The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"I wonder, Brother Yantian, what weapon do you use?"

Xia Changqing asked as he gripped a spiritual soft sword. The sword was three feet long, two fingers wide, and as thin as a cicada's wing. Its material was unknown, but it radiated a faint, mysterious light.

"Nothing special, just a spear."

Yun Yantian replied casually, flipping his hand to summon the Cloud Pattern Spear he had taken from Bai Li Moyi.

"Brother Yantian's spear is no ordinary weapon. It seems you must have gained some remarkable immortal opportunity in the mountain," Xia Changqing remarked, his tone laced with curiosity.

"An opportunity? Hardly. I almost lost my life in Wanlong Mountain," Yun Yantian replied with a self-deprecating smile, deliberately omitting any mention of inheriting the Hundred Battles Spear Art.

"I see."

Xia Changqing nodded subtly, though suspicion lingered in his eyes. He clearly didn't believe Yun Yantian's words.

Without further delay, Xia Changqing stomped the ground and shot forward like an arrow.

His soft sword twisted like a nimble serpent, slithering toward Yun Yantian with deadly precision.

Yun Yantian countered swiftly, lifting his spear to block the oncoming strike.

However, the soft sword was incredibly flexible. Its cold, razor-sharp tip curved mid-strike, resembling a venomous snake, and darted toward Yun Yantian's neck, aiming for his carotid artery.

Sensing the danger, Yun Yantian adjusted his grip and dragged his spear along the length of Xia Changqing's sword, redirecting its momentum. With a calculated burst of force, he deflected the deadly tip, neutralizing the threat with ease.

Then, with a swift twist of his wrist, Yun Yantian rotated his spear and thrust the blunt end toward Xia Changqing's chest.

Xia Changqing's eyes narrowed as he hurriedly raised his sword horizontally, narrowly blocking the incoming blow.

Clang!

The impact of the spear's hilt against the soft sword reverberated through the air, the sheer force causing the blade to bend unnaturally.

Xia Changqing staggered backward uncontrollably, unable to withstand the immense power.

Taking advantage of the moment, Yun Yantian spun his spear once more. Channeling his spiritual energy, he unleashed a sweeping strike with overwhelming momentum.

The attack was none other than the first technique of the Hundred Battles Spear Art—Thousand Armies Piercing Formation!

The terrifying aura of the strike shook Xia Changqing to his core.

In his mind's eye, he saw an army of divine and demonic cavalry charging toward him, their roars echoing like a thunderstorm, carrying the force to destroy heaven and earth.

Xia Changqing instinctively wanted to counter, but under the crushing pressure of the spear's might, he couldn't muster the will to fight back. Left with no choice, he leaped backward desperately.

Boom!

The spear's sweeping momentum struck the arena with explosive force, causing the entire platform to quake violently.

The tremendous power of the attack sent chunks of blue stone flying into the air. Moments later, they crumbled into fine powder, cascading down like snowflakes.

The display of raw power left Xia Changqing stunned, and the surrounding elders and spiritual roots from various clans were equally shocked.

"What a terrifying strike! Who is that person? How does he possess such strength?"

"That's Yun Yantian, a spiritual root of the Yun Cang Yun clan."

"Yun Cang Yun clan? I've barely heard of them."

"They're a recently ascended cultivation family. His Majesty has shown them great favor, even intending to marry the Seventh Princess into their clan. That man fighting Xia Changqing is the future prince consort!"

"Ah, I remember now! At the banquet in Wanlong Palace a few days ago, the Seventh Princess seemed very close to him."

"Indeed. To think that such a terrifying spiritual root could come from a family that only ascended a few years ago.

From his cultivation alone, it seems he's on the verge of breaking through to the Qi Refinement stage.

That spear technique he just displayed—it's far beyond what an ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator could perform!"

...

"Brother Yantian, I concede!"

On the platform, Xia Changqing's expression was grim as he recalled the devastating power of Yun Yantian's earlier strike. His heart still raced with lingering fear.

Had he not dodged in time, he would have ended up like the shattered stones—reduced to dust.

Yun Yantian, as it turned out, had indeed gained a substantial immortal opportunity in Wanlong Mountain. His current cultivation level was clearly far above Xia Changqing's.

Continuing the fight would only lead to Xia Changqing's death.

"Brother Changqing, you honor me with your concession," Yun Yantian replied, clasping his hands in thanks before turning to leave the platform gracefully under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Watching Yun Yantian's retreating figure, Xia Changqing clenched his fists, his emotions conflicted.

The gap between them had become insurmountable, and it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Haha! Impressive! Truly impressive!"

On the Dragon Throne, Bai Li Xi observed Yun Yantian's performance and couldn't help but offer praise.

Yun Yantian's display had not disappointed him!

Xia Changqing, with his cultivation at the Eighth Stage of Embryo Breath, undoubtedly carried numerous talismans and defensive spiritual artifacts. Yet Yun Yantian's terrifying spear technique had cowed Xia Changqing into conceding without a fight, leaving him no room to even consider using his life-saving measures. Such decisiveness and martial prowess were rare indeed!

"To think that Changqing would lose so easily!"

Beside him, the Empress of the Eastern Palace was equally shocked by Yun Yantian's overwhelming power.

She had assumed this battle would be a guaranteed victory for Xia Changqing, perhaps even ending with Yun Yantian's death, thus sparing her daughter from marrying into the Yun Cang Yun clan.

Reality, however, delivered her a harsh slap.

It seemed she had underestimated the Yun Cang Yun clan—and the future son-in-law she so disliked.

"It looks like the three great families will soon have another rival," Ye Xiaolin muttered, his expression grim as he watched Yun Yantian's retreating figure.

Xia Changqing's cultivation was formidable, and with the support of various spiritual talismans and weapons, even Ye Xiaolin himself couldn't force Xia Changqing to concede so easily.

"The Yun Cang Yun clan… A once-obscure name. After this Hundred Clans Assembly, they're bound to draw significant attention," one of the Ye clan elders murmured, his gaze fixed on the Yun Cang Yun representatives with a newfound weight.

"Be wary of the Yun Cang Yun clan's spiritual roots in the future," Lu Zhengqiang whispered to his son as his eyes lingered on Yun Yantian's departing silhouette.

"That family is destined to become a powerful adversary!"

"Yes, Father. I understand," Lu Shanglin replied with a nod, still reeling from the earlier duel.

The terrifying might of Yun Yantian's spear, which rivaled the power of a cultivator in the Qi Refinement stage, left him both shocked and unsettled.

"My apologies… I've lost this battle."

Back with his clan, Xia Changqing stood before an elder, his face filled with guilt.

"It's of no consequence. None of us expected the Yun Cang Yun clan's spiritual root to be so deeply hidden. In just a few years, he's already reached such heights," the elder said solemnly.

"Unfortunately, we may not be able to fulfill the ancestor's directive to eliminate Yun Yantian during the Hundred Clans Assembly."

"You needn't concern yourself with that. Once the assembly concludes, we'll make arrangements," the elder reassured him.

Back in the Rear Mountain of Wanlong

"Haha! The younger generation truly surpasses the old! The Yun Cang Yun clan's spiritual root has impressed this old man greatly.

That spear strike just now—it was on par with a full-power attack from an ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator.

As for that Xia Changqing lad, he reacted quickly enough. Knowing he was no match, he wisely conceded," Bai Li Qingsun said with a hearty laugh, stroking his beard.

The Yun Cang Yun clan's spiritual root had not disappointed him in the least.

Then again, with a mentor of such caliber behind him, and Yun Yantian as his disciple, how could he be lacking?

"Senior Bai Li, you jest. My Changqing isn't anything exceptional. However, like you, I'm astonished by the terrifying talent and strength of the Yun Cang Yun spiritual root," said the Xia clan elder, gripping her dragon-headed cane tightly as she gazed coldly at Yun Yantian on the distant platform. A flash of killing intent flickered deep in her eyes.

"The Yun Cang Yun clan is indeed remarkable. For their spiritual root to achieve such feats in just a few short years, their fortune must be extraordinary," remarked the Ye clan patriarch, his voice laced with intrigue.

The Lin clan patriarch and other clan elders echoed similar sentiments, their gazes filled with curiosity and gravity as they considered the future of the Yun Cang Yun clan.

Among them, only Wang Qingshan remained composed, as if everything had been within his expectations.

Knowing some of the Yun Cang Yun clan's background, he wasn't surprised by Yun Yantian's performance at the Hundred Clans Assembly.

It seems it won't be long before the Yun Cang Yun clan produces a Qi Refinement cultivator, Wang Qingshan thought to himself.

*However, with Yun Yantian and the Yun Cang Yun clan stealing the spotlight at the assembly, they've drawn the attention of many clans. Trouble will surely follow, saving me some effort.

If those clans make the mistake of targeting Yun Yantian and provoke his mentor into action… Haha! Now that will be a show worth watching!*