C261 What Kind of Arrogance Is He Showing?
No sooner had the words left his lips than an elderly man with youthful features and white hair materialized before Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao.
Clad in a long silver robe with gold trim, the old man flicked his sleeve, sending a shower of fine electrical sparks scattering.
He appeared suddenly, planting himself squarely between Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao, and fixed Yu Cen with a stern look. "Are you the current head of the Yu family?"
"Brother, please, no anger," a soft, soothing voice chimed in almost immediately.
A middle-aged man dressed in white, radiating a gentle demeanor and exhibiting remarkable poise, materialized beside the old man in a burst of icy light.
"I am Liu Wei, from Winter's Bite Sect. I am the one who wishes to meet with you." He offered a slight smile, gesturing towards the old man. "This gentleman is my elder brother, hailing from Thunder Sect."
"I am Lei Xiao!"
The man in the silver robe huffed, "How can the Yu family of Asvetaesi, such a minor clan, have the audacity to turn away visitors from the upper sects of Euwrea?"
Lei Xiao was accustomed to reverence as he traveled across the Aetherius Continent, receiving grand receptions from various empires, noble families, and royal houses.
In his view, once Liu Wei disclosed their affiliation with Winter's Bite Sect, Yu Cen, as a minor family patriarch, should have been the first to offer a welcome.
Yu Cen's refusal had instantly provoked him, prompting an unceremonious entrance.
Upon arrival, Lei Xiao scrutinized Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao, deploying his spiritual sense attuned to the Subtlety Realm. He quickly ascertained that both Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao possessed merely Veil Breaking Realm cultivation.
The patriarch of a family, yet only in the Veil Breaking Realm.
He and Liu Wei, standing side by side, were both in the late period of the Subtlety Realm.
On the Euwrea Continent, they might not stand out among the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite Sect, but here in what they considered the Lower Realm, they would not tolerate any slight.
"Thunder Sect!"
Zhao Zhenghao, the head of the Zhao family, paled slightly and whispered in awe.
The seven great lower sects of the Euwrea Continent included Ethereal Void Sect, Starmoon Sect, Thunder Sect, Winter's Bite, Abyssal Dawn, and Cloudwater Sect.
The Thunder Sect stood a notch above Winter's Bite in the ranking of the seven lower sects. In recent years, the Thunder Sect has seen a surge of formidable experts, positioning itself to potentially surpass both the Starmoon Sect and the Ethereal Void Sect. Perhaps this is why cultivators from the Thunder Sect have garnered considerable respect across the Aetherius Continent over the past decade, leading to an air of increasing arrogance among its members.
"Thunder Sect!"
Yu Cen was taken aback to learn that Lei Xiao was not from Winter's Bite but was, in fact, a cultivator of the Thunder Sect. He was well aware that the Thunder Sect's cultivators acted even more high-handedly and irrationally than those from Winter's Bite on the Aetherius Continent. Dealing with Winter's Bite was troublesome enough, and now the Thunder Sect was added to the mix...
"Brother, there's no need for anger. My visit is one of genuine intent," Liu Wei said with a smile to Lei Xiao, then turned to Yu Cen with a serious tone. "Old Mr. Yu, I've heard rumors of a Celestial Ice Crystal in the possession of the Yu family. Is there any truth to that?"
Yu Cen's brow furrowed. "What makes you say that?"
"Cut the act!" Lei Xiao burst out angrily. "That Celestial Ice Crystal is wasted on your Yu family. Name your price! Lin Zhuyun, who's been unfairly confined in Asvetaesi by your family, needs that crystal to swiftly overcome the Veil Breaking Stage!"
"Lin Zhuyun has been maligned due to an engagement with a good-for-nothing, and she's been the subject of gossip throughout Euwrea. The Yu family owes her!"
Lei Xiao accused Yu Cen without any pretense of fairness, as if he were championing justice. His righteous anger made it seem as though the Yu family had wronged Lin Zhuyun, portraying her as an innocent victim of endless mistreatment.
"The Celestial Ice Crystal would aid Lin Zhuyun's breakthrough," Liu Wei said with a slight smile. "I've come to understand that the Yu family might be interested in selling the crystal, which is why I'm here with a genuine offer."
"Before we even discuss the existence of a Celestial Ice Crystal within the Yu family," Yu Cen said, taking a deep breath and standing his ground, "even if we did have one, rest assured that Winter's Bite would not be among the potential buyers."
"What? Does the old man have a grudge against Winter's Bite?" Liu Wei asked, visibly astonished.
"He certainly does," Yu Cen replied bluntly.
"The Yu family, despite its size, shows remarkable courage and audacity!" Lei Xiao burst into wild laughter. Amidst his laughter, streaks of lightning scattered uncontrollably in every direction.
"Brother, please calm down!" Liu Wei quickly intervened, "Thylethlume is part of Asvetaesi, and the mayor of Asvetaesi is rumored to be closely allied with the Ruby Hand. Not long ago, Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand paid her a secret visit. Shortly after his departure, she attained the late period of Subtlety, just like us."
"Ruby Hand! Faang Yao?" Lei Xiao's anger didn't subside; it intensified instead.
"Let's just step outside," Liu Wei insisted, pulling Lei Xiao away, "Old Mr. Yu, please give it some more thought. We at Winter's Bite have come with genuine intentions."
With that, he escorted Lei Xiao out of the Yu family estate.
Once outside, Lei Xiao's dissatisfaction was evident. "Brother Liu, what's the meaning of this? The Yu family is minor; why the hesitation?"
"I didn't come to Thylethlume solely for Yu Cen; I was drawn by another piece of news," Liu Wei said, his brow furrowed. He was about to elaborate when his expression brightened, and he smiled, "What a stroke of luck."
Zhao Dongsheng, mounted on a white tiger, stood out on the broad streets of Thylethlume.
Yu Yuan and Ning Ji followed close behind the tiger.
"Is that a fourth-level black tiger?" Lei Xiao observed the white tiger, sensing the tumultuous vitality within it, and expressed mild surprise, "And who's that hefty fellow?"
"He's set to become the head of the Zhao family," Liu Wei whispered, sharing insider information, "I've learned that the Zhao family had ties with Dragon Lake. But recently, I've heard Dragon Lake has developed a vendetta against them, attempting to expel the Zhao family from Asvetaesi."
"Why would Dragon Lake bear such resentment towards the Zhao family?" Lei Xiao inquired, puzzled.
"I'm not sure," Liu Wei said with a composed demeanor. As the black tiger drew near, he shifted his gaze from Zhao Dongsheng to Yu Yuan, asking pointedly, "Are you the esteemed Young Master Yu Yuan, recently returned from the Moonfall Sanctuary?"
"Is he the one engaged to Lin Zhuyun?" Lei Xiao's interest was piqued.
Liu Wei gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, signaling him to be patient, and then walked forward with confident strides.
Yu Yuan, trailing behind, eyed the distinguished-looking middle-aged man in white and his expression darkened, "Winter's Bite is like a bad penny!"
"Winter's Bite!" Ning Ji's face turned pale.
Upon hearing Yu Yuan's words, Zhao Dongsheng, perched atop the black tiger, fixed his gaze, his eyes as serious as if they were the size of soybeans.
"It is a great honor for Liu Wei of Winter's Bite to meet Young Master Yu Yuan," Liu Wei called out, bowing respectfully from a distance. "Your reputation precedes you."
Liu Wei had been watching Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao's battle against Ann Ziqing of Colddeath from the shadows, alongside Lin Zhuyun and her father.
Indeed, no one in Winter's Bite was more familiar with Yu Yuan than Liu Wei.
Even Lin Hanyu, Lin Zhuyun's father, and the rest of the Lin family did not hold Yu Yuan in such regard.
"Winter's Bite, Liu Wei, I'll make a note of that."
Yu Yuan fixed his stare on him, his heaven soul acutely detecting a latent, familiar chill emanating from Liu Wei.
After a moment's reflection, Yu Yuan's gaze turned icier, and with a tone laced with revulsion, he declared, "Thylethlume does not welcome you. I suggest you leave immediately."
"I'm furious! Every member of the Yu family is more overbearing than the last!" Lei Xiao exclaimed.
"And you are?" Yu Yuan inquired, his voice icy.
"Lei Xiao of the Thunder Sect!"
"At your age, still without a Lunar Spirit? You're hardly a figure of note in the Thunder Sect, so what right do you have to strut around the Yu family?" Yu Yuan retorted sarcastically.
