Started out getting scumbags, but then invested in the invincible Empress.

Chapter 292 Chaotic Stone City, News of the Spirit-Containing Pearl

In the corner by the window.

Several people dressed as traveling merchants at the next table were having a lively conversation.

"...If you ask me, the battle at the Great Yu Imperial City a few days ago was probably the most exciting battle fought by the younger generation of the Eastern Wilderness in the last hundred years!"

A middle-aged man with a goatee took a sip of his drink and smacked his lips.

"you do not say!"

A portly merchant nearby chimed in, "I have a nephew who was in the capital at the time. Although he didn't see it with his own eyes, he heard from others that the battle was incredibly fierce!"

"Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?" urged the person at the table.

The man with the goatee cleared his throat and struck a pose like a storyteller:

"On that day, in the desolate plains outside Dayu City, two young prodigies faced off in mid-air, their auras clashing, causing sand and stones to fly within a hundred feet..."

The hall gradually quieted down, and many people pricked up their ears to listen.

Such an earth-shattering battle is nothing short of a myth or legend to ordinary martial artists.

In the elegant seats by the window, Wang Zhao, Qiu Zishi, and the others had long forgotten to pick up their chopsticks, listening intently with great interest.

"My dear..."

Wang Zhao stared blankly, muttering, "Who on earth is this person who can contend with a prodigy like the Heavenly Pivot Saint Son? When did such a figure emerge in the Eastern Wilderness?"

"Such a battle of geniuses is a once-in-a-century event."

Akiko Minoru also looked on with longing, and said with some regret: "It is a real pity that I could not see it in person."

Jiang Churan's expression changed.

She knew Yang Qiong; she had fought him in her previous life. He was indeed a remarkable person, with first-rate talent and combat prowess.

Those who can rival him must at least be a holy being.

However, in her memories of her previous life, she had never heard of such a prodigy among her peers.

The conversation at the next table continued.

"Who exactly is that mysterious young man, and what is his background?"

"Yes, I'm very curious about which sect trained him?"

"........"

Faced with questions from all sides.

The portly merchant looked around and lowered his voice: "My nephew said...it seems to be from the Xuantian Sect."

"what?!"

"It's actually the Xuantian Sect..."

"Is this news accurate? I haven't heard of it before..."

Many people's faces changed color, as if they could hardly believe it.

They lived within the territory of the Xuantian Sect, yet they received absolutely no news.

at the same time.

At Li Wudao's table, Wang Zhao, Qiu Zishi, and the others froze, realizing something, and suddenly turned their heads to look.

"Sixteen or seventeen years old... Xuantian Sect... Pure Yang Sacred Body..."

The answer is already coming.

Wang Zhao's eyes widened, and his mouth slowly opened: "Godfather...the one they were talking about...could it be...?"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Keep your voice down, what are you yelling about?"

Li Wudao reacted quickly, covering Wang Zhao's mouth and making a shushing gesture.

He didn't want to be disturbed even while eating a meal; if he were recognized, he probably wouldn't be able to leave the Drunken Immortal Pavilion peacefully tonight.

Wang Zhao cried out "woo woo" as the cloth was covered, nodding repeatedly.

Li Wudao then released his grip and sighed helplessly.

"Brother Li...is it really you?!"

Akiko lowered her voice, her eyes filled with undisguised shock.

Although Jiang Churan had some vague guesses, now that they were confirmed, a ripple still crossed her clear, cold eyes.

To be able to fight Yang Qiong to a draw is enough to rank him among the top in the Eastern Wilderness among the younger generation, making him a rare talent.

Such a remarkable and charismatic figure cannot be ignored by anyone.

Wang Zhao pried Li Wudao's hand away.

Although he lowered his voice, he couldn't hide his excitement: "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened? How did you end up fighting with the people from the Holy Land?"

He fired off a barrage of questions:

"What does the Holy Son of Tianxuan look like? Does he have three heads and six arms? When you fought, did the sky and earth really collapse?"

Was his eventual surrender genuine? Did you agree to a rematch? Did he leave any harsh words behind...?

Even the usually aloof Jiang Churan couldn't help but look expectant, her beautiful eyes fixed on Li Wudao, clearly very curious about the details.

"That day in Dayu, I met Yang Qiong for some reason..."

Li Wudao sighed and decided to get straight to the point:

"He was eager to test his skills. So we fought in the wilderness on the outskirts of the city, and the battle ended in a draw. He was an upright man, and he left after the battle."

"That's all?!" Wang Zhao exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"if not?"

Li Wudao picked up a piece of spirit bird meat and said slowly, "Do we have to fight three hundred rounds, until the sun and moon are obscured, and then become sworn brothers?"

Wang Zhao was speechless for a long time before finally muttering, "This is a draw with the geniuses of the Holy Land... Father, you make it sound like you're going out to buy groceries."

Jiang Churan, however, sensed the unspoken meaning in his words, and her beautiful eyes flickered with a hint of something else.

The fact that he could fight to a draw with Yang Qiong, who possessed the Great Righteous Body, cannot be simply described as "simple".

Behind that nonchalant statement, countless dangers lurk.

After a long pause, Wang Zhao took a deep breath, raised his glass, and said, "All I can say is, Godfather, you're awesome! I'm in a good mood today, so I'll drink this. You can drink as you please."

As he spoke, he stood up with a shout, picked up a jar of highly concentrated "Ice Jade Nectar," and tilted his head back to pour it into his mouth.

Amber-colored liquor dripped down the corner of his mouth, wetting his front.

This action drew the attention of many customers around.

"Good drink!"

A shirtless, burly man at the next table exclaimed, "This Ice Jade Nectar is incredibly potent; most people would be knocked out after just half a jar!"

Wang Zhao grinned, his face flushed, and waved his hand slightly, a little tipsy: "So-so... oh..."

The words have not yet fallen.

He swayed and fell headfirst to the ground with a "thud," the wine jar rolling aside with a "gurgling" sound.

Everyone looked at each other.

Li Wudao shook his head, feeling both amused and exasperated.

But then Wang Zhao struggled to stretch out a hand and press it on the table, trying to get up, muttering as he did so:

"Help me up... I... I can still drink..."

Even Jiang Churan couldn't help but smile slightly.

Akiko suppressed a laugh and went forward to help him, instantly enlivening the atmosphere in the private room.

Li Wudao helped Wang Zhao to a chair and made sure he didn't touch any more alcohol. If he drank any more, who knows what kind of drunken antics he might cause.

After their meal, the guests in the restaurant started chatting about other interesting things.

Rumors in the martial arts world are always changing like flowing water. Just a moment ago, they were hotly discussing the Battle of Da Yu, but in the blink of an eye, the topic has changed.

"I heard that things have been unsettled in the 'Black Abyss Canyon' to the north lately, with monsters appearing again, and several villages have suffered..."

“It is said that a rare treasure has emerged deep within the ‘Ten Thousand Demon Mountains,’ attracting many rogue cultivators who have suffered heavy casualties…”

"The secular world is also in turmoil. The Great Liang Dynasty has a new emperor and is purging the court, with rivers of blood flowing..."

The topics of conversation are very diverse, covering all sorts of things.

The interplay of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, adds a touch of brilliance to this mundane world.

Upon hearing that the Great Liang had a new ruler, Li Wudao's fingers, which were holding food, paused slightly, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Unexpectedly, the subordinate he had just taken in recently turned out to be quite ruthless, and he ousted his father as soon as he got back.

He liked this style of doing things.

"Perhaps we could consider consolidating the dynastic forces within Yongning Prefecture and developing our own power..."

He stroked his chin, thoughtfully.

Just then, on the other side of the hall, several traveling merchants who seemed to be constantly on the move started chatting about something new.

"Hey. If you're asking where the liveliest place is lately, it has to be the black market over in 'Chaotic Stone City'."

An old merchant with a weathered face took a sip of wine and squinted.

"The black market? What good stuff has leaked out this time?"

"Hey, this is something else."

The old merchant lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously: "We recently received a new batch of goods unearthed from ancient ruins, and it's said that among them... there's a priceless 'Spirit-Gathering Pearl'!"