The speaker was Ji Qing, the deputy envoy from Xincao City, seated at the main table. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, with a blue-purple meridian coiling like a snake from his wrist to his elbow.
He looked towards Ming Yi with particular disdain. No matter how renowned Ming Xian had been, she was still the champion of the Six Cities Gathering for seven years, far surpassing most present. What would this mere woman know? She only dared to discuss matters verbally.
Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, the woman shook her head somewhat awkwardly. “It’s not convenient today.”
“Is it inconvenient, or do you simply not know how?” he asked bluntly, showing no respect.
As the crowd around them started to stir, Ji Bozai raised his eyes, meeting Ji Qing’s gaze calmly. “Since this lord is so eager, and my wife is indisposed today, why don’t I spar with you instead?”
Before Ji Qing could object, Ji Bozai pushed off the elm table, his snow-blue robe sweeping into the arena.
Ji Qing’s smile froze.
His cultivation was far inferior to Lord Zuo Ping’s. Facing Ji Bozai would surely end in humiliation. But Ji Bozai was already waiting in the arena. If he remained seated, he would become a laughingstock.
Gritting his teeth, Ji Qing followed him into the arena.
When the Grand Duke and Bo Yuankui entered, chatting and laughing, they saw Yuan Power scattered everywhere, and someone flying past their eyes, crashing heavily into the purple domain wall.
Both were startled. It was still early, not everyone had arrived. How had the sparring already begun?
“Bozai?” The Grand Duke asked, puzzled after recognizing who was fighting. “Did a dispute break out?”
Why such heavy-handed tactics?
Ji Bozai wore a very amiable smile as he dismissed his Realm of Netherworld Battle and walked towards the two, saying gently, “Not at all. Our guests are honored. It’s merely sparring.”
Who spars until their opponent is bloodied? The Grand Duke wanted to smooth things over but couldn’t find the words. He could only awkwardly summon Yan Xiao to tend to the injured.
Bo Yuankui glanced at Ji Qing, secretly shocked. Ji Bozai’s Yuan Power had been purple before, so why were there black traces in the wounds he inflicted?
Could he have already cultivated black Yuan Power? Impossible. How old was he? If that were true, Muxing City would already be the second Chaoyang City.
Seeing the tense atmosphere in the arena, the Grand Duke hurriedly took his seat. As soon as he sat down, he smiled and said, “According to the custom of the welcoming banquet, on the second day we should present some city treasures for everyone to admire. Today will be no exception.”
This was the most attention-grabbing part of the welcoming banquet. Everyone quickly snapped out of their daze from the one-sided sparring and turned to look towards the entrance.
Muxing City had prepared two rare treasures. Covered with red silk, they were slowly moved by duelists using Yuan Power onto the stone platform in the center. One large and one small, one tall and one short, both faintly glowing.
Ming Yi had been pretending to be oblivious, burying her head in food, but sensing something unusual, she quickly looked up.
“The first item is the Great Star Meteorite. Its material is unique—it can be forged and shaped but feels soft to a gentle touch. Yet when struck with a hard blade, it becomes incredibly tough. It’s an excellent material for forging divine artifacts,” the Grand Duke waved his hand, lifting the red silk. He was pleased to hear gasps of amazement from all around.
“Such a large piece! How many divine weapons could be forged from this? Our Divine Artifact Hall has hope for next year.”
“Muxing City is truly blessed. This isn’t something other cities can easily obtain.”
“It’s heaven’s favor. What can we do? Let’s offer trades for it.”
While most people in the arena were fixated on the Great Star Meteorite, Si Tu Ling noticed that Ji Bozai, Bo Yuankui, and even Zuo Ping were all looking at the small object still covered by red silk beside it.
An item the size of a palm, even if it were an even rarer material, couldn’t be used to make divine artifacts. Why did they have such expressions?
Curious, Si Tu Ling turned his head, intending to ask Ming Yi, but as he did, he saw that Ming Yi’s gaze was even brighter than theirs.
“Heavenly Earth Mystical Crystal,” she murmured.
Crystals were used by duelists during cultivation, but only to store excess Yuan Power. Si Tu Ling didn’t understand what made this Mystical Crystal so precious, but across from them, Bo Yuankui spoke up at that moment: “According to tradition, the treasures displayed at the welcoming banquet are to be used as stakes. Is the Grand Duke willing to part with them?”
The Grand Duke nodded with a smile. “It all depends on your abilities, everyone.”
Previously, he certainly wouldn’t have been willing to bring out these two items. But now, with Ji Bozai on his side, these two objects became stepping stones to help Ji Bozai make a name for himself across the Six Cities. As long as he won them, Ji Bozai’s reputation would spread throughout the Six Cities. Then, even if Muxing City temporarily remained in the lower three cities, their situation would improve significantly.
Bo Yuankui understood his calculations, but the Great Star Meteorite and the Heavenly Earth Mystical Crystal were incredibly appealing to duelists. Even knowing the chances of victory were extremely low, he wanted to try.
Not just him, but Xie Tianlin and Zuo Ping beside him were also tempted. Further away, Zheng Tiao and several top-tier duelists who had sensed the Heavenly Earth Mystical Crystal’s aura were all eyeing each other, seeing the fighting spirit in each other’s eyes.
But if so, their opponents would no longer be each other.
“What’s the second item?” someone asked.
The Grand Duke glanced at Ji Bozai, not lifting the red silk again. He just had someone take the items away for safekeeping.
The duelists at the table seemed to have a tacit understanding. As soon as the arena was clear, they all flew down one after another.
More than a dozen top-tier duelists entered the arena simultaneously, creating a spectacular scene. Many in the audience gasped in surprise. Even Shu Zhonglin lost his composure, pulling Liang Xiuyuan to ask, “What are they doing? Isn’t Xie Tianlin the only one who can forge divine artifacts? Why are the others also rushing for that meteorite?”
Liang Xiuyuan had been in a foul mood these past two days. Hearing this, he only glanced at Ji Bozai in the arena and said glumly, “Prepare some medicine for his injuries.”
Not one person up there could defeat Ji Bozai in a one-on-one match. But if they took turns challenging him, it wouldn’t just be a test of Yuan Power’s strength, but of how long Ji Bozai could hold out before collapsing.
Ming Yi frowned, noticing that even the martial fool Zheng Tiao had gone down to face Ji Bozai, looking eager to fight.
That man probably only cared about the thrill of combat, with no thought for strategy. He could have been the one to reap the benefits, but instead, he was being used by Bo Yuankui, being the first to unleash his Realm of Netherworld.
She rubbed her forehead, her gaze flicking briefly to Ji Bozai before quickly looking away.
Ji Bozai certainly wouldn’t admit defeat easily. Aside from those two stones, he had to win this battle to maintain his position.
But by being so unyielding, he was likely to suffer.
It doesn’t matter, let him suffer, Ming Yi thought. She was just a little dancer, certainly not one to worry about such grand affairs. She could simply be a spectator, eating snacks while waiting for the outcome.
She leisurely picked up a peanut with her chopsticks.
Zheng Tiao made his move, his powerful purple Yuan Power mixed with traces of gray. Even through the Realm of Netherworld, it brought a cool breeze.
The wind blew her hair against her cheeks, tickling her. She was momentarily distracted, and the peanut on her chopstick fell back onto the plate.