The clash of the sword and spear was fierce, the sound like thunder, echoing in all directions.
The people in the hall felt the residual shockwaves coming from the Barrier and couldn't help but feel curious and worried.
The Barrier immediately shattered with a bang, and a figure flew backward out of it.
Guan Yi rushed forward to check upon seeing this. After clearly seeing Chu Canyuan's face, he was just about to step forward to help him up, but Chu Canyuan stopped him with a gesture.
Guan Bu and the Second Madam, among others, all showed joyful expressions, looking triumphantly at Guan Yi and Chu Canyuan.
The surrounding noisy sounds continued to rise.
"Did Little Brother Chu lose?"
"Most likely, his Peach Wood Sword has already shattered into pieces."
Looking over, Chu Canyuan was left holding only the hilt of the Peach Wood Sword in his hand.
"Third Brother, the result is obvious, isn't it?"
Guan Bu walked up to Guan Yi and spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
Guan Yi wanted to retort but was interrupted by Chu Canyuan's cold laugh.
Guan Bu roared, "Stinky brat, what are you laughing at!"
Chu Canyuan slowly raised his head, the corner of his mouth curving upwards.
"Why aren't you hurrying to go check on your Brother Ye."
Upon hearing this, Guan Bu suddenly had a bad premonition.
He walked toward Ye Jiangzhi's position with an expression of disbelief.
When the dust settled, Guan Bu clearly saw Ye Jiangzhi lying unconscious on the ground.
"How could this be?!"
Guan Bu found it hard to believe his own eyes.
The people in the hall all stood up; none of them had expected this outcome.
Guan Xun sharply looked at Guan Lin, only to see Guan Lin smiling as if he had expected this all along.
"Father... just as expected..."
Guan Yi excitedly hugged Chu Canyuan.
"How did you do it? Could it be that you truly are some kind of Monstrous talent?"
Chu Canyuan broke free from Guan Yi's grasp and said with a mischievous smile, "Body Protection Treasure, Body Protection Treasure."
Guan Yi laughed heartily, "Hahaha, good."
"Second Brother, shouldn't you fulfill your promise regarding the Body Protecting Magic Treasure now."
Guan Bu spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Someone, quickly take Young Master Ye away for treatment."
He then tossed a Storage Ring to Guan Yi.
"Here!"
Guan Yi, fully satisfied, helped Chu Canyuan up.
"Since the outcome is decided, I will take Brother Chu to receive treatment first."
Guan Xun looked at the crowd and said, "Guan Yi, this Birthday Banquet..."
"Elder Brother, this Birthday Banquet can be considered concluded," Guan Yi said with a smile toward Guan Xun.
After Guan Yi and Chu Canyuan left the hall, Guan Lin finally spoke.
"I am truly sorry. It is my fault for not disciplining them properly, causing the children to lose their composure and disturb everyone's enjoyment. I will certainly pay a visit another day to properly compensate all of you."
"Not at all, City Lord Guan, please don't say that."
"Yes, we are all old now. It's rare that we get to feel the passion that disappeared many years ago because of a few youngsters."
Guan Lin nodded slightly and hesitantly spoke, "Then shall we continue? Have the servants bring out more delicious delicacies and aged fine wine!"
"Good, we'll listen to the City Lord, continue, continue."
Guan Bu returned to his seat, his brow tightly furrowed, his eyes flashing with dissatisfied anger.
Qian Ge poured a cup of wine on the side and brought it to Guan Bu's lips.
"Elder Brother Guan Bu, have a drink to calm your anger. That Chu Canyuan must have used some dishonorable method."
With a "crack," the wine cup in Qian Ge's hand was smashed onto the floor by Guan Bu.
Guan Bu abruptly stood up, bowed to everyone, and then said, "Father, your son is feeling unwell, so I will take my leave first."
Guan Lin took a sip of wine and nodded slightly, looking somewhat disappointed.
Guan Bu immediately got up and left the hall, with Qian Ge following closely behind him.
The Second Madam and Qian Cheng lowered their heads in shame under Guan Xun's gaze, their dissatisfaction with Ye Jiangzhi fully displayed on their faces.
Since Ye Jiangzhi remained at the City Lord's Mansion to recuperate, Guan Yi took Chu Canyuan back to the Drunken Dream Pavilion.
After a brief treatment by the Doctor, only Chu Canyuan and Guan Yi remained in the side room.
"How do you feel?"
Chu Canyuan lay on the bed, resting his eyes, "It's nothing serious, mostly just superficial injuries."
Guan Yi became interested at this moment.
"What method did you actually use to defeat him? Setting aside the fact that he is a Third Realm expert, just that dark purple long spear is clearly not an ordinary item."
"You managed to block his spear thrusts with just a Peach Wood Sword?"
Chu Canyuan fell into thought upon hearing this.
He didn't know why, but every time he used the Peach Wood Sword in his hand to deflect Ye Jiangzhi's spear momentum, he felt that even the fiercest spear moves became light and airy.
The weight seemed to be less than one-tenth of Mu Zuo's Wooden Bucket and Wooden Ladle.
And regarding Ye Jiangzhi's final thrust while airborne, Chu Canyuan knew that he had not managed to block that strike.
Just as the long spear was about to pierce his chest, a scorching sensation suddenly emanated from his embrace.
Subsequently, that wave of heat directly blasted Ye Jiangzhi away and knocked him unconscious.
But when Chu Canyuan reached into his embrace, he only found the Wooden Box his Father had left him, which had left Chu Canyuan puzzled until now.
He also didn't know how to explain it to Guan Yi.
"Chu Canyuan? Has he fallen asleep?"
Seeing that Chu Canyuan didn't respond, Guan Yi got up and left the room.
Chu Canyuan slowly opened his eyes, turned his head, and happened to see only the hilt of the Peach Wood Sword remaining on the table.
"The Peach Wood Sword that accompanied me for three years, is this the end?"
"I wonder how that Strange Old Man Mu Zuo is doing, is he still alive?"
"The Strange Old Man is so strong, he must be fine."
Half a month ago... Huangzhou Sacred Hall...
"Mu Zuo!"
"We know you had a very close relationship with Mei Aoxue, and we are also heartbroken by his demise, but his death has nothing to do with our Sacred Hall!"
"Our Sacred Hall would never commit such a despicable act as betraying a comrade. If you truly want to avenge him, go cause trouble at the Demonic Sect, and please stop making a scene in front of our Sacred Hall Mountain Gate."
Mu Zuo singled out the Elder with one eyebrow raised and mocked, "The Demonic Sect killed the Inner Sect Master of your Sacred Hall, yet you can still remain so composed."
"It truly seems that Mei Aoxue was blocking your path, so you colluded with the Demonic Sect to eliminate him."
"Nonsense! Slander!"
An Old Man felt a pang of guilt upon hearing this, leaped out of the Mountain Gate, and rushed straight toward Mu Zuo.
"Fifth Elder, don't!"
The other four Old Men tried to dissuade him, but they were still too late to stop the Elder who had flown out.
Seeing that his hypocritical mask had been torn off by Mu Zuo, Mu Zuo also burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha, you have guts! Come on then!"
Just as the Fifth Elder rushed toward Mu Zuo like lightning, and was only a short distance away, he suddenly sensed that his body was sinking as if into a quagmire, and his movements became extremely sluggish!
Not only that, a bone-chilling cold rapidly spread from the soles of his feet throughout his entire body, causing him to involuntarily shiver.
"What in the world is happening...?" The Fifth Elder's eyes widened, filled with astonishment.
At this moment, he felt as if his limbs were being heavily pressed down by lead weights; every slight movement required immense effort.
And just then, one of the other four Old Men showed an expression of regret and said with deep sorrow, "Oh dear! This is utterly disastrous!"
"Fifth Elder, you only just took office not long ago, you have no idea about this man before you or the terrifying power of the Ice Lotus in his hand!"
Before the words even finished, in just an instant, the Fifth Elder felt as if his cheeks were being sliced by countless sharp blades, causing unbearable, sharp pain.
Upon looking again, his lips were already covered by a thick layer of frost, chilling to the bone, making even opening his mouth to speak an extravagance.
Only indistinct whimpering sounds could be heard from his throat; the entire person seemed to have been frozen solid into an incomparably hard block of ice.
Seeing this, Mu Zuo took a step forward expressionlessly and slowly walked up to the Fifth Elder.
The Fifth Elder stared at Mu Zuo before him with wide, disbelieving eyes, his heart filled with terror and despair.
As time ticked by second by second, the Fifth Elder's breathing grew weaker and weaker, finally ceasing completely.