C24 Laughing Tiger

As Lin Tian stood encircled by the group of young men, their anger boiled over. Some were on the verge of unleashing a torrent of curses when a voice cut through the tension.

"Haha, Junior Brother Lin, my apologies."

With that, a youth clad in white strode into the center, flashing a smile at Lin Tian. "My brother lacks sense. Please accept my apology on his behalf."

He bowed slightly, hands clasped together in a traditional gesture, leaving the onlookers stunned.

"Is that Ye Hsing? The Ye family's second prodigy!"

"Wow, Ye Hsing really did come back! And it seems he's here specifically for Lin Tian!"

Murmurs of astonishment spread like wildfire. Lin Tian, with a slight squint, took Ye Hsing's measure.

After a brief pause, Lin Tian responded with a mocking nod, "Fine, since you've apologized, take your worthless brother and leave."

"What?!"

The crowd gasped, incredulous at Lin Tian's audacity to insult Ye Feng as 'trash' right to Ye Hsing's face!

It was as if he had insulted Ye Hsing himself!

Ye Hsing's smile briefly stiffened, then he nodded, his grin returning. "Haha, Junior Brother Lin Tian truly is a bold young hero, speaking so candidly. Very well, we'll leave it at that. I look forward to seeing your skills firsthand during the assessment."

With that, Ye Hsing actually led the unconscious Ye Feng away.

The crowd watched, dumbfounded. They couldn't fathom how Ye Hsing could swallow such an affront without a flicker of rage.

Lin Tian's smirk deepened as he turned back to the young men still surrounding him. "What are you waiting for? Do you want to end up like that piece of trash, Ye Feng?"

"Damn it!"

The young men spat out in fury, but then Ye Hsing's voice drifted back to them from a distance.

"Hehe, my fellow disciples, come back. This is between the Ye family and Lin Tian. There's no need for you to intervene."

With a shift in their gaze and a cold huff, the young men shot Lin Tian a final glare and dispersed.

Though they seethed at Lin Tian's insults, they recognized his formidable strength. Having just witnessed Ye Feng's defeat, they knew they had their own assessments to consider and were not eager to clash with Lin Tian just yet.

As they watched them depart, the crowd's reverence for Lin Tian deepened.

In such a setting, he had the power to silence them and send them on their way.

This was, undeniably, a testament to his strength!

Zhao Hai, standing by Lin Tian's side, gazed at him with unabashed admiration. However, his expression soon shifted to one of concern. "Senior Brother Lin, I fear that..."

"Let me reiterate, it's of no consequence."

Lin Tian smiled, clapping Zhao Hai on the shoulder. "Whoever it is, if they face me in the upcoming assessment, I will steamroll right over them."

Zhao Hai and Kong Ling were visibly shaken by his words, nodding in agreement.

"Haha, so this is Junior Brother Lin Tian? Such a commanding presence, truly impressive!"

But no sooner had Lin Tian's words settled than a new voice echoed from nearby. A fresh group of youths had approached.

Leading them was none other than Xu Zhan!

Flanking Xu Zhan were several young people radiating arrogance, among them Zhang Ye of the Zhang family. Upon laying eyes on Lin Tian, Zhang Ye's gaze was immediately saturated with loathing.

Lin Tian turned to look their way, offering Zhang Ye nothing but a dismissive, cool smile before turning his attention to Xu Zhan.

With a gracious smile, Xu Zhan greeted him, "Junior Brother Lin Tian, I am Xu Zhan."

"What do you want?"

Lin Tian's response was curt, leaving those around them at a loss for words. Xu Zhan's entourage scowled, their disdain for Lin Tian palpable.

In their view, Xu Zhan was a peerless prodigy. His courteous approach to Lin Tian should have been met with trepidation, yet Lin Tian's tone was anything but deferential, fueling their ire.

"Uh... Hehe, nothing really. I was simply captivated by Junior Brother Lin Tian's tactics and wished to befriend him."

Xu Zhan, momentarily taken aback, quickly recovered with a smile.

"Friends? You and I cannot be friends."

Lin Tian's laugh was icy, "It's best we each go our own way."

The atmosphere grew tense as the young men beside Xu Zhan exchanged dark looks. Zhang Ye was about to retort when Xu Zhan cut in with a hearty laugh, "Fair enough. If we can't be friends, then let's be rivals. We'll take our leave."

As Xu Zhan spoke, he turned on his heel and walked away.

A glint of cold light flashed in his eyes as he departed, a clear sign of his indignation. He had never suffered such an insult before!

"Hmph, some people just don't appreciate kindness! If you're going to be so ungrateful, then rest assured, I'll make sure to end you when we cross paths!" he vowed silently, his heart filled with icy resolve as he and his companions disappeared into the distance.

The onlookers were left speechless by the exchange, but Lin Tian remained unfazed, continuing to stand his ground and wait.

"Senior Brother Lin, Xu Zhan is no ordinary opponent. He hails from the Inner Sect's Xu family, and not only is the family patriarch an Inner Sect Elder, but he's also an Imperial Censor of the Celestial Dragon Country, holding a position of great authority. Xu Zhan himself has reached Martial Cultivator Level Five and is highly regarded within the Inner Sect," Zhao Hai explained with a grave tone.

"He's also incredibly adept at concealing his true capabilities. He was once on par with Zhang Ye from the Zhang family among the Inner Sect disciples, yet he willingly deferred to Zhang Ye, addressing him as 'Senior Brother.' But in less than a year, he's ascended to Martial Cultivator Level Five, and now many of Zhang Ye's former followers have switched their allegiance to him. He's a master of strategy."

"I've noticed," Lin Tian replied with a nod, recognizing Xu Zhan's cunning nature. It wasn't just his high level of cultivation that was noteworthy; Xu Zhan had actually achieved Martial Cultivator Level Six, yet he presented himself as Level Five, a testament to his deceitful and calculating ways.

"But he's not a concern. When we face off, I'll take care of him," Lin Tian added confidently. Zhao Hai and Kong Ling nodded, albeit still somewhat bewildered, choosing to say no more.

As always, Lin Tian's words instilled an inexplicable trust in them. They took his words as gospel, without question.

Meanwhile, as the disturbance on the platform subsided, the high platforms surrounding the area had filled with many distinguished guests. These were the luminaries of the Celestial Dragon Country—officials and heads of prominent families alike—who settled into their seats, engaging in lively conversation.

"Please take a seat, Great Master Zhao," came a voice as Liu Maohai, the Prime Minister of Celestial Dragon Country, arrived at the viewing platform with a group in tow. He gestured invitingly to Zhao Danhua, and they both took their seats with ease. Liu Muer sat below them, her face the picture of respect.

"Great Master Zhao, you must have caught that lively display earlier," chuckled Liu Maohai, settling into his seat. "I must admit, I was taken aback to learn that Xu Zhan, the son of the Imperial Censor from the Xu family, has reached Martial Cultivator Level Five. That's the Middle Stage for a martial artist, and at just sixteen, he's truly a prodigy. He outshines my Muer by quite a margin. I have a feeling Xu Zhan is set to clinch the top spot in the assessments this time."

Zhao Danhua, however, didn't respond immediately, his gaze sweeping over the platform until it landed on Lin Tian. The difference in Lin Tian's aura was palpable; he was exuding the presence of a peak Level One Martial Cultivator. A sense of relief washed over Zhao Danhua, and a smile broke across his face. He had indeed chosen well in this young man.

In what had been less than a month, Lin Tian had soared from a Level Four Martial Apprentice to a Level One Martial Cultivator. Such rapid progress hinted at the guidance of a true master.

"Great Master Zhao?" Liu Maohai's voice pulled Zhao Danhua from his observations, prompting a second call. Zhao Danhua turned with an apologetic smile, "My apologies, Prime Minister. I was just observing a friend and didn't catch your question."

"A friend?" Liu Maohai raised an eyebrow, glancing at the young faces on the platform before adding with a smile, "May I ask which friend has caught Great Master Zhao's attention? Surely not one of these youngsters?"

"It must be Lin Tian," interjected Liu Muer, her eyes sparkling with recognition. Liu Maohai's expression shifted with intrigue, but Zhao Danhua simply nodded, affirming with a smile, "Indeed, it's Lin Tian. He's a dear friend of mine. Muer, remember what I've told you before? You must extend every courtesy to him and show him the utmost respect."

Liu Muer's heart skipped a beat. She quickly nodded in response, "Rest assured, Master, I always remember. I wouldn't dare forget."

"Hehe, now I'm really curious. Just who is this Lin Tian that even Great Master Zhao holds him in such high regard?" Liu Maohai chuckled as he spoke.

"Father, Lin Tian is merely a disciple from the Outer Sect of the Celestial Dragon Sect."

"Is that so?" Liu Maohai was taken aback once more. He had assumed Lin Tian belonged to some noble family, but after racking his brain, he couldn't place a Lin among the prominent houses. And now, to find out he was just an ordinary disciple?

Liu Maohai's gaze naturally shifted to Zhao Danhua, who simply smiled back, offering no explanation. His eyes, filled with expectation, remained fixed on Lin Tian, who stood on the platform.

From the moment Lin Tian had resolved the issue within his body, Zhao Danhua had sensed that there was something extraordinary about him. Whether Lin Tian had a powerful mentor, a secret to his strength, or something else entirely, one thing was clear—Lin Tian was no ordinary individual. This conviction only grew stronger upon meeting him again.

Zhao Danhua was confident that supporting Lin Tian would bring benefits. The nature of these benefits was unclear, but he believed a significant reward would come his way in the future.

"Hehe, to think the Prime Minister himself has graced us with his presence. My apologies for not greeting you sooner, Prime Minister Liu," came another voice. Ye Hong, the Patriarch of the Ye Family, approached with Ye Dao and the rest of his kin, greeting Liu Maohai with a respectful fist salute.

"Haha, Patriarch Ye, you're too kind. I came uninvited and have imposed upon you. It's I who should be sorry for not giving you the chance to welcome me," Liu Maohai replied with a hearty laugh, rising to return the gesture.

Liu Maohai was well aware of his own status as Prime Minister, a man second only to the monarch in the Celestial Dragon Country. Yet, Ye Hong was a force to be reckoned with—an Inner Sect Elder of the Celestial Dragon Sect and the Hall Master of the Outer Sect's Law Enforcement Hall.

Considering the close ties between the Celestial Dragon Sect and the Imperial Family, Ye Hong's power and influence were immense. It was only fitting for Liu Maohai to show him due respect.

"Haha, Prime Minister, you're too kind. Please, have a seat."

Ye Hong swiftly gestured for Liu Maohai to sit, then joined him with his own entourage taking seats nearby.

As they settled, Ye Hong turned to Zhao Danhua with a warm smile and a respectful bow. "Might this be Great Master Zhao Danhua? Recently, members of my Ye Family inadvertently caused offense to you, Great Master Zhao. I sincerely hope you can overlook the incident."

With that, Ye Hong signaled Ye Dao with a knowing glance. Ye Dao promptly rose, retrieved a storage bag, and presented it with both hands to Zhao Danhua.

"Great Master Zhao, this bag contains one hundred varieties of medicinal herbs, each aged over twenty years. Please accept this as an apology from the Ye Family, and I trust you will find it in your heart to forgive us."