"It’s just a scuffle between the younger generation, why drag the family relations into this? No need to make a fuss."

Ling Lie, however, understood Ling Hai and Ling Feng’s intentions. These two were eager to create trouble and setbacks for Ling Chen before the Tianjian Conference. There was no way he could allow such things to happen.

"The Tianjian Conference hasn’t even started, and you’ve already set yourselves against the Imperial Clan. They might specifically target you during the conference. But since it’s already happened, there’s nothing we can do. In the coming days, make sure not to cause any more problems. You got lucky this time to avoid disaster, but next time, you might not be so fortunate." The Fifth Elder Ling Zhen, after smiling, spoke with a slightly more serious expression.

"Yes."

Ling Chen, along with numerous Ling family disciples, nodded in response and then dispersed.

"Who would have thought that Ling Yu’s strength was so formidable that he forced even the Second Prince Li Tailong to retreat?"

Watching Ling Chen and the others leave, the Third Elder Ling Lie smacked his lips and couldn’t help but comment.

"Didn’t Ling Xue say it already? Ling Yu used the Gold Sword Pupil to bring about a momentary distraction for Li Tailong, allowing him to seize the bracelet successfully."

Ling Zhen replied with a laugh.

"Yes, but by doing so, it has revealed his trump card too early."

Ling Lie shook his head. With Ling Chen’s display of the Gold Sword Pupil in the bustling market, it’s feared that in the coming days, young experts from all the families in the Divine Capital will learn that Ling Chen has mastered the Gold Sword Pupil.

This revelation dashed Ling Lie’s hopes for Ling Chen to emerge as a dark horse in the Tianjian Conference.

"Revealing it is not a big deal. The younger generation has never witnessed the power of the Gold Sword Pupil and lacks any concept of this ultimate skill."

"That’s true."

Ling Lie nodded, but he was still somewhat worried. After all, he didn’t fully understand Ling Chen’s current strength. With so many geniuses from various families emerging, whether Ling Chen would stand out and make it to the top ten remained uncertain.

He hoped that he wouldn’t come with high hopes only to leave with a sense of disappointment.

Night gradually enveloped the sprawling Divine Capital, and the day’s bustle, under the cool night breeze, began to quiet down.

In the center of the Divine Capital stood a grand and imposing palace. The palace walls rose a hundred feet high and were several feet deep. Inside these walls were vast, splendid structures, especially under the night sky, radiating dazzling brilliance — magnificent and well-lit.

This was the heart of the Divine Capital, the Imperial Palace.

At this moment, deep within the palace, in a quiet palace chamber, there were three figures. One of them was the Second Prince Li Tailong, who had clashed with Ling Chen earlier that day.

In front of Li Tailong stood another young man in white, with a lazy demeanor. He looked at Li Tailong with a half-smiling expression, "Second brother, I heard that today in West Market, you were made quite miserable by a Ling family’s kid?"

"It was merely falling for that kid’s trick unintentionally. If it were a real fight, within ten rounds, I’d make him kneel before me!" Speaking of Ling Chen, Li Tailong frowned and sneered.

"It’s your own fault. If you hadn’t been careless, how would you have fallen for his trick? Now, our Imperial Clan’s reputation has been severely damaged by you."

The young man in white said.

"If that kid truly has the strength, he will encounter us in the Tianjian Conference sooner or later."

The person speaking had been polishing his Treasure Sword in the pavilion. He then lifted his head, revealing a face full of heroic spirit.

It was Peerless Sword.

Peerless Sword’s real name was Li Wushuang, but he was obsessed with the Sword Way, eventually abandoning his surname to signify that his achievements in the Sword Way were unsurpassed in the world.

"I must regain this lost pride!"

Li Tailong’s eyes turned grim, and then he suddenly said, "By the way, Fourth Brother, today I saw that Ling Yu seemed to have some contact with Liu Mengru. From the looks of it, they’re quite close."

As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on the face of the young man in white suddenly froze, and a chill surged. He then fixed his eyes on Li Tailong and coldly said, "Does he have a death wish?"

"Many people saw it. That Ling Yu and Liu Mengru were making eyes at each other on the street. I bet these two have a thing for each other." Li Tailong continued to fan the flames.

He knew that the Fourth Brother Li Yifeng always had feelings for Liu Mengru, treating her as his forbidden treasure. Ling Chen’s interaction with Liu Mengru was undoubtedly unacceptable to him.

"Then he’s as good as dead."

A sharp gleam flashed in Li Yifeng’s eyes, and the killing intent was undisguised.

"That person seems to have mastered a challenging skill from the Ling Family. His strength might not be much lower than yours, so if you meet him, don’t be recklessly careless."

Peerless Sword said coolly.

"Don’t worry, big brother. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Although that kid’s martial arts are a bit strange, as long as I’m cautious, there’s no great threat."

Li Tailong clenched his fists. He intended to regain the face he lost on Ling Chen.

Moreover, it’s not just him looking to trouble Ling Chen; the Fourth Prince Li Yifeng is the same. The latter’s strength is superior, and if they meet Ling Chen in the Tianjian Conference, it would be easy to deal with him. While not killing him, breaking an arm or a leg should be an easy matter.

Though the Ling Family is currently allied with them, they are rulers, and the Ling Family is their subjects. It is only natural for Ling Chen to face punishment for his disrespect towards them.

In the upcoming days, with the arrival of members from various Great Saint Families, the atmosphere within the Divine Capital continued to rise. Besides the Great Saint Families, numerous Jianghu forces also gathered in the Divine Capital, turning it into a mixed bag of good and bad, causing considerable chaos despite the strict vigilance.

In the days following the West Market incident, the Ling family disciples did not leave the Grand General’s Mansion. Even Ling Chen stayed inside. If there was a need, he would send a maid; he did not go out again.

And Ling Chen took the opportunity of the pre-conference quiet to study some other things, like the newly acquired Black Small Sword.

This Black Small Sword was something Ling Chen spent fifty thousand Heavenly Origin Pills to buy. After two full days of research, he hadn’t discovered its secrets. He first concluded that it’s definitely not a Treasure, nor is it a dormant Divine Artefact. If it weren’t for the Black Small Sword having a connection with the Void Emperor’s royal decree, he would likely have already given up on it.