Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
“How old are you?” Great Elder Yang Yan asked.
“In another half month, I’ll be twenty,” Yang Dingtian replied.
“Hahaha, don’t you feel ashamed?” Tang Bo Zhao sneered. “You’re already twenty and not even a Novice Martial Artist. What is your qualification to become a Cloud Sky City disciple? You should be expelled.”
Yang Yan added, “Cloud Sky City runs an Elimination Battle every year for all the disciples in Cloud Sky City. Each disciple over the age of twenty must participate. The ten lowest ranked disciples are expelled from Cloud Sky City. Do you know what level last year’s ten lowest ranked candidates were?”
“Please advise me,” Yang Dingtian replied.
“They were Six Star Xuan martial artists, which is exact sixteen stars higher than you.” Yang Yan then continued sneering. “Even though they were expelled from Cloud Sky City, they are still superior to you!”
After that, Yang Yan continued to walk away. “Cloud Sky City doesn’t accept idlers. Leave before the sky turns dark!”
Yang Peipei finally couldn’t help it and shouted, “Yang Yan, you old man. You’re bullying him!”
After that, she violently drew her sword and pointed it at Yang Yan’s back.
“Yang Peipei, are you trying to rebel?” Yang Yan asked coldly. “Then, I won’t mind cleaning up your mess.”
After that, Yang Yan solely raised the crutch in his hand.
Tang Bo Zhao and Second Elder followed up by drawing their swords.
Ximen Lie violently drew his giant sword. Yanyan followed suit.
“Great Elder Yang Yan, don’t try to bully us. We’ve already conceded a lot. No matter what, you must let Yang Dingtian take part in the competition to become the City Lord’s heir next winter,” Ximen Lie said resolutely.
“Otherwise?” Yang Yan replied coldly.
“Otherwise, I will wash the hall in blood,” Ximen Lie said coldly.”
“Good!” Yang Yan said coldly. “Let our swords do the talking…”
“Shua Shua Shua…” Immediately, another three people on Yang Yan’s side violent drew their swords.
The fight could break out at any moment.
Yang Yan’s side had five experts and Yang Dingtian only had Ximen Lie and Yang Peipei. They were absolutely disadvantaged in this fight.
There was still one person who remained neutral. He did not say anything nor did he declare any position. He was Ximen Ju.
His appearance was common, but he had skin fairer than that of most woman. His whole face was ordinary except for his eyes, which were long and narrow and contained a gaze like water. They were more attractive than a woman’s eyes.
He was now thirty-three years old and was in charge of Cloud Sky City’s internal affairs. Ximen Lie was the City Lord’s right arm while Ximen Ju was the left arm. He was considered one of the most powerful people in Cloud Sky City.
“Brother, what are you still waiting for? Are you going to let the Yang family bully our foster father’s family?” Ximen Lie shouted at Ximen Ju.
Ximen Ju hesitated for a moment before drawing his sword. Immediately, Ximen Lie heaved a sigh of relief. He knew how ferocious Ximen Ju’s strength was. Although there were five people on the other side and only three experts on their side, the situation was disadvantageous but not necessarily an automatic loss.
However, what happened next definitely utterly stunned Ximen Lie, Yanyan, and the others.
It was because after Ximen Ju drew his sword, he moved to stand directly next to Great Elder Yang Yan, seeming hostile towards Yang Dingtian.
Even the Great Elder’s side was surprised. They did not expect Ximen Ju to stand with them. Up to now, Ximen Ju had been completely obedient under Ximen Wuya and he had caused Yang Yan and the others a lot of trouble. They used to be completely hostile towards one another.
Unexpectedly, now that Ximen Wuya was gone, Ximen Ju changed sides immediately.
Ximen Lie was shocked and in disbelief. He then shouted at Ximen Ju, “Brother, your conscience was eaten by a dog. Did you forget who it was that brought you back, who it was that raised you, who it was that taught you martial arts, and who it was that gave you the authority to manage Cloud Sky City, putting you above millions and under only one? Is this how you repay our foster father’s grace?”
Ximen Ju replied, “Brother, I’m doing this for the future of Cloud Sky City.”
“Ximen Ju, you bastard. You will definitely be struck by lightning and die without a burial,” Ximen Lie raved loudly.
“Ximen Lie, we don’t have to talk to this bastard,” Yang Peipei said angrily. “Let’s take this desperate fight!”
“Sure, foster mother,” Ximen Lie answered.
“Well done…” Great Elder Yang Yan sneered. His eyes glowed with a very dangerous light. With Ximen Ju’s help, Yang Yan’s side now possessed the absolute advantage, causing the Great Elder’s heart to fill with homicidal intent.
If he took this opportunity to kill Ximen Lie, Yang Peipei, Yang Dingtian, and the others, this matter would be resolved once and for all. The Yang family will once again regain its glory.
“Remember, you’re the ones rebelling. Don’t try to blame me,” Yang Yan coldly said. A very powerful Xuan energy slowly condensed around his crutch, causing it to immediately turn bloody red.
“Let’s do this. No mercy!” Yang Yan ordered.
The battle was initiated the moment Yang Yan gave his command. Yang Peipei and Ximen Yanyan were immediately placed in mortal danger.
“Wait!” Yang Dingtian between the two sides. Staring at Yang Yan, he asked, “Why is Great Elder so anxious? I’m not even twenty yet. Isn’t there still half a month? If I defeat the ten lowest ranked people in the Elimination Battle, won’t that mean that I am qualified to become Cloud Sky City’s disciple? Won’t it also mean that I am a qualified candidate for heir of Cloud Sky City? That I would be allowed to participate in the competition next winter to contend for the position of City Lord?”
“Of course!” Yang Yan sneered. “This year’s Elimination Battle will begin in half a month. If you can defeat the Six Star Xuan martial artists at that time, then you will be able to become a disciple of Cloud Sky City.”
“Okay, deal!” Yang Dingtian said. “I will break sixteen grades in succession in the coming fifteen days to reach the level of a Six Star Xuan martial artist. Otherwise, I will be expelled from Cloud Sky City.”
“Yang Dingtian, you’re crazy!” Ximen Yanyan was shocked.
Yang Dingtian was indeed insane. It was absolutely impossible to break through to become a Six Star Xuan martial artist from his current cultivation in fifteen days. No one in the past 1000 years was able to do it. Even a genius would need at least half a year.
“Deal.” Yang Yan sneered. “The Elimination Battle will be held in fifteen days. If you can’t break through to become a Six Star Xuan martial artist and can’t beat the ten weakest competitors, you will be immediately expelled from Cloud Sky City. Your marriage to Ximen Yanyan will also be dissolved. If you agree, we’ll make it an official agreement. Otherwise, I will kill most of you to clean up the city.”
“Old thief Yang Yan, you’re shameless.”
Yang Dingtian took out a pen and paper to write the official agreement.
“Yang Dingtian, don’t agree to those conditions. I will fight them until I die.” Ximen Yanyan was angry. “If you are my husband, stop writing.”
Yang Dingtian continued writing the official agreement. After finishing, he signed his name, bit his thumb, and left a bloody fingerprint on it.
“Are you fine with this, Great Elder Yang Yan?” Yang Dingtian coldly asked after sending him the official agreement.
The Great Elder received it and stowed away in his sleeves. He then said, “Yes, you can go get ready for your upcoming Elimination Battle.”
Then, the Great Elder led his supporters away.
“Yang Dingtian, you’re insane!” Ximen Yanyan went forward and said: “The old thief Yang Yan is taking advantage of this opportunity to kill you and betroth me to the beast in the Northwest Qin family.”
“He revealed his killing intent just now. I can’t let them kill you in front of me,” Yang Dingtian explained. “I will take steps to get through this no matter how hard it is.”
******
Back in the boudoir, Yanyan spat out blood. Her whole face was as white as paper.
Yang Dingtian poured a glass of water and carefully blew to cool it. He then handed it to Yanyan. He gently patted Yanyan’s back. This was the first time Yang Dingtian touched her delicate body. Her eyebrows twitched slightly, but she didn’t end up resisting.
Yanyan took a sip of water, gargled, and spat the blood out of her mouth.
“Yang Dingtian, you’re crazy!” Ximen Yanyan shouted at Yang Dingtian.
Yang Dingtian nodded. “Yes, I’m crazy! But, this is also Uncle Ximen’s will.”
“My dad’s will? What do you mean?” Yanyan asked.
“I’m so weak at the moment. How could I possibly take the position of City Lord? When Yang Lie appointed Uncle Ximen as City Lord, the Yang family had also rebelled after Yang Lie’s death. So, Uncle Ximen proposed a competition to determine the holder of the position of City Lord fair and square. Returning to the present, although Uncle Ximen hadn’t said it clearly, he should have known that the Elder Society would fiercely oppose me. He definitely hoped that I would pass this trial using my own strength. He gave me the qualifications to participate in the contest and the identity of heir. But, to really take that position, I have to rely on myself!”
Yang Dingtian took a breath before continuing, “So, it’s not like I want to be crazy. Uncle Ximen wanted me to be crazy too. But, we didn’t expect Yang Yan to be so shameless and to demand that I break through sixteen stages in half a month, to become a Six Star Xuan martial artist.”
Ximen Yanyan’s charming eyes shone brilliantly. “Alright, since you’re already crazy, then I will be crazy with you once! You go and take a good rest. Tomorrow morning, I will take you to see someone.”
“Who?” Yang Dingtian asked.
“Your future mentor. She will be teaching you martial arts later. She is very strong and is not inferior to my father,” Yanyan explained. “Perhaps she has a way to let you break through to become a Six Star martial artist within fifteen days.”
Yang Dingtian was puzzled. “Since she’s so strong, why did you say that there were no more Guru level experts in Cloud Sky City?”
“She isn’t someone from Cloud Sky City. Rather, she is an enemy of Cloud Sky City,” Yanyan said.
“You will know when you see her tomorrow.” Yanyan turned and walked outside. “You should rest early. Just ask for Little Lue outside if you need anything.”
After Yanyan left, Yang Dingtian simply ate his meal, took a shower, and then lied down to rest.
Yan Dingtian didn’t sleep on Yanyan’s bed. Instead, he got himself a woven mat and lay directly on the hard ground to sleep. He did not cover himself with Yanyan’s quilt even though it was soft and fragrant.
The lights went out, but Yang Dingtian couldn’t sleep. He looked up at the ceiling. He was once again in another completely strange place.
This place should have been Yang Dingtian’s home, but he still felt lonely and unfamiliar.
“Fifteen days, one and a half years, five years.” Yang Dingtian looked at the ceiling and muttered to himself, “Master, I’m already insane. How do I do this?”
In fifteen days he had to raise his cultivation by sixteen grades, from initial Enlightenment to Six Stars Xuan martial artist.
In one and a half years, he had to defeat all the young disciples of Cloud Sky City to win the position of Lord of Cloud Sky City.
In five years, he had to defeat the greatest genius and number one young expert in the world, Dongfang Bingling.
Each of these missions was crazier than the last, each one more impossible to complete than the last!
“Master, what should I do?” Yang Dingtian muttered to himself and reached out to touch the spot where the Flame Ring was hidden.
“Sigh!” Suddenly, an old sigh sounded in the ears.
Yang Dingtian was stunned and asked, “Who’s there?”
“Son…” Again, the voice was so familiar. It was Dongfang Niemie’s voice. It hadn’t come from outside but from deep within his mind.
