C12 Get Lost!!!

"Has Linger returned to the Nangong family?" Tang Yuan inquired with a detached tone.

"You dare to call her Linger?" Chen Yong's eyes turned icy in an instant, and a murderous aura emanated from him, shrouding Tang Yuan.

Feeling the murderous intent, Tang Yuan merely smiled. A cultivator at the Spirit Sea Stage's Level Five Heaven was hardly a concern for him. "Speak your mind. Such tactics won't intimidate me." Tang Yuan's Spiritual Force stirred subtly, effortlessly neutralizing the threat.

Chen Yong's expression shifted; he hadn't anticipated Tang Yuan's resilience to his murderous aura, but he knew that alone wouldn't suffice.

"Linger is the hope of the Nangong family. She is destined to become the Sword Dynasty's most formidable Pill Refining Master. Only the dynasty's most exceptional genius will be worthy of standing by her side," Chen Yong said, fixing Tang Yuan with a penetrating gaze. "Do you grasp the significance of my words?"

"Is this the stance of the Nangong family?" Tang Yuan looked up and questioned.

"The Nangong family doesn't concern itself with you," Chen Yong replied coolly. "You should be well aware of your status. The Nangong family is an entity you'll always have to look up to. Dreaming of using the young lady to gain entry into the Nangong family is sheer fantasy."

Tang Yuan chuckled. The Nangong family, let alone the entire Sword Dynasty, didn't merit his concern.

Realizing Chen Yong had nothing more to offer than these trivial remarks, Tang Yuan saw no point in lingering. He began to make his way toward the alley's exit.

Chen Yong's complexion turned a livid shade of green. He couldn't fathom Tang Yuan's blatant disregard for him. As the protector of the Nangong family's heir, who in all of Holy Mountain Town would dare cross him?

"Kid, who said you could leave?" Chen Yong blocked Tang Yuan's path with a frosty command.

"You dare to obstruct me?" Tang Yuan spun around, his gaze as cold and majestic as the stars, causing Chen Yong to involuntarily retreat.

"Seeking your own demise!" Chen Yong was taken aback, having been intimidated by the young man's stare. Regaining his composure, he was consumed by rage, with murderous intent brewing in his heart.

He slowly lifted his right hand, which radiated an intense white chill. With an angry shout, he launched a palm strike at Tang Yuan!

"Cold Qi Palm!"

Chen Yong bellowed, his hand shooting towards Tang Yuan with incredible speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

The piercing cold seemed to freeze the very air around Tang Yuan, a layer of frost forming on his face.

Hatred etched Chen Yong's features; he was certain this strike would be Tang Yuan's end.

Yet, a cold smirk suddenly played across Tang Yuan's face, and the frost vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Chen Yong's face twitched with unease. Tang Yuan's composure, especially that unsettling smile, gave him an ominous feeling.

But the attack was in motion, and there was no turning back now. What could a mere Spirit Containing Stage cultivator do to him?

Buzz!

The air vibrated with a faint tremor, and a subtle warp encircled Tang Yuan. The temperature, once lowered by the Cold Qi Palm, now surged, continuing to climb!

They were only a dozen steps apart when Chen Yong reached Tang Yuan in an instant.

"Scram!"

Tang Yuan's voice thundered, and a blinding golden light burst forth, a wave of searing heat barreling towards Chen Yong!

Chen Yong's face contorted in panic. He tried to retreat, but it was too late. A scream tore from his lips as he was sent flying.

Without a glance at the fallen Chen Yong, Tang Yuan turned and walked away.

Chen Yong coughed up blood, his eyes burning with unyielding hatred. He couldn't fathom how a mere boy could have wounded him!

"I will have your life!" Chen Yong's voice echoed with the malevolence of a demonic curse from the depths of hell.

...

With a heavy sigh, Tang Yuan returned to his room. He had pushed himself to use the Imperial Fire, draining all the Spiritual Force from his body in a mere moment.

This tactic was unsustainable, but Tang Yuan was confident that after this encounter, Chen Yong would trouble him no more.

He ingested two Spirit Pills and settled into a meditative posture on the bed. The toll of wielding the Imperial Fire was immense, and recovery would not be swift.

Tomorrow marks the day of the Tang family's Clan Competition. Tang Yuan's face bore a cold smirk as he slowly closed his eyes.

In a secret chamber within the Tang family's estate, Tang Hsing gazed at Tang Zong with an excited gleam in his eye.

"Hsing, for this occasion, I've spared no expense to acquire the Sea Transformation Pill from Pill Master Ding. It has the power to elevate your cultivation to the Spirit Sea Stage, but it comes at the cost of ten years of your life. Consider this carefully," Tang Zong advised, his expression grave.

"Father, I have weighed my options. What are ten years of life in exchange for power? My goal is to kill Tang Yuan!" Tang Hsing seethed, recalling the disdain in Tang Yuan's eyes, feeling an inferno of rage within him.

Tang Zong gave Tang Hsing's shoulder a firm pat and said, "You've taken on a great burden this time. Once I become the head of the Tang family, I will ensure we find a spirit medicine to restore those ten years of your life."

Tang Hsing nodded, took the pill from Tang Zong, and swallowed it without hesitation.

"Hu..."

A look of thrill spread across Tang Hsing's face. In merely two hours, he had ascended to the Level One Heaven of the Spirit Sea Stage!

"Haha, Tang Yuan, I'm eager to see how you'll contend with me now!" Tang Hsing's face was etched with intense murderous intent.

The night passed in silence. By the next day, the Tang family's estate buzzed with activity, as the day of the Clan Competition had arrived.

The Tang family held a prestigious position in Holy Mountain Town, attracting a substantial crowd to the event.

Spectators crowded around the Tang family's trial platform, many of whom were familiar with the family's internal affairs and wore knowing smiles.

"It seems the Tang family is on the brink of upheaval. Hehe, a mere Spirit Containing Stage youngster at the helm of the entire family must be feeling the pressure!"

"His days of comfort are likely numbered after this competition!"

"That remains to be seen. Rumor has it that Tang Yuan has ties with the Nangong family. The Tang family might not find it so easy to act against him."

"Humph, ties with the Nangong family? Does he even qualify?" A cold snort cut through the air as Zhou Changming made his way through the crowd, with Qin Hai following closely behind.

Upon seeing Zhou Changming, the crowd fell silent, their gazes brimming with deep admiration. Here stood a prodigy from Holy Mountain Town, who had risen to become an inner disciple of the Galaxy Sect. His future was boundless!

Qin Hai, at his side, was even more remarkable. Rumors swirled that he was the offspring of a high-ranking figure within the Galaxy Sect, blessed with formidable cultivation and a talent that was truly frightening.

"Young Master Qin, please forgive our lack of foresight in not greeting you sooner," Tang Jing of the Tang family said as he quickly stepped forward, ushering Qin Hai inside with great reverence.

"Mm," Qin Hai acknowledged with a slight nod, taking his seat without further ado.

Tang Jing didn't mind the curt response. Qin Hai's personal strength might not be overwhelming, but the power of the Galaxy Sect and the Tang family that stood behind him was not to be trifled with.

"Tang Hsing has arrived!" someone called out from among the onlookers.

Tang Hsing approached with a self-assured smile, flanked by Tang Zong and Tang Ling.

Tang Ling was a vision in her light green gown. At the prime age of twenty-eight, her graceful attire drew admiring glances from many.

"She's stunning!"

"Some say Tang Yuan once harbored fantasies about Tang Ling. Seeing her now, it's clear he was punching above his weight!"

Amidst the crowd's admiration, Tang Ling's face was adorned with a bashful smile, while a flicker of satisfaction gleamed in her eyes.

"Tang Yuan, the day I knelt before you like a dog is etched in my memory. Today, I will repay that humiliation a thousandfold!"