One More Polite Than The Last

"Murong…" Xu Yan looked at Murong Hai, thinking of Murong Yue, who wanted to capture Su Jiuer. He held Su Jiuer tightly in his arms and asked, "Do you know Murong Yue?"

He noticed a slight resemblance between Murong Hai and Murong Yue, and since they both shared the surname Murong, he asked.

When Murong Hai heard Xu Yan's words, his heart tightened. He said, "Murong Yue is my daughter. Did she offend Senior Xu in some way?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Su Jiuer in Xu Yan's arms, feeling uncertain.

When Murong Yue returned and had the Murong Family refuse the Demon Tiger Clan's commission, the Murong Family already knew that Xu Yan was the reclusive expert behind the Tianren Sect.

He hadn't come up to greet them earlier because of the matter with Su Jiuer. Now, he regretted it deeply, wishing he hadn't accepted the Demon Tiger Clan's commission to capture Su Jiuer, which had led to a small unpleasantness with Xu Yan.

Murong Yue hadn't come this time because she was at home comprehending the Dao Intent she felt while playing chess with Xu Yan.

Otherwise, if she were here, she wouldn't be trembling with fear when facing Xu Yan.

Xu Yan's gaze instantly turned cold, and the smile on his face vanished. He said, "Murong Yue has targeted my Pet more than once. If you like foxes, you can just buy one. Why resort to stealing other people's pets?"

He needed to make this clear to prevent Murong Yue from trying to snatch Su Jiuer again in the future.

Moreover, Qin Tian and Qin Yudie were present, which could somewhat bolster his presence.

Murong Hai's voice trembled as he said, "Senior Xu, that was just a misunderstanding. The Murong Family would never dare to covet Senior Xu's Pet."

He couldn't even sense the Spiritual Power Cultivation of the person before him, clearly an unfathomable, true reclusive expert.

If they angered a reclusive expert, the entire Murong Family would be doomed.

Seeing Murong Hai's sincere apology, Xu Yan's tone softened considerably. "It's good if that's truly the case. Stealing someone else's Pet is wrong. After all, to many people, Pets are family, understand?"

He found the feeling of lecturing a Cultivator incredibly satisfying, and this Cultivator didn't even argue back.

He wondered, in Tianren City, which Mortal could reprimand a Cultivator? He was second to none!

Seeing that Xu Yan didn't seem to intend to pursue the matter further, Murong Hai's anxious heart began to relax. "Senior Xu's reprimand is absolutely correct. Murong Hai will engrave Senior Xu's words in his heart."

He no longer dared to casually accept commissions from the Demon Race. For a Spirit Refining Grade Treasure, which he didn't even end up obtaining, he had almost brought the Murong Family to eternal damnation. The price was too high.

Xu Yan nodded. "It's good that you've recognized your mistake. Correcting your mistakes is the greatest good."

Only now had the matter of Murong Yue targeting Su Jiuer been completely resolved, and the knot in his heart had also untangled.

Qiang Di's eyes flickered. Seeing the leaders of the major powers from the Southern Domain showing such respect to Xu Yan, he immediately understood that Xu Yan must be that reclusive expert from Tianren City.

He just didn't know how high this reclusive expert's cultivation was. With a speculative heart, he stepped forward and bowed to Xu Yan. "Senior Xu, I am Qiang Di, a disciple of the Dao Palace."

He couldn't discern Xu Yan's true Cultivation, so it was difficult to estimate what realm of Cultivator Xu Yan was, but he was definitely stronger than these so-called big figures of the Southern Domain.

Perhaps, he thought, he was about the same as the important figures in their Dao Palace.

"A disciple of the Dao Palace?" Xu Yan had never heard of the Dao Palace, but as soon as he heard the word "disciple," he knew Qiang Di was just a minor Cultivator, perhaps not even fully trained.

Therefore, seeing that the other party had actively come to greet him, he encouraged him, "It's alright, work hard, and you'll definitely be able to shed the identity of a disciple."

Qiang Di was stunned by Xu Yan's words, actually telling him to shed his disciple identity soon.

How terrifying!

He realized that Xu Yan before him was even stronger than he had imagined, treating the Dao Palace as nothing and considering the identity of a Dao Palace disciple not an honor but a burden that lowered his status.

Qiang Di took a deep breath and said loudly, "Thank you, Senior Xu, for your words of wisdom. Qiang Di will definitely cultivate diligently."

Behind him, Yun Yao and the other Dao Palace disciples saw how respectful Qiang Di was to this person and realized they had indeed encountered an extraordinary reclusive expert.

Several Dao Palace disciples bowed in unison and respectfully said, "We, disciples of the Dao Palace, greet Senior Xu!"

Xu Yan was taken aback by the display of Yun Yao and the others. Why was each bow deeper than the last?

He quickly said, "No need to bow, you are all disciples of the Dao Palace… let's all work hard together."

These Cultivators were all more polite to him than the last, making him a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, the ones surrounding them outside were all disciples from various factions. Those Mortals who knew Xu Yan couldn't get in, otherwise, they would have been utterly shocked to see Xu Yan treated with such respect by a group of Cultivators.

Yun Yao and the others straightened up and said, "We will definitely engrave Senior's words in our hearts."

They felt they were very lucky. Coming to the Southern Domain for training, they had encountered a reclusive expert, and an unknown reclusive expert had even encouraged them.

This was a great fortune, making them believe they were people of great luck and filling them with confidence for their future Cultivation.

After greeting the crowd, Xu Yan's gaze returned to the chess game within the formation.

He hesitated for a moment and then asked Qin Tian and the others, "Old Sir Qin Tian and esteemed friends, may I go and play a game of chess?"

His intention was to ask if he, a Mortal, could participate in this matter.

However, Qin Tian and the others clearly misunderstood his meaning, thinking that Xu Yan couldn't stand watching them fail to break the formation any longer and was preparing to take action himself.

"Senior Xu, please!"

Qin Tian and the other leaders of the major powers in the Southern Domain were all excited. They could finally witness the reclusive expert Xu Yan in action.

Some among them who were slightly uncertain about Xu Yan being a reclusive expert became even more expectant. Facing the formation left by the Chess Sage, they could see whether Xu Yan was truly a reclusive expert.

Xu Yan walked up to the semi-real, semi-illusory chessboard and looked at the formation's avatar opposite him, finding it somewhat peculiar.

However, his greater interest was still in the chess game itself.

Since those Cultivators were no match for the formation's avatar, the avatar must be extremely powerful, which also sparked his anticipation.

He said impatiently, "You go first."

Qin Tian and the others were full of admiration for Xu Yan, who actually let the formation avatar make the first move.

This was the confidence and assurance of a master!

The formation avatar understood Xu Yan's meaning and immediately, without politeness, made a move.

It wouldn't be modest; it just had to follow the rules.

Xu Yan, not to be outdone, began to play.

However, after fifteen moves, the outcome was decided.