“It’s not that I’m deliberately belittling Little Brother Chu, it’s just that Third Brother, you are still young, don't be misled by those with ulterior motives.”
“Moreover, the Young City Lord Contest is no trivial matter. If Third Brother chooses such a young boy, it only makes me feel that this person is incapable of handling important responsibilities.”
Guan Yi interrupted Guan Bu: “Second Brother should mind his own business. I know what I am doing regarding my choice.”
Guan Bu hadn't intended to test Chu Canyuan by fighting, but Guan Yi kept making him look bad, so he had to regain some face from the other party.
“Since Third Brother is so confident, why don't we have a competition?”
“How shall we compete?”
Fearing Guan Yi might change his mind, Guan Bu quickly beckoned towards a slender figure.
Seeing this, the person walked up to Guan Bu, bowed, and said, “Ye Jiangzhi greets Second Young Master, and Little Young Master.”
Ye Jiangzhi was dressed in tight black attire, wearing a silver-white mask that concealed his features. His eyes were cold as blades, giving off a sense of danger and aloofness.
“Ye Jiangzhi is the helper I have chosen for the Young City Lord Contest. Since both of them are present, why don't we have them spar right now?”
“Otherwise, the mountain forest is full of dangers, and I fear Little Brother Chu won't be able to protect Third Brother well enough.”
Guan Yi frowned, his expression troubled, and he looked towards Chu Canyuan beside him. At this moment, his heart was tangled like a messy ball of thread.
It should be known that the only reason he thought of involving Chu Canyuan was because he valued the Weight of Karma that the other party carried.
He had originally intended to use this power to stir up the current complex and thorny situation within the family, but he never expected things to develop to this point.
All this time, Guan Yi’s understanding of Chu Canyuan was limited to the Weight of Karma he bore. As for his actual strength and realm, he knew nothing.
Faced with Guan Bu’s request, Guan Yi truly dared not agree lightly.
After all, if Chu Canyuan’s strength was insufficient to handle the current situation, it would not only fail to solve the problem but might also put him in grave danger and cause serious injury.
However, at the same time, Guan Yi could not bear to watch Chu Canyuan take risks and face difficulties because of his involvement.
Deep down, he felt immense gratitude and guilt towards this friend.
If he hadn't been driven to a dead end, he would never have resorted to such a desperate measure. But right now, the choice before him was truly difficult to make...
Xu Pian also looked at Guan Bu with some nervousness, his gaze filled with disbelief and doubt.
“Second Brother, stop making things difficult for Third Brother and Little Brother Chu. The helper I found has also arrived to celebrate Third Brother’s eighteenth Birthday Banquet. Why don't we let the two of them spar?”
Guan Xun stood up and walked between Guan Yi and Guan Bu, attempting to stop this pointless farce.
“Big Brother, I am thinking of Third Brother’s well-being. What if he is being deceived...”
Guan Yi turned to look at Chu Canyuan, who nodded readily, signaling his acceptance of Guan Bu’s demand.
Guan Yi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, “Fine, Second Brother, let them compete.”
Guan Bu sneered inwardly upon hearing this: “When I break one of his arms and one of his legs, then you’ll have something to worry about.”
Although he thought this, Guan Bu still maintained the proper outward appearance.
“Little Brother Chu probably doesn't have a very high cultivation level. I will only let Ye Jiangzhi use three moves. If you can block them all, I will give you a Body Protection Treasure.”
“However, fists and feet have no eyes. If Little Brother Chu is injured during the match...”
Guan Yi didn't want to hear another word from Guan Bu.
“Enough, enough, stop talking so much. Hurry up, I’m waiting to go to the Drunken Dream Pavilion with Brother Chu to listen to music.”
Guan Lin, seated in the main seat, waved his hand somewhat helplessly.
The people in the hall quickly cleared an open space for Chu Canyuan and Ye Jiangzhi to use.
Ye Jiangzhi and Chu Canyuan walked to the open space, stood opposite each other, their postures tense and ready for battle.
Guan Xun looked at Guan Yi in confusion.
“Are you crazy? The helper Second Brother found is definitely not an ordinary person. Letting Chu Canyuan face him, isn't this...”
“Big Brother, since Chu Canyuan is confident, what do I have to worry about?”
Guan Xun became even more anxious upon hearing this: “You trust him that much? What is it about him that makes you...”
“Big Brother! Please stop talking. We both know what we are doing.”
Guan Xun glanced at Guan Yi, then looked up at Chu Canyuan, sighed, and returned to his seat to drink his wine.
Qian Cheng and Second Madam gloated from the side: “The helper Second Young Master found should be able to defeat Chu Canyuan in one move.”
“Not should, it’s definitely one move.”
“Hahahaha, Second Madam is right, definitely, definitely.”
Guan Lin coughed towards the two of them, and Qian Cheng and Second Madam immediately retracted their ugly expressions.
Qian Ge ran to Guan Bu’s side. Although she held Guan Bu’s arm, her gaze remained fixed on Chu Canyuan.
“Third Brother, how many moves do you think Little Brother Chu can last?”
Guan Yi once again summoned a bottle of Snow Cliff Dew from his storage ring, downed half of it in one gulp, and smiled as he turned.
“I’ll be waiting for Second Brother’s Body Protection Treasure.”
Guan Bu laughed loudly: “It’s come to this, Third Brother shouldn't force himself to look strong.”
“Ye Jiangzhi is a powerhouse at the Third Realm Transition Stage. Surely Little Brother Chu hasn't just entered the First Realm Beginning Realm, has he?”
Guan Yi truly did not know Chu Canyuan’s real strength, but he believed in Chu Canyuan.
“Second Brother should just watch their match carefully, lest you regret it and try to renege on the bet.”
“I will not use my full strength in the next three moves, so as not to be accused by others of bullying the weak.”
Seeing that Chu Canyuan did not respond, Ye Jiangzhi became somewhat annoyed.
“Ungrateful! You’re asking for death!”
With that, Ye Jiangzhi brought his hands together, and a black and purple Barrier immediately rose around Chu Canyuan and himself.
“Night Travel Chaos Wrap.”
“Once trapped within this Barrier, everyone’s senses, except mine, will gradually become dull, and reaction speed will drop significantly.”
Chu Canyuan said somewhat boredly, “What, is this the first move?”
Guan Yi was a little nervous: “We can’t see anything happening inside this Barrier from the outside.”
Guan Bu glanced sideways at Guan Yi: “Don’t worry so much, our Ye Jiangzhi knows his limits.”
Ye Jiangzhi reached behind his back and drew out a dark purple long spear.
“Purple Spear: Long Night.”
The spear named Long Night had a shaft forged from obsidian, covered in purple Runes, emitting a strong dark attribute aura.
Once Spiritual Power was infused, the entire long spear would conceal its aura, making it seem to disappear, making it difficult for the enemy to track the tip of the spear.
Ye Jiangzhi moved forward quickly, thrusting the long spear directly towards Chu Canyuan’s chest.
Seeing this, Chu Canyuan quickly drew his Peach Wood Sword and cleaved towards the spear tip.
Chu Canyuan secretly wondered: “Why does his spear feel so light and powerless?”
Ye Jiangzhi, having been blocked, changed his spear technique and lashed out three consecutive thrusts, each aimed at Chu Canyuan’s vital points.
Chu Canyuan gathered his Spiritual Power at the tip of the Peach Wood Sword, twisted his body, swung his sword, and a streak of sword light shot out like a silk ribbon, directly repelling Ye Jiangzhi’s three fatal thrusts.
“Still this feeling... Strange?”
“Compared to the Strange Old Man’s ladle, his spear feels as soft as cotton.”
The sound of clashing blades and spears was incessant, sparks flew, and the air was thick with tension.
“Brother Ye, this is more than three moves already.”
“Enough nonsense!”
Ye Jiangzhi became somewhat agitated when he realized he couldn't gain the upper hand against Chu Canyuan.
Ye Jiangzhi stopped holding back his moves. He spun the purple spear in his hand, and instantly, a wave of air swept out, causing the hems of Chu Canyuan and his companion’s clothes to flutter slightly and their hair to stream.
“Last move!”
Ye Jiangzhi took a step forward and delivered a thrust. The spear technique was domineering and chilling, carrying the force of a thousand pounds as it stabbed out horizontally.
Chu Canyuan knew well that with his current strength, he could not withstand this thrust, let alone his Peach Wood Sword matching the opponent's obsidian long spear.
Chu Canyuan had no choice but to condense all his Sword Qi and unleash a single strike. The sword Qi surged forth, instantly colliding with the tip of Ye Jiangzhi’s long spear.