"Oh? This slave called 'Ferocious Beast' doesn't possess internal energy, yet he’s this formidable?" Teng Qingshan appeared genuinely curious.

Seeing Teng Qingshan finally initiate conversation, Young Master Li felt a secret delight bloom in his heart.

"Sir," Young Master Li said with a smile, "That’s something you wouldn’t know. This slave called the 'Ferocious Beast' grew up among the packs since childhood; he doesn't even know how to speak, only roaring like a wild animal! However, he is unlike the common savages. Because he possesses boundless strength! His sheer power is something those Qing Shi tribesmen cannot even dream of comparing to!"

"Boundless strength?" Teng Qingshan’s eyebrows arched slightly.

"He can lift boulders weighing tens of thousands of jin with just one hand!" A hint of awe flickered in Young Master Li’s eyes. "He can effortlessly tear apart fierce beasts, and he is as brutal as they are! You haven't witnessed the horrifying scenes when he fights in the caged arenas. His greatest pleasure is ripping his opponents to shreds, then using his teeth to continue the tearing, a truly savage beast alive!"

"In his daily life, he subsists on raw meat and blood, just like a wild animal," Young Master Li sighed with emotion.

Teng Qingshan listened, his thoughts churning: Based on what Young Master Li says, this slave called 'Ferocious Beast' cannot speak and still eats raw meat and blood! He is simply a savage. I can conclude... he is not a master of internal martial arts who received systematic training. He is a wild man who never received human tutelage!

For such a wild man who grew up among beasts, Teng Qingshan couldn't help but sigh internally.

Without human language, even with immense physical strength.

At best, he would remain a mere plaything for the human tribes, still just a slave.

"However, this savage, without cultivating internal energy, how can he so easily lift a massive boulder weighing ten thousand jin with one hand?" Teng Qingshan was puzzled in his heart.

Regarding pure physical might, besides himself, Teng Qingshan had never encountered anyone whose strength surpassed ten thousand jin.

Li Jun beside him asked curiously, "Is this Ferocious Beast slave still in the slave marketplace?"

Teng Qingshan also looked towards Young Master Li.

Young Master Li smiled and shook his head. "He is long gone. To tell you the truth, that Ferocious Beast slave was acquired by my Fang family long ago! He is currently residing in my manor!"

"Oh?" Teng Qingshan’s heart stirred.

"Fang Li, earlier at the Rising Sun Tavern, we heard roars coming from your Fang Manor. Were those roars the Ferocious Beast slave’s?" Teng Qingshan inquired. Young Master Li laughed upon hearing this. "Yes, it was him! This Ferocious Beast slave doesn't understand human speech; when he's hungry or whatever, he only knows how to roar wildly. Now, the entire Dan Yang City—every morning, noon, and evening—can hear this beast roaring indiscriminately. Sometimes... this Ferocious Beast slave even breaks loose and runs around. Being so untamed, my Fang family often has no choice but to humor him!"

Teng Qingshan sighed silently upon hearing this.

They were purely raising him like livestock.

"This Ferocious Beast slave can easily kill a peak Houtian master. For such a powerful slave, how could the marketplace bear to sell him?" Li Jun looked puzzled.

Young Master Li smiled slightly. "Firstly, this Ferocious Beast slave is too powerful. As long as it's a caged fight, the Ferocious Beast slave is guaranteed to win! Since the victory is assured, all the gamblers coming here naturally place their bets on this Ferocious Beast slave. Furthermore, they can't compel the Ferocious Beast slave to cheat, as he wouldn't understand the concept! Therefore, whenever there’s a caged fight, betting on the Ferocious Beast slave to win is a surefire profit! Tell me, would the slave marketplace dare keep using him?"

Li Jun couldn't help but chuckle.

"And secondly!" Young Master Li continued, "As this Ferocious Beast slave grows, his physical strength increases constantly. Moreover, he is too savage and impossible to tame. The slave marketplace lost quite a few people to him. So, the marketplace finally held an auction—highest bidder wins—and sold off this Ferocious Beast slave."

Auction, meaning 'Pū Mǎi' in the Kyushu Continent.

"So your Fang family obtained him," Teng Qingshan smiled faintly.

Young Master Li sighed helplessly. "What use is obtaining him? This Ferocious Beast slave is incredibly dull-witted and cannot be civilized. If placed on a battlefield, he cannot distinguish friend from foe! He can only be utilized occasionally. Otherwise... he must simply be kept. It's a pity... on our Duanmu Continent, only the Tianfeng Family in the Northern Cold Domain possesses expertise in understanding animal languages."

Teng Qingshan glanced at Li Jun, who deliberately winked and raised an eyebrow smugly.

Although Li Jun understood beast language...

Teng Qingshan would never allow Li Jun to serve the Fang family for this purpose.

"Everyone, next up is the second round of today’s caged fights—a battle between men!" An excited roar suddenly erupted, and shouts of cheering immediately sprang up throughout the pavilion, filled with agitation and excitement.

...

The pavilion hosting the caged fights was a scene of uproar, bustling and vibrant.

As Teng Qingshan and Young Master Li drank tea, time slipped by silently. In the blink of an eye, over an hour had passed; it was already evening.

Clop! Clop! Clop!

A warrior clad in iron armor ascended to the second floor of the pavilion and respectfully bowed to Young Master Li. "Young Master, the two Scarlet Wind War Hounds and the four-wheeled carriage forged from Cloud Mountain Wood are ready."

"Mm," Young Master Li nodded with a smile.

"Sir, everything is prepared," Young Master Li said cheerily.

"Haha."

Teng Qingshan stood up with a smile, and Li Jun followed suit. The coachman, Old Wang, and Xiao Ping from the side also moved closer.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Young Master Fang Li. I shall be taking my leave now," Teng Qingshan said lightly with a smile.

Saying this, Teng Qingshan hefted the oversized package and, with Li Jun, left their seats, heading towards the staircase.

"Sir, wait a moment!" Young Master Li called out quickly.

Teng Qingshan stopped and turned to look back at Young Master Li.

Young Master Li smiled. "Sir's strength is extraordinary, and the world is in chaos now. My Fang family is urgently in need of talents from all quarters. We certainly do not wish to let a great talent like you slip away. I, Fang Li, sincerely invite you to join my Fang family. My family is willing to offer you the position of Honored Guest! I hope Sir will grant my request!"

As he spoke, Young Master Li clasped his hands in front of him and bowed deeply.

"Honored Guest?"

Although there weren't many guests on the second floor, there were still some present, and they all stared in astonishment. "Who is this person? To make the eldest young master of the Fang Manor offer such a respectful salute?"

Faced with Young Master Li's invitation, Teng Qingshan showed no hesitation whatsoever.

He casually waved his hand behind him, shouldered the massive package, and walked down the stairs with Li Jun. Coachman Old Wang and Xiao Ping followed close behind.

"Young Master..."

The expressions of the few men behind Young Master Li were far from good. The eldest young master of the Fang Manor had made a grand gesture of invitation, yet the other party seemed utterly arrogant, not even offering a word, merely waving his hand before leaving. Especially since this was happening in full public view! A large crowd was watching.

Young Master Li remained bowed, not rising, but his expression was grim.

"I, Fang Li, adopted the posture described in books—utterly sincere in extending this invitation. Yet he—" Young Master Li felt deeply humiliated.

Moreover, Young Master Li clearly overheard the low murmurs of discussion on the second floor. Hearing the buzzing noise, Young Master Li's face grew even uglier.

"All of you, shut up!"

Young Master Li suddenly roared in anger!

He then straightened up, his gaze sweeping across the second floor. His fierce, knife-like stare silenced the room instantly.

"Everyone, get out of here!!!" Young Master Li shouted fiercely.

The nobles and officials on the second floor, terrified into silence, scattered like stray dogs, each hurrying down the stairs. In just a few breaths, the entire second floor was empty. As these people descended, those from the slave marketplace realized Young Master Li was furious.

Immediately, even the people on the first floor were forcibly ushered out.

The entire pavilion suddenly fell silent.

Young Master Li stood stiffly, resting his hands on the railing, looking down at the iron cages where remnants of bloody corpses still lay, the stench of blood pervasive.

"He dared to disregard me!!!"

Young Master Li’s face was ashen, his gaze vicious.

He, Fang Li! The eldest young master of the Fang Manor... the future head of the Fang family. He was already making crucial decisions for the clan. And the Fang family was the master of Dan Yang City and its surrounding territories! In essence, the eldest young master of the Fang Manor was a local emperor ruling over nearly ten million subjects!

When the Emperor issues an order, who dares disobey?

Thus, whether in the Rising Sun Tavern or the slave marketplace, no one dared to offend Young Master Li! When he commanded the nobles to clear out, no one dared utter a word of protest.

However...

Currently, the various great families on the Duanmu Continent were vying for supremacy, desperate for talent. That was why he had adopted such a deferential posture to invite Teng Qingshan. If Teng Qingshan had replied with polite persuasion and a gentle refusal, the Young Master of the Fang family wouldn't have become so enraged. But Teng Qingshan’s arrogant departure in full view of the public caused the Fang family’s young master to lose immense face.

An emperor bowing to invite someone, and that person leaves without so much as a word, acting brazenly.

How could the emperor not be furious?

"Young Master," at this moment, only Fang Hong dared to speak.

"Fang Hong, do you not think this man is utterly ignorant of propriety? We offered him respect, and he threw it back in our faces!!!" Young Master Fang's gaze was chillingly sharp.

Fang Hong sighed inwardly. The Young Master excels in the struggle against other families; in a few more years, he will likely inherit the position of Family Head. But the Young Master was nurtured by the family from childhood, kept high above everyone, never experiencing life at the bottom. No matter how intelligent he is, he values face too highly; he doesn't understand... sometimes, one must endure! Sacrificing face and dignity for a grand ambition is worthwhile.

The entire Duanmu Continent had only two to three hundred million people.

How many Martial Saints (Xiantian masters) were there in total? Distributed across thirty-six main cities, Martial Saints were exceedingly rare.

"The Fang family has only one Martial Saint! And that is the Young Master’s great-grandfather. The Young Master has never truly interacted with a Martial Saint and thus does not understand... the customs of interacting with a Martial Saint," Fang Hong mused internally. "That 'Shangguan You' of the Shangguan family in the Western Tang region followed the 'Blood Saber Martial Saint' for three years and became sworn brothers with him before the Blood Saber Martial Saint agreed to join the Shangguan family! Inviting a Martial Saint is not such a simple matter."

The second floor remained utterly silent.

Fang Hong bowed. "Young Master, if he truly is a Martial Saint, then ensuring he joins our Fang family, even if it requires some level of humility, would be worthwhile."

"Hmph!" Young Master Li let out a cold snort.

Accustomed to comfort and self-centeredness since childhood, even if he could feign civility, could he truly humble himself?

"If he is indeed a Martial Saint, so be it. But if he is not, and he dares to act so arrogantly toward me, I will certainly subject him to severe torture and death to vent the malice in my heart!" Young Master Li’s eyes turned icy.