Volume One, Chapter Nine: Countless Remarkable Figures
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Chu Lingtian’s sharp gaze pierced through the crowd, fixating directly on Jiang Rulong standing atop the platform.
He shook his neck, twisted his wrist, and strode forward.
If it were before, Chu Lingtian might have just let it go—people reluctant to let their granddaughter marry, what man fears not finding a good wife? If not here, there are other places to go.
But not now.
He relished settling grudges, drawing his blade to cut through injustice.
If you make me unhappy, then you’ll give this young master your life.
“Jiang Rulong,” Chu Lingtian called.
“How dare you, you brat! You even dare call out my grandfather’s name! Are you looking for death?”
Immediately, a young man nearby, eager to show off and clearly some young master from a good family, grew furious.
Pointing at Chu Lingtian’s nose, he cursed, “You bastard, some small-time nobody from the East Sea, really think you’re a big shot?”
“If I don’t teach you a lesson, do you even know who’s in charge here?”
With that, the youth grabbed a wine jar from the table, leapt up, and smashed it down on Chu Lingtian’s head.
“Lingtian! Watch out!” Jiang Wan’s face drained of color as she screamed.
She tried desperately to rush forward to pull Chu Lingtian away, but her body, already weak, faltered and she stumbled to the ground.
Chu Lingtian’s attention was momentarily distracted by Jiang Wan falling; he turned to help her up.
In that moment, the charging youth’s attack landed squarely on the back of Chu Lingtian’s head.
Smack!
The white porcelain bottle shattered instantly, shards flying everywhere.
Yet Chu Lingtian acted as if nothing had happened, calmly lifting Jiang Wan to her feet.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Are you okay?!” Jiang Wan’s eyes brimmed with worry as she frantically checked the back of Chu Lingtian’s head.
Seeing no injury, her eyes instantly reddened. “Why didn’t you dodge?”
“Just an insignificant insect,” Chu Lingtian replied dismissively.
“I…!”
The youth, still stunned that Chu Lingtian was unharmed, now fumed at being called a mere insect.
Clenching his fists, he jumped again, aiming a punch at Chu Lingtian.
“Young Master Liu Qing, don’t be impulsive!” Steward Wu shouted hurriedly.
But it was too late; in a flash, the youth was upon Chu Lingtian.
Before he could land a blow, Chu Lingtian lifted his foot and kicked out.
The youth flew through the air like a kite with its string cut, tracing a parabola over ten meters before crashing onto a table.
He even soiled himself.
The stench made nearby onlookers quickly scatter.
Steward Wu rushed over, pinching his nose as he dragged Young Master Liu Qing away. “Young Master, I told you not to be rash. You can’t beat Master Chu.”
“You… why didn’t you say so sooner… pfft…” The youth’s eyes bulged and he fainted.
Around them, people glared furiously at Chu Lingtian but dared not speak.
None had expected this kid to be a master.
Though they could summon a troop of experts soon, it was wiser not to provoke him before reinforcements arrived—after all, a cornered mad dog bites, and losing face here would make life difficult later.
With no further disturbance, Chu Lingtian turned back to Jiang Rulong and continued, “Jiang Rulong, Jiang Wan is your granddaughter. As head of the family, it’s reasonable and flawless for you to call off her marriage.”
“Yes, I’m glad you think so,” Jiang Rulong nodded.
“However…” Chu Lingtian shifted tone, “would it also be reasonable for me to take back a life?”
“Huh?”
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Jiang Rulong’s aged eyes darkened slowly.
“Old man, return my life before you leave,” Chu Lingtian advanced.
“Heh, young man, you’re quite arrogant to want to take my life,” Jiang Rulong’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
With a slight raise of his hand—
Swish! Swish!
More than a dozen men suddenly appeared, blocking Jiang Rulong’s front, their eyes sharp and cold toward Chu Lingtian.
“The Jiang family’s Dragon Guard… The old master truly values his own safety above all else,” Jiang Limin watched the familiar faces with a bitter smile.
Even inside his own home, the Dragon Guard protected Jiang Rulong covertly.
But from whom?
Now Chu Lingtian was in serious trouble.
The Dragon Guard were the Jiang family’s elite protectors—each a genuine innate expert.
Some were nearly halfway into the martial realm, on the cusp of becoming grandmasters.
Stomp stomp stomp!
Yet before the fight began, the Dragon Guard suddenly parted, clearing a path.
Into view stepped a white-clad elder leaning on a dragon-headed cane.
“Old Bai? Mr. Bai!” the Jiang family members exclaimed.
For years, he had been seen only in white, hence the name “White-Clad Elder.”
Mr. Bai was the founder of the Dragon Guard and, it was said, had known the old master since youth.
More importantly, Mr. Bai was a true martial grandmaster!
His presence alone had secured the Jiang family’s position as South China’s top clan.
Unexpectedly, the old master had even brought out Mr. Bai himself.
“I heard from Xiao Wu that you have some skill in energy transformation,” Jiang Rulong’s eyes blazed as he stared intently at Chu Lingtian.
“Have you ever heard of a martial grandmaster?”
“Very well, today, here in the Jiang family, I’ll kill your arrogance.”
“Is this all the trump cards your Jiang family has?” Chu Lingtian narrowed his eyes.
What was that look in his gaze?
Contempt, scorn? Amusement?
How dare he?
“Hmph!” Jiang Rulong’s old eyes darkened. “Old Bai, regardless of life or death, it’s time you acted.”
“Yes, it’s time to move,” the white-clad elder responded.
He approached Chu Lingtian.
He intended to give this arrogant, reckless youth a small lesson.
As he stepped forward, dust rose from the ground.
Dust swirled around his feet, exuding an imposing aura!
The white-clad elder radiated a suffocatingly fierce energy.
Swish swish!
With his aura pulsing, several dried leaves on the ground lifted and shot toward Chu Lingtian like arrows.
Chu Lingtian frowned, his expression serious.
Not out of fear.
But annoyance.
Damn it!
This old man is way too theatrical.
He was itching to slap the old man.
“Seven steps!”
Dodging the elder’s attack sideways, Chu Lingtian raised seven fingers before everyone.
“What?” The white-clad elder paused.
“Seven steps to kill a man.”
“To kill you.”
“Seven steps are enough!”
Chu Lingtian stood with hands behind his back, speaking coolly.
The others burst into laughter.
This kid’s crazy, right?
You really haven’t seen Old Bai’s power, or you wouldn’t be so cocky.
“Heh, kid, you’re arrogant, but arrogance needs backing,” the white-clad elder’s eyes flashed with killing intent.
Chu Lingtian said no more.
Hands behind his back, he stepped forward.
Just good at pretending to be a master, huh?
Just good at walking to show off, huh?
One step!
Two steps!
Three steps!
Chu Lingtian paced steadily forward.
In an instant, the air seemed to freeze; a violent pressure inexplicably descended.
With a grunt, the white-clad elder’s once confident face paled, his body stiffening and halting.
Four steps!
The stagnant air suddenly surged, converging and blasting toward the elder with sharp whistles.
Ordinary people couldn’t see this invisible energy attack.
But the elder felt it, waves of shock crashing through his mind.
Energy manipulation manifested.
Damn it.
Who is this kid?
While pondering, he swung his arms in the air, an odd gesture to outsiders—perhaps warming up before the fight?
In truth, he was already shaken by the energy blasts, nearly coughing up blood.
Five steps!
Chu Lingtian took another step.
He looked at the elder and said, “You might be quite confident.”
His confidence and arrogance possibly stemmed from the Jiang family’s reverence or years of accumulated experience.
“But I tell you.”
“Long years may grant you rich experience.”
“But they also rot your perception.”
Time is a blade that slays prodigies.
Every era has its champions.
Six steps!
…
Through the endless cycles of time and centuries of moonlight, countless heroes have risen.
But now, look at this moment.
“Today, I’ll show you what it truly means to walk the world invincible.”
Seventh step.
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