C2 Hurting the Lowly Slave!

"Hey, take it easy, little lady. Don't trip and blame me for it," E Tiangan said, watching Yang Weiyue struggle to walk, her weakness evident in every step.

"What have you done to my brother?" Yang Weiyue asked, her hands clenched into fists, her voice betraying her sense of helplessness.

"Ah, you're talking about Yang Xiao? He just took a beating from me a couple of days ago—thirty to fifty punches, nothing serious. We came to check on him, but there's been no sign of life. I hope he hasn't died in there! Haha," E Tiangan taunted with a smug laugh.

"That's a lie! My brother can't be dead!" Tears filled Yang Weiyue's eyes as she retorted angrily, "All of you, back off! Don't bother my brother!"

Despite her fear, Yang Weiyue summoned all her strength to push E Tiangan away from the cabin door.

Wuu Yuehua saw his chance to impress Mr. Tiangan when the girl dared to lay hands on him. He swiftly slapped Yang Weiyue across the face.

"Smack!"

The sound of the slap echoed as Yang Weiyue's cheek reddened and swelled. She was young, but she didn't cry. She continued to try to push E Tiangan away, but her small frame was no match for his immovable presence.

E Tiangan gave his underling an approving glance before feigning a rebuke, "What are you doing? She's the Miss Yang of the Yang family. Show some respect!"

"Right, right, you're absolutely correct, Mr. Tiangan. I'll make sure to remember that," Wuu Yuehua said with a grin, showing no real sign of remorse. "Whatever you say, Mr. Tiangan!"

Pleased, E Tiangan commanded, "Move Miss Yang out of the way! She's in my space."

Obediently, Wuu Yuehua grabbed Yang Weiyue by the hair and dragged her aside.

Then, the dilapidated wooden door swung open with a creak, and a chilling voice demanded, "Let go of my sister!"

The door flung wide, and Wuu Yuehua, seeing the stern face of Yang Xiao, paled with fear. He quickly released Yang Weiyue and turned his attention to E Tiangan.

Yang Weiyue, already gravely ill, was abruptly let go after her hair was yanked tightly. She lost her balance and fell to the ground, the pain so intense that tears swirled in her eyes.

Upon opening the door, Yang Xiao was met with this distressing scene. His normally refined and pale face twisted into a fierce scowl as he glared at Wuu Yuehua and demanded, "Who gave you the audacity!"

Wuu Yuehua, shaken by Yang Xiao's lethal look, was about to speak to E Tiangan when suddenly, like a wild beast, Yang Xiao pounced in front of him. Before Wuu Yuehua could react, a heavy punch from Yang Xiao struck his forehead.

Boom!

Wuu Yuehua's world went dark as he staggered and collapsed to the ground.

Yang Xiao, far from finished, was ready to strike Wuu Yuehua again when E Tiangan, standing nearby, bellowed, "Yang Xiao! Are you out of your mind? How dare you strike my man..."

Yang Xiao paused, shot E Tiangan a contemptuous look, and scoffed. With that, he stomped on Wuu Yuehua's chest once more.

Puff! A mouthful of blood sprayed from Wuu Yuehua's lips, his heart filled with bitter regret.

"Your man?" Yang Xiao didn't even spare E Tiangan another glance as he tenderly lifted Yang Weiyue from the ground, his touch gentle. He addressed E Tiangan dismissively, "They're nothing but servants of the Yang family!"

Seeing Yang Xiao, the pent-up worry and injustice overwhelmed Yang Weiyue, and she rushed into his arms, tears streaming down her face. "Brother, I'm relieved you're okay."

The sight of Yang Weiyue's worn-out state cut through Yang Xiao like a knife. Though she wasn't his sister by blood, their families were now one and the same. The injustices she had endured, he vowed to avenge.

With a menacing look, Yang Xiao moved like a shadow, swiftly closing the distance to Wuu Yuehua, then delivered a brutal kick to his face.

Boom! The force sent Wuu Yuehua's head crashing against the wooden house, his face a bloody mess as he garbled out a plea, "Save me, Mr. Tiangan, save..."

Upon witnessing the scene, E Tiangan's expression soured dramatically. He was suddenly struck by the illusion that the man before him couldn't possibly be Yang Xiao. Yang Xiao lacked such a commanding presence, such indiscernible initial movements, and certainly not this level of strength.

"Yang Xiao, you lunatic, do you realize what you've done? Apologize to Mr. Tiangan this instant! A sincere apology might just spare you," Liu Zhou and his cohorts, clueless and emboldened by their numbers, continued to bluster.

It took a moment for E Tiangan to snap out of his stupor. He regarded the man he once dismissed as worthless with a newfound sense of wariness.

"Apologize? Admit I was wrong?"

Yang Xiao couldn't help but find the demand ludicrous, his former timidity nowhere to be seen.

Attracted by the commotion, a crowd of Yang family disciples and servants began to gather.

With a grave expression, Yang Xiao surveyed the onlookers and spoke with measured indifference, "E Tiangan is nothing more than a servant of the Yang family, fit only to grovel at our feet. Why should I apologize to such an inferior servant? Does he even deserve it?"

The words struck like a bolt of lightning, sending a shockwave of disbelief through the crowd. Even Yang Weiyue, his sister, tugged at his sleeve and whispered urgently, "Brother, let's not stir up trouble!" He simply patted her head to reassure her.

"He must be out of his mind! Yang Xiao has lost it today, daring to call E Tiangan a lowly servant to his face!"

"Did he get knocked senseless the other day? To insult E Tiangan so brazenly... he's in for it now!"

The Yang family princes and servants murmured among themselves, astounded by the audacity of the once meek figure. Just days ago, this young man would cower before anyone without a shred of backbone. And now, he was openly defying and shaming the son of the Third Steward of the Yang Mansion, a man whose strength far surpassed his own. What could possibly be driving him? Was he courting death?

"Haha! Yang Xiao, you've got nerve!" E Tiangan, seething with rage, let out a bitter laugh. His body shook with fury, his eyes narrowing to slits as a flash of murderous intent crossed his face. "I was too lenient with you last time. This time, I'll make sure your mouth pays the price."

Before anyone could react, E Tiangan's feet were already in motion. His steps thundered against the ground, creating a resounding pop as he lunged towards Yang Xiao with swift and fierce movements.

At the first level of the Spirit Gathering Stage, E Tiangan's sudden burst of power was evident. His palm glowed red from shoulder to fingertips, the crimson light tracing lines that pulsed rhythmically as he unleashed a mighty blow.

Yet, E Tiangan's formidable palm strike was so intense that neither prince nor servant dared to face it directly. The force of it seemed capable of shattering a person to pieces.

"Spirit Gathering Stage! The first level?" Yang Xiao watched the lethal blow approach his face with a flicker of contempt. Unperturbed, he executed a masterful step and vanished as if into thin air.

Four-dragon Ring! The first ring!

Bang! Bang!

Many onlookers rubbed their eyes in disbelief. His movements were so swift they became invisible to the naked eye. Before the crowd could comprehend what had happened, a residual image flashed, and Yang Xiao reemerged, solidly blocking E Tiangan's heavy palm with one hand, even managing to repel him several steps backward.

E Tiangan was in shock. He had put his full strength into that attack, imbued with a lethal intent. He was at the Spirit Gathering Stage, yet his opponent, merely at the Essence Condensation Stage, had effortlessly caught the palm. E Tiangan's hand tingled from the force of the impact.

"Too weak..." Yang Xiao said emotionlessly, his cold voice piercing E Tiangan, "You've killed me once already. Now, it's my turn to kill you."

Their eyes locked, mere inches apart, Yang Xiao's hushed tones struck at E Tiangan's heart. A vicious look crossed E Tiangan's face as he summoned his Vital Spirit, preparing to unleash his most powerful technique...

But for Yang Xiao, it was all moving too slowly. Clenching his fist, he recited the Four-dragon Ring mantra internally. In a flash, he became a blur, reappearing behind E Tiangan. His fist, shimmering with golden light, crashed into E Tiangan's lower back.

"Puchi!" E Tiangan coughed up blood and was sent crashing to the ground, still clueless about what had just transpired.

Before anyone could react, Yang Xiao vanished from sight. When he reemerged, his foot had already slammed into the back of E Tiangan's head!

"Ah!" A harrowing scream ensued as E Tiangan's eyes rolled back. His muscular face was smashed against the ground, turning a shade of liver. His moans of pain were feeble and powerless.

"Yang Xiao! Do you realize what you're doing?"

"He must've resorted to some dirty trick. There's no way he could defeat Mr. Tiangan, a Spirit Gathering Stage cultivator, being just at the Essence Condensation Stage himself!"

"How dare you ambush Mr. Tiangan? Today, you're going to pay dearly!"

"Don't bother talking to him, let's take him down together!"

Liu Zhou and his companions, initially mere spectators, were now in turmoil but quickly sprang into action. Enraged by E Tiangan's downfall, they launched a coordinated assault on Yang Xiao.

Despite their numbers, their cultivation levels paled in comparison to E Tiangan's. Yang Xiao's shadow flickered, and their attacks met nothing but air, their hands flailing in vain.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Servants collapsed one after another! The skirmish was over in a flash, with Liu Zhou and his fellow servants writhing on the ground, clutching their injuries and groaning in agony.

Silence fell over the crowd of onlookers.

All eyes were fixed on the entrance to the ramshackle hut, where a man who was once the butt of everyone's jokes had just performed the unbelievable.

Yang Xiao, the pitiful soul stripped of his prince title after his father's demise, had been cultivating for over a decade with little to show for it, his progress stalled at the Essence Condensation Stage. Frankly, he was considered worthless. Yet today, he had inexplicably overpowered Liu Zhou and the others single-handedly, a feat far beyond the capabilities of an Essence Condensation Stage cultivator.

It was shocking enough that Liu Zhou and the other low-ranking servants were laid low, but the real stunner was Yang Xiao's victory over E Tiangan of the Spirit Gathering Stage. It's well known that there's a substantial leap from the Essence Condensation Stage to the Spirit Gathering Stage, and to overcome such a gap so effortlessly was nothing short of astounding.

This situation was utterly unprecedented. Even with the evidence right before their eyes, people found it difficult to trust what they were seeing.