Chapter 422: The Storyteller

...

The elopement incident that night caused a huge commotion in the Martial Spirit City. Plus, many representatives of major forces who were preparing to attend the engagement ceremony were residing in the city, so it was impossible for them to remain oblivious to the commotion.

In just a few days, the news spread throughout various places and circulated across the continent.

Doesn't this mean that the alliance between the Martial Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has fallen apart?

Many people were delighted by this event.

At least, the pressure in their hearts was greatly reduced, and they no longer needed to be fearful and apprehensive.

Moreover, the fact that it was the groom who chose to elope signifies that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was causing trouble, right? It's worth noting that the Martial Spirit Hall is the strongest force in the continent. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the top three sects, would have to yield to its power and become inferior.

Now that this farce has occurred publicly, it's like a blatant slap in the face of the Martial Spirit Hall, a naked humiliation.

How could the self-proclaimed number one Martial Spirit Hall endure such disgrace?

Not to mention wiping out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, even if they don't make the sect suffer substantial losses, it would be unacceptable!

The major forces on the continent were watching secretly, delighted to see the Martial Spirit Hall subduing and suppressing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had secretly formed an alliance with the Martial Spirit Hall and suddenly announced it, catching everyone off guard and raising suspicions.

Therefore, they were pleased to witness what was happening to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

However, as half a month passed, the Martial Spirit Hall still hadn't taken any action against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This made other forces start to worry.

How could the Martial Spirit Hall, which had been humiliated and faced losing face, refrain from retaliating against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Could it be that there still existed an alliance between the two forces?

Seeing the Martial Spirit Hall's lack of action, some people's emotions became restless once more.

...

Molin Town.

Inside a tavern, the hall reverberated with various noisy voices.

A person stepped in through the open doors.

The waiter, upon seeing a customer, immediately approached with a smile, welcoming him warmly. 

"Welcome to Molin Tavern! Esteemed guest, are you here for dining or lodging?"

The waiter's attitude was very respectful because the customer's attire was peculiar. He wore a long blue robe with a tattered grey cloak draped over his shoulders. He had a bamboo hat on his head, with the front low enough to obscure his face.

He had different-shaped swords hanging from his waist, and one could faintly sense the terrifying and sharp aura emanating from them.

In this world where everyone possessed martial spirits, especially the Spirit Masters who relied on their martial spirit power, it was rare to see someone carrying weapons with them.

This struck the waiter as strange.

But they could feel that this customer was not someone easy to deal with just by looking at those swords.

A person with such an imposing presence should be a Spirit Master, that's why the waiter's attitude was particularly respectful.

"Do you also offer lodging here?" the person under the bamboo hat asked in surprise.

"Of course, our tavern is the largest and best in Molin Town, so we definitely have lodging services."

The customer pressed down on the bamboo hat on his head with his hand. A disdainful chuckle escaped from under the hat.

"Hehe, I hope it's not any special service. I'm just a passing traveler, don't need any of that. Feed me a good meal, and it'll be enough."

Hearing this, the waiter paused for a moment and couldn't help revealing an awkward smile on his face.

"Haha, you're quite humorous, esteemed guest. We are a legitimate establishment." He accepted the comment with some embarrassment and then bent forward, extending his hand in a welcoming gesture.

"Dining, right? Please follow me."

Guided by the waiter, they reached a window-side table.

As soon as they sat down, the waiter handed over a menu.

"Please take a look and let me know what you need."

The traveler under the bamboo hat took the menu casually, skimmed through it, and then handed it back to the waiter.

"Start with a portion of peanuts, followed by beef in clear water, and bring two jugs of good wine."

After speaking, the customer placed his hand on the table, and then removed it. A golden coin appeared on the table.

Seeing the golden spirit coin, the waiter couldn't hide his delight on his face.

He didn't expect the customer to be so generous, giving a tip that was worth more than his monthly salary.

Excited, the waiter carefully took the golden spirit coin, and with an even more respectful attitude, said, "Of course, please wait a moment."

After the waiter left, the person removed the bamboo hat and casually placed it on the table.

Underneath the hat was a handsome face, and his tied-up long hair gently swayed behind him. He looked out the window, watching the bustling city with its flowing carriages and horses. A faint smile of leisure appeared on his face.

This person was none other than Zeng Yi, who had run away from the Martial Spirit Hall.

Since parting ways with Qian Renxue half a month ago, Zeng Yi hadn't chosen to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or go to Shrek Academy. Instead, he wandered aimlessly on the continent, traveling.

So far, he didn't know where he was at the moment.

The only thing he was sure of was that he was still within the boundaries of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Today, I will talk about the person that has caused a sensation across the continent, one of the key figures in the engagement between the Martial Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the protagonist of the elopement, Zeng Yi!"

A voice came from afar, causing Zeng Yi, who was sitting quietly at the table, to narrow his eyes and be taken aback.

Turning his head towards the voice, he saw a group of people surrounding a platform with a wooden table placed on it. A middle-aged man with an elegant temperament sat behind the table, one hand holding a folding fan and the other slapping the table.

"So it's just a storyteller," Zeng Yi said with a relaxed smile upon seeing the scene.

If there was one topic that had been fiery, controversial, and debated recently, it was undoubtedly the rupture of the alliance between the Martial Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Compared to that, everyone knows Zeng Yi, the genius Spirit Master. Although he didn't participate in this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, people may have doubts about his strength. Many haven't even heard of such a figure on the continent. He appears out of thin air, and then vanishes as if a phantom.

Today, I will chat with all of you about the genius Spirit Master named Zeng Yi, and who he really is!"

The storyteller shook his fan, fully concentrated, and vividly narrated to the customers in the tavern.

"According to reliable information I obtained through professional means, Zeng Yi is none other than the personal disciple of the Sword Douluo, one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Titled Douluos!

As a disciple of a Titled Douluo, his talent goes without saying. Along with his master being the Sword Douluo, Zeng Yi's talent in swordsmanship is naturally one in a million.

As a genius disciple secretly nurtured by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he may not have participated in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament this time, but in the chaos that occurred after the tournament's finals, he revealed his strength for the first time in front of the world.

Eyewitnesses saw Zeng Yi, wielding twin swords, fiercely battling an opponent from the Martial Spirit Hall, a Saint-ranked powerhouse! They couldn't tell who had the upper hand!"

"Is it true? Is he really that powerful?" someone in the audience expressed doubt.

"Of course, otherwise, why would the Martial Spirit Hall's Saintess, the most talented Spirit Master in the hall, favor him?"

"Yeah, but why did he elope?" someone asked.

Upon hearing this, the storyteller sighed, "That is a very complex reason.

As everyone knows, besides Zeng Yi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has another extremely talented Spirit Master, who is highly likely to be the next successor of the sect!

That's right! She is the current sect master's daughter.

As far as I know, Zeng Yi was brought back to the sect by the Sword Douluo as a child and grew up together with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess.

Being outstanding Spirit Masters and childhood friends, it's natural for them to be mutually attracted to each other."

At this point, a viewer raised a question, "So you mean Zeng Yi eloped because he had already fallen in love with someone? That's why he bravely resisted the oppression from the Martial Spirit Hall, showing a spirit that isn't afraid of power?"

In response to the question, the storyteller clapped his fan against his palm, a smile of deep meaning appeared on his lips.

"That's the story I'm going to tell you today, the untold stories of Zeng Yi, the genius Spirit Master, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect master's daughter!"

Zeng Yi, hearing these words, finally couldn't hold back and spewed out the tea he had just sipped. He suppressed his laughter and wiped his mouth with his hand.

To bring me and that girl Ning Rongrong into this, it's really hilarious. Childhood friends? Mutual attraction? That girl, if we had grown up together, I would have gone crazy!

He didn't expect that these storytellers had such wild imaginations, and the farther the story spread, the more outrageous it became.

During his journey, he had lost count of how many versions he had heard.

In the tavern, Zeng Yi drank his wine while suppressing his amusement, listening to the storyteller narrating "his" deeds.

He stayed until evening before leaving.

A few days later, along the wide official road, a long caravan was slowly advancing.

A carriage filled with goods had a person lying on top of the tarpaulin covering them.

Under the scorching sunlight, which felt dazzlingly bright, Zeng Yi covered his face with the bamboo hat to shield himself from the intense rays.

Since arriving in the Douluo Continent until now, Zeng Yi had been living in the Heaven Dou Empire for nearly eighteen years and hadn't gone to the Star Luo Empire to experience their local customs.

That's why he decided to follow a merchant caravan heading to the Star Luo Empire to do business.

For this purpose, he was currently serving as the escort of this caravan.

"Uncle, where is the next destination?" Zeng Yi asked.

In response, the carriage driver said, "Respected Lord Spirit Master, the next city is Seven Treasure City! The caravan will rest and resupply there for a day."

"Seven Treasure City?" Zeng Yi was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, it's a very famous city on the continent, under the jurisdiction of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Hearing that, Zeng Yi couldn't help but reveal a wry smile on his face, and a reminiscing look flashed in his eyes.

He didn't expect to come full circle and return to a familiar place.