61: Longyuan Nine Dynasties Sword

Zhang Ao Xuan sneered.

He shook his head slightly.

As he walked out,

he mocked,

"You take advantage of others,"

"and still expect them to risk their lives for you."

"You truly are insidious and shameless."

Yang Yi laughed triumphantly.

His laughter echoed throughout the entire Yang family estate.

Whether they were from the Zhang family or Duobao Pavilion,

none of them understood why Yang Yi was so pleased with himself.

Even Haitang

felt that Yang Yi was being somewhat shameless and insidious at this moment.

Sending five children to deal with the Zhang family—

if the children won, he would give them two dishes;

this was already hard enough to accept,

and quite infuriating.

But now, having Zhong Mingyi step forward

made people even more indignant.

Zhong Mingyi was not a member of the Yang family,

nor was his strength particularly remarkable.

Asking him to fight the powerful Zhang Ao Xuan

was clearly pushing him into a pit of fire.

It was impossible to understand what Yang Yi was thinking.

Yang Yi picked up his cup,

gazing at the steaming tea inside.

He blew on it gently,

and at that moment, he slowly closed his eyes.

The moment his eyes closed,

the System's voice suddenly rang in his ears.

【Ding!】

【Cultivatable talent discovered.】

【Invest using the Eight Divine Swords? Investment return: Dragon Abyss Nine Dynasties Sword.】

Invest.

Yang Yi did not hesitate at all.

Immediately after,

the System's voice sounded again.

【Ding!】

【Investment in Zhong Mingyi successful. Obtained Dragon Abyss Nine Dynasties Sword.】

Yang Yi's eyes lit up instantly.

He looked toward the door with anticipation and nervousness.

He hoped Zhong Mingyi could win.

As long as he won,

this Dragon Abyss Nine Dynasties Sword would be gifted to him.

Outside the courtyard,

Zhong Mingyi had already cursed Yang Yi countless times.

"Bastard, son of a bitch.

I call you foster father every day,

and you actually push me into a pit of fire.

You're really not a decent human being.

You're nothing but a beast."

As he fought,

he kept cursing under his breath.

Zhang Ao Xuan heard him cursing Yang Yi,

and since he hadn't intended to use lethal force in the first place,

he was even less willing to hurt Zhong Mingyi now.

Thus, Zhong Mingyi was still able to hold his ground against him.

Otherwise,

he would have been killed on the spot by Zhang Ao Xuan long ago.

As they fought,

Zhong Mingyi flicked his wrist,

his sword sweeping out horizontally,

and he retreated a few steps,

panting as he said,

"Wait, wait before we continue."

Zhang Ao Xuan stopped.

He looked at the playboy before him with a chuckle,

thinking to himself:

"If I could turn him into my follower,

life would certainly become more amusing."

"What is it?"

"Are you looking to beg for mercy?"

Zhong Mingyi wiped the sweat from his forehead,

grinning with a bitter smile.

"You are truly too clever.

How could I possibly be your opponent?

Please, spare me.

Can't I just admit defeat?"

"Admit defeat?"

Zhang Ao Xuan muttered to himself,

his eyes rolling slightly.

"Admitting defeat won't do.

No one who has ever fought me

has ever left standing.

However, I admire you.

If you are willing to become my follower

and serve as a servant of our Zhang family,

I will spare your life."

Zhong Mingyi's expression shifted slightly.

He cursed Zhang Ao Xuan internally for being a piece of trash.

"You are a young master,

and I am a young master too.

Why should I serve as a servant for your Zhang family?

Who do you take me for?"

Seeing the displeasure on Zhong Mingyi's Face,

Zhang Ao Xuan laughed loudly,

looking up at the sky.

"You can acknowledge a thief as your father,

so why is it unacceptable to be a servant for my Zhang family?

You should know, not just anyone can be a servant of my Zhang family.

Do you see Gong Jiu?

Even a powerhouse like him is merely a servant of the Zhang family.

Compared to him,

how much better do you think you are?"

Zhang Ao Xuan thought he was offering an olive branch to Zhong Mingyi,

and that Zhong Mingyi should quickly accept it with both hands

and kneel on the ground to thank him.

However,

deep within Zhong Mingyi's heart,

he loathed this contempt from Zhang Ao Xuan.

This contempt was even more hateful than Yang Yi's.

Although he acknowledged him as his foster father,

Yang Yi had never looked down on him during their interactions.

It was merely the term "foster father" that embarrassed him.

In other aspects, Yang Yi had never treated him poorly.

Thinking of Yang Yi's sincere words earlier,

Zhong Mingyi couldn't help but secretly make a decision that even he found baffling.

He wanted to help Yang Yi defeat Zhang Ao Xuan.

But how could he defeat him?

He racked his brains,

his eyes darting around.

Suddenly,

a flash of inspiration struck his mind.

He had an idea.

"I am willing to follow you.

But how can I explain this to Yang Yi?

This guy is not someone to be trifled with."

"Hahaha.

Rest assured.

By tomorrow, the Yang family will no longer exist in Tian Yuan City.

Why would you fear him?"

Zhong Mingyi tilted his head, thinking, and said,

"Then, can you do me a favor?

I have always acknowledged a thief as my father,

calling Yang Yi foster father.

If he just dies like this,

I won't have the chance to take revenge on him.

Can you let me stab you with a sword?

Or lose to me?

I want to show off in front of Yang Yi.

Once I feel satisfied,

I will kneel before everyone and pledge my allegiance to the Zhang family.

You won't lose any Face, either."

Zhang Ao Xuan frowned.

A look of displeasure appeared on his Face.

"This young master is letting you be my follower;

that is giving you Face.

It is your honor.

And now you dare to make demands of me?

You truly have no self-awareness."

However,

thinking that he could toy with Yang Yi in a moment,

he did not refuse outright.

"With your ability, how could you possibly hurt me?

I will just admit defeat."

Zhong Mingyi cheered inwardly.

"Great!

Then admit defeat.

When we return to the council hall later,

you can take the initiative and tell everyone you lost.

The one who loses Face in this match will definitely be you.

Although the method I used wasn't great,

I ultimately won.

It's a pity you didn't let me stab you.

If you had let me hurt you,

I definitely would have given you a heavy blow.

If I had the chance, I would have slaughtered you."

He thought to himself,

while speaking sycophantic words aloud,

praising Zhang Ao Xuan to the skies.

Zhang Ao Xuan looked thoroughly pleased.

After listening to the flattery for a while,

he finally said patiently,

"I just love hearing you talk.

Talk more in front of me in the future.

Let's go, let's head back."

Immediately,

he walked with his hands behind his back,

head held high, returning to the council hall.

Zhong Mingyi, like a follower,

trotted along behind him.

When the two of them stood in the council hall, completely unscathed,

the people inside were all somewhat surprised.

What was going on with these two?

Unscathed.

Could it be that they fought to a draw?

Haitang asked with a smile,

"I wonder which of you two won?"

Zhong Mingyi and Zhang Ao Xuan exchanged a glance.

Both of them laughed at the same time.

Seeing that smile,

everyone knew there was something fishy going on.

Then they heard Zhang Ao Xuan say,

"I lost."

Although he admitted that he had lost,

his tone and expression were as if he had won.

It was truly incomprehensible.

"Why are you so happy about losing?"

Haitang shook her head slightly,

a hint of doubt in her eyes.