"One thousand taels at a time!"
"Three times means three thousand taels!"
Although Duan Lingtian knew that alchemists made money, he never expected them to make this much.
The Great Elder of the Li Family was merely a Grade Nine Alchemist, yet he produced three thousand taels of silver without batting an eye.
"Mother is an elder of the Li Family too, but she only receives a monthly stipend of a dozen taels of silver. The gap is simply too massive."
He sighed inwardly.
Watching Duan Lingtian take the one thousand taels in silver notes, all the higher-ups of the Li Family on the high platform were dumbfounded.
Especially Seventh Elder Li Kun, who had been waiting to make a fool of Duan Lingtian—the sneer at the corner of his mouth froze completely...
Everything before his eyes felt like a dream.
This Duan Lingtian had merely massaged the Great Elder for a short while, and he got one thousand taels of silver?
"Great Elder, I know how to give massages too, and my wife even praises my technique. How about I massage you for two hours, and you give me one thousand taels as well?"
Sixth Elder Li Ping's eyes shone brightly as if he had discovered a way to get rich, staring fixedly at Great Elder Li Huo.
Li Huo let out a low snort, completely ignoring Li Ping.
Then he looked back up at Duan Lingtian.
"Little fellow, where did you learn this miraculous massage technique? I can feel that the deep-seated ailments I've accumulated over the years have already been initially suppressed. If you give me two more massages later on, they will surely be completely eradicated."
Li Huo asked curiously.
"Great Elder, I just happened to see it in a medical book once."
Duan Lingtian smiled slightly.
Li Huo gave Duan Lingtian a deep look.
Naturally, he did not believe Duan Lingtian's nonsense, but he did not ask any further.
Judging by Duan Lingtian's current attitude, he was clearly unwilling to talk about it.
"Deep-seated ailments?"
The remaining higher-ups of the Li Family were left staring in blank amazement.
They still remembered that before giving the Great Elder a massage, Duan Lingtian had indeed mentioned deep-seated ailments.
They were curious: how had Duan Lingtian managed to tell that the Great Elder had deep-seated ailments?
More importantly, he actually knew a massage technique to treat the Great Elder's deep-seated ailments.
Li Rou looked at her son, the puzzlement in her eyes growing deeper.
The young girl standing beside her looked at Duan Lingtian with adoration, not surprised in the least by his methods.
In her heart, the young master was omnipotent.
"Seventh Elder, can we make our wager now?"
Duan Lingtian looked at Li Kun.
"Duan Lingtian, since you're sending money my way, of course I won't refuse."
Li Kun narrowed his eyes and let out a low snort.
"That's good then."
Duan Lingtian nodded and handed half of the silver notes in his hand to Patriarch Li Nanfeng.
"Patriarch, this is the wager between Seventh Elder and me. Please keep it safe for us and act as a witness."
With a complicated expression, Li Nanfeng took the five hundred taels of silver notes and nodded.
"Patriarch, here is the wager between Sixth Elder and me as well."
At this moment, Fifth Elder Li Ting also produced five hundred taels of silver notes and handed them to Li Nanfeng.
"Patriarch, this is the wager between Sixth Elder and me."
Li Kun also took out one thousand taels of silver notes.
"Begin."
After putting away the silver notes, Li Nanfeng looked at Duan Lingtian.
Handing the remaining five hundred taels of silver notes in his hand to his mother Li Rou, Duan Lingtian nodded, stepped directly onto the martial training arena, and stood opposite Li Jie, who had been waiting for a long time.
The Li Family disciples around the martial training arena stared at the two of them without blinking.
It was finally about to start!
"Duan Lingtian, you took so long to come down. Surely you aren't scared, are you?"
Li Jie sneered.
"Scared? You overestimate yourself far too much. Li Jie, today's battle requires you to give it your all... If you lose, your family will be completely ruined!"
Duan Lingtian smiled faintly.
"What do you mean by that?"
Li Jie's expression sank; he knew nothing about the gambling on the high platform.
"After today, you'll naturally find out."
The smile on Duan Lingtian's face grew even wider, which looked exceptionally glaring in Li Jie's eyes.
Li Jie's face darkened as the muscles all over his body bulged slightly and his clothes tightened.
In a flash, Li Jie kicked off the ground and sprinted toward Duan Lingtian.
His speed was extremely fast, transforming him into a leopard charging at full tilt...
"Duan Lingtian, you crippled my younger brother's arm. Today, I'll make you pay it back tenfold!"
Rushing rapidly up to Duan Lingtian, Li Jie roared.
With both hands forming palms, he unleashed a mastery-level Huang-rank intermediate martial skill, coming on with ferocious momentum as he struck toward Duan Lingtian.
Falling Leaf Palm!
"Seventh Elder, for Li Jie to have cultivated the Falling Leaf Palm to the mastery level back when he was at the Fourth Level of the Body Tempering Realm—his talent is truly remarkable!"
"When I was young, I also practiced the Falling Leaf Palm, and I only managed to cultivate it to the mastery level when I reached the Seventh Level of the Body Tempering Realm. In this regard, I am far inferior to Li Jie. Seventh Elder is truly blessed."
"Indeed, Seventh Elder has a good son. It really makes me envious."
...
On the high platform, hearing the praise from several elders, Li Kun smiled slightly, feeling somewhat carried away.
"Eh, what martial skill is Duan Lingtian using?"
Suddenly, Patriarch Li Nanfeng's voice rang out.
Everyone's gaze fell upon Duan Lingtian.
They saw Duan Lingtian leaning his upper body forward into a forward-and-backward horse stance, transforming himself into a powerful, unmovable bow.
And almost at that very instant, facing Li Jie's roaring Falling Leaf Palm, he moved...
As still as a virgin, as swift as a startled rabbit!
These eight words could not be more fitting for Duan Lingtian at this moment.
Faced with Li Jie's Falling Leaf Palm, Duan Lingtian showed no fear at all and charged straight ahead.
He threw out his right fist like a fired cannonball, blasting toward Li Jie's palm.
Clap!
Fist and palm collided. Li Jie's body shook slightly as he stood his ground.
Duan Lingtian, however, was knocked back a few steps by Li Jie, a flush appearing on his face.
"Tian'er!"
On the high platform, seeing Duan Lingtian knocked back, Li Rou wore a look of worry.
The young girl beside her also clenched her pink fists nervously.
In contrast, Li Kun wore a look of smug triumph.
In his view, the Fourth Level of the Body Tempering Realm against the Third Level of the Body Tempering Realm was a unilateral suppression with no suspense whatsoever.
"Fifth Elder, thank you for your silver notes."
Sixth Elder Li Ping looked at Li Ting, brimming with smugness.
It was as if Li Ting's five hundred taels of silver notes had already landed safely in his own pocket.
"As expected of the Fourth Level of the Body Tempering Realm. In a direct clash of brute strength, my power is still somewhat lacking."
On the martial training arena, the knocked-back Duan Lingtian's heart stirred.
"Perhaps..."
Glancing at the ring on his finger, Duan Lingtian wore a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. This was his trump card.
"Duan Lingtian, I really didn't expect you to have broken through to the Third Level of the Body Tempering Realm. However, even so, you could never be my opponent. Today, I am going to avenge my younger brother and completely cripple you... I'll have you bedridden for the rest of your life, spending your remaining days suffering in endless remorse!"
Li Jie looked down at Duan Lingtian from a condescending height, speaking with vicious ruthlessness.
Duan Lingtian's expression sank slightly, a cold flash passing through his eyes. He hadn't expected Li Jie to be so venomous.
When Li Xin provoked him last time, crippling Li Xin's arm was already an act of leniency on his part.
Otherwise, Li Xin's fate would have been the same as that lackey of Fang Jian's.
Today, although Li Jie's strength surpassed his, relying on the Inscription he had prepared in advance on the ring, he still had absolute confidence in defeating Li Jie.
Originally, considering they were fellow disciples of the Li Family, he only intended to cripple one of Li Jie's arms as a punishment...
But now it seemed he had still been far too lenient.
"Have me bedridden and suffering for the rest of my life, you say? Li Jie, you better remember well what you just said, and make sure you don't regret it."
Duan Lingtian gazed at Li Jie and suddenly smiled.
"Regret? I, Li Jie, have never known the meaning of regret!"
Li Jie sneered disdainfully. Shaking his legs, his entire body transformed into a fierce tiger and pounced toward Duan Lingtian not far away.
The mastery-level Falling Leaf Palm descended upon Duan Lingtian once again.
Duan Lingtian stepped forward, leaning his upper body backward to curve into a bow shape once more.
Pressing his right shoulder back and moving in sync with his body's momentum, he thrust his right fist straight out with all his might, channeling his entire body's strength to meet Li Jie's Falling Leaf Palm...
Cannon Fist!
One of the Form-Intent Five Elements Fists: looking like a cannon yet not a cannon, the punch carried the momentum of overwhelming force, like mountains toppling and seas raging.
"Clap!"
Fist and palm clashed head-on again!
Duan Lingtian's heart stirred slightly as the power of the Inscription on the ring surged out, flooding into Li Jie's body...
In an instant, Li Jie was struck as if by lightning; his body shuddered, his expression changed drastically, and terror appeared in his eyes.
It was as if he had encountered something terrifying.
Boom!
Duan Lingtian's Cannon Fist crushed forward right as Li Jie's body shuddered, the power of his Falling Leaf Palm completely dissipated, leaving only momentum.
Crack!
It directly snapped Li Jie's arm bone!
The harsh sound of breaking bones, accompanied by Li Jie's miserable scream, reached the ears of everyone present.
Sending a chill down everyone's spine.
Just as everyone was wondering why Li Jie, who had just been firmly holding the upper hand, was suddenly being crushed by Duan Lingtian—
Duan Lingtian stepped forward, keeping pace with Li Jie's falling body, and kicked out, launching Li Jie high into the air to a height of over three meters.
The next moment, Duan Lingtian stood in place, bent his legs, and squatted down fiercely!
The airborne Li Jie turned pale, cold sweat streaming down.
When his body began to plummet and he looked down to see Duan Lingtian's current action, he instantly understood Duan Lingtian's intent.
"Father, save me!!"
A bone-chilling terror rose in Li Jie's heart as he screamed in panic.
Mid-air, he was unable to move freely, and his Fourth Level of the Body Tempering Realm strength had nowhere to be applied.
Duan Lingtian's legs straightened instantly, and borrowing the force of his push against the ground, his entire body soared into the sky.
His unstoppable double fists shot toward the rapidly falling Li Jie like a pair of anti-aircraft cannonballs...
"No!!"
Hearing his son's desperate, horrified cry from the high platform, Li Kun finally snapped out of his shock. With a furious roar, he left his seat and swept directly down into the martial training arena.
He wanted to save his son.
Terrified that her son would come to harm, Li Rou followed closely behind and likewise swept down into the martial training arena.