I thought it was just a show, but I didn't expect Young Master Xue to be serious!
Hu Baihu's charred complexion still couldn't hide his astonishment. Since Young Master Xue could cultivate such Celestial Mystery Arts, why would he need to greet him, and even pay a priceless spirit medicine in advance?
But he was already convinced that the money from these aristocratic families was too hot to handle, truly difficult to accept!
The use of Celestial Mystery Arts like 'Blossoming Spring Thunder' meant that Xue Ren's bone root talent, and even his cultivation aptitude, could be considered top-tier among men, a true dragon among men.
Moreover, he had entered the Forging Bone Realm in less than a month. According to Hu Baihu's estimation, Xue Ren's cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, his foundation was profound, and he was probably not far from achieving great success in Forging Bone!
Xue Ren, who had unleashed that strike, had a slightly pale face.
But his demeanor was composed, his appearance as steady as a mountain, making everyone recall the legendary story of Xue Zhenfu suppressing his three elder brothers alone and ascending to the position of Xue Family Patriarch.
"Quite like his father!" Zhao City Lord praised without reservation.
Xue Ren cupped his fists in salute to the City Lord, then gracefully stepped off the stage.
Seeing this, Ning Yue pressed his saber and stepped forward, meeting Xue Ren on the steps!
"Remember, be careful, don't hold back!" A mosquito-like voice whispered in Ning Yue's ear.
Ning Yue nodded, his gaze calm, and slowly ascended the stage!
Below the stage, the stands were filled with countless gazes, a scene of infinite beauty and boundless glory. "A young general rides by on horseback, the whole city watches with high spirits and pride" perfectly described this moment.
It wasn't until Ning Yue truly stepped onto the stage that he understood how vast and how heavy this eighteen-step high platform was.
The gentle spring breeze was blocked by the clear jade stone, unable to proceed, and the noisy chatter of the crowd behind him gradually faded away, almost inaudible.
On the high platform, Zhao City Lord's figure seemed as vast and distant as the sky, yet also carried the heavy pressure of Mount Tai. His profound and unfathomable martial arts cultivation was like an abyss or a sea, making Ning Yue suddenly feel as if he were a lonely boat drifting on the ocean.
Loneliness, solitude, desolation, and even sadness, misunderstood, nowhere to speak of his troubles. In an instant, a myriad of emotions surged, uncontrollable!
Ning Yue ascended step by step, his fluttering silver-white coattails a footnote to his youthful exuberance and innate heroism. Yet, at this moment, they were pressed down by an invisible force, so his clothes did not billow in the wind, and his silver robe hung still.
Holding his breath and concentrating, Ning Yue cleared his mind of distractions, walking as if bearing a mountain. His steps were heavy and powerful, his figure showing no moment of stagnation.
After an unknown period, he finally stood opposite Zhao Nan Ting, his etiquette impeccable, as if gazing up at a towering mountain!
The promotion of a Ninth-Rank Zongqi was, in a way, even simpler and clearer than that of an Eighth-Rank Baihu.
But Zhao City Lord did not immediately bestow the tiger tally.
Instead, he silently gazed at Ning Yue for a moment before speaking: "Young and heroic, with lofty aspirations, to be able to stand before me today—Ning Yue, you are very good!"
It was a double entendre, with hidden meanings.
However, the moment his voice fell, Ning Yue suddenly felt the mountain-like pressure disappear, and his taut muscles and bones instantly relaxed!
Old man, are you trying to put me in my place?
Ning Yue respectfully replied, "It's all thanks to the cultivation of City Lord and all the esteemed sirs!"
Zhao City Lord's face was expressionless. Listening to the flattery, not a hint of joy appeared on his face, his composure profound.
"I remember you're not yet twenty?"
"Still half a year away." Ning Yue, adhering to the principle of 'the more you say, the more mistakes you make, answer only what is asked,' was as sparing with words as gold.
Zhao City Lord nodded and then said, "Young and ambitious, having just ascended to a high position, Ning Yue, you rose from the ranks, and you should know the difficulty of governing an army, the heavy responsibility of military affairs. Now you also need to guard the peace of a region and the livelihoods of its people. I hope you do not forget your original aspiration and press forward, only then can you have a good beginning and a good end!"
After Zhao City Lord finished speaking, he still did not hand over the tiger tally.
Ning Yue did not dare to urge him, and bowed again, as if preemptively greeting his father-in-law.
"This subordinate will surely personally attend to military affairs, stabilize the region, live up to your and all the sirs' high expectations, and not fail to uphold Lieutenant Xue's past teachings!"
Flattery isn't effective at all times.
At this moment, the finishing touch of the last sentence made Xue Ren below the stage instantly look around with unconcealed pride, showing off to his former comrades and current colleagues.
Zhao City Lord's mouth twitched slightly. He suddenly leaned down, a half-smile on his face, and asked, "I hear you're quite familiar with Silu?!"
Recently, Zhao Silu had suddenly become determined, diligently cultivating martial arts. She no longer made pastries or wore jewelry. All day long, she wielded an ice-blade-like soft sword, her sword movements pruning all the branches in the City Lord's mansion's back garden bare!
Her mother saw it and felt pain in her heart, trying to persuade her kindly, but she wouldn't listen at all.
Zhao Xingwu merely glanced at her and chuckled before leaving; only Zhao Zhige was reluctantly pulled in as a sparring partner, constantly pestered by his younger sister for practice.
And it must be said, Zhao Silu's original martial arts foundation was extremely profound. With such diligence and hard work, her potential was stimulated, and her cultivation greatly advanced!
But how could Ning Yue know any of this? He only felt that Zhao City Lord's sharp, sword-like gaze seemed to have pierced through him, and then suddenly hearing these words, he was instantly struck by lightning, standing dumbfounded on the spot, speechless for a moment.
It was as if a newly arrived son-in-law was facing his father-in-law's interrogation for the first time, utterly at a loss!
The people on and off the stage naturally couldn't hear Zhao City Lord's question. Seeing the two standing very close, and Zhao City Lord's benevolent face, they all assumed the City Lord was encouraging Ning Yue.
After an unknown period, Zhao City Lord's large hand, capable of life and death, turning the world upside down, finally gently patted Ning Yue's shoulder.
This instantly jolted Ning Yue awake.
"Later, be a little careful." Zhao City Lord said, finally placing the tiger tally into Ning Yue's hand, and then meaningfully added, "In the future, you two can communicate more often."
Then he gracefully turned and ascended the stage!
Ning Yue looked up in bewilderment.
What he said... was it sarcasm?
Or did Zhao City Lord want to be a grandfather?!
Ning Yue, with a jumbled mind, looked towards the high platform, where two gazes were particularly conspicuous.
One came from Young Master Zhao Xingwu, who smiled and nodded at him with deep meaning in his eyes. The other—
Zhao Zhige, the second young master of the Zhao Family, had a fierce, malicious glare!
Ning Yue smiled and nodded in return to Zhao Xingwu, then ignored the gaze of Young Master Zhao Zhige!
He turned, his gaze sweeping across the vast sky. The clear blue sky was without a trace of haze, flawlessly beautiful, making one's heart expand, and grand ambitions naturally surge forth.
Ning Yue looked down at the dense crowd of countless soldiers and generals below the high platform, his gaze as indifferent as the sky looking down on the earth.
Suddenly, he exhaled and spoke, his voice like metal and stone!
"Fellow colleagues, is there anyone... willing to grant me, Ning, a defeat?!"