Chapter 59: The Confrontation

Tie Butian, at first glance, seemed unremarkable, but he was the embodiment of the Imperial Divine Art and the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art. He aimed to leave an indelible impression of invincibility and a natural-born king in the first encounter.

If this impression took root, it would greatly assist Tie Butian in recruiting this person in the future. Any future cooperation or recruitment would then be as smooth as water flowing downhill!

At this moment, Tie Butian naturally assumed that the other party was just passing by and would have no guard against his gaze. In fact, whether in battle or conversation, most people would pay attention to the other's eyes, but who would have thought that the eyes could have such an effect?

Chu Yang's gaze, on the other hand, was even more deliberate!

To achieve this gaze, he even drew out all the cold energy from the tip of the Ninth Tribulation Sword, channeling it into his own power to create an aura of a thousand-mile ice field, overwhelming the other party from the start. Then, he gathered the boundless arrogance in his heart and cast this gaze!

This single gaze was meant to leave an unforgettable impression on Tie Butian!

Chu Yang's eyes were calm, sharp, proud, and wild, like the wolf king of the northern grasslands, sharp as a sword and cold as ice. His eyes were filled with ruthlessness!

In such a gaze, all beings in the world were mere ants, to be slaughtered; the Nine Heavens were like grass, to be trampled!

But Tie Butian's gaze was gentle, calm, and serene, like the sea that embraces all rivers, and the sky that is supreme. Yet, it was as if he was looking down from the ninth heaven, exuding a lofty and regal aura that spread with the wind!

I am here, and I reign!

All under heaven is the king's land; all within the four seas are the king's subjects!

One was intentional, the other unintentional, but both were fully committed without prior agreement!

This was a confrontation!

But this confrontation had no clear winner. If Chu Yang's gaze was a wave, Tie Butian's gaze was a rock. The wave surged, raising a thousand snow-white crests. The rock stood firm, unmoved.

Was it the rock that shattered the wave, or the wave that engulfed the rock? Who could say who won?

After this single gaze, Chu Yang was like a gust of wind, passing by Tie Butian and his men at a distance of about fifteen feet, without stopping, and in a flash, he turned into a shadow and disappeared in the direction of the city gate. His gaze never wavered.

Tie Butian's gaze also returned to a calm state, lost in thought.

It seemed that this time, it was just a coincidence, a brief encounter.

Even Tie Butian and his men regarded this meeting as a coincidence!

"Such a terrifying person," said one of the dozens of experts behind Tie Butian, who had been gathering their strength, now letting out a sigh of relief. Their faces were heavy, and some even had cold sweat on their noses. The sound of their feet cracking the ground echoed as their gathered strength suddenly dissipated, causing the earth beneath them to crack!

The feeling of cold air and a thousand-mile ice field that hit them just now made everyone feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

Although the other party had made no move, just flying past, everyone had the terrifying feeling that a sharp sword was flying through the air, ready to cut through everything and then fly away, unstoppable!

"Terrifying person? How terrifying?" Tie Butian looked in the direction Chu Yang had gone, asking slowly.

"This person, judging by his eyes and aura, is likely one of the world's top executioners!" said a man in green beside Tie Butian, taking a deep breath and speaking with a tone of strong caution. "However, his target is clearly not the Crown Prince. When he looked at you, there was no trace of killing intent, only a kind of... indifference."

At this, the dozens of people around them suddenly seemed to understand: facing the Crown Prince of a nation, with such a grand entourage, and yet showing such indifference and disregard... this person's mental fortitude and composure were evident.

But, searching every corner of their minds, they could not think of anyone in the martial world who matched this description. This person was clearly very young, no more than seventeen or eighteen, but after considering all the young talents, none of them fit the conditions this person displayed. Who was this person?

"Hmm?" A faint smile appeared on Tie Butian's face, as white as jade. He said softly, "A terrifying person is also an interesting person. If he is not targeting me, then he is likely not an enemy. If he is not an enemy, could he become a friend?"

Turning his head, he looked at Du Shiqing's carriage and mused, "That person seemed to come from the direction of Du Shenyi? There was no such aura before. So, his original position was likely in Du Shiqing's entourage?"

Everyone looked at each other and nodded.

This was quite obvious.

"Since such a powerful expert is in Du Shiqing's entourage, Du Shiqing must know this person," Tie Butian said reassuringly. "And the direction this person is heading is towards Tieyun City..."

His eyes flashed, and he sighed with a smile, "Such talent, how can we let it go? Send two people to follow, but under no circumstances should they offend or conflict with him."

Two people behind him nodded, stepped out of the formation, mounted their horses, and with a crack of the whip, their hooves thundered as they disappeared in the direction of the city gate.

Tie Butian did not turn back, flicking his sleeve, he said, "Everyone, follow me to welcome Mr. Du."

Chu Yang, like a whirlwind, passed by Tie Butian and was instantly far away, but even as he entered the city gate, the shock in his heart had not subsided.

"How could it be like this?" Chu Yang was full of doubts. "How could it be the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art? Why the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art? I'm not surprised that he can use the Imperial Divine Art; it is the royal martial art passed down through generations in Tieyun. But... he clearly also used this heart-penetrating Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art! Why?"

The Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art is a secret technique of the Holy Clan, and its cultivation requirements are very special. Either a man with a rather effeminate and gentle nature, or a woman, would achieve the best results.

A man with a very masculine aura would likely never succeed in cultivating the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone. Chu Yang was puzzled: with the power and status of the Crown Prince of Tieyun, what kind of martial art could he not obtain? Why did he have to cultivate the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art?

But regardless, this Crown Prince of Tieyun left a deep impression on Chu Yang. Especially those eyes, clear as water, cold as ice, yet gentle and calm, embracing the world, and unfathomably deep.

But what left the deepest impression on Chu Yang was: those eyes were so beautiful that they almost didn't belong to this world! ...

In the end, Chu Yang couldn't help but laugh: looking at the Crown Prince's face, although he exuded a heroic aura, wasn't he a bit too handsome, almost effeminate? A typical pretty boy, cultivating the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Art didn't seem so strange...

Finally, Du Shiqing's carriage appeared before everyone. Old Gao lifted the curtain, and Du Shiqing stepped out.

Tie Butian stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, "Mr. Du, you have traveled far and endured much hardship. I, Tie Butian, have come to welcome you."

His voice was clear and steady. And in front of Du Shiqing, he referred to himself as "I" rather than "this palace" or "I, the solitary one," giving Du Shiqing full respect. This showed how much the Crown Prince of Tieyun valued his father's illness.

"Your Highness is too kind. What merit do I have to deserve such a grand welcome from Your Highness? I am deeply honored," Du Shiqing hurriedly bowed, his face showing some excitement.

"Mr. Du, there is no need for such formality. If you can cure my father's illness, you will be a great benefactor to the entire Tieyun Kingdom! Any honor bestowed upon you is well-deserved," Tie Butian smiled, extending his hand courteously, "Mr. Du, please."

Du Shiqing said, "Your Highness, please."

He then returned to the carriage and, surrounded by the crowd, headed towards the city gate.

"Mr. Du, I have a question for you," Tie Butian smiled. "I just saw a person fly out from your entourage at great speed. Was that person not with you?"

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