Old Grudges Between Two Sects

Every gaze in the arena snapped toward the voice.

At the Langshan Prefecture seats, a young man sat beside a table with one leg crossed over the other, a dark, unsettling malice in his eyes.

Seeing everyone look his way, Lu Xiuwu leisurely uncrossed his legs, stood, and walked toward the Martial Practice Ground's platform.

Someone at the banquet recognized him, and his expression turned peculiar.

"Is that... Lu Xiuwu of the Soul-Rending Sect in Langshan Prefecture?"

"The Soul-Rending Sect? The sect affiliated with the Qianyuan Superior Sect?"

"Yes. His father is Lu Zhenwei, the Soul-Rending Sect Master. He's at Gathered Origin Peak."

A martial artist who had long disliked Lu Xiuwu added, "Lu Xiuwu doesn't have much of a reputation in Langshan Prefecture."

"Anyone who's sparred with him either had their meridians crippled or couldn't get out of bed for half a year." Disdain rang clear in his voice.

"He's used to throwing his weight around in Langshan Prefecture because his father's at Gathered Origin Peak. Does he think all of Yun Province has to give way to him?"

The murmurs were thick with undisguised contempt.

Lu Xiuwu seemed oblivious to them—or perhaps he simply did not care.

As he stepped onto the platform, he even spread his hands toward the people mocking him below, as though he relished their attention.

Whether they feared him or hated him, it was all the same to him. Both gave him pleasure.

Once on the platform, Lu Xiuwu looked Ye An up and down. At the sight of Ye An's slightly slumped shoulders and somewhat hurried breathing, a flicker of smugness crossed his mind.

"Chief Disciple Ye, I've heard so much about you."

Lu Xiuwu drew out his words with deliberate languor. "Me, I've never liked taking advantage of people."

"But with