Chapter 70 - 69: Rumors

In Zhao Fu’s residence in the Outer City.

Zhao Fu looked at Xu Guang in disbelief. "Guang, did you really break through to Refining Viscera?"

Without waiting for an answer, Zhao Fu lunged forward. His body trembled slightly as he threw a flawless punch. The strike was incredibly swift, bursting with explosive strength, and emitted a WHOOSH in the air. A barely perceptible layer of golden Power coated his fist. As it closed in on Xu Guang, the wind from the punch fluttered the young man’s clothes. The formidable Power faintly radiated a needle-like aura.

In a split second, Xu Guang threw a punch of his own. He wielded the same golden Power—paler than Zhao Fu’s, but undeniably real.

He caught Zhao Fu’s fist, though it seemed to take all his strength.

SMACK!

"Do you believe me now, Master?"

[Zhao Fu (Human), Combat Power: Elite Level Refining Viscera]

He wondered, "Am I already stronger than Master Zhao?"

Shock washed over Zhao Fu’s face, quickly followed by a gleam of unbelievable ecstasy. As of today, he was free! He now had the qualifications to establish his own family in Feiyun City! Years ago, he had made a pact with the City Guard’s Mansion: as long as he trained someone who could become a Marshal, he would be officially permitted to settle down in Feiyun City.

"Good, good!"

Zhao Fu was overwhelmed with excitement. Soon after, he looked at Xu Guang somewhat sheepishly and lowered his voice. "Guang, I have a good-for-nothing son. I hope you can look after him in the future."

Xu Guang remained silent. He wasn’t one to make such promises lightly. However, facing Zhao Fu, he hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.

Overjoyed, Zhao Fu pulled Xu Guang toward the house. "Come drink with me!" It was obvious that he was thrilled beyond measure.

After a few cups of wine, Zhao Fu couldn’t help but worry about him again. "Guang, you’ve just broken through to Refining Viscera, so your Viscera Strength is still insufficient. Don’t underestimate Yang Sha in your duel. If you find you can’t defeat him, just admit defeat. Being alive is more important than anything else."

Xu Guang chuckled and nodded but didn’t say much.

Night fell.

Xu Guang stood beneath the "suggestion box," waiting silently.

A moment later, a middle-aged man wearing a black cloak indeed came out for another stroll. In the distance, a long-armed figure faintly flickered in and out of the shadows.

Xu Guang sighed inwardly. He hadn’t expected the older man he’d casually chatted with before to be the most powerful figure in Feiyun City. Looking back, Li Zongkang must have been hiding in the shadows during their previous encounter. And the rumor about him becoming a Marshal had likely been spread by Li Zongkang under this man’s orders.

"Xu Guang greets Lord Duan!"

Duan Jue looked at Xu Guang with a smile, his eyes sizing him up before he burst into laughter. "Are you surprised to find out it’s me, my young friend?"

Xu Guang remained silent.

"Don’t worry. While I am somewhat curious about how fast your Cultivation is progressing, I’m mostly just pleased. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had Zong Kang spread rumors to help you."

Duan Jue turned around and stood with his hands behind his back, his cloak flapping loudly in the wind. He was just an ordinary person, and in the cool early autumn night, he already needed to wear a heavy coat.

"Alright, don’t overthink it. I simply... value talent," Duan Jue said softly. After a pause, his tone turned playful. "Actually, I’ve been observing you for a long time. Over the years, I’ve secretly watched many people and given preferential treatment to quite a few. But apart from Zong Kang, you are the only one who knows my true identity."

Xu Guang’s eyes widened slightly, his heart far from calm. That short sentence seemed to carry a massive amount of information.

Duan Jue’s tone grew even more amused. "I’ve met you a few times now, but I’ve noticed you seem to severely lack a sense of security. Is it because of the Yellow Heaven Sect?"

Xu Guang stayed quiet for a moment before replying softly, "I heard that Zhang Qing of the Yellow Heaven Sect possesses inhuman strength."

"Heh, inhuman strength? As long as I am alive, that Zhang Qing will never step foot in my Feiyun City!"

In a mere instant, his refined and scholarly demeanor morphed into an incredibly domineering aura. The middle-aged man before him seemed to possess boundless confidence.

Before Xu Guang could ask any more questions, Duan Jue lost interest in continuing the conversation, turned around, and left.

Unprecedentedly, Li Zongkang stepped out from the shadows, looking Xu Guang up and down. A moment later, he left a single sentence hanging in the night air.

"Don’t disappoint Lord Duan!"

A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Xu Guang’s heart. He had only met Duan Jue a few times, yet he bizarrely felt a sense of closeness to the man, instinctively believing he could be trusted. He didn’t know where this feeling came from, but it managed to settle the anxiety he had about joining the Feiyun Guard. Perhaps it was the goodwill Duan Jue had expressed; after all, a single word from Li Zongkang had saved Xu Guang a tremendous amount of trouble.

Like a gust of wind.

News spread that Xu Guang from the Outer City was going to fight a life-and-death duel against Yang Sha of Qingfeng Mountain, who had been granted amnesty some time ago. Perhaps to show off its prestige, or maybe for some other ulterior motive, the City Guard’s Mansion dispatched the Feiyun Guard to make a grand spectacle of constructing an arena in the Outer City Square.

As the arena was being built, everyone started guessing the reason behind it.

"Who is this Xu Guang anyway? Some nobody, right? Yang Sha is a veteran expert who’s been famous for years. How can they even be compared? If you ask me, they might as well hold the duel at the execution grounds. I’ve heard that dipping steamed buns in the blood of High Realm Martial Artists can cure all illnesses!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t run your mouth if you don’t know the facts. This Xu Guang isn’t a simple character either. He used to be a disciple of Jinliu Zhao from the Immortal Institute, and later became a Mercenary, forging a massive reputation as the Jade-faced Silver Spear. If he’s also become a Refining Viscera Martial Artist, this might turn out to be a true clash of titans."

"He uses a spear? Then what’s there to brag about? Weapons like spears are suited for the battlefield, not an arena. That Yang Sha wields a Nine-Ring Thick-Backed Saber and excels at close-quarters combat.

"And this Yang Sha is no pushover. He used to be a Centurion in Four-direction City. After being hunted down by his father and brother for having an affair with his sister-in-law, he turned to banditry outside our Feiyun City.

"He’s rampaged far and wide, practically invincible. Of course, he’s also quite the character—he didn’t stoop to typical plundering. Instead, he gathered a group of people and established a black market for Martial Artists outside the city, absolutely thriving in the process."

In the courtyard of the Xu Family within the Inner City’s shantytown, Ji Xiaolu sat somewhat nervously. Across from her sat another young woman, around sixteen years old. It was Cheng Lian’Er.

"Lady Cheng, did you need me for something?"

Cheng Lian’Er chuckled softly, looking curiously at the woman who seemed like a startled deer. So, this was Xu Guang’s wife? Her gaze subtly swept over Hai, who was lying at Ji Xiaolu’s feet, and a flash of astonishment crossed her mind. This Exotic Beast looked quite extraordinary.

"Don’t be nervous, Sister Lu. I just came to find Xu Guang. He helped me out tremendously a few days ago, but I’ve been busy ever since. Now that I’ve finally found some free time, I wanted to come and thank him."

Ji Xiaolu relaxed, patting her full chest. "Oh, I see. But Brother Guang isn’t here right now. Would you like to sit and wait for a bit? He should be back soon."

Exercising perfect tact, Cheng Lian’Er replied, "I won’t stay. I’ll just leave these things here, and you can give them to him later." She thought to herself, "Given Xu Guang’s cautious nature, if he finds out I came to his house, he’ll likely think I have malicious intentions. The man practically has persecution paranoia."

She quickly left, leaving behind a stack of wooden boards carved from an unknown timber, each engraved with little figures in various poses.

However, as soon as she walked out of the shantytown, Brother Cheng—who had been waiting by the gate—leaned in close. With a strange expression on his face, he whispered to her, "Xu Guang and Yang Sha are going to fight a life-and-death duel tomorrow."

"A life-and-death duel?" A trace of disbelief flashed in Cheng Lian’Er’s eyes.

Brother Cheng’s eyes were equally filled with shock. The news had already spread throughout the entire city, so it clearly wasn’t false. He didn’t know Xu Guang personally, but when they arrived today, he had heard Cheng Lian’Er mention that just over a year ago, Xu Guang was still gutting fish at a fish stall outside the city!

"Brother Cheng, who do you think will win?" Cheng Lian’Er asked softly, her eyes unfocused.

Brother Cheng looked hesitant as he replied, "This Xu Guang has extraordinary talent. If he were given a few more days of Cultivation, the outcome would be hard to judge. But since he has only just broken through, the odds should be nine-to-one in Yang Sha’s favor!"

Hearing this, Cheng Lian’Er murmured, "Nine-to-one?"

Yet, something felt wrong to her. Brother Cheng had said that Xu Guang was the one who provoked the duel. Knowing his personality, he had to be absolutely, one hundred percent certain of his victory!