Chapter 38

Seeing Shen Lang's attitude, Sima Fenghen almost got sick with anger.

Even at the Jialan Academy, no one dared to speak to her like that...

This brat was actually so arrogant!

She held back the urge to attack, let out a cold snort, and led Shen Lang to a private room on the third floor.

Inside the room, an old man was sitting there drinking tea. He was dressed simply, his hair already gray, but he looked as robust as a young man. His face, though lined with wrinkles, carried a smile, but his eyes were sharp and authoritative.

"Shen Lang, meet Elder Yan." Shen Lang bowed respectfully and said.

Sima Yan smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Come, come, come, sit down. I was planning to visit you yesterday, but I didn't expect to meet you here."

Shen Lang nodded slightly and sat down opposite Sima Yan without any hesitation.

This made Sima Fenghen, standing behind, frown and glare at his back again.

"Rude brat, you dare to be so arrogant in front of my father. Do you really think you're that great?"

Sima Yan poured a cup of wine for Shen Lang and said with a chuckle, "Your move downstairs was truly impressive. The momentum was astonishing, and it intimidated everyone! Even I, an old man, couldn't help but admire it... However, you not only crippled that Tang boy but also offended all the young masters from the various families here. That's not a good thing. As the saying goes, 'Excessive rigidity is easily broken, while flexibility never fails.' Young man, you should be more restrained."

Shen Lang smiled slightly and replied, "Elder Yan, you are mistaken. Offending people isn't something to be taken lightly. In my view, they offended me first. I just showed them a taste of my strength to prevent them from causing me trouble in the future."

"But what you did may not prevent future troubles. By offending these people, you won't have an easy time in Tianfeng City. Although Tianfeng City isn't large, it contains several major families and the City Lord's residence. The relationships and power dynamics are complex, and there are many formidable figures among these forces. If they come after you, you'll face endless trouble... Your approach is too hasty."

"Facing rigidity with flexibility, and facing flexibility with rigidity, I can handle whatever comes my way. I don't take these forces or their experts seriously. I'm a straightforward person. I don't offend others unless they offend me first. In this world, the strong are respected. In the face of great strength, so-called backing, background, or rules are all illusions." Shen Lang responded bluntly.

Sima Yan fell silent, staring at the wine in his hand for a long time without speaking.

He knew that Shen Lang's cultivation was at the Ninth Heaven of the Force Martial Realm. In his view, even if Shen Lang had some extraordinary encounters and practiced powerful lightning-based techniques, he still couldn't match the elite young masters from the various families on the second floor.

Not to mention the family forces behind them.

His ability to intimidate those people earlier was mainly due to his ruthless actions, exploiting their internal disunity, and displaying a powerful sword technique.

If it came to a real fight, dozens of Qi Martial Realm cultivators attacking together would leave Shen Lang with no chance of dealing with even a few of them.

As for the forces behind these people, they encompassed almost all the major forces in Tianfeng City, and each family had many experts.

Provoking so many people and families was a serious mistake.

Shen Lang was indeed a bit too reckless...

Excessive rigidity is easily broken, and being too sharp is not always a good thing. A sword should be kept in its sheath, its sharpness hidden, to truly follow the right path.

Sima Yan thought that at his age, being able to defeat Shen Jianfeng made him a notable figure.

Moreover, the scene downstairs just now proved that this young man was extraordinary.

At least in the context of Tayan Academy or Tianfeng City, he could be called a "genius."

So, out of his love for talent, he wanted to guide and advise him.

He didn't expect Shen Lang to bounce back like a ball, with a confrontational attitude.

He was still too young and impetuous.

Saying he didn't take these family forces and their experts seriously, who did he think he was?

Even if he could defeat a Third Heaven Qi Martial Realm warrior, what about a Fourth Heaven, Fifth Heaven, or even Sixth or Seventh Heaven?

Could he defeat one, two, three, or ten?

This world indeed respected the strong, but where was his strength?

No matter how strong he was, he was still at the Ninth Heaven of the Force Martial Realm. His understanding of martial arts might be much stronger than others at the same level, but his power might not be much greater... The strength he considered formidable might be nothing to these families.

Young and inexperienced, he was overconfident and fearless like a newborn calf...

Not only did Sima Yan think this...

Even Sima Fenghen, standing by the door, showed more dissatisfaction in her eyes. She said, "Father, what's the point of talking to this person? He's arrogant, conceited, lawless, and doesn't know his place..."

She wanted to continue, but Sima Yan's glare silenced her.

"This lady... knows a lot of idioms." Shen Lang smiled.

"Rubbish, who are you calling a lady!" Sima Fenghen was furious.

Shen Lang wiped his sweat and said, "Alright, I'm wrong. I just habitually thought the word 'miss' was a bit... I forgot, sorry, sorry."

Sima Fenghen wanted to speak again but saw her father's gaze and turned away angrily.

Sima Yan chuckled and said, "Actually, it's not a big deal. Don't worry, I'll help you with these families. My old face still has some influence. But Shen Lang, I'm not here to lecture you, just to remind you. After all, I've lived a few decades longer than you and know a bit more about these things."

Hearing this, Shen Lang was stunned.

Only then did he realize that his words earlier were too impulsive and aggressive. No matter what, he shouldn't have spoken like that to an elder.

Putting aside his position as the Dean of the Alchemy Academy, he was at least an elder.

Moreover, from his last words, he was even willing to help him with the families and resolve the matter...

Shen Lang had only met him once, and they didn't have a particularly good relationship. Yet, he was willing to help him so much, without knowing anything else about him...

With his status, even the City Lord would show respect in Tianfeng City.

In this world, alchemists and weapon masters held a special status, and every force would try to win their favor. This man was the Dean of the Alchemy Academy!

But he had misunderstood him and rebuked him...

Shen Lang's eyes showed a hint of regret. He slowly stood up and bowed respectfully, saying, "I apologize for my disrespectful words earlier. I misunderstood Elder Yan's good intentions. I truly deserve punishment. I hope Elder Yan won't take it to heart."

Sima Fenghen, who had been glaring, was stunned. She didn't expect this brat, who she found so annoying, to change his attitude so quickly, like a chameleon.

Sima Yan chuckled and was about to speak when the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

"Old Yan, you really have the leisure to come here for a drink... Didn't I tell you to wait at the academy? I'm bringing someone to see you tomorrow. Do you still keep your word?" It was Mo Liusheng, the Dean of the Weaponry Academy, whom Shen Lang had met once.

Mo Liusheng sat down angrily, grabbed a cup, poured himself some wine, and drank it in one gulp.

He didn't pay attention to Shen Lang, who was bowing and apologizing to Sima Yan, as such scenes were common. Many people from various forces wanted to meet Sima Yan, so it wasn't unusual.

"Get lost, you old fool. Are you trying to pressure me with this? Didn't I tell you that Fenghen returned today, and I wanted to pick her up first? We'll talk about tomorrow's matter tomorrow." Sima Yan spat.

"Uncle Mo." Sima Fenghen hurriedly greeted him.

"Oops, I was so anxious that I didn't even notice Fenghen standing there. Sorry, sorry. Fenghen, Uncle Mo will give you a powerful spirit weapon as compensation..." Mo Liusheng chuckled.

Shen Lang, standing beside Sima Fenghen, awkwardly touched his nose and smiled bitterly. He had finally managed to apologize formally, but this old man had ruined it. Now he didn't know whether to stand or sit.

Sima Yan looked at the somewhat flustered Mo Liusheng and said, "Old Mo, didn't you say you were bringing someone to see me tomorrow, that important person? Why are you here in Tianfeng City now? You look so anxious, which is unusual. What's going on?"

"Rubbish, of course I'm anxious. How could I not be? I went to see that person tonight, but he wasn't at the academy. He left the academy late at night! You know how scary the rumors about the demon corpse are. All the nearby forces are on high alert! I followed him, but I couldn't find him, which made me very anxious, hey!" Mo Liusheng said, almost in a panic.

Sima Yan was even more puzzled. Initially, Mo Liusheng had told him about meeting an important person, a master weapon maker, and wanted to bring him to meet him.

For someone to make Mo Liusheng, an old hand, so excited, it must be extraordinary.

But why would such a master weapon maker fear a mere demon corpse? Why was this old man so worried?

"Old Mo..." Sima Yan was about to ask when the door was kicked open.

Yes, kicked, not pushed.

Xu Qing burst in, looking like a demon, followed by seven or eight powerful experts.

"Shen Lang, where do you think you can run this time! I'll make your life worse than death! I'll let you taste the feeling of being soaked in a cesspool!" Xu Qing's face was twisted with hatred as he glared at Shen Lang.