83: Long Qihan, fighting
The moment he swallowed the slice of meat, Long Yuesheng cried out in surprise, his eyes wide.
He quickly sat cross-legged, controlling his internal Qi to refine it.
In just a few breaths, he was completely red, like a thoroughly cooked shrimp, with drops of sweat mixed with a faint reddish hue squeezing out from his pores.
Qin Jiang picked up another slice and put it in his mouth, watching Long Yuesheng with interest.
He wondered if he should help, but since Long Yuesheng's father was watching, he naturally couldn't do anything, so he could only silently wish him well.
“Hiss ~ Ha ~”
A moment later, Long Yuesheng exhaled hot air from his mouth and nose, tinged with a light pink.
He opened his eyes, a sense of having survived a tribulation on his face.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked at Qin Jiang and the other two, only to see them eating their meal as if nothing had happened.
Especially Qin Jiang, who put slice after slice of meat into his mouth as if he were eating ordinary stir-fried meat.
At this moment, he finally recognized the chasm-like gap between himself and Qin Jiang.
Is Brother Qin really still a True Martial Artist?
He suddenly began to doubt if his decision to forgo the opportunity to become a Secret Martial Artist and instead diligently practice the top-tier True Martial Dragon Manifestation Tribulation for many years was truly the right one.
“Oh, you've refined it so quickly? Your Dragon Manifestation Tribulation is impressive.” Long Ye looked at Long Yuesheng with some surprise.
Long Yuesheng pouted a little awkwardly at the words. “My Third Uncle, are you complimenting me or making fun of me?”
“You all eat, I'm going to call Sixth Brother.” He said in a muffled voice, then turned and left.
A moment later, Long Yuesheng returned, followed by a well-proportioned young man with long hair that subtly shimmered with a faint azure hue.
He wore a light azure brocade robe, its hem embroidered with deep azure flame-like patterns, and on his chest was an egg-sized bronze furnace, identical to the Azure Fire Bronze Furnace that had hung in the sky above Black Mountain City that day.
Qin Jiang's eyebrows raised slightly as he watched the newcomer. He could sense that this person contained a power very similar to Long Ye's, indicating he was also a Secret Martial Artist who had cultivated the Azure Fire Bronze Furnace Skill.
However, this power was much weaker than Long Ye's, and he did not control it perfectly; the faint azure visible in his hair was a manifestation of the Azure Fire Bronze Furnace Skill's power overflowing.
“Grandfather, Third Uncle.” The newcomer cupped his hands slightly towards Long Daosheng and Long Ye, exuding the air of a refined Young Master.
“Qihan, no need for formalities. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Please sit.” Long Daosheng smiled.
He had always thought highly of this child of his second brother and intended for him to take over his third brother's Bronze Bell Sect Protector position in a few decades.
“Qihan, sit down quickly and try this tiger's penis. Your Grandfather's cooking skills have improved!” Long Ye said with a boisterous laugh.
Long Qihan nodded, and after sitting down, he secretly observed Qin Jiang beside him.
A few days ago, Third Uncle had told him that an unparalleled Prodigy was coming, and even Grandfather intended to take him as his final Disciple.
At that time, he hadn't paid much attention.
After all, becoming a Secret Martial Artist at less than thirty years old certainly made him a Prodigy of his generation.
Within the Family, among the younger generation, only his eighth sister could compare to him.
As for his Eldest Brother, because he switched to cultivating the Dragon Manifestation Tribulation, his progress was delayed. Although he would definitely catch up later, he was still a True Martial Artist for now, which ultimately put him at a disadvantage.
However, now it seemed that the young man beside him truly lived up to his reputation, as he could actually evoke a sense of threat in him, which was quite unexpected.
He feared that even his Eldest Brother's Major Achievement in the Dragon Manifestation Tribulation would not surpass this person.
“Alright, if you want to look, look openly. Being sneaky, one might think you're smitten with him!
Let me introduce you, this is the unparalleled Prodigy I told you about, named Qin Jiang. I know you're not convinced, but that's alright. How about you two have a fight later?” Long Ye said in a loud voice.
In reality, this was also Long Daosheng's intention, because no matter how elaborately he praised him, seeing it with one's own eyes was what truly mattered.
The Bronze Bell Sect was the de facto ruler of Ningan County, and Long Daosheng, as the Grand Elder of the Bronze Bell Sect, was the undisputed second-in-command of Ningan County; even the County Governor and Commander had to rank below him.
How could such a figure be casual about taking a Disciple?
Across from him, Long Qihan held his chopsticks with a bewildered expression. “When did I ever say I wasn't convinced?”
However, he did not refuse; he also wanted to see how capable this person beside him truly was.
To say he could defeat him was utterly unbelievable.
Having personally absorbed Secret Martial Force and undergone the Secret Martial Artist's transformation, he was quite clear about the immense gap between a Secret Martial Artist and a True Martial Artist.
To call it an insurmountable chasm was no exaggeration.
However, since Third Uncle praised him so highly, he probably could last more than ten moves under him.
Putting down his chopsticks, he gently stroked his chin.
Should he go easy?
If this Qin Jiang truly became Grandfather's final Disciple, they would be Family. Wouldn't it be a sin if he broke the other party's Dao Heart?
“Little Jiang, this fellow is Long Qihan, the sixth-ranked among the second generation of the Long Family. Later, you don't need to hold back; just beat him up!
This kid has been arrogant for the past few years, relying on his Secret Martial Artist cultivation. He just needs someone to teach him a lesson!” Long Ye said, looking at Qin Jiang.
Qin Jiang glanced at Long Qihan with some surprise. Arrogant? He didn't see it.
Long Qihan's hand, which was stroking his chin, stopped. He looked at Long Ye in disbelief, “Third Uncle, when have I ever been arrogant? How can you slander my good name out of nowhere?
That time when Eighth Sister and I sparred, I indeed only used sixty percent of my strength, but that can hardly be called arrogant, can it? Is there anything wrong with me, as an older brother, caring for my younger sister?”
Long Ye had an 'I knew it' expression. “See? Your younger sister told you to go all out, but you refused. Isn't that looking down on people? Don't you know how strong-willed your eighth sister is?
Alright, alright, too much nonsense, stop eating! Hurry up and fight!”
He had always been like this; facing an opponent, giving it your all was the respect due.
Long Qihan nodded helplessly. If he weren't weaker, he would definitely have a good talk with Third Uncle.
He looked at Qin Jiang, “Brother Qin, I might offend you later.”
Qin Jiang smiled and nodded, “Brother Long, please don't be so polite.”
Long Daosheng put down his chopsticks and glanced at Long Yuesheng, “You should also watch the battle. Your Dragon Manifestation Tribulation should be close to Major Achievement, right?”
Long Yuesheng nodded, “It's only a step away. At most half a year, and it will reach Major Achievement.”
“Not bad.” Long Daosheng smiled, then waved his sleeve.
Immediately, Qin Jiang felt a dizzying sensation, with strong winds whistling past his ears. When he recovered, he was already at the mountain peak.
Below his feet was a huge platform, paved with a black metal, covering an area of over three hundred square meters.
He stepped on the metal platform beneath his feet and couldn't help but feel surprised. He hadn't expected that with his current strength, he could still be moved from halfway up the mountain to the peak in an instant, utterly defenceless.
The strength of this Long Family Patriarch was definitely above Long Ye's, he just didn't know by how much.
“Alright, Little Jiang, Qihan, begin.”
Long Daosheng's voice came. He saw the other party casually sitting on a rock outside the metal platform, holding a paper bag that vaguely showed the characters 'Sun Ji Crispy Meat'.
Long Ye and Long Yuesheng stood beside him. Long Ye showed no surprise, but Long Yuesheng's forehead was somewhat darkened.
His old father's understanding of the Dao of Heaven and Earth was truly regressing.
Qin Jiang looked across. Long Qihan had already taken off his outer robe, revealing the short inner attire.
Noticing Qin Jiang's gaze, Long Qihan raised his head, cupped his hands slightly, “Brother Qin, forgive my offense.”
Qin Jiang nodded, then asked, “I still don't know what layer Brother Long's Azure Fire Bronze Furnace Skill has reached?”