It couldn't be helped. After all, their identities were nothing to scoff at. One was the current Commander of the Provincial Military Region of Jiangnan Province, and the other was the current Minister of the Provincial Organization Department. Both held high positions and wielded great power. Moreover, they were at least in their fifties or sixties, aged and white-haired, so it was indeed inappropriate and awkward for them to greet Chen Fei as peers.

"Hello to you both."

Chen Fei immediately extended his hand to shake theirs. Then, his gaze subtly shifted, landing on the old man standing behind Elder Xiao Zhenguo.

In fact, his attention had been on that man from the moment he stepped into the private room.

An Innate Ancient Martial Artist? Interesting...

Just as Chen Fei's gaze fell upon the old man in the ram-horned hat, the latter's murky eyes flashed with a sharp light. His face twitched, his fingers quivered slightly, and as he blinked, a faint sense of awe and shock escaped him.

He really is an Innate Ancient Martial Artist...

"Truly, a hero emerges from the youth. It's an honor to meet you. My surname is Quan, and my given name is Lan. However, I haven't used this surname in decades, so if you don't mind, Young Brother Chen, you can just call me Old Man Lan," the old man said in a raspy voice as he stepped out from behind Elder Xiao Zhenguo. He walked toward Chen Fei with his hand extended.

This scene made Elder Xiao Zhenguo, Xiao Pengcheng, and Xiao Lingshan all tremble, their eyes flashing with unconcealed shock.

"Elder Lan, you're too kind. I am merely a junior and still have much to learn from elders such as yourself," Chen Fei responded politely.

"Your words truly embarrass me."

The old man, Elder Lan, sighed with emotion, and then an intimidating aura suddenly emanated from his body. His eyes narrowed, becoming as keen as a hawk's. He fixed his gaze on Chen Fei and said slowly, "However, Young Brother Chen, would you grant me a request? Shall we have a friendly spar?"

"Alan," Elder Xiao Zhenguo said, frowning slightly. He couldn't understand why his old servant was suddenly acting this way.

"Since Elder Lan has asked, of course, I won't spoil your fun. But, right here?" Chen Fei, on the other hand, seemed to understand. His eyes also narrowed slightly as he glanced around the private room's decor with a faint smile.

"It's no matter. Just a casual spar. We can hold back and be ready to stop at any moment," Elder Lan replied with a light smile.

"Very well. As you wish. Please, Elder Lan, I await your instruction," Chen Fei said. As he spoke, his entire demeanor changed, rising like a soaring sword capable of splitting mountains and sundering the earth.

"This..."

Witnessing this and feeling the terrifying aura erupt from Chen Fei's young body, Xiao Pengcheng and Xiao Lingshan couldn't help but be stunned. Only Elder Xiao Zhenguo remained somewhat composed. The brothers' hands trembled on the arms of their chairs, their expressions incredulous.

Could it be? Is this kid also an Innate Ancient Martial Artist, just like Uncle Lan!?

While their minds reeled with unimaginable shock, the old man in the ram-horned hat, Uncle Lan, had already made his move. He formed his hands into eagle claws, his fingers bent and tensed. A formidable power seemed to surge into them, creating visible ripples in the air. With the force to pierce gold and shatter stone, he thrust his claw toward Chen Fei.

It was clear the old man was an expert in external martial arts. All his skill was concentrated in his hands and claws, hidden deep within his bones rather than displayed outwardly, yet it was terrifying to the extreme.

CLANG!

The sound of metal striking metal echoed in their ears. The next thing they saw was the old man in the ram-horned hat stumbling back three steps. He stared at the right fist Chen Fei had thrown, slightly astonished. "Xingyi Fist?"

"Precisely. Elder Lan has a sharp eye," Chen Fei said, nodding. He hadn't expected his opponent to see through his style after a single exchange.

"In that case, let's have a proper bout," Elder Lan said, assuming a stance. A feral aura began to emanate from him, and his cloudy eyes turned sharp and piercing, like an eagle dominating the skies. With a twist of his body, he lunged at Chen Fei again with his claw, his attack filled with domineering power.

"Well struck!"

Chen Fei couldn't help but let out a hearty shout. His entire body coiled like a spring, and in an instant, the ferocious aura of a tiger, the king of beasts, exploded forth. He drove his fist forward to meet the incoming claw. The powerful collision produced a sharp, ringing clang that left Elder Xiao Zhenguo and the others watching in stunned silence, their mouths dry.

This kind of visceral, punch-for-punch combat was a rare sight, let alone a duel between two fighters at the Innate Level, which was exceptionally uncommon.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Fortunately, the Yunhai Hall on the seventh floor of the Caesar Grand Hotel was spacious. Furthermore, both Chen Fei and Elder Lan were deliberately holding back, confining their battle to a very small area. The sounds of fist meeting claw struck the eardrums like war drums, making one's blood surge in a deafening rhythm.

"Try this! 'Eagle Tear'!" Elder Lan roared. His claw transformed, slashing through the air like an eagle's talons. In an instant, his hand shot toward Chen Fei's head in a merciless attack.

Seeing this, Xiao Pengcheng and Xiao Lingshan were dumbstruck by the legendary power of an Innate Expert, despite having been mentally prepared. This was the first time they had ever seen Uncle Lan in action, and his speed was simply too fast for their eyes to follow, leaving them dizzy and overwhelmed.

"Xingyi Fist Tiger Form, 'Tiger Roar'!"

Suddenly, a sound like a phantom roar from the king of beasts vibrated through the room, threatening to shatter their eardrums. Chen Fei crouched low, with both hands and feet on the ground in a pouncing stance. Then, with a sudden twist of his waist, he shot up and threw a devastating punch.

It was like a mighty tiger raising its paw to smash down on its prey.

BANG!

A muffled thud was followed by a sickening tearing sound that set one's teeth on edge as Chen Fei's fist connected with Elder Lan's claw. The old man was thrown backward as if struck by a heavy blow, spitting a mouthful of blood in mid-air. The sight made Elder Xiao Zhenguo and the others turn pale.

The old man in the ram-horned hat stumbled back a full seven steps before finally steadying himself, his limbs trembling slightly. He hung his head in silence for a long moment before slowly looking up at Chen Fei's youthful face. "As the saying goes, 'heroes emerge from the youth, and a new generation surpasses the old.' Young Brother Chen, with such prowess, I, Quann Lan, am thoroughly convinced."

He had initially thought that even if Chen Fei was at the Innate Ancient Martial Arts Realm, he would be a newcomer, a novice whom he could easily suppress and guide.

But now? After their spar, he was forced to admit that Chen Fei's strength not only surpassed his imagination, but it seemed he himself was no match for the young man. The mouthful of blood he had just spat was the best evidence.

The old sayings were indeed true: "Heroes emerge from the youth," and "a new generation surpasses the old." He had no choice but to accept it.

"Senior has let me win."

Chen Fei smiled, his eyes narrowed. He casually retracted his fist and flexed his fingers, secretly wincing in pain.

His opponent was an Innate Ancient Martial Artist, after all. Even if he was only in the initial stage, he was by no means weak. In such a violent clash, even Chen Fei couldn't escape completely unscathed. His hand was throbbing with excruciating pain.

Still, to think I have this much power just by channeling spiritual energy into my Xingyi Fist techniques, without even using my Sword Qi of Sanyang True Fire... That's rather unexpected. he murmured to himself.

He had already condensed the third path of his Sword Qi of Sanyang True Fire, which put his strength roughly at the entry-level of the Mid Innate Ancient Martial Artist realm.

The fact that he could achieve such a result without using that trump card, powered only by the spiritual energy in his body, was a genuine and pleasant surprise.

After all, this meant he could be more reserved and expose fewer of his trump cards. What was not to like about that?

"Come, come, sit down! Younger Brother Chen, you've truly opened this old man's eyes tonight. We must have a few drinks to celebrate later," Elder Xiao Zhenguo suddenly said with a hearty laugh.

Then, his tone shifted, and an apologetic look appeared on his aged face. "Also, about that previous matter... Rest assured, Younger Brother Chen. I know that Nan Shan and the others were in the wrong. They abused their authority and meddled where they shouldn't have. I have nothing more to say on the matter. Let's allow things to proceed according to the proper channels."

This was clearly not what Elder Xiao Zhenguo had originally intended to say. But now, after the duel between his old servant Alan and Chen Fei, his previous plans were completely irrelevant. At this moment, only one thought occupied his mind.

He had to avoid making an enemy of this 'monster,' Chen Fei, at all costs!

Yes, the boy was an absolute monster. His old servant, Alan, had entered the Innate Ancient Martial Arts Realm over twenty years ago—he had been at that level for longer than Chen Fei had been alive. And what was the result?

The result was that his old servant, the Xiao Family's own Sea-Calming Divine Needle, had lost. Although it was just a spar, the implications were undeniable.

"Thank you, Elder Xiao, for your considera—" Chen Fei started, only to be interrupted when his phone, tucked in his pocket, suddenly began to vibrate and blare a noisy ringtone.

He instinctively pulled it out and saw the caller ID was—Guan Shiyin. His eyebrows shot up. "Elder Xiao, Elder Lan, my apologies. I need to take this call," he said, pressing the answer button.

"Brother Fei, where are you? Shi Yin is in trouble!" a familiar, panicked voice shouted through the speaker. Chen Fei's eyes narrowed instantly.

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