Chapter 208: Dense Purple Aura Fills Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 208: Purple Haze Fills the Mountains and Rivers

This time it was Zhao Changhe’s turn to bulge his eyes.

What are you up to now, little girl? The young princess of the Cui family lowering herself to join the Wang family’s martial contest? Didn’t your father tell you to bring only your eyes and ears?

No, even if you’ve been stirred by the martial heart and want to fight someone, who exactly can you beat!

Cui Yuanyang seemed to know what he was thinking, stiffening her neck and muttering: “A treasure to expand the meridians—can’t my Cui family compete for it too? If I can’t win, at worst I’ll demand it as part of my dowry when discussing my brother’s wedding!”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

Xia Chichi twitched the corner of her mouth—so this was also for that.

Xia Chichi, now suspicious like the man who thought his neighbor stole his axe, felt that this rabbit wasn’t fighting for the treasure, but for favor.

She rolled up her sleeves, drew her sword, and stepped forward: “I’ll fight you. Please instruct me!”

Cui Yuanyang: “?”

Before Xia Chichi could take two steps, her collar tightened, and Zhao Changhe yanked her back: “Don’t cause trouble… You said you weren’t hurt, but your inner energy is churning—don’t think I don’t know. Meditate properly on the side; if something changes later…”

Xia Chichi pouted and said nothing, though she felt nothing should change.

But then Zhao Changhe also said: “Although I think there might not be any other changes, it’s really just a martial debate, a political probe for the Wang family, nothing more… But it’s fine… It let me see the brilliance of the hidden dragons of Shenzhou, especially my Chichi’s brilliance.”

Xia Chichi turned her head to look at him; Zhao Changhe’s eyes gleamed.

Suddenly, both of them inexplicably felt a sense of “marriage first, love later.” Since their parting, the changes in each other had been so great that they felt like they were getting to know each other anew.

This Zhao Changhe, pressing his blade against the Divine Radiance, with a calm and solemn bearing;

This Xia Chichi, breaking through Langya with her sword, dressed in white like snow.

Were they still the same people?

This feeling was truly strange, even though they had known each other the longest.

“I don’t have much brilliance,” Xia Chichi said leisurely. “But to be honest, my hands are itching too. Today’s battle made me quite happy… Actually, it’s not just me; even Wang Zhaoling wasn’t as bad as I imagined.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. Wang Zhaoling did seem to have his martial heart awakened; his current performance might even deviate from his family’s original plan…

Xia Chichi turned to look at Cui Yuanyang in the arena and smiled slightly: “And her.”

Cui Yuanyang was fighting for the treasure for Brother Zhao, but wasn’t she also stirred by the passion of martial arts?

After all these months in seclusion, comprehending the Clear River Purple Qi, receiving the clan’s divine sword—was it just for show?

Of course, it was to test what she had learned before the heroes of the world!

So the Wang family’s organization of this grand gathering truly struck a chord in many hearts.

Just then, a grinding voice came from the arena: “Is there any hero willing to instruct me? My feet are numb from standing!”

The crowd exchanged glances, all very embarrassed.

Who the hell would “challenge” a cute little fifteen-year-old girl? Win or lose, they’d lose face!

Cui Yuanyang’s round face finally showed anger: “None of you treat me as a martial artist? Then I’ll issue a challenge myself.”

She paused, looking at Wang Zhaoling, who was bandaging his palm: “Brother Wang, how about we imitate the battle between Situ and Brother Zhao, limited to the fifth realm, and test what we’ve learned?”

Wang Zhaoling’s expression twitched: “I concede.”

Cui Yuanyang said nothing, but suddenly struck a palm straight at his shoulder.

In the corner, Situ Xiao, drinking and watching the show, suddenly showed surprise in his eyes.

Wang Zhaoling’s expression also instantly turned serious; his uninjured left hand pushed out a palm.

“Bang!” The two palms met.

Due to the limitation to the fifth realm, this Heaven-Pushing, Sea-Suppressing Palm lacked the roaring wind and clouds it had when striking Xia Chichi earlier, but it was still fierce and violent, making one feel that this delicate little girl would be crushed into meat paste.

Yet on her slender jade hand, purple qi steamed, vast and enduring, wave after wave, and she didn’t retreat even half a step.

Like the Clear River, deep and bottomless, flowing endlessly.

Like the vast righteous qi, rising from a single thought, filling the mountains and rivers with haze.

That fierce and violent palm was dissolved in the boundless mountains and rivers, gradually leaving no trace.

“Slap!” The palms separated. It was Cui Yuanyang who shook her hand and pushed Wang Zhaoling back, forcing him to retreat half a step.

The whole audience erupted in uproar.

Although Wang Zhaoling was suppressed to the fifth realm, although he used his unfamiliar left hand—

He was actually at a disadvantage!

Even Wang Zhaoling himself found it unbelievable: “This…”

Cui Yuanyang said seriously: “The Chaos Chronicle ranked Yuanyang ninety-ninth among the hidden dragons, but Yuanyang feels she doesn’t deserve it. They say I’m young, but I started practicing martial arts as soon as I could understand things. After ten years, I’ve only reached the fifth realm—how am I worthy of being in the top hundred? But I will work hard to match it.”

Her gaze swept over the onlookers, especially those of similar cultivation, and she said word by word: “Cui Yuanyang steps into the martial world, starting from today.”

Unfortunately, no matter how strong her performance or how formal her words, the crowd remained silent; no one had the face to challenge her.

Only Xia Chichi rubbed her fists, itching to move, but Zhao Changhe firmly held her sleeve.

Cui Yuanyang looked around, a hint of disappointment finally appearing in her big eyes. She shook her head and asked: “If no one answers my challenge, do I win?”

Wang Zhaoling sighed deeply: “Are you also here for the meridian treasure?”

Cui Yuanyang’s eyes flickered, and her serious expression suddenly turned playful again: “Can’t I want it?”

Wang Zhaoling said: “It’s not a pill or something; you need to enter a place yourself. So…”

He paused, then suddenly laughed: “After all this, this isn’t a hidden dragon martial debate at all—it’s clearly someone bringing their whole family to snatch a treasure from the hidden dragon heroes.”

Cui Yuanyang looked at the sky, pretending not to understand.

“Our family also had too many goals; it deserves to be thrown into chaos.” Wang Zhaoling smiled. “We’ll discuss that matter later. For now, Sister Yuanyang, please sit down and let everyone have a true martial debate atmosphere, alright?”

Cui Yuanyang stared at him for a long moment, then beamed: “Fine.”

She knew that Wang Zhaoling had fully understood the significance here. When the Cui family wanted that “treasure,” there was no need for a contest—it was meaningless. The mountains and rivers were already settled.

It was just a pity that she couldn’t have a hearty battle like Brother Zhao and Sister Xia—that remained a luxury.

What Wang Zhaoling said earlier was indeed true: people like them found it hard to temper themselves properly.

But it didn’t matter. The moment Yuanyang struck that palm, Brother Zhao’s expression had changed.

Would he no longer treat her like a child?

Cui Yuanyang returned to her seat and stole a glance at Zhao Changhe’s expression. He was expressionless, seemingly lost in thought. Cui Yuanyang pouted and stabbed at the pastries on the table, but then saw Xuan Chong leap into the arena, laughing: “Watching this battle stirs my heart with martial fervor. I’ll make a fool of myself—please instruct me, everyone.”

Around the same time he jumped out, someone else also jumped out, but Xuan Chong spoke first.

The two exchanged glances, laughed together, and bowed in unison: “Please, brother!”

Wang Zhaoling showed a smile. This martial contest had finally taken its proper form.

Although the political declaration the Wang family wanted seemed to have been achieved, Wang Zhaoling suddenly felt a pang of regret. If from the very beginning, the contest had only been a contest, wouldn’t it have been better?

The hidden dragons’ brilliance fully displayed, the Langya sword debate talked about with relish—how wonderful that would have been.

At least it wouldn’t have caused so many jokes about smashing doors and stealing plaques, nor would Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe have stolen the spotlight. From start to finish, he, Wang Zhaoling, had only been a foil—even winning felt tasteless.

He turned his head to look at Zhao Changhe, and suddenly transmitted his voice: "Brother Zhao, after we finish watching the contest, let us go out for a stroll, for I have matters to discuss with you."