Rebellious Son

"Now, can I teach you a lesson?" With every word Li Tianming spoke, the Bloodfire Dagger carved across Li Zifeng's body.

A trail of blood bloomed, and the pain sent Li Zifeng into a shrieking frenzy, his face deathly pale.

"You run wild outside, born with a father but no one to teach you manners—so I'll show you what rules mean. What's wrong with that?"

"You think just because you're the City Lord's son, you can do whatever you want? That you can treat life like weeds?"

"Little brother, your big brother is telling you: people are born equal. If you go too far in your deeds and words, you'll face retribution. You called me a 'wild dog'—did you ever see this day coming?"

"Today, I'll show you what retribution really means."

"This cut—does it feel good?!"

Six sentences in a row, six cuts in total, landing on his limbs and backside. They didn't strike vitals, but they made Li Zifeng suffer beyond endurance, truly learning what a lesson meant!

Li Zifeng's Greensteel Sword had long since fallen to the ground. His face was utterly pale, and in that short span, his wails shook the heavens. Such desperate screams stunned everyone present.

Because no one expected that even this battle would be a one-sided slaughter! Before Li Tianming, Li Zifeng had absolutely no power to fight back.

This was a crushing defeat!

The youth standing on the battle platform now had shaken every heart present.

Even more terrifying was that, as Li Tianming completely subdued Li Zifeng, a massive bird crashed down from the sky, drenched in blood—it was the Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird!

As the Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird lay on the ground, whimpering and trembling, a little yellow chick landed on top of it, a beakful of feathers in its mouth.

It spat the feathers out and cursed, "You stinking dumb bird, don't you ever bathe? Even your feathers reek! You nearly stunk your daddy to death!"

Such a tiny, adorable creature had beaten a bird dozens of times its size into this state—wasn't that beyond belief? Was this something a first-tier bond beast could do?

People looked at the furious Li Tianming, at his blood-drenched Bloodfire Dagger, then at the arrogant little yellow chick. The entire City Lord's Mansion fell into an unprecedented silence.

The reason for the dead silence was that no one dared to speak now—everyone was watching the City Lord, watching Li Yanfeng's reaction!

Today was supposed to be a day of celebration. The Yanhuang Academy selection was meant to bring Li Yanfeng joy. Who could have predicted something like this would happen?

Li Tianming showing up to cause trouble was bad enough, but the key point was that he had crushed Li Zifeng in a landslide victory.

At this moment, the entire venue was dead silent, broken only by the terrified wails of Li Zifeng and his bond beast.

Though both were Li Yanfeng's sons, the meaning was completely different. Li Zifeng winning and obtaining the Yanhuang Order was a blessing. Li Tianming—the 'laughingstock of Lihuo City'—bursting in to crush Li Zifeng and take the Yanhuang Order was a curse.

So this was like flinging filth right into Li Yanfeng's face. Whether it stank, whether it was a disgrace—only Li Yanfeng himself truly knew.

In truth, Li Tianming was also curious: what was Li Yanfeng's reaction right now? And those who had treated him as a joke for the past three years—what were their reactions?

His most respected mother—if she could be here, if she could see him standing up for himself, would she laugh, or would she cry?

He wanted to bring her, but he feared her body couldn't take it. There were too many people here who had made her feel utterly humiliated.

She hadn't done anything wrong. The wrong lay with this City Lord's Mansion, with this selfish, heartless, cold Li Yanfeng!

This time, Li Tianming was standing up for her, and standing up for himself!

This time, it was to reclaim the dignity he had once lost!

This time, it was to demand the justice that belonged to him!

Wei Jing's dignity had become a joke in a letter of divorce, and Li Tianming's dignity had been lost for three years. Everything they had lost, Li Tianming was going to take back!

When he earned the awe of many, he thought that if his mother saw this scene, she would surely cry—tears of pure release. To have such a moment in life was to have no regrets.

No matter what adversity came next, Li Tianming was ready to fight.

On this day, he was like a mad demon. Though young, he had already shown the first glimmer of divine might. From now on, the history of Lihuo City would absolutely remember this day!

As Li Tianming expected, after he had given Li Zifeng six cuts, Li Yanfeng on the Wind-Listening Tower finally stood up.

"Husband, save Zifeng quickly! Execute this rebellious son!" Lady Mo was already crying in desperation. She wanted to go up herself, but she didn't dare.

Everyone was watching Li Yanfeng. On his day of celebration, something like this happening was truly a slap in the face for a man who valued his pride above all else.

After all, there were many distinguished guests in the Wind-Listening Tower, all watching the show. Though they said nothing in public, they would surely mock this behind closed doors.

Li Tianming could already feel two scorching gazes from the Wind-Listening Platform burning into him.

He released Li Zifeng, who collapsed at his feet, then scrambled up like a wild dog and fled the Wind-Listening Platform in panic, abandoning even the Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird.

His body left a trail of blood across the Wind-Listening Platform, clearly visible from the Wind-Listening Tower's position—so conspicuous.

Li Tianming looked up and met Li Yanfeng's eyes. Their gazes clashed in midair. This was Li Tianming's proudest moment.

Because only this time, their gazes met as equals!

From his eyes alone, he couldn't yet read Li Yanfeng's anger or fury, but he guessed the man couldn't be feeling good inside. This man, no matter the situation, would always force himself to save face.

"Tianming, 'When Heaven is about to place a great burden on a man, it first torments his mind, exhausts his body, starves his flesh, drains his strength, and frustrates his efforts.' Your performance today lives up to those words. Three years of hardship did not break you."

People expected Li Yanfeng to explode, but they underestimated his composure. He praised Li Tianming from this angle, acknowledging his resilience—after all, he was his son, so it wasn't too shameful.

"Thank you for the compliment." Li Tianming stared at this man, having called him 'Father' for nearly twenty years, but today he could no longer utter those two words.

In truth, when he returned from the Flame Capital and told Li Yanfeng about the false accusations against him, and Li Yanfeng responded with silence, he knew—this man didn't dare offend the Thunder Lord Manor and would never stand up for him.

In that moment, Li Tianming was utterly disappointed. He had never imagined his father could be such a person.

Even if he sat high above, ruling Lihuo City, when faced with the behemoth that was the Thunder Lord Manor, he chose silence, chose to abandon Li Tianming, and in doing so, abandoned Li Tianming's mother as well.

A father so selfish is almost unspeakable.

That writ of divorce was the most ruthless act of his life. Li Tianming remembered every single word on it clearly.

Respect each other as honored guests, then stab you in the back?

Li Tianming admitted he was that man's son, but from now on, he wanted nothing to do with him.

A single word of thanks or praise, and they'd be strangers.

"You beat Zifeng. What do you want?" Li Yanfeng wasn't about to have a full-blown confrontation here, so his tone sounded calm, putting on a show of being fair to his children.

But everyone knew he'd already married into the Thunder Lord Manor. Li Tianming and the Thunder Lord Manor had a blood feud. Li Yanfeng had made his choice three years ago. If he didn't kill Li Tianming today, it was only for his damn pride!

On his wedding day, his eldest son beat his youngest, and he executed the eldest—if that got out, wouldn't it be a laughingstock?

"I want the Yanhuang Order, and I want you to send me out of Lihuo City. Just like four years ago, do it once. After that, I won't set foot in Lihuo City for the rest of my life." Li Tianming's voice was loud and firm.

He finally had the right to say those words.

Getting the Yanhuang Order was to return to Yanhuang Academy, to take revenge, to cure his mother.

Having him send him off was for dignity. He'd said it before: he didn't want to leave this place like a stray dog with his mother because of that writ of divorce!

When he said it, everyone was stunned.

"His cultivation regressed after losing his bond beast, so he didn't meet Yanhuang Academy's standards and left on his own. Now he wants to go back?"

"What's he going back for? He's a joke at Yanhuang Academy now. Lin Xiaoting and Mu Qingqing are both geniuses of the Heavenly Court, tens of thousands of times stronger than him. Isn't he afraid of going back to humiliate himself again?"

"But you can tell he doesn't want to stay in Lihuo City anymore, and he's not counting on mending things with the City Lord."

"Right. Wanting the City Lord to send him off is just about leaving with some dignity. From his perspective, that's understandable."

"Understandable? I think he brought it on himself. If he hadn't been so lecherous and harassed Lin Xiaoting's woman, would he have ruined himself? The City Lord lost face because of him too! The City Lord did nothing wrong; he ruined himself! If I had a son like that, I'd be ashamed too!"

Anyway, everyone had the right to their own opinion.

Just wait and see.

Now, everyone was waiting for Li Yanfeng's decision.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then said, "You only got a first-tier bond beast. Your strength all came from training with Jin Yu back then. Your talent ends at the Beast Pulse stage. Even if you beat Zifeng here and get the Yanhuang Order, Yanhuang Academy won't accept you."

What he said was true. A beastmaster with a first-tier bond beast could never break through to the Spirit Source stage.

"That's not your concern. I won the finals, so I should get the Yanhuang Order. I'll handle the rest myself. Since the City Lord has already stripped me of my status, we're done. If I embarrass myself again, it won't reflect on you. That's a win-win for both of us." Li Tianming said.

In truth, for a youth like him to dare speak to Li Yanfeng as an equal took courage worthy of respect.

After all, not many people in all of Lihuo City dared to negotiate with Li Yanfeng like this.

And today was Li Yanfeng's wedding day.

"Looks like Li Tianming is going to get what he wants."

"What he did today is really unbelievable."

"Honestly, he's got some spine."

The mocking and jeering had already died down. Even if he was no longer a part of Lihuo City, the old ridicule would fade a lot.

"Father, the Yanhuang Order is mine! You can't give it to him!" Li Zifeng struggled to his feet, pale and frantic.

"Master, since we've gone this far, why not ignore the gossip and just kill him..." Lady Mo whispered in Li Yanfeng's ear.

"Get lost." Li Yanfeng glanced at her and said one word, sending Lady Mo cowering into a corner.

That scene made it clear to everyone: Li Tianming's performance and demands today were all slaps in Li Yanfeng's face!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, it seemed Li Yanfeng had no choice but to comply.

To push Li Yanfeng to this point, Li Tianming was truly something today. Even if his future was limited, right now he seemed far more imposing and bold than Li Zifeng!

"City Lord, give me the Yanhuang Order, and then send my mother and me out of the city!" Li Tianming narrowed his eyes. This was his fiercest response to that writ of divorce. Those who knew the truth understood what Li Tianming wanted!

"Give me the Yanhuang Order! Send us out of the city!" He emphasized his words. Each syllable struck like a hammer, pounding into everyone's hearts!

This open defiance gave the illusion of unparalleled courage!

But Li Tianming needed it, and his mother needed it even more. She had once married into Lihuo City with more glory than Liu Qing. She absolutely could not bear to leave in disgrace, old and dying!

As a son, making Li Yanfeng see them off was even more important than getting the Yanhuang Order!

As he spoke, he thought of that woman. She was still in the courtyard now, but she must be unable to sleep. She was waiting anxiously, her hands surely gripping the armrests tightly. Maybe she was pacing in the courtyard. She might not say anything, but how could she be willing to be driven out of Lihuo City like this?

Back then, how gloriously she had come here! In her youth, whose brilliance could compare to hers!

So many vows had turned to nothing after she fell ill. Li Yanfeng hid away, married three wives and four concubines to strengthen the family, breaking his promise of lifelong fidelity. No matter how strong such a man was, was he really a man?

All he pursued was face, reputation, power, and strength!

"City Lord, send us out of the city!" Li Tianming said one last time. His burning eyes pierced the air, searing into Li Yanfeng's face.

This was their most intense clash of gazes yet!

Maybe in his eyes, Li Tianming saw the words "unfilial son," but he found it laughable.

Under such pressure, he had beaten Li Zifeng fair and square. By the rules, he deserved the Yanhuang Order!

Just at that moment, Li Yanfeng suddenly smiled.

His smile seemed to perfectly neutralize all of Li Tianming's momentum, sending his passion and courage crashing into the vast ocean, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

He smiled, then beckoned to Liu Qing beside him. Understanding his intent, she came to his side.

Her graceful figure nestled against Li Yanfeng. Every gesture and movement exuded a charm that could outshine the entire city. Such a captivating beauty was an absolute focal point wherever she went, with a lazy, fiery allure that other girls simply couldn't imitate.

"You speak," Li Yanfeng said indifferently.

"Mhm."

Liu Qing smiled softly. Her gaze fell on Li Tianming, her pink lips parting slightly. Her eyes seemed to speak, and with a single blink, infinite charm, like peach blossoms, drifted onto Li Tianming.

"Tianming, young people shouldn't be too impatient," Liu Qing said gently. Her voice was soft and beautiful, not vulgar—she wasn't that kind of flashy woman, but rather elegantly alluring.

"What does Madam mean?" Li Tianming didn't care at all about this young woman who had replaced his mother's position. As someone from Thunder Lord Manor, he could never have any goodwill toward her.

"What I mean is, the Yanhuang Academy selection isn't over yet. There's still one little genius from Lihuo City who hasn't appeared," Liu Qing said with a smile.

These words left the entire audience in confusion and doubt, including Li Tianming.

How could there possibly be someone else?

Could it be Liu Qing herself? Absolutely impossible—she was already well past twenty, and her cultivation level was at least at the Spiritsource Realm.

Then, who could it be?

I have to go out at 12 o'clock, so today's update is early. There will be another update at 20:00 tonight.

The new book period has stable updates. I'm saving some chapters to explode with updates during the ranking push, so more people can see this book. I hope everyone understands.

For this book, let's steady ourselves first, don't get reckless~