Su Yi quickly organized his thoughts.
Xiao Tianque must have learned the news before the outbreak of the battle at the Governor's Mansion in Gunzhou City!
At that time, rumors of the Western Mountain Tea Gathering in Gunzhou had already begun to spread throughout the Da Zhou Empire.
However, very few people knew that it was Su Yi alone who truly controlled the outcome of the tea gathering.
"Mo Yun King Shi Lanshan is a non-clan king who emerged from the Su family in Yujing City. He has a high prestige and is stationed within the Baizhou region. It is with his support that the patriarch was ousted and imprisoned," Xie Yuanshan sighed, his face filled with worry.
"I see," Su Yi understood.
In simple terms, it was the elder Xiao Zhongying of the Lanling Xiao family who conspired with Mo Yun King Shi Lanshan to seize control of the patriarch's authority.
And the cause of the matter originated from Xiao Tianque and Xiao Hengqiu's decision to go to Gunzhou to rescue him.
Thinking about this, Su Yi couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.
Back then, helping Xiao Tianque was just a small favor.
He never expected that upon learning that the Su family was planning to deal with him, Xiao Tianque would resolutely choose to lend a helping hand.
Just this level of thoughtfulness was enough to move Su Yi.
"Miss Zijin, rest assured, since this matter started because of me, it will be concluded by me," Su Yi spoke softly.
He was originally planning to pass by Baizhou City, so he could take this opportunity to lend a hand.
However, Zijin shook her head and whispered, "Mr. Su, this matter involves not only some opponents within the Lanling Xiao family but also influential figures like Mo Yun King Shi Lanshan. You... it's best not to get involved."
Although Zijin was in awe of Su Yi's terrifying power, the thought of the forces represented by their opponents left her feeling disheartened.
At this moment, Pei Yundu suddenly remembered something and blurted out, "Could it be that you are Su Yi, Mister Su?"
Su Yi nodded, "That's correct."
Pei Yundu couldn't help but inhale sharply, suddenly realizing, and muttered, "No wonder, no wonder..."
Zijin and Xie Yuanshan were both taken aback. Xie Yuanshan asked, "Mr. Pei, have you heard of Mister Su's reputation before?"
Pei Yundu's expression was filled with admiration as he said, "You two have been trapped within the Xiao family all this time, so you probably don't know. Among the younger generation in the Da Zhou Empire, Mister Su's reputation is the most prominent!"
"In the battle at the Western Mountain Tea Gathering in Gunzhou, even the powerful reclusive hermit Qin Changshan of Longhu was no match for the might of Mister Su's sword!"
"In the battle at the Governor's Mansion in Gunzhou, numerous influential figures such as Xiahou Ling, Cai Jinghai, Yue Qing, and Pei Wenshan, all perished at the hands of Mister Su. When this news spread, it shocked the world and caused a great uproar."
"It was through these two battles that Mister Su's name became renowned throughout the Da Zhou Empire. How could I not know?"
As Pei Yundu finished speaking, his expression was filled with admiration.
"This..."
Xie Yuanshan was stunned, his heart filled with waves of shock as he suddenly realized that the young man in the blue robe before him was truly extraordinary.
Zijin's expression also became trance-like.
Recalling the time back in Guangling City, Su Yi only had the cultivation of the Blood Moving Realm.
But now, just a few months later, he was able to kill Xiahou Ling, a Martial Progenitor!
If it weren't for these words coming from Pei Yundu's mouth, she wouldn't have believed it to be true.
"Even Xiahou Ling is dead?" Xie Yuanshan gasped.
He was well aware that Xiahou Ling was an external king who emerged from the Su family in Yujing City!
Seeing Zijin and Xie Yuanshan's astonished expressions, Su Yi immediately realized that they truly had no knowledge of the events that had taken place during this period of time.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be so shocked.
Su Yi smiled and asked, "So, are you willing to accompany me to Baizhou City now?"
Zijin hesitated for a moment and said, "Mr. Su, are you... not worried about retaliation from the Su family in Yujing City?"
Su Yi replied, "The purpose of my journey was to go to the Su family in Yujing City to settle past grievances. Do you think I would be afraid?"
Finally, Zijin gritted her teeth and said, "Then I will trouble Mr. Su. Please accept Zijin's gratitude!"
As she was about to kneel down, Su Yi stopped her and said, "I've said before, this matter started because of me, and I will be the one to resolve it."
Xie Yuanshan also became happy and felt a sense of relief, excitedly saying, "Many thanks, Mister Su, many thanks, Mister Su!"
Pei Yundu remembered something and hesitated, "Mister Su, I heard that recently many powerful forces have set their sights on you, intending to harm you on your way to Yujing City. It is said that there are even several Martial Progenitors. Is it true or false?"
Su Yi nodded without explaining anything and said, "Just some trivial matters, not worth worrying about. Let's go, let's head to Baizhou City first."
Immediately, the group set off.
...
...
Two hours later.
The towering gates of Baizhou City appeared in the distance.
In front of the city gates stood a group of fierce warriors.
Leading them was a middle-aged man in a black robe, his eyes flickering with electric light, emitting an intimidating aura.
"Hmm? Why have they returned..."
As the black-robed middle-aged man saw Xie Yuanshan returning in a horse-drawn carriage from afar, he was momentarily stunned, as if unable to believe his eyes.
Next to them, a thin man smiled and said, "They must have encountered interception and realized that they couldn't escape the pursuit of the Heavenly Net, so they obediently came back. That's what smart people do!"
The middle-aged man in the black robe also burst into laughter.
"Xie Yuanshan, I thought you weren't afraid of death. Why did you come back with the young lady?" He mockingly asked loudly.
Xie Yuanshan, driving the horse-drawn carriage, replied expressionlessly, "Old Mo, I don't want to die. It would be best for you and your men to get out of the way."
"Hahaha! Look at this panicked little dog-like thing crawling back, still daring to bark. I'm afraid you don't even know what fate awaits you," the middle-aged man in the black robe laughed uproariously, causing the passersby near the city gate to glance over and quickly retreat to a distance.
Xie Yuanshan remained silent and slowly drove the horse-drawn carriage forward.
"Capture them and bring them back to the clan!" The middle-aged man in the black robe waved his hand and ordered.
Immediately, a group of warriors rushed forward.
Clang!
Xie Yuanshan drew a war sword and directly took action. With a flash of sword light, he instantly killed several warriors.
The bloody scene left the entire crowd stunned and in an uproar.
Previously, the middle-aged man in the black robe and others had thought that Xie Yuanshan and his group had failed to escape and returned in defeat.
Little did they know that things were not at all what they had expected.
"I told you to get out of the way, but you insist on seeking death," Xie Yuanshan's eyes turned icy.
"Courting death!"
The middle-aged man in the black robe's face darkened, and his figure soared into the air like a giant bird, pouncing towards Xie Yuanshan.
Seeing this, Pei Yundu, who was sitting on the other side of the carriage, was about to intervene.
Puff!
A sword light suddenly flashed out from the carriage, and while the middle-aged man in the black robe was still in mid-air, his head was beheaded and thrown away.
Everyone near the city gate was startled and let out screams, panicking and fleeing.
Witnessing this, Pei Yundu's heart churned.
That middle-aged man in the black robe was also a master of comparable strength to him, yet in the blink of an eye, he was killed from a distance!
There was no need to think, it was undoubtedly the work of Su Yi!
"After entering the city, head directly to your Xiao Clan," Su Yi's calm voice came from the carriage.
"Yes!" Xie Yuanshan took a deep breath, drove the horse-drawn carriage, and entered through the gates of Baizhou City.
...
...
Northwest of Baizhou City.
The stronghold of the Lanling Xiao Clan.
Yinfeng Tower.
This magnificent three-story building was constructed on a lake, surrounded by water on all sides, with a long white jade bridge leading to the lakeside.
In the grand hall on the top floor of Yinfeng Tower, Xiao Zhongying, dressed in luxurious robes, sat on the central seat.
Although he had only recently taken over as the patriarch of the Lanling Xiao Clan, this elder had already grown fond of the feeling of having absolute power. With a single command, no one dared to disobey.
"I have summoned you all here today to discuss an important matter," Xiao Zhongying's deep voice echoed throughout the hall. "I have just received intelligence from the Ten Directions Pavilion. Take a look."
He nodded slightly to his old servant by his side.
Immediately, the old servant took a thick stack of letters and distributed them to the other prominent members of the Xiao Clan present in the hall.
Each letter contained the same content.
The content on top was quite simple—
"On the 4th day of the 4th lunar month, Su Yi departed from Gunzhou City. On the same night, he defeated Wang Zhuo, the Palace Master of Bai Tian Xing Academy, outside Longqiao Relay Station."
"On the 6th day of the 4th lunar month, in front of the Yuntao Temple, Su Yi single-handedly annihilated four Precelestial Martial Ancestors: Lie Yang Zhenren, Mo Qingcang, Tonghua Madam, and Shi Chuang, leaving only Sutu Palace Master with a way out."
"On the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, Su Yi went to the Bloodthorn Demon Mountain. On the same day, Lü Dongliu, an elder of the Qianlong Sword Sect's Transmission Pavilion, along with the Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Cang and the Second Elder Liao Yunliu, joined forces with Wang Tu, the Palace Master of Jixia Academy, and Helian Hai, the Palace Master of Shuiyue Academy, to enter the Bloodthorn Demon Mountain."
"On that day, Su Yi left the Bloodthorn Demon Mountain, and Lü Dongliu, Wang Tu, and the others never appeared again. It is suspected that they met with misfortune in the Bloodthorn Demon Mountain..."
After reading the information on the letters, a chilling gasp filled the hall, and the prominent members of the Xiao Clan present couldn't help but pale.
"Wasn't Su Yi just a Grandmaster-level cultivator? How could he be so powerful?" someone exclaimed in shock.
"Even formidable cultivators like Lü Dongliu have met with misfortune? Could it also be the work of Su Yi?" someone shivered in fear.
"It's terrifying! In the battle at the Gunzhou Governor's Mansion, Su Yi effortlessly killed figures like the Flame King Xiahou Ling. And along the way, there were numerous Precelestial Martial Ancestors who tried to seize his fortunes, but they all failed!" someone said with a look of astonishment.
The entire hall fell into chaos. The influential figures of the Xiao Clan, who were accustomed to the ways of the world, couldn't remain calm.
Witnessing this scene, Xiao Zhongying furrowed his brow and shouted, "What's the panic? Even if Su Yi is causing upheaval, it has nothing to do with us!"
Silence enveloped the hall.
However, soon someone hesitantly spoke up, "But, Su Yi seems to have an extraordinary relationship with Old Master Xiao Tianque. This time, when he travels to Yujing City, he will pass through Baizhou. What if he learns about what we have done..."
As they spoke, the expressions of the people in the room changed.
Xiao Zhongying calmly said, "Everyone can rest assured. Baizhou is a land in the outskirts of the capital, and it is under the control of the Su family's power in Yujing City. If Su Yi dares to appear in Baizhou, he will face unexpected consequences!"
He smiled faintly and continued, "We... just need to sit back and watch the show."