Chapter 625: Everything You’ve Said, I Can Get With Ease

Shen Aotian raised an eyebrow. 'This kid can actually withstand my aura,' he thought. 'Interesting!'

'But that's all it is.'

Shen Aotian didn't answer Cheng Yuan. Instead, he raised a hand toward the vast sea and asked faintly, "Young man, standing here, what do you see?"

Cheng Yuan answered honestly, "A vast, boundless sea."

Shen Aotian suddenly sighed. "Indeed! The sea is vast and boundless! It makes one feel so insignificant!"

After a pause, Shen Aotian continued, "But do you know? This is actually just a small bay. To the little Linhai Town, it is everything to the fishermen. But once you leave the bay for the open sea, for the great ocean, you will find this small bay is not worth mentioning!"

Cheng Yuan arched an eyebrow. "So?"

Shen Aotian looked at Cheng Yuan with an indifferent gaze. "So, this small bay is just like you. You have a place for yourself in the little city of Luocheng. But if you were placed in all of Dongshan, or even the entire Dragon Country, you would be like a speck of dust—insignificant."

Cheng Yuan was speechless. 'What is Shen Aotian rambling on about?' he thought. 'He's being so cryptic.'

"Mr. Shen, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Don't speak to me in riddles."

Shen Aotian was also left speechless. He thought his hint had been perfectly clear, yet Cheng Yuan somehow failed to understand it.

This only strengthened Shen Aotian's conviction: Cheng Yuan was not worthy of his daughter!

Shen Aotian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, facing the surging waves. With an aura like a dragon, he declared, "Lord Guan once said, 'How can a tiger's daughter marry a dog's son?' My daughter, the daughter of Shen Aotian, can only be pursued by the most brilliant young talent in all of Dongshan! And you, Cheng Yuan, fall far short of that mark! From this moment on, do not appear by my daughter's side again!"

Cheng Yuan rolled his eyes, utterly exasperated. "Mr. Shen, I'm afraid you've gotten a few things wrong. First, you shouldn't be saying this to me; you should be saying it to your esteemed daughter. Second, do you really know me at all? And third, is the 'brilliant young talent' in your eyes someone of Tang Jun's caliber?"

Shen Aotian had already investigated the matter of Tang Jun being beaten to a pulp. He said faintly, "The Tang Family's total assets rank within the top one hundred on the Dragon Country's list of wealthiest families. Even our Shen Family is a distant second. However, Tang Jun's performance today was substandard. Whether or not he can marry my daughter will depend on his future actions."

"As for you, you do have some clever tricks and have accumulated a small fortune in a short time, but your foundation is too shallow! No matter how hard you try, you'll never get an invitation to the real upper echelon!"

"You, Cheng Yuan, are not worthy of pursuing my daughter!"

Cheng Yuan laughed in anger. 'This Shen Aotian really thinks too highly of himself, doesn't he?'

A playful smile touched the corners of Cheng Yuan's lips. "Mr. Shen, now that you've said all that, I'm actually a little interested. Could you tell me? What exactly would it take to be considered 'worthy'?"

Shen Aotian mused, "Normally, these things are better left unsaid. But since you've asked, I'll spell it out so you can give up completely! Your family must include a high-ranking official from one of Dongshan's major bureaus, or a top commander of one of Dongshan's subordinate defense sectors! Economically, you must rank in the top one hundred wealthiest in the Dragon Country. As for you personally, you must at least be a director of a regional bureau, a Captain of a defense sector, or personally control assets of over a billion!"

At this, Shen Aotian shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Of course, I know that for a drifter with no roots like you, these are goals you could never achieve in a lifetime! How could I possibly feel at ease marrying my daughter to someone like you?"

Cheng Yuan shrugged. "Mr. Shen, that you can say all this just proves you don't truly know me at all. Everything you just described... for me, it's all easily within reach."

'Easily within reach?'

Shen Aotian almost burst out laughing.

"Cheng Yuan, I don't know where you get this confidence. Is it from those shady, mystical tricks you use to fool people? Or is it your uncle, the deputy director at the Construction Bureau? Your greatest backing is that hotel in the Provincial City, isn't it? I must tell you, you are far too naive! The world isn't as simple as you imagine! Take Elder Qin beside me, for example! He is from the Ancient Martial Qin Family! His power is immense! Even Elder Qin wouldn't dare claim that everything I just mentioned is 'easily within reach'!"

Cheng Yuan glanced at Elder Qin and said lightly, "That just means Elder Qin's power isn't great enough. With sufficient power, a single slash can annihilate everything!"

'A single slash can annihilate everything?'

Shen Aotian and Elder Qin couldn't help but laugh.

Shen Aotian's expression grew stern. "Cheng Yuan," he said seriously, "when I was young, I was just as arrogant as you are now. I paid dearly for it and took many wrong turns. If you promise to leave Manman, I can take you under my wing. I can help you avoid twenty years of struggle."

Cheng Yuan shook his head gently. "Mr. Shen, I appreciate the offer, but it's getting late, and I need to get some rest. However, you can rest assured about one thing: I'm already married. I only see your daughter as a friend."

Shen Aotian's expression softened slightly. "Young man, don't be so proud. When you reach my age, you'll realize pride is worthless. I still have a good opinion of you. When you've thought it over, you can come find me anytime."

With that, Shen Aotian turned and left.

Elder Qin, who had been standing to the side, stepped forward and offered a word of advice. "Young man, starting tomorrow, Aotian will be the King of Dongshan. With his patronage, your future would be limitless. Don't miss this golden opportunity!"

Cheng Yuan knew Elder Qin meant well, so he offered a piece of advice in return. "Elder Qin, I would advise you not to covet worldly wealth and power. It will erode your martial spirit, and you will never be able to take that crucial step."

Elder Qin's expression darkened. 'This kid is so arrogant! How dare he lecture me, his senior?'

"Insolent brat!"

Elder Qin snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and stormed away.

After Shen Aotian and his group had departed, Cheng Yuan stared intently at the surging waves and said faintly, "In your eyes, the bay is insignificant compared to the deep sea, to the ocean. But in my eyes, what is the entire world? Once I reach the peak of the Martial Dao, I, Cheng Yuan, will surpass my master and stand at the apex of the world!"

...

The rest of the journey passed in silence. Soon, Shen Aotian's motorcade arrived at the Coastal Du Family Village.

After getting out of the car, Shen Aotian noticed Elder Qin's dark expression and asked in a placating tone, "Elder Qin? Are you still angry about that kid?"

Elder Qin snorted. "That kid is as stubborn and foul as a stone in a cesspit! And he dared to lecture me? Me! It's laughable! Once you become the King of Dongshan, Aotian, the Cultivation resources I can obtain will increase tenfold at least! I will absolutely be able to take that crucial step! When that time comes, I must see that kid again and show him just how laughably wrong he was!"