C4 Lu Tiancheng

"When I sparred with Lu Yu, I only exerted fifty percent of my effort. Despite that, my speed, strength, and the intensity of my Yuan Qi were still significantly superior to his."

"If I were to go all out, defeating an average practitioner at Layer Six of Body Tempering shouldn't be a challenge. The real question is the gap between me and someone at Layer Seven."

Mulling over this, Lu Chen arrived at the small courtyard. With a creak, he pushed open the wooden gate and stepped inside.

As always, Uncle Mo had been waiting at the dining table for quite some time. Lu Chen approached with a smile and took the initiative to reheat the cold dishes in the kitchen.

...

At the same time, in a grand hall of the Lu family estate, a group of seven or eight people had assembled.

Lu Hong, noticing that everyone was present, turned his attention to a strikingly handsome young man and inquired, "Cheng'er, why have you called us together so late?"

Lu Hong, the current head of the Lu family!

"Father, did you hear about the incident today where a member of our Lu family was crippled?" Lu Tiancheng rose from his seat and spoke to Lu Hong with respect.

"Over such a trivial matter?"

Lu Hong's brow furrowed, and his face betrayed his irritation. Such a minor issue had interrupted him.

Sensing his father's displeasure, Lu Tiancheng quickly explained, "Father, today, the one who crippled a member of our Lu family was Lu Chen!"

"If it's him, just take someone and deal with him..."

Lu Hong began dismissively, but he suddenly paused, a realization dawning on him. His eyes widened as he urgently asked, "What was the cultivation level of the crippled family member?"

"Layer Five!" Lu Tiancheng replied with a calm smile.

"Layer Five of Body Tempering? For a nobody to suddenly defeat a practitioner at Layer Five is exceedingly odd. Could it be..."

At this point, Lu Hong stood up abruptly, unable to contain a flicker of excitement in his eyes as he murmured to himself, "The Divine Weapon Fragment that was with Lu Wuya must be in the hands of that nobody. Otherwise, how could he possibly cripple a martial artist at Layer Five of Body Tempering?"

Lu Hong's excitement grew with every word he spoke. By the end, he was 70% certain. The Divine Weapon Fragment he had been searching for all these years was undoubtedly in Lu Chen's possession.

As soon as he made this declaration, the entire hall was astounded.

All the elders rose from their seats as one, their faces alight with excitement as they turned their gaze toward Lu Hong.

One elder's voice shook as he asked, "Young Patriarch, can this be true?"

Lu Tiancheng responded with a smile and a nod.

Lu Yu, who had been disabled by Lu Chen, was his right-hand man. All of Lu Yu's actions against Lu Chen had been at his behest.

Initially, Lu Tiancheng was furious upon hearing about Lu Yu's downfall. However, once he calmed down, he noticed something odd about the situation.

He came to the same conclusion as Lu Hong: Lu Chen was in possession of a valuable treasure, which was very likely the Divine Weapon Fragment the Lu family had been seeking for years!

This revelation led to the current turn of events.

"Father, since the Divine Weapon Fragment is in that waste's hands, should we..." he began, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"No!" The response came not from Lu Hong but from a grey-robed middle-aged man seated next to Lu Tiancheng. This man was the Great Elder of the Lu family, holding a rank just below the Patriarch, Lu Hong.

"This issue is too sensitive to risk any slip-ups. The life or death of that waste is trivial, but if the news leaks and alarms the other two major families in River City, or worse, the City Lord's office, our Lu family could become a target for all."

The Great Elder's resonant voice echoed through the hall, prompting nods of agreement from the other elders.

"I suggest we start with a diplomatic approach, urging him to voluntarily surrender the Divine Weapon Fragment. If he remains obstinate, then we can consider taking action," he proposed.

Lu Tiancheng looked visibly displeased and was about to object when Lu Hong cut him off.

With a gesture of his right hand, Lu Hong silenced the room, and in a gravelly tone, he decreed, "We shall proceed as the Great Elder has advised."

In the days that followed, Lu Chen was seen moving between the mountain's backside, the marketplace, and his family home.

One day, Lu Chen made his way back from the market, the run-down courtyard slowly coming into view. To his surprise, someone was standing at the gate, dressed like a servant.

The servant eyed Lu Chen as he approached, scrutinizing him from head to toe with his narrow eyes. Noticing Lu Chen's tattered clothing, the disdain was evident in his gaze.

"Are you Lu Chen?" The servant's voice was sharp, his question rhetorical.

Lu Chen's brow furrowed, clearly irritated by the servant's tone.

He responded icily, "What do you want?"

"My young master has summoned you. You are to present yourself at the Fuya Restaurant within half an hour," the servant stated, seemingly oblivious to the chill in Lu Chen's voice, his words bordering on an order.

"And who is your young master?" Lu Chen inquired.

At Lu Chen's question, the servant's sneer morphed into arrogance, his head tilting up proudly.

"Who else but the young master of the Lu family, Lu Tiancheng," the servant sneered, adding, "I've relayed the message. Make sure you're there within the half hour, or you'll know the consequences of crossing Young Master Lu in River City."

Fuya Restaurant was renowned as River City's premier establishment, raking in vast sums daily. Its clientele consisted exclusively of the city's elite, and significantly, it was backed by the Lu family, one of River City's three major families.

"Hold on, where did this beggar come from? Have you no idea what place this is? You have no right to enter."

Before he could step foot inside, Lu Chen was blocked by a guard at the restaurant's entrance, who looked him over with undisguised contempt.

Lu Chen glanced at his own wrinkled clothes but remained unfazed. He met the guard's eyes and commanded in a frosty tone, "Step aside!"

His voice was cold; he had no fondness for those who judged by appearances and saw no reason to be courteous.

The guard paused, a sneer forming on his lips as he said menacingly, "Scram. If you stir up trouble again, don't expect any courtesy from me."

The guard spoke with unwavering confidence, unafraid of offending anyone because he was backed by the powerful Lu family.

The commotion in front of the restaurant quickly drew the attention of passersby on Ting Tang Road. In no time, a crowd of dozens had formed, their gazes upon Lu Chen ranging from mocking to curious amusement.

They had seen their fair share of people like Lu Chen, who, believing themselves to have a bit of money and status, thought they could stir up trouble at the Elegant Rich Restaurant.

But such individuals often met with grim fates. The lucky ones were merely tossed out by the guards, while others were beaten to death.

Amidst the crowd's murmurs, Lu Chen shook his head, stepped back, and, ignoring the guard's menacing look, heaved a deep breath and bellowed three words: "Lu Tiancheng!"

His voice boomed, cutting through the din and reaching a window-side private room on the second floor.

The guard's face turned ashen. He stepped forward, his voice laced with menace, "Boy, you have no right to utter the young master's name."

As he spoke, he reached out, his Origin Power surging, and aimed a slap at Lu Chen's cheek.

Lu Chen's eyes glinted with a cold light as he raised his right palm. His reflexes were lightning-fast, and with a crisp snap, the guard howled in agony, flung through the air, and slumped against the door frame, collapsing in a heap.

Creak!

At that moment, the second-floor window swung open, and a handsome man peered out. His brow furrowed slightly at the sight below.

"Lu Chen, now that you're here, come up already," he called out.

Without a word, Lu Chen strode past the fallen guard and made his way to the second floor of the restaurant.

...

Inside the private room on the second floor, Lu Chen nonchalantly pulled out a chair and seated himself, facing the man before him.

The man appeared to be in his twenties, clad in an exquisite sky-blue robe adorned with ancient patterns stitched in silver thread. He was quite handsome, though his narrow eyes detracted somewhat from his looks.

Silently, Lu Chen picked up his chopsticks and delicately selected a piece of steamed bass, savoring the melt-in-your-mouth texture as a subtle, savory flavor filled his palate.

"Lu Tiancheng, what's the reason for summoning me here today?"

Lu Chen took a bite of his meal and sipped his wine before setting down his chopsticks and fixing his gaze on Lu Tiancheng to ask the question.

Lu Tiancheng's eyebrows lifted as he scrutinized Lu Chen, sensing something different about the man before him, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed.

Shaking his head slightly without dwelling on it, Lu Tiancheng's lips curled into a feigned smile. Tapping his fingers on the table, he spoke unhurriedly, "Lu Chen, let's not beat around the bush. Hand over the Divine Weapon Fragment."

At the mention of the "Divine Weapon Fragment," Lu Chen appeared puzzled, his brow furrowing as he inquired, "What's the Divine Weapon Fragment? I've never seen it."

Lu Tiancheng, as if he had anticipated this reaction, maintained his smile and replied, "Lu Chen, there's no need to rush to a refusal. If you surrender the Divine Weapon Fragment, the Lu family will ensure you're compensated fairly..."

His tone was even, yet it carried an undertone of condescension.

Lu Chen interrupted Lu Tiancheng mid-sentence with a dismissive wave of his hand.

A cold laugh echoed in Lu Chen's mind. The family wouldn't shortchange him?

What a farce, an utter farce. Did they truly take him for a fool?

Having assimilated the memories of this body's original owner, Lu Chen was acutely aware of the Lu family's indifference.

They had not only usurped the inheritance left by his father but had also expelled him from the family.

With these grievances in mind, even if he possessed the so-called "Divine Weapon Fragment," he had no intention of surrendering it.

Above all, he was determined to reclaim what was rightfully his on his own terms, not through the pity of others.

Lu Tiancheng's expression grew stern as he leaned forward on the table, asking in a measured tone, "Are you saying you refuse?"

The chill in Lu Tiancheng's voice was unmistakable, the threat clear as day.

Lu Chen's expression darkened in kind. He gave Lu Tiancheng a piercing look but refrained from further words. Standing up, he turned on his heel and made to leave.

Whoosh!

In the moment Lu Chen turned, a chilling glint erupted from Lu Tiancheng's eyes. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, hurtling toward Lu Chen.

"You ungrateful fool, you'll hand it over today whether you like it or not!" Lu Tiancheng roared, his fingers curled into claws as he lunged for Lu Chen's shoulder.

Sensing the icy gust behind him, Lu Chen's body tensed, and a frosty expression crossed his face. He whirled around, channeling all his elemental energy into his fist, and thrust his right fist forward with the force of a spear.

Bang!

Fist met claw in a fierce collision, the punch's momentum entwining with the claw's force, sending shockwaves through the air.

A ripping sound filled the room as the sleeve of Lu Chen's right arm burst open, revealing his muscular arm. His body shook violently, and he stumbled backward several steps, his face turning a shade paler.

Lu Tiancheng was in no better shape. His long hair disheveled, he staggered back, clumsily crashing into a table, dousing himself in vegetable juice and soup.

He looked utterly disheveled, akin to a beggar!

Lu Tiancheng quickly got to his feet, his gaze fixed on Lu Chen, thick with murderous intent and burgeoning greed.

Is this the might of the Divine Weapon Fragment? It's truly formidable. I must have it, at all costs!

Leaning against the wall, Lu Chen was oblivious to Lu Tiancheng's thoughts. He shook his slightly reddened fist and taunted, "Is that the extent of your power? You're nowhere near strong enough to hold me back!"

A mocking smile played on his youthful face as he spoke.

Lu Tiancheng's face turned a livid shade of green as he bellowed, "You wretch, the moment you entered this establishment, your fate was sealed by my hands! And yet, facing death, you can still muster a smile. I must say, I'm impressed."

Lu Chen scoffed, "Death? Are you capable of killing me? And more importantly, do you have the guts to do it?"

At those words, Lu Tiancheng's expression stiffened. True, he dared not kill Lu Chen for fear of losing the Divine Weapon Fragment. But what did it matter? If he could just cripple Lu Chen's cultivation and take him away, that would be enough.

Lu Chen, having lived through two lifetimes, could easily see through Lu Tiancheng's intentions.

"With the Lu family's influence, I'd be powerless to stop you if you decided to cripple me and take me away! But before you make your move, I'm confident I can spread the word about the Divine Weapon Fragment to every patron in this tavern."

Lu Chen's voice was soft and measured, seemingly devoid of any menace.

Yet, in that instant, Lu Tiancheng's gradual steps halted, his forehead veins throbbing, "Sharp-tongued, aren't you? Do you really think such words will ensure your safe departure from this tavern?"

"Hehe, are you about to take action?" Lu Chen covertly channeled his Yuan Qi, his gaze fixed on Lu Tiancheng.

He was ready to respond at the first sign of aggression.

Lu Tiancheng's expression stiffened, his fists clenching and unclenching before finally relaxing.

Relieved, Lu Chen began to slowly edge toward the exit.

Creak!

The wooden door swung open, and he departed without a backward glance.

Bang!

Back in the private room, Lu Tiancheng's face was a mask of icy fury. With a flick of his wrist, a sphere of searing red Yuan Qi burst forth, reducing the room's furniture to rubble.

"Fool, you dare to defy me? I swear, you'll soon beg for a death that won't come!"