The third family to speak was the Dragon Valley Gou Family.

The Dragon Valley Gou Family had been classified as a second-rate power, but that was an assessment from several hundred years ago. They were an extremely secretive and low-key family. While most of the hidden families and sects interacted with one another, some remained aloof and reclusive. As a result, not all of these hidden powers were familiar with each other.

Much like the Sea Domain Song Family, the Dragon Valley Gou Family kept a very low profile. They had only ever participated in a single conflict hundreds of years ago, when a rare treasure appeared on the continent. Even then, they apparently hadn’t sent their strongest experts, leading people to classify them as a second-rate family. It was a surprise that they too had been drawn in by Ling Xiao and decided to get involved.

The messenger representing the Dragon Valley Gou Family was a man in his thirties named Gou You. He was short, thin, and plain-looking. If not for the sharp glint that occasionally flashed in his triangular eyes, one might subconsciously underestimate him.

The man’s voice was somewhat sharp and clipped, as if he weren’t very articulate. After Qing Yu departed, Gou You said directly, "Lord Ling Xiao, I am Gou You of the Dragon Valley Gou Family. I’ve heard that you possess powerful sword techniques. I have come here today for the sole purpose of asking you for a demonstration of your skills!"

Gou You’s words instantly sent a ripple of tension through the previously relaxed banquet hall. In truth, he was likely not the only one harboring such intentions. Even Qing Yu’s Qinghui Family might have had the same idea. After all, if a bottom-tier power like the Qishan Sect dared to have designs on Ling Xiao, what was to stop the third-rate families?

A third-rate family might not sound impressive, but in reality, any one of them possessed the power to easily overthrow a dynasty, provided no other hidden families or sects interfered.

It was just that their ambitions lay elsewhere. However, it was not unheard of on the Canglan Continent for some imperial dynasties to have been established by third- or second-rate families. In those cases, the Emperor himself was a member of such a family! While not common, this situation was by no means rare.

Ling Xiao gave Gou You a deep look, his expression indifferent. "My apologies, but I have no interest in sparring."

Gou You’s triangular eyes darted about as he stared at Ling Xiao. "The Dragon Valley Gou Family has lived in the Vendia Great Snow Mountain Range for generations. The mountains are home to countless rare treasures. If you agree, our Gou Family will certainly not treat you unfairly in exchange! What’s more... beyond the Vendia Great Snow Mountain lies West Lake..."

Ling Xiao’s eyes glinted. He stared coldly at Gou You and said, "Are you threatening me?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Gou You let out a soft chuckle and said arrogantly, "The world calls the Gou Family a second-rate power, but we ourselves have never accepted that label. First-rate, second-rate, third-rate... even the so-called super-families—who is qualified to make such judgments? Based on the number of High-level Martial Artists? What a joke! Lord Ling Xiao, I’ll be frank with you. The Gou Family needs your method for awakening a Celestial Vein Master. But you can rest assured, we will absolutely never share it with anyone else! As for sparring with you, that was just a personal request. If you are unwilling, agreeing to my first proposition... is also acceptable!"

"How audacious!"

Yisha’s lovely face was filled with killing intent, her expression as cold as frost. In an icy voice, she said to Gou You, "You’ve gone too far! With an attitude like that, do you really think you’re asking for a favor?"

"Little girl, you may be pretty, tsk tsk... and your skin looks so soft and tender, but I have very little interest in you. And this... is not your place to speak!" Gou You raised his sparse eyebrows, completely unfazed by Yisha’s rebuke.

"She has more right to speak than you do."

Ling Xiao looked at Gou You and said calmly, "It seems the lesson taught to that yellow-robed man wasn’t enough of a warning for you. Do you need another?"

A sneer spread across Gou You’s ugly face. "Enough. Save those tricks you use to scare children! Do you think I’d fall for that? That’s right, my strength can’t compare to a Sword Emperor. I’m merely a Tier Six Sword Sect. But if anything were to happen to me on your territory, then in less than half a month, your Ling Family fiefdom, your father Ling Tianxiao’s army, and even... even this Lanyue Dynasty would be wiped out in a matter of days!"

"Gou You... such arrogance!"

The gray-robed elder from the Western Li Family erupted in fury, glaring at Gou You as he roared.

Though everyone else had found Gou You arrogant, no one had interjected. A conflict between hidden families was a terrifying prospect, so disputes were rare. Even when they did occur, they were typically private matters between individuals. But here, everyone was present as a representative of their family, so they were hesitant to provoke a confrontation.

But Gou You’s words were too outrageous, even dragging the Lanyue Dynasty into his threats. The Royal Li Family had successfully ruled the Lanyue Empire for over 1,450 years; they obviously had the backing of a hidden family. Otherwise, how could they have two Sword Sect experts stationed in the Imperial Palace year-round?

Gou You sneered and looked at Li Yan. "The Western Li Family, is it? Your family is finished! And so is your dynasty! I’ll annihilate your family first, then I’ll destroy your Lanyue Dynasty! Ling Xiao... is that a grand enough gesture for you? I’ll wipe them out first, and then you can consider whether or not you want to cooperate with us!"

Gou You’s words immediately sparked public outrage. His attitude showed a complete lack of regard for every hidden family present, as if their families and sects were nothing more than worthless rabble that could be crushed with a flick of his finger.

’No one had anticipated that the Gou Family could be so brazen. Could their long-standing low profile have been a deliberate setup for this moment of arrogance? Or is this Gou You just an idiot, needlessly making enemies for his family?’

The gray-robed elder, Li Yan, listened and then burst into laughter. His sharp gaze fixed on Gou You as he said coolly, "I’m beginning to seriously doubt whether you’re actually from the Gou Family. It seems to me you’re trying to make enemies for them."

Gou You sneered. "Whether I am or not is none of your concern. You should go back and prepare for your funeral! When I say I’ll annihilate your entire clan, I mean it!"

Li Yan’s anger gave way to a cold laugh. He nodded and said, "Fine, fine. I won’t waste any more words on a madman like you. Today, I am a guest in young friend Ling Xiao’s home. I don’t care if you’re a real member of the Gou Family or a fake. Once you step outside of Penzes City, I, Li Yan, will find you and put your claims to the test!"

Gou You’s triangular eyes blinked as he let out a sinister chuckle. "Any time, any time!"

Strangely, the men Gou You had brought with him seemed accustomed to his way of speaking. They remained completely unfazed and didn’t even glance at the others. Ling Xiao cast a suspicious eye over Gou You’s entourage. ’Something feels off about them,’ he thought, ’but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.’

Just then, Tiger returned from outside. He walked up to Ling Xiao and said, "Young Master, I’ve made them get lost."

The others didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’This expert with the strength of a Sword Emperor,’ they thought, ’how can he seem so simple-minded?’

At this point, Li Yan turned to Ling Xiao and said, "Young friend Ling Xiao, now that things have come to this, you must understand. The Royal Family your father serves is, in fact, a branch of my Li Family!"

Ling Xiao asked casually, "Then you won’t interfere in the struggle for the throne?"

Li Yan seemed to be aware of the situation between Ling Xiao, the Crown Prince, and the Southern King. He smiled faintly and said, "As long as the Royal Family maintains the Li bloodline, we will not interfere in any other matters. The Western Li Family has always only protected the sitting Emperor."

Ling Xiao nodded. He understood Li Yan’s meaning: as long as the emperor was of the Li bloodline, they would protect whoever sat on the throne.

Li Yan continued, "I have come today on behalf of the Western Li Family to express our goodwill toward you, young friend Ling Xiao, and the family behind you. Here are ten Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotuses, a specialty of the Celestial Domain, and a piece of Cold Land Meteorite Iron. While not as precious as the Sea Domain Song Family’s Deep Sea Poison Dragon Eye, they are still exceedingly rare treasures. I hope you will accept them, young friend Ling Xiao, so that our two families may help each other in the future."

"Your family has no future!"

Gou You’s shrill voice cut in, his face a mask of ridicule as he stared at Li Yan.