65: Chapter 65

65

Worth mentioning is that, perhaps because years of accumulation finally met an opportunity, Jiang Shangquan and Xiao Yufen took only two days to break through to the first-order.

This speed even surpassed the record set by Jiang Haojie when he promoted from zero-order.

On second thought, it was reasonable—they had stayed at zero-order for over thirty years. Though their talent was mediocre, the energy in their bodies had been slowly precipitating through the passing years.

Such cases were not rare; it was common for seniors in their seventies or eighties to naturally break through their order.

Now that the couple had received talent reshaping and had ample cultivation resources, a rapid promotion was naturally a matter of course.

Of course, attempting to reach the second-order would not be so easy.

Even though their current talent was at least S-rank, putting them on the same starting line as those geniuses, it would take until around the New Year at the earliest for them to potentially break through again.

Jiang Haojie lightly parried his father's sweeping arm, and a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.

Although his father was not an Ancient Martial Artist and could not practice orthodox martial arts, techniques like Tai Chi, which used softness to overcome hardness, might work.

If he taught the principles of Tai Chi to his father, it could at least help him better coordinate his limbs and control his bodily functions.

"Dad, look at it this way."

Jiang Haojie slowed down his movements to demonstrate. "When punching, you need to thread the power from your waist and abdomen through, like water flowing through a riverbed."

His palm traced an arc, leading his father's arm in a slow rotation. "Don't worry about how much power it has; first, let your body remember this rhythm."

Jiang Shangquan focused intently on mimicking his son's movements. Fine sweat beaded on his temples, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Outside the living room window, the twilight was staining the sky inch by inch.

Jiang Shangquan noticed his son stop mid-sentence, and a flicker of awkwardness crossed his face. "Xiao Hao, is it because I'm too slow and didn't understand?"

"Dad, what are you thinking?"

Jiang Haojie smiled helplessly, then said seriously, "How about this? Stand in front of me. I'll perform a move, and you follow along."

Jiang Shangquan did as he was told and stood opposite his son.

Jiang Haojie spread his feet and extended his arms forward.

Jiang Shangquan also meticulously imitated his son's posture.

Seeing that his father was ready, Jiang Haojie began to slowly demonstrate a set of fist techniques.

His movements were expansive and fluid. He deliberately slowed down each form so his father could see every detail clearly.

Although Jiang Shangquan felt this fist technique looked soft and powerless, since it was taught by his son, he concentrated fully on learning it.

Before long, the demonstration of the fist technique was complete.

Jiang Haojie slowly withdrew his stance and asked, "Dad, have you memorized the moves?"

"I've memorized them."

Jiang Shangquan nodded.

After becoming an Awakened, his memory had indeed enhanced significantly. Moreover, the moves of this fist technique were simple and clear, so memorizing them wasn't difficult.

"In the future, find time to practice every day until you've mastered it. You'll naturally come to appreciate its subtleties."

Jiang Haojie urged.

"Alright, I will definitely practice hard."

Jiang Shangquan responded solemnly.

Jiang Haojie explained a few more key insights to his father before leaving him alone in the living room to practice and returning to his own room.

Compared to his father, his mother Xiao Yufen, being a Psionic, had a much simpler cultivation method—Psionics only needed to accumulate enough Psionic energy to perform abilities from a distance, without needing to study close-quarters combat techniques.

---

The moment the last bit of covering was torn away, Zhao Yawen's gaze drifted hollowly toward the roof of the car.

Endless regret gnawed at her, but everything was already beyond redemption.

A thought of seeking death flashed through her mind, but she suppressed it firmly.

She couldn't die yet.

Even if she were to die, she had to drag Ximen Dapao down to hell with her.

Bang!

A muffled sound suddenly came from somewhere in the dark underground parking lot.

A-Wen and the other bodyguards were all guarding outside; what could go wrong?

Just as the bodyguards outside were drawn by the sound, they saw A-Wen's body flying back like a broken sack, slamming heavily onto the ground.

Before they could react, a figure appeared in their vision like a ghost.

The bodyguards' hearts tightened—even A-Wen, a Fifth-Order Awakened, had been defeated in an instant. How could they be a match?

Without waiting for them to make any reaction, the figure had already darted over.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After a few short impacts, the underground parking lot returned to a deathly silence.

"Ximen Dapao, you really are in a leisurely mood."

, a playful voice rang out lightly.

Bang!

The car window shattered with a loud explosion. A hand reached in from outside, fingers spreading and then suddenly tightening, grabbing Ximen Dapao by the back of his collar.

Liu Jinglong's face appeared outside the hole, his eyes as cold as ice.

Ximen Dapao's interest was abruptly cut off, and a surge of wicked anger rushed to his head.

He was about to lash out, but he froze the moment he saw who it was—how could it be Liu Jinglong?

"You dare touch me?"

Ximen Dapao stumbled from the pull of that force, his voice sharp with shock and fury. "The Ximen Family won't let you get away with this!"

Liu Jinglong didn't respond. He just took off his coat and tossed it into the car.

Zhao Yawen grabbed the garment, wrapped herself tightly in it, and huddled in the corner of the seat, trembling silently.

Until then, Ximen Dapao finally saw the scene outside the car: his bodyguards were sprawled all over the ground, and A-Wen was slumped in a pool of blood, motionless.

"What if I do touch you?"

Liu Jinglong finally spoke, each word hitting hard. "When did Dragon City become the hunting ground for your Ximen Family?"

Before his voice faded, a slap was delivered.

The crisp sound echoed repeatedly in the empty underground parking lot.

Ximen Dapao's head tilted to the side, his face burning hot.

He could hardly believe it—Liu Jinglong actually dared to strike him.

"With just this little bit of ability,"

Liu Jinglong's gaze swept downward, and he sneered. "You're worthy of being called 'Dapao'? I think you're at most a dud firecracker."

He delivered another backhanded slap.

A hint of sternness flashed through Liu Jinglong's mind.

The phone call from X that evening was right: Ximen Dapao indeed had no intention of stopping.

He had thought his warning was weighty enough, but he had underestimated the other's brazenness.

"I'll kill you!"

Ximen Dapao recovered from his shock and lunged forward with a roar.

As the head of the Ximen Family, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Liu Jinglong stepped aside and raised his leg, kicking the other in the abdomen.

Ximen Dapao flew backward like a broken sack and fell heavily to the ground, his pale flesh glaring under the lights.

He coughed up some bloody froth and struggled to get up.

Liu Jinglong walked over and flipped him over with the tip of his shoe.

His gaze fell on that limp spot, and he frowned, showing undisguised disgust.

Then he took out his phone and dialed a number.

...

The next morning, Jiang Haojie was woken up by the ringing of his phone.

Liu Jinglong briefly explained what had happened last night.

"What about Zhao Yawen?"

Jiang Haojie sat up, his voice tense. "Did Ximen Dapao succeed?"

The moment he asked, he felt a strange sense of panic, as if something was tightening in his chest—please don't let it be that outcome.

"I really can't say for sure."

Liu Jinglong gave a bitter laugh on the other end of the phone. "I can't exactly go and ask her directly, can I?"

Jiang Haojie was silent for a moment, then let out a long breath.

He had done all he could.

Now he could only hope that the worst had not happened.

Liu Jinglong's voice came through the receiver: "The person has been handed over to Kong Wenguang.

But with the Ximen Family's power, I'm afraid they'll have the bail procedures settled by this morning."

"Money can talk to the gods; this saying really is true."

Jiang Haojie sighed softly.

"That's just the way of the world."

Liu Jinglong's tone carried a sense of powerlessness. "The Ximen Family's influence in Jiang Province is deeply rooted. Those above won't shake their foundation for such a small matter."

However, there would definitely be some reprimands and warnings.

After a few more casual remarks, Jiang Haojie hung up.

For the next two days, he didn't leave the house, only staying home to accompany his parents.

The date for the academy competition drew closer day by day.

On the morning of the third day, after saying goodbye to his parents, he set off for the venue of this year's competition—Zhanwu Academy, one of the Five Great Academies.

The academy was located in Su City, separated from Dragon City by five city-states.

Although it wasn't considered far, even taking a flyer would require a six-hour journey.

There were still four days until the official opening of the competition, but Jiang Haojie had already set off early.

He wanted to see the sights of Su City along the way.

The flyer pierced through the clouds and, three hours later, landed smoothly at the airport in the southern suburbs of Su City.

This ancient city located in the southern border of the Dragon Country has long held the "Water-rhythm Jiangnan"

elegant appellation.

Previously, Jiang Haojie had only treated it as promotional rhetoric, but until he saw the vast and misty scenery with his own eyes, he didn't realize how narrow his previous perspective had been.

The entire city was embraced by a winding water system, with streets and alleys built along the water, and both banks were lined with classical buildings with black tiles and white walls.

As soon as he left the airport, he encountered a downpour, but it was precisely this unexpected rain that allowed Jiang Haojie to glimpse the most moving side of Su City—the hazy rain and mist shrouded it like a light veil, and the entire ancient city seemed to float in a misty dream.

According to ancient manuscript fragments, the beautiful scenery of the Jiangnan water towns three hundred years ago was far more than just this place.

Since that upheaval that swept across the continent, countless beautiful scenes had vanished into the long river of time.

Now, Su City was one of the few well-preserved classical gems within the Dragon Country.

Propping up the folding umbrella he carried with him, Jiang Haojie walked along the bluestone path toward the hotel he had booked.

His accommodation was only two streets away from Zhanwu Academy.

Actually, the academy had already prepared lodgings for the contestants, but because the competition preparations were not yet fully ready, he had to stay outside temporarily and move into the academy's arrangements after the official opening.

When the morning light pierced through the clouds, Jiang Haojie had already finished breakfast at the hotel.

Because of the heavy rain yesterday, he couldn't go sightseeing, so today was perfect for exploring this ancient city in detail and picking up some unique Su City souvenirs for his parents.

Just as he stepped out of the hotel porch, his communicator rang with a notification tone.

Glancing at the name jumping on the screen, he pressed the answer key.

"Jiang Haojie, have you arrived in Su City?"

Before he could speak, Su Qingxue's clear voice came through the airwaves.

"I arrived yesterday afternoon."

"Where are you now?"

Her tone carried a bit of urgency. "I'll come find you right away."

"Is something wrong?"

On the other end of the phone, Su Qingxue listened to Jiang Haojie's stiff tone and couldn't help but quietly curl her lip at the air.

How can this person talk like a piece of wood? How will he ever win a girl's heart in the future?

Mumbling this in her heart, she still cleared her throat and got to the main point: "I have some things I want to get rid of, and I'd like to trouble you to take them to my parents on your way back.

Also... I'd like to treat you to a meal to thank you for your help before."

Jiang Haojie didn't ask much and simply reported his location.

In less than an hour, Su Qingxue's figure appeared at the corner of the street.

She was wearing a plain white long dress, with light makeup on her face. Her already outstanding appearance was set off to be even more elegant and refined, like someone walking out of a painting, causing passing pedestrians to look back one after another.

"Wow, who is that girl? She's way too good-looking!"

"Ignorant. That's my girl."

"Bah, how shameless. I clearly knew her first!"

"It's over, I think I've fallen in love at first sight. From now on, she's my ideal type..."

Small fragments of discussion floated in the air.

Su Qingxue was completely unaware. She walked up to Jiang Haojie in a few steps, hands behind her back, tilting her head slightly, her bright eyes looking at him with a smile. "Have you been waiting long?"

This intimate scene fell into the eyes of the people around them, immediately stirring a wave of heartbroken sighs.

"Not long."

Jiang Haojie answered plainly.

When he used to date Xu Qing, he would often wait much longer, so he was already used to it.

"By the way,"

He remembered something and looked at Su Qingxue with a slight doubt, "Did you also sign up for the school's selection competition?"

Su Qingxue gave him a roll of her eyes. "What, do you think I'm not worthy?"

"That's not what I meant,"

Jiang Haojie shook his head. "Your ability is biased toward support, and its role in actual combat is limited. Even if you participate, I'm afraid it will be hard to go far."

"Of course I'm not going for the competition,"

Su Qingxue explained, "I'm following the team as logistical medical personnel.

In case any students are injured in the competition, I can handle it in time.

Every school will arrange some logistical support like me."

Jiang Haojie nodded. It seemed the school's arrangements were quite well-considered.

"Let's go, let's look around."

Su Qingxue was in a very good mood. As she spoke, she naturally pulled Jiang Haojie's arm and led him into the crowd.