Arrogance

"Yaoguang." Zong Yan couldn't help calling out. He truly did not want to see Yaoguang clash with the Jishi Society. Yet he also understood Yaoguang's misgivings. Xie Family Manor had clearly been a trap, which proved... There was indeed a problem within the Jishi Society. His reluctance to go to the Jishi Society headquarters was only reasonable. "Be patient. The president will offer a reasonable solution," Zong Yan urged in a low voice. Yaoguang glanced at him. Considering how diligently the old Martial Saint had bustled about all this way, even risking his life at Xie Family Manor to help... Yaoguang reined in the aura locked onto Fang Lu that could have erupted into a lethal strike at any moment. Seeing this, Zong Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "President..." He turned his gaze to Ji Pingtian. Beside him, Ji Pingtian sensed the power radiating from Yaoguang—something faintly familiar, yet seemingly different from the spirit intent in his understanding. His expression grew complex and hesitant. Only after a long moment did he finally speak: "Yaoguang, your talent is indeed extraordinarily formidable—formidable enough for everyone to give you the green light. But it cannot be denied that there are also many suspicious points surrounding you. We must investigate these matters thoroughly before making a final decision. Therefore, you must understand our difficulties..." "You seem to have misunderstood something." Before Ji Pingtian could finish, Yaoguang cut him off. He looked at this Jishi Society president, a figure of supreme authority capable of representing the will of the entire organization: "It was never a matter of me insisting on joining your Jishi Society. Rather, your Jishi Society invited me, hoping to use my strength to oppose Chixing's Martial Saints. Therefore..." He said impassively, "Your difficulties have nothing to do with me." "Nothing to do with you?" Fang Lu couldn't help glancing at Ji Pingtian. "President, look at him. He clearly doesn't consider himself a true member of the Jishi Society at all. He has zero sense of the bigger picture." Ji Pingtian ignored Fang Lu, his eyes remaining fixed on Yaoguang. "Then what do you mean?" "You only need to tell me whether you intend to honor that agreement," Yaoguang said bluntly. Hearing such an impolite tone, Ji Pingtian also felt a surge of displeasure. A Martial Saint was already someone standing at the apex of a nation, an honored guest of any country. In some smaller nations, a Martial Saint was the bedrock of the entire country. They could even sway the succession of kings. Ordinary Martial Saints were already revered to such a degree, let alone a Spirit Intent Martial Saint like him. Looking across an entire continent, he was truly among the topmost figures. No matter how exceptional Yaoguang's talent or how great his potential, that was a matter for the future. Right now, toward him—a senior and a Divine Realm Martial Saint—the proper respect was still expected. Yet despite prizing Yaoguang's talent and negotiating in good faith, he had been met with blunt dismissals again and again, leaving his pride wounded. He had no desire to see the Jishi Society invest heavily only to nurture an ungrateful wolf that would easily be poached by Chixing. "What if we do, and what if we don't?" Ji Pingtian's tone carried a hint of coldness. "If yes, wire the money. If no..." Yaoguang pointed toward the doorway. "See yourselves out." "Insolence!" Fang Lu couldn't help stepping forward again. "How dare you speak to our president like that?" "No need for this, no need." Fearing Yaoguang might strike Fang Lu, Zong Yan quickly stepped between them and turned toward Ji Pingtian: "President, Yaoguang's immense talent is beyond question. A nineteen-year-old Martial Saint! If allowed to keep growing, in the future, let alone attaining the Divine Realm, even cultivating a Hunyuan Flawless body would be well within reach. If he can enter the Artifact Sect... he is certain to make further breakthroughs and step into the realm of high-tier cultivators! If our Jishi Society fails to nurture such a genius, what if he gets recruited by Chixing..." "He killed the president of a Rebirth Society branch. Given the arrogance of those from Chixing, do you think they would ever allow him to join?" Fang Lu sneered, cutting him off. Zong Yan was taken aback. The aloof superiority of the people of Chixing stemmed from having subdued every nation across the globe through overwhelming might—an attitude deeply ingrained after centuries of being fawned upon by countless countries. Hence, Fang Lu's words were not empty speculation. He looked at Fang Lu, then at Ji Pingtian... Was this why the president remained so full of confidence despite knowing Yaoguang possessed a once-in-a-century talent? "Actually, I personally believe I have already proven I am not a demon from the Rebirth Society," Yaoguang suddenly spoke up. "Proven? How have you proven it?" Fang Lu immediately shot back. "How have I proven it?" His tone carried a trace of indifference. "The fact that I am still standing here speaking cordially with you is the best proof." Hearing this, Zong Yan instantly understood Yaoguang's meaning. If he truly were a monster, capable of slaying monsters with Martial Saint-level combat power like Zhao Sheng and Xie Yusheng at Xie Family Manor without even revealing his true form, just how terrifying would his real strength be?! The president of the Jishi Society, a core leader like Ji Pingtian, was right before him. If a fight broke out, of the dozen or so people from the Jishi Society present today, every single one of them would not walk out of Yuyuan alive. Beside them, Ji Pingtian grasped Yaoguang's implication as well. At once, he laughed in anger. "A young man full of overweening arrogance." He delivered this assessment with heavy emphasis. "An old man looking at the sky from the bottom of a well," Yaoguang said mildly. "Su Yaoguang, you are arrogant!" Fang Lu couldn't resist jumping in again, rebuking sharply. Yet deep in her eyes lurked a flicker of excitement. Yaoguang looked at this Dayu Martial Saint. One didn't need to guess to know she was closely tied to the royal Liao family. Cross-referencing the information obtained from Zhao Sheng's soul fragments... Fanning the flames. From the very beginning until now, Fang Lu had intentionally provoked opposition between him and the Jishi Society, hoping to use Ji Pingtian's hands to eliminate him to curry favor with the Rebirth Society, whom they had long since defected to. This was why she had acted out of character, constantly stirring up trouble. "To spare Zong Yan the awkwardness, I won't kill you right now. Go back and tell the Liao family that I wasn't having fun. So, moving forward, we will continue," Yaoguang stated. Hearing this, Fang Lu first froze, then seemed to realize something, and her face drained of color. "Do you know... do you know what you are saying?!" "Enough!" Seeing Yaoguang's apparent intention to direct his spearhead at the Dayu royal family, Ji Pingtian couldn't help barking a harsh reprimand. He took a stride forward: "Su Yaoguang, I admire your courage. But... being taught a lesson by one's own people is far better than being taught by outsiders. Therefore..." The overcoat draped over his shoulders slipped down. A disciple behind him swiftly stepped forward and caught the falling coat. Meanwhile, the Divine Realm Martial Saint president had already stopped three meters in front of Yaoguang. He extended a hand: "Come! Let me see if your strength is as tough as your mouth! If you can defeat me and prove you truly have the power to keep us from walking out of this courtyard, I will harbor no further doubt regarding your identity! Furthermore, of the three hundred billion Chixing coins promised to you, not a single cent will be shorted, and the Jishi Society will spare no effort in helping you ascend to even higher realms..." "President..." Zong Yan tried to intervene. Ji Pingtian waved him off directly: "But if you lack the strength, don't blame me for forcibly taking you back to discipline you properly." Such a genius—he couldn't truly let him wander freely outside. Otherwise, if he were recruited by Chixing, the Jishi Society would surely regret it immensely. He could still distinguish priorities and gravity. Thus, defeat him, let him realize there are always higher heavens and better men, and then move him with emotion, reason with logic, and apply both kindness and authority. Young people were full of aggressive pride; their temper had to be properly honed. Once that temper was ground down, he would naturally understand the painstaking good intentions behind this moment. "A Divine Realm Martial Saint." Yaoguang looked straight at this Jishi Society president. If he wanted what came next to proceed smoothly... A fight to beat the Jishi Society into submission was indeed the better approach. "Fight, then." Yaoguang extended his hand as well. "I'll let you strike first, lest you say I took advantage of your old age and waning strength." "What arrogance." Ji Pingtian shook his head. "Compared to ordinary Martial Saints, a Divine Realm Martial Saint may not have a notably different physical constitution. However, having condensed spirit intent, a Divine Realm Martial Saint possesses far more acute control over their own power and can unleash vastly greater destructive might—just like a martial arts master who has trained bitterly for sixty years versus a fledgling martial apprentice. Even with the same physique, a life-and-death clash can still be decided in an instant." He turned his gaze toward Zong Yan: "I won't take advantage of you. The files indicate he specializes in the sword. Get him a sword." Zong Yan hesitated for a moment, but quickly retrieved a sword from one of the men beside him and tossed it toward Yaoguang. "Take the sword. Though you are born extraordinary and might not fear spirit intent techniques, the advantage of a Spirit Intent Martial Saint over an ordinary Martial Saint is not simply a matter of spirit intent alone," Zong Yan said. Yaoguang caught the sword. Perhaps in Ji Pingtian's eyes, he was seeking fairness and justice, refusing to bully the junior. Yet in Yaoguang's eyes... Pompous ignorance. "President, if Yaoguang is a monster, he must have a second form. For safety's sake, put on your gauntlets and combat suit," Fang Lu urged hurriedly from the side. "No need," Ji Pingtian replied, then looked at Yaoguang: "Come." Light flickered in Fang Lu's eyes. She silently shifted her position. This spot... Happened to be the ideal position to intervene in the battlefield. "Heh!" Yaoguang chuckled softly. Since Ji Pingtian was so confident... Then he would use the sword in his hand to shatter that confidence! In the next moment, his sword struck. The instant the sword was drawn, immense battle intent stirred his internal essence and energy, seemingly pouring his entire spirit, vitality, and soul into the blade's edge. Man, power, and spirit merged into one with the sword in his hand at that moment, turning his entire being into a brilliant rainbow streaking through the void, thrusting straight toward Ji Pingtian! Not only that, deep within his body, starlight seemed to glitter across acupoints one after another. Amidst that glittering, the vitality and blood power previously utilized to lock within and nourish his essence erupted simultaneously. Star Ignition! The blood and qi power across the acupoints stacked layer upon layer, ultimately... Turning into a colossal wave like toppling mountains and overturning seas, carrying with it the terrifying battle intent and momentum accumulated from slaying more than one Martial Saint-grade demon, all concentrated into this single strike! By the time the sword thrust reached before Ji Pingtian, the accumulated momentum was burning at its absolute peak, like a dazzling meteor streaking across the void. Terrifying force and oppressive pressure rolled forth in waves—so fierce that even Ji Pingtian, who prided himself on being a Divine Realm Martial Saint and considered this battle an effortless victory, turned pale with shock!