Yang Lingtian was completely unaffected by the gossip below and remained utterly calm.
He was also very confident in his own strength.
After refining the divine ape bloodline, his physical strength had already reached Qi Refining Level 9 when he was at Qi Refining Level 7.
Now that he had broken through to Qi Refining Level 8, his physical strength had reached the peak of Qi Refining Level 9.
Even the purity of the Spiritual Power in his body surpassed that of ordinary Qi Refining Level 9 cultivators.
With the two combined, his strength had already come infinitely close to that of a true Foundation Establishment expert.
Even without using a martial technique, with the boost from the Spirit Sword, he was confident he could defeat an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage expert.
But he intended to teach Lei Daben a lesson and take his life while he was underestimating him!
A wicked smile curled at the corner of Yang Lingtian's mouth as he said lightly, "Young Master Lei, you'll pay the price for underestimating me."
"I advise you to get serious. Otherwise, it won't look good when I beat you flat on your back later."
Lei Daben laughed wildly. "Hahaha, what arrogance! Stop spouting nonsense. I'll stand right here—come and attack me!"
Yang Lingtian said no more. He leaped into the air and directly unleashed Hundred Shadow Cold Sword, charging at Lei Daben.
No probing—he went straight for his ultimate move!
His figure was like a bolt of lightning, flashing across the sky and racing toward Lei Daben.
His momentum was grand and imposing, leaving everyone outside the arena staring in shock.
The Low-Grade Spirit Sword gleamed with cold light, carving out dazzling streaks of Sword Qi.
Every sword strike was Yang Lingtian's all-out attack, driven by his full strength. With Hundred Shadow Cold Sword at the perfected realm, its power surged explosively.
The powerful Sword Qi radiated waves of chill as it slaughtered its way toward Lei Daben.
Lei Daben's expression changed drastically. He could feel the might of this Sword Qi.
He was shocked inwardly. Was this really power that an eighth-level Qi Refiner could unleash?
But because he had underestimated his opponent earlier, he could only hurriedly circulate the Spiritual Power within his body and instantly take out a Low-grade Spirit Artifact as well.
Caught off guard, he forcibly endured several of the Sword Qi strikes.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several attacks, Lei Daben was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
Everyone outside the arena was completely dumbfounded!
Incredible—Lei Daben had been knocked down in a single exchange?
None of them dared believe their eyes. Their experience was limited, and they had never seen anyone in the Qi Refining Stage defeat someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"How is this possible? When did Foundation Establishment experts become so weak?"
"It isn't that Foundation Establishment experts are weak. It's that Yang Lingtian, a Qi Refining cultivator, is too strong."
"Martial technique! That's a martial technique! Yang Lingtian is using a martial technique!" someone shouted in astonishment.
The entire arena was shocked once more. It was exceedingly rare for someone in the Qi Refining Stage to use a martial technique.
Using a martial technique could unleash even greater power from one's cultivation, as it was a method of mobilizing and wielding the strength within the body.
Yet basically no one present had ever cultivated a martial technique.
Aside from being difficult to cultivate, martial techniques were also rarely circulated outside.
Even a Yellow Rank Martial Technique was regarded as a priceless treasure by forces such as the Four Great Families.
Very few people could come into contact with one even during the Qi Refining Stage or the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Chen Zhengqing was secretly shocked. He was finding it increasingly impossible to see through his adopted son.
He had never taught Yang Lingtian any martial technique, yet Yang Lingtian had somehow learned one without warning.
Where had he learned it?
Moreover, judging by his experience, the martial technique Yang Lingtian had used had already reached perfection.
He had simply never seen this kind of martial technique before, and after only a few glances, he could not determine its rank.
Lei Daben, who lay on the ground, was equally shocked. He had actually been knocked down.
Yang Lingtian said coldly, "How was that, Young Master Lei? I haven't even used my strength, and you've already fallen. You lost!"
Lei Daben slowly rose to his feet, seething with anger. Unwilling to accept it, he said, "Hmph, I haven't lost."
"What? Not convinced? You were careless just now and didn't dodge?" Yang Lingtian sneered.
"Hmph, don't get cocky. This time, I'm going all out," Lei Daben said viciously.
A powerful aura suddenly erupted from Lei Daben. The Spiritual Power within his body circulated furiously, and he looked ready to strike.
"Yang Lingtian, I'll show you my true strength!" he roared.
He then leaped into the air as well. Surging Spiritual Power poured into his Spirit Sword, which he viciously hacked toward Yang Lingtian.
Yang Lingtian stood motionless where he was, utterly unshaken. His face showed no trace of fear, only calm composure.
Just as Lei Daben's attack was about to reach him, a flash of Sword Light suddenly flickered through Yang Lingtian's hand.
His Spirit Sword had already swept out a powerful burst of Sword Qi, colliding violently with Lei Daben's attack.
A harsh sound rang through the air, as though even the atmosphere were about to be torn open.
"Hmph, then I'll play with you!" The instant Yang Lingtian finished speaking, his figure vanished.
That was right—he had used the Movement Technique, Flowing Cloud Wind Movement.
His speed had reached that of a true Foundation Establishment Early Stage expert, and might even have surpassed it.
The two figures collided and crossed again and again!
Lei Daben held a Spirit Artifact in his hand, and his overall strength had also soared.
Yang Lingtian had to admit that Lei Daben was stronger than the Foundation Establishment assassin he had encountered last time.
But it still wasn't enough. He posed no threat to Yang Lingtian whatsoever.
After using Hundred Shadow Cold Sword and Flowing Cloud Wind Movement, Yang Lingtian firmly suppressed Lei Daben.
Lei Daben was beaten back again and again.
Several minutes later, there was a loud bang!
Lei Daben was sent flying by Yang Lingtian once more, crashing heavily to the ground.
The entire arena was shocked again. He had lost—he had truly lost!
A Foundation Establishment expert like Lei Daben had actually been unable to defeat a Qi Refining cultivator. It completely overturned everyone's expectations.
Yang Lingtian's sword suddenly came to rest against Lei Daben's neck, leaving him afraid to move.
At that moment, Lei Daben's eyes held not only fury but also a trace of fear.
"You're no match for me. Now obediently kowtow and admit your mistake!" Yang Lingtian said coldly.
Lei Daben was the son of Lei Family and a Foundation Establishment expert. Naturally, he refused to kneel before someone in the Qi Refining Stage.
His tone remained arrogant. "Hmph, my father is Lei Gang. You actually want me to kneel? You're slapping my father in the face."
"I don't care whether your father is Lei Gang or Li Gang. We agreed beforehand that if you lost, you had to kneel before me."
Yang Lingtian's aura pressed down on him, and his tone was sharp.
"Everyone here is a witness. Are you trying to go back on your word?"
Making the son of Lei Family kneel would indeed damage the family's dignity and might create enmity with Lei Family.
But so what? Yang Lingtian did not care about that.
Under his coercion, Lei Daben had no choice but to kneel.
From then on, this matter would become gossip for many of the spectators.
After kneeling, Lei Daben, too ashamed to show his face, hurriedly fled Chen Manor.
Today, he had truly marked Yang Lingtian as his enemy.
"Yang Lingtian, just you wait! So what if you learned a martial technique?"
"Once I return and master my family's ancestral martial technique, I'll tear you limb from limb!"
Lei Daben turned toward the Chen Family gates and shouted viciously.
Then, amid the discussions of the nearby spectators, he led his subordinates away from the city in disgrace.
Inside Chen Manor, everyone's view of Yang Lingtian changed drastically once again.
Everyone was shocked by Yang Lingtian's transformation.
They had witnessed with their own eyes how the wastrel and good-for-nothing of the past had become so powerful.
He had actually defeated a Foundation Establishment genius with Qi Refining cultivation, completely overturning their understanding.
Yang Lingtian had become famous in a single battle. Once word of this spread, the label of "good-for-nothing" he wore would be stripped away.
He had faintly become the number-one genius among Tianchen City's younger generation.
The wedding that followed also ended smoothly. Although there had been some twists and turns, they had not caused much disruption.
Night had deepened. Tonight was the bridal chamber night of Yang Lingtian and Chen Yiyue.
The two sat facing each other at a small round table, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Chen Yiyue, dressed in wedding attire, appeared especially alluring and enchanting, stirring all sorts of flights of fancy.
Yang Lingtian, meanwhile, wore a solemn expression as he secretly pondered how to capture her heart under these circumstances.
Women should like domineering men. Should I just take her by force?
But then he recalled how Chen Yiyue had directly chopped off the arm of a troublemaker at the Weapon Workshop. She had been ferocious.
No, no. Yiyue looks aloof and reserved, almost like a delicate woman, but when she gets ruthless, she's truly ruthless.
But so what if she's fierce? In the end, she still can't beat me.
Perhaps the fiercer a woman is, the more she likes being conquered. After all, when women say no, they actually mean yes.
Just as some passionate scenes began to surface in Yang Lingtian's mind, Chen Yiyue interrupted his thoughts.
"Yang Lingtian, I told you before. After we married, you're not allowed to touch me!" Chen Yiyue said with a stern face.
Yet a trace of shyness and unease flashed through her eyes, and Yang Lingtian noticed it.
Yang Lingtian chuckled inwardly. Looks like this little girl is quite nervous about her first time.
"Fine, I won't touch you. As if I even wanted to!" Yang Lingtian pursed his lips, pretending not to care at all.
That made Chen Yiyue feel extremely displeased. She was a beautiful young maiden, yet he had actually said he did not want her.
"Then hurry up and get out. I want to sleep!" Chen Yiyue pointed at the door and issued him an eviction order.
"Why should I leave? After we're married, this is my room too." Yang Lingtian puffed out his chest, refusing to yield.
"You don't have to leave. You can sleep on the floor." Chen Yiyue did not retreat in the slightest.
"Why should I sleep on the floor? I'm sleeping on the bed!" Yang Lingtian stood up, his voice rising.
"Are you saying you want me to sleep on the floor?" Chen Yiyue demanded.
"You can sleep on the bed if you want. Then sleep with me. I just won't touch you."
The corners of Yang Lingtian's mouth lifted slightly as he deliberately spoke in a teasing tone.
"In your dreams! What if your animal instincts suddenly run wild?" Chen Yiyue's cheeks flushed faintly.
"What are you worried about? I'll be very gentle." Yang Lingtian spoke with utter seriousness.
"You... You can't have any improper thoughts." Chen Yiyue's cheeks grew even redder.
"How is that an improper thought? We're husband and wife now." Yang Lingtian grinned.
He slowly walked toward Chen Yiyue. Frightened, she stood up and slowly backed toward the bed.
"What are you trying to do? Don't come any closer." Chen Yiyue's face paled.
"Don't you dare do anything reckless. You may get my body, but you'll never get my heart."
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