Among the Shadow Guards stationed in the hall, one figure stood apart, her tension almost palpable. Wuying, their leader, clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her sharp eyes darted between Xuefeng and the churning sky above, a storm within mirroring the tempest outside.
Should I help him? Her throat tightened as his words from before echoed in her mind. He'd once mentioned his preference for gentle, elegant women—not shadowed killers with blood-stained hands. The thought sent a chill down her spine. Would he flinch away if he knew the truth? Would he… discard her entirely?
Her gaze locked onto him, standing defiant beneath the wrath of the heavens. The last two lightning bolts were forming, their bloody red light painting the room in ominous hues. She clenched her fists, her resolve wavering. If it comes to it, I'll reveal everything. I can't let him fall—not while I'm still breathing.
Her heart stopped beating when the lightning struck.
The twin bolts of lightning crashed into Xuefeng like the fists of an enraged god, shaking the ground with a thunderous roar. The hall became a symphony of chaos—plates clattered violently, stone groaned under the force, and the air itself trembled as if it might shatter. Xuefeng's legs buckled, his body crumpling to the stage in a heap. A searing pain tore through his chest, and blood erupted from his mouth in a violent spray, splattering the floor in jagged arcs of crimson. He gasped, every breath a struggle, the metallic tang of blood coating his tongue.
"Xuefeng!" The cry came from two voices, sharp and desperate, cutting through the chaos. Mu Lan and Wuying moved as one, their figures blurring as they darted to his side. Spirit Qi poured from their hands, tendrils of light weaving into his battered body as they frantically searched for signs of life.
Above them, the roiling black clouds began to unravel, as if the heavens themselves were exhaling after a wrathful storm. The oppressive weight in the air lifted, leaving a charged silence broken only by Xuefeng's labored, shallow breaths.
"I'm fine…" he managed, his voice weak but steady. He forced a lopsided smile, trying to reassure them. He could feel the warmth of their Spirit Qi coursing through him, a soothing balm for his battered body. For once, he didn't protest their concern. He needed it—needed them—to steady himself.
Inside, Xuefeng reeled, his thoughts a whirlwind of regret and triumph. I got cocky. The heavens had to knock me down a peg. But even as he berated himself, he couldn't ignore the rewards. His dantian had stretched further, breaking yet another wall, and something entirely new surged within him: Lightning Qi. It was wild, volatile—a living force that pulsed through his veins like a second heartbeat. The energy crackled under his skin, sharp and electric, leaving his nerves alight with a sensation both painful and exhilarating. He instinctively knew this wasn't in any manual, not even Elder Ming's encyclopedic tomes. No one had been crazy enough to absorb tribulation lightning before.
"Son, I'm proud of you." Liu Xiaobei's voice cut through the haze, his tone steady but carrying an undercurrent of pride. He pressed a small, glistening pill into Xuefeng's palm. "Take this healing pill and rest. We'll talk later."
Xuefeng nodded, swallowing the pill without hesitation. The metallic tang in his mouth disappeared almost instantly, replaced by a cooling sensation that spread through his chest. "Thanks, Dad," he said, managing a faint smile.
"Wuying," Mu Lan instructed gently, her tone soft but firm, "take him back to his courtyard and make sure he rests. We'll handle the cleanup here."
"Wuying?" Xuefeng echoed, blinking in surprise. Before he could say more, they vanished, the Shadow Guard's speed leaving only a faint blur in their wake.
Back in the hall, the remaining Spirit Kings and clan leaders began murmuring amongst themselves as Liu Xiaobei issued rapid-fire orders to his guards. "Gather people from the garden to clean the stage. Notify Elder Ming to speak with the parents of all participants. The ceremony will resume tomorrow."
The hall was a wreck, littered with shattered ceiling fragments, overturned tables, and the remnants of the feast. Yet none of that mattered compared to what they had just witnessed. One by one, the clan leaders returned to the main table, offering their congratulations to Liu Xiaobei.
"Liu Xiaobei, you sly old fox," one remarked, shaking his head. The words carried admiration and envy in equal measure. They all knew what the future held: with talents like Xuefeng's, the Liu Clan would soon eclipse them all.
"To think you'd play with our expectations like this," the Lu Clan Leader added, clapping Liu Xiaobei on the shoulder. "Be honest with us—did your son truly raise his talent from red to black, or was it all an elaborate trick?"
Liu Xiaobei chuckled, his expression inscrutable. "Do you know of any method to increase innate talent by six levels? If such a thing existed, don't you think the world would be crawling with geniuses?"
The lie came smoothly, but it didn't entirely satisfy the skeptical leaders. They exchanged glances, each wondering what secrets the Liu Clan might be hiding.
"Well," the Lu Clan Leader said after a moment, "if you ever do discover such a method, the Lu Clan is prepared to pay handsomely for it."
"And we'll match any offer!" another leader chimed in.
Before Liu Xiaobei could respond, Emperor Zhen leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Perhaps the answer lies with our esteemed Manager Wu." His eyes flicked to the elegant woman in the crimson dress, her demeanor calm as ever.
All eyes turned to Manager Wu, who rose gracefully to her feet. Her smile was radiant, but her words carried the weight of a practiced storyteller. "Liu Xiaobei, I think it's time to stop hiding the truth. The Trade Union did indeed assist the Liu Clan by providing a Six Petals Lotus Flower."
Gasps rippled through the hall. The Six Petals Lotus was a near-mythical herb, said to bloom only once every three centuries.
"It's true," she continued, her tone steady but with an undercurrent of mystery. "The flower has the potential to increase talent by three or four levels—under normal circumstances. That Xuefeng raised his talent by six speaks to his exceptional potential. Perhaps the herb merely awakened something already dormant within him... or perhaps the heavens had a hand in his fate."
"Miss Wu, does the Trade Union have more of these flowers?" the Lu Clan Leader interjected, his voice tinged with eager desperation. "The Lu Clan would be willing to pay handsomely."
But Manager Wu's demeanor remained as calm and composed as ever. "Unfortunately, the Six Petals Lotus is incredibly rare. Even if we had more, they would be useless to most cultivators. Only those with unique conditions, like Young Master Xuefeng's broken dantian, can fully benefit."
The room buzzed with murmurs as the leaders digested this revelation. Though the explanation seemed far-fetched, it was far more believable than Liu Xiaobei's earlier attempt to deflect suspicion with tales of hidden artifacts. The leaders exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from grudging acceptance to outright disbelief.
"As the ceremony has concluded, I will take my leave," Manager Wu said, standing gracefully. Her red dragon dress shimmered as she turned toward the exit. "I look forward to tomorrow when we can discuss strengthening the Trade Union's cooperation with the Liu Clan. We're eager to deepen this prosperous relationship."
With that, she swept out of the hall, leaving the leaders to stew in their envy. The Lu Clan Leader let out a heavy sigh, his jealousy practically radiating off him. "First a purple talent, then a black one, and now they've secured the favor of the Trade Union. The Liu Clan has been blessed today."
Emperor Zhen sat stiffly, his expression unreadable. But within, his frustration boiled. His earlier plans to use his daughter as a pawn to secure leverage over the Liu Clan were in shambles. He clenched his jaw. Damn it. Why isn't my son this fortunate? If the Liu Clan gains the Trade Union's full support, they might surpass the Royal Family itself. Their strength would be unstoppable.
With no reason to remain, Emperor Zhen rose abruptly, forcing a thin smile. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said curtly, gesturing for Zhen Ping to follow.
They were halfway to the exit when the absence of a third figure became glaringly obvious. The Emperor turned, his gaze scanning the room. "Zhen Shan," he called sharply, his voice cutting through the low chatter. "We are leaving."
His daughter remained seated, her posture regal and composed. She didn't even glance in his direction. "I'm not going," she replied sweetly, yet her words carried the weight of defiance. Her gaze shifted to Liu Xiaobei, her tone softening. "Clan Leader Liu, would it be possible for me to remain here for a time? I'd like to… better acquaint myself with your son."
The tension in the room thickened. Liu Xiaobei, ever the opportunist, nodded with a smile that barely hid his amusement. "That shouldn't be a problem at all. We have plenty of accommodations to spare."
Zhen Ping's expression darkened, his face contorting with barely suppressed fury. "Shan," he growled, his voice low and menacing, "you're staying here for that nobody?"
She turned her head just enough to cast a sidelong glance at him. Her next words were a dagger aimed squarely at her brother's ego. "If he's a nobody," she said, her tone dripping with disdain, "then who are you?"
The barb struck true. Zhen Ping's face reddened, his fists clenching at his sides. "You—" he began, his voice trembling with rage, but the Emperor silenced him with a sharp glare.
For a long moment, Emperor Zhen studied his daughter, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded stiffly. "Fine. Stay if you wish," he said, his voice laced with warning. He turned to Liu Xiaobei, his tone dark and pointed. "Make sure she is protected. If a single hair on her head is harmed, there will be consequences."
With that, he strode from the hall, dragging Zhen Ping behind him. The younger prince shot one last venomous glare at Xuefeng before disappearing through the doors.
When the hall was finally free of the royal presence, Liu Xiaobei turned back to his gathered guests, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "It seems we've had quite the eventful day," he remarked, his tone light but victorious. "Shall we conclude this for now? Tomorrow promises to be just as exciting."
As the clan leaders murmured their assent, Liu Xiaobei allowed himself a moment of private satisfaction. His gaze flicked to the ceiling, where the remnants of the tribulation clouds still lingered. The heavens favor my son, he thought with quiet pride. And I will make sure the whole world knows it.