In the dim light of the Grand Hall, Yan Luo knelt before Wang Tian, head bowed and expressionless, waiting for his lord’s command.

  Wang Tian did not speak. He activated his Attribute Eye and silently scanned the assassin before him.

  *Name: Yan Luo*

  *Title: Master of Shadows*

  *Cultivation: Mid?Stage Venerable Realm*

  *Loyalty: 100%*

  *Introduction: Summoned by Wang Tian via Summoning Card. He can hide within shadows, becoming completely undetectable. Capable of killing Peak Venerable Realm experts with his techniques.*

  Wang Tian felt a flicker of amazement. Yan Luo was a Mid?Stage Venerable Realm expert—second only to Jin Dan. What impressed him most, however, was Yan Luo’s ability to kill a Peak Venerable Realm cultivator despite being only Mid?Stage. Such cross?realm strength was a priceless asset to any sect or clan. And he had obtained Yan Luo without any effort, with loyalty fixed at one hundred percent. There was no need to worry about betrayal.

  After finishing his inspection, Wang Tian finally spoke. “Yan Luo, hide in the shadows and observe the other four families. The Clan Competition is coming. They will surely scheme something against us. Find out what they are planning and report back to me.”

  Hearing the order, Yan Luo did not react outwardly. He only said, “My lord’s order is above all. I will do as my lord wishes.” Then he dissolved into the darkness and vanished without a trace.

  Wang Tian was now the only one left in the Grand Hall. After a moment, he left as well and returned to his courtyard to cultivate.

  He needed to cultivate more these days. Before the System had activated, he had already been a Peak Soul Formation Realm expert. Now, with the System and his special constitution, his cultivation speed had become even faster than before. He was on the verge of breaking through into the Dragon Transformation Realm, though it would still take at least a month.

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  While the Wang Family prepared for the coming competition, in the Wu Family Patriarch’s Courtyard, a man who looked to be in his forties lay on the bed. His hair was lightly streaked with gray, his body frail and weak. This was none other than Wu Zhanfeng, the Patriarch of the Wu Family and Wu Ruolan’s father.

  Standing before him were Wu Ruolan and Elder Wu Sheng, who had gone to the Wang Family with her. They had returned to the Wu Family and wanted to tell Wu Zhanfeng what had happened, but because of his poor health, they had not dared to speak a word. They had even ordered the servants and others not to spread the news about the bet to him.

  But today, Wu Zhanfeng had learned everything from his personal servant. Enraged, he had summoned both of them to his courtyard to question them. The moment he heard the news, his anger flared and he coughed blood.

  “Ruolan,” he asked, his voice weak but filled with fury, “what happened at the Wang Family, and why is there a bet between you and Wang Jian?”

  Wu Ruolan said nothing. When she had first come back, she had actually want to confess everything, but she had backed down at the times because of Wu Zhanfeng's health. Now her father had found out on his own, not from her, It's Wu Zhanfeng's suspicion of not receiving much information from outside made him suspicious and suspicion had driven him to order his personal servant to investigate. This only made her feel more guilty, and she found it hard to speak a single word. Beside her, Elder Wu Sheng was in a similar state.

  Time passed, and there was still no answer to Wu Zhanfeng’s question. His anger grew hotter.

  “Spill it out,” he shouted, “what mess did you make?” He coughed blood again. His personal servant rushed forward to support him, while Wu Ruolan and Elder Wu Sheng also tried to step in, yet they dared not move when they met Wu Zhanfeng’s furious gaze.

  The shout terrified them. They already regretted going to the Wang Family, and now they regretted it even more. At last, Wu Ruolan gathered some courage and told everything that had happened at the Wang Family—the conspiracy of Elder Mo, the bet between Elder Shen and Wang Tian, and the breaking of the engagement and bond between the Wang and Wu Families. She said it all without hiding anything.

  Although she deeply regretted going to the Wang Family and causing such a mess, in the corner of her heart she still clung to a sense of self?esteem, quietly justifying her actions.