Chapter Seventy-Six: Aftermath

To have seen all the heroes and guests of Yun Province and yet not know Chen Wangan is a lamentable thing indeed.

Among the cultivators who have recently made a name for themselves in Yun Province, Chen Wangan undeniably holds a place of honor. Rumor has it that he is an unparalleled sword cultivator, as elusive as a dragon, his abilities deep and unfathomable. It is said that at the Luoyun Pavilion, he shattered a Grade Six defensive spiritual artifact using nothing but a tree branch, leaving the assembled cultivators stupefied. In a further display of boldness, he snatched the Golden Lotus Fruit from the prodigies of the Sole Self Sect and the Purple Cloud Palace—merely to quench his thirst!

Unexpectedly, after this, the people of Purple Cloud Palace did not take offense; instead, they treated him with utmost reverence and invited him to become an honorary elder, allowing him to draw a stipend while traveling throughout Yun Province.

Few have actually seen Chen Wangan, but tales of his deeds are told everywhere, passed along with ever more elaborate detail, as though every witness had seen it firsthand. At this moment, upon hearing the name Chen Wangan, Chu Yichen felt a shiver run through him. He stared in a daze for a long while before protesting, somewhat unwillingly, “But until now, Chen Wangan is just a rumor—no one has truly seen him. There’s no need for our Chu family to fear him so much, is there? For all we know, he might not even be a Nascent Soul cultivator…”

“Foolish!” Chu Yingxuan shot him a cold glance and said in a low voice, “Our ancestor is currently in seclusion, striving to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. For now, only my father and two uncles have reached the Golden Core stage. At such a critical time, our Chu family must not provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator, even if it is only a rumor! The foundation of the family must always come first.”

Chu Yichen fell silent, a defeated look in his eyes. He knew now that his chance for revenge was lost; even if he were given the opportunity, he would not dare lay a hand on Wang Ran again. If nothing else, just his own family would string him up for it.

Though life in a great clan is dazzling, it is not without hardship. When the survival of the clan is at stake, personal sacrifice is always the lesser consideration. Had he truly offended a Nascent Soul cultivator, the family would not hesitate to cast him out, even though he was the direct son of the clan leader.

Seeing her brother’s wretched, dejected appearance, Chu Yingxuan could not help but sigh with some pity. She patted his shoulder in consolation, saying, “Don’t worry. Once the ancestor emerges from seclusion and we become a Nascent Soul family, even the greatest sects of the age will have to show us respect. We will not have to be so passive any longer, and no mere Foundation Establishment cultivator will ever dare bully us again.

“But for now, keep a low profile. Don’t cause any more trouble, and don’t befriend strangers lightly. If you must seek amusement, stick to your old friends—those who pose no threat to our family. And as for Wang Ran, if you ever see him again, avoid him at all costs.”

Hearing his sister’s admonition, Chu Yichen’s lingering resentment turned into a deep sense of helplessness.

For a time, the siblings said nothing more, as the flying tiger beneath their feet sped across the sky, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, atop Luoyun Peak, the Banquet of the Young Geniuses continued.

Yet around Wang Ran, an invisible vacuum had formed—everyone kept a respectful distance, watching from afar, none daring to approach.

Even Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu were at a loss, frozen in place, their minds still struggling to process what had just occurred. Especially when they saw the young man before them calmly eating grapes, as if nothing of consequence had happened—this realization struck them anew with awe.

So this “Brother Wang,” this “Wang Situ” whom they had called friend and brother all this time, was truly a figure of immense stature!

He had beaten the Chu family’s eldest son at a word, was treated as an honored guest by the Luoyun City’s stewards Huang Hui and Feng, and with a flick of his finger, had forced the Beize Chu family into submission. In the end, the Chu family not only lost face but even handed over a Grade Six spiritual tool. Such ability to shape fate with a laugh and a word—what a display of dominance!

Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu were still breathing hard, feeling that this banquet had been a stroke of extraordinary fortune for them.

The other young disciples of various families and sects watching all drew sharp breaths, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and fear as they memorized the young man’s face.

As for the few spoiled disciples who had been subdued along with Chu Yichen, they were still sprawled miserably on the ground. Seeing that even the Chu family had to bow their heads to this youth, they knew they had brought a calamity down on themselves by provoking someone they should never have offended. Immediately, they kowtowed in terror, begging for mercy.

Wang Ran paid no attention to these small fry, not giving them so much as a glance. His indifference was a relief to them, and they were promptly dragged away by the Luoyun City guards like dead dogs.

At this moment, Huang Hui and Feng’s eyes flickered. He stepped forward with a warm smile, saying, “Young Brother Wang, would you care to join me in the inner quarters?”

“I was just about to suggest it,” Wang Ran replied, rising with a smile.

The two turned and left the front courtyard, heading to the pavilion where Huang Hui and Feng had previously spoken with Chu Yingxuan.

Once Wang Ran saw that no one else was around, he drew a storage pouch from his sleeve and said, “Manager Huang, here are a thousand Swiftstride Talismans and fifty Explosive Talismans. My master said your price was fair, and that I should leave it all to you.”

Huang Hui and Feng was visibly startled, hastily producing a storage pouch of his own, which he handed over with great courtesy.

“Many thanks to Senior Chen for his trust. Young Brother Wang, please accept these spirit jades.”

Wang Ran swept his divine sense over the pouch and, seeing it filled to the brim with spirit jades, felt his spirits soar. He thought to himself that Huang Hui and Feng truly knew how to do business—the price this time was even higher than before.

He offered his thanks, then glanced around and asked, “By the way, Manager Huang, I heard that the City Lord is of the Wu family. Why hasn’t he made an appearance today?”

Huang Hui and Feng smiled. “The City Lord is as elusive as a dragon. A mere banquet of geniuses is not enough to bring him out, and he is not in the residence at this time.”

Wang Ran was curious about this mysterious City Lord of Luoyun, but did not press the matter. He chatted idly with Huang Hui and Feng for a while longer, then called to his junior sister, and the two took their leave.

Not long after their departure, the Banquet of the Young Geniuses officially came to an end. The guests departed, each with complicated feelings.

Of everything that happened today, what left the deepest impression was, of course, the conflict between Wang Ran and the Chu family. News of the event spread rapidly.

What began as a disturbance in Luoyun City soon rippled outward, and Wang Ran’s name became renowned in all directions.

There was much speculation about Wang Ran’s identity. Some guessed he was a disciple of the Sole Self Sect, after hearing Chu Yingxuan call him “junior brother.” Others, based on what some family disciples had heard, claimed that he called himself “Wang Situ,” not Wang Ran.

Some theorized that “Situ” was just an alias, and his real name was Wang Ran; others believed both names were false.

In any case, rumors abounded. The other protagonist of the story, the Beize Chu family, also became a frequent topic of conversation.

For a time, Yun Province was abuzz with excitement.

……

Meanwhile, at the Sole Self Sect.

No matter what rumors swirled outside, Wang Ran paid them no mind. After he and his junior sister returned to the sect, they first took some time to rest, then began to focus on the matters concerning the Hall of Enforcement’s missions.

With the selection for core disciples drawing ever closer, he could not afford to delay earning contribution points any longer.