Xue Wangxu saw Feng Qianzhuo shake his head. He wore a proud smile in response. He thought, some things are not what cultivators like you, that live in remote places and just want to enjoy the rest of your life, can comprehend.

Feng Qianzhuo’s brows slowly rose.

He carried the scroll towards the tall tower in Fire Virtue Hall.

The Fire Virtue Hall had been built to worship the empress’ painting scroll. The tallest tower was higher than all the statues in this temple.

None of the Zheng people in Zhushan District had objections.

They had statues of deities here only because the empress allowed them. They were able to live like this with the Zheng culture only because the empress allowed them. The empress’s place was above all the statues.

The tower was not connected to the temples below with stairs.

Feng Qianzhuo continued to ascend. There seemed to be an invisible flight of stairs in the air that supported his body.

This kind of scene was also another miracle to the ordinary people of Zhushan District.

In their eyes, the empress naturally should be placed higher than any deity, and Old Master Feng should be placed just as high as those deities.

“Realm six first class. About the same as Old Di Qingmei. Just a door away from realm seven. He still doesn’t give up even now.” Looking at Feng Qianzhuo who was walking slowly and steadily with each step in the air, Xue Wangxu smiled nonchalantly. “He means to say that he and I are just separated by a door. But he comes from Ba Mountain Sword Field, he has the powerful sword manuals and famed swords of Ba Mountain. He may not lose to me. Even now, he wants to frighten me … he probably doesn’t know that my sect senior brother and I split the White Goat spirit vein into three to refuse the master of the painting scroll he holds.”

“It’s about time. Follow me closely from now.”

He looked at Ding Ning in all seriousness and cautioned. “It may be chaotic. After coming thus far for you, I do not wish you to get wounded.”

Ding Ning was gazing up at Feng Qianzhuo. At Xue Wangxu’s words, he shook his head and said, “It is about time. But soon, the first one to act may be me, and not you.”

Xue Wangxu stilled. “What do you mean?”

“While I am unwilling, I seem to be the target,” Ding Ning said expressionlessly.

Xue Wangxu looked around in shock. He finally understood Ding Ning’s meaning and whispered, “Should be Vital Energy Realm third class. Just like Feng Qianzhuo and I are separated by a door, the other is a door ahead of you. Are you confident?”

Ding Ning nodded and said, “He is weaker than Su Qin.”

All the important people sitting on the wooden chairs looked at Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning as they talked. Their expressions grew more complicated and anticipatory.

After placing the scroll, Feng Qianzhuo descended.

“We thank His Majesty and Her Highness the empress for their benevolence. Of course, we cannot do nothing after coming to spectate today.”

“Feng Qianzhuo, your sword has not been displayed for a long time now. My sword is about to rust. Why don’t we rouse the spirits of this festival with our swords?

“Xue Wangxu of White Goat Cave asks for enlightenment.”

At this moment, Xue Wangxu recalled Ding Ning’s words: The best quarreler would not give the other time to react. So he spoke up the moment Feng Qianzhuo’s feet touched the ground.

His voice was warm but unusually clear, making its way to the people of Zhushan District who were gathered around Fire Virtue Hall.

Feng Qianzhuo frowned slightly. He wondered, why did this old man not know what was good for him?

You openly challenge me at such a time. Regardless of whether you can defeat me, even if you win in the end and I give the appearance fixing orb to you, will you have the good fortune to experience it when you return to Changling?

“So he did come to challenge Old Master Feng, after all?”

“Didn’t the Feng Family say they were guests?”

“The Feng Family treated them with courtesy… even if they wished to challenge, they had to choose such a time?”

The sounds of discussion grew louder. At Feng Qianzhuo’s frown and his apparent displeasure, curses rose like the tide.

“Who are you? You qualify to challenge Old Master Feng!”

Someone shouted in the crowd.

“Who am I?”

Xue Wangxu did not care and only waited for Feng Qianzhuo to speak. But at this time, Ding Ning’s calm voice sounded.

“He is the master of White Goat Cave. The gates of the White Goat Cave have a stele bestowed down by His Majesty. The officials of Changling will only be able to enter the gates of White Goat Cave if he agrees. Only those cultivation places that have sent a great number of cultivators for the Qin have such an honor. He is a teacher that His Highness has accepted and conferred a title upon … you say that he is less than someone who is not even a district governor and just the head of a slightly prosperous family? You may be too dismissive of His Majesty?”

His voice was not very loud, but as it spread, it enveloped the surroundings into a deathly silence.

The people who had been cursing felt endless terror and unconsciously retreated. They were in such awe of the empress, much less the powerful Yuanwu Emperor!

“These rural people are not a match for you in arguing and using righteousness to pressure people.”

Xue Wangxu turned to Ding Ning and smiled. Then he looked at the silent Feng Qianzhuo and in a challenging tone,said, “Speak up. Do you want to have these Zheng people drive me away? Do you not fear they will say some other disgraceful things?

“You should not have come. Losing your life for an appearance fixing orb is not profitable.” Feng Qianzhuo was slightly angry, his tone cold.

Xue Wangxu looked at him and solemnly shook his head. “This is really not just a matter of the appearance fixing orb. This is also about the blow that landed on my senior sect brother. Without that blow from you, maybe my senior sect brother would have already torn through the door you have yet to cross.”

Feng Qianzhuo’s expression grew colder and spoke with slight disdain. “Is realm seven so easy to step through? Especially to the one who has already lost.”

Xue Wangxu looked at him nonchalantly and said, “It’s useless to talk when we do not agree. We have to speak with our swords.”

“Elders, you are old. It will not be good if you are wounded in a fight. I fear Cave Master Xue has come prepared while my grandfather has not touched the sword for a long time. This is not fair.” A young and cold voice sounded. “Fighting with swords and gaining more battle experience are things that us young and spirited people should do.”

When he heard his voice, Xue Wangxu turned to look at Feng Qinghan who had a young face but eyes that flashed maliciously. He sighed softly with a thread of sincere sympathy. “This is a matter for adults. It is best for children to not interrupt.”

Feng Qinghan, who felt that he was being underestimated, was incensed. He puffed out his chest and in a slightly cold voice, said , “Why is Cave Master Xue so pressuring? I see that Cave Master Xue has brought along a young disciple of your sect. What do you feel if I challenge him?”

Xue Wangxu thought of his previous conversation with Ding Ning. He sighed and thought, Not sending his precious grandson to Changling to study was, perhaps, Feng Qianzhuo‘s greatest mistake.

Had Feng Qinghan been to Changling and seen the countless young geniuses stronger than him, he would not be so arrogant right now.

As he thought up to here, he became happy. He found Ding Ning even more pleasing to his eyes.

Ding Ning slowly raised his head. He had no interest in bullying Feng Qinghan. He had too many people he needed to catch up to. He had too many great things he had to achieve. He did not care about the feelings of such a youth. But he feared trouble.

So, he directly said, “If I win against you, will you give the appearance fixing orb to White Goat Cave?”

Feng Qinghan’s eyes shone with light. He could not suppress his joy. He turned and bowed to Feng Qianzhuo. “Grandfather, please allow me.”

Feng Qianzhuo’s brows did not relax.

From the previous conversation and Ding Ning’s calm expression, he felt that this Changling youth, who followed Xue Wangxu, was dangerous. But he could sense that this youth was thin and had yet to reach Vital Energy Realm. Even if he had something special, even if Feng Qinghan lost, this was just a battle between children … this appeared to be the best method. He even applauded his beloved grandson in his heart. Compared to the mediocrity of his three sons, this grandson was extraordinary.

“Xue Wangxu, let my grandson fight your sect disciple. If your disciple wins, I will give the appearance fixing orb to you. But I have to clarify. This appearance fixing orb is a treasure found in past explorations of ancient sects. I won this from your senior sect brother, and this is not an item of White Goat Cave.” After Feng Qianzhuo said this, he shouted towards the crowd behind him. “Lizhu, bring over the appearance fixing orb.”

As he shouted, a beautiful woman quickly walked forward, took off an orb hanging from her neck and handed it to Feng Qianzhuo.

This was a snowy white bead about the size of a longan. It flashed magically like it was breathing, emanating a glowing light.

Looking at this orb, Feng Qinghan smiled, his eyes curved.

He turned and looked at Ding Ning who stood behind Xue Wangxu. He let out a scornful laughter. “Do not hide behind someone else … if you win against me, this orb will belong to White Goat Cave.”

Many of the important people of Zhushan District who were sitting on the chairs looked at Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning with schadenfreude. They felt that this time, Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning had been out connived.

Unexpectedly, Ding Ning did not waste any words.

He took several steps forward until he was in front of Xue Wangxu. Then he unsheathed his sword and said, “Please.”

Translator Ramblings: I never know if the “audience” viewing these battles between powerful people talk because they cannot control themselves considering that most of the time, the participants are stronger than them and can easily take offense.