Chapter Sixty-Two: Concealing One's Talents

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The dozens of people standing behind Phoenix Tung hurried to help him up. Phoenix Tung angrily pushed away their assistance, pointing at Jiang Pingchuan and laughing coldly. Tuoba Yunlong and the others, seeing Phoenix Tung’s foolish laughter, assumed Jiang Pingchuan had knocked him senseless.

“You know, no one has ever dared treat me this way since I was a child. You’re the first, and I promise you’ll be the last.”

Phoenix Tung’s hands trembled slightly, and the prowess of a peak Qi Refining cultivator suddenly surged forth. Jiang Pingchuan narrowed his eyes, surprised to realize Phoenix Tung had reached the pinnacle of Qi Refining.

Here, the pinnacle meant only the sixth layer of Qi Refining. Yet, such power was enough to wipe out the entire Tuoba clan.

“This…”

Just as Phoenix Tung revealed his strength, Jiang Pingchuan heard the voice of Old Clan Chief Tuoba Hemu. Clearly, Tuoba Hemu could sense Phoenix Tung’s cultivation as well.

Jiang Pingchuan hadn’t expected that the elder behind him was also a practitioner. In that fleeting instant, Tuoba Hemu’s aura flickered and vanished, hidden within his body so swiftly that Jiang Pingchuan had no time to gauge his true realm. That aura disappeared, leaving Jiang Pingchuan pondering many things. Yet, he paid no heed to Phoenix Tung’s provocation.

He himself possessed six Dao crystals, and having experimented on Duolun, he knew his own Dao crystals far surpassed ordinary ones. Thus, Jiang Pingchuan could easily crush Phoenix Tung with overwhelming force.

That had been his intent, but sensing Tuoba Hemu was also a practitioner, Jiang Pingchuan decided not to expose his full strength. One must know how to conceal one’s abilities, lest enemies quickly discern everything, leaving oneself with no escape.

“A mere peak Qi Refining cultivator dares to show off before Pingchuan? Are you here for comedy?”

Jiang Pingchuan raised his riding whip and smiled at Phoenix Tung. Hearing Jiang Pingchuan’s words, Phoenix Tung and his companions felt a jolt in their hearts. It wasn’t frightening that Jiang Pingchuan could see through Phoenix Tung’s strength; what was truly terrifying was his composure, even after knowing Phoenix Tung’s power.

“Young man, don’t be so arrogant,” Phoenix Tung said, trying to mask his anxiety. When Jiang Pingchuan had stood before him and struck like thunder, Phoenix Tung had been powerless to resist. He glanced at his first vanguard, Duolun—one of the outstanding youths of Cloudwater City—who had been knocked unconscious by Jiang Pingchuan in a single instant.

Phoenix Tung couldn’t fathom Jiang Pingchuan’s true strength, and Jiang Pingchuan knew it. His main concern wasn’t Phoenix Tung’s provocations but the hidden abilities of Tuoba Hemu, who had concealed his power from start to finish.

It seemed the entire Tuoba clan was unaware their old clan chief practiced cultivation—and perhaps was a formidable expert.

“I don’t need hands to beat you,” Jiang Pingchuan said, swinging his riding whip as he strode toward Phoenix Tung. Phoenix Tung saw no aura around Jiang Pingchuan and felt uncertain. He could not see through this young man, and that very inscrutability bred fear.

“Crack!”

Jiang Pingchuan snapped his whip in the air with a crisp sound that made Phoenix Tung’s ears tingle. He sensed, for the first time, he had met a true adversary.

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Since reaching the pinnacle of Qi Refining, Phoenix Tung had never fought anyone. Today’s battle with Jiang Pingchuan would serve to test his skills—yet, at this moment, he dared not strike.

“Tuoba Hemu, you’d best stop him. If I’m hurt, your entire Tuoba clan will be buried with me,” Phoenix Tung shouted toward Tuoba Hemu behind Jiang Pingchuan. Before Tuoba Hemu could respond, Phoenix Tung sneered and launched a palm strike at Jiang Pingchuan.

“Whoosh... Crack...”

“Aaargh...”

“Crack, crack, crack...”

Phoenix Tung watched his fist about to strike Jiang Pingchuan, yet somehow, a whip appeared—from nowhere, or perhaps Jiang Pingchuan had simply moved too fast for him to see. The whip lashed Phoenix Tung’s face mercilessly, making him howl. Then Jiang Pingchuan kicked him away, and before Phoenix Tung hit the ground, the whip struck him again.

Phoenix Tung lay on the ground, rolling back and forth as Jiang Pingchuan continued to lash him. The armored soldiers could only watch anxiously, not daring to intervene.

Each blow landed on Phoenix Tung’s waist. He curled up, hugging his knees, desperately channeling all his true energy to protect himself.

But to his fury, Jiang Pingchuan’s whip cut straight through his energy defenses. Now, he realized he had met his match.

“Brother Jiang, stop! Please, stop!” Tuoba Hemu hurried over, grabbing Jiang Pingchuan’s right hand. Jiang Pingchuan halted, looking at Tuoba Hemu; their eyes met.

A glint of brilliance flashed in Tuoba Hemu’s gaze. Seeing Jiang Pingchuan stop, he released his grip.

Jiang Pingchuan tossed aside the whip and approached Phoenix Tung. Before he could get close, dozens of soldiers surrounded Phoenix Tung, afraid Jiang Pingchuan might beat him again.

“Old clan chief, why did you stop Brother Jiang from teaching this scum a lesson?” The young man supporting Tuoba Yunlong glared angrily at the soldiers. Tuoba Hemu’s face darkened as he glared back; the youth lowered his head, silent. Jiang Pingchuan, meanwhile, curiously observed the hunched Tuoba Hemu.

He had just surrounded himself with true energy, yet Tuoba Hemu had casually grabbed his arm. Jiang Pingchuan suspected Tuoba Hemu might already be at the Foundation Establishment realm.

He could not understand why Tuoba Hemu hid his abilities. Were he to reveal his strength, Jiang Pingchuan believed few in the Changfeng Continent would dare provoke the Tuoba clan.

“Phoenix Tung is the son of Marquis Cloudwater. If he suffers humiliation here, Marquis Cloudwater might send troops to eradicate us Tuoba clansmen,” Tuoba Hemu sighed, walking toward Phoenix Tung. As he passed Jiang Pingchuan, Jiang Pingchuan stopped him with an outstretched arm.

“Clan Chief Tuoba, you needn’t worry. He won’t die, and I guarantee he won’t trouble you again.”

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Jiang Pingchuan stopped Tuoba Hemu, gazing into his cloudy eyes, where a deep murderous intent lurked. Jiang Pingchuan smiled, ignoring Tuoba Hemu’s mood.

“Brother Jiang, I know you possess extraordinary skills. But Phoenix Tung is Marquis Cloudwater’s son. I fear it will be difficult for you alone to withstand the marquis’s million-strong army,” Tuoba Hemu said helplessly, looking at Jiang Pingchuan. Jiang Pingchuan merely smiled in response.

“So long as Phoenix Tung is the marquis’s true son, even if Marquis Cloudwater commands ten million troops, he can do nothing to Pingchuan,” Jiang Pingchuan snorted, patting Tuoba Hemu’s shoulder. Phoenix Tung, lying amid the crowd, heard Jiang Pingchuan’s words and nearly bashed his head against the corpse of the Mount Tai bear in frustration.

“Phoenix Tung, take me to your father. I’ll spare your life,” Jiang Pingchuan called toward Phoenix Tung. Phoenix Tung’s muffled voice came from within the crowd. Soon, he emerged, his face swollen, burning with fury as he stared at Jiang Pingchuan.

He clenched his fists, teeth grinding. If he could, he would tear Jiang Pingchuan to shreds.

“No problem. I just fear you lack the courage to follow me back to Cloudwater City,” Phoenix Tung said, picking up the whip from the ground with a crooked smile. His face was so swollen from Jiang Pingchuan’s beating that speaking was painful. His waist ached terribly; every deep breath felt like suffocation.

“That’s nothing you need worry about,” Jiang Pingchuan said, approaching Phoenix Tung, snatching the whip from his hand, and mounting his horse in a single leap. Phoenix Tung, not angered, sneered and went to his own horse.

The others loaded the Mount Tai bear onto a massive cart. Phoenix Tung rode alongside Jiang Pingchuan. As Jiang Pingchuan bid farewell to Tuoba Yunlong, he noticed Tuoba Hemu silently heading toward his house. Watching the old chief’s retreating figure, Jiang Pingchuan felt there was something odd about him.

After traveling for several hours, Jiang Pingchuan and Phoenix Tung reached a mountain stream. The road wound along the mountainside, carved by human hands, with a sheer cliff on one side. Jiang Pingchuan watched as Phoenix Tung halted his horse, while he himself rode on without stopping.

“Jiang Pingchuan…”

“What is it? Do you think this is a perfect place for murder, so you can’t help but act? Or is it someone else who can’t restrain themselves?”

Jiang Pingchuan spoke from horseback, not turning his head, his voice icy and emotionless. Purple energy swirled about him, his peak Qi Refining strength manifesting.

The surrounding atmosphere instantly gathered, growing tense.