Chapter 57: Stepping Forward

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Sure enough, Zhang Linsheng walked straight up to Chen Fei, cupped his fists, and greeted him, “Mr. Chen, I have long heard of your great name. I am here on behalf of your Commerce Transport Team, as per your request.”

“Thank you!” Chen Fei returned the greeting with the same courtesy.

This matter had actually been discussed the night before when Chen Fei had sent Liu Yunyan and his wife off.

When Chen Fei arrived at the venue, he had already sensed Zhang Linsheng sitting in a corner of the gathering. However, since he was currently playing the role of his elder brother ‘Chen Yang’ rather than revealing his true identity as Chen Fei, he did not greet him.

Likewise, Zhang Linsheng did not recognize that the ‘Chen Yang’ before him was actually the same Chen Fei who had worn sunglasses the previous night.

Seeing this unfold, the first person who could not sit still was Lin Yao Hai, the patriarch of the Lin family.

Who was Zhang Linsheng?

The most mysterious and powerful spirit master in Yellow Mist City.

Backed by the Dance Bureau, he had connections everywhere. Even in the capital city of Great Qing Nation, Tianque City, he wielded considerable influence.

“Mr. Zhang, you have always refrained from interfering in the power struggles of Yellow Mist City,” Lin Yao Hai said.

“Master Lin, I apologize,” Zhang Linsheng replied with a smile. “My wife and I have no interest in the conflicts of Yellow Mist City and have always been devoted solely to the Dance Bureau.”

“However, Mr. Chen Fei is the teacher of my two children, and the Commerce Transport Team is his business. My wife and I cannot stand idly by in this matter.”

Zhang Linsheng publicly announced that Chen Fei was his children’s dance teacher, a revelation that shocked many.

Had Chen Fei not insisted on keeping this matter low-key, Zhang Linsheng and his wife would have broadcasted the news throughout Yellow Mist City.

Once the news spread, their children’s pursuit of ‘modern dance’ would gain proper recognition and legitimacy.

“How could this happen?”

“Why did Zhang Linsheng suddenly appear in the middle of this?”

For a moment, the eight major families grew uneasy.

“So Chen Fei is the true founder of the Commerce Transport Team? Though he’s blind and deemed useless, he possesses astonishing talent in dance.”

“How did we overlook the connection between Chen Fei and Liu Yunyan’s family?”

“Who would have thought that Zhang Linsheng would break his long-held neutrality just for his children’s dance teacher?”

The intense discussions among the gathered forces cast new uncertainty over the contest for control of the black copper ore.

Ye Bufan furrowed his brows. The very thing he feared the most had come true. Seeing that Zhang Linsheng was about to represent the Commerce Transport Team in the first martial contest, he could not remain silent any longer.

“Mr. Zhang, you belong to the Dance Bureau, yet you stand up for Chen Yang’s Commerce Transport Team. Do you realize the implications of this?” Ye Bufan questioned, unwilling to let Zhang Linsheng disrupt their carefully laid plans.

“Young City Lord, I am well aware,” Zhang Linsheng said nonchalantly. “As I stated before, Mr. Chen Fei is my children’s respected teacher. My wife and I will never ignore his matters.”

“Chen Fei?”

“He’s just a blind cripple!”

“Mr. Zhang, the reason our City Lord’s Mansion and all of Yellow Mist City’s major families hold you and your wife in such high esteem is because you have always remained neutral in family conflicts.”

“And now, you are willing to stand against the City Lord’s Mansion, the Lin family, and the eight major families for the sake of a blind cripple?”

Ye Bufan was furious. His reputation had already suffered during the Capital Establishment Ceremony. If he failed in the contest for control over the black copper ore, he would never be able to regain face before the powerful families of Yellow Mist City.

“Ye Bufan, I advise you to show some respect.”

“Mr. Chen Fei is my children’s esteemed mentor. Insulting him is no different from insulting my wife and me.”

Zhang Linsheng firmly warned Ye Bufan, fully aware of how much Chen Fei could change the lives of his children.

He and his wife had already judged that Chen Fei’s teachings could help their children gain a foothold in Tianque City, rise to prominence in the Great Qing Nation as grandmasters of dance, and even leave their names in the annals of dance history.

Perhaps Zhang Qing and Zhang Rou could even become internationally renowned in the dance world, with limitless possibilities ahead!

Ye Bufan, seething with rage, gritted his teeth and hissed coldly, “Very well! I will make sure your Dance Bureau pays the price for this!”

“Ye Bufan, only the weak resort to angry threats when they lack the strength to back them up,” Zhang Linsheng retorted without hesitation.

He ignored Ye Bufan after that and stepped onto the stage, facing Lin Yao Hai. “Master Lin, please enlighten me!”

Lin Yao Hai’s expression darkened. He was filled with hostility toward Zhang Linsheng, who had unexpectedly interfered in their affairs.

“People in Yellow Mist City speak of Mr. Zhang as a mysterious and formidable force. Today, I will see for myself if you truly have the strength to challenge my Lin family for control of the black copper ore.”

With that, Lin Yao Hai unleashed his spiritual energy. A powerful aura surged around him, forming a complete set of golden armor over his body.

“Profound Armor Qi Shield!”

“I would like to see whether the Lin family’s spiritual-level combat technique, ‘Profound Armor Qi Shield,’ is truly as unbreakable as the rumors claim.”

Zhang Linsheng responded indifferently, and his own spiritual energy surged, manifesting a set of spiritual armor around him.

In terms of aura, Zhang Linsheng remained understated, whereas Lin Yao Hai exuded dominance.

The spectators were on the edge of their seats. A battle between such high-level spirit masters was an extremely rare spectacle.

One was the most mysterious grand spirit master in Yellow Mist City.

The other was the Lin family’s great patriarch.

Both stood among the most powerful grand spirit masters in the city.

At this moment, the audience could not determine who had the upper hand.

However, Chen Fei knew that if Zhang Linsheng did not have the strength to defeat Lin Yao Hai, he would not have stepped forward in the first place.

The battle was about to begin!

As soon as they clashed, the two ninth-grade grand spirit masters displayed their mastery. Their movements seemed simple, yet every strike was lethal, targeting their opponent’s weakest points.

The audience watched with bated breath, afraid to miss even a single move. However, even among the experienced martial artists, none could determine which of the two was superior.

Only the Lin family’s ancestor and City Lord Ye Chenyi, who observed from the shadows, had already made their judgments.

“Imperial Shadow Army!”

“This Zhang Linsheng is a retired spirit master from the Imperial Shadow Army!”

Both the Lin family’s ancestor and City Lord Ye Chenyi were slightly taken aback.

“If that’s the case, Lin Yao Hai is likely to lose,” Ye Chenyi concluded.

“Losing to a retired Shadow Army spirit master is no disgrace,” the Lin family ancestor muttered.

Sure enough, as the battle progressed, Lin Yao Hai’s initial aggressive momentum began to wane under Zhang Linsheng’s precise counterattacks.

The scales of victory were shifting irreversibly in Zhang Linsheng’s favor.

Even the weaker spirit masters could now sense Lin Yao Hai’s impending defeat.