Invincible Dad

Deng Shu and Bai Yuan looked bewildered.

Martial Ancestor Chang was a representative of the Martial Dao Association and the very embodiment of integrity.

You aren't dealing with those three brats or the person who attacked from the shadows, yet you're making us continue to kneel…

"Martial Ancestor Chang, what do you mean by this?" Deng Shu's expression grew increasingly ugly.

Xu Wandao and another Ninth Grade were secretly pleased.

Thank goodness.

They didn't have to be the ones offending people.

Knowing the background of Xu Yiyi's trio, they didn't believe that the person in the shadows could be Xu Lai.

This was without even mentioning that Xu Lai's true Boundary remained unknown. Just considering the Dragon Vein he constructed recently, his merit was so great that the Martial Dao Association would have suppressed the matter even if he had killed these youngsters in public, let alone just making disciples from the Sect Gates kneel.

A Dragon Vein.

That was the foundation of the country, the very root of the Martial Dao.

Xu Lai had created a Dragon Vein for the nation and its people—what incredible magnanimity and breadth of spirit!

How could such a being possibly engage in such sneaky, underhanded deeds!

"Esteemed seniors, please seek justice for us."

Bai Yuan nearly bit her lip as she pleaded with a choked voice, "Give us, and the Sect Gates we represent, an explanation!"

The lofty Holy Lands.

Yet here they were, humiliated and forced to kneel by some unknown assailant, losing all face. As the organizer of the tournament, the Martial Dao Association could not shirk its responsibility. It had to provide an explanation and hand over the culprit.

"Oh dear, my stomach is suddenly aching. I need to use the restroom. You all can find Elder Xu and Elder Yang," Martial Ancestor Chang said.

After speaking, he turned and vanished on the spot.

"...Elder Xu, have you seen the snow? I just remembered I left the laundry out at home. I'll see you in Chang'an next time."

Before Xu Wandao could react, the other Ninth Grade Martial Ancestor had also fled.

A voice transmission lingered in his ear, "Your ancestor is the esteemed Senior Xu Yanyang. Whether you're facing Senior Xu Lai or the One School, Three Sects, and Nine Pavilions, you have nothing to fear."

Xu Wandao was speechless.

He looked down at the thirteen disciples from the Sect Gates, their eyes filled with indignation and wrath. Then, he looked at the innocent expressions on the faces of Qian Xiao, Xu Yiyi, and Yun Jin, and a headache began to throb.

He knew that today's martial arts competition could not possibly continue, no matter what.

Bracing himself, he waved his hand dismissively. "Yiyi, you three should head back first."

"Mm," Xu Yiyi agreed. She hadn't planned on competing any further anyway. She turned her head, stuck her tongue out at Deng Shu and the others, and taunted, "NYEH NYEH NYEH."

"You—"

The already irate Sect Gate disciples were now absolutely fuming.

One young girl, overwhelmed with rage, rolled her eyes back and fainted on the spot.

"The next time we meet, there won't be anyone around to protect you," Yun Jin said with a radiant smile. "I look forward to it~"

The cheekiest of all was still Qian Xiao. The little guy put on an old, serious air and declared, "His Majesty is now retiring from court. My loyal subjects, you may rise."

"I'LL FUCKING...!!"

These youths, who were normally quite mature, finally lost control and began cursing aloud.

This was bullying. Xu Yiyi and her companions were taking it too far!

If it hadn't been for that bizarre pressure that appeared out of nowhere, they would have definitely beaten the trio's heads to a pulp!

"Martial Ancestor Xu, our Dao Sect's ancestor has recently come out of seclusion. If she were to learn of today's events..."

"Penglai Sword Pavilion won't let this go either!"

"..."

Xu Yiyi's group had already left. For Deng Shu, Bai Yuan, and the other Sect Gate disciples to remain kneeling would be idiotic. They could only stand up, feeling utterly aggrieved.

After venting their anger, they all departed with a flick of their sleeves.

Watching the backs of these young prodigies, Xu Wandao wanted to say something, but in the end, all that escaped him was a long sigh.

What can I do? I'm in despair, too!

There was nothing else for it; he had to hurry and tell Gao He everything that had happened.

When Gao He, who was at the Martial Dao Association enjoying tea and chatting with Tan Chang, received the news, his face instantly turned a ghastly green.

He could already picture it: the leaders of the One School, Three Sects, and Nine Pavilions confronting the Martial Dao Association to demand retribution.

And he would definitely be the scapegoat.

"So be it, so be it."

Gao He said bitterly, "Even if I am dismissed from my position as director of the association, I will guard Chang'an with the old man. For an expert of my generation, dying there is the ultimate destiny!"

Tan Chang, however, frowned, feeling that something about the situation was not quite right.

After a moment of thought, he suddenly said in an earnest tone, "Brother Gao, you're mistaken."

"Uh." Gao He was stunned. "Brother Tan, what do you mean?"

Tan Chang spoke in a deep voice, "Think about it carefully. Senior Xu Lai is a man of noble character. Would he stoop to something as despicable as ambushing juniors?"

"Impossible," Gao He replied without a moment's hesitation.

Though his knowledge of Xu Lai was limited, he would bet his life that Xu Lai was not that kind of petty person.

"Brother Gao, if it wasn't Senior Xu Lai, then it must have been another Divine Gate Realm master who struck from the shadows," Tan Chang paused, then continued. "The Divine Gate Realm experts of our Hua Country are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect this land. They barely have time to mediate conflicts, let alone initiate an attack that would turn a group of Martial Dao prodigies against each other."

Gao He's brow furrowed.

He vaguely understood something but was still confused. "Please enlighten me, Brother Tan," he said, ashamed.

"Allow me to offer another perspective. Who would benefit from provoking a conflict between Xu Lai and the thirteen Holy Lands? If a battle broke out, who would stand to gain?"

Tan Chang spoke blandly, then lowered his head to take a sip of tea. "This tea has grown a little bitter."

BOOM!

A thunderclap exploded in Gao He's mind. "Could it be—"

Gasping, he suddenly looked up at the moon, which was obscured by clouds. He then shot to his feet, clasped his hands, and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Brother Tan, for clearing my confusion!"

Tan Chang simply smiled without speaking.

Ever since the Flower Fairy had beaten him up, he no longer considered himself a master strategist. The plot to sow discord was clever—killing three birds with one stone—but he had seen through it at a glance.

"Yes, that's it! Our East Sea Wushu Association was the first to capture three members of the Moon Clan, and later we caught two more. This time, they impersonated Senior Xu Lai to provoke enmity between him and the thirteen Holy Lands."

Gao He slapped his thigh, his face grim. "It's not just them. Our East Sea Wushu Association will also be punished. This scheme is brilliant—truly killing three birds with one stone!"

"Exactly. They're seeking revenge," Tan Chang said with a sigh. "There are still members of the Moon Clan lurking on Earth. They could be hiding in Jiangnan or Jiangbei."

"ACHOO."

Hiding in a manor somewhere in Jiangbei, Ji Wuming sneezed.

A powerful sense of unease washed over him, accompanied by the inexplicable feeling that his location had been exposed.

Ji Wuming's expression turned suspicious. Have I been discovered? Or has something gone wrong on Ruan Jin's end?

Thinking carefully, he was sure he hadn't left any tracks.

This elite from the Moon Clan, who had hidden on Earth for four hundred years, didn't know that his location wasn't exposed by a careless trace. Instead, it was the Moon Clan's own "kill three birds with one stone" operation.

The problem was, he—a member of the Moon Clan—was completely unaware of this operation and had now become its unwitting scapegoat!

「...」

After leaving the Martial Dao Association's arena, Xu Yiyi didn't dare go straight back to Haitang Court. Instead, she returned to school to continue her classes, acting as if nothing had happened.

When Xu Lai came to pick up the children at five that afternoon, he saw the aggrieved look on Yiyi's little face and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, my girl?"