Chapter 48  : Chapter 048: Concentrated Essence

Ma Yuan thought he was very unlucky. Recently, many practitioners had arrived in Flame City, most of them were here for the Nine Realms Exquisite Tower, the others were either because of the trials of the three countries or because of Changyue Tower.

He had finally earned two crystal stones after lots of efforts these few days, and came to Changyue Tower to take on some daily tasks. However, before he could even clearly see the content on the wooden board, he was kicked over by Ding Kechi.

Anyone who was suddenly kicked would be enraged, but Ma Yuan didn’t dare to. In Flame City, offending Ding Kechi was equivalent to offending the entire Ding Clan, and offending the Ding Clan meant not being able to stay in Flame City anymore.

Ma Yuan wasn’t a coward, and the main reason why he suppressed his anger was that even if he risked his life and decided not to stay in Flame City, he couldn’t beat Ding Kechi.

Fortunately, the content on the wooden board was still the same today. Since the trial of the three countries decided to be held in Flame City, Changyue Tower had replaced the content on the wooden board with a piece of paper, on which there was only one task, that was to help Changyue Tower decipher the content in a Saint Rank Martial Skill.

Over the past half month, countless people tried to decipher the content of this sentence, yet none of them succeeded. Now, no one dared to take this task anymore. Failing to decipher it was one thing, but if one took the task and failed to deliver, it would be too embarrassing.

No one wanted to lose face in Changyue Tower.

Ma Yuan, hiding in the crowd, watched Ding Kechi with some schadenfreude. This bastard also looked disappointed after discovering that the content on the wooden board hadn’t changed. Nonetheless, it was visible that after considering it for so many days, he decided to take up this task.

This was big news. Ding Kechi, the man with the second best natural gifts in Flame City, was taking on a task. It would surely cause a shock in Flame City.

But just as Ding Kechi’s hand was raised and hadn’t yet touched the task paper, a person walked behind Ding Kechi.

After recognizing this person, Ma Yuan was scared. This was none other than the guy who had just asked him for direction.

This fellow cheated Ma Yuan, stole his crystal stone, and asked him questions. However, Ma Yuan wasn’t that angry with him.

Compared to those truly shameless people, Yang Zhen was much better. Even if Yang Zhen stole his crystal stones and gave him no reward, Ma Yuan would still tell Yang Zhen those pieces of information, as they were not secrets, they could be obtained from anyone upon inquiry.

If Yang Zhen had been a bit more shameless, Ma Yuan wouldn’t have any crystal stones left.

Seeing Yang Zhen’s reckless approach towards Ding Kechi, Ma Yuan was truly scared. He raised his hand, intending to alert Yang Zhen, but then witnessed a scene that left him completely dumbfounded.

Yang Zhen came to Ding Kechi’s side and didn’t even pause, slapping him in the back of his head.

Ma Yuan, recovering from his initial shock, turned pale and almost ran away.

Weren’t you the most low-key one? Didn’t you say you never attract trouble proactive? Didn’t you realize that what you did was to cause the biggest trouble in Flame City? Ma Yuan stared blankly at Yang Zhen, and at Ding Kechi who covered his head in disbelief, and suddenly felt that the world was too dangerous.

“You… you hit me?” It seemed that Ding Kechi was still in shock, he turned towards Yang Zhen and asked blankly.

Yang Zhen glanced at Ding Kechi:” You blocked my way.”

Wow!

Hearing Yang Zhen’s words, everyone present gasped.

So righteous and confident. You slapped someone just for blocking your way, without seeing who that person was?

“You dare to hit me?”Ding Kechi’s face flashed with rage, his regular features distorted, and he erupted with a terrifying True Essence. With a loud bang, he punched at Yang Zhen.

The violent True Essence let out roars, transforming into a golden lion, charging at Yang Zhen’s face. This frightened everyone.

He finally started. This was Ding Kechi’s true nature, starting a fierce fight with the slightest disagreement, and killing people was as simple to him as eating a meal.

Everyone watched the scene in horror, with a trace of pity on their faces, as if Yang Zhen was already doomed.

At such a close distance, Ding Kechi, a strong practitioner in the Minor Mahayana Phase, attacked with rage. Yang Zhen seemed to be scared by the terrifying fluctuations of the True Essence and the powerful aura of Ding Kechi. So far, he had made no response.

He’s done for!

Everyone let out a sigh, convinced that Yang Zhen would instantly meet his end at the hands of Ding Keqi. But oddly enough, Yang Zhen showed no sign of panic.

Oops, he did show a reaction. Yang Zhen hadn’t moved his body but just cracked a radiant smile.

A radiant smile indeed, but shouldn’t he be utter panic? Why on earth was he beaming at the brink of his death?

Boom!

A terrifying energy explosion burst forth between the two men, forcing everyone to stumble backward. Amidst the muffled sound, a dazzling purple light exploded, causing everyone to instinctively shut their eyes.

Purple?

People regained their footing and gasped, eyes bulged. Ding Keqi’s True Essence should have been golden. The only one known for his purple True Essence within Flame City was Lan Fangyue, a man Ding Keqi would dare not offend lightly

A brisk, gracious voice rang out, “Ding Keqi, you’ve grown exceedingly arrogant. Who gave you the audacity to cause trouble in Changyue Tower?”

As the remaining energy dissipated, the crowd drew in a sharp breath and stared, eyes wide and full of shock, at the tall woman standing between Yang Zhen and Ding Keqi. The woman had her long hair pulled up into a high bun and she was wearing a long purple dress. With each movement, she stole the hearts of those who watched her. It was none other than the pearl of the Lan’s family, Lan Fangyue.

Nicknamed the “prodigy” among Flame City’s younger generation, Lan Fangyue was highly esteemed by the Lan family as their precious daughter. She was also Changyue Tower’s honored guest.

It was only then that they remembered that Changyue Tower always forbade fights within its walls.

Ma Yuan looked stunned as he glanced over at Yang Zhen and Lan Fangyue. If he hadn’t suddenly remembered the rules of Changyue Tower, he would have thought that Yang Zhen knew Lan Fangyue. Why else would she risk offending Ding Keqi to protect Yang Zhen?

“Lan Fangyue, didn’t you see? He was the one who started it!”

Ding Keqi roared angrily. Blocked by Lan Fangyue, his face was filled with greater fury.

Lan Fangyue cast a glance at Yang Zhen with significant interest. She looked at Ding Keqi, a faint smile on her lips, and said, “I didn’t sense any fluctuations of True Essence.”

“You…” Ding Keqi was taken aback, so outraged that he started to stutter. He looked up at Lan Fangyue and demanded, “Are you really going to offend me for a bumpkin?”

“Offend you?” Lan Fangyue chuckled lightly, “I would never dare to offend you, Master Ding. Once he leaves Changyue Tower, I have nothing to do with whether he dies or he lives. But if you want to kill him in Changyue Tower, don’t blame me for enforcing the order.”

Ding Keqi was at a loss for words, interrupted by Lan Fangyue before he could speak.

Looking somewhat amused, Lan Fangyue looked at Ding Keqi and stated, “You know, esteemed guests of Changyue Tower have the duty to maintain the order.”

Again and again, Ding Keqi’s expression changed rapidly as he stared fixedly at Lan Fangyue. For several minutes, the atmosphere inside Changyue Tower became excessively tense.

Suddenly, Yang Zhen made a move. He strolled unhurriedly to the wooden board and tore off the paper that had been posted on it.

Both Lan Fangyue and Ding Keqi were stunned, their gazes locked on him. The crowd’s eyes went wide in shock.

“Did… Did he just accept it?”

“Am I seeing things? He’s just a teenager and he has accepted a task that not even Ding Keqi and Lan Fangyue dared to undertake?”

Ma Yuan stood there in shock, repeating in a barely audible voice, “Flame City is going to be chaotic now.”

Smiling at Ma Yuan, Yang Zhen twitched his eye. He had always kept a low profile but when he decided to draw attention to himself, it was quite intimidating… even to himself.

However, since that rascal Ding Keqi dared to call me a bumpkin, if I didn’t slap him back, he would really get the impression he was something special!

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