Chapter 135: A Gathering of Heroes

"Aren't you afraid that my third grandfather will kill you?"

Ling Xiao said indifferently, "If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come."

Su Yanran couldn't help but shake her head and sigh. "You have no idea how formidable my third grandfather is! He is the invincible legend of Jiangnan! For so many years, countless people have come to Jiangnan to challenge him, but not one has ever won. Instead, they all ended up as ghosts under his hand."

"I know you want to use my third grandfather to achieve fame and glory, to make a name for yourself in the world! But... I can tell you bluntly: you are dreaming."

Ling Xiao, as if he hadn't heard a word, continued to shave, his expression icy. "You... may leave now."

Su Yanran froze, then asked in disbelief, "You're letting me go?"

Ling Xiao did not look at her. "Su Yannan has emerged; you no longer have any value. Get out."

Su Yanran trembled with rage. She gritted her teeth, her face twisted with indignation. In Jiangnan, when had she ever been treated this way? Ling Xiao's contempt was more unbearable to her than death itself. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her fury. She glared at him and said, "I will go to Shanghu myself to watch you being beaten to death by my third grandfather, punch by punch!"

With that, she turned and left the room.

Ling Xiao finished shaving. He looked at his handsome face in the mirror and smiled faintly. "Frogs at the bottom of a well are always foolishly adorable."

...

By now, the crowd gathered at Shanghu in Jiangnan was growing larger and larger. However, only those with power and status could gain entry; ordinary people simply lacked the qualifications. Thus, strictly speaking, the vast Shanghu area was not overly crowded. At the very least, it had not yet become a sea of people.

Yet, some figures rarely seen in public were present today.

"Isn't that Jin Hezai, head of the Jin family, one of the top five richest in Jiangnan? I never imagined even he would come!"

"That's nothing. Do you see that man? That is Master Xue, the richest man in Jiangdong!"

"Look at that Taoist priest. He seems to be the Immortal Master Zhang He, from the Dongbin Taoist Temple in Xijiang! I hear he is a master of the hidden world, with martial arts skills that border on the divine, reaching the level of a Martial Saint. He also possesses peerless medical skills, having helped many local infertile women fulfill their dreams of motherhood. It is said that even a sixty-year-old wealthy woman, already past menopause, managed to conceive under his guidance and assistance, allowing her to pass on her hundreds of millions in assets!"

Any one of these people would be enough to shake their respective regions, yet today, they were all gathered in one place. All because of one man: Su Yannan.

Across all of Jiangnan, only this man possessed the charisma to draw so many powerful figures together.

However, before long, with the arrival of a middle-aged man in black, the group of revered figures instantly changed their expressions and hurried forward to pay their respects. The crowd wondered, "Strange, who is that? Why are even experts like Zhang He bowing to him so respectfully?"

Someone in the crowd recognized the figure and spoke with disdain, "You truly have eyes, but fail to see Mount Tai! That is Shen Tianjun!"

The next moment, someone let out a gasp. "Shen Tianjun? My god! Is that the Northern Martial Saint Shen Tianjun, who is as famous as Su Yannan?"

"Precisely!"

"Goodness, to think that Su Yannan's emergence would even draw him out! Ah! Looking at the talents of our Jiangnan, I fear only someone like Martial Saint Su could command such power!"

Over by Shen Tianjun, Zhang He and the others bowed and cupped their hands in respectful greeting. "Greetings, Martial Saint Shen!"

Shen Tianjun waved his hand. "No need for formalities. I have come today, just like you, to witness the battle."

"Martial Saint Shen, it is said that Su Yannan emerged from seclusion because of a young man. Do you know anything about this youth?"

Shen Tianjun shook his head. "I am not entirely sure. However, young people are often hot-blooded; it is quite normal for him to want to elevate his status by using Brother Su's reputation."

"Oh? Judging by your words, Martial Saint Shen, it seems that the youth is doomed!"

"Heh heh heh..." Shen Tianjun stroked his chin and chuckled, his eyes filled with a touch of arrogance and defiance. "Does that even need to be said? I don't need to elaborate on Brother Su's strength; I'm sure you all know it better than I! Over the years, how many have tried to make trouble for him? Yet in the end, who had the last laugh? Even I have lost more than I've won against him over the years. His strength has reached the Great Accomplishment realm; in the secular world of China, he has almost no rival. Unless, perhaps, a master from the martial arts sects or the Dragon Unit were to step forward, they might have the qualifications to cross swords with him."

The crowd nodded in agreement. "Indeed! Martial Saint Su would never lose to a mere greenhorn!"

At that moment, a sudden exclamation erupted from the crowd! "Look, it's the Su family motorcade! Martial Saint Su is here!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the area around Shanghu erupted into noise. Su Yannan had arrived! Everyone had come for the sole purpose of catching a glimpse of the legend of Jiangnan. Who could remain unmoved at his arrival?

A long procession of Rolls-Royces led the way, with a stretched Lincoln in the center. Wherever the motorcade passed, the crowd retreated. Here, if you were hit and killed by these cars, even a high-ranking provincial official could do nothing about it!

The cars finally stopped at the edge of Shanghu. Servants quickly opened the doors. Old Master Su stepped out first, followed by the middle-aged man. He wore a pristine white robe, his beard was cleanly shaven, and his long hair was tied into a small braid, exuding an air of scholarly elegance mixed with a sharp handsomeness. If not for those piercing, spirited eyes, it would be difficult to recognize him as the same Su Yannan who had been cultivating in a mountain cave just last night!

As he arrived, he merely swept his gaze over the crowd. Everyone who met his eyes lowered their heads, not daring to look him in the eye. Even Zhang He and Master Xue were no exception!

Though the Northern Martial Saint Shen Tianjun showed no signs of submission, his eyes could not hide the admiration and respect he felt for Su Yannan. In this world, only the strong can truly command the respect of the strong.

The two men locked eyes, both revealing a sense of mutual appreciation. At the same time, a thick, palpable intent for battle lay hidden beneath.