Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 449: Gao Jinghao, the Lord of Lingyuan City

At the same time, Gao Jinghao, the Lord of Lingyuan City, came hurtling across the city's rooftops like a flash of black lightning. He was clad in a long black robe, the sleeves of which rustled in the wind. His swift movements and speed were so impressive that the tiles made no sound wherever he passed, as if he had blended into the darkness.

Ding Moli fell from the fifth floor of Tingya Building, leaving him dazed and battered. His clothes were stained with blood, and he struggled to get up. As he regained his footing, he saw Gao Jinghao appear before him like a ghost. A flash of fear flashed in his eyes, and he subconsciously tried to dodge, but his injured body prevented him from moving quickly. He could only watch helplessly as Gao Jinghao sped past him.

Gao Jinghao rushed across the rooftop, scanning the surrounding situation with sharp eyes. He also saw Ding Moli, but at this moment, the battle on the fifth floor of Tingya Building obviously attracted his attention more. He did not stop for too long and ran directly towards Tingya Building.

Arriving on the rooftop of the nearest house to Tingya Tower, Gao Jinghao paused, then, with a sudden push of his legs, leaped like a cannonball, leaping directly to the fifth floor. His movements were light and powerful, and he landed almost silently, like a black panther hunting at night, silent yet fraught with deadly danger.

As soon as Gao Jinghao appeared, he saw a startling scene: Xu Tian was locked in a fierce battle alone against Ding Mojin, Ding Moxiu, Li Mo, and Li Zhi. Although Ding Mojin and the other three coordinated well and their moves were fierce, they were gradually showing signs of fatigue under Xu Tian's fierce attack and were at a clear disadvantage.

Seeing this, Gao Jinghao's eyes widened in anger, and a roar erupted from his chest: "Stop!" The sound resounded like a bell throughout the Tingya Building, shaking the eardrums. Then, a suffocatingly powerful energy burst out from his body, spreading in all directions, as if threatening to overturn the fifth floor of Tingya Building. Wherever this energy reached, tables and chairs were toppled, windows shattered, and broken wood and glass shards flew in the air, making it impossible to open your eyes.

Xu Tian also sensed this terrifying aura, and his heart trembled, knowing that the city lord's strength far surpassed his own. He didn't dare to be careless, and quickly distanced himself from Ding Mojin and the other three. He stared at Gao Jinghao warily, his feet slightly apart, knees bent, in a defensive posture, his eyes revealing solemnity and vigilance.

After Ding Mojin and the other three distanced themselves from Xu Tian, ​​they immediately put away their previous fierce looks. A hint of flattery and awe appeared on their faces. They knelt down in front of Gao Jinghao without hesitation and said in unison: "Greetings to City Lord Gao." Their voices were uniform and loud, but they seemed to tremble a little in this tense atmosphere, and it was obvious that they were afraid of Gao Jinghao.

Gao Jinghao's face was so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip out of it. His eyes swept coldly over Ding Mojin and the other three, and finally fell on Ding Mojin. He said in a low and majestic voice: "Ding Mojin, tell me, what's going on?" There was a hint of displeasure and anger in his eyes. It seemed that he was very dissatisfied with this chaotic situation and wanted to find out the culprit.

Ding Mojin raised his head slightly, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself. He cleared his throat and said, "City Lord Gao, this guy is Xu Tian. We just said a few words to General Li Hua, and they attacked our Ding family." His voice was filled with a hint of grievance and dissatisfaction, as if deliberately emphasizing that it was Xu Tian and his men who started the incident, and that they were just innocent victims. However, his eyes were a little distracted, and he didn't dare to look Gao Jinghao in the eye, clearly hiding something.

Gao Jinghao frowned slightly after hearing Ding Mojin's words. His gaze fell on Xu Tian again, his eyes full of scrutiny and inquiry. He wondered inwardly: Who is this Xu Tian? How dare he be so presumptuous in his territory, openly opposing the Ding and Li families?

Xu Tian stood amidst the devastation, his face pale as a sheet, yet twisted slightly with anger and pain. Beads of sweat streamed down his forehead, streaking across his dust- and blood-stained cheeks before dripping onto the shattered porcelain and wood chips at his feet. His body trembled violently, straining to suppress the surging, nearly uncontrollable aura within him. Like a trapped beast, it raced through his meridians, threatening to burst him at any moment. Meanwhile, the Ding family's actions, like sharp blades, pierced his heart. They had dared to openly humiliate General Li Hua, who had fought bravely on the front lines and rendered great service to the empire. He was his hero, the role model he had followed his whole life.

Furthermore, they had also verbally abused and teased his cherished friend, Chen Xin'er, sending a rage raging within him, nearly consuming his sanity. Now, facing the city lord, Gao Jinghao, who clearly favored the Ding family, Xu Tian felt a wave of helplessness and desolation. He knew that in this game of power and profit, he was merely a pawn, vulnerable to abandonment. His defenses might seem futile to Gao Jinghao, but his deep sense of justice, like a towering mountain, remained unwavering, ensuring he would not retreat.

Gao Jinghao stood aside, like a dark demon, radiating a chilling aura. His gaze, like a materialized cold light, pierced Xu Tian coldly, as if to see through his soul and understand his every thought. There was no mercy or sympathy in his eyes, only the arrogance of superiority and the dominance of dominance. His voice was low and hoarse, but it carried an unquestionable majesty, slowly echoing in the building, which was so silent that only the heavy breathing of the crowd could be heard: "Xu Tian? It was you who attacked the Ding family?" Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, leaving a cold mark in the air, making people shudder.

Xu Tian slowly raised his head, his eyes revealing a hint of fatigue and determination. He first gave Gao Jinghao a deep look, a gaze devoid of fear, but instead filled with a silent question. After a moment, he straightened his spine, using all his strength to make his voice sound calm and resolute: "The Ding family humiliated General Li Hua, who had retired from the front lines. As General Li's former subordinate, how could I possibly tolerate this?" His voice echoed in the silent space, filled with a desperate courage, each word like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. His hands clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles white with the force, as if to demonstrate to Gao Jinghao his inner resolve and perseverance, a determination to never compromise even in the face of death.