Chapter 43: Invitation

As soon as they entered Tiannan University, Yaoguang activated his Perception secret technique and quietly scanned for any abnormal individuals. A densely populated area like the one in which the university was built could theoretically host a fair number of daemons.

However, after completing a full sweep, he detected nothing.

"Young Master Yaoguang, this way please." Lei Yun said. "Since you said not to draw attention, I did not notify anyone in advance."

Yaoguang nodded, then stepped out of the car and followed Lei Yun toward the robotics competition venue.

The event was held at the main field. Because Tiannan University placed great emphasis on this competition, it naturally drew the attention of many students. Amid the moving crowd, Yaoguang soon reached the outer perimeter of the venue. He glanced toward the judges' section but did not see Department Head Zhou.

"Department Head Zhou's car has already arrived, but he should still be inside the building. That's why he hasn't appeared yet..." Lei Yun explained. Just as she finished speaking, a group of middle-aged officials emerged from the crowd and walked toward the judges' area.

Having seen the video earlier, Yaoguang immediately recognized Department Head Zhou among them. But when he carefully inspected him with his Perception skill, he sensed no abnormalities at all.

Not him?

Yaoguang thought silently. Following the crowd, he moved to a spot close to Department Head Zhou.

At the fifth tier, he could judge a person's strength and even the flow of their blood and qi through countless subtle details.

After a careful inspection, he had to admit the truth. Department Head Zhou was simply an elderly man in his sixties, one who would retire in a year or two. He even showed clear signs of qi and blood deficiency, insufficient cardiac output, and other age-related issues.

Understanding this, Yaoguang quietly extended his Perception again, but that only confirmed that there were no abnormal individuals nearby. At last, he withdrew his gaze and turned away.

"Let's go," Yaoguang said.

Lei Yun did not understand, but she obediently went back to start the car. Su Chiming had allocated three vehicles to Yaoguang all at once: an off-road vehicle, a sedan, and a sports car. Since they were visiting Tiannan University, a place full of young people, Lei Yun drove the off-road vehicle.

And since it came from Su Chiming, not a single one of the cars was ordinary. This off-road model alone was priced at over three million. Because of that, a few students were taking photos in front of it.

Just as Lei Yun pressed the key fob, Yaoguang shifted his attention to the side. Zhang Rufeng, who had followed them earlier, Zhang Hong, whom Yaoguang had met once, and another middle-aged man were approaching.

Yaoguang's eyes landed on the middle-aged man first. The qi around this man was strange. It resembled oil boiling in a raging fire, burning fiercely. This burning state forced his body to remain at a perpetual extreme, his physique stretched to its limits at all times.

This sensation reminded Yaoguang of his own Star Ignition Technique. The Star Ignition Technique also briefly ignited one's life potential and allowed one to exceed normal limits. Although their essences were different, both methods created an unnatural surge of strength.

Yet, a human body still had limits. Maintaining such a state was the same as overdrawing one's potential. A person like this man could likely live another eight to ten years at most. If he frequently fought and forcibly ignited his qi and blood again and again, his lifespan would shorten even further.

While Yaoguang observed him, the man had already stepped before him. "Su Yaoguang."

The moment Lei Yun saw him, her expression changed. "Zhang Tianji?!"

Zhang Tianji was the Zhang family's grandmaster!

In his youth, he had been rebellious and was expelled from the Zhang family. More than ten years later, after revealing his grandmaster-tier strength, he was personally invited back by the Zhang family head.

"Grandmaster?" Yaoguang looked at Zhang Tianji.

He extended his Perception carefully... If they truly fought, Zhang Tianji in this state indeed would not be inferior to a grandmaster. He was even somewhat stronger than ordinary grandmasters.

If unaware of the truth, even another grandmaster exchanging blows with him and feeling his explosive jin might easily mistake him for someone of the same realm.

But this so-called grandmaster-tier strength was something he was paying for with his life.

"You are quite impressive." Zhang Tianji looked at Yaoguang, who remained calm even before a supposed grandmaster, and nodded approvingly. "If I'm not mistaken, your Martial Dao cultivation should be at the martial master tier of tendon-and-bone strengthening, yes?"

He phrased it like a question, but his tone made it clear he had absolute confidence in his judgment.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Zhang Hong told me that you once displayed a Martial Dao secret technique before him, shaking his organs and making his head buzz. His experience is shallow, so he thought brute physical strength alone could unleash such a technique. But I know better. To perform a secret technique, one must first possess a solid foundation."

The Zhang family grandmaster said with a confident smile, "And the moment you returned to the Su family, Su Chiming immediately gave you special privileges, let you choose a villa in Yuyuan Estate, and arranged a position for you in the External Affairs Hall, even allowing you to form a combat squad. All signs point to the same conclusion. At just nineteen, you have already reached the martial master tier! You possess astounding Martial Dao talent. Becoming a grandmaster in the future is entirely within reach!"

He sighed with emotion. "He is raising you as a future grandmaster."

Lei Yun, standing beside them, was astonished by the Zhang family's intelligence network. But she did not find it truly surprising; too many details were impossible to hide. However, her expression as she looked at him became subtly strange.

Yaoguang, on the other hand, showed no change at all. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Excellent composure," Zhang Tianji praised him once more. "Among young people, those who remain unmoved even if a mountain collapses before them are extremely rare. On that point alone, you deserve to be called an outstanding young hero."

Then he continued directly, "You probably don't know who I am. Your mother, Zhang Ya, and I are not biological siblings, but when we were young, we were very close. The reason I left the Zhang family back then was because they ignored her suffering at Su Huaifeng's hands. But now that I am back, no one will ever bully you again."

He extended his hand in invitation. "Come back with me. I do not intend to marry or have children. You are Little Ya's son, so in the future, I will treat you as my own."[1]

Yaoguang glanced at him. His inability to have children wasn't a personal choice, but rather a limitation imposed by the method he had used to gain strength. Still, that was irrelevant.

"Not interested," said Yaoguang, then turned to Lei Yun. "Let's go."

He headed toward their vehicle.

"Yaoguang," Zhang Tianji called out again. "Do you want to break through and become a grandmaster in a short period of time?!"

His voice deepened. "As long as you return to the Zhang family and become one of us, I can use the points I have accumulated over the years to request a precious grandmaster-advancement quota from the president for you!"

"A grandmaster like you?" Yaoguang glanced at him before shaking his head.

Zhang Tianji froze, then his pupils constricted sharply. "You know something?"

"Isn't it obvious? One look is enough."

"Look?!" Zhang Tianji stared at him, suddenly realizing something. A hint of shock appeared in his expression.

He immediately circulated his qi and blood, letting it flow openly, and the moment it moved, Yaoguang's gaze instinctively traced the trajectory of that qi and blood. This anomaly caused Zhang Tianji's eyes to blaze with unprecedented brilliance.

"That extraordinary?!" He could not help exclaiming aloud.

Yaoguang ignored him and prepared to leave. But at that moment, Zhang Tianji, overwhelmed with excitement, blocked his path. "Yaoguang! Good boy! No wonder you could become a martial master so quickly. You are born with the potential to become a martial paragon! Even compared to others like you, you have an even greater chance of reaching the psychic-will realm and becoming one of the strongest in this era, capable of resisting those..."

His expression grew solemn. "No matter what, joining us is the best choice for you!"

At this point, Yaoguang suddenly seemed to recall something. "Does your organization also possess some kind of refining technology?"

"Hmm?!" Zhang Tianji stiffened. "Someone approached you?"

Then he seemed to make a connection. "Of course. Even with great talent, you could not have reached this tier so quickly without guidance. Who was it? Xia Wuyuan? Feng Dong?"

"Xia Wuyuan?" Yaoguang had originally assumed that the organization behind Zhang Tianji was connected to Yulong International and possessed a refining method similar to divine blood.

If that had been the case, he would have gladly joined them, found every member, and eliminated them one by one. But hearing him mention Xia Wuyuan, it clearly was not so.

"Whether I join you or the Zhang family, I need to understand your organization first," Yaoguang said.

"Our organization..." Zhang Tianji hesitated for a moment, then, considering Yaoguang's identity, replied in a serious tone, "It is called World-Saving Society."

He looked straight at him. "Believe me. Join us, and you will never regret it."

He paused, then continued, "Only by joining us will you fully realize your potential. In the future... becoming a martial paragon is nothing. Even reaching the psychic-will realm is not beyond hope."

"At the very least, you need to explain the nature of World-Saving Society," Yaoguang said.

"Someone will contact you and give you a detailed explanation of our purpose," Zhang Tianji replied, not forgetting his mission. "As long as you are willing to join us, I can agree to any condition. Even if you want the entire Zhang family, I can give it to you."

Lei Yun glanced at him. The Zhang family had risen quickly in recent years, entirely thanks to Zhang Tianji's presence. His promise carried real weight.

"Then let's understand each other first, before rushing to make conclusions," Yaoguang said with a nod, immediately turning to leave.

1. In Chinese, people often add the word "little" before someone's name to show endearment. ☜