83: Sixth-Order Grandmaster, Yao Zhenchuan

The levitating car landed smoothly.

The three of them stepped out of the levitating car, and a waiting attendant respectfully led the way.

Passing through several corridors and around a meticulously trimmed bamboo grove, they arrived before a magnificent main hall.

The hall was extremely spacious, its beams and pillars crafted from precious golden nanmu wood. The floor was paved with reflective black jade tiles, and several ancient landscape paintings with profound artistic conception hung on the surrounding walls.

The entire hall's decor was imposing and grand.

At this moment, the main seat in the center of the hall was empty.

By the threshold of a door on one side of the hall, an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple ancient robe, stood with his back to them, holding a fishing rod, seemingly about to go fishing.

The old man's figure was not tall, even a bit thin, but just his back exuded an imposing aura, like a deep pool or a towering mountain.

He was the true stabilizing force of the Yao Family, and a powerful figure in Canglan Province whose actions could cause tremors—Yao Zhenchuan, a Sixth Rank Grandmasters of eight stars!

As if hearing footsteps, Yao Zhenchuan slowly turned around.

From the front, his face was gaunt, his skin dark, and his forehead was filled with the ravines of time; he truly looked like an old man.

Perhaps too much fishing had made him look older.

The moment Yao Xiao saw the old man, she immediately shed all her usual liveliness and playfulness.

She quickly took a few steps forward, came before Yao Zhenchuan, bowed gracefully, performing a standard junior's grandRei, her voice sweet and obedient: "It's been a long time, Grandfather. How has your health been recently?"

Yao Zhenchuan's slightly stern face rarely showed a hint of gentleness.

He nodded lightly, his voice full of vigor: "Hmm, still robust."

Immediately, his gaze swept behind Yao Tianbi, and he asked indifferently: "That brat Tian Xiao didn't come again?"

"That damn dog, he really needs a good beating."

Before Yao Tianbi could explain, his gaze quickly turned to Lu Yuan, who stood beside him.

In an instant, that hint of gentleness that had just appeared vanished without a trace, replaced by scrutiny.

The air seemed to grow tense.

Yao Tianbi quickly stepped forward, respectfully introducing Lu Yuan: "Father, this is Lu Yuan, the champion of this year's New Talent Competition in Jiangcheng, whom I've mentioned to you many times in our communications."

"Uh... he's that gold Little Fellow."

Lu Yuan felt an immense pressure wash over him.

But he still straightened his back, his expression calm, and neither servile nor overbearing, he also took a step forward, cupped his fists towards Yao Zhenchuan, and saluted loudly: "Junior Lu Yuan, greetings to Elder Yao."

Yao Zhenchuan, however, did not immediately respond to Lu Yuan's greeting.

He directly and unreservedly scrutinized him from head to toe, as if wanting to see through the young man inside and out.

This wasn't enough; the old man's mind stirred, and a true oppressive aura spread, enveloping the entire hall.

Lu Yuan felt his shoulders suddenly sink, as if a thousand catties of weight pressed down, and his breathing became somewhat difficult.

The three gold cards in his card slot were also stirring, especially the Phoenix, eager to rush out and protect its master.

This was really bad; Lu Yuan desperately held back the surge of Source Power, hoping the stinky bird wouldn't expose itself!

He knew this was the old man's test, and also a show of dominance.

Yao Tianbi and Yao Xiao both held their breath, their faces showing worry, fearing that Lu Yuan would not be able to withstand the pressure and lose composure in front of the old man.

Just as this suffocating silence lasted for nearly half a minute, and Lu Yuan was about to give up—

Yao Zhenchuan suddenly snorted coldly, breaking the tension.

"Jiangcheng champion?"

"Hmph, a small mud loach from a remote backwater dares to call himself a champion?"

"I heard you, Little Fellow, are incredibly bold, and your methods are quite ruthless!"

The old man's gaze turned to Yao Tianbi, his tone suddenly rising several notches, with a hint of accusation:

"Tianbi, is this the so-called promising talent you've repeatedly boasted about in my ear?"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Tianbi's face immediately showed a hint of embarrassment and helplessness.

He was about to speak up to explain a few words for Lu Yuan and ease the atmosphere, but Yao Zhenchuan's sharp gaze swept over him, forcing him to swallow the words that had reached his lips.

The old man's authority was something no one in the Yao Family dared to easily challenge.

Yao Xiao's small face also turned red with anxiety; several times she wanted to open her mouth to speak for Lu Yuan, but she was quietly pulled by the sleeve by Yao Tianbi beside her, who also gave her a look, signaling her not to interrupt at this moment, lest she add fuel to the fire.

She could only stamp her foot, looking at Lu Yuan with a worried expression, secretly sweating for him.

This beginning was not good at all!

"Replying to Elder Yao, the matter of the Jiangcheng competition was not initiated by this junior's provocation."

"It was truly Lin Dong, the son of the Lin Family, who openly violated the rules first in the competition, even using the forbidden evil technique, the Blood Burning Secret Art, which is explicitly prohibited by the Alliance. His moves were vicious, aiming to kill this junior."

"This junior, in order to protect himself, had no choice but to fight back with all his might."

"As for whether the methods were ruthless..." Lu Yuan paused, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes, "It's only because the opponent was aggressive and relentless. If this junior couldn't resolve the trouble once and for all, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stand here safely today and listen to Elder Yao's teachings."

He replied with conviction, neither servile nor overbearing.

After hearing Lu Yuan's words, a smile flashed in Yao Zhenchuan's eyes, then quickly vanished.

Then his tone became even colder: "A good 'relentless'! A good 'resolve the trouble'!"

"Although my Yao Family is not some renowned righteous sect that adheres to elaborate formalities, we also adhere to the principle of 'moderation'! Anything in excess is as bad as not enough!"

"Do you know how much unnecessary trouble and criticism your actions in Jiangcheng will bring to my Yao Family's arrangements and reputation in Jiangcheng and even the entire Canglan Province?"

"Have you ever considered these potential negative impacts?"

These words, seemingly questioning Lu Yuan's reckless actions, were actually a further test of Lu Yuan's ability to respond, and whether he had the responsibility to account for his actions.

Lu Yuan understood in his heart that the old man was forcing him to take a stand.

He smiled calmly, without the slightest fear in his eyes: "This junior knows there will be repercussions for this matter, and understands that it might cause some inconvenience to the Yao Family."

"If this matter truly brings any substantial trouble or loss to the Yao Family, this junior, Lu Yuan, is willing to bear all responsibility alone, and will not implicate the Yao Family in the slightest!"

His tone shifted, carrying a sense of detachment from life and death, and firm resolve: "At worst, this life, I'll just pay it to the Lin Family!"

This resolute sense of responsibility made Yao Tianbi and Yao Xiao nod secretly, a look of admiration flashing in their eyes simultaneously.

A hint of cunning quickly flickered in Lu Yuan's eyes.

Having lived two lives, who wouldn't know how to say a few nice words in such a situation? It's best to put on a good show first.

The moment Lu Yuan's voice fell, the oppressive aura from Yao Zhenchuan's body suddenly receded like a tide, as if everything that had happened before had never occurred.

The sternness on his face also quietly dissipated, revealing a smile.

"Heh heh, Little Fellow, your words are quite bold."

"I heard that you, Little Fellow, possess more than one gold card? And, it seems they are all quite extraordinary?"

Yao Zhenchuan changed the subject: "I happen to have a few unruly junior disciples here, who also have some knowledge of beast taming. Do you dare to spar with them?"

"Let this old man see with his own eyes how much real ability you, the so-called Jiangcheng champion, truly possess, and whether you are worth my Yao Family truly stepping forward and paying for your troubles!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a steady, powerful sound of footsteps came from outside the main hall.

Immediately after, a robust young man with a condensed aura strode into the hall.

This person exuded a powerful Source Power fluctuation, clearly a genuine peak Third Rank Card Master!

"Ancestor! Yao Cheng requests an audience!"

...