"That’s Young Master Jiang, Jiang Lang?" Yan Jian walked to the window and looked down, his eyes flashing with excitement as he murmured, "I heard Young Master Jiang reached Bone Forging Realm Perfection before he was even thirty. And he’s said to be suave and dashing, without any airs, and enjoys befriending all sorts of people in the Jianghu.

"Mr. Chen, I heard that the Celestial Dog Gang in your district grew powerful because its leader, Du Lang, got to know Young Master Jiang and earned his praise."

"I’ve heard that rumor as well," Chen Cheng replied lightly, giving a small nod.

Just then, Jiang Lang seemed to sense something and looked up toward the second floor. Seeing Chen Cheng and the others, Jiang Lang smiled and nodded in acknowledgment before turning back to eat and drink with the people at his table.

"I think Young Master Jiang was greeting us!" Yan Jian grew even more excited, feeling overwhelmingly flattered. "Everyone, how about we go down and say hello to Young Master Jiang?"

Clearly, the guy was eager to make an impression on the number one martial artist of Linji City’s younger generation.

He thought that if he could get on good terms with Jiang Lang and win his favor, the Yan Family’s rise to prominence would be just around the corner.

"You go ahead, Mr. Yan. I don’t know Young Master Jiang well, so I wouldn’t have much to say," Chen Cheng said, turning back and sitting down leisurely.

In a world where the Martial Dao reigned supreme, there was nothing wrong with currying favor with the upper echelons. But without equal strength, such connections would never earn you proper respect.

To put it bluntly, it was just brown-nosing. Even if you weren’t given the cold shoulder, it was still pointless. In the end, Martial Arts Power was the only thing that truly spoke.

"I don’t know Young Master Jiang well either," Shen Junmo said calmly, no longer looking at the main hall on the first floor.

"Everyone, we’ll go say hello to Young Master Jiang first," Yan Jian said before pulling Wu Tingting out of the private room and hurrying downstairs.

Although he had pledged allegiance to the Shen Family and sworn to be loyal to Shen Qingshuang and the family, Jiang Lang was a Direct Descendant of Linji City’s City Lord. He would likely be the next City Lord, so Yan Jian felt he absolutely had to get acquainted with him.

If he could win Jiang Lang’s favor, the Yan Family could soar to new heights and become a major family in Linji City. An opportunity like this was once in a lifetime and could not be missed.

"Young Master Chen, opportunities to meet Young Master Jiang are rare. It’s a real shame you’re not going to say hello," Shen Junmo said, giving Chen Cheng a meaningful look.

"You didn’t go either, did you, Young Master Shen?" Chen Cheng asked in return.

"Young Master Jiang is the number one martial artist of the younger generation in Linji City. His standards are extremely high. I think I’ll pass," Shen Junmo sighed, though a strange light flickered in his eyes.

’Shen Qingshuang nurtured two young, exceptionally talented martial artists for the Shen Family: Yan Jian and Chen Cheng. Yet Yan Jian, despite being cultivated by the Shen Family, is rushing to get acquainted with a Direct Descendant of the Jiang Family. His behavior is a huge disappointment. As for Chen Cheng, he seems much more resolute, which is truly impressive.’

Sha Yu had the attendant who came with her go down to change the dishes, while she herself stayed behind.

"Chief Chen, do you know who it was that slew the Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon in Qinghe County?"

During the recent flood, a Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon appeared in Qinghe County, causing quite a stir. Chen Cheng had naturally heard many rumors about it.

This Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon emerged and brought disaster to several thousand people, alarming the Linji Prefecture’s Demon Suppression Department. The Lord Director of the Demon Suppression Department personally went to handle the matter.

’Now that the Ink Flood Dragon has been slain, and its meat is even being sold in Linji City, that Lord Director must have been the one to do it.’

"It was probably a high-ranking official from the Demon Suppression Department," Chen Cheng replied.

Sha Yu shook her head. "The Lord Director of the Demon Suppression Department did indeed fight the Ink Flood Dragon. However, the Ink Flood Dragon was incredibly powerful. The Lord Director failed to kill it and was actually seriously injured in the fight.

"In the end, it was Mr. Zheng Hun of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall who stepped in and slew the Ink Flood Dragon.

"During this flood, my father was fortunate enough to accompany Mr. Zheng out of the city to hunt Demon Beasts and witnessed him slay the Ink Flood Dragon with his own eyes."

The Lord Director of the Demon Suppression Department is a Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artist, possessing immense power, and is considered one of the top Martial Dao experts in Linji City.

Sha Yu’s expression turned solemn as she continued, "Although Mr. Zheng is only a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist, he has grasped a ’Realm.’ His power is immense. He killed the Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon in a single move.

"If he hadn’t arrived in time, I’m afraid that Ink Flood Dragon would have harmed countless more people.

"Two major events happened during this flood. The first was Mr. Zheng single-handedly slaying the Tier Four Demon Beast, the Ink Flood Dragon. The second was Young Master Jiang slaying the Tier Three Demon Beast, the Purple-eyed Frenzied Tiger.

"News of these events has already spread throughout the Jianghu."

Everyone was visibly moved upon hearing this.

Sha Yu looked at Chen Cheng, her admiration for him unconcealed. "I heard that Young Master Chen is a disciple of Mr. Zheng and has also entered the Double Courtyard to practice Horizontal Cultivation Techniques. You will surely receive Mr. Zheng’s true inheritance in the future. Your potential is limitless."

"You’re too kind, Miss Sha," Chen Cheng said with a smile, his understanding of his master, Mr. Zheng, reaching a new level.

’The Lord Director of the Demon Suppression Department, a Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artist, was injured fighting the Tier Four Ink Flood Dragon. Yet my master, Mr. Zheng, with only the strength of a Perfect Martial Artist of the Bone Forger Realm, slew the Ink Flood Dragon in a single blow. It just goes to show how extraordinary a martial artist who has grasped a ’Realm’ truly is.’

Next, Sha Yu recounted in detail the story she had heard about Mr. Zheng slaying the Tier Four Demon Beast, the Ink Flood Dragon, before taking her leave.

Chen Cheng could tell from her words that Sha Yu held extreme reverence for Mr. Zheng.

After Sha Yu left, Shen Junmo gazed thoughtfully at where Jiang Lang was in the main hall on the first floor.

Chen Cheng’s gaze followed, also landing on Jiang Lang. The man had sharp, sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, exuding an extraordinary aura.

At the same table, Ji Jingbei’s face was plastered with a fawning smile. Just like the three chief constables with him, he was completely subservient to Jiang Lang.