“What did he say? It would be an honor to sit down with him and his servant? Did I hear him right? Most of the people at the table are Perfected Cultivators of at least the Golden Core level.”

People doubted their ears.

A well-connected guest said, “Those guests are far more powerful than peak Golden Core Cultivators. Some of them became household names a few hundred years ago. That brawny man over there, for example, is the second disciple of the Ghost Underworld Sect, Gui Mingzi’s closest sect brother. The young man in black outfit ranked number five among the warrior generals of the Demon-suppressing Heavenly Sect. His name is Wu Shan. That young fellow with a sword on his back is the Xuankong Sword Prince. Among them are Mu Yanping and Zhang Jiulin whom I’m sure you have heard of.

“Look at that young man with a pale cast. He is the heir of the Gongsun Family, and ranked number eighty-five on the Longevity Roll.

“His companions are also talented young elites. That one is the senior disciple at Violet Moon Peak, Hua Nonyin. The one beside her is Lin Xiao, the Reincarnation Sect Grand Elder’s favorite.”

His revelation had shocked everyone on the one-hundredth floor.

Heirs of Heavenly Sects and Longevity Roll Elites were rare even inside Tianyuan City. These guests’ reputation and renown added to their disbelief in Chen Fan’s brazen arrogance.

“Who is that guy? What is he thinking?”

“He is the True Dragon Goddess’ brother, not Jun Aochen or Li Huaixian.”

“Not even Jun Aochen’s talent and Li Huaixian’s power could justify his arrogance. Those guests are also supported by many powerful sects.”

Many people lamented Chen Fan’s actions.

They looked at Chen Fan as if he were already dead.

Heavenly Talents such as those guests would not tolerate his insults. Chen Fan had offended five mighty Heavenly Sects such as the Ghost Underworld Sect, the Demon-suppressing Heavenly Sect and the Gongsun Family. Only a Heavenly Lord could save him after this.

“He is courting death!”

Even the Zhu Sisters were rendered speechless.

Both Wu Shan and the Xuankong Sword Prince pulled a dark face and shot hostile glares at Chen Fan.

“Very well.”

Yang Gangfeng’s anger turned into a grin.

He no longer held back his energy and slowly revealed the monstrous power that had been lurking undercover. Many servant girls couldn’t withstand the intense energy and started to tremble slightly. Meanwhile, the Reincarnation Sect disciples’ faces paled and had to use their True Qi to hold their ground.

“Hehe, I thought I was the most arrogant person here, but this guy is on another level.”

Yang Gangfeng smirked coldly.

He fixed his gaze on Chen Fan as his energy swept across the space, smothering Chen Fan with its immense pressure.

No average Connate Cultivator could hold out against a peak Golden Core Cultivator’s power.

“What are you doing, Yang Gangfeng?” Xiao Mang shouted and rushed to stand in front of Chen Fan.

Golden energy poured out of her body, and formed a golden energy screen that blocked Yang Gangfeng’s attack. A golden mist rose behind her and formed a golden True Dragon. It floated around Chen Fan and protected him.

“Xiao Mang, are you sure you want to get involved? I respect you because you’re the goodness of your sect. Without that title, you are but a mid-stage Connate Cultivator. I can crush you with a slap of my hand,” Yang Gangfeng said sinisterly.

“Try me,” Xiao Mang said coldly.

The golden energy roiled like boiling water. Her eyes turned into two slits like those of a dragon. The True Dragon Energy tainted her hair golden as its intensity multiplied. Although her energy couldn’t compare against Yang Gangfeng in terms of magnitude, it was much purer and had a majestic quality.

“Old Yang!”

Hua Nonyin furrowed her brow and grunted.

Chen Fan’s action didn’t sit well with her either, but she was tasked to look after Xiao Mang and she didn’t want to let the elders down.

“Very well, I will let this slide for the sake of Elder Yuelon. But your brother has to kneel and apologize to me. As for his servant, I think a broken leg would be a fair punishment,” Yang Gangfeng said firmly.

“Over my dead body!”

Xiao Mang took a stop forward and sent out a couple of energy bursts.

Chen Fan had saved her many times, and was the closest person to her heart since her parents’ death. She would never allow anyone to insult Chen Fan.

However, this time, even Hua Nonyin remained silent.

The Xuankong Sword Prince, Mu Yanping and Wu Shan wore cold grins. Even many Reincarnation Sect disciples watched on gloatingly.

Heavenly Talents would not take any insult, much less a Heavenly Sect.

Chen Fan was just a lowly Connate Cultivator, but he had brazenly provoked several Heavenly Sect Heirs. This was a deadly mistake in the highly hierarchical world of cultivation.

In this world, the one who wields more strength was always right.

“Sect sister Xiao Mang, brother Yang has already compromised and lightened the punishment. What harm can an apology do?” Lin Xiao said placatingly.

“That’s right, Xiao Mang. Just do as he says,” Sisi nodded and egged on.

In the realm of cultivation, kneeling and apologizing was not a big deal. It wasn’t uncommon for lower level cultivators and their benefactors to be slaughtered by Heavenly Lords because of a minor run-in.

Survival of the fittest, such was the rule of the Cultivation World.

Zhu Ninmuo couldn’t bear the intense mood, so she turned her head to look away. Meanwhile, Zhu Ninxue and other disciples of the Reincarnation Sect looked at Chen Fan as they gloated.

Zhang Shouzhuo was the only one who seemed to show some sympathy for Chen Fan.

“No!” Even as Xiao Mang charged up her energy and was ready to dig in her heels, Chen Fan spoke up.

“Why? Do you happen to disagree with me?”

“Haha, kiddo! Ask around you and see if anyone would agree.” Yang Gangfeng let out a peal of laughter. He looked at Chen Fan as if he were looking at an idiot. “The cultivators on Tianhuang have strict levels based on their attainment. It’s an insult for us to sit with your old servant.”

“That’s right.”

Everyone nodded.

Chen Fan’s action didn’t rub the other servants around the table the wrong way, either. What made Zhao Juexian so special that he could sit among the masters while they couldn’t?

“That’s enough,” Hua Nonyin said.

Chen Fan ignored her and looked at the Xuankong Sword Prince and Mu Yanping.

“So, do you agree with him?”

“Haha.”

Wu Shandu and the others chuckled and didn’t offer a reply. They were powerful elites of the city; Chen Fan simply couldn’t compare.

Chen Fan looked around him and asked, “Do all of you think that my servant is not worthy to sit at your table?”

“Stop right now! You are an embarrassment to the Reincarnation Sect! You are bringing shame to Xiao Mang!” Hua Nonyin fumed.

Seeing Chen Fan’s disregarding authority, Zhu Ninmuo and many others shook their heads in their minds. Lin Xiao inwardly laughed at himself for considering Chen Fan an opponent.

Despite her concern, Xiao Mang licked her lips as her heart raced. The golden glow on her body gained more intensity.

“All right!”

Chen Fan looked up.

“I heard all of you. Strength is the only measure of power in the Realm of Cultivation and I agree. So, in order to prove my servant’s place among you, why don’t you test his power?”

“Huh?”

Yang Gangfeng was perplexed by his words and he looked at Chen Fan in confusion.

People around him also looked at Chen Fan as if he were a freak.

“You want me to fight an old man who has barely reached the Connate Level?” Yang Gangfeng pointed at Zhao Juexian, face awash with disbelief.

Slowly, a knot of fire grew hotter in his belly, fueled by the unprecedented insult he had received.

He was Yang Gangfeng; he had lorded over the Heiyou Heavenly Region for hundreds of years and killed thousands of cultivators. Never had he experienced such affront.

Zhu Ninmuo and the others watched as Yang Gangfeng’s belligerent energy surged inside of him and then looked to Zhao Juexian’s modest form. They thought Zhao Juexian had gone mad.

They were not on the same level.

“That’s too much!”

Yang Gangfeng roared and couldn’t hold back his anger.

Pulses of deadly energy poured out from his body like a volcano eruption. It was thicker than blood, dark and sharper than Heavenly Swords. It turned the room into a ghastly underworld.

“Old Zhao,” Chen Fan commanded.

“Yes!”

Suddenly, the wizened old man with lusterless eyes straightened his back as a light flared in his eyes.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, the sky fell down as time lost meaning.

Zhao Juexian’s energy surpassed the peak of the Golden Core and almost reached that of a Heavenly Lord; it was far beyond Yang Gangfeng’s level. His body also increased in size and his head soon cracked the ceiling of the great hall.

He stepped forward and pinned Yang Gangfeng under his boots. He said in a booming voice, “In the eyes of my master, you are just an insect.”

Everyone gasped and remained speechless by the turn of events.