Su Zimo was momentarily stunned by Mu Yunxuan's words. She never wanted to understand the meaning behind his apology. Could a single word of sorry erase all the pain? When she was the original owner, how could they have ever regarded her as a human being? They had forcefully taken her away without the consent of her brother and sister, disregarding their pain.
Su Zimo didn't want to dwell on it, didn't want to think about it. She turned around and lay down, but Mu Yunxuan's presence still lingered in the room, causing her emotions to stir.
Mu Yunxuan left Mingyue Villa and didn't return. Instead, he found a large tree and lazily leaned against it.
"Su Zimo, what should I do with you? What can I do with you? For over twenty years, no woman has ever occupied my heart for so long, except for you, Su Zimo."
Mu Yunxuan looked up at the moon in the night sky, as if it reflected Su Zimo's smile.
"Su Zimo, no matter how cold-hearted you are, you, Su Zimo, cannot escape my grasp."
His determined declaration conveyed his feelings. She was the one who broke the curse, and their fates had become intertwined. Since it had begun, she would continue on.
A black shadow darted past, and Mu Yunxuan vanished from the tree, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves.
The next morning, Fengqing Street was bustling with people. A thirteen-year-old boy and a five-year-old child faced off, an unprecedented sight that attracted everyone's attention.
Meanwhile, an astonishing scene unfolded at Bright Moon Villa.
"Momo, aren't you accompanying Que'er?"
Everyone looked at Su Zimo in unison.
"Hmm!"
Su Zimo gave a somewhat ambiguous reply.
Under the gaze of everyone, she continued to eat her breakfast with relish.
"Li'er is your son. Are you really not going?"
They had never seen such an heartless expression.
"I'm not going."
"Are you truly not going? How heartless can you be?"
"Enough! Can't you stop?" Su Zimo snapped, throwing her chopsticks on the table. Everyone shrank back.
"He Yunting, you've asked that question a hundred times already. If you want to be mute, I don't mind giving you a taste of Qi Er's medicine."
"Okay, I won't ask anymore!" He Yunting quickly covered his mouth, as if he expected a dose of medicine to be forced upon him.
Su Zimo shot He Yunting countless glares, unable to eat her breakfast in peace.
The reason behind her behavior was that she chose not to accompany her son to the ring today, instead letting He Yunting, Liu Shiyu, and her siblings accompany him.
He Yunting was not thrilled with the responsibility, as he had been up early in the morning for Su Que Qu. Su Zimo had originally intended to go, but she had other matters to attend to today. With such a significant event happening today, Jun Lantian would undoubtedly go to Fengqing Street to witness it. Su Zimo had to secretly visit the Three Kings Mansion and Li Chengxiang's Mansion to ensure that Jun Lantian could never turn the situation around. However, she would attempt to adjust her schedule to make it to Fengqing Street and watch the competition.
If Jun Lantian regained power and the tables turned, it would be her, Su Zimo, who would suffer.
"Uncle He, my mother always acts with careful consideration. If she chooses not to go, there must be a reason. Let's go on our own."
Su Li's face remained expressionless. Though he was a little disappointed that his mother wouldn't be there, he was glad that she trusted him enough to let him go.
"See, my son understands. You can go with confidence, Oak!"
"Don't worry, Li'er will definitely make Mingyue Villa proud."
Su Li's little face radiated confidence.
"Let's all go! Qi'er, take good care of Xin'er. If you dare to wander off and eat indiscriminately, see how your mother deals with you."
Su Zimo warned Su Qi. This little glutton would forget everything once he saw something delicious.
"I understand, Mother. It's not appropriate to eat pig trotters on such an important occasion today." Su Qi pouted. He hadn't even left his seat yet, and his mother already knew what he was thinking.
"Go, we're running late. Don't worry about your ruthless mother."
He Yunting glared at Su Zimo, while Liu Shiyu shook her head and smiled. Yunting always took things seriously, but the owner had complete trust in her son's safety. She understood this and supported it.
"Momo, you can worry by yourself. Sister Xin'er will take care of everything."
"With siblings around, there's no reason to worry."
"Momo, let's go then."
Su Qingjue picked up Su Xin, and Su Xin obediently waved her hand towards Su Zimo.
As they left, Su Zimo quickly changed her clothes and slipped out of Bright Moon Villa.
Fengqing Street was teeming with people, the entire street packed. Emperor Haoyue sat majestically on the main throne, dressed in a black five-clawed golden dragon robe with a intricately carved dragon crown securing his hair. Despite being over fifty years old, he still looked vigorous. As expected of the royal family, all of them were handsome men.
Seated on either side of Emperor Haoyue were Empress Ji Wu'er and Jun Lintian's concubine, Yao Qianhui. They were both adorned in elaborate attire, surpassing everyone else in beauty and exuding an aura of nobility befitting their royal status.
The prince and Jun Lantian sat on opposite sides, their interaction revealing a hint of suspicion.
Looking down, Mu Yunxuan, who had been dressed in black before, now wore a stunning white robe. The draping of his clothes was exquisite, with intricate gold silk embroidery adorning the top. He lounged lazily in his chair, radiating a dazzling aura that captured the attention of all the women present.
Particularly, Ling Qiushui, sitting beside him, wore a pleasant smile on her face. Her smile grew even brighter as she listened to the discussions around her.
Today's event was organized by Jun Zixi, and its significance was self-evident.
Due to their interest, Jun Zixi and Mu Yufeng were also present.
Mu Yunhan, Mu Yunfan, and Murong Xingchen naturally attended as well.
Towards the back sat the most low-key figure, Murong Shaofeng, who went unnoticed despite his presence.
Even the Su family, whose son was still in prison, made an appearance at such an occasion.
Various families and individuals of status also arrived to witness what seemed to be a child's play showdown.
By noon, the representatives from Bright Moon Villa had not yet arrived.
Ji Hong, dressed in a white brocade robe, was already waiting in the ring. Despite his youth, his face bore an indomitable spirit, and his slim figure exuded a sense of detachment from the world.
The atmosphere was lively, and even under the scorching sun, excitement filled the air.
An old man wearing a Chinese robe stood up and walked towards Emperor Haoyue. A forced smile appeared on his wrinkled face, and the entire audience fell silent.
He was Ji Yaotian, the Duke of Zhenguo. With an obsequious smile on his aged countenance, he knelt before Emperor Haoyue.
"Your Majesty, Lao Chengchen dares to say that Mingyue Mountain Villa is too arrogant. The appointed time is near, yet they have not arrived. They are not showing due respect to Your Majesty."
Before he could finish his sentence, a bold voice rang out.
"Grandfather, you expressed that poorly. The appointed time has not yet arrived, which means the hour is still to come. Grandfather, you're putting such a big accusation on Bright Moon Villa's head. What are you trying to achieve?"
As everyone was taken aback, two children with unique styles stood behind Ji Yaotian.
The two brothers, one dressed in white and the other in black, flew in front of Emperor Haoyue.
On the vacant seats, representatives from Bright Moon Villa were already present, but the owner of Mingyue Villa was missing.
Mu Yunxuan's gaze also shifted towards the empty seat where Su Zimo was supposed to be. He straightened up abruptly, irritated that she dared not show up while her son fought in the ring and signed the life and death contract.
When Su Ziyun saw Su Qingjue and Su Zinian, his suspicions grew. Could it really be Su Zimo?
Jun Shaochen's gaze involuntarily drifted towards Su Zinian, who was wiping sweat off Su Xin.
Su Qi's cold gaze pierced Ji Yaotian sharply, emanating a chilling momentum from his eyes.
The same was true for Su Que.
A smug smile flickered at the corners of Mu Yunxuan's mouth. His son, naturally, would not disappoint him.
Ling Qiushui didn't miss the smile on Mu Yunxuan's lips and the flicker of anger he had just shown. Her hand clenched involuntarily under her wide sleeve, eager to confirm her suspicions. Her eyes unconsciously glanced at Jun Lintian, wondering how he had discovered something.
Emperor Haoyue looked happily at the two identical and adorable Su Li and Su Qi in front of him. Despite their young age, their fierce momentum could truly shock people's hearts.
"Which one of you brothers is Su Li?"
Emperor Haoyue had already turned serious, but when he saw Su Li and Su Qi, resembling fairy-like children, his eyes couldn't help but soften.
"Emperor Qiyu, the common people here are Su Que."
Su Li stepped forward without kneeling or saluting, maintaining a calm expression as he looked at Emperor Haoyue.
The word "common people" grated harshly on Mu Yunxuan's ears. His son, Mu Yunxuan, would never belittle himself in such a manner.
"You are audacious! You have no understanding of proper decorum. When you see my emperor, you should kneel and salute immediately."
Ji Yaotian took the opportunity to roar again, glad that he had narrowly escaped a catastrophe. But he didn't expect a five-year-old child to be so sharp-tongued.
"You are audacious! Our brothers were not unaware of the proper decorum, but as newcomers to the capital, it is understandable that we may not fully understand the royal customs. However, you have overstepped your authority by meddling in the emperor's affairs. I ask you, do you still have any respect for my emperor, Grandfather?"
Su Qi's sharp retort was well-known in Bright Moon Villa. Arguing? Even against your wife, he wouldn't back down, let alone show mercy to outsiders.
With that statement, he relieved both brothers from the responsibility of kneeling. He even managed to put a heavy accusation on Ji Yaotian, leaving him gasping for breath.
"You... You are speaking nonsense!" Ji Yaotian didn't expect such a heavy accusation to be suddenly placed on him.
Mu Yunhan almost stood up and applauded. That Duke of Zhenguo was not only the elder of two dynasties but also the queen's own father. Usually, no one dared to speak up against him, and he tossed and turned in his sleep, disturbed by his anger.
Ji Yaotian knelt down again, and the queen looked at her elderly father with distress. Why was he still causing trouble for Ji Hong despite his old age?
"My Emperor, you must not listen to this nonsense from Ji Yaotian. The old minister certainly did not intend to overstep his boundaries."
"Alright, Duke of Zhenguo, they are just two five-year-old children. Don't embarrass them."
Emperor Haoyue remained unperturbed. After all, he had come to observe the event and had stumbled upon the right place. Haoyue Kingdom truly harbored talented individuals!
"I heard you are triplets, and there is another one?" Emperor Haoyue showed great interest, as he had only heard of twins before and had never seen triplets.
"Unfortunately, my emperor, my sister is unwell and cannot come to greet you in person."
Su Qi also stepped forward to speak. His brother rarely spoke, so he took the initiative to step onto the stage with his brother.
"Oh, so your sister is present today?"
"Yes, my emperor. My sister is seated offstage."
Su Qi pointed in the direction where Su Xin was sitting.
Emperor Haoyue glanced in the direction indicated by Su Xin, but it was quite far, so he couldn't help but look a few more times.
"Uncle He, bring Xin'er up. It seems the emperor truly wishes to see her." Su Xin's pink princess dress enhanced her delicate facial features, and a sweet smile played on her lips, evoking envy from children her age. Su Xin's attire was truly beautiful.
"Xin'er, aren't you afraid?"
"Uncle He, don't worry. Xin'er isn't afraid."
Su Xin smiled sweetly. As long as her brother was present, she wasn't afraid of anything.
"Alright then!" He Yunting stood up and carried Su Xin step by step towards Emperor Haoyue.
Mu Yufeng praised, "The Lord of Bright Moon Villa is truly blessed with these three children." Their son not only had exceptional looks but also possessed extraordinary cultivation, unlike ordinary people.
His words landed on the ears of several individuals, word for word.
"Of course," Mu Yunxuan responded cheerfully.
Mu Yufeng found it strange. Since when did Xuan'er care about such trivial matters concerning their parents?
"Oh, well! No matter how good they are, they're not our grandchildren. Look at how fond the royal brother is of them! If they were our grandchildren, the royal brother would like them just as much." Jun Zixi expressed her envy. What could she, with her old bones, do about it? She was just waiting to hold her own grandchild. But why did these three children seem so familiar? It felt like she had seen them somewhere before.
"Huh!" Mu Yunhan turned his head to look at the second elder and smiled. If they knew that the three children on stage were their own grandchildren, they would be overcome with tears of excitement.
"Su Xin had an audience with the emperor." Su Xin displayed neither humility nor arrogance, and at that moment, she held an additional small bonsai pot with orange-red flowers in her hand.
"Very well! Haoyue Emperor praised twice in a row.
"The girls are even more beautiful, but what do you have in your hand?"
Haoyue Emperor noticed the bonsai in Su Xin's hand and appeared quite interested.
"This is a gift for my emperor, peacock grass."
"Haha...!" Haoyue Emperor laughed heartily, "I am accustomed to seeing rare treasures, but I have never seen this peacock grass before."
"My Emperor, this peacock grass blooms at sunrise and closes at sunset. Those who possess it bring happiness and joy to their owner."
Li Gonggong, who stood beside Haoyue Emperor, descended and carefully took the peacock grass from Su Xin's hand, presenting it to Haoyue Emperor.
"Excellent! Xin'er, your gift is accepted. I hope it can bring the happiness and joy you described."
"It is a blessing that my emperor appreciates it."
Su Xin smiled sweetly. She had a purpose in coming forward—to divert the emperor's attention from questioning her about her absent mother.
As the time for the match approached, Su Xin felt relieved. Su Qi and Su Li understood their sister's intentions, and they knew the emperor would inquire about their sister, which would naturally bring attention to their mother.
"Father, it's time for the competition."
Jun Lintian reminded, feeling displeased that he had been overshadowed by three young children. He was particularly unhappy about losing to Su Li, which made him even more resentful.
"Since the time has come, let's begin!"
Haoyue Emperor was eager to watch the match. After all, it was an unprecedented duel involving two five-year-old children.
Su Li nodded at Su Qi, who understood his brother's intention and escorted their sister down.
"Brother, Xin'er's plan is quite clever. When she goes up, the emperor will naturally forget to ask about our mother's absence."
Mu Yunhan whispered quietly, out of earshot of the others.
"Go and bring Xin'er here. The sun is too bright, and Xin'er might feel uncomfortable."
"Big brother, aren't you worried about arousing suspicion from our father? Aren't you afraid of people present questioning us?"
"What's there to doubt? Xin'er is so adorable. Who wouldn't want to hold her?" Just go. Mu Yunxuan didn't care about what others thought of him. He wanted to hold his daughter and didn't want to restrain himself any longer.
At that moment, Su Qi brought Su Xin down from Mu Yunxuan's side.
Earlier, Mu Yunhan didn't have to get up to hold Su Xin.
"Xin'er, Qi'er, don't go down. Come sit here."
Mu Yunxuan smiled and gestured for them to come, instantly capturing the attention of Jun Lintian and Jun Shaochen.
Mu Yufeng furrowed her brows, unsure of what Mu Yunxuan was doing.
Su Qi noticed that all the seats were occupied except for one, where a beautiful woman was sitting next to his father. This instantly displeased Su Qi.
"Uncle, there's no room. Qi'er and Xin'er should return to our seats and sit!"
After saying that, Su Xin was about to leave, but she glanced at Mu Yunxuan with an embarrassed expression. In truth, she really wanted to be with her father, who was exactly as she had imagined—considerate, gentle, and most importantly, someone who loved her dearly.
"Qi'er, how could there be no room?" Mu Yunxuan looked at Ling Qiushui beside him, clearly implying something.
Ling Qiushui pretended not to notice, realizing that even if she was at her worst, she couldn't compare to two five-year-old children!
Mu Yunxuan could only signal Qing Feng.
"Miss Ling, please sit in the chair next to you," Qing Feng said expressionlessly.
Ling Qiushui's face turned pale, feeling embarrassed. Did he really disdain talking to her?
"Very well!"
Feeling deeply wronged, Ling Qiushui shifted her gaze to Jun Zixi. Realizing that he was no longer looking at her, but rather at Su Xin, she reluctantly got up and moved to the chair next to him.
"Thank you, Aunt Beauty!"
The term "aunt" made Ling Qiushui even angrier. She wished she could tear Su Qi's mouth apart. How could she, a young and beautiful woman, be compared to an "aunt"?
Su Qi felt much more at ease now, sitting in Ling Qiushui's former seat.
"Xin'er." Mu Yunxuan took Su Xin into his arms.
"Ahem...! Uncle, it feels nice here. Thank you, uncle." Su Xin smiled bitterly. He was her father, but she couldn't call him as such.
"It's nice and cool here." Mu Yunxuan carefully wiped the sweat off her forehead.
Mu Yufeng and Jun Zixi looked on in shock. They had never seen him treat them with such tenderness. As for this girl... No, how did Yunxuan even know these two children?
Murong Shaofeng observed Mu Yunxuan suspiciously, feeling a twinge of jealousy. These three children were also close to him, but with Mu Yunxuan... Murong Shaofeng couldn't help but wonder.
"Knock, knock..." The sound of drums echoed, interrupting everyone's thoughts.
In an instant, the atmosphere between heaven and earth changed dramatically, and a somber aura converged above the heads of the two combatants in mid-air.
"Look, it's starting! Look!"
"Who do you think will win?"
"It's a nail-biting situation. We won't know the result until the end."
"I guess Ji Gongzi will win. After all, he is the apprentice of Haidi."
"That's not necessarily true. Look at Su Que; there is no fear in his eyes. He appears confident and self-assured, indicating that he must be fully certain of winning this match."
The spectators beneath the ring began discussing and debating the outcome.
A larger and a smaller figure clashed in the ring, exchanging blows.
Despite Ji Hong originally being a sixth-stage practitioner of the Golden Xuan Period, he had unexpectedly advanced to the ninth stage overnight, causing people to view him differently.
Upon seeing this, Su Qi immediately noticed something was amiss and leaped up from his chair.
"Damn, they're cheating! How despicable!" Lang Langdang's eyes blazed with anger as he fixed his gaze on his brother.
Mu Yunxuan seemed to see through Lang Langdang's furious intentions, once again igniting his desire to kill him.
Among the attendees, only Su Qi instantly realized what was happening—it was foul play.
Mu Yunxuan's eyes emitted a dangerous aura. This old fox had indeed given his grandson a third-stage pill. If he dared to harm his son, he would make sure he couldn't eat or move anymore.
Su Li, engaged in the fight, also detected the trickery. It was easy for him to kill someone below the third stage, and Ji Hong, who was at the sixth stage of the Golden Xuan Period the previous day, had suddenly reached the ninth stage today. It was obvious he had taken a pill to enhance his cultivation.
"Hmph! Despicable," Su Li said coldly.
Upon hearing Su Li's words, Ji Hong's face instantly turned red and white. However, he showed no mercy; he believed that only by defeating and killing Su Li could he bury this secret forever.
Seeing the murderous intent in Ji Hong's eyes, a trace of mockery flashed in Su Li's eyes.
"If you want to kill me, you are not qualified."
Su Li's aura sank. He shouted loudly, crouched down, and struck his palm forcefully, causing the surrounding energy to surge.
As Su Li's body gradually moved forward, the power of his Xuan Qi increased.
Ji Hong, sensing something was wrong, became more vigilant towards Su Li, but it was too late.
"Poof..." Ji Hong was struck by Su Li's Xuan Qi, and a mouthful of blood spurted out.
As soon as Ji Hong spewed a mouthful of blood, it immediately elicited a gasp of astonishment from those around him.
"Hey, I must say Su Oak is incredible! Look at his steady momentum; he's bound to win."
"Su Li, only five years old!"
The people below spoke with envy.
Su Li's young age turned out to be at the sixth level of the Golden Xuan Period. Such achievements were beyond comparison with ordinary individuals.
In the world of Xuanqi cultivation, many ordinary people could start cultivating at the age of four or five, and even in their teens, there were still many who hadn't reached that stage.
Observing Ji Hong vomiting blood, Ji Yaotian couldn't sit still, squinting his cloudy eyes at Su Li. He couldn't believe that a five-year-old child could truly be a sixth-level master of the Golden Xuan Period.
"Dad, don't worry. Until the end, no one can predict the outcome. Let's have faith in Hong'er." Ji Hong's father, Ji Qianlong, remained confident. He refused to believe that his son was merely a five-year-old brat.
Meanwhile, everyone present remained astonished, witnessing another surprising scene.
"Hooray! Wonderful, brother is about to be promoted!" Suzie exclaimed with joy.
"Uncle, isn't my brother amazing?"
Su Xin looked at Mu Yunxuan with pride. Both her elder brother and second brother were exceptional, never bringing shame to their father.
"Hmm! We are extraordinary too," Mu Yunxuan said, affectionately tapping Su Xin's little nose.
Then he turned to Mu Yunhan and said, "Yunhan, keep an eye on the people nearby. Don't let anyone exploit any weaknesses and harm Quercus."
"Yes, big brother."
"Shiyu, Oak is about to be promoted." He Yunting hadn't anticipated that if he lost, Su Li would suddenly be promoted during the battle.
"Don't worry, no one dares to make a move in front of the Son of Heaven."
Liu Shiyu remained composed.
"Ugh!" Ji Hong stared at Su Li in disbelief, his eyes filled with surprise. Could he also be promoted?
The golden light above Su Li's head grew stronger and stronger.
"Oh! Look, what is that?"
"Wow! It's the promotion halo!"
"This is incredible! Can one be promoted during battle?"
"Have you ever seen anything like this before?"
Discussions surged, reaching a crescendo. What's more, almost the entire city had gathered to witness this event.
"Emperor Father, Su Li can be described as the most exceptional Xuan Qi cultivator. Very few individuals can be promoted during battle."
The prince also looked at Su Li with joy. These two brothers were about to shake the heavens. Today, his grandfather and uncle might feel despondent, as this duel between life and death had no reason to be stopped.
"Yes, our Haoyue Kingdom has been blessed with talented individuals in recent years. Getting to know such an outstanding child like Su Li will be greatly beneficial for you in the future," Haoyue Emperor remarked.
Ruling the country with benevolence and filial piety, the Haoyue Kingdom had flourished, maintaining peace among the four nations.
"Father, if this child returns safely, it will be all thanks to the Su brothers. They saved this child's life during our practice in the psychedelic forest."
"Yes, I will keep watching," Haoyue Emperor nodded, looking at Su Li with satisfaction.
Jun Lintian narrowed his sharp eyes. So, these two brats had ruined his plans. His eyelids had been twitching incessantly today, giving him an uneasy feeling.
"Chen'er, look, he has been promoted to the ninth level of the Golden Xuan Period. It's unprecedented," Haoyue Emperor also gazed at Su Li in disbelief.
"Great, my brother has achieved consecutive promotions. Ji Hong is finished!" Su Li joyfully danced, twisting his buttocks, amusing everyone around.
Mu Yunxuan remained silent, a proud smile gracing his lips. Li'er had exceeded his expectations.
This smile happened to be captured by Ling Qiushui. Observing the girl in his arms, she was even more special than himself. How could someone of his esteemed status be so attentive to a little girl?
"Look, look! Consecutive promotions, this is a prodigy!"
"Oh no! We lost heavily. Ji Honggongzi won everything we bet at the Mu Family Casino."
"Haha! We sold Su Que's victory. As they say, there's no smoke without fire. But we heard through the grapevine that not even Third Prince Ye was his match."
In the crowd, some were jubilant, some were angry, and some were regretful. Various opinions clashed and mingled.
"Brother, Li'er has achieved full promotion. With the Son of Heaven present, the Ji family wouldn't dare make any moves."
"That's for the best."
Mu Yunxuan spoke while feeding Su Xin pastries. Su Xin was overjoyed, always looking at her father with a sweet smile.
"Unbelievable! Xingchen, is there any reason for this? It's unfair! Initially, I was one level below that kid, but now, I'm four levels below. He doesn't want us to have any chances."
Mu Yunfan lamented with a mournful expression. He felt like a landless soul.
"You brought this upon yourself. You never worked hard enough in your cultivation," Murong Xingchen said, looking at him mockingly.
Mu Yunfan slumped like a withered eggplant, unable to muster any enthusiasm.
"Yunfan, didn't you notice that your eldest brother has feelings for that girl? He treats her so gently. Look at them; they're like father and daughter. Compared to others, I find this matter more interesting," Murong Xingchen said.
Mu Yunfan turned his head to look. "Xingchen, now that you mention it, there does seem to be a resemblance."
"It's not just a resemblance; it's strikingly similar," Murong Xingchen replied.
Ji Yaotian glowered at Su Li, his mind filled with gloom. This situation was abnormal. What should he do about his precious grandson now? Ji Yaotian's body trembled slightly.
Immediately after Ji Hong completed his promotion, he launched an attack on Su Li, his eyes burning with a bloodthirsty killing intent.
His reputation as a prodigy had been stolen, Su Li knew his secret, and as long as Su Li remained in Haoyue Country, he would never regain his former glory. Killing Su Li became Ji Hong's only option.
Su Li's eyes snapped open, and the first thing he saw was Ji Hong's charging palm strike.
Swiftly, his small body leaned back, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Su Li immediately leaped up, resembling a sharp sword as he swiftly slashed towards Ji Hong.
"This move is the Gale Thunderbolt; its birth lies in the heavens, and its intent is one. This child's every move is flawless, with countless variations. His master must be extraordinary," Mu Yufeng remarked, never taking his eyes off Su Li since his fight with Ji Hong.
"Can you guess who the master is?" Jun Zixi asked, unable to fully discern Su Li's technique due to its speed.
"You won't figure it out so easily," Mu Yufeng replied, his brow furrowing as he continued to observe.
"Uncle, my brother insists on cultivating for two hours every day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, without interruption, and the second brother also insists on refining pills every day, so the two brothers are so good."
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunxuan felt distressed. He understood the purpose behind Li'er's relentless daily cultivation, and Qi Er was no different.
"Their hard work is what will earn them recognition from the world."
Although Mu Yunxuan felt sorry for his two brothers, he knew that in this world, the strong prevail while the weak perish.
"Poof!" Ji Hong was sent flying out of the ring, crashing into the wall.
"Ouch! Hong'er!" Ji Yaotian couldn't remain seated this time.
"Dad, the life and death contract has been signed, we can't interfere."
Ji Qianlong supported the somewhat unsteady Ji Yaotian, feeling a deep pain in his heart for his son.
"Su Li won..."
"I never expected this!"
"What a fortunate owner of Bright Moon Villa...!"
The crowd erupted in commotion once again.
Su Zimo stood among the crowd, smiling as she looked at Su Li. Li'er truly didn't disappoint her. In this world where martial arts reigned supreme, there was no need to feign ignorance and inquire about the future. Strength was the best guarantee for the future.
"What... What do you intend to do?"
Ji Hong felt like his entire body had been shattered, unable to stand up at all.
"What do I intend to do? Ji Hong, you truly have a short memory! The life and death contract has been signed, and the loser... dies."
Su Li's expression turned gloomy, and in Ji Hong's eyes, he appeared as a messenger from hell.
Having been pampered since childhood and possessing exceptional talent, Ji Hong had never considered the possibility of losing, let alone dying.
Everyone watched nervously as Su Li approached Ji Hong step by step.
"Elder brother, do you think Li'er will really kill Ji Hong?" Mu Yunhan asked, his tone cold. He didn't care about a Duke of Zhenguo, but if Ji Hong died, the Duke would definitely cause trouble for Mingyue Villa in secret.
"Uncle, rest assured. My elder brother always acts with restraint."
Su Xin sweetly smiled at Mu Yunhan, warming his heart. Just looking at her pale face was enough to make anyone feel a rare pang of heartache.
Su Li raised his hand, and all eyes focused on his hand.
Ji Hong looked at Su Li in horror. He had never considered defeat, and death was beyond his imagination.
"Young Master Su, please spare your subordinate's life! Show mercy. Ji Yaotian has doted on Ji Hong since he was a child. How could he watch his beloved grandson die before his eyes?"
Mu Yunxuan raised his gaze and glanced at Ji Yaotian. This old fox finally couldn't sit still?
Su Li turned around and coldly looked at Ji Yaotian.
"Mercy? Duke of Zhenguo, the life and death contract has been signed. Even a five-year-old child understands that the elder of the two dynasties of Zhenguo shouldn't feign ignorance!"
Su Li's words were laced with sarcasm, clearly pointing out that even a five-year-old child understood the rules, while a seventy-year-old Duke of Zhenguo intentionally obstructed them.
"Young Master Su, I am aware of my mistake. However, Ji Yaotian is such a doting grandfather, and I hope that Young Master Su will show mercy to my grandson. If there is any consideration for the circumstances in the ring, I also hope that Young Master Su will do me the favor. In the future, if Mingyue Villa needs anything, my mansion will be at your disposal. Please spare my family's lives."
Ji Yaotian spoke without hesitation, causing the queen to furrow her brows upon hearing his words.
Ji Yaotian didn't seek Emperor Haoyue's opinion either. The challenge in the ring, with a signed life and death contract, was a matter between the participants. He could only appeal to the victor's mercy. At his age, asking for a favor from a five-year-old child was a great humiliation. But for the sake of his grandson's life, he was willing to swallow his pride. Even though it was just a five-year-old child, it concerned the life and death of his grandson, and he was willing to sacrifice his lifetime reputation. He didn't care.
Su Li squinted his eyes, concealing his emotions.
"What Duke of Zhenguo says is true. Ji Hong is your beloved grandson, and I, Su Li, am also my mother's beloved son. Did you ever consider how I surpassed all odds in my mother's heart when your precious grandson wanted to kill me?" Su Li's words were filled with eloquence, aiming to stir empathy.
"What Young Master Su says is indeed reasonable. It was an error in my teaching. Su Gongzi, please extend your noble hand and spare Hong'er's life!"
Ji Yaotian was getting anxious, fearing that his grandson would die before his eyes at any moment. He almost kneeled down before Su Li.
"Uncle, my brother was just bluffing earlier. In reality, he won't kill Ji Hong."
"Does Xin'er know what's truly going on in her brother's heart?"
Mu Yunxuan asked with a pampered tone.