"Hmph!"

Seeing Lan Sha charge at him, Shen Haoran snorted coldly. His right arm instantly swelled, revealing the Qilin Arm, which was covered in crimson patterns. Searing hot mist rose from the massive limb, a sight that seared the onlookers’ eyes!

"What is that?"

"A monster! That’s not a human arm at all!" The members of the Han and Lan Families were scared speechless.

When Lan Sha saw the Qilin Arm, his eye twitched. His gaze turned cold as he said, "Heretical arts!" At that, the gale force from his fist intensified!

"Heaven-Breaking Kill!"

Shen Haoran roared, his own fist shooting out to meet Lan Sha’s massive one.

As Shen Haoran’s strength was revealed, the crowd cried out in alarm. "A Tier One Spirit Marquis! He’s only a Tier One Spirit Marquis, yet he dares to clash head-on with Lan Sha? Lan Sha is a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse!"

"Hmph, you’re dead meat, kid!" Lan Yansheng muttered, touching his still-swollen cheek with a savage expression.

"BOOM!"

The next moment, Shen Haoran’s fist collided violently with Lan Sha’s. A visible shockwave of Powerful Qi erupted outward, forcing the surrounding crowd back several steps!

Shen Haoran’s and Lan Sha’s expressions changed dramatically. Both felt a terrifying force surge through them, and their entire arms instantly went numb!

Lan Sha was even more astounded. ’Shen Haoran is only a Tier One Spirit Marquis! Even if he used a Martial Skill, he shouldn’t possess such terrifying strength. This power has already surpassed what a Spirit Marquis should have; it’s even stronger than an average Spirit Aspect Powerhouse. What kind of monster is this kid!’

Shen Haoran was also shocked. ’My body has been tempered multiple times, but even with the Qilin Arm and Heaven-Breaking Kill, I could only barely block Lan Sha’s attack. It seems I’m still no match for a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse!’

"BANG!"

With a muffled bang, a secondary pulse of energy exploded from their fists, blasting them apart. Shen Haoran was forced back, each step he took leaving a deep footprint in the ground!

Lan Sha was also sent stumbling back, not stopping until he was in the midst of the Lan Family crowd.

"They’re evenly matched!" The two were actually evenly matched in that exchange! The crowd couldn’t help but stare at Shen Haoran. A Tier One Spirit Marquis had actually fought Lan Sha, a warrior with the strength of a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse, to a standstill!

"Damn it!" Hearing the crowd’s chatter, Lan Sha’s face flushed crimson. He had been forced back by a mere Spirit Marquis. If word of this got out, how could he ever show his face in Desert City again?!

At that, killing intent flared in Lan Sha’s heart. He unleashed his full power in a sudden burst, causing the onlookers to gasp in awe.

Seeing Lan Sha unleash his full aura, Shen Haoran’s gaze hardened. He clenched his fists as the Spiritual Power in his body began to churn. If Lan Sha was truly intent on killing him, Shen Haoran wouldn’t mind going all out to cut him down right here and now!

"Wait!"

Just as tensions reached a breaking point, Han Xu stepped forward.

"Manager Lan, you’re a man of status in Desert City. If word got out that you’re attacking a junior, I’m afraid your reputation would suffer!" Han Xu said calmly, looking at the murderous Lan Sha.

"Hmph! This kid injured my Lan Family’s Young Master and an Elder. I must make him pay the price. Otherwise, everyone will think our Lan Family is easy to bully!" Lan Sha snorted.

"The junior gets beaten, so the senior comes out for revenge. Is that all the Lan Family is capable of?" Shen Haoran retorted with contempt.

"Kid, I’m going to cut out your tongue and pull out every last one of your teeth! We’ll see how tough you talk then!" Lan Sha snarled, his face dark.

"Manager Lan, Brother Shen has a point. If a senior has to come out for revenge after a junior is beaten, people might think your Lan Family truly has no worthy successors," Han Xu added calmly, glancing at Lan Sha.

"Who says the Lan Family has no worthy successors!" Lan Sha’s face went cold, and he roared.

"Then let the younger generation of your Lan Family handle this. You can arrange a time and place, and Brother Shen will be there. If Brother Shen loses, he’ll be at your mercy. If he wins, the matter is dropped. How does that sound?" Han Xu proposed with a smile.

"Hah. In the entire Lan Family, who could possibly be my opponent?" Shen Haoran said dismissively, glancing at Lan Yansheng.

Seeing Shen Haoran’s blatant arrogance, the faces of the Lan Family members burned with fury. He was openly mocking them for having no worthy successors!

"I will fight on behalf of the Lan Family!"

Just as the Lan Family members were about to erupt in a unified condemnation of Shen Haoran, a voice like silver bells rang out from their midst.

The Lan Family members parted to form a path, and a young woman dressed in red martial attire emerged from the crowd.

The young woman appeared to be around Shen Haoran’s age. Her long, silky black hair was tied back tightly, and her delicate features were captivating. The red martial attire perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. Though she looked to be only seventeen or eighteen, her beauty was in no way inferior to that of a mature woman. Her appearance made the hearts of the onlookers flutter, and Lan Yansheng’s eyes, in particular, filled with avarice.

Seeing the young woman emerge, Lan Sha immediately retracted his imposing aura. He cupped his fist and said, "Miss Murong, why have you come out?"

The crowd was amazed to see Lan Sha being so respectful to this beautiful young woman, and their curiosity about her identity grew. Who in the world was she, to command such reverence from Lan Sha, the Grand Steward of the Lan Family!

"This kid injured my Alchemist, which means I’m now stuck in this Desert City for much longer. Naturally, I have to come out and teach him a lesson," the young woman said coolly, her vermilion lips parting slightly.

"But... we couldn’t possibly trouble you, Miss Murong. If anything were to happen to you, and the Imperial Capital Murong Family were to hold us responsible, we could never bear the consequences!" Lan Sha said cautiously, cupping his fist.

"What? The Imperial Capital Murong Family! She’s actually from the Murong Family!"

"Holy crap! The Imperial Capital Murong Family! That’s a truly powerful and prestigious clan. I can’t believe she’s from the Imperial Capital Murong Family! The Lan Family has really hit the jackpot this time, latching onto such a powerful connection!"

"That explains it! With an aura like hers, she had to be from a major clan. I just never imagined it would be the Murong Family!"

After hearing what Lan Sha said, the crowd burst into discussion, their gazes toward the young woman now filled with reverence.

When Shen Haoran heard the name ’Murong Family,’ his heart skipped a beat. ’My own mother is imprisoned in the Murong Family household right now,’ he thought. ’I can’t believe I’ve run into a disciple from the Murong Clan here!’

Shen Haoran shot the young woman a cold glance as killing intent rose in his heart.

"You’re from the Murong Family?" Shen Haoran asked in a cold voice.

"That’s right. I am a disciple of the Imperial Capital Murong Family, Murong Wanqing!"