"Brother Lu, please don't mind," Long Aotian said with a smile. "I am the captain of the Dragon Group. Dragon Country needs talents like you. If you are willing to join, you are always welcome!"
"Join the Dragon Group?" Lu Fan chuckled. "I'm not interested."
"You can state your conditions, and the Dragon Group will help you achieve them," Long Aotian stated directly.
Jianying and Hanbing were even more surprised. They had put in so much effort to join the Dragon Group, and Lu Fan had the opportunity but refused it outright, which shook them to their core.
"I don't wish to belong to any faction, even within Dragon Country," Lu Fan said frankly. "Since you are the captain of the Dragon Group, your status must be very high. Your personal invitation shows sincerity, but my heart isn't here."
"I heard you have a feud with Du Qianqiu," Long Aotian said with a smile. "He is very famous in the extraterrestrial battlefield and is the leader of the Black Shadow organization. Dealing with him won't be easy."
"I have my own way of handling this matter!" Lu Fan smiled. "But by saying that, do you also have a grudge against Du Qianqiu?"
"I naturally have no grudge against him," Long Aotian waved his hand. "It's just that his Black Shadow organization does not accept Dragon Country's jurisdiction and secretly harms Dragon Country's interests."
"In that case, you want to use me to deal with Qianqiu?" Lu Fan asked curiously.
"Du Qianqiu has always been in the extraterrestrial battlefield, which is a gathering place for various forces. Even Dragon Country's experts dare not act rashly," Long Aotian said directly. "I heard you captured his son, but to avoid Dragon Country's experts, he wouldn't dare to enter easily. Everything you've done is meaningless."
"Wouldn't dare to enter?" Lu Fan frowned slightly. "No wonder he was famous throughout the world thirty years ago, but hasn't appeared in Dragon Country for thirty years!"
"If you are willing to join the Dragon Group, I can help you achieve your wish," Long Aotian said with a smile. "I always keep my word."
"I will settle the deep family feud myself," Lu Fan stated directly. "So your condition is invalid, and I will not join the Dragon Group. Everyone has different aspirations!"
After speaking, Lu Fan turned to leave. The people from the Dragon Group harbored no hostility, but joining the Dragon Group was equivalent to losing freedom, having to obey orders from above. Lu Fan was quite unwilling to do this.
Watching Lu Fan's retreating back, Long Aotian was not disappointed. He believed that Lu Fan would eventually join the Dragon Group and become a guardian of Dragon Country.
"Boss, this doesn't seem like your style," Hanbing said. "We went to great lengths to join the Dragon Group back then. Why is he so casual now? You even asked him so politely."
"Such a genius will have great use in the future," Long Aotian said directly. "You are the young generation of experts trained by Dragon Country, and you have reached this level by utilizing all of Dragon Country's resources. But he, merely from the common martial arts world, is no inferior to you. This is enough to show his potential!"
"Indeed!" Jianying nodded. "His strength is very strong. I probed him a few times, and he still hasn't used his full power!"
"It's just a pity that he is unwilling to join the Dragon Group," Long Aotian said helplessly. "Do you have any ideas?"
"Hanbing is quite attractive. Why don't you have her get close to this kid? Heroes find it hard to resist the allure of beauty, as the saying goes," Jianying chuckled.
"You have a big mouth!" Hanbing rolled her eyes. "I won't do that. Besides, if he doesn't want to join the Dragon Group, why force him!"
"By the way, have you found out the whereabouts of that strange old man?" Long Aotian suddenly asked. "He broke into a secret area of the Dragon Group, he must have some intentions!"
"This..." Jianying said awkwardly. "We tracked him from Chu Province to Zhong Province, but there is still no news. It's as if he has vanished."
"In that case, you should first guard the peace of Zhong Province," Long Aotian said directly. "The martial arts tournament is about to begin, and there can be no mistakes. These martial arts experts are not weak, and we cannot let them destroy Zhong Province."
"Don't worry, sir!" Hanbing said directly. "With me here, there will be absolutely no problems!"
Long Aotian nodded slightly and then left the forest. He was quite satisfied with testing Lu Fan tonight.
Lu Fan returned to the hotel late at night. He entered a room and saw Du Haisheng and Han Yunhai sitting cross-legged. Seeing Lu Fan arrive, they quickly stood up. "It's so late, sir. What brings you here?"
"I need to ask him a few questions!" Lu Fan waved his hand and walked to Du Haisheng. "Du Qianqiu is not in Dragon Country, but in the extraterrestrial battlefield! He is also the leader of the Black Shadow organization!"
"You know quite a lot," Du Haisheng said coldly. "If you're scared, release me soon, or you'll regret it!"
"I never regret my actions. Tomorrow, in the battle with the Jiang family head, I want you to personally witness how he is defeated," Lu Fan sneered.
The events of the past remain a mystery. The reason Du Qianqiu killed his entire family made it difficult for Lu Fan to sleep.
The next morning, by the shores of the lake in Zhong Province, a crowd of martial arts experts had gathered. The battle between the Jiang family head and Master Lu of Jiangnan had caused a great stir, piquing the curiosity of countless people.
One was a Heavenly Ranking expert who overpowered many powerful figures, while the other had fought four Grandmasters without defeat and even managed to intercept one of them. The clash between these two would undoubtedly cause endless ripples.
In addition to the many martial arts experts, there were also numerous martial arts families who wanted to see the strength of these two individuals.
After all, in the martial arts world, some things had to be understood clearly.
"Master should be here soon," Han Qiushui said not far from the lakeside. "There will be a great battle then!"
"Master Lu has never been defeated, and he won't be defeated this time either," said Old Master Han.
"That's right! Master Lu will definitely not be defeated," the Zhao family head also agreed.
They met in Zhong Province and thus traveled together. Unfortunately, they hadn't met Lu Fan, but hearing about Lu Fan's appointment with the Jiang family head, they specially came to the lakeside in Zhong Province.
"Big brother, who do you think will win today's battle?" Gu Wen stood not far from the lakeside, along with many experts from the Gu family. Even Old Master Gu had come to watch.
"It's hard to say!" Gu Long shook his head. "If I'm not mistaken, today will be a fierce battle."
"Regardless of the outcome, the Gu family will remain neutral," Old Master Gu said directly. "The situation in Zhong Province is chaotic, and it is most important for the Gu family to stay out of trouble."
Gu Wen said nothing more, but felt a bit helpless. Indeed, to become the head of a family, one must have strong decision-making abilities.
On the highest point by the lakeside in Zhong Province, Jianying held an apple. "Today's battle will be without suspense!"
"Who do you think will win?" Hanbing asked in surprise.
"Although the Jiang family head is infinitely close to the Battle Spirit, he has not yet reached it," Jianying said directly. "That kid's aura is hidden, and I can't sense his true combat power, but the fact that he makes me wary is enough to sweep through the martial arts world!"
"You think quite highly of him!" Hanbing nodded. "In that case, let's wait and see!"