326: Trampling and slapping

Over East Island, dark clouds loomed.

Under the dim sky, a suppressive atmosphere permeated.

Just like Xiao Shi's mood at this moment.

When he learned the entire situation from Xiang Zizhen,

the veins on Xiao Shi's face bulged one by one, and the rage in his eyes seemed to ignite him.

The actions of the Martial Pavilion and the Great Wu Crown Prince had thoroughly enraged him.

He hadn't expected these people to be so shameless!

Originally, when the Great Wu Crown Prince had made Xiang Zizhen and Rong Sufei compete, that unfair treatment had already made Xiao Shi's heart burn with anger.

Now, they had just reversed the situation through their own efforts.

The Great Wu Crown Prince had violated the rules he had set himself and openly interfered!

This made Xiao Shi clearly realize that

for the Great Wu Crown Prince,

no matter how great the merit, it couldn't compare to his own power.

Both Xiang Zizhen and Xiao Shi were now filled with disappointment and a chill in their hearts towards the entire Great Wu Dynasty.

Especially Xiang Zizhen.

From the moment he was taken as a disciple by Chen Yuan, he had been proud to be a member of the Great Wu Dynasty.

But he never expected… he would receive such unfair treatment within the Great Wu Dynasty.

And this was after he had made significant contributions.

Although Xiao Shi didn't have as strong a sense of belonging to the Great Wu Dynasty as Xiang Zizhen,

the treatment he received this time also filled him with surging anger.

After all, the person who truly made the contribution was him.

He had thought that by giving the credit to Xiang Zizhen, with Xiang Zizhen's status, he would receive the best reward.

But he never expected… even Xiang Zizhen would be treated this way.

It was hard to imagine.

If this merit had been his, how would he have been dismissed?

“This is too much!”

Xiao Shi's eyes blazed with fury.

He had spent so much effort to reverse the situation, but now, because the Great Wu Crown Prince wanted to balance forces, all his previous efforts were in vain.

Since Xiao Shi embarked on the path of a martial artist, he had never suffered such oppression.

Xiang Zizhen could endure it, but Xiao Shi truly couldn't!

Even if the opponent was the Great Wu Crown Prince, Xiao Shi couldn't tolerate being trampled upon like this.

Subconsciously, he had the idea of publicly exposing the other party's hypocritical face.

He knew very well.

The reason the Great Wu Crown Prince did not openly bestow the Nan Dou Region upon Rong Sufei, but instead supported Rong Sufei in such a roundabout and subtle way, was entirely because the Great Wu Crown Prince was a person who valued his reputation.

If he had ignored Xiang Zizhen's request and directly bestowed the Nan Dou Region upon Rong Sufei, then in the eyes of others, the Great Wu Dynasty's reward and punishment system would inevitably be questioned.

Under circumstances where Xiang Zizhen had made such a huge contribution, he wasn't even given a region?

In that case,

who would make contributions for the Great Wu Dynasty in the future?

Therefore,

on the surface, the Great Wu Crown Prince would certainly have to project an image of fairness and justice.

Making others believe that the Great Wu Crown Prince gave Xiang Zizhen a fair chance to compete, but Xiang Zizhen himself couldn't win.

This way, no one would question the Great Wu Crown Prince.

Xiao Shi felt that if he revealed the details of this competition and the things the Great Wu Crown Prince did behind the scenes,

it would surely allow the people of the Great Wu Dynasty to see the true face of this Crown Prince.

However, this thought had just arisen.

It was immediately dismissed by Xiao Shi.

He realized that doing so would be of little significance.

After all, as the current ruler of the Great Wu Dynasty, the other party could somewhat control public opinion.

At that time, Rong Sufei's side could directly claim that the Great Wu Crown Prince had bestowed the Great Wu Seal upon him before Xiang Zizhen even arrived in the Nan Dou Region.

For the public,

it would be difficult to discern the truth from falsehood.

At the same time, it was certain that

in terms of public opinion, they couldn't contend with the Great Wu Crown Prince.

And once they did that,

it would be tantamount to openly opposing the Great Wu Crown Prince.

In the future, they would inevitably be unable to gain a foothold in the Great Wu Dynasty.

“Forget it…”

“We cannot contend with the Great Wu Crown Prince.”

Xiang Zizhen sighed.

His expression was dim.

“Master had already hinted very clearly before, we in the Great Wu Dynasty can only conform to the Great Wu Crown Prince…”

Conform?

Xiao Shi smiled.

He really couldn't do that!

Especially after being trampled upon by the other party, to still conform to their trampling, that was even more impossible for him!

Xiao Shi felt he still held the same attitude.

The more the other party didn't want to give, the more he would take!

This was originally his.

No one could take it away!

“If I say… I can help you refine this Nan Dou Region, refine it faster than Rong Sufei, do you dare to refine it?”

Xiao Shi looked at Xiang Zizhen very seriously and asked.

Xiang Zizhen’s body trembled suddenly.

His pupils widened little by little.

“You… what did you say?”

He stared blankly at Xiao Shi.

Somewhat unsure of what he had just heard.

“I said… I can help you refine this Nan Dou Region, do you dare to refine it?”

Xiao Shi repeated earnestly.

Xiang Zizhen’s mind instantly felt as if billions of thunderbolts had rumbled and exploded.

Based on his understanding of Xiao Shi,

he knew that since Xiao Shi dared to say this, he would surely be able to do it.

Although the current Xiao Shi seemed unfathomable in his eyes, he hadn't expected that the other party could refine this Nan Dou Region faster than Rong Sufei!

One must know.

Currently, Rong Sufei was refining under the conferment of the Great Wu Seal.

Within the Imperial Domain, could there be a way to refine this region faster than the conferment brought by the Great Wu Seal?

Xiang Zizhen took a deep breath.

Although the impact Xiao Shi's words had on him was immensely strong,

based on his trust and understanding of Xiao Shi,

he would unconditionally trust anything Xiao Shi said.

He immediately began to ponder seriously.

He knew very well.

Even if Xiao Shi possessed the ability to refine the Nan Dou Region, he still needed to think carefully.

Once the Nan Dou Region was refined,

that would be tantamount to openly slapping the Great Wu Crown Prince in the face!

This was also the reason why Xiao Shi asked him if he dared.

This was a path of defying the Great Wu Crown Prince!

However, unlike publicly exposing the Great Wu Crown Prince's behind-the-scenes actions… even if the Great Wu Crown Prince was furious,

he couldn't openly make a move.

After all, he had to maintain his benevolent persona.

He wouldn't display his domineering side openly.

Since he publicly allowed Xiang Zizhen and Rong Sufei to compete fairly, if Xiang Zizhen won against Rong Sufei through competition, he could only accept it!

If he were to attack Xiang Zizhen because of this, his persona and authority would be jeopardized.

In other words… once Xiang Zizhen refined the Nan Dou Region,

it wouldn't necessarily mean he would be unable to gain a foothold in the Great Wu Dynasty in the future.

Whether out of concern for his own persona or public credibility, the Great Wu Crown Prince couldn't openly make a move against him.

Xiang Zizhen could still continue to stay in the Great Wu Dynasty.

But through this incident, he would have completely offended the Great Wu Crown Prince.

In the future, he would inevitably face the Great Wu Crown Prince's covert targeting.

Xiang Zizhen took a deep breath.

Now, two paths lay before him.

One was the path of conforming to the Great Wu Crown Prince.

The other was the path of defying the Great Wu Crown Prince.

After a period of contemplation,

a sharp glint flashed in Xiang Zizhen's eyes.

He instantly made a decision.

“I dare!!”

He said in a deep voice.

If he were to conform even after facing such injustice, what dignity would he have left?

He didn't want to be a dog wagging its tail for scraps!

“Very good!”

Xiao Shi smiled.

He was not surprised by Xiang Zizhen's decision.

Based on his understanding of Xiang Zizhen, he knew that the other party was by no means someone who would passively accept everything.

This grievance.

They had to release it!

It was impossible to be so spineless and allow the Great Wu Crown Prince to trample on them.

If the other party dared to trample on them, they would dare to slap the other party's face!

Thinking of this,

Xiao Shi directly took out a severed limb.

It was a severed hand.

It was precisely the Hand of Refinement that had dropped when he first killed a Martial Demon Grade being.

Although this item was Martial Demon Grade,

its function and value could rival a Saint Grade treasure.

Through the Hand of Refinement, one could forcibly perform a partial regional refinement!

This was an extremely overbearing and unsolvable refinement.

Originally, Xiao Shi planned to save this Hand of Refinement for when he refined a region himself.

But the current situation,

made him realize that only the Hand of Refinement could reverse this situation!

Only it could allow Xiang Zizhen to refine the Nan Dou Region faster than Rong Sufei!

No matter what.

He was determined to obtain this Nan Dou Region!

After Xiao Shi gave the Hand of Refinement to Xiang Zizhen, Xiang Zizhen's mind was once again greatly shaken.

He deeply understood the value and significance of this Hand of Refinement.

On one hand, he was shocked that Xiao Shi possessed such a formidable treasure.

On the other hand, he was moved by Xiao Shi's willingness to take out such a precious treasure to help him.

“From beginning to end, this has not been your concern alone!”

“Besides, I also cannot learn to conform.”

Xiao Shi said in a deep voice… West Island.

After receiving the conferment of the Great Wu Seal, Rong Sufei was revitalized and radiant. In less than a day, he seemed to have fully recovered, no longer showing any of his previous dejection or anxiety.

He was full of confidence.

Especially after he reset the ley lines of East Island and isolated the saint statue, he felt even more certain of victory.

“This time, you will have no chance whatsoever!”

Rong Sufei grinned.

He proceeded to refine the ley lines of East Island at the fastest speed.

He believed that with his current refining speed, no matter how Xiang Zizhen struggled, it would be useless.

It was impossible to be faster than him.

As long as he refined East Island, and then West Island,

the entire Nan Dou Region would be his.

However, just as Rong Sufei was confidently proceeding with the refinement,

Buzz!

Suddenly,

the ley lines of the entire East Island underwent a sudden change.

A terrifying will, difficult to describe, rapidly permeated the entire East Island, causing all the ley lines of East Island to be refined in just an instant.

As a result, the parts Rong Sufei had previously refined were also directly erased by the spread of this will.

He was stunned!

Rong Sufei was instantly stunned on the spot.

His entire mind went blank in an instant.

It took a full four or five seconds.

Before he recovered.

His eyes were wide open.

“Wh-… What’s happening!?”

He subconsciously wanted to investigate the ley lines of East Island.

But found that he no longer had permission to investigate!!

“I… I can’t investigate the ley lines of East Island anymore??”

Rong Sufei panicked at once.

Now, under the conferment of the Great Wu Seal, he was the nominal lord of the Nan Dou Region.

Logically speaking,

it should be impossible for him to be unable to investigate the ley lines of East Island.

Unless… East Island had already been refined by someone!

Only under such circumstances would he be unable to investigate.

But it had only been a few seconds… and East Island was already refined by someone??

How could that be!!

“Impossible… such a refinement cannot exist in this world!!”

Rong Sufei's face was pale, and he was sweating profusely from his forehead.

He carefully recalled the situation just now.

That terrifying will that suddenly appeared directly permeated the entire East Island and erased all the parts he had refined.

“What… what exactly was that?!”

Rong Sufei’s mind was greatly shaken.

In his understanding,

the refinement under the conferment of the Great Wu Seal was already the fastest and strongest refinement.

But what was this terrifying will that suddenly appeared now!?

In his inner terror,

Rong Sufei subconsciously checked West Island.

Upon checking,

his heart was instantly subjected to an incomparably huge, violent shock.

He felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning.

He was horrified to discover… that West Island, too, had been largely refined by that terrifying will that suddenly appeared.

Only a small portion of West Island’s ley lines remained unrefined.

In other words… this terrifying will that suddenly appeared had directly refined over ninety percent of the Nan Dou Region’s ley lines!

The entire Nan Dou Region now had less than ten percent of its ley lines unrefined.

“What… what exactly… is this?!”

Rong Sufei was on the verge of collapsing.

The next moment,

he suddenly thought of the crucial point.

Since the ley lines of East Island had been completely refined, he was powerless there.

However, he could still investigate the ley lines of West Island.

“Reset!!”

“I must immediately reset the ley lines of West Island!!”

Rong Sufei was like a drowning man grasping at a straw in the water.

What the Great Wu Seal bestowed upon him was not only the speed of ley line refinement, but also the ability to reset ley lines.

Although the ley lines of East Island had completely lost control and could no longer be reset,

he could reset the ley lines of West Island.

As long as the ley lines of West Island were reset,

the refined parts would be erased.

No matter what.

West Island could not be lost.

If West Island was also lost, he would be completely without hope.

Thinking of this,

Rong Sufei immediately began to reset the ley lines of West Island.

Buzz!

However, as he proceeded with the reset,

the terrifying will that had refined West Island’s ley lines directly blocked his reset and transmitted a roar to him, rendering his reset ineffective!

“What kind of will is this?!”

Under the roar of this will,

Rong Sufei felt as if he had been struck on the head with a wooden stick, his soul experiencing a tearing pain, and warm blood gushed from his nostrils.

The formidable strength of this will

made it impossible to reset the ley lines.

For a moment, Rong Sufei's inner anxiety made him feel like he was about to explode.

He quickly took out a sound-transmitting artifact.

And sent a message to his Master, Cheng Riyou.

“Master, something has happened!! Something big has happened!!”

Previously, after Cheng Riyou brought the Great Wu Seal to confer Rong Sufei, he had directly left the Nan Dou Region.

After all, the rules set by the Great Wu Crown Prince were still in place.

On the surface, they still had to abide by them.

Naturally, they couldn't stay in the Nan Dou Region for long.