Hearing the voice, Luo Mingshan and the others frowned and turned to look.
A group of people marched up to the high platform in grand fashion.
Leading the way was an elder dressed in silk, his hair and beard completely white. Beside him were Lin Yun, Lin Xiao, and others.
Luo Cheng glanced casually, a flicker of something unusual crossing his gaze.
To Lin Yun's left stood a tall, imposing man. His ornate garments carried an air of nobility—it was none other than Eighth Prince Jin Min of the Great Yue Dynasty, whom they'd encountered in the Black Cloud Mountain Range!
Jin Min also noticed Luo Cheng. His cold face broke into a slightly sinister smile tinged with malice.
The group strode directly toward the Luo Family's crowd.
"Luo Mingshan, so early? If the Luo Family ends up last, wouldn't that be quite the joke?"
The elder was Lin Canglang, the Lin Family patriarch, appearing about the same age as Luo Mingshan. Yet his sunken eyes carried a sharp chill as he fixed on Luo Mingshan, laughing smugly.
Luo Mingshan snorted coldly, "The results of the festival aren't determined by loud voices."
Lin Canglang laughed, "Well, having a loud voice isn't a bad thing—it shows vitality and robust energy! But some might not even have the strength to shout."
The news of Luo Mingshan's injuries at the hands of a Ji Family expert had spread through Qishan City, and Lin Canglang seized the opportunity to taunt him.
"Look! Luo Mingshan and Lin Canglang are arguing again!"
The nearby crowd became focused, though many weren't surprised.
Among the three influential families, the Luo Family and Lin Family clashed most often, tangled in endless grudges.
Years ago, Luo Mingshan and Lin Canglang had both been recognized as the leading talents of Qishan City. For decades, they competed overtly and covertly, their encounters always explosive and hostile.
Hearing Lin Canglang's mockery, the Luo Family members bristled in anger.
Lin Canglang remained indifferent, surveying Luo Cheng and two others before casually saying:
"Are these the kids representing your Luo Family at the Hunting Festival? I almost feel that winning this way would be unjustified."
Beside him, Lin Yun glanced at Luo Cheng disdainfully and said, "Has the Luo Family really been reduced to this? Even a trash with an awakened Wasted Martial Soul is considered worthy."
Turning to Jin Min, Lin Yun chuckled, "Eighth Prince, curious about which individual awakened a zero-star Martial Soul with Ji Family blood? It's him!"
Over the past few days, Jin Min had been staying at a Lin Family inn, with the Lin Family pulling all stops to curry favor and finally gaining some rapport.
"Oh?"
Hearing Lin Yun's words, Jin Min sneered as he looked at Luo Cheng. "This is unexpected."
"Lin Yun, watch your mouth!" Luo Zhixing snapped angrily.
Even Luo Qingwan, known for her gentle disposition, glared in disapproval.
"I'm merely stating facts," Lin Yun sneered. "Awakening a zero-star Martial Soul? To call him trash would be a compliment!"
Luo Cheng calmly met Lin Yun's gaze. "You seem very confident, don't you? Confidence is good, but without matching strength, it's embarrassing."
Lin Yun's expression darkened. "Are you provoking me?"
Luo Cheng replied, "So what if I am? Weren't you just saying you wanted a wager? Let's bet on who wins first place in this Hunting Festival."
"If the Luo Family takes first place, you owe me 380,000 silver. If the Lin Family wins, I owe you the same. Additionally, the loser must publicly admit they're a worthless failure!"
"First place for the Luo Family?" Lin Yun froze.
The surrounding crowd was astonished, surprised at Luo Cheng's audacity in challenging Lin Yun!
Silver aside, losing and publicly conceding as trash would ruin one's reputation forever in Qishan City!
Lin Canglang laughed. "Lin Yun, someone's offering you silver. What are you waiting for?"
Lin Yun snapped back to his senses and called out loudly, "Fine! I accept your wager!"
"Luo Mingshan, prepare your silver!" Lin Canglang added with a chuckle.
Luo Mingshan retorted coldly, "The festival hasn't begun yet; letting your mouth run now is premature. The victor isn't certain!"
"Haha, soon we'll know the outcome."
Feeling pleased, Lin Canglang laughed heartily and led Lin Yun and the others away.
Once the Lin Family left, the Luo Family erupted in agitation.
Luo Qingwan said anxiously, "Luo Cheng, you've been reckless! I heard Lin Yun broke through to the Body Tempering Ninth Layer months ago and awakened a Six-star Martial Soul Scorpion-tail Tiger. While aiming for second place is realistic, first…"
The others wore equally worried expressions.
Luo Mingshan raised his hand, gesturing for silence, and asked Luo Cheng directly, "Cheng'er, do you truly have confidence in taking first place?"
"Grandfather, don't worry!" Luo Cheng nodded firmly.
"Good! I trust you."
Luo Mingshan patted Luo Cheng's shoulder.
Despite his words, Luo Mingshan felt uneasy inside, knowing there was no turning back; the situation was already set in stone. He could only choose to believe in Luo Cheng.
The Hunting Festival wouldn't start until noon, giving everyone a brief moment to rest.
Jin Min approached Yun Mengli and, sitting down beside her, smiled:
"Mengli, I just heard something. I wonder if you're aware."
Yun Mengli said nothing.
Jin Min glanced toward Luo Cheng and said with a smirk, "Did you know what Martial Soul he awakened? Surprisingly, it's a zero-star, unformed Martial Soul!"
"Hehe, a zero-star unformed Martial Soul? I've never heard of talent so pathetic. Any servant disciple from our Xuanyuan Sect is a hundred, no, a thousand times better in talent than him."
Yun Mengli replied in a cool, detached tone, "That doesn't mean much. Our Xuanyuan Sect has seen individuals with ordinary talent rise to greatness unexpectedly."
Hearing this, Jin Min's expression soured, and his fists clenched involuntarily.
Everyone knew Martial Souls were the foundation of martial artists. Yun Mengli's words amounted to an outright defense of Luo Cheng.
What made it worse was that her attitude toward him had drastically changed from before!
Her every word and action now kept him at arm's length!
"It's all that bastard's fault!"
Jin Min's gaze burned with anger, fixating on Luo Cheng as the root of his troubles!
As noon approached, the remaining prominent figures from around Qishan City began gathering.
Suddenly, the atmosphere atop the high platform grew lively, as people's gazes converged toward one direction.
Three newcomers had arrived.
The central figure was a woman in a fiery red dress, gracefully enchanting as she moved. Her jade-white arms and long legs radiated an exquisite, crystalline glow like lamb-fat jade, captivating many young talents whose eyes stayed transfixed.
It was none other than Luo Yao, Pavilion Master of Lingyun Pavilion.
On Luo Yao's left was Steward Xu, while on her right walked a frail-looking elder.
Luo Yao's unexpected appearance shocked the crowd.
The new master of Lingyun Pavilion was a mysterious figure, rarely seen even under normal circumstances. Yet today, she had come of her own accord to witness the Hunting Festival!
Yun Mengli and Jin Min also turned to observe.
The difference was that Jin Min's gaze fell on Luo Yao, filled with admiration.
Yun Mengli's attention, however, was on the frail elder beside Luo Yao.
Despite his subdued aura, he exuded an invisible pressure that unsettled her deeply!
Her intuition warned her that this individual was unfathomable—a man of such caliber appearing in a small city like Qishan was simply incredible.