Chapter 151: Overwhelming Momentum

Li Fumin was somewhat stunned. He found that Sun Yibin, who used to obey his every command, had become completely unfamiliar, as if he had changed into a different person. A former dog of the Li family actually dared to bark at its former master—how could this be tolerated? Li Fumin's expression immediately darkened as he coldly stared at Sun Yibin.

One of the Li family's bodyguards stepped forward instantly, pointed at Sun Yibin, and rebuked, "Sun Yibin, have you lost your mind? How dare you show such disrespect to the head of the family!"

Backed by Ling Tian, Sun Yibin felt no fear at the bodyguard's accusation. He sneered, "My relationship with Li Fumin was merely a monetary transaction, and that contract has now been terminated. There is no longer any connection whatsoever between me and the Li family. Of course, I still remember very clearly how the head of the Li family treated me back then."

As he uttered the last sentence, Sun Yibin's tone grew heavier. Every time he recalled working like an ox and a horse for the Li family while constantly enduring reprimands, a deep sense of grievance welled up inside him. Once a soldier, if not for his injury, subsequent retirement, and lack of livelihood, would he have ever been willing to act as a dog for the Li family?

Over three years, Sun Yibin had finally brought an end to that dog-like existence. Relying on his savings from those years and the sponsorship of his comrades-in-arms, he had opened a bar. Through painstaking management over many years, he finally achieved the success he had today. Yet, all these years, whenever Sun Yibin saw people from the Li family, he still had to bow and scrape, continuing to play the humble subordinate. This had filled him with an extreme sense of grievance.

Now, supported by Ling Tian, Sun Yibin could finally hold his head high. The grievance suppressed in his heart for years was finally released, and he recovered the pride and dignity that a soldier ought to possess.

"Impudent!" The bodyguard who had spoken earlier lunged forward, throwing a fierce punch. At the same time, three other bodyguards made their move. These four were the elite among the elites of the Li family's bodyguards, second in strength only to Sun Yibin. With all four attacking simultaneously, even though Sun Yibin had regained his strength, he still found it somewhat difficult to parry.

In an instant, Sun Yibin was plunged into a bitter struggle, possessing only the power to parry without any opportunity to counterattack.

Li Fumin said coldly, "Cripple him for me."

Ling Tian cast a cold glance at Li Fumin. This old bastard was truly ruthless, resorting to such heavy-handed measures even against someone who used to risk his life for him. At the thought of this, Ling Tian twirled the teacup in his hand and said coldly, "Li Fumin, order your lackeys to stop immediately, or bear the consequences."

"I am disciplining my own dog; it is not your place to interfere," Li Fumin retorted directly. He waved his hand toward the bodyguards behind him, and immediately two more bodyguards joined the fray. Sun Yibin, who was already struggling desperately, went from fighting three opponents to five, finding his situation even more precarious and on the verge of defeat at any moment.

Ling Tian suddenly slammed his palm down on the table. The five teacups on the table instantly flew into the air, and with a sweep of his hand driven by genuine Qi, the five teacups shot out at blinding speed, striking the chests of the five bodyguards respectively. They hit their targets almost simultaneously, and all struck the exact same spot without the slightest error.

The five bodyguards collapsed on the spot, completely losing their combat capability.

Sun Yibin, who had been hard-pressed in battle, finally stopped to catch his breath, wiped the beads of sweat the size of soybeans from his forehead, and then returned to stand respectfully beside Ling Tian.

At the moment Ling Tian made his move, Li Fumin and Huo Ran, both martial artists, turned grave in expression. As the saying goes: the layman watches the excitement, while the expert watches the technique. Regardless of force or precision, Ling Tian's performance exceeded their imagination. Although the five bodyguards were not of military origin, they had all undergone professional training, possessed formidable strength, and were in the midst of a chaotic brawl. Yet Ling Tian's seemingly casual sweep had accurately and effortlessly knocked down all five bodyguards.

Not only did Li Fumin believe he could not achieve this feat, but even the immensely proud Huo Ran had to admit his own inferiority.

Huo Ran leaned over and whispered into Li Fumin's ear, "Family Head, this person's strength exceeds our imagination. We must handle this with extreme caution."

Hearing Huo Ran's words, Li Fumin could not help drawing a sharp breath. Even the exceedingly proud Huo Ran considered Ling Tian difficult to deal with, which sufficiently indicated that Huo Ran lacked absolute confidence in handling Ling Tian.

Having shown a glimpse of his ability, Ling Tian looked proudly at Li Fumin and said, "Your dog was much too disobedient, so I helped you discipline him. Of course, if you are disobedient as well, I wouldn't mind giving you an unforgettable lesson." When saying this, Ling Tian wore an absent-minded expression, which meant he did not regard Li Fumin as an opponent at all.

After all, to qualify as Ling Tian's opponent, Li Fumin was simply not worthy.

Paying no heed to Li Fumin, whose face had turned livid with anger, Ling Tian turned to Sun Yibin and said, "The so-called noble and prestigious clans are actually nothing more than paper tigers. Once you puncture their facade, you will realize they are worth nothing at all. Do you understand?"

Sun Yibin nodded hastily and said, "Young Master Ling, I understand." However, Sun Yibin added a sentence to himself in his heart: *To you, they are paper tigers, but to ordinary people like us, these noble clans are invincible entities.*

Li Fumin's complexion turned ashen. Ling Tian actually dared to make a move right in front of him, and judging by his words, he completely disregarded him as the head of a noble family.

This meant he was directly ignored, because Ling Tian simply did not take him seriously at all.

"Young man, a person can be proud, but they must never be arrogant. Don't you know the principle that there is always someone better, and a mountain higher than another?" Huo Ran took a step forward, staring at Ling Tian with icy eyes while simultaneously unleashing a powerful aura that pressed down heavily toward Ling Tian.

Unflinching and composed, Ling Tian picked up the teapot, formed his other hand into the shape of a teacup, and, under the astonished gazes of everyone present, began pouring tea. Li Fumin thought Ling Tian had been scared out of his wits, actually pouring tea onto his bare hand—wasn't that asking to be scalded?

Then, a shocking scene unfolded. The tea seemed to land inside an invisible teacup, failing to scatter all over the ground as one would expect. Li Fumin, a martial artist, was so astonished he could not speak. He knew that Ling Tian had enveloped the tea with profound genuine Qi; to achieve such a feat was something Li Fumin had never even heard of.

Huo Ran was even more shaken. Under his overwhelming pressure, Ling Tian was still able to effortlessly condense a teacup using genuine Qi, which indicated that Ling Tian cared nothing for his aura suppression. Having traveled the Jianghu for many years and witnessed countless experts, this was the first time Huo Ran felt a sense of defeat.

After finishing the tea in his hand, Ling Tian abruptly swept his arm upward and shouted explosively, "Break!"

Before the word "break" had fully faded, Huo Ran felt a massive surge of force suddenly rise, destroying the aura he had released like a hot knife through butter. With the momentum unabated, Huo Ran hurriedly channeled his entire body's aura to resist, but it was to no avail. He felt a violent impact on his chest, a sweetness rose in his throat, and he spewed a mouthful of blood.

In the clash of auras, Huo Ran was directly crushed by Ling Tian.

Huo Ran hastily wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared coldly at Ling Tian. He realized that while the aura he released was powerful, it was dispersed like ocean waves and could only serve to exert suppression. In contrast, Ling Tian's released aura was utterly tyrannical, resembling Mount Tai pressing down from above, and aided by powerful spiritual sense, it was already capable of inflicting substantive physical damage. If it were an ordinary person, Ling Tian could blast them to death using his aura alone.

"I thought you were an expert; you have disappointed me." Ling Tian looked proudly at Huo Ran. "If you can only display this level of strength, then you can get lost. Fighting you is merely a waste of my time."

Defeated thoroughly in the clash of auras and even injured, to be able to reach this level meant Ling Tian possessed at least the upper stage of Qi Refining, or perhaps even the Qi Transformation realm. Yet Ling Tian was so young, only around twenty years old. Even if he were a peerless prodigy, it was impossible for him to reach this stage.

"Are you an expert at the upper stage of Qi Refining?" Huo Ran asked in a deep voice, clutching his chest.

Ling Tian said indifferently, "Your killing intent is far too heavy; it seems you haven't killed few people in your ordinary days. However, considering that cultivation is not easily attained, I will give you one chance: get lost immediately."

Huo Ran trembled all over with rage. That phrase was always something he said to others, but today the roles were reversed.

"What sect do you inherit your arts from?" Huo Ran asked in a deep voice. He could only sense that Ling Tian was extremely powerful, but he could not determine what martial arts Ling Tian was actually using. If he were the successor of some secluded hidden sect, Huo Ran would turn around and leave immediately; those powerful hidden sects were not something a rogue cultivator like him could afford to provoke.

"I said, get lost!" Ling Tian released his powerful aura once more. Before Huo Ran could even react, Ling Tian had already arrived right in front of him, grasped Huo Ran's neck with one hand, and a formidable Qi instantly locked onto Huo Ran's various acupoints, sealing off his mobility.

Huo Ran's face turned pale as paper. Having traveled the Jianghu for many years, he was utterly powerless before Ling Tian. One must know that he had just reached the middle stage of Qi Refining; placed in Yunhai City, he was absolute top-tier strength, and even if he encountered an expert at the upper stage of Qi Refining, Huo Ran had the confidence to tangle with them for a while.

Yet before Ling Tian, he had not the slightest power to resist, and all his acupoints were sealed in an instant. He knew clearly that as long as Ling Tian wished it, he could easily take his life.

"You... you are a martial arts senior in the Qi Transformation realm." Terrified, Huo Ran even changed his form of address. The immensely proud Huo Ran believed that only a Qi Transformation martial artist could subdue him so effortlessly. "That's right, you must be a senior in the Qi Transformation realm. Please forgive this junior for being blind and offending a senior." Huo Ran immediately put on a pitiful expression and pleaded.

A Qi Transformation martial artist?

Hearing these words, Li Fumin nearly collapsed. That was a legendary martial arts expert, an existence Li Fumin could only look up to.

Ling Tian let out a disdainful, cold snort. "If you continue to aid the wicked, the next time I see you, I will kill you. Now, get lost!"

After regaining his freedom, Huo Ran bowed deeply to Ling Tian and then departed swiftly. However, the moment he turned around, a flash of malice crossed his eyes.

Sun Yibin said, "Young Master Ling, if this person is not eliminated, he will surely become a future trouble."

Ling Tian smiled without speaking. He had already guessed that Huo Ran, who carried such heavy killing intent, would certainly not let the matter rest, so he planned to thoroughly resolve this future trouble the next time he saw him. The reason he didn't make a move today was because this was a public place; if a life were lost, it would undoubtedly entail a great deal of trouble.