Chapter 142 - 139: Shocking Change

At the word of the Fu Family expert, all eyes on the ship turned toward Ning Jiang.

Even before, quite a few people had been watching Ning Jiang—or more accurately, the woman with him, Li Shiyu.

Li Shiyu was beautiful, so beautiful that many of the Martial Artists present were secretly captivated by her.

Her snow-white skin, exquisite features, and form-fitting clothes accentuated her full chest. Standing there, she seemed to be the very center of the entire ship.

There were many other beautiful women on the ship, but they all paled in comparison to her.

Since they had boarded, many Martial Artists had wanted to strike up a conversation with Li Shiyu. Of course, no one had yet been able to recognize her.

The name Li Shiyu was very famous. As third on the Famous Family List, a great many Martial Artists knew of her.

But very few people in the entire Cyan Cloud Country had actually seen Li Shiyu in person. Even within Golden Cauldron City itself, only a small number had ever laid eyes on the city’s number one beauty.

With her status, she usually lived in seclusion. Why would she show her face in public?

Now, all eyes were gathered on him, waiting for Ning Jiang’s answer.

"I wonder how that kid offended the Fu Family. It’s rare to see a Fu Family expert issue a challenge like this."

"It’s probably because of the beauty next to him, right? Didn’t you see Young Master Fu Zheng of the Fu Family is here too? I heard he’s quite the womanizer. Looks like the rumors are true."

The many Martial Artists discussed this amongst themselves in low voices.

"Challenge me? You’re not worthy," Ning Jiang said bluntly.

He was speaking the truth, but to everyone else, it sounded as if he were afraid to fight.

"Heh, as a Martial Artist, don’t you have any backbone?"

Fu Zheng chimed in with a timely taunt. Martial Artists were competitive and aggressive by nature; anyone who refused a challenge would usually be looked down upon.

"I suggest you don’t bring trouble upon yourself. Mr. Ning is not someone you can afford to offend," Li Shiyu said coldly.

She spoke with a chill, unaware that her words had thoroughly enraged Fu Zheng.

Fu Zheng’s gaze turned cold. He spoke with an air of righteous indignation, "If you don’t dare, just say so. At most, everyone will just mock you a little. But for you to claim a member of my Fu Family isn’t worthy... Does that mean you look down on my entire Fu Family? If that’s the case, then I’ll have to ask you to get off this ship."

He was seizing the opportunity to cause trouble, using his family’s power to bully him.

"Throw me off the ship?"

Ning Jiang’s eyes narrowed, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.

"That’s right. Either you get up there and fight, or you admit you’re a coward. Do that, and I won’t pursue the matter."

Fu Zheng was insufferably arrogant. This was his Fu Family’s ship, and Ning Jiang was just some teenager; wasn’t he free to crush him as he pleased?

He wasn’t afraid of Ning Jiang having any powerful backing. After all, he was from a Top Level, First-Class Noble House. ’Could Ning Jiang possibly be from an even greater Noble Family?’

"Kid, you don’t dare, do you?"

"If you’re scared, just admit it."

"He’s clearly scared but is still trying to act tough. If I were Young Master Fu, I’d be pissed off too."

The surrounding crowd, all eager to see a show, began to jeer and egg them on.

"Hmph."

Li Shiyu snorted coldly. "If Mr. Ning says this person isn’t worthy, then he isn’t worthy. Why should Mr. Ning have to act? I’ll play with you instead."

Hearing this, the atmosphere instantly became electric. Li Shiyu was a great beauty; if she were to fight, it would be a visual feast.

"Heh, a coward hiding behind a woman," Fu Zheng sneered.

"That won’t be necessary." Ning Jiang shook his head, stopping Li Shiyu. "Since you’re so eager to play, I’ll indulge you. But not with him. With you!"

Under normal circumstances, Ning Jiang couldn’t be bothered with Fu Zheng. But his indifference had only made Fu Zheng more arrogant and pushy, practically walking all over him. How could he continue to do nothing?

"With me? Are you sure?"

A scornful look appeared on Fu Zheng’s face. He couldn’t see through Ning Jiang’s Cultivation, but he thought, ’At his age, he can’t possibly be that strong.’

"Don’t you dare?"

"Heh heh. Fists and feet have no eyes. Don’t come crying to me when you get hurt."

Fu Zheng had been looking for a chance to teach Ning Jiang a lesson. Now that Ning Jiang had served himself up on a platter, how could he possibly miss it?

SWISH.

With a flash of movement, he leaped onto the arena stage and looked down his nose at Ning Jiang. "Get your ass up here."

Ning Jiang’s expression remained unchanged as he walked up.

"Fu Zheng’s strength might not be at the very top of the younger generation, but he’s still ranked among the best. He’s at the Innate Late Stage and is twenty-fourth on the Famous Family List!"

"That kid probably doesn’t know what Fu Zheng is capable of to say something like that."

"It looks like Fu Zheng is really unhappy with him. I’m afraid he’s in for a world of pain."

The people around them chattered amongst themselves, none of them thinking much of Ning Jiang’s chances.

In their eyes, Ning Jiang was just a nameless nobody. How could he possibly contend with someone like Fu Zheng, who was on the Famous Family List?

Only Li Shiyu showed a disdainful expression. ’These people have no idea how terrifying Ning Jiang is. But once word of his deeds in Golden Cauldron City spreads, the entire Cyan Cloud Country will know his name.

’Fu Zheng’s bravado comes from ignorance. If he knew that Ning Jiang had annihilated all the Innate Realm experts of a Noble Family with a single sword strike, he’d probably be so scared his legs would give out.’

"I’ll have you on the ground in three moves."

Fu Zheng’s lips curled into a smirk. His arms were three inches longer than an average person’s, and he cultivated a Palm Technique. With a single movement, he launched waves of palm strikes at Ning Jiang, his assault sharp and ferocious.

"Pathetic animal."

Ning Jiang stood his ground and simply waved his large sleeve.

WHOOSH!

A burst of Innate Gang Qi erupted and struck Fu Zheng.

SPURT!

Before everyone’s shocked eyes, Fu Zheng was sent flying backward. He violently spat out blood, heavily injured in an instant.

"What!?"

Everyone stared, utterly dumbfounded.

Fu Zheng, ranked twenty-fourth on the Famous Family List—when had he become so fragile?

"Innate Peak! He’s at the Innate Peak!"

Someone cried out in alarm, guessing that the power behind Ning Jiang’s move had to be at least at the Innate Peak.

This guess was met with agreement from the crowd. Only someone with the power of the Innate Peak could have done that.

No one, however, considered the Innate Limit. Those who reached the Innate Limit were all famous throughout Cyan Cloud—the Nine Great Young Masters, for example, were all at the Innate Limit.

Ning Jiang’s age didn’t match any of the Nine Great Young Masters, so everyone assumed he was at the Innate Peak.

Hearing the crowd’s chatter, Li Shiyu pursed her lips. ’Ignorant.’ Only she knew that Ning Jiang had held back. Otherwise, with that one wave of his sleeve, Fu Zheng would have been instantly flattened into a meat patty, with no chance of survival.

"How dare you injure our Young Master!"

The Fu Family experts on the ship flew into a rage. In an instant, the auras of several Innate Peak cultivators erupted, pressing down on Ning Jiang.

The other Fu Family experts also glared at him with hostile expressions.

In an instant, the atmosphere on the ship grew tense and hostile.

BOOM!

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed from the bottom of the Fish Dragon, and the entire vessel began to vibrate and shake violently.

"Could it be..."

Thinking of a certain possibility, the faces of everyone on board changed drastically.