The commotion at the martial arts arena has finally subsided.
The Second Elder helped the Seventh Elder out of the arena, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. The Seventh Elder was even more disheveled, his clothes covered in dust, and his right hand was still trembling slightly.
A Titled Douluo of the prestigious Clear Sky Sect was first defeated by a little girl with a baseball bat, and then pinned to the ground by a bespectacled man. If this were to reach the sect, it would probably make the other elders laugh for a whole year.
Before the Second Elder could leave with his men, Lin Yuan greeted him with a smile.
"Elders, please don't rush off. Aren't there some scores we haven't settled yet?"
The Seventh Elder's expression turned even more unpleasant upon seeing Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan didn't mind and simply asked a staff member to bring him a bill.
"The damaged paving stones at the city gate, the compensation received by the officers on duty, the impact caused by your sect's disciple impersonating someone else, and the double reward promised by the Seventh Elder—all of these are listed here."
He turned the page and continued, "Oh, right, there's also the repair cost for the training ground."
The Seventh Elder couldn't help but roar, "You bastard! That huge crater in the training ground was clearly made by that bespectacled guy, why is it being blamed on me!"
Lin Yuan smiled and asked in return, "Seventh Elder, after the competition ended, who made the first move?"
"This old man..."
"If Mr. Yang hadn't intervened, who knows what trouble might have arisen from that hammer blow? Making you pay for a few pieces of flooring is already being lenient."
The Seventh Elder was rendered speechless.
The Second Elder took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.
"Enough, Seventh Brother! You were in the wrong today. Since you agreed to compensation, the Clear Sky Sect will not renege on its promise."
He took the bill, and when he saw the last string of numbers, his eye twitched involuntarily.
Nowadays, many facilities in Spirit City use technology from Interastral Peace Corporation, and the maintenance costs are naturally beyond what ordinary Gold Soul Coin can measure.
Fortunately, the Clear Sky Sect still has its resources, so although this money is painful, it's not something they can't afford.
Just as the Second Elder was about to have his disciple handle the compensation, a loud voice came from the side.
"Oh, aren't these the two elders of the Clear Sky Sect?"
Yu Yuanzhen approached with several members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Seeing the Seventh Elder's disheveled appearance, Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help but sneer.
" Tang Xiao has indeed trained a group of excellent disciples, who ran to Spirit City impersonating members of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and even dared to bully others at the city gate. What, is it that the Clear Sky Sect no longer dares to even use its own name?"
The Second Elder's face stiffened.
Normally, he wouldn't have allowed Yu Yuanzhen to ridicule him like that, but now that there were witnesses and physical evidence, those disciples had indeed impersonated members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
" Sect Master Yu, this matter was decided on without authorization by one of our disciples. I will certainly discipline him strictly when I return."
"That would be for the best." Yu Yuanzhen coldly. "I don't want to hear again one day that someone is using the name of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to do shady things outside."
After saying that, he left with his men.
The Seventh Elder stood to the side, his face turning pale and then red, yet he couldn't find a way to refute it.
Just then, Xing poked his head out from behind.
" Lin Yuan! Are you done calculating? Where's my bonus?"
Lin Yuan turned his head and saw that Xing had already taken out her Credits, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the bill.
Don't worry, you'll get your share.
"Hehe, that's good."
Xing nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the Seventh Elder.
"Grandpa, you promised double the prize money, you can't go back on your word!"
The Seventh Elder was so angry he almost vomited blood.
The Second Elder quickly instructed his disciple to transfer the Credits owed, lest this troublesome junior brother cause any more trouble.
With a crisp notification sound, Xing looked down at the balance in her card, and a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face.
"We've struck it rich! The elders of the Clear Sky Sect are all truly good people!"
The Seventh Elder's forehead veins throbbed as he listened.
However, Xing soon remembered something else.
"Wait! Old man, it seems you've forgotten something."
The Seventh Elder gritted his teeth and said, "What is it now!"
"Apologize! Didn't we agree before? You lost, so you have to apologize to that city defense team leader."
"What?! You want me to apologize to a Soul King?!"
The Seventh Elder's eyes widened immediately.
The Second Elder finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"Seventh Brother! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough today?!"
The Seventh Elder was taken aback by the shout and could only swallow back the rest of his words.
Not long after, the city gate duty team leader was invited over.
Facing this once high and mighty elder of the Clear Sky Sect, the duty team leader was still somewhat nervous. But when he thought that His Highness the Holy Son was right beside him, he straightened his back.
The Seventh Elder, his face dark, reluctantly cupped his hands in greeting.
"What happened before was due to the recklessness of my disciple. I apologize on his behalf."
The duty team leader quickly returned the greeting. "Seventh Elder, you're too kind. Just follow the rules when entering the city from now on."
Xing nodded in satisfaction from the side.
"Not bad, not bad. He can admit his mistakes and correct them. He's still a good old man!"
The Seventh Elder simply closed his eyes, pretending he hadn't heard anything.
After settling the compensation, the Second Elder did not rush to leave.
He looked at Lin Yuan, who was preparing to put away the bill, and said in a deep voice, "Young Master Holy Son Lin, there is one more thing I need to discuss with you privately."
Lin Yuan glanced at him and smiled, "Oh? Is there anything else, Second Elder?"
"This concerns the Clear Sky Sect, and I hope His Highness the Holy Son can provide an explanation."
Lin Yuan's smile remained unchanged.
"In that case, please, you two."
A moment later, the three arrived at a side room nearby.
The staff served tea, then closed the door and left.
The Second Elder did not sit down, nor did he touch the teacup on the table. Instead, he stared coldly at Lin Yuan.
" Holy Son Lin, my Clear Sky Sect admits defeat today. However, there is another matter I must settle with your Spirit Hall!"
Lin Yuan leaned back in his chair.
"Interesting. What other grudges does the Clear Sky Sect have with the Spirit Hall?"
The Second Elder snorted coldly.
"I've heard that the Spirit Hall has recently partnered with that Interastral Peace Corporation to secretly research Artificial Martial Soul, and what they're really researching is my Clear Sky Sect's Clear Sky Hammer!"
He stepped forward, his gaze sharpening.
" Lin Yuan, what exactly does your Spirit Hall want?"
The Seventh Elder was already seething with anger, and upon hearing the words "Clear Sky Hammer," he slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
" The Spirit Hall has gone too far! They forced my Clear Sky Sect to close its doors and go into seclusion back then, and now they dare to covet my sect's inherited Martial Soul! Do they really think the Clear Sky Sect has no one left to rely on?!"
Lin Yuan looked at the two of them, his smile growing even wider.
"Elders, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. Where did you hear this information that the Spirit Hall is researching the Clear Sky Hammer?"
"Rumors have been circulating throughout the city for some time now; are you trying to deny it?"
The Seventh Elder glared angrily.
Lin Yuan picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.
"Rumors? Then can I have someone spread the word tomorrow that the Clear Sky Sect is preparing to attack Spirit City?"
The Seventh Elder was speechless.
The Second Elder said in a deep voice, " Lin Yuan, stop playing dumb. The Clear Sky Hammer is Martial Soul through generations of our sect. If you are truly researching it in secret, you are openly provoking the Clear Sky Sect!"
Lin Yuan put down his teacup.
" The Clear Sky Hammer is your inherited Martial Soul, of course I know that."
He glanced at the Second Elder, then suddenly asked with a smile, "However, I do have a question. Does the mere appearance of a Clear Sky Hammer necessarily require the permission of your Clear Sky Sect?"
The Seventh Elder replied without hesitation, "Nonsense! The Clear Sky Hammer is a bloodline inheritance of the Tang Clan; how dare outsiders lay a finger on it!"
"What if one day, someone who doesn't have the surname Tang also possesses the Clear Sky Hammer?"
Lin Yuan looked at him with a smile.
"Are you going to take him back to the Clear Sky Sect and force him to change his surname to Tang?"
Just as the Seventh Elder was about to speak, the Second Elder beside him suddenly raised his head.
" Lin Yuan, what do you mean by that?"
Lin Yuan shrugged.
"It doesn't mean anything, I just think the Clear Sky Sect takes themselves way too seriously."
His tone remained relaxed.
"As for the company's research projects, that's their business. You can investigate them yourselves if you want. However, I remind you both, this is Spirit City, not the Clear Sky Sect."
The Second Elder's face grew increasingly grim.
He naturally understood the meaning behind Lin Yuan's words.
The Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect were sworn enemies, and Lin Yuan was the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall, so it was impossible for him to hand over the information just because of a few questions.
Moreover, given the strength that Spirit City has demonstrated so far, if the Clear Sky Sect were to actually make a move here, they would likely gain no advantage whatsoever.
But that doesn't mean he'll give up.
The Second Elder said coldly, "Young Master Holy Son Lin, I'm making my words clear here today as well."
"Although the Clear Sky Sect has been in seclusion for many years, it is not a pushover to be bullied. If you dare to make a fuss about our sect's inherited Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Sect will never let this go!"
The Seventh Elder also let out a cold snort.
"Excellent! The Clear Sky Sect must be held accountable for this matter!"
Lin Yuan, however, seemed to have heard something amusing and couldn't help but laugh.
"Elders, why are you in such a hurry?"
The Second Elder frowned. "What trick are you trying to pull now?"
Lin Yuan didn't answer, but instead picked up a card from the table and casually pushed it over.
"Since you're so eager to know if it's true or not, why don't you go to the Martial Soul Testing Center in Spirit City tomorrow and have a look?"
The second elder glanced down at it; it contained the address of the testing center.
"What's the meaning?"
"It's nothing special," Lin Yuan chuckled. "Someone's going there tomorrow to re-register his Martial Soul. I heard his new Martial Soul is quite interesting; you might find it interesting."
The Seventh Elder immediately roared, " Lin Yuan! What exactly are you trying to say? What kind of Martial Soul does that person possess?"
Lin Yuan didn't reply, but simply picked up his teacup again.
"We'll find out tomorrow, won't we?"