As soon as the Clan Leader's words fell, several other Clan Leaders who had already discussed it together spoke out in agreement, "I have no objection, and besides, if one were to lose at the Duanmu Clan's Martial Arts Stage, surely no one would claim there's a backdoor plot, right?"
"Hmm! I also think it's feasible! After all, although our great families are quite competitive, we should value harmony above all else. I trust that the Duanmu Clan wouldn't do anything disgraceful!"
"Shouldn't we first ask for the opinion of the Duanmu Clan Leader? If there's disagreement, we can go to the nearest place from here, my Xu Family, to have the contest!"
After finishing, he provocatively turned his gaze towards Duanmu Shuo, whose face was grim...
Obviously, even if they were to lose in the Duanmu Clan's residence, they couldn't find any excuse!!
Besides, those Duanmu Clan disciples would all be watching the fight with open eyes; they dared not act shamelessly!
In the past, every opportunity to enter the Xuanming Domain had been controlled by the Duanmu Clan, but this time, the several great families were determined!
And hearing these words, laden with deep humiliation, the faces of the Duanmu Clan's disciples reddened...
In low voices, they cursed, "Damn it! These families are just too arrogant. Do they really think that our Duanmu Clan's Elders are destined to lose?"
"Despicable and shameless, to use such disgraceful tactics to snatch the qualification to enter the Xuanming Domain!!"
"Hmph, Elder Lian and the others will definitely not lose! Although I don't know where these families found someone with the Cultivation Level of the Immortal Monarch Realm, their strength certainly can't be that great!"
Duanmu Shuo, as the head of the Clan, naturally felt no fondness toward these insulting remarks...
After suppressing the anger in his heart, he clenched his fists and forced a smile, saying, "The other Clan Leaders jest. Since you have arrived at our Duanmu Clan, naturally, there must be hospitality. How about we chat casually for a day first?"
If they were provoked this way, they would be completely playing into their hands; spreading this would only suppress the Duanmu Clan's status!
But these foreign Clan Leaders and Elders seemed to have seen through Duanmu Shuo's thoughts and sneered, "No need! We can chat casually after the contest is over!"
They not only wanted to get the qualification to enter the Xuanming Domain but also to properly visit the Duanmu Clan, returning the humiliation they had suffered over the years!!
Just thinking of that scene excited and thrilled them...
Anticipating such a response, Duanmu Shuo calmly said, "Well then, if that's the case, all of you please follow me!"
Subsequently, these foreign Clan members followed Duanmu Shuo toward the Martial Arts Stage within the residence...
It was then that Duanmu Lian's beautiful eyes turned towards Xu Sheng, speaking with a serious face, "Xu Sheng, this time's opponents are not easy to deal with. They are likely to join forces to eliminate us first, so..."
To win, one must be prepared to face several opponents at once, or else it would only result in a terrible loss!
Hearing this, Xu Sheng replied softly, "Hmm!"
His current strength, much greater than when he first arrived at the Duanmu Clan, especially in Martial Techniques!
Facing several Immortal Monarch Realm powerhouses, he couldn't say he would overpower them completely, but just speaking of victory, it was almost a piece of cake!"
Seeing Xu Sheng's response, Duanmu Lian once again turned her gaze to the stoic Zhou Qingruo, speaking with a complex tone, "Qingruo, the premise of this contest is that each family will send three Elders to participate, so..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was crystal clear...
Zhou Qingruo also might need to fight as an Elder of the Duanmu Clan, or else, even if she and Xu Sheng were to win, they would still lose due to numbers, giving other families an excuse to disqualify the Duanmu Clan!"
Duanmu Lian heard this, her amber-colored beautiful eyes flickered a few times, but she did not immediately take a stance. Instead, she simply said, "Let's go!"
As the words ended, she turned her body and walked towards the direction of the Martial Arts Stage...
Duanmu Lian, seeing this, reached out her hand wanting to stop her, "Qing..."
But her tender wrist was caught by Xu Sheng first, who said with a light laugh, "Miss Lian, don't worry. Qingruo will definitely take the stage!"
Duanmu Lian was stunned, then doubted, "Hmm? How can you be so sure?"
She and Zhou Qingruo had been good friends for so many years; she had not been able to figure out the latter's attitude towards this matter, yet Xu Sheng dared to make such a confident statement!
Xu Sheng glanced at her, saying unhurriedly, "It's simple, with Qingruo's personality, whether it's for you or the Duanmu Clan, she will surely participate!"
After all, blood is thicker than water, and she could not bear to see the Duanmu Clan suffer humiliation from other families!
Duanmu Lian nodded thoughtfully, but the next moment, her tone weakened, "Is that so... Then, Xu Sheng, could you... could you let go of my hand? There are... there are disciples watching us!"
As she spoke, her cheeks became as hot as if splashed with chili oil, so hot that it made one want to reach out and caress them...
Xu Sheng, upon hearing this, took a glance at the Duanmu Clan disciples around them, who were staring with peculiar looks, and quickly let go of Duanmu Lian's wrist...
He said with slight apology, "Sorry for causing the disciples to misunderstand."
Duanmu Lian's heart began to beat faster, and she said in slight panic, "It's... it's fine! Let's go... let's leave quickly!"
After watching her leave in a hurry, Xu Sheng looked at his own hand and said with a wry smile, "It was just holding a wrist, why did it feel like she was as shy as a young girl?"
"Hiss! Who would have thought that besides having a relationship with Elder Qingruo, Elder Lian can't escape his palm either?"
"Damn! If only I had that kind of strength, how could I possibly let Elder Lian be... be taken away by an outsider by Elder Xu!!"
"Elder Lian, my goddess! Looking at her just now, she was totally on the verge of succumbing!!"
"Forget it! We should hurry to the Martial Arts Stage now. If we lose, our Duanmu Clan will lose all our face!"
...
Before long, Duanmu Shuo, along with the leaders of the other families, sat in their seats, their gazes overlooking the Martial Arts Stage below...
But whether intentional or not, Duanmu Shuo not only sat in the prime seat, but even the height was a few notches above the other Clan Leaders...
Apart from them, around the Martial Arts Stage, quite a few Duanmu Clan disciples had already gathered...
In a low voice, one could hear them loudly chanting, "Elder Lian!! Elder Lian!! Crush their arrogance!"
"That's right! Let them see the might of our Duanmu Clan!!"
"In the past duels, our Duanmu Clan always won, and this time will be no exception! The victory will be ours!!!"
"Elder Lian! Elder Qingruo, Elder Xu!! Please, don't let us down!!"
......