The girl before her had phoenix eyes brimming with charm and a warm smile. Xiuyun stared at her for a long while before finally blurting out, "Don’t you want to get angry?"
Mingyi tilted her head. "Why should I?"
"Ji Bozhai is such a good match, and she snatched him away!" Xiuyun widened her eyes. "Isn’t that enough to make you furious?"
"He was never mine to begin with, so why should I be angry?" Mingyi chuckled at her exaggerated expression. "You seem more upset about it than I am."
"Of course! Every young lady in Star Yearn City wants him. Just thinking about it on your behalf makes me mad." Xiuyun rolled her eyes, then lowered her gaze. "But then again, in a setting like this, Tianji is the most impressive. She learns faster than all of us—she’s already on the fourth chapter of the Fighter Registry. The instructors even praise her sometimes, saying if she has talent, she could become a female Fighter. How could you possibly compete with her?"
Mingyi listened in silence.
Thinking she had upset her, Xiuyun quickly added, "But you are far more beautiful than her, at least."
"Thanks."
"You’re welcome."
Xu Tianji, seated at the main table, was seething. That idiot Xiuyun—every time she was given a task, she botched it. She was supposed to kick someone while they were down, and instead, she was chatting away.
With the envoys from the two main cities already seated and beginning their discussions, she couldn’t very well turn around and call someone else. She could only kneel behind Ji Bozhai and wait.
"Last year when we visited, this stage was still new. Who would’ve thought it’d already have moss this year?" Zuo Ping said to Da Si with a smile. "You really ought to visit more often."
No one liked hearing that. The Fighters below darkened their expressions, and Da Si could only force a smile. "The envoy has a sharp wit."
"I’m just being honest. Among the six cities, yours has been the most consistent—for seven or eight years straight, you’ve never made it into the Upper Three Cities. I’ve even memorized some of the roads in your main city by now." He smirked.
It was the truth, but it was infuriating to hear. If Star Yearn City hadn’t lost its heir, they wouldn’t have been powerless to retaliate all these years, forced to pay tribute annually.
Luo Jiaoyang’s face was ashen, and Fan Yao Chuhe and the others were barely containing their anger. But they had lost—they had no right to retort.
The atmosphere on the Song and Dance Stage was heavy.
Ji Bozhai poured himself a cup of wine with indifference, then raised it toward Zuo Ping. "Your memory is impressive, my lord. When we visit Newgrass City next year, we’ll have to trouble you for directions."
His words caused an immediate uproar. As if emboldened, everyone vented the frustration they’d been holding back. "That’s right! Newgrass City is at the bottom of the Upper Three Cities. Next year, maybe it’ll be our turn to visit them."
"I heard Newgrass City’s buildings collapse often. Is that true?"
"Their stage must have even more moss. We’ll definitely need to visit more often."
For the first time in years, Zuo Ping encountered someone from Star Yearn City talking back. He was momentarily stunned before his gaze settled on Ji Bozhai. "You’ve got quite the mouth."
Ji Bozhai smiled faintly. "I, too, was just being honest."
"I know who you are." Zuo Ping sneered. "You only won against Zheng Tiao by luck. After that, you didn’t even continue the competition, yet you’ve been basking in the empty reputation of being on par with the Ming family heir."
"You—" Liang Xiuyuan couldn’t take it anymore and lashed out with a surge of Essence Power.Zuo Ping had been waiting for them to make the first move. Seeing the opportunity, he immediately retaliated. His pale violet Essence Power surged like a massive bell, carrying the force of a thunderous strike, directly descending upon Liang Xiuyuan and Ji Bozhai.
If this had been an ordinary spar, it might have been acceptable. But by summoning such a colossal bell in the middle of the banquet, he clearly hadn’t considered that the Da Si of Star Yearn City was seated nearby.
It was an outright insult to the entire Star Yearn City.
The Star Yearn citizens seated around them erupted in fury, hurling curses. Some Fighters immediately raised their hands, unleashing Essence Power in an attempt to block his attack.
However, Zuo Ping wielded violet Essence Power—not only was it formidable, but his Meridians were also of superior quality. The ordinary red, orange, and green Essence Power flying toward him snapped like bamboo twigs under the pressure.
Xu Tianji was so startled he leapt to his feet.
Yet, just three zhang away from Ji Bozhai’s seat, the massive bell collided with what seemed like an iron wall, producing a deafening thud followed by a piercing reverberation.
Zuo Ping frowned slightly. Before he could even discern what had blocked his attack, he felt his body suddenly lighten.
"Star Yearn City has its own way of entertaining guests. If you wish to spar, there are plenty of places for that," Ji Bozhai said, landing in the center of the arena. With a casual release of his hand, Zuo Ping was dropped back to the ground.
He stumbled upon landing, drawing jeers from the crowd. Enraged, Zuo Ping glared at Ji Bozhai. "What was that just now?"
"A mere trick, hardly worth mentioning," Ji Bozhai replied, casually summoning the Nether Battle Domain behind him. With a genial smile, he asked, "Do you like the color purple?"
Zuo Ping took this as a provocation—everyone in the six cities knew his Essence Power was violet.
"What if I do?"
Ji Bozhai nodded and transformed the surrounding Nether Battle Domain into a deep, rich violet.
Only then did Zuo Ping realize something was wrong.
Every person’s Essence Power had a distinct color, typically influenced by their Meridians. The higher the quality of one’s Meridians, the purer the hue. His own violet, though not the deepest, was still considered top-tier—yet Ji Bozhai had replicated it effortlessly?
But the Essence Power he had used earlier was unmistakably black!
A fierce gale erupted, rustling the grass and trees on the Song and Dance Stage. Ji Bozhai tapped his foot against the platform and said earnestly, "Rest assured, Envoy, Star Yearn City has few weeds, and our pavilions are sturdy. They won’t collapse. Please, proceed."
Newgrass City was known for its rampant vegetation—newly built houses would soon be entangled by invasive roots, their walls weakened until rain washed them away. This had long been a subject of mockery from the other two Upper Three Cities, and Zuo Ping was sick of hearing it. Yet now, even this lowly third-tier city dared to taunt him.
Furious, Zuo Ping immediately channeled his Essence Power, determined to teach this brat a lesson.
The surrounding spectators rose to their feet in excitement. Star Yearn City had endured humiliation for too long—finally, they had Ji Bozhai to restore their pride. They itched to jump in and kick Zuo Ping themselves.
Xiuyun watched eagerly, but when she turned to say something to Mingyi, she found her still dozing in her seat.
"What’s wrong with you?" Xiuyun shook her awake. "They’re fighting—aren’t you going to watch?"
Mingyi rubbed her bleary eyes. "I didn’t sleep well last night in the woodshed… What’s there to see? Ji Bozhai has pure black Essence Power. Beating Zuo Ping will be child’s play—he’ll have him by the throat in under twenty moves."Xiuyun rolled her eyes upon hearing this. This country girl dared to spout nonsense without even understanding Combat Skill. Zuo Ping was formidable—even their former heir had lost to him before. Even if Ji Bozhai was also skilled, claiming victory within twenty moves was far too arrogant.
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