Chapter Twenty-Eight: Saving the Tang Clan Leader

Su Xue'er's face turned slightly red as she whispered to Yu Shi, "Yu Shi, I need to go back."

Just as she turned to leave, Yu Shi grabbed her. "What are you doing? I'm going back."

"No, if you go back, I'll go with you."

"...."

Su Xue'er was speechless. Yu Shi, however, pulled her onto his lap, holding her firmly by the waist.

Su Xue'er lowered her head, remaining silent.

Yu Shi, with a smug look, glanced at Su Xun. Su Xun smiled and shook his head, saying nothing.

Shen Yue'er's eyes were filled with murderous intent as she glared at Su Xue'er.

Yun Ziqi, sitting next to her, asked, "Yue'er, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just watch the match."

"...."

Yun Ziqi was puzzled.

After a long while, the first eight matches finally ended, with all the winners coming from noble families and top sects.

The announcer's voice echoed around, "Will the representatives of groups 9 to 16 and their corresponding opponents each send one person to the arena?"

Upon hearing this, Su Xue'er raised her head slightly, looking at Shen Zixuan in the crowd. Shen Zixuan flashed her a victory sign before leaping into the arena.

Shen Zixuan's opponent was from an ordinary family.

"I am Shu Ju. Please..."

"You should forfeit. I don't want to bully you."

Shu Ju, gritting his teeth, angrily shouted, "Arrogant! Axe Splitting the Heavens!"

Shu Ju leaped into the air, swinging a large axe at Shen Zixuan.

Shen Zixuan sneered, "A mere mid-stage Spirit King. So slow."

He sidestepped the attack, retreating a few steps.

"Kid, stop running if you have the guts."

Shu Ju roared and chased after him.

"I won't run."

Shen Zixuan faced him head-on.

After several exchanges, it was clear that Shen Zixuan had the upper hand.

Suddenly, Shen Zixuan disappeared from Shu Ju's sight. He reappeared behind Shu Ju, leaping with his spear aimed at Shu Ju's back.

Shu Ju reacted quickly, turning and using his axe to block the attack.

"Clang!"

Shen Zixuan's spear forced Shu Ju back several steps before he steadied himself.

Shu Ju thought, "It seems I've met my match today. As expected, the Chief doesn't keep weaklings."

He steadied himself and said to Shen Zixuan, "Kid, if you can take my next attack, I'll concede."

"Alright," Shen Zixuan agreed readily.

Shu Ju began to gather his energy for his strongest attack. In the audience, Su Xue'er, puzzled, whispered to Yu Shi, "Yu Shi, what are they doing?"

"The one gathering energy is Shu Ju, a disciple from the Shu family of Luoyu City in the Xiyun Empire. If I'm not mistaken, he is the nephew of the Shu family leader. Shu Ju told Shen Zixuan that if he can take his next attack, he'll concede."

Su Xue'er, a bit worried, asked, "Xiao Xuan won't get hurt, will he?"

Yu Shi smiled faintly. "Look at that boy's confident demeanor. How could he be in trouble?"

In the arena, Shu Ju was ready. He gripped his axe tightly and shouted, "Heaven Shaking!"

He charged at Shen Zixuan with incredible speed. Shen Zixuan remained calm. Just as the axe blade was about to hit him, Shen Zixuan moved.

Shen Zixuan murmured, "Phantom."

Shu Ju thought he had hit Shen Zixuan, but he only struck a shadow. Turning his head slightly, he saw Shen Zixuan's foot inches away from his body.

"Ahhh!"

Shen Zixuan kicked Shu Ju, sending him flying. Shu Ju landed on the ground, spitting blood.

Shen Zixuan pointed his spear at him. "You lost."

Shu Ju smiled bitterly, shaking his head. "You're impressive. You easily defeated me without using a single spiritual technique."

"Wait."

Just as Shu Ju was about to leave, Shen Zixuan called him back.

"What's wrong?"

"Call your strongest team member. Let's settle this in one round without wasting time."

Shu Ju said nothing, just smiled.

After a while, a stern-looking man entered the arena.

"Young man, I heard you want to decide the match in one round?"

"That's right."

"Alright, let me introduce myself. I am Shu Yun. I..."

Shu Yun was interrupted by Shen Zixuan. "Enough with the talk. Let's start."

Shen Zixuan immediately charged at Shu Yun.

After a few exchanges, Shu Yun was surprised. He thought to himself, "He's a mid-stage Spirit King, yet he's holding his own against me, a late-stage Spirit King."

Shu Yun kicked the shaft of Shen Zixuan's spear, causing him to stagger back.

Shu Yun immediately used his family's spiritual technique, "Axe Splitting the Heavens."

A large axe swung at Shen Zixuan, who dodged but was still shaken by the aftermath, stepping back a few paces to regain his balance.

"I didn't expect him to be much stronger than Shu Ju, likely at the peak of the Spirit King realm. I need to get serious," Shen Zixuan thought.

He used Phantom, planning to wear Shu Yun down with his speed.

A few breaths later, it was clear Shu Yun was struggling, but Shen Zixuan was also exhausted. They both stood still, watching each other, panting heavily.

Shu Yun smiled and said, "It seems you've exhausted your spiritual energy. Now, it's my turn."

"Heaven Shaking."

Shu Yun's Heaven Shaking technique was almost instantaneous, but Shen Zixuan sneered, "It's over. Shadow Chains."

"What?"

Shu Yun felt something was wrong. Suddenly, several chains wrapped around him, preventing him from using his technique.

Shen Zixuan walked up to Shu Yun and said, "I could end your life right now, but I won't. Just admit defeat."

Shu Yun sighed, "Alright, I concede."

After leaving the arena, Shen Zixuan noticed Tang Ruoyu standing with his team and ran over.

"Ruoyu, were you waiting for me? Did you see how cool I was?"

"Uh... yeah, cool. Where's your mom?"

"There," Shen Zixuan pointed to where Yu Shi was sitting.

Tang Ruoyu looked over and then sat down quietly without saying anything.

Shen Zixuan asked, "Ruoyu, is there something urgent you need from my mom?"

Tang Ruoyu nodded.

Su Xue'er had noticed Shen Zixuan and Tang Ruoyu's interaction. She looked at Yu Shi and said, "Yu Shi, I need to go for a bit."

"Alright."

Su Xue'er got off Yu Shi's lap, straightened her clothes, and walked towards Tang Ruoyu.

"Ruoyu, what's wrong? Do you need something from me?"

"Let's talk in private."

Tang Ruoyu led Su Xue'er to a secluded spot. Tears streamed down her face as she cried, "Xue'er, please save my father."

Su Xue'er quickly held Tang Ruoyu, who was about to kneel, and asked, "What's wrong? What happened to the Tang Clan Leader?"

"My father was injured by enemies while transporting goods and was poisoned by a toxin called Tan Hua. At first, the poisoned person feels no different, but the toxin slowly eats away at their spiritual energy. If the spiritual energy drops by one level, it endangers their life. Over the years, my father has sought a cure everywhere. A masked person once told him how to treat it, and we've gathered all the herbs needed, but we haven't been able to find a Spirit Master with the Space-Time Domain. I know you have the Space-Time Domain. Please, save my father. I'll do anything you ask, even marry Shen Zixuan."

"Don't talk about that now. I can help, but please don't tell anyone about my Space-Time Domain."

"Okay, thank you. Let's go now."

Su Xue'er and Tang Ruoyu quickly left the Spirit Master Manor and headed to the Tang family.

Meanwhile, a messenger reported to Yu Ke, who then approached Yu Shi and whispered, "Chief, Miss Su has gone to the Tang family."

"I see."

Yu Shi toyed with the ring on his finger, thinking, "The Tang family, huh? I think I know why they need Xue'er. This is good; it will make the Tang family owe her a favor."

When Tang Ruoyu and Su Xue'er arrived at the Tang family, they immediately went to the Tang Clan Leader's room, where only an old man with white hair and the bedridden clan leader were present.

Tang Ruoyu, with tears in her eyes, said, "Father, I brought Xue'er."

The Tang Clan Leader opened his eyes with difficulty. "Miss Su, forgive my poor appearance."

"Tang Clan Leader, I heard you need a Spirit Master with the Space-Time Domain?"

The Tang Clan Leader, using all his strength, asked, "Does Miss Su possess the Space-Time Domain?"

"Yes, I can treat you, but please keep it a secret."

The Tang Clan Leader nodded.

Su Xue'er turned to the white-haired old man and asked, "What do I need to do?"

"You need to activate the Space-Time Domain and inject the power of space-time into the Tang Clan Leader's body. Just protect his heart and meridians, and I'll handle the rest."

"Alright."

Su Xue'er activated the Space-Time Domain and followed the old man's instructions.

After a quarter of an hour, Su Xue'er was drenched in sweat, her spiritual energy almost depleted. The old man reminded her, "Miss Su, please hold on a bit longer. I'm almost done."

Tang Ruoyu, palms sweating, watched Su Xue'er and the old man intently.

After a while, Su Xue'er's face turned pale, and her lips lost their color, but she kept going.

The old man finally stood up and said, "Thank you, Miss Su."

Su Xue'er, weak, said, "You're welcome..."

She fainted before finishing her sentence. Tang Ruoyu quickly caught her and asked the old man, "What's wrong with her? How's my father?"

"She's just exhausted. She'll be fine after some rest. Your father is cured and will wake up soon. Let him sleep for a while. Take her to rest."

"Thank you, Elder."

Tang Ruoyu then supported Su Xue'er to her room.