Mo Chen immediately turned to the elder nearby, pleading, “Elder Mo, please help me.”

“This is an internal affair of the Blood Nether Sacred Ground. It’s not really my place to intervene,” Elder Mo said after a moment’s thought.

“I’ve already left the Blood Nether Sacred Ground! I’m now a disciple of the Mo Imperial Clan,” Mo Chen quickly explained. “According to the tournament rules, the first-place winner is allowed to join the Mo Imperial Clan, right?”

Upon hearing this, Elder Mo raised his head and glanced around.

Nearly half the city’s residents had gathered for this event. If this situation wasn’t handled properly, it would surely stir up gossip and severely damage the Mo Imperial Clan’s reputation.

Seeing the scene unfold, Xu Zimo suddenly shouted from the back of the crowd, “Let him stay!”

After yelling, he stepped into the air and appeared on the other side of the crowd, shouting again:

“These people killed a little girl, they clearly aren’t good people! That’s right, our Mo Imperial Clan must not bow to such evil forces. Where is our dignity? We must resist to the end! Let him stay!”

With Xu Zimo stoking the flames, the crowd in the arena began to shout in unison.

The louder the voices grew, the more people were drawn in.

Seeing the situation, Elder Mo finally turned to the man in blood-red robes and said, “Mo Chen has already joined the Mo Imperial Clan. I have the authority to protect his safety. I cannot allow you to take him away.”

“This is a direct order from our Sacred Lord,” the Blood Nether Sacred Ground disciple said coldly.

“You’re lying!” Mo Chen shouted. “This whole thing was orchestrated by some colluding elders. The higher-ups of the sect know nothing about it!”

“If this really is an order from your Sacred Lord, then take it up with the Patriarch of our Mo Imperial Clan,” Elder Mo replied calmly. “I’m simply doing my duty as an elder.”

The blood-robed man narrowed his eyes, and his aura surged.

“What if we insist on killing him right here?”

“You think this is just anywhere?” Elder Mo chuckled lightly.

With a casual wave, hundreds of formation plates surrounded him.

Each plate radiated different phenomena, roaring rivers, searing flames like blades, thousands of sharp arrows suspended in the air. Their combined presence was immensely powerful.

“I will report this matter to our Sacred Lord,” the blood-robed man said grimly.

“We’re leaving,” he growled before turning and walking away.

…

Xu Zimo didn’t stay to watch what happened next. Smiling faintly, he walked toward the Mo Imperial Clan’s residence.

The Mo Imperial Clan lived in the inner city. Two stone lions guarded the entrance to their estate.

Though they appeared to be ordinary sculptures, formation runes were carved into them, making them look eerily lifelike.

“Stop! Who are you?”

As soon as Xu Zimo approached the gate, both stone lions stood up and spoke.

“I’m here to see your patriarch,” Xu Zimo said casually, studying the lions with interest.

“The patriarch isn’t someone just anyone can see,” one lion snorted.

“Get lost, or we’ll arrest you for disturbing the residence!”

“Watch your tone. Do you need me to teach you some manners?” Xu Zimo frowned.

“You brat, do you know where you are? Looks like you don’t want to leave here alive!” one of the lions snarled, lunging forward with a huge paw.

Xu Zimo scoffed. Spirit energy surged around his right fist, and with one powerful strike.

BOOM!

The stone lion shattered into dust, vanishing into the air.

Seeing this, the other lion backed away several steps in a panic.

“You… You dare cause trouble at the Mo Estate?” it stammered.

As that lion disappeared, a formation linked to it also unraveled.

Xu Zimo examined it briefly, the lion wasn’t powered by any advanced formation. It was actually being controlled remotely with nothing more than a voice transmission array inside.

“What’s going on here?” a voice called from nearby.

A group of people approached in perfect formation, mostly guards and maidservants by their attire.

Leading them was a young woman in a flowing green dress. Her lips were red, teeth white, long hair tied behind her head. Her slender figure was cinched with a jade-green ribbon at the waist. She radiated an aura of purity.

“Second Miss!” the remaining lion immediately knelt down when the woman arrived. “This man tried to force his way into the estate. We stopped him, and then he destroyed the other lion!”

The young woman turned and looked Xu Zimo up and down, smiling softly.

“Might I ask what business you have here, young master?”

“You really believe what that lion said?” Xu Zimo asked with a grin.

She shook her head gently. Her voice was as clear and sweet as a lark’s.

“They’re always arrogant. I’m sure you had some sort of argument.”

“You’re quite perceptive,” Xu Zimo smiled. “I want to meet the head of your Mo Imperial Clan.”

“Do you have any proof or token of identity?” she asked pleasantly. “My father doesn’t meet with just anyone.”

“I’m the Holy Son of the True Martial Sacred Ground. If you tell him that, he’ll want to see me,” Xu Zimo replied.

“True Martial Sacred Ground?”

Everyone present gasped in surprise.

A sect with four Grand Emperors, the name alone carried massive weight. Even among other Imperial Lineages, few dared act arrogant in its presence.

“So you’re the current Holy Son of the Sacred Ground,” the young woman smiled, bowing respectfully. “I’m Mo Xinyi. Forgive my earlier rudeness.”

“Xu Zimo,” he replied with a smile and a nod.

“In that case, Young Master Xu, please come with me. I’m sure my father would be eager to meet you,” Mo Xinyi said.

Just as the two were about to enter, another voice rang out.

“Hold it!”

Everyone turned their heads to see a man on a white horse stop in front of the estate.

He wore a white robe and had handsome, chiseled features. His eyes sparkled with amusement. A true image of a graceful and refined nobleman.

He dismounted and smiled at Mo Xinyi.

“Cousin Xinyi.”

“Greetings, Holy Son,” she replied with a polite smile.

“I’ve told you not to be so formal. Just call me Cousin Mo Yang,” the man chuckled. Then his eyes shifted to Xu Zimo, and his tone cooled. “And who are you?”

“He’s the Holy Son of the True Martial Sacred Ground. He wants to see the patriarch,” Mo Xinyi quickly explained.

“Cousin Xinyi, the world is a dangerous place, you can’t just bring anyone into our estate,” Mo Yang said with a slight shake of his head. He turned to Xu Zimo, eyes sharp. “What proof do you have that you’re the Holy Son of True Martial Sacred Ground?”

“What’s it got to do with you?” Xu Zimo replied flatly.

“I run things here,” Mo Yang said coldly. “If you can’t prove it, then get lost.”