Capital City Storms — Humiliation (2)

Purple waves of qi began to rise from Li Tianxiang's body, and a King's Aura surged outward in all directions. Yes, a King's Aura.

Li Tianxiang was immensely proud. What he cultivated was the number one martial art under heaven—the Imperial Purple Qi Art, created by his ancestor. Whenever he thought of that ancestor, Li Tianxiang's heart filled with endless reverence.

Watching the changes taking place around Li Tianxiang, I was somewhat shocked. This martial art was definitely the most formidable one I had ever seen. For a Sixth Rank martial artist to project true qi outward, something only Innate Masters could achieve, was beyond merely impressive.

Most astonishing of all was the King's Aura radiating from him. Others might have thought Li Tianxiang himself possessed such an aura, but in my eyes, it was merely a product of his martial art. Yes, this martial art could give a person a King's Aura. On that point alone, this technique was absolutely unprecedented and unmatched. I dared say that if the person who had created this peerless martial art had been in the Cultivation World, he would certainly have been a supreme expert.

Watching this scene, which they found impossible to believe, the onlookers at the side were all a little dumbstruck.

They both looked like children barely ten years old! Yet they could produce the kind of imposing presence only experts could possess. (Zhang Xingfeng had trained his body since childhood, and after being tempered by the Demon Subduing Vajra Art, he was much taller and stronger than children his age.) It was truly astonishing. No, it was no longer merely astonishing—it was shocking. Greed even gleamed in the eyes of those below the stage.

They had reached the level of projecting their aura at just ten years old—the realm of Innate Masters. How could talent alone possibly be enough? Naturally, they must possess some peerless secret manual as well. If they themselves had such a manual...

But they also knew that this young master was the eldest son of the greatest family under heaven, the future head of his family. How could insignificant people like them possibly afford to offend him?

Yet in the eyes of the instructor who had arranged this match, everything before him was difficult to believe. Young Master Li had only just sent someone to tell him to arrange this class in such a manner. He had thought the eldest young master of the Li Family wanted to teach someone a lesson. In his eyes, the Li Family was an enormous patron. If he could build a good relationship with them, his entire family's life would change greatly in the future. Since Young Master Li had given an order, he naturally could not refuse. He had been eagerly awaiting the sight of whatever blind fool had dared offend Young Master Li and the outcome that awaited him.

But when he saw the scene before him, he was somewhat stunned.

He knew of the Li Family's peerless martial art, so Li Tianxiang's display did not surprise him. What shocked him was the other boy. He was simply too terrifying.

He knew Li Tianxiang's kingly presence would affect others when they used martial arts. Yet he discovered that the boy seemed completely unaffected, still so relaxed and at ease. His face still bore that faint smile, like a spring breeze and gentle rain. Did he not know martial arts? But if he did not know martial arts, how could he withstand Li Tianxiang's aura? Could it be...

He no longer dared to think further. Nor did he dare believe that such a little child could have reached that realm.

Li Tianxiang was deeply shocked. He could not believe this fellow was so much stronger than him. In his ancestor's eyes, he was the only person in a thousand years who could surpass Xiang Yu the Hegemon-King of Chu! No, no one could surpass Li Tianxiang. As anger flared in his heart, he had already forgotten his ancestor's teaching: no matter when, remain calm. Only calmness was the sole shortcut to victory!

But Li Tianxiang was still only a child. Though his ancestor had personally taught him and he had become extremely formidable after ten years, how could he not be enraged when he discovered that a boy even younger than him was stronger than he was? Especially when that child seemed intent on taking his future wife from him.

A purple gleam flashed in Li Tianxiang's eyes, and his body shot toward Zhang Xingfeng like an arrow. All his fury was contained in that punch as his purple right fist drove straight for Zhang Xingfeng's face, the fist wrapped in a faint purple cloud of qi.

Seeing him attack, I found his methods worthless in my eyes. But I could not defeat him too easily either—that would provoke him. My grand plan would be affected because of it. I had to strike the right balance in dealing with him. I could not hurt him, nor could I make him look too bad. But in front of Rou, I could not appear too weak either!

I too leaped forward, slashing sideways with my right palm. A faint white glow shone from my hand. The white true qi I used was merely formed by instantly absorbing and converting the spiritual energy outside. With my current absorption ability after cultivating the Demon Subduing Vajra Art, I could convert Innate True Qi enough to continuously sustain the expenditure of Sword Light.

Fist and palm met in midair with a bang, throwing the surrounding air into chaos. At the instant we clashed, I was surprised to discover that Li Tianxiang's cultivation was not particularly high, so I had used too much internal energy in my hand. Seeing his slightly flushed face, I did not want to injure him. If that happened, the consequences would be difficult to predict.

Just as I withdrew part of my internal energy, preparing to let him off, this fellow's power suddenly tripled in an instant, and he actually suppressed me for a moment. But with my current level, coupled with my somewhat accomplished Vajra Body, even if I stood there and let him hit me, he could not hurt me.

I immediately added a little more internal energy and matched him evenly, maintaining a deadlock. I had shown mercy, but some people did not appreciate it.

When Li Tianxiang saw that Zhang Xingfeng had not been injured or forced back in the slightest by his sudden offensive, he was greatly startled. His ancestor's voice echoed in his heart:

"Tianxiang, you must know that this method of instantly tripling your power is dangerous. It can only be maintained for one minute, otherwise it will cause great harm to your body. But one minute is enough. If, after you use this move, your opponent takes quite a while to recover, then give up. But if you encounter an opponent who is barely affected at all, immediately stop fighting him, and never provoke him. He can kill you in an instant. Remember this, remember it well!"

Could he kill me in an instant? How was that possible! He was only a child, and even younger than me! How could this be? What once-in-a-thousand-years genius—those were all lies. Fine, Zhang Xingfeng. If I cannot defeat you through martial arts, then do not blame me for using this final move!

All these thoughts passed through Li Tianxiang's mind in an instant.

In the eyes of the surrounding crowd, the eldest young master of the greatest family under heaven had exchanged blows with another boy. Neither seemed to have gained the upper hand, and without any fierce battle taking place, they had both retreated to the side.

Li Tianxiang said loudly, "Zhang Xingfeng, Young Master Zhang, I truly admire you. I never expected your martial arts to be so formidable. Being able to exchange blows with Young Master Zhang is truly something worth celebrating!"

I smiled faintly. "Young Master Li's martial arts are truly formidable. I willingly admit defeat."

Seeing this, those below the stage secretly thought to themselves: Young Master Li truly puts on no airs. What bearing he has!

"I know who that boy is! He's the Third Young Master Zhang who was driven out of the Zhang Family. No, that's wrong—he isn't Third Young Master Zhang anymore. He should be called a stray nobody wants. Yes, a stray! Hahaha..."

A thoroughly irritating voice rang out around us. Yes, thoroughly irritating. At that moment, what I most wanted to do was see who exactly was humiliating me like this.

"That's right, well said! You stray, you unwanted stray—what right do you have to enter the National Martial Academy, a place only people of status can attend? Are you worthy? Hahaha, crawl back to your den!" Another irritating voice rang out.

"Crawl back to your den! This isn't a place someone like you can come to! Ah! Put me down! What right do you have to grab me? Do you know who I am? Are you tired of living?"

Brother Lang Feng and the others threw the two fellows onto the grass, appearing before everyone.

"You servants of those strays, what right do you have to lay hands on our fellow students here? You are merely servants—are you worthy? Why aren't you kneeling and apologizing to these young masters?" A pale-faced, scholarly-looking fellow dressed in brocade pointed arrogantly at Brother Lang Feng and the others, shouting loudly. As he shouted, saliva sprayed from his mouth onto them.

Brother Lang Feng and the others were furious. They truly wanted to rush over and teach these fellows a proper lesson. But they also knew that the actions of the four of them had already displeased many students. Everyone here was either wealthy or noble—how could they endure such humiliation from others, people of such status being thrown onto the ground? And those who had acted were merely the servants of a stray abandoned by the Zhang Family. They were only servants, yet they dared act like this.

Anger was written across the faces of everyone around them.

"You lowly servants, what gives you the right to be so arrogant?" Another fellow stepped forward and shouted at Lang Feng and the others.

I frowned, and anger rose within me. You people can insult me all you like, but treating my elder brother this way—and humiliating my three disciples as well—was going too far. If I did not show you some color, you would think Zhang Xingfeng was easy to bully.

When Li Tianxiang saw the flash of anger vanish from my eyes, he stepped in front of Lang Feng and the others, moving much closer to those two fellows. A glimmer of triumph at the success of his scheme flashed through his eyes.

I gently patted my elder brother's shoulder and looked toward the two fellows who were still spouting nonsense. You're dead.