onto the token, unmoving, as a deep spiritual imprint stirred within it. Around him, an invisible storm began to brew and whistle, its presence felt though unseen.
He did not utter a single word, yet everyone present could sense it clearly—Feng Zun-zhe's heart was violently shaken.
Before long, under the stunned gazes of countless cultivators, his body slowly relaxed. With the token gripped tightly in his hand, he leaned back into his seat. His eyes gradually closed, and a soft voice, quiet yet absolute, broke the silence.
"Mansion Master Xiao Hua… is he with you?"
"Unfortunately, he is not," Xiao Hua replied, shaking his head gently. But before the flicker of disappointment could surface in Feng Zun-zhe's eyes, he continued, "However, he left a message for you within the token. You may retrieve it by pouring your Dou Qi into it."
Without hesitation, Feng Zun-zhe followed Xiao Hua's instruction and poured his green-hued Dou Qi into the token. There was no need to worry about deception—for a move like that would only earn Xiao Hua the fury and disdain of the entire gathering. And from the youth's demeanor, it was clear he understood this well.
As the Dou Qi entered the token, a gentle glow flared to life and shot into the space between Feng Zun-zhe's brows.
In that moment, a stream of information surged into his mind—an embedded spiritual message left behind by none other than Yao Lao. As the message unfolded, Feng Zun-zhe's expression shifted, and then—
"Hahaha! I see, I see! So he's still alive… and not only that, he even found himself an excellent disciple to pass that technique on to!"
His booming laughter echoed across the mountaintop, carrying warmth and unmistakable joy. There was no need to question the message's authenticity. Yao Lao had not sent a letter, but a voice recording imprinted with spiritual strength and laced with the Bone Chilling Flame—an aura Feng Zun-zhe knew all too well.
Years ago, it was that very flame which had saved him at a critical moment. Without it, he might not have survived to become the Dou Zun he was today.
That flame… was proof. Undeniable and absolute. The message was real—and it had come from his sworn brother.
He slowly raised his head, inhaling a deep breath. His voice was low and hoarse with emotion. "Old fellow... you really made it hard for me to find you all these years."
With the token still clutched in his hand, Feng Zun-zhe turned to Xiao Hua and said with solemn assurance, "Mansion Master Xiao, you have my word—the other pavilions will not interfere in this matter."
Jian Zun-zhe and Huang Quan Zun-zhe both raised their brows, but neither refuted Feng Zun-zhe's words. In truth, they had never intended to involve themselves in this matter—they simply hadn't been given a proper opportunity to reject Lei Zun-zhe's earlier implication.
Now, with Feng Zun-zhe taking the lead, they were more than happy to step away.
After all, they could clearly sense that engaging Xiao Hua's group would come at a steep cost. Feng Zun-zhe's declaration had given them the perfect excuse to retreat without losing face, and they naturally seized the opportunity without hesitation.
Exchanging a brief glance, Huang Quan Zun-zhe and Jian Zun-zhe nodded in tacit agreement, a flicker of understanding passing between their eyes.
With a cupped fist, Jian Zun-zhe spoke calmly, "Feng Zun-zhe is right. This is a matter between the Moonlit Chaos Mansion and the Wind Lightning Pavilion."
"We will take a step back and allow the two of you to resolve this on your own," Huang Quan Zun-zhe added.
Unsurprisingly, Lei Zun-zhe's expression darkened at their words. Though he had never truly expected their support, he had still hoped to use their presence to ease the pressure bearing down on him.
"With that matter now settled,"
Xiao Hua's voice echoed softly across Lightning Mountain—gentle in tone, yet carrying a chilling weight that pierced deep into Lei Zun-zhe's heart. His expression darkened further, the gloom in his eyes growing heavier with each passing second.
He slowly raised his head, only to meet Xiao Hua's calm smile—a smile that never reached his eyes.
Then, that soft, almost casual voice rang out once more across the mountain peak.
"How about we settled the debt that you owe us, Lei Zun-zhe?"
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