Shangguan Fei's expression tightened as he looked over.
He had asked Xu Yu this question in person before, but all he received was a strange response — You wouldn't want to know.
Many people's eyes lit up as they curiously sized up the mysterious man in the bamboo hat before them. The battle prowess that had crushed the Shao Family had left a deep impression on them.
Lady Situ furrowed her brows. The Shangguan family's intentions were obvious, and they wanted to snatch a genius like Su Yu!
Under the gaze of many people, Su Yu could no longer avoid them.
After pausing for a moment, he raised his hand and took off the bamboo hat on his head, revealing his true appearance.
His aged face stood out from the crowd of young geniuses, and his entire body seemed to be in high spirits.
Even the Young Palace Mistress and Palace Mistress Kong Chan, who were sitting calmly, couldn't help but look surprised.
Lady Situ, the Shao Family's Master, and the other geniuses were all stunned.
"Why is it an old man?"
"It's impossible! This is the Red Blood Palace's recruitment test, and it's only open to disciples below the age of twenty. Has the Situ family gone mad? How dare you cheat in this aspect? "
"No wonder this person's cultivation is so ordinary, but his strength is so strong. At such a young age, his experience, methods, and combat naturally far surpass us. The geniuses of the Shao Clan were defeated in such an unjust manner."
The crowd was bewildered, and their expressions gradually changed.
Situ Yan's red lips opened wide in an exaggerated manner. She assumed that Su Yu's aged voice was due to his intonation. "Big-breasted woman, why is brother Su so … so …"
She wanted to say something but hesitated. The impact on her heart was not small.
"So old, isn't it? Yuan Yingying pursed her lips into a smile. "If you don't like it, then don't get close to Big Brother Su."
She was more than happy to be able to drive away the flat-chested Situ Yan from Su Yu's side. Of course, it would be perfect if she could drive away Zi Xuan as well.
Situ Yan glared at him angrily. "You're the one who dislikes me. I'm just surprised. I'm a martial artist. Do I care about age?"
Age and appearance were no longer the same in cultivation. Martial artists were far more sensitive to age than mortals.
However, the ones who were truly shocked were the Shangguan Clan.
Shangguan Yunque was startled, and his pupils contracted. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Brother Su, why is it you?"
The genius youth that his father had reminded him many times to invite into the Shangguan family was none other than Su Yu, who had been a guest at the Shangguan family previously!
He had almost become a genius recommended by the Shangguan Clan.
However, the situation had changed, and the Shangguan Clan had stripped him of his spot.
In a sense, he was driven away by the Shangguan Clan.
Shangguan Fei's expression was equally interesting. He was dumbfounded and could not believe the figure in front of him. He could not reconcile it with the old man who had been forced to leave. He stammered, "How, how could it be him?"
The Shangguan Family's Chief's brows twitched, he was slightly surprised. This young man in front of him looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. After a while, he finally recalled that this was the young man who was recommended by Yunque to join the Shangguan Family.
For a moment, his expression was complicated, alternating between red and green.
Su Yu, whom he had forced to leave, actually possessed such shocking potential!
Remorse, self-blame, embarrassment, and many other emotions welled up in his heart.
Su Yu looked at Shangguan Yunque and said with a faint smile, "I'm really sorry that I didn't manage to greet you before."
Shangguan Yunque opened his mouth, then turned his head to look at his father, whose face was now flushed with anger. He shrugged his shoulders bitterly and said, "I thank brother Su for saving me on behalf of the Shangguan family."
They finally understood why the plaited bamboo hat man had saved the Shangguan family out of respect for Shangguan Yunque.
Su Yu waved his hand at him calmly and said, "Brother Shangguan, your Blue Water Nine Heaven Wings saved my life, so why should I thank you for saving your family?"
He was just about to continue chatting with them when a fragrant fragrance assaulted his nostrils. Madame Situ came over to him and said with a smile, "Mister Su, thank you for protecting Yan 'er. Come back and recuperate your body, as the second part of the exam will soon begin."
Su Yu nodded at Shangguan Yunque, then went back to the stone pillar.
Shangguan Yunque went back to the family's stone platform with an odd look on his face. Everyone's expressions were quite interesting, especially the Shangguan Family's Chief, who was too ashamed to look his son in the eye.
Shangguan Yunque felt quite carefree for some unknown reason. In the past, he had begged his father many times, but his father had stubbornly insisted on expelling him. Now, he had amazed the world with a single brilliant feat, and the Shangguan family had become a laughingstock!
"Yunque, why didn't you introduce Mister Su to us clearly?" the Shangguan Family's Chief asked in embarrassment.
Shangguan Yunque shrugged his shoulders and said, "Hehe, I clearly told you about his potential. Father, you must take care of the family's juniors, so if you insist on doing this, what can I do?"
The Shangguan Family's Chief's gaze became gloomy, and after a long while, he raised his eyes and looked at Su Yu with a complicated gaze. He then heaved a long sigh and said, "I misjudged him."
It was almost impossible for him to invite Su Yu back.
It was easy to drive him away, but difficult to invite him.
After returning to the Situ family, Su Yu swallowed Madame Situ's elixirs and quickly recovered his Vital Energy.
Situ Yan immediately came over to him and started chattering. She was quite curious about Su Yu's body's strange condition.
Madame Situ also said, "Mister Su, I'm not that talented, but I know a bit about alchemy. Why don't you stay in the Situ family? I want to find a way to help you recover."
Even now, she still wanted to keep Su Yu in the Situ family.
"Madame, I appreciate your kindness, but I've already found the focus of your illness. As long as I can make a breakthrough in my cultivation and recover my lifespan, my body will naturally recover to its previous state." Su Yu rejected her tactfully.
Madame Situ sighed inwardly. Leaving him in the Situ family was really making things difficult for him.
…
Time elapsed slowly, and almost everyone had arrived.
As the Shao Family's Chief looked at the Fairy Confining Forest, anxiety appeared in his eyes.
None of the Shao family members had come back, but as he thought about Shao Li and Shao Lingjian, he wasn't really worried.
With their power, they wouldn't face any danger.
However, even when noon approached, they still didn't see anyone.
"There is still a cup of tea left," Palace Mistress Kong Chan said calmly.
Swoosh!
At this moment, a woman flew over. It was Shao Li.
The Shao Family's Chief felt slightly relieved, and he went over to her. "Li 'er, you came back. Where are Lingjian and the others? Why did you come back first? "
Shock appeared on Shao Li's face as she asked, "Family's Chief, didn't they come back first?"
In an instant, the Shao Family's Chief's body stiffened, and he felt like his heart had been plunged into ice. "No … Didn't you all agree to meet at a certain place and come back together?"
Shao Li's face gradually turned pale, and her lips trembled. "I followed your instructions and hunted high-grade demonic beasts by myself, then met them at the appointed place. But, before I left, none of them came back. I thought that they couldn't wait any longer and left first."
Boom!
A rumbling sound echoed in the Shao Family's Chief's mind, and he was greatly shocked. "Where are they?"
Shao Li also felt restless, but she forced herself to calm down and comfort him. "Family's Chief, please don't be anxious. With Lingjian's power, no one can harm them. Perhaps they are just running in the forest because they can't catch up to me."
The Shao Clan's Master managed to regain some of his human color as he waited quietly.
His eyes were filled with anxiety as he locked onto the direction of the Celestial Confining Forest.
Suddenly, a figure flew over from afar.
Patriarch Shao's pupils constricted, but when he looked over, he saw that it was the person hired by the Situ Clan, Zi Xuan.
Zi Xuan's body flickered elegantly, and she returned to Su Yu's side. She then transmitted her voice to him and said, "After the test, let's have a private talk. I have something to discuss with you."
Su Yu's heart thumped. Could it be that his identity had been discovered?
"There is still half the time it would take to brew a cup of tea." Palace Mistress Kong Chan swept her gaze over the Shao Family's stone pillar with a strange expression.
After the Beast Tide, the disciples of the other Great Clans had suffered disastrous losses. Some of them had passed the seventh stage, but there were still some survivors.
However, only one person from the Shao Clan had returned, and he occupied a stone pillar all by himself. It seemed very out of place.
As time passed, the Shao Family's Master's eyes became dry, and he stared fixedly at the Confining Immortal Forest, hoping that Shao Lingjian would come back with a large number of his clansmen.
However, the Immortal Confining Forest was dead silent.
"Time's up." Palace Mistress Kong Chan announced calmly. She stood up slowly and said, "Reception Elders, please count the people who have passed the test."
Rub, rub —
The Shao Family's Master retreated several steps, and his last strand of hope was extinguished.
Something unexpected must have happened to Shao Lingjian and the others.
There were only two possibilities as to why none of them managed to come back. They were either trapped, or they were all killed.
"Li 'er, do you have any clues? Who did this? "The Shao Family's Master's voice was gloomy, and his expression was gloomy.
Shao Li's whole body shivered, and she looked around while shaking her head. She then suddenly noticed Su Yu, and she asked in surprise, "Who is that old man? Why haven't I seen him before?"
"He's Su Yuxian. Don't pay attention to him. Let me ask you … Who did this?"
"What? He's that plaited bamboo hat man? It's impossible! " Shao Li's eyes flickered. "He was in the Hundred Beasts Valley when the Beast Tide occurred, and even if he had great abilities, it would still be impossible for him to escape."
Well? Shao Yueming furrowed his brows and fixed his eyes on Su Yu. He then asked in a deep voice, "Are you saying that it's him?"
"I'm not sure, but I can't rule out the possibility that he's trying to take revenge on the Shao Family. There are so many talented juniors here, and if there's anyone who could cause trouble for Shao Lingjian and the others, it would be him," Shao Li said coldly. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she found Su Yu to be.
An ominous glint flickered in Shao Yueming's eyes as he took a step forward and crossed the stone pillar. He then stood on the Situ Family's stone pillar and strode toward Su Yu. "Where are my Shao Family's people? Where are they? "
Shock appeared on Madame Situ's face as he questioned Su Yu.
Shock appeared on Madame Situ's face, and she used her Divine Master's power to counteract Shao Yueming's aura. She then furrowed her brows and said, "Shao Yueming, you are going too far!"
Su Yu had descended on her stone pillar and interrogated her. How could the Situ Family still have any face left?
"My Shao family's entire generation of geniuses has gone missing. Madam Situ, if you really want to stop me from finding out the truth, I'll accompany you to the end." Shao Yueming's eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed like a wild beast that had fallen into a desperate situation.
Madame Situ's heart shuddered, and she clenched her teeth.
When she was about to obstruct him, Su Yu shrugged his shoulders and wore a baffled look as he asked, "Shao Family's Master, you are really bewildered. All of your Shao Family's children are extremely talented, so why are you asking me about them when they didn't come back?"
Shao Yueming spoke in a deep voice, "Lad, I don't have any techniques to waste my breath on you, so I will only ask you one question … Where are they?"
Su Yu looked at him calmly and replied, "I don't know."
Shao Yueming suppressed his killing intent and looked at the Situ Family's juniors. He then asked coldly, "What about you? Did any of you see them?"
The Situ Family's juniors wore bewildered looks. They had been chased by the Shao Family, and it was only after Situ Jiu had helped them escape that they managed to escape. So, how could they know about the Shao Family's situation?
Situ Jiu was the only one who avoided his gaze. Even though he was unconscious, he still had a vague idea that it was the bamboo-hat man, Su Yu, who had appeared and saved him.
In other words, the bamboo-hat man was the last person who came into contact with the Shao Family's disciples.
Well? A Divine Master's eyesight was extremely sharp. Situ Jiu's subtle changes in his expression couldn't be concealed from others.
Swoosh!
Shao Yueming's figure flickered as he appeared in front of Situ Jiu and pressed his shoulder. He then shouted at him, "What do you know? Speak!"
Situ Jiu was startled, and as he faced the Divine Master's powerful aura, his knees went soft and he almost fell to the ground.
"I don't know! Our Situ Family's disciples were hunted by your Shao Family's disciples, and I was heavily injured by Shao Lingjian. When I woke up, I was already here!"
What? Hunted by the Situ Family's disciples? All of the families present were startled by this.
Such a matter was prohibited by the Red Blood Palace, and now that it was openly stated, the Shao Family would surely face trouble!
"How dare you slander my Shao Family? Do you want to die?" Shao Yueming glared at him angrily and shouted in a deep voice. Situ Jiu was so scared that his whole body shivered.
Situ Yan was also afraid of him, but she still bit her lip and said, "What a joke! Are all of our Shao Family's disciples blind? Don't you know who hunted us? "
Shao Yueming looked at her with a warning gaze.
At this moment, Shangguan Fei, who was in the Shangguan Family's side, mustered his courage and said, "Our Shangguan Family can testify to this matter. The Shao Family's disciples also hunted us, and our Level Five Fairies were assassinated by them. Later on, we witnessed them hunting down the Shao Family."
Both sides could testify to this matter, so there was no doubt about it.
Palace Mistress Kong Chan opened her eyes slowly, while her old eyes emitted a cold glint. Her amiable face was filled with dignity as she said, "The outer sanctum's Law Enforcement Hall will investigate this matter, and once they confirm that the Shao Family has violated the rules, they will surely be punished severely!"
She then added, "Shao Family's Master, please return to the stone pillar. After a while, the Law Enforcement Hall will enter the Fairy Confining Forest to look for the Shao Family's disciples and question them about this matter."
The Red Blood Palace was already used to such fights, so they didn't want to investigate this matter.
Moreover, none of the Shao Family's disciples had returned yet, so it was highly likely that they had all been killed.
At most, this matter would be left unsettled.
Shao Yueming wasn't willing to accept this, and his gaze fell on Su Yu once again. He looked at him like a ferocious beast. He knew that the disappearance of Lingjian and the others was surely related to him.
But now, he couldn't do anything about it.
He wasn't willing to go back, but he still had a glimmer of hope in his heart. "Li 'er, you will take the test here, while I will go into the forest to look for them. If Lingjian is harmed in the slightest, I will kill that lad!"
Shao Lingjian was the Shao Family's sole disciple, so they couldn't afford to lose him.
The envoys' test started, and they all inspected the stone pillars they were in charge of.
Elder Li wore a faint smile as he inspected the corpses they had brought back.
When it was Situ Yan's turn, Elder Li said amiably, "You are just a Level One Fairy, so you need to kill twenty demonic beasts at the same level as you. Is that enough? Take them out and let me inspect them. "
Situ Yan revealed a crafty smile. "I only killed one."
Elder Li's expression stiffened, and he looked at Lady Situ apologetically. There was such an obvious disparity between them, and he couldn't help her in front of Palace Mistress Kong Chan.
Swoosh!
However, when Situ Yan took out a Level Two Fairy Demonic Flame Snake, Elder Li's pupils contracted slightly.
He immediately took it and placed it on his palm, then stuck a talisman on the Demonic Flame Snake's corpse.
A strange scene then occurred, as numerous light spots appeared on the Demonic Flame Snake's corpse. They were all wounds left by the Demonic Flame Snake's attack!
"The light spots' colors are the same, and their Vital Energy Fluctuations all belong to Situ Yan. The test proves that it was killed by Situ Yan alone, and no one else intervened," Elder Li said.
If someone else had intervened, even if they had just trapped the demonic beast, they would have left different Vital Energy Fluctuations on the demonic beast's body, which would have caused the light spots' colors to be different.
When they heard this, the crowd wasn't surprised that Situ Yan had passed the test, but they were still amazed by her ability to kill demonic beasts at a higher level.
Shangguan Yunque looked at Situ Yan and said, "It's rumored that the Situ family's eldest daughter is proficient in formations. I wonder if it's true."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yunque was startled. "Formations? This is the talent that the Red Blood Palace values the most. The Situ family really gave birth to an outstanding genius. "
Lady Situ wore a satisfied look as she looked at her daughter.
Elder Li wore a smile as he inspected the Situ family's disciples one by one. There were eighteen of them in total, and in the end, twelve of them passed the test.
This was more than double the previous year's number!
The reason for this was that the Beast Tide had caused a large number of low-grade demonic beasts to wander about, which made it easier to hunt them. Otherwise, their numbers would have been halved.
However, Su Yu's appearance was also an important reason why many families were afraid of them, so they didn't try to kill them in secret.
Finally, it was Su Yu and the other two's turn.
Zi Xuan threw a Grade Two Fairy Realm Purple Thunder Deer at them.
When Elder Li inspected it, he found it slightly strange, as he couldn't find any wounds on it. However, the Vital Energy Fluctuations that were left on it clearly belonged to Zi Xuan.
Yuan Yingying also passed the test, and when Elder Li inspected her, his pupils contracted slightly. "A soul attack?"
Elder Li took a deep look at Yuan Yingying, then squeezed out a gentle smile.
In the end, Elder Li's gaze fell on Su Yu, and he said, "Take out the corpse."
Su Yu looked at the surroundings and said, "There isn't enough space here. Elder Li, please have a look at my spatial ring."
Many people were paying attention to him, and they were all startled when they heard this. How many demonic beasts did he kill?
Elder Li was flabbergasted by this, and when he took the spatial ring and scanned its contents, his pupils contracted.
There weren't many demonic beasts here, as there were only around thirty of them. However, every single one of them was a giant high-grade demonic beast.
They were all at least Grade Three Fairies, and there were only nine Blaze Leopards, which seemed like they had been killed by Su Yu in passing.
As for Grade Four Fairy Realm demonic beasts, there were more than fifteen of them!
What shocked Elder Li the most was that there were still four Grade Five Fairies among them!
If he knew that Su Yu only had a single day to hunt for demonic beasts due to various reasons, he would probably be even more astonished.
Elder Li sucked in a breath of cold air. This wasn't the first time he had been in charge of guiding the envoys, but it was rare for him to hunt so many high-grade demonic beasts!
After all, such people, who entered the outer sanctum, were all outstanding geniuses and had great achievements.
I found a good seedling, Elder Li thought inwardly.
When Elder Li started calculating the points, he suddenly discovered that there was an unremarkable scarlet corpse among the giant demonic beasts. It was a scarlet marten!
"A scarlet marten?" Elder Li was startled for a moment, and he recalled something in his mind. "It seems like marten demonic beasts can only be found in the depths of the Fairy Confining Forest. This place …"
It seemed like Elder Li suddenly recalled something, and his expression changed drastically. "A scarlet marten? An Evil Eye Scarlet Marten?"
His eyes shone with shock as he stared at the Evil Eye Scarlet Marten's corpse with a grave expression.
There was shock in his eyes, but there was also an indescribable heaviness in them.
Elder Li averted his gaze and looked at Su Yu with a solemn expression. "After the second round of the exam, you should stay here alone. Palace Mistress Kong Chan might come to talk to you."
Su Yu was startled. "What did I do wrong?"
Elder Li hesitated for a moment, then said in a grave voice, "You made a grave mistake. You shouldn't have killed this Evil Eye Scarlet Marten. It had a special status, and you caused a great disaster by killing it."
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