Chapter 106: Chapter 103: Heavy Pupils
The moment the old man entered, profound shock filled the eyes of Yi Wulin and Yi Wuyue.
"How could he be here?"
They groaned inwardly, looking at the old man in disbelief.
The old man was dressed in simple cloth robes and a pair of cloth shoes. His temples were streaked with white and his face was ordinary, etched with the deep wrinkles of a weathered life. Yet he moved with a Dragon Walk and Tiger Stride, and his gaze was so sharp and predatory that no one present dared to meet his eyes.
A single glance from him brought with it an immense pressure, enough to make one’s body turn rigid.
Following behind him were two figures robed in black.
As for Luo Haisheng, the Pavilion Master of the Luoyang City branch, he was relegated to the very back, standing beside several men in white robes.
This sight sent a wave of silent shock through the many people from Luoyang City in attendance.
Luo Haisheng was a branch Pavilion Master. Although his cultivation was only at the Innate Peak, he was powerful enough to stand on equal footing with an Innate Limit Strong Person. For a man of his stature to be standing at the very end of the line was astounding.
So, who was this old man leading the procession?
"Greetings, Protector Cao."
Just as the various powerhouses of Luoyang City were wondering to themselves, Yi Wulin and Yi Wuyue hurried forward, bowing respectfully to the old man at the head of the group.
"Protector Cao... a Protector? Could he be...?"
At the sound of that title, ’Protector,’ the entire Ning Family Mansion burst into an uproar.
"A Protector with the surname Cao... then he must be Cao Tiangang!"
Someone identified him, their voice trembling.
What was a Protector?
The title of Protector, simply put, referred to someone who guarded a faction.
As a major power in Cyan Cloud Country, Tianya Pavilion’s two great rankings, the Innate List and the Famous Family List, earned them a vast amount of Primordial Stones but also attracted the envy of countless people.
In this world where might makes right and the weak are meat for the strong, if Tianya Pavilion lacked sufficient power, their Primordial Stones would have been plundered a thousand times over.
A common man is innocent, but his treasure is his crime.
The very existence of the Protectors was to deter all manner of petty villains with larcenous intentions.
Within Tianya Pavilion, second only to the Grand Pavilion Master at the very top, were the two great Protectors.
The two Protectors were both Innate List Powerhouses of immense strength, their might shaking Cyan Cloud Country as they stood guard over Jiangnan and North of the River.
The one presiding over Jiangnan was Protector Cao Tiangang. He was ranked tenth on the Innate List and had two Innate Limit Strong Persons under his command.
In the decades that Protector Cao had presided over Jiangnan, countless lives had been taken by his hands in the service of protecting Tianya Pavilion’s branches from harm.
His current reputation had been carved out by slaughter across Jiangnan, earning him a truly fearsome renown.
Song Tianzheng’s fearsome reputation in Baiquan Town was nothing compared to Cao Tiangang’s.
"If this is Protector Cao Tiangang, then the two behind him must be Innate Limit Strong Persons as well," someone exclaimed in awe.
Although these two black-robed Innate Limit Strong Persons weren’t on the Innate List, individuals of their caliber were more than capable of founding their own First-Class Noble House.
"The others in white robes are likely Pavilion Masters from other regions who came along today."
The branch Pavilion Masters of Tianya Pavilion all wore identical white robes, making them easy to identify.
The tenth-ranked expert on the Innate List, two Innate Limit Strong Persons, and several branch Pavilion Masters... such a lineup was nothing short of extravagant.
Protector Cao glanced at Yi Wulin and Yi Wuyue and spoke coolly, "Ah, the two of you juniors from the Yi Family. Good. Your rankings on the Famous Family List have risen."
"Thank you for the praise, Protector Cao."
Yi Wulin and Yi Wuyue were both overwhelmed by the attention. This Protector Cao was ranked even higher than the two Innate List Powerhouses in their own Yi Family. Despite their noble lineage, they were nobodies in his presence.
They were about to ask Protector Cao what had brought him here, but just then, his eyes scanned the crowd. He seemed to find who he was looking for and strode purposefully forward.
"Is he heading for the man from Wenhua City?"
Yi Wulin guessed, as Cao Tiangang was walking in the direction of the Wenhua City delegation.
But he also found it strange. The Sword Sect from Wenhua City was only ranked in the thirties on the Innate List, so why would Cao Tiangang bother to visit him personally?
’Could they be close friends?’
While he was still puzzling over it, something happened that left both him and Yi Wuyue utterly dumbfounded.
"You must be Ning Xiaoyou, correct? Truly, heroes are born from the young. Your generation is a formidable one."
Cao Tiangang wasn’t heading for the man from Wenhua City, but for Ning Jiang, who was standing right beside him.
Seeing his face wreathed in smiles, the jaws of the Yi Wulin siblings dropped.
’Is this really the same man—the fearsome Cao Tiangang, who was always so stern, serious, and unsmiling?’
As far as they could remember, they had never once seen the great Protector Cao smile!
Ning Jiang’s reaction, however, left them even more speechless.
"Too kind."
Facing the renowned Protector Cao, Ning Jiang simply offered two words. His demeanor was neither servile nor arrogant, but perfectly calm and composed.
This was simply his nature.
Back when he was in the Qi Cultivation Realm, he had been just as calm and at ease when he first met Liu Yuanlong.
Cao Tiangang didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. He spoke to Ning Jiang as an equal. "Ning Xiaoyou, since the creation of the Famous Family List, you are without a doubt the most outstanding genius I have ever seen. After today, the name ’The White Head Sword Sect’s Ning Jiang’ will shake the entire Cyan Cloud Country!"
This was no flattery, but the absolute truth.
Neither Sword King Chu Bai, nor Young Master Soaring Dragon, nor any of the past holders of the top spot on the Famous Family List could compare to the Ning Jiang of today.
"But enough pleasantries. I came here today for two reasons. First, to see you for myself, Ning Xiaoyou. And second, to personally deliver the new Famous Family List and congratulate you on taking the number one spot."
Cao Tiangang said with a smile, taking out the Famous Family List.
The Famous Family List contained a total of seventy-two names.
When he unrolled the list, everyone saw the name at the very top, written in six large, golden words—The White Head Sword Sect’s Ning Jiang!
"Congratulations, White Head Sword Sect."
Congratulations erupted from the surrounding crowd.
The members of the Ning Family, however, were left with a bitter taste in their mouths.
The stronger Ning Jiang became, the deeper their regret grew.
Ning Shoujing’s branch of the family, in particular, looked ashen-faced.
"To have a Protector personally deliver the list... not even Chu Bai or Young Master Soaring Dragon received such an honor back in their day."
Liu Yuanlong marveled aloud. When Sword King Chu Bai and Young Master Soaring Dragon had taken the top spot on the Famous Family List, merely an Innate Limit Strong Person had been sent to deliver it.
For a Protector to come in person... this was an honor reserved for Ning Jiang alone!
’Number one on the Famous Family List... the White Head Sword Sect... How can this possibly be true?’
Yi Wulin and Yi Wuyue were roaring internally. At first, they thought the man from Wenhua City had been lying, but now even Cao Tiangang himself had appeared.
"Protector Cao, are you certain there’s no mistake with the number one ranking on the Famous Family List?" Yi Wulin couldn’t stop himself from asking.
"Hm?"
The affable expression on Cao Tiangang’s face vanished, his eyes turning as cold as a blade’s edge as he looked at Yi Wulin. "Are you implying there’s a problem with Tianya Pavilion’s rankings? Are you questioning our authority?"
A mountain-like pressure erupted from Cao Tiangang and bore down on Yi Wulin.
Yi Wulin’s face went deathly pale. He quickly bowed his head. "This junior wouldn’t dare! Please forgive me, Protector Cao."
Even with his noble family’s backing, he wouldn’t dare challenge Cao Tiangang.
To put it bluntly, if Cao Tiangang were to slap him half to death, the Yi Family would have no choice but to swallow their pride and accept it.
"Before, you were ignorant of the Sword Sect’s identity, so failing to pay your respects was somewhat excusable. Now that his identity is confirmed, hurry up and apologize to the Sword Sect for your previous disrespect."
Xie Baichuan interjected with a cold shout.
Yi Wulin’s face alternated between pale and livid, but in this situation, he had no choice but to lower his head to Ning Jiang. "Greetings, Sword Sect. I was wrong before. I apologize."
He kept his head bowed, fists clenched tightly at his sides.
He was from a noble house, a man of distinguished status, and had always been proud and arrogant. He had come to the Ning Family assuming that dealing with Ning Jiang would be a simple matter, so he had acted haughtily and looked down on him.
But now, he was being forced to bow his head and apologize to someone younger than himself. The humiliation filled him with murderous intent.
"Seeing you in person, Ning Xiaoyou, has made this trip worthwhile. The list has been delivered, so I will take my leave now. In the future, if you ever need anything, please feel free to find me. You will always be welcome."
His words were a clear indication of his desire to build a relationship with Ning Jiang.
No one was surprised. Ning Jiang was truly that valuable.
The previous two champions of the Famous Family List—Sword King Chu Bai and Young Master Soaring Dragon—were now both figures whose names shook Cyan Cloud Country. With Ning Jiang’s potential, as long as he didn’t meet an untimely end, his future would only be brighter than theirs.
After the contingent from Tianya Pavilion departed, Yi Wulin stared at Ning Jiang, his eyes filled with envy and jealousy.
They were both of the younger generation, yet Ning Jiang, who was several years his junior, had reached the top of the Famous Family List and had one of Tianya Pavilion’s two great Protectors personally deliver the ranking to him.
’Could I ever hope to achieve that in my lifetime?’
"You two should go back," Ning Jiang said coolly, looking at them. "I don’t wish to interfere in the matter between your Yi Family and Ye Chenyu. I know she wouldn’t want me to, either."
"Don’t you want to see her, even once? If you come back with us, you might be able to," Yi Wulin pressed, unwilling to give up.
"If she wants to see me, she’ll come find me herself."
Ning Jiang looked up at the sky, where a crow was now circling overhead. "Let me give you a piece of advice. If Chenyu is willing to give you a chance, you’d best seize it. Whatever she tells you to do, just do it. That’s your only chance of survival."
"Ridiculous! Why would my Yi Family be afraid of her? We’re leaving."
Yi Wulin snorted coldly and left the Ning Family Mansion with Yi Wuyue.
’Before her eyes, what does the Yi Family even amount to?’
Ning Jiang watched the crow in the sky as it flew away, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Not long after leaving the Ning Family estate, a murderous glint flashed in Yi Wulin’s eyes. ’White Head Sword Sect? So what if you’re a prodigy? A dead genius is worthless.’
The two siblings made their way out of Baiquan Town, heading for Ancient Wind City.
High above in the sky, a crow flew through the clouds, matching their pace perfectly.
It looked down, and in its eyes gazing at the pair below, were Heavy Pupils!
One was a deep, azure-green; the other, a stark, blood-red.
The red and green pupils weren’t side-by-side, but overlapped, flickering in and out of existence with an eerie depth.
「A thousand li away, in Ancient Wind City, atop a mountain peak.」
A silver-haired girl stood with peerless grace. Reflected within her overlapping, azure-and-red Heavy Pupils was the entire scene from Baiquan Town...
