Zhu Yuxuan cut right through their exorbitant demands. Before, they were just putting on an act, but things were different now. They had dropped all pretenses, and Zhu Yuxuan was furious about it.

Zhu Yuwei was even more incensed. "It’s true I was raised by the Zhu Family, but over all these years, what have I gotten that I didn’t fight for myself? And haven’t I given enough for the family? My sister, at least, has given so much! And how have you treated her?!"

Zhu Yuwei practically screamed the words. Zhu Yuxuan’s treatment had been terrible, and after being sacrificed, she was treated even more poorly. Now, Zhu Yuxuan was as good as abandoned. Her previous marriage alliance had been completely shattered.

Under normal circumstances, it was difficult to arrange a marriage alliance for someone who had already had a partner, which was why Zhu Yuxuan’s situation was now so bleak.

Steward Liu’s expression darkened with anger. Just as he was about to say something, Yi Tianyun stood up and said calmly, "I can agree to your terms. It’s only a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master. I can find one."

"What!?"

Their eyes all went wide. Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Masters were exceedingly rare; even third-rank factions had few of them. Their branch, at least, had none. They barely had any Third-Grade Divine Rune Masters, let alone a Fourth-Grade one.

"You... you can really find one?" Steward Liu’s voice trembled. Their hopes now rested on this single point. If they couldn’t win this competition, their Zhu Family would be cast aside.

Star Pavilion was massive, but it was a faction comprised of many different families. Its Overall Strength was naturally greater than the Cyan Profound Mansion, but in terms of cohesiveness, it was far from ideal. Each branch not only had to produce perfect results but also had to perform well in various internal competitions.

Otherwise, their standing within the entire Star Pavilion would plummet. This Divine Rune Master competition was therefore a chance to display the strength of each branch, and they naturally had to give it their all.

"That’s right. But I have a condition," Yi Tianyun said.

"What condition? As long as you can fulfill *that* condition, we can agree to anything," Steward Liu said hastily.

"It’s simple. The two sisters of the Zhu Family will henceforth belong to our Merak Sect. How about it?" Yi Tianyun smiled faintly. "And the rewards from this competition will, of course, all go to us. How does that sound?"

The demand stunned even Zhu Yuxuan. ’Leaving this hellhole would be for the best,’ she thought, ’but I don’t know if Steward Liu will agree.’

Without a second thought, Steward Liu immediately agreed. "As long as you can place in the top three, what’s a little reward? The two of them are yours!"

He agreed to give them away just like that, without a hint of hesitation or sentiment.

A desolate look flickered in Zhu Yuxuan’s eyes. This was no different from being abandoned; it was more like they were goods, being casually traded away.

Zhu Yuwei was equally furious. "You’re not even going to try to make us stay? Do you have any idea how much my sister has sacrificed for this Zhu Family?!"

"Don’t be ridiculous. The Zhu Family is in a crisis right now. We must be willing to part with anything!" Steward Liu said, as if it was the most reasonable thing in the world. In reality, he was far more concerned with his own status.

Just because they weren’t surnamed Zhu didn’t mean they weren’t part of the Zhu Family; in fact, they were as authentic as they came. Conversely, the two sisters who *were* surnamed Zhu were treated as if they weren’t family at all... The reason was simple: they were adopted orphans. They had been raised for all these years for this very purpose.

Zhu Yuwei and Zhu Yuxuan exchanged a glance. Both of their eyes were filled with despair toward Star Pavilion. They had known this for a long time; this wasn’t the first time they had been made to feel this way.

"Is that so? Willing to part with anything?" Yi Tianyun sat back down in his chair, looking at the steward with a faint smile. "In that case, can I add another condition?"

"What condition? As long as it’s reasonable, anything is possible!" Steward Liu declared. Steward Huang, who was beside him, hadn’t said a word, the reason being he was in complete agreement.

"It’s simple. Your life. Is that acceptable?" Yi Tianyun said calmly.

"What did you say!" Steward Liu flew into a rage and slammed his hand on the adjacent table. CRACK! The table shattered into several pieces. "What kind of joke is this? You’re messing with me!"

"Messing with you?" Yi Tianyun smiled faintly. "Didn’t you just say any condition was possible? This is just one of them, isn’t it?"

Zhu Yuwei let out a light chuckle. ’This Elder Yi of mine is really willing to stick up for us.’

"Sister, he’s going to provoke Steward Liu and the others by doing this..." Zhu Yuxuan said, worried.

"It’s fine. Anyone who dares to provoke him is just looking to die..." Zhu Yuwei said with a calm smile. Yi Tianyun’s power was immense. ’Who would have guessed this young man is the very expert who razed the Cyan Profound Mansion to the ground?’

"That condition is unreasonable, so of course it’s unacceptable!" Steward Liu said coldly. "We are negotiating terms normally. Unreasonable demands are off the table!"

"Fine. I want the two sisters. From now on, their affairs will have nothing to do with you or Star Pavilion," Yi Tianyun said.

"No problem. As long as the Divine Rune Master you find can place in the top three. If you can’t, then they’re not going anywhere with you!" Steward Liu said in a low voice. "Even fourth place won’t cut it. That’s the condition!"

"No problem. Top three it is," Yi Tianyun replied casually. He was just that confident. With his skill as a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master, plus the power of his Celestial Eye, who could possibly contend with him? Unless, perhaps, a Fifth-Grade Divine Rune Master showed up.

Steward Liu and Steward Huang exchanged a look. At last, a straightforward answer.

"Very well. When will you be sending the person over to participate? We need to make the arrangements, as the competition will be starting soon," Steward Liu said gravely.

"No need to make arrangements. I am the Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master," Yi Tianyun said, crossing his legs nonchalantly.

"What? *You’re* the Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master?"

They were stunned by his words, as were Zhu Yuxuan and Zhu Yuwei. Zhu Yuwei had thought Yi Tianyun really had some other expert to call on; she never imagined that the Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master was Yi Tianyun himself!

"That’s right. I am a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master, the genuine article," Yi Tianyun said calmly.

"Bullshit! You’re so young, and you’re a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master?" Steward Liu finally swore. "There’s a limit to your jokes! Just because your Merak Sect has some powerful backer, you think you can just joke around as you please?"

Normally, someone his age would be a Second-Grade Divine Rune Master at best, and even that was considered quite talented. How could they possibly believe him? Even Zhu Yuwei found it hard to believe.

"You think I’m joking?" Yi Tianyun asked calmly. "And what if I *am* a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master? What will you do then?"

"If you’re a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master, I’ll eat this table!" Steward Liu sneered, pointing at the shattered pieces of the table he had just broken.

After all that talk, it seemed the other party was just toying with him. How could he not be furious? He had finally seen a glimmer of hope, only for it to be a joke!

"Excellent!" Yi Tianyun swiftly took out a sheet of paper and his Divine Rune Pen. His Spiritual Power flared to its peak as he began to draw rapidly on the paper. In less than a moment, a small Divine Rune was seared onto the sheet. He then tossed the paper forward and sneered, "Swallow it, you trash!"

The Divine Rune paper drifted through the air and landed in Steward Liu’s hand. The two stewards took a closer look and were instantly struck dumb.

"A-A Fourth-Grade Divine Rune!!"

Steward Liu’s face went deathly pale. He stared at Yi Tianyun in utter disbelief, never imagining that the young man before him was truly a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master. In other words, he was a monstrous prodigy!

To be a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master at such a young age... the very thought was terrifying.