Chapter 9

The result of the battle was unexpected by everyone.

Luo Fei was an outstanding member of the younger generation, practicing middle-level martial arts. Unless one had an overwhelming advantage in strength, no one could easily defeat him.

However, Luo Zhen's strength was only four thousand two hundred pounds, which was a disadvantage compared to Luo Fei, with a difference of over one thousand six hundred pounds.

Therefore, the only possible reason for Luo Zhen's victory was that he used an extremely advanced martial art.

The Luo family was the most powerful cultivation family in Pingyang County, but in Jiangyue City, they were insignificant, let alone in the entire Donglin Prefecture. Therefore, the martial arts within the clan were relatively mediocre, mostly lower and middle-level, with very few upper-level martial arts, and no top-tier martial arts at all.

Younger generation members generally had to reach the fourth level of the True Qi Realm, 'Ganghua,' to practice upper-level martial arts. Therefore, Luo Fei practiced middle-level martial arts.

Luo Zhen's martial arts were clearly not learned within the clan but were directly taught by his father, Luo Ning.

Luo Ning had left Pingyang County and even Jiangyue City, once reaching the Golden Core Realm. His knowledge was far more diverse than any cultivator in Pingyang County, including several top-tier martial arts.

The 'Threefold Wave Power' was one of the top-tier martial arts, allowing the body to generate three layers of power, which, when combined, could almost triple the strength.

Over the past two and a half years, Luo Zhen trained to his limits during the day and practiced the martial arts taught by Luo Ning at night. His comprehension was exceptional, and he learned quickly. After three years, he had already mastered the 'Threefold Wave Power.' As long as his base strength was not too high, he could triple his strength.

The higher the base strength, the more difficult it was to amplify it. Currently, Luo Zhen could triple his strength up to ten thousand pounds. If his base strength exceeded ten thousand pounds, it would be difficult to achieve.

Tripling four thousand pounds to twelve thousand pounds was much easier than tripling ten thousand pounds to thirty thousand pounds. Although the amplification factor was the same, the higher the base strength, the greater the difficulty.

With one punch, Luo Zhen defeated Luo Fei and inflicted some injuries on him, making the other younger generation members no longer dare to look at Luo Zhen with contempt and ridicule.

Among those present, Luo Fei's strength was second only to Luo Yu and Jing Ting. If even he was not a match for Luo Zhen, the others were even less so, far from being Luo Zhen's equal.

Even Luo Yun, who had already entered the True Qi Realm, took a step back when Luo Zhen's gaze swept over him.

The only one with fighting spirit was Luo Yu.

Luo Yu's strength was over fourteen thousand pounds. Although he did not know to what extent Luo Zhen had amplified his strength to defeat Luo Fei, he was certain it did not exceed fourteen thousand pounds, or Luo Fei would have been more severely injured.

Since Luo Zhen's full amplification of strength could not surpass his own, and Luo Yu could amplify his strength to an even higher level with martial arts, Luo Zhen could not be his match.

"Luo Zhen, you can amplify your strength to such a degree, even defeating Luo Fei. It seems the family head has given you special treatment, teaching you an extremely powerful martial art...!"

Luo Yu stepped forward, his gaze sharp, and his tone changed:

"But that's useless. In the face of absolute strength, everything is trivial. My cultivation is already at the small success stage of the True Qi Realm, with a strength of over fourteen thousand pounds. Even without using martial arts, I can crush you. If I use martial arts, defeating you will be like slaughtering a chicken or a dog. Come on, unleash your strongest power, and I will defeat you at your peak."

The eyes of the other younger generation members sparkled. Luo Yu's strength was overwhelming. Even though Luo Zhen's defeat of Luo Fei was unexpected, there was no hope for him against Luo Yu.

Jing Ting was anxious, fearing that Luo Zhen would really fight Luo Yu. Just as she was about to speak, Luo Zhen laughed mockingly: "Who said I'm going to fight you? How old are you, and how old am I!"

Indeed, the gap between Luo Zhen and Luo Yu was too wide, with almost no chance of winning. Fighting would likely result in a loss for Luo Zhen, but not fighting was always an option. He was two years younger than Luo Yu, which was a good reason.

Luo Yu was taken aback, as if his punch had hit a cotton ball, full of strength but unable to release it.

"Today, I will make everyone know who is the best among the younger generation of the Luo family. Whether you fight or not is not up to you." Luo Yu gritted his teeth.

His goal today was to undermine Luo Zhen's dignity in front of Jing Ting and tarnish his image in her eyes. Instead, Luo Zhen defeated Luo Fei, not only failing to tarnish his image but making it even better, completely opposite to his intended result.

Now, he could only be aggressive. Regardless of whether Luo Zhen agreed, he would have to fight, defeating and humiliating Luo Zhen in front of Jing Ting.

"Hey, do you have any shame? You're fifteen, and Luo Zhen is only thirteen. He said he won't fight you, and you still insist!" Jing Ting stood in front of Luo Zhen, glaring at Luo Yu.

Luo Yu was stunned by Jing Ting's words. He wanted to tarnish Luo Zhen's image in her eyes, but now it seemed his own image was already ruined, making him look shameless.

Age was not an issue when no one paid attention, such as in the battle between Luo Zhen and Luo Fei. But when someone brought it up, age became a significant issue. Luo Zhen was thirteen, and Luo Yu was fifteen. Insisting on a fight against Luo Zhen's will was clearly unreasonable.

Seeing Jing Ting's anger, Luo Yu suppressed his fighting spirit and said, "I will always be two years older than him. Does that mean we can never fight? Luo Zhen, if you don't fight me now, when will you?"

This time, Luo Yu planned to back down but did not intend to give up on fighting Luo Zhen. He was determined to defeat Luo Zhen personally, showing everyone, especially Jing Ting, who was stronger.

The other younger generation members looked at Luo Zhen, waiting for his response.

In their view, Luo Yu's strength would increase rapidly each year in the True Qi Realm, while Luo Zhen had only broken the physical limit. Further enhancing his physical strength would be difficult, and the gap between them would grow larger.

Everyone was eager to see if Luo Zhen would dare to accept the challenge.

"Two years, two years from now, we will settle this. How about that?" Luo Zhen thought for a moment and said.

Luo Zhen was not afraid of a fight, but he was clearly not a match for Luo Yu now. However, with time, he was confident he could surpass Luo Yu.

Breaking the physical limit was the hardest part, and it took him a lot of time. Now that he had broken it, his strength could continue to improve. Luo Zhen believed his future achievements would surprise those who underestimated him.

The two agreed to a match in two years and left.

The other younger generation members, disappointed at not seeing the fight between Luo Zhen and Luo Yu, also left with disappointed expressions.

Today's incident was just a conflict among the younger generation, a common and quickly forgotten event in any large family.

But this time was different.

The next day, the Supreme Elder Luo Feng, as the head of the Luo family's elder council, invited all the elders to the main hall of the Luo family for a meeting. The family head, Luo Ning, naturally attended as well.

Only cultivators who had reached the Dao Fetus Realm could become elders of the Luo family.

Among them, two were at the great success stage of the Dao Fetus Realm: the Supreme Elder Luo Feng and the family head Luo Ning.

Three were at the small success stage of the Dao Fetus Realm: the First Elder Luo Ping, the Second Elder Luo Xiang, and the Third Elder Luo Hong.

Seven were at the initial stage of the Dao Fetus Realm, including the sons of the Supreme Elder, the First Elder, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder, as well as three other members of the Luo clan.

These were the Dao Fetus Realm cultivators of the Luo clan. Additionally, there were four outsiders, honorary elders with equal treatment to the Luo family's elders but not involved in clan affairs.

"Luo Ning, as the family head, you use your power for personal gain, using the family's resources to cultivate your own son. You consume a large amount of nourishing food daily and a spirit herb monthly. Over three years, you have used thirty-four spirit herbs on Luo Zhen, worth over ten thousand gold pieces, and the nourishing food alone is worth over ten thousand gold pieces. In just three years, you have wasted one percent of the entire Luo family's assets on Luo Zhen alone. Our family has over a thousand members, and over two hundred younger generation members. If everyone were as wasteful as you, the Luo family would be ruined in a few years!"

At the beginning of the meeting, the Supreme Elder Luo Feng scolded the family head Luo Ning.

Luo Feng was the former family head. After Luo Ning's rise, his cultivation far exceeded Luo Feng's, and the family head position was passed to Luo Ning, while Luo Feng retired to the position of Supreme Elder, still holding significant power.

"Luo Ning, as the family head, you only care about your own son, which is unacceptable. The Luo family belongs to every Luo descendant, not just you and your son. Why should you use so many family resources to cultivate your son? If Luo Zhen's talent had remained as it was three years ago, a prodigy, we would not oppose it. But he is no longer a genius, and you continue to waste resources on him. We strongly disagree."

"Luo Ning, you are too selfish and unsuitable to be... the family head."

The First Elder and the Second Elder spoke in turn.

The First Elder and the Supreme Elder Luo Feng were brothers, naturally on the same side.

The Second Elder was the family head Luo Ning's uncle. He glanced at Luo Ning, feeling uneasy, and his words became hesitant.

"Yes, Luo Ning, you are too selfish...!"

"To cultivate your useless son, you have wasted one percent of the family's assets in just three years, which is outrageous...!"

"If this continues, the resources for cultivating the younger generation will be exhausted by Luo Zhen. How will the other younger generation members grow?"

...

As the Supreme Elder, the First Elder, and the Second Elder spoke, several other elders also joined in, scolding the family head Luo Ning.

"Are you done?" Luo Ning glanced at the elders when no one spoke further.

"First Elder, seven years ago, you were severely injured by a beast in the Cangmang Mountains and nearly died. Who provided the Soul Reviving Pill to save your life?"

"Second Elder, who brought a large amount of low-grade spirit stones to the family, allowing your cultivation to advance from the initial stage to the small success stage of the Dao Fetus Realm, making you one of the three elders?"

"Luo Jiuyang, Luo Fengqing, if you did not have the low-grade spirit stones to buy the Fetus Formation Pill, could you have reached the Dao Fetus Realm and become elders?"

"Luo Jinyuan, twelve years ago, you offended a Soul Guiding cultivator in Jiangyue City. Who came to your rescue and resolved the issue for you?"

Luo Ning's gaze swept over the elders who had spoken, and all of them lowered their heads.

Finally, Luo Ning looked directly at the Supreme Elder Luo Feng: "I, Luo Ning, have contributed to this family far more than what I have received, ten times, twenty times...!"

Slap—

A loud sound echoed as Luo Ning slapped the table.

Luo Ning continued: "Now, I have used less than one percent of the family's resources, and you have such a big complaint?"

Slap—

"Do you think I am a sick cat after being injured and no longer advancing in cultivation?"

Slap—

"Do you think I am a soft target because I don't manage things much?"

Slap—

Luo Ning slapped the table with each sentence, the sound resonating, making everyone present jump.

Since Luo Ning was injured, he rarely managed family affairs and even rarely appeared, making people gradually forget how formidable and unstoppable he once was.

"As long as there are no new cultivators at the great success stage of the Dao Fetus Realm in the family, I, Luo Ning, am the family head. This time, I will forgive your disrespect, but if it happens again, I will not be lenient."

Luo Ning's words made the elders who had spoken shrink their necks, not daring to act rashly.

Among those who had spoken, only the Supreme Elder Luo Feng remained calm and said:

"Luo Ning, you have indeed made great contributions to the family, but you cannot abuse your power. Luo Zhen has no chance of reaching the True Qi Realm. Spending so many resources on him will make the other younger generation members think poorly and cause complaints among other family members. To unite the family, we must treat the younger generation fairly. If we must spend a large amount of resources to cultivate a younger member, it must be convincing. I propose that next year's strength test be canceled, and the younger generation members should compete in a martial arts contest. The winner will receive a large amount of resources. Additionally, your adopted daughter Jing Ting is not young and has exceptional talent, with a promising future. But as an adopted daughter, she will eventually marry out and have a distant relationship with the Luo family. In my opinion, it is best to keep her in the Luo family. The best way is to have her marry a Luo family member. How about this: next year, the winner of the martial arts contest will be betrothed to Jing Ting as an engagement?"

"The Supreme Elder's words are reasonable."

"Only this way can we be fair and just."

...

With the Supreme Elder speaking, the First Elder, the Second Elder, and others naturally nodded in agreement.

Luo Ning nodded and said: "Regarding next year's martial arts contest, I agree with the Supreme Elder. However, no one is allowed to have designs on my adopted daughter Jing Ting. I advise you, her background is not trivial, involving immortals, far beyond what the Luo family can compare. She is only staying with the Luo family temporarily, and an immortal will come to take her away. Whoever offends her will face the wrath of the immortal."

Sigh—

Including the Supreme Elder, everyone present drew a sharp breath.

Immortals, how terrifying they were?

They were the supreme beings at the peak of the Great Chu Immortal Dynasty.

Not to mention in a small place like Pingyang County, even in the vast Jiangyue City, immortals were only legendary figures.