Chapter 128: The Grand Ceremony

Healing talisman? Situ Ze examined the spiritual talisman in his hand. It indeed felt unusual, for the old master of his family had been tinkering with spiritual talismans over the past few years. Having been influenced by him, Situ Ze had some knowledge about them. Just from the calligraphy and the texture of the talisman, he could tell it was no ordinary item.

“There’s a faint, gentle aura emanating from it,” Situ Ze said with slight surprise.

Ling Tian scanned Situ Ze with his divine sense and was astonished to discover that Situ Ze’s strength was on par with Nangong Zhenyu, the head of the Nangong family. Situ Ze had already stepped onto the threshold of a Qi practitioner. The old master’s power had reached the lower tier of Qi refinement. Ling Tian thought to himself, these ancient noble families truly possess profound heritage.

Martial artists are classified into Qi Refinement, Qi Transformation, Post-Natal, and Pre-Natal stages. Each stage is further divided into upper, middle, and lower phases. Qi Refinement is the lowest level, yet even in Yunhai City, few reach it.

There are many who practice martial arts, but those who truly cross the threshold into martial artists are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns—exceedingly scarce. Many spend their entire lives unable to become genuine martial artists.

To become a martial arts expert requires three crucial elements: talent, abundant cultivation resources, and top-tier cultivation techniques. Beyond these three, one must also train diligently.

The four great families of Yunhai City stand lofty and proud, but that only applies to ordinary commoners. Compared to ancient martial families and sects with long-standing traditions, they are on entirely different levels. Under such circumstances, for them to cultivate even a Qi Refinement martial artist is quite remarkable.

Ling Tian said calmly, “Keep this for your use. From my observation, you seem to have already stepped onto the path of a martial artist. You are extremely close. With just a small further step, you could become a lower-tier Qi Refinement martial artist, just like your father.”

“How do you know?” Situ Ze looked at Ling Tian in surprise. He had been practicing his family’s martial arts for many years and had successfully broken through to the martial artist threshold three years ago. Apart from the old master, no one knew, and this was his first meeting with Ling Tian, which meant...

Ling Tian smiled, “Don’t be so nervous. I see through your cultivation at a glance. Since you’ve already called me uncle, I’ll help you out as a senior.”

Situ Ze was confused. Isn’t martial cultivation based on one’s own comprehension and improvement?

Ling Tian reached out and grasped Situ Ze’s wrist, channeling a strand of pure true Qi along his meridians until it reached the mysterious barrier Situ Ze had been struggling to break through. His strength was weak, making it difficult to open up quickly, but for Ling Tian, it was a matter of minutes.

Suddenly, a refreshing sensation swept through Situ Ze’s entire body. His dantian trembled lightly, and his absorption rate of external spiritual energy increased significantly...

Situ Ze was thrilled—he had broken through!

After years of painstaking effort, he had broken through so easily. It was incredible! It felt like a dream, a joy others could hardly understand, like a thirsty man suddenly discovering a spring.

Ling Tian smiled. For a master guiding a junior, it was effortless because of the difference in perspective. It’s like one person standing halfway up a mountain, another at its base—the one higher up always sees farther and deeper.

Faced with Ling Tian, Situ Ze knelt with both knees and said excitedly, “Uncle, please accept my bow.” Unlike the forced bow last time, this was sincere. A true strong person is revered wherever they go; age is only a measure for ordinary folk.

Ling Tian helped him up with both hands and smiled, “Get up. From now on, we’re family.”

The old master of the Situ family wanted exactly this effect and said immediately, “My brother is right. From now on, we are one family. Situ Ze, hurry and arrange a banquet. Today, I shall host a feast to entertain your uncle.”

Situ Ze hurriedly nodded and ordered the staff to prepare the banquet.

A chubby man hiding nearby had been waiting to watch a spectacle. But now, Ling Tian and the old master were calling each other brothers, and Situ Ze had become their eldest nephew. What on earth was going on? Just as the chubby man was about to leave quietly,

Zhang Ding and Zhao Ming rushed over. Each kicked him once before dragging him to Ling Tian.

Yan Fei, who had remained silent on the side, stepped forward and spoke expressionlessly to the old master, “Sir, you have yet to answer my question.”

Situ Ze quickly interjected, “I’ll explain. This is my dereliction of duty. In my eagerness to break through, I neglected the management of our enterprises, leading to today’s incident. I will conduct a thorough rectification. Bring everyone involved today to the police station and assist with a full investigation.”

This statement sealed the fate of the chubby man. Over the years, he had independently done many despicable things; any one of them was enough to put him behind bars for life.

When Jiang Yang and two bodyguards were carried out from the corridor, Zhao Min and three young ladies took off their high heels. The long stiletto heels stabbed fiercely at Jiang Yang and the others while cursing, “Villains, you lied to us! Take this!”

The group of big men’s eyes twitched in disbelief. No wonder it’s always said never to offend women—their strikes are ruthless. Those ten-centimeter heels were as dangerous as daggers. Each strike left a wound; within minutes, Jiang Yang and the others looked barely human. Only then did Zhao Min and her companions relent.

Zhao Min and Zhang Ding exchanged glances, both thinking to themselves that they must not let their wives associate with these young girls—they’d pick up bad habits. Moreover, their wives must never wear high heels again. Those things are shoes when worn but weapons when removed!

After the banquet was set, everyone took their seats. Ling Tian sat in the honored guest’s place. The old master and Situ Ze personally attended to him. Zhao Min and her three companions, attending such a high-class banquet for the first time, appeared somewhat uneasy, curiously glancing around as if each dish caught their attention.

Women appreciate delicacies.

Men focus on fine wine.

To honor Ling Tian, Situ Ze brought out a bottle of Moutai from the basement, aged fifty years. When the bottle opened, fragrance filled the air. The wine poured out thickly, seeming almost unbreakable in its flow.

“Brother, I toast you with this wine today. I also have good news to announce: starting today, the Heaven on Earth Club belongs to you,” the old master said, raising his glass and standing to speak to Ling Tian with great respect.

Giving the Heaven on Earth Club to Ling Tian? Situ Ze was not surprised. The Situ family’s assets were nearly ten billion; gifting an entertainment club worth over a hundred million was no big deal. If it meant befriending a master like Ling Tian, the family would gladly part with even a billion.

Money lost can be earned again, but a master like Ling Tian is rare and precious. Meeting him was a great opportunity.

Ling Tian smiled, “You’re so generous, I won’t fuss. I’ll accept it.” He clinked glasses with the old master and drank it all in one go.

Setting down his cup, Ling Tian turned to Zhao Ming and Zhao Min and said with a smile, “Girl, I haven’t given you a gift yet. Now, I shall.”

Zhao Min, busy eating, looked up, wiped oil from the corner of her mouth, swallowed hard, and blinked her bright eyes curiously. “Sure, but what gift? I don’t want dolls or things like that. I’m grown up now, not a little girl.”

“From today on, you will be the beautiful boss of the Heaven on Earth Club,” Ling Tian said with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhao Min nearly choked on her food. Her eyes went wide as she drank two large glasses of juice to clear the food stuck in her throat. “Such a big gift—I can’t accept it. Besides, I don’t know how to manage something like that.”

Ling Tian smiled, “You can learn. Tomorrow, your sister-in-law and Zhang Ding’s wife will come to assist you. As for you, you’ll attend school and learn management at the same time. That’s settled.”

“I have a sister-in-law?” Zhao Min excitedly looked at Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming and Zhang Ding secretly thought, this was really trouble. Their gentle and kind wives would turn into tomboys after a few days with Zhao Min.

“I found a wife for you, but haven’t told you yet. Tomorrow she’ll come over so you can get to know each other,” Zhao Min said, feeling a little guilty about her surprise.

The old master and Situ Ze exchanged glances, finally focusing their attention on Zhao Min. A girl who earned Ling Tian’s attention deserved to be approached more in the future.

After several rounds of wine and tasting various dishes,

“Let’s end here for today. Girl, you and your classmates will stay here and begin studying. Situ Ze, I entrust my little sister to you. You must fully support her,” Ling Tian instructed.

Situ Ze immediately said, “Uncle, don’t worry. I’ll assign capable assistants to help... Miss Zhao.” He stumbled slightly on Zhao Min’s title. Since he called Ling Tian uncle and Zhao Min was Ling Tian’s sister, by logic, he should address her as aunt. But calling a young girl “aunt” was something he couldn’t bring himself to do.

Ling Tian noticed Situ Ze’s awkwardness and smiled, “Situ Ze, let’s not be so formal. You call me uncle; we’ll keep it simple.”

After being called uncle several times, Ling Tian felt quite amused and gradually accustomed to the relationship. As the saying goes, though young, he was now of senior rank.

Situ Ze nodded gratefully and said, “Miss Zhao, the Heaven on Earth Club is in chaos due to my negligence. I will assist you in a thorough reorganization.”