Not far away, Cha Jin had just put away his rattan chair when he witnessed this bloody scene. His delicate body stiffened, and his beautiful eyes widened.
This steward from the Su family in Yujing City had previously appeared extraordinary, with a feather fan and a silk headdress, exuding an air of elegance and liveliness.
But he was cleaved in half by Young Master's sword just like that?
The mountain wind howled, carrying a hint of the bloody scent.
Xiang Tianqiu and the others stood motionless, their eyes fixed on Yue Changyuan's body that had been split in half. They seemed incredulous, as if in a state of extreme shock.
One sword, beheading Yue Changyuan!
Such terrifying might!
Without absolutely overwhelming strength, how could this have been achieved so effortlessly?
Masters are like dragons?
But in the face of Su Yi, a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator, killing a master is as easy as crushing an insect!
In comparison, Zhou Zhi Li, Zheng Tianhe, and the others appeared much calmer.
After all, they had witnessed the scene where Su Yi killed Liu Hongqi, a senior elder from the Moon Wheel Sect. They were not surprised by such a bloody scene.
However, they couldn't help but feel a bit anxious for Su Yi.
Yue Changyuan's death might not be a big deal, but he represented the attitude of the Su family in Yujing City!
By killing him in such a manner, what would the Su family in Yujing City think?
Would the stern and ruthless patriarch of the Su family really annihilate his own kin for the sake of righteousness?
"Young Master Su's methods have truly opened our eyes," Yu Baiting coldly spoke, breaking the deathly silence. "I just wonder how the Su family in Yujing City will feel when they learn of today's events."
Previously, he had also been shocked and thought of the tragic death of "Old Wen" at Su Yi's hands, which left him feeling stifled and uncomfortable.
Su Yi glanced at him and said, "I don't know what the Su family thinks, but I remember that your daughter still owes me a life. Once this matter here is resolved, I will settle the score."
Yu Baiting's face immediately darkened.
Before he could speak, Xue Ningyuan coldly snorted, "Young man, no matter how powerful an individual's strength is, they are still just one person. Yue Changyuan's death at your hands will be dealt with by the Su family in Yujing City. I advise you to restrain yourself while you're in the Gunzhou region!"
Su Yi glanced indifferently at him and said, "If you can leave here alive today, I, Su Yi, will take your head as a trophy."
Xue Ningyuan's face changed drastically, and he angrily retorted, "This is a tea gathering. Are you planning to make enemies out of all of us?"
Kang Shanjing, who had been silently observing, couldn't help but snort, "Arrogant in your youthfulness. If you dare to disrupt the rules of the tea gathering, I, Kang Mou, won't agree to it."
"Senior Kang, what does this tea gathering have to do with you?" Chang Guoke angrily questioned. "Have you forgotten about the decree from the Sect Master that you just presented?"
Kang Shanjing's expression remained unchanged as he said, "The Sect Master's decree was written for you and Senior Qingqin, not for me."
Chang Guoke was taken aback.
Before he could say anything, Su Yi furrowed his brow and interrupted, "If he wants to seek death, why stop him?"
Chang Guoke's heart trembled, and he fell silent immediately.
"Seeking death? Hehe..."
Kang Shanjing chuckled, twirling his beard. It seemed that Su Yi's killing of Yue Changyuan earlier hadn't made him overly wary.
At that moment, Xiang Tianqiu let out a long sigh and said, "Your Highness, it seems that today's matter can only be resolved through combat."
Zhou Zhili subconsciously glanced at Su Yi.
"It should have been done this way from the beginning," Su Yi said calmly. "Let's not waste any more time."
Xiang Tianqiu looked deeply at Su Yi and said, "As you wish, Young Master Su."
He suddenly stood up, his lips emitting a long whistle. "Qin Brother, please meet me atop the mountain!"
The sound was like thunder, resounding through the air, reaching far into the distance.
At the foot of the mountain, the crowd who had been waiting for news trembled in their hearts. This meant that no agreement had been reached, and they were going to fight?
Suddenly, the crowd became restless, and cries of astonishment filled the air.
They saw a man carrying a sword leap into the air. With each step, his figure rose abruptly by ten zhang, his feet tapping on the steep cliffs of the mountain, and then he ascended another ten zhang.
In just a few breaths, he stepped onto the peak of the Western Mountain!
"It's him, the 'Dragon Lake Hermit' Qin Changshan, ranked 27th on the Master List!"
The scene erupted into a commotion, completely boiling over.
Dragon Lake Hermit, Qin Changshan!
A master at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm, he had cultivated the sword for nineteen years in the harsh and brutal cold, reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
The "River-Cutting Sword Qi" he created had gained fame throughout Da Zhou and was praised by the Tenfang Pavilion as "The River-Cutting Sword, Capable of Shattering the Heavenly Gate!"
Among the master-level powerhouses of Da Zhou, Qin Changshan was already regarded as one of the top figures standing at the peak.
"The Governor Xiang Tianqiu must have quite the influence to personally invite Qin Changshan, a master of swordsmanship," murmured a beautiful woman with captivating eyes.
"No wonder the Tenfang Pavilion's analysis predicts that the Sixth Prince will undoubtedly lose. With Qin Changshan's involvement, he can sweep through the opponents effortlessly," sighed Eagle Lord.
The strength of each level of the Qi Gathering Realm was significantly greater than the previous level.
Even within the Gunzhou region, individuals at the first and second levels of the Qi Gathering Realm were already considered top-notch experts.
Having reached the third level of the Qi Gathering Realm, one could command respect from Xiang Tianqiu himself, and no one would dare to disrespect them.
And Qin Changshan was at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm!
Moreover, he is one of the top figures among the Master List at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm. In a sense, those who can make it into the top thirty of the Master List represent the thirty most powerful individuals in the Qi Gathering Realm of Da Zhou.
From this, one can see the terror of Qin Changshan.
After a brief silence, Hua Yan softly said, "Even if he loses to someone like that, it would still be an honorable defeat. Don't forget, Su Yi is just a teenager at the Qi Gathering Realm, only seventeen years old. Even if he is defeated today, his future achievements are destined to surpass Qin Changshan."
Although she spoke in this manner, it undoubtedly meant that if Su Yi really fought against Qin Changshan, she didn't have much confidence in him either.
"Miss makes a valid point," Eagle Lord agreed wholeheartedly.
"This is getting troublesome..."
In another area, Yuan Wutong furrowed his brow. As a shrewd figure, he had naturally heard of Qin Changshan's reputation.
To put it bluntly, even he would have to bow his head and show respect when facing Qin Changshan. Such is the way of the wise.
The presence of a master at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm was already the pinnacle beneath the Innate Martial Ancestor, capable of stirring up the world!
Such a figure, if placed in the Gunzhou region, would unquestionably dominate among the masters!
"Although the presence of a master at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm is terrifying, Mr. Su is also extraordinary. I don't believe that Mr. Su cannot resolve this challenge," Yuan Luoxi said firmly.
Yuan Wutong was taken aback, and a self-deprecating thought crossed his mind. Indeed, the more he lived, the more timid he became.
At the summit of the Western Mountain, under the watchful gaze of everyone, Qin Changshan, carrying his sword, arrived gracefully.
He had a slender figure with a sprinkling of white in his temples, and his eyes carried a touch of worldly weariness.
As soon as he appeared, a chilling aura emanated from him, as sharp as a sword, soaring into the sky, cutting through the long clouds and shattering them.
"Dragon Lake Hermit, Qin Changshan!"
Zhou Zhili, Zheng Tianhe, and others' faces turned pale.
This was a true heavyweight!
Even within the capital city of Da Zhou, he held great influence and was an honored guest among the powerful and influential.
"Brother Qin, the situation has left us with no choice but to trouble you to take action," Xiang Tianqiu said, rising to meet him.
Apart from Kang Shanjing from the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect, the heads of the Zhao, Bai, Xue, and Yu families, Zhao Qing, Bai Hanhai, Xue Ningyuan, and Yu Baiting, all stood up and paid their respects.
A person's reputation precedes them.
Even though they were top giants in the Gunzhou region, they had to maintain awe and respect in the face of a master at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm like Qin Changshan!
"I am here on behalf of the Second Prince, so there's no need for formalities," Qin Changshan said calmly and warmly.
As his gaze swept across the scene, he noticed Yue Changyuan's body lying in a pool of blood. His eyes couldn't help but narrow slightly as he asked, "Yue Changyuan, the steward of the Su family in Yujing City, is dead?"
Xiang Tianqiu whispered, "Yue Brother tried to stop the Third Young Master of the Su family from taking action but ended up sacrificing his own life."
Qin Changshan's gaze locked onto Su Yi not far away. After observing him from head to toe for a moment, he praised, "At the late stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, you were able to kill Yue Changyuan, who was at the second level of the Master Realm. Truly impressive."
"To praise the killing of such a weakling, is that worthy of admiration?" Su Yi said casually.
Qin Changshan was momentarily taken aback, but then a glimmer of light flickered in his eyes, and he suddenly burst into laughter. "Young man, I admire your pride. How about this? If you withdraw from this conflict, I am willing to invite you for a drink."
Xiang Tianqiu and the others frowned, but they didn't dare to interrupt.
Su Yi glanced at the man carrying the sword, exuding a sense of desolation and fierceness, and chuckled, "Just a master at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm. You haven't truly transcended the mundane realm, yet you dare to act all high and mighty in front of me? It's no different from courting humiliation."
The entire audience was dumbfounded.
Xiang Tianqiu and the others almost burst out laughing. What an arrogant kid, daring to disregard a master at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm!
Zhou Zhili and the others all wore strange expressions.
They were well aware of Su Yi's arrogance, but they never expected him to be so impolite in the face of Qin Changshan, who ranked twenty-seventh on the Master List.
At this moment, the gentle expression on Qin Changshan's face gradually faded, replaced by a faintly cold and stern glint in his eyes.
He shook his head and sighed softly, "I originally had an appreciation for your talent and didn't want to bully you because of your youth. But I didn't expect you, a young man, to be so arrogantly ignorant. Very well, let's pretend that I didn't say what I just said."
Upon seeing this, Xiang Tianqiu directly said to Zhou Zhili, "Your Highness, there are two ways to fight in a martial arts competition: one is to determine victory or defeat and stop there, and the other is a fight to the death. Which one do you choose?"
Before Zhou Zhili could speak, Su Yi calmly said, "Both victory and defeat and life and death will be determined."
With just a casual remark, the hearts of everyone present churned once again.
Kang Shanjing from the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect couldn't bear to watch anymore. This kid was truly too arrogant. Didn't he know the meaning of death?
Yu Baiting's eyes brightened, his heart filled with excitement. He couldn't wait for Su Yi to throw his life away!
Zhou Zhili's heart tightened slightly, about to speak up and advise Su Yi.
But then, Qin Changshan laughed heartily, his voice booming like thunder, resonating in the clouds:
"Young boy, to be fearless in the face of death, how can I, Qin Changshan, as a sword cultivator, not accompany you?"