BAAF Chapter 120

Shen Liuxiang woke up and didn’t see Zhou Xuanlan anywhere.

 

He recalled that in his dream, Zhou Xuanlan seemed to have mentioned going out, so he rubbed his neck, got up on his own, dressed properly, and went out.

 

Today was the day Xu Ziling would become Dao companions with someone. Early in the morning, there were still many well-wishers arriving, and disciples from Qinglin Sect and Sword Sect who had traveled from afar had also arrived.

 

Shen Liuxiang came to the venue for the union ceremony and saw a wide, high platform at the front, with various items needed for the ceremony placed on it. Closest to the platform were seven or eight aerial pavilions, built by the Xu family to entertain distinguished guests, all decorated with extreme luxury.

 

The pavilion in the center had purple-gold gauze hanging on all four sides, with long jade steps connecting to the ground, making it the most eye-catching.

 

The other pavilions each had their own unique features, except for the rightmost pavilion, which was rather strange.

 

Unlike the other carefully constructed pavilions, the rightmost one was clearly shoddily made, constructed of decaying wood, with narrow and high steps from top to bottom, no gauze curtains for cover, and through the railings one could see that only tables and chairs were placed inside. Compared to the other pavilions, it exuded an air of simplicity.

 

This distinctive pavilion attracted the attention of many people.

 

The Xu family arranged guests according to their status, and these aerial pavilions were mostly prepared for the continent’s top figures. The central one was prepared for the Emperor, while those beside it were for sect leaders and others. Even if people didn’t come, everything had to be prepared.

 

The remaining guests were arranged in the area behind.

 

As such, the simple pavilion on the far right seemed particularly strange. If someone had the status to sit there, why would the Xu family treat them this way? Weren’t they afraid of offending them?

 

People speculated until they saw a red-clothed youth being led by attendants toward that pavilion, and then they suddenly understood.

 

“No wonder, it was prepared for him.”

 

“Such blatant humiliation doesn’t seem appropriate. After all, he is Emperor Xingchen’s elder brother.”

 

“Don’t forget, although they are brothers, who knows how much they hated each other when competing for the Emperor’s position. Besides, how would the Xu family dare to do this? Ultimately, it must be the Emperor’s intention!”

 

“Yesterday when the Emperor brought Shen Liuxiang, many said the brothers were on good terms, but it turns out that was false.”

 

“Of course it was false! Shen Liuxiang’s cultivation has greatly declined, only at the Nascent Soul realm. The Emperor could crush him with a little finger. How would he still care about him? Didn’t you see last night when the Emperor saw him from afar, he just snorted coldly and left? He must have been disgusted with him for a long time!”

 

…

 

Shen Liuxiang looked up at the nearby pavilion: “Is this the place prepared for me?”

 

The attendant responded affirmatively, then coldly left. Shen Liuxiang touched the stairs, and with just a little force, heard a creaking sound as the wooden steps swayed slightly.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s expression was half-smiling, half-not. He had thought it was just Xu Ziyue, but now it seemed the entire Xu family was interesting.

 

The ceremony was about to officially begin soon, and the square was filled with surging crowds. Shen Liuxiang extended his divine sense and found nothing on the table in the pavilion, so he went to get a fruit platter. Just as he was about to climb the wooden steps, someone suddenly called out to him.

 

He turned around and saw a young man dressed in a white robe with plum blossom patterns, wearing Qinglin Sect attire-calling him “Uncle Master Shen.”

 

Shen Liuxiang blinked. Those who called him Uncle Master would be his senior brother’s disciples. He had seen this disciple at Qinglin, who had won in the disciples’ competition against Zhou Xuanlan, indirectly causing him to lose ten thousand spirit stones.

 

But it had been too long, and Shen Liuxiang couldn’t remember his name. Fortunately, his ears were sharp.

 

Someone nearby whispered: “After Immortal Lord Ling Ye resigned from the position of sect leader, he gave it to his disciple Ling Mushan. This sect leader acts quite low-key. Unexpectedly, he came today. The Xu family has great face!”

 

Shen Liuxiang handed him the fruit platter: “So it’s Nephew Mushan. Would you like some fruit?”

 

Ling Mushan smiled lightly and shook his head, then pointed to a pavilion: “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Uncle Master. Seeing Uncle Master alone, why not come to this nephew’s place?”

 

As the Qinglin Sect Leader, Ling Mushan naturally sat in an aerial pavilion, and the Xu family wouldn’t dare to show any negligence.

 

Shen Liuxiang understood in his heart that Ling Mushan had come to help him out of this awkward situation. The corner of his lips curved: “Thank you, Nephew, but…”

 

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a voice: “Brother Shen Xiang.”

 

Shen Liuxiang looked toward the sound and saw Zhao Lin leading a group of Sword Sect disciples. He raised an eyebrow, thinking that Xu Xingchen was right-he would indeed meet many familiar faces here.

 

The simple pavilion already stood out, attracting attention, and with Ling Mushan, Zhao Lin, and others approaching, it drew even more gazes.

 

Among them was one filled with intense excitement.

 

The Daqian Sect elder helplessly turned around to look at Ming Tan, who was hiding behind him, gazing at the red-clothed youth, and reminded him: “Sect Master, if you don’t go forward to invite him soon, the Immortal Lord might go to someone else’s pavilion.”

 

Ming Tan’s face reddened as he stammered: “I-I want to go too, but wouldn’t it be too-too abrupt?”

 

The elder sighed: “If not, I can go on behalf of the Sect Master.”

 

“No, that would show a lack of respect. I-I will go personally. I should barely have the qualification to invite the Immortal Lord,” Ming Tan said, staring unblinkingly at the distant figure. Just as he was nervous, he saw a group of people approaching Shen Liuxiang.

 

His eyes sharpened, and he quickly rushed over.

 

The fruit platter Shen Liuxiang was holding was knocked down by a stream of spiritual energy, and the fruits scattered on the ground.

 

Xu Ziyue had nursed his injuries in the demon realm for a long time, and they had finally healed somewhat. He had hurriedly returned from the demon realm with the Three Lives Stone, only to see Shen Liuxiang, the culprit who had caused him to be injured by the Demon Emperor, shortly after arriving home.

 

Xu Ziyue immediately led his followers to surround him, launching an attack before even getting close, though Shen Liuxiang dodged it, and it only hit the fruit platter.

 

Xu Ziyue snorted coldly: “What kind of cats and dogs are qualified to attend the ceremony? Do you have an invitation?”

 

Shen Liuxiang shook his hand.

 

Both Ling Mushan and Zhao Lin’s faces suddenly darkened as they stood in front of him. But before the two could rebuke, an angry shout came from the side: “What little brat is this! Seeking death! Dare to strike again and I’ll cripple that paw of yours!”

 

Ming Tan appeared in a rage, with one leg still being desperately pulled by the elder: “Sect Master! Mind your image in public! This is the Emperor’s beloved cousin, the darling of the entire Xu family! You absolutely must not cause trouble!!”

 

Ming Tan grabbed him with one hand and threw him aside mercilessly: “Didn’t you see he intended to hurt Immortal Lord Shen? I must cripple him!”

 

As he spoke, Ming Tan released a powerful pressure.

 

Xu Ziyue’s face changed. He knew both sect leaders and Zhao Lin, aware of their status in the cultivation world. He hadn’t expected them to stand up for Shen Liuxiang, which made his teeth itch with anger. From across several people, he shouted at Shen Liuxiang.

 

“The rumors are indeed true, you only have a face to seduce people! Hiding behind others, what kind of coward are you? Do you dare come out and compete with me?”

 

Shen Liuxiang narrowed his eyes slightly, pushing aside the people in front of him: “Compete with me? Are you worthy?”

 

Xu Ziyue: “You just don’t dare!”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s lips curved slightly, and he suddenly said: “Dry competition is so boring. If you want to challenge me, you must bet your life on it.”

 

Xu Ziyue had planned to take Shen Liuxiang’s life, but never expected him to propose it so directly and bluntly. He was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, clapping and repeatedly saying “good.”

 

The commotion here was not small. People heard the noise and looked over, only to see two people dueling in the arena. They were immediately shocked. Today was a joyous occasion, and private duels were forbidden on Xu family territory. Who would be so bold!

 

A group of people crowded to the front, and the moment they saw the two figures clearly, they looked at each other in surprise-it was actually Shen Liuxiang and the young master of the Xu family.

 

“What grudge do these two have?”

 

“I heard they had conflicts in the demon realm. This Xu Ziyue is at the Soul Formation realm, yet he’s fighting with Shen Liuxiang who’s only at the Nascent Soul realm. Isn’t that bullying?”

 

“The Xu family isn’t intervening. Look at the Xu family head and Miss Ziling, they’re right there, pretending not to see what’s happening under their noses, not even stopping it. Aren’t they afraid of truly hurting Shen Liuxiang? He was once the Young Lord after all.”

 

“Don’t worry needlessly. Emperor Xingchen is watching there without saying a word, clearly waiting to see Shen Liuxiang taught a lesson. The Xu family allowing Xu Ziyue to behave this way must have already gauged the Emperor’s thoughts, specifically to please him!”

 

“That makes sense. It seems this time Young Lord Shen… eh?”

 

Bang-!

 

Shen Liuxiang plucked a strand of hair from Xu Ziyue while simultaneously kicking him in the face, sending him flying several zhang and crashing into a stone statue.

 

Xu Ziyue felt a sweetness in his throat, clutching his chest as he stood up, his face ashen.

 

Though Shen Liuxiang’s cultivation was inferior to his, his various techniques emerged one after another, tricky and cunning, actually making Xu Ziyue somewhat unable to match him.

 

Xu Ziyue’s heart was full of resentment and jealousy. Shen Liuxiang must be using Imperial Palace techniques. The Xu family’s foundation was still shallow, their accumulated techniques couldn’t compare even to ordinary sects, let alone the Imperial Palace.

 

It was said that technique scrolls in the Imperial Palace were piled like mountains. The Xu family had always wanted a share, but unfortunately, even his father, Xu Guanhai, the head of the Xu family, had never been allowed by Xu Xingchen to visit the Imperial Palace, let alone study the scrolls.

 

Xu Ziyue stared at Shen Liuxiang, revealing killing intent.

 

If he could eliminate him, perhaps Xu Xingchen would be delighted and let him go to Shenqi Mountain. Moreover, his father had also said to do everything to make the Emperor happy. They would bide their time, and when Xu Xingchen ascended and left, the Xu family would have an opportunity to enter Shenqi Mountain in the name of taking care of the Imperial Princess, using the Emperor to command the nobles!

 

Xu Ziyue’s lips curved slightly, his killing intent growing stronger in his heart. His gaze met with a follower not far away.

 

Among his followers was an additional person, his father’s personal guard, who not only had Soul Formation realm strength but also wielded the life-taking knife, a famous magical weapon. Souls of Soul Formation realm cultivators had fallen under his knife.

 

Xu Ziyue understood inwardly and gave him a look before attacking Shen Liuxiang. At the same time, all his followers attacked, with the personal guard moving fastest among them, appearing behind Shen Liuxiang with lightning speed.

 

This sudden change caught the onlookers by surprise. They hadn’t yet realized why the attendants were also attacking during the duel between the two, when they saw a person appear behind the red-clothed youth, thrusting forward with a cold blade.

 

Everyone was shocked but couldn’t stop it in time, all believing Shen Liuxiang would certainly die.

 

Unexpectedly, at the moment the knife made contact, the youth’s figure suddenly changed to Xu Ziyue.

 

Blood splattered.

 

A large patch of crimson spilled from Xu Ziyue’s chest as he looked at the family head’s personal guard, eyes wide with disbelief on his face.

 

Shen Liuxiang, meanwhile, appeared unharmed in Xu Ziyue’s former position.

 

The venue was silent for a moment, then erupted in exclamations.

 

The personal guard dropped his hand in fright, retreating several steps in panic: “Young-Young Master!”

 

Xu Ziyue fell to the ground, grateful for his protective magical item, otherwise he would have died on the spot. He spat blood, struggling to rise, when his vision suddenly darkened.

 

Xu Ziyue looked up to see a pair of phoenix eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, smiling yet chilling to the heart. “Remember what you said? To bet your life on it.”

 

Xu Ziyue felt a chill in his chest as blood gushed from the knife wound. Shen Liuxiang pulled out the knife, curved his lips in a smile, then raised his hand to strike down.

 

“How dare you!”

 

“Stop!”

 

Xu Guanhai and Xu Ziling, who had been watching from the platform, shouted angrily and moved to intervene, but looking up, they saw someone already standing beside Shen Liuxiang, gripping his wrist, stopping the descending life-taking knife.

 

Seeing who it was, both were delighted, while the onlookers were all stunned.

 

“The Emperor is…”

 

“It seems they truly aren’t on good terms, not even pretending in public anymore.”

 

“Xu Ziyue is someone gifted with the Emperor’s soul imprint! It seems the Emperor really favors this cousin!”

 

Shen Liuxiang turned his head to look, moved his wrist but couldn’t break free: “You want to save him?”

 

Xu Xingchen: “He has my soul imprint on him.”

 

Xu Ziyue had been too panicked by the technique earlier, but now seeing Xu Xingchen save him and hearing about the soul imprint, he remembered. He coughed up some blood and laughed loudly: “Come on, Shen Liuxiang! I have a soul imprint in my body. If you truly harm my life, I fear before I die, you’ll be shattered by the soul imprint! Why not try it!”

 

With these words, the expressions of the surrounding crowd became difficult to describe as they whispered: “This young master is too arrogant. After all, Shen Liuxiang was once the Young Lord of the Imperial Palace, while he’s just the young master of the Xu family.”

 

“Sigh, I can’t bear to watch anymore. The Emperor still wants to protect…”

 

This person’s words stopped abruptly halfway.

 

A cold light flashed, and the life-taking knife plunged into Xu Ziyue’s chest. At the same time, a terrifying pressure spread from within him, a purple light flashed, and the soul imprint disappeared.

 

Xu Ziyue’s eyes widened, filled with hideous bloodshot veins, his face showing an expression of disbelief, and in the blink of an eye, he lost his breath.

 

Everything happened unexpectedly. When people came to their senses and looked at the person holding the knife, they all fell silent.

 

Shen Liuxiang gripped the knife handle, lowered his eyes to look at the hand holding his-fingers stained with blood, Xu Xingchen who had pressed the life-taking knife down-and was stunned: “Your cousin, is that okay?”

 

Xu Xingchen’s expression was indifferent as he released his hand, took out a silk handkerchief, and methodically wiped away the bloodstains. His gaze lightly swept toward the suddenly pale-faced head of the Xu family on the high platform: “Anyone who dares to touch my elder brother deserves this.”

 

He had grown up in the Imperial Palace since childhood, and his only connection to the Xu family was through his mother, who had passed away during her tribulation when he was young. Although the Xu family was very cordial, he could distinguish between true and false sentiments, so his relationship with the Xu family had always been neither warm nor cold.

 

After ascending to the position of Emperor, he had thought that after he left someday, the Xu family could help take care of Xinglian, but he hadn’t expected them to forget their roots in recent years and become increasingly arrogant.

 

Xu Ziyue was merely a tool he placed in the demon realm to irritate Zhou Xuanlan, yet he actually had the courage to challenge his bottom line.

 

Xu Xingchen finished wiping his hands, but the venue remained silent.

 

A heart-palpitating pressure filled this space, growing increasingly intense, making it almost impossible for people to breathe.

 

Cold sweat broke out on Xu Guanhai’s forehead, suddenly realizing where the mistake was. Fear surpassed grief as he pulled Xu Ziling down to kneel: “Xu Ziyue was ignorant, didn’t listen to teachings, offended Immortal Lord Shen, and deserved this fate. We beg the Emperor to calm his anger!”

 

Xu Xingchen threw away the bloodstained handkerchief: “Uncle is getting old, why are you kneeling? Please rise.”

 

Having said this, Xu Xingchen glanced at the distinctive pavilion, his thin lips curving into a half-smile: “The place arranged for my elder brother-how thoughtful.”

 

On the high platform, Xu Guanhai’s whole body trembled, his face paling several shades, his heart crying out in distress, not knowing that from the beginning, he had misinterpreted Xu Xingchen’s intentions.

 

“Someone, quickly give…”

 

“No need,” Xu Xingchen extended his hand to Shen Liuxiang, his slender fingers beckoning upward, speaking unhurriedly, “Today is the auspicious day for Sister Ling to become Dao companions with someone. By my calculation, the time is approaching. Sister Ling should also rise, there’s no need for this.”

 

The two people on the platform hurriedly nodded in agreement.

 

Shen Liuxiang lowered his eyes, watching Xu Xingchen’s fingers flexing back and forth: “What are you doing, having a cramp?”

 

Xu Xingchen: “…”

 

At this moment, he was maintaining the bearing of an emperor and didn’t feel like saying more. He directly took Shen Liuxiang’s hand and slowly walked toward the simple aerial pavilion.

 

Sensing Shen Liuxiang trying to withdraw his hand, Xu Xingchen applied more force, his tone serious: “Don’t move, let those people see, see clearly that Emperor Xingchen treats Elder Brother Shen Liuxiang well. This way, no one will dare to bully you in the future.”

 

Shen Liuxiang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but had no choice but to climb the wooden steps that occasionally creaked with a “squeak,” ascending to the pavilion step by step.

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)