A weird silence enveloped the area after his shoutings.
Elder Zhao Jiang and Elder Zhao Yang were silent, and they had their heads bowed. The crowd didn't utter any sound, surprising Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao found it difficult to breathe like something was suffocating within the air.
'The air..." Zhao Yao immediately looked up.
More than a dozen figures floated in the air above him.
Grand Elders.
Floating in the air proved that each and every one of them was at least a Martial Lord as only after achieving the Martial Lord realm can a cultivator fly.
And they were all staring at him.
It suffocated Zhao Yao, and he felt that his heart started throbbing real hard.
Even though he expected them to react, Zhao Yao didn't expect these old monsters to bite the bait this fast. Most of their eyes had pure wrath and disdain written all over them.
By disrupting such a Grand occasion that they intended for the 'Greater' good of the clan, Zhao Yao had poked the hornet's nest. He was lucky that they didn't strike him already.
He didn't like them either, because the Grand occasion they set up was built on his dignity and the 'Greater' good was by inflicting evil on him.
'Master, I can't take their attack to make it more realistic. It will turn me into a paste, so please, be with me.' He communicated with his Master to be safe.
As Zhao Yao observed the top dogs of the clan, he didn't see the person he really hoped to see.
"Young Master will be fine." It was Elder Zhao Kangmin's voice that broke the eerie silence.
While getting suffocated by the Grand Elders' presence, Zhao Yao didn't realize that Zhao Ping's squeals had stopped.
He looked at his artwork, but there one new person with Zhao Ping.
Zhao Yao saw his uncle Zhao Guang, the Ancient Zhao clan's current leader, standing beside his injured son, aiding in healing him.
Even though he had prepared himself and thought thoroughly about the dangers he would encounter, Zhao Yao still couldn't help but gulp his saliva in fear.
An angry father respects no rules, especially a powerful leader like his Uncle. His words were the law.
One snap of his finger and Zhao Yao knew that he will be killed a thousand times.
He just hoped that his Uncle Zhao Guang and the Grand Elders all have the same addiction that led to the downfall of many powerful cultivators in his stories. The over-emphasis on 'FACE.'
Zhao Yao hoped that they wouldn't ruin their 'face' by publicly attacking and killing a weak teenager. He hoped not because the rest of his plan depended on them to honor the laws and follow the enhancement of their 'face.' It will also be disappointing to leave the plan halfway after getting such a great start. If they did attack, he trusted his Master to save his life.
"The Lvl 3 healing pill should restore almost all of his injuries." Elder Kangmin said to the Clan Leader Zhao Guang, who used his Martial Lord Qi to stimulate the drug's effect to heal, especially the 'family jewels' area.
Zhao Yao's uncle, who looked in his mid 30s with his clean-shaven face, was actually more than 100 years old. His calm demeanor, even when his sole son laid on the ground injured in his private parts, made Zhao Guang much more dangerous than he expected.
"After resting for a couple of days, we can give him the restoration pill for his nose. The cartilage will take some time to restore." Elder Kangmin continued. "As for his teeth, Zhao Ping had to do it himself after breaking through the Golden Core Realm. Or, we need to find a level 5 healing pill."
"Move my son to the pavilion for better treatment," Clan Leader Zhao Guang ordered. "And, get the best quality pills from the clan treasury. Search the treasury and the entire province for a level 5 pill."
Zhao Ping looked almost healed except for his crushed nose and missing teeth.
'Don't tell me he regrew his balls?' Zhao Yao got irritated by the thought that Zhao Ping escaped without suffering much.
"Zhao Yao pays respect to Clan Leader." Zhao Yao bowed and interrupted.
"But, this one has a concern to tell." Zhao Yao paused, and with a smile, he continued. "It will be a HUGE waste to use valuable pills on a Murderer, who may get a death sentence."
"What did you say?" His uncle turned to Zhao Yao, and his fury finally erupted.
Zhao Yao didn't care. He already burned the bridge, and what he needed was that ash to fertilize his plants.
"I meant..." Zhao Yao tried to speak, but he was forced to kneel by an oppressive pressure.
Zhao Yao knelt and then struggled to maintain his body from falling flat on the ground. He wasn't stubborn like his usual protagonists, who refuses to kneel, but he at least had to keep some dignity.
His father's cultivator dress and his Master's help alleviated the pressure. Seeing that things aren't going well according to his plan, Zhao Yao contemplated going for his escape plan.
But Zhao Yao didn't need it at all as he heard a familiar voice.
"How can you leave your guest behind like that?" A voice came from above, and the oppressive pressure on Zhao Yao disappeared instantly.
A big sturdy figure landed in front of him, and Zhao Yao's mind jumped in joy after realizing who he was. It was the person he wanted to see the most, Uncle Su.
The 'guest' yawned for a long time, with his eyes half-open. He was followed by an Old Assistant, who landed right beside his Master.
The Su Clan Leader, Su Zhelan, was more than 7 feet tall with a quirky personality. The 'crazy fist Su' was what Zhao Yao's father called him.
It had been more than 3 years since they last met each other. Uncle Su, who used to be muscular, had gained a bit of a stomach. More ordering than working due to taking over the clan leadership, and more flying than running due to reaching the Martial Lord realm could be the reason.
Uncle Su's grey beard grew longer, and he wore the traditional green Su Patriarch outfit, which included a decorated head turban.
"You have no idea, how bored I was, sitting over in the tower while struggling not to fall asleep.
The contest was so uninteresting, and when this kid started to make things interesting, how can you all abandon me there?"
His Uncle Su was here.
He was the main reason Zhao Yao moved forward with his daring plan because the Elders can easily oppress an insignificant member regardless of whatever he planned.
But with the aid of a powerful outsider like the Su clan Leader, the clan had to think greatly before doing anything because it concerned their own 'Face.'
The Selection Contest Arena, which started as the gathering point for Qi Gathering cultivators, had become the assembling point of respected Martial Lords due to Zhao Yao.