The Strongest Dandy in the City Chapter 2309 - 2298: Choosing Bait

A collective gasp escaped Cao Yunwei and Cao Xiaodong, their faces turning rigid.

A stunned silence fell over everyone else in attendance.

The unfolding spectacle was so utterly unforeseen that acceptance eluded them for a crucial moment.

When Ding Zhenhu had initially launched his assault on Ye Chenfeng, the prevailing expectation was Ye Chenfeng's demise at Ding Zhenhu's hands.

Yet, in a twist no one could have predicted, Ding Zhenhu inexplicably faltered, his neck colliding forcefully with Ye Chenfeng's sword. The end came swiftly and absurdly, his life extinguished by Ye Chenfeng's Qingyun Sword, piercing his throat.

At first, the onlookers dismissed the event as a mere accident. After all, Ye Chenfeng displayed no discernible aura, and although his bones had mended, his meridians remained unhealed. Furthermore, his tender age of thirty suggested limited potential, even if he had regained his former strength. Such a level would likely not surpass the Nirvana Realm.

Consequently, when Ding Zhenhu's elder brother, Ding Zhenlong, arrived and immediately retaliated against Ye Chenfeng, the crowd felt confident that Ye Chenfeng's luck had run out.

The formidable Ding Zhenlong, unleashing the full might of the Peak of the Fifth Heaven Nirvana Realm, seemed poised to crush Ye Chenfeng's skull. The scene suggested Ye Chenfeng was, indeed, facing his final moments.

But then, another astonishing turn of events transpired.

With what appeared to be effortless grace, Ye Chenfeng deflected Ding Zhenlong's ferocious strike. Then, blow after punishing blow, Ye Chenfeng reduced Ding Zhenlong's physique to ruin. The once-mighty Ding Zhenlong, a powerhouse at the Fifth Heaven Nirvana Realm Peak, found himself utterly powerless against Ye Chenfeng.

How could this be? Throughout the entire ordeal, Ye Chenfeng had projected no discernible power.

By what means had Ye Chenfeng managed to dispatch Ding Zhenlong using only his bare hands?

The assembled company, far from foolish, quickly deduced that Ding Zhenhu's demise was no random occurrence either.

It became undeniably clear that Ye Chenfeng had orchestrated Ding Zhenhu's fall, and it was far from a simple slip.

The Ding brothers, titans of the junkyard who had commanded unchallenged authority, both now lay dead at Ye Chenfeng's hands. A cold dread washed over the spectators.

It was presumed that Ye Chenfeng had employed sheer physical prowess to defeat Ding Zhenlong.

This raised a critical question: what caliber of might would Ye Chenfeng possess once his meridians fully recovered?

As silent speculation rippled through the crowd, Cao Yunwei and Cao Xiaodong finally snapped out of their stupor, their gazes fixed upon Ye Chenfeng as if encountering him for the very first time.

Ye Chenfeng, his hands still slick with Ding Zhenlong's blood, flicked his wrist, sending crimson droplets scattering onto the dusty ground.

His eyes meeting the siblings, Cao Yunwei and Cao Xiaodong, a calm smile graced Ye Chenfeng's lips. "I gave you my word that I would protect you both. I am a man who honors his promises."

Initially, Cao Yunwei and Cao Xiaodong had perceived Ye Chenfeng as possessing a rather gentle disposition.

This dramatic and unexpected turnabout delivered a profound shock to their perceptions.

Cao Xiaodong’s eyes continued to scan Ye Chenfeng, and after a pause, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with disbelief, "Kid..."

Realizing his slip, Cao Xiaodong quickly corrected himself. "Brother Ye, you truly possess formidable hidden strengths! At merely thirty years old, what is the true extent of your power? Did you defeat Ding Zhenlong solely through physical might?"

"The physical strength of a cultivator at the Divinity Transformation Realm would scarcely be sufficient, not even that of the Spirit God Realm. Could it be, Brother Ye, that your original cultivation level was within the Earth God Realm? Ah, it must be so! Even with your meridians yet to recover, your physique itself remains at the Earth God Realm level."

Cao Xiaodong mused aloud, forming the hypothesis that Ye Chenfeng was once a formidable practitioner of the Earth God Realm – a significant leap given their limited understanding. Having never cultivated themselves, Cao Yunwei and Cao Xiaodong were ill-equipped to comprehend the sheer physical power attributed to the Earth God Realm.

However, Ye Chenfeng's age remained a confounding factor.

Both Cao Yunwei and Cao Xiaodong were utterly unfamiliar with any thirty-year-old individual possessing Earth God Realm capabilities. The notion of Ye Chenfeng reaching the Heavenly God Realm was beyond their wildest imagination. After all, within the confines of Floating Cloud City, weren't all Heavenly God Realm experts ancient beings, often millennia old? The possibility of a thirty-year-old achieving such a status was unthinkable, rendering even the Earth God Realm hypothesis almost unbelievable.

Observing Cao Xiaodong's eager anticipation for a response, Ye Chenfeng offered a wry, almost helpless smile. He also noted Cao Yunwei's curious gaze from the periphery.

Ye Chenfeng understood the futility of claiming to be in the Divine King Realm; such a declaration would likely be met with disbelief by the siblings. Thus, despite his true status as a Divine King Realm expert, he resigned himself to playing the part of an Earth God Realm powerhouse.

With a slight nod, Ye Chenfeng confirmed, "Something like that."

Hearing Ye Chenfeng's understated affirmation, Cao Xiaodong's excitement surged. He found himself looking at Ye Chenfeng with newfound admiration, his earlier skepticism regarding Ye Chenfeng's perceived weakness vanishing completely.

With his honest nature and admiration for the strong, Cao Xiaodong saw Ye Chenfeng's attainment of the Earth God Realm by thirty as a clear mark of a powerful individual.

Cao Yunwei, having fully regained her composure, expressed her gratitude to Ye Chenfeng, stating, "Thank you. I hadn't expected your cultivation to be at the Earth God Realm."

Cao Xiaodong, observing his sister and Ye Chenfeng, chimed in, "Sis, haven't you always admired heroes? I believe Brother Ye is precisely that! With his Earth God Realm cultivation, his meridians are sure to recover."

Such words from Cao Xiaodong caused Cao Yunwei's face to flush slightly. She shot her brother a look and retorted, "Xiaodong, what nonsense are you spouting now? Do you want a beating?"

Cao Xiaodong quickly retreated behind Ye Chenfeng. Having learned that Ye Chenfeng was not only powerful but also an Earth God Realm cultivator, he had already decided that Ye Chenfeng would be his brother-in-law, convinced his sister and Ye Chenfeng were a perfect match.

Just as Ye Chenfeng was about to tell Cao Xiaodong to stop messing around.

Every person in the junkyard was adorned with a token crafted from black stone, worn at their waists.

Suddenly, all the tokens began to emit a flashing light.

Instantly, sheer terror washed over the faces of everyone within the junkyard.

As Ye Chenfeng had only just arrived, he did not yet possess such an Identity Token.

Intrigued by his curiosity, Cao Yunwei explained to Ye Chenfeng, "You must have heard of the Flame Demon Fish, haven't you? Periodically, Floating Cloud City organizes expeditions to hunt the Flame Demon Fish, and we junkyard dwellers are utilized as bait by the cultivators of Floating Cloud City."

"It appears this time it's an impromptu decision to hunt the Flame Demon Fish; normally, we would have to wait five days for Floating Cloud City to assemble their team. The people from Floating Cloud City are coming to collect the bait."

... (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)