Protect Our Patriarch

……

"Your Majesty need not worry too much. The Blood Fetus Demon Pill that Wei Yuansheng took should have nothing to do with the Magicauldron Venerable," Wang Shouye said calmly. "It's just that the actions of the Magicauldron Venerable were erratic back then, leaving behind many harmful influences. Some ancient texts and pill recipes might not have been completely destroyed and have been passed down to this day."

It's no wonder others don't know if the Magicauldron Venerable is dead, but how could he not know?

The remnant soul of the Magicauldron Venerable is currently entangled with the remnant soul of the True Lord of the Mysterious Pill, residing within the Magicauldron... and the Magicauldron is quietly lying in Wang Shouye's storage ring at this moment~

The Yuanping Emperor's expression slightly relaxed, but his voice remained heavy, "Even if it's as you say, we must not let this matter slide. We must investigate thoroughly and report to the Immortal Emperor and Immortal Sovereign."

The two exchanged words, as if they had already determined the guilt of the King of Wei's Mansion.

Wei Donglai was anxious and shouted angrily, "Wang Shouye, just because you say it's the Blood Fetus Demon Pill, does that make it so? How dare you slander us without evidence! Don't blame me for becoming your enemy!"

"Brother Donglai, don't be hasty. The Blood Fetus Demon Pill is known for its extremely evil refining method, involving outer region demons. I won't go into the details, just the results," Wang Shouye said with a look of disdain. "After taking this demon pill, the power within can greatly stimulate the potential of one's bloodline, allowing the user to unleash immense strength in a short period."

"But the consequences are severe. Once the effects wear off, the user's bloodline potential is damaged, and their foundation is prematurely exhausted. In severe cases, the bloodline may collapse and lead to death."

"This…"

Wei Donglai's eyes flickered uncertainly.

Wang Shouye was truly something else. The Blood Fetus Demon Pill was supposed to be a lost item, yet he knew so much about it.

The other Divine Realm judges, hearing such a detailed explanation, became increasingly convinced of Wang Shouye's words, each fixing their gaze on Wei Yuansheng and questioning, "Wei Yuansheng, confess honestly, did you take the Blood Fetus Demon Pill?"

At the Seeking Phoenix Tower's arena, reputation was at stake, and fairness was paramount. Winning through the use of a forbidden pill like the Blood Fetus Demon Pill was anything but fair.

The arena's credibility would be compromised, and how could they not be angry?

"This, this…"

Wei Yuansheng's face turned pale, and he was too flustered to speak.

Especially since the consequences of taking the Blood Fetus Demon Pill, as described by Wang Shouye, were far worse than he knew.

"Hmph!"

Seeing this, the Yuanping Emperor was more than ninety percent certain. He coldly ordered, "Prepare for a blood test."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The chief eunuch Zhao Jinzhong took the order and left.

In no time, personnel from Northern Zhou's relevant institutions arrived for the blood test. As expected, when Wei Yuansheng's blood mixed with the reagent, it turned a noticeable black, and the concentration was not low.

The personnel reported to the Yuanping Emperor, "Your Majesty, after testing, Wei Yuansheng's blood contains a certain amount of outer region demon blood. There are only two possibilities for this result: either Wei Yuansheng is a descendant of the outer region demon race, or he has ingested or been injected with outer region demon blood."

As soon as the test results were announced, the surroundings erupted in an uproar.

The dignified King of Wei's Mansion had engaged in such shameless dealings.

The people of the King of Wei's Mansion were also deeply embarrassed.

This was undoubtedly a public humiliation. The King of Wei's Mansion had stood for so many years, and they had never experienced such disgrace.

The Yuanping Emperor looked at King Wei Bo Yu with deep disappointment, "Bo Yu, Bo Yu, I never expected this from you! Has the royal family treated your King of Wei's Mansion poorly? Have the millions of people of Northern Zhou wronged your King of Wei's Mansion?"

"Your Majesty…" Wei Bo Yu's heart was in turmoil, but he had no choice but to admit defeat, immediately putting on a face full of guilt and "self-blame," saying, "This is all Bo Yu's fault. I was too focused on my cultivation and neglected the education of my family descendants. Donglai, I trusted you so much, how could you do such a thing?"

He shifted the blame squarely onto Wei Donglai.

Wei Donglai, feeling wronged, hurriedly cried out, "Ancestor, it's all Donglai's fault! It's Donglai's failure to properly manage Yuansheng!"

Then he turned to Wei Yuansheng and angrily reprimanded, "Yuansheng, you've truly let me down! For the sake of mere face, you've done such disgraceful things, bringing shame to our King of Wei's Mansion!"

"I, I…"

Wei Yuansheng was filled with panic and grievance, wanting to defend himself.

But before he could speak, he heard Wei Donglai's cold voice in his ear, "Yuansheng, at this point, you must bear this alone. Do not implicate others, lest the entire King of Wei's Mansion be dragged down. Once the storm passes, the ancestor and I will find a way to get you out."

Wei Yuansheng's body trembled, filled with grievance.

If it weren't for the pressure from the ancestor and uncle, how could he have taken such an evil thing as the Blood Fetus Demon Pill? His bloodline potential was likely to be greatly affected. But now, he had to bear the blame alone. How was that fair?

But as a mere junior disciple of the Wei Clan, with no power or influence, what could he do in this situation?

He looked utterly defeated and said, "Ancestor, Uncle Donglai. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have taken such a reckless path for the sake of face, bringing disgrace to the entire King of Wei's Mansion."

"Where did you get that Blood Fetus Demon Pill?" Wei Donglai angrily demanded.

"I, I… I bought it from a rogue cultivator, who said it could temporarily boost combat power," Wei Yuansheng said with a face full of fear and innocence. "I didn't know it was the dreaded Blood Fetus Demon Pill."

The people of the King of Wei's Mansion were quick to shirk responsibility, each distancing themselves cleanly.

But everyone wasn't foolish; they could see through such typical clan tactics.

Little Duke Chen Taiqing even poked his head out from the crowd and loudly mocked, "Wei Yuansheng, where did you meet that rogue cultivator? Introduce me, I want to buy a bunch of Blood Fetus Demon Pills so I can risk my life on the outer region battlefield in the future."

With his lead, the scorn from the other clan scions poured down on Wei Yuansheng.

That kid, relying on his talent and strength, often looked down on others, and many had long been displeased with him.

As the saying goes, "When the wall falls, everyone pushes." When the Wei Clan was powerful, they dared not speak. Now, finally having a chance to kick a man when he's down, how could they miss it?

"Take Wei Yuansheng away and keep him under strict watch. Make sure to find out the source of his Blood Fetus Demon Pill," the Yuanping Emperor ordered with a wave of his hand.

After making the decision, he looked at King Wei Bo Yu with regret, "Bo Yu, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you should spend less time on empty pursuits. If you have the time, focus more on educating the younger generation of your family. After all, the children are the future of the family and the foundation of Northern Zhou. Once the foundation is rotten, no matter how splendid the mansion is, it will be at risk of collapse."

With the Yuanping Emperor's veiled sarcasm, Wei Bo Yu had no choice but to respond with a stiff face, "Your Majesty is right. After this, Bo Yu will certainly rectify the family conduct."

This battle was a loss for the King of Wei's Mansion, and as the incident gradually fermented, it would undoubtedly cause a sustained blow to the mansion's reputation.

"In that case," the Yuanping Emperor decided, "Wei Yuansheng's first place on the Celestial Talents Ranking is revoked. The others will compete for the top three, and whoever wins will receive corresponding rewards from me. As for the first place on the Purple Mansion Talents Ranking…"

As he spoke, the Yuanping Emperor looked at Wei Donglai.

Wei Donglai hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to undergo a blood test to prove my innocence."

"You don't need a blood test. I trust you," the Yuanping Emperor said kindly. "Donglai, your first place on the Purple Mansion Talents Ranking is well-deserved."

Wei Donglai almost choked on his own blood.

If His Majesty had arranged for a blood test, it could have restored some "innocence" to the King of Wei's Mansion and silenced the rumors, turning the Wei Yuansheng incident into an isolated case.

But His Majesty's "trust" and "protection" deprived him of the best opportunity to prove his innocence.

He knew that after this, there would inevitably be various rumors, saying that his "first place on the Purple Mansion Talents Ranking" was achieved through cheating.

However, at this moment, Wei Donglai dared not go against the Yuanping Emperor's wishes.

He immediately rolled his eyes and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. However, I am not worthy of the first place on the Purple Mansion Talents Ranking."

"Why do you say that, Donglai?" King Wei Bo Yu interjected, "The matter with Yuansheng is an isolated case. You have been famous for a long time. Among the young Purple Mansion Realm talents in Northern Zhou and the delegations from various countries, who could be your match?"

"Ancestor, don't forget," Wei Donglai raised his head and suddenly cast his gaze at Wang Shouye, "With Brother Shouye here, how dare I claim the 'first'?"

Everyone immediately understood.

The King of Wei and Wei Donglai were clearly trying to shift the focus onto Wang Shouye.

If Wei Donglai could suppress Wang Shouye, it would not only vent their anger but also divert some of the public's attention.

Although it was difficult to completely reverse the negative impact brought by Wei Yuansheng, it could at least regain some ground and reduce the damage to the King of Wei's Mansion's reputation.

Hearing this, everyone's attention turned to Wang Shouye.

People are always like this, never shying away from a spectacle. Representatives from various clans expressed their interest.

"Young Master Shouye," Princess Luojia transmitted her voice, "I know you are naturally reserved and prefer peace. If you don't want to fight, Ling Xiao can take care of him for you."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Ling Xiao," Wang Shouye replied calmly, "Since I've intervened in this matter, I expected this step. Whether it's to make the King of Wei's Mansion wary or for the sake of the Great Qian and the Wang Clan's reputation, this battle is unavoidable for me."

"In that case, Young Master Shouye, please be careful. I know he's not your match, but Wei Donglai is always scheming. Be on guard against his tricks," Princess Luojia continued to express her concern.

"Rest assured, Miss."

Wang Shouye nodded, then stepped forward confidently and said aloud, "Since Brother Donglai is interested, let's have a friendly spar."

One side challenged, and the other accepted.

Naturally, the Purple Mansion arena at the Seeking Phoenix Tower would open for them.

Amidst the anticipation and attention of the crowd, the two ascended the Purple Mansion arena. After exchanging a few polite words according to the rules, the battle began.

"Brother Shouye, be careful!"

Eager to win, Wei Donglai immediately unleashed his full strength. With profound energy surging within him, his aura erupted like a volcanic explosion.

"Roar!"

Accompanied by a beastly roar that echoed through the heavens and earth, a massive fiery red shadow suddenly appeared behind him.

It was a mighty and majestic beast, with scales seemingly carved from fiery crystals, burning with blazing flames. Its golden-red eyes were sharp and domineering, like a king of fire, commanding awe.

This was Wei Donglai's Dharma Aspect—Fire Kylin.

As the lord of fire, the Fire Kylin naturally possessed powerful fire control abilities and exerted strong suppression over other fire-type bloodlines. At this moment, with Wei Donglai's bloodline power unleashed, the Fire Kylin naturally manifested.

With its appearance, the entire arena trembled slightly.

Terrifying might swept through, and endless flames appeared on the arena. Wei Donglai raised his hand, and the endless flames gathered in his palm, transforming into a massive flaming Kylin that charged toward Wang Shouye.

This strike seemed to carry the might of heaven and earth, overwhelming and unparalleled.

"This…" A Divine Realm judge exclaimed in surprise, "Wei Donglai was hiding his strength! I didn't expect his understanding of minor divine abilities to reach such a level! Could it be that his bloodline is not just a great prodigy B-grade, but has reached A-grade?"

"This young man is truly remarkable," another Divine Realm judge praised, "With such strength, he is not inferior to the heirs of top families in the Immortal Dynasty. Given time, he will surely become one of the pillars of our Northern Zhou."

Princess Luojia also frowned slightly.

Wei Donglai had indeed hidden his strength, having cultivated the [Six Extreme Yang Flame] to such an extent, clearly with ulterior motives. Unfortunately, he underestimated Young Master Shouye.

As expected.

Seeing the overwhelming flames rushing toward him like a mountain, Wang Shouye's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes turned sharp.

Terrifying might erupted from within him.

In the next moment.

A clear and melodious phoenix cry suddenly echoed through the Seeking Phoenix Tower.

A massive fire phoenix shadow suddenly appeared behind him, its wings spread wide, exuding a majestic aura.

Wang Shouye's Dharma Aspect wasn't initially a fire phoenix, but as his bloodline power grew stronger, his bloodline gradually transformed. After becoming a Peerless Prodigy, it evolved directly into a fire phoenix.

And it wasn't just any fire phoenix.

The Dharma Aspect had a magnificent golden crest on its head, and its red feathers were long and flexible, edged with a layer of golden light. As its wings spread, layers of fiery brilliance unfolded like a giant flaming lotus, dazzling and radiant.

With the power of a sevenfold bloodline, the golden light flowed with Daoist charm, as if containing profound and mysterious Daoist laws, exuding a hint of the legendary celestial phoenix's aura.

Under the cover of this Dharma Aspect, Wang Shouye's robes fluttered, and his aura was overwhelmingly powerful.

He raised his sleeve, and a fire phoenix almost identical to the Dharma Aspect behind him soared out, charging toward the attacking flaming Kylin.

"Boom!"

In a deafening explosion, the flaming Kylin was directly shattered by the fire phoenix, scattering into countless flames.

Yet the fire phoenix continued its charge, advancing a distance before being intercepted by Wei Donglai.

Anyone could see that Wang Shouye's displayed strength, whether in bloodline level or control and mastery of profound energy, was far superior to Wei Donglai's.

For a moment, the arena was silent, with everyone staring in disbelief.

Wei Donglai's face was as dark as ink.

An alchemist, and yet such a formidable person in your Eastern Qian Kingdom? Is it that I've seen too little, or is there something wrong with the brains of the Eastern Qian Kingdom's people?

Typically, alchemists spend a lot of time and effort studying the properties of various spiritual herbs and honing their alchemy skills, while also needing to cultivate to improve their realm. They rarely have time to hone their Basalt Battle Techniques.

For Wang Shouye to achieve such results against Wei Donglai, there could only be one possibility: his bloodline awakening was extremely high, and his understanding of fire-type divine abilities was profound.

Such a situation could not be a coincidence.

After a moment of stagnation, the noble young ladies present finally reacted, cheering. Some even began inquiring about Wang Shouye's marital status and the number of wives and concubines he had.

"Brother Shouye is indeed the second alchemy master of the Great Qian, with a far superior understanding of the Dao of Fire compared to me," said Wei Donglai, having composed himself after the first round of failure. "Unfortunately, a Basalt cultivator cannot rely solely on talent to win everything; a strong family support is also needed. Today, I'll show you the wealth and foundation of our King of Wei's Mansion."

With that, Wei Donglai raised his hand, and a "spirit lamp" shaped treasure appeared in his palm.

He held the lamp aloft in his palm, its appearance ancient and heavy, with a flickering red-white flame in the wick, emitting a scorching light. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable.

But as soon as the lamp appeared, a powerful aura accompanied by a terrifying temperature swept forth.

The might was overwhelming.

Such blazing flames instantly raised the temperature of the entire Seeking Phoenix Tower by several degrees. If not for the protective array on the arena, the entire tower might have been reduced to ashes.

"This isn't a Divine Spirit Artifact!" an astute Divine Realm expert suddenly exclaimed, "This is one of the ancestral Dao artifacts of the King of Wei's Mansion, the [Six Yang Treasure Lamp]!"

"Absurd!" the Yuanping Emperor said discontentedly, "How can a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator use a Dao artifact in a duel? Wei Bo Yu, is this the only trick your King of Wei's Mansion knows?"

"Your Highness, Wei Donglai is a rare top talent in our King of Wei's Mansion, regarded as the heir to our legacy. He will inherit everything in our mansion, including the [Six Yang Treasure Lamp], which has long been passed down to him, not specifically against Young Master Shouye of Eastern Qian," King Wei Bo Yu replied confidently. "Moreover, neither the laws of the Immortal Dynasty nor Northern Zhou prohibit Purple Mansion Realm cultivators from using Dao artifacts in duels."

"In fact, Your Majesty, look at the princesses of our Immortal Dynasty. Which of them didn't have a Dao artifact to protect them in the Purple Mansion Realm? Their Dao artifacts are naturally considered part of their strength."

"Similarly, in the Celestial Talents Ranking duels, which of the top talents doesn't use Divine Spirit Artifacts? Do all Celestial Realm talents have Divine Spirit Artifacts? This proves that using Dao artifacts in the Purple Mansion Realm is reasonable. It's not our fault if other Purple Mansion Realm talents' families are too poor to provide a Dao artifact for protection."

Wei Bo Yu spoke eloquently, though every word was flaunting wealth, leaving others speechless.

"Hmph!"

The Yuanping Emperor was at a loss for words.

He had initially thought Wang Shouye could crush Wei Donglai with his strength, suppressing the King of Wei's Mansion's momentum and prestige.

But unexpectedly, the situation had turned so drastically.

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, even if the Yuanping Emperor wanted to lend a Dao artifact to Wang Shouye, it was too late.

"Brother Shouye, be careful."

Wei Donglai revealed a smug expression and immediately channeled his divine sense into the Six Yang Treasure Lamp.

In an instant.

The Six Yang Treasure Lamp emitted mysterious golden light, and flames shot out from the wick, transforming into countless sparks that rained down on Wang Shouye.

With Wei Donglai's divine sense strength, controlling the Six Yang Treasure Lamp was challenging, far from unleashing its true power. Yet, even so, the Six Yang Treasure Lamp, capable of attacking autonomously under the control of its spirit, was still beyond the defense of early to mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.

The flames from the lamp were light and delicate, like fireflies, yet they exuded unimaginable might and scorching heat.

These were the true flames within the Six Yang Treasure Lamp. Even being slightly close could cause unbearable burns and singed hair.

Now, the rain of flames descended like a deluge, seemingly about to engulf Wang Shouye.

A thought suddenly crossed the minds of countless people.

Wang Shouye was going to lose. What a pity.

Unexpectedly, Wang Shouye remained unhurried, casually summoning a purple gourd into his palm.

This purple gourd was, of course, the Dao artifact he inherited from the True Lord of the Mysterious Pill, the [Blue Flame Gourd].

"Senior Blue Treasure, I entrust this to you."

While channeling his divine sense into the gourd, he murmured softly.

In an instant, the Blue Flame Gourd trembled slightly, responding excitedly, "Don't worry, Shouye boy. Although the opposing Dao artifact is formidable, its divine sense is far inferior to yours. Together, we can surely win this battle."

From a young age, Wang Shouye had diligently practiced alchemy, where the strength and sensitivity of divine sense were crucial. Over the years, his divine sense had been honed to be much stronger than those of the same realm, with control as precise as an extension of his body.

Now, under his control, the Blue Flame Gourd soared into the air, its size expanding several times over.

As the gourd tilted, torrents of blue flames poured out from its mouth.

The blue flames were gentle as jade, cascading like water. At first glance, they seemed to lack power. However, as soon as the rain of flames from the sky touched the blue flames, a terrifying might erupted from within.

The two types of flames intertwined instantly.

In the blink of an eye, the Six Yang Treasure Lamp and the Blue Flame Gourd engaged in a fierce battle above the arena.

Under the protection of the sweeping blue flames, the dense rain of Six Extreme Yang Flames couldn't even approach Wang Shouye, all blocked at a considerable distance.

"This… a Dao artifact?! Wang Shouye has a Dao artifact too!?"

The noble scions and young ladies in the audience were shocked.

Many of them had never seen a Dao artifact in their lives. What was Wang Shouye's background, having a Dao artifact in the Purple Mansion Realm? His wealth and foundation were too deep.

"This is…"

Observing from the side, King Wei Bo Yu frowned, lost in thought.

The appearance and quality of that Dao artifact seemed somewhat familiar.

The combination of Wang Shouye and the Blue Flame Gourd was ultimately stronger than that of Wei Donglai and the Six Yang Treasure Lamp. Gradually, the momentum of the Six Yang Treasure Lamp was suppressed.

"Little Lamp, your Six Yang True Flames look delicious. Let your Gourd Grandpa have a taste."

Suddenly, the Blue Flame Gourd's spirit let out a strange laugh.

King Wei Bo Yu's heart skipped a beat, suddenly recalling the origin of this gourd. He shouted, "Donglai, be careful! This is the legendary [Blue Flame Gourd], capable of devouring and absorbing other flames!"

But his warning came too late.

With Wang Shouye's cooperation, the Blue Flame Gourd, having suppressed the Six Yang Treasure Lamp, blocked its retreat and switched from spewing flames to absorbing them.

With a suction akin to a dragon drinking water, a large amount of Six Yang True Flames was drawn into the gourd.

The Six Yang Treasure Lamp, floating in mid-air, seemed to lose its vitality, quickly dimming, its body trembling and unsteady.

"Delicious!"

In contrast, the Blue Flame Gourd alternated between blue and red flames, becoming even more spirited.

"How dare you! To damage the foundation of my King of Wei's Dao artifact!" Unable to bear it any longer, King Wei Bo Yu raised his hand and launched a palm strike.

Instantly, flames gathered in his palm, transforming into a blazing fireball that surged toward Wang Shouye on the arena.

Terrifying pressure enveloped the entire Seeking Phoenix Tower!

This strike unleashed the full power of the [Six Extreme Yang Flame Technique].

"Wei Bo Yu, how dare you interfere in a fair duel?" the Yuanping Emperor's expression changed. With a wave of his sleeve, a vast wave of profound energy surged forth, effortlessly blocking Wei Bo Yu's flames.

Boom!

In the intense explosion, the entire Seeking Phoenix Tower shook violently, as if it were the end of the world.

This was the result of two powerhouses casually exchanging blows, with the protective array of the Seeking Phoenix Tower absorbing the impact. In an ordinary building, it would have been reduced to rubble.

In this interruption.

The [Six Yang Treasure Lamp] escaped the control of the [Blue Flame Gourd], trembling as it returned to Wei Donglai's hand.

In its flickering flame, it resembled a "little wife" who had suffered great "injustice."

Inside the treasure lamp, a woman's voice shrieked, "Blue Flame old dog! How dare you devour my flames! I, Six Yang, will never be at peace with you!"

"Hiccup!" The Blue Flame Gourd let out a satisfied belch, chuckling, "Six Yang, feel free to come play with me once you've recovered. And remember, everyone calls me Blue Treasure, don't forget."

Such an attitude made even Wang Shouye twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Senior Blue Treasure's personality was truly… prone to drawing hatred and inviting trouble.

"Shouye boy, the opposing Dao artifact has been suppressed by me. You should use your own strength to teach him a lesson," the Blue Flame Gourd said, "And announce to the world that our Mysterious Pill lineage has returned!"

Wang Shouye nodded and said to Wei Donglai, "Brother Donglai has given me two moves, and as the saying goes, 'courtesy demands reciprocity.' Please be careful, Brother Donglai."

With that.

Wang Shouye raised his hand, and the [Nine Nether Hellfire] he had refined transformed into a green flame, enveloping Wei Donglai.

The flame was eerie and terrifying, exuding a chilling aura. Even before contact, it gave the illusion of freezing one's soul.Without a doubt, this must be another extremely powerful exotic flame!

Wei Donglai felt a chill in his heart, and an ominous sense of fear instantly enveloped him.

In that moment, he was filled with deep regret.

Why did he have to provoke Wang Shouye for no reason?

This guy...

He's practically the grandmaster of playing the fool to catch the tiger.