The procession rolled straight up to Xu Yi before coming to a stop. A burly, middle-aged man strode down from a golden carriage drawn by six white dragon steeds. His gaze flashed like lightning as it landed on Xu Yi. "So the Zhong family's brat has made it into the Life Wheel Realm, too. Heh, what a surprise."
Xu Yi deliberately kept his strength suppressed. In the Life Wheel Realm, once one blurred the Life Wheel, it was hard to tell whether someone was in the first or second stage. He was happy to let them assume whatever they liked. Looking straight at the middle-aged man, he said, "I thought Xue Ba was useless enough, but I never expected the Duke of Jing State to be even worse. At your age, you've only reached the first stage."
Just from the character "Jing" on the man's procession, Xu Yi knew that this was the current Duke of Jing State, Xue Li, Xue Ba's father. The Duke of Jing State and the Duke of Lu State had been at odds for years. Xue Li might well have had a hand in Zhong Lin's defeat.
"Impudent!" Xue Li was both shocked and furious. He had never imagined that Zhong Ruyi would have the nerve to act this way. Wasn't this Zhong brat notoriously timid? Why had he suddenly changed? Could a great leap in cultivation have made him bolder, too? Xue Ba's scheme against Zhong Ruyi had been a side move; he hadn't informed Xue Li.
Just as the two were about to come to blows, several sharp whip-cracks rang out. Then a shrill, eunuch-like voice called, "All court officials, present yourselves before the throne!" The palace gates swung open, and a stream of officials filed inside. Xue Li fixed Xu Yi with