Ling Fan nodded faintly, about to order the boatman to return, when a haughty voice suddenly came from a nearby pleasure boat.
"Stop! Your mount is truly divine and extraordinary. This young master fancies it. Name your price."
Ling Fan, the demonic horse, and the toad turned their heads towards the sound.
On the river not far away, a luxurious pleasure boat bobbed with the waves. A presumptuous young master reclined on the throne at the bow, fanning himself with a folding fan, his expression utterly arrogant.
The words just spoken had come from him.
Beside him stood several men with powerful auras, like fierce tigers and majestic lions, all staring in their direction.
Upon seeing this person, Ling Fan merely raised an eyebrow slightly, remaining silent.
However, the demonic horse could not tolerate any slight. Hearing someone actually wanted it as a mount, it immediately flared its demonic eyes, revealing a fierce glint. Its hooves lightly tapped the ground, as if warming up, ready to unleash a world-shattering strike at any moment.
The toad added fuel to the fire, saying, "Old Horse! Next time, don't be so ostentatious. You know, a tall tree catches the wind. Now look, they've specifically named you as a mount. Are you going or not? If you ask me, it wouldn't hurt to experience being a mount. That fellow seems to have a noble background and is quite impressive. He probably won't be short on fodder for you."
The young man, who looked like a young master, hadn't caught the sarcasm in the toad's tone. He readily agreed, "This young master is the son of the Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect, a great sect in the Nine Cang Domain. I am Young Master Qi Ye, one of the youngest Golden Core prodigies in the Nine Cang Domain. As for my father, he is formidable. On the Quasi-Saint Ranking of these Ten Domains, he ranks within the top five. He is the most likely candidate to attain the Saint Dao in this Saint Assembly. Following this young master, this demonic horse of yours is a hundred times better than following this trash at the Condensation Core realm!"
As he spoke, Young Master Qi Ye arrogantly glanced at Ling Fan from the corner of his eye, his words laced with utter disdain.
His inexplicable confidence gave Ling Fan a sense of absurd amusement. He couldn't help but smile, deciding to toy with the man. "If I refuse to give you this demonic horse, will you attack me? I'm so scared."
Young Master Qi Ye became even more self-important, seemingly believing that although Ling Fan was trash, he at least possessed a modicum of self-awareness. He nodded, "Although you are trash, you understand the meaning of reverence, which can save you from many fatal dangers. Since you know how formidable this young master is, quickly sign the agreement, exchange your demonic horse, and name your price."
Ling Fan thought very seriously and said, "My demands are not high. Give me three complete Saint Daos, ten Saint Artifacts, and a hundred Earth-grade pills, and I will reluctantly agree to give you this demonic horse."
"What!"
Ling Fan's outrageous demand immediately caused the Young Master Qi Ye to sit up straight, anger flashing in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "You brat, how dare you play me!"
The toad chuckled, "Boss, this kid's brain is truly slow. He's only just realized it. I don't know how he achieved Golden Core. He's probably just a good-for-nothing that his father piled resources on to force him up. He's amusingly foolish."
"Presumptuous!"
An elder behind the Young Master Qi Ye immediately reprimanded him. A powerful Quasi-Saint aura permeated the air, causing the river water on the surface to churn violently.
"Very well, you are seeking your own demise! Then don't blame this young master! In the Nine Cang Domain, you are the first to dare to play this young master. I will let you country bumpkins know my might!"
"Elder Jin, please make your move and kill this damned brat, as well as that foul-mouthed toad. Their corpses will be thrown into the Nine Cang Sacred Cave to be exposed to the elements. Furthermore, capture this demonic horse for me. I will tame it properly. This is a peak Golden Core demonic horse. If I ride it out in the future, all the prodigies of the Nine Cang Domain will be overshadowed by me!"
Young Master Qi Ye's eyes gleamed with pride, as if he could already envision those prodigies who were his equals, seeing their envy and jealousy when they saw him riding a peak Golden Core demonic horse.
Ling Fan watched Young Master Qi Ye's expression and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.
These second-generation young masters were generally like this, fully embodying the trait of being a burden to their fathers. Very few of them managed to achieve anything significant.
At this moment, the demonic horse was already seething with rage and could no longer restrain itself.
"Boss, if I stomp this idiot to death, don't blame me for causing trouble for you!"
With that said, the demonic horse transformed into a streak of light and instantly charged out from the pleasure boat. The pleasure boat consequently dipped sharply, nearly capsizing. It was only when Ling Fan placed a hand on it that the boat stabilized.
"A mere demonic horse dares to act ferociously? This Nine Cang City is no place for you, beast, to run wild!"
Elder Jin behind the Young Master Qi Ye snorted coldly. Intense holy light erupted, causing monstrous waves to surge on the river. The surging holy power instantly coalesced into a powerful, claw-like hand, reaching out to grasp the demonic horse.
"Scram!"
The demonic horse uttered a single word from its mouth, its ferocity shaking the heavens. Its iron hooves stomped down, directly shattering the holy power hand. Elder Jin's expression changed instantly!
Although he had only just entered the Quasi-Saint realm, and his Saint Dao completion was less than thirty percent, the power of his holy energy was far more than ten times that of a peak Golden Core. It was impossible for a peak Golden Core demonic beast to contend with it!
What was the origin of this demonic beast to be so ferocious!
Young Master Qi Ye, as well as his retainers, were also greatly startled, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Elder Jin, don't hold back! Quickly subdue this horse!"
Young Master Qi Ye, sweating profusely, urged him on.
Elder Jin needed no reminder from Young Master Qi Ye. He was already on high alert, his holy energy surging forth, exuding an increasingly transcendent aura.
He reached out and grabbed, and a rift suddenly tore open in the void above his head. A powerful Saint Dao revealed a mere tip of the iceberg behind the void. The formidable power of Saint Dao laws poured down like a celestial river. Elder Jin's strength instantly surged by thirty percent. He strode into the sky, unleashing his ultimate holy fist, and in the span of a finger, he unleashed hundreds of thousands of punches, intending to suppress the demonic horse.
The demonic horse, far from being intimidated, became even more eager to fight. Its iron hooves stomped down, shattering every powerful holy fist. It even managed to imprint a hoof onto Elder Jin's chest. The sound of cracking ribs could be heard as Elder Jin's chest caved in, and he was sent crashing fiercely into the river.
"Elder Jin!"
Young Master Qi Ye leaped up from his chair, his face filled with terror.
"What kind of mongrel are you to dare call this seat your mount!"
The demonic horse's eyes, filled with ferocity and disdain, stomped its hoof towards Young Master Qi Ye's face.
Young Master Qi Ye, with his mere mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, might be considered outstanding among the younger generation in the Nine Cang Domain, but before the demonic horse, he was nothing. Layers of laws shattered, and the demonic horse's iron hoof advanced relentlessly, about to crush Young Master Qi Ye into a pulp.
Just then.
The folding fan in Young Master Qi Ye's hand suddenly erupted with an incredibly intense light. A phantom manifested, raising a palm. The void resonated, and the heavens and earth trembled. Majestic holy power surged forth, actually forcing the demonic horse to retreat repeatedly!
"Where did this beast come from, daring to lay a poisonous hand on my son? Do you not put my Heaven Mending Sect in your eyes!"
The phantom's voice carried an unparalleled majesty, clearly belonging to a high-ranking figure who had long held a position of power. His words exuded the bearing of a superior.
As the demonic horse was about to attack again, Ling Fan called out to it.
"Sheng Long, come back. This is a top-tier Quasi-Saint who has merged with ninety percent of the Saint Dao. He can already manifest the divine for brief periods and project his power here. You are no match for him."
Upon hearing this, the phantom's eyes, like divine lamps, looked at Ling Fan and frowned slightly. Suddenly, he trembled violently, grabbed Young Master Qi Ye and Elder Jin, and vanished into the horizon like a streak of rainbow light.
"What the hell! He ran away?"
The toad's eyes widened.
The demonic horse was also stunned.
Ling Fan let out a cold laugh in his heart.
The Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect had incredibly sharp senses and realized the danger, escaping early. As expected of a top-tier Quasi-Saint who had merged with ninety percent of the Saint Dao, he already possessed some divine abilities of the true Manifestation realm.
If he had lingered a moment longer, Ling Fan wouldn't have minded leaving that projected clone here permanently.
The boatman of Ling Fan's pleasure boat had already been scared stiff.
Ling Fan had urged him to set sail several times, but he hadn't reacted.
That was the Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect, an absolute titan of Nine Cang City and even the entire Nine Cang Domain, renowned throughout the land and invincible. Today, he was scared away by an unknown young man and fled at the sight of him. Who would believe this if it were told?
"Boatman, set sail back. Ling Fan said again, his voice calm.
"Ah! Yes, yes, yes!"
The boatman wiped the cold sweat from his brow, quickly suppressed his shock, and carefully rowed the pleasure boat back to the ferry.
On the other side.
In Nine Cang City, within the grand palaces of the Heaven Mending Sect.
A rainbow light, incredibly fast, descended.
Young Master Qi Ye asked with confusion, "Father, you expended your power to manifest the divine, why didn't you kill those arrogant madmen and beasts! With your power, couldn't you subdue that beast?"
The phantom said, "The power of this demonic horse is merely equivalent to a Quasi-Saint who has merged with forty percent of the Saint Dao. It is not to be feared. What I fear is that young man. My true body is at a critical juncture of closed-door cultivation and cannot fully manifest its power. Therefore, I retreated. Do not provoke him. I will deal with him after I emerge from seclusion."
"Yes!"
Young Master Qi Ye quickly lowered his head.
When Young Master Qi Ye and Elder Jin looked up, the phantom of the Heaven Mending Sect Sect Master had already disappeared.
Recalling the scene just now, Young Master Qi Ye's eyes revealed a look of horror.
"How could this be... that trash is actually an unparalleled expert that even my father fears! Elder Jin, could my father have misjudged? That kid is younger than me, and his cultivation is clearly only at the Condensation Core realm. I don't believe he has such strength."
Elder Jin said, "The Sect Master is immensely powerful and has discerning eyes. Since he said so, it is highly likely to be true! Young Master, let us reconsider. The demonic horse's strength is comparable to a Quasi-Saint who has merged with the Saint Dao by forty percent, yet it is willing to submit to another. If this person's background is not terrifyingly immense, it can only mean that his own strength is extremely formidable."
Although Elder Jin's explanation was logical, Young Master Qi Ye's eyes were still filled with shock.