Boom, boom—
Lu Zheng widened his eyes. That faintly comforted heart was struck mercilessly once more!
"There really is a Nine-grade Spirit Root, but… but… it's not mine."
*As someone who was considered a "former Nine-grade Spirit Root," the overwhelming disparity was unbearable!*
His blood surged, and he couldn't hold back as he coughed up a mouthful of blood mist on the spot, collapsing to the ground, convulsing incessantly.
Equally devastated was Xu Yining.
She clenched her fists tightly, unwilling to accept the reality, and said, "There's really a Nine-grade Spirit Root in Lonely Boat City? Could it be a malfunction in the Detection Tower?"
Deputy Pavilion Master Chen replied, "Although I don't know why the bronze ruler of the Detection Tower tested someone with merely a mediocre third-grade root as possessing a Nine-grade Spirit Root."
"But, there is indeed a true Nine-grade Spirit Root in Lonely Boat City."
"I have seen the Sect Master's daughter of the Green Cloud Sect not long ago, who acknowledged that she couldn't compare."
"Only…"
Deputy Pavilion Master Chen frowned.
Though Liu Qingxian said she gave the Green Cloud Order to the person,
If that person doesn't actively reveal it, how will he know who it is?
Looks like!
Liu Qingxian will have to be called back. She's the only one who's seen the true Nine-grade Spirit Root.
She's the only one who can help search for that person.
Xu Yining's brief sense of relief was suppressed once again. She gripped her fists tightly and said, "I also want to know just who this Nine-grade Spirit Root figure is!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhengdao cast her a glance. Considering her status as a Sixth-grade Spirit Root, he said earnestly, "Keep your perspective level."
"This Nine-grade Spirit Root is very special; even my Eighth-grade Spirit Root pales in comparison."
"If you're fortunate enough to become acquainted with him, consider it a blessing of this lifetime."
The implication was clear: Xu Yining was only worthy of admiration, not comparison.
Xu Yining revealed an expression of shock. An Eighth-grade Spirit Root pales in comparison?
Then doesn't that mean her Sixth-grade Spirit Root is even further below?
*Thinking of this, she started to come to terms; if even a Vice Pavilion Master admits defeat, what more could her humble Sixth-grade Spirit Root amount to?*
*She couldn't help but imagine what kind of dazzling figure this Nine-grade Spirit Root prodigy must be.*
She murmured, "He must be like a dragon among men, invincible in this world, right?"
Suddenly.
She caught sight of Jiang Fan standing motionlessly, his chin supported by his hand as if lost in thought, and the sight annoyed her.
Today, he stole all the limelight.
His cultivation at the Sixth Layer of Qi left everyone in awe.
*But the more exceptional he seemed, didn't it highlight how blind she had been in the past?*
"Jiang Fan, does beating the 'Nine-grade Spirit Root' make you feel proud?"
Xu Yining's expression turned icy as she said, "Lu Zheng hasn't been cultivating diligently all these years; he's wasted his efforts elsewhere."
"His foundation is unstable, and his swordsmanship hasn't reached Great Success."
"Beating him doesn't mean much."
Jiang Fan snapped out of his thoughts.
He had merely been pondering over the mystery of the Nine-grade Spirit Root mentioned by Chen Zhengdao.
Given that even the Green Cloud Sect Master's daughter admitted inferiority, that person must be remarkable.
*He wondered how much difference there was between his Transparent Spirit Root and the true Nine-grade Spirit Root.*
Upon hearing Xu Yining's remarks, he merely glanced at her and dismissed it indifferently.
Turning to Xu Youran, he smiled and wrote, "Surprised?"
Xu Youran looked at Jiang Fan, her eyes gleaming with light, and nodded repeatedly, "Fan, you're amazing!"
This indifference toward Xu Yining and prioritization of Xu Youran's attitude made Xu Yining feel incredibly uncomfortable.
*It gave her a strange sense of being overshadowed by her elder sister, Xu Youran.*
*That discomfort gnawed at her heart.*
At this moment.
Chen Zhengdao also rose and left.
Without waiting for the Xu family members to see him off, he mounted his flying eagle and soared skyward.
Xu Zhengyan let out a deep sigh, slumping into his chair, "It's fortunate that Deputy Pavilion Master Chen is magnanimous and didn't pursue the matter of us impersonating a Nine-grade Spirit Root."
"Otherwise, our Xu Family would be in big trouble."
He had been terrified earlier.
Still trembling but slightly steadied, Lu Zheng showed a look of relief, narrowly escaping calamity.
Though he wasn't a Nine-grade Spirit Root anymore, it was fortunate Deputy Pavilion Master Chen hadn't sentenced them.
Still, the matter wasn't over yet!
A roar filled with wrath exploded in the air!
"LU ZHENG!!!"
Everyone's bodies jolted, following the voice to find Qin Changsheng with his face contorted in rage, looking ready to devour someone.
His mane flared wildly, fists clenched tightly, as he bellowed, "You worthless scum!"
This calamity hit no one harder than Qin Changsheng.
Lu Zheng may have simply been revealed for the fraud he was.
But Qin Changsheng's fate was different:
He madly bet everything by clinging to Lu Zheng's thigh from the start.
Initially, gifting ten vials of Low-Grade Qi Cultivation Liquid was one thing.
But when he came bearing congratulatory gifts earlier, it included an astronomical offering worth 300,000 taels of silver!
Worse, Lu Zheng had theatrically divided up the Low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid and it had all been consumed.
No way to recover it!
Lu Zheng shuddered with alarm, his face blanching, "Qin Family Head, please calm down—I… I'll figure out a way to pay you back."
*He regretted deeply; had he listened to Jiang Fan earlier and refrained from accepting gifts, this disaster could have been avoided.*
"Pay back? How? With what?" Qin Changsheng's eyes turned bloodshot, as though intending to choke Lu Zheng to death.
The Qin family had sought to align with Lu Zheng and the Soul Master behind him.
Thus pouring a fortune of 300,000 silver into this now worthless connection.
Now—it was all for naught!
Facing a completely flipped Qin Changsheng, Lu Zheng belatedly realized that the Qin Family was one of Lonely Boat City's four great families.
Normally, it was far beyond his reach as a small figure.
Frightened, he dared not utter another word and hid behind Wang Yingfeng.
Qin Changsheng roared, "In three days, come up with the money and repay me—or else, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
His body trembled, erupting with the formidable aura of a first-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The overwhelming might left the Xu family trembling in fear.
The Xu family, merely a moderate clan, was no match for the fury of the Qin family.
Lu Zheng, less still.
If unprotected, Qin Changsheng would surely destroy him!
Once Qin Changsheng departed, Xu Zhengyan furiously glared at Lu Zheng, "You calamity! Get out! The Xu Family doesn't need traitorous scum like you!"
*He was livid.*
*Not only had Lu Zheng failed to elevate the Xu Family to great heights, but instead disgraced them, reduced them to laughingstocks across the city.*
*Now, they carried a staggering debt of 300,000 taels!*
Wang Yingfeng, determined to protect her nephew, threw a fit, "Xu Zhengyan! If you kick Zheng out, you'll kick me out too!"
She fell to the ground, legs thrashing as she wailed loudly.
Xu Zhengyan, seeing her antics, relented, saying, "Do you expect the Xu Family to bear this debt then? That's 300,000 taels! Should the entire family starve to cover it?"
Wang Yingfeng faltered.
Still, she clung to protecting her nephew and said, "This—this isn't all Zheng's fault; it's… it's Jiang Fan's fault!"
"Yes, if Jiang Fan hadn't been living next door to Lu Zheng, bringing bad luck, Zheng wouldn't have mistakenly thought he was a Nine-grade Spirit Root."
Hearing such irrational nonsense, Xu Zhengyan couldn't help but get angry.
Though he disliked Jiang Fan, he had to admit this wasn't Jiang Fan's fault.
He couldn't help but argue fairly, "No matter what you say, Lu Zheng brought this on himself! He'll pay the debt himself!"
Wang Yingfeng saw her tantrum failing and directed all her grievance at Jiang Fan, "Why didn't you show Lu Zheng some leniency earlier?"
"If you had let him win, wouldn't we be spared all this trouble?"
Xu Youran was also angered and said, "Aunt Wang! That's just too much!"
"Lu Zheng has been relentlessly targeting Fan all along. Now you're blaming him?"
Seeing Xu Youran standing up to her, Wang Yingfeng became even angrier, yelling, "You dare talk back to me!"
"Fine, fine, fine! You two really think you're already husband and wife, teaming up to bully me, huh?"
"Let me tell you this: you haven't even sealed the deal yet!"
"Jiang Fan, in three days, you better hand over an engagement gift that satisfies me. If I'm not pleased, you can forget this marriage!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Youran's face turned pale.
Wang Yingfeng's unreasonable anger toward Jiang Fan left her worried. The tiny fragments of silver she had given Jiang Fan wouldn't be sufficient.
She bit her red lip, about to swallow her pride and apologize.
But Jiang Fan held her hand, stopping her.
With his other hand, he indifferently wrote:
"If the engagement gift satisfies you, then shut your filthy mouth once and for all."