The Song family now found themselves in a dilemma: to fight or not to fight.
No news came from within the Song family.
In the end, they could only watch the other party leave without taking any action.
It wasn't that they didn't want to; the decision to fight or not didn't rest with them, but with the family patriarch.
"Damn it, I've lived so many years and we've never encountered such an outrageous thing. Someone actually dared to tear down our Song family's plaque!"
"Heh, if this gets out, our Song family's reputation will be utterly lost. What is the patriarch thinking? Even if they are part of that team, so what? This is our Song family's territory."
"Who knows what the patriarch is thinking? Perhaps it's for the greater good. Forget it, since they've already left, what can we do?"
They could only sigh in resignation.
In the shadows, Yan Wuji's eyes widened. He hadn't expected the Song family to just let them leave like that. How was this possible? Did a family like the Song family have no regard for their honor?
How could they let them leave?
He racked his brain but couldn't fathom this outcome.
"The Song family is truly useless. They were slapped in the face but didn't retaliate. What kind of strategy is this?"
Yan Wuji was bewildered. He couldn't understand the Song family's approach at all.
He then fell into thought.
Since they hadn't made a move, it meant their conflict wasn't that deep yet. He should add fuel to the fire.
With this thought, Yan Wuji chuckled.
Seeing this smile, the butler's expression stiffened, and he felt a bitter pang in his heart. His young master was about to stir up trouble again.
This was too troublesome!
If the old master found out that his young master was causing trouble in Jinling again, he would probably be so enraged that he'd come from Jiangnan to drag him back!
"Young master, let's go. There's nothing more to see here today."
The butler, though diligent, was helpless as he couldn't control his young master.
"Go? Go where? If you're tired, you can go back and sleep. No matter what, we must start a fire. Heh heh."
Yan Wuji chuckled.
"If you're going to do something, do it big. Let the entire Jinling know that your Song family's plaque was torn down!"
After Ye Longlin and his group left, Yan Wuji sprang into action.
Even though it was night, the matter concerning the Song family continued to ferment.
The Song family, one of the top noble families of the elves, went into a frenzy after their plaque was torn down, with the entire family erupting.
The three sons of the Song family all vowed that they would not face their ancestors with honor until the culprit was caught.
On the surface, their actions were iron-willed, with all sorts of preparations.
But in reality, it was all sound and fury, signifying nothing!
With their plaque torn down right at their doorstep, even the Song family patriarch might have felt a pang of guilt when recalling it.
After all, it happened right at their home.
Only the Song family truly knew the background of their opponents.
Two experts of 'Zhuban Longxiang', a hundred thousand soldiers outside the city, and their unseen leader who hadn't made a move yet!
And just as the Song family was in an uproar, a fire began to spread within their estate.
By the time the Song family's main forces returned, the fire had already consumed the west wing, leaving nothing but ashes!
The Song family had suffered multiple blows that night, all within their family headquarters.
It was as if the Song family's reputation had been lost overnight.
...
"Boss, the Martial Arts Association has directly entered the fray. It is said that all the shortlisted candidates in the capital will appear here to compete for their rankings on the Heavenly Pride List, laying the foundation for their succession to the Martial Arts Association."
"Additionally, Cao Ziwen, ranked ninth on the Military Ranking, has appeared in Jinling. It is said that he is here because the second successor of the Martial Arts Association intends to challenge him." Yuan Gang suddenly spoke.
The Military Ranking and the Heavenly Pride List were established together decades ago. Every four or five years, a tournament was held to re-evaluate rankings.
In recent years, the Military Ranking and the Heavenly Pride List were constantly in opposition, with most members of the Heavenly Pride List originating from the Martial Arts Association, accounting for eighty percent of the total.
Since the appearance of the Dragon Pavilion, the Military Ranking and the Heavenly Pride List had become antagonistic, aiming to outdo each other.
The Military Ranking drew most of its strong members from the Dragon Pavilion, while the Heavenly Pride List mostly came from the Martial Arts Association. Due to their conflict, members of the Martial Arts Association frequently provoked members of the Dragon Pavilion's Military Ranking, leading to constant friction.
Therefore, on this occasion, as the Military God Ranking was also being re-evaluated in Jinling, the Martial Arts Association was naturally inclined to be involved.
"Boss, if you ask me, the Martial Arts Association is taking advantage of us and trying to disgrace us. After all, Cao Ziwen came from our Dragon Pavilion. If he is defeated by the Martial Arts Association, where will our honor lie?"
The top ranker of the Military Ranking had not been seen for many years, their whereabouts unknown.
The second to fifth ranked on the Golden Ranking were all within the Dragon Pavilion. The sixth to eighth ranked were currently on missions. The tenth ranked was said to be growing stronger with every fight, and might even break into the top five in the next revision of the Military Ranking. Among the entire top ten, Cao Ziwen seemed to be the easiest to target.
Naturally, he became the stepping stone for the Martial Arts Association.
For this decisive battle, the Martial Arts Association mobilized significant resources and created considerable hype, making their successor the center of attention.
Compared to this successor of the Martial Arts Association, Cao Ziwen appeared dim and unremarkable.
Following external comparisons, the Zhuang family also made their appearance, setting the tone that the successor of the Martial Arts Association was destined to win.
Even the Martial Arts Association brought out their second elder to personally escort this successor.
Ye Longlin frowned slightly, "This is bullying Cao Ziwen for having no backing? It seems the Martial Arts Association has become too arrogant in my absence from the country."
"Release the news that I, this King, have appeared in Jinling and will personally show up to support our military men."
Yuan Gang gasped, his hair standing on end.
The top ranker of the Military Ranking, the top ranker of the Investiture of the Gods, appearing in person to support the military men!
This...
The Investiture of the Gods was the longest-standing ranking chart in history, remaining steadfast despite external changes. Once conferred divinity, where could one not go?
This was the Investiture of the Gods.
Since Ye Longlin took charge of the Dragon Pavilion, both the top ranker of the Military God Ranking and the top ranker of the Investiture of the Gods had disappeared. No one knew where they had gone, as if they were fleeting flashes of lightning.
But only those in the capital knew that the top rankers of these two lists were the same person.
If this news were to spread, it would surely shake the martial arts world!
"Uh, boss, can I discuss something with you?" Yuan Gang asked in a low voice, a fawning smile on his face.
Ye Longlin looked at him and said plainly, "Speak." Mm.
Yuan Gang suddenly felt a toothache, his teeth chattering for a moment before he pleaded, "We're just saying, can we be a little more low-key? If this news gets out, who are you planning to scare to death?!"