Mu Hanqi winked at Ye Longlin as she spoke, her eyes filled with amusement.
Ye Longlin playfully tapped the little girl's nose, knowing full well Mu Hanqi was teasing him.
What's more, after speaking, the girl deliberately glanced at the three family patriarchs and asked with feigned confusion, "Do the family patriarchs not know that my aunt Murong Tianyun also appeared at the charity gala?"
Afterwards, she tilted her head, appearing genuinely puzzled.
Upon hearing this, the faces of the three family patriarchs turned slightly pale. They had indeed heard about this matter, but on that particular night, many had chosen to remain silent. The only confirmed detail was that Murong Tianyun, the third-in-command of the Murong family, had made an appearance, and she had a niece residing in the Southern Province. However, no news regarding Murong Tianyun's niece had surfaced until now.
But now they knew!
Mu Hanqi, by Ye Longlin's side, was none other than the niece of the Murong family's third-in-command!
This... If that were the case, it would mean that Ye Longlin's backing was the Murong family?
However, that wasn't necessarily true. If that were the case, where did Ye Longlin's personal martial prowess come from?
"Does the Murong family intend to interfere in the affairs of my Royal Clan?"
A voice suddenly boomed, and a figure in his fifties entered the room, exuding a strange aura, his sharp eyes fixed on Ye Longlin.
A hooked nose, phoenix eyes, thin lips.
He didn't look like a good person at all.
Ye Longlin met his gaze, a smile playing on his lips.
He had been waiting for this. His act as a pampered young master was intended to draw out this old man.
Information about the ninth elder of the Tian family was scarce, but from minor incidents, it was easy to infer that this person was exceptionally cautious. He wouldn't act rashly without certainty. The act was meant to lower his guard, and as expected, he had taken the bait.
Although Ye Longlin's earlier display had been shocking to the three family patriarchs, instilling fear, it was mere child's play to the ninth elder of the Tian family.
Half-step Martial Spirit!
Only a half-step Martial Spirit could perform such a feat, and this was the final move to lower the ninth elder of the Tian family's guard.
For a young man to reach the half-step Martial Spirit level was already extremely rare!
"This elder is very curious. As fellow half-step Martial Spirits, why could you, Ye Longlin, so easily suppress my clan's young master?"
Tian Jiu said sinisterly, his eyes narrowed at Ye Longlin, and that eerie atmosphere began to rise again.
Ye Longlin's lips curved into a playful smile. He pulled out a cigarette, and Mu Hanqi, smiling, lit it for him.
"Is there any possibility that I am not a half-step Martial Spirit?"
Upon hearing this, the patriarchs of the Li, Wang, Zhang, and Yang families changed their expressions drastically. If he wasn't a half-step Martial Spirit, then he must be a Martial Spirit!
Martial Spirit, that was a realm beyond normal comprehension!
Martial Spirit was a dividing line. Below Martial Spirit, one could still be called human, but above Martial Spirit, one possessed a trace of 'divinity'.
Tian Jiu shook his head, "Impossible. In the entirety of Great Xia, there hasn't been anyone who could break through to Martial Spirit before the age of thirty. As far as I know, there is only one such person in Great Xia, said to be the leader of the Dragon Pavilion. Are you trying to tell me you are the leader of the Dragon Pavilion?"
At this moment, another group of people poured in from outside. All of them were martial artists. There were only ten of them, but all ten were at the Martial Aspect realm, just one step away from the half-step Martial Spirit level!
In their midst, Tian Yifei, who had been crippled and suppressed, appeared in the center.
Even the Tian family could not produce half-step Martial Spirit experts at such a time. After all, half-step Martial Spirit experts had the potential to step into Martial Spirit, they were not consumables!
Ye Longlin nodded seriously, "You guessed correctly, but unfortunately, there's no reward."
Tian Yifei's eyes were filled with malice and hatred, his gaze as if he wanted to devour Ye Longlin whole!
The hatred stemming from the depths of his heart made him wish he could grind Ye Longlin into ashes!
"Ninth Elder, cripple him! I want to torture him thoroughly! And the woman beside him, I want him to watch as I toy with his woman!"
"I want to grind him into ashes, I want him to experience the torment of bone stripping, I want him to feel the agony of a thousand cuts, otherwise, my resentment will not be appeased!"
From birth, Tian Yifei had stood at the finish line, a height that countless people struggled a lifetime to reach. He possessed his pride.
But upon encountering Ye Longlin, his pride collapsed and shattered the moment it was trampled upon by Ye Longlin!
Even if his cultivation could be restored, the psychological damage inflicted by Ye Longlin could not be healed. That sense of powerlessness, of humiliation, he would remember it for a lifetime!
"As you command, Young Master."
Tian Jiu nodded, bowing slightly.
Even though he had been crippled by Ye Longlin, with the vast resources of the Tian family, it wasn't impossible to save him. As long as he wasn't dead, for families like theirs who pursued martial arts, there was no problem. The most crucial aspect was the mental block.
"The Young Master has spoken. Will you surrender obediently, or shall I take action?"
He spoke slowly, his gaze turning icy.
But at this moment, a waiter walked in and announced, "Sir, the dishes here are ready and can be served."
He then quickly retreated, as the atmosphere in the room was becoming too oppressive.
Ye Longlin turned to Lin Tian'ai and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Mu Hanqi blinked and nodded, "Yes."
Ye Longlin looked up, "Yuan Gang, I'll leave this to you."
With that, he stood up and led Mu Hanqi out.
Seeing that he was being ignored, a cold glint flashed in Tian Jiu's eyes, and he roared, "You're seeking death!"
The moment he moved, Yuan Gang also moved, blocking his path, revealing a row of white teeth and saying, "Your opponent is me."
Tian Yifei roared, "The rest of you, attack! Cripple Ye Longlin!"
The remaining ten people moved almost instantly as the words fell, forming a circle of encirclement, and various attacks rained down.
However, within three meters of Ye Longlin, everyone seemed to be frozen in time!
Witnessing such a bizarre scene, Tian Yifei took a deep breath and instinctively moved further away from Ye Longlin. But he only saw Ye Longlin extend his hand, and then calmly walk out, no one able to stop him!
When Ye Longlin reached the outside, he clenched his fist abruptly!
"Pfft, pfft, pfft—"
The ten people spat up blood uncontrollably. Before they could react, their bodies suddenly exploded, dying on the spot.
Tian Yifei was splattered with blood, and the entire scene resembled hell!
"Ye Longlin!!!!!!"