Chapter 58: What Do You Take Me For?

Are you kidding me? Tang Yu glanced oddly at Chen Qingshan, noticing that his usually calm friend's face was twitching slightly. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Qingshan, your family really raises some remarkable children!"

Chen Qingshan understood perfectly what he meant. Disciples from the Four Great Families, no matter how they appeared on the surface, always took pride in their lineage. Take Tang Yueyan, for example; though she had discreetly helped Luo Tian in the past, she was a woman, naturally viewed with more leniency and simpler intentions. But for Chen Jiayang to pull such a stunt during the Eastern District Competition—seeking guidance in front of hundreds of outer disciples? Wasn’t he implying that no one from the Chen family could instruct him?

"Perhaps he has his reasons," Chen Qingshan replied weakly, feeling even he couldn’t accept such an excuse.

The others, like Zhao Yang, were inwardly thrilled. A member of the Chen family, under these circumstances, asking Senior Brother Luo for guidance? Somehow, the outer disciples from ordinary families felt a blockage in their hearts. The Four Great Families’ disciples had always looked down on them; but now? Even they must bow their proud heads and earnestly request instruction from Senior Brother Luo.

A sense of shared pride, an implicit victory for the common-born disciples, surged through most of their hearts. Those who previously felt indifferent toward Luo Tian now felt a sudden closeness; those who already admired him felt it even more strongly. It was as if the common disciples had achieved a hidden triumph.

"Junior Brother Chen," Luo Tian was in excellent spirits. After all, gaining acknowledgment from the Four Great Families’ disciples was a crucial milestone. Among them were many late-stage Qi Condensation outer disciples with considerable resources. Once he became the top senior brother across all four districts of Ziyang Mountain, countless disciples would line up daily for his guidance. Then he could raise his prices, set resource-based thresholds—these disciples from the Four Great Families would be the fattest sheep.

If he could help them break through, his future would be bright. At this thought, Luo Tian grew excited, but forced himself to remain calm as he stepped forward, saying, "You may circulate your vital energy first; I’ll help you identify any issues."

"Yes, truly, thank you so much, Senior Brother Luo!" Chen Jiayang bowed slightly, his voice trembling with apparent excitement, yet a subtle, indescribable smile played at his lips.

Something’s not right, Tang Yueyan thought, watching Chen Jiayang closely. Though she wasn’t familiar with him, her limited knowledge told her he was proud and arrogant—a true outlier among the well-regarded Chen family, not particularly likable.

"No need for formalities; we’re both disciples of the Divine Sun Sect, brothers in arms," Luo Tian felt a touch of suspicion. Ordinarily, someone feeling grateful and excited would look up at their benefactor—why was this guy still bowing his head? Was he so moved he might cry? It didn’t seem right.

He remembered Sun Huangkun, who had lowered himself to fish for information, and thought of Qian Bo, whose corpse was surely cold and rotting by now. Luo Tian became extra cautious.

Never intend to harm others, but always be wary. Even if the world is full of good people, you can’t guarantee you’ll never meet a bad one. Better safe than sorry.

A blue glow radiated from Chen Jiayang, indicating he had fully stabilized at the early stage of the Seventh Cycle, both feet firmly planted in this realm, his strength solid.

"Let’s see how it goes—can Luo Tian really instruct a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator?" Tang Yu became more serious, though his tone still carried a hint of laziness. "If he’s truly capable, maybe he’ll end up renamed Tang Tian or Chen Tian!"

Chen Qingshan ignored him, simply watching the events unfold on the battle platform.

As Chen Jiayang began to circulate his vital energy and prepared to sit cross-legged, Luo Tian moved to within a few steps of him.

Now!

With a sinister grin, Chen Jiayang’s crouched body sprang up like a coiled spring, his feet pushing off, launching himself at Luo Tian like a cannonball.

Rising, punching—all in one seamless motion!

The attack happened so suddenly that, even as Chen Jiayang’s fist neared Luo Tian’s chest, some disciples below hadn’t even processed what was happening.

What’s going on? Wasn’t he supposed to be seeking guidance from Senior Brother Luo?

After a brief moment, everyone caught on, and a wave of anger surged in their hearts. Pretending to seek instruction only to launch a sneak attack—such behavior was utterly vile and infuriating!

What a scoundrel!

Tang Yueyan rolled her eyes. Honestly, while it was a dishonorable move, Luo Tian’s loss wouldn’t be undeserved—trusting others so easily was asking for trouble.

Luo Tian’s smile hadn’t faded yet; blue light flared from his body. This fellow truly wasn’t trustworthy!

At that instant, Luo Tian instinctively recalled the image of a serpent slithering across the ground. His repeated practice of the body-refining secret arts had ingrained a reflex into his body, faster than thought itself. His feet dug into the ground like stakes, while his thighs, waist, and torso twisted as if boneless, allowing his upper body to swerve perfectly aside, narrowly evading Chen Jiayang’s surprise attack!

How could this be?

Chen Jiayang’s face flashed with astonishment.

Body-refining secret arts!

Tang Yu and Chen Qingshan exchanged glances, a look of understanding passing between them. Without intensive training in body-refining techniques, it would be impossible to react so swiftly. But Luo Tian was a common-born disciple—how had he mastered the arts to such a degree, on par with the Four Great Families’ disciples?

Moreover, Luo Tian’s cultivation had advanced again, reaching the Seventh Cycle of Qi Condensation!

What kind of cultivation speed was this?

The same question plagued Shen Lingfeng, whose face was ashen. Though confident in his own strength, seeing Luo Tian—who had trampled the Shen family’s disciples—rise to such heights so quickly made him deeply uncomfortable.

Luo Tian snorted coldly. He had offered to guide Chen Jiayang for a paltry three hundred contribution points and a wave of experience, but Chen Jiayang not only refused, he had used the opportunity to attack him!

Even though Luo Tian was prepared, he was still quite annoyed.

Chen Jiayang thought he had the element of surprise, but he didn’t know Luo Tian was ready as well, causing him to panic first. To lull Luo Tian, Chen Jiayang couldn’t even gather his strength, sacrificing power for speed. But Luo Tian, acting second yet prepared, had the advantage—and he was fully confident in his own abilities!

Supporting his body with just his left foot, Luo Tian bent his right knee sharply and drove it into Chen Jiayang’s abdomen.

"Ugh—"

Chen Jiayang couldn’t manage any defense; a wave of pain exploded through his body, the force so intense his eyes nearly bulged. A moment of breathlessness left him unable to cry out, only emitting a muffled groan.

Luo Tian, upset by the betrayal and loss of contribution points and experience, struck ruthlessly. After the knee strike, he immediately raised his right hand and slammed it down on Chen Jiayang’s back.

"Aargh—"

First the abdomen, then the back—these two heavy blows nearly made Chen Jiayang vomit everything inside him. He felt utterly drained, unable to resist, his mouth agape as if gasping for air like a dying fish out of water.

It was unbearable, absolutely unbearable.

With a thud, Chen Jiayang collapsed heavily to the ground.

Satisfying!

Luo Tian stepped back leisurely, quickly reviewing his own performance in his mind. The fluid use of serpent and ape techniques had become second nature to him, and although he’d only moved a few times, he felt immensely pleased.

Tang Yu quirked his mouth awkwardly, "Your Chen family’s reputation just took a massive hit."

Chen Qingshan’s face was grave. The cultivation world was a place of survival of the fittest, cold and ruthless, but cultivators should maintain some bottom line. Pretending to seek instruction only to launch a sneak attack—how was that any different from common bandits?

Most crucially, he was immediately smacked down, failing to gain anything from his trick.

Truly disgraceful!

"Despicable!"

"Shameless! I can’t believe you’d do something like this, Chen Jiayang!"

"Utterly shameless! How can you betray Senior Brother Luo’s kindness?"

The outer disciples of common birth now saw through Chen Jiayang’s intentions, and were indignant. While most had little personal connection to Luo Tian, this was the perfect chance to vent their grievances.

Disciples from the Four Great Families enjoyed regular allocations of cultivation resources and guidance from family elders—other outer disciples received no such benefits, forced to struggle for everything. Naturally, they felt resentful.

Now, finding such an opportunity, they seized it, at least to vent their frustration.

No matter how displeased or upset the Chen family might be, they would have to swallow their humiliation and endure.

Chen Jiayang, a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator with strong body refinement, recovered after a few breaths. He noted Luo Tian’s cultivation and realized he had no certainty of victory, especially in his current state.

"I—I concede!" Chen Jiayang stood, head still bowed, muttered his defeat, and turned to leave the stage.

"Bah, scoundrel!"

"Shameless bastard, I despise you!"

The audience of outer disciples continued their verbal assault on Chen Jiayang, once so arrogant among the Four Great Families.

"Stop!" Luo Tian circulated his vital energy in his throat, recalling the tiger’s roar, and instinctively imitated it.

To his surprise, it worked powerfully. The shout not only halted Chen Jiayang, but even the outer disciples below felt their spirits shaken, unable to move rashly.

Liu Neng’s eyes lit up immediately.

"I’ve already conceded—what more do you want?" Chen Jiayang didn’t turn, his voice bitter.

He had sacrificed reputation and face only to be beaten mercilessly—who could be happy about that?

"Junior Brother Chen, what do you take me for? I am your senior brother!" Luo Tian, unwilling to let go of this chance to win over the Four Great Families’ disciples—never mind the three hundred contribution points, but he wouldn’t waste that valuable experience—made one last effort: "Between brothers, using a little strategy in sparring is no big deal, but as fellow disciples of the Divine Sun Sect, we should be more mindful in the future."

He paused, then, with a hopeful tone, asked, "Are there any questions in your cultivation? I can teach you!"

Friends in the review section, I’ve read all your comments and suggestions—how did this chapter feel to you?