Chapter 37: The Unstoppable Way of the Sword!
Next to the banquet hall, there was a courtyard.
Several people sat there.
"Is that boy the one the Crown Prince wants dealt with?"
"It seems so."
"Alright, then send someone to test his depth. It's best if we can provoke him into killing someone on the spot, making him an enemy of the Cangdao Academy in the Northern Region."
"Understood, I'll make the arrangements."
"Rest assured, if this succeeds, the Crown Prince will reward you handsomely."
Hearing this, the man was overjoyed and respectfully bowed before leaving to make arrangements.
...
At the banquet, Huo Qingming, Lin Ce, and Xin Hongyi had already taken seats near the front.
Zhong Wu and Huang Yuan, however, did not participate.
Ye Qiubai noticed it was about time for dinner.
Back at the cottage, he would usually have finished cooking by now and be eating with his master and junior sister...
He felt a bit out of place without eating.
With this in mind, Ye Qiubai stepped forward.
He chose a relatively rearward seat.
Just as he was about to start eating, someone approached.
"Hey, you're from the Cangdao Academy in the Southern Region, right?"
Ye Qiubai didn't turn around.
As the rough-looking man approached Ye Qiubai, both Huang Yuan and Zhong Wu took notice.
"That seems to be someone from the Cangdao Academy in the Northern Region."
"But it doesn't seem like he's participating in the exchange."
"Hopefully, Ye Qiubai won't act impulsively."
However, just as they finished speaking, their expressions froze.
The rough-looking man tried to grab Ye Qiubai's shoulder, but was repelled by Ye Qiubai's aura!
Ye Qiubai didn't turn around and continued eating.
However, around him, several streams of sword energy materialized into long swords, slashing towards the rough-looking man!
The man's face changed drastically. Each stream of sword energy made him feel a threat of death!
He quickly raised his hands, forming shields in front of him!
Then, he took out a talisman from his storage ring, wrapping himself in layers of protection!
But those shields were like paper in front of Ye Qiubai's sword energy!
They were easily pierced!
The layers of talisman protection were also sliced open!
A sword energy struck the man's chest directly, causing blood to spurt out!
The onlookers were shocked by this scene.
Such a decisive and ruthless attack...
Ye Qiubai was unfazed. After all, he had chosen a rearward seat, and yet someone still came to provoke him. It was obvious that this was orchestrated.
Since it was orchestrated, there was no need to hold back!
"Is that guy one of the participants from the Cangdao Academy in the Southern Region?"
"Yes, it seems he's quite strong."
"But just 'quite strong.' When he meets Senior Brother Jian and the others, he won't stand a chance."
"That's obvious. Senior Brother Jian is recognized as the top talent in swordsmanship in the Northern Region!"
Ye Qiubai heard these comments but paid them no mind.
Whether or not he was the top talent in swordsmanship would be clear after a fight.
"Why did you attack so harshly? He didn't deserve such a punishment, did he?"
As expected, the earlier encounter was just a test.
Ye Qiubai sneered. He had no grievances with the Cangdao Academy in the Northern Region.
For them to target him like this, there was only one explanation.
Someone was orchestrating this, and that someone had to be from the Sunset Dynasty.
Only the Sunset Dynasty would have such animosity towards Ye Qiubai in the Northern Region.
Only they would want him dead!
Someone recognized the man.
"That's Qiu Yu from the Cangdao Academy in the Northern Region. Although he's not participating in the academy exchange, he's a renowned figure in the Martial Hall!"
"Qiu Yu was able to defeat someone at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm, and now he has broken through to the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm. I wonder what level of strength he has reached!"
On the other side, Ye Qiubai heard Qiu Yu's words and couldn't help but sneer, "Since you've already become someone's dog, you should be prepared to sacrifice yourself at any time."
A trace of shock flashed in Qiu Yu's eyes, but he remained solemn, "Become a dog? Regardless, he is a disciple of our Cangdao Academy in the Northern Region. By doing this, aren't you afraid of provoking public outrage?"
Ye Qiubai wiped his mouth and said, "Are you done talking?"
Qiu Yu was stunned.
Ye Qiubai took out a wooden sword, turned to face Qiu Yu, and said coldly, "Since you're done with the nonsense, let's get started. I'm sure your master is eager, right?"
Qiu Yu's face turned fierce as he clenched his fists with iron knuckles and smashed towards Ye Qiubai!
Ye Qiubai looked on calmly as streams of sword energy, like tangible entities, shot towards Qiu Yu!
Qiu Yu shouted, continuously striking out with his fists, shattering the streams of sword energy.
But at the same time, he felt a slight shock.
Although the sword energy was blocked, his fists were incredibly painful!
The sword energy seemed to penetrate into his bone marrow from his fists!
It felt like his internal organs were being destroyed!
Ye Qiubai, seeing the sword energy being blocked, also moved forward, his long sword trembling as he launched a strike!
A black sword aura covered the wooden sword!
As their fists and swords clashed, a resounding clang echoed.
However, unlike Ye Qiubai's calm expression, fear flashed across Qiu Yu's face as his iron knuckles shattered directly!
Countless blood lines burst from his hands!
With a miserable scream, he was sent flying!
The surrounding people were shocked.
"How is this possible? Qiu Yu couldn't even block a single strike from him?"
"Is this Southern Barbarian really that strong? Judging from his aura alone, he seems to be only at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm!"
"Perhaps we underestimated the Southern Region..."
In the shadows, someone watched with a smile of satisfaction.
Ye Qiubai looked around coldly and said, "Is there anyone else who wants to fight?"
Seeing no response, Ye Qiubai picked up his wooden sword and walked towards the front of the tables and chairs.
Huang Yuan frowned and said, "It seems he wants to lure out the person behind the scenes, but this method is too conspicuous!"
Zhong Wu looked thoughtful as he watched Ye Qiubai step by step.
With each step, sword energy surged!
With another step, the sword energy soared into the sky!
Black and white sword energy continuously surrounded Ye Qiubai!
The momentum was terrifying, as if he had become a god!
Ye Qiubai walked to the sixth position and looked coldly at the man drinking at the seat. He said, "A fight?"
Ye Qiubai wasn't acting blindly. This man had been eyeing him from the beginning.
Similarly, Ye Qiubai didn't want to keep a low profile anymore.
He wanted the Sunset Dynasty to understand that these tricks were useless against him.
Someone was dissatisfied.
A sword strike!
The man drinking raised his head and looked at Ye Qiubai, smiling lightly, "Oh? Why should I fight you?"
Ye Qiubai raised an eyebrow, "So, do you think I'm not worthy?"
"And what if I do?"
"Just because you defeated Qiu Yu, you think you can challenge all the geniuses of our Cangdao Academy in the Northern Region?"
Boom!
A surge of sword energy rose into the sky!
The sword energy was covered with a black demonic aura!
It swept towards the man, whose gaze turned serious.
This aura was already posing a threat to him!
It didn't seem like the power that could erupt from someone at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm!
"Now, am I worthy?"