Chapter 9: Refusal
The scholars in the academy are also categorized into various ranks. Yan Lun's status is undoubtedly among the top tier. With his formidable strength at the Qi level, there are not many who can compare within the academy. At the very least, Fang Yun, although he has defeated Yang Qian and Li Ping in one fell swoop, still belongs to the lower tier of the academy due to his strength at the Yuan Qi level.
Xu Quan! Fang Yun's heart trembled slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she understood that the scene she had just witnessed must have fallen into the hands of these two individuals. Unintentionally, she had assisted Yan Lun in obtaining a volume of the "Demon-Slaying Sword Technique".
Hello!
"Yes!" Deng Mao and He Yi responded excitedly. With Yang Qian's orders, whatever happened would be his responsibility. After all, there were many witnesses around; even if something occurred, they could easily absolve themselves later.
The human-level pearl, such a treasure, is merely a few pieces even in the accumulation of a noble like the Ping Ding Marquis. For a newly elevated marquis like the Fang family, it is simply out of the question. Yang Qian cannot comprehend how Fang Yun could possibly exhibit such formidable cultivation in such a short period of time
Crown Prince! Upon seeing Yan Lun, Yang Qian's expression changed sharply. The difference between the two was truly that of a "commoner" and a "noble"
"The heir's words are too heavy; this is the heir's unique insight and foresight, which has little to do with me. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first." Fang Yun said this and then stepped forward, walking away briskly.
"I would like to see who among you dares to take action!" A commanding voice echoed, and the crowd parted. Yan Lun stood tall and proud, striding forward.
Fang Yun, our matter is not over yet! ... ... In the crowd, Yang Qian dropped a harsh remark and walked away.
"No problem." Yan Lun watched Fang Yun leave, feeling increasingly intrigued in his heart
One person is an outsider, while the other is a legitimate heir. Yan Lun's status is akin to that of the legitimate eldest son of the Ping Ding Marquis, who is destined to inherit the title of marquis. The status of the Wenqu Marquis is unique, and such a marquis's heir is simply not comparable to Yang Qian
Like being doused with ice water on a scorching hot day, the two guards were momentarily stunned and no longer dared to step forward
The Vedic Continent is far from the Central Land of the Divine Continent, both impoverished and barren, with thirty thousand miles of land in desolation. The Great Zhou Dynasty has always served as a place of exile for criminals. Once dispatched there, there is essentially no hope of returning to the Central Land.
The identity of the Wenchu Marquis is indeed too special, situated between the commoner marquis and the noble marquis. Before fully understanding Yan Lun, Fang Yun did not wish to have too much interaction with him; after all, leaving a thread of connection would provide opportunities for conversation in the future
Fang Yun instead observed coldly; he recognized Yan Lun, this prominent heir. However, Fang Yun did not believe that he had any connection with this noble among commoners.
His esteemed eldest son, the Prince of Literature, has always been treated with utmost respect in the past, with no one daring to slight him; everyone has shown themselves to be exceedingly cautious and deferential. Never has there been anyone like Fang Yun, who disregards him entirely and keeps others at a distance.
"A mere gesture." Yan Lun waved his hand, exuding the demeanor of a noble heir. He took out the "Demon-Slaying Sword Technique" from his bosom and shook it slightly, saying, "I must thank you; if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to obtain this martial scripture from the heir of the Wild Wilderness Marquis."
The human-level pearl! After all, coming from a noble family, her experience is not lacking. Upon seeing the sleeping infant in the center of the pearl, Fang Yun immediately recognized this treasure
Outside the Great Zhou Dynasty, there exist numerous sects that practice various martial arts. Many of these sects have existed for a much longer time than the Great Zhou Dynasty itself. The martial arts they inherit can even be traced back to ancient and prehistoric times, beyond the reach of the flourishing Great Zhou Dynasty. They refer to themselves as the Daoist sects and the Demonic sects
"You are not in a position to negotiate terms now." Fang Yun looked down at them with a condescending gaze, intending to trample on them fiercely in this manner. In his previous life, Fang Yun had a disdain for martial arts, partly due to the beating he received from the two of them half a month ago.
"You are quite bold, are you not afraid of being exiled twenty thousand miles away, sent to Veda Island to toil as laborers?" Upon seeing the two fierce-looking guards charging over, Fang Yun immediately stood his ground, his eyes wide with anger, and began to scold them furiously.
While he, Yang Qian, lay soundly asleep on his bed with the precious human-level pearl in his possession, how could he know that Fang Yun was diligently practicing in the cold of the night? Not to mention the effort put into refining his skills, in his previous life, in order to rekindle Fang Yun's interest in martial arts, Madam Huayang had exerted countless efforts, arranging for numerous guards to spar and fight in front of Fang Yun, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Fang Yun has gained her current strength through her own hard work and diligence, and naturally, she no longer needs to be polite to these individuals
Two gusts of wind rushed forward, and within the battle circle, two powerful guards had appeared. The two of them, without touching the ground, leaped lightly and swooped towards Fang Yun like swallows.
If I possess this treasure, one day of my cultivation would be equivalent to six days of usual practice, or twenty-four days for an ordinary person! Fang Yun was utterly astonished; there are no shortcuts in the path of martial arts. Even though Fang Yun benefited from a lifetime of memories, advancing in martial arts still requires relentless effort day and night. However, with a treasure like the Human-level Pearl, everything would be completely different
Unexpectedly, this side branch of the Yang family, Yang Qian, possesses such a treasure as the level gem! Fang Yun quickly made a decision in his heart; he must have this gem at all costs
Yang Qian felt a tremor in his heart, his expression fluctuating between dark and light. Finally, he stamped his foot, called out to Li Ping, and said with resentment: "Let’s go!"
In his previous life, he was weak in martial prowess, but now, having made some progress in martial arts, he has deeply grasped the essence of the four characters: fist intent and momentum. At this reprimand, the two guards immediately felt as if a court-appointed minister was standing before them, sternly admonishing them and threatening to exile them to the distant and frigid Veda Continent.
Young Master! Outside the battlefield, two exclamations were heard as the two guards following Yang Qian finally reacted to what was happening inside the combat zone. They had not anticipated that, with their young master's cultivation level, he would be unable to withstand even three exchanges against Fang Yun. It is worth noting that the two had witnessed Yang Qian beating Fang Yun just half a month ago.
On the human-level pearl, Fang Yun saw a path to rapid improvement in martial arts skills.
Interesting. Yan Lun glanced at Fang Yun's back and walked away.
"Deng Mao, He Yi, come here. Retrieve the human-level pearl, injure him, my mother will take care of it. If he dies, our Pingding Marquis residence will handle it, no need to worry! This guy is involved with the evil path, according to the laws of the Great Zhou, dying is just a waste!" Yang Qian said with a sinister tone
Yang Qian's footsteps came to a halt as he shook his head: "No, under different conditions, in the future when we encounter you, you may retreat. Return this bead to me!"
As a family of martial arts, although Li Ping had broken two arm bones, he still managed to endure to some extent. He shot a fierce glance at Fang Yun and angrily followed Yang Qian. This time, the two of them had truly fallen hard.
Yan Lun, possessing both martial prowess and scholarly knowledge, had long entered the realm of Gangqi. Coupled with his profound family heritage, the two guards were indeed no match for him
Fang Yun could not be bothered to pay him any attention. Yang Qian, a pampered and privileged noble scholar, had no idea of the hardships he endured in his cultivation. The formidable strength that Fang Yun possessed was entirely the result of his relentless training, having split one hour into two, dedicating himself to intense practice.
Yang Qian was momentarily stunned, then suddenly broke free from the grasp of the two guards: "No, this bead absolutely cannot be given to you!"
Just this additional ten years of experience is enough for Fang Yun to leave Yang Qian far behind. In terms of combat awareness, the two are not even on the same level
"You wouldn't want to go back on your word, would you?" Yan Lun's gaze pierced into Yang Qian's heart like a knife
"Your Highness, thank you very much," Fang Yun cupped his hands in salute. Although Yan Lun's status was somewhat special, he was ultimately from the commoner lineage of the Hou family, and there was no need to offend him in unnecessary circumstances
Do you want to cheat at gambling?" Fang Yun curled his index finger, drawing the human-level pearl into his embrace, and said coldly
With a single sentence, he stunned the two guards of the Marquis's residence. Fang Yun bent down to pick up the bead that had fallen from Yang Qian, and upon glancing at it, his eyes suddenly brightened.
The legal system of the Zhou Dynasty was strict, deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people under the control of Confucian literati. The hierarchical structure of the Zhou Dynasty was rigid; individuals like Fang Yun, a prince, were certainly not someone that two unranked guards without any background could provoke. The Zhou Dynasty had always dealt harshly with soldiers who committed offenses against their superiors, often stripping them of their martial arts skills and exiling them to the distant Veda Continent to perform hard labor
However, both the Daoist gates and the magical gates are entirely dismissed by the Great Zhou court as heretical practices! Once one engages in cultivation, neither the court nor the military will ever employ them!
Fang Yun sneered coldly; someone like Yang Qian, who held a treasure such as the Human-Level Pearl, was actually defeated by him. Now that Yang Qian no longer possessed the Human-Level Pearl, even if he worked ten times harder, he would not be a match for Fang Yun. The gap between the two would only continue to widen
Yang Qian's expression was a mix of shock and fear; if Yan Lun intervened, losing the human-level pearl would be a minor issue, but losing the face of the Ping Ding Marquis's residence would be a serious matter.
I heard everything outside the pavilion. Since you have made a wager, you should abide by it. Breaking your word for gain? Hmph! When has a scholar of our Great Zhou ever produced such scum as you?" Yan Lun stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Yang Qian with a stern expression.
"Fang Yun, what kind of demonic arts have you cultivated! I possess a human-level pearl, which allows me to cultivate for the equivalent of five or six days in just one day. How could I possibly be unable to defeat you!" On the other side, Yang Qian, after being manipulated by two guards, finally regained consciousness. He disregarded the need to stop the bleeding and shouted in horror at Fang Yun.
Yang Qian, do you remember our bet? I have an idea now. "Fang Yun extended two fingers from his food, pinching the large human-level pearl, and slightly rotating it: "I want this thing, I want the human-level pearl on you!" The voice was firm and unyielding.
"No..." Yang Qian's voice paused, and a myriad of contemplative glimmers flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, he pointed at Fang Yun and shouted, "I know, you must have colluded with those rogue practitioners from outside the sect and learned their martial arts. Otherwise, the Wild Bull Fist would absolutely not be able to surpass my Fierce Tiger Fist."
Young Master Xiao! Upon seeing this person, the two guards displayed a hint of fear. Although Yan Lun's identity is indeed special, what is even more intimidating are his two arms
Fang Yun, in his previous life, was well-versed in Confucian texts, achieving remarkable accomplishments in Confucian literature and rites, and was highly regarded by several influential scholars in the court. The Confucian practice of self-cultivation emphasizes nurturing a spirit of righteousness, and having long immersed himself in Confucianism, Fang Yun naturally exuded this aura.