Tian Jingyi's Killing Intent solidified. Tian Yilin was his most beloved youngest son, the one with the most hope of leaving the Great Yuan Kingdom and experiencing the outside world.
All his hopes were shattered. He knew very well that even if Tian Yilin was revived, he wouldn't be able to recover to his peak condition; his Physical Body had suffered severe trauma.
The young man standing right in front of him was the one who killed his second son and crippled his youngest son.
Gritting his teeth in hatred, Tong'er wouldn't lie to him. In that battle, a blow to the skull, injuring the brain, meant that even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal couldn't save him; he would at most live for three days.
One large and one small figure stood upright in place. When the Killing Intent formed a straight line, Chen Zheng knew the critical moment had arrived.
His fists clenched, even if he died in battle, he would die with honor and dignity.
Kai Mai Realm!
It meant opening up all the meridians in the Physical Body, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, storing it in the Dantian, and Cultivating Internal Energy.
Internal Energy, or Inner True Qi, was hundreds of times stronger than mere Physical Body strength. It could shatter rocks, split wood, divert streams, possess immense power, and could cleave stones the size of a water vat.
No matter how strong Chen Zheng's Physical Body was, it couldn't compare to such a large boulder. If struck, he would undoubtedly be torn to pieces.
A formidable Internal Energy surged out, enveloping his entire body. His palm emitted a dark red glow. Tian Jingyi must have Cultivated a fire-attribute Cultivation Technique, as his Internal Energy contained the Qi of flames.
It pressed down from mid-air, a terrifying wave of Qi churning and engulfing the entire arena. Chen Zheng had nowhere to hide.
The difference in Realm was too great. Moreover, his wounds had just healed, and he dared not mobilize all his strength, making him even less of an opponent.
A hurricane struck, forming a storm.
Chen Zheng stood at the center of the storm, facing the powerful gale and downpour like a lone boat, drifting unsteadily, liable to be swallowed by the storm at any moment.
This was the Kai Mai Realm. After being empowered by Internal Energy, an Acquired Martial Artist could not match or contend with it.
Darkness enveloped him, and Chen Zheng's eyes were bloodshot with fury.
"I cannot die! I still need to protect my mother, protect my Family!"
With a furious roar, he unleashed all his strength. The Flowing Cloud Saber struck down. He would not close his eyes and wait for death; that was the act of a coward.
Facing the terrifying storm, the Flowing Cloud Saber was easily torn apart, transforming into countless Saber Qi that vanished into the air.
The giant palm pressed down, appearing above Chen Zheng's head, transforming into a terrifying fierce tiger that opened its massive maw.
The evolution of Form-Intent. Tian Jingyi's talent was very high, but he had been busy managing the Family, which caused his Realm to remain in the Kai Mai Realm.
Understanding the evolution of Form-Intent gave him a great chance to Breakthrough to the Tiangang Realm.
The pressure on his Physical Body grew heavier and heavier. His bones creaked, as if a giant mountain was pressing down. Chen Zheng's breathing became increasingly rapid.
A death struggle!
He finally experienced what true fear of death felt like.
When the giant palm was still a meter away from him, a familiar figure appeared in front of him, bringing with her a fragrant breeze that was very pleasant.
"Boom!"
A palm print appeared above his head, intercepting Tian Jingyi's terrifying giant palm. A powerful wave of Qi shot out from above, impacting in all directions.
The ordinary Cultivators standing below the arena lost their footing, flying back dozens of meters, stumbling and falling.
As the Qi dissipated, an additional person stood on the arena, in front of Chen Zheng, blocking the fatal blow.
"Ai Linna, what do you mean? Why are you stopping me from killing him?"
Seeing the newcomer, Tian Jingyi's eyes turned cold. He stopped and questioned Ai Linna why she was preventing him from taking revenge.
His beloved son was dead, his other son injured. He was on the verge of exacting his revenge when someone suddenly appeared, stopping him from slaying Chen Zheng. His tone was very displeased. If it had been an ordinary person hindering him, he would have already erupted in rage.
"You cannot kill him yet!"
Ai Linna's tone was calm and unwavering, just a few simple words.
The palm she unleashed just now was even more formidable than Tian Jingyi's. She struck after him, pushing Tian Jingyi back. Only someone with superior strength could do that.
"Give me a reason!"
Tian Jingyi needed a reason. Chen Zheng had no connection to the Qingge Auction House. In fact, not long ago, he had even caused trouble once.
Logically speaking, the Qingge Auction House should have blacklisted Chen Zheng.
"He is my younger brother. Is that reason enough?"
Ai Linna turned around and patted Chen Zheng's head. He was half a head shorter than her. She wondered if this reason was sufficient.
Standing together, they indeed looked like siblings. Ai Linna was not young, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, a mature age. Chen Zheng was much younger than her.
"He is your younger brother?"
Tian Jingyi was stunned. He knew very well that Ai Linna was deceiving him; the so-called younger brother was just an excuse.
"That's right, he's my newly adopted younger brother!"
Ai Linna smiled slightly, revealing two dimples. Chen Zheng was utterly bewildered, still in a dazed state.
"You didn't adopt him earlier or later. Now that I want to kill him, you step out and adopt him as your sworn younger brother. Are you intentionally trying to oppose my Tian Family? Do you really think my Tian Family is afraid of you?"
The hatred for his murdered son had to be avenged. Even if it meant offending the Qingge Auction House, Chen Zheng had to be slain.
"I believe what Family Head Tian says. Our Qingge Auction House is new here and cannot be compared to the Tian Family. I hope you will spare him for the sake of this humble girl's Face."
Ai Linna did not want to make things too difficult with Tian Jingyi. The Qingge Auction House had only been in Yan City for a few years, while the Tian Family had been entrenched in Yan City for hundreds of years.
"No, he killed my son and crippled my beloved son. If this grudge is not avenged, we cannot coexist."
Tian Jingyi flatly refused. While he was wary of the Qingge Auction House, it didn't mean he was afraid. No matter what, Chen Zheng had to be slain today.
This boy was too deeply hidden. Acquired Sixth Stage injuring Acquired Eighth Stage. If he were allowed to grow, what would become of them?
"What if I insist on protecting him?"
Ai Linna suddenly smiled, a beautiful smile. Countless spectators below the arena stared foolishly, some even drooling.
Her graceful figure made every man want to reach out and touch her.
The two sides were at a stalemate. Ai Linna insisted on protecting Chen Zheng, while Tian Jingyi vowed to kill Chen Zheng. Neither would yield.
"Very well, if that's the case, then let's settle it with our hands!"
Reasoning was futile; there was only one solution: battle!
"You step aside first!"
Ai Linna turned around and spoke to Chen Zheng very gently, telling him to retreat to the edge of the arena and leave the rest to her.
Completely bewildered, he retreated to the edge of the arena, unable to understand why Ai Linna would save him.
From beginning to end, he had no interaction with her. In their two meetings, she was wearing a black robe, so she didn't know his true identity.
Her expression changed, and Ai Linna seemed like a different person. A sharp aura emanated from her, a suffocating power that enveloped Tian Jingyi.
"Family Head Tian, I apologize for the offense!"
As her voice fell, her body shot out. Her exquisite palm pressed down from mid-air. It looked soft and weak, but Tian Jingyi's eyes narrowed. This was the formidable Heavenly Cotton Palm, incredibly powerful.
He dared not be careless. His body shot up, meeting her attack.
Simple and direct, a clash of power. Two Internal Energies confronted each other in the air.
"Boom!"
A wave of Qi impacted, and both their bodies simultaneously descended from the air.
Ai Linna remained steady, still standing in her original spot. Tian Jingyi's body flew backward, landing in a corner of the arena. At the critical moment, Ai Linna held back her strength, otherwise, it would have been a different outcome.
The victor and vanquished were immediately clear!
Tian Jingyi's Face was very grim. He had underestimated Ai Linna's strength. She was deeply hidden, and no one knew her true Realm.
"Let's go!"
Ai Linna grabbed Chen Zheng's shoulder, descended from the arena, and with a few rapid leaps, disappeared into the crowd.
In a secluded spot, she set Chen Zheng down and carefully scrutinized him. His height, scent, and even his palms were all thoroughly examined. A smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Miss Ai, thank you for saving my life!"
Chen Zheng bowed. Without her today, he would have died at Tian Jingyi's hands.
"Aren't you curious why I saved you?"
Ai Linna asked playfully. Saving him wasn't just for a word of thanks.
"Please enlighten me, Miss Ai."
Chen Zheng was indeed very curious. There was no particular connection between them. Including the sale of Body Tempering Liquid, he had concealed his identity. They should have been mere acquaintances.
"To make you owe me a favor, which will be of great use in the future. Do you believe me if I say that?"
This explanation stunned Chen Zheng. He was just a small Acquired Sixth Stage Cultivator, with nothing to offer.
"I don't understand!"
Chen Zheng shook his head. He truly didn't understand.
"You will understand in the future. The outside world is vast, a million times, a billion times larger than Yan City. It's a world you cannot imagine."
Ai Linna's gaze became mournful. There were many things she didn't want to mention.
"Alright, I promise you. As long as it doesn't involve matters of principle, whatever you ask me to do in the future, I will do it without hesitation."
Chen Zheng nodded in agreement. A life-saving grace should be repaid with a gushing spring. He was not an ungrateful person.
"I believe you. What are your plans now? I can protect you for a while, but not for too long. The Tian Family will surely retaliate."
Ai Linna showed a hint of worry. She couldn't protect Chen Zheng forever; she had important matters to attend to.
"I plan to leave Yan City and return during the Autumn Hunt. I will definitely make them see me in a new light."
Chen Zheng gritted his teeth. Time was urgent. There was no need to linger in Yan City. He would enter the mountain range to Cultivate, striving to Breakthrough to Acquired Eighth Stage within a month, so he could cope with the Tian Family's retaliation.
"Go and gain experience without worry. I will take care of your mother for you, ensuring that no one from the Tian Family harms her in the slightest until you return."
Ai Linna saw a hint of worry in Chen Zheng's eyes.
He could venture out into the world alone, but his mother remaining in Yan City would sooner or later be targeted by the Tian Family.
"Thank you, Miss Ai. Words cannot express my gratitude for this great kindness. I will keep this favor firmly in my heart."
His mother was his greatest tether. He had not left Yan City, largely because he feared his mother would worry.
"Call me older sister from now on. I hope that the next time I see you, you will make me see you anew."
She patted Chen Zheng's head, speaking gently like an older sister.
"Definitely!"
He clenched his fists, turned around, and hurried towards the city gates, leaving Yan City before the Tian Family's forces could arrive.
"Young Miss, why didn't you directly ask him where the Alchemist behind him is? By offending the Tian Family, we will find it difficult to move forward. The Qingge Auction House will not be able to establish itself in Yan City."
He Lan walked out and asked, puzzled. They had been searching for a powerful Alchemist, and the opportunity was right before them. Why miss it?
"You saw it on the arena just now. At the critical moment of life and death, the Alchemist behind him didn't appear. Clearly, he doesn't want to show himself. The time is not yet ripe. Let's wait patiently."
They had waited for so many years; waiting a little longer didn't matter.
Watching his receding figure completely disappear down the street, the master and servant then turned and left.
