Chi City's Sky

The next moment, a tall figure with an aura like a rainbow strode into the courtyard.

A vast pressure crashed down like a collapsing mountain range, instantly shrouding the entire scene.

The instant they saw the newcomer's face clearly, everyone's expressions changed.

Thunder Martial Hall's master, Li Xiao.

"Hey, hey, Mr. Qin, isn't that a little too heartless? We were only a moment late, and you were going to shut us out?" Li Xiao grinned as he sauntered in unhurriedly.

Behind him, Feng Jiaqi followed at an easy pace. His gaze swept across the guests filling the hall, a faint, elusive smile lingering at the corners of his mouth.

When they saw the two of them, everyone present was stunned.

The Feng Household's eldest young master had appeared together with Thunder Martial Hall's master. That was no different from sending everyone a signal.

Thunder Martial Hall and the Feng Household had joined forces!

Even more suffocating was the terrifying aura around Li Xiao, one far beyond Dark Force.

That was—Transformation Force!

Zhang Yao sat in a corner, his face dark as water.

His old rival had actually entered the Transformation Force realm before him. Years ago, he had still been able to keep Li Xiao firmly beneath him, but now the situation had completely reversed.

The moment Qin Yuan, standing on the high platform, saw Li Xiao, he understood everything.

A Transformation Grandmaster—this was the Feng Household's confidence, and the reason Li Xiao dared to openly seize the Qin Household's goods and even offend both the Qin Household and Blackstone Martial Hall at once.

The entire courtyard fell into dead silence.

All beneath Transformation Force were ants. Anyone who had entered the martial world knew this saying.

Feng Jiaqi and Li Xiao had come together tonight, plainly intending to establish their authority.

Chi City's sky was about to change!

Though stormy waves had risen in Qin Yuan's heart, he still steadied himself and approached them with a smile plastered across his face.

"Hall Master Li, Young Master Feng, you've finally arrived. Though the banquet is nearing its end, I am deeply honored that you have graced us with your presence."

At this point, all he could do was gamble—gamble that, with so many people present, they would not dare turn hostile on the spot.

Yet Feng Jiaqi did not even spare him a glance. He walked straight to the center of the courtyard, looked around, and spoke in a voice that was not loud but fell clearly into every ear.

"Mr. Qin, you and I are both sensible men, so let us dispense with the pleasantries. Hall Master Li and I came today for only one matter—the Qin Household's pill business in Chi City will be managed by my Feng Household from today onward. The shops and channels are to be handed over within seven days. If you cooperate, the price is negotiable. If you refuse to cooperate—"

He tilted his head toward Li Xiao, the corners of his lips lifting slightly, and left the rest unsaid.

"Young Master Feng, isn't this somewhat excessive?" Qin Yuan's smile froze on his face.

"Excessive?" Feng Jiaqi turned to the guests, his smile unchanged. "Do you all think it is excessive?"

Not a crow or sparrow made a sound.

No one dared answer.

With a Transformation Grandmaster standing before them, none dared utter a single word of refusal.

Zhang Zhi, seated in a corner, had lost some of her usual composure from her cool, aloof face.

She knew of the old grudge between her father and Li Xiao, and she knew even more clearly what Late Dark Force meant before a Transformation Grandmaster.

The gap between Dark Force and Transformation Force was even greater than that between Bright Force and Dark Force. Calling it the difference between heaven and an uncrossable chasm would not be an exaggeration.

If Li Xiao made a move now, even if every Dark Force martial artist present joined hands, they would not be able to stop him for even a moment.

At some point, Zhang Zhi's hand had clenched the hem of her green dress, and her body trembled faintly.

Just then, Zhang Yao, seated beside her, moved.

There was neither anger nor fear on Zhang Yao's face, only an almost stubborn calm.

The moment Zhang Zhi saw that calm expression, she realized something. Her heart felt as though a hand had suddenly clenched around it.

The next moment, Zhang Yao slowly rose to his feet.

Almost immediately, Zhang Zhi reached out and grabbed the sleeve of her father, Zhang Yao.

She said nothing. She only gripped that strip of cloth desperately, her knuckles whitening from the force.

Zhang Yao lowered his head and looked at her. He gently pressed down her hand, his movements slow yet resolute.

He said nothing, but his expression had already said everything.

"Dad... don't..."

Zhang Zhi parted her lips, but after the words circled once in her throat, she swallowed them back down.

She slowly withdrew her somewhat stiff hand. Her gaze remained fixed on her father Zhang Yao's back, her eyes flashing with intense unwillingness and bitterness.

"Zhang Yao?"

Li Xiao looked at the risen Zhang Yao with great interest, an amused smile hanging on his lips.

Qin Yuan was equally shocked.

In his view, even if Zhang Yao found an excuse to leave under these circumstances, it would have been perfectly understandable.

His opponent was a Transformation Grandmaster. There was no chance of victory in staying here.

Yet Zhang Yao had not only refused to leave, but had instead walked step by step to his side and positioned himself before Li Xiao. His stance could not have been clearer.

This moved Qin Yuan beyond measure.

Even the others present stared at Zhang Yao in shock, though there was even more sympathy and pity in their eyes.

After all, no matter how much one spoke of honor at a time like this, it was utterly meaningless.

A Transformation Grandmaster was the absolute sky over Chi City.

"You have gone too far."

Zhang Yao's voice was not loud, yet it was as steady as a boulder.

"Oh?" Feng Jiaqi studied him with interest. "What, is Blackstone Martial Hall going to stand up for the Qin Household?"

"Zhang Yao."

Li Xiao stepped forward, looking down at the old enemy he had now surpassed. His tone carried undisguised mockery.

"I admit you have some backbone, but in the martial world, only strength matters."

Li Xiao grinned and gave Zhang Yao a contemptuous once-over.

"Kneel now, and I can still treat what you just said as a joke."

"Shut up."

Zhang Yao's voice was decisive as an axe strike.

The aura of Late Dark Force erupted from his body without reservation, and his robes billowed despite the absence of wind.

He stood before Li Xiao without yielding a single step.

"So what if you are a Transformation Grandmaster?"

"Today, I will ask for a lesson."

"You overestimate yourself."

Li Xiao sneered and raised a hand, beckoning Zhang Yao over with an utterly relaxed air.

"For old times' sake, I'll let you have one move."

Hearing those openly provocative words, Zhang Yao could no longer suppress the fury in his heart. He burst forth abruptly, clenched his fist, gathered all his Dark Force, and hurled a punch at Li Xiao.

At this moment, everyone present watched the scene before them without blinking.

All beneath Transformation Force were ants. This saying had always circulated among martial artists.

But none of them knew why such a saying existed.

Now, they happened to have the chance to witness the reason for themselves.

Lu Fan, seated in an even more distant corner, watched the scene with equal concentration.

What was the difference between a Transformation Force martial artist and a Dark Force martial artist?

Today, he would learn the answer.