It was that one glance.
He was struck as if by lightning.
His eyes widened continuously, revealing an expression of utter surprise and profound dread.
There was absolutely no mistake.
He would recognize this figure even if he were reduced to ashes!
More than ten days ago, when he attended the Dark Martial Assembly, he had personally witnessed this very person slay the six great protectors of the Dark Martial Hall and Young Master Mo Xie, and finally, cut the Dark Martial Hall Master, a dignified Heavenly Origin realm martial arts grandmaster, in two…
"Mr… Mr. Ling!"
His lips trembled as he uttered the name.
At that moment, alchemist Qian’s mind flashed with realization.
He shivered from head to toe.
His gaze fixed intently on Ling Fan's retreating back.
That head of grey hair…
He finally understood why the voice from earlier had sounded so familiar.
"Crack!"
Alchemist Qian suddenly stood with his feet together, his body almost parallel to the ground at a ninety-degree angle, and bowed deeply towards Ling Fan's back.
"Qian Yuan of the Pill Pavilion, greetings, Mr. Ling!"
The turn of events was too abrupt.
Everyone present was stunned, as if struck by thunder.
They couldn't process what was happening.
How could the arrogant Alchemist Qian and He Jingtang, who had been so imposing moments ago, have their attitudes change by a hundred and eighty degrees!
They were actually so subservient to Ling Fan!
Lan Tianxiong, Li Huimei, Lan Junjie, and Lan Xueyi, the four of them, were relatively calm.
This was because they knew Ling Fan's true strength.
If Alchemist Qian and He Jingtang also knew Ling Fan's true power, their reaction wouldn't be entirely unexpected.
However, their second aunt, third aunt, Sun Jian, and the Nong Xiu Yu sisters were completely unprepared.
They were dumbfounded on the spot!
How could this be?
Was the third child’s useless live-in son-in-law they saw not a good-for-nothing at all, but rather someone with an unfathomable background and status!
Otherwise, why would such important figures as Alchemist Qian and He Jingtang be so humble before Ling Fan!
"He… isn't he a good-for-nothing? Why are you… you so scared of him? Heh heh, you… you must have mistaken him for someone else. Your eyes are truly blind!"
As Sun Jian spoke, he spewed out a mouthful of alcohol fumes.
Seeing Alchemist Qian and He Jingtang so fearful of Ling Fan, which he found incredibly galling, his heart burned with jealousy.
"Good-for-nothing? How dare you insult Mr. Ling, you bastard!"
*Slap!*
He Jingtang lunged forward and, without preamble, slapped Sun Jian hard across the face.
Sun Jian's teeth were knocked out, and he crashed through a row of screens like a dead dog, rolling onto the floor.
The entire room fell silent, a chilling hush descending.
No one dared to question Ling Fan's standing anymore.
Alchemist Qian and this sinister and fierce He Jingtang truly knew Ling Fan.
And they feared him as if he were a tiger!
"Mr. Ling, Jingtang did not know you were here, and I have offended your family greatly. I beg for your forgiveness!"
He Jingtang lowered his head deeply, like a naughty student awaiting punishment from a teacher, his anxiety palpable.
Ling Fan said calmly, "You spoke disrespectfully to my father-in-law. Slap yourself twenty times."
"Yes!"
He Jingtang let out a long sigh of relief.
It was as if Ling Fan's command for him to slap himself twenty times was an act of immense leniency.
*Slap, slap, slap…*
Without hesitation, He Jingtang slapped himself twenty times, alternating hands, each strike delivered with full force.
His originally delicate and handsome face immediately became swollen, covered in red finger marks.
Yet, he seemed oblivious to it.
He stood respectfully before Ling Fan.
Ling Fan waved his hand dismissively and said, "You may leave. Also, go back and tell Liu Han to warn all members of the Dark Martial Hall and inform all powerful figures in the underground world that they are forbidden from offending my father-in-law Chu Tianxiong's family. Any further transgressions will result in self-execution."
Liu Han!
Upon hearing this name.
The second aunt and third aunt trembled again.
Could this Liu Han that Ling Fan mentioned be the new leader of the Dark Martial Hall!
So Ling Fan actually knew Liu Han.
No wonder even He Jingtang was so afraid of him; it was all because of Liu Han.
"Yes!"
He Jingtang bowed respectfully and retreated backward.
Alchemist Qian also bowed deeply to Ling Fan. His eyes held no trace of negativity, but rather an incomprehensible fervor and reverence.
Outside the private room.
Manager Jin watched Alchemist Qian and He Jingtang leave.
His heart churned with immense waves of emotion!
From the god-like reverence Alchemist Qian and He Jingtang showed Ling Fan, and their way of addressing him, his mind couldn't help but connect him to a certain individual!
Places like Jiang Helou, which were privy to all sorts of information, knew almost everything that happened in Tianchu City, big or small.
More than ten days ago.
The Dark Martial Hall was suddenly annihilated.
Although no one knew the origin of that mysterious grandmaster.
It was rumored that the mysterious grandmaster… was surnamed Ling!
And that mysterious grandmaster was said to be less than twenty years old, a veritable prodigy!
His hair…
Was also grey!
Furthermore.
A few days ago.
Invited by the Governor's third young master Chu Tiankuang and sixth young master Chu Tianlong.
Chang Lu Chun, a Xuan-rank alchemist master from the Liuyun Kingdom, arrived in Tianchu City with his disciples, making a grand spectacle to refine pills and heal the Governor.
However, it ultimately ended without resolution, and they left dejectedly.
According to intelligence from Jiang Helou.
The pills refined by Master Chang not only failed to heal the Governor but almost caused the Governor's fire poison to erupt and kill him.
The Pavilion Master of the Pill Pavilion, Liu Miaoshou, who accompanied him, along with Alchemist Qian and others, were helpless.
Finally…
A young, unknown alchemist stepped forward.
He refined a top-grade Xuan-rank low-tier treasure pill with thirty-nine pill patterns, saving the Governor's life!
And that impossibly young alchemical prodigy…
Was also surnamed Ling!
Connecting these clues, Manager Jin made a bold guess.
He couldn't help but steal a glance into the private room.
Looking at Ling Fan's grey-haired back, his heart was filled with even greater shock. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"If this person is that mysterious grandmaster and alchemical prodigy, then everything makes sense…"
"Good heavens… I think I've discovered a tremendous secret!"
Just as Manager Jin was trembling with shock.
Inside the private room.
Everyone was looking at Ling Fan as if he were a monster.
Especially the second aunt, third aunt, and the Nong Xiu Yu sisters, who could hardly believe what they had just witnessed.
Was this still the useless son-in-law of the third child's family?
As for Sun Jian…
He had been knocked unconscious by He Jingtang's slap and had not yet woken up.
The second aunt climbed up from the floor, her face swollen like a pig's head, covered in bloodstains from being slapped.
She first crept cautiously to the door.
To confirm if Alchemist Qian and the fearsome He Jingtang had truly left.
Seeing that there was no one outside the private room except Manager Jin.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She abruptly pulled the private room door shut.
Then, she glared at Ling Fan with intense venom and berated him, "Since you know Alchemist Qian and that He Jingtang, and they are so afraid of you, why didn't you step forward earlier? Why did you wait until He Jingtang was dealing with the third child before you intervened!"