novelraw Chapter 444: Concealed Cultivation?
Chapter 444: Concealed Cultivation?
"What? Lin Xuan killed Young Master Fang!"
"How is that possible?"
"Who’s spreading such nonsense?"
"Utter rubbish!"
Madam Ye roared in anger. Someone is targeting our Ye Family. The Clan Leader was just given a sliver of hope for recovery, and now someone is targeting the family and Lin Xuan. This is obviously an attempt to make things difficult for us!
"Mother, what’s wrong?" Ye Ruxue asked as she approached.
Madam Ye said worriedly, "The rumor spreading outside is that Lin Xuan killed Young Master Fang."
"What? How is that possible?" Ye Ruxue shook her head in disbelief. "That Young Master Fang is a Three-Star Grandmaster, while Lin Xuan is only an Eight-Star Martial General. How could he possibly kill Fang Fan?"
"Exactly!" Madam Ye stomped her foot in frustration. "It’s obviously a lie, but the Fang Family has already arrived." No, I can’t let the Fang Family take Lin Xuan away. I must go and explain.
She took a deep breath and said to the steward, "Go and tell Young Master Lin to hide and not come out. I will go offer an explanation to the Fang Family."
With that, Madam Ye walked toward the gates.
「Outside the Ye Family residence.」
A sea of people had gathered. The members of the Fang Family had already arrived, standing like imposing War Gods. Their sky-high auras were enough to sweep across the land. People from the other clans and sects watched from a distance, their discussions buzzing.
"The Ye Family is done for."
"They dared to offend the Fang Family. Their end will be a miserable one."
"Do you think it was really that Alchemy Master who killed Young Master Fang?"
"If it was, that guy is dead for sure."
"The Ye Family will probably be wiped out, too."
As they were talking, the main gates of the Ye Family residence opened, and Madam Ye walked out. She was startled by the sight before her; she hadn’t expected so many people to show up. However, as the wife of Clan Leader Ye, she was no stranger to grand occasions.
Madam Ye composed herself, looked toward the Fang Family contingent, and addressed their leader. "Clan Leader Fang, for what reason have you brought so many people to my Ye Family?"
Clan Leader Fang was a middle-aged man with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was like lightning as he stared at Madam Ye.
He spoke coldly, "I heard that an Alchemy Master has come to your Ye Family and even cured Clan Leader Ye’s illness. Is this true? Could you have this Alchemy Master come out to meet us?"
A chill ran down Madam Ye’s spine. How did our family’s affairs spread so quickly? Damn it, there are traitors in the family!
She explained, "It is true that an Alchemy Master has come to our Ye Family, and my husband’s condition has indeed shown some improvement. However, the Alchemy Master is extremely exhausted and is currently resting, so it is not convenient for him to see anyone."
She absolutely would not let Lin Xuan be taken away. After all, he was the key to her husband’s recovery.
"Hmph! Clan Leader, why waste so many words on her? Just make the Ye Family hand over the person. If they don’t, we’ll flatten them!" a burly man from the Fang Family’s side stepped out and said murderously.
The other members of the Fang Family were also glaring angrily at Madam Ye. She felt a murderous aura wash over her like an ocean, the sheer force of it staggering her backward until she almost fell.
"Don’t go too far," Madam Ye said, suppressing her rage.
"So what if we do?" one of the Fang Family members retorted with extreme arrogance.
"Hurry up and bring that Alchemy Master out!"
"Otherwise, don’t blame the Fang Family for being impolite."
Clan Leader Fang also stated coldly, "Madam Ye, surely you don’t wish for the Ye Family to be reduced to ash?"
Her forehead beaded with cold sweat, Madam Ye said, "Clan Leader Fang, I understand that you are furious about your young master’s death. But I can assure you, this incident has nothing to do with our Ye Family, nor does it have anything to do with that Alchemy Master. He is just a 17-year-old young man, an Eight-Star Martial General. It’s impossible for him to have killed Young Master Fang Fan. Could you be mistaken?"
What? An Eight-Star Martial General?
A commotion erupted among the onlookers. A cultivator at that level truly couldn’t have killed Fang Fan. Had the Fang Family really made a mistake?
The Fang Family members also hesitated. Could the information be wrong?
Suddenly, a voice from the crowd shouted, "She’s lying! Madam Ye is lying to protect that Alchemy Master! If he can cure Clan Leader Ye’s illness, he can’t be an ordinary person. He must be a Fourth-Grade Alchemy Master! How could someone like that be a mere Eight-Star Martial General? She’s obviously lying!"
"Nonsense," Clan Leader Fang snarled at Madam Ye. "Since you’ve rejected my polite offer and insist on doing this the hard way, don’t blame me for what comes next. Men, storm the residence and seize that Alchemy Master!"
"I’d like to see who dares!" Madam Ye shouted coldly as a powerful wave of spiritual power erupted from her body. She, too, was a Seven-Star Grandmaster.
Clan Leader Fang just sneered with disdain. "Do it," he commanded coldly. "If anyone dares to stand in your way, kill them without mercy."
Chuckling coldly, the elders from the Fang clan advanced on Madam Ye, who retreated in fright.
At this critical moment, a calm voice rang out. "Who’s looking for me?"
A young man walked out from the residence.
Madam Ye was taken aback. Seeing it was Lin Xuan, she quickly whispered, "Why did you come out? Get back inside! The Fang Family is tyrannical. They might just grab you without giving you a chance to explain."
However, Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "I take responsibility for my own actions. This matter started with me, so naturally, I will handle it personally."
With that, Lin Xuan strode out of the residence. Facing a sea of hostile warriors, he was utterly unafraid.
Madam Ye was bewildered. What does he mean, ’take responsibility for his own actions’? They’re accusing you of killing Young Master Fang Fan! But that’s impossible. You have nothing to do with this at all. You can’t be bluffing at a time like this, or you’ll be doomed beyond redemption! She was sick with worry.
"Who are you?" a Fang Family elder demanded, frowning at Lin Xuan. Does this brat dare to stand in our way? Is he courting death?
Lin Xuan said coldly, "I am the Alchemy Master you’re looking for."
What?
Hearing this, the Fang Family members were all stunned.
Nonsense!
They didn’t believe it. They were looking for a Fourth-Grade Alchemy Master, not this young man before them.
"Kid, get out of the way, or I’ll slap you to death!" the burly man from the Fang clan threatened, his aura pressing down like a mountain.
But Lin Xuan was completely unfazed. He stated calmly, "It was I who healed Clan Leader Ye."
His words sent a shockwave through the entire crowd. Countless gazes fixed on Lin Xuan.
What was this kid saying? He healed Clan Leader Ye! Was it true?
Ye Qingwu also rushed out, quickly saying, "Don’t you dare touch Junior Brother Lin! He is the Champion Marquis of Great Xia, General Long Ming, a genius of the Alchemy Realm, and a Third-Grade Alchemy Master! If you lay a hand on him, you are challenging the entirety of Great Xia!"
These words stirred the crowd into an uproar. No one had expected this boy’s background to be so astonishing.
"Is it him?" Clan Leader Fang asked coldly.
The elder beside him swallowed nervously and replied, "It... it seems to be him."
Clan Leader Fang was enraged. "And you think someone with his cultivation level could kill Fang Fan?"
The elder wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "Perhaps the boy is hiding his true cultivation level. Clan Leader, why don’t we ask the Ancestor to investigate? With the Ancestor’s power, he can see right through this kid."
Clan Leader Fang nodded. He turned to a war chariot behind him and said, "We respectfully invite the Ancestor to take action."
The chariot doors opened, and a white-haired old man stepped out. He was a Grandmaster. His appearance drew gasps from the crowd. On Dragon Island, a Grandmaster was a top-tier existence, a figure countless people looked up to. They hadn’t expected the Fang Family to dispatch even a Grandmaster for this.
The Fang Family’s Grandmaster had eyes that flashed with a cold light. He spoke to the Clan Leader, "Rest assured. I will see at a glance whether this boy is hiding his cultivation or not. If he is, I will deal with him personally!"
Excellent! The Fang Family members were thrilled. With the Ancestor making a move, this kid’s true self will surely be exposed. In their view, someone with Lin Xuan’s prominent status and genius talent in alchemy couldn’t possibly have such a low cultivation level. He must be hiding his true strength! But none of that can be hidden from the Ancestor.
The Fang Family Ancestor’s eyes shone with a mysterious light as he looked toward Lin Xuan.
But the next moment, he exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? You really are an Eight-Star Martial General!"