For scions of Noble Families like Shangguan Lie, besides cultivation, the places they frequented most were establishments of pleasure. As the largest song and dance house in Lieyang City, Lianyu Tower was naturally a common haunt for Shangguan Lie and his ilk.

With the summit of the Three Great Noble Families drawing near, Shangguan Lie had brought Ouyang Hua and the others here. He hadn’t expected to run into Qin Ya. An idea sparked in his mind, and he walked over. A gentle smile played on his lips as he said, "Brother Qin, long time no see. I trust you’ve been well."

Qin Ya slowly set down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over him with indifference.

’He still remembered the intense killing intent Shangguan Lie had directed at him during the Four Seas Auction—a murderous aura so strong it was as if he wanted to slice him into a thousand pieces. Yet now, Shangguan Lie’s attitude was that of someone greeting a long-lost friend. Something is definitely amiss.’

"Third Young Master Shangguan, what do you want?"

Qin Ya asked indifferently, his tone devoid of any fluctuation.

At this, a young man beside Shangguan Lie frowned, took a step forward, and fixed his eyes on Qin Ya. He spoke coldly, "So, you’re Qin Ya!"

"And who are you?"

"Hmph. I am Ouyang Hua of the Ouyang Family!"

The young man held his head high, his chin slightly raised. The arrogance in his eyes was not the least bit affected; it was completely natural, as if he were born to be above others—even if the person before him was an Extraordinary Martial Artist.

"Hm." Qin Ya nodded, his attitude utterly placid. His expression didn’t change in the slightest, as if he had just heard a common Martial Artist introduce himself, not someone from the Ouyang Family, which was renowned throughout hundreds of cities and ranked among the Three Great Noble Families.

"Haha, Brother Ouyang, it seems your Ouyang Family name isn’t very effective," the others remarked, exchanging glances and smiles as they began to tease Ouyang Hua.

Ouyang Hua’s face darkened, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes. He glared at Qin Ya and said coldly, "I, Ouyang Hua, have taken a liking to this seat of yours. Get up, now."

"Yes, yes." Zhangg Fei immediately nodded and whispered to Qin Ya, "These are scions of the Three Great Noble Families. Brother Qin, we should probably avoid them."

Qin Ya smiled. "Brother Zhangg, why don’t you step aside for now."

Zhangg Fei was merely a disciple from a minor family, and Qin Ya had no intention of dragging him into this. Zhangg Fei had wanted to persuade Qin Ya further, but after seeing his smile, he found himself unable to speak. He could only retreat obediently to the side.

’It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help Qin Ya; he understood that his own strength was negligible. Staying there wouldn’t help at all and might even become a burden to Qin Ya.’

Qin Ya returned several Silver Orders to his Storage Ring, picked up the wine pot, and poured himself a cup. "Leave now, while I’m not yet in the mood to get angry."

"Do you have any idea who we are?!" Ouyang Hua said coldly.

"It makes no difference who you are," Qin Ya replied indifferently.

"Oh, just as arrogant and conceited as the rumors say."

The conflict between them gradually drew a crowd of onlookers.

"Tsk, tsk, those are scions of the Three Great Noble Families."

"Because of the upcoming summit, many outstanding disciples of the Three Great Noble Families have gathered in Lieyang City. And Qin Ya just had to start a conflict with them."

"Isn’t this Qin Ya a bit too arrogant? It wasn’t enough to provoke the Shangguan Family, now he wants to provoke the other two Great Noble Families as well?"

"Looks like we’re in for a good show now."

...............

At this moment, a young man dressed in fine robes with a jade pendant hanging from his waist sat down opposite Qin Ya. He smiled and said, "I am Mu Long of the Mu Family. It’s a pleasure to—"

"Who gave you permission to sit?"

Before Mu Long could finish speaking, he was cut off by Qin Ya’s cold voice. His handsome face instantly turned the color of pig’s liver, his smile vanishing completely. He gritted his teeth and snarled at Qin Ya, "Do you really think the Three Great Noble Families are easy to bully?"

"Get up. Leave."

Qin Ya spoke coldly, his tone now laced with impatience.

"Hmph. You don’t know what’s good for you."

Mu Long’s face fell. He clenched his fist, blue veins popping on his arm like dormant flood dragons. Then, he threw a punch straight at Qin Ya’s face. Wisps of Qi Force swirled around his fist, creating whistling sonic booms as it flew. The power was immense.

The sudden attack was impossible to defend against. Mu Long was confident that even an Extraordinary Martial Artist would be unable to react in time.

"SCRAM!!"

The single word boomed like rolling thunder, reverberating in everyone’s mind. Mu Long, who had thrown the punch, let out a bloodcurdling scream as an invisible force blasted him more than a hundred feet away. His right hand was twisted at a bizarre angle.

"I have broken your arm as a warning!"

Qin Ya’s voice rang out slowly, carrying a bone-chilling coldness that swept over the others like a winter wind, making them shiver.

"You actually dared to harm a member of the Three Great Noble Families."

"Don’t you know that within the hundred cities, our Three Great Noble Families call the shots?"

"Bastard! You don’t know your own limits!"

The young men Shangguan Lie had brought with him pointed at Qin Ya and hurled curses at him. Shangguan Lie, however, simply watched Qin Ya, who had now incurred the wrath of all, and a cold smirk touched his lips.

"A few annoying flies." Qin Ya’s brow furrowed slightly. Boundless Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi gathered, forming a giant, invisible hand that suddenly shot toward the young men.

The highest cultivation among these men was merely Celestial Essence Realm Perfection. How could they possibly be a match for a true Extraordinary Martial Artist like Qin Ya? Caught in the grasp of the invisible hand, they shrieked in terror, their faces filled with horror.

"Damn it, let us go!"

"Aren’t you afraid of retaliation from our Three Great Noble Families?"

Perhaps because these men were so used to throwing their weight around, they still didn’t beg for mercy. Even in this situation, they tried to maintain their dignity, ordering Qin Ya about.

Qin Ya couldn’t be bothered to waste another word on them. With a casual wave of his hand, he tossed them all out of Lianyu Tower. THUD, THUD. They landed in a heap on the street, their clothes covered in dust, their hair disheveled—a truly pathetic sight.

"I’m definitely reporting this to the Elders today!"

"That’s right! This Qin Ya is far too arrogant. If we don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll never learn how powerful our Three Great Noble Families are!"

Inside Lianyu Tower, Shangguan Lie remained where he stood, somewhat bewildered. Whether it was intentional or not, Qin Ya had thrown everyone else out but had left him behind.

"Brother Qin, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave now."

Although Shangguan Lie was unwilling to admit it, he knew he was no match for Qin Ya. He could play dirty tricks from the shadows, but he didn’t dare face Qin Ya alone.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, an immense pressure instantly enveloped him, making it incredibly difficult to move even half a step.

"Brother... Brother Qin... what... what are you planning to do?"

Shangguan Lie’s voice trembled, and a creeping fear began to spread through his heart. His lips went dry, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Qin Ya didn’t answer him. He just sat there quietly, enjoying the song and dance, sipping his wine with a calm expression. From beginning to end, he didn’t spare him a single glance.

But the more Qin Ya acted this way, the more terrified Shangguan Lie became.

’He wanted to leave, but Qin Ya clearly didn’t want him to.’

’He wanted to ask what Qin Ya was going to do, but the man simply ignored him.’

Meanwhile, the pressure weighing on him grew heavier and heavier. His legs began to tremble. Out of sheer terror, the cold sweat poured down his body until his clothes were completely soaked, making him look as if he’d just been fished out of the water.