Third Young Master! The Third Young Master Is Back!

Stepping onto the final stair, Xiao Yu stood calmly on the arena, facing the gazes gathering around him.

He looked calm on the surface, but inside, he was freaking out.

He hadn't realized just how many people there were until he got up here.

That was right.

It wasn't Jia Lie Ao that had him nervous. It was the first time he'd ever faced the gaze of so many people.

Xiao Yu had only planned to find his father and catch a bit of the excitement while he was at it.

But when he arrived at the square, he happened to hear people talking about the arena match.

Third Brother hadn't come back?

The Xiao Clan had already lost two matches?

A mere Jia Lie Ao dared to run his mouth right to their faces?

Xiao Yu couldn't take it anymore.

A Three-Star Dou Zhe, and you think you're all that?

The square.

The lively scene fell silent in an instant, utterly quiet.

One after another, gazes turned toward the spot where the voice had come from, then settled on the figure who had appeared on the arena.

"Is he from the Xiao Clan?"

"Who is that? I've never seen him!"

"Could he be Xiao Yan?"

Many people in the crowd wore puzzled expressions.

"Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan has come back from Jia Nan Academy!"

Suddenly, someone cried out.

Feeling everyone's gazes turn toward him, he excitedly explained that he had once fallen down and been helped up by the Third Young Master. He'd met him at close range and couldn't possibly mistake him.

The square erupted in an uproar.

"Eldest Young Master Xiao Yan is back! This is bad—Jia Lie Ao is in trouble!"

"Eldest Young Master Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Zhe four years ago. Now, four years later, he might even be a Dou Master, right?"

"It's over. The Xiao Clan managed to stall until Eldest Young Master Xiao Yan came back. The Jia Lie Clan is bound to lose now."

"..."

In the stands.

Everyone had also seen the figure on the arena.

"Clan Head?" Jia Lie Nu looked bewildered.

At that moment,

Jia Lie Bi was just as dumbfounded. He couldn't accept it and muttered, "Impossible. Xiao Yan absolutely can't come back yet. How could he have returned?"

"But Clan Head, isn't the person up there Xiao Yan?" Jia Lie Nu asked, confused.

Jia Lie Bi shook his head and rubbed his eyes, as if he suspected he was seeing things.

Yet he looked again and again. There really was another figure on the arena, besides his son, Jia Lie Ao.

"Third Young Master! The Third Young Master is back!"

A deafening cheer rang out from the Xiao Clan's section, as if it would drown out every other voice.

The three elders' faces brightened, and they broke into delighted smiles, their bodies trembling with excitement.

Among them, the Third Elder swept away his earlier gloom and shot Jia Lie Bi a taunting look, a mocking smile curling his lips.

Wasn't your young master Jia Lie Ao impressive? Didn't he think he was all that?

Come on!

Why not show off a little more?

Our Third Young Master broke through to Dou Zhe at just eleven, then went on to study at Jia Nan Academy.

Now he'd returned after completing his studies. To put it conservatively, even if he hadn't broken through to Dou Master, he was surely at least a Six- or Seven-Star Dou Zhe.

With Jia Nan Academy's strength, the Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills the Third Young Master had learned there would be more than enough to crush the Jia Lie Clan.

However,

Unlike the three elders, who were relieved,

Xiao Zhan sat in his seat, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Is that Yan'er?" he wondered.

The Great Elder noticed Xiao Zhan's expression and said, "Clan Head, the Third Young Master is back. We're sure to win this match. Why aren't you happy at all?"

Hearing this, the Second Elder and Third Elder also looked over.

Xiao Zhan hesitated, then said, "If Yan'er were coming back, he should have returned earlier. Why come at a time like this? And why isn't that girl Xiao Yu with him?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the three elders also realized something was off.

That was right!

Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan were both studying at Jia Nan Academy. They should have come home together. It made no sense that she wasn't here...

The three of them craned their necks, searching the crowd around the arena.

Meanwhile, those who had been gloating over the Xiao Clan turned their gazes back toward Jia Lie Bi.

Aoba Pa in particular sat beside Jia Lie Bi and mocked him. "Clan Head Jia Lie, the marketplace you wagered this time is in an excellent location. It could increase your clan's annual income by at least ten percent. Looks like you're about to lose it."

Jia Lie Bi retorted, "The match hasn't even started. Isn't that a little premature?"

"Heh..." Aoba Pa chuckled, his eyes full of scorn. "Jia Lie Bi, I know exactly what kind of person your son is. Don't you know it yourself? Thinking he can challenge Xiao Yan? Don't make me laugh. Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Zhe at eleven. Your son is probably still at the third stage of Dou Qi, isn't he?"

Jia Lie Bi let out a heavy breath and stopped paying attention to Aoba Pa. His gaze on the arena suddenly grew solemn.

He'd guarded against everything and pulled out every trick, yet Xiao Yan had still made it back in time!

On the arena,

Jia Lie Ao suddenly saw a young man step up. He froze, then recognized the other's face, and his heart lurched.

Xiao Yan?!

How could he have shown up? His father had clearly promised that Xiao Yan wouldn't appear in Wutan City before the arena match ended!

"Gulp..." Jia Lie Ao immediately lost his nerve.

He had the advantage in age, but his talent was lacking.

The arena match was about strength!

A Three-Star Dou Zhe facing a genius who'd returned from training at Jia Nan Academy...

He didn't stand much of a chance!

"Hey, are you going to fight or not? If you are, hurry up and make your move!" Xiao Yu urged Jia Lie Ao, who still hadn't reacted.

His wife and child were waiting at home for him to return.

Jia Lie Ao took several deep breaths and said, "What's the rush? I've already fought two matches. What's wrong with taking a moment to recover?"

His left thumb touched the ring on his index finger.

It was a Storage Ring.

Inside the ring was a Blood Burst Pill, which could temporarily boost his Dou Qi after he took it.

The downside was that he would lose all his Dou Qi for the following week and be unable to move, forced to lie in bed.

"No! No need to rush. Even if Xiao Yan's powerful, he can't take me out in one move. I'll test his strength first."

Jia Lie Ao thought it over and moved his thumb away from the ring.

He took up a fighting stance and struck a ready pose.

Xiao Yu still stood motionless, his hands resting at his sides.

Just as Jia Lie Ao was about to charge at his opponent, gathering all his strength, the crowd around the arena erupted in an uproar.

"Xiao Yan! Why is there another Xiao Yan here?"

Jia Lie Ao abruptly halted mid-charge and turned toward the voice.

The crowd gathered around the arena parted, and several travel-worn figures strode toward it.

At the front was a resolute-looking young man.

He was tall and straight-backed, his eyes unwavering. As he walked, he radiated an intangible force that made people want to retreat.

Like a razor-sharp blade.

His face looked very much like the young man on the arena.

The only difference between them was the aura they gave off.

"You're not Xiao Yan?" Jia Lie Ao immediately realized as his thoughts raced.

At the same time,

In the stands, everyone saw the figures coming through the crowd and rose to their feet.