Chapter 5: The Elders' Challenge

The Yang Family's reception hall. At this moment, the high-ranking members of the Yang family stood in tense confrontation with the Xiao family. "Yang Daolin, look at my son! What has your son done to him? If you don't hand Yang Lingchen over today, don't blame me for being impolite!" Xiao Shuoming's voice was cold. "Xiao Shuoming, are you sure you're not joking?" Yang Daolin's face showed a puzzled expression. Yang Daolin found it impossible to believe that Yang Lingchen had crippled Xiao Jiji. After all, his son was only at the third level of the Yuan Gathering Realm, while Xiao Jiji had already reached the peak of the fifth level. "Father, you called for me?" Just then, Yang Lingchen walked in. When the Xiao family members saw Yang Lingchen enter, they all glared at him with furious eyes. Yang Daolin pointed at Xiao Jiji on the stretcher and asked, "Chen'er, did you do this to Xiao Jiji?" "Yes, I did. But he made the first move. I merely retaliated in self-defense, and there were many witnesses present at the time." Then, Yang Lingchen recounted the day's events, exactly as they had happened. "Yang Daolin, I won't waste any more words with you. Since Yang Lingchen crippled my son, I will cripple him today. If you dare to stop me, our two families will be sworn enemies from this day forward!" Xiao Shuoming declared coldly. "Patriarch, since this matter was caused by Yang Lingchen, he should be the one to handle it himself." The Yang family's First Elder, Yang Tiancheng, spoke with an indifferent tone. "Patriarch, I agree with the First Elder. As Young Master, Yang Lingchen spends his days neglecting his duties and causing trouble everywhere. You can't let our entire Yang family suffer because he's your son!" At this moment, the Third Elder, Yang Tianming, also stepped forward. "Hmph." Yang Daolin let out a cold snort, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Third Elder. Immediately, the Third Elder felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He lowered his head, not daring to utter another word. "Xiao Shuoming, the situation is very clear. Your son was unskilled and made the first move. Even if he was crippled, it was his own fault. If you wish to be an enemy of my Yang family, then by all means, try!" Yang Daolin said coldly. "Good, very good, Yang Daolin. I'd like to see how long you can protect him. Harming my son, this matter will not be settled so easily." Xiao Shuoming cast a sinister glance at Yang Lingchen, then led the Xiao family members away from the Yang residence. He chose to leave primarily because he was wary of Yang Daolin's strength. "Patriarch, Yang Lingchen is now fifteen years old. According to clan rules, if a Young Master cannot surpass his peers within the clan by the age of fifteen, the Elder Council has the right to remove him from his position." First Elder Yang Tiancheng said coldly. "Patriarch, I agree with the First Elder's opinion. Yang Lingchen is only at the third level of the Yuan Gathering Realm at fifteen. He truly isn't qualified to continue as our Yang family's Young Master." Fifth Elder Yang Beiyun spoke up. "Esteemed Elders, this Young Master believes your words have merit. May I ask who you deem worthy to replace me?" Yang Lingchen sneered, stepping forward. If he didn't speak up now, these old fogeys would truly treat him as if he weren't there. "This old man recommends First Elder's grandson, Yang Zihao. Yang Zihao is only sixteen, yet he has already reached the ninth level of the Yuan Gathering Realm. Even within the entire Hanyang City, he can be considered a top genius." Third Elder Yang Tianming said. "First Elder, what do you think?" Yang Lingchen looked at the First Elder. "This Elder believes Zihao has the strength and the qualifications to assume the position of Young Master." Yang Tiancheng said expressionlessly. "Very well. Don't say this Young Master didn't give you a chance. Tomorrow morning, at the family's martial arts arena, if Yang Zihao can defeat me, then the Young Master position will be his." Yang Lingchen said with a cold smile. Upon hearing this, Yang Tiancheng's lips curved into a faint smile. He looked at Yang Daolin and said, "Patriarch, what do you think?" In Yang Tiancheng's view, Yang Lingchen was simply looking for humiliation. For a waste at the third level of the Yuan Gathering Realm to defeat a master at the ninth level of the Yuan Gathering Realm was simply a pipe dream. "Just do as Chen'er says!" Yang Daolin frowned. At this moment, he also didn't know what his son was planning. However, according to clan rules, if the Young Master could not surpass his peers, the Elder Council indeed had the right to re-elect a Young Master. "Patriarch is wise! We shall take our leave." Yang Tiancheng laughed heartily, then exited the reception hall. At this moment, Yang Tiancheng felt extremely pleased. As long as his grandson became the Young Master, the future power of the Yang family would fall into his lineage's hands. "Chen'er, you were impulsive just now, do you know that?" Yang Daolin said in a deep voice. Originally, he could have used his position as Patriarch to stall for time, but now that his son had voluntarily proposed a match at the martial arts arena, he could no longer stop it. "Father, don't worry! I will definitely win tomorrow." After Yang Lingchen finished speaking, he channeled all his profound energy. Instantly, his strength at the peak of the ninth level of the Yuan Gathering Realm was fully revealed. "Whoa." Yang Daolin was immediately stunned by the scene before him. His son was only at the third level of the Yuan Gathering Realm, wasn't he? When did he break through to the peak of the ninth level? "The peak of the ninth level of the Yuan Gathering Realm? Chen'er, when did you break through to the peak of the ninth level?" Yang Daolin's face showed a look of shock. "Father, actually, I've been at the peak of the ninth level of the Yuan Gathering Realm for a while now. It's just that I'm a rather low-key person." Yang Lingchen said with an embarrassed smile. "Haha... Good, truly my son, Yang Daolin's son!" Yang Daolin laughed. Yang Daolin didn't believe a word of what Yang Lingchen said. This boy had been arrogant and overbearing since childhood; he was nothing like a low-key person! However, Yang Daolin didn't ask further. After all, it was his son's secret. "By the way, Chen'er, in half a month, the Heavenly Origin Palace will come to Hanyang City to recruit new disciples. You should try your best then." Yang Daolin said. "Don't worry, Father, I will do my best to strive for it." From Yang Daolin's eyes, Yang Lingchen saw a hint of a father's expectation for his child. Yang Lingchen was very interested in the Heavenly Origin Palace, as it was a top sect in the Northern Profound Region. Those who could enter the Heavenly Origin Palace were all top young talents in the Northern Profound Region. Since he had come to this world, Yang Lingchen certainly didn't want to live a mediocre life, so the Heavenly Origin Palace would be a place he absolutely had to go. Only by going to the Heavenly Origin Palace, in a place where geniuses gathered, could he grow rapidly. Just then, the butler, Yang Su, walked in and bowed, "Patriarch, City Lord Han has arrived." "Please, quickly!" Yang Daolin immediately said. Soon, Butler Yang Su led in a middle-aged man of extraordinary bearing. Behind the middle-aged man followed a young woman with fair skin and a beautiful appearance. The arrivals were none other than Han Tianling, the City Lord of Hanyang City, and his daughter, Han Ruoxue. The Han family, like the Yang family, was one of the four great families of Hanyang City. However, the Han family was the head of the four great families, and Han Tianling was also the City Lord of Hanyang City. Upon seeing Han Ruoxue, a tremor flashed through the depths of Yang Lingchen's soul, and then Han Ruoxue's memories flooded into his mind.