Chapter 26: Disdain
Two Profound Eagles, their wings shimmering like Silver Essence, flew toward Ling's Medical Clinic.
"The aura of these Profound Eagles is even stronger than Qin Ming's." Ling Fei looked up, his brow furrowing slightly after he sensed their power.
Profound Eagles...
'They're just mounts, yet they've already reached the Innate Realm. What about the people on their backs?'
"What's coming will come eventually. There's no need to worry." Elder Ling's eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced at the Profound Eagles before looking away.
It seemed he remained unconcerned.
"That's Elder Ling!" Zhang Quan said from the back of a Profound Eagle.
"This old man... his aura is unfathomable!" Shangguan Hong stood on the back of his Profound Eagle, looking down at Elder Ling in the mansion below.
But now, his brow was tightly furrowed.
Using his powerful Perception Power, he could tell that this old man, who appeared to be in his twilight years, was far from simple.
He could even sense the flash of disdain in the old man's eyes as he glanced toward the sky.
'Is that disdain for my Cultivation?' Shangguan Hong's brow tightened as he wondered.
Then, he guided the Profound Eagle to slowly descend.
"What massive eagles!"
"Are those people Divine Guards?" The two Profound Eagles landed, drawing the attention of many onlookers.
"Those are Profound Eagles. They have the aura of the Innate Realm," some Martial Artists immediately sensed.
"Are they here to investigate the matter of Qin Gang and the others?"
"The Divine Power Bureau really did send people here!" Instantly, many people grew worried.
WHOOSH!
Shangguan Hong and Zhang Quan leaped down from the backs of the Profound Eagles.
Shangguan Qingmu and Shangguan Yurou also jumped down.
"Ling's Medical Clinic!" After landing, the group looked up slightly at the plaque on the mansion ahead.
"Everyone, my master invites you into the mansion." Just as they landed, an attendant walked out from Ling's Medical Clinic and spoke.
"Sending a mere attendant to greet us... This Elder Ling certainly has some nerve." Seeing this, Shangguan Qingmu's gaze turned cold.
His uncle was a Divine Guard Patrol Envoy, and their Shangguan Clan was one of the Major Clans, with many experts in its ranks.
How could they be treated with such disrespect in a small place like this?
To them, this was an outright provocation!
"Interesting." Shangguan Yurou's long eyelashes fluttered upwards, a hint of curiosity on her face.
There weren't many people who dared to slight them like this.
Perhaps this Elder Ling was truly a significant figure.
"Please lead the way, young man." Shangguan Hong frowned slightly, then waved his hand to signal Shangguan Qingmu not to say more before speaking to the attendant.
"This way, please!" The attendant gestured and welcomed Shangguan Hong's group inside.
The two Profound Eagles let out a long cry, then flew into the sky to circle above the Ling Mansion.
"My master is inside." Shangguan Hong and the others were led into the main hall.
Then, the attendant stopped.
'The Waist Token on that gentleman belongs to the Divine Guard. He must be an important figure here to investigate the Qin Mansion affair. For the master to dare treat them so casually... it seems he doesn't regard the Divine Guard at all. But these are Divine Guard lords... just what is the master's background?'
He was immensely curious.
But despite his curiosity, the attendant said nothing more.
At that moment, Shangguan Hong's gaze focused as he looked into the main hall.
In the hall, Elder Ling was seated in the host's chair.
Ling Fei and Xue Xi stood to the side.
From the looks of it, they were clearly waiting for them.
Even as Shangguan Hong and his group arrived, Elder Ling continued to sip his tea as if they weren't there.
His demeanor made it clear he paid them no mind.
Seeing this, Shangguan Qingmu was about to explode with rage.
His uncle was the Divine Guard Patrol Envoy of Celestial River County, a man of extremely high standing even within the Divine Guard.
Yet now he was being treated with such contempt?
"Ahem." Seeing this, Zhang Quan's face filled with embarrassment.
Elder Ling's attitude had also exceeded his expectations.
"Since you've come, you may as well enter." Only then did Elder Ling put down his teacup. His gaze shifted as he looked outside the hall and spoke indifferently.
However, he still did not rise.
Shangguan Hong's eyelid twitched. Even for someone as composed as him, his emotions began to stir.
In all his years of traveling, who had ever dared to be so disrespectful to him?
But the more this happened, the more Shangguan Hong felt there was something extraordinary about this old man.
So, although he was emotional, he suppressed it bit by bit.
"I am Shangguan Hong. I hope Elder Ling will forgive me for this sudden visit." After suppressing his emotions, Shangguan Hong walked to the front of the hall, offered a fist-and-palm salute, and spoke. His words were quite polite. He didn't mention his identity as a Divine Guard, clearly intending to visit in a private capacity.
This was a last-minute change of heart.
Because if he came in his capacity as a Divine Guard, he would be here to judge and investigate.
Originally, he had indeed come to investigate the full story of the matter.
But Elder Ling's attitude had intimidated him.
"A guest from afar is still a guest. Please, sit." Elder Ling said, "Serve tea."
He then beckoned a nearby serving girl to pour tea for Shangguan Hong.
Shangguan Hong took a seat.
Zhang Quan, however, remained standing to the side.
Shangguan Qingmu wanted to sit, but he also remained standing to the side.
Shangguan Yurou also stood to the side.
'This old man seems to be in his twilight years, but his aura is impossible to see through,' Shangguan Yurou thought to herself.
She was secretly sizing up Elder Ling before her.
'That woman is so slender and graceful. I wonder what her relationship is with Ling Fei?' Then, her gaze couldn't help but shift to Xue Xi.
Even though Shangguan Yurou was very confident in her own beauty and bearing...
...she couldn't help but feel stunned after seeing Xue Xi.
A woman like that was a rare sight even among the Major Clans.
Of course, her gaze ultimately landed on Ling Fei.
'Ling Fei should be about my age, and he's quite handsome.'
Shangguan Yurou mused.
'I wonder what his strength is like now?' Her curiosity about Ling Fei grew.
Although Shangguan Qingmu was also taken aback by Xue Xi's beauty, his heart was currently filled more with indignation.
He felt that the people of Ling's Medical Clinic were far too arrogant and unappreciative.
But since Shangguan Hong hadn't spoken, Shangguan Qingmu couldn't say much either.
"For what purpose have you come?" From the host's seat, Elder Ling took a sip of tea, then raised his gaze to look down at Shangguan Hong.
His voice was deep, his gaze was like a blade, and an inexplicable aura began to emanate from him.
This aura seemed to make the very air in the main hall freeze.
Shangguan Qingmu instantly felt his breath catch and his heart began to race.
'This old man is indeed not someone an Innate Realm Cultivator can compare to.' He now understood that the old man before him was powerful, far surpassing the Innate Realm.
"What a powerful aura." Beside him, Shangguan Yurou's face flushed as she too felt immense pressure.
But the pressure was well-controlled, not enough to inspire fear.
It wasn't just them; Shangguan Hong also felt immense pressure at that moment.
His brow furrowed as if he were facing a formidable foe.
The old man before him was like a Monarch who could rule the world, looking down on him and making him feel trepidation.
This feeling was not good at all.
Frowning, Shangguan Hong quickly circulated the Gang Qi in his body, and a powerful aura burst forth.
But he still felt the pressure.
'Still not enough?' Shangguan Hong's brow tightened. One must know, he was a Celestial Spirit Realm expert.
Who could so easily and completely suppress him with aura alone?
Left with no choice, he continued to circulate his aura.
However, his face flushed red and his body trembled slightly.
'Not good.' Shangguan Hong thought, quickly retracting his aura.
Only then did his flushed complexion begin to improve.
"You're injured?" Elder Ling's brow arched. After sensing carefully, he immediately understood. 'A clash of Gang Qi... a problem with his Cultivation.'