Chapter 36

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******

"How old are you?" Elder Yang Yan asked.

"I will be twenty in half a month," Yang Dingtian replied.

"Haha, you still have the nerve to say that?" Tang Bozhao sneered. "You're already twenty, and you're not even an apprentice warrior. What qualifications do you have to be a disciple of Cloud Peak City? You would have been expelled long ago."

Yang Yan said, "Cloud Peak City holds an elimination tournament every day. Every disciple who turns twenty must participate. The last ten are eliminated and expelled from Cloud Peak City. Do you know what level the tenth-to-last place was in last year's elimination tournament?"

"Please enlighten me," Yang Dingtian said.

"It was a Six-Star玄武者 (Xuan Warrior), sixteen stars higher than you," Yang Yan said with a faint sneer. "Even he was expelled from Cloud Peak City, let alone you."

With that, Yang Yan continued walking out. "Cloud Peak City does not harbor idle people. Leave immediately before nightfall!"

At this, Yang Peipei finally couldn't hold back and shouted, "Old man Yang Yan, you are too much!"

With that, she suddenly drew her sword and pointed it at Yang Yan's back.

"Yang Peipei, are you rebelling?" Yang Yan said coldly. "I wouldn't mind cleaning house."

With that, Yang Yan slowly raised his Xuan staff.

Tang Bozhao and Elder Two also drew their swords.

Ximen Lie suddenly drew his giant sword, and Yan Yan also drew her sword.

"Elder Yang Yan, don't push us too far. We have already made many concessions. Yang Dingtian must be a candidate for the city lord and participate in the grand tournament next winter," Ximen Lie said firmly.

"Or what?" Yang Yan said coolly.

"Or there will be bloodshed in the hall," Ximen Lie said coldly.

"Fine!" Yang Yan said coldly. "Then let's settle it with swords..."

"Swish, swish, swish..." Immediately, the three remaining people on Yang Yan's side also drew their weapons.

The battle was about to break out.

Yang Yan's side had five experts, while Yang Dingtian's side had only two, Ximen Lie and Yang Peipei, putting them at a clear disadvantage.

There was one person who remained neutral and had not spoken or taken a stance. He was Ximen Ju.

He had an ordinary face but skin as fair and smooth as a woman's. His entire face was plain except for his eyes, which were long and graceful, with a gaze as gentle as water, more captivating than a woman's.

He was thirty-three years old, in charge of Cloud Peak City's internal affairs, and one of the most powerful people in the city, serving as the right-hand man of Ximen Wuyuan alongside Ximen Lie.

"Second Brother, what are you waiting for? Are you going to let the Yang family bully Father's family like this?" Ximen Lie shouted at Ximen Ju.

Ximen Ju hesitated for a moment, then also drew his sword. Ximen Lie's face relaxed. He knew Ximen Ju's strength, and although the other side had five people and they only had three experts, they were not without a fighting chance.

However, the next scene stunned Ximen Lie, Yan Yan, and others.

Because after Ximen Ju drew his sword, he stood on Yang Yan's side, opposing Yang Dingtian.

Even Yang Yan's side was surprised, not expecting Ximen Ju to stand with them. Previously, Ximen Ju had always obeyed Ximen Wuyuan and had made life difficult for Yang Yan and others, making them enemies.

Ximen Wuyuan's trouble had led Ximen Ju to immediately change sides.

Ximen Lie, unable to believe it, roared in anger, "Second Brother, have you lost your conscience? Don't forget who picked you up, who raised you, who taught you martial arts, who valued you and made you the city's chief administrator, second only to the city lord. Is this how you repay Father's kindness?"

Ximen Ju said coolly, "Big Brother, I am thinking about Cloud Peak City's future."

"Ximen Ju, you ungrateful beast, you will be struck by lightning and have no place to be buried," Ximen Lie shouted fiercely.

"Ximen Lie, why argue with such a beast?" Yang Peipei said angrily. "Let's fight to the death!"

"Yes, Mother," Ximen Lie said angrily.

"Very well..." Elder Yang Yan said with a cold laugh, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. With Ximen Ju's addition, his side had an absolute advantage, and his heart was filled with murderous intent.

If he could take the opportunity to kill Ximen Lie, Yang Peipei, and Yang Dingtian, it would be a permanent solution, and the Yang family would truly regain control of Cloud Peak City.

"Remember, it is you who are rebelling, so don't blame me," Yang Yan said coldly. Then a powerful Xuan energy slowly gathered on his Xuan staff, turning the black staff as red as blood.

"Attack, show no mercy!" Yang Yan ordered.

The battle was about to break out. Yang Peipei and Yan Yan were in immediate danger of being killed.

"Wait!" Yang Dingtian suddenly leaped between the two sides, staring at Yang Yan. "Elder, why are you in such a hurry? I haven't turned twenty yet, right? I still have half a month. If I defeat the tenth-to-last place in the annual elimination tournament, won't I have the qualifications to be a disciple of Cloud Peak City and a candidate for the city lord, and participate in the grand tournament next winter to compete for the city lord's position?"

"Of course!" Yang Yan said with a cold laugh. "The elimination tournament will be held in half a month. If you can break through to a Six-Star Xuan Warrior within these fifteen days, you can become a disciple of Cloud Peak City."

"Fine, it's a deal," Yang Dingtian said. "Within fifteen days, I will advance sixteen levels and become a Six-Star Xuan Warrior or higher. Otherwise, I will be expelled from Cloud Peak City."

"Yang Dingtian, you're crazy," Yan Yan said in shock.

Yang Dingtian was indeed crazy. Advancing from an Initiate to a Six-Star Xuan Warrior in fifteen days was absolutely impossible. In a thousand years, no one had ever done it, even the greatest geniuses needed half a year.

"Fine, it's a deal," Yang Yan said coldly. "In fifteen days, the elimination tournament will be held. If you cannot break through to a Six-Star Xuan Warrior and defeat the tenth-to-last place, you will be immediately expelled from Cloud Peak City. And you will no longer have the right to marry Yan Yan. If you agree, sign a military order. Otherwise, I will kill everyone and clean house for Cloud Peak City."

"Old man Yang Yan, you are despicable," Yan Yan said angrily.

Yang Dingtian immediately took out paper and pen and wrote the military order.

"Yang Dingtian, don't write it. Let's fight to the death today," Yan Yan said angrily. "If you are my husband, don't write it."

Yang Dingtian wrote the military order, signed it, and bit his finger to stamp it with a blood seal.

"Is this acceptable, Elder Yang Yan?" Yang Dingtian said coldly, handing over the military order.

Elder Yang Yan put the military order in his sleeve and said coolly, "It's acceptable. Prepare for the elimination tournament in half a month."

Then, Elder Yang Yan led everyone away.

"Yang Dingtian, you're crazy," Yan Yan said, stepping forward. "Old man Yang Yan is trying to kill you and then force me to marry that beast from the Qin family."

"He has already decided to kill you. I can't just stand by and watch," Yang Dingtian said. "This is the path I have chosen, and I will walk it no matter how difficult it is."

******

Back in her room, Yan Yan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, her face as pale as paper.

Yang Dingtian poured a cup of water, blew on it to cool it, and handed it to Yan Yan, then gently patted her back. This was the first time he had touched her, and she frowned slightly but did not resist.

After drinking some water, she rinsed her mouth and spat out the blood.

"Yang Dingtian, you're crazy!" Yan Yan said, looking at Yang Dingtian.

Yang Dingtian nodded and said, "Yes, I am crazy! But this is also Uncle Ximen's will."

"What do you mean by Uncle Ximen's will?" Yan Yan asked.

"How can I, in my current state, truly become the city lord of Cloud Peak City?" Yang Dingtian said. "When Yang Lie designated Uncle Ximen as the city lord, the Yang family still rebelled after City Lord Yang Lie's death. So, Uncle Ximen proposed the grand tournament to rightfully claim the city lord's position. Now, although Uncle Ximen hasn't said it outright, he clearly knows the Elder Council will oppose me. He also hopes I can rightfully claim the city lord's position through my own strength. He has given me the opportunity to compete and the identity of an heir. But to truly sit in that position, I must rely on myself!"

Yang Dingtian paused and continued, "So, it's not just me who is crazy; Uncle Ximen also wants me to be crazy. However, we didn't expect Yang Yan to be so despicable, making me break through sixteen levels in half a month to become a Six-Star Xuan Warrior."

Yan Yan's beautiful eyes also showed a疯狂的光芒 (crazy light), and she said, "Fine, since you're crazy, I'll go crazy with you! Get some rest, and tomorrow morning, I'll take you to see someone."

"Who?" Yang Dingtian asked.

"Your future master, who will teach you martial arts. She is very, very strong, almost on par with my father," Yan Yan said. "Perhaps she can help you break through to a Six-Star Xuan Warrior in fifteen days."

Yang Dingtian said, "If she is so strong, why say there are no Grandmaster-level experts in Cloud Peak City now?"

"She is not from Cloud Peak City but an enemy of Cloud Peak City," Yan Yan said. "A mortal enemy!"

"You'll see tomorrow," Yan Yan said, turning to leave. "Get some rest, and if you need anything, call Lüer outside."

After Yan Yan left, Yang Dingtian had a simple meal, took a bath, and then lay down to rest.

Yang Dingtian did not sleep on Yan Yan's bed but found a mat and laid it on the hard ground, sleeping without any blanket, even though Yan Yan's bed was soft and fragrant.

The lamp was extinguished, but Yang Dingtian couldn't sleep, looking up at the ceiling, feeling the strangeness of this new place.

This was supposed to be Yang Dingtian's home, but he still felt a sense of loneliness and unfamiliarity.

"Fifteen days, one and a half years, five years," Yang Dingtian muttered, looking at the ceiling. "Master, I'm crazy. How can I do this?"

Advancing sixteen levels in fifteen days, from an Initiate to a Six-Star Xuan Warrior.

In one and a half years, defeating all the young disciples of Cloud Peak City to become the city lord.

In five years, defeating the world's number one genius, the world's top young expert, Dongfang Bingling.

These tasks were one crazier and more impossible than the last!

"Master, what should I do?" Yang Dingtian muttered, reaching out to touch the Flame Ring.

"Ah!" Suddenly, he heard an old sigh in his ear.

Yang Dingtian jumped up and said, "Who is it?"

"Child..." the voice said again, very familiar, it was Dongfang Niemie's voice, but not in his ear, but in his mind.

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