Chapter 46: A Duel of Words and Wills
The air cracked as Lei Fengzhan's palm, wreathed in furious lightning, tore toward Wu Lingtian.
Wu Lingtian didn't flinch. With a single, almost casual sweep of his hand, he sent Lei Fengzhan flying like a ragdoll.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Both men were Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators—how could Wu Lingtian overpower him so effortlessly? And more importantly… since when did the Jiang Clan have a lightning cultivator?
Whispers swirled like dry leaves in a storm. In that moment, Lei Fengzhan's attack had not only failed—it had stripped away the Jiang Clan's careful disguise.
Few noticed, but Jiang Zhaoxu's shoulders eased ever so slightly. A faint smile tugged at his lips, gone as quickly as it came.
After being blasted back, Lei Fengzhan staggered to his feet, the haze of grief and rage finally lifting. In that instant, he realized the full weight of his mistake.
Gasps erupted from the watching Mu, Tu, Shan, and Jiang clans. This display of strength was unmatched. Wu Lingtian's cultivation still read as Peak Foundation Establishment Realm, yet he had sent another peak cultivator flying with a casual motion.
"Lady Tu… isn't Clan Head Wu a bit too strong? Is he… hiding his cultivation base?" asked a Tu clan elder in a low, uneasy voice.
"No," she replied, eyes narrowing. "His qi frequency is exactly that of a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator—one step away from forming a Golden Core. But with power like this…" She let the thought hang. Around her, faces darkened. The major clans of Wu City would have to rethink their strategies.
Elsewhere in the city, similar whispers stirred.
Mu Rong tapped his fingers on the table, his tone grim. "No one among Wu City's major clans can match him within the Foundation Establishment Realm. And they have no Golden Core cultivator in their ranks…"
The weight of those words sank in. With a single effortless blow, Wu Lingtian had not only defended his clan—he had restored the Wu Clan's prestige without lifting more than a hand.
While the crowd was still reeling from the earlier display, Wu Lingtian spoke as if nothing had happened.
"So, Brother Jiang," he said with an easy smile, "is the Jiang Clan truly hell-bent on going to war with the Wu Clan?"
Jiang Zhaoxu's expression didn't change, but inside he knew he couldn't afford to dance in circles—he wasn't confident he could take Wu Lingtian head-on right now.
"Brother Wu," he replied evenly, "don't tell me you didn't see it. He was using lightning qi, not water qi. Don't tell me cultivating all these years has damaged your ability to think clearly."
A ripple of shock went through the bystanders. Even after seeing Wu Lingtian's frightening strength, Jiang Zhaoxu still dared to tease him so openly. The man truly had guts.
Wu Lingtian, unfazed, chuckled. "Oh? Then why don't you clarify things for me?"
"Gladly." Jiang Zhaoxu's tone was sharp but measured. "He is not from the Jiang Clan—nor were the juniors who dueled your clan's disciples these past few days. So even if he challenges you, it doesn't mean he represents the Jiang Clan. And if we did want to attack the Wu Clan, I would not send strangers. I would personally lead the charge. Don't think we fear your clan."
It was a delicate balance—Jiang Zhaoxu had to distance himself from Lei Fengzhan while making sure his own clan didn't appear to have yielded.
These two revelations left the onlookers in a tangle of confusion. First they thought the attacker was Jiang Clan; now it seemed he was from the Lei Clan. Yet Jiang Zhaoxu still dared to challenge Wu Lingtian to his face.
Wu Lingtian didn't even blink. He knew exactly what Jiang Zhaoxu was doing—trying to twist the narrative to shield the Jiang Clan's reputation. And he had no intention of playing along.
Oh? Truly?" Wu Lingtian's eyes widened in feigned innocence. "This is news to me. Perhaps Brother Jiang could enlighten us—why would they parade around as members of your Jiang Clan instead of proudly wearing the Lei Clan name?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew it was the Wu Clan who first implied they were from the Lei Clan, yet Wu Lingtian's expression was so guileless that some actually began to doubt their own memories.
Before the silence could settle, Wu Lingtian leaned in, voice carrying just enough for the entire square to hear. "Unless… ah, I see. The Jiang Clan has already conquered the Lei Clan on Stormrise Mountain! Turned them into loyal hounds, have you? Remarkable. To subdue even Core Formation experts—your might must truly reach the heavens. I, for one, am no match for you. In fact…" He paused, letting the crowd hang on his words. "I doubt anyone in all of Wu City could stand against you. Perhaps we should simply rename it Jiang City. Wouldn't you agree, Brother Jiang?"
The mockery hung in the air like a blade, drawing smothered laughs and wide-eyed stares, while Jiang Zhaoxu's jaw tightened ever so slightly.
Everyone twitched at Wu Lingtian's words, some in suppressed amusement, others in secondhand embarrassment for Jiang Zhaoxu. All eyes naturally shifted toward the Jiang clan head, waiting to see how he would respond to such a brazen provocation.
The other major clans, however, weren't merely spectators anymore. They were quietly weighing the undercurrents of this exchange. This wasn't just a clash of words—it was a battle for public perception, and the outcome could very well shape the political currents of Wu City for years to come.
They couldn't afford to let things spiral beyond control. One wrong move here might set alliances ablaze or force clans into conflicts they weren't ready for.
Unnoticed by the common crowd but keenly felt by every cultivator present, the qi of several powerful experts gathered near the Wu Clan's position. The clan heads themselves had arrived, though none had stepped forward. They lingered just beyond sight, their presence heavy in the air like storm clouds before a summer downpour. Every heartbeat carried the silent question—how would this farce end?
Jiang Zhaoxu's jaw tightened, but his smile didn't falter. He clasped his hands behind his back, adopting a leisurely air that was just a shade too forced.
"Brother Wu, your imagination truly knows no bounds," he said, his voice steady, though a faint edge crept into the words. "If flattery could change a city's name, then perhaps the Wu Clan would have already renamed it after themselves long ago."
"But," Jiang Zhaoxu continued, letting his gaze sweep deliberately across the onlookers, "since you ask why these impostors posed as my Jiang Clan… the truth is, the Lei Clan approached us first. They offered a price that could not be ignored, and—let us be honest—my Jiang Clan is not strong enough to refuse such a force outright. They insisted on using our name, saying they merely wished to duel with Wu City's younger generation to temper themselves.
At the time, I even believed it might benefit Wu City's juniors, giving them a chance to face formidable opponents and gain experience they could never get in ordinary bouts."
His tone shifted, heavier now. "But who would have thought matters would spiral so far out of hand? I admit, it was our fault not to inform the City Lord beforehand… yet we, too, were bound by the Lei Clan's will."
The words fell like stones into a still pond, sending ripples through the crowd. Many exchanged glances—Jiang Zhaoxu had not denied the accusation, but by shifting part of the weight onto the Lei Clan, he had neatly steered the Jiang Clan out of the worst of the whirlpool. Whatever grudges still lingered between the clans, Wu Lingtian could no longer press them as harshly without drawing the Lei Clan fully into the open.
Wu Lingtian's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected Jiang Zhaoxu to be so direct… or so adept at turning a trap into a shield.
"Oh? So Brother Jiang is saying that the fool who just attacked has nothing to do with the Jiang Clan, and that it was all the Lei Clan's doing? Then tell me—why were they acting so domineering in Wu City under your banner? It's not as if the Jiang Clan brought them here to help you seize the City Lord's seat and bring the major clans to heel—starting with my Wu Clan, then Tu, Mu, and even the Shan Clan—until only the Jiang Clan ruled Wu City, is it?"
This possibility sent a ripple of panic through the crowd. Mu Rong, Lady Tu, and even the Shan Clan's leader could no longer remain silent.Though the Shan Clan was the Jiang Clan's closest ally, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.
With just a single sentence, Wu Lingtian had once again dragged the Jiang Clan into the center of suspicion. Jiang Zhaoxu knew that if he didn't clarify matters immediately, things would become far more difficult for the Jiang Clan from this moment on.
But before he could speak, Lei Jinghong stepped forward."No, City Lord," he said calmly, "we have no such intentions. It's just that today, our Second Elder lost his son outside Wu City in the Greenveil Forest. In his grief, he was not in the right state of mind to consider the consequences. Please forgive us for this impudence. Tomorrow, we will deliver proper compensation to the Wu Clan for what happened today."
Even Jiang Zhaoxu was stunned. Why was the Lei Clan stepping in to resolve the matter on their own?
After a moment, the reason became clear to everyone—without bringing any Core Formation cultivators, if they continued to press the Wu Clan here in Wu City, they would only be courting their own destruction.
After a long pause, Wu Lingtian's gaze swept the hall. His lips curved, but there was a faint edge in his eyes."Oh… so it's Brother Lei Jinghong. You're the one who visited my Wu Clan last time." His tone was calm, almost conversational, yet it carried a subtle pressure. "I truly share in your grief—hearing that your Lei Clan lost a promising youth outside Wu City is a tragedy indeed."
He paused, his voice lowering just enough for the air to grow heavy."So, it's all a misunderstanding. I had thought someone truly wished to destroy my Wu Clan. I was prepared to fight to the death… and if that had happened, I fear Wu City itself would have been drowned in blood."
A cold shiver rippled through the crowd. No one doubted his words—if the Jiang Clan had not responded swiftly, Wu Lingtian might have slaughtered them on the spot. Lady Tu, who had known him for years, found herself seeing a side of him for the very first time.
Yet Wu Lingtian kept smiling, that beastly edge lurking just behind the curve of his lips. Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he continued,"Since it was all a mistake, there's no need to dwell on it. But… with all the clan leaders present, I must declare something. Tomorrow, I will be sending an alert to the peak—informing them that the Lei Clan has entered Wu City. We will require expert oversight to ensure no mishaps occur again. Should anything happen a second time, this small Wu City would not be able to contain the consequences."
The words were polite, but the meaning was clear to all—Wu Lingtian was telling the Lei Clan to leave and not return. The Wu Clan might not have the strength to act directly, but the Verdant Royal Family did.
The message landed like a hammer blow. Whatever the Lei Clan had come to accomplish in Wu City, their plans had been cut off at the root. Even if they wished to continue, it would be impossible for at least the next several years. The Wu Clan had turned the confrontation into a clean, decisive victory without ever drawing a blade.