Chapter 23

From Jing Lucheng's gaze, Jing Yan could sense the hatred this person had towards him!

While other members of the Jing family had also criticized him behind his back, and even spoke loudly in front of him, at least they did not confront him directly.

But Jing Lucheng, with his hatred, stood right in front of him and mocked him. Anyone could see that he was looking for trouble!

Then, Jing Yan gave a cold laugh, his gaze sharpening as he said, "Whether I participate in the test or not has nothing to do with you, Jing Lucheng, right?"

"Nothing to do with me?" Jing Lucheng's eyes turned dark.

"Hmph, how can it have nothing to do with me? Jing Yan, you know very well that your realm has been continuously declining, and you have no hope in martial arts. Now, you actually want to waste the family's resources. The more resources you waste, the less others who truly need them will get. Tell me, how can it have nothing to do with me? Not only does it have something to do with me, but it also has something to do with many people in the Jing family!" Jing Lucheng said with a cold laugh.

The conversation between Jing Lucheng and Jing Yan immediately drew the attention of many Jing family members present. Their gazes all fell on the two of them.

"Jing Yan, I heard that half a month ago, you obtained quite a few spirit stones at the Ruyi Pavilion! Tsk, tsk, I really don't understand how you managed to get so many resources. But since you got so many spirit stones, you still come to participate in the family test, wanting to get that measly one or two spirit stones as a reward. I say you have a thick face, am I wrong?" Jing Lucheng scanned the crowd around him, then looked back at Jing Yan, his expression sinister.

Hearing these words, Jing Yan suddenly understood.

Jing Lucheng was standing up for Jing Yujin. It seemed that this person was very close to Jing Yujin.

Otherwise, Jing Yujin wouldn't have casually told others about the embarrassing incident at the Ruyi Pavilion.

And the only people who knew that Jing Yan had sold a large amount of resources at the Ruyi Pavilion were a few: Jing Yan himself, the Ruyi Pavilion manager Wang He, Jing Yan's uncle Jing Chenxing, and Jing Yujin.

Wang He certainly wouldn't casually mention such a thing. Jing Chenxing was even less likely to tell Jing Lucheng. Therefore, Jing Lucheng's source of information must be Jing Yujin.

Now, Jing Lucheng was causing trouble for him, possibly at the behest of Jing Yujin. Jing Yujin herself wouldn't come forward, as she was an elder, while Jing Lucheng and Jing Yan were of the same generation. Although Jing Lucheng was a few years older, if there were any conflicts, other family members wouldn't think he was bullying a younger person.

"Jing Lucheng! If you want to stand up for others, you need strength. Without strength, standing up for others will usually end badly. I can assure you, you will regret it." Jing Yan's heart grew even colder as he understood.

Back at the Ruyi Pavilion, it was clearly Jing Yujin's fault, and now she wanted to take revenge on him.

This Jing Yujin was truly detestable!

"Jing Yujin, hah..." Jing Yan inwardly sneered.

"Ha ha ha... Truly laughable, extremely laughable! Jing Yan, aren't you afraid of the wind hurting your tongue? If it were before your realm declined, I wouldn't have opposed you. But now, you're just a waste. You actually dare to speak so arrogantly. It seems I must teach you a lesson today, to let you know your place." Jing Lucheng laughed maniacally and said in a deep voice.

He had come to Jing Yan to provoke him. Before acting, he was just looking for a reason, as he couldn't just attack Jing Yan directly. After all, Jing Yan was the grandson of the old patriarch. Now, Jing Yan had given him a reason.

In his view, Jing Yan was at most at the Third Heaven Realm. He didn't even need to use his full strength; just a slight movement of his fingers would be enough to crush Jing Yan.

Although Jing Yujin had seen Jing Yan take out so many valuable resources at the Ruyi Pavilion, she wouldn't believe that those resources came from the spirit beasts Jing Yan had hunted.

This wasn't Jing Yujin's fault; probably no one would believe that Jing Yan had killed those spirit beasts. Even Wang He didn't believe it.

"Happy to oblige!" Jing Yan's aura slightly condensed.

He wanted to test his current strength and see how strong he had become.

His realm was already at the peak of the Sixth Heaven Realm, very close to the Seventh Heaven Realm. But in terms of combat power, Jing Yan felt he far exceeded ordinary Sixth Heaven Realm martial artists. He even wanted to challenge this Seventh Heaven Realm Jing Lucheng.

"Jing Yan, come up and test your strength!"

At that moment, the voice of the Fourth Elder came from the front.

"Our matter, we'll discuss later." Hearing the elder call his name, Jing Yan looked at Jing Lucheng and said calmly.

"Hmph." Jing Lucheng gave a cold snort.

Under the gazes of everyone, Jing Yan walked to the center of the hall, near the testing crystal.

"Greetings, Fourth Elder, Sixth Elder!" Jing Yan greeted the two family elders.

The last test was presided over by the Fifth Elder, Jing Yuxiang. This time, it was the Fourth Elder and Sixth Elder.

"Hmm!" The two elders nodded when they saw Jing Yan.

"Jing Yan, I'm a bit surprised that you came to participate in the test, but I'm also pleased. At least, it shows that you haven't been defeated. At any time, if you give up, then there really is no hope. Do you understand what I mean?" Fourth Elder Jing Tianying said slowly to Jing Yan.

"I understand." Jing Yan responded, knowing that Fourth Elder Jing Tianying's words were well-intentioned.

Jing Yan was also grateful to Jing Tianying.

"Jing Yan, then test your realm." Sixth Elder Jing Mingzhi also spoke.

"Yes!" Jing Yan replied.

As Jing Yan walked to the testing crystal, Jing Tianying and Jing Mingzhi exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads slightly.

Clearly, they felt sorry for Jing Yan.

Once a prodigy, he had fallen for unknown reasons, now reduced to a state where he was even inferior to the most ordinary family members.

Last month, when Jing Yan participated in the test, the two elders knew that his realm was at the Third Heaven Realm.

"Hope his realm hasn't declined further." Jing Tianying sighed inwardly, "The old patriarch is gone, and Jing Yan... sigh, it's a pity that none of us can help him; he can only rely on himself."

Jing Tianying's eyes showed much sorrow.

...

"Look, Jing Yan is testing!"

"It's starting! Guess what Jing Yan's realm will be?"

"Probably still the Third Heaven Realm."

"Hehe, dare to bet? I think he's only at the Second Heaven Realm."

As Jing Yan began the test, the surrounding Jing family members focused their gazes on him, casually discussing and mocking.