Chapter 1991 - Ganging Up On Liu Wuxie

The question echoed the doubts on everyone's minds. No measure of wealth could properly capture a Cloud Mist Pearl King's worth. A thousand years of nurturing had filled it with an extraordinary concentration of energy from the clouds and mist, together with the essence of the sun and moon.

"You have my word. Anyone who knows my reputation knows what that means. I offered this reward, and I will not take it back," Yun Zhong said, confirming his promise.

That assurance sent the gathering into motion. Several cultivators rose into the air to examine the Cloud Mist Pearls, only to find them beyond reach.

"How are we supposed to inspect the pearls through a defensive barrier, Manor Lord Yun?" they demanded as they landed.

"The pearls can escape if we lower the barrier. We cannot bear such a loss," an elder explained. The manor had good reason to restrict access. Without the barrier, the Cloud Mist Pearls would flee and vanish.

"Then what do you expect us to do? We can't find the cause like this," the cultivators argued, refusing to abandon their demand.

Yun Zhong's brow tightened beneath the mounting pressure. Many of these visitors were trying to profit from the manor's distress. If chaos broke out, they would seize whatever pearls they could. Only a handful had genuinely come to help.

Ordinary Divine Immortals had little prospect of earning a treasure as precious as the Cloud Mist Pearl King. Taking a few ordinary pearls during the commotion offered a far more attainable prize.

"Can you see what's making the pearls disappear, Elder Sister?" Long Yuanxiong asked.

Beside them, Liu Wuxie waited without speaking.

"There's an unusual energy overhead, but I can't find where it originates. It may be responsible," Long Ying replied, lowering her gaze from the sky.

She had brought her brother here to help him gain more experience. No prodigy born to the Long Clan in ten thousand years had surpassed him. The hopes of the whole clan rested upon him.

Amid the argument, a Cloud Mist Pearl vanished in plain view. Everyone witnessed it, but Yun Zhong could do nothing except watch in distress. Another month at this rate would leave the manor without a single pearl.

Then even its third-tier standing would be lost. Reduced to an unranked force and stripped of its livelihood, the manor would follow the Chai Clan into decline.

Liu Wuxie moved the instant the pearl disappeared. The fourth form of the Divine Ninefold Steps carried him soaring into the sky.

He meant to secure the Cloud Mist Pearl King. Before anyone below could respond, he had already risen high above them.

"What's that brat trying to do? Bring back the pearl?" the cultivators exclaimed, staring upward in astonishment.

Yun Zhong frowned as well, especially after sensing Liu Wuxie's cultivation. Yet he held his tongue and watched.

"What a fool. Even a Great Golden Immortal can't pass that barrier," Ji Heng sneered. His voice was quiet, but everyone heard it.

Liu Wuxie heard him too, but he kept climbing.

"How is a Profound Immortal flying?" The Golden Immortals looked at one another in bewilderment. No matter how they considered the matter, they could find no explanation.

Long Ying and Long Yuanxiong exchanged startled glances. They intervened in the confrontation at the gates on impulse, not because they had sought Liu Wuxie out to help him. Only now did they realize how greatly they had underestimated him.

When Long Yuanxiong revealed that Liu Wuxie had placed first in the assessment, Long Ying couldn't believe it. No one understood her brother's talent better than she did. She had never imagined another participant would surpass him.

A fissure opened in the barrier ahead of Liu Wuxie. He slipped through it and vanished into the mist.

"How...?" Cloud Mist Manor's elders, disciples, and guests exclaimed in shock. The defense they trusted to protect the Cloud Mist Pearls had not hindered Liu Wuxie in the slightest.

In a distant tree, a beautiful bird carefully preened its feathers. The sight of Liu Wuxie passing through the barrier nearly sent it toppling from its branch.

The Cloud Mist Manor had paid a fortune for an Immortal Venerable to construct that defense. That a mere Profound Immortal crossing it so effortlessly defied comprehension.

Liu Wuxie reached into the mist. Space rippled beneath his hand, and the missing Cloud Mist Pearl settled into his grasp. He descended at once. The Divine Ninefold Steps could keep him airborne for only two breaths.

The spatial laws of the Celestial Weave Domain were too firm to permit him to remain in the air any longer.

The crowd hurried toward him. Elders from the Cloud Mist Manor closed around him with threatening looks.

"Who are you, brat? How did you get through our barrier?" one demanded.

Without answering, Liu Wuxie opened his hand. Strange, pale yellow energy stained the Cloud Mist Pearl resting in his palm.

"He damaged your barrier, Manor Lord Yun! Execute him!" Ji Heng declared, coming forward with his companions. They meant to use the Cloud Mist Manor to take care of Liu Wuxie.

Three sharp slaps rang out. Before anyone could track Liu Wuxie's movements, the three men flew backward. Only an afterimage remained.

They struck the ground face-first among the crowd, a clear palm print stamped on their face.

"Keep barking, and I'll take your lives without a second thought," Liu Wuxie said, his piercing gaze passing over them. Had the siblings not intervened at the gates, these three would already be dead.

Everyone narrowed their eyes. Even Long Ying had not anticipated such a forceful answer.

"You're dead, Liu Wuxie!" Ji Heng and his companions shouted. Rising to their feet, they drew their artifacts, and rushed at him.

News of this humiliation would strip the Ji Clan of all dignity. Still, no one stepped between them. All four wore Azure Jade Palace robes. Who wished to antagonize disciples of a superpower?

"Enough! Have you no shame left?" Long Ying demanded, stepping forward. A casual wave sent the trio back. Fighting each other before outsiders would only drag the Azure Jade Palace's reputation down with them.

"You're wrong, Lady Long. He attacked them first. They're entitled to strike back," Qi Sitong said, stepping out in support of Ji Heng's group.

The three gave him puzzled looks. They did not know this man. Why had he chosen to defend them?

"Are you trying to oppose me, Qi Sitong?" Long Ying asked, coldness gathering in her gaze.

Her earlier departure had been a clear rejection, one she had hoped he would understand. Qi Sitong had taken it, instead, as a deep humiliation for an elite disciple of his standing.

"I'm pointing out what happened. He struck first, and he deserves punishment," Qi Sitong replied, giving Liu Wuxie a mocking smile.

Liu Wuxie frowned. He had never met Qi Sitong, yet the man had singled him out. Was arriving with Long Ying and her brother reason enough?

"Thank you for defending us, Senior Brother! This brat has insulted our Ji Clan again and again. Today, we will settle it!" Ji Heng and his companions declared. Their unexpected ally gave them fresh courage, and they advanced, pointing their artifacts at Liu Wuxie.

"Manor Lord Yun, if you want the mystery of the missing pearls solved, please ask the ones who have no business here to leave," Liu Wuxie said. He had no time to waste on the Ji Clan disciples. Once he finished here, he still had matters to handle in Mulberry Sea City.

He had only one day to deal with the manor's affairs. Without that constraint, he would not have acted in such haste. Ignoring the trio's threats, he fixed his attention on Yun Zhong.

"You know what's causing the Cloud Mist Pearls to vanish?" Yun Zhong asked.

For the moment, how Liu Wuxie had breached the barrier no longer mattered. Preserving the pearls was their priority.

"Who are you calling irrelevant, brat?" Angry voices rose around them. Many had counted on taking a few pearls while the manor descended in chaos. His demand threatened to rob them of the opportunity.

Liu Wuxie disregarded them. Golden Immortals, Great Golden Immortals, even Immortal Kings couldn't intimidate him. Soon, he would possess the strength to trample them all beneath his feet.

"What arrogance, Liu Wuxie! You just want to keep the Cloud Mist Pearl King for yourself!" a Divine Immortal accused. Ji Heng's earlier confrontation had revealed Liu Wuxie's name to all.

"That's exactly it! He wants to keep the reward to himself by sending us away. His cultivation may be low, but he certainly knows how to scheme!" several Golden Immortals added, glaring at Liu Wuxie.

Many people started condemning Liu Wuxie, wanting nothing more but his death.

Several Great Golden Immortals stirred, preparing to attack. "Kill the ignorant brat!"

Long Ying and Long Yuanxiong could not hold back all of them. Ji Heng and his companions looked on with cold sneers.

Yun Zhong called, "Please calm yourselves. Let Young Master Liu explain." The uproar had cut off their conversation before he could learn anything. He motioned for silence, urging the gathering to listen.