Liu Qianyang

Li Yanfeng and his wife's conversation had not only left Li Tianming puzzled; most of those present wore equally bewildered expressions.

Even Lady Mo and Li Zifeng had not known that someone else would be joining the Yanhuang Academy Selection!

They knew exactly how many competitors there were within Lihuo City. They could dig up every person's background, all the way back through generations of ancestors.

Li Yanfeng's gaze toward Li Tianming grew much colder.

But when he turned back, a smile of an elder toward a junior naturally appeared on his face, his eyes revealing appreciation and fondness.

"Qianyang, though you have come from afar, after I married your sister, you count as a person of Lihuo City."

His gaze settled on a boy of about fifteen or sixteen among the seats. In an instant, that youth became the focus of the entire gathering.

"Most of Lihuo City's younger generation are frogs at the bottom of a well, unaware of what blessings true geniuses possess. Though you are young, your seniority is rather high. Go down and show them, let those frogs at the bottom of a well broaden their horizons," Li Yanfeng said with a smile.

"Qianyang, hurry and go," Liu Qing urged, looping her arm through Li Yanfeng's.

At last, everyone understood!

This youth named Liu Qianyang was Liu Qing's younger brother, which naturally meant that he, too, came from Thunder Lord Manor!

"Madam's younger brother can count as someone from Lihuo City, right? Does the City Lord mean to let Madam's brother compete for the Yanhuang Order? Was this a sudden decision, or had it been arranged long ago...?"

The more many people thought about it, the more terrified they became, because this arrangement clearly did not seem spontaneous.

It likely meant that Li Yanfeng had never planned to give the Yanhuang Order to his second son, Li Zifeng. No wonder he had named an heir yet offered no further word.

His two sons were competing, yet the Yanhuang Order had been prepared for his new wife's younger brother?

Most people did not dare say such a truth aloud, nor did they dare ask. Thus, the entire venue fell into silent stillness as everyone watched the youth from Thunder Lord Manor rise in Wind-Listening Tower.

When the youth entered everyone's sight, they could tell at a single glance that, compared to Lihuo City's geniuses, this boy was the true dragon and phoenix among men!

He looked even younger than Li Zifeng. His skin was very fair, and he resembled Liu Qing, naturally handsome and bright. Especially his eyes—they gleamed like crystalline jewels.

Yet what drew the most attention was his bearing: an inborn nobility. Only a colossal power like Thunder Lord Manor could raise such a genius!

Compared to him, the arrogant and noisy Li Zifeng immediately seemed inferior. This youth named Liu Qianyang directly displayed the lofty air of a great lineage's descendant, a feeling that he stood beyond reach.

As people watched the youth walk out, their eyes brimmed with admiration. Someone like him truly was enough to make them forget Lihuo City's younger generation.

"Qianyang, if you want the Yanhuang Order, go fight for it yourself," Liu Qing said gently as she straightened his clothes.

"Alright, Sister. Thank you, Brother-in-law." The youth spoke properly and seemed obedient and polite, but anyone who took that as weakness would be gravely mistaken.

Everyone present understood what Liu Qianyang's appearance signified.

Old ginger was still the spiciest. Li Tianming had thought defeating Li Zifeng would win him the Yanhuang Order and let him reclaim his dignity from Li Yanfeng, but he had not anticipated Liu Qianyang's existence, much less guessed whom Li Yanfeng had intended to give the Yanhuang Order to today!

Watching the appreciation and fondness in Li Yanfeng's eyes as he looked at Liu Qianyang, everyone knew he had made this decision long ago. He seemed never to have admired either of his sons this much.

Honestly, Li Tianming felt that he had still underestimated just how shameless Li Yanfeng was.

This man really was something else.

More importantly, as he looked at Liu Qianyang's handsome face, pretty enough to be a girl's, he felt an odd sense of familiarity.

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

That was right. Li Tianming had seen Liu Qianyang three years ago!

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

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

It really was him!

At that despairing moment, Li Tianming had remembered every person from Thunder Lord Manor, every enemy, including this child.

Of course, he was no longer a child today.

"The Yanhuang Order was nearly yours, but what a pity. Obtaining a Yanhuang Order in a competitive place like the Flame Capital is too difficult, so I took a shortcut and entered Yanhuang Academy under Lihuo City's name." Liu Qianyang landed on Wind-Listening Platform and revealed why he had appeared here today.

His current brother-in-law was Lihuo City's City Lord, so naturally he could obtain the Yanhuang Order using that identity!

One could hear from those words alone that Li Zifeng was also a joke today. At most, he could receive the position of heir; he need not even dream of the Yanhuang Order.

This genius from Thunder Lord Manor was likewise a towering peak Li Zifeng could never cross.

"You do seem to be making a comeback today, and your performance was not bad, but it is only the last flicker of a dying flame. Brother Xiaoting did not kill you because he wanted to watch you struggle at death's door with hope in your heart, yet never let that hope be destroyed. That is what makes it interesting, isn't it?" Liu Qianyang's lips curved into a faint smile.

He was no obedient little darling. Every word he said was suppression aimed at Li Tianming.

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

"It is indeed quite interesting. I enjoy playing this game of defying fate and changing destiny, then letting you break my bubble in the end. Feels great, doesn't it?" Li Tianming would not lose his reason over this hatred. The best time for revenge was when he would truly erupt.

"Your spirit of self-mockery is not bad. I will not waste time either. Let me show you how much I have improved in these three years!"

As Liu Qianyang spoke, he summoned his companion beast. Lihuo City revered flying beasts, yet on this land, a lightning-wreathed leopard abruptly appeared!

It was an enormous, agile hunting leopard with sharp claws and fangs. Lightning surged across its body, and the wild, vast, ferocious Killing Intent it released the moment it appeared stunned many people.

This was a Fifth-Order Companion Beast—the Lightning Leopard, a lightning-element beast-type companion beast!

The Lightning Leopard's destructive power was somewhat stronger than Li Tianming's former Four-Winged Golden-Winged Roc. In truth, anyone who could be called a genius in Thunder Lord Manor began with at least a Fifth-Order Companion Beast.

"I am fifteen years old and already at the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm, only one step from the Spirit Source Realm. So today, should I personally send you, in your death throes, to a crushing defeat?" Liu Qianyang asked with a smile.

Hidden within that smile was pride from his lineage and bloodline, as well as confidence in his own strength.

The Fourth Beast Vein Realm against the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm?

No sane person would do something so fantastical. This was not bravery, but stupidity. From the other's aura alone, Li Tianming knew that if they fought, it would be a complete crushing.

His ability to defeat Li Zifeng had been related to Li Zifeng's fire attribute. But this person before him wielded lightning and thunder. Let alone Li Tianming himself, even Little Yellow Chick, which was not yet strong, might be swallowed in a single bite by that Lightning Leopard.

"If you will not speak, then try this!" Liu Qianyang thrust out his palm. With one palm, the winds and clouds churned. Beast Essence from the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm erupted from the strike, and in an instant lightning flashed and thunder roared. A savage storm rose across Wind-Listening Platform as a terrifying force bore down upon him.

It was a palm strike that made people suffocate!

Li Tianming could tell at once that he could not withstand an attack of this level. Against this genius from Thunder Lord Manor, he, who had only just begun cultivating again, truly still needed a great deal of time. Li Tianming's mind was clear—what he needed most now was calm!

If he lost his mind and charged forward like a fool, what would happen to his mother if he died in battle?

She was still waiting for him to return. Jin Yu was already dead. He had only just gained a new companion beast, and he rather liked Little Yellow Chick. He did not want it to follow in Jin Yu's footsteps because of a mindless impulse.

Suppressed by that mighty palm strike, Li Tianming was directly forced off Wind-Listening Platform. Violent airwaves swept outward, and the endless storm crushed down on him again, forcing him back thirty paces!

The gap was far too great!

Under the suppression of a five-level difference, all Li Tianming could do was stand firm within the storm!

Fire burned through his heart, but he did not lose his reason. Three years of endurance and sleeping on brushwood while tasting gall had taught him the true meaning of hunting.

A powerful hunter never confronted a savage beast head-on when it was at its strongest, but launched a fatal strike at the perfect moment!

Today's ending could not be changed, and his final goal had not been achieved, but for Li Tianming, he had at least proven himself. At least, he had made Li Yanfeng lose face for a moment.

Much of the dignity he wanted had actually already returned. All that remained was for Li Yanfeng to send him out of the city.

When he landed, he looked up and saw Liu Qianyang seated atop the Lightning Leopard, looking down at him as he said lightly, "You are still crippled after all. Your Beast Essence can presently retain, at most, the level of the sixth level of the Beast Pulse Realm. With a First-Order Companion Beast, this is all you will ever amount to."

"Li Tianming, if this is all you have, you are not qualified to be my opponent. I cannot be bothered to fight you. Just get lost."

Seeing Li Tianming suppressed by Liu Qianyang, everyone could only shake their heads. The gap between Lihuo City and Thunder Lord Manor was simply too vast, something neither Li Tianming nor Li Zifeng could make up for.

Liu Qianyang was younger than Li Zifeng, yet he was two levels above him!

No matter how dazzling Li Tianming's comeback performance had been today, he still had to lower his head before this person!

"I can leave, but I want to ask you a question." Everyone had thought Li Tianming would be dejected. Unable to obtain the Yanhuang Order or the dignity he sought, they thought he would be heartbroken, yet Li Tianming remained so calm.

No one could see that his gaze toward Liu Qianyang was filled with restrained ferocity and coldness. He would never forget the suppression of that palm strike.

"Ask." Liu Qianyang said. His Lightning Leopard was growing somewhat impatient and let out a low roar, deep and heavy enough to shake one's soul.

"When are you leaving Lihuo City?" Li Tianming raised his head. Even Li Yanfeng could not frighten him, much less Liu Qianyang.

"In a month, I suppose." Liu Qianyang thought for a moment.

His sister was married, and he had obtained the Yanhuang Order, but there was no need to remain for so long, was there? To Li Tianming, that amount of time felt sufficient.

"Very well. One month from now, right here, I will beat you. If you lose, give me the Yanhuang Order. Do you dare accept this wager?" Li Tianming's words made everyone's eyes widen.

He had already conceded defeat. His opponent was exceptionally gifted and could grow even stronger in a month, while Li Tianming was merely lingering on with a First-Order Companion Beast. What right did he have to say such a thing?

He made it sound as though he could improve at lightning speed over the next month.

Liu Qianyang laughed.

"Stop dreaming about defying fate and changing destiny. You can only indulge in fantasy. I would have no problem agreeing, but the key is that you are not qualified."

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

"Sure, it is a small matter. Find your own opportunity. I cannot possibly make a grand fuss and wait here for you just to answer your challenge. During this month, if you happen to encounter me, you may attack whenever you wish. If you win, the Yanhuang Order is yours. But once we fight, I cannot be bothered to keep tangling with you. I will feed your little chick to my Flash Shadow as a snack." After saying that, he had no interest in speaking further with Li Tianming.

But that was the answer Li Tianming wanted—to make him promise it before everyone.

He had to preserve his chance of obtaining the Yanhuang Order. Only then could he enter Yanhuang Academy, and only then could he make Li Yanfeng send them out of the city!

As for today's turn of events and Li Yanfeng's methods, they had merely delayed matters.

The truly pitiful 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 feeling of being abandoned by one's father, which Li Tianming had suffered before, he should be feeling now. Indeed, one should not become too pleased with oneself.

"He wants to challenge Liu Qianyang within a month and seize back the Yanhuang Order?"

"Do you think that is possible? The City Lord already said that he is relying on his former cultivation, and he will be stuck at the Beast Pulse Realm for life."

"Then why is he still acting so arrogantly? He almost made me think he could truly challenge this genius from Thunder Lord Manor."

"You do not understand. He has to leave behind some harsh words before departing. Otherwise, should he crawl out like a dog?"

They laughed, and all those pitying gazes returned to Li Tianming.

In the end, he was still a pitiful man, a joke dreaming of defying fate and changing destiny. No wonder Liu Qianyang did not respect him at all.

Only Li Tianming himself knew whether he was merely making harsh threats.

He gave Li Yanfeng one final look. Above Wind-Listening Tower, that man held a young beauty in his arms as the two chatted and laughed, utterly relaxed.

All the embarrassment Li Tianming had caused him today had been effortlessly dissolved by Liu Qianyang's appearance.

But would it end like this?

"Perhaps the real show is still to come!"

And besides, did he really need a month?

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

If he could make a comeback once, then he could do it twice, three times...

Until the day he held the Yanhuang Order and left Lihuo City under Li Yanfeng's respectful escort, setting foot upon the road of revenge!

Then, he wanted to see whether Li Yanfeng could still calmly and lightly defuse his attacks as he had today!

Then, he wanted to see whether Liu Qianyang could still look down upon him as he had today, mocking him with cold arrogance!

Then, he wanted to see whether Lihuo City's powerful elders and geniuses could still regard him as a homeless dog, as they had for the past three years!