The owner of the leather boots was a middle-aged man, his body as straight as a javelin, draped in a gold-speckled cloak. Though the blazing sun scorched the sky and the weather was sweltering, a chill radiated outward from him, sending cold winds swirling within a hundred paces.

This man’s ice-cold qi technique had been cultivated to a near-perfected level.

The leader of the Yang family’s Baishi City branch, John Walker.

“Father, this is our chance. Hmph! David Walker has led the family for ten years—let’s see if he still has the face to remain as head of the family this time!”

After John Walker dismounted, a pair of young man and woman also stepped down from the carriage behind him—his son and daughter, both outstanding youths, their auras deep and their eyes shining with spirit, clearly possessing profound qi cultivation as well.

“We’re already at the family gates. Whatever you want to say, save it for inside.” John Walker waved his hand, stopping his children’s cold sarcasm. He gazed at the pair of stone lions before the Yang family estate, each five or six times the height of a man and as imposing as giant beasts, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

“John Walker, it seems you too have your eyes on the position of family head.” A voice drifted over. On the other side, another merchant caravan had stopped, and a middle-aged man stepped out, clad in armor that looked like jade and silk—a rare soft-jade armor, able to withstand any divine weapon, and even resist the penetration of qi techniques.

The steward of the Yang family’s Chaolu City branch, Charles Walker.

“Unless David Walker is toppled, there’s nothing more to discuss.” John Walker flicked his finger, sending out a burst of finger force that shone with blue crystalline light. The stone pavement instantly sprouted honeycomb-like holes, layers of ice forming even under the blazing sun.

“Impressive—your ice qi technique has reached this level? Seventh stage? Eighth stage? Let me warn you, don’t underestimate him. David Walker’s cultivation reached the eighth stage of qi transformation long ago—he’s truly masterful!” Clad in “soft-jade armor,” Charles Walker’s expression was stern, seemingly awed by John Walker’s ice qi technique.

He brushed his hand, and a surge of spring-like energy swept forth, instantly melting the ice on the ground.

“Are you two going to discuss this here? Let’s go inside the estate first—no need to let outsiders watch us make a fool of ourselves.” Another merchant caravan stopped in the plaza before the Yang family estate, and a man with a folding fan, scholarly in appearance, walked up.

The Yang family estate was a grand mansion, its front plaza vast enough to hold thousands. The sturdy stone slabs were all of a kind, scrubbed spotless by servants every day.

“Thomas Walker!” John Walker’s body tensed, as if ready for a confrontation.

“This time, because of David Walker’s wretched son, our Yang family has suffered huge losses and faces a crisis. Who knows how many people are laughing at us? Before dealing with outsiders, we must first settle things within.” Thomas Walker snapped open his fan. “Why are we fighting among ourselves? Let’s question David Walker first.”

“Let’s go.” John Walker’s expression eased a little. Head held high, he strode into the Yang family estate.

After that, more and more Yang family branch caravans arrived at the plaza, and one expert after another appeared. Even some Yang family elders who had been traveling and cultivating outside had rushed back.

This family meeting was truly a gathering of dragons.

Inside a room of the Yang family estate.

James Walker was meditating and contemplating mysteries when the maid Little Emily came running in, flustered. “Young master, something’s wrong! Many experts from the Yang family branches have gathered in the plaza, looking fierce—they’re here to question the master. The master wants you to go to the council hall.”

“They’ve come?” James Walker stood up at once and walked out. “It’s time to see what I’m really made of.”

“You must be careful, young master,” Little Emily said anxiously.

James Walker nodded and made his way again to the center of the estate—the spacious council hall.

Inside the hall, more than thirty people were already seated. Behind each of them stood a group of outstanding young men and women—over a hundred in total.

Fortunately, the council hall was enormous; even with several hundred people inside, it was not crowded at all.

Though there were many people, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive, the air so heavy it seemed it might drip with water.

Swish!

James Walker stepped over the threshold and entered the council hall. Instantly, over a hundred pairs of eyes fixed on him, as if trying to burn him up. Among them were masters with deep qi cultivation and powerful spirits, whose gazes alone could kill—a single look enough to make someone collapse.

But as soon as this mental pressure fell upon James Walker, the “Divine Elephant Suppresses Prison Force” deep within him began to operate, dissolving all the pressure.

The divine elephant suppresses hell; in hell, all manner of demon gods and ghosts exert terrifying mental pressure, but all are suppressed one by one. Though James Walker had only just awakened a tiny bit of this power, it was more than enough to handle the pressure from these people.

Hmph!

At that moment, at the very front of the hall, David Walker let out a cold snort. A vast surge of qi erupted, transforming into a curtain of energy that enveloped James Walker.

In the next instant, before James Walker could react, he was already standing beside his father.

“My son’s martial arts have already been completely crippled, yet you all join forces to pressure him—are you trying to kill him?” David Walker’s voice echoed through the entire council hall.

Chapter 0006: Tit for Tat