Chapter 419 - 416: The Top Experts of the Ancient Cang Realm

Chapter 419: Chapter 416: The Top Experts of the Ancient Cang Realm

Yu Xiaoxiao said in surprise, "Huh? You two know each other?"

"Of course we do. We’re both from Rongcheng, after all," Feng Hao said with a teasing smirk.

"So you’re from the same hometown?" Yu Xiaoxiao chuckled, amused.

"Who’s from the same hometown as him!" Zhou Chen snorted, gritting his teeth. "Senior Sister, don’t let him fool you. This man is insidious and cunning, capable of any evil. He even joined the Thief God Hall! You must keep your distance from him."

His words left everyone stunned, especially Lin Luo and his three companions, who had no idea what Zhou Chen was talking about.

Feng Hao was also completely confused by Zhou Chen’s outburst. ’When did I become an insidious, cunning man capable of any evil?’

’Sure, I beat him up a few times back at Rongcheng Academy, but is that any reason to bad-mouth a guy from his hometown like this?’

However, Feng Hao quickly pinpointed the heart of the matter. Zhou Chen’s gaze toward Yu Xiaoxiao was clearly full of adoration. And thinking back to the way Zhou Chen had looked at him earlier... what could it be but jealousy?

This line of reasoning led to a shocking conclusion: that unlucky bastard Zhou Chen was in love with Yu Xiaoxiao.

’But isn’t the bastard involved with Beixing Ran?’

While Feng Hao was still puzzled, Yao Girl, who had been standing at the side, exploded with rage. She brandished her whip and charged forward. "Well, look at you, pretty boy! Haven’t seen you in a few days and you think you’ve gotten tougher, huh? How dare you slander my medicine seller?"

Zhou Chen snorted and drew his sword to meet her. "Ridiculous. You think I’m the same person I was back then? Take this—!"

Seeing that the two were about to clash, both groups instantly drew their weapons, ready for battle.

Just then, Dugu Xiao, who had remained impassive, stopped Zhou Chen’s attack. "Xiao Chen, stop!"

"Senior Brother?!" Zhou Chen reluctantly halted his attack and looked at Dugu Xiao in confusion.

"You’re no match for that girl," Dugu Xiao said, his expression calm.

Zhou Chen froze, his eyes full of defiance. "How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible." Dugu Xiao glanced at Zhou Chen and said with a slight frown, "Besides, all four of the great thieves from the Thief God Hall are here. Are you trying to provoke a conflict between our two factions?"

"But..." Zhou Chen’s expression wavered, but under Dugu Xiao’s gaze, he could only withdraw his Longsword in frustration.

Seeing Dugu Xiao step in to stop the fight, Lin Luo, as the leader, naturally had to make a show of it. He stepped forward with a faint smile and said, "In all of Thousand Blades Valley, you’re the only one who isn’t an eyesore. But I have to make a correction. It’s not four thieves present, but a gathering of all five."

Dugu Xiao’s brows furrowed. "Hasn’t the Fifth Thief yet to be chosen?"

"He hasn’t been officially chosen, but it makes no difference now." Lin Luo smirked, clapping Feng Hao on the shoulder. "Come on, everyone, take a good look! This is the Fifth Thief of our Thief God Hall. From now on, you’d all better watch yourselves around him, or don’t blame me for what happens!"

Only someone from the Thief God Hall could make such an arrogant introduction.

How could the members of Thousand Blades Valley tolerate such a brazen introduction? In an instant, dozens of elite disciples angrily drew their weapons.

Even Dugu Xiao’s brow tightened. His attention, however, was focused more on Feng Hao. ’So he’s the Fifth Thief? I’ve heard that once all five thieves of the Thief God Hall are gathered, their collective strength undergoes a qualitative change. I wonder if that’s true.’

"What you’re talking about won’t happen until Fifth Brother is formally instated as a thief. But even without the five thieves’ inheritance, we can still handle a bunch of rookies like you. Uh... I almost forgot, you and that girl Yu Xiaoxiao don’t count as rookies," Lin Luo said with a proud laugh.

Hearing this, Dugu Xiao’s face darkened. "Is Brother Lin trying to provoke a conflict between our factions?"

"It’s just a fight. Nothing to do with conflict or not," Lin Luo said dismissively.

Seeing the two of them talk in circles with no result, Xi Yueyao grew impatient. "God, all this talk! Are we fighting or not? This young lady can’t wait any longer! Hey, you’re their leader, right? Give us a straight answer."

Faced with Yao Girl’s gangster-like slang, Dugu Xiao’s expression instantly stiffened, and he didn’t know how to respond.

Fortunately, Feng Hao and Yu Xiaoxiao stepped forward at that moment, diffusing the explosive tension between the two sides.

’It can’t be helped. If Yu Xiaoxiao weren’t here, a fight would have been unavoidable today. That unlucky bastard Zhou Chen, in particular, needs to be taught a lesson.’

’But with an acquaintance like Yu Xiaoxiao around, this fight definitely wasn’t going to happen.’

"Since Fifth Brother says we’re not fighting, then let’s drop it," Lin Luo said with a pout. "The current situation really isn’t suitable for a brawl."

Dugu Xiao snorted lightly and said, "For Junior Sister Yu’s sake, we’ll settle this matter later."

And so, the two sides buried the hatchet and traveled together to the Five Provinces Academy...

Of course, though they had supposedly buried the hatchet, the air between them was still thick with hostility, as was evident in their glares.

Along the way, Xi Yueyao unhappily tugged on Feng Hao’s clothes, huffing, "Why did you suddenly say we’re not fighting? Quick, tell me, have you taken a liking to her or something?!"

"You silly girl, where is your mind going?" Feng Hao said, exasperated. "An acquaintance was there. How could we just start fighting? It would ruin the harmony. But that punk Zhou Chen really does need a beating. We’ll find a chance to get him alone and rough him up."

"Hehe, that’s what I was thinking too," Xi Yueyao said with a mischievous grin, her eyes twinkling.

...

「The journey back to the Five Provinces Academy was uneventful.」 The people from the Student Federation had already returned, while the other three factions were likely still on their way.

Inside the Elder Hall, the Thief Master and the elders from the five major sects were gathered around the core matrix, using all their strength to stabilize the seal.

The Academy’s members and the experts from the various major sects all watched from the side, holding their breath as they awaited the final outcome.

After Feng Hao and his group returned to the Academy, they parted ways with the people from Thousand Blades Valley. While waiting for the final result, they asked Lin Luo and the others about the identities of the elders from the five major sects.

Lin Luo and his companions naturally didn’t hide anything, and began to explain in low voices to Feng Hao:

"These are all Enlightenment Masters currently presiding over the five major sects. You could say they are some of the strongest people in the Ancient Cang Realm right now. The one sitting to the Thief Master’s left is Mo Qian’gu from the Holy Hall. The one on the right is Frodet from the Student Federation. The one opposite them is the current Elder Wenjian of Thousand Blades Valley."

"That red-haired one over there is Grand Elder Cao Zhengfeng of the War and Magic Alliance. And that listless old man, a classic Ghost Realm Mage, is named Xue Hun. He was the previous City Lord of Wanglao City."

"Wow, so many Enlightenment Masters." Feng Hao couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement. "By the way, Second Brother, Brother San, who do you think is stronger? These Enlightenment Masters or the Old City Lord?"

Kang Shuai chuckled. "There’s no comparison. That Old City Lord is the truly unfathomable one."

"Is that so?" Feng Hao asked, slightly surprised.

"Of course," Wang Tongqian interjected. "The Old City Lord is the expert who guards the [Ancient Prohibition]. Putting everything else aside, just thinking about how long he’s lived tells you how powerful he is."