Liu Qianyang

The conversation between Li Yanfeng and his wife left not only Li Tianming confused, but most of the people present were equally baffled.

Even Madam Mo and Li Zifeng were in the dark—neither mother nor son had known that anyone else would be participating in the Yanhuang Academy selection!

Everyone in Lihuo City knew exactly how many competitors there were within its bounds. They could trace each person's background back generations.

Li Yanfeng's gaze toward Li Tianming had grown noticeably colder.

But when he turned around, a natural smile of an elder toward a junior appeared on his face, his eyes brimming with appreciation and affection.

"Qianyang, though you've come from afar, now that I'm married to your sister, you count as a member of Lihuo City."

His eyes locked onto a youth of about fifteen or sixteen seated among the crowd, who instantly became the center of attention.

"Most of the young people in Lihuo City are frogs at the bottom of a well, unaware of what true genius looks like. You're young, but your seniority is higher, so go down and show them, let these frogs see the real deal." Li Yanfeng said with a smile.

"Qianyang, hurry up." Liu Qing tugged at Li Yanfeng's arm, urging him.

The crowd finally understood!

This youth named Liu Qianyang was Liu Qing's younger brother, naturally hailing from Thunder Lord Manor!

"The lady's younger brother can be considered part of Lihuo City, right? Does the City Lord mean to have the lady's brother compete for the Yanhuang Order? Was this a last-minute decision, or was it planned all along..."

Many felt a chill of realization, because such an arrangement didn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment idea.

It likely meant that Li Yanfeng had never intended to give the Yanhuang Order to his second son, Li Zifeng, today. No wonder he had named an heir without following through.

Two sons competing, yet the Yanhuang Order was prepared for the new wife's younger brother?

Faced with such a truth, most dared not speak or ask. So the entire venue fell into a dead silence, all eyes fixed on the youth from Thunder Lord Manor as he stood up in the Wind-Listening Tower.

When the youth came into view, just one glance told everyone present that compared to Lihuo City's geniuses, this young man was the true dragon among men!

He looked even younger than Li Zifeng, with very fair skin and features similar to Liu Qing's—naturally handsome and bright, especially his crystalline, sparkling eyes like gems.

But what drew the most attention was his aura, an innate aristocratic bearing that only a powerhouse like Thunder Lord Manor could cultivate!

Compared to him, the arrogant and noisy Li Zifeng immediately fell short. This youth named Liu Qianyang directly showcased what noble bearing from a great family looked like—an unattainable air.

As people watched the youth step forward, their eyes filled with admiration. A figure like this was enough to make them forget Lihuo City's young talents.

"Qianyang, if you want the Yanhuang Order, you'll have to earn it yourself." Liu Qing straightened his clothes and said gently.

"Alright, sister. Thank you, brother-in-law." The youth spoke with poise, appearing well-behaved and polite—but anyone who took that for weakness would be gravely mistaken.

Everyone present understood what Liu Qianyang's appearance meant.

The old ginger is spiciest. Li Tianming had thought that defeating Li Zifeng would secure the Yanhuang Order and reclaim his dignity from Li Yanfeng, but he hadn't anticipated Liu Qianyang's existence, nor had he guessed who Li Yanfeng truly intended to give the Yanhuang Order to today!

Watching the appreciation and affection in Li Yanfeng's eyes as he looked at Liu Qianyang, people knew he had made this decision long ago. He had never looked at either of his own sons with such admiration.

To be honest, Li Tianming felt he had underestimated Li Yanfeng's shamelessness.

This man, truly something else.

More importantly, as he looked at Liu Qianyang's handsome, almost girlish face, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Three years ago, the monstrous genius of Thunder Lord Manor, Lin Xiaoting, had many followers, some as young as eleven or twelve. Though the person before him had grown, Li Tianming could roughly recall what he looked like three years ago.

That's right—Li Tianming had seen Liu Qianyang three years ago!

"Li Tianming, three years ago, when Brother Xiaoting executed your lifebound beast, I was there watching."

After receiving permission, Liu Qianyang leaped down from the Wind-Listening Tower under the gaze of the crowd, his crystalline eyes locking directly onto Li Tianming.

So it was him!

In that moment of despair, Li Tianming had remembered everyone from Thunder Lord Manor, every single enemy, including this child.

Of course, today he was no longer a child.

"The Yanhuang Order was practically yours, but unfortunately, it's too hard to get one in the competitive environment of Yandu, so I took a shortcut—entering Yanhuang Academy under Lihuo City's identity." Liu Qianyang landed on the Wind-Listening Platform, explaining why he was here today.

His brother-in-law was now the City Lord of Lihuo City, so of course he could use that identity to claim the Yanhuang Order!

From his words alone, it was clear that Li Zifeng was also a joke today. At best, he could only get the position of heir; the Yanhuang Order was out of the question.

This genius from Thunder Lord Manor was yet another insurmountable peak for Li Zifeng.

"You're trying to make a comeback today, and your performance wasn't bad, but unfortunately, it's just a dying flash. Brother Xiaoting didn't kill you because he wanted to watch you struggle with hope, but without letting that hope shatter—that's the fun part, isn't it?" A faint smile curled at the corner of Liu Qianyang's mouth.

He wasn't a good boy at all. Every word he spoke was a suppression aimed at Li Tianming.

Li Tianming wanted to return to Yanhuang Academy precisely to find these geniuses from Thunder Lord Manor, and now one of the younger ones had come from Thunder Lord Manor to Lihuo City.

"It's certainly interesting. I enjoy this game of defying fate, only for you to burst my bubble in the end. Satisfying, right?" Li Tianming wouldn't lose his reason over this hatred. The best moment for revenge was when he would truly strike.

"Your self-deprecation isn't bad. I won't waste time either. Let me show you how much I've improved in these three years!"

As Liu Qianyang spoke, he summoned his lifebound beast. In a city where flying beasts were revered, a lightning-wreathed leopard suddenly appeared on this land!

It was a massive, agile leopard with sharp claws and fangs, lightning surging across its body. Its violent and overwhelming Sha Qi dominated the scene, intimidating many onlookers.

This was a fifth-rank lifebound beast—the Lightning Leopard, a "thunder-type beast-class" lifebound beast!

The Lightning Leopard's lethality was, frankly, a bit stronger than Li Tianming's former Four-Winged Golden-Winged Roc. To be called a genius in Thunder Lord Manor, one's lifebound beast had to start at fifth-rank.

"I'm fifteen, already at the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm, just one step away from the Spirit Source Realm. So, you, struggling in your dying moments, want me to hand you a crushing defeat right now?" Liu Qianyang asked with a smile.

Hidden within his smile was the pride of his family and bloodline, and of course, confidence in his own strength.

The fourth level of the Beast Pulse Realm, against the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm? No one in their right mind would attempt such a fantasy. It wasn't bravery; it was stupidity. From his opponent's aura, Li Tianming knew that once they fought, it would be a complete rout. He had beaten Li Zifeng because of the fire-attribute advantage, but this opponent wielded lightning and thunder. Not only Li Tianming himself, but even the still-weak Little Yellow Chick might end up as a snack for that Lightning Leopard.

"If you don't speak, then try it!" Liu Qianyang pushed out a palm, stirring wind and clouds. The power of that palm, unleashed by the ninth-level Beast Pulse Realm's beast ki, erupted with thunder and lightning. A fierce storm swept across the Wind-Listening Platform, and an oppressive aura pressed down directly. It was a suffocating strike!

Li Tianming judged instantly that he couldn't withstand an attack of this level. Facing this genius from Thunder Lord Manor, he, who had just started cultivating anew, still needed plenty of time. His mind was clear; what he needed most now was calm! If he lost his reason and charged in like a fool, and died in battle, what would happen to his mother? She was still waiting for him to return. Golden Feather was already dead. He had just gained a new companion beast, and he rather liked this Little Yellow Chick. He didn't want to see it meet the same fate as Golden Feather because of reckless impulse.

Under the suppression of that mighty palm, Li Tianming was forced back off the Wind-Listening Platform. A violent wave of air swept outward, and an endless storm pressed down on him again, driving him back thirty paces! The gap was too great! Crushed under the weight of a five-realm difference, all Li Tianming could do was steady himself within the storm! Fire burned in his heart, but he didn't lose his reason. Three years of endurance and hardship had taught him the art of true hunting. A powerful hunter never confronts a beast head-on when it's at its strongest, but strikes the fatal blow at the perfect moment!

Today's outcome couldn't be changed, and his ultimate goal hadn't been achieved. But for Li Tianming, at least he had proven himself, and at least he had made Li Yanfeng lose face at some point. The dignity he sought had already returned in part; all that remained was for Li Yanfeng to escort him out of the city.

When he landed, he looked up. Liu Qianyang sat atop the Lightning Leopard, looking down at him, and said flatly, "You really are finished. Your beast ki is at most at the sixth level of the Beast Pulse Realm now. A first-tier companion beast—this is your life from now on." "Li Tianming, if this is all you amount to, you're not worthy of being my opponent. I can't be bothered to fight you. Just get lost."

Seeing Li Tianming suppressed by Liu Qianyang, the crowd could only shake their heads. The gap between Lihuo City and Thunder Lord Manor was simply too vast, one that neither Li Tianming nor Li Zifeng could bridge. This Liu Qianyang was even younger than Li Zifeng, yet he was two whole realms above him! No matter how stunning Li Tianming's comeback today had been, he had to bow his head before this man!

"I can leave, but I want to ask you a question." The crowd expected Li Tianming to be dejected, to be devastated by his failure to obtain the Yanhuang Order and the dignity he sought. But to their surprise, he was perfectly calm. No one could see the fierce, cold forbearance hidden in his eyes as he looked at Liu Qianyang. He would remember that crushing palm strike.

"Go ahead and ask," Liu Qianyang said. His Lightning Leopard was growing impatient, letting out a low, rumbling growl that shook the soul.

"When are you leaving Lihuo City?" Li Tianming raised his head. Li Yanfeng couldn't intimidate him, let alone this Liu Qianyang.

"A month, I suppose," Liu Qianyang said after a moment's thought. His sister was getting married, and he had obtained the Yanhuang Order, but there was no need to stay that long, was there? That timeframe felt sufficient to Li Tianming.

"Good. One month from now, right here, I'm going to beat you. If you lose, you give me the Yanhuang Order. Do you dare take that bet?" Li Tianming's words made everyone's eyes go wide. He had already admitted defeat. His opponent was a prodigy who could only grow stronger in a month, while Li Tianming was merely scraping by with a first-tier companion beast. What right did he have to say such a thing? As if he could make rapid progress in that time.

Liu Qianyang laughed. "Don't dream of defying fate. That's just wishful thinking. Honestly, I could agree, but the problem is you're not qualified."

"Just say whether you accept or not," Li Tianming said.

"Fine, it's a small matter. Find your chance yourself. I'm not going to make a big show of waiting for you here. In this month, if you run into me, feel free to make your move. If you win, the Yanhuang Order is yours. But once we fight, I won't bother with you anymore. That little chick of yours? I'll feed it to my Flash Shadow as a snack." With that, he had no further interest in talking to Li Tianming.

But this was exactly the answer Li Tianming wanted—a public commitment from him. He had to preserve his chance to obtain the Yanhuang Order. Only then could he go to the Yanhuang Academy, only then could he make Li Yanfeng escort them out of the city! As for today's upheaval, Li Yanfeng's schemes had merely delayed the timeline.

The truly pitiable one was Li Zifeng. Not only had he been defeated by Li Tianming, but he had also truly lost his chance at the Yanhuang Order. Now he stared blankly at Liu Qianyang. The bitterness Li Tianming had felt when his father abandoned him—Li Zifeng was now tasting it himself. Indeed, one shouldn't get too cocky.

"He wants to challenge Liu Qianyang in a month and win back the Yanhuang Order?"

"Do you think it's possible? The city lord already said he's living off his past cultivation and will be stuck at the Beast Pulse Realm for life."

"Then why is he still acting so arrogant, making me think he could actually challenge this genius from Thunder Lord Manor?"

"You don't get it. He has to talk big to save face, or else crawl out like a dog, right?"

They laughed. All the pitying gazes returned to Li Tianming. In the end, he was still a pitiful wretch, a joke who dreamed of defying fate. No wonder Liu Qianyang looked down on him.

Only Li Tianming himself knew whether he was just talking big. He took one last look at Li Yanfeng. On top of the Wind-Listening Tower, that man held a young beauty in his arms, chatting and laughing, completely at ease. All the embarrassment Li Tianming had caused him today had been effortlessly erased by Liu Qianyang's appearance.

But was it over like this?

"Perhaps the real show is yet to come!"

Besides, did it need to be a month?

Under the gaze of the crowd, Li Tianming turned and left.

He could rise again once, and he could do it twice, three times...

Until that day, when he held the Yanhuang Order and, seeing Li Yanfeng see him off, left Lihuo City to embark on the path of vengeance!

When that day came, he wanted to see if Li Yanfeng could still brush off his attacks as lightly as he had today!

When that day came, he wanted to see if Liu Qianyang could still look down on him with cold, proud mockery as he did today!

When that day came, he wanted to see if the high-level experts and prodigies of Lihuo City could still treat him like a stray dog, just as they had for the past three years!