Jiang Fan turned his head to look over. Expressionless, he casually wrote: Are you worthy?
In this life, he only submitted to his father, who had raised him single-handedly.
As for everyone else, none were worthy.
Ridiculous. A piece of trash with no spiritual root at allwhat right do you have to act lofty in front of me? Lu Zheng said contemptuously.
He turned to face Xu Zhengyan, bowed, and said, Uncle Xu, I have a request.
Xu Zhengyan hurriedly said, My worthy nephew, please speak. Theres no need for such formality.
Lu Zheng glanced at Jiang Fan, the corner of his mouth curving up. Sister Youran and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts. I cant bear to watch her marry a piece of trash.
I ask Uncle Xu to marry Youran to me.
Only I can give her happiness and a future!
This...
Xu Zhengyan was put in a difficult position. He had already spoken and betrothed Youran to Jiang Fan. Was he supposed to change his mind and have Youran marry someone else?
Wouldnt that make him a man who broke his word?
Uncle, if I were to call out that I wished to take a wife, I believe many families present would be willing to form a marriage alliance with me, wouldnt they?
Lu Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, his tone not without threat.
At that time, I would be another familys son-in-law.
Xu Zhengyans expression changed drastically.
Lu Zheng was the towering tree that would let the Xu family soar to success!
If they lost him, then Xu Zhengyan would become the eternal sinner of the Xu family!
Compared with the disgrace of going back on his word, becoming an eternal sinner was even more than he could bear.
Just as Xu Zhengyan was about to make a decision, Jiang Fan lifted his brush and sharply wrote several words: Uncle Xu, whether one can give Youran happiness depends on strength, not ones mouth.
I am willing to compete with Lu Zheng!
When Xu Zhengyan saw this, his heart immediately eased.
If Jiang Fan lost and voluntarily withdrew, then Xu Zhengyan would not have to bear the reputation of being untrustworthy.
Lu Zheng would also get to marry Xu Youran as he wished.
The best of both worlds!
As for the unlikely event that Jiang Fan won...
One had no spiritual root, and the other had a ninth-grade spiritual root.
He could not fathom how Jiang Fan could possibly win.
He quickly looked at Lu Zheng and said with a smile, Zhenger, what do you think?
Lu Zheng burst into laughter. A piece of trash wants to challenge a ninth-grade spiritual root? Hahaha!
Fine. Since we both grew up in the Xu Residence, Ill give you a chance to measure yourself against a ninth-grade spiritual root.
Even if you lose, youll have bragging rights for the rest of your life!
Xu Zhengyan finally let out a complete sigh of relief and said, Ill give you three days. Whoever breaks through by one level will have the right to marry Xu Youran!
How about it?
One level in three days?
Jiang Fan felt that in three days, what he broke through might not be merely one level.
With his mysterious spiritual root, plus a high-grade yellow-rank mental cultivation method, there would be no difficulty at all.
He immediately lifted his brush and wrote: Agreed!
Lu Zheng smiled confidently. One level? Uncle is underestimating my ninth-grade spiritual root! Three days from now, just wait and see!
At that moment, an old man in luxurious robes cupped his hands and emerged from among the group of big shots, saying, Young Master Lu, I am Qin Changsheng.
Hearing this, everyone present was moved.
Qin Changsheng was the head of Lone Boat Citys number one alchemy family. Relying on their ancestral formula for Qi Refining Liquid, they monopolized all Qi Refining Liquid in every surrounding city.
And Qi Refining Liquid was the only medicine capable of increasing cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm.
Therefore, there was a saying in Lone Boat City: better to offend the City Lord tenfold than to provoke the Qin family in the slightest.
His appearance immediately drew everyones attention.
Lu Zheng also recognized him and asked in puzzlement, Family Head Qin, what is it?
Qin Changsheng smiled as he held out a brocade box. Inside were ten small jade bottles arranged neatly, spiritual light rippling within themit was none other than the famed Qi Refining Liquid!
The Qin family congratulates Young Master Lu on testing positive for a ninth-grade spiritual root.
We have nothing else to offer, so these ten freshly refined bottles of Qi Refining Liquid are presented to Young Master Lu.
I hope Young Master Lu will return with the beauty in his arms three days from now!
Ten bottles?
Many people stared greedily at the Qi Refining Liquid. Even one bottle of this item was immensely valuable, far beyond what an ordinary family could afford.
For the Qin family to give out ten bottles at once, they had truly spared no expense.
With ten bottles of Qi Refining Liquid, even a pig drinking them would undergo a qualitative change, let alone Lu Zheng with his ninth-grade spiritual root.
They could not help but look at Jiang Fan with pity.
This kid was destined to lose his wife.
Jiang Fans eyes narrowed slightly. Was the Qin family openly taking Lu Zhengs side?
Seeming to notice Jiang Fans gaze, Qin Changsheng not only failed to restrain himself, but instead said with complete indifference, In addition, starting today, all shops under my Qin family are forbidden from selling Qi Refining Liquid to Jiang Fan.
This was not just taking sidesit was blatant suppression!
Jiang Fans gaze chilled, and he lifted his brush with a sweep: I hope you wont regret this.
Qin Changsheng said mockingly, Me, regret it? Regret giving up on a piece of trash like you and clinging to Young Master Lus thigh?
The entire hall erupted in laughter.
Jiang Fan gave Qin Changsheng a meaningful look, then silently left.
As the farce came to an end, the crowd dispersed one after another as well.
On the way back, a family elder following Qin Changsheng wore a hesitant expression. Family Head, why were you so aggressive just now, suppressing a junior like that?
As an alchemy family, the Qin family earned enormous profits every year, and many people looked at them with envy.
Therefore, the Qin family had always upheld the principle of keeping a low profile and offending no one.
Qin Changsheng, in particular, understood this deeply. He had always believed in making money through harmony and never getting involved in disputes.
Yet today he had oppressed Jiang Fan so openly, making it very difficult for the elder to understand.
Qin Changsheng said expressionlessly, Do you still remember that mysterious soul master who appeared out of nowhere ten years ago?
The elder nodded. Of course I remember. The mid-grade Qi Refining Liquid that soul master refined nearly destroyed our Qin familys hundred-year foundation.
If that soul master hadnt refined only ten bottles, exchanged them for money and some materials, then stopped there, Im afraid that soul masters mid-grade Qi Refining Liquid could have seized the entire market from our Qin familys low-grade Qi Refining Liquid.
The Qin familys Qi Refining Liquid was low-grade, and its effect was less than half that of mid-grade.
If that person had refined mid-grade Qi Refining Liquid in large quantities for sale, who would still buy low-grade?
That persons appearance back then had nearly caused the Qin familys direct decline.
Qin Changsheng said meaningfully, Then do you remember when Lu Zheng came to our Lone Boat City?
The elder thought carefully, then cried out in alarm, Ten years ago! Family Head, you mean...
Thats right! A trace of excitement appeared in Qin Changshengs eyes. Ten years ago happened to be when Lu Zheng arrived, and that mysterious soul master also appeared around that time.
This is absolutely not a coincidence!
I suspect that soul master is very likely Lu Zhengs Dao Protector, the guardian of this ninth-grade spiritual root!