Chapter 133: Who are you to dictate my future?

Zhang Chong was hurled to the ground like a discarded carcass.

"Crack, crack..."

The force of Li Jiansan’s strike had shattered several of his ribs in one go. Now, Zhang Chong lay there, blood bubbling from his lips, struggling even to pull himself back to his feet.

The outcome was decided in a single move.

The scene everyone had envisioned—where Zhang Chong would effortlessly crush Li Jiansan—never materialized. In reality, it was Li Jiansan who had crushed Zhang Chong with a single blow.

"This plebeian actually defeated Zhang Chong..."
"How is this possible?"
"Could there be experts among the commoners, too?"

As Li Jiansan sent Zhang Chong flying with that punch, the expressions of the imperial city disciples turned exceptionally grim. They had been so arrogant, looking down on Li Jiansan and his companions with utter disdain. But now, Li Jiansan had dismantled their self-proclaimed prodigy in the blink of an eye. It was laughable to even think about it.

"This kid’s strength is terrifying. Has some new power risen outside the imperial city?" People began to reassess Li Jiansan, their curiosity piqued by his origins.

"Is there anyone else who refuses to accept this? Get out here now!" Li Jiansan scanned the crowd, his voice frigid. His brash tone rang out like a thunderclap, rattling everyone’s eardrums.

He surveyed the scene, but no one dared to move. The area fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard. Having seen Zhang Chong defeated in one strike, who among them would dare to step forward?

"Alright, that is enough. Let this matter end here," the Grand Deacon said, waving his hand to intervene.

However, Li Jiansan replied coldly, "Wait."

"What else do you want?" the Grand Deacon asked, eyeing him.

Li Jiansan’s gaze shifted to Liu Yan. "I ask the Elder to honor his promise."

Confused, Liu Yan asked, "What promise?"

"‘If we can defeat the disciples of the imperial city, I will bestow a bottle of Triple Flower Body-Gathering Pills upon him.’ Weren't those your words?"

At the mention of this, Liu Yan’s face stiffened. "I did indeed say that."

"Then hand it over. Surely an Elder wouldn't go back on his word? I should hope not."

Hearing this, Liu Yan’s expression soured. Furrowing his brows, he said, "I am a man of my word, naturally. But... leave a path for others so that you may meet again in the future; surely you understand that? Those who are too ostentatious rarely meet a good end."

This was a blatant hint, underscored by a thread of menace.

"I’ve always been ostentatious; I don’t care for keeping a low profile. So, please, fulfill your promise." As a true villain, if Li Jiansan were to be cowed by such a threat, it would be a disgrace to his kind.

"If that is how you wish it, take it if you have the guts." Liu Yan produced a bottle of pills from his robes and tossed it directly at Li Jiansan.

As Li Jiansan caught the bottle, Liu Yan stared at him, his voice icy. "Do you have any idea what the consequences of this will be?"

Li Jiansan replied nonchalantly, "I do not."

"Do you know who I am?"

Li Jiansan remained indifferent. "What does your identity have to do with me?"

Who was Liu Yan? He was the overseer of the top-tier outer sect classes. He held the power to directly influence a disciple’s future; if he so chose, he could ensure they never had a chance to rise. Even now, the onlookers could hardly believe Li Jiansan had provoked Elder Liu Yan. Was he insane? Regardless of Li Jiansan’s current talent, once he had offended an Elder like Liu Yan, no good would come of it.

"Hahaha! A mere newcomer, acting so brazenly before me—I fear you cannot bear the consequences!" Liu Yan’s face turned frosty, his surging killing intent pressing down upon Li Jiansan, his cold eyes locked onto him.

Under this pressure, Li Jiansan stood his ground, entirely unbothered by the murderous aura. "Since you stand there, you must be an Elder of the outer sect. Judging by your arrogance, I assume you are a man of some authority."

Liu Yan sneered, "You guessed correctly. I can dictate your future and fate with a single word. Now that you know who I am..."

Before Liu Yan could finish, Li Jiansan interrupted, "Heh, and since when does my future fall under your jurisdiction? You are nothing but an outer sect Elder; you don't even register in my eyes. Do you know who I am?"

When Li Jiansan uttered these words, he carried himself with immense arrogance, projecting the aura of one who held the world in his palm. The onlookers’ eyes began to dart about, studying him with intense curiosity. To be this brazen before an Elder—could it be that he had some hidden backing? Every sign pointed to a cryptic truth: this brash youth might have a monumental background!

Seeing this, Liu Yan suppressed his fury. The boy dared to openly defy him; he must have a reliance. He reined in his temper and asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"

Before Li Jiansan answered, Liu Yan felt a flicker of apprehension. The boy’s clan was likely not a major power, but given the strength he had displayed, he could well be the disciple of some reclusive master. Liu Yan had not reached his position by being impulsive; he would not strike until he knew the depth of his opponent’s foundation.

"Listen well," Li Jiansan said, looking at Liu Yan with indifference. "Li Jiansan of the Shengjing Gate!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

He had been so arrogant and fearless, daring to confront Liu Yan, and they had assumed he was the disciple of some grand master. It turned out that, after all this, he hailed from a sect they hadn't even heard of! Was he not just playing them for fools?

"This kid is courting death!" Someone finally snapped to their senses. Li Jiansan’s earlier display was not just a farce for them, but a mockery of Liu Yan himself!

Liu Yan’s complexion turned ghastly, his killing intent spilling out without restraint. He had always been the one to toy with disciples—when had a disciple ever dared to toy with him? And a powerless, insignificant newcomer at that!

"A fine, ignorant fool. Your name is Li Jiansan, is it? I will remember you." At this moment, Liu Yan’s face was frozen, the killing intent in his eyes nearly tangible. "You had better keep a low profile in the Azure Dragon Academy from now on, or you won't even know how you died!"

That final sentence was a direct threat.

"Liu Yan, you dare threaten a new disciple in public?" Wu Jiang, sensing the lethal pressure rolling off Liu Yan, shouted out.

In response, a smile suddenly played upon Liu Yan’s lips. He said coolly, "I am not threatening him; I am merely stating facts. After all, accidents are bound to happen in the Lost Forest, are they not?"

Yet, in the gaze Liu Yan cast toward Li Jiansan, a flicker of murder vanished as quickly as it had appeared.