Nan Xunran raised a hand and then gave a gentle wave. With this seemingly simple action, the pressure dissipated.
The instant the pressure vanished, Nanyang only felt the strength in his entire body instantly drained away. Having struggled bitterly just moments before, he could no longer maintain a standing posture at this moment, collapsing onto the ground like a pile of mud.
He gasped heavily for air, every breath appearing so difficult, and his face was filled with fatigue and panic.
Right at this moment, Jiang Ruxi, who had been quietly standing behind Nan Xunran, made a move.
She was seen gracefully lifting that white-as-jade arm and giving a gentle wave, and a carved, exquisite, and luxuriously extraordinary profound seat appeared out of thin air.
Subsequently, Jiang Ruxi turned slightly, looked toward Nan Xunran, and softly called out, "Master."
Nan Xunran nodded slightly, and then naturally seated himself upon that luxurious profound seat.
Immediately following, Nan Xunran's fingers moved, and a crisp finger-snap echoed in the air.
In a brief moment, several figures stepped out from the void like ghosts. Their footsteps were steady and powerful, and every step that fell seemed to carry the weight of a thousand jun.
After these few people appeared, they walked straight toward Nan Xunran, then knelt on one knee in unison toward Nan Xunran, and afterwards one hand made a fist, propping against the ground, their expressions respectful and solemn as they gave a collective greeting, saying, "Master."
The gazes of the crowd involuntarily focused on these few people.
Around their waists, each of them hung a dark red waist plaque, and that waist plaque, under the illumination of the light, faintly emitted a mysterious and unique aura.
The expressions of the crowd were startled, for they never would have thought that they could see the legendary Shadow Night at this time and place.
Yet, despite their hearts being filled with shock and astonishment, they only dared to ponder these things secretly in their hearts, not daring at all to voice these thoughts aloud.
Shadow Night was a group composed of the top seven elites from the Shadow Hall's kill-rankings, and every single one of them possessed peerless strength and innate talent.
It was a faction belonging exclusively to the Nan Clan's Divine Child, and the sole purpose of its existence was to guard Nan Xunran.
They were named in sequence as Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid.
As for the Shadow Hall, it was one of the many branch halls of the Nan Clan. Its disciples constantly hid within the void, frequently executing secret missions and assassination operations. They were a sharp blade hidden in the darkness, absolutely rational and absolutely obedient.
Nan Xunran slightly raised a hand, signaling the few members of Shadow Night to rise.
The group responded in unison, "Yes, Master." Then they neatly stood up, standing with hands hanging down and respectful expressions.
"Dubhe, bring him over."
Dubhe accepted the order, his figure flashed, and in an instant he appeared beside Nanyang, hoisting him up in one grab like an old eagle catching a chick, bringing him to the feet of Nan Xunran.
Nanyang was in an utterly battered state at this moment, defiance and resentment revealing themselves in his eyes.
He struggled to raise his head, glaring furiously at Nan Xunran. "Nan Xunran, you only rely on the protection of the lineage to have your current status. What's so great about you!"
Listening to Nanyang's furious shout, Nan Xunran's face did not display the slightest ripple, merely silently calling out to the system light sphere in his mind: System, is this Child of Destiny a normal person? Knowing full well that I could crush him to death with a single finger, what on earth is he feeling so pleased with himself about?
The system's voice quickly sounded in Nan Xunran's mind: Sons of Heaven's Mandate are all like this. They feel that everyone in this world except themselves is trash.
Confident, looking down on everything, lacking any sense of inferiority; even now that you are crushing him, he still feels he can beat you.
Upon hearing this, Nan Xunran gave a faint smile.
This so-called Child of Destiny was truly laughable to the extreme.
His gaze once again landed upon Nanyang, that look akin to watching an ignorant clown performing vigorously.
At this moment, a burst of footsteps rang out as the Second Attendant hurried over after hearing the news that the Divine Child and his own grandson had come into conflict.
Upon seeing Nan Xunran, he said with a trembling voice, "Divine Child, why have you come to the branch household?"
Nan Xunran glanced sideways and slowly spoke, "Since returning from my experiential training, I have often heard that the order of the branch household has become chaotic. Coincidentally, the main household is currently planning to straighten out the branch household, so I came to take a look."
The gazes of the crowd followed his words, looking together at Nanyang on the ground.
In recent years, the branch household had always behaved honestly and dutifully; even when occasionally stirring up trouble, they would decidedly never let matters leak out of the branch household.
The single exception had been Nanyang's theft of the Wind-Thunder Beast, a matter that had already spread throughout the main household.
Precisely because of this, whenever they disciples of the branch household went out on experiential training following the main household disciples, they all suffered the contempt of the main household disciples because of this scandal of Nanyang's, to the extent that they could not lift their heads.
Nanyang tightly clenched his fists, his heart filled with vexation. The targeted nature of Nan Xunran's words could be called exceedingly obvious; how could he not hear it?
Listening to the discussions of the crowd, the corners of Nan Xunran's mouth lifted gently.
The system prompt tone sounded abruptly: "Ding-dong!"
[Child of Destiny Nanyang provokes public anger]
[Qi and fortune damaged]
[Heaven's Mandate Points reduced by 50 points]
[Remaining Heaven's Mandate Points 300/600 points]
[Host Kill Points increased by 630 points]
That small light sphere bounced up and down happily within his sea of consciousness, shouting excitedly, "Host, you're awesome!"
Nan Xunran slightly curved the corners of his lips.
Hearing Nan Xunran's words, the Second Attendant also turned his head to look at his own grandson, pondering secretly in his heart: This grandson of his had repeatedly stirred up trouble previously.
If not for Yang'er's strength truly being outstanding, coupled with himself as the Second Attendant doing his utmost to vouch for him behind the scenes, he probably would have been expelled from the Nan Clan long ago.
His brow knitted tightly; if Yang'er had truly offended Lord Divine Child, he as an attendant simply did not have the capability to protect him!
At this moment, feeling the resentful gazes of the crowd, Nanyang was consumed by a fury of rage. He turned his head to look at the Second Attendant and shouted loudly, "Hmph! Grandfather! Hurry up and teach that so-called Shadow Night a lesson for me! They actually dared to move against me!"
In Nanyang's heart, Nan Xunran was someone he could not move against, but surely he could still deal with these few guards?
"You!" Hearing this, the Second Attendant was instantly seized by a rush of anger to the heart, raised his hand, and without the slightest hesitation slapped Nanyang across the face.
Nanyang was first struck dazed in his mind by this sudden slap, and subsequently his face filled with shock and sheer disbelief, staring with wide eyes straight at his own grandfather. "You hit me?!"
At this moment, the veins on the Second Attendant's forehead throbbed violently. "Do you actually know the weight of the Divine Child?! If Lord Divine Child gets angry, our entire branch will be buried with him!
I know you're usually profligate, but I never expected you to be so devoid of a sense of proportion! If you are courting death, don't drag our branch down with you!"
Nanyang was completely stunned, babbling as he said, "Just a few guards, is it really that serious?"
The Second Attendant spoke in a stern voice, "Guards?! In the main household, apart from Lord Divine Child, who dares to touch Shadow Night? Even the Household Head does not have the authority to dispose of Shadow Night!"
Subsequently, the Second Attendant hurriedly faced the Divine Child, speaking respectfully and with apprehension, "I ask Lord Divine Child to forgive me; it is I who failed to manage Yang'er properly."