"You!"
The Great Elder pointed angrily at Ye Xuan, his face flushed with fury.
Ye Xuan glanced coldly at the Great Elder and the others, sneering, "Great Elder, you spoke of a life-and-death duel between me and him, yet you suddenly intervened. Tsk, tsk, Great Elder, do you not care for your own reputation? The world is watching. Are you not afraid the Ye family will become a laughingstock?"
Upon hearing Ye Xuan's words, everyone present looked toward the Ye family with a peculiar expression.
A duel, and the Ye family intervened together? This wasn't a duel; this was a gang beating!
Voices of discussion rose from the crowd.
On the other side, Li Yu and the other two exchanged glances, their eyes carrying faint amusement.
Unexpected! Completely unexpected!
They never thought that even after Ye Lang had reached the Qi Transformation Realm, he still couldn't match Ye Xuan!
To them, this was a blessing in disguise.
Li Yu stood up, looking toward the Great Elder of the Ye family. "Great Elder, you invited us to witness the duel. What now? Are we supposed to watch the entire Ye family gang up on a young man?"
Beside him, Zhang Lie sneered, "Is this the so-called life-and-death duel of the Ye family? A duel that turns into a gang beating? How laughable! Haha..."
City Lord Jiang Nian glanced at the Great Elder and said calmly, "Great Elder, the world is watching."
The Great Elder's face darkened considerably. He looked at Ye Lang, who was nearby. At this moment, the armor on Ye Lang's body had shattered into pieces!
Moreover, blood trickled from the corner of Ye Lang's mouth, clearly indicating severe internal injuries.
If they continued, Ye Lang would undoubtedly be killed by Ye Xuan!
Realizing this, the Great Elder's hands slowly clenched into fists.
At that moment, not far away, Ye Xuan suddenly laughed, "It seems the Great Elder doesn't plan to let me fight him one-on-one. I wonder what excuse you'll use to get rid of me! Come on, say it. I'm all ears! Everyone else is listening too!"
The Great Elder raised his head and looked at Ye Xuan, "Ye Xuan, I suspect this duel was not fair. You must have cheated—"
Suddenly, Ye Xuan pointed angrily at the Great Elder, "Cheated? Old dog, do you have no shame? I fought him one-on-one, and because I won, I'm accused of cheating? Your face is thicker than my backside!"
The Great Elder growled, "Ye family members, listen! Ye Xuan is rebelling; shoot him!"
It seemed he no longer cared about anything.
The crowd gasped!
"The Ye family truly has no shame! This is beyond unsporting!"
"This isn't just unsporting—it's utterly shameless. Winning is considered cheating? How can the Great Elder behave like this?"
"What choice does he have? The Heavenly Chosen One is his grandson! How could he let him die? But this behavior is really too much!"
On the viewing platform, the middle-aged man from Yan City and the lady from Luo City exchanged glances, both shaking their heads, their eyes full of disdain.
Around the life-and-death stage, the Ye family's crossbowmen looked at each other. At that moment, the Great Elder roared, "Why haven't you shot him yet?"
The guards hesitated, about to take action, when suddenly a voice sounded from the crowd, "The clan head has emerged!"
The Great Elder's body trembled slightly. He looked towards the entrance of the Ye Mansion, where a middle-aged man was approaching slowly.
This man was Ye Cang, the current head of the Ye family and its strongest member!
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
Everyone bowed in respect.
Ye Xuan glanced at Ye Cang without saying anything.
Ye Cang stepped onto the life-and-death stage, casting a cold glance at the Great Elder, "Look at the mess you've made!"
The Great Elder's expression grew awkward, and he bowed slightly, "Clan Head!"
Ye Cang ignored the Great Elder and cupped his hands towards the crowd, "Forgive us for the spectacle."
He then looked at the Great Elder, "From now on, you are stripped of your elder status and demoted to an ordinary elder, with no authority for life!"
Upon hearing this, the Great Elder's expression changed. He was about to speak, but Ye Cang turned to Ye Xuan, "Let this matter end here, understood?"
Ye Xuan shook his head and pointed at Ye Lang in the distance, "My life-and-death duel with him is not yet over!"
Ye Cang frowned.
At this point, the Great Elder and a group of elders approached Ye Cang. The Great Elder said in a low voice, "Clan Head, Ye Lang is a Heavenly Chosen One and has brought about a heavenly omen. He has limitless potential for the future. Although he lost to Ye Xuan, Ye Xuan's dantian is shattered; he is now a cripple whose limit in life is that of a mere warrior. He will never leave Qing City."
Ye Cang looked coldly at the Great Elder, "It was you who destroyed his dantian, wasn't it?"
The Great Elder clenched his fists, "Yes, it was me! Clan Head, he has no future, but Ye Lang has unlimited potential. If we protect him today, he will surely bring glory to the Ye family in the future!"
The surrounding elders voiced their agreement.
Ye Lang must not die!
The fate of the Ye family's future rested on him!
Ye Cang fell silent.
Every family needed talent. With Ye Xuan's dantian shattered, he could no longer bear the future of the Ye family. But Ye Lang was a Heavenly Chosen One who had even triggered a heavenly omen!
The Ye family needed someone like that.
With this thought, Ye Cang looked at Ye Xuan, "From today, aside from the heir title, all your previous privileges are restored. Let this matter be put to rest, understood?"
Ye Xuan laughed—a laugh filled with bitterness.
He looked at Ye Cang, "Clan Head, I believe you have long been aware of everything happening within the mansion. But you never intervened. I imagine it's not just because you feared the Great Elder and his faction but also because you feared me—feared that I'd grow too quickly and threaten you. Isn't that right?"
Ye Cang squinted his eyes slightly, "You are overstepping."
"Overstepping?"
Ye Xuan smiled, "Clan Head, the Great Elder, and Ye Lang have oppressed me, even secretly crippling my dantian. Are you not going to deal with them at all? Or is it that I, Ye Xuan, am just a useless cripple, destined to go nowhere, and therefore not worth you offending them for?"
Ye Cang stared hard at Ye Xuan without saying a word, but his eyes had turned murderous.
Ye Xuan, although once the family's talented youth, was neither the Great Elder's grandson nor a direct descendant of Ye Cang's line. As Ye Xuan had said, Ye Cang did indeed have reservations about him.
His retreat during this confrontation was also, as Ye Xuan suggested, intended to let Ye Xuan and the Great Elder fight it out, so that afterward, he could weaken both sides.
A balance tactic!
As the family head, Ye Cang didn't believe he had done anything wrong, but now that Ye Xuan had pierced through the illusion, there was no turning back for anyone.
The surroundings fell into silence, but everyone was looking at Ye Xuan!
Even Li Yu and the others felt sorry for Ye Xuan!
While noble families could be ruthless, treating a family hero like this was truly disheartening and disgraceful!
Ye Xuan smiled again, a smile filled with sadness. He turned to look at the Ye Mansion, his eyes reflecting past memories. "At twelve, I became the heir of the Ye family and fought countless times for it, yet all my efforts were rewarded like this."
He took off the Ye family insignia from his chest and threw it to the ground. "Today, I swear before everyone that from this moment onward, I, Ye Xuan, and my sister Ye Ling are no longer members of the Ye family. In life, we are not of the Ye family; in death, we will not be buried in the Ye ancestral hall!"
Hearing this, everyone present was shocked!
Especially the members of the Ye family!
Leaving the family!
This had never happened in Qing City!
Even Li Yu and the others were filled with disbelief—Ye Xuan was truly severing ties with the Ye family!
Ye Cang looked at Ye Xuan, "This is your choice!"
Ye Xuan said nothing, turning to leave.
Suddenly, the Great Elder called out, "Wait!"
Ye Xuan stopped.
The Great Elder glared at Ye Xuan, then looked at Ye Cang, "Clan Head, although this man's dantian is shattered and his future is bleak, his current strength is extraordinary. He surely harbors resentment against our Ye family. If we don't eliminate him now, he will become a major threat in the future!"
A black-robed elder beside him said gravely, "Clan Head, Ye Xuan is openly betraying the family. If we do not kill him now, others may follow suit in the future. Moreover, his strength is formidable; if recruited by other families, it would be a disaster for the Ye family!"
Hearing this, the elders of the Ye family quickly echoed their agreement.
Ye Cang stared at Ye Xuan, then slowly raised his right hand. Immediately, all the Ye family's crossbowmen aimed their weapons at Ye Xuan!
Ye Cang's cold voice echoed through the area, "Ye Xuan, for openly betraying the family, by family law, you are to be executed immediately. Kill him!"
Just as the crossbowmen were about to fire, a voice suddenly rang out, "Stop!"
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, seeing a woman with a long spear approaching slowly.
Seeing this woman, the faces of the Great Elder and the others changed instantly!
Not only them, but even Jiang Nian and the others were taken aback. Jiang Nian hurried over to the woman, bowing deeply, "Subordinate Qing City Lord Jiang Nian, pays respects to the National Hero!"
National Hero!
The newcomer was An Lanxiu!
The youngest National Hero in Jiang Country!
In Jiang Country, a National Hero was one rank higher than other officials. Even the country lord had no authority over them, and any government official below the country lord had to bow before them!
At this moment, the middle-aged man from Yan City and the lady from Luo City quickly walked over and bowed slightly. The man said, "I am Mo Xing, representing the Mo family of Yan City, paying respects to the National Hero!"
The lady followed suit, "I am Yu Jia, representing the Yu family of Luo City, paying respects to the National Hero!"
They had no personal qualifications to speak directly; only by mentioning their families could they barely attempt to make a connection!
An Lanxiu nodded slightly, "I have some business to take care of."
The three hurriedly stepped aside.
Under everyone's gaze, An Lanxiu tapped her toes lightly, her whole body floating gracefully onto the life-and-death stage.
The Soaring Realm!
Everyone gasped in shock!
The youngest Soaring Realm cultivator in Jiang Country!
An Lanxiu walked slowly up to Ye Xuan, "Our duel, scheduled for two days from now, is here!"
The crowd was stunned, especially the Great Elder and others, who seemed utterly dazed.
"She wants to challenge Ye Xuan!"
Someone in the crowd came to their senses and exclaimed.
"Heavens! She really wants to challenge Ye Xuan! How is this possible?"
In the distance, the Great Elder mumbled in disbelief, "How could this be… Why would she challenge Ye Xuan, whose dantian is shattered… This can't be real!"
Ye Cang clenched his fists, staring hard at Ye Xuan.
In the midst of everyone's attention, Ye Xuan looked at An Lanxiu, "Very well!"
With those words, he opened his palm, and a sword suddenly appeared in it.
A spiritual sword!
In that instant, everyone was stunned.
"He's a Sword Cultivator…"
Someone in the crowd spoke.
As those words were uttered, silence fell over the surroundings, so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.