"Yes, make him write!"
"Let's see how arrogant he really is!"
"To dare to scorn the master's calligraphy, he deserves to never see the sun again!"
...
Chu Fan glanced at Nan Baixuan, who was retreating towards the back amidst the chaos, intending to sneak away. He did not stop her.
Some things were better if the little girl didn't see them.
After Nan Baixuan had completely exited the room, he rolled up his sleeves.
Qin Zhengqi wasted no more words. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Bring the paper, brush, and ink!"
High-quality Xuan paper was spread flat on the table and secured.
Guan Hongyun and Shangguan Hongyu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with anticipation.
They only knew Chu Fan was powerful, but they were unaware of his calligraphy skills.
However, the two magnates felt that since Chu Fan dared to belittle the works of the masters present, he must possess corresponding skill.
Therefore, they were extremely expectant of his work.
Chu Fan picked up the brush and, with two swift strokes, finished writing a single character.
"Qin!"
Seeing that Chu Fan had written his own surname, Qin Zhengqi's brow furrowed slightly.
The brushstrokes were ordinary, but upon closer inspection, he felt an indescribable sensation.
He couldn't quite pinpoint what that feeling was.
The surrounding crowd all stood on tiptoe, eager to see how the bold young man, Chu Fan, would write.
"Tch, I thought he was something special!"
"Is that all?"
"Haha, this is hilarious, his writing is worse than mine."
...
In the eyes of the crowd, Chu Fan's calligraphy was unremarkable, lacking any outstanding quality.
They failed to notice the three patriarchs of the martial arts families exchange glances, their faces changing, their eyes fixed on the tabletop.
As they watched, their complexions turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
The discerning saw the substance, while the layman saw the spectacle.
The character 'Qin' contained a hidden aura, imperceptible to ordinary people, or rather, Chu Fan didn't intend for them to perceive it.
This aura was a killing intent, poised and restrained within.
It was difficult for anyone not from a martial arts family, or not a master, to detect.
"Everyone else, get out!"
A hoarse command suddenly rang out.
Qin Tian, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, completely uninterested in the proceedings, had, without anyone realizing, opened his eyes and risen. His authoritative gaze was fixed directly on Chu Fan.
The crowd was shocked and bewildered, unable to comprehend why Chu Fan's seemingly poor calligraphy had drawn Qin Tian's attention.
Qin Zhengqi's eyes flickered. After casting a wary glance at Chu Fan, he roared at the crowd, "Didn't you hear?"
"All of you, out!"
The room was soon left with only Qin Tian, his son, and Chu Fan.
"Qi'er, you leave too!"
Qin Zhengqi's heart pounded. Just as he was about to protest, seeing the insistence in his father's eyes, he swallowed the words that had reached his throat, turned, and left, closing the door behind him.
"Could his calligraphy truly be extraordinary?"
"It seemed rather ordinary to me."
"If it were truly ordinary, why would it attract President Qin's attention?"
...
Speculation ran rampant.
The patriarchs of the three major martial arts families, second only to the Qin family, were also gathered together.
"Did you all feel it?"
"The killing intent contained within that character was too potent. His strength is definitely above yours and mine!"
"When did such a powerful figure emerge in Shanhai City?"
"If that's the case, this person comes with ill intentions!"
"He's likely targeting us martial arts families!"
...
Inside the room, Qin Tian walked to the table, his gaze falling upon the character 'Qin' on the surface.
*Crack...*
A sharp sound suddenly echoed as the tabletop cracked and collapsed.
On the fractured surface, sunken imprints appeared, forming the character 'Qin'.
Witnessing this, Qin Tian's eyes narrowed instantly.
He had channeled his force through the thin Xuan paper, impacting the table beneath.
The wood had indented, yet the paper remained intact.
This was a demonstration of ultimate control over force.
Qin Tian knew he could achieve this himself, but he certainly couldn't create the depth of indentation that Chu Fan had.
Strength, there was a clear disparity.
Qin Tian tensed his body, ready to strike at any moment.
He knew that the young man before him was definitely stronger than him.
"Are you here for revenge, or a challenge?"
Qin Tian spoke first.
Deep within his eyes, vigilance churned.
If Chu Fan was seeking revenge, the Qin family was destined for a difficult time.
If it was a challenge, he was prepared to concede immediately; there was no point in engaging.
Chu Fan shook his head slightly. "I am not seeking revenge, nor am I here to challenge."
Qin Tian's tightly held tension eased slightly, but his expression remained puzzled.
If not for revenge or challenge, why cause such a disturbance?
At that moment, he suddenly recalled the celestial phenomenon that had appeared over Shanhai City some time ago.
"The five Great War Emperors who appeared in Shanhai City earlier, were they here to stop you?"
"Yes!"
Even as a Grandmaster, Qin Tian couldn't help but gasp.
Others might not know the strength of the five Great War Emperors, but he was well aware that they were also Grandmasters.
The fact that five Great War Emperors had simultaneously attempted to block him, and the matter ultimately ended inconclusively, could only mean one thing: this person's strength was at least that of a Half-step Grandmaster.
Without being a Half-step Grandmaster, it would have been impossible to make the five Great War Emperors abandon their obstruction.
For such a person to actively seek him out, without seeking revenge or issuing a challenge, Qin Tian genuinely couldn't fathom Chu Fan's purpose.
"Then, what is the purpose of your visit today..."
He who does not understand, must ask.
Facing Chu Fan, who was superior in strength, Qin Tian did not feel that asking was shameful.
"I just came to take a look!"
"To understand the martial arts families of Shanhai City!"
Having previously dealt with the Cao family, Chu Fan's initial plan was to bring about the decline of all five major families of Shanhai City, thereby forcing Master Zhang to reveal himself.
After receiving Master Zhang's call, and realizing Master Zhang did not place much importance on Shanhai City's martial arts families, he had to alter his plan.
If the hard approach wouldn't work, he would try the soft approach.
Chu Fan firmly believed that as long as Master Zhang knew he had made contact with Shanhai City's martial arts families, he would surely contact one of them.
This way, he could follow the trail.
Secondly, regarding the Martial Gate, the most influential organization in the Dragon God Kingdom, it was deeply entrenched.
Ever since learning of the Martial Gate's existence, Ji Ningyue had been investigating it with all her might.
To date, the information obtained was extremely scarce.
If external forces could not infiltrate the Martial Gate, then he would infiltrate it himself.
"You, you are not familiar with the outside world?"
Chu Fan's eyes shifted slightly, then he shook his head.
"Precisely because I am not familiar, that is why I stand here now."
Hearing this, Qin Tian's face turned red with excitement.
At this very moment, he was certain that the young man before him must have come from those hidden families that had been passed down for hundreds of years and possessed absolute power.
Only families with such profound foundations could cultivate a Half-step Grandmaster at such a young age.
Interacting with such families was his lifelong dream.
There were countless martial arts families in the Dragon God Kingdom, yet why were there so few Grandmasters and those of even higher cultivation?
The primary reason was related to family inheritance.
The path of martial arts was akin to climbing a mountain.
The inheritances possessed by many martial arts families in the Dragon God Kingdom could only take them to the halfway point; beyond that, the path disappeared.
Conversely, powerful martial arts families that remained hidden held the methods to reach the summit.
His own cultivation had reached a bottleneck.
In recent years, Qin Tian had diligently searched for hidden families, but to no avail.
Unexpectedly, what he had sought everywhere without success had come to him effortlessly.
The person he had been desperately searching for had simply appeared before him.
"Sir, please, please have a seat!"
Qin Tian, having recovered his composure, quickly pulled a chair for Chu Fan.
*Plop!*
Qin Tian knelt before Chu Fan.
"Qin Tian of Shanhai City pays his respects to you, sir."