Asura Mad Emperor

Not only because of the approaching New Year but also because yesterday, the eldest son of the Zhao Family, Zhao Wujie, had successfully advanced to the Second Layer of the Condensed Truth Realm.

In addition,

The long-secluded Old Master of the Zhao Family, Zhao Shanhe, emerged from seclusion last night and successfully broke through to the Meridian Opening Realm!

Meridian Opening Realm!

This was a Realm that stood above the Condensed Truth Realm!

Martial Artists of this Realm could open powerful Martial Meridians, significantly enhancing the efficiency of True Qi delivery, and thereby increasing the Explosive Power of their True Qi. Martial Artists of this Realm were formidable; their prowess far exceeded that of those in the Condensed Truth Realm!

However, becoming a Martial Artist of the Meridian Opening Realm was no easy feat.

Before this, Great Wilderness City had only one warrior in the Meridian Opening Realm.

That was the Lord of Great Wilderness City, Tang Yunshan!

And now, there was going to be another—Zhao Shanhe.

The Zhao Family was originally one of the top-ranking noble families in Great Wilderness City, at the forefront among all the families.

Now, with the addition of such a powerful Meridian Opening Realm warrior, the status of the Zhao Family was bound to rise even higher. They might even truly ascend to become the number one family in Great Wilderness City. How could the Zhao Family not be overjoyed?

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent! Is it really my Zhao Family\'s turn to be blessed with great fortune this year? To have such continuous joyful events!"

"Not only has Wujie advanced to the Second Layer of the Condensed Truth Realm at such a young age, but my father has also successfully opened his Martial Meridians and ascended to the Meridian Opening Realm at this moment. It\'s a double celebration!"

"Once we defeat the Qin Family at tomorrow\'s New Year celebration assembly and take over all of the Qin Family\'s properties, it won\'t just be a double celebration for my Zhao Family then, but a triple one, hahahaha..."

The current Family Head of the Zhao Family, Zhao Tianheng, couldn\'t help but laugh heartily, unable to contain his joy.

"Father, rest assured. At tomorrow\'s New Year celebration assembly, I will definitely crush all those waste from the Qin Family under my feet and make them unable to raise their heads!"

Zhao Wujie said confidently, not taking the Qin Family seriously at all.

After emerging from seclusion, the Old Master Zhao Shanhe had also heard about the affairs between the Qin and Zhao families.

"Tianheng, it seems that my decision to pass on the position of Family Head to you was indeed the right choice. You have not let me down,"

"By forcing them to sign this wager for the duel, using this method to settle the grudge, you effortlessly took over the foundation of the Qin Family. Very good, very good..."

Zhao Shanhe praised without stinginess, his face beaming with smiles, as if he had already seen the outcome of the bet of the duel.

...

Qin Family.

At this moment, within the Qin Residence, a group of Qin Family members were anxiously pacing about.

"The New Year celebration assembly is tomorrow, and the Family Head still hasn\'t returned?"

The members of the Qin Family were all showing urgent and worried expressions.

"I previously thought it too risky for the Family Head to venture so recklessly deep into the Great Wilderness... We should have stopped him from going too deep into the Great Wilderness earlier on..."

The Third Elder couldn\'t help pacing back and forth, glancing towards the mansion gate from time to time, but Qinchuan never appeared.

"In the depths of the Great Wilderness prowls high-rank Demon Beasts; with the Family Head still not back, could it be that..."

One of the elders couldn\'t help but let his thoughts run wild, his expression filled with trepidation and unease.

"Pah! Pah! Pah! What nonsense are you spouting? The Family Head is blessed with good fortune. Perhaps he\'s merely been delayed by some matters and is now hurrying back. Just wait a little longer, and maybe the Family Head will return,"

However, the various elders of the Qin Family watched in vain. Until nightfall, there was still no sign of Qinchuan.

Finally, all the Qin Family members fell silent, the atmosphere becoming incredibly heavy.

After a long while, the Third Elder finally took a deep breath and said to the Qin Family members, "Everyone go back and rest well. Even if the family head isn\'t here, we must still defeat the Zhao Family at tomorrow\'s festival and safeguard the Qin Family\'s foundation. We can\'t let the family head\'s efforts be in vain."

...

The next morning came early.

The sounds of intense drumming and gongs echoed throughout Great Wilderness City.

Today was the day of the annual festival of Great Wilderness City.

Inside the Qin Residence.

"Has the family head not returned yet?"

"We can\'t wait any longer, the festival is about to start. If we don\'t get there soon, we\'ll be considered to have forfeited!"

The Third Elder took a deep breath and said, "Let\'s head to the venue first!"

At this moment, at the place of the festival held by the City Lord\'s Mansion, many noble families had already arrived. The vast venue was already full of guests.

The Zhao Family was there as well.

At this moment, all members of the Zhao Family were glowing with health, and their eyes sparkled with a sharp light.

This year\'s festival was destined to put the Zhao Family in the spotlight, their glory radiant!

"Hehe, Patriarch Zhao, I heard that you and the Qin Family have laid down a challenge, staking all your foundations as the wager. After today, the properties of the Qin Family will all belong to the Zhao Family. Congratulations."

A patriarch from a neighboring family congratulated Zhao Tianheng with a chuckle.

"Patriarch Zhao, those mines under the Qin Family are quite rich. Once you take over the Qin Family\'s properties, our two families must cooperate more..."

Another family\'s patriarch said to Zhao Tianheng with a smiling face.

"Haha, of course, we will certainly cooperate when the time comes."

Zhao Tianheng laughed heartily, already discussing various cooperation matters with people before the challenge had officially started.

"Speaking of which, the festival is about to begin, yet the Qin Family hasn\'t entered. Could it be that they know they are no match for the Zhao Family and, to avoid embarrassment later, have decided to forfeit and admit defeat directly?"

After a while, as nearly all of the influential families from Great Wilderness City had arrived and Zhao Tianheng had already discussed quite a few cooperative matters with some patriarchs, the Qin Family was still nowhere to be seen. Curiosity arose among certain families.

"That Qin Family is just a declining second-rate family, they can\'t be compared with the Zhao Family. It\'s normal for them to be scared."

Some families couldn\'t help but gossip among themselves.

However, just at that moment, the members of the Qin Family slowly entered the venue.

"Hm?"

"Look, the Qin Family has arrived!"

"So what if they\'ve come? Aren\'t they just going to embarrass themselves?"

"Haha, that\'s true... Eh, why isn\'t the Qin Family head here? Where\'s Qinchuan?"

"The Qin members don\'t seem to be in good spirits. Could it be that Qinchuan didn\'t dare to enter and is hiding?"

"It\'s indeed possible..."

As the Third Elder and others entered, almost all eyes of the noble families at the venue immediately fell upon the Qin Family members, and the buzz of discussion ensued.

The Lin Family members also couldn\'t help but frown.

"Could it be that Qinchuan still hasn\'t returned? Today is the day of the challenge arranged between his Qin Family and the Zhao Family."

"When he left, he seemed to be heading deep into the Great Wilderness. Could it be that he has encountered some danger there?"

The Lin Family members all harbored suspicions and fears. Today\'s festival was exceedingly important for the Qin Family, and yet Qinchuan still hadn\'t appeared, naturally leading to wild speculation.

Hearing the Lin Family\'s speculations, Lin Xi\'s face turned pale, her fingers whitened as she twisted them, and concern showed in her eyes.