Chen Fan also wanted to know what Zuo Tian Ce's reliance was.
Setting aside other matters, Zuo Tian Ce surely knew about Chen Fan's previous defeat and killing of that day's Wild King and the disciples of the Chang Bai Sect for Shang Wu Shuang.
As long as Zuo Tian Ce had not reached the Martial Grandmaster realm, he could not be Chen Fan's opponent.
However, Zuo Tian Ce's demeanor did not suggest he was a foolish person.
Wu Chao Yang poured a cup of tea and said, "Your actions are still too intense, easily inviting apprehension from the major influential families, leading to collective suppression. You must be careful."
"I've already been holding back," Chen Fan replied. After drinking some tea, he said, "The Brotherhood and the Heroic Alliance are two sides of the same coin, mutually reinforcing. If I were truly acting intensely, I would have already stormed the Heroic Alliance."
Wu Chao Yang was surprised to learn this for the first time. "No wonder Zuo Tian Ce is targeting you. This..." He realized the power and terror of this organization.
Chen Fan smiled and said, "I told you, it's best for you to remain a young master. The enemies involved here are incredibly powerful, and the forces are extremely complex and formidable!"
"So, Li Qian's birthday banquet is actually being completely manipulated by others?" Wu Chao Yang said with a grave expression.
Chen Fan nodded. "Zuo Tian Ce's arrival is well-justified, as that day's Wild King and Xiao Kai were staying at the Li family's villa."
"But if Li Qian hadn't invited me, I wouldn't be here today," Wu Chao Yang remarked.
Chen Fan inquired, "Are you saying that the unidentified person you met before, and now Zuo Tian Ce, are all part of the Brotherhood's deliberate scheme?"
"In this world, are there so many coincidences?" Chen Fan retorted. "The Brotherhood is omnipresent. With the formidable martial might of the Heroic Alliance as its support, the harm it poses is immense."
Wu Chao Yang nodded in agreement. The Heroic Alliance had always existed as a loose martial arts alliance. While possessing extraordinary martial prowess, it had limited interaction with the secular world. However, with the Brotherhood involved, it became entirely different.
"Let's go and confront Zuo Tian Ce, and see what his true reliance is!" Chen Fan said no more, rising and heading out. Wu Chao Yang naturally followed. Fang Qiong, who had been trembling in the tea room, hesitated for a moment before also following. In a place like the Jiǔwǔ Club, she was merely an insignificant figure. However, unlike her companions like Hua Xiao, she possessed a small measure of personal conviction.
Guided by a waiter, the three soon arrived at the floor where the gymnasium was located. Exiting the elevator and entering the gymnasium, they found it already crowded with people. The news had spread, and all the guests attending Li Qian's birthday banquet had come to witness the spectacle. The fitness equipment had been moved aside, revealing a martial arts ring in the center.
Zuo Tian Ce was speaking with his companion when he looked towards Chen Fan and then leaped up, landing on the stage. His movement was elegant and fluid. With his hands clasped behind his back, he jumped a good four to five meters high, effortlessly clearing the ring's guardrail and landing on the stage. This simple act surpassed ordinary human limits, drawing gasps of admiration from almost all the scions of noble families, the accompanying models, celebrities, and waiters.
The ancient martial arts world was far removed from the secular realm. Ordinary people, in their lifetime, never encountered true martial artists. Conversely, online and in most people's daily lives, there was much skepticism towards traditional martial arts. The reason for this was the limited social circles of ordinary people; they might never meet an ancient martial artist in their entire lives. In this age of advanced transportation, ordinary ancient martial artists also wouldn't casually reveal their abilities. In fact, some related information did circulate, but people often disbelieved it due to its perceived exaggeration. Zuo Tian Ce's demonstration of his skill in front of everyone at this moment was thus a preemptive strike, leaving many in awe.
Upon reaching the stage, Zuo Tian Ce beckoned Chen Fan with a calm and indifferent expression. Chen Fan did not delay, striding onto the stage. Compared to Zuo Tian Ce, his ascent seemed rather uninspired. The identities of the two were publicized by interested parties, leading to constant murmurs and discussions. Chen Fan, unconcerned by the audience's chatter, looked at Zuo Tian Ce and asked, "I'm very curious, what gives you the confidence?"
Zuo Tian Ce sneered, "You'll see soon enough." He was self-assured, hands behind his back. "Chen Tianjiao, your strength is indeed formidable. Earlier, Brother Fang advised me not to take personal risks."
"You should have listened to him," Chen Fan replied.
"Logically, that's true, but my martial heart has long been honed to perfection, making me even more resolute than Brother Fang," Zuo Tian Ce stated. "Gao Hongchang of the Liu He Sect is only at the lower end among the Martial Grandmasters. If it weren't for my status, I would have liked to try challenging some Martial Grandmasters." In his words, Zuo Tian Ce exuded utter arrogance.
Chen Fan scoffed upon hearing this. "You're not good enough."
"We'll only know after trying," Zuo Tian Ce replied. "Rest assured, I won't kill you today. You are, after all, a military man and the young master of the Chen family. If I were to kill you today, it would likely enrage the authorities!"
"I rather wish I could kill you," Chen Fan stated calmly. "The Heroic Alliance and the Brotherhood are two sides of the same coin, a toxic influence. Killing you would serve as a deterrent!"
Zuo Tian Ce said indifferently, "You can't."
"Let's try and see!" Chen Fan, no longer wanting to waste words, stepped forward and threw a punch. Instantly, a surge of fist energy erupted, accompanied by an imposing aura, as if he had transformed into an invincible Shura demon god. The potent aura condensed, altering the atmosphere of the entire gymnasium. Those who were discussing fell silent, their hearts trembling, and they instinctively turned their gaze towards the stage.
Zuo Tian Ce was prepared for this. His feet parted, adopting a stable stance, his body unmoving, rooted to the stage. He raised his arms, and his palms met Chen Fan's fist. His palms moved like rustling pines, a gust of wind accompanying the surge of internal energy. His palms suddenly turned a jade-like color, the internal energy layered distinctly, like colossal waves. His aura also surged at that moment. On the stage, the two stood like a dragon and a tiger, locked in a fierce confrontation amidst swirling winds. Between their palms, jade-colored energy coalesced, forming an impenetrable barrier.
*Bang, bang...*
His palms parried Chen Fan's attack sequentially. The energy exploded outwards like a fierce gale. Chen Fan's body paused momentarily. Zuo Tian Ce, however, stumbled back two steps, his pupils contracting. As a peak expert in Huajin, he immediately realized Chen Fan's terrifying strength. Chen Fan's internal energy was both fierce and sharp, unparalleled in the current era. He had cultivated martial arts since childhood and was a genuine martial arts prodigy, immensely proud of his path. In the past two years, he had reached the pinnacle of Huajin. After numerous sparring sessions with his father, Zuo Li Zhou, he was confident that he was invincible below the Grandmaster level. This was why he had decided to fight Chen Fan. The first reason was to gauge Chen Fan's strength for future actions. The second was his own arrogance; he believed that if Chen Fan could surpass the constraints of the Huajin realm and defeat Gao Hongchang, he surely could as well. However, after this initial exchange, although unwilling to admit it, he realized that compared to Chen Fan, he might indeed be inferior!