Chapter Sixty-Six: Fearless

The fourth day of the Martial Tournament.

On this day, all the martial artists who came to participate were fiercely contending for the final top three spots. For each level, the top three would receive corresponding martial arts techniques, rare treasures, and cultivation materials as rewards. As long as one broke into the top three, they would not leave empty-handed.

When it came to prizes, the five great families were never stingy; they had long prepared all kinds of profound-grade martial techniques and rare treasures, along with elixirs and cultivation materials that could enhance essence energy.

Early on the fourth day, these sumptuous prizes were placed atop a round platform at the center of the tournament grounds, guarded by dedicated attendants.

Watching the array of prizes on display, the martial artists strove with all their might in the battles to come.

By noon, two martial artists of the Innate Realm had already been killed outright in the arena, and another strong practitioner at the Human Position Realm was beaten to the point of permanent disability.

During the tournament, as long as one side admitted defeat in time, the other was forbidden to continue attacking. Thus, as long as one wasn’t driven by greed and refrained from forcing the issue—admitting defeat when the situation turned unfavorable—one's life would not be forfeit.

Those who were gravely injured or killed were all ones who believed they still had a chance, stubbornly hoping to turn the tide despite being at a disadvantage. Such misplaced ambition led to their tragic ends.

On the Shi family’s pavilion.

Shi Jian sat with a slight smile at the corner of his lips, loftily watching the arena below. From time to time, he would glance at the Mo family’s tower, and each glance would reveal Mo Tuo’s sullen face, as if he were mourning a son.

Over the past three days, several key figures of the Mo family had mysteriously disappeared, one after another. At this critical juncture of the tournament, Mo Tuo was seething with rage. He knew very well who was behind these acts, yet was helpless to openly retaliate.

The formidable experts under the Mo family could only secretively search throughout Skyfall City for Mu Xun and his companions. Regrettably, they could not even find a trace of Mu Xun, nor did Mu Xun send any word, leaving Mo Tuo not even the chance to negotiate.

“Boy, tomorrow is the martial tournament of the five great families. You’ve observed so many matches these past four days—have you gained anything from them?” Shi Jian, in high spirits, cast a casual glance at Shi Yan beside him and asked.

“Gains?” Shi Yan’s expression remained indifferent as he nodded. “Of course I’ve gained something. But just watching isn’t much; I still prefer to take to the field myself, to fight life and death with real blades and true courage. Only insights gained on the edge of life and death are the most precious.”

Shi Jian was taken aback, staring at him for a while before asking in surprise, “You broke into the Innate Realm in such a short time; you should lack real combat experience. So why do I feel like you’ve been through countless battles? Insights from the brink of death are indeed valuable, but if you’re killed, all insights are meaningless.”

Shi Yan merely grinned and said nothing more.

“Hm?” Shi Jian suddenly uttered a soft exclamation, his expression a little odd as he peered into the distance toward the Mo family’s tower.

Two hundred meters away, on the Mo family’s pavilion—

A man whispered something into Mo Tuo’s ear, and his face immediately turned ashen. Without hesitation, he descended from the Mo family’s tower and strode directly toward the Shi family’s side.

On the Beiming family’s tower, Beiming Shang soon received the news as well. After a moment’s thought, he too descended and made his way toward the Shi family’s pavilion.

In the arena, the martial artists were still locked in fierce combat. The many onlookers watched Beiming Shang and Mo Tuo head together toward the Shi family’s pavilion, all wearing puzzled expressions, unsure what business brought the two together at this juncture.

Before long, the grim-faced Mo Tuo arrived first at the Shi family’s pavilion.

Stepping onto the pavilion, Mo Tuo immediately erupted, shouting, “Shi Jian! Where is Mu Xun?!”

Shi Jian’s face darkened as he snorted, “How should I know where Mu Xun is? Mo Tuo, aren’t you asking the wrong person?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!” Mo Tuo’s expression was venomous. “Mu Xun is an outsider; if your Shi family hadn’t secretly aided him, how could my Mo family fail to find him? Mu Xun is most likely hiding in one of your Shi family’s estates. You’d best hand him over!”

“Mo Tuo, matters of the Shi family are none of your concern!” Shi Jian retorted without the slightest politeness.

“My son Chao Ge vanished without a trace last night and has yet to return. Mu Xun must be responsible! Anyone else, I could let go, but if Mu Xun dares lay a hand on Chao Ge, I’ll make him pay dearly!” Mo Tuo roared.

At these words, those present on the Shi family’s pavilion all wore strange expressions, finally understanding the cause of Mo Tuo’s fury.

Mo Chao Ge was the most formidable figure of the Mo family’s second generation—not only outstanding in cultivation, but also exceedingly clever. Many of the Mo family’s schemes and plots were of his devising.

Even the Shi family had suffered losses at his hands.

Mo Chao Ge was arguably the most capable of the Mo family’s second generation. Now that such a critical figure had also disappeared, Mo Tuo could no longer sit idle and finally came to make his move.

Mu Xun is truly ruthless! Shi Yan’s heart skipped a beat, knowing that Mo Tuo would not let this pass easily.

“I have no idea where Mu Xun is. You’ll have to find him yourself—we don’t welcome you here,” Shi Jian replied coolly, delighted inwardly but showing no sign of yielding.

“Patriarch of the Beiming family!” Shi Tie called out quietly.

At this moment, Beiming Shang slowly ascended the Shi family’s pavilion, frowning as he approached Shi Jian and Mo Tuo. He gave the two a glance, then said mildly, “The tournament is jointly hosted by our five great families. Until it ends, I hope everyone can remain calm and not cause a scene during the tournament—lest our Merchant Alliance become a laughingstock.”

“My son Chao Ge is missing!” Mo Tuo barked.

Beiming Shang’s expression flickered with surprise. After a moment’s pause, he turned to Shi Jian and said, “Patriarch Shi, Mu Xun is, after all, an outsider. While we should receive him well in our Merchant Alliance, there must be limits. His abduction of Mo Chao Ge was indeed excessive. I hope you can show some restraint and not take things too far.”

A cold smile played at the corner of Shi Yan’s lips as his eyes glinted icily at Beiming Shang. He knew that Mo family and Beiming Shang had formed a secret pact, intent on uncovering the secrets of the ‘Heaven’s Gate’—thus Beiming Shang’s words were meant to support the Mo family.

Beiming Shang appeared to be mediating, but in truth, he was covertly siding with the Mo family.

“As I said, I simply do not know where Mu Xun is!” Shi Jian’s resolve was unyielding; he answered with a stony face, denying all knowledge.

Beiming Shang’s brows furrowed slightly. He nodded but said no more, only remarking, “In any case, I hope you two behave yourselves during the tournament and don’t bring disgrace to our Merchant Alliance. The rest is up to you.”

“Shi Jian, if you don’t send someone to inform me of Mu Xun’s whereabouts tonight, don’t blame my Mo family for what happens at tomorrow’s tournament! Hmph!” With that, Mo Tuo’s sinister gaze swept over Shi Tian Ke, Shi Tian Yun, and the other outstanding scions of the Shi family’s third generation, as if to say, “Be careful of your grandsons’ lives.”

“Mo Tuo, are you threatening me?” Shi Jian’s face changed as he sneered, “If you dare make trouble at tomorrow’s tournament, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“Think what you like! If I don’t find Mu Xun tonight, just wait and see tomorrow.” Mo Tuo drew a deep breath and, saying no more, turned and descended the stairs.

“Patriarch Shi, I hope you will keep the bigger picture in mind,” Beiming Shang said mildly, shaking his head as he followed Mo Tuo downstairs.

Boom!

Shi Jian slammed his fist into the pavilion’s terrace, shattering the hard bluestone platform and sending a shudder through the entire tower.

All the Shi family members, young and old, on the pavilion felt his wrath.

“Outrageous!” Shi Jian growled, though whether he spoke of Mo Tuo or Beiming Shang was unclear.

Because of this episode, Shi Jian’s face remained dark all day. Even when he presented prizes to the victorious martial artists at the day’s end, his expression had not improved.

That night.

In a secret chamber, Han Feng stood with bowed head before Shi Jian, asking, “Patriarch, with Mo Tuo and Beiming Shang both pressing us, what should we do?”

“Pay them no mind,” Shi Jian replied, his face still grim.

“Patriarch, I could ignore Mo Tuo, but Beiming Shang…” Han Feng hesitated.

“Chi Xiao is still in the city. If Beiming Shang dares act rashly, I’ll swallow my pride and ask Chi Xiao to intervene. I refuse to believe Beiming Shang would really attack our Shi family over some petty Mo family affair,” Shi Jian snorted.

“I understand.”

...

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