Chapter 66: The Sons of the Dukes

Tiantian had long anticipated that the sons of the dukes would come looking for trouble.

"Why should I compete with them when I don't even know them?" Xu Daoyan was taken aback, not understanding what was happening. Although he knew that Shi Man's actions were intended to make him a target, he did not expect such consequences!

"Shi Man deliberately acted affectionately towards you to make you a target. Do you really think she has genuine feelings for you? These sons of the dukes have spent millions of immortal coins to get invitations, and they can't even get close to Shi Man. You didn't even show up, yet you managed to have her by your side. How could they tolerate that? Come, let's see how capable they are!" Tiantian was excited, putting on a small mustache and tapping a folding fan as she spoke to Xu Daoyan.

Gao Ziqi once again draped a black cloak over himself, not showing his face, clearly wanting to observe the situation.

Xu Daoyan had no idea what was happening.

"How can I have time to fight them when I haven't even broken through to the Human Immortal realm? How can I be their match?" Xu Daoyan was speechless. Those sons of the dukes were undoubtedly extremely powerful, and he could hardly be their match, even if he broke through to the Human Immortal realm, he might not be able to stand a single blow!

"In the cities under the control of the Heavenly Stone Capital, martial arts are highly valued. If you refuse, people will look down on you, and the entire Stone Dragon City will be ridiculed. But don't worry, they won't bully the weak. They will only send someone of the same realm to fight you. Besides, with me here, what do you have to fear?" Tiantian was full of confidence.

"… Alright, to uphold the honor of Stone Dragon City, I will not back down." Xu Daoyan knew that at this point, he had no choice but to fight, and he could not let Stone Dragon City be mocked along with him.

He held the Thunderbolt Spear and walked out of the stone pavilion.

Two Human Immortal attendants led the way, and through a teleportation array, they arrived at a martial arts arena.

Many people had gathered around, all of them sons of the dukes from the Heavenly Stone Capital, with noble identities and exalted status.

"One city, one general; a hundred cities, one duke. The Heavenly Stone Capital governs six hundred cities, of which one hundred are directly under the control of the Duke of Heavenly Stone, while the other five hundred are divided among five dukes!"

"You're all here?"

"Of course, I want to see what this Xu Daoyan is capable of, daring to have designs on Miss Shi Man!"

"Hehe, I'll beat him to a pulp and show Shi Man that the person she favors is just a waste of space. Only someone like us can match her!"

"We are a match made in heaven. That boy, with his wild demeanor and rustic manners, clearly comes from a humble background and is not worth mentioning."

These sons of the dukes, each with their entourage, gathered at the martial arts arena, all intending to cause trouble for Xu Daoyan.

The Heavenly Stone Capital has always valued martial arts. Jealousy over women and competition with rivals are common, and being able to win is considered a skill. The Duke of Heavenly Stone would not pay much attention to such matters involving the young.

"Master Xu, this is the place!" The two attendants stopped and stepped back.

At this moment, everyone's attention was on Xu Daoyan.

"Is this him?"

"Yes, I heard he hasn't even reached the Human Immortal realm, a complete waste, yet he dares to covet Miss Shi Man."

"His attire is of the finest Human Immortal quality, there's no mistake!"

The sons of the dukes focused their attention on Xu Daoyan. Tiantian stepped aside, ready to watch the show, thinking, "You deserve this for your promiscuity. Suffering a bit will teach you a lesson, and you'll learn that some women are not to be touched!"

"Tsk tsk, women's hearts!" Gao Ziqi, standing nearby, could see through Tiantian's thoughts. She had just said, "With me here, what do you have to fear?" but now she was watching from the sidelines.

A man with a sword at his waist, dressed in luxurious attire, approached Xu Daoyan, "Who are you? To dare to be so close to Miss Shi Man? How shameless!"

"I? Shi Long Guard, Xu Daoyan!" He replied with a sharp gaze.

"Shi Long Guard? Ha ha, just a small guard from Stone Dragon City, dreaming of swan meat? Even Shi Yun, the youngest son of General Shi, is not worthy of Miss Shi Man, let alone you!" The man laughed wildly, looking at Xu Daoyan with disdain, having seen many such upstarts.

"Who are you?" Xu Daoyan was angry, but he also knew that these people were all wealthy and powerful. He could only remember them and settle accounts later!

"I am the eighth son of the Heroic Martial Duke, Hong Teng! If you know what's good for you, stay away from Miss Shi Man. She is beyond your reach!"

The sons of the dukes were of extremely high status, though not as high as Tiantian, they were still considered local overlords.

"I am just friends with Miss Xiao Man, you're overthinking it. Don't impose your thoughts on others." Xu Daoyan was surprised that they would come looking for trouble over a simple affectionate gesture, feeling a headache.

"Xiao Man? You dare to call her that? You're asking for death!" At this moment, a man drew his sword at Xu Daoyan. He wore a yellow robe with a tiger embroidered on it, looking very imposing.

"Who are you?" Xu Daoyan frowned, a simple nickname causing such strong resentment, these people were too domineering.

"I am the ninth son of the Heavenly Tiger Duke, Dian Yu. One must know one's place. How about this, if you blind yourself, we'll let you go!" The group of wealthy and powerful young men, aged between fourteen and seventeen, formed a circle.

Xu Daoyan carefully observed their strength, all at least at the peak of Upper Human Immortal, with some already at the Earth Immortal realm.

"What! Is there no law? Do you really think you can do as you please just because you are sons of the dukes?" Xu Daoyan was enraged, never fearing anything.

"Hmph, what a joke, we are the law!" Another man, with a handsome face and delicate skin, even surpassing ordinary women, held a folding fan, moving gracefully, wearing a scholar's robe that fluttered in the wind. He walked lightly, his strength higher, at the Earth Immortal realm, the seventh son of the Heavenly Literature Duke, Pan Feng.

"Alright, since you've come here today, you want to fight, right? If you want to use your realm to pressure me, I have nothing to say. Since you are from the dukes' families, you can be shameless. If I lose, so be it, come on!" Xu Daoyan could not tolerate it. He was never afraid of trouble, having even killed the young master of the Xiong clan. If they pushed him too far, he would not hesitate to kill a few sons of the dukes, as they were the ones who provoked him first!

"Ha ha, I didn't expect this boy to have some courage. Fine, we won't use our realm to pressure you. We'll send a few servants to teach you a lesson. If you can win, we won't make it difficult for you!" Pan Feng was surprised that Xu Daoyan was not intimidated and proposed an idea. Indeed, as sons of the dukes, it would not sound good if they were to fight a small guard from Stone Dragon City, making them seem too domineering and bullying the weak, which would tarnish their reputation and lead to punishment at home.

"Brother Pan Feng is right. If we really fight, it would be said that we bullied a small guard from Stone Dragon City, which would be laughable!" Dian Yu laughed, not taking Xu Daoyan seriously.

"Then I will send a subordinate to fight him. What do you think?" Hong Teng spoke, his laughter calm, completely disregarding Xu Daoyan.

"Wait, is this a friendly match or a fight to the death?" Xu Daoyan asked.

"Ha ha, naturally until a winner is decided. Whether you live or die, we don't know!" Dian Yu looked at him, sneering.

"Don't you know? In the territories under the Heavenly Stone Capital, martial arts are highly valued. Weaklings are not tolerated, and the weak should die. This is a world for the strong!" Pan Feng's voice was soft but cold, completely disregarding Xu Daoyan's opinion.

"Brothers, shall I send a horse servant to fight this boy?" Hong Teng asked the group.

"Ha ha, the horse servant is from the Dongyi tribe, an expert in archery, even we can't match him. It's fine!" The sons of the dukes were all eager to watch the show, coming here to humiliate Xu Daoyan and make him back off from Shi Man.

The man called the horse servant jumped onto the arena, holding a lower-grade Earth Immortal longbow and arrows of the same grade, with strong penetration. At this moment, Xu Daoyan realized this was a fight to the death, not a friendly match.

In the martial arts-valued border regions, the sons of the dukes had long ceased to value human life, having taken many lives in their hands.

The horse servant, dressed in animal skin, with dark skin and a lean build, moved with incredible agility. He looked at Xu Daoyan and taunted, "Come and die!"

Tiantian watched everything carefully. With Gao Ziqi there, she knew Xu Daoyan would not die. She was not concerned, only wanting to see how he would handle the situation. The character of these sons of the dukes made her extremely disgusted, which