âAre you sure you want me to inscribe twenty Thunder Flame Inscriptions?â
Duan Ling Tian frowned when he saw the pile of materials the little fatty had prepared. He felt it to be slightly too much.
âYes, Boss.â
The little fattyâs head nodded like a chick pecking on rice, subsequently asking, âBoss, are there any problems?â
âNo problems.â
Duan Ling Tian shook his head.
He then said, âI just want to tell you that you canât use the Thunder Flame Inscription on anyone besides Li Ming, or else it wonât take long for everyone to realize that you used an inscription on him. If you only use it on Li Ming, even if it happens repeatedly, he will be unable to explain it because no one will believe him.â
âYeah, youâre right. Why didnât I think of that?â
The little fatty hit himself on the head, then he regretfully said, âI bet once I use the Thunder Flame Inscription on Li Ming a few times more, he wonât dare to offend me again⊠Boss, wonât the remaining materials go to waste?â
Duan Ling Tian indifferently said, âKeep the remaining materials, you will need them. The first inscription Iâll be teaching you is the Thunder Flame Inscription.â
âThanks, Boss, thanks a lot.â
A wide smile burst forth on the little fattyâs face.
Suddenly, he noticed Duan Ling Tian opening his hand towards him. Feeling puzzled the fatty asked, âBoss, what do you mean by that?â
âTuition fee!â
Duan Ling Tian gave the little fatty a stare as he said angrily this.
âYes, yes, I nearly forgot.â
The little fatty laughed slyly as he reached into his pocket, withdrew a stack of silver bills, and passed them to Duan Ling Tian. âBoss, I had it ready a long time ago. Hereâs a thousand silver. Itâs the tuition fee for the next month.â
Duan Ling Tian extended his hand and took it from him, then he nodded his head. âStarting from tomorrow, Iâll come find you at your place after lunch. For half an hour daily, Iâll teach you to the best of my ability. What you can learn will be entirely up to you.â
âThanks, Boss. Then I wonât disturb you any longer.â
The little fatty had a wide smile as he turned around and jubilantly left.
After quickly weighing the thousand silver in bills in his hand, the corners of Duan Ling Tianâs mouth curled up into a slight smile. âEvery penny counts. I need to collect as much as I can, because in the future, no matter whether itâs medicine refining, weapon crafting, or inscriptions, they are all bottomless pitsâŠâ
Starting the following day, Duan Ling Tian would dedicate half an hour out of his schedule to go to Li Xuanâs house after lunch.
At the beginning, Fifth Elder Li Ting felt it to be odd.
But after seeing his son and Duan Ling Tian becoming good friends, he was happy for it to happen.
Although, in the past few days, he would always hear weird sounds coming from his sonâs room.
âClap!â
Abruptly, the noise sounded againâŠ
Li Ting shook his head and walked out of the courtyard.
In the room, the handsome youth with sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes slapped the little fatty on his head. âHow can you be so stupid? I told you that Violet Gold Sand and Scorching Grass Powder canât be mixed directly, but you still canât remember!â
âBoss, donât hit me anymore. If you continue, Iâll become even more stupid.â
The little fatty rubbed his head. His face had a wronged expression.
âWhy did I ever agree to teach you the inscription technique? Youâre a blockhead! Iâm telling you right now: if you donât achieve any improvement in this month, no matter how much silver you give me, I wonât teach you anymore next month because I donât want to waste my time.â
The youth had an expression of disappointment.
The little fatty bitterly smiled. âBoss, donât worry; Iâll work hard and not let you down.â
âI hope you can do as you say. Half an hour is up, so itâs time for me to leave. Iâll be back tomorrow. I hope you can improve a little.â
With a frown, the youth walked out of the room and left.
Half a month later.
Dawn, the Li familyâs Martial Arts Practice Hall was bustling with noise and excitement.
The gathered Li family disciples were all youths and young girls.
Their discussions all revolved around Second Elderâs youngest son, Li Ming, and Fifth Elderâs son, Li Xuan.
âThis time Li Ming took the initiative to challenge Li Xuan. Looks like heâs finished recovering.â
âLi Ming said that he only lost to Li Xuan because he was sick. I wonder if itâs true.â
âIf he loses to Li Xuan again, then it must be a lie.â
âYeah, I think so too. He canât always be coincidentally sick, right?â
âŠâŠ
Li Ming had arrived long ago and was standing in the middle of the Martial Arts Practice Hall.
As he heard the surrounding discussions, his face grew uglier by the moment.
His father didnât allow him to spread the matter regarding the Thunder Flame Pill, so he could only use the excuse of being sick.
But he didnât expect that so many people would doubt him.
Did they really think he wasnât a match for Li Xuan?
âLi Xuan, this time Iâm going to make you lie on a bed for half a month too!â
Li Ming angrily said as he gnashed his teeth.
âLi Xuan has arrived!â
Suddenly, the youths and young girls surrounding the Martial Arts Practice Hall all turned around to look in the distance.
In the distance, a perfect couple walked in front, while a slightly wretched little fatty followed behind them like a little lackey. The little lackey was exactly the main protagonist of today, Li Xuan.
âI heard Li Xuan acknowledged Duan Ling Tian as his boss.â
âAcknowledging a disciple with another surname as his boss, such a disgrace to the Li family.â
âSo what if heâs a disciple with another surname? If youâve got the balls, repeat what you just said loudly. Do you dare? You donât dare, right? If you donât dare, then donât talk big!â
âThatâs right. Even though Duan Ling Tian is a disciple with another surname, he brought honor to our Li family. The Fang family was put in embarrassing situations many times by him!â
âThe three months period will be up tomorrow. I wonder if Duan Ling Tian will really pay a visit to the Fang family.â
âŠâŠ
As Duan Ling Tian held Ke Erâs hand, he could hear the discussion about him from afar.
Towards all of this, he just laughed it off.
He then looked at the little fatty behind him. âDonât injure him too severely today. Let him withdraw after he understands that he wonât win, or else Second Elder will go argue with your dad even though heâs extremely magnanimous. Donât make it difficult for your dad, do you understand?â
The little fatty hurriedly nodded.
In this world, the person he admired the most was Duan Ling Tian.
When they noticed the three of them arriving, the Li family disciples opened up a path.
Duan Ling Tian held Ke Erâs hand as they stood in the front.
The little fatty, on the other hand, walked out and entered the arena. He was grinning broadly as he looked towards Li Ming. âLi Ming, have you recovered well? You recovered so quickly.â
âLi Xuan, today I will wash away the shame you gave me half a month ago!â
Li Mingâs face was bright red.
The rage that he had suppressed for half a month was finally bursting forthâŠ
âDonât worry, my boss told me not to injure you so severely this time.â
Li Xuan laughed slyly. His expression seemed annoying and extremely despicable.
âYouâre courting death!â
Li Mingâs gaze turned cold, his legs, which had already been accumulating energy for some time, shook, and he flew out like a fierce tiger towards Li Xuan.
The mastered middle grade Yellow Rank martial skill Fierce Tiger Fist was executed, blasting towards Li Xuan.
âFierce Tiger Fist?â
Upon seeing this scene, Duan Ling Tianâs eyes narrowed.
He remembered that Seventh Elderâs youngest son, Li Xin, also used Fierce Tiger Fist.
However, Li Xinâs Fierce Tiger Fist was inferior to Li Mingâs; they were on completely different levels.
This was the difference between the initial stage and mastery.
Martial skills were only able to exert their true might when cultivated to mastery.
Li Xuan moved, directly moving to intercept the strike.
He didnât even use any martial arts; he only casually struck out his fist towards Li Mingâs fist.
In an instant, the corners of his mouth curled up into a wicked smile and he activated the Thunder Flame InscriptionâŠ
Instantly, the scene from half a month ago appeared once again.
Li Mingâs whole body froze as if struck by lightning. The strength in his fists dissipated, only leaving behind a slight inertia. He was completely unable to stop Li Xuan.
âPing!â
Li Xuanâs fist struck out and struck Li Ming down, putting him in such a painful state that he started sweating profusely.
A flurry of fists and kicks followed thatâŠ
The Li family Martial Arts Practice Hall was deathly silent.
To the people who saw their fight half a month ago, this scene was so similarâŠ
Half a month ago, Li Ming was beaten up by Li Xuan in the same way.
âNo, impossible⊠How could this be possible?!â
After Li Xuan stopped, Li Ming noticed that the aching pain of thunder and flames striking his body had vanished.
He seemed to be in a daze, unable to believe that what had happened was real.
If half a month ago Li Xuanâs luck was good, could it be that his luck was good again this time?
How could there be such a coincidence?
âDonât offend me anymore from now on, or else I wonât mind making you lie on a bed for half a month again.â
Li Xuanâs chubby face trembled as he boasted. Under the revering gazes of the surrounding people, he returned to Duan Ling Tianâs side.
Li Xuan had a flattering smile on his face; he seemed like a completely different person. âBoss, I listened to you and showed mercy. This time he will be bedridden for a few days at most.â
Duan Ling Tian nodded indifferently.
âSister-in-law, Iâm formidable right?â
Li Xuan looked towards Ke Er as he smiled slyly.
Hearing how Li Xuan addressed her, Ke Erâs face instantly blushed.
âStop being complacent. With the assistance of Thunder Flame Pill and the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, youâre only at the fifth level of the Body Tempering stage now. Donât you feel ashamed.â
Duan Ling Tian gave Li Xuan a disdainful glance.
Since he was forced to tacitly approve of Li Xuan as his lackey, he added materials into the fattyâs Six Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, changing it into the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid.
Of course, this was a secret between him and Li Xuan; even Fifth Elder Li Ting didnât know.
Only then did Li Xuan find out that the Six Treasures Body Tempering Liquid was actually made by his boss, and this made him start admiring Duan Ling Tian from the bottom of his heart.
Li Xuan embarrassedly scratched the back of his head while laughing bitterly. âBoss, do you think everyone is abnormal like you and Sister-in-lawâŠâ
Yesterday, Ke Erâs cultivation followed behind Duan Ling Tianâs; she stepped into the seventh level of the Body Tempering stage, causing Li Xuan to be speechless. He had no choice but to admire them.
âScram. Youâre the abnormal one.â
Duan Ling Tian gave the little fatty a stare. While holding Ke Erâs hand, he turned around and walked away.
As the crowd automatically opened up a path for them, all of the gazes that gathered on him were filled with respect.
The Duan Ling Tian of four months ago was considered to be someone that everyone looked down upon.
But now, unknowingly, Duan Ling Tian had become someone that they could only look up toâŠ
Some of them even regretted not getting on good terms with him when he was still weak.
If they had, they would be able to follow beside him like Li Xuan. How prestigious!
âBoss, wait for me!â
Dragging along his body that was covered in fat, Li Xuan followed along jubilantly.
When the shadow of their figures disappeared from everyoneâs sight, only then did everyone look towards the person lying in the middle of the arena. Li Ming, who had a stupefied expression, was looking up towards the sky. The crowd started mocking him. âIs Li Ming going to say he lost again because he got sick again?â
âIn my opinion, when he said he was sick last month, it was totally an excuse. Look now, he disgraced himself!â
âSuch a disgrace!â
âŠâŠ
The corners of Li Mingâs mouth emitted a helpless and bitter laugh as he heard the ridicule that came from the surrounding Li family disciples.
He could not understand why such a bizarre thing would happen to him.