A Celestial Beauty of the Great Yan royal family and a rising star from the Outer Province, if these two have a conflict, it would certainly stir things up.
So, without hesitation, the two followed swiftly.
With one leading the way and two following, they rushed to Yan Capital City as fast as lightning.
Just over twenty miles of road, and at their speed, it only took a moment to arrive.
Upon reaching Yan Capital City, Yan Xizhao roughly assessed the direction and headed toward Guangde Square.
Since it was daytime, to avoid being too conspicuous, Yan Xizhao chose to walk through less populated streets.
Even though it took a bit of a detour, Yan Xizhao quickly arrived at Guangde Square.
She didn’t know the exact location of Shang Luoluo’s home, but since Guangde Square wasn’t large, she didn’t bother to ask around and directly swept over the residences.
She believed that if Zhao Ya were among these families, he would certainly come out to investigate.
And indeed.
When she arrived at a courtyard with just two halls.
Just having returned home not long ago and practicing the Eight Vajra Longevity Skill indoors, Zhao Ya suddenly opened his eyes, then leapt into the courtyard, coincidentally facing Yan Xizhao, who was perched on the courtyard wall.
"It’s you?"
Zhao Ya had a profound impression of Yan Xizhao, so he recognized her immediately.
Yan Xizhao looked down from a higher position, scrutinizing Zhao Ya with an examining gaze, after a moment, she nodded slightly.
"Indeed, it’s me! Unexpectedly, after a few years since our parting in the Earth Cave, you’ve already stepped into the half-step Fifth Realm."
Zhao Ya smiled, "You’re not bad either, it seems you’ve finally taken that step and attained the Fifth Realm."
"Yes." Yan Xizhao nodded.
"Tell me, what brings you to me suddenly?"
Zhao Ya certainly wouldn’t believe that Yan Xizhao came merely for a reunion.
"Did you poison Yan Fei?"
"Indeed." Zhao Ya admitted blatantly without concealment.
Yan Xizhao was silent for a moment, then said, "She is my cousin!"
"Oh, and then?" Zhao Ya replied indifferently.
Seeing Zhao Ya’s indifferent expression, Yan Xizhao suddenly smiled.
"From what I heard from Senior Brother Wang, you act very steadily and often do the unexpected, and now it seems true."
"Wang Tiancheng from the Golden Saber Institute?" Zhao Ya asked.
"Yes, also Senior Brother Xu from Wunian Academy, and they are likely arriving soon." Yan Xizhao said as she lightly lowered her hand.
"I know Yan Fei is usually arrogant, and your punishment has some justification, but I must stand up, otherwise people in the Capital City might think our Great Yan royal family is this weak and easy to bully."
"Then what?" Zhao Ya remained calm, but his hand was already on the saber handle of the Meteorite Iron Saber.
"So take one of my strikes; if you can withstand it, I will have Yan Fei personally visit to apologize. If you can’t, you won’t be in danger of losing your life, but you must provide the antidote."
"Alright!"
Although he knew this Yan Xizhao had attained the Fifth Realm through the Realm-Breaking Guide, her strength was undeniably powerful.
This could be seen from the oppressive feeling she gave him.
The sense of oppression was even stronger than that of Wang Tiancheng by three parts.
Yet, even so, Zhao Ya not only showed no fear but instead was filled with a burning fighting spirit.
One must know that cultivating the Martial Dao is inherently a path of adversity, facing endless hardships and obstacles.
Without the will to rise and the courage to face strong foes, one is destined not to go far.
So Zhao Ya did not hesitate for a moment, and directly agreed.
At this moment, the Shang Family members were also alarmed.
The servants trembled, hiding indoors, afraid to come out.
Shang Luoluo and Zui’Er came out together, and upon seeing Yan Xizhao standing on the courtyard wall, clothes fluttering like an immortal descending to the world, they couldn’t help but change their expressions.
Though Zui’Er’s strength was not very high, having followed Zhao Ya for so long, her eyes were naturally sharp.
She could immediately tell that this Yan Xizhao was no ordinary person.
Zui’Er even felt Lu Dingtai’s similar sense of oppression from her, which understandably shook her heart.
Though Shang Luoluo didn’t possess Zui’Er’s strength, she was extremely clever, and upon seeing the visitor wearing Washing Sword Manor’s attire, she immediately understood it must be related to Yan Fei.
"Ya!"
"Ya!"
Both called out in unison.
But Zhao Ya didn’t turn his head and simply said, "Stand further away, don’t worry about me."
With that, Zhao Ya slowly drew the Meteorite Iron Saber, its tip angled toward Yan Xizhao.
"Come, let me see how miraculous Washing Sword Manor’s swordsmanship truly is."
A glint of admiration passed through Yan Xizhao’s eyes.
Aside from anything else.
Just being able to dare confront her with half-step Fifth Realm cultivation was already beyond many others.
"Alright."
Yan Xizhao also drew her sword and performed a Sword Holding Ceremony for Zhao Ya with great solemnity.
"This sword is named Unstained, bestowed upon me by my master when I first entered the Sword Dao."
This was not boasting, but a ceremonial gesture before drawing the sword, symbolizing respect for the opponent.
"A Meteorite Iron Saber, picked up on the road, nothing much." Zhao Ya replied.
"Be careful now!"
Seeing Wang Tiancheng and others rushing from afar, Yan Xizhao struck before they arrived.
In an instant, Zui’Er felt as if a light split the sky open and approached with an irresistible force.
She took a half-step back, face pale with panic.
Because in that moment, Zui’Er felt as though the once all-powerful Ya might fall to this sword.
But just then, a blade light suddenly erupted within the sword light.
Then there was a loud clang.
The airflow even blew off all the leaves of a nearby tree.
Looking again at the scene, they saw Zhao Ya, somehow appearing beneath the steps, the saber tip angled toward the ground.
On the other hand, Yan Xizhao remained on the courtyard wall, without even moving an inch.
She looked at Zhao Ya with sparkling eyes, and after a long time, she asked, "What saber technique is this?"
"A very ordinary Gale Saber Technique, I learned it when I was an Escort Master." Zhao Ya said.
"Good!"
Yan Xizhao nodded, turned, and left.
Then her voice came, "Once Yan Fei is able to get out of bed, I will have her come to apologize."
And with that, she left just like that.
As she left, Wang Tiancheng and Xu Niannian arrived.
The two landed in the courtyard, looking at Zhao Ya holding the saber, their expressions were a bit complicated.
They had witnessed the sword strike from Yan Xizhao just now.
Even Wang Tiancheng, facing that sword, would admit he couldn’t come away unscathed.
But unexpectedly, Zhao Ya, merely half-step Fifth Realm, successfully took that sword.
"Brother Wang, Brother Xu!"
Seeing them arriving, Zhao Ya smiled and slowly sheathed his saber.
"Ya, although I knew before that your talent in saber techniques was extremely terrifying, I didn’t expect it to this extent. I believe after today, your name will appear on many people’s desks." Wang Tiancheng exclaimed.
"Is it that exaggerated?" Zhao Ya asked.
"It’s just that exaggerated, you don’t understand what Junior Sister Yan Xizhao means to the current martial arts world in the Capital City." Xu Niannian said, then smiled wryly.
"Being able to take her sword proves a lot."
"Haha, you two overestimate me, I was just lucky. Please, come inside." Zhao Ya invited.
It was at this moment that cracks appeared on the bluestone slabs on the ground, spreading all the way to Zhao Ya’s feet before segmenting and shattering.
Seeing this, Zhao Ya sighed, "Seems I was a bit lacking!"
With that strike earlier, Zhao Ya leveraged the force from the ground to successfully dissolve Yan Xizhao’s sword momentum, causing the bluestone slabs to fragment.
In comparison, Yan Xizhao was much better off, at least the courtyard wall...
Before the thought settled, the courtyard wall where Yan Xizhao had stood showed spider web-like cracks and then collapsed.
As the dust rose, Wang Tiancheng and Xu Niannian were shocked.
Yet Zhao Ya gave a faint smile.
He finally had a comprehensive understanding of his own strength.
Though he hadn’t entered the Fifth Realm yet, with his strong Inner Organ Talent, he could indeed not fear any Fifth Realm experts, even if they were considered prodigies.