Beside the banquet was a courtyard.
Several people sat within.
"That kid is the one the eldest prince wants dealt with?"
"That should be him."
"Hmm, send someone to test his strength later. Ideally, force him to kill someone on the spot and make enemies of the Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy."
"All right, I'll make the arrangements."
"Rest assured, once this is done, the eldest prince won't treat you poorly."
Hearing this, the man was overjoyed. He bowed respectfully, then left to make arrangements.
At the banquet, Huo Qingming, Lin Ce, and Xin Hongyi had already taken seats near the front.
Zhong Wu and Huang Yuan did not join them.
Looking over, Ye Qiubai realized it seemed to be dinnertime.
Back at the Cottage.
At this hour, he would usually have finished cooking and be eating with his master and junior sister...
It really felt a little strange not to eat.
With that thought, Ye Qiubai stepped forward.
He sat down somewhere relatively near the back.
Just as he was about to eat, someone walked over.
"Hey, you're from the Southern Region Hidden Dao Academy, right?"
Ye Qiubai did not turn around.
When the burly man approached Ye Qiubai, Huang Yuan and Zhong Wu also looked over.
"That man seems to be from the Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy."
"But he doesn't seem to be participating in the exchange."
"Let's hope Ye Qiubai doesn't act too impulsively."
But the moment those words fell.
Their expressions froze.
The burly man had just reached out to grab Ye Qiubai's shoulder when a burst of Ye Qiubai's presence sent him staggering back!
Ye Qiubai did not turn around and continued eating.
Around him, however, streams of Sword Qi had already formed into longswords and slashed toward the burly man!
The man's expression changed drastically. Every stream of Sword Qi made him feel the threat of death!
He hurriedly raised both hands, and shields appeared before him!
Then he took a talisman from his storage ring, wrapping himself in layer upon layer of protection!
But before Ye Qiubai's Sword Qi, those shields were like thin paper!
They were pierced and torn apart as easily as rotten wood!
That layer of talisman protection was likewise cleaved straight through!
Pfft!
The Sword Qi plunged straight into the man's chest, and blood sprayed out!
The people nearby could not help but start in shock at the sight.
His attack was far too decisive and ruthless...
Ye Qiubai, however, thought nothing of it. After all, he had already seated himself back here, yet someone had still come to provoke him. He did not even need to think to know someone had put the man up to it.
Since someone had put him up to it, there was naturally no reason to hold back!
"That's the participant from the Southern Region Hidden Dao Academy, right?"
"That's right. He seems fairly strong."
"Only fairly strong. Against Senior Brother Sword Master and the others, he probably wouldn't stand a chance."
"Isn't that obvious? What sort of figure is Senior Brother Sword Master? He's publicly acknowledged as the Northern Region's foremost sword Dao talent!"
Ye Qiubai heard these words as well.
But he did not particularly care.
Whether that man was the foremost sword Dao talent would become clear once they fought.
"Why did you strike so hard? Surely his offense didn't warrant that?"
Sure enough.
That man just now had only been a probe.
Ye Qiubai sneered. He had no feud or grudge with the Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy.
Yet they were targeting him like this, leaving only one possibility.
Someone was manipulating all of this, and that person had to be from the Sunset Dynasty.
In the Northern Region, only the Sunset Dynasty would target Ye Qiubai like this.
And only the Sunset Dynasty would want his life!
Someone recognized the man.
"That's Qiu Yu from the Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy. Although he isn't participating in the academy exchange, he's a renowned figure in the Martial Hall!"
"Qiu Yu could defeat someone in the half-step Qi Sea realm while he was in the middle stage of the Violet Palace realm. Now that he's broken through to the peak of the Violet Palace realm, who knows how strong he's become!"
Meanwhile, hearing Qiu Yu's words, Ye Qiubai scoffed. "Since you've become someone else's dog, you should be prepared to lay down your life at any moment."
A flash of surprise crossed Qiu Yu's eyes, but his expression remained grave as he said, "A dog? Whatever the case, he's a disciple of our Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy. Aren't you afraid of provoking everyone's anger by doing this?"
Ye Qiubai wiped his mouth. "Finished?"
Qiu Yu froze.
Ye Qiubai took out his wooden sword and turned to Qiu Yu, his face cold. "Since you're done spouting nonsense, let's fight. I imagine your master can't wait either?"
Qiu Yu's expression turned vicious. With refined iron gauntlets covering both fists, he suddenly smashed them toward Ye Qiubai!
Ye Qiubai watched calmly. With a flick of his longsword, streams of Sword Qi shot toward Qiu Yu as though they had taken solid form!
Qiu Yu roared, punching out again and again!
He shattered the streams of Sword Qi.
At the same time, he was inwardly startled.
Although he had blocked those streams of Sword Qi, his fists were in excruciating pain!
Like rot clinging to bone, the Sword Qi invaded his marrow through Qiu Yu's fists!
It felt as though it were destroying his body from within!
Seeing his Sword Qi blocked, Ye Qiubai likewise advanced to meet him, slashing out with his longsword!
Black Sword Qi covered the wooden blade!
Fists and sword collided!
A metallic clang rang out.
But unlike the calm on Ye Qiubai's face.
To Qiu Yu's horror, the refined iron gauntlets on his hands shattered outright!
Countless lines of blood burst from his hands as well!
With a scream, he was sent flying backward!
Everyone nearby looked shocked.
"How is that possible? Qiu Yu couldn't even withstand a single strike from him?"
"That southern barbarian is so strong? Judging by his presence alone, he seems to be only in the middle stage of the Violet Palace realm!"
"Perhaps we've all underestimated the Southern Region..."
In the shadows, someone watched this scene and smiled, their objective achieved.
Ye Qiubai looked around and said coldly, "Does anyone else wish to fight?"
Seeing that no one answered.
Ye Qiubai raised his wooden sword and walked toward the front of the tables and chairs.
Huang Yuan frowned. "It seems he wants to draw out whoever's behind this, but this approach is far too conspicuous!"
Zhong Wu watched Ye Qiubai thoughtfully.
Ye Qiubai walked forward, step by step.
With every step.
Sword Qi sprang forth!
He took another step!
Sword Qi soared into the sky!
Black and white Sword Qi continuously swirled around Ye Qiubai!
His imposing presence was terrifying!
As though he had touched the divine!
Ye Qiubai stopped before the sixth seat and coldly regarded the man drinking there. "Care to fight?"
Ye Qiubai was not acting without a target. This man had kept his gaze fixed on him from the start.
Likewise, Ye Qiubai no longer wanted to keep a low profile.
He wanted the Sunset Dynasty to understand that these petty tricks were of little use against him.
If anyone refused to accept it.
He would cut them down with one stroke!
The sword Dao should know no retreat!
The drinking man raised his head, looked at Ye Qiubai, and chuckled. "Oh? Why should I fight you?"
Ye Qiubai raised an eyebrow. "Then you think I'm unworthy?"
"So what if I do?"
"Does merely defeating Qiu Yu make you think you can challenge every prodigy in our Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy?"
Boom!
A surge of Sword Qi shot into the sky!
Black demonic Qi shrouded the Sword Qi!
That Sword Qi swept toward the man, and his gaze grew grave.
This presence already posed a threat to him!
It was nothing like the might someone in the middle stage of the Violet Palace realm could unleash!
"Am I worthy now?"