Chapter 67 - 62: Wash Your Necks Clean and Wait for Me at the Grand Assembly

When the Guard attacked at the first sign of disagreement, many people in the tavern averted their eyes, not daring to watch.

The man was suffused with such a heavy Slaughter Qi; there was no telling how many people he had killed.

If he struck in a rage, he would definitely show no mercy. The young man’s chances of survival looked slim.

In Celestial Phoenix City, when someone from the City Lord’s Mansion made a move, who had the right to interfere?

However, the next moment, a blood-curdling scream rang out, and everyone turned their heads back.

They saw that the Guard’s right palm had been pierced by a single chopstick. It was dripping with blood, and he was now howling incessantly, drenched in a cold sweat.

"A single chopstick!" The crowd in the tavern was astounded.

After all, judging from the aura the Guard projected and the fact he was accompanying Ye Xue, his Cultivation was likely at or above the Qi Martial Realm.

Martial Artists at the Power Martial Realm focused primarily on Body Refining. Although they could absorb Spiritual Qi to enhance their Cultivation, their main focus was training their physical bodies.

Once they cultivated to the Eighth Heaven, they could shatter rock walls with their bare hands and tear tigers and leopards apart.

As for the Qi Martial Realm, that was another level entirely.

Not only could one use Spiritual Power to temper their physical body, but their Spiritual Power would also liquefy and the Pill Sea would begin to form. They could store all absorbed Spiritual Qi in their Pill Sea and begin to unleash large-scale Magic.

The first Third Heavens: Refining Qi and Condensing Strength, liquefying Spiritual Power.

The middle Third Heavens: Spiritual Power Release, capable of forming an Armor of Transformation.

The last Third Heavens: the Heart Points to Qi, and With Qi Pointing Sword.

Having reached the Qi Martial Realm, how could one possibly have their palm pierced by a mere chopstick?

When two Martial Artists fought, for one to use such an object to pierce the other’s palm—a palm imbued with powerful Power—there was only one possibility.

That person’s Cultivation far surpassed the Guard’s!

But this was just some unknown young man...

With a chopstick through his palm, the Guard did not continue his attack.

He stared venomously at the young man who had caused him such pain and humiliation, hesitating, unsure whether he should press the attack.

At that moment, Shen Lang lifted his head and glanced at him with a slight tilt.

His eyes were as deep as the sea, yet filled with indifference, as if nothing had just happened—as if he hadn’t just driven a chopstick through another person’s palm.

The Guard’s eyes were wide as he contemplated drawing his sword, but the moment he got a clear look at Shen Lang’s face, he jumped in fright.

His previously fierce expression instantly twisted into one of terror, and he shrieked in panic, "It’s Shen Lang! Miss, it’s Shen Lang! He’s the one who broke Young Master Tang’s leg!"

It turned out he had also been at the Celestial Phoenix Tavern on the day the elite disciples of the great families had gathered.

So he had seen everything with his own eyes—Shen Lang breaking Tang Chaotian’s leg, all of it!

The scene was like a nightmare that lingered in his mind, impossible to shake.

Even now, he was thankful that he had sensed something unusual about the young man that day and hadn’t attacked like the other Guards.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be standing here today.

But no matter what he thought, he never imagined that before the nightmare had even faded, he would run into this Little Evil Star here!

This was the person who had crippled Tang Chaotian, the Guard Commander’s son, with a single, casual kick.

The devil who had severely injured the elite disciples of several families and humiliated a whole crowd of them with a mere wave of his hand!

And after he did it, two of the three titans of Tayun Academy went to the City Lord’s Mansion to smooth things over for him!

He was terrifying enough on his own, but to have two of Tayun Academy’s titans backing him...

A mere Guard challenging him? Wasn’t that just asking for death?

At that moment, the Guard’s mental defenses completely crumbled...

He forgot the pain of the chopstick piercing his palm and scrambled back to Ye Xue’s side, hiding behind her.

In his terrified eyes, Shen Lang no longer seemed like a frail young man, but an Ancient Fierce Beast!

"So, it’s Shen Lang. No wonder you’re so arrogant, daring to injure someone from my City Lord’s Mansion."

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Xue’s eyes as she slowly walked over and sat down across from Shen Lang. "Over the years, many have dared to provoke the City Lord’s Mansion, but without exception, they have all turned to dust. Some people want to show off their strength without considering who they’re up against, only to throw their lives away for nothing."

Behind her, a venomous look appeared in Xu Daolin’s eyes, and then he suddenly laughed as well. "Shen Lang... quite the character, Shen Lang. I hear you’ve been very arrogant lately? You even injured my younger brother?"

As Xu Daolin spoke, he also walked over and sat down in the last empty seat.

"Are you saying that when facing people from your City Lord’s Mansion, I can only take a beating and not fight back? That if you beat me or kill me, I should just accept my bad luck?" Shen Lang said with a calm smile.

Ye Xue snorted coldly. "Lip service is useless. In this world, strength is what matters."

"Are you saying that if I have the strength, I can kill you on the spot right now?" Shen Lang retorted sharply.

"You dare threaten me?"

Ye Xue’s face turned pale. In all of Celestial Phoenix City, no one had ever dared to speak to her like that!

And of all people to say it, it just had to be Shen Moran’s younger brother!

Shen Lang glanced at Ye Xue. Seeing her pale face and the fire blazing in her eyes, he couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re not completely hopeless. At least you can tell I’m threatening you."

"Kid, it’s not smart to say things like that just for a moment of satisfaction. The consequences are more than you can bear, more than even your Shen Family can bear!" As Xu Daolin spoke, his aura began to rise, frightening some of the nearby drinkers into hastily running away.

It seemed a great battle was now unavoidable.

But what no one could have imagined was that Shen Lang, at the center of this storm, had no intention of calming things down. Instead, he seemed to be provoking Ye Xue and Xu Daolin into attacking...

He poured himself a cup of wine, drained it in one gulp, and then said nonchalantly, "These two seats are for my friends. It’s not your turn to sit there. I’ll count to three. If you’re not gone by then, you’ll be leaving horizontally after coming in vertically."

"You can test me and see if I’m a man of my word."

"Whoa!" The crowd erupted into an uproar.

’Arrogant. He’s so damn arrogant! Is this really the Shen Family’s good-for-nothing, Shen Lang?’

’How dare he say something like that to the City Lord’s daughter and the Xu Family’s genius, Xu Daolin?’

’Both of them have a Cultivation at the Qi Martial Realm Fifth Heaven! Could he possibly be stronger than them?’

A wave of Killing Intent emanated from Ye Xue, but she quickly suppressed it.

She controlled herself, trying to make her tone calmer as she said, "I admire your nerve. I’m not a petty person, so I can pretend I didn’t hear what you said today. How about you consider joining the City Lord’s Mansion as my Guard?"

"The City Lord’s Mansion can provide you with Cultivation resources the Shen Family doesn’t have. The City Lord’s Mansion can be your backer, allowing you to run rampant in Celestial Phoenix City and do as you please."

"One."

"Kid, Xue’Er is already being merciful to you. Don’t be a fool who doesn’t know when to quit! If you agree, the grudge between us will be written off! Otherwise..." Xu Daolin’s gaze grew even sharper.

"Two."

Shen Lang’s right hand rested on the table, his index finger tapping lightly.

"Xu Daolin, let’s go!"

To everyone’s surprise, Ye Xue actually stood up and left her seat, preventing Shen Lang from having to say the word "three."

Xu Daolin’s face was dark as he shot Shen Lang a venomous glare and stood up. "Acting tough is useless. In a while, at the Celestial Phoenix City tournament, I’ll make you regret everything you’ve done today. I’ll make you understand that being arrogant without strength is just courting death!"

Just then, the newly risen Ye Xue looked at Shen Lang with hatred in her eyes and said, "Teacher Sima Yan and Teacher Mo Liusheng from Tayun Academy came to the City Lord’s Mansion and explained the matter with Tang Chaotian to my father. But don’t think that settles it. In Celestial Phoenix City, no one can injure someone from the City Lord’s Mansion and get away scot-free..."

"Since you’re so bold, do you dare participate in the inter-family martial tournament organized by the City Lord’s Mansion?"

Shen Lang looked up and calmly swept his gaze over Ye Xue, taking in the venomous look in her eyes.

A thought crossed his mind, and a graceful smile spread across his lips. "Trying to provoke me?"

"What, are you scared? Or have you seen the light?" Ye Xue said mockingly.

"Oh, I suppose I have seen the light..." Shen Lang said, gently blowing on the surface of the wine in his cup.

"Originally, I had no intention of participating in your ridiculous tournament. That’s because you so-called ’geniuses’ aren’t even qualified to make me act. But I’ve had a change of heart. Some idiots are just asking for a beating. If she isn’t beaten to within an inch of her life, she’ll never realize how stupid she is. So, wash your neck and wait for me at the tournament."

"Good, good, good. What a sharp-tongued little brat. I hope you can still smile so brightly then. It’ll be a wonder if you aren’t crying!"

Ye Xue said coldly, and with a wave of her hand, she prepared to leave with Xu Daolin.

Just then, the door to a private room on the third floor was pushed open, and a massive, tower-like man walked out. "Hahahaha! Fantastic! What a rush! That was so damn satisfying! Brother Lang, you’ve given us another feast for the ears!"

Yin Kuang, Shui Buyu, and three others walked out of the private room, each of them smiling, though with somewhat peculiar expressions.

"Yin Kuang!" Ye Xue was startled and stopped in her tracks.

Her face was filled with shock, as if she couldn’t believe Shen Lang was on such good terms with these people, enough to be called ’brother’.

At that moment, Zeng Zuimo, who was behind Yin Kuang, forcefully pushed the big man aside and said sarcastically, "Hey, big guy, it seems someone was just threatening our dear Xiaolang. Back in the day, what would you do if you saw someone threatening your brother?"

Yin Kuang’s face filled with a towering Evil Qi as he boomed in a voice like thunder, "If it’s a woman, I’ll rape her then kill her; if it’s a man, I’ll kill him then rape him!"

The entire tavern fell silent...

Zeng Zuimo and the others stared at each other in dismay. They knew this lout Yin Kuang was prone to spouting some outrageous and shocking nonsense, but they never expected him to be this... avant-garde.

The key thing was, now that they were all seen together, it would have been one thing if the oaf had just embarrassed himself, but he had dragged them all down with him.

"CLANG!" Xu Daolin drew a longsword and pointed it at Yin Kuang, roaring with fury, "Where did this bastard come from, daring to act so wildly here?! If you’ve got the guts, fight me, Xu Daolin, for three hundred rounds!"