How They Did Things

Yang Ning gained quite a lot from this meeting with the sect leader.

Qu Heng had previously had some doubts about Yang Ning's abilities, so he gave him a copy of the "Soaring Snake Hidden Dragon Technique" as a test.

This time, they were completely convinced of Yang Ning's talent.

Moreover, he added the sect leader as a friend, which gave him the ability to contact the sect leader at any time.

As for whether doing so would disturb the sect leader, Yang Ning felt it wouldn't.

He's only at the Body Refinement Realm, yet he can already manifest twelve times. Spiritual Law Realm expert could manifest even more. Dealing with the affairs of an Outer Disciple is hardly considered an disturbance.

And most importantly...

Yang Ning took out the token, and Yuanxi beside him exclaimed in astonishment, "I never expected the sect leader to give you this!"

"Is this thing very precious?" Yang Ning asked.

It's just a Spirit Artifact, not a treasure or a Dao artifact. At most, it's better for protecting your life!

"Of course it's precious!" Yuanxi pointed to the pattern on the back of the sign. "Look what this is!"

"Hengming Tower?" Yang Ning blinked. "And then?"

"The Hengming Tower is the most precious artifact of our Taiheng Sect, far more important than any sect leader or elder. Therefore, its symbol cannot be used by just anyone!" Yuanxi said, "So it's not an exaggeration to say that seeing the pagoda is like seeing Hengming himself!"

"Is that so?" Yang Ning looked astonished, and when he looked at the token in his hand, he felt that it was quite heavy!

"Not only that!" Yuanxi said, "Without Lord Hengming's approval, the sect leader wouldn't have given you this token, which means you've already caught Lord Hengming's eye!"

At this point, Yuanxi was somewhat emotional.

She thought she had a unique eye, finding Yang Ning, a hidden gem, among millions of people.

I never expected Brother Ning to have such outstanding talent, which caught the eye of the sect so early on. Compared to that, the little help I provided was insignificant.

Yang Ning looked at the token in his hand. It was a good thing that it caught Hengming's eye, but it wouldn't be a good thing if Hengming kept an eye on it!

After all, he has many secrets, and he prefers having some private space to being safe.

After putting away the token, the two left Taiheng Palace hand in hand. Just as they stepped out of the area enveloped by the golden light, Yang Ning heard a loud shout, "Yang Ning, get your filthy hands off my sister!"

"Uh..." Yang Ning looked up at Lin Tianheng: "Fourth brother-in-law, you're still here!"

"Bah!" Lin Tianheng roared, "You lowly commoner, a peasant by birth, dare to call me brother-in-law?"

"Hmm?" Yang Ning was taken aback, as if he had thought of something, and quickly said, "Senior Brother Tianheng, although I am only at the Body Refinement Tenth Layer Realm now, I am only one step away from the Qi Refining Realm. Moreover, my talent has already been recognized by the Sect Leader. I am definitely not the mediocre person you think I am. I believe I am worthy of Yuanxi!"

Yuanxi nodded frantically to the side. It wasn't a question of whether Yang Ning was good enough for her, but rather that she felt she wasn't good enough for Yang Ning.

"What are you talking about!" Lin Tianheng's eyebrows furrowed, his tone filled with disdain. "Didn't you hear me? No matter what talent you have, your birth determines that you and my sister are on completely different levels!!"

"And another thing!" Lin Tianheng turned to a disciple dressed in black. "I remember this Yang Ning was just a page, without even a formal identity. How did he become formal disciple now? What went wrong?"

Yang Ning frowned immediately; this attitude seemed a bit off!

"She seems to be a staunch supporter of the theory of bloodline!" Deep Blue added, "Just like the Seven Clans and Five Surnames during the Tang Dynasty, it has nothing to do with talent or birth; she simply believes she's superior and looks down on everyone else!"

Yang Ning did not answer, but just watched silently.

The disciple in black said, "Senior Brother Tianheng, please allow me to investigate!"

"Do we even need to investigate? Just arrest him!" Lin Tianheng said irritably, then suddenly raised his foot to dodge.

Yang Ning felt a violent tremor in his arm, accompanied by a surge of azure Law Power, and his and Yuanxi's hands, which were clasped together, were instantly separated.

"Um, Senior Brother Tianheng!" the black-clad disciple said, "Yang Ning was indeed originally a page, but he changed his background to become a disciple of the Ditian Sect midway through his career. He was recommended by the Ditian Sect to become formal disciple. This process is reasonable and in accordance with regulations, and there is nothing wrong with it!"

"Is that so?" Lin Tianheng frowned. "How were these rules set up in the first place? How could there be such a big loophole?"

The disciple in black grinned but didn't reply.

Cultivators are all shrewd and calculating; if a loophole was left, it means it was intentional.

This matter involves the interests of countless sects and Lineage, and even Lin Tianheng cannot change it.

This only made him angrier.

"Even if you manage to get a good family background, you're still a peasant. I don't know what despicable tricks you used to deceive my sister, but let me tell you, there's no future for you two!"

"Fourth Brother!" Yuanxi finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up loudly, also clarifying to the people around her. "Brother Ning has never deceived me in any way, and it wasn't him who pursued me, but me who pursued him!"

"I fell in love with him when I was young, and we only got together after we both entered Taiheng. There was nothing wrong with that!"

"You scoundrel!" Lin Tianheng's face darkened with even more anger. "How dare you say that? A young woman, already harboring feelings for a young man! So that's why you postponed the wedding—you've got someone else in your heart!"

"No, I..." Yuanxi's face turned pale, and she immediately didn't know how to retort!

According to current social norms, it is indeed extremely disrespectful for her to be thinking of someone else while having a fiancé!

But I've never even met Wang Jue! I only found out I was betrothed when I was 17, and by then I'd already liked Brother Ning for seven years!!

"What else do you have to say? Get over here! From now on, stay on Red Leaf Peak and don't come out again. I will inform the Lineage and arrange your wedding with Wang Jue!" Lin Tianheng roared. "As for you, Yang Ning, I advise you to cripple your martial arts and leave Taiheng, and I might spare your life!"

Yang Ning chuckled, "If I had crippled my martial arts and left Taiheng, how could I still be alive? Lin Tianheng, aren't you being a bit too domineering? Your sister likes someone, and instead of sincerely wishing her well, you're trying to break them up. What kind of brother does that?"

Even now, Yang Ning still feels that there is a possibility of salvaging the situation.

"Like?" Lin Tianheng sneered, "She's so young, what does she know about liking someone! Oh, I know, it's because of you. She's been reading your romance novels since she was little, which is why she has such unrealistic fantasies!"

A young man arrived on the wind and stopped beside Lin Tianheng. After listening to Lin Tianheng's words, he immediately said, "Brother Lin, I believe that it's better for a couple to have feelings for each other than none at all. I, Wang Jue, can also like Yuanxi!"

"So you're Wang Jue!" This person had long, narrow eyebrows, flat lips, and a pointed chin.

Few practitioners are ugly men or women. This person may actually be quite handsome, but appearance reflects the heart, and one's personality is destined to be revealed in one's appearance.

Wang Jue has the typical appearance of being mean and ungrateful. His casual manners and casual behavior with Lin Tianheng, along with his shifty eyes during conversation, clearly indicate that he is a frivolous and dissolute person!

Such a person is not a good match!

In their back-and-forth banter, the two of them definitively concluded the incident. "My sister was so well-behaved, but now she's turned bad—clearly, it's all your doing!"

"Since it's your fault, then don't even think about leaving. Kneel down and kill yourself now, and I might spare your parents' lives. Otherwise, not only will you die, but your parents, your relatives, and even the Yue Kingdom behind you will be in danger of collapse!"

Yang Ning breathed a sigh of relief, finally understanding.

The conflict between him and Lin Tianheng is irreconcilable.

The hatred for someone who obstructs your path is greater than heaven, Yang Ning knew this, so he desperately tried to hide it.

Lin Tianheng was aware of this, so he secretly instructed the Wang Yao sisters Wang Yi, to take action. However, because Yang Ning had morally blackmailed all the Artifact Forging Master of the Taiheng Sect, the matter was temporarily dropped.

However, Yang Ning also demonstrated exceptional talent in cultivation!

This could have been easily covered up with the Nine Apertures Spirit Connecting Pill, but Yang Ning was summoned by the sect leader, Hengming also praised Yang Ning!

Now that Yang Ning's talent has been fully realized, and he has the strength to take revenge, the grudge against those who had been suppressed has naturally resurfaced.

This is the first source of hatred.

The second source of hatred was Lin Tianheng's disdain for Yang Ning's status.

Yang Ning's parents were farmers. Although he later became the Minister of Works through his own efforts and became Outer Disciple of the Taiheng Sect, Lin Tianheng could not see those things. He only saw that Yang Ning's parents were farmers!

This is not Huaxia, where the concept of "are kings and nobles born with special privileges?" is not upheld.

The Lin Lineage, whose lineage included immortals Lin Family daughters were of noble blood, could not marry the son of a peasant.

Is that all?

Not yet!

The third hatred:

The Lin Family and Wang Family families had been on good terms for generations, which led to the marriage alliance. However, the bride-to-be had already fallen in love with someone else and ran away because of him!

The Wang Family will only feel that this is an insult to them from the Lin Family!

What would Wang Jue think? My fiancée has fallen in love with another man. What a humiliation! How can I ever face anyone again?

In order to appease the Wang Family and restore friendly relations, Yang Ning must die, and this marriage must go through!

Is this the end?

No!

Yang Ning discovered a fourth major enmity between the two: a feud over interests!

The Lin Family has just established its own automobile company, called Nanlin Automobile Co., Ltd..

From the company name to the organizational structure, the factory construction, and the development plan, it's not exactly the same as Tianma Company, but it's at least identical.

With Deep Blue's technology, management, and cost control capabilities, Yang Ning can bankrupt the Lin Family in a business war!

Do the second-generation rich kids need to engage in business warfare with you?

No need!

They could just shut down Yang Ning, the creator!

Yang Ning sighed, and another thought began to shift in his mind.

In the past, when I read fantasy novels, the protagonists were either killing people or on their way to kill people.

At that time, he found it hard to understand why killing was necessary. Couldn't they negotiate? Couldn't they cooperate and achieve a win-win situation?

Only after he himself fell from Cultivation World did he realize, "Cooperation and win-win? You dare to claim that?"

Negotiation? You dare to challenge me?

What's your background? What's mine?

Sitting in the same classroom as you is an insult to me!

Lin Tianheng's eyes were filled with undisguised malice and contempt, proving to Yang Ning that he would never let her go.

He wielded immense power!

He was utterly reckless!

That's just how they do things!