Chapter 173: The Reappearance of Qiming

“Tell Qian Ye to move out,” Zhao Ruoxi said coldly, word by word.

Zhao Yuying was a girl who feared neither Heaven nor Earth. Even under complete suppression, she refused to surrender. With a chilling smile, she said, “Want to threaten me? Just dream on!”

A glint of killing intent surfaced in Zhao Ruoxi’s eyes.

Just then, a chilling, murderous aura suddenly pierced through Manjusaka’s “River Styx” domain, while the long seven-chi blood-red blade of *Shavist* swept across the table, dividing Zhao Ruoxi and Zhao Yuying.

“Duke Cheng’en!”

“Father!”

The figure climbing onto the third floor was indeed Duke Cheng’en, Zhao Wei Huang. With his strength and the *Shavist*, a legendary weapon from a bygone era, he temporarily suppressed Manjusaka’s power. Of course, that was also partly due to Zhao Ruoxi not exerting herself completely.

Seeing Zhao Wei Huang appear, Zhao Ruoxi was astonished and blurted impulsively, “What are you doing here? Mother——” Suddenly, she cut herself short; the past could not be spoken of in such public circumstances. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken this long to bring herself to approach Qianye.

Zhao Yuying was likewise taken aback. She well knew Qianye’s status—how he had been born to Duke Zhao as a concubine’s son. That his sire should publicly intervene here was a sign of deep regard. Yet, such care would wound the dignity of the Princess Gaoyi.

Far from being bothered, Duke Zhao Wei Huang replied with an “It matters not,” and sat down casually at the central table.

Zhao Yuying and Zhao Ruoxi exchanged fierce scowls, each then taking a seat. With Elder Zhao there, they neither could fight nor bring up the reason they had bickered before his presence.

Gazing across the sumptuous food laid across the table, Duke Zi Zhai let forth a gentle chuckle. He placed *Shavist* onto the table openly without sheathing it again, poured himself some wine, then remarked with light amusement, “Yuying! Seems you sure live well—picked out a grand locale, plus wine with delicacies laid just right.”

Zhao Yuying felt somewhat uncomfortable, “Why, I just——oh! I mean, I didn’t really think you were likely to make an appearance here.”

Privilege over third-floor placement usually lay reserved for the venerable elders. Nonetheless, the occasional bold youngster might sneak in use—say, as Zhao Yuying had done here—with little issue, but now being caught right in the act by Duke Cheng’en had made matters rather awkward.

But just then, Youguo’s voice emerged from the staircase, “YuYin just helped hold the position for me.”

At that, Zhao Wei Huang was astonished in return. Strictly, He held lower lineage rank before Old Duke Zhao Xuan Ji, yet being equally titled Dukes, and as patriarch of Zhao House, he would never yield to formal familial hierarchy within public sight; only the order of rank and imperial law applied before all eyes.

Duke Zhao Xuan Ji then stepped slowly upstairs and lingered his gaze briefly over *Shavist* and Manjusakahua; comprehension briefly blooming in his gaze before softly saying with understanding, “Ah—it seems you were feeling rather cheerful Wei huang; indeed, I thought surely you were about to offer swordplay to delight the occasion.”

With a warm chuckle, Zhao Wei Huang swept his hand out and *Shaviest* sang back into it. Then resting it to the side he beckened Duke Zhaxuan Ji to the bench; then casting strict eyes to daughter Zi Zin commanded, “Retract Manjusaka immediately—it was not meant for silly games!”

Reluctantly following her father’s demand, Zi Zin put her blade away and sat silently, brooding alone, sullen as before—even two Dukes alongside a flesh-and blood-father, would not soften her manner.

Seated at Zhao Wei Huang’s side, Zhaxuan Ji then inquired calmly, “I wager YuYin has certainly caused another round of trouble for you.”

Instantly protesting, Zhao Yuying retored hotly: “That’s untrue! As gentle and lovely as ever I—”

As soon as that slip burst forth Zhao Yuying knew already it had been said too loudly. Flinching involuntarily while shrinks her head, since Elder Duke’s famed gravity of bearing had tamed even the likes of Zhao Yuying, the very word “gentle” had long vanished under her defiant tongue—and speaking it here invited the certain wrath—perhaps even the docking several month’s allowance.

“Why would *You Guo* personally arrive at *Zaohua Yuan*? It must be,” Zhao Wei Huang paused before completing the full suspicion hanging between both men.

Zhao Xuan Ju simply mused cryptically, “Seems to me, even Yan Guo Gong might just approach shortly.”

Even as the sentence hung, an authoritative figure resounded from the stairs’ threshold as a reply to all.

“I must say—still it seems Xuan’ou truly fathomed my thoughts first.”

Thus gathered together, the three Dukes representing the house. Having finally seated them together, Zhao Wei Huang’s eyes silently asked of other parties present.

As You and Yan exchanged glances, still it was the former who began. “Here is no outside interference; so no cause to remain vague, and besides, I dare say Wei Huang already knows. Jun Du seems quite resolved in this situation—yet Qian Ye himself occupies an awkward position. Thus We Old Fellow have determined to witness first the potential this lad might harbor ourselves. Provided that real merit lies within, then, yes—we would not refuse to intervine with protection in hand, lending what aid seems needed.”

Yan Guo Gong nodded solemnly, adding “What You Guo has spoken resonates truly. For generations yet ahead the fate of The House Zhao rests upon Jundu’s strong shoulders. Years past, it must’ve been orchestrated mischief—that led to the tragedy, for which we had no defense—and after so time, allowing history’s pattern reoccur would become outright shame!”

Zhao Wei Huang’s gaze flared but once sharply—yet that vanished, replaced swiftly by warm smiling calm, responding simply at once,

“Then. We shall see.”

Seated there together; poised yet mighty, as though immovable mountains.

Now that all three Dukes were gathered in a common assembly space, both two younger women could do no better except sit quietly with humility in attendance beside all dignitaries present.

Zhao Ruoxi bore herself with relative grace, after the nature that seemed intrinsic to so ephemeral and serene a young lady—sitting in undisplayed stillness even as long a spell as an entire day had been no challenge in former memory.

But for Zhao Yuying, this restraint was nothing less than sheer torture; after an entire, boring afternoon spent coherced still at will; and without even a source distraction from all her senior company present—how terribly inconvenient she found this requirement of basic proper decorum!

Within a short span she was already wiggling restively about, feeling her every muscle tighten in discomfort and awkwardness. She had to suppress a violent impulse simply to poke at it all with a blade to release this pressure.

The day wore slowly to dusk. Not the least change stirred within Immortal Purification Pool; yet the Dukes remained seated in immovable calm.

Several groups of observers had covertly come, drawn to observe developments inside *Zao Hua Yuan* during this time. Yet as soon as realizing, the Dukes themselves had been gathered in a rare appearance—they silently retired again without a disturbance.

Zhao Fengle and Zhao XiZhu had anyway spent most of the day awaiting patiently—but with the Dukes’ shocking sudden arrival none of two could even rise hastily to escape, or risk receiving from the noble elders upstairs that label of being undisciplined and too impatient for the occasion. In consequence most others simply did not dare to enter at door even briefly. After all in all’s—why trouble attending one of the clanspeople’s mere advancement? Only those with ulterior motives would take interest or risk the presence here.

How each one of their movements and expressions might escape the eyes of the three Dukes? With a mere exchange, these noble observers read them completely—neither confirming aloud, nor giving slightest indication aloud at the hidden meanings behind many’s actions.

Inside *Zaohuayuan*, the attending staff were running about like chickens having all lost their heads, with sweat pouring off every one of them.

One of the junior staff ran desperately to the chief attendant; muttering low, “Esteemed Sir, something’s dreadfully wrong! This source-essence is running off far too quickly—for merely the first day its already consumed a large portion already! At this rate we won’t last even two days!”

The overseer frowned, inquiring sharply: “Confirmed this is no leakage? All places have been double-verified, already!”

“We triple inspected the formation thoroughly again moments ago—with absolute nothing wrong to show for our searching, every corner! Perhaps….”

The overseer immediately interrupted: “Don’t go spouting idle gossip! We were here watching him enter the chamber. No impossibly could that be. When all three of the Dukes are directly upstairs listening, don’t even dare whisper such things—you wish to lose your very neck?”

Shrinking at the beratement, yet clearly resentful still, the servant stubbornly replied: “Yet still! The expenditure remains too excessive—this amount rivals even Shao Ye’s himself—so vast consumption… and no anomaly!”

The senior caretaker inhaled sharply.

“If all that true… that means that upon anomaly’s emergence… unimaginable results to come.”

At just that moment, he was struck dumb himself—by one shocking sight beneath both their sights! He saw an eerie crimson glow slowly spreading out and already had crept beneath the caretaker’s own feet.

This frightened the overseer half-witted. Unthoughting leaping backward from this strange glowing tide—still, the eerie flow remained utterly unstoppable—it spread, as a red flood creeping like tide. Trees. Stones—they couldn’t slow it by one fraction.

And now having leaped, only did his boots come down soundlessly onto surface that had no ripple response—his heart suddenly clicked.

He immediately spun wildly to the direction of the Pool and his whisper cracked as it slipped forth: “The anomaly!”

The other assistant was similarly speechless: staring as the crimson stream swells outward further still:

“Just at this expansion… could even match that of Jun Du’s level!”

The old master of Pool caretaker for uncountable years, wore a expression deeply complex:

“I say it equals the range he had… but in quality it’s still somewhat inferior. …But remember—we are only just beginning.”

At that moment, three immense senses extended outward, sweeping over *Purification Pool*, and from the upper tower the Duke clan’s triad all had perceived the omen.

The red light spread just until *Zao Hua Yuan’s* edge and—abrupt halted—ceased any further advance.

On the second floor’s window frame. Zhao Xi Zhu’s look had remained dignified despite a subtle tightening around mouth area:

“It has quantity… but lacks genuine essence—for what it’s worth… still barely just above ordinary standard tier.”

Yet beside, Zhao Feng Lei’s lips curved down into a frown, struggling to rein hidden hatred. “Quantity alone… could overwhelm even me.”

Meanwhile up at third floor where Dukes watched the stillness. Each expression composed beyond the subtle. Watching. Not missing the omen’s progression even one moment.

Zhao Yuying was not able to contain her excitement and rose impulsively to her feet. Standing atop chair, she cried eagerly: “Great anomaly indeed! Its scale approaches the magnitude seen by Number Four Junior Brother!”

Though herself once smiling at same time moment upon her sister cousin Zhao Ruoxi’s own face had soured the second their joy collided.

Her slender hand, unseen beneath folds, quietly began stroking the gun grip of her legendary rifle.

You Guo Gong had cast stern eye across his rowdy niece.

“Such disorderly manner! What image are you projecting!?—Now sit down quietly where you belong.”

What QianYe displayed at the moment was only extraordinary quantity—yet such alone had impressed many, but not Dukes. Because higher-ranked warriors understood better: that pure cultivation essence mattered far more than simple volume at their level. Furthermore—at the breaking point toward becoming Champion—cultivation purity dictated their trajectory toward power’s future.

Within the second floor’s inner hall, Zhao Feng Lei finally exhaled in deep, scornful scoff, unable restrain further:

“Even if the source energy is high? I still see no sign of any rare abilities—what’s even the meaning of *all that quantity*, in practical terms!?”

Though keeping his volume in consideration of their noble guests directly upstairs—still his words bore the heavy weight of frustration. Yet even so slight, the words floated unmistakably clear for those residing upstairs.

At third tier above none the three Dukes even blinked—their outwardly unchanged.

To be fair, Zhao Feng Lei had voiced a point with merit—quantity of source energy is foundational for ordinary Champions indeed! Yet in Zhao House’s prestigious hierarchy… merely reaching “Above Average” status.

Meanwhile below within *Zaohuyaun*, the red tides had ceased expansion, measuring almost rival scope to Zhao Jundu’s records.

Yet then—an unexpected shift occurred! Suddenly, rippling movement emerged despite absence of any wind—then glittered speckled golden specks slowly rising.

It shimmered across the land with surreal, glitter-star beauty.

Then up in the higher tower, each of the triad Dukes shifted instantly, startled with collective astonishment rising visible in shared eyes—Zhao Wei Huang leapt instantly, standing.

“You saw the light rising in Morning’s promise! So it had truly awakened!—The *morning light revealing stars!*”

When dawning awakes brilliance of dawn—stars gleam in morning’s arrival, everything glowing and resplendent.

Golden gleam thickened steadily, swelling into a golden sea afloat over *Zao Hua Yuan*, until golden glows began emerging out directly from the pool’s original crimson flow!

The *Duke of Yan Guo*, his own awe clearly written across gaze, solemn nodded in confirmation:

“You rightly say so—light breaking upon horizon. Star stirring in morning breeze. This *is truly dawn light bearing morning star!*”