"Immortal Master Jiang, may I ask why you insist on troubling my benefactor?"
Fan Yuntian looked directly at Jiang Liang beside him, his previously hunched posture straightening slightly.
As the esteemed President Fan, even if he were a mere mortal, he absolutely could not let his savior be so wronged!
Moreover, his old comrade had traveled such a long distance upon hearing of his troubles, solely to see him. Now, just because of some so-called immortal master, he was to depart. This was utterly unbearable!
"President Fan, you flatter me. I am merely acting in your best interest for your safety."
"This brat's origins are unknown, and this so-called Ghost God Sect is something I've never even heard of. If he were to have ill intentions towards you, I could not guarantee your safety."
Jiang Liang snorted coldly and spoke to Fan Yuntian.
However, his tone had completely chilled as he spoke.
He was a dignified enshrinement of the Long family, having personally come here to protect Fan Yuntian. Yet, these people offered only perfunctory welcomes and instead focused their attention on some rogue cultivator of unknown origin. How could he tolerate this?
As an enshrinement of the Long family, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, wherever he went, hadn't everyone treated him with utmost courtesy?
What if he was the president of the Southwest Chamber of Commerce? He was just a mortal. If he offended Jiang Liang, he could kill him with a single sword.
Now, for the sake of a rogue cultivator, he was opposing him. This made Jiang Liang even more displeased.
"Hmph, if that's the case, then Immortal Master Jiang, please return. I believe that with Mr. Lin here, my safety is certainly not a concern."
After receiving Jiang Liang's answer, Fan Yuntian's smile vanished.
"What? You want me to leave? Are you sure?"
Hearing Fan Yuntian's words, Jiang Liang momentarily thought he had misheard.
The Southwest region was actually asking him to leave?
If he truly returned, and the other enshrinements of the Long family found out, wouldn't they laugh him to scorn?
"Yes, Immortal Master Jiang, please return. Our Zhou family cannot accommodate a distinguished guest like yourself."
"Furthermore, please convey to the Long family that if the quality of their enshrinements is like Immortal Master Jiang's demeanor, then there is no need for further interaction with my Zhou family!"
Fan Yuntian's face was grim, his heart filled with extreme anger.
He might be a mortal, but he was certainly not someone to be bullied!
"You... Fan Yuntian! Do you truly intend to break ties with the Long family?"
Jiang Liang's face turned ashen, and he pointed at Fan Yuntian, questioning him.
He had initially intended to give Fan Yuntian and the others a taste of his authority, but he never expected Fan Yuntian to actually drive him away!
When he arrived earlier, the eldest daughter of the Long family, Long Yuling, had explicitly instructed that President Fan's safety was paramount to the stability of the Long Kingdom and that no issues should arise.
If he were to be driven away like this, what face would he have to return to the Long family?
"Hmph, if the cultivators of the Long family are all like you, then what does it matter if my Zhou family breaks ties with the Long family?"
Fan Yuntian snorted coldly, refusing to back down.
Although he knew he was in danger, he absolutely could not be ungrateful because of it!
"Very well, Fan Yuntian, remember your words! I will surely relay everything you have said to the eldest daughter of the Long family, Long Yuling!"
Hearing that Fan Yuntian was truly going to sever ties with the Long family, a hint of a cold smile appeared in Jiang Liang's eyes.
This way, even if he were driven away, it wouldn't be his fault. It would be because this Fan Yuntian was simply ignorant of what was good for him!
"Wait!"
However, just as Jiang Liang was about to turn and leave, Lin Chen, who had been silent, stepped forward.
"What? You want to stop me?"
Seeing Lin Chen step forward, a flicker of killing intent appeared in Jiang Liang's eyes.
In his view, the reason he was in such a predicament today, being driven away, was entirely because of this Lin Chen!
"No, no, no. I just want to ask, can Elder Master Zhou represent the entire Zhou family? You, however, may not necessarily represent the Long family, right?"
Lin Chen narrowed his eyes, his gaze meeting Jiang Liang's directly.
It was truly remarkable that this Jiang Liang, at such a young age, had become a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage. However, for a trivial matter, he was using the Long family to pressure others.
How could Lin Chen tolerate this?
After all, strictly speaking, all of this was because of him!
"Hmph, as a second-tier enshrinement of the Long family, when I'm out and about, I represent the Long family's face."
"Are you now driving me away, not meaning to initiate a war with the Long family?"
Jiang Liang snorted coldly, paying no mind to Lin Chen, who had stepped forward.
To him, a rogue cultivator whose sect was unknown and whose cultivation was hidden was not worth his concern.
Since this Fan Yuntian was senile enough to break ties with the Long family for the sake of such a rogue cultivator, he certainly wouldn't say any more, would he?
"I am merely following the Long family's rules and leaving the Zhou family. Is there anything wrong with that?"
After saying this, Jiang Liang turned to leave.
But before he could take two steps, he was once again stopped by Lin Chen.
"What? Are you going to attack me?"
Seeing Lin Chen blocking his path, Jiang Liang narrowed his eyes, a hint of killing intent surfacing.
He had long been displeased with this Lin Chen. If the other party truly intended to obstruct him, he wouldn't mind striking directly and teaching these rogue cultivators a lesson.
Let him know the difference between rogue cultivators and sect cultivators!
"Heh, I just want to inquire. Within the Long family, how is it typically handled when a second-tier enshrinement disrespects a third-tier enshrinement?"
Lin Chen smiled coldly, asking a question that made Jiang Liang instinctively freeze.
"A second-tier enshrinement disrespecting a third-tier enshrinement? They should be executed!"
Jiang Liang answered without hesitation.
A second-tier enshrinement was, after all, only at the Foundation Establishment stage. However, a third-tier enshrinement was a true Core Formation cultivator!
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to disrespect a Core Formation cultivator, wasn't that seeking death?
Besides, currently, there were only two third-tier enshrinements in the entire Long family. He knew both of them, and they would absolutely not be an enemy to him!
"Is that so? That means, if you are now making things difficult for me without cause, even if I kill you, it would be in accordance with the rules?"
Upon receiving Jiang Liang's answer, Lin Chen narrowed his eyes, and his cultivation began to reveal itself bit by bit.
Early Foundation Establishment, it didn't stop. Mid Foundation Establishment, still not stopping. Late Foundation Establishment, still not stopping!
Jiang Liang stood frozen on the spot, watching in disbelief as Lin Chen's aura broke through to the Core Formation stage!
"You... a Core Formation cultivator..."
Jiang Liang was dumbfounded, his expression filled with disbelief.
With the current scarcity of spiritual energy in the world, Core Formation cultivators were one in ten thousand. How could he have encountered one so easily?