Chapter 32: Chapter 31: City Lord's Order
How overbearing!
Already feeling displeased, Ma Long could not help but glower and said, "You are only a bit stronger than me, do you think I'd be afraid of you? Plus, even if I don't make a move, would you dare to harm a single hair on me?"
The Ma Family is the top candidate to become nobility next year, and once they do, they will enjoy many privileges. In terms of status, it's like a fish leaping through the dragon gate—an existence that commoners can only look up to!
Apart from the current Eight Great Nobles, which other force would dare to disrespect the Ma Family? And he is the son of the Ma Family's Head!
Who would dare to touch him?
Chi Dao walked towards Ma Long, who crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking as if he didn't take the other party seriously at all.
Slap!
With a crisp sound, Chi Dao, without any hesitation, slapped Ma Long's face. The heavy force made Ma Long spin seven or eight times on the spot before he stopped, staggering as if he were drunk.
He was slapped! He really was slapped!
If Ma Long had fully defended himself, even if he were no match for Chi Dao, he would not have been smacked away with a single slap! But who made him so self-assured, believing that Chi Dao would never dare to make a move?
Hiss!
Everyone around inhaled sharply. Beating Ma Long was not hard; what was difficult was dealing with his father, a strong practitioner in the Vajra Realm—it was like stirring up a hornet's nest!
Ma Long was also stunned. It took a while before he came back to his senses. What, he was slapped again? What was going on lately, did he cultivate some kind of "Be Slapped" divine martial technique? Why did his face keep clashing with others, always getting smacked?
But this was only a momentary thought, and soon he was fuming with rage, pointing at Chi Dao and saying, "Good! Good! Good! You really dare to strike, just wait for the Ma Family's wrath to crush your body into ten thousand pieces!"
He immediately ordered his servants to go back and spread the word. Hitting the minor one naturally meant calling out the senior one.
Chu Hao touched his chin and said to Tang Xin, "How did we suddenly become bystanders? This guy's grandstanding is just too much!"
However, Tang Xin's face was grave as she said, "Who exactly is this Chi Dao? Although the Ma Family isn't nobility yet, to openly insult someone is to make a powerful enemy! If he has no powerful backing, he will surely be obliterated by the Ma Family!"
Was this Chi Dao so brash due to youthful arrogance or did he truly have something to rely on, showing no fear of the Ma Family?
Chu Hao smiled faintly and said, "This guy is rash, but definitely not a fool! That means he must have some significant backing!"
"There's no noble family with the surname Chi in the city, and the City Lord's Mansion doesn't have any Chis either," Tang Xin said, puzzled.
Chu Hao patted his shoulder and said, "Madam Yun is neither one of the Eight Great Nobles nor a person from the City Lord's Mansion."
Suddenly, Tang Xin had an epiphany. If it weren't for his exceptional insight, being introduced to break through the ten challenges and then passing nine of them, how could he have known who Madam Yun was? How could he have known how powerful Madam Yun's forces were?
This Eastern Cloud City had crouching tigers and hidden dragons, full of secrets, and perhaps Chi Dao was one of them!
Chi Dao was full of disdain, blatantly arrogant and imperious, pointing at Ma Long and demanding, "Are you going to crawl or not?"
Ma Long really wanted to swear. It was Chu Hao who bet with him; what was it to Chi Dao? He snorted and said, "I don't know how to crawl, why don't you demonstrate by crawling a lap first?"
This retort had some substance and kept him from losing face in terms of aura.
Chi Dao laughed involuntarily, his expression growing even darker as he said, "You've got some nerve, daring to ask me, Chi Dao, to act like a dog! Such people either haven't been born yet or are already dead!"
"Well, you've heard it now!" Ma Long arrogantly replied, standing straight as a rod, unless he was facing nobility, which made him slightly nervous.
"You're seeking death!" Chi Dao's eyebrows twitched, and whoosh, he had already dashed forward, attacking Ma Long.
Ma Long was prepared this time and immediately counterattacked.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two began fighting on the spectators' stands. Thankfully, the seats were made of stone, otherwise with their strength of thousands of pounds, the seats would have definitely been destroyed.
Still, the force of their blows forced the spectators to retreat. Those who were too slow to move away were cut by the gusts, their clothes tearing open, and the area was suddenly filled with the screams of young women.
Ma Long was at the Fourth Tier of the Lesser Mahayana realm and not much weaker than Chi Dao in strength, but he was far from his match in terms of mastery and use of martial techniques. After a few exchanges, he could only defend, repeatedly getting hit on the face and chest.
Lin Yuqi couldn't bear to watch any longer, drawing her wooden sword to join the fray. After all, Ma Long was her betrothed, and his disgrace reflected poorly on her.
Together, they just managed to fend off Chi Dao.
But Chi Dao not only had a robust physique but also astonishing stamina, appearing as though his energy was inexhaustible. In contrast, both Ma Long and Lin Yuqi were sweating profusely, clearly unable to hold out much longer.
Especially Lin Yuqi—women naturally have less physical strength and are not adept at prolonged battles—unless they were prodigies like Fu Xue. She was dripping with sweat, her hair soaked, looking utterly disheveled.
"Stop!" Just then, someone finally came out to stop the fight.
That shout was loud and clear, full of authority.
"Dad!" Ma Long was overjoyed; he finally had a strong leg to cling to.
The three of them immediately ceased fighting, Chi Dao still seemed fearless but started to size up the newcomer.
Chu Hao observed as well. This man was the Chu Family's sworn enemy; generations of grievances had ensured that the feud would not end well and that one side would have to go down. Ma Jicheng appeared to be in his forties, not very tall, actually somewhat short, but he should not be underestimated because of that.
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Vajra Realm!
However, one hundred thousand jin of force is First Tier Vajra Realm, and one million jin of force is Tenth Tier Vajra Realm. Though both within the Vajra Realm, the difference in strength is as vast as the heavens and the earth. It's unknown to which Tier Ma Jicheng belongs.
One thing for certain, regardless of which Tier Vajra Realm Ma Jicheng has attained, against anyone from Lesser Mahayana, Middle Mahayana, or Great Mahayana realms, it will be an absolute crushing defeat, without any suspense!
"Losing face and making a spectacle of oneself, now get back here!" Surprising everyone, Ma Jicheng did not do anything to Chi Dao, but instead immediately started berating Ma Long.
Chu Hao, however, silently praised his cleverness, for Ma Long had lost in public, and according to the bet, he was supposed to crawl around the Beast Fighting Arena. Ma Jicheng's severe reprimand seemed to lightly skim over the crawling punishment.
Ma Long, not so clever, felt indignant. Why was he always the one getting slapped in the face? Was his face a butt? He immediately said, "Father, this guy—you must take him down, I want to teach him a good lesson!"
He didn't dare utter words like 'kill him' in front of everyone.
Ma Jicheng's face darkened uncontrollably, glaring fiercely at his son, which frightened Ma Long so much that he shuddered, not daring to show any more defiance.
"Aren't you coming back with me?"
"Yes, Father!"
The father and son were about to turn around and leave.
"Hold on!"
Two voices rang out almost simultaneously, coming from Chu Hao and Chi Dao.
"Chu Hao, Chi Dao, what else do you want?" Ma Long turned back and shouted. He had been slapped, hit several times during the battle by Chi Dao, and now he was still sporting a bruised face. What more did they want?
"The bet!" Chu Hao said.
"You haven't crawled yet!" Chi Dao added.
Both of them ignored the presence of Ma Jicheng.
"You two juniors, joking around has its time and place; don't take things too far!" Ma Jicheng spoke lightly, but his tone was filled with undeniable authority.
He was a strong practitioner in the Vajra Realm!
"Honoring a bet is the foundation of gambling. If you can't accept losing, then don't place a bet!" Chu Hao said, acting as if he were oblivious. If he were the loser, would Ma Long let him go? Then how could he possibly spare Ma Long so easily!
"Shortie, acting all high and mighty before me, you're not qualified!" Chi Dao was much more arrogant, not placing Ma Jicheng in his eyes at all, belittling him as 'Shortie'.
Ma Jicheng couldn't help but get angry. He was a powerful practitioner in the Vajra Realm, not even needing to show respect to the Eight Great Nobles, and yet this youngster dared to insult him? This alone was enough justification for him to kill, and even the City Lord's Mansion could not prosecute him for it!
A strong practitioner cannot be disparaged without retribution!
The rule of this world is that the powerful can have it all!
"Are you seeking your own death?" Ma Jicheng said coldly.
"You dare lay a hand on me?" Chi Dao laughed haughtily, expressing the ultimate disdain.
Ma Jicheng said no more. It was beneath him to argue with a junior; it was easier to just kill him! His eyes swirled with killing intent, and the temperature of the whole environment seemed to drop several degrees.
Ding!
Just then, Chi Dao suddenly took out a black token from his bosom and threw it to the ground.
This action was quite showy, but as everyone saw the appearance of the token, they involuntarily gasped and sucked in a breath of cold air!
City Lord's Order!
This token represents the authority of the City Lord's Mansion!
How is this possible!
How could this guy have a connection with the City Lord's Mansion, and how did he get his hands on this token representing the City Lord?
With the appearance of the City Lord's Order, it's as if the City Lord himself is present; anyone who disrespects it... naturally, the City Lord's Mansion will take care of them, even if you are from the nobility, you'd have to submit thoroughly!
The entire venue was astonished, with everyone's mouths agape wide enough to swallow a fist.
Just who exactly is this Chi Dao, and why is he able to produce the City Lord's Order?
As for the authenticity of this City Lord's Order... not a single person harbored any doubts! Joking aside, who would dare forge the City Lord's Order if they weren't tired of living?
Chu Hao stroked his chin, finding the situation suddenly a bit amusing.
Ma Jicheng's expression underwent a drastic change. Although he wouldn't feel intimidated before the Eight Great Nobles, facing the City Lord's Mansion was a different story... The strength of the City Lord's Mansion was unfathomable, ever keeping the Nine Great Nobles suppressed without a modicum of spirit, so what was he in comparison?
But how could this be possible!
"What are you staring for, go crawl!" Chi Dao cleaned his ears, then told Ma Long, acting as if nothing had happened, and took the art of showiness to an extreme.
(Today is not April Fool's Day, so I'm sincerely asking for recommendations, collections, and clicks. Brothers and sisters, please give a helping hand~~~)
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