Chapter 251: Another Duel

The look of astonishment on Zuo Dongge's face vanished in an instant.

"Even if Luo Mu hadn't been careless and underestimated you last time, you should have been able to defeat her, right?" Zuo Dongge asked, appearing very casual.

"That goes without saying. If I knew I would lose and still fought her, wouldn't I be very stupid?" Xia Daoming said as if it were only natural.

Zuo Dongge was immediately choked by Xia Daoming's words, almost unable to resist drawing that broken sword of his.

That day, in order to stop the duel between him and Luo Qian, Xia Daoming had jumped out to challenge Luo Mu with a "go-for-broke" attitude, which had actually moved him a little.

As it turned out, he hadn't expected this brat to even deceive his own master!

"Master, when you actively challenged Elder Luo last time, you must have had absolute certainty of victory. It was just that with a disciple like me around, where would there be any need for you to take action yourself? That's why, at the time, I couldn't care about hiding my clumsiness and jumped out," Xia Daoming said, immediately changing his tone when he saw Zuo Dongge's expression turn sour.

Once Zuo Dongge heard this, he was left speechless. It took a good while before he stroked his neatly groomed beard and said, "That is only natural. Even if I, your master, have injuries, I am still not someone Luo Qian can contend with."

"This disciple knew Master was formidable!" Xia Daoming immediately buttered him up.

Just as Xia Daoming was flattering him, a streak of brilliant light flashed across the distance like lightning, landing in the blink of an eye on Luo Mu's flying boat, revealing a thin, tall old man with prominent cheekbones, dressed in a black robe with gold trim.

It was none other than Luo Qian.

"Why did this guy come too? It seems it's not just Luo Mu who is unconvinced; he is unconvinced as well," Xia Daoming thought to himself, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight.

In fact, that was indeed the case.

The only daughter in whom Luo Qian had placed such high hopes had been defeated by Xia Daoming's hand. Not only did Luo Mu consider it the greatest humiliation of her life, but Luo Qian himself found it difficult to swallow this resentment.

It was just that a promise made is a debt unpaid; given his status, it was absolutely impossible for him to go back on his word.

Moreover, Zuo Dongge, along with the head and deputy head of the Law Enforcement Hall, were right there on the sidelines.

Luo Qian could say nothing more.

He could only swallow that resentment whole.

In the blink of an eye, the flying boat arrived at Heaven Jianfeng.

"Zuo... Dong... Xu Shixiong, Luo Qian has brought my daughter, Luo Mu, to request an audience." The flying boat landed in front of the Elder's residence, and Luo Qian sent a voice transmission into the back hall.

In the back hall, Zuo Dongge's expression turned complex upon hearing Luo Qian's words.

After a good while, Zuo Dongge finally spoke: "Luo Shidi, Xia Shidi Niece Luo, fly directly to the back hall."

Luo Qian soon brought Luo Mu to the back hall.

Upon arriving and seeing that Mo Yongzhi and the others were also there, Luo Qian couldn't help but be stunned.

Zuo Dongge had a reclusive and eccentric personality and had always lived alone; he didn't even have a servant to wait on him.

That there were so many people here today was truly unexpected.

While Luo Qian was dazed, Xia Daoming had already led Liu Qiaolian and the other four to bow to Luo Qian: "This disciple pays respects to Uncle-Master Luo!"

"Uncle-Master Luo!" Luo Qian nearly jumped up upon hearing this.

"I've been idle lately, so I suddenly decided to take in a few disciples to teach them properly and see if I can cultivate a few Core Formation Elders for the sect," Zuo Dongge said in an understated manner.

Luo Qian looked at Zuo Dongge, completely speechless.

Apart from Lan Xue, who had reached the perfection of Qi Refining at a young age and had a bit of potential for Core Formation, which of these people, like Mo Yongzhi and the others, was material with any hope of reaching Core Formation?

However, Luo Qian soon felt relieved.

In his view, Zuo Dongge's personality had always been peculiar; suddenly pulling a stunt like this, while exaggerated, was consistent with his style of doing things.

"Eh, you have already reached Foundation Establishment!" Suddenly, Luo Qian noticed that the aura fluctuations on Xia Daoming's body were not right.

"A great master produces excellent students. With a master as formidable as mine to guide me, my cultivation naturally advanced by leaps and bounds," Xia Daoming blurted out.

Seeing Xia Daoming sparing no effort to praise him in front of Luo Qian, Zuo Dongge felt both gratified and possessed an indescribable sense of shame—his mood was complex indeed!

There was no helping it; ever since he had taken this disciple before him, he hadn't given him a single bit of guidance.

Xia Daoming's Foundation Establishment had been achieved using his own Jin Dan Ye, which also had nothing to do with him.

Luo Qian naturally knew nothing of this. Hearing the words, he believed them to be true, raised his hand, and cupped his fists toward Zuo Dongge: "Xu Shixiong Zuo, you certainly know how to teach your disciples!"

"What is the matter that you brought Luo Mu here today?" Zuo Dongge knew his own situation best and immediately changed the subject.

"Sigh, Luo Mu has been unable to calm her heart since losing to Xia Shidi Nephew Xia last time; she has been brooding over it. This time, as soon as the ban was lifted, she insisted on finding Xia Shidi Nephew Xia for another duel. Regardless of win or loss, it will be a way to resolve this knot in her heart.

I tried to persuade her many times to no avail. Today, this girl actually flew to Heaven Jianfeng all by herself. Once I found out, I had no choice but to chase after her, lest this girl, spoiled since childhood, offend you, Xu Shixiong," Luo Qian said with a helpless sigh.

"Eldest Xu Shixiong actually defeated Xu Shixiong Sister Luo Mu!" Mo Yongzhi and the others were shocked to the core upon hearing this, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"I'm afraid you are also brooding over it, aren't you, Luo Shidi?" Zuo Dongge glanced sideways at Luo Qian and said indifferently.

"Cough, cough, how could I? Disputes between the younger generation are normal; winning and losing is common. It's just that this girl, Luo Mu, has always been strong-willed and feels she lost due to carelessness last time, so she is unwilling to let it go. I am also worried that her knot will deepen, which would be detrimental to her cultivation." A flash of embarrassment crossed Luo Qian's face, but it returned to normal in an instant.

"This girl's personality is somewhat like yours. But back then, you fought your way up step by step through your own efforts; you had the capital to be strong-willed. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth; it's different from you. It's not necessarily a bad thing for her personality to suffer some setbacks. Very well, Daoming, you will have to go through the trouble once more," Zuo Dongge said, turning to Xia Daoming.

"Uh, Master, are you asking me to defeat Xu Shixiong Sister Luo once again?" Xia Daoming looked stunned and helpless.

Upon hearing this, Luo Qian's face darkened on the spot.

Luo Mu stared fixedly at Xia Daoming, gritting her teeth as if she wished she could eat him alive.

Zuo Dongge, however, stroked his beard and said indifferently: "To inspire the progress of true disciples and to enhance their actual combat capabilities, every true disciple has one opportunity each year to challenge another true disciple. The challenged true disciple cannot refuse without cause.

However, as the challenged true disciple, one can also put forward one's own requirements—for example, if the other party loses, they must provide a certain amount of compensation. Of course, this compensation cannot be too exaggerated. If the other party refuses this cost of compensation, you may refuse the duel. Since you, Uncle-Master Luo, and Xu Shixiong Sister Luo have come to my door today..."

"You mean, as long as I defeat Xu Shixiong Sister Luo, I can demand compensation?" Xia Daoming asked, his eyes lighting up before Zuo Dongge could finish his sentence.

Luo Qian's face grew even uglier.

"That's right! You name your conditions; as long as I can provide it, it's yours!" Luo Mu gritted her teeth.

She didn't believe for a second that if she were fully on guard, she would lose to this brat again.

"Are you really sure?" Xia Daoming asked, his face showing joy.

"Of course I am!" Luo Mu continued to grit her teeth.

Hearing this, Xia Daoming rubbed his hands together, looked at the gloomy-faced Luo Qian, then at the gritting-toothed Luo Mu, and suddenly gritted his own teeth: "Two million spirit stones! As long as you agree that if you lose, you give me two million spirit stones, I will risk my life to fight you."

"Two million! You—why don't you just go rob someone instead?" Luo Mu nearly jumped up upon hearing this.

Two million could buy dozens of Foundation Establishment Pills and dozens of top-tier magic tools.

Seeing Luo Mu jump up, completely out of character, Xia Daoming thought for a moment and said: "Then one point five million. This is the lowest appearance fee. If you can't afford it, then please head back."

Xia Daoming had calculated this price based on the net worth of Tuoba Kui from the Black Fiend Hall.

Tuoba Kui was also a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator, and at the time, he had been carrying over 1.1 million spirit stones on him.

Luo Mu was, after all, the only daughter of a Core Formation ancestor.

Xia Daoming figured she should be able to come up with 1.5 million spirit stones.

This fellow didn't know that those 1.1 million spirit stones were what Tuoba Kui had painstakingly saved over many years, waiting for a large-scale auction in the Yue Kingdom's cultivation world to bid on a few rare spirit pills or herbs that could greatly enhance his cultivation.

How could an ordinary Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator accumulate so many spirit stones? Having three or five hundred thousand would already be considered very impressive.

Watching his disciple's asking price, Zuo Dongge was speechless for a moment.

This guy was even more ruthless than he had been back in the day!

As for Mo Yongzhi and the others, they were already somewhat frightened silly.

One point five million—even if they sold the three of them, it wouldn't be enough!

Eldest Xu Shixiong was truly worthy of being Eldest Xu Shixiong!

Luo Mu looked at Xia Daoming, feeling so angry.

She now seriously suspected that Xia Daoming was simply afraid to fight, which was why he had proposed such an astonishing amount.

One point five million—how many Foundation Establishment perfection cultivators carried 1.5 million spirit stones on them?

"Fine, let it be as you say, Daoming: 1.5 million," Luo Qian said with a dark face.

"Uncle-Master Luo is truly generous!" Xia Daoming gave Luo Qian a thumbs-up upon hearing this.

Luo Qian's thin, gaunt skin couldn't help but twitch.

"Let's go to the dueling arena!" Luo Qian said, taking a deep breath.

"Why go to the dueling arena? Is Uncle-Master Luo planning to find some people to watch the fight? Forget it; I don't want to be in the spotlight. Besides, if Xu Shixiong Sister Luo loses in front of so many people, her psychological trauma will be even greater.

Let's just find a place here on Heaven Jianfeng. That way, if Xu Shixiong Sister Luo loses, only the few of us will know privately, and her dignity will remain intact," Xia Daoming said, slightly stunned, then spoke with a serious and solemn expression.

Luo Qian's thin, gaunt skin couldn't help but twitch again.

"I will absolutely not lose to you!" Seeing Xia Daoming keep saying she would lose, Luo Mu was so angry her lungs felt like they were about to explode.

"Last time you also thought it was impossible, but you lost anyway," Xia Daoming retorted without hesitation.

"You!" Luo Mu was so angry her chest heaved like rolling waves.

"Enough, Daoming, say less." Seeing this, Zuo Dongge finally spoke up with a reprimand, then turned to Luo Qian and said with a solemn expression: "Luo Shidi, what Daoming said also makes sense. Let's just find an open space on my Heaven Jianfeng to compete."

Luo Mu felt like she was going to go crazy.

In her entire life, she had never seen such arrogant and shameless master and disciple.

Luo Qian's heart, however, sank slightly, and a faint, ominous feeling arose.

But for someone who had only just reached Foundation Establishment and had just opened his Blood Sea, Luo Qian really found it hard to believe that he could defeat a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator who was no longer underestimating him.

After all, the realistic conditions were right there.

"Since you say so, Xu Shixiong, then let's find a place on Heaven Jianfeng to compete," Luo Qian finally took a step back and accepted Zuo Dongge's proposal.

"Father!" Luo Mu called out, unconvinced.

"Xu Shixiong Sister Luo, Master, Uncle-Master, and I are all doing this for your own good. Don't throw a tantrum anymore!" Xia Daoming said.

Luo Mu took a deep breath, and after a good while, she said: "Heaven Jianfeng is fine, but we must invite Uncle-Master Xiao and Uncle-Master Chi to come."

"That can be arranged. Uncle-Master Xiao is a very good person. My master has just taken in a few new disciples, so it's a good time for them to pay their respects," Xia Daoming nodded immediately upon hearing this.

Hearing this, Zuo Dongge immediately remembered the incident where this brat had extorted a Foundation Establishment item and a section of lightning-struck wood from Xiao Hongyi, and he couldn't help but feel his old face darken a little.

This rebellious disciple was truly ruthless!

Luo Qian's expression was subtle, and a trace of unease rose in his heart.

It was just that this fellow Xia Daoming was acting too calm; at a time like this, he still had the mind to think about extorting people.

Impossible. The difference in their realms was so great; as long as Mu'er was fully on guard and no longer careless or underestimated him, it was absolutely impossible for him to win.

While comforting himself, Luo Qian spoke to Zuo Dongge: "Xu Shixiong, then I will send a message to Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong Chi and Xu Shixiong Xiao, inviting them to come to your Heaven Jianfeng for a visit."

"That will do!" Zuo Dongge nodded with a complex mood as he glanced at Xia Daoming.

Seeing Zuo Dongge nod, Luo Qian took out two sword talismans.

The sword talismans carried the letters and broke through the air.

Not long after.

Two streaks of brilliant light flew in from the direction of the Qingyuan main peak, landed in the back hall of Heaven Jianfeng, and then revealed three people.

Two of these three were none other than Chi Shijian, the deputy head of the Law Enforcement Hall, and Xiao Hongyi, the head of the hall. The third was a young man who looked only seventeen or eighteen, with red lips and white teeth, star-like eyes, and sword-like brows, whose features vaguely resembled the head of the hall.

Although young, his cultivation was not only at the perfection of Qi Refining, but his true qi and magic power fluctuations were steady and powerful; one could tell at a glance that his foundation was solid and profound.

After the elders like Zuo Dongge exchanged greetings, Xia Daoming immediately led Liu Qiaolian and the others forward to pay respects to Chi Shijian and Xiao Hongyi.

"Uncle-Master Xiao, Uncle-Master Chi, let me introduce you. These five are all new disciples my master has taken in. This is Liu Qiaolian, my master's personal disciple and also my wife. This is Lan Xue, my master's personal disciple. These three are Shao Shiyu, Mo Yongzhi, and Wan Yan; they are all nominal disciples my master has newly taken in.

Five Xia Shidi Sisters, Uncle-Master Xiao and our master were brothers who lived and died together in their early years; he is the most righteous and generous person, and I, your Xu Shixiong, respect him the most." When introducing them, Xia Daoming did not forget to highlight his praise for Xiao Hongyi.

Liu Qiaolian and the five others naturally hurried forward to pay their respectful greetings to the two Uncle-Masters.

While Liu Qiaolian and the five were paying their respects, Xia Daoming kept his eyes fixed on Xiao Hongyi.

Xiao Hongyi felt his scalp tingle from being stared at. Thinking that he had given Xia Daoming a greeting gift that day, it really wouldn't be appropriate not to give one to Liu Qiaolian and the others, so he took five spirit pills out of his storage ring.

Two were Foundation Establishment Pills, given to Liu Qiaolian and Lan Xue respectively.

Three were Six-Harmony Yuan-Gathering Pills, given to Mo Yongzhi and the others respectively.

Regarding Xiao Hongyi's greeting gifts, Liu Qiaolian and Lan Xue appeared relatively calm, but Mo Yongzhi and the others were overjoyed in their hearts.

A Six-Harmony Yuan-Gathering Pill was worth tens of thousands!

Watching Xiao Hongyi scatter his wealth so freely, Zuo Dongge couldn't help but feel like crying and laughing, and he couldn't help but glare fiercely at Xia Daoming.

Xia Daoming, however, acted as if he hadn't seen it, instead fixing his gaze on the young man beside Xiao Hongyi and asking: "Could this Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong be Uncle-Master Xiao's Qilin son?"

Just now, when Xia Daoming led the group to pay respects to Xiao Hongyi and Chi Shijian, the young man had also stepped forward to pay respects to Zuo Dongge and Luo Qian respectively, addressing them as Uncle-Master and Uncle-Master, which was why Xia Daoming made this guess.

Hearing this, Xiao Hongyi did not answer, but instead smiled and said to the young man: "Xiao Xuan, why don't you pay your respects to your Xu Shixiong Brothers and Xu Shixiong Sisters."

"Yes, Father." Xiao Xuan responded upon hearing this, first cupping his fists to Luo Mu, and then turning to Xia Daoming.

"Xiao Xuan pays respects to Xia Shixiong." Xiao Xuan cupped his fists in a humble manner.

"Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong Xiao, you are too polite. Xu Shixiong sees that you have reached the perfection of Qi Refining and your foundation is solid; you must be planning for Foundation Establishment. It just so happens that I obtained a Foundation Establishment item in my early years, so today I will give it to you as a greeting gift," Xia Daoming said with a smile, taking out a pill bottle.

As soon as this pill bottle was taken out, the three Core Formation Elders, including Xiao Hongyi, all changed their expressions.

Xiao Hongyi was even so excited that he hurriedly said to Xiao Xuan: "Xiao Xuan, why don't you hurry up and thank your Xia Shixiong for his greeting gift!"

Xiao Xuan was still somewhat confused while holding the pill bottle.

Isn't it just a Foundation Establishment item?

It's not like Father doesn't have any!

Is there a need to be this excited?

"Hehe, we are fellow sect brothers, and Uncle-Master Xiao is a brother who lived and died with my master; there is no need to be so polite," Xia Daoming said, waving his hand with a breezy, indifferent air.

Zuo Dongge, who had been glaring at Xia Daoming just a moment ago, was now stroking his beard with a self-satisfied look.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 252 =====