Chapter 401 - 223: Gathering of Prodigies (Part 2)

Chapter 401: Chapter 223: Gathering of Prodigies (Part 2)

And when Xie Yuan subsequently appeared on the Hidden Dragon List, the name was etched even more clearly in their minds.

As the elder in charge of foreign affairs, Yao Qinglai was the most informed. He nodded silently and said in a deep voice,

"If that Xie Yuan has come to Jinling, then as per the elders’ council, we absolutely cannot let him escape."

The others nodded silently. A captain from the Law Enforcement Team, his brow furrowed in concern, spoke slowly,

"But... that Huie Jue is the direct disciple of Master Zhiling of Prajna Temple—the third-ranked expert on the Celestial Dragon List. And yet, he claims he is no match for Xie Yuan..."

The men exchanged a look, a hint of shock in their eyes.

Even the great families showed respect for the reputation of a Grandmaster.

Master Zhiling had been a Grandmaster for nearly a hundred years; many of them had grown up hearing tales of him vanquishing demons and monsters.

The disciple of such a top-tier Martial Artist, the direct heir of Prajna Temple... one could only imagine the kind of talent and power he possessed.

They had heard that Huie Jue entered the Bodhi Institute at a young age. For a Buddhist Martial Artist, such a profound mastery of Buddhist Technique was a direct indicator of both his current power and future potential.

Among the Yao family members present, those at the Second Transformation Realm knew they would be no match for Huie Jue. Even the others, who were in the Third Transformation Realm, wouldn’t underestimate a Grandmaster’s disciple, despite being a realm higher in cultivation.

’And this peerless prodigy claimed he couldn’t defeat Xie Yuan?’

’Then... just how strong was Xie Yuan?’

They stared at one another, their expressions a mixture of shock and caution.

One of them said slowly,

"If this is true, I’m afraid capturing this Xie Yuan will be..."

He didn’t finish, but his meaning was clear.

Another chimed in,

"Perhaps we should ask one of the family’s Grandmaster elders to take the lead."

The Chief Constable’s expression darkened, and he snapped,

"We haven’t even run into him, and you’re already losing your nerve? We don’t even know if this ’Huie Jue’ is real or an imposter, let alone if what he said is true!"

"And what if it is true? Can the few of us really capture him?"

The other man retorted, not backing down.

"So what if it’s true? He’s just in the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm. Does he think he can overturn the heavens?!"

The Chief Constable snorted heavily.

"And for this, you want to trouble a Grandmaster elder? Aren’t you afraid of being punished by our superiors? Grandmasters do not act rashly!"

The others fell silent.

During the rebellion of the Eight Sects, the Yao family had suffered the most grievous losses. They had lost many Grandmasters and had yet to recover, even after all these years.

As a result, the Yao family had been forming broad alliances and cultivating friendships everywhere. They had managed to maintain their standing only with great difficulty, relying on their deep-rooted foundation. Unfortunately, their few remaining Grandmasters were not enough to support such a vast network of influence; they could only barely get by on the prestige of their thousand-year-old name.

In the Yao family’s heyday, if someone like this had dared to trespass in Jinling, a Grandmaster would have been dispatched directly to apprehend them. But now... whether it was because their Grandmasters were spread too thin, or because they’d grown fearful after so many deaths, the Yao family had a rule: "Grandmasters do not act rashly." Most matters were handled by experts at the Qi and Blood Third Transformation Realm. Relying on the Yao family’s reputation, this was usually sufficient.

This time, however, was clearly an exception. If what Huie Jue said was true, none of them could guarantee they’d be able to capture Xie Yuan. This was especially true for the Yao family members present who, despite their cultivation realms, knew their actual combat prowess wasn’t necessarily impressive—and certainly not superior to an heir of Prajna Temple. They all felt a little apprehensive.

’It would be one thing if we don’t run into him, but if we do... do I engage or not?’

’If I don’t, I can’t just ignore an order from the elders’ council. But if I do...’

’Xie Yuan defeated Huie Jue. Beating me would be child’s play... Or maybe... maybe Huie Jue is just a fraud?’

’Forget it. Believing a Grandmaster from the Celestial Dragon List would accept a fraud as his disciple is even less likely than believing I could have a sudden burst of power and defeat Xie Yuan...’

Yao Qinglai saw that Huie Jue’s shout had shattered their morale and sent their thoughts scattering. His expression hardened and he spoke, his voice grave, ℯ

"Set aside the question of whether this Huie Jue is real or not, and what his motives might be. It is highly likely that Xie Yuan is in Jinling. After all, he openly opposed us in Yunzhou. It wouldn’t be a surprise for him to come looking for more trouble."

The Chief Constable snorted.

"The arrogant brat! Coming to Jinling is like walking right into a spider’s web!"

Yao Qinglai nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the others.

"This is Jinling, the ancestral home of the Yao family. Should we be afraid of some outsider whelp? No matter how talented he is, he’s just a newcomer to the Hidden Dragon List, only in the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm. Since he’s come, we absolutely cannot let him get away!

"Relay my order: all Law Enforcement Team members are to cancel their leave. Put the entire city on high alert. Maintain constant communication and watch every sector. Ensure that no corner is left unchecked!"

The men’s expressions turned grim. They knew things were getting serious.

The Chief Constable said slowly,

"What about the local authorities...?"

"Tell them it’s to ensure the Minor Hidden Dragon Gathering proceeds smoothly, and also to assist them in capturing wanted fugitives. You can mobilize the forces of the Jinling Prefecture government as well."

A cold glint flashed in Yao Qinglai’s eyes.

"Arrogant whelp, daring to come to Jinling Prefecture. I will lay a dragnet so tight that once he’s here, he’ll never leave!"

After settling on a plan, they searched the area one last time, unwilling to give up. Naturally, they found nothing and had no choice but to hurriedly go their separate ways.

Not long after the members of the Yao family left, a young Daoist in simple cloth robes and straw sandals appeared abruptly in the alley.

He glanced around before his gaze settled on the entrance of the small temple, where he stared for a long time. He idly tossed a few Copper Coins in his hand, and his eyes gradually began to shine.

His spirits seemed to lift for a moment, but then he pulled out a bloodstained scrap of cloth. His expression immediately turned serious, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Finding someone to spar with can wait. This world is just teeming with ghouls and monsters!"

...

Xie Yuan had no idea what an intense reaction his exposure by Huie Jue’s shout had provoked from the Yao family.