Especially among the townsfolk, there was an instinctive respect and reverence for Yi Tianxing, the founder of Xuanhuang Town. It was precisely because of the town's existence that they could live and work in peace without worrying about food, clothing, or the terrifying possibility of waking up only to become a beast's midnight snack — or worse, ending up as the beast's excrement.
This gratitude ran deep in every resident's heart.
Normally, it remained hidden, but whenever outsiders insulted Xuanhuang Town or Yi Tianxing himself, it would burst forth without hesitation.
Just like now — although the middle-aged man was just an ordinary citizen, upon hearing the young man's disrespectful words toward Xuanhuang Town, he immediately exploded with anger and harshly rebuked him.
The surrounding citizens also gathered, casting hostile glares at the young man.
"Hmph, who are you people?" the young man said arrogantly, looking down at the townsfolk before him with a frosty disdain.
"We're the people of Xuanhuang Town! And who are you?"Shi Laogen sneered coldly as he demanded an answer.
"Hmph! My surname is Long — Long Aotian!"The youth declared proudly.
As he spoke, his entire body seemed to shudder with an indescribable force. A layer of dazzling radiance enveloped him, and the oppressive aura he exuded made the surrounding townsfolk feel a stifling pressure, as though they were facing an insurmountable mountain.
It was a strange, eerie feeling, as if an overwhelming coercion and bewitchment were emanating from him, forcing those nearby to feel utterly insignificant beneath his radiance.
Long Aotian.What a name!
It sounded like someone destined to defy the heavens.
For a moment, the townsfolk were all stunned into silence.
"You dare act arrogantly in my Xuanhuang Town? Take this!!"Shi Laogen, despite feeling suppressed by the pressure, roared stubbornly. He threw a fierce punch at Long Aotian, using the town's basic fist techniques.
Shi Laogen was at the second level of the Divine Sea Realm. He had already opened a meridian river within his body, allowing true qi to circulate. His punch was mighty and powerful enough to shatter stone with ease.
"Hmph. A mere commoner dares to raise a hand against me? I could kill you with just a finger! Striking you would only dirty my hands."Long Aotian sneered, full of disdain. Without moving much, he simply extended one finger toward Shi Laogen's fist.
BANG!!
Finger met fist. Ordinarily, one would expect the finger to snap — but shockingly, Long Aotian's finger gleamed with divine light, imbued with overwhelming strength. In an instant, it pierced Shi Laogen's fist cleanly, sending him flying backward with a bloody hole in his hand.
Shi Laogen's body smashed into the townsfolk behind him, sending several people sprawling in a heap.
It was total domination.Facing Long Aotian, a second-level Divine Sea cultivator had no chance whatsoever.
"How dare you cause trouble in Xuanhuang Town! Come with me to the Six Doors!"Zhang Yue had been nearby and rushed over with a team of constables upon hearing the commotion. Just in time, he witnessed Shi Laogen being flung away like a ragdoll.
His eyes gleamed with anger and gravity.
No matter what, Shi Laogen was one of their own. Being defeated and humiliated by an outsider like this couldn't be tolerated.
CLANG!!
With a crisp sound, Zhang Yue drew his long blade. A flash of light cut across the air. His blade was so fast it left no trace, only a cold glint. It was the Gale Blade Technique — not a technique from the Scripture Pavilion, but one passed down in his family. After coming to the Eternal Continent, it had evolved even further under the will of the heavens into a genuine blade technique containing the intent of a wild gale.
A profound low-grade Mystic technique.Its core was one word: Speed. Swift as a storm, impossible to defend against.
With a single slash, Zhang Yue's blade was already cleaving toward Long Aotian's throat — no hesitation, knowing he couldn't afford to hold back.
"Another one? Your blade carries the intent of a gale... but unfortunately, without true blade intent, you're still trash to me. Break!!" Long Aotian snorted coldly, eyes full of disdain.
With a casual gesture, his finger suddenly turned golden, gleaming like pure gold. He pointed forward.
CLINK!!
The golden finger collided with the flashing blade. The blade's light shattered instantly. The golden brilliance spread rapidly from the collision point, flowing along the blade like wildfire toward Zhang Yue's body.
"Not good!!"Zhang Yue's heart sank as he tried to let go of his weapon, but his arm was already paralyzed by the golden light. His entire body stiffened and was soon completely coated in gold.
In a flash, he had been transformed into a golden statue. Motionless, yet fully conscious — a state of terrifying helplessness.
Hiss!!
The crowd gasped in horror.
The scene was too shocking. One touch, and even a powerful cultivator like Zhang Yue had been turned into a golden sculpture.
"Turning Stone into Gold!!"
"Captain Zhang... turned into a golden statue! This is unbelievable!"
"Quick! Sound the alarm! This Long Aotian is trying to challenge our Xuanhuang Town!!"
The townsfolk instinctively stepped back — but their rage only burned hotter.This wasn't just an insult; this was an open declaration of war.
Meanwhile, in the crowd, Prince Kongxu fluttered his jade fan excitedly.
"How interesting! I've been waiting for some excitement around here."He had long wanted to test the true strength of Xuanhuang Town.
After all, Zhang Yue was just one person — there were many stronger than him, not to mention the town's military forces.
That golden finger clearly belonged to a Life Aperture Divine Ability — the legendary Golden Touch.
Usually awakened in the fingers, often called a "Golden Finger."One touch could turn stone into gold or creatures into golden statues.
Terrifying power during battle.Just like now — Zhang Yue's blade and body had both been instantly goldenized, rendering him completely helpless.
"Long Aotian..."
At the Governor's Manor, Yi Tianxing immediately received the news.
Thanks to Cao Zhengchun, who was now the butler, Xuanhuang Town's intelligence network was well established. Whenever something significant happened, news would swiftly reach Yi Tianxing.
Hearing the name "Long Aotian," Yi Tianxing felt like a herd of alpacas were stampeding through his mind.
He couldn't help but mutter internally:"The Myriad Worlds are merging, and now even a Long Aotian shows up? A born protagonist with invincible auras, triumphing against the odds, everything going his way... and now he's setting his eyes on my Xuanhuang Town? I've been waiting to become a leader here, and this is the first 'big shot' I get to meet?"
Though he remained calm outwardly, Yi Tianxing grew extremely wary.
The name Long Aotian was too legendary — it struck fear into anyone who heard it. However, Yi Tianxing was confident that, on the Eternal Continent, there could be no truly invincible protagonists — unless this guy was some secret love child of Heaven itself.
Otherwise, victory could still be wrested from fate.
Still, this man was definitely not ordinary. His fortune must be ridiculously high, with treasures falling into his lap and beauties tripping into his arms.
"I must meet this Long Aotian myself,"Yi Tianxing thought, rising from his meditation room, battle spirit ignited.