The Strongest Dandy in the City Chapter 2226: 2215: Not Worthy?

~5 minute read · 1,247 words
Previously on The Strongest Dandy in the City...
Ye Chenfeng discovered a massive impure deep blue Energy Crystal Stone beneath the collapsed cave in Death’s Darkness, perfectly sized for the Ghost Ship's energy slot but requiring careful purification to avoid destruction. Unable to activate it immediately, he excavated the crystal safely and discussed with Old Bai and Old Hei how to extract Old Ghost from the realm without disintegration. Old Bai proposed housing Old Ghost in the Coffin of Death, which Old Ghost eagerly accepted, leading them to move the Ghost Ship toward the exit as Ye Chenfeng headed out temporarily to retrieve the coffin.

Next morning.

Warm rays of sunlight bathed the earth.

Ye Chenfeng stepped out from Death’s Darkness, with the jet-black Coffin of Death positioned right in front of him.

The old ghost lay comfortably within the Coffin of Death already.

Last night, once Ye Chenfeng exited Death’s Darkness, he promptly retrieved the Coffin of Death. He then returned to Death’s Darkness, unsealing the Coffin of Death first. Even though Ye Chenfeng had refined the Coffin of Death beforehand, the coffin's death aura still caused his blood to churn violently, since this sinister Immortal Artifact harmed foes by a thousand while injuring its user by eight hundred.

Once settled inside the Coffin of Death, the old ghost discovered the interior environment ideal. His body's death aura gathered at an accelerated pace, rendering the Coffin of Death a flawless match for a spectral entity like him.

Seeing how well the old ghost had adjusted to the Coffin of Death, Ye Chenfeng resealed it after last night's sealing. The resealing posed no issue whatsoever for the old ghost contained within.

At this moment.

With the Coffin of Death fully refined, Ye Chenfeng perceived every activity inside it clearly. Now out of Death’s Darkness, the old ghost inside experienced no distress, letting Ye Chenfeng, Old Bai, and Old Hei breathe easy at last.

Ye Chenfeng swung his arm.

The Coffin of Death vanished back into the Chaos Ring. The Ghost Ship, meanwhile, had been expelled from Death’s Darkness before and also stored away in the Chaos Ring by Ye Chenfeng.

Having exhausted all explorations in Death’s Darkness, Ye Chenfeng now hurried toward the territory of the Nine Nether Ice Lion King’s lineage. After linking up with Bai Xiaorou, he needed to race back without delay, his thoughts lingering on the folks in the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin.

The Nine Nether Ice Lion King’s lineage domain lay in the identical direction as this minor secret realm. Ye Chenfeng produced the jade token bestowed by Zhao Shenghong, the Lion King Lineage ancestor. Confirming the spot, his form shot forward swiftly.

Two days later.

After journeying nonstop for two full days and nights, Ye Chenfeng reached a sprawling mountain range. Guided by the jade token's coordinates, a half-day search brought him to an enormous lake.

Here marked the gateway to the Nine Nether Ice Lion King Lineage’s abode, with the jade token serving as the entry key.

Ye Chenfeng channeled spiritual energy into the jade token without hesitation.

The token's luminescence intensified, stirring faint ripples across the lake's surface.

Abruptly, the jade token flew from Ye Chenfeng’s grasp, hovering over the lake, unleashing a sheet of white radiance.

This white light bathed the lake, causing the waters to spiral into a gigantic vortex, revealing a boundless white void within — evidently the portal to the Nine Nether Ice Lion King’s lineage domain.

Ye Chenfeng plunged straight into the whiteness. Upon entry, the hovering jade token dropped into the void too, as the whirlpool swiftly vanished.

Ye Chenfeng’s sight cleared, placing him on an expansive snowy field, jade token returned to his grip. Gazing skyward, he saw endless blue; no trace of the lake remained. The landscape extended boundlessly, signaling a self-contained small world.

The chill was intense, perfectly suited for the Nine Nether Ice Lions’ enduring habitation.

The deep snow layer proved remarkably plush. With a crisp crunch, Ye Chenfeng’s calves plunged into it on his first step.

The instant Ye Chenfeng entered this isolated small world.

Inside a grand palace in this small world.

A middle-aged man and two elders occupied seats with composure. An ethereal projection hovered ahead, depicting Ye Chenfeng’s fresh arrival in the small world.

Of the two elders, one was Zhao Shenghong, the other Zhao Jinpeng, another Nine Nether Ice Lions ancestor boasting late-stage Divine King Realm power.

The stern middle-aged man, whose gaze relentlessly probed Ye Chenfeng’s image, was Zhao Wenyu — current Lion King Lineage clan leader and Bai Xiaorou’s father — wielding initial-stage Divine King Realm strength.

Since the Ancient Era’s outset, all Nine Nether Ice Lions bore the Zhao surname, legend holding that the Lion King Lineage earned Dragon Clan favor early on, with their progenitor surname granted by the Dragon Clan’s inaugural leader.

Zhao Shenghong declared, “He’s the youth I spoke of. Though merely at the peak of sixth-level Divinity Transformation Realm, his prospects loom immense.”

Zhao Jinpeng scowled, “Appearances deceive. This brat merely leveraged outside forces to slay a Divine King Realm powerhouse. That’s no true power, no basis for gauging future heights. His sixth-level Divinity Transformation Realm peak strength is pathetically feeble; he’s unworthy of our Lion King Lineage princess.”

Zhao Wenyu wove seals mid-air nonstop, warping the image before him and projecting Ye Chenfeng’s aura outward — a masterful aura conveyance technique.

Sensing Ye Chenfeng’s aura, the trio recoiled in mild shock.

Moments later, Zhao Jinpeng burst out, “Zhao Shenghong, are you sightless? Peak sixth-level Divinity Transformation Realm aura? This screams peak second-level Heavenly God Realm!”

Zhao Shenghong reacted with utmost astonishment, as the sole one there who’d encountered Ye Chenfeng face-to-face. He recalled Ye Chenfeng’s authentic power vividly. He countered, “Zhao Jinpeng, old I may be, blind I’m not! I distinguish Divinity Transformation from Heavenly God auras readily. Back in Spirit Artifact City, the kid truly hovered at sixth-level Divinity Transformation peak.”

Zhao Shenghong gulped twice, adding, “Only explanation: he skyrocketed from sixth-level Divinity Transformation peak straight to second-level Heavenly God peak in mere days.”

How brief since Spirit Artifact City’s South Square incident? Even voicing it, Zhao Shenghong struggled to credit such meteoric ascent. Not even Ancient Era’s prodigy titans matched this pace.

Zhao Jinpeng’s face regained poise, retorting, “Per your account, such freakish surge in so little time only solidifies his mismatch for our Lion King Lineage princess. He resorted to shady tactics; this boost is hollow. His battle prowess likely lags behind seventh-level Earth God Realm, and worst, he risks stagnation forever at second-level Heavenly God peak.”

Zhao Shenghong lapsed into muteness, rebuttal failing him. Spirit Artifact City’s South Square guilt weighed heavy, leaving him indebted to Ye Chenfeng, yet Zhao Jinpeng’s logic held water. Such breakneck gains sans dubious paths defied reason, often capping future ceilings.

Zhao Wenyu interjected, “Let’s watch discreetly for now, honored elders. Some youngsters will surely test this lad’s mettle. Should he prove unfit as my son-in-law, we’ll intervene to send him packing. After all, he ferried my daughter to the Tian Xuan Realm; ungratefulness ill suits us.”

Zhao Jinpeng dipped his head faintly, Zhao Shenghong wavering unspoken.

Among Nine Nether Ice Lions, not all share blood ties, positioning the Lion King Lineage princess as prime match for non-kin. Wed her, and one might claim next clan leadership.

Bai Xiaorou’s saga rang familiar across the Nine Nether Ice Lions, with sentinels ever-watchful at the entrance. Beyond Zhao Wenyu’s group, droves likely detected Ye Chenfeng’s advent already.

…(To be continued. If you enjoy the work, please visit qidian.com to vote with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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