Chapter 602

Chapter 602: Arrogance and Domineering

"Brother Tong, you have arrived!" Hao Yue Lin exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she hurriedly got up from in front of the coffin to greet Hao Wentong, lowering herself considerably.

The members of the Tianhuan Sect, Miaofa Sect, and Xumi Island who were in attendance watched Hao Wentong with various expressions—some scrutinizing, some sneering, and others filled with self-satisfaction.

"I’ve been a bit weary from keeping vigil these past few days, so I returned to catch up on some sleep. I didn’t expect all of you to come at once," Hao Wentong said, feigning seriousness as he adjusted his mourning attire, even taking Hao Yue Lin’s jade hand to walk forward, kneeling firmly in front of the coffin, his eyes hollow and seemingly lost in thought, without sparing a glance at anyone present.

“Humph, is this the chosen heir for his line?” someone from the Tianhuan Sect scoffed, clearly agitated.

Hao Yue Lin was angered that this guy was taking advantage of the situation, holding onto her hand without letting go. Just then, Hao Wentong, as if coming back to life, half-earnestly lamented, “I have neglected my great-uncle, but with so many great-uncles, my mind is all jumbled, and I can no longer keep everyone straight. The love my great-grandfather had for me is well-known. Since he has left, it feels as if I have lost my anchor in life. I cannot muster the spirit to do anything; this is the greatest burden. I ask for understanding from all my great-uncles and uncles.”

“You little brat, stop being so insincere! Three hours ago, you were still drinking and consorting with prostitutes, thinking we wouldn’t know?” A short man with a tall hat and a stocky build pointed a finger at Hao Wentong, his eyes wide with accusation.

“When have I ever drunk? When have I ever consorted with prostitutes? Where did this brother come from? He must not be from the Hao Family. Look at Sister Lin and me; we are the embodiment of the world’s love, and this appearance is precisely what makes us Hao Family members.”

Li Hui argued outrageously, and the short man with the tall hat was so infuriated that he shouted loudly, having been poked right in his sore spot. Did this kid really think he had become the city lord of Mufeng City? How outrageous!

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Hao Wentong, your words and actions are unbecoming. Such behavior is truly not suitable for the city lord of Mufeng City…” Before he could finish, a massive sound erupted, forcing the arrogant Traveling Realm practitioner to stagger back three steps. The person he disparaged had pulled back his fist and retreated, saying to the High Offering and Second Offering behind him, “Uncle Quan, Uncle Leng, when did we let this animal in? A dog’s mouth cannot spit out ivory; what else could he be?”

“Outrageous! You excuse yourself without respect!” That dignified Traveling Realm practitioner had been pushed back three steps by a seemingly foolish junior. Even if he felt like he had lost his footing, he could not save face in front of the elders of the clan.

The High Offering and Second Offering stood protectively in front of Hao Wentong, as they were the most loyal and would not allow the Young Master to suffer. With so many direct family elders arriving with their successors today, it was clear they wanted to replace him. Even if their plots were foiled, they would still want to tear off some fat from Mufeng City.

Most of them came with a mindset to take a bite. According to Hao Yue Lin’s descriptions, three of them were especially determined, with the most significant threat being her sister, Hao Yue Chen.

Hao Yue Chen did not come alone. She held a boy who was about five to six months old, accompanied by a tall, handsome man.

Well! This was going to be lively! Li Hui grinned, thinking, “They’ve come here as a family to recognize their roots. No doubt that baby has the surname Hao, and that man is certainly the son-in-law, having fulfilled Hao Yue Lin’s wishes ahead of time.”

In addition to Hao Yue Chen, two others also arrived with great intensity: a middle-aged man with sword-like brows, claiming to be a secret son of the great-grandfather, and holding a bloodline recognition certificate from the clan’s ancestral hall; and a one-armed nun, who was the heir of the previous city lord of Mufeng City.

The middle-aged man with sword-like brows came from Tianhuan Sect, Hao Yue Chen with her family came from Miaofa Sect, and the one-armed nun came from Xumi Island. Each of the three families had their claims, all set to perform in a drama over inheritance today.

With these three families, plus the scheming Hao Yue Lin, it was just enough for a game of mahjong. This situation was complicated, yet simple; Li Hui didn’t care who was who; after all, they were all rivals, and he was but the target.

Suddenly, everyone heard Hao Wentong angrily shout, “While my great-grandfather’s bones are still warm, you lot of bastards are already plotting against Mufeng City! I advise you to abandon your foolish dreams; I am the rightful city lord! Once I improve my cultivation, I shall ensure peace in one area.”

“You think just improving your cultivation will be enough?” the short man in the tall hat grasped at this opportunity, laughing loudly, “Hahaha, what a joke! How many rare treasures have we spent to get you to the mid-stage Myriad Forms? Don’t think we don’t know; you have never trained seriously! You only look for those demonesses to indulge yourself; you’re generally quite superficial.”

“Uncle Quan, Uncle Leng, how many times must I say it? You insist on bringing a dog into the conversation.” Li Hui clenched the jade flute tightly, with a smile that did not reach his eyes as he looked at the short man.

The short man puffed out his chest, saying, “Kid, if you’re not fake, come at my neck! If I move, I am no hero!”

“Ouch, you just said that,” Li Hui chuckled.

In that moment, Hao Wentong’s form suddenly shifted and appeared beside the short man, raising his hand to unleash a thunderous series of booms. The sound of the jade flute rang, and a piercing melody formed a sword aura that severed down.

“Clang…” The short man was so startled he shivered, but he believed in his superior cultivation—though he was not equal to those Traveling Realm uncles, he still had at least Hongfa Stage cultivation, coupled with protective divine skills. If this kid didn’t act angrily and chop at his neck, a rebound from the strike would injure him instead; that would be deemed an accident, and he would only have himself to blame for poor training.

The short man was quite scheming, calculating well; had it been the former Hao Wentong, his hot-headedness would have surely led to death. But with Li Hui stepping up, it was a different story.

As the jade flute sounded and the sound attacks emerged, the Dragon Roar Nine Heavens technique generated sword energy.

Upon unleashing the sound attack sword energy, the layers multiplied sevenfold with each strike a guaranteed kill, progressively stacking. With the added power from several spirit treasures, it morphed into a three zhang twisted, radiant glow.

“Crack!”

The spirit hall was swept by a strong wind, the white spiritual flags billowed sharply, and blood sprayed out instantly, following another "crack" that resounded heavily.

After four consecutive strikes of sound attack sword energy, the short man’s head was chopped off by Li Hui. Did he still believe he could retaliate against Hao Wentong? In the end, the rebound force completely shattered his own soul.

“Tsk tsk, so easy to chop, and I only played four notes.”

Even after killing someone, he still joked about how easy it was! Yet Li Hui had something even more astonishing in mind as he crouched down to search through the short man’s belongings, his methods so refined that Hao Yue Lin stared wide-eyed.

“Ah! Will anyone still let Wentong chop off their necks? With my low cultivation, it’s likely I could end up dead myself, fulfilling everyone’s wishes, and a new city lord could be chosen.”

Many in the spirit hall suddenly felt at a loss. Hao Wentong, who usually acted arrogant and domineering, now left a different impression; he appeared invigorated and spirited, showing a fundamental difference from before.

Could it be that this kid had been hiding until now, revealing his true nature and extraordinary abilities all at once? If so, he had fooled everyone, and this level of cunning should not be underestimated.

“I’ll take my turn!” A young man suddenly stepped forward, smiling coldly, “Brother Wentong, we are both All-Manifestation Realm cultivators. Allow me, your elder brother, to assess whether you have the qualifications to be the city lord of Mufeng City.”