SWNOVELS Chapter 23: Just One Word is the Difference Between Clouds and Mud
Chapter 23: Just One Word is the Difference Between Clouds and Mud
Chapter 23: Just One Word is the Difference Between Clouds and Mud?
Marriage Proposal?
It was now around 9 AM in the morning. The journey took over a day, and it was quite exhausting. Even though the horse-drawn carriage was overall rather steady, it didn’t change the fact that it was constantly shaking and vibrating.
Although Bai Chan’er had gone along with her mother to live in Youyang City at her mother’s house since childhood, she had always been pampered and spoiled. At this moment, she was gazing out the window. “It’s already morning, is it?”
She looked again over at the youth beside her, who was still sitting there with his eyes closed, his long eyelashes trembling ever so slightly. His jet black hair hung down, and his thin lips were tightly closed. Since the time he got on the carriage, he had been completely indifferent to her.
On her other side, Yun’er had long since fallen asleep, and she didn’t bother to wake her up. She just kept watching that extremely handsome young man, and for a while she couldn’t take her gaze off of him.
The young man’s eyelashes twitched, and he suddenly opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of Bai Chan’er.
Bai Chan’er was startled when she found herself suddenly looking into his bright eyes. Somewhat at a loss, she said, “I… w-wasn’t looking at you… no, I was just looking outside.”
Her cheeks blushed, and she looked away towards the other three people that were lightly sleeping in the carriage. She felt a bit relieved, seeing that none of them had seen that embarrassing exchange.
Xu Disheng just shook his head and didn’t look at her again. Turning his head to look outside the carriage, he muttered indifferently, “So we’ve arrived in Ruyang Region.”
“Huh? Were you speaking to me?” Bai Chan’er said with a start. She was staring blankly, but she quickly brought herself around and said hurriedly, “This is my first time coming to the Ruyang Region, but I heard Uncle Zhong say that we would arrive at the Ruyang Region’s Bai Clan a little after 9 AM. At this time we should have already made it into Ruyang Region’s borders, but I don’t know which fiefdom we’re in.”
Meanwhile, at the Transcendence Ceremony…
The ancestral ceremony of rites was finished. Bai Fanyu’s face was filled with excitement as he returned to the seats of honor and said to the several seated Xiantian realm martial artists, “Esteemed Envoy, my lords, we will now enter the palace hall.” He then turned around and commanded, “Begin the feast!”
The aristocratic clans all entered the palace hall. The main hall was filled with splendid lights all ablaze. Exotic delicacies, fine liquors, and rare foods were being brought in at all times. Beautiful maids filed out in a line, dancing gracefully.
The servants of the Bai Clan had placed many tables and chairs on the sides for the many smaller officials and landowners to attend the feast, leaving a wide passageway in the middle for access to the main hall.
The feast soon began to bustle with activity, creating a rich atmosphere brimming with the clamor of excited voices. Conversation and deals were exchanged over wine, and festive singing and dancing were abundant.
In the palace hall, at the most respected table in the entire feast, Bai Fanyu raised his glass. “Lord Xu, our Bai Clan would like to bring up a request with you.”
Xu Chaoyang was alone, drinking away his sorrows. Only Guo Nansu would talk to him from time to time, making him feel obliged to his company. When he heard what Bai Fanyu said, he groaned inwardly, thinking that there was no way it could be anything good. He immediately frowned and said, “No need to make too big of a deal about it, Patriarch Bai. Now that the Bai Clan has a Xiantian transcendent martial artist, what could you possibly have to request?”
Bai Fanyu laughed and replied, “This matter can really only be accomplished by Lord Xu.”
“Just go ahead and say it, Patriarch Bai. There is no need for us to act like married women who are gossiping in secret.”
“My son has reached the Xiantian realm, but he still does not have a partner. Xu Qingcheng also has Grade 5 Dao Channels like him, and also has hopeful prospects of becoming transcending to the Xiantian realm. Wouldn’t it be better if she marries into the Bai Clan, and the two of our families join hands to watch over one another as we reach for higher goals?” Bai Fanyu said.
At his side, Bai Xiuyu was also staring fixedly at Xu Chaoyang, watching for his reaction.
The people in the seats of honor all had various expressions. The elderly envoy still had the usual slight smile on his face. But Xu Chaoyang said, “That won’t be possible!”
“Why not? Could it be that my son and direct heir in line to be the next head of the clan, who is also at the Xiantian realm, is not a match for that girl who is just an extended relation to you?” Bai Fanyu said in a low voice.
Xu Qingcheng was the only other person with Grade 5 Dao Channels aside from himself. His own power of comprehension wasn’t sufficient, so he had been stuck at the peak Houtian stage for several decades. But Xu Qingcheng was already half a step from the Xiantian stage, so she had great prospects in becoming a Xiantian transcendent! In the past few years, she had also received the full backing of the clan’s resources to fuel her cultivation. She was carrying all the hopes of the clan on her back. How could they just marry her off to another clan?
But these words couldn’t be easily spoken in front of so many others. Xu Chaoyang’s face became ashen as he replied angrily, “Your Bai Clan really cooked up a great scheme!”
“Xu Chaoyang! I’ve only been so kindly referring to you as ‘Lord’ Xu thanks to His Excellency the Prince’s direct conferral of the position of temporary ruler of the Region upon you! For you to shout such slander in front of all of these Xiantian martial artists, you’re really making a mistake!” Bai Xiuyu scowled savagely. He released his qi aura, causing Shangqing Qi to revolve around him as he activated his Qi Controlling Technique. Xu Chaoyang suddenly felt a massive pressure crashing down on him.
“Ai, don’t get so angry, little baby of the Bai Clan. You’re throwing too big of a tantrum,” Guo Nansu said laughingly, waving his hand to cast out his own qi, blocking the pressure for Xu Chaoyang.
Xu Chaoyang immediately felt the burden upon his body ease up, and he cast an appreciative glance towards Guo Nansu.
“Elder Guo, I respect you as a senior. The Guo Clan has also existed alongside the Bai Clan for hundreds of years, so it would be best if you didn’t get involved this time. It’s fine if our Bai Clan isn’t conferred a fiefdom, or doesn’t become the presiding clan of the Region. But I must have Xu Qingcheng!” Bai Xiuyu turned to look at the envoy seated in the seat of honor. “Esteemed Envoy, if there is an irreconcilable disagreement between two clans, is it possible according to the imperial court rules to initiate a life or death battle between clans?”
The elderly envoy nodded his head and replied, “Yes. Although there is very little fighting within our Grand Chu Dynasty, if the conflict between two clans cannot be mediated, then they can apply to the presiding Province to start an all-out clan war. Among the two clans, only one clan can remain. But in the last few hundred years, there has been very little fighting between influential clans.”
Xu Chaoyang said with an ugly expression, “Are you trying to threaten me?”
If the Bai Clan really started the clan battle, it would be in accordance with the laws. But the Bai Clan had Bai Xiuyu, a Xiantian transcendent, so the Xu Clan would hardly have any chance of victory.
Guo Nansu lightly sighed and said, “Little baby from the Bai Clan, this is too extreme. You’ve gone a bit too far.” Nonetheless, he waved his hand, showing that he wouldn’t get involved any further.
Bai Xiuyu was looking pleased with himself, as if he already had Xu Chaoyang in his clutches. “Lord Xu, have you thought it over?”
Xu Chaoyang could only reply, “Let our Xu Clan think about it for a few days!”
But Bai Xiuyu didn’t give one inch. He activated the third scripture of Shangqing Qi, the Spirit Controlling Technique, and shouted, “Forbidden Technique, Spirit Control!”
In a flash, the Shangqing Qi around his body rushed forth madly, covering more than half of the palace hall. Everyone in the hall fell silent as they looked over.
The pressure on Xu Chaoyang’s body multiplied, and it felt as if his body had aged 10 years. He revolved his Astral Qi to cover his whole body, but it was incredibly difficult for him to resist the pressure.
His face trembled as he was about to open his mouth to concede, but the Spirit Control Forbidden Technique was suddenly broken with a loud bang!
Xu Chaoyang suddenly felt his body become lighter again. As he looked towards the outside of the palace hall, his expression fluctuated.
Bai Xiuyu only heard the words, “Shangqing Incantation, Break,” and with that, his Spirit Control Forbidden Technique was broken. After years of dedicating his life to cultivating the Shangqing Qi, his technique had now encountered its ancestor.
Countless pairs of eyes turned towards the gate of the palace hall. A youth wearing a black robe walked in slowly amidst the sunlight. With the sun shining brightly at his back, it was hard to make out the features of his face. They could only see his tall and slender figure, his intricately designed Daoist robe, and his long, black hair.
An indifferent-sounding voice resonated throughout the hall. “If I came back just a few days later, I wonder if the Region that Senior Martial Brother, the Prince, had personally conferred to me would have been taken control of by someone else…?”
When the people heard the youth refer to the Prince as Senior Martial Brother without any honorifics instead of His Excellency, they were all confused about his identity. But when they understood the gravity of what he said, it caused the people in the hall to turn pale with fright.
“…Personally conferred to him?!”
“This youth, who in the world is he?!”
“Don’t tell me…?”
Xu Chaoyang had always been the substitute ruler of the Region. Very few people remembered that the real ruler of the Region had disappeared 10 years ago, and that at the time, this person was just a child.
Some people who happened to know a bit about the inside story exclaimed in surprise, “Could it be that person who had Grade 2 Dao Channels?! The proud son of heaven from the Xu Clan!!”
“Grade 2 Dao Channels! The Xu Clan actually had this kind of genius in their family? How did I not know of this?”
“It’s already been 10 years. The news revealed at that time was half true and half false, so it wasn’t clear.”
“If he really has Grade 2 Dao Channels, then that’s just too frightening!”
“How could someone with Grade 2 Dao Channels emerge from the You Province?! This has to be false. But if this youth can break Lord Bai’s secret Martial Technique, could he also be a Xiantian transcendent? He’s so young, though.”
The palace hall was in an uproar as everyone began to whisper and discuss spiritedly.
Xu Disheng slowly walked into the palace hall. The handsome youth was covered in a revolving aura of Shangqing Profound Qi, causing his hair to flutter in the wind. He looked at Bai Xiuyu and said, “So as you were saying earlier, you wanted to exterminate my Xu Clan in an all-out clan war?”
A flash of anger crossed Bai Xiuyu’s scowling face. He was pissed off at himself for being intimidated by this small Daoist priest, so he didn’t open his mouth to reply. Just as he was about to unleash his Spirit Control Technique towards the youth, he discovered that his own Shangqing Qi seemed to be trembling in fear of the Shangqing Profound Qi that surrounded the youth. He couldn’t help but become greatly alarmed.
Xu Disheng didn’t bother to wait for his reply, and formed a hand seal with both hands. His black hair and dark black Daoist robe began to flap wildly in the wind as his thin lips began to move. A frigid voice spread throughout the entire main hall. “Passing Soul.”
A huge gale erupted!
A black wind coalesced from the void and instantly transformed into a massive skull of an evil spirit, occupying the entire hall. Black gas oozed outwards from the skull. Around a dozen people standing near it inadvertently came into contact with it, and their limbs immediately began to fester and bleed.
Seeing this, the remaining people in the palace hall began to scatter in every direction, terrified of that massive evil spirit skull formed from the black winds.
Xu Disheng pointed his long, slender finger directly at Bai Xiuyu, who was stunned by this horrifying scene. The Shangqing Qi surrounding Bai Xiuyu’s body was being suppressed by the Shangqing Profound Qi, and it wouldn’t obey his will in the slightest.
Without waiting for a response, the skull rushed forth, accompanied by evil winds, plummeting right towards the direction that Xu Disheng’s finger was pointing.contemporary romance
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