The reason Qin Xiao had suddenly changed his attitude was naturally because he had backing.
Right before he entered the door, the Great Elder Token given to him by Ye Qiuyue suddenly transmitted a voice.
After a brief, hushed exchange, Qin Xiao learned that Ye Qiuyue, his master's wife, had made a breakthrough. She wanted to know where he was, so he gave her a quick account of the situation before pushing the door open.
Private rooms like these usually had soundproofing Formations, so those inside had not heard Qin Xiao's conversation. The Formations were only basic ones, however. A surge of Spiritual Qi during the argument in Private Room Number One had partially damaged its Formation, allowing Qin Xiao to hear what was happening inside.
"The Great Elder Token? Why is it in your hands? Where is the Great Elder?"
Seeing Qin Xiao bring out the token, Ye Tianyi hastily stood up to ask.
She had just returned from shops in other cities and hadn't found the time to return to the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion before rushing to this banquet. Because the appointment had been scheduled in advance and the time was nearly up, she had come straight here, completely unaware that Ye Qiuyue had returned.
"My master's wife gave it to me, of course. She's on her way here now."
Qin Xiao quickly explained.
"Ye Qiuyue is coming too?"
Chen Lou asked with a hint of apprehension.
"It does not matter. Ye Qiuyue is merely at the peak of the Soul Formation stage. I have already broken through; what can she do even if she comes?"
Chen Shunyi spoke with an expression of complete indifference.
Previously, part of the reason he had not dared to aggressively pressure Ye Tianyi was because of Ye Qiuyue. Before his breakthrough, both he and Ye Qiuyue were in the Soul Formation stage. Even though he had been at the peak of the Soul Formation stage and Ye Qiuyue was only in the late stage, they were still within the same major realm. If they were to force a battle to the death, he possessed no absolute certainty of winning.
But things were different now. Even if Ye Qiuyue had reached the peak of the Soul Formation stage, he was already in the Body Integration stage. Although they were only separated by a single level, that level represented the massive gulf of a major realm. He no longer feared Ye Qiuyue in the slightest, which was exactly why he dared to come here and demand answers.
"Who says my master's wife is still at the peak of Soul Formation? You can break through, but she can't?"
Seeing that the other party had only recently broken through to the Body Integration stage, Qin Xiao did not take the threat to heart.
As for whether Chen Shunyi would suddenly fly into a rage and try to kill him, he did not consider the possibility at all.
"Keep that insolent tongue wagging, brat, and I won't care that you're a mortal."
Chen Shunyi instantly grew somewhat angry. No matter how much he disdained lowering himself to strike a mortal, he did not have a particularly good temper either.
"A dignified Body Integration stage expert, and the Grand Commander of the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty to boot, surely would not stoop to attacking an ordinary person like me, right? If word of this reached the ears of the heavenly dynasty, I fear it would damage the dynasty's prestige."
Qin Xiao had already made thorough inquiries, and Ye Jiarong had explained it to him. The reason the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty held the firm support of the secular world was naturally due to its strict regulations. They could impose a Penalty upon ordinary people in accordance with the rules, but they absolutely could not slaughter mortals on a whim.
"Uncle, set your mind at ease. Since it is inconvenient for you to act, allow me. He is within my city, so I have the authority to deal with him. As for the charges, I will simply have someone find a suitable one."
Chen Lou also knew that the heavenly dynasty's rules were extremely strict. His uncle was a Grand Commander and therefore could not lay hands on a mortal. But he was different; he was the City Lord. As long as there was a formal charge, he could deal with Qin Xiao however he pleased, provided he did not beat the man to death. This was precisely why he had held back the full force of his palm strike earlier.
Of course, this was only the rule on the surface. If Ye Tianyi were not present, he could have directly killed Qin Xiao. As long as he cleaned up the scene thoroughly, no one would ever know, and it would be impossible for the heavenly dynasty to fault him for it.
"That is more like it. A Grand Commander cannot just casually strike people. Let your nephew handle it."
Hearing Chen Lou's words, Qin Xiao eagerly chimed in.
If the Grand Commander ignored the rules and killed him, the man would probably get off with a light punishment. Better not provoke him any further. Qin Xiao would wait for his master's wife to arrive.
"You have some nerve, brat, treating me as if I don't matter. Disrespecting the City Lord means disrespecting the dynasty. I'm taking you into custody!"
Seeing Qin Xiao still acting so brazenly, Chen Lou could no longer restrain himself. He shot to his feet and lunged toward Qin Xiao.
Yet before Chen Lou's palm could even reach Qin Xiao, it was deflected by a sword strike from the arriving Yun Man.
Lin Shimeng also drew her sword. The two of them fully unleashed their Spiritual Qi, instantly radiating the auras of early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
"Two Nascent Soul cultivators? Not bad at all. It just so happens that this City Lord is currently lacking two concubines. If you two beauties agree to serve me, I might just be persuaded to let this brat live."
Chen Lou stated plainly as he took in the sight of Yun Man and Lin Shimeng.
"Old geezer, who the hell do you think you are? You dare to harbor designs on my disciples?"
Qin Xiao cursed without restraint. His disciples were the one line no one was allowed to cross. Anyone who threatened them would face his fury.
"Enough. What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?"
Chen Shunyi glared at his nephew, finding the display utterly shameful. This was a public place.
"Forgive me, Uncle. I spoke without thinking."
Chen Lou had been so blinded by his own lust that he had entirely forgotten his uncle was still in the room. Scolded, he swiftly regained his senses.
"Brat, if I were you, I would run as far away as possible right now rather than wait here to die. If you are counting on the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to protect you, then let me be the one to tell you: the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion can no longer even protect itself."
As a Grand Commander of the dynasty, Chen Shunyi still had his reputation to consider.
"Who says my Heavenly Clothes Pavilion cannot protect itself?"
Before Qin Xiao could even open his mouth, Ye Qiuyue had already arrived on the Third Floor.
"Shiniang."
"Aunt."
"Great-Grandmother."
Qin Xiao and the others immediately called out their greetings upon seeing Ye Qiuyue.
The one calling out "Great-Grandmother" was, naturally, the boy Ye Jiarong.
"What? You also broke through to the Body Integration stage?"
Chen Shunyi sensed Ye Qiuyue's aura and was shocked to find that she, too, had reached the Body Integration stage.
"That's right. Leave now, if you know what's good for you. If you want a fight, the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion will see it through to the end."
Ye Qiuyue had always possessed a fiery temper. To dare threaten the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to her face? If he wanted a battle, she would give him one.
"Hmph. Very well, Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. I will remember this."
Seeing that Ye Qiuyue had successfully broken through, Chen Shunyi knew that any further intimidation today was hopeless. He did not linger. Rising to his feet, he threw down a final parting threat and strode away.
"Hmph, every convenience and privilege your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion currently enjoys in Tianyi City is hereby revoked."
Seeing his uncle depart, Chen Lou dropped his own icy decree before turning to follow him out.
"Why are all of you gathered here?"
Ye Qiuyue asked, her face filled with confusion.
"Shiniang, come. Let's return to our Private Room to talk in detail."
Realizing that standing around in the open was hardly appropriate, Qin Xiao suggested they retreat to Private Room Number Two.
"Let us go. There is no need to stand around out here."
Ye Qiuyue agreed, feeling similarly that lingering in the corridor was poor form.
The group subsequently moved back into Private Room Number Two.
"I can roughly guess why Tianyi is here, and I can understand Xiao'er's presence as well. But why on earth are you here?"
Ye Qiuyue asked, directing her gaze toward Ye Jiarong.
"Great-Grandmother, it's all a misunderstanding! I invited this senior to dinner. I had no idea you all knew each other. Please don't be angry with me."
Ye Jiarong's mind was still reeling in a dazed panic. What in the world was going on today? His great-aunt had suffered a total fallout with the City Lord, his great-grandmother had exchanged ruthless threats with the Grand Commander, and the Senior he had invited to dine turned out to be his great-grandmother's close acquaintance. What exactly had he stumbled into today?
"It's fine. This is Xiao'er's first visit to Tianyi City. Our Ye Family ought to show him some hospitality. You did well, boy."
Ye Qiuyue had no intention of scolding him; she had merely asked out of curiosity. Hearing his explanation, she felt rather pleased by his initiative.
"Thank you for the praise, Great-Grandmother."
Ye Jiarong hurriedly wiped the imaginary sweat from his brow, immensely relieved that he was safe.
"Aunt, how did you break through? Didn't you say before that you would be unable to break through in the short term?"
Ye Tianyi was deeply curious as to why Ye Qiuyue had suddenly achieved her breakthrough. After all, increasing the Primordial Spirit required a significant amount of time; how could it possibly be done this quickly?
"I was originally ready to break through, but I was limited by the insufficiency of my Primordial Spirit. This time, I found an item capable of nourishing the Primordial Spirit, so I naturally broke through."
Ye Qiuyue explained truthfully.
She had hoped to break through during her last period of Secluded Cultivation, but her Primordial Spirit had fallen just short of the required strength. Unable to advance, she had emerged from seclusion. With the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit, she only had to refine and absorb it to break through; nothing else stood in her way.
Refining and absorbing the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit had taken more than two hours; otherwise, she could have arrived even sooner.
"Where is that unfilial son? Where is my unfilial son?"
While the group was conversing, a voice suddenly echoed from the direction of the stairwell.