Testing His Skills

"Looks like I've run into trouble." Seeing the Lin Family Guards surrounding him, Ye Qiu shook his head helplessly.

"Who are you, and why did you attack a member of my Lin Family?" the lead guard demanded of Ye Qiu. Perhaps because Ye Qiu was richly dressed and seemed to have some background, he did not attack immediately, instead asking first. After all, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Cousin, h-he refused to pay the road toll and even wanted to hit me!" Hearing the Guard Captain ask Ye Qiu about the reason, the counter attendant feared that Ye Qiu would reveal how he had secretly raised the fee, so he hurriedly spoke up first.

"Really?" The Guard Captain turned slightly and asked the attendant. From his tone, it was clear that he did not entirely trust this cousin of his.

"Cousin, it's true! Truer than real gold." Cold sweat was already streaming down the attendant's face, but he still forced himself to hold firm.

"Hey! Are you done talking yet? If you are, hurry up and move aside. I still need to go up the mountain," Ye Qiu said impatiently, telling them to clear the way with obvious disdain.

"Heh, you're already a turtle in a jar, yet you still dare to talk big!" Seeing Ye Qiu provoke everyone himself, the attendant's eyes flashed. He immediately put his hands on his hips and spoke arrogantly.

"Shut up. Sir, may I ask whether our Lin Family has ever had any grievances with you?" The Guard Captain barked at the attendant, then cupped his fists toward Ye Qiu and asked.

"No."

"Then why have you come to cause trouble for my Lin Family?"

"Heh, you think far too highly of your Lin Family. I don't have time to play around with you."

"You!" The Guard Captain was furious. In Black Willow Town, when had anyone ever dared speak to the Lin Family like that? Not to mention that he was the Lin Family's Guard Captain!

"It was only because that old bastard saw that I was a refined man and dared to extort me, raising the fee from one Gold Coin to ten Gold Coins. I merely taught him a small lesson," Ye Qiu said casually as he fiddled with his fingernails.

"What?" The Guard Captain glared at the attendant, his eyes filled with rage. Seeing that his cousin did not dare meet his gaze, he immediately understood what had happened.

"Sir, what happened earlier was indeed our fault. I apologize to you here. But even if my cousin was in the wrong, he is still a member of my Lin Family and should be dealt with by the Lin Family. Since you took action against him privately, shouldn't you give us an explanation?" The Guard Captain had initially wanted to let the matter go, but on second thought, that would damage the Lin Family's reputation. So he spoke to Ye Qiu, thinking that once Ye Qiu apologized, he would let him leave. He wanted to turn a major matter into a minor one and settle it peacefully. In his view, he had already shown Ye Qiu respect, so Ye Qiu should take the offered way out and preserve the Lin Family's dignity. After all, the Lin Family was Black Willow Town's number one power. Who would dare offend them?

But he had clearly misjudged Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu had never been one to suffer losses easily, especially after being angered twice already.

"An explanation? Hahaha! You really do protect your own. It seems the common people were right—you Lin Family are indeed a den of filth, bullying the good and fearing the wicked while occupying the ancient road. It's all true." Ye Qiu laughed loudly.

"You! Men, seize him!" Seeing that the situation had changed and could likely no longer be resolved peacefully, the Guard Captain directly gave the order.

"Kill!" Everyone immediately raised their weapons and charged at Ye Qiu in the center.

"A bunch of worthless trash. Gravity Manipulation!!!" Ye Qiu spread his arms, and the ground instantly cracked apart. Streams Of broken earth and stone rose into the air, merging together until they formed an Earth Dragon fifteen or sixteen meters long and thicker than a century-old tree. It appeared and swept toward the guards around him.

"Th-this is... a dragon! Save us!" How had the guards ever seen anything like this? They scattered in panic, clutching their heads as they fled.

"Five Star Dou Shi!" The Guard Captain was utterly astonished. How was that possible? This kid looked no older than fifteen or sixteen—how could he have reached the Dou Shi realm? It was unbelievable!

"Yellow Rank High-Grade Dou Technique—Valley Mountain Shield!" Astonished as he was, preserving his life came first. The Guard Captain immediately unleashed his Dou Technique. An Aura instantly appeared around him, enveloping his body. When the Earth Dragon slammed into the Aura, waves of light and gusts of pressure burst forth. Ye Qiu had not intended to kill, so the surrounding guards were merely sent flying by the Earth Dragon or the wind pressure. Only the Guard Captain remained standing where he was beneath the Aura's protection. Even so, he was drenched in sweat, and his hands trembled. It seemed he could not hold on much longer.

"Oh, a One Star Dou Shi. Interesting, but that's all." Ye Qiu waved his hand again. The Earth Dragon shattered the Aura, then suddenly dispersed just as it was about to strike the Guard Captain. The Guard Captain fell to his knees in fright, his legs shaking uncontrollably. He felt immensely relieved. When he raised his head, he discovered that Ye Qiu was already walking toward the ancient road.

"Remember not to look down on people with dog eyes in the future, or think too highly of yourselves. Be humble," Ye Qiu's words rang beside everyone's ears.

"Cousin, are you alright?" The attendant ran over and helped the Guard Captain up. The moment Ye Qiu used Gravity Manipulation to create the Earth Dragon, he had been so frightened that he hid away. Every one of the guards had suffered injuries of varying severity, yet he alone had not lost a single hair. Of course, he had been scared half to death.

"Get lost! Don't let me see you again!" The Guard Captain slowly rose to his feet, though his legs still would not stop trembling. He raised his hand and slapped the attendant hard across the face.

"Cousin..."

"Get lost! If you don't, I'll send you to the grave with one kick! Get lost! Get lost! Get lost!"