"What did you just say, boy?"
Kong Mo's face twisted in anger at Jiang Chen's words, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Uncle Yue, i don't think I can treat your Thunderwing Eagle, you'd better find someone else." The purple-clothed youth turned away, clearly intending to leave.
"Nephew Kong Mo," the middle-aged man in white, whom Jiang Chen now knew as Yue Zhonghai, intervened calmly. "You're the only third-rank beast trainer in Thunderstone City. If you can't treat my Thunderwing Eagle, I fear no one else can."
He then turned to Jiang Chen. "Young man, would you give me some face and be willing to help me heal my Thunderwing Eagle?"
Jiang Chen nodded indifferently. "I can."
A look of relief crossed Yue Zhonghai's face. "Thank you." He then turned back to Kong Mo. "Nephew Kong, can you explain your treatment plan?"
"Uncle Yue," Kong Mo began confidently, "the Thunderwing Eagle is gravely injured and on the brink of death. To heal it, I'll need a third-rank Thunder Spirit Pill and a third-tier Spirit Gathering Formation. With those, I can use my Third-grade beast healing technique to restore it."
A faint sneer echoed in the courtyard. "What kind of trash is that?"
Kong Mo's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?" He glared at Jiang Chen, his voice cold. "I'm a Third-Grade beast trainer. What makes you qualified to criticize my method?"
Jiang Chen smirked. "Third-Grade beast trainer? Is that supposed to impress me?"
He continued, his tone resolute, "I can tell you with certainty—if you follow your plan, the Thunderwing Eagle will die!"
The entire courtyard fell silent.
Yue Zhonghai frowned. "Young man, are you also a beast trainer?"
Jiang Chen replied calmly, "Just a little. I'm a Fourth-Grade beast trainer."
Gasps filled the courtyard.
"Fourth-Grade beast trainer? This kid is definitely bragging!"
"Exactly! Even Kong Mo, the genius from the Kong family, is only a Third-Grade beast trainer. How could he be a Fourth-Grade?"
"A Third-Grade formation master is already hard to believe. Now he's claiming to be a Fourth-Grade beast trainer? Ridiculous!"
The murmurs grew louder, filled with disbelief and mockery.
Kong Mo laughed as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke. "Boy, if you're a Third-Grade formation master and a Fourth-Grade beast trainer, I'll write my name backwards!"
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed. "The Thunder Spirit Pill and Spirit Gathering Formation can indeed aid the recovery of the Thunderwing Eagle. But both are extremely potent and difficult to control. With your skills as a Third-Grade beast trainer, you're completely out of your depth."
"If you don't believe me, go ahead and try. The eagle won't survive."
The murmurs in the courtyard grew more thoughtful.
"He... he might have a point."
"True. Using a Thunder Spirit Pill and a Spirit Gathering Formation together requires precise control. If Kong Mo can't handle the power, the eagle will die."
"Yes. With the Thunderwing Eagle in such a fragile state, it would be too risky!"
As the discussions grew louder, Kong Mo's face darkened, his expression twisting into one of rage.