The next morning, Gu Chen went to the market and bought a horse. He then changed into a different set of clothes and bought a straw hat. After covering his head with the hat, Gu Chen led the horse and prepared to leave the city.
In fact, at the market, Gu Chen heard many people discussing Gu Mingheng, and some even opened betting odds on whether Gu Mingheng could make it onto the Dragon Ranking.
In the Land of Heaven and Earth, the Dragon Ranking is extremely sacred, and the hundred people who can be listed are all objects of worship. Therefore, even though Gu Mingheng was full of confidence and the Gu Family was promoting him, many people still did not think highly of him.
"If you ask me, Gu Mingheng is only twenty-seven years old. Even if he has mastered his divine skills, it's absolutely impossible! If he were in his thirties now, he might have some hope, and could even achieve the honor of being the first martial artist under thirty to be listed on the Dragon Ranking. But unfortunately, he is too young. Inner Breath is a process of accumulation over time. How much can he have? What makes him think he can be on the Dragon Ranking?"
"I think so too. Great minds think alike. This Gu Mingheng is just the number one on the Tiger Ranking, yet he thinks he's invincible. The Gu Family is one of the Six Great Families, for goodness' sake. It's truly laughable that they're promoting him."
"You have no idea, the Gu Family has long been lacking in talent. Now that Gu Mingheng has finally emerged, if we don't promote him, the Gu Family will face a talent gap. Of course, we need to get Gu Mingheng promoted!"
"A genius powerhouse created by throwing resources at him... Sigh, why am I not from one of the Six Great Families? If they threw resources at me, I could do it too..."
The conversation among these people was crystal clear to Gu Chen. Gu Chen remained expressionless and calmly walked out of the market, then mounted his horse and rode off.
Gu Chen had just mounted his horse and was about to set off when he suddenly pulled on the reins.
He saw an old man being knocked to the ground by a group of young people, who were arrogant and not only did they not help the old man up or apologize, but they also verbally abused him.
The oldest among them was only seventeen or eighteen years old, and the youngest was only fourteen or fifteen.
In the Land of Heaven and Earth, there are many families, but there are also families that have declined long ago. Their descendants cannot leave the Land of Heaven and Earth, and thus form the ordinary people in the Land of Heaven and Earth. In the eyes of those young masters from aristocratic families, these people are no different from the "ants" outside, and of course they do not know how to respect them.
Gu Chen didn't want to get involved, but the group became even more arrogant when they saw people watching, and they started beating the old man.
This enraged Gu Chen. He dismounted, rushed in, and helped the old man to his feet. Then he looked at the group of young men and said coldly, "Such ill-mannered children! Apologize to him!"
"Apologize?" After sizing up Gu Chen, the group sneered. One of them said, "Do you know who you're talking to?"
"Apologize or not?" Gu Chen asked calmly.
"I am Wei Xingmian of the Wei Family, Wei Hang is my elder brother." Wei Xingmian sneered, "In West Dan City, apart from the Zhuge Family, no one dares to speak to me like this. You decide whether you kneel down yourself or I beat you until you kneel."
"Um... never mind, let's go..." The old man grabbed Gu Chen's hands and said fearfully, "Young man, I'm fine..."
"You so-called aristocratic families really need to be taught a lesson!" A sharp glint flashed in Gu Chen's eyes, then he said reassuringly to the old man, "Old man, if you're scared, you can go now."
"Alright, alright." The old man couldn't afford to offend the families in West Dan City anyway, so he quickly ran away.
Seeing that he had actually run away, Wei Xingmian more arrogant, laughing loudly, "You brat, did you see that? The person you wanted to stand up for has abandoned you and run away. What are you still trying to stand up for? You idiot!"
These spoiled brats from the Wei Family looked at Gu Chen as if he were a clown, their utter disdain and contempt undisguised.
Another member of the Wei Family spoke up, "Did you hear what our third young master said? He told you to kneel down!"
Gu Chen smiled faintly, then kicked hard, sending the man flying with a "bang"! This scene shocked the onlookers, and the Wei Family and others were even more incredulous. Judging from their astonished expressions, none of them seemed to have expected that Gu Chen would dare to make a move!
"You dare commit violence in the street? You're finished! You dare break the rules set by the Zhuge Family!" Wei Xingmian roared, "Quickly, go and call for help!"
"Who are you?" Before he could finish speaking, Gu Chen had already appeared in front of him, his fierce eyes fixed on him. He said, "If I, Gu Chen, want to teach someone a lesson, even the Heavenly King himself wouldn't be of any use, let alone that damned Zhuge Family."
"You!" Wei Xingmian shocked. He hadn't expected that Gu Chen was not only unafraid of the Wei Family, but also unafraid of the Zhuge Family! Then, without even seeing how Gu Chen appeared in front of him, he took two steps back in fright.
At that moment, Gu Chen smiled contemptuously at him, then blocked the fist of the person attacking from behind with his arm. Without turning around, he lifted the man by the neck. With the man's face contorted in pain, Gu Chen threw him hard to the ground, where he couldn't get up for a long time.
Gu Chen defeated his companion in no time, which shocked Wei Xingmian more. From Gu Chen's ruthless eyes, he sensed an unprecedented sense of danger.
This guy, whom he had never even met before, wasn't afraid of the Wei Family at all!
Seeing his lips tremble, Gu Chen coldly said, "I have no intention of accepting your apology now."
Bang!
Wei Xingmian also coughed up blood and was sent flying!
"The Wei Family family has arrived!"
Not long after Gu Chen had beaten those spoiled rich kids to the ground, the crowd erupted in commotion. Then, Gu Chen heard the deafening sound of horses' hooves coming from all sides of the street.
Gu Chen naturally heard the sound of horses' hooves, but he showed no fear on his face and stood motionless in place.
"Get out of the way, you bystanders!"
The Wei Family was extremely arrogant. In West Dan City, apart from the Zhuge Family, they were the most powerful family, and naturally they had the confidence to act that way. The leader was Wei Hang from the Wei Family.
Wei Hang is one of the young geniuses of the Wei Family. Ancient martial arts families like theirs have many branches and collateral branches, but Wei Hang is the most orthodox bloodline of the Wei Family. He also has two older brothers, but they are over thirty years old, which is why they are not on the Tiger Ranking.
Wei Xingmian, being a direct descendant and his younger brother, roared in anger upon seeing Wei Hang Wei Xingmian being knocked to the ground.