Chapter 4: You've Got a Lot of Nerve!

The Lyson family's main hall was lively with laughter and flattery. Quincy Lyson sat in the seat of honor, face glowing as he listened to one compliment after another. He enjoyed the oily smiles plastered across their faces. Why wouldn't he? He had raised a daughter who actually delivered. Ever since Luna Lyson rose to prominence and joined the Beast Taming Sect, families and factions had lined up to curry favor, nearly wearing down the Lyson family's doorstep. Over the past few weeks, Quincy's confidence had swollen into arrogance. Whether a clan matched the Lysons or even stood slightly above them, he barely bothered to hide his contempt. It wouldn't be long. Once Luna truly matured, the Lyson family would soar with her. "Master, something terrible has happened…" An old servant burst into the hall. "All day long you're panicking." Quincy shot him a glare. "What is it? Come here and speak properly. Can't you see we have guests?" The servant understood at once. He hurried forward and whispered into Quincy's ear, "Master, the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect, Cloud Quinny, is causing trouble in the front hall. He's already forced his way in." Quincy's expression changed on the spot. "Everyone," he said, forcing a smile, "I have an urgent matter to handle today. Another time, I'll invite you back as honored guests. Someone, see them out through the north gate." The servant immediately ushered the visitors away. Soon, only Quincy and a young cyan-armored man remained in the main hall. The man was a distant relative who had wandered the world for years and only recently came to seek shelter with the Lyson family. Quincy had kept him close because he was young and his cultivation base was respectable. "Uncle," the cyan-armored man asked, "what happened?" "The Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect, Cloud Quinny, came to our Lyson family to make trouble." Quincy's voice turned hard. "That trash actually dared to come here?" The pale cyan-armored man snorted. "I knew he wouldn't let go so easily. Luna's not who she used to be. She's a future top-tier cultivator, and she's even earned the Venerable Beastmaster's favor." Quincy nodded. "Exactly. He saw Luna about to take off, and he couldn't accept it. That's why he came to stir up trouble here." He let out a cold laugh. "If this were the past, we might have feared him a little. But we don't need to fear him anymore." The Lyson family had already cut ties with the Profound Heaven Sect and thrown in with the Beast Taming Sect. So what if Cloud Quinny was the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect? Did he think he could swallow the Lysons whole? If things escalated, the Lyson family only needed to report it to the Beast Taming Sect. The Beast Taming Sect would not sit back and watch. "Besides Cloud Quinny, who else came with him?" Quincy frowned at the servant. "Did the Profound Heaven Sect send anyone?" "No, Master. No one else. He came alone," the servant answered quickly. "Alone?" Quincy stared, genuinely startled. In the past, whenever Cloud Quinny traveled, the Profound Heaven Sect always sent at least one Elder with him. This time, he brought none and still dared to charge into the Lyson family to cause trouble? Did he really believe that being the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect meant no one would dare touch him? If not for those Elders shielding him all these years, Cloud Quinny would have died countless times over. "Uncle," the cyan-armored man said, narrowing his eyes, "could it be the Profound Heaven Sect has already given up on that waste?" "Given up on him?" Quincy knitted his brows. "That seems unlikely…" "Why not?" the cyan-armored man pressed. "Look. He used to have an Elder with him every time he went out, but this time there's no Elder at all." He leaned closer, voice low and confident. "What does that tell you? It tells you the Profound Heaven Sect doesn't value him anymore." "And there's more." His eyes flashed. "Cousin Luna publicly announced she was leaving the Profound Heaven Sect. The Profound Heaven Sect lost face, and it even offended the Beast Taming Sect." "The higher-ups must be furious, but they can't vent it where it belongs. Then they look at Cloud Quinny, a useless piece of baggage, and of course they dump their anger on him." He sneered. "If that trash hadn't been wronged and humiliated, why would he come to the Lyson family to scream and smash things?" Quincy found the reasoning hard to dismiss. From what he knew, Cloud Quinny's parents were missing, and the Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sect had been gone for years. The Profound Heaven Sect was being held together by the Grand Elder and the others. If Quincy were one of their leaders, he would have kicked out a waste with no backing, rather than let him sit there consuming resources. "Master," the servant rushed in again, "Cloud Quinny is here." "He still dares to force his way in?" Quincy's face darkened. "Does he think the Lyson family is still the same Lyson family as before? A worthless nobody, and he dares to come to my home and cause trouble?" He strode out of the main hall with the cyan-armored man at his side. Cloud Quinny walked toward them head-on, dragging someone by the ankle. It was Luna Lyson's cousin. Quincy's eyes snapped to his nephew's chest. The breastbone had caved in. Blood filled his mouth. He didn't even know whether the boy was alive. Quincy's expression turned vicious. "You did this?" "I did." Cloud Quinny nodded. "As the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect, you act arrogant and lawless, and you injure people in my Lyson family's home." Quincy's voice cut like ice. "Do you really think my Lyson family is something you can bully?" "I'll give you a chance to admit your mistake. Kneel. Bow your head and apologize. For my daughter Luna Lyson's sake, I'll let it go." Cloud Quinny's gaze didn't waver. "And if I don't kneel?" "Then I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders!" Quincy raised his hand to strike, but the cyan-armored man stepped forward first. "Uncle," he said with a grin, "if you handle trash like this personally, it'll dirty your hands. Let me do it." He had only just joined the Lyson family. This was a perfect chance to prove his worth. "Fine." Quincy's eyes were cold. "You teach him a lesson. Whatever he did to my nephew, you do to him." "Understood." The cyan-armored man bared his teeth. He was a cultivator at the Second Level of the Energy Condensation Realm. Dealing with a mere Seventh Level of the Energy Refining Realm would be effortless. "Worthless piece of garbage," he spat. "Today I'll discipline you myself and show you what it means that there's always someone stronger!" He swung a slap toward Cloud Quinny's face, using only thirty percent of his strength. He didn't plan to kill Cloud Quinny quickly. He wanted to humiliate him first. After all, getting to shame the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect was its own kind of entertainment. Quincy watched with narrowed eyes, already picturing Cloud Quinny's cheek swelling high from the blow. Smack! A heavy slap rang out. The one who flew wasn't Cloud Quinny. It was the cyan-armored man. Quincy didn't even see the motion clearly. The cyan-armored man had already been whipped away, his forehead bone split open from the impact. He crashed to the ground. Cloud Quinny stepped forward and planted a foot on the man's throat. Crack! The sound of a spine snapping echoed through the hall. The cyan-armored man's body jerked once, then went limp. Impossible… Quincy stared at Cloud Quinny, stunned. That man had been a Second Level of the Energy Condensation Realm cultivator. Cloud Quinny was only at the Seventh Level of the Energy Refining Realm. No. Cloud Quinny wasn't in the Energy Refining Realm at all. Only then did Quincy sense it. Cloud Quinny had reached the Energy Condensation Realm, and his aura was strong, at least around the Fifth Level of the Energy Condensation Realm. Wasn't he supposed to be trash? How could his cultivation base suddenly reach the Fifth Level of the Energy Condensation Realm? Had he been pretending to be weak all along? "You've got a lot of nerve!" Quincy roared. "You dare kill in my Lyson family's home! Do you think my Lyson family is soft meat you can trample whenever you please?" Fury exploded through him. He shaped his hand into a claw and lunged straight for Cloud Quinny's throat, intending to cripple him first, then deal with him properly. Cloud Quinny drove a fist forward, straight and brutal. Boom! Quincy slid back more than ten feet. His entire right hand shattered under that single punch. The pain twisted his face into a grimace. He glared at Cloud Quinny, teeth clenched, shock burning in his eyes. Cloud Quinny wasn't just at the Fifth Level of the Energy Condensation Realm. His strength was monstrous. Even Quincy's Sixth Level of the Energy Condensation Realm couldn't withstand him. "I planned to talk things out," Cloud Quinny said, voice calm. "But the moment you saw me, you started throwing hands. If you can't stand and talk properly, then lie down. We can talk like that." He surged toward Quincy. So fast… Quincy's face drained. He retreated in a hurry, but Cloud Quinny closed the distance in a blink and reached for his back. Quincy gritted his teeth, spun, and kicked with all his strength, trying to drive him away. Cloud Quinny didn't dodge. He kicked back. Boom! Crack! Quincy's right leg snapped. A scream tore from his throat as he collapsed to the ground. Cloud Quinny looked down at him. Quincy clutched his broken leg and scrambled backward in panic. "Can we talk properly now?"