He Jun sized up Duan Ling Tian for a moment before he sneered. âIs there no one else in Aurora City? A sixteen-year-old little kid is capable of being placed in the top of the Hidden Dragon List?â
âIdiot, so what if heâs sixteen? Say that again if you can defeat Duan Ling Tian.â
âYeah, if youâre unable to even take a single move from Duan Ling Tian, that would really be an extreme disgrace.â
Bystanders in the crowd ridiculed him.
He Junâs face turned grim instantly.
âLooks like theyâre very confident in you.â
He Jun glanced at Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian still did not reply; it was as if he hadnât heard He Jun speak at all.
âKid, Iâm talking to you!â
He Jun had a grim expression. This was the first time he was ignored by someone in this way.
âAlthough they havenât fought, their states of mind are already on different levels. Duan Ling Tian is worthy of being the first in the Hidden Dragon List, as heâs able to be unfazed no matter what.â
âYeah, unlike this He Jun, whoâs getting so flustered and exasperated. In terms of bearings, he isnât even on the same level as Duan Ling Tian.
âNot on the same level? Youâre thinking too highly of him; I think heâs miles away from Duan Ling Tian.â
âŠâŠ
Hearing the crowdâs ridicule, He Junâs expression got uglier as time passed by.
âIâll see how long you can continue acting for!â
He Jun was enraged. His body jerked like a roc spreading its wings as he flew towards Duan Ling Tian.
Three ancient mammoth silhouettes condensed into form.
This He Jun was obviously a martial artist at the second level of the Core Formation Stage.
Whoosh!
Seeing He Jun flying out towards him, Duan Ling Tianâs eyes narrowed. No wonder He Jun was able to defeat even Lin Zhuo; he did really have some ability.
He Junâs movement technique was similar to his, also a high grade Profound Rank movement technique at the Mastery Stage.
âSee how I blast you flying with a single punch!â He Jun bellowed. His fist seemed like a launched cannonball as it whistled through the air and blasted towards Duan Ling Tian.
From start till finish, Duan Ling Tian stood on the spot, unmoved like a mountain. Even when He Jun arrived in front of him, Duan Ling Tian still had a tranquil expression.
Eventually, under the gazes of everyone present, Duan Ling Tian made his move.
Dragons!
Duan Ling Tianâs hands danced about, suffused with Origin Energy.
In the eyes of everyone in the surroundings, including He Junâs, Duan Ling Tianâs hands movements werenât random; they seemed to be following some sort of profound trail.
âBreak for me!â
He Junâs gaze turned cold and his fist exerted force like a landslide as it smashed towards the palm and fist silhouettes that appeared from Duan Ling Tianâs hand movements.
Before long, his expression distorted.
He noticed that his fist had actually hit nothing but air, and it didnât touch a hair on Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tianâs eyes focused.
Above him, three ancient mammoth silhouettes condensed into formâŠ
Finishing Touch!
Duan Ling Tianâs finger strike flashed out. As it penetrated through the flurry of fist and palm silhouettes, an earsplitting howl sounded.
His finger touched upon He Junâs fist, instantly shattering his defensive qi barrier.
âAh!â
He Jun emitted a shrill cry as his body flew out, crashing onto the ground in an incomparably sorry state.
His left hand tightly clasped the right as soon as he noticed that one of his finger bones had cracked apart and a heart wrenching pain caused his body to start trembling.
Only after hastily consuming a Grade Eight Gold Injury Pill did He Jun look at Duan Ling Tian with an expression of dread.
This sixteen-year-old youth was no different than a demon to him.
Too terrifying!
âDuan Ling Tian is so strong.â
âAllegedly, when Duan Ling Tian defeated Xiao Yu, he event used the strength of four ancient mammoths⊠Today, he instead only used the strength of three ancient mammoths to defeat this He Jun.â
âDuan Ling Tian obviously held back.â
âThis He Jun probably canât even defeat Xiao Yu.â
âThe number one martial artist in the younger generation of Aqua Mist City is merely so mediocre.â
âŠâŠ
The crowd was in an uproar.
âYou should keep a low profile and not establish arenas everywhere when you donât have any ability.â
Duan Ling Tian paid no attention to He Jun. Under the gazes that were filled with veneration and adoration, Duan Ling Tian jumped off the arena and swung a kick at the one of the support pillars on the side of the arena.
Bang!
Immediately, the martial arts combat arena collapsed with a loud crash, burying He Jun within.
He Jun crawled out in a sorry state with a face full of dirt, looking like a refugee.
âHahahahaâŠâ
Instantly, the crowd burst into a wave of laughter.
Amongst the laughter, He Junâs expression turned ugly and he swiftly fled.
âHa ha⊠Duan Ling Tian, nice!â
Lin Qi arrived beside Duan Ling Tian and gave him a big thumbs up, as if he was even more excited than if it was himself who beat He Jun.
âDuan Ling Tian!â
Meanwhile, two more people arrived beside Duan Ling Tian.
Li Zhong, Li Xiao.
âIs something the matter?â
Duan Ling Tian looked at Li Zhong as he questioned.
âHurry up and say it.â
Li Zhong glared at Li Xiao as he scolded him.
Li Xiaoâs body trembled as he looked at Duan Ling Tian in terror. âDuan Ling Tian, I apologize for what I did in the past. I hope you can forgive me.â
âLouder. Havenât you eaten?â
Li Zhong grunted coldly towards his little brother. He didnât care about his little brotherâs feelings at all.
âItâs fine, just let the past matters vanish into the void now.â
Duan Ling Tian waved his hand and smiled.
This Li Zhongâs character wasnât bad. Recalling the conflict between the two of them, it was all because of his little brother, Li Xiao.
Slap!
Li Zhong swung his palm onto Li Xiaoâs head. "What are you daydreaming for? Hurry up and say thank you.â
âThank you, thank you.â
Li Xiao had a bitter smile on his face as he hastily thanked Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian indifferently swept Li Xiao with his gaze before walking away with Lin Qi.
The crowd automatically opened up a path. The gazes that descended upon Duan Ling Tian from the surroundings were all filled with veneration.
After watching Duan Ling Tian and Lin Qiâs figures disappear in the distance, only then did everyone present come back to their senses.
âToo formidable. He annihilated Aqua Mist Cityâs He Clanâs He Jun with just a single move.â
âAs expected of the young genius who defeated Xiao Yu to be placed in the top of the Hidden Dragon List.â
âDuan Ling Tian is only sixteen. Iâm certain that the first ranked in the Hidden Dragon List for the next two years will undoubtedly be him.â
âNonsense, even I can be certain of that.â
âŠâŠ
In a restaurant, Duan Ling Tian and Lin Qi sat facing each other.
Duan Ling Tian originally intended to return home but was forced by Lin Qi to come here, his reason being having something to discuss with him.
âWhat do you want to discuss, even coming to a restaurant. So solemn⊠Couldnât you have just told me on the way?â
Duan Ling Tian looked at Lin Qi.
âDuan Ling Tian, whatâs your plan?â
Lin Qi went straight to the point.
âWhat plan?â
Duan Ling Tian was dazed.
âWhat Iâm asking you is, what are your plans for the future.â
Lin QI smiled wryly.
âI donât know for now.â
Duan Ling Tian shook his head and his heart slightly jerked.
Hearing Lin Qi speak about this, Duan Ling Tian couldnât help himself from thinking about the Iron Blood Armyâs Genius Camp he had heard of the other day.
The exact date of the Genius Camp test was five months from nowâŠ
Lin Qi continued, âDuan Ling Tian, even though youâre a member of the Li Clan, youâre a disciple with another surname after all⊠In the Li Clan, youâll become an elder at most; youâre destined to have no fate with the Patriarchâs seat.â
âCanât you just say what you want to say and stop beating around the bust?â
Duan Ling Tian derided.
âThen Iâll be frank.â
Lin Qi took a deep breath before slowly saying, âHalf a month ago, my aunt made a trip back here and heard about you from me. Sheâs very interested in you.â
âPfft!â
After hearing what he said, Duan Ling Tianâs face trembled and the food that he hadnât swallowed yet was spat all over Lin Qiâs face.
âF**k! Lin Qi, although Iâm not against being together with a slightly older woman, Iâm really not suitable to be together with a cougar⊠Ask your aunt to look for someone else,â Duan Ling Tian said in all seriousness.
Lin Qi was dumbstruck.
Coming back to his senses, Lin Qi wiped off the food that was spat on his face before deriding, âCan you steop thinking of everything in that way!? My auntâs been married for years, even her son is over ten years old.â
âWasnât it you who said your aunt was interested in me?â
Duan Ling Tian was slightly speechless.
Was it he who overthought things?
âSheâs interested in your natural talent and comprehension ability.â
Lin Qi rolled his eyes at Duan Ling Tian.
âSay it earlier.â
Duan Ling Tian shook his head and continued to eat. He was like a whirlwind sweeping away everything on the plate.
âMy aunt is the person in charge of the Violet Tulip Trading Companyâs branch in Swallow Mountain County,â Lin Qi said.
âSo what?â Duan Ling Tian asked as he ate.
âYouâve heard of the Violet Tulip Trading Company, right?â
Lin Qi looked at Duan Ling Tian as if he was looking at an alien.
When he saw Duan Ling Tian shake his head, he was utterly speechless.
This guyâs really ill informed!
âThe Violet Tulip Trading Company is one of the three great Trading Companies in the Crimson Sky Kingdom. Its properties can be found all over six counties out of the eighteen counties in Crimson Sky Kingdom, and Swallow Mountain County is one of themâŠâ Lin Qi explained.
âWait. You said the Violet Tulip Trading Company occupies six out of the eighteen counties of Crimson Sky Kingdom, and your aunt is the person in charge of one of the counties?â
âYes.â
Lin Qi had a face full of pride.
âEven though my auntâs natural talent in the Martial Dao is average, she is really business-minded, she was already thought highly of by the president of the Violet Tulip Trading Company in her early years, and she advanced step by step to obtain her current position. This restaurant that weâre eating in is one of the properties of the Violet Tulip Trading Company.
âBesides that, the properties of the Violet Tulip Trading Company can be said to have a finger in every pie, to the extent that it can be found even in remote, small towns⊠As long as it has the prefix of Agarwood, Golden Adonis, or Violet Caltrop, they are all properties belonging to the Violet Tulip Trading Company.â
Lin Qi continued to speak of the Violet Tulip Trading Company with great familiarity.
âAgarwood?â
Duan Ling Tian suddenly realized that the Agarwood Restaurant in Fresh Breeze Town turned out to be a property of the Violet Tulip Trading Company.
âIâm not interested in conducting business.â
Duan Ling Tian shook his head.
âWhoâs asking you to conduct business.â
Lin Qi angrily said, âMy aunt took an interest in you because she highly regards your natural talent in the Martial Dao and your comprehension ability⊠While the Violet Tulip Trading Company is rich enough to rival a kingdom, it naturally has many people who are watching it secretly and are looking for an opportunity. Therefore, the Violet Tulip Trading Company has fostered many powerhouses to be in charge of protecting the trading companyâs properties.â
âMy uncle is precisely the Guard Commander of the Violet Tulip Trading Company in Swallow Mountain County, and he is a Void Stage powerhouse. Even the County Governor of Swallow Mountain County is respectful when dealing with my uncle.â
Lin Qi finished saying this within a single breath.
âYour aunt wants to make me a guard for the Violet Tulip Trading Company?â
Duan Ling Tian had a weird gaze.
âMy aunt said that as long as youâre willing to join the Violet Tulip Trading Company, the Violet Tulip Trading Company will spare no effort in fostering you⊠In the future, you will even have the opportunity to take over my uncleâs position and become the Guard Commander of the Violet Tulip Trading Company in Swallow Mountain County.â
Lin Qi looked at Duan Ling Tian with a face full of envy and jealousy.
âIn other words, once I join the Violet Tulip Trading Company, even if I stay there till I die, I will only be a head bodyguard?â
Duan Ling Tian had eaten his fill and put down his cutlery.
âHead bodyguard?â
Lin Qi didnât understand what Duan Ling Tian had said.