Li Nan’s face was a mask of utter shock.
He had thought Chen Ge had been buried in a pit someone dug. He never imagined he had been slapped into the ground with a single palm strike.
To slam a person into the earth without so much as breaking a bone required extreme control over one’s strength. There was no room for even the slightest error.
Too little force, and you wouldn’t be able to drive them in.
Too much force...
SPLAT!
And they’d be dead!
He couldn’t believe someone could achieve such a terrifying level of precision.
Li Nan said sternly, "Chen Ge, you will answer my questions honestly. Otherwise, I will immediately revoke your eligibility to participate in the Holy Spirit Assembly."
"I am being honest,"
Chen Ge said.
The man was an Elder of Holy Spirit Manor, and a master at the Martial Monarch Great Perfection Realm. If he told even the slightest lie, the Elder would see right through it.
Therefore, he had been answering the man’s questions with complete honesty from the very beginning.
"Are you certain?"
Li Nan asked in a low voice.
Chen Ge said without hesitation, "I, Chen Ge, swear upon the heavens. If I have uttered a single false word, may I be struck by lightning and suffer a miserable death."
Now, Li Nan was puzzled.
Chen Ge dared to make such a venomous oath to the heavens, which meant he wasn’t lying.
But...
Li Nan’s expression grew heavy as he asked, "Fine. I will believe you for now. Who was the one who attacked you? Was it a Martial King Powerhouse?"
In Li Nan’s view, only a Martial King Powerhouse could achieve such a precise feat.
And not just any Martial King, but one at the very peak of their power.
"Well..."
Chen Ge looked troubled.
’A Martial King Powerhouse?’
’The guy was just a Samurai. At most, a Warrior Great Perfection.’
’I can’t possibly tell Elder Li Nan that I was defeated by a Samurai. How humiliating would it be if word got out?’
’But if I don’t tell the truth, I’ll be struck by lightning.’
’What do I do?’
After hesitating for a good while, Chen Ge finally made up his mind and said, "To tell you the truth, Elder Li Nan, I was defeated by a youth in the Warrior Realm."
’So what if it’s humiliating?’
’It’s better than being struck by lightning and dying a miserable death.’
Chen Ge lowered his head, bracing for Li Nan’s mockery. However, Li Nan didn’t mock him. Instead, he roared in fury, "Chen Ge, you dare deceive me? Are you trying to get your eligibility revoked?"
"I’m not!"
Chen Ge retorted, "Many people saw it happen. If you don’t believe me, Elder, you can ask around."
He was already humiliated enough, and now Li Nan was making things even more difficult for him.
’This is so damn unfair.’
Li Nan shot a look at the middle-aged man traveling with him. The man immediately understood and went to inquire.
Soon, the middle-aged man returned. "Elder, the kid isn’t lying."
"What? He isn’t lying?"
Li Nan was dumbfounded.
The middle-aged man mused, "Based on the current situation, the attacker was likely a Martial King Powerhouse, intentionally disguised as a youth—a wolf in sheep’s clothing—who injured Chen Ge. However, they didn’t kill him, so it seems they had no malicious intent."
"I see!"
Li Nan sighed helplessly.
Whether the person was a wolf in sheep’s clothing or not, their power was far superior to his own. They were not someone an Elder like him could afford to provoke.
Therefore, he could only let the matter drop.
Just then, an old man walked up to Li Nan, cursing under his breath. "Damn it! The nerve of kids these days! Some trash Samurai actually dared to show up for the Holy Spirit Assembly. I’m speechless."
"What?"
Li Nan said in surprise, "You’re saying a Samurai came to participate in the Holy Spirit Assembly?"
The old man said, "That’s right. He was even recommended by Master Mo. I kindly tried to warn him off, but he wouldn’t listen. Let him get himself killed then. Huh? Isn’t this Chen Ge? How did you end up buried in the ground?"
"He was slapped into it,"
Li Nan explained.
The old man was stunned. "Impossible! Chen Ge has the power to kill a Grand Martial Artist. What kind of prodigy could possibly slap him into the ground?"
"A Samurai,"
Li Nan replied.
"A Samurai? Holy shit!"
The old man exclaimed in shock, "No wonder Samurai are so arrogant these days. Their combat power is that terrifying? Chen Ge, tell me in detail. How did he slap you into the ground? How many slaps did it take?"
Chen Ge was speechless.
He had already prepared himself for mockery, but having to recount the process in his own words still felt incredibly humiliating.
’Besides, can’t you guys dig me out first?’
’It’s getting stuffy in here!’
Li Nan said grimly, "We can hear the story later. The most important thing right now is to report this matter to the Manor Master and ask for his decision."
The old man said, "The Manor Master is currently entertaining Fairy Jinghong."
"What? Fairy Jinghong?"
Li Nan was astonished. "Isn’t she the champion of the Upper Realm’s Holy Spirit Assembly? Why is she here?"
The old man explained, "After participating in the Holy Spirit Assembly in the Upper Realm, Fairy Jinghong reaped great benefits. She has already broken through to the Grandmaster Great Perfection Realm. She is just one step away from becoming a Martial Monarch."
"A Martial Monarch?"
Li Nan sighed in admiration, "Tsk, tsk. Fairy Jinghong is a true prodigy. In a few more years, she’ll probably reach Martial Monarch Great Perfection, rivaling old fossils like us."
"What’s so strange about that? Fairy Jinghong’s talent is exceptional. She has the potential to become a Martial Emperor. The Manor Master invited her to preside over the Holy Spirit Assembly precisely to help our Holy Spirit Manor form a good relationship with her," the old man said calmly.
...
「The next morning」
Su Mo arrived at the plaza early and met up with Man Mountain, Wu Hao, and the others.
"Elder Su, you’re finally here,"
Man Mountain said respectfully.
Su Mo nodded and glanced around. "What, isn’t Mu Qing with you?"
Man Mountain was also puzzled.
They had arranged to meet Mu Qing here after their meal yesterday. Why hadn’t he shown up yet?
"Did that guy oversleep?"
"It’s possible!"
"If he overslept, I’ll never forgive him. I’ll beat the dog shit out of him."
Man Mountain’s face was flushed with anger.
’Damn it.’
’He dares to stand up Elder Su? Is he looking to die?’
Before long, Mu Qing arrived.
His face was black and blue.
The previously furious Man Mountain stared at the battered Mu Qing, stunned. "Who beat you up?"
"Who else could it be? That bastard Ren Fan, of course."
Mu Qing said angrily, "Ren Fan and I are mortal enemies. I was in a hurry to meet Elder Su, so I didn’t want to deal with him. But who knew he would launch a sneak attack on me? He broke several of my ribs."
"That bastard! Daring to bully my brother! Come on, I’m taking you to get revenge,"
Man Mountain roared.
Mu Qing shook his head. "Forget it. The Holy Spirit Assembly is about to start. We shouldn’t cause any trouble. Otherwise, I would’ve fought him to the death to see who would come out on top."
"Fight to the death? Heh, a piece of trash like you is worthy?"
The moment Mu Qing’s words fell, a mocking voice came from behind him. It was Ren Fan, the one who had beaten him up, and he had a group of young men with him.
Man Mountain’s face twisted into a snarl. "Shit! You beat up my brother, and you fucking dare to show your face here to die?"
"So, you’re here too, you piece of trash!"
Ren Fan said with contempt, "Excellent. I’ll take care of all of you pieces of trash right now. I’ll beat you until you’re crying for your mothers, until you wish you were dead, until you regret ever being born."
From within the crowd, Su Mo asked in confusion, "Are you going to beat me up too?"