Xiao Chen smirked, unfazed by Ouyang Hongyu's cold glare.
"Lucky you! If the Prefecture Master hadn't come, you would have been dead in the next moment!" Ouyang Hongyu sneered. "Now, cherish the few moments you have left. Once the meeting is over, your life will no longer belong to you."
Xiao Chen simply scoffed in disdain, unwilling to waste his breath on Ouyang Hongyu. Instead, his gaze shifted towards the entrance.
A group of imposing men clad in flying fish robes entered in unison, surrounding a middle-aged man dressed in an official suit. His expression was mild, almost amiable, yet the aura he exuded was bone-chilling.
"The Fifth Level of the Xuanwu Realm! He's stronger than the rumors suggested!" Xiao Chen murmured to himself, his eyes glinting with sharp interest.
The Prefecture Master of Tianyang Prefecture, Li Changqing, was indeed formidable—far stronger than anticipated. Compared to him, Zhao Qian, the second-best in the Prefecture, was much weaker.
"Greetings, Prefecture Master!"
"Prefecture Master, good morning."
One by one, the attendees stood up and bowed in deference, including Ouyang Hongyu. No matter how powerful the Ouyang family became, they could never afford to offend the Prefecture Master—not when the entire palace stood behind him.
Li Changqing nodded slightly before turning his gaze toward a man standing beside Ouyang Hongyu. A faint smile touched his lips.
"A member of the Wang family? How is Master Wang doing?"
"Thank you for your concern, Prefecture Master. Master Wang is in good health," the robust man replied respectfully, clasping his hands.
"Glad to hear it."
Without further words, Li Changqing took his seat at the head of the room, his expression calm. "We are gathered here today for the annual Seven Families Meeting. The old rules still apply, correct?" He glanced toward Zhao Qian and Ouyang Hongyu.
Ouyang Hongyu laughed confidently. "Of course! The status of the first family in the Prefecture City should be won through strength!"
Zhao Qian sighed but nodded. "I have no objections."
"Good. In that case, let the Seven Families Meeting officially begin!" Li Changqing declared, settling back into his chair. He was here only to witness and confer the title—the first family needed official recognition from the palace. Once the seal was granted, the winning family would enjoy three years of imperial protection and unrivaled growth.
Ouyang Hongyu stepped forward into the ring, his gaze sweeping across the assembly. "This year, my Ouyang family will seize the position of the first family! Anyone who dares to challenge me, step forward!"
"I'll fight you! Let's see if you're truly worthy of the title!" A man in an animal-patterned robe suddenly leaped into the ring, his descent shaking the ground.
Boom!
"It's Wild Lion!"
"Wild Lion! Thirty years ago, he defeated a First Level Xuanwu Realm expert with sheer physical strength alone! One battle, and he catapulted to fame!"
"It was rumored that he was recruited by the Zhao family, and now it's confirmed!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Clearly, Wild Lion was Zhao Qian's vanguard, sent to test Ouyang Hongyu's strength.
Ouyang Hongyu narrowed his eyes. "Wild Lion? You wish to challenge me?"
"That's right. I don't believe your Ouyang family has what it takes to claim the first family title!" Wild Lion crossed his arms, his voice deep and steady.
"Then I'll show you the power of the Ouyang family!"
Ouyang Hongyu raised his hand, gathering Xuan energy that coalesced into an ancient spear.
Bang!
The spear flashed as he launched it straight at Wild Lion.
"Kill!"
With a roar, Wild Lion's Xuan energy surged outward, forming a powerful defensive barrier.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He lunged forward, each step shaking the ground.
"Wild Lion is strong!" Zhao Menghu, seated among the spectators, observed.
Zhao Qian frowned. "Young Master Xiao, what do you think?"
Xiao Chen barely spared a glance at the ring before speaking flatly. "Wild Lion? He's already dead."
"Dead? How is that possible?" Zhao Menghu scoffed. "Wild Lion and Ouyang Hongyu are both at the peak of the First Level. Neither can win easily! There's no way he'll die so soon! Young Master Xiao, you're being overly cautious."
Just as he finished speaking, shocked exclamations erupted around them. Zhao Menghu jerked his head toward the ring, his pupils contracting.
Ouyang Hongyu stood proudly, hands behind his back. Not far from him, Wild Lion lay motionless in a pool of blood.
"What!?"
Zhao Menghu paled instantly. How had Ouyang Hongyu, who was supposed to be at the First Level of the Xuanwu Realm, killed Wild Lion so effortlessly? When had he become so powerful?
Zhao Qian, equally unsettled, turned his gaze toward Xiao Chen.
"What's so surprising?" Xiao Chen said lightly. "Ouyang Hongyu is not at the First Level of the Xuanwu Realm. He's at the Second Level."
The realization dawned upon them. The Second Level was exponentially stronger than the First! No wonder Wild Lion had died so quickly.
Their expressions darkened. Ouyang Hongyu had hidden his strength well. The situation was worse than expected.
As if to confirm their fears, Ouyang Hongyu swept his gaze across the crowd, speaking arrogantly, "Today, my Ouyang family will become the first family! If anyone disagrees, speak now or forever hold your peace!"
The audience remained silent, eyes flickering between the fallen Wild Lion and Ouyang Hongyu's commanding stance. If he could so easily kill a Xuanwu Realm expert, the Ouyang family was indeed qualified to rule Tianyang Prefecture. The only question was—would the Zhao family yield?
Just then, the burly man standing beside Ouyang Hongyu sneered and scanned the room. "I suggest you all save yourselves the trouble. Before me, you are nothing but ants. If anyone dares challenge us, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd.
"Who does he think he is? Calling us ants?"
"Exactly! The Seven Families Meeting isn't decided by one person!"
"The Zhao family, will you let this arrogance stand?"
The strong man chuckled in disdain. "A bunch of weaklings! The Zhao family? They can't do anything to me!"
His gaze swept over the crowd, sharp as a blade, causing many to shudder.
Then, his aura suddenly erupted—a tidal wave of raw, oppressive power crashing over the assembly.
He stood tall, exuding absolute confidence. "You want to know why I get the final say? Then let my strength do the talking!"
Silence fell.
Then, gasps of disbelief echoed.
"Xuanwu Realm... Fourth Level!"