chapter 16 A slap in the face ===

The two mocked each other coldly, and the disciples from the two factions who were watching joined in the taunting. Valerrie Xu prepared to stand up but was pressed down by Verdantius Liu, who signaled her to stay calm with a reassuring look. "Trash, this is not the place for you. The brothel is more suitable for someone like you." Quercius Tian emerged and stood not far from Verdantius Liu. He had hired Scar Tiger to cause trouble at the weapon shop, but Scar Tiger and others failed, resulting in him being severely reprimanded by the family head for not handling such a simple matter. "Hey, trash, why so silent? Lost your voice?" Oakenhart Tian sneered. Only the Song family sat quietly in place, unwilling to get involved. "These scumbags are bullying people too much. I can't just stand by." A chubby member of the Song family stood up. "You bunch of bastards, bullying one person with so many, what kind of heroes are you?" The chubby guy had a baby face and a loud voice, startling everyone. The other Song family disciples were too late to stop him. "Ivydan Song, do you intend to meddle in other people's business?" Oakenhart Tian's eyes turned cold. The Song family, leading among the four major families in Canglan City, had a close relationship with the Li family in the imperial capital. They were not afraid of this Leafaris Xue and dared to speak up for Verdantius Liu. "If you have the guts, face me one by one. Bullying the weak, what kind of skill is that?" Ivydan Song walked over and stood behind Verdantius Liu, surprising him. This chubby guy was quite interesting. Disciples from the Wan family and Tian family were itching with hatred. They couldn't afford to offend the Song family, especially this chubby guy— the only son of the Song family head, treated like a treasure by the entire family. "You, trash, think someone standing up for you can save you? Young master Xue gave you face, but you don't have any shame. Don't blame us for being impolite." Oakenhart Tian could only vent his anger on Verdantius Liu, preparing to attack and throw him out. "Oh, how do you plan to be impolite to me?" Verdantius Liu smiled, a sinister grin. Two figures approached from the other end of the corridor, led by an elderly man, stepping into this area. The conversation just now was loud, and the sound spread throughout the beast-fighting arena. "I broke your limbs and threw you out. A waste like you shouldn't be here." Oakenhart Tian attacked immediately, aiming a slap at Verdantius Liu's face. Valerrie Xu was about to intervene but was still held back by Verdantius Liu. The slap was about to land on Verdantius Liu's face when a mysterious figure appeared beside him, extending a hand at a speed ten times faster than Oakenhart Tian. "Snap!" Oakenhart Tian was sent flying and crashed into the crowd. The sudden turn of events shocked everyone. Who would have thought that someone would really take action? "What's going on?" Everyone was bewildered. Shouldn't it be Verdantius Liu who was thrown out? Why was he sitting intact, and a burly man appeared behind him? Valerrie Xu was stunned. She had already summoned her acquired spirit, but someone was faster than her, intervening and sending Oakenhart Tian flying before she could act. Only Verdantius Liu sat quietly, showing no expression on his face. His right hand was already on the hilt, ready to draw his sword. Arboreus Lei didn't even stand up; he simply cut off Oakenhart Tian's right hand with a single stroke. "Young master Liu, what just happened?" Master Huo arrived quickly. The Pill Treasure cockloft was also invited to the Hundred Beasts Meeting today, and they arrived late, witnessing this scene. The master of refining Elixir of the Pill Treasure cockloft, with a flattering expression toward a supposed waste, was like a thunderbolt, shocking everyone. "Just a few jumping clowns." Verdantius Liu's tone was calm and indifferent. In his eyes, these people were not even worth being called clowns. What was even more shocking was that Master Huo stood behind him without any intention of getting up. The information was overwhelming, and many people felt their brains struggling to process it. How did a waste from the Xu family get involved with the Pill Treasure cockloft? "Do you need me to teach them a lesson?" Others feared the four major families, but in Master Huo's eyes, they were nothing more than ants. The Pill Treasure cockloft was not subject to any authority, even the Yan Empire had to show respect. The Pill Treasure cockloft in Canglan City was just a branch; the one in the imperial capital held power above the imperial authority. "No need to rush. I have a pill here. Let me seek guidance from Master Huo." Pulling out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, Verdantius Liu poured out a pill in front of everyone, placing it in his palm. Master Huo 's eyes widened, and the rich fragrance wafted over as he reached out to grab the pill. However, Verdantius Liu swiftly collected it, giving Master Huo just a fleeting glance, driving him mad. "Arboreus Lei, teach them a lesson and vent some frustration for Young master Liu." How could Master Huo not see through it? Verdantius Liu was mocking him. If he wanted to see the pill, he had to offer something in return. His life and wealth were still in Verdantius Liu's hands. Getting treatment from him had significantly alleviated the pain at the Chan Zhong acupoint in the last two days. Arboreus Lei also clearly saw that pill. Although outsiders were unaware of their collaboration, Arboreus Lei knew it well. Once the Spirit Elixir appeared, the status of the Pill Treasure cockloft in Canglan City would soar, and their positions would naturally rise. "If you want to blame someone, blame your own misfortune. You offended the wrong person, that is Young master Liu." Arboreus Lei, like a ghost, disappeared and reappeared, delivering one slap after another. Ferins Wan was the first to crash into the crowd, blood spurting from his mouth and nose. The situation unfolded too quickly, and the disciples from the Tian and Wan families surrounding them were not spared. Only Leafaris Xue stood quietly in place. "Stop!" Leafaris Xue finally spoke. In front of him, with so many people injured, his face was completely lost, and all the superiority he felt vanished in that moment. It was too late; everyone was thrown out, and finally, peace was restored. "Young master Xue, please intervene for us!" Ferins Wan stood up. They were the hosts today, slapped in the face, a disgrace that could never be erased. "The Pill Treasure cockloft is too audacious, not showing any respect to my Xue family." Leafaris Xue's gaze turned cold, directly confronting Master Huo. The killing intent in his eyes became increasingly obvious. "Are you a disciple of the Xue family?" Master Huo showed a hint of difficulty on his face. He still had some reservations about the Xue family, but it was just a trace of hesitation, far from fear. "Yes, my grandfather is Cedrus Xue." Leafaris Xue held his head high, pride evident when mentioning his grandfather. Master Huo's expression became increasingly unpleasant. Cedrus Xue's name was well-known to him, the current head of the Xue family, a super protector. "Young master Liu, things are getting complicated." Master Huo bent down, whispering in Verdantius Liu's ear. The Pill Treasure cockloft was already late in arriving at the Hundred Beasts Meeting today, and they happened to witness this scene. With Verdantius Liu's reassurance, Master Huo felt relieved. The disciples from the thrown-out families stood up, bloodstains on their mouths, and several teeth knocked out. "You wench, rejecting my face when I, Leafaris Xue, have set my eyes on you. No one can refuse the woman I fancy." Leafaris Xue completely dropped the facade, his voice echoing throughout the beast-fighting arena, causing Valerrie Xu to tremble with anger. "Clap, clap, clap…" Suddenly, Verdantius Liu began applauding, his face devoid of anger, replaced by a harmless smile. This same smile appeared when he severed Scar Tiger's arm last time. "Just because of your words, your Xue family will soon be expelled from the Yan Empire." No imposing aura, just an ordinary tone, yet it made everyone's hair stand on end. The Xue family, with a five-hundred-year heritage, a super family, now seemed like a joke in Verdantius Liu's eyes. "Haha, is this waste trying to make me laugh to death?" Not only Leafaris Xue, everyone burst into laughter. The Xue family, like the bright moon in the sky, and Verdantius Liu, not even worth comparing to a firefly. "Waste, blinded by obsession. The Pill Treasure cockloft won't be able to protect you today." Ferins Wan, not understanding why Master Huo stood on Verdantius Liu's side, believed that with Leafaris Xue present, the waste was undoubtedly doomed. "Young master Xue, please take action and kill this waste." Oakenhart Tian, his face swollen from Arboreus Lei's slap, was the most severely injured. He could only erase his hatred by killing Verdantius Liu. All eyes were on Leafaris Xue. With his acquired spirit released, a formidable aura pressured Verdantius Liu, making Master Huo extremely nervous. If Verdantius Liu died, what would happen to him? Who would treat him? Ferins Wan sneered, staring at Verdantius Liu like watching a dead man, waiting to see how he would die. "Young master Xue, can you give me some face, and let this matter be settled today." Master Huo finally stepped forward, blocking Verdantius Liu. If Verdantius Liu died, he wouldn't live past three months. Even if he offended the Xue family, it was worth it. "You, a mere second-grade master of refining Elixir, dare to stop me?" Leafaris Xue was furious, and his acquired spirit grew stronger. His gaze was full of disdain. A second-grade master of refining Elixir was considered low in the imperial capital, and only in Canglan City did they hold some status. The crossbow was drawn! At any moment, a war could break out, and the one to suffer would be Verdantius Liu. Approaching step by step, a murderous intent looming, if Verdantius Liu died, Valerrie Xu would be his. "The information today is too overwhelming. The Pill Treasure cockloft inexplicably stepped forward to help Verdantius Liu, and now there's this Leafaris Xue, who seems quite formidable. Even the Pill Treasure cockloft is wary of him." Several small family heads huddled together, discussing in low voices. They sat relatively close, so they could hear some of the conversation on this side. "Seems like it's the Xue family from the imperial capital. This is going to be interesting; offending the Xue family won't make the days ahead easy for the Xu family!" These small families were far from the strength of the four major families. Wiping out the Xu family, rising rapidly, and taking over their territory to replace the Xu family's position would be their plan. "What surprises me the most is this Verdantius Liu. They say he's a waste, but looking at his actions today, he has nothing to do with being a waste. Could the rumors from the outside world be untrue?" Discussions were rampant, and Leafaris Xue had approached. Verdantius Liu took a deep breath, his right hand once again pressing on the sword hilt. "Leafaris Xue, I am a disciple of Teacher Sylvion Baili from the Imperial College. Dare you try your hand against me?" Suddenly, Valerrie Xu stood up, taking out a token from her bosom and slamming it on the table.