Chapter 186: Unique Spear
Nory was completely certain that James could no longer find a way to prove his point now.
“Stop blabbering nonsense, Nory. We have guests here today. We can discuss the affairs of our family later in private.” James rebuked him coldly. Men who were at the higher rung of the power ladder tended to crush their rivals with power rather than words, especially when they weren't entirely in the right.
Nory refused to give in even though he was facing the clan leader. “We can discuss it later. But you can't just give away the blood jade bracelet. It's not yours to give!”
“Shut up!” Yates snapped, unable to contain himself any longer.
He felt a pang of regret on hearing Nory's words. Perhaps it would have been best if he had thrown Nory and his lot out before Nina arrived.
He hadn't expected that they would cause so much trouble and make him look like a fool in front of Nina.
It was so embarrassing. The present he wanted to give out belonged to someone else. He didn't even dare imagine what Nina would think of him upon hearing that. The thought of Nina despising him just because of Nory's words filled Yates with uncontrollable urges to kill someone, especially Nory.
James said nothing. He was their elder and it wouldn't look good if this were to go on much farther. He decided he'd better stay calm, hold his breath, and see where this would lead. If only his son could handle Nory!
Nory was born to be a coward, a total waste of space. He was always scared of Yates. It was highly likely that Nory would just give up because what Yates had said.
But Nory didn't yield. A voice rang out before he could speak.
Zen had spoken before anything could happen.
“Shut up? Why should Nory shut up?” He grinned even though there was no laughter in his eyes. What he had witnessed had made him realize that this party would never have a peaceful ending. He would have to step in at the suitable moment.
“You should also shut up. Have you forgotten where you are? This is Mo's territory. You don't get to speak here, outer disciple.” Yates hated Zen even more than Nory. He was first stealing Nina and now speaking out of turn. The guts of the man!
Nory suddenly stood up and declared in a loud, resolute voice, “I'm one of the Mo clan. Zen is my friend. Of course he can speak.”
It should have been a jolly occasion to have the Mo's family members gathering here today. They all kept their voices down even though they were arguing with each other.
Nory's suddenly raised voice drew the attention of all the guests.
“You are a Mo? That is funny. Is there a place for you in the Mo clan? Nory. Let's have this clear, you have no right to set foot here from now on! Guards, throw him out of here!” Yates abandoned tact completely. His mind was worked feverishly and deliriously. He would chuck out Nory and his fellows first and then devise a way to finish them all.
Several servants answered Yates's call. They hurried over towards Nory menacingly with rods in their hands.
Nory shook his head and managed a sad smile. He tried to open his mouth to say something but the words seemed to have frozen in his throat. After a long silence he just clapped Zen on the shoulder and signaled his friends to leave with him.
Zen felt his heart sinking down as he saw the look on Nory's face. He knew how Nory was feeling right now and could relate to that emotion. This scene took him back to his time in the Luo clan. Back then he had been through the same thing and today, he couldn't help but feel it was his duty to do something for Nory.
With a smile, Zen shook his head and challenged, “Nory's surname is Mo. Sure he is a Mo member. At the same time, he is my friend. I'd like to see who dares to throw him out.”
Yates let out a sneer and waved his hand. And the very next moment, those servants pounced on Zen, their rods rising and falling towards his head.
Zen scowled, his eyebrows drawing together. He swung his arm against the rods, which snapped at his touch just as his foot lashed out at the servants.
“Idiot off!”
These servants had only entered the marrow refining level. They could hardly dodge such a ferocious attack and were sent flying away by Zen's kick.
“They are fighting! That boy at the first rank of the nature level. He's got huge balls! Pick a fight here in the Mo's territory? How dare he?”
“Mo is still a noble clan even though it's on the wane. And James is an expert in the Illuminating Soul Realm. Where does this youngster get the nerve to defy James? If I'm not mistaken, he's only reached the first rank of the nature level.”
“He embarrassed James. He is dead for sure.”
The fight had become more appealing now than the food. Many people had left their table and gathered around to watch.
Yates had no time to butter Nina up now. He gave a cold smile and declared, “All these people who picked a fight here are mostly dead.” A long spear appeared in Yates's hand as he tapped his finger. The spear lashed out, pointing at Zen. “They are dead, and you are no exception!”
Tension between them had finally reached the breaking point. Nina stepped back to one side, and the other female disciples from Lady Peak followed her.
Yetta went pale and said anxiously, “Yates, don't get into a fight. Just let it go!”
“Shut up. This is none of your business, Yetta. He has no respect and he will pay for it.” All Yates could think about was that he had to kill Zen.
James was the elder and expert in the Illuminating Soul Realm. His sense of dignity was forcing him to stay out of the fight. This brat who had just reached the first rank of the nature level was the best among Nory's lot and he was way weaker than Yates. There was no point worrying about his son.
Even so, James still said, “This has nothing to do with you, Yetta. The youngsters want a duel, they can have one.” Although he said so, it was obvious that James was encouraging his son to teach Zen a sharp lesson.
Yetta bit her lip and fell silent.
However, Nina gave Yetta a long look, her calm eyes surveying her face, and asked, “Why are you so worried, Yetta?”
Yetta shook her head. “I'm afraid that my brother will lose, Nina.”
Yetta knew what Yates was doing was wrong. Still... He was her brother.
Her best friend Nina had told her loads of stories about Zen. She could tell from what she had heard that Zen wasn't as simple as he looked.
Nina gave her a smile. “Your brother will be fine.”
Yetta blinked and asked, “Why? I mean how are you so certain?”
Nina replied calmly, “Your brother isn't qualified to fight with Zen. If it were your uncle, this fight would be more seemly.”
Yetta's eyes widened in disbelief. She had heard stories about how Zen had fought with demon generals, how he had defied the Zhuge Clan in the White Emperor City, and how extraordinary his powers were. Still, comparing him with an expert in the Illuminating Soul Realm was beyond her imagination.
Nina had faith in her judgment.
Zen and his unique life energy had nearly killed Hugh in White Emperor City.
Back then he was only a half-step into the nature level.
Now he had become a nature creature and his powers had improved. Maybe he wouldn't win in the fight with the Illuminating Soul Realm expert, but he definitely stood a chance.
Despite what she had said, Nina was worried. In any case, Burning Sky Empire wasn't so far away from her home. If James was determined not to let it go, she could immediately mass some experts from her clan.
At this moment Wurth was thinking about the same thing as Nina.
Wurth knew full well about Zen's capability and was certain that Yates was no match for Zen. But if James stepped into the fight, it was highly likely Zen would lose. James had entered the Illuminating Soul Realm several years back. Even though he wasn't some top refiner in this level, he had the advantages of age and experience. If he was thick-skinned enough to fight with Zen, a youngster, Wurth had to do something.
Yates was filled with rage and hatred toward Zen. The spear leapt out of his space ring into his hands. And in the blink of an eye, the spear lashed out.
Yates's spear skill was very special. His spear wasn't very long, three feet shorter than the normal ones which were usually eight feet long.
It was made of Wind Willow Core. Wind Willow was extremely light. It was said that a hundred-year-old Wind Willow with bucket-like trunk wouldn't weigh more than a hundred pounds. A single common adult could carry it away on his shoulder after he sawed it down.
Wind Willow Core, the best part inside its trunk, was even lighter.
A spear made of Wind Willow Core was lighter and far more flexible. When you held it in your hand, you could hardly feel a thing.
Since the spear was so light, its owner could strike at blazing fast speed.
In an instant, Yates had launched twelve stabs.
This stroke would have enabled Yates to surpass all refiners at his level. By common consent, a spear caused more harm than a sword or knife since its wielder could use its point to penetrate the enemy.
But the long spear also had a drawback. It would take more time to withdraw it. If the enemy ducked the attack and fought the way back along the spear with a fast counterattack, the spear holder normally had no time to dodge.
Yates's spear was shorter than normal ones, which meant he could strike and withdraw it faster. This basically made up for the drawback of long spear.
What was more, Yates had infused the spear with life vitality which cut like sharp blades along the attack of the spear.
This life vitality blade extended three feet from the tip of the spear, which made his spear about as long as a normal one.
James nodded at his son's attack, an approving look on his face.
He had pinned all his hopes on his son. Yates had shown great talent ever since he was a child and was incredibly quick on the uptake. He had met a mysterious master in the outskirts of Imperial Capital when he was fourteen and that master had taught Yates a skill which was called the Willow Leaf Spear Art. James had checked it himself. It was a tier 4 cultivation method.
Yates was blessed with the kind of luck which made James believe that his son would surpass himself and lead the Mo clan to a whole new level.
That was why, he had spent all the Mo clan's money building the Willow Spear for Yates.
Mo clan seemed on the wane these years. But the fact was, James had invested all the resources in his son.
Yates had never disappointed his father until now. So far, everything had been excellent. Yates had excelled his peers in every way. Everyday, he looked like he was improving, his ferocity and velocity were better, and even the rate at which he improved was speeding up. Now he was at the fourth rank of the nature level and he could easily beat anyone at the same rank. James was sure that even a refiner at the seventh rank of the nature level wouldn't have the upper hand in a fight against Yates.