After a brief moment of shock, all the spectators snapped back to reality, and countless discussions erupted. The white jade plaza in front of the City Lord’s mansion was in a frenzy.
The powerful families of Jiangnan City, however, wore extremely solemn expressions.
They seemed to witness the sinking of a proud sun and the gradual rise of another, even more blazing and terrifying sun!
If Ling Fan, this peerless prodigy, did not meet an untimely end, then for the next few decades, Jiangnan City would likely be shrouded in his shadow.
As for the geniuses from various major families and forces, such as Tan Tianyang, Huo Wuguang, Wu Jianxin, Lu Qingniu, and Ding Ku, their faces were filled with dejection and melancholy.
In the face of Ling Fan’s terrifying and overwhelming combat power, they felt a profound sense of powerlessness and despair.
They were still far from being a match for Li Qingxuan.
Let alone Ling Fan, who could defeat Li Qingxuan!
It was important to note that Ling Fan was currently only at the peak of the Meridian Opening realm. Once he entered the Qi Refining realm or even the Profound Gang realm, he would likely be unrivaled.
By then, the gap between them and Ling Fan would only widen, making it impossible to even catch a glimpse of him.
On the Lan family’s side, everyone, including Lan Tianxiong, Li Huimei, Lan Junjie, and Lan Xueyi, was almost dizzy with excitement from the sudden victory.
Especially Lan Xueyi, who stared blankly at the magnificent Ling Fan on the stage, momentarily stunned, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions.
Within the Lan family, only Han Qing seemed to have lost all support for her pride, collapsing onto the ground listlessly, her eyes vacant.
Ling Fan glanced down, his gaze sweeping across the excited faces of the Lan family members, not even looking at Han Qing. His gaze finally landed on Lan Xueyi.
A rare smile appeared on his usually ice-cold face, and then he slowly walked off the battle stage towards Lan Xueyi.
All eyes were involuntarily drawn to the two of them.
Ling Fan, as if no one else were present, walked directly to Lan Xueyi.
“How is it? Your husband isn’t too bad, is he?”
Ling Fan said with a faint smile.
Lan Xueyi, being the focus of so many gazes, felt a surge of shyness. Her face quietly flushed red, and she nodded almost inaudibly.
“Not bad at all, not bad at all…”
“Let’s go! Home.”
Ling Fan suddenly scooped Lan Xueyi up by the waist, causing the jade beauty in his arms to exclaim, “Don’t do this! So many people are watching. Put me down first!”
Lan Xueyi’s face was so flushed it seemed she could drip water. Her delicate, boneless body struggled slightly.
“Don’t fidget. You’re seriously injured. You’re my wife, what’s wrong with a husband carrying his wife?”
Ling Fan’s calm words carried a hint of undeniable dominance. Lan Xueyi finally gave up struggling, burying her head deeply into Ling Fan’s chest in embarrassment.
Ling Fan then walked away, carrying Lan Xueyi in his arms.
It was as if the title of First Place in the Jiangnan City Martial Arts Competition and the ownership of the fire crystal mine were insignificant matters; the jade beauty in his arms was the most precious.
Seeing this scene, countless women in Jiangnan City’s eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
They wished they could be in her place, to be the one Ling Fan was holding.
…
“Home, home!”
Lan Junjie shouted excitedly.
“Dad, you always said I couldn’t drink because I hadn’t turned fifteen yet. No matter how much you stop me today, I’m going to get drunk! That’s true satisfaction!”
“Hahaha!”
Lan Tianxiong laughed heartily at Lan Junjie’s words.
If he had heard Lan Junjie speak to him like this before, he would have slapped him. But today, for the first time, he didn’t scold him. Instead, he said, “Alright, today I’ll make an exception and let you drink to your heart’s content. Your old man will drink with you! Isn’t your brother-in-law a great drinker? Call him over too.”
After all, he had been a dissolute young master for so many years; drinking was his specialty.
“Nonsense! Your brother-in-law is such an outstanding person, a peerless prodigy among millions. What dissolute young master? Don’t let me hear you say that again!” Li Huimei glared at Lan Junjie.
Lan Junjie stuck out his tongue.
He grumbled inwardly.
You were the one who looked down on my brother-in-law the most before, calling him a good-for-nothing and a wastrel. Now, your attitude has done a complete 180-degree turn.
“Patriarch, I’ve come to ask for a drink too!”
Li Shan’s excited face was flushed.
“Good!”
Lan Tianxiong said heartily.
“Patriarch, count me in!”
“Count me in too!”
A group of Lan family experts chimed in enthusiastically.
“Alright, everyone come! Today, our Lan Mansion will celebrate all night long, and we won’t return until we’re drunk!”
…
After the Lan family members escorted Ling Fan and Lan Xueyi away.
The spectators on the white jade plaza slowly dispersed, still feeling unsatisfied.
Unparalleled!
All the spectators felt immense emotion.
They imagined that once everyone in Jiangnan City knew this news, the entire city would be shaken.
…
Indeed, when the news spread that Ling Fan, the former useless son-in-law, had displayed unparalleled martial prowess and forcefully defeated Li Qingxuan, who had advanced to the Profound Gang realm, the entire Jiangnan City was in an uproar!
Who would have thought that Ling Fan was not only a rare talent in forging weapons of the Yellow Grade but also a hidden martial arts prodigy!
This was even more unbelievable to them than the sun rising from the west.
It was like having a penniless beggar by your side, and then suddenly being told that this beggar was not only not poor but was actually a super-rich magnate whose wealth could rival a nation.
In the City Lord’s mansion.
Still in that dim and oppressive grand hall.
The figure, as still as a clay sculpture, stood with his back to everyone, unmoving.
Behind him, led by the City Lord’s mansion commander, who was in the Profound Gang realm, a group of City Lord’s mansion experts bowed their heads deeply, kneeling on the ground, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
Li Qingxuan lay on the ground, consumed by shame!
“Father, I… I failed!”
The clay-sculpture-like figure slowly turned around. His face bore a striking resemblance to Li Qingxuan, only more imposing and more sinister.
Two cold beams of light suddenly shot from his eyes, falling upon Li Qingxuan’s terrible injuries.
After a long while, a storm seemed to brew in the hall, and the clay-sculpture-like voice said coldly, “You are crippled! Good, good, good. To dare cripple my Li Yuanzheng’s son, then the entire Lan family will pay with their lives!”
Under his furious wrath, the City Lord’s mansion experts became even more terrified. They trembled and pressed their bodies humbly against the ground, fearing the City Lord’s displeasure.
“Have the identity of that Ling Qingyun been investigated?”
Li Yuanzheng suddenly asked.
“Reporting to the City Lord, not yet! This Ling Qingyun appeared out of nowhere. Not only in Jiangnan City, but we have searched all the surrounding major cities, and we haven’t found even the slightest clue.”
The Profound Gang realm commander of the City Lord’s mansion quickly replied.
Although he was also a Profound Gang realm expert, a distinguished figure equivalent to the head of a major family outside, he dared not make the slightest mistake in front of this City Lord.
“This person can instantly kill Yun Qianlang, so his strength is likely more than just late Profound Gang realm. It’s understandable that this Ling Yun could defeat Qingxuan if he has such a mysterious powerful figure backing him. Before we ascertain the depth of this Ling Qingyun, the Lan family cannot be touched for now, at least not rashly.”
“Father, are we just going to let my revenge go like this?!”
Li Qingxuan suddenly flipped over, looking up at Li Yuanzheng, his eyes filled with infinite hatred.
He had gone from being the esteemed First Young Master of Jiangnan City to a cripple, like falling from heaven into hell.
All of this was thanks to Ling Fan!
How could he be reconciled to this blood feud?
“It’s inconvenient for us to act personally, but there are plenty of ways to test the Lan family. Go find the Liang Mountain Master of Mogan Mountain and tell him I have something to discuss with him.”