"Look, it’s Gao Neng!"
With a single shout, the reporters who had been swarming Li Tiannan instantly scattered, not even giving him a chance to respond.
Li Tiannan was momentarily stunned.
’What’s going on?’
’Who dares to challenge me?’
’Wait!’
’Did they just say Gao Neng?’
"!!!" Li Tiannan’s eyes widened in shock.
Gao Neng was challenging him!
And he’d brought a horde of reporters with him?
’Is he trying to have a "friendly" master-student match? Is he planning to indirectly leverage my prestige to solidify his position as the Speaker of the Supreme Council?’
’It’s a little shameless...’
’But if the payment in evolution energy is high enough, I might consider it. After all, it’s just a friendly match... It won’t take much effort, and we can just pull our punches.’
As he was thinking this, Li Tiannan saw Gao Neng jumping down from a helicopter.
"Well, well, the little brat’s really made something of himself. Flying around in helicopters now!" Li Tiannan chuckled, not thinking much of it. He waited for Gao Neng to approach and pay his respects as a student to his master.
However, after getting off the helicopter, Gao Neng didn’t rush over to him. Instead, he was patiently answering the reporters’ questions.
"Speaker Gao, may I ask if there’s a particular reason you chose Elder Li as the first target for your challenge?"
"Yes, there is. As the saying goes, the student surpasses the master. I’d like to put that theory to the test and see if I’ve truly graduated," Gao Neng said with a slight smile.
"Then what would count as having graduated? After all, you’re only Ninth-Order, while Elder Li is one of the Strongest. There should be a significant gap in your power, right?"
"Mm, there is a bit of a gap. That’s why I plan to hold back a little. I’ll just break one of his legs," Gao Neng said, nodding with a smile.
"..." Li Tiannan.
’What kind of bullshit is this brat spouting?’
’Break my leg?’
’Doesn’t this little bastard remember who taught him his skills?!’
"You’re quite the joker, Speaker Gao... May I ask if this will be a friendly match?" The reporters naturally didn’t believe Gao Neng’s words.
"Have you ever seen a friendly match where someone’s leg gets broken? Alright, that’s all for today’s interview. Next up, the real fight begins!" Gao Neng said, smiling at the reporters around him.
"Understood! Then please, everyone, follow our cameras and witness this legendary battle between Speaker Gao and Elder Li with your own eyes!" The reporters were, of course, very cooperative.
After all, Gao Neng’s star was currently on the rise. His prestige within the Human Alliance had reached unprecedented heights, and his word was law.
Meanwhile, Li Tiannan, who had been waiting off to the side for Gao Neng to pay his respects, had a thunderous expression on his face.
’Fine, you want to use me to build your reputation, little brat. But to step on me this hard... isn’t that going too far? No matter how you look at it, I’m a bona fide Strongest!’
"You brat, are you really challenging me?" Li Tiannan was no longer in the mood to wait for any formalities. He asked the question directly as soon as Gao Neng approached.
"I am, Master," Gao Neng nodded.
"And what will you do if I refuse to accept?" Li Tiannan narrowed his eyes.
"Simple. I’ll tear down your house first." Gao Neng casually pointed to the large villa behind Li Tiannan. Then, a streak of red light shot from his hand.
Red as fire!
But this was no ordinary fire!
It was like red-hot pig iron, its temperature extreme.
The red glow appeared!
It transformed into a blazing Firebird, flapping its wings. With every beat, the surrounding air grew hotter.
"You dare, you brat!" Li Tiannan yelped. If that Firebird actually got into his grand villa, his mountaintop mansion would truly be reduced to a pile of black ash.
Without another word, Li Tiannan drew his blade and slashed at the Firebird.
But at that exact moment, a shadow appeared behind him.
A figure as fast as lightning.
And like a phantom!
"Hmph?!" Li Tiannan was greatly alarmed. In his panic, he instantly retracted the blade that was slashing at the Firebird and swung it back to block whatever was behind him.
"BOOM!"
A massive explosion rang out.
Li Tiannan was forced back three steps.
Meanwhile, the Firebird flapped its wings and landed on the villa’s roof.
"CRACK!"
The roof immediately cracked under its weight.
The extreme temperature caused the black roof tiles to darken, and soon, tiny sparks began to flicker. It had clearly ignited the wooden beams inside.
"Stop! You brat, if you dare burn my house, I’ll fight you to the death!" Li Tiannan didn’t have many hobbies, but he loved collecting valuable things.
And where did he keep them?
In his house, of course!
"Master, I was holding back with that ’backstab’ just now. If I hadn’t been, there would be a hole in your back. So, please, Master, you need to get a grip on reality. Right now... even if you fight me to the death, you’re no match for me." Gao Neng spread his hands, a helpless look on his face.
"..." Li Tiannan.
’What does it mean to be utterly disrespectful to one’s elders?’
’Gao Neng right now is the perfect example of it!’
’This is a provocation!’
’A provocation against the dignity of his own master!’
’If I don’t put him in his place after this, then I... might as well stop being a master!’
"RUMBLE!"
Bolts of lightning erupted from Li Tiannan’s body.
The Thunder Domain.
Moreover, the lightning seemed to have a life of its own, coiling around his body and instantly forming a suit of lightning armor.
"You brat, today I’ll teach you what it means to say the older the ginger, the spicier it is!" Lightning flashed in Li Tiannan’s eyes, like crackling bolts within his pupils.
"Then I’ll teach you something too, Master: The new wave is here to replace the old!" A smirk played on Gao Neng’s lips as arcs of lightning also began to spill from his body.