The Shui Clan in Peril, a Game-Changer Appears

"Gentlemen, the Tian Clan and the Shui Clan have been on friendly terms for generations. I, Tian, have long admired Miss Bing'er, and I hope you all will grant me this favor!"

A man in blue sitting in the center of the waiting area suddenly spoke up.

Although his words were polite, his tone was incredibly arrogant.

Tuoba Xuan glanced at the speaker from the corner of his eye.

Judging by his aura and his words, this was undoubtedly Tian Bingyun.

"That is true. Young Master Bingyun is a genius who broke through to become a Soul Ancestor at eighteen. Only a dragon among men like Young Master Bingyun is worthy of Miss Bing'er."

Someone immediately chimed in to flatter him—a plump man with a wealthy air.

The others followed suit, echoing the sentiment.

In the vast side hall, there wasn't even a single word of dissent.

Tuoba Xuan remained silent.

He had already more or less guessed the true purpose of this competition.

He also realized he had nearly been used as a pawn.

Tuoba Xuan did not believe for a second that Shui Bing'er was unaware of the true nature of this event.

While called a competition, it was actually a variation of a martial arts tournament for marriage.

In other words, Shui Bing'er had been asking him for help earlier.

Perhaps the winner of this contest had already been decided behind closed doors.

It was even possible that the entire competition was something the Shui Clan had been forced into.

Furthermore, the presence of people from Spirit Hall was highly irregular.

The Shui Clan was a staunch member of the Tiandou Faction.

How could they possibly be involved with Spirit Hall?

It was likely that the Tian Clan had climbed the high branch of Spirit Hall.

They wanted to swallow up Skywater Academy in one fell swoop.

That was why they had forced the Shui Clan to hold this competition.

"This friend here, you look a bit unfamiliar. You must not be from Skywater City, right?"

Although Tuoba Xuan had looked away, Tian Bingyun still noticed him.

This was because Tuoba Xuan's appearance was simply too outstanding.

Compared to someone like Tian Bingyun, who was withered from spending too much time in brothels, he was infinitely superior.

This gave Tian Bingyun a sense of crisis.

Moreover, Tian Bingyun sensed a faint, commanding aura emanating from Tuoba Xuan.

His face darkened immediately.

"I come from the south."

Tuoba Xuan took a sip of the tea beside him and said indifferently.

Tian Bingyun's eyes were as cold as a sharp, icy blade.

"Friend, you look quite young. I presume you also came here for Miss Bing'er."

Tuoba Xuan swirled his teacup, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth:

"Indeed. Am I not allowed to come? This is Skywater City, after all."

"You..."

Hearing this, Tian Bingyun stood up abruptly.

A powerful aura erupted instantly, sending the surrounding chairs flying.

In the distance, Shui Yue'er frowned. This was the City Lord's Mansion of her Skywater City.

Tian Bingyun was arrogant enough to attempt to hurt someone here.

"Tian Bingyun, don't be so presumptuous. This isn't your Tian Clan," Shui Yue'er rebuked angrily.

"Hmph!"

Tian Bingyun gave a cold laugh, retracted his aura, and sat back down.

"Fine. You are Bing'er's sister, so I will give you this face. But you should be clear: no one can stop me from taking your sister and the entire Shui Clan. Don't count on some greenhorn to help you."

"You!"

Shui Yue'er clenched her hands.

Tian Bingyun was truly too arrogant, yet she found herself unable to refute him.

Originally, the Shui Clan and the Tian Clan had been evenly matched.

However, a year ago, the Tian Clan climbed into the good graces of Spirit Hall, and their strength instantly surpassed that of the Shui Clan.

Tian Bingyun had long coveted her sister.

With the help of Spirit Hall, he became even more unscrupulous.

Whenever someone pursued Shui Bing'er, they would receive a warning or even a brutal beating the very next day.

The light cases involved broken bones, while the heavy ones resulted in damaged Soul Power.

"Oh?"

Tuoba Xuan drained the tea in his cup in one gulp.

"Your words are perhaps a bit too full, Excellency. With your strength, I fear you cannot yet lay claim to the title of champion."

"Once we reach the stage, you will know whether I have the strength to say such things!"

Tian Bingyun flicked his sleeves, a cold sneer already curling his lips.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A series of deafening bell tolls rang out.

"Everyone, prepare to head to the competition arena."

Shui Yue'er said through gritted teeth.

"Hmph, kid, you had better pray you don't run into me."

Tian Bingyun stood up and threw a harsh threat at Tuoba Xuan.

Tuoba Xuan did not even spare Tian Bingyun a second glance.

He simply followed Shui Yue'er's guidance and walked toward the competition arena.

The competition venue was right next to the side hall; it was a formal Soul Fighting Arena.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered around the Soul Fighting Arena, but the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

It seemed that the prominent figures of Skywater City and Tianbing City had all arrived, and there was no shortage of people with special status.

For instance, the blonde girl who was currently observing Tuoba Xuan with curiosity.

The girl possessed the most noble temperament.

Many people did not even dare to let their gazes linger on her, fearing they might offend her.

Sitting beside the girl was an old man wearing a white uniform, who was staring intently at the contestants entering one after another.

"Deacon Di, who is that person?"

The girl spoke softly, naturally referring to Tuoba Xuan.

The old man raised an eyebrow.

"Holy Maiden, this subordinate does not recognize him either. He must be a nobody."

The girl nodded, though she did not agree with the old man's words.

She simply committed Tuoba Xuan's appearance to memory.

These two were the representatives of Spirit Hall: the Holy Maiden Hu Liena and the Soul Douluo Deacon Lor Diarra.

"Everyone, since everyone has arrived, I announce that this competition will begin immediately."

A pale-faced noblewoman walked onto the stage and spoke with a sense of helplessness.

She was the mother of Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, and also the Dean of Skywater Academy, Shui Qing'er.

If not for being forced into a corner, how could she be willing to sacrifice her own daughter?

But over the past half-year, the Shui Clan's assets had been more than half swallowed up by the Tian Clan in league with Spirit Hall.

If this continued, her Shui Clan would be finished.

"City Lord Shen, it seems Miss Shui Bing'er is prepared, so let us begin."

A man beside Lor Diarra spoke mockingly, his two small eyes fixed intently on Shui Qing'er's thighs.

He was the City Lord of Tianbing City and the patriarch of the Tian Clan, Tian Henglei.

Like Shui Qing'er, he was at the Soul Douluo level.

As the competition began, people took the stage one after another to engage in soul battles.

However, most of them were just going through the motions.

They would throw out a few soul skills and then choose to concede, as if everything had been agreed upon beforehand.

Shui Qing'er gritted her teeth tightly, yet she felt utterly helpless.

"Young Lady, someone else has conceded again. These must all be people sent by the Tian Clan; we cannot accept this!"

Deep within the City Lord's Mansion.

Shui Bing'er was sitting quietly in front of her vanity.

She listened to the indignant voice of the maid beside her.

Shui Bing'er shook her head slowly, as if resigned to her fate.

"It's useless. The Tian Clan's influence is too great now; I fear the matter is already set in stone."

"But Young Lady, it is you who will be sacrificed! What about that person you mentioned before? Didn't he say he would come?"

The maid was on the verge of tears.

Shui Bing'er pictured Tuoba Xuan in her mind and let out a soft laugh.

"I have already sent Yue'er to stop him. Sacrificing me is better than sacrificing the entire family right now."

In her heart, Shui Bing'er hoped that Tuoba Xuan would come.

At this point, there was no way to break the deadlock.

Shui Bing'er did not know what kind of humiliation and training she would be subjected to after marrying Tian Bingyun.

After her, it would likely be her mother and her younger sister.

They would likewise be abducted into the Tian Clan and turned into playthings.

Shui Bing'er had even prepared herself to perish together with them.

In this moment of utter powerlessness.

How could Shui Bing'er not long for the person in her heart to appear before her now and pull her out of the abyss?

But at the same time, Shui Bing'er did not want Tuoba Xuan to come.

The City Lord's Mansion was currently surrounded by enemies on all sides, and she feared that Tuoba Xuan would be harmed if he arrived.

"Perhaps, he was just a passerby..."

Shui Bing'er parted her red lips slightly...