《Peerless Little Immortal Doctor》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 001 The Woman Living at Home

    The location of Osmanthus Vige is within severalrge mountains, and because of the traffic congestion, the vige remains in poverty.


    In the sweltering summer season, by not even seven in the evening, it''s already pitch-ck inside the mountains. A dark figure appears at the entrance to Osmanthus Vige.


    "Osmanthus Vige, I''ve finally returned!" Looking at the dimly lit vige, Xia Liu smiled with delight. Having left home for five years, he had finally returned today.


    Moving with a familiarity that didn''t disturb any of the vigers, he walked back to his family''s front door with somewhat heavy steps.


    Standing at the doorway, Xia Liu tightened his grip on his backpack, puzzled. The courtyard was supposed to be empty apart from himself; why was there light shining from inside the house?


    "Damn it, I''ve only been away for five years, and someone has trespassed into my home. I have to see who is this bold!"


    Filled with anger, Xia Liu kicked the courtyard door open and charged in.


    However, once he had steadied himself, the scene before his eyes left him frozen in ce.


    Because in the corner not five meters away, a curvaceous figure was in the midst of washing off the foam on her body with a wooden scoop.


    Zhang Xiaoxue, seeing Xia Liu suddenly barge in, was also stunned. After a moment of shock, her mouth opened wide as she attempted to scream for help.


    But Xia Liu couldn''t possibly give her that chance. If any vigers came in and saw him in this situation, his reputation would be lost to the Yellow River. Therefore, in the blink of an eye, he covered Zhang Xiaoxue''s mouth.


    "Shush! If you dare make a sound, I''ll block your mouth, of course with this." Saying so, Xia Liu pointed to his own mouth, a move that never failed to intimidate women.


    Zhang Xiaoxue''s watery eyes immediately turned red, but she nodded nheless.


    "Ah! Help¡ªmmph..."


    Xia Liu, seeing that the girl had sense, who knew that as soon as he released his hand, Zhang Xiaoxue would start shouting. He had to cover her mouth once more.


    "You disobedient woman, still want to shout, do you? If you scream again, I might just beast out!" Xia Liu threatened fiercely, then pulled a small cloth from the pole to wrap Zhang Xiaoxue up.


    Although he was quite taken with that Zhang Xiaoxue, he had his principles. He could still control himself in such situations.


    Zhang Xiaoxue hadn''t expected this thief to be so considerate. Although she had been seenpletely, she didn''t feel shy, but was more fearful instead.


    After seeing that Zhang Xiaoxue had calmed down a bit, Xia Liu let her go. The following question nearly made him want to strip her bare: "Who are you, and why are you in my house?"


    "Your house? I''ve only been gone five years and you dare to seize my home. If you don''t give me a reason, you''re dead tonight."


    "What! You, you are... Xia Liu?" Zhang Xiaoxue suddenly came to her senses. Having lived here for two years, she subconsciously thought of it as her own. Realizing the original owner was back, she was surprised.


    "That''s right, let''s move inside to talk."


    Once back inside, Xia Liu sized up Zhang Xiaoxue; her blushing face, not to mention everything else he had seen.


    All things considered, this woman was definitely beautiful. Among the women he had encountered, she would at least rank in the top ten.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was also sizing up Xia Liu on the side. After more than five years, Xia Liu stood at an impressive height of one hundred and eighty centimeters, with distinct facial features and a lean body. Apart from his somewhat worn clothing, he seemed to pass for a handsome man.


    "Speak, why are you in my house?"


    As for the woman who had invaded his home, Xia Liu wasn''t in a romantic mood, he just wanted an exnation.


    If things got extreme, he wouldn''t mind going to extremes as well. Most importantly, he seemed to have never seen this woman before and didn''t know where she came from.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t you remember me? Back when we were in school, we were only two grades apart."


    "You''re Zhang Xiaoxue?" Xia Liu suddenly realized. They say a girl changes drastically as she grows, but this was an exaggerated transformation.


    This girl could be a goddess even in the city, yet here she was in the deep mountains, astonishingly beautiful.


    Zhang Xiaoxue nodded, and then fell silent. With the homeowner back, what more could she say?


    "If I remember correctly, your dad was the vige head, and he was in construction in the town. Your family even built a brick house; howe you ended up living in this stone house?"


    "I..." When Xia Liu asked this, Zhang Xiaoxue lowered her head, her emotions fluctuating, and she even started to choke up.


    "What happened?" Xia Liu sensed something was wrong and hurriedly asked.


    "It''s like this. Three years ago, because of the issues with Shanyan Vige, my dad passed away, and then my uncle seized our house. I had nowhere to go, so I came here..." Zhang Xiaoxue hesitated for a moment before she told Xia Liu everything in detail.


    Bang!


    The fist tightened and mmed down on the wooden table. After hearing Zhang Xiaoxue''s story, Xia Liu grew angry, "Bastard, how dare Li Hao do that! And Zhang Tie, to think he''s that kind of person!"


    Zhang Tie was the uncle who had seized Zhang Xiaoxue''s house.


    As for the death of Zhang Xiaoxue''s father, Xia Liu was also somewhat moved.


    Osmanthus Vige and Shanyan Vige had enmity from the past, and Xia Liu hadn''t expected that three years ago, the son of the Shanyan Vige head, Li Hao, had wanted to marry Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Because Osmanthus Vige was deep in the mountains, one had to pass through Shanyan Vige to get to the town.


    After being rejected, Li Hao actually restricted all the vigers of Osmanthus Vige from going to town. Zhang Xiaoxue''s father, the vige head, went to argue and came back alive, only to be literally fumed to death...


    After Zhang Xiaoxue''s father passed away, she was in her first year of university, just neen years old. She was ultimately forced toe back, as her mother had gone out to work long ago and had never returned.


    From then on, Zhang Xiaoxue took up the family''s mantle to fulfill her father''sst wish.


    She gave up her studies, determined to lead Osmanthus Vige on the road to wealth.


    Then to harshly strike back at Shanyan Vige and clear her father''s name, even to say take revenge.


    But in the first year, her house was seized by her uncle, leaving her homeless and eventually moving into Xia Liu''s house.


    Because of the incident that happened at Xia Liu''s house five years ago, it had be known as the cursed ce of the vige.


    So her enthusiasm and fighting spirit were slowly forgotten by the vigers, leaving only cold sarcasm and ridicule.


    "Xiaoxue, don''t worry, brother is back now. Your issues are my issues, just like when we were studying, with me around, no one can bully you!"


    After calming his emotions and noticing Zhang Xiaoxue was somewhat absent-minded, recalling such events.


    Xia Liu didn''t want to see her like this and immediately made promises.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t be impulsive. Let the house issue be; I just want to fulfill my father''sst wish and lead Osmanthus Vige towards well-being."


    Zhang Xiaoxue knew Xia Liu was an impulsive person. When she was in first grade, she got bullied by a school thug.


    When Xia Liu found out, he took on ten of the bully''s friends alone, and the oue was naturallying home to apply medicine.


    "Of course I won''t be impulsive, rest assured, no matter what, I willplete it with you."


    Xia Liu smiled faintly, his affirmative words enigmatic.


    "Right, Xiaoxue, don''t just bathe outside anywhere. Isn''t there a ce for bathing? You''re at a disadvantage like this."


    Remembering what he had just seen, Xia Liu swallowed and said.


    "I know, but there are no lights there, and I''m scared..."


    Xia Liu brought up the matter again, and Zhang Xiaoxue felt even more embarrassed and bashful.


    "Err, I''ll wait outside for you, go take your shower."


    Saying that, Xia Liu went out first, filled a bucket with water to the brim, carried it to an outdoor bathing room in the courtyard...

 Chapter 2: Chapter 002: Giving You a Chance for Atonement!

    The outdoor bathhouse was a bit far from the house and had no lights; naturally, a girl wouldn''t dare to go there alone. Draping a cloth over a stick, she covered the entrance to the bathhouse so that no one could see inside except from above.


    "Brother Xia Liu, wait for me outside, don''t go too far." After entering the bathhouse, Zhang Xiaoxue said weakly. Although she was strong-hearted, the tragic event that had urred here five years ago made everyone in the vige believe that the house was cursed, so naturally, she was afraid.


    Xia Liu responded, and then he heard the sound of sshing water.


    Hearing this sound made him feel uneasy. He had initially thought Zhang Xiaoxue was a female thief who had taken over his house, which angered him. But now that he understood the situation, his mind was filled with the image of Zhang Xiaoxue''s fair, proud figure¡­


    Finally, after five minutes, Zhang Xiaoxue came out, allowing Xia Liu to breathe a sigh of relief.


    After shivering for a while, Zhang Xiaoxue went to rest. There were two rooms in the house, which spared them some embarrassment.


    Five years ago, Xia Liu''s father was the vige doctor whose ie came from farming and gathering herbs in the mountains to sell in town. The house had a big wooden cab for storing herbs, and aside from gathering and selling herbs, he provided medical care for the vigers.


    Seeing everything before him, Xia Liu couldn''t help but marvel. He had thought he would never return, but now he realized that the world here was much better than outside.


    "Mom and Dad, I''m back. Are you doing well over there?" Looking at everything familiar, Xia Liu murmured with his head down, "Old man, my parents are over there too. Stop by for some tea when you''re free. I will carry on the medical skills you taught me."


    After cleaning up, Xia Liu went back to his room, which his parents had used before. Zhang Xiaoxue had moved in two years ago, and the house was still quite clean.


    Xia Liu did not fall asleep but sat cross-legged on the bed, bringing his hands together in front of his chest. Slowly, the air around him grew turbulent as invisible ''Energy'' entered his body through the pores.


    In the early morning, Xia Liu lowered his hands and took a deep breath. Every time after ''Cultivation,'' he felt refreshingly spirited. Remembering the events before he left home, he felt a pang of bitterness.


    The day he received his university eptance letter five years ago, Xia Liu should have been the first college student from the vige, but that''s when the misfortune began.


    His parents mysteriously fell ill and died that same day. After burying them, he became despondent for a while, until a passing old man took him away from there¡­


    Seeing that Zhang Xiaoxue still hadn''t gotten up, Xia Liu went out to the yard to wash up and quickly left the house, filled with indignant anger.


    Since the vigers were mostly sincere hardworkers, many were already out in the fields with their tools early in the morning. Xia Liu, encountering people along the way, would call out their names and greet them, and the vigers would warmly respond. However, after passing by, they would turn their heads, unable to recall Xia Liu.


    About ten minutester, Xia Liu arrived in front of a two-and-a-half-story building with white painted walls¡ªthe only brick house in the vige, which was Zhang Xiaoxue''s home!


    Xia Liu looked around and saw no one; he instantly kicked the courtyard door, which swung open with a ng. If thetch hadn''t been so fragile, the whole door might have broken.


    Zhang Tie got up early today as well, having to work in construction in town. The crashing sound startled him while he was washing up.


    Seeing the unfamiliar face of Xia Liu entering, Zhang Tie became puzzled, not recalling any grievances.


    "Zhang Tie, I''m giving you a chance to redeem yourself today. Return the house to Xiaoxue!" Xia Liu said angrily without leaving any room for questions.


    "Oh, so you''re Zhang Xiaoxue''s little lover? She''s just a foster daughter my brother picked up. How does she qualify to own this house?" As Zhang Tie spoke about the house and Zhang Xiaoxue, his face showed outright arrogance.


    "Foster daughter?" Xia Liu fell silent upon hearing Zhang Tie''s words.


    "Yes, since you''re that little wretch''s man, why don''t you just marry her and take her home? This house was left to me by my brother, and outsiders have no say!" Zhang Tie said confidently, watching the confused Xia Liu.


    "Who is making such a racket so early in the morning!" A shrill voice came from inside the house, followed by a stout woman with features difficult to look at, walking out.


    "No one much, just that little wench''s man."


    "What, little wench, you mean Zhang Xiaoxue? He''s Xiaoxue''s man, so they must be getting married, right?" Hearing Zhang Tie, Mo Li shuffled her corpulent body, her eyes shing with ''vital energy.


    "Oh, Xiaoxue is getting married, eh? That''s a big event for our family. Young man, I''m Xiaoxue''s aunt. Come in and sit down, and don''t worry about the dowry money¡ªjust four or five thousand will do."


    Looking at the excited Mo Li, Xia Liu almost threw upst night''s dinner. He had seen shameless people before, but never anyone as utterly shameless as her.


    "Let me put it this way, my purpose here is simple. Move out and return the house to Xiaoxue." Xia Liu said as he rolled up his sleeves, not minding the idea of using force to make his point.


    "What! This is my home, why should I move out? Big Tie, kick this poor kid out!" Mo Li was directly provoked by Xia Liu''s words. Although the situation was not very honorable, the house rightfully belonged to her, since Zhang Xiaoxue was just a picked-up foster daughter!

 Chapter 3: Chapter 003 The Shameless Family

    "Boy, I''m giving you a chance, get out of here quick, or you''ll regret it!"


    "Tsk tsk, Zhang Tie, Zhang Tie, even though you are my elder, I have to ask you, with these actions of yours, can you face your Zhang Family ancestors with dignity? Can you face the vige chief?" Xia Liu said, stamping his foot on the ground, leaving an imprint that sank into the stone.


    Though Zhang Xiaoxue was an adopted daughter picked up by the old vige head, she was also his heir, and this house absolutely could not be lost.


    The shattered stones surprised both Zhang Tie and Mo Li, wondering what kind of strength it would take to crush stones like that...


    While the two of them were still in shock, Zhang Xiaoxue hurriedly ran through the courtyard gate and grabbed Xia Liu, "Brother Xia Liu, don''t be impulsive, I don''t want this house anymore, not anymore!"


    "Brother Xia Liu?" Zhang Tie and his wife muttered to each other, both seeing the surprise in the other''s eyes, recognizing that the one called by Zhang Xiaoxue in such a manner could only be that cursed Xia Liu from the Xia Family!


    "Xiaoxue, this house is yours, and you should take it back. It didn''t matter that you couldn''t do anything about it before, but now I''m here, and no one can bully you."


    "Brother Xia Liu, can we just go back, please? I don''t want to stay here." Seeing the determined look on Xia Liu''s face, Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes reddened slightly, knowing that even if she could take back the house now, she wouldn''t want to live here anymore.


    "It''s so early in the morning and so noisy, can''t a person get some rest!" During the stalemate, a girl around seventeen or eighteen years old came out of the house, still wearing her pajamas, and they were of the thin silk type, the round shape transparent and clear.


    Seeing that Zhang Xiaoxue was standing in the courtyard, Zhang Xiaoman immediately became angry, "Zhang Xiaoxue, what are you doing at my ce, hurry up and scram back to that cursed ce!"


    "Zhang Xiaoman, is it? I haven''t seen you in years, and besides your mouth getting dirtier, you haven''t changed at all. Seems you''ve truly inherited your mother''s traits." When the word ''cursed'' was mentioned, anger red up inside Xia Liu, but he quickly calmed down, otherwise he didn''t know what he might do.


    "Hmph, you must be in cahoots with Zhang Xiaoxue, huh? Thinking you can show up here and cause a scene after sleeping with her for a few nights, how foolish." Zhang Xiaoman was very angry, but she didn''t swear. Instead, with one sentence, she managed to impale both Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue, showing a level of venom that was iparable.


    "Heh, it really is true that like mother, like daughter, your family is certainly alike." Xia Liu indeed realized that a somewhat educated poisonous woman had her own unique way of cursing people.


    "You Xia Family brat, no matter the reason, I won''t move out of here. If you want to fight, thene on, don''t think you can ignore the vige just because you''ve been away for a few years." Although somewhat afraid of Xia Liu, Zhang Tie had his own cunning n: to stubbornly refuse to leave. Xia Liu wouldn''t dare to kill, would he?


    "Zhang Xiaoxue, it really is unexpected, your charm should have been worth more, how many people have you slept with? Call them all out, I''m standing right here today, do you dare to kill someone?"


    "Mom, I''m so scared, what if a few dozen peoplee?"


    Staring at Zhang Xiaoxue, the venomous-tongued Mo Li and Zhang Xiaoman couldn''t help but sneer coldly.


    "Say that again if you dare!" Xia Liu''s face turned ice-cold instantly¡ªhe could ignore insults aimed at him, but he couldn''t tolerate the repeated humiliation of Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Seeing the beast-like look in Xia Liu''s eyes, Zhang Tie''s family was so frightened that they involuntarily stepped back.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I don''t want to stay here, not even for a moment, can we please go back?"


    Looking at Zhang Xiaoxue, who was holding back tears, Xia Liu nodded his head. As he left, he didn''t forget to look back with a coldugh, "What goes aroundes around, you''ll get what''sing to you eventually."


    "Cut it out, just a naive young fool. Oh right, dad, you said he''s from the Xia Family, it wouldn''t be that cursed¡­" Xiaoman''s eyes shifted, voicing her doubts as she watched Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue leave.


    Back at home with Zhang Xiaoxue, her suppressed emotionspletely copsed, and the tears flowed freely.


    "Xiaoxue, it''s my fault for being impulsive, I worried  you."


    "It''s not your fault, Brother Xia Liu, I''m so happy, it makes me really happy that you stood up for me."


    Leaning on Xia Liu''s chest, Zhang Xiaoxue''s sobs grew louder.


    A few minutester, Xia Liu finally managed to calm Zhang Xiaoxue down. He was somewhat helpless against a woman''s tears.


    "Xiaoxue, do you remember our agreement? I''ve found a way to get Zhang Tie''s family to apologize and admit their wrongs to you."


    "What is it?"


    "Leading the vigers to wealth!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue looked at Xia Liu in shock, she had thought it was just a joke at first, but seeing his serious face, she couldn''t think further.


    She knew Xia Liu''s intentions. If she could improve the vigers'' lives and make them prosperous, Zhang Tie''s family would definitely be anxious. They would want to have a better standard of living like the other vigers and would have toe and lick her boots begging for her help.


    But as good as the idea was, leading the development of a poor mountain vige that was faced with restrictions everywhere was virtually an impossible task.


    "Xiaoxue, you don''t have to do anything, I willplete this task. I''m going to make you breakfast." Xia Liu said with a faint smile, walking into the kitchen in the courtyard. The so-called kitchen was just stones arranged in a square with wooden nks and roof tiles on top.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t¡­" Zhang Xiaoxue wanted to stop Xia Liu, but it was toote, he had already entered the kitchen.


    In the kitchen, Xia Liu looked at everything in front of him, his expression changing, as the pot didn''t even have a trace of oil, and there was only half a bowl of white rice in the pressure cooker.


    "Xiaoxue, how long has it been since youst had meat?"


    "Uh, uh... that''s all right, look at how fit I am, not a bit of excess fat, I don''t even need to diet." Zhang Xiaoxueughed foolishly, pushing out her plump flesh, trying to gloss over the matter.

 Chapter 4: Chapter 004: Striking It Rich

    "s, poor girl, from now on, you''ll get to eat and drink the best with me." When the topic turned to physical well-being, Xia Liu nced over and his thoughts drifted back to the scene he witnessedst night.


    "Mhm, eating and drinking the best with Brother Xia Liu," Zhang Xiaoxue nodded andughed in agreement.


    After giving her a few more instructions, Xia Liu took a basket on his back and dashed toward the mountain behind the vige. If he wanted to lead the vige to prosperity, he first had to make his own lifefortable. Only then would everyone trust him.


    Currently, they were so poor they could barely lift the pot lid. Xia Liu couldn''t just wait for a wild rabbit toe to him, so he went up the mountain to forage.


    All along the way, he pondered how to develop Osmanthus Vige. Behind the vigey a mountain range that held countless treasures, the most valuable of which were undoubtedly the medicinal herbs. This was one path to take.


    The slopes on the side of the vige, on the other hand, bordered a vast ocean, which also contained endless treasures. Thinking it over, Xia Liu decided to first look into whether it was possible to gather herbs and exchange them for money.


    As for Shanyan Vige, which stood in front of their vige like a roadblock, he would find a way to deal with it.


    In just half an hour, Xia Liu reached the dense forest. His main goal this time wasn''t to gather herbs but to hunt. He was afraid that Xiaoxue hadn''t had a full meal for a long time and probably hadn''t eaten any meat in the past two years.


    Xia Liu was very lucky. After searching for an hour, he spotted a wild boar, not too big, weighing about thirty pounds or more.


    The wild boar spotted Xia Liu and took off running, but its speed and reactions were no match for Xia Liu. In less than a minute, the wild boar was lying in the basket.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to return home, he was suddenly taken aback by arge rock¡ªor more urately, by the medicinal herb under the rock!


    Based on the knowledge of herbs in his mind and the scent of the herb, he determined outright that it was a tycodon Grandiflorum!


    Considering its size and the exposed roots, this tycodon Grandiflorum must be over a hundred years old! Such a long-lived tycodon Grandiflorum was definitely rare!


    "I''ve struck it rich! Struck it rich!" Even though he didn''t know the value of this tycodon Grandiflorum, its age was proof enough, as wild herbs were most valuable the older they were.


    Although tycodon Grandiflorum was amon medicinal herb, the one in front of him was anything butmon!


    Whileposing himself, Xia Liu carefully picked the tycodon Grandiflorum.


    Done with that, he had no desire to stay any longer. He hurried all the way home for two reasons: first, to let Zhang Xiaoxue have a taste of meat, and second, to go to town and exchange the tycodon Grandiflorum for money.


    "Wow! That''s a wild boar!" In the yard, upon seeing Xia Liu dealing with the wild boar, Zhang Xiaoxue came out of the house when she heard the noise and was immediately astounded.


    "Xiaoxue, go light a fire and heat up a pot of water. You''re in for a treat today." After giving his instructions, Xia Liu carried a bucket of water to take a bath,ing back just in time to finish processing the wild boar.


    One hourter, the long-missed pork was on Zhang Xiaoxue''s table, and tears started to well up in her eyes.


    "Xiaoxue, I swear I''ll make sure you live a good life from now on. Go ahead and eat, I''ve still got to run to town. Let me know if there''s anything you want to buy. I''ll bring it back for you," said Xia Liu, smiling as he saw Zhang Xiaoxue getting emotional.


    "Ah! Brother Xia Liu, are you going to town? But I don''t have any money..."


    "Neither do I. Finish your meal and I''ll show you something."


    In her confusion, Zhang Xiaoxue hurriedly filled her stomach. Xia Liu''s cooking was so good that she nearly forgot about the need for money to go to town.


    After the meal, Xia Liu brought the basket over to Zhang Xiaoxue and exined the century-old tycodon Grandiflorum to her.


    "Wow! Brother Xia Liu, you''re amazing. How much will this herb sell for?"


    "I don''t know, probably a few thousand yuan."


    "A few thousand yuan, that much!"


    "A lot? It all depends on whether there are any shop owners who know the goods," Xia Liu said with a wry smile as he looked at the innocent Zhang Xiaoxue.


    It was just after two in the afternoon when Xia Liu gave a few instructions and then, carrying a basket on his back, he headed towards the town. There was still plenty of pork at home; even if he didn''te back for a few days, Xiaoxue wouldn''t go hungry, so there was no need to worry.


    All along the way, whenever he encountered someone, Xia Liu would greet them and introduce himself, after all, having been away for five years, the people of the vige had long since forgotten him.


    After Xia Liu left Osmanthus Vige, the vige became abuzz, and all the vigers were talking about none other than Xia Liu.


    "Did you guys hear? Xia Liu from the old Xia Family hase back!"


    "I saw him this morning, at first nce I almost didn''t recognize thed."


    "I ran into him too, just now he left the vige with a basket on his back, I hear he''s going to buy some herbs and tools, he''s going to continue the Xia Family''s medical practice!"


    "Ah, that''s great news! We haven''t had a doctor in the vige for so many years, I''m the first to support Xia Liu reopening the clinic!"


    "Support my ass, have you forgotten what happened five years ago?" Just as everyone was discussing fervently, Zhang Tie suddenly appeared, throwing a bucket of cold water over the vigers'' excitement.


    ...


    Xia Liu remembered the way from Osmanthus Vige to Pinn Town clearly, though the only trouble was Shanyan Vige, where, if things were unpleasant, he wouldn''t mind teaching that so-called Li Hao a lesson.


    When Xia Liu arrived at Shanyan Vige, ready to pass through, a few young men were sitting on arge stone at the entrance.


    Seeing the situation, Xia Liu didn''t react and continued striding forward. He wanted to settle things amicably, but the others did not share his desire.


    "Stop right there! You''re from Osmanthus Vige, aren''t you? You''ve already made all your trips to town for this month. If you want to go through, pay fifty bucks," a dark-skinned and sturdy youth stopped Xia Liu in his tracks.


    "I don''t have money, and even if I did, I wouldn''t give it to you."


    "Oh, you''re looking for trouble, aren''t you!" the young man''s face changed as he spoke, and the others got off the rock too. They had been guarding this spot for years, and it was the first time they encountered someone causing trouble¡ªthey were somewhat looking forward to it, as it had been a long time since they had beaten someone up.


    "Brothers, beat him up. If we don''t teach Osmanthus Vige a lesson, they''ll think we''re just for show!" With a shout, the young man clenched his fists and charged.


    The other young men, seeing this, also charged with their fists raised.


    Bang, bang, bang...


    A few thumping sounds were heard, and the young men guarding the entrance to the vige were all lying on the ground, crying out in pain.


    "Tell Li Hao, I am Xia Liu from Osmanthus Vige. If there''s still talk of restricting travel in the future, then he''ll be the one lying down," Xia Liu left behind this harsh threat and walked away without a backward nce.


    "Brother Ming, did you see how he threw his punches just now?"


    "What''s there to talk about! Hurry up and inform Brother Hao, we must deal with the emergence of such a figure from Osmanthus Vige properly."


    The dark-skinned young man pped the man who was speaking across the face and slowly stood up, holding his chest.


    After arriving in town, Xia Liu looked around. He hadn''t paid much attention the night before because it was too dark, and the town had changed considerably from five years ago, with several tall buildings, almost catching up with the county town from back then.


    When he was living at home, he frequently came to town with his father to sell medicine and knew where to find shops that would buy them. So he headed in the direction he remembered.


    A few minutester, Xia Liu stood in front of a shop called Tianluo Chinese Medicine Pharmacy. Since the town was mostly frequented by people from rural areas, his clothes did not attract much attention. He confirmed the shop''s name was correct and then stepped inside.

 Chapter 5: Chapter 005: Deal!

    "Hello, are you here for medicine or treatment?" As soon as Xia Liu entered, the voice of a young girl reached his ears.


    He looked up to see a girl with delicate features and an elegant appearance, truly a first-rate beauty.


    "I''m here to sell herbs, I wonder if you''d be interested in buying?" Xia Liu said with a polite smile.


    As he spoke, Xia Liu took out the tycodon Grandiflorum from his bag, and on close inspection, he noticed the girl''s pupils slightly constricted, simr to his own reaction when he first saw this ancient herb¡ªit was shock.


    "Wait here for me, I''ll go call my grandpa to take a look," Liu Lanxin said, hurrying to the back hall. She had to get her grandfather; missing out on such an ancient and valuable herb was out of the question!


    A few minutester, a white-haired, crane-like elder came out. His reaction to the century-old tycodon Grandiflorum was simr to Liu Lanxin''s¡ªa look of surprise.


    "Hmm? A rare tycodon Grandiflorum over a hundred years old, young man, where did you collect this from?" Liu Buyi, engrossed in examining the herb for a while, finally looked up at Xia Liu.


    "Xianggu Mountain Range, found it under arge rock," Xia Liu didn''t hide anything, it was clear to him that Liu Buyi was an experienced traditional medicine practitioner loaded with knowledge; any lie would immediately be exposed.


    "Xianggu Mountain Range, very good. I''ve seen this variety of tycodon Grandiflorum once when I was young, but I haven''t been back to the Xianggu Mountain Range since then," Liu Buyi nodded, he had partly intended to test Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu nodded without speaking, unsure of the price for such a variety of tycodon Grandiflorum over a hundred years old, he chose to stick with the strategy of not reacting and letting the other side make a move.


    Seeing that Xia Liu remained silent for a long time, Liu Buyi thought for a moment and said, "Young man, I''ll take this tycodon Grandiflorum off your hands. How about a price of fifty thousand?"


    The market price for tycodon Grandiflorum was not high, but for one over a hundred years old, valued for its medicinal properties, fifty thousand was reasonable.


    "Whatever you say, elder!" Realizing the situation, Xia Liu didn''t even think twice about it and agreed right away. He wasn''t familiar with other herbal medicine shops in town, and if he didn''t sell it here and couldn''t get a better price elsewhere, there was no chance of getting the same price again.


    "Haha, straightforward, Lan Xin, go fetch the money for this young man." After receiving Xia Liu''s response, Liu Buyi was very pleased, holding onto the tycodon Grandiflorum and unwilling to let go.


    "Yes, Grandpa."


    A few minutester, Liu Lanxin came out with a bag, in which five bundles of Huaxia currencyy quietly.


    After receiving the money, Xia Liu didn''t check it; he was confident in the shop''s reputation.


    "Young brother, if you have more herbs to sell in the future, you can bring them here. I''ll pay above market price," Liu Buyi could see what Xia Liu was about. Being able to harvest tycodon Grandiflorum meant he knew other herbs as well, and more importantly, they were wild, which made them much more effective than the cultivated ones. He couldn''t afford to lose Xia Liu as a supplier, even if it was just a few pounds a month.


    "Hehe, thank you, elder. I''ll bring any herbs I have here," Xia Liu replied, not about to decline such an offer.


    After leaving the herbal medicine shop, Xia Liu went to the bank to set up an ount, leaving five thousand in cash and depositing the rest.


    Then he went to the market to buy some daily necessities. He originally wanted to buy some clothes for Zhang Xiaoxue, but then thought better of it.


    Zhang Xiaoxue needed clothes the most, so Xia Liu decided to bring her along the next day and then make the purchase.


    After buying what he needed, Xia Liu headed back with his basket on his back.


    It was almost dark when he arrived home. The young men from Shanyan Vige were also gone, or else he might have had to exercise a bit.


    Seeing Xia Liu return with many items, Zhang Xiaoxue''s mouth dropped open in surprise; there was peanut oil, cooking condiments, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes from the market...


    All were very practical items for their living. The basket must have weighed over a hundred pounds, and Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t even lift it.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re amazing, buying all these things."


    "Heh heh, there''s more where that came from, I''ll take you to buy some clothes tomorrow."


    "I have plenty of clothes, I don''t need more," Zhang Xiaoxue felt touched. Since their father passed away, no one had been so kind to her. As for clothes, hers were from a few years back, nearly tight on her now.


    "No refusing from children, don''t think I don''t know, all your clothes are from years ago, right? It''s not good for your growth."


    ...


    "Brother Xia Liu, make sure to look closely!"


    "Alright, alright, Xiaoxue, you''ve grown up, but you''re stilling with me tomorrow." Xia Liu adjusted his stand and said.


    Only then did Zhang Xiaoxue breathe a sigh of relief, dropping her folded arms and starting to help put away the groceries.


    At dinner, Xia Liu seasoned the wild pork meat he had prepared at noon, and once again had a big meal with Zhang Xiaoxue.


    No matter what, he had to treat this sister well, treating her like his sworn sister.


    A few minutester, Zhang Xiaoxue came out wearing clean clothes.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you should take a bath too," Zhang Xiaoxue said with a slight smile looking at the awkward Xia Liu before heading back inside.


    "Wow, I''ll be dying without knowing how if it goes on like this..." Recalling what he just saw, Xia Liu couldn''t help but exim in wonder.


    He sighed softly and quickly fetched a bucket of water.


    A few minutester, Xia Liu finally calmed his mind and sat on the bed in lotus position, he began to absorb the Spiritual Energy in the air.


    Five years ago, when the old man took him away, he taught him the Five Elements Mantra. Except for the asional emergencies, he always sat in meditation to draw in the Spiritual Energy.


    Time for Cultivation always seemed to fly by; at the break of dawn, Xia Liu ended his session and performed a set of Taiji in the courtyard.


    Ever since the old man had him practice it daily, he had gotten a bitx recently, but his skill in the gentle strength of Taiji was still quite good.


    "Wow, Brother Xia Liu, your fist form looks really impressive." Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t understand it, but she was captivated by Xia Liu''s movements as soon as she got up.


    "Heh, you little rascal, getting up so early."


    "Not as early as Brother Xia Liu." Zhang Xiaoxue was actually up early out of concern that Xia Liu might go looking for Zhang Tie again, like the day before.


    Xia Liu chuckled softly, reheated the pork fromst night for breakfast, and told Zhang Xiaoxue to stay at home while he went back up the mountain with his basket...

 Chapter 6: Chapter 006: The Poisoned Woman

    Zhang Xiaoxue really wanted to go with Xia Liu, but Xia Liu firmly refused to let her go and asked her to wait at home, saying they would go to town together at noon.


    After Xia Liu went into the mountain, Zhang Xiaoxue returned to her house and started rummaging through her clothes. She decided she must wear her prettiest outfit to go to the town.


    Several hours had passed when suddenly a middle-aged woman with a panic-stricken face ran into Xia Liu''s house.


    "Help, Xia Liu!" Seeing that the door was wide open, the middle-aged woman started shouting, then bent over, gasping for air.


    "Auntie Li, what happened?" Hearing the noise, Zhang Xiaoxue quickly ran out from the house.


    "Xiaoxue, quickly get Xia Liu to save a life. Your Sister-inw Zhang went to work in the field and got bitten by a snake!"


    "Ah! Was the venom controlled?" Hearing the news, Zhang Xiaoxue became anxious.


    Sister-inw Zhang was very familiar to her; she would invite her over for meals during holidays. She was about thirty years old, very beautiful, with a husband working in the city.


    "My husband has tied up her wound. For now, there are no reactions."


    "But Brother Xia Liu went up the mountain this morning and hasn''te back yet." Knowing this information, Zhang Xiaoxue was relieved, but now that Xia Liu had not returned, things could be critical.


    Just as Zhang Xiaoxue and Auntie Li were bing increasingly anxious, Xia Liu returned, carrying a basket and looking excited.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re finally back. Sister-inw Zhang got bitten by a poisonous snake. You have to go and see her right away," Zhang Xiaoxue said urgently upon seeing Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, you''re the only doctor in the vige. Zhang Qing was bitten by a Silver Ringed Snake. Please, go and see her," Auntie Li exined the situation, hoping to help Zhang Qing.


    As soon as Xia Liu heard it was a Silver Ringed Snake, he immediately dropped his basket at the door. Although he didn''t know who Zhang Qing was, he knew the snake was highly venomous. If the poison wasn''t neutralized soon, it would be fatal.


    After entering the house, Xia Liu grabbed a small medical kit and quickly came out, ready to make house calls for the vigers, just as he had prepared while tidying up the cab the night before.


    Minutester, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue followed Auntie Li to Zhang Qing''s house. Upon arrival, Xia Liu finally recognized who Zhang Qing was.


    Her home belonged to a vige bully named Zhang Kuang, who was notoriously infamous around the vige in the past. Unexpectedly, he had even managed to get married...


    When Xia Liu saw Zhang Qing, he was even more surprised. Zhang Qing was incredibly young, and her appearance and physique were above average.


    However, seeing Zhang Qing''s condition, Xia Liu had to be serious.


    She was wearing denim shorts and originally had fair thighs, but now one of them was tightly wrapped with a cloth. Due to theck of blood flow, it had turned purple.


    Moreover, Zhang Qing had already lost consciousness. Upon checking her pulse, Xia Liu discovered that the venom had spread to her vital organs. He had to act fast to save her.


    "Auntie Li, you and Uncle Li step outside for a moment. I need to administer an injection to the patient, Xiaoxue, fetch me a bowl," he said.


    Knowing what "administering an injection" implied from the past experiences with Xia Liu''s father, Auntie Li and a middle-aged man quickly left the house.


    Zhang Xiaoxue fetched a bowl and stood quietly behind, waiting for further instructions.


    Xia Liu first used a small knife to slightly erge Zhang Qing''s wound, then he sucked the venom out with his mouth.


    After sucking a few times, Xia Liu stopped when the originally dark red blood turned bright red.


    Zhang Xiaoxue watched with her heart pounding. This act of sucking out the venom was dangerous; even Xia Liu could have been poisoned if not careful.


    "Xiaoxue, take off her clothes." After treating the wound, Xia Liumanded while he opened the box and took out ten silver needles, then disinfected them with alcohol.


    When Zhang Xiaoxue heard Xia Liu tell her to remove Zhang Qing''s clothes, she felt a bit uneasy, but for Zhang Qing''s life, she went ahead and did it.


    Although Zhang Qing was twenty-nine, her curves were so beautiful, fair, and tender, hardly different from a young girl''s.


    Xia Liu swallowed hard, activated the Five Elements Mantra, banished the restlessness in his heart, and then moved his palms.


    The afterimages passed by, and five silver needles were quickly inserted into Zhang Qing''s chest, blocking several meridians.


    Xia Liu did not stop his movements. He continued to insert the remaining five silver needles into the chest. In the visible state of mind, the needles were enveloped in a blue energy.


    This blue energy was Wooden Spirit Energy from the Five Elements Mantra, known for its regenerative function. Using the silver needles as a conduit, Xia Liu directed Wooden Spirit Energy into Zhang Qing''s body, nning to regenerate the damaged organs.


    The other five needles radiated a golden light, which was Golden Spirit Energy, used to purify the venom.


    Zhang Xiaoxue would have been frightened if she had seen these two types of spiritual energy.


    Minutester, Xia Liu collected the ten silver needles one by one, five of which had turned from silver to ck, because they had absorbed the venom.


    The needles enhanced by the Golden Spirit Energy, however, appeared normal.


    After collecting all the needles, Xia Liu checked Zhang Qing''s pulse once more, and this time, he finally showed a smile.


    "Brother Xia Liu, is the snake venom cured?" When Zhang Xiaoxue saw his expression, she felt a bit surprised but did not show it.


    "Almost there, her body is a bit weak. I''ll prepare a prescription, and after a few days of nurturing, she''ll bepletely fine," Xia Liu said, looking over at Zhang Qing, who was lying still.


    At that moment, Zhang Qing''splexion was no longer pale; her body had regained some rosiness, particrly her peaks and troughs, where the white was tinged with red, making Xia Liu''s heart race.


    Seeing Xia Liu staring at Zhang Qing, Zhang Xiaoxue quickly pulled over the nket to cover her, feeling inexplicably ufortable.


    Xia Liu also realized his behavior was inappropriate, gave a quick reminder, and then left with his medicine box.


    "Auntie Li, Uncle Li, don''t worry. I''ve cured the poison, and she will fully recover after a few days of care." Seeing Auntie Li and Uncle Li outside, Xia Liu quickly exined, then rushed back.


    "Did I hear that right? The Xia Family boy actually cured the poison!" Li Zhi was in his forties this year, knew the potency of the Silver Ringed Snake''s venom, and remembered at least five people who had died from it when he was a child.


    While Auntie Li was shocked, she wasn''t in the mood to respond and hurried back inside to check up on her.


    Li Zhi, on the other hand, stepped out and went to the vige, spreading the news of Xia Liu curing the poison. Such good news had to be shared with the whole vige; if anyone was bitten by a venomous snake in the future, they just needed to find Xia Liu, and all would be well.


    After returning, Xia Liu took a bath, washed away the restlessness in his heart, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and headed towards Zhang Qing''s house. After detoxifying, she still needed care, and since they didn''t have enough medicine at home, he had to go to town to buy some.


    After asking Auntie Li to take care of Zhang Qing, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue set off for town. Along the way, Zhang Xiaoxue was anxious, worrying about how they would handle passing through Shanyan Vige...

 Chapter 7: Chapter 007 Lesson

    Indeed, as they worried, what was toe came; when the two of them arrived at Shanyan Vige, they happened to encounter a group of about a dozen young men, each one fully armed with tools like hatchets and iron rods.


    The leader was someone Zhang Xiaoxue recognized; it was none other than Li Hao of Shanyan Vige!


    "Haha, better lucky than early," Li Hao, with his height of one meter and seventy centimeters, had gathered his vige''s underlings today, nning to head to Osmanthus Vige. His targets were none other than Zhang Xiaoxue and Xia Liu!


    "Are you Li Hao?" Facing over a dozen armed youths, Xia Liu asked unflinchingly.


    "That''s right, I am Li Ritian! Were you the one who beat up my brother yesterday?" Li Hao walked right up to Xia Liu, and because he was a head shorter, he had to look up to await the other''s response.


    ...


    Looking at that utterly disgusting face, Xia Liu pped him hard across the face. One could say that Li Hao was partially responsible for the death of Zhang Xiaoxue''s father, and having encountered him today, how could Xia Liu let him off!


    Poor Li Hao was pped unconscious by Xia Liu in one swing. The other youths, upon witnessing this, immediately drew their weapons. Some of them had been taught a lesson by Xia Liust time, and this time, armed and supported by so many brothers, their confidence significantly increased.


    "Attack, avenge Brother Hao!"


    With an angry shout, the dozen or so men charged at once. Their sole purpose was to take down Xia Liu and see him bleed!


    "Brother Xia Liu!" Seeing so many people rush forward, Zhang Xiaoxue screamed in rm from behind.


    As for Xia Liu, he didn''t take these people seriously at all, but he also couldn''t be too outrageous.


    He pushed his palms in the Eight Trigrams stance, the beginning pose of Taiji!


    Boom boom boom¡­


    In the following few minutes, a series of collision sounds echoed at the entrance of the vige. Xia Liu''s use of Taiji''s yielding and redirecting force was extremely adept, and these dozen or so youths didn''t stand a chance, all ending up on the ground groaning in pain.


    "Let''s go, Xiaoxue." Looking at Li Hao passed out on the ground, Xia Liu didn''t bother with any warnings; once the other party woke up, he would naturally be afraid.


    Zhang Xiaoxue hesitated for a moment before hurrying to Xia Liu''s side, truly shaken by the scene she had just witnessed.


    Every girl dreams of a prince, and now a seed had been nted in Zhang Xiaoxue''s heart, even without her realizing it.


    After walking for about an hour, the two finally arrived at Pinn Town.


    Zhang Xiaoxue looked at everything in the town with fresh curiosity.


    Due to Li Hao''s oppressive blockades over the past two years, she hadn''t set foot outside Osmanthus Vige at all; it was the cruelty of fate that only today had she made it to the town.


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue like this, Xia Liu couldn''t help but smile bitterly. Her fate, whenpared to his own, had too many simrities. He really wondered how she had endured it all.


    Xia Liu first took Zhang Xiaoxue to buy clothes. Initially, she didn''t want to buy anything, but once they were in the store, her natural shopping instincts as a woman surfaced, and eventually, she was torn between seven or eight different pieces.


    Because the two were in a clothing mall, the sales clerk saw Zhang Xiaoxue''s hesitation and immediately started to sneer, "Miss, if you can''t afford it, please don''t touch the clothes for so long; you''re going to ruin them."


    Hearing the saleswoman''s words, Zhang Xiaoxue''s face turned pale. She did not oftene to town and seemed to have almost forgotten how to deal with these situations.


    "What, you think we can''t afford these clothes?" At the critical moment, Xia Liu red at the saleswoman. He despised such sales staff who judged people through their sses. He too worked in a shop. What right did they have to mock others?


    "Heh, I really think you can''t afford it." The saleswoman sized up Xia Liu and, seeing his outdated attire, couldn''t help but feel disdain.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to teach the saleswoman a lesson, Zhang Xiaoxue hurriedly pulled him back, "Brother Xia Liu, don''t get angry. We just won''t buy here."


    "Hurry up and leave, a couple of bumpkins trying to shop for clothes."


    "Xiaoxue, don''t worry. Just watch me." Xia Liu steadied Zhang Xiaoxue, looked up in the direction of the front desk and called out, "Is the manager here? Come here, please."


    Xia Liu''s voice wasn''t very loud, but everyone in the store heard it clearly, including the customers who were there to buy clothes. Seeing that something was amiss, they all pretended to browse through clothes while gathering around.


    A woman around thirty years old, wearing sses, approached Xia Liu, "I''m sorry, I am the manager. How may I assist you?"


    The manager was very polite, and her spectacles fluctuated so much that Xia Liu almost forgot what he was there for.


    "It''s like this. I brought my girlfriend here to buy clothes, but it seems there is a problem with your staff. They won''t let us buy."


    "Manager, just look at this guy''s poor appearance. Don''t bother with him if he can''t afford it."


    "You should know the store policy. The customer is God! Whatever the customer requests, we should try our best to amodate, not engage in idle gossip!" The manager directly reprimanded the saleswoman in front of Xia Liu, causing her immense embarrassment.


    "Heh, you see? That''s the difference between a manager and a small-time employee." Xia Liu scorned the saleswoman with a nce and turned to the manager with a slight smile, "Manager, please wrap up those sets of clothes. I''ll take them all."


    Upon hearing this, the manager''s smile grew even brighter. She gave a stern look at the saleswoman who was still in a daze, and with excitement, she went to pack the clothes herself.


    "Brother Xia Liu, do we have that much money?" Zhang Xiaoxue began to worry. She didn''t know how much money Xia Liu had. If they couldn''t pay, it would be really embarrassing.


    Xia Liu gave her a reassuring look and followed the manager to the front desk. The saleswoman was not convinced and was sure Xia Liu couldn''t afford the clothes.


    "The totales to one thousand eight hundred eighty. However, due to some minor unpleasantness, paying one thousand six hundred will suffice," said the manager with a cheery look at Xia Liu.


    At that moment, amidst numerous gazes, Xia Liu pulled out a wad of cash, truly startling the onlookers.


    This store could be said to be one of the more expensive ones in town. A farmer taking out a couple of thousand to buy clothes in one go was indeed rare.


    Only after Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue left did the saleswomane back to her senses, stricken by thunder. It was then she realized that the manager was right in her usual lectures: you should never judge someone by appearances because you never know when your own attitude might cost you dearly.


    After leaving the clothing store, Zhang Xiaoxue also learned about the sale of the medicinal herbs and no longer wondered why Xia Liu wasn''t worried; it turned out he had a substantial amount of money!


    Afterward, Zhang Xiaoxue went to the lingerie store to buy a few sets and to the market to buy some food ingredients before heading back home.


    Xia Liu didn''t forget about Zhang Qing''s situation and stopped by Tianluo Chinese Medicine Pharmacy to buy some medicinal herbs to help with her recovery. Additionally, he purchased arge quantity ofmonly used medicinal herbs to treat minor ailments, nning to hang up the sign and continue his father''s medical practice once he returned home.

 Chapter 8: Chapter 008 Come over when theres nobody...

    Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue walked back, passing by Shanyan Vige, not encountering Li Hao again; they figured he must have been scared off.


    The first thing they did upon returning to Osmanthus Vige was to visit Zhang Qing''s house, allowing Auntie Li to go back to rest while Zhang Xiaoxue prepared the traditional Chinese medicine they had bought.


    Zhang Qing had already woken up, but stillcked the strength to get out of bed. Faced with Xia Liu, the handsome young man, she was incredibly spirited.


    "Xia Liu, thank you. If it weren''t for you, I might have..." As she spoke, Zhang Qing blushed because she realized when she woke up that her buttons were misaligned, meaning that Xia Liu had undressed her while detoxifying.


    "Don''t worry about it, don''t think too much. If there''s anything else you need in the future, juste to me if I can help," Xia Liu said with a bright smile. He had heard about all the things Zhang Qing had done for Zhang Xiaoxue over the years and felt obligated to give her special treatment.


    "I''ve troubled you. I don''t know how much it''ll cost. Sister-inw shouldn''t let you work for free."


    "Hey, sister-inw, why mention that? I just did a few simple stitches."


    "Those stitches saved my life. Auntie Li told us all about it. If you don''t charge me, I won''t take the medicine!" Zhang Qing said coquettishly like a little girl.


    This made Xia Liu somewhat embarrassed since Zhang Qing had indeed been a great help to Zhang Xiaoxue; Xiaoxue was able to hang on till nowrgely thanks to her.


    "Well, how about just charging ten or twenty bucks," Xia Liu offered.


    After Xia Liu mentioned the price, Zhang Qing suddenly remembered that she hadn''t had any ie for several months and had run out of money!


    "Xia Liu, sister-inw has no money at home, so I''ll owe you. If you want to do something else, juste over when no one else is around..." As she said this, Zhang Qing''s tender hand rested on the back of Xia Liu''s hand, her middle finger moving in circles in his palm.


    Listening to these heartfelt words, Xia Liu swallowed hard, understanding Zhang Qing''s intentions, and he started to breathe more heavily.


    Seeing Xia Liu like this, Zhang Qing felt an unconscious thrill. Her husband had not been home for over a year, and seeing Xia Liu, a woman like her couldn''t help wanting to talk to him, even hoping to delve deeper.


    "Herees the medicine!" Just as Xia Liu felt awkward, a cheerful voice came from outside, and Zhang Xiaoxue smilingly rushed in carrying a bowl.


    Xia Liu quickly withdrew his hand, worried about what Zhang Xiaoxue might think if she saw them.


    Zhang Qing did not persist any further, and everything went back to normal.


    Zhang Xiaoxue not only prepared medicine for her but also cooked a meal, and it was after eight in the evening when she and Xia Liu returned home.


    Zhang Qing waited until eleven at night and Xia Liu hadn''te. She couldn''t help but feel dejected, reminiscing about his handsome appearance, and started to entertain wild fantasies...


    After returning home, Xia Liu organized the medicinal herbs he had bought, wrote somerge characters with a marking pen, and set up the sign at the door, thus officially establishing the health clinic.


    It had been another grueling day; Xia Liu waited outside the bathroom, thinking it had been about ten minutes since Zhang Xiaoxue had been inside without any sound, "Xiaoxue, are you there?"


    "Here Ie."


    As his voice rang clear, Zhang Xiaoxue slowly walked out, and Xia Liu, seeing the person before him, was stunned.


    "Brother Xia Liu, do I look good in this dress?" Zhang Xiaoxue asked as she spun around in front of Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu hurriedly nodded, his heart racing to its peak. He had already been fired up by Zhang Qing, and now Zhang Xiaoxue was wearing the dress she bought today, asking him for his opinion¡ªthis was simply tempting him tomit a sin!


    Under the moonlight, the ckce was so striking, and her t abdomen without a trace of excess fat...


    Xia Liu clenched his palm, feeling an urge to reach out and release the tension.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you should take a shower too, I''m going back!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue winked mischievously and quickly ran back inside, leaving a bewildered Xia Liu standing there.


    "Oh man... where did this kid learn this from..." Faced with Zhang Xiaoxue''s alluring behavior, Xia Liu shook his head and hurried to fetch water, realizing that only cold water could extinguish the rising mes.


    When Xia Liu returned to the inside, something he hadn''t anticipated urred; Zhang Xiaoxue was actually in his room, dressed just as before¡ªsomewhat terrifying!


    "Xiaoxue, why aren''t you asleep yet?"


    "Today, while detoxing sister-inw, Brother Xia Liu seemed to enjoy watching..." Zhang Xiaoxue lowered her head, her hands nervously intertwined, too shy to speak.


    Today, she had seen Xia Liu staring nkly at Zhang Qing and felt a bit dissatisfied, so she too wanted to captivate Xia Liu''s attention!


    "Pfft! What are you thinking about, you silly girl, hurry up and go back to bed, I need to go up the mountain tomorrow!"


    "Doesn''t Brother Xia Liu like to watch Xiaoxue?"


    "It''s not that, Xiaoxue, you are still young, go back to sleep now, or I will really get mad." Xia Liu was struggling to maintain control, realizing this girl was truly driving him towards temptation.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t be mad, I''ll go to sleep then." Saying this, Zhang Xiaoxue puffed her cheeks and hurriedly walked out, but she was thrilled inside. Just now when she identally touched Xia Liu, she could feel he was burning hot; this proved she could still make Brother Xia Liu driven...


    After Zhang Xiaoxue left, Xia Liu immediately entered a meditative state to calm down.


    At seven in the morning, Xia Liu got up early, prepared breakfast for Zhang Xiaoxue, and then headed up the mountain with a basket on his back.


    The value of the Hundred-Year tycodon greatly excited him; if he came across a few more herbs of simr age, he would really be fortunate.


    The Xianggu Mountain Range was abundant with medicinal herbs, a sure path to wealth, but it required his pioneering efforts to uplift the vigers.


    However, this time, Xia Liu didn''t find precious century-old herbs like tycodon, but he discovered another surprise.


    After exploring for half an hour, on a mound, he found arge patch of Atractylodes!


    Atractylodes, also known as Kaempferia gnga, was good for strengthening the spleen, boosting energy, drying dampness, promoting water elimination, preventing sweat, and stabilizing pregnancies. It had great and broad medicinal value. Such a massive patch of Atractylodes meant a rhythm of fortune!


    He quickly filled his basket, remembered the location, and rushed back, though still unsure of the market price at the herbal store.


    Back at home after processing the Atractylodes, he instructed Zhang Xiaoxue, then hurried to town.


    "Although this Atractylodes hasn''t been processed, it is wild, so ording to my grandfather''s standards, I can offer you thirty yuan per kilogram. If the quantity isrge, the price could even increase by a few yuan," Liu Lanxin said after inspecting the Atractylodes in the basket.


    "If I supply a thousand kilograms at a time, can the price increase?" Xia Liu asked, barely containing his excitement.


    "If you can supply over a thousand kilograms at once, I can give you thirty-five yuan, but it must all be wild," she replied.

 Chapter 9: Chapter 009: The Sale of Medicinal Materials

    "They''re all wild, that''s for sure, but there''s so much of it that transportation is a bit of a problem." Now there was another issue at hand, as Osmanthus Vige had no road ess at all, and vehicles could only reach the entrance of Shanyan Vige; this was truly a headache.


    "If there''s this much at a time, you can call me, and I''ll send a vehicle to pick it up. Where do you live?"


    "I''m in Osmanthus Vige."


    "Osmanthus Vige! That ce still doesn''t have roads, so..." Liu Lanxin started in surprise, as Osmanthus Vige was, rtive to Pinn Town, probably the poorest vige. She hadn''t expected Xia Liu to be from Osmanthus Vige.


    "How about this, I''ll transport the goods to Shanyan Vige when the timees; that way, the vehicle can reach it."


    "Hmm, that works, but you have to make sure there''s this much every time."


    "Of course!" Xia Liu grinned, as with Liu Lanxin''s support, he could save a lot of manpower and time.


    This time, he had brought a total of sixty jin of Atractylodes, and Liu Lanxin settled the bill at thirty-five yuan per jin.


    Xia Liu also bought manymon herbs in the shop, and in the end, Liu Lanxin transferred a total of one thousand eight hundred yuan into his card.


    After receiving the money, Xia Liu had nothing more to add and headed straight home with his basket on his back.


    The struggles he encountered today preupied his thoughts all the way home.


    To get rich, build roads first; if vehicles cannot even get into the vige, how can there be talk of getting rich?


    It was about two miles from Osmanthus Vige to Shanyan Vige, not very far, and one hundred thousand yuan should suffice to carve out a dirt and stone road.


    The difficultyy with Shanyan Vige. Even if the road was built, you still had to go through Shanyan Vige, and given Li Hao''s nasty temperament, after being taught a lesson by Xia Liu, who knows what kind of revenge he might seek. So, passing through Shanyan Vige wasn''t necessarily a good thing.


    Standing on the mountaintop, Xia Liu suddenly had an inspired thought: split the mountain!


    In fact, if measured in a straight line, Osmanthus Vige was at most five kilometers from the town, but two towering mountains blocked the way, forcing one to detour through Shanyan Vige.


    If those two mountains could be dealt with, the journey to the town would be halved.


    But this idea was a bit ambitious. Splitting a mountain would require a huge amount of financial resources. Not to mention more, it would probably cost millions. For now, he could only think about it and still needed to go through Shanyan Vige.


    Upon his return to Osmanthus Vige, Xia Liu was met with enthusiastic cheers from his fellow vigers. The news of him curing Zhang Qing of poisoning had spread to everyone. Now, if they didn''t foster good rtions with him, the consequences could be dire if they were bitten by a venomous snake in the future.


    "Everyone quiet down a bit, Xia Liu has juste back and who knows how many days he can stay."


    In the midst of the excited crowd, a middle-aged man suddenly spoke.


    It wasn''t unreasonable for him to think that way, after all, the young people in the vige had gone out to work, and they only stayed home for the days around New Year''s.


    The vigers all fell silent; while it was true that Xia Liu was capable, he couldn''t possibly stay in the vige for life.


    "Haha, everyone can rest assured about that; I''ll be staying in the vige from now on and won''t be going out anymore," Xia Liu knew what the vigers were worried about and immediatelyughed.


    "Ah! That''s really great!"


    "I need to go back and tell my child''s father about this; our vige has a doctor now!"


    ...


    Xia Liu''s words caused quite a stir. For years, the vigers had suffered from poverty and difficulties in getting medical care. Now that Xia Liu could cure poison, that was more impressive than a hospital.


    "Everyone, listen to me for a moment, I have a way to make money, do you all have time?" Seizing the opportunity, Xia Liu shared the n in his heart.


    On his way back, he thought about it all the way. There was a huge amount of Atractylodes in the mountains, which he alone might not be able to dig up in half a year, and to meet therge quantities that Liu Lanxin talked about, many people would have to harvest it.


    This was also an opportunity, an opportunity that could drive the economy of Osmanthus Vige.


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s words, everyone looked at him with excitement. Who wouldn''t want to make money, especially since they were poor enough, they knew the importance of money more than others.


    "Those who are interested, go back and spread the word. Each family can only send one person, preferably a man, to my house tomorrow morning. Once we have enough people, I''ll exin this money-making matter to everyone." Seeing that most of the people present were women, Xia Liu didn''t rush to exin.


    The women in the vige were like awork; once the news got out, everyone in the vige would soon know. It just depended on how many people would believe in him.


    After hearing Xia Liu say this, the vigers'' enthusiasm waned a bit, but they still took note, after all, there was money to be made.


    When he returned home, Zhang Xiaoxue had already prepared dinner, and after they had eaten, Zhang Qing came over carrying a chicken.


    Zhang Qing looked more spirited today than yesterday, and she had even put on a bit of makeup. With her fair skin, she didn''t resemble a woman from the vige at all.


    "Doctor Xia Liu, since you didn''t take my consultation fee, the only thing I can do is bring something to thank you," Zhang Qing said her intentions as soon as she entered.


    "Sister-inw, why be so polite..." Knowing Zhang Qing''s intentions, Zhang Xiaoxue felt bittersweet. While Xia Liu was away, the two of them had be confidantes, and Zhang Qing had helped her so much. Seeing this, she felt a bit awkward.


    "Yes, sister-inw, it''s all in the past now. If you need help in the future, juste to me, and I won''t refuse..."


    "Wasn''t itst night that you asked for help? Why didn''t you go..." Zhang Qing mumbled softly, barely audible to Zhang Xiaoxue, but Xia Liu heard it clearly.


    ...


    Xia Liu couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. He had just said he wouldn''t refuse, and now he got splendidly facpped, really...


    "Heh, actually I heard from the people in the vige that Doctor Xia Liu has a way to make money, so I wanted to give it a try."


    "Ah, Brother Xia Liu, what have you done?"


    "Cough cough, well, it''s like this, I found a field of Kaempferia gnga in the mountains, so..." Xia Liu then started to exin to the two women.


    "Fifteen yuan per catty!" Hearing the final price, both women were simultaneously surprised.


    Xia Liu smiled wryly. He knew saying it like that would shock people. If he mentioned thirty-five yuan per catty, who the hell would believe him? Maybe no one would even go to the mountains.


    "Yes, as long as it''s harvested properly, you can definitely get fifteen per catty. But in an eight-hour day, at most you might only be able to pick about ten catties," Xia Liu said earnestly.


    "Wow! I want to go!" Both women eximed excitedly at the same time.


    They had seen Kaempferia gnga before, but it wasn''tmon. They really didn''t know that the stuff actuallymanded such a terrifying price, and they became excited at the thought.


    In a day, one could harvest about ten catties, which was one hundred and fifty yuan. That''s four thousand five hundred yuan a month, which was more than the sry of some city workers.


    Xia Liu smiled slightly. It depended on how many people woulde tomorrow. After talking a while longer, he took Zhang Qing back home, as it was dangerous for a woman to walk alone at night.


    "Doctor Xia Liu, thank you for giving me this opportunity," Zhang Qing said, thanking Xia Liu again after reaching her home.


    "It''s nothing, I should be getting back. Remember to have breakfast tomorrow; you need the energy." Xia Liu was somewhat puzzled; logically speaking, Zhang Qing shouldn''t be short on money. ording to Xiaoxue, her husband sent her a lot of money every month. Why would she be short of cash?


    "Why don''t youe in and sit for a bit before going back..." As Xia Liu was about to leave, Zhang Qing stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and then ced it on her chest...

 Chapter 10: Chapter 010 Excited Villagers

    All of this came too suddenly, leaving Xia Liu dumbfounded.


    Looking at the shy expression on Zhang Qing''s face, he swallowed a mouthful of saliva and quickly retracted his hand.


    "Sister-inw, you should rest early, or you won''t be able to get up tomorrow," Xia Liu said, and then he left, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    Watching Xia Liu''s fleeing figures, Zhang Qing chuckled.


    After returning home, just like usual, Xia Liu kept watch for Zhang Xiaoxue. Remembering the scene from before, and hearing the rustling sound of running water, he quickly started the Five Elements Mantra. If things really pushed him to the brink, he was ready to throw caution to the wind.


    The night passed without incident, and the next morning, like usual, Xia Liu finished his cultivation and went to the courtyard to practice boxing. Zhang Xiaoxue also got up very early, remembering Xia Liu''s words from the previous night about making money¡ªhow could she be absent?


    But what saddened her was that Xia Liu actually wouldn''t let her go up the mountain, saying it was too dangerous.


    Whatpletely dispelled Zhang Xiaoxue''s thoughts were Xia Liu''s words: "It''s enough that I''m at home; you just enjoy being thedy of the house."


    After sensing someone''s arrival, he went outside and saw ten vigers chatting merrily.


    They had all heard the news yesterday¡ªthat there was a way to make money with Xia Liu. Others might not believe it, but they did, especially after Xia Liu had cured Zhang Qing''s poisoning; they trusted Xia Liu unreservedly.


    In the crowd, Zhang Qing was also there, carrying a bamboo basket on her back and wearing a hat, standing with two other women, looking exceptionally beautiful.


    Looking at the seven men and three women before him, Xia Liu couldn''t help but sigh; it seemed that most people in the vige still didn''t believe in him.


    With fifty households in Osmanthus Vige, only ten hade. The rest were probably still watching, since nobody wanted to toil in vain.


    After giving Zhang Xiaoxue some instructions, Xia Liu, carrying a bamboo basket, led the group into the mountain.


    Half an hourter, the group arrived at their destination.


    "The ce to make money is here! Everyone knows this nt, Kaempferia gnga..." After reaching the hill, Xia Liu picked an Atractylodes and started exining it to the vigers, repeating the price of Kaempferia gnga several times.


    "Wow! Fifteen yuan per jin! How much can we make in a day!"


    "Just as Zhang Qing said, fifteen yuan per jin!"


    "Xia Liu, quickly tell us what we need to watch out for!"


    ...


    After learning the price of Atractylodes, everyone was excited. They were now realizing just how lucky they were, d they hadn''t just waited like the others, or they would have missed out on a significant opportunity.


    Xia Liu understood their feelings and quickly exined what they needed to pay attention to and the proper way to harvest.


    The reason he could pick sixty jin before was due to special circumstances; a normal person, even with twenty-four hours in a day, could at most harvest twenty to thirty jin.


    Moreover, after nightfall, it was unsafe to stay in the mountains. There were many wild animals, and if it weren''t for so many people being together, Xia Liu would have been worried about their safety.


    Once everyone had begun to harvest, Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction, gave a few more instructions, and then left¡ªnot out of the mountain, but further into its interior.


    The hill they were on was rtively close to Osmanthus Vige. If they picked all the Atractylodes, the money-making would stop, so he had to find a way to ensure a constant stream of ie.


    Unfortunately, on this trip, he didn''t find any significant discoveries, though he picked a few rare medicinal herbs he came across.


    At noon, he summoned everyone to go back for lunch. Even if they didn''t want to, they had to go; they weren''t far, and working on an empty stomach was not good.


    In the afternoon, everyone went with Xia Liu again, only returning at five o''clock, each face brimming with joy.


    Although it was their first day, they all had a bountiful harvest. One middle-aged man had picked fifteen jin! That was over two hundred yuan.


    The harvest for others was also good, as they were normally working thend. Harvesting and handling Atractylodes came naturally to them, and even the one who picked the least had gathered more than nine jin, and of course, that person was Zhang Qing.


    After returning home, Xia Liu had Zhang Xiaoxue weigh the harvest for everyone and record the amounts in the notebook. He then made arrangements for tomorrow''s work and let everyone go home, saying the payment would have to wait until he could get the money from the town the next day.


    As for this matter, everyone trusted Xia Liu. The quantities were ounted for, the money could be collected the next day, and even if it couldn''t, helping Xia Liu for one more day was no problem.


    Looking at the more than one hundred thirty jin of Atractylodes, Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction. As long as the first group of vigers got their money, more would undoubtedlyeter.


    After bundling up ten hemp sacks, Xia Liu went to cook. Once everything was settled, the two of them ate dinner cozily.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I feel like a boss''s wife. This isn''t a dream, right?" After finishing the meal, Zhang Xiaoxue looked at the amounts of Atractylodes on the notebook and couldn''t help but let her imagination run wild.


    Today they had harvested more than one hundred thirty jin, and at thirty-five yuan per jin, that was over four thousand yuan!


    Even after giving the vigers fifteen yuan per jin, they still had over two thousand left, and that was just one day''s earnings.


    If there were more people, the day''s earnings would be much more, and the vigers'' ies would significantly increase as well¡ªthis was definitely a symbol of wealth?


    "Heh heh, my vige flower shop owner, do you want to go to town with me tomorrow?"


    "I won''t go tomorrow; I still need to help Brother Xia Liu register the numbers and answer questions for the vigers." Called this way by Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue''s ears grew hot, and her whole face turned red.


    Xia Liu nodded; she really had a good head on her shoulders. Today, after the vigers went back and talked about the matter in the vige, many would definitelye tomorrow to inquire. With Zhang Xiaoxue providing answers and him returning with the money, the number of vigersing to dig Atractylodes would surely increase.


    The next morning, to ease the vigers'' worries for a bit longer, Xia Liu set out for town early.


    He felt a bit puzzled when passing through Shanyan Vige. Since Li Hao was taught a lesson by him, he had disappeared for a few days now, which was rather suspicious.


    But he didn''t pay too much attention to it. Whatever tricks the guy had, Xia Liu could handle them all. What mattered was to quickly go to the bank and get the money.


    After Xia Liu entered the bank, an unexpected detail caught his eye.


    There were three people standing in front of the ATM, a woman in the middle with two tall men by her side.


    Seen from the back, the woman''s figure was definitely of fairy level. Even a few meters away, one could still be drawn in by an indescribably pleasant scent.


    What was most out of the ordinary was the dress of the two men, which clearly didn''t match the woman''s, and they were very close while withdrawing money.


    The next second, Xia Liu saw something under the man''s shirt¡ªit was a dagger...

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Rescue Fang Fei

    Xia Liu had finally figured it out: robbing with a knife in broad daylight, and boldly inside a bank no less.


    Although he''d only seen the woman''s back, Xia Liu was certain she was a real beauty. To not lend a hand would be asking for divine retribution.


    So he stepped forward, cutting in front of the woman, taking the opportunity to size her up¡ªindeed, she was stunning, with a delicate neck and a charming face, the shyness of youth reced by mature allure!


    "Kid, you dare to cut in line? You''re seeking death!" one of the robbers yelled, clearly annoyed.


    The beautiful woman was taken aback by Xia Liu''s actions. Once she recovered, her eyes trembled, hoping Xia Liu would understand her predicament and help her.


    "Cutting in line? Try ring at me again!" Xia Liu boldly responded to the robber, while the knife was still pressed against the woman''s waist. If he acted rashly, he might identally hurt her.


    "Damn it! I''ll stab you to death!"


    Unable to tolerate Xia Liu''s words, the knife-wielding robber made his move.


    But just as his knife was exposed to the air, he suddenly saw ck and passed out. This scene shocked both the beautiful woman and the other robber.


    Unexpectedly, this small-statured man had knocked out his aplice with a single punch, and he was incredibly fast. Seeing the situation turning against him, the other robber turned and fled.


    But he was nowhere near as fast as Xia Liu, who took him down after just a couple of steps.


    After dealing with the two men, Xia Liu asked the woman what she wanted to do next.


    Once she recovered, the woman thanked Xia Liu repeatedly. As for the two robbers, she suggested calling the police to take them away.


    The woman''s name was Fang Fei. Xia Liu learned that she had been targeted by the two robbers right at the entrance, which led to the scene they had just encountered.


    "Thank you, Xia Liu. If it wasn''t for you, today I might have..."


    "Sister Fang, you''re too polite. Helping others is what I enjoy the most," Xia Liu interrupted Fang Fei. Facing such a charming woman''s gratitude, he felt a bit overwhelmed, wondering if she might seek to repay him with her body.


    Okay, Xia Liu was overthinking it¡ªbut Fang Fei was still visibly shaken, sticking close to Xia Liu, not daring to walk away.


    Inhaling the faint fragrance of the beautiful woman at his side, Xia Liu felt a bit restless, yet he managed to control himself.


    After withdrawing the money, Xia Liu saw a group dressed in special uniforms approaching from a distance. As soon as these people entered, they ignored the two robbers lying on the ground and drew their batons, confronting Xia Liu.


    This sudden development baffled both Xia Liu and Fang Fei.


    "What are you doing? These two are the robbers. They just tried to rob me with a knife, and he rescued me!" Fang Fei immediately exined the situation as someone approached Xia Liu.


    "Lady, don''t interfere with our work. We don''t need you telling us what to do. Handcuff them and take them away!" Luo Cheng, the leader of the group, nced at Fang Fei, his sharp words making her dare not make any further move.


    That''s when Xia Liu stepped up: "I just came from the vige to withdraw money. I shouldn''t have done anything wrong. Why are you handcuffing me?"


    "Enough talk. If you resist, you''ll have to give a statement back at the station, to clear any suspicion of you being in cahoots with them," Luo Cheng, who had just turned forty, pointed directly at Xia Liu, keenly aware of the credit he would get from handling this situation.


    "Heh," Xia Liu let out a coldugh, his hands slowly tightening behind his back. He had never seen these people before and certainly had no grudges. The only way to find out who was behind this may be to go there himself.


    ¡­


    In a certain facility in Pinn Town, Xia Liu''s hands were cuffed as he was brought into a dimly lit small room, where the icy chair made him sigh deeply.


    Before he could even warm the seat, the door opened and two young men entered, Xia Liu recognized one of them¡ªit was Li Hao from Shanyan Vige.


    When he was at the bank, he had thought about it, the likely person he had a grudge with was Li Hao.


    "Damn it, you dare to smile? I''ll beat you to death!" Seeing the smile on Xia Liu''s face, Li Hao became instantly furious, grabbing a stool and attempting to smash it on Xia Liu.


    However, the other young man was calmer and stopped Li Hao, "Cousin, hold back for now. It''s too cheap to just hit him since he dared to strike you."


    "You''re right, cousin. How can we make him remember this forever?" As for Lan Jian''s words, Li Hao never dared to contradict, since his uncle Lan Weiming was the mayor of Pinn Town.


    With a gleam in his eyes, Lan Jian suggested, "Didn''t you say he''s recently been close to Zhang Xiaoxue from Osmanthus Vige? What if we capture Zhang Xiaoxue and deal with her right in front of him? Do you think he''ll ever forget what he sees?"


    Li Hao felt somewhat embarrassed; Zhang Xiaoxue was the woman he most wanted to marry. Yet, to appease Lan Jian, he did not dare say much. Having the opportunity to be with Zhang Xiaoxue seemed appealing, and as for the consequences, he couldn''t care less.


    Watching their smirking faces, Xia Liu silently tossed his handcuffs aside.


    "Damn it, how did you unlock the handcuffs!" Seeing this, Li Hao was stunned, well aware of Xia Liu''s capabilities, who was known to take down ten men on his own.


    Lan Jian was also shocked, but after regaining hisposure, he spoke calmly, "Kid, this is Zheng Suo''s territory, and my dad is Lan Weiming. If you dare cause trouble, be careful..."


    Smack!


    Before Lan Jian could finish, a crisp p echoed throughout the room.


    Looking at Lan Jian holding his face in pain, Xia Liu said coldly, "I originally didn''t want to hit you, but why did you have to bring up Xiaoxue!"


    With that, Xia Liu delivered another p, effectively controlling his strength to prevent Lan Jian from fainting.


    Lan Jiany on the ground from the ps while Li Hao stood by like a stake, not reacting until Xia Liu finished pping Lan Jian.


    "You''re done for, you''re done for. You just hit Lan Weiming''s son; not even the mighty king can save you now!"


    Although scared, Li Hao remained cool since he no longer had to think about how to deal with Xia Liu; beating Lan Jian had fixed that, and now there was no escape for him!


    "Is that so? Before that happens, shouldn''t I teach you a lesson first, thinking you''re some big shot?"


    Xia Liu moved swiftly, kicking Li Hao in the stomach. Li Hao flew back like a kicked ball and crashed into a wall.


    Clutching his stomach, Li Hao knelt on the floor, deeply regretting having talked tough in front of Xia Liu; he should have waited for the staff to arrive before saying anything.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to continue teaching Li Hao a lesson, the iron door opened and several staff members rushed in, led by a greasy-faced middle-aged man.


    "Zheng Suo, save me, he''s trying to kill me, shoot him dead!" As soon as Lan Jian saw the middle-aged man entering, he struggled to stand up from the floor and pointed at Xia Liu while shouting.


    "Zheng Suo, he''s trying to kill us both, save us quick!" Li Hao also began to make a scene.


    However, they failed to notice the expression on Zheng Suo''s face¡ªit was uglier than crying...

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12: False Accusation

    Zheng Suo completely ignored Li Hao and Lan Jian, walking straight up to Xia Liu and then doing something that stunned everyone.He bowed to Xia Liu, "I am sorry, Mr. Xia Liu, for taking up your time."


    Xia Liu was also perplexed; since when had he known this man? But now that he had called him by name, it felt rude not to respond.


    "It''s no trouble. May I leave now?"


    "Yes, yes, someone is waiting for you in the office; please go there," Zheng Suo said with an excited smile.


    "Someone is waiting for me in the office?" Xia Liu was slightly startled; had his return been discovered?


    Before Xia Liu could think further, Lan Jian shouted at the top of his lungs, "Zheng Suo, my dad is Lan Weiming! How dare you..."


    "Shut your mouth, even if your dad is the Emperor, it won''t help. Xiao Zhang, handcuff them!"


    Zheng Suo showed no respect toward Lan Jian; he had just received a call from the city''s main bureau.


    If Xia Liu suffered even the slightest harm, it wouldn''t just be his job as the sheriff at stake, but Pinglan Town might face a massive upheaval.


    Amidst the astonished looks from Lan Jian and Li Hao, Xia Liu slowly walked out.


    When he arrived at the office Zheng Suo mentioned, he realized his worries were mistaken, and someone influential had come to his aid. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m sorry I''m late, Xia Liu. Are you alright?" Fang Fei looked at Xia Liu, unsure of what else to say.


    She thought that it was because of her that Xia Liu had been detained, and her first action was to call her connections.


    "Sister Fang, no need to worry; they can''t do anything to me."


    Xia Liu smiled faintly; the woman gave him a mysterious feeling. Not to mention anything else, she must have a fearsome background; otherwise, Zheng Suo wouldn''t have treated Lan Jian like that.


    Fang Fei smiled, not giving Xia Liu a chance to refuse, and led him out, then found a decent restaurant for a meal.


    After learning that Xia Liu had returned to the village from studying abroad, Fang Fei immediately became interested and wanted to recruit him as a manager at her hotel.


    "Sister Fang flatters me, but I''m not cut out to be a manager. It''s more fitting for me to be a rural doctor in the village," Xia Liu cheerfully refused Fang Fei''s proposal.


    "You''re burying your own talents, Xia Liu. How can you get ahead if you''re stuck in the village? Come be a manager for Sister, and getting a pretty wife will be killing two birds with one stone," Fang Fei insisted.


    Fang Fei didn''t give up; she wanted to truly repay Xia Liu, and possibly¡­


    Xia Liu still refused Fang Fei, and because of this, she kept him from leaving and they drank a lot during that time.


    It wasn''t until eight in the evening that they stopped, and whether it was because of the alcohol, Fang Fei was very close to Xia Liu, continually flipping her hair and adjusting her clothes.


    Although Xia Liu had consumed several bottles, it was like drinking water to him, watching Fang Fei next to him in a completely sober state.


    He felt a surge of impulse; he really wanted to pin this seductive fairy onto the couch.


    In the end, having no other choice, Fang Fei passed out, and Xia Liu helped her get a room in the hotel, then silently left.


    "What a virile young man, and still such a gentleman. Just wait, Sister will definitely make you ''kneel'' at my feet!"


    After Xia Liu had left, Fang Fei, who was pretending to sleep, muttered to herself.


    ...


    At this time, Osmanthus Village was somewhat lively because Xia Liu had not returned by evening, and some villagers had already gathered at the door of his house. They had all gone to the mountains today to pick Atractylodes.


    This was their first time in the mountains. Each had picked about ten kilograms, and as it was nearing midnight and Xia Liu had not yet returned, they believed they had been deceived.


    "Zhang Xiaoxue, although you are my niece, you can''t help Xia Liu deceive everyone. Do you know how much you have delayed everyone today?"


    Zhang Tie, standing in front of the crowd, said this in a threatening manner.


    "Exactly, Xiaoxue, you better have Xia Liu come out and explain whether there is money or not!"


    "Right, we can''t just waste a whole day for nothing!"


    ...


    About seven or eight strong men followed Zhang Tie, pressuring continuously. They had never met Xia Liu, and the reason they went to pick today was because of the few who had gone yesterday. The words from Zhang Tie and Xia Liu''s disappearance made them suspicious.


    At this time, Zhang Xiaoxue, holding a notebook, stood at the door with her head bowed down. Faced with the villagers'' questions, she had assured them many times that Xia Liu would definitely bring the money back to them.


    "Can''t you all just wait a bit? Xia Liu will definitely come back!" Facing so many people, Zhang Qing still stood by Xia Liu, firmly believing in him.


    "Zhang Qing, don''t stand on the wrong side. If Xia Liu really were trustworthy, he wouldn''t be missing till dark."


    After the last demonstration at his door, Zhang Tie had come to despise Xia Liu, and finding this opportunity, how could he let it pass¡ªthis time he had to make Xia Liu despised by the whole village.


    "What are you all clamoring about? Even if Xia Liu doesn''t give the money, what''s wrong with helping Xia Liu for one day? Have you all forgotten who cured Zhang Qing when she was bitten by a snake!"


    Among the onlooking villagers, some voices supported Xia Liu.


    Leaving aside whether he was a scam or not, just Xia Liu''s skill in treating poison deserved respect.


    "Yes, Xia Liu cured Zhang Qing who was bitten by a Silver Ringed Snake. His medical skills definitely are not wrong."


    "Exactly, even if we really just wasted today, it doesn''t matter."


    ...


    Gradually, some voices began to support Xia Liu.


    Hearing this, both Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Qing were very happy, as the villagers were becoming aware.


    But the main culprit, Zhang Tie, was unhappy. He shouted loud, "Be quiet everyone! Don''t you all have doubts? Xia Liu came back just in time. Why did Zhang Qing happen to be bitten by a snake at this time?"


    The villagers were confused. Their level of education wasn''t high, and they had no idea what Zhang Tie was getting at.


    "Zhang Tie, stop slander! I can stay alive till now all because of Xia Liu. You just want to drive Xia Liu away, and then let the village be without a doctor, so eventually your unqualified daughter, who studied medicine, can come back and open a clinic!" Zhang Qing forcefully responded, sensing the insinuation in Zhang Tie''s words implying she had colluded with Xia Liu.


    "Tsk, my daughter studying medicine is true, and even if she opens a clinic in the village, it''s for everyone''s good. What''s wrong with that? Xia Liu''s medical skills are inadequate. You two staged this snake-bite drama just to make everyone believe in him, didn''t you?"


    "Enough, Zhang Tie! I can guarantee Xia Liu''s medical skills. They are absolutely impressive. Whoever gets bitten by a snake in the future, just ask him to come, and he will surely cure it. Don''t compare your naive daughter to Xia Liu."


    Li Hao couldn''t stand it anymore. He had personally seen Zhang Qing being bitten by a snake then carrying her from the fields back home.


    At this moment, Zhang Tie was fuming with anger. He had to get Xia Liu out of Osmanthus Village. Only then would he have a chance to become the village head!

 Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Slap in the Face!

    "Everyone, don''t be fooled. Today he just went out in the sun all day. Xia Liu simply took the money for the transport and ran away!" Zhang Tie was relentless; he was determined to drag Xia Liu down and make sure he could never recover.Apart from the villagers who went picking on the first day, the others more or less distrusted Xia Liu.


    They didn''t know how much Kaempferia galanga could sell for, but Xia Liu offering fifteen yuan per kilogram definitely meant it was valuable. If he had sold the items and fled with the money, no one would have known.


    Hearing Zhang Tie say this, Zhang Xiaoxue was indignant. She bravely confronted Zhang Tie for the first time, leading several villagers inside the house to check. The Kaempferia galanga harvested in the past two days was all stockpiled inside, shattering the claim that Xia Liu had run away with the money.


    Just as Zhang Tie was scheming to further smear Xia Liu, a voice broke the silence, "Zhang Tie, who told you I had run off with the money? If you don''t want everyone to make money, just say it directly and stop playing these petty tricks."


    "Look, Xia Liu has come back!"


    "Indeed he has!"


    ...


    Seeing Xia Liu return, the villagers were all excited. They all trusted Xia Liu; had it not been for Zhang Tie stirring things up, they wouldn''t have doubted him.


    Zhang Tie''s face turned an ashen color, he knew his scheme had been exposed, but since Xia Liu hadn''t shown any money, he couldn''t admit defeat just yet.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''ve finally come back..." Zhang Xiaoxue rushed into Xia Liu''s arms, her voice filled with tears. She had been extremely scared just a moment ago; if Xia Liu had returned any later, she didn''t know what she would have done.


    Xia Liu patted the girl on the shoulder, letting Zhang Qing take care of her for a moment, then he took out the ten thousand yuan he obtained today: "I''m sorry for the worry. I ran into an acquaintance while withdrawing the money, which is why I was late in returning." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the bundle of red Huaxia currency, the villagers all grew thirsty for it; Xia Liu had truly come back with the money!


    They felt fortunate for their choice; if they hadn''t gone to pick today, they would have lost a lot.


    Zhang Tie''s face turned utterly dark. While the villagers were excited, he took the chance to slip away.


    Xia Liu saw Zhang Tie leave but didn''t stop him. Today was just the beginning; he would make sure Zhang Tie regretted his actions profoundly in the future!


    To convince the villagers of his sincerity, Xia Liu had Zhang Xiaoxue read out the names and amounts registered in the notebook, letting each person come up to collect their money as their name was called.


    Within ten minutes, all the villagers present received their unimaginable earnings, stirring up a frenzy of celebration.


    "I''m so grateful to Xia Liu!"


    "Ha ha, I never thought I, Old Li, could make one hundred and fifty yuan in a day."


    "Honestly, following Xia Liu, we''re definitely going to earn more in the future!"


    Looking at the joyful crowd, Xia Liu touched his nose, "Everyone, go home and rest early. We still have picking to do tomorrow. Don''t worry about the money; as long as we can ship the goods and meet the quality demands, even ten thousand a day, I can handle it for everyone!"


    "Ha ha ha, we all believe in you. Let''s go, folks, and head to bed. Tomorrow, we''ll get up early and hit a big one!"


    As the crowd dispersed, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue calculated the money they had distributed; it was just over a thousand yuan, mostly to those who had just started picking today. There were also some too embarrassed to collect their share, saying they''d gather three days'' worth before claiming it, hoping to get a bit more then.


    Xia Liu was very pleased with this, as everyone had trusted him after all.


    In the house, Xia Liu handed five hundred yuan to Zhang Qing.


    "Ah, why are you giving me so much money?" Zhang Qing was startled.


    "Sister-in-law, this is your wage, please don''t be polite."


    "No way, this is too much, I only picked nineteen kilograms in two days."


    "Sister-in-law, don''t be polite with me, I earn more than everyone else, don''t refuse me." Xia Liu smiled brightly, for he had seen everything Zhang Qing had done; she always believed in herself and protected Zhang Xiaoxue, and that was worthy of recompense.


    "Sister-in-law Zhang, don''t be shy, Brother Xia Liu has a lot of money." Zhang Xiaoxue grabbed the money and stuffed it into Zhang Qing''s pocket, knowing Zhang Qing''s personality, it was the only way to make her unable to refuse.


    In the end, Zhang Qing could only awkwardly accept it, as she really was short of money recently, and those five hundred Huaxia currency were incredibly precious to her.


    As it was getting late, Xia Liu took on the role of protector once again.


    Walking alongside Zhang Qing, Xia Liu always felt uneasy.


    "Xia Liu, thank you, Sister-in-law can''t repay you with much, the only thing worthwhile is just..."


    "Sister-in-law, don''t say that, we''re all from Osmanthus Village, I''ll definitely help if there''s trouble. It''s getting late, you should rest early." After saying this, Xia Liu bolted off as fast as he could; he feared he might lose control and take advantage of Zhang Qing.


    Watching his hasty departure, Zhang Qing bitterly smiled, "Definitely help in trouble? Then why run off so fast? I''m in trouble now..."


    Muttering to herself, she turned her gaze toward the vegetable garden, where a few eggplants were growing...


    "Xiaoxue, I''ll install a light tomorrow, then you can come bathe by yourself later on." As he guarded outside the open-air bath, listening to the sound of the water, Xia Liu said bitterly.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I''m scared when you''re not outside," Zhang Xiaoxue pouted as she peeked her head out from inside.


    "Pfft!" Xia Liu was about to bleed internally, for when Zhang Xiaoxue peeked her head out, the curtain didn''t cover everything, and he caught a glimpse of white.


    Almost instantaneously, he became restless, but after struggling to calm himself, he forced a smile and nodded, telling Zhang Xiaoxue to continue while he stood guard outside.


    He was about to go crazy, really about to lose his mind. If this continued, that thing was going to explode.


    He decided that once he earned enough money, he must build a house and install a bathroom inside the room.


    Early the next morning, before Xia Liu had time to practice his punches, he was astounded by the villagers that had already arrived.


    The day before, he had learned that nineteen villagers had gone picking, but that morning, forty to fifty villagers showed up!


    Zhang Xiaoxue, who had risen early, was also shocked by the crowd, but she noticed in the crowd that some villager''s families had brought two or three people.


    Xia Liu''s requirement was that only one person per family could go, eventually choosing thirty-five people.


    Xia Liu had his reasons for this decision. If all the villagers went, those families with fewer people would certainly feel discontented, which would affect the quality of the harvest and make the effort useless.


    For those villagers who did not come, Xia Liu knew a bit about them; they all supported Zhang Tie.


    In Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu''s only target was Zhang Tie, and in the later stages, those people would surely come over, so he wasn''t worried about any negative impact.


    Although there was a large plot of Atractylodes, it would eventually be picked clean. Xia Liu couldn''t just wait around; he needed to find a new path to ensure the village could develop sustainably.


    He set his sights on the nearest mountain top to the village; that was currently the best site for development.

 Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Contracting the Mountain Top

    As soon as he returned to the village, he had ideas about the mountain. If he could contract it and plant some fruit trees and raise a large flock of chicken without any feed, those chickens would grow up to be wild delicacies.No sooner said than done, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue had already notified the incumbent village head, who was none other than Li Zhi.


    Knowing this news, Xia Liu became more confident about contracting the mountain. Li Zhi had witnessed himself treating Zhang Qing''s snakebite, and he absolutely trusted Xia Liu.


    Most importantly, from the beginning, Li Zhi had been picking atractylodes. Last night, he was the one who proposed consolidating money for three days or even longer before dispensing it.


    In the afternoon, when everyone came back for dinner, Xia Liu invited Li Zhi to dine at his home and mentioned contracting the mountain on the way.


    As you might expect, Li Zhi had total trust in Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, you''re back. I feel like the burdens on me have been greatly lightened. I''ve been the village head for four to five years, not nearly as effective as you''ve been these few days. I think you should take over this position..."


    "Uncle Li, that won''t do. You are recognized by everyone, and I also don''t have so much time to deal with this. My task is to help everyone make money; your task is to motivate everybody," Xia Liu quickly declined. Once he took the position of village head, many eyes would be watching. He wasn''t afraid of those in the village, but the neighboring villages and towns would complicate matters.


    Li Zhi did not press Xia Liu. After finishing the meal, he went to call for a village meeting in the village center that evening.


    Contracting the mountain was not something he could decide alone, but given Xia Liu''s current trend, aside from Zhang Tie and a few households who disagreed, nobody would refuse Xia Liu.


    Moreover, Xia Liu''s offer to contract the mountain was a substantial amount¡ªten thousand yuan a year, which was unimaginable for Osmanthus Village.


    That evening, Xia Liu sorted the atractylodes. Within a few days, he had accumulated over seven hundred pounds at home. He planned to gather more the next day and call Liu Lanxin the day after to sell it.


    "Brother Xia Liu, with so much Kaempferia galanga, we won''t lose money, right?" As she watched a lot of money handed over to the villagers these past days, Zhang Xiaoxue felt somewhat worried that they wouldn''t be able to sell the Kaempferia galanga, potentially leading to huge losses.


    "You can trust how Brother Xiaoxue handles things; you''ll find out the day after tomorrow. I''ll first discuss contracting the mountain with everyone," replied Xia Liu without much explanation, knowing that Zhang Xiaoxue would naturally feel at ease once the money was actually in hand.


    Just as Xia Liu had guessed, Li Zhi gathered the entire village to discuss contracting the mountain. Once they heard it was Xia Liu who wanted to contract it,


    Zhang Tie immediately voiced his opposition, along with a few middle-aged villagers who supported him. They all worked with Zhang Tie in the town''s construction, and not supporting Zhang Tie would mean losing their livelihood.


    "Zhang Tie, this is not something you can simply oppose. Everyone, listen to me," Li Zhi raised his voice: "Let''s not talk about who is contracting it, just consider the mountain itself. It''s not worth much just sitting there. Why not contract it out? Moreover, it''s a promising young man from our village, Xia Liu, who''s offering ten thousand yuan a year. Does anyone think the mountain is worth that much?"


    "It''s not worth it!"


    "I think the mountain is practically worthless; three thousand yuan a year would be more like it."


    "Exactly!"


    As soon as the villagers heard Xia Liu was offering ten thousand yuan to contract it for a year, everyone immediately started speaking in favor of Xia Liu. They all knew the state of the village and that no one had contracted the mountain before because everyone knew it would be a loss. If someone were to spend ten thousand yuan to contract it now, it was bound to be a losing endeavor.


    Seeing this, Li Zhi felt relieved. He indeed wanted to drive down the price, but he couldn''t let Xia Liu go bankrupt, as he was the promising young man who would lead Osmanthus Village into the future.


    When Zhang Tie heard the price, he became excited. This time, instead of rebutting, he was very enthusiastic. If Xia Liu was spending ten thousand yuan to contract the mountain, it was sure to be a wasted effort.


    However, he couldn''t bluntly accept Li Zhi''s proposal. So he said, "I think that mountain is extremely valuable. To contract it, shouldn''t it be at least thirty-five thousand yuan a year?"


    "Haha, Zhang Tie is right, how could you contract it for less than thirty-five thousand? He''s so wealthy! If I contracted it, I would be letting the Village Office down," Xia Liu laughed out loud at this moment.


    "Exactly, Boss Zhang believes it''s worth that much, so he must have calculated it carefully, and contracting it would surely be profitable!"


    "Yes, let''s welcome Boss Zhang to contract it!"


    With Xia Liu''s sarcasm, everyone turned against Zhang Tie. They didn''t understand why Zhang Tie always targeted Xia Liu, both before and now. Could it be that he resented seeing everyone earning an income?


    "You guys!" Seeing the crowd, Zhang Tie was so frustrated he could hardly speak and, finally, dropping a harsh word, he left: "Hmph, one day you''ll realize you were wrong!"


    Zhang Tie left with a few people looking dejected, convinced Xia Liu wouldn''t succeed, given the village''s many obstacles and limited prospects for effective development.


    The villagers cheered and whispered discussions began, hoping to lower the cost Xia Liu was paying to contract the mountain.


    This moved Xia Liu, as they were all speaking in his behalf. However, he refused the villagers'' requests; ten thousand yuan a year was necessary, whether he made a profit or not. That expense had to be paid.


    Unable to resist Xia Liu''s persistence, Li Zhi and the villagers had no choice but to accept, and as for the transfer documents, Li Zhi promised they would be ready within three days.


    From that moment, Xia Liu owned that approximately five hundred-acre mountain, and what concerned him most were the Osmanthus trees that nearly covered the entire mountain.


    As soon as one approached the mountain, the fragrance of the Osmanthus could be smelled, lifting and subtly improving the mood of anyone who was feeling irritable. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next day, Xia Liu gathered a few elderly villagers, who were experts in weaving bamboo. He paid them two hundred yuan each to build housing on the mountain according to his specifications, with thatch covering the roofs.


    All materials were purchased from the villagers, who were embarrassed to accept money, but Xia Liu did not give them a chance to refuse, stuffing money into their hands regardless of the amount.


    By evening, two rows of bamboo houses were completed. They were very simple, using several large logs for support and bamboo for enclosures, and thatch was not used everywhere, just in the major areas.


    To raise game, a natural touch was necessary, as too many man-made elements could interfere in certain ways.


    That evening, while tallying up the Kaempferia galanga, Xia Liu knew the first batch of money was coming in: in four days, the villagers had collected over fifteen hundred pounds, at thirty-five yuan per pound, amounting to over fifty thousand yuan.


    Xia Liu picked a few strong men, telling them not to go gathering the next morning, but to help him transport the Kaempferia galanga instead. After all, the journey from the village to Shanyan Village was some distance, and one person could hardly make it on foot.

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Zhang Qings Secret

    All seven sturdy men were born and raised in Osmanthus Village, and they were all very strong, each carrying two hundred pounds with a shoulder pole to Shanyan Village.Xia Liu was no exception; he carried the remaining hundred-plus pounds on his back, all in one bag, astounding all the sturdy men. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Carrying over one hundred pounds on a shoulder is completely different from carrying two hundred pounds on a shoulder pole in terms of the pressure one has to bear, and they couldn''t fathom the extent of strength hidden in Xia Liu''s seemingly not-so-large frame.


    Before they had set out, Xia Liu had already phoned Liu Lanxin. That girl was quick to act; after waiting for about ten minutes in Shanyan Village, a small cargo vehicle arrived.


    Xia Liu told the seven to head back first while he followed the truck to town. After weighing the load, Liu Lanxin transferred fifty-four thousand yuan to Xia Liu''s account.


    When it came to the authenticity of Atractylodes, Liu Buyi could tell at a glance. The fifteen hundred pounds were all genuinely wild-grown and guaranteed to be of good quality.


    After the money was transferred, Xia Liu didn''t linger. He went straight to the bank to withdraw fifty thousand in cash¡ªhe had too many purchases to make and aimed to complete them as quickly as possible.


    He saw that Zhang Xiaoxue was pretty bored every day, so he went to a cellphone shop intending to buy her a phone, which would make it more convenient to contact her in the future.


    However, there weren''t many cellphone shops in the town, and not many of good-quality chicks either. Thus, he had to take a tricycle to the county.


    The way of life in the county was absolutely different from that in the town or the village. How to put it, Xia Liu''s clothes were somewhat dirty and old, making him look like a migrant worker entering the city.


    But besides the county folk, most were people from various villages coming to the market, so his attire didn''t cause much of a sensation. Had he been in the city, his appearance would have certainly garnered much more attention.


    Xia Liu randomly entered a cellphone shop by following his feet. Although it wasn''t a specialty store, there were quite a few customers, mostly young people. Seeing Xia Liu walk in, they pinched their noses as if fearing they''d smell something unpleasant.


    Xia Liu ignored the looks from the people around him and asked a shop assistant at a counter to show him a cellphone model.


    "Yikes! You country bumpkin, step back!" Just then, a shrill voice rose beside Xia Liu.


    This voice garnered the attention of everyone in the store. Xia Liu furrowed his brows and turned to look, his gaze suddenly fixating.


    The yelling came from a woman, whose looks could undermine the heavens and earth, and her figure was conspicuously asymmetrical: exceedingly plump below the belly, but slender above. If she were captured in a photograph, she would be startlingly stunning, but seeing her in person would only send shivers down one''s spine.


    What caught Xia Liu''s attention was not the woman but the man beside her. Xia Liu recognized this man and felt somewhat acquainted with him.


    "What you looking at? Instead of properly farming at home, coming here to look at phones, do you even have the money to afford one?" said the asymmetrical woman, sneering with her mouth twisted.


    Xia Liu silently stared at the man, trying to confirm if it was indeed him.


    "Kid, tired of living, are you? My wife told you to get lost!" the man finally couldn''t restrain himself and roared at Xia Liu.


    "If I''m not mistaken, you must be Zhang Kuang, right?" Xia Liu''s face was expressionless as he directly uttered the man''s name.


    Zhang Kuang was not a stranger to him. Back in the village, Zhang Kuang was the village bully, capable of doing all sorts of things, and there wasn''t a single person in Osmanthus Village who didn''t despise him.


    Ever since finding out that Zhang Qing was married to Zhang Kuang, Xia Liu had been astonished¡ªhow could such a man marry a beauty like Zhang Qing?


    Moreover, what was he seeing right now? Zhang Kuang actually referred to this repulsive woman as... his wife?


    Upon hearing Xia Liu disclose his own name, Zhang Kuang''s pupils constricted. He wasn''t flustered, however, and coldly interrogated Xia Liu, "Who are you? Does knowing me make you feel honored?"


    Hearing this, Xia Liu nearly wanted to spit in Zhang Kuang''s face. Such scum, neglecting his wife at home and hooking up with other women outside¡ªwomen nobody would want to look at twice¡ªand he talks about honor? Even mentioning his name felt disgraceful.


    Seeing that her man knew Xia Liu, the disproportional woman''s face darkened and she fell silent.


    "Osmanthus Village''s Xia Liu, you should understand now, shouldn''t you?"


    After taking a look at Xia Liu, Zhang Kuang whispered something to the woman and then pulled Xia Liu aside, "Brother Liu, I barely recognize you after all these years, you''ve changed so much."


    "Oh, it''s nothing compared to how much you''ve changed," Xia Liu wanted to question him why he disregarded Zhang Qing, but eventually held back.


    "Brother Liu, don''t tell Lili about my affairs. If she finds out I have a wife at home, all my effort over the years will have been in vain," Zhang Kuang explained to Xia Liu briefly.


    Xia Liu then learned that Zhang Kuang was eyeing that woman''s family wealth; if she found out about his wife, she''d undoubtedly kick him out.


    Soon after, Zhang Kuang took out one thousand yuan and stuffed it into Xia Liu''s hand, "Brother Liu, I didn''t bring much today, you can have this for now. I''ll treat you to a meal when I have the chance."


    Looking at the one thousand yuan handed to him, Xia Liu coldly spoke, "I just want to know, what are your plans regarding Zhang Qing?"


    "Plans? Hmm, when I find the time, I''ll go back and divorce her. A barren woman like her is too much for me to bear," Zhang Kuang said with confidence. In rural areas, a woman''s inability to bear children can be a fatal flaw, as it concerns the crucial issue of offspring.


    Hearing this, Xia Liu fell silent. He took the money and parted ways with Zhang Kuang. He had to get to the bottom of this matter; it concerned Zhang Qing''s future.


    Before returning, Xia Liu bought two cellphones from the store, one for himself and one for Zhang Xiaoxue; he also took care of the SIM cards.


    With the phones acquired, Xia Liu browsed the county''s farmers'' market, noting the difference from the town: the market offered chicks that were large and vibrant. After some selection, he ordered a batch of native chicks.


    Xia Liu paid upfront, and asked the seller to deliver the chicks to the village. The seller, elated by a customer who bought five thousand chicks in one go, eagerly called the workers at the chicken farm to select and load the chicks onto the truck.


    While waiting, Xia Liu wandered around the county and bought the rest of the needed items, planning to put them on the truck with the chicks for the trip back.


    Since the truck couldn''t go directly to Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu had no choice but to have it wait in Shanyan Village. He himself carried two boxes of chicks back, then called people from the village to move all the chicks there.


    After everything was settled, he had people use nets to enclose some areas on the mountain. Although they had plenty of hands, the area was large, and it wasn''t until evening that they finished enclosing it,


    Once the nets were up, the five thousand chicks ran freely on the mountaintop¡­

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16 True Colors?

    Of course, the chicks needed care, and Xia Liu hired five women, paying them a salary of two thousand yuan per month to help look after the chicks.When those women heard they could earn two thousand yuan a month, they were almost excited enough to kneel down. A month of labor in the county only paid a thousand yuan, and all they had to do was to isolate sick chicks for the vet to examine. Earning two thousand in a month was more relaxed than working in the city.


    Xia Liu wasn''t worried about money; there was still a huge amount of Atractylodes in the mountains. If all were harvested, there would definitely be a couple of millions. His goal was to lead the villagers down the path to wealth.


    The lack of roads in the village was a problem. He planned to sell some more Atractylodes and then hire excavators to build a road, at least to Shanyan Village.


    As for Shanyan Village, after the incident with the police station, Li Hao seemed to have calmed down. Since that was the case, for the time being, the road construction would pass through Shanyan Village first.


    Looking at the towering mountain in the distance from the village, Xia Liu hadn''t forgotten his resolution¨Cto split open that mountain!


    After waiting for Zhang Xiaoxue to finish her bath, Xia Liu took the thousand yuan given to him by Zhang Kuang during the day and went to Zhang Qing''s house.


    He accepted the despicable man''s money not for himself but to give it to Zhang Qing. After all, this beauty had suffered a lot over the years.


    When he arrived at Zhang Qing''s house, she had just finished her bath and opened the door wearing a thin silk nightgown. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the first glimpse of her, Xia Liu subconsciously turned his gaze aside, feeling a bitter sweetness inside.


    Because his vision was very good, even under the dim light, he could still see Zhang Qing''s body clearly.


    Zhang Qing, sensing Xia Liu''s late-night visit, looked around and quickly pulled him inside the house.


    "Xia Liu, you''re coming over so late, is it because..." Zhang Qing said, perching with crossed legs, lightly touching her rosy lips with her delicate fingers, her eyes roving freely over Xia Liu.


    Seeing Zhang Qing like that, Xia Liu smiled wryly within, daring not to look directly at her for fear he might lose control.


    Hearing the implication in her words, Xia Liu hurriedly took out the thousand yuan: "Sister-in-law, this money is for you."


    Looking at the money in Xia Liu''s hands, Zhang Qing was filled with confusion. She let out a coy laugh thinking of something: "Oh Xia Liu, you''ve saved my life and even helped me make some money. How could I accept money from you for such a thing? If you didn''t visit from time to time, I would..."


    "Sister-in-law, stop right there, this money belongs to you..." Xia Liu interrupted Zhang Qing''s words and kept pushing away, trying to avoid her fair, delicate hands reaching out to him.


    On his way here, he had been considering whether to tell Zhang Qing about the incident with Zhang Kuang, and now he knew he had to tell her.


    Zhang Qing was not shy; she was almost thirty and soon there would be no need to beat around the bush. Just as she was about to open up, Xia Liu''s words made her fall silent.


    Indeed, Xia Liu told Zhang Qing everything that happened with Zhang Kuang in the county city today. She had the right to make a decision on this matter.


    Xia Liu wanted to help her. Since Zhang Kuang had already done this, the marriage would surely no longer be happy, so why bother to continue?


    However, what puzzled Xia Liu was that after hearing his explanation, Zhang Qing showed hardly any reaction, much calmer than he had anticipated.


    She turned around to her seat, picked up a pack of cigarettes from beneath the table, offered one to Xia Liu, and lit one for herself.


    Exhaling a puff of light smoke, Zhang Qing slowly said, "Actually, I''ve understood for a long time; what right do I have to interfere, being an infertile woman like me?"


    "This cannot become an excuse for your indulgence in Zhang Kuang. Besides, infertility can be cured, as long as you persist," Xia Liu said.


    "Xia Liu, you don''t understand. A woman without the ability to bear children has no status or position in the village." Faced with Xia Liu''s words, Zhang Qing became somewhat emotional, tossing away her cigarette butt and speaking in a hoarse voice with her head lowered.


    She had endured too much over the years, and finally, she broke down crying. No one could understand her pain; being unable to bear children meant her life was over.


    Xia Liu sat beside Zhang Qing and extended his arm around her shoulder: "Sister-in-law, don''t be too sad. I will definitely help you with this."


    Comforted by Xia Liu, Zhang Qing cried even louder, clinging tightly to Xia Liu.


    The two embraced each other on the sofa. Zhang Qing began to initiate more contact, continuously exploring Xia Liu''s back, seeking a sense of security.


    Xia Liu knew that if this continued, something unfortunate might happen.


    "Xia Liu, help me, I already..."


    "Sister-in-law, let''s not do this now. I have a way to restore your fertility," Xia Liu said, seizing the opportunity to push Zhang Qing away and speaking confidently.


    Upon hearing that, Zhang Qing was taken aback and looked at Xia Liu with trembling eyes.


    "Sister-in-law, you know I''m skilled in medicine, so please trust me."


    "Xia Liu, I don''t know what to say," Zhang Qing protested, her mouth turned down as she was on the verge of crying excitedly.


    Xia Liu didn''t know what to say either. After a moment of silence, he began to ask Zhang Qing about her infertility issues.


    Ten minutes later, Xia Liu was puzzled. Zhang Qing said she had been intimate with Zhang Kuang for three months without any sign of pregnancy, which confirmed her infertility, and then she left home to work.


    Moreover, Xia Liu learned that Zhang Qing had never gone for a medical check-up, meaning nothing was certain yet.


    "Sister-in-law, don''t be disheartened. I suggest you get checked at the hospital first. If it turns out you really do have infertility issues, I''ll treat you then. If not, it indicates that Zhang Kuang is the problem," Xia Liu summarized and offered his suggestion.


    "Uh, I''ll find time for that. Anyway, I have to thank you," Zhang Qing sincerely began to thank him, clutching Xia Liu''s hand tightly, "I don''t have anything to give you in return. While I''m still young, maybe I could..."


    As she spoke, Zhang Qing grabbed Xia Liu''s hand and lifted her clothes.


    Xia Liu''s gaze turned intense, but then he bit his tongue hard: "Sister-in-law, I should go back now. Wait until you get the check-up results, then I''ll treat you!"


    Indeed, Xia Liu ran away again. Although Zhang Qing was very proactive, he had his principles and knew when to stop.


    Xia Liu ran all the way to the coast, a kilometer away from the village, and without even taking off his clothes, he plunged into the sea. The cool sea water gradually soothed his burning heat.


    "Damn it, Xia Liu, where is your true nature? Why did you refuse just now? Don''t you desire it?" Reflecting on everything that had just happened, Xia Liu couldn''t help but mutter to himself. He actually wanted it, too, since he hadn''t touched a woman in months.


    But he couldn''t let go, since he wanted to settle down in the village. If something happened with Zhang Qing, it would be awkward to face each other afterward.


    After his arousal had subsided, Xia Liu leisurely returned home, and what he didn''t expect was that an even more thrilling scene awaited him there...

 Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Building Roads!

    Xia Liu returned home and, not wanting to disturb Zhang Xiaoxue, didn''t turn on the lights, but his extraordinary perception power detected someone was in his room.It was already midnight, and pitch dark at that. Who could be in his room?


    "Damn, could it be a thief!" Startled, Xia Liu silently approached the bed. Just as his fist tightened, ready to strike, he sniffed a faint fragrance.


    Xia Liu was very familiar with this smell, it was the unique scent of Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Why is Zhang Xiaoxue in my room?" Xia Liu wondered. Could it be that the girl had walked into the wrong room while sleepwalking?


    That seemed unlikely, as she was smarter than most people.


    "Brother Xia Liu, is that you coming back?" Just as Xia Liu was imagining the possibilities, a faint light from a cellphone shone over.


    "Xiaoxue, why aren''t you sleeping in your own room?" Hearing this, Xia Liu breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he hadn''t acted on his impulse, or he might have caused a disaster.


    Just when Xia Liu was unclear about the situation, a small hand grabbed him in the dark, followed by Zhang Xiaoxue''s voice, soft as a mosquito: "Brother Xia Liu, I saw everything just now, I want to be with Brother Xia Liu too."


    Xia Liu''s body shivered. Zhang Xiaoxue had said she saw everything. Could it be that she had followed him to Zhang Qing''s house?


    Even so, nothing had happened between him and Zhang Qing at that time. What did she even see, that was nonsense...


    "Xiaoxue, what did you see?"


    "I saw her embracing you..." Zhang Xiaoxue said shyly, she had returned immediately after witnessing that.


    She was a determined person. If Zhang Qing could be with Xia Liu, she couldn''t lose; she wanted to be with Xia Liu too.


    "My heavens, Xiaoxue, don''t overthink it. I was just going to give Sister-in-law Zhang some money and also asked about some fertility issues." To prevent her from going astray, Xia Liu started explaining his and Zhang Qing''s, as well as Zhang Kuang''s, situation.


    After hearing Xia Liu''s explanation, Zhang Xiaoxue fell silent for a while, then muttered, "Who knows what you were doing..."


    "Xiaoxue! Get up, you can''t do this anymore!" Knowing that mere words were not enough, Xia Liu scolded her sternly.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was clearly frightened. In the dark, she quickly put on her clothes, waited for Xia Liu''s instructions, and even sobbed a bit, dreading Xia Liu''s anger the most. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, Xiaoxue, it was my fault just now, I apologize to you. Go back and rest now." Xia Liu feared making women sad the most, especially if the woman was someone he cared about.


    "Brother Xia Liu is the best, it was Xiaoxue overthinking, I''ll go rest now."


    Xia Liu was very grateful for the Five Elements Mantra passed down by the old man. Without this cultivation technique, he wouldn''t be where he was today.


    Thinking back to when he first came into contact with the Five Elements Mantra, he was very resistant, but ended up cultivating under the old man''s intimidation.


    Five years had passed in a blink of an eye. During this time, he had realized the enormous help the Five Elements Mantra had provided him, but the old man had already passed away...


    The next morning, Xia Liu ended his cultivation. Even though he hadn''t slept all night, just circulating the Five Elements Mantra and absorbing nature''s spiritual energy kept him refreshed for several days, and his mental condition was still very good.


    The villagers also rose early, gathering in front of Xia Liu''s house before heading to harvest Atractylodes. Xia Liu had set this rule because of the abundant wild animals in the mountains that appeared unpredictably. Venturing into the mountains alone and encountering wolves was extremely dangerous, so it was safer to enter the mountains in groups.


    Xia Liu joined the villagers in the mountains. Atractylodes would eventually be depleted, and the mountain-top chickens couldn''t be sold off instantly, so he needed to find another way to earn money.


    However, he wasn''t as lucky this time. For several days, he hadn''t found any ancient herbs, nor had he come across any large fields of herbs.


    But a planned action was able to continue. In the past few days, Atractylodes had been sold twice, each time totaling over fifteen hundred pounds. Liu Lanxin had transferred about one hundred twenty thousand yuan into his account, and after deducting the wages for the villagers, he still had about one hundred fifty to one hundred sixty thousand left.


    This money was more than enough to hire an excavator to pave the road!


    The harvesting of Atractylodes continued. Currently, most families in the village had one person participating in the harvest, even those who had originally followed Zhang Tie for construction work had returned to support Xia Liu.


    This made Zhang Tie hate Xia Liu to the core. After all, losing his workforce essentially doomed him as the sole commander without support.


    As for Zhang Tie''s feelings, Xia Liu didn''t care at all. That kind of scum needed a lesson, otherwise he''d think he could control everything.


    Just like Xia Liu had said before, this was only the beginning; if Zhang Tie didn''t come to apologize to Zhang Xiaoxue, none of this would end!


    Additionally, when the villagers heard Xia Liu was planning to dig a road to Shanyan Village, they were extremely excited.


    Previously, because of Shanyan Village''s stance, their village had no car access, which greatly hindered their travel. Having a road leading to the town would be a tremendous boon.


    However, everyone was still worried; Shanyan Village had been hostile toward Osmanthus Village since the liberation era, and they feared Xia Liu''s efforts might be in vain.


    Xia Liu reassured everyone that he could handle Shanyan Village''s issues and that he would cover all the expenses for the road himself.


    This action immediately won the admiration of the entire village, except for Zhang Tie''s family.


    However, what Xia Liu hadn''t anticipated was that, after he arranged for the excavator, the people from Shanyan Village blocked him at the village entrance, preventing his vehicle from passing through.

 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Key Person

    "Heavy machinery can''t pass through the village, you''ve damaged our roads!" That was the claim from Shanyan Village.Xia Liu could only scoff at this. The roads were damaged? These mere dirt roads, how deep could they possibly sink? Even if they did sink, couldn''t you just fill them in with sand and gravel?


    To put it plainly, there were people from Shanyan Village who were stirring up trouble behind the scenes, so, of course, Xia Liu couldn''t let the excavators and dump trucks return.


    Hiring the excavator and dump trucks cost eighty thousand yuan. Although it was less than expected, if he let them return now, the thirty thousand yuan deposit would be washed away.


    So Xia Liu shouted to the villagers blocking the road, "Fellow villagers, from its establishment, Osmanthus Village has never had proper road access, and generation after generation has endured very harsh living conditions. We all belong to the same community, and you all must understand the hardships of not having road access. Today, I, Xia Liu of Osmanthus Village, want to dig a road, and I hope to have your support. If the road is damaged, I will finance the repairs."


    Xia Liu was truly sincere. Although Shanyan Village and Osmanthus Village had old grievances, these were conflicts of the past and should not be passed on to future generations. Everyone present was a simple villager; how could he bear to hold a grudge against them?


    However, Xia Liu''s sincerity didn''t even make a small ripple in the eyes of some people. Among them, a young man from Shanyan Village stood up and pointed at Xia Liu, saying, "Nice words, but tough access is indeed hard. But what if those dump trucks tip over during transit and crush houses? Not to put it harshly, but who would be responsible if people died?"


    "Exactly! Who would be responsible!"


    "The roads in the village are uneven to start with, plus the added pressure from heavy weights. If there truly was a landslide and the vehicles toppled over and killed someone, who would be responsible?"


    ...


    As soon as the young man spoke, the Shanyan villagers blocking the road became agitated. Some of them were genuinely worried about safety issues, while others were simply looking for trouble, adamantly against giving Osmanthus Village a way out.


    Faced with this situation, Xia Liu got straight to the point, "Please don''t worry, the construction team is professional, and there won''t be the safety issues that brother mentioned. If someone is deliberately making things difficult for me, I will apologize where necessary. Please grant Osmanthus Village a road."


    "Stop with the useless talk. If we say no, it''s no!" the young man shouted again.


    A few other young men also started shouting loudly, anger plastered across their faces.


    Xia Liu gave them a look and recognized them as familiar faces ¡ª they were the same few who had previously blocked the road and gotten a lesson from him.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu realized that this was Li Hao purposely making things difficult for him.


    "I''d like to hear what your village chief has to say."


    "Get lost! The village chief won''t meet you!"


    Xia Liu hadn''t finished speaking when the young men became agitated, picking up stones and throwing them at the excavators and dump trucks parked by the roadside.


    The vehicles were being damaged, worrying the drivers. They had witnessed such incidents before, but this time seemed particularly extreme. The work hadn''t even started, yet the vehicles were already being vandalized. If they forcibly started the job, there could be deadly consequences.


    The drivers got anxious and approached Xia Liu to suggest retreating for the day and tackling the village''s issues before resuming work.


    Regarding the deposit, if things couldn''t be resolved and the project couldn''t continue, then they would return half of it.


    Xia Liu had no objections; he instructed the drivers to head back first. The vehicles whose cabs had their windows smashed needed replacements immediately. Once the issues with Shanyan Village were resolved, he would cover the repair costs.


    Xia Liu followed the convoy back to town, mulling over many things. Getting those young men from Shanyan Village to back down was definitely out of the question.


    To allow the vehicles to pass, all they needed was the approval of the majority of the villagers and the village chief of Shanyan Village.


    And all this required was intervention from key figures. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Key figures...


    The only person Xia Liu could think of was the town mayor, but since he had clashed with the mayor''s son last time, getting the mayor to speak on his behalf seemed harder than reaching the heavens.


    Even if he managed to get help, given Li Hao and the mayor''s son''s way of doing things, opening the road was bound to encounter numerous issues.


    Now, many could smooth the progress of the project, but they had to be from the county!


    Xia Liu thought about trying his luck. If he could gain support, getting someone with a higher status, like the county chief, would be best. Everyone knew him, and if he went to Shanyan Village, those villagers would surely step aside without a second word.


    Upon reaching the county, Xia Liu found out where the leaders of the county worked and rushed there immediately.


    The county government''s main gate was majestic, and the security personnel were diligent. Xia Liu was unsurprisingly stopped.


    Others who were stopped alongside him were holding banners, pleading for the government to deliver justice and help them reclaim their housing rights.


    After inquiring, Xia Liu learned that these people had paid their down payments only for the developers to abscond with the money, leaving behind an uncompleted building. This was why they had come seeking help.


    Xia Liu smacked his forehead; he had chosen a bad day to come.


    Because of the incident at the county government gate, the leaders came out immediately.


    Thanks to this opportunity, Xia Liu also saw the county chief ¡ª a bald man around fifty with a somewhat chubby figure.


    He told those who had been swindled to go home first, assuring them that the issue with the unfinished building would be resolved promptly and that the losses to the people would be minimized.


    Xia Liu looked around and realized that his clothes were quite out of place. So, he went into a mall and bought a new set that looked respectable.


    Returning to the county government gate, Xia Liu inquired again from the security personnel, who now treated him differently.


    However, once it was confirmed that Xia Liu was neither a county government official nor a relative, they still refused his request to enter.


    To get in, one needed an invitation or to be accompanied by an official. Otherwise, one could only go to the Citizens'' Hall across the street to submit a handling request and then wait for a result.


    Xia Liu was somewhat disappointed as he stepped aside; he didn''t have time to wait ¡ª the road issue needed to be resolved as soon as possible.


    Soon, he saw several cars casually entering and exiting the main gate, sparking an idea in his mind.


    If he also drove a car, surely the security would open the gate for him, but it had to be a car worth at least hundreds of thousands.


    In the county, a car also represented a kind of status. Xia Liu roamed the streets, pondering how to procure a car.


    Compared to the city area, the county was much more backward, without even a place to rent a car.


    Buying a car now was not feasible; he could only offer money to someone to drive him in.


    However, after stopping several cars and explaining his situation to the drivers, they all refused him.


    The drivers were also afraid of getting into trouble; after all, who would risk driving someone into the county government unless there was a hassle, and if the passenger caused trouble, it would be bad news.


    Left with no other options, Xia Liu wandered to a hotel entrance, where a particular license plate caught his attention...

 Chapter 19: Chapter 19 I Can Heal

    That was a BMW sedan, with a license plate of five eights, to get such a number in the county town, one must be quite an influential figure.If one were to drive this car into the county government compound, there''d certainly be no question about it.


    The problem now was, how to approach the car owner?


    Xia Liu had been staking out for almost half an hour, but saw no one come near the car.


    A bold idea popped into his mind, he ran to a nearby shop and bought a peaked cap, then stealthily approached the BMW.


    A few minutes later, the BMW started up, and Xia Liu, seated at the driver''s seat, adjusted his cap. It had been a long time since he''d engaged in such trickery, and his skills had grown a bit rusty. From opening the car door to driving away, it took him nearly two minutes.


    That''s right, Xia Liu had directly stolen the car, wait! Not stolen, just borrowed for a bit, he would return it later, his only goal was to meet the county mayor.


    However, what Xia Liu did not know was that, inside the hotel''s general manager''s office, the surveillance screens had been continuously replaying the footage of him opening the car door and driving the vehicle away.


    "This guy looks somewhat familiar, just wait, where can you run to within the county town!" floated an approving female voice in front of the surveillance screen.


    Xia Liu entered the county government compound without any hindrance, and after getting out of the car, he quickly disposed of the cap, in case the car owner traced it back to him, which would definitely cause some trouble.


    He carried a bag of fruit he had bought from the roadside and entered the residential area of the county government, where the housing was meant for public servants'' security. After chatting with the cleaning lady, he obtained the mayor''s door number.


    Compared to some other districts in the county, the decor of the public servants'' residential area was somewhat outdated, but to live in the county town meant wealth or prestige.


    Xia Liu quickly arrived at the mayor''s front door, on the highest floor, where there were only a sparse three doors.


    Xia Liu had not yet had the chance to knock when the door opened, and he saw the mayor, Li Zhong, rushing out, anxious, and at the same time, an ambulance siren could be heard coming from downstairs.


    "Mayor Li, what''s going on?" Xia Liu stopped him and asked.


    "Come in quickly and help, my wife''s asthma relapsed!" Li Zhong frantically replied, then grabbed Xia Liu and headed towards his home.


    Within the county government residential area, Li Zhong was not afraid of any danger. Although he did not recognize Xia Liu, seeing his presentable appearance and dress, who also called out to him, was enough to suggest his identity.


    Xia Liu also hurried in with Li Zhong. Before entering the room, Xia Liu could hear a series of frantic coughing sounds, as if someone was coughing out their lungs.


    Hearing this, Xia Liu quickly pushed open the room door, where on a large mattress, a woman was struggling, covering her mouth, her complexion extremely pale.


    "What are you doing!" Seeing Xia Liu touching his wife a few times, Li Zhong''s eyes widened, and he immediately started shouting.


    Xia Liu ignored him and continued to press a few acupoints on the woman''s body.


    "Mayor Li, there''s no need to worry, I''m a doctor, I have temporarily alleviated your wife''s symptoms," Xia Liu explained with a sigh of relief after withdrawing his hands.


    Although Li Zhong was surprised, he did not immediately address Xia Liu, instead rushing to the bedside to observe his wife, only relaxing after confirming her symptoms had temporarily eased.


    "This, I seem to have not met you before, you..."


    "Mayor Li, it''s like this, I am a doctor who came up from Pinglan Town..." Xia Liu was just about to introduce himself, when a series of frantic knocks on the door began.


    Li Zhong and Xia Liu walked out of the room, only to see several nurses and doctors in white lab coats.


    "Brother Li, where''s your wife?" asked a middle-aged doctor who had been classmates with Li Zhong in the past. Hearing that his classmate''s wife had fallen ill, he promptly sent someone over.


    "Hongsheng, thank you for your concern. My wife''s condition has temporarily been stabilized, thanks to this young brother." Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng had many exchanges, and not only were they high school classmates, but they were also close friends in life. He was relieved to see his brother arrive so promptly.


    Huh?


    Lin Hongsheng was extremely surprised upon hearing that the illness had been suppressed. He was aware of Li Zhong''s wife''s condition, and he knew that this recurrence must be acute. How could a young man without any medical equipment suppress it?


    "Young brother, let me introduce you¡ªthis is Lin Hongsheng, the director of the county hospital and also a good friend of mine," Li Zhong introduced with a happy smile to Xia Liu.


    "Director Lin, nice to meet you, I''m Xia Liu, a village doctor from Osmanthus Village," Xia Liu introduced himself very generously.


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s introduction, both Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng were surprised. A village doctor, bluntly put, is nothing more than a rural doctor.


    Lin Hongsheng stopped talking, turned around, took some medical equipment with the nurses, and asked Li Zhong to lead him into the room. Upon hearing that Xia Liu was a village doctor, he grew concerned and insisted on checking on the patient''s condition.


    A few minutes later, Lin Hongsheng and Li Zhong came out of the room, their faces full of shock.


    On the sofa, Xia Liu was giving a vague explanation of the treatment he had performed on the woman to suppress her condition. It was hard for him to explain, and he could only attribute it to the profound mysteries of Huaxia traditional Chinese medicine.


    Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng were confused, only understanding that Xia Liu had used Huaxia traditional Chinese medical techniques to stabilize the condition.


    As for Huaxia traditional Chinese medicine, Lin Hongsheng was quite skeptical. In this era of advanced science and technology, traditional Chinese medicine had fallen out of favor, with surgery and medication being necessary for serious conditions.


    "County Chief Li, if I''m not mistaken, your wife''s condition is genetic," Xia Liu spoke slowly while sipping on light tea. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uh uh..." Li Zhong was slightly taken aback. He knew about his wife''s illness, and it indeed was a genetic disease. He began to wonder whether Xia Liu had investigated him and what his true intentions were for coming here today.


    Lin Hongsheng was shocked once again. Even he had failed to diagnose Li Zhong''s wife''s symptoms as genetic. If it weren''t for Li Zhong''s reaction, he wouldn''t have believed that Xia Liu, such a young man, actually had some skills.


    "To be frank with you, County Chief Li, I can completely cure your wife''s illness."


    "Cough cough cough cough..."


    Startled by Xia Liu''s claim, Li Zhong began to cough violently. He wasn''t cold or sick, but rather was completely taken aback.


    Over the years, he had sought help from many renowned doctors, both in traditional and Western medicine. The only answer he received about his wife''s condition was to try to control it as much as possible. A cure was deemed impossible.


    "Brother Xia Liu, sometimes making bold claims requires taking responsibility!" Lin Hongsheng could not sit still any longer; he had seen the disease and believed a cure was absolutely impossible!


    "Hongsheng, let''s hear what Brother Xia has to say," Li Zhong didn''t want to miss any opportunity. His wife had been plagued by the illness for so long that she was almost ready to give up hope.


    Lin Hongsheng gave an awkward smile and took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, the door was knocked on again, and an anxious female voice came through, "Godfather, please open the door quick!"

 Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Acupuncture

    As the door opened, Xia Liu was immediately stunned.The mesmerizing figure of a woman rushed in swiftly. Even with anxiety written across her face, her charming features did not diminish one bit, and her trembling alabaster hands only added to the excitement.


    This woman was none other than the beauty Xia Liu had encountered in town: Fang Fei!


    Fang Fei, upon seeing Xia Liu, was also taken aback. But the situation with her godmother made her more anxious, "Godfather, how is godmother doing? When Qinqin called me, I was almost out of my mind with worry!"


    "Fang Fei, calm down. Your godmother''s condition has stabilized, thanks to this young brother here," Li Zhong tried to soothe Fang Fei as he pointed to Xia Liu and recounted the recent events.


    He didn''t know whether to laugh or cry; had he known things would turn out this way, he wouldn''t have called his daughter, who was away on a business trip, to worry everyone.


    After hearing what Li Zhong said, Fang Fei calmed down and then sat down next to Xia Liu, "Xia Liu, do you know my godfather?"


    "We''ve only just met," Xia Liu said with an awkward smile. If he had known him, he wouldn''t have needed to borrow someone else''s car to come here.


    "Do you two know each other?" Li Zhong asked with interest. Having seen Xia Liu control his wife''s condition, he had developed a good impression, and if Xia Liu knew Fang Fei, that would make things even more interesting.


    Fang Fei gave a small smile and then shared the events that had taken place in Pinglan Town.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xia Liu finally understood¡ªFang Fei had gone to the town with the intention of buying some Chinese herbs to alleviate her godmother''s condition.


    "Haha, Brother Xia is truly a promising young man. I wonder if what you just said is true?" After hearing Fang Fei''s explanation, Li Zhong became increasingly optimistic about Xia Liu, and he couldn''t help but ask, filled with anticipation.


    "Uh... Godfather, what did he just say?" Fang Fei also became interested, sensing that Xia Liu''s words must be out of the ordinary to capture Li Zhong''s attention.


    "Niece Fang Fei, Brother Xia has just said that he could completely cure your godmother''s illness, and I mean completely," Lin Hongsheng chimed in before Li Zhong could speak. He was deeply skeptical of Xia Liu¡ªnot the person, but his medical skills.


    As the head of the County Hospital, he was at a loss with this illness. How could a mere rural doctor possibly cure it, let alone provide a complete cure?


    "Wow! Xia Liu, are you serious? Don''t play tricks on us!" Fang Fei stood up, visibly excited. She had been concerned about her godmother''s condition ever since she was young, and hearing this news nearly overwhelmed her with a desire to passionately pester Xia Liu for answers.


    "It''s true. However, I didn''t bring my tools today; otherwise, I could have started the treatment immediately," Xia Liu nodded, confident in his abilities despite never having treated this type of illness before.


    Clang!


    Li Zhong''s teacup dropped to the ground. Upon receiving Xia Liu''s confirmation, he believed, he became excited, "Brother Xia, whatever you need, just say it. I''ll do everything in my power to help you."


    "Yes, Xia Liu, or I can drive you home to fetch your tools!"


    "Brother Xia, I choose to believe you this time, but you must cure my sister-in-law," Lin Hongsheng added, with the others nodding in agreement¡ªready to fulfill any requirement even if it meant finding Millennial Ginseng, as long as it led to a cure.


    "Actually, what I need is quite simple: just a few silver needles. I''ll go out and buy a set right now," Xia Liu shook his head. He knew best what he needed for the treatment. Herbs were only beneficial for maintaining health in the later stages; acupuncture was the key.


    Upon hearing that Xia Liu only needed a few needles, Li Zhong and the others were amazed.


    Lin Hongsheng, too, was shocked. He offered to have someone send them from the hospital, but Xia Liu refused; he needed to inspect the silver needles himself to ensure they were suitable.


    Xia Liu was unfamiliar with the topography of the county town, so Fang Fei volunteered to guide him to the purchase.


    Xia Liu mentioned to Fang Fei that the place in the county town that specialized in selling silver needles was several kilometers away from the county government, in a remote town district. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m really sorry, my car was stolen, so I called a friend to drive over," Fang Fei said somewhat awkwardly downstairs.


    "Sister Fang, there''s no need for trouble, I have a car." Xia Liu said and led Fang Fei to the BMW he had borrowed: "Not bad, huh."


    Xia Liu skillfully opened the door and got into the car, completely oblivious to the smirk on Fang Fei''s face.


    Just as Xia Liu was fumbling to start the car by unconventional means, Fang Fei handed him a key: "Here, use this, it''ll save some time."


    Xia Liu glanced at the key, then back at the expression on the girl''s face, and in an instant, he was baffled.


    It turns out he''d inadvertently ''stolen'' the car from this girl...


    With super awkwardness, Xia Liu took the key and really started the car: "Uh, sorry about that, Sister Fang."


    "Don''t be sorry, you could steal my car in two minutes, maybe sometime you can steal me away in two minutes too." Fang Fei gave a seductive smile, her hand slowly extending to Xia Liu''s leg.


    Xia Liu twitched, and a cold sweat kept soaking his back; this was outright seduction!


    "Sister Fang is driving, I really wouldn''t want to run us off the road."


    "Giggle, just kidding, turn left at the intersection ahead..." Fang Fei covered her mouth with a smile, directing Xia Liu on the route ahead.


    Half an hour later, as the sky was getting dim and dusk was approaching, Xia Liu and Fang Fei returned to Li Zhong''s house.


    Before proceeding with the acupuncture, Xia Liu asked Li Zhong to prepare a basin, and then he and Fang Fei entered the room, with Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng waiting in the living room.


    The woman on the bed looked even paler than an hour before, but Xia Liu was not concerned; the few points he had pressed earlier had a limited effect in suppressing the disease.


    Xia Liu asked Fang Fei to lift the woman''s nightgown just to the necessary point and then stop.


    Immediately after, the Five Elements Mantra powerfully surged, and in a flash, streams of five different colors of energy churned in Xia Liu''s Dantian like the sea.


    The first silver needle transformed into an afterimage in his palm and pricked the woman''s chest, followed by the second, the third...


    Until the ninth needle had landed on the woman''s body, the tenth needle was inserted into the woman''s head.


    The silver needles on the woman''s chest carried different colors, visible only to Xia Liu.


    The needle in the heart area was blue, carrying the Water Spirit Energy from the Five Elements Mantra, which moisturizes and protects, ensuring the liver would not be affected.


    The colors of the other needles were gold and red, with the one on the head being green.


    These represented the other four Attributed Spirit Energies of the Five Elements Mantra: the Golden Spirit Energy heals and purifies, the Fire Spirit Energy drives out poison and concentrates, and the Wooden Spirit Energy sustains and nurtures life.


    After inserting these ten needles, Xia Liu sat down pale-faced and exhausted beside the bed; he would always be very weak after acupuncture because it consumed a large amount of his Spiritual Energy.


    Fang Fei quietly walked over to Xia Liu, then hugged his head with both hands, letting him rest against her...

 Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Shock

    The softness that Xia Liu had been resting his head on brought a surge of energy to him in an instant, not to mention the faint fragrance in his nostrils."I''m really sorry, Sister Fang. I was a bit tired just now, but I''m fine now." Xia Liu quickly moved his head away, not daring to imagine how embarrassing it would be if he continued to rest on that softness.


    Fang Fei flashed a sly smile, "Hehe, why so formal with me? By the way, is it all good for my godmother like this?"


    Looking into Fang Fei''s big, puzzled eyes, Xia Liu nodded, "Just wait a few more minutes, and after we go out, I''ll write you a prescription. Collect the herbs, prepare the concoction, and half a month later, her body will return to the level of a normal person."


    "Wow! Really? Xia Liu, I just love you to death!" Hearing these excited words, Fang Fei impulsively gave Xia Liu a peck on the cheek.


    Realizing her behavior was somewhat rude, Fang Fei blushed and turned her gaze away.


    "Fang Fei, oh Fang Fei, behave a little, will you? You''re almost thirty and still acting like a little girl!" Fang Fei scolded herself silently, gritting her teeth.


    Touching the still damp lip print on his face, Xia Liu let out a wry smile, and the room suddenly fell into an extremely awkward silence.


    Fortunately, it was about time to act, so Xia Liu slowly started to remove the silver needles from the woman''s body.


    Apart from the gold and red-colored needles that looked normal, the rest that were pulled out had turned black ¡ª these were the last toxins being expelled from the woman''s body.


    As soon as he removed the needle from the top of her head, the woman suddenly opened her eyes, and the quick-reacting Xia Liu placed a basin in front of her mouth.


    After a gusty bout of retching, the woman once again fell into a deep sleep.


    Looking at the black and white contents in the basin, Fang Fei nearly vomited, but Xia Liu managed the situation in time.


    "Brother Liu, Sister Fang, how is everything?" Li Zhong, who had been anxiously listening at the door, called out with concern.


    He had never been as anxious as he was now, and even though he didn''t fully trust Xia Liu, he also didn''t want an accident to occur during the treatment that would worsen his wife''s condition.


    Xia Liu and Fang Fei quickly stepped out of the room, and Li Zhong immediately grabbed Xia Liu''s hand, "Brother Liu, how is it?"


    "A complete success. With another half a month of rest, her body will be just like that of a healthy person," Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    "Really?" Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng exclaimed in surprise in unison. The illness had bothered them for too long, and Xia Liu had cured it in just half an hour, which was incredibly shocking to anyone.


    Lin Hongsheng clearly didn''t believe it and went straight into the room. A few minutes later, he came out with a stiff expression on his face.


    "Hongsheng, how''s your sister-in-law?"


    "Brother Li, Brother Liu is truly miraculous. My sister-in-law, her breath is smooth, and her complexion is rosy ¡ª a clear sign that she is recovering from a serious illness! However, I''ll be certain only after seeing the test results." In fact, Lin Hongsheng wasn''t entirely sure, but from his many years of medical experience, he sensed his sister-in-law''s illness was gone ¡ª completely cured!


    "Fang Fei, cook up a feast tonight; I need to properly thank Brother Liu!" Li Zhong didn''t know how else to express his excitement. Spinning around on the spot, he instructed Fang Fei to cook while he pulled Xia Liu over to the sofa for tea.


    Before dinner was served, Xia Liu wrote a prescription, with Lin Hongsheng watching beside him; although he didn''t quite understand traditional Chinese medicine, he recognized some of the herbal ingredients.


    "The prescription is roughly effective for maintaining the body''s health."


    "Director Lin''s right," Xia Liu nodded, "the patient is still pretty weak right now. This prescription needs to be taken continuously for half a month, and then they should be able to be like a normal person." Xia Liu nodded his head in approval. Lin Hongsheng had indeed some skill to become the head of the County Hospital.


    Li Zhong kept nodding his head and praised Xia Liu. His wife''s illness had turned his hair white, and now she was finally able to recover to normal.


    On the table, Li Zhong brought out his treasured homemade liquor and began to drink heavily with Xia Liu. If it weren''t for Fang Fei stopping them, he would have sworn brotherhood with Xia Liu right there.


    "By the way, Xia Liu, could you do me another favor? Whatever you ask for, I''ll give it to you," Fang Fei suddenly interjected while Xia Liu, Li Zhong, and Lin Hongsheng were drinking and having a good time.


    "Sister Fang, you''re too kind," Xia Liu replied eagerly, "Just tell me, even if it seems impossible, I''ll do my best to make it happen." Xia Liu was easy to talk to, and how could he refuse to help a beautiful woman in need?


    "My sister Qinqin also suffers from asthma, so..."


    At this, Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng also realized what was being asked and quickly said,


    "Look at me, forgetting about my own head," Li Zhong said, "my daughter has inherited this illness from birth, and I hope you can help her to be like a normal person as well."


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''ll be my lifesaver, Lin Hongsheng, forever. Anything you need, just come to the County Hospital, I will not refuse, even unto death!" Lin Hongsheng vowed.


    With a knowing smile, Xia Liu said, "Sister Fang, Director Lin, Mayor Li, you don''t have to be like this. As soon as Qinqin comes back from her business trip, I''ll treat her. It''s just a matter of a few minutes."


    Lin Hongsheng was slightly embarrassed; after all, what even the medical community was helpless against was merely a few minutes'' work for Xia Liu.


    Li Zhong and Fang Fei were overjoyed and kept thanking Xia Liu at the table. They almost put him on a pedestal.


    Just before the meal concluded, Xia Liu candidly expressed the reason for his visit that day.


    After hearing it, Li Zhong was momentarily stunned. He wasn''t troubled by it, but rather, he was so shocked that he was at a loss for words. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re not scaring me, Xia Liu. You want to fund the digging of a road yourself?" Fang Fei was also shocked. Back in Pinglan Town, Xia Liu had mentioned he was just a farmer, and even if they knew today about his identity as a village doctor, he couldn''t possibly afford to fund a road construction.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t force yourself," Li Zhong said, most shocked by Xia Liu''s background. "I''m somewhat aware of Osmanthus Village''s situation. I submitted the application forms earlier this year, and if my estimations are correct, in another month or so, we should have the official green light to open a new road."


    Osmanthus Village was the poorest in the county, yet it was this very village, seemingly out of place, that had a miraculous doctor like Xia Liu. And now, he was talking about digging a road himself to help the villagers leave the mountains.


    In truth, Xia Liu hadn''t disclosed all his plans; if Li Zhong knew he intended to split open a mountain, his jaw would certainly drop.


    Xia Liu gently declined Li Zhong''s suggestion, knowing well that the development of the village was accelerating by the day, and not having a road was absolutely unacceptable. Waiting a month was a delay that couldn''t be afforded.


    If the official approval didn''t come through by then, it would all be for naught, so self-reliance was the best policy.


    "Good, good, good! Truly a promising young man," Li Zhong promised Xia Liu without hesitation. "With a young person like you in Osmanthus Village, how can it not develop? I''ll come with you first thing tomorrow morning. Anyone maliciously hindering the village''s development, I''ll deal with them fairly and justly!"

 Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Smashed

    Li Zhong''s house had only three rooms, one occupied by his wife and another rented by the drunken Lin Hongsheng.Xia Liu politely declined Li Zhong''s offer to sleep in Li Qinqin''s room and followed Fang Fei downstairs to leave.


    Li Zhong did not insist further, he asked Xia Liu to call him in the morning, and they would go to Pinglan Town to resolve the matter then.


    In the car, Fang Fei was somewhat mischievous.


    "Pfft! Sister Fang, please spare me. I still have important things to do tomorrow." Xia Liu felt like crying but had no tears, wondering how he always ended up attracting such monstrously beautiful women wherever he went.


    Fang Fei laughed for a while, then sat properly in the passenger seat, "Alright, I''ll stop teasing you. Let''s go to Longyun Hotel, that''s where my office is. Just get through one night there."


    Following Fang Fei''s instructions, Xia Liu eventually drove to the most luxurious hotel in the county, Longyun Hotel, a thirty-story building that looked extravagantly opulent.


    Lying in the clean room, Xia Liu tossed and turned, unable to sleep, as his mind was filled with thoughts of Fang Fei.


    "Ah, Xia Liu, Xia Liu, you let down the people of the world..."


    Murmuring to himself, Xia Liu sat cross-legged on the bed, then his hands formed a seal, and the Five Elements Mantra silently began to flow.


    The next morning, Xia Liu called Fang Fei early, who had also risen early and had gone to the county office.


    In fact, after Fang Fei had taken Xia Liu to his room the previous night, she had gone out to a traditional medicine shop to properly prepare the prescription Xia Liu had written, and then she went to the county office, spent the night with her godmother, and brewed her medicine to drink in the morning.


    Having no choice, after getting up, Xia Liu had to take a motorcycle taxi to the county office, where many public servants had already gathered.


    The reason was none other than Li Zhong personally waiting at the door. When Xia Liu arrived, the security personnel were stunned, especially seeing Li Zhong warmly greeting Xia Liu.


    Li Zhong and Xia Liu got into one car, and a few subordinates who were going with them to Pinglan Town joined them, a convoy powerful enough to frighten several oxen. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the car, Li Zhong asked Xia Liu why he hadn''t sought Lan Weiming when he was unreasonably obstructed by the people of Shanyan Village.


    This question made Xia Liu somewhat embarrassed, but he explained the situation honestly in the end.


    "I can''t believe Lan Weiming would actually indulge his son in causing trouble in the town!" Li Zhong did not doubt Xia Liu''s answer. Upon hearing that Lan Jian was relying on his father to misbehave in town, Li Zhong was thoroughly infuriated.


    This was not only because he owed Xia Liu a favor, but it was also a matter of subordinate management and public dissent, which made him unqualified.


    Upon reaching the town office, the sight that greeted Li Zhong fueled his anger further, as the security staff were incredibly lax, and in the office, there were only three of Young Master Liao''s men.


    These three were so frightened by Li Zhong''s arrival that they nearly wet their pants, and only then did Li Zhong find out that Lan Weiming and his colleagues had gone to the villages, which somewhat soothed Li Zhong''s ire.


    He personally called Lan Weiming, instructing him to tell his colleagues to work, while he himself returned to the office alone.


    Within twenty minutes, a JETTA sedan anxiously stopped below the office building.


    Lan Weiming ran up the stairs with a look of urgency. Upon seeing Li Zhong, his face drastically changed, and he quickly greeted in a low voice.


    "From now on, without my permission, you are not allowed to speak, understand?" Li Zhong looked at Lan Weiming and said.


    "Understood!" Realizing his faux pas, Lan Weiming covered his mouth with his hand and nodded desperately.


    He was somewhat nervous, as Li Zhong''s attitude today was very unusual, and there was also a young stranger he had never seen before, who seemed to have a very good relationship with Li Zhong.


    As for Li Zhong''s arrangements, Xia Liu kept silent. This was their own business; as long as they could start working smoothly today, that was good enough.


    Before heading to Shanyan Village, Xia Liu called the construction crew, instructing them to bring the excavators and dump trucks and follow him to start work!


    Two Volkswagen cars led the way, with the excavator and dump truck following behind, as the convoy majestically approached the entrance of Shanyan Village.


    Just like the day before, the villagers of Shanyan Village came out to block them at first notice. This time, to Xia Liu''s surprise, Li Hao was present, and even Lan Jian was there.


    "The poor lad from Osmanthus Village, better to drink voluntarily than be forced to drink as punishment. If you don''t move the vehicles away, they will be smashed!" Li Hao furiously shouted at Xia Liu.


    "Move or we''ll smash it!"


    "Smash it!"


    ...


    The villagers of Shanyan Village must have been brainwashed by Li Hao the night before; he immediately ignited those who were originally honest villagers.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu felt secretly saddened. Truly, one bad apple spoils the whole barrel.


    "Li Hao, stop it. This is for everyone''s benefit. I''m going to clear this road, and soon it might even be paved with cement. This will make everyone''s travel much easier," Xia Liu didn''t want to exacerbate the situation. The people of Shanyan Village were innocent, and even if there were grievances, those belonged to previous generations. In today''s society, benefiting the people is what''s most important.


    "Screw that, if I let you out of the village, I''d be thanking Buddha and burning incense. Stop the bullshit about a cement road!" Li Hao spat in Xia Liu''s direction disdainfully.


    "You poor wretch from Osmanthus Village. I didn''t teach you a good lesson last time. Don''t make me angry, or you''ll regret it," at this moment, Lan Jian also stepped forward. He was planning to meet with Li Hao today to discuss retaliating against Xia Liu, and now all he needed was a reason to get the villagers to join in.


    Xia Liu, feeling helpless, turned around to signal briefly with his eyes, then leaned on the car hood waiting for what was to come next.


    Li Zhong, sitting in the car, understood Xia Liu''s gesture and swiftly instructed everyone to get out of the car.


    Seeing his own father and some unfamiliar people get out, Lan Jian''s facial expression grew even more vivid.


    However, some of the villagers of Shanyan Village were puzzled to see Li Zhong getting out of the car, feeling they had seen him somewhere but unable to place him at the moment.


    "Hahaha, Xia Liu, you''re done for today!" Lan Jian laughed wildly, then waved to Lan Weiming saying, "Dad, last time it was him who hit me. Even after I told him your name, he still hit me. He clearly doesn''t take you seriously!"

 Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Start Building the Road!

    Seeing his son''s arrogant and reckless demeanor, Lan Weiming was on the verge of tears. He really wanted to scold this defiant son, but he dared not forget Li Zhong''s words.At this moment, Li Zhong''s expression was also changing. Lan Weiming, No doubt, was not bad, but he had failed to discipline his son properly, and had allowed his son to rely on him to engage in wrongdoing, which was absolutely unacceptable.


    "Look, Dad, this poor bastard is the one who hit me at the police station!" Lan Jian felt that something was amiss, but with his dad standing here, he was not afraid. Who in the town had more authority than him?


    "Enough, Xiaojian! How do I usually educate you! I don''t care about what you do at home, but why must you go out and harm others!" Lan Weiming finally couldn''t hold back. He knew that Li Zhong wanted him to stay silent because he wanted to see his son''s true face clearly.


    At this point, if he continued to play dumb, his life might just end here.


    "Dad, it was him who hit me¡­" Lan Jian''s voice grew weaker. It was the first time he had seen his father like this.


    "Uncle, what I saw with my own eyes, Xia Liu from Osmanthus Village beat both me and the forms at the police station, and today he even wants to dig up the road with an excavator," Li Hao hurried to add when he saw Lan Jian''s momentum waning. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Li Hao finished speaking, Lan Weiming ran up at breakneck speed and then slapped each of them across the face. "You two animals, come with me and apologize to the county mayor!"


    "Ah! The county mayor!"


    As they turned to look in the direction Lan Weiming was pointing, everyone from Shanyan Village was astonished, and only then did they remember.


    No wonder Li Zhong looked familiar. He was the county mayor!


    Lan Jian and Li Hao were instantly dumbfounded; no wonder Lan Weiming didn''t dare speak out. It was because the county mayor was right there.


    Realizing the gravity of his mistake, and as he approached the car, Lan Jian bowed deeply to Xia Liu: "Brother Liu, it''s all my fault, please forgive me."


    Lan Jian knew the current situation well. If he could get Xia Liu''s forgiveness, Li Zhong would definitely not punish his father.


    If his father were to be dismissed, his good days would be over too. He couldn''t imagine what life would be like after his father stepped down.


    Xia Liu let out a cold laugh, saying nothing else.


    Seeing Xia Liu''s attitude, Lan Jian kicked Li Hao, "Idiot! This is all your fault. Apologize to Brother Liu this instant!"


    Li Hao, a smart man himself, pleaded after his initial shock, "I''m sorry, Brother Liu. It''s all my fault, Li Hao. Please forgive my ignorance."


    "Children''s ignorance can be forgiven, but you must experience some things, otherwise, you won''t change," Xia Liu, who had seen all types of people, knew what he was talking about. If he let the two of them off without any consequences, they still wouldn''t change. They needed to deeply understand the errors of their ways for a chance at true reform.


    "Lan Weiming, I''m giving you a chance now. These two are your responsibility. If you can''t discipline them well, you''ll bear the consequences!" Li Zhong understood Xia Liu''s meaning and directly relegated the two to Lan Weiming for handling, which was also a test for Lan Weiming.


    After hearing this, Lan Weiming thanked Li Zhong effusively, and if not for the crowd, he might even have knelt before Xia Liu.


    He could keep his job, and it was all thanks to Xia Liu. If Xia Liu had taken a tougher stance, he was certain that Li Zhong would have dismissed him right away. That was his intuition.


    As Li Hao and Lan Jian were taken away by Lan Weiming, Li Zhong approached the people from Shanyan Village, "Hello, everyone. I am Li Zhong, I believe you all recognize me."


    When Li Zhong introduced himself, the villagers all bowed their heads. They understood they had been wrong when Li Hao and Lan Jian spoke.


    "I came here today, all because of him, Xia Liu from Osmanthus Village. His sincerity has deeply moved me. Osmanthus Village is not yet accessible by road; it was he who used his own savings to hire people to build one!" Li Zhong''s voice grew louder as he spoke with passion, "His actions also highlight the deficiencies in my work. I promise here that I will do my utmost to ensure that a concrete road reaches Shanyan Village as well as Osmanthus Village as soon as possible!"


    "Support the County Head, support Osmanthus Village!"


    "Support the County Head, support Osmanthus Village!"


    ¡­


    Li Zhong''s words ignited the enthusiasm of all the villagers. Their attitudes changed unprecedentedly as they accepted Xia Liu and Osmanthus Village.


    Just like Xia Liu said, the grievances were matters of the previous generations and should not continue in this one.


    Seeing this scene unfold, Xia Liu smiled. Perhaps the feud between the two villages would not end so easily, but at least the road was on its way.


    With Li Zhong present, the villagers of Shanyan Village bought several strings of firecrackers to celebrate the start of the excavator''s work. After the machine started, Li Zhong wanted Xia Liu to take him for a tour of Osmanthus Village.


    How could Xia Liu refuse such a request from Li Zhong? In the future, if he wanted to develop Osmanthus Village, without Li Zhong''s support, he would hit walls at every turn. To be acquainted with Li Zhong to this extent was incredibly fortunate.


    When the excavator started working, most of the villagers from Osmanthus Village gathered at the entrance to watch the excitement. It was midday, and the villagers who had gone to pick Atractylodes had also returned.


    From a distance, they found it unbelievable to see the excavator making a road, something they hadn''t even considered possible.


    When they saw Xia Liu leading Li Zhong and a large group of people into the village, everyone was thrilled.


    Not to mention, when they learned of County Head Li Zhong''s identity, some were so touched they cried. Most of them had scarcely left Osmanthus Village in their lifetimes, let alone seen a county head.


    Li Zhong was very approachable. Seeing this group of villagers, he understood Osmanthus Village, but he couldn''t believe how different the reality was from the information on paper.


    When he left Osmanthus Village, he promised several things. The first was that once the road was completed, he''d ensure the relevant departments would extend the road network and broadband access here.


    Another was to apply to the higher authorities for a concrete road to be built to the village, making travel much more convenient for the villagers in the future.


    Li Zhong also spent some time at Xia Liu''s house. He gave Xia Liu a red envelope, saying it contained his entire savings, meant to thank Xia Liu for curing his wife and giving him a happy family.


    Xia Liu looked inside and saw fifty thousand yuan. This also proved Li Zhong''s integrity and honesty. However, Xia Liu did not accept the money.


    Even though he was in dire need of money, he couldn''t take this cash. Without Li Zhong, how could the road and other projects possibly come to Osmanthus Village?


    With no alternative, Li Zhong could only leave with a wry smile. However, Xia Liu and Osmanthus Village were etched in his heart, unforgettable in this lifetime.


    In the afternoon, Osmanthus Village was buzzing with activity. Li Zhong and several deputy village heads decided to use the village''s funds to purchase two pigs from villagers'' homes, organizing a simple feast, not only to thank Xia Liu but also to celebrate the new road access for Osmanthus Village!


    That day the entire village celebrated together, with only Zhang Tie''s family absent. But nobody paid them any mind.

 Chapter 24: Chapter 24 All the Chickens Died!

    In the following days, Xia Liu had stockpiled up to four thousand jin of Atractylodes, and by that time, the road had been completely opened.He arranged for Liu Lanxin to instruct the cargo trucks to head straight to the entrance of the village. When the two drivers drove in, they were somewhat dumbfounded; just a few days had gone by, and the village, once known as the poorest in the mountains, actually had a road now.


    He sold off four thousand jin in one go and Xia Liu made one hundred and forty thousand. Together with the sixty thousand sent out earlier, he now a total of one hundred and sixty thousand from this venture and his previous savings.


    Looking at the money in his account, Xia Liu was not in a hurry to build a new house; instead, he had a grander blueprint in his mind.


    However, some families in the village began to purchase bricks to construct new houses. They were the first group who went to gather Atractylodes.


    The money they made, plus some savings, gave them the confidence to build brick houses all at once.


    When building their new houses, the villagers all came to Xia Liu for advice since after leaving the village for over five years, he had a great understanding of the outside world and his design for the house would certainly be top-notch.


    While Xia Liu did not deny that perspective, he did not include any overly luxurious constructions in his plans. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The houses he designed for the villagers were quite unique¡ªthe first floor was spacious with no rooms, the second floor was all rooms with no living room, and the rooms were very even, much like the inns in the city.


    No one objected to Xia Liu''s designs because he mentioned that such a design would be profitable in the future.


    The prospect of making money after building a house was appealing in the mountains¡ªeveryone desired that. Still, there were those who did not seek Xia Liu''s advice and built their houses their own way.


    Xia Liu had no authority over these decisions. After all, a blueprint is just a blueprint, whether it could be realized was another matter.


    Xia Liu visited the spots where the villagers harvested Atractylodes and estimated that there should still be a few tons of Atractylodes underground. However, this source of income was not sustainable.


    He often went alone deep into the mountains, hoping to find a large patch of herbs so that when the Atractylodes were all picked, the villagers could still have an income.


    But the chances of this happening were slim. Apart from a few dozen-year-old herbs, Xia Liu didn''t find much else, although he did catch a few wild rabbits and boars.


    That day, before Xia Liu had warmed his seat at home, Zhang Xiaoxue rushed in breathlessly: "Brother Xia Liu, something terrible has happened!"


    Looking at the panting Zhang Xiaoxue, Xialiu swallowed a few times.


    Zhang Xiaoxue had become quite attractive after improving her diet and dress, especially her big, charming eyes. Xia Liu couldn''t help but stare every time, not to mention her fair and full figure.


    "Xiaoxue, I haven''t had lunch yet, there''s no need to panic. Tell me what happened, slowly," Xia Liu said, adjusting his seat as Shanshan.


    "Brother Xia Liu, never mind lunch¡ªthere''s something wrong with the chickens on the mountain!" Zhang Xiaoxue said woefully, explaining the situation to Xia Liu in full.


    She had gone to check on the chickens out of boredom that morning, only to find, upon arrival, that all the chickens were lying dead on the ground. Judging by their stiff corpses, they had been dead for several hours.


    Hearing this, Xia Liu''s brow furrowed. It was impossible for the chickens to all die at once, even if they were still young chicks.


    Following Zhang Xiaoxue to the mountain, the women they had hired were sitting on the ground, wiping their tears.


    Upon seeing Xia Liu arrive, they all came up to apologize, saying it was all their fault that the chickens had died.


    "Aunts, please don''t blame yourselves. I will handle this," Xia Liu assured them. Although he hadn''t conducted an investigation, Xia Liu knew the problem did not lie with these women.


    "Xia Liu, after this happened, all of us feel terrible. It''s only been half a month; we''ll forgo our wages," a senior woman said. Before Xia Liu arrived, they had all agreed on this matter¨Cactually, they had not really exerted much effort in the half month: they just maintained the nets each day and checked if the chickens were ill. Given the situation, they were too embarrassed to take any salary.


    "Aunties, your wages will still be paid as usual, and there will be an increase in the future. This batch of chickens didn''t make it, but there will be another. First, gather all the dead chickens, and then I''ll have someone take them away to be buried."


    "Ah! Is that really true?"


    "Are we dreaming?"


    "Aunties, Brother Xia Liu must have his reasons for what he says. Just do as he says," Zhang Xiaoxue said. Though she didn''t entirely understand, she knew that Xia Liu must have his reasons, and supporting him was the right thing to do.


    After the women confirmed it several times, they all went to work excitedly. With such a good boss, how could they not work hard?


    As for Xia Liu, he went with Zhang Xiaoxue to inspect the dead chickens.


    Looking at the dead chickens on the ground, Xia Liu felt rather regretful. The biggest chickens weighed over a pound, and even the smallest ones were seven or eight taels. If they could have lasted another two or three months, they would have been ready to sell.


    However, he did not end it there. He repeatedly pricked the dead chickens with the silver needles he had brought from home.


    Half an hour later, Xia Liu''s expression grew solemn. Zhang Xiaoxue noticed and asked with some confusion, "Brother Xia Liu, have you discovered something?"


    "Yes, these chickens all ate something poisonous." Xia Liu nodded in reply.


    "Ah! Could there be something unclean or poisonous herb around here?"


    Xia Liu smiled faintly and patted Zhang Xiaoxue''s head, "Maybe. Let''s go back for now. Next time, we will surely succeed in raising them."


    In reality, Xia Liu was very clear in his mind. He had investigated this mountain and there were absolutely no poisonous herbs. It was perfectly fine for the chickens to grow here.


    Therefore, there was only one reason for the chickens'' demise: someone had poisoned them.


    To have killed such a large number of chickens, it had to be either toxic gas or perhaps pesticides mixed into the regular chicken feed.


    Xia Liu knew everyone in the village, and while there might be those who envied him, they wouldn''t go as far as poisoning the chickens. The only person who might do such a thing was likely Zhang Tie.


    Xia Liu, now not one to act rashly, wouldn''t confront Zhang Tie at his home without any evidence.


    When he got angry, even he would be afraid of himself. Since someone was scheming against him behind his back, he would have to be more focused in his future endeavors.


    The whole village knew that Xia Liu was raising chickens, and as soon as the news of the chickens'' deaths spread, those who were picking atractylodes in the afternoon stopped and came over to see how Xia Liu was doing.


    Xia Liu found this reaction amusing, yet moving: it was just a few thousand dead chickens and a loss of just over ten thousand.


    Yet he was truly touched as the simplicity and sincerity of the villagers made him feel warm and comfortable once again.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to put the incident behind him, an unexpected turn of events took place that evening.


    A large group of villagers came to his doorstep, and most striking was that they brought someone with them¨Cit was none other than Zhang Tie!


    "Xia Liu, your chickens didn''t die from a disease, it was Zhang Tie who poisoned them!" Li Zhi stood at the forefront. He had received news when he returned in the afternoon that he saw Zhang Tie sneaking off with a bottle late at night. Putting two and two together, with all the chickens on the mountain dead, Li Zhi led people to Zhang Tie''s house and indeed found that bottle, which contained a special kind of gas!

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Sneaky Zhang Xiaoman

    Seeing Zhang Tie bound by the villagers, Xia Liu was a bit surprised. He had suspected the guy before, but he didn''t expect everyone to actually find evidence."Everyone, please stay calm, the death of the chickens doesn''t matter..."


    "Xia Liu, put away your White Lotus Flower heart, I didn''t poison them, the death of your chickens has nothing to do with me!" Zhang Tie didn''t give Xia Liu a chance to speak, struggling while he shouted and also warned the villagers present.


    "Zhang Tie! You shut up, Dali saw you take a bottle out last night, and by morning all of Xia Liu''s chickens were dead. If it wasn''t you who did it, then who was it? Don''t tell us that bottle was filled with nothing but urine!" Li Zhi got heated, since they were all from the same village, and considering Xia Liu was continuously improving the village''s conditions, Zhang Tie''s actions were no doubt trying to provoke everyone''s wrath!


    "Yeah Zhang Tie! I won''t even mention how in the past following you resulted in our wages being maliciously withheld, just look at what Xia Liu has done for our village, how much he has changed it!"


    The villagers had seen all that Xia Liu had done; he had no idea how much effort it took to get the county head to come to the village in order for them to have a road.


    He was someone who tirelessly worked for the village''s benefit, and the villagers couldn''t comprehend how Zhang Tie could be so cruel.


    "I didn''t do it, means I didn''t do it!" Despite all accusations, Zhang Tie''s attitude remained unchanged. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Tie''s attitude, like a pig not afraid of boiling water, finally irked some young men from the village, who started punching him directly.


    No one stopped them, and after a while, Zhang Tie began to howl, though his mouth was still as tough as ever.


    "Let''s release Zhang Tie, everyone. I''ve already called the police station, and they will send someone to deal with it tomorrow," Xia Liu said with a wry smile as he explained to everyone.


    "Right! That''s exactly what we should do!"


    "Catch that poisoner, and get him sentenced to ten or twenty years!"


    Hearing the villagers'' heated discussions, Zhang Tie widened his eyes and his body trembled even more.


    He was scared and felt guilty; if the police really did come, he was done for.


    "Xiaoxue, help your uncle, I really didn''t do it." In his moment of distress, Zhang Tie saw Zhang Xiaoxue and immediately put on a pitiful face and said.


    To tell the truth, Zhang Xiaoxue felt quite conflicted; after all, when her old man was still around, Zhang Tie wasn''t this detestable. You could say that his wife was a reason for his current condition.


    "Brother Xia Liu..."


    "I know what to do." Knowing Zhang Xiaoxue''s dilemma, Xia Liu gave her a reassuring smile.


    "Let''s let Zhang Tie go, everyone, I''ll handle this. You all go back and get some rest, or you won''t have the energy for work tomorrow," said Xia Liu.


    Since Xia Liu had said so, Li Zhi and the villagers also smiled wryly; they released Zhang Tie and then went back, Xia Liu''s mind was much sharper than theirs, and they weren''t worried about it.


    Zhang Tie cast a resentful glance at Xia Liu and also quickly left. As for what he was thinking, no one knew.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I''m sorry, he took care of me a lot in the past and I don''t want to see him go to jail. Let me compensate for the chickens." Back inside the house, Zhang Xiaoxue apologized to Xia Liu with her head lowered.


    "Hehe, Xiaoxue, what are you thinking about? The chickens are dead, and all I want is for Zhang Tie to apologize to you. Everything his family owes you will have to be slowly repaid." Xia Liu chuckled, pinched Zhang Xiaoxue''s cheek, finding her too adorable to resist wanting to reach out.


    "Brother Xia Liu..." Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes were already misty; she couldn''t believe that Xia Liu would consider so much on her behalf.


    "Don''t cry, you silly girl. Have you forgotten what I said? Stick with me, and you''ll enjoy the best of everything. If anyone dares to bully you, I will definitely bully them back!"


    "Okay, I won''t cry. Good night, Brother Xia Liu. I''m going back to rest now!" After laughing through her tears, Zhang Xiaoxue pecked Xia Liu on the face and then ran back to her room.


    ...


    Touching the faint warm fragrance on his face, Xia Liu shook his head helplessly.


    In the dead of night, while lying in bed and absorbing nature''s spiritual energy, Xia Liu suddenly opened his eyes, "I really want to see what you''re up to, Zhang Tie!"


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu quietly left his house. At that moment in the courtyard, a petite shadow was gently closing the gate.


    But before she could react, her mouth was covered, and then her world went dark as she lost consciousness.


    When Zhang Xiaoman came to, she found herself tied to an osmanthus tree surrounded by utter darkness, with infinite fear overwhelming her mind and body.


    "Ah! Ghosts!" Zhang Xiaoman screamed instinctively. She had been afraid of the dark since she was little, and had it not been for her mother enticing her to go to Xia Liu''s house, she wouldn''t have dared to venture out of her room.


    "Zhang Xiaoman, is it? Keep quiet." Under the bright moonlight, Xia Liu''s figure reflected in front of Zhang Xiaoman. He didn''t understand why Zhang Xiaoman had come to his house. Was she perhaps there to plead on behalf of Zhang Tie?


    "Xia Liu, let me go, or I''ll have my dad kill you!" Now realizing it was Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoman was no longer afraid and spoke with intimidation.


    "What were you doing at my house?" Faced with this childish threat, Xia Liu had no interest in engaging and just wanted to understand what was on the girl''s mind.


    "I... I..." Zhang Xiaoman was at a loss for words. Indeed, what was she doing at Xia Liu''s house? Was she truly going to follow her mother''s words, apologize to him and beg him not to pursue her father''s actions?


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoman stumble over her words, Xia Liu stepped forward. With one swift movement, he tore her clothes right off!


    "Ah! Xia Liu, what are you doing!" Shocked by this sudden turn of events, Zhang Xiaoman screamed frantically.


    "What am I doing? Do you still remember what you said to Xiaoxue?" Xia Liu said, glaring at Zhang Xiaoman with nothing left to the imagination.


    To be honest, Xia Liu''s gaze was somewhat fixed on her. Although Zhang Xiaoman''s character left much to be desired, her figure was indeed top-notch, possessing the tenderness of a girl in bloom, complete with a natural fragrance.


    He actually began to wonder what virtues Zhang Tie and Mo Li must have accumulated in a past life to have such a daughter.


    It''s just too bad that while Zhang Xiaoman''s exterior was attractive, her interior was unbearable to behold.


    "I knew there was something wrong with her! She is cheap! She''s nothing but a vixen!"


    Slap!


    That''s right, Xia Liu had struck her. He generally didn''t like to hit women, but Zhang Xiaoman had gone beyond all principles. If he let her go unchecked, she might become even more extreme in the future.


    The slap brought Zhang Xiaoman to complete silence. Although her vision was blurry, she could see the rage in Xia Liu''s eyes. If she continued to act out, the consequences could be very severe.


    "Zhang Xiaoman, I can take down your whole family on Xiaoxue''s behalf without resorting to any means. I just need time. But if I were to take action, you''d never live to see tomorrow''s sun!" With that, Xia Liu punched the tree trunk beside him, then watched as the thick tree collapsed to the ground...

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Another Source of Wealth

    Zhang Xiaoman stared dumbfounded at everything around her, unable to utter a single word. Her fear had reached an all-time high.While she was in a daze, several blinding flashes of light suddenly illuminated her.


    "Ah! What are you doing!" It was only then that Zhang Xiaoman realized Xia Liu was actually taking photos with his phone.


    If those photos got out, she wouldn''t be able to stay in the village, let alone the town.


    "Relax, taking photos is just to prevent you from playing any tricks. Go back and tell Zhang Tie that I''ll pretend nothing happened. If he dares to cross me again, I''ll destroy his reputation and then kill him!"


    Xia Liu looked at Zhang Xiaoman with disdain, but to be honest, he was just posturing. Zhang Xiaoman was already nineteen years old, and if she hadn''t targeted Zhang Xiaoxue, in this situation, he really might have gone after this girl.


    After Xia Liu untied her hands and feet, Zhang Xiaoman was like a lost soul. Once she came to her senses, she squatted on the ground and began to cry.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu tossed a flashlight on the ground and then left.


    With those photos, he believed Zhang Xiaoman wouldn''t dare to make any wrong moves. With that, the Zhang Tie family problem was taken care of.


    In fact, Xia Liu didn''t go far; he was watching Zhang Xiaoman from the shadows, ready to intervene if any wild beast approached. It could have been over for the girl.


    Fortunately, after crying for a while, Zhang Xiaoman put on her near-shredded clothes and picked up the flashlight from the ground, running towards the direction of the village.


    After ''escorting'' Zhang Xiaoman home, Xia Liu felt no urge to sleep. Harvesting Atractylodes wouldn''t last long, and the income from raising chickens wouldn''t increase quickly. To make Osmanthus Village prosper, he still had to explore other ways to become wealthy.


    Walking along deep in thought, Xia Liu arrived at the beach, when suddenly a stroke of inspiration flashed through his mind.


    Having grown up in the village, he knew the nearby sea area like the back of his hand, and naturally, he was also well aware of what was in the sea.


    In no time, he dove into the water, swimming to a particular spot.


    Beyond a sandy beach spanning about three hundred meters, there were mountains on both sides, and Xia Liu wandered to the foot of one. The sea water here didn''t have any sand, just rocks. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu took a deep breath and then dived into the water, soon emerging with some black objects in his hands.


    Though it wasn''t daylight, Xia Liu''s vision wasn''t impeded. After getting the objects, he swam back towards the beach he had come from.


    "I''ve struck it rich! Struck it rich!!!" Looking at the few oysters lying quietly on the ground, Xia Liu appeared somewhat excited.


    Oysters were expensive delicacies in big cities, and the reef area in these waters could be described as terrifying. What shocked him was that, due to lack of exploitation, each rock in the nearby sea had oysters in staggering numbers!


    If he could sell these oysters effectively, this haul would definitely make a fortune!


    After getting dressed, Xia Liu ran home. He used a brush to clean the stones off the surface of the oysters, leaving just the shells.


    He cut open an oyster with a knife, and the sight that greeted him astonished him once again.


    Not only were the oysters wild, but the meat inside was also very large, and the quality was top-notch!


    Thinking it was just an anomaly, Xia Liu cut open the other oysters he''d brought back. Two minutes later, he smiled. This time, he didn''t have to worry about the development coming to a standstill after the Atractylodes harvest was finished.


    "The oysters in the sea are enough to keep us busy for a year or even longer!"


    It was nearly dawn, and Xia Liu took the oysters to the kitchen and began making a fire to prepare them.


    Half an hour later, the sky was fully bright, and Zhang Xiaoxue walked out of her room, rubbing her bleary eyes, smelling a strong, enticing aroma.


    "Xiaoxue, go wash up and get ready for a feast," Xia Liu said with a smile as he saw Zhang Xiaoxue get up, still busy with the oysters in his hands.


    Time flashed by, and ten minutes later, Zhang Xiaoxue, dressed neatly, sat at the dining table, so astonished by the several oysters on the plate that she was speechless.


    She had seen oysters before but had never eaten them because everyone in the village said they were poisonous and not to be eaten.


    "Brother Xia Liu, can we really eat these?" she asked incredulously, swallowing hard as she looked at Xia Liu.


    "Of course, we can. In the big cities, a plate of just four can cost hundreds!" Xia Liu recalled eating them once in a city, excited by the memory of their price.


    Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t say anything more and stealthily picked one up with her chopsticks; her face changed with the first stir.


    Then, without concern for manners, she quickly finished off the remaining oysters.


    "Err, err, err, Brother Xia Liu, don''t stare at me like that. It''s just that they''re so delicious¡­" she said shyly, looking down as Xia Liu watched her intently.


    "Oh, our little Xiaoxue is getting shy," laughed Xia Liu before pushing his own plate toward her.


    Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t hesitate and polished off all the oysters within minutes.


    "Brother Xia Liu, these shells are so delicious. Do you have more?" she asked eagerly.


    "Yes, but they are all in the water. These are the treasures that will make us money in the future." Xia Liu didn''t hide anything and shared his plans for the oysters.


    "Ah! They are all in the sea? Then how long do we have to fish for them?" Zhang Xiaoxue was amazed upon hearing that the sea was full of oysters.


    "Hehe, if these could sell for twenty or thirty yuan a kilo, I''d be willing to fish for them my whole life," he said with a smirk.


    "Twenty or thirty yuan a kilo!" Zhang Xiaoxue''s mouth nearly dropped open. Given the large size of the oysters and their weight, at thirty yuan a kilo, she realized she had just eaten over a hundred yuan''s worth!


    Oh my, Zhang Xiaoxue''s breathing quickened at the thought that she had never indulged like this before.


    After giving Zhang Xiaoxue a few instructions, Xia Liu headed out with his basket on his back. The oysters were there, but he still needed to find a market for them. He had to establish a sales channel for the oysters soon.


    At the seaside, he easily harvested several kilograms of oysters from the rocks. Since no one had farmed them before, the creatures were all of a good size¡ªthree oysters could weigh over a kilo. If he could get a good price, the villagers'' income could increase significantly.


    Xia Liu tried to find buyers in town, but unfortunately, after visiting several hotels, they all refused outright.


    Xia Liu understood that the clientele in Pinglan Town were mainly from neighboring villages or passing tourists, and oysters were certainly not an easy sell.


    After giving it some thought, he took a trike taxi to the county town. Hejing County was surrounded by mountains with little industrial development. However, the county had many ancient buildings, which became a tourist attraction and drew visitors to the town. Thus, he realized he needed to find a market for the oysters at the county level.


    Unfortunately, Xia Liu didn''t foresee that this very pursuit of a market would gradually wear down his willpower¡­

 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Bring me a bottle of red wine that costs around ten thousand yuan.

    After reaching the county town, Xia Liu immediately asked around for the most luxurious hotel in the county and headed straight for it without pause.Longteng Hotel, the only five-star hotel within a hundred miles, stood before him. Standing at the hotel entrance, Xia Liu looked fervently ahead; he had an intuition that the oysters could be sold here!


    Unfortunately, he hadn''t even made it through the doors when security kicked him out.


    It wasn''t surprising, his clothes were bought in the town, which definitely weren''t stylish, and he was carrying a basket on his back, no ghost would let him into a five-star hotel.


    But Xia Liu didn''t give up. He purchased a bag at the market and changed into a new outfit, which finally convinced security to let him in reluctantly.


    "Sir, we have specific suppliers, so I am sorry," the hotel receptionist firmly refused Xia Liu.


    While looking at the two beautiful young women at the front desk, Xia Liu smiled as he explained the oysters, but the result was the same.


    Xia Liu understood that these two chicks weren''t the chiefs; even if he praised the oysters to the skies, it would be useless.


    So, he asked for a private room. With over a hundred thousand in his pocket, this kind of expense was easy to handle, and if his plan succeeded, he would make even more money in the future.


    He ordered several dishes and, when they arrived, had the waiter take them away to be redone¡ªnaturally, he would pay for them.


    After a few repetitions, the waiter sensed something was off and immediately notified the manager.


    "Okay, got it. I''ll go down and check now." Manager Huang responded briskly as she hung up the office phone and headed out the door.


    Based on the waiter''s description, Huang Xue instantly pegged Xia Liu as a troublemaker; normal people wouldn''t just throw away their food and still agree to pay for it.


    In the private room, Xia Liu quietly calculated his upcoming dialogue; with his sharp hearing, he had already heard the waiter reporting to the manager. It was crucial for him to secure this target!


    "Miss, bring me a bottle of wine that costs about ten thousand." Although he didn''t know whether the manager was male or female, he still had to keep up appearances.


    Looking at Xia Liu''s careless smile, the waitress was so nervous she didn''t dare to make a move. She too thought Xia Liu was here to cause trouble. If she brought out a bottle of wine that cost thousands, she might end up paying for it herself.


    ...


    Xia Liu gave a strained smile and pulled out his card, "The PIN is six eights. Please settle my bill for what I''ve had, and don''t forget to bring that bottle of wine." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, the young woman was even more shocked. Her trembling hands took the card; she didn''t dare go against the customer''s wishes, so she hurried out. Regardless, she needed to see if there was money in the account. If there was, the hotel couldn''t afford to offend such a customer.


    No sooner had the waitress left than the door to the private room was swung open.


    This time it was Xia Liu who was taken aback. He saw a woman walk in, the kind that made one''s mouth water at a single glance, with her delicate short hair and the way her lips moved in an incredibly alluring manner.


    Her OL-style short suit also exposed her legs to the air, a fragrant scent wafting in.


    *gulp¡­*


    Xia Liu forcefully swallowed his saliva a few times; Huang Xue''s first impression on him was of a seductive fairy, a national calamity, and that strong urge he felt was the best proof.


    "Sir, I am the manager of the hotel. I hope I''m not disturbing you?" Initially very angry, Huang Xue still kept a pleasant smile on her face and spoke in a gentle voice for the sake of the hotel''s image.


    This wonderful voice pulled Xia Liu out of his daydreams, "No, no, please take a seat."


    Huang Xue did not sit down but continued to smile and asked, "Sir, are you dissatisfied with the hotel''s cuisine?"


    "No, I''ve been quite satisfied with everything."


    "Then according to what you''re saying, you''re here to cause trouble?" Huang Xue''s face suddenly turned grave, and if Xia Liu nodded, she would make him pay a painful price.


    "Manager, please don''t be rash, I''m just a farmer, how could I possibly have the audacity to cause trouble here?" Xia Liu let out a forced laugh, feeling somewhat anxious inside. Why hasn''t that waiter come back yet? If he offended this fairy before him, he could kiss this deal goodbye.


    "A farmer?" Huang Xue was somewhat speechless. If he was just an ordinary farmer, how could he possibly come to such a place, and even resort to that kind of crude method to stir up trouble?


    "Yes, yes, I''m from Osmanthus Village in Pinglan Town, I came here today mainly to..."


    Thump, thump, thump...


    Just as Xia Liu was busy trying to explain, a series of knocks interrupted him. Turning to look, it was that waiter, coming in with a bottle of high-level red wine.


    "Xiaohua, what''s this?" Huang Xue was a bit confused. She had clearly instructed this waiter to keep an eye on Xia Liu, and not to serve any more items. Yet here she was, bringing in a bottle of red wine from the store worth over ten thousand yuan. What on earth was going on?


    "Manager, this gentleman has just settled the bill, and he also wants a bottle of red wine that costs over ten thousand yuan," Xiaohua said, somewhat excited. The store had a clear reward system; if someone managed to sell a bottle of expensive wine, they would get a bonus of a thousand yuan.


    "Settled the bill?" Huang Xue''s brows furrowed tightly; she was once again baffled. What exactly was this young man playing at?


    Xia Liu smiled without saying a word, this was precisely the effect he wanted; now, this fairy would sit down and talk.


    Huang Xue took the red wine, had the waiter leave first, then she promptly apologized to Xia Liu and even knocked two thousand yuan off the price of the wine, as a gesture of sincerity for her earlier behavior.


    Xia Liu refused Huang Xue''s offer, opened the red wine, and invited her to sit down. He then laid out the purpose of his visit.


    Upon learning Xia Liu''s purpose, Huang Xue became even more puzzled. Damn, a farmer pushing his products, intentionally spilling the food to get an opportunity to meet with her, and then asking for a bottle of wine worth over ten thousand yuan, was all for just one chance. This was absolutely incredible.


    Huang Xue was very curious about Xia Liu''s products and asked him to introduce them.


    Xia Liu was not vague about it at all, reaching under the table, he took out several oysters from a bag.


    "Manager Huang, these are pure wild oysters, I wonder if your establishment might be interested?"


    "Wild?" Huang Xue was familiar with this item. J County was close to the coastline, and many tourists would order oysters when visiting. Unfortunately, wild oysters were almost non-existent now. The word ''wild'' made her sensitive.


    Xia Liu nodded, realizing from Huang Xue''s expression that there was a chance.


    "You tell me these large oysters are wild, do you take me for a fool?" Huang Xue''s face was lined with frustration. She had been a manager for some years, overseeing the kitchen among other things, so with her extensive experience with raw ingredients, after observing for a while, she was convinced that the oysters Xia Liu brought were farmed and had been heavily fed, otherwise how could they be so large.


    "Manager Huang, how about we make a bet? If these oysters are wild, you will purchase my goods in large quantities."


    "Heh, if they truly are wild, not only will I take your goods, but I will also urge you. As for the price, not less than fifty yuan per half kilogram!"

 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Contract of Selling Oneself

    "Fifty yuan per half kilogram," Xia Liu was slightly startled¡ªthe amount was much higher than his original price. If Huang Xue really honored her promise, the villagers'' income would increase substantially!"Manager Huang should know how to distinguish between farmed and wild, right?" Xia Liu said calmly after sipping some red wine.


    "Since you''re so confident, let''s get straight to the point. Have the kitchen prepare these oysters, and we''ll soon have our answer." Huang Xue also tasted the wine, not quite believing Xia Liu, but his composure gave her a very odd feeling.


    Xia Liu nodded. This fairy indeed had experience; the biggest difference between cultured and wild oysters lay in the taste.


    He had already tried them at home that morning, just waiting for them to be served at this meeting to seal the deal!


    Huang Xue made a phone call to the kitchen, and soon, two young men donning chef hats came in to take the oysters away for processing.


    During the wait, Huang Xue inquired about the origins of those oysters. Whether they could collaborate or not, it was essential to ask.


    Xia Liu didn''t hide anything. Whatever Huang Xue asked, he answered. He wasn''t afraid of exposing the location of the oysters because that area of the sea belonged to Osmanthus Village; aside from the villagers, no one else dared touch it.


    "I just remembered, Osmanthus Village is the poorest village in the county. Are you really from Osmanthus Village?" It was only after some casual conversation that Huang Xue recalled Osmanthus Village.


    But no matter how she looked at him, Xia Liu didn''t seem like he was from Osmanthus Village¡ªhis wine alone, worth over ten thousand yuan a bottle, proved it.


    "The one and only ambitious youth from Osmanthus Village!" Xia Liu said with a ridiculously self-admiring pose.


    Pfft!


    The sudden shift in style made Huang Xue spit out her wine, which flew directly onto Xia Liu.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean to do that." Realizing her gaffe, Huang Xue quickly stood up to help Xia Liu wipe it off.


    "It''s okay, I can handle it myself."


    "Let me help, I''ll help..." Just as she was about to help wipe the wine off Xia Liu, Huang Xue touched something and then stopped all her movements.


    If there had been a crack on the ground, Xia Liu would have dived into it without hesitation. Since a moment ago, he had been constantly aroused, and the heat had not subsided.


    The fact that Huang Xue had just touched it was embarrassingly mortifying...


    "Uh, I''m going to use the restroom. Please wait a moment, Manager Huang," Xia Liu said, hastily heading towards the restroom.


    Watching Xia Liu close the bathroom door, Huang Xue finally came to her senses, her face and ears burning red.


    "Calm down, Huang Xue! Calm down!" Huang Xue was almost frantic, chiding herself for letting her thoughts wander there. Involuntarily, she walked around the room, trying to distract herself.


    A few minutes later, Xia Liu came out of the restroom with a smile, his discomfort unnoticeable as he had managed to calm his affliction using the Five Elements Mantra inside.


    Huang Xue sat up straight, seemingly playing with her phone, not looking up as Xia Liu emerged, worried her flushed cheeks would be noticed.


    However, at that moment, a waiter came in pushing a trolley, forcing Huang Xue to look up due to their earlier bet.


    Seeing the oysters served, Xia Liu focused even more. Looking at the shy fairy in front of him, he hastened to run the Five Elements Mantra. The recent build-up of heat was uncontrollable today; if he didn''t manage it, he might lose his sanity.


    Hanging her head, Huang Xue took a chopstick and tasted the oysters seriously. She had to concentrate entirely on evaluating them; otherwise, her mind would keep returning to the earlier embarrassment.


    The instant the oyster flesh touched her mouth, Huang Xue forgot what had just happened, her alluring eyes wide with a hint of shock. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She couldn''t imagine that the taste of this oyster surpassed all others she had ever tasted from any region, undoubtedly a pure wild catch!


    As a foodie, she ate a full eight plates before she finally patted her little stomach and stopped.


    Xia Liu smiled, knowing the deal was in the bag!


    Realizing Xia Liu was beside her, Huang Xue quickly composed herself and said somewhat awkwardly, "I''m sorry, Mr. Xia, these oysters are just too delicious."


    "No problem. If I were eating, I would be even crazier than you," Xia Liu joked along with Huang Xue.


    "Manager Huang, about the oysters¡­"


    "These oysters are 100% wild! And the variety is excellent too!" Seeing Xia Liu hesitating, Huang Xue quickly added, "I don''t know how many you can supply daily, Mr. Xia, but if you have enough, I can offer sixty yuan per kilo."


    "Sixty yuan!" Xia Liu had thought the gambling bet was just a joke, but now the price was up to sixty yuan, which was incredibly sobering.


    "I can supply a lot, but I''m not sure how much you would need daily, Manager Huang?" Xia Liu countered.


    "At least one thousand five hundred kilos a day."


    Hearing this number, Xia Liu was silent. One thousand five hundred kilos were ninety thousand yuan, which would be dozens of times what he made from harvesting atractylodes.


    "If that''s too much, eight hundred kilos a day would suffice." Seeing Xia Liu silent, Huang Xue thought she had scared him and quickly lowered the quantity.


    She was acutely aware of how valuable these oysters were. If other hotels snapped them up, it wasn''t just a simple loss, but possibly a takeover of their clientele as well.


    "Manager Huang, you''re mistaken, one thousand five hundred kilos a day isn''t a lot. Even three thousand a day, I can manage," Xia Liu said cheerfully.


    "Heehee, that''s wonderful! But as you know, the county doesn''t have that big of a footfall. Anything more would be hard to sell, so that''s the limit," Huang Xue said, helpless. If the footfall was larger, she wouldn''t hesitate to take even five thousand kilos.


    Xia Liu nodded, fully understanding Huang Xue''s concerns, but selling one thousand five hundred kilos a day was already impressive.


    "But you''ll need to deliver this merchandise yourself."


    "No problem."


    "Additionally, we need to sign a contract. You can only sell these oysters to our hotel."


    "That..."


    In truth, Xia Liu had planned to try approaching a couple of other hotels as well; after all, who would complain about earning too much in a day?


    "I promise you, if the first batch sells well, not only will we need more, but we''ll also raise the price," Huang Xue said, biting her lip as if making a tough decision, afraid Xia Liu might refuse to sign the contract.


    "Okay! I''ll sign this indenture," Xia Liu didn''t hesitate further. He couldn''t miss such an opportunity, in case he walked out and couldn''t find this price elsewhere.


    "Indenture¡­" As she said this, Huang Xue recalled the recent incident, her face turning a shade of red.

 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Joys and Sorrows

    After leaving Longteng Hotel, Xia Liu thought about buying a vehicle for transporting goods, which would also make his personal travel more convenient.After some consideration, he decided to buy a pickup truck, but unfortunately, there was no dedicated pickup truck dealership in the county, so he found a second-hand one at a used car dealership and spent almost fifty thousand yuan on it.


    Xia Liu didn''t mind the expense, as the demand for oysters would be high in the future and he could earn back the money for the truck in just one day.


    Once he had the pickup truck, Xia Liu went to an electronics store and bought a refrigerator and a washing machine, along with a few other appliances, until the truck''s cargo bed was full.


    This trip cost Xia Liu almost sixty thousand yuan, but the money he would earn later was immeasurable.


    When he returned to Osmanthus Village, it was evening, and the villagers were sitting around chatting in the village center after dinner, their smiles indicating they had made a good income that day.


    The arrival of a vehicle naturally caused a sensation in the village, drawing out even those villagers who were at home to take a look.


    When they saw that Xia Liu was the driver, excitement burst forth from their eyes.


    "Xia Liu, did you just buy this truck?"


    "Nonsense, it''s definitely Xia Liu''s. Wait until the houses are built, I want to buy a motorcycle too."


    "Haha, now that the road is open, I also want to buy a three-wheeled vehicle."


    Some villagers were even more excited when they saw the electrical appliances pulled in the back. Before the roads were opened, refrigerators and washing machines were considered luxury items.


    "Uncles and elders, it won''t be long before everyone can buy these items." Xia Liu handed out several packets of cigarettes one by one to the villagers, and the sight of their smiling faces filled him with a sense of accomplishment.


    The villagers did not object to Xia Liu. They now earned over a hundred yuan a day by harvesting Atractylodes, and the more skilled ones could make more than two hundred yuan a day, enough to buy three refrigerators in a month.


    "Everyone listen to me, I''ve found another opportunity in the last few days." Seeing that a crowd had gathered, Xia Liu waved his hand to quiet everyone down.


    "Xia Liu, just say it, we all support you!" Hearing this, Li Zhi took a deep drag on his cigarette and laughed.


    "Yes, we all support you!" The villagers raised their sincerest voices.


    Xia Liu signaled everyone to be quiet and then spoke, "Here''s the thing, everyone knows how to swim, right?"


    "That''s a joke."


    "Xia Liu, it was your uncle who taught you how to swim."


    "In our village, except for a few who don''t know how, who isn''t an excellent swimmer!"


    At Xia Liu''s questioning, laughter erupted among the villagers, and the scene was filled with joyful sounds.


    "Haha, then let me get straight to the point. Starting tomorrow, every household should send one person to gather Kaempferia galanga, and those good at swimming should go to the sea to dive for oysters!"


    "Xia Liu, why bother with oysters? They are plentiful in the sea," Li Zhi didn''t understand. Having lived in the village for forty-fifty years, he had seen plenty of oysters, and was almost sick of them. They were difficult to deal with, and under normal circumstances, they would be disregarded. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some other villagers were also puzzled. They often went swimming in the sea and stepped on oysters, only occasionally bringing some home to roast; otherwise, they were generally ignored.


    "Listen to me, starting tomorrow, one person per family should dive for oysters, clean them up nicely, and then bring them to my house, thirty yuan per kilogram." After saying this, Xia Liu squinted and scanned the crowd, knowing that his next words would create an uproar.


    "Thirty yuan per kilogram?"


    "Tie Zhu, did you just hear that too?"


    "Yeah, Xia Liu said a kilo of oysters is thirty bucks."


    "Crikey! Thirty bucks a kilo!"


    As Xia Liu had expected, once it was confirmed, everyone got excited, although they hadn''t had much schooling, they could still do basic math.


    A kilo of oysters for thirty bucks, those things are hefty, just a few and you''ve got a kilo, scooping up three or four hundred kilos a day wouldn''t be a problem.


    Three or four hundred kilos, that''s a lot of money! Damn, that''s over ten thousand bucks!


    "Heh, but we''ve also got to have rules, you can only scoop up fifty kilos a day," Xia Liu had calculated, according to the current number of households in the village, besides those with nobody at home, there were forty households that supported him.


    Fifty kilos a day per household, that''s two thousand kilos, the contract at least one thousand eight hundred kilos, two thousand is enough to make the delivery.


    "Fifty kilos a day, thirty bucks a kilo, that''s also one thousand five hundred bucks!" The villagers were ecstatic, an income of fifteen hundred a day, that was a significant sum!


    In the county town, a regular job pays just around one thousand five or six a month, now they could make that in a day, fifteen thousand in ten days, a month, two months...


    It was unimaginable. As for trusting Xia Liu, they had no worries at all, now they were even accumulating pay for a few days and getting one or two thousand each time, and they were thrilled.


    With this news, everyone in Osmanthus Village was exploded and certain that tonight, they wouldn''t be able to sleep.


    But while some celebrated, others fretted, and the most worried of all was Zhang Tie, who labored under the sun tying rebar, barely making a hundred and twenty a day.


    Now the villagers simply needed to scoop some oysters and they could take in over a thousand a day, how could Zhang Tie not be green with envy?


    "You idiot! Why did you have to offend Xia Liu?" Mo Li yelled furiously as she sat at the doorway, pointing at Zhang Tie. "Now everyone else is making money, and our family has nothing, you useless lump!"


    Zhang Tie stood silently, how had things gotten to this point, wasn''t it all because of his wife? If she hadn''t egged him on to monopolize his brother''s house and drive out Zhang Xiaoxue, would Xia Liu have treated his family like this?


    Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets now, Xia Liu leading the villagers to make money was an unchangeable fact, just as much as him being ostracized by the villagers was.


    Zhang Tie wished he could turn back time, but he no longer had that chance. From the moment he started putting poison in the chickens'' feed, there was no turning back.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaoman stood on the rooftop, listening to her parents argue, staring up at the stars, lost in her thoughts.


    Another person feeling quite distressed was Zhang Qing. The news excited her, but it mostly made her feel stuck, as she had never been to the river and couldn''t swim at all.


    Because of this, she thought she couldn''t make any money, but she decided not to give up. If she couldn''t swim, she could learn...


    Xia Liu drove home, followed by a big group of villagers. They were so excited and when they saw Xia Liu transporting so many appliances, they all wanted to help out and learn, thinking of buying some themselves once they had the money.


    Once the equipment was installed, Xia Liu demonstrated everything to the crowd, receiving continuous admiration from the scene.


    Zhang Xiaoxue had been in a state of shyness all this while. When the village''s women came over, they all said she was lucky to be living with Xia Liu.


    In the villagers'' view, they had long considered Zhang Xiaoxue as Xia Liu''s wife.


    It wasn''t until after eleven that everyone began to leave. Watching Zhang Xiaoxue sadly seeing the guests off and walking back, Xia Liu said bitterly, "Xiaoxue, don''t mind everyone. Once I make it big, I''ll definitely find you a good family."


    Hearing these caring words, Zhang Xiaoxue felt no touch of emotion. In fact, she was somewhat frightened, which made her think of a specific plan, which she decided to implement right away...

 Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Drowning Person

    A while ago, Xia Liu had fitted a roof over the open-air bathhouse, and today he bought some wires and lights and had them installed within minutes.For days he had been squatting outside the bathhouse, and it was tough on him.


    However, even with the lights installed, it was useless; Zhang Xiaoxue still made him wait outside.


    It was incredibly awkward; it seemed that in the future, when building a house, a bathroom inside the room was a must, or else he couldn''t live this way.


    Listening to the pattering sound of water, Xia Liu slowly adjusted his breathing and invoked the Five Elements Mantra to clear the restlessness in his heart.


    "Ah! There''s a mouse!" Just then, Zhang Xiaoxue, who was bathing inside, screamed sharply, accompanied by the sound of something being hit.


    Xia Liu didn''t think twice and rushed into the bathhouse, "Xiaoxue, don''t be afraid, where is the mouse..."


    He hadn''t finished his sentence when something soft bumped into him: "Brother Xia Liu, I''m sorry."


    Uh, what?


    Just as Xia Liu felt confused, Zhang Xiaoxue spoke softly, "There''s no mouse. I made it up to get you to come in."


    Upon hearing ''on purpose'', Xia Liu shuddered, and then Zhang Xiaoxue pulled him, "Brother Xia Liu, I don''t care about marrying a good family; I''m sticking with you for life."


    Xia Liu wasn''t listening to what Zhang Xiaoxue was saying; his entire focus was on the white expanse before him.


    The flat abdomen without a trace of fat, those pliable slender waists capable of being encircled by the hands, the jade-like skin, and undoubtedly the most blindingly bright were the swaying and criminally deep abysses.


    He was stunned. At that moment, he couldn''t utter a word; all he had in his mind were a few words: "So white! So slender!"


    Seeing that Xia Liu was staring at her continuously, Zhang Xiaoxue flaunted a brilliant smile, knowing well that she could mesmerize Xia Liu.


    "Xiaoxue, I''m sorry." After snapping out of it, Xia Liu quickly withdrew his hand and turned around.


    On one hand, to avoid Zhang Xiaoxue and on the other, to manage his embarrassment...


    Zhang Xiaoxue was not having it, and as Xia Liu turned around, she stepped forward and hugged him, "Brother Xia Liu, I want to be your bride, whether you love me or not. If you have a wife out there, then I will be your mistress, wholeheartedly your mistress."


    "Xiaoxue, don''t get carried away, I don''t have a wife yet," Xia Liu hastened to clarify, but the softness at his back still unsettled him.


    He struggled to control himself, determined not to hurt this innocent girl.


    "So, Brother Xia Liu agrees to have me," Zhang Xiaoxue exclaimed excitedly. If it weren''t for the damp surroundings, she would have pinned Xia Liu down.


    "Pfft! Xiaoxue, you finish your bath first, I''m heading out!" Xia Liu said and quickly ran out of the bathhouse, knowing that if he stayed a few more seconds, he would definitely take things further with her; such a place and scene couldn''t possibly end well.


    Watching Xia Liu''s escape, Zhang Xiaoxue giggled for a while, then quickly finished up her shower.


    When she stepped out of the bathhouse dressed in pajamas, Xia Liu was awkwardly squatting on the ground smoking.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you bathe too, I''ll wait for you in the room." Zhang Xiaoxue, twenty-two this year, hadn''t dated before but knew a thing or two about men and women. She had just confessed, and surely something must happen next.


    "Xiaoxue, you go to sleep, I need to go out and check the conditions at sea," Xia Liu said with a bitter smile, and without waiting for Zhang Xiaoxue to nod, he ran out the door.


    This left Zhang Xiaoxue somewhat disheartened, but thankfully, Xia Liu didn''t outright reject her. Perhaps he was shy and not ready to face her too soon... S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Beast! Beast!" As he walked, Xia Liu constantly cursed himself, for he had rejected the easy prey presented to him and didn''t even understand his own thoughts anymore.


    "Brother, I''m sorry for you. Don''t be sad. I promise to satisfy you next time." Xia Liu murmured with his head down.


    Xia Liu couldn''t go back as long as Zhang Xiaoxue was still awake; he feared he couldn''t control himself.


    Xia Liu was actually very afraid, afraid that he couldn''t give happiness to Zhang Xiaoxue and that following him might put her in danger.


    If it weren''t for some reasons, he would have gone mad much earlier, not waiting for Zhang Xiaoxue to take the initiative; he would have pounced on her.


    Wandering around, Xia Liu arrived at the coast. He would avoid talking about Zhang Xiaoxue if he could, or be honest about it if he couldn''t. If she didn''t see sense, then he''d have to accept her.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to light a cigarette, he suddenly heard a peculiar sound, as if someone was slapping the water with their hands.


    "Help! Mmm..." Soon after, a cry for help followed.


    With keen eyes, Xia Liu scanned the surrounding sea area and indeed saw some splashes. Without thinking, he ran into the water.


    In less than twenty seconds, he had rescued the drowning person.


    This was somewhat surprising to Xia Liu; the person who had almost drowned was Zhang Qing!


    The situation was somewhat awkward now. Zhang Qing was only wearing her underwear, the homely kind.


    Under the bright moon, Xia Liu could see everything very clearly, from the lace fabric of the undergarments to the expanses of white and large.


    However, there was no time for him to think about other things. When he rescued Zhang Qing, she was already unconscious.


    Xia Liu quickly pressed his hands together, performing emergency resuscitation in the most standard way while also intermittently breathing air into Zhang Qing''s mouth.


    A few minutes later, Zhang Qing suddenly opened her eyes and then coughed violently, spitting out a lot of water.


    Having walked a round at the Ghost Gate, Zhang Qing felt Xia Liu''s warmth and suddenly hugged him, "Wuu, Xia Liu, I almost died, it was so terrifying!"


    "Sister-in-law, don''t worry. As long as I''m here, nothing will happen to you." Xia Liu comforted her, patting her shoulder.


    After comforting her for a while, Zhang Qing finally calmed down, but she was still scared and held onto Xia Liu''s hand, refusing to let go.


    "Xia Liu, don''t call me sister-in-law anymore, call me Sister Zhang instead. I am only a few years older than you." Zhang Qing, recalling Xia Liu''s earlier address, felt very uneasy.


    "Uh, uh, uh, Sister Zhang, why are you here in the water so late at night?" It was almost midnight, and Zhang Qing''s incident puzzled Xia Liu greatly.


    "I heard about your oyster buying, so I wanted to make more money, but I can''t swim, so I thought to come and learn." Zhang Qing said somewhat awkwardly.


    So that was it, Xia Liu couldn''t help but give a bitter smile. If he hadn''t arrived in time, he might have indirectly caused Zhang Qing''s death.


    "Xia Liu, could you teach me to swim..."


    "Sure, I was just thinking the same thing!" Before Zhang Qing could finish, Xia Liu interrupted, concerned that she couldn''t swim; after all, Zhang Xiaoxue said this girl was notoriously stubborn. If she didn''t learn tonight, she would definitely come back secretly tomorrow night to learn.


    It was fine for her to learn in the shallow area, but if she ventured out of it without anyone else around, the outcome could be disastrous.


    However, what Xia Liu didn''t foresee was that the upcoming lessons would turn into...

 Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Teaching Zhang Qing to Swim

    Because he felt a bit awkward, Xia Liu did not take off his clothes; he was already soaked anyway.He first went into the water to test its depth and ensure it was safe before allowing Zhang Qing to get in.


    Xia Liu said what to do and Zhang Qing did it, but her face was constantly flushed¡ªafter all, she wore rather little. Thankfully, it was deep in the night, and Xia Liu didn''t see her embarrassed expression.


    Honestly, Xia Liu didn''t have much technique in teaching swimming; he merely taught Zhang Qing the way the elders had taught him when he was young.


    He first showed Zhang Qing how to use her hands to paddle and how to move her feet underwater, starting with the simplest freestyle.


    After Zhang Qing understood, he used his hands to support her body, letting her float on the water''s surface.


    Zhang Qing tried hard, kicking with her legs and continuously paddling with her hands.


    Swimming seemed simple to learn. As long as one was bold and not afraid of the water, one could learn quickly. However, she lacked strength and soon felt nearly exhausted after a while.


    Just as she was getting weakened, stopping her hand movements, her head sank into the water.


    Xia Liu reacted quickly, hastening to help her up, but it was exactly this sudden change that caused his hands to move up in supporting her.


    When Zhang Qing stood firm, both were silent for a moment.


    "Accidental, accidental..." Xia Liu said with an awkward smile, breaking the silence.


    "Xia Liu, don''t be so formal. I''m experienced," Zhang Qing was open, and then she added, "Honestly, could someone like me make you look longer?"


    "Of course, it could." Xia Liu did not lie, thinking to himself to see what the lady was up to.


    "Then, turn around," she said, and at the same time, she moved Xia Liu around by hand.


    Xia Liu cooperated with her, although he felt something bad might happen.


    "You can turn back now."


    The moment Xia Liu turned around, his mouth opened in surprise.


    Zhang Qing had taken off all her clothes, leaving only a blurred vision before him...


    "Do I look beautiful?"


    Gulp...


    Zhang Qing''s words made Xia Liu swallow hard, his heat rising abruptly to a peak.


    "Beautiful!"


    Xia Liu almost blurted out the word involuntarily.


    "Then what are you waiting for?" Zhang Qing placed her hands on Xia Liu''s shoulders, gazing at him passionately.


    ...


    "I''m sorry, Sister Zhang, I can''t..." Xia Liu rotated his eyeballs to look elsewhere, his hands clenched behind his back.


    "What! You can''t believe it." Zhang Qing suddenly shouted, then quickly chuckled, "It''s okay if you can''t. You know medicine; you will definitely be able to treat it in the future..."


    "Sister Zhang, you misunderstand, I..."


    "It''s fine, I''ll keep this secret for you. I hope you recover soon and then conquer all sorts of beautiful women."


    "What the heck, you pushed me to this!" Xia Liu became angry; he could not stand being belittled in this way!


    An hour later, Zhang Qing lay sprawling on the beach, gasping for breath.


    "Sister Zhang, are you okay?"


    Having calmed down, Zhang Qing kept eyeing Xia Liu, "Not bad at all."


    "Sister Zhang, shall we head back now? We can continue learning tomorrow night." Seeing that it was about time and that Zhang Qing had no more energy left for swimming, Xia Liu suggested.


    "Hmm, come early tomorrow night to study hard," Zhang Qing said, emphasizing the word ''study'' heavily, her hints clear with her dreamy eyes.


    Xia Liu grimaced, stepping ahead to let Zhang Qing get dressed properly.


    After reaching the doorstep, Xia Liu made sure that Zhang Xiaoxue was sound asleep before he entered the house, changing his clothes and beginning to practice his energy exercises.


    It wasn''t yet dawn when Xia Liu heard noise outside his room; his sharp senses detected Zhang Xiaoxue getting up and heading for the kitchen to perhaps make breakfast for him...


    Indeed, Xia Liu observed her intently. After she made breakfast, she didn''t wake him but instead sat in the kitchen, giggling to herself. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Helpless, Xia Liu could only leave his room.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re up! Go wash up, I made breakfast," Zhang Xiaoxue said cheerily.


    "Did you sleep at all last night, you little rascal?"


    Upon being asked by Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue awkwardly replied, "I slept, definitely slept; otherwise, how could I get up so early?"


    Xia Liu already knew; she hadn''t slept at all. Such a misfortune...


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu washed up and, after breakfast, told Zhang Xiaoxue to go back to sleep a bit more.


    Zhang Xiaoxue pouted and saw Xia Liu out the door before rushing to sleep, her face brimming with happiness.


    Xia Liu hadn''t stood at the door long before he saw a group of women and several village men coming together. After inquiring, he found out that everyone had made plans the previous evening.


    To fairly distribute the tasks of picking atractylodes and oyster harvesting, it wasn''t safe for the women to go into the mountains nor for all men to harvest oysters. Thus, they arranged for households good at swimming to send women for oyster harvesting and men to pick atractylodes.


    Xia Liu highly praised this arrangement and spotted Zhang Qing in the crowd. Today she seemed extra talkative and her face appeared even more radiant.


    Catching her eye, Zhang Qing even winked at him, the implication making Xia Liu smile bitterly...


    When Xia Liu arrived at the beach, he found everyone waiting for him. After greeting them, the group asked him to explain how to harvest oysters.

 Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Unexpected Discovery

    Actually, oyster fishing is very simple, they waited for Xia Liu as a way to show their respect for him."My suggestion is to fish in one spot first, then gradually spread out, and don''t fish the small oysters for now," Xia Liu said amicably. Both suggestions were made for future convenience; scattered fishing would compromise efficiency later on.


    The villagers understood Xia Liu''s intentions and applauded in approval, already eager to start fishing.


    "Everyone, pay attention to safety, and observe those around you closely. We can''t afford any accidents," Xia Liu solemnly reminded them about safety before they got into the water.


    "Hehe, don''t worry, which one of us village folks can''t hold our breath underwater for a minute or two?"


    "Haha, that''s right!"


    After a while of commotion, the villagers started heading towards both ends of the beach in succession. They had allocated the positions before Xia Liu arrived.


    Using the beach as their line, twenty people went to fish on each side; this way, it wouldn''t seem too crowded.


    In less than ten minutes, a villager brought the oysters he had fished back to shore. There were dozens of them, but they were still short of fifty pounds. After setting down the oysters, he went back into the water to fish for more.


    Watching the villagers dive and resurface, Xia Liu wasn''t idle either. He turned around to go home, planning to bring the weighing scale and notebook over. Later on, he would process everything right there, pack it up, and ship it out. It would be awkward and inconvenient to have so many people carrying fifty-pound oysters back to his place.


    When Xia Liu got home, he saw that Zhang Xiaoxue hadn''t rested and was still tidying up his room.


    Xia Liu, whether faint with anger or not, slapped Zhang Xiaoxue''s buttocks the moment he entered the room.


    "Ouch! Brother Xia Liu, why did you hit me?" The slap made Zhang Xiaoxue tremble all over; when she turned around and saw Xia Liu, her eyes misted up, and she said weakly with a pout.


    "Didn''t I tell you to go to sleep? Why are you still up?" Xia Liu felt a pang of pity but still needed to be strict in his reprimand.


    "I couldn''t sleep..."


    ...


    "Alright then, come with me to the beach to register the weights. But you must rest a bit after we get back," Xia Liu said helplessly.


    "Yay, yay!" Zhang Xiaoxue exclaimed excitedly; she had wanted to go earlier but was afraid of upsetting Xia Liu.


    So, the two of them took the digital scale and notebook and drove over.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhang Xiaoxue pondered over everything that had just happened, her face gradually blushing unnoticed.


    On the way there, Xia Liu was feeling parched and restless, mainly because the road wasn''t paved with cement and the ride was bumpy, causing Zhang Xiaoxue to jostle around. Xia Liu couldn''t help but sneak peeks at the situation, struggling to control himself.


    Fortunately, the distance wasn''t too far; after five minutes of driving, they arrived.


    By then, some villagers had already come up from the water and were sitting on the beach chatting leisurely.


    Seeing Xia Liu arrive, they hurried over to ask how to proceed with the oysters.


    Xia Liu explained the process to them, which was very simple: removing the small stones sticking to the oyster shells. It would be even more convenient if they had a brush.


    But there were no brushes on-site, which didn''t deter the villagers as they were used to hard work with calloused hands, capable of rubbing off those small stones directly with their hands.


    Some villagers couldn''t manage with their hands, so they used twigs and leaves, clumping them together and continuously rubbing the oysters.


    By eleven in the morning, everyone was about done with their work, so they started weighing the cleaned oysters.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was on the side, recording the weights and names. As for the payment, Xia Liu promised to distribute it immediately after delivering the goods.


    This made the villagers somewhat dissatisfied; they knew running a business wasn''t easy, and sometimes bosses had to borrow money to pay their employees, so they worried about adding to Xia Liu''s burden and suggested delaying the payment.


    Xia Liu wasn''t willing to do that¡ªthe value of the oysters was significant¡ªholding onto them for several days could cause discomfort among the villagers. It was cleaner and more straightforward to pay out daily.


    With a truck full of oysters, Xia Liu drove towards the county city.


    The truck carried a total of two thousand one hundred pounds. Some villagers had fished extra, but that was alright, the limit was only to maintain balance among everyone.


    Arriving at Longteng Hotel, Xia Liu called Huang Xue to come down and check the goods.


    To his surprise, Huang Xue told him to take the goods to the back door for the kitchen staff to weigh, then to bring the inventory list to her office.


    A few minutes later, Xia Liu stood at the office door with the list in hand, knocking before entering upon receiving a response.


    The office had a set of sofas, a bookcase, and many other things, covering a vast space, not to mention the lavish decorations.


    However, all those decorations paled in comparison to Huang Xue, sitting behind the desk. The allure of the fairy Huang Xue, especially her big, captivating eyes, was enough to bewitch countless people.


    "Put the list here, and I''ll transfer the money," said Huang Xue, her eyes fixed on the computer screen, pointing to the table without even glancing at Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu wasn''t upset; after all, it was expected of a great beauty like her to be aloof. Fairies needed to maintain a distance from ordinary folk.


    But as he approached the desk, or rather, as he grew nearer to Huang Xue, he suddenly heard a low humming sound.


    Hum, hum, hum...


    Yes! That was the sound.


    At this thought, Xia Liu''s pupils shrank slightly, his gaze rapidly sweeping over Huang Xue before he was shocked.


    His senses were several times sharper than an average person''s; he could see many subtle changes invisible to others.


    For example, Huang Xue''s cheeks, where nobody but he would notice¡ªher lips were pursed, cheeks slightly protruding; one could be sure she was clenched teeth tightly, with slight changes between her bewitching brows.


    "Go sit on the sofa over there. Once the money is in and everything checks out, you can go," Huang Xue looked up at Xia Liu and said expressionlessly.


    To say she was expressionless, but to Xia Liu''s eyes, Huang Xue was struggling to keep her emotions under control.


    Scary, very scary. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu couldn''t understand how a fairy like Huang Xue with spectacular beauty and figure could be like this, leaving all the men in the world helpless.


    It hadn''t been five minutes since Xia Liu sat down when he received a text message: 126,000 yuan was in his account.


    "Is it there?" Before Xia Liu could speak up, Huang Xue asked hastily.


    "Yes, it''s in the account. I..."


    "Then you can leave now. I''ll call you if there''s any issue," Huang Xue cut off Xia Liu, speaking straightforwardly.


    Xia Liu paused for a moment then bid farewell as he left the office. Just as he stepped out of the office...

 Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Policewoman Li Qinqin

    Standing at the office door, Xia Liu angrily tugged at his hair, feeling as if thousands of ants were crawling over his heart.With his extensive experience, he could easily imagine Huang Xue''s current state¡ªshe must have been absolutely beautiful and enchanting.


    "Fairy!" Glancing back once, Xia Liu quickly left; he feared he wouldn''t be able to resist entering, which would have been extremely awkward.


    After leaving the hotel, Xia Liu went to the bank and withdrew all the money from his account. On one hand, he would distribute the money to the villagers later, and on the other, the surplus would be handed out tomorrow after weighing it directly to everyone.


    However, before he could even get back to Pinglan Town, he was intercepted by traffic police.


    Seeing about ten meters ahead, a woman in a traffic police uniform was gesturing.


    Xia Liu thought about turning around or even forcefully pushing through, as he had neither a driver''s license nor an ID. If he were to be checked, it would definitely lead to trouble.


    But he obediently stopped the car by the roadside; the reason was simply¡ªthe traffic policewoman gesturing was too striking.


    The uniform made her look exceptionally sharp, and the movements of her fair, jade hands were even more captivating.


    As he rolled down the window, a fragrance washed over him, and Xia Liu looked up to see an extremely delicate face, flawless and comparable to the Fairy he had just thought of.


    "Hello, please show your documents."


    "Sorry, I left them at home¡­" Watching that charming smile, Xia Liu could only give a helpless wry smile.


    "Well then, sorry, but please get out of the car and cooperate with our inspection." Li Qinqin''s smile remained, but there was an added slyness to the corner of her mouth.


    "There''s an emergency at home, so I''ll not bother you; I''ll be leaving." Saying this, Xia Liu rolled up his window, preparing to leave.


    Li Qinqin''s expression suddenly changed, and as the window was rolling up, she bent over and climbed into the car, grabbing Xia Liu''s collar with both hands: "Get out of the car and cooperate with me!"


    Xia Liu was stunned; this girl''s actions were simply crazy. If he panicked and drove off, she would definitely get hurt.


    Having no choice, Xia Liu raised his hands. Although there might be some trouble later, being this close to such a beautiful woman was surprising, and what shocked him most was that due to Li Qinqin leaning too close, her at least D-cupped bosom made contact with his hand.


    The other traffic police nearby noticed the unusual scene and came over to check.


    After being restrained by two people, Li Qinqin opened all the car doors and started searching, soon pulling out a black plastic bag.


    "What''s all this?" Li Qinqin struggled to control her emotions. She had already seen it in the car; the bag was filled with cash, at least a hundred thousand!


    She was a bit excited. Previously working at the county police station, she had made some minor mistakes and was sent away to study outside. Upon her return, she was assigned to various departments to gain experience.


    Now, she keenly sensed that she had stumbled upon a major criminal case!


    If this case were confirmed, she could definitely skip this learning period and return to the county bureau!


    "It''s just some money; I need to go back and distribute salaries," Xia Liu didn''t understand why the girl was smiling, but he sniffed a foreboding scent in the air.


    "Tsk, tsk, your car''s annual inspection is overdue, and you don''t have any documents. Now, I suspect you''re involved in a major case, so please cooperate and come back with me for questioning,"


    "Traffic police comrade, this is a misunderstanding. All this money is from selling seafood, and I bought the car from a used car dealership."


    "Take him away!" Li Qinqin did not waste any more words and directed two male colleagues to force Xia Liu into the car.


    Xia Liu now deeply regretted not buying a tricycle earlier; what a mess all this was.


    This time, he wasn''t taken to the police station but was directly escorted by Li Qinqin to the county''s Public Security Bureau.


    "Officer Li, I''ve really been wronged, please believe me," Xia Liu explained once more to Li Qinqin inside the interrogation room.


    On the way here, Li Qinqin had shown her credentials, and Xia Liu realized that this young woman was part of the serious crime unit. He knew he was in trouble but hadn''t given up.


    Indeed, he felt somewhat familiar with the name Li Qinqin; he seemed to have heard it somewhere before but couldn''t quite remember where.


    "Be honest and lenient, resist and face severity. I hope you do not repeat your mistakes," said Li Qinqin, her expression unchanging.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, two people in uniform walked into the interrogation room, one of whom was older and wore a different uniform with some distinctive insignia, clearly someone of rank!


    "Qinqin, I heard about this. You brought someone in who was driving without documents; what exactly is going on?" Chen Jin, already quite frustrated with Li Qinqin, was nearly exasperated¡ªher previous blunders were one thing, but making a big deal and bringing someone without a driver''s license into the station seemed excessive¡­


    "Director Chen, this man''s vehicle has numerous irregularities, and he didn''t have an ID or driver''s license. I also found over a hundred thousand in cash in his car," Li Qinqin explained, pausing there, believing Director Chen would understand the seriousness of the matter.


    Indeed, Chen Jin fell silent. According to this logic, Xia Liu was very problematic.


    "This official, I''m from Osmanthus Village, called Xia Liu. I forgot my documents at home, and that money is all earned by our village folks together. If you don''t believe me, you can come to Osmanthus Village to verify," Xia Liu earnestly said, watching Director Chen.


    "Heh, Osmanthus Village is the poorest in the county, due to many reasons, the village isn''t even accessible by car. If you are from that village, how could you possibly have over a hundred thousand in your car?" Li Qinqin, who had heard of Osmanthus Village, pointed this out excitedly to Xia Liu. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Director Chen thought the same. If Xia Liu hadn''t claimed that, he might have considered it a minor infraction. Now, it seemed anything but simple!


    Ding ding ding¡­


    Just as Li Qinqin was about to press Xia Liu further, her phone rang. She didn''t even look before hanging up.


    Not more than three seconds later, it rang again. After two repetitions, Director Chen advised her to take the call, considering her identity wasn''t a secret here, and it could be her family needing her.


    "Dad, I''m busy. I''ll call you back soon," Li Qinqin hurriedly said before hanging up, her gaze returning to Xia Liu.


    However, the phone rang once more. She gave Director Chen an embarrassed smile, then stepped aside to answer.


    "Dad, stop fooling me. How could anyone cure a disease with just a few needles? You must be trying to trick me into going overseas for treatment."


    "Healed with a few needles? Conned into going overseas for treatment? Li Qinqin?" Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Xia Liu''s head¡ªwasn''t Li Qinqin the daughter of County Mayor Li Zhong? Could this beautiful young woman be her?


    "Alright, alright, I''ll come home after I finish interrogating. I''m turning off my phone," Li Qinqin said helplessly as she hung up and turned off her phone. She had only been back for two days and was already driven crazy by her father. He was just as nagging at home, even calling her at work to rush her.

 Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Anxious Li Zhong

    "I''m sorry, Director Chen, but now do you also think this person is a prime suspect?" Li Qinqin said excitedly, pointing at Xia Liu.If Chen Jin agreed with her, she would be able to return to the station early, a feat achieved through her own capabilities.


    Just as Chen Jin was about to nod, a ringtone sounded again¡ªthis time from Xia Liu''s phone.


    With his hands cuffed, and in front of Chen Jin, Li Qinqin, and several police officers, Xia Liu didn''t want to show too much. So, he said, "Officer, could you please help me take out my phone?"


    "Little Li, go and get the phone¡ªand smash it!" As soon as Xia Liu finished speaking, Li Qinqin got furious. How could a suspect be so brazen in her presence, in front of Chen Jin?


    "Please, officer, don''t do that. Rather, answer the call for me. Once it''s finished, I''ll confess everything," Xia Liu gambled, betting that the call could spare him lots of unnecessary hassle.


    Hearing this, Li Qinqin grew interested. It was one thing if Xia Liu was going to confess, but if the call was from an accomplice, they might learn what they were discussing.


    Li Qinqin glanced at Chen Jin, and after noticing his silent approval, she smiled, walked over to Xia Liu, pulled out the ringing phone, pressed to answer, and turned on the speakerphone.


    "Hello, is this Brother Liu?" The voice on the phone asked kindly as soon as she answered.


    Hearing this voice, Xia Liu was certain it was Li Zhong!


    Therefore, he calmly replied, "It''s me. Who might this be?"


    Li Qinqin looked at Xia Liu with disdain, trading a confession to receive this call and now pretending to ask who it was¡ªnobody was buying it.


    "It''s me, Li Zhong. How have you been, Brother Liu?"


    "Oh, it''s Director Li, eh? Sorry, I didn''t see the caller ID," Xia Liu knowingly responded.


    But this brief exchange puzzled both Li Qinqin and Chen Jin.


    Li Qinqin believed this guy knew the county well and had offended multiple times. Li Zhong was her own father, known by everyone in the county. This man was definitely trying to confuse the truth and bluff everyone into letting him go.


    "Brother Liu, when do you have time to come over for a meal at my home? I''ll introduce you to my daughter Qinqin."


    "What the heck! Quite the act, eh? Let me tell you, I am Li Qinqin, right now in the police station, and your accomplice is in my hands. I suggest you turn yourself in to repent sooner," Li Qinqin couldn''t take it anymore, grabbed the phone, and started shouting into it.


    "Eh, is that Qinqin''s voice? How did you end up with Brother Liu''s phone?" At the end of his statement, Li Zhong''s voice was clearly anxious.


    "Just so you know, today your accomplice was apprehended, and it won''t be long before you''re caught too!" After saying this, Li Qinqin hung up the phone and then smashed it violently on the floor!


    This act stunned everyone in the interrogation room, including Xia Liu. The sudden phone smashing¡ªwhat was this all about?


    Chen Jin knew Li Zhong was Li Qinqin''s father, but even if it was an impersonation, smashing the phone was too impulsive...


    "Alright, kid, you dared to let your accomplice impersonate the director. Too bad you miscalculated one thing¡ªI am Li Qinqin, Li Zhong''s daughter!" Li Qinqin said proudly, looking at Xia Liu.


    She couldn''t imagine if she hadn''t been there today, Chen Jin might have been fooled by the call, since the voice and tone were too similar to her father''s.


    Xia Liu slumped in his chair, feeling somewhat weary. If this girl was under his control, wouldn''t he have to start by slapping her twenty times? After that, he still had to strip her to inspect once, otherwise, the phone scattered on the floor would have been for nothing.


    At that time inside the county government office, Li Zhong rapidly ran down the stairs, his body covered in sweat, imagining how his daughter was treating Xia Liu in the police station. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh my dear girl, Xia Liu is our family''s benefactor, and your illness still depends on him!" Li Zhong was on the verge of tears, questioning how such a coincidence could occur with his daughter encountering Xia Liu and even handcuffing him to the police station. Now, to make matters worse, her phone was turned off when he tried calling her.


    After getting into the car, Li Zhong instructed the driver to drive quickly, afraid that even a second''s delay could lead to disaster.


    In reality, the county government wasn''t far from the county bureau, a fifteen-minute walk or three minutes by car without traffic.


    Indeed, within five minutes, Li Zhong had arrived at the police station where all the officers respectfully greeted him as the highest leader of Hejing County.


    However, everyone was surprised by Li Zhong''s behavior as he dashed out of the car and up to the office building at high speed.


    "County Chief Li, what brings you here?" Chen Jin, who was about to return to his office, wasn''t even finished expressing his surprise before he quickly greeted him.


    "Director Chen, good that you''re here. Where is that girl Qinqin? Hurry and take me to her!"


    Li Zhong''s voice trembled, and even a fool could see that he was extremely anxious. Chen Jin had never seen Li Zhong like this before and, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly led the way to the room where Xia Liu was being interrogated.


    Upon arrival, Li Zhong kicked open the door under Chen Jin''s astonished gaze and screamed, "Stop right there!"


    In the brightly lit interrogation room, Li Qinqin was holding a baton against Xia Liu''s neck. As she turned her head and saw her father, she instantly panicked, threw the baton aside, and clasped her hands behind her back, standing with her head bowed like a little girl who had done something wrong.


    Chen Jin was about to pass out from frustration; no wonder Li Qinqin had asked him to leave first¡ªshe had been planning to coerce Xia Liu!


    Li Zhong was furious, not only had his daughter handcuffed Xia Liu, but she had also hit him with a baton. This was disastrous!


    "Dad, why have you come?"


    "If I didn''t come now, in a few days you''d be burning paper money for me!" Li Zhong shouted, his tone not at all playful, causing great distress for Li Qinqin.


    "Brother Liu, are you alright?" Ignoring everyone else, Li Zhong rushed to Xia Liu''s side and began to care for him warmly.


    "I''m fine, though it seems I have caused trouble for County Chief Li." Xia Liu smiled knowingly. He had known Li Zhong would come, and indeed, he had arrived in less than ten minutes¡ªtruly swift action.


    However, their conversation left everyone else on the scene utterly flabbergasted.


    Li Zhong was actually treating Xia Liu as a close brother, so that meant the person on the other end of the phone earlier was indeed him!


    "Dad, was that really you who called earlier?" Li Qinqin still couldn''t believe it. How could her father know Xia Liu so well, and be so close to him? It didn''t make sense.


    "Who else could it be? You there, instead of studying properly, how could you bring Brother Liu back in handcuffs? Now come here and apologize!" Li Zhong glared at his daughter indignantly.


    ...


    Li Qinqin''s face looked worse than if she were crying; apologizing to Xia Liu was out of the question, and she kept her head down in silence.


    "County Chief Li, please don''t say that. I indeed committed an offense; I should be the one apologizing..."

 Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Apologize to Your Uncle Xia Liu

    "Brother Liu, you shouldn''t say that, it''s definitely Qinqin who made the mistake.""I did not, it''s his car that violated the rules, and he didn''t even have his driving license..."


    "You dare to argue!" Hearing his daughter''s retort, Li Zhong repeatedly scolded her.


    Ten minutes later, Xia Liu, Li Zhong, and Li Qinqin left the county bureau under Chen Jin''s wry smile.


    Chen Jin firmly remembered Xia Liu. He couldn''t fathom the extent of Xia Liu''s influence, which made Li Zhong come running without regard for anything else and even severely scold his own daughter. To provoke such a reaction from Li Zhong, Xia Liu must be an influential character; Chen Jin would have to treat him with great respect if they ever met again.


    "Brother Liu, I owe you an apology here, Qinqin is too impulsive and has caused you trouble," Li Zhong kept apologizing to Xia Liu in the car.


    "Officer Li, please don''t say that, Officer Li is also working for the people. I think her attitude is good, ''better to kill a hundred by mistake than to let one go free.''"


    "You''re absolutely right, that''s my motto."


    "Motto my foot, if you dare to talk back again, don''t blame me for telling your mom." Li Zhong was already resigned when it came to his daughter; if she could inherit even a bit from him, this kind of problem would never have occurred.


    After that, Li Qinqin pouted and didn''t dare to speak anymore. During the conversation between Xia Liu and Li Zhong, she kept stealing glances at Xia Liu.


    She wanted to see what was so different about him. If her guess was correct, it was he who cured her mother''s illness with a few needle pricks.


    She wasn''t superstitious, and was somewhat unwilling to face this fact. Apart from being handsome and well-built, Xia Liu didn''t seem special.


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    Xia Liu couldn''t refuse Li Zhong''s invitation and visited their house for a meal again, which annoyed Li Qinqin to no end. If it weren''t for him, she wouldn''t have been scolded by her father, having lost all face in front of her colleagues.


    Yet Li Qinqin''s dislike was of no use; as soon as Xia Liu entered, Li Zhong''s wife, Xu Fang, warmly welcomed him.


    Without Xia Liu, Xu Fang might not have lived another six months. Her death wouldn''t matter to her, but she couldn''t bear to leave her daughter and husband behind, especially knowing her daughter had inherited her illness, which was the most painful thing. If she died, she definitely wouldn''t be able to rest in peace.


    Now it was different. Xia Liu had appeared and cured her illness. If Li Qinqin''s illness could also be cured, their family would be complete.


    Taking advantage of the fact that they hadn''t yet eaten, Xia Liu took Xu Fang''s pulse and found her recovery to be quite good, even better than that of an ordinary person.


    "Brother Liu, I''m very sorry, let me drink three cups as a self-punishment first."


    "Officer Li, what are you talking about? If it weren''t for you, I might still be in the station." Xia Liu was telling the truth; if not for Li Zhong, he might not have got out safely, and if something else had been stirred up, it would have been even more troublesome.


    The two exchanged smiles and drained their glasses. During the meal, Li Qinqin kept sneaking glances at Xia Liu.


    She didn''t dare to speak; she understood that her parents now saw Xia Liu as a benefactor. If she dared to voice a single word of opposition, she would definitely receive a lecture from both of them in turn.


    To obtain the right to speak, she had to expose the real Xia Liu. How could there possibly be cases of curing illnesses with just a few needle pricks in the world?


    After dinner, as the sky darkened, the four sat on the sofa chatting. Li Zhong suddenly went to the room, brought out a bag, and said, "Brother Liu, this is the cash that Qinqin confiscated from you today."


    The moment he took the money, Xia Liu sensed something was amiss, "Officer Li, I didn''t have this much money, you..."


    "Brother Liu, that''s just a small token of my gratitude. Also, I have another favor to ask of you," Li Zhong said with a wry smile, interrupting Xia Liu''s words and then added, "I would like to ask you to cure Qinqin''s illness as well."


    "Officer Li, that''s where you''re wrong. I''ve already promised that I will definitely cure Qinqin''s illness," Xia Liu said while opening the bag and taking out the excess money.


    "Pssh, aren''t you afraid of spraining your tongue with all that grand talk!" Li Qinqin, standing to the side, couldn''t hide her displeasure. She detested Jianghu charlatans the most, and now, to make matters worse, her parents had been completely taken in by one.


    Smack!


    Standing behind Li Qinqin, Xu Fang slapped her on the butt: "You shut up, you little wretch! If you dare to disrespect your Uncle Xia Liu again, I''ll have your father tie you up and throw you in the room!"


    "Uncle Xia Liu..." Xia Liu couldn''t help but give a wry smile. If they were to compare ages, Li Qinqin was actually a year older than him. The title of "uncle" was really...


    Li Qinqin herself was stunned; being asked to call Xia Liu "uncle" was more unbearable to her than death!


    "Qinqin, come here and apologize to your Uncle Xia Liu! Don''t make me angry!" Li Zhong''s attitude suddenly changed.


    At his side, Xia Liu could clearly feel the aura exuding from Li Zhong, the kind that belongs to those in positions of power, revealing that this county chief definitely had a stern side.


    Seeing her father''s demeanor, Li Qinqin lowered her head. Nothing scared her more than her dad getting angry, so she found herself saying to Xia Liu, "I''m sorry."


    "Who are you apologizing to!" Li Zhong continued to rebuke angrily.


    "I''m sorry, Divine Doctor!"


    ...


    "It''s okay, County Chief Li, I''ll get ready and then start treating Qinqin." Xia Liu said, feeling a burst of awkwardness watching Li Qinqin''s behavior.


    "That''s excellent, but Brother Liu, don''t feel compelled. Qinqin isn''t in a rush; otherwise, we could find another time for the treatment." Li Zhong was already thrilled inside, but he couldn''t show it too directly¡ªsometimes, subtlety was required.


    "Dad, since he''s so confident, we should cooperate. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful," Li Qinqin objected now. She was determined to expose Xia Liu and not a second later would do.


    Xia Liu merely smiled and said nothing; carrying silver needles with him was routine, and all that was needed was for Xu Fang to get a basin. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To avoid disturbing Xia Liu, Li Zhong took Xu Fang and left the room, secretly fearing his own excitement might impact Xia Liu''s efforts in the living room and cause them to miss a critical opportunity.


    Once her parents had left, Li Qinqin wasn''t convinced. Now it was all about results¡ªif her illness persisted, Xia Liu was nothing but a fraud!


    In Li Qinqin''s room, the two were alone, and Xia Liu took her pulse.


    Honestly, on the surface, this girl seemed even more vibrant than a healthy person, but the pulse couldn''t hide the genetic illness she suffered.


    Compared to Xu Fang, Li Qinqin''s case was much simpler¡ªfive silver needles combined with the Fire Spiritual Energy would suffice for a cure.


    However, before starting the treatment, the corner of Xia Liu''s mouth twisted into a sinister smile.


    "You''ll have to take off your clothes when I insert the needles; otherwise, I can''t locate the acupuncture points accurately."


    "What! I have to take off my clothes!" Li Qinqin screamed suddenly. As a proud, unwed woman, how could she casually undress in front of someone, especially a man?


    "A doctor sees no distinction between men and women," Xia Liu said gravely.


    In truth, Li Qinqin had received information from her adopted sister, Fang Fei, that some clothing needed to be removed when her mother was treated.


    After a moment of contemplation, Li Qinqin bit her lip and slowly began to lift her clothes...

 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Sudden Attack of Fang Fei

    "What are you stupidly standing there for, move your eyes away!" Seeing Xia Liu staring at her dumbfounded, Li Qinqin scolded.Xia Liu shivered and silently turned his body around, he had indeed been shocked just now, especially by that belly without a hint of excess fat.


    "It''s okay now."


    Hearing that soul-snatching voice, Xia Liu forced himself to calm down and slowly turned back, originally expecting to see a blood-boiling scene, but Li Qinqin was lying flat on the bed, only exposing her pale back...


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    "This..."


    "What do you mean ''this''? Hurry up and start the acupuncture! If you dare to have any crooked thoughts, I''ll kill you!" Seeing Xia Liu hemming and hawing, Li Qinqin angrily said.


    In fact, Xia Liu wanted to say that he needed to apply needles to the liver area, but seeing her attitude like this, he calmed himself down, walked over to the bed, then slapped her, and started applying massage techniques.


    "Why are you hitting my butt!" Li Qinqin exploded with anger, if she weren''t undressed, she would definitely jump up and give Xia Liu a thorough beating. She hadn''t even held hands with a boy before, and just now Xia Liu had actually slapped her; how could she not be furious.


    "Don''t misunderstand, I did this to prepare for the acupuncture, slapping can make the blood flow faster," Xia Liu said righteously.


    He had said before, if she gave him the chance, he would definitely slap this girl twenty times, and the location would of course be there!


    While talking, Xia Liu raised his hand and slapped a few more times, even through the pants, he could feel her skin that seemed as though it would break at a light touch.


    Li Qinqin clenched her teeth tightly, a strong sensation was growing within her, this strange feeling made her want to moan, but she would never make a sound in front of Xia Liu, even if it killed her.


    After Xia Liu had slapped her a dozen times or so, Li Qinqin couldn''t suppress a moan any longer: "Mmm..."


    Realizing the peculiarity, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, tears swirling in her eyes, she felt like she wanted to die; how could she show such an extreme disgrace in front of this big swindler!


    Xia Liu was also surprised, hearing Li Qinqin''s voice, did she actually get a sensation from just a few slaps, could it be that, like he bluffed, the blood flow really accelerated???


    However, right when Xia Liu was dazed, the door quietly opened!


    Xia Liu, conscious of his surroundings, heard the sound of the door lock and quickly withdrew his hand, but it was still a step too late...


    "Ah!" A sharp scream arose at the doorway.


    "Sister Fangfei?" Seeing the person standing at the door, Li Qinqin''s mouth fell open and she couldn''t utter a word.


    "I''m sorry to interrupt, please continue, continue..." Sister Fangfei was beyond embarrassed, she had stood outside for a while, and upon hearing the slapping sounds and Li Qinqin''s voice, she realized something was off, so she entered, and sure enough, upon opening the door she saw a scene she shouldn''t have...


    "Sister Fang, you misunderstand, I was preparing for acupuncture," Xia Liu said with a forced smile as he straightened up, he really wanted to continue, but after saying that, could you please leave...


    "Eh, is that so?" Fang Fei was full of doubt, it was obvious Xia Liu had just done something to Li Qinqin, but when he had treated her godmother with acupuncture earlier, he hadn''t done anything else, and why had Qinqin taken off all her clothes anyway? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Fangfei, don''t leave, this guy said he couldn''t see the acupoints properly and asked me to take off all my clothes, and then he said to speed up blood flow and slapped my butt," Li Qinqin lamented to Fang Fei as if she had found a lifeline.


    "This..." Suddenly, Fang Fei seemed to understand something. When she saw Xia Liu wink, she smiled faintly.


    "Don''t worry, Qinqin, I''ve seen Xia Liu''s medical skills before, and they''re quite impressive. You really do have to take off your clothes for acupuncture. Just do whatever he says," Fang Fei said, giving Xia Liu a meaningful look.


    "See? Sister Fang was there when I treated your mother last time." With Fang Fei as his witness, Xia Liu puffed up his chest with pride, but he felt vaguely uneasy inside; there must be a catch if Fang Fei was helping him out.


    "Oh, Qinqin, Xia Liu is a doctor. You have to listen to him no matter what, and then you won''t have to worry about your health in the future!" Saying this, Fang Fei didn''t wait for Li Qinqin to respond and helped her up right away.


    Then, Xia Liu was stunned. The sight before him was so captivating that he couldn''t tear his eyes away.


    Li Qinqin hadn''t expected Fang Fei to suddenly help her up. The cool sensation made her extremely shy, but thinking that Xia Liu had already seen everything, what was the use of covering up or running away? So, she boldly faced Xia Liu.


    "Doctor Xia Liu, it''s time for the acupuncture," Fang Fei said to Xia Liu, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.


    Xia Liu was now in a dilemma. In this state, how could he concentrate on the needling? But if he let Li Qinqin put her clothes back on, wouldn''t he expose himself?


    Watching Li Qinqin bite her lower lip, Xia Liu slowly moved forward. With each step, his breathing became more rapid.


    It wasn''t that he hadn''t seen it before, but he seldom encountered someone like Li Qinqin, especially with a demoness like Fang Fei at his side. Two stunning beauties... How could he focus on the needling?


    "Doctor Xia Liu, do you need to slap a little longer to get the blood flowing faster?" Fang Fei teased as she watched Xia Liu''s hesitant and slow movements.


    When she had seen Li Qinqin remove her top, she knew something was amiss; acupuncture didn''t require that at all¡ªclearly, Xia Liu was up to something!


    "Cough, no need, I''ll start the needling now. The process will be the same as last time, and Sister Fang, please try not to disturb," Xia Liu said, feigning seriousness.


    Fang Fei watched Xia Liu with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, while Li Qinqin had already looked away, her body bare. How could she have the nerve to look directly at a boy she had met less than half a day ago? However, from the corner of her eye, she still peeked at Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu''s hand shook, and a cloth wrapping silver needles appeared in it. He then asked Li Qinqin to lift her head and keep her body as still as possible.


    The Five Elements Mantra was invoked. The first needle, wrapped in Wooden Spirit Energy, quickly pierced Li Qinqin''s head. Next, a blue needle imbued with Water Spirit Energy was inserted near her heart to protect the cardiac vessels, followed by gold and red needles landing precisely on several acupoints.


    After five needles were perfectly placed, shock was written on both Li Qinqin''s and Fang Fei''s faces. Especially Li Qinqin¡ªshe hadn''t felt much pain, and the speed of Xia Liu''s needling was so fast that it seemed to be over in the blink of an eye. If there weren''t needles stuck in her body, she would think Xia Liu hadn''t even started.


    "The treatment should take about ten minutes. I''ll be waiting over there. If there''s any problem, just call me," Xia Liu said, having no excuse to keep staring at Li Qinqin. He turned generously away; after all, he would have a chance to look again when removing the needles¡ªno hurry, no hurry.


    But he dared not stop the Five Elements Mantra; he could keenly feel the intense heat within his body.

 Chapter 37: Chapter 37 The Foolish Supplier

    ```He was certain that as soon as he stopped the cultivation technique, his little buddy would go crazy, and that would be very awkward.


    Li Qinqin was very pleased with Xia Liu''s actions, but that didn''t mean she trusted his medical skills. Deep down, she still thought Xia Liu was a Jianghu World swindler. How could just a few needles cure her illness?


    However, five minutes later, she had no mind to think about anything else.


    She only felt as if there was a ball of fire inside her, burning intensely, and an indescribable pain spread to every part of her body.


    Li Qinqin clenched her teeth tightly, as strong as she was, how could she moan in pain in front of her sister and the big swindler?


    Seeing Li Qinqin covered in sweat, Fang Fei became anxious. It was clear that her sister was in great pain, and she kept cheering her on from the side.


    Li Qinqin had never felt that ten minutes could be so long. Just as she could hardly hold on and was about to faint, Xia Liu appeared.


    "Pay attention, I''m going to remove the needles!" With a warning, Xia Liu''s palms became a blur, and in the blink of an eye, the four silver needles on her chest were pulled out.


    When the needle on top of the head was pulled out, Fang Fei quickly grabbed a basin to place in front of Li Qinqin.


    Pu!


    Li Qinqin could no longer control herself, and a mouthful of black blood sprayed into the basin. Then she collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.


    "Phew... Xia Liu, how is Qinqin?" Seeing her sister pass out, Fang Fei asked worriedly.


    Xia Liu checked Li Qinqin''s pulse and smiled, nodding his head, "Her illness is gone, but she still needs to recuperate. I''ll write a prescription for you in a bit." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the living room, after Xia Liu had written the prescription, Li Zhong and Xu Fang, the husband and wife, returned. They immediately asked Xia Liu about the situation.


    Xia Liu replied truthfully and also reminded them that it was best not to let Li Qinqin go out for the next ten days. On one hand, it was for her to recuperate, and on the other, he was afraid of being beaten up by her if he encountered this girl on the street, since he had seen her entire body.


    Li Zhong and Xu Fang were extremely grateful to Xia Liu. If not for Fang Fei and Xia Liu holding them back, the couple would have knelt down in gratitude.


    Only after leaving the house did Xia Liu feel much more relaxed. This time he hadn''t consumed much spiritual energy, but after stopping the cultivation technique, the image of Li Qinqin''s jade-like skin kept appearing in his mind.


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    "Tsk tsk, this kid is really not what one would expect." In the elevator, Fang Fei kept teasing Xia Liu, admiring the way he used his medical skills to sneak a peek at a girl''s body.


    "Er, Sister Fang, what are you talking about? I don''t understand a word you''re saying." Xia Liu showed an innocent smile.


    "Cut it out, do you think I''m Qinqin? Still trying to fool me?" Fang Fei said disdainfully.


    "Alright, Sister Fang. The truth is exactly what you saw. But it''s her fault for offending me first."


    "If I offended you too, you wouldn''t knock me out and take me to a hotel, would you?" Fang Fei said with interest, her tone full of eagerness.


    "Hehe, Sister Fang, you really know how to joke," Xia Liu laughed and added, "Going to a hotel is too much trouble. Why not just do it in the grass or in the car?"


    ...


    "Indeed vulgar!"


    "If you''re not frivolous when you''re young, then you''re wasting your youth. If I''m not vulgar, who is Xia Liu?"


    "Giggle... you sure are shamelessly vulgar, and now I''m the one who suffers," Fang Fei laughed, then her mood turned gloomy.


    "What''s wrong, is your boyfriend not up to the task? No worries, your little brother here starts at an hour, guaranteed to be powerful and safe," Xia Liu said with interest, glad to help people solve such problems.


    "Is that really true?" Fang Fei glanced at Xia Liu''s trousers, her face full of disdain.


    ```


    "Give it a try?"


    "If we''re trying, we''re trying!"


    "Let''s save that for when we have a chance, I need to get back home." Xia Liu couldn''t take it anymore, joking with a beautiful girl like this, he was always the one who ended up hurt.


    "Pfft, you chicken, I''ll stop teasing you. I ran into a problem today." When Fang Fei thought about the problem, she became disheartened.


    Xia Liu was very curious. With Fang Fei''s capabilities, there was a problem she couldn''t solve? His curiosity drove him to ask.


    "It''s like this, my hotel was packed today, and we didn''t have enough supplies. When the manager called that stupid supplier, we couldn''t get through at all."


    Fang Fei was genuinely frustrated. Today, several of her hotels and restaurants were full to the brim, experiencing severe shortages in various ingredients, with main supplies critically low, which ultimately led to an early closure.


    After the manager reported the news, she immediately had the manager contact the main supplier, but to her dismay, that darling idiot had turned off his phone.


    "Oh right, the manager said that idiot seems to be from Osmanthus Village, you''re from Osmanthus Village too, do you know that idiot?" Fang Fei asked.


    "Hotel? Shortage of ingredients? Sister Fang, you''re not talking about Longteng Hotel, are you?" Xia Liu quickly asked as he realized something.


    "Yeah, Longteng Hotel is one of my properties."


    "The main ingredient you''re talking about, is it oysters?"


    "That''s right!"


    "Is that manager Huang Xue?"


    "Huh, how do you know?" Fang Fei was a bit confused as she listened to Xia Liu.


    "In that case, I''m the idiot you''re talking about." Xia Liu fell silent for a moment, then said seriously.


    Uh uh uh...


    Fang Fei was stunned for a moment, realizing she had been bad-mouthing him right to his face...


    "Sorry about that, I had no idea the supplier was you..." Once she understood the situation, Fang Fei quickly apologized.


    "It''s fine, forgive you if you sleep with me for one night. Otherwise, you can have your manager accompany me for a night." Xia Liu said with a wicked smile.


    Ah...


    Fang Fei surprisingly made a pained face to go along with the act, and just as Xia Liu was about to speak, she interjected, "I''m still an underaged girl, would you be so cruel as to proceed?"


    Damn! My god, Xia Liu almost spat blood on the spot.


    "Alright, I''ll stop teasing, you thief-hearted coward, even if Huang Xue and I were lying naked in bed, you wouldn''t dare to make a move."


    "Sister Fang, don''t push me, my willpower has become very weak, and I''m afraid of myself when I go crazy!" Xia Liu was nearly spitting blood again, he had just managed to forget about Li Qinqin''s fairness, and now here she was, stirring things up again, even his brother down there couldn''t keep calm!


    What Xia Liu said was true, ever since that one time with Zhang Qing, he had become more erratic, the so-called first time leads to a longing for the second, then the third.


    "I''d like to see you go crazy, ha. But honestly, if you can help me make a success of the hotel, I will strip Huang Xue naked and throw her your way." Towards the end, Fang Fei''s expression turned very serious.


    "Let''s forget about that last condition, Sister Fang, just tell me what you need, and I''ll do it. You''re the one with the money after all." Xia Liu swallowed several times as he spoke.


    "Giggle, you scaredy-cat, here''s what we''ll do then: tomorrow, increase the oyster supply to three thousand catties, and buy up some of the village''s free-range chickens and ducks. I''ll give you thirty yuan per catty for the poultry."

 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Let It Be

    "Thirty yuan per jin, Sister Zhang is really generous, but I can''t guarantee how many local chickens and ducks there are in the village," Xia Liu admired but had little certainty."No problem, as long as there are some available." Fang Fei was also very amicable. If it weren''t for Xia Liu providing the oysters, the hotel''s business wouldn''t have picked up so quickly. With more foot traffic, not only were the oysters selling out, but other items on the menu were selling well too.


    Xia Liu nodded. This woman was truly generous. Local chickens at the market cost only about ten yuan per jin. It looked like they were going to be sold out in the next couple of days.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to get into the car, Fang Fei shot him an extremely seductive look: "Young man, why don''t you stay and keep me company for ten thousand yuan a night?"


    Pfft!


    Xia Liu burst out, immediately got into the car, and then sped away from the county town.


    Too scary. Fang Fei''s expression had been so earnest, but what if he had agreed and she immediately said it was a joke? That would have been super embarrassing.


    Xia Liu had been thinking about buying a new phone, but now it was almost eleven o''clock, and no one would open their store for him.


    Moreover, he was already eager to go to the seaside because he had made a promise with Zhang Qing last night to teach her how to swim at midnight tonight.


    If he hadn''t been so stirred up today, Xia Liu wouldn''t have been in such a hurry.


    Back at home, he briefly explained things to Zhang Xiaoxue before trying to head out, but she suddenly insisted he stayed to keep watch, or she wouldn''t dare to take a bath.


    After much torment, Xia Liu finally managed to leave the house after midnight.


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    However, due to his eagerness, he was unaware that a shadow was following him.


    When he arrived at the location, Xia Liu saw Zhang Qing moving her hands through the water, albeit in the shallow end.


    Although the lighting wasn''t good tonight, Xia Liu''s eyesight was extraordinarily sharp. At that moment, Zhang Qing''s tender neck was exposed above the water, and although her long hair was tied up, the few strands that fell loosely made her look even more attractive and enchanting.


    Seeing Xia Liu arrive, Zhang Qing quickly swam back to the shore: "Xia Liu, you''re late."


    "Sorry, I went to the county town at noon and was delayed, only just got home," Xia Liu was completely honest, even though he was nearly bursting, he still managed to keep a calm fa?ade.


    "Being late requires a punishment," Zhang Qing said with a lick of her lips and a teasing look at Xia Liu.


    At that daunting scene, Xia Liu struggled to swallow his saliva and just as he was about to make a move, Zhang Qing came over to him.


    Seconds later, Xia Liu looked up at the moon, feeling cool air continuously hitting his face.


    "Hiss..." He hadn''t expected Zhang Qing to pull such a move, instantly relaxing him from the day''s stress.


    When the time was right, he lifted Zhang Qing up and carried her into the water, swimming and causing ripples on the surface.


    An hour later, Zhang Qing sat on the ground, her face wearing a look of utter satisfaction, her eyes slightly hazy.


    "Xia Liu, what do we do now? I have no energy left," Zhang Qing said with a hint of bitterness. Xia Liu''s stamina was simply terrifying; if she hadn''t been experienced, she might not even have been able to stand.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t worry, your energy will come back soon, hehe," Xia Liu chuckled.


    "Hmm! Someone''s here!" Xia Liu suddenly became alert, scrutinizing their surroundings.


    "Xia Liu, what did you say?"


    "Nothing, Sister Zhang, you rest here for now, I''m going to use the restroom nearby."


    "Alright, come back quickly, I''m scared of the dark," Zhang Qing said shyly.


    "Mhm, I''ll hurry," Xia Liu replied with a faint smile. Zhang Qing being afraid of the dark? That was unlikely, but Xia Liu didn''t have time to tease her. He quickly began running to check on the situation he had just discovered.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t find anyone after searching around.


    "Did I sense it wrong?" Unable to find anyone, Xia Liu looked confused as he walked toward the beach.


    After the rage in his body had subsided, Xia Liu was very comfortable teaching Zhang Qing how to swim. She was doing extremely well, showing much improvement from the day before. With a few more nights of practice, she would almost be ready to dive into the sea to gather oysters.


    Around three o''clock, Xia Liu and Zhang Qing returned together. Zhang Qing asked Xia Liu to come to her house for a bit, saying she had something important to tell him.


    Xia Liu didn''t refuse, curious about the important matter. It turned out Zhang Qing had a medical report to show him.


    After looking at it, Xia Liu was surprised. Zhang Qing was not infertile; the issue lay with Zhang Kuang.


    "Tsk tsk, Zhang Kuang, Zhang Kuang, this is retribution," Xia Liu couldn''t help but sigh. The last time he saw Zhang Kuang in the county, he had noticed the awkwardly proportioned woman following Zhang Kuang seemed to be pregnant.


    "Xia Liu, thank you. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have had the courage to get tested. Now that the results are here, I..." Zhang Qing started, tears streaming down her face. These past few years had been distressing, and if she weren''t so resilient, she would have considered suicide long ago.


    "It''s okay, Sister Zhang, you can lead a normal life now."


    "Xia Liu, can you help me?" Zhang Qing asked again, after Xia Liu had finished speaking.


    "As long as I can help, I absolutely will not refuse."


    "I want a child of my own. Xia Liu, can you help me with this?" Zhang Qing looked at Xia Liu with tearful, trembling eyes. She was already thirty, and in the countryside, a woman of her age without children was considered an outsider. Even though she looked much younger than her age, Zhang Qing still longed for a child.


    "This..." Xia Liu was momentarily stunned. The idea of a child had never crossed his mind.


    With this word, he had to consider his own issues.


    "Sister Zhang, I can''t be certain about that; let''s leave it to fate." Actually, Xia Liu wanted to tell her that he had a health issue that would make it impossible for him to father a child, even if they tried a thousand or ten thousand times.


    But he couldn''t say that yet. For now, he would reassure Zhang Qing. Who knew what might happen in the future? Maybe she would meet her true love.


    "You''ve agreed!" Zhang Qing wiped away her tears, looking at Xia Liu excitedly.


    With no other choice, Xia Liu nodded and gave a bitter smile.


    After agreeing, an unexpected event occurred ¡ª Zhang Qing threw herself at him like she was on a stimulant.


    Xia Liu didn''t leave Zhang Qing''s house until past five o''clock, his steps noticeably unsteady.


    They say a woman in her thirties is like a wolf, and indeed it''s true. If not for his special constitution, Xia Liu might have collapsed.


    As he walked home, Xia Liu suddenly saw a figure ahead. The figure also noticed him and quickly ran away.


    Xia Liu''s expression immediately turned serious. If he wasn''t mistaken, this was the person who had been spying on them on the beach. No way he was letting them get away!


    Whatever had happened on the beach with Zhang Qing had been seen, and while he wasn''t worried for himself, if the news spread, Zhang Qing''s predicament would be hard to imagine.


    Xia Liu''s speed was no joke. After about a minute of chasing, he caught the figure in some bushes... S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Zhang Xiaomans Dilemma

    Before he even saw the face, just by smelling the scent of the other person, Xia Liu sensed trouble¡ªit was Zhang Xiaoman who had been spying on him!"Why is it you?" Xia Liu asked seriously.


    "What does it matter that it''s me? Let me tell you, Xia Liu, I saw everything between you and Zhang Qing, mmm mmm mmm..."


    Before Zhang Xiaoman could finish speaking, Xia Liu covered her mouth and knocked her out with a chop of his hand, hoisting her over his shoulder and walking toward the beach.


    When they arrived at the seaside, Xia Liu found some vines to tie Zhang Xiaoman up before throwing her into the water, of course, in the shallow area.


    About three minutes later, Zhang Xiaoman woke up: "Ah! Xia Liu, what are you doing?"


    "What, scared?" Xia Liu said, gazing at her.


    "I''m not scared. When I get back, I''ll tell the whole village about your affair with Zhang Qing!" Zhang Xiaoman looked at Xia Liu with disdain. Although she was terrified during the peeping, she had finally found a chance to bring down Xia Liu, which was more important than anything else. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh? Since you''ve said so much, do you think I would let you leave?" A sinister smile spread across Xia Liu''s face as he tugged on the vine in his hand, tightening the bonds around Zhang Xiaoman''s body.


    "Ugh ugh ugh... Are you going to kill me? Aren''t you afraid of going to prison?" To be honest, Zhang Xiaoman was very frightened; she was trying to intimidate Xia Liu into backing off. Discover hidden stories at M-V-L


    But she had miscalculated; Xia Liu was never intimidated by threats. Those who dared to threaten him either knelt or died.


    "The sea is so deep, who would know if you went swimming and got carried away by the water."


    "You''re a demon!"


    Zhang Xiaoman could no longer hold herself back, tears streaming down her face. She was genuinely scared. If she had known it would come to this, she wouldn''t have exposed herself so quickly.


    "Actually, even if you did spread the word, it wouldn''t affect me and Zhang Qing, because the people in the village won''t believe you or your family!" Xia Liu spoke the truth; Zhang Tie had long since become an outcast in the village, and no one wanted to deal with him, much less believe such an unbelievable story.


    Zhang Xiaoman fell silent; she understood that what Xia Liu said was true. Even if she knew the truth, who would believe her?


    She sobbed softly, knowing Xia Liu wouldn''t let her go and that perhaps she would die soon.


    "Xia Liu, after I die, can you spare my family? My mom was just bewitched, and my dad is essentially a good man."


    "What else?" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    "And take good care of my cousin; I''ve hurt her too much these past years. I hope she can be spared from harm in the future." Zhang Xiaoman said, crying.


    "Don''t worry about that; Xiaoxue won''t get hurt at all under my care. But I don''t understand¡ªwhy have you always been dissatisfied with Xiaoxue?" If Zhang Xiaoman genuinely cared about Zhang Xiaoxue, Xia Liu couldn''t understand why she was saying this now.


    At this point, Zhang Xiaoman was silent for a while before she slowly began to explain: "My cousin went to university, and even though she didn''t graduate, she still has education. If she stays in the village forever, she''ll just end up marrying a farmer."


    "I''ve lived in the village for so many years and know the hardship of staying in the countryside. I don''t want my cousin to be stuck in the village for her whole life. She''s so beautiful; if she went to work in a big city, she could definitely find a good boyfriend." In the end, Zhang Xiaoman lowered her head and murmured softly, "That way, she won''t have to live a hard life anymore..."


    Xia Liu fell silent, mostly from shock. If Zhang Xiaoman was sincere, then she truly had others'' interests at heart. Although her methods were extreme and could cause lifelong resentment, she had still gone through with it, which was commendable for its courage.


    After a long pause, Xia Liu waved his hand, and the vines binding Zhang Xiaoman fell away.


    The sense of relief made Zhang Xiaoman baffled as she looked at Xia Liu with suspicion.


    "Don''t look at me like that, because of your concern, your life has returned to your hands."


    Xia Liu did not want to make any other explanations. Having such a cousin like Zhang Xiaoxue was indeed a mix of joy and sorrow.


    "Uh... you''re not going to kill me?" Zhang Xiaoman looked at Xia Liu in surprise.


    "Why would I kill you? I don''t want to go to jail," said Xia Liu, spreading his hands. This girl, inexperienced as she was, would believe anything, which was pitiful.


    Zhang Xiaoman had initially wanted to blame Xia Liu, but after sharing her secret, she no longer had the inclination to get angry with him.


    "Seriously, what is your relationship with your cousin after all?"


    "It''s complicated, definitely not what you''re thinking," he replied.


    "Have you slept with your cousin?"


    "..."


    "No response means there is something, right?"


    "No, what on earth are you filling your head with at such a young age?" Xia Liu got impatient, but knowing Zhang Xiaoman''s hard times, he couldn''t get angry looking at her innocent, delicate face.


    "Alright then, what about Zhang Qing?" Zhang Xiaoman was relentless. If Xia Liu were in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with her cousin, and he also had complications with Zhang Qing, that would be a mess.


    "You should just forget about this," Xia Liu said somewhat helplessly. If Zhang Xiaoman had not revealed her troubles to him, he might have been merciless, but now, damn it.


    "I can forget it, but you have to promise me one thing," Zhang Xiaoman said cheerfully, her eyes darting around.


    "Speak."


    "The villagers are ostracizing my parents. I want to ask for your help to get everyone to stop doing that. My parents know they were wrong," Zhang Xiaoman confided her deepest wish, as no child wants their parents to be ostracized by those around them.


    "This matter depends on your parents'' attitudes, do you understand?" Xia Liu could change his own attitude but couldn''t change others'' mindsets. The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it.


    "I understand, thank you," Zhang Xiaoman nodded naively, then she suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Oh, and if my parents do reform, could you give them a chance to earn money like the rest of the villagers?"


    "This..." Xia Liu really needed to ponder this. After all, he wasn''t a saint, so the decision would have to wait and see the villagers'' reactions to Zhang Tie and Mo Li.


    "I understand." Seeing Xia Liu hesitate, Zhang Xiaoman suddenly lowered her head, then stepped in front of him and slowly squatted down.


    "Hey, hey, what are you doing with my zipper? Wait, don''t!" Xia Liu quickly stepped back, fearing that Zhang Xiaoman''s surprise attack would ruin his reputation for life.


    With her attempt falling through, Zhang Xiaoman stood there with her big watery eyes wide open. In fact, she had hoped to atone in this way, to earn Xia Liu''s mercy and forgiveness for herself and her parents¡ªwhat did it matter if she lost herself in the process.


    But unexpectedly, Xia Liu backed away, leaving her at a loss for a moment.

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Repentant Couple

    Zhang Xiaoman bowed her head, and soon after, crying could be heard. She was at her wits'' end; all she wanted was for the villagers to accept her parents. Her parents knew they were wrong, but if Xia Liu was still bearing a grudge, the villagers wouldn''t forgive them."Brother Xia Liu, I''ll do anything as long as you forgive me."


    Brother Xia Liu, brother...


    Xia Liu had already drunk a bit too much. This girl''s attitude had changed so suddenly; without any other option, he could only respond, "Stop crying. Have your mom and dad give Zhang Xiaoxue a proper apology, and apologize to the villagers as well."


    "Mm, thank you, Brother Xia Liu, and please don''t tell my cousin about this." Having said that, Zhang Xiaoman, with her graceful figure, happily skipped back home.


    Following this incident, Xia Liu realized that Zhang Xiaoman was trying to tell him in her way that she wouldn''t let the issue between him and Zhang Qing become known, and it also meant that their relationship wouldn''t be hostile in the future.


    Xia Liu couldn''t help but smile wryly. This girl was quick to act, drifting so smoothly that he almost couldn''t resist praising her.


    Of course, the matter with Zhang Tie and Mo Li couldn''t be resolved by one person alone. Even if he could influence it, it would only be in a supporting role.


    Xia Liu didn''t rush home. Instead, he quietly lingered near Zhang Tie''s house.


    It just so happened that luck favors the prepared. Zhang Tie and Mo Li had gotten up early, having been unable to sleep for several days.


    "Xiaoman, why are your clothes completely soaked?"


    "It''s nothing; I just took a quick shower because it was too hot. By the way, Mom, Xia Liu came to see me yesterday. He said if you and Dad apologize to my cousin and the villagers, he will forgive us." Zhang Xiaoman quickly made up an excuse to divert her mother''s attention.


    "Really?"


    "Really."


    "Oh, what a good daughter you are to Mom." Once confirmed, Mo Li excitedly hugged Zhang Xiaoman for a while, then ran back to the room to call Zhang Tie.


    Mo Li had seen all the changes in Xia Liu since his return; not only had he brought roads to the village, but also opportunities for the villagers to make money.


    Mo Li realized her mistakes, but she hadn''t had the chance or the face to apologize to Zhang Xiaoxue. Now that Xia Liu had spoken, how could she not be happy?


    Once Zhang Tie was informed, his sleepiness vanished instantly. He was aware of the villagers'' situation, especially since they had made over a thousand yuan just the day before¡ªa sum equating to what he would earn after days of sunning.


    "Wife, let''s bring some chickens to apologize to Xiaoxue. When it''s time, we''ll give her back the house and move back to the old one." Zhang Tie, being a candid man, had felt uneasy living in the house they had taken by force for a long time, even suffering from nightmares where his brother strangled him, asking why they had driven away Xiaoxue.


    "I''ll listen to you; I know I was wrong, too. But Xiaoxue might still be sleeping. Let''s go at eight and bring that pig with us!" Mo Li didn''t object, slowly believing what everyone said: by following Xia Liu, they could surely stabilize their lives and live in a big house.


    Hearing these reassuring words, Xia Liu left satisfactorily. It seemed Zhang Tie and Mo Li were truly remorseful.


    Of course, whether they had changed because they saw everyone making money or because of a guilty conscience didn''t matter. They were still members of Osmanthus Village.


    Without realizing it, Xia Liu found himself back home. As expected, Zhang Xiaoxue was up, currently tying an apron and frying eggs.


    "Brother Xia Liu, did you not come home all night?" Zhang Xiaoxue asked in confusion when she saw Xia Liu enter.


    "Heh, Xiaoxue, you''re up early. Why don''t you rest a bit longer?" Xia Liu evaded the question, attempting to shift her attention.


    But Zhang Xiaoxue''s intelligence wasn''t to be underestimated. She saw through Xia Liu''s ruse, her expression turning serious as she looked at Xia Liu and said, "Did you go behind my back to have an affair?"


    ...


    Xia Liu was completely dumbstruck; what in the world was this situation, and when had this girl''s attitude changed like this? But indeed, he was somewhat guilty; if counted, he had "stolen" two.


    "Giggle, Brother Xia Liu, look at how nervous you are. Go wash up, and then we can have breakfast." Just as Xia Liu was about to explain, Zhang Xiaoxue suddenly burst into laughter.


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    "Forget it, you win, beautiful girl." Chuckling bitterly, Xia Liu hurried to make his escape. He realized this girl was becoming a bit bewitching and wondered what she really thought of him. Could it be that she and Zhang Xiaoman had also discovered his situation with Zhang Qing?


    After breakfast, Xia Liu took a trip to the village chief Li Zhi''s house and asked him to spread the word that they were to come to his house later to collect money.


    Li Zhi couldn''t refuse and had to do as Xia Liu asked.


    And so, in a short while, the villagers had gathered at Xia Liu''s doorstep. Xia Liu had withdrawn one hundred and eighty thousand yuan from the bank the day before. He took out eighty thousand and planned to distribute it.


    Because the courtyard could not accommodate so many people, he set up a table and two chairs outside the door, with the plastic bag containing eighty thousand yuan placed on the table.


    Everyone could guess what was in the bag and were thrilled with anticipation.


    But just as Xia Liu was about to open the bag to distribute money, Zhang Tie, Mo Li, and Zhang Xiaoman arrived. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Tie led a pig that weighed about two hundred pounds, tied with a rope, walking in front. Both Mo Li and Zhang Xiaoman carried several chickens and ducks in their hands.


    "Look, it''s Zhang Tie!"


    "Hmph, he''s definitely not here for anything good."


    "Xia Liu, they are...?" Li Zhi sensed something amiss and asked Xia Liu with a smile.


    "Uncle Li, ask everyone to be quiet for now, just watch," Xia Liu said with a faint smile.


    "Xiaoxue, your uncle has come to apologize. I''m sorry for letting you suffer these past two years." Once on the spot, Zhang Tie endured the unusual glances from the crowd as he apologized to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Xiaoxue, it''s your auntie who was wrong. I was confused at that time and made those mistakes. I kneel before you, begging for your forgiveness," Mo Li said, kneeling on the ground, her head lowered without daring to meet anyone''s gaze.


    Seeing this, everyone was flabbergasted. Zhang Tie and Mo Li actually coming to apologize to Zhang Xiaoxue was practically big news.


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue at a loss, Zhang Tie also prepared to kneel beside Mo Li. That''s when Zhang Xiaoxue came to her senses and hurriedly went to hold up Zhang Tie and Mo Li, "Uncle, Aunt, please don''t do this."


    "Xiaoxue, we are sorry for what we''ve done to you. We know we were wrong, please forgive us," Mo Li said, tears welling up in her eyes.


    Tears also began to appear in Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes. Over the years, even if she had held resentment, it had been worn away by time, and since Xia Liu returned, she had even forgotten the wrongs Mo Li had done to her.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Obliteration of Grudges and Favors

    "Uncle, Auntie, please get up, I''ve forgiven you." Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes brimmed with tears, finally feeling accepted by her relatives after her father''s death.However, Zhang Tie and Mo Li didn''t get up; they were waiting, waiting for Xia Liu and the villagers to speak.


    "Hmph, Zhang Tie, even you have seen this day!"


    "Why do it in the first place if you''d regret it today!"


    "Let''s say less, everyone. I think Zhang Tie and Mo Li also know that they were wrong."


    ...


    The villagers held many different opinions, but they were all very polite. The past was the past, and it was most important to do better in the future.


    Finally, after much persuasion from the villagers, Zhang Tie and Mo Li stood up. Xia Liu watched all this transpire, having already expressed his stance to Zhang Xiaoman the night before, that he wouldn''t say anything as long as the villagers accepted them.


    Still, Zhang Tie and Mo Li formally apologized to Xia Liu, and if Zhang Xiaoxue hadn''t held them back, they would have certainly knelt once more.


    "Xiaoxue, this is a small token of my sincerity. Uncle and Auntie were wrong before. I''ll start packing and clear out the house right away." Zhang Tie handed over the rope used for tying pigs to Zhang Xiaoxue and, in front of everyone, returned the house as well.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Tie did well. That house was left to Xiaoxue by Old Zhang, and now it''s finally back in its rightful hands."


    "Mmm, not bad, Zhang Tie really does seem to be sincerely remorseful."


    Hearing that Zhang Tie was returning the house to Zhang Xiaoxue, the villagers on-site began discussing it passionately once more. They were genuinely happy for Zhang Xiaoxue, having seen for over two years without Xia Liu what her situation had been like.


    However, Zhang Xiaoxue herself was stunned. If it had been before, she would have eagerly wanted the house back.


    But now, she had no interest in it. If she reclaimed the house, she would definitely have to move out of Xia Liu''s place.


    She didn''t want to move. She wanted to live with Xia Liu, even if not in the same room, just under the same roof was enough.


    Without Xia Liu, she wouldn''t have anything she has now; she couldn''t bear to leave, not in a million years.


    "Uncle, Auntie, I don''t want the house. Living with Brother Xia Liu is enough for me." After glancing at Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue spoke her mind.


    "This..." Zhang Tie and Mo Li were dumbfounded. They had made all the preparations to return everything to Zhang Xiaoxue, but now, she didn''t want it, didn''t want...


    "What''s this ''this''? Xiaoxue''s already said she''ll live with Xia Liu, quit your dilly-dallying," Uncle Li Zhi interjected harshly, unable to watch Zhang Tie''s hesitations any longer.


    "Haha, Zhang Tie''s brain might have been muddled lately."


    "Exactly, the young couple wants to live in their own home. By forcing the house on them, you''d be interfering in their relationship."


    "Besides, you two have lived in that house for two years¡ªwho would want that house now?"


    ...


    Hearing the villagers'' renewed discussion, Zhang Tie immediately felt embarrassed.


    Zhang Xiaoxue hung her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She sneakily glanced at Xia Liu and saw that he wasn''t speaking, just smiling faintly while smoking.


    In fact, Xia Liu had been worrying himself to death. He couldn''t possibly say that he and Zhang Xiaoxue had nothing to do with each other and then kick her out, could he? After all, she had been living in his house for over two years, and she''d been there ever since he returned.


    They were both adults. Even if they were truly innocent, would the villagers believe it?


    Zhang Xiaoxue was not only young but also very beautiful. With such a lovely young lady living in his house, they would never believe Xia Liu could resist her, not even a fool would believe that.


    Of course, none of them would say those words out loud; they all accepted the couple as newcomers, with the man tall and handsome, and the woman virtuous and diligent.


    "About Zhang Tie''s issue, let''s just do as Xiaoxue said. You continue to live in the house, and also, take these chickens, ducks, and that pig back with you. We''re all from the same village; there''s no need to be so formal," Xia Liu said after a short silence.


    "Xia Liu, I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have poisoned them, causing you to lose..."


    "There''s no need to talk about that now. The chickens are dead, but what I hope for is that it won''t happen again in the future, no matter who it is. I hope we can all get along harmoniously," Xia Liu interrupted Zhang Tie, not wanting to bring up the past. Though Zhang Tie was at fault, he was, after all, from Osmanthus Village and now that he had been accepted by everyone else, it was okay to just let it go.


    "Thank you, thank you! Wife, Xiaoman, hurry up and thank Xia Liu!"


    ...


    After this apology, Zhang Tie returned to the fold of Osmanthus Village. However, Mo Li still felt uneasy, having done too many wrongs. She struggled to raise her eyes when speaking to the other women, for fear they might reproach her.


    "Dear uncles and aunts, senior men and women, yesterday held me up and I returned late. Now, I''ll distribute the money to everyone!" Following the end of Zhang Tie''s matter, Xia Liu directly opened the plastic bag, revealing the bright red bills to the air.


    "Wow! I knew there was money in that bag, and it really is!"


    "Haha, everyone stay calm. In the future, we can earn even more money with Xia Liu!"


    "Next, I''ll call out names, and those I mention can come and get the money. Of course, don''t mind if I don''t pay attention to seniority here, it''s all real names." After glancing at his notebook, Xia Liu realized Zhang Xiaoxue had registered everyone''s real names, which was somewhat embarrassing.


    "Hehe, if you were to call out ''Uncle,'' a lot of people named Uncle Zhang would have to stand up," Uncle Li Zhi laughed heartily, and his words drew laughter from the villagers.


    "Uncle Li Zhi, fifty-three kilos of oysters, one thousand six hundred yuan!"


    "No way! I did the math last night; fifty-three kilos of oysters come to one thousand five hundred and ninety yuan. A round number would be enough! So, one thousand five!" As soon as he heard he would receive one thousand six hundred, Li Zhi immediately started to protest.


    Before Xia Liu could respond, the villagers applauded in agreement, their emotions growing more excited. They strongly supported Li Zhi''s sentiment.


    The rate of thirty yuan per kilo for oysters was already sky-high; they absolutely couldn''t accept Xia Liu losing even more money to round up the figures for them.


    Although they didn''t know how Xia Liu managed to sell the oysters for thirty yuan a kilo, without him, such high returns wouldn''t have been possible. How could they let him spend more? So, they would rather receive slightly less, by a hundred or two, than have Xia Liu add his own money to make up the amounts.


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    With no other option, Xia Liu could only distribute the round amounts as the villagers suggested. Any odd amount, whether forty or ninety, had to be rounded down to end in zeros.


    While Xia Liu was distributing money, Zhang Xiaoman dragged Zhang Xiaoxue out to the courtyard. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Xiaoxue, I''m sorry," Xiaoman said.


    "Xiaoman, there''s no need to say anything. I''ve known for a long time you meant well for me, trying to shock me into leaving the village to seek opportunities in the big city."


    "Sister Xiaoxue, how did you know?" Xiaoman''s eyes misted up instantly upon hearing Zhang Xiaoxue''s words.


    "We grew up together; how could I not know you? But I was hurt for quite some time. You owe me for that," Zhang Xiaoxue retorted, smiling.

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Live Streaming in the Office

    ```Watching everyone in the village receive those stacks of small bills, Zhang Tie and Mo Li regretted their past actions, but there might still be time to make amends.


    About ten minutes later, Xia Liu had finished distributing yesterday''s wages, as everyone agreed not to deal with the change, leaving over a thousand from the eighty thousand.


    Xia Liu collected it without hesitation. Of course, he wasn''t yet willing to disclose the selling price of the oysters, afraid the villagers wouldn''t be able to accept it.


    Think about it, something that was once worthless selling for sixty yuan per half kilo ¨C it''s simply incredible.


    After the money was handed out, Xia Liu told everyone to take their money home and keep it, then get to work.


    Today, they not only had to deliver oysters but also sell a batch of Atractylodes; it was going to be very busy, yet the villagers were all in high spirits.


    Seeing everyone happily rushing home, Zhang Tie and Mo Li finally lowered their heads and approached Xia Liu: "Xia Liu, I..."


    "Zhang Tie, based on our seniority, I should call you Uncle." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Please don''t, just call me by my full name." Seeing Xia Liu speaking to him with respect, Zhang Tie hastily interrupted.


    Xia Liu felt a touch of bitterness, realizing Zhang Tie still didn''t fully accept him.


    "You two divide the tasks, join the others at work, and also pass on a message for me: the price for oysters has risen to eighty per half kilo."


    "I''ll go now!" Zhang Tie, thrilled, bowed deeply and then quickly ran home with Mo Li''s hand in his.


    Once all the villagers had left, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman came out to bring the tables and chairs inside.


    Xia Liu felt gratified that the two girls, whose relationship had improved and even grown closer, fulfilled the first promise he made upon returning home.


    So, next, he had to step up his efforts to transform this poor mountain village into something everyone would envy.


    "Brother Xia Liu, Xiaoman and I want to work too, can you arrange something for us?" Zhang Xiaoxue grabbed him as he was about to leave.


    "You want me to find something for Xiaoman, don''t you?" After a glance at the girls, Xia Liu understood.


    Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoman''s face quickly turned a deep red. She really wanted to work; while waiting for her college admission notice, she wanted to earn some money for living expenses and lessen the burden on her parents.


    "Brother Xia Liu, please say yes," Zhang Xiaoxue pleaded, clutching Xia Liu''s arm and swaying her body.


    In an instant, Xia Liu was momentarily confused, blaming the incredibly soft sensation from his arm!


    "Alright, alright, Xiaoman can handle the registration and inventory with you. I''ll give each of you five thousand a month." After feeling satisfied with the softness, Xia Liu agreed contentedly.


    "Five thousand yuan, isn''t that a bit too much!" Zhang Xiaoman almost screamed when she heard the amount. After her college entrance exams, she had worked in a restaurant in the county and, despite working her hardest, only made a thousand yuan for a month.


    "Exactly, Brother Xia Liu, five thousand is too little, give us a little more," Zhang Xiaoxue continued playfully after Zhang Xiaoman''s remark.


    ...


    "Eight thousand, if you want more, you two will have to discuss life with me tonight," Xia Liu said with a sly smile.


    "Uh, eight thousand then." Bowing her head to count on her fingers, Zhang Xiaoxue quickly ran out the door with Zhang Xiaoman, their faces already flushed.


    They understood what Xia Liu meant, and what was a bit frightening was that the scenario actually played out in their minds...


    It didn''t take long for Xia Liu to drive to the beachside. Because of the message Zhang Tie delivered, the villagers were nearly going crazy, incessantly asking Zhang Tie if it was true.


    Zhang Tie was almost frightened, because the villagers were too frenzied, but he still confirmed his answer, it was true.


    ```


    After Xia Liu arrived, the villagers who had been diving for oysters quickly surfaced, and upon confirmation, they all screamed with excitement.


    Eighty pounds, that''s two thousand four hundred yuan¡ªa day''s earnings of more than two thousand yuan. With the massive quantity of oysters in this sea area, they could become rich overnight!


    Learning from yesterday''s experience, they all brought brushes today, thus doubling their speed in cleaning the oysters.


    And once someone finished weighing their oysters, they would go help others, especially Zhang Tie, who had no experience at all and didn''t even bring a brush today, making him the slowest one.


    However, because of the message he had conveyed earlier and the increased weight of the oysters, everyone was excited, and they all let go of their prejudices against him.


    With everyone working together, they had loaded more than three thousand two hundred pounds of oysters onto Xia Liu''s vehicle by just past noon.


    Three thousand pounds was beyond the vehicle''s capacity, so Xia Liu had to use several bags to hold the excess oysters on the back seat.


    He was considering whether or not to buy a truck since, if the oysters'' weight increased to five or six thousand pounds a day, he would have to make several trips back and forth.


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    As Xia Liu was about to leave for the village entrance, a truck was slowly approaching; it had come to pick up the Atractylodes, as previously agreed upon with the driver.


    Xia Liu asked some villagers to organize a group to help move the Atractylodes from his house, as he had great trust in Liu Lanxin''s reliability.


    After making sure everything was in order, he hurriedly drove to the county, feeling an ominous premonition that Fairy Huang Xue would severely reprimand him later.


    Without a mobile phone to contact her, he took the list after weighing the oysters in the kitchen and went upstairs.


    Knock, knock, knock¡­


    After knocking on Huang Xue''s office door several times, there was no response, making Xia Liu stand at the door feeling extremely awkward.


    Could it be that Fairy Huang Xue was deliberately not opening the door? Last night, Fang Fei mentioned that girl had called you dozens of times.


    "Wait a second, I know Sister Fang; what if I offend this fairy? If she picks a quarrel, just go to Sister Fang, and it''ll be settled!" With this thought, Xia Liu opened the door and entered.


    Contrary to what he had imagined, the large office was empty.


    Seeing the coffee still steaming on the desk, Xia Liu figured that Fairy Huang Xue must have just left and decided to wait for her to return.


    But before he could even sit down on the sofa, his ears picked up a series of fluctuating, soul-snatching melodies.


    "Damn, is this an office live broadcast?" Xia Liu was instantly shocked; he recognized the sounds all too well, having heard Zhang Qing hum them for an hour or two the night before.


    Xia Liu felt like he was going mad, feeling jealousy stirring within him, yes, he was jealous.


    Fairy Level woman Huang Xue actually had a boyfriend, and they were currently exploring the mysteries of the human body!


    At this moment, Xia Liu was incredibly awkward, feeling restless at the thought of Huang Xue passionately tearing things apart in a hidden room¡ªhe couldn''t help but sigh.


    Indeed, behind every beautiful goddess, there always is a¡­


    Curiosity killed the cow, and Xia Liu, wanting to see what Huang Xue''s boyfriend looked like, followed the sounds.


    Coming from a background in this kind of work, Xia Liu could spot hidden doors with just a glance.


    Given Huang Xue and her boyfriend''s current preoccupation, he was certain they wouldn''t notice if he peeked in through the secret door.


    But when he quietly opened the secret door, the scene before him was one he would never forget¡­

 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Impulsivity Addiction Syndrome

    It was a small partition with a large round bed, a mahogany wardrobe, and a bathroom. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.At that moment, on the large round bed, there was only Huang Xue, only her!


    Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes tightly closed, her expression revealing a bit of pain, but Xia Liu knew that it wasn''t real pain.


    Unfortunately, Xia Liu''s body was completely frozen, his gaze intently fixed.


    Because he was so focused, slowly the hidden door opened wide, very wide!


    Thus, their eyes intensely locked on each other.


    "Ah!" About ten seconds later, Huang Xue screamed sharply and quickly smoothed out her OL outfit, covering up her originally fair legs.


    The scream snapped Xia Liu back to reality, and he hurriedly closed the door and fled, for he saw Huang Xue pulling out a fruit knife from under the round bed, and by the looks of it, she was about to chop him into pieces.


    "I''ll kill you!" Huang Xue, holding the knife, chased after Xia Liu, her emotions becoming more and more agitated. Normally she might have appeared elegant and attractive, but now that her secret was discovered by Xia Liu, and moreover seen by him completely, how could she let him stay in this world!


    "Big sister, calm down, I just saw nothing!" As he ran around the office, Xia Liu looked back explaining.


    Of course, he saw everything, and he would never forget it in his lifetime, but if he admitted it, damn, he could be chased by this girl forever.


    "Only the dead can keep secrets, I don''t care, you must die!" Huang Xue, as if she had lost her mind, raised the fruit knife and relentlessly chased Xia Liu.


    "Crap! Was it just some indescribable scenes! Is it that embarrassing? Besides, it''s normal for a woman who has been single for a long time to have needs," Xia Liu complained helplessly. Although he could easily take down Huang Xue, doing so would only hurt her, which would be a sin.


    Luckily, the office space was quite large; if it were only a few square meters, the knife might have already flown towards him.


    The most satisfying thing for Xia Liu was his fitness; after running for almost twenty minutes, Huang Xue finally couldn''t take it anymore, she bent down covering her stomach and gasped for breath.


    Although Huang Xue might not have much strength left, her gaze still carried a murderous intent.


    Seeing the opportunity, Xia Liu dashed towards Huang Xue in an instant and took the fruit knife from her before she could react.


    "Ahhh! I''m going to beat you to death, beat you to death!" Huang Xue struggled intensely, the incident being exposed made her want to die. Now, if she wanted the courage to live on, then Xia Liu must be silenced or disappear.


    Seeing Huang Xue''s actions go crazy, Xia Liu quickly held down her hands and got her under control.


    But although her hands and feet were controlled, her mouth wasn''t sealed, so she started to scream and shout.


    In desperation, Xia Liu bent down his head and blocked the screams with his mouth.


    Once again Huang Xue''s eyes widened and stared deathly at Xia Liu, just when Xia Liu thought she had calmed down, suddenly a suffocating pain transmitted from his tongue.


    "You lunatic, see if I don''t hit you!" Xia Liu''s anger was also provoked, immediately, he flipped Huang Xue over, his palm constantly smacking down.


    "Ah!" Huang Xue howled, yet her face turned extremely flushed.


    On one hand, being smacked by Xia Liu was embarrassing, on the other hand, she was too angry, and moreover, the energy of Yu Xia had not yet faded.


    "Xia Liu, stop it right now!" Huang Xue roared after being hit repeatedly.


    "I''ll stop, but you must calm down," Xia Liu said, then slapped her again, secretly enjoying the recoil of the softness.


    "I..." Huang Xue clenched her teeth, knowing she was no match for Xia Liu, so she had to compromise, "I agree!"


    Honestly, Xia Liu felt somewhat reluctant seeing her give in so quickly, but there was no choice, she had said so, and to continue would be wrong.


    Struggling to free herself from Xia Liu''s embrace, an unexpected scene unfolded as she picked up a fruit knife from the ground and pointed it at Xia Liu, "Tell me, what did you just see?"


    "I didn''t see anything," Xia Liu replied, innocently waving his hands.


    "No! You saw everything, I must blind your eyes and pull out your tongue!"


    "Hey, are you sick or what? It was just a little glimpse, what''s the big deal? Do you plan never to marry, never to sleep with a husband?" Xia Liu couldn''t hold back any longer, as constant manipulation by Huang Xue would definitely end terribly.


    Clang!


    Stunned by Xia Liu''s words, the fruit knife in Huang Xue''s hand dropped to the ground with a crisp sound, tears incessantly rolling down from her eyes.


    "Yes! I am sick! So what! None of you men are any good! Not one of you!" Huang Xue''s hysterical scream was heart-wrenching to witness.


    Even if Huang Xue wasn''t beautiful, Xia Liu couldn''t stand to see a woman so heartbroken, especially since she was a goddess-like beauty.


    "Manager Huang, I''m sorry." Xia Liu stepped forward and hugged her, his hands very properly patting her back.


    Although Huang Xue did not reject Xia Liu''s embrace, her crying grew louder, nearly breaking Xia Liu''s heart¡ªa goddess this beautiful shouldn''t be so sad.


    "Manager Huang, although I don''t know about other men, I can assure you that I am a decent person."


    "Pfft!" Mid-sob, Huang Xue paused upon hearing this, but after regaining composure, she quickly pushed Xia Liu away, "Don''t touch me, you decent thing!"


    Uh uh...


    Xia Liu awkwardly stepped back, his self-deprecation aimed to cheer her up, and the outcome wasn''t too bad.


    "Manager Huang, if I''m not mistaken, you must be suffering from a certain condition?" After an awkward moment, Xia Liu examined Huang Xue and tentatively asked.


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    Huang Xue''s body visibly shuddered, then snapped, "You''re the one sick, your whole family is sick!"


    "Actually, I am a doctor, and I encountered a patient similar to you when I worked abroad," Xia Liu didn''t get angry, seeming to understand why Huang Xue reacted so defensively.


    However, without diagnosing her, he couldn''t be certain.


    Huang Xue didn''t reply, instead she wrapped her arms around herself and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, leaving a lonely and beautiful silhouette for Xia Liu.


    Seeing that Huang Xue didn''t respond, Xia Liu continued, "It was about three years ago in America, that patient was diagnosed with compulsive addiction syndrome, also known as impulse addiction syndrome, which involves a constant craving that needs to be addressed whenever there''s a slight mood change, or else it feels like being on fire with countless ants crawling all over the body."


    Just as Xia Liu stopped talking, Huang Xue suddenly turned around, her large eyes staring intently at him...

 Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Heal Me, Please

    "So what was the result? How did the patient fare?" Huang Xue asked eagerly.Yes, she was excited because she was afflicted with this impulsive addiction syndrome. She didn''t know when she had contracted this disease; originally, she thought it was just a bout of spring fever, but then it spiraled out of control.


    A few years ago, a highly authoritative institution confirmed her condition, and as her ailment was pinpointed, she fled from her family to this small county town. Memories of the past were also gradually evoked.


    "I cured it," Xia Liu said nonchalantly, waving his hand.


    "You cured it?" Huang Xue looked at Xia Liu in astonishment.


    She was very aware of how difficult it was to cure this disease. Her family had spent an enormous amount of money and consulted many doctors to no avail.


    If it weren''t for the changing looks in her family''s eyes each day, she wouldn''t have run away from home.


    This kind of issue, in any family, would be a disgrace.


    Xia Liu smiled faintly and nodded. In reality, he had never encountered that patient; he said so just to calm her down.


    Experience tales at M-V-L


    This disease he had only read about in the news. However, by sheer coincidence, he guessed right, and this "fairy" actually had the disease.


    Upon hearing that Xia Liu had cured this disease, Huang Xue''s face changed, and she hurriedly ran to him, then fiercely shook his hands: "Quickly tell me how you cured it! Tell me!"


    Huang Xue''s eyes moistened again. The disease had troubled her for many years, causing her parents to hang their heads in shame in front of others, driving her friends to stay far away, and bringing her much bitterness and hardship¡ªso much so that she would burst into tears at the thought of it.


    But today, Xia Liu said he could cure her illness. How could she remain calm?


    "Manager Huang, calm down! Here''s the thing: just as the patient was about to have an episode, I helped her solve a problem, and then I suggested she focus on improving her moods and start dating. Ultimately, she got married and gradually got better," Xia Liu explained.


    ...


    Lines of frustration marred Huang Xue''s face. What kind of treatment was that? It was utterly ridiculous!


    Just as she was about to grab a knife and kill Xia Liu, he chuckled leisurely, "Hehe, I was just kidding. Actually, the main causes of this disease are mental and hormonal imbalances."


    Xia Liu was also afraid of this girl; if he didn''t start blabbering soon, he would be in trouble.


    "Uh, uh, uh..." Hearing this explanation, Huang Xue calmed down, releasing Xia Liu and sitting blankly on the sofa.


    "Let me check your pulse first." As he spoke, Xia Liu gently lifted her delicate hand, the silkiness of which almost made him scream.


    "The condition is manageable; it can be cured," Xia Liu said solemnly after releasing Huang Xue''s hand.


    "Mm, so what should I do to get better?" Huang Xue perked up, whether it was true or not, Xia Liu was worth trusting for a little while since he had mentioned her disease.


    "Of course, you need to cooperate with me for acupuncture and medication."


    "I will cooperate with whatever you recommend, please cure me!"


    Xia Liu nodded, seeing how this disease had nearly driven this "fairy" mad.


    "How many times a day do you get these impulses now?"


    Looking at Xia Liu, who was serious, Huang Xue''s face instantly turned red. This question was simply too embarrassing.


    "If you don''t tell me, how can I understand the condition and decide how much medicine to use?" Seeing Huang Xue remained silent, Xia Liu added fuel to the fire.


    "Four times, no wait! Five times, not right either, anyway, it''s four or five times." Huang Xue said quietly, head bowed.


    Four or five times! What a waste!


    Xia Liu strongly swallowed his saliva. Huang Xue was such a goddess, a fairy. Four or five times a day, if all those times were spent on him, he''d probably reach the heavens...


    He knew he couldn''t inquire further because this had absolutely nothing to do with treating the illness, it was purely his own selfishness interfering.


    "Got it, I''ll go back to the mountains and find some medicine for you, and I''ll treat you when I come over tomorrow."


    "Huh? Aren''t we starting now?" Huang Xue was a bit nervous; what if Xia Liu was deceiving her, sharing the matter as soon as he left, or what if she couldn''t find him tomorrow? What should she do then?


    "That won''t work, I didn''t bring my tools, and I also don''t have any medicinal herbs, so I must wait until I''m fully prepared tomorrow." Xia Liu shook his head, and he wasn''t lying with this statement; curing this illness was somewhat complicated.


    "You can''t leave!" Huang Xue insisted on not letting Xia Liu leave. She didn''t easily trust people, let alone a man.


    "Manager Huang, I know what you''re worried about. Rest assured, all my financial dealings are through you. If I dared let this matter leak, I''d lose tens or even hundreds of millions. Spreading it brings me no benefits, only harm. Only an idiot would do that."


    Xia Liu understood what the fairy was worried about and thus analyzed the situation.


    Hearing this, Huang Xue realized it was indeed the case, so she reminded Xia Liu to come early the next day.


    If she heard even a whisper about this outside, she would no longer buy the oysters.


    After leaving the hotel, Xia Liu breathed a sigh of relief. Damn, today was indeed dangerous, but he was lucky to have witnessed that scene coveted by countless people.


    After suppressing his thoughts, Xia Liu drove to the bank, checked and saw he had $340,000. Checking the source, $140,000 came from Liu Lanxin''s account, and $200,000 from Longteng Hotel.


    By these calculations, today''s atractylodes was 4000 jin, oysters 3200 jin; that fairy, Huang Xue, ended up giving him a few thousand extra. Not bad. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu withdrew the full $340,000, out of which atractylodes needed $60,000 and oysters about $100,000. With a total of $440,000 in hand, some would remain after disbursements, but he''d need to make payments daily, so it was necessary to keep more cash at home.


    After withdrawing the money, Xia Liu bought three mobile phones at a phone store, and also bought a liquid crystal TV and a washing machine at an electronics mall.


    Actually, Zhang Qing had asked him to help buy one phone yesterday and had even given him $2000, which he hadn''t accepted. The TV and washing machine were also meant as gifts for Zhang Qing.


    After installing his card in the new phone, Xia Liu immediately called Fang Fei.


    That beauty said she would buy chicken and ducks at $30 per jin. Since no trucks had entered the village by noon, he needed to hurry them along.


    Fang Fei was helpless about this; she explained to Xia Liu that the drivers from the county were not familiar with the road, which is why they couldn''t reach Osmanthus Village.


    Xia Liu didn''t say much about this, briefly exchanged pleasantries, then asked Fang Fei to have the truck wait at the county government entrance, and he would lead the way.


    An hour later, on the new road to Osmanthus Village, a pickup truck led the way with two small trucks following behind, and they soon reached the village center.


    Xia Liu asked the drivers to wait while he drove to Zhang Qing''s home to deliver the TV, the washing machine, and the phone, and also asked her to sell some of the family''s chickens and ducks.

 Chapter 45: Chapter 45 A Huge Scam

    "What''s going on with this TV and washing machine, Xia Liu?" Zhang Qing picked up her phone and saw Xia Liu carrying the appliances in through the door, her confusion arising spontaneously."Sister Zhang, we''re all going to be prosperous from now on. How can we do without these two appliances?" Xia Liu said with a chuckle as he continued moving them in.


    Zhang Qing stood dumbfounded at the doorway, her eyes slowly welling up with tears. No one had ever been so kind to her before. While she was moved, she also felt a little embarrassed. If she had known, she wouldn''t have asked Xia Liu to buy her a phone last night.


    "Xia Liu, stick around for a bit more after you''re done. I was thinking..." Zhang Qing leaned against the room''s doorframe, her clothes slowly slipping down to her fragrant shoulders.


    Xia Liu took one look and immediately his mouth went dry and his tongue felt parched. He had been ignited back at the hotel already, and now with Zhang Qing saying this, combined with her alluring expression, damn it felt like he was going to explode!


    Although he wanted to very much, Xia Liu knew that this was not the time. A car sent by Fang Fei was waiting, and it wouldn''t do without him there. A session would take over an hour and that would be tough on the two drivers and the villagers waiting. What''s more, if someone saw his car parked at the door and came in to see, gossip about him and Zhang Qing would be inevitable.


    "Sister Zhang, we don''t have enough time right now. I''ve contacted a buyer to purchase chickens and ducks, thirty yuan per jin, and they''re all waiting." After swallowing hard to moisten his dry mouth, Xia Liu said with a wry smile.


    "Ah! Thirty yuan per jin, for those chickens hopping around outside?" Zhang Qing was shocked by the price. She had sold chickens in the town and county before; free-range chickens at most fetched thirteen yuan per jin. The price of thirty yuan for someone to come and buy them was simply astonishing.


    "Mhm, Sister Zhang, see how many you can catch to sell. I''ll go inform everyone now," Xia Liu said with a nod and a smile, then rapidly ran out of the house.


    "Xia Liu, don''t forget to teach me how to swim tonight!" Zhang Qing called out loudly from the doorway just as Xia Liu was about to get into the car.


    Upon hearing that, he almost fell in front of the car. Did she have to shout so loudly? What if someone misunderstood?


    After composing himself, he hurriedly drove to Li Zhi''s house, shared the news with Li Zhi, and asked him to spread the word among the villagers.


    Like Zhang Qing, Li Zhi was nearly jumping with excitement at the price. Thirty yuan per jin was unheard of.


    If those words hadn''t come from Xia Liu''s mouth, Li Zhi wouldn''t have believed it at all¡ªit was like a fairy tale.


    When Xia Liu got home, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman were busy in the kitchen and didn''t notice he had already reached the doorway.


    "Cousin, you''ve slept with Brother Xia Liu, haven''t you? How was it?" Zhang Xiaoman asked with a coy giggle while washing vegetables.


    Stunned, Xia Liu stood at the doorway with his mouth agape, a sense of crisis overwhelming his heart. If he let this girl, Zhang Xiaoman, stay in the house, he wouldn''t know his fate.


    But what he didn''t expect was Zhang Xiaoxue''s even more outrageous response. Her face flushed, she actually nodded and said quietly, "It was just that one time, really. You''re still young; you''ll understand in a few years."


    What was this? What had happened? Xia Liu was dumbstruck.


    "Wow, cousin, tell me how you and Brother Xia Liu started," Zhang Xiaoman looked at Zhang Xiaoxue with admiration, hoping she would recount the experience.


    Unable to withstand Zhang Xiaoman''s insistence, Zhang Xiaoxue shyly shared, "There''s not much to tell, really. It was the night Xia Liu came back. I was sleeping in my room when he came in. I thought he was a thief, so I hit him. But I couldn''t beat him, and in the end, after struggling, he..."


    Her words left Zhang Xiaoman dumbfounded, as was Xia Liu at the doorway. He couldn''t help but think to himself, what the hell! When had he ever overpowered her... Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow, cousin, that must have been so thrilling," Xiaoman exclaimed.


    "Thrilling it was, but I was so scared at the time, thank goodness for Brother Xia Liu."


    Hearing this, Xia Liu couldn''t stand it anymore. He turned, ran out of the courtyard, got into his car, and honked his horn a few times to signal to the girls that he was back.


    He wasn''t actually burdened by it. Let the girls joke, it was fine. Perhaps one day when Zhang Xiaoman revealed that she helped him that night, Zhang Xiaoxue might just take it as a joke.


    But it was a bit too much for him; after all, two tender beauties discussing such topics were like lambs wagging their tails in front of a hungry wolf, a wolf that couldn''t eat them. It was pure torture.


    In less than a minute, the girls burst through the courtyard gate, greeting Xia Liu one after another.


    Xia Liu handed the phone to Zhang Xiaoman, "Here, a phone just like Xiaoxue''s." Enjoy new chapters from M-V-L


    "Wow! Thank you, Brother Xia Liu!" Zhang Xiaoman excitedly thanked him as she saw the beautiful new phone, and then she made a surprising move.


    Mwah!


    The kiss came so unexpectedly that Xia Liu''s mouth hung open in shock, and when he glanced at Zhang Xiaoxue, he found the girl was actually smiling...


    "Xiaoxue..."


    "Brother Xia Liu, Xiaoman and I are going to cook now. We''ll have dinner in a bit." Zhang Xiaoxue said, pulling Zhang Xiaoman back inside the courtyard, her face beaming with utter happiness.


    "There''s something fishy, something really fishy!" Xia Liu was somewhat confused. He had only just started connecting with the sisters these past few days, but why did he feel an ominous energy...


    "Never mind, let''s check on the purchasing situation first." Not dwelling on the girls'' fishiness, Xia Liu turned and walked towards the center of the village.


    By the time Xia Liu arrived, many villagers were already there, waiting with several large chickens in hand, each weighing at least eight or nine pounds.


    Seeing Xia Liu arrive, the crowd began asking about the situation. Although the two drivers and an accompanying employee had explained for a while, the villagers didn''t trust them much; they chose to wait for Xia Liu.


    "Here''s the thing: they are from the county, here to buy chickens and ducks, thirty yuan per pound," Xia Liu announced the price to the villagers.


    Indeed, this time he didn''t lower the price. Whatever Fang Fei offered, the villagers would get.


    After all, the villagers raised these chickens and ducks, and they deserved to get what their livestock sold for.


    Xia Liu''s words immediately caused a sensation, but the villagers were very well-behaved, or rather, their mindset had changed. If it had been before, they would have been in an uproar at such a price.


    But now it was different. Digging for oysters and harvesting Atractylodes had made them good money. Of course, no one would complain about extra cash, and since the chickens and ducks were fully grown, it was a waste to keep feeding them. Selling or eating them was the better choice.


    The two drivers and manager who came were stunned by the villagers. They had received instructions from their superiors before arriving: buy at thirty yuan per pound and even brought tens of thousands of yuan with them.


    In a typical village, such a price would have caused chaos, but in Osmanthus Village, they witnessed villagers taking turns, making way for each other to weigh their poultry and get paid, without the slightest bit of disorder, not even a little.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 46: The Three Living Together

    The acquisition went very smoothly, and the personnel accompanying the driver was the lobby manager of Longyun Hotel. Fang Fei gave him tens of thousands of yuan directly for the chickens and ducks by the weight, paying on the spot and even rounding up the amounts generously.This filled the villagers with joy, but Xia Liu could only wryly smile in secret. Perhaps Fang Fei acted this way because of Li Qinqin''s influence.


    "Forget it, as long as the villagers are making a profit, that''s fine." After thinking for a while, Xia Liu became indifferent. After all, Fang Fei wasn''t short of money, and there was no use in harboring concerns.


    This time, some villagers sold a dozen chickens and directly pocketed five or six thousand yuan. They couldn''t imagine that what used to take a year to earn, they now earned in a day.


    After the two vehicles left, Xia Liu asked everyone to wait as he called Zhang Xiaoxue to bring the ledger for the oysters and Atractylodes, as well as the money, which resulted in another cash distribution.


    The scene stayed lively until it got dark, and by that day alone, some villagers had gotten several thousand yuan, and including the money from the chickens, their income soared past ten thousand!


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    "Xia Liu, I really want to thank you. If it weren''t for you, I might have committed suicide before long." After everyone had left, Zhang Tie expressed his gratitude to Xia Liu with sincere emotion.


    Mo Li felt the same. She hadn''t picked for a few days, but these two days brought her a few hundred yuan in income with real, hard cash. How could she not be excited?


    "You two don''t need to be like this. Although there were some unpleasant moments before, that''s all in the past. I hope you''ll have a better life from now on," Xia Liu said with a slight smile to convey his attitude.


    "Hehe, for sure. But as for Xiaoman, I''ll have to trouble you with her," Zhang Tie said with a chuckle.


    Huh? Trouble me?


    Xia Liu was a bit baffled. What was Zhang Tie talking about?


    "Ah, that stubborn girl just went home to pack her clothes, saying she''s moving in to live with Xiaoxue," Mo Li said, somewhat helplessly thinking about her daughter moving to Xia Liu''s place. It wasn''t that she feared Xia Liu would do anything to her daughter, but rather that she was afraid of bothering him. Besides, she did hope that Xia Liu would do something for her daughter.


    "What! Zhang Xiaoman is going to live with Xiaoxue!" Xia Liu was actually somewhat panicked upon hearing this news.


    Zhang Xiaoman''s way of thinking was too... that. If Xiaoxue and she spent a long time together, the outcome was sure to be unpredictable.


    "No trouble at all, no trouble. The two sisters haven''t been together for a long time. It''s only natural for them to cling to each other now. You don''t need to worry." After saying this, Xia Liu hurried back home, wanting to understand Zhang Xiaoman''s true motives.


    Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaoman wouldn''t explain it to him, so Xia Liu was helpless. Thus began his cohabitation with the two sisters...


    "Sister Xiaoxue, how come your skin is so fair!"


    "Xiaoman, yours isn''t bad either. You''re even slimmer than me."


    "Let me try feeling it..."


    All these voices were coming from inside Zhang Xiaoxue''s room, and Xia Liu was going crazy. He could imagine the scene inside the room, and it must have been explosively exciting.


    He couldn''t bear it anymore; he needed to make a temporary escape!


    Under the cover of night, he ran to the beach, where the shadow of a figure glided their arms through the water, a beautifully serene scene.


    Xia Liu initially wanted to act calm, but Zhang Qing didn''t give him the chance.


    As soon as she saw him approaching, Zhang Qing quickly swam to the shore and then squatted down in front of Xia Liu.


    "Sister Zhang, tomorrow you can start harvesting oysters and make big money! After becoming a wealthy woman, don''t forget about me."


    "I definitely won''t forget you. I''ll fund you so you can be kept by me, and we can play from morning till night!" Zhang Qing rolled her eyes at Xia Liu, who was always broaching the uncomfortable subjects.


    "Hehe, Sister Zhang, have an early rest. Don''t be late tomorrow, eh. You have to catch eighty pounds of oysters!" After saying that, Xia Liu ran off quickly.


    He dared not stay any longer, as it would be awkward to wake up with Zhang Qing the next day.


    After returning home, Xia Liu set himself straight and started cultivating the Five Elements Mantra. Only in a state of cultivation could he find peace.


    In the morning, Xia Liu left a note for the two girls and then went up into the mountains with a basket on his back, not forgetting the events of the previous day. Today, he was supposed to treat that "Fairy," Huang Xue, and needed to gather some rare medicinal herbs.


    It was already noon by the time he came out of the mountains, and without delay, he drove to collect oysters. This time he got a full haul again, about three thousand five hundred pounds. If it wasn''t for an experienced driver, the bumpy roads to the county could have caused several overturns.


    Xia Liu was already considering getting a truck for hauling oysters. Although the pickup was convenient, it couldn''t carry much at a time, which was a disadvantage.


    It was around two in the afternoon when Xia Liu finally arrived at Longteng Hotel. At the rear entrance, Huang Xue stood with her hands on her hips, her face full of anger, looking at him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are you doing? It''s almost dark, and if you hadn''t shown up, I''d have been bombarded with complaints!" Huang Xue was very angry because the wild oysters had significantly increased the number of hotel guests compared to before.


    The guests had been arriving since noon, expecting to be served, but after waiting for over two hours and still no meals, all complaints wound up with Huang Xue.


    "Umm, sorry, I went to the mountains in the morning to gather herbs and came back late," Xia Liu explained very honestly.


    "Gathering herbs? For...?" Huang Xue exclaimed in surprise, then gestured to herself.


    Xia Liu nodded; indeed, the herb gathering was for this "Fairy."


    "Heh heh, Boss Xia, so sorry about earlier, but your timing is just perfect."


    ...


    Xia Liu almost burst out laughing; this girl''s mood swings were swift indeed, but it didn''t matter. Perhaps this would save him a lot of trouble.


    After following Huang Xue into the office, his phone buzzed with a credit of two hundred twenty thousand yuan. There were only three thousand five hundred pounds of oysters, and he got an extra ten thousand yuan¡ªthis girl was certainly generous.


    "Boss Xia, I apologize for before..."


    "No problem, no problem. Manager Huang, just call me Xia Liu."


    "All right, Xia Liu. When can we start the treatment?" What Huang Xue cared about the most was whether Xia Liu could cure her.


    "After understanding the situation, we can begin," Xia Liu responded.

 Chapter 47: Chapter 47: If Its Incurable, Jump off the Building

    Facing Xia Liu''s blunt inquiry, Huang Xue was momentarily dumbfounded. It was as if a friend had asked her right after meeting how many times she had been with her boyfriend last night and what positions they had used...However, Huang Xue quickly came to her senses. After all, she was ill, Xia Liu was a doctor, and there was a very good chance he could cure her. She could only reply in a quiet, embarrassed voice, "It was taken care of twice, using those small motors the size of a thumb."


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    Looking at Huang Xue, who was shyly lowering her head, Xia Liu forcefully swallowed, murmuring to himself, "What a waste of beauty, what a waste of beauty!"


    "If we could go to that room we were in yesterday," Xia Liu said sincerely.


    Huang Xue didn''t think much of it and led the way into the cubicle.


    "Take off your clothes."


    Once inside the cubicle, Huang Xue was immediately infuriated by Xia Liu''s words. She took off her clothes; what kind of medical treatment was this? Did medical treatment require taking off clothes?


    "Are you teasing me?"


    "Manager Huang, please don''t misunderstand. To properly treat this illness, acupuncture is necessary. I can''t find the correct points through clothes. If I needle the wrong spot, the consequences would be very serious!" Xia Liu explained, even feigning a scared expression.


    "You!" Huang Xue didn''t know how to refute Xia Liu. Suddenly, she thought of something and said, "Didn''t you say you were delayed this morning because you went to gather herbs in the mountains? Where are the herbs?"


    "Here, they''re all in my pocket." Xia Liu took out a transparent bag from his pocket. Inside, there were several green plants and some black root-like items.


    Huang Xue''s parents had taken her to see Chinese doctors in the past. She had often seen these types of herbs and had even taken many of them, so she didn''t doubt that Xia Liu knew a bit about them.


    Gradually, Huang Xue unbuttoned her black shirt. The black lace was instantly illuminated by the blazing sun, dazzling and even more enchantingly captivating.


    Xia Liu was already staring blankly. He only felt heat rushing up to his nose as if he was about to bleed.


    He hurriedly cultivated the Five Elements Mantra, transferring the Spiritual Energy to various meridians to minimize the dry heat.


    Gradually, the pure white jade completely revealed itself. That exquisitely flawless waistline would capture anyone''s gaze at the first glance, and her misty neck only added countless charms.


    Gurgle...


    Xia Liu swallowed mouthfuls of saliva as he sped up the circulation of the Five Elements Mantra inside him. He feared he couldn''t bear the scenes unfolding before him.


    "Xia Liu, before we start, I need to tell you something." Huang Xue said, her voice trembling as she looked down.


    "Go ahead."


    "Today, if you can''t cure it, it''s either your death or mine!" Huang Xue suddenly lifted her head to gaze intently at Xia Liu, her eyes filled with a fierce tenacity. If not for the blushing on her face, Xia Liu might have thought she was a hitwoman from an assassin organization...


    "Don''t worry, if I can''t cure it, I''ll just jump out of the window right here," Xia Liu responded seriously. He would definitely jump if he couldn''t cure her¡ªafter all, it was only the twentieth floor, and he wouldn''t die from that height.


    After receiving Xia Liu''s promise, Huang Xue undid her last piece of protection. In an instant, the air within the cubicle seemed to come to a halt, even time itself appeared to be frozen in that moment.


    The sight before him made Xia Liu unable to hold back any longer, and two streams of bright red blood sprayed from his nose.


    Huang Xue couldn''t see Xia Liu''s condition; she had already closed her eyes, and in her current state, how could she possibly face Xia Liu.


    However, when she heard Xia Liu say that it wasn''t necessary to untie it, she was instantly dumbfounded.


    Still, she quickly buttoned up and then slapped her hand over Xia Liu''s head who was bent down dealing with his nosebleed, "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    "Sorry, I didn''t know you''d move so quickly," Xia Liu said as he lifted his head, looking utterly embarrassed.


    Seeing blood all over Xia Liu''s mouth, Huang Xue said anxiously, "You aren''t brain-damaged from that slap, are you? You''re bleeding."


    ...


    "It''s nothing, it''s nothing. It''s just too hot and my gums are bleeding," Xia Liu quickly cleaned off the blood.


    After that, he took out silver needles and had Huang Xue sit on the round bed.


    Fire Attribute Spirit Energy surged, disinfecting the ten silver needles instantly: "It might hurt a bit next. If you can''t bear it, just scream. If you can''t handle it, tell me. We can always do more sessions for healing."


    "No need, I can handle it," Huang Xue said coldly, remembering the ordeal of today that would be unforgettable in a lifetime. This fellow actually thought of treating in stages; that definitely wasn''t going to work!


    Xia Liu remained silent; since the fairy could endure it, he began.


    First, a silver needle carrying Wooden Spirit Energy was placed on the head to protect the brain and to let the nurturing effect of the Wooden Spirit Energy take effect. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The second and third, and soon all the remaining silver needles, each carrying different Attributed Spirit Energy, were inserted into various acupuncture points.


    "Phew¡­" After performing the acupuncture, Xia Liu took a long, relieving breath. The Spiritual Energy consumption this time was a bit excessive, but still manageable. He was constantly excited looking at Huang Xue.


    "Hey you, is this supposed to work? Why aren''t there any effects?" Seeing Xia Liu huffing as if he had plowed several fields, Huang Xue rolled her eyes at him.


    "You''ll know in a moment. By the way, do you have a bathtub here? If not¡­"


    "There''s a bathtub. Don''t tell me you''re going to take a bath," Huang Xue pointed at the bathroom door before Xia Liu could finish.


    "Good, that''s fine. I''ll go in and prepare a tub of medicinal water. If you can''t handle it, call me."


    "Psh, can''t handle it? If it doesn''t work I will definitely throw you downstairs, definitely¡­" Before Huang Xue could finish her complaint, she felt an intense heat roasting inside her body while simultaneously a cold pain.


    The two extreme sensations seemed to merge together, turning into an unbearable pain.


    "Ah!" Only enduring it for a minute, Huang Xue screamed in agony. She finally understood what Xia Liu meant¡ªshe might really not be able to endure it because it was too painful, as if every bone in her body was being twisted.


    "How are you holding up, can you continue?" Hearing the commotion, Xia Liu quickly came out from the bathroom, his heart aching at the sight of Huang Xue''s contorted face.


    "I can handle it, go about your business," Huang Xue gritted her teeth. Although she didn''t know if it could heal her, this type of treatment had never been encountered before. Perhaps it was the deep desire in her heart that had kept her going until now.


    "If you can''t endure it, just call me, we can always treat it a few more times¡­" Xia Liu said helplessly closing his mouth because Huang Xue''s gaze conveyed not just pain, but an indescribable chill and anger.


    Entering the bathroom again, the bathtub was already filled with water. Xia Liu took out the bag from his pocket and threw the herbs into it, adding a bag of red powder as well.


    As the powder mixed with the water, the clear water turned instantly into a deep red, as if a trough had been filled with fresh blood, unnervingly chilling to the viewer.

 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Medicine Works Well

    Hearing no movement outside, Xia Liu hurried out after handling the medicine vat.He saw Huang Xue leaning back on the couch, a sight that should have been captivating, yet Xia Liu observed without emotion.


    Fortunately, he noticed that she hadn''t closed her eyes but was instead biting down hard on her teeth, her lips even faintly bleeding.


    This showed how fiercely the fairy was enduring, clearly reflecting the pain the illness was causing her.


    Sometimes, emotional wounds are far greater than physical pain; at this moment, Huang Xue''s body had numbed, unable to feel any pain.


    Upon noticing Xia Liu had come out, she weakly sat up and forced a faint smile. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sunlight sprawled over her, her smile enchanting. Xia Liu was stunned. The terms beautiful and charming no longer suited her, only ''fairy'' did!


    Time silently ticked away, and as Huang Xue''s pain almost vanished, Xia Liu, checking the time, asked her to sit properly, then he began to move his hands.


    In the air, Xia Liu''s palms turned into trailing shadows, and in an instant, he had completely removed ten silver needles.


    As the last needle was pulled out, Huang Xue felt her entire body lighten, even experiencing a strange sensation that made her want to cry out. However, since Xia Liu was present, she dared not make a sound nor voice it out.


    "Soak in the bathtub for an hour."


    Obediently nodding, Huang Xue walked into the bathroom and screamed upon seeing the bathtub filled with a bright red liquid, "Ah! What is this?"


    "It''s all medicinal liquid. Your internal hormones have been regulated, but the exterior still needs treatment, otherwise shall I strip you down and apply it with my hands?" Xia Liu said, licking his lips and giving Huang Xue a meaningful look.


    "No!" Huang Xue immediately refused Xia Liu without even thinking. This man had seen her naked and wasn''t satisfied yet; he wanted to apply medicinal liquid. Why couldn''t he turn into water and let many women bathe in him?


    "What are you still doing standing there? Get out!" Seeing Xia Liu unmoved, Huang Xue sternly scolded him.


    "Are you the doctor?" Xia Liu, unfazed, frowned and retorted.


    ...


    After a long silence, Huang Xue slowly unbuttoned and removed her pants.


    "Pfft!!" Xia Liu immediately turned away, what he saw, those twig-like pants, what the hell was that all about!


    The world was too crazy, he couldn''t believe that a fairy like Huang Xue would fancy such pants. Indeed, many people who appeared gentle and refined on the surface, their true nature revealed when they were alone. Experience tales at M-V-L


    Huang Xue, however, showed no reaction; after all, Xia Liu had already seen her nude, and now she was still wearing pants.


    Thinking thus, she bit her teeth and slowly stepped into the bathtub.


    The first sensation upon stepping into the bright red medicinal liquid was heat, but as she lay down, it felt no different from normal warm water.


    However, her thought was too simplistic; in less than thirty seconds, the medicinal effect kicked in, and she unintentionally cried out in a sudden moment.


    Realizing something was off, she tightly covered her mouth with both hands, a sensation she was all too familiar with, twice occurring today.


    After hearing that noise, Xia Liu had already run out. The reason he was still there was to see if the medicine vat was effective, and it seemed to be working well!


    But though the effect was there, Xia Liu was suffering; his little buddy was tormented beyond recognition, and the Five Elements Mantra was almost unable to suppress it.


    Luckily, he had managed to escape to the sofa in time. When the time came, he would notify the Fairy, and then the task would be complete.


    Although he wanted to rest, Huang Xue did not give him the chance. Perhaps because of the medicinal effects, the sounds coming from the partition grew louder and more frequent. Ten minutes later, there were constant sounds.


    Xia Liu felt like crying; it was like being tied up and then forced to watch those films from the Island Nation back to back.


    If anyone had experienced this, they could empathize with Xia Liu''s torment¡ªit was like thousands of insects crawling over his body, and he couldn''t make any movements.


    Xia Liu sat down at his desk, rummaging through boxes wanting to find some cotton or something, to block his ears and reduce the frequency of the sounds he heard.


    But as he was searching through the box, his eyes glanced over the computer screen, and his brows knitted together again.


    Perhaps it was not a computer screen, but a surveillance monitor after all.


    He saw a delicate figure at the office door, carrying a high-end handbag and wearing high heels, leaning close with her ear pressed against the door.


    That figure was not unfamiliar to Xia Liu; it was Fang Fei, the owner of several companies, standing at the office door eavesdropping on the sounds inside!


    Xia Liu sensed trouble. If she came in, she was bound to misunderstand his and Huang Xue''s relationship.


    Although it was nothing serious, what he feared the most was that Fang Fei would constantly tease him about it.


    What slightly relieved Xia Liu was that Huang Xue''s voice finally stopped. Unfortunately, the brief pause was futile; Sister Fang at the door had already heard everything.


    Then, in Xia Liu''s frantic moment, she opened the door and entered.


    "Uh, uh, uh, why is it you, Xia Liu?" Fang Fei looked at Xia Liu in surprise; she had thought it was Huang Xue and her boyfriend inside¡ªwho knew it turned out to be Xia Liu, and he was straightening his clothes and hair!


    "Hey, it''s Sister Fang! What a coincidence." Xia Liu rose very swiftly, his expression revealing no slips.


    Well, he actually hadn''t done anything wrong, so he certainly felt confident.


    "Hehe, yes, quite the coincidence, huh? Where''s Huang Xue? Weren''t you just with her?" Fang Fei examined Xia Liu for a while, then looked around, trying to find where Huang Xue was.


    "I really don''t know, there was a call for her, and then I saw her slam the door and storm out, so I''ve been waiting here for her," Xia Liu said with an innocent face.


    "Young man, are you playing dumb with me? I clearly heard those kinds of sounds at the office door; you dare say it wasn''t you and Huang Xue in a secret rendezvous?" Fang Fei gave Xia Liu a rolling eye, while a charming smile surfaced on her face.


    "Sister Fang, honestly, there was really nothing like that. You mustn''t misunderstand me; those sounds you heard, were they like this?" Xia Liu said, moving his hand to the mouse and expertly opening the F drive, which contained a folder downloaded with many small Island Nation films, which he had stumbled upon earlier. He then played one.


    The hair-raising moans blared out from the speakers; Fang Fei''s face instantly flushed, and if that was really the case, she might have misunderstood Xia Liu.


    But just then, an angry voice came from the partition: "Xia Liu, are you coming in or not? I''m about to die from the heat¡­"

 Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Fang Feis Gift

    The voice hadn''t been out for long when Huang Xue, drenched, slightly opened the door and poked her head out.After soaking in the bathtub and noticing nothing unusual, and not seeing Xia Liu come in, she finally rinsed off and came out to call him.


    But the moment she poked her head out, it felt like a bomb exploded inside her head, and a buzzing sound lingered in her ears.


    Fang Fei and Xia Liu were equally dumbfounded, especially Fang Fei, who had just started to believe Xia Liu, never expecting to witness such a scene the next second.


    "Sister Fang, how did you get here?" Huang Xue asked, trying to stay composed.


    "Just passing by, hope I didn''t disturb you guys?" Fang Fei blinked at Huang Xue, her words not masking her implications.


    "Sister Fang, don''t get me wrong, we are nothing!"


    Discover hidden stories at M-V-L


    "Yes! We are nothing!"


    While Huang Xue was defending herself, Xia Liu also started to explain.


    Unfortunately, how could Fang Fei believe that? At the door, she could tell that the voice was Huang Xue''s.


    "Oh, feeling shy, huh? No need to be nervous; we are all adults here."


    "Sister Fang, there''s really nothing between us." Huang Xue was almost crying. If only she had known this would happen, she would have stayed inside and not come out.


    "Sister Fang, you really misunderstood, I was just treating Manager Huang."


    "Treating? You mean!" Fang Fei seemed to realize something and looked at Xia Liu with a face full of surprise.


    Xia Liu didn''t know if Fang Fei was aware of Huang Xue''s condition but could only nod, letting Huang Xue explain the details herself.


    At this point, there was no need for Huang Xue to hide anything, so she explained in detail why Xia Liu had come over today.


    "This can''t be true, it''s curable?" Fang Fei couldn''t help but exclaim.


    She knew a little about Huang Xue''s condition; curing it was nearly impossible, yet Xia Liu had dared to guarantee a cure and had already taken action.


    She distinctly remembered Xia Liu claiming to be just a rural doctor from the village, not only curing genetic diseases but now even curing complicated conditions like Huang Xue''s¡ªcalling him a divine doctor wouldn''t be enough.


    "Xue''er, how are you feeling now, are you healed?" After her initial surprise, Fang Fei quickly asked.


    "I don''t know, right now I feel about the same as when I''m not sick," Huang Xue said with a bitter smile, somewhat doubting she had been tricked by Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, Xue''er''s condition should be better now, right?"


    "I need to check her pulse and see if she will show symptoms later." Xia Liu was honest; Huang Xue''s condition was an unusual mix of symptoms that could only be monitored over time.


    Twenty minutes later, Huang Xue came out from the partition wearing a floral dress, her complexion visibly improved, cheeks rosy beyond normal, and her eyes adding a captivating charm.


    Xia Liu checked her pulse and concluded that she was much better than before. Previously, she had to deal with the illness many times in a day, which not only drained her physically but also left her mentally languished.


    Now she seemed like a completely different person, almost giving the illusion that she was more enchanting than before.


    "It''s confirmed, Manager Huang has recovered." After a moment, Xia Liu announced the result.


    "Hehe, I guessed it would be like this; even genetic diseases that the hospital couldn''t solve were cured by a few of your needles, this problem of Xue''er''s was hardly enough to trouble you," Fang Fei praised him continuously.


    "Uh uh uh¡­" Huang Xue hadn''t quite caught up, murmured, then laughed as tears continuously streaked down from her eyes.


    At last, her illness had healed. Since she had fallen ill, she had lost too much.


    "Xue''er, don''t cry, everything will get better from now on."


    "Sister Fang, I''m not crying, I''m just so happy. I''ve never been this happy in my life." After saying that, Huang Xue ran into Fang Fei''s arms and burst into loud tears.


    Xia Liu silently watched the two women, suddenly feeling a lot of warmth in his heart. This sense of proud achievement could only be felt when one truly helped others, beyond words.


    "Xue''er, since you''ve recovered, I was just about to toss the gift away." When Huang Xue calmed down, Fang Fei pulled out a beautifully ribboned box from her pocket.


    "What gift? How could you toss it if it''s for me!" Saying this, Huang Xue snatched the box and then eagerly tore it open.


    Fang Fei was just about to stop her from opening the box, but Huang Xue moved so quickly that the box was already open, and then the three people in the office fell silent.


    Xia Liu felt a surge of heat increasing continuously, his blood seemed to flow faster as he saw what it was¡ªa set of tools with a ribbon on it!


    Fang Fei had actually given Huang Xue such a gift, and he instantly revised his understanding of women, especially those god-like beauties with heavenly faces.


    "Sister Fang, you''re going to kill me with this." Huang Xue acted as if nothing was wrong, yet her words carried a lot of suffering.


    "What? I didn''t know Xia Liu had cured you," Fang Fei spread her hands. If she had known, she would have quietly tossed the box away.


    "No, what I mean is, you picking this out for me, aren''t you afraid I might break it?"


    "Pfft!"


    Xia Liu felt internally injured at that instant. Did Huang Xue not realize he was still sitting there, or did she simply not consider him a man?


    "I''m sorry about that. I''ll be more careful next time." Seeing Xia Liu''s face lined with frustration, Fang Fei weakly said.


    "But I really like it. Although I won''t need it now, I will keep it."


    "Xue''er, you can still use it, especially since you don''t have a boyfriend yet."


    "Sister Fang, you don''t have a boyfriend either, does that mean..."


    "Enough, both of you. Can we stop this conversation, please?" Xia Liu couldn''t listen anymore. With two plump lambs discussing which one''s meat was more tender right in front of him, the hungry wolf beside them could only silently salivate; the feeling was worse than death.


    "Uh, uh, uh... Sister Fang, let''s speak quietly."


    ¡­


    "Xue''er better not talk anymore. Look at that..." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Following Fang Fei''s gaze, Huang Xue''s face immediately turned red.


    "You patrons chat slowly, I have to go now." Without waiting for the two women to reply, Xia Liu got up and ran off.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to drive away, Fang Fei called him, asking him to wait.


    Xia Liu also had some questions for Fang Fei, this mysterious woman, and seeing the opportunity, he wanted to understand more.


    In the quiet and elegant private room on the second floor, Xia Liu and Fang Fei sat opposite each other, showing a clear contrast. Fang Fei was dressed bright and shiny, while Xia Liu looked like a country bumpkin. If people saw them, they would definitely misunderstand.


    "Xia Liu, why did you only give me a few chickens yesterday? They were gone in less than a day," Fang Fei pouted unhappily at Xia Liu.


    A few chickens? That was more than 200 chickens! For a family of three, that''s over half a year''s supply.

 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Setting up a Chicken Farm Again

    "Sister Fang, there aren''t many families in the village, so there''s nothing I can do about the shortage of chickens." Xia Liu understood that Fang Fei, who was in the restaurant business, needed a large supply, and relying solely on the few chickens from the village, the restaurant would inevitably have to shut its doors sooner or later."Ah, it''s worrying me to death, you know. The chickens from your village are very special. Even if you just boil them in clear soup, they will have a faint scent of osmanthus. Today, a table of guests ordered five dishes and even packed three to take away." When talking about this, Fang Fei became somewhat excited; now it''s not just oysters that are profitable, even the chickens from Osmanthus Village are selling like hotcakes.


    One thing worth delving into is that, while chickens are chickens, those from Osmanthus Village are particularly rare. Chickens from other places don''t have this effect, and today this has caused quite a few jokes and surprises.


    "Osmanthus fragrance?" Xia Liu was puzzled. How could chicken meat have the scent of osmanthus? Could it be that they were all raised on osmanthus?


    "Exactly, Xia Liu, give me another batch later, I''m willing to pay eighty yuan per jin," Fang Fei said straightforwardly after some thought.


    "Eighty yuan per jin!" Xia Liu was astonished by the price. Could it be that these chickens were a mutated breed, to be so valuable?


    "You heard right. The reason those chickens have the meat quality with an osmanthus scent might be because they have been eating osmanthus since they were young. Your village is full of osmanthus trees, so it must be the case."


    "Will you maintain this purchase price indefinitely?" Xia Liu was interested in this topic; after all, oysters and atractylodes are naturally occurring and could be depleted one day. Only producing his own supply could assure longevity.


    "As long as it''s from Osmanthus Village, it will always be this price!" Fang Fei affirmed.


    "Alright then, I''ll start buying a batch of chicks right away. Once they grow up, I''ll be rolling in it!" The idea of raising chickens came to Xia Liu again. Last time, Zhang Tie caused a disruption, but this time, without any hindrance and combined with this price, every batch released would start in the millions.


    "That''s great, that''s great. The chickens don''t need to be too big, four or five jin is fine. As long as we can keep up with the demand, we''re all going to make a fortune." Fang Fei was just as excited to go along with Xia Liu.


    As Xia Liu was about to leave, Fang Fei dropped another explosive piece of news¡ªthat she wanted to increase the supply of oysters to at least four and a half thousand jin a day, ideally five thousand, and the price per jin was also going up to eighty yuan!


    Xia Liu''s response was very confident: five thousand jin is four hundred thousand yuan! With this, the income of himself and the villagers would greatly increase. At this rate, it wouldn''t take long for Osmanthus Village to take off!


    After saying goodbye to Fang Fei, Xia Liu called Zhang Xiaoxue to ask her to hurry Uncle Li to gather some people to help tidy up that mountain peak.


    There wasn''t much to tidy on that mountain peak; mainly, we needed to clear some open spaces. The old thatched cottages were outdated; if we were going to breed on a large scale, we needed metal sheds.


    After giving instructions, Xia Liu went to the county to find a place that constructs metal sheds. After several discussions, he spent fifty thousand yuan to build three metal sheds.


    Each shed cost a bit over ten thousand yuan and covered an area of about two mu. With six mu of space, he could easily raise ten thousand chickens.


    These chickens wouldn''t just be kept in the metal sheds; those would only be for raising the chicks until they were capable of foraging for themselves. After that, they would be free-range, roaming the mountain top, to ensure the quality of the chicken meat improved.


    Because Xia Liu only paid half upfront, the supplier was very eager to get started. That very afternoon, they loaded up a truck with materials and brought them to Osmanthus Village.


    Arriving at the scene, Xia Liu and the accompanying workers were astonished to find forty-five villagers sitting under the mountain peak, smoking and chatting as if they were in a meeting.


    After inquiring, Xia Liu was a bit amused and helpless. He had only instructed that Uncle Li find a few people, so it would be easier to settle their wages; he hadn''t expected the whole village to learn about it and show up. Moreover, Uncle Li had said not to mention money, arguing that talking about money would mean not treating them as people. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With no other choice, Xia Liu instructed everyone to help move the materials to the designated area, aiming to get the metal sheds built as soon as possible.


    One person worked particularly hard that day¡ªZhang Tie. Once he learned Xia Liu was raising chickens again, he refused to accept his wages that evening for oysters, saying he wanted to compensate Xia Liu for his previous loss.


    The villagers clapped and cheered, approving of Zhang Tie''s action. Xia Liu was also pleased but insisted on paying them. The matter with the chickens was in the past; it was over, and it was only good going forward that truly mattered.


    Touched almost to the point of kneeling, Zhang Tie wiped away his tears and choked up for a long while on the spot.


    While everyone was thrilled, Xia Liu released the news that the price per jin of oysters was increasing to forty yuan, which caused a sensation throughout the crowd.


    "You can fish for one hundred and twenty jin in a day!"


    "Forty yuan a jin!"


    "Uncle Li, quick, calculate how much that is!"


    "Over four thousand yuan! More than four thousand yuan!"


    Wow...


    If each family could fish one hundred and twenty jin, the daily income would be almost five thousand yuan, around four thousand eight hundred,


    Upon calculating this price, the villagers who couldn''t handle the excitement simply fainted.


    After calming everyone down, Xia Liu also returned home before dark, where Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman had already prepared dinner, waiting for him to join them.


    Both women had heard the news in the village, so one of them grabbed an arm of Xia Liu, "Brother Xia Liu, we want to go oyster fishing too."


    Your journey continues at M-V-L


    "No, it''s too dangerous with the water being so deep; you could get hurt," Xia Liu firmly refused their request.


    Despite being rejected, the two women used various tactics and whining, but were eventually met with a harsh refusal.


    Dinner for Xia Liu could be described as both enjoyable and stressful, with two ample figures pressing against his arms, the heat almost scorching.


    So, as soon as he finished eating, Xia Liu found an excuse to leave the house.


    Zhang Qing was at home, washing cucumbers; she planned to use them for a facial mask in hopes of catching more oysters the next day.


    However, when she saw Xia Liu enter the yard, she immediately threw the cucumber aside, standing there with an excited expression on her face.


    More than an hour later, Xia Liu, with his attire neatly in place, sat on the couch, while Zhang Qing was panting heavily next to him, looking as if she were completely exhausted.


    "If I''m unable to go into the water tomorrow, Xia Liu, you''re going to have to compensate me," Zhang Qing spoke coyly; although her desires were strong, ever since she had met Xia Liu, she felt like she was eighteen again, often feeling overwhelmed, as if she was about to die.


    "Heh heh, Sister Zhang, whatever you need, just tell me," Xia Liu teased.


    "I need a child of my own."


    "Well, that...we''ll just leave it to fate. It''s getting late. You should rest for now, Sister Zhang. Tomorrow we have to fish for more than a hundred jin of oysters," Xia Liu said, bitterly dodging the topic.


    "Hmph, next time I won''t let you leave. If the quality isn''t up to standard, increase the quantity, and there will eventually be a child!" Zhang Qing inwardly affirmed as she watched Xia Liu''s retreating figure.


    As soon as Xia Liu entered the room, he found someone lying on his bed!


    Smelling that familiar fragrance, Xia Liu knew it was Zhang Xiaoman.


    As he moved closer, he noticed Zhang Xiaoman trembling slightly and then asked her, "So why exactly are you on my bed?"

 Chapter 51: Chapter 51 I Hope You Can Punish Me

    "I''m here to apologize," said Zhang Xiaoman weakly.Apologize? Apologize for what? Xia Liu couldn''t understand. Did she do something to hurt Xiaoxue?


    "My parents were previously rude to your cousin and you..."


    "Alright, haven''t we put that behind us? Let''s not bring it up again." Xia Liu felt somewhat depressed, for that matter had already passed, and he wasn''t so narrow-minded.


    "Then I want to go dive for oysters and earn some living expenses," Zhang Xiaoman suddenly jumped up from the bed and hugged Xia Liu.


    The moment she entered his arms, Xia Liu felt a burning heat as he realized she wasn''t wearing anything...


    Clenching his teeth, Xia Liu picked up a thin silk blanket to wrap Zhang Xiaoman in: "Now your dad can make more than four thousand in a day, and with your mom, it''s over five thousand. You still have more than a month till school starts, do you think you won''t have enough living expenses?"


    Listening to Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoman fell silent. She wanted to throw off the blankets, but Xia Liu was holding them firmly, making it impossible for her to break free.


    "Yes, it''s enough for me, but I just want to give myself to you, only then can I feel at ease."


    "..."


    "When you had just returned, I scolded you, and my family did too. I made my cousin suffer for two years; I''m the sinner and hope you can punish me."


    "No need, if you can achieve good grades in the future, that''ll be the best payback for us. Don''t make Xiaoxue sad, go back and sleep," said Xia Liu as he pushed Zhang Xiaoman out of the door. He felt this was no simple matter; although the girl was impulsive, Xiaoxue was under the same roof, and if he really did anything, it would definitely lead to trouble.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you don''t have to do this, it''s really harmful to your body to use your hand. I can just imagine you, holding your phone looking at my nude photos, and then..."


    "Oh come on, my phone broke last time and the photos were long gone, don''t leave, listen to me explain..."


    Watching Zhang Xiaoman hurry away, Xia Liu understood that explanations were useless now; he was bound to be misunderstood by this girl to the end...


    Unable to calm his mind, Xia Liu could only sit cross-legged on the bed and practice the Five Elements Mantra to ease some of his troubles.


    Early in the morning, Xia Liu went for a walk on the mountaintop; workers and several strong men from the village had worked overtime until eleven the night before and completed three tin houses covering six acres!


    Pleased with the outcome, Xia Liu drove to the beach where villagers had already gathered two thousand pounds of oysters, with Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue keeping records on the side.


    Five thousand pounds of oysters couldn''t be hauled in one trip, so Xia Liu loaded over two thousand pounds onto his truck to make a first trip to the county.


    This time, after weighing the oysters, he didn''t go to the office. Ever since he caught a glimpse of the "fairy" Huang Xue, every time he saw her, it was as if he could see right through her clothes, which was excruciatingly painful. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But due to the contract, he couldn''t avoid going, so he decided to wait and return later to settle the accounts together, reducing his encounters with her.


    After leaving the hotel, Xia Liu went to the shop where he previously bought chicks. As soon as the owner saw him, he was treated with the best tea and service; after all, this was a big-spending customer who had bought five thousand chicks in one go!


    When Xia Liu mentioned the number of chicks he wanted to purchase, the shop owner was nearly scared witless.


    "Twenty thousand chicks! Boss Xia isn''t joking, is he?" The owner was stunned for a moment, as the quantity was rather large, and his facility couldn''t possibly raise that many.


    "No kidding, Osmanthus Village as always. Have it sent to me, and I''ll give you the cash when it arrives," Xia Liu had wanted to transfer the money, but he didn''t have cash in his account.


    "Hahaha, that works!" The boss had been happy from the start. Those twenty thousand chicken seedlings were worth sixty thousand yuan, with which he could make twenty to thirty thousand in one go. Even if he got half the money up front and the rest in installments, that was fine with him.


    Afterward, Xia Liu ordered a lot of feed. With such large-scale breeding, relying solely on the weeds and bugs from the mountains to keep all those chickens alive was impossible, so feed was essential.


    By the time Xia Liu got back to the village, two trucks had also arrived, loaded full with the chicken seedlings, and the boss had personally accompanied the delivery.


    When they saw Xia Liu''s breeding base, the truck drivers and the boss were almost ready to kneel before him. Using such a vast area for breeding, and so many chickens, meant a significant investment. They couldn''t understand how Osmanthus Village, the poorest in Hejing County, could also have a day of access and development.


    Not long after, two more trucks arrived. Once all the chicken seedlings were settled, Xia Liu went home to get seventy thousand in cash to pay the boss for both the chicken seedlings and the feed.


    However, Xia Liu stored only a two-day supply of feed on the mountain; the rest he kept at home. No one knew why he left it there.


    Seeing Xia Liu had brought back the chicken seedlings, the women who had come earlier quickly went up the mountain to tend to them. They all felt incredibly guilty; Xia Liu had continued to pay them wages despite them being idle at home. The arrival of the chicken seedlings invigorated them; now they could earn their wages with peace of mind.


    Xia Liu was delighted with this. These women''s families each had a few able workers. Some had sons or husbands who were harvesting oysters; others had daughters-in-law picking atractylodes. It was most suitable for them to manage the chicken seedlings.


    Before leaving, Xia Liu gave them a few bags and asked them to collect the fallen osmanthus flowers in their spare time.


    The women agreed without hesitation. It was no bother at all; with so many osmanthus trees on the mountain, they could sweep up a bagful of osmanthus in less than ten minutes with a broom.


    When Xia Liu was driving to the seaside, he brought along more than two hundred thousand in cash, planning to distribute it directly to everyone. After all, the money was of no use just sitting at home.


    To Xia Liu''s surprise, they had exactly five thousand jin of oysters this time, not more, not less. Upon inquiring, he found out that the villagers had put the surplus back in the water to retrieve the next day.


    What pleased Xia Liu the most was that everyone shared equally, regardless of how much they had caught!


    That is, they divided the money from the five thousand jin of oysters equally; no one took more.


    When Xia Liu had proposed limits, he intended to even out everyone''s income. Today, they had finally achieved that balance.


    The villagers understood Xia Liu''s intention; as soon as Li Zhi suggested this, everyone agreed. They were all farmers born and bred, making so much in one day, what else could they possibly ask for?


    Xia Liu handed the money to Zhang Xiaoxue and drove off, possibly leaving ten or twenty thousand behind, which he told them to split between themselves.


    This got Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman excitedly planting kisses on Xia Liu''s face, causing the villagers at the scene to chuckle heartily.


    Clutching two lists, Xia Liu knocked on the office door with some trepidation. He quietly recited the Five Elements Mantra, hoping not to embarrass himself in front of Huang Xue.


    To his surprise, it was Fang Fei who opened the door. According to her, once Huang Xue was sure she was cured, she resigned and left. Continue reading on M-V-L


    "What? The fairy left?" Xia Liu was surprised and felt a pang of regret.


    "Yeah, that damn fairy left. Are you feeling disappointed? You know, if you had realized this earlier, you could have sweet-talked her into sleeping with you before she left," Fang Fei said with a sly smile looking at Xia Liu.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Revisiting Li Zhong

    "This is definitely not the case." Xia Liu couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat, Fang Fei really had a keen eye, she could even see this."Forget it, I thought you were interested in Xue''er. Before she left, I took the opportunity to take some candid shots of her, originally planning to send them to you to keep, sigh, never mind." Fang Fei played with her phone while sighing.


    "Sister Fang, do I look like that kind of person?"


    "You very much do!"


    "Then why don''t you send them to me!" Xia Liu, putting on a raffish air, looked at Fang Fei, saliva almost dripping out, partly joking and partly serious, after all, he didn''t know when he would meet Huang Xue again, keeping her candid photos as a memento seemed like a good idea.


    "Heehee, see, exposed, huh? You can have the photos, but first you have to accompany me to a place." Fang Fei smiled brightly, she knew Xia Liu would put on such an act.


    "Where to?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "To daddy''s house."


    "Let''s do that another day." Upon hearing they were going to Li Zhong''s house, Xia Liu refused without a second thought, he didn''t think Li Qinqin would be polite.


    "I''m not only sending Xue''er''s candid photos but also mine." Seeing Xia Liu refuse, Fang Fei shook her phone and looked seductively at Xia Liu.


    "Sister Fang, that''s not right to say, I''m definitely going, it''s been several days, I want to see how Qinqin is recovering."


    "Sure, we''re going to see Qinqin, let''s forget about the photos then."


    "Come on Sister Fang, can''t I admit I was wrong?"


    "Character!"


    Laughing joyfully, Fang Fei completed a transfer to Xia Liu and then drove off towards the county government.


    Li Zhong''s house was bustling today, Director Lin Hongsheng and several doctors were present, all invited by Li Zhong.


    At the arrival of Xia Liu, Li Zhong was thrilled to death, and so was the familiar Lin Hongsheng. This promising young man, who had cured hereditary diseases with just a few needles; if it wasn''t for the matter of identity, Lin Hongsheng would have knelt down to apprentice himself.


    "Wife, go call Qinqin, tell her Fang Fei and Divine Doctor Xia are here!" Li Zhong shouted happily to Xu Fang.


    Li Qinqin had been resting at home for many days, her body had long since recovered, during which she had gone to the hospital for a re-examination, and sure enough, her disease had completely healed. However, Li Zhong wouldn''t let her go out, so she had locked herself in her room for several days.


    Upon hearing that Xia Liu and Fang Fei had arrived, Li Qinqin quickly came out from her room. After greeting Fang Fei, she grabbed Xia Liu by the collar: "I''m going to gouge out your eyes!"


    This sudden action stunned everyone present, and only Fang Fei knew the context. Li Qinqin was a very traditional woman, and having been seen naked by Xia Liu, it was no wonder she was furious. Last time she was too weak from her illness, today catching Xia Liu off guard, it wouldn''t be Li Qinqin if she didn''t take the chance to teach him a lesson.


    Unmoved by Li Qinqin''s attack, Xia Liu leaned back, hugged Li Qinqin, then lay on the couch, no matter how much she struggled, she couldn''t hit him.


    "Qinqin, what are you doing, stop it right now!" Seeing his daughter attack Xia Liu, Li Zhong shouted furiously, feeling as though he had lost all face.


    Not to mention his daughter and Xia Liu hugging and cuddling; the main point was that Xia Liu was their benefactor. Without Xia Liu, it wouldn''t be long before their family fell apart. Now his daughter was attacking their benefactor directly.


    "Qinqin, get up quickly. How could you hit Divine Doctor Xia!" Xu Fang was also anxious. Both her and her daughter''s illnesses had been cured by Xia Liu, and now her daughter was hitting Xia Liu in a fit of madness.


    Lin Hongsheng and his colleagues were extremely embarrassed, not knowing what had happened. It seemed like they were watching a young couple squabble.


    Only Fang Fei had a clear view of the situation. Xia Liu''s hands kept hovering around; Qinqin was actually presenting herself to be bullied...


    "Mom, he, he..." Li Qinqin struggled to get up from Xia Liu and with a mournful face, didn''t know how to explain. Was she supposed to say that he had looked her over or that he was groping her just now?


    "You little fool, shut your mouth. How dare you hit Divine Doctor Xia?" Xu Fang sternly reprimanded Li Qinqin and then hurriedly apologized to Xia Liu.


    Just then, a young man walked through the open door. As soon as he appeared, he greeted everyone present, "Mayor Li, good, Director Lin, good, Auntie, good."


    "Eh, isn''t this Young Master Liu?" Li Zhong said in surprise, remembering that he had met him in the city when he was still working there, visiting a pharmaceutical company.


    "Mayor Li can just call me Liu Mang. I just returned from America today and came here to see you before even going home," Liu Mang said with a beaming smile, scanning around, finally fixing his gaze on Li Qinqin and Fang Fei.


    "Giggle, what a fitting name, ''rogue.''" Seeing Liu Mang staring at her, Fang Fei couldn''t help laughing out loud. This guy looked decent but what a name he had...


    "Hehe, Miss, you''re mistaken. Liu is the Liu from Liu Bei, and Mang means radiance," Liu Mang was not offended. Given that his name was prone to misunderstanding, having Fang Fei, a beautiful woman, joke about it made him even happier.


    Xia Liu could feel that ever since Liu Mang appeared, Li Qinqin seemed distracted and seemed lost in thought.


    "Haha, let me introduce, Liu Mang, the heir of Liu Pharmaceutical..." Li Zhong explained Liu Mang''s identity with a naively happy grin.


    "Liu Pharmaceutical, that''s a well-known pharmaceutical company in the city!"


    "I heard they are also preparing to collaborate with the state!"


    "That''s a truly powerful pharmaceutical company indeed!"


    Stay updated via M-V-L


    "Right, Young Master Liu is also a medical student and just returned from America today. He probably brought back a lot of important clinical experience!"


    The colleagues of Lin Hongsheng started to discuss excitedly. They were very familiar with Liu Pharmaceutical since many of the medicines in the hospital were supplied by them. Seeing the heir of Liu Pharmaceutical today made them quite excited.


    Listening to the people discussing him, Liu Mang''s smile widened. This feeling was very pleasurable for him. However, he was quite dissatisfied with Xia Liu''s expressionless face, not to mention that he was still holding a knife peeling an apple!


    "Qinqin, my study in America was to find a cure for you," Liu Mang said earnestly to Li Qinqin after the noise around had subsided.


    "No need, I''ve already gotten better," Li Qinqin didn''t want to deal with Liu Mang. For some reason, Liu Mang gave her a very sinister feeling, a feeling she had since their first meeting years ago.


    "Qinqin, you don''t need to be like this. I brought back a very advanced set of equipment this time, which can definitely cure you," Liu Mang finished, attempting to take Li Qinqin''s hand.


    Unexpectedly, Li Qinqin moved to Xia Liu''s side and then clung to his hand, "My boyfriend has already cured me. You don''t need to go to any trouble."


    "Boyfriend?" Liu Mang, as well as everyone else at the scene, was taken aback. Just as Li Zhong was about to speak, Fang Fei stopped him.


    In fact, Li Zhong knew that Liu Mang had been interested in his daughter for several years. With this incident now, letting them resolve it themselves might not be a bad idea.

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Liu Mang Confronts Xia Liu

    ```Regarding Li Qinqin''s words, Liu Mang remained skeptical, thinking how could possibly a disease that had stumped many renowned international doctors be cured.


    It was Xia Liu that piqued his interest, "Friend, my name is Liu Mang, may I ask how you address yourself?"


    Xia Liu, who was just indulging in the softness of the arm he was holding, was interrupted and reached out his hand in response, "Xia Liu, Qinqin''s boyfriend."


    Originally, Xia Liu didn''t want to say it like that, but as he was about to speak, Li Qinqin pinched his arm, and had he not been so resilient, he would have cried out in pain, but luckily he reacted quickly.


    "Lowly?" Liu Mang''s face was immediately covered in dark lines, believing Xia Liu was deliberately provoking him. His own name was Liu Mang, and this guy calls himself Lowly, that was definitely seeking trouble!


    What annoyed Liu Mang even more was that Li Qinqin was actually holding Xia Liu''s arm, and not only did Xia Liu claim to be Li Qinqin''s boyfriend, but Li Qinqin was even smiling about it!


    "Young Master Liu, his name is truly Xia Liu, Xia as in summer." Seeing Liu Mang''s silence, Lin Hongsheng spoke up to explain.


    "Ah, so it''s Xia Liu, what a pleasure to meet you." Realizing his mistake, Liu Mang quickly put out his hand, but at that moment, Xia Liu withdrew his hand, leaving Liu Mang in an awkward position.


    "Liu Mang, you''ve just arrived from your journey, please sit down and rest, dinner is about to be served, Qinqin and Fang Fei, come help." Amidst the awkwardness, Xu Fang broke the silence.


    After giving Xia Liu a profound look, Liu Mang sat down beside Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng, and started bragging to the few doctors present about his encounters with various famous professors in America and his collaborative surgeries with some renowned doctors, igniting a fiery interest among them.


    Liu Mang kept talking until Fang Fei brought the dishes. Even when it was time to eat, he continued speaking, rendering Lin Hongsheng and the other doctors speechless with amazement. Although they had not traveled abroad, they were familiar with the doctors mentioned by Liu Mang and idolized them.


    "I spent some time at Wellington Medical College in Britain and discussed with Professor Mark from the hospital. He said that with proper treatment, many genetic diseases can be managed and even cured." Liu Mang lightly sipped some white wine, saying this while looking towards Li Qinqin.


    "Wellington''s Mark? Young Master Liu, are you talking about the world-famous hospital professor, Mark Bain! The legendary doctor rumored to possess the Resurrection Technique!" Lin Hongsheng suddenly became excited, as that was a top five globally ranked doctor.


    Wow!!!


    This topic instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the doctors present¡ªthey weren''t concerned with love stories; medicine was what mattered most to them.


    Their gazes towards Liu Mang were filled with respect, not knowing his medical skills, but the fact that he could chat with legendary doctors like Mark was enough for them to admire him.


    "Mayor Li, I came here specifically to see Qinqin and Aunt Xu, and I will definitely cure them if given time. If not, with Professor Mark from Wellington taking charge, a successful recovery is assured." Liu Mang toasted Li Zhong, laying out his intentions.


    Upon hearing Liu Mang''s statement, Li Zhong, Lin Hongsheng, and a few others in the know burst into laughter. Mayor Li had invited these doctors to announce that his wife and daughter''s illness had been cured, as a way to thank them for years of care.


    Liu Mang had just entered and was not aware that Xia Liu had already cured the illness, and with just a few needles at that.


    "Young Master Liu, here''s the thing..."


    "Even if Mark were to take action, he wouldn''t likely be able to cure Qinqin and Aunt Xu." Just as Lin Hongsheng was about to explain the situation, Xia Liu, who had been silent for a while, spoke up.


    ```


    ```


    "Oh? Who are you to deny one of the top five renowned doctors in the world?" Liu Mang said, his gaze sweeping across the room, trying to rally several doctors against Xia Liu.


    "That''s right, young man, don''t speak too boldly. Professor Mark is not someone you can insult!"


    "Little kids who know nothing about medicine shouldn''t talk nonsense, be careful not to twist your tongue!"


    "Enough you guys, Xia Liu is also a doctor, and a very skilled one at that. I''m not even worthy to carry his shoes, what are you all clamoring about!" Lin Hongsheng couldn''t stand it any longer when he saw his colleagues verbally assaulting Xia Liu. He had personally witnessed Xia Liu curing Xu Fang and Li Qinqin, and in his eyes, Mark might really be nothing special.


    "Hehe, so he''s a doctor, huh? Then you must have heard of Professor Mark, right? I really don''t know how you can say such things," seizing the opportunity, Liu Mang mercilessly slandered Xia Liu.


    Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng were just about to explain when Xia Liu waved his hand, "I''m sorry to say, I''m just a village doctor, I don''t know about the doctors you''re talking about. There is one thing I''m sure of though, they can''t cure terminal illnesses!"


    "That''s sheer sophistry! Who can cure terminal illnesses? It''s already optimistic to control common genetic diseases to the minimum!" Hearing Xia Liu''s contemptuous voice, Liu Mang counterattacked with more sarcasm, "I thought you were really a doctor, but it turns out you''re just a little rural doctor!"


    "Stop it, we''re eating," Li Qinqin couldn''t listen anymore. Xia Liu spoke the truth, but unfortunately facing Liu Mang, even explaining to death wouldn''t clear things up.


    "Qinqin, you don''t have to worry, I''ve decided. After returning, I will invite Professor Mark to our country, and I will make sure you have a healthy future," Liu Mang''s eyes flickered with certainty and hope. Since the moment he saw Li Qinqin a few years ago, he was determined to win this woman over. It didn''t matter if he couldn''t win her heart; having her body would suffice.


    ...


    Li Qinqin had no interest in what Liu Mang was saying. She was already cured and didn''t want to mention it. She watched to see what kind of spectacle he could create.


    "Wow, Young Master Liu can actually get in touch with Professor Mark!"


    "I''m so envious. If I could speak just one word with Professor Mark, I''d be willing to die."


    "If I could see Professor Mark just once, I''d be willing to die ten times over!" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A few doctors looked at Liu Mang with eyes full of envy. Mark was a legend in the medical field, and doctors from any region would admire him.


    Watching the atmosphere around him, Liu Mang revealed a satisfied smile. This feeling was as if they were praising him, utterly thrilling.


    "Hey, that baldy Mark, I really don''t understand why there are so many idiots looking up to him."


    "What did you say!" When he heard Xia Liu call Mark a baldy, Liu Mang pointed at him in anger and shouted. Everyone present was shocked, all wondering what had just happened.


    "That baldy probably shouldn''t have given you his contact details," Xia Liu said, ignoring Liu Mang''s anger, somewhat puzzled as to how that guy would give his contact information to such an idiot.


    "Tsk tsk, Professor Mark and I are good friends, I''ll contact him right now! Let you die knowing why!" Liu Mang was extremely annoyed by Xia Liu. Listening to this guy, it seemed like he knew Mark very well, if he backed down now, everyone present might really think he couldn''t get in touch with Mark.


    ```

 Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Master?

    Actually, when Xia Liu said Mark was bald, Liu Mang had his doubts because he had met Mark, and indeed, the man was bald.Mark often topped the medical news headlines, and anyone who paid attention would know, so Liu Mang thought Xia Liu was showing off.


    If Liu Mang couldn''t get in touch with Mark, then he would be the one showing off, but as long as the call went through and they talked, Xia Liu would have no face to stay. That was Liu Mang''s line of thought.


    To convince everyone present, Liu Mang even initiated a video call.


    They were about to witness a legend in the medical field, and the few doctors present were thrilled beyond measure. They had lost all interest in competing with Xia Liu; they just wanted to see Mark, even if only on video.


    Xia Liu remained unconcerned, continuing to leisurely pour wine and pick up dishes, enjoying himself with Fang Fei.


    Soon, an image appeared on Liu Mang''s phone screen¡ªa very spacious room was visible, and right at the center of the video was a large round bed. The British-style decor was prominently on display.


    On the round bed, a shiny bald head was particularly eye-catching, followed by a fair face, a typical American Caucasian, only slightly less appealing due to the baldness.


    "Wow! It''s really Professor Mark!"


    "Ah! It''s actually him!"


    Upon seeing this foreigner, several doctors got excited, their screams filling the entire house.


    Liu Mang asked them to calm down, then greeted Mark in the video. Due to the different regions, it was morning there for Mark, and by his sleepy appearance, it was clear that he had just woken up.


    Mark also responded to Liu Mang cheerfully, but they spoke in English, and fewer than five people present could understand them.


    "Xia Liu, this guy seems to be for real." After understanding the conversation between Liu Mang and Mark, Fang Fei looked at Xia Liu with some concern.


    Li Qinqin didn''t know what was happening, but she felt strangely sad. She really didn''t want to see Xia Liu make a fool of himself, yet she dared not say anything.


    Xia Liu gave a faint smile, reassuring the two girls. Since he had laid the groundwork, he surely had a way to turn the situation around.


    And indeed, while Liu Mang and Mark were chatting in English, Mark on the other side of the video suddenly widened his eyes as if he had seen some monster, unable to utter a word.


    "What''s wrong with Professor Mark?"


    "Does he seem shocked?"


    "Professor Mark, Professor Mark?" Several doctors and Liu Mang called out softly, not wanting to miss the chance for such a close encounter with Mark. It would be a lifelong regret if the signal were to suddenly cut off.


    At this moment, Mark was intently staring at the video, his gaze fixed on Xia Liu behind Liu Mang. Initially, he didn''t realize, but once he confirmed it was Xia Liu, he was shocked, his eyes nearly popping out.


    "Master! Master!" Just when everyone was puzzled, Mark suddenly spoke up, and shockingly, instead of English, he spoke in the Huaxia Country language, which everyone could understand!


    "Master? Professor Mark, what are you talking about?" Thinking he had misheard, Liu Mang asked in confusion, in English.


    "Master! Master! I know it''s you, please, please respond to me!" In the video, Mark leaped up from the bed and then knelt on the floor, his eyes reddening as if he were about to collapse into tears the next second.


    This scene once again stunned everyone. What was Mark doing? No one could understand.


    Lin Hongsheng and the others looked like they were about to collapse. They were absolutely certain; the bald white man was none other than Mark. And now, a top-five doctor in the current medical community was actually kneeling on the ground, calling someone master. Who was his master and why was he crying? Could it be that he had developed delusional disorder?


    "Everybody, please don''t look at me like that. I don''t know what''s going on, this is Professor Mark, but I am not his master," Liu Mang explained anxiously, under the intensity of several gazes.


    "Baldhead! How did I teach you in the past? A man''s knees are as precious as gold, he may bleed, he may sweat, but he must never cry. What have you made of my words?" Just then, a stern voice reverberated throughout the room.


    Everyone was startled and turned to follow the voice, only to see a stern face¡ªit was Xia Liu, who had been silent and reticent all along!


    "The master is right to reprimand me. Xiao Guang won''t dare again, never again," Mark replied swiftly before everyone''s confusion could settle. He stood up from the ground, but his composure collapsed in an instant as he couldn''t help but let the tears fall.


    Although Mark''s command of the Huaxia language was not very fluent, everyone heard him clearly; his master was indeed Xia Liu.


    That is to say, the world-renowned Mark Bain, ranked among the top five doctors, was Xia Liu''s disciple!


    This revelation shocked everyone, not only Lin Hongsheng and his group but also Li Zhong and Fang Fei were so surprised that their mouths fell agape.


    The one with the ugliest expression was Liu Mang. Originally he had wanted to seize this opportunity to prove himself, but it turned out he had unwittingly helped Xia Liu!


    "Master, Mr. Liu has invited me to Huaxia. I will be able to see you very soon!"


    "Baldhead, without my permission, you are not allowed to step foot into Huaxia," Xia Liu quenched Mark''s excitement with a dose of cold water, leaving him frozen on the spot.


    "Understood!" Mark was about to say more, but seeing the serious look on Xia Liu''s face, he swallowed his words, bowed his head deeply, and remembered the command.


    After Mark spoke, the video was cut off immediately.


    Although the video was gone, Xia Liu''s words echoed in everyone''s minds: "Without my permission, you are not allowed to step foot into Huaxia."


    Such was his authority, a single sentence deflated one of the top five doctors in the medical community!


    Had it not been for Li Qinqin knocking over a bottle, the silence might have continued.


    "Wow! Xia Liu is actually Mark''s master!"


    "This is terrifying, absolutely terrifying!"


    ¡­


    The group of doctors, led by Lin Hongsheng, were so shocked that their hearts almost stopped beating. They had just uncovered the medical community''s most explosive news¡ªMark Bain actually had a master, and this master had been drinking with them at the same table! Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Heh, I knew Brother Xia Liu was no ordinary man, otherwise¡­"


    "This brother is indeed extraordinary, but neither Qinqin nor her Aunt''s medical conditions are within his capacity to cure." Despite the significant embarrassment, Liu Mang refused to concede. So what if he was Mark''s master? He maintained that Xia Liu could not cure Li Qinqin and Xu Fang.


    "Young Master Liu might regret this. Qinqin and her godmother are cured. Xia Liu cured them. Today, my godfather invited the doctors over to thank them for their past help and to tell them there''s no need to trouble themselves any longer," Fang Fei said with a faint smile, clearly annoyed with him.


    "Ah! Director Li, is this true?" Liu Mang trembled with shock and quickly sought confirmation from Li Zhong.


    Li Zhong nodded with a smile: "Today''s meal is mainly to thank Director Lin and a few others. If it weren''t for you all, my wife might not have lived to see this day. Now, both she and Qinqin are completely cured, by none other than Brother Xia Liu, who also happens to be that Mark''s master. Let''s all toast to him!"

 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Special Chicken Feed

    "Cheers!" Everyone excitedly picked up their glasses, partly because Xia Liu had cured Li Qinqin and Xu Fang, and partly because he was actually Mark''s mentor!Drinking with Mark''s mentor, if this got out, the whole medical community would be shaken.


    Unfortunately, the medical community only knew Mark. Even if Xia Liu came forward, no one would recognize him, but Lin Hongsheng and the others understood who the real deal was.


    After all the praises for Xia Liu, Liu Mang was completely annoyed. He made up an excuse to go to the bathroom and hurriedly fled from Li Zhong''s house, causing Fang Fei and Li Qinqin to laugh uncontrollably.


    "By the way, Brother Xia Liu, I heard you mention earlier that Qinqin and you are like¡­"


    "Dad, I had him pretend to be my boyfriend just now. You know how unscrupulous Liu Mang is; he''s been bothering me since forever, and I''m so tired of it." Just as Li Zhong was about to burst into hearty laughter, Li Qinqin interrupted him, making him utterly embarrassed.


    "Yes, that''s right, Qinqin asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend." Seeing Li Qinqin''s piercing gaze, Xia Liu quickly agreed.


    "Divine Doctor Xia, tell us how Mark came to be your disciple."


    "Yeah, we all want to know."


    "Please tell us."


    Lin Hongsheng and a few doctors didn''t want to hear about romances; they wanted to know how Mark became Xia Liu''s disciple and just how impressive Xia Liu''s medical skills really were.


    Xia Liu half-heartedly answered their questions, avoiding full responses. Some matters were beyond their limits to comprehend and were better kept reserved.


    The dinner lasted until 8 p.m. As expected, Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng were both drunk. Before they passed out, they held onto Xia Liu''s hand and talked to him a lot.


    Lin Hongsheng suggested Xia Liu get a nominal professorship at the hospital¡ªthey''d pay the salary just for the title.


    Xia Liu knew Lin Hongsheng''s intentions. Having his own title there, and through his contact with Mark, could make things easier. As for the professorship, Xia Liu gladly accepted; who could guarantee he would always stay in the village? With Lin Hongsheng''s support, it would make future medical visits for the villagers much simpler.


    Li Zhong brought him some good news: cable digital TV was going to be installed in Osmanthus Village.


    Digital electronics, that was high tech! Soon they would be able to not only watch TV but also go online¡ªit couldn''t get any better.


    Xia Liu was very satisfied with this trip. Before leaving, he checked the pulses of Li Qinqin and Xu Fang. Thanks to the flow of Five Element Spiritual Energy through their bodies, they were now in better condition than average people.


    With Xu Fang present, Li Qinqin didn''t dare make a move when sending Xia Liu off, but from her resentful look, it was clear that trouble was bound to happen if they met again.


    "Xia Liu, you should head back first. I''ll go up and clean with Qinqin." After seeing Xia Liu into the car, Fang Fei waved goodbye.


    This time Xia Liu wasn''t pleased; they had clearly agreed on something beforehand¡ªphotos, photos!


    "Sister Fang, it''s not really good to leave like this."


    "Well, you''ve been drinking, it''s indeed not good for you to drive. I''ll call a friend to take you home." Fang Fei nodded seriously.


    "Sister Fang, that''s not what I meant." While holding off Fang Fei, Xia Liu was focused on his phone screen.


    "Pfft!" Seeing this, Fang Fei finally understood. He was so serious about it that even though he was about to leave, he was still preoccupied with that matter, "Add me on QQ, and I''ll send you the photos after I''ve organized them."


    "Sure thing!" Although he didn''t have the app on his phone, Xia Liu had a QQ account and planned to download it later.


    After exchanging QQ account information, Xia Liu cheerfully drove off. He wasn''t in a hurry to go home. Instead, he visited several ATMs before he managed to withdraw one hundred thousand yuan. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was too late to withdraw a lot of money, so he could only bring this amount back for now and plan to withdraw more when delivering goods tomorrow.


    Now, as the number of oysters increased day by day, money came faster, and his income grew. Once this batch of chickens was ready, perhaps he could start many projects.


    Xia Liu packed some late-night snacks at a restaurant to take back to Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman.


    Upon seeing Xia Liu bringing them treats, Zhang Xiaoxue and Xiaoman each planted a kiss on Xia Liu''s face before taking the snacks inside.


    Xia Liu forcefully wiped his mouth. What in the world was happening? He rubbed his eyes. It wasn''t an illusion, but surely something was off. Why would these two girls kiss him...


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have time to explore this new development. Leaning on the courtyard wall were several big bags, and he could smell the rich aroma of Osmanthus without even getting close.


    Xia Liu had initially asked those women to pack just one or two bags of Osmanthus, but they ended up with five, all of excellent quality, as if they were meticulously selected.


    Leaning against the courtyard wall were also seven or eight bags of chicken feed. He had the shopkeeper move it to his home yesterday, and what he intended to do with it was now quite apparent¡ªmixing the feed with Osmanthus!


    Previously, Fang Fei had mentioned that the chicken from Osmanthus Village had a very unique quality¡ªit smelled like Osmanthus. If his guess was right, these chickens must have been eating Osmanthus flowers that fell to the ground, which made the meat fragrant.


    To verify this fact, Xia Liu decided to raise them from a young age by directly mixing Osmanthus into their feed.


    Xia Liu looked around but couldn''t find a container big enough for the feed, so he borrowed a large tarp from Li Zhong''s house. He dumped the five bags of feed onto the tarp, treating the Osmanthus differently.


    Lacking a tool to crush the Osmanthus, Xia Liu, while the two girls were dining, strongly channeled the Five Elements Mantra, carefully controlling the Spiritual Energy to surge into the bag filled with Osmanthus. In less than ten seconds, the Spiritual Energy, sharp as a blade, had chopped the Osmanthus into strips; another ten seconds, and a bag of Osmanthus powder was ready.


    It wasn''t exactly powder; the bag of Osmanthus had turned into pellet form, like chicken feed.


    Xia Liu was very pleased with this and proceeded to transform the remaining four bags into pellets, all in just three minutes.


    Once done, he poured the Osmanthus pellets into the chicken feed and used a shovel to mix it evenly.


    As he finished, an idea suddenly erupted in Xia Liu''s head. The Wooden Spirit Energy in the Five Element Spiritual Energy had a nurturing effect. What would happen if this feed was nourished by the Wooden Spirit Energy?


    Xia Liu didn''t know, but he decided to give it a try. He sat down cross-legged, a palm poised in front of him, and invisibly, the Wooden Spirit Energy surged from his palm like a flow of water.


    The Wooden Spirit Energy soaked into the feed continuously, like water, finally integrating into every pellet.


    Five minutes later, Xia Liu withdrew his hand, a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead. Managing Spiritual Energy consumption at this level was much simpler compared to acupuncture, where concentration and control of Spiritual Energy had to be very subtle, consuming a lot of energy. Nurturing feed was just like regular Spiritual Energy emission, not exhausting, which made it less uncomfortable.

 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Uneasy with No Return

    "Wow! Brother Xia Liu, it''s only been about ten minutes, and you''ve already mixed all these feeds?" Looking at the intermingled yellow and red pellets, Zhang Xiaoxue exclaimed in surprise."Of course, after you guys had your fill, you came over to open the bags, aiming to get some early sleep." Xia Liu didn''t bother with modesty. With the two girls around, he couldn''t show off his amazing speed and had to fill the bags with feed just like any ordinary person would.


    After packing the feed, Zhang Xiaoxue suggested Xia Liu take a shower first, and then the two of them would grab something to eat.


    To Xia Liu''s surprise, just when he was about to rinse off the foam from his body, the curtain blocking the entrance suddenly opened¡ªopened!


    Immediately, two charming smiling faces appeared inside the bathhouse, scaring Xia Liu into hurriedly covering himself with a towel: "What are you two doing!"


    "Brother Xia Liu, Xiao Man and I came to scrub your back, haha," Zhang Xiaoman was the first to chime in.


    Zhang Xiaoxue blushed, her head lowered. It was Zhang Xiaoman who had come up with the idea, and she couldn''t refuse and had to agree. But once they actually entered, she felt extremely uncomfortable.


    "No need, no need, I can do it myself." Xia Liu quickly declined, completely unable to comprehend what the two girls were thinking.


    He felt a bit alarmed. Ever since Zhang Xiaoman had moved in, Zhang Xiaoxue had changed¡ªbecome less introverted, more audacious.


    "We can''t do that. You pay us high wages and give us bonuses. We don''t feel right accepting them without giving something back," Zhang Xiaoman continued.


    "Yeah, Brother Xia Liu, just let us help." Right, that was the argument Zhang Xiaoman had used to coax Zhang Xiaoxue into joining her in helping Xia Liu.


    "Good heavens, you really don''t need to do this. If you don''t leave now, I''ll cut your salaries and there''ll be no bonus either."


    Hearing Xia Liu say that, Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes reddened and their expressions slowly changed.


    "Oh, my dear little ancestors, I''m letting you help, so please don''t cry," Xia Liu couldn''t stand tearful faces, and it was especially difficult with two girls in this state¡ªit would be foolish not to take advantage when fortune came knocking at the door!


    Once Xia Liu had thought it through, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman exchanged a look and began smilingly scrubbing and washing his back.


    During the process, Xia Liu was almost at the brink of a breakdown. If he hadn''t quietly used the Five Elements Mantra, he would have found himself in numerous awkward situations.


    The moment he returned to his room, his towel was flung away. Xia Liu ran his hands through his inch-long hair, feeling like he was going mad. He''d been scrubbed by the two women for a full half hour¡ªthirty minutes!


    He quickly dressed and rushed out the door: "Xiaoxue, Xiaoman, I''m going to check on the chicks at the mountain top. You two wash up and head to bed soon."


    "Ah, Brother Xia Liu still can''t accept it..." Watching his silhouette disappear into the darkness, Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t help but sigh in resignation.


    Two hours later, Xia Liu let out a long breath. Across from him, Zhang Qing licked the corners of her mouth with a mischievous look: "Xia Liu, why don''t you just settle down with those two little ''fairies''? That way Sister Zhang here wouldn''t be so worn out; I was almost at the point of fainting just now."


    "Heh, Sister Zhang, there''s no need to be modest. I can tell your limits are far greater than that." Xia Liu didn''t dare boast in front of Zhang Qing, but she had a point¡ªif he really got serious, not even ten of her could handle it.


    "Heh, I know you too well. Don''t be so modest. Xiao Xue and Xiao Man are good girls. Even if you married both of them, no one would say a word." Zhang Qing often mingled with the village women and had heard all the gossip. There was a rich man in the town who had five women, and they all lived together in one house.


    After Xia Liu got the villagers involved, the women all contacted their daughters who were working out of town, urging them to hurry back home lest they miss the chance to marry Xia Liu, the opportunity of eight lifetimes. In fact, many women even suggested that since there was only one Xia Liu and so many young girls in the village, it would be best if they all married him, for the "fat water should not flow into others'' fields." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t joke about that. How can we compare ourselves to a tycoon? Just living our lives honestly will do." After hearing Zhang Qing''s words, Xia Liu silently shook his head. Living with five women all under one roof? How could you even begin to manage that, let alone handle the relationships between them? That too was a major issue.


    After chatting idly with Zhang Qing for a while, Xia Liu took his leave. He didn''t want to risk being discovered by the villagers at daybreak again.


    But upon arriving home, an idea that Zhang Qing had mentioned lingered in Xia Liu''s mind ¡ª the idea of taking all the girls for himself...


    After shaking off this whimsical thought, Xia Liu turned on his phone, downloaded QQ, and quickly logged into his account. He hadn''t forgotten that Fang Fei was supposed to send him photos!


    As soon as he logged in, a friend request popped up. The user''s online name was: A Woman in Love.


    He first thought it was a random person adding him, but upon seeing the profile picture he grew excited ¡ª it was Fang Fei! She actually had such a suggestive online name, scaring the daylight out of anyone.


    Once he accepted the friend request, thinking it was too late and Fang Fei had probably gone to bed, Xia Liu didn''t initiate a chat. But before he could turn off his screen, a message from QQ appeared ¡ª it was from A Woman in Love.


    Without a second thought, Xia Liu opened it to find a picture that was slowly loading due to the sluggish internet speed.


    About five seconds later, the screen displayed a pair of fair and flawless legs!


    Xia Liu couldn''t help but widen his eyes ¡ª those legs looked good enough to enjoy for a year without growing tired of them.


    He had never seen such legs before and couldn''t help but send Fang Fei a question. He was desperate to find out to whom those legs belonged!


    "I sneaked a shot while Qinqin was asleep. Hurry up and do your thing so you can rest. I''ll send you a few more pictures tomorrow."


    This was the message Fang Fei sent over, and Xia Liu was stunned. Did she have to be so straightforward?


    But indeed, those legs had captivated Xia Liu. He had never seen the girl reveal her legs before, but to possess such perfect limbs! If they were exposed, they would surely attract countless gazes.


    Xia Liu offered a quick reply before shutting off his phone. He had gone without sleep for quite a while now and today he needed to catch up on rest.


    By the time he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. It was past eleven in the morning. Zhang Xiaoxue had gone to the beach to watch everyone harvesting oysters, and Xiaoman was at home cooking.


    After a quick meal, Xia Liu drove to the mountain top to deliver five bags of feed, trusting that the women would know what to do next.


    Upon his arrival at the beach, the villagers had already processed three thousand pounds of oysters, which they helped load into Xia Liu''s car.


    Ever since Huang Xue resigned, Xia Liu hadn''t returned to the office; the kitchen staff would weigh the oysters and report directly to Fang Fei, and payment would be transferred straight into his account.


    In truth, Xia Liu was eager to return to the office, but having learned that Fang Fei wasn''t there, he felt compelled to give up the idea.


    By the time he returned to the village, Li Zhi was standing at his doorstep. Xia Liu found out upon asking that Li Zhi, along with most of the villagers, had called back their sons and daughters-in-law who were working far away. Now, Li Zhi was coming to discuss with Xia Liu about possibly finding some jobs for them.

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Fast-Growing Chickens

    Not only was Xia Liu, but the sons and daughters of other farmers in the village had also been called back. Working outside for a month only earned them two or three thousand yuan, and they couldn''t eat well or sleep peacefully.Now, with Xia Liu''s development in the village, working a day could earn them five or six thousand yuan¡ªlife outside couldn''t compare to that at home.


    Xia Liu''s son, named Li Dazhuang, was a simple and honest fellow with a hefty build. Xia Liu and Li Dazhuang had often played together as kids, so he knew him very well.


    "Dazhuang, we haven''t seen each other for many years, how have you been these years?" Seeing Li Dazhuang, Xia Liu felt a bit awkward. Time had changed everything; it had been years, and this guy had even gotten married and was about to have a child.


    "Ah, life is tough these days, running long distances every day, and barely making enough to live on each month. I heard from old dad, you''re now a celebrity in the village, handing out several tens of thousands in wages every day." Li Dazhuang was shocked as he spoke. It was the first time he had heard about it from his father on the phone, and he could hardly believe it. Threatened by the awe, even seeing Xia Liu, he still couldn''t believe it.


    "Heh heh, that''s all hard-earned by everyone."


    "Brother Xia, don''t kid me. Are you calling picking up shells in the sea or pulling out weeds in the mountains hard work?" Looking at the grinning Xia Liu, Li Dazhuang''s face grew somber. If those tasks were considered hard work, then what was his twenty-hour workday called?


    "Haha, let''s not talk about that. Did you just say you were running long distances outside?" Xia Liu suddenly became interested. Huang Xue, that demon, had left, and now there was no need for him to handle the shipping himself. If he could find someone to replace him, that would definitely free up more time for contemplation.


    Li Dazhuang nodded, not understanding the reason.


    "How about this, Dazhuang, you don''t go out anymore. Stay in the village and drive for me. I''ll pay you twenty thousand yuan a month."


    "Twenty thousand yuan!"


    Upon hearing this amount, Li Dazhuang dropped his cigarette, and his wife beside him was dumbstruck.


    Having struggled outside for years, they knew the importance of twenty thousand yuan¡ªthat was two hundred bills! They barely made a bit over three thousand yuan a month after exhausting themselves to death.


    "If you don''t say no, I''ll take that as a yes. I''ll give you this month''s salary upfront, and we''ll talk about the specifics later."


    As he spoke, Xia Liu went back to the car, took out two stacks of banknotes, and handed them to the stunned Li Dazhuang.


    Gazing at the banknotes in his hand with wide eyes, Li Dazhuang''s breathing became rapid. It really was twenty thousand yuan. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Brother Xia, isn''t this too much?"


    "What''s too much about it? Uncle Li and Auntie Li make six thousand a day."


    "Ah! Dazhuang, you better thank this brother fast!" Upon hearing Xia Liu''s words, Li Dazhuang''s wife became excited. With more money, and better conditions, it would be a huge help for their child''s future.


    "Dazhuang, you rest first, I''ll come later and we can talk more." Understanding that Li Dazhuang might not be able to accept this at once, Xia Liu gave him some time to adjust before driving off.


    Xia Liu didn''t go home, but instead went to the top of the mountain to check on the chicks. He hadn''t reached by car yet when a woman anxiously ran over to stop his vehicle.


    "Xia Liu, it''s terrible, there''s a demon!" At that moment, the woman''s face was pale as if she had been scared by something.


    "Fat Auntie, slow down, what happened?" Xia Liu was puzzled for a moment, wondering if a wild animal had entered the chicken coop.


    "Xia Liu, I don''t know what happened, but the chickens have all gotten bigger in just a morning!"


    "Gotten bigger?" Xia Liu was utterly baffled. He let the woman get into the car and hurried to check.


    Not expecting much, he was truly startled upon inspection; these chickens, which had just been brought back yesterday, were all yellow and weighed only about one or two taels.


    It had only been one day, yet the chickens'' feathers had turned a reddish-grey color. They must have weighed about three to four taels each. Compared to the small chicks, it was clear they had grown significantly.


    Xia Liu calmed down and learned about the situation from a few women.


    According to them, the chickens were still yellow in the morning and not very big, but by the afternoon when they came to check, they found that all had changed, and everyone was scared nearly green.


    After finding out about the situation, Xia Liu told them to go home and rest, and he would notify them once the investigation was clear.


    Looking at the chickens hopping around the yard, Xia Liu made a round and finally fixed his gaze on a few bags of feed.


    Suddenly, a bold speculation burst in his mind¡ªthe chickens were growing too fast because of the feed!


    Or to put it another way, they had all eaten feed nourished with Wooden Spirit Energy!


    Xia Liu randomly grabbed a few chickens. The Inner Qi in their bodies was very active, and they were all very strong, which showed they were quite healthy.


    "We''ve struck it rich!" he exclaimed excitedly after observing for a while.


    These chickens were normal, and they had mutated due to the Wooden Spirit Energy!


    Wooden Spirit Energy had the effect of promoting growth and healing, and when combined with silver needles, it could rapidly heal injured organs in people. These chickens, having eaten feed nourished with Wooden Spirit Energy, could grow faster!


    Once he confirmed this answer, Xia Liu drove to the women''s homes.


    In fact, he saw the women in an open area of the village, and the news of the chickens'' rapid growth had already spread throughout the village.


    "Xia Liu, you''re back. Is it a demon causing it?" asked a woman eagerly as she saw Xia Liu returning.


    The others present also looked at Xia Liu. Such bizarre occurrences always drew people''s attention.


    "Haha, Fat Auntie, don''t worry. There''s no demon. I called the seller of the chicks, and he said these chickens are a hybrid variety from abroad, and they grow much faster than ordinary chickens!" This was all made up by Xia Liu; otherwise, it would be difficult to smoothly gloss over this matter.


    "Oh, I see, you gave us quite a scare." The villagers all breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn''t bear to see Xia Liu face enormous losses if there was another problem with this batch of chickens.


    Xia Liu instructed the women about the feed; they were to feed the chickens twice a day in minimal quantities. Also, they were to collect as many Osmanthus flowers as possible, every day.


    "Aunties, you must collect them every day. I''ll add eight thousand to your salary this month."


    Wow!


    This news excited the women. With the eight thousand added to their previous salaries, that was over ten thousand!


    "Fat Sister-in-law, congratulations."


    "Sister-in-law Damei, congratulations to you too."


    The other villagers present all shared smiles. They weren''t envious. Ten thousand might have seemed like a lot in the past, but now it was just two days'' work, whereas these few had to look after the chickens for a whole month!


    Amid laughter and cheer, Xia Liu drove home. Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue had already prepared dinner. They started eating as soon as he returned, like a husband with two sweet little wives.

 Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Obstacles after Obstacles

    ```This time, Xia Liu knew the ropes. After finishing his meal, he went out, telling the girls he was heading to Li Zhong''s place.


    In reality, he truly intended to visit Li Zhong, and while he was at it, to take cover just in case the girls decided to barge in on him while he was bathing, which would be utterly terrifying.


    Ever since his encounter with Zhang Qing, his willpower had been getting weaker and weaker. He really worried that his desires would overwhelm him and he''d end up sleeping with the two of them.


    Li Zhong''s household was buzzing with excitement that night. Li Dazhuang''s wife had lived in a remote place, having been rarely happy since marrying Li Dazhuang.


    But now things had changed. Li Dazhuang was making twenty thousand a month, and Li Zhong and Auntie Li were bringing in several thousand a day. Just give it a few more months, and they''d have hundreds of thousands!


    In a nutshell, marrying into Osmanthus Village was definitely a blessing earned in a past life.


    Xia Liu''s arrival added to the lively atmosphere at Li Zhong''s home¡ªthe villagers of Osmanthus Village would never forget that their current prosperity was all thanks to Xia Liu!


    Li Zhong poured Xia Liu a bowl of Osmanthus Wine, and he, along with Li Dazhuang, downed it in unison.


    At the table, Xia Liu arranged a job for Li Dazhuang. It was a simple one: driving, and helping out when he was idle.


    After understanding the situation, Li Dazhuang felt a bit down. Just for this bit of work, he was drawing a salary of twenty thousand a month¡ªit was pretty frightening.


    The next morning, Xia Liu went up to the hilltop to check things out and was pleased to find that the chickens had grown even larger. After filling his car with oysters, he took Li Dazhuang with him to the county.


    He decided that from now on, he''d hand over the delivery duties to Li Dazhuang. This trip was just to let Li Dazhuang get the hang of the process and to set him up with a delivery truck.


    Having learned from his past experiences, Xia Liu wasn''t going to sell his vehicle at that used car dealership anymore; they were all dodgy cars.


    But he couldn''t find that dealership again anyway; after the last incident, Chen Jin had led people to knock it out of business. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eventually, Xia Liu bought a delivery truck, eighty percent new, from a private driver for about a hundred thousand.


    The whole experience left Li Dazhuang utterly amazed. Xia Liu was not only generous but also decisive. In him, Li Dazhuang saw the future hopes of Osmanthus Village.


    When the delivery truck drove back to the village, the villagers welcomed it with firecrackers; it was its first trip carrying oysters. This time, Xia Liu did not accompany the delivery, entrusting the entire task to Li Dazhuang.


    As for the payment, the kitchen manager from Longteng Hotel had already handled it, and they would send the bill to Fang Fei, who''d directly deposit the money into the card.


    Now that Xia Liu had handed over the delivery job to Li Dazhuang, he finally had some free time.


    Of course, he wasn''t truly idle. He''d go up to the hilltop during the day to check on the chickens, go hunting in the mountains in the afternoon, and look for herbs. Everything was so apt and relaxed.


    Half a month had passed, and one morning, Xia Liu received a phone call from Li Zhong.


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu''s expression turned somber. He''d also been pondering over the issue these past few days¡ªthe digital television thing that Li Zhong had discussed with him. It had been ten days to half a month already, and yet there was no sign of it reaching Osmanthus Village.


    It turned out that they encountered obstructions while laying the lines, much like running into a nail household when building a road!


    The obstruction was in Shanyan Village, and at the time of the call, Li Zhong and his team were already there dealing with the situation.


    Packing up, Xia Liu immediately drove to Shanyan Village. Once he confirmed the location, he arrived at a field in front of Shanyan Village.


    The field was a vast expanse of paddy, brimming with golden rice that swayed gently in the breeze. It was an enchanting sight, marred only by a group of villagers wielding hoes and sickles who spoiled the view.


    ```


    In a rice field that had already been harvested, a large group of villagers from Shanyan Village stood, their faces flushed with anger. Opposite them stood another group of people, dressed in blue electrician uniforms, amongst them were Li Zhong and his subordinates.


    "You can run the cables, but don''t touch the land!"


    "Right! Get out of here with your tools. Our village doesn''t need your cables, doesn''t watch your TV."


    Xia Liu hadn''t even gotten close when he heard several burly men from Shanyan Village shouting; their yells stirred up the onlookers, causing chaos like ants on a hot pan.


    "Fellow villagers, this electric pole isn''t very big, and we plan to install it on the ridge between fields, so it won''t take up any of your land." At this point, Li Zhong spoke up. His expression was sincere. He had encountered such matters before while holding office elsewhere, and had always managed to resolve them peacefully.


    "County Chief Li, we all trust you, but we can''t have these poles installed. The village doesn''t use the paid TV service anyway. Besides, this land belongs to a ninety-year-old man. What he can''t stand the most is other people tampering with his property. If he finds out, it might just be too much for him, and he could pass away from the shock."


    "Right, if Grandpa Mo dies, who will take responsibility?"


    "Does Grandpa Mo''s life mean nothing to you?"


    With a lead, the people from Shanyan Village began clamoring all at once.


    This situation left Li Zhong at a loss; he had already greased the wheels with the villagers before. These electric poles, if installed on the land, would surely require compensation. Even if installed on the ridges, he had planned to compensate them, but it would come out of his own pocket.


    "County Chief Li, let''s not rush this, there must be a way out." Xia Liu approached Li Zhong, having understood the situation at a glance. Either the ninety-year-old was real, or Shanyan Village was deliberately causing trouble.


    "Xia Liu, I have let you down. I haven''t been able to handle this for so long, I feel ashamed." Li Zhong, facing Xia Liu''s radiant smile, felt truly remorseful. It would still take some time before he could extend the line to Osmanthus Village.


    "Don''t talk like that, County Chief Li. I understand the situation. Let me try to negotiate."


    Without waiting for Li Zhong to reply, Xia Liu stepped forward to face the crowd from Shanyan Village, "I''m sure you all know me, Xia Liu from Osmanthus Village. There originally wasn''t a quota for running these lines, but County Chief Li fought for it for us. This is an opportunity ¨C don''t you all want the convenience of watching TV and accessing the internet?"


    "Osmanthus Village''s brat, get lost. Whether we watch TV or not is none of your business!"


    "Yeah! What''s it to you!"


    ...


    After Xia Liu identified himself, the villagers from Shanyan Village became even more animated than before, directing their hostility towards Xia Liu.


    "You kid from Osmanthus Village, if Grandpa Mo dies, it''ll be on you!"


    "It''ll be on you!"


    Facing this group of unreasonable people, Li Zhong pulled Xia Liu aside, "Brother Liu, let me find a way to handle this."


    Xia Liu didn''t respond, just coldly watched the people of Shanyan Village. Previously, when they had been opening the road, animosities were nearly settled. But now, it seemed worse than before.


    He vaguely remembered, a few days prior, Li Dazhuang''s car tire had suddenly burst when he was driving past Shanyan Village. Upon inspection, they found a Wolf Fang Nail inside the inner tube.


    Comparing that incident with the current one, Xia Liu realized that Shanyan Village was intentionally causing trouble!


    Just as Li Zhong was about to go calm things down, a black car along with several police vehicles sped towards them. As soon as the car stopped, Lan Weiming got out, "County Chief Li! I have just returned from an inspection in Qingyun County."

 Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Moving Mountains to Make Way!

    Lan Weiming had received a phone call from a colleague on the road, saying that Li Zhong had arrived at Shanyan Village and had even started a conflict with the people of Shanyan Village; thus, he hastily asked the driver to speed up, fearing every second of delay.He had heard all about the situation from his colleague: setting up digital television lines was a huge favor.


    He had not received any notice beforehand, which indicated that arranging the wiring was personally organized by Li Zhong, showing the importance of the matter.


    "Li County, I''m familiar with Shanyan Village; leave this matter to me."


    Initially, Li Zhong wanted to scold Lan Weiming, but upon hearing this, he nodded in agreement. If this issue could be resolved, it would save his face.


    "Li De, come out here!" Lan Weiming stood in front of the people of Shanyan Village and shouted loudly.


    The only explanation for these villagers'' rioting was one: the village head Li De, his brother-in-law!


    Li De, with his fat cheeks and slightly squinty eyes, looked somewhat crafty as he smirked and stepped forward from the crowd: "Brother-in-law, you''re here too."


    "Li De, give me some face, hurry up and disperse the crowd."


    "Brother-in-law, have you lost your mind? That kid from Osmanthus Village, Haozi and Jianzi, it''s because of him they were ¡­"


    "Enough, Li De! What happened to those two is in the past now, I believe when they return, they will surely change completely. The current issue is to disperse the crowd!" Lan Weiming directly interrupted Li De. He was furious with his brother-in-law. If it weren''t for the uniform he was wearing, he would really have clenched his fists and punched him.


    "Brother-in-law, you''re putting on quite the airs. This is not your office building; this is Shanyan Village!" After saying that, Li De spread his arms wide, and the people of Shanyan Village immediately roared in support.


    "Luo Cheng!" Faced with Li De''s interference, Lan Weiming roared furiously. Moments later, a dozen officers quickly descended from the police car parked behind, led by Captain Luo Cheng, whom Xia Liu had met before.


    Seeing the police arriving, Li De also became somewhat panicked; he knew Lan Weiming was serious this time.


    But he also had a secret weapon. Just as Luo Cheng and his team were about to reach them, all the villagers of Shanyan Village stepped back, and then an old man with white hair and a cane slowly walked onto the ridge: "If you want to touch my land, it will only happen over my dead body."


    The appearance of the old man took Xia Liu, Li Zhong, and Lan Weiming by surprise, indicating that Li De was determined to resist with everyone.


    "Li County, let''s call off the people. Even if we manage to install it today, the line will often break in the future. There''s no need," Xia Liu said slowly after a pause.


    "Haha, the lad from Osmanthus Village, you really know your place. Scram!"


    "Yeah, scram right now!"


    Scram ¡­


    Once again, Li De led the crowd in a loud chant, leaving Li Zhong, Lan Weiming, and others feeling extremely embarrassed; after all, they were prominent figures of Hejing County, and now they were being silenced by a village tyrant.


    Helpless, with Xia Liu having spoken, the two had no choice but to comply.


    As Xia Liu and the others got back into their car, the people of Shanyan Village clapped and cheered as if they had driven away enemies.


    "Since you from Shanyan Village want to play it this way, then don''t regret it!" Coldly glancing back, Xia Liu started the car and quickly drove back to the village.


    Li Zhong and Lan Weiming hurriedly followed, while Luo Cheng and his team went back ahead of them.


    It was now after five in the afternoon, and the villagers had already finished their day''s work. In the center of the village, Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue were distributing money to everyone.


    The people were becoming more fond of Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue, and Zhang Xiaoman, joking that since the sisters were so close, it would be amazing if they both married Xia Liu; they often found themselves teased until their faces turned crimson.


    After the money was distributed, three cars entered the village, and when Xia Liu, Li Zhong, and Lan Weiming got out, everyone happily gathered around them.


    "Brother Liu, I am really sorry about today,"


    "It''s all my fault. Pinglan Town is under my jurisdiction, and Li De is my wife''s younger brother. It''s all my responsibility." Even with villagers around, Li Zhong and Lan Weiming did not hesitate to apologize to Xia Liu.


    The two took turns speaking, leaving the villagers astonished, all wondering what exactly had happened for Li Zhong and Lan Weiming to be apologizing to Xia Liu!


    "County Chief Li, Town Chief Lan, this is actually quite alright; you don''t need to blame yourselves," Xia Liu said, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains.


    Yes, this was quite alright. Even if the lines were properly drawn, given Shanyan Village''s nature, it was likely the electricians would often have to come and connect the wires. Why bother?


    "So now..." Li Zhong couldn''t do more, facing those old, weak, sick, and disabled, he couldn''t enforce anything.


    "It''s very easy to handle now." Saying this, Xia Liu extended his hand forward: "Move the mountain to make way!"


    Upon hearing this, Li Zhong and Lan Weiming''s pupils sharply constricted. Moving the mountain to make way was an idea too bold to imagine.


    "Move the mountain to make way? Xia Liu, what''s going on here?" Li Zhi had been observing them all along, unable to understand their conversation, but he caught what Xia Liu said. If the road was fine, why go through the trouble of moving a mountain to make way?


    Faced with everyone''s questions, Lan Weiming explained everything clearly.


    "Damn that Li De! He actually instigated Shanyan Village to block the wiring!"


    "That guy is just a local tyrant; even before Xia Liu returned, he dared to block roads; now, he won''t even allow the wires to pass through!" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Knowing the reason, everyone started to complain.


    "Actually, this is quite good. Now we have the resolve to open a new path, a shortcut to the town and the county!" Xia Liu was not sad at all, even happy. He had planned to pave a cement road from the village to the national highway, but now it could be avoided altogether.


    Since Shanyan Village maliciously hindered them, viewing Osmanthus Village as an enemy, why should Osmanthus Village still try to please them!


    "Heh, this is actually a good thing! But opening a road will definitely require a lot of funds."


    "Yes, Brother Liu, moving this mountain is a huge project, I probably won''t be able to get the application approved without special conditions," expressed Li Zhong, both helpless and embarrassed as this was when he was most needed, yet he could not help at all.


    "County Chief Li, everyone, don''t worry, I will cover all the expenses!" Xia Liu smiled triumphantly; he had accumulated over two million these past days, and that was his confidence.


    Two million might not be enough, but he still had twenty thousand chickens!


    Those chickens had always been fed with Spiritual Energy-infused feed; in about twenty days, they had already grown to over five or six pounds each, selling at eighty a pound, one chicken could go for four hundred, ten thousand chickens would be four million!


    Two million plus twenty thousand chickens, moving mountains and paving roads, should be enough!


    "Ah! Brother Liu, please think it over; this is not a small sum, it could easily take tens of millions." Upon hearing this, Li Zhong was the first to offer consolation, knowing such a project would be huge and expensive.


    And since Osmanthus Village was still the poorest village in the county, how could they possibly afford it, even if it was Xia Liu, he didn''t have that much money...

 Chapter 60: Chapter 60 No Surprises, More Horrors

    "Xia Liu, rather than going on like this, let''s have everyone in the village contribute a bit of strength. This way, you wouldn''t have to exhaust yourself so much," Li Zhong expressed his agreement with Li Zhong''s idea, but the road certainly had to be built; otherwise, the village would forever remain suppressed and unable to rise."Yeah, Xia Liu, let''s all contribute our strength together!"


    "We can''t let Xia Liu carry the burden alone, everyone agrees, right!"


    "Right! Let''s all work together!"


    ¡­


    Li Zhong''s words set off a wave of enthusiastic endorsement among the villagers; there might have been opposing voices in the past, but not now!


    The loudest advocate was none other than Zhang Tie, who had completely changed and was now unconditionally supporting Xia Liu for life!


    Li Zhong and Lan Weiming were both moved by the unity of the village. They exchanged glances and could see each other''s thoughts. Regardless of whether the approval was granted or not, they would both file a report when they got back.


    Xia Liu waved his hand and smiled warmly as he surveyed the crowd, "Everyone needn''t worry. I''ll handle this matter by myself. All of you just focus on your work, earn more money, and build up your own homes! Leave the development of the village to me!"


    "Brother Xia Liu..." Watching the confident Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue murmured softly, tears streaming down her face.


    On the night Xia Liu returned, he had promised to make the villagers rich, and he had done it!


    Now, he was going to spend his money on moving mountains and paving roads; he made another promise, and the burden on his shoulders was incredibly heavy.


    Li Zhong and the villagers on-site tried to dissuade Xia Liu continuously, but it was no use; Xia Liu insisted on completing it alone.


    With no other choice, everyone finally compromised, but led by Li Zhong, several of them gathered and decided to take out their savings.


    When Xia Liu heard this, he immediately stopped Li Zhong and quietly explained the situation to him.


    After hearing it, Li Zhong could only give a wry smile, then stated to the villagers that Xia Liu would have full authority over the matter.


    With Li Zhong''s assurance, the villagers finally calmed down. At that time, Zhang Tie had already brought the last pig from his home, intending to have a lively village meeting.


    Everyone wholeheartedly supported Zhang Tie, and those who had chickens or ducks at home went to fetch some, while others brought tables and chairs from their homes as well.


    Li Zhong and Lan Weiming were kept from leaving by the enthusiastic villagers who insisted on them staying; in fact, they didn''t want to leave either and wished to talk more with Xia Liu, hoping to understand more about this mysterious young man.


    This day was the most exciting day for Osmanthus Village and the happiest one for Xia Liu because the goal was now much closer.


    The village meeting lasted until midnight; several villagers had already collapsed under the tables, with only Xia Liu still standing at the end.


    Li Zhong and Lan Weiming were in even worse shape and began to vomit as soon as they got into the car, causing the driver a lot of grief.


    Afterwards, Xia Liu was escorted home by Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman, who were worried that he might be drunk and end up in a ditch, causing trouble.


    Following the trio was Zhang Qing, who felt some regret; she had hoped to invite Xia Liu to her home, but now the opportunity was gone.


    Being forcefully escorted by the two girls, Xia Liu pretended to be drunk, kept his head down the whole way, his hands fumbling about, and he kept muttering about not being drunk and wanting to drink more.


    On his way home, he didn''t know how many times he took advantage of the situation. To miss such opportunities to cop a feel would simply be idiotic. Anyway, the girls thought he was drunk and wouldn''t remember a thing in the morning, so there was nothing to fear.


    After Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman helped Xia Liu into the house, they carefully laid him on the bed, "Cousin, Brother Xia Liu is all sticky. He won''t be comfortable sleeping like this. Let''s wipe him down with a towel, shall we?"


    "Ah! That''s not such a good idea," Zhang Xiaoxue''s face turned bright red at the thought of wiping Xia Liu down. She still vividly remembered the last time she helped scrub his back, a visual shock she would never forget in her lifetime.


    "Holy shit, I''m too young to die. Xiaoxue, please don''t agree to that, otherwise I won''t be able to control myself!" Xia Liu, with eyes tightly shut, insisted in his heart. Just hearing her say that made his blood flow quicken. If they really went through with it, the outcome would be a disaster.


    "Like it or not, it must be done. Brother Xia Liu will be really uncomfortable sleeping like this."


    "Xiaoman, Brother Xia Liu will surely disagree, so..."


    "Cousin, it''s just a small matter. I was even thinking about stripping Brother Xia Liu naked, getting undressed ourselves, and lying next to him. Tomorrow morning when Brother Xia Liu wakes up, he''s bound to be very surprised," Zhang Xiaoman said excitedly, blinking her eyes.


    ... S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just listening to this dialogue, Xia Liu was not surprised but more shocked. Zhang Xiaoman had the nerve to coax Xiaoxue into doing such things! He would have to find an opportunity to properly educate her, but the proposal was damn good!


    "Xiaoman, you are really bold. If we really do that, Brother Xia Liu will definitely be mad at us tomorrow. Come on, let''s go back to bed!" Zhang Xiaoxue, although shy, was quite firm in her decision.


    Helplessly, Zhang Xiaoman pouted and slowly exited the room.


    "Xiaoxue is really sensible, I must remember this and reward her later." After the two girls left, Xia Liu sat up from the bed.


    After the girls had gone to sleep, he slipped out quietly and headed for the beach, thinking a soak in the seawater was perfect after a tiring day.


    However, by coincidence, not long after he jumped into the water, Zhang Qing appeared on the shore.


    "Sister Zhang, why aren''t you resting so late?" Xia Liu was taken aback by Zhang Qing''s appearance¡ªit was almost one o''clock in the morning, and there she was.


    "Hehe, you haven''t come to my house for quite a few days. I saw you heading this way, so I thought you could teach me to swim again." Zhang Qing had already entered the water as she spoke¡­


    That night, the two of them were destined to return home late, with soft moans filling the area around the sea.


    The next morning, Xia Liu came out of his room feeling refreshed and alert. At breakfast, he noticed the two girls kept their heads down, blushing deeply, a sight clearly seen by his sharp eyes.


    Xia Liu quickly finished his breakfast and, after reminding them, drove off into the distance.


    He wandered around the mountaintop, noting the chickens were all of a very good size and none of them were fatty¡ªan absolute hallmark of genuine Osmanthus Chicken.


    His tasks for the day were twofold: to sell the Osmanthus Chicken and to find resources for moving the mountain.


    Perhaps the two tasks could be related. So, he dialed Fang Fei''s number and described the situation with the Osmanthus Chicken to her.


    "What? In just half a month, your chickens are ready for market!" Fang Fei was greatly shocked by Xia Liu''s words. Normally, it would be completely impossible for chickens to grow to five or six pounds without several months of growth.


    "Sister Fang, I''m telling the truth, you can believe me," Xia Liu said seriously. He didn''t know how to explain; could he tell Fang Fei he had added Wood Spirit Energy to the feed? That would be absurd, no ordinary person would believe such things.


    "Er, er, Sister doesn''t disbelieve you. It''s just that you haven''t visited me for so long, and when you call it''s always about business. You don''t come and take care of me, so I won''t talk about other matters!"

 Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Hejing County is Safer with You

    "Sister Fang, I was wrong. I''ll buy some fruit later and come to see you," Xia Liu said, his embarrassment unremitting. These days he had been venturing into the mountains to gather herbs, sometimes even spending the night there, which somehow caused such a strong reaction from Fang Fei."Knowing your mistake is good. Hurry up and clean up, then come over!" Fang Fei said sternly.


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu shook his head incessantly. To clean up and then be in the same room with Fang Fei was like a titillating joke he couldn''t handle!


    Grabbing a few chickens and tossing them in the car, Xia Liu drove towards the county. Before leaving, he had made it clear that he might not return for a few days.


    This left Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman sighing incessantly. All they could do was silently pray that Xia Liu would quickly solve the problem of clearing the road.


    Because Xia Liu had promised that if he couldn''t find a development team to move the mountain this trip, he wouldn''t come back.


    Before reaching the county, Xia Liu was stopped by a traffic cop, and it just so happened to be Li Qinqin who stopped him.


    "It''s you again, kid! Get out of the car now!" Seeing that it was Xia Liu, Li Qinqin couldn''t hide her frustration. It had been almost a month since this guy glanced at her naked while administering acupuncture, and this was only the second time she''d seen him since¡ªhow could she let him go now!


    "Sister, please spare me, okay? I didn''t mean to see you naked; it was necessary for the acupuncture," pleaded Xia Liu, feeling unjustly troubled. If only he had known he''d be entangled with this girl, he would have just needled her through her clothes.


    "You still dare to speak!"


    "Alright, alright, I''ll stop talking. I''ll call the county head," Xia Liu relented.


    "If you dare to call, I guarantee you''ll regret it very much!" Li Qinqin panicked when she saw Xia Liu reaching for his phone, luckily reacting in time and starting to threaten him.


    "Let me go, you know I haven''t done anything wrong."


    "You might not have done anything wrong, but your car is illegal. You can''t hit the road without dealing with all these violations," Li Qinqin said, batting her eyelashes and once again outwitting Xia Liu.


    "Damn!" Xia Liu couldn''t help but curse silently in his heart; after all, it was his own fault for offending this girl. Whatever, whatever!


    "I don''t want the car anymore. Can I take the chickens with me?"


    "Yes, you can. But first, register your ID with me."


    ...


    Xia Liu had nothing to say. If he had an ID, would he have bought this illegal vehicle?


    Taking the opportunity, Xia Liu called Fang Fei to say that his car had been impounded by the traffic police, asking her to come and pick him up.


    Less than ten minutes later, Fang Fei arrived on the scene, only to find Xia Liu and Li Qinqin entangled inside the police car!


    Li Qinqin''s colleagues had all distanced themselves quite far away; they were all aware of her background. Hearing her previous conversation with Xia Liu, it was clear that the relationship between the two was not simple, so they left space for the two to talk.


    Fang Fei helplessly walked to the car and knocked on the window, then looked straight at the disheveled Xia Liu and Li Qinqin.


    After being interrupted by Fang Fei, Li Qinqin let go of Xia Liu''s collar, but not before she hammered him with a fierce punch.


    Xia Liu was about to go crazy. Li Qinqin, without saying much, had dragged him into the car and then started to punch and kick him. However, her punches felt like cotton, which Xia Liu was reluctant to point out, pretending to be in pain.


    This round, Xia Liu didn''t lose out. In the cramped car, he managed to cop more than a feel, taking advantage of the chaos to touch Li Qinqin all over.


    "Sister Fang, this jerk bullied me¡ªI was by him¡­" After getting out of the car, Li Qinqin quickly took hold of Fang Fei''s arm, starting to lament with a cry in her voice, but then she stopped short. The fact that she had been groped all over was something she couldn''t share with Fang Fei, and it was too embarrassing to say.


    "There, there, Qinqin, let''s remember Xia Liu is our benefactor. Besides, he did not intend to see you naked." Fang Fei was a sensible person; it was her hand that had pushed before when Xia Liu ended up seeing everything, and if she did not defend Xia Liu now, he might blurt it out and then she would be punished by her sister.


    "Hmph, some people are just ingrates. I was in bed for a whole month after getting those acupuncture treatments; you have no idea of the pain I went through!"


    ...


    "Can you exaggerate any more?" Li Qinqin''s face instantly turned into a scowl; she might have been impulsive about the whole affair, but that was normal behavior. To say she''d been bedridden for a month¡ªthat was definitely lying.


    "Qinqin, go and apologize to Xia Liu right now." Fang Fei''s expression turned serious; Li Qinqin really did need to admit she was wrong in this matter.


    Seeing the change in Fang Fei''s expression, Li Qinqin realized she had made a mistake, but she could not bring herself to apologize and just stood there silently with her head down.


    "No need to apologize. Who made her have such a pretty, reasonable sister? Sister Fang, let''s hurry and try out the Osmanthus Chicken." Xia Liu laughed cheerfully. He had only meant to scare Li Qinqin, but little did he know Fang Fei would take it so seriously. Still, this would make Li Qinqin drop her hostility toward him, and that would save him a lot of trouble in the future.


    "Osmanthus Chicken? Sister Fang, what''s that?"


    "Xia Liu''s chicken; we''ll all try it together in a bit."


    Li Qinqin stood there dumbfounded, watching Fang Fei''s smiling face. Xia Liu''s chicken, try it together, try it! What the heck was that!


    "Qinqin, where did your mind go? It''s Xia Liu''s chicken we are talking about!"


    "Sister Fang, please don''t be so loud." Li Qinqin was nearly pale with embarrassment, and when she saw a few glances coming their way, she quickly grabbed Fang Fei.


    "Hey, hey, Li Qinqin, can you not be so dirty? What Sister Fang and I are talking about is the Osmanthus Chicken, see!" With that, Xia Liu took several Osmanthus Chickens off his car.


    "Ah! I didn''t say anything just now, nothing at all!" Seeing that it was indeed chicken, Li Qinqin''s face turned bright red, and she shrank behind Fang Fei.


    "Giggle, well then, let''s go, to Longyun." Fang Fei laughed, taking Li Qinqin with her into the car, and to her surprise, Xia Liu also got in after a while.


    "Aren''t you going to need your car?"


    "A black car; it''s unsafe and not up to code." Xia Liu had been considering changing cars for a while now, most importantly, he did not want to be on Li Qinqin''s radar anymore, who knew if she would come up with an excuse to stop him next time.


    Impressed by Xia Liu''s forthrightness, Li Qinqin couldn''t help but praise, "Way to go! Hejing County is safer with you around!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    About fifteen minutes later, Xia Liu, Fang Fei, and Li Qinqin sat in a private room. Fang Fei kept asking Xia Liu; after all, he had said he was rearing a bunch of chickens, and in less than a month, they were already ready for sale, each weighing between five and six pounds¡ªdefinitely odd.


    Xia Liu wasn''t afraid to answer any questions; he had thought this through a long time ago, and facing Fang Fei today, he was even more at ease.


    "Sister Fang, I believe words are superfluous. The taste of the chicken is what matters. How about we talk after we''ve tasted it?"


    "Fine, I trust you wouldn''t dare bluff me. If you do, then I''ll just¡ª" Fang Fei paused, making a scissor gesture with her hand, her gaze fixed on Xia Liu, causing him to feel a chill.


    Li Qinqin had not spoken all along. She came to taste the chicken, and if it was different from what she had before, she would certainly side with Fang Fei and then give Xia Liu a hard time!

 Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Terrifying Delicacy

    Half an hour later, the meal trolley was pushed into the private room, and four covers concealed the dishes, but a faint scent of osmanthus could still be detected."This is Osmanthus Chicken, but it seems different from before." As soon as she smelled this scent, Fang Fei''s body started to tremble.


    Even with the covers on, the clear fragrance of osmanthus was distinguishable, and compared to before, the difference was huge!


    Li Qinqin was somewhat hazy, but this aroma still delighted her. She had tasted it once before; the chicken meat was mixed with a hint of osmanthus scent, making her feel utterly refreshed.


    Now she finally knew that the plate of chicken she had eaten was actually brought by Xia Liu.


    "Come, try it and see how it tastes." Xia Liu was actually somewhat nervous because all the chicken had been nourished with feed soaked in Spiritual Energy. He was sure it was non-toxic, but he was uncertain about the effects of the meat. He hoped it would be like the last batch of chickens.


    As soon as the covers were lifted by the server, a rich fragrance of osmanthus overwhelmed the senses. Just inhaling this aroma made one''s appetite surge, and even one''s fingers uncontrollably reached out to tear and bite into a piece vigorously.


    Fang Fei was the first to start. She picked up a piece of red-braised chicken and the moment it entered her mouth, her pupils shrank dramatically, and her facial expression changed in an instant.


    "Does it have to be this exaggerated?" Li Qinqin murmured to herself as she saw Fang Fei being shocked and then also reached out for the chopsticks.


    Her expression was no different from Fang Fei''s. Once the chicken entered her mouth, her eyes widened and she was at a loss for words.


    "How does it taste?" Judging only by their expressions, Xia Liu thought the two women were shocked, but whether it was because the taste was good or bad, he couldn''t tell.


    "Xia Liu, it''s incredible! The taste is just so good, I don''t know how to describe it," Fang Fei exclaimed after Xia Liu snapped her out of her daze. Then she danced her chopsticks between the table and her mouth, hesitant to stop.


    "Sister Fang, look! There''s a shooting star!"


    "Where? Where?" Fang Fei looked up towards the window and seeing nothing unusual turned back to say, "How dare you, Qinqin, trying to fool me, don''t steal my chicken!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "With such terrifyingly delicious food, how can I resist snatching it!" Li Qinqin said, munching down hungrily while uttering muffled exclamations.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu laughed. This deal was already as good as done!


    Watching the two women eat with such gusto, he too started to use his chopsticks.


    The instant the chicken touched his tongue, his eyes opened wide and a tidal wave surged in his heart¡ªsomething others might not notice.


    Only he discovered the chicken meat actually contained a trace of Spiritual Energy! And the flavor was incredibly rich. Once swallowed, it seemed to invigorate him greatly.


    This discovery was simply too frightening. He hadn''t anticipated that using feed enriched with Spiritual Energy would result in chickens that contained Spiritual Energy in their bodies after being eaten!


    He made a quick comparison and determined that the Spiritual Energy within a single chicken was equivalent to about four or five hours of his own cultivation!


    Which meant, eating two chickens a day could surpass ten hours of cultivation!


    Half an hour later, Fang Fei and Li Qinqin were both lying on the sofa in the private room, bodies sprawled out; they had eaten to the point of fullness, and now, not even bird''s nest or abalone could tempt them.


    "Sister Fang, this chicken is really too delicious, I want to eat it every day!" Though she was stuffed, Li Qinqin''s eyes still sparkled, she felt full of power, and her spirits were incredibly high, as if she could work through the night without any problem.


    "Sure, but we''ll have to be more frugal in the future, you know how much we just ate in terms of money?"


    "How much?" When it came to this question, Li Qinqin was full of doubt, could these chickens really sell for a sky-high price?


    "These chickens we just had, totaling twenty-three pounds, come down to a cost of two thousand yuan in ingredients. If it were served to customers, it would be five thousand yuan!" Fang Fei said with an expression brimming with pride, having just spent five thousand yuan, even though they couldn''t finish it, was top-notch extravagant spending in this small county town.


    Li Qinqin was so scared that she couldn''t utter a single word, her monthly salary was only three thousand yuan, and the four dishes of chicken just now cost five thousand yuan, terrifying indeed!


    "Five thousand yuan! Sister Fang, you''re a cutthroat merchant!" Hearing the price of these few dishes of chicken, Xia Liu almost cried, the price had more than doubled once processed in Fang Fei''s hands.


    "Hehe, I forgot our supplier was still here, don''t hold on to what just happened, okay?" Fang Fei said, her jade hand covering her red lips as she laughed melodically.


    "I heard everything!"


    "Alright then, you can''t even think about raising your price, Sister here has to pay for the real estate, labor, everything requires money, if the price goes up even a little bit, I might as well join you in raising chickens." Fang Fei pouted coyly, continually trying to act cute to Xia Liu.


    "Pfft! Sister Fang, I didn''t say anything, eighty yuan per pound is already quite a lot, I''m very satisfied." Watching Fang Fei in such a seductive state, Xia Liu was on the verge of going berserk, but having Li Qinqin by his side helped him stay calm.


    "Eighty yuan a pound, that''s too scary." Knowing the price of the chicken, Li Qinqin sneaked a few glances at Xia Liu.


    "Hehe, Qinqin, didn''t you want to eat it every day? I have an idea, how about you go home with Xia Liu, eat chicken during the day, and also at night!"


    "Sister Fang! Mind your image!" Li Qinqin''s face turned red in an instant with that ''also at night'' comment, with Xia Liu still here, how could she talk about such a topic.


    Xia Liu was already shocked, indeed, having a heart prepared was necessary when being with Fang Fei, the girl who talks dirty non-stop. You never know when she would start ''driving'', and you have no idea when you might lose control.


    He could confirm that if Li Qinqin hadn''t been there today, he would have thrown caution to the wind and done it with Fang Fei.


    "Giggle, okay, let''s talk business. Xia Liu, how many can you supply a day? I want this for the long haul, not half-hearted enthusiasm that stops halfway." Fang Fei winked playfully as she spoke.


    "Don''t worry, Sister Fang, however many you want, however long you need, we can handle it." Xia Liu was very confident, as the growth rate of these chickens was remarkably fast.


    Before twenty thousand chickens were sold out, the next batch would already be ready to go, and the money would just keep rolling in.


    "Can''t you two be a bit more poetic, with all this talk of ''long haul'' and ''don''t stop''!" Li Qinqin didn''t even want to speak anymore, if it weren''t for the extreme embarrassment, she would prefer silence.


    "Hehe, how about this, start with a thousand a day for me, five hundred to Longteng Hotel, another five hundred here." Fang Fei smiled slightly, stocking up in this way would prevent many unnecessary troubles.


    "But it''s too troublesome to list everything out each time, so let''s just call it six pounds per chicken, any extra consider as gifts from you to me."


    "Okay, the price is already several times over the market rate, a few extra pounds won''t make me lose, hehe." Xia Liu didn''t refuse, after all, the price was there, if not for Fang Fei, who would have thought he could get eighty yuan per pound?


    "By the way, Sister Fang, there''s something I''d like to discuss with you."

 Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Advances

    "Here''s the situation, I''m planning to fix a road and I''d like to get an advance on ten thousand chickens from Sister Fang." Once he had Fang Fei''s permission, Xia Liu spilled the beans.Right now, he only had a little over two million in his account. That definitely wasn''t enough to move mountains and build roads, and without securing some funds, the project could face delays.


    "Hmm, I heard about your situation from godfather, so I will advance you the money for twenty thousand chickens," Fang Fei had received a call from Li Zhong yesterday about borrowing money, but he ended up not borrowing it.


    After asking about it, she learned that Osmanthus Village''s connection had failed, and Xia Liu had proposed the idea of cutting through a mountain to make a road.


    "Xia Liu, you can''t be serious. Can you really handle it all by yourself?" Li Qinqin weakly said.


    She had also heard from her dad last night that Xia Liu wanted to bear all the cost of moving the mountain and constructing the road by himself, without allowing anyone else to interfere, an idea that seemed incredible coming from a rural youth.


    "Of course, I can''t handle it myself, but that''s what Sister Fang is for! If there are no more Osmanthus Chickens, I''ll just sell myself to Sister Fang. I should be able to fetch a good price," Xia Liu joked.


    "Xia Liu, those are your words! I''ll take you for twenty million, just give me twenty years," Fang Fei said, immediately interested.


    "Uh, uh, uh, just kidding," Xia Liu said with a wry smile, at a loss in front of this sexy older woman.


    Fang Fei gave a charming smile and promptly transferred the money to Xia Liu''s phone.


    Less than three minutes later, Xia Liu got a text notification¡ªten million had been deposited!


    "Sister Fang, that seems a bit extra." Xia Liu had carefully calculated it: twenty thousand chickens, each weighing six jin, should total nine million six hundred thousand, but now there was an extra four hundred thousand.


    "The extra doesn''t matter. Later on, just serve me and Qinqin, then consider it your tip."


    "I don''t want that! Sister Fang, let him serve if you need someone. I''ll keep watch!" Li Qinqin hurriedly objected upon hearing Fang Fei mention her again.


    Xia Liu was already thirsty for action, truly tempted to serve the two women, especially with such a hefty tip of four hundred thousand. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You two take your time to serve; I''m going on duty," Li Qinqin said as she darted out of the private room, unable to stay any longer, her face flushing red.


    "Xia Liu, did you find the photos I sent you of Qinqin''s thighs attractive?" Once Li Qinqin was gone, Fang Fei started to get dirty like she was another person.


    "They are not as attractive as yours, Sister Fang."


    "Good answer. Later, I''ll send you Huang Xue''s nudes," Fang Fei said, half-smiling.


    "Hehehe¡­" Xia Liu didn''t know what to say, only managing a silly grin. He really missed that Fairy Huang Xue, it had been almost half a month since she was home, and truth be told, Xia Liu missed her¡ªa pity for such a beautiful woman to be beneath someone else.


    "Laugh your head off, go organize tomorrow''s Osmanthus chickens. I''m going to advertise soon, and we might need a lot by tomorrow," Fang Fei said, half amused and half angry as she smacked his head.


    "Don''t worry, as soon as dawn breaks, the chickens will be delivered. By the way, Sister Fang, do you know any construction teams? I''m thinking about moving mountains, but I don''t know anyone."


    "Of course, I know. I''ll give you an address later, just go and discuss it yourself," she replied.


    Relieved by this response, Xia Liu felt stable about the construction team situation.


    However, he now had a problem with transportation. After resting for a while, Xia Liu followed Fang Fei to the parking lot.


    "Xia Liu, on behalf of Qinqin, I apologize for the car situation."


    "Why say that, Sister Fang? Now, I have over ten million in my account; I''ve wanted to replace that junker for a while," Xia Liu thought secretly to himself, begrudgingly settled with the idea¡ªout with the old, in with the new. Once the construction team matter was sorted, he''d use Zhang Xiaoxue''s identity to buy a new car.


    Before Xia Liu could finish fantasizing, Fang Fei pulled him around the parking lot until they stopped in front of a BMW X6.


    "Let this car be my way of apologizing for Qinqin; I hope you don''t dislike her. She''s a good girl and still a virgin."


    "Pfft! Sister Fang, don''t get me wrong, I don''t dislike Qinqin, virgin or not¡­," Xia Liu felt utterly embarrassed; what did this have to do with him?


    But he felt that when he finished explaining, the smile on Fang Fei''s face became increasingly sinister.


    "Stop pretending, you definitely jerked off to the photos I sent you."


    "I really didn''t."


    "You definitely did."


    "I really didn''t."


    Fang Fei blinked without saying more, then pulled a car key from her purse. "Here, take this."


    "Sister Fang, you''re not joking, right?" Xia Liu was stunned. This top-of-the-line X6 cost two to three million, and Fang Fei was actually giving it to him!


    "I never joke."


    Xia Liu gave a silent smile, thinking to himself that she never joked¡ªshe had fooled him so many times, the woman was a liar, who knew what was true and what wasn''t.


    Nonetheless, Xia Liu accepted the keys. The SUV was sturdy, perfect for mountain roads, large and imposing!


    "Now that you''ve accepted my gift, you can''t back down when I''m in trouble, like for my QQ nickname," Fang Fei said, leaving Xia Liu with her back to him before she got into a Porsche nearby.


    QQ nickname, Longing for Spring¡­


    What the hell!


    Realizing this, Xia Liu was almost about to explode. Staying with Fang Fei was utterly unsettling. If she were his woman, a day wouldn''t pass without several rounds!


    Xia Liu was puzzled; Fang Fei must have some background, being a top figure in this small county town with countless luxury cars and a familiar with Li Zhong, it seemed necessary to learn more about her through Li Zhong¡­


    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Xia Liu pulled a business card from his pocket¡ªit was from the construction team.


    "Gu Fangxia, a woman''s name." Looking at the contact information and name on the card, Xia Liu murmured and dialed the number.


    Shortly, the call was picked up, indeed by a woman.


    Xia Liu explained his purpose, and after a long silence on the other end, she said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Xia, I''m currently in Shanhe County and can''t come to Hejing for now."


    Having his business offer turned down frustrated Xia Liu; he didn''t know any other construction teams, and since Fang Fei had referred this woman and she was a woman herself, he needed to understand the situation clearly.


    After persistent persuasion from Xia Liu, Gu Fangxia finally explained the situation; she had completed a project last month, but the boss was delaying payment.


    Therefore, she had to stay in Shanhe County with her workers, hoping to receive the payment early so as to ensure her workers'' pay.


    Now that Xia Liu had money, he couldn''t afford delays in moving mountains and building roads, so he immediately asked for Gu Fangxia''s address and started his car, speeding towards Shanhe County...

 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 The Ordeal of the Engineering Team

    Shanhe County and Hejing County were fifty kilometers apart, and with Xia Liu''s speed, it took less than an hour to arrive.He arrived at a construction area according to the address given by Gu Fangxia, which was a hotel of over thirty floors.


    The hotel was brightly lit, obviously in operation, and Gu Fangxia had mentioned that the hotel owner owed one and a half million in workers'' wages.


    Xia Liu couldn''t understand; if there was no money, don''t hire people. Now that the hotel was open, but still owed money to the construction team, there definitely was something more to it.


    After walking around the hotel, Xia Liu finally spotted the place Gu Fangxia had mentioned. It was the back door of the hotel, where a row of double-story tin houses stood, and a few middle-aged men in worn clothes were leaning against the tin houses, gazing fixedly at the hotel.


    "Old brother, is Manager Gu here?" After parking the car, Xia Liu approached and asked one of the middle-aged men.


    "Who are you?"


    "Uh, haha, I am¡­"


    "Brother Ming, he''s driving a BMW, definitely a friend of Zhao Baoliang, grab him! We must get the money today!"


    "Yes! Brothers, go, control Zhao Baoliang''s friend!"


    ¡­


    On the second floor of the tin houses, a young guy saw Xia Liu getting out of the BMW, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly started shouting.


    This voice immediately drew the attention of all the workers, who then surged forward and surrounded Xia Liu.


    They would never forget the name Zhao Baoliang in this lifetime; it was bad enough not getting their wages, but to have thugs throwing bricks at them daily was worse. A few days ago, a coworker was hit in the head and was currently in the hospital receiving treatment.


    "Fellows, don''t get excited. I don''t know any Zhao Baoliang. I came from Hejing County to discuss a project with Manager Gu!" Although Xia Liu was very angry, he remained very rational and quickly clarified his intentions.


    "Ah! So you''re a boss from Hejing County, really sorry about that." Seeing Xia Liu''s sincere face, Brother Ming quickly apologized, as the last thing wanted in the business was to offend a genuinely interested boss.


    Xia Liu didn''t mind, although he hadn''t experienced what these workers had gone through, their words and actions made it clear that Zhao Baoliang was definitely not a good guy.


    "Sorry, boss, my brothers have been bullied and scared these past few months," said Brother Ming with a helpless look.


    "It''s alright, old brother, tell me what happened." Xia Liu understood that the only way to make these workers happy now was to understand the situation and to resolve it.


    "Well, to tell you the truth, it was like this: two years ago our construction team got the opportunity to build this hotel. Two years later, the hotel was completed, but this boss, Zhao Baoliang, refused to pay the final settlement. We could only stay put here, hoping to get back our hard-earned money."


    "Brother Ming, Zhao Baoliang just wants to bully people. Doesn''t he just think Sister Gu is pretty and wants to intimidate her into listening to him?"


    Brother Ming hadn''t finished speaking when an impulsive young man interrupted him.


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    "Sister Gu, pretty? Could it be that a contractor is also a beauty?" Hearing this, Xia Liu was full of bewilderment, but having not met Gu Fangxia yet, he couldn''t be sure.


    "Mouse, you can''t say that. Zhao Baoliang is scum by nature. He purposely withholds payment and can come up with any excuse," said Brother Ming, who disagreed. He knew Gu Fangxia well and knew she was a strong woman.


    "Fellows, where is Manager Gu now?" Xia Liu''s main concern was still Gu Fangxia, and he might be able to help with the issue with Zhao Baoliang.


    "Sister Gu had just taken a call and left, and I think it might have been from Zhao Baoliang."


    "This is terrible, if Sister Gu meets Zhao Baoliang alone, it will definitely be very dangerous!"


    ...


    At this moment, the workers on the scene were all anxious, even though they hadn''t received their money yet, they truly didn''t want Gu Fangxia to pay the price to retrieve what was rightfully theirs.


    "Brothers, does anyone know where Zhao Baoliang is?" Xia Liu was secretly anxious, he was very eager to meet Gu Fangxia, a woman who managed so many subordinates well couldn''t be simple.


    "I know, I know, Zhao Baoliang hasn''t been coming to the hotel for many days, he''s definitely inside the Sanhe Bar!" Seeing Xia Liu''s anxious expression, Brother Ming quickly stood up.


    Sanhe Bar, Xia Liu had no idea where it was, but according to what the young worker said, Gu Fangxia had left more than an hour ago, and the situation was definitely urgent now.


    Xia Liu immediately pulled Brother Ming into the car, and with a beautiful drift, the car dusted off.


    Guided by Brother Ming, it took less than ten minutes for the BMW to stop in front of Sanhe Bar.


    Looking at the exterior, Sanhe Bar was a high-end bar, but even before they entered, the jumbled music could be heard, suggesting that, high-end or not, bars were all the same.


    Brother Ming was quite familiar with this bar, he led Xia Liu inside, and introduced the origin of Sanhe Bar.


    It turned out that Sanhe Bar was the headquarters of a gang from Shanhe County called Knife God Association. It was said that the gang members were always armed with knives, and the president was an expert knifeman. Rumors said no one had ever seen the president draw his knife because anyone who did was already dead. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu wasn''t burdened by this information at all, disregarding both blades and bullets, only hoping to find Gu Fangxia quickly.


    "Zhao Baoliang and the president of the Knife God Association are very close, he always sends these underlings to attack us." Remembering various past incidents, Brother Ming spoke with a catch in his throat, many brothers had ended up in the hospital because of this, it was truly hard to express in words.


    Ever since stepping through the main entrance of the bar, Xia Liu could feel Brother Ming trembling severely, "Brother Ming, you won''t have any trouble with me here today."


    A simple promise instantly calmed Brother Ming down, amidst confusion he felt a strong sense of security.


    Nodding his head, Brother Ming began to scan the area, hoping to spot Gu Fangxia and Zhao Baoliang.


    Like many bars, there was a huge dance floor in the center where young men and women were frantically swinging their bodies and heads; on the stage, a few with explosive hairstyles were leading the dance and DJing.


    "Let''s check upstairs." At Xia Liu''s command, Brother Ming planned to head up the stairs, but two burly men in black stopped them.


    "Hmm?" After being stopped, Xia Liu gave a sharp glance at the opposition.


    "Brother Liu, they are Zhao Baoliang''s bodyguards, reportedly from the special forces, very tough, we should..."


    "So Zhao Baoliang must be upstairs then." Brother Ming hadn''t finished speaking when Xia Liu cut him off.


    "Zhao Baoliang''s bodyguards never leave his side, that scum is definitely upstairs!"


    "Good, Brother, wait here for a moment, I''ll handle it!"


    With a resolve to handle it, Xia Liu shook his neck, then swiftly stepped forward. Before the bodyguard could reach out, he grabbed the man''s arm, followed by a powerful swing, sending the bodyguard, who weighed at least 180 kilograms, flying towards the dance floor...

 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 The Willow Branches Again!

    This move directly stunned Brother Ming; another bodyguard also widened his eyes in shock. After snapping back to reality, he immediately swung his fist, attempting to take down Xia Liu.The sudden chaos brought the dancing men and women to a halt, as they all focused their attention on the skirmish happening before them.


    To call it a skirmish might be an exaggeration; dealing with bodyguards of this level was a piece of cake for Xia Liu, who hadn''t even need to exert much force before the opponent collapsed.


    But Sanhe Bar was no ordinary place; as the headquarters of the Knife God Association, anyone causing trouble here would be met with a mob of hundreds of gangsters.


    Sure enough, after tossing aside two bodyguards, the music at the venue stopped, and numerous youths carrying machetes rushed in from all directions at breakneck speed.


    "Haha, this is going to be good!"


    "Daring to cause trouble at Sanhe Bar, that''s practically the ultimate death wish!"


    "Wow! That guy is so handsome. As long as he can walk out of here unscathed, I''ll definitely go to a hotel with him!"


    "Unscathed? As long as he can walk out alive, I''ll take care of him for life!"


    As dozens of gang members surrounded Xia Liu, the young men and women at the scene started buzzing with excitement.


    Some were envious, others sneering. Up to now, those who dared to stir trouble at Sanhe Bar could be counted on one hand, and the troublemakers were either crippled or vanished completely.


    Everyone there was aware of the terror of the Knife God Association, and Brother Ming had already been scared stiff.


    He thought Xia Liu would come over to talk things out peacefully, but who could have expected such direct hostility?


    This was Sanhe Bar, after all; those who dared to cause trouble here shouldn''t dream of leaving alive...


    Xia Liu was unimpressed, scanning the vicinity, he noticed not a single one of them was of any notable strength. To be honest, he wouldn''t have bothered lifting a finger under normal circumstances. Your next journey awaits at empire


    "I don''t want to get violent. Hand over Zhao Baoliang and I''ll pretend I''ve never been here," Xia Liu demanded with an assertive tone amidst the crowd and blades.


    "Crap! You think this is an amusement park? Dare to make trouble and don''t expect a peaceful exit!" a young man wielding a knife said arrogantly.


    "Adults are talking; kids shouldn''t interrupt. Call your manager out. I don''t want to repeat myself."


    "Oh, feisty! You think you''re impressive just because you''ve hit a couple of bodyguards?" Right after Xia Liu spoke, a middle-aged man emerged from the crowd. His appearance was one people wouldn''t forget easily, not particularly tall, with a strikingly lifelike wolf''s head tattoo on his forehead, which was chilling to behold.


    "Brother Wolf Fang, take him down!" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Take him down!"


    The underlings of Knife God Association called out excitedly upon seeing Wolf Fang.


    "Xia Liu, this Wolf Fang is the Knife God Association''s vice president, extremely formidable, capable of taking on ten men by himself!" Originally, Brother Ming wanted to hide, but Xia Liu had already fought others for Gu Fangxia''s safety. If he just stood there doing nothing, he wouldn''t be fit to be an employee of Gu Fangxia.


    "Wolf Fang? Dog Fang seems more like it, but well, as long as you can talk," Xia Liu scoffed dismissively before saying, "Dog Fang, you know Zhao Baoliang, don''t you? Bring him to me within a minute."


    "What? I didn''t catch that, say it again."


    It wasn''t just Wolf Fang who was astonished; everyone present was shocked. Xia Liu dared to speak to the vice president of the Knife God Association like that¡ªit was practically the prelude to a death-seeking frenzy!


    "I said, fuck you!" Xia Liu couldn''t stand those who thought too highly of themselves like Wolf Fang. He roared in rage, his figure moved instantly, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Wolf Fang.


    Then, under the gaze of countless horrified eyes, he grabbed Wolf Fang''s neck and hoisted him high into the air: "Did you hear me clearly now?"


    At this moment, Wolf Fang''s pupils shrank abruptly, and it wasn''t until a feeling of being suspended in air overwhelmed him that he regained his senses.


    Suddenly, a suffocating sensation erupted violently, and an inexplicable fear enveloped his body and soul, filling him with extreme terror.


    Wolf Fang had never encountered such an expert before, not even the Association Leader could match this young man''s strength, and he could sense that with just a slight movement of Xia Liu''s hand, he would be dead beyond any doubt.


    The scene was deathly silent, and everyone could clearly hear the rapid, pounding heartbeat of Wolf Fang.


    "Young man, please, don''t do anything rash," Wolf Fang managed to say in the face of death.


    "Tell me, is Zhao Baoliang here!"


    Xia Liu roared, his voice cutting through the entire bar, turning everyone''s face pale.


    At that moment, standing in front of a glass mirror on the second floor, Zhao Baoliang trembled uncontrollably.


    Next to Zhao Baoliang, a beautiful woman with flushed cheeks was staring dumbfounded at the figure below, who, like a Martial God, was effortlessly lifting a man with one hand.


    This woman was none other than Gu Fangxia. She had come here today at Zhao Baoliang''s request and had drunk some alcohol.


    The issue of the final payment had dragged on for months. She couldn''t bear to see the workers suffer; hence, she decided to give in completely, agreeing to Zhao Baoliang''s terms to accompany him for half a month to get the money.


    So, she chose to comply, hoping only that the workers would receive their wages.


    The appearance of Xia Liu utterly disrupted her plan. She was certain that it was her first time seeing Xia Liu. If it weren''t for Brother Ming being with Xia Liu, she wouldn''t have thought twice about it.


    "Well done, Gu Fangxia, you dare to seek out a practitioner! Do you think you''ll succeed? This is Sanhe Bar, the headquarters of the Knife God Association!" After trembling in shock for a moment, Zhao Baoliang came back to his senses and immediately pulled out his phone to make a call.


    He and the Leader of the Knife God Association were good friends. Now that Xia Liu had singled him out, causing trouble here, how could the Leader possibly let him off!


    Gu Fangxia didn''t say a word. She was very much looking forward to seeing Xia Liu''s next move; if he could handle this situation, she would be saved!


    Inside the hall, Xia Liu put Wolf Fang down. He had come to find Gu Fangxia, not to kill.


    Wolf Fang sat on the ground, utterly soulless, as the surrounding underlings dared not approach him.


    Clang!


    No one knew who dropped their knife first, but the clang startled everyone, and then a series of knives began to fall to the ground.


    The underlings were petrified, Xia Liu''s skills were too terrifying. They were usually brave only because of their numbers, but faced with a tough challenge, they wilted instantly.


    The onlookers around were gasping in shock; a man their own age was taking on the entire Knife God Association, compelling them even to drop their weapons¡ªthe news was explosive.


    "Who dares to make trouble at the Knife God Association!" Right then, a sharp voice echoed from the staircase downward.


    "Brother Liu, that fat man is Zhao Baoliang!" As Zhao Baoliang''s arrogant shouting resounded, Brother Ming immediately yelled out.


    Initially, he hadn''t had much confidence, but after seeing Xia Liu''s skills, he was full of confidence. Even if the negotiation failed, there wouldn''t be much danger.


    "Dammit, it''s Liu Xia!" Xia Liu followed Brother Ming''s gaze, and a rush of mixed emotions flooded his heart. Even though the lighting was dim, he froze in place, his eyes fixated on Gu Fangxia standing at the doorway on the second floor.


    Gu Fangxia was wearing a short cheongsam that just covered her knees, but with a high slit¡ªand because of the angle, looking up from below, he saw that inside the cheongsam were thigh straps making his blood race!!!

 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Reversal

    "Little Gu, are you alright?" Gu Fangxia hurried over to Brother Ming, and in response to his concern, she nodded, her gaze fixed on Xia Liu."Brother Ming, who is he?" Gu Fangxia had never seen Xia Liu before, and his presence today, along with Brother Ming, was surely because of her.


    "Seems like he came from Hejing County, I''ve only just met him as well."


    Watching Gu Fangxia stare at him, Xia Liu snapped out of his daze, "Zhao Baoliang, right? I''ll give you a chance. Transfer the construction funds to Manager Gu immediately, or else..."


    "So he did come for me. Hejing County, could it be the person who called me today!" Gu Fangxia shivered as she looked at Xia Liu''s stern face, feeling touched yet shocked.


    "Hahaha! Or else what, fuck! This is Sanhe Bar, let''s see if you can even leave here alive!" Zhao Baoliang couldn''t stop laughing. In his eyes, Xia Liu was a joke¡ªeven if he was a trained fighter, how could he intimidate all the members of the Knife God Association?


    Xia Liu scanned the surroundings and noticed that the members of the Knife God Association were steadily growing bolder. He smiled wickedly, realizing that without a bit more of a show of force, these people wouldn''t be afraid.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to make his move, the bar''s door suddenly burst open with a loud clang, drawing everyone''s attention.


    A large man walked in slowly, his hulking figure imposing upon those around him, not to mention his rugged, steel-like face.


    "The President of the Knife God Association: Knife Madman!"


    "Look! Knife Madman is back; now we''re in for a good show!"


    "They say Knife Madman has lightning-fast blade skills. His enemies are dead before they even see the knife."


    "Fuck, what are you talking about? We live in a society governed by law. Go ahead and kill someone and see, you moron!"


    ...


    The arrival of Knife Madman made the scene boil over. Those looking at Xia Liu did so with pity and regret, knowing they might not see this young man again.


    "Brother Knife, this lad is extremely arrogant, came here to make trouble in the Knife God Association, totally disregarding you!" Zhao Baoliang ran over to Knife Madman, his face full of fear. If it weren''t for the crowd, he might have even started to cry.


    "Making trouble? Only dead men cause trouble here!" Knife Madman''s first words were domineering, as he then fixed a piercing gaze on Xia Liu in front of him.


    On Xia Liu, he sensed an indescribable threat, but when he tried to pinpoint it, he found nothing.


    "Brother Dao, he''s an expert with incredible speed," Wolf Fang cautioned Knife Madman, worried he might underestimate the enemy.


    "Heh, no one dares to speak of speed in my presence, because those who have, are all dead!" Knife Madman laughed disdainfully, confident in his own blade skills.


    "Little Gu, what should we do now? Knife Madman is back, and a hundred of people like me wouldn''t be enough to take him on!" Brother Ming was close to tears, having thought they were lucky that Knife Madman wasn''t around, only for him to return!


    "I don''t know, we can only admit we were wrong and hope that Knife Madman will forgive us." Gu Fangxia''s spirits were low; she had thought rescue was coming, but now the situation had worsened.


    "President Knife, I''m sorry, my friend just arrived in Shanhe County today. He didn''t mean to ruin the mood," Gu Fangxia said with a forced smile, grinding her teeth.


    "Hmph! A mere chicken, you have no right to speak here!" Zhao Baoliang objected when he saw Gu Fangxia pleading for Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu had truly frightened him earlier; if Knife Madman didn''t step in to handle this, he''d be in grave danger once he stepped out the door.


    Zhao Baoliang''s words had left Gu Fangxia at a loss; she was not that kind of person, but if she agreed to Zhao Baoliang''s conditions today, she would become just like that. She had no confidence to refute him.


    "I''ve seen plenty of shameless people, but this is my first time encountering someone like you. I''ve made up my mind to smash your mouth to pieces!" Seeing Gu Fangxia''s despondent mood and her long silence, Xia Liu finally spoke up.


    "Haha, smash my mouth, huh? When you''re lying on the ground, I''ll make sure you remember it for a lifetime!" Standing beside Knife Madman, Zhao Baoliang could be said to be extremely arrogant, considering everyone knew just how terrifying Knife Madman was.


    But what no one noticed was that at the moment Knife Madman caught sight of Xia Liu''s face, his pupils suddenly shrank, and his complexion grew more and more serious, even his legs slowly started to feel weak...


    "Manager Gu, my name is Xia Liu, I''ve come from Hejing County, planning to discuss business about a project with you." After casting a meaningful glance at Knife Madman, Xia Liu walked over to Gu Fangxia under everyone''s watchful eyes.


    "Ah! To talk about that now, I..." Gu Fangxia was already incoherent; she was stunned. Surrounded by the Knife God Association''s men with knives, Xia Liu was still introducing himself¡ªit was almost like laying out a banquet in front of Yama Hall.


    "Uh um, Manager Gu, don''t worry, I will get back the money Zhao Baoliang owes you and everyone else right away."


    "That..."


    Xia Liu gave Gu Fangxia an indescribable sense of security; his words seemed to leave her with no desire, nor the option, to reject.


    "I said Little Knife, what are you still standing there for? Smash his mouth for me!" Xia Liu said somewhat impatiently, under the astonished gazes of the crowd.


    Uh um um...


    The statement left everyone momentarily dumbfounded, struggling to understand the meaning behind his words.


    However, in the time that followed, they finally understood and were completely shocked.


    As soon as Xia Liu''s words fell, Knife Madman''s body trembled slightly, and then, raising his hand, he repeatedly slapped Zhao Baoliang across the face.


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    After a few slaps, Zhao Baoliang was knocked directly to the ground. He was utterly dumbfounded¡ªwhat was this situation? Wasn''t he one of Knife Madman''s brothers? Why would Knife Madman listen to Xia Liu and hit him!


    Zhao Baoliang had no chance to speak as Knife Madman''s slaps became heavier and heavier. Eventually, with his cheeks swollen, Zhao Baoliang passed out.


    During the process, everyone held their breath. Not just the young men and women who were there to enjoy themselves, but even the members of the Knife God Association were perplexed. Had their leader been possessed or poisoned, for him to actually listen to Xia Liu?


    Gu Fangxia and Brother Ming''s mouths were agape; what was this situation? Knife Madman was actually hitting Zhao Baoliang, and who exactly was Xia Liu?


    After knocking Zhao Baoliang unconscious, Knife Madman stopped slapping and, with his head bowed, walked over to Xia Liu. In front of countless stunned gazes, his towering figure, standing almost two meters tall, began to slowly kneel down!!!


    However, Xia Liu caught Knife Madman''s knee with his foot, then exerted force to make him stand upright.


    "Brother Xia, I..." Knife Madman couldn''t finish his sentence; facing this terribly formidable presence, both from his past and now, he could only offer his own knee.


    "No need to explain anything. I am somewhat surprised, though, to see that you''ve become a gang leader after all these years." Xia Liu smiled faintly, clearly remembering the first time he came across Knife Madman years ago, when he had been even more arrogant than now.


    "Brother Xia, compared to you, I''m not even worth a hair." Knife Madman laughed bitterly, helplessly. Only those who had had dealings with Xia Liu could comprehend just how terrifying this guy really was.

 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Money is Coming Back

    Whoosh!!!Everyone was stunned. Who was Knife Madman? He was the local tyrant of Shanhe County, and the Knife God Association was the strongest gang around.


    Yet, what had they just witnessed? Knife Madman was actually about to kneel to a young man in his twenties and even said he wasn''t even comparable to a single hair of the other party.


    Everyone''s worldview collapsed at that moment. What kind of experience could have led Knife Madman to say such a thing?


    "Stop babbling and wake that guy up, then give back the money," Xia Liu wasn''t in the mood for chatting and didn''t want to say too much in this place.


    Knife Madman smartly walked over to Zhao Baoliang, gestured for Wolf Fang to bring over a basin of water.


    With a splash, the water was poured on Zhao Baoliang, who woke up after which Wolf Fang and a lackey immediately propped him up.


    "Knife... Brother, I''m Zhao Baoliang, your brother," Zhao Baoliang said, terrified, after regaining consciousness.


    He couldn''t wrap his head around what was happening today; why were his own brothers hitting him!


    "Shut your mouth. Who is your brother? How much do you owe her? Pay her back quickly!" Knife Madman then slapped Zhao Baoliang again as he spoke.


    The slap left Zhao Baoliang dizzy. To be honest, he had no idea how much money he owed.


    "Manager Gu, how much exactly does this trash owe?" Xia Liu turned and asked Gu Fangxia, seeing Zhao Baoliang''s dazed state.


    "Ah! Not too much, an initial payment of one million was made, and now there''s one and a half million left," Gu Fangxia, overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, replied somewhat nervously after snapping out of it.


    "Little Knife, did you hear that? Three million," Xia Liu said with a slight smile before turning to Knife Madman.


    "Three million!"


    The crowd burst into laughter. Gu Fangxia only mentioned one and a half million, but this man claimed it was three million¡ªa sheer robbery.


    Yet, many envied the sum. With three million, they could live luxuriously for several years and even buy a nice car and a house.


    "Three million, are you freaking robbing me?" Zhao Baoliang went pale as soon as he heard the number.


    But as soon as he spoke, he felt a searing pain in his belly¡ªKnife Madman had punched him: "Whatever Brother Xia says goes. If the lady isn''t happy, I''ll kill you myself!"


    At the mention of "the lady," along with Knife Madman''s kind gaze, Gu Fangxia''s cheeks flushed instantly.


    "Don''t talk nonsense, Little Knife." Xia Liu also felt somewhat uneasy, having only just met Gu Fangxia.


    "Yes, yes," Knife Madman gave a bitter smile, then glared at Zhao Baoliang, "You have one minute to get the money. If you don''t have it, I''ll chop off one of your legs!"


    "Ah! Brother Knife, don''t be rash. I''m transferring the money now. I have it, I do!" Zhao Baoliang was nearly wetting himself. He had no doubts about Knife Madman''s word. The extra one and a half million could be seen as the price for a leg, which was lucky for him.


    In her excitement, Gu Fangxia''s legs went numb, so in the end, it was Brother Ming who stepped forward to give the account details.


    In less than three minutes, the money was all in Gu Fangxia''s bank account.


    Xia Liu was quite fair with Zhao Baoliang, simply having Knife Madman throw him out of the bar.


    "Brother Xia, I''d like to treat you to a meal," Knife Madman invited after everything was settled.


    "Book a private room in the most expensive restaurant in the county later. I''ll come over after sorting things out here." Xia Liu had initially intended to decline, but since he came to talk business with Gu Fangxia and was not familiar with Shanhe County, he went along with Knife Madman''s wishes.


    "Brother Knife, who is that Brother Xia?" Wolf Fang and the members of the Knife God Association were thoroughly puzzled as they watched Xia Liu''s departing figure.


    "Even if I tell you who he is, you wouldn''t understand. Just remember to look up to him for the rest of your lives," Knife Madman said, his meaning profound.


    In the BMW, Gu Fangxia repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Xia Liu. She couldn''t dare to imagine that the wages, which had been delayed for several months, could be recovered so easily.


    "Manager Gu, you don''t have to be like this, I''ll have a lot more to ask of you in the future."


    "Hehe, as long as I can help, I''ll do my utmost no matter what it is."


    "Let''s not talk about this for now. After you''re done with your busy work, then we can discuss our cooperation," Xia Liu knew Gu Fangxia''s mind was elsewhere, and that the car wasn''t the place for discussing such matters.


    About fifteen minutes later, the BMW stopped in front of a corrugated iron house where many workers were sitting at the entrance waiting for news.


    They were all very worried about Gu Fangxia; after all, bosses like her were rare.


    "Sister Gu is back!"


    "Sister Gu is back!"


    Seeing Gu Fangxia stepping out of the car, everyone became excited. Even if they couldn''t get their wages, just seeing her return safely was satisfaction enough.


    "Everyone listen to me, the money has been recovered!" Gu Fangxia couldn''t contain the atmosphere at the scene, and announced the news loudly.


    "Ah!"


    Everyone was stunned. Normally, they would never dare to imagine that their hard-earned money would come back so unexpectedly.


    "Xiao Li, call the brothers who are resting and tell them to come get their money tomorrow; we''ll distribute it all together!"


    "Also, getting this money back is all thanks to Xia Liu, we should thank him!"


    "Long live Sister Gu! Long live Xia Liu!"


    "Long live Sister Gu! Long live Xia Liu!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    The workers shouted excitedly, having waited too long, far too long for this money!


    "Brother Ming, help contact the brothers too; I''m going to talk with Xia Liu." After giving instructions, Gu Fangxia got back into the car.


    None of the workers present could distrust Gu Fangxia. In the past few months, when everyone was running out of money, she had sold her Range Rover at a low price to help the brothers hold on until now. This act had touched everyone deeply.


    Sitting in the car, Gu Fangxia slowly shed tears. The money had been delayed for too long, and it had worn her out, body and soul. Today, she could finally relax.


    "Xia Liu, do you know? You''re my savior. Without you, I might... might..."


    "Manager Gu, it''s okay, helping people is what I often do, and I also need your team," Xia Liu said plainly.


    "Even so, I still want to thank you," said Gu Fangxia weakly.


    Xia Liu didn''t quite know what to say to her anymore.


    After a moment of silence, Xia Liu called Knife Madman and, upon receiving the location, asked Gu Fangxia to guide the way.


    Twenty minutes later, Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia finally arrived at the private room booked by Knife Madman.


    After getting to know each other, the three of them chatted and laughed as if they were friends. When they learned Xia Liu intended to cut through a mountain to build a road, both Gu Fangxia and Knife Madman were shocked. After all, it wasn''t a small project, and the funding needed was also quite terrifying.


    "Brother Xia, I haven''t saved much money over the years. There''s only three million in my account, but I''ll transfer it to you later."


    "Xia Liu, the extra one and a half million you got from Zhao Baoliang, I''ll transfer that to you too."

 Chapter 68 Perfect Return to Town

    "Haha, don''t worry about me; I can handle this little amount of money." Xia Liu repeatedly declined their kind offers.One was a subordinate he hadn''t seen in years, and the other was a hard-working female contractor; both had their difficulties, so how could he accept their money?


    Gu Fangxia and Knife Madman exchanged glances, both noticing the awkwardness in each other.


    After drinking several bottles of white wine with Xia Liu, Knife Madman left, reluctant, but with the beautiful Gu Fangxia there, he didn''t want to disturb Xia Liu.


    Before leaving, he took Xia Liu''s address, planning to visit Hejing County if there was a chance in the future.


    The atmosphere in the private room felt somewhat eerie with just the two of them left. Gu Fangxia was twenty-eight this year, slightly older than Xia Liu.


    "Sister Gu, when exactly will you be able to start the construction?" Lacking other topics, Xia Liu shifted the conversation to the construction project.


    "After I distribute the wages tomorrow, I''ll give them a break to visit their families. With the site inspections and equipment setup, it won''t take more than five days to begin," Gu Fangxia, with flushed cheeks from the alcohol, spoke with a bit of a slur. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Five days, huh¡­" Xia Liu murmured to himself, with the project nearly set and the wages still to be decided after Gu Fangxia''s site inspection.


    The two of them chatted for a bit more, and by the end of it, Xia Liu hadn''t expected Gu Fangxia to get drunk!


    She was leaning back now, her impressive figure prominently displayed, and her slit cheongsam subtly revealing a sliver of pale skin.


    Approaching her, Xia Liu could smell a fragrant scent.


    Xia Liu''s head ached. How the hell was he supposed to handle this¡­


    Helplessly, he had to support Gu Fangxia to the car. After shaking her a few times without any response, he had no idea where she lived.


    It was late at night, so Xia Liu had to take Gu Fangxia to a hotel. Luckily, her handbag contained her ID.


    In a particular room, as soon as he helped Gu Fangxia through the door, she hugged Xia Liu: "Xia Liu, thank you for being here today. If it weren''t for you, I might have been assaulted by Zhao Baoliang¡­."


    "No need to be formal, Sister Gu, it''s very late. I''ll help you rest," Xia Liu swallowed hard, realizing the close proximity intensified his urges as he observed her; any man would feel a strong impulse.


    Interestingly, she was wearing a cheongsam, exuding a strong Huaxia charm that could drive many men wild!


    Xia Liu clenched his teeth as he slowly assisted Gu Fangxia to the round bed, embarrassed. Wasn''t it supposed to be a regular room? What the hell was with the round bed and those mood lights, and what''s going on with that small room beside the bed!


    After settling Gu Fangxia down, Xia Liu repeatedly tugged at his hair, noticing in the small room beside the bed, there lay a special chair, a leather whip hung on the wall, along with handcuffs, candles, and such!


    Damn, it turned out to be a themed room!


    Xia Liu headed to the bathroom while invoking the Five Elements Mantra, knowing he had to control himself. If he dared touch Gu Fangxia, the project could be jeopardized.


    After showering, he lay down on the sofa. Even though Gu Fangxia was drunk and unconscious, he didn''t dare make a move.


    Regrettably, Xia Liu didn''t notice that Gu Fangxia on the bed hadn''t closed her eyes, her face showing deep worry.


    She had thought that taking advantage of her drunken state, Xia Liu would seize the opportunity, but¡­


    Early in the morning before dawn, Xia Liu left the room. Right after he closed the door, Gu Fangxia got up as well.


    Neither of them had really slept. Gu Fangxia had been struggling with whether she should take the initiative, but just when she decided to, Xia Liu had already left. Well then¡­


    Gu Fangxia took a shower as daylight broke. When she went downstairs to check out, Xia Liu just happened to drive back.


    He bought some buns and soy milk, and couldn''t help but laugh at Xia Liu''s silly appearance.


    After breakfast, Xia Liu drove Gu Fangxia to the bank to withdraw three million in cash.


    Then they arrived at a certain square, which had already gathered quite a crowd. As soon as Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia appeared, it immediately provoked screams from everyone.


    Especially when Xia Liu was carrying two black bags, those were the bright red Huaxia currency!


    Brother Ming had already told everyone about last night''s events before their arrival, and for this, Xia Liu instantly became an object of worship for everyone.


    Alone, he stormed into the Knife God Association, and with a word, he commanded Knife Madman to attack Zhao Baoliang. Not only did he beat Zhao Baoliang, but he also got the money, which had everyone clapping and cheering.


    "Good morning, everyone, our final payment is here, obtained by Xia Liu for us yesterday!"


    "Haha, thank Xia Liu!"


    As Gu Fangxia''s words fell, over seventy people in the crowd immediately started chanting.


    "Zhao Baoliang not only paid up, but he also gave us a delay fee, a total of one and a half million in delay fees. When I call your name, come up and receive it!"


    As Gu Fangxia''s voice fell, everyone at the scene burst into tears, fully aware of the situation.


    That one and a half million was not just a delay fee, it was clearly money Xia Liu had fought for. Seeing the situation, Gu Fangxia didn''t seem to intend to keep the money for herself.


    "Thank you, Boss Xia Liu! Thank you, Sister Gu!" Enjoy more content from empire


    "Thank you, Boss Xia Liu! Thank you, Sister Gu!"


    The site stirred up once again, they felt fortunate to have kept going, fortunate to be following a good foreman.


    "Phew... finally done." After more than an hour of distributing money, Gu Fangxia finally finished.


    The workers at the site had also almost left, but they wouldn''t forget, the project in Hejing County needed to get moving soon.


    "Sister Gu, did you distribute all three million?" Xia Liu had been observing from start to finish, and he realized that she had actually distributed all the three million earned yesterday, not leaving any backup for herself.


    "Yes, that''s what they deserved to get. I have no burden, so I don''t need much, just a few tens of thousands is enough." Gu Fangxia was easily content. The reason she became the foreman was so that she could receive projects and fight for more people to work and earn money.


    "Alright, I heard you sold your car; how about we go together to Hejing County?"


    "Really? That''s so kind of you!" Gu Fangxia jumped up joyfully like a young girl upon hearing the news.


    Xia Liu gave a faint smile, his pupils reflecting the rapidly shaking objects, and he could imagine just how fierce that was.


    Following Gu Fangxia''s directions, Xia Liu drove the car to a row of low-rent houses, and then followed her up to pack.


    An hour later, the BMW was already on its way back to Hejing County.


    Xia Liu''s phone suddenly rang, and it was Fang Fei calling.


    "Xia Liu, did you handle everything well? Is that little b*tch still okay?"


    "Pfft!" Listening to Fang Fei''s giggling voice, Xia Liu almost slammed his head on the steering wheel. What did she mean by ''is that little b*tch still okay''? Women''s ways of talking were simply incredible!

 Chapter 69 Bringing Mei Back to the Village

    "Sister Fang, don''t worry; I''m on my way back to the county town," Xia Liu thought to himself that he must maintain his composure and not leave a bad impression on Gu Fangxia. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."When will you arrive? I''ll host a welcome-back party for you at Longyun Hotel. I''ll get that chick drunk for you, and then let you have some fun," Sister Fang said.


    "Sister Fang, I might arrive in about twenty minutes. We can talk about other things when I get back," Xia Liu forcibly suppressed his emotions. At the moment Fang Fei mentioned those things, both he and his buddy were stunned, nearly losing control of the car.


    After speaking and without waiting for Fang Fei to reply, Xia Liu hung up. He didn''t want Gu Fangxia to see him in an embarrassing state.


    Fortunately, the chick was resting with her eyes closed in the seat, which prevented too much awkwardness.


    A few minutes later, the BMW slowly entered the parking lot of Longyun Hotel, where Fang Fei was actually waiting in front of the elevator.


    Upon seeing Gu Fangxia, Fang Fei ran over and hugged her tightly. "You little bitch, you finally made it!"


    As she spoke, Fang Fei kept slapping Gu Fangxia''s butt, causing the latter''s face to blush red. Continue reading at empire


    If it had been a normal day, Gu Fangxia would have fiercely retaliated against Fang Fei, but with Xia Liu present, she truly felt like crying but had no tears.


    Speaking of wanting to cry, the truly pained person was definitely Xia Liu. Watching how the two women greeted each other, he felt utterly ashamed.


    If he hadn''t quickly chanted the Five Elements Mantra, his pants might have burst open.


    "Sister Fang, there''s someone here... Mind the limit," Gu Fangxia whispered into Fang Fei''s ear.


    "Oh Fangxia, that''s not like you. Don''t worry; Xia Liu is just a little pervert, one of our own," Fang Fei said with a laugh.


    ...


    Xia Liu''s face instantly went dark. What did she mean by one of our own, and calling him a pervert...


    Gu Fangxia managed a bitter smile. Having shared a place to stay for one night, she had some understanding of Xia Liu. His behavior was very standard, and he was upright. How could he be one of their own?


    After joking around for a while, the three of them took the elevator to their private room.


    That day Xia Liu was exposed to the frightening side of Fang Fei; she and Gu Fangxia talked about men, and their topics were all extremely filthy.


    Xia Liu was almost unable to continue listening. He wanted to leave but Fang Fei wouldn''t let him.


    Although the two girls were enjoying their conversation, Xia Liu could tell that there was a difference between theorists and practitioners.


    In other words, even though these two girls were daring enough to reach the sky, they had still not experienced the taste of a man.


    Upon discovering this special circumstance, Xia Liu was shocked. It turned out these two girls were still virgins, which was definitely worth pondering on.


    Fortunately, the meal ended rather quickly, otherwise, Xia Liu didn''t know how long he could have endured it.


    Since Gu Fangxia didn''t have a place to stay, she wanted to live in Fang Fei''s hotel.


    But Fang Fei wouldn''t allow it, which left Gu Fangxia quite embarrassed.


    "If I don''t teach you a lesson, you won''t know how to plan for the future. Here''s the deal: you''ll stay with Xia Liu at his place. If you don''t have money to pay for rent, then pay with your body," Fang Fei said helplessly to Gu Fangxia; the one and a half million that Xia Liu had managed to get, she had given it all away to the workers.


    The funny thing is, she didn''t take a single cent of the final payment of 1.5 million, and during the time she was collecting debts, she even sold her own car.


    "Sister Fang, don''t make this kind of joke, my little heart can''t take it," Xia Liu was already contemplating hitting his head against the wall, and if he could, he really wanted to overpower Fang Fei.


    "Sister Fang, show some restraint, please!" Gu Fangxia''s face blushed to the extreme, and she no longer knew how to respond¡ªafter all, there was an energetic Xia Liu right there.


    "All right, I was just joking. Anyway, since you are going to start work in Osmanthus Village, it''d be more convenient for you to stay there. Plus, you can experience some rustic charm and have some peace and quiet to reflect on whether what you''ve done over the years was right or wrong." Fang Fei wasn''t joking this time.


    Compared to the county town, the countryside might offer a better environment. Used to the glitz and glamour, a walk in the country could broaden one''s horizons considerably.


    Gu Fangxia listened and felt there was truth to it, so she pouted her lips and looked towards Xia Liu, hoping to hear his opinion.


    Where would Xia Liu have any objections? A beauty coming to the village was definitely a good thing. Should she need help, he could lend a hand, and in terms of the project, the proximity was a benefit¡ªit was a very good suggestion indeed.


    Once the decision was made, Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia said goodbye to Fang Fei and headed back to Osmanthus Village.


    As the BMW drove through Shanyan Village, the local lads all came out to gawk, envious of the luxury car. Fortunately, they didn''t notice that Xia Liu was driving¡ªthe very person they always hated. Little did they know how soon they would come to regret their feelings.


    "Wow! What a beautiful village, surrounded by yellow osmanthus trees!" The moment the car entered the village, Gu Fangxia found herself falling in love with the place.


    "Mmhmm, Osmanthus Village, so naturally there are many osmanthus trees. If you like it, you can stay, and someday I''ll find you a good family to marry into."


    "Okay."


    ...


    Xia Liu had originally intended to tease the girl, but then he suddenly didn''t know how to respond.


    However, he was confident that before long, Osmanthus Village would become the best village within a hundred miles, a place that even those living in the cities would envy and covet.


    In the days Xia Liu was away, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman were both distracted.


    They were both very worried, for the burden on Xia Liu''s shoulders seemed too heavy, and they wondered if he could bear it.


    When they heard the sound of a car engine, the two immediately ran out of the house, and then each hugged Xia Liu from one side: "Brother Xia Liu, you''re finally back."


    "Yes, I''m back." With the faint scent of the two women surrounding him, the fatigue of the last few days seemed to vanish into thin air.


    "Hey, hello there." Originally not wanting to disturb Xia Liu, Gu Fangxia took the initiative to say hello upon seeing the very pretty girls calling him Brother Xia Liu, thinking they might be his younger sisters.


    Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue let go of Xia Liu upon hearing the voice and their expressions changed instantly when they saw Gu Fangxia.


    "Don''t get me wrong, my name is Gu Fangxia, I work in construction." Gu Fangxia quickly reacted when she sensed the hostility in the eyes of the two women. That wasn''t what she wanted at all.


    "Uh, hello, my name is Zhang Xiaoxue, and this is my cousin Zhang Xiaoman..." Zhang Xiaoxue regained her composure and started to introduce herself to Gu Fangxia.


    "What? You and Xia Liu aren''t blood siblings?" After learning their identities, Gu Fangxia exclaimed in surprise.


    "Sister Gu, let''s go check out the construction site first," Xia Liu felt a chill down his spine. He didn''t know how to explain, as the situation was somewhat absurd, yet real. He lived under the same roof with two girls, and their relationship had always been so pure.


    Gu Fangxia also needed time to process the shock of her discovery, so she bid farewell to the two women and went with Xia Liu to inspect the site.

 Chapter 70 Leave Him to Me for Proper Training

    After more than an hour of climbing, Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia finally reached the mountaintop.Gu Fangxia was so exhausted that she could barely catch her breath, and she was certain that without Xia Liu, she would never have been able to make it up here.


    Standing on the towering mountaintop, Gu Fangxia felt a mix of excitement and helplessness, for the mountain was simply too big. Stay tuned to empire


    Moreover, with mountains linked to one another, carving a path through these mountains would be an adventure and a waste of money, unless it was absolutely necessary.


    Behind the mountain lay a slope, not very rocky, but what lay underneath the soil was unknown.


    The distance from the base to the summit was about three hundred meters, a somewhat terrifying distance. To develop the area in a short period of time, they would need to use those exceptionally large construction machines.


    "Xia Liu, how thick do you think this layer of soil is?" Gu Fangxia asked, pointing to the soil on the slope.


    "I''m not sure about that," Xia Liu replied. "It probably isn''t too thick, but we may need to resort to blasting if necessary." He had given this a lot of thought; no matter how challenging the conditions, this road had to be carved out.


    "I see. This project is quite big and involves many issues; we must have official documents to proceed. Can you handle that?"


    "No problem. The paperwork can be sorted out in a few days, and I''ll also speak with the landlords about the lands at the foot of the mountain."


    "That''s great. With that settled, we''ll face much less trouble and can start work without any worries." Gu Fangxia looked at Xia Liu with a smile of appreciation. She had come to realize that this man, slightly younger than herself, was not only skilled physically, but also had powerful connections and always considered others.


    They say when a woman begins to see a man''s virtues, she gradually becomes enraptured and then finds it hard to disentangle herself.


    Gu Fangxia didn''t even notice how Xia Liu''s image had begun to deeply embed itself in her eyes and her mind.


    By the time they descended the mountain, the sky had dimmed to a dusky yellow. Zhang Xiaoxue said that Xia Liu had brought the engineering team''s boss back to the village.


    Li Zhong immediately mobilized the villagers to slaughter pigs and chickens and prepare a feast; this was a big deal for Osmanthus Village.


    The villagers had realized that while they might not be able to help Xia Liu with money, they could certainly help with manpower and resources¡ªevery little bit counted.


    The arrival of the engineering team in the village required a show of sincerity.


    When the villagers saw Gu Fangxia, they were stunned; they hadn''t expected the boss of the engineering team to be a woman, especially one as stunningly beautiful as a TV star.


    Gu Fangxia had truly felt the villagers'' enthusiasm that day and was also moved. She silently vowed to herself that she would ensure this project was a success.


    Overwhelmed by happiness, Gu Fangxia indeed got drunk. Xia Liu and Zhang Qing had to support her as she kept clamoring to drink a few more bowls of Osmanthus Wine.


    "Xia Liu, this woman is even more beautiful than Sister, should we, while she''s asleep, maybe¡­" As they were walking, Zhang Qing gave a suggestive wink and started messing around on Gu Fangxia''s body.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t joke around. I''m not that kind of guy," Xia Liu responded calmly. "Even if I wanted to, it would have to be with the other person''s consent or even their initiative."


    "Like me?" Zhang Qing gave Xia Liu a meaningful glance with her big eyes.


    "Uh¡­" Before Xia Liu could respond, Zhang Qing had already taken Gu Fangxia into her house, and Xia Liu was dragged in as well.


    After settling Gu Fangxia in, Zhang Qing said, "Your rooms at home are all occupied. Let me handle this beauty, I''ll take good care of her."


    "Heh, I was about to say that." Xia Liu chuckled. "But what do you mean by ''take good care of her''?"


    "Hmm, don''t you know? Let Sister teach you!"


    With that, Zhang Qing pulled Xia Liu into the room across the door. Soon, the faint sounds of high and low pitches began to resonate weakly¡­


    Xia Liu arrived home late at night, taking advantage of the fact that the two girls were asleep, he quickly took a shower, the scent on his body was too strong.


    If the girls found out, they would definitely start having wild thoughts.


    Early the next morning, Xia Liu first went to the hilltop to check on the Osmanthus Chickens.


    Unexpectedly, these chickens stopped growing after they stopped eating the feed containing Spiritual Energy.


    Xia Liu couldn''t help but smile, Fang Fei had explained that Osmanthus Chickens around five or six pounds were the best to sell, so stopping their growth was very good. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he was about to leave, Li Dazhuang arrived in a truck, accompanied by several women.


    According to Fang Fei''s arrangement, now they needed to transport twelve hundred Osmanthus Chickens every day; after several continuous days, there were now only over ten thousand chickens wandering on the hilltop.


    If they waited for the chickens to be sold before bringing in new chicks, the supply would be interrupted, so Xia Liu had an idea to make the women gather all the Osmanthus Chickens on the hilltop together.


    Later on, they would set up a net to separate the two areas, one for raising the chicks and the other for free-ranging the chickens ready for sale.


    As soon as this idea emerged, a woman volunteered to take care of it, she immediately went to town to buy the net, and after everyone was done collecting oysters for the day, she notified them, and everyone quickly came over to set up the net.


    All was understood without being said; after spending two days in Osmanthus Village, Gu Fangxia had learned a lot about the villagers.


    After discovering some facts, she had been in awe up to this point, especially about the villagers'' income, which could reach five or six thousand a day!


    That was simply terrifying, the workers under her charge, who worked hard all day, would only earn about two hundred after the pay was distributed.


    And that''s with her not withholding any wages; if she increased her own salary, those workers would earn only a hundred or so a day.


    Whereas, the people of Osmanthus Village just needed to collect oysters, and they could make five or six thousand a day.


    What''s more terrifying, she found that several of the women raising chickens were earning a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan.


    This nearly made her bite her tongue; ten thousand a month, and that''s just for looking after chickens!


    If it wasn''t for the fact that she saw the villagers collecting their money every evening, she would never have believed that all of this was real.


    And this was happening in what was rumored to be the poorest village in Hejing County, which made her doubt those rumors.


    How could Osmanthus Village be the poorest village? Even if it was the best village in Huaxia, it wouldn''t be possible to distribute thousands of yuan to the villagers every evening.


    It was only after making several inquiries that Gu Fangxia realized that a month ago, Osmanthus Village was the poorest village.


    But everything changed after Xia Liu''s return; the villagers started to earn money, and ever since the oyster farming got on track, some had already saved several tens of thousands, even a hundred thousand.


    Gu Fangxia was once again amazed by Xia Liu; she couldn''t fathom how a man could change the village so much in just one month.


    On Gu Fangxia''s third day in Osmanthus Village, those workers finally arrived in Hejing County.


    Upon learning of this, Xia Liu directly drove over to meet them.


    After settling them in, he went to Li Zhong''s office and got a bag of documents, permissions, and recommendations for moving mountains and building roads!


    With this document and the arrival of the workers, the project officially began!

 Chapter 71 Where are Your Medicinal Ingredients?

    Gu Fangxia also wasn''t idle. Xia Liu''s request was to carve out the mountain within two months.She had some connections in the city, and if the price was right, she could secure several large machines.


    After understanding the situation, Xia Liu transferred three million to Gu Fangxia as initial expenses.


    Xia Liu had not budgeted, but ten million should suffice to carve out the mountain, and the rest would be much simpler.


    On the way to the city, Gu Fangxia was stunned for a long time. She had never met a boss so generous.


    What''s more terrifying was that this boss was a youth from the village, living in nothing more than a rundown house.


    In the two days Gu Fangxia went to the city to mobilize machinery, Xia Liu had already settled the land issues on the mountain side.


    For fields that might be affected by stones or dust, he would purchase them outright.


    Thanks to Li Zhong''s help, this matter was handled very smoothly, and the farmers whose land was expropriated were overjoyed.


    Xia Liu wasn''t paying for the land but borrowing it. Once the project was finished and everything was settled, they would still retain the rights to use their land.


    On the third day, under the protection of the police chief, Chen Jin, Gu Fangxia led roughly ten large excavators to the base of the hill.


    Also following were more than ten large dump trucks. This effort cost Gu Fangxia over a million, and she would cover any maintenance and servicing costs during the construction process.


    By the time all the machinery was in place, it was already past four in the afternoon.


    Li Zhong led many people from Osmanthus Village to the top of the hill, looking down at the numerous machines below.


    Countless people shed tears. For over a hundred years, since the founding of their village, they were finally going to have a road of their own.


    Li Zhong set off the firecrackers he had brought up the mountain on his back, and the atmosphere on the mountain range heated up.


    That night Osmanthus Village was incredibly lively. Gu Fangxia''s workers, who stayed in metal-roofed houses at the entrance to the village, felt the villagers'' warmth and silently vowed to execute the project beautifully.


    Late into the night, after the feast had ended, Xia Liu asked Gu Fangxia to tally up the expenses for this project.


    Your journey continues at empire


    "Because we''re cutting through the mountain, the area we need to expand is quite large, and with labor and machinery, the costs might be somewhat high," Gu Fangxia said as she spread her hand-drawn blueprint on the table.


    Looking at the blueprint, Xia Liu nodded with satisfaction. This girl was clever, expanding the area to reduce the risk of collapse.


    Moreover, once the road was built, it wouldn''t create a visual sense of oppression, and even if strong winds blew rocks down, they wouldn''t hit the road.


    "Proceed according to this blueprint. How much will it cost? How long will it take?"


    "Roughly speaking, it would take twenty million and three months to guarantee completion," Gu Fangxia thoughtfully replied.


    "Three months is too long. If possible, operate twenty-four hours a day in two shifts. How many days would it take at a minimum?" Three months was too long for Xia Liu to wait. Even though he didn''t have that much money at the moment, he wasn''t worried. As long as it could be completed quickly, even fifty million would be fine.


    "I guessed you would say that. With two shifts, I guarantee it''ll be done in a month, but the cost of the project..."


    Gu Fangxia stopped there. Two shifts would require a lot of manpower and machinery maintenance, definitely costing more than the initial estimate.


    "Don''t worry about it; just tell me how much it''s going to cost."


    "Thirty million..." Gu Fangxia weakly held up three fingers, physically adding ten million more than expected, worried that Xia Liu wouldn''t be able to handle it.


    "Thirty million? That''s very cheap. I''ll transfer seven million to you right away. The remaining twenty million will be given during the construction process."


    "Holy cow, you really are a big tycoon!" Staring at the text message confirming the transfer, Gu Fangxia''s mouth hung open in astonishment.


    She originally thought that Xia Liu was just joking, but she didn''t expect him to give money so directly! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hehe, Sister Gu is kidding, I''m just a farmer," Xia Liu said with a slight smile. The word tycoon was too far-fetched for him.


    "Hmm, the kind of farmer who can just whip out tens of millions on a whim," Gu Fangxia pouted her red lips and said softly, "I wonder if our farmer brother still lacks someone to warm his bed?"


    "Pfft!" The tea Xia Liu had just swallowed sprayed out as he stared at Gu Fangxia, not having expected such words to come out of her mouth.


    Unfortunately, before he could respond, Gu Fangxia had run away¡­


    "Stay calm, stay calm!" Muttering to himself twice, Xia Liu got up to go home. He needed some peace, the women of this world were terrifying.


    Luckily, by the time he came back, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman had already gone to sleep, otherwise he would definitely be miserable.


    Normally at this time, he would be over at Zhang Qing''s place, but not now, not with Gu Fangxia there.


    Xia Liu shifted his focus to the remaining twenty million. He had promised to pay in full during the construction process.


    If he waited for the next batch of chickens to mature and sell, it would definitely not be until next month, and with the time so pressing, there was no way he could have twenty million at once.


    Even if Fang Fei was willing to give it, he would be too embarrassed to take it, after all, he already owed her several times.


    The oyster route was even more prolonged, and as he rummaged through his options, dawn broke without him having found a perfect solution.


    Just as Xia Liu was considering whether to ask Fang Fei for a loan, the phone rang.


    It was Liu Lanxin calling.


    Seeing the name noted, Xia Liu remembered that the supply of Atractylodes had been cut off for quite some time.


    "Xia Liu, Boss Xia! It''s almost been half a month, where are your medicinal herbs?"


    On the other end of the line, Liu Lanxin''s voice sounded somewhat urgent, as if she might be on her period.


    "Miss Liu, the Atractylodes are all dug up, I can''t supply you even if I want to," said Xia Liu, equally helpless about the situation. That patch of Atractylodes was gone, and it wouldn''t reappear until next year at the earliest.


    "Gone? You''re telling me they''re gone at this time!" Liu Lanxin roared.


    "Er, sorry, there''s really nothing I can do; they''re all wild¡­" Xia Liu said with a wry smile. If it were anyone else shouting like that, he would have already gotten into a fight.


    But Liu Lanxin was different. If it weren''t for her, he wouldn''t have gotten started in the first place.


    ...


    "If possible, I hope you can sell me many more wild medicinal materials. I''ll pay top dollar, I really need them," Liu Lanxin said calmly after a long silence.


    Hearing Liu Lanxin speak like that, Xia Liu frowned. There must have been some incident; otherwise, she wouldn''t be so desperate.


    "Has something happened?"


    "Er, no, it''s nothing. Go about your business. If you find a large supply of wild medicinal materials, make sure to save them for me."


    After saying that, Liu Lanxin hung up the phone, leaving Xia Liu with a puzzled expression.


    "Ah, how annoying!"


    Twenty million was already giving Xia Liu a headache, and now there was an issue with Tianluo Chinese Medicine Pharmacy. He definitely had to lend a hand.

 Chapter 72 New Mission

    Thinking it over, Xia Liu instructed the two women before driving off towards the town.In front of Tianluo Chinese Medicine Pharmacy, just like usual, there weren''t many people, and the huge signboard looked much dimmer than before.


    The appearance of the BMW caught Liu Lanxin''s attention, after all, there were not many cars in the town, let alone a luxury car of this level.


    When she saw Xia Liu get out of the car, her expression suddenly changed, and she ran out from the front desk.


    "Boss Liu, you look so pale, you''re not actually on your period, are you?" Xia Liu wondered, seeing Liu Lanxin rushing towards him, fuming with anger.


    "You''re the one on your period!" Liu Lanxin struggled to suppress the urge to punch him.


    "Come on, tell me, is there some trouble you''ve encountered? Maybe I can help out a bit." Xia Liu just smiled at Liu Lanxin''s anger and let it pass.


    This girl had helped him before, and he believed in repaying kindness. Even if it was mutual benefit, she had given him a hand, and now that she was in trouble, how could he remain indifferent?


    "Boss Xia is also in the medicinal herb business, and now even drives a BMW, don''t you know about the difficulties Tianluo Pharmaceutical is facing?"


    In her heart, Liu Lanxin presumed Xia Liu came to mock her; how could she show him a friendly face?


    "Girl, I really didn''t know. If I had known, I would have helped directly. Why would I come to poke at your sore spot?" Xia Liu felt downright wronged. Was he being categorized as a rich tycoon just because of a car? This girl was really silly and cute.


    "You really didn''t know?"


    "I really didn''t know!"


    Seeing Xia Liu''s sincere face, Liu Lanxin allowed him to enter the shop.


    After some discussion, Xia Liu finally learned the whole story.


    It turned out that Tianluo Pharmaceutical had recently encountered a problem with a bidding process.


    The region had organized a bidding process, and the winning traditional Chinese medicine enterprises would be able to collaborate with the regional medical teams.


    But to win the bid, one must achieve certain results and build a strong reputation within a set time period.


    All the competitors in the bidding process were roughly equal in strength, but in terms of results, Tianluo Pharmaceutical was at the bottom.


    This so-called result was actually about who could achieve the highest sales and the best brand reputation within half a month, to emerge victorious.


    "Do you want me to supply a large amount of wild herbs, just to boost sales?"


    "Exactly. Tianluo Pharmaceutical produces many items, but if the raw materials are wild, there will be much fewer side effects. More people will buy them, and the good reputation will follow."


    Liu Lanxin vaguely remembered that not long ago, Xia Liu supplied a thousand or even several thousand kilograms of Atractylodes every few days, because of its wide medicinal value. It could be made into capsules or pills, and there was no need to speak of its sales. As soon as ''wild'' was flagged in the product description, it was snatched up like crazy.


    But at a critical moment, Xia Liu suddenly ran out of stock, which was extremely awkward.


    If they could collaborate with the medical team, it would not only bring honor but also provide endless development channels. For a pharmaceutical company, it was truly a stroke of great fortune.


    "So, it''s actually a matter of who makes more money in half a month, right?" Xia Liu understood clearly. After all this talk, it just came down to practical matters.


    "That''s right. In half a month''s time, the bidding pharmaceutical companies who sell the most will win the bid," Liu Lanxin nodded. She really hoped she could help, and to do that, she needed the wild herbs provided by Xia Liu.


    "When it comes to making money, women''s money is the easiest to earn. Just create a few products that women would be willing to spend a lot of money on, and the sales will surely go up."


    "Easy for you to say. Women aren''t fools. Why should we set our sights on women?" Liu Lanxin disagreed with this point, after all, she was a woman herself.


    "Don''t misunderstand, let''s stick to the facts. I''m talking about creating a few products for whitening or breast enhancement. The sales would definitely spike," Xia Liu hurriedly clarified when he saw her changing expressions again.


    "Easier said than done. How could you achieve whitening or, you know, enlargement without prolonged care?" Liu Lanxin gave Xia Liu a disdainful glance, thinking he was making fun of her.


    "So, your, uh, size is due to regular maintenance, huh."


    "What did you say?"


    "Nothing, nothing, I feel like I might be able to help you," Xia Liu said, waving his hand.


    "Out with it. If it helps secure the contract, I''ll make sure you''re rewarded," Liu Lanxin said, rubbing her hands together and eyeing Xia Liu eagerly.


    "Here''s the deal. I make a product, and once it sells, I take the cost price and fifty percent of the sales. You secure the partnership with the medical unit."


    Xia Liu suddenly remembered an old prescription book the old man had shown him while he was still alive. It contained a recipe for whitening and breast enlargement. Although he hadn''t tried making it before, the effects wouldn''t be bad, as it was what the old man had entrusted to him.


    "Forget fifty, even eighty percent is yours," Liu Lanxin said, intrigued. This medicine would be made by Xia Liu, and as long as it could help Tianluo Pharmaceutical secure the contract, she was willing to pay out of pocket.


    "Heh, I''ll need your brand''s promotion, so fifty percent of the sales revenue is fine by me." On such matters, Xia Liu wasn''t greedy; he knew his fair share.


    Maybe this venture could also solve his bothersome funding issues¡ªa win-win situation indeed!


    "Alright, it''s settled then. Let me know what I need to do." For some reason, Liu Lanxin greatly trusted Xia Liu, even on the basis of just a few words. Enjoy new chapters from empire


    "You don''t need to do much, but if you''re willing, help warm my bed tonight."


    "You stop right there! I''m going to chase you down and beat you to death!" Liu Lanxin shouted, chasing after Xia Liu as he left.


    But she was no match for Xia Liu''s speedy moves; the moment the car door shut, he sped away.


    Watching the distant BMW, a blush slowly crept across Liu Lanxin''s face...


    Once home, Xia Liu didn''t delay. He strapped on his basket and headed into the mountains to collect several types of fresh herbs.


    He had seen many during his previous trips into the mountains, but since he hadn''t needed them then, he didn''t pick them.


    Now, about half an hour later, he had found the herbs he needed.


    "Seven-Leaf Grass, Eustoma, Snow Spirit Flower..."


    Looking at the herbs in the basket, Xia Liu cheerfully dashed out of the forest.


    After getting home, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman gathered around him. After some explanation, the two women looked at Xia Liu with heated gazes: "Brother Xia Liu, you''re not joking, right? Can it really beautify?"


    "Beautify? It can enhance breasts too!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "Make it quickly, I want to become bigger and prettier!"


    "Xiaoman, be more reserved!"


    "You two go make dinner, I''ll call you when I''m ready. Don''t be anxious." Watching Zhang Xiaoman''s chest bounce, Xia Liu swallowed a few gulps of saliva. It was already terrifying, and she wanted to increase it further, frightening indeed...


    After the two women left, Xia Liu washed the herbs clean, then boiled a pot of hot water, and tossed the roots and stems of the herbs into it.

 Chapter 73 Beauty Mud!

    The water had been boiling for about ten minutes when Xia Liu fished out the herbs, continuing to simmer the reddish-yellow liquid.Once removed, Xia Liu ground the herbs into a pulp and then tossed them back into the steaming pot.


    After continuing to boil for half an hour, a pungent and unpleasant odor wafted from the pot.


    Xia Liu knew it was almost time, so he spread out his palm and channeled the Five Elements Mantra; an invisible blue Spiritual Energy flowed from his hand into the pot.


    This was recorded in the prescription, that the desired effects couldn''t be achieved with just those few herbs alone.


    Water Spirit Energy had to be added, something only Xia Liu could concoct.


    After the addition of Water Spirit Energy, the liquid in the pot gradually thickened. Ten minutes passed and the thickened mixture had the consistency of stirred-up soil, and a faint fragrance emerged.


    "Brother Xia Liu! Is it ready yet? It''s almost been an hour!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as Xia Liu was preparing to take it off the stove, Zhang Xiaoman called out, unable to wait any longer.


    "Almost, just a bit longer!"


    After responding, Xia Liu poured the contents of the pot into a basin.


    Initially, there were only a few herbs, but a large amount of water was added.


    Now, the basin was filled with over twenty pounds of Beautifying Medicine Mud.


    Once the Medicine Mud had cooled, Xia Liu ladled two bowls of it into the house: "Xiaoman, Xiaoxue, the Beauty Mud is ready."


    "Wow! It smells so nice, but it kinda looks like¡­ you know what¡­"


    "Xiaoman, don''t be like that. Even if it looks like poop, Brother Xia Liu made it."


    ...


    "You two, do you want to become beautiful or not!" Xia Liu''s face didn''t show it, but he was a bit embarrassed listening to the two girls'' chatter, comparing his creation to¡­ that.


    "Yes, yes!"


    After confirming, they took the bowls and, following Xia Liu''s instructions, applied the Medicine Mud on their faces.


    In truth, it was just like applying a facial mask. After putting on the Medicine Mud, both girls felt a refreshing coolness on their faces, quite delightful.


    After ten minutes passed, the Medicine Mud on the faces of Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman had set into a mask.


    After peeling off the mask, both girls screamed, "Ah! My face!"


    "What''s wrong, did it fail?" Hearing the shouts from inside the room, Xia Liu rushed in quickly.


    Seeing their reactions, he laughed; the Medicine Mud was indeed effective!


    "Is this really me?" Zhang Xiaoman couldn''t believe her eyes as she looked at herself in the mirror, never imagining she could be this exquisite.


    She had thought herself quite beautiful before, but after using the Medicine Mud, she felt her beauty had increased several-fold.


    The slightly dark circles under her eyes had vanished completely, and the few blemishes she had were gone, leaving her cheeks looking more tender and elastic!


    Zhang Xiaoxue was just as eager to peel off her mask, and in that instant, it was as if brightness sparkled upon her face.


    "Big sister looks amazing!" Staring at the transformed Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Xiaoman murmured involuntarily.


    Compared to before, Zhang Xiaoxue''s complexion was much fairer, a flutter of her long lashes made one''s heart race.


    "Brother Xia Liu, do you have more, I want to apply it every day!"


    "Me too, Brother Xia Liu, hurry up and give us more!"


    After a brief moment of surprise, both girls latched onto Xia Liu''s arms, cooing and cajoling.


    "Don''t rush, don''t rush, this medicine''s effect can last a while, applying it several times in a short period won''t have much of an effect," Xia Liu said ruefully, feeling the softness against his arms.


    "So... that''s right, doesn''t this stuff also have breast enlargement effects?"


    "Yes, Brother Xia Liu, hurry up and give it to us!"


    Unable to withstand the crazy gazes of the two women, Xia Liu went to scoop up two more bowls of Medicine Mud.


    "Brother Xia Liu, we don''t know how to use it, why don''t you help us apply it?" Holding the Medicine Mud, Zhang Xiaoman bashfully said.


    "This..." Overwhelmed by the sudden happiness, Xia Liu, after snapping back to reality, hurriedly said, "Ahem, it''s the same method as for the face, just smear the Medicine Mud on the top." Your journey continues at empire


    "Smear it on which top? Brother Xia Liu, quickly tell us."


    ...


    "Xiaoman, I''m going first, you take your time asking, okay?"


    Zhang Xiaoxue could no longer stand listening and, with her face blushing red, fled into her room.


    "Cousin, wait for me!"


    "My God, how can I live through these days?" Xia Liu looked up to the sky and sighed. His heart ached, for he couldn''t enjoy the two tender and soft beauties before him, a real agony indeed.


    "Xia Liu, are you at home?"


    Just as Xia Liu was deep in thought, someone at the door called out his name.


    "I''m here, I''m here." Xia Liu went to the door and asked with some confusion, "Sister Zhang, what brings you here? Has something happened?"


    "Nothing''s happened, I just wanted to check on Xiaoxue and Xiaoman." Zhang Qing looked around, trying to find where those two girls were.


    "Uh uh, they''re busy at the moment. Sister Zhang, come in and wait for a bit." Thinking back to what just happened made Xia Liu''s head ache, but it was a good thing that Zhang Qing arrived to make Zhang Xiaoman behave with more reserve.


    "Never mind then, as long as you have some time. I''ve been feeling like I can''t swim well lately, I don''t know if you could come over and teach me?"


    As she spoke, Zhang Qing looked at Xia Liu with loving eyes, her tongue continuously licking her lips.


    ...


    "Sister Zhang, how about another day? I still have a pot of whitening Medicine I haven''t packed up yet." Xia Liu was in pain, for as much as Zhang Qing was coming on to him, he still had to refuse; after all, that Medicine was precious.


    "Whitening Medicine? You''re not joking, are you?" Zhang Qing, who was initially somewhat dejected, perked up upon hearing this and eagerly stared at Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu didn''t bother explaining; instead, he led Zhang Qing into the house, where the truth would naturally unfold once those two girls came out.


    And indeed, just as the two of them entered the house, a shout came from Zhang Xiaoxue''s room.


    "Cousin, yours have become Ds!"


    "Don''t be so loud!"


    "Ah! Mine too!"


    Xia Liu looked at Zhang Qing with a bitter face and said, "The Beauty Mud also has a breast enlarging effect."


    Zhang Qing didn''t reply to him; excited, she ran into the room, and then three shouts were heard inside.


    A few minutes later, the three of them came out of the room, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman feeling somewhat shy because, with the increase in size, they could no longer fit into their clothes, hence they were now topless.


    Xia Liu stood dumbfounded for a long while. If it weren''t for Zhang Qing pulling him back to reality, he would''ve had a nosebleed.


    "Xia Liu, hurry up and give me some too!"


    "There''s some, Sister Zhang, no need to worry."


    "Alright then, I forgot to turn off the water when I came out just now, so I''ll go back first. You can bring it to me later." Giving Xia Liu a knowing look, Zhang Qing hurriedly ran back home.


    "Brother Xia Liu, could you buy some clothes for me and Xiaoman tomorrow? We can''t fit into our old ones..."


    "Mm-hmm, you two go rest, I''ll definitely buy them for you tomorrow." Xia Liu looked at Zhang Xiaoxue for quite a while before swallowing hard and slowly spoke.


    After the two women had entered the room, Xia Liu took several plastic bags and packed up all the Beauty Mud from the pot. Lacking the proper facilities, he would have to wait until tomorrow to find Liu Lanxin for the final premium packaging.

 Chapter 74 Arent You Here to Mock Me?

    After filling three plastic bags, Xia Liu packed a small one¡ªhe hadn''t forgotten to deliver it to Zhang Qing.He knew what Zhang Qing meant when she left, this delivery would surely lead to something happening¡­


    However, Xia Liu was somewhat worried that it might disturb Gu Fangxia, which would definitely not be a good thing.


    But his worry was unnecessary. After arriving at Zhang Qing''s house, he didn''t see Gu Fangxia.


    Upon inquiry, it turned out that the girl had gone to the construction site.


    Because she worked in shifts, Gu Fangxia went to check on the site every other day and sometimes she didn''t come back if it got too late.


    "Xia Liu, tonight you are mine!" Zhang Qing gazed at Xia Liu with seductive shaky eyes, from time to time sticking out her tongue, as if she wanted to swallow Xia Liu whole.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t rush. You should try this Beauty Mud first."


    "We''ll try that later!"


    ...


    After a stormy encounter, Zhang Qing sat limply on the sofa, out of breath: "I feel like my bones are about to fall apart."


    Xia Liu smiled and said nothing. His strength just now had indeed been a bit much, after all, he had been holding back for quite a few days, and he had been provoked by Zhang Xiaoman before coming over.


    "Sister Zhang should exercise more."


    "That''s a great suggestion, you should come over more often." Zhang Qing perked up at that thought, as exercise naturally wouldn''t be tiring with a male and female pair.


    "By the way, where''s the Beauty Mud you brought? I''ll give it a try."


    Xia Liu grinned. This chick was something else, only remembering why she came after being satisfied.


    After a brief explanation, Zhang Qing could hardly believe it. The Beauty Mud actually had such incredible effects.


    But remembering the transformation of Zhang Xiaoxue and the others, she got excited unconsciously.


    Half an hour later, Zhang Qing sat in front of the vanity somewhat absent-minded.


    She touched her skin, now as soft as a baby''s, without any blemishes, the complexion issues due to aging had completely vanished!


    She almost started crying out loud because the effect of the medicine was too dramatic, happiness came too suddenly.


    Zhang Qing felt she had rejuvenated by more than a decade, and the most frightening change,


    was that her chest was significantly larger than before, now almost reaching an F!


    The most incredible thing was that due to aging, some spots had darkened.


    But after applying the Beauty Mud, they started to turn pink!!!


    Xia Liu was also astonished, not expecting the Beauty Mud to be this effective.


    Seeing that Zhang Qing''s emotions were unstable, as if she was about to cry, Xia Liu quickly came over to ask, "Sister Zhang, what''s wrong?"


    "Xia Liu, I feel almost like a young girl now. You won''t understand these feelings," Zhang Qing stated, trying hard to control her emotions.


    "Hehe, then let''s celebrate again!"


    Xia Liu said as he picked up Zhang Qing, turned off the lights, and the celebration party unfolded.


    When Xia Liu got home, it was almost dawn. Luckily, the two girls hadn''t woken up early, or he would have had to worry about how to explain.


    As for Zhang Qing, she probably wouldn''t be able to leave her bed all day today.


    After washing up, Xia Liu practiced a set of Taiji.


    Since he had started hustling to make money, he rarely practiced martial arts.


    He could practice the martial arts less, but he had to practice the Five Elements Mantra every day!


    Those were the old man''s words, which Xia Liu dared not forget. If it hadn''t been for the Five Elements Mantra over the years, he would have died several times by now.


    After Xia Liu finished his routine, Zhang Xiaoxue also got up. Enjoy new chapters from empire


    Today, Zhang Xiaoxue wore a white shirt, her slender figure on full display.


    What surprised Xia Liu the most was the spots... on the shirt.


    The heat that had just subsided seemed to slowly start rising again.


    "Xiaoxue, don''t go out today. Wait for me to buy you clothes and come back."


    "Brother Xia Liu, you have to hurry¡­" Zhang Xiaoxue said with her head lowered and her cheeks blushing.


    Xia Liu nodded, went into the house, picked up two plastic bags, and drove off.


    In front of Tianluo Chinese Medicine Pharmacy, Liu Lanxin was peering into the distance from the shop entrance early in the morning.


    She really wanted to call Xia Liu but felt embarrassed to do so, as it involved an issue of trust.


    When she saw that familiar BMW, a slow smile curled up on Liu Lanxin''s lips. She just knew Xia Liu would come.


    "Where''s your product?" Looking at the three bags Xia Liu was holding, Liu Lanxin was a bit confused.


    She couldn''t understand how the contents of those two plastic bags could convince customers to pay. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was like a huge joke.


    "Here, exclusively formulated Beauty Mud, not only beautifies but also enhances the bust!" said Xia Liu as he opened the plastic bag for Liu Lanxin to see.


    ...


    "I don''t want to curse, but you''re forcing me! You asshole!" Liu Lanxin had enough headaches already, and now Xia Liu was making it worse; how could she possibly remain in a good mood.


    "Girl, don''t hit me. Listen to me, okay!" As Xia Liu dodged with two bags in his hands and couldn''t fight back, he kept avoiding her while trying to calm her down.


    If he dropped those three bags, he''d definitely lose a lot of money.


    Liu Lanxin, having calmed down, ignored Xia Liu and went back into the shop.


    "Girl, my explanations are useless now. Why don''t you experience the Beauty Mud for yourself? You''ll naturally see the results."


    Xia Liu knew his words couldn''t clear things up now; only letting Liu Lanxin try the Beauty Mud would do¡ªits results would be more convincing than a thousand good words.


    "Are you here to mock me?"


    "Shit! I''m counting on this to make money."


    Liu Lanxin shot Xia Liu a glare and took the bag.


    She opened the bag very carefully, and a faint fragrance wafted into her nostrils immediately.


    "It smells good. How do you use this?" Though Liu Lanxin didn''t quite believe Xia Liu, the fragrance was so compelling that she decided to trust him for the time being.


    "It''s just like applying a face mask, spread it evenly on your face."


    Following Xia Liu''s instructions, Liu Lanxin scooped a small bowl of Beauty Mud and slowly spread it evenly with her hands.


    The cool sensation on her face almost made her scream. Having dealt with medicinal herbs since she was young, she knew very well that even if the Beauty Mud had no other effects, it would hydrate her skin.


    After about fifteen minutes, Liu Lanxin peeled off the mask and washed her face.


    Looking at her delicate and fair cheeks in the mirror, she almost screamed.


    "Is this my face?" She looked left and right, hardly believing that the soft, fair complexion was indeed her own!!!


    "Girl, can you believe me now? The Beauty Mud will not only get us certified, but it will also make us a tidy profit." Xia Liu could already imagine the frenzy once the product hit the market.


    It would surely be uncontrollable because, to date, no other product could compare.


    "Yes, I believe you. But before it goes to market, I need to know if it has any other uses."


    "Of course, you could try it. It''s not bad for bust enhancement."


    Xia Liu winked, as if to say, you know what I mean.


    "Don''t get any weird ideas. I''m going to try it out, not because I want to get bigger!"


    "No, that''s not it! I misspoke. I''m going to try it to check for toxins, in case there''s a problem when consumers use it¡ªthat would be troublesome."


    In the end, Liu Lanxin didn''t clarify and ran into the inner hall with a small bowl...

 Chapter 75 Planning and Implementation

    After waiting for almost half an hour, Xia Liu was getting impatient when Liu Lanxin finally came out from the inner hall, acting all shy.She kept her head down low, because the effect of the medicine was simply too astonishing.


    In just ten minutes, she had gone from a B cup all the way to a C and was even close to D!


    This was an effect of terrifying proportion.


    And because of this, her clothes didn''t fit, so she had to change into a new outfit before she came out.


    But even with the change of clothes, there were still disharmonious elements to be seen.


    "If you dare to keep staring at me, I swear I''ll gouge your eyes out!" When she looked up and saw Xia Liu staring at her dumbfounded, Liu Lanxin burst out in anger.


    "Girl, now that you''ve tried it yourself, how do you feel about the effect?" Xia Liu wasn''t about to ask for trouble by running into the line of fire; changing the subject was the way to go.


    "It''s okay, but first, take me to the lingerie store to buy a few pieces of clothing!" Liu Lanxin said, hugging herself and walking out of the store shyly.


    Xia Liu didn''t dilly-dally, since he also needed to buy a few things, and having this girl help him would be the best.


    After buying clothes, Liu Lanxin got in the car and tossed the bags onto Xia Liu: "Drive!"


    Xia Liu was completely baffled by her sudden temper; all he did was ask her to help him buy a few things. Even if they weren''t for her, there was no reason for her to take out her jealousy on him.


    Just as Xia Liu thought, Liu Lanxin was very frustrated; Xia Liu had actually asked her to buy a few items in D size!


    Wasn''t this slapping her own face? If she hadn''t seen herself become prettier today, how could she possibly have let him off the hook?


    After this small interlude, Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin sat down at a table to discuss how to integrate Beauty Mud into the market and what the price fluctuations should be.


    "We''ll hand over the sales channels to Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s various Western medicine stores, investing several hundred thousand can get us great promotion," Liu Lanxin said carefully.


    "I trust you on that. As for the price, the one you just quoted is a bit low."


    "Too low?" Liu Lanxin could hardly believe it.


    She had just planned to package the Beauty Mud in a beautiful box, enough for one facial mask and to apply over the bust.


    The price was set at ten thousand yuan a box, which for many people, was already exorbitant.


    "Yes, considering the effect of the Beauty Mud, it would definitely be a loss without pricing it at twenty thousand yuan a box."


    "Twenty thousand a box, are you sure you''re not joking?"


    "I''m not joking, if we do this, we shall be the best in the industry!" Xia Liu''s gaze was fixed on the Beauty Mud; he seemed to see an indescribable, massive business opportunity.


    "I''ll take your word for it, I''m actually wondering what the cost of one box is?" Liu Lanxin had been eager to ask this question.


    Given the miraculous effect of the Beauty Mud, the production cost must involve very precious herbs; it would be embarrassing if it couldn''t sustain even for a few days.


    "The cost isn''t that high, ten thousand yuan a box."


    "Hmm, not that expensive, just ten thousand..."


    "Wow, the cost for one box is ten thousand!" After realizing it, Liu Lanxin couldn''t help screaming.


    But then it clicked; people who understood its value would be willing to buy it even if it were a hundred thousand yuan a box.


    Xia Liu smiled without a word; in fact, he had his own selfish reasons¡ªafter all, the construction project still owed twenty million yuan, and Osmanthus Village needed renovation, money was needed everywhere.


    "So, let''s do this, I''ll take you to visit the pharmaceutical plant later, and if possible, we''ll process the Beauty Mud through machinery."


    "The machine processing isn''t a problem, but I must handle the initial raw materials myself," Xia Liu paused at the last part.


    "Okay, but you have to make sure that the daily output is guaranteed; otherwise, it would all be in vain," Liu Lanxin understood that for such an extraordinary medicine, the formula must be extremely precious, and it was only right for Xia Liu not to share it.


    Xia Liu didn''t want to guarantee anything because for a product like this, he could produce a hundred thousand boxes in a single day if he got lucky. If the raw materials were not available, then not even one box could be made.


    After discussing the sales channels and pricing, Liu Lanxin planned the packaging.


    At noon, Xia Liu returned home to give the clothes to Zhang Xiaoxue and then went to the city with Liu Lanxin.


    Since Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s factory was in the suburbs, they definitely had to make a trip there to complete the packaging.


    It was Xia Liu''s first time visiting Binlai City.


    Following Liu Lanxin''s directions, the BMW car slowly drove into Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s factory.


    Before their arrival, Liu Lanxin had already notified the factory manager.


    The factory manager was very efficient; he had informed the technical staff to prepare the automatic packaging line''s system in advance and made sure the packaging was exquisitely done before Liu Lanxin arrived.


    Half an hour later, the BMW was loaded with a hundred boxes of Beauty Mud.


    The name on the box was: Tianluo Beauty Mud.


    "First, deliver these products to a few sales outlets. Starting tomorrow, we''ll begin advertising," said Liu Lanxin.


    Xia Liu nodded and drove the car to distribute a hundred boxes of Beauty Mud to five sales points in Binlai City.


    The shop assistants, seeing Liu Lanxin, were exceedingly respectful. Working at Tianluo Pharmaceutical, no one dared forget this young miss, especially with the fresh memory of recent events that sent a chill down their spines.


    Knowing the price of the Beauty Mud, the shop assistants trembled as they handled the product, as each box cost twenty thousand yuan!


    Their salaries were only a little over three thousand a month; if they damaged one box, half a year''s wages wouldn''t cover the cost.


    Given the high price, all the shop assistants thought this was just another one of Liu Lanxin''s caprices. While they took great care of the items, they didn''t take the sales seriously.


    The day Beauty Mud hit the shelves, it stirred quite a commotion in Binlai City.


    Whether it was rival pharmaceutical companies or onlookers just there for the excitement, they all ridiculed and laughed at it. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were many beauty medicines on the market, but this was the first time they came across one costing twenty thousand a box¡ªa real case of ''live and learn''!


    Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin smiled without a word. On the path to success, doubts and ridicule were common, but only those who had personally experienced the effects understood the miracle of the Beauty Mud.


    That day, Xia Liu got home quite early and told Liu Lanxin to have a large truck and dozens of clean bags ready to come to the village the next day.


    Because he was going to start mass-producing Beauty Mud. Read exclusive adventures at empire


    After returning to the village, his first stop was to ask Li Zhi to find three large pots for him.


    And sure enough, asking Li Zhi was the right choice; as soon as Xia Liu returned from the mountain, Li Zhi had the large pots ready.


    They were the huge pots from villagers'' homes used for distilling liquor, and even three stoves had been set up in advance.


    The villagers were bustling with activity, eager to know what Xia Liu was up to. However, they ultimately had to give up.


    Because the matter concerned herbs, and without an old Chinese medicine practitioner around, who would know the use of these assorted weeds.


    This time, Xia Liu carried back more than a hundred pounds of herbs from the mountain. He had already measured out the amounts in the mountains, and these herbs could produce several tons of Medicine Mud.


    Thinking of those several tons of Medicine Mud made Xia Liu excited. At twenty thousand a box, once all the herbs in the basket were processed, it would amount to tens or even hundreds of millions!

 Chapter 76 This Medicine Wont Sell

    Unfortunately, constantly walking by the river means wet shoes eventually, and over the course of one night, Xia Liu had ruined more than a dozen batches.However, he had also succeeded quite a bit, and seeing the heaps of Beauty Mud, Xia Liu couldn''t help but smile lightly.


    "Brother Xia Liu, with so much Beauty Mud, can we really sell it all?" Along with Xia Liu till three in the morning were Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman.


    The two women stared dumbly at the Beauty Mud for quite some time. They knew about its effects, but others did not.


    Ever since they knew that Xia Liu priced a small box at twenty thousand, anxiety had crept up on them unconsciously.


    If it were an ordinary family, only a lunatic would spend twenty thousand on a little box without even knowing if it worked.


    "Bro, you handle things, sis here will relax." Xia Liu laughed heartily, this Beauty Mud, as long as the advertisement is good, wouldn''t just sell for twenty thousand a box, even a hundred thousand would have people scrambling for it.


    "Brother Xia Liu, all done, right? Xiaoxue and I will come help rub your back," Zhang Xiaoman said timidly.


    "Pfft! You two hurry up and go to sleep, you''ve both been tired all day, we can''t keep you busy," Xia Liu almost snorted out blood.


    After the two women gloomily entered the house, Xia Liu''s face turned pale instantaneously.


    How could he think of anything else now? The immense consumption of Spiritual Energy had left him feeling as if he had been hollowed out, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.


    After covering the Beauty Mud with tarpaulin, Xia Liu quickly went inside.


    He sat cross-legged on the bed, with hands forming a seal gesture in front of his chest.


    As the Five Elements Mantra commenced, Spiritual Energy invisibly kept permeating into his body.


    Haven''t consumed so much Spiritual Energy in a long time, Xia Liu fell asleep as soon as he started cultivation.


    "Beep beep beep..."


    Around noon, Xia Liu was woken by a discordant honking sound.


    Opening his eyes, he saw it was already twelve o''clock. He slapped his head; he had consumed too much the previous night and had cultivated till this time, he needed to be more careful in the future.


    The truck driver didn''t know what Beauty Mud was, but since Liu Lanxin had instructed them to come, they would haul away even if it were trash.


    The women who came with the truck stared at the mounds of Beauty Mud on the ground in puzzlement.


    After loading the bags onto the truck, Xia Liu filled a plastic bag for the women and then explained to them how to use the Beauty Mud.


    After learning about it, the women were all very excited.


    Women of the world all crave beauty, regardless of their age.


    This time Xia Liu didn''t follow the truck, just a phone call to Liu Lanxin was OK; that babe was definitely more anxious than he was.


    The cash at home was almost gone. To prevent the villagers from running out of supplies, he drove to the town and withdrew over two million in cash from his account.


    Just as he was about to return, his phone suddenly rang; it was Fang Fei calling.


    "Xia Liu, you''re being quite sneaky, huh? You got something good and forgot all about your sister," she teased.


    "Sister Fang, don''t smear my name; how could I possibly forget you?" Xia Liu felt a bit guilty; if Fang Fei hadn''t mentioned it, he wouldn''t have thought of it this soon.


    After all, the Beauty Mud had only been out for less than two days, and he wondered where Fang Fei had gotten the news from.


    "I heard about it, you got some Beauty Mud that can enhance breasts. Sister here needs to try it too. Give you half an hour; if you can''t get here to Longyun, I won''t be polite," Fang Fei said half-jokingly.


    "Hold on, Sister Fang, I''ll be there soon!" Xia Liu was sweating profusely and couldn''t help but admire Fang Fei''s incredible information network; she knew everything about his Beauty Mud project.


    The power of this stunning beauty was indeed colossal.


    Xia Liu drove home, handed all the money to the two women, and with a word of caution, left with some leftover mud.


    Gazing at the bundles of bright red money, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman took a while to snap back to reality...


    "Sister Fang, don''t be mad, okay? This beauty mud was only made two days ago, I was waiting for it to stabilize before bringing some over to you," Xia Liu said calmly as he looked at Fang Fei, who sat cross-legged on the sofa.


    "Hmm, I''ll believe you this time. Since you care so much, go ahead and apply this beauty mud on me, and let''s see if it''s as good as you claim," said Fang Fei with a faint smile, her seductive eyes constantly signaling Xia Liu.


    "This isn''t appropriate, Sister Fang... men and women shouldn''t touch each other like this," Xia Liu said tentatively, although he had long been eager.


    "I''m almost thirty, and you''re talking to me about not touching?"


    "Sister Fang, you''re just like an 18-year-old girl, why bother about age anyway, now you''re even more charming..."


    "Then hurry over here."


    ...


    Unable to refuse, Xia Liu eventually took the plunge.


    As his palms brushed against Fang Fei''s soft cheeks, Xia Liu felt their extreme smoothness.


    From his standing position, he looked down following his gaze


    Xia Liu hadn''t forgotten what this stunning beauty had said on the phone earlier.


    One only realizes upon seeing.


    Xia Liu even wondered if Fang Fei, seeing the effects later, would regret not using it!


    Though he pondered, it took Xia Liu less than two minutes to evenly spread the beauty mud on Fang Fei''s face.


    The cool sensation on her cheeks invigorated Fang Fei tremendously, and she even playfully gasped a few times.


    Sitting opposite, Xia Liu was utterly astonished. Throughout, he clenched his fists tightly, fearing he couldn''t control himself.


    After ten minutes, Xia Liu peeled the facial mask off Fang Fei''s face.


    The first glimpse of her jade-like skin was mesmerizing and stunning.


    Fang Fei was already naturally enchanting; after using the beauty mud, few adjectives in the mortal world remained to describe her.


    Every move she made, even a mere flutter of her eyelashes, was captivating, effortlessly drawing people into fantasies about her.


    "Wow! This effect is terrific, come on, Xia Liu, try some too."


    The most astonishing incident still occurred, Fang Fei insisted that he apply it! sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No words could express Xia Liu''s emotions, not excitement, not thrill, his pals were already astounded!


    "Look at that silly face of yours, giggling..." Seeing Xia Liu dazed for a long time, Fang Fei covered her mouth with her hand, laughing uncontrollably.


    "Haha Sister Fang, this joke isn''t funny at all; if I lose control, that would be tricky," Xia Liu''s face suddenly darkened; Fang Fei was clearly playing him!


    "Oh, lose control? That''s so scary..." Fang Fei acted like a little girl, hugging her legs and watching Xia Liu with a face full of horror.


    "I give up, Sister Fang, I was wrong."


    "Good, you admit you''re wrong. Today, I had you come over not just to see the effect of this beauty mud but also to remind you, even with Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s promotion, this medicine won''t sell..."

 Chapter 77 Cause and Countermeasure

    "Can''t sell them? That''s impossible!" Xia Liu hadn''t had a chance to retort when the phone on the table rang.It was Liu Lanxin calling, "Xia Liu, we might lose money on this. The advertisements have gone out, but they haven''t had any effect."


    "Not even a single box?" Xia Liu asked weakly.


    "Not even one."


    With the final response, Xia Liu''s cheeks twitched slightly, thinking what a mess this all was.


    Beauty Mud, such a miraculous product, was bound to cause a frenzy once promoted.


    Yet now, not even a single box had sold.


    Even if only one box were sold, once someone used it, it would have a powerful effect.


    "Actually, there are two reasons why they haven''t sold," Fang Fei suddenly said when Xia Liu was feeling helpless.


    "Oh? Please, Sister Fang, go on."


    "First, Tianluo Pharmaceutical started with traditional Chinese medicine, making it difficult to promote a product like Beauty Mud. Besides, even if a few women buy a few boxes, the sales volume won''t increase, especially since wealthy women don''t like others to look prettier than them."


    Hearing this, Xia Liu had an epiphany.


    Yes, those who can afford Beauty Mud are definitely wealthy.


    And wealthy women, knowing the value of Beauty Mud, would definitely hoard it because they wouldn''t want other women to look better than themselves, to be greater than themselves.


    "What''s the second reason?" The first point made sense upon reflection and seemed easy to tackle, but the second point Fang Fei mentioned was worth examining.


    "It''s that someone has been spreading negative news about Tianluo Pharmaceutical, particularly about Beauty Mud." Fang Fei paused, her expression slowly becoming more grave.


    "Is it the pharmaceutical companies that bid against Tianluo Pharmaceutical this time?"


    "You could say that, but more precisely, it''s someone we have all met."


    "Liu Mang?" Xia Liu immediately thought of that arrogant fellow.


    Fang Fei didn''t speak, just nodded slightly with a smile. She had reservations about discussing these matters, but since it was Xia Liu, she didn''t want to hide them.


    "Liu Pharmaceutical, very well, very well," Xia Liu was quite angry. He hadn''t thought that he would cross paths with Liu Mang again.


    He hadn''t expected that Liu Mang would come to him, and if it weren''t for the need for a large sum of money to keep his project going, Xia Liu really wouldn''t want to have any dealing with him.


    "Xia Liu, don''t be impulsive. Liu Pharmaceutical has a strong foundation in Binlai City, and there''s word on the street that Liu Mang is closely connected to some local gangs," Fang Fei cautioned.


    Fang Fei regretted her words as soon as she saw the scenario she feared the most unfolding. If only she had known how impulsive Xia Liu could be, she might not have revealed the mastermind behind the scenes.


    It was like pushing him into an abyss. Against Liu Pharmaceutical, plus a second-tier gang, how could Xia Liu possibly gain an upper hand?


    "You don''t need to worry, Sister Fang, I won''t act unless I''m absolutely sure," Xia Liu responded with a light smile, sensing from Fang Fei''s words that she truly cared about him.


    "Actually, there''s a way to succeed without any conflict."


    "Oh? You''re not going to take action, are you?" Xia Liu''s face was full of shock, not knowing her background, but judging by her holdings in Hejing County, her connections were certainly not weak.


    "Are you kidding? I''m just a weak girl, how could I take action?" Fang Fei said, her eyes shimmering with vulnerability.


    ...


    "Actually, Binlai City will hold a charity auction the day after tomorrow. Entrepreneurs of certain standing will donate items for the auction, and the proceeds will be donated to the Hope Project."


    "So you mean that Tianluo Pharmaceutical will auction the beauty mud and then have someone use it at the event and finally win the approval of all the big shots?"


    "Smart thinking, I just can''t resist the urge to spoil you."


    "Sister Fang, if you keep this up, I might just strip." Xia Liu cast a blatant glance at Fang Fei, having made up his mind that if Fang Fei dared say another word, he would absolutely pounce on her.


    Fortunately, Fang Fei stopped just in time, sipping lightly on her weak tea before chatting with Xia Liu about Osmanthus Chicken and oysters.


    Leaving the Longyun Hotel it was already past five in the afternoon, Xia Liu called Zhang Xiaoxue to brief her on the situation before driving towards the city.


    The charity auction still required a discussion with Liu Lanxin to make sure, just in case Tianluo Pharmaceutical had prepared other products for the auction, which would be embarrassing.


    Unfortunately, after Xia Liu arrived in Binlai City, he couldn''t get through to Liu Lanxin; her phone was switched off.


    Having no other options, Xia Liu followed a route he remembered in his mind to the sales point where he had delivered goods before.


    After asking a salesperson, he finally discovered Liu Lanxin''s exact location. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Liu Family, as a notable enterprise in Binlai City, lived in a villa area by the sea.


    If you want to enter the Liu family''s residence, having a BMW X6 isn''t enough without someone to introduce you, the only other option is to scale the wall.


    Using his keen senses, Xia Liu spent ten minutes and finally spotted Liu Lanxin.


    Beneath the night sky, the atmosphere inside the Liu family''s villa area was especially quiet.


    Inside a large conference room, Liu Lanxin was facing more than a dozen people by herself, both old and young; in any case, everyone was blaming her.


    "Lan Xin, I must say I admire you. You said you would enjoy yourself in Hejing County and not interfere with the bidding, but then you disrupted it, and now Tianluo Pharmaceutical is labeled as deceitful."


    The speaker was a young man in his twenties, dressed in a white suit, his hair slick and shiny, and with his somewhat bulky body, he looked like a greasy peach.


    "Liu Chen, hold your tongue. No matter what, Lan Xin is your sister. Even if she has made mistakes, she deserves forgiveness," Liu Yanzhi spoke up, which only implicated Liu Lanxin further.


    He was Liu Chen''s father. To maximize the benefits for his son, he needed to seize every opportunity while he still had the strength.


    "Uncle, the effects of the beauty mud are very apparent. All the uncles and aunts present here, please have a look; I only used the beauty mud a few days ago." Unwilling to allow the beauty mud to be questioned, Liu Lanxin boldly tilted her face up, just hoping her elders would trust her this time.


    "Oh, cut it out. If the wind blows, I''m really afraid a faceful of soot will get in my eyes," Liu Chen coldly eyed Liu Lanxin and said.


    Hehehe¡­


    Hehe¡­


    As soon as Liu Chen spoke, everyone sitting in the hall burst out laughing, as they all knew Liu Lanxin very well.


    This girl almost turned Binlai City upside down; she went to cool off for two months and came back with something called beauty mud, as if running a family business was a child''s play.


    "Enough! Now that the company is in trouble, instead of trying to find a solution, you sit here mocking Lan Xin. Do you even have the right?" Just when everyone was ridiculing Liu Lanxin, an old yet forceful voice reverberated through the hall.


    "Grandfather, they don''t believe me, but this beauty mud will certainly help us win the bid and make money," seeing Liu Buyi arrive, Liu Lanxin stepped forward with a tearful voice and took his hand.

 Chapter 78 CD!

    Seeing Liu Buyi appear, Liu Yanzhi and his peers didn''t dare to speak and bowed their heads as they said goodbye and left."Don''t be afraid, Grandpa believes in you, but you have to tell me, where did you get the recipe for the Beauty Mud?" Liu Buyi had just returned from a conference in the neighboring city and was anxious seeing so many significant events happening at the company.


    "I don''t know about the recipe, all the Beauty Mud was brought in by Xia Liu, and I partnered with him..." Liu Lanxin took advantage of the moment the elders left to share everything with her grandfather.


    "Hey, Young Master Liu is truly resourceful. I believe it won''t be long before Liu Lanxin is ousted from the Liu Family. By then, I will surely inherit all the assets!" A low but joyful voice echoed down a dark corridor.


    Your next journey awaits at empire


    "Very well, once I inherit the Liu Family, I will surely not treat you poorly," Liu Chen finished speaking, hung up the phone, and confidently returned with his chest puffed out to the residence.


    "Young Master Liu, Liu Chen, if you even scheme against a kawaii girl like Liu Lanxin, then you cannot blame me!" Xia Liu slowly walked out from the side of the hallway, his expression indiscernible in the shadowy gloom.


    "Lan Xin, you really have become prettier than you were a few days ago, this medicine must be authentic!" In the conference room, Liu Buyi''s face glowed with a ruddy complexion.


    While listening to his granddaughter''s explanation, he scrutinized her and finally confirmed that Xia Liu''s medicine was genuine!


    If they could make good use of this opportunity, the competition would surely be won by Liu Pharmaceutical, and they could also garner a hefty profit!


    "Hehe, of course it''s genuine." Just as Liu Lanxin was about to sing further praises for the Beauty Mud, Xia Liu suddenly pushed the door and entered.


    "Xia Liu, how come you''re here?" Liu Lanxin was the first to react, and if she remembered correctly, Xia Liu was supposed to be at home.


    Liu Buyi was also wide-eyed; he was very clear about the security in the Liu family villa area¡ªit was usually not easy even for a mouse to sneak in.


    "I''m here to discuss how to sell the Beauty Mud." Xia Liu told a little lie; coming to talk business was true, but he had rushed over after hearing this girl was troubled by her family.


    "Good day to you, Old Master Liu."


    "And to you as well, Xia Liu," Liu Buyi responded warmly.


    "I heard you made this Beauty Mud; it''s really a case of a young hero."


    "Old Master Liu, you are too kind. I merely tinkered a bit. If I can help Miss Liu and you, that will be my fortune," Xia Liu said modestly.


    "Not only young but also humble, your future is boundless. Since the Beauty Mud is a collaboration between you and Lan Xin, if there''s anything this old man can assist with, please don''t hesitate to mention it."


    "Grandpa, I was thinking, the day after tomorrow there''s a charity auction in the city. We can take the Beauty Mud there to auction, and then arrange for someone to test its effectiveness on the spot. There will definitely be a lot of media present. As long as the effects are noticeable, the medicine will have no trouble selling," Liu Lanxin said proactively.


    Her suggestion took Xia Liu by surprise; he had come here precisely to discuss this matter.


    He hadn''t expected she would also think of it, and even come up with the idea of using a stooge¡ªshe indeed had a mind for business.


    "Isn''t it a bit inappropriate to use a stooge? It feels like we''re deceiving the customers," Liu Buyi said with an embarrassed smile.


    Since his youth, he had learned medicine from his father, and now having been in business from the age of twenty until now, he had never resorted to deceiving anyone. It was his belief that honesty leads to longevity in business.


    Liu Lanxin realized her grandfather had misunderstood her point and quickly explained, "Grandpa, it''s not about deceiving. The Beauty Mud has a tremendous effect. As long as someone tries it on site, and the result is seen, it will definitely catch fire."


    "Yes Old Master Liu, I can guarantee the efficacy of the Beauty Mud. If someone tries it on the spot, it won''t take half a day before the Beauty Mud starts flying off the shelves," Xia Liu added fuel to the fire, seeing Liu Buyi waver.


    "All right, I''ll listen to the both of you. Get everything prepared, and take the Beauty Mud to the auction the day after tomorrow," Liu Buyi said with a slight smile; of course, he knew his granddaughter''s intentions all along¡ªhe simply wanted to hear her say it herself.


    With Liu Buyi''s endorsement, both Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin breathed a sigh of relief. This auction was already halfway to success.


    "Old Master Liu, since everything is settled, I''ll head back now and come over the day after tomorrow."


    "Xia Liu, don''t go back so late. Stay here for the night, and tomorrow Lan Xin can show you around the downtown area to get familiar with the roads. Don''t be a stranger to the Liu Family house when you''re in Binlai City next time," Liu Buyi didn''t want Xia Liu to leave, mainly because he wished to discuss medical knowledge with him more.


    "Yeah, Xia Liu, it''s almost midnight, and it''s not safe to go back to Hejing County. Hotels aren''t that sanitary either," Liu Lanxin unexpectedly chimed in to persuade him to stay, without knowing why herself.


    "Hehe, actually I don''t really want to leave either. If there''s a chance, I''d love to learn traditional medicine from Old Master Liu as well."


    "Haha, then it''s settled. We''ll have a long chat tomorrow," Liu Buyi was quite excited, but he kept his composure exceptionally well, not showing the slightest bit of it. "Lan Xin, go prepare a room for your Brother Xia Liu."


    "Okay, follow me."


    Soon after, Xia Liu followed Liu Lanxin into a grand villa with American-style decor.


    Aside from the villa''s structural framework of reinforced concrete, everything else was decorated and carved with fine wood.


    Entering the house felt like stepping into a different world, and Xia Liu was ushered into a well-equipped room.


    After showering and feeling curious about his new room, Xia Liu wasn''t in a hurry to start his cultivation practice, so he decided to see how Liu Lanxin had arranged the room.


    But the moment he pulled open the drawer of the TV cabinet, he was instantly stupefied.


    Inside the drawer were several DVDs, some from the Island Nation! Some from Korea!


    Xia Liu was familiar with these DVDs; he used to sneakily watch them at his classmates'' houses during high school.


    Now that the internet was well-developed, he didn''t expect Liu Lanxin to be so old-school as to watch DVDs!


    Wait a minute! It wasn''t about being old-school. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The shock was that she actually watched these DVDs!!!


    As he imagined this, Xia Liu swallowed hard a few times.


    Liu Lanxin and Huang Xue were somewhat alike; both had their secrets accidentally discovered by him.


    "Could it be that she also has an addiction to impulse syndrome?"


    Xia Liu was floored by his wild guess. How could that condition be so easily contracted? Perhaps these DVDs were just channels for Liu Lanxin''s usual studies.


    Knock, knock, knock...


    As Xia Liu was caught up in his thoughts, there came a knock on the door.


    Knowing that only he and Liu Lanxin were in the house, there was no need to guess who it was.


    "Haven''t slept yet? I forgot something here; I''ll just come in and grab it," Liu Lanxin said with a bitter smile, stepping into the room with a bag in hand.


    "I can help you."


    "No need, no need, I can manage. There''s a fruit plate and water in the living room; go and have some as a late-night snack.


    "Making excuses for me to leave, then take the DVDs? Tsk tsk¡­" Understanding Liu Lanxin''s intention, Xia Liu turned and left without breaking the silence about the DVDs. Otherwise, what if she insisted on practicing what was on them together?

 Chapter 79 Charity Auction

    Xia Liu waited until Liu Lanxin went upstairs with the bag before returning to his room.Upon opening the drawer, sure enough, those discs were gone.


    "Such a waste of Heaven''s gifts," he thought of Liu Lanxin''s innocent face and fair skin, and Xia Liu struggled to fall asleep for a long time.


    That night, he practiced his cultivation and absorbed Spiritual Energy until dawn. In five years, he had cultivated the Five Elements Mantra, which Old Master Liu had passed down to him, to the third level.


    This spell had a total of ten levels, and by practicing it to the third level, Xia Liu had already clearly felt the benefits of the Five Elements Mantra.


    Not only was his physical condition several times stronger than that of an ordinary person, but all his senses had also been enhanced.


    However, it was somewhat regrettable that since stabilizing the third level, he hadn''t made any further progress with the spell.


    It was one of the main reasons for his return to the village.


    In the early morning, the sunlight shone on his handsome cheeks, and Xia Liu opened his eyes.


    Before coming here, he had already handed over all the village affairs to Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman.


    The newly purchased five thousand chicken chicks were also stocked with Spiritual Energy feed. With the two women taking care of the oyster business, he could enjoy a good stroll around Binlai City these next few days.


    Liu Lanxin also got up very early, and after breakfast, she took Xia Liu around the city center to relieve boredom.


    After a round, Xia Liu was already familiar with Binlai City.


    In Guangbei Province, Binlai City was considered relatively advanced, but compared to Yanjing, Liu Hai, and other cities, it fell far behind.


    In the afternoon, Xia Liu went to talk with Liu Buyi about medical knowledge.


    Indeed, the old man had some very unique insights when it came to medicine.


    Xia Liu did learn a few things from him, but compared to the deceased old man, Liu Buyi was significantly less impressive.


    "Xia Liu, I''ve taken care of everything," since leaving last night, Liu Buyi had gathered the Liu Family''s members for a meeting. With his word, everything regarding the auction was approved.


    Within the Liu Family, the one with the most authority was undoubtedly Liu Buyi. No one dared to contradict him openly, whether what he commanded was right or wrong.


    "Thank you, Old Master Liu. I will not disappoint you," promised Xia Liu.


    At this moment, he and the Beauty Mud were tied together. As long as he could successfully promote it, the twenty million for the project would definitely be settled, and he might even make a big profit.


    In the evening, Liu Buyi introduced Xia Liu to the Liu Family members at the dinner table.


    Had Liu Buyi not been present, it was likely that no one would have shown any favor to Xia Liu.


    Especially Liu Chen and Liu Yanzhi, their gaze towards Xia Liu hid a sharp murderous intent.


    Without Xia Liu''s unexpected appearance, they would have been able to fully take over Tianluo Pharmaceutical after the bidding was over.


    But when Xia Liu showed up, they became anxious, vaguely sensing that something unexpected might happen in this bidding.


    Xia Liu was particularly cautious of Liu Chen and his son, especially Liu Chen. Last night, he had overheard him talking on the phone with somebody.


    From the content of the conversation, it was definitely very disadvantageous to Liu Lanxin and Liu Buyi. If he had the chance, he would surely lend a hand.


    A night passed without incident¡­


    The next morning, Liu Lanxin and Xia Liu set out early by car.


    The charity auction was held in a large auditorium.


    By nine o''clock, there were already more than a hundred people inside the auditorium. These people were either big bosses or company CEOs.


    There were also quite a few public officials. Overall, those who came here were either powerful or wealthy.


    The scene was filled with journalists¡ªat least fifty of them¡ªand there were even more TV stations broadcasting live.


    Xia Liu smirked to himself, knowing that once the efficacy of the Beauty Mud was demonstrated, it would only be a matter of time.


    Within two hours, the inquiry hotline of Tianluo Pharmaceutical would surely be overwhelmed, let alone the frenzied shopping in the sales stores.


    Accompanying Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin were Liu Yanzhi and Liu Chen, and each company had brought a few important figures for the purpose of networking with other enterprises.


    Xia Liu didn''t care about these matters. He glanced over at the nearby seated crowd, where each table was marked with company names and personal names.


    However, those seated in the first row didn''t have nameplates, and it was unclear what their backgrounds were.


    This charity auction was conducted in a rather traditional manner; as the host introduced an item, either the owner or a company representative would take the stage to present it.


    In fact, this decision was made solely to give local businesses in Binlai City exposure on television.


    The auction had been going on for more than two hours, with the items up for bid being mostly jewelry or clothing.


    The audience had nearly grown tired of the same routine. When women put jewelry or clothes up for auction, those who pursued them would bid on the items.


    The pattern was just that, but everyone made sure to appear enthusiastic, especially since there were many journalists and TV stations recording the event.


    "Next up for auction is the Hemostatic Ointment from Liu Pharmaceutical. This ointment is different from the common varieties. Even if it''s a bone-exposing wound, as long as this Hemostatic Ointment is applied, the bleeding will immediately stop and it will quickly regenerate the flesh."


    No sooner had the host finished introducing it than a neatly dressed young man stepped onto the stage, holding the packaging box.


    Xia Liu recognized the man; it was Liu Mang!


    "Hm! This Hemostatic Ointment is great, it stops bleeding quickly and also heals effectively!"


    "Yeah, I''ll offer a thousand bucks!"


    "A thousand bucks and you think you can get your hands on such a miraculous ointment? Step aside, poor loser, I bid five thousand!"


    "I bid six thousand!"


    The crowd had been almost sleepy with the previous bids on jewelry and clothing, but they perked up excitedly like chickens on caffeine when the pharmaceutical products were up for auction.


    Experience exclusive tales on empire


    No matter how rich you are, health and life always come first.


    So the newly launched magical ointment from Liu Pharmaceutical was sure to be hotly sought after.


    Even if they didn''t need it immediately, buying it to have at home for when a child or they themselves had a fall would allow for immediate treatment. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching the fervent bidding in the room, Liu Mang smiled knowingly; this Hemostatic Ointment was his latest research breakthrough.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity to introduce it to the public, it wouldn''t take many days for the sales to explode.


    Furthermore, the most important thing was that in this bidding round, Liu Pharmaceutical was certain to win!


    In the end, the Hemostatic Ointment was bought by a company boss for thirty thousand yuan.


    This boss would not lose out because, buying it, he also caught the attention of the news reporters, who were sure to interview him extensively afterward.


    After all, this mere Hemostatic Ointment had been bought for thirty thousand yuan.


    "The next product up for auction is the Beauty Mud from Tianluo Pharmaceutical. This is Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s flagship product, claimed to be the fastest acting and most effective cosmetic breast enhancement product..."


    By the end, the host seemed somewhat embarrassed, as everyone in the audience was scoffing.


    "Cut it out already, beauty and breast enlargement products talking about effects and efficacy."


    "Exactly, just get rid of the box quickly; don''t come up here and make a fool of yourself." Liu Mang seized this opportunity to incite his assistant to launch a full-blown attack on the Beauty Mud.

 Chapter 80 Stop Looking, Its You

    Facing the public opinion from the audience below, the host was sweating profusely, not knowing how to proceed.If he didn''t continue, he would definitely offend Tianluo Pharmaceutical, a sure sign of impending dismissal.


    But to continue would mean getting blasted by countless entrepreneurs and prestigious individuals; the host found himself in a situation where speaking or not speaking were equally problematic.


    At that moment, Liu Chen took advantage of the chaos and dashed onto the stage.


    "Everyone calm down, I am the general manager of Tianluo Pharmaceutical." Liu Chen took the microphone from the host and said.


    "Take your garbage and get off the stage."


    "Exactly, who is this person?"


    "Hurry up and get lost!"


    Just after Liu Chen had introduced himself, a barrage of mocking voices erupted from below.


    "Xia Liu, what do we do now?" Liu Lanxin was very anxious. She had been ready to go up and introduce the Beauty Mud herself, but now Liu Chen had beat her to it.


    But that was not the main issue, the main issue was the audience''s targeting of Beauty Mud.


    Xia Liu''s expression was solemn as he carefully observed those mocking, not many, and they were very organized.


    Normally, successful entrepreneurs wouldn''t have such poor manners.


    So these people were clearly prepared and had an agenda!


    "Let''s wait and see; if something feels off, I will handle it personally." Right, Xia Liu would handle it personally, whether it be Beauty Mud or people!


    "Please be quiet everyone, let me introduce our company''s latest product, Beauty Mud!" Liu Chen, smiling, ignored all the noises from below.


    "Beauty Mud is made from the most precious herbs found deep in the mountains, going through over a thousand processing steps before it''s packaged and put on the market. Its medicinal effects are very significant; just apply it on the face, and in less than a minute, it will take effect."


    "Get lost! After a thousand processing steps, your handful of herbs would turn into ashes!"


    "Hahaha..."


    Liu Chen hadn''t even finished his introduction when the audience erupted into heated discussions again, this time nearly everyone laughing.


    Because what Liu Chen was saying was simply a joke; who didn''t know that if you processed herbs through over a thousand steps, any medicinal effect would be a joke too.


    "Uncle, what''s going on with Brother Liu Chen?" Seeing Liu Chen twist the facts while rashly introducing Beauty Mud, Liu Lanxin was very angry and cast a questioning look at Liu Yanzhi sitting beside her, seeking a clear explanation.


    "Lan Xin, I don''t know about this either; wasn''t this what you all discussed yesterday?" Liu Yanzhi looked at Liu Lanxin innocently, but deep inside, he was already rejoicing.


    If everything went as expected, this auction would deal a heavy blow to Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    Forget about bidding; their reputation would be in trouble for the next few months.


    Once Tianluo fell, amid the current chaos, Liu Yanzhi was confident he could take over Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    He had waited far too long for this day...


    "Xia Liu, now..."


    "I know, just watch me!" Xia Liu said coldly, realizing that Liu Chen was deliberately sabotaging Beauty Mud!


    After finishing his words, Xia Liu swiftly walked toward the stage.


    "What are you doing up here? It''s auction time, get down immediately!" Liu Chen''s pupils shrank as he shouted when he saw Xia Liu walking onto the stage.


    "I know it''s auction time. Are you still up here to make a joke?" Xia Liu, suppressing the urge to beat him up, said.


    "Get down from here now. When did Tianluo Pharmaceutical come under the management of an outsider like you!" Liu Chen, unable to withstand Xia Liu''s ridicule, pulled up his sleeves, wanting to throw him off the stage.


    "Please stay calm, both of you." The host, seeing that a fight was about to break out, hurriedly intervened.


    But what he hadn''t anticipated happened¡ªXia Liu kicked Liu Chen off the stage with a single kick.


    This sudden turn of events stunned everyone, especially since Liu Chen was ten meters away from the edge of the stage.


    Everyone couldn''t understand how heavy Xia Liu''s kick was, to send a man flying so far!


    Seeing his son fall off the stage and fall into a coma, Liu Yanzhi immediately rushed up. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Everyone, that trash from just now is from Tianluo Pharmaceutical, but just a piece of trash indeed. I am the producer of Beauty Mud," Xia Liu picked up a microphone from the ground and started explaining in front of everyone.


    Thereafter, people snapped out of their daze and started applauding, not because of Xia Liu''s identity, but because of his skill.


    "You say you''re the producer of Beauty Mud, so please tell me, is this trash item interesting at all?" a representative from another pharmaceutical company asked contemptuously.


    "Exactly, I suspect this thing is just like those ads on ''certain platforms'', causing allergies after use!"


    "Hmm, indeed unreliable."


    With the pharmaceutical company speaking up, the people around began discussing it.


    "Interesting or not, you''ll know if you try it," Xia Liu said confidently, his piercing gaze sweeping the crowd.


    "That girl with the small chest, stop looking, just you," Xia Liu''s gaze fixed on a seat in the first row below the stage, eventually locking onto a quite cute girl.


    Xiao Lin, hearing Xia Liu calling out, looked around confusedly, and when she realized he was looking at her, she was utterly dumbfounded.


    She had come to this auction today because she couldn''t refuse the invitation, never expecting to endure such humiliation!


    Xia Liu had just announced in front of everyone at the scene, including countless reporters, that she had a small chest!!!


    "Girl, want to get bigger? Just apply Beauty Mud, and in less than ten minutes, from A to C!" Seeing Xiao Lin stunned, Xia Liu threw out the bait again.


    "Xia Liu, are you trying to kill yourself? Being able to sit in the front row, which one isn''t highly respected? This is awful, just awful..." Liu Lanxin''s face had turned completely sullen. In yesterday''s plan, she had prepared a shill to volunteer for the demonstration on stage; instead, Xia Liu was now picking people from the audience, adding such embarrassment.


    "Grow your head, get down here or I''m going to beat you up!" Finally unable to restrain her anger, Xiao Lin stood up, furiously pointing her finger at Xia Liu.


    To be honest, when Xia Liu said it could increase from A to C, Xiao Lin was quite tempted, but since she was sixteen, she had tried various methods without any reaction; whatever size it was, it stayed that way, and now it had even shrunk a bit.


    The only thing she was furious about was that Xia Liu had said she was small in front of so many people, and that was unbearable!


    "Oh my god! It''s Xiao Lin! Xia Liu, you''re dead, Tianluo Pharmaceutical can''t cover for you now..." Seeing the girl Xia Liu called small-chested standing up, Liu Lanxin felt utterly drained. In Binlai City, who didn''t know this high-profile figure Xiao Lin?


    Just her brother alone, who served in the army, could scare countless people, not to mention her prominent family background.


    "Hahaha! Xia Liu, you''re asking for it, competing with me. Old fella, I haven''t even made my move and you''re already dead. Daring to provoke Xiao Lin in public, do you know how many lives you have when her brother finds out!" Liu Mang burst into hearty laughter. He knew Xiao Lin; although the girl had no tricks up her sleeve, her background was something no one dared to provoke, no one could provoke!

 Chapter 81 The Terrifying Test Subject with a Dangerous Identity

    Some in the audience who knew Xiao Lin also seemed stunned, all of them feeling sorry for Xia Liu."Girl, it doesn''t matter if you don''t believe me, but you must believe in Beauty Mud. It really can give you full confidence," Xia Liu said sincerely, looking at Xiao Lin.


    "You two, go up there and swell his mouth first, then throw him into the sea!" Who said Xiao Lin had no means? When she got tough, she could make everyone''s skin crawl.


    "Don''t be hasty, girl. This Beauty Mud can not only enhance the bust but also has an unimaginable beautifying effect. It takes effect in just five minutes, and your Charm Value will instantly increase a hundredfold!" Xia Liu continued to explain.


    "Shut his mouth for me!" Xiao Lin lost her patience. If it weren''t for the inconvenience of her movement, she would have jumped up to tear Xia Liu''s mouth herself. No matter how handsome he was, no one had ever dared to speak to her like this before.


    "Yes!" Xiao Lin''s two special forces bodyguards immediately stood up and leapt onto the stage with absolute posture.


    "Does that Beauty Mud remove scars too?" Just when Xia Liu felt helpless, suddenly a crisp voice slowly spread.


    This voice also drew everyone''s attention, and they all shifted their gaze, immediately showing surprise on their faces.


    The woman walking towards Xia Liu was extraordinary, her most distinguishing feature being a small red scar on the left side of her face, said to be a burn from her days working as a waitress.


    This woman was Mo Wanqing, a 43-year-old, the most famous entrepreneur in Binlai City.


    Mo Wanqing''s background was just that of a farm wife who had run away from home after being beaten by her husband. After twenty years of struggling, she achieved enormous success, founding one of the top companies in Huaxia.


    Even the Mayor of Binlai City had to show some respect for Mo Wanqing. After all, her industries were too strong, and being a top Huaxia enterprise was no joke.


    "The lady asks a good question. The scar on your face isn''t very deep. After using Beauty Mud three or four times, I guarantee you''ll be youthful and beautiful!" Xia Liu glanced at Mo Wanqing. The scar on her face was deep, but he deliberately said it was shallow, his goal being to highlight the powerful effect of the Beauty Mud!


    "Exaggeration!" Xiao Lin was very upset with Xia Liu''s words and immediately scolded him.


    "Hehe, Miss Xiao Lin, don''t be angry. Since he dares to stand here, we should give him a chance. If Beauty Mud has no effect on my face, what will you do?" Mo Wanqing smiled slightly at Xiao Lin, and when her gaze shifted to Xia Liu, she became intense.


    "Ah! Boss Mo is going to test the product herself!"


    "Scary, what if something goes wrong?"


    ...


    The crowd at the scene started sweating as they heard Mo Wanqing was going to test the product.


    After all, Mo Wanqing was the owner of a large enterprise. If something went wrong, it would be a disaster for the business community.


    "Boss Mo should think it through. If this guy is a scammer, then..." Xiao Lin didn''t finish her sentence, knowing that Mo Wanqing understood her implication.


    "If Beauty Mud has no effect, then go to the legs of those two men and pull out the guns, and shoot me dead," Xia Liu said, pointing at Xiao Lin''s two bodyguards.


    Hmm?


    The two bodyguards exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise in the other''s eyes. They couldn''t figure out how Xia Liu knew they had guns strapped to their legs.


    Liu Lanxin had intended to go up and pull Xia Liu back, but now she didn''t dare make a move, as he was playing way too dangerously for real.


    "Alright, I trust that you will bring me a pleasant surprise. Can you tell me how to use it?" After a silence of about ten seconds, Mo Wanqing suddenly started laughing, her eyes locked on the package in Xia Liu''s hand.


    "Beauty Mud is very easy to use. You simply open the packaging and apply it evenly, just like a facial mask. Once it has completely hardened, you can peel it off," Xia Liu said, opening the box.


    Although he didn''t know Mo Wanqing''s identity, he could tell from the reactions of everyone present.


    This woman definitely had some status in Binlai City. As long as she was willing to try the Beauty Mud, it would be a success!


    Mo Wanqing applied the Beauty Mud amidst the crowd''s anxious anticipation.


    When a cool sensation spread from her face all around, she became excited, perhaps this could really remove the scar.


    Twenty years, this scar had followed her for twenty years.


    Because of this scar, she had endured immense pressure and hindrance over the years.


    Once her career saw some improvements, she constantly sought renowned doctors, hoping to remove the scar, but legitimate places all said that removing this scar would only leave another one.


    That''s why she persisted in finding a way to perfectly and flawlessly remove the scar.


    As time ticked by, everyone wanted to know about Mo Wanqing''s transformation.


    Even Liu Lanxin was very worried, for she had used the Beauty Mud before; it could beautify, true, but could it remove scars?


    If not, Tianluo Pharmaceutical might truly collapse.


    It wasn''t just Xia Liu''s issue anymore; it was about the entire Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    Liu Yanzhi and the woken Liu Chen were also extremely anxious. Before, they wanted to sabotage the auction with the aim of embarrassing Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin.


    Now it was different, they hoped Xia Liu would succeed because Xia Liu had provoked Xiao Lin and Mo Wanqing in the name of Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    Xiao Lin might not cause much damage to Tianluo Pharmaceutical in business terms, but Mo Wanqing was different; her company ranked first in Binlai City.


    Her word could decide the life and death of a company, not to mention one that was looked down upon by everyone.


    "It''s about time, Miss Mo, you can peel it off," Xia Liu said calmly at the moment of everyone''s anxious wait.


    "Wow!"


    A murmur of amazement rose from the audience, for they had all been watching the clock.


    It had only been six minutes since Mo Wanqing applied the Beauty Mud to Xia Liu speaking.


    Six minutes, deciding whether Tianluo Pharmaceutical would retain its honor or fall into oblivion.


    Everyone was holding their breath; if Xia Liu succeeded, they knew the Beauty Mud would cause a sensation in various places.


    "Understood," in contrast, Mo Wanqing''s voice was very calm, eerily calm. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She kept her eyes closed, not daring to open them, afraid her face would be ruined.


    She didn''t even understand why she volunteered to test the drug on stage.


    Gradually, she peeled off the hardened Beauty Mud, greeted by a refreshing coolness.


    Hiss...


    The moment Mo Wanqing peeled off the mask, the entire audience gasped in astonishment.


    The looks cast toward the stage were full of terror, all because of Mo Wanqing''s face!


    Liu Lanxin realized there was no sound around her; she moved her hand away from her eyes and looked toward the stage, and slowly, her eyes began to moisten with charm.


    "Mr. Xia, did it work?" Mo Wanqing slowly opened her eyes; she couldn''t see her own face, but the coolness on her face felt incredibly refreshing.


    Xia Liu smiled slightly and asked the host to find a mirror. What could move Mo Wanqing now was only herself; as long as she looked into the mirror, it was more effective than any compliment.

 Chapter 82 Boiling

    Looking at herself in the mirror, Mo Wanqing was stunned into silence.The egg-sized red scar that was once there had almost disappeared!


    She even wondered if she was dreaming or if this was reality.


    Like Mo Wanqing, everyone at the scene couldn''t believe their own eyes.


    Mo Wanqing wasn''t very pretty originally, with many dark spots and wrinkles on her face.


    Plus that red scar, she wouldn''t stand out anywhere.


    But now it was different, after the mask was peeled off, it was as if she had a new face.


    The dark spots were gone, the wrinkles became very faint, almost invisible, and her entire face seemed to radiate a dazzling light.


    Most importantly, that red scar had faded significantly, and she believed that after one or two more applications of the Beauty Mud, the scar would completely vanish!


    "Ah! Am I dreaming?" A photographer closest to the stage screamed.


    "Ouch! It''s real! The Beauty Mud from Tianluo Pharmaceutical actually works!" Another journalist pinched his thigh hard, the piercing pain assured him that everything was real!


    Wow!!!


    The next second, the whole place was in an uproar!


    Beauty Mud might be suspected of being fake, but Mo Wanqing could not be doubted, because her identity and status were evident.


    Liu Lanxin could no longer hold back the outcome she had already guessed; even as she covered her mouth, tears streamed down her face.


    She knew that the reputation of Beauty Mud was set, and Tianluo Pharmaceutical was going to soar.


    While Liu Yanzhi and Liu Chen were overjoyed, they also seemed a bit troubled. If the Beauty Mud became a hit, Tianluo Pharmaceutical would definitely win this bidding, and all the credit would go to Liu Lanxin.


    As everyone was celebrating, Xiao Lin quietly left her seat, full of regret.


    If she had known that the Beauty Mud was effective, she would have definitely offered to try it when Xia Liu spoke.


    "Mr. Xia, I''m extremely grateful for your Beauty Mud." After calming down, Mo Wanqing bowed in thanks to Xia Liu.


    As soon as Mo Wanqing''s voice emerged, the venue gradually quieted down. Everyone seated there was either a boss or someone of status, but compared to Mo Wanqing, they paled in comparison, and now that she was about to speak, who would dare interrupt?


    "Don''t mention it, helping others is the thing I enjoy doing the most," Xia Liu said with a light smile, touching his nose.


    In fact, how could he not want to thank Mo Wanqing? If it weren''t for her willingness to stand up and test the product, today''s event would have been much more convoluted.


    Mo Wanqing smiled and turned her gaze to the host, saying, "Host, I bid ten million for this box of Beauty Mud."


    "Ah!" Hearing Mo Wanqing say ten million, the host nearly dropped the microphone in shock.


    Like the host, everyone present was also shocked by the price.


    They all thought silently, now that''s being rich - ten million for a box of mud!


    "Mr. Xia, I would like to purchase a few more boxes, where can I buy them?" After confirming the successful transaction, Mo Wanqing continued to ask Xia Liu.


    "Boss Mo asks a good question. This Beauty Mud is Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s latest product, and due to production limitations, it currently can only be sold at Tianluo Pharmacies in Binlai City," Xia Liu seized the opportunity to give some advertising.


    "Ah! I''m going to buy it right away!"


    "I''m going too!"


    ...


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    As soon as Xia Liu finished speaking, the women present went into a frenzy.


    It''s in every woman''s nature to love beauty, and having succeeded in their careers, they naturally focus even more on their faces and figures.


    Now that such a beauty mud had been released, how could they possibly ignore it?


    The scene became chaotic in no time, as female bosses and general managers alike, as long as they were women, all stood up wanting to rush out.


    "I forgot to say, this beauty mud isn''t cheap, at twenty thousand a box, and each person can only buy two boxes." Watching the somewhat mad scene unfold, Xia Liu felt a bit worried, and then announced the price and conditions.


    He was afraid that some opportunist would buy up all the beauty mud to resell at inflated prices, which would be terrible if those who truly needed it couldn''t buy it.


    "Only twenty thousand? That''s too cheap!"


    "Exactly, let''s go buy two boxes quickly!"


    Hearing that a box was only twenty thousand, many people were taken aback.


    Now with Mo Wanqing, a powerful endorser, and the strong effectiveness of the beauty mud, even if they priced it at one hundred thousand a box, it would still be snatched up frantically.


    They all shook their heads at Xia Liu, feeling that such a good opportunity was being wasted.


    "Mr. Xia, may I have your contact information?" Mo Wanqing earnestly asked Xia Liu, taking advantage of the remaining time.


    "That is possible." Xia Liu definitely didn''t have to think twice about this; the road ahead was long, and making friends with another boss level person could never be wrong.


    "This is my private number, Mr. Xia. If you encounter any difficulty in the future, you can always contact me. I''ll help if I can and won''t hold back. I must leave now, I can''t let them snatch up all the beauty mud!" After passing her business card to Xia Liu, Mo Wanqing left in a hurry.


    "Chairman of Wanqing Real Estate, Mo Wanqing¡­" After Mo Wanqing stepped down from the stage, Xia Liu glanced at the business card and was immediately astonished.


    It turned out that this woman had such a formidable background. He didn''t know Mo Wanqing, but Wanqing Real Estate had advertisements all over Binlai City, and even in the counties, there were everywhere adverts for this real estate company.


    This showed how strong Wanqing Real Estate was.


    As the auction was coming to an end and the commotion caused by the beauty mud, not long after Xia Liu stepped down, the host announced the conclusion of the event.


    When the assembly dispersed, reporters filled the entrance of the auditorium, all waiting to interview Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu''s performance on stage had been recorded in full and had continuously been shared online and with television stations; they were extremely eager to learn more about the beauty mud and Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    Regarding the reporters at the door, Xia Liu felt a headache coming on, and ultimately his gaze locked on to Liu Yanzhi and Liu Chen. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Yanzhi and Liu Chen both held positions at Tianluo Pharmaceutical, and having this father and son duo deal with the reporters was more than sufficient.


    The father and son didn''t refuse as this was an important opportunity to make a public appearance.


    Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin planned to leave through the back door, but as they were about to exit, two people stopped them.


    "Xia Liu, it looks like they are Xiao Lin''s bodyguards, what do we do now?" Liu Lanxin recalled how Xia Liu had openly pointed out Xiao Lin''s faults on stage and had even provoked them. Now that they had come looking for them¡­


    "Don''t worry, I''ve got this." Xia Liu said with a slight smile: "If there''s nothing else, I have to get busy."


    The two bodyguards looked at each other and said in unison, "Our miss wishes to see you."


    "Acting so high and mighty? Are you sure she wants to see me?" What Xia Liu disliked the most was this kind of young lady with a wealthy family background acting as if they were a princess and taking themselves far too seriously.


    "Well¡­" The two were at a loss for words, after all, they couldn''t represent Xiao Lin.


    "Tell her to come here herself then; I''ll wait at most one minute." Seeing the hesitation of the two bodyguards, Xia Liu continued, "A serving member of Huaxia Spearhead Troop, if you think you can stop me, feel free to try."

 Chapter 83 Out of Stock

    Liu Lanxin, standing by, was completely confused and had no idea what Xia Liu was talking about.However, the two bodyguards'' pupils constricted sharply. They had indeed planned to forcefully take Xia Liu to Xiao Lin.


    But now they dared not entertain the thought, alarmed that Xia Liu had explicitly pointed out what they had never divulged. What did this imply?


    It implied that the man was an expert who understood the team''s situation very well! It even raised the possibility that he could be a high-ranking official here on some mission.


    The more they thought, the more terrified they became and immediately they said respectfully, "Sorry, we will go and call the young lady over right now."


    "Xia Liu, what exactly is your identity? Even Xiao Lin''s bodyguards are afraid of you," Liu Lanxin wondered as she watched the two bodyguards scurry away.


    Though Xiao Lin''s true identity was unknown, her friends in the circle had said it was better to provoke two tigers than to meddle with Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin might not be terrifying, but her background was dreadful, and the two bodyguards accompanying her were fierce enough to take on a hundred men each.


    "Silly girl, have you lost your memory? Aren''t I just a farmer from Osmanthus Village..." Xia Liu said as he reached out and touched Liu Lanxin''s head.


    ...


    Feeling the palm on her head, Liu Lanxin stilled for a moment.


    Xia Liu realized that his gesture might have been inappropriate. When he withdrew his hand, he noticed that the girl''s face had slowly turned crimson.


    Clap, clap, clap...


    "Sorry, folks, I hope I''m not interrupting,"


    After a round of applause, Xiao Lin approached with a smile.


    Liu Lanxin looked up and her face turned even redder. For some reason, she hadn''t felt any anger just now and had even hoped Xia Liu would make further moves.


    Being seen and even mocked by Xiao Lin, she felt extremely embarrassed.


    "If you have something to say, sis, just say it." Facing Xiao Lin''s provocative words, the thick-skinned Xia Liu simply ignored them. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s the matter? You dare say my¡­ in front of all those people and reporters," Xiaomi mentioned, her anger flaring up, wishing she could tear Xia Liu into pieces.


    "Hehe, sorry about that. My intention was harmless and even aimed to help you," Xia Liu apologized repeatedly, acknowledging his earlier direct remarks about Xiao Lin as somewhat excessive, but necessary to achieve his effect sometimes.


    "I don''t care if it was intentional or unintentional. Since you''ve done wrong, you must make it right. I won''t settle this without two or three million today!"


    "Two or three million!" Liu Lanxin was scared by Xiao Lin, who seemed to be robbing them, considering that Xia Liu had only told the truth about what happened.


    "I don''t have money, just a simple man, but if you need someone to warm your bed, I can go back with you," Xia Liu was also surprised, but he wasn''t someone to be easily bullied.


    "Despicable!" Xiao Lin glared at Xia Liu, at a loss for words for him.


    If it wasn''t for the bodyguards mentioning Xia Liu''s complicated identity, she would have ordered them to tie him up and take him away long ago.


    "Forget it, I won''t stoop to your level. I''ll give you a chance to repent. Just give me a few boxes of Beauty Mud and we''ll consider this never happened."


    "None available. Tianluo Pharmacy sells them, you can buy them yourself."


    "Enough of this! Pull out your guns, I want two more holes in his body!" Xiao Lin was utterly infuriated, she had good intentions to forgive Xia Liu.


    But not only did he not show any respect, he even made her go to those stores to buy things. Those stores were as chaotic as a marketplace now, clearly making things difficult for her.


    "This..." The two bodyguards exchanged looks. If it were any other time, they definitely wouldn''t have hesitated and would have just knocked him out.


    But now it was different, involving guns and Xia Liu''s mysterious identity, they were extremely troubled.


    "Alright, alright, I was just kidding. The Beauty Mud is in the car outside, I''ll go get it for you." Seeing the two bodyguards hesitating, Xia Liu felt a pang of guilt; they were supposed to be fighting enemies on the battlefield or carrying out missions.


    Your journey continues with empire


    Now they were supposed to protect a princess; if he made things more difficult for them, he''d be inhumane.


    Seeing Xia Liu compromise, Xiao Lin was overjoyed, but she didn''t know that Xia Liu had compromised because of the two bodyguards...


    Eventually, Xia Liu took a plastic bag out of the car, filled with unpackaged Beauty Mud.


    Looking at the Beauty Mud that looked just like dirt, Xiao Lin was furious, but she didn''t immediately explode. Instead, she left with the bodyguards.


    Just in case it really was Beauty Mud, she''d definitely be ridiculed later; it was better to go back and try it first.


    Moreover, before investigating Xia Liu''s background, she couldn''t let the two bodyguards take any unnecessary risks.


    "Xia Liu, I want to tell you, Xiao Lin has a brother who is an officer in the army." Recalling the conflict between Xiao Lin and Xia Liu, Liu Lanxin voiced her concerns.


    "I figured as much." Xia Liu had guessed as much. If Xiao Lin had no connections in the army, how could those two bodyguards be following and protecting her?


    Seeing Xia Liu looking completely unconcerned, Liu Lanxin simply shut her mouth. She had kindly reminded him, and he didn''t react at all, it was a total waste of expression.


    They hadn''t even driven back to the villa when Liu Lanxin''s phone rang. It was a call from the pharmacy manager.


    "No way! I just gave you a thousand boxes this morning, and they''re all sold out?" Hearing the manager saying that all the Beauty Mud had been sold, Liu Lanxin was slow to react.


    "Miss, it''s true, it''s too crowded, and we can barely control the scene! The No. 3 store is requesting more goods." The other end of the phone was very excited, and there was a lot of noisy commotion, indicating that the scene was extremely chaotic.


    After a brief response, Liu Lanxin hung up the phone, completely stunned¡ª a thousand boxes of Beauty Mud, that was twenty million!


    The manager said that within just less than an hour, a thousand boxes of Beauty Mud had been sold out.


    If it continued like this, the sales would absolutely go crazy; and this was just one store, others hadn''t even reported their sales yet.


    No sooner had she thought of the other stores than Liu Lanxin''s phone rang again.


    It was another store manager calling; the situation was the same, all the Beauty Mud was sold out.


    Just after hanging up, the phone rang again, and the situation was the same as the other stores, they were out of stock!


    "Xia Liu, we''re going to make a fortune; all the Beauty Mud has been sold out!" Liu Lanxin said excitedly.


    "I knew it would be like this. There''s no way around it, that stuff is made on-demand, no stock means we can only wait until tomorrow." Xia Liu wasn''t very excited; he had prepared himself when Mo Wanqing had tried the Beauty Mud.


    Today was just a bit of a stir, wait until the day after tomorrow when more people see it on TV and online videos, the customers that come to buy then will be terrifying.


    Liu Lanxin, on the other hand, was gleefully happy, she too could imagine how many women the Beauty Mud would drive crazy.

 Chapter 84 Difficult to Gather Medicine

    ```"By the way, how many boxes of Beauty Mud did we package from the batch we pulled back the other day?" Suddenly remembering something, Xia Liu hurriedly asked.


    "Including the leftovers from before, there were a total of four thousand boxes, and now there''s not a single one left," Liu Lanxin said excitedly.


    Xia Liu was even more excited than Liu Lanxin.


    Four thousand boxes, that''s eighty million in sales!


    According to the agreement with Liu Lanxin, he was guaranteed at least forty million, plus a twenty-million share of the forty million, which made sixty million!


    In just a few short hours, he had earned sixty million!


    "Congratulations, Xia Liu, I''ll transfer the money to you when we get back," Liu Lanxin had just calculated Xia Liu''s account, which would receive sixty million.


    "Mutual congratulations, with sales of eighty million, that''s more than other pharmaceutical companies make in ten days to half a month. It would be hard not to win the bid this time," Xia Liu said with a beaming smile, feeling more and more that this trip was well worth it, and planned to head back into the mountains immediately upon returning.


    He aimed to gather a large sum of money in the shortest time possible and then start constructing the village.


    When the car returned to the villa complex, there were many Liu Family members standing at the entrance, led by Liu Buyi.


    Although they did not go to the auction site, they had understood everything through the TV.


    Moreover, the news from various sales stores shocked them; ever since Mo Wanqing succeeded in testing the product and Xia Liu announced that Beauty Mud could be purchased at Tianluo Pharmacy,


    Binlai City was stirred up. Whether fat or thin, beautiful or ordinary, any woman with savings rushed to the Tianluo Pharmacies like crazy.


    As a result, Beauty Mud was snatched up in no time, and the women who couldn''t buy it were so frustrated that they started causing a scene.


    In the end, the police arrived at the scene to stabilize the situation. Before more Beauty Mud was available, the storefronts were crowded with people waiting to buy it as soon as it was restocked.


    And all of this was because of Xia Liu, who brought back the long-lost liveliness to the Liu Family, and even sent them to the peak!


    "Old man, what''s this all about?" Seeing Liu Buyi leading a group of people standing at the entrance, Xia Liu stopped the car and inquired.


    "Heh, we''ve all come to welcome you," Liu Buyi said with a smile.


    "Ah, what''s there to welcome, let''s go inside. Don''t get heatstroke under this blazing sun," said Xia Liu, somewhat speechlessly. But considering it from another perspective, it was normal.


    If an outsider had made a significant change to the family, it was natural for the family members to be grateful.


    Liu Buyi had already instructed people to prepare a spread of dishes in the villa, and Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin were led straight to the table upon their return.


    The Liu Family members were all full of praise for Xia Liu; the appearance of Beauty Mud had completely changed the Liu Family. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    They knew without a doubt that once the bidding deadline arrived, the terrifying sales volume from Beauty Mud would surely lead the Liu Family to victory.


    After dinner, Xia Liu declined everyone''s entreaties to stay and resolutely drove home.


    If it weren''t for Xia Liu needing to return to make Beauty Mud, Liu Buyi definitely wouldn''t have let him leave.


    After being away for a few days and returning to Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu felt quite nostalgic, especially for the two girls at home and Zhang Qing.


    Seeing Xia Liu return, the villagers greeted him one after another. After responding to them, Xia Liu hurried home.


    Seeing the gate closed, Xia Liu thought there was no one at home, but upon entering, he found Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman watching videos on their cell phones.


    "Wow! Brother Xia Liu, you''re back!" Seeing Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue excitedly ran up and clung to his arm.


    ```


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re on TV, you''re going to be famous!" Zhang Xiaoman said as she ran towards him, holding up her cellphone.


    Xia Liu was slightly startled before he carefully looked at the phone screen, and sure enough, it was a video of himself at the auction.


    Looking at the number of views below the video, in just a short few hours it had reached 30 million!


    The comments were even more marvelous; if they had followed Liu Lanxin''s original plan and found a random person to test the Beauty Mud, it definitely wouldn''t have had this effect.


    So the widespread success of the Beauty Mud could be credited to Mo Wanqing to a large extent, after all, she frequently appeared in various videos.


    "Hahaha, we''re really going to make it big this time!" Xia Liu laughed uncontrollably.


    Given the way the video was spreading online, it wouldn''t take long before the whole country knew about the Beauty Mud.


    Just the scene in Binlai City was enough to make Xia Liu sigh in amazement.


    "Brother Xia Liu, hurry up and tell us what''s going on," Zhang Xiaoxue pleaded, swinging Xia Liu''s arm.


    "Damn! This girl''s gone heavenly!" After using the Beauty Mud, Zhang Xiaoxue had gone up a size, and Xia Liu could only feel the divine softness his arm was touching.


    After calming himself down, Xia Liu gave a brief explanation of the situation, then shouldered his basket and headed into the mountains to gather more herbs for the Beauty Mud before sunset.


    But what Xia Liu hadn''t expected was that some of the herbs he needed for the Beauty Mud were proving to be hard to find!


    Two days earlier, a basketful of herbs took at most two hours to collect.


    Now, Xia Liu had been searching for nearly three hours, and he had only gathered a few pounds of herbs.


    Looking at the scant few pounds of herbs, Xia Liu could only shake his head helplessly; these herbs were wild, so if they couldn''t be found, there was nothing that could be done.


    Both the Seven-Leaf Grass and Snow Spirit Flower were extremely precious species, and being able to find a heap of them before was purely luck.


    "Forget it, I''ll come back tomorrow to look for more. These should be enough to make a thousand boxes," Xia Liu sighed and headed out of the woods while it was still light.


    By the time he got home, it was already dark, but what gave Xia Liu a warm feeling was that both girls had already prepared dinner and were standing at the door looking out for him.


    After dinner, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman helped Xia Liu, one tending the fire and the other cleaning the medicinal materials.


    After three hours, Xia Liu finally managed to produce the Beauty Mud, which compared to the previous mountain of Medicine Mud, looked somewhat embarrassing.


    After covering the Beauty Mud with a tarp, Xia Liu gave the girls a few instructions before he left.


    He hadn''t checked on the landscape-moving project for quite a few days, and today seemed like the right time to do so.


    But before that, he decided to make a trip to Zhang Qing''s home first. If Gu Fangxia was there, that would be great, as he could ask about the details of the project.


    If she wasn''t there, that would be even better, because after stockpiling for so many days, he had returned home to be teased by two innocent-looking girls.


    Just as he entered the yard, Xia Liu saw Zhang Qing washing eggplants. Zhang Qing also spotted him, and the next second, she tossed the eggplants aside, ran up to Xia Liu, grabbed him, and without saying a word, immediately rushed indoors.


    Soon after, various contrasting sounds could be heard from inside the house, and about an hour later, Zhang Qing collapsed on the sofa, panting heavily.


    "It''s been days since I last saw you, and you''re still such a monster," Zhang Qing said contentedly as she looked at Xia Liu. Before seeing him, she was convinced she could take care of him in thirty minutes. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But in the end, she was too confident. Even if she had returned to her youthful prime, or even surpassed her peak condition, she was still no match for Xia Liu and had to beg for mercy.

 Chapter 85 She Actually Believed It, Believed...

    "Hehe..." Xia Liu laughed without speaking, knowing that such matters didn''t need explanation, the ones who understood would naturally get it."By the way, Xia Liu, Younger Sister Gu has been looking for you, hoping you could help her become a bit more beautiful," Zhang Qing said with a wicked smile.


    The smile on Zhang Qing''s face gave Xia Liu a bad feeling.


    "You didn''t tell Sister Gu about the Beauty Mud?"


    "No, I told Younger Sister Gu that sleeping with you and having a bit of soy milk is all it takes for beauty care, and guess what? She actually believed it, believed it..."


    ...


    Xia Liu was shocked, feeling like his own tricks were terrible compared to Zhang Qing''s.


    "It''s getting late, you should go back and rest up. Younger Sister Gu might want to meet you for a drink tomorrow," Zhang Qing said, tightening her robe with a meaningful look.


    Xia Liu was just about to explain when Zhang Qing suddenly pushed him out of the door.


    Recalling the scene he''d seen at the Sanhe Bar, Xia Liu immediately felt parched and tongue-tied.


    Looking out at the high mountain that was under development, Xia Liu turned around, ran back home to grab a bag of Beauty Mud, then set off with a flashlight to check on the progress of the construction project and Gu Fangxia.


    Standing on the top of the mountain looking down, Xia Liu was secretly shocked to see that, less than two hundred meters from the summit, three large excavators were in operation, and several trucks were constantly moving earth.


    The scene was very much under control; while watching the machines work, Xia Liu also spotted Gu Fangxia. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the moment, she was dressed in a sportswear outfit, standing on a large rock with a safety helmet on her head.


    Her tall figure dimmed the surrounding lights, and her slender hand was holding a walkie-talkie, directing the workers.


    The appearance of Xia Liu surprised Gu Fangxia, but she still put down her work and walked towards him.


    "Xia Liu, you''re back." Gu Fangxia felt somewhat embarrassed when she saw Xia Liu, perhaps because Zhang Qing''s words kept lingering in her mind.


    "Yes, the construction payment isn''t fully settled yet, so I went to the city to do some business and earn money to pay off debts."


    "Don''t speak like that, even if the project is completed, it wouldn''t matter if you delay the payment for a year or two," Gu Fangxia said with a joyous smile.


    Ever since Xia Liu had come to Shanhe Town to recover those debts for her, her fondness for Xia Liu had hit an all-time high.


    Plus, Xia Liu had transferred ten million to her even before the project had started. Just these two points alone were enough to show that Xia Liu was worth cultivating a deep friendship with.


    "That wouldn''t be right. I''ve also earned some money in the city these past few days, and I''ve already transferred it to you. If it''s not enough, you can tell me anytime," Xia Liu said, waving his hand elegantly.


    Gu Fangxia was stunned for a moment, then took out her phone to check. Standing by the noisy machines earlier meant she wouldn''t have noticed any message alerts, plus it was the middle of the night.


    When she opened the notification of the deposit, she was astonished. Xia Liu had actually transferred 25 million to her!!!


    She had budgeted the construction cost at a relatively high standard, and yet Xia Liu had given her an extra five million!


    "Sister Gu, don''t feel burdened. The extra five million is just stored with you for now; after this project ends, there will be even more projects I''ll need your help with," Xia Liu said, noticing Gu Fangxia''s discomfort and offering an explanation.


    "Uh-uh, you gave me a fright," Gu Fangxia exclaimed, patting her chest; she''d indeed let her thoughts run wild for a moment.


    In the past, when she had worked on projects elsewhere, some bosses also gave her extra money, not much, maybe a couple of thousands or tens of thousands.


    And their only aim was to have me accompany them, which is the so-called "unspoken rules."


    Every time, Gu Fangxia would refuse and return the excess payment.


    "Right, Xia Liu, there''s something I would like to discuss with you," Gu Fangxia said in a low, hesitant voice as the atmosphere became silent.


    "Here it comes!" Xia Liu''s pupils shrank as his heartbeat started to accelerate. "Sister Gu, please tell me what it is, and if I can do it, I will definitely not refuse."


    Gu Fangxia didn''t immediately explain, instead, she gestured for Xia Liu to follow her to the hillside.


    Under the bright moonlight, Gu Fangxia suddenly stopped: "Xia Liu, I want to be as beautiful as Sister Zhang. Will you help me?"


    "There''s no problem with that..." Xia Liu had already thought that this beauty wanted his help, perhaps with this issue, but just as he was about to explain about the Beauty Mud, Gu Fangxia suddenly took off her top.


    Xia Liu immediately turned off the flashlight, and even so, the moonlight still sprinkled on Gu Fangxia''s pale back.


    "Sister Gu, you, you..."


    "Xia Liu, I gathered a lot of courage to ask this; you can''t let me down. Every day at the worksite, I can hardly bear to let people see my face," Gu Fangxia said honestly. She usually mingled at the construction site, exposed to wind and sun, and even if her appearance hadn''t deteriorated much, she felt a sense of imbalance in her heart.


    Xia Liu gazed at Gu Fangxia with a dazed look, struggling inwardly.


    If he told her about the Beauty Mud, he would lose this tremendous opportunity!


    But if he didn''t, it felt like taking advantage of someone.


    Difficult!!!


    As Xia Liu fantasized, Gu Fangxia, with her arms around herself, slowly turned around, and even with her head low, her charming and seductive quality was undeniable.


    "Sister Zhang already told me, as long as I sleep with you, I can get beautified..." Gu Fangxia said weakly, and then slowly squatted down.


    "Damn it! How can there be such a foolish woman!" In that instant, Xia Liu felt he was being too beastly. Facing such an innocent and naive girl, why was he hesitating?


    So, under Gu Fangxia''s shy gaze, Xia Liu picked up the clothes from the ground and wrapped them around her: "Sister Gu, please don''t force me. If I go crazy, I''ll make sure you won''t be able to walk for three days." Continue your journey at empire


    "Not able to walk for three days..." Gu Fangxia didn''t dare lift her head in her shyness, only letting out a soft voice: "If I can''t walk, then I can''t walk, I want to be even more beautiful."


    After speaking, she even attempted to tear her clothes off once more.


    In fact, at the moment Xia Liu draped the clothes over her, she felt very disappointed.


    She couldn''t help but ask herself if she wasn''t attractive enough to move Xia Liu, perhaps because she wasn''t beautiful enough.


    "Sister Gu, you misunderstood me. To become beautiful, you just need to apply a face mask. Sister Zhang was deceiving you," Xia Liu''s heart bled, rejecting a fair, tender, and well-shaped woman who had willingly come to him.


    "What! Just applying a face mask will do?" The next second, Gu Fangxia screamed.


    Seeing Xia Liu nod in confirmation, the blush on her face intensified to the extreme!


    She had originally thought she needed to do that thing with Xia Liu to get beautified, but it turned out to be this.


    If there were a cave nearby, she would have dived in without hesitation and never come out again¡ªthis was utterly humiliating.


    "Since that''s the case, then why are you still looking?" Gu Fangxia snapped, raising her head. She had thought Xia Liu had no feelings for her, but after catching a glimpse of him, she suddenly felt she had suffered a great loss.

 Chapter 86 Sales Restrictions

    ```"Hehe, sorry, Sister Gu, your figure is so stunning, I got distracted." Xia Liu chuckled and turned around.


    Gu Fangxia couldn''t quite get angry. She had misunderstood earlier. Clearly, he was attracted to her, but why wouldn''t he give in?


    "Could he be shy?" Realizing this astonishing fact made Gu Fangxia''s expression even more intriguing. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You can turn back now."


    "Alrighty."


    The moment Xia Liu turned around, their eyes met. Gu Fangxia''s hair fluttered in the wind like three thousand silk threads, her partially veiled face inciting wild thoughts.


    "Stay calm!" Xia Liu inwardly groaned. He found his willpower dwindling. Since earlier, he had been practicing the Five Elements Mantra, but as time passed, he realized the mantra was quickly losing its effectiveness.


    "What about that face mask you mentioned?" Gu Fangxia asked softly, feeling the atmosphere was rather peaceful.


    "Here, apply it evenly on your face, and wait for the Beauty Mud to harden before peeling it off." Xia Liu handed the bag to Gu Fangxia while explaining.


    After accepting the bag, Gu Fangxia took a sniff, a fragrant scent filling her nose, "It smells amazing, thank you so much."


    "You''re welcome, Sister Gu. You only need to use it once, and then wait a few years for the next application for an even better effect."


    "Mhm." Gu Fangxia nodded and looked up with a flirtatious gaze, "By the way, Xia Liu, I heard Sister Gu mention that you also have a medicine that can make people feel soft and tender..."


    During the day, Zhang Qing had mentioned this, and Gu Fangxia believed it. But in the evening, while bathing with Zhang Qing,


    she witnessed Zhang Qing''s transformation firsthand, making her desire even more definite.


    "Soft and tender?" Xia Liu murmured, suddenly feeling parched!


    "Sister Gu, just apply the Beauty Mud on top of it," Xia Liu said through gritted teeth, struggling to speak.


    "Okay, Sister Zhang said you also have a medicine for breast enhancement." This time, Gu Fangxia didn''t show much shyness. In fact, she found Xia Liu absolutely adorable.


    "That''s also part of the Beauty Mud''s effect, just apply it on top..." Xia Liu felt he was going insane, truly insane. Being alone with a woman in the mountains was already a huge test.


    Now, to top it off, Gu Fangxia continued to ask about those topics. Was she trying to drive him crazy on purpose?


    "Got it, got it, I understand now. Thank you so much. If there''s nothing else, I''ll head to the construction site."


    Watching Gu Fangxia hop away with joy, Xia Liu''s heart nearly shattered. He could have pounced on her,


    and had an exhilarating encounter in these wild mountains. Instead, he could only watch helplessly as the plump lamb cheerfully departed.


    After sighing deeply, Xia Liu turned to descend the mountain, knowing that only by diverting his attention could he calm himself.


    Early the next morning, Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s truck came to collect the Beauty Mud. The workers, knowing this stuff was the notorious Beauty Mud,


    were extremely careful, afraid that any mishap could not be remedied.


    Since last night, they hadn''t been able to sleep peacefully, and who knows who had leaked the location of the Beauty Mud packaging facility.


    From five in the morning, countless cars and crazed women wanting to break down the gates had accumulated outside the factory.


    About two hours after the truck left, Xia Liu''s phone rang. It was Liu Lanxin calling.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I''m calling you ''brother'' now. The workers told me that the goods we shipped today were less than a third of what we had a few days ago." Liu Lanxin sounded somewhat angry.


    Now, because of the Beauty Mud, Binlai City was practically exploding, with countless women going mad with desire.


    ```


    But Xia Liu actually turned in so little raw material; there must be a problem.


    "Sister, I really can''t help it, the raw materials for making Beauty Mud are all wild, and this time I couldn''t find too much. Being able to produce this much is already the limit."


    Xia Liu was truly in a bind, unable to express his difficulties, but he deeply understood the profits from Beauty Mud.


    He too wanted to make a good amount of money, but luck was not on his side, and he couldn''t find the herbs in the mountains.


    "List the herbs needed for making Beauty Mud, and I''ll get them for you from the warehouse of Tianluo Pharmaceutical." After a long silence, Liu Lanxin finally mustered the courage to say.


    Actually, she had considered that directly asking for the production list of Beauty Mud might not be given by Xia Liu.


    But at such a critical moment, she was willing to risk the embarrassment and face the situation head on.


    What Liu Lanxin didn''t expect was that Xia Liu''s response was very straightforward, and it even stumped her.


    "Seven-Leaf Grass, Snow Spirit Flower, those are extremely rare herbs, referred to as Spirit Grass in the Emperor''s Medical Classic, and there''s nothing I can do about those." Liu Lanxin felt helpless; originally, she thought making Beauty Mud would be demanding, but only after learning the situation did she find out.


    Explore more at empire


    This wasn''t just demanding, it was more difficult than ascending to the heavens!


    "Forget it, if there is no quantity, then we''ll limit the sales, striving to extend the hype for a few more days."


    "Yeah, that idea, only selling five hundred or eight hundred boxes a day, we should be successful in the bidding this time."


    Xia Liu still admired Liu Lanxin''s business acumen; no matter what, he would always keep something in reserve, otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to respond to emergencies.


    Afterwards, Liu Lanxin reported on the packaging situation of Beauty Mud for that day.


    With this batch of raw materials shipped off, only one thousand two hundred boxes could be packaged, and as for sales restrictions, only six hundred boxes would be sold per day.


    The moment this restriction was announced, all the people anxiously waiting exploded with reaction.


    Although there were complaints, their excitement was even hotter than before, because the efficacy of Beauty Mud was undeniable; those who managed to buy it were making a fortune.


    However, there were also some who were emotionally agitated. For these individuals, Liu Lanxin also set purchasing conditions.


    Those causing trouble at the entrance of the pharmacy wouldn''t be sold to; those disrupting public order wouldn''t be sold to; those hindering the normal lives of citizens wouldn''t be sold to.


    After this statement was made, the city''s frenzy calmed down slightly, and the congested traffic began to ease.


    After all, women, when several thousand gathered in one place, would definitely attract countless men to spectate and flirt, leading to chaos with such a crowd.


    After ending the phone call, Xia Liu received a text message alert, notifying him of a wire transfer of eighteen million.


    Adding to the twenty-five million transferred to Gu Fangxia before, Xia Liu had now a total of fifty-three million in his account, plus some miscellaneous amounts transferred by Fang Fei.


    All together, fifty-five million.


    Contemplating the balance in his card and surveying Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu understood that it was far from enough, not enough!


    To turn Osmanthus Village into the wealthiest village in Huaxia, every aspect of the village had to stand out.


    And the most important point was to ensure that the villagers had a constant stream of income; that was the true path to long-term prosperity!


    Xia Liu hadn''t left his house in days. Occasionally, he would go to check on the chicken farm or head to the seaside to watch everyone gather oysters.


    Most of his time was spent searching for the herbs needed to produce Beauty Mud.


    Unfortunately, Snow Spirit Flower and Seven-Leaf Grass were incredibly rare, and the raw materials he could provide to Liu Lanxin were dwindling. However, there was some good news on the horizon¡­

 Chapter 87 Zhang Qing Meets Zhang Kuang

    ```That was the project Gu Fangxia was in charge of!


    After more than half a month of round-the-clock construction, a giant fissure had been forcibly carved out of the unending mountain range.


    At night, the sound of the machinery began to reach the village, but no one raised any objections.


    In fact, they even longed for the sound of the machinery to be louder, as it would mean the project was nearing completion, and the village was about to have its own road!


    Time hurried by, and another ten days passed. Then one day, a thunderous boom that was deafening rang out.


    It was the work of the professional demolition team blowing up a huge rock that stood next to Osmanthus Village.


    After the blast, led by Li Zhi, many of the villagers set off firecrackers in the center of the village.


    The removal of that rock signified that the mountain had been moved aside, and the road was open!


    Just as everyone hoped, Xia Liu stood before the wide-open mountain pass, sighing, "We''ve finally done it!"


    "This wouldn''t have happened without you, the local tycoon." Beside him, Gu Fangxia watched with a faint smile and slight dark circles under her eyes.


    "Hehe, if it weren''t for Sister Gu, this road would have taken much longer to complete, so I represent Osmanthus Village in thanking Sister Gu!"


    "Enough with the smooth talk. Seriously though, what do you think of the project? If you''re not satisfied, we can keep digging a bit more while the machinery is still here." Gu Fangxia was very serious when it came to official business.


    In fact, she wasn''t very satisfied with this project, as it didn''t turn out quite like the original plan.


    The original intention was to open a road consistent with the surface level of Osmanthus Village through the mountains, but now the road was elevated above the village with slopes on both sides.


    The main reason was that the mountain was entirely made up of rocks, requiring daily blasting to proceed with the work.


    "No need, having this height is perfect. Standing at a higher elevation allows for a more beautiful view." Xia Liu was very pleased; he never intended to level the mountain in the first place.


    Now, with the top being over a hundred meters higher than the village and at a good distance, one could gaze upon even more countryside and forests from up here.


    "Sister Gu, later tell the guys to clean up tomorrow and then head to Longteng Hotel for the gathering."


    "Longteng Hotel, Fang Fei, that beauty?"


    "Uh, yeah, that beauty." Xia Liu hesitated for a moment, then broke into a joyful smile.


    These days, he hadn''t seen Fang Fei and wondered how the girl was doing.


    "Alright, I''ll thank Boss Xia on their behalf, I''m off to let them know." After speaking, Gu Fangxia left.


    Xia Liu also returned to the village. Originally, Li Zhi had planned to host a big feast tonight or the next day.


    Hearing Xia Liu mention going to a big county hotel, everyone was excited.


    These days they had all been working, and when idle, they would chat and joke around. Trips to the town or county were rare, and having such an opportunity, who wouldn''t be happy.


    "Uncle Li, tell everyone to catch more oysters later today; we are not working tomorrow as we''ll be going to the gathering."


    "Hehe, I already thought as much, I''ll go notify them right now."


    After sorting out the oysters in the afternoon, Zhang Qing and Gu Fangxia took Xia Liu with them, saying they wanted to buy clothes in the city for the hotel gathering the next day. They definitely couldn''t be casual about it.


    If it had been before, Zhang Qing might not have cared about dressing up for such an occasion, but now things were different. To stand out in a crowd and give Xia Liu more face, she couldn''t afford to dress too plainly.


    Xia Liu agreed without a second thought¡ªone woman was the cause of his dreams and distractions, the other woman nearly was; how could he refuse.


    Xia Liu was no stranger to Binlai City; over the past month, Liu Buyi often invited him over for chess, drinks, and chats about traditional Chinese medicine.


    ```


    Xia Liu drove the two women to a large shopping mall specializing in branded clothing. The women were clearly unfamiliar with these brands, but when they saw the price tags on the clothes, they almost fainted.


    A pretty-looking dress could cost more than ten thousand yuan.


    It wasn''t that the two women didn''t have the money; it was just that they couldn''t accept paying more than ten thousand yuan for a single piece of clothing in their hearts.


    "Sister Zhang, Sister Gu, you two can pick out whatever you like with peace of mind. I''m footing the bill today," Xia Liu said with full confidence.


    In the past month, although the production of Beauty Mud hadn''t been very high, the sporadic sales had brought him an income of two billion yuan.


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    With two billion yuan on him, he could almost buy a whole mall¡ªwhy worry about anything at all?


    However, Xia Liu still couldn''t persuade the two women, and in the end, each clung to one of his arms as they walked out of the store.


    According to the women''s standards, Xia Liu took them to a cheaper clothing store on the third floor. Even though it was cheaper, ordinary clothes also cost several hundred yuan.


    "Hehe, Young Sister Gu just now this guy said he''s paying today; let''s buy a few more outfits!"


    "Of course, let''s spend him into poverty!"


    The two women wandered joyfully around the mall, trying on any clothes they liked. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their figures and faces attracted many people, both men and women. After all, they stood out so much in the crowd.


    But with more people around, discordant voices emerged.


    "Look, those two women are quite attractive, but what are they wearing? They look like they''ve picked up trash."


    "Exactly, they look like they''re from the countryside. No way they can afford clothes from here."


    Embarrassed by a few women pointing at them, Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing felt somewhat awkward but paid them no mind.


    The clothes they wore were indeed a bit old, but they were clean, and they were purchased with their own money.


    "Attendant, why did you let two country bumpkins in here?" Just then, a sharp voice sounded from behind the two women.


    Turning around, they saw a woman speaking with a rather large belly, seemingly a few months pregnant. Sympathetically, they saw her figure was awkwardly disproportioned.


    Even with the belly accounting for some of her size, her upper half was somewhat petite, but it was a different story below the waist, which resembled a radish grown in the ground¡ªnot to mention her distorted facial features.


    With sympathy in their hearts, Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing decided not to pay attention to the woman.


    However, while they wanted to walk away, the pregnant woman disagreed, shouting loudly, "Husband, I''ve been bullied, hurry up and throw these two out!"


    "I''m on my way! Let''s see who dares to bully my wife!"


    The appearance of the man left Zhang Qing completely stunned¡ªit was Zhang Kuang!


    Zhang Kuang also noticed Zhang Qing and couldn''t help but exclaim, "Zhang Qing, how could it be you?"


    "You know each other?" Gu Fangxia and the pregnant woman asked in unison.


    "Not well," Zhang Qing and Zhang Kuang said at the same time.


    "Not well? You know her name and yet you say you''re not close!" The woman beside Zhang Kuang grabbed his ear, becoming agitated.


    "Wife, there''s nothing between her and me, believe me!" Even with many people around, Zhang Kuang pleaded with a lowered voice.


    "You fox, no wonder my husband has been coming home late these days, it must''ve been you seducing him!" Wu Lili, as she recalled Zhang Kuang''s unusual behavior over the past few days and now seeing Zhang Qing, immediately let her anger out.


    "Haha, what a joke. My sister Zhang is so beautiful, how could she be matched with that trash?" Unable to listen anymore, Gu Fangxia stood up for Zhang Qing, stepping in front of her as she spoke.

 Chapter 88 Who Gave You the Courage! [Five Updates, Please Recommend]

    "You call her pretty? What a blatant lie! Who''s prettier, husband, her or me?" Wu Lili glared coldly at Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing."Of course, my wife is the prettiest. You two ugly women, if you don''t have money to buy clothes, then just get lost!" Zhang Kuang bowed low, wagging his tail like a dog to please Wu Lili.


    This scene made the crowd of onlookers freeze with rigid expressions. It was clear to anyone that Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing were stunningly beautiful. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, here they were, being looked down upon by some no-good with a twisted face and an awkward figure, which was truly unheard of.


    "Husband, I believe you. That woman earlier was going to hit me, and even the baby in my stomach got scared," Wu Lili cooed, leaning on Zhang Kuang.


    As Wu Lili spoke, a few of the men watching almost threw up.


    They couldn''t imagine how Zhang Kuang could stand to face Wu Lili''s contorted features every night. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    "Ugh... Sister Zhang, give me a bag, I''m worried I might throw up my lunch," Gu Fangxia said with a frantic face, pulling Zhang Qing along as she acted with an award-winning performance level.


    "Hahaha..."


    The bystanders covered their mouths, snickering uncontrollably as their worldview expanded once again.


    "What''s this act, woman? Believe it or not, I''ll beat you to death! And all of you, clear off if you''ve got nothing to do!" Zhang Kuang scanned the crowd with a scowl.


    "Zhang Kuang, congrats to you, really, for marrying such a remarkably gorgeous girl." If this were the past, Zhang Qing wouldn''t have dared to say such a thing, but now she wasn''t afraid, she had the confidence!


    "Hahaha, truly so beautiful."


    "Yeah, so beautiful I could almost throw up."


    ...


    Once again, laughter erupted from the crowd of onlookers. They had encountered some thick-skinned people before, but none like Wu Lili and Zhang Kuang; this was definitely their first time.


    "Husband, that woman insulted me; I want you to tear her mouth apart!" Wu Lili couldn''t take it anymore; how could she not hear what the people around were saying?


    "And all of you, my cousin is the general manager here. I advise you to clear out quickly, or when my cousin arrives, she''ll definitely make you regret it!"


    Facing Wu Lili''s harsh words, the rest of the people at the scene were dumbfounded.


    Why should they be scared? This was a shopping center; even if her cousin really was the general manager, what could she do, beat them up?


    "Wife, there''s no need to trouble your cousin, I''ll tear that woman''s mouth apart right now so she can never speak again!"


    "Thank you, husband. After you''re done, let''s go buy a BMW!"


    Hearing about buying a BMW, Zhang Kuang''s eyes lit up with eagerness. After calming himself, he walked quickly toward Zhang Qing.


    Watching Zhang Kuang approach, Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing grew tense.


    "Sister Zhang, you go find Xia Liu; I''ll hold him off."


    "No way, I can''t leave you here alone." Zhang Qing was panicking. It wasn''t like Xia Liu to go to the bathroom at such a time, what to do now...


    "Zhang Qing, I''m giving you face and you don''t want it. Damn it, I''ll beat you to death today!" Zhang Kuang raised his hand and swung at Zhang Qing. It wasn''t his first or second time hitting her; what was one more time today, especially when a BMW was at stake!


    "Ahh!" Zhang Qing and Gu Fangxia hugged each other in fright, but after waiting a moment, they felt no pain.


    Opening their eyes, they saw a tall, dark figure standing before them, Xia Liu''s hand tightly gripping Zhang Kuang''s in mid-air.


    "You dare hit my woman? Who gave you the nerve!" With those words, Xia Liu''s hand gave a light squeeze.


    The next second, Zhang Kuang''s face twisted in terror and agony as the pain spread from his wrist, "Ah! My hand, my hand!"


    Xia Liu let go of Zhang Kuang''s wrist and turned around, saying, "Sorry, I''m late."


    "Wuu wuu..."


    Seeing that it was Xia Liu, both Zhang Qing and Gu Fangxia came up to hug him.


    This scene stunned everyone present.


    Zhang Qing and Gu Fangxia were both top-tier beauties, not only with youthful figures but also with a mature charm¡ªnow they were embracing the same man at the same time!


    "You all are dead meat, totally dead meat!" Wu Lili screamed like a lunatic, then squatted down to check on Zhang Kuang''s injuries.


    "Hehe, they''re dead meat? Clearly, your husband was the one who hit out first."


    "Moreover, all the handsome guy did was pinch your husband''s hand, and he screams and falls to the ground¡ªhas the acting for scamming gotten this bad nowadays?"


    "Exactly, exactly, go home and practice more, try to scam after being the aggressor."


    The bystanders, men and women alike, kept voicing out; they were utterly disgusted with Wu Lili and Zhang Kuang and couldn''t fathom that such people existed in the world.


    However, only Zhang Kuang knew that his wrist was completely ruined, and his entire arm was numb.


    He wanted to berate Xia Liu, but the voices around him sapped his strength.


    "Lili, what happened?" Just then, a woman in her thirties ran up to Wu Lili''s side with seven or eight security guards in tow.


    "Cousin, I''ve been bullied, that man attacked and crippled Zhang Kuang," Wu Lili immediately put on a mournful face upon seeing her cousin.


    "You guys, surround them, don''t let anyone escape!" Wu Lili''s cousin got angry, waving her hand for the security guards to control Xia Liu and his companions while she checked Zhang Kuang''s injuries.


    As the scene escalated, the crowd grew larger, and their disdain for Wu Lili and her company deepened.


    Clearly, it was Wu Lili and Zhang Kuang who started bullying others, and now that she was at a disadvantage, her cousin arrived with security guards¡ªthis was a blatant attempt to oppress others.


    "Xia Liu, what do we do?" Seeing the fierce-looking security guards, both Zhang Qing and Gu Fangxia were getting anxious.


    "Nothing will happen with me here," Xia Liu gave the two women a reassuring smile; truth be told, if he got serious, no matter Zhang Kuang or the security guards, he could take them down in a minute.


    "You''ve gotten yourself into big trouble. My uncle is a minister in Wanqing Group, you dare to bully my cousin and cousin-in-law, just wait for my uncle to come, you''ll be collecting your own body!"


    "To the manager, I''d like to ask, is this mall owned by your uncle or by you?"


    "Whose it is none of your business, without breaking your hands and paying a million in damages, this matter won''t be over!"


    Whoosh...


    Hearing the mall manager''s harsh words, there was a wave of hisses from the crowd; in broad daylight, only this family dared to extort like this.


    "Hehe, brain-dead." Xia Liu was at a loss for words¡ªtruly a family act, capable of anything.


    "Lili! Lili!" Just as Xia Liu was considering whether to take down the guards and leave, a middle-aged man rushed into view, panting.


    He was somewhat chubby and dressed in a suit, and to the uninformed, he might seem like a successful individual.


    After everyone realized this man was Wu Lili''s father, they all started to look down on him.

 Chapter 89 Why are you panicking if Im not calling the police?

    How does the saying go? Like parents, like daughter.What kind of person Wu Lili is, her father can''t be far behind.


    After listening to his daughter''s complaints, Wu Mingde stormed up to Xia Liu with a face full of rage, "Are you the one who bullied my daughter?"


    As Wu Mingde spoke, he signaled to the security guards, ready to have them strike the moment Xia Liu dared to speak. Explore more stories with empire


    The security guards all recognized Wu Mingde¡ªhe was a high-level executive at the corporate headquarters.


    "Bully her? Looking at that piece of trash one more time is exhausting enough," Xia Liu didn''t bother to offer Wu Mingde any respect; if this guy didn''t get a clue, Xia Liu wouldn''t mind getting some exercise.


    "Fuck! Beat him to death for me, I''ll take responsibility if he dies!" Wu Mingde instantly exploded with anger. In Binlai City, no one had ever dared to disrespect him, and now some ignorant kid was speaking to him like this? How could he let him live another day?


    Bang!


    However, to the astonishment of everyone around, as soon as Wu Mingde finished speaking, Xia Liu landed a kick straight into his stomach.


    The body that weighed at least 200 pounds flew out like a basketball, even knocking down Wu Lili''s cousin in the process.


    This sudden turn of events left everyone shocked, especially Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing, who were closest to the action.


    They gazed at Xia Liu with admiring infatuation as if they would throw themselves at him if no one else were around¡ªhis kick was just too cool.


    "Hold on a minute, I need to make a call," seeing the security guards about to move now that they had recovered, Xia Liu sincerely mentioned, not wanting to accidentally injure anyone.


    "Ah! You lot, beat him to death for me, whoever does it gets a hundred thousand yuan!" Wu Mingde shouted desperately from the ground, driven by sheer fury.


    But his commands still caused the security guards to hesitate, not daring to take action¡ªthey did want the money.


    But to kill someone in broad daylight with so many witnesses, even if you could get a hundred thousand yuan, where could you possibly escape to?


    "Let''s pause the shouting over there for a second, I''m not calling the police, so what''s the panic?" Xia Liu glanced at Wu Mingde and remarked.


    "Pfft..."


    In that moment, countless people burst into laughter; this man was simply too funny.


    But they did not overlook the fact that facing such a situation, he remained so calm. This young man definitely wasn''t simple.


    Soon enough, Xia Liu''s call connected, and an excited voice came through from the other end, "Hello, Mr. Xia, how are you?"


    "Just call me Xia Liu, Boss Mo. I''ve run into a bit of a troublesome situation here." Xia Liu wasn''t at all surprised that Mo Wanqing knew his phone number¡ªafter all, she had given him a private number.


    In Binlai City, the number of people who had Mo Wanqing''s private number could be counted on one hand.


    "Hmm? Mr. Xia, where are you? I''ll send someone over right away."


    "There''s no need for you to come in person, Boss Mo. I just encountered a parasite from your company..." Xia Liu then briefly explained Wu Mingde''s situation.


    "Wu Mingde? The general manager just told me about him, stay there, I''ll be there in a minute," Mo Wanqing said before hanging up the phone. She just happened to be at the mall inspecting work today and never expected to encounter such an incident.


    Thanks to the Beauty Mud, Mo Wanqing had regained the confidence of her youth, and she would never forget Xia Liu, her benefactor.


    "Director, where are we going?" Seeing Mo Wanqing quicken her pace, the general manager was somewhat confused.


    "My good friend is being troubled by Wu Mingde right now, and it''s happening on the third floor of the mall!" Mo Wanqing didn''t explain much and immediately stepped onto the escalator to go upstairs.


    Upon hearing the name Wu Mingde, the general manager''s gaze instantly turned dull.


    Wu Mingde had invited him out for drinks a few times and played mahjong with him; they could be considered friends. He hadn''t imagined that the guy would dare to trouble the director''s friend, which was practically seeking death.


    "Haha, kid, you''re trying to scare me with Boss Mo! Do you really think you''re someone?" By this time, Wu Mingde had already stood up from the ground. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He couldn''t help but laugh when he heard Xia Liu''s phone call with Mo Wanqing.


    "Xia Liu, who were you just calling?" Gu Fangxia, who was closest to Xia Liu, heard the voice on the other end of the phone. She didn''t know who it was but was certain that it wasn''t someone just trying to scare Wu Mingde, but rather someone with real clout.


    "The owner of Wanqing Real Estate. I was just trying to get her to fire that idiot, but Boss Mo said she would arrive within a minute," Xia Liu said helplessly. He hadn''t wanted it to be this way, but Mo Wanqing had hung up the phone in the end.


    "What! The owner of Wanqing Real Estate!" Upon hearing this news, Gu Fangxia was nearly scared silly. Anyone in the construction business knew who Mo Wanqing was.


    Gu Fangxia had previously submitted many proposals to Wanqing Real Estate, hoping to secure some projects.


    Unfortunately, they were all rejected. Now, Xia Liu said he knew Mo Wanqing, and she was coming over personally, which was simply unimaginable.


    The onlookers nearby also overheard their conversation about Xia Liu knowing Mo Wanqing.


    They were all astonished; Mo Wanqing was a celebrity in Binlai City, and meeting her was nearly as difficult as ascending to the heavens.


    Some admired Xia Liu, while others watched with cold eyes, their impression of Xia Liu sinking to the lowest point.


    After all, bragging in front of many people was indicative of stupidity.


    "Haha, you all heard that, right? Not teaching a lesson to such an idiot would really leave him not knowing the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth," some disdainful voices around Xia Liu made Wu Mingde feel even more elated.


    After speaking, he waved his hand for the security guards to take action.


    The security guards had also changed their minds. For someone with delusions like Xia Liu, they didn''t need to be cautious. Wu Mingde had their backs if they hit him.


    "Xia Liu, are you reliable or what?" Zhang Qing was close to tears. What was Xia Liu playing at?


    "Ah, in this day and age, telling the truth is not believed. It seems I need to bluff more in the future," sighed Xia Liu. He really didn''t want to resort to violence, after all, the security guards were innocent.


    "Stop!" Just as the security guards were about to approach Xia Liu, a deep voice carrying anger echoed through the mall.


    Everyone turned to look, and in that moment, they were frozen.


    They saw two women and three men rushing forward, the leader of whom they all recognized very well¡ªit was Mo Wanqing.


    Compared to a month earlier, the present Mo Wanqing was as different as heaven and earth. With that scar gone from her face, she was truly the goddess in the hearts of all men¡ªrich and beautiful.


    Wu Mingde was panicked because he saw Mo Wanqing running towards Xia Liu. She was running!


    "Mr. Xia, are you all right?" Mo Wanqing''s voice once again shocked everyone.


    She actually addressed Xia Liu as Mr.!


    In Binlai City, those whom Mo Wanqing called ''Mr.'' were definitely no more than ten people, which shows just how prestigious that title was.

 Chapter 90 Aunt Qing

    Just as Mo Wanqing was about to converse with Xia Liu, a very discordant voice emerged. Continue your journey on empire"What are all of you doing, didn''t you see that bastard kick my dad? Hurry up and beat him to a cripple for me; if he dies, my dad will pay you and handle the consequences!" Indeed, seeing the security guards standing dazed, Wu Lili couldn''t stand it anymore, and she started yelling at them.


    She succeeded, successfully gaining everyone''s surprised attention.


    If Wu Mingde was braindead, then Wu Lili was braindead plus mentally challenged, daring to mingle in Binlai City without even recognizing Mo Wanqing.


    Wu Mingde was already scared stupid, he had just been about to apologize to Xia Liu.


    Now never mind apologizing, even his future, and even his next life, were ruined.


    Chairman, forgive me. I failed to discipline my daughter properly, I will teach Lili a lesson when we return home," Wu Mingde said as he knelt down, banging his head fiercely on the ground.


    He now didn''t dare to care about his dignity; Mo Wanqing was someone in Binlai City, the boss of Wanqing Real Estate.


    Just with her word, a person with no background could work their whole life and not make any waves; they might even face obstacles everywhere.


    "Dad, how could you kneel to that bastard? And that old woman, she obviously isn''t anything good. Hurry and have the security throw them out."


    "Lili, shut your mouth!"


    Seeing his daughter acting like an idiot, Wu Mingde felt like dying.


    "You guys, first get him up, don''t let him lose face here!" Seeing Mo Wanqing glance over, the general manager immediately directed the security guards.


    After the security guards lifted up her father, Wu Lili finally realized she had made a grave mistake.


    Zhang Kuang was undoubtedly the most terrified. Although he didn''t recognize Mo Wanqing, from the scenes unfolding, this woman was actually the chairman of Wu Mingde''s company!


    Mr. Xia, sorry to have alarmed you," after the security guards sealed Wu Mingde''s mouth, Mo Wanqing somewhat awkwardly apologized to Xia Liu.


    "Boss Mo, don''t be polite. He doesn''t have the qualifications to alarm me," Xia Liu said with a wry smile, knowing that if he had known that Mo Wanqing was in this mall, he definitely would not have made the call.


    "Haha, that''s true. Even I have to admire Mr. Xia''s talents."


    "Boss Mo, please don''t joke like that, otherwise I might get torn apart by many people."


    "Haha, so what shall we do about them now?" Mo Wanqing could hear the subtext in Xia Liu''s words, instinctively straightening her chest, filled with confidence.


    "Let''s leave that to Boss Mo; you saw his true colors," Xia Liu said.


    Mo Wanqing nodded¡ªtoday, she indeed needed to thank Xia Liu for helping her catch such an employee in her company, and that too an assistant in one of the departments.


    If such pests were not dealt with, the company''s reputation could be seriously weakened without her knowing.


    General Manager, go back and follow up. Dismiss Wu Mingde and investigate the violations committed in the mall today."


    General Manager, please help me. I was wrong, I really was. Please talk to the chairman on my behalf," Wu Mingde was hurried as he spoke, and if not for the security holding him back, he would have rushed over to cling to the general manager''s legs.


    Wu Mingde, don''t try to claim connections, you''re no longer an employee of the company. Keep some dignity for a better future meeting!" The general manager was somewhat guilty, after all, he had some past relationship with Wu Mingde, and it wouldn''t be very good if Mo Wanqing found out.


    Upon hearing the general manager''s words, Wu Mingde knew he couldn''t save his career and fell silent.


    He realized that if he were to reveal more, the most that would happen to the general manager would be a few warnings from Mo Wanqing, and once the general manager stabilized, it would spell the end for him.


    After dealing with Wu Mingde''s situation, Mo Wanqing asked the general manager and several department heads to leave, staying behind to talk with Xia Liu.


    Actually, Mo Wanqing didn''t have much to talk about with Xia Liu; she had just wanted to take the opportunity to invite him for a meal today to express her gratitude.


    Xia Liu did not refuse, and after Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing picked their clothes, all four of them went together.


    What delighted Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing was that what started as an attempt to pinch Xia Liu''s wallet ended up with Mo Wanqing having the store comp their shopping, letting them snag clothes worth a few thousand for free.


    "Boss Mo, thank you so much for the clothes," said Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing as they clinked glasses with Mo Wanqing at the dining table.


    To tell the truth, Gu Fangxia was immensely excited inside; Mo Wanqing was a dominant figure in the business world.


    Countless people had tried to spend a fortune for a chance to dine with her, yet here she was, effortlessly clinking glasses with her.


    "Fangxia, Little Qing, I''m much older than both of you. Why don''t you call me Aunt Qing? It would make us seem much closer," Mo Wanqing cheerfully suggested. "Speaking of which, I and Little Qing are truly fated, as both our names carry the character ''Qing.''"


    "Hehe, Aunt Qing!" Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing exchanged glances and smiled, then chorused in unison.


    On the way here, Zhang Qing had learned some of Mo Wanqing''s stories from Gu Fangxia; she was a legendary woman in the business world.


    Countless people in Huaxia sought to establish connections with her, and being able to call her Aunt Qing was incredibly fortunate.


    "Come, Aunt Qing, let''s take a drink together," Xia Liu said as he raised his glass. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, his remark made the three women chuckle; Mo Wanqing hadn''t asked him to call her Aunt Qing, yet Xia Liu''s thick-skinned remark twisted like the walls of a fortress.


    "Mr. Xia, please don''t joke," Mo Wanqing earnestly replied, daring not let Xia Liu call her aunt. She felt that there was more to Xia Liu than met the eye, and his background must be extraordinary.


    "I''m not joking ¨C these two I call sisters, and they call you aunt, so I definitely should too. Besides, climbing onto Aunt Qing''s big tree will provide much shade in the future," Xia Liu said seriously to the three women.


    Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing were stunned by Xia Liu''s frankness. Even if that was what he thought, Mo Wanqing was still there; couldn''t he disguise it a bit and not make things so awkward?


    Yet, what surprised the two women even more was Mo Wanqing''s response: "Sure, wherever you need Auntie, I won''t refuse."


    At that moment, the two women were inwardly crumbling. If they had known Mo Wanqing was so easy to approach, they would have actively offered to become her goddaughters.


    Only when relationships are established do mothers give their daughters money to spend.


    The four of them talked from three until past six o''clock, and Mo Wanqing wanted to take Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing to her home for more fun.


    However, they had to host a dinner the next day, so the two women painfully declined.


    But as they parted, Mo Wanqing exchanged phone numbers with them, which almost made the two women scream with excitement.


    On the way back to Hejing County, Xia Liu felt a bit uneasy; it had been a long time since he had contacted Fang Fei, and now, arriving with two beautiful women, she would definitely crack exceptionally dirty jokes¡­

 Chapter 91 Transfer

    Look, when the car pulled into the parking lot of Longteng Hotel, Fang Fei was already there waiting."My dear little brother, you haven''t come to spoil your sister for almost a month, and today you even brought two beautiful girls. Are we planning to fly high together?" As soon as Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia got out of the car with Zhang Qing, Fang Fei said something that almost made them lose their balance.


    "Pfft!" Xia Liu and his friends were shocked. Although he hadn''t thought about it, now that Fang Fei mentioned it, he actually did start to have some ideas.


    "Sister Fang, don''t you already have a little motor?"


    "Gu Fangxia, you little bitch, I''ve already thrown away that little motor you left behind. I have plenty of people."


    "Two ladies, Xia Liu is still here..." Even though she often tumbled in the sheets with Xia Liu, Zhang Qing actually felt shy hearing the two women talk like that.


    "No worries, no worries, you go on," Xia Liu said with a meaningful tone.


    "Hmph, I''m certainly not going to talk about this stuff in front of you. Look, you''re about to drool."


    Hearing Fang Fei say this, Xia Liu actually reached to wipe his mouth, only to discover that he had been played by her once again.


    "Giggle, giggle..."


    Accompanied by a burst of laughter, the four of them went into the office.


    On the way back, Gu Fangxia had already said hello to Fang Fei and mentioned Xia Liu''s plan to throw a celebration party tomorrow.


    However, after arriving at the office, Fang Fei did not bring it up, and neither did Xia Liu.


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    The few of them just sat together drinking tea and chatting about trivial matters.


    But ten minutes later, Zhang Qing and Gu Fangxia actually became drowsy and fell asleep on the sofa!


    "Sister Fang, did you do something?" Xia Liu asked, realizing something was off.


    "Yeah, I gave them a little surprise," Fang Fei admitted bluntly.


    "What kind of surprise?"


    "You''ll figure it out..."


    ...


    Actually, Xia Liu could tell at a glance that the two girls had simply fallen asleep...


    "Sister Fang, I''m a doctor, I can tell the symptoms," he said.


    "Oh yes, I forgot you''re the Divine Doctor. You cured genetic diseases, so of course you could tell," Fang Fei pouted playfully.


    "Cut it out, Sister Fang. Is there something important you want to talk to me about?"


    "Mm-hm, smart as you are, I do have something I want to tell you."


    Xia Liu''s expression became serious. For Fang Fei to knock out the two girls just to talk to him meant it was definitely not a trivial matter.


    After sipping a mouthful of light tea, Fang Fei said leisurely, "Sister is planning to go back home and is thinking of transferring her businesses."


    "Transfer!"


    Hearing Fang Fei say this, Xia Liu felt an uneasy premonition because Osmanthus Village''s oysters and Osmanthus Chicken were all supplied to Fang Fei.


    If Fang Fei left, although the oysters and Osmanthus Chicken could find another employer, it would be hard to match the price they were currently getting.


    "Sister Fang, please don''t go, will you? I''ll miss you." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmph, you scoundrel, you''re only saying this now because you''re up to no good. I bet you''re worried you won''t be able to sell the oysters and Osmanthus Chicken at a high price."


    Fang Fei crossed her arms and stared at Xia Liu with an indifferent face.


    How does that saying go, hit the nail on the head!


    Xia Liu nodded guiltily; this was indeed a fact.


    "Actually, I have an idea that will not only prevent a loss for the oysters and Osmanthus Chicken but could also gain a higher profit," Fang Fei said after pretending to be angry for a while.


    "Sister Fang, please tell me!"


    Watching Xia Liu''s anxious look, Fang Fei leisurely poured and sipped her tea instead.


    "My dear Sister Fang, go on and say it. It''s okay if I don''t make money, but we can''t let the people of Osmanthus Village fall behind." Xia Liu was almost frantic. If Fang Fei were his woman, he would have definitely gone up and spanked her.


    "If you can make sister happy tonight, then I''ll tell you."


    Finally, Fang Fei spoke up, looking serious, and Xia Liu didn''t know how to react for a moment.


    Because Fang Fei was so serious, it seemed like she really wanted him to serve her.


    "Sister Fang, whatever you need, I will be at your beck and call."


    "First get those two into a room to rest, then I''ll tell you what to do."


    After saying that, Fang Fei got the room cards for two adjacent rooms, and Xia Liu helped Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing inside.


    A few minutes later, he and Fang Fei entered a room with a cozy round bed; the warm lighting made the atmosphere increasingly intimate.


    "Sister Fang, what are you doing?"


    The moment the door closed, Fang Fei stripped off her clothes, startling Xia Liu into a yelp.


    "Do you not want the people of Osmanthus Village to make money?" Fang Fei said, glancing at Xia Liu while she continued undressing.


    Xia Liu fell silent, repeatedly chanting in his heart.


    "This is for everyone."


    "This is for everyone!"


    ...


    An hour later, Xia Liu came out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, his expression somewhat bitter.


    He even felt some regret; if he had known it would be like this from the start, he definitely would have tried to control himself.


    Indeed, Fang Fei had entrusted her first time to him here.


    "Hey, what kind of expression is that?" Fang Fei had been watching Xia Liu and complained upon seeing his discomfort.


    "Sister Fang, why did you do this, I mean..."


    "I mean nothing. From the day you saved me, I''ve been planning how to tame a monster like you. Today, I finally got my wish," Fang Fei said, cutting him off with a triumphant smile.


    ...


    Xia Liu thought of something and grabbed her wrist.


    Before Fang Fei could be surprised, a cool sensation spread from her wrist throughout her body.


    Watching Xia Liu from such a close distance, Fang Fei''s complexion turned an even brighter shade of red than the evening glow.

 Chapter 92 Own Industry

    Discover stories at empireTen minutes later, Fang Fei clearly felt the pain subside, and even the fatigue vanished.


    "Xia Liu, what did you do? Why am I not in pain anymore, and even feeling so energetic?" Fang Fei asked with widened, charming eyes.


    "This is an acupoint pressing technique, as long as I press the acupoints on your wrist, your pain will ease and the fatigue will be swept away," Xia Liu said seriously.


    Actually, he was bluffing Fang Fei; there was no such thing as pain relief by simply pressing on wrist acupoints. He had just sent a weak stream of Water Spirit Energy into her wrist.


    That''s what relieved Fang Fei''s pain and even revitalized her state.


    "Oh my! You have to teach me, so I can invigorate myself in the future."


    "I can''t teach this, only I can use it. Even normal doctors can''t pinpoint this acupoint accurately, let alone you."


    "Alright, if that''s the case, then I can keep shouting for another hour¡­"


    Fang Fei licked her lips seductively as she looked at Xia Liu.


    A chill went down Xia Liu''s back, and just as he was about to speak, Fang Fei pulled him down¡­


    In the wee hours past three, Fang Fei couldn''t move anymore, finally experiencing what it was like to be completely drained.


    "Sister Fang, are you okay?"


    In contrast, Xia Liu stood upright under the light, his handsome face adding a touch of resoluteness.


    "I can''t take it anymore, sister is almost dead."


    "Don''t die yet, give me your bank card first."


    "Pfft! You go die!"


    Xia Liu''s joking words revived Fang Fei a bit, and after receiving some more Spiritual Energy, she felt much better.


    But she didn''t dare to shout anymore, as she was too tired.


    "Xia Liu, have you ever thought about owning your businesses?" After joking around for a while, Fang Fei brought up the main topic.


    Xia Liu paused; he seemed to understand the meaning behind Fang Fei''s words that the price would remain the same even when obtaining more benefits.


    "I have thought about it; previously, I didn''t have enough funds, but now I might be able to start a few decent restaurants or hotels."


    "Starting from scratch? How exhausting, it''s better to use what''s already there."


    "Existing ones are good, but the ones in good locations have poor buildings, and the ones with good buildings and decor are too remote, not suitable for running hotels." Over the past month, Xia Liu had toured around the county several times and did a lot of analysis.


    "Hmm, your analysis is not bad; looks like you''ve put in the effort." Fang Fei nodded, Xia Liu was right, hotels in good locations had been around for years, and even if one wanted to take over, the proprietors might not even sell.


    "What do you think about Longteng Hotel and Longyun Hotel?"


    "These two hotels are in very good locations, and the decorations are all top-notch," halfway through his thoughtless spill, Xia Liu suddenly came to a realization and stared intensely at Fang Fei: "What do you mean, Sister Fang?"


    "Well, I''m going back home now, and I definitely need to sell my assets. Instead of selling to someone else, I might as well transfer them to you."


    "Wow!" Xia Liu almost jumped from excitement.


    Longteng and Longyun Hotels were indeed the iconic hotels of Hejing County, and the daily turnover was definitely in the tens of thousands.


    If he could truly acquire them, that would definitely mean making a fortune!


    Moreover, this was a long-standing path to wealth, unlike natural products that, once harvested, required time to cultivate.


    The hotel is right here, and as long as it''s managed well, it can generate profits no matter how long.


    "Sister Fang, how much are these two hotels valued at?" Although Xia Liu had two billion in his card, he was still somewhat worried, as these two hotels were not just any luxurious ones.


    Moreover, they were iconic buildings of the county town, and if he wasn''t wrong, the land probably already belonged to Fang Fei.


    "If it were someone else, I might ask for two billion or even more," Fang Fei reflected for a moment and then spoke leisurely, "But for you, eighty million will do."


    "Eighty million!!!" Xia Liu was startled by the price, it was simply unimaginable.


    "Too high?" Seeing Xia Liu''s surprised expression, Fang Fei said, "The main reason is that since you''re returning home, you might need a lot of money, so I''m asking you for it. Otherwise, I would have given it to you."


    "If you can''t give eighty million all at once, you can pay in installments, it''s okay."


    "No, no, no, I have the money, I''ll transfer it to you right now." Saying this, Xia Liu started searching for his phone in his pockets while squatting on the ground.


    A few minutes later, Fang Fei received a notification, a bank transfer of one hundred and eighty million.


    "Huh! Didn''t you say eighty million, why did you give me so much, and how do you have so much money?"


    Fang Fei was extremely shocked. She had been keeping an eye on Xia Liu, the sales of Osmanthus Chicken with oysters, even if he didn''t share with the villagers, couldn''t possibly amount to so much.


    And lately, this guy had also undertaken a big project which definitely cost a lot of money.


    "Sister Fang forgot, huh, the Beauty Mud..."


    "Oh, I really did forget, and now it seems I sold short." Fang Fei realized, thinking back to the recent frenzy in Binlai City over Beauty Mud.


    At that time, Beauty Mud was all over the television and the internet, showing that Xia Liu made more than just a little money from it. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Fang can''t go back on the deal, I only have twenty million left in my card. Beauty Mud is indeed hugely profitable, but without the raw materials, I can''t produce much, so I only made a little over two hundred million in a month," Xia Liu felt quite helpless about this.


    If those herbs were ubiquitous, he could become wealthy in no time.


    And he could quickly develop Osmanthus Village, and possibly even transform Hejing County.


    "Hmm, now that you say so, I feel relieved to take this money," Fang Fei nodded in satisfaction.


    "But Sister Fang, what will I do if you leave, I haven''t even taken responsibility for you yet."


    "There''s no need to, I have my needs too, so it''s mutually beneficial."


    "I''ll miss you..."


    "If you''ll miss me, then let''s put that aside for now, I haven''t left yet." Honestly, Fang Fei also felt quite reluctant to leave, but she had to go back.


    In front of Xia Liu, she could only show a strong front.


    Xia Liu was silent. Until dawn, both remained very quiet, not speaking or doing anything, just quietly leaning on each other.


    Early in the morning, Xia Liu got up. Fang Fei had already informed him last night that today Longteng Hotel had been booked out.


    After giving orders to the kitchen and the waitstaff, Xia Liu drove to the county station to charter a few coaches and then led the way back to the village.


    On the way back, he didn''t forget to call Zhang Qing, telling her and Gu Fangxia that they didn''t need to go back, just wait for the dinner gathering.


    Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing hadn''t planned on going back anyway. They had bought quite a few clothes in the city yesterday and could just change into them directly.


    But one thing was quite frustrating to them, how they had ended up falling asleep muddled while they were enjoying tea with Fang Fei in the office last night.


    Upon waking up, they had checked themselves and found nothing unusual, which puzzled them, for nothing unusual was the biggest anomaly of all¡­

 Chapter 93 Shocking the County Town

    Because the newly opened road was strewn with many pebbles, Xia Liu led the shuttle bus through Shanyan Village.Early in the morning, the villagers of Shanyan rose to see the big bus passing and were filled with bewildering curiosity.


    Those in the village with relatives in Osmanthus Village immediately made phone calls to inquire.


    Upon learning that the entire Osmanthus Village was heading to Longteng Hotel in the county to dine, everyone in Shanyan Village was shocked.


    However, that relative did not reveal much information, since relatives or not, the two villages were still in a state akin to enemies, so it was natural not to say too much.


    Moreover, because of the last time Shanyan Village refused to provide an electrical line, many people from Osmanthus Village grew to dislike those so-called relatives from Shanyan.


    At eight o''clock, the people of Osmanthus Village, dressed in clean clothes, left their homes in groups, their spirits soaring with excitement.


    A few months ago, it was difficult for them to even leave the village.


    A few months later, not only did they have their own road, but their income had also increased, and they now walked with their backs straight.


    Xia Liu''s bus was carrying four girls, excluding Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    There were also two who were still in high school, filling the bus with the scent of youth.


    Nowadays, Xia Liu had become the most dazzling person in the village, and all the girls dreamed of being with Xia Liu.


    But they could only dream, as they couldn''t even compete with Zhang Xiaoxue and her peers.


    As they passed Shanyan Village, everyone felt a burst of exhilaration, especially when they saw the astonished looks of the villagers there.


    Finally, they had turned their fortunes around and were living better than those in Shanyan Village!


    This gathering not only astonished the people of Shanyan Village but also stunned the residents of the county.


    At half-past eight, two red banners were hung at the entrance of Longteng Hotel.


    When people saw "Osmanthus Village" on the banners, they took photos and shared them in various chat groups and on forums.


    In half an hour, the entire county was abuzz.


    The words "Osmanthus Village" used to signify poverty and backwardness.


    But now, the people of Osmanthus Village had booked Longteng Hotel, and they were paying their own way.


    This information was leaked by the staff of Longteng Hotel, and who wouldn''t be excited to hear such news?


    Moreover, when the shuttle bus reached the highway, several police cars led the way in front.


    Last night, Chen Jin had gotten wind of Xia Liu''s dining plans from Li Qinqin and immediately organized today''s police escort.


    The presence of police cars opening the way made everyone even more curious about Osmanthus Village.


    If it weren''t for the hotel staff leaking the news, they might have thought it was the leaders hosting a banquet.


    Now it seemed that they knew far too little about Osmanthus Village. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mood of everyone on the bus was even more excited than before, as if it was their own wedding they were nervous about.


    A host of faces peered in from outside the windows, including police officers, and even reporters from the county TV station were waiting at the hotel entrance.


    However, the guests weren''t very articulate, and the reporters only managed to glean a few details from the village students, which unfortunately weren''t of much use.


    Entering the luxurious Longteng Hotel for the first time, everyone felt quite out of place.


    But with Xia Liu''s guidance, they gradually settled down.


    The first floor of the hotel was very spacious, and they didn''t even fill half the space.


    Once everyone was seated, the waiters began serving the dishes.


    The main course was personally selected by Xia Liu: Osmanthus Chicken and oysters.


    Both of these ingredients were prepared in four different ways, and Xia Liu let the kitchen match the rest of the dishes.


    The most eye-catching table was undoubtedly the one with Zhang Qing and her companions.


    Sitting around the table were Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Xiaoman, Zhang Qing, Gu Fangxia, and even Fang Fei had joined them.


    The women were all of a kind that possessed both figures and looks, and each had her own unique charm, except for the Zhang sisters.


    Their table was simply more attractive than any scenery.


    Of course, the protagonist Xia Liu was indispensable at the table during the meal.


    Xia Liu was always getting his leg kicked by someone. He looked around but couldn''t figure out who it was.


    In such a state, he felt the precursors of burning anger.


    Luckily, before long, Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng came over to save the day.


    Everyone greeted Li Zhong when they saw him, as he was a top figure in the county. Stay tuned to empire


    Li Zhong had heard from Fang Fei the night before that Xia Liu was having a gathering here, and after much thought, he decided to come.


    "Brother Liu, Hongsheng and I have come uninvited, don''t kick us out, okay?"


    "Where''s that coming from, Li County? Even if I were to leave, I couldn''t let you go," Xia Liu said as he quickly pulled out chairs for Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng to sit.


    With the two men joining, Xia Liu was finally spared from the annoyance of legs under the table. Just now, a foot had almost crawled up the inside of his leg.


    Li Zhong seized the opportunity to have Xia Liu take him to make a toast and get acquainted with the people from Osmanthus Village.


    Only Xia Liu and Osmanthus Village in the whole Hejing County could prompt Li Zhong to take such initiative.


    On the other hand, the people from Osmanthus Village were almost beside themselves with excitement at clinking glasses with the county head.


    After making the rounds, Li Zhong was still standing strong.


    But after getting familiar, the enthusiasm of the people from Osmanthus Village almost overwhelmed Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng.


    Not to mention those brothers from the construction teams¡ªthey all had a high tolerance for alcohol, and the day and night rush on the job had made them envious of a drink.


    The meal lasted until six in the afternoon, and those who persisted to the end were all men.


    The women from the village had their fill and went off to shop and buy things.


    This round of shopping was quite a shock for the people from the county.


    Because the way the women from Osmanthus Village spent money was terrifying, they didn''t even blink at clothing over a hundred per item¡ªthey bought it.


    Beds costing two to three thousand were bought without a second thought.


    All sorts of electrical appliances were cheerfully ordered to be packaged and delivered home.


    ...


    In one afternoon, Hejing County was completely astir.


    On group chats and forums, this was the topic of discussion everywhere.


    Compared to the people from Osmanthus Village, everyone else was almost dumbfounded.


    They didn''t even blink when buying stuff, no matter how expensive, as long as it suited their tastes, they took it home.


    If they didn''t know the backstory, they might really think it was a tourist group from a big city.


    After the banquet, people gradually left in groups. When Li Qinqin came to pick up Li Zhong and Lin Hongsheng in her car, she nearly beat Xia Liu up.


    As for Zhang Xiaoxue''s table, the girls all decided not to go home, but to use their ID cards to check into the hotel.


    After sending everyone off, Xia Liu turned on his phone and saw that he had received several text messages.


    One was from Zhang Qing, with nothing but a room number.


    Another was from Fang Fei, also containing a room number followed by words indicating that they should have a good talk about transferring the hotel.


    Xia Liu knew very well that this wasn''t about discussing a transfer but exploring life.


    There was also one from Zhang Xiaoman. She said Zhang Xiaoxue was drunk and that she herself was feeling dizzy. She hoped Xia Liu would come up to see if Zhang Xiaoxue was about to die.


    Xia Liu nearly spat blood. This wasn''t about dying; it was about killing him.


    He replied to each one, saying he would come over after he had sorted out some things.


    The first person he dealt with, of course, was Fang Fei.


    Because she had drunk some alcohol, Fang Fei was incredibly wild. If not for the good soundproofing, the adjacent room would probably have called the front desk to complain.

 Chapter 94 Road Construction

    After leaving Fang Fei''s room, Xia Liu lingered at the doorways of Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman.He wondered whether or not to enter, both women had drunk some alcohol, and if something were to happen...


    If it had been before, he definitely would not have turned away somberly, but his thoughts had changed now.


    The lamb laid before him, why not eat if there''s an opportunity to eat!


    Any trouble that comes up would be a problem for another day. Even if that day really came, so what? Strength decides everything.


    Eventually, Xia Liu still moved toward the next room door, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman had both been drinking, even if he really wanted to take them, it should be when they were most sober so as to preserve the most precious memories.


    Moreover, the two sisters were now in the room, he definitely couldn''t be too reckless.


    Although he had just made love with Fang Fei, the mere fantasies of Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman made Xia Liu unconsciously ashamed.


    After arriving at Zhang Qing''s room, more intense events continued to unfold.


    The next day, it wasn''t until before dawn that Xia Liu left Zhang Qing''s room, his legs felt somewhat weak. From the time he entered the room till now, three times!


    Ever since Zhang Qing found out that pressing on Xia Liu''s wrist could revive his spirits, things got out of control.


    Fortunately, Xia Liu had the Five Elements Mantra in his body, and as the Spiritual Energy circulated through his system for a complete cycle, his strength gradually recovered.


    He ordered a table full of breakfast in the lobby, and at just after seven o''clock, he had the waitress call the ladies'' room phones.


    The women only came down around eight o''clock, except for Gu Fangxia who had a pair of dark circles under her eyes.


    The other ladies all had a flush of rosiness on their faces, especially Zhang Qing and Fang Fei.


    They gave off the impression that the morning glow had not yet fully dissipated.


    Gu Fangxia of course teased the two, then both ladies sneaked a glance at Xia Liu and joined Gu Fangxia in a lively chat.


    On the way back, Fang Fei urged Xia Liu to speed up the process to transfer the hotel''s ownership within three days.


    Xia Liu asked the reason, but Fang Fei did not give a clear response, leaving him unsure why she was in such a hurry to leave.


    Xia Liu drove Gu Fangxia, Zhang Qing, along with Zhang Xiaoxue and Xiaoman, back to Osmanthus Village.


    Once in the village, Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia discussed the issue of the new road.


    There was now a road, but it still needed further improvements.


    "My suggestion is a secondary road."


    "Sister Gu, how long will it take to build this secondary road?" Xia Liu was very interested in Gu Fangxia''s proposal.


    Building roads was for the long term. A mere cement road definitely wouldn''t be sturdy enough. If they built it to the secondary road standards, that would be impressive.


    "This will definitely take a bit more time than a regular tar road, but leave it to my team, and we can have it done in ten days!" Gu Fangxia said confidently.


    Now, the newly constructed road to the external secondary road was merely three kilometers away, maybe even less, so ten days would be more than enough.


    "I can accept that. When work begins, we''ll set up streetlights along the road according to the standards."


    "That''s a possibility, but let me ask timidly, are we really going through with this?" Gu Fangxia couldn''t understand why, as Osmanthus Village didn''t even have several decent houses.


    Yet here they were, contemplating a secondary road, streetlights, and all, undertaking such a huge project¡ªwhat for?


    "Of course, as the future richest village globally, if we fudge it now, we''ll have to do a lot of fixing later."


    ...


    "Alright, you win," Gu Fangxia didn''t know how to respond, but upon reflection, perhaps Osmanthus Village might actually become the wealthiest village as Xia Liu had described.


    "Sister Gu, calculate how much money is needed, I''ll transfer it to you now."


    "Uh, no need for now, I haven''t even spent the five million you gave me last time." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t worry, little brother, I''ve got plenty of money. Here, I''ll transfer ten million to you, just let me know when you run out." Xia Liu was straightforward, took up his phone, opened the mobile bank app, and transferred ten million into Gu Fangxia''s account.


    Xia Liu''s generosity caught Gu Fangxia off guard. After she came to her senses, she teased him, "Boss Xia, don''t you have any reservations? What if I run away with the money?"


    "Hehe, if you dare to run, when I catch up to you, I''ll definitely torture you mercilessly." Xia Liu winked and gave a mischievous smile.


    Gu Fangxia shivered, goosebumps all over, she stuck her tongue out at Xia Liu and then ran out the door.


    After settling the matter, Xia Liu asked Zhang Xiaoxue for her ID card.


    As for what the matter was, he didn''t specify, but it was certainly something good.


    Zhang Xiaoxue naturally would not refuse. She was willing to entrust her body and life to Xia Liu, so what was an ID card in comparison?


    After obtaining the ID card, he noticed it was already nearly afternoon.


    Xia Liu wasn''t in a hurry to find Fang Fei; she had said three days, after all.


    After getting ready, Xia Liu picked up his basket and headed towards the mountains.


    It had been several days since he last searched for the herbs needed to make Beauty Mud. He hoped today would bring good luck.


    Indeed, Xia Liu''s recent luck was really good. He was home before dark, his basket filled with numerous herbs.


    Xia Liu knew well the quantity in his basket. If none of the processes failed, the amount of Beauty Mud produced would definitely be no less than a thousand boxes.


    Another surplus of over ten million in revenue. After dinner, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman helped Xia Liu make the Beauty Mud.


    After making the Beauty Mud, Xia Liu called Liu Lanxin.


    The results for the bidding were announced ten days ago.


    Unsurprisingly, Tianluo Pharmaceutical won, largely thanks to Mo Wanqing''s endorsement.


    Even though Tianluo Pharmaceutical had won, Binlai City was still bustling.


    Because the availability of Beauty Mud was so limited, many people took up long-term residence in hotels near Tianluo Pharmacy.


    Just so they could buy the Beauty Mud at the earliest opportunity.


    Even a month later, the demand for Beauty Mud remained explosively high.


    Each time he heard in the news about crowds in Binlai City blocking places just to buy Beauty Mud, Xia Liu sighed.


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    If only there were more of the essential herbs for making Beauty Mud, things might not be so awkward now.


    But as good as the idea was, sadly, fate wasn''t helping.


    "Xia Liu, I''m really happy at home now, and it''s all because of you. Do you have time tomorrow? I''d like to visit your place," Liu Lanxin genuinely wanted to thank Xia Liu.


    In the past, she had set up many projects in Binlai City, and her family members had almost started to despise her.


    But now, Xia Liu had changed her family''s attitude towards her. If she didn''t properly thank him, she''d feel really bad.


    "To my place?" Xia Liu mumbled and then felt a headache coming on. Having two sisters at home was nearly too much already; no, absolutely not.


    "I don''t have time to host guests for now. How about I come visit you in Binlai City when I''m free?"


    "That works too, but you better come soon. If you don''t show up before the school term starts, I might just head to Osmanthus Village," she replied.


    "Alright, I''ll definitely be there before the school term starts."


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu felt somewhat emotional. September, the start of the school term, was just around the corner...

 Chapter 95 The Conspiracy of That Person

    September has already arrived, and can October be far behind?Once autumn ends, the temperature during winter will be too low, definitely unsuitable for swimming.


    By then, oyster harvesting will have to be put on hold.


    Another thing, during winter, the guests who visit the hotel may not necessarily order oysters, a food ingredient that gets cold easily.


    The hotel preparations are now his own, and on these matters, he must think carefully.


    Xia Liu didn''t go anywhere that evening and waited until Zhang Xiaoxue and the other lady finished bathing before he took his shower.


    After that, he returned to his room to absorb Spiritual Energy, pondering in his mind how to enable the villagers to earn money during winter.


    Time for Cultivation always passes quickly, and the next day, after loading the Beauty Mud onto the truck,


    Xia Liu drove to the county. As soon as they met, Fang Fei stripped him bare, and then they started in the office.


    Only after Fang Fei was satisfied did she start to tidy up the documents.


    "Sister Fang, why don''t you reconsider staying?" To be honest, Xia Liu didn''t want Fang Fei to leave.


    One reason was that she was good at managing the hotel, and another was his own selfishness.


    "It''s not possible, I have to go back this time. But if I change my mind, I will come over to find you," Fang Fei replied very directly.


    "What you said, Sister Fang, do you miss me or did you just ''think about it''?"


    "Well, you guess..."


    ...


    Looking at Fang Fei''s adorable demeanor, Xia Liu had a bitter expression on his face.


    Parting like this really felt hard to bear, but her family had issues, and he couldn''t just lock her up and not let her leave, could he?


    "Alright, enough with the talk, I''m going to go to the department to handle the transfer procedures. Do you want to come along?" After she finished packing, Fang Fei asked leisurely.


    Xia Liu nodded; before Fang Fei left, it would be good to spend more time with her.


    The transfer process went smoothly. Under the witness of the cameras at the notary office, Xia Liu and Fang Fei shook hands to signify the completion of the handover.


    On the way back, Xia Liu received a call from Li Zhong.


    As it happened, he also wanted to talk to Li Zhong, so he drove Fang Fei along to the county government.


    Li Qinqin was at home today. Hearing from her father that Fang Fei was coming over, she went to the market with her mother and bought a lot of groceries.


    After arriving at the place, Xia Liu looked around and heaved a sigh of relief, for Li Qinqin was not there.


    "Brother Liu, the new road is almost done, isn''t it?"


    "Just a bit more to go; it should be open to traffic in half a month." Faced with the county head''s question, Xia Liu answered without hesitation.


    "Very good, very good. Then, while the road is being paved, lay out the electric and TV cables as well," Li Zhong nodded repeatedly, his admiration for Xia Liu growing more and more.


    Having Xia Liu come over for dinner today, he intended to talk about this as well. Discover exclusive content at empire


    In the past, Osmanthus Village used lines pulled from Shanyan Village, and the transformer was on that side. Now that the road was through, Li Zhong was sure Xia Liu wouldn''t be content not to lay the electrical lines.


    "Haha, I was just about to say that, with the road good to go, the lines definitely need to be laid," Xia Liu laughed.


    As the two men were happily chatting away, Li Qinqin and Xu Fang returned.


    Differently from what Xia Liu had anticipated, Li Qinqin only gave him a glance before pulling Fang Fei over to the balcony.


    As Xia Liu continued his conversation with Li Zhong, he also turned his attention towards the conversation between Fang Fei and Li Qinqin.


    From the moment Li Qinqin entered the room, Xia Liu noticed there was something off about the girl.


    Not only was she ignoring him, but she also hurriedly took Fang Fei to the side.


    Could it be that she didn''t know Fang Fei was leaving, having just received the news after stepping out?


    Xia Liu''s guess was correct; Li Qinqin passed by Longyun Hotel while out buying groceries.


    So she decided to go in and order some Osmanthus Chicken to take home.


    However, while she was waiting, the front desk manager she knew well told her some news.


    That was Fang Fei was planning to transfer the hotel, and it wasn''t just Longyun but also Longteng.


    After hearing this news, Li Qinqin didn''t even take the chicken but rushed back home with her mother.


    "Sister Fang, what''s going on? Why are you transferring the hotel?" In the balcony area, Li Qinqin asked anxiously.


    "Do you remember the deadline I told you about last time? The time has come, and the pressure from my family is too great; I must go back this time." Fang Fei said with a look of helplessness.


    "What! That must be that person''s conspiracy..."


    "Qinqin, don''t speak so loudly, don''t let your godfather and godmother hear, I have no way out, the hotel''s already been sold."


    Just as Li Qinqin was about to delve into the details, Fang Fei interrupted her.


    "Who is that person?" Sitting on the living room sofa, Xia Liu took a light sip of his bland tea, his sword-like eyebrows knitted slightly.


    "My dear sister, how could you move so fast? Who did you sell the hotel to?" Li Qinqin couldn''t believe it and wanted to dig out some loopholes.


    "There, that''s the new owner of Longteng and Longyun Hotels." Fang Fei said, her jade finger lightly pointing at Xia Liu.


    "Him?" Li Qinqin''s expression deflated, it was actually Xia Liu, could that be possible? Definitely not.


    "Xia Liu offered one hundred and eighty million to buy both hotels, you know, I need the money for when I go back this time."


    "Sister Fang, don''t lie to me, does that guy really have that much money? I don''t believe it, I''m going to confront him!"


    "Qinqin, don''t go now, your godfather is there, I don''t want him to know." Fang Fei quickly grabbed Li Qinqin, if this girl went over, her own secrets would soon be exposed.


    It would surely be a farewell difficult to part with; leaving quietly was the best way.


    Li Qinqin no longer made a fuss and decided to wait until Xia Liu and Fang Fei left, then she would ask.


    Xia Liu''s thoughts were similar to Li Qinqin''s, after this meal, he was still thinking about how to have Li Qinqin accompany him downstairs.


    Unexpectedly, she took the initiative to offer to see him and Fang Fei off.


    "Xia Liu, did you deceive Sister Fang?" Once downstairs, Li Qinqin grabbed Xia Liu''s collar and scolded him.


    "Qinqin, what are you doing? Everything I said was true."


    Fang Fei had to intervene before Xia Liu was released early, but he wasn''t angry; he was still thinking about how to get information about Fang Fei''s departure from Li Qinqin.


    "Little sister Qinqin, from now on, whether you go to Longteng or Longyun, I''ll waive your bill; how about that?" Xia Liu didn''t reveal in front of Fang Fei that he knew about their conversation just now.


    "Great, once you officially take over, I''ll go and eat you out of business!" Li Qinqin managed to suppress her anger and said, seeing the meaning in Fang Fei''s eyes.


    "Welcome, very welcome."


    Li Qinqin did not respond but gave Xia Liu a look and then hugged Fang Fei.


    The two women tugged at each other for quite a while before they separated. Li Qinqin, wiping her tears, ran upstairs.


    "Go back, I might leave tomorrow, tonight you must stay with me."


    "Of course, I can''t bear to part either."


    ¡­


    That night, Fang Fei kept Xia Liu up until five in the morning. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By the end, Xia Liu said massaging his wrist was useless, and Fang Fei, exhausted, finally fell into a deep sleep.


    After Fang Fei was asleep, Xia Liu took his cell phone out of the room and called Li Qinqin.


    Even though it was five in the morning, he still wanted to get the details before Fang Fei left.

 Chapter 96 Farewell to Fang Fei

    Xia Liu could feel that there was definitely something fishy about Fang Fei''s return.What was surprising was that just as Xia Liu dialed the phone, Li Qinqin picked it up.


    Probably afraid of waking her parents, Li Qinqin''s voice over the phone was very quiet, so quiet that even when she was angry, you couldn''t hear her roar.


    "Qinqin, Sister Fang has already told me about it, what do you think of that person?"


    "That person? Who are you talking about?" Li Qinqin feigned ignorance.


    "Didn''t Sister Fang tell you? Her return is all because of the pressure that person has applied," Xia Liu said, pretending to be in the know.


    He had guessed as much during the conversation between the two women; the person Li Qinqin mentioned must be no ordinary individual.


    At last, after a long silence on the other end of the line, she responded, "The person you''re talking about is probably Sister Fang''s mother. Her mother has always disapproved of her being here, and this time, she blackmailed her with the threat of death to make her return."


    Your journey continues with empire


    ¡­


    Xia Liu wanted to rage, but in the end, he held himself back.


    This was simply ridiculous ¨C if it truly concerned Fang Fei''s mother.


    If that was the case, why not just say so during their earlier conversation instead of referencing ''that person''?


    This was sheer nonsense, and Xia Liu also realized that Li Qinqin didn''t want to tell him the truth.


    To understand the real situation, since Fang Fei was no longer an option, he had to ingratiate himself further with Li Qinqin.


    In a room at the county government at that moment, Li Qinqin pulled out the text message she had just received.


    It was sent by Fang Fei, and the content was as follows:


    "If Xia Liu asks why I am returning home, just say you know nothing, or I will never come here again."


    "Sister Fang, why go through all this trouble? Even if you don''t return, what does it matter? Your happiness should be in your own hands¡­"


    Gazing out the window at the twinkling stars, Li Qinqin murmured to herself.


    Having made up his mind, Xia Liu quietly returned to his room, only to discover that Fang Fei was up and currently taking a shower in the bathroom.


    When she saw Xia Liu, Fang Fei beckoned him with a curl of her finger...


    A few hours later, Xia Liu was woken by the shrill ring of his cellphone.


    Only after answering did he find out it was from the engineering team, pertaining to the electrical wiring installation.


    Today, as soon as Li Zhong arrived at the office, he had people contact them, and with an order from Li Zhong, everyone immediately sprang into action.


    After watching the peacefully sleeping Fang Fei for a while, Xia Liu slowly got up and left.


    Not long after Xia Liu had gone, Fang Fei also opened her eyes, her pillow dampened by a wet patch...


    The new road leading to Osmanthus Village is now excellent, with the junction between the village and the main road less than five hundred meters from Pinglan Town.


    After arranging with the linemen, Xia Liu drove ahead, leading them.


    Installing the utility poles and electrical lines was a directive from higher up, so Xia Liu didn''t need to spend much money.


    Of course, certain expenses were necessary, mainly because he wanted to speed up the process.


    The linemen were also very enthusiastic, and well, this was something Li Zhong had personally decreed. With supervisors calling in from time to time to inquire, they dared not slack off.


    After surveying the route with the linemen, it was already noon, so Xia Liu invited them to have lunch at Longteng Hotel.


    However, Xia Liu was somewhat surprised when he had just parked his car.


    The employees inside the hotel immediately started running about in a panic.


    At the entrance, there stood a sign: Business Temporarily Suspended.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to call Fang Fei, those employees stepped out of the hotel and lined up to bow to Xia Liu, "Welcome, Chairman!"


    Xia Liu looked left and right, and only after a moment did he realize that these employees were addressing him!


    "Chairman?" The four linemen who had approached with Xia Liu were stunned.


    It turns out that it was the chairman of Longteng Hotel who had taken Xia Liu to inspect the construction site just now, which was truly an honor.


    In Hejing County, who doesn''t know what Longteng Hotel stands for? To be able to walk alongside the chairman now is simply a great fortune.


    "What about Fang Fei?"


    "The former chairman of Fang Fei has already left," a man in a suit said respectfully.


    "Left¡­" The last thing Xia Liu wanted to hear still happened.


    Fang Fei was gone, without giving Xia Liu a chance to retain her, for no reason at all.


    Xia Liu asked the hotel employees to prepare a table full of dishes first; Fang Fei had already left, and it was too late to make amends now, but life had to go on.


    Xia Liu had the man in the suit accompany some electricians to dinner, and he called Fang Fei immediately.


    Luckily, Fang Fei answered.


    "I think you should have returned to the hotel by now, if you''re reluctant to leave, just hold off for now, I will make time to come visit."


    "Sister Fang, you didn''t even let me see you off."


    "No need for that, if you really want me to come back, just manage the hotel well, don''t let my efforts go to waste."


    "That''s for sure¡­"


    "I''m about to board the plane, we''ll talk more later."


    "Alright, have a smooth journey."


    "Remember to think of me, Xia Liu."


    Remember, I will definitely think of you, Fang Fei¡­


    Since when had Xia Liu found Fang Fei''s words so captivating, lingering in his mind for a long time?


    Sitting in the chairman''s office of Longteng Hotel, Xia Liu lit a cigarette.


    He was not willing to let go so easily, so he made a call to Li Qinqin.


    This time Li Qinqin was not at home and immediately scolded him fiercely.


    Xia Liu wasn''t angry; he understood Li Qinqin''s feelings, just as he was feeling reluctant himself.


    Although the call didn''t reveal who that person was, he found out the city where Fang Fei was. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Hai City, one of the most renowned cities in Huaxia, second only to Yanjing.


    Binlai City was thousands of kilometers away from Liu Hai City, and Xia Liu couldn''t understand how Fang Fei had gotten there; Li Qinqin didn''t explain either.


    Knowing the address made Xia Liu feel much better. If that girl didn''t come over here in the future,


    he would go to Liu Hai, no matter what, since they had slept together, she should not think to escape from his clutches so easily.


    Returning to Hejing County, Xia Liu wasn''t very familiar with both Longteng and Longyun Hotels.


    Fortunately, Fang Fei had prepared some things before she left, with the most critical being the hotel''s manager.


    The man in the suit who had just accompanied the electricians for drinks was that manager, Ye Ming, who had been managing the hotel for three years.


    One could say he was extremely knowledgeable about all the major affairs of the hotel, and with him leading, Fang Fei believed Xia Liu would quickly take control.


    "Manager Ye, how much was your salary last month?" In the chairman''s office, Xia Liu poured a cup of tea for Ye Ming and asked.


    Ye Ming was very proper in his behavior, not daring to move or speak out of turn, especially since he wasn''t familiar with this new boss.


    So, he said timidly, "Not counting other benefits, it was fifteen thousand a month."


    "Fifteen thousand? Sister Fang was a bit too stingy¡­"


    "It''s not right to say that, given my limited abilities, fifteen thousand is considered a top-tier salary in this county," Ye Ming was a bit puzzled, not sure whether Xia Liu was being serious or sarcastic.


    He was sweating from his back already; there''s a saying that a new official makes his mark with three fires, and Xia Liu might just fire all the hotel''s staff¡­


    "Starting from next month, I will give you a salary of thirty thousand, and if the hotel''s earnings are good, there will be a bonus at the end of the month."

 Chapter 97 Reorganizing the Hotel

    "Thirty thousand!!!" At the mention of the salary Xia Liu offered, Ye Ming''s cup almost slipped from his grasp.Not only was there thirty thousand, but if profits were good, there would be a bonus at the end of the month¡ªthis boss was definitely a paragon of virtue.


    "Yes, I might not have time to manage the hotel in the future. You have been the manager here for three years, Sister Fang trusts you, and so do I."


    Xia Liu nodded, having just checked this guy''s information on the computer.


    Forty years old this year, owning an apartment in the county town, his wife working as a floor manager in the hotel, with two sons.


    The eldest son was studying abroad, the younger one was in high school, and he was honest, straightforward, with a fair amount of experience.


    How could Xia Liu let talent like this slip away? Of course, he wouldn''t go, because he needed this job to deal with life''s challenges.


    "Thank you, Chairman, thank you, Chairman!" Ye Ming didn''t know what else to say.


    The surprise had come too suddenly, and he had forgotten the prepared speech he had put together.


    "No need to be so formal, Manager Ye. I will need you to familiarize me with the hotel," Xia Liu said without any airs of superiority, speaking about work as if with a good friend.


    Ye Ming relaxed a lot, first taking Xia Liu on a tour of the various departments of Longteng Hotel, checking out the rooms and the lobby.


    After getting a fair understanding, Xia Liu asked Ye Ming to gather the existing staff in the lobby on the first floor.


    In less than five minutes, the first-floor lobby was filled with several rows of people.


    From Ye Ming, Xia Liu learned that the total number of employees in various departments came to one hundred and ten, and the monthly payroll was around three hundred thousand.


    In terms of salary, Xia Liu wasn''t too concerned since he knew the enormous profits from Osmanthus Chicken; half a day''s sales could cover the employees'' salaries for a month.


    "Hello, Chairman!"


    The employees greeted Xia Liu following Ye Ming''s example, and among the crowd, there were mostly women who were intensely curious about Xia Liu.


    After all, Xia Liu was much younger than the previous chairman.


    "Hello, everyone, my name is Xia Liu." He introduced himself, and noticing the confusion on the employees'' faces, he quickly clarified, "Xia as in summer, Liu as in the flow of a stream."


    "Pfft..."


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s explanation, some of the girls couldn''t help but giggle behind their hands.


    Before Ye Ming could speak up to control the scene, Xia Liu preempted by saying, "Hehe, I''m pleased to meet all of you. Since it''s my first day taking over here, I don''t know your names yet, but I believe I will remember them in the future."


    "I''ve gathered you all here mainly to talk about two things."


    "First thing, on top of your existing salaries, everyone will get an additional thousand yuan."


    Wow!!!


    News of the raise stirred intense excitement among the crowd.


    Every face was alight with enthusiasm, and they all speculated about Xia Liu''s background¡ªhis first act was to increase salaries and even add a straight one thousand.


    In a small county town, this was absolutely major news.


    "Everyone, calm down and listen to the Chairman''s second piece of news," Ye Ming, who had expected the commotion, calmed the excited crowd after letting them enjoy the moment.


    "Don''t be nervous. As long as you do your job well, without delaying or inconveniencing our guests, you can do whatever you want."


    Seeing everyone bowing their heads after Ye Ming''s words, making the atmosphere a bit eerie, Xia Liu tried to lighten the mood.


    Once the atmosphere had picked up again, Xia Liu continued, "This second thing is quite interesting. Basically, what you did before is what you will continue doing. Everything will remain under Manager Ye''s supervision."


    "Yes!"


    A firm chorus of agreement erupted from the crowd.


    "Alright, that''s it for today. Everyone pack up and get ready to clock out; we''re officially opening for business tomorrow!"


    "Yay! Time to clock out!"


    "Hahaha, the chairman is the best!"


    "Yeah, I think I''m falling in love with the chairman!"


    "The chairman is so handsome!"


    Amidst everyone''s excitement, Xia Liu and Ye Ming quietly left for the parking lot.


    Looking at the several reserved parking spaces, Xia Liu''s eyes flickered a few times.


    Just yesterday, Fang Fei had transferred these cars to Zhang Xiaoxue, including a BMW 760.


    Xia Liu hadn''t forgotten that car; he had borrowed it when he went to the county government.


    Next to the BMW, there was also a Ferrari 458, and there was another Bentley for receiving guests!


    Seeing these cars, Xia Liu was shocked. He had thought Fang Fei would only transfer the BMW, not realizing that even the Ferrari and Bentley were included!


    Eyeing the Bentley, Xia Liu got an idea, picked up the keys from the security room, and got into the car.


    As a car for receiving high-level guests, driving the Bentley on the road was bound to create a sensation, turning heads at a two hundred percent rate.


    Unfortunately, before the Bentley could really pick up speed, they had already arrived at Longyun Hotel.


    The distribution of the two hotels was quite interesting: one was located outside the county town, and the other in the city center.


    Longyun should be called more of a restaurant since floors one through five were all dining tables, and there were very few rooms, less than five hundred.


    Like Longteng Hotel, Longyun was also closed today, which was Fang Fei''s instruction before she left.


    This was beneficial for Xia Liu to take over.


    Just like at Longteng Hotel, after introducing himself, Xia Liu immediately gave employees a raise.


    All the employees respected this good-looking and generous young boss.


    Even some of the younger girls who were experiencing the stirrings of romance entertained the thought of throwing themselves at Xia Liu.


    In the past few months, their salaries had been raised several times, and now even the servers were making four thousand yuan a month.


    Now that Xia Liu had added another thousand all at once, that made it five thousand yuan. Compared with some industrial provinces, that was quite a fortune in this small county town.


    Of course, with the higher daily customer traffic, there was more work for the servers to do. Luckily there were enough people on staff, or else they wouldn''t be able to manage.


    After all the employees had left, Ye Ming took Xia Liu on another tour of Longyun Hotel.


    In this place, Xia Liu had many memories, especially of the manager''s office.


    Stepping into the office, it felt like he was hallucinating, seeing Huang Xue''s silhouette reflected in his eyes.


    "I wonder how that Fairy is doing. She''s been gone so long without even a phone call..." Moved by the scene, Xia Liu found himself missing Huang Xue.


    "Chairman, I think you should hire another manager, so the hotel can be managed more meticulously."


    "That''s a good suggestion, I''ll leave the matter in your hands," Xia Liu replied. He didn''t want Ye Ming to be so tired, and since he wasn''t often at the hotel, it was impossible for Ye Ming to run both places by himself.


    "I was thinking that the legal representative on our hotel''s business license would be very suitable."


    "Are you talking about Xiaoxue?"


    Ye Ming nodded. He had seen Zhang Xiaoxue''s information when the new business license arrived at the hotel yesterday, and although he didn''t know what her relationship with Xia Liu was, to be listed as the legal representative, she must be significant.


    Plus, having Zhang Xiaoxue as the manager would be more trustworthy for Xia Liu than anyone else.


    Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 98 Ill Work Even Without Pay [Five Updates, Please Recommend]

    "Xiaoxue won''t do, but I have another candidate, just a bit inexperienced." Xia Liu straightforwardly rejected Ye Ming''s suggestion.In a place like a hotel, letting Zhang Xiaoxue, a girl with no experience in handling personnel, manage it would definitely be inappropriate.


    And besides, she has no experience at all; if Ye Ming were to lead her, he''d probably end up hurting himself.


    "Inexperience is no issue as long as the chairman trusts them," Ye Ming replied, very pleased.


    He had been quite worried before that if the person he brought in wasn''t right, he would definitely be responsible.


    Now that Xia Liu was choosing the person, even if they were foolish, he''d have to teach them.


    "Alright, let''s decide on that for now. I''ll go back and discuss it with her, and try to get her to come and learn from you."


    In fact, Xia Liu didn''t dare to make too many guarantees because the person he had in mind was Zhang Qing.


    If that girl preferred to stay in the village, he''d have to go back and discuss it, see what her personal wishes were.


    After chatting for a while, Xia Liu drove Ye Ming to the Longteng Hotel and then headed back in his BMW X6.


    Although a Bentley is prestigious, it''s also very low-profile; driving it back to the village would definitely result in severe damage.


    Before heading back, Xia Liu went to the mall to buy some fruit and also got some ingredients.


    He mentioned the situation to Zhang Xiaoxue over the phone, telling them not to wait for him for dinner, then he felt relieved and went to Zhang Qing''s place.


    "Oh dear, coming over is fine but bringing things? Why stand on ceremony with Sister like this?" Zhang Qing''s eyes gleamed as she saw Xia Liu coming in with bags.


    Although she said no, her body was very honest; she reached out to take the bags from Xia Liu''s hands, nearly bursting with joy inside.


    Xia Liu asked Zhang Qing to sit on the sofa, enjoy some fruit, and relax for a while.


    Under Zhang Qing''s puzzled gaze, Xia Liu washed the vegetables he had just bought and then went into the kitchen to start cooking.


    An hour later, Zhang Qing stared at the four dishes, rich in color, aroma, and flavor, unable to snap back to reality for a long time.


    "Good deeds with no apparent reason are either treachery or theft; tell me, what are you up to?" Zhang Qing asked sternly after coming to her senses.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t misunderstand; it''s just that you have been working hard recently. I came over to cook for you," Xia Liu said, feeling somewhat guilty. It turned out women were indeed sensitive creatures, immediately sensing his underlying motives.


    Zhang Qing stared at him for a good while but couldn''t figure out what Xia Liu was up to.


    So, she simply didn''t bother anymore, thinking she had been harassed by him many times already, so was there really anything to fear if he were to poison her in the food and kill her?


    After a satisfying meal, Zhang Qing sprawled on the sofa moaning, "Oh my, this food is too delicious, I''m doomed, I''ll need to diet again tomorrow."


    Watching Zhang Qing complain, Xia Liu resisted the urge to lecture her and sat down beside her.


    "Spill it, I know you''re up to no good; do you want Sister to do something?" Spotting Xia Liu keeping quiet while massaging her legs, she would be a fool to think he didn''t have any ulterior motives.


    "Sister Zhang, I''ve encountered a difficulty and need your help," Xia Liu said, seizing the moment with a bitter smile.


    "What is it? As long as I can do it, I won''t refuse, just like what we''re about to do soon."


    "About to do¡­" Realizing what Zhang Qing meant, Xia Liu became parched, but business came first, so he quickly said,


    "I''ve recently acquired two hotels and am in desperate need of a manager now. I want to ask Sister Zhang to go and manage the hotel as the manager."


    "You want me to be the hotel manager!" This news was too shocking, and Zhang Qing couldn''t take it, continuously drinking water from the cup on the table.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t worry, everything is arranged on my end. Someone will guide you through the work; it won''t take long for you to get familiar," Xia Liu quickly explained, fearing that Zhang Qing might not accept it.


    "It''s not that, I''m excited to go. It''s just, when did you buy two hotels?"


    Indeed, that was what astonished Zhang Qing. Two hotels are no small affair; when had he become so rich?


    "Oh, that. I just finalized the purchase yesterday. Here''s the thing..." Seeing Zhang Qing agree so readily, Xia Liu did not hesitate to briefly explain the deal with Beauty Mud and Longteng Hotel.


    "So Chairman Xia is that wealthy, huh? A young widow is seeking a sugar daddy."


    "Pfft!"


    Zhang Qing''s comment almost made Xia Liu spit blood, but luckily, his physique was strong.


    However, the shameful part was still shameful, so he didn''t try to suppress it and instead carried Zhang Qing into the room.


    Two hours later, Xia Liu quietly left.


    All arrangements for work were made, and first thing tomorrow morning he would drive Zhang Qing to the county, following Ye Ming''s advice, to seriously study and be capable of grasping the written knowledge in three days.


    To manage proficiently, a few months of hands-on experience is essential.


    Xia Liu was not worried about this, believing in Zhang Qing''s abilities. Managing a hotel should be no problem for her.


    The night passed without incident, and early the next morning, Xia Liu and Zhang Qing arrived at Longyun Hotel.


    Different from yesterday, by eight o''clock, many cars were already parked in front of Longyun Hotel, and several tables of guests were having breakfast in the lobby.


    "Wow! Xia Liu, don''t tell me this is the hotel you bought." Faced with the luxurious splendor of Longyun Hotel, Zhang Qing was astonished. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu nodded without saying a word and led Zhang Qing inside; along the way, the staff greeted him.


    Hearing the staff address Xia Liu as Chairman, Zhang Qing finally believed that he was indeed the boss here.


    Upon reaching what used to be Huang Xue''s office, Zhang Qing explored like she had opened a new world, praising everything she saw.


    "This place is amazing! Even without a salary, I''d love to work here!" Zhang Qing was so excited she almost couldn''t speak.


    Especially when she discovered that secret door, finding a round bed and a bathroom behind it.


    The round bed was the real gem; if one kneeled on the round bed facing the window, they could see a vast landscape.


    And with no buildings opposite, if she could spend stormy nights there with Xia Liu, it would definitely be thrilling.


    If Ye Ming hadn''t arrived at the office so soon, Zhang Qing might have taken the initiative with Xia Liu.


    When Ye Ming saw Zhang Qing, his gaze flickered a few times, and he stole several glances at Xia Liu, internally full of admiration.


    "Manager Ye, let me introduce you. This is Zhang Qing; she''ll be under your guidance these next few days."


    "Sister Zhang, this is Manager Ye Ming. Be sure to follow his lead and try to grasp hotel management quickly."


    After settling everything, Xia Liu introduced them to each other.


    After shaking hands and chatting, Ye Ming took Zhang Qing around the hotel.


    Zhang Qing was also a diligent person; she carried a notebook with her and anytime Ye Ming took her to a department and she couldn''t remember something, she would jot it down to study intensively later.


    She also wanted to learn quickly because that way, Ye Ming wouldn''t come over here, and she could find many excuses to lure Xia Liu to the office and then... hehehe.

 Chapter 99 Zhang Qings Trouble

    After finishing his tasks, Xia Liu drove to the agricultural market.He visited the same vendor from which he had previously bought young chicks. This time, Xia Liu purchased another twenty thousand chicks, along with some chicken feed.


    The store owner was full of admiration for Xia Liu, but clearly, supplying twenty thousand chicks all at once was not feasible.


    Xia Liu had no complaints, as there wasn''t enough space currently anyway. He had to go back and discuss with Li Zhi about renting a few more hilltops.


    The owner promised to sort it out within five days, and after settling the deal, Xia Liu went to buy protective netting.


    Due to the large quantity, he could only pay in advance and wait for Li Dazhuang to deliver oysters to Longyun Hotel, at which time he would come to load the netting and take it back.


    After all, autumn was coming, the weather was turning colder, and oyster dredging would definitely decrease significantly.


    If the hotel was to remain highly profitable, Osmanthus Chicken was an outlet.


    So now he felt that extensively raising Osmanthus Chicken would be a good use of resources come wintertime.


    Upon arriving in the village, Xia Liu immediately sought out Li Zhi, as the nearby hilltops were owned by Osmanthus Village.


    If it had been before, getting approval to rent them would surely require the consent of the entire village.


    Now, there was no one in Osmanthus Village who didn''t trust Xia Liu. Whenever he needed something, everyone was willing to help.


    Not to mention renting hilltops. The villagers present directly clamored about not charging Xia Liu any rent.


    Seeing how emotionally charged the crowd was, Xia Liu was not surprised.


    He absolutely intended to pay. He had thought about the villagers dredging oysters, and regardless of the amount, splitting the money among everyone evenly.


    Perhaps later, when there was another enterprise, he could use this arrangement to directly collaborate on shares. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, Xia Liu must give money to the village committee, and even more, as this money would eventually be distributed among the villagers.


    In the afternoon, when Li Dazhuang pulled the net back, everyone in the village lent a hand, striving to enclose the hilltops for Xia Liu.


    Li Zhi even called out, asking everyone to work another day tomorrow instead of dredging oysters.


    Everyone responded, but Xia Liu did not agree. Longyun Hotel was now his business, unknown to the villagers.


    If they did not dredge oysters, sales for the day would definitely drop, so they needed to dredge even more.


    Actually, the idea of Li Zhi and the others was simple, to earn less money for one day to help Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu understood everyone''s thoughts. He needed their help with his affairs, but they also needed to make money. Neither could be neglected.


    The next day, Xia Liu visited the store where he had previously talked about metal houses and discussed ten more units.


    With that, the arrangements for the Osmanthus Chicken were finally settled.


    When he had some free time afterward, Xia Liu always went into the mountains with a basket on his back, not forgetting the huge profit from Beauty Mud.


    Unfortunately, the various herbs needed for making Beauty Mud were always hard to find in sufficient quantities.


    That day, he had just called Liu Lanxin, who exploded: "Xia Liu, you jerk. You clearly agreed to come see me before I start school, and now there are only five days left. Where are you?"


    "Shoot!" Xia Liu had been so busy with the hilltops and the hotel that he had forgotten about this matter.


    "Girl, don''t worry. At the latest, I''ll be in front of you the day after tomorrow," Xia Liu declared firmly.


    "Hmph, you''d better move fast."


    "I will move fast. By the way, I''ll send the driver tomorrow to pick up the Beauty Mud that''s been accumulating for a few days. It should be enough to package a thousand boxes."


    "You''d better remember your promise," Liu Lanxin reminded him, not letting him forget.


    "Remember, remember, I''m busy here, gotta hang up."


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu breathed a deep sigh of relief.


    This was the first time he had encountered such a situation where the person he helped was getting angry with their benefactor.


    But what could he do, given the other party was a girl, and a very beautiful one at that? Even if he wanted to be angry, he couldn''t muster it.


    Seeing that it was still early, Xia Liu decided to go for a swim at the beach.


    Before leaving, his phone rang. It was Ye Ming calling.


    "Manager Ye, what''s the matter?"


    "It''s bad, Chairman. A man from out of town and his wife are causing a scene at Longyun with Manager Zhang. Manager Zhang also told me not to tell you."


    Hmm?


    Hearing Ye Ming''s urgent voice, Xia Liu knew the situation was grave.


    Zhang Qing had said herself that she hardly went out when she was younger. How could it be possible for someone from out of town to come to Hejing County and create a disturbance?


    "Manager Ye, is that man named Zhang Kuang?" Suddenly thinking of this, Xia Liu asked while starting his car.


    "It seems that''s the name. Chairman, should I call the police?" Ye Ming wasn''t sure either. The situation was very unfavorable for Zhang Qing, and the woman was pregnant; a fall would definitely be blamed on the hotel.


    "Don''t call the police yet. Wait until I get there. If that man dares to make a move, have the security hold him down. Just don''t kill him."


    After saying this, Xia Liu immediately hung up and sped off in his car.


    Zhang Kuang had the nerve to chase him to Hejing County. If Xia Liu didn''t teach him a lesson today, he wouldn''t take Osmanthus Village seriously.


    Actually, the situation wasn''t so severe. A few days ago, Xia Liu had crushed Zhang Kuang''s wrist, and he was still wearing a cast. How could he have the strength to cause trouble?


    Zhang Kuang''s return to Hejing County was at the instigation of Wu Lili''s father, Wu Mingde.


    Ever since Wu Mingde was fired from the company, he had continually sought out the general manager.


    At last, the general manager told him that only Mo Wanqing could decide if he could return to the company.


    Unwilling to give up, the general manager then told him that the young man in the mall that day might make Mo Wanqing change her mind.


    Continue reading at empire


    So, Wu Mingde went home and laid into Zhang Kuang, ordering him to do everything possible to gain Xia Liu''s forgiveness.


    Zhang Kuang disclosed his relationship with Xia Liu, and Wu Mingde instantly gave him twenty thousand yuan, instructing him to go back to Osmanthus Village immediately to obtain Xia Liu''s forgiveness.


    As for Zhang Kuang''s ex-wife, Zhang Qing, Wu Mingde didn''t want to know anything. But Wu Lili was different.


    She cared a great deal about Zhang Qing and kept asking about her on the way. Out of desperation, Zhang Kuang had to reveal everything about Osmanthus Village.


    Zhang Kuang and Wu Lili had agreed that this trip was to apologize, and even if they saw Zhang Qing, they couldn''t get angry or anything else.


    Wu Lili said okay, but her heart had already exploded, and she remained silent throughout the journey.


    As fate would have it, as it was getting late, they decided to find a hotel to stay in.


    Little did they know they would encounter Zhang Qing, who was learning how to register at the front desk.


    Wu Lili remembered Zhang Qing. If it weren''t for her, her father and cousin wouldn''t have been fired.


    Moreover, she was extremely annoyed that Zhang Qing could be prettier than her and have such a good figure.


    So, a tirade began.


    "Zhang Qing, if it weren''t for you, my father wouldn''t have been fired. I think, being a receptionist in this kind of place suits you best. After work, you could also call guests in their rooms, asking if they need service. You''d probably earn more than your salary in tips, right?"


    Wu Lili looked at Zhang Qing with disdain.


    Knowing that Zhang Qing was Zhang Kuang''s ex-wife, she was already displeased, and seeing her work at the front desk, how could she miss any opportunity to humiliate her?

 Chapter 100 My Woman!

    "Some people must have eaten shit before leaving the house, their breath stinks so much..."Zhang Qing was very angry when she heard Wu Lili badmouth her.


    But looking at her twisted face and awkward figure, the anger dissipated.


    "You''re just a receptionist, what are you acting so high and mighty for? Believe it or not, I''ll have the manager here fire you!" When Wu Lili heard Zhang Qing cursing her indirectly, she exploded with rage.


    Wu Lili''s words made the reception staff laugh. If she wanted the manager to fire Zhang Qing, wouldn''t she be asking herself to do it¡­?


    "Quite interesting, huh? Just a few days ago, you asked the mall manager to kick us out, and what happened?" Zhang Qing almost gave herself an internal injury. Having the manager fire herself, she would have to fire herself?


    Some people, it''s bad enough they''re ugly, but their hearts can also be this ugly, truly the mortal world''s supreme-grade of ugliness.


    "You you you..." Wu Lili couldn''t come up with a single retort.


    "Zhang Qing, can you just say less? Lili is pregnant," Zhang Kuang finally couldn''t help but speak up from the side.


    "Ha ha, so what if she''s pregnant? Does that mean she can act unreasonably? Everyone in the whole world has to please her?" Zhang Qing laughed. She felt very sorry for Zhang Kuang. Others might not know, but didn''t she know?


    "Shut your mouth, hubby, rip this woman''s mouth apart for me!" Wu Lili couldn''t take it anymore; she hated it most when others accused her of being unreasonable.


    Not to mention, Zhang Qing had offended her in the past.


    "Zhang Qing, watch your mouth for me!" Zhang Kuang obediently burst out scolding.


    "Security, please escort these two out," Zhang Qing had no time for this nonsense; she had too many things to take care of.


    "What do you think you''re doing? A mere receptionist driving guests away, are you all blind?" As the security guards began to close in, Zhang Kuang and Wu Lili both started to scream.


    "We don''t need guests of your sort at Longyun Hotel." It was at this moment that Ye Ming appeared and spoke.


    "I suppose you must be the manager of this hotel, hiring a receptionist with such a poor attitude and who even drives away guests, I really wonder how you recruit your staff."


    "Yes, I am the manager of this hotel. Did you go deaf and not hear what I just said? We don''t welcome you here."


    Ye Ming''s retort was sharp, causing Wu Lili''s face to momentarily slacken in shock.


    Ye Ming, with many years of experience, was incredibly adept at reading people. Every time he saw Xia Liu and Zhang Qing together, their mutual glances said it all, so how could he not support Zhang Qing?


    "What a hotel, I''m not leaving today, what can you do to me!" Wu Lili, unable to retort, played the hooligan card outright.


    She stood there, turning circles with her belly out front as if to say, "if anyone dares to come forward, they''d have to ask the baby inside first."


    "Zhang Qing, I know you, my husband''s ex-wife, who suffers from infertility. Aren''t you ashamed? Thrown away by my husband, yet you still cling to his family''s home!" Recollecting everything Zhang Kuang had told her, Wu Lili spoke disdainfully.


    By saying this, she aimed to expose Zhang Qing''s true colors to everyone, making it impossible for her to stay here.


    Honestly, Wu Lili''s words did indeed cause a stir.


    Especially Ye Ming''s reaction; he had previously thought that Zhang Qing and Xia Liu were a couple.


    Now, if what Wu Lili said was true, something seemed off.


    "And then?" Zhang Qing was unfazed; indeed, the matter was true, and it was bound to be known by her colleagues sooner or later.


    "And you, Fairy, can''t have children; no one will ever want you for a lifetime. The only things that will accompany you are cucumbers and eggplants!"


    "Lili, don''t be angry, be careful with the baby." Zhang Kuang held Wu Lili back, not daring to let her get too angry, lest it harm the baby.


    "Who told you I can''t have children! Don''t think you can fool everyone. Zhang Kuang, ask yourself, is the child in that freak''s belly yours?" Zhang Qing''s face changed, and the two girls beside her felt a chill. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They knew Zhang Qing was angry; no woman could tolerate such humiliation.


    "What are you saying! The child in my belly is indeed my husband''s, not like you who can''t have children as if you were a stone!" Wu Lili panicked, and if Zhang Kuang hadn''t been holding her back, she would have rushed up to tear Zhang Qing apart.


    Zhang Qing didn''t reply, and the surroundings quieted down, with everyone''s attention focused on Zhang Kuang.


    At that moment, Zhang Kuang had his head lowered, his expression somewhat dark; no one knew what he was thinking.


    "Zhang Kuang, I advise you to take your wife and leave immediately, or I can''t guarantee who will be mocked!" Your next chapter awaits on empire


    "Zhang Qing! You''re seeking death, believe it or not, I''ll beat you to death!" With Zhang Qing''s provocation, Zhang Kuang violently lifted his head, his eyes vaguely showing bloodshot lines.


    "Right! Husband, beat her to death! Our child just got scared by her." Seeing Zhang Kuang getting angry, Wu Lili encouraged him from the side.


    "You want to hit me? I''m asking you, on what grounds! For eight years, to help you keep this secret, I was misunderstood by the entire world!" Zhang Qing became agitated; she trembled as she stood up from the chair, her eyes sharply fixed on Zhang Kuang.


    "If you dare to reveal it, I''ll kill you today!"


    "Hmph! Today I''ll tell the truth: you, Zhang Kuang, suffer from congenital atrophy, and you can''t even consummate the marriage!" Zhang Qing scoffed.


    As her words fell, the whole place went silent.


    Suddenly, everyone remembered the most unimaginable thing: Wu Lili!


    If Zhang Kuang couldn''t consummate, then how did she get pregnant? Could it be that besides Zhang Kuang, someone else laid their hands on this ugly woman?


    Everyone present had their worldview flipped upside down; even with the lights turned off, one could still sense Wu Lili''s awkward figure¡ªjust how desperate would someone have to be to go for her?


    Wu Lili stood there like a soulless puppet, afraid.


    She thought that this secret would never be discovered by Zhang Kuang, yet it was uncovered even before the child was born.


    "Zhang Qing, I''ll kill you!" At that point, Zhang Kuang was at the peak of his rage.


    He had been with Zhang Qing in the past to cover up his inability to have children. In return, he worked outside and sent money back every month for Zhang Qing''s living expenses.


    And yet, his collaborator exposed the secret today; how could Zhang Kuang bear it!


    Seeing Zhang Kuang running madly toward Zhang Qing, the security guards were shocked. By the time they reacted, Zhang Kuang was only a step away from Zhang Qing!


    "Ah!" Zhang Qing screamed in fright, closing her eyes tightly.


    But after waiting for a long time, she still didn''t feel any pain, so she slowly opened her eyes.


    Only then did she see that, at some point, a broad figure had already stood in front of her.


    "My woman, even the Emperor cannot bully!" A cold voice emanated, as Xia Liu raised his head and stared at Zhang Kuang, a tremendous killing intent instantly enveloping the latter.


    Zhang Kuang''s eyes widened; he felt as though he had plunged into an ice cellar, surrounded by the aura of death.

 Chapter 101 Compensation Would Be Too Simple

    ```"Ah!" The next second, Zhang Kuang''s agonized howl reverberated throughout the entire hall.


    Everyone saw that the arm Zhang Kuang had lifted was twisted beyond recognition. Once Xia Liu let go, it hung limply at his side. Experience tales at empire


    In less than a second, Zhang Kuang''s arm was rendered useless!


    Everyone involuntarily inhaled sharply. Everything happened so fast that they had not even had time to react.


    "Husband, how are you?" Wu Lili, tears streaming down her face, ran to Zhang Kuang''s side. She was scared. Only now did she realize just what kind of person she had provoked.


    By then, Zhang Kuang could no longer speak. The pain from his arm spread throughout his body as he bit down hard on his teeth, trying to stay conscious.


    But ultimately, he couldn''t hold on and fell unconscious, while Wu Lili wailed miserably, as if her father had died.


    Xia Liu turned around, took the still dazed Zhang Qing upstairs, leaving the mess in the hall for Ye Ming to handle.


    It was only when Xia Liu''s figure was no longer in the hall that people began to regain their senses gradually.


    They were all sweating from fear. They had never seen the chairman like this before.


    Worth mentioning also were the girls, each of them gazing with infatuated eyes.


    The words Xia Liu had spoken dominated their thoughts: "My woman, even the Emperor himself can''t bully!"


    They were incredibly envious of Zhang Qing, because she was Xia Liu''s woman.


    Looking at the unconscious Zhang Kuang on the ground, Ye Ming called the emergency center.


    At the same time, Wu Lili was calling the police station. Ye Ming didn''t stop her.


    What kind of person was Xia Liu? During the last gathering, even Li Zhong had come over to help out. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Basing on what happened today, Zhang Kuang was definitely going to be at a loss in the end.


    Inside the office of the Longyun Hotel''s manager, Zhang Qing sat on the sofa, her head bowed low.


    Beside her, Xia Liu watched her quietly, his eyebrows occasionally knitting together tightly.


    When Xia Liu received the call from Ye Ming, he had rushed over quickly. He had heard every word between Zhang Kuang and Zhang Qing without missing a single one.


    It was precisely because he had heard that he was baffled.


    If it was true that Zhang Kuang and Zhang Qing had entered into a marriage as a transaction to conceal the fact that Zhang Kuang was impotent, did that not mean that he was Zhang Qing''s first man...


    "Do you feel very surprised?" After a long silence, Zhang Qing asked in a weak voice.


    "It is a surprise, but knowing you were fine, why did you still go to the hospital to get checked and give me the papers at the time?"


    "At that time, I felt I owed Zhang Kuang a favor; doing these things seemed normal. But I didn''t expect you to be so powerful..." By the end, Zhang Qing''s voice became very faint.


    "I want to know, why did you agree to help Zhang Kuang back then, sacrificing your own reputation to cover for him?" This was what Xia Liu could not understand the most.


    Zhang Qing was clearly beautiful, and great in every aspect; how could she have agreed to help Zhang Kuang?


    "That year, my mother was seriously ill. Her last wish before she died was to see me get married, so..."


    "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have made you recall these things." As soon as Zhang Qing mentioned this, Xia Liu was filled with a sense of guilt.


    "You don''t have to be like this. I have come to terms with it. Actually, having this relationship with Zhang Kuang was good in a way. The men who pursued me in the past also disappeared. I''ve had many years of peace, and as compensation, Zhang Kuang gives me money to spend every month."


    "May I ask a question I probably shouldn''t? In the sea with me, that should have been your first time. I didn''t hurt you, did I?" Xia Liu felt somewhat guilty. He had thought Zhang Qing was an experienced woman at the time.


    The truth, now known to him, was that she had been a virgin. Xia Liu still clearly remembered that in the sea, he had nearly used all his strength.


    ```


    "It doesn''t hurt that much, probably because I enjoyed it too much." As she spoke of this topic, Zhang Qing''s cheeks were tinged with a blush.


    Who says it doesn''t hurt? She just didn''t want Xia Liu to feel guilty about her.


    She was grateful that it happened in the water; otherwise, it might have stained an entire bed with blood plum blossoms.


    "Hehe." Xia Liu didn''t know what to say, feeling utterly ashamed that this had happened to him.


    If he had been more attentive at the time, perhaps he would have noticed Zhang Qing trembling with pain.


    Of course, the seawater was a significant factor. It was only because he was too hasty at the time. If it had been on a pristine white blanket, he would never have been so rough.


    "I can sense that you feel a bit guilty."


    "Yes, you must have been in great pain at that moment, and for my rudeness, I apologize. I don''t know how to make it up to you..."


    "Making it up to me is simple. Just check out the compartment in the closet, and then you know..." Zhang Qing let out a sly chuckle, her face wearing a seductive smile.


    Gurgle...


    Xia Liu swallowed hard. This wasn''t compensation; it was an outright seduction!


    Just as he was about to make a move, the mobile phone on the table rang.


    At such a critical moment, Xia Liu didn''t want to answer the call, but curiosity made him glance at it¡ªLi Qinqin was the caller.


    A sense of foreboding grew in his heart. He walked to the window with his phone and saw several police cars parked at the hotel entrance.


    "Hey hey, why is Li Qinqin here..." If it were any other time, facing that girl might not pose any problems.


    But now it was different. He had just disabled Zhang Kuang''s arm, and with Li Qinqin still fuming over Fang Fei''s departure, she probably wouldn''t give him a warm welcome.


    "Who is Li Qinqin?" Noticing something off about Xia Liu''s expression, Zhang Qing asked weakly.


    "Hey, head of the police department."


    "Is she downstairs?"


    Xia Liu nodded. With police cars at the door and Li Qinqin calling him, it would be hard for her not to be downstairs.


    "Hehe, then you better go handle it. I''ll wait for you so we can shower together."


    "I''ll be right back!" Xia Liu ran out of the office, unable to wait.


    In the lobby, a large group of police had secured the scene. Li Qinqin, after inspecting Zhang Kuang''s injuries, had him taken to the hospital by ambulance.


    "Officer, that man tried to murder my husband," Wu Lili accused, sobbing and pointing at Xia Liu.


    "Don''t be too sad; your husband only has a shattered hand bone, he''s not in life-threatening danger."


    While comforting Wu Lili, Li Qinqin pondered what kind of fight could have completely shattered all the bones in Zhang Kuang''s arm.


    "Little Wu, is the surveillance footage ready?" Before Xia Liu arrived, Li Qinqin planned to review the incident.


    "Three more minutes," a young police officer with glasses said as he adjusted the computer at the reception.


    "Good, if Xia Liu doesn''t show up within three minutes, we''ll take down the hotel''s sign!" Li Qinqin said coldly.


    "Officer, don''t be angry; I''ll call the chairman again." Hearing the threat to the hotel''s license, Ye Ming didn''t expect Li Qinqin to be so serious and hurriedly dialed Xia Liu''s number.


    But just as he was about to dial, Xia Liu walked out of the elevator.

 Chapter 102 The Person Who Saves the Day

    "Officer Li, do you need to be so impulsive? I haven''t done anything.""You haven''t done anything? You''ve shattered someone''s arm! Just wait, today I''m going to take down the hotel''s sign!" Li Qinqin angrily said.


    "Officer Li, you must stand up for my husband, it was him who crushed my husband''s hand!" Seeing Xia Liu''s indifferent face, Wu Lili cried sorrowfully while pulling on Li Qinqin.


    "Don''t be so agitated first, as long as the evidence is solid, I will give you a satisfying explanation." Li Qinqin glared at Xia Liu, her heart filled with extreme fury, this guy even bullies pregnant women, he''s simply inhuman.


    "Captain Li, the questioning is over, the testimony from the service staff is all here." Just at this moment, an officer handed a few documents to Li Qinqin.


    Li Qinqin roughly scanned through a few pages, and her eyebrows gradually knitted together.


    The statements from the hotel staff were all very similar, saying that Wu Lili and Zhang Kuang had entered the hotel and started insulting Zhang Qing, and they were very vicious.


    As for why they fought, it was because Zhang Kuang wanted to hit Zhang Qing, and Xia Liu appeared in time.


    And about the part where the fight started, everyone was unanimous; they all said Xia Liu only grabbed Zhang Kuang''s arm.


    And then there was nothing after that.


    "Captain Li, this testimony should be true. We rushed over at the first opportunity, they didn''t have time to fabricate anything," the officer whispered beside Li Qinqin.


    Li Qinqin became even more troubled, everyone said that Xia Liu only grabbed Zhang Kuang''s wrist.


    Just that alone definitely wasn''t enough to convict him of intentional injury.


    Now, the only evidence was to wait for the surveillance to be retrieved, Li Qinqin also didn''t believe that just grabbing a wrist could shatter the bones of the entire arm.


    "Captain Li, the surveillance footage is ready!" Just as Li Qinqin was anxious, the officer operating the computer called out.


    "Tsk tsk, Xia Liu, you just wait!" Dropping a sentence, Li Qinqin quickly ran to the computer.


    "Chairman, we won''t have a problem, right?" Ye Ming was very anxious, after all, Li Qinqin was being too serious.


    "Manager Ye, rest assured, we won''t have any problem at all," Xia Liu said confidently.


    Even if Li Qinqin watched the surveillance footage, so what? He only grabbed Zhang Kuang''s wrist.


    Indeed, after Li Qinqin watched the footage, she was unable to utter a word.


    The situation at the scene was just like the testimonies, with Zhang Kuang initiating the violence, and Xia Liu only grabbing his wrist to prevent him from hitting Zhang Qing. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xia Liu, I am arresting you now for the crime of intentional injury." However, Li Qinqin didn''t want to let the matter rest so easily; she wanted Xia Liu to pay the price. If it weren''t for him buying the hotel, Sister Fangfei wouldn''t have returned so soon.


    "Officer, this isn''t proper. The chairman was merely defending himself. If it''s really intentional injury, that man should be the one you are after!" Ye Ming was not willing to give in, voicing his disagreement excitedly.


    "Exactly, that man is the criminal. He wanted to hit our manager, and the chairman was just defending him!"


    "It''s unfair, why take the chairman away!"


    ...


    The service staff at the scene all spoke out, clearly, it was Zhang Kuang who started it, how could they take Xia Liu away?


    "Officer Li, you''ve seen the surveillance, you''ve got the testimonies, I just want to ask, what''s wrong with me protecting hotel staff?" Xia Liu said, his eyebrows sharp, revealing an extremely serious demeanor.


    "What do you mean, nothing! If it wasn''t for you, how could Sister Fangfei have returned so quickly? It''s all because of you!" Li Qinqin clenched her teeth tightly, her voice of grief and indignation reverberating throughout the entire hall.


    All those present were shocked, except for the hotel staff, no one else recognized Fang Fei.


    Wu Lili was even more confused, unable to grasp what was happening, but one thing was certain¡ªLi Qinqin had grievances against Xia Liu!


    "Officer, he is a bad man. My father was fired from his company because of him, and my cousin too. Please help my family get justice!"


    "You''re pregnant; try not to get too emotional. I know all about the situation. Go to the hospital and see your husband." Li Qianqian really wanted to get angry with Wu Lili. The surveillance footage and testimonies were clear, and she knew what kind of person Wu Lili was.


    But she couldn''t lose her temper with a pregnant woman¡ªtoday''s target for retribution was Xia Liu!


    Wu Lili lowered her head and stood there in silence, thinking about how her family had suffered because of Xia Liu, vowing revenge against him at all costs! Continue reading at empire


    However, a person who completely dashed Wu Lili''s hopes appeared.


    At the hotel''s main entrance, several people rushed in hastily.


    "Qianqian, what are you doing! Are you trying to infuriate me to death?" Before the person arrived, his sharp voice already pierced the surroundings.


    When everyone turned to look, it was Li Zhong!


    "Dad! Why are you here?" Li Qianqian felt somewhat guilty. Her father had been lecturing her these past few days, and it wasn''t Xia Liu''s fault that Fang Fei had left.


    "If I didn''t come, you''d already be causing havoc!" Li Zhong was very angry. He might tolerate his daughter''s obstinacy in other matters,


    but he could not endure her unreasonable behavior regarding Xia Liu.


    "Brother Liu, it''s my fault. I should have kept a closer eye on this girl." After making Li Qianqian bow her head in admonition, Li Zhong approached Xia Liu with an embarrassed expression.


    This address as "Brother Liu" stunned everyone present.


    Especially the hotel staff, who at this moment realized that this young chairman was on brotherly terms with Li Zhong.


    Before coming to Hejing County, Wu Lili heard about it from Zhang Kuang, so she knew Li Zhong''s identity.


    When Li Zhong spoke with Xia Liu, she realized that she had lost this battle and had paid far too much as a consequence.


    "Officer Li, what are you saying? Qianqian is also upset about Sister Fang''s departure, and I can understand that," Xia Liu replied with a calm smile, inwardly musing, "Am I not reluctant too...


    "Hehe, I''m glad you can understand Qianqian. Let''s do this¡ªtoday, I''ll be the host and we''ll have a sit-down."


    "How could I? This is my territory, Officer Li. If you wish to be the host, I''ll come to your home some other time to sit down. Then you''ll be the host."


    "Hahaha... Then I won''t be polite." Li Zhong was all smiles. Before he arrived, he thought Xia Liu would be angry, but it seemed he had worried needlessly.


    "Qianqian, hurry up and deal with this matter, I''ll have more to say to you when you get back."


    "Oh..."


    "Manager Ye, cooperate with Officer Li, and by the way, go to the hospital and take care of Zhang Kuang''s medical bills. Even if he came here to stage an accident [seek compensation], we''ll swallow this outcome."


    Li Zhong and Xia Liu both gave directions, and then a group of people took the elevator up to a private room on the upper floor.


    As Xia Liu and her father laughed and walked away, Li Qianqian bit her lip, gestured for everyone to leave, and took the dazed Wu Lili with her.


    Ye Ming also cooperated with Li Qianqian to handle back the situation, leaving behind a bunch of onlookers in the hotel lobby, along with the astonished staff.


    In the hotel''s private room, Xia Liu asked Li Zhong, who was slightly intoxicated, "Officer Li, is there a problem with Sister Fang''s family? Why did she leave in such a hurry?"

 Chapter 103 Pretending to be a Boyfriend

    "As for that, I''m not too clear either, it must be some urgent family matter," Li Zhong replied cautiously."Hmm, of course, she had to go back for a family issue, fulfill her duties as a child. Let''s have a drink for Li County," Xia Liu said, lifting his glass to continue drinking with Li Zhong.


    After sending Li Zhong off, Xia Liu couldn''t help but shake his head.


    To get the information about Fang Fei, he still had to go through Li Qianqian.


    He needed to find the right opportunity to ease the tension between him and Li Qianqian; otherwise, that girl would never be honest with him in her life.


    Lost in these thoughts, Xia Liu had arrived at the entrance of his office.


    A while ago, he had texted Zhang Qing, telling her not to wait up for him and to go to sleep if she was tired.


    But when he pushed the door open, Zhang Qing was resting her head on the office desk, and the sound of the door opening startled her awake.


    "Are you done with your work?" Zhang Qing''s eyes were hazy as she looked at Xia Liu, a relieved smile on her face.


    "Yeah, you''ve worked hard too. Go wash up and sleep," Xia Liu said, gazing tenderly at Zhang Qing.


    This girl had suffered too much: she had married Zhang Kuang in a sham marriage to spare her mother from worry, sacrificing her own reputation.


    Carrying the stain of being married all this time, her psyche must have endured a lot.


    "Yes, I''m going to sleep, but before that, hehehe¡­" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Qing let out a mischievous laugh as her clothes began to fall off one by one to the floor¡­


    The next morning, Xia Liu woke from his sleep and looked at the sleeping beauty beside him.


    He didn''t disturb her, gently kissing her charming face before quietly getting up.


    Remembering everything that happened last night, Xia Liu went to find Ye Ming to get an update and then he felt somewhat relieved.


    Zhang Kuang had been taken care of, and it was still questionable whether he could leave the sickbed within a week.


    Things were relatively stable with Li Qianqian, which meant Xia Liu could go to Binlai City with peace of mind.


    Before that, he went back to Osmanthus Village and assigned some tasks to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    To prevent Zhang Kuang from causing trouble when he returned to the village, he specifically instructed Li Zhong not to bother with him as long as he didn''t disrupt Osmanthus Village affairs.


    Xia Liu also checked on the construction project, and everything was operating normally.


    It was worth mentioning that in another three days, the cable television would likely be able to reach the village and then everyone would get to enjoy digital and network TV.


    Thinking that it had been a long time since he''d driven the Ferrari that Fang Fei left behind, Xia Liu went straight from the hotel and drove it away.


    An hour later, a Ferrari 458 roared down the streets of Binlai City. Find exclusive stories on empire


    Xia Liu called Lan Xin, and she told him to come to her house first.


    When he arrived, Liu Lanxin and Liu Buyi were waiting, the simplistic dishes on the table reflecting the old man''s light taste.


    "Xia Liu, you''re here." Liu Buyi greeted him with a beaming smile as he stood up.


    "Hehe, old man, you''re here too."


    "Well, Lan Xin said you were coming, so I came back from the pharmaceutical plant."


    ¡­


    Xia Liu didn''t know what to say, but with Liu Buyi there, Lan Xin probably wouldn''t lose her temper with him.


    After lunch, Liu Buyi slowly spoke, "Xia Liu, I''ve heard you''ve bought two hotels in Hejing County."


    "Grandpa, this guy has billions. Buying two hotels is nothing," Lan Xin knew very well about Xia Liu''s wealth, as she had been handling the money from the Beauty Mud.


    "Yes, after all, finding wild herbs is too difficult. If we don''t invest in other industries, we''ll be eating dirt in a few years."


    "Pfft¡­ Haha, you''re quite a character, Xia Liu, I like you." Even Liu Buyi was amused by Xia Liu''s remark and after thinking for a bit, he continued, "Do you have a girlfriend, Xia Liu? My granddaughter is studying at Binlai University, she''s a good kid¡­"


    "Grandpa! What are you talking about? I don''t want him to be my boyfriend," Liu Lanxin interrupted Liu Buyi with an indignant roar.


    "You girl, whether Xia Liu wants you or not is another matter," Liu Buyi said disdainfully looking at Liu Lanxin.


    ...


    Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin were both nursing their internal wounds and inadvertently exchanged glances, causing Liu Lanxin''s face to gradually redden.


    "Old man, I believe, as a man, one should prioritize his career," Xia Liu tactfully said to spare Liu Lanxin any embarrassment.


    "Haha, not a bad thought, but remember to keep a spot open for my granddaughter."


    ...


    "Grandpa, didn''t you say that Uncle had some urgent matter to discuss with you? Go check on that," said Liu Lanxin, not daring to listen any further. If the conversation escalated further, she feared it might even lead to him suggesting she be Xia Liu''s little wife.


    "Alright then, you young people chat. I''ll be off."


    "Xia Liu, don''t listen to my grandpa; he''s just feeling restless and looking for someone to talk to." Once Liu Buyi had left, Liu Lanxin pouted and spoke leisurely.


    "I know, to not let the old man down, I didn''t bring up my girlfriend," Xia Liu responded.


    "What! You have a girlfriend already?" Liu Lanxin was shocked.


    "Is there a problem with that?" Xia Liu asked with an innocent expression.


    "No problem, it''s just that I have a little favor to ask you, and I am worried she might misunderstand if you have a girlfriend," Liu Lanxin swiftly regained her composure and explained.


    "Oh, that''s fine, what do you need help with?"


    "Pretend to be my boyfriend and accompany me to a classmate gathering."


    "A classmate gathering?" Xia Liu asked thoughtfully, "What does that have to do with having a boyfriend?"


    "Don''t you know about my charm? Having a boyfriend means I can avoid a lot of hassles at school," Liu Lanxin said confidently, puffing up her cheeks.


    "Pfft! Got it, got it, when does it start?" Xia Liu chuckled.


    But honestly, even without using Beauty Mud, this girl is top-notch beautiful. Now, based on her previous score, it''s a must for someone to confess to her if a few more points were added.


    "Tonight at seven o''clock at Liusu Wanqing Grand Hotel."


    "Hmm, that leaves us with two hours, do you want to get ready?" Xia Liu glanced at the time; it was quickly approaching seven.


    "I need to get ready, and so do you." Liu Lanxin looked Xia Liu up and down and sighed.


    Xia Liu was currently dressed in casual sportswear, entirely unsuitable for a formal gathering. If he went like this, he would certainly be mocked by his classmates.


    "I''ll pass on that. I came here in a sports car; that should show off my strength, right?"


    ...


    "Forget it, you''re the one who will be embarrassed," Liu Lanxin fell silent and asked Xia Liu to wait here before she ran back to the villa.


    However, this wait turned out to be over an hour for Xia Liu.


    But it didn''t matter; who could blame him when Miss Liu Lanxin was so pretty?


    Liusu Wanqing Grand Hotel is considered the most luxurious hotel in Binlai City. Liu Lanxin mentioned that a rich classmate was treating them tonight, otherwise she wouldn''t have the chance to enter such a high-class hotel.


    At this Xia Liu was dumbfounded; she didn''t qualify, yet Tianluo Pharmaceutical, owned by the Liu Family, is among the top in Binlai City and even in the province.


    It could only mean that this girl was too thrifty. Such a girl was not bad at all; Xia Liu was almost moved.

 Chapter 104 Elder Brother Love

    Half an hour later, the Ferrari slowly drove into the Liusu Wanqing Grand Hotel.Even though this hotel was the most luxurious in the city, the arrival of a car like the Ferrari still caused quite a stir.


    "What''s the matter, feeling shy?" Inside the parking lot, Xia Liu couldn''t help but tease seeing that Liu Lanxin was reluctant to get out of the car.


    "Shy my foot, if you blow our cover, I absolutely won''t let you off," Liu Lanxin clenched her teeth tightly, throwing down a fierce threat before quickly getting out of the car.


    Alright.


    "What?" Seeing Xia Liu extend his arm, Liu Lanxin asked in confusion.


    "Didn''t you say it yourself, boyfriend and girlfriend, should we go in one after another?" Xia Liu rolled his eyes. This girl had even reminded him not to screw up, yet here she was, almost giving them away before they even got inside.


    Hmph...


    With a cold snort, Liu Lanxin stepped forward and hooked her arm around Xia Liu''s.


    And in that instant, her cheeks flushed red.


    The reason was simple, because after using the Beauty Mud, her cup size had increased by one.


    Experience tales with empire


    So without much attention, she bumped right into Xia Liu.


    At the same time, Xia Liu took in a few breaths of cool air and even started channeling the Five Elements Mantra.


    Liu Lanxin gave herself not only supernaturally softness but also brought a youthful fragrance to his breath.


    Schoolgirl!


    These three words lingered in Xia Liu''s mind.


    "Have you lost your mind? Get moving, don''t blow our cover," Liu Lanxin said, barely holding back the urge to rage, as she caught Xia Liu''s gaze drifting downward.


    "Er... er... er, don''t worry, I''ve got this," Xia Liu composed himself and followed Liu Lanxin into the elevator.


    Inside a private room called "Supreme" on the third floor of the hotel, the place was bustling with excitement.


    The room was huge, not only furnished with dining tables but also equipped with KTV amenities.


    The price for this room was astonishingly high, just reserving the room itself cost eighteen thousand, not including drinks and other expenses.


    A regular expenditure here would not be less than a hundred thousand yuan.


    At the moment, there were about thirty people in the room, with ten of them being males, one of whom wore a casual suit which clearly indicated wealth.


    Indeed, his name was Qin Xiao, the organizer of this gathering, and he was the host.


    Actually, Liu Lanxin''s class had more than thirty people, some didn''t come from within Binlai City, and others couldn''t make it from various counties.


    "Young Master Qin, do you think Liu Lanxin will come today?" a boy asked Qin Xiao.


    Everyone here knew Qin Xiao had a crush on Liu Lanxin, and this so-called gathering,


    was all for the sake of confessing to Liu Lanxin.


    "I don''t know, I''m not sure," Qin Xiao was very confident in his appearance; in the past, when he hit on girls with his Audi, the girls would literally jump in.


    However, only Liu Lanxin was impervious to his charm, and his confidence was almost completely shattered.


    "Oh man, I tell you, Young Master Qin will definitely succeed in confessing this time."


    "What are you talking about, it''s not just about a successful confession, but about a successful relationship."


    "Young Master Qin, you see I''m pretty too, why don''t you just take me?"


    ...


    Seeing Qin Xiao''s distressed look, the female classmates at the scene started to chatter and recommend themselves.


    They seemed to be joking around, but each was earnest in their hearts.


    They were envious of Liu Lanxin to the core.


    She could even reject a rich second generation like Qin Xiao; wasn''t that just inciting jealousy?


    "She''s here, she''s here, Liu Lanxin is here!" Just then, a classmate who was on the lookout in the corridor ran in shouting.


    "Haha, everybody quiet down, today is an important day for me," Qin Xiao said, his face breaking into an excited smile.


    The classmate originally wanted to say that Liu Lanxin came holding a man''s hand, but seeing how excited Qin Xiao was,


    he swallowed the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.


    Instead, the female classmates looked utterly depressed. With Liu Lanxin''s arrival, they were relegated to mere backgrounds, practically becoming air.


    The moment Liu Lanxin pushed the door open, Qin Xiao rushed forward with a bouquet of flowers, "My beautiful Miss Liu, welcome to grace us with your presence."


    After Qin Xiao finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.


    Because Liu Lanxin entered arm in arm with a man!


    Qin Xiao stared in shock, his hands trembling as he held the flowers.


    This level of awkwardness was enough to crown him the king of awkwardness among kings.


    Xia Liu felt his arm tense up, which he took as Liu Lanxin feeling nervous.


    When he saw Qin Xiao, Xia Liu understood everything.


    The "trouble" that girl mentioned wasn''t about the other students at school, but this classmate here.


    "Lan Xin, he''s your brother, right?" Qin Xiao reacted very quickly. He didn''t take the flowers back and deliberately tested Liu Lanxin.


    If he really was Liu Lanxin''s brother, then Qin Xiao would take the opportunity to make connections.


    If he could win over the brother, why worry about the sister not falling into line?


    The classmates present were amazed at how quickly Qin Xiao responded and admired his quick thinking.


    But most of them truly believed that Xia Liu was Liu Lanxin''s brother.


    How should it be put? Liu Lanxin lived a frugal life at school, dressing simply, just like today.


    She wore a dress that wasn''t outstanding, while Xia Liu was in casual sportswear.


    They stood out in this kind of upscale hotel, obviously not fitting in.


    "He''s not my brother, he''s my..."


    "This classmate has a good eye. I am Lan Xin''s brother. But you know, sometimes she calls me ''darling brother.''"


    Xia Liu cut in before Liu Lanxin could speak.


    "Damn!" At this moment, Liu Lanxin was about to explode, but the words that had been said couldn''t be taken back.


    She looked at Xia Liu with a forced smile and then lowered her head, biting down on her lip.


    She had already decided that once they were out of there, she would make sure he paid for this.


    Watching Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin act so intimately, all the classmates in the private room fell silent.


    Qin Xiao was undoubtedly the most flabbergasted, as Xia Liu''s response was quite nonchalant.


    But to his ears, it was like a ten-thousand-ton blow.


    "Alright, alright, friend, what should I call you?" Pretending to be friendly, Qin Xiao took back the bouquet during the conversation.


    "His name is Xia Liu, ''Xia'' as in summer. He''s a bit introverted, so keep your little scheming thoughts at bay and don''t bully my boyfriend," this time Liu Lanxin cut in before Xia Liu had a chance to respond.


    Xia Liu smiled slightly, amused that she labeled him as introverted¡ªthat was her way of telling him not to talk too much.


    Fine, he''d listen to her. After all, he was only here to play the role she needed him to.


    "Xia Liu, what a lewd name."


    "Tsk, tsk, our Binlai University''s campus beauty sure has taste, choosing a boyfriend named ''lewd.''"


    "You guys don''t get it. The name is perfect. You can tell right away he''s a rascal."


    Giggles...


    Because of a name, the female classmates roared with laughter.


    They felt they finally had one up on Liu Lanxin this time, not only for having a boyfriend with a lame name but also for his outdated attire.


    Furthermore, they arrogantly concluded that Liu Lanxin''s family must be poor, and so must be her boyfriend''s. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Heh, girls, no offense meant by the jokes. My name is Qin Xiao. My family runs a business. May I ask where you work, friend? If you''re unemployed, you could come to my company for a job," Qin Xiao offered while returning the bouquet to his side.

 Chapter 105 Drunk on a Sip of Red Wine

    ```Face-slapping, powerful face-slapping.


    Show off, powerful show off.


    Everyone anxiously turned to Xia Liu, eagerly anticipating how he would respond to Qin Xiao.


    "Oh my, a kindred spirit! Today''s visit was so worth it. I just got laid off, and if I didn''t have a job, Lan Xin would have had to pay for the hotel room again."


    Xia Liu excitedly grasped Qin Xiao''s hand with an expression of utmost sincerity.


    The silent slap felt oh so satisfying!


    Everyone, including Liu Lanxin, was shocked by Xia Liu.


    Within his words, he not only accepted Qin Xiao''s offer but also slapped him senseless in the process.


    What they call a poor guy turning around and nabbing a rich beauty.


    They''ve even gotten hotel rooms!


    And from the tone of it, it seemed like it was often Liu Lanxin who paid!


    "Can''t you speak less? Our classmates are here¡­" Liu Lanxin said to Xia Liu in a voice that was hardly quiet.


    Her emotion had become almost invariable, Xia Liu was shocking with every word he uttered.


    Since she allowed him to pretend to be her boyfriend, she had to silently endure all these consequences.


    "All right, all right, Lan Xin, don''t worry. Once I start working at your classmate''s company, I will definitely pay for the hotel room," Xia Liu assured her.


    The female classmates on the scene immediately raised their middle fingers, rolling their eyes at Xia Liu.


    What kind of person lets a woman pay for the hotel room?


    However, they were all delighted inside because Liu Lanxin ended up with a pauper who couldn''t even afford the cost of a hotel room!


    "Friend, let''s talk about work later. You may not have been to such a high-level hotel before, let''s go have something to eat together," Qin Xiao said indifferently.


    He had made up his mind, even if Liu Lanxin was Xia Liu''s girlfriend, even if they really had gotten hotel rooms together.


    He still wanted to pursue Liu Lanxin and play with her mercilessly.


    Just use her a few times before throwing her away!


    Before today, he might not have thought this way, but today was different.


    He noticed Liu Lanxin seemed even more beautiful than before, and her figure was better as well.


    How could he let such a woman slip away, even if she was ''second-hand''!


    And when it came to getting a room, he would turn the lights on and properly appreciate her face and figure as if they were drawn from a beautiful painting.


    Faced with the table of enticing dishes, Xia Liu remained indifferent; he had eaten too much with Liu Lanxin earlier and could not fit another bite, but the drinks were still appealing.


    "Friend, don''t be shy; eat as much as you want, I''m treating today," Qin Xiao said arrogantly, seeing Xia Liu not touching his chopsticks.


    "Hey, Lan Xin, tell your boyfriend not to be shy. Qin Xiao is treating today."


    "Yes, Qin Xiao''s family owns a company. This meal is only tens of thousands, not even as much as his daily pocket money."


    "Heh, everyone, please keep eating, Xia Liu and I already had some food, so don''t mind us. Go on," Liu Lanxin replied.


    "Lan Xin, what you''re saying is not right. You don''t often get the chance to come to such a high-level place, so don''t be shy."


    "Hehe, Lan Xin, I think your classmate is right. Don''t be shy about this kind of good opportunity," Xia Liu said with a faint smile, acknowledging Qin Xiao''s contemptuous gaze.


    "Heh, what an idiot and a pauper!" Seeing Xia Liu''s shameless grin, many classmates felt disdain.


    "If you like it, then eat. I''ll just have a drink," Liu Lanxin was speechless, this guy''s shamelessness was beyond expectation.


    ```


    "Yes, my dear wife!"


    Xia Liu nodded joyfully, then picked up his chopsticks and kept reaching for the seafood and the most expensive dishes on the table.


    He hadn''t wanted to eat them, but Qin Xiao kept provoking him¡ªto eat them out of house and home, acting like he really was some kind of rich second-generation.


    That "dear wife" nearly made Liu Lanxin spray the drink from her mouth.


    The other classmates were also shocked, and they each looked at Qin Xiao, offering him their sympathy.


    Qin Xiao''s face was already full of dark lines; he''d been holding back, but with a poor sod like Xia Liu, he had a hundred ways to snatch away Liu Lanxin.


    Seeing Xia Liu sweep through the dishes like a storm, the classmates sitting around the table all felt embarrassed, but thinking about Liu Lanxin, the school beauty, having such a boyfriend...


    The contradictions in their hearts dissolved, and they decided, in a few days when school started, to spread the story.


    Let the whole school see just how "diligent" the Binlai University school beauty was.


    "Friend, no need to eat so fast. If it''s not enough, we''ll order more. If you like, we can pack some to take home later," Qin Xiao said, his gaze drifting towards Liu Lanxin, curious about her reaction.


    In front of his girlfriend''s classmates, behaving like this was lacking in grace, just like a weirdo.


    But to Qin Xiao''s bewilderment, Liu Lanxin showed no emotion and even looked at Xia Liu with adoring eyes.


    This was freaking awkward...


    "Hehe, thank you so much, Lan Xin. Later, let''s take two big lobsters home. We can have a candlelit dinner, and order some rice so we can take care of tomorrow''s breakfast too."


    Xia Liu accepted Qin Xiao''s generosity without any hesitation. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Giggle, giggle..."


    These words made all the classmates laugh out loud, feeling pity for Liu Lanxin.


    How had she ended up with such an odd boyfriend? Several male classmates felt like a million alpacas were running wild in their hearts.


    Such a nice "cabbage" had been taken by a "pig"¡ªnot even a pig, more like mud!


    "Let''s not take any home. There''s some leftover rice at my place. If you''re still hungry, I''ll feed you when we get back. I''ll make sure you''re full," Liu Lanxin said through gritted teeth.


    "Forget it, forget it, then we won''t take anything home. Tomorrow I''ll come to your place for a meal." Seeing Liu Lanxin angry, Xia Liu toned it down a bit.


    This display of affection between the two was the last straw for Qin Xiao, and he called the waiter loudly to bring some wine.


    "Friend, what wine do you like to drink? Let the waiter bring it over," Qin Xiao said, trying to keep his composure as he asked Xia Liu.


    "I''m not picky about this, but I tend to get drunk easily with red wine, especially those that cost thousands of yuan per bottle. I haven''t craved that kind of drunkenness in a long time..."


    "Everyone doesn''t need to look at me like that; seriously, I''ve tried it a few times, it''s really good. If I could have some today..."


    Seeing the looks from the people around him, Xia Liu stopped speaking.


    "Haha sure! I''m the host today; don''t worry. Waiter, get my friend here a bottle of red wine that costs a few thousand," Qin Xiao said, quickly snapping back to the present.


    A few thousand for a bottle of red wine meant getting drunk easily¡ªthis was his chance.


    It was the perfect opportunity to showcase his generosity and great wealth in front of Liu Lanxin; after Xia Liu got dizzy, he''d let these classmates fan the flames.


    If he was lucky, he might be able to sleep with Liu Lanxin tonight!


    "Oh, thank you so much. Waiter, if possible, bring a bottle of ''82 Lafite too. My girlfriend likes it."


    ...


    Once again, everyone was thunderstruck. An ''82 Lafite¡ªthat''s almost a hundred thousand yuan per bottle!


    The classmates all rolled their eyes. Liu Lanxin liked ''82 Lafite? Whether she had even seen an empty bottle was another matter.

 Chapter 106 Wild Drinking

    Xia Liu''s smile also stiffened at this moment.This month, including tuition and living expenses, he only had a little over two hundred thousand.


    Just now, the meal might cost about one hundred thousand, and if he were to order a bottle of Lafite and some wine worth tens of thousands more...


    This card could possibly max out.


    Qin Xiao gritted his teeth, whether or not it was true, since Xia Liu said Lan Xin liked it, then he would order it!


    "Qin Xiao, you don''t have to listen to him, I don''t want to drink today," Liu Lanxin hardly wanted to lift her head, she could imagine those classmates staring at her.


    But as soon as she spoke, she felt something was off.


    Doesn''t this just indirectly prove that she likes drinking Lafite?


    "Lan Xin, it''s okay, if I had known you liked the ''82 Lafite, I would have ordered it earlier," Qin Xiao now could only play along.


    As long as they didn''t order any more expensive drinks, he could manage with a bit over two hundred thousand.


    "Lan Xin, quickly thank your classmate, he is really rich," Xia Liu didn''t give Liu Lanxin a chance to object and quickly thanked Qin Xiao.


    "It''s okay, we should order what Lan Xin likes, even if we don''t have the money, we should rob a bank or steal to buy it," taking advantage of Xia Liu''s words, Qin Xiao declared passionately.


    "Wow! Qin Xiao is really generous." Discover exclusive content at empire


    "Yeah, if he pursued me, I wouldn''t even think twice, I would definitely go with him."


    "Exactly, not like some people, who don''t even have money, let alone a job."


    "Right, look at what some people are wearing, they probably live in those low-rent houses, with a hundred a month for rent."


    "A hundred for rent is already expensive, it''s still a question whether they can afford that or not."


    ...


    Hearing her classmates'' mocking words, Liu Lanxin clenched her teeth and balled her hands into fists.


    Just as she was about to stand up and explain, Xia Liu grabbed her and gave her a calming look.


    "Don''t cause trouble for me!" Liu Lanxin whispered into Xia Liu''s ear, she had decided, if Xia Liu dared to smear her name again, she would ruin this gathering!


    Soon, the waiter brought in the beverages.


    Xia Liu was quick, he immediately opened that bottle of wine worth tens of thousands, and then blew into the bottle.


    This scene stunned everyone.


    In less than thirty seconds, the wine bottle was already empty.


    He then stared at the ''82 Lafite and with a lightning-fast move, opened it and started blowing into it too.


    "Oh my god! Big brother, do you even drink like that?"


    "The ''82 Lafite, just ruined like that!"


    "My goodness, there goes one hundred thousand!"


    Innumerable sarcastic voices echoed endlessly at the scene.


    Qin Xiao''s face turned from dark to purple, he clenched his fists tightly, struggling to restrain himself from beating up Xia Liu.


    Dammit, that was supposed to be for Liu Lanxin, and you just guzzled it down!


    "Heh heh, the wine is really good, I''m almost dizzy now, I''m going to the restroom for a bit," scanning around, Xia Liu said pretentiously.


    "The restroom is occupied, big brother, there''s one outside in the hallway. You should go there."


    "Alrighty, I''ll be right back."


    With that, Xia Liu left the private room. Well, what can we say.


    In just a few minutes, he drank one hundred thousand of Qin Xiao''s money, couldn''t be too brutal, better give him some time to talk with Liu Lanxin.


    There he was, standing in the hallway smoking a cigarette when Liu Lanxin texted him.


    "You bastard, if you dare to run, I will never let you off!"


    "Miss Liu, why would I run? Your classmate is so rich, I want to drink another bottle of wine worth a hundred thousand soon."


    "He doesn''t have much money, only running a little processing factory at home, what you''re doing isn''t right,"


    "My lady, you don''t seriously expect him to pay the bill, do you?" Actually, Xia Liu didn''t know the details about Qin Xiao either, thought he was all right, but now it seemed he''d have to pay for the meal himself after all.


    "Fine, then you''re paying for this meal, since you''re so rich, Boss Xia."


    "Ah, no! I didn''t bring my wallet today. I''m outta here first."


    "If you dare to run, I''ll go to Osmanthus Village tomorrow and let everybody see what a scumbag you are, getting a young girl pregnant without taking responsibility!" Liu Lanxin was so furious her lungs were about to explode, and Xia Liu still dared to run, she''d make sure he didn''t get away with it.


    "Oh my god, fine, you win, I''ll go inside after I finish my cigarette."


    Xia Liu didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. As the saying goes, better to offend a villain than a woman, otherwise, you wouldn''t even know how you died.


    After finishing his cigarette, Xia Liu went back into the private room.


    This time upon entering, he could clearly feel Liu Lanxin''s contemptuous gaze towards him.


    The disdain couldn''t be more obvious.


    Qin Xiao, on the other hand, remained unchanged, his eyes slightly squinted, always seeming to be smiling.


    Xia Liu knew that if you gave this guy a knife, he''d come at him in a minute.


    "Friends, let''s continue drinking, forget the wine, a real man drinks baijiu!" Qin Xiao signaled to a few male classmates.


    Qin Xiao had confirmed it: Xia Liu had clearly been messing with him earlier.


    All that talk about getting drunk on wine that costs thousands per bottle, bullshit.


    This time he wanted a few bottles of baijiu, and if Xia Liu dared agree, he and his classmates would drown him in it!


    "Qin Xiao, my boyfriend doesn''t drink wine, so you manly men can enjoy it by yourselves," Liu Lanxin interrupted, coming to the rescue.


    This time she didn''t care whether Xia Liu could handle baijiu or not.


    With Qin Xiao talking like that, he was definitely up to no good and she couldn''t let him succeed.


    "Hehe, Lan Xin is right, I generally only drink wine that costs thousands per bottle."


    "Damn it!" Qin Xiao wanted to curse openly, but he absolutely couldn''t reveal too much in front of Liu Lanxin.


    "Hehe, since our friend isn''t drinking, let''s not drink either; just going to sing some songs will suffice."


    "Hmm, that''s a good suggestion."


    "Singing can help sober you up, so to avoid a headache, let''s all go sing."


    "Oh yeah, I''ll go pick the songs!"


    ...


    Qin Xiao''s suggestion was met with applause from all the students present.


    Actually, all this was part of Qin Xiao''s plan.


    While Liu Lanxin was on her phone earlier, he had been posting their next moves in a chat group with friends.


    If they continued drinking, damn, his card really would explode.


    Ring ring ring...


    Just as everyone was about to stand up to sing, Xia Liu''s phone rang.


    This sudden ringing broke the atmosphere, and the girls who were about to select songs stopped in their footsteps.


    It seemed like they were ready to mock Xia Liu again, depending on how he answered this call.


    Xia Liu initially wanted to take the call in the corridor, but glancing around and seeing everyone staring at him, he boldly answered.


    Because he saw the caller ID, it was Mo Wanqing. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aunt Qing, what''s up? You found time to call me?"


    "Look at you, already calling me Aunt Qing, can''t I call you whenever now?"


    "Hehe, you''re so busy, I was afraid of disturbing you."


    No sooner had Xia Liu finished speaking than those present burst into laughter.

 Chapter 107 She Seems Like One Person

    Busy with a myriad of tasks, yet still a brick mover.Moving ten thousand bricks a day.


    Liu Lanxin''s expression became grave; if Xia Liu called someone Aunt Qing, she must not be young.


    Because she was so close, she could even hear the voice on the other end of the conversation, feeling as though she had heard it somewhere before but couldn''t recall who it was.


    "Stop joking, I just saw you. Are you at a social gathering?"


    "Huh? You saw me?" Xia Liu was a bit perplexed, wondering if, just by coincidence, he might bump into Mo Wanqing while dining.


    "Well, I always spend my time at Liusu when resting, so it''s quite the coincidence." Mo Wanqing paused before continuing, "Who are you with today, is it your girlfriend? Introduce her to your aunt."


    "Aunt Qing, you should just rest. I am here having fun with my girlfriend."


    Xia Liu suddenly understood. Liusu Wanqing Grand Hotel¡ªthis could very well be Mo Wanqing''s property.


    "Haha, Xia Liu, just let your aunt come over and join in on the fun."


    "Yeah, let everyone meet."


    "Liu Lanxin is also here; not introducing her to your aunt¡ªthat would be inappropriate."


    Xia Liu''s words were the focus of everyone, and when he was about to decline, the crowd present started to cheer them on.


    Truth be told, Liu Lanxin also wanted to meet Xia Liu''s aunt.


    "Friend, let your relative come over too. I''ll treat today, no worries."


    Qin Xiao said leisurely, "You folks might not come to places like this often, so just come over and have some fun today, leave some memories, and you can talk about it with your neighbors back in the village."


    It was quite clear from Qin Xiao''s words that he wanted Xia Liu to call his people over.


    Then, he could go back and brag about it in the village.


    "Xia Liu, I can hear your friend''s enthusiasm already, wait for me a bit, huh."


    Without giving Xia Liu a chance to refuse, Mo Wanqing hung up the phone.


    Xia Liu felt somewhat helpless; he always felt it was somewhat inappropriate for Mo Wanqing to come here.


    What if it hurt these young college students'' pride?


    "Haha, get ready, a village girl is coming in."


    "Hey, Fangfang, how can you speak like that? What''s wrong with being a village girl? Do you look down on people from rural areas?"


    "Exactly, without the countryside, could we eat high-quality rice?"


    There was a girl at the scene who scornfully mocked, leading to the group starting to lecture her.


    But Xia Liu could see that this was hardly a lecture.


    With their playful and smiling faces, they were simply disgusting.


    So, he felt no guilt anymore; not giving this ignorant group of young folks a lesson, they really thought too highly of themselves.


    "Xia Liu, don''t be angry, I think they didn''t mean it," Liu Lanxin said, seeing Xia Liu''s stiff expression and immediately comforting him.


    "Forget it, who lets me be your boyfriend today," Xia Liu said with a mischievous smile.


    That term "boyfriend," said without any sense of incongruity, made Liu Lanxin mistakenly think it was a natural slip.


    She was momentarily bewildered, genuinely thinking Xia Liu was her boyfriend.


    "Friend, don''t be upset. Let''s order some more drinks."


    "No need for that, let''s all go sing instead."


    "We can''t do that, your aunt hasn''t arrived yet; when she does, we''ll all need to meet her," Qin Xiao objected repeatedly.


    "Exactly, everyone hasn''t met yet."


    With Qin Xiao leading, everyone quietly waited. Discover more stories at empire


    Xia Liu didn''t care so much anymore; since these people wanted to see Mo Wanqing and then ridicule him, he might as well let them wait.


    Before long, the door of the private room flung open, and approximately ten waiters walked in.


    Everyone was holding a bottle of red wine, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Lafite from ''82!


    Eight hundred thousand!


    Everyone was stunned, thinking this was a grand gesture by Qin Xiao to impress Liu Lanxin.


    However, Qin Xiao was dumbfounded; he almost fell off his chair, wondering what the hell was going on.


    "Young Master Qin has such grandeur, some people just have no shame."


    "Yes, Young Master Qin is so generous."


    "Generous my head!" Qin Xiao couldn''t hold back any longer and burst out shouting.


    The girls making snide remarks instantly wilted, all bowing their heads in confusion.


    "Ladies, I think you''ve got it wrong; we didn''t order these wines," Qin Xiao said, wiping his sweat as he questioned the server.


    He really panicked; the money in his card combined couldn''t even buy three bottles of Lafite, and now this.


    Who the hell pulled this prank, directly ordering ten bottles!!!


    "Sir, these wines are complimentary," the server''s graceful voice echoed in the private room.


    Everyone was dumbfounded; they were free!


    Was this a pie falling from the sky?


    Qin Xiao also recovered from his panic, "Free, did one of my friends order them?"


    "Wow ha ha, Young Master Qin really lives large, even his friends are so generous."


    "Yeah, if one could be Young Master Qin''s girlfriend, that would be the greatest fortune."


    ...


    The server didn''t reply, and the classmates all started fawning over him.


    Qin Xiao really enjoyed this feeling, his smile growing wider on his face.


    But Liu Lanxin sensed something was off, and asked Xia Liu in a quiet voice: "Xia Liu, did you organize these wines?"


    "No, it must have been Aunt Qing who had them sent over."


    Early on when the servers entered, Xia Liu had guessed that here¡ªMo Wanqing''s territory¡ªwith him present, she would never be courteous.


    "Aunt Qing, Liusu Wanqing, Wanqing, Mo Wanqing... could it be?!" Realizing something, Liu Lanxin exclaimed in surprise.


    "Yes, isn''t my aunt wealthy," Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    Liu Lanxin gave a bitter smile; how could Mo Wanqing not be wealthy?


    In all of Binlai City, she must be the wealthiest person, and her connections were simply terrifying.


    She couldn''t figure out how Xia Liu managed to connect with Mo Wanqing; it must be because of the Beauty Mud, which was unfair. She had to earn Mo Wanqing''s favor too!


    "Hehe, big brother, you should learn something. Look at Young Master Qin''s friend; that''s what a friend should be like. What about your aunt? Hasn''t she arrived yet?" a young man disdainfully asked.


    "She should be here soon; there could be a traffic jam or something," Xia Liu said leisurely.


    Just as everyone was about to bombard Xia Liu with criticism, the servers preparing to leave suddenly stopped and bowed solemnly.


    Then, a woman dressed in a black evening gown walked in.


    Her three thousand fine hairs were pulled back, and light makeup kept her suitable for the occasion, her appearance quite standard.


    Mo Wanqing was also holding two bottles of unbranded baijiu; in Binlai City, there were no more than two people she would take out these drinks for.


    "My God, it really is Mo Wanqing!" Liu Lanxin couldn''t help but exclaim the instant she saw Mo Wanqing. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had initially thought Xia Liu was just kidding, who knew it was actually true!


    "Hi everyone!" Mo Wanqing greeted warmly, as if she knew everyone there.


    "Hey, notice, she seems to be alone."


    "Yes, seems like the strong businesswoman of Binlai City, Mo Wanqing..."

 Chapter 108 The Silent Slap

    "Guess what! That''s Mo Wanqing, a legendary figure from Binlai City!""Isn''t there supposed to be a red scar on Mo Wanqing''s face?"


    "There used to be, but haven''t you all watched the news lately? Tianluo Pharmaceutical released a beauty and breast enhancement product that can remove scars!"


    Wow!


    As soon as everyone confirmed that the person was Mo Wanqing, they immediately boiled over.


    Mo Wanqing is, after all, a legend of Binlai City.


    She''s practically the goal of all college students and countless others, an idol.


    And today, this elusive figure had actually appeared in their private room!


    What an honor it was!


    The smile on Qin Xiao''s face instantly turned awkward; initially, he thought it was just a friend delivering wine.


    After seeing Mo Wanqing, he realized how embarrassed he was; it was wholly embarrassing.


    However, to see Mo Wanqing, he was more excited than anyone, as his family''s factory primarily processes raw components for companies under Mo Wanqing''s umbrella.


    Meeting someone of such caliber was more important than anything else.


    But when Mo Wanqing greeted Xia Liu, everyone''s jaws dropped.


    "Xia Liu, you should have told Aunt when you were coming over so I could prepare the best place to entertain these friends."


    "Aunt Qing, I came over in a hurry this time, thinking I wouldn''t stay long, and it was Lan Xin who dragged me to this gathering."


    Xia Liu waved his hand helplessly; he had a lot on his plate. If not for Liu Lanxin, he might have made a few million today, given how hard those wild herbs are to find, all dependent on luck.


    "Haha, I won''t say more." Mo Wanqing then turned her attention to Liu Lanxin.


    "Miss Liu, I remember you, but I''ve been too busy recently to properly thank you at the Liu family."


    "Uh, no thanks needed, it was all Xia Liu''s doing." Named by Mo Wanqing, Liu Lanxin''s face instantly flushed.


    Wow!


    Everyone was stunned again. Liu Lanxin turned out to be a lady of high standing, and Mo Wanqing even knew her!


    And she even wanted to thank Liu Lanxin!


    The students who had mocked Xia Liu now just wanted to find a crack to crawl into; it was utterly humiliating.


    If Mo Wanqing weren''t here, they would definitely have fled the scene quickly.


    Though Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin didn''t say anything, the silent slap hurt the most.


    "It can''t be said that way; if it weren''t for Tianluo Pharmaceutical, I couldn''t have regained my confidence, so I really ought to thank you." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crack!


    Qin Xiao and the other students'' hearts shattered in that instant.


    Tianluo Pharmaceutical, now the most thriving business in Binlai City.


    Not only does it collaborate with medical teams, but their beauty mud product is also a national sensation!


    And yet, at this time, they just realized that this rising star, the princess of Tianluo Pharmaceutical, Liu Lanxin, was one of their classmates!!!


    Once again, everyone nearly fell apart.


    After a bit of small talk, Liu Lanxin also started calling Mo Wanqing "Aunt Qing."


    It was Mo Wanqing who let her address her so, as she was Xia Liu''s girlfriend, after all.


    The students originally thought the atmosphere would be incredibly tense, but Mo Wanqing was a veteran in the business landscape.


    Handling a group of college students, she got familiar with them in no time.


    The distance between them was gone, and the female students all gathered around Liu Lanxin and Mo Wanqing.


    The male students wanted to network with Xia Liu, although they didn''t know the specifics about him.


    But someone Mo Wanqing called her nephew could definitely not be an ordinary person.


    The most awkward person in the private room was none other than Qin Xiao.


    He initially planned to curry favor with Mo Wanqing, but now he didn''t have any intention left at all.


    Xia Liu just wanted the party to end quickly, what a confession party this was.


    In the end, it even became the most embarrassing party he had ever experienced, one that he could never erase from his life.


    However, what slightly relieved Qin Xiao was that Mo Wanqing had actually waived the bill!


    This had saved him a few hundred thousand.


    Since everyone was a student, Mo Wanqing couldn''t keep them up too late, so the party ended before midnight.


    She personally saw everyone downstairs, and when the girls saw Xia Liu open the door of his Ferrari,


    each of their eyes sparkled with color, if only they had known Xia Liu was a super tycoon.


    They wouldn''t have mocked and ridiculed him at the start.


    Even some of the girls regretted not asking for Xia Liu''s contact details earlier, now it seemed like their chance had slipped away.


    Still, two bold girls approached to strike up a conversation, hoping to catch a ride with Xia Liu.


    Liu Lanxin didn''t say much, but there weren''t any seats in the car, so Xia Liu had to decline.


    As everyone watched Qin Xiao back his Toyota sedan out, they all gave him contemptuous looks.


    Only a few boys ended up getting in.


    "Classmates, it seems we don''t have enough cars. I''ll call my driver to take you home."


    "Thank you, Aunt Qing!"


    Encountering such an enthusiastic Mo Wanqing, everyone started thanking her excitedly.


    ...


    "Xia Liu, did you know already that the hotel belonged to Aunt Qing?" On the way back, Liu Lanxin asked, pouting with curiosity.


    After Mo Wanqing showed up, she felt an immense sense of relief, and it was all thanks to Xia Liu''s arrangements.


    "That''s unfair, I only found out about it later," he replied.


    "Alright, I''ll take your word for it," Liu Lanxin was no longer interested in troubling Xia Liu, since she had achieved her goal for the day and doubted any boys at school would bother her again.


    "Hey, hey, where are you driving to? This doesn''t seem like the way home."


    "Where are we going? I''m your boyfriend today, so, of course, I have to fulfill my boyfriend duties and satisfy your needs," he teased.


    "Ah! It''s past midnight, our deal is off, no need to satisfy me," Liu Lanxin said, suddenly excited. Xia Liu was setting the pace to devour her.


    "Since you don''t want me to fulfill my duties as a suitor by night, then you better guide me. It''s too dark, I''m lost..."


    ...


    Having relaxed, Liu Lanxin leisurely guided Xia Liu on driving.


    Yet, she found herself somewhat longing for Xia Liu to fulfill his boyfriend duties one last time.


    Unawares, her face flushed with color.


    Xia Liu spent another night in the same room he had stayed in before, and unlike last time, he didn''t find any CDs in the drawer.


    It seemed Liu Lanxin had been cautious.


    With a sigh, he turned off the light, and another day of cultivation began.


    The next day, after breakfast, Xia Liu bid farewell to Liu Buyi.


    The first thing he did upon returning to Hejing County was to check on Longyun Hotel.


    Zhang Qing was doing well, and Zhang Kuang''s appearance hadn''t affected her.


    Not wanting to disturb her, Xia Liu watched from a distance before driving home.


    Upon arriving at Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu went to see the construction project managed by Gu Fangxia.


    The completion was very satisfactory, and in a few more days it would reach the village.


    The digital TV cables had been delivered to the village the day before.


    Moreover, the cable company had activated the service for all village users for free, meaning they could watch TV without paying.


    If they wanted internet access, they could just call and the company would come and switch the set-top box for a fee, depending on personal preference, it was a voluntary choice.

 Chapter 109 I Want to Bite Your Tongue

    At this time, the villagers were still fishing for oysters in the sea.Xia Liu wasn''t idle either, after tidying up, he took his basket and entered the woods.


    As usual, by the time it got dark, the herbs he had gathered were very sparse, and it was questionable whether he could even refine two hundred boxes of Beauty Mud.


    "It looks like I have to be more diligent in the future." Looking at the dim sky, Xia Liu muttered to himself.


    Finding herbs was difficult, but it was a quick way to make money. If he wanted to get money, he had to be diligent.


    When he got home, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Xiaoman had already prepared the meal. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two of them saw Xia Liu''s car parked at the doorway; they were waiting for him to join them for dinner.


    Seeing the two pretty faces, Xia Liu felt very warm inside.


    There were times when he really wanted to slow down and quietly live with the two young women.


    But he couldn''t stop, everything was still not set up well, and since he had made a promise, he had to fulfill it and do it beautifully!


    After dinner, the two women helped Xia Liu process the herbs.


    Since there weren''t many, Xia Liu didn''t rush to refine them right away. The herbs could last for five days, by then he''d accumulate more to process together.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I won''t be here in the future, you have to take good care of my cousin." After processing the herbs, Zhang Xiaoman abruptly said.


    "Uh? What happened?"


    Seeing Xia Liu''s slightly anxious expression, Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Brother Xia Liu, Xiaoman is starting school tomorrow, she needs to report to the school."


    Damn!


    Xia Liu was speechless, it sounded like they were parting forever.


    "Hehe, Brother Xia Liu, I''m going to stay at home tonight, can you drive me home?"


    "Okay, then Xiaoxue, you get some rest, I''ll take Xiaoman home."


    On the quiet field, the two walked side by side in silence.


    Xia Liu wanted to ask Zhang Xiaoman if she had told Zhang Xiaoxue about him and Zhang Qing.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I might only come back once every month or two." Saying this, Zhang Xiaoman stopped walking, looked up and gazed at his handsome face under the bright moon.


    "Take good care of yourself at school, don''t worry about Xiaoxue."


    "That''s not what I meant." Zhang Xiaoman said, then lowered her head, and a faint voice came out, "I''m leaving tomorrow, don''t you want to do something for me?"


    Pfft...


    Xia Liu almost spit out a mouthful of old blood, this was so blunt!


    Was Zhang Xiaoman really not afraid that he would devour her!


    "Xiaoman, you also saw about me and Zhang Qing, so..."


    "Yeah, I saw it, but so what, there''s a fat pig in town with five wives." Zhang Xiaoman looked at Xia Liu expectantly.


    ...


    "Brother Xia Liu, I want to bite your tongue." Seeing Xia Liu silent, Zhang Xiaoman mustered the courage to say boldly.


    "Bite my tongue?" Xia Liu murmured to himself, and after understanding, couldn''t help but deflate.


    He felt he was already indecent enough, and now admitted defeat.


    "You little girl, what are you thinking, go and study properly." Xia Liu forcibly cooled the turmoil in his heart.


    Seeing this, Zhang Xiaoman no longer threatened, but instead wanted to make a bet with Xia Liu!


    "A bet on what?" Xia Liu couldn''t guess what was on the girl''s mind, but still, his eyelids twitched a few times when she spoke of the wager.


    "Bet on me topping the class, and once I graduate, you''ll marry me!"


    "Let''s not, If you meet the right guy in the future, you shouldn''t have any regrets." Xia Liu looked at Zhang Xiaoman dazedly for a while, then slowly lowered his raised hand.


    "Hmph! I''m home now, you can go back." With a cold snort, Zhang Xiaoman carried her bag and entered through the gate.


    She leaned against the door, and after Xia Liu had walked away, she clenched her fist toward the direction he had left.


    "The man my cousin and I are interested in, you can''t escape!"


    Muttering to herself, Zhang Xiaoman entered the house with her bag, her mind busy with plans on how to let her cousin conquer Xia Liu first.


    Walking on the road, Xia Liu wondered if he was holding Zhang Xiaoman back, but he didn''t realize that he had already been marked as prey by someone else.


    "Xiaoxue, why haven''t you gone to bed yet?" Returning home, Xia Liu saw Zhang Xiaoxue sitting in the room wearing a chiffon nightgown, her youthful fragrance continuously wafting through the air.


    "Brother Xia Liu, my high school classmates are organizing a reunion in the county tomorrow, and I can''t make up my mind, so..." Zhang Xiaoxue was very troubled by this.


    She attended high school in the county, and most of her classmates were from the county town; if she didn''t go,


    she would certainly be accused of looking down on her old classmates when she met them in the street in the future.


    Her reluctance stemmed from the fact that she had dropped out of university halfway through and returned home, which was quite embarrassing.


    She vividly remembered how thrilled her classmates were when she got into one of the top universities in the country.


    Now, she had let them down.


    "Another class reunion..." Xia Liu was already somewhat tired of it; he had just accompanied Liu Lanxin to a so-called class reunion.


    "Xiaoxue, since it''s a local reunion, it wouldn''t hurt to go."


    "But I''m scared..."


    Zhang Xiaoxue was indeed frightened; it had been at least four years since she had last seen her high school classmates.


    They definitely knew about her business, and she felt ashamed to meet them...


    "Hehe, Hejing County is our turf, don''t panic. Just tell me the place, and I''ll be there to support you."


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue react this way, Xia Liu made up his mind.


    He definitely should not go with this girl; he needed to help her build some resilience.


    "I think it''s at the Longteng Hotel." Zhang Xiaoxue said timidly after a moment.


    "Then there''s even less reason to worry. Tomorrow I''ll drive you there; I know everyone at Longteng Hotel."


    "Alright then, I''ll listen to Brother Xia Liu. If I can''t handle it, you must come out and help me." Zhang Xiaoxue looked at Xia Liu with trembling eyes.


    If it were before, she would have definitely declined such a gathering, but knowing that it was held at Longteng Hotel gave her some confidence.


    After all, she had dined with Sister Fang Fei, the owner of Longteng Hotel, and they had quite a chat last time.


    Now with Xia Liu by her side and Sister Fangfei there, she felt fearless.


    "Then, Brother Xia Liu, I''m going to bed now. You have to drive me there tomorrow morning." Taking the opportunity to pass by Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue quickly pecked him on the cheek.


    Touching his slightly moist cheek, Xia Liu''s throat went dry.


    Feeling extremely restless, he stepped outside, took a bucket of water to the bathroom, and indulged in a thorough wash.


    The next morning, Zhang Xiaoxue got up early.


    When Xia Liu saw her, he almost couldn''t resist teasing her.


    This girl had probably not closed her eyes last night, with dark circles under her eyelids.


    However, with her stunning beauty, the dark circles only added an air of mystery to her looks.


    On the way there, Zhang Xiaoxue kept her head down, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.


    "Xiaoxue, don''t be nervous. Trust me, you''ll be the most dazzling person today."

 Chapter 110 The Gathering at Longteng Hotel

    Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t answer, merely nodding meekly.She had wanted Xia Liu to accompany her, but then she thought better of it.


    She couldn''t show such vulnerability in front of him!


    Soon, the two arrived at the Longteng Hotel parking lot.


    It turned out the high school reunion organized by Zhang Xiaoxue''s classmates was quite impressive, with a banner hanging at the hotel entrance.


    Warm celebration of the County High School Class of ''06 reunion.


    Xia Liu had learned that hanging a banner at the hotel cost twenty thousand yuan.


    It seemed like those classmates were doing quite well for themselves.


    But hey, our classmate Zhang Xiaoxue wasn''t doing too badly herself.


    Xia Liu had entrusted her with the financial management of Osmanthus Village; she could take as much money as she wanted.


    Unfortunately, this girl didn''t leave the village much, even if she bought clothes, she always picked the cheap ones.


    Even if she were given ten million, she might not be able to spend it all in several years, maybe even a decade.


    At that moment, the hotel lobby was bustling and noisy.


    The classmates carried themselves with a certain pride, choosing to set their tables in the corner of the hall.


    Though they were behind a screen, it was still obvious that this was a gathering of financially well-off individuals. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How should I put it, anyone who holds a reunion at Longteng Hotel and hangs a banner is either rich or powerful.


    And since there were other guests in the lobby, they undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention.


    Xia Liu glanced over and saw that behind the simple screen, there were about twenty people seated at one big table.


    Fewer boys, more girls, which might be the case elsewhere too.


    This group had graduated or been working for a few years; if they weren''t doing well, upon hearing the reunion was at Longteng Hotel, who without a decent amount of money would dare to come?


    It was different for the girls; young as they were, that in itself was capital. They wouldn''t feel out of place anywhere.


    Due to the layout, Xia Liu sat on a slightly elevated platform, with Zhang Xiaoxue''s table directly below.


    "Chairman, are you here to dine today, or to inspect the work?" Ye Ming spotted Xia Liu seated at a small table and hurried over to greet him.


    "You could say I''m here to eat. I''m very reassured with you managing the hotel," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    "Hehe, what would you like to eat? I''ll go have the kitchen prepare something."


    "No need for now, you don''t have to mind me. I''ll order something when I''m hungry."


    Ye Ming didn''t say anything more, but his interest was piqued as he followed Xia Liu''s gaze down to the large table below.


    "Chairman, is that girl the one from the photo?" Ye Ming asked, pointing to the business license hanging above the reception desk''s wall.


    "Yes, Xiaoxue is here attending a class reunion today. I''m concerned, so I''m here to keep an eye on things," Xia Liu didn''t hide. Today, he had been thinking of telling Zhang Xiaoxue about the hotel''s matters, and when the time came, he could also hear her opinion, whether to come here to learn management, or to continue bookkeeping in the village.


    Ye Ming chuckled good-humoredly; he said he had guessed right, it looked like the hotel was going to be lively again today.


    "Wow! Zhang Xiaoxue, you''ve become so beautiful after all these years!"


    "Right, we classmates must have missed seeing each other. This change is truly enviable."


    At the big table, several women gathered around Zhang Xiaoxue, continuously showering her with compliments.


    Not just these classmates, but even the guests who were eating couldn''t help but be startled. It was hard for them to imagine that, in this kind of county town,


    there could be such a beautiful woman!


    "Hehe, you two, Moli and Xiangcao, are very pretty as well," Zhang Xiaoxue responded quite naturally.


    "Ah, we''re far from comparing to you," said the girl called Moli, shaking her head helplessly.


    "Hehe, what''s the use of looking good. Back then, our classmate Zhang Xiaoxue was admitted to one of the top five universities in the country with excellent grades, but what happened? She dropped out mid-way..."


    While Zhang Xiaoxue and Moli were joking around, a woman with heavy makeup looked over scornfully.


    "Guo Yu is right, I heard that Zhang Xiaoxue dropped out of school back then because her family couldn''t afford it." Lu Fei saw her best friend Guo Yu mocking Zhang Xiaoxue and she didn''t sit idly by, quickly jumping on the bandwagon.


    "Guo Yu, Lu Fei, you''re just jealous of Xiaoxue''s beauty!" Whether it was during school or after graduation, Moli never liked the attitudes of these two women.


    Now, they were ridiculing Zhang Xiaoxue. Clearly, because they couldn''t match her beauty, they resorted to using family backgrounds to bully her, which was simply disgraceful!


    The boys sitting at the table were all silent, sensing that this was a war.


    A powerful war organized by women.


    "Moli, what they are saying is true, don''t hurt our classmates'' friendship for my sake." Just as Moli was about to continue speaking, Zhang Xiaoxue held her back.


    "Hehe, actually, neither Guo Yu nor I went to university, so it''s no big deal not to study," Guo Yu said indifferently while fixing her red nails.


    "I''ve also heard about it, after you stopped studying, you''ve always been in the village, which must have been hard on you, especially since your home is in the countryside."


    "Guo Yu! Xiaoxue''s home is in the countryside, but the air there is fresher than anywhere else. I''m sure that the people of her village must be very harmonious!" At this point, Xiangcao couldn''t listen any longer; she had been good friends with Zhang Xiaoxue since high school.


    She had just graduated from university this year and had heard about some things happening to her good sister, so she was even less tolerant of others bullying her.


    "Tsk, no matter how beautiful she is, she is still just a village girl in the end." Seeing Xiangcao''s complexion roil with anger, Guo Yu glanced up, not wanting to continue the argument.


    "Hehe, you city people are so impressive, okay then." Xiangcao''s family background was quite good, with her father being a public servant in the county town and her mother running a small business. Compared to Guo Yu, that was very commendable.


    But when it came to character and quality, Guo Yu was simply shameful.


    "What a lively scene, everyone has arrived! I''ve just gone and brought back a case of aged liquor; we''ve got to celebrate properly today."


    Just as the standoff continued, a man wearing a suit walked over with a few bottles of liquor.


    Following him were two other men, both holding boxes filled with bottles.


    "Liang Song, you finally made it. We''re almost starving to death!" Seeing Liang Song coming, Guo Yu said coquettishly.


    "Hehe, didn''t I tell you all to order the dishes first?" said Liang Song, his gaze locked onto Zhang Xiaoxue: "This is... Zhang Xiaoxue?"


    "Liang Song, you''ve got a good eye, she''s indeed our beautiful classmate Zhang Xiaoxue." Xiangcao, who usually had some contact with Liang Song, took the initiative to take Zhang Xiaoxue by the hand and introduce her.


    "Pfft! This is just too unbelievable; Zhang Xiaoxue was so little back then, and now she''s turned into such a beautiful woman!" Liang Song kept sizing up Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Hehe, I remember you, Liang Song; you dropped out in the second half of our senior year in high school. It seems like you''ve done quite well for yourself." After hearing a bit from Xiangcao, Zhang Xiaoxue finally recalled this classmate who had changed quite a bit.

 Chapter 111 Legal Representative!

    "It''s an honor that Beauty Zhang even remembers me," Liang Song laughed genuinely, his eyes clear of any ulterior motives.However, the conversation between the two was particularly annoying to Guo Yu.


    Aside from Zhang Xiaoxue, everyone present knew that she had a crush on Liang Song.


    And she was just about to actively pursue him; Zhang Xiaoxue''s arrival had brought her unprecedented pressure.


    "Xiaoyu, we can''t let Zhang Xiaoxue get too cocky. Let''s mess with her later!" Lu Fei whispered into her best friend''s ear after seeing her displeased expression.


    Guo Yu''s eyes darted around before she nodded.


    If she didn''t embarrass Zhang Xiaoxue here, she probably wouldn''t stand a chance in pursuing Liang Song.


    "Heh, want to mess with Xiaoxue? I''ll make you regret it!" Xia Liu''s eyes flashed crimson as he put down his teacup.


    "That Zhang Xiaoxue student, why don''t you tell us about your village?" Lu Fei suddenly chimed in during the lively conversation among classmates.


    "Yeah Xiaoxue, none of us have ever been to the village. We really want to know what fun things there are."


    "Right, Xiaoxue, tell us!"


    ...


    Lu Fei started it, and the other classmates chimed in.


    But unlike Lu Fei, they were actually interested.


    Xiangcao and Moli, however, sensed something off. Lu Fei''s comments, surely concocted with Guo Yu, had an ulterior motive.


    Everyone knew Zhang Xiaoxue was from the village. Asking someone to talk about their hardships over the past few years in such a setting was clearly meant to lead to misunderstandings.


    "Osmanthus Village is bustling, everyone is united, and the environment is very good¡­" Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t know what else to say, so she just mentioned some recent facts truthfully.


    "Heh, Osmanthus Village, I bet that place doesn''t even have proper roads yet." Lu Fei quickly retorted after hearing the reply. She had just texted a friend to get the scoop on Osmanthus Village.


    "No, the village had roads over a month ago, and now they are laying a secondary highway. It won''t be long until it reaches the village," Zhang Xiaoxue explained cheerfully, without any hint of emotion.


    "Tsk tsk..."


    Most of the classmates laughed instantly.


    If Zhang Xiaoxue had said the village had roads, they might not have reacted much. But laying a secondary highway?


    They thought that was nonsense, something only the ignorant would say.


    "Ha ha, Zhang Xiaoxue, oh Zhang Xiaoxue, I think you''ve been in the village too long. Daydreaming a bit much?" Guo Yu didn''t miss the opportunity to strike and mock.


    There it was, Liang Song''s brows were furrowed tightly.


    He had been involved with classmates longer than anyone there, with businesses in the county and the city.


    The idea of laying a secondary highway in a rural village sounded completely implausible to him.


    "Xiaoxue, how could you say that? Think carefully before you speak next time," Xiangcao and Moli couldn''t help shaking their heads.


    They were worried that their good friend, unseen for years, might have really hurt her head.


    Facing everyone''s peculiar stares, Zhang Xiaoxue felt extremely embarrassed.


    Back in Osmanthus Village, she often hung out with Gu Fangxia. The road that was being built was definitely a secondary one, but since her classmates didn''t believe her, she could only feign ignorance helplessly.


    "Come on, let''s all toast to Liang Song. He''s the host today." Speaking, Guo Yu led the classmates to lift their glasses, and she didn''t forget to jab at Zhang Xiaoxue again.


    "Unlike some people who got into a national university just to drop out, and after staying in the village for too long, their brains have gone soft."


    "Guo Yu, don''t talk like that, I believe that was just a slip of the tongue from Xiaoxue." Seeing Guo Yu not letting go even when she was right, Liang Song felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    "Yeah, you''re right, Xiaoxue must have her own difficulties. If possible, let''s visit Osmanthus Village sometime and help them out as much as we can."


    "Guo Yu is right!"


    "Yes! I support it!"


    This time, Liang Song''s look towards Guo Yu became warmer. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t want to say a word, who needs help in Osmanthus Village now?


    When the village was cut off from traffic, who helped then?


    With Brother Xia Liu in the village now, it won''t be long before Osmanthus Village shines in Hejing County!


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue''s silence, everyone assumed she acknowledged it, and they all started feeling pity.


    After all, she''s so beautiful, but what''s the use? She just lives in a village with no access to roads, and even her mindset is not right now.


    "Manager Ye, do you know that somewhat decent-looking man in a suit?" Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue casually accept the emotions of her classmates, Xia Liu felt both heartache and joy.


    After all, this incident made her change a lot; feeling heartache because it was hard for her to bear, and that was definitely not okay. As a girl from Osmanthus Village, how could she let people bully her!


    "I know him, his name is Liang Song. Some of the seasonings in our hotel kitchen are delivered by him; he''s a business partner," Ye Ming replied with certainty.


    Actually, Xia Liu had already guessed some of it. Liang Song being able to hang a banner here and make such a big fuss, certainly wouldn''t be allowed without knowing the right people.


    "Manager Ye, later you do it like this..." To avoid drawing too much attention, Xia Liu quietly started discussing with Ye Ming.


    A few minutes later, Ye Ming nodded, just as he was about to proceed with what Xia Liu had instructed.


    An excited voice erupted at the dining table of the gathering: "Everyone quiet down! Xiaoli and I just came back from the restroom, guess what we saw!"


    "Xiaoli, don''t tell me you walked into the men''s bathroom by mistake?"


    "Waka waka, that''s what I''m guessing!"


    Ha ha...


    The male and female classmates all burst into cheerful laughter.


    But the girl called Xiaoli sneakily glanced at Zhang Xiaoxue, then excitedly said, "Don''t joke for a moment, I just saw the business license of this hotel, the legal representative is actually Zhang Xiaoxue!!!"


    As soon as the news came out, everyone fell silent.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was drinking her beverage when suddenly she spat it out, accidentally spraying it all over Guo Yu who was sitting across from her and not paying attention.


    "I''m sorry I''m sorry, I didn''t do it on purpose!" Zhang Xiaoxue reacted quickly, immediately starting to apologize.


    "Guo Yu you don''t need to get mad yet, hear me out!" Just as Guo Yu stood up, looking to roar at Zhang Xiaoxue, Xiaoli hurriedly held her back.


    "Fan Xiaoli! You better give me a reason, otherwise, I''ll pour all the drink in this cup over Zhang Xiaoxue!" Guo Yu glared at Zhang Xiaoxue and said angrily.


    "Pour it on Xiaoxue, and you''ve got guts like a leopard. The legal representative of this hotel is Zhang Xiaoxue! Do you understand, our classmate Zhang Xiaoxue is the boss of this hotel!" Fan Xiaoli emphasized, addressing everyone word by word.


    Whoosh!


    Suddenly, the classmates on site were all abuzz¡ªZhang Xiaoxue was actually the owner of Longteng Hotel!


    It was simply unbelievable, an incredible surprise!


    Especially considering Zhang Xiaoxue''s outfit, it was clearly a two-hundred-yuan piece of clothing from a street stall; if she really was the owner of Longteng Hotel, would she wear such clothes???

 Chapter 112 Its Really the Boss

    "Pssh, still the owner of Longteng Hotel? Xiaoli, I think you''ve lost your mind!" After calming down for a moment, Guo Yu said disdainfully."Guo Yu, if you don''t believe me, you can go check the front desk. The business license really lists Zhang Xiaoxue as our classmate," Xiaoli pleaded urgently.


    After all, she and Guo Yu were on good terms, and if Guo Yu continued to target Zhang Xiaoxue, Xiaoli would definitely be the one to suffer.


    Guo Yu remained unmoved, but she stopped causing trouble for Zhang Xiaoxue.


    After hearing Xiaoli''s story, some classmates got up and ran to the front desk to check it out.


    When they stood under the business license, their eyes bulged in astonishment.


    The photo was indeed Zhang Xiaoxue, they''d recognize her even in ash.


    In a small place like Hejing County, it''s impossible for two people to look so similar.


    In that moment, they were all shocked.


    Who said Zhang Xiaoxue dropped out and stayed in the village? Who said she was just a farmer''s wife?


    She was doing better than any other classmate, and Longteng Hotel was a landmark in Hejing County.


    She was not only wealthy, but also had connections at all levels.


    "Hey, beauty, can I ask, is Zhang Xiaoxue the boss here?" Lu Fei couldn''t give up. After staring at Zhang Xiaoxue for a long time, she turned to ask the receptionist.


    "Sorry, I have never met Zhang Xiaoxue. Our boss is a very handsome young man," the receptionist explained with a gaze full of admiration and fawning.


    "Haha, I just knew Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t possibly be the boss here!" After getting the information, Lu Fei hurried back to her seat.


    "I''ve already asked, the boss here is a man! It definitely isn''t Zhang Xiaoxue!" Lu Fei announced her findings in front of all the classmates.


    "Ah! That''s impossible, the legal representative is clearly Zhang Xiaoxue."


    "Exactly, are you blind, Lu Fei?"


    "You''re the ones who are blind! The receptionist personally told me the boss here is a young, handsome guy!" Lu Fei, bothered by the suspicions, immediately retorted.


    "Alright, Zhang Xiaoxue, do you have anything else to say?" Seizing the opportunity, Guo Yu smirked at Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "What should I say? When have I ever said I was the boss here?" Zhang Xiaoxue''s demeanor remained completely unflustered.


    Since everything started, besides spraying Guo Yu with a drink, she really hadn''t said much, had she?


    "You you..."


    Guo Yu was so angry she almost choked on her own rage as she recalled that Zhang Xiaoxue had indeed not taken advantage of the situation.


    "Hmph, just a farmer''s wife, go home and plant some more corn to sell for money," Guo Yu muttered under her breath.


    "Guo Yu, you can''t talk like that. Whether from the village or the county, we''re all classmates. Is regional discrimination really necessary?"


    Liang Song couldn''t stand it anymore. He wasn''t a fool and disliked Guo Yu''s attitude.


    "Liang Song, be reasonable, the boss of this hotel is clearly a man, and Zhang Xiaoxue sprayed me! She must be in cahoots with Xiaoli," Guo Yu whined.


    Just as Xiaoli was about to explain, Liang Song shook his head and said, "The owner of Longteng Hotel is indeed a woman. I have some channels here and have met her a few times."


    "Wow! Liang Song has made his business so big, he even collaborates with Longteng Hotel."


    "Hehe, now we all have a connection."


    "Pssh, Zhang Xiaoxue''s name and photo are on the business license, what nonsense are you guys talking about?" Xiangcao could no longer listen quietly; she had just been to the front desk and confirmed that the person was indeed Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Only now, the classmates didn''t believe her, and Zhang Xiaoxue had advised her not to say too much, or else she''d tear into Guo Yu and Lu Fei in a minute.


    "Ouch, some people really have no shame, our classmate Liang Song has met the boss here," Lu Fei said, speaking in a nasal, weird voice.


    "Since you don''t believe it, why don''t we ask the boss here to come over and confront him?"


    "Exactly, I''m on Zhang Xiaoxue''s side."


    "The more the spectators, the bigger the scene..."


    "Hehe."


    Under everyone''s urging, Liang Song could only grimace.


    He glanced at Zhang Xiaoxue, feeling silent condolences in his heart, thinking it would be simple to clarify by contacting the manager here.


    But if he really did bring in the manager, Zhang Xiaoxue would definitely feel awkward, and he did not want to see that.


    "Manager Liang!" Just then, to Liang Song''s surprise, the manager of Longteng Hotel actually called out to him.


    "Hello, Manager Ye, have a seat and let''s have a few drinks," Liang Song replied to Ye Ming with a bitter look at Zhang Xiaoxue.


    The classmates also quieted down; Guo Yu and Lu Fei looked at Zhang Xiaoxue, gloating over her misfortune, thinking she would be exposed with the arrival of the hotel manager!


    "I''m here to report some work to the boss, we really are destined, you actually knew my boss from school." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah! Your boss, could it really be that Zhang Xiaoxue is actually the boss here!"


    Ye Ming personally delivered this news, shocking Liang Song on the spot.


    Since their conversation was in subdued tones, some classmates couldn''t hear, but they guessed from the change in Liang Song''s face that he was stunned!


    "Boss, there are some matters at the front desk that need your attention; what do you think?" In the amazed gaze of everyone, Ye Ming respectfully approached Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Ah?" Clearly not having recovered, Zhang Xiaoxue questioned her own reality as being called the boss.


    Actually, ever since Fan Xiaoli had said that the business license here was in her own name and with her photo, she had doubted its authenticity.


    Now that the manager here came and spoke to her about it, it couldn''t be more real.


    Watching the serious and respectful expression on Ye Ming''s face, Zhang Xiaoxue briefly spoke to Xiangcao and Moli before getting up and heading to the front desk.


    Wow!


    "Zhang Xiaoxue is really the boss here!"


    "It''s so scary, it''s actually true!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue had barely gotten far when the crowd excitedly started discussing.


    If Fan Xiaoli''s words were not believable, now that the hotel''s manager had come to ask the boss to handle things, it was utterly confirmed.


    "Liang Song, who was that manager just now?" Guo Yu asked in disbelief, speaking softly.


    "He is the manager of Longteng Hotel." Liang Song swallowed a sip of baijiu, his heart already boiling.


    Zhang Xiaoxue is actually the boss here, thankfully he hadn''t belittled her just now...


    Many thought so in their hearts.


    Guo Yu and Lu Fei both turned purple, unable to accept this reality no matter what.


    Facing the strange looks from many classmates, Guo Yu and Lu Fei hung their heads.


    Taking the opportunity before Zhang Xiaoxue came back, they sneakily left the hotel pretending to go to the restroom.


    After Zhang Xiaoxue arrived at the front desk, her eyes nearly moistened when she saw Xia Liu sitting inside the counter, smiling joyfully at her...

 Chapter 113 The Next Step in the Project

    "Brother Xia Liu, what exactly is going on?" Seeing many pairs of eyes looking at her, Zhang Xiaoxue felt a bit shy.She had thought that all this might be Xia Liu saving the day.


    But when she saw the name and photo on the business license, she instantly became unsettled.


    Wasn''t that herself!


    "As you see, Boss Zhang." Xia Liu''s face bore a smile, now it was time to let this girl know the truth.


    "Ah! Brother Xia Liu, what are you talking about?" The news was too sudden, she couldn''t remain calm.


    "The other day I asked you for your ID, then I went ahead and bought both Longteng and Longyun Hotels."


    "So, you used my ID to buy the hotels!"


    Knowing this, Zhang Xiaoxue was utterly shocked.


    She took the drink Xia Liu handed her and took several big gulps before she could calm down a bit.


    Zhang Xiaoxue vaguely remembered, last night Xia Liu had told her not to worry, so this was the surprise he had prepared for her.


    "Xiaoxue, go take care of those classmates, I bet they''ll be really surprised."


    "Okay." Zhang Xiaoxue pouted, not knowing what to say.


    "Girl, keep an eye on Xiaoxue for me, if she gets drunk, help her to a room to rest." As Zhang Xiaoxue walked away, Xia Liu instructed a waitress.


    Xia Liu looked around for a while, then quietly left the hotel.


    The Ferrari roared down the street, and a few minutes later, Xia Liu entered the manager''s office of the Longyun Hotel.


    At that moment, Zhang Qing was bowing her head to check her notes, completely unaware that Xia Liu had arrived behind her.


    "Oh... finally done!" At noon, Zhang Qing stretched lazily, her body strikingly revealed.


    "Ah!"


    Touching Xia Liu behind her, Zhang Qing instinctively screamed, "When did you get here? You almost scared me to death!"


    "I''ve been here for an hour, saw you working so diligently, didn''t want to disturb you." Xia Liu said, touching his nose and smiling.


    "No way! You''ve got to compensate me for the cells I just lost!"


    "How should I compensate?"


    "Come into the compartment..."


    ... S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Two hours later, Zhang Qing came out of the compartment fully satisfied.


    Xia Liu followed, grateful for his good physical condition which made it easy to keep up.


    Afterwards, Zhang Qing reported her recent learning achievements to Xia Liu.


    "Sister Zhang, you''re learning too fast, probably in a few more days you''ll truly be able to manage the hotel."


    After hearing Zhang Qing''s report, Xia Liu was somewhat surprised.


    Though he hadn''t fully engaged with the hotel management tasks, Zhang Qing was able to outline the specifics of each department.


    This clearly showed that she was capable of managing Longyun Hotel well.


    "It''s all thanks to you, Chairman Xia..." Zhang Qing said shyly.


    She felt very fulfilled when Xia Liu praised her.


    Being acknowledged by him meant more than anything else.


    After chatting with Zhang Qing for almost two hours, Xia Liu''s phone rang.


    It was a number from the front desk of Longteng Hotel.


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu couldn''t help shaking his head; just as he expected, Zhang Xiaoxue had gotten drunk.


    "Xiaoxue is drunk?" Thinking she had heard wrong, Zhang Qing weakly asked.


    "Yes, she''s at a classmates'' gathering today, at Longteng Hotel." Xia Liu smiled helplessly.


    "Great opportunity! Xia Liu, you should quickly take care of Xiaoxue! I''m a bit out of my depth here alone!" After confirming the situation, Zhang Qing excitedly jumped up from the couch.


    Ever since she had learned to swim, she had realized how minuscule her strength was when she was alone.


    Facing Xia Liu, she would grit her teeth and persevere each time, all to satisfy him.


    She had once fantasized about how pleasant and easy it would be if she had several sisters to share the burden of this beast.


    Finally, today, she felt that her opportunity had finally arrived!


    "Pfft!"


    The light tea in Xia Liu''s mouth almost sprayed out.


    "Xia Liu, you must try hard, I can''t hold on much longer by myself," she said.


    "Sister Zhang, let''s see about that. There''s nothing much going on here, come with me to Longteng and see Xiaoxue, I also need to go back to the village," he replied.


    Xia Liu wanted to, but under these circumstances,


    he couldn''t let Zhang Xiaoxue become his woman without reason.


    He had to pick a day.


    Surprisingly, Zhang Qing''s thoughts were quite progressive.


    He wasn''t sure whether she was sincere or just testing him...


    Zhang Qing did not refuse and soon followed Xia Liu to Longteng.


    For the female manager of Longyun Hotel, the waitstaff at Longteng Hotel brightened up.


    At the same time, they felt a strong sense of inferiority, as there had previously been a fairy level manager at Longyun Hotel.


    Now, their manager was also a fairy.


    "Xia Liu, aren''t you going to eat?" Zhang Xiaoxue, lying sprawled in a big "X" on the round bed, asked somewhat dejectedly.


    "I''m really busy today, maybe next time," he replied.


    After saying that, Xia Liu hurried out of the room. In the face of unpredictable circumstances and unfavorable timing, he could only leave in disgrace.


    "What a fool, to not take advantage of such a great girl..." Watching the tightly closed door, Zhang Qing muttered quietly to herself.


    Returning to Osmanthus Village, the sun had already set, as Zhang Qing had moved out of her home, Gu Fangxia had recently been staying at the construction site.


    At the worker''s dormitory just outside the village, Xia Liu saw Gu Fangxia.


    At that moment, she was busy recording the day''s work and materials as well as other aspects.


    Because the dormitory was too warm, Gu Fangxia was wearing only a black tank top.


    Her figure was so enticing.


    After swallowing a few times, Xia Liu stepped back from the window, thankful that the workers were still paving the roads, otherwise, this girl would have been too exposed.


    "Cough cough..."


    "Who''s there!" Hearing the cough outside the door, Gu Fangxia hurriedly grabbed a short-sleeved shirt and put it on.


    But she did not realize that Xia Liu had already been watching her for over ten minutes before that.


    "It''s me, Xia Liu."


    "Boss Xia, did you come to see me for something?" Gu Fangxia asked softly, her head lowered as she opened the metal door.


    "I came to check on the road conditions and to discuss the next steps for the construction," he said.


    "The next steps for the construction?" The surprise came too suddenly for Gu Fangxia, who excitedly pulled Xia Liu into the dorm.


    She had just been worrying about what she would do in a few days once this project was finished and she had to go out looking for business.


    If the workers stopped, there would be no income.


    After a few minutes of discussion, Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction. The road from Osmanthus Village to Pinglan Town.


    It would be passable in three days, and sitting in the dorm, Xia Liu could even hear the sound of machines operating.


    "Sister Gu, how much would it cost to build a five-story villa around here?" Xia Liu asked, satisfied with the road.


    "A villa? You want to build a villa?" Gu Fangxia was surprised at Xia Liu''s inquiry.


    She had considered his new project, but didn''t expect it to be a villa, which was somewhat disappointing¡­

 Chapter 114 Fifty Villas

    After all, the construction of the villa was progressing rapidly, and before long, the workers found themselves without a source of income again."Sister Gu, what''s with that expression? Can''t we build villas here?"


    Seeing Gu Fangxia''s anxious face, Xia Liu asked with puzzlement.


    "No, no, a five-story villa can be built, but it all depends on your design," Gu Fangxia said, pulling herself together.


    Although the construction of villas was quick, the profit was substantial, and the workers liked this kind of workload.


    She was worried about where to drum up business after the construction was completed¡­


    "Speaking of designs, I could come up with some plans. I just want to know, how much would it cost to build forty-five villas?" Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction. Since Gu Fangxia could handle it, what was probably lacking now was money.


    "How many did you say?"


    Gu Fangxia thought she must have heard wrong and stared intently at Xia Liu as she asked.


    "Let''s make it fifty, a round number is easier to calculate," Xia Liu thought aloud. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although there weren''t fifty households in the village, there would undoubtedly be more people coming in the future. For the sake of the next generation, fifty villas would definitely be too few.


    Furthermore, he had another idea; if he really pulled off his initial plan, he would definitely need to build a few more houses for accommodation.


    "Oh my! It''s actually fifty villas!" Gu Fangxia couldn''t stay seated any longer. Once the number was confirmed, she got up and walked around the table a few times.


    She fanned herself repeatedly, trying to cool down and calm her nerves.


    ¡­


    Xia Liu didn''t expect her to get so excited, but then again, it made sense - fifty villas would sell for several million or even tens of millions each according to the developer''s standards.


    Even now, with him providing the funds and land, the construction costs were estimated to be high.


    More importantly, the workers under Gu Fangxia would be able to continue working without interruption, and their salary was a given.


    "Boss Xia, are you really not kidding me?" Even after trying hard to calm herself down, Gu Fangxia still couldn''t believe it.


    Fifty villas, after all, was a colossal workload, much bigger than moving mountains and building roads.


    "I''m not joking, I''m actually planning to relocate the village to the seaside. Every morning, when you open the door, you''ll be able to breathe in the freshest air and enjoy the most beautiful bay view!"


    "Uh, uh, uh¡­"


    Gu Fangxia closed her eyes, imagining the scene Xia Liu described.


    Waking up in bed every day, stepping out to the balcony with a ray of sunshine on her face.


    In her eyes, the glittering expanse of the sea, and in her ears, the sound of birds.


    Beautiful!


    Just like a dream!


    In that instant, Gu Fangxia was deeply engrossed in the Illusory Realm.


    She yearned so much to live in such a place herself, free of burdens and worries, even for a lifetime.


    Seeing the dazed expression on Gu Fangxia''s face, Xia Liu began to wonder.


    Could it be that she likes that idea so much that maybe he should give her a villa when the time comes?


    "Sister Gu, Sister Gu¡­"


    "Uh, yes, I''m here; go on," Gu Fangxia said, hastily brought back to reality by Xia Liu''s voice, trying to hide her embarrassment from Xia Liu.


    "I''ve finished saying what I wanted to¡­"


    "You''ve finished? Then what should I say?" Gu Fangxia was clearly still not fully back to her senses, and couldn''t help feeling bitter.


    "Sister Gu, for fifty villas, what''s the approximate quote per villa if I provide the design blueprints?" Xia Liu was honestly at a loss with her, absorbed in her thoughts just moments ago.


    "For a quote, you have to provide me with the design blueprints first. That way I can determine the building materials, and after calculation, I can give you a quote," she replied.


    "So, I''ll bring the design over this evening, or you could come to my place, and we can discuss it together?"


    "Yeah, yeah, I''ve been wanting to see how you designed it," Gu Fangxia agreed without a second thought.


    On one hand, she wanted to see Xia Liu''s design proposal; if it differed from what she had envisioned, she definitely had the intention to guide him.


    On the other hand, it was an opportunity to score a free meal, considering the food in the work shed surely couldn''t compare to what he had at home.


    As the two walked along the village path, the villagers greeted them warmly.


    "Xia Liu and Manager Gu really make a great couple."


    "Yes, if Manager Gu married Xia Liu, we''d have another daughter-in-law from out of town in our village."


    "But what about Xiaoxue if Xia Liu really marries Manager Gu?"


    "That''s easy to handle, just marry both, it''s not like we''ve never seen that before..."


    Walking ahead, Xia Liu almost stumbled and fell, at a loss for words in response to the villagers'' comments.


    Gu Fangxia, who obviously didn''t have Xia Liu''s keen hearing, walked on eagerly, imagining the beautiful seaside house in her mind.


    Finally, with his hearing intentionally lowered, Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia made it back home.


    "Huh, where are Xiaoxue and Xiaoman?" Seeing the locked door, Gu Fangxia asked in confusion.


    "Xiaoxue went to a party today and got drunk. I had Sister Zhang take care of her, and Xiaoman went to school. Right now, it''s just the two of us at home."


    "Just the two of us!" Gu Fangxia was somewhat shocked. Was Xia Liu hinting at something!!!


    Could it be that his fifty villas were a lie?


    Was he intentionally having her come over, knowing the road would soon be finished, and then planning to have her and the workers leave?


    Ah!!!


    The more Gu Fangxia thought about it, the more anxious she became, wondering what Xia Liu really meant...


    If Xia Liu knew about the turmoil in Gu Fangxia''s mind, he would surely be shocked; his simple words had led to such profound speculation!


    Indeed, a woman''s mind is no simple thing, incredibly complicated.


    Having Gu Fangxia watch TV at home, Xia Liu opened the fridge, took out some ingredients, and busied himself in the kitchen.


    "Is this guy planning to poison the food!"


    "He must be adding some kind of knockout drug!"


    The more she watched, the more anxious Gu Fangxia became. She regretted following Xia Liu home.


    However, if she left now and the fifty villas turned out to be real, she''d appear rude.


    Anxious. Anxious. Anxious...


    Amidst her anxiety, an hour passed, and the sky gradually darkened.


    On the dining table, three dishes and a soup looked bright and colorful enough to make one''s mouth water.


    But Gu Fangxia dared not touch it, worried that Xia Liu had indeed drugged the food, potentially destroying her twenty plus years of wisdom on a single dish.


    "Sister Gu, is it because my cooking doesn''t taste good?" Xia Liu asked awkwardly, seeing that Gu Fangxia still hadn''t picked up her chopsticks.


    "No, no, it looks delicious. It''s just that in my family, we have a tradition to pray before we eat. Okay, I''m going to start eating now."


    Having said that, Gu Fangxia picked up her chopsticks and began to nibble carefully where Xia Liu had served himself.


    "Wow! Why is this so delicious!" The moment she tasted the food, Gu Fangxia felt as if she had discovered a new world.


    Exclaiming in admiration, she abandoned all the worries that had been in her mind and started wolfing down the food.


    Xia Liu smiled and kept quiet. How could it possibly not be delicious when he had added Water Spirit Energy while cooking, which enhanced the nutrients of the ingredients, and combined that with his own culinary skills? This meal could conquer any food lover anywhere.

 Chapter 115 One of a Kind

    After eating, Gu Fangxia covered her small belly and collapsed on the sofa."Ah, that was so delicious."


    "Sister Gu, did you think I was going to drug the food just now, and then hehehe?" Xia Liu said with a smile, propping his cheek with one hand while sitting across the sofa.


    "Hmm?"


    Gu Fangxia''s face changed instantly, that heavenly taste had caught her off guard!


    "Did you drug it?" But Gu Fangxia waited for a while and didn''t notice anything unusual about herself, she couldn''t help but ask quietly.


    Xia Liu didn''t speak, just watched her with a smile on his face.


    A few minutes later, Gu Fangxia was about to break down, if Xia Liu didn''t speak soon, she was going to cry.


    All her reputation, was it really going to be ruined over a single dish...


    "Haha, Sister Gu, where did your mind go? Why would I drug it, I''m such a straightforward man," Xia Liu finally burst into laughter.


    ...


    "Ergh, you jerk, hurry up and draw the design!" Gu Fangxia didn''t know how to express her feelings.


    If she could, she really wanted to beat Xia Liu up for making jokes at such a time.


    But honestly, she felt a great disappointment, did she not attract him at all?


    It was such a good opportunity, and he didn''t take his chance. Could it be that he was really as upright as he claimed?


    But, it didn''t seem like it...


    "Hehe, just a moment, I''ll go get my tools from the car."


    After a devilish smile, Xia Liu quickly went to the car to get the paper and pen he had bought in the county.


    A4 paper, ballpoint pen.


    Seeing these two tools, Gu Fangxia''s face stiffened. People normally used pencils or computers to draw designs.


    Not to mention computers, if it were pencils, any mistake could be erased and corrected.


    And he was using a ballpoint pen, wasn''t that absurd...


    Or did he have the confidence to draw the design perfectly on his first try, with no need for revisions?


    Following Gu Fangxia''s doubt, Xia Liu spread out the paper on the table.


    He started with the foundation. The moment he put pen to paper, Gu Fangxia''s seductive eyes widened.


    Xia Liu''s hand moved like an old typewriter, each stroke so neat.


    If she hadn''t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn''t believe that those perfectly straight lines were drawn by hand!!!


    In order not to disturb Xia Liu, Gu Fangxia held her breath and quietly observed this seemingly impossible drawing.


    About ten minutes later, Xia Liu had finished the design.


    "Sister Gu, how do you like this design?"


    ...


    Having not received a response for a long time, Xia Liu looked up.


    At that moment, Gu Fangxia''s eyes were wide open, and she appeared as lifeless and controlled as a puppet.


    "Wow!" After blinking several times, Gu Fangxia couldn''t help but shout excitedly.


    Her gaze was fixed on the design.


    She could hardly believe her eyes; the lines in the design were so straightforward.


    Even the notes on the side were so neat, just like they were printed from a computer.


    She finally understood why he didn''t use pencils¡ªbecause of this reason. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Surely, with such advanced drawing skills, who needs pencils.


    Yet what shocked Gu Fangxia even more was behind this, anyone knowledgeable could tell at a glance.


    The architectural style resembled European castles, but upon closer inspection, there was a vast infusion of Huaxia style.


    This was a design that blended European style with Huaxia elements, a top-notch design blueprint!


    Gu Fangxia could only offer such a comment for now, and if a villa was built based on this design, it would definitely and surely be unique.


    "Unique, huh?" Xia Liu had not thought that much; he had been traveling abroad for the past few years.


    Having seen countless buildings and landmark sites, he was somewhat surprised to receive such an evaluation from Gu Fangxia for a design he sketched casually.


    "Yes, unique. Currently, there''s no such building domestically. If there were, it would definitely make the news, and your design is very avant-garde. I believe in the next few years, there will certainly be many buildings of this type," Gu Fangxia confidently said.


    "Oh, can I take it that in the next few years, Manager Gu will extensively copy this design for construction?"


    ...


    Honestly, Gu Fangxia had indeed entertained that thought just now, and having it pointed out by Xia Liu felt really annoying.


    "Psh, as if your ego could soar any higher from just a few compliments!" she said defensively with a stern face.


    "Hehe, just joking, just joking. If you need it, you''re welcome to use it anytime, but you''ve got to help me build fifty of them first," Xia Liu chuckled joyfully.


    Such things should be shared.


    His capabilities might be limited, but he was more than willing to help others, even the country.


    However, although he thought this way, he wondered what kind of thoughts those people in Huaxia might have when they saw him...


    As Xia Liu was pondering this, he suddenly sensed a fragrance swiftly approaching him.


    Pop!


    Oh my, what Xia Liu saw.


    A charming face up close, with long eyelashes quivering slightly.


    In just an instant, Xia Liu and his buddies were all thrilled.


    "Thank you, Boss Xia!" After giving Xia Liu a quick peck on the face, Gu Fangxia quickly ran outside.


    "Damn!" Watching her joyously hopping away, Xia Liu couldn''t help but let out a complaint.


    Touching the lingering sweetness on his cheek, Xia Liu shook his head helplessly.


    These girls really do just stoke the fires and then run off, leaving him to quench the blaze!


    Left with no choice, Xia Liu sprinted to the seaside and jumped into the sea without even taking off his clothes.


    Only the chilly seawater late at night could cool him down.


    The next day, Xia Liu received a call from Zhang Xiaoxue, asking him why he hadn''t kept her company last night, worried she might have been bullied.


    The tone sounded wrong to Xia Liu; when had Xiaoxue ever spoken to him like that?


    He quickly drove to the hotel, as he couldn''t let that girl spend too much time with Zhang Qing, lest she be led astray.


    As soon as he opened the door to the room, Xia Liu saw Zhang Qing looking at him with a smile.


    "Where''s Xiaoxue?" Amid Zhang Qing''s sneaky grin, Xia Liu had a bad feeling.


    "Close the door first," Zhang Qing said slowly and deliberately.


    The moment Xia Liu closed the door, the bathroom door also opened.


    Out walked Zhang Xiaoxue, wrapped in a white bath towel.


    Little droplets of water fell from her hair onto her tender shoulders, her legs long, delicate, and flawlessly straight, such as one only sees in young years.


    Xia Liu was stunned; what was this situation...


    He thought of escaping by opening the door, but then Zhang Xiaoxue spoke, "Brother Xia Liu, I know everything now!"


    Xia Liu''s body trembled slightly, she knew everything?


    What did she know?


    Could it be the thing between him and Zhang Qing!!!


    Thinking this, Xia Liu became uneasy. He glanced at Zhang Qing and saw her staring out the window.


    This situation seemed to indicate that she was passing all the problems to him...

 Chapter 116 Smash Ten Stores

    "Xiaoxue, what have you found out?"Xia Liu didn''t explain immediately; he didn''t believe Zhang Qing would really reveal everything.


    This time, it was Zhang Xiaoxue''s turn to be distressed.


    What did she know?


    She knew nothing; she had spoken to Zhang Qing about her troubles after seeing her that morning.


    She asked her for some advice, and Zhang Qing indeed gave plenty.


    In the end, they even developed the quickest solution. Of course, Zhang Qing didn''t spill about her and Xia Liu''s affair.


    Otherwise, it would definitely hurt the girl. Now, she advised Zhang Xiaoxue to use this mysterious questioning to embarrass Xia Liu into spilling everything.


    But the two women still underestimated Xia Liu, who was he?


    Having mingled abroad for five years, he had encountered far sharper people than themselves.


    "Sister Zhang, what do I know, huh?" Eventually, Zhang Xiaoxue gave herself away.


    "Forget it, he has beaten us." Zhang Qing felt powerless; she couldn''t tell Zhang Xiaoxue about her affair with Xia Liu.


    If it had to be told, it would be Xia Liu who said it. She had already braced herself for a lecture from Zhang Xiaoxue.


    The outcome was unexpected, but it was also a relief, at least they could delay it some more.


    "What are you two discussing?" Seeing this, Xia Liu could confirm that Zhang Xiaoxue still didn''t know about his affairs with Zhang Qing.


    Of course, this was only temporary. A secret never stays hidden forever; she would find out one day.


    He needed to be prepared to tell her the truth someday.


    "No... nothing, Brother Xia Liu, wait a moment for me." Saying so, Zhang Xiaoxue picked up her clothes and hurried into the bathroom to dress.


    "Xia Liu, you aren''t mad at me, are you?" Zhang Qing asked weakly.


    "Why would I be mad at you? We''ll have to face it sooner or later. I''ll talk to Xiaoxue when the chance arises. But why haven''t you been honest with her?"


    "I was afraid you''d be mad..." Zhang Qing pouted.


    "Forget it, get yourself ready. I''ll drive you to Longyun," Xia Liu said, feeling his throat dry and his pulse quicken as he eyed Zhang Qing.


    If Zhang Xiaoxue weren''t here, this moment could turn into a battlefield.


    Seeing that Xia Liu wasn''t angry, Zhang Qing also went into the bathroom with her clothes.


    The moment she opened the door, Xia Liu was stunned.


    He was starting to lose control; what the hell had he just seen? A fleeting white silhouette.


    ...


    After a bout of depression, Xia Liu drove Zhang Qing to Longyun and then drove back to Osmanthus Village.


    "Xiaoxue, would you like to manage the hotel like Sister Zhang?"


    "I''m afraid I might ruin your hotel, Brother Xia Liu. I''d better stay in the village."


    "Don''t worry, even if you ruin ten hotels, it''s fine as long as you like it." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, I''d rather stay in the village," Zhang Xiaoxue said with a bitter smile, finally murmuring in a voice as faint as a mosquito, "Because that way I can live under the same roof as Brother Xia Liu."


    Xia Liu''s hands stiffened for a moment; he clearly heard her.


    In a few days, once the road was fixed, he would come clean with her!


    Back in the village, Xia Liu always felt much calmer. He was very confident about leaving the hotel matters to Zhang Qing and Ye Ming.


    With Gu Fangxia taking care of the village''s development, the oyster and Osmanthus Chicken channels were both well managed.


    Now he was waiting for Gu Fangxia to give him a quote for fifty villas¡ªhe was set on building them!


    But he wasn''t just sitting around; building villas required more money.


    In those days, people often saw a figure, climbing the mountains with a basket on his back early in the morning and only returning at dusk.


    At home, Zhang Xiaoxue prepared breakfast and dinner for Xia Liu every day.


    Even though they didn''t talk much, she still felt warm and happy.


    In the early morning, amid a lively burst of firecrackers, a secondary road from Osmanthus Village to Pinglan Town was opened!


    Today, no one in Osmanthus Village went to work, as they had calculated that today was the day the road would open.


    Yesterday, they had already caught enough oysters, and all that was left was for Li Dazhuang to go to the seaside, collect them, load them onto trucks, and proceed.


    Over a hundred villagers gathered at the entrance of the village, with dozens of workers standing solemnly in front waiting under the leadership of Gu Fangxia.


    "Xia Liu, you''ve arrived, we were just waiting for you to cut the ribbon!" Seeing Xia Liu arrive, Li Zhi greeted him on behalf of everyone in Osmanthus Village.


    "Wait a little longer, let''s all do it together," Xia Liu said, looking towards the slope.


    He estimated the time, figuring people should have arrived by then.


    However, the person Xia Liu was expecting had not yet arrived.


    Another group that Osmanthus Village did not care for had come.


    "Look, it''s Li De from Shanyan Village!" someone shouted first, and all eyes were drawn to him.


    On the muddy road leading to Shanyan Village, a group was riding motorcycles in a grand procession, led by the village head of Shanyan Village, Li De!


    "Tsk, tsk, Li De really dared to come!" Upon seeing this sight, Li Zhi felt a sense of relief.


    Previously, you, Shanyan Village, blocked roads, alright! We endured it, either we don''t pass!


    Previously, you put up lines, alright! Then we don''t pull!


    Previously, you bullied people, alright! We endured it!


    Today, facing the people from Shanyan Village, everyone in Osmanthus Village stood tall!


    Now, they had the confidence! Just one day''s income could match the annual income of each household in Shanyan Village¡ªthat was cause for pride!


    Li De and his group did not come too close, knowing this was Osmanthus Village''s turf.


    But curiosity brought them here, and upon seeing the newly opened mountain, they were all shocked.


    Previously, people from their village had heard and seen machinery operating here.


    But they had not expected Osmanthus Village to pull off something so significant.


    Unable to suppress his envy, Li De instantly confronted Li Zhi.


    "Li De! See it? Osmanthus Village''s road, Osmanthus Village''s lines!" boasted Li Zhi, standing tall and gesturing for Li De to look at the great scenery behind him.


    "See your grandpa!" Li De suppressed his anger.


    He sneered and said, "Bah! A poor village will always be a poor village, what else can you do besides rely on government aid? So what if you have a road now? You''re still poor!"


    Ha ha!!!


    The laughter erupted from everyone in Osmanthus Village.


    They laughed at Li De''s words, mocking the ignorance and foolishness of the Shanyan Village people.


    Three months ago, you could say that, but not now.


    Since Xia Liu had returned, everything had changed.


    Today, no one, no one can say Osmanthus Village is poor!


    Facing the laughter of over a hundred people, Li De was overwhelmed by this imposing atmosphere to the point he couldn''t catch his breath.


    He couldn''t understand what kind of confidence had transformed Osmanthus Village like this.


    In front of the crowd, Xia Liu smiled without saying a word; this day had been long-awaited.


    For this day, Xiaoxue had endured for several years!


    "Brother Xia Liu...", ever since the people from Shanyan Village arrived, Zhang Xiaoxue''s emotions had fluctuated.


    Those people, her father had faced them once.


    Her father''s death, half of the reason was because of them!


    If not for them, her own father wouldn''t have been angered into bedridden sickness and eventually left the world with regrets.


    Today, she finally saw the retribution of the Shanyan Village people.

 Chapter 117 Not Worth Talking to Animals

    "It''s all right, it''s all in the past, and from now on, I''m here for you." Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue''s teary eyes, Xia Liu guessed what she was thinking.He did all this to help her reclaim justice, didn''t he?


    At this moment, he had finally helped her regain some of it.


    But this was still not enough. Since he had started, he must do it spectacularly, explosively!


    This was his promise to Zhang Xiaoxue, his promise to Osmanthus Village.


    The people from Shanyan Village saw Li De slumped on the ground, and quickly more than a dozen of them ran over.


    However, compared to the people of Osmanthus Village now, their momentum was far weaker.


    In the past, they might have bullied the entire village with just a dozen people. Now, even if a thousand came, they shouldn''t even dream of making Osmanthus Village bow its head.


    They not only had strong confidence but also Xia Liu!


    "What are you so arrogant about! Poor villagers! Even if you have a road, what does it matter, you''ll still be poor for life! Trash!" On the Shanyan Village side, a man in his thirties yelled scornfully.


    "Uncle Li, it''s not worth speaking to animals." Just as Li Zhong was about to lash back at that guy, Xia Liu''s voice came from the front of the crowd.


    This utterance of "animals" made the people of Osmanthus Village burst into raucous laughter.


    The people from Shanyan Village, led by Li De, looked as if they had been deflated, their faces instantly crisscrossed with dark lines.


    But they didn''t dare openly confront Xia Liu.


    Before coming here, they all knew how formidable Xia Liu was¡ªhe could fight ten men alone!


    "Uncle Li, if I remember correctly, wasn''t Dazhuang supposed to buy a car today? What''s the price range?"


    "Not much, just the kind around a hundred thousand or so."


    "Wow, that''s awesome. When my son comes home, I''ll buy one for him too."


    "Hehe, when the time comes, I''ll also buy one for my daughter, then it''ll be easy to find a son-in-law who will move in. Or it''ll be convenient if the two houses are close by."


    While waiting, Li Zhong and the villagers started to chat pleasantly.


    "Pssh! A measly hundred thousand, your village doesn''t even have a motorbike, you must be dreaming."


    "This dump of a village and you expect someone to marry into it? Be grateful if anyone agrees to marry off and go home to offer incense to your ancestors."


    Hearing Li Zhong and the others casually chatting, the people from Shanyan Village couldn''t bear it and started to spout sarcastic comments one after another.


    But Li Zhong had learned his lesson; he thought Xia Liu''s words were apt¡ªit wasn''t worth speaking to animals.


    If you win the argument, you''re more impressive than an animal; if you lose, you''re even less than one.


    "Here it comes." Not long after, Xia Liu murmured, his gaze fixed on the slope above.


    The others also passed along his words, and although they waited a while and saw no change, they firmly believed it was coming!


    Beep beep beep...


    Indeed, twenty seconds later, the sound of a car horn drifted down from the slope above.


    Looking up, they saw a white sedan driving leisurely without a license plate.


    Red ribbons were tied to the rearview mirrors, a clear sign of a brand-new car!


    The white sedan suddenly accelerated, speeding down the slope at breakneck pace before stopping directly behind Gu Fangxia.


    The car door opened, and a familiar figure stepped out¡ªit was none other than Li Dazhuang.


    "Good kid, he really got a car."


    "Wow haha, the second car in Osmanthus Village!"


    The people from Shanyan Village were instantly deflated, staring at Li Dazhuang with their mouths agape in surprise.


    Some had known Li Dazhuang since childhood, recognizing the man, and were shocked to see that he now owned a car!


    In the countryside, they might not recognize Rolls-Royces or Bentleys.


    But they had seen domestically-made B-class cars before, worth hundreds of thousands!


    They couldn''t help but glance back at the motorcycles behind them, and a bitter feeling spread from the bottom of their hearts.


    "Brother Xia Liu, this car''s not bad, right?" Li Dazhuang was quite excited, as he had always dreamed of owning his own car, and today he had finally realized this wish.


    "It''s decent, consider it a starter car, and later get a better one," Xia Liu patted Li Dazhuang on the shoulder, his affirmative words causing the latter even more excitement.


    It wasn''t just Li Dazhuang, everyone in Osmanthus Village believed that as long as they followed Xia Liu,


    not to mention a car worth hundreds of thousands, even one worth millions wasn''t just a wish.


    "Xia Liu, aren''t you going to cut the ribbon yet?" Following the workers and holding up the red cloth for so long, Gu Fangxia was getting impatient, thinking he might wait until the afternoon to cut it.


    "Sister Gu, don''t be in such a hurry, there are still people coming," Xia Liu said slowly and calmly.


    As if on cue, his words had just ended when two cars appeared atop the slope.


    They were two police cars, followed by a black sedan.


    Then, three minibusses followed, their sides painted with the words ''Special Police''.


    Seeing this glorious scene, the whole village was electrified, each person wondering who the important guest could be.


    Only moments ago, Li De had considered directing a few people to tear down the red cloth, but seeing the police cars arrive, he instantly lost his nerve.


    Soon, the cars stopped in front of the crowd.


    Under countless gazes, Li Qinqin, clad in a police uniform, stepped down from the car.


    The light breeze flirted with her, her poised demeanor on full display.


    Following that, several rows of armed elite police got off the special police buses.


    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the door of the black sedan opened, and out stepped Li Zhong in a strict business suit, accompanied by Lan Weiming, Lin Hongsheng, and Chen Jin. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow! It''s actually County Chief Li and Town Chief Lan!"


    The villagers erupted into cheers at the sight of these familiar figures.


    In the past, these individuals were seen by the villagers as almost sacred and noble beings.


    Now, they were right in front of them, how could anyone not be excited?


    "Xia Liu, we''re not late, are we?" Li Zhong got out of the car and immediately started greeting Xia Liu with a warm smile.


    "Humph, what could he do if we were late?"


    "Qianqian, are you satisfied only if you drive me to my wit''s end?"


    Seeing his daughter giving Xia Liu no face at all, Li Zhong''s expression changed instantly.


    "What are you saying, County Chief Li? There are still a few minutes left until the time we agreed upon," Xia Liu spoke to Li Qianqian, not daring to show his anger, as he still needed to ingratiate himself with her.


    Otherwise, how would he learn about Fang Fei''s matters from her?


    "Haha, as long as you''re not late, that''s good," said Li Zhong, gesturing to Chen Jin with a look.


    Chen Jin understood and immediately deployed the special police to maintain the surrounding security.


    Lan Weiming looked sullenly at Li De, at a loss for words for this little brother-in-law of his.


    Today, Li Zhong hadn''t brought any indication of his status and was mingling with the villagers like an ordinary person.


    When Xia Liu signaled that it was time, Li Zhong, together with Lin Hongsheng and others who had come along, picked up a pair of scissors with Li Zhi.


    As the red ribbon was cut, it symbolized that the road connecting Osmanthus Village to Pinglan Town was officially open!


    The first to drive down this road was Li Dazhuang''s car; today, Osmanthus Village finally had its own road, and from now on, there was no need to defer to any other village.


    No longer restricted by any village, their rise began today!


    Just as the ribbon-cutting ceremony had concluded, a few more cars came down from the slope.


    The people stopped in their tracks and turned their eyes; leading the way was a Rolls-Royce, followed by two Bentleys.


    The license plates were from Binlai City.


    Visitors from the city, this caught everyone''s attention.


    Once Xia Liu saw who was coming, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly; he had no idea how the news of the road opening had reached them.

 Chapter 118 The News that Shocked Everyone

    When the Rolls-Royce came to a halt, Mo Wanqing, clad in a purple dress, elegantly stepped out of the car.Apart from astonishment, the only thing left in everyone''s eyes was a sense of nobility.


    "Xia Liu, Aunt didn''t get invited, but still came, welcome or not?" Mo Wanqing greeted without any pretense, just like she would with a friend.


    "How could you not be welcome? I was only worried about delaying Aunt Qing''s work; otherwise, I would have invited you to visit long ago."


    Actually, Xia Liu was very shocked inside. Mo Wanqing''s business was vast while his own village''s minor road inauguration ceremony


    was enough to make her rush over, which showed the extent of her concern for him.


    "Li Zhong, let me introduce to you the boss of Wanqing Group, Mo Wanqing."


    Wanqing Group!


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s introduction, Li Zhong and the others were internally startled.


    In their positions, they paid attention to many pieces of information, and Wanqing Group was among those they focused on closely.


    Li Zhong had a mission to attract Wanqing Group to invest in Hejing County from Binlai City.


    But given his limitations, he had made several trips to Binlai City without meeting Mo Wanqing.


    Today, the boss of Binlai City''s foremost enterprise, Mo Wanqing, had unexpectedly shown up in a humble mountain village!


    How could this not be shocking?


    "Good day to you, Li Zhong."


    "Good day, Boss Mo."


    Following that, Xia Liu took Mo Wanqing around, introducing her to each person.


    "Village Chief Wu, that seems to be a famous big boss from the city!"


    "I''ve seen her on TV before, the richest woman in the city!"


    "Everyone shut your mouths!"


    Listening to the various excited voices around him, Li De''s head was about to explode.


    He had come today to undermine Osmanthus Village, but now there was no chance of that.


    And if he left now, wouldn''t it be like admitting defeat to the people of Osmanthus Village?


    But staying, the rank and status of those people would only make him feel more inferior.


    "Wow! The boss of the biggest enterprise in Binlai City and Xia Liu seem very familiar!"


    "Didn''t you hear? Xia Liu called Boss Mo ''Aunt''!"


    "Amazing, if every one of us in the village could be as talented as Xia Liu, we''d shine wherever we went!"


    Upon learning of Mo Wanqing''s identity, the villagers became particularly excited.


    Everyone''s face was flushed with red, their hearts filled with indescribable joy.


    Today, under the arrangements of Li Zhi, thirty tables had been set up for the feast in the village.


    Soon everyone made their way toward the village center.


    Each table seated ten people; the guests found their places with orderly conduct.


    A dozen young women and farmwives were busy serving dishes and cooking, bustling with activity.


    "Aunt Qing, today is a bit humble; next time, I''ll set up a table for you in the county."


    "Not humble at all, this is quite nice. Twenty years ago, I lived through even harder times than this. Don''t mention being poor in front of me because I''ve been poorer than you," Mo Wanqing said lightly in response to Xia Liu''s words.


    No matter how nonchalantly she spoke, for those listening, it was not hard to imagine that this legendary figure of the business world must have endured no small amount of hardship back in the day.


    Looking at the humble mud houses around, Mo Wanqing suddenly said, "Xia Liu, I''m planning to build some commercial residential buildings here in Hejing County. I''ll give you a few to distribute; how about we move everyone to the county town?"


    As soon as this news broke out, everyone sitting around the table was shocked. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially Li Zhong, who had wanted to persuade Mo Wanqing to invest here before.


    The fact that she brought it up herself today was simply incredible good fortune.


    The prosperity of a county town requires a substantial population and industrial base.


    With the vast range of industries under the Wanqing Group, as long as she said she would come over, it wasn''t just real estate investment but also various industrial projects!


    Many others, however, couldn''t understand why Mo Wanqing was so generous to Xia Liu and the village.


    "Thanks for your kindness, Aunt Qing. I''m used to village life, and I think I''d feel out of place in the county. I believe most of us here feel the same," Xia Liu gratefully responded to Mo Wanqing''s offer, having considered relocating before.


    However, he quickly dismissed the idea, preferring to live in the village even with the means to move.


    As long as the village was developed, it would soon become the busiest center.


    Moreover, the roots of Osmanthus Village were here, where everyone could make money more easily and live more leisurely.


    "Xia Liu, how can you be so sure without asking everyone''s opinion?" Mo Wanqing still wasn''t giving up; she genuinely wanted to do something substantial to repay Xia Liu.


    Because of the Beauty Mud, her life had changed significantly, and she even had the confidence to take her company into the top 50 in Huaxia within a few years.


    "Right, Xia Liu, ask everyone else," Li Zhong also said. Such a great opportunity for development surely shouldn''t be missed.


    If Mo Wanqing invested in Hejing County, it would enhance all aspects of the region, which might even become the premier county under Binlai City.


    As a county magistrate, achieving this under his jurisdiction would be a life without regrets!


    "Aunt Qing, don''t ask anymore. This guy here is planning to build fifty villas, look, right there by the seaside," Gu Fangxia spoke up, pointing towards the sea when Xia Liu was about to speak.


    "Fifty villas!!"


    "Does it have to be that grand!"


    Everyone present was astounded, even Li Qianqian, who usually didn''t want anything to do with Xia Liu.


    Fifty villas by the seaside were a massive undertaking even if Mo Wanqing was the one giving them away.


    Xia Liu was planning to build them himself, which was downright frightening.


    The people of Osmanthus Village stared dumbfounded at Xia Liu; with fifty villas, there was no way he could occupy them all.


    Could it be that he was building for everyone in the village?!!


    This thought had just emerged when Li Zhong eagerly asked, "Xia Liu, did Manager Gu just say¡­"


    "Uncle Li, Aunt Qing, and everyone here, Manager Gu is right. I''m going to build fifty villas, and when the time comes, each family will get one," Xia Liu said as he touched his nose, seizing the opportunity to share this news.


    Wow!!!


    This sudden announcement ignited the villagers completely.


    If each family got a villa, they would soon be living in new homes without any expense!


    Mo Wanqing stared blankly at Xia Liu, previously thinking she had understood his circumstances well after investigating him and knowing his difficulties.


    Now, it seemed her understanding of this young man was far too superficial.


    Having just acquired two hotels, there would be many expenses to manage, not to mention others.


    Despite the hotels not yet being stable, he was considering building fifty villas¡ªan overwhelming thought even to Mo Wanqing.


    "Xia Liu, let''s all calm down. You can''t take on the burden of building houses for everyone all by yourself¡­"


    "Uncle Li, I know what I''m doing. Perhaps everyone isn''t aware, but I have acquired two hotels in the county town, and there will be a steady stream of income. Building fifty villas is just the start; I want Osmanthus Village to become the number one in Huaxia!" Xia Liu cut in before Li Zhong could say anything, revealing another astonishing fact.

 Chapter 119 Peace of Mind [Remember to Vote]

    Hiss!!!Countless sharp intakes of breath.


    Li Zhi and the people of Osmanthus Village were completely stunned after Xia Liu''s explanation.


    They had just realized that those two hotels were Longteng and Longyun.


    Li Dazhuang often transmitted some news that those two hotels were clearly the ones buying the oysters.


    Knowing these facts, everyone felt an indescribable emotion.


    It turned out that the oysters they had been harvesting were all sold to Xia Liu.


    They were all very worried since the price of oysters was really too high. They wondered if Xia Liu was using the hotel''s profits to cover the high cost of the oysters.


    "Don''t worry, everyone. Both hotels are making a substantial income daily, so you shouldn''t feel burdened," Xia Liu said, feeling a warmth in his heart as he listened to everyone''s various concerns and continued to explain.


    "I can testify to this. Nowadays, the Longyun Hotel is becoming increasingly popular. It won''t be long before it becomes a sensation in Binlai City."


    Seeing the look Xia Liu gave him, Li Zhong immediately stood up to speak on Xia Liu''s behalf.


    "That''s good, that''s good..."


    Li Zhi and the villagers all breathed a sigh of relief since they were now getting thousands of dollars a day.


    They just feared that this money was being forcefully squeezed out of Xia Liu''s own pocket, which would make anyone uneasy about accepting it.


    "Xia Liu, I think building these fifty villas will require a huge amount of capital?" Mo Wanqing expressed her concern about Xia Liu''s financial shortfall and asked in front of everyone.


    "Don''t worry, Aunt Qing. I am short of money now, but houses can''t be built in a day. Slow and steady wins the race, and by the time the construction is complete, my funds will be in place," Xia Liu replied.


    He wasn''t worried about this. Nowadays, both Longteng and Longyun were making sales of around one million a day, minus materials and labor costs.


    A day also netted eight or nine hundred thousand, and with this rate, he wasn''t afraid of running out of money to build houses.


    Li Zhong could only shake his head at Xia Liu''s determination; after all, Mo Wanqing had a fortune of several billions.


    She explicitly said she wanted to help you, and yet you outright refused.


    But no one present dared to oppose Xia Liu, because his experiences spoke for themselves.


    Being able to have achieved what he had from scratch demonstrated his capabilities.


    And now with two profitable hotels, moving forward was just a matter of time.


    Seeing that he was ungrateful, Mo Wanqing could only feel helpless in the end. However, she did have intentions of investing in Hejing County, so she took this opportunity to start chatting with Li Zhong.


    At the table, Xia Liu chatted intermittently with Li Qianqian.


    But Li Qianqian clearly didn''t want to have anything to do with him, and almost made the people nearby think he had intentions toward Li Qianqian.


    Xia Liu wasn''t in a rush. If he wanted to extract information about Fang Fei from Li Qianqian''s mouth, he had to take it slow.


    The lady probably still harbored anger toward him. Maybe after some time, he would be able to get the information. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the banquet was almost over, Ye Ming and Zhang Qing finally drove over.


    Seeing Zhang Qing''s return, the villagers led by Li Zhi started questioning her.


    Li Dazhuang had seen Zhang Qing when he was delivering goods and had shared this news then.


    Everyone was a bit skeptical then, but today with Zhang Qing''s return, they definitely wanted to clear things up.


    After some time of questioning, everyone finally believed that Xia Liu''s hotels were truly making money.


    It wasn''t out of jealousy, but joy. They didn''t want their own wealth to cause hardships for Xia Liu.


    "Aunt Qing, please come over here." Seeing Mo Wanqing appear, Zhang Qing joyfully ran over to greet her.


    Mo Wanqing naturally hadn''t forgotten Zhang Qing, and it didn''t take long for the two to warmly catch up with each other.


    It was Ye Ming''s first visit to Osmanthus Village, and he was immediately shocked.


    He had heard that Osmanthus Village was one of the poorest in the county, and now he saw it was true.


    The surrounding low mud houses made him sigh, especially when he saw Young Master Liao''s few brick houses.


    One thing that shocked him was, after chatting with Zhang Qing, he just found out.


    Xia Liu was a native of Osmanthus Village and had ventured out for five years before recently returning home.


    Upon his return, he directly led the villagers to become wealthy.


    This was shocking no matter where you were.


    "Manager Ye, you really went out of your way today. Please, take any seat and have a drink; we''re all family here,"


    "Chairman, you''re too kind. If it weren''t for the hotel being so busy this morning, I would have come earlier. It''s definitely not that I was reluctant," Ye Ming said cheerfully. Being able to visit the boss''s village was an honor for him.


    Xia Liu nodded. There were certainly busy matters at the hotel, which could not be blamed on Ye Ming.


    He had to thank him even more for sending Zhang Qing back home.


    Today, Osmanthus Village was bustling with activity, unlike the neighboring village.


    Everyone in Shanyan Village wore a gloomy expression; they had just received news from their relatives in Osmanthus Village.


    Xia Liu owned two hotels in Hejing County and was currently planning to build fifty villas.


    These villas were to be distributed free of charge to the people of Osmanthus Village.


    The news was deliberately sent to the people of Shanyan Village by Li Zhong, simply to boast and win some pride for Osmanthus Village.


    It was also to infuriate Li De, who yesterday had scorned Osmanthus Village as a poor backwater, taking advantage of the village.


    Today, he wanted to make Li De envious and regretful!


    Although the sky was clear, the people of Shanyan Village always felt a dark cloud hanging over their village.


    They could not tell whether the dark cloud was in the sky or in their hearts.


    In any case, everyone''s heart was filled with regret.


    They had had a chance to mend fences, but Li De had stubbornly led people to cause trouble.


    Initially, they had refused to allow the excavator to dig the dirt road, but then the town''s mayor and the county chief were invited.


    Later, they denied others the right to draw lines, but when the county chief and the town mayor came, Li De persisted.


    Now look what happened; they didn''t route the lines through Shanyan Village.


    They simply split the mountain and built a secondary road. How formidable is that?


    All of Shanyan Village pointed their fingers at Li De, their hearts filled with anger.


    If it hadn''t been for Li De''s tough attitude at the beginning.


    Would Osmanthus Village have gone to the trouble of cutting through the mountain?


    If they hadn''t cut through the mountain, wouldn''t this secondary road be passing right by their doorstep now?


    This would be convenient for the entire village!


    Upon returning home from Osmanthus Village, Li De locked himself in his house, with many villagers standing at the door.


    They were there to accuse him, with all sorts of insults being hurled.


    By now, very few people still supported Li De.


    They wanted to mend the relationship with Osmanthus Village.


    Unfortunately, it was already too late. Calling those few relatives, all calls were now being hung up.


    They also understood the attitude they had shown those relatives during hard times.


    "Everyone, please calm down. Let''s wait a while, then go talk to Osmanthus Village and try to salvage the relationship."


    "Yes, but today we must drag Li De out and give him a beating!"


    "Right! Teach him a harsh lesson!"


    If it were before, they would never dare to think this way.


    Think about it; Li De''s brother-in-law is Lan Weiming.


    Now that Lan Weiming no longer cares about Li De, it won''t be long before he is removed from his position as village head.

 Chapter 120 Zhang Kuang Returns to the Village

    Regret was useless now, everyone couldn''t break open Li De''s door, and eventually had no choice but to leave.In the room, Li De leaned against the wall in despair.


    He no longer had the heart to concern himself with Shanyan Village and Osmanthus Village.


    All he wanted was for night to fall quickly so he could grab his things and hide for a while.


    As for revenge, he would wait for his son Li Hao to return...


    The lively atmosphere led the girls to drink some alcohol, especially Zhang Xiaoxue and Gu Fangxia.


    Zhang Xiaoxue had a low alcohol tolerance. She didn''t drink much, and stopped after her face turned red.


    What''s that saying, "Liquid courage"? Today, she definitely had to confess to Xia Liu.


    If he didn''t agree, she would force Xia Liu to agree. That was her determination.


    Overjoyed because of the project, Gu Fangxia ended up so drunk that if it weren''t for Zhang Qing, she would have probably made a fool of herself that day.


    The banquet gradually dispersed.


    Zhang Qing was about to help Gu Fangxia to the county to rest for a few days, and Li Zhong and Mo Wanqing were also wrapping up their discussions.


    From Li Zhong''s foolishly happy expression, it was clear he had gained a lot from this trip.


    Just as everyone was finishing up and preparing to rest, a car slowly drove into the village.


    The busy crowd all stopped to look as three people alighted from the car.


    The villagers were surprised by a person with both hands in plaster casts, it was none other than the former village tyrant Zhang Kuang!


    Alighting from the car with Zhang Kuang were Wu Lili and her father Wu Mingde.


    Wu Mingde hadn''t slept well in the past few days, constantly thinking about how to earn Xia Liu''s forgiveness.


    Only this could get him back into the company.


    Yet, giving thousands of yuan to Zhang Kuang to bring his daughter to apologize, yet ending up in a fight, had left this so-called son-in-law with another broken arm.


    Unable to stay put, Wu Mingde drove there himself.


    Li Zhi and the villagers, seeing the casts on Zhang Kuang''s hands, all burst out laughing.


    Back when he was in the village, he had bullied many people and committed numerous thefts.


    Now, daring to come back was simply masochism.


    "Zhang Kuang, who could have imagined you''d end up like this?" many villagers exclaimed.


    The villagers were not afraid of Zhang Kuang anymore; they had been poor before, too poor to stand up for themselves.


    Times had changed, increasing wealth had given them more confidence, and no one could bully them any longer.


    Zhang Kuang and Wu Lili dared not speak, as they had been scolded by Wu Mingde on the way there.


    Their purpose today was to apologize, and if they caused any trouble, they would be directly thrown out of the house.


    While Wu Lili naturally wasn''t worried, Zhang Kuang was different.


    Having already registered for marriage with Wu Lili, being thrown out would mean all his years of persistence had been for nothing.


    Seeing Zhang Kuang come back, Zhang Qing wasn''t too emotional; his dealings with Zhang Kuang had long been known around the village.


    Their relationship was a cooperative one; back then they hadn''t even got a marriage certificate. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just organized a simple wedding banquet, and then nothing else happened.


    However, Zhang Qing wasn''t ungracious, she hadn''t divulged the secret about Zhang Kuang''s impotence.


    Today, seeing the changes in Osmanthus Village, Zhang Kuang truly felt a shock.


    A road led directly into the village, and from the looks of it, it seemed this poor village had changed a lot.


    But by looks alone, he hadn''t understood much.


    "I remember you are called Wu Mingde, so what? Last time I disciplined your daughter, and today you have come to discipline me?" Xia Liu never showed a good face to the likes of Wu Lili.


    A nest of snakes and rats, Xia Liu had come to understand Wu Mingde''s character in the commercial circles of Binlai City.


    With people like him, if he had come looking for trouble today, and you don''t give him a memory that he can''t erase for the rest of his life, he will definitely not know repentance.


    "Mr. Xia, please don''t misunderstand, today I brought these two animals here to apologize to you, I want to say sorry." Wu Mingde bowed his body, his face bitter as he spoke.


    "There''s no need for apologies, I just want to know what your purpose is for doing this?"


    "I have no particular purpose here, I just want Mr. Xia to say a word for me, so I can go back to my position at work."


    The directness from Xia Liu took Wu Mingde by surprise, but he still voiced his purpose.


    Any further beating around the bush would just make him appear too hypocritical.


    "I see, my word doesn''t have that much power. You should strive for your own job, and if you can''t get it back, that proves there''s something wrong with your character."


    "If there was nothing wrong, they wouldn''t have fired you, so have you really thought about these issues?"


    Xia Liu initially did not want to explain so much, but Mo Wanqing was present.


    He was fearful that Mo Wanqing would rehire such scum, hence he took the trouble to explain.


    "Mr. Xia, I know I was wrong, I shouldn''t have used my power to discipline you and your friends before." Wu Mingde''s knees went weak, and he directly knelt on the ground.


    He had come today with no intention of preserving any dignity, considering where he previously had been.


    The salary might be low throughout the year, but there were plenty of under-the-table opportunities; making a million a year was not a problem.


    If he could return to that position, he would be willing to kneel for ten days, let alone just one.


    However, Xia Liu was unmoved; he had Li Dazhuang and a few strong men forcefully pull Wu Mingde up.


    "I just want to ask one thing, is that the only mistake you made?"


    "Yes, I should not have offended you."


    "There''s nothing else besides these?"


    "I swear to heaven, that''s really all!"


    Wu Mingde''s attitude was very firm.


    Although a bit nervous, he had already inquired before coming.


    Xia Liu is just a peasant, and other than being close to Mo Wanqing, you still live in the village.


    What means do you have to investigate me? That was the confidence of Wu Mingde.


    "No, then it''s not my concern. Go back; I can''t help you." Xia Liu had not investigated Wu Mingde thoroughly.


    Although he didn''t know the details, after that incident in the market.


    Even if he didn''t fully understand, he could guess some things; to say this guy is a good person, even ghosts wouldn''t believe it.


    "Xia Liu, can you do me a favor for my father-in-law?" Zhang Kuang said.


    "You want Xia Liu to give you face, how much is your face worth per pound?"


    "Yes, chop off the face and weigh it to see how much it''s worth per pound."


    Hearing Zhang Kuang dare to speak to Xia Liu like this, the villagers couldn''t sit still, and they stood up one after another to denounce him.


    In the end, Zhang Kuang could only bow his head and dared not say any more.


    "Coward! What are you afraid of, they are just a bunch of peasants, a poor village is enough to make you bow your head, you''re simply trash" Seeing Zhang Kuang bowing his head, Wu Lili became angry, reprimanding him in front of everyone.


    "And you bastard, don''t think you''re clever by knowing some people, be careful of being plotted against without even knowing!" If there was anyone at the scene Wu Lili hated the most, it was probably Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu remained silent, a flash of violent red quickly crossed his gaze.


    He emitted some murderous intent; if not for Wu Lili''s protruding belly, he definitely would have struck.


    Although he would not kill, he would make sure Wu Lili could not speak for the rest of her life.

 Chapter 121 She Knows Everything

    Wu Mingde was unmoved by his daughter''s curses and insults.He clenched his fists tightly; if not for the presence of many villagers around.


    He would definitely have charged at Xia Liu.


    Of course, he might have died before even reaching Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, do you really have to be so heartless?" Wu Mingde roared angrily, discarding his subservient demeanor.


    "What ties do I have with you?"


    Xia Liu felt inexplicably amused¡ªit must be only the second time he had met this man, and yet here he was, talking about being heartless. If he had a daughter like a fairy, then maybe there could be some emotional connection.


    But your daughter is not even as good as a pig, and you''re talking about ties?


    "Very well, very well! If I can''t live, neither will you!" Unable to hold back any longer, Wu Mingde pointed directly at Xia Liu.


    "Wu Mingde, I just want to ask you one question, what right do you have to go back to work at the company?" At this moment, Mo Wanqing could not sit still any longer. She stepped out from the crowd and confronted Wu Mingde face to face.


    "Mo... Chairman Mo!" Wu Mingde''s eyes widened upon seeing Mo Wanqing.


    He never expected to see this major boss in Osmanthus Village.


    "The business matters are trifling, but during your three years as the head of the sales department, how many benefits you have taken by leveraging your position, I won''t even mention. You went behind my back to provide company information to another group, for that alone, I could call the police and have you arrested!"


    Mo Wanqing was truly angry, not just because of Xia Liu.


    She had been holding back all this while, wanting to give Wu Mingde a chance, a chance to turn a blind eye.


    Since he dared to threaten Xia Liu, he should be prepared to pay the corresponding price! S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah! Chairman, spare me, I was confused!" Wu Mingde fell to his knees once again.


    Selling company secrets for a high price to another enterprise is a crime punishable by imprisonment.


    But Wu Mingde had tasted some minor sweetness before and then committed a major crime.


    Thinking it was a foolproof plan, he didn''t realize that it had already been discovered.


    Now, he profoundly regretted coming here.


    The issue now was not just about his job but involved his future fate.


    If Mo Wanqing pursued the matter thoroughly, he could face imprisonment and his properties could even be frozen.


    Then he would truly have nothing left.


    Seeing the distressed expression on her father''s face, Wu Lili knew something serious had happened.


    If it had been earlier, she would definitely have jumped out and cursed.


    Now, she stood there, not daring to say a single word.


    Zhang Kuang was completely dumbfounded; although he was not well-educated, he understood all too well the glaring topic of incarceration.


    He was the one who regretted it the most. If he had known things would turn out this way, he would have quickly arranged everything.


    And taken all of Wu Mingde''s money.


    "You have worked in the company for ten years, remembering your contributions and hardships, I haven''t taken action against you, but why did you have to follow me here? Did you really think I wouldn''t be ruthless?"


    "Chairman, I was wrong, truly wrong. My daughter is about to give birth, my son-in-law has suffered comminuted fractures in both arms, I really realize my mistake now. If I go to prison, this household might truly lose all hope," Wu Mingde pleaded, incessantly hitting his head against the ground, not even ten seconds had passed.


    His forehead was already stained with blood.


    "Ah, Zhang Kuang, Zhang Kuang, you clearly know the child isn''t yours, I really don''t understand, you''ll do anything for money." Seeing his bitter face, Xia Liu couldn''t help but shake his head.


    "Aunt Qing, let''s just let them go today. If he dares to offend you or the company again in the future, just deliver justice fairly," Xia Liu didn''t want to push them to the brink.


    After these events, perhaps Wu Mingde, Wu Lili, and Zhang Kuang might change.


    The most important thing was, he was quite curious to know how Zhang Kuang would treat the child in Wu Lili''s womb in the future.


    Would he live with it, or run away after taking Wu Mingde''s money?[These are all matters for later on.]


    "Did you hear? I hope there won''t be a next time, as for favors, you don''t deserve a second one!"


    "Thank you, Chairman, thank you, Chairman!"


    Wu Mingde kowtowed deeply, then quickly ran off, pulling Wu Lili and Zhang Kuang along with him.


    He feared that if he delayed any longer, Mo Wanqing might change her mind, and he would have to spend the rest of his life in prison.


    Throughout it all, Zhang Qing had not said a word.


    She had long understood that her collaboration with Zhang Kuang was over, and from now on, the only person she could rely on was Xia Liu.


    As Zhang Kuang left, the people of Osmanthus Village cheered.


    From now on, they would no longer suffer under Zhang Kuang''s bullying, nor see his disgusting face¡ªthis was indeed a great relief.


    By late afternoon, Mo Wanqing and the others had successively left.


    Xia Liu had been busy for nothing today with Li Qianqian; he hadn''t managed to get any useful information out of her.


    If it hadn''t been for Li Zhong being there, he was sure the girl would have torn him apart.


    There was no choice, he had to take it slow and steady, step by step, one day he would get the answers he wanted.


    After ending the feast, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue slowly walked on the road home.


    Xia Liu had said before that once the road was repaired, he would come clean to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    But now that the day had come, he realized he seemed to lack the courage to speak up.


    The two of them had been silent, and with the tranquility of the dusk, the atmosphere had become eerily quiet.


    Zhang Xiaoxue had drunk a bit of alcohol earlier, and walking shoulder to shoulder with Xia Liu, the flush on her face had spread to her neck.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I..."


    "Xiaoxue, there''s something I need to tell you."


    Just as Zhang Xiaoxue was about to confess her feelings, Xia Liu spoke up first.


    "Ah, Brother Xia Liu, go ahead." Zhang Xiaoxue was very nervous, her fingers intertwined, her head bowed.


    "I''ve had an affair with Sister Zhang, and not just once, I have to take responsibility..."


    "I know about you and Sister Zhang." This time it was Zhang Xiaoxue who interrupted Xia Liu.


    Holy shit!


    Xia Liu stopped in his tracks, stunned as he looked at Zhang Xiaoxue.


    She actually knew! She actually knew!


    This was somewhat terrifying, how could she know, could it be Zhang Qing had told her.


    That shouldn''t be possible, Zhang Qing had confessed before that without his permission, she wouldn''t tell.


    Could it be Zhang Xiaoxue found out by herself?


    That''s even more impossible; ever since he was discovered at the beach by Zhang Xiaoman, Xia Liu had been extremely cautious, always extra observant of his surroundings each time.


    Zhang Xiaoman!


    It must have been her who told!


    "Xiaoxue, how did you know?"


    Uncertain, Xia Liu finally asked.


    "I''m an adult, an adult, you often go to Sister Zhang''s house, and each visit lasts several hours..."


    Towards the end, Zhang Xiaoxue''s face grew even more flushed; had Xia Liu not spoken, she might have just suspected some secret activity between the two.


    Now that he had spoken, it confirmed her suspicions were correct.


    "You already know, then why still..."


    Xia Liu didn''t continue, perhaps being a bit ambiguous could give them a better way to face each other.

 Chapter 122 Huang Xues Return! [Four Updates, Please Recommend]

    "Let''s talk about this later, follow me!"Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t respond verbally but instead pulled Xia Liu and quickly ran back to her house.


    As soon as they entered the main house, Zhang Xiaoxue bolted the door and then pulled Xia Liu into her bedroom where she lived.


    "Xiaoxue, what are you doing?" Xia Liu looked around in bewilderment, wondering if this girl was going to preach by her own example!


    Indeed! Zhang Xiaoxue was prepared to offer herself!


    Words could no longer express her determination; actions were the most powerful proof.


    Slowly, clothes fell to the floor, and her soft, smooth skin shone bright in the setting sun.


    Gulp...


    Xia Liu forcefully swallowed his saliva, his hands pressed against his back.


    His right hand was already near frantically out of control.


    He had an intense desire to reach out and touch that dreamlike, wonderful figure.


    "I don''t want a status or a certificate, I don''t want anything, I just want to be Brother Xia Liu''s woman, to be by your side, even if it means serving you and Sister Zhang."


    As Zhang Xiaoxue turned around, her voice of determination and her bare figure faced Xia Liu head-on.


    Faced with Zhang Xiaoxue''s confession, Xia Liu felt like slapping himself.


    How could he disappoint such a good girl?


    How could he refuse!


    "Xiaoxue, you don''t have to serve anyone, I want you to be my woman, my woman for life!"


    Having made the promise, Xia Liu opened his arms and embraced Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Teardrops of happiness brimmed from Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes.


    The day had finally come; she would at last be Brother Xia Liu''s woman.


    Without knowing exactly when, the two began to kiss each other.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to take the next step, suddenly, a series of frantic honking came from outside the door.


    Beep beep beep!!!


    "This... Brother Xia Liu, you go check it out first," Zhang Xiaoxue said softly with her head lowered.


    The moment Xia Liu left the room, she collapsed powerlessly onto the bed.


    Indeed, she had just used up all her strength and courage.


    But, inexperienced as she was, she felt extremely frightened.


    Even though she was prepared, when the moment was about to truly arrive, fear still encompassed her.


    Truth be told, she had a love-hate relationship with the sound of that honking.


    After sighing in relief, she pulled up the quilt to cover herself, silently waiting for Xia Liu''s return.


    At this time, Xia Liu left the room with a furious expression on his face, incredulous that someone dared to intrude at such a critical moment.


    It was certain it wasn''t someone from the village.


    Only Li Dazhuang had a car in the village, and if he came to find Xia Liu, he certainly wouldn''t drive.


    And even if he did drive over, he wouldn''t honk the horn so many times.


    This wasn''t calling someone; it was disturbing them.


    If it was Wu Mingde returning, Xia Liu had already decided¡ªif he didn''t break his limbs, he''d take Wu''s surname.


    However, the moment he opened the door...


    A breeze carried in a wave of enchanting aroma to his nose, and suddenly, a soft body was in his arms.


    Holy shit!


    What the hell was this?


    Coming to his senses, Xia Liu looked down and saw yellow hair, vertical and fragrant.


    Damn! Who the hell was this?


    Without seeing her face, and only going by her hair and the feel of her, Xia Liu really couldn''t tell who the hell this was.


    But one thing was for sure, this was a girl.


    A few meters away from him, a red Audi A6 was parked. Did he know any girls who drove this car?


    Baffled, Xia Liu tried to push away the girl in his arms.


    But he found that the girl had actually flung her arms open and was holding him tightly.


    "Hey, girl, I can''t handle this," Xia Liu said, although he hadn''t seen her face, he didn''t point it out, as he was curious to know who she was.


    "Can''t handle it? Well, I just want to hold you, hold you!" A beautiful voice came from the woman''s mouth.


    The moment she spoke, Xia Liu was completely shaken.


    That voice was so familiar, etched into his mind.


    She was none other than the once-fairy manager of the Longyun Hotel: Huang Xue!


    After speaking, Huang Xue released her tight embrace of Xia Liu, looking at him with tender affection, "How about it? I came back to find you. Are you excited?"


    "Yes, I''m excited, more shocked than anything else," Xia Liu said bluntly.


    Back when Huang Xue was still around, Xia Liu thought that their relationship hadn''t reached the level of such an embrace.


    Even if friends reunited, they wouldn''t hug this tightly.


    Besides, what did she mean by she ''just wanted to hold him?''


    "Come on, are you even a man?" Seeing Xia Liu unmoved, Huang Xue could not help but feel contempt.


    "My dear lady, what on earth do you want to do?"


    Xia Liu was utterly confused, not understanding what was going on. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that she hit her head on her way home? There wasn''t any close relationship between them before, right?


    "What do I want to do?" As she said this, Huang Xue''s expression turned angry, "You touched me all over, you''ve seen me completely, don''t you think you should take responsibility?"


    "Oh my goodness!"


    Xia Liu was stunned, had he touched her?


    No, just inserted some needles.


    She cooperated willingly, and he''d done nothing else; was he really responsible for that?


    His worldview collapsed in that instant.


    However, faced with Huang Xue, Xia Liu did swallow his saliva a few times.


    A woman like her with such an attractive body and face could be considered a fairy, in high demand anywhere.


    He wasn''t sure if he''d hit the jackpot or what.


    "When I got home, my mother told me that whoever has seen my body, I have to marry him in this lifetime. That''s the tradition passed down from our ancestors."


    Huang Xue was actually quite frustrated, but when her mother pressured her with threats of suicide, she realized the seriousness of the situation.


    Although she had many thoughts of revenge, she came to her senses after her mother''s indoctrination.


    She came over this time to confess to Xia Liu and then take him home to meet her family.


    "Pfft!"


    Xia Liu snorted with laughter.


    This ancestral rule was simply outrageous.


    If he had pursued Huang Xue before and undressed her, wouldn''t he have sealed the deal?


    That''s great, so in the future, if he met such a fairy-like beauty, as long as he undressed her, then they would all be eager to marry him.


    "Sorry, beauty, you can tell your mother that I didn''t see you completely naked."


    "But you did see me completely."


    "Go back, I don''t want to delay you. I have a girlfriend now."


    With no choice, Xia Liu had to tell her the truth.


    "So what?"


    "I have a girlfriend now, and not just one!"


    Xia Liu was astounded. Were girls these days so open that they didn''t care even if you had a girlfriend?


    "I have confidence," Huang Xue said seriously.


    "It''s good to have confidence, but you will find someone who''s better suited for you in the future. My little mud house can''t accommodate a supreme-grade goddess like you."


    "No problem, we can work hard together. If it doesn''t work out, I can sell my car. It''s just a house; I can handle it."


    "Big sister, I beg you, what do you really want? My girlfriend is still at home; she''s going to get the wrong idea," Xia Liu pleaded earnestly.


    Xia Liu was truly impressed; he''d seen many women chase men, but it was the first time he''d encountered a supreme-grade fairy like Huang Xue pursuing him.

 Chapter 123 Xiaoxue versus Huang Xue

    "Hehe, I was just hoping she''d misunderstand," Huang Xue said with a delighted smile, stretching her arms out to hug Xia Liu.With quick reflexes, Xia Liu swiftly pushed the girl away.


    Before everything was clear, his mind was always in a state of sobriety.


    He certainly didn''t think this girl would be so simple.


    Traditions passed down by ancestors? That''s all nonsense, considering how much she has changed.


    There had to be a huge catch to this.


    "Brother Xia Liu, who is she?"


    There it was, the thing Xia Liu was worried about, as Zhang Xiaoxue stood woodenly at the door.


    "I''m Xia Liu''s girlfriend? Who are you?" Huang Xue seized the opportunity when he wasn''t paying attention, spreading her arms and hugging him again before Xia Liu could answer.


    Seeing this scene, Zhang Xiaoxue''s seductive eyes widened.


    Xia Liu could smell a faint whiff of gunpowder in the air.


    "This is bad... so bad..." Xia Liu tried to break free from Huang Xue, but the fairy held on tight.


    If he used too much force, he was sure to hurt the monster.


    "Look, big sister, I am Brother Xia Liu''s girlfriend."


    "Oh really? What does that matter, Xia Liu and I have slept together."


    "I''ve just finished with Brother Xia Liu. I''ve never heard him mention you, so you can only be considered an ex-girlfriend."


    Unable to stand Huang Xue''s arrogance, Zhang Xiaoxue retorted strongly.


    Xia Liu was already shocked to his core; how could these two girls fabricate such baseless claims?


    Letting go of Xia Liu, Huang Xue moved with flirtatious grace over to Zhang Xiaoxue, "Don''t kid yourself, you''re not an ex-girlfriend. I only went home for a few days, and Xia Liu has already picked you up, my boyfriend is quite amazing, isn''t he?"


    "Brother Xia Liu and I grew up together since we were little, so you, the ex-girlfriend, better not make trouble," Zhang Xiaoxue retorted, folding her arms and looking at Huang Xue with a pained expression.


    She guessed that Huang Xue might have had some relationship with Xia Liu before, but for some reason, they had broken up.


    If Huang Xue had given up once, why should she fight with herself, it was unreasonable!


    "Oh, childhood sweethearts, huh? No problem, I''m very generous."


    "Whether you''re generous or not is none of my business, just leave, this is Brother Xia Liu and my home."


    Zhang Xiaoxue showed Huang Xue no respect whatsoever.


    If it had been before, she definitely wouldn''t have taken it so seriously.


    But now, they were bullying her at home, and Xia Liu had also made a promise to her; that was her confidence.


    "Xiaoxue, listen to me, let me explain, she''s Huang Xue, the former manager of Longyun Hotel..." Watching the two women argue nonstop, Xia Liu stepped forward to explain carefully to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Oh, the former manager of Longyun Hotel. Brother Xia Liu told me about you; I really appreciate the chance you gave him before," Zhang Xiaoxue said sincerely after she understood Huang Xue''s previous role.


    She was delighted in her heart because Xia Liu cared about her feelings; otherwise, he wouldn''t go into so much detail.


    Like Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue was also feeling a bit depressed.


    Seeing Huang Xue naked was all because of the need to administer acupuncture, and Zhang Xiaoxue knew that one had to undress for that.


    But just because of a few glances, you insist on pestering someone to marry you; there''s no logic to that anywhere.


    "I don''t care, I will cling to you, and if you don''t marry me, I won''t let you marry any other woman!" Huang Xue asserted firmly.


    "Big sister, I''m begging you, okay? With your figure and face, you could stand on the street and countless men would come flirt with you, why do you have to pester me?"


    Xia Liu was nearly in tears; he had just made a promise to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Suddenly, this kind of trouble popped up; wasn''t this asking for a headache?


    "That''s right, Big Sister, you''re so beautiful, can''t you just stop bothering us?"


    To be honest, Huang Xue posed a significant threat to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Even after using Beauty Mud, Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t think her looks could compare to Huang Xue''s.


    "I won''t, I''m sticking with you for life." Huang Xue mumbled to herself, then ran to the door and took her suitcase out of the car.


    Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue were both stunned; this chick came prepared.


    Looking at this situation, she seemed to be planning to stay.


    Oh boy...


    After bringing the suitcase inside, Huang Xue went out again and brought some groceries from the car.


    Zhang Xiaoxue somehow couldn''t get angry at this persistent beauty.


    She might have had some objections to her previously, but now she just felt sorry for her, because Xia Liu was ignoring her.


    That''s right, when Huang Xue was moving things into the house, Xia Liu had left.


    What a mess, it''s not like they could just throw Huang Xue out, could they?


    Thinking Huang Xue would leave because of his coldness, what Xia Liu didn''t expect was...


    When he came back home in the evening, he found that the chick was still there.


    Huang Xue was wearing a set of black silk pajamas, her delicate neck and thighs fully exposed to the air.


    Zhang Xiaoxue wasn''t outdone; her outfit was similar to Huang Xue''s.


    If there was a difference, it was the aura they exuded: one was seductive and monstrous, with a mature charm.


    The other pure and appetizing, full of youthful vigor.


    Two women, two different vistas.


    The one who was suffering for sure was Xia Liu.


    He was restless because Huang Xue was planning to move her luggage into his room.


    But Zhang Xiaoxue wouldn''t allow it; she wanted to stuff everything into the car.


    "Big Sister, I''m really amazed by you, please leave me and Brother Xia Liu alone," Zhang Xiaoxue said, running out of options.


    In the time Xia Liu was out, she and Huang Xue didn''t talk much, but it was clear from everything that this chick came prepared.


    She even felt scared, afraid that Xia Liu would ignore her because of Huang Xue.


    "Little Sister Xiaoxue, you can call me Sister Xue''er. We both have ''Xue'' in our names, and since I''m older, even if I were to marry Xia Liu, I''d have a higher status than you, so it''s only fair that I get to accompany Xia Liu to rest first, don''t you think?" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What the hell! That''s way over the line!" His gaze assessing Huang Xue, Xia Liu almost exclaimed a word of approval.


    Who in the world seduces someone so blatantly?


    "Huang Xue! You''re not allowed in!" Watching Huang Xue try to take her suitcase into Xia Liu''s room, Zhang Xiaoxue not only scolded but also went up and held her back, not letting her anywhere near the room.


    "Little Sister Xiaoxue, if I don''t go in to sleep, where will I sleep from now on?"


    "Tonight you''re sleeping with me, just tonight!" In order to show her handling abilities, Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t give Xia Liu a chance to speak and resolutely dragged Huang Xue to her own room.


    She couldn''t let Huang Xue take over Xia Liu''s room.


    Given Xia Liu''s way of handling things, he definitely wouldn''t enter his own room tonight.


    If he goes away for a few days and doesn''t come back, then she would be the one suffering, right?


    So, she had to stop Huang Xue and then find a chance to persuade her to leave.


    "You all go to bed early, I''m going to rest too," Xia Liu would have liked to say, "You two go sleep in my room," but he couldn''t say that.


    If it was just Zhang Xiaoxue alone, it would be fine, but with the addition of the mysterious Huang Xue, it was super awkward.


    He still clearly remembered those few minutes before Huang Xue arrived...

 Chapter 124 The Last Batch of Beauty Mud

    Early the next morning, before the two women awoke, Xia Liu prepared breakfast and headed to the mountains with his basket on his back.Fifty villas¡ªthat was going to cost a significant amount of money.


    Even if he didn''t have to spend so much all at once, he always felt anxious without funds on hand.


    According to his own designs, the construction of those villas would undoubtedly be very costly.


    So now he had to work desperately to earn money.


    The income from the Longteng and Longyun hotels might not be able to cover such a sum for a while.


    The only shortcut would probably be the Beauty Mud.


    This time, Xia Liu entered the mountains employing a much faster method.


    He opened all his senses and as soon as he discovered the Herbs needed for the Beauty Mud, he would immediately pick them.


    It wasn''t until the evening that Xia Liu emerged from the woodland.


    This time, his basket was slowly filled with Herbs.


    If he could successfully refine the Beauty Mud every time, these Herbs could produce more than a thousand boxes of Beauty Mud.


    Not to mention much, twenty million wouldn''t be out of reach!


    However, Xia Liu wasn''t too happy, because he had explored most of this mountain range.


    That meant, to gather more Herbs, he would need to head to even deeper and more distant mountain ranges.


    He wasn''t worried about safety, but he had quickly glanced at the mountains some ten-plus kilometers away.


    There, the quantity of Herbs was sparse, even nonexistent.


    In other words, the further he went into the deeper woods, the scarcer the Herbs would become.


    This was quite embarrassing¡ªif things continued this way,


    Beauty Mud would only dazzle in history for a moment before it would gradually be forgotten by more and more people over time.


    Until no one would remember that such a miraculous plaster once existed. Discover exclusive tales on empire


    About this, Xia Liu had no solution; he couldn''t control the wild Herbs.


    Arriving at his doorstep and seeing the red Audi, Xia Liu''s mood suddenly changed.


    The Fairy was still here¡ªwas she planning to stay indefinitely?


    Just as he walked through the courtyard gate, Huang Xue came trotting out shivering.


    "Xia Liu, you''ve worked hard, let me help you," Huang Xue said, helping Xia Liu place the basket on the ground.


    She even took a small towel and began to wipe his sweat. [In fact, he hadn''t sweated.]


    "Wow! Brother Xia Liu, you''ve gathered so much today, are all of these for making Beauty Mud?" Zhang Xiaoxue was cooking in the kitchen when she heard Huang Xue talking with Xia Liu outside.


    She immediately dropped the firewood in her hands and ran out to check.


    As she spoke, there was confidence in her voice because she knew the Herbs in the basket were for making Beauty Mud.


    Huang Xue, unaware, stood there slightly embarrassed.


    Zhang Xiaoxue smiled triumphantly¡ªit seemed like a victory for her this round.


    "Yes, all of these are ingredients; let''s start after we eat," Xia Liu seriously replied to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Yay, I''ll help later!"


    "Yay, I''ll help too!"


    ...


    Watching the excited pair, Xia Liu couldn''t help but shake his head.


    After Xia Liu entered the house, Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue exchanged a deep look.


    "Hmph!" They clearly saw hostility in each other''s eyes, and with a cold snort each, they went to the kitchen to cook.


    "By the way, Xia Liu, is that Beauty Mud the miracle plaster mentioned in the video that can beautify and enhance the bust?" Watching Xia Liu stirring the Herbs in the large pot, Huang Xue asked thoughtfully.


    "Yes, that Beauty Mud was made by Brother Xia Liu, and tomorrow people from Tianluo Pharmaceutical will come to take it away. They will package it without any further processing."


    Xia Liu hadn''t answered yet when Zhang Xiaoxue proudly puffed out her chest and said.


    She not only wanted to explain in detail, but also make sure Huang Xue noticed her face and chest.


    This was the exact effect after using the Beauty Mud!


    "Wow!"


    Huang Xue was startled by this fact and almost dropped the kindling in her hands.


    It turned out that the miraculous plaster she had seen in the video before was actually made by Xia Liu!


    How popular the Beauty Mud was, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue in the village might not know.


    But Huang Xue was very aware that someone in the city had bought the Beauty Mud, and how many people had gone to purchase it at a high price.


    The harsh purchasing conditions of Tianluo Pharmaceutical had even made headlines.


    Although purchase was restricted, there were no complaints or bad reputations about the Beauty Mud online.


    This was enough to prove how magical and defiant this plaster was.


    However, the Beauty Mud that drove the whole country crazy was actually stewed in a large pot!


    Realizing this astonishing fact, Huang Xue was completely shocked.


    Prideful though she was, she was now also contributing to the production of the Beauty Mud!


    Of course, helping add firewood also involved hard work.


    "Scared you, didn''t I? Look at that shocked expression on your face," Zhang Xiaoxue looked at Huang Xue disdainfully.


    When it came to pride, she should be the proud one because she had been watching from the beginning when Xia Liu started making the Beauty Mud.


    Plus, she had even been a tester before, and her courage was incomparable to anyone else''s.


    "Little sister Xiaoxue, it''s my first time seeing it, so don''t make fun of me," Huang Xue pouted, speaking adorably.


    Seeing this, Zhang Xiaoxue felt the urge to get angry; this girl actually dared to act cute in front of her!


    But she found no reason to be upset.


    If she got angry just because Huang Xue was acting cute,


    That would just seem too pretentious.


    "Hold back! Hold back! Brother Xia Liu would never fancy this kind of woman."


    Zhang Xiaoxue kept reminding herself in her heart that all this was just Huang Xue''s scheme, and she had to endure.


    Whoever got angry and made a scene first, would lose.


    She couldn''t let Xia Liu look at her with a different eye; she had to defeat Huang Xue and make Xia Liu see this woman''s true colors.


    Acting cute is despicable!


    Muttering to herself, Zhang Xiaoxue continued to be busy.


    At this moment, Xia Liu naturally had no time to mind the two girls due to the massive output of Spiritual Energy. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His lips were even turning somewhat pale.


    He had noticed a pattern before: to increase the success rate of the Beauty Mud, one needed to output a vast amount of Spiritual Energy.


    If it was usual, making a small amount of Beauty Mud, Xia Liu would not be so hard-pressed.


    Today, the amount he had to refine was far more than usual.


    And with the accumulated Herbs from before, it was still uncertain whether he could hold out till the end.


    Still, Xia Liu persevered, and in the end, two approximately two-meter-tall mounds of Beauty Mud stood quietly on the tarp.


    Looking at the Beauty Mud she helped create by adding fire and wood, Huang Xue felt a surge of contentment and pride.


    "Is this the Beauty Mud? The Beauty Mud that drove the whole country crazy?" Huang Xue murmured as she looked at the two mounds of Beauty Mud.


    "Yes, only Brother Xia Liu can make this Beauty Mud, it''s unique in the world!" Zhang Xiaoxue said while gazing at Xia Liu, a different light shining in her eyes.


    "Huang Xue, you should apply some on your face later. After this batch of Beauty Mud is taken away, it might not be produced again for a while."


    "Eh... can I really take some?" Happiness came too suddenly; Huang Xue had been thinking of ways to get some from Xia Liu, but now he''d offered it himself.

 Chapter 125 Testing

    "Wait, what do you mean it can''t be produced in a short time?" Excited, Huang Xue noticed something was off in Xia Liu''s words and quickly asked.Just like her, Zhang Xiaoxue also looked at Xia Liu with confusion.


    "The raw materials for Beauty Mud are too hard to find, so after this batch, there might not be any Beauty Mud for years."


    Actually, Xia Liu wasn''t sure himself; just because the Xianggu Mountain Range didn''t have those herbs didn''t mean other mountain ranges wouldn''t.


    However, the conditions for the herbs needed to make Beauty Mud were stringent; otherwise, they could be bought in bulk.


    That way, a large sum of money could be made in a very short time, and everything, be it villas or constructions, could be sorted out in minutes.


    Stay updated through empire


    Unfortunately, those raw materials could only be stored for a few days.


    Moreover, the herbs were rare species, and wild ones were probably even scarcer, not to mention coming across them oneself.


    "Oh, so that''s it, no worries then, if you need money, I can help you; after all, my money is your money," said Huang Xue, nodding naively.


    Xia Liu didn''t show it, but she could tell that he was in need of money now.


    "That won''t be necessary; I''ll earn money slowly, after all, the process is more interesting than the possession," Xia Liu voiced his true feelings.


    He had always had this attitude towards money, but it was just a bunch of numbers after all. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he got back to the village, he quite enjoyed these days of hustling for money; it was fulfilling and reassuring.


    Huang Xue didn''t continue talking, she just picked up some Beauty Mud and dragged Zhang Xiaoxue back to the house.


    She didn''t care whether Zhang Xiaoxue agreed or not, she forcefully took her away.


    Twenty minutes later, a sharp scream erupted from inside Zhang Xiaoxue''s house.


    "Huang Xue, how could you wear my clothes!" Zhang Xiaoxue said somewhat angrily.


    Ever since the effects of Beauty Mud had manifested, she had felt unprecedented pressure, and now here was Huang Xue wanting to wear her clothes!


    "Xiaoxue, you can''t be so heartless. I can''t fit into my previous sizes anymore, help me out here," Huang Xue said, feeling depressed.


    She had always heard others rave about how miraculous this Beauty Mud was.


    She didn''t believe it until she had actually used it and realized it was indeed miraculous to this extent.


    If she had only been satisfied with her facial features and contours before, now she was thrilled.


    "No! If you can''t fit, wrap the clothes around yourself, or just go home!" Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Xiaoxue directly urged Huang Xue to go home.


    "Hey, if Xiaoxue isn''t going to help, then I''ll just have to go find Xia Liu, I wonder what he would think if he saw me without any clothes?"


    Huang Xue pouted her lips, turned her head to one side, and took a step.


    It really made one think she was going to ask Xia Liu for help.


    Zhang Xiaoxue must have been anxious. If this girl now went to find Xia Liu, it would definitely be very unfavorable for herself.


    She couldn''t let her go, absolutely not!


    "Alright alright, I''ll give them to you," Zhang Xiaoxue finally gave in, out of helplessness.


    "I knew Xiaoxue cared about me," Huang Xue didn''t really plan on going to find Xia Liu; she just wanted to tease Zhang Xiaoxue a bit.


    Now that her purpose was fulfilled, she joyfully began rifling through Zhang Xiaoxue''s wardrobe.


    "Damn, is this what living is supposed to be?" Inside the room, Xia Liu sat cross-legged, his eyes, like stars, suddenly opened.


    The conversation between the two women was crystal clear to his ears, and he almost shamed himself.


    After dealing with a filthy Zhang Xiaoman, behold, another over-the-top fairy had arrived.


    How was he supposed to handle this? It wouldn''t be possible to deal with one girl in front of another, right?


    But now, the two girls were almost always together. What was he to do?


    The next morning, Xia Liu had just finished a set of Taiji in the courtyard when Huang Xue walked out.


    She was carrying a metal bucket with some clothes inside, the dirty clothes from yesterday.


    "What are you doing?" Xia Liu was puzzled; was this girl about to go do laundry?


    "I''ll go wash your and Xiaoxue''s clothes," Huang Xue replied with a delighted smile.


    "Don''t we have a washing machine at home?"


    "Xiaoxue said the washing machine has been broken for several days, and she hasn''t had the chance to tell you yet." Without waiting for Xia Liu to respond, Huang Xue carried the iron bucket out the door.


    Xia Liu furrowed his brows and went to check on the washing machine.


    "Huh, the washing machine is fine. Why did Xiaoxue say it was broken?"


    After inspecting it, Xia Liu found no issues.


    But this was somewhat problematic.


    He went to Zhang Xiaoxue to ask about the situation.


    "Huang Xue is pestering you, right? I made her do the laundry. I''m giving her all the household chores to see how many days she can last," Xiaoxue sharply replied. She wanted to test Huang Xue.


    Xia Liu had nothing to say; he had already intended to test Huang Xue''s purpose.


    Perhaps he could take this opportunity to probe further.


    After the Tianluo Pharmaceutical truck came to collect the beauty mud and he had instructed Zhang Xiaoxue on a few matters, Xia Liu continued with his basket up the mountain.


    The treasures hidden in the mountain couldn''t all be unearthed. They couldn''t produce more beauty mud, but there were other precious herbs.


    If he encountered them, it would be a gain.


    Unfortunately, Xia Liu''s recent luck had been poor; he hadn''t found any herbs, though he had managed to hunt one or two wild boars.


    At home, every day Zhang Xiaoxue ordered Huang Xue around, telling her to do this and that.


    Unexpectedly, the girl could do everything and did it very well.


    And she did it without any complaints, in her own words,


    "Wherever the husband goes, the wife follows; if I''m with Xia Liu, I must fulfill my duty well.


    If Xia Liu is in the countryside, I must be a good farmer''s wife.


    If Xia Liu is in the city, then I must be a good virtuous wife."


    Honestly, Zhang Xiaoxue was moved a few times.


    But then she remembered Xia Liu''s words to her, and she forcibly held back.


    However, eventually, Zhang Xiaoxue sided with Huang Xue as their time together increased.


    She even accepted this sister, who was more beautiful and capable than herself, in her heart.


    "Xiaoxue, I guess you haven''t shared a bed with Xia Liu yet," said Huang Xue as the two cooked together.


    "Uh... How do you know?" After observing for a few days, Zhang Xiaoxue slowly let down her guard, and when her secret was exposed, she admitted it.


    "We''ve been bathing together these days. How could I not know?"


    "Okay, you can tell just from bathing together?"


    "Yes, experience tells me," Huang Xue said confidently.


    "I''ve been observing you too, and you and I are almost similar from head to toe, even there is almost similar. So can I also assume you haven''t slept with Brother Xia Liu?" Zhang Xiaoxue retorted.


    ...


    Huang Xue fell silent instantly; the two women exchanged a look, each reading the embarrassment on the other''s face.


    "Okay, I admit it, so right now, we''re in the same boat," Huang Xue said seriously after a pause.


    "This..."

 Chapter 126 Concepts

    "Stop beating around the bush. I''ve already figured it out. A god-like man like Xia Liu is very sensitive to responsibilities. As long as he sleeps with us, everything will fall into place."Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue hesitate, Huang Xue continued to persuade her.


    "Wait a minute, I understand that, but why do you keep saying ''us''? You and I are not on the same page."


    "It doesn''t matter if we are or not. If things keep going as they are, we''ll definitely stand no chance. How can we succeed without a little strategy?"


    "What strategy?"


    Zhang Xiaoxue was moved, she had set her heart on Xia Liu for her whole life.


    But she had yet to become his woman, which hurt her heart so.


    "Let''s do this¡­" Huang Xue looked around to make sure no one was there, then whispered her plan into Zhang Xiaoxue''s ear.


    "That''s very clever and powerful. But I don''t get it. If you know that Brother Xia Liu is not going to have just one woman in his life, why are you throwing yourself at him?"


    After hearing Huang Xue''s scheme, Zhang Xiaoxue asked, struggling to contain her excitement.


    "You and I might have different ideas. I grew up in a big family where it was normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. Take my father, for instance, he has two wives. The more capable the man, the more women he''ll have by his side."


    "In some high societies, they judge a man''s power by the number of loyal women he has around him."


    Huang Xue explained in an unhurried manner.


    This was the society as she understood it, and it indeed existed in reality.


    Zhang Xiaoxue nodded blankly, although she didn''t quite understand.


    But with some things that can''t be openly discussed, she would understand them once she thought about them in her heart.


    There was no doubt that Xia Liu was outstanding. While he wasn''t so prominent yet, making him remember her was what she should focus on at this time.


    After unifying their front, Huang Xue looked around again. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As soon as she saw that no one was around, she quickly ran to the car, took a package, and went to the kitchen.


    "Sister Xue''er, is this what you mentioned?" Looking at the contents of the transparent bag, Zhang Xiaoxue asked in confusion.


    "Yes, as long as Xia Liu eats some of this, our goal will all be achieved!" Huang Xue said cheerily, "No, I should say, from now on, we''re going to be good sisters. No matter what difficulties we face, we need to stand united."


    "Of course, from now on, you''ll be my Sister Xue''er!"


    As she spoke, Zhang Xiaoxue took the bag, opened it, and was about to pour it into the dish.


    "Xiaoxue, don''t add too much. Otherwise, tomorrow, we might both be off the bed¡­" Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue about to empty the bag, Huang Xue panicked and quickly stopped her.


    With Huang Xue''s guidance, the dish was finally prepared.


    As soon as Xia Liu returned, their plan would be halfway to success!


    Once he ate the dish, tsk tsk...


    Just as the sun hadn''t completely set, Xia Liu walked through the courtyard gate with a basket on his back.


    He had no idea that a plot was unfolding against him.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re back, how was today''s hunting?" As usual, Zhang Xiaoxue was the first to run out to greet him.


    "Not too bad. I didn''t find any herbs, but I did catch two wild rabbits. I''ll make you a pot of braised rabbit later..."


    "What for? Xiaoxue and I have already prepared the meal, just waiting for you to come back and eat," Huang Xue interrupted Xia Liu, taking his arm and pulling him inside before he could say anything more.


    Zhang Xiaoxue also took his other arm, which greatly surprised Xia Liu.


    "Three dishes, that seems a bit too little. Let me make you the braised rabbit," Xia Liu said, frowning slightly as he looked at the dishes on the table.


    If they all ate together, with his appetite, those two would surely go hungry.


    "No need, no need, Xiaoxue and I have already eaten. It''s only you who hasn''t eaten yet," Huang Xue quickly pressed Xia Liu down into a seat.


    Now that I''ve taken this seat, even if I want to run, I''ll wait until after we''ve eaten.


    Xia Liu''s brow furrowed once more as he glanced at Zhang Xiaoxue and noticed she was looking down, which couldn''t help but arouse his suspicion.


    There''s something fishy...


    Having no choice, Xia Liu picked up his chopsticks and stared at the dishes for quite some time.


    Just as he was about to start eating, someone suddenly came in through the courtyard gate.


    "Xia Liu, I''ve completed the cost estimation," Gu Fangxia announced as she walked in, waving the folder in her hand.


    She had given the workers a few days off and had also done a bit of slacking herself.


    Only after she had had her fill of relaxation in Hejing County did she begin to work again.


    She had come today to discuss the villa project with Xia Liu, and once decided upon, they could break ground.


    "Sister Gu is here, please have a seat. You''re just in time for dinner."


    "Xue''er, what are you doing here too?" Gu Fangxia was surprised to see Huang Xue standing behind Xia Liu and asked with a hint of astonishment.


    She had known Huang Xue for a long time; back when she worked on construction projects in the area, she often freeloaded meals at Fang Fei''s place.


    At that time, Huang Xue was the manager of the hotel, and they became close after meeting a few times.


    The three women eventually became close friends who could talk about anything, and after not seeing each other for months, Gu Fangxia could hardly believe she would run into Huang Xue here today.


    "Sister Gu, this is such a coincidence!" Huang Xue was also somewhat excited.


    Because of the projects in Shanhe County, Gu Fangxia hadn''t been coming to Hejing County much in the past few months, and they were all very excited to be reunited.


    Before long, the three women were chattering away, completely ignoring Xia Liu.


    "Sister Gu, haven''t had dinner yet? I''ll get a bowl of rice for you."


    "Xue''er, I really didn''t expect that you, the young lady of such an esteemed family, would become so virtuous!"


    Watching Huang Xue skillfully serve rice, Gu Fangxia almost thought she was seeing things.


    "I am to become Xia Liu''s woman, so I need to learn more," Huang Xue confidently declared.


    "Pfft!"


    Gu Fangxia spat out all the water she had just drunk, and, conveniently, it splashed all over Xia Liu''s face.


    "I''m so sorry, so sorry."


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    "It''s okay, I''ll go get a towel to wipe it off," Xia Liu felt he could not stay here any longer.


    He would leave any explanations to Huang Xue; that fairy certainly dared to say anything.


    "Xue''er, you need to explain what''s going on, and Zhang Xiaoxue isn''t Xia Liu''s wife?"


    After Xia Liu left, Gu Fangxia asked in a hushed voice, not understanding the situation.


    "It''s like this: when I went home, I told my family about the treatment..."


    Huang Xue wasn''t in a hurry and started to explain everything meticulously to Gu Fangxia.


    In her view, there was no shame in it. Xia Liu was an extraordinary man who cured her rare condition with just a few needles.


    Being by the side of such a man was surely the dream of most women, and Huang Xue was no exception.


    "Amazing, I admire the way you two think," Gu Fangxia said, at a loss for words after understanding the whole story.


    Even she, with her somewhat traditional mindset, was almost tempted to consider the idea of polygamy.


    In the room, Xia Liu was very excited; he had heard everything. If Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue could express such ideas,


    didn''t that imply that his spring was about to arrive?

 Chapter 127 Gu Fangxia Wins the Bid

    Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue had the same idea as Zhang Qing.Now, with just a little control, they could be embraced from both sides, with another even sitting in the front!


    This was simply too exhilarating.


    "Wait, Sister Xue''er, didn''t we just plan a few things?" Seeing Gu Fangxia continuously picking dishes from the plate, Zhang Xiaoxue suddenly remembered.


    She and Huang Xue seemed to have added something to the food!


    "Ah! Sister Gu, hurry and vomit out the food you''ve swallowed!"


    After realizing the situation, Huang Xue immediately grabbed Gu Fangxia''s hand and tried to run outside.


    But her attempt to save her was much too slow.


    Gu Fangxia hadn''t eaten anything since nine in the morning.


    During the conversation just now, she had unknowingly eaten half a bowl of rice, not to mention the dishes.


    At this moment, Gu Fangxia was no longer someone Huang Xue could move.


    Her eyes seemed veiled with a film, misty with an unusual color. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, Gu Fangxia also felt a burning sensation spreading from her heart through the meridians to the rest of her body.


    "I''m so hot!"


    Gu Fangxia said instinctively, but more so, she began to tear at the clothes on her body.


    "What do we do, Sister Xue''er? It seems like Sister Gu is having an attack!" Seeing this, Zhang Xiaoxue panicked. This was originally a strategy intended for Xia Liu.


    Unexpectedly, after seeing Huang Xue and chatting, Gu Fangxia ended up being the one affected.


    Huang Xue didn''t expect either, for after not seeing her best friend for so long, she had forgotten such an important matter, and now she didn''t know what to do.


    "What''s happening?"


    Xia Liu, who was in the room, sensed something outside and immediately ran out to check.


    As he spoke, his gaze froze.


    For Gu Fangxia''s clothes had already slipped down to her shoulders, and if Huang Xue hadn''t been holding her, she might have been completely naked by then.


    "Xia Liu, please help me!!" Seeing the tall and handsome Xia Liu, Gu Fangxia swallowed a few times, her palms continuously reaching out to him, hoping to get his help and satisfaction.


    Her consciousness was no longer quite clear, and all that remained in her mind was desire.


    "Brother Xia Liu, Xiaoxue and Sister Xue''er in the food..."


    Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t continue speaking because Gu Fangxia''s outburst made her realize her regret for forgetting about this earlier.


    If she could turn back time, she would rather suffer the effects herself than let Gu Fangxia endure this agony.


    Huang Xue had explained to her that the effect of the drug was potent, and failing to satisfy the affected person through normal means would cause substantial harm to the body.


    Moreover, as time passed, the affected person would become increasingly frantic, until they no longer had the strength.


    Xia Liu saw that Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t dare to speak, and Huang Xue was busy controlling Gu Fangxia and had no chance to talk.


    So, he took a bite of the food and put it in his mouth.


    "Hmm? What a powerful toxin!"


    The moment it entered his mouth, Xia Liu sensed a somewhat weak toxin.


    He wasn''t unfamiliar with this kind of toxin, which could numb a person''s nerves, cause hallucinations, and stimulate the production of hormones such as estrogen.


    Xia Liu activated the Five Elements Mantra, and as Spiritual Energy circulated through his meridians for a bit, those so-called toxins were all cleared away.


    While Gu Fangxia was not yet completely overtaken by the toxin, Xia Liu grabbed a silver needle from the cabinet.


    As the Spiritual Energy moved, the silver needle shimmered a few times, and after being disinfected,


    It was inserted with precision into Gu Fangxia''s head, carrying Wooden Spirit Energy.


    In that moment, Huang Xue felt like the whole world had gone quiet.


    Xia Liu took Gu Fangxia and laid her on the couch, and Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue each held one of her arms to keep her in place.


    Xia Liu grabbed a few more silver needles, and a few seconds later, inserted them into the positions on Gu Fangxia''s chest.


    About a minute later, Xia Liu removed the silver needles one by one.


    Gu Fangxia''s complexion also gradually warmed up.


    However, she had struggled for quite a while and nearly dehydrated, so she probably couldn''t wake up without a few hours'' sleep.


    After detoxifying her, Xia Liu carried her into Zhang Xiaoxue''s room to rest.


    Then he faced the two girls with a stern look, "Speak up, whose idea was this?"


    Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue both stood with their heads lowered, neither daring to speak.


    They knew Xia Liu was really angry, and speaking up would definitely make him even angrier.


    "Do you realize how serious this is? If it weren''t for my excellent medical skills, Sister Gu could have suffered a severe loss of Primordial Energy, and with only me here, she would probably have to spend tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in bed."


    "Pfft!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue both burst out laughing.


    They had thought Xia Liu would harshly reprimand them, but to their surprise, he ended up indirectly praising himself.


    His words were interesting, not only complimenting his own medical skills but also subtly expressing the quality of his physique.


    Scary, truly scary.


    "I won''t say much anymore, just don''t let it happen again," Xia Liu shook his head helplessly, these two girls were being overly impatient.


    Becoming his woman wasn''t difficult, right? They just had to speak frankly and he would make the sacrifice tonight.


    Gurgle...


    When the atmosphere fell silent, the stomachs of both girls growled.


    Exchanging glances, they could see the embarrassment in each other''s eyes, since they hadn''t eaten at all just now.


    "You two, wait here." With a sigh, Xia Liu went out to prepare the two rabbits he had brought back.


    With no one around, Xia Liu was extremely quick in processing them.


    The cleaver in his hands was nothing but a blur of afterimages.


    Ten minutes later, the rabbit meat was in the pot.


    "Time to eat." Xia Liu brought two plates of rabbit meat to the table, urging the two girls who were still standing there.


    "There''s no poison in the food, right?" Xia Liu exclaimed in surprise, seeing that they remained unmoved.


    "No, no, thank you, Brother Xia Liu!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue smiled awkwardly and hurried to get bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen.


    Huang Xue didn''t fall behind either; since Xia Liu wasn''t pursuing the matter, she wouldn''t be stubborn. If she angered him, she would be the one suffering.


    The two girls ate very quietly, not daring to lift their heads.


    The feeling of being caught doing something wrong was something they would probably never forget in this lifetime.


    Xia Liu also gave them a way out. If they were pushed too hard, these girls might give him real poison next time, and that would really be the end of things.


    So sometimes, you have to be forgiving, especially since they were doing it for his sake.


    If he had really eaten that meal, perhaps at this very moment, he might be experiencing some indescribably delightful events.


    When they finished eating, Gu Fangxia also woke up.


    The girl got up and let out a series of shrill screams when she discovered her clothes were ruined.


    And her head was still aching. After she recovered a bit, she nearly started punishing Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    These two younger sisters were young, but they sure had some serious tricks up their sleeves.


    If it were not for Xia Liu''s excellent medical skills, her lifetime of reputation could have been compromised in this little cabin.


    "Sister Gu, we won''t dare to do it again, please forgive us," Huang Xue said pouting, trying to look cute.


    "Hmph, I know what you''re like, girl. Today, I''m letting it slide for Xiaoxue''s sake, but if there''s a next time, I''ll definitely cripple you!" Gu Fangxia said with an icy expression.

 Chapter 128 Ill Pay, No Matter the Amount

    Although the words were serious, everyone present could tell that there was no way this girl would be willing to hit Huang Xue."Sister Gu, you talk business with Xia Liu. I''ll take Xiaoxue outside to look at the stars," Huang Xue said, trying to lighten the mood after the series of events that had just occurred.


    "Sister Gu, I''m sorry to have startled you." After the women left, Xia Liu began to apologize to Gu Fangxia.


    "Not at all, I should actually thank you, or I would have been really startled," Gu Fangxia waved her hand, emphasizing the word "startled."


    Xia Liu was completely baffled. This was outright flirting.


    He just couldn''t say it out loud.


    Dirty minds hear everything as dirty, decent people hear everything as straightforward.


    "Sister Gu, do you still want to eat? I cooked this time, without adding anything extra."


    "No, I''ve already eaten enough. Let''s get straight to business," Gu Fangxia said, her face turning a bit pale at the mention of food.


    She dared not take any more risks, especially now that Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue had gone out. Who knows if Xia Liu might add the ingredient from before?


    If so, then she would be utterly helpless.


    "Alright,Sister Gu, please go ahead."


    Gu Fangxia did not immediately elaborate, but spread out the blueprints she had brought on the table.


    This time, she brought a detailed blueprint and dissected Xia Liu''s design.


    She annotated each part and paid attention to details, even down to the corners of the floor.


    After a brief look, Xia Liu secretly admired her.


    This girl really knew her construction work. Her analysis was exactly like what he had in mind.


    "Very good, Sister Gu, please give me a quote. How much would each villa cost to build?"


    After being satisfied with the design, Xia Liu asked directly.


    He did not like to beat around the bush; being straightforward was more comfortable and refreshing.


    "Labor and materials will cost three million per villa."


    "Three million?"


    "Yes, and it''s still not too late to back out," Gu Fangxia tightened up inside as she saw Xia Liu hesitate.


    Although she said that, she really didn''t want Xia Liu to back out, as it was a project that could last half a year or even a year.


    Losing such a great opportunity would mean she''d have to go out and drum up business again.


    "Regret what? I thought you were going to quote five million or even ten million," Xia Liu said nonchalantly, waving his hand.


    Gu Fangxia was startled by his response. Could this guy actually be a super-rich boss?


    Calling three million cheap for building a villa, truly an odd one.


    Just when she saw him hesitate, she was about to drop the price, even if it meant reducing the workers'' income.


    But who knew he would agree so readily and act so cool about it?


    "Three million per villa doesn''t include the cost of paving roads and crane operations."


    After a moment''s thought, Gu Fangxia mentioned the costs she had initially omitted. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ll pay, no matter the amount."


    "Boss Xia, do you need an accessory for your leg that can talk?" Gu Fangxia almost knelt down to him.


    This was her first time encountering such a boss, who didn''t bargain and even offered to increase the project funds.


    Moreover, the most important point was that this boss was so young and handsome.


    Gu Fangxia firmly believed that if she were just a year or two younger, she would have made a move on Xia Liu tonight for sure!


    After some light-hearted banter, Xia Liu spoke seriously, "I have only one request."


    "Speed?"


    Xia Liu nodded. This girl had been collaborating with him for so long and truly understood his way of doing things, not bad.


    Seeing his nod, Gu Fangxia revealed a wry smile, thinking that he really wanted everything done quickly.


    But those were fifty villas, even if sped up, it would take three to four months.


    This was assuming there were enough workers available.


    She had considered that, when the time came, she would need to collaborate with several decorating teams, otherwise it would not be quick enough.


    "I can only guarantee handing over the houses in four months for now since many natural factors could impede the progress of the work."


    "Okay, I trust Sister Gu, I can accept six months. A faster pace is beneficial for you too, but I insist on quality assurance for the project."


    "You don''t have to worry about the quality, I will not let you down. However, to increase the speed, the money might need to¡­"


    "Don''t worry, Sister Gu, no need to add too much money, just keep it on the books, I will settle all the payments within two months."


    "Very well, I trust you."


    After finalizing the deal, Gu Fangxia shook hands with Xia Liu very seriously.


    Without any ambiguity, after finalizing the deal, Xia Liu transferred fifty million through mobile banking to Gu Fangxia.


    This money had only been earned recently, with part of it coming from profits of Beauty Mud, and a part from Longteng and Longyun Hotel after setting aside liquid assets.


    The construction and decoration of one villa required three million, and fifty would therefore be one hundred fifty million.


    He had provided one third directly, enough sincerity to excite any construction team.


    Additionally, Xia Liu stated that whatever the cost was for road construction and forest relocation, he would settle it in full in the end.


    Gu Fangxia was truly shocked; she couldn''t comprehend how Xia Liu could be so wealthy.


    It was almost scary, but those were not her concerns.


    Now that she had the project funds, she had too much to attend to.


    Contacting the workers, purchasing materials, there was so much to do.


    As she was leaving, she told Xia Liu to pick a date himself, whenever he thought it appropriate to start the project.


    If the time was too near and the construction team hadn''t arrived yet, they would just hold a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony.


    Xia Liu had no specific requirements about auspicious days; with money and guaranteed quality, auspicious days were but illusions.


    But unable to resist Gu Fangxia''s insistence, Xia Liu did check the calendar, ultimately setting the date for eight days later.


    Gu Fangxia left feeling excited and joyful, having enough time to mobilize workers and machinery.


    Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue were very quiet during the following period, fearing that Xia Liu would reprimand them over the drugging incident.


    Time hurried along, and a month had passed; by the end of October, the morning air was slightly chilly.


    If it had been before, the villagers would surely have gone diving for oysters by now.


    But not now, as the water was very cold in the mornings, posing the risk of catching cold if they went diving.


    Once sick, they might be unable to dive for the following few days or even a month.


    Therefore, the villagers were very cautious.


    They often waited until the sun was high before going down to the sea to dive for oysters.


    Although this reduced the daily yield, it ensured good health.


    Xia Liu made it clear that they should not dive when the seawater was too cold.


    Since the weather turned cooler, the business of both Longyun and Longteng hotels had dropped by half.


    Previously, the biggest revenue came from oysters and Osmanthus Chicken; now, visitors had grown tired of oysters.


    The most frequently ordered dish was still Osmanthus Chicken.


    Thinking about these things gave Xia Liu a headache; if they couldn''t find a good solution soon, the villagers would have to stay idle at home.


    Even if they had made money during the summer, staying idle at home would surely douse their spirits.


    He had to find a way to ensure a continuous flow of income for everyone.

 Chapter 129 New Cooperative Project

    Just as Xia Liu was mulling over a problem without results, a phone call sparked his inspiration.The call was from Liu Lanxin, asking if he had the time to make a trip to Binlai City if it was convenient.


    Xia Liu didn''t refuse, as he had been wandering around the county town these days.


    He aimed to understand and discover ways to make money, but Hejing County''s economic scope was very limited.


    With many rural households, if you tried to do a high-end business, you''d definitely lose your way to from losses.


    The greatest development was tourism, with two hotels sufficing to cope with it.


    If he wanted to make everyone in Osmanthus Village earn money, he had to do something big.


    Now, receiving the call from Liu Lanxin ignited his inspiration.


    What he was best at was medicine and martial arts, and let''s not even talk about martial arts for now.


    As long as he could excel in medicine, working with medicinal herbs, that was the real path to success.


    The results of Beauty Mud were still fresh in his mind; how could he overlook such a lucrative industry?


    With Binlai University having a few days off, Liu Lanxin heard from her family as soon as she got home that Beauty Mud might be gone in the future.


    This made her a bit anxious, because this project was her achievement.


    Beauty Mud had significantly elevated her status in the family, gaining more support for herself.


    If Beauty Mud ran out, there would certainly be gossip within the family.


    In order to help her family continue to rise, Liu Lanxin decided to take advantage of the holiday to meet Xia Liu.


    Today, Liu Lanxin reserved a high-level private room at Wanqing Grand Hotel.


    She also asked the waiter to light a few candles and then quietly waited for Xia Liu to come over.


    Half an hour later, Xia Liu appeared in the private room.


    The dim lighting, the faint candlelight.


    Xia Liu almost thought he had walked into the wrong room; if it hadn''t been for seeing Liu Lanxin, he would have turned around and left.


    Because the atmosphere in the private room was astonishing, with a thick romantic ambiance.


    He was certain that if it were a couple deeply in love,


    eating here wouldn''t finish before they began hurting each other.


    "Brother Xia Liu, come over here and sit." Seeing Xia Liu arrive, Liu Lanxin stood up, pulled out a chair for Xia Liu, and warmly served him to his seat.


    ¡­ ¡­


    Xia Liu furrowed his brows, what was this situation, not seeing each other for more than two months, this girl seemed a bit different.


    "Look, sister, this ambiance is pretty romantic; you didn''t call me over today to confess your feelings, did you? Just so you know, I already have a girlfriend."


    Having taken a seat, Xia Liu straightaway revealed his bottom line.


    Lately, he really didn''t have the luxury of time for such concerns, plus the two girls at home had already been tormenting him to near collapse.


    Every day staring at two fairies he couldn''t touch.


    For any normal man, this was agony.


    "Pfft!"


    Liu Lanxin was startled by Xia Liu''s bluntness; had she been drinking something, she would have certainly sprayed it all over him.


    "You''re overthinking it, Missy just wanted to light a few candles today, someone sure is full of himself."


    "Alright then, Miss Liu, what good news do you have for me today?" Xia Liu rubbed his hands together, clearly anticipating something.


    "Nothing much, just wanted to treat you to a meal and inquire about the Beauty Mud situation."


    "Ah, Beauty Mud, there''s a long story behind that, let''s talk over drinks." When he got the call from her, Xia Liu had guessed what she invited him over for.


    But that was normal, after all, Beauty Mud was a collaboration with her.


    With no product currently available, he definitely had to explain why.


    Xia Liu detailed the situation with the herbs, but he didn''t mention anything else for the time being.


    "Uh uh, so it''s a scarcity of herbs, huh? I thought you were collaborating with others at a high price..." By the end, Liu Lanxin''s words became quieter and quieter, to the point where she was mumbling at a volume that only she could hear.


    "What! What did you just say?"


    "Nothing, nothing!" Seeing Xia Liu''s demeanor grow somewhat intense, Liu Lanxin grabbed her cup and took big gulps of her drink, obviously flustered.


    Xia Liu smiled slightly; he had caught every word she said.


    It was completely within reason for her to have such thoughts.


    How popular the Beauty Mud was could be known just by turning on a smartphone.


    If Tianluo Pharmaceutical had not been conscientious, a box of Beauty Mud that sold for twenty thousand could definitely have sold for a hundred thousand or even more.


    There was a lengthy silence before Xia Liu suddenly asked, "Miss Liu, do you think it''s easier to make money from women or from men?"


    "That can''t be certain; after all, money is hard to earn no matter what, but you''re an exception," Liu Lanxin had intended to spout some grand truths, but when she recalled the money she paid to Xia Liu, she swallowed them hard.


    "I have a project that we might collaborate on."


    "What project!" Liu Lanxin perked up as soon as she heard Xia Liu mention a project.


    His ideas, as long as they were achievable, would definitely cause a sensation across the nation. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Take the Beauty Mud, for instance; the initial negotiations had been as casual as a joke.


    Yet in less than a day, he actually brought the Beauty Mud to market, and after a series of events, it went viral nationwide.


    This was enough to prove Xia Liu''s capabilities.


    This time he was the one to bring up a collaboration project, which surely meant he had considered it for a long time; it was likely to be more stable and long-lasting than Beauty Mud.


    "Vigor Wine!" Xia Liu lightly sipped his red wine and spoke slowly.


    Crack!


    Liu Lanxin''s actions came to an abrupt halt.


    What had she just heard? Vigor Wine!!!


    She was still a pure little girl, how could she listen to such impure talk?


    "What''s wrong, do you feel unwell?" Seeing Liu Lanxin''s mood change instantly, Xia Liu asked with concern.


    "No, no." Liu Lanxin snapped back to reality in an instant, reminding herself in her heart that they were here to discuss business, not jokes!


    "The idea of Vigor Wine is good, there are many fake wines on the market as well as many that don''t work very well. If you can produce a wine with assured quality, it''s sure to sell like crazy."


    Although the topic made Liu Lanxin feel awkward and even somewhat hurt, she still had some understanding when it came to trends.


    For instance, Tianluo Pharmaceutical also produced such medicinal products, but their effects were very minimal.


    That''s why many people didn''t pay much attention to this kind of medicine.


    Of course, not paying much attention didn''t mean they weren''t interested in it; it''s well known that when America launched the first Viagra, it exploded in popularity across the globe.


    One could imagine the frenzy if a Vigor Wine of guaranteed quality were to appear.


    Its popularity would absolutely rival that of Beauty Mud!


    And it might even have the chance to go beyond Huaxia and reach the whole world!


    If it reached that level, it wouldn''t just be about wealth, but more about honor.


    Personal honor, family honor, national honor!


    Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction; it seemed this gal was knowledgeable about various medicinal products.


    The idea of Vigor Wine had only appeared in Xia Liu''s mind recently.


    As the village doctor, everyone knew of his exceptional medical skills, so a villager had sought him out secretly.


    It was all to cure his condition of being a Quick Spear.


    Though it was a bit embarrassing, Xia Liu examined the villager for a while, then prescribed a few herbs and cured him.

 Chapter 130 One Day Is a Day

    ```Treating the villagers'' illnesses, regardless of the aspect, none of it was a problem.


    But after that villager regained his vigor, he actually insisted on stuffing two thousand yuan into Xia Liu''s hands!


    If it had been in the past, those twenty thousand yuan would have definitely been a huge sum in the village.


    But now, twenty thousand yuan was merely a few days'' wages for everyone.


    Xia Liu certainly wouldn''t take the money, but he saw a business opportunity within!


    Men can be stingy at times, but when it comes to that issue,


    they are willing to spend their last dime to regain their prowess.


    Therefore, the idea of Vigor Wine emerged at that time.


    Xia Liu was confident he could make this wine well, and the quality would surpass all other medicines currently on the market.


    Even imports, he felt no pressure.


    The only problem now was the sales channel.


    If it were a new pharmaceutical company trying to sell Vigor Wine,


    it would be difficult.


    Just like the previous Tianluo Pharmaceutical had a great reputation and positive word of mouth,


    but for a new product launched on the market without the test of time, the buyers would definitely be few and far between.


    Moreover, if your promotion isn''t comprehensive, the first group of people who know the product''s effects,


    they definitely won''t help you promote it and might even secretly purchase it and sell it to acquaintances at prices higher than the market''s.


    This issue was very serious, concerning the reputation of a pharmaceutical company.


    So Xia Liu would not rashly start his own company; he didn''t have so much time to waste.


    He wanted Vigor Wine to make a global name, so he had to choose a reliable and strong company to partner with. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tianluo Pharmaceutical was the best partner for this project.


    Not to mention the previous cooperation, just the Beauty Mud alone had made Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s reputation soar.


    If Vigor Wine appeared with Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s trademark, it could certainly blow up overnight.


    "Um, can you make that kind of wine?" Seeing Xia Liu silent, Liu Lanxin asked timidly.


    Truth be told, she was a bit worried because of the Beauty Mud incident.


    Tianluo Pharmaceutical had gained countless praises but also countless curses.


    After all, when the supply couldn''t meet the demand, the customers who were pushed to the brink could do anything.


    She had originally thought that this restricted sale could last a long time, only to discover that not even half a semester had passed,


    and the Beauty Mud was gone.


    Liu Lanxin was extremely worried that if they sold half the wine and suddenly there was none left,


    then Tianluo Pharmaceutical would undoubtedly become the target of everyone''s censure.


    "I can make it, and I can also ensure a continuous supply," Xia Liu, knowing what Liu Lanxin was worried about, gave a solemn promise.


    He had concocted a bottle of this wine before.


    No need to add any Spiritual Energy to it; just a few kinds of herbs added to the wine was enough.


    Though these herbs were not common, every pharmacy had them; with proper use, they could provide a continuous supply!


    "Is that true?"


    Liu Lanxin looked at Xia Liu incredulously, as if amazed that he dared to make such a claim.


    If Beauty Mud could be supplied continuously, he would have made a fortune by now, and Tianluo Pharmaceutical could become the largest pharmaceutical company in Binlai City in the near future.


    They might even be ranked in the country and eventually all over the world.


    The issue with Beauty Mud lingered in Liu Lanxin''s mind, and she found it hard to trust Xia Liu.


    "Of course it''s true; I''ve brought some of the finished wine today." As he spoke, Xia Liu took out a bottle of ''Erguotou'' from his pocket.


    The square small bottle was filled with a reddish liquid.


    ```


    "This is the Vigor Wine?" Taking the bottle from Xia Liu''s hands, Liu Lanxin scrutinized it continuously.


    If she hadn''t been told, she really would have thought it contained strong baijiu.


    From the outside, apart from the color of the liquor being a bit different, it didn''t appear to be all that remarkable.


    "Yep, just a small sip, and you''ll be mighty all night long!" Xia Liu said with full confidence.


    "What''s with that look? Don''t get me wrong, I haven''t tried this stuff!" Seeing the way Liu Lanxin was looking at him, Xia Liu hurriedly explained.


    "Hehe, I didn''t say anything, but if you haven''t used it, how do you know that just a small sip will..." Liu Lanxin didn''t finish her sentence.


    If she hadn''t been looking down, Xia Liu would have seen the blush on her face.


    "Of course I found people to test it, who do you think I am, Xia Liu! How could I possibly drink this."


    "Yeah right, I bet you drank it, did your hand not shed its skin or something."


    ...


    Shit!


    Xia Liu forcibly suppressed certain thoughts; he was stunned, hand shedding skin, that was just bloody hell!


    Liu Lanxin also realized she had inadvertently revealed something and turned her cheeks away.


    Seeing Xia Liu, she almost started to feel goosebumps. How could she have said those things to him...


    "Miss Liu, first of all, I have a few girlfriends, and with me, a day is a day, and a day is indeed a day," Xia Liu said indifferently, getting a grip on his emotions.


    "A day is a day, and a day is indeed a day..."


    Indeed, Liu Lanxin understood.


    A capital ''confused'' was written all over her face.


    She looked at Xia Liu incredulously, right, she couldn''t believe it!


    But she didn''t say anything, the topic was just too awkward.


    Holding the medicinal wine, she became somewhat at a loss.


    Xia Liu made a good point, but without testing, she had some trouble trusting his words.


    If the wine had no effect, the loss wouldn''t be just money, but Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s reputation!


    Liu Lanxin was no child, before doing anything, she planned and considered the challenges that lay ahead.


    Now, what she wanted to know most was the quality of the medicinal wine.


    Once assured of its effectiveness, she could launch it in the market within two days.


    But how to test the quality of the medicinal wine now?


    Just by hearing the name Vigor Wine, one knew it was intended for male customers.


    "Um, Xia Liu, can I take this bottle back for testing?" After pondering for a while, this was all Liu Lanxin could say.


    "How long would that take?"


    "If it''s fast, the results could be out in three days."


    "No way, that''s too long, just drink it, the effect kicks in very quickly," Xia Liu didn''t have that much time.


    If Tianluo Pharmaceutical didn''t work out, he planned to spend a fortune to start a company, even roping in Mo Wanqing.


    A company starting from scratch was not scary, after all, the quality of the product was there, becoming hot on the market was a matter of sooner or later.


    "What, what! You want to drink it right here?" Liu Lanxin looked at Xia Liu in surprise, this guy really could think up some crazy ideas.


    Even if this guy drank it on the spot, would she still be able to observe the effects of the medicinal wine, that would be utterly...


    She didn''t dare to continue imagining, it was simply too indescribable.


    "Let''s do this, you go find a few trustworthy men, set a time, and then have them drink the medicinal wine at that time. Whether it works or not, they''ll definitely know."


    After giving it some thought, Xia Liu also felt his own testing would be ineffective. It was important to note that when the medicinal wine''s effects kicked in, coupled with the atmosphere inside the private room, that would be truly sinful.


    Liu Lanxin nodded tacitly, "The day after tomorrow, the place is still here."


    "Okay, then I''ll go back and prepare some more..."

 Chapter 131 Consolidation

    Liu Lanxin didn''t stay with Xia Liu for long, as she had already achieved her goal for the day.After a while, she bid farewell to Xia Liu and left ahead of him.


    She needed to come up with a plan for the medicine trial in two days, what would be the best course of action...


    Not long after Liu Lanxin''s departure, Xia Liu also left Binlai City. He was one hundred percent confident that he could get Liu Lanxin to cooperate with him.


    Before the day of the trial arrived, he had some preparations to make.


    Of course, there was no problem with the medicinal wine.


    The issue lay with the future production.


    The medicinal wine definitely couldn''t be processed at Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s factory.


    Any ordinary traditional Chinese medicine practitioner could list the prescription just by glancing at the herbs added to the wine.


    If the recipe for the medicinal wine leaked, it would become as commonplace as dirt.


    Therefore, it had to be manufactured in a secret location.


    Osmanthus Village was the ideal base.


    Xia Liu planned to set up a factory in Osmanthus Village for brewing and blending!


    The brewing was for Osmanthus Wine, to advertise for Osmanthus Village.


    The blending was for medicinal wine, which could simply be made by adding herbs to ordinary high-proof liquor sourced from the market.


    Before this, Xia Liu had a special plan in mind.


    Shareholding!


    All that he was doing now was for Osmanthus Village, and to continue in the current manner.


    The villagers might feel uneasy.


    For instance, with the recent villa giveaway, Xia Liu always felt there was a distance between himself and the villagers.


    Especially in the way they looked at him, there was an indescribable quality, as if subordinates looking up to their superior.


    In the past, Xia Liu hadn''t thought too much about it, only wishing to give everything he could offer.


    But as time passed, he didn''t want the villagers'' attitude towards him to change too much.


    So, he would take the opportunity of this medicinal wine to give the villagers sufficient gains and equal treatment.


    Upon returning to the village, Xia Liu had Li Zhi gather everyone together.


    Li Zhi, having learned something from Xia Liu, became invigorated.


    It took him only twenty minutes to spread the news to all the households in the village.


    Hearing that Xia Liu would hold the meeting himself, everyone arrived at the village center in no time.


    Even Gu Fangxia was drawn in. She had been keeping an eye on Xia Liu.


    This guy had promised to settle the villa payments in two months, and nearly two months were up; she was curious to see how long he could put on a brave face.


    Seeing the crowd surge, Xia Liu stepped directly onto a table.


    "Today, I''ve called everyone together because I have an important announcement to make!"


    "Heh heh, I heard from Old Li that Xia Liu has a new project in the works."


    "Really, Xia Liu is truly impressive."


    "Haha, I wonder what this new project is?"


    "Everyone be quiet, we''ll soon find out what the new project is!"


    Looking at Xia Liu''s commanding figure, the villagers burst into lively discussion.


    "You all know that with the weather changing, it''s hard to harvest oysters, and once winter comes, we won''t be able to go into the water."


    "It''s indeed too cold in winter, and it would definitely be impossible for the older folks to go down," Li Dazhuang, at the front of the crowd, nodded in agreement.


    He was the one who knew the oyster chain best.


    Since last month, the demand for oysters had been declining day by day, and everyone''s income was decreasing as well.


    Even though everyone had made some money, they wouldn''t be able to continue once winter set in.


    This was no small matter for everyone, and Li Dazhuang could see a lot of pressure on Xia Liu.


    Those days, he had definitely been thinking about how to resolve this issue. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Dazhuang sometimes really wanted to slap himself.


    Being only a bit younger than Xia Liu, and both of them being men, why couldn''t he have the capability to help Xia Liu share some of the burden?


    "Everyone, rest assured, the reason I asked you to come today is to talk about making money. I''ve recently discussed a project where money is definitely to be made, and I can''t earn all the money myself, so I asked you all here to discuss a joint investment."


    "Joint investment!"


    "Joint investment? What''s that?"


    "Yeah, what is that, Xia Liu?"


    The crowd didn''t ask about the project''s details because they firmly believed that Xia Liu would surely succeed!


    It''s just that before Xia Liu''s return, they rarely had access to various pieces of information, so they were somewhat baffled by the concept of joint investment.


    "Joint investment is simple, I''ll explain the details to everyone soon!"


    Just as Xia Liu was about to explain, Huang Xue suddenly hopped onto another table.


    Seeing Huang Xue up on stage, everyone was slightly stunned during this period.


    The villagers had also come to know the reason Huang Xue came to the village¡ªto chase after Xia Liu.


    Everyone was very happy with this girl from the big city.


    In the past, if someone in the village married a city girl and talked about it outside, they themselves would feel honored.


    As for Huang Xue''s action, Xia Liu shook his head and didn''t say anything; since the girl wanted to perform, he let her perform well.


    "Joint investment means pooling everyone''s money together, then investing in the project. When it comes time to subtract the cost of expenses, the profit obtained will be distributed to everyone according to their respective investment shares..."


    Huang Xue explained the share system in detail to the silently attentive audience.


    Having been in Osmanthus Village for some time, she had come to know some of the people here.


    Whenever the villagers had questions, she would answer them in detail.


    After about fifteen minutes, everyone had a thorough understanding of the share system.


    Even if there were some who didn''t understand, they wouldn''t ask Huang Xue or Xia Liu; they would ask the people next to them.


    The logic was simple; after discussing among themselves for a while, everyone had it all figured out.


    However, there was one person who didn''t understand, and that was Gu Fangxia.


    She didn''t understand just how charismatic Xia Liu was.


    He could make these people not care about the project itself, but rather about learning what joint investment was.


    Moreover, even after understanding joint investment, none of them proactively asked about the project, which was a bit strange.


    "Boss Xia, what is this project of yours?" Gu Fangxia, who couldn''t guess, asked aloud.


    "Manager Gu asks a good question, I plan to start a distillery, and I''ll choose a location right next to the village. When the time comes, I''ll be troubling you to build the distillery."


    ...


    Gu Fangxia stared blankly at Xia Liu, originally thinking he would pull off some earth-shattering feat.


    Only to find out in the end, he actually planned to open a distillery.


    This was somewhat incomprehensible to her.


    The alcoholic beverage market is already mature today; for a new distillery to break into the market, that is not just a little challenging.


    It is extremely difficult.


    Not to mention the capital investment required, the upfront cost of opening market channels; that is definitely a big number.


    Labor, materials, machinery¡ªthe whole setup¡ªwithout a few hundred million or even a billion or more, might as well just wash up and go to bed.


    "A distillery? I think it has promise!"


    "Definitely has promise, just see who''s going to start it."


    Unlike Gu Fangxia, there wasn''t a single voice of opposition in the village against Xia Liu.


    This almost made Gu Fangxia bite her tongue; this simply didn''t make sense.


    You can''t just follow Xia Liu into a pit of fire out of trust, right? If the distillery were to start up, the villagers'' savings would surely be emptied out.

 Chapter 132 Who Did You Hear That From?

    However, Gu Fangxia''s thoughts were not approved by the others.Even if the distillery really lost money, it wouldn''t matter; they would still believe in Xia Liu, still invest their money.


    "Xia Liu, how much do we need to invest now?"


    This was everyone''s question¡ªif it was too much, they might feel pained but would definitely make their utmost effort to come up with the money.


    "Not much, based on per household, each household should invest fifty thousand yuan."


    "Fifty thousand yuan!" Gu Fangxia was the first to be astonished.


    Each household fifty thousand yuan, Osmanthus Village had at most fifty households.


    Calculating at fifty thousand yuan per household, that would be a total of one and a half million.


    To think of starting a distillery with this one and a half million was definitely a joke!


    Indeed, Li Dazhuang and some of the young people who had returned from the city couldn''t believe it either.


    One and a half million yuan would almost deplete the funds just on building the factory and purchasing equipment¡ªhow would they operate then?


    Suddenly, Gu Fangxia''s eyes widened as she thought of the villas Xia Liu had given to the villagers.


    A bold idea burst forth in her mind¡ªXia Liu was using his own money to subsidize!


    He was distributing the money to everyone in the form of shares...


    It wasn''t just Gu Fangxia; Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue also had this thought.


    "Brother Xia Liu, each household invests fifty thousand yuan; how many shares will there be, and how many will you have?" Li Dazhuang asked, puzzled.


    He was rather worried because ever since Xia Liu came back, he undertook every construction project in the village, bearing the costs himself.


    How could Xia Liu have so much money? Was it possible he had made money outside and was quietly using it for the village''s development?


    Li Dazhuang''s suspicion was not unwarranted, as both Longteng and Longyun Hotel were Xia Liu''s businesses.


    These two hotels were oyster distribution centers, and villagers getting forty yuan per jin was simply at Xia Liu''s word.


    He had a significant hidden concern¡ªthat Xia Liu was distributing the money he earned outside to everyone as a cover-up.


    And was tirelessly developing Osmanthus Village!


    "I am also a member of Osmanthus Village, so I will account for one household. However many households there are, that''s how many shares there will be." Xia Liu thought for a while and then voiced his decision.


    This...


    Gu Fangxia was confused, and so were Zhang Xiaoxue, Huang Xue, and Li Dazhuang.


    Hearing Xia Liu''s words, they all confirmed Xia Liu was indeed subsidizing the villagers with his own money!


    "This won''t do! The village has at most fifty households; if Xia Liu only holds one share, it''s definitely not fair!"


    "Right! It''s not fair!"


    "Brother Xia Liu, why don''t we do it this way: since we''ve decided on this, let''s base it on a hundred shares. Each household gets one share, and you take all the additional shares."


    "This..." Xia Liu didn''t expect everyone to be so sensitive. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In truth, he really wanted to be fair to all villagers, but seeing the situation...


    If he said no again, it would only become more of a hassle, and they wouldn''t accept it.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, Li Dazhuang suddenly came closer, pulling him down from the table: "Brother Xia Liu, what exactly is this distillery about? I feel like you are distributing profits to everyone using your savings."


    Li Dazhuang didn''t discuss this matter in front of everyone else because he feared he couldn''t control the situation later.


    If his guess was correct, everyone would live a life full of guilt.


    And from then on, they would not accept any projects or wages from Xia Liu.


    "Dazhuang, do you remember the medicine I prescribed you a few days ago?"


    Xia Liu hadn''t expected Li Dazhuang to have such thoughts, but fortunately, most of the villagers were too naive to think of those things, or he would certainly need to explain, which would be troublesome.


    "Of course, I remember. I''ve been driving for years and had some stamina issues, so I came to you when I heard about your impressive medical skills. Now, my wife loves me even more."


    "You need to take it easy, kiddo. Your wife is still pregnant. The project I''m working on is a medicinal liquor, and it has the same effect as the medicine I gave you."


    Xia Liu was almost overwhelmed by this simple-minded guy, but he still managed to explain the situation.


    "Ah! If that''s really the case, then there definitely won''t be any problem!"


    Now understanding the situation, Li Dazhuang scratched his head, and all his doubts disappeared.


    Being a man, he was very aware of the importance of that particular area.


    If the medicinal liquor Xia Liu was developing could be effectively stimulating, it would surely be a huge success.


    "Got it now? With this medicinal liquor, you''ll be making money faster than you can imagine. Go and tell everyone about it."


    "I got it. I''ll go right now!"


    Li Dazhuang ran off happily into the crowd. He didn''t go into detail about the effects of the medicinal liquor.


    He just said to trust Xia Liu, and within half a month, they would see the results.


    Even without Li Dazhuang, everyone was willing to trust Xia Liu.


    No matter how long it took to see results, and no matter when, they were all ready to support Xia Liu. That was the level of trust they had.


    Watching the harmonious gathering of villagers, Xia Liu handed over the task of collecting money to Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue.


    The crowd was very enthusiastic because Xia Liu had always given out cash before, so each household had saved up a tidy sum.


    They didn''t wait for Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue to speak; everyone hurried home to bring their money.


    "Xia Liu, I''d like to talk to you about the villa, do you have a moment?" Seeing Xia Liu standing idly by, Gu Fangxia thought for a moment and said.


    "I have time. Is there a problem with it?" Xia Liu was somewhat concerned, hoping there wasn''t really an accident.


    Gu Fangxia didn''t answer immediately but invited him to the site for a look.


    Walking along the road to the beach, Gu Fangxia was full of questions, wondering whether she should ask Xia Liu.


    "Sister Gu, I don''t see any problems with the villas. You have something you want to ask me, right?" Along the way, Xia Liu observed the lady keenly; he noticed she wasn''t in a hurry at all. Her pace was so leisurely, and her previous words were clearly just an excuse.


    It was all just to have him to herself and explain something, right?


    "True, there''s no problem with the villa. What I don''t understand is what this distillery of yours is all about. One and a half million wouldn''t even be enough to buy the machinery."


    Faced with Xia Liu''s initiative, Gu Fangxia didn''t hold back and asked directly.


    "You''re right, one and a half million is not enough to buy machinery, but my distillery doesn''t need those expensive machines."


    "So what kind of distillery are you opening?"


    "Medicinal liquor!"


    "Medicinal liquor?" Gu Fangxia looked completely baffled. What kind of answer was that?


    In her perception, medicinal liquor was supposed to be something like a jar with a snake in it, into which you pour liquor, seal it, and leave for a year or two before using.


    "Exactly, the kind of medicinal liquor that can rejuvenate a man''s vigor!"


    "Pfft!" Gu Fangxia couldn''t help but spit out a laugh. It was just her and him here, and he really had no shame in talking about such things.


    "Are you sure? I''ve heard lots of people say that those so-called vigor wines are mostly fake, and even if they are real, the effect is very small."


    "Who did you hear that from?"


    Xia Liu''s interest was piqued by Gu Fangxia''s words. No matter how you looked at her, she still seemed inexperienced in certain matters. The fact that she knew and could say so confidently meant there must be something fishy...

 Chapter 133 Choosing a Location for the Factory

    Gu Fangxia''s face flushed red in an instant.Indeed, who had she heard it from...


    "My college classmates mentioned it, they are all married, and they complain about it when we gather..."


    Gu Fangxia''s voice was so faint that if Xia Liu hadn''t had his strong hearing, he wouldn''t have been able to make out what she was saying.


    "Alright, I think I get it, you just don''t believe in the effects of the medicinal wine, right?"


    "Yes, after all, there are too many fakes out there."


    "Do you remember the Beauty Mud?" Xia Liu didn''t explain too much; the Beauty Mud was enough to stupefy the girl.


    Yes, when Xia Liu mentioned the Beauty Mud, Gu Fangxia''s pupils contracted suddenly.


    She had just forgotten that the miraculous Beauty Mud was created by Xia Liu.


    The Beauty Mud showed results in minutes, and how magical that was, only those who had used it knew.


    Now that Xia Liu said his medicinal wine had enhancing properties, those who knew him would never doubt it.


    "Boss Xia, I also want to invest, do you think that''s possible?" After being silent for a while, Gu Fangxia''s eyes sparkled with brilliance.


    This medicinal wine would definitely be as popular as the Beauty Mud nationwide; if she could invest in it, she would definitely make a fortune.


    The reason she had this idea was thanks to Xia Liu''s shareholding system.


    He had divided only a hundred shares, and one could buy one percent of a share for fifty thousand yuan, which was definitely a bargain.


    The future of the medicinal wine was right in front of her, and Gu Fangxia did not want to miss this opportunity.


    "Sister Gu, you''re not joking, are you? This medicinal wine is just a small business compared to the projects you do; they''re not even close."


    "I''m not joking, I really do want to invest, it''s not expensive anyway."


    Gu Fangxia looked very serious; after understanding the situation, she was indeed interested in joining.


    "That''s not possible, because you''re not from Osmanthus Village, so I''m sorry," Xia Liu said after a moment of silence, having no choice but to refuse with a wave of his hand.


    "Ah! So how can I become a person from Osmanthus Village?" Gu Fangxia was suddenly anxious.


    This medicinal wine could definitely make big money, and she couldn''t miss this opportunity.


    "Osmanthus Village does not accept new household registrations from outsiders, but if you want to become someone from Osmanthus Village, that''s easy..."


    "Quick, tell me how!"


    Seeing Xia Liu pause, Gu Fangxia grabbed his arm and hurriedly pressed for an answer.


    "By adding your name to my household registration book," Xia Liu said with a blink, implying something deeper.


    "Snap!"


    Gu Fangxia''s expression instantly froze; adding her own name to Xia Liu''s household registration book meant there was only one premise.


    Marriage!


    The news was too sudden, and Gu Fangxia took several deep breaths.


    It took her a while to calm down; no, even though her expression became composed, her heart still flipped.


    Xia Liu was actually talking about marriage to her, and after she understood, for a moment,


    she truly fantasized about the scene of registering their marriage with Xia Liu.


    This was too scary; she had to stay calm, she must stay calm!


    "Ah haha, Sister Gu, I was just joking with you." Watching Gu Fangxia stay dazed for a long time, Xia Liu finally couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    "You jerk! Go to hell!" Gu Fangxia glared at Xia Liu, then hurriedly ran towards the construction site.


    "Uh oh, are you mad? No way, did you really want to register a marriage with me?" Watching Gu Fangxia''s fleeing figure, Xia Liu was plunged into doubt for a moment.


    Actually, he was really just joking; getting married? He didn''t even have an ID card, let alone a household registration book.


    "I need to find someone to get an ID card; it''s always inconvenient to be out without one."


    Speaking of the ID card, Xia Liu had an idea.


    Before, he had been to Binlai City several times, if not for Liu Lanxin, he might have had to drive back home overnight.


    Without an ID card, and not knowing the hotel owner, he couldn''t even rent a room.


    Currently, Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue were collecting money, so Xia Liu had time to stroll around the villa area.


    From the beach, he could see many workers bustling about.


    A few villas had already had their models built but were not yet decorated, with a layer of netting surrounding the exterior.


    The most eye-catching would have to be the villa standing on the edge.


    It was halfway up the hill, with a low cliff about ten meters from the front gate of the villa, below which were the rolling waves.


    There were no other buildings surrounding this villa.


    And it had been constructed upon Xia Liu''s request.


    This was the area with the best location, where countless beautiful sceneries could be seen from the second floor.


    There was no mistake, living in such a house would surely make one''s daily mood excellent.


    Resisting the urge to go up for a closer look, Xia Liu headed back the way he came. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By the time he returned home, Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue were bundling up cash.


    Bright red banknotes were generously spread out on the table.


    Xia Liu had long since grown accustomed to this sight, as had the two women.


    After giving a few instructions, Xia Liu went to Li Zhi''s home.


    Soon after, he brought Li Dazhuang to the back of the village, close to the mountainous area.


    Xia Liu intended to hand over the management of the distillery to Li Dazhuang; discussing site selection and construction was a matter of mutual respect.


    After half a day, Xia Liu and Li Dazhuang finally settled on a site.


    Since the distillery was essentially a village enterprise, Li Zhi had also said that they absolutely could not charge for the land.


    Before the contract with Liu Lanxin was up, Xia Liu continued to discuss the distillery with the villagers.


    Following everyone''s suggestions and guidance, Xia Liu drew up a detailed design.


    The distillery didn''t cover a very large area, about ten acres, which Xia Liu had decided upon for the construction of an activity area.


    For processing and brewing alone, a dozen square meters would suffice.


    Since the distillery was planned to be operated by the villagers, all the necessary equipment had to be in place.


    For instance, they would definitely need to rest if they got tired.


    If they worked for a long time, they would certainly need to exercise.


    Thus, Xia Liu planned to use a few acres to set up exercise equipment and a relaxation area.


    After completing the design, Xia Liu found Gu Fangxia; she was the definite choice for overseeing the construction.


    However, Gu Fangxia was currently busy with the villa being built around the clock, so someone else would have to handle the distillery.


    What satisfied Xia Liu was that Gu Fangxia helped him get in touch with someone.


    The current setup was very simple.


    Just build a canopy and surround it with dust-proof netting.


    It might be a bit rudimentary, but it was efficient.


    Xia Liu confirmed that as soon as he went to keep his appointment with Liu Lanxin, he would have to start brewing upon his return.


    As for another brewing idea, Xia Liu planned to discuss it with everyone after the first batch of blended drinks was ready.


    After all, brewing and processing were vastly different; the production process alone would involve numerous steps, and it certainly couldn''t keep up with Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s sales.


    Of course, one couldn''t rely on others forever; to ensure a steady stream, one needed to have one''s own products, one''s own sales channels, one''s own company!


    Finally, the day of the appointment arrived, and as usual, Xia Liu was about to drive to Binlai City.


    But he never expected to receive an unexpected call from Liu Lanxin...

 Chapter 134 An Unexpected Negotiation

    "Hey Miss Liu, what are you doing?" Xia Liu was very puzzled. This girl calling at this time couldn''t mean there was a change with the trial, could it?"Nothing much, I just wanted to tell you to dress respectfully later."


    Liu Lanxin''s lovely voice said.


    "Why is that?"


    "Because I''ve invited someone quite influential for the trial, so don''t show up looking scruffy."


    Good grief!


    Xia Liu almost let loose a curse. That girl actually dared to call him scruffy!


    What did ''scruffy'' mean? Just because he wasn''t wearing a suit and leather shoes?


    "Alright, alright, any other requests?"


    Xia Liu held back, he remembered, and if she gave him the chance, he''d definitely teach her a lesson, for sure!


    "Be on time at twelve noon, watch how you speak, and try to leave a good impression on my end..."


    Liu Lanxin rattled off a whole list, and Xia Liu''s mind had already wandered off.


    But this did sound a bit like a business collaboration. If it were successful and he could wield his ''big sword'' once more, then it would indeed be worth it.


    "Alright, alright, I got it, I promise you''ll be satisfied, Miss Liu. That good enough?"


    "That''s enough, remember your promise, don''t disappoint me!"


    With that, Liu Lanxin hung up the phone.


    Sitting in the car, Xia Liu looked himself over: a casual outfit and slippers.


    "Hmm, certainly not the get-up for a cooperation talk. Guess I''ll buy a suit in Binlai City..."


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu started the car and left Osmanthus Village.


    Before heading to Binlai City, Xia Liu switched cars at the Longteng Hotel.


    Since Liu Lanxin wanted him to be serious and formal, showing up in a Bentley should definitely raise the stakes.


    Once in Binlai City, Xia Liu picked a random brand-name suit shop.


    The clerks were welcoming when he entered, with none of the snobbishness; they enthusiastically showed him around.


    Xia Liu appreciated their attitude and directly asked for her opinion, decided to buy whatever looked good on him.


    A few minutes later, Xia Liu walked out of the shop with a business card in hand, given to him by the clerk with her phone number.


    Accustomed to such encounters, Xia Liu threw the card away as soon as he left the store.


    Now he was in a black suit with shiny, polished shoes.


    Some people just don''t look good in suits.


    But Xia Liu was different; he was over six feet tall, well-built and sturdy, the suit fitting him perfectly.


    At first glance, he resembled a wealthy scion from a powerful family. On his way to the parking lot, he caught the attention of many women.


    Some even boldly approached him for his contact information.


    Like the business card earlier, Xia Liu graciously declined their kind offers. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, he headed to the Wanqing Grand Hotel in the Bentley, under numerous excited gazes.


    It was half past eleven, and Xia Liu confidently made his way to the agreed-upon private room.


    When he reached the door, he even saw a neatly dressed waitress standing outside: "Excuse me, is someone inside?"


    "Yes, there''s a gentleman waiting for someone."


    It must be the person with influence Liu Lanxin had mentioned.


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu pushed the door open and entered.


    In the moment the door opened, Xia Liu rapidly scanned the private room.


    The private room was empty; Liu Lanxin was nowhere to be seen, which was strange. Had he come to the wrong place?


    However, when he saw the man sitting and waiting, some of his confusion cleared up.


    Xia Liu noticed that the man had distinct features and wore black-rimmed glasses.


    Even from a distance, he could feel the energy emanating from him¡ªthe presence of a business magnate.


    What Xia Liu focused on most were the man''s eyes; they were bright, just like Liu Lanxin''s eyes.


    This man looked to be around forty-five, quite young, and he didn''t look old at all.


    Mr. Liu Liguang regarded Xia Liu as he entered, sizing him up as well.


    The moment he caught sight of Xia Liu, a wave of envy rose in his heart.


    The man was so young, tall and handsome, and his attire was impeccable.


    Before coming here, Mr. Liu Liguang had already heard of him.


    It was said that Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s recent success owed all to this youth.


    Beauty Mud had been his brainchild, and Mr. Liu Liguang had long wished to meet him.


    And, finally, the opportunity arose last night!


    "Hello, are you Mr. Xia Liu?" Mr. Liu Liguang snapped out of his thoughts and greeted him warmly.


    "Yes, who are you?"


    "I''m Liu Liguang, the person in charge of Tianluo Pharmaceutical. I''m very pleased to meet you."


    The person in charge of Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡­


    Xia Liu stepped forward to shake hands with Liu Liguang. It seemed that Liu Lanxin had spread word of the medicinal wine far and wide after returning home.


    Given that even the person in charge of Tianluo Pharmaceutical had come, this deal was virtually clinched.


    "Mr. Liu, you can just call me Xia Liu."


    "Alright, Xia Liu, then you must call me Uncle Liu."


    "Uncle Liu."


    After taking their seats, Xia Liu and Liu Liguang started making casual conversation.


    During their talk, Liu Liguang made no mention of the medicinal wine.


    Xia Liu naturally didn''t bring it up himself, but he found it somewhat puzzling.


    In the midst of their casual conversation, Liu Liguang actually kept sneaking glances at him, and it wasn''t just once or twice.


    Now that was really weird; Xia Liu even wondered if this man was really the person in charge of Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    If you don''t mention the medicinal wine, so be it, but perpetually sneaking peeks at me, you look like you are sizing up a son-in-law¡­ Could it be that you really have a daughter?


    "Wait! Liu Liguang, daughter, Liu Lanxin..."


    Suddenly, Xia Liu remembered what Liu Lanxin had cautioned him about before he came. Could Liu Liguang really be Liu Lanxin''s father?


    Now, that would be extremely awkward; how had that girl recounted the story of the medicinal wine to Liu Liguang?


    "Xia Liu, our sitting together today has a clear purpose: to test the medicinal wine''s efficacy."


    "Yes, it was something I had agreed upon with Lan Xin."


    "I''ve heard about it. Did you happen to bring the medicinal wine today and already had a taste on-site?" Liu Liguang asked, his expression becoming serious.


    "Hmm? What is this guy implying? Is he afraid I slept with his daughter?" Muttering to himself for a moment, Xia Liu responded with a slight smile, "No, I just brought my ideas last time."


    "Haha, don''t misunderstand, I was just curious," Liu Liguang said with a wave of his hand and a smile.


    "Haha, curiosity killed the cat. If I really had drunk the medicinal wine that day and couldn''t control myself, and ended up sleeping with Liu Lanxin, you might have come at me with a knife today¡­"


    With that thought, Xia Liu took out a bottle containing the medicinal wine from his pocket.


    "Uncle Liu, this is the finished medicinal wine. Give it a try," said Xia Liu, passing the bottle straight to Liu Liguang without delay.


    Taking the bottle, Liu Liguang opened it and took a whiff below his nose.


    There was a faint herbal medicine scent, mixed with the aroma of alcohol.


    "How much of this should be taken each time?" Knowing the purpose of medicinal wine, Liu Liguang inquired directly.


    "Just a small sip each time. If you drink too much, it might interfere with tomorrow''s work."


    Liu Liguang nodded, then brought the bottle to his lips. Had it been the first encounter, he definitely wouldn''t have trusted Xia Liu.


    But after hearing that Xia Liu was the creator of Beauty Mud, and having made contact just now, any guard he had against Xia Liu was gone, and it seemed his daughter might even be interested in him.


    Taking all these into account, he definitely wanted to drink the medicinal wine and to do so readily.


    With that thought, Liu Liguang took a small drink. He found the taste to be pleasant and took another gulp.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu was somewhat baffled. Hadn''t he told him to just take a small sip?


    After those two sips, within five minutes, he was going to be quite embarrassed.


    Additionally, Xia Liu was concerned that if Liu Liguang was indeed Liu Lanxin''s father, then once the medicinal effect kicked in, would he actually have to take him for a sword fight?

 Chapter 135 Effects in Five Minutes

    Xia Liu''s concern was not unfounded.He knew exactly what the medicinal liquor he had concocted was capable of.


    And sure enough, not even five minutes had passed before Liu Liguang''s face turned rosy.


    Even his neck was becoming flushed with heat.


    Liu Liguang kept his head down, his face sporting an odd expression.


    He had never anticipated the medicinal liquor to take effect so swiftly, and his buddies had already been stunned.


    "Uncle Liu, how does it feel?"


    Despite feeling somewhat embarrassed, Xia Liu still asked.


    "It''s effective, but I may need to excuse myself," Liu Liguang nearly burst into tears. Despite the super awkwardness, he had to leave.


    If he endured it any longer, he was truly afraid he might explode.


    Without waiting for Xia Liu''s response, Liu Liguang hunched over and hurriedly left the private room.


    "This guy has been hanging around Binlai City for a long time, he should have ways to handle girls," Xia Liu muttered to himself and nonchalantly poured himself another drink.


    About ten minutes or so later, the door to the private room was pushed open.


    Xia Liu didn''t turn around, but a puzzled look crossed his face.


    The effects of the medicinal liquor shouldn''t have worn off so quickly.


    "Xia Liu, what did you do to my dad?" A sharp voice rose from behind Xia Liu, the anger in the tone was crystal clear.


    Liu Lanxin was very angry at the moment. She had originally come with Liu Liguang.


    Before Xia Liu had arrived, she had made an excuse to leave, after all, the medicinal liquor involved an embarrassing aspect.


    But she never expected to wait in the car for quite a while, only to be informed by a call from the server.


    Liu Liguang had run out of the private room, hunched over with a face full of panic.


    "I mean, Miss Liu, what are you doing here today?" Xia Liu was speechless. This girl actually dared to come and confront him.


    Doesn''t her brain turn at all, thinking the medicinal effects could subside so easily for Liu Liguang?


    "Testing medicine!"


    "Well, that settles it then. Your dad is having a reaction now, so coming to me is pointless," Xia Liu said unabashedly.


    Liu Lanxin''s face immediately drooped, this...


    "Hehe, your dad has been in Binlai City for so many years; he must be prepared, so don''t worry," Xia Liu couldn''t help but say it, but seeing the girl''s naive reaction, he decided to tease her instead.


    "Shameless! Do you think everyone is like you?"


    Hearing Xia Liu''s implications, Liu Lanxin''s face changed again and she snapped at him angrily.


    ...


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, Liu Lanxin''s phone rang.


    She quickly picked up and saw that it was Liu Liguang calling.


    "Hello Dad, how did the negotiation go?" Even though she knew what happened, Liu Lanxin wouldn''t acknowledge it to Liu Liguang.


    "Not bad, Xia Liu is a good person, working with him will definitely pose no problems, let''s leave it at that for now."


    Liu Lanxin could tell from her father''s voice that he was in a hurry.


    She began to imagine wildly, wondering if it could really be as Xia Liu had said.


    However, before she could speak, a female voice on the other end said, "Lan Xin, your dad just called and asked me to come over, we are going to attend an event, I''ll have to leave you now."


    "Okay, Mom, take care while driving."


    Liu Lanxin quickly caught on and felt a weight lift from her heart.


    Indeed, Xia Liu was right; her dad had been in Binlai City for many years and there was no social scenario he hadn''t encountered.


    Testing the medicine naturally comes with an antidote.


    Wait a minute! Liu Lanxin was stunned by her own exclamation, how could she think like that!!!


    She couldn''t help but blush.


    Xia Liu was shocked into a blank expression on the side.


    Liu Liguang was indeed prepared, even bringing his wife along.


    Xia Liu had no choice but to give a thumbs up, that was just too freakin'' awesome.


    "Heh heh, Miss Liu, can you rest assured about my medicinal liquor now?"


    "Rest assured my ass, it''s all your fault!" The more Liu Lanxin thought about it, the redder her face became, and she ended up blaming everything on Xia Liu.


    "Alright then, if you''re not reassured, I can only look for another partnership, alas..." Xia Liu didn''t argue, just went along with the girl''s mood and put on a distressed face.


    "What! You dare to run away!" Liu Lanxin suddenly raised her head, if she were close to Xia Liu, she would definitely grab his collar and give him a few good slaps.


    "Dare not, dare not..."


    "Let''s talk about the partnership."


    Seeing Xia Liu compromise, Liu Lanxin proudly puffed out her chest and said.


    About the partnership, Xia Liu had already prepared for it.


    Just like before, he would get the medicine at cost price, plus fifty percent of the profit after deducting the cost from sales.


    Liu Lanxin was very satisfied with this clause, as Beauty Mud operated on the same model.


    Now, what needed to be discussed was the selling price and the cost price.


    "I plan to sell the medicinal liquor in bottles of 300 milliliters, the cost for 300 milliliters is five thousand Huaxia currency."


    "Hm, that price is about right. So, what do you think is an appropriate selling price for a bottle?" Liu Lanxin nodded, the effect of the medicinal liquor was evident, and as long as it wasn''t too outrageous, people from all walks of life could afford it, that''s how it would become outrageous in a good way.


    "Let''s set the domestic selling price at ten thousand Huaxia currency." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Three hundred milliliters for ten thousand? Isn''t that a bit..."


    "Don''t worry, you just need to drink a little bit of the medicinal liquor for it to be effective. Three hundred milliliters, if used sparingly, can last for a year."


    Xia Liu understood Liu Lanxin''s concerns but knew that pricing the medicinal liquor too low wasn''t good for either himself or Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    Throughout this discussion, Liu Lanxin always felt a bit awkward, but she had no choice and had to plow through.


    "Wait, you just said the domestic selling price is ten thousand, what about internationally?"


    It was only then Liu Lanxin realized that this guy had quite big ambitions.


    "We do not accept online orders for the medicinal liquor. If we export it, each bottle''s selling price has to be ten thousand pounds."


    "That..."


    Liu Lanxin didn''t know how to respond, ten thousand pounds, when converted to Huaxia currency, that''s a hundred thousand!


    The price went up ten times once it left the country, that was just outrageous.


    "Foreigners are all quite wealthy, and they''re open-minded, indulging themselves from a young age, and many above twenty have various issues."


    Seeing the skepticism written all over Liu Lanxin''s face, Xia Liu leisurely began to explain.


    ...


    "Alright, since you''re the one who created it, Tianluo Pharmaceutical is simply an agent." Liu Lanxin didn''t want to argue with Xia Liu about such an awkward issue, whatever he said would go.


    In the following time, Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin continued discussing the medicinal liquor.


    From the price to packaging, from promotion to storefront planning.


    Two hours later, Xia Liu signed his name on the contract that Liu Lanxin had prepared.


    After Xia Liu finished signing, the door to the private room was pushed open.


    Liu Liguang walked in with a radiant look, and seeing his daughter there, he quickly improvised, "Xia Liu, I''m really sorry, I had an important business event."


    "No problem at all, work is important." Xia Liu looked at Liu Lanxin, responding with a bitter smile.

 Chapter 136 Recognition

    Seeing her father come, Liu Lanxin clearly felt a bit embarrassed.She didn''t want to stay here any longer, told her father about the contract, and then left.


    Once Liu Lanxin had gone, Liu Liguang began to highly praise Xia Liu.


    The most important thing was the miraculous effects of the medicinal wine - simply defying nature!


    It gave a sense of resurrection after death, a feeling of exquisite refreshment. He was certain that once this medicinal wine hit the market, it would explode in popularity!


    "Xia Liu, it''s getting late, why don''t you come over to my place for a visit? My old man often mentions you."


    Finally, Liu Liguang had recognized Xia Liu, not just because of the medicinal wine, but also because of his character.


    "Uncle Liu, I really might not have any time lately, next time, I''ll make sure to visit the old gentleman when I''m ready."


    Xia Liu truly had no time, the liquor factory was still under construction, and if he stayed out of it, it wouldn''t seem considerate.


    Liu Liguang didn''t press Xia Liu, but instead, his estimation of him increased even more.


    Without too much polite chitchat, Xia Liu said goodbye to Liu Liguang and drove home.


    The construction of the liquor factory was almost taking shape, with canopies installed over all ten acres, and wire mesh now surrounded the iron columns.


    At this moment, many workers were still laying bricks under the canopy.


    According to Xia Liu''s instructions, they had to separate the work area from the resting area.


    Because there were many workers constructing the site, the work area was essentially finished.


    They were now painting the walls, which should be finished within an hour.


    Xia Liu walked into the work area to take a look.


    Very good, everything was built according to his requirements.


    The fermentation tanks were very large, more than three hundred square meters each, with a depth of around five meters, and there were two tanks.


    This way, when the time came, the production capacity could be greatly increased.


    However, the tanks had only just been completed that day, so it was not yet time to store the medicinal wine.


    But this was no problem for Xia Liu; of course, he had ways to solve this issue.


    After greeting the workers on-site, Xia Liu returned to the village.


    He had just arranged with Liu Lanxin that the driver would come to pick up the medicinal wine tomorrow afternoon.


    Packaging and selling, of course, would be handled by Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    Xia Liu was only responsible for providing the original wine; the rest would be managed by their company, saving time and effort.


    After getting home, Xia Liu took his basket and went into the mountains to gather herbs.


    For now, to achieve the best effect for the medicinal wine, adding the freshest herbs to the wine was essential.


    When he had searched for Beauty Mud herbs before, Xia Liu had noticed many herbs, so it didn''t take much effort to pick a basketful of herbs for brewing.


    By the time he returned home from the mountains, it was already getting dark.


    Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue had already prepared dinner; after eating a bit, Xia Liu left to visit Li Zhi''s house.


    Before going into the mountains to gather herbs, he had contacted Ye Ming, who had been working in the county for a long time; for purchasing liquor, Ye Ming was more reliable.


    This time Xia Liu decided to buy about three tons of high-proof liquor, Erguotou being the most suitable.


    After Ye Ming confirmed, Xia Liu asked Li Dazhuang to transport the liquor.


    He''d go pick up the goods tomorrow morning and then deliver oysters afterward, which wouldn''t interfere with the villagers'' normal work.


    Li Dazhuang agreed to Xia Liu''s request without a second thought.


    Coming out from Li Zhi''s house, it was already eleven at night.


    Xia Liu was in a good mood, especially since Li Zhi and Li Dazhuang kept bringing out more liquor.


    Indeed, a jar at Li Dazhuang''s house¡ªeasily weighing thirty jin of home-brewed corn liquor¡ªhad been completely emptied.


    Three people, thirty jin!


    If this story got out, it would definitely shock everyone.


    It''s worth mentioning that Li Dazhuang and Li Zhi did not drink as much as Xia Liu.


    The father and son together had only drunk ten jin in total, with Xia Liu downing twenty jin by himself.


    His alcohol tolerance was otherworldly; even after twenty catties of strong liquor, his tongue barely curled.


    It had been a while, but today, Xia Liu finally experienced the taste of being drunk.


    His head felt heavy and woozy, which made him somewhat uncomfortable.


    Yet, that sense of superiority, as if nothing mattered, was enjoyable to him.


    With numb nerves and blurry vision, Xia Liu staggered against the walls as he made his way home.


    He didn''t choose to dispel the drunkenness with spiritual energy, for he genuinely wanted to be intoxicated; too many matters had been weighing on him lately.


    At last, today, those issues had been resolved, and he felt nothing could be more satisfying than getting thoroughly drunk.


    The next day at noon, when Xia Liu opened his eyes, the dazzling sunlight instantly woke him up.


    He quickly checked himself over and, finding no changes, breathed a sigh of relief.


    Recalling last night''s events, he felt a shiver of fear.


    Had he drunkenly wandered into Zhang Xiaoxue''s room, that would''ve been a big mistake.


    Besides, he was also worried that those two women might have taken advantage of his drunken state to throw themselves at him.


    That was an even more unthinkable scenario and would have been such a pity.


    Thankfully, nothing of the sort happened.


    By the time Xia Liu cleaned up and arrived at the distillery, most of the villagers were already chatting leisurely in the resting area on the stone benches.


    At the entrance to the work area, rows of cardboard boxes were lined up.


    The boxes were marked in bold red letters, Red Star Erguotou!


    "Uncle Li, did Xia Liu really drink twenty catties of liquor yesterday?"


    "Absolutely! I just made fifty catties of liquor last month, and Xia Liu, along with Dazhuang and me, finished the remaining thirty catties last night."


    "Old Li, don''t scare us. There were only three of you; could you really finish thirty catties of liquor?"


    "Why would I lie to you? We did drink thirty catties last night. Dazhuang and I drank about ten catties each, and the other twenty were all Xia Liu''s doing." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow! That''s terrifying!"


    ...


    Li Zhi was also terribly drunk last night, and when he woke up early in the morning, he was frightened by this reality too.


    Thirty catties of white liquor, just like that, gone between three men.


    And the most shocking part was Xia Liu, the one who drank a whole twenty catties!


    "Xia Liu, you''re up. Uncle Li said you drank twenty catties of liquor last night. Is that true?"


    When Xia Liu arrived, a villager of the same generation as Li Zhi asked him.


    Everyone was captivated by the question.


    After all, twenty catties isn''t a small amount; it''s like being confronted with a basin filled with twenty catties of water, not something just anyone can finish.


    "Haha, yes, that''s right. I do feel a bit bad for Uncle Li, finishing all of his liquor," Xia Liu said, seeing no need to hide the fact.


    "Terrifying!"


    "Horrific!"


    "Impressive!"


    ...


    Once Xia Liu confirmed it, the villagers were all amazed.


    "Don''t worry about it, everyone. I usually don''t get drunk when I drink, so even a hundred catties would be the same for me."


    ...


    The villagers were all dumbfounded; they didn''t know what to say anymore. A hundred catties! That''s like several iron barrels of water; can a person even drink that?


    But since Xia Liu dared to say it, they dared to believe it, to admire him for it.


    "Now that everyone''s here, let me address the subject of medicinal liquor briefly," Xia Liu said with a smile, looking at the crowd that had become utterly astounded.

 Chapter 137 The drug effect is very strong

    "Medicinal liquor?"The villagers all looked at Xia Liu with puzzled expressions.


    They had heard Li Dazhuang mention while they were catching oysters that Xia Liu had him bring back a cartload of alcohol.


    This made them very curious, and they all wanted to know what Xia Liu was up to.


    Thus, they had fished for oysters today at more than twice their usual speed.


    Xia Liu scanned the scene and noticed there wasn''t a single woman present, so he began to explain the production and effects of the medicinal liquor.


    A few minutes later, the villagers were all stirred up!


    "Vigor Wine!"


    "Haha! Is this for real?"


    "How could it not be real, Xia Liu said, by adding herbs to the liquor, you can achieve a lasting effect!"


    "Haha! If that''s the case, then I can finally hold my head high in front of my wife!"


    "Hehe, Old Yang, it seems like you''re forgetting something."


    "Hahaha..."


    A villager in his forties had just finished speaking when he was met with laughter from everyone else.


    Of course, they meant no harm; when there were no women around, these kinds of topics were common in their conversations.


    A bunch of men together, no matter the age, women are always an inescapable topic of conversation.


    Especially before Xia Liu had returned, they were even more unrestrained.


    When they talked about women, it was either about body parts or with swear words, all of which were no longer surprising.


    "What are you laughing at, you lot? Just look at your faces, it''s obvious, you''re all good for only a few minutes," Old Yang retorted, his neck flushing red.


    Old Yang''s words really hit home for some of the villagers.


    "Hehe, don''t worry, everyone, once the liquor is mixed, take some home, just a small sip, and you''ll be imposing all night long. Plus, if you keep drinking it consistently, you''ll last longer and longer over time."


    Xia Liu had grown up in the village since he was a child and naturally knew the villagers well.


    This kind of topic, coming from him, wouldn''t make people feel embarrassed but rather invigorated.


    Under Xia Liu''s guidance, everyone moved the boxes filled with liquor to the work area.


    Outside, alongside the boxes, there were also two water pumps.


    This was specifically instructed by Xia Liu; yesterday, all the pools for storing wine had been filled with water for maintenance.


    During work, they would need to pump all the water out cleanly.


    In Xia Liu''s eyes, inside the pool that was filled with water for maintenance, there shimmered a red glow.


    If the villagers could see it, they definitely would have fainted from shock.


    This red glow was from the Fire Spirit Energy Xia Liu had infused into them yesterday.


    The Fire Spirit Energy had the effect of detoxification and purification, ideal for disinfecting the newly built pools ¡ª using it in such a way anywhere else would have been overkill.


    But with time being of the essence, Xia Liu had to bear the risk of his Spiritual Energy being drained as he infused the Fire Spirit Energy.


    After an overnight disinfection, it wasn''t just sanitary, but one could directly scoop up the water from the pools and drink it without any issue.


    Only Xia Liu could see the Spiritual Energy, the others could not, so someone asked, "Xia Liu, these pools have just been built, wouldn''t it be bad to use them for making the medicinal liquor directly?"


    Indeed, like this villager, many others had the same concern.


    While they were all eager for the medicinal liquor to be produced quickly, they did not endorse such unsafe and unsanitary practices.


    "Please rest assured, everyone, I added some disinfecting herbs to it yesterday, and one night is enough time for it to be thoroughly disinfected," Xia Liu said, knowing the villagers'' concerns, he delivered the prepared excuse.


    Hearing this explanation, everyone felt at ease.


    Their enthusiasm also gradually grew, and they positioned the water pumps.


    In no time, the sound of machinery roared to life.


    Two large water pumps, three hundred square meters of water, took about half an hour to completely pump out.


    After the pool was drained, Xia Liu asked the villagers to open the boxes.


    "Unscrew the bottle caps and pour all the alcohol into the pool," he instructed.


    Three tons of liquor, it took a while to open them all.


    If it weren''t for the fact that these bottles of Erguotou were large, it would take a whole day to deal with three tons.


    Everyone on site was frantically opening bottles and pouring out the liquor.


    Xia Liu didn''t stand idle either; he opened the sack he had brought with him.


    It was filled with herbs.


    He had just picked them yesterday and processed them last night.


    All he needed to do now was to toss them in, and that would be it.


    To enhance the potency of the medicine and speed up its effect, Xia Liu cut the herbs into sections with a knife and threw them into the pool of liquor.


    Two hours later, the villagers lay sprawled on the stone seats of the rest area.


    They had just finished pouring three tons of Erguotou into the pool.


    Without the sheer number of hands, they wouldn''t have managed so much even by the next day.


    After resting for half an hour, a girl in her twenties ran onto the site.


    "Brother Xia Liu, a water truck has come to the village entrance looking for you," the girl said, out of breath.


    Xia Liu gave the girl a look, recalling she was Auntie Wang''s daughter from the village entrance, who had been working in the big city and had only recently returned.


    "Got it, tell the driver to bring the truck here," he said.


    This was arranged yesterday with Liu Lanxin, to have the truck come over this afternoon to collect the liquor.


    It seemed Liu Lanxin was quite clever, thinking to use a water truck for transport.


    The girl nodded happily and dashed off.


    A few minutes later, a large water truck arrived at the doorstep of the distillery.


    Since there was no gate to the distillery yet, and the ceiling was very high, Xia Liu directed the driver to bring the truck right up to the entrance of the work area.


    Xia Liu had never tried it before and wasn''t sure if the medicinal liquor would have any effect in just two hours.


    So, he called out on the spot for volunteers to taste test.


    At this call, all the villagers sprang into action.


    They clamored to be the first to try, their curiosity about the medicine-infused liquor insatiable.


    With no other choice, Xia Liu picked a young man of his own age to sample the liquor.


    The youth was robust, married for half a year, his wife slender and graceful.


    Most importantly, his wife wasn''t pregnant nor showed any signs of it, making him the perfect candidate for the test.


    With everyone watching, the young man filled an empty liquor bottle with the medicinal alcohol and took a tiny sip as instructed by Xia Liu, who was worried that drinking too much would cause too intense a reaction, especially for a young man full of vigour and vitality.


    No more than five minutes after drinking, the effects of the liquor became immediately apparent.


    "This medicine is very strong; I need to go home now!" Without any further ado, the young man hunched over and ran quickly away from the distillery.


    When the villagers came to their senses, the scene instantly boiled over with excitement. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had all seen the changes in the youth, and by the eager look on his face, there was no doubt he was going to have quite a busy night!


    The very thought was maddening!


    "Hehe, everyone take an empty bottle to fill up and bring home, then let''s get the pump going!"


    Seeing this, Xia Liu finally felt at ease, fresh herbs indeed had a swift effect.


    No sooner had Xia Liu finished speaking than he saw more than thirty villagers swiftly grabbing empty bottles from the packaging boxes to fill with liquor.


    The scene directly shocked the driver who had come to collect the liquor; although he didn''t know exactly what had happened, the atmosphere told him that the liquid was extraordinarily special.


    Moreover, as soon as he stepped out of the truck, he caught a whiff of a rich aroma, filled with a heavy scent of alcohol, which almost intoxicated him on the spot.

 Chapter 138 Thousand Miles of Jiangling

    Using a pumping machine to transfer the medicinal liquor into a storage tank, Xia Liu was not worried about any sanitation issues.Liu Lanxin had mentioned before that the medicinal liquor, when hauled back, would undergo several filtration stages before finally being bottled and packaged.


    However, these processes would take a few days to complete.


    Xia Liu was not in a rush, as the medicinal liquor had already been delivered, and the money was bound to be transferred.


    Today, the villagers excitedly took their medicinal liquor home, and Xia Liu did not disturb them.


    Instead, he needed to work on the design drawings for brewing at the site.


    Li Bai knew of Xia Liu''s plans, so after taking his medicinal liquor home, he hurried over.


    The workspace was divided into two areas, one side for blending the liquor.


    The other side was for brewing.


    Osmanthus Village could only gain recognition by producing its own products.


    First, it would make a name for itself in Pinglan Town, then move on to Hejing County, Binlai City, the province, and finally across the entire country.


    Perhaps even becoming world-famous!


    However, a newly established distillery would definitely need time to develop.


    Xia Liu was not in a hurry, as currently, blending alone could make money; brewing was a long-term consideration.


    Moreover, he had to develop his own formula for the liquor he brewed.


    It not only had to have the effects of strengthening vitality but also needed to enhance bodily resistance, making the body healthier the more one drank.


    This could only be experimented with once all the equipment was in place.


    The brewing area took up an acre, with numerous pits.


    Some of these pits were for fermenting, and others were for storing the flat liquor.


    Xia Liu did not know much about brewing; it was Li Bai who provided a general direction, and he handled the details.


    After completing the overall design drawing, Xia Liu handed it over to the workers.


    The foreman also promised that it could be built within three days.


    "Uncle Li, could you help me inform everyone tonight to get a bank card from the Industrial Bank tomorrow, so when the payment for the medicinal liquor comes through, I will transfer the dividends to everyone."


    "Sure, I''ll let them know to get that done tomorrow."


    Li Bai agreed promptly without any hesitation.


    However, he was quite puzzled, wasn''t the dividend supposed to be distributed semi-annually or annually?


    Xia Liu needing it now, could it mean that dividends were to be paid out soon?


    With such a quick turnaround, the amount wouldn''t be much; wouldn''t transferring be troublesome?


    Of course, Li Bai did not voice these questions; Xia Liu''s words were absolute, and cooperating with him was undoubtedly correct.


    Upon returning home, Xia Liu shared the news with Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was very pleased; these past few months, she had been counting money until her hand was nearly cramping. If they could switch to transferring salaries,


    It would undoubtedly save countless hours and avoid tedium.


    Xia Liu did not have dinner at home today; after instructing the two women, he headed for Hejing County.


    He had been busy running around these days and had not seen Zhang Qing for a long time; if he did not see her soon, he felt he might suffocate.


    It was dinner time, but when Xia Liu entered Longyun Hotel, he could not help but frown.


    Compared to the previous customer traffic, Longyun Hotel now only had half the clientele as before.


    Perhaps even less than half.


    Xia Liu did not immediately go upstairs; instead, he went to the kitchen to inspect.


    The lobby manager, upon seeing Xia Liu''s arrival, immediately accompanied him to inspect various areas,


    And also reported the situation to Xia Liu.


    "Chairman, this month, the hotel''s customer traffic has halved compared to last month, and the oyster orders you asked me to pay special attention to have also decreased by half."


    "How are the hotel guests doing?"


    "The accommodation is still not bad, not much has changed from before," the lobby manager said seriously.


    "The accommodation is stable, but fewer are eating..." Xia Liu had already begun to frown at this.


    This situation likely arose due to the menu offerings.


    Think about it, it has been several months since we started serving oysters.


    Even for tourists, facing a stack of expensive oysters, they''d get tired after a few meals.


    Xia Liu didn''t say anything to the lobby manager. The hotel''s sales were dropping, but he couldn''t blame him.


    Before heading to the manager''s office, Xia Liu asked the lobby manager to compile a list of dishes that guests had ordered in recent days.


    After giving instructions, Xia Liu took the elevator to the manager''s office.


    Inside the office, Zhang Qing was staring blankly at the data on her computer.


    She felt somewhat guilty. Since she had become the manager of the hotel, sales had consistently fallen.


    She felt very ashamed and had spoken to Xia Liu several times, asking him to hire an experienced person as manager.


    She was losing confidence in herself.


    If her management led to the hotel''s closure, she would truly be ashamed to face Xia Liu.


    "Sister Zhang, what are you thinking about, so engrossed?"


    Xia Liu entered the manager''s office quietly, watching Zhang Qing for a while before he spoke.


    "Ah! When did you get here?" Startled by the sudden voice, Zhang Qing screamed.


    "I''ve been here a while, but seeing you so absorbed in thought, I didn''t want to disturb you."


    "Woo... Xia Liu, I''m sorry, I''ve messed up the hotel." Seeing Xia Liu''s smiling face, Zhang Qing wept as she got up and embraced him.


    The softness of the embrace made Xia Liu''s mouth dry.


    However, he understood that this was not the time to be firm; he had to let Zhang Qing open up about her troubles.


    Otherwise, it would be uncomfortable for both of them later. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Zhang, you can''t blame yourself, it''s a situational problem," Xia Liu said as he helped her to the couch, his voice gentle and comforting.


    "Stop comforting me. I know it all, it''s my lack of capability," Zhang Qing had already convinced herself.


    If she hadn''t come to manage the hotel, it wouldn''t have ended up like this.


    "Xia Liu, I''m sorry, I really don''t know how I can make it up to you," Zhang Qing continued sorrowfully.


    "To make it up... it''s simple, ''Thousand Miles of Jiangling'' would do," Xia Liu said with a sly smile, repeating a joke he had seen online a few days ago.


    "Thousand Miles of Jiangling? What''s that?"


    Zhang Qing''s mood changed slightly, unable to guess the meaning of his mysterious words.


    "Li Bai has a poem, where one line goes like this: ''Thousand miles to Jiangling returned in one day.''"


    "Pfft!"


    After Xia Liu explained, Zhang Qing instantly understood and burst into laughter.


    She really wanted to split open Xia Liu''s head to see what was inside.


    Even in such a situation, he still had the mood to joke!


    However, her mood had lightened a bit due to Xia Liu''s joke.


    "Xia Liu, I heard from Manager Ye that the previous manager was very capable. If she could come back, she would definitely improve the statistics in every aspect,"


    Zhang Qing suddenly remembered what Ye Ming had told her some days ago and tentatively asked Xia Liu.


    "Did Manager Ye tell you who the previous manager was?" Xia Liu became interested right away. He had been worried about where to place Huang Xue.


    Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring Huang Xue back to manage the hotel with Zhang Qing.


    Zhang Qing shook her head. Ye Ming had only mentioned these details to her and hadn''t revealed much else.

 Chapter 139 Selfishness

    "The previous manager was Huang Xue, whom you''ve met.""Huang Xue? I''ve met her?"


    Zhang Qing couldn''t help but reminisce, the name indeed sounded very familiar.


    "Wait, Huang Xue, the one who is now staying at your place?" Suddenly Zhang Qing got excited.


    If that was the case, she could bring Huang Xue to the hotel tomorrow.


    "Yes."


    "Wow!"


    Getting Xia Liu''s confirmation, Zhang Qing got excited.


    When Huang Xue was the manager here before, the hotel had thrived like the sun at high noon.


    If she could return, she would definitely be able to boost the business of the hotel!


    Only a capable leader could elevate their team and lead the enterprise to the highest peak.


    "Xia Liu, could you allow Huang Xue to come back and manage the hotel?"


    Zhang Qing wasn''t very clear about the relationship between Xia Liu and Huang Xue, mainly because she didn''t ask much.


    Now she was quite content since Xia Liu would visit her from time to time.


    As for whether he had other women, none of that mattered as long as he remembered her, and as long as she held even a small place in his heart.


    "I might not be able to direct that." Xia Liu waved his hand, jokingly, as if he could persuade that girl to leave.


    He wouldn''t be suffering so much now.


    Especially since he had already expressed his intentions to Xiaoxue earlier, and what was meant to be, had happened.


    Then Huang Xue suddenly came into the picture, delaying everything until now, ah...


    "No way, so you mean to say she''s been living at your house for so many days, and you didn''t take her in?" Zhang Qing said, somewhat surprised.


    "I really haven''t." Xia Liu said bitterly.


    He still couldn''t figure out what Huang Xue''s real intention was for coming this time.


    Women chasing men, he had encountered plenty, but someone like Huang Xue was the first.


    Her family was definitely wealthy, driving luxury cars.


    She had been home for two months and then came back, insisting that he take responsibility for her.


    If there was no trickery involved, even a fool wouldn''t believe it.


    "Tsk tsk, this doesn''t sound like the Xia Liu I know. Huang Xue is top-notch in every aspect, why don''t you take action?"


    "Sister Zhang, that''s a long story, but I do support your idea, that is to have her come back here to manage."


    "Didn''t you say you couldn''t command her?" Zhang Qing was confused again, this guy just said he couldn''t command her.


    Now he was supporting her idea, wasn''t that contradictory?


    "I can''t command her, but you can, buy some groceries tomorrow, then plead with her to come over, she will definitely agree if she softens her heart."


    "Is that so? Are you sure?"


    "Not sure, but if you prepare well, you should be able to move her."


    Xia Liu didn''t have full confidence, because that girl''s intention for coming this time definitely centered around him.


    To push her away truly wasn''t easy to say.


    "Alright, I''ll try tomorrow. Now, I''m off to Thousand Miles of Jiangling!"


    Zhang Qing licked her lips and then jumped into Xia Liu''s arms.


    Xia Liu certainly wouldn''t refuse. Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue were at home, and the two women were together every moment.


    Night after night, they endlessly teased and joked with each other, and he had endured for so long!


    Today, he finally let loose and after nibbling on each other for a while, he carried her into a different room.


    The next day at noon, Zhang Qing, following Xia Liu''s advice, went to the market and bought many fresh ingredients.


    After that, she bought some fine little things and then followed Xia Liu back to the village.


    At noon, Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue, carrying an iron bucket, went to the small river at the entrance of their house to wash clothes.


    When they saw Xia Liu''s car coming back, they all stopped what they were doing and ran up to greet him.


    When they saw Zhang Qing getting out of the car, Zhang Xiaoxue''s eyes were filled with envy.


    She knew about the relationship between Xia Liu and Zhang Qing.


    Last night Xia Liu didn''t come home, he must have stayed with Zhang Qing.


    Thinking of this, she felt an inexplicable bitterness in her heart.


    Because of the bitterness, she wanted to try even harder to become Xia Liu''s woman, so she wouldn''t have to worry anymore.


    Huang Xue had seen Zhang Qing a few times and knew somewhat about her relationship with Xia Liu.


    Even knowing this, she wasn''t very emotional, because after all, the number of women around a successful man best proves his capabilities.


    "Sister Zhang, you''re back."


    "Yes, are you and Xue''er doing well?" Zhang Qing had met Huang Xue before, and the way she addressed her was something Huang Xue had suggested herself.


    "Of course, we are now like sisters," Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue exchanged glances and laughed coyly.


    "Hehe, I''m really envious of you guys, being young is so nice. I bought some vegetables, and I''m going to cook now. We''ll eat together in a bit," said Zhang Qing as she carried a bag inside the gate.


    Huang Xue went up to help, leaving Zhang Xiaoxue and Xia Liu outside.


    "Brother Xia Liu, what is Sister Zhang doing?" Zhang Xiaoxue was puzzled by Zhang Qing''s actions today. If they were going to eat together, wouldn''t it be better at a restaurant? Why bother cooking themselves?


    "Sister Zhang came today to offer Sister Xue''er a management position at the hotel, so you''ll need to help out as well," Xia Liu explained.


    "Ah! If Sister Xue''er goes, then it will just be the two of us left at home¡­"


    Zhang Xiaoxue let out a shriek, her face turning redder as she spoke.


    She stole a glance at Xia Liu and noticed his mischievous smile, unable to help herself, she also ran into the house.


    Of course, she had made up her mind that today she would help Zhang Qing no matter what.


    Once Huang Xue left, there would be no one else at home, and she could be with Xia Liu¡­


    Watching her pure, lively figure cheerfully entering the house, Xia Liu shook his head, "Oh, am I doing the right thing or not¡­"


    He admitted that telling Zhang Xiaoxue about the job offer for Sister Xue''er was self-serving.


    With Huang Xue gone, he and Zhang Xiaoxue would have the space to handle matters, which was one aspect. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the other hand, it would allow Huang Xue to more quickly and better expose her purpose for coming to Hejing County.


    "Yes! It is because I want Huang Xue to expose her intentions that I did this, yes, that''s it," Xia Liu thought to himself and started to smile.


    The three women busied themselves for over an hour, and several dishes were prepared.


    There were braised fish, spicy tofu, steamed Osmanthus Chicken, Osmanthus Chicken soup, and a few other small dishes.


    The dishes on the table were very appetizing.


    After several rounds of eating, everyone was almost full.


    After eating, Xia Liu went out to the distillery for a bit, figuring his presence would make Huang Xue think he intentionally wanted her to manage the hotel, so he needed to step away.


    After cleaning up, Zhang Qing went to Xia Liu''s car and took out the small gifts she had bought earlier.


    There were gifts for both Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Wow, thank you, Sister Zhang!"


    Seeing the gifts, the girls were delighted, their eyes shining as they continuously expressed their thanks.


    "Sigh¡­"


    "Hmm? Sister Zhang, have you encountered some problem?" Seeing Zhang Qing sigh, Huang Xue immediately reacted and asked.


    "Yes, I was managing a hotel before, and within less than two months, the revenue dropped by fifty percent and is still declining every day. My heart is almost broken¡­"

 Chapter 140 Double reed and schools of fish

    "Ah! It''s declined that severely?"Huang Xue said somewhat surprised.


    Zhang Qing is currently the manager at Longyun Hotel, and Huang Xue knew that.


    She was knowledgeable about the hotel''s operations as a whole.


    A direct decline of fifty percent certainly meant that some problem had arisen somewhere.


    "Yes, it''s really worrying me to death. I came over today just to personally cook a meal for Xia Liu, as a way to make up for the losses incurred since managing the hotel."


    Zhang Qing had a way with words; she didn''t reveal her real purpose for coming but instead used Xia Liu as a shield.


    Her words indeed aroused Huang Xue''s sympathy.


    Even Zhang Xiaoxue, who knew the reality, almost believed her.


    How does that saying go? The older the ginger, the spicier it is. Zhang Qing really had experience.


    "Xia Liu is really something, buying two hotels and not managing them himself. If this is the case, it wouldn''t matter even if they went under, after all, he doesn''t manage them."


    Huang Xue couldn''t help but pity Zhang Qing, after having done her investigation.


    Zhang Qing had never worked in a hotel or in management before, and here they were, making a newcomer take charge of managing a hotel.


    It was like they were deliberately making things difficult for her.


    But after thinking it over carefully, it made sense. If Zhang Qing managed a hotel in the county, then her chances of being alone with Xia Liu would greatly increase.


    And she wouldn''t be subjected to gossip. That was a clever move.


    "Ah, I feel so ashamed."


    "Sister Zhang, don''t worry. The boat will straighten out when it gets to the bridge."


    Seeing Zhang Qing''s genuine acting, Zhang Xiaoxue also played along, "Right, Sister Xue''er, I remember you told me before that you used to manage Longyun Hotel. If you come out of retirement to help Sister Zhang, the sales are sure to skyrocket!"


    "Ah! Xue''er, you were a manager at Longyun too?" Zhang Qing widened her flirtatious eyes in surprise.


    "Erm, I did manager Longyun for two years," Huang Xue said with a wry smile.


    "Xue''er! My savior, you must help me this time. Otherwise, I might become so depressed I''d consider suicide!" Zhang Qing grabbed Huang Xue''s arm and said with a mournful expression.


    "This, I..."


    Huang Xue was at a loss for a moment.


    Her visit this time was to secure Xia Liu.


    It had taken her plenty of effort to move into Xia Liu''s house, and if she agreed, she''d have to leave.


    She tallied up her effort to win Zhang Xiaoxue''s favor.


    She did every household chore; laundering, cooking, sweeping, even trimming the grass at the roadside.


    She was on the brink of gradually getting closer to Xia Liu, and suddenly she was asked to leave the house.


    Thinking about it was somewhat disheartening, given all her effort.


    "Sister Xue''er, just go and help Sister Zhang. If the hotel keeps losing money day by day, Brother Xia Liu will definitely be unhappy too."


    "Yes, Xia Liu may smile on the surface, but he suffers in his heart. He just doesn''t show it."


    "Exactly, last night I even saw Brother Xia Liu sitting at the doorway smoking. I knew he was laden with worries, and I didn''t dare to disturb him. Now I finally understand what''s been troubling him¡ªit must be the hotel''s situation."


    Seeing Huang Xue hesitate, Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Qing kept talking incessantly.


    They exchanged glances, each discerning the other''s intent in their eyes; the performance had to continue, they had to suppress their emotions.


    Seeing that Huang Xue still hadn''t spoken, the two women each took one of Huang Xue''s arms.


    "Sister Xue''er, please help Brother Xia Liu."


    "Xue''er, please help me."


    Both women continued to speak while shaking Huang Xue''s arms.


    "Alright, Zhang Xiaoxue, Sister Zhang, I''ll go then. You''re going to shake me into a concussion," Huang Xue said, unable to withstand their repeated pleas.


    She thought it over carefully. If Xia Liu was truly upset about the hotel,


    then if she went over to help get the hotel back on track, he would certainly remember her favor.


    "But I must make it clear, this time I''m helping Sister Zhang, not Xia Liu," Huang Xue stated firmly.


    "Yes! It''s helping me, helping me!" This time, Zhang Qing didn''t hide anything, her excitement and joy were all genuine.


    "Alright, Sister Zhang, tell me about the situation at the hotel."


    ...


    "Achoo!"


    Xia Liu, who was checking the work volume in the distillery, sneezed.


    He was wondering if some girl was talking about him when his phone buzzed.


    It was a text message from Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Just two clipped words: "It''s done!"


    Seeing these two words, Xia Liu felt a surge of excitement.


    With this, Huang Xue would be going to the county town!


    In the evening, he and Xiaoxue could sleep alone at home.


    "Hahaha..."


    Xia Liu, who initially wanted to laugh out loud, saw the workers looking at him with puzzled eyes and quickly stifled his laughter, then handed out cigarettes to the workers and hurriedly left.


    He wasn''t in a rush to go back, at least not until Huang Xue and Zhang Qing headed for the county town.


    Xia Liu wandered around the village, then went to the seaside to check on the harvesting situation.


    The villagers were all in the sea, with a few sitting on the beach smoking.


    Watching them pop up and then dive back into the water, Xia Liu got interested too.


    After greeting the smoking villagers, Xia Liu stripped down to his underwear and dived in.


    He didn''t go for oyster harvesting but swam towards the deeper and broader sea area.


    Releasing a breath, he plunged underwater.


    The waters of Osmanthus Village''s sea area were incredibly clear, and under the sunlight, they became even more transparent.


    But underwater, the visible distance was only about ten meters, anything further down was just darkness.


    However, Xia Liu was different because of his cultivation of the Five Elements Mantra.


    His senses were beyond that of an ordinary person.


    Where others saw only ten meters, he could see fifty.


    Just as he dived down no more than five meters, about thirty meters below in the water, a large dark mass appeared.


    He looked closely and his eyes widened. If he hadn''t been underwater, he would truly have screamed.


    That dark mass was neither rocks nor coral.


    It was a school of fish!!!


    Finding fish in the sea wasn''t strange, what was strange was the quantity!


    Although there was only one dark mass, under this part of the sea, there were countless blocks of it!


    That is to say, under this sea area, there were all fish, with quantities easily amounting to several million tons!!! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu watched for a while and then quickly swam upward.


    He hurried to shore, didn''t say anything to the villagers, and went straight home.


    Several villagers saw Xia Liu''s face beaming with a smile. They all touched their heads, completely unaware of why he was so happy after swimming in the sea.


    Xia Liu was happy because he had found another business opportunity, even though he knew the medicinal liquor could make money.


    But the production of medicinal liquor didn''t need too many people, and if all the villagers were at the distillery, it would just make them more and more lazy.


    To keep the villagers working, it was necessary to develop more industries.


    Now that he had discovered this large quantity of fish, wasn''t it just perfect for arranging manpower for harvesting operations?


    Money can never be earned in its entirety, but since it has been discovered, it must be utilized.

 Chapter 141 Liu Lanxin is Set Up

    By the time he returned home, Huang Xue and Zhang Qing were already gone.Zhang Xiaoxue was missing too.


    Xia Liu called Zhang Xiaoxue.


    It turned out that she had gone to play at a villager''s house.


    Actually, Zhang Xiaoxue was there to seek advice because the villager had just gotten a wife, and she was there to find the villager''s wife.


    As for Huang Xue and Zhang Qing, the two women had driven to Hejing County.


    Regarding the hotel issues, merely talking about them wasn''t enough for Huang Xue to pinpoint where the problems lay.


    They could only inspect each area of the hotel and finally compile the specific data.


    "Xiaoxue, I am going to the county town to buy some things. If I can''t find them there, I might have to go to the city, so I''m not sure when I''ll be back. You don''t have to wait up for me; go to bed early," he said.


    After giving her a heads-up, Xia Liu drove towards the town.


    To bring up those sea fish, he had to purchase fishing tools.


    Starting with the most basic, a fishing boat, he planned to look around to see where one could be purchased.


    After arriving in the county, Xia Liu drove straight to Longteng.


    Not being very familiar with Hejing County, he was sure that finding Ye Ming would not lead to any mistakes.


    "The Chairman wants to buy a fishing boat?" Ye Ming thought he had misheard, and couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    "Yes, I want to buy a fishing boat, one that can dredge up sea fish," Xia Liu nodded as he spoke.


    "There are no fishing boats for sale in Hejing County. You might find some in Binlai City near the coastal areas, but I''m not sure," Ye Ming replied cautiously.


    Ye Ming could only answer so much as fishing boats, those operational tools, are available here, and Longteng Hotel orders their sea fish through these boats.


    The salvage team''s boss had told him his fishing boats were second-hand ones bought from other places.


    "I see. Do you have an address? I''ll go to Binlai City to check it out."


    "Yes, I''ll send it to your phone right now," Ye Ming had noticed the boat shop during his previous visits to Binlai City.


    It was actually easy to remember, located right by the seaside¡ªjust about any resident of Binlai City would know it.


    Once he got the address, Xia Liu pondered whether to go immediately.


    By this time, the evening glow was slowly fading, and it was about to get dark.


    After considering, he decided to go right away.


    It''s just, he could sense, that Zhang Xiaoxue was very nervous.


    If she had been ready, she would definitely have taken a bath and waited at home the day Huang Xue and Zhang Qing left.


    But she didn''t. She had gone out, which meant she wasn''t ready yet, especially since Huang Xue''s moving out happened too suddenly.


    Giving her some time to mentally prepare was also good.


    Thinking this, Xia Liu drove towards Binlai City.


    Following the address Ye Ming had given, he reached the place selling fishing boats.


    As expected, the shop had already closed for the day.


    Seeing many fishing boats docked in the water, Xia Liu smiled.


    Actually, he had come just to confirm the address, so he wouldn''t need to waste time looking for it in the morning.


    While driving to find a hotel to stay in, Xia Liu realized he didn''t have his ID with him.


    This was incredibly awkward. After thinking, he decided to go to the Wanqing Grand Hotel instead. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was already eight in the evening. Driving back to Hejing County and then coming back here in the morning would be too troublesome.


    Before heading to Wanqing Hotel, he stopped at a random restaurant and had some dinner.


    This was originally nothing significant.


    But while he was dining, he suddenly saw someone he didn''t expect to see.


    That person was Liu Mang.


    Xia Liu remembered, this guy had gone to Li Qianqian''s house before and ended up getting a faceful of his unintended punches.


    Despite this, encountering this guy wasn''t the concern for Xia Liu¡ªwhat worried him was the moment Liu Mang was checking out at the front desk.


    A man and a woman were supporting another woman as they walked out of the private room.


    The supported woman clearly wasn''t alright, barely able to stand on her own.


    Xia Liu''s pupils suddenly constricted because he recognized both the man supporting her and the woman who was off.


    Yes, it was Liu Chen and Liu Lanxin!!!


    It wasn''t unusual for Liu Lanxin to drink, but how could she be so drunk? With her smarts, even if she couldn''t refuse Liu Chen''s dinner invitation, she wouldn''t normally be hammered.


    The situation now was clear!


    Liu Lanxin had been set up!


    It was the doing of Liu Chen and Liu Mang!


    Xia Liu did not act immediately; he actually wanted to see what these two were up to.


    When Liu Mang and Liu Chen, along with Liu Lanxin and another woman, left the building, Xia Liu also checked out and left.


    Liu Mang was driving a Porsche Cayenne ahead, winding through several intersections.


    The Cayenne pulled into a hotel parking lot.


    Xia Liu followed them in but still did not take action.


    He almost knew what was going to happen next and took this as an opportunity to find himself a room.


    When the four had gotten their room and entered the elevator, Xia Liu then approached the front desk.


    "Miss, my friends just came here to check into a room, called Liu Mang and Liu Chen. Can you help me see which room they checked into?" Xia Liu said this while casually placing his BMW car keys on the counter.


    He did this to show off; otherwise, the receptionist definitely wouldn''t tell him which rooms those two had checked into.


    Xia Liu''s thinking was absolutely right; had it not been for flaunting his wealth, the front desk surely wouldn''t have disclosed Liu Mang''s room number.


    This was all psychological warfare. Xia Liu appeared very sincere, and he drove a BMW, obviously wealthy, right?


    If a rich person is looking for his friends and you don''t tell him, what if he knows the hotel owner? Then you might as well kiss your job goodbye, or just endure and wait for the boss''s dirty rules.


    "Room three zero one, Liu Mang, oh Liu Mang, I''m going to give you a surprise soon!" Xia Liu thought.


    Arriving at the door of room 301, Xia Liu rang the bell, and Liu Mang''s voice came from inside: "Who is it?"


    "Front desk, the room card we gave you was set incorrectly. The room will lose power in an hour. I''ve brought a new room card for you. Please open the door," Xia Liu said, pretending.


    As for hotels, he owned two himself, so he was very familiar with these matters.


    Given Liu Lanxin''s incredible figure, it would be a pity to turn off the lights.


    Knowing Liu Mang''s character, he would turn off the lights, likely not enduring even a second of darkness in the room.


    Sure enough, sounds of the door lock being disengaged quickly came from inside.


    Click, Liu Mang peeked out, and the moment he saw Xia Liu, he froze.


    He remembered Xia Liu, and wouldn''t forget even until death.


    If it weren''t for Xia Liu, Liu Mang was confident he could have handled Li Qianqian in short order.


    Because of Xia Liu, all his efforts had been in vain.


    That wasn''t all, what made him want to tear Xia Liu apart limb from limb were the company issues.


    Xia Liu''s collaboration with Tianluo Pharmaceutical over the Beauty Mud incident caused Liu Pharmaceutical to lose a chance to cooperate with the medical teams.


    All these hate piled up, and Liu Mang had the overwhelming urge to kill Xia Liu a hundred times over.


    "Hey there, I''m coming in." In a split second, Xia Liu pushed the door open and punched Liu Mang in the abdomen.


    This sudden, intense pain made Liu Mang drop to his knees.


    Xia Liu scanned the room, and when his eyes landed on Liu Lanxin, he saw something that infuriated him to the extreme!

 Chapter 142 Medicine Release!

    ```There was a camera, and hanging beside the bed was also a whip.


    One needed not think to know what the whip was used for.


    Xia Liu was furious, such a tender girl like Liu Lanxin, and this bastard actually wanted to whip her!


    Without a change in expression, he walked to the side of the bed and picked up the whip.


    "Xia Liu, what are you doing!" Seeing Xia Liu coming towards him, Liu Mang''s face turned white with fear.


    Even with severe pain in his abdomen, he frantically backed away.


    Unfortunately, the door was blocking his way out, and he tried to get up to open it.


    Whoosh...


    A sound of air being torn apart rang out.


    Xia Liu raised his hand, and the whip in his grasp left a blur as it struck Liu Mang''s arm.


    "Ahh!" The moment the whip hit, Liu Mang let out a desperate scream.


    The pain from his hand and abdomen brought tears to his eyes, it hurt as if the whip was lashing not just his skin, but his soul!


    "What am I doing? I should be asking you what you''re trying to do!"


    "Xia Liu, please, let me go, it''s not the first time we''ve met," Liu Mang kneeled on the ground all of a sudden and said, seeing the anger on Xia Liu''s face.


    "Let you go? Ha, I might agree, but Lan Xin certainly won''t, don''t you know? She''s my girlfriend."


    Crack!


    In an instant, Liu Mang''s heart shattered. Liu Lanxin was Xia Liu''s girlfriend? If that was true, he would have to fight for his life today.


    After his failure to pursue Li Qianqian, his family had been pressing him to court Liu Lanxin.


    If he could win over Liu Lanxin, the threat of Tianluo Pharmaceutical against Liu Pharmaceutical would become nonexistent.


    Moreover, Liu Mang had even drawn in the fool, Liu Chen, with the prospects of marrying Liu Lanxin, he had an eighty percent chance of taking over the entire Liu Family.


    Although Li Qianqian had left him disheartened, Liu Mang still had a strong desire for Liu Lanxin, his junior sister who was a few years younger than him.


    But what Liu Mang didn''t expect was that at the moment things were about to come to fruition, his most hated enemy appeared!


    "I didn''t know she was your girlfriend, otherwise I wouldn''t dare, not even with ten times the courage," Liu Mang whimpered as he crawled to Xia Liu''s feet, his face showing emotions that truly made him seem pitiable.


    But the moment he drew near Xia Liu, his hand naturally reached towards his waist.


    And his body blocked Xia Liu''s line of sight, a sinister smile spread across Liu Mang''s face.


    Suddenly, a glint of cold light flickered at his waist.


    It was a dagger!


    Liu Mang was swift, covering his dagger, and he thrust it straight at Xia Liu''s stomach.


    At that moment, he was so overcome with rage that he only wanted to kill Xia Liu, without considering the consequences.


    In fact, even if he hadn''t been hit by Xia Liu or hadn''t been drinking, he would still dare to make a move.


    Liu Pharmaceutical had roots in Binlai City that spanned decades; the extent of their connections was beyond imagination.


    Even if Liu Mang truly killed someone, he would at most compensate with money, and then the matter would be swept under the rug.


    But while Liu Mang''s thoughts were wishful, he had encountered Xia Liu, the battle-hardened Xia Liu!


    The moment Liu Mang crawled over, Xia Liu was on alert.


    The murderous aura coming from that man was too intense; a person crawling towards you on the ground with such heavy killing intent undoubtedly had a scheme.


    So, before Liu Mang''s hand could advance even a few inches, Xia Liu held down his wrist.


    "Child''s play!"


    With a mocking remark, Xia Liu exerted a slight force on his hand, and a crisp sound echoed through the room.


    Dang...


    "Ah! My hand! My hand!" Blood vessels in Liu Mang''s eyes instantly filled with blood. Enjoy new chapters from empire


    ```


    He clenched his teeth tightly, his bent palm almost making him pass out.


    He hadn''t expected Xia Liu''s strength to be so great, a light press had actually rendered his hand useless.


    Being a medical student, he knew the piercing pain indicated a comminuted fracture, and if he could get to a hospital immediately, his hand might be saved.


    Therefore, he could not allow himself to faint, or his hand would be completely ruined.


    "Xia Liu, I was wrong, please, I beg you, let me go, I''ll give you money, I''ll give you money!" Liu Mang once again knelt on the ground, frantically banging his head on the floor.


    He didn''t dare harbor any crooked thoughts anymore, not with Xia Liu''s display of skill. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t dare to make the same mistake again.


    If Xia Liu had grabbed his neck instead of his hand, he surely would have been dead.


    Liu Mang had been raised in a wealthy family and valued life above all; his family still had so much money.


    How could he die? Binlai City and Huaxia were filled with so many beauties he had yet to enjoy; how could he die now?


    "Get up!" Looking at Liu Mang groveling like a dog, Xia Liu let out a cold huff and spoke.


    Liu Mang did not dare to disobey, hastily standing up while clutching his injured hand.


    Even as his consciousness nearly crumbled, he forced himself to endure.


    "It''s so hot! So hot!" Just as Liu Mang stood up, a faint voice suddenly came from the room.


    Xia Liu looked back and saw Liu Lanxin sitting up on the bed, frantically tearing at her clothes.


    "Damn! The drug''s taking effect!"


    "Big brother, please spare me, I won''t dare do it again," Seeing Liu Lanxin under the influence of the drug, Liu Mang seized the opportunity, begging for mercy again.


    "Hmm, that''s a good suggestion, I''ll send you on your way, uh, out the door, that is," Xia Liu said, realizing he had revealed too much and quickly corrected himself.


    Liu Mang was both overjoyed and shocked by his words.


    Luckily for him, Xia Liu really did help him out the door and it was only after the door closed behind him that he confirmed his salvation.


    He didn''t delay any further and immediately pressed the elevator button to go down.


    If he had been any later, his hand might have been beyond saving.


    What he didn''t know, however, was that, when Xia Liu helped him to the door just moments before,


    he had infused a bit of Earth Spirit Energy into his body.


    The Earth Spirit Energy derived from the Five Elements Mantra possessed a petrifying effect.


    Earth Spirit Energy wasn''t meant to save people, but to kill.


    Xia Liu had infused Earth Spirit Energy into Liu Mang''s body.


    In just an instant, the Earth Spirit Energy had enveloped Liu Mang''s liver.


    Xia Liu didn''t intend to take Liu Mang''s life immediately but to let him perish slowly.


    That bit of Earth Spirit Energy would gradually permeate into Liu Mang''s liver.


    In no more than half a month, his symptoms would manifest as his liver slowly calcified.


    It was an irreversible calcification, and with modern medical techniques, as of now, there was no cure.


    They might not even be able to determine the cause.


    Xia Liu had no more time to think about Liu Mang''s situation, his death was inevitable anyway.


    Now he was worried about Liu Lanxin, who was clinging to him like an octopus!


    At this moment, Liu Lanxin''s eyes were hazy; she had completely lost consciousness.


    And she kept moving her cherry lips about, leaving trails of kisses across Xia Liu''s face.


    This wasn''t the worst of it: while she kissed him, she was even trying to pull at his clothes.


    "Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!" Xia Liu cursed involuntarily.


    He was struggling internally, considering Liu Lanxin''s current symptoms of poisoning, the toxin had already reached her heart¡­

 Chapter 143 How Dare You Insult Me

    The toxin infiltrated her heart, indicating that Liu Lanxin was not conscious on her own.At this moment, all her actions, seemingly active, were actually passive.


    If he really went ahead with it, how would that make him any different from the scum, Liu Mang?


    But Xia Liu wasn''t a saint; he was also a man, and his urges were incredibly strong.


    At this time, he struggled internally, debating whether he should or shouldn''t.


    In the end, he still pushed Liu Lanxin away, even if he was going to, he had to wait until she was fully conscious.


    Such precious memories and high-end enjoyment couldn''t be guided by a mere pill.


    Due to the strong medicinal effects, the pushed-away Liu Lanxin lunged at him again.


    Xia Liu stared at her intensely, then pressed his palm against her head.


    His other hand felt around in his pocket, and in an instant, a piece of thin cloth appeared in his hand.


    When the cloth unfolded, a row of uneven silver needles lay upon it.


    Xia Liu''s hand moved like a blur, as Wood Spirit Energy surged, guiding the silver needles towards Liu Lanxin''s head.


    Everything quieted down in that instant.


    Liu Lanxin''s eyes slowly closed.


    Xia Liu didn''t have time to admire her now fully disrobed form; he quickly picked up a second silver needle and inserted it into her chest area with the same speed.


    Seconds later, ten silver needles were all embedded in her chest.


    Having done all this, Xia Liu''s lips turned a few shades paler.


    If it were before, managing such precision and output of Spiritual Energy would have been as easy as drinking water.


    But now after that incident, his Spiritual Energy and spirit had weakened.


    That was why he felt fatigued with each application of the needles.


    However, he welcomed such fatigue; he hadn''t felt tired in a long time, and it was time for a good sleep.


    When enough time had passed, Xia Liu removed all the silver needles from Liu Lanxin and then took a bath before collapsing to sleep on the couch.


    Time always flew by when he was sleeping.


    In the early morning, Xia Liu sensed an ominous energy and instinctively woke from his sleep, immediately springing into action.


    He suddenly sat up from the couch, with his palms spread in front of him for protection.


    But all his preparations were in vain; as he readied himself, a basin of water splashed directly onto his face.


    ...


    The cool, refreshing water jolted him, and reflecting in his pupils was a graceful figure.


    Liu Lanxin''s eyes were red and swollen; it was clear she had been crying, and her clothes were torn.


    If this had happened before, Xia Liu would definitely have been furious and pinned the disrespectful woman beneath him.


    But now, he couldn''t summon any anger, especially since Liu Lanxin had been drugged last night and didn''t remember anything.


    "Speak! What did you do!" Liu Lanxin stared intensely at Xia Liu.


    She had just woken up to find herself naked and the scene before her was a mess; there were no tears, only unmitigable fury and rage!


    When she saw Xia Liu sleeping on the couch, her hatred lessened a bit, but the thought of being naked intensified it.


    So, she went to the bathroom, filled a basin with water, and then poured it over his face.


    "Look, Miss Liu, what else could I have done? I was just sleeping here," Xia Liu lazily stretched, his neck aching a bit from a night on the couch.


    "You still say you did nothing, still say you did nothing!" Liu Lanxin thought to herself that if he had been more serious, she definitely would have forgiven him.


    But now, what kind of attitude was this! Did he think he could just use her up and kick her to the curb?


    "Please, big sister, you were drugged last night, and it was I who saved you. Did you forget everything that happened before you passed out?"


    Finally, Xia Liu got serious; it was one thing if the girl didn''t properly think through the events before her unconsciousness.


    This directly implicated himself; what kind of reasoning is that?


    If he had known something like this would happen, he shouldn''t have detoxified last night.


    "Uh-uh-uh..."


    Upon hearing what Xia Liu said, Liu Lanxin calmed down.


    She recalled last night, checking on the medicinal wines at the packaging factory.


    Then she went home and met Liu Chen, who was with his girlfriend at the time.


    His girlfriend then pulled her aside, saying she wanted to treat her to a meal as a way to establish a good relationship for the future.


    Liu Lanxin didn''t refuse since she was potentially her future sister-in-law.


    After arriving in the private room, she took a sip of the drink that the woman handed her and then remembered nothing at all.


    Thinking carefully, she realized that her sudden appearance in this room was entirely because of that bottle of beverage!


    "Remember now, you were drugged by Liu Chen and Liu Mang in a setup. If it weren''t for me, well, never mind¡­"


    Seeing Liu Lanxin silence, Xia Liu shook his head; he didn''t continue to explain.


    He believed Liu Lanxin understood the significance and consequences of this matter.


    "But even so, you should have taken me to the hospital, how could you take advantage of me while I was unconscious?"


    Liu Lanxin spoke, and her eyes started to redden.


    She genuinely had feelings for Xia Liu, but she wasn''t so smitten that she would marry no one but him.


    Moreover, they hadn''t had many ambiguous interactions before, so suddenly sleeping with her was more than anyone could bear.


    "My Miss, can you stop crying first? When did I take advantage of you..."


    Xia Liu couldn''t stand seeing a girl cry; he looked distressed as he kept explaining.


    "You''re still making excuses, I woke up with not a single piece of clothing on," Liu Lanxin''s eyes glared at Xia Liu, tinged with red.


    She always thought that Xia Liu was a gentleman; even if not entirely upright, at least he wouldn''t take advantage of others.


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    But now, even though he had rescued her from the hands of Liu Mang and Liu Chen, why hadn''t he taken her to the hospital?


    Instead, he brought her to a hotel room and even removed her clothes.


    Fuck!


    Xia Liu didn''t know how to explain anymore, was this girl an idiot?


    Didn''t she know whether she had lost her virginity or not?


    Just when Xia Liu thought no explanation would suffice, he suddenly noticed the camera set up beside the bed.


    "God bless, I hope that camera was on the whole time."


    He stopped explaining to Liu Lanxin and walked straight to the camera.


    He looked at it, and his face lit up with joy because the camera had been on all along!


    "Miss, come here a moment."


    Though heartbroken, Liu Lanxin still approached; she really wanted to see how he would continue defending himself.


    "You''re so perverted to even set up a camera! What are you trying to do?"


    "Don''t hurry to scold me; let''s watch the playback first."


    Xia Liu spoke while operating the camera, setting the lens to the start of the previous night.


    When Liu Lanxin saw Liu Mang from the camera''s perspective, her heart skipped a beat.


    There she was, lying on the bed unconscious, and if Liu Mang had done something...


    As she was lost in wild guesses, Liu Mang suddenly walked behind the door and a few seconds later he was clutching his stomach, squatting on the ground.


    In the end, Xia Liu came in...


    S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 144 Different People, Similar Thoughts

    Xia Liu didn''t fast forward; he wanted Liu Lanxin to see how he had saved her, how he had taught Liu Mang a lesson.While watching the footage, Liu Lanxin''s emotions fluctuated wildly. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially because of the camera''s angle, she saw Liu Mang pull out a dagger from his waist.


    At that time, Liu Mang''s body was blocking Xia Liu''s view, preventing him from seeing the dagger.


    Just when she was getting nervous, Xia Liu suddenly moved and grabbed Liu Mang''s hand, which made her breathe a sigh of relief.


    After watching for a while longer, her face suddenly flushed.


    Because she saw herself in the video sitting up from the bed and then violently tearing at her clothes.


    By then Xia Liu had already sent Liu Mang away, escorting him out the door with his arm around Liu Mang''s shoulder just like he would with a friend.


    Liu Lanxin certainly noticed this detail, but her attention was still focused on herself in the footage.


    Seeing herself hugging Xia Liu, and then wildly nibbling at him, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.


    This was embarrassingly humiliating.


    Despite feeling very bashful, she had a lurking unease: she had acted like that, yet Xia Liu had said he hadn''t taken advantage of her, which was absolutely impossible.


    She continued to watch the video as if she was watching a DVD.


    When she saw Xia Liu pushing her away and then using a long needle on himself, she felt her heart skip a beat.


    After watching the entire video, Liu Lanxin was stunned for a long, long time.


    She had confirmed that nothing had happened to her, and that she had just thrown a basin of water on her savior.


    She had also accused him of taking liberties with her.


    Thinking of this, she felt somewhat daunted facing Xia Liu.


    Wait a minute!


    "This guy has seen me naked, so even if I threw a basin of water at him, it''s no big deal, right?" Liu Lanxin''s mind raced.


    "Also, I was naked, and he stuck a needle in me, that''s taking liberties, right? Definitely!"


    Gradually, Liu Lanxin''s knot in her heart completely unraveled, and although she still felt bashful, she was now confident enough to face Xia Liu!


    "Miss Liu, have you finished watching? Did I take advantage of you when you were vulnerable? Did I take liberties with you?"


    "You didn''t take advantage of me when I was vulnerable, but you did take liberties with me!" Liu Lanxin retorted loudly.


    "I..."


    Xia Liu simply stopped talking. Arguing with a woman was pointless unless he was looking for trouble; better to just wash up and go to sleep.


    "Hmph!"


    With a cold snort, Liu Lanxin quickly ran into the bathroom.


    She needed time to cool down; discovering the truth had left her quite embarrassed.


    But as a girl, she definitely needed to stand her ground, even if she was wrong, she had to make it seem like she wasn''t.


    Liu Lanxin spent about an hour in the bathroom, and when she came out, Xia Liu was no longer in the room.


    Not seeing Xia Liu, Liu Lanxin felt a sense of loss, as if her body had been hollowed out at that moment.


    Just as she was thinking about calling her mom to come and pick her up, the room door sounded.


    After confirming that the person outside the door was Xia Liu, she suddenly felt very happy, forgetting all that had happened.


    The moment she opened the door, Xia Liu was stunned.


    He saw Liu Lanxin wrapped in a bath towel, her hair wet and sticking to her clearly outlined face.


    "Look, sis, if you keep teasing me like this, I really might lose control," he said, diverting his gaze to one side and entering the room with two breakfasts in hand.


    Liu Lanxin looked down and her face instantly blushed. Indeed, her current appearance was very inviting.


    "Hehe, I believe you''re an upright gentleman, so I''m not afraid."


    "Are you provoking me, or do you think I''m incapable?" Xia Liu detected two meanings in Liu Lanxin''s words.


    Indeed, Liu Lanxin truly couldn''t figure out whether Xia Liu was impotent or not.


    Why, in the video recorded by the camera, she was naked and took the initiative, yet this guy actually pushed her away!


    Could it be that she didn''t arouse his interest?


    Liu Lanxin was nearly out of confidence, but then she thought about it and assured herself that there was no problem with her body or looks.


    The problem could only lie with Xia Liu.


    "I didn''t say anything, thank you for breakfast." After a bitter smile, Liu Lanxin picked up the breakfast Xia Liu had bought and started eating.


    She hadn''t eaten anything since last night, and if she didn''t fill her stomach now, she was going to faint from hunger.


    After eating, Xia Liu wanted to leave first, but Liu Lanxin wouldn''t allow it.


    "If you dare to leave, I''ll go to Osmanthus Village and tell everyone that you drugged and knocked me out," Liu Lanxin threatened, holding the camera.


    "This..."


    Xia Liu was stunned. What was this all about; what on earth did this chick want to do?


    He could snatch the camera, but he didn''t. He didn''t leave immediately because he wanted to see what this chick was up to!


    "Cut the crap and go buy me a set of clothes, inner and outer layers all included."


    "After I buy them, can we delete the video?" Xia Liu was actually pretty worried, after all, the video contained scenes of him kissing Liu Lanxin. If this chick took a screenshot of the video and spread the pictures, there would surely be many people talking about him.


    If he had actually done something, perhaps it wouldn''t matter, but the problem was that he hadn''t.


    Getting stigmatized without enjoying any mutton, well, that''s gotta be a first. Just buy them.


    The moment Xia Liu left, Liu Lanxin transferred the memory card from the camera to her phone and backed up the video.


    Of course, she wasn''t going to let the photos circulate; she backed up Xia Liu''s video just to preserve memories.


    Xia Liu returned in twenty minutes, and per the chick''s instructions, he bought clothes for both the inside and outside.


    Liu Lanxin promptly tossed the camera to Xia Liu.


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    While Liu Lanxin was in the bathroom getting dressed, Xia Liu, after confirming the video on the camera, removed the memory card.


    How could he possibly delete the video; watching this chick when he was bored wasn''t a bad idea, especially since she was not wearing anything at all.


    Neither of them deleted the video, sharing a similar mindset.


    By the time they left the hotel, it was already afternoon. Xia Liu had initially planned to settle accounts with Liu Chen.


    But the front desk lady told him that Liu Chen had run off with his girlfriend in the early hours of the morning.


    Liu Lanxin didn''t care; she already understood the situation and resolved to have her father stand up for her when she got home.


    After a quick lunch, Xia Liu drove to where the boats were sold.


    "You''re buying a fishing boat?"


    Indeed, Liu Lanxin was still with Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu had tried to send her away, but she didn''t leave, so he had no choice but to bring this chick along to buy the boat.


    "Yes."


    "I know the owner here; I''ll ask him to give you a discount."


    "Really? Thank you so much, Miss Liu." Xia Liu hadn''t expected this chick to know the boat seller as well, which likely meant he wouldn''t get ripped off.


    To be honest, Xia Liu was quite a novice with fishing boats. His urgency to buy was solely based on his financial situation.


    "Look at you acting silly, afraid of getting tricked."


    "You actually hit the nail on the head."


    "Can you stop joking around? You''re so wealthy, and I''m about to wire over another hundred million to you..."


    Liu Lanxin was rather speechless, as others might not know, but she was very clear.


    Xia Liu, despite driving a BMW, had a wealth that was astonishingly large.


    Just counting the Beauty Mud deal alone, the amount of money she had transferred to him was already over three hundred million...

 Chapter 145 Buying a Boat

    Xia Liu smiled and said nothing.The yacht dealership was quite large, with many yachts displayed inside, all lavishly decorated.


    Those yachts were selling for millions or even tens of millions.


    Xia Liu was not too interested in them, as his target was the fishing boat moored outside the dock.


    "Miss, is your boss here?" Liu Lanxin asked directly as she approached the reception.


    "He''s in his office. Do you want me to let him know you''re here?" The receptionist, accustomed to people inquiring about the boss, did not find it strange.


    "No need, I''ll go find him myself." Liu Lanxin smiled radiantly, gesturing for Xia Liu to follow her upstairs.


    Liu Lanxin confidently made her way to the second floor and then pushed open the office door.


    "Uncle Ming, I''m here! Have you missed me all these days?"


    Seeing the middle-aged man sitting in the office, Liu Lanxin greeted him cheerily.


    Li Ming''s expression turned bitter upon seeing Liu Lanxin, "Lanxin, why are you here?"


    Indeed, Li Ming was afraid of Liu Lanxin.


    A few months ago, Liu Lanxin had taken a yacht from his dealership and driven it away.


    When the yacht returned, it was full of dents and nearly drained of its primordial energy; a little more damage and millions would have been lost.


    "Uncle Ming, don''t misunderstand, I''m not here to borrow a yacht today. I''ve brought you a business deal."


    "Oh? You''re bringing business to your uncle?" Li Ming looked at Liu Lanxin in surprise.


    Typically, to him, she was nothing but a harbinger of disaster.


    If she really could bring in business, he would laugh even in his sleep.


    "Yes, this is Xia Liu, and he wants to buy a fishing boat." Knowing that Li Ming wouldn''t believe her, Liu Lanxin quickly introduced Xia Liu.


    "Hello, Boss Ming, I heard from Lanxin that you have fishing boats, so I''m thinking of buying one."


    From Li Ming''s face, Xia Liu could tell that he was quite afraid of Liu Lanxin.


    Since she was still here, he had to give her some face.


    "Hello, Boss Xia. Please, have a seat. What kind of fishing boat do you want? Just let me know."


    Li Ming was momentarily taken aback by Xia Liu''s serious expression, but quickly responded.


    "I need a fully equipped fishing boat that can start net fishing immediately, one of average size will do."


    "That''s not a problem, I''ve got the nets all set up, you can just take it and start working."


    Seeing that Xia Liu was seriously intent on buying, Li Ming earnestly started to explain.


    "Uncle Ming, are you serious? It can start working immediately?"


    "Lanxin, your sister Shiyu is downstairs, why don''t you go chat with her? She hasn''t seen you in months, she probably barely recognizes you now."


    Hearing Liu Lanxin say this, Li Ming''s heart skipped a beat, fearing she would soon ask to borrow it for a few days.


    "Ah, little sister Shiyu is here? I''ll go play with her." Thinking of Li Ming''s five-year-old daughter, Liu Lanxin rushed out of the office.


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    "Continue, Boss Ming," Xia Liu said, struggling to hide his amusement.


    It was hard to understand what Liu Lanxin had done in the past, as not only the people from the pharmacy revered her, but even the yacht dealership''s boss feared her.


    "Talking on paper is no substitute for a hands-on demo, let''s go check out the fishing boat."


    Xia Liu agreed and followed Li Ming down to the fishing boat.


    Just as Li Ming had said, the boat was fully equipped, although the nets varied in length.


    There were nets of five hundred meters, and some of a thousand meters, with a few tens of thousands more in price.


    "How much for this fishing boat?"


    After getting the details, Xia Liu asked, pointing to the fishing boat on which they stood.


    This boat, measuring forty-five meters, can carry several tons of sea fish.


    That was enough for the current situation, but Xia Liu''s vision was not limited to just that.


    If later the fish in the waters of Osmanthus Village were depleted, each trip out to sea could yield tens or even hundreds of thousands in revenue.


    Click, click, click...


    Li Ming couldn''t help feeling pleased; he had never encountered such a straightforward client like Xia Liu before.


    "The original price of this fishing boat is 5.5 million, but since you were referred by Lan Xin, I''ll accept 5 million."


    "Good, let''s happily decide on that."


    Li Ming was even more delighted; the deal had been negotiated in just half an hour, and Xia Liu hadn''t even haggled.


    This was definitely the fastest deal he had ever made.


    Excited, Li Ming took Xia Liu back to the store to pay by card.


    "By the way, Boss Ming, do you know anyone who can operate a fishing boat?" Xia Liu asked after the purchase.


    He could pilot the boat, but he definitely couldn''t operate it by himself, given his lack of time.


    "Hmm? Someone to operate a fishing boat..."


    Li Ming was shocked again by Xia Liu''s words; it seemed Xia Liu had come to buy the boat completely unprepared.


    This was simply frightening.


    If not for the 5 million in the account, he would have thought Xia Liu was joking.


    "Coincidentally, I know someone with several years of experience, and she''s definitely reliable, but she''s currently not working due to family issues."


    "I see, give me her contact information and address, I''ll think of a way."


    "Sure, her name is Liang Caiming. I''ll write down the address for you."


    Li Ming quickly wrote down the address.


    After seeing the address, Xia Liu thanked Li Ming several times. Liang Caiming lived in Binlai City, and if her family was having difficulties, he might be able to help.


    "Just leave the boat here for now. Boss Ming, please fill up the tank, and I''ll pay you when I come to pick it up."


    "Hey, no need to mention it, Boss Xia. Even if you hadn''t said anything, I''d have filled up the tank. Just store the boat here, and you can come and take it whenever."


    "I really appreciate that." After exchanging pleasantries, Xia Liu called Liu Lanxin.


    A few minutes later, Liu Lanxin came downstairs with a little girl in her arms.


    From her joyful smile, it was clear she loved children; she even seemed reluctant to leave them as she got into the car.


    "I never would have guessed, Miss Liu likes children so much."


    "Kids are so adorable, of course I like them. I definitely want to have two¡­ no, three kids in the future!"


    ...


    Xia Liu was at a loss for words; this girl dared to say anything. She was still just a kid herself and already thinking about having children.


    "Did you get the boat?" Liu Lanxin realied her words may have been awkward and shifted the conversation away from those topics. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, I bought it. I have to go somewhere to take care of something else soon, so I''ll take you home now."


    "Okay."


    With that, Xia Liu drove to the Liu family''s house.


    Today, the Liu family was somewhat different from usual, as if a pall of gloom hung over it.


    At that moment, in the conference room of the Liu family mansion, some prominent family members were present.


    They occasionally bowed their heads to look at a young man and woman kneeling on the floor.


    These two were none other than Liu Chen and his girlfriend.


    After last night''s incident came to light, Liu Chen and his girlfriend had gone to see Liu Mang at the hospital.

 Chapter 146 Admitting a Mistake

    Upon seeing Liu Mang''s injuries, Liu Chen nearly wet himself in fear.He had seen and personally experienced Xia Liu''s strength.


    This was the brute who could kick him ten meters away with a single blow, and casually crush Liu Mang''s wrist to dust.


    It was simply unimaginable.


    He had thought about running away, but the wealth and foundation of the Liu Family worth several hundred million held him back.


    So, he went back first thing in the morning and told his father everything.


    When Liu Yanzhi learned what had happened, he was so scared he fell off his chair.


    He had also been involved in the drugging of Liu Lanxin.


    If everything had gone according to plan, and Liu Lanxin had been filmed, if that video had circulated online...


    She would have definitely been expelled from the Liu Family or at least her status would have vanished without a trace.


    But now that the plan had been discovered, things had escalated terribly.


    All their calculations had gone down the drain.


    He couldn''t run away, and he couldn''t let his son run away either, with the Liu Family''s vast enterprise at stake.


    This generation''s young people were all looking up to Liu Chen and Liu Lanxin, the two main branches.


    Therefore, this matter had to be addressed, and an apology was inevitable.


    After all, Liu Chen was the only male of the main branch, and people in the family definitely wouldn''t punish him too severely.


    At that time, all blame could be shifted onto Liu Mang, and the situation would surely be diminished.


    Thus, Liu Yanzhi gave Liu Chen a beating, and then had him kneel in the conference room with his girlfriend to make a confession.


    Liu Yanzhi then called over the rest of the Liu Family.


    At this moment, Liu Buyi, sitting in the chief seat, had a face full of dark lines, unable to believe that his precious granddaughter had been conspired against.


    And that one of the conspirators was actually his own grandson.


    From a young age, Liu Buyi had never felt much for Liu Chen, because he knew his eldest son, Liu Yanzhi, was not upright and liked to engage in trickery.


    But his younger son, Liu Liguo, was different. Not only was he hardworking in his job, but he also earned respect in his social interactions.


    "Father, Chen was temporarily bewitched and fell victim to Liu Mang''s schemes; he surely knows he''s made a mistake,"


    Seeing Liu Buyi silent for a long time, Liu Yanzhi couldn''t help but explain.


    "Big brother, this is the good son you''ve raised, scheming against your own family! All I want is to get justice for Lanxin!"


    In this matter, Liu Liguo would not back down, even if it was his own elder brother, he still demanded an explanation.


    Furthermore, now that this had happened, being brothers was out of the question.


    Liu Liguo was no fool; while managing the company, he had kept an eye on Liu Yanzhi''s actions.


    He had seen everything Liu Yanzhi had done.


    Liu Chen wasn''t the brightest, an incontrovertible fact.


    Being used by others was expected, but in committing such an act, there had to be a bigger schemer behind it.


    "Liguo, just trust your big brother once. Chen is naive, all this was plotted by Liu Pharmaceutical''s Liu Mang. Both he and Lanxin are the victims. We should shift our focus to Liu Pharmaceutical,"


    "Enough, both of you, keep trying to contact Lanxin. If she doesn''t come back, report it to the police!"


    "Dad, I''ve been calling all the time, but nobody''s answering Lanxin''s phone," said Liu Lanxin''s mother, her eyes red with tears.


    She looked much more worn out than usual.


    "Father, I''ve had people drive around looking for her in the company, and if anyone sees Lanxin, they''ll notify us immediately," Liu Yanzhi said anxiously.


    But in his heart, he was thinking differently; he hoped Liu Lanxin would never come back.


    That way, of the young people in the main lineage, only Liu Chen would remain.


    Even if his son had killed Liu Lanxin, everyone in the family would stand on his side.


    Just when everyone was anxious, the gatekeeper made a call to Liu Liguang.


    "Second Young Master, Miss just drove into the garden."


    "What? Say that again clearly!"


    Liu Liguang became excited, his daughter was back.


    He had lost contact with Liu Lanxin since last night, and now she was finally back!


    Everyone''s attention turned to Liu Liguang, each harboring their own thoughts.


    Those aligned with Liu Yanzhi were exceedingly nervous; if this call was about Liu Lanxin''s whereabouts, Liu Chen would be utterly defeated.


    Liu Buyi''s side was similarly anxious, as Lan Xin was the one he cared for the most. If anything had happened to her¡ª


    He dared not continue the thought.


    "Dad, Lan Xin is back!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After confirming the news, Liu Liguang shouted excitedly.


    "It''s good she''s back, it''s good she''s back."


    Liu Buyi took a deep breath of relief, his hanging heart finally settling down.


    Before anyone could react, the BMW stopped right outside the conference room.


    "Seems like your family is quite lively," Xia Liu teased, looking through the glass to see Liu Buyi and others sitting around the table while Liu Chen and his girlfriend knelt on the floor.


    "Only you would think this is lively; it''s downright humiliating," Liu Lanxin said irritably.


    "Alright, I''ll keep quiet. This is your family matter, which I shouldn''t meddle in. I''ll be leaving now."


    After Liu Lanxin got out of the car, Xia Liu made clear his stance.


    But how could Liu Lanxin let him leave? She immediately ran over to the car window, reached in, and pulled out the car keys directly.


    "You don''t get a say in this when you''ve saved me."


    "Crap! Seems like saving you was a mistake..." Xia Liu couldn''t help but express his frustration.


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    "Xia Liu, you''re here too. Come in and take a seat," Liu Buyi called out as soon as he noticed the two outside, quickly stepping out to invite him in.


    "Elder, you still have matters to deal with, I won''t disturb you."


    "Grandpa, Xia Liu saved me last night. You must thank him properly."


    "Xia Liu, no matter what, you have to stay today!" Hearing his granddaughter say this, Liu Buyi became instantly excited.


    With a bitter smile, Xia Liu knew he couldn''t leave and got out of the car to enter the house with Liu Buyi.


    "Lan Xin!"


    Liu Lanxin''s mother, upon seeing her daughter return, ran over with a grief-stricken face.


    After the two hugged, they moved aside, and Liu Lanxin took the opportunity to explain the situation to her mother.


    Liu Chen looked up to see Xia Liu enter the room and began to tremble incessantly.


    In his mind, Xia Liu had become a ruthless expert, according to Liu Mang.


    Xia Liu was said to be Lan Xin''s boyfriend.


    Now that Xia Liu was here, he certainly meant to cause trouble for Liu Chen.


    If he squeezed Liu Chen''s wrist just like that, his hand would definitely be ruined.


    Thinking this, Liu Chen crawled over to Xia Liu, "Xia Liu, I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have let my guard down and let Liu Mang lead me astray."


    "Huh? What''s going on here, Xia Liu?" Looking at Liu Chen in front of him, Liu Buyi asked in confusion.


    "Last night, I ran into him collaborating with Liu Mang to drug Lan Xin; I ended up rescuing her..." Xia Liu explained briefly.


    "Xia Liu, you really outdid yourself; I knew you were an outstanding young man!" Liu Liguang stepped forward and patted Xia Liu on the shoulder.


    The people present also had their realization.


    It turned out Liu Chen''s scheme was exposed, all thanks to Xia Liu''s efforts.

 Chapter 147 The Dying Man

    When they were summoned here, Liu Chen had remained silent.Liu Yanzhi knew the situation, but he definitely wouldn''t dare to speak out, for fear of exposing himself.


    "Lan Xin, I was wrong, I''m sorry to you, I deserve to die, deserve to die!" Seeing Xia Liu ignoring him.


    Liu Chen turned his gaze toward Liu Lanxin again, and as he spoke, he continuously slapped his own face.


    These were all things Liu Yanzhi had instructed him to do: no matter what anyone said today, he was not to refute, and the only thing he could do was to apologize and harm himself.


    Liu Chen had done just that, he not only kowtowed in apology but also self-harmed, if he had a knife on him.


    He would surely have slashed his own hand several times, for to him, this humiliation was nothing compared to the billions at stake with the Liu Family fortune.


    Liu Chen''s actions indeed softened the hearts of most people present.


    "I ask you, what medicine did you give Lan Xin to drink last night?"


    Liu Buyi felt heartache, but his heartache was for Liu Lanxin, even in death, he would have no more affection for Liu Chen.


    "That medicine was given to me by Liu Mang, he said that it was his own formulation, very strong in potency..."


    Liu Chen didn''t dare to lie one bit, if Liu Buyi asked, he would tell everything.


    And he would put all the blame on Liu Mang.


    "Dammit, formulated by himself!" Liu Buyi was angry once again.


    He was an old Chinese medicine practitioner and knew exactly how risky these unguaranteed self-made medicines could be.


    "Lan Xin, do you have any lingering effects or anything?" Glancing at Liu Lanxin, who was laughing and chatting with her mother, Liu Buyi asked anxiously.


    "I shouldn''t have any, Xia Liu helped me detoxify," Liu Lanxin''s eyes darted around, thinking it better to leave the matter to Xia Liu.


    "What! That medicine is detoxifiable?"


    Liu Buyi was completely startled, according to what Liu Chen had said.


    The poison in Liu Lanxin had penetrated at least to her five viscera, and not even an immortal could detoxify that.


    If modern medical measures were used to detoxify, one would have to siphon out all the blood, then let the heart pump in order for new blood to flow through.


    But extracting all the blood, this would be no different from death.


    That is to say, this medicine was incurable!


    "Master need not worry, although the toxins had already invaded the five viscera by the time, they were still resolved by me, and no subsequent complications will be left," Xia Liu said, shrugging his shoulders.


    "Wow!"


    "The toxins had permeated the viscera and yet you could detoxify, Divine Doctor!"


    "Incredible, this is practically Hua Tuo reincarnated!"


    Hearing Xia Liu''s confirmation, the people of the Liu Family present were shocked.


    Having been raised in the Liu Family, they all studied medicine and had some understanding of illnesses.


    If this poison had entered the viscera, it would unquestionably be fatal if it was actual poison.


    However, what Liu Lanxin ingested last night was not poison, but rather an aphrodisiac. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hahaha, young Xia Liu, you are truly amazing," Liu Buyi said with admiration once he had calmed down.


    "Not at all, I still have so much to learn from you on the path of medical practice," Xia Liu responded modestly.


    "Ah, but what a pity, after you saved Lan Xin, why did you go ahead and detoxify her..."


    "Grandfather, what are you talking about!" Liu Lanxin suddenly became uneasy upon hearing Liu Buyi say it was a pity.


    "I didn''t say anything, didn''t say anything. Carry on, carry on," Liu Buyi''s old face turned red, thinking his voice was too soft to be overheard by his granddaughter, but he had been caught out.


    "Lan Xin, tell Mom, have you done ''it'' with Xia Liu?"


    "Mom, how could you ask that? My poison was really cured." When Liu Lanxin spoke, her face slowly flushed with redness. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    Because talking about this topic made her think of the video she had seen.


    At that time, she had been unconscious, continuously nibbling and kissing Xia Liu...


    Standing amidst the crowd, Xia Liu felt incredibly awkward, getting the impression from Liu Buyi''s tone that he didn''t actually want him to cure her.


    Doesn''t that mean that if he had actually gone through with Liu Lanxin, he would be quite pleased...


    Xia Liu was truly surprised. People often say "old driver, old driver," but this was the real deal.


    "Father, now that Lan Xin has returned, and this Xiaochen..."


    "Hmph! Don''t speak, I have my own plans for this matter." Liu Buyi interrupted Liu Yanzhi, then looked around at everyone and announced, "I hereby declare that Xiaochen is stripped of all his positions in Tianluo Pharmaceutical, and in addition, he''s to be put under house arrest for three years!"


    "Ah! Grandfather, you can''t do this, all of this is Liu Mang''s fault! Lan Xin and I are both victims."


    Upon hearing the punishment announced by Liu Buyi, Liu Chen burst into tears; being dismissed was fine, but being put under house arrest for three years was a different matter.


    That was just like serving three years in prison, except the location was his own home.


    "Yes, Father, it''s all Liu Mang''s fault, you can''t punish Xiaochen like this." Liu Yanzhi was also shocked by the punishment; it was tantamount to wasting three years of his son''s life.


    "Enough, you too, no one else thinks about pleading for him. With such a fool in the house, not putting him away for a few years, who knows when he might end up selling the house,"


    "As for Liu Mang, starting from tomorrow, I will announce that Tianluo Pharmaceutical is officially declaring war against Liu Pharmaceutical!"


    Liu Buyi bellowed angrily, standing there with an aura that seemed to have grown stronger.


    An aura that made people involuntarily respect him and dare not disobey.


    "It seems the old man was quite a fighter in his youth." Xia Liu couldn''t help but remark; his senses were the sharpest, and Liu Buyi''s aura was particularly evident, like that of a general.


    No one dared to speak at the scene, not even Liu Yanzhi.


    "Old man, there''s no need to declare war on Liu Pharmaceutical, it''s not worth wasting the energy on a dying man."


    "A dying man, could it be Liu Mang?" Liu Lanxin was the first to react to Xia Liu''s words.


    Everyone was daunted by the idea, as the word "death" usually carries a natural power of deterrence.


    "Xia Liu, who do you say is going to die?" Liu Buyi, along with Liu Lanxin, immediately asked.


    "You''ll know in a few days, just make sure not to waste manpower and resources on competing with Liu Pharmaceutical." Xia Liu did not elaborate.


    This wasn''t something to boast about; Liu Mang''s death was inevitable, and in twenty days, they would surely understand his words.


    "Heh, then we won''t declare war, but today you must stay, Liu Family needs to properly thank you." Liu Buyi knew Xia Liu was being modest, so didn''t press him on it.


    "Then I''ll just have to shamelessly accept your hospitality, haha." Xia Liu laughed and left with Liu Buyi. As for what happened afterwards, it would naturally be dealt with.


    When a few people came to take Liu Chen away to his confinement, his clothes were soaked through.


    He had understood the meaning behind Xia Liu''s words; the person to die had to be Liu Mang!


    Thinking of this, he was deeply frightened.


    Over the following time, Liu Lanxin also pondered over what Xia Liu really meant.


    He couldn''t imagine Xia Liu killing Liu Mang, but if Liu Mang really died,


    what would be the cause of his death? Could it be an assassination gone wrong...


    The gratitude banquet lasted until late into the night.


    Xia Liu, of course, couldn''t leave, and Liu Buyi once again instructed Liu Lanxin to take Xia Liu back to rest.


    This time, even Liu Liguang and his wife were very supportive, and even his mother kept giving Liu Lanxin meaningful glances.

 Chapter 148 Little Sister Liang Caiming

    Liu Lanxin had had enough.Ever since she returned, her mom was convinced that she had slept with Xia Liu.


    Moreover, the way her family looked at her carried an unspoken implication.


    "Xia Liu, it''s all your fault. See? Now the family thinks I have something with you..."


    "Miss, how can you blame me for this? I am the victim here." Xia Liu was truly helpless.


    "Oh, you''re such a big victim, aren''t you? Did you lose your reputation or your body?"


    "Both!" Xia Liu was right.


    He truly had lost out, considering the detoxification, he had felt weak for a good while.


    Now the Liu family also misunderstood that he had made moves on this girl. If that wasn''t a loss, what was?


    "Ugh, enough, let''s just go to sleep." Once home, Liu Lanxin dumped Xia Liu in the living room and ran upstairs.


    Her mind was in chaos because she actually wanted to try out what her family had misunderstood.


    Shaking his head helplessly, Xia Liu also headed to the room he had stayed in a few times before.


    The next morning, Xia Liu washed up and left early.


    After saying goodbye to Liu Buyi, he drove off.


    He had a lot of things to do and couldn''t delay any longer.


    Following the address given by Li Ming, Xia Liu arrived at a location in the suburbs of Binlai City.


    At that moment, many cranes surrounded the area; blocks of commercial buildings were under construction.


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    In the center of these under-construction commercial buildings, there was an old residential building likely built in the 1980s.


    "This must be the place," Xia Liu muttered as he got out of the car after checking the old residential area.


    According to Li Ming, Liang Caiming lived in this old-style building.


    Initially, Xia Liu thought he would have to knock on doors house by house. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But as he got closer and saw the situation, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Most of the tenants from the first and second floors had moved out, leaving the apartments empty.


    With five floors in total, Xia Liu went from apartment to apartment to check.


    Most of them had their doors wide open with nothing inside.


    Because they had relocated.


    If so, that meant Liang Caiming might not live here anymore.


    This was going to be complicated.


    If Liang Caiming had earned Li Ming''s endorsement, then her abilities must definitely be good.


    Looking for someone else would mean more delays.


    Just as he was walking down to the second floor, suddenly a person came up from the stairwell.


    A woman dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt.


    Her outfit wasn''t flashy, but it clearly accentuated her figure.


    She was pretty standard in looks, sporting a ponytail and appearing like a high schooler, likely not too old.


    "Hi, little sister, do you know someone named Liang Caiming? She used to live here too." Xia Liu adjusted his mood and asked as soon as the girl came up to face him.


    "Who are you, and what do you want with Liang Caiming?" the girl asked Xia Liu, her body instinctively recoiling as she spoke.


    It was like a child being approached by a stranger, wanting to shrink back and escape out of fear.


    "I heard from Boss Ming, a ship seller, that Liang Caiming is experienced in salvaging marine products, so I came to see if there''s a chance for collaboration."


    Although he thought the girl was a high schooler, Xia Liu still told the truth.


    Tricking kids was definitely not right.


    "Ugh, you''re not from the demolition team?" Hearing Xia Liu say this, the girl obviously breathed a sigh of relief.


    "What demolition team?" When the girl said this, Xia Liu felt something was very wrong., there must be something questionable about this.


    "Ah, the people from the demolition team have been urging me to move, but they''re not giving me any assurances. If I move out, I might not even have a place to live anymore."


    "That''s kind of unscrupulous. Wait till I find Liang Caiming, I will definitely seek justice for you."


    "No need to search anymore, I am Liang Caiming." The girl stared at Xia Liu and said, word for word.


    "What! You are Liang Caiming!!!"


    Xia Liu''s eyes suddenly widened, he could hardly believe that this girl, who looked like a high school student, was actually Liang Caiming!


    He clearly remembered, Li Ming had said.


    Liang Caiming is twenty-six today, but looking at this girl in front of him.


    Twenty-six? Saying she''s eighteen would even seem a bit much.


    "Don''t be so surprised, I really am Liang Caiming."


    Liang Caiming had been troubled ever since she graduated from high school.


    Because of her baby face, people always doubted her real age.


    After she turned twenty, she went to job interviews with her ID card, but without exception.


    No child labor, and, to exaggerate, some companies even wanted to call the police, suspecting her of using a fake ID for job-seeking, which is considered fraud.


    If the company were reported, the ensuing inspections could mean significant fines.


    Liang Caiming had tears but nowhere to cry, her ID card was real, but no one would believe it.


    In the end, she could only choose jobs with harsh conditions. Eventually, she worked on a fishing boat and slowly made her way up to captain.


    If not for the housing issue, she might still be at sea now.


    "This ID card is real. It''s just that I can''t figure out, how do you look so young?"


    Xia Liu was a skilled observer, he could distinguish the authenticity of an ID card at a glance.


    He was astonished because this girl was defying the norms.


    Even his own cultivation of the Five Elements Mantra, which would usually show some changes as one aged.


    But not her, at twenty-six years old, she still looked like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.


    Of course, that''s just the face, her figure was still very nice.


    At least a C cup, with a rather even S-shaped figure.


    A girl like Liang Caiming, would attract heaps of wealthy suitors anywhere.


    If they knew her real age, the number of men pursuing her would be even greater.


    The value of unchanged appearance, a woman who remains young lying beside you every day, that''s more blissful and important than anything.


    "Right, you just mentioned something about the houses being demolished without guarantees, what''s that about?"


    "Ah, I don''t know what beast has eaten the developer''s conscience, originally the residents here were compensated three thousand per square meter - you know, the current market price is six to seven thousand per square meter."


    Liang Caiming didn''t know if Xia Liu could help her, she just wanted to complain to someone about the ruthless developer.


    "In that case, if you had to buy a house here, you could only afford half the area of your previous home, this developer really is ruthless."


    "Yes, if you don''t move out, many thugs come by every day to harass you, all to make it unbearable for you so you have to sign their contract."


    Liang Caiming felt helpless, she had not been able to sleep well these past few days.


    She even had to sneak around whenever she went out, fearing those thugs might spot her.


    Boom, boom, boom...


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, a sudden sound of motorcycle exhaust came from downstairs.


    Then a fierce shout followed: "People upstairs, listen up, come all down here!"

 Chapter 149 Intimidation

    Xia Liu took the opportunity to look outside.Downstairs in the empty lot, more than a dozen motorcycles were roaring incessantly.


    Each bike had two people on it, with thirty or forty people down below.


    "It''s these people again!"


    Liang Caiming knew without looking, because this group made noise downstairs every day.


    If it wasn''t for the front door being locked, they would have certainly rushed up.


    "Do you know whose people they are?" Xia Liu wasn''t familiar with Binlai City, so he could only inquire about it from Liang Caiming.


    "They belong to a nearby Motorcycle Gang. There seem to be about forty of them. Wherever there''s debt unpaid or tenants who haven''t moved out, they show up."


    "If their repeated persuasion doesn''t work, they''ll resort to violence."


    As she talked about this, Liang Caiming began to feel afraid.


    If they resorted to violence, even if she called the police, she couldn''t dare to imagine what could happen in the meantime.


    "Liang Caiming! We know you''re up there, and today we came to give you one last chance. If you don''t sign the contract, our brothers will help you sign it!"


    "Haha, Brother Fei, I''ve seen Liang Caiming a few times, and that woman, she looks so delicate, later on, we will hehehe¡­"


    "Hehe, Xiao Jie, you don''t need to tell me that. Later on, Brother Fei will naturally take care of that chick."


    The bunch of loafers downstairs kept discussing with dirty language.


    They were afraid Liang Caiming wouldn''t hear, so they intentionally raised their voices to the loudest.


    Passersby hurried away from the area, afraid of catching the attention of the gang.


    "These people are going too far." Xia Liu couldn''t stand listening to them anymore.


    He could imagine how Liang Caiming had been living these past few days.


    It must have been extremely difficult.


    "There''s no other way, I''m used to it." Liang Caiming had long since felt powerless.


    For the first few days, there were some residents who confronted them alongside her.


    But gradually those people had no choice but to move away as well.


    In the end, only she was left.


    One person against forty thugs was definitely impossible.


    "Who are the developers here? I know a real estate company in Binlai City as well."


    To address the issue at its root, it was necessary to find the root cause.


    The gang wasn''t the chief entity; killing them would be useless. The solution lay in dealing with the developers.


    Xia Liu wasn''t being arrogant; as far as Binlai City was concerned, which real estate player would dare disrespect the Wanqing Group?


    As long as he knew who the developers were, he could call Mo Wanqing and have the issue dealt with in minutes.


    "The developer is the Wanqing Group, their boss is Binlai City''s legendary businesswoman, Mo Wanqing!"


    "What, Mo Wanqing!" Xia Liu was shocked. With Mo Wanqing''s reputation, how could she possibly be involved in such underhanded deeds?


    "Yes, all the land here was bought by Wanqing Group, and the buildings under construction are all theirs too." Liang Caiming bit her lip, as she had once admired Mo Wanqing.


    Because she was a woman who had built her company from the ground up. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, she felt nothing but disdain and resentment. It turned out that even a successful businessperson could resort to such unscrupulous methods.


    "Chill, would you let me handle this?"


    Xia Liu didn''t believe that Mo Wanqing was that kind of unscrupulous person. There must have been someone pulling strings, preventing Mo Wanqing from noticing.


    "Thanks, but I''m not some young girl, and you seem younger than me, right?"


    "Uh uh uh¡­" Xia Liu couldn''t help but give a wry smile. She was even scrutinizing his age.


    If they went out together, others would surely think he was a cradle snatcher.


    "Okay, you''re certainly not young, but you''re not much older than me either. How about I just call you Caiming?"


    "Sure, but how are you going to handle this situation?"


    Liang Caiming was very puzzled. Xia Liu had said he was younger than herself, what ability did he have to resolve this issue?


    "Just watch from up here," Xia Liu said as he walked down the stairs.


    "Brother Fei, look quickly, it''s Liang Caiming!" Seeing Liang Caiming stick her head out from the second-floor corridor, a lackey exclaimed excitedly.


    "Damn! That little face is really damn smooth!" The young man known as Brother Fei licked his lips, his eyes shining with indescribable light.


    "The gate''s open, I''m going up first!" Brother Fei glanced at the wide-open iron gate, revved up with excitement.


    Amidst the cheers of his underlings, Brother Fei quickly got out of the car and sprinted toward the gate with the speed of a 100-meter dash.


    Seeing this, Liang Caiming instinctively shrank back a bit.


    However, she was very worried, and when she leaned forward to look down again,


    She was shocked to find that Brother Fei was lying on a motorcycle.


    And there were several motorcycles flipped over nearby, with gasoline spilled all over the ground.


    Below, a broad back faced her, it was Xia Liu!


    She couldn''t help but cover her mouth with her hand, afraid that she would scream out.


    She had truly thought that Xia Liu had gone downstairs to negotiate, but who would have guessed he would take action!


    "Listen up! Call your leader here!" Xia Liu didn''t want to waste his breath on these thugs.


    If the developer wasn''t Wanqing Group, he wouldn''t mind wiping them all out in one fell swoop.


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    Many youths swallowed nervously.


    Just now they hadn''t seen what happened at all.


    When they came to their senses, they saw their bicycles flipped over on the ground, and even Brother Fei was lying there, unknown whether dead or alive.


    A few youths who realized what had happened didn''t dare to speak to Xia Liu and immediately turned their bikes around and fled.


    They had all seen Xia Liu kick Brother Fei into flight.


    The distance from the gate to this spot was over ten meters!


    Somebody with that kind of strength, if they were still standing in the same place, wouldn''t that be courting death?


    The so-called Motorcycle Gang, under the deterrence of Xia Liu''s kick, directly ran away in droves.


    The other half who didn''t run were those who had been hit by Brother Fei and were lying on the ground unable to move, otherwise, they would have run too.


    Liang Caiming, standing on the second floor, had her eyes wide open in shock; she thought she had seen incorrectly, and couldn''t stop rubbing her eyes.


    After a couple of episodes, she finally confirmed that the Motorcycle Gang had truly fled!


    What shocked her heart even more was that one back figure.


    She couldn''t fathom what Xia Liu did for a living, how he could scare away over thirty people from the Motorcycle Gang in a single encounter.


    Who on earth was he???


    Watching the Motorcycle Gang run off with a roar, Xia Liu felt somewhat helpless.


    He had no choice but to inquire with those lying on the ground.


    "Ah! Don''t come over here!"


    Seeing Xia Liu approaching, a youth trying to get up screamed.


    "Don''t panic, just tell me who sent you here to cause trouble."


    "I don''t know anything, I swear!"


    "You don''t know? Then get lost!"


    "Ah! Help!" The youth scrambled away as fast as he could.


    He had only just joined the Motorcycle Gang, and with all his buddies gone, his fear had reached its peak.


    Brother Fei had just been sent flying, knocking out five people and smashing three bikes, but none of those five seemed to be key figures.


    After thinking for a moment, Xia Liu pulled Brother Fei up from the motorcycle.

 Chapter 150 How to Go Upstairs with Limbs Severed?

    Xia Liu directly grabbed Brother Fei''s head, positioning him so he was just able to stand on the ground. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Then, a faint Golden Spirit Energy entered Brother Fei''s body through Xia Liu''s palm.


    In the blink of an eye, Brother Fei opened his eyes.


    When he saw Xia Liu, so close at hand, his pupils shrank sharply.


    "I''m asking you, who sent you to make trouble here," Xia Liu asked bluntly before Brother Fei could express his surprise.


    "Big brother, please spare my life, it was Wang Ping who told me to come here, it was all his idea!"


    Brother Fei didn''t dare to lie now; if he had known there was such a formidable person here, he wouldn''t have come even for a million dollars.


    "Who is Wang Ping?" Xia Liu asked, his expression unchanged.


    "Wang Ping is the regional manager of the Wanqing Group."


    "Do you have his phone number?"


    "Yes."


    "Call him over."


    "Ah! But this..." Brother Fei''s face showed his difficulty.


    Xia Liu was formidable, but so was Wang Ping. If he called him over...


    Afterward, how could he continue to mix in Binlai City?


    If things got serious, he might be stuffed into a bag by Wang Ping and thrown into the sea.


    "Hurry up and tell the truth," Xia Liu urged.


    Tell the truth?


    "Hurry up! Just say that the other side is being very aggressive, that two of your brothers are already dead, and tell him to send more people over!"


    "Oh, oh! I''m calling now."


    Though puzzled, Brother Fei still made the call as instructed by Xia Liu. Find exclusive stories on empire


    "Manager Wang, there''s a problem with the old house on Zhizhou Road, my brothers have gone down, there''s one guy here who seems to have practiced Martial Arts, you better bring some tough reinforcements quickly."


    "Fuck! You useless trash, just you wait!"


    Beep beep beep...


    After a roar of rage, Wang Ping on the other end hung up the phone.


    Brother Fei pleaded with a beggar''s face, "Big brother, can I leave now?"


    "Not yet, you can go after Wang Ping arrives," Xia Liu certainly didn''t want his effort to go to waste. If Wang Ping didn''t come, where would he find him?


    After instructing Brother Fei to squat down on the ground, Xia Liu took out his cell phone and called Mo Wanqing.


    "Hello, Xia Liu, how do you have time to call Auntie today?"


    Mo Wanqing still responded to Xia Liu with as much warmth as ever.


    "Aunt Qing, I''m actually helping you out again."


    "Oh, and what is it that you have helped me with this time?"


    "I''ve found a rat in your company. I''m currently at an old house on Zhizhou Road. Could you send the general manager over to deal with that rat?"


    "Zhizhou Road? The company is currently planning to build a commercial building there. I understand, I''ll be there in a bit!"


    Mo Wanqing didn''t say much more, hung up the phone, and immediately called people to hurry to Zhizhou Road.


    About ten minutes later, two Land Rover cars arrived at the scene.


    Brother Fei looked back and almost burst into tears with relief.


    It was Wang Ping who had arrived!


    Xia Liu glanced over at the people exiting the cars.


    Among them was a young man, not very old, but dressed rather flashily, with blond hair, and the rest were muscular men in sporty outfits.


    "Little Fei, where are your other brothers?" After getting out of the car, Wang Ping looked around and, only seeing Brother Fei and a few unconscious men, he became puzzled.


    "Those damn mongrels all ran away!"


    "What! A bunch of pigs who only know how to eat! They can''t even get this simple thing done! Trash!" Wang Ping started cursing furiously.


    "That kid over there, you''re Wang Ping, right?"


    "Yes! I am Wang Ping, your grandfather. It seems you''re the one who knows some Martial Arts?" Wang Ping had already noticed Xia Liu, but he didn''t take him seriously.


    In his eyes, Xia Liu was just a youth in his twenties.


    Speaking of martial arts, could anyone really be stronger than my bodyguards who have retired from the special forces?


    "Very well, I want to know, how much is Wanqing Group paying per square meter for the demolition compensation?"


    "Go to the hospital and lie down, all of you cripple him for me! Anyone here who hasn''t moved out today, throw them out directly!" Wang Ping was enraged.


    He had been mixing in Binlai City for a number of years, and perhaps a few years ago some people still dared to talk to him like that.


    But not now!


    Several strong men dressed in tight-fitting clothes received the order and began twisting their necks and cracking their knuckles one after another.


    Looking at their demeanour, so full of contempt, it seemed they had Xia Liu all figured out without even having to make a move.


    "Xia Liu, you better run!"


    It was at this moment that Liang Caiming couldn''t bear to watch anymore, and she shouted at the top of her lungs.


    This matter originally had nothing to do with Xia Liu, and if he were to get hurt or something else happened to him because of her, Liang Caiming would be guilty for a lifetime.


    "Ah, there is also a high school student there, you guys teach him a good lesson; I''m going upstairs to talk to the holdouts," Wang Ping said when he saw Liang Caiming''s delicate face, his interest instantly piqued.


    "Heh, let''s see how you''ll get upstairs with your limbs broken."


    As the murmuring voice faded away, Xia Liu''s figure moved in a flash, appearing right in front of Wang Ping in the blink of an eye.


    Wang Ping''s pupils shrank violently and his gaping mouth had not yet uttered any sound when it was stuffed with a piece of cloth.


    Crack, crack, crack, crack!!!


    A series of bone-dislocating sounds echoed in all directions.


    Everyone present widened their eyes.


    They couldn''t believe what they were seeing.


    What had they just witnessed?


    Xia Liu''s hands had left afterimages, and in at most two seconds, he had twisted Wang Ping''s limbs out of shape!


    "Mmm, mmm, mmm..."


    Since Wang Ping''s mouth was blocked with cloth, he could not scream out loud, the sound stuck in his throat.


    His face turned pale in an instant, and at the same time, sweat poured out profusely.


    Unable to support himself because of the displaced bones in his legs, he fell to the ground.


    His eyes were even filled with blood vessels,


    With limbs dislocated, this level of pain was beyond what the human body could endure.


    It had already surpassed the limit, yet Xia Liu was making him endure it.


    Through physical contact, Xia Liu transmitted some Spiritual Energy into Wang Ping''s body, making sure he wouldn''t faint, staying conscious, continuously enduring this pain.


    The wrong he had done was enormous, as huge as the sky!


    Although he was not sure about the details of Wanqing Group''s demolition contract, this man conspired with the Motorcycle Gang.


    Intimidating the residents into signing contracts using violent means, such behavior, deserved punishment!


    "It''s very painful, isn''t it? When you had those thugs from the Motorcycle Gang bully the residents, did you ever think that you would get your comeuppance one day?"


    "Mmm, mmm, mmm!!!"


    Wang Ping could not say a word; he stared at Xia Liu with a fierce expression, nodding furiously, indicating that he understood.


    "Good that you understand, now let me help you set your bones back in place," Xia Liu said as he began to move again.


    Crack, snap!


    Another series of clear sounds were heard.


    In a matter of seconds, Xia Liu had already realigned Wang Ping''s dislocated bones.


    At this moment, Wang Ping lay on the ground like a dead pig, his pants having been soaked in the earlier struggle.


    He was scared; he had seen too many ruthless methods.


    But such as Xia Liu''s, to dislocate a person''s bones and then set them right again, he had only witnessed it once in this lifetime.


    "I was wrong, big brother, please forgive me," Wang Ping pleaded weakly after he regained some strength.


    As he spoke, he kept retreating until he was behind the bodyguards, and then his face suddenly changed!


    "Whoever kills him, I''ll give ten million directly!"

 Chapter 151 Forget About Taking the Life

    Uh uh uh...With an abrupt change in the atmosphere, those present couldn''t react in time.


    Wang Ping, who was supposed to be like a fawning dog, actually offered money for Xia Liu''s life, and the reversal happened so fast.


    Upon hearing that killing Xia Liu was worth a million, several bodyguards were instantly energized.


    Isn''t money what they''re in this line of work for?


    Now that such an opportunity had come, they were all in!


    Brother Fei was shocked to see several bodyguards risking their lives for cash.


    Only then did he realize the gap between him and those men couldn''t be bridged by just a little effort.


    Liang Caiming, standing on the second-floor corridor, hurriedly took out her cell phone; if she didn''t call the police now, somebody might get killed!


    But just as she was about to dial the emergency number, she saw a figure moving swiftly in her pupil.


    It was Xia Liu¡ªfar from fleeing, he charged towards the bodyguards with incredible speed.


    This not only shocked Liang Caiming but also stunned Wang Ping and Brother Fei.


    Before they could even marvel, the fight had begun.


    Xia Liu leaped, launching a kick with utmost speed.


    Bang!


    A bodyguard''s chest caved in slightly, and he was sent flying backward.


    After landing, Xia Liu raised his hand and struck another bodyguard.


    In less than ten seconds, all the bodyguards were lying on the ground.


    They looked at Xia Liu with deep fear in their eyes.


    They were all from special forces or professional bodyguard companies.


    But they hadn''t expected that they couldn''t see Xia Liu''s speed at all.


    By the time they realized it, they were already lying on the ground, and a severe pain was spreading throughout their bodies.


    Master! A master among masters!


    That was the bodyguards'' assessment of Xia Liu.


    By now, they were no longer thinking about the million but how to leave safely.


    From Xia Liu''s cold gaze, although they didn''t sense any emotion,


    such a calm person was terrifying; you never know what might happen when they really get serious.


    The three people outside the scene were dumbfounded, their mouths wide open yet unable to utter a sound.


    "Ah... sorry for hurting you, I won''t take your lives. Just be more careful in the future, not everyone is worth protecting," Xia Liu said, not mercilessly slaughtering the bodyguards.


    The bodyguards hung their heads, unable to say a word.


    Just then, a Rolls-Royce and several police cars arrived quickly.


    Seeing police cars appear, Wang Ping was so moved he was almost in tears.


    Salvation!


    He wanted to cheer; with the police there, no matter how strong Xia Liu was, he wouldn''t dare to do anything to him.


    "Officer, save me! Save me, they''re going to kill me!" Wang Ping shrieked hysterically as he saw several police officers running towards him.


    "Officer, that man is trying to kill me; he has crippled all my bodyguards, arrest him! Hurry!" Wang Ping said excitedly, grabbing an officer''s arm.


    However, the officers didn''t pay any attention to Wang Ping. They went to check on the injured lying on the ground, while others cordoned off the area.


    "Officer! Why aren''t you arresting him! He''s killed people!"


    "Wang Ping! Have you had enough trouble?" Just then, a sharp voice echoed through the space.


    Wang Ping turned around and was shocked to find that it was the company''s general manager!


    "General manager, I am working for the company, coming here to buy property rights, and now I am being chased and killed. What is your attitude!" Wang Ping retorted loudly, unconvinced.


    He completely did not understand the current situation, as he was almost beaten to a pulp by Xia Liu.


    The police arrived and were indifferent!


    "My attitude? I would like to ask how you are handling things!" The general manager''s face was full of rage.


    He had been working in the suburbs for the past few days. Mo Wanqing called him, and he immediately reported to the police and brought people over.


    On the way, he learned the reason for the incident through connections.


    The company offered eight thousand per square meter as compensation to the residents here, but Wang Ping actually reduced it to three thousand!


    That was bad enough, but he even colluded with thugs to cause trouble and forced the residents to sign the contract using extreme methods!


    This not only caused the company to lose a lot of money but also completely ruined the company''s reputation!


    Regarding Wang Ping, the general manager felt like tearing him apart.


    Just as Wang Ping was about to retort, the general manager ran over to Xia Liu and said respectfully, "Mr. Xia, I am so sorry for being late. Are you all right?"


    "General manager, you''re too polite. These minor characters couldn''t even touch the hem of my garment," Xia Liu said casually, having met the general manager a few times before.


    "Hehe, that''s good then, good. The chairman is about to come over, and she is already aware of the residents'' situation here."


    Your adventure continues at empire


    The general manager spared no effort in his explanations.


    Xia Liu''s presence here and facing off with Wang Ping must be due to the unfair contract for this building.


    Hearing the general manager say that the chairman knew about the situation with the residents here, Wang Ping''s face instantly turned pale.


    If everything was exposed, he would not only be dismissed but might even face imprisonment!


    At this moment, he was filled with regret. Had he known that Xia Liu knew the general manager and Mo Wanqing, even with ten thousand times the courage, he would not have dared to charge forward. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, it was too late for regrets. He wanted to run, but several policemen were standing not far away, their gaze fixed firmly on him.


    Wang Ping did not doubt that if he dared to run, he wouldn''t make it a few steps before being pinned down.


    "Xia Liu, what''s going on here?"


    At this moment, Liang Caiming also came downstairs, and despite being scared by the scene, she mustered the courage to come down and find out what was happening.


    "Didn''t I promise you just now that I would take care of the matter for you? It should be considered done now. Let me introduce you, this is the general manager of Wanqing Group."


    Xia Liu said with a smile, then introduced the general manager to Liang Caiming.


    "Ah! The general manager of Wanqing Group!" Upon knowing the identity of the middle-aged man, Liang Caiming exclaimed in surprise, unconsciously.


    And she also felt some resentment, resentment towards Wanqing Group.


    If it weren''t for Wanqing Group, she wouldn''t have fallen into such difficult circumstances.


    The neighbors living in the building wouldn''t have had to leave with tears.


    Xia Liu thought for a moment, realizing he still didn''t know the general manager''s name, so he let him introduce himself to Liang Caiming.


    "Hello, ma''am. My name is Duan Zhengfeng, the general manager of Wanqing Group. May I ask how to address you?" Duan Zhengfeng had risen to the position of general manager.


    Not by scheming, but by his honest character and dealings, as well as his sharp sense of responsibility and ability in work.


    Mo Wanqing had told him to treat seeing Xia Liu the same as seeing her, and naturally, he should also treat Xia Liu''s friends with respect.


    "My name is Liang Caiming. Since you are the general manager of Wanqing Group, you should give us residents an explanation, right?"


    "Lady Liang, rest assured, Wanqing Group will definitely ensure justice for everyone," Duan Zhengfeng said respectfully.


    "Justice is too late, they have all signed the contracts and received the money. I just want your company to offer some additional compensation," Liang Caiming said, deeply disappointed in Wanqing Group. With things having reached this point, she didn''t want to pursue anything further, only hoping to receive a bit more money to be enough for her mother''s medical expenses.

 Chapter 152 No Pay Without Work

    "Lady Liang, rest assured, the company will add two thousand yuan per square meter on top of the previous amount,""With this, each square meter will now be five thousand yuan, okay..."


    Liang Caiming was quite satisfied with Duan Zhengfeng''s response.


    It at least helped everyone obtain a bit more money, and she had secured some for herself as well.


    "No, no, the company''s previous rate was eight thousand yuan per square meter. By adding two thousand, it will be ten thousand yuan per square meter," Duan Zhengfeng quickly corrected.


    Because of this matter, many people would definitely hold grudges against the company.


    Now that the company was aware of the issue, they would definitely try to compensate as much as possible and apologize.


    "What! Ten thousand yuan per square!" Liang Caiming was shocked by the price.


    By these calculations, what was originally three hundred thousand for one hundred square meters would now be one million!


    That was more than triple!


    "Caiming, everyone had misunderstood the Wanqing Group before. The reason the price was low was all Wang Ping''s doing,"


    Seeing Liang Caiming so astonished, Xia Liu explained with a bitter smile.


    "It''s all thanks to Mr. Xia, otherwise the company wouldn''t know how much it had lost."


    Every word from Duan Zhengfeng was sincere; if Wang Ping had not been dealt with, more and more people would harbor resentment against the Wanqing Group in the future.


    The reputation of a company is far more important than making money.


    Without a reputation, it wouldn''t be long before the company declined, or even left with a perpetual bad name.


    "I''ll immediately tell my neighbors the news!" After confirming it once again, Liang Caiming was completely thrilled.


    She took out her phone and started dialing all the saved numbers, informing them of the news as soon as possible.


    While Liang Caiming was making calls, Mo Wanqing also arrived at the scene.


    She arrived and directly scolded Wang Ping.


    The latter didn''t dare say a word, only offering endless apologies.


    Wang Ping understood that only by showing a pitiable attitude, there was a chance that Mo Wanqing might not pursue his misbehavior further.


    But Mo Wanqing''s heart remained unchanged, especially after the previous incident with Wu Mingde.


    She decided to completely clean up the company, not allowing any bad elements to remain.


    In the end, Wang Ping was taken away by the police, awaiting what would be a myriad of criminal charges!


    "Xia Liu, Aunt really has to thank you properly this time," Mo Wanqing approached Xia Liu after dealing with Wang Ping. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was often busy with social engagements, and had delegated the management of the company''s affairs to others.


    Even with personal management, there were bound to be some who slipped through the net.


    But now, as Xia Liu had exposed two big fishes, how could Mo Wanqing not be grateful.


    "Aunt Qing is being too polite, I just happened to stumble upon it."


    "I don''t think it was just a coincidence? You don''t often come to the city, so..."


    As Mo Wanqing spoke, her gaze repeatedly glanced towards Liang Caiming, who stood behind Xia Liu with her head lowered.


    Honestly, she was a bit confused about who exactly was Xia Liu''s wife or girlfriend.


    Every time she saw him, he was accompanied by different women.


    When he went to Osmanthus Village, the beauties were even more numerous.


    What''s frightening is that each of those women was exceptionally beautiful, all of supreme-grade Mortal World beauties.


    This time was even more exaggerated; the girl accompanying Xia Liu looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, it couldn''t be...


    "Aunt Qing, don''t misunderstand, her name is Liang Caiming, she''s a resident here. Discovering Wang Ping as the pest was all due to Caiming''s efforts."


    Seeing the strange gleam in Mo Wanqing''s eyes, Xia Liu hurriedly explained.


    But his explanations seemed to go unheard by Mo Wanqing, who responded with a knowing look.


    "Caiming, hello, I am Mo Wanqing. I''m really sorry to have kept you waiting," she said.


    "You are Mo Wanqing!" Liang Caiming exclaimed in shock as she looked at Mo Wanqing.


    This name had long become legendary in Binlai City, and she had never expected that she would one day meet this legendary figure in person.


    Wait a moment!


    Liang Caiming suddenly thought of something. Had Xia Liu just called Mo Wanqing Aunt? Were the two of them relatives?


    This made her puzzled. If Xia Liu had come to seek a partnership with her, it must definitely be about fishing.


    Moreover, with his skills, would he have sunk to fishing to earn money?


    "Um, little sister, is this your home? May I take a look inside?"


    "Uh, yes¡­" Liang Caiming''s face turned slightly flushed.


    She had been called "little sister" again, but no matter; after dissolving her preconceptions about Wanqing Group, she felt so fortunate to be in conversation with Mo Wanqing.


    Liang Caiming then led Mo Wanqing, Xia Liu, and Duan Zhengfeng up to a small apartment on the third floor.


    The apartment was scrupulously clean, and there wasn''t much furniture.


    The decor had aged quite a bit, and the walls were pitted and uneven.


    "Caiming, this house is at most forty square meters. At ten thousand per square meter, the money won''t buy a good house," Xia Liu remarked, shaking his head after surveying the apartment.


    "That''s okay, as long as I have a place to live," Liang Caiming replied, her voice tinged with bitterness.


    After selling the house, she could use the money to help with her mother''s medical expenses, and perhaps there would be some left over to pay for rent...


    "Caiming, you helped me a lot today, and I want to give you an apartment," Mo Wanqing offered.


    She was sincere; without Liang Caiming, she wouldn''t have learned about the tricky situation with Wang Ping.


    "Thank you, Boss Mo, but I cannot accept. I hope you can compensate everyone else quickly," she declined.


    "Caiming, you shouldn''t be formal with me," Mo Wanqing urged.


    "Thank you, but I shouldn''t accept reward without merit, so I truly can''t accept it."


    Liang Caiming longed for a good place to live, but accepting this once would mean accepting more help in the future.


    One shouldn''t live like that. Only the things earned from one''s own work could truly bring peace of mind.


    Though the path of striving was tiring, it was fulfilling, and wasn''t that what life was about?


    Seeing Liang Caiming''s resolve, Mo Wanqing had to give up.


    "However, I do have one request¡ªcould this money be arranged quickly?"


    Oh?


    "Caiming, are you facing some kind of difficulty?" Xia Liu realized something was amiss and quickly asked.


    "It''s not too difficult, just some special circumstances," she replied.


    "General Manager, could you quickly calculate this and then have the accounts department transfer the money to Caiming''s account?"


    Liang Caiming didn''t clarify, but everyone present knew she must be facing an issue. Since money could solve it, it should be resolved quickly.


    Following Mo Wanqing''s order, Duan Zhengfeng immediately began measuring the apartment.


    In the end, under Mo Wanqing''s expectant gaze, he announced a measurement of sixty square meters. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "This couldn''t possibly be sixty square meters," Liang Caiming said with a bitter tone.


    "One can''t determine the size of an apartment just by looking. After professional measurement, it''s fifty-nine square meters, so we round it up to sixty," Duan Zhengfeng stated seriously.


    ...


    Liang Caiming had nothing more to say, understanding in her heart that this was Mo Wanqing''s doing, and that the apartment probably wasn''t even fifty square meters.


    Just as Mo Wanqing was about to speak, Liang Caiming''s phone rang.


    After seeing the caller ID, her pupils dilated and she quickly pressed the answer button...

 Chapter 153 Just Cancer

    "Hello, what happened?"Liang Caiming''s voice trembled slightly, filling the hearts of those around her with an unceasing sorrow.


    "Okay, I understand, I''ll be there right away!"


    Liang Caiming choked back her emotions and said expressionlessly before she hung up the phone.


    "Boss Mo, thank you. I have some matters to take care of; I can''t stay with you anymore..." Liang Caiming was about to run out the door after finishing her sentence.


    But a warm hand grabbed her.


    "Xia Liu, I need to go deal with something. Let''s talk about other matters after I''m done. If it''s urgent for you, please find someone else," Liang Caiming said, her eyes reddened, her face etched with a pitiable sadness.


    Find more to read on empire


    Mo Wanqing and Duan Zhengfeng had no idea what had happened or what the phone call was about.


    Why would Liang Caiming be crying?


    "I heard the entire conversation on the phone just now, and if I may ask without overstepping, what illness does your mother have?"


    Uh... uh... uh...


    Liang Caiming had not expected Xia Liu to have overheard the voice on the phone. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "She has cancer, but it''s in the early stages. If the treatment is timely, there is a high chance of recovery. I really need to go now."


    With that, Liang Caiming tried to push away the hand.


    But Xia Liu was holding on. How could he let go so easily?


    "Cancer is just a minor ailment; I can cure it too."


    "Pfft! Xia Liu, can you stop joking?" Mo Wanqing couldn''t help but snort and then signaled Xia Liu to look at Liang Caiming.


    Cancer is universally known as a terminal illness with no cure.


    Liang Caiming''s family member has a terminal illness, and here you are joking around, showing no respect at all.


    "Let go of me!" Indeed, Liang Caiming was angry. Her eyes were bright red as she glared at Xia Liu.


    Ah...


    In the end, Xia Liu let go of Liang Caiming. If she didn''t believe, there was nothing he could do.


    "Aunt Qing, you go ahead with your work. I''ll follow and have a look," Xia Liu said.


    "All right, but you better watch what you say. Don''t make her angry again," Mo Wanqing advised, not quite understanding the relationship between Liang Caiming and Xia Liu.


    ...


    Xia Liu gave a bitter smile; he didn''t have time to explain. After exchanging courtesies, he ran down the stairs.


    Fortunately, he caught up with Liang Caiming at the iron gate.


    "I drove here; let me take you," he said.


    Liang Caiming was still somewhat angry, but for the sake of her mother, she decided to put Xia Liu''s actions aside and focused on getting to the hospital.


    The nurse had called her earlier to say that her mother was in a lot of pain and it would be best to operate immediately if possible.


    The reason they had been delaying the surgery was due to a lack of funds; otherwise, it would have been done long ago.


    Guided by Liang Caiming, Xia Liu sped through the streets and reached the hospital entrance in fifteen minutes.


    Tongji University Hospital.


    The hospital was built with a high-end design, its exterior all glass facades like the headquarters of a major company.


    This was a private hospital with top medical personnel from Binlai City.


    The costs here were extremely high, something Caiming had told him on the way.


    They had already spent tens of thousands bringing her mother to the hospital, undergoing several rounds of dialysis, with surgery costing four hundred thousand.


    And even this did not guarantee a cure, which Liang Caiming could not bring herself to mention.


    Following Liang Caiming into the hospital, Xia Liu said not a word more.


    The claim that he could cure cancer was something no one would believe.


    When explanations fail to convince, actions must prove the point.


    Upon entering the hospital room, Xia Liu saw a middle-aged woman, quite thin and frail.


    Her body was connected to many tubes. Is this early-stage cancer?


    Xia Liu couldn''t understand¡ªif one didn''t get examined, how could they tell it was early-stage? They would appear just like a healthy person.


    However, once in the hospital, with daily tests, blood draws¡ªanyone would grow weak even if they weren''t to begin with.


    In the room, alongside Liang Caiming''s mother, there were several nurses, and a bald, bespectacled doctor.


    When Liang Caiming arrived, the bald doctor invited her to his office to discuss the specifics of the case.


    After a word to Xia Liu, Liang Caiming followed the doctor to his office.


    Shortly thereafter, the nurses also left the room.


    Xia Liu had a bad feeling about this, observing the nurses'' calm and deliberate steps as if they were all in on some scheme.


    He stepped forward to the bedside and pressed his fingers on the wrist of Liang Caiming''s mother.


    "She certainly is ill, but it seems there has been no attack in the last couple of days. Wait, her mental state is off, it''s as if someone forced her into unconsciousness!"


    Having deduced the results, Xia Liu furrowed his brows.


    It seemed this was far from a simple matter!


    He quickly left the room and started to wander the floor, casually at a glance but with intense alertness, ready to rush over if he spotted Liang Caiming and the bald doctor.


    And sure enough, at the end of the corridor, he heard a faint scream.


    "Doctor Zhang, please don''t! I beg you to save my mother. I''ve gathered the money!"


    In the office, Liang Caiming was backed up against the wall.


    Less than three meters from her, the bald doctor watched her with a gleeful smirk, "Whether you have the money is not important. As long as you agree to be my woman, I''ll start the surgery right away, and your mother''s illness can be cured in two days."


    "Doctor Zhang, I already have a boyfriend, that was him just now. Please leave me alone, I will pay the medical expenses," Liang Caiming trembled continuously.


    Doctor Zhang had been harassing her constantly, always bringing up the same topic each time.


    She was desperate to find the money, to treat her mother as well as to escape Doctor Zhang''s harassment.


    But to her dismay, even after securing the funds, he was still persistent.


    "It''s fine, I don''t mind that you''re not a virgin. If you want your mother''s surgery, you need to commit now, will you be my secret lover?" said Doctor Zhang, his expression changing.


    He had been captivated by Liang Caiming the first time he saw her.


    He had resolved to make this attractive young woman his.


    If he could develop a long-term relationship, even better.


    Additionally, he was not confident he could actually cure Liang Caiming''s mother''s illness.


    Stomach cancer, even at an early stage, couldn''t be cured even abroad, let alone in Binlai City, a small third-tier place.


    His promise to cure was merely a ploy to win over Liang Caiming and let her guard down.


    Eventually, he would go through the motions and easily cover up his deceit with any excuse.


    "I refuse!" Liang Caiming was vehement in her stance, she would rather die than agree to the demands of this scoundrel in a white coat.


    "Refusing is useless, today I''m taking you by force!" Doctor Zhang''s face twisted into a wicked smile. As he shed his white coat, he took slow steps towards Liang Caiming.


    Faced with the at least one hundred fifty-pound Doctor Zhang, Liang Caiming turned pale.


    Direct confrontation would not save her from his grasp, so Liang Caiming kept dodging.


    But the office was only so big, with Doctor Zhang''s arms spread out there was no escaping her sluggish attempt.


    "Tsk tsk! Being my woman, you won''t be short-changed!"

 Chapter 154 Another Dying Person

    "Ah! Help!" Seeing Doctor Zhang approach, Liang Caiming desperately shielded her chest."I''ve already alerted the floor, you won''t escape today! Hahahaha..."


    Doctor Zhang laughed maniacally, his eyes drying out as he gazed at the innocent face in front of him.


    Just when Liang Caiming''s heart sank to despair, suddenly a massive sound echoed all around.


    Bang...


    The office door detached from the wall and flew onto Doctor Zhang''s desk. Stay connected with empire


    In the stunned gaze of the two, Xia Liu slowly walked in.


    "Xia Liu, save me!" The moment she saw Xia Liu, tears began flooding from Liang Caiming''s eyes, her heart crying out, "I''m saved...sob sob..."


    "Who are you, daring to break my door!" Unlike Liang Caiming''s thoughts, Doctor Zhang did not think Xia Liu could stir up any trouble. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was Tongji Hospital, his territory!


    "Heh!" Xia Liu didn''t answer, simply smiled lightly and continued moving forward slowly.


    Seeing Xia Liu daring to ignore him, Doctor Zhang became furious.


    He hurried forward, his fists clenching tighter, convinced that with his punch, he could kill the seemingly frail opponent in minutes.


    But Doctor Zhang was too confident. Who was the incoming person? It was Xia Liu!


    For people like Doctor Zhang, Xia Liu never harbored any pity; he caught Doctor Zhang''s punch steadily with his open palm.


    Then he squeezed gently.


    "Ah!"


    The moment Xia Liu made his move, Doctor Zhang''s pig-slaughtering scream resonated through the floor.


    As a doctor, he knew the level of pain he felt; his hand bones had shattered!


    Xia Liu did not stop, he grasped Doctor Zhang''s elbow.


    He directly stuffed the shattered hand into his mouth.


    Mmm mmm mmm...


    The pain escalated, Doctor Zhang''s eyes bulged, his agonizing scream blocked by his fist, only able to vent through his throat.


    "People like you don''t deserve to live!"


    Murmuring softly, Xia Liu patted Doctor Zhang''s shoulder.


    Instantly, Earth Spirit Energy permeated into his body, swiftly enveloping Doctor Zhang''s liver.


    Just as he had dealt with Liu Mang, for wolves in sheep''s clothing like Doctor Zhang, there was no mercy.


    Today''s target was Liang Caiming; it was fortunate he was there to successfully intervene.


    If he hadn''t been there, or if the target had been another girl, what would have happened?


    It was easy to imagine.


    Given the time Doctor Zhang had been at this hospital, the number of girls he had harmed was definitely not in the single digits.


    Doctor Zhang knelt on the ground in agony, Xia Liu no longer concerned himself with him; the dying have no value worth acknowledging.


    "Are you okay?"


    "Er er er... I''m okay, thank you, Xia Liu." If not for Xia Liu''s timely arrival, Liang Caiming wouldn''t have snapped out of her daze.


    Everything she witnessed today felt like a dream.


    This man, who suddenly appeared in her world, had brought justice back to her and her neighbors.


    At the hospital, she had again rescued herself from Doctor Zhang''s clutches.


    She owed Xia Liu a favor, perhaps taking years to repay.


    "What''s going on here?" Before Xia Liu could speak, suddenly a puzzled voice spread from the doorway.


    An elderly man in a white robe appeared at the door with several doctors in white coats, followed by a few security personnel.


    Seeing the situation, the security personnel immediately entered and positioned themselves to protect Doctor Zhang.


    They all stared at Xia Liu as if he were some enemy.


    "Director Su, please save me, that young man wants to kill me!" Seeing the elderly man in the white robe, Doctor Zhang''s expression instantly crumbled, he looked at Xia Liu in terror while speaking to the elderly man.


    "What are you waiting for, control him!" After reporting to Director Su, Doctor Zhang directed the security personnel.


    But none of the security personnel dared to make a move.


    They were all trained and working in this hospital was no job for fools.


    Xia Liu, having kicked the door off its hinges without any apparent external force.


    For them to rush him, what difference would that make from committing suicide?


    "Young man, why did you attack Doctor Zhang?" Director Su, not paying too much attention to Doctor Zhang, focused entirely on Xia Liu.


    "He tried to harass me, and my boyfriend showed up just in time, causing me to hit him unintentionally," Liang Caiming said hurriedly, worried Xia Liu would be misunderstood.


    Xia Liu looked at Liang Caiming somewhat surprised; she mentioned ''boyfriend'' so smoothly, could it be she really had one?


    "Damn woman, don''t you falsely accuse me! When did I ever try to molest you!" Doctor Zhang shouted loudly, using his voice to vent the pain in his palm.


    "You leveraged my mother''s illness to threaten me, making me your secret mistress, and I refused. You then used medical fees as an excuse to keep bothering me. If I wasn''t clever, you would have already ruined me!" Liang Caiming grew equally agitated.


    Recalling all the past occurrences, her heart trembled with emotion.


    "Doctor Zhang, is what this girl is saying true?" Director Su''s face was lined with shadows.


    If what Liang Caiming said was true, then this hospital was indeed corrupt.


    "Director Su, you must believe me, I, Zhang Mushan, would never be that kind of person!" Zhang Mushan desperately explained.


    If he admitted it, he couldn''t possibly keep his job.


    He still hadn''t had his fill of those nurses, like Liang Caiming.


    He''d tricked seven or eight similar girls using similar methods. If these girls became aware and collectively reported to the police, he would definitely face prison time.


    Thus, even if crippled, Zhang Mushan couldn''t admit to it.


    "Whether you''re that kind of person, I don''t know, but behaving inappropriately with the head nurse during work hours, there have already been three complaints!" Director Su said coldly.


    "Director Su, I am being framed!"


    "Security, take him to have his injuries examined first; I will handle this personally later."


    "No, Director Su, I admit I had an inappropriate relationship with the head nurse, but it was with the intention of marriage..."


    "Enough, take him away!" Director Su closed his eyes, knowing Zhang Mushan''s character, and seized the opportunity to fire him to prevent any further misconduct in the hospital.


    After arranging for security to take Zhang Mushan away, Director Su approached Xia Liu and Liang Caiming with a smile, saying, "Young lady, don''t be nervous, I''m Su Yi, the director of this hospital. Please, tell me what''s going on."


    "Director Su, please save my mother. Doctor Zhang said she had an episode today, but he''s been delaying her surgery."


    "Ah! Take me to her quickly."


    Just when Su Yi was getting anxious, Xia Liu casually said, "No need to check, Caiming, your mother hasn''t had an episode, nor does she need surgery. She is unconscious because someone injected her with a sedative."


    "Damn that Zhang Mushan!" Upon hearing this, Su Yi cursed.


    Then puzzled, he wondered how Xia Liu knew the patient had been given a sedative. Could he also be a doctor?

 Chapter 155 Why Not Just Cure It Completely?

    ```"Hello, young man, I am the director of this hospital. May I ask your name? Do you also work in a hospital?"


    Inspired by Xia Liu''s description, Su Yi''s interest was instantly piqued.


    Considering the young man''s age, if Liang Caiming''s mother''s condition was indeed as he had described, this young man''s medical journey was certainly not a simple one.


    "Xia Liu, the Xia of Xia Tian, not in a hospital, just a country doctor..." Xia Liu said nonchalantly.


    "A country doctor?"


    "Haha, a country doctor is certain that the patient is not sick. Telling others would probably make them die of laughter."


    "The person is skilled, can tell the symptoms with just one touch of the pulse, what do you know, haha..."


    Xia Liu''s response immediately elicited laughter from several doctors in white coats nearby.


    They were all there to learn from Su Yi today.


    What was Su Yi''s status? The most accomplished and experienced professor in Binlai City.


    You, a country doctor, dare to contradict Director Su, if that isn''t arrogance, then what is?


    "You all quiet down for a moment, there''s no end to the path of medicine. Xia Liu, how did you determine that the patient was not sick and had been injected with a sedative?"


    Unlike the other doctors, Su Yi didn''t know why, but he felt that there was something extraordinary about Xia Liu.


    "Taking the pulse." Xia Liu said simply, offering no further explanation.


    "Haha! I knew it was going to be something like that." A doctor wearing a mask burst into loud laughter.


    The others also snickered secretly, thinking it absurd that anyone would still believe in pulse diagnosis nowadays¡ªeither an idiot or a fool in their eyes.


    Even Su Yi''s face showed that he was having difficulty maintaining his composure, for he also knew a thing or two about taking the pulse. Continue reading on empire


    But to diagnose whether a patient was not sick or had been injected with a sedative just by feeling the pulse was simply impossible.


    "Xia Liu, don''t talk for now." Liang Caiming also reminded him anxiously, her face filled with concern. She had initially thought this man was capable, but upon seeing the change in Su Yi''s expression, she nearly wanted to cry. If she didn''t intervene, Xia Liu would surely mess everything up.


    "Director Su, my boyfriend often imagines himself as a Divine Doctor, so everything he just said was nonsense. Please go check on my mother as soon as possible."


    ...


    Xia Liu almost spat blood and died on the spot, often deluding himself into thinking he had ascended to godhood... spouting nonsense...


    Su Yi nodded with a smile, but he still stole a glance at Xia Liu, noticing that he didn''t have anything more to say, which left Su Yi somewhat disappointed.


    The group followed Liang Caiming to her mother''s ward.


    Several doctors, eager to show off their medical skills in front of Su Yi, volunteered to examine the patient.


    Su Yi did not object, since the patient was in a comatose state at the moment, a detailed examination was necessary to understand her condition.


    With the help of a nurse, Liang Caiming''s mother was taken to the examination room.


    While waiting, Su Yi talked to stabilize Liang Caiming''s mood, and also took the opportunity to probe Xia Liu further.


    But he did not get what he wanted, for Xia Liu did not wish to explain anything.


    Fifteen minutes later, two nurses pushed Liang Caiming''s mother, Su Lihua, back to the ward, followed by the doctors from earlier.


    They were all holding a medical report, looking utterly baffled.


    Because their examinations had produced results exactly as Xia Liu had described!


    Suffering from early-stage gastric cancer, not displaying symptoms, and indeed having been injected with a tranquilizer.


    "Xiao Fan, what are the results?" As soon as they returned, Su Yi immediately asked one of the doctors.


    "Professor Su, the patient has not displayed any symptoms and was injected with a tranquilizer about half an hour ago..." Xiao Fan lacked the courage to continue.


    Because he, too, had participated in mocking Xia Liu just before.


    ```


    "Ah!" Liang Caiming was shocked, she glanced at Xia Liu, and her face immediately turned red.


    Just a moment ago, she had said that Xia Liu often indulged in fantasies, but now, her mother''s condition was exactly as he had described!


    The doctors felt the same way; they didn''t dare to look up at Xia Liu.


    This time, they were struck by a super powerful blow; he was just a rural clinician.


    Yet, he knew the patient''s condition, which they could only determine after a series of tests.


    "This young man is extraordinary!" Su Yi looked at Xia Liu, who was silent, and felt full admiration in his heart.


    In Binlai City, or rather, in Huaxia, there were no more than five people who could impress Su Yi, which was enough to prove the mystery of Xia Liu.


    "Young man, I''m really sorry about just now." At this point, Su Yi could only apologize bitterly.


    "I owe you an apology too." Liang Caiming also followed Su Yi in bowing her head to apologize.


    "I study traditional Chinese medicine, and you study Western medicine; it''s inevitable that we have different views in treating diseases."


    Xia Liu replied amicably.


    The doctors, including Su Yi, all felt bitter.


    Although Xia Liu''s words were light, they inadvertently revealed a disdain for Western medicine.


    "Young man, your Chinese medicine skills are definitely very impressive. Is there any way to control this lady''s condition?" Su Yi picked up on the subtext of Xia Liu''s words.


    He initially thought Xia Liu was extraordinary because he couldn''t see through him, but now, he felt Xia Liu was a bit arrogant.


    "Control? Why not just cure it completely?" Xia Liu asked, frowning.


    "Cure it completely!!!"


    "That''s simply impossible!"


    "Yes, the patient is suffering from cancer! One of the world''s terminal illnesses!"


    "I thought you were impressive for discerning the patient''s condition, but now it seems you''re just blindly guessing!"


    The doctors, having heard Xia Liu mention a complete cure, shook their heads in disagreement.


    Cancer was a disease with only one likely outcome: to spend the remaining days on a sickbed, or to travel and wait for death.


    To think of a cure, even in countries with advanced medical technology, was something no one dared to claim.


    Honestly, when Xia Liu said he could cure it completely, Liang Caiming almost jumped up.


    But listening to the doctors, her heart suddenly cooled down.


    Seeing them whispering among themselves, Xia Liu couldn''t help shaking his head; the world was like this, telling the truth was always misunderstood.


    Yet in the hospital room, only one person had a solemn expression: Su Yi. He tried to calm his emotions and asked weakly, "Xia Liu, are you from Hejing County?"


    "Hejing County is the county town near where I come from, I''m from a certain town there."


    "Do you happen to know a person named Lin Hongsheng?"


    "The Director of the County Hospital?"


    "Yes! That''s him!" Hearing Xia Liu''s confirmation, Su Yi immediately perked up.


    He went up to grab Xia Liu''s hand, excitedly saying, "Divine Doctor Xia Liu! I thought Lin Hongsheng was just humoring me and pulling my leg, but I never expected there to be a real Divine Doctor!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That''s right, Su Yi was completely excited; Lin Hongsheng was his disciple. Two months ago, this disciple claimed he had personally witnessed a Divine Doctor who simply used a few silver needles to cure two patients suffering from genetic diseases.


    When Su Yi heard this news, he was skeptical too, even though Lin Hongsheng had mentioned Xia Liu''s name.


    At that time, he thought his disciple was just teasing him, for how could a few needles cure genetic diseases?


    But now, his firm belief had been utterly shaken...

 Chapter 156 Becoming a Disciple

    Seeing Su Yi pulling Xia Liu and continually calling him Divine Doctor.A few doctors and Liang Caiming were utterly flabbergasted. What in the world was going on?


    Xia Liu inwardly bitter-smiled, thinking when had he ever met Su Yi before. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It turned out to be something Lin Hongsheng had told him, which made sense.


    "Divine Doctor Xia Liu, I wish to take you as my master." After being excited for quite a while, Su Yi suddenly came forward to ask to become a disciple.


    Crack!!!


    The people present once again suffered a shock of ten thousand volts. Su Yi was actually asking Xia Liu to be his master!


    This news, if spread, would certainly cause a stir in the Huaxia medical community.


    Who was Su Yi? He was a member of the Peak of the Huaxia medical community!


    It was a great honor to become his disciple, yet now he wanted to take someone in their twenties as his master; this was simply unbelievable.


    What was even more unbelievable to everyone was that Xia Liu actually refused! Refused!


    "Director Su, there''s no need for taking discipleship. It would be nice to have the opportunity to discuss and research medical skills together," Xia Liu said.


    Xia Liu was already bitter to the extreme; how awkward it must be for an old man to want to take him as a master.


    However, he understood that Su Yi was diligent and eager to learn, having such a mentality was commendable.


    "You said it yourself, we''ll research together when there''s an opportunity," Su Yi didn''t feel unhappy, on the contrary, he was even more delighted.


    Xia Liu speaking like this was to regard him as an equal, which was enough to boast about for a lifetime.


    "That... can my mother''s illness really be cured?" Liang Caiming couldn''t help but ask weakly in surprise.


    "Well..." Su Yi looked at Xia Liu, not daring to speak as he also wasn''t quite sure if Xia Liu could cure the illness.


    The reason he behaved as he had was partly to make a good impression on Xia Liu and partly because of Lin Hongsheng''s influence.


    If Xia Liu''s medical skills were truly remarkable, and he remained unmoved, that would mean losing a tremendous opportunity, but if Xia Liu couldn''t practice medicine, then he hadn''t lost anything. As for reputation, he had long tossed it aside.


    "Yes, it will be done in half an hour," Xia Liu nodded, full of confidence.


    "Half an hour?"


    "That''s right, all of you go wait outside. Come back in after half an hour," Xia Liu didn''t want to explain further; actions would prove more than words ever could.


    Everyone didn''t dare to ask further, they were all eager to know how Xia Liu would create a miracle in half an hour.


    Seeing her mother on the hospital bed, Liang Caiming''s eyes reddened slightly, then she followed Su Yi out of the ward.


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    After everyone had left, Xia Liu didn''t wait.


    He spread the cloth, revealing the silver needles to the air.


    The Fire Spirit Energy sterilized while the Wooden Spirit Energy calmed the mind and replenished the spirit. The silver needles, in combination with various Spiritual Energies, continuously penetrated Su Lihua''s body.


    Fifteen minutes later, Xia Liu took back the silver needles; his face had turned slightly paler than before.


    He could endure several rounds of treatment at this intensity.


    After the needles were removed, Su Lihua also woke up; it was discomfort that roused her.


    She bolted up from the bed, and the discomfort in her stomach made her turn around and vomit at the bedside for a while.


    Watching this, Xia Liu continued to gently pat her back.


    "Auntie, do you feel better?"


    "Who are you? What just happened to me?" Looking at the dark vomit on the floor, then back at Xia Liu, Su Lihua was very puzzled.


    "I''m Caiming''s good friend. I was treating you just now, and from now on, you''ll be able to live normally," Xia Liu replied with a smile.


    "I can live normally from now on?"


    "Yes, Auntie, your illness is all cured," Xia Liu confirmed.


    Upon receiving Xia Liu''s confirmation, Su Lihua sat on the hospital bed in a daze, not knowing how to express her emotions at that moment.


    Since her cancer diagnosis, her life had plunged into despair.


    Then the incident with the house happened, and she had thought of suicide, as it would ease her daughter''s burden.


    And now, her illness was cured; she hadn''t even fully come to terms with it yet.


    She carefully felt her body and found that her vision was clearer than before, and the oppressive sensation in her chest and the pain in her stomach had completely vanished.


    Her illness was truly gone!


    When Su Lihua fully came to her senses, she kept thanking Xia Liu and also asked about his relationship with Liang Caiming.


    To this, Xia Liu gave vague answers; he and Liang Caiming had only met the day before, saying too much would surely give him away.


    As he was feeling troubled, the door to the ward opened, and Liang Caiming ran in quickly.


    Seeing her mother awake, she didn''t say a word, but cried out and threw herself into Su Lihua''s arms: "Mom!"


    "Caiming, my good daughter, Mom has been a burden to you."


    As mother and daughter shared their feelings, Xia Liu quietly left the ward.


    "Xia Liu, Divine Doctor, is the patient cured?" Su Yi immediately asked when he saw Xia Liu come out.


    "Mhm, she''s almost fine, just a bit weak. She''ll be good with some more nourishment," Xia Liu replied.


    "Ah! That''s really great!" Su Yi was so excited that his mind went blank for a moment; he had no idea what to say to Xia Liu.


    A few doctors standing nearby each harbored their own thoughts.


    But they were secretly skeptical of Xia Liu.


    Think about it, Xia Liu had only been inside for how long? Less than half an hour.


    In fact, they had heard Su Lihua''s voice within just ten minutes or so.


    And now, Su Yi was insisting on taking Xia Liu to the office for tea.


    Seeing their chance, several doctors took Su Lihua to undergo various tests.


    In the end, the results came out: Su Lihua was cured! Truly cured!


    This left the group dumbfounded in the examination room.


    "Caiming, who was that young man who treated my illness just now?" Su Lihua asked Liang Caiming while resting in the ward.


    "Him? Just a friend I just met," Liang Caiming replied as she peeled an apple.


    However, from that moment until now, Xia Liu''s image had constantly been lingering in her mind.


    From the old house to being rescued from Doctor Zhang''s hands, and finally treating her mother''s illness.


    He was too miraculous, too captivating¡­


    "Caiming, you''ve never been good at lying. Be honest with me, do you like him?" Su Lihua saw right through her daughter''s thoughts and asked with a half smile.


    "Mom! What are you talking about? I haven''t yet provided you with a good life; how could I possibly like a boy!" Liang Caiming replied excitedly.


    "My daughter, don''t worry about me; if you like him, go after him. I can see that this young man is very good. Moreover, he has restored me to health. Just for that, we can''t repay him."


    "I will help him with his work, even if it''s for ten or twenty years."


    "Naive, do you think he can''t find other workers? Take advantage of your youth and take the initiative; maybe he''ll take a fancy to you," Su Lihua kept persuading, having seriously considered it.


    Xia Liu truly is a good man, and he''s skilled in medicine. Just that alone is enough to captivate anyone.


    What''s more, he cured her, and they needed to repay him; otherwise, it would be unethical.


    And perhaps the only thing they could offer him in return was this daughter¡­

 Chapter 157 Discharge and Misunderstanding

    Xia Liu and Su Yi talked in the office for nearly an hour.The conversation was all about Chinese medicine, and Su Yi, that old fox, also had some knowledge of it. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, Xia Liu''s understanding of Chinese medicine was mostly about medicinal materials.


    In terms of treating diseases and saving lives, even terminal illnesses, once the Five Elements Needle was used, no matter if you wandered to the Ghost Gate Pass, it could pull you back to the Mortal World.


    Xia Liu did not have that much time, and his conversation with Su Yi soon ended.


    The two of them went to the hospital ward together, where Lihua and her daughter Caiming were having an animated conversation.


    The topic was all about Xia Liu; seeing him enter, Caiming''s face instantly blushed.


    "Auntie, you can be discharged now, let''s pack up and leave," Xia Liu said politely.


    "Hmm, let''s listen to Xia Liu." Lihua glanced at her shy daughter and replied to Xia Liu with a laugh.


    However, when it came time to handle the discharge procedures, Caiming felt embarrassed.


    Her mother''s hospital stay had nearly drained all her savings, and they already owed quite a bit for the hospital fees.


    She had no money left now.


    While she was waiting outside the ward earlier, someone from Wanqing Group''s accounting department had called saying the money might be delayed, and wouldn''t arrive until at least eight o''clock in the evening.


    "Caiming, why don''t you go pay?" Seeing her daughter hesitating, Lihua couldn''t help urging her.


    "Mom, the money hasn''t arrived, shall we go back this evening then?"


    "This¡­" Lihua also felt awkward; to be penniless at such a crucial moment, they couldn''t even afford to treat Xia Liu to a meal, which was really embarrassing.


    "Auntie, don''t worry, I can settle it."


    "Hey hey, Brother Liu, you doing this is like looking down on me."


    Just as Xia Liu was about to swipe his card, Su Yi directly stopped him.


    "Someone, clear this Lady Su''s bill and refund all her previous examination fees,"


    "Ah! Director Su, what is this..." Hearing Su Yi''s order, Caiming was surprised.


    Xia Liu and Lihua were also puzzled by Su Yi''s actions, wondering if he was trying to show off in front of them.


    "Previously, Doctor Zhang had exploited his position to continuously extort money from you. After a meeting, the hospital decided to fire Zhang Mushan and refund all the fees to you."


    "Oh! So that''s what happened, that''s really great!" Hearing about Doctor Zhang''s punishment, Caiming was overjoyed.


    Xia Liu gave Su Yi a thumbs up, such a resolution truly was gratifying.


    Afterwards, Xia Liu drove Caiming and Lihua home.


    Caiming''s home was still in that old house.


    Sitting in the car, Lihua kept sizing up Xia Liu.


    She was more and more pleased with Xia Liu; having such a car was enough to prove the family''s substantial wealth, and if her daughter could marry him, she would definitely be well-secured in the future.


    On the way back, Xia Liu took the mother and daughter to a restaurant for lunch.


    When the three returned to the lodging, they found the downstairs area crowded with people.


    Caiming and Lihua, seeing these people, both started in surprise.


    Because these people had all lived in this building before, being neighbors for almost thirty years. Find more chapters on empire


    "Caiming, what''s going on?"


    "Oh, I forgot to tell you, our house situation has been resolved. There was a big parasite in Wanqing Group before that had lowered their allocation to us by five thousand,


    now for each square meter of our house, we can get ten thousand!"


    "What! Ten thousand yuan!" Su Lihua thought her daughter was joking, but after listening to her explanation, she immediately got out of the car to confirm with the neighbors.


    Sure enough, as soon as she got out of the car, she was greeted with applause from everyone.


    "Caiming''s mom, we all owe you our thanks, your son-in-law helped us secure ten thousand yuan per square meter."


    "Exactly, Caiming''s mom, we all received calls from the developer, and the money will be transferred to our accounts soon."


    "I have an ICBC card, the money is already in my account."


    "Wow, really? Show everyone!"


    "Little Liu, your house is a hundred square meters, so if it''s credited, that''s one million yuan!"


    Everyone gathered around Little Liu''s message, and when they saw the one million, they almost exploded with excitement.


    "Caiming''s mom, hurry and get Caiming and your son-in-law out of the car. The whole group wants to properly thank them!"


    Unable to resist the neighbors'' urgings, Su Lihua went to the car window: "Caiming, you and Xia Liu come down quickly."


    Su Lihua couldn''t stop smiling; she had been persistently urging her daughter to chase after Xia Liu.


    It turned out she was overthinking it, as even the neighbors had said.


    Her own son-in-law, Caiming''s boyfriend.


    Xia Liu and Liang Caiming both heard the residents'' excited chatter and couldn''t help feeling embarrassed.


    They both knew that it was just their first meeting today, where did that relationship they were talking about come from?


    But looking at the current situation, no matter how they explained it, the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship couldn''t be clarified anymore.


    They exchanged glances, saw the meaning in each other''s eyes, and then got out of the car to play the role of boyfriend and girlfriend.


    Xia Liu responded to the neighbors'' gratitude one by one.


    But these people were really too enthusiastic, almost overwhelming Xia Liu with their response.


    Fortunately, the person to save the day arrived soon after.


    It was Duan Zhengfeng, the general manager of the Wanqing Group.


    He and an assistant came over, their purpose not only to console everyone but also to offer even more generous compensation.


    The incident caused by Wang Ping had affected the Wanqing Group''s reputation somewhat, and now was a perfect opportunity to redeem it.


    After greeting Xia Liu, Duan Zhengfeng announced the company''s compensation.


    For all residents of this building, they would buy it for ten thousand yuan per square meter; moreover, purchasing a commercial property under the Wanqing Group would come with a fifty percent discount.


    Fifty percent off, a million would be five hundred thousand, making the crowd almost pounce on Duan Zhengfeng; this was indeed great news.


    Additionally, Duan Zhengfeng also mentioned that after buying the house, the company would cover half the cost of five new pieces of furniture.


    With this news, the scene instantly erupted. A divorced woman in her thirties directly hugged Duan Zhengfeng and then kissed his cheek.


    A few elderly single women also made such crazy gestures.


    "Mr. Xia, help!" Duan Zhengfeng, who was knocked to the ground, called out to Xia Liu for help.


    Xia Liu waved his hand indicating he was helpless, who made your company set such good benefits, wishing everyone calm down was impossible.


    Luckily, there were many people on the scene, so the young women didn''t go too overboard with their actions.


    After everyone calmed down, Duan Zhengfeng made a phone call and soon, three buses arrived; all the people agreed to buy the Wanqing Group''s properties.


    So, Duan Zhengfeng was about to take them to see, and if possible, they could even complete the real estate transaction soon.


    "Mom, let''s also buy a house," Liang Caiming also became interested; she had worked so hard before just to provide her mother with a big house, a peaceful place to live, and now the opportunity had arrived.

 Chapter 158 Weve Known Each Other for Just One Day

    "Buy what? You, girl, should plan properly. Otherwise, you''ll be in for some tough times ahead.""What are you talking about, isn''t buying a house necessary to avoid hardship?" Liang Caiming clearly couldn''t understand her mother''s words and retorted.


    "Think about it, Xia Liu''s family must have money, and selling our little house would only bring in a few tens of thousands. It''s better to keep it as your dowry."


    Liang Caiming was shocked senseless. What did she mean by keeping it as a dowry? That was ridiculous.


    Xia Liu played dumb on the side; he heard everything.


    What moved him was that Su Lihua, even though she had nowhere to live, was unwilling to let her daughter spend money on a house.


    Even so, if Liang Caiming brought several hundred thousand to her marriage, would her in-laws definitely treat her well?


    Not necessarily; it might be better to buy the house now since its value could increase.


    "Lady Liang, why don''t you come with me to see the house later?" At that moment, Duan Zhengfeng, having calmed everyone''s emotions, approached Liang Caiming and suggested.


    "Yeah, I''ll go with you later."


    "No, you can''t go! Caiming, you must listen to your mom this time. If she says no buying, then no buying."


    Seeing her daughter agree made Su Lihua somewhat angry.


    "Madam, please don''t feel pressured. Our chairman, to show gratitude to Miss Liang, has specially approved gifting her an apartment."


    "What! A gift?"


    Liang Caiming and Su Lihua were simultaneously shocked.


    Earning money is hard these days; an apartment, even at half price, would cost hundreds of thousands, and they were giving it away for free!


    "Aunt, let''s just go have a look later, it''s free after all."


    "Yeah, let''s listen to Xia Liu."


    Xia Liu''s words made Su Lihua burst into a happy smile.


    Just as Liang Caiming was about to speak, three buses appeared in front of them.


    Everyone rushed to get on the buses.


    They were all looking forward to their future homes.


    Xia Liu naturally drove his mother and daughter to the place.


    The new house wasn''t far from there, just a ten-minute drive away.


    It was a brand-new high-level commercial building.


    From the outside, it seemed that no one had lived inside yet.


    According to Duan Zhengfeng, this building hadn''t yet been put on the market for sale, although the building next door had already sold out. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone eagerly went upstairs to check the rooms, each of them very excited.


    Su Lihua was also very thrilled, a free house and the support of Xia Liu; it was definitely a keeper.


    In the end, everyone found a room they were satisfied with, including Su Lihua.


    However, Su Lihua''s room was at least three hundred square meters and didn''t cost a dime.


    Moreover, Duan Zhengfeng said they would install furniture for free the next day.


    This made Su Lihua even more excited¡ªgetting a house and furniture for free, and the neighbors were also living in the same place.


    Today really was a day of triple happiness: first, her illness was cured; second, her daughter had a boyfriend; third, they were gifted a house.


    In the evening, everyone went back to the building where they originally lived to have a party.


    Words could no longer express their surprise; they could only show their gratitude to Liang Caiming and Xia Liu through their actions.


    Surrounded by everyone, Liang Caiming felt very embarrassed, especially since the remarks were directed at her and Xia Liu.


    If it were not for the rich darkness of the night, her shyness would definitely have been visible to everyone.


    At the end of the gathering, since there was not enough room at home, Xia Liu had to leave first.


    Su Lihua disagreed with him leaving on his own, so she insisted that Liang Caiming must accompany Xia Liu.


    Now that you are someone''s girlfriend, there is no reason to let them go alone.


    "Mom, what are you doing? You''ve just recovered from your illness, and I need to stay to take care of you," Liang Caiming became anxious. Her own mother saying this was one thing, but everyone else wanted her to go with Xia Liu too. What would she do if she really went?


    "Caiming, don''t worry, we all know about your mother''s health. Tonight, Aunt Xue and I will stay to take care of her," a woman stepped forward to reply.


    "Rest assured, Caiming, we''ll take good care of Lihua. Go ahead with peace of mind."


    "I''m not leaving. I want to stay with my mom."


    "Caiming, you can''t not go. Think about everything Xia Liu did today; he is counting on you to reciprocate," Su Lihua patiently explained as she saw her daughter keep insisting.


    "Mom, you''re pushing your daughter into a pit of fire¡­"


    Though she thought this, Liang Caiming did not refuse again. Under everyone''s watchful eyes, she stepped into Xia Liu''s car.


    "Haha, Caiming, where are we staying tonight?" Xia Liu couldn''t help but laugh as he saw Liang Caiming''s gloomy face.


    "Laugh your head off. It''s all your fault. Otherwise, everyone wouldn''t have misunderstood."


    "What do you mean my fault? It was clearly Duan Zhengfeng who let everyone be mistaken."


    ...


    Liang Caiming did not rebuke further. Since she had already been misunderstood by everyone, she might as well continue to be misunderstood.


    But she couldn''t help considering where to spend the night...


    "Thank you, Xia Liu." Having been silent with her head down all the way, Liang Caiming spoke timidly.


    "You''re welcome. It''s what I should have done."


    What he should have done? Could it be that he had feelings for her? Thinking this, Liang Caiming''s palms began to sweat lightly, her face grew redder and redder, even spreading to her neck.


    "Why is he driving to the hotel? Could it be he wants to..." Suddenly, the glow of neon lights shone into the car, and as Liang Caiming looked up, she was instantly startled.


    The car was leisurely driving into the grand hotel¡­


    She was nervous because she had only just met Xia Liu today. Even if he had shown her kindness, this was too fast. Continue your adventure at empire


    But she didn''t have the heart to refuse; she just hadn''t reacted in time yet.


    "Xia Liu, I''m not ready yet, could we..." After the car had parked, Liang Caiming quietly voiced out.


    "Hmm? Ready for what?" Xia Liu asked, clueless.


    "We''ve only known each other for a day. Isn''t this moving a bit fast?"


    "You might have misunderstood. This hotel is owned by a friend, and staying here costs nothing. Besides, even if that weren''t the case, we could get separate rooms..."


    Xia Liu immediately understood the girl''s worries, realizing she was thinking way far ahead about getting a room!


    "Ah! What are you saying, I can''t understand any of it?" Liang Caiming covered her burning hot ears with both hands, her beautiful big eyes blinking continuously, looking utterly adorable.


    Xia Liu barely held back his laughter as he took her into the elevator, deciding it''s probably better not to tease girls casually, or else he might not know what could kill him at night.


    Before coming to Wanqing Grand Hotel, Xia Liu had given Mo Wanqing a heads-up about today''s plans that Duan Zhengfeng had arranged.


    The public had all credited him with those deeds, and it felt somewhat amiss not to come and express his thanks¡­


    The next morning, Liang Caiming got up early; she hadn''t rested much last night, her mind filled with images of Xia Liu.


    She felt as if she had fallen into a trap, struggling but unable to climb out.


    This trap was set by Xia Liu, so deep, so soft, so warm, that one would get caught without noticing.

 Chapter 159 Are They Married? Are They Good-looking?

    Liang Caiming hadn''t been awake long when Xia Liu came knocking on her door.After breakfast, Liang Caiming and Xia Liu began discussing the matter of cooperation.


    It seemed the only way Liang Caiming could repay Xia Liu now was through her body or perhaps her work.


    "Xia Liu, I don''t know how to repay you, I can only work for you. What was the cooperation you mentioned before?"


    "Actually, you can go to ''Thousand Miles of Jiangling.''" Xia Liu suddenly recalled his conversation with Zhang Qing and couldn''t help teasing her.


    "Thousand Miles of Jiangling in one day, return in one day!" Liang Caiming''s facial expression changed immediately, it was pretty clear, she understood what Xia Liu meant.


    "Oh my gosh, you understand! This is awkward..." Xia Liu became so embarrassed he could hardly speak, he had assumed this girl wasn''t into internet jokes, apparently he was wrong...


    "Let''s get back to discussing cooperation..." after a moment of silence, Liang Caiming weakly suggested.


    "Ahem, it''s like this: I just bought a fishing boat and would like to hire you as the captain," Xia Liu cleared his throat and said.


    "Sure, do we know which marine area we''ll be fishing? Do we have the necessary permits?" Liang Caiming''s response was very straightforward, she didn''t have the grounds to reject Xia Liu''s offer.


    "The permits should be obtainable; the plan for now is to fish near my hometown''s waters."


    "Your hometown''s waters? It''s not some obscure island, is it..."


    "No, it''s in Hejing County."


    "Hejing County, I''ve passed by there before, but the nearby marine areas don''t have many fish..." Liang Caiming sighed in relief that it was not somewhere unknown.


    But to her utter surprise, it turned out to be near the waters of Hejing County, a definite loss-making venture.


    "Don''t worry about that, as long as you agree to be the captain," Xia Liu didn''t elaborate further, just saying that Liang Caiming, with her years of experience as a captain, wouldn''t just take his word for it. Only by letting her fish a few nets herself would she be thoroughly convinced.


    Liang Caiming had no objections; she''d do whatever Xia Liu asked since she owed him.


    However, before departing, Liang Caiming went back home once.


    At this time, Su Lihua was too busy to pay her any attention.


    Duan Zhengfeng sent many people to help the family move and buy furniture, they were all very busy.


    However, when Su Lihua found out her daughter was going to work for Xia Liu, she was even more delighted.


    This meant something¡ªit showed Xia Liu trusted her, needed her.


    "Mom, I might be working like I used to, you need to take good care of yourself."


    "Go ahead, Caiming, but while you''re working, don''t forget to give Xia Liu''s family a big fat baby boy."


    Pff...


    This was supposed to be a heart-wrenching scene, but Su Lihua turned it into a funny and awkward one.


    In the end, Liang Caiming could only escape bitterly while Xia Liu was still there.


    Read new adventures at empire


    If her mom kept going, it would lead into an even more serious topic than children.


    Afterward, Liang Caiming followed Xia Liu to the ship-selling shop.


    Li Ming was idly sitting in his office. Upon seeing Xia Liu, he hurried down to welcome him.


    "Captain Liang, long time no see." Seeing Liang Caiming, Li Ming greeted her warmly, casting a strange glance at Xia Liu at the same time.


    Liang Caiming had risked breaching her contract previously by quitting her job mid-way; it was clear her family was in trouble.


    And Xia Liu had managed to bring her here in just over a day, which was nothing short of a miracle.


    "Boss Li, hello." Liang Caiming had met Li Ming a few times before, not that they were very familiar, but they had crossed paths several times.


    After exchanging pleasantries, Li Ming led them to the fishing boat.


    When she saw the forty-five-meter-long fishing boat, Liang Caiming almost jumped with joy.


    She had always followed the smaller fishing boats for catching fishing jobs, and encountering such large vessels on her routes definitely stirred her excitement.


    She had never imagined that one day she could operate such a high-level fishing boat¡ª it was an incredible stroke of luck.


    They say you grow to love what you do; Liang Caiming wasn''t interested in much else besides being a captain, which was exactly what excited her.


    Suddenly, she recalled that Xia Liu had mentioned they would only be fishing in the waters of Hejing County.


    Using such a nearly fifty-meter-long fishing boat in Hejing County was like using a cleaver to kill a chicken.


    "Caiming, can you handle this fishing boat?" Xia Liu asked softly, seeing Liang Caiming''s excited expression.


    "I should be able to, but definitely not alone." Liang Caiming nodded¡ªher confidence wasn''t very high, but with the help of a few skilled people, it would definitely be no problem.


    "I see, do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"


    "Yes, but they''re all women. Can you trust them?" Liang Caiming hesitated but decided to be upfront.


    "Of course I trust them, but as a quick side question, are they all married? Are they pretty?"


    ...


    Xia Liu''s question shocked both Liang Caiming and Li Ming at the same time.


    "It''s not easy to find someone to marry at sea; even if they had boyfriends, they''ve all broken up¡­"


    "Then what are you waiting for? Call them, and hire them at a high salary." Although he hadn''t met those women, Xia Liu felt that this group of captains must be very capable. If he hired them, the unmarried strongmen in the village might be in luck.


    Fate is unpredictable; a match might be successful as soon as they meet.


    Besides, capable women are good at managing households, unlike some young, manipulative women who do nothing but squander resources.


    Truth be told, Liang Caiming was somewhat regretting having given away information about her acquaintances to Xia Liu.


    Recalling Xia Liu''s behavior from yesterday, she gritted her teeth and dialed those women''s phone numbers.


    Sure enough, upon hearing that the fishing boat would operate in Hejing County and the pay was high, they all got excited and agreed on a time to come back.


    "Boss Xia, how about now¡ªdo you want me to find a few people to help you sail the ship to Hejing County?" Li Ming, aware of Xia Liu''s predicament, offered his suggestion.


    "That won''t be necessary, but I do hope Boss Li could keep an eye on that car for me. I''ll come by to pick it up when I''m free."


    "You mean?"


    "I''m sailing back now."


    "Pfft... how are you going to sail it? Do you know how?" Liang Caiming burst out laughing. Xia Liu''s joke was unbelievable; could he really handle this forty-five-meter-long fishing boat by himself? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Xia Liu nod his head, Li Ming was startled but said nothing.


    Before starting the fishing boat, Xia Liu also bought two jet skis, as Osmanthus Village''s waters had no dock constructed. He would have to ride a jet ski home if he sailed the fishing boat over.


    For the two jet skis, Xia Liu spent a hundred thousand, all on the best models from Li Ming''s store.


    A hundred thousand yuan, and Xia Liu didn''t even flinch.


    In the morning, sixty million had been deposited into his account¡ªmoney for the herbal wine transferred by Liu Lanxin.


    Three tons of herbal wine producing eight thousand bottles cost forty million to produce; splitting the sales profits added another twenty million, totaling sixty million.


    Once everything was set, Xia Liu and Liang Caiming went to the cockpit.


    Liang Caiming crossed her arms and stood aside¡ªshe really wanted to see how Xia Liu would sail this massive vessel home.


    But before she could enjoy the spectacle, Xia Liu quickly checked all the boat''s data, ignited the engine, and the roaring sound echoed for miles around¡­

 Chapter 160 Setting Sail Back to the Village

    In Liang Caiming''s astonished gaze, the boat moved!She had not expected that this gentle-looking young man could single-handedly operate a fishing boat of this caliber.


    If it had been her, she would have needed at least half a day to figure it out, and her movements wouldn''t have been as smooth as Xia Liu''s.


    Following the satellite map in the cabin, Xia Liu quickly found the right course.


    He set the autopilot and began discussing salary with Liang Caiming.


    "Caiming, how much did your previous boss pay you a month?"


    "It depends on the hours worked, but generally, there was a base pay of ten thousand yuan per month, plus a few thousand in bonuses if the haul was good,"


    Liang Caiming sincerely replied.


    "So that''s just over ten thousand yuan a month," Xia Liu said lightly, nodding his head, "In that case, I''ll start you at a base of thirty thousand yuan, with bonuses in the thousands if the haul is huge."


    "What!!!"


    Liang Caiming looked at Xia Liu in disbelief; she thought she might be hallucinating.


    Xia Liu actually said thirty thousand as a base, with bonuses in the thousands; that was practically sky-high.


    Xia Liu, impatient, repeated himself.


    After confirming that the salary was indeed that high, Liang Caiming suddenly felt a shiver.


    She thought that Xia Liu wasn''t asking her to be a captain, but that there was a bigger scheme at play.


    "Boss Xia, isn''t this money too much?" Liang Caiming could no longer dare to call Xia Liu by his name, as she felt they were simply not from the same world.


    "Not at all; in our village, a day''s salary can be tens of thousands, so don''t worry about there being no money,"


    Xia Liu said seriously, and when they got home,


    he was going to distribute the profits from the medicinal liquor, sharing sixty million among everyone.


    Continue your saga on empire


    Counting Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Qing, and Gu Fangxia, there were about forty or more people, roughly fifty in total.


    Each person could get one million two hundred thousand; it only took a few days from producing the medicinal liquor to getting the money in hand.


    "Boss Xia, what exactly does your village do?" Liang Caiming felt a chill on her back.


    She couldn''t think of any ordinary industry that was so lucrative.


    Her mind suddenly raced to that direction: drugs, gambling, trafficking!


    "Currently, not many industries; gather some seafood, make some medicinal liquor," Xia Liu answered accurately.


    "Is seafood that expensive?"


    "Seafood isn''t expensive, handling it through our own restaurant, in this way, each villager can earn a few thousand a day."


    "I believe that, but what about the tens of thousands a day you mentioned?" Liang Caiming knew the luxury of the seafood market.


    If they were lucky, they could catch several tons of fish a day, then the boss could earn tens or even hundreds of thousands.


    "That''s the medicinal liquor; I previously asked everyone to invest, and the first batch of profits has already come in,"


    Xia Liu didn''t explain much about this, because soon after arriving at the village, this girl would understand.


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, Liang Caiming calmed down, eager to quickly reach Xia Liu''s village to see if it was as miraculous as he described.


    The fishing boat traveled on the sea surface for about two hours and finally reached Hejing County.


    About ten minutes later, the fishing boat entered a vast expanse of open sea.


    On the shore, there were countless majestic peaks.


    Behind these peaks were several natural canyons, exceptionally picturesque.


    One spot was particularly striking, with rugged cliffs on both sides of the gorge, where the surging sea continually crashed against the rocky reefs.


    The canyon was several hundred meters wide, and after crossing it, another vast sea area appeared.


    As she passed through the canyon in an instant, Liang Caiming felt a bit tense at the sight of a small distant place.


    There, the continuous smoke rose straight to the sky, clearly indicating a village.


    As the fishing boat drew closer, an even more astonishing sight unfolded before Liang Caiming.


    She saw, atop a cliff, a huge green net surrounding what was undoubtedly a towering structure under construction.


    And beneath the cliff, countless green nets could be seen.


    A glimpse of a protruding building revealed its true nature.


    It turned out that within these green nets, villas were being constructed!!! sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Boss Xia, what are those?" Liang Caiming''s mind was filled with towering questions, and she dared not speculate further, so she asked Xia Liu.


    "Those are the villas under construction, fifty units, one for each household in the village. I will live in the one on the cliff," Xia Liu said with some pride.


    "Wow! Boss Xia, your village really is wealthy!"


    "Just so-so," Xia Liu said modestly, touching his nose.


    It was noon, and the villagers were all fishing for oysters in the sea.


    The roaring sound of the fishing boat had been echoing around ever since they entered the canyon.


    This caused everyone to stop their work and look out towards the distant fishing boat.


    "Old Li! That looks like a salvage team!"


    "What looks like it, it clearly is! Everyone go back and grab tools, if they dare to cast nets, we''ll confront them harshly!"


    "Everybody calm down, I''ll call Brother Xia Liu to check, he knows a few leaders in the county. If anyone dares to salvage in our waters, they''re definitely courting death."


    "Dazhuang, then you better make the call fast!"


    Hearing Li Dazhuang say this, the villagers felt he made sense, which somewhat calmed their agitation.


    With Xia Liu, Li Zhong, and Chen Jin''s connections, any salvage team daring to operate here was definitely courting death.


    Just as Li Dazhuang was about to call Xia Liu, a villager pointed towards the fishing boat and shouted, "Look, they''ve cast a net!"


    Everyone followed the direction of the fishing boat and indeed saw a slightly larger object being thrown down from the boat.


    "Damn! Dazhuang, keep calling, everyone else follow me home to grab tools!"


    "Dad, don''t panic, that doesn''t look like a net, it''s a speedboat, no, a jet ski!" Li Dazhuang, having watched calmly for a while and seeing the object steadily approaching the shore, immediately urged.


    "Damn! Bring the fishing boat here, they even dare to come ashore, brothers, get ready, we won''t let them leave alive!"


    "I''ll go find some big rocks, to make sure they don''t return!"


    Seeing the jet ski approaching quickly, everyone became excited; after a heated discussion, they all began searching for weapons nearby.


    "Xia Liu, are they all people from the village?" sitting behind on the jet ski, Liang Caiming clung tightly to Xia Liu, because of the high speed and his occasional abrupt stops.


    Her chest had even started to hurt from the impact.


    "That''s right," Xia Liu, while enjoying the unusual massage from behind, answered with relish.


    For some reason, Liang Caiming felt like she was a wife visiting her in-laws'' home, her face gradually flushed with blush.


    When Xia Liu steered the jet ski to the shore, the villagers were all momentarily stunned.


    The ''weapons'' in their hands started falling to the ground.


    What the hell! The fishing boat was actually Xia Liu''s ride!


    And what surprised them was the fact that the girl clinging to Xia Liu... they had no idea from where he may have picked her...

 Chapter 161 The Two Women Meet

    "Brother Xia Liu, how come you drove this thing back here?" The first to snap out of it was Li Dazhuang.He asked timidly.


    "Just bought a fishing boat, and I steered it back myself," Xia Liu said, stretching out a hand to point at the fishing boat docked in the sea.


    "Holy cow! That big thing was actually bought by Xia Liu!"


    "That''s way too exaggerated!"


    "Exaggerated, my foot. He even bought the two most famous hotels in the county, what''s a small fishing boat in comparison."


    "Exactly, exactly!"


    Everyone began to excitedly and amazed discuss this. Whatever Xia Liu did, he always had his reasons.


    This time, buying a fishing boat was definitely well-prepared, surely another way to make money.


    "Brother Xia Liu, what''s the fishing boat for?"


    "Dazhuang, are you dumb, kid? A fishing boat is obviously for fishing!"


    Hearing his son ask such a silly question almost made Li Zhi laugh until he cried.


    Everyone else also laughed at Li Dazhuang, making him touch his head and chuckle sheepishly.


    "Uncle Li is right; a fishing boat is for fishing. Let me introduce you guys¡ªher name is Liang Caiming, and from now on, she will be the captain of that boat."


    "What! The captain!"


    "That''s hardly possible."


    "Brother Xia Liu, are you sure there''s no mistake? This beauty looks a bit like a high school student¡­"


    As soon as Xia Liu''s words came out, they immediately drew everyone''s skepticism.


    Because Liang Caiming''s appearance was really too youthful; if it weren''t for her tall stature, she would definitely look like an underage girl.


    Liang Caiming smiled wryly to herself on the side. It wasn''t the first time she had encountered such criticism.


    Ever since she turned eighteen, she had been dealing with other people''s perceptions.


    As long as one keeps an open mind and faces it calmly,


    or tries to understand it from a different perspective, the world appears different.


    Which woman wouldn''t want to be eighteen every day? Now she had that advantage, having a baby face, something many women envied.


    "Hello everyone, I''m glad to meet you all. Please forgive my boldness, I am actually twenty-six years old," said Liang Caiming loudly, stepping forward as she looked at the crowd engrossed in discussion.


    "Holy cow! Twenty-six! Even older than Xia Liu!"


    "That''s insane!"


    Hearing this news, everyone''s mouths hung open in surprise.


    "Ahem, that''s right, Caiming is indeed twenty-six, and her sailing experience is even more extensive than mine," Xia Liu coughed twice to quiet everyone down and then patiently explained.


    "We all believe it, but Xia Liu, is the fishing boat meant for going out to sea to fish?"


    With Xia Liu''s answer, everyone nodded in belief, and whether Liang Caiming was truly twenty-six or not didn''t matter.


    As long as it was Xia Liu''s arrangement, no one here would refuse.


    "Not going out to sea for now, just dredging in our waters!"


    "What! There are fish to dredge in our small area of the sea?" Uncle Li was the first to exclaim in surprise.


    "There are, Uncle Li. I plan to personally dredge a batch tomorrow. After work is over later, Dazhuang, help me pick a few strong ones to operate with me tomorrow."


    "Hehe, if ten aren''t enough, then twenty! Our village is full of strongmen!" Li Dazhuang said cheerfully.


    "Ten will be enough. We''ll meet here at noon tomorrow."


    Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction, greeted everyone, and then walked towards the village with Liang Caiming.


    Before returning to the village, Xia Liu had asked Li Dazhuang for the car keys because his car was still parked in Binlai City, and he evidently needed a vehicle to get around.


    As they entered the village, Liang Caiming grew increasingly astonished.


    Because the village seemed extremely poor.


    Brick houses were rare; most were either made of stone or mud.


    Yet in this impoverished village, according to Xia Liu, each villager''s daily income was tens of thousands.


    If she hadn''t seen those villas being built, Liang Caiming would have found it hard to believe.


    Along the way, Xia Liu introduced many things to Liang Caiming, and before they knew it, they had arrived at his front door.


    Hearing Xia Liu''s voice outside, Zhang Xiaoxue dropped her phone and ran to the door with incredible speed.


    The smile she had prepared turned bitter the moment she saw Liang Caiming.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re back." Fortunately, Zhang Xiaoxue''s expression changed quickly enough; she understood. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A man as outstanding as Xia Liu was bound to have many women around him in his lifetime; the situation now was just a matter of getting used to it.


    Another thing was to maintain good relationships with these women, otherwise, unnecessary conflicts and rivalry might ensue.


    "Yes, let me introduce you. This is Liang Caiming, the new captain."


    "Caiming, this is Xiaoxue, the accountant for the company and also the owner of two hotels."


    "Wow! Sister Xiaoxue, you''re amazing. You own two hotels!" Liang Caiming, always easy to get along with, saw Zhang Xiaoxue, who was beautiful and of high stature, and instantly became proactive.


    "Um, Caiming, shouldn''t you be calling me ''sister''? You look quite young."


    Zhang Xiaoxue was taken aback; she had initially thought that Liang Caiming was a student Xia Liu had brought back from some school.


    And yet she was calling her ''little sister'', Xiaoxue. Wasn''t she just taking advantage of her?


    "Xiaoxue, you shouldn''t underestimate Caiming. She is actually twenty-six years old."


    "That''s too exaggerated! Sister Caiming, let me touch, how can you look twenty-six?!"


    Upon Xia Liu''s confirmation, Zhang Xiaoxue was immediately surprised, and without waiting for Liang Caiming''s agreement, she started inspecting her from left to right.


    "Sister Xiaoxue, according to Boss Xia, you''re only twenty-one or twenty-two. Now, it seems we are quite similar, and your appearance is even more incredible than mine!"


    Even with her extensive experience, Liang Caiming''s confidence crumbled somewhat when faced with someone as supernaturally youthful as Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "You''re not too young either, Sister Caiming, your skin is so smooth, I''m so jealous."


    "Could it be any more obvious?" Xia Liu, who was nearby, was already feeling parched with thirst; these two women were blatantly flirting.


    This was almost worse than being dead.


    Both women bowed their heads, bashful.


    They both knew now was not the time for such talk, so they linked arms and entered the yard together.


    Xia Liu let the two women chat while he went to fetch Li Dazhuang''s car.


    Once the car arrived, Xia Liu took them to the county.


    At the moment, Xia Liu certainly didn''t plan to let anyone stay at his place; it was too inconvenient.


    Moreover, Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t want that either. She had long awaited Xia Liu''s return.


    And now he had brought back another girl, prompting a crisis feeling that forced her to quickly claim her own share.


    On the way to Hejing County, Zhang Xiaoxue continuously probed Liang Caiming.


    This girl was unguarded and told Zhang Xiaoxue everything. Discover more content at empire


    After the chat, Zhang Xiaoxue whispered in her ear, "Sister Caiming, have you ever slept with Brother Xia Liu?"

 Chapter 162 Hotel Crisis

    The question had barely been uttered before Xia Liu was most agitated.He almost wanted to bang his head against the steering wheel. What did this chick think he was?


    Some kind of playboy?


    It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to set her straight, and perhaps tonight would be the most suitable chance.


    Faced with Zhang Xiaoxue''s question, Liang Caiming''s face turned bright red in an instant.


    She couldn''t dare to think that Zhang Xiaoxue would actually ask such a question. What did she mean by asking this?


    Could it be she suspected Xia Liu was cheating on the side? But what about her smiling face and the warmth she showed to herself?


    Whenever Liang Caiming thought about these things, she felt an inexplicable fear, a real fear.


    "There''s definitely nothing like that, my relationship with Boss Xia is strictly professional," Liang Caiming answered coldly.


    But her earlier shyness had already betrayed her inner thoughts, even though she denied anything to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    People wouldn''t think so; it wouldn''t matter to them if you had slept with Xia Liu a thousand times.


    Zhang Xiaoxue had made up her mind that tonight, yes tonight, she absolutely had to become Xia Liu''s woman!


    Soon, the car arrived at Longteng Hotel.


    Seeing Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue entering, the staff all greeted them respectfully.


    "Good evening, Chairman! Good evening, Boss!"


    Facing the staff''s greetings, Liang Caiming was the most shocked.


    Before entering this hotel, she had been observant.


    In the entire county, this was definitely the best hotel.


    She had no idea it belonged to Xia Liu!


    Thinking back to the stone house Xia Liu had brought her to earlier, she felt a wave of terror.


    How had Osmanthus Village developed to the point where they could bear not to build up the village until now, only starting to construct villas?


    If this was a buildup of potential, then that potential was far too great.


    Xia Liu booked a private room. They had been on the boat earlier and then walked for quite a while, so Liang Caiming must be starving.


    No sooner had they ordered their food than Liang Caiming and Zhang Xiaoxue began to eat.


    After the meal, Xia Liu left Liang Caiming in the care of Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Since she hadn''t brought any luggage, Zhang Xiaoxue took her out to go shopping.


    As for Xia Liu, he needed to make a trip to Longyun Hotel.


    These past few days he''d been to Binlai City, and he was about to burst with frustration!


    However, upon arriving at Longyun Hotel, he realized he had overlooked one step.


    Because he had previously arranged for Fairy Huang Xue to go help Zhang Qing!


    When he opened the door to the office and thought to retreat, both women looked at him with sharp eyes.


    "Hey," Xia Liu greeted stiffly, his smile masking the agony beneath. Stay tuned with empire


    If he hadn''t rushed and had just gone to book a room, then called Zhang Qing, wouldn''t that have been better?


    Now damn it...


    "Hey your head, come and see your hotel already, it''s practically falling apart..."


    Seeing Xia Liu''s smiling face, Huang Xue was annoyed beyond measure. She and Zhang Qing were worn out working here.


    And there he was, God knows where he had been fooling around until now.


    "Xia Liu, you really need to figure something out. The hotel''s foot traffic is getting worse every day. People come in and only order two dishes, oysters and Osmanthus Chicken; the rest of the menu is practically dead."


    Zhang Qing ran to the door and pulled Xia Liu over to look at the many data on the table.


    "So that''s how it is, let me see." Xia Liu had anticipated that a day like this would come, but never expected it to arrive so soon.


    Once the weather turned cold, the oysters would certainly be hard to sell, and relying solely on Osmanthus Chicken would eventually lead to failure.


    "Manager Huang, what do you think?" After looking for a while, Xia Liu turned to Huang Xue and asked.


    "I dare not offer an opinion, but I do have a suggestion."


    ...


    Xia Liu almost wanted to hug this chick, lay her across his lap, and not give her a few slaps on the behind, she was so full of herself.


    "Xue''er, stop beating around the bush, just tell us."


    Zhang Qing got excited upon hearing this because when they two were here before, Huang Xue hadn''t revealed the slightest suggestion.


    "To bring the hotel back to life is simple, change the menu!" Huang Xue said word by word, looking at Xia Liu and Zhang Qing.


    "Change the menu?" Zhang Qing and Xia Liu muttered in unison.


    "That''s right, it''s changing the menu. Analyzing the current situation, with winter approaching, there will be fewer and fewer visitors, and those who come here and can afford to dine at Longyun are all repeat customers."


    "These regular customers are looking for novelty and taste. Once they tire of oysters and Osmanthus Chicken, they certainly won''t come back, so to retain regular customers and attract more new guests, we must change the menu!"


    Huang Xue laid out all her analysis from the past few days.


    "It coincides with my thoughts." Xia Liu nodded his head with a serious expression.


    "Hmm, it coincides with my thoughts as well," Zhang Qing said, mimicking his manner before directly throwing Xia Liu under the bus, "Xue''er has been working hard here for days and nights, and you just come back and take all the credit. Is that the right thing to say?"


    "Exactly, sister Zhang, Xia Liu is bullying me, help me beat him to death!" Huang Xue also spoke with a sob in her voice.


    "My two dear sisters, this little brother admits his mistake..." Xia Liu felt some regret, whatever was he thinking just now, acknowledging both of their efforts should have been enough.


    After all, they had also worked hard for the hotel for a few days, and finding this reason was indeed worth rewarding.


    "As long as you know you''re wrong, then the matter of the menu is up to you to handle," Huang Xue said with a pleased smile and a nod, handing this matter over to Xia Liu was definitely a way to embarrass him.


    But what Huang Xue did not expect was that Xia Liu actually agreed!!!


    "Okay, give me at most two days, I will come up with a new menu, and in addition, I will get the kitchen in order."


    "Xia Liu, you''re not joking, are you?"


    "Exactly, don''t mess it up if you don''t know what you''re doing." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Qing and Huang Xue were somewhat worried; this guy was cut out for leadership, but could he handle these minor details?


    "Don''t worry, there''s nothing in this world I can''t accomplish," Xia Liu said with a confident look on his face.


    Truth be told, he had already thought about changing the menu a few days ago.


    He only decided today because, on one hand, he wanted Huang Xue to move out, and on the other hand, the specialty dishes still needed a few more items.


    The two women weren''t very confident in Xia Liu, this guy was good at everything.


    But coming up with a brand new menu was not something that could be done in a day or two.


    So after Xia Liu left, the two ladies called the head chef to the office to conspire.


    After leaving Longyun Hotel, Xia Liu inquired around town and discovered there was no Tianluo Pharmacy.


    He made a phone call to Liu Buyi and found out that Tianluo Pharmacy in town was the foundation his grandfather had established in his early years.


    As the business grew larger, they didn''t establish a pharmacy in the small county, only a drugstore.


    But Liu Buyi hadn''t forgotten the roots of Tianluo Pharmacy, and when he had time, he would go to Pinglan Town to rest.


    Xia Liu''s new menu was related to medicinal herbs, so he drove to Tianluo Pharmacy in Pinglan Town.


    The new manager of Tianluo Pharmacy was a female student from a medical college, a distant relative of the Liu Family.


    Xia Liu didn''t know her, and after he listed the herbs he needed, he paid for them and left.

 Chapter 163 Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dishes

    Xia Liu arrived back in Hejing County with a car full of herbs.He did not go to Longyun Hotel but went to Longteng instead.


    After instructing the kitchen staff to carry the herbs into the kitchen, Xia Liu began to classify them.


    Once done, he grabbed a notebook and started taking notes.


    "Chairman, what are you doing?" it was only after Xia Liu finished copying several pages that Ye Ming dared to come forward and ask.


    "The hotel''s new menu and the preparation methods for its special dishes," Xia Liu replied.


    "New menu?" Ye Ming couldn''t help but sneak a peek at the notebook, and his astonishment instantly flared.


    Seeing Ye Ming''s surprise, Xia Liu explained the situation in detail to him.


    Actually, Longteng was also running on fumes.


    Each year, once autumn passed, it became the off-season for both hotels.


    In winter, the hotel''s revenue relied on room bookings; without the dining section, the income was significantly less.


    This year, as in previous years, Ye Ming was not very assertive about this issue.


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    But he hadn''t expected Xia Liu to actually want to reorganize.


    If successful, the so-called off-season in winter would cease to exist!


    "I''ll start with a batch of Longyun''s menu, then follow up with Longteng''s," Xia Liu planned.


    "Chairman, what do you need me to do?" looking at Xia Liu''s confident face, Ye Ming felt somewhat embarrassed.


    This kind of task should have been planned by him, and now it was embarrassing to have the boss doing it.


    "Of course I need you. Go and place an advertisement for me. At eight o''clock tonight, Longyun Hotel will start a one-hour tasting event," Xia Liu nodded, knowing that without generating buzz, changing the menu would be pointless, so advertising was essential.


    "Okay, will the tasting be free or charged?"


    "It''s all free, but only from eight to nine o''clock," Xia Liu responded.


    After getting Xia Liu''s response, Ye Ming returned to his office to make plans.


    First, he called the television station, telling them that tonight Longyun Hotel was going to be packed.


    As for why, he didn''t explain. He just gave the television station a sense of mystery.


    Ye Ming also contacted a few forum friends to post the tasting event news on various Hejing County forums.


    Furthermore, he called a local advertising company, asking them to produce a poster as quickly as possible.


    A poster for Longyun Hotel''s tasting event was then mounted on a car and paraded through the streets.


    An hour had passed by the time Ye Ming was done directing these tasks, and he returned to the kitchen.


    He hadn''t even reached the door when a group of hotel waitstaff blocked his way, all peering into the kitchen.


    Their expressions were utterly enraptured.


    Ye Ming wanted to scold the waitstaff, but when he caught the fragrance wafting in the air,


    his heart immediately calmed down. It was a smell that seemed reserved for New Year''s Eve dinners.


    Upon Ye Ming''s arrival, the waitstaff quickly dispersed. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once in the kitchen, Ye Ming located the source of the delicious aroma.


    It was an extremely ordinary-looking fish!


    He leaned in to smell it carefully and finally confirmed that the enchanting fragrance was indeed coming from this fish.


    But how could it smell so good without even a bit of garnish!


    He glanced at the kitchen staff, each of them with eyes wide open,


    as if their souls had departed their bodies, completely absorbed in their own worlds.


    For now, he dared not disturb Xia Liu, who was continuously shaking a sieve, incessantly scooping ingredients with a spoon.


    The speed of his movements was so fast that people''s eyes could barely keep up, faintly perceiving a few afterimages!


    What shocked Ye Ming the most was that Xia Liu was managing three woks on his own!


    He was preparing three dishes at once!


    This not only astonished Ye Ming but the original kitchen staff were already dumbfounded.


    They had always believed their culinary skills were the best in the world.


    After seeing Xia Liu cook, they couldn''t even catch their breath, let alone speak.


    Each of them held their breath, staring at Xia Liu with wide eyes.


    Ten minutes later, another three dishes were plated.


    The kitchen was filled with a rich aroma.


    Among these fragrances, chefs with a good sense of smell could detect an odd scent mixed in.


    "Boss, I smell something very fresh and cool when inhaled into the lungs, what is that?" the head chef boldly asked.


    "I remember you''re the head chef, with a good sense of smell, even able to pick up on that aroma."


    With such praise from Xia Liu, the head chef modestly touched his head.


    All the chefs were looking at Xia Liu, hoping he would explain that peculiar fragrance.


    "Manager Ye, how do you feel?"


    "It''s very fragrant, I feel as if hallucinations could appear at any moment, like floating in a paradise of gourmet food," Ye Ming said with closed eyes, "Taking a breath, my lungs and throat feel cool and refreshed, I think I''ve smelled this before somewhere."


    Suddenly, Ye Ming opened his eyes, staring intently at Xia Liu, "This is the scent of medicinal herbs!"


    "Right! How could my brain react so slowly, that scent is indeed the unique aroma of medicinal herbs."


    Following Ye Ming''s outburst of surprise, the head chef slapped his thigh, becoming excited.


    Chefs know that medicinal herbs can be used in dishes.


    However, there are many types of medicinal herbs, with only a few suitable for culinary use, and improper use could lead to food poisoning.


    Xia Liu''s addition of medicinal herbs to his dishes to achieve such perfection is definitely a perfect match!


    "Boss, but we didn''t see you adding any herbs, and there were none visible in the dishes¡­" the head chef expressed his doubts.


    He and his team had been watching Xia Liu''s every move, even if customers ordered dishes, a few would stay to watch him.


    From start to finish, they were certain Xia Liu hadn''t touched any herbs.


    Moreover, his techniques for preparing these dishes were almost the same as theirs.


    "Flip open the belly of that fish," Xia Liu said, not explaining right away but pointing at the fish on the plate.


    Ye Ming, being the closest, eagerly picked up chopsticks and flipped open the fish''s belly.


    At this moment, everyone gathered around, and when the fish''s belly was flipped open, they were all astounded.


    Inside the belly, there were two red rhizomes; it was obvious, these were medicinal herbs!


    The head chef realized, no wonder he saw Xia Liu spend some time cleaning the fish.


    He had stuffed medicinal herbs in the fish''s belly.


    Even so, the flavor was incredibly out of this world.


    "These herbs release a strong fragrance when heated thoroughly, and it''s the same with the other dishes," Xia Liu simply explained the secret of the medicinal herbs.


    Ye Ming and the head chef both picked up their chopsticks to inspect the other dishes.


    Sure enough, one of the red-cooked spareribs contained a few root-like strips, which upon closer inspection, were confirmed to be medicinal herbs.


    There was also an Osmanthus Chicken, which Xia Liu had cooked in plain water, adding only a bit of salt with no other seasoning.


    Yet, this dish had the richest aroma.


    There was not only a faint scent of medicine but also a fragrance of osmanthus!

 Chapter 164 The Heavenly Deliciousness

    "Chairman, may we have a taste?" Ye Ming''s heart couldn''t stay calm. If even the taste was perfect, observing and smelling the dishes seemed flawless.Then, this off-peak season would be disregarded!


    "Everyone, have a taste and then give an evaluation. After that, we''ll see where improvements are needed,"


    Xia Liu said seriously.


    As soon as he finished speaking, everyone immediately reached for chopsticks since the boss had cooked personally.


    Even if the taste was bad, just having a bite made them all feel honored.


    The head chef and Ye Ming were the quickest to move their chopsticks, each picking up a piece of Osmanthus Chicken and fish to taste.


    At that moment of tasting, the expressions on their faces suddenly froze.


    Seeing the blank faces of the boss and manager, the chefs all stopped what they were doing, panic-stricken as they watched them.


    Could it be that the dish was so bad that the manager and boss dared not swallow?


    It had to be the case!


    They had just picked up such large pieces, they definitely couldn''t swallow them!


    The chefs began trembling, some too scared to continue eating.


    They had tried failed dishes before, but to see the head chef and manager with a paralyzed expression,


    was an unimaginable horror of failure.


    But just when everyone was at a loss, Ye Ming suddenly burst out with praise, "This is so delicious!"


    "Damn! This is simply supreme-grade in the Mortal World!" The head chef also exclaimed in surprise.


    The two were excited for a moment, then ignored everyone else and resumed eating on their own.


    Under the astonished eyes of the chefs, their chopsticks nearly left afterimages.


    Seeing the exhilarated and intoxicated expression on Ye Min''s face, everyone else finally reacted. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They hurriedly started moving their chopsticks, fearing that if they were too late, not even bones would remain.


    Sure enough, an odd scene soon emerged in the kitchen.


    Everyone was scrambling for those few dishes.


    Along with Ye Ming, there were twenty people tasting the food!


    Twenty people vying for four dishes. One can imagine the scene and the effect.


    When each person tasted the food, they began trembling.


    They had never tasted such flavors before; delicious was an understatement!


    Now was not the time for evaluations, for if they didn''t hurry, there would be none left!


    Five minutes later, everyone watched as the faces of Ye Ming and the head chef gradually turned bitter.


    At that moment, each held a plate to their mouths, intending to drink all the gravy.


    Seeing the dish that Xia Liu had set down, some chefs felt a strong urge to grab it and lick the plate clean.


    "Hahaha! Chairman, your cooking skills are unparalleled!" Ye Ming couldn''t tell where this confidence came from, but he burst into laughter in front of Xia Liu for the first time.


    Xia Liu waved his hand, these past few minutes had been very satisfying, knowing that these dishes would definitely be a hit once served!


    "Boss, after eating this dish I feel very fulfilled and the energy flows smoothly. Is this the effect of herbal medicine?" The head chef, with his considerable experience, immediately noticed a difference after eating.


    Especially in his body and mood, he could distinctly feel that his breathing was incredibly smooth, and even his vision seemed clearer than before.


    "Exactly, using herbal medicine appropriately means that eating is also taking care of your body, promoting blood circulation," Xia Liu nodded.


    The head chef was right; the sensations he experienced were all thanks to the medicinal herbs.


    "Boss! This dish is too delicious. Will you personally cook here regularly?"


    "Yes, Boss! Your cooking is so amazing. We want to apprentice under you!"


    "Boss, please take us as your disciples!"


    The chefs all looked at Xia Liu intently, willing to die for the chance to become his disciples.


    As chefs, their goal was to create dishes that satisfied everyone.


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    Furthermore, the most important point was that if the dishes they made could keep people healthy and taste delicious, that was truly the highest realm of culinary art.


    If they could learn supreme-grade culinary skills, they were willing to dedicate their entire selves.


    "Brothers, I don''t have so much time to be in charge of cooking, and these dishes are simple to make, the secret is in those herbs,"


    Xia Liu straightforwardly answered.


    Everyone was startled by Xia Liu''s response.


    They too could create such delicious dishes!


    It was simply unimaginable!


    Among the group, the head chef was definitely the most shocked.


    He never imagined that Xia Liu''s heart would be so generous.


    Ingredients were a chef''s secret, yet Xia Liu, he actually revealed his secret!


    What kind of spirit was this!


    Indeed, Xia Liu did not hold back; he directly revealed the secrets of these dishes, which were the herbs.


    Ye Ming also caught the meaning in Xia Liu''s words and could not help but admire.


    To follow such an unreserved owner, what regrets could one have in this lifetime?


    "Now, I will tell you the pairings of these dishes..." Xia Liu didn''t actually think about those.


    Keeping the secrets of the dishes was useless to him, and even if you took these things to another hotel,


    it wouldn''t cause much of a stir. With just a few additions, Xia Liu could crush all the flavors in the world.


    For the next period, the chefs listened intently to Xia Liu''s guidance.


    About two hours later, Xia Liu left the kitchen amidst cheers and laughter.


    The chefs were all invigorated.


    In those two hours, Xia Liu had told them the methods to prepare the dishes.


    There were at least twenty dishes, each a new combination.


    Although these dishes were all doable, to create that intoxicating taste, one had to add herbs.


    And Xia Liu had just explained in detail the use of the herbs.


    If it weren''t for the herbal ingredients in the kitchen, they would have had no idea despite talking tirelessly.


    After leaving the kitchen, Xia Liu asked Ye Ming to take care of some things while Longteng Catering Department temporarily suspended its business.


    Just then, Xia Liu''s phone rang; it was a call from Zhang Qing.


    "Xia Liu! Something terrible has happened!"


    As soon as he answered, Zhang Qing''s panicked voice came through.


    "Sister Zhang, don''t panic, I am at Longteng Hotel, take your time and explain," Xia Liu''s expression slightly changed. From Zhang Qing''s voice, he heard fear, and if anyone dared to cause trouble at Longyun Hotel, he would make them incredibly sorry!


    "There are many people outside the hotel, some driving, some walking, and they range from all ages. The waitstaff went up and asked, and they said they came for a free meal..."


    Zhang Qing quickly explained to Xia Liu.


    Just before, she thought the hotel business was picking up with so many people arriving, only to find out they claimed to be there for a free meal!


    This really scared Zhang Qing and Huang Xue to death.


    "Uh-uh, so that''s what''s going on, Sister Zhang, don''t panic, I asked people to go there for a tasting, it''s free from eight to nine,"


    "Oh no! It was you!"


    As Xia Liu admitted it, Huang Xue''s enchanting voice came through.


    "Don''t worry, you two, I''ll be right over,"


    Without waiting for a reply, Xia Liu hung up the phone.


    The current time was six-thirty. In one hour, he should be able to get the kitchen ready...

 Chapter 165 What is this?

    Xia Liu and Ye Ming drove to the Longyun Hotel first, and brought the medicinal herbs they had purchased at noon.Outside the Longyun Hotel, TV reporters and camera crews were already prepared.


    Xia Liu asked Ye Ming to deal with the TV station while he carried the medicinal herbs in through the back door of the kitchen.


    For Xia Liu, a young man who had previously delivered goods here, everyone in the kitchen was astounded.


    Comparisons can really kill, the young man who delivered goods to them a few months ago was now their boss.


    Looking at the two sacks Xia Liu had brought in, the head chef asked with curiosity, "Boss, what are these?"


    The head chef had just gone to discuss new menu items with Huang Xue and Zhang Qing.


    He suspected that the items in the sacks were new dishes.


    "I''ll have the chefs from Longteng explain these to you soon, they should be here in about ten minutes. Get warmed up, we''ll be cooking dishes for a few hundred people!"


    "Dishes for a few hundred people!"


    Hearing this, the head chef was inwardly amazed.


    It seemed the hotel''s business was about to pick up again.


    He certainly hadn''t forgotten that a few months ago, due to high traffic, his bonus for one month was ten thousand yuan, not including his salary.


    The rest of the kitchen staff were also excited.


    When Xia Liu arrived at the lobby, he found that Zhang Qing and Huang Xue had already been waiting.


    With so many employees present, the two women couldn''t make a scene and could only look at Xia Liu helplessly.


    Xia Liu shared the details about the free tasting event with the two women.


    And he told them about the new menu.


    The topic left the women instantly stunned.


    Xia Liu had managed to get the new menu ready in half a day!


    It was almost defiant of the heavens.


    Just as they were about to question Xia Liu for more details, his phone rang.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xia Liu found a quiet place to answer it.


    It was Zhang Xiaoxue''s call.


    She and Liang Caiming had been shopping and had stayed at the hotel all day; it was almost dark, and Xia Liu still hadn''t called her to go home.


    That''s when Zhang Xiaoxue grew anxious.


    Xia Liu briefly explained the tasting event to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Zhang Xiaoxue became interested, so she brought Liang Caiming over to Longyun.


    "Chairman, someone at the front desk is looking for you," said a waiter respectfully to Xia Liu after he hung up the phone.


    Following the waiter out, Xia Liu''s expression turned bitter when he saw the person who had come to find him.


    That person was Li Qianqian.


    What was bitter was that this chick hadn''t come alone.


    She had brought a whole squad of police officers.


    "Xia Liu, I''ve received a report that there''s illegal assembly here," Li Qianqian said to Xia Liu with an unhappy face.


    "Qianqian, could there be some kind of misunderstanding here?" Huang Xue said hastily upon hearing about the illegal assembly.


    "Sister Xue''er, don''t be fooled by him. He''s definitely up to something unspeakable," Li Qianqian knew Huang Xue.


    She had just passed by Longyun and when she saw a few hundred people standing at the entrance, she couldn''t pass up the opportunity.


    First, she would take Xia Liu back in handcuffs.


    "Officer Li, you can''t wrong a good person, this is a hotel, and there shouldn''t be a problem with these people coming to eat, right?" Xia Liu shook his head helplessly, this chick really seemed intent on nailing him.


    Just because he had acquired Fang Fei''s hotel, she had to be resentful towards him?


    Let her hate, if she must, but there was a time for everything, and so much time had passed.


    When I asked her about it, she wouldn''t say what had happened at Fang Fei''s house.


    "Eating is not a problem, but they''re all standing outside, and there are men, women, elderly, and children, you''re still saying this isn''t an illegal assembly?" Li Qianqian said sharply.


    "Alright, I''ll go get some evidence for you from the back." Xia Liu had no desire to explain further.


    The only ones who could deal with this girl were myself and her father.


    So Xia Liu went to the kitchen''s back door and made a call to Li Zhong, telling him all about the upcoming free meal service.


    After hearing the news, Li Zhong was overjoyed and asked Xia Liu to save a table for him as he would be coming over later.


    "No problem, but Officer Li, I have some trouble here. There are too many people, and I''m afraid of a riot. Could you send some people over with Qianqian..."


    "Brother Liu, wait a few minutes. Qianqian is on duty, I will call her right now."


    After saying that, Li Zhong hung up the phone.


    Xia Liu stayed in the kitchen for a while before going out.


    But as soon as he stepped out of the kitchen, Li Qianqian grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the stairwell.


    "I really want to beat you to death, you bastard. Who did you just call?" Li Qianqian glared at Xia Liu angrily.


    This guy almost made her lose it. To think he dared to report our conflict.


    "Officer Li, you can''t blame me. There were too many people, and I was worried about an accident. That''s why I called Officer Li to send some people over."


    "You..."


    Li Qianqian stammered and couldn''t speak.


    If Xia Liu had told her father the details of why she was here, she would definitely have beaten him up on the spot.


    "Alright, Qianqian, I didn''t say anything else to Officer Li. Let''s both go out and get on with our tasks," Xia Liu said, not wanting to argue further.


    He tried to minimize the conflict between himself and the girl.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to get information about Fang Fei from her.


    "Who allowed you to call me Qianqian! And now you are not going anywhere. Let me beat you up first!"


    Initially, Li Qianqian had wanted to let it go, but he had to go and call her Qianqian!


    It made her unable to stand it. People who didn''t know any better might think she and he were close friends!


    Before Xia Liu could respond, Li Qianqian drew the baton clipped to her waist.


    With a whoosh, the baton was flicked out.


    But Xia Liu was not going to give her the chance to swing it. With a swift movement and a grip of his hand, he pinned her against the wall.


    "Officer Li, I am not someone you can insult casually. If you dare to provoke me again, I will make sure you remember it for the rest of your life!" Xia Liu was not joking.


    If it weren''t for the affair concerning Fang Fei, he would have dealt with Li Qianqian uncivilly a long time ago.


    If Li Qianqian dared to mess with him again, he assured her, he would definitely handle her, and in the most violent way possible!


    "Let me go!!" Li Qianqian struggled fiercely, once again underestimating Xia Liu.


    But she was not scared; she was still furious.


    Xia Liu had other things to take care of and naturally wasn''t going to stick around to deal with her anger.


    So he let go of Li Qianqian.


    But to his surprise, as soon as he released her, Li Qianqian also slipped the baton back into its holder.


    Yet as Xia Liu reached out to pull the door open, he heard Li Qianqian''s cold voice: "If you dare take another step, I''ll shoot!"


    "Come on, sis, do we have to go this far?" Xia Liu was exasperated.


    Just because Fang Fei left, does it mean I wanted her to go?


    It''s been so long, and you still won''t tell me about Fang Fei''s situation. Now you''re pulling a gun on me? Are you nuts?


    "What if I play rough, you deserve a lesson!"


    "If that''s the case, then take a look at what this is." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu leisurely took out his phone and then opened the photo gallery...

 Chapter 166 Delete Photos

    Looking at the phone screen that was slowly approaching, Li Qianqian weighed the gun in her hand.When she clearly saw the image that appeared on the screen,


    her body trembled suddenly.


    On Xia Liu''s phone screen was a photo.


    Li Qianqian was very familiar with the surroundings in the photo because it was her room!


    In the photo was a woman, and she was wearing nothing!


    Even if it was just the back, she was certain that the nude figure was herself!!!


    "You installed a camera in my house!" Li Qianqian roared in anger after snapping back to reality.


    At the same time, she disengaged the safety on her gun, ready to shoot Xia Liu the moment he admitted to it!


    "Please, sister, you''re a cop. Would you really not notice if there was a camera in your room? Think about it¡ªwhen you were undressed, who was standing behind you?"


    Xia Liu was genuinely worried about Li Qianqian''s IQ. The girl was too impulsive and didn''t think things through.


    Whoever ended up with her was bound to be unlucky.


    Hearing Xia Liu''s words, Li Qianqian calmed down a bit.


    She carefully recalled the situation at that time, and the next second her shock exploded.


    "Remember now? Sister Fang sent this to me," Xia Liu said nonchalantly.


    "No matter who sent it to you, I order you to delete it now, or I''ll shoot!" Li Qianqian raised the gun once more.


    "Sister, calm down. I''ll delete it right away."


    As he spoke, Xia Liu actually deleted it in front of Li Qianqian.


    Well, he had looked at the photo for several months; it was time to delete it.


    "Today, I''ll pretend I never saw you. We''re still enemies!" Seeing Xia Liu delete the photo promptly, Li Qianqian put away her gun and quickly ran out.


    She needed to confirm if Fang Fei had taken the photo...


    "I hope this will make you reveal what happened to Fang Fei..." Watching Li Qianqian''s furious departure, Xia Liu murmured and followed her out.


    When he reached the lobby, every seat was taken.


    The few open-air tables at the entrance were also fully occupied.


    The current scene was indeed quite spectacular.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you have to find us a good spot," Zhang Xiaoxue and Liang Caiming also approached the front desk.


    "Xiaoxue, you and Sister Zhang go to the upstairs private room. I''ll personally serve the dishes to you later."


    After saying this, Xia Liu organized the scene, chatted with Li Zhong for a while, and then went into the kitchen.


    That''s right, Xia Liu was about to personally cook a few dishes and take them up to the ladies in the private room.


    In the main hall, under Ye Ming''s arrangement, everyone got to taste the latest dishes.


    Before long, the hall was filled with sounds of people gasping in awe.


    Then erupted into a frenzied discussion and voices of admiration.


    The television crew member with the camera wolfed down a plateful of food, and the reporter wasn''t far behind.


    Work could wait, in the face of the otherworldly delicacy on the plate, never mind working, one would climb out of bed to eat.


    Inside the second-floor private room, the praises from the women were endless.


    Especially Zhang Qing and Huang Xue.


    The two of them had previously thought that Xia Liu''s new menu was just a gimmick to attract popularity.


    Now, they realized they were wrong¡ªvery wrong.


    They had underestimated Xia Liu again, judging by the dishes on the table alone.


    It was enough to sustain a hotel for three years without fail.


    After all, the taste was just too divine.


    Liang Caiming also deeply felt the harmonious atmosphere among the girls.


    After getting to know Zhang Qing and Huang Xue, she was teased as expected,


    but what they expressed even more was envy, after all, they were a bit younger than her.


    Yet her complexion appeared as if she were sixteen or seventeen, which for a woman, was an invaluable treasure.


    When they were almost done eating, Zhang Qing left first on the pretext of needing to fetch something from the office.


    As she left, she deliberately kicked Xia Liu''s foot.


    Xia Liu knew what she meant, so he too found a pretext to leave.


    The two left one after the other, and Zhang Xiaoxue and Huang Xue exchanged a look, each seeing helplessness in the other''s eyes.


    If it weren''t for Liang Caiming being there, they would have followed them right away.


    After much thought, both were extremely unwilling to let it go.


    So, Huang Xue went to the front desk to get a presidential suite key card and went upstairs, intending to settle Liang Caiming in first.


    Once that was done, she and Zhang Xiaoxue sped to the office with absolute swiftness.


    They both knew about the thing between Zhang Qing and Xia Liu.


    The seductive eye contact they witnessed earlier, although partially concealed, was still noticed.


    They hadn''t even become Xia Liu''s women yet, and here he was, embroiled in a passionate affair with another woman ¡ª they couldn''t stand it, they had to join in!


    But, after searching the office, they found no trace of either Xia Liu or Zhang Qing.


    Huang Xue''s thoughts quickly turned, and she sat down inside the working area, switching on the master control surveillance video.


    There, as soon as she adjusted the time to when Xia Liu left the private room, she spotted him in the corridor.


    The two women were instantly thrilled, but as Huang Xue continued to operate the system,


    she discovered that Xia Liu had vanished without a trace.


    There was only a frame of him entering the elevator.


    After reviewing all of the hotel''s surveillance, they still couldn''t locate Xia Liu.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was somewhat helpless, but she wasn''t in a hurry; she decided to wait an hour or two before calling Xia Liu.


    By then, they would be back home, and there would be no one else in the house...


    While Huang Xue was searching, in a secluded corner on the hotel''s rooftop,


    faint moans could be heard from time to time...


    An hour later, Zhang Qing and Xia Liu walked down the dimly lit staircase,


    both faces brimming with satisfied smiles. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xia Liu, you really have your ways, aren''t you afraid of being seen?" With her arm entwined with Xia Liu''s, Zhang Qing said bashfully.


    Truth be told, even though she was very familiar with the hotel, this was her first time on an open-air rooftop, and she was very nervous.


    She had been prepared to go to an office cubicle, but Xia Liu told her it wasn''t safe, not even a hotel room was okay.


    In the end, he took her to the rooftop, where they enjoyed the cold wind and exhilarating thrill.


    Xia Liu just smiled and didn''t speak; he didn''t think Huang Xue and Zhang Xiaoxue would refrain from causing trouble if they were around.


    When he came down to the first floor, the tasting event was nearly over.


    Many people were reluctant to leave, hoping to have some more.


    But the staff''s response was definitive: there were no more ingredients left.


    Some were still discontented, directly pulling out cash, wanting to order more at a high price.


    In the end, those people left, resigned.


    There''s nothing to be done if the hotel ran out of ingredients.


    When everything was nearly tidied up, Zhang Xiaoxue came downstairs and got into the car with Xia Liu.


    "Brother Xia Liu, should we go rent a room?" Zhang Xiaoxue timidly suggested as their car approached the road leading to Osmanthus Village after reaching Pinglan Town.


    She was afraid, afraid that they would be disturbed again once back at home.

 Chapter 167 The Girl Arrives

    But if you were to book a room in a place where no one knew you, then you could do whatever you wanted."No, let''s go home, keeping your precious memories at home is the warmest."


    "Mmm..."


    Zhang Xiaoxue replied softly.


    Her face had already turned bright red.


    Making such a suggestion required a great deal of courage, but being rejected required even more.


    After they got back home, Zhang Xiaoxue boiled a pot of water to take a bath.


    Once everything was ready, she quietly waited in the room.


    Although Xia Liu had just gone through it once, given his physique, he almost couldn''t bear it while bathing. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So, he quickly finished up.


    After returning to the room, he planned to turn off the lights.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I don''t want the lights off."


    "Okay, as Xiaoxue wishes."


    Although she had made all the preparations in the past few days, when the severe pain spread, Zhang Xiaoxue''s complexion still changed.


    Noticing her pain, Xia Liu immediately started the Five Elements Mantra and transferred some spiritual energy to her.


    This finally put the beauty completely at ease...


    An hour later, two hours later, and not until daylight did Zhang Xiaoxue, exhausted, fall onto the bed to sleep.


    Even in her sleep, the corners of her mouth wore a slight smile.


    Yes, she was very happy tonight because she had fulfilled her long-standing pursuit.


    She had finally become Xia Liu''s woman.


    Looking at the messy sheets, Xia Liu wore a smile on his face.


    But when he saw the dazzling Blood Plum, his heart still ached slightly.


    After covering Zhang Xiaoxue with a quilt, he quietly got up and went out to the yard.


    By now it was eight o''clock. Xia Liu performed a set of Taiji and then cycled through the Five Elements Mantra for a complete cycle.


    Afterwards, his mental state was completely restored to its peak.


    Since the scheduled time to meet Liang Caiming was still early, he prepared some dishes in the kitchen for Zhang Xiaoxue to eat when she woke up.


    After preparing the meal, he drove to Hejing County.


    He had previously asked the villagers to get bank cards, so he went to an electronics store and bought a laptop.


    He outright bought five laptops, almost giving the cashier a fright when paying.


    Worried that Xiaoxue might get bored, he thought playing on the computer and watching videos at home would be entertaining.


    The extra laptops, he planned to give to the village to use as communal educational material, as these days, not knowing how to use a computer can be laughable.


    Around noon, Xia Liu called Liang Caiming.


    From her tone, she had been waiting for him all morning, so he hurried over to pick her up.


    Today, Xia Liu had no time to snuggle with Zhang Qing; they met, exchanged a few nibbles, and then parted ways.


    After getting into the car, Liang Caiming didn''t immediately ask Xia Liu to return to Osmanthus Village but first went to the station to pick someone up.


    The timing was just right; the train arrived at half-past eleven.


    "Boss Xia, you can''t go back on your word now. I''ve informed a few friends, and they are all on their way."


    Yes, the person Liang Caiming was about to pick up was the sister who had been notified to come and help operate the fishing boat.


    "Don''t worry, as long as it''s a woman, even fifty would be accommodated."


    "Boss Xia, can''t you be less explicit?" Liang Caiming was shocked again by Xia Liu.


    Could this guy be a woman-maniac? Just last night, he met no fewer than five beauties, and all seemed to have an ambiguous relationship with him.


    "It''s only human nature, you see. So many young men in the village haven''t gotten married. As the village elder, I''ve got to help them out." Yes, that was exactly Xia Liu''s thinking.


    There were plenty of single young men in the village, and with the recent introduction of medicinal wine, they were all heading to Hejing County like it was the Holy Grail.


    If they caught any disease, I''d be the one dealing with the trouble later, and if the villagers found out, they would be embarrassed too.


    "Psh, as if you care. You haven''t even got a wife yourself."


    "You got me there; there are too many girls wanting to marry me."


    "And then? Can''t decide which one to choose?"


    "No, I plan to build myself first. When I am superior to everything, I''ll marry all those girls."


    Xia Liu looked determinedly ahead, this had been his goal since returning to Osmanthus Village.


    Above everything and everyone!


    Liang Caiming was somewhat dumbfounded for a moment.


    This guy was really out there, acting like anything was possible.


    I have no idea if his brain is malfunctioning or has just rusted, thinking he could be superior like that. If those girls knew he was eyeing others while eating from their bowl¡ª


    They''d definitely keep their distance from him one by one.


    "Caiming, are not you interested in me too? There''s still a slot open now, why not book one?"


    "Pfft! I''ll pass on that reservation..."


    Liang Caiming really wanted to curse Xia Liu out loud, but she held back.


    After all, he was both her benefactor and now her boss.


    After waiting at the bus station for a few minutes, Liang Caiming''s friend finally showed up.


    She was a 1.7-meter-tall girl, a bit taller than Liang Caiming, with both a good appearance and figure.


    A beauty worth a second look.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu immediately sneakily took out his phone and snapped a photo.


    He then shared it in a group chat that someone had added him to.


    The photo caused an uproar in the group, with guys immediately sending drooling emojis.


    Only Li Dazhuang, the sober man with a wife, asked Xia Liu, who this beauty was.


    "I guess she''s one of Brother Xia Liu''s girls, just like Sister Caiming."


    "Probably not a sister-in-law, Xiao Hu, you aren''t counting how many sister-in-laws we have now. Brother Xia Liu probably won''t be adding any more anytime soon."


    "Keep it down guys, this one is the new captain, and also the prospect I''ve arranged for you. It''s all up to skill and fate who gets her."


    As she pressed send, Liang Caiming got into the car with the girl.


    Xia Liu carefully put away his phone without missing a beat and then got to know the new girl.


    This girl was named Tan Jingxue, 23 years old, born and raised by the seaside, and her parents were fishermen.


    Under the influence of her parents, she was drawn into fishing as she grew up, hence her current position.


    Tan Jingxue was very curious about Xia Liu; she had chatted with Liang Caiming about him the night before.


    She had had a hard time believing Xia Liu would offer a high salary.


    Moreover, the fishing area being in Hejing County seemed far-fetched.


    As she was from a town also in Binlai City, she knew some about Hejing County.


    The seas there had fish, but not many. If one were to fish, it would surely be at a loss, never mind that Liang Caiming said the fishing spot was near a village.


    Additionally, after Tan Jingxue got into the car and saw Xia Liu, a handsome guy of his caliber¡ª


    She felt something was off in an instant.


    This might just be a scam leading to some illegal activities.


    "Jingxue, how much were you earning a month before?" Xia Liu asked during the ride back.


    "Quite a bit, seven to eight thousand yuan."


    "Uh, uh, uh¡­" Xia Liu couldn''t help but smile bitterly; was she really satisfied with just seven or eight thousand...


    "I''ll offer you twenty thousand a month, bonuses extra."

 Chapter 168 Fishing Boat Starts Work

    "Is this a bit too much?"Tan Jingxue had felt something amiss before, but now that feeling of being deceived only grew stronger.


    She had never heard of a boatman earning such a high salary.


    "Jingxue, Boss Xia has substantial assets. The two largest and most luxurious hotels in Hejing County are owned by him, and he also owns a distillery."


    Seeing the unease in her friend''s words, Liang Caiming immediately explained.


    "Ah! That opulent? Caiming, tell me honestly, is Boss Xia your boyfriend?"


    "Jingxue, I think you''re just itching for a tease. If I had such a wealthy boyfriend, would I have you come help me operate a boat?"


    "You would! Because you''re not the kind to sit idle at home."


    "I''ll tickle you to death!"


    "Ah! Don''t tickle me, I''m terribly ticklish! Ahahaha..."


    Thus, the car became a joyful playground for Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue.


    Xia Liu took the opportunity while the two women were playing around to open his phone, start a recording, and then send the audio to the group chat.


    He also sent up all of Tan Jingxue''s information.


    "Damn! Twenty-three, same age as me, I call dibs on this beauty. If anyone dares to compete, I''ll fight them to the death!"


    "Xiao Hu, you ungrateful jerk, remember the girl I paid for a few days ago?"


    "Ergou, you dare bring that up? If it weren''t for my old man being so strict, I''d be the one paying!"


    "Guys, save your breath. Last night Dazhuang approached me, once Xia Liu returns I''m going fishing with the beauty."


    "Hahaha! Dazhuang approached me too."


    "Alas, Dazhuang also involved me."


    "Damn! I can''t join, my old man caught a cold, I have to dredge oysters!"


    ...


    The atmosphere in the group chat soared to its peak in no time.


    Indeed, knowing a beauty was coming, those young guys were all waiting at the village entrance.


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    The most proactive among them was Xiao Hu. He was decent-looking and well-built. If not for his plain clothes, he could be considered quite distinguished.


    Xiao Hu had been the most active in the chat, but upon seeing Tan Jingxue, he became speechless.


    He wasn''t the only one; the other young men present felt the same.


    In the chat or when they''re drunk, they dared to discuss anything.


    But when sober, even talking to a girl could make them blush.


    "Caiming, who are these people?" Tan Jingxue asked doubtfully, looking outside the car.


    She truly felt like she had walked into a den of bandits.


    Especially given the news that often surfaced.


    About someone from somewhere being deceived by their most trusted friend to another place.


    Some were pulled into pyramid schemes, while others were deceived into more sinister situations.


    Tan Jingxue was truly scared, and she really felt like crying.


    "All of you, get out of the way, don''t scare her!" Xia Liu rolled down the car window and shouted outside.


    "Jingxue, let''s go have some food before we start work," Xia Liu suggested.


    "No need, Boss Xia, I''d like to go straight to work," Tan Jingxue said, not daring to get out of the car unless she saw the workplace.


    Her hand kept clutching her phone behind her back, ready to call the police at the slightest hint of trouble.


    But when the car stopped by the beach, Tan Jingxue instantly dropped all her suspicions.


    Because the scenery around was truly extraordinary.


    Not far on the mountainside, many buildings were under construction, especially one on a cliff with three towering spires faintly visible, resembling a castle from abroad.


    Additionally, what dispelled all her concerns was the sight of fishing boats moored in the water.


    After getting off the vehicle, she took Liang Caiming to a distant spot to pour her heart out.


    By the time the young men waiting at the village entrance had all arrived, Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue were already seated on the jet ski.


    "Brothers, it''s time for you to show off, see who can swim to the fishing boat first," Xia Liu said, then twisted the throttle, and the jet ski roared off.


    The crowd glanced at the increasingly distant beauties, stripped off their pants, and then swam towards the fishing boat.


    When they climbed aboard the fishing boat, Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue had already familiarized themselves with the cockpit.


    Seeing each young man in their underwear, the two women felt neither shy nor embarrassed; they were used to this kind of visual feast from working on the fishing boat.


    But this time, they both had to bow their heads.


    Because among the ten, the young man called Xiao Hu had, embarrassingly, reacted.


    This was extremely awkward.


    However, Xiao Hu''s reaction also set everyone at the scene laughing uproariously.


    Especially Xia Liu, who nearly bent double with laughter.


    He felt fortunate; if he hadn''t practiced the Five Elements Mantra, he wouldn''t know how many times a day he''d be embarrassed.


    "Xiao Hu, find a rope to tie it up..."


    "Hahaha! A rope might not do it, maybe tie it up with some tape instead."


    "Haha..." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once more, everyone burst into laughter, even Tan Jingxue and Liang Caiming couldn''t stop giggling.


    Xiao Hu was close to tears; he slowly raised his head and glanced in Tan Jingxue''s direction, his most embarrassing eye contact in his entire life, even though it was brief.


    After Xia Liu instructed Xiao Hu to go sort himself out, the awkwardness between Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue dissipated.


    They then began to explain the upcoming tasks to everyone.


    Half an hour later, the fishing boat''s engine started.


    Under Liang Caiming''s command, the net started to lower into the water.


    "Good! Fifty meters will do." Once the net reached a certain depth, Xia Liu suddenly spoke up.


    "Boss Xia, we can''t stop here. Although I don''t know the depth of these waters, fifty meters might not even have a shrimp," Liang Caiming said, looking at Xia Liu with confusion.


    She was increasingly puzzled by him; clearly, he could operate the fishing boat on his own return.


    Yet why was his fishing experience so limited?


    Fifty meters? Not to mention fish, there wouldn''t even be plankton.


    "I don''t know how to explain this, but you''ll understand once we haul the net up," Xia Liu replied with a bitter smile, sticking to his opinion.


    Liang Caiming stamped her foot in frustration but couldn''t help it; Xia Liu was the boss and if he wanted to take a loss, so be it.


    Tan Jingxue directed the young men to haul the net up, not manually, but controlling the machinery.


    When the net was pulled up to ten meters, it suddenly began to shake violently.


    "Brother Xia Liu! Something''s happening!" Xiao Hu, responsible for the net retrieval, immediately exclaimed upon feeling the vibration of the net.


    The way the big net trembled felt like they had caught a shark.


    Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue exchanged glances and ran up to the deck to look out into the sea.


    At that sight, both women''s eyes widened, momentarily lost for words.


    Seeing the two women rush over, the other idle young men also came over to check the situation.


    "Wow! So many fish!!!"


    A young man burst out in surprise after a glance.


    The net bulged with a large quantity of sea fish; ten meters of length seemed to be filled with fish!


    Xia Liu slightly smiled, walking behind the two women, "Believing in me was right, fifty meters deep can indeed yield a harvest!"


    Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue said nothing, their gazes fixed on the swarming fish.


    With their years of fishing experience, in this sea area, at this depth, there absolutely shouldn''t have been any fish¡­

 Chapter 169 The Great Harvest

    But the two women hadn''t anticipated that at such a depth, there would not only be fish but also in great abundance!"Ah! Sister Caiming, something is off with these fish!" When the fishnets were pulled out of the water, Tan Jingxue suddenly screamed.


    "I see them, they''re yellow croakers!" Liang Caiming was equally exhilarated.


    Having fished in the sea for many years, the two of them were familiar with the prices of different fish varieties.


    Even if the yellow croakers were frozen, they would be tens of yuan per jin.


    These fresh and lively yellow croakers could fetch at least a hundred yuan per jin!


    If the net were full of yellow croakers, this haul could earn them at least eight hundred thousand yuan!!!


    This was beyond Liang Caiming''s wildest dreams.


    A haul of eight hundred thousand yuan, and from just fifty meters depth; it was unbelievable.


    "Brother Xia Liu, are these fish quite impressive? I often catch over ten jin, and if I can''t eat them all, I throw them to the cats and dogs."


    Seeing Tan Jingxue so excited, Xiao Hu couldn''t help but inquire.


    However, before Xia Liu could respond, Tan Jingxue became agitated.


    "Damn it, over ten jin, and you feed them to dogs! These fish can fetch over a hundred yuan per jin!"


    She couldn''t imagine it anymore, what kind of village this was to waste resources so nonchalantly.


    Xiao Hu hung his head in embarrassment, if he had known the fish were worth so much per jin, he would have gotten rich a long time ago.


    "Ah! A hundred plus yuan per jin, I used to often catch them to feed to my cat."


    "Me too..."


    The other youngsters on the boat, having heard the price from Tan Jingxue, began to express their regrets.


    In fact, it wasn''t their fault, previously bullied by Shanyan Village, it hadn''t been easy for them to even leave the village, let alone think about this matter.


    "Hehe, don''t feel it''s a waste, from now on we''re going to earn even more," Xia Liu buoyed everyone''s spirits, then immediately had them haul up all the nets. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the net was brought aboard, the knowledgeable Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue were thrilled once again.


    Not only was the quantity of fish they caught enormous, but the variety was also staggering.


    Alongside the yellow croakers were the astronomically priced large yellow croakers!


    "Large yellow croakers! And they are several jin each!"


    "Jingxue, pinch my face to see if it hurts!"


    "Ah! It hurts, it''s really happening!"


    "Good heavens, so many large yellow croakers, this haul must bring in over a million yuan!"


    The two women, oblivious to the people around them, revelled in their euphoria.


    It had been a very long time since they had seen so many large and small yellow croakers.


    Today''s catch nearly took their breath away.


    The price of small yellow croakers at a hundred yuan each was shocking enough, but the large yellow croakers, weighing severals jin each, were worth at least eight hundred to a thousand yuan per jin!


    This haul amounted to at least five tons of fish!


    And with a majority being large yellow croakers, earning a million yuan seemed to be an understatement!


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    The youngsters, upon learning the situation from the two women, were also stunned beyond comprehension.


    Xia Liu, however, remained casual, a smile always on his face.


    He had known all along that there were large schools of fish below; hauling them up simply equated to making money.


    Liang Caiming stole glances at Xia Liu now and then, increasingly realizing how incredibly capable this man was.


    Why did he know that casting the net fifty meters down would yield such a massive quantity of fish?


    "Guys, you handle these fish according to the two ladies'' instructions first; I will go to the Hejing County dock and wait for you."


    After discussing, Xia Liu decided to go to Hejing County first.


    On one hand, it was to let Ye Ming and Huang Xue discuss how many fish the hotel should keep; on the other hand, it was to let Ye Ming contact those customers who needed sea fish.


    After returning home, Zhang Xiaoxue hadn''t gotten up yet; Xia Liu drove to Longteng Hotel.


    "Ah! Is the chairman not joking?" Learning that Xia Liu had just caught a few tons of little yellow croakers and large yellow croakers, Ye Ming was so scared that he almost dropped the water glass in his hand.


    "No joke, you call Manager Huang, Manager Zhang to tally up, keep enough for three days, the rest you coordinate with other hotels or customers from other places to come and buy," Xia Liu knew Ye Ming couldn''t quite imagine, so he pulled out the photos he had just taken with his phone to show him.


    When he saw Xia Liu standing on the fishing boat with a full warehouse of yellow croakers, Ye Ming was completely exhilarated.


    The hotel had little yellow croakers and large yellow croakers, but only a few, because these two types of fish were quite rare.


    They were not easy to buy; previously, as soon as a customer would come, they would ask if there were any yellow croakers.


    After oysters appeared later, customers slowly started to forget about yellow croakers.


    Now, with this batch of yellow croakers in store, the hotel''s daily sales volume felt like it could increase several times over!


    Ye Ming hurried to call Huang Xue to discuss, and after deciding, Ye Ming called the truck driver, asking him to drive to the county dock.


    After handling it, he flipped through the phone book, continuing to call managers of hotels in the city.


    In Binlai City, any restaurant or hotel had a huge demand for yellow croakers.


    Learning that there were several tons of large yellow croakers docked at Hejing County pier.


    Those who received calls from Ye Ming all expressed that they would immediately set out, even if all were sold, they needed to reserve a few dozen kilograms for them; otherwise, they couldn''t continue with their friends.


    Ye Ming handled these with ease; after notifying everyone, Xia Liu and Ye Ming both drove separately to the dock.


    Zhang Qing and Huang Xue also went to the dock with them.


    The two women looked at Xia Liu with a strange gaze.


    Huang Xue had been a manager at Longyun Hotel for two years and was very familiar with seafood, so she was somewhat doubtful that Xia Liu could get several tons of yellow croakers.


    After learning from Huang Xue about the expensiveness of large and little yellow croakers, Zhang Qing also could hardly believe it.


    Xia Liu didn''t explain much; he understood that only when they truly saw with their own eyes, would their doubts be dispelled.


    Indeed, after waiting for about ten minutes at the dock, the fishing boat driven by Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue finally arrived.


    Seeing that big guy, except for Xia Liu, Ye Ming and the two women were all shocked.


    When the fishing boat docked, the four of them immediately went up.


    "Holy cow! They really are large yellow croakers!" Seeing the fish piled up on the deck, Huang Xue exclaimed in surprise.


    Ye Ming also gulped down several sips of saliva; his admiration for Xia Liu was growing.


    Last night he had just finished preparing a new menu, which could restore the hotel''s business to its peak.


    If these yellow croakers were added, the hotel''s business could reach even higher levels!


    When the truck arrived, Li Dazhuang, Xiao Hu, and others loaded the fish into the truck box by box.


    This time, Ye Ming had allocated one thousand kilograms of large yellow croachers and one thousand kilograms of little yellow croakers for Longteng Hotel.


    At the strategy of Huang Xue and Zhang Qing, Longyun Hotel requested the same amount.


    Now, the customers of the two hotels hadn''t burst yet, taking back all the fish could easily cause unnecessary losses.


    Xia Liu had no objections; there was no need to rush with the first batch of yellow croakers.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have let Ye Ming contact the dealers from other places.


    Since those dealers hadn''t arrived yet, Xia Liu suggested everyone go have a meal first, leaving one or two people here to watch.


    After discussing, Huang Xue wanted to take the fish back, and so did Ye Ming, whereas Liang Caiming and the others hadn''t eaten.


    So Xia Liu volunteered to stay and watch the boat, and Zhang Qing also proposed to stay...

 Chapter 170 Reward

    After everyone had left, Zhang Qing pulled Xia Liu into the cabin.Xia Liu of course knew what she wanted to do. Frankly, he had been feeling a little restless these past few days, and such an opportunity was rare¡ªhow could they not let bygones be bygones and take advantage of the situation?


    A little over two hours later, Xia Liu''s phone rang.


    It was Ye Ming who called, saying that the dealers were ready.


    He and Li Dazhuang and the others were also preparing to go.


    After tidying up a bit, Xia Liu and Zhang Qing went up on deck to wait for them.


    A few minutes later, three cars arrived; it was Ye Ming and Li Dazhuang''s group.


    On the other side, two small trucks also arrived.


    A few people got off the trucks, and Ye Ming immediately went to greet them.


    They were all merchants from the city who had come to buy fish. After some pleasantries, Ye Ming led them onto the boat to look at the fish.


    Upon seeing the fish, the two almost got scared off.


    They ran restaurants and were very familiar with both big and small yellow croakers.


    All of the big yellow croakers in the storage room were wild!


    "Manager Ye, I''ll take all of these! Let''s go with the market price, twelve hundred Huaxia currency per pound!"


    One of the bosses, who was fat and had big ears, often went to buy big yellow croakers.


    Previously, the appropriately-sized big yellow croakers were sold for one thousand Huaxia currency per pound, but today was different. The big yellow croakers they were looking at now all weighed four to five pounds, and the money one could make from serving these fish at a restaurant was beyond imagination.


    "Boss Li, that''s not very fair of you. There are at least three thousand pounds here. If you take them all, what am I supposed to go back with?" another middle-aged boss complained discontentedly.


    "It''s your own fault for being late," Boss Li retorted.


    "Your damn luck, I arrived at the same time as you!"


    "Gentlemen, how about we do it this way: while the others haven''t arrived yet, why don''t you split the big yellow croakers between yourselves? The price will be twelve hundred per pound," Ye Ming quickly suggested seeing the two men nearly coming to blows.


    "Manager Ye is right."


    "Fine, I agree."


    After some carrying to and fro, the three thousand three hundred and some pounds of big yellow croakers were all loaded onto the trucks.


    Xia Liu ended up earning three million nine hundred thousand, and he didn''t even bother with the change.


    Once the two bosses had loaded the fish onto their trucks, two smaller boats approached.


    They had also come in response to Ye Ming''s call.


    Hearing from Ye Ming that Boss Li and that other guy had bought out all the big yellow croakers, both men sighed with disappointment.


    However, their trip wasn''t in vain, as there were still about three thousand pounds of small yellow croakers available for purchase.


    The fact that big yellow croakers are money makers is undisputed, but the small ones aren''t too shabby either.


    In the end, the two men divided up the small yellow croakers, each taking fourteen hundred pounds at a price of one hundred Huaxia currency per pound.


    Another two hundred and eighty thousand entered Xia Liu''s account.


    But when the two were leaving, they made Ye Ming promise to reserve some big yellow croakers for them next time, even if it was just a hundred pounds.


    Once all the purchasers had left, Li Dazhuang and the others looked at Xia Liu with envy.


    This haul alone was worth five million; it was simply a windfall.


    But they did not feel jealous or harbor other negative feelings.


    Who was Xia Liu? The pillar of Osmanthus Village, who had funded the building of roads by cutting through mountains and constructed villas for the villagers at his own expense.


    Even if the whole world was wrong, they would trust Xia Liu.


    "Brother Xia Liu, why don''t we take advantage of the good market and do a few more hauls!"


    "Yeah, Brother Xia Liu, let''s set another ten nets when we get back!"


    The young men, seeing how much the large yellow croaker could sell for, were all energized.


    But Xia Liu shook his head, "Catching too much isn''t good for us. Let''s stop for today, and after three days, once Longteng and Longyun have sold their stock, we''ll go fishing again."


    In fact, Xia Liu didn''t want to share the high profits with others at all.


    But before he knew it, he had caught several tons, which would rot if not dealt with.


    After everyone agreed, they followed Xia Liu''s instructions to secure the boat and then went back.


    Since the X6 was parked in the city, Xia Liu could only drive the BMW sedan from the Longteng car garage for now.


    Xia Liu went straight to the bank and withdrew three hundred thousand.


    Then he sent a red envelope with twenty thousand each to Li Dazhuang and the others.


    After that, he drove to the Longyun Hotel.


    In the private room, he pushed the two bags he had divided up in front of Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue.


    "What''s this, Boss Xia?" the two women asked in unison.


    "This is your reward."


    "Wow! Boss Xia, you''re really generous!" Seeing the bright red Huaxia currency, the two women almost rushed forward to plant a kiss on Xia Liu.


    "This is just the beginning, you will make even more money in the future," Xia Liu said with a pleased smile.


    "Yes, I will definitely follow Boss Xia''s footsteps!" Tan Jingxue said excitedly.


    "Jingxue, be careful. Don''t let money blind you," seeing her friend like this, Liang Caiming hurriedly reminded her. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hehe, actually, Jingxue, have you noticed? Xiao Hu seems to have feelings for you," Xia Liu said hotly but subtly.


    "Xiao Hu? Do you mean the one who reacted on the boat?" Tan Jingxue nearly died laughing, she couldn''t help but giggle at the thought.


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    "Jingxue, Xia Liu is still here. Can''t you be more subtle?" Liang Caiming was almost annoyed to death; such an embarrassing topic, sigh...


    "Hehe, I''ve said what I wanted to say. Also, take a two-day break, you can move around freely, and the hotel stay is free."


    "If we can move freely, I want to go home and see my mom."


    "I won''t go back. Just eat until I''m full, sleep, and eat again when I wake up," Tan Jingxue said contentedly.


    "Caiming, you can drive, right?" Hearing that Liang Caiming wanted to go back, Xia Liu suddenly had a thought; the X6 was still at the boat dealership. It would be perfect if she could drive it back.


    Liang Caiming could drive, and she guessed what Xia Liu was thinking, so she took the initiative to offer to drive his car back when she returned.


    After settling things with Liang Caiming, Xia Liu said to Tan Jingxue, "Jingxue, there are many fun places in the county, and the scenery is very nice all around. If you want to go, just call Xiao Hu, he will definitely be free to take you."


    "Uh... If I need to, I''ll call him." Tan Jingxue smiled wryly; could it be that Xiao Hu really fancied her?


    After saying goodbye to the two of them, Xia Liu went to the office to have tea with Zhang Qing and Huang Xue.


    He didn''t drive home until it was nearly evening.


    Seeing Xia Liu return home, Zhang Xiaoxue gave him a warm hug before going to cook.


    After last night''s event, Zhang Xiaoxue had changed a lot.


    Especially with her hair down, she exuded a different kind of charm, the mature allure.


    But her youthful face could not hide her age.


    When it was time for dinner, Xia Liu called Gu Fangxia to come over for dinner and to discuss the construction project.


    Ever since Zhang Qing went to the county, Gu Fangxia had been living halfway up the mountain, and she arrived very quickly.


    This time Xia Liu called her over, and she guessed it might be because Xia Liu was going to settle accounts with her.


    Indeed, as soon as she arrived at Xia Liu''s house, Gu Fangxia received a bank notification that fifty million had been transferred into her card.


    "Boss Xia, you make money as fast as flying a plane, teach me your ways!"

 Chapter 171 Starting the Winery

    ```staring at the text message, gu fangxia''s face lit up with a dumbfounded expression as she gazed at xia liu.


    "what request? didn''t you already get in the car?" xia liu said, motioning gu fangxia to look at the phone message again.


    "huh! another 1.2 million came in!" she couldn''t understand this 1.2 million.


    the previous 50 million might have been for the villa, but what was this scattered million for?


    "remember the shares of the distillery? the 1.2 million is your dividend," xia liu explained.


    "oh my god! you''re not kidding, right? the distillery has only been open for a few days! and i only have one percent of the shares, but i received 1.2 million!"


    gu fangxia was stunned. she was wondering if this was xia liu''s way of rewarding her, fearing she wouldn''t accept it, so he transferred the money under this pretense.


    "it''s really that magical, follow me and you''re guaranteed the good life," xia liu said with pride.


    "what is that look in your eyes? you''re not afraid i''d sell you off, are you?" seeing the fearful look in gu fangxia''s eyes, xia liu said bitterly.


    "yes! i''m afraid you''ll sell me off. tell me, did you earn this money through some unclean channels?"


    "come on, if you don''t trust me, then do this: come here and help me check all these accounts," said xia liu, picking up a notebook from the table and moving the laptop in front of gu fangxia.


    looking at the notebook and computer, gu fangxia was puzzled but began to follow xia liu''s instructions.


    it was only after she had gone through a dozen accounts that she realized xia liu was transferring money to the people of osmanthus village.


    half an hour later, gu fangxia finished, her hands and eyes somewhat fatigued.


    she really wanted to quit midway but didn''t dare to say it, for fear that xia liu would take back her shares.


    by now she completely believed the money transferred to her by xia liu was genuine.


    and after she had verified the accounts, xia liu immediately transferred 1.2 million to those accounts.


    just like the money she received!


    after all the villagers had received their money, zhang xiaoxue brought in the dishes, ready to start the meal.


    during the meal, the villagers kept calling xia liu to ask about the money.


    after all, suddenly receiving 1.2 million was a huge deal for any family.


    xia liu told them not to hurry and then called uncle li to inform him about the situation.


    he asked uncle li to explain to the villagers.


    "phew, i''m stuffed, xiaoxue''s cooking has improved, you know."


    "sister gu, xia liu''s cooking is really amazing." hearing gu fangxia''s compliment, zhang xiaoxue said shyly.


    "by the way, i feel like you''re different from before. it''s like... like..." gu fangxia couldn''t quite express it, but she had noticed this feeling from the start.


    zhang xiaoxue''s face instantly turned red, aware of her own changes, which were so obvious compared to before.


    "ahem, sister gu, i wanted to ask you today to help me build a dock," xia liu said immediately, changing the subject as gu fangxia was about to notice zhang xiaoxue''s difference.


    "a dock? for mooring that big fishing boat?" gu fangxia saw the fishing boat yesterday but was too busy on the construction site to join the crowd.


    "yes, that''s right. as for the funds, we''ll tally it up eventually. once i make money, i''ll transfer it to you."


    "no rush with the financing; i get all the materials on credit anyway," gu fangxia said nonchalantly.


    previously xia liu mentioned settling the villa''s payment in two months, which she didn''t dare to discourage, for fear that xia liu would do something foolish for the money.


    but now she knew that xia liu had made tens of millions in just a few days by producing medicinal liquor.


    he gave each villager 1.2 million, and that''s only from one percent of the shares.


    xia liu owns fifty percent, so his earnings were even greater. with this in mind, gu fangxia felt much less burdened.


    after discussing the specifics, gu fangxia went back. she faintly suspected that there was something fishy between zhang xiaoxue and xia liu.


    she didn''t want to stay and interrupt them at a time like this.


    location: xia liu''s house, time: early morning.


    ```


    the scenes zhang xiaoxue experienced last night began to replay after midnight¡­


    after tasting that flavor, zhang xiaoxue became unstoppable.


    moreover, xia liu mentioned that massaging acupoints could restore energy.


    by the time zhang xiaoxue felt tired, the sky had already brightened.


    putting on his clothes, xia liu walked out of the room. after circulating the spiritual energy in his body for a cycle, his energy was replenished once more.


    having such a physique, xia liu felt very fortunate. otherwise, how could he ensure that the girls felt assured and happy?


    xia liu estimated that he still owed gu fangxia quite a sum of money.


    if he didn''t start earning money soon, his promise would just be empty talk.


    there wasn''t much time left until the two-month deadline of his promise.


    looking at the current situation, the medicinal liquor could bring in money the fastest.


    thus, xia liu went to the alcohol factory to check on the construction progress.


    as expected, the factory was already completed.


    all the workers'' payments had been settled in full by gu fangxia.


    looking at the fully constructed alcohol factory, xia liu called uncle li to come and have a look.


    uncle li hadn''t been here for some days. seeing the pits for liquor production, he couldn''t help but nod.


    it was indeed exactly like the design blueprints.


    as long as they bought the equipment and prepared the fermentation materials, they could start producing liquor.


    actually, it wasn''t any mechanical equipment, just some pots, buckets, and the like.


    "uncle li, take a look and plan it out. starting from tomorrow, we''ll temporarily stop oyster fishing and get the alcohol factory up and running," xia liu said.


    he had thought this through carefully.


    the seawater was getting colder by the day, and diving was only possible after noon. even then, the dive for fishing required a lot.


    it demanded a high physical fitness from the villagers.


    but with the majority of villagers being of a certain age, even if they were in good shape, they couldn''t keep doing it for long.


    another point was that the inn''s current focus was no longer on oysters.


    the fishing boats and the new menu could sustain them for at least a year, and business would only grow hotter.


    therefore, osmanthus village must establish its own brand! sear?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    native to osmanthus village, naturally, it''s osmanthus wine!


    "of course, there''s no problem with that. i''ll go notify them in a bit," uncle li nodded in agreement.


    he too had noticed that the demand for oysters had recently decreased, and continuing to fish them was not very useful.


    the most important point was that last night all the villagers had earned 1.2 million!


    this money came from xia liu selling the medicinal liquor.


    therefore, the quicker the alcohol factory started, the better!


    "and also, uncle li, please find a few people later to measure the dimensions of the pots in the distilling area. we''ll go and purchase the pots later on, along with any other tools we need. then bring the invoices back for reimbursement," xia liu instructed.


    "xia liu, aren''t you slapping me in the face? buying these utensils will cost just a few thousand yuan, and the expensive ones just tens of thousands. i can afford a hundred such factories," uncle li replied with some urgency. even if xia liu hadn''t mentioned it, he would have sorted it out. enjoy new stories from empire


    this small amount of money shouldn''t be a concern for xia liu; otherwise, uncle li wouldn''t consider himself a decent person.


    to this, xia liu felt rather helpless. with uncle li''s insistence, he could only smile wryly and agree.

 Chapter 172 I Miss You

    after li zhi left, xia liu called liu lanxin."miss liu, how are the sales of the herbal wine? it''s been a few days, why haven''t you gotten back to me?"


    this was previously agreed with liu lanxin, that once the herbal wine was sold, xia liu would need to operate again to prevent stock shortages.


    "the herbal wine? it''s been sold out for a while now," liu lanxin said nonchalantly.


    "damn it! it''s sold out and you didn''t notify me?" xia liu was on the verge of losing it. what was this girl thinking¡ªwas she trying to pressure him to lower the cost or what?


    "i''ve been feeling down these last couple of days, so i didn''t notify you."


    ...


    a million curses raced through xia liu''s mind. ''feeling down'' could actually be an excuse, unbelievable.


    "if you could come over and hang out with me for a few days, maybe my mood would improve," liu lanxin suggested, just as xia liu wanted to comfort her.


    "that''s not a big ask; i''ll head over right now."


    xia liu had decided, the moment he saw that girl, he would give her twenty solid slaps!


    but just as he had made up his mind, suddenly liu lanxin giggled.


    "giggle, i was just fooling you, like i''d really want you to keep me company."


    "miss liu, please, is it fun to play with people like this?" xia liu barely suppressed his anger as he spoke.


    "what, i can''t even tease you? you need to think about it; it''s only been a few days. advertising takes time, organizing events takes time, everything needs time," liu lanxin said coldly.


    "alright then, i shouldn''t have rushed. so, miss, when should i start production on my side?"


    xia liu took several deep breaths to vent his frustration.


    he indeed had been too anxious. on reflection, he really hadn''t considered those issues.


    "this time, you need to prepare six tons of herbal wine for me. when can you deliver?" liu lanxin asked seriously.


    "that''s easy; send a truck over to pick it up tomorrow noon," xia liu said casually.


    "that quickly?"


    "yes, that quickly."


    "everything''s that quick?"


    "just the wine making is this quick; other things are quick too, but might take a bit longer."


    "you rascal!!!" liu lanxin cursed directly.


    xia liu laughed wildly without responding to her curse; who knew what her ''quick'' was referring to.


    silence lingered for a while, and then a faint voice came through the phone before it beeped as the call was hung up.


    xia liu didn''t immediately remove the phone from his ear.


    his facial expression was utterly baffled. experience tales at empire


    even though liu lanxin''s voice was soft, he heard everything, and very clearly at that.


    liu lanxin''s gentle voice echoed in his mind: "i miss you, bye now."


    when that girl expressed her feelings for him, xia liu knew he had unintentionally hurt another young girl.


    "let it be, sigh..." he murmured, leaving the distillery.


    such matters could be pursued, but should not be forced; it all depended on fate.


    after returning home, xia liu immediately picked up a basket and went into the mountains to gather herbs.


    six tons of herbal wine required a substantial amount of herbs.


    fortunately, he had encountered many herbs on previous journeys, so it only took a few hours to gather them all.


    by the time he got back to the village, it was already two o''clock.


    zhang xiaoxue was already up, her face still flushed.


    moreover, her skin was emitting an unusual rosy glow; those in the know understood what that was from.


    after having lunch with zhang xiaoxue, xia liu asked her to play on the computer at home while he drove to the county town.


    xia liu found ye ming and asked him to contact the erguotou distributor.


    after the lesson from the first time, xia liu dared not ask for bottled liquor again.


    it was too troublesome, and although the guys pouring the liquor didn''t say anything, he could tell that unpacking and pouring liquor was too tiring.


    "manager ye, just ask them where their distillery is located."


    "okay, i''ll make the call right now." ye ming didn''t ask why, he just did whatever xia liu said.


    because the other party knew ye ming was the manager of the longteng hotel and had bought several tons of bottled liquor last time, they readily gave him the address of the distillery.


    "their distillery is about fifty kilometers away from the county town, located beside a canal," ye ming said after getting the address.


    "very good, manager ye, please send the address to my phone."


    after looking at the address for a while, xia liu turned on the navigation and then drove there.


    using an hour''s time, xia liu arrived at the erguotou distillery.


    he explained his purpose, and the head of the distillery received him warmly.


    upon learning that xia liu wanted six tons of unpackaged liquor, the head of the distillery almost couldn''t stop smiling. sear?h the n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    six tons of liquor, if packaged in 500 ml bottles, could fill twelve thousand bottles, each selling for nine yuan.


    this time, since xia liu was purchasing unpackaged liquor, the head of the distillery dropped the price to one hundred thousand yuan, plus transportation costs, totaling one hundred and five thousand yuan.


    xia liu readily settled the payment.


    then he drove in front leading the liquor transport truck to the village.


    three hours later, as it was nearly dark, the vehicle finally arrived at the distillery in osmanthus village.


    the driver didn''t comment on the somewhat rudimentary distillery.


    following xia liu''s instructions, he transferred all the liquor into the storage pool.


    after the task was completed, xia liu gave him a thousand yuan to cover his accommodation and meals for the night.


    the villagers, seeing xia liu leading the truck, rushed over to help, only to find out that the truck was unloading the liquor directly into the pool.


    this made them secretly chuckle; now they would have less to do.


    just when everyone thought they were not needed, li dazhuang returned in a truck.


    the truck was slowly loaded with various tools, giant pots bigger than several people, and countless buckets.


    seeing this, they all knew the distillery was preparing for full operation!


    today, li zhi had informed them that they wouldn''t be harvesting oysters tomorrow; they would be making liquor instead!


    everyone happily ran over to unload the tools from the truck and, under xia liu''s guidance, put them into the work area.


    by the time everything was done, it was already eight o''clock in the evening.


    xia liu told everyone to go home and have dinner, and return tomorrow to clean up the site.


    inside the distillery''s rest area, zhang xiaoxue and a few women were waiting for their families to go back and eat.


    they did not dare to disturb anyone, because xia liu was there.


    the village and the families had reached their current state all because of xia liu.


    so whatever he did, they simply followed along.


    looking at the pure and lovely zhang xiaoxue, the villagers were secretly pleased.


    she had struggled in the village for several years, and now she was finally able to enjoy prosperity with xia liu.


    after having dinner at home, xia liu took the cleaned herbs to soak in the liquor pool.


    this batch of liquor was quite large, and with a longer soaking duration, the effects of the medicinal liquor would definitely be superior.


    after finishing, xia liu went home to shower where his beloved was already waiting inside the house.


    the day passed just like that, xia liu had visited many places today, and although he was a bit weary, he felt very fulfilled.

 Chapter 173 Breakthrough

    the next morning, xia liu got up to check the effect of the medicinal wine.of course, he didn''t drink it himself; instead, he called over the fellow who had been the first to try the wine.


    after all, the fellow had just gotten married and didn''t have children yet. if he didn''t drink now, he might not have such a good opportunity later.


    following xia liu''s instructions, the man immediately took a small sip as soon as he arrived.


    see, the moment the wine hit his stomach, he ran back home.


    xia liu understood without needing to be told that the medicinal wine was a success.


    by noon, tianluo pharmaceutical''s wine transport vehicle arrived, and they moved the wine into the vehicle in the same way as before.


    six tons of wine, xia liu didn''t ask for much, just that fifteen thousand bottles of medicinal wine were properly packaged.


    after the vehicle left, li zhong drove a tricycle to the winery.


    "uncle li, a new ride, huh?" xia liu greeted li zhong as soon as he saw him.


    "indeed, having two or three tricycles to haul goods makes it much easier to navigate small roads." li zhong said proudly.


    while the two men were chatting, a few more tricycles entered the winery.


    they had all gone to the county that morning and each had bought a tricycle.


    moreover, on their way back, they also bought several bags of rice, all for fermenting and brewing wine.


    osmanthus village didn''t have much land, and the rice they grew was just enough to feed their own families.


    so for the raw grains needed for brewing, they had to buy them from the county.


    this was not a problem, as xia liu was after creating a brand, and that brand would be recognized by osmanthus!


    during the rice fermentation, they would mix in some osmanthus, and later combine it with some medicinal herbs.


    the wine produced would not only have health-preserving effects but also strengthen the body.


    of course, the effects couldn''t be too strong, otherwise, it would be overwhelming for those who drank it.


    after the preparations were made, xia liu did not disturb them.


    in the step of brewing wine, he couldn''t compare himself to the elders in the village.


    when he got home, he received a message on his cell phone.


    one hundred and twenty million in the account!


    sixteen thousand bottles of medicinal wine!


    xia liu guessed it right away.


    last time, they transported three tons, and lan xin had packaged eight thousand bottles. today, six tons.


    an increase was definitely expected; that girl knew he liked round numbers.


    after lunch, xia liu had zhang xiaoxue directly transfer the money into fifty shares and deposit it into the villagers'' accounts.


    two million four hundred thousand per share!


    when the villagers received the text message alerts, they were nearly scared silly.


    they hadn''t even started working and were already earning over two million; it was outrageous!


    li zhong called xia liu as their representative. after understanding the situation, he relayed the information to the villagers.


    once everyone understood, they were all overwhelmed with emotion.


    just a few days ago, they had invested fifty thousand, and now they had already profited over three million.


    in a few more days, their bank accounts might just explode!


    while they were delighted, they also worked even harder.


    "brother xia liu, am i now a ''white, rich, and beautiful'' woman too?" zhang xiaoxue said with a giggling smile as she looked at the text message on her phone.


    "no, no, you''re the lady boss, filthy rich, more like a tycoon."


    "brother xia liu... i dare you to say that again!" but after zhang xiaoxue finished yelling, she couldn''t catch a glimpse of xia liu anymore.


    that guy knew which way the wind was blowing and, after his tease, immediately ran out the door.


    although zhang xiaoxue seemed very angry on the surface, her heart was as sweet as if she''d eaten honey.


    after leaving the house, xia liu took a stroll over the mountain he had leased.


    ever since he had delegated the management of the chicken farm to a few women, he seldom went there.


    before, he had instructed that once the spiritual energy-infused feed was finished, they should collect osmanthus and bring it to his house.


    now, the operation of the chicken farm was running very smoothly; as one batch of chickens was sold off, another batch had already grown.


    xia liu, of course, did not forget to increase the women''s salary.


    at present, each of them could already earn fifty thousand yuan a month.


    after returning home and not finding zhang xiaoxue, xia liu thought it was time to inquire about fang fei, so he drove to the county.


    upon arriving in the county, it was natural to check in on zhang qing.


    as per usual practice, he first texted zhang qing, and she would choose the location before he joined her.


    but zhang qing didn''t reply; xia liu had no idea what she was busy with, so he took the elevator up to her office.


    just as xia liu was about to enter the office, a soft and hurried voice came through from inside."


    "can you please not pressure me? i''m about to succeed."


    "hm? it''s huang xue''s voice!" after listening attentively, xia liu confirmed that huang xue was on the phone with someone. what was this ''about to succeed'' all about?


    "i know all about this matter, but you can''t rush it. i''ve been hindered before, and i''ve only just begun to gain his trust. give me at most five days¡ªi''ll have it done in five days!"


    "that''s enough; don''t call me anymore."


    having said that, huang xue hung up the call and began to look around anxiously.


    after ensuring there was nothing amiss, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    while huang xue was relieving her anxiety, xia liu had already reached the stairwell and slowly made his way downstairs.


    his face was cool and handsome, and who knows what he was contemplating.


    before leaving the longyun hotel, he also instructed the staff who saw him not to tell anyone about his visit.


    if anyone asked, they should just say he came to browse and check on the profitability.


    to be honest, xia liu truly came to check on profitability.


    compared with before, the grade of longyun hotel had visibly improved.


    the lobby was nearly full of people, and the guests who had not yet been served were almost stupefied watching those next to them who were already eating.


    a fragrance lingered throughout the lobby.


    no one could pinpoint what the fragrance was; it had a hint of medicinal herbs, a scent of seafood, an aroma of osmanthus...


    before he left, xia liu had the head chef pack up a few dishes for him to take away.


    his next destination was li zhong''s home. experience tales at empire s~ea??h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    today was sunday, and if it were like usual, li zhong would definitely be working overtime, but recently he had been feeling unwell, so he was resting at home.


    it was just li zhong at home, as his wife, xu fang, had gone out shopping with friends.


    seeing xia liu come in with things, li zhong was overjoyed.


    in actuality, xia liu''s purpose in coming was to probe for information about fang fei.


    he did not believe li zhong knew nothing.


    if li qianqian wouldn''t speak, then he would have to break through from li zhong.


    before they started dining and drinking, xia liu learned that li zhong had been feeling unwell recently.


    so, he took his pulse and found it was only a deficiency of energy, then wrote him a prescription.


    li zhong had complete trust in xia liu''s prescription.


    originally, li zhong had no intention of drinking, but with that prescription at hand, why should he worry? so, he clinked glasses with xia liu without hesitation.


    after three rounds of drinks, li zhong''s speech was becoming a bit slurred, so xia liu tactfully asked, "uncle li, have you been to liuhai city?"


    "of course i have been there; i worked there thirty years ago."


    "impressive, how did uncle li come to befriend fang fei''s father?"


    at this question, li zhong became interested, downed a small cup of liquor, and then said, "fang fei''s father, fang cheng, is my sworn brother. back then, i had no idea of his background or identity,


    we worked together in a factory, sword-fought together, and brawled together. between the ages of eighteen and twenty, we were inseparable."


    "what about afterwards?" xia liu''s interest grew; he had indeed not miscalculated¡ªli zhong was definitely a breakthrough!

 Chapter 174 Drunken Collapse

    "after that, when i discovered some secrets he had been hiding, i broke off our brotherhood."li zhong couldn''t help but smile as he said this.


    he often reflected on this matter, and whenever he did, he would laugh.


    he laughed at his own ignorance, laughed at his own naivety.


    "mmm-hmm, what were fang cheng''s secrets?"


    "li county, don''t fall asleep! finish what you were saying!"


    "crap!"


    xia liu grabbed his hair in both hands, what on earth was going on.


    just as the crucial words were about to be spoken, li zhong actually fell asleep with his head on the table!!!


    "oh, xia liu, you''re here." just as xia liu was about to use his spiritual energy to wake li zhong, xu fang walked in through the door.


    "yeah, aunt xu, did you just get back from shopping?" xia liu was already inwardly crying with laughter, and now someone showed up at this critical moment...


    "yeah, yeah, since qianqian is busy, she asked me to buy her clothes. she''s so grown up, always busy with work, not thinking about getting a boyfriend and getting married. what are her dad and i going to do..."


    xu fang complained, her gaze stealing glances at xia liu from time to time.


    "auntie, i think for such matters, as a young person, qianqian must have her own thoughts..." xia liu didn''t understand what xu fang''s sidelong looks meant; was she hinting at something to him?


    "ah... if qianqian could find a young fellow like you, even if i died, i''d die happy."


    "heh, auntie, you must be hungry, right? i brought over some dishes from longyun, just heat them up and try, i guarantee they''re delicious."


    xia liu didn''t know how to respond to that comment and could only divert attention.


    xu fang didn''t continue on the topic, just went happily to reheat the food to eat.


    xia liu stayed at li zhong''s home until six in the evening, realizing he wouldn''t get any news about fang fei from li zhong today, he said goodbye to aunt xu and left.


    a big reason he didn''t want to stay longer was li qianqian; if by some mischance she came back,


    he was bound to be bothered for a good while upon seeing her.


    the sky gradually darkened, and after coming out from li zhong''s house, xia liu''s mind kept echoing the contents of huang xue''s phone call.


    as he was thinking, his phone rang.


    to his surprise, it was huang xue.


    "hello, manager huang, what can i do for you?" xia liu answered the phone with a smile.


    "what''s the matter? i''ve been slaving away at the hotel for you, and where are you? shouldn''t you be thanking me?"


    there was a trace of resentment in huang xue''s voice; xia liu could tell she was really annoyed with him right now.


    "manager huang, please don''t be angry, i''ve really been busy recently. just wait a bit longer, and i will definitely make it up to you."


    "no need, i''ve booked a table at longyun. i expect you to show up, or else i''ll come to your place." huang xue''s voice sounded very firm.


    if xia liu didn''t come tonight, she would immediately head straight for osmanthus village!


    "you got me scared. i''ll definitely be there within half an hour."


    after getting his reply, huang xue hung up the phone.


    "huang xue, i really want to see what you''re up to!" xia liu murmured to himself while sitting in the car, a glint of vital energy flickering in his eyes.


    had it not been for overhearing huang xue''s phone conversation that morning, he might have completely let down his guard.


    now! humph!


    while he was aware in his mind, xia liu outwardly still acted as if he understood nothing.


    he was still as nonchalant and as carefree as ever.


    he drove around in the county town for a while, and then it took him over ten minutes to head to longyun.


    following huang xue''s directions, he arrived at the most secluded private room on the fifth floor, from which he could gaze upon a unique nightscape through the window.


    when xia liu entered the room, huang xue was leaning against the window looking out. sear?h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    at the first sight of this fairy, xia liu froze in place.


    simply because the beauty was too enchanting.


    at that moment, huang xue was wearing an evening gown that revealed her golden figure.


    she arrogantly leaned against the window, exuding an indescribable aura.


    although xia liu only saw her profile, it was enough to intoxicate him since she was too beautiful.


    "cough cough, manager huang, my apologies for being late," after taking a moment to observe, xia liu coughed twice to punctuate his apology.


    hearing xia liu''s voice, huang xue turned around leisurely, her face cold as ice, "late by ten minutes, boss xia is really punctual, huh."


    huang xue couldn''t help but recall the time xia liu cancelled a dozen dishes just to meet her and even ordered an expensive bottle of red wine in the end.


    now, karma had finally caught up; she wanted to meet him, and yet she had to wait.


    " hehe, sorry, as you know, there''s just been too much going on in the village lately. to make it up to you, order whatever you want, i''ll personally cook it for you."


    continue reading on empire


    xia liu said with a chuckling smile.


    "no need to trouble yourself, i know you''re busy. the reason i asked you here today is actually..."


    "that... i didn''t mean to, i''ve really been busy lately, and i haven''t had the chance to thank you. to apologize, how about i transfer one day''s turnover from longyun hotel to your card, how''s that?"


    "one day''s turnover, you''re not kidding, are you, boss xia?" though her words were interrupted, huang xue was not angry.


    on the contrary, xia liu''s offer shocked her. like today, longyun''s turnover was at least three million, not counting the cost.


    "hehe, i''m not kidding, i didn''t say it was the turnover of the past few days..."


    "pfft! you''d die if you didn''t trick people, wouldn''t you!" huang xue, angered to the point of almost losing her clothes.


    "haha, it''s just a joke. i just wanted to make manager huang happy," xia liu said, waving his hands dismissively.


    "well, i''m happy now, so happy i want to tear you apart!"


    "don''t be like that, how about i punish myself with three bottles as an acknowledgement of my mistake?" saying so, xia liu proceeded to open a few bottles of red wine on the table.


    "sure, i''ll watch you drink."


    indeed, huang xue didn''t urge him to drink; instead, she propped her chin with her jade hand and locked her alluring eyes tightly on xia liu.


    huang xue''s brows grew tighter with time.


    in less than two minutes, xia liu had actually finished three bottles of red wine.


    "oh no, i forgot, i get dizzy when i drink red wine. if i suddenly pass out later, manager huang, remember to call a waiter to help me to my room," xia liu said, gradually slumping onto the table and falling asleep.


    "no way, is this really happening?" huang xue had been watching xia liu, but he had simply passed out drunk.


    the program she''d prepared with so much effort was thus nipped in the bud.


    her ultimate goal for this banquet was to get xia liu drunk and herself a bit tipsy along with him.


    now, however, xia liu had simply collapsed drunk.


    but it didn''t matter, xia liu getting drunk was only the first step!


    huang xue then poured herself several glasses of red wine, and after finishing them, her cheeks were flush with red.


    next, she helped xia liu to lie down on the sofa in the private room.


    after locking the door, she approached the sofa, took off xia liu''s jacket,


    swallowed a few times, bit her teeth, and after a moment, she stood up with her back to xia liu, her trembling hands slowly raised, and the evening dress slid down to the floor...

 Chapter 175 Face Slapped Black

    during huang xue''s turn, xia liu quickly opened his eyes and took a glance.but that single look parched his mouth and tongue.


    if huang xue hadn''t turned around, he definitely would have had an eyeful.


    yet, he couldn''t figure out what huang xue was up to.


    given what she said earlier about the ancestral tradition, that obviously couldn''t be the case.


    combined with the phone call she mentioned at noon, it all hung like a dense fog over xia liu''s heart.


    he didn''t call her out right away, but continued to pretend to be drunk.


    he actually wanted to see what kind of trick this "fairy" was up to!


    after huang xue faced xia liu, she slowly walked towards him.


    bending over, her cherry lips gradually neared xia liu.


    in her hand, a camera was at work, ready to snap a photo at the right moment.


    click!


    the picture was taken.


    she brought the camera in front of her and started to review the images.


    "this angle isn''t good, the lighting isn''t enough, my face looks dark in the photos," she muttered.


    as huang xue inspected the photos she had just taken, suddenly a voice sounded in her ear.


    huang xue''s pupils contracted sharply as she realized what was happening, and the camera fell into xia liu''s hands.


    "ah! weren''t you drunk?" huang xue said, looking at xia liu with fright.


    "drunk? stop joking, those few bottles of red wine wouldn''t get me drunk, not even if there was a whole case of them."


    xia liu coolly stared at huang xue before saying, "if i hadn''t been like this, how would i have known what you were up to?"


    after listening to xia liu''s explanation, huang xue hung her head and remained silent in place.


    yes, she had failed.


    facing immense pressure, she had no other plan but to resort to this extreme measure.


    "if i say that the ancestral instruction is real, would you believe me?" after a long silence, huang xue weakly spoke.


    "if i hadn''t heard you on the phone this morning, maybe i would believe you, and might slowly accept you, but not now. state your intentions," xia liu said.


    xia liu''s eyes were sharp as he looked at huang xue, who was still without any cover.


    if she hadn''t had an ulterior motive, the sofa certainly would have turned into a bed.


    huang xue wasn''t afraid of xia liu''s gaze either; she slowly picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and put them on in front of him.


    "my grandfather is seriously ill, and my father has become delirious. i wanted to ask you for help," she said.


    having said this, tears streamed down huang xue''s cheeks.


    "if that were all, you could have been honest from the start, why wait until now?" xia liu felt that things weren''t as simple as this woman was making them out to be.


    if she needed him to treat her relative, she could have simply talked to him about it, even about money, but she hadn''t.


    "when i first arrived, my grandfather''s illness wasn''t too severe, and my father was still healthy," she said.


    "cut to the chase, what is your real purpose? what''s the point of taking the photos?" xia liu didn''t want to hear any more lies.


    huang xue bit her lip hard, her eyes becoming completely red: "previously, my family invited many doctors to see my grandfather, but doctors who went to treat him died within days after returning, with no apparent cause."


    "taking the photos was just in case; if you didn''t agree, i would use the photos to threaten you."


    "interesting. so you were not straightforward with me because you were worried i might die as well?"


    "yes," she admitted.


    "why do you care about me?" xia liu couldn''t tell if she was being truthful or deceitful. why would she care about him?


    "because of the ancestral instruction, if you have seen me, i can only marry you in this lifetime," she said.


    "alright, quit the nonsense, it''s getting late." xia liu waved his hand; he didn''t want to talk to this girl anymore.


    everything was so muddled, making it impossible to distinguish what was true from what was false.


    before leaving, he saw huang xue still dumbfounded in place, xia liu looked back and said, "i''ll act as if today''s incident never happened. don''t get any ideas about me, the only person who will suffer is you."


    the moment he closed the private room door, xia liu could clearly hear the sound inside.


    the fairy cried, even though she tried to cover it up, she still cried audibly.


    xia liu dared not pause; he hurried down the stairs.


    he was afraid of becoming soft-hearted, and ultimately falling into huang xue''s trap.


    of course, he was not afraid of plots and schemes; he just didn''t want the hassle.


    also, after learning about huang xue''s scheming, his heart began to change.


    even if huang xue was a total charmer, he no longer responded.


    after leaving the hotel, xia liu drove to osmanthus village.


    only home could bring him peace, and only there he could avoid those plots and schemes.


    xia liu turned off his phone and climbed into bed with zhang xiaoxue,


    at five in the morning, as dawn began to break.


    zhang xiaoxue''s phone suddenly rang, and in the dimly lit room, she checked to see the call was from zhang qing.


    xia liu woke up too; he signaled zhang xiaoxue to ask about the situation.


    "sister zhang, it''s almost dawn, aren''t you going to sleep?"


    zhang xiaoxue''s voice was lazy, deliberately portraying the sense of just waking up from a deep sleep.


    in fact, she and xia liu had only just finished...


    "xiaoxue, is xia liu at home?"


    "he''s here, take your time sister zhang, what happened?" zhang xiaoxue instantly became alert upon hearing the anxiety in zhang qing''s voice. sea??h th§× n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "xue''er left, i don''t know what got into her, she dragged me to drink until now, and i fell asleep on the table. when i woke up, i found she had driven home!"


    zhang qing was extremely anxious; huang xue had drunk a lot, and if something happened, she''d feel guilty for a lifetime.


    "ah! what''s happened?" zhang xiaoxue was startled, driving home after drinking so much, huang xue was practically acting suicidal.


    "no idea, quickly have xia liu get up and drive around to search."


    "brother xia liu, sister xue''er drove home drunk, you need to go find her, make sure she''s okay."


    zhang xiaoxue looked at xia liu anxiously.


    back when huang xue first arrived, zhang xiaoxue might have had many opinions.


    but after spending some time together, she not only dropped her objections, but she also became good sisters with huang xue.


    now, having become xia liu''s woman, zhang xiaoxue naturally worried a lot for her good sister huang xue.


    "xiaoxue, are you and xia liu sleeping together???" zhang qing asked in surprise over the phone.


    "sister zhang, don''t worry about that right now, go ask the front desk for more information. brother xia liu is getting up."


    zhang xiaoxue said anxiously.


    "okay, i''ll go ask for clearer information." after hanging up, zhang qing immediately questioned the night-shift staff.


    "brother xia liu, do you know something?" zhang xiaoxue caught up to him as he was heading out the door and asked. your next chapter is on empire


    "you don''t worry about this for now; i''ll go and bring huang xue back," xia liu said hurriedly as he ran out the door.


    hearing that huang xue had driven home at this time, xia liu''s heart was unable to calm down for a long time.


    even after he had pointed out some issues, she shouldn''t be hurting herself on purpose.


    if huang xue really had an accident, xia liu would be deeply troubled.


    recalling all that had passed, huang xue had never been malicious toward him.


    and he had to thank her; if it weren''t for her, initially, the oysters wouldn''t have fetched that price...

 Chapter 176 Setting Out to Find Huang Xue

    thinking it over, xia liu drove to the longyun hotel.he didn''t ask anyone and just pulled zhang qing into the car.


    "the front desk said that xue''er''s mental state isn''t very good, and the car drove off in that direction." as soon as she got in the car, zhang qing shared some information and then pointed towards an intersection ahead.


    "when did she leave?" xia liu asked while driving in that direction.


    "around 4:30."


    "it''s been an hour, i wonder how xue''er is doing..." zhang qing became visibly distressed.


    during this time, she and huang xue had become close friends.


    now that this had happened, how could she not be worried?


    "don''t worry, nothing will happen," xia liu could only offer reassurance.


    he bore the greatest responsibility for this situation, if it wasn''t for the confrontation, she wouldn''t have left like this.


    or perhaps if his attitude had been more cheerful, the outcome wouldn''t have been like this.


    xia liu drove along the road, continuing straight whenever he was on a major avenue.


    he had no idea where huang xue had actually driven off to.


    zhang qing wasn''t idle either; while xia liu drove, she was making calls on the side.


    but ever since she woke up, huang xue''s phone had been turned off.


    even so, zhang qing didn''t give up and kept dialing, hoping to hear her voice and know she was safe.


    after driving about a hundred kilometers, xia liu finally lost all hope as well.


    it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, with so many roads, even driving endlessly wouldn''t guarantee a chance encounter.


    "xia liu, do you think something bad might have happened to xue''er?" zhang qing asked with teary eyes.


    xia liu remained silent; he wasn''t sure, and the only thing to do for now was to call chen jin.


    just as he was taking out his phone, suddenly a message popped up on the screen.


    it was from huang xue!


    zhang qing immediately perked up on the side.


    she quickly snatched xia liu''s phone to check it.


    after zhang qing read the message, her expression instantly turned grim.


    "xia liu, what exactly is going on?"


    "it''s nothing, let me see what she sent." xia liu didn''t answer immediately and started checking the phone.


    "sorry, xia liu, i shouldn''t have deceived you. the family precept is real, i made up my dad''s illness, but my grandfather really has a strange disease, and anyone who comes in contact with him will die,


    after my parents knew you cured my illness, they asked me to invite you, but i can''t just watch you die, i''m about to board a plane, maybe we''ll meet again if fate allows..."


    after reading the message, xia liu was deeply unsettled for a long time.


    so the reason why huang xue had been silent was this; she was worried that if he went to treat the illness, he might die...


    seeing how she repeatedly mentioned the family precept, it seems to be real; perhaps she was truly bound by it for her entire life.


    "xue''er''s phone is turned off!" while xia liu was reading the message, zhang qing was dialing huang xue''s phone, and the result was still the same.


    "xia liu, please tell me what this is all about."


    "let''s talk while we walk," xia liu felt somewhat guilty.


    he had mistaken huang xue''s concern for hostility, ultimately leading to this ridiculous outcome.


    by the time they returned to the longyun hotel, it was already 9 in the morning.


    zhang xiaoxue, being extremely worried, had gotten li dazhuang to drive her to the hotel early in the morning.


    when zhang qing and xia liu returned, she immediately ran up and embraced zhang qing.


    "xiaoxue, don''t worry. xue''er should have safely reached home by now," zhang qing said, gently patting zhang xiaoxue''s back.


    "i was terrified! wuu wuu, how could sister xue''er leave us behind like that?" zhang xiaoxue said with a sob.


    "let xia liu have some peace, and i''ll explain to you in the office." glancing at xia liu''s cool, handsome face, zhang qing led zhang xiaoxue upstairs first.


    "brother xia liu, what happened? do we need to call the brothers from the village?" although li dazhuang did not know what was happening, the atmosphere around them felt oppressively heavy.


    "no need, dazhuang. i might need to leave for a few days, and i''ll leave the village matters to you and xiaoxue."


    xia liu smiled wryly, having made up his mind on the way back.


    he needed to find huang xue, apologize, and take responsibility!


    "ah! can that work?" li dazhuang was somewhat worried. if xia liu was not in osmanthus village, it would definitely be difficult to move forward.


    "dazhuang, have confidence in yourself. we don''t need to venture into anything new right now, just take the right opportunities to do what needs to be done," xia liu said, not waiting for li dazhuang''s agreement before taking him into the private room for a detailed discussion.


    an hour later, li dazhuang promised with a smile, "brother xia liu, rest assured, i definitely won''t let you down."


    actually, the tasks xia liu had entrusted were simple: once the seafood was sold out at both longyun and longteng hotels, just call liang caiming for fishing.


    with ye ming handling matters on this side, there wouldn''t be any problems.


    regarding the distillery, li zhi would be in charge of the brewing zone, so there was no need to worry.


    as for the cooperation with tianluo pharmaceutical, xia liu also informed liu lanxin that if medicinal liquor was needed, just call li dazhuang.


    moreover, xia liu went through the process of making the medicinal liquor with li dazhuang as well. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    for the base liquor, a phone call would ensure it was delivered; the main concern was the herbal ingredients.


    he had also to prepare a few batches before leaving; these herbs weren''t like the ingredients for the beauty mud which couldn''t be stored for long, so there was no need to worry.


    xia liu went over each of the other large and small tasks as well.


    after li dazhuang confirmed everything was correct, xia liu went to the office and updated zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue about his plans to find huang xue. read latest stories on empire


    the two women naturally did not object; they even strongly supported xia liu.


    as for huang xue''s home address, neither xia liu nor zhang xiaoxue knew it; only zhang qing knew a bit.


    but she only knew it down to the city level, not the precise address.


    "yuanguang city, huh..."


    muttering to himself, xia liu drove to town, where he needed to buy the herbs for making medicinal liquor.


    they would certainly be for sale at tianluo pharmacy.


    right now, he had no time to consider other matters; after completing the purchase, he would pack the herbs.


    he would then package them into several portions and hand them over to li dazhuang.


    after finishing his tasks, xia liu drove fast toward binlai.


    the distance from yuanguang city to binlai was over three thousand kilometers; driving there was not very practical, only flying was feasible.


    three hours later, xia liu leaned against the window, gazing at the soft, floating clouds outside.


    before boarding the plane, xia liu had left his car at wanqing hotel.


    what he needed to ponder now was, upon reaching yuanguang city, how he would go about finding huang xue.


    sitting beside xia liu were two others; next to him was an elderly man around sixty years old.


    next to him sat a girl, and from the conversation between the elderly and the young, they seemed to be grandfather and granddaughter.


    the girl looked about sixteen or seventeen, average in appearance, but with a pair of delicate, fair hands.


    as soon as he boarded the plane, xia liu felt that the elder sitting next to him must be a traditional medic, as there was a faint scent of chinese medicine on him.


    "grandpa, is the news uncle talked about true? curing the other person''s illness would get us fifty million?"

 Chapter 177 Divine Doctor Activity

    mu jiuzhen looked at her grandfather with a puzzled expression.she and her grandfather had always lived in the countryside, and this time they were going to fly to yuanguang city.


    it was all because of a message from her eldest uncle.


    mu hua closed his eyes, not wanting to explain too much to his granddaughter.


    he didn''t care whether his eldest son''s message was true or not; he could not avoid making this trip to yuanguang.


    if the message was true, he could test his medical skills, and as for the money, even a hundred million wouldn''t move him.


    "grandfather, i feel like the message is fake, and the real motive of uncle is to lure you to move to the city permanently," mu jiuzhen continued after watching her grandfather for a while, noticing that he wasn''t responding to her earlier.


    "grandpa, say something. i''ve also studied medicine with you for ten years. don''t think i don''t understand anything. where in the world is there a doctor who dies just after coming into contact with a patient?"


    "jiuzhen, we are on a plane now. if you keep nagging, i might not take you out again," mu hua finally spoke up.


    he couldn''t stand his granddaughter''s repeated inquiries any longer.


    mu jiuzhen pouted and turned her head away, "fine, i won''t say anything. and you''re threatening me."


    "elder sir, what''s the situation with the patient your granddaughter just mentioned?" xia liu, who was sitting inside, became interested after overhearing their conversation.


    the symptoms of this patient seemed very similar to those of huang xue''s grandfather. the doctors would die not long after seeing the patient.


    "young man, are you interested in this patient? are you also studying medicine?" a glint of vital energy flashed in mu hua''s eyes.


    ever since mu hua sat next to xia liu on the plane, he had taken a strong interest in him.


    over the years, mu hua had been wandering all over and was very accurate at judging people, but xia liu was a mystery to him; he always felt that xia liu was very secretive.


    "hmm, the young man''s name is xia liu. i wonder what the elder''s name is?" xia liu nodded, seeing no need to hide anything. maybe they would see each other again after arriving in yuanguang.


    "xia liu, that''s a good name. the old man is called mu hua."


    "elder mu, how much do you know about the condition of that patient?" xia liu, not one to beat around the bush, directly addressed him as elder mu. with this address, mu hua would definitely not hide anything.


    "i don''t know much. my eldest son, who works in the city, told me their old chairman has contracted a strange illness. if anyone touches him, they die within a few days."


    "that is indeed quite strange," xia liu nodded. he hadn''t quite believed it when huang xue told him.


    now it seemed that this strange occurrence indeed existed.


    "young man, i advise you to dispel the thought; those fifty million come with the price of life," mu jiuzhen sighed.


    "thanks for the concern, little sister, but i do have some confidence in my own medical skills," he replied.


    "pff! grandma wang sells melons, boasting about her own. just based on your words, it''s clear to me that you''re going for that fifty million," mu jiuzhen said contemptuously.


    "jiuzhen! how do you talk like that! apologize to your brother xia liu right now!" seeing his granddaughter speak so freely, mu hua said sternly.


    "grandpa, what i said is the truth. look at this guy, not only does he have a nasty name, but he also boasts about his medical skills. is that the modesty expected of someone who studies medicine?" mu jiuzhen was indignant.


    how could she possibly apologize to xia liu? not only was he arrogant, but his objective for this trip was undoubtedly the money.


    mu jiuzhen had always despised doctors like xia liu, who coveted money.


    "jiuzhen, shut your mouth and sit aside. if you dare to speak again, i won''t take you out in the future!" mu hua could only threaten, feeling helpless.


    indeed, mu hua''s threat was effective, and mu jiuzhen, covering her mouth with her hand, dared not speak anymore.


    "xia liu, actually, i also don''t understand the situation very well. without examining the pulse on the scene, it''s not good to speculate and judge," mu hua said bitterly after dealing with his granddaughter.


    "hmm, i''ve also heard about this case a long time ago. elder mu, you should know where the patient lives, right?"


    "i didn''t ask about that. jiuzhen, do you know?"


    "i know, but i won''t tell you."


    ```


    ...


    "little sister, tell me and once we get off the plane, i''ll grant you one reasonable wish," xia liu could only deal with a girl with a mindset like mu jiuzhen in this manner.


    "really?" there you go, mu jiuzhen''s eyes trembled as she looked at xia liu.


    "of course."


    "jiuzhen, stop messing around and quickly tell xia liu the address," mu hua couldn''t stand it anymore, her granddaughter was really a headache.


    "alright, but xia liu, you must remember your promise, next time we meet, you have to buy me a set of golden needles!"


    "golden needles?" xia liu almost laughed out loud, silver needles, golden needles, what did it matter? it''s the person who applies them that''s most important, but he promised anyway.


    seeing xia liu agree, mu jiuzhen quickly told him the address.


    "however, even with the address, i can''t go there just yet. it''s said that family is hosting a divine doctor event in two days, and the house will only open its doors then to allow qualified doctors inside," mu jiuzhen said.


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    "thank you, elder mu, for reminding me, i''ll definitely be there in two days."


    after chatting idly for over half an hour, the plane reached yuanguang airport.


    when it came time to part, both mu hua and mu jiuzhen were very reluctant to say goodbye.


    mu hua because he''d had a conversation about chinese medicine with xia liu on the plane and xia liu''s medical theories had overturned his understanding.


    as for mu jiuzhen, she was thinking about xia liu buying her a set of golden needles, so she could have some prestige following her grandfather around.


    after bidding farewell to the two, xia liu got into a taxi.


    once he gave the address, xia liu closed his eyes to rest.


    "breaking news, breaking news, the huang group is offering fifty million huaxia currency to anyone who can find a divine doctor to cure the old chairman''s strange illness, and there''s a fifty million reward!"


    this is the message that came from the car radio.


    "young man, looking at the address, it seems to be the venue for the divine doctor event," the bored taxi driver mentioned.


    "hmm, i''m going to meet a friend," xia liu thought for a moment before replying.


    seeing xia liu''s response, the driver didn''t initiate further conversation and remained silent for the rest of the trip.


    after reaching the destination, xia liu looked over the building in front of him.


    a wealthy family''s villa area, above the gate was a plaque: "huanglong city!" sea??h th§× n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    outside this so-called huanglong city, a large group of reporters was filming.


    because the huang family had been having more than a few issues recently.


    the old master was bedridden, struck by a strange illness that seemed to kill anyone who came into contact with it.


    this had become a spectacle in yuanguang city.


    then there was the huang family''s divine doctor event, the fifty million prize money that shook the entire city.


    fifty million, an amount one might not earn in a lifetime of labor.


    the huang family promised outright that whoever cured the old master''s illness would get the money directly.


    the moment the event hit the news, countless people regretted why they hadn''t studied medicine.


    curing one patient could bring one''s life to perfection, reaching the peak.


    just as xia liu was about to take further action, a convertible sports car drove out from the main gate.


    when he saw who was sitting in the driver''s seat, xia liu found a place to hide.


    however, after a day had passed, upon seeing huang xue, xia liu couldn''t understand why he felt so excited, as if the blood in his body was boiling.


    ```

 Chapter 178 Registration

    after huang xue left his view, xia liu did not linger any further.entering directly to provide treatment now would not be very good, instead, if he wanted to apologize to huang xue, then he should make it a grand gesture!


    in front of everyone, he would reveal his prowess for her!


    although the scenery of yuanguang city was beautiful, xia liu was not in the mood to take it in.


    before the divine doctor event commenced, he had been lingering around huanglong city.


    the number of journalists gathering at the entrance was increasing, because of the event, more and more doctors from other places were also coming here.


    and they were all old practitioners of traditional chinese medicine. xia liu had entered huanglong city once, gaining some understanding of its structure.


    huang xue''s grandfather was named huang zhongcai, and the huang family had placed him in an empty room.


    there was no equipment inside, just a bed for the old man to rest on.


    because of his strange illness, the servants who came close to huang zhongcai were all wearing protective suits with gloves.


    this was indeed a job that risked one''s life; already, two servants had lost their lives to exposure to huang zhongcai.


    since security was spread all around the house, xia liu did not want to expend the effort to take a closer look.


    therefore, he did not know much about huang zhongcai''s illness.


    as night approached, the huang family would launch the divine doctor event tomorrow.


    the people inside huanglong city gradually got busy, with more security guards showing up, and even the police arrived on the scene.


    tonight was the registration time for the event, and the people gathered outside the villa had already exceeded one hundred.


    most were old traditional chinese medicine doctors who had come from other places; they registered their information at the entrance and then left.


    "next," the person at the registration desk arranged the papers, barking out without even lifting his head.


    "name, specialty, medical record."


    "xia liu, specialty is acupuncture, can cure all symptoms."


    the registrar, copying the information down, couldn''t help but frown and then lifted his head to stare at the youth at the table.


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    "don''t mess around, kid!"


    huang letian was assigned to register the old doctors'' information and was already quite annoyed, and now, hearing what xia liu said, his anger intensified.


    but no matter what, he was a scion of the huang family, and with so many journalists around, he had to watch his words, or else he would have cursed out loud much earlier.


    "alright, i''ve cured early-stage cancer, genetic diseases," xia liu awkwardly smiled. these days, telling the truth really makes people take you for a fool.


    "haha, listen here, young man, although fifty million is a lot, you could earn it with a hundred years of hard work, don''t be obsessed with this event."


    "trash! get lost, how can you be so senseless at such a young age?"


    "exactly, don''t hold everyone else up, all right!"


    the people queuing up behind xia liu couldn''t help but jeer and become angry. s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    if xia liu were an old man with white hair, his claims might hold some credibility.


    after all, they all studied traditional chinese medicine and were somewhat familiar with huaxia''s medical texts¡ªmiracles often came from traditional chinese medicine.


    but xia liu, barely in his twenties, dared to claim he had cured cancer!


    this was nothing but nonsense.


    "alright then, young man, just write that i''m proficient in medicinal materials; since the patient''s body can''t be touched, perhaps healing could be done through medicinal materials."


    xia liu couldn''t care less about these so-called practitioners of traditional chinese medicine mocking him behind his back¡ªthey were not qualified to do so.


    "got it, come back tomorrow, next," huang letian sighed with relief, waving xia liu away, fearing he might end up hitting the guy if he stayed any longer.


    "trash!"


    "get lost!"


    "brain-dead!"


    "with such a big forest, all kinds of birds are bound to appear!"


    when xia liu left, he walked past the doctors who were queuing, and they were all making sarcastic remarks.


    in their eyes, xia liu''s words and actions were nothing but disdain and contempt for huaxia traditional medicine.


    cancer is recognized by the world as a terminal disease. it was one thing for him to claim he could cure it, but to say he could also cure genetic diseases...


    if he could really cure them, then others wouldn''t inherit them anymore, and even if they did, they wouldn''t wait for him to treat them.


    xia liu''s expression was cold and handsome, and he scanned the crowd with a furious gaze.


    the people who had made sarcastic remarks shut their mouths when they saw xia liu''s eyes, sharp like those of a fierce beast.


    after xia liu had left, they all felt their backs were soaked in sweat.


    each of them inhaled sharply. xia liu''s gaze had instilled a sense of fear in them.


    it was as though such a gaze did not belong on a human.


    in the queuing crowd, there were two people whose emotions differed from the rest.


    "grandfather, do you think that guy named xia liu really has cured cancer?" mu jiuzhen, who was queuing with her grandfather, asked with doubt.


    "not sure, but i have high hopes for him. i have never seen a young doctor so confident, yet so eloquently spoken," mu hua replied uncertainly.


    perhaps xia liu had indeed cured cancer. after all, huaxia traditional medicine had been handed down for thousands of years, with astonishing medical practitioners emerging in every era.


    once out of everyone''s sight, xia liu lingered in a corner.


    after checking that no one was around, he took a deep breath and leapt over the wall with one bound.


    according to the map in his mind, xia liu arrived in front of a small three-story villa.


    a convertible sports car was parked in front of the villa, the very one driven by huang xue!


    and in this villa lived huang xue.


    xia liu climbed up to a balcony on the second floor using the installed pipes.


    inside the room, there was a large round bed, and a set of pajamas was carelessly thrown on it.


    seeing this, xia liu swallowed several times, especially when he saw a light shining through the glass door of the bathroom.


    he was certain huang xue was taking a shower!


    just then, as xia liu was letting his imagination run wild, the bathroom door swung open.


    a fair figure stepped out, and regrettably, huang xue was wrapped in a towel...


    her expression cold, she stepped out of the bathroom barefoot, glanced at the open curtains, and then moved toward the window.


    whoosh!


    she pulled the curtains closed, cutting off the view of the room from the outside.


    "damn curtains!" xia liu cursed as he stood outside the window.


    "damn you, xia liu! i''ll make you hate me! make you despise me!" just as xia liu was considering a place to rest, sudden slapping sounds and angry voices came from inside the room.


    xia liu strained to see inside the room through the curtains which weren''t completely closed.


    at that moment, huang xue was sitting on the bed, her hands continuously pounding the pillow.


    seeing this, xia liu felt embarrassed. this girl must be imagining that pillow as him. if those slaps were on his face, damn, that would be disfiguring.


    "woo woo... do you know me? i miss you so much, i find myself falling deeper in love with you, missing your smile, your casualness, everything about you."


    after venting for a while, huang xue suddenly started crying: "grandfather''s strange illness cannot be touched by anyone, even if you came, it would be the same, you will hate me, it''s me who deceived you..."


    "silly girl, i''m already here..."


    watching huang xue talk to herself in sadness, xia liu longed to open the balcony door and enter the room.


    and then give her a warm embrace.


    but he forcefully held himself back; it wasn''t the time for them to meet yet!


    he had to perform in front of her, in front of everyone! let her see his attitude, let her know how much he missed her, and that he was capable of helping her...

 Chapter 179 The Feast That Went Awry

    after calming his emotions, xia liu entered the villa through the balcony.this villa was inhabited by huang xue alone, and its several rooms were more than she could use, so xia liu chose one to rest in.


    however, he dared not sleep deeply, as there was always the possibility of being discovered by huang xue here.


    xia liu sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands forming seals before his chest, quietly circulating the five elements mantra.


    while circulating the five elements mantra, his senses were extremely sharp, ready to react to the slightest disturbance.


    fortunately, huang xue spent the entire night peacefully and did not wander around the villa. explore hidden tales at empire


    the next morning, still sitting cross-legged on the bed, xia liu suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of vital energy sparkling within them.


    he quickly moved behind the door and pressed his ear against it to listen to the sounds outside.


    "xue''er, get up right now," an impatient voice rang out in the hallway.


    "mom, what are you doing so early in the morning?" huang xue lazily opened her door; she had suffered from insomnia last night and had only just managed to fall asleep for a while.


    "don''t you know what day it is today? hurry up and get ready to go out."


    "i''m not going; it''s not like there''s no one else at home," huang xue flatly refused.


    "what do you know! those are just country bumpkins; your focus should be on the scions of yuanguang city''s elite," yang yuehua was really at her wit''s end with her daughter.


    in her twenties, she considered her family not at all.


    if the old man falls this time, the huang family will be thrown into crisis.


    it was critical to seek a powerful ally while the old man was still around, or else the huang family would decline with his departure.


    and the most powerful weapon to find an ally was huang xue herself¡ªshe was young and beautiful and known as the most beautiful woman in yuanguang city.


    she was the ideal match for countless wealthy scions, and today was an important day for the huang family.


    it was not only a day to find a divine doctor but also to find a powerful strategic partner through today''s grand banquet.


    "mom! today is all about finding a doctor for grandpa, can we please not drag me into this?" huang xue said angrily.


    "just get ready quickly, if you bring shame upon the huang family, see if your father won''t teach you a lesson!" yang yuehua did not elaborate further, threatening before she left.


    "mom, have you forgotten the ancestral teachings?" sighing and shaking her head, huang xue closed her door.


    she was interested in today''s event with the divine doctor, but only wanted to see the doctor treat her grandfather, not to be paraded around like a peacock for those wealthy heirs to gawk at! sea??h th§× n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xia liu smiled; it seemed that saving her grandfather would be of great help to the huang family.


    after these thoughts, xia liu leaped and left the villa.


    when he finished his breakfast and arrived at the gate of the villa complex, he was surprised by the scene before him.


    next to the gate, a stage had been set up at some point, with several tables and chairs on it.


    below the stage, there were only ten chairs set aside for young master liao.


    it seemed the huang family was only selecting ten doctors to examine the old man.


    by now, xia liu was already at the back of the crowd, with a dense mass of heads in front of him, at least two hundred people; the competition seemed fierce.


    among the crowd were both old and young, generally masters who had brought their pupils to gain experience.


    the crowd was discussing in low voices, the main topic being the fifty million prize.


    only a few people were discussing the old man''s illness.


    hearing this, xia liu couldn''t help shaking his head; facing such a disease that could kill upon touch, those who dared to challenge it without any solid methods were foolish.


    he naturally wasn''t afraid; with just a couple of his techniques, the world itself would tremble.


    "xia liu! there you are!" just as xia liu was thinking about how to squeeze to the front, a pleasant voice called out from behind him.


    turning around, he saw mu jiuzhen and mu hua slowly approaching.


    walking beside the two was a man in his forties.


    "xia liu, where''s my gift? you said you''d give it to me the next time we met!"


    "mu jiuzhen, it seems like those were your words, right?" xia liu said, frustrated.


    "i don''t care, give me the golden needle!" mu jiuzhen didn''t bother with that issue and directly reached out for the needle.


    "jiuzhen, stop being unreasonable," mu hua chided his granddaughter, unable to watch her rudeness.


    "hehe, elder mu, no need for that, i''ve got the needle," xia liu said with a chuckle, pulling a small box out of his pocket.


    mu jiuzhen snatched the box immediately and opened it, and when the nine shimmering golden needles appeared,


    she was stunned, having not expected her casual joke to actually come true!


    mu hua too was taken aback, and his view of xia liu''s mysteriousness deepened a notch.


    just as mu hua was about to speak, a thunderous noise came from afar.


    looking over, they saw a black lamborghini speeding towards them.


    a young man was sitting in the car, which didn''t stop, but drove straight into the huang family''s gate.


    "that is the young master of the fuli group." having struggled in yuanguang city for many years, mu qianshan was somewhat familiar with the elite heirs of society.


    sure enough, after one heir entered, several more cars arrived.


    mu qianshan identified the owners of the cars one by one, all either rich second generations or official second generations.


    "uncle, what are these wealthy young masters doing here? are they here to treat illnesses?" mu jiuzhen asked, puzzled.


    "of course not, if these young masters knew how to treat illnesses, our horses would be talking by now. they''re here to see someone," mu qianshan exclaimed.


    "see who?"


    "miss huang xue of the huang family, the most beautiful girl in yuanguang city!"


    hearing this, xia liu understood; huang xue really had a reason for not wanting to go out.


    well, well, just a few heirs.


    after a few sports cars went in, some more black cars arrived.


    however, they did not enter the huang family''s premises but stopped at the gate instead.


    huang letian, as the person in charge of this event, hurried over to welcome them as soon as he saw these cars.


    six men got out of the cars, all with white hair and dignified appearances, one of whom looked pale and frail, as if he had one foot in the coffin.


    the six elders were invited by huang letian onto the stage as soon as they got out of the cars.


    "that one is song lingzhen! a legend in huaxia''s field of traditional medicine!" the doctors in the audience exclaimed in surprise when they recognized the six figures on stage.


    they all knew these six people; some even had their portraits hanging in their clinics.


    song lingzhen was the frail, pale-faced elder.


    in huaxia''s field of medicine, he was hailed as the modern hua tuo, his medical skills having almost reached the peak of the world.


    "it''s truly lucky to be able to meet elder song!"


    "haha! elder song himself conducting an assessment; this time it certainly will be challenging!"


    a buzz of excitement spread through the crowd.


    song lingzhen, in the eyes of the doctors, was more dazzling than any celebrity.


    "song lingzhen, seems like i''ve seen him somewhere before..."


    "xia liu, watch your words. he''s my grandfather''s idol. he''s a hundred and ten this year. considering you gave me the golden needle, i''ll let it go,"


    hearing xia liu exaggerate, mu jiuzhen wanted to be angry, but holding the golden needle, she dared not be angry.

 Chapter 180 Assessment

    "jiuzhen, stop being reckless!" mu hua said sternly.song lingzhen was such a legendary figure, known to everyone who studied traditional chinese medicine.


    when people said they had seen him, it might have just been a photograph.


    xia liu smiled slightly and said no more.


    "everyone, quiet down!" just as mu jiuzhen was about to speak, huang letian on the stage spoke up.


    as his voice emerged, the crowd below gradually quieted down.


    "today, i represent the huang family in thanking everyone for coming," huang letian made a symbolic bow.


    "however, spots are limited, and the huang family will select only ten doctors from among you, with this session''s judge being teacher song lingzhen."


    as huang letian made the introduction, the crowd broke into applause, and their emotions were very much stirred.


    song lingzhen, known to every practitioner of traditional chinese medicine in huaxia.


    he was almost the idol of all current practitioners.


    if one could advance, they would surely have the opportunity to discuss with song lingzhen later on.


    this was the exciting point for the audience below.


    "elder mu, isn''t this divine doctor song extremely skilled? can he not cure this patient as well?" at that moment, xia liu asked, puzzled.


    "ah... divine doctor song, due to his old age, cannot focus during medical practice, and thus dares not treat rashly," mu hua sighed as he spoke, "it is said that although divine doctor song can no longer practice, he will accompany the treatment. that is to say, whoever wins the opportunity will get to discuss with divine doctor song!"


    by the end, mu hua''s eyes were gleaming intensely.


    being able to study a medical case with one''s idol was definitely a crazy prospect.


    when huang letian announced that those who advanced could discuss medical cases with song lingzhen, the scene literally exploded!


    "hahaha! i must collaborate with divine doctor song!"


    "one of those ten spots must be mine!"


    "mine! mine!"


    watching the scene, these doctors were like chickens bloodied up, xia liu could only shake his head.


    song lingzhen may have been old, but his vision was sharp; he hesitated to make a move because he wasn''t absolutely sure of a cure.


    therefore, they organized this event, fine, when the time comes, select the person.


    go to treat, and if the treatment fails, it''s not his problem.


    all of these were xia liu''s thoughts.


    after maintaining control of the scene, huang letian pointed out who should come on stage.


    this assessment was absolutely controlled by song lingzhen''s disciple, song ze.


    song ze was thirty years old this year, looked somewhat older, and sat respectfully and seriously beside song lingzhen, posing questions and assessing every doctor who came on stage.


    if he was the slightest bit dissatisfied, he would disqualify them.


    however, after more than an hour, a good half of those present were eliminated, and seven people were already sitting in the chairs below. sea??h th§× n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    one of those seats was mu hua''s!


    mu hua sat in the chair, with mu qianshan and mu jiuzhen standing behind him.


    the six other seats were also more or less accompanied by young people.


    only the last three spots remained, and the competition was incredibly fierce.


    xia liu''s heart began to feel complicated.


    theoretically, he had registered much earlier than mu hua.


    yet why had mu hua advanced, while his own name had yet to be called?


    "congratulations to teacher yang nian on advancing!"


    "ah! there''s no chance left!"


    "damn! i haven''t even been assessed, how can it end!"


    "exactly! my master hasn''t been assessed yet, how can it end!"


    as huang letian read out the name of the last person to advance, an immediate outcry of dissent erupted from below.


    they were all dissatisfied; it would''ve been one thing if they''d been called on stage and lost, but to be finished without even going up, that was unacceptable to any of them.


    "ladies and gentlemen, please, do not be agitated," letian announced. "this is just the first round, and we will continue until everyone has a chance to be assessed!"


    upon hearing letian''s words, the crowd finally calmed down.


    if they were to leave just like that, not only would they have wasted their travel expenses, but they would have also lost so many days.


    letian had his staff lead the advancing candidates into the villa district and the assessment continued.


    this round was evidently much quicker than the first one.


    soon after their names were called, song ze immediately asked the candidates questions. if anyone took more than three seconds to respond, letian would instantly call the next doctor''s name. your next chapter is on empire


    in such a manner, within just half an hour, two-thirds of the attendees were eliminated again.


    only about ten people were left in the end.


    those eliminated did not leave immediately; they wanted to see the final outcome.


    even after the assessment was over, they waited. the odd disease had piqued their curiosity¡ªif even divine doctor song, who was supervising, couldn''t cure it, it was likely that no one else could.


    xia liu was among these ten individuals. he had been silent from the beginning, and he remained so even now.


    another ten minutes passed, and now nine people were sitting on the eight chairs.


    the only candidate left, undoubtedly, was xia liu.


    letian glanced at xia liu, who stood there alone, and suddenly felt awkward.


    he had discarded xia liu''s registration information the evening before.


    he never thought someone around his own age would come for the assessment.


    yet, here he was!


    "only the last one left, please!" in front of many, letian couldn''t afford to tarnish the huang family''s reputation, so he gestured towards xia liu.


    the audience then turned their eyes towards xia liu, beginning to ridicule him.


    "hahaha! i bet this guy will definitely be eliminated!"


    "isn''t that obvious without even betting?"


    "haha! i wondered who the last one was, and it turns out to be that moron. what a disgrace to traditional chinese medicine practitioners!"


    "everyone, quiet down a bit. didn''t you notice even the host is too lazy to say his name?"


    ¡­


    as xia liu walked towards the stage, the onlookers started mocking him.


    after the registration last night, xia liu was already etched in their minds.


    they believed that xia liu was a joke.


    some didn''t even bother to lift their heads, thinking someone as presumptuous as xia liu already had his results out.


    in response, xia liu kept silent, having nothing useful to retort to a fool.


    seeing the continuous mockery from the audience, song ze frowned but still posed the question, "how do you treat rheumatoid arthritis?"


    "with the needle as the guide, with energy to open channels, with fire to burn the source, and with wood to nurture the spirit."


    no sooner had song ze finished speaking than xia liu responded crisply.


    "pfft! hahaha..."


    "what kind of bizarre theory is this? i''ve never even heard of it!"


    "i think this young man is not bad; because i absolutely don''t understand it."


    "hahaha, this is the funniest joke i''ve ever heard."


    "get off the stage!"


    "exactly, don''t disgrace us, traditional chinese medicine practitioners!"


    "who is this greenhorn? he dares to sign up without knowing anything about traditional chinese medicine!"


    the onlookers burst into furious debate as soon as they heard what xia liu said.


    even the older traditional chinese medicine doctors were blushing with suppression.


    xia liu''s words were not merely a bit embarrassing for them.


    song ze was quite embarrassed too; he didn''t understand xia liu''s words, which seemed less like treatment and more like nonsense.


    however, song ze failed to notice that his master, divine doctor song, suddenly had his pupils dilate upon hearing xia liu''s theory¡­

 Chapter 181 Divine Doctor Xia

    "you''ve been eliminated!" as expected, song ze announced bluntly."it should have been this way long ago, letting that idiot disgrace traditional chinese medicine!"


    song ze''s announcement really satisfied everyone, allowing the elderly traditional chinese medicine doctors at the scene to breathe a sigh of relief.


    "be quiet!" just then, the aged song lingzhen suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed on xia liu.


    "master, what''s going on?" song ze asked his master dumbfounded, completely unable to understand what was happening.


    having accompanied song lingzhen for many years, song ze felt his master''s change even more.


    was the master excited because of the young man being assessed?


    like song ze, everyone else in the audience didn''t understand either.


    song lingzhen''s gaze was too direct, his eyes were locked on xia liu¡ªcould he have seen something?


    after the crowd quieted down, song lingzhen had song ze help him walk over to xia liu: "young man, may i know your name?"


    "xia liu."


    "where were you three years ago?"


    "it''s been too long; i''ve forgotten. i should have been wandering around europe and america." xia liu thought for a moment; he really had forgotten.


    three years ago was precisely when he achieved the minor achievement of the five elements mantra.


    in a moment of impulsiveness, he snuck out while the old man wasn''t paying attention and then started wandering through different countries in europe and america.


    provoked by song lingzhen''s question, xia liu grew even more certain that he had met him before.


    but after a moment of recollection, he still could not remember.


    "i know now! it was you!" song lingzhen suddenly became emotional, shouting and grabbing xia liu''s hand with all his strength.


    this...


    song ze by his side was so scared that he couldn''t utter a word.


    not just him¡ªthe audience''s eyes widened in shock.


    a prominent figure in the huaxia traditional chinese medicine community was showing such great emotion.


    not only that, he was also grabbing the hand of a young man spouting nonsense! sea??h th§× n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    this was one thing, but him, who is he? could this young man be an immortal descended to the mortal world?


    "divine doctor song, don''t fret; are you perhaps mistaking me for someone else?" xia liu said, unable to hold back a mix of tears and laughter.


    what kind of impression had he left on this old man that made him so agitated?


    "divine doctor xia, please don''t say that; in front of you, i''m not even worth a hair," song lingzhen said bitterly.


    whoosh!


    song lingzhen''s words once again shocked everyone.


    he actually referred to xia liu as a divine doctor!


    this was as absurd as a mute speaking or a blind man giving directions.


    amazing! amazing! amazing!


    everyone was dumbfounded.


    song ze thought his master had gone senile and hurriedly tried to pull him away.


    but he didn''t dare to use too much force, and in the end, it was of no use.


    "divine doctor xia, you must have forgotten, three years ago, a wealthy man in france spent two hundred million u.s. dollars to invite famous doctors from around the world to his home," song lingzhen had still been able to walk and practice medicine at the time, so he went to france as a representative of huaxia.


    the cause of the event was the tycoon''s wife contracting one of the terminal illnesses, cancer.


    moreover, it was a certain death sentence¡ªleukemia!


    not many doctors went to the tycoon''s house, because only those with international influence matched the tycoon''s status.


    that day, a light rain began to fall around the mansion, and everyone felt a dark cloud hanging over their hearts. continue your journey on empire


    for if the wealthy man''s wife were not treated soon, she would die.


    but no one had a solution, for it was leukemia!


    afflicted with such a condition, the only thing awaiting her was the grim reaper.


    just as everyone had given up hope, a black figure suddenly appeared.


    song lingzhen vaguely remembered that the person was dressed in black, wearing a hat that concealed his face.


    upon appearing, the black-clad figure''s first question was, "will i really get two hundred million dollars if i cure her?"


    what struck song lingzhen the most was that the man had spoken in the huaxia language.


    because the wealthy man did not understand, song lingzhen even had an assistant translate.


    after comprehending the black-clad figure''s question, the rich man nodded frantically.


    then, with a casual wave of the black-clad figure''s hand, a fine cloth floated in the air, and when that fine cloth landed on the table,


    only then did those present realize that silver needles had been embedded in the cloth.


    and at that moment, those silver needles were all inserted into the body of the wealthy man''s wife.


    in less than ten minutes, the black-clad figure withdrew the silver needles, and the wealthy man''s wife awoke, spitting out a mouthful of black blood before running straight into her husband''s arms.


    in the end, the black-clad figure took the money and left through the window, leaving behind many shocked onlookers.


    "france? the wealthy man?" after receiving a hint, xia liu thought carefully.


    all eyes in the room were intently fixed on xia liu, eager for his response.


    "are you talking about that woman with leukemia?" xia liu remembered. at that time, his skills in acupuncture had achieved minor success, and his inner spirit energy needed to be expended, so he just happened to pass by that castle, went in for a look, and left with two hundred million dollars.


    "wow! it really was you! divine doctor!" upon hearing xia liu mention that woman, song lingzhen couldn''t stand still any longer.


    he grabbed xia liu''s arm tightly again, and if not for song ze holding him back, he would have certainly knelt before xia liu.


    leukemia, cured in just ten minutes.


    this was something not even hua tuo could achieve if he were alive.


    "master! don''t get too excited, take care of your health!" song ze was nearly scared to tears, for song lingzhen''s body had become very weak with age.


    he could pass away at any moment, and seeing him so excited, song ze was understandably anxious.


    xia liu finally understood that song lingzhen had been in that castle back then.


    no wonder he felt he had seen him somewhere before; who could remember so many people after just a quick glance around the room?


    "master, what exactly happened? please tell me," song ze sneaked a few glances at xia liu, finding nothing particularly special about him and asked out of curiosity.


    "ze''er, do you remember my trip to france three years ago? the divine doctor from huaxia i spoke of when i returned, that''s the man you see before you, why aren''t you paying your respects!" song lingzhen had brought a female disciple with him at that time, and upon his return, he shared all the details with his disciples.


    now, as song lingzhen declared xia liu to be the divine doctor from the castle in france, his legs went soft with shock.


    "divine doctor xia!" song ze helped his master up, bowing his head deeply.


    this scene caused a commotion among the onlookers.


    what was happening, what was going on!


    if it had been song lingzhen''s failing eyes before, what about song ze?


    could this young man whose language was hard to understand really be an unparalleled divine doctor?


    they were baffled, utterly baffled.


    but the doctors who had formerly looked down on xia liu now bowed their heads in respect.


    if even doctors like song lingzhen and song ze called him a divine doctor, where would they find the face to speak ill?


    "divine doctor xia, with you here today, huang zhongcai''s illness is definitely curable!" song lingzhen said excitedly, looking at xia liu with renewed hope.


    a divine doctor who could cure leukemia in ten minutes would surely find huang zhongcai''s strange illness a piece of cake.


    "i''ll try my best, but elder song, just call me by my name. i''m not any divine doctor, just a common rural practitioner," xia liu replied.

 Chapter 182 Gathering Together

    "divine doctor xia mustn''t say such things. if you are a rural doctor, then those present wouldn''t dare claim even that title and would merely be ordinary mortals who have just learned to hold a needle,"song lingzhen exclaimed.


    once he said this, nobody dared to object.


    song lingzhen, the polaris of the huaxia traditional chinese medicine community,


    his word was authoritative; he could decree that everyone else was worthless.


    who in the huaxia traditional chinese medicine community would dare to defy him?


    merely being one hundred and ten years old could already be called legendary.


    to stabilize his master''s emotions, song ze first had letian bring xia liu through the main door, while he took his master to the car to replenish nutrition.


    this time it was letian personally leading xia liu inside.


    throughout the journey, he struggled with whether to bring xia liu over.


    if xia liu truly cured the old master''s illness, the huang family would undoubtedly undergo some turmoil.


    other aspects would be impacted as well, and the end result could only be negative.


    but by now, he could no longer avoid bringing xia liu over.


    letian hoped in his heart that xia liu relied purely on luck, and even if his medical skills were genuinely good, that touching the old master would mark him for death.


    xia liu had no good impression of letian; even without having a conversation, he could feel that this young man was somewhat scheming.


    thus, in silence, the two arrived inside a massive building.


    it was a hall, unlike modern styles.


    similar to the guest hall of ancient wealthy families, beneath the hall was a table flanked by a chair on each side.


    on both sides were several more chairs; with such a setup, if it weren''t for everyone wearing modern clothes, one might really think they had traveled through time.


    at that moment, sitting on both sides of the hall were several young persons, all dressed in casual attire.


    each move they made was quite polite, clearly trained scions of wealthy families.


    xia liu had seen these people before; aren''t they just the second-generation rich kids driving sports cars entering the mansion?


    as for the ten traditional chinese medicine practitioners and their disciples who had entered before, they all sat behind the wooden chairs on the left.


    the ten were looking at documents in their hands, which were medical records of the old master huang zhongcai. s~ea??h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xia liu scanned the room and shook his head, as it was quite clear already.


    the huang family held no hope for the old master''s recovery.


    letting these rich kids sit up front, wasn''t it just to leverage their daughter for a partnership¡­


    unsurprisingly, to these newly arrived practitioners like xia liu, the rich kids couldn''t even bother to lift their eyelids.


    their dignified behavior was just for show to impress the two older people sitting at the front of the hall, wasn''t it?


    xia liu didn''t recognize those two elders, but they looked to be in their forties, and judging by the affected manners of the rich kids, these two must be huang xue''s parents.


    following letian''s directions, xia liu quietly went to the back left side to wait silently like the ten others before him.


    "xia liu, you''ve arrived." since he was idling, mu jiuzhen noticed the newly arrived person was xia liu and immediately greeted him.


    "yes! luckily, i made it through," xia liu didn''t want to say much, yet he was indeed interested in huang zhongcai''s medical record.


    seeing mu hua studying so intently, he felt it impolite to disturb.


    since no one was engaging him, xia liu didn''t initiate conversation either, so he just closed his eyes to rest while listening to what these rich kids were talking about.


    "uncle shijie, i wonder if the old master''s condition has improved somewhat. my grandfather originally wanted to come, but since he fell ill after going back last time, he hasn''t managed to make it," said a young man, the scion of the fuli group, zhang qingbo.


    he sincerely apologized on his grandfather''s behalf.


    "qingbo, you''re too polite. your grandfather and my father are close friends. that you brought this sentiment here, on behalf of the huang family, i am sincerely grateful,"


    huang shijie replied with a smile.


    "uncle shijie, my dad is too busy and can''t make the time, so i''m here on behalf of the pan family. i hope grandfather recovers soon."


    "having young master pan long come over is a great honor for the huang family."


    continue reading at empire


    huang shijie most admired this young man, pan long.


    not only was he handsome, but he also spoke eloquently. it was said that he had recently started managing the company.


    if he could make friends with his daughter, it would definitely become a strong supporting force for the huang family in the future.


    the other young people also came up to greet huang shijie one by one, expressing their representation for the visit.


    sitting at the back, xia liu had already frowned deeply.


    as huang zhongcai''s son, while his own father lay on the sickbed, you, on the other hand, seemed quite at ease.


    not only were you not worried, you even began looking for business partners.


    wasn''t that a bit heartless?


    however, after putting himself in the other''s shoes, xia liu could somewhat understand huang shijie.


    with the huang family''s vast business, if the old man were to fall, it would definitely be a major blow.


    especially since these descendants had not fully grasped the business yet.


    to ensure the huang family''s smooth succession, huang shijie had no choice but to act this way.


    after exchanging polite formalities, huang shijie let the second generation chat among themselves while he took his wife, yang yuehua, to the back of the main hall.


    "yuehua, go and hurry xue''er. why hasn''t she come over yet!"


    "i told her this morning, but she just wouldn''t come. she even said that today she would only attend her father''s treatment and not care about anything else." yang yuehua was also helpless.


    their daughter''s character was just like the old man''s. once she decided on something, there were few who could change her mind.


    "this is outrageous! running away from home before was one thing, but now when the family is facing a crisis, she still dares to do this! i''ll go myself!" huang shijie was furious.


    before, when the old man was fine, he could ignore his daughter going out, but now, upon his return, the family was facing difficulties.


    if she did not stand up to help, how could he not be angry?


    "don''t be angry just yet, i''ll go call her over now." yang yuehua, worried her husband might act impulsively, once again proposed to go herself.


    after composing himself, huang shijie came back out to the hall.


    as for those old traditional chinese medicine practitioners, huang shijie did not even glance at them, focusing all his energy on the younger generation.


    about ten minutes later, two figures gradually approached from a distance.


    as that figure stepped through the main entrance, all eyes of the younger generation were drawn to her.


    not just them, but even the young people who followed the old doctors were captivated.


    because her presence was too enchanted.


    yes, it was huang xue and yang yuehua who entered.


    at that moment, everyone''s eyes focused on huang xue.


    she was dressed in black tight-fitting attire, her hair piled on top of her head, and despite her cold expression, she still impacted everyone greatly.


    because her beauty was too stunning, her cold demeanor only added an ultimate beauty to her.


    "xue''er, you''ve arrived, come greet everyone." seeing his daughter arrive, huang shijie said cheerfully.


    "i don''t want to! today is for grandfather''s treatment, not a gathering!" huang xue burst out sternly.


    hearing his daughter''s words, huang shijie''s face immediately showed a look of embarrassment.


    "uncle shijie, i think xue''er is right!"


    "yeah, uncle shijie, today is for the old man''s treatment, greetings don''t matter, what''s most important is that the old man recovers!"


    spying pan long supporting huang xue, zhang qingbo immediately chimed in.

 Chapter 183 Abrupt Change

    "yes! today''s treatment is crucial, but xue''er, have you even considered your age? are you really going to worry your mom and me until we''re old?"huang shijie felt indignant.


    today, the scions of yuanguang city''s prominent families with deep roots were all present.


    missing this opportunity could mean it would be very difficult to mingle with them in the future.


    "dad! how much longer are you going to play dumb? i already have someone i like, and in this lifetime, i will only marry him!" huang xue roared, her eyes reddening.


    "you bastard!"


    grinding his teeth, huang shijie couldn''t fathom what sins he had committed to have raised such a daughter.


    watching the black silhouette leave, xia liu finally looked up.


    he felt relieved; had he not come this time,


    huang xue would surely have had a hard time, and seeing her later, he would only have regretted it more.


    "dear nephews, my daughter has just come back and may not be used to everything. please be more accommodating."


    after huang xue left, huang shijie smiled and soothed the younger generation below.


    "uncle shijie, xue''er just came back, of course, she needs some time to adjust. the most important thing now is to treat the old man."


    pan long averted his gaze from huang xue and, with a smile, responded to huang shijie.


    "right, uncle shijie, don''t be too anxious. xue''er must have her own plans."


    ...


    the other juniors looked at pan long, wanting to swallow him whole. every time huang shijie spoke, you always answered first. isn''t that a sign of disrespect to everyone else?


    but they dared not be too aggressive. the pan family''s power was extremely strong; only by uniting could their families match the pan family''s strength.


    however, they had come today, of course, hoping for a chance.


    huang xue had become well-known in yuanguang city''s high society since she was twenty.


    her beauty captivated countless people. to sleep with such a beauty, one would willingly sacrifice ten years of life.


    zhang qingbo didn''t respond to huang shijie; his gaze fixed intently on huang xue, the corners of his mouth slowly forming a sinister smile...


    in the time before treatment, huang shijie let the juniors go first, with the sole purpose of having them interact with his daughter, to foster a closer relationship.


    as the juniors left the hall, huang letian arrived with the advanced doctors.


    what puzzled xia liu, however, was song lingzhen and song ze were nowhere to be seen.


    and huang letian had brought many security guards with him.


    "it was him who made my master ill!" as soon as he arrived in the hall, sun ce immediately pointed at xia liu and angrily accused.


    "good! take this swindler away and hand him over to the police!" at the same time, huang letian waved for the security guards to take action.


    this sudden turn of events stunned everyone present.


    "what happened to song lingzhen?" xia liu was very alert.


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    he had noticed sun ce earlier, sitting to the left of song lingzhen.


    "you even dare to call my master by his name! it was you who used crooked ways to befuddle my master and brother!" remembering the process of assessing xia liu, sun ce''s emotions surged once again.


    "everyone quiet down. letian, explain the situation." seeing the security guards were about to intervene, huang shijie, as the huang family''s acting head, naturally wanted to understand the details.


    "uncle shijie, here''s what happened: this young man used evil arts to bewitch divine doctor song and his disciple, and that''s how he passed the examination."


    "boss huang, you must seek justice for my master. this fraudster drugged my master, causing him to be mentally unclear, and in his agitation, his chronic condition flared up. he''s now outside receiving treatment!"


    huang letian and sun ce took turns detailing the events.


    "ah! divine doctor song''s chronic condition has flared up! quick, arrest him!" hearing this news, huang shijie panicked. sea??h th§× n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    apart from song lingzhen, there might be no one else in the world who could cure his father''s strange illness.


    if the divine doctor couldn''t make it today due to some mishap, then this event would have no meaning whatsoever.


    xia liu shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself that divine doctor song really was something else, getting sick from excitement, yet still so tough.


    since it was a misunderstanding, he didn''t mind being escorted out by the security guards.


    after watching the security guards take xia liu away, huang letian and sun ce exchanged glances, their expressions gradually becoming more colorful.


    "brothers, this doesn''t seem like the way to the front gate," xia liu said, noticing the direction was off as they walked, and couldn''t help but question it.


    "shut the hell up and keep moving!" one of the security guards snapped impatiently.


    xia liu glanced ahead where there was a lush garden area and frowned deeply.


    the moment xia liu set foot in the garden, a powerful murderous intent surged toward him from behind.


    xia liu''s reaction was incredibly fast, and as he turned around, his hand was also swiftly moving into action.


    in the blink of an eye, only the tips of xia liu''s fingers could be seen pressed against the forehead of the security guard behind him.


    less than three inches from his belly, a dagger halted in its forward trajectory.


    uh uh uh...


    the guard holding the dagger murmured, then collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with blood, now unable to close forever.


    this sudden scene left the other security guards in shock.


    so one by one they drew their hidden daggers from their waists.


    "who sent you to kill me?" xia liu couldn''t understand; he had just arrived in yuanguang city, so why would someone want to assassinate him?


    "talking to a dead man is even stupider than playing the lute to a cow!"


    "if you want to know, go ask king yan in the underworld!"


    as the vicious words fell, several security guards sprang into action.


    wielding their daggers, they were determined to kill xia liu in one fell swoop.


    xia liu scanned the men rushing toward him, the killing intent slowly rising within him.


    he always abided by the rule of not offending others unless he was offended first, but today he was inexplicably targeted.


    in that case, there was only one option left: to kill!


    to handle these security guards, xia liu didn''t even bother to use his cultivation technique; he relied only on his own powerful strength and speed.


    swinging his hand, he aimed a chop at one of the approaching men.


    thud!


    as his palm came down, a sound like a gong being struck echoed.


    it was the sound of several bones shattering at the same time!


    after taking out one man, xia liu stepped forward, zigzagging through the remaining assailants with extreme speed.


    in less than five seconds, xia liu had left the garden, and behind him, seven or eight corpses lay quietly on the ground.


    looking up at the manor a kilometer away, xia liu''s eyes slowly reddened.


    in the past, he wouldn''t take petty squabbles seriously, but today was different!


    after rooting out the assassin behind the attack today, they must be killed!


    over huanglong city, dark clouds began to gather, casting a shadow over a small villa; everyone felt incredibly oppressed, as if there was a breath in their chest that they couldn''t exhale.


    by now, many people had already gathered at the entrance of the villa: the ten individuals led by mu hua who had advanced earlier, and the nine that sun ce had brought in later.


    "doctor sun, what should we do now?" huang shijie panicked upon hearing that song lingzhen might not make it in time.


    if divine doctor song wasn''t there today, his father would surely have no hope.

 Chapter 184 Another Expert Comes

    "boss huang, rest assured, my master has explained everything to me and asked me and other promoted doctors to discuss it first; we will come up with the best treatment method shortly,"sun ce said confidently.


    "shijie, honestly, we should stop all the fuss and let father have a peaceful farewell,"


    the speaker was huang shijie''s brother, huang shitao, who looked at the villa with a face full of sighs.


    their father, the patriarch of the huang family, huang zhongcai, lay inside.


    "shitao! what are you saying? don''t you want our father''s illness to be cured?" huang shijie glared at his brother.


    he had never liked his brother from the start, lazy and gluttonous was one thing.


    but to say such disheartening words at a time like this.


    if father were to pass away, the huang family wouldn''t last three years before collapsing. continue reading stories on empire


    "big brother, face the reality! how many people have already died? do you still want to risk more lives? if in the end, it''s all for nothing, and people die, how will we explain ourselves to father when we meet him again?"


    huang shitao''s emotions were equally stirred.


    "shitao, until the very end, i don''t want to hear any more of your cold words!" huang shijie could not refute and only gave a final warning.


    huang shitao gave a bitter smile and did not continue the conversation.


    standing in front of the villa, everyone harbored different thoughts.


    only the figure who always stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window was unwavering in resolve.


    having left home for a few years, huang xue returned only to hear about her grandfather''s strange illness, and she couldn''t help but recall how doted on and protected she was by her grandfather before leaving home.


    seeing her grandfather lying on the low bed, huang xue''s tears silently fell.


    after watching for a while, she hurried to where the doctors were discussing, anxiously waiting.


    "yuehua, you came here first, have you seen qingbo and pan long?" huang shijie looked around and, not seeing pan long and zhang qingbo, immediately asked his wife.


    these two young men came from influential families; they were talents huang shijie had always wanted to recruit for his daughter.


    in the past, when his daughter had suffered from a strange illness and had run away from home, huang shijie had the desire but lacked the ability to do anything.


    now that his daughter had returned and their family was in trouble, even if she was still ill, it was imperative to secure a strong backing.


    "they told me they were going out to meet someone. qingbo said he had invited a renowned foreign doctor, and pan long has brought a traditional chinese pharmacist who lives reclusively in the mountains," yang yuehua shared the information she knew.


    just then, pan long and zhang qingbo arrived, as if on cue.


    following zhang qingbo was a pale-skinned, bald foreign man.


    the most striking feature of this man was his lack of hair, paired with his white suit; at first glance, he gave a rather jarring impression.


    there was also someone following pan long.


    unlike other doctors, this person wore hemp clothes and a large bamboo hat, and as he drew nearer, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.


    "qingbo, pan long, what is this?" huang shijie asked, puzzled.


    "uncle shijie, let me introduce him, this is professor mark bain, ranked within the top five doctors globally and revered in the medical community as a ''holy physician'' alive today; his scalpel is even known as the ''resurrection knife,''" zhang qingbo introduced the foreign doctor behind him.


    upon hearing this, huang shijie''s eyes suddenly widened; he had been running to hospitals these past days. s§×arch* the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    he had heard the dean mention that a doctor on the medical rankings might be able to cure his father.


    for this reason, he went out of his way to check the medical rankings and used his connections to invite them from all over the world.


    but none of those people had responded up to now, and when he saw the bald man, he felt a sense of familiarity, as he had investigated him before.


    this bald man was mark bain!


    according to the records, mark bain had cured several people with terminal illnesses.


    this even included a patient with a brain tumor who was nearly dead.


    "professor mark, hello, the huang family warmly welcomes your arrival!" recalled mark''s identity, huang shijie enthusiastically extended his hand.


    in the past, the huang family had not refrained from seeking western doctors, but lacking eminent figures, they turned to traditional medicine.


    but now, mark bain, hailed as a legend in the western medical field, his arrival might give his father a great chance of healing.


    "hello, mr. huang, may i see the patient''s medical case?"


    just as zhang qingbo was about to help huang shijie translate, mark asked in an exceedingly standard huaxia tongue.


    "hmm? quickly, get a copy for professor mark!" huang shijie was taken aback for a moment, then promptly instructed a servant to bring over the documents.


    "professor mark, you speak huaxia language quite well," zhang qingbo was also astonished by the professor.


    he had used countless connections to find mark, and then spent a considerable amount of money to invite him.


    when they met, zhang qingbo and mark had communicated in english, and hearing mark speak huaxia fluently nearly floored him.


    because just upon meeting, he had looked down on mark with his subordinates.


    "i learned it from my master," mark glanced at zhang qingbo but said no more.


    the reason he had come to huaxia was not for money or connections but to sneak in; even if it meant just quietly catching a glimpse of his master from afar.


    if his master discovered him, those friends would be his backup, because he was here carrying everyone''s longing with him.


    "uncle shijie, let me introduce you as well, this is you zifeng, a genuine divine doctor; he can definitely cure the old master''s illness," pan long also took this moment to introduce the divine doctor he brought with him.


    "divine doctor you, hello, on behalf of the huang family, i welcome you."


    "mr. huang is too kind, i only came here to help young master pan," you zifeng''s voice was somewhat hoarse.


    the people around felt an uncomfortable sensation upon hearing his voice, as if fingernails were scraping on a floor.


    and they all discerned from you zifeng''s words that he was not here for the old master''s illness today but rather to assist pan long.


    with a single sentence, he had shifted all the credit onto pan long, which was somewhat intriguing.


    "hehe, uncle shijie, don''t misunderstand, divine doctor you speaks so directly because he usually lives deep in the mountains," pan long immediately offered his explanation.


    but anyone could detect the hypocrisy in his words; if the doctor he brought cured the illness, the credit would undoubtedly be his, so why the need for pretense or justification?


    "i won''t overthink it. today, having you all here is a great honor for the huang family, let the divine doctors discuss together what treatment to use," huang shijie said.


    "eh! isn''t that divine doctor song? what will happen to sun ce now?" huang letian, who was scanning their surroundings, suddenly spotted song lingzhen and song ze approaching and couldn''t help but worry.


    "mr. huang, don''t panic, i will find a casual excuse, admit a fault, that''s all, but you must ensure that the youngster is disposed of," sun ce said calmly and confidently.


    "rest assured, he might already be dead, and the security guards are digging a hole to bury him right now..."

 Chapter 185 Hes Chasing

    seeing song lingzhen and song ze approaching, huang shijie immediately went forward to greet them, "divine doctor song, are you all right?"now huang shijie''s confidence had greatly increased, as not only had top doctors from the global top five arrived.


    but also so many masters of chinese medicine.


    "i''m fine, but where is divine doctor xia?" song lingzhen scanned the surroundings, searching for xia liu while responding to huang shijie.


    "where is divine doctor xia!"


    not seeing xia liu, song lingzhen became agitated again.


    "divine doctor song, please calm down a bit. the divine doctor xia you mentioned might have gone to the restroom," huang shijie had never seen song lingzhen so anxious.


    he was eager to find out who this person that song lingzhen called a divine doctor was.


    "master, please don''t get agitated." song ze tried to soothe song lingzhen while looking into the distance, finally fixing his gaze on sun ce.


    "junior brother, come here quickly!"


    "sun ce, when you led people in earlier, did you see divine doctor xia?" before song ze could ask, song lingzhen hurriedly inquired.


    ever since he learned of xia liu''s identity, song lingzhen had been very excited.


    because xia liu was so mysterious, having cured a tycoon''s wife and then left, it was already three years since their last meeting.


    now his days were numbered, and if he could see xia liu perform acupuncture to save someone again, his life would be fulfilled.


    "master, i handed him over to the police just now." seeing his master so excited, sun ce immediately knelt on the ground.


    "what! you!" hearing this news, song lingzhen''s face instantly turned pale.


    "master, don''t get angry! please hold on!" seeing the turn of events, song ze immediately supported song lingzhen, constantly helping him ease his chest with his hands.


    "junior brother! what have you done! why would divine doctor xia be taken to the police station?" after calming song lingzhen, song ze hurriedly asked sun ce.


    "after that young man talked with master, master became agitated, and even senior brother showed respect to that young man, i suspected that the young man had drugged you, and he also caused master to have an episode, so i thought it best to take him to the police station first." s§×arch* the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    sun ce looked close to breaking down, with tears streaming down his face.


    "junior brother, why didn''t you ask me or master before deciding on your own?" song ze nearly cried, usually he didn''t want to say much as sun ce was not keen on learning, but this kind of matter, how could he act like that!


    "you misguided disciple!" after hearing sun ce''s reply, song lingzhen grabbed his walking stick and smashed it down hard on sun ce''s head!


    "master, your disciple knows his wrong, please don''t be angry." this time, sun ce knelt on the ground with tears streaming down his face.


    he had no intention of arguing back; his only thought was to admit his fault.


    "divine doctor song, may i interrupt, the divine doctor xia you mentioned, is it that striking looking young man?" huang shijie asked timidly from the side after watching for a while.


    "exactly! his medical skills have reached the pinnacle, i once witnessed him directly cure a leukemia patient in ten minutes," song lingzhen didn''t hide anything, he just wanted huang shijie to quickly take action and bring xia liu back.


    "what! ten minutes to cure a leukemia patient!"


    huang shijie instantly became excited. leukemia was a terminal illness, yet someone had cured it in just ten minutes!


    if such a divine doctor could treat his father, it would surely cure him!


    "letian! hurry and bring that divine doctor back!" huang shijie excitedly said, feeling somewhat scared by how foolish he had been earlier to drive away such a miraculous divine doctor.


    "yes, uncle shijie!" huang letian nodded happily.


    he certainly wasn''t going to actually pursue her.


    he agreed to huang shijie''s request just to check if xia liu was truly dead.


    if xia liu had really cured a leukemia patient in ten minutes, his appearance would definitely alter all their planned arrangements, so he had to be killed!


    "grandpa song, where is divine doctor xia from?" just as song lingzhen was feeling anxious, a beautiful voice reached his ears.


    he looked up and saw a charming, attractive face, which reminded him of his first love when he was young.


    "divine doctor song, let me introduce you, this is my daughter, huang xue." seeing that song lingzhen hadn''t spoken for a while, huang shijie introduced her identity.


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    "so, you are miss huang. i don''t know where divine doctor xia is from. i witnessed his miraculous medical skills in france," song lingzhen said slowly after knowing huang xue''s identity.


    "france, huh? how old is divine doctor xia approximately? what does he look like? how tall is he? is he thin or fat?"


    huang xue was somewhat excited; she had a hunch that this divine doctor xia was xia liu!


    "xue''er! don''t be rude to divine doctor song!" seeing his daughter excitedly firing a barrage of questions, huang shijie immediately shouted.


    "it''s alright, nephew huang. i''m old, and my memory isn''t that good. song ze, you answer miss huang''s questions," he said.


    in fact, song lingzhen''s memory was very good, but he was completely out of the mood to speak. he just wanted to quietly wait for xia liu to arrive.


    huang xue''s excited demeanor was observed by pan long and zhang qingbo.


    they each took out their phones to compose a message; given huang xue''s excitement, the so-called divine doctor xia must have no ordinary status. they absolutely needed to find out.


    "divine doctor xia is quite young, probably around twenty-four or twenty-five, handsome, around one meter eighty, very fit, neither thin nor fat."


    song ze recalled for a moment, and answered most of huang xue''s questions.


    "is it you? xia liu..." after hearing song ze''s answers, huang xue''s eyes instantly misted over; she didn''t know if it was xia liu, but all she wanted was for huang letian to bring him back quickly.


    "right, i remember now, divine doctor xia''s name is very unique, it''s xia liu, and after my master pointed out his identity, he also claimed himself to be a rural doctor."


    song ze recalled the event during the assessment and immediately added more details.


    boom!


    huang xue''s so-called strength instantly collapsed, and tears burst from her eyes.


    it''s him! it''s him! he really came!


    from the moment she boarded the plane, huang xue was constantly thinking about xia liu.


    he had actually come to find her!


    "xue''er, what''s wrong?" seeing her daughter crying in sorrow, yang yuehua felt her heart breaking.


    "mom! he came, he followed me!" huang xue said between sobs.


    "you''re talking about that guy from the small county town?" yang yuehua asked softly.


    "yes! mom, i need to find him, right now!" after letting go of yang yuehua''s hand, huang xue immediately ran off.


    "thinking of looking for him? joking, aren''t we? zifeng, make your move!" watching huang xue run off, pan long immediately signaled to you zifeng behind him.


    "tsk tsk! understood!" muttering quietly, you zifeng''s hand hidden in his sleeve began to move.


    "not good! master, quick¡­ quick¡­" at the same moment you zifeng made his move, a servant dressed in a dust suit ran out of the villa, his trembling voice echoing in the area.

 Chapter 186 One Down

    "ah! what happened to the old master?" huang shijie bellowed angrily.huang xue, who was about to chase after xia liu, stopped in her tracks, and together with her, everyone present turned to look at the servant.


    "speak up, quick, don''t hem and haw!" huang shitao, too, became agitated.


    "the old master is about to pass away!" the servant was somewhat afraid, but he still delivered the message.


    "dad!" hearing this news, huang shijie''s legs instantly gave way, and in the next moment, he knelt to the ground.


    seeing this, huang shitao also knelt down in grief, imitating him, and kept wailing nonstop.


    huang xue also changed the direction of her run, she hurried to the front of the villa, and, if not for someone holding her back, she would have definitely barged in to see her grandfather''s last moments.


    "grandfather! you have to pull through!" the devastated huang xue knelt on the stone floor, her body''s pain having numbed her senses, while the heartache was unbearable to the extreme.


    "uncle shijie, don''t grieve just yet, let the divine doctors try first," zhang qingbo suggested, having great faith in mark bain''s medical skills; if he could cure the old master right away, he would certainly gain the attention of the huang family.


    "yes, uncle shijie, let all the divine doctors present have a look, maybe the old master can still be saved?" pan long also began to comfort him.


    "nephew huang, this old man''s life is about to end, just let me go and see what strange disease my sworn brother has got!" song lingzhen had wanted to go in for a while.


    but he had been stopped by huang shijie when he came earlier, which is why it had been delayed until now.


    now that he had nothing left to cherish, being able to meet the divine doctor of the past, song lingzhen would die without regrets.


    "that won''t do! you can''t take the risk, divine doctor song, not until the very last moment!" huang shijie directly refused song lingzhen''s request.


    he had seen it several times with his own eyes, anyone who entered and touched his father ended up dying a few days later.


    "all divine doctors, have you thought of any good methods? the old master is about to die!" huang shijie turned his gaze to the traditional chinese medicine practitioners who had been studying the medical case.


    "this..."


    "i''m sorry, there''s no strategy yet."


    "i''m afraid we have to wait a little longer."


    ...


    half of them made statements, half remained silent.


    their answers completely disappointed huang shijie.


    "divine doctor song, my name is mu hua, you have always been the idol i admire, do you have any strategies? how should this patient be treated?" mu hua, who was closest to song lingzhen, took action.


    he had examined the medical case for a long time and couldn''t figure anything out, so taking this opportunity, he decided to consult his idol.


    "i have no strategy. as for treatment, perhaps divine doctor xia has a way."


    "uh... xia liu?"


    mu hua felt somewhat embarrassed; he had already been shocked many times earlier, and now his heart was numb.


    it turned out that the young man he had met on the plane could achieve such accomplishments, even his idol looked up to him.


    "mr. huang, please allow me to enter and treat the old master!" mu hua was not willing to give in; he had come here to test his medical skills.


    now that his idol was also present, how could he back down!


    "please, divine doctor mu, be quick!" huang shijie did not refuse, seeing that mu hua dared to enter with such a confident demeanor, that meant he must be fairly confident!


    "grandfather!"


    "there''s nothing to worry about, let grandpa go in and try, i''ll come back out if it doesn''t work," mu hua said with a gentle smile to his granddaughter, who was pulling at him, and then he stepped into the villa.


    "zifeng."


    "understood!"


    you zifeng responded straightforwardly to pan long and once again his palms transformed.


    all attention was focused on mu hua; at that moment, he had already entered the villa and was no more than ten meters away from huang zhongcai lying on the low bed.


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    nine meters, eight meters, six meters, three meters.


    as he drew closer, mu hua grew increasingly cautious.


    finally, he arrived at the side of the low bed and saw huang zhongcai''s true condition.


    huang zhongcai wore a face of agony, and from his mouth came faint, mournful groans.


    his body was extremely frail, his cheeks sunken, his complexion pale yet tinged with some dark shadows.


    just as mu hua was about to continue his observation, suddenly, his vision was flooded with red.


    the crimson obscured his sight, and his head buzzed loudly. sear?h the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "ah!" those outside the villa suddenly heard a desolate howl, then saw mu hua collapsing in front of the low bed.


    "grandpa!" mu jiuzhen cried desperately upon seeing her grandfather fall, and she rushed towards the villa at top speed.


    but she was stopped by the security personnel at the door and soon fainted from overwhelming grief.


    the process of mu hua collapsing was witnessed by everyone.


    consequently, except for a few out of the ordinary individuals, everyone present was struck with fear.


    especially those traditional chinese medicine practitioners who had passed the assessment.


    their legs trembled uncontrollably.


    this wasn''t treating an illness, it was a direct descent into death.


    they had just seen mu hua collapse without even touching huang zhongcai.


    how terrifying that was.


    a few of the practitioners immediately discarded the medical cases and fled for their lives.


    fifty million was a lot, but one only has one life, and by the looks of it, they might die without even knowing the old man''s condition.


    "a bunch of cowards!" mark cursed inwardly as he saw many doctors fleeing.


    "professor mark, would you like to step in and show off a bit of your prowess?" zhang qingbo didn''t give up when he saw mu hua collapse, after all, it wasn''t he who would be going in; if someone died, so be it.


    gaining the favor of the huang family was what mattered most.


    "not for now, i think that charlatan seems quite capable, he''ll definitely be able to cure the patient."


    "hmm? are you talking about the person next to pan long?" zhang qingbo immediately glanced at the individual in question.


    "that''s right." mark offered no explanation, for ever since his arrival, he had taken a strong disliking to you zifeng, particularly his aura and scent.


    "uncle shijie, divine doctor you just told me that he knows what''s wrong with the old master and that he can cure him!"


    pan long spoke confidently while everyone else was still immersed in shock and fear.


    "ah! divine doctor you can cure him!"


    "that''s unlikely, isn''t it? the strange illness of the old master indeed causes anyone who approaches to collapse."


    "are you speaking the truth, nephew pan?" huang shijie, overcome with excitement, spoke while grabbing pan long''s arm.


    "yes! trust me, uncle shijie, divine doctor you can definitely cure the old master," pan long affirmed once more.


    "nephew pan, if divine doctor you can cure my father, then you''ll be a benefactor to the huang family. whatever you need, the huang family will personally deliver to your residence."


    "uncle shijie is too kind, i won''t ask for anything, i only hope you''d give xue''er and me a chance."


    "no way! i don''t agree!" even in extreme sorrow, huang xue still refused.


    the others were also moved by pan long''s words.


    wasn''t this clearly taking advantage of the situation?


    he claimed to want nothing, but what he really wanted was to take someone''s daughter home.

 Chapter 187 Appear!!!

    "xue''er! now is not the time for your tantrums. do you want to see your grandfather pass away?" huang shijie roared again."xue''er, just listen to your father. no matter what, let pan long have a try," yang yuehua said, comforting her daughter in a gentle voice.


    "uncle shijie, i''m sorry, i didn''t know xue''er would have such an aversion to me. i will let divine doctor you treat him right away," pan long said awkwardly.


    "pan long, don''t get the wrong idea. xue''er is definitely just too heartbroken. she doesn''t have enough time to like you; how could she be averse to you?"


    huang shijie tried to restrain himself, wanting to direct pan long to immediately let divine doctor you treat him.


    but he was also afraid of offending the young master.


    "i understand, we''ll talk about it later. let''s let divine doctor you treat him first."


    enjoy new adventures from empire


    pan long appeared to be in agony on the surface.


    but only you zifeng knew, this guy was probably laughing to death inside.


    if he could cure huang zhongcai, huang shijie would surely hand his daughter over to pan long.


    "uncle shijie, professor mark also says he can cure the old master."


    huh?


    when zhang qingbo spoke, everyone present was shocked once more.


    huang zhongcai''s illness was serious; even approaching him was difficult. now, suddenly, there were two people claiming they could cure him.


    song lingzhen had stopped talking long ago because he felt very awkward.


    because he hadn''t been able to see through huang zhongcai''s illness either.


    if he went in, it was a hundred percent certain he would collapse.


    but now, a foreign doctor said he could cure it, and a hermit pharmacist also felt confident.


    this almost made song lingzhen wish he could find a crack to crawl into.


    "doctor mark, is everything you said true?" right after zhang qingbo had finished making the announcement, huang xue suddenly ran over to ask doctor mark himself.


    "not entirely, but i am confident," mark said, not daring to overstate things. he felt like zhang qingbo was going to be the death of him.


    he had just recommended himself to huang shijie to give it a try.


    who knew that guy would actually say he could cure it, which became extremely awkward.


    he definitely couldn''t stand out and correct it now.


    now, it all depended on pan long''s attitude.


    "i beg you, please save my grandfather. i''m begging you!" huang xue pleaded with mark, the friendly foreign doctor.


    she kept begging, almost making zhang qingbo ecstatic with happiness.


    if mark could cure the elderly master before you zifeng did,


    then his credit would definitely be the greatest! whether it was huang shijie or a healed huang zhongcai, they would surely recognize him.


    with that, he would definitely be able to marry huang xue!


    "miss huang, don''t be polite. i will do my utmost," mark said, not knowing why, but he could sense a faint energy from huang xue, the energy of his master!


    "zifeng, what do you think?"


    seeing huang xue pleading with mark, pan long was filled with rage inside, but he didn''t show it.


    "whoever gets close, dies," said you zifeng softly.


    hearing this, pan long laughed; he could already picture huang xue in a maid outfit, following his commands after he''d cured huang zhongcai.


    "uncle shijie, since doctor mark also feels confident, let''s let him try. if it doesn''t work, divine doctor you can provide a remedy."


    "this..." huang shijie thought for a moment and then nodded.


    if mark could cure him, that would be the best outcome. if not, there was still the confident divine doctor you.


    perhaps this time, his father''s illness really could be cured.


    thus, among the breathless crowd, mark slowly stepped inside the villa.


    at that moment, a sudden breeze swept by, and within everyone''s eyes, a fleeting shadow kept moving.


    in an instant, the shadow had already entered the villa.


    whoosh!


    before the crowd could react with fear, the villa''s floor-to-ceiling windows shattered.


    a white figure was sent flying out backwards.


    in that instant, everyone''s pupils contracted sharply.


    the afterimage appeared so abruptly, mark crashing through the glass and hurling himself onto the outside flagstones even more so.


    all stood transfixed, turning their eyes through the broken glass to inspect the situation inside the villa.


    with this glance, their eyes widened.


    because there was an additional figure inside the villa!


    "what is that???"


    "a ghost!"


    ¡­


    upon discovering that a person had appeared out of nowhere inside the villa, those with a weaker disposition began to scream in terror.


    many others just stood there stupefied, unable to utter a word.


    because they were scared stiff.


    however, only a few people were clear-headed enough to realize that the figure was the very same one who had entered with ghost-like speed!


    that kind of speed instilled fear in those who were still lucid, for it was a speed no human could possess!


    and he kicked doctor mark out!!!


    inside the villa, however, the person didn''t consider the feelings of those outside. he looked on coldly, his gaze fixed intently on huang zhongcai lying on the low bed.


    because of his focus, because of his stillness,


    mark was able to see his face clearly.


    without delay, mark sat up from the ground and opened his mouth, spewing a mouthful of turbid blood onto the floor.


    "professor mark!" seeing mark vomiting blood, zhang qingbo immediately screamed.


    her scream redirected everyone''s attention to mark.


    then something unexpected occurred.


    mark, looking panicked, disregarded his injuries and bowed in the direction of the villa, "master! xiao guang has realized his mistake!"


    but no response came from inside the villa.


    others, however, started to realize that the person inside the villa was mark''s mentor!


    this meant that the identity of the figure inside was at least a globally top-three renowned physician!


    huang shijie''s eyes widened once again, the event occurring too suddenly for him even to prepare to feel elation.


    if mark said he was confident about treating his father, then his master could definitely cure his father completely!


    "xue''er, what''s wrong with you? why are you crying again?" standing beside huang xue, yang yuehua saw her daughter in tears once more and couldn''t help but ask.


    "mom, he''s here, he stood by grandpa''s side again¡­" huang xue''s lips trembled, her eyes showing signs of imminent collapse into tears.


    she was all too familiar with xia liu, his image ever-present in her mind.


    his smile, his indifference, his silhouette, his everything.


    the moment xia liu stood firmly, huang xue knew, he had arrived. s~ea??h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "is he the xia liu you spoke of?" yang yuehua asked weakly.


    huang xue didn''t respond, her emotions crumbling immediately as she embraced yang yuehua and wept freely, releasing the fear within her heart.


    "it''s divine doctor xia! it really is divine doctor xia!" after staring at the figure for a long time, song lingzhen suddenly yelled out.


    he felt as though he had been transported back to three years ago.


    back then, xia liu made his appearance in just such a manner, mysterious and yet demonstrating his strength.


    today, he had come again, and judging by that terrifying speed surpassing all living things, his medical skills must have improved!


    "ah! divine doctor xia!" huang shijie carefully watched and finally realized that xia liu looked somewhat familiar¡ªwasn''t that the young man who had just been apprehended by the security guards?


    "zifeng, what do we do now?"


    "young master pan, rest assured, the newcomer is merely a high-level practitioner of the inner sect. faced with our clan''s poison art, he won''t have a bone left!"


    as you zifeng''s palms changed, xia liu inside the villa was about to witness an inconceivable scene¡­

 Chapter 188 Breaking the Gu Spell

    stay tuned to empireat this moment, within xia liu''s pupils, a blood-red color was reflected.


    in this blood-red world, he saw what others could not.


    the blood-red turned out to be countless insects, tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of them!!!


    "poison art!" the moment xia liu saw those insects, he immediately realized what they were.


    when the old man was still alive, he told him.


    there are many strange and mysterious experts in the world, practicing the five elements mantra, possessing powerful spiritual energy, which is regarded as a mystical gift.


    and in huaxia, there are even more mysterious and strange experts, like this mysterious poison art from secretive regions!


    about the poison art, the old man had mentioned some things.


    if it was a strong poison art, one could not unravel it without powerful spiritual energy.


    the reason why he kicked mark away was partly that the guy disobeyed his orders and came to huaxia, and partly because he sensed a strong threat a few meters in front of huang zhongcai.


    but looking at these poison insects, xia liu was confident he could break them in an instant.


    "ha!" xia liu forcefully mustered the five elements mantra.


    with a roar, the five element spiritual energy burst from his palm, covering all the blood-red poison insects in front of him.


    after being covered by the spiritual energy, the poison insects were devoured within three seconds.


    at the entrance of the villa, you zifeng, whose body was wrapped in cloth, had his pupils shrink suddenly.


    unable to suppress the backlash, he coughed up a mouthful of essence blood; had his face not been covered, he would have unquestionably become the center of everyone''s attention.


    "zifeng, what''s wrong with you?" pan long sensed that something was off with you zifeng and immediately asked.


    "young master pan, this is an expert among experts. my poison art has been broken, and he has noticed me. we must leave quickly, or we''ll die here!"


    you zifeng looked ahead in fear, where xia liu''s figure had somehow grown larger.


    he had thought his poison art could eliminate any substantial force from an inner sect expert.


    now it seemed, xia liu was not a mere inner sect expert!


    and now that xia liu had seen through his artifice, if he were to heal huang zhongcai.


    his end would be near!


    "if i run with you, won''t that be a clear giveaway?" pan long knew his own status; if he disappeared rashly.


    not only would he face pressure, but his family would be counterattacked by huang zhongcai''s consolidated forces, the founding general!


    huang zhongcai''s death would be one thing, as no one else would be involved in the huang family business matters.


    but if huang zhongcai were to survive, the skies would change.


    "what should we do then?" you zifeng grew anxious¡ªif they delayed any further, xia liu would come out.


    "didn''t you say your poison art can control the mind and spirit? just hit me with whatever, and then i''ll pretend to wake up refreshed."


    "good idea, but that man is strong. i must first detonate the poison insects inside huang zhongcai!" as he spoke, you zifeng changed his condensing seal unnoticed.


    inside the villa, huang zhongcai suddenly sat up, his eyes opening wide with a blood-red color.


    "ah!" with a miserable roar, huang zhongcai fainted once more!


    "dammit!" seeing huang zhongcai like this, xia liu knew that the poison art had been stimulated.


    with a shout, he turned into a series of afterimages, rushing towards the outside of the villa, deciding to first control the caster.


    seeing xia liu''s afterimages flash past the villa''s door.


    you zifeng moved even faster, biting his fingertip and changing the condensing seal again.


    "take a look back at that old man, see if you want my life or to save his!" you zifeng, seeing xia liu getting close, unleashed all his poison art in a burst.


    huang zhongcai immediately leaped from the bed, and then kept waving his hands, tearing at his chest.


    "divine doctor xia, i beg you, save my father!" huang shijie, although not understanding what was happening, saw xia liu stop and immediately knelt down, hoping to move him.


    "very well!!!"


    "here''s your idiot back!" seeing that xia liu had lost the interest in pursuing him, you zifeng kicked pan long in the back and quickly left the scene.


    you zifeng''s transformation surprised everyone; they couldn''t comprehend it.


    what exactly was this act?


    hadn''t you zifeng been brought by pan long to heal huang zhongcai?


    why was he now an enemy of xia liu, mocking pan long and kicking him down to the ground?


    confusion filled everyone''s hearts, but now was not the time for understanding, they all wanted to see xia liu take action and heal huang zhongcai!


    "xia liu, please save my grandfather!" huang xue saw xia liu not moving, and her previous worry that xia liu might collapse turned into boldness.


    "wait for my news!"


    with a faint smile, xia liu turned and, in the blink of an eye, he had entered the villa.


    looking at the unconscious huang zhongcai, xia liu took out silver needles, and the wooden spirit energy surged, a needle to stabilize the soul.


    next, xia liu ripped off all of huang zhongcai''s clothes, and several silver needles followed into his chest.


    five minutes passed, and seeing no reaction from huang zhongcai,


    xia liu quickly grabbed his wrist to check his condition.


    "what domineering poison insects, having spread to the entire body''s meridians!" xia liu couldn''t help exclaiming after getting the results.


    in this situation, given his current abilities, healing would require too much energy, even enough to deplete him.


    but xia liu had no other choice, as this was huang xue''s grandfather.


    with his back to everyone, xia liu brought the five elements mantra to its peak, spiritual energy continuously entering huang zhongcai''s body through the silver needles.


    thirty minutes later, xia liu walked out of the villa, his face pale.


    everyone stared at him in a daze.


    stunned by xia liu, now they only wanted to know the result; whether huang zhongcai''s strange illness had been cured or not.


    "mr. huang, go help the old master cook something, it''s been many days since he has eaten."


    "are you saying¡ªmy father''s illness is cured?" huang shijie paused, weakly asking.


    "hmm." xia liu didn''t have the energy to say more.


    in just this short half hour or so, his spiritual energy had been almost drained.


    even speaking was hard now.


    "wow! thank you, divine doctor xia! thank you, divine doctor xia!" huang shijie didn''t know how to express his emotions and kept bowing to xia liu.


    "divine doctor xia!"


    if it hadn''t been for his apprentice supporting him, song lingzhen would have certainly knelt down immediately, begging xia liu to take him as a disciple.


    such talent truly warranted the title of divine doctor.


    as for the other traditional chinese medicine practitioners present, they all lowered their heads while looking up to xia liu.


    they would not forget xia liu, and they had mocked him the night before when they registered.


    and some had even scorned him during the assessment.


    remembering these things, everyone''s face turned red with embarrassment.


    unlike huang shijie, huang shitao had a face filled with dark lines, he couldn''t imagine that his father''s illness had actually been cured!


    he was very unwilling, but currently, he could only take things one step at a time.


    "xiao guang, do you remember what i told you before?" looking at mark, who was kneeling in the distance, xia liu cast a glance at him and said.


    "i remember! without the master''s command, not to set foot in huaxia."


    "and now?"


    "i didn''t come alone, i brought everyone''s thoughts with me!" mark said seriously.


    "good, i''ll deal with you tomorrow!" xia liu wanted to punish mark now, but he couldn''t; standing was purely out of willpower.


    in the end, he turned his gaze to her.


    she too was looking back at him¡­ sea??h th§× n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 189 The Curtain Falls

    in a fleeting glance, huang xue''s tears started pouring, and she immediately broke free from her mother''s grasp, running desperately towards xia liu.as huang xue approached him, xia liu''s body, drained of spiritual energy, couldn''t hold itself up.


    his body leaned and rested on huang xue.


    "xia liu, what''s wrong with you? don''t scare me," huang xue asked anxiously.


    seeing huang xue holding xia liu, many of the second generations on site felt a bitter taste in their hearts.


    especially zhang qingbo and pan long.


    the two had put in so much effort to win the favor of the huang family, only to have their glory stolen by a kid who came from nowhere.


    the biggest loser had to be pan long, who had spent a fortune hiring you zifeng, only to end up like this.


    not only did he lose his lady, but he was also completely bankrupt.


    now he had to play dumb, figuring out how to evade this responsibility.


    "i''m fine." xia liu forced a calm expression, even curling his lips into a sinister smile.


    seeing this, huang xue also gradually began to smile. however, when she noticed xia liu''s gaze lingering on her chest, she couldn''t help but feel bitter.


    barely able to stand, and this guy still had the nerve to be so sleazy!


    his name surely lived up to his character.


    but she wasn''t unhappy. on the contrary, she was quite thrilled.


    finally, xia liu was really paying attention to her, and she hadn''t forgotten it.


    the night they left hejing, xia liu had devastated her to the core.


    "by the way, divine doctor xia, what kind of strange disease does my younger sworn brother have?" having just recovered from the shock, song lingzhen seized the moment to inquire urgently.


    "poison insect technique!"


    "poison insects!" hearing this, song lingzhen and the other doctors present were almost petrified.


    poison art is recorded in many historical texts of huaxia.


    it''s an extremely vicious evil art, and if someone is afflicted, the end result is always horrific.


    unless the person who applied the poison insects lifts it, no medicine can cure the patient.


    even ordinary people who know nothing of medicine understand that those who practice poison art are terrifying entities.


    if someone is rumored to practice poison art, they are utterly ostracized; nobody wants to befriend them. you never know when you might be cursed, when you might die.


    what amazed the doctors including song lingzhen was that xia liu had managed to save someone who''d been plagued by poison insects!


    moreover, from the previous situation, it seemed that the person who used the poison art was indeed you zifeng!


    "young master pan, these past few days¡­" after xia liu left, huang shijie''s gaze towards pan long became skeptical.


    you zifeng is knowledgeable in poison art, and he was brought here by pan long.


    could it be that this poison art was a scheme concocted by pan long in collaboration with you zifeng?


    huang shijie wasn''t sure but he had to find out.


    "uncle shijie, my head is so painful, i''ve been feeling groggy these past few days. why are there so many people here today, what happened?"


    pan long frantically grabbed his hair, looking bewildered around him.


    this act had started from the moment you zifeng left.


    to deceive everyone, pretending to be foolish was inevitable.


    "young master pan, really don''t remember? just now, you brought someone who practices poison art into this place," zhang qingbo said incredulously.


    he knew this guy somewhat, ruthless in his methods to achieve his goals.


    zhang qingbo suspected that old master huang being plagued by poison insects might be pan long''s doing.


    now that the conspiracy was unraveling, he was trying to bluff his way through it.


    "brother zhang, i really have no idea!" pan long looked miserably at zhang qingbo as he spoke.


    "that''s it, i remember there''s a saying in poison art, it can control others using poison insects; once infected, they will follow the commands of the one who used the technique."


    "hmm, i have also read about it in a book, it seems poison art does have this function."


    ...


    listening to the heated discussions among the doctors present, huang shijie focused his gaze on xia liu, "was young master pan also controlled just now?"


    "i''m not sure about that; maybe some people understand it clearly," xia liu responded lightly.


    his words made young master pan tremble slightly.


    "dad, xia liu seems very weak, i''m going to take him to rest," huang xue said with a rare smile.


    hearing his daughter was about to take a man to rest, huang shijie felt very uncomfortable.


    but he dared not speak out, after all, this man was the divine doctor who had cured his father.


    "xue''er, quickly help divine doctor xia to rest, we can handle things here," yang yuehua said, relieved to see her daughter smiling, reminding her.


    "alright, mom, i''ll take xia liu to rest now."


    as he passed by young master pan, xia liu glanced at him once and brushed past without a word.


    although young master pan pretended to be foolish on the surface, he was extremely frightened inside.


    from the terrifying speed xia liu had just displayed, being targeted by him would definitely not end well!


    only after xia liu and huang xue had disappeared did young master pan heave a sigh of relief.


    "uncle shijie, my head hurts so much i think it''s going to explode, i better go to the hospital for a check-up, you guys go ahead."


    "alright, young master pan has also been under a lot of strain these past few days, take good care of yourself," knowing that young master pan was also affected by the poison insects, huang shijie felt no resentment toward him.


    subsequently, a few of the elite young men also left.


    their goddess was helping another man to rest, what face did they have left to stay there.


    however, zhang qingbo was not willing to give up, regardless of whether huang xue was helping xia liu or not, as long as they weren''t married, he still had a chance!


    but honestly, he felt that he had really been unlucky lately.


    not only did he spend a lot of money to invite doctor mark, but just as mark arrived, coincidentally, xia liu turned out to be his mentor.


    all the prestige he had accumulated over many days was stolen away by xia liu.


    zhang qingbo also understood that xia liu was truly formidable, just the terrifying speed alone was enough for him to admire, not to mention his god-like medical skills.


    "divine doctor song, you must stay today."


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    "definitely, even if you chase me away, i won''t leave."


    "haha!" smiling joyously, huang shijie said to the other doctors present: "and all you traditional medicine experts, you all must stay today as well."


    "of course!"


    "i would stay even if it killed me!"


    "absolutely!"


    everyone''s thoughts were similar to song lingzhen''s; they all wanted to stay close to xia liu.


    in case xia liu revealed some secrets, their medical skills might become as formidable as his.


    afterward, huang shijie arranged for everyone to rest in their rooms, mu qianshan also took his father mu hua and his niece to rest.


    the poison insects in mu hua''s body had been expelled when xia liu treated huang zhongcai. sea??h th§× novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    because his infection had lasted a short time and you zifeng had not exerted his power, it didn''t have a major impact.


    tonight, it was undoubtedly the liveliest night in huanglong city.


    after an afternoon''s preparation, every plant and underneath every house in the villa area was decked with colorful lights.


    to celebrate old master huang''s recovery.


    huang zhongcai woke up in the evening and the first thing he did was to have a hearty meal.


    he knew nothing about being affected by poison insects; once huang shijie told him what had happened, he immediately developed a deep interest in xia liu¡­

 Chapter 190 Just for One Person

    in the room, xia liu slowly lowered his hands, which had been clasped in front of his chest.this was huang xue''s room.


    when he had returned here a moment ago, he had struggled with huang xue for a while, severely weakening his body, which led him to start "inhaling breath" to recover his spirit.


    as he regained strength, the fairy huang xue had disappeared without a trace.


    seeing xia liu emerge from the room, the two servants waiting at the door hurried to greet him.


    "where is your young mistress?" he asked.


    "the young mistress left quite early; she asked us to inform you to head to huanglong hall after you''ve rested well."


    "huanglong hall? what on earth is that?" xia liu couldn''t help but wonder.


    the decor of the huang family estate was quite normal, but the name was somewhat difficult to wait for with reverence.


    following the explanation from the two servants, xia liu finally understood.


    it turned out that the huang family was hosting a celebration feast tonight, and the venue was none other than huanglong hall.


    after understanding, xia liu followed the two servants to the venue.


    today, huanglong hall was indeed overcrowded, with over a dozen banquet tables set up in the vast hall.


    the entrance was the same, with additional wine and dance parties making it an extraordinarily lively scene.


    furthermore, the tables in both the hall and the entrance were already filled with guests.


    they all sat upright, not daring to touch the dishes on the table or even the wine.


    "father, shall we start first?" below the hall, huang shijie cast his eyes around the room, then meekly suggested to huang zhongcai.


    so many people were currently waiting foolishly for someone whose recovery time was unknown.


    if that person didn''t wake up until tomorrow, would they really need to keep watch all night?


    "divine doctor xia hasn''t arrived yet, what''s the rush? are you that hungry? go eat some steamed buns in the kitchen," huang zhongcai couldn''t help but glance at huang shijie.


    huang zhongcai had felt extremely invigorated since waking up, as if he had become ten years younger.


    moreover, after learning about xia liu''s situation from song lingzhen, his interest in the young man who had cured him grew even more.


    "father, listen to me, this divine doctor xia is actually a little farmer from some village, and he and xue''er have some..."


    "what! divine doctor xia is also a farmer! what is xue''er''s relationship with him?" upon hearing his son speak, huang zhongcai became excited again.


    "dad, i''m telling you, it seems like xue''er and divine doctor xia are boyfriend and girlfriend," yang yuehua said with a rejoicing smile.


    "is that true?"


    "it''s not confirmed yet, but there seems to be some indication of that," huang shijie said with a bitter tone.


    if xia liu was indeed his daughter''s boyfriend, he would not be very receptive.


    after all, xia liu was just a farmer, and aside from resolving his father''s issue with the poison insects, he was otherwise worthless.


    if his father were no longer around, the family could fall into crisis again.


    "very good! very good! where is xue''er? i need to ask her opinion; if it''s true, we can hold their wedding tomorrow!" huang zhongcai exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands.


    "zhongcai, you''re rushing things. the young ones have their own thoughts; we can''t force them," song lingzhen chided, seeing huang zhongcai so thrilled.


    "haha, i got ahead of myself," huang zhongcai admitted.


    listening to the conversation between his father and song lingzhen, huang shijie could only force a bitter smile.


    xia liu was merely a farmer; if his daughter married him, it would bring no benefit to the family.


    he had only this one daughter, and whoever she married in the future must be someone who could help the family!


    while song lingzhen and huang zhongcai were conversing, xia liu had already arrived at the entrance.


    his arrival instantly drew all eyes to him.


    xia liu also scanned the crowd, noticing that no one had touched anything on their tables.


    it looked as though they were waiting for someone, but wasn''t huang zhongcai seated inside?


    could it be that he was waiting for me...


    "divine doctor xia! you have finally arrived!" upon seeing xia liu enter, huang zhongcai personally came out to greet him.


    "old master huang, just call me xia liu. how has your health been recovering?" xia liu was very familiar and responded to huang zhongcai with equal enthusiasm.


    this old guy was huang xue''s grandfather, so he certainly couldn''t afford to give him any attitude.


    "hahaha, your medical skills are the best in the world. after i woke up, i could even run."


    "that''s good to hear, that''s good to hear."


    following that, xia liu was pulled over by huang zhongcai to sit next to him.


    this seat had originally been huang shijie''s, and as he left, his eyes were filled with resentment.


    it was only after xia liu arrived that the banquet truly began.


    "divine doctor xia, according to the rules of the divine doctor event, you are entitled to fifty million huaxia currency," huang shijie said, no longer able to listen to the conversation between his father and xia liu.


    his father was practically pushing his granddaughter onto a blazing bed of coals.


    as huang shijie announced the divine doctor event''s prize money, all the doctors present swallowed their saliva.


    "hm? only fifty million? shijie, am i only worth fifty million to you?" huang zhongcai was puzzled. sea??h th§× n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    if he had been conscious before, he would have hanged this son and given him a beating if he hadn''t complied.


    "no, father, you misunderstand, it''s just an event."


    "i heard about it, but you can''t set the price so low. later, transfer fifty billion to xia liu," huang zhongcai said nonchalantly.


    at his words, huang shijie almost spat out the wine in his mouth.


    fifty billion!


    the family''s available liquid assets didn''t even add up to ten billion.


    the fifty billion was nearly a tenth of the entire family enterprise!


    not only huang zhongcai, but everyone present was shocked by his words. fifty million turned into fifty billion¡ªwhat audacity!


    if one could get fifty billion, being a winner in life would be an understatement!


    that amount of money could buy half a city!


    everyone looked at xia liu with envy.


    if xia liu accepted, the young man would instantly become a billionaire!


    "father, can we discuss this matter?" huang shitao couldn''t listen any longer. to directly give one-tenth of the family fortune to an outsider was unbearable for an heir.


    "no, if there aren''t fifty billion, sell a few companies and give xia liu a hundred billion."


    "wow! a hundred billion!" everyone except for the huang family members was scared stiff.


    "dad, let''s give the fifty billion, let''s give fifty billion!" huang shijie was now on the verge of tears but dared not cry.


    if they did not agree soon, the family fortune could lose two shares of its holdings.


    huang zhongcai was infamously stubborn; no one in the huang family could change what he decided.


    "everyone, calm down!" at this moment, xia liu spoke.


    all eyes were on him, wanting to see if he would accept the money.


    "i will not take a single cent. i came here to treat old master huang for just one person!"


    what the fuck!


    "not take a single penny!"


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    "am i dreaming?"


    "that''s fifty billion! if he held on, he could have gotten a hundred billion!"


    xia liu''s words had stunned everyone present.


    at this point, huang shijie felt a mix of joy and anger. although no money had to be given, this man''s ambition was even greater!

 Chapter 191 I Killed Him

    "oh? xia liu, who did you come for?" huang zhongcai became interested, perhaps as his daughter-in-law had said."i came for xue''er. i had failed her before, misunderstood her. i hope old master huang and family head huang will give me a chance."


    xia liu''s face was bitter.


    indeed, he had misunderstood her and, on the night of her return, he had severely criticized her.


    at that moment, huang xue, who was just about to step into the hall, heard xia liu''s dialogue.


    her eyes instantly moistened.


    he had refused five billion just for her!


    she stood at the doorway, yet her steps were unable to move an inch,, excited, surprised, and shy.


    "no way! i disagree! xue''er already has someone she''s set to marry." in this matter, huang shijie was very certain.


    he would rather give xia liu five billion than let his daughter go with him. sear?h the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    huang xue was the beauty of yuanguang city, many wealthy heirs wanted to marry her.


    huang shijie''s ideal son-in-law was pan long.


    the pan family primarily operates in real estate, but they are involved in various other industries as well. additionally, the pan family''s connections are quite formidable.


    if they could collaborate with the pan family, the huang family would definitely reach a peak status within a few years.


    "what did you say! xue''er can follow whomever she wants, it''s none of your business!" huang zhongcai was furious, it had been a long time since he had to reprimand this son,, he couldn''t believe he would say such a thing.


    "father, you should consider the whole huang family. xia liu is just a rural doctor. apart from breaking your poison art, what else can he do?"


    huang shijie mercilessly criticized xia liu.


    "shut up!"


    "old master xia, don''t get angry, your illness has just recovered, i will handle it", xia liu, not wanting to treat huang zhongcai there, stood up.


    "family head huang, it''s true i am a rural doctor, but i have dreams and i am working towards them. tell me, who is more suitable for xue''er than i am?"


    "hmph! just a village bumpkin. yuanguang city isn''t lacking in your kind of laborer. my daughter must marry someone of prominent background, and i think pan long is quite suitable."


    huang shijie spoke plainly.


    he had decided to sever ties if necessary, all for the family.


    if his daughter must hate someone, let it be himself.


    "i won''t! apart from xia liu, i won''t marry anyone else in this lifetime!" huang xue could no longer contain herself.


    she was unclear about what kind of person pan long was, but she knew xia liu very well.


    ever since he treated her, she was bound to him for life.


    "xue''er, you''re just in time. i don''t care what happened, from now on it must end!"


    "huang shijie! what right do you have to command xue''er, she''s my granddaughter. you constantly speak of the family, do you only know such means, relying on selling your daughter? if that''s the case, i think this family needs a new leader."


    "grandfather!" seeing her grandfather stand up for her, huang xue ran sorrowfully behind him seeking protection.


    "father!"


    "my dear brother, you''ve gone too far, treating xue''er like a bargaining chip. she''s an adult, she has her own way of choosing!" huang shitao seized the opportunity to provoke huang shijie alongside huang zhongcai.


    "shitao, even you?"


    "me? you use xue''er as a bargaining chip for the family. what are you thinking, is xue''er even your daughter?" huang shitao rebuked righteously.


    "huang shijie, i''ve tolerated you for a long time! look at your conscience, have you taken care of your daughter since she was young? she finally likes someone, how are you any different from a beast in your actions!"


    yang yuehua couldn''t listen anymore. her son and daughter were the most important treasures of her life.


    her son was dragged into the military by her husband''s brothers and she only saw him once every three years; not to mention that.


    now her husband even wants to use their daughter as a chip for gains, this she could not endure!


    huang shijie was somewhat shocked, he had not expected his actions to be treated this way.


    "why does he say and do these things, if not for the family?"


    "now that he is the target of thousands of accusations, does it mean anything?"


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    he stopped speaking and bore all the affairs of the huang family.


    he was tired too, so since his father had said there needed to be a change in leadership, he had nothing to say.


    "shitao! from now on, you will take over shijie''s position. the family consists of all the family members; and the development of our enterprise must be grounded!"


    "yes, father! shitao will surely heed your teachings and lead the family to the highest point! and bring all family members together!" huang shitao repressed the strong excitement in his heart.


    he had waited so many years for this day!


    what sacrifices had he not made for this position?


    in the end, due to a minor incident, the position he had dreamt of was easily within his grasp.


    "hoo hoo! congratulations, uncle shitao, on becoming the family head!"


    "congratulations, shitao!"


    ...


    those from the huang family who were close to huang shitao began clapping their hands, their joy unmistakably released.


    "something terrible has happened, family head!" just as everyone was cheering, a security officer rushed in.


    the security officer''s face looked awful, slightly pale, as if he had discovered something shocking.


    "just say what''s happened," huang shijie snapped irritably.


    all the others were also drawn to the tension of the security officer.


    "i was patrolling the forest with a few colleagues, and we saw several bodies! they are the colleagues who went missing yesterday!"


    "what!!!"


    the news shocked everyone.


    there were bodies in the forest!


    "how did they die? were they poisoned?" huang zhongcai furrowed his brows tightly.


    he had woken up the day before and heard others say that the person responsible for the poisonings was present at the scene and had escaped after being discovered by xia liu.


    perhaps those security guards were killed by the fleeing you zifeng.


    "i didn''t pay much attention to that..." the security officer did not know how to answer, as he had hurried here immediately after seeing the bodies.


    "how do you do your job? go back and check right now!" before huang shijie could speak, huang shitao quickly ordered.


    after speaking, he gave huang shijie a smug look, his eyes seemingly saying, "i''m in charge of the huang family now!"


    huang shijie did not respond and sighed, sitting down and blocking out the rest.


    "no need to go to such lengths; i killed those people." just as the security officer was preparing to run out, xia liu suddenly spoke up.


    "what, what, what!!!"


    this time, the entire room was in an uproar.


    xia liu had actually claimed it was he who killed the people!


    this was incredibly awkward!


    just the day before, they all knew that xia liu had been taken away by those security guards.


    had he killed them to cover his tracks after escaping?


    a chill rose up behind everyone''s backs. if that was the case, xia liu was undeniably a psychopath and a mad killer!


    huang xue dazedly looked at xia liu, suddenly realizing that she might not know him at all.


    she had been moved by him just a moment ago, and the next second, he turned out to be a murderous criminal...

 Chapter 192 The Struggle Within the Huang Family

    "why?" after a long silence, huang xue asked weakly.facing huang xue, facing the gaze of everyone present, xia liu smiled faintly and said, "because they wanted to kill me, and i certainly couldn''t just stand there and let them."


    hiss!


    the sound of numerous sharp intakes of breath echoed throughout the hall.


    those security guards actually wanted to kill xia liu!


    what on earth was going on?


    hearing this response, huang xue pouted her lips and said no more.


    "xia liu, explain yourself more clearly!" huang shijie demanded.


    "elder song, is your disciple sun ce here?" xia liu did not answer immediately but shifted his gaze to song lingzhen. explore new worlds at empire


    "he''s resting in his room. does this have anything to do with him?" song lingzhen inquired.


    "i don''t know if it''s related, but he took your place and entered with the host. then the two of them, acting in concert, had the security guards take me away. the guards took me into the woods and pulled out a dagger. what do you make of this?"


    "ah! i will have that scoundrel come out and explain himself immediately!"


    while song lingzhen was agitated, one person was sweating bullets.


    it was huang shitao!


    he was also involved in this matter, and it was he who had instructed his son to adapt to the situation and to find an excuse to kill any doctor who truly had the ability to cure huang zhongcai.


    he never expected that this would be exposed!


    if his father found out, his own fate would certainly be very embarrassing.


    hearing this, huang xue breathed a sigh of relief and said, "xia liu, you''re saying that sun ce and the host wanted to kill you?"


    "yes, for the sake of my own life, i had no choice but to kill in self-defense."


    "the host seems to be letian..." huang shijie murmured, and suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply.


    "what in the world is going on here? shijie, shitao, you two explain yourselves clearly!" huang zhongcai became even more confused. xia liu had almost been killed, and it had happened within the huang family''s domain; there was definitely more to it.


    "father, i know! it must be letian who feared xia liu would cure your illness, so he decisively ordered the attack."


    "huang shijie, don''t make groundless accusations. letian is my son; how could he possibly wish for his own grandfather''s death!"


    "whether that''s true or not, let''s have letian and sun ce come out and confront each other!"


    "letian was not feeling well tonight, so he didn''t come. i will call him right now," huang shitao said as he took out his phone to make the call.


    soon after, huang letian arrived, holding one hand over his mouth and coughing continuously as he entered the room.


    "cough cough, dad, what did you want to see me for?" huang letian asked, looking confused.


    "tell us in front of everyone here what you did! why did you let people harm divine doctor xia!"


    "ah! i didn''t have anyone harm him! i only asked the security guards to take divine doctor xia to the police station. sun ce said that divine doctor song had a relapse because of xia liu, claiming he was a fraud," huang letian said anxiously.


    "huang letian, have you lost your mind? if those guards tried to harm xia liu, and it wasn''t on your orders, then who could have ordered it?"


    huang xue angrily confronted huang letian. this guy had actually dared to let someone harm xia liu¡ªthis was unacceptable!


    "i didn''t! i didn''t know anything about it!" huang letian vehemently denied it, after all, it wasn''t he who had acted.


    so what if he was accused? without evidence, he would continue to live carefree.


    "everyone, quiet down for a moment. righteous brother, how is your disciple doing, when will he be coming over?"


    seeing his son and grandson like this, huang zhongcai felt disgraced.


    "my senior disciple has gone to check on him; he should be able to come over soon to provide an account," song lingzhen replied, taking the matter very seriously. if it were not for xia liu''s adeptness, huang zhongcai might have died, and he himself might have too.


    "master! junior brother is not in his room, but he left a letter there, it looks like he has run away." sear?h the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "a letter!" upon hearing song ze say sun ce had left a letter, huang shitao was extremely anxious.


    if it weren''t for his son''s gaze, huang shitao might have done something crazy.


    "give me the letter." as the most authoritative person present, huang zhongcai took the letter and immediately began to read it.


    other than xia liu, no one could detect the change in huang zhongcai''s expression.


    a few minutes later, huang zhongcai said with a relieved smile, "divine doctors, this banquet is more or less over; everyone should head back early to rest, and we''ll continue tomorrow night."


    his words made the doctors feel awkward, but they all knew that huang zhongcai was indicating it was time to deal with family affairs.


    it was not appropriate for them to stay, so they all rose and left one after another.


    a few minutes later, the only ones remaining at the scene were the huang family members, xia liu, song lingzhen, and song ze.


    their eyes were all focused on huang zhongcai, wanting to know what exactly was written in that letter.


    "huang letian, my dear grandson, aren''t you going to kneel for me!"


    "ah!" huang letian hurriedly looked at his grandfather, completely at a loss for words.


    this was not what he had agreed on with sun ce. hadn''t sun ce said he would take all the responsibilities on himself?


    what was happening now?


    "father, what exactly is going on? what wrong has letian committed?" huang shitao was very worried and couldn''t help but cautiously inquire.


    "and you, huang shitao! my dear son, truly my dear son!" huang zhongcai''s voice revealed his sorrow, and if not for this letter, he would never have believed he could be treated this way.


    "father!"


    "grandfather!"


    "kneel down!" huang zhongcai didn''t spare the two any sentiment, his sharp voice echoing around them.


    shush, shush...


    huang shitao and huang letian immediately knelt on the ground; they understood.


    if huang zhongcai believed something, it would not change¡ªthere must have been a problem with that letter.


    "shitao, do you think you''ve been treated poorly in the family?" huang zhongcai asked.


    "not poorly, just slightly less so compared to big brother."


    "if i were to die, do you think you could lead the family forward?"


    "father, why would you die..."


    "huang shitao! you''re my son, i know what goes on in your mind. i''ll give you one last chance: do you want me to present evidence, or would you rather confess on your own?"


    "father, i''ll talk, i''ll talk!" huang shitao was scared. he knew this was his last chance.


    "it''s me who should die, it''s my fault, this has nothing to do with letian..." huang shitao said while slapping his own cheeks.


    everyone present listened quietly as he recounted everything.


    after ten minutes, everyone finally realized.


    as it turned out, the reason huang zhongcai was angry was that huang shitao had attempted to prevent the divine doctors from providing treatment.


    "sigh, shitao, you''re even more foolish than i am. if this family were without a father, without any external support, it wouldn''t be long before other enterprises swallowed us up. did you think that by preventing father''s recovery and assuming the position of family head, you would be set for life?"


    huang shijie sighed with regret, having just come to his own sense of remorse. now, it seemed the one who truly needed to reflect was huang shitao.


    "now that everything is clear, i''ll ask you one last question. were you involved in the act of administering the poison?"


    "absolutely not! it was only when i saw you grew increasingly ill that i got confused and did something foolish!" huang shitao asserted firmly.

 Chapter 193 Another Matter

    huang zhongcai looked deeply at huang shitao and nodded after a long while.his youngest son was usually quite decent to others.


    perhaps he did this because he thought he would not live for much longer.


    "xia liu, as the person directly involved, i''ll leave the punishment of this bastard up to you," huang zhongcai pondered before passing the decision to xia liu.


    "divine doctor xia, my son is young, just like you. i beg you to spare him on account of both of you being young. i will take full responsibility."


    "dad, i''m also at fault. i didn''t stop you but instead joined you in doing something foolish. i''m willing to share the burden with you."


    only at this moment did huang letian realize what he and his father had done.


    perhaps only a heavy prison sentence could make up for this mistake.


    "old man, you can handle your family affairs as you see fit, but for the other matter, i am very willing to help out."


    "what other matter?" huang xue asked, confused.


    "the person who used the poison art!"


    "this..." huang xue gave a bitter smile. xia liu was intent on pursuing this to the end.


    was it because the one poisoned was his grandfather?


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    "xia liu, you must not take risks. xue''er will still need your care in the future," urged huang zhongcai, having personally experienced the horrors of the poison art.


    "old man, xue''er, don''t worry. such characters can''t stir any trouble in my presence," xia liu said with complete confidence.


    "divine doctor xia is mighty!"


    "divine doctor xia is mighty!"


    hearing xia liu''s offer to deal with the person who used the poison art, everyone in the huang family was overjoyed.


    you zifeng, for some reason, had used the poison art, and his presence was an absolute threat to the huang family. if they could get rid of him, they wouldn''t have to live in fear anymore.


    xia liu said, "oh right, i forgot to tell you, pan long wasn''t poisoned."


    "what! that bastard!"


    upon learning the truth, huang shijie was furious.


    so it was all pan long''s doing that his father got poisoned!


    "heh, huang shijie, everyone certainly hasn''t forgotten your ideal son-in-law in your heart. open your eyes and see, it was pan long who poisoned daddy with his poison art!" yang yuehua seized the opportunity to humiliate huang shijie mercilessly once again.


    huang shijie went silent with a darkened face, realizing he had made a great mistake.


    if it hadn''t been for xia liu, the huang family might have really come to an end this time.


    "the pan family, huh... the old man will remember!" huang zhongcai''s eyes flashed with a hint of crimson, fleeting so quickly that it was almost imperceptible.


    but xia liu felt a massive aura, a murderous intent, anger, and an unprovoked domineering presence. it was evident that huang zhongcai was no simple character.


    "xia liu, you and xue''er should go back and rest first. i''m informed of everything now, and i will handle the rest," said huang zhongcai.


    "understood, old man."


    with a response, xia liu left with huang xue.


    watching the happy departing backs of the two, huang shijie still felt some reluctance, but he was helpless.


    everything had developed to this point, and he could only wait to see how his father would handle it.


    xia liu and huang xue hadn''t reached the villa when they encountered someone on the road.


    it was mark, who had been lingering in huanglong city for a long time! s§×arch* the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "xiao guang, why are you still here?" xia liu said, clearly annoyed.


    "master, before i leave, i want to give you a hug. it''s not just me wanting it, but it''s the wish of everyone," mark said, his head lowered, not daring to look directly at xia liu.


    "fuck! no homo! and besides, your mistress is here, and she would never allow me to hug another man," xia liu retorted bluntly.


    what did he mean by everyone''s longing? could it be that those bastards knew he was coming home?


    "wife, think of the faces of the three thousand subordinates and let me hug the master, will you?"


    "pfft¡­ i never said you couldn''t hug¡­" although huang xue was surprised, her heart felt warm, especially at xia liu and mark calling her ''wife''...


    at the same time, she was curious about what the ''three thousand subordinates'' meant. were they xia liu''s underlings?


    "mark, stop spouting nonsense! get back to where you came from, and if i see you in huaxia again, i will expel you from the sect!" xia liu gave mark a kick and said.


    of course, in the end, mark still managed to share a hug with xia liu.


    "master, when will you return?"


    "we''ll see. go back and tell everyone to live well, those who should get married should get married, and those who should have kids should have kids."


    "got it!"


    watching xia liu and mark talk in hushed tones that she couldn''t hear, huang xue was anxious and really wanted to eavesdrop on whatever secrets these two were sharing, fearing they might actually be more than just friends.


    "um, xia liu, tonight¡­" after returning to the villa, huang xue asked timidly while looking down.


    she didn''t know how to say that she wanted xia liu to sleep with her tonight.


    "what''s up tonight?" xia liu asked as he swept huang xue into a princess carry, staring intently into her eyes.


    "nothing special! carry me back to the room¡­" huang xue said with a slight smile, at this point how could she respond differently¡­


    an hour later, xia liu looked at huang xue in surprise, or rather, at the bedsheets.


    there were faint pink blood stains there!


    "are you surprised?" huang xue, wrapped in a blanket, asked with a delighted smile.


    "yes, quite surprised. didn''t you suffer from impulsive addiction syndrome before? how come you''re still¡­" xia liu trailed off towards the end.


    he found it hard to believe the truth, that just a few hours ago, huang xue was still a virgin!


    "hehe, you think i''m foolish? even if i was ill, i wouldn''t be careless. otherwise, how could i give you the most precious gift?" huang xue pouted with a smug smile.


    "so that''s how it is¡­" xia liu felt slightly awkward; he couldn''t believe he had asked such a thing.


    "by the way, xue''er, i didn''t hurt you just now, did i?"


    "what do you think?" huang xue replied coldly.


    "sorry, let me heal you a bit." smiling wryly, xia liu took huang xue''s hand and channelled spiritual energy into her body, starting to repair the damaged nerves and wounds.


    "xia liu, i want more!"


    "no problem!"


    around three in the morning, huang xue finally fell asleep.


    xia liu pondered for a while, then quietly got up, dressed neatly, and left the villa.


    to fully commit to his good deeds, he needed to eliminate you zifeng in order to have huang xue follow him back without reserve!


    as for pan long and his family, judging by what huang zhongcai had said, he should be able to handle them.


    after asking a patrol security guard for huang shijie''s whereabouts, xia liu immediately rushed over.


    sure enough, the lights were still on in the villa where huang shijie stayed.


    as he approached, he could hear the sounds of porcelain shattering inside, along with yang yuehua''s roar.


    hearing this, xia liu laughed.


    this was all huang shijie''s doing; he had no business using huang xue as a bargaining chip, and getting humiliated at the party was just the beginning.


    now he had to face his wife at home, and xia liu hoped he wouldn''t get so depressed that he would jump off a building...


    after listening for a while, xia liu decided to knock on the door.


    "ugh, not sleeping in the middle of the night, what are you doing here?" seeing it was xia liu, huang shijie said unhappily.


    "not the right time? then i''ll go back first and come over later." xia liu said with a bitter smile, stepping backwards to leave.

 Chapter 194 My Woman, No One Can Take Her Away!

    "hey! wait a minute!"as huang shijie was currently troubled about an excuse to leave the house, xia liu''s arrival was perfectly timed.


    even though he was not happy with this guy, he couldn''t miss the chance to go out. s§×ar?h the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    seeing the defeated expression on huang shijie''s face, xia liu felt quite pleased inside.


    "xia liu, let me be clear with you, you can''t give xue''er happiness, so please let her go," huang shijie said seriously beside the quiet artificial lake.


    "family head huang, why don''t we talk about that poison master instead?" xia liu didn''t want to engage with huang shijie over the issue of xue''er''s affiliation.


    his woman, no one should ever think of taking her away in this lifetime, not even her parents.


    "what do you mean?" speaking of you zifeng, huang shijie''s entire being began to tremble.


    these days, he had personally witnessed his father''s pain from falling ill to being confined to a low bed.


    if his father hadn''t been a soldier when younger, with strong willpower, he wouldn''t have lasted until now.


    "what if i go and kill that poison master now, would that prove i have the ability to protect xue''er?"


    "what! you are going to kill someone!" seeing how casually xia liu talked about killing, huang shijie was startled again.


    however, he had no other thoughts; as long as you zifeng wasn''t eliminated, the huang family would live in fear.


    "even if you kill him, you still lack financial means and connections. what will you use to develop, and how will you provide a good life for xue''er?"


    "don''t worry about that, i own two hotels that earn a million a day, that should count as a minor achievement, shouldn''t it?"


    "are you joking? your small county city earning a million a day?" huang shijie''s eyes widened, even the restaurants and hotels under the huang group wouldn''t dare make such a grand claim.


    "honestly, money is just a string of digits to me. besides, xue''er is already mine and nobody can take her away. if someone does, then..."


    xia liu let his unsaid words hang in the air, his sharp gaze fixating on huang shijie.


    in that moment of eye contact, huang shijie felt a suffocating difficulty in breathing, and his heartbeat unconsciously sped up.


    a deep sense of fear spread from his heart to all parts of his body.


    cold sweat soaked the back of his shirt.


    "forget it! i don''t care anymore, do what you will, but remember, you just said, take care of you zifeng!"


    unable to converse with xia liu, huang shijie could only compromise, ultimately shifting the focus to you zifeng.


    this man must be eliminated!


    "hehe, you zifeng, he won''t last long, but family head huang, you need to give me pan long''s address."


    seeing xia liu full of confidence, huang shijie didn''t say anything else and gave xia liu the address before leaving.


    after obtaining the address, xia liu left the villa alone.


    since he was dealing with you zifeng, naturally he didn''t want to leave any traces.


    according to what huang shijie had said, pan long didn''t live with his family; he resided alone in a villa area.


    at that moment, it was four in the morning, still three hours before dawn. xia liu was confident that if he encountered you zifeng, he would eliminate him instantly.


    pan long''s villa was located by the riverside, and at that time, the villa was brightly lit.


    the young man was afraid of being ambushed, so there were at least five bodyguards guarding the entrance.


    xia liu did not alert the bodyguards and sneaked into the villa unnoticed.


    in a room on the second floor, pan long was pacing back and forth anxiously.


    he was very worried, worried that xia liu would see through his disguise. now that huang zhongcai had recovered his health, it would be very easy for him to strike at the pan family.


    of course, that was only a strike in terms of connections; as for business, the huang group still didn''t have the resources and wealth to compete.


    but connections equated to foundation, and huang zhongcai was a veteran general from the founding days; his counterattack would undoubtedly be formidable.


    "you zifeng!" muttering to himself, a murderous intent flashed through pan long''s eyes.


    today, coming back from the huang family, he thought you zifeng would have left yuanguang city, but unexpectedly, he was still in his own house.


    and last night, he had somehow brought back a woman, who was currently engaged in activity in the next room.


    he had endured almost three hours of piercing screams, almost believing that the woman would die at any moment.


    just as pan long was about to break down, the woman finally let out a loud cry, and then everything stopped.


    soon after, you zifeng entered the room.


    "zifeng, how come..."


    at that moment, pan long''s face contorted terribly because you zifeng revealed his true face.


    it was a face that would make anyone''s heart tingle upon seeing it, with many white worms writhing about.


    and there was still blood on the corners of you zifeng''s mouth!


    "sorry, my blood gu was broken by that person. i was careless, and the poison insects backfired on me; i''ve just recovered."


    "what about the woman?"


    "my precious gu drank her dry."


    hiss...


    pan long''s scalp tingled, the woman had actually been drained of her blood and flesh by you zifeng''s poison insects!


    "my power has fully recovered now, and as soon as it gets light, i''ll head to the huang family. my precious gu is still not sated, and this time i''m going to wreak slaughter!"


    as he spoke, you zifeng thought of xia liu and couldn''t help but sneer: "hmph! if that guy is still around, i''ll make sure he tastes my prowess!"


    "oh? are you that powerful? show me if it''s really true."


    suddenly, a light chuckle echoed through the room.


    pan long was instantly terrified; he would never forget that voice¡ªit was xia liu!


    you zifeng was also startled, but he appeared relatively composed on the surface, beginning to look around the room.


    but xia liu''s manner of appearing always caught them off guard.


    with a click, the door opened and xia liu sauntered in.


    "just as i suspected, you ignorant creature!"


    "hehe, young master pan, you don''t mind if i kill someone in front of you, do you?" xia liu glanced at pan long as he spoke.


    "mind your damn business! i''ll kill you!" the feeling of being disregarded by xia liu completely infuriated you zifeng.


    he was a master of poison control, and yet he was being repeatedly disdained by an ordinary inner sect martial artist¡ªhow could he tolerate this!


    as you zifeng roared, he tore open his clothes.


    then, a chilling scene unfolded; his body was covered with poison insects!


    these poison insects were red, about the size of a little finger.


    after tearing open his clothes, you zifeng gasped sharply, then formed a seal with both hands.


    in the blink of an eye, xia liu saw a fierce blood poison energy burst from you zifeng''s chest, filling the room with red.


    that moment pan long was downright terrified.


    he screamed and rolled behind the sofa to hide.


    "enjoy the power of my blood gu to your heart''s content!"


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    "hmph, rubbish! break for me!" before the blood poison energy could touch him, xia liu had his palms out in front of him.


    invisibly, a massive spiritual energy burst forth.


    as soon as the golden spirit energy touched the blood poison energy, the room was restored to its original state.


    the golden spirit energy could purify all the poisons in the world. at you zifeng''s current level of poison control, such a technique could be instantly countered.


    "damn it! you''ve forced my hand!" seeing his poison art instantly countered, you zifeng bit his finger, condensing seal!

 Chapter 195 Overwhelming

    upon sensing you zifeng''s blood energy spirit seal, the poison insects on his chest went rampant instantly.even more horrifying was that these poison insects actually devoured you zifeng''s flesh and blood!


    in the blink of an eye, the poison insects grew from the size of a pinkie finger to several inches long!


    his brow furrowed tightly.


    xia liu thought you zifeng truly evil for using his own essence blood to enhance the power of the poison insects.


    but xia liu was not worried at all, he felt no threat from you zifeng.


    "devour him alive!" you zifeng roared, pointing at xia liu.


    the poison insects on his body, upon being summoned, immediately lunged at xia liu!


    without any further ado, xia liu waved his bare hand and a huge burst of spiritual energy sprayed out.


    the approaching poison insects, upon coming into contact with the spiritual energy, immediately dissipated into the air.


    seeing this scene, you zifeng''s eyes widened, and he immediately unleashed all the poison insects in his body to strike at xia liu.


    "don''t waste your effort, die!" xia liu no longer wanted to see such disgusting things as poison insects.


    between his fingers, a ribbon of spiritual energy shot straight at you zifeng.


    along the way, the poison insects that touched the ribbon dissolved to nothingness. s§×ar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    you zifeng was quick to react.


    after summoning all his poison insects, his body had already retreated to the window.


    he had long since realized that he was no match for xia liu; even his most powerful poison insects were ineffective against him.


    now, the only thing left to do was to flee!


    but the speed of the spiritual energy ribbon was beyond you zifeng''s imagination.


    as he reached the window, his pupils reflected the colorful ribbon.


    time seemed to freeze at that moment. with eyes wide open, you zifeng was momentarily rigid as the ribbon pierced directly into his chest.


    boom!


    the moment the ribbon entered his body, a thunderous rumble echoed in you zifeng''s mind.


    the next second, he collapsed onto the ground.


    and thus, the room returned to calm once more.


    xia liu casually walked to you zifeng''s body, remembering what the old man had told him, that those who wielded poison control had their lives already intertwined with the poison insects.


    if the poison insects were not thoroughly eliminated, the poison controller wouldn''t die.


    xia liu''s cultivation technique activated again, and a massive burst of golden spirit energy shot toward you zifeng.


    "aaagh!!!" the previously corpse-like you zifeng let out a sky-shaking wail.


    the crying didn''t last more than three seconds before his body started to dissolve, eventually turning into a pool of blood water.


    seeing this, xia liu finally breathed a sigh of relief. if he had not thoroughly eliminated you zifeng, it wouldn''t have been long before he became the huang family''s catastrophe.


    having dealt with you zifeng, xia liu seated himself on the sofa, "young master pan, what do you think of this matter?"


    pan long, who was hiding behind the sofa, quivered continuously.


    he hadn''t dared to open his eyes since the beginning, and the scenes he had witnessed today would surely become indelible memories for a lifetime.


    "don''t kill me! it has nothing to do with me!" pan long tried to calm his inner fear, trembling as he emerged from behind the sofa.


    he knelt before xia liu, his head repeatedly striking the floor.


    "that''s your concern, but i want to know what your purpose was in doing all this?"


    by now, pan long had realized that xia liu knew everything, and he could only beg pitifully, "divine doctor xia, i beg you to spare me, i know i was wrong. i only wanted to take over the huang family''s assets, i never thought of harming anyone."


    "forget it, i can''t be bothered to kill you," xia liu shook his head, patted pan long on the shoulder as he stood up to leave.


    only when xia liu left the room did pan long confirm that he had escaped calamity!


    he gasped for breath, with no energy left to even deal with his damp trousers.


    and in his body, invisible to him, a weak red energy was swirling around his liver¡­


    by the time xia liu returned to the huang family estate, the sky had already brightened, and the battle with you zifeng hadn''t drained him much.


    actually, there was a reason for that.


    because his spiritual energy was naturally the bane of poison insects, and you zifeng''s poison insect technique wasn''t strong, which led to an overwhelming victory.


    to xia liu''s surprise, huang shijie was still in the same pavilion as before.


    seeing xia liu approach, huang shijie asked in astonishment, "so soon? what happened to you zifeng?"


    "nothing left of him."


    hiss¡­


    observing xia liu''s casual demeanor, huang shijie felt a shiver run down his spine.


    "from now on, you zifeng will no longer pose any threat to the huang family. also, pan long won''t live much longer..." xia liu continued.


    "what! you killed pan long too?" upon hearing this, huang shijie became anxious.


    the pan family''s power was immense within yuanguang, and if they pursued this matter, it would be extremely disadvantageous to the huang family.


    "calm down, i didn''t kill him right away. i just gave him a taste of his own medicine. in at most a month, he''ll be buried."


    hearing xia liu explain this way, huang shijie let out a sigh of relief.


    he didn''t pity pan long, who was cruel-hearted, having previously conspired with you zifeng to poison his father.


    if he had the power, huang shijie would have taken up arms and gone to his doorstep long ago.


    after everything settled down, as huang shijie observed xia liu''s serene face, an involuntary tremble took root in the depths of his heart.


    "family head huang, xue''er and i will be heading back soon, you..."


    "i have no objections, but i have one condition," huang shijie said, in no position to argue with xia liu, who in just a short time had killed two people.


    if xia liu took offense to him and dealt with him too, that would be a real pain.


    "please speak."


    "if the huang family ever faces an enemy like you in the future, you can''t just stand by and do nothing. also, you must take good care of xue''er. if you''re short on cash, i..."


    "uncle shijie, don''t worry, money is but a string of numbers; if i wished, i could buy an entire state," xia liu interrupted huang shijie''s speech.


    ...


    huang shijie was left speechless, xia liu''s boasting was indeed extravagant.


    furthermore, that "uncle" sounded so awkward.


    "alright, i will keep in touch with xue''er. you don''t have to force yourself."


    xia liu nodded and said nothing more; he still had to go back and prepare lunch for huang xue.


    "ah... my daughter, how could you fall for a farmer? what to do in the future..."


    as xia liu''s departing figure receded, huang shijie shook his head continuously.


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    no matter how strong xia liu was or how merciless he was in killing, what was that worth in an age where money reigned supreme?


    after returning to the villa, seeing huang xue asleep, xia liu decided to wait a few hours and prepare lunch directly.


    huang xue didn''t get out of bed until noon, feeling as if her waist was about to break; she didn''t know how much she had moved the night before.


    seeing the table full of dishes prepared by xia liu, she completely forgot her pain and, after freshening up, devoured the feast voraciously.


    "xia liu, let''s go back tomorrow. i miss my sisters," huang xue said.


    "you don''t want to spend more time with your old man?"


    "a married daughter is like water spilled out of the house. don''t you want me to go back with you?" huang xue pouted and looked at xia liu weakly.


    "since when did you get married off?"


    "i don''t care, you have to marry me!"

 Chapter 196 Huang Zhongcais Goddaughter

    "fairies like you, how could i ever let go!" with those words, xia liu pulled huang xue into his arms...whoosh whoosh whoosh...


    the roar of helicopters hovered over huanglong city.


    huang xue, who was getting dressed, suddenly became excited, "xia liu, get up quickly!"


    "what''s the matter?" xia liu lazily began to look for his clothes to get dressed.


    "it might be my brother coming back!"


    "your brother? coming back in a helicopter?"


    "yes! my brother is a soldier in a far-off place, and he only comes home once every few years. he always arrives by helicopter, he must be worried about grandfather, that''s why he''s coming home." when it came to her brother, huang xue couldn''t help but get excited.


    it had been five years since she last saw her brother. if he saw that she had found a boyfriend, he would definitely be surprised...


    "what branch of the military is your brother in that he only returns once every few years?" xia liu asked, puzzled.


    "i heard grandpa and dad mention it once, it seems like it''s the spearhead troop, and i heard he''s now a squad leader."


    "uh, uh, uh, the spearhead troop, huh? you go on ahead, i''ll just tidy up and follow." xia liu said with a wry smile.


    "alright, but you have to hurry, my brother must really want to meet you." after saying this, huang xue ran out of the room.


    "if your brother truly is a squad leader of the spearhead troop, he definitely won''t want to meet me..."


    watching the closed door to the room, xia liu murmured to himself.


    when huang xue reached the guest hall, a servant was running out. she immediately grabbed the servant and asked, "who''s the guest inside?"


    if it were her brother who had returned, he surely wouldn''t be in the guest hall; clearly, it was someone else visiting grandpa.


    "it seems to be the old master''s goddaughter."


    upon hearing this, huang xue waved the servant away. her grandfather''s goddaughter, that would be her god-aunt.


    in her memory, she seemed to have met this god-aunt a few times ten years ago...


    with these thoughts, huang xue entered the hall.


    by now, the hall was filled with people.


    huang zhongcai and huang shijie, yang yuehua, and some other influential members of the huang family were present.


    huang xue glanced at this so-called god-aunt. she looked rather beautiful and appeared to be in her thirties with a proper demeanor.


    after sneaking a few more glances, huang xue called xia liu to inform him of the situation, telling him there was no rush to come over. s§×arch* the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "godfather, why didn''t you let me know?"


    "wanqing, look, i''m fine, aren''t i? your business is growing bigger and bigger, don''t let an old man like me be the cause of any trouble."


    huang zhongcai gave an awkward smile, his goddaughter was his pride.


    that''s right! huang zhongcai''s goddaughter was none other than the ceo of wanqing group: mo wanqing!


    back when he was robust and often traveling, he met the diligent and studious mo wanqing in a certain city.


    he decided to promote her, and the grateful mo wanqing asked huang zhongcai to take her as his goddaughter, thus this relationship continued to the present.


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    "godfather, you''re flattering me. if it weren''t for you back then, i might still be washing dishes at this point," mo wanqing said, recalling the hardships of those years with a bitter smile.


    "hey, hey, let''s not talk about that, today you''ve come, let''s have a good reunion."


    "wanqing, your company is soaring to great heights now. make sure to teach your big brother a thing or two when you have time," huang zhongcai glanced at huang shijie with a sigh in his eyes.


    all he saw was regret, thinking about the goddaughter he had taken in years ago who had come from a background of nothing.


    yet she had built her business from scratch, and now her company was among the top 100 in huaxia.


    his son, on the other hand, wasn''t managing his company well and had a poor attitude, even thinking of using his daughter as a bargaining chip.


    huang shijie felt incredibly awkward, but he knew his weaknesses. compared to his god-sister mo wanqing, he had to admit he was outclassed.


    "wanqing, you really need to stay a few more days. i''ve hit a bottleneck," he said.


    "that''s a given, big brother. if you need my help, i definitely won''t hold back," she replied.


    "hehe, little sister wanqing, your big brother here is almost ready to sell his daughter. if you don''t teach him soon, i might end up being sold too," yang yuehua always kept an eye on mo wanqing.


    although this niece of hers didn''t have the huang family blood, her business acumen was far superior to her husband''s.


    yang yuehua had this thought more than once but never found the right opportunity. now that her niece was visiting again, she was determined to have her teach her husband properly.


    "haha, sister-in-law loves to joke. but it''s been ten years since i last saw my niece; is she at home?" mo wanqing recalled the innocent little girl she had seen back then and wondered how she had grown up.


    "don''t even mention it, xue''er won''t listen to anyone, insisting on living with some country bumpkin," huang shijie sighed before yang yuehua could respond.


    "shijie, what''s the point of being so snobbish? wanqing also came from a peasant background, yet look at her, now look at yourself. isn''t that shameful?" huang zhongcai once again chastised huang shijie in front of everyone.


    hearing these words, huang shijie bowed his head, no longer daring to speak.


    however, deep down, he still harbored reservations about xia liu; were it not for the tricks xia liu had shown, he would never have compromised.


    "godfather, big brother is also considering xue''er''s future," mo wanqing hastily explained, seeing huang shijie with his head bowed in silence.


    "by the way, godfather, have you fully recovered from your illness? i know a divine doctor who, if willing to come, could surely cure you!" speaking of peasants, mo wanqing suddenly thought of xia liu.


    she had heard that xia liu had cured liang caiming''s mother''s cancer in just half an hour.


    and she also learned from li zhong that xia liu had treated his wife and daughter''s acute conditions.


    if he could come and treat her godfather, there wouldn''t be any mistake!


    "wanqing, i really appreciate your concern, but my illness is completely healed now, and the divine doctor who treated me happens to be xue''er''s future husband," huang zhongcai said with a joyful smile.


    "wow! that''s amazing."


    "isn''t it? the kid is very skilled; he just doesn''t have any money."


    "shijie, you think you''re so great, don''t you? do you think he''s lacking money?" huang zhongcai could no longer hold back, deciding to give his son a piece of his mind.


    "father, he''s just a peasant with a home in the countryside; how could he not be short of money?"


    "so, what do you think, if a peasant shows no interest in fifty billion huaxia currency, what does that mean?"


    "that... that means he''s not right in the head¡­" huang shijie found himself backed into a corner without a response.


    "wake up, who''s the real fool here? with your attitude, you''ll never be able to expand your business in this lifetime," huang zhongcai was exhausted.


    this son of his was like a block of wood, and his younger son was full of schemes. the future of the huang family was indeed worrisome.


    "sister-in-law, what''s this all about?" mo wanqing quietly inquired to yang yuehua about someone refusing fifty billion huaxia currency, which was beyond her imagination.


    yang yuehua didn''t hide anything and recounted the tales of xia liu as a healer who saved lives.


    "godfather, what''s the name of the divine doctor who cured you?"


    after listening to yang yuehua''s explanation, mo wanqing was somewhat puzzled; the divine doctor sounded a lot like xia liu...

 Chapter 197 The Legend of Xia Liu

    "his name is xia liu, and the province he''s from must be some county under binlai city," huang zhongcai recalled the information xia liu had mentioned."binlai... isn''t that where wanqing''s company headquarters is located?" at this point, huang shijie suddenly became surprised.


    "now that you mention it, i remember too. it seems that xia liu and we are fated to meet. wanqing, do you know this divine doctor?"


    upon huang shijie''s reminder, huang zhongcai suddenly realized.


    at that moment, mo wanqing was still in shock. under binlai, in a county that could cure godfather, there was probably no one else but xia liu.


    she had never imagined that xia liu would have some connection to the huang family, and now it seemed even more significant.


    "godfather, the divine doctor i was just talking about is xia liu. this guy''s medical skills are terrifyingly strong; i witnessed him curing a cancer patient in half an hour."


    "just like what divine doctor song said!"


    "did you guys just hear that? miss wanqing is actually friends with divine doctor xia!"


    "that''s amazing!"


    the people from the huang family at the scene, upon hearing mo wanqing mention xia liu, all started praising him.


    "wanqing, you''re friends with xia liu?" huang zhongcai could hardly imagine, the xia liu who was a divine doctor, his own goddaughter actually knew him.


    "yes, a few days ago xia liu even parked his car in my hotel, and i bought his plane ticket as well."


    mo wanqing recalled the event, with xia liu hurriedly asking her to buy him a plane ticket to yuanguang city. it seemed that his destination had been the huang family.


    "no way, so you know xia liu too, wanqing? quickly tell us all the details about xia liu." huang shijie was somewhat speechless, seeing that xia liu seemed to be quite an individual in binlai city, even known to mo wanqing, and she even bought him a plane ticket.


    all eyes in the hall were on mo wanqing, they were very interested in xia liu''s background.


    "xia liu hasn''t developed much in binlai city, but in his village, it''s a different story. i heard he just returned from abroad and started from scratch, within just two months, he transformed the village,


    additionally, he acquired two hotels that make millions a day. his village will soon, i believe, become the richest place in the country."


    mo wanqing shared all the information she knew.


    hiss...


    people present took a sharp intake of breath, xia liu, having returned from abroad for two months, was able to change a village.


    moreover, starting from scratch and acquiring two hotels with a daily revenue of millions within two months, he was simply a business genius.


    and, of course, they dared not forget that xia liu was still in the village!


    "wanqing, what kind of business does he primarily do? without substantial capital, he couldn''t possibly acquire or build hotels," huang shijie was completely captivated. the deeds of xia liu were just like a legend, there must be a catch!


    "speaking of business, xia liu is a developer known globally!"


    "known globally! that''s terrifying!" many were invigorated, and it was only then that they realized xia liu''s business was beyond belief.


    "sister-in-law, do you remember the beauty mud i sent you before?"


    "i remember, that stuff is just like the pills in mythical stories, quite miraculous," yang yuehua said excitedly.


    "that was made by xia liu."


    "ah! made by xia liu!" at that moment, huang shijie and yang yuehua could not stay seated.


    both had witnessed the effects of beauty mud firsthand and knew the extraordinary nature of the medicine mud.


    if that was made by xia liu, then he was certainly not as simple as a rural doctor or quack.


    "also, he is currently developing a kind of medicinal wine. if the production is fast, he should be able to make several billion a day."


    because of her cooperation with tianluo pharmaceutical, mo wanqing had some understanding of the medicinal wine. s§×ar?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    the medicine wine, just 300 milliliters per bottle, could sell for ten thousand a bottle.


    "this..." huang shijie was utterly astonished, likely wouldn''t have been so shocked if it weren''t for mo wanqing.


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    earning a few billion a day, what concept is that? even while eating and drinking, money was flowing into his pockets.


    reflecting on how he''d always spoken about money in front of him, and he never uttered a word, probably because he was worried about burdening him psychologically.


    as for the huang family members present, they all began to feel bitter.


    while they lived there in villas, they thought about their monthly salaries, maybe just twenty or thirty thousand.


    then thinking about earning a few billion a day, aside from heartache, only tears remained...


    "haha, shijie, now you understand why xia liu didn''t want that money, right? he earns a few billion a day, you probably won''t have that ability in your whole life," huang zhongcai once again struck at huang shijie.


    "i understand, father, i will find an opportunity to apologize to xia liu," huang shijie didn''t dare say anything more, xia liu''s capabilities were evident.


    any further assertiveness or ridicule would ultimately backfire on him.


    "are xia liu and xue''er both here?"


    "yes, they are. i just saw xue''er peeking from the door; i have no idea where she went now."


    "i see. then i''ll call xia liu and have him come over so we can all gather together."


    to prove she wasn''t joking, mo wanqing dialed xia liu''s number.


    xia liu, who was playing and frolicking with huang xue in the villa, immediately picked up when he saw mo wanqing''s call: "aunt qing, why are you calling me?"


    "xia liu, i''m currently over here in the reception hall, won''t you bring xue''er over?"


    "reception hall? could it be that the ''aunt qing'' xue''er mentioned is you?" xia liu was somewhat surprised; this was too much of a coincidence.


    "yes, hurry over with xue''er."


    ...


    "xia liu, what''s up?"


    "that ''aunt qing'' you mentioned just now, she''s my aunt too."


    xia liu said this and then pulled huang xue out the door, explaining everything to her on the way.


    once xia liu arrived at the hall, he immediately greeted mo wanqing: "aunt qing, i had no idea you knew the old master."


    "hehe, we''re all one family." mo wanqing glanced at xia liu and then at huang xue, feeling a bit awkward.


    she knew that xia liu had more than one woman in the county town, even the heiress of tianluo pharmaceutical had a connection with him.


    "xue''er, come over and let your aunt have a look at you, it''s been so many years since i''ve seen you," yang yuehua said with a laugh as her daughter approached.


    "aunt qing, i often saw you on television when i was in hejing, i never thought you were my godmother," huang xue said affectionately, latching onto mo wanqing''s arm with a coy smile.


    "what irony, you''ve always been in hejing, and i never had the chance to meet you."


    ...


    "shijie, go and get ready, it''s time for our family to get together," huang zhongcai said.


    huang shijie didn''t dare delay; knowing xia liu''s true background had changed his attitude towards him.


    having his daughter with xia liu was truly a great fortune.


    under huang shijie''s arrangements, everyone was seated at the table by late afternoon.


    even huang shijie and huang letian had shown up.


    now, they were very different from before; of course, after this meal, they would have to return to that place for penance.

 Chapter 198 Return

    this meal, huang shijie continuously praised xia liu in front of everyone. sea??h th§× n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.this almost made xia liu bite his tongue, unable to fathom why huang shijie would treat him with such an attitude.


    in the end, he found out that mo wanqing had exaggeratedly publicized his affairs.


    regarding this, xia liu didn''t say much; he had indeed been doing well back in his hometown.


    osmanthus village becoming wealthy and strong was just a matter of time.


    elsewhere, mo wanqing took huang xue out for a walk.


    "xue''er, your aunt will tell you, xia liu has other women in his family..." after a long thought, mo wanqing still spoke out.


    it was her first time at the huang family when huang xue was only five years old.


    after twenty years of affection, she had long considered the huang family as her own, and of course, she would worry about her niece.


    "aunt qing, i know, just like my dad back then, he also married two wives. if my eldest mother hadn''t passed away, our family would surely be happy right now."


    "hehe, it seems i worried too much. xia liu is a very decent man, being with him will definitely bring you happiness, but when you get to hejing, you must visit me often."


    hearing huang xue talk like this, mo wanqing felt relieved.


    because she trusted xia liu, she thought huang xue did not know xia liu''s background yet.


    "of course, if i had known earlier that aunt qing was in binlai city, i would definitely visit you every day," huang xue said happily.


    "you girl, you can''t go back on your word. let''s see when you are returning, and then we can go together."


    "how about tomorrow afternoon; you and xia liu have been away for too long, don''t let it delay your work."


    now that huang zhongcai''s illness had entirely healed, and the threat was already eliminated, returning a day earlier also meant seeing her sisters a day sooner.


    mo wanqing had no objections; her company was indeed very busy. if it weren''t for hearing that huang zhongcai was severely ill, she might have been abroad by now.


    the next noon, everyone from the huang family came to an open area in the villa district.


    there, a helicopter was parked.


    "xue''er, make sure to be careful after you get there," yang yuehua hugged her daughter as tears continuously fell.


    "mom, don''t worry, xia liu will take good care of me."


    "big sister, don''t worry; i''m also in binlai. i will always keep an eye on xue''er and won''t let her suffer the slightest grievance."


    "alright, yuehua, let xue''er go; i trust xia liu."


    huang shijie patted xia liu on the shoulder, after having a long talk with this man last night.


    he was nothing but shocked; honestly, having her daughter follow xia liu was true good fortune from his past life!


    after the farewells, xia liu, huang xue, and mo wanqing boarded the helicopter.


    "shijie, prepare in these next few days to strike back at pan style group!"


    after the helicopter had left, huang zhongcai immediately became serious.


    at that moment, he exuded a special kind of dignity that made people inevitably fear him.


    "also, find another batch of bodyguards; if that person who used the poison insects is found again, you absolutely must not be lenient!"


    "dad, don''t worry about the person who used the poison insects; xia liu has already dealt with it completely."


    "what! xia liu has already handled it¡­" surprised, huang zhongcai glanced in the direction where the helicopter disappeared, his face gradually breaking into a smile.


    xia liu and huang xue returned to binlai city when it was already getting dark.


    after declining mo wanqing''s invitation, xia liu drove huang xue home.


    longyun hotel, during dinner time, the lobby was already full of people.


    but as the manager, zhang qing did not look very happy.


    ever since xia liu went to yuanguang city, she hadn''t made a call.


    she didn''t dare, for fear of hearing bad news.


    zhang xiaoxue was the same; she sat with zhang qing at the front desk.


    hoping that xia liu would come back so they could see him the moment he returned.


    because of the high volume of people, the two women also took payments when they were idle.


    "excuse me, are there any private rooms available upstairs?"


    while zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue were busy doing accounts on the computer, suddenly a delightful voice reached their ears.


    "yes, xiaoli, please take the guest upstairs." zhang qing instructed without even looking up.


    but she didn''t notice that xiaoli, standing behind her, had her hands over her mouth, unable to utter a word.


    "um, i wonder if sister zhang and little sister xiaoxue are free to join for a meal?"


    "huh?"


    hearing their names called, zhang xiaoxue and zhang qing looked up in confusion.


    upon seeing who it was, tears welled up in their eyes.


    the next second, they both exclaimed, "xue''er!"


    "sister xue''er!"


    "yeah! my dear sisters, i''m back! did you miss me?" although she had only been gone for a few days, huang xue was also moved.


    when she saw zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue, her eyes turned red as well.


    she herself didn''t know when she had become so inseparably attached to these sisters.


    after a round of hugs and longing embraces, they headed to the private room upstairs.


    the two women were very curious about xia liu''s journey, so they asked huang xue to recount everything.


    xia liu sat quietly drinking his wine, not saying a word, watching the three women get along harmoniously, and he felt a sense of satisfaction.


    "wow! brother xia liu is really awesome, he even drove away the poison insects!"


    "exactly, our xia liu is indeed multi-talented. from now on, we won''t have to worry about getting sick."


    after listening to huang xue''s stories, zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue started praising unceasingly. discover hidden content at empire


    "by the way, sister xue''er, did you manage to win over brother xia liu?"


    pfft...


    when zhang xiaoxue asked this question, xia liu literally spit out the wine he was drinking.


    that was too bold! i''m still here.


    "of course!" huang xue didn''t care about xia liu''s reaction and replied proudly.


    "wow!"


    zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue got excited upon hearing this, and then the three women started whispering in details.


    xia liu was dumbfounded, he couldn''t believe what he was hearing, damn!


    "you guys go ahead and talk, i''ll go rest in the office for a bit."


    because all three girls were here, and they were discussing those kinds of topics.


    xia liu knew that if he stayed any longer, he might not be able to control himself.


    so he decided to step away for a bit.


    however, before he could get a good rest in the office,


    the door opened, and all three women walked in.


    their faces were brimming with a mischievous smile.


    "what are you guys up to?" xia liu asked, widening his eyes in confusion.


    "we''re here to eat, of course..." zhang qing giggled.


    watching the three graceful figures in front of him, xia liu swallowed hard, and before he could react, his body already started to lean over.


    in the morning, xia liu woke up from his sleep and picked up his clothes scattered beside the round bed and dressed neatly.


    he looked back with a gradually spreading smile, tidied up his clothes, then locked the door behind him and left.


    having been away for a few days and without any calls from dazhuang, xia liu had breakfast and drove back to the village to make sure everything was running smoothly.


    as for his next actions, he had them planned already, after checking everything once he got back, he would start executing them...

 Chapter 199 The Brand of Osmanthus Village

    the osmanthus village of today is far more prosperous than before.as soon as the car climbed onto the highway on the high slope, one could see the villa perched on the cliff.


    no, it should be called a castle!


    the exterior of the castle has already been completed, and from a distance, it creates a striking visual impact.


    this is further enhanced by the forty or so similar but much smaller mini-castles below.


    it gives off the feeling of an ancient city with deep roots.


    according to xia liu''s estimate, in just over a month, they should be able to move into their new home.


    xia liu first drove to the beach, arriving just in time to hear the fishing boats rumbling, obviously engaged in their fishing operations.


    he didn''t go to check, as he could tell just from the information on his phone.


    the fishing boats had been out once in these days; today was the second time.


    last time they brought in five million, liang caiming and tan jingxue must have cast the net deep, otherwise, how could they fish out sea fish worth five million.


    not far from the beach, a huge wharf was under construction.


    looking at this, in a few more days, the fishing boats would be able to dock.


    after watching for a while, xia liu drove towards the distillery.


    before he even got close, he could see the smoke wafting out through the chimneys.


    upon entering, he saw about twenty people at work, some adding firewood, others changing water.


    "xia liu, you''re back," uncle li, who was directing the villagers in the fermentation process, saw xia liu return and immediately ran over.


    "uncle li, how is it going, which batch are we on now?"


    "we just started today, and you''ve come back just in time. the ingredients have all been fermented according to your method. in another ten minutes, we''ll go and see how it tastes."


    "hmm, you''ve all worked hard," xia liu nodded in satisfaction.


    now that the liquor was produced, it was time to find a processing plant.


    due to huang xue''s affair, he had been delayed the past few days. after tasting the liquor, he needed to quickly find a factory.


    osmanthus village''s own brand must have its own trademark.


    before the liquor was finished, xia liu went next door to the work area to take a look.


    this section was managed by li dazhuang and since the workload was minimal, it only involved a few of young master liao''s villagers.


    "brother xia liu!"


    xia liu waved his hand and asked, "how''s the quality of the medicinal liquor these past few days?"


    "it''s all good. every time the truck comes to haul it away, they taste it," li dazhuang responded confidently.


    "hahaha, that kid daniu will probably get his wife pregnant if he keeps tasting it for another dozen days."


    "hehe, isn''t that just perfect?"


    "of course, it''s a good thing. drinking liquor that costs ten thousand a small bottle, the children born are bound to have a life of fortune."


    when the topic of the young man tasting the liquor came up, several villagers present burst into laughter.


    after all, as soon as he finishes tasting, he immediately reacts and hurries home after reporting.


    "haha, take it easy. next time tianluo pharmaceutical''s people come to take the liquor, go to the factory with him. they should have the tools to measure the medicinal liquor, and then bring a set back."


    "understood!"


    "xia liu, the liquor is ready, come and have a taste," uncle li''s voice came from next door while xia liu was about to say something else.


    "the liquor is out, let''s all go have a look! our own brand!"


    xia liu''s voice roused everyone''s excitement.


    a few seconds later, everyone arrived where the liquor was flowing.


    uncle li and a few people were holding cups at the outlet, and soon the cups were filled with liquor.


    the appearance of the liquor carried a rich fragrance.


    different from the medicinal liquor. sea??h th§× n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    in this fragrance, not only was there the scent of osmanthus, but also a faint medicinal aroma.


    this was the scent of osmanthus combined with medicinal liquor!


    and all of this liquor was made using traditional craftsmanship, making it even more aromatic than those produced by machinery.


    the first glass of wine was naturally for xia liu to taste.


    xia liu didn''t decline, taking the wine glass and lightly sipping it.


    the first sensation on his palate was fragrant with a thread of silky sweetness, which, as it slid down his throat, gave a sense of cool and clean refreshment.


    moreover, with the faint aroma of medicine, various flavors blended together for an endless aftertaste, compelling xia liu to take another sip.


    seeing xia liu take another sip, everyone else couldn''t help but follow suit.


    after they drank, each person was shocked then and there.


    "this wine is simply too delicious!"


    "incredible, did i really brew this?"


    "it''s just so refreshing!"


    "haha, i''m going to take a jar home!"


    "me too!"


    ...


    after a small taste, the villagers at the scene got excited. if not for their cultured nature and rational minds, they probably would have started fighting over it.


    "what''s all this about taking it home! listen to what xia liu has to say. without him, you couldn''t even dream of brewing such wine," li zhi couldn''t help but shout angrily.


    hearing li zhi say that, everyone else responded with a wry smile.


    he was right, without xia liu, this wine would have never been discovered.


    "no need to be polite, everyone, right now it''s just the testing phase. drink as much as you like, take as much as you like home!"


    "wow!!!"


    the moment xia liu said to drink to their hearts'' content, the people present went completely wild.


    experience new tales on empire


    growing up in the countryside, who doesn''t drink alcohol¡ªeach one was a lover of wine.


    now to be able to drink this kind of wine infinitely, it was indeed a great joy in life!


    while everyone was exhilarated, xia liu quietly left the distillery.


    xia liu drove to the entrance of the village, where there was a roughly five-acre plot of vacant land by the side of the road.


    he decided to discuss with li zhi about building a packaging factory there.


    of course, the workers for the factory would certainly not be the villagers, so they''d need to recruit widely!


    with a plan in mind, xia liu called li zhi right away.


    li zhi''s response was solid, "do whatever you like, you''re in charge of osmanthus village."


    it wasn''t just li zhi''s voice, it was the voice of all the villagers of osmanthus village.


    xia liu had long since become the leader of osmanthus village.


    he felt a bittersweet emotion. before he could say more, li zhi was already clamoring about drinking on the other end of the line.


    after hanging up, xia liu called gu fangxia.


    "you want me to build you a processing plant?" hearing this news, gu fangxia almost sprayed out the tea in her mouth.


    this guy, not seen for a few days, comes back only to dump more work on her.


    in the past, gu fangxia was worried about not having projects to work on, but now she was anxious about when she would be able to finish her projects.


    currently, her people were busy building villas, and there was no spare manpower to construct a processing factory.


    "sister gu, you can call people you trust to come and help, i haven''t made any rules," xia liu said.


    "is that really okay?" gu fangxia hesitated, nowadays developers'' biggest fear is encountering contracting teams that cut corners and reduce quality.


    xia liu dared to trust her so much.


    "i trust you," he said with a simple sentence that carried so much meaning.


    "understood," gu fangxia didn''t say anything else, she just needed to work hard to complete the project.


    as for the equipment for the packaging factory, xia liu decided to discuss it with liu lanxin, a pity that girl wasn''t answering her phone.


    as for this, xia liu was not in a hurry; the equipment could be handled by someone else. he still had something even more important to set in motion...

 Chapter 200 The Big Case

    xia liu had already arrived in the county.his destination was naturally the longyun hotel.


    by this time, the three women had already gotten up and were gathered in the office eating.


    when they saw xia liu come in, none of the women said much.


    last night, they thought they could make xia liu submit, but in the end, they had all been begging for mercy.


    after some thought, xia liu still decided to tell the three women about the situation.


    "xiaoxue, xue''er, sister zhang, for the coming period, i may be busy with other matters, so the hotel and the village affairs will be left to you."


    "what matters?" the three women asked in unison.


    "do you still remember sister fangfei?"


    the three women nodded. when fangfei had not yet left, they had gathered a few times, especially huang xue.


    she had the deepest impression of fangfei.


    "she is also your sister."


    "what!"


    "oh my! that''s kind of crazy!"


    "brother xia liu is really something."


    after hearing xia liu''s confession, the three women exclaimed in surprise as they looked at xia liu.


    fangfei was, after all, the big boss of both the longyun and longteng hotels.


    and who was xia liu? a first-level villager.


    who could have imagined that this guy would actually win fangfei over?


    "what''s your opinion?"


    the three women exchanged glances. what opinion could they have? after last night, they were well aware of their own tolerance limits.


    if it were just the three of them, facing xia liu, they would always end up surrendering.


    but if fangfei were added to their group, they were confident they could make xia liu surrender!


    "where is sister fang now?"


    huang xue looked puzzled at xia liu. when she had returned before, she had learned some information from the waiters.


    it was vague, just that fangfei had sold the hotel to xia liu, but she didn''t know anything else.


    this question was also troubling zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue.


    "she''s gone home, and she might be in trouble..."


    xia liu could only answer vaguely, as he didn''t know the specifics.


    his purpose today was to come clean and also to entrust the three women with matters, as he needed to go seek answers.


    "i see, then what are you still waiting for?" huang xue''s bright eyes glanced around, although she didn''t know what trouble fangfei was in.


    but fangfei''s situation was too similar to her own.


    she couldn''t help but feel invigorated, thinking that if xia liu was late this time.


    what would happen to her? what would happen to her grandfather? what would happen to the huang family?


    with these thoughts in mind, huang xue unknowingly broke out in a cold sweat.


    "right, brother xia liu! hurry up and bring sister fang back!"


    "exactly! don''t dawdle, go quickly and bring her back!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    zhang qing and zhang xiaoxue were also urging him on.


    "mm!"


    xia liu smiled faintly, pleased by the stance of the three women.


    this was enough to show that he was still quite good at maintaining a harmonious relationship between them.


    "xue''er, there''s something i''d like to ask of you. the village is planning to build an alcohol packaging and processing factory, so it might be trouble for you to make a trip to the city or some other place to purchase equipment," xia liu said after some thought, somewhat apologetically to huang xue.


    "the bag is on me."


    "xiaoxue, follow xue''er, and if anything happens, call me."


    "rest assured, brother xia liu."


    "oh, right, here''s a card for you guys. i transferred some money to sister gu this morning, there should be tens of millions left."


    xia liu said as he took out the card.


    but his gesture was met with disdain from the three ladies.


    "brother xia liu, save your money for finding us sisters. we have money."


    "pfft!"


    xia liu didn''t dare to speak anymore. he knew about huang xue. this time when she came over, huang shijie had transferred one hundred million to her account.


    as for zhang qing and xiaoxue, there must also be tens of millions in their accounts, since he frequently transferred money to the two women.


    "hurry up! that way you can come back sooner." seeing xia liu dawdling, the three ladies urged him simultaneously.


    with the encouragement of the three women, xia liu felt very grateful and directly did something indescribable to them.


    it wasn''t until three hours later that xia liu drove away from longyun hotel.


    to understand fang fei, he must find a breakthrough from li zhong or li qianqian.


    li qianqian was out of the question for now. previously, during a drink with li zhong, he had inadvertently revealed some news about fang fei''s father.


    if he could dig up news about fang fei''s father, he could just go there directly.


    now, xia liu had packed a whole table of dishes and brought over the osmanthus wine he had brewed this morning to the county government house.


    as luck would have it, these past couple of days li qianqian had been extremely busy and hadn''t even come home. read latest stories on empire


    seeing xia liu bringing stuff inside, xu fang immediately called li zhong.


    in less than half an hour, li zhong was back.


    without much small talk, li zhong and xia liu clinked glasses straight away.


    this time, xia liu had experience. he didn''t ply li zhong with drink, nor did he let him drink too much.


    "brother liu, where did you buy this wine? it''s so good."


    although xia liu intended not to let li zhong drink too much, the richness of the osmanthus wine still made li zhong lose control.


    "county chief li, this wine is brewed by our village''s brewery. if you like it, once the brewery is officially operational, i''ll bring a truckload over to you."


    "haha! you can''t be joking! i''m very serious!" li zhong said laughing.


    "of course, by the way, county chief li, you mentioned before that you discovered the secret of fang fei''s father and then broke off relations with him. what happened in the end, i''ve been so curious i haven''t slept well for several days." xia liu took the opportunity when li zhong was laughing to inquire subtly.


    "errr... actually, it''s nothing. he was hiding his identity, an identity i couldn''t match in a lifetime..." by the end of his sentence, li zhong kept drinking from his glass non-stop.


    "county chief li, what happened between you in the end?"


    "in the end, we reconciled and became even friendlier than before. speaking of which, i haven''t seen him for some days now."


    "what is his identity?"


    "i can''t say that, they seem very strict about it. let''s continue drinking." li zhong stopped just there, as fang cheng had warned multiple times not to disclose his relationship with him in front of others, as it might bring lots of trouble.


    "haha... let''s drink!" xia liu''s heart was almost crying. every time it came to a crucial point, li zhong would stop.


    if he pressed on, it would seem improper of him.


    having no choice, he could only accompany li zhong, laughing and drinking to the end.


    "by the way, county chief li, has qianqian been really busy these days?"


    since there was no breakthrough with li zhong, xia liu had to shift his focus to li qianqian.


    although that girl didn''t like him, it was often easier to deal with women.


    "ah, xia liu, i''m actually worried about this. i don''t know what qianqian has been busy with lately. she''s been staying at the station, hasn''t come home for two days."


    before li zhong could reply, xu fang interjected eagerly.


    she was emotional yet somewhat excited because xia liu had started to ask about qianqian herself.


    "you don''t know, qianqian, no, i should say hejing police station has encountered the biggest case in decades..."


    li zhong drank osmanthus wine alone, his expression gradually turning to one of worry...

 Chapter 201 Special Kidnapping Case

    "Old Zhong, hurry up and tell me what the big case is. If it''s too dangerous, have Qianqian come back."Hearing Li Zhong mention the biggest case in decades, Xu Fang grew fearful.


    Her daughter was only in her twenties, without even a boyfriend. What could she do if something unexpected happened?


    Xia Liu also frowned deeply; he had been away from Hejing these past days.


    Naturally, he wouldn''t be aware of it. It seemed the recent events were no trivial matter.


    "I don''t know the specifics, but three people have already died, all of them quite wealthy from the county."


    Talking about this matter, Li Zhong also felt scared afterwards.


    "No way! I''m going to call Qianqian back! Three people are dead; how can she handle it?" Xu Fang panicked upon hearing this.


    This sort of case, the criminals are definitely heartless demons who don''t blink an eye when killing.


    After all, her daughter was just a woman; how could she handle such a case?


    "Her phone is turned off! I''m going to make a trip there!"


    "Enough, I talked to Qianqian today, and she said she would see it through till the end!" Li Zhong hurriedly stopped Xu Fang.


    Even if she went, it wouldn''t make any difference. Didn''t he know his daughter''s character?


    Stubbornly persistent, she would keep investigating until the case was truly closed.


    "Director Chen, Aunt Xu, you don''t need to worry. I happen to be free these days. I will go over and check on Qianqian."


    "Really?" Xu Fang grabbed Xia Liu''s hand excitedly.


    If Xia Liu could help, not to mention solving the case, at least he would stay by her daughter''s side.


    Given time, there was bound to be an ambiguous relationship developing between him and her daughter.


    "Really, Aunt Xu, don''t worry. I''ll head over right away," Xia Liu said with a reassuring smile.


    This might be an opportunity. If he helped Li Qianqian close the case, how could she not tell him about Fang Fei''s situation?


    "Brother Liu, you shouldn''t force yourself," Li Zhong worried for Xia Liu.


    He was now the pillar of Osmanthus Village. If something happened to him, it would be a disaster for the whole village.


    "Rest assured, Director Chen, I''m reliable in my work."


    Half an hour later, Xia Liu left the county office.


    Li Qianqian hadn''t returned home in two days, indicating the urgency of the case. He needed to get there quickly.


    Otherwise, if she resolved it, he would lose his chance to ask her about Fang Fei.


    The location ¡ª County Police Station.


    Although it was nine in the evening, the massive office building was still brightly lit.


    Many staff members moved back and forth holding folders; their bustling activity made Xia Liu sigh.


    At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Given the busy scene, the case was definitely not over yet.


    Because Chen Jin had previously instructed all subordinates about Xia Liu''s matters.


    And so, as soon as Xia Liu entered the building, the staff members he encountered greeted him.


    Xia Liu confidently made his way to Chen Jin''s office, wanting to find out the latest progress on the case.


    Seeking out Chen Jin was definitely the right move.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    "Come in."


    An impatient voice came from inside the door.


    "Director Chen, you haven''t gone to bed yet so late at night?" asked Xia Liu, feigning ignorance.


    "Oh, it''s Brother Liu. Ay, with everything going on these last two days, when would I have time to rest?" Chen Jin said with a weary face after recognizing it was Xia Liu.


    "Er, er, er, I heard a bit about the situation from Director Li, and I feel like I could help out a bit. What do you say, Director Chen?" Xia Liu asked directly.


    Hmm?


    Chen Jin looked at Xia Liu with puzzlement, unable to fathom how this guy could be so confident.


    If it were any other time, he definitely wouldn''t have let Xia Liu get involved.


    But just now, as Xia Liu had also mentioned, he''d heard about the case from Li Zhong.


    How could anyone refuse him under these circumstances...


    "If Brother Liu doesn''t mind, of course, there''s no problem on my end."


    Xia Liu gave a slight smile before inquiring about the latest news on the case from Chen Jin.


    Twenty minutes later, Xia Liu finally understood the situation.


    The reason this case had become a major one in recent years was due to three deaths.


    Moreover, these were the three wealthiest individuals in the county; Hejing''s territory wasn''t very large, but it still had many rich people.


    Especially those ranked at the top, whose wealth was measured in billions.


    As for the nature of the case, Chen Jin had said it was kidnapping!


    Kidnapping tycoons, something that happened every day.


    But unlike ordinary kidnapping cases, in these three incidents, after the criminals got the money, they shockingly killed their hostages!


    In the world of kidnapping, this was considered unethical behavior.


    In everyone''s eyes, kidnappers were not human; they were beasts, devils.


    "Are the bodies of those three deceased still around?" Xia Liu thought for a moment, deciding to look for clues starting from the bodies.


    "Since the case hasn''t been closed yet, the corpses are all preserved in the morgue at the County Hospital."


    "Good, I''ll go take a look at those bodies first." After pausing, Xia Liu continued, "By the way, what is Qianqian busy with?"


    "Uh uh... you mean Officer Li, right? If she''s not in a meeting in the conference room, she''s probably at the hospital," Chen Jin responded, momentarily taken aback.


    "Got it, I''ll go to the hospital first," Xia Liu nodded, then immediately headed for the hospital. Experience tales at empire


    Following Li Qianqian''s style of conduct, if she wasn''t discussing the case with colleagues in a meeting, she''d likely be at the hospital looking for clues on the bodies.


    The County Hospital, as usual, wasn''t very busy at night, with hardly any activity other than in the emergency room.


    The morgue was located in the most secluded corner of the hospital.


    Escorted by a security guard, Xia Liu arrived at the entrance to the morgue.


    The guard certainly didn''t dare to go in late at night.


    Xia Liu didn''t comment on this; it was only human nature, after all.


    Walking down the chilly corridor, Xia Liu felt no discomfort.


    Following the security guard''s directions, he arrived outside a room.


    He didn''t immediately open the door, because inside stood two people¡ªyes, it was Li Qianqian.


    Beside Li Qianqian was another policeman wearing glasses.


    Through the glass in the door, Xia Liu could tell that Li Qianqian was highly focused on the case.


    At that moment, she was inspecting one of the corpses, her expression extremely grim.


    Xia Liu felt a sudden playful urge; he knocked on the door a few times, then ran and hid in the next room.


    The bespectacled policeman went to open the door, but when he saw that there was no one there, his face instantly turned pale.


    "Captain Li, there''s no one outside..."


    "Someone''s playing a prank. Just keep watching there; I''ll be done with the recording soon," Li Qianqian said without turning back.


    The man behind the glasses choked up, not continuing his words.


    Suddenly, his pupils shrank dramatically, and goosebumps covered his entire body.


    He saw something¡ªa series of residual images flickering inside the corridor, and the doors to all the rooms where bodies were stored flew open!


    "Ahh!!!" The man with glasses screamed frantically, running for his life outside.


    Li Qianqian was startled; she immediately ran out to check, but saw nothing. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, when she turned back into the room, her face instantly went pale; someone was standing in front of the corpse...

 Chapter 202 - The Identity of the Murderer

    However, Xia Liu wasn''t in the mood to pay attention to Li Qianqian at this moment.Because the body lying in front of him was very special.


    Or rather, the causes of death for the three bodies were all very unusual.


    It wasn''t a mere tool that caused death, but rather fists that smashed them to death.


    Furthermore, looking at the degree of damage to the three bodies'' organs.


    It seemed like the murderer killed them by accident due to not being able to control their own strength.


    "Ah!"


    Just as Xia Liu was lost in thought, suddenly a sharp scream came from behind.


    Immediately after, a delicate figure charged towards him.


    At this moment, Li Qianqian had gathered all her courage, screaming frantically.


    Her expression was also very tense, the sudden appearance of a silhouette nearly made her break down.


    "Miss, don''t panic, don''t panic," Xia Liu said as he turned sharply, taking control of Li Qianqian.


    "How is it you, you bastard!" Li Qianqian was startled for a moment before she realized.


    It turned out that the person who had scared her colleague away was this bastard Xia Liu!


    After Li Qianqian calmed down, Xia Liu straightforwardly said, "I''m here to help you solve the case."


    "Help me solve the case? You?" Li Qianqian couldn''t help but roll her eyes.


    "What? Don''t you believe it?" he asked.


    "Go back, I''m already very tired and have no energy to scold you."


    Li Qianqian looked at Xia Liu with a tired face. Honestly, she hadn''t rested for several days and really didn''t have the energy to scold Xia Liu.


    "Hehe, give me your hand," Xia Liu said with a faint smile, and without waiting for Li Qianqian''s consent, he took her hand.


    "What are you doing..." she began.


    Before Li Qianqian could erupt, she felt a cool sensation spreading from her arm.


    In a matter of seconds, this inexplicable sensation spread throughout her body.


    As Li Qianqian''s eyes closed in surprise, she looked at Xia Liu in amazement.


    At this moment, she felt her whole body filled with strength, and her mental state had also returned to its peak.


    Even clearer than when at her peak.


    "What kind of magic is this?" Li Qianqian couldn''t help asking.


    "This isn''t magic, just a massage technique. Don''t forget, I am the Divine Doctor, and I have treated you before, although the process was somewhat..."


    Xia Liu said, glancing over Li Qianqian''s entire body.


    "Stop talking!" Li Qinqin snapped, immediately turning her back to Xia Liu.


    Remembering the scene when Xia Liu had treated her, a blush rose on her face...


    "Alright, then may I ask, Officer Li, can I get involved in this case?" he inquired.


    "That won''t do, you should just go home. This time, the criminal is mentally unstable and could become even more crazed," she flatly refused.


    "Then may I ask, what is the criminal''s state of mind, and why did they kill?" Xia Liu retorted.


    "These three bodies belonged to well-known rich people from Hejing who were kidnapped during a meeting. Their families gathered ransom money, and after paying, what they received were three dead bodies. Do you think such criminals still have humanity?"


    Li Qianqian spoke with undisguised anger. The families had already paid, yet the criminals still killed the victims. If the criminals weren''t psychologically twisted, they wouldn''t commit such acts.


    "Officer Li, may I interject?" he asked.


    ...


    "Spit it out! Stop talking in riddles!" Li Qinqin said impatiently.


    If Xia Liu hadn''t just helped her massage her arm to restore her spirit, she would have fought with the last of her energy to bring Xia Liu down.


    "The common feature of these three bodies is that they were all killed by a single blow. You could think of it in another way, they were inadvertently killed by the assailant."


    "Could you exaggerate any more?" Li Qianqian rolled her eyes at Xia Liu again.


    The autopsy reports for these three were as such: one had their breastbone shattered by an external force, causing fragments of the breastbone to pierce the heart.


    The other two had broken neck bones, as if they had been pinched by a pair of massive pliers.


    These reports are sufficient to prove how cruel the assailant was.


    "No, no, you don''t understand. Take this person, for example, they were killed with one punch, but these two were killed because the force couldn''t be controlled when gripping."


    Xia Liu said this while pointing at the bodies.


    "I believe someone could be killed with a single punch, but that doesn''t happen in a small county like Hejing. Also, losing control of one''s strength when gripping, sure, that happens, but not to the point of crushing the neck bones!"


    "And to smash them to pieces at that!"


    Li Qianqian said coldly.


    "Alright, you''re right about everything. My only reason for staying is to make sure you''re more spirited. Besides, County Head Li and Aunt Xu would be sad, and they also asked me to supervise you. If there''s anything fishy in my report, they will come and take you back."


    "This..." Li Qianqian looked at Xia Liu in surprise, not expecting him to be so confident.


    "Whatever, it doesn''t matter whether you''re here or not. But let me warn you, if you dare say anything odd to my dad, don''t blame me for taking you apart!"


    "Don''t worry, I know how to behave," Xia Liu said with a nod and a smile.


    After continuing the examination for a while, Li Qianqian asked Xia Liu to take her back to the station.


    Xia Liu complied with all of Li Qianqian''s instructions.


    However, his thoughts were not that simple.


    This case had already exceeded the current abilities of the police force to investigate.


    Even if they found the assailant, they would be powerless against him and might even suffer losses.


    That was because the assailant was not an ordinary person, but a martial artist! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Continue your adventure at empire


    As for martial artists, Xia Liu didn''t know much.


    But judging from the punch that shattered the breastbone instantly, this assailant could kill five people in a blink.


    If Li Qianqian were to find this person, it would be her own safety at risk.


    Xia Liu did not reveal these thoughts in front of Li Qianqian. Now that he was involved, she would naturally understand once the assailant was caught.


    "Xia Liu, you said earlier that those three were killed by hand by the assailant, could it have been someone close to them who hired a hit?"


    "That''s quite possible. Have their family members been checked?"


    "The family side has been investigated, no issues there. Their business partners and competing companies are currently under investigation."


    "I doubt that will turn up anything. Could you take me to the crime scene to have a look?"


    "Drive your car and don''t think about anything else," Li Qianqian regretted slightly.


    If it wasn''t for the tense atmosphere in the car, she wouldn''t be talking to Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu didn''t speak again. This girl would definitely need him; there was no rush.


    Upon returning to the station, Li Qianqian went straight to Chen Jin''s office and reported all of her findings from the day.


    "Since the case began five days ago, and the assailant has already received the money, it seems unlikely that he will appear in the county soon," Xia Liu put forward his thoughts after hearing Li Qianqian''s report.


    "Yeah, I have the same feeling. The assailant took thirty million from the victims'' family members, so he''s bound to go somewhere to spend it, and that''s what makes this case difficult..."


    "So what if it''s difficult? First, we need to identify the suspects. Even if they''re not in the city, it doesn''t matter; we can issue a nationwide arrest warrant."


    Li Qianqian''s thoughts were direct, and of course, that was also the most ideal investigative approach.

 Chapter 203 Martial World Mountain!

    After Li Qianqian finished reporting, she didn''t bother with Xia Liu and gathered her colleagues to go to the meeting room for a meeting."Director Chen, you have been in Hejing for quite some time; have you ever heard of a sect?"


    After Li Qianqian left, Xia Liu thought about it and decided to ask.


    After all, it had been years since he had left his home, and he had never been to Hejing or wandered around its surroundings.


    He really hadn''t learned about martial sects before.


    "Sect? Like Shaolin or Wudang?" Chen Jin asked back, puzzled.


    "Right, do you know where any are nearby?"


    Xia Liu became interested; if there indeed were any, perhaps he could start his investigation from these sects.


    Because an ordinary person couldn''t possibly possess such strength, the culprit might have come from a sect.


    "You think the killer came from a martial arts sect?"


    Chen Jin suddenly realized.


    He had also seen those three bodies; the cause of death was very overbearing, something an ordinary person couldn''t accomplish.


    But if it were a martial artist who had practiced martial arts for many years, then it was very likely!


    "Exactly, one punch shattering the breastbone, one hand crushing the neck¡ªthis is a martial artist!" Xia Liu said confidently.


    He could see that Chen Jin might already have a suspect in mind!


    "I don''t know about nearby, but I know that 300 miles north of Binlai City, there is a Taiji Sect."


    Chen Jin knew about this Taiji Sect because he visited there several years ago.


    He had accidentally entered the Taiji Sect.


    The outcome was quite good, as the sect leader, knowing his identity, had escorted him out of the mountains.


    "Taiji Sect, huh¡­"


    Xia Liu fell silent; if Taiji Sect was a cultivation sect, perhaps the killer was from there.


    As for whether it was, only asking would reveal the truth.


    But to question a sect outright would definitely be seen as an insult to the Taiji Sect.


    "Director Chen, please give me the address of the Taiji Sect¡ªI''ll go there tomorrow morning!"


    While Xia Liu was pondering, the office door suddenly opened.


    Li Qianqian walked in excitedly.


    She had forgotten to take a file and had just returned to Chen Jin''s office.


    But at the doorway, she overheard Xia Liu and Chen Jin''s conversation and, after eavesdropping for a while, became even more excited.


    This Taiji Sect was definitely a breakthrough.


    "This..."


    Chen Jin looked somewhat bewildered; the Taiji Sect was indeed a martial arts sect, and it was very far from the city.


    The law probably didn''t even reach their area; abruptly going there to investigate was definitely not appropriate.


    "Director Chen, I will accompany Officer Li there. Leave everything to me."


    "Okay, I''ll listen to you."


    Reassured by Xia Liu''s words, Chen Jin no longer felt gloomy and directly wrote down the address.


    "Why do you want to help me?" At the police station entrance, Li Qianqian questioned.


    "Because Director Li and Aunt Xu are worried, and I am concerned about you, too."


    "You are concerned about me?" Li Qianqian widened her eyes at Xia Liu, wondering what he meant by this. Was he trying to pursue her?


    "You''d better save your concern for your women; I don''t need it." Li Qianqian emphasized the word ''women'' heavily.


    Although she didn''t often go to Longyun or Osmanthus Village, she wasn''t cut off from news.


    She vaguely knew about Xia Liu''s affairs; he probably had several women by now.


    "Hehe, I promised Director Li that I would help you solve the case," Xia Liu touched his nose, fully aware of what Li Qianqian was implying.


    Anyway, helping her solve the case was the right thing to do.


    If she still heartlessly refused to tell him about Fang Fei in the end, when necessary, he wouldn''t just sit back and do nothing.


    "I''ll take you back now. We''ll go to the Taiji Sect together tomorrow morning."


    Xia Liu started his car and took Li Qianqian home.


    When they got home, Li Qianqian felt depressed. Her parents actually let Xia Liu sleep in the next room.


    However, that night, she slept peacefully because the case was making progress.


    The next morning, early in the day, Xia Liu and Li Qianqian drove to the police station, as Chen Jin was worried about them going alone.


    So, four special police officers were added to their team!


    Seeing the four imposing and righteous special police officers, Li Qianqian''s confidence greatly increased. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Officer Li, hello, I am the team leader: Chang Wusheng."


    "Hello." After a brief handshake, Li Qianqian wasted no time and promptly asked Xia Liu to start driving.


    Then, a BMW led the way, with a Dongfeng SUV closely following behind.


    Over five hours later, the two vehicles stopped at a vast open-air parking lot.


    According to the address provided by Chen Jin, they had finally arrived at Martial World Mountain!


    Martial World Mountain, over three hundred kilometers from the city area.


    It was essentially a mountain range, with several large mountains stretching continuously.


    On the outer edge, there was an artificially constructed staircase.


    Looking up from the bottom, it seemed endless.


    Chen Jin had said that the Taiji Sect was right at the end of the staircase.


    Despite the harsh conditions, no one would give up.


    Especially Li Qianqian, who ascended the stairs as if injected with adrenaline.


    The four special police officers followed closely behind her.


    As for Xia Liu, he was at the very back.


    The area at the foot of the mountain was still part of the public tourist zone, so there was not much danger.


    But he still had to remain vigilant.


    He had never seen a cultivation sect, but he had encountered many martial artists from various sects.


    Those with compassion were heroes.


    But those with malicious intent were definitely feared as high-strength martial artists.


    Of course, for Xia Liu, it did not matter, but for ordinary people, it would be a disaster.


    Because the staircase was excessively long and upward, no matter how energized Li Qianqian was, running up for a long time would definitely exhaust her.


    Even the four specially trained special police officers were inwardly complaining.


    Fortunately, they had already reached the top of the mountain.


    It took them two hours; it was now two in the afternoon.


    "Officer Li, who exactly is your friend? He isn''t even out of breath or flushed, yet still so energetic."


    Seeing Xia Liu scouting ahead, Chang Wusheng and his three teammates were so amazed they could barely close their mouths.


    They had undergone intensive training, yet climbing up here in such a short time left them nearly breathless.


    "Don''t mind him, he''s just an asshole." Li Qianqian said sharply, watching Xia Liu scouting ahead.


    "Guys, have you rested enough? I''ve already found the way to Taiji Sect."


    Twenty minutes later, Xia Liu emerged from the dense forest.


    "No way, I just went ahead to look around, and it was all trees and mountain, no buildings?"


    Chang Wusheng looked at Xia Liu skeptically. Taking advantage of the break, he too had gone to scout but returned helplessly.


    Li Qianqian frowned as well; the address given by Chen Jin only led to the mountain top, and how to locate the Taiji Sect, he didn''t know.


    She had also tried searching but found nothing; she was even beginning to doubt whether it was even possible for anyone to live in such a place.


    "Just follow me." Read exclusive adventures at empire


    Xia Liu did not explain further; he simply led the way into the forest.


    Following Xia Liu for ten minutes, everyone began to tread carefully.


    The path became scarcer and finally vanished; moving forward required pushing aside waist-high vegetation with their hands.


    However, after turning over a mountain head, everyone was stunned by what they saw¡­

 Chapter 204 Deciding by Martial Power

    Displayed before everyone was a vast, lush jungle.At the edge of the jungle, there were buildings hidden under a cliff.


    From a distance, the houses appeared to be made of wood.


    The roofs were tiled, shocking those accustomed to modern construction at their first sight of such structures.


    Visually, it was quite striking.


    Without further ado, Chang Wusheng and his teammates led the way with Li Qianqian positioned in the middle.


    Xia Liu followed at the rear, which was advantageous for dealing with any unexpected incidents.


    Chang Wusheng and the others were quite concerned about the personal safety of Li Qianqian and Xia Liu.


    After all, neither of them had undergone special training in this kind of primordial forest.


    The next second, they would not know what could happen.


    Unfortunately, they had underestimated Xia Liu.


    This trip was destined to be Xia Liu''s home field!


    Chang Wusheng was relieved that their journey through the jungle went without any crisis.


    When they reached the end of the jungle, what appeared before them was a towering gate about twenty meters high.


    On the gate were boldly inscribed three words: "Taiji Sect!"


    Looking at the roughly fifty-meter long stone steps, everyone except Xia Liu was more than just embarrassed.


    Unexpectedly, just as they were about to enter through the gate,


    two figures dressed in linen clothes similar to ancient garments were seen running down quickly from the top of the stone steps. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These two were not very old, but their speed was like flowing clouds and water, their tiptoes touching the stone steps as if they were using lightness skills to move.


    "Who are you?" they demanded immediately upon arriving.


    "We are officers from the city here on a case, which might be related to your sect..."


    "Hmph! Since you are officers, please present evidence. Taiji Sect is not to be slandered by just anyone!" one of the young men said angrily.


    "This is my ID."


    Seeing the stern attitudes of the two, Li Qianqian quickly pulled out her ID.


    But just as she was handing her ID to the young man, he swatted it away: "Don''t talk to us about IDs. If you don''t retrace your steps, we will guide you out of the mountains."


    "You!" Li Qianqian glared at him, but was stopped by Xia Liu.


    "Qianqian, let me try."


    "It''s useless whoever tries, we don''t welcome outsiders here. If you persist, don''t blame Taiji Sect for being inhospitable!"


    "Young brother, we mean no harm, we just want to confirm if any of your sect''s masters have recently descended the mountain?"


    Xia Liu asked very politely.


    "No, to descend the mountain, one must pass through several major challenges."


    "Elder Chongming, didn''t our Brother Chongyin run down from Regretful Cliff recently?"


    "What nonsense are you spouting, get your act together!"


    Hearing his foolish disciple''s words, Chongming could not help but become furiously enraged.


    "Hello, we heard about this Chongyin, what''s that all about?" seizing the opportunity, Li Qianqian quickly asked.


    "It''s no concern of yours, disciples of Taiji Sect, please leave!" Chongming said impolitely.


    He was extremely puzzled, as normal people, usually unlucky, would definitely not make it here.


    So how did this group manage to get here unscathed?


    "Then tell us, how can we be allowed inside?" Xia Liu asked.


    "There''s no way you can get inside!" Chongming shouted angrily.


    Today was the Taiji Sect''s annual martial arts competition, and who knew the elder would actually ask him and his disciple to guard the gate.


    He was already furious, and Xia Liu''s insistence on entering the gate was simply courting death!


    "Put your hands up!" Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, Li Qianqian pulled out a gun and aimed it at Chongming.


    This scene stunned everyone, especially Chang Wusheng and his teammates.


    They were very familiar with the rules of using firearms; it was simply absurd for Li Qianqian to pull out a gun when it wasn''t a critical moment.


    Although the Taiji Sect had secluded itself in the mountains and forests, it was still aware of the weapons from the outside world.


    Though Li Qianqian pulled out a gun, Chongming and his disciple did not panic too much.


    On the contrary, both of them seemed eager to try.


    Seeing the demeanor of Chongming and his companion, Xia Liu frowned and immediately reached out to block Li Qianqian''s gun.


    "Young masters, that was a misunderstanding. How about we settle this by martial power instead?"


    "Resolve it by martial power!"


    Hearing what Xia Liu said, Li Qianqian was startled. The Taiji Sect was a faction that had practiced martial arts all year round. How could anyone win against them in a real fight?


    However, Chang Wusheng and his teammate exchanged glances and felt there might be a chance.


    They were confident they could defeat the two disciples of Chongming.


    "Hahahaha! Settle it by martial power!"


    The two disciples of Chongming burst into laughter.


    This must be the funniest joke they had ever heard.


    Ordinary people from outside challenging the disciples of the Taiji Sect with martial power!


    If they didn''t accept the challenge, then the Taiji Sect would become a joke.


    "Senior brother, since they are so arrogant, let me handle this!"


    "Junior brother, be careful not to hurt them. Let them make one move and one stance."


    "Alright, just one move and one stance."


    Hearing their incredibly arrogant words, Chang Wusheng couldn''t restrain himself anymore!


    He stepped forward and assumed a starting stance, "No need for you to let me! Come on if you dare!"


    "No, no, we definitely should let you. Any one of you, as long as you defeat our two disciples, can enter our sect!" Chongming said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.


    Moved by his senior brother''s words, Chongfan swiftly engaged with Chang Wusheng.


    Li Qianqian was about to say something but was quickly pulled away from the fighting circle by Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, can''t you stop causing trouble? The Taiji Sect is a faction that practices martial arts. Who can be their match?" Li Qianqian glared at Xia Liu, realizing his intentions.


    Xia Liu was not there to help; he was clearly there to cause trouble!


    "Officer Li, you are also skilled. Besides, they are letting us make one move and one stance. Have a little confidence, will you?"


    "Hmph!" Li Qianqian snorted and said no more.


    "Go, Captain! Take down the enemy!"


    "Go, Captain!"


    Chang Wusheng''s three teammates cheered him on from the side.


    They knew well the skill level of Chang Wusheng, who could knock down ten young men in one go.


    "Begin!"


    Seeing both sides ready, Chongming shouted loudly.


    No sooner had his voice fallen than Chongfan and Chang Wusheng both made their moves.


    The two men moved like the wind, each crazily advancing towards the other.


    Chang Wusheng was proficient in Snatching and Sanda Technique; his punch was filled with Rigid Force.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    With every swing of his fists, the sound of the air being shattered spread far and wide.


    Although Chang Wusheng''s moves were fierce,


    It was unfortunate that he faced the Taiji Sect.


    The Taiji Palm of the Taiji Sect was the nemesis of Rigid Fist Technique!


    Chongfan calmly extended one hand.


    His speed was evidently faster than Chang Wusheng''s fists.


    Chongfan suddenly changed from palm to grab, seizing Chang Wusheng''s wrist.


    With a solid horse stance, he pulled Chang Wusheng''s body into the air; then with a knee lift, the tactic of borrowing force defeated his opponent in an instant!

 Chapter 205 Conditions

    Seeing Chang Wusheng blink and then collapse to the ground in defeat.His three teammates were stunned, their confidence in Chang Wusheng had been immense.


    They had not expected such an unexpected outcome.


    "Cough cough cough¡­"


    Chang Wusheng spat out the murky energy in his chest and slowly got up from the ground.


    At this moment, he felt an unbearable pain and numbness in his chest.


    His gaze toward Chongfan was filled with innumerable wariness.


    Unlike him, Li Qianqian had strong reasons to believe that the kidnapping and murder case was executed by disciples of the Taiji Sect!


    "Captain, keep going!"


    "Keep beating him down!"


    ...


    Chang Wusheng''s three teammates continuously shouted.


    They believed Chang Wusheng to be the strongest among them; if even he fell.


    Then this trip would have been in vain.


    And losing the optimal time to solve the case, it would become even harder to crack it later on.


    "I''ve lost¡­" Chang Wusheng had no confidence he could win against Chongfan.


    Besides, he suspected Chongming''s strength to be much more terrifying.


    One Chongfan was like a towering mountain, and adding Chongming to the mix, he guessed he would never win in this lifetime.


    "Are we just going to give up like this?" Li Qianqian murmured, and then stepped forward.


    "I''ll go!"


    "Yo-ho, look what we have here, a pretty girl," Chongming taunted, "Girl, go back home. The Taiji Sect does not fight women."


    "If you''re scared, then let us in! And tell us everything about Chongyin," Li Qianqian said.


    "Little girl, don''t push it when we''ve already given you a face. Just arriving here safely is your biggest stroke of luck," stated Chongming discontentedly.


    "Both of you, hands up!" Li Qianqian could no longer listen, seeing the clues right before her, how could she leave?


    Therefore, her pistol once again pointed at Chongming.


    Facing a case of this level, if someone dared to conceal information about a suspect, Li Qianqian would not be polite.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu couldn''t help shaking his head; this girl was too impulsive.


    Didn''t she notice that Chongfan was too close?


    And around the stone slab where Chongfan stood, the dust started to slightly rise.


    This was a sign of Inner Qi being intensely circulated.


    If Xia Liu''s guess was correct, Chongfan was about to take Li Qianqian''s pistol.


    Indeed, before Xia Liu had even finished his thought, Chongfan had made his move.


    He moved in front of Li Qianqian with a speed difficult to capture with the naked eye, and with a quick reach of his hand, directly snatched the pistol away.


    The whole action took no more than a second!


    "This!!!"


    Chang Wusheng and his three teammates were dumbfounded; they couldn''t help but rub their eyes, and once they confirmed that the firearm was taken by Chongfan, their hearts were shocked.


    As for Li Qianqian, she was already astonished, having only felt a gust of wind and then her hand was empty.


    "Little girl, you''re not used to playing with this kind of gun. Go home to your boyfriend or husband," Chongming said, examining the gun continuously.


    With Chongfan in front as protection, he wasn''t worried about being attacked.


    "You!" Li Qianqian bit her teeth tightly, her eyes gradually reddening.


    Facing two powerful martial arts experts, she realized that her modest skills were seen as nothing more than a mild breeze in their eyes, let alone a storm.


    She didn''t know what to do; was the journey going to end like this?


    Impossible! She couldn''t accept it! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xia Liu, didn''t you say you came to help me solve the case?" Li Qianqian stared at Xia Liu, teeth clenched. Wasn''t this guy supposed to be very powerful?


    Why was he so silent today, as a man, didn''t he dare to step forward?


    "Yes, but my appearance fee is very expensive."


    "How much do you want?"


    "Entering Taiji Sect is just the beginning. Once the suspect is truly locked down, tell me Fang Fei''s news."


    A glint of vital energy passed through Xia Liu''s eyes. In the current situation, it was most appropriate to negotiate with Li Qianqian.


    Li Qianqian fell silent. Solving the case was important, but the news about Fang Fei was equally heavy.


    "Hey, hey, have you had enough? Get back quickly! If you don''t leave now, don''t blame the Taiji Sect for being ruthless!"


    Seeing Xia Liu and Li Qianqian talking like that, Chongming got annoyed.


    It was as if he and Chongfan weren''t there.


    Talking about appearance fees as if it was so real.


    "Don''t interrupt for now." Xia Liu glanced at Chongming, his face all smiles filled with goodwill.


    Huh?


    Although Xia Liu''s expression was very amiable, Chongming felt a chill come over him.


    Chang Wusheng and his teammates were dumbfounded.


    Xia Liu actually dared to speak to Chongming like that¡ªdid he really have the capability?


    They all remembered Chen Jin telling them they must protect Xia Liu and Li Qianqian.


    So they thought Xia Liu was only doing administrative work, and if he really had the ability to handle the two disciples, Chongming and Chongfan, he would have taken action earlier.


    "Junior Brother, throw them all into the woods, whether they live or die is not our concern!" Chongming, after breaking through the feeling Xia Liu brought, roared immediately.


    "If you really can help me solve the case, I am willing to talk about Sister Fang''s news."


    "It''s a deal!"


    "It''s a deal!"


    With Li Qianqian''s promise, the smile on Xia Liu''s face became even more splendid.


    He glanced at Chongfan, who was approaching rapidly, still with a smile hanging on his face and twisted his neck slightly, then ran over.


    Seeing Xia Liu swiftly running towards Chongfan, Li Qianqian and Chang Wusheng were stunned.


    They originally thought that guy might have brought a gun, and if they were careful enough, there would definitely be a chance to counterattack.


    Now it looked like all hope was gone.


    "Ha ha! Bring it on! Let you outsiders witness the might of Taiji Sect!"


    Chongfan laughed, his palms changing as he spoke.


    The palm turned into a claw, then back to a palm; in the feinting motions, the distance between him and Xia Liu had disappeared.


    To deal with a Taiji Sect move, Xia Liu did not overpower with Spiritual Energy, but responded with the same moves to Chongfan.


    However, as soon as Xia Liu''s Taiji Palm was executed, Chongfan''s pupils shrank violently.


    In an instant, he felt his body become airborne.


    Thump!


    After striking against the huge gate pillar, Chongfan''s figure finally came to a stop.


    It was one strike takedown! The same Taiji Moves with slow yet quick, strong yet fluid actions!


    "Puh!"


    Chongfan spat out a mouthful of blood, never expecting to encounter Taiji Fist like this one day.


    Fortunately, Xia Liu bore no malice; otherwise, that hit might have left Chongfan with unimaginable internal injuries.


    "Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm! Absolutely no mistake! You must be an Elder from the Taiji Sect headquarters!" Chongming''s shock took a long time to subside.


    What had he just witnessed!


    That was something only seen in the records, Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!


    Li Qianqian and Chang Wusheng stared blankly at Xia Liu, never imagining that Xia Liu would take down Chongfan in one move.


    And, hearing what Chongming said, it seemed his identity was quite formidable.


    "Taiji Sect headquarters? What''s that?" Xia Liu looked at Chongming in confusion.


    This palm technique, blending both fists and palms, was all taught to him by the old man.


    Could it be that the Taiji Sect headquarters was related to the old man?


    "Junior Xia Liu of the 38th generation disciples of Taiji Sect at Martial World Mountain, Chongming pays respects to the Elder!" After the shock, Chongming bowed with clasped fists, respectfully greeting Xia Liu.

 Chapter 206 Taiji Sect

    Everyone present was dumbfounded. What was happening, and how had Xia Liu become an elder?Li Qianqian stared blankly at Xia Liu. She had a feeling that he was keeping a lot of secrets from her.


    "Ahem, ahem, so, can we go in and investigate now?" Xia Liu cleared his throat.


    How could he possibly know about the so-called headquarters of Taiji Sect? Anyway, he had claimed to be an elder.


    And seeing how respectfully he was behaving, agreeing to it definitely wouldn''t be wrong.


    "Of course, of course!" Chongming said with a sweaty, nervous laugh. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The headquarters of the Taiji Sect was superior to all its branches.


    An elder from the headquarters was to be treated with the highest courtesy by the branches.


    "Brother, what..." Chongfan looked at his senior brother, puzzled. He couldn''t comprehend what was happening at all.


    "Junior brother, come over quickly and pay your respects to Elder Taiyi!"


    "Taiyi! Could it be the one mentioned in the archives?" Chongfan stared at Xia Liu, wide-eyed in shock.


    The Taiji Sect had many branches worldwide, and it was said that there was an even grander and more prosperous sect above the Taiji Sect.


    Its name was Taiyi!


    For many years, Taiyi had not contacted the Taiji Sect, leading them to believe that Taiyi had abandoned them.


    Hearing the name Taiyi again, Chongfan and Chongming were so moved they were almost brought to tears.


    After respectfully paying homage to Xia Liu, Chongfan led them through the mountain gate.


    Li Qianqian and Chang Wusheng exchanged puzzled glances, completely baffled by the act Xia Liu was putting on.


    "Xia Liu, are you really an elder of this sect?" Li Qianqian followed Xia Liu''s steps and asked him quietly by his side, confused.


    "Probably not, I am also hearing about this sect for the first time. I''ve always been abroad or in the village before this."


    "Ah! You''re not an elder of the Taiji Sect!"


    "My dear sister, can you keep it down? If these two guys find out, we''re going to have trouble bluffing our way through later!"


    Xia Liu was left speechless by Li Qianqian''s continuous surprises.


    Li Qianqian saw Chongming and Chongfan leading the way with excitement and finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She decided that no matter what, she couldn''t reveal Xia Liu''s true identity.


    Otherwise, the case definitely wouldn''t proceed smoothly.


    When they reached the end of the stone steps, Li Qianqian and the others were again astonished by the sight before them.


    From a distance, it looked like the houses under the cliff were merely decorations.


    The real mystery of the Taiji Sect lay behind the cliff, through a concealed passage.


    What unfolded before their eyes was an expanse of sky and earth.


    Below, numerous pavilions and towers stood tall.


    For miles around, pavilions and houses stretched as far as the eye could see.


    The style of the buildings was not much different from that of ancient cities.


    At a glance, they had the feel of a grand martial sect right out of a TV show.


    Of course, the Taiji Sect was a martial arts training sect, and this feeling was not just a perception, but a reality!


    Standing behind the passage, the group could see two people sparring with each other in the central arena of the Taiji Sect below.


    There was also a sizable audience, at least three hundred people.


    "Elder Xia, today is the Taiji Sect''s triennial evaluation. Whoever makes it into the top ten has the chance to go out and gain experience. They will also receive several fine weapons and martial arts skills," Chongming said, leading the way for Xia Liu and introducing the Taiji Sect.


    "By the way, what was that about Chongyin you mentioned just now?" Seeing Chongming''s enthusiasm, Li Qianqian seized the opportunity to ask.


    "Chongyin... It''s better to let the Sect Leader explain this to you," Chongming sighed as he spoke of Chongyin.


    Li Qianqian calmed down upon hearing this. With Xia Liu posing as an elder here, there was no need to worry about the Sect Leader withholding information.


    Descending the stone steps and passing through an area of beautiful residences, the group arrived in front of a huge fighting stage.


    The Taiji Sect disciples present turned their attention to the six strangers.


    Even the two disciples sparring on the stage stopped their practice.


    "Chongming! Who are they?" A middle-aged man sitting above the stage demanded angrily.


    Next to the middle-aged man sat an elder with white hair. He appeared listless, yet his eyes were extremely sharp; he noticed the group''s arrival in an instant.


    "Master, it''s a major event! This person claims to be an elder from the Taiyi Sect!" Chongming said excitedly.


    "Taiyi Sect!"


    The entire crowd of disciples, including Chongming''s master and the white-haired elder, were taken aback upon hearing these three words.


    Taiyi Sect was the headquarters of the Taiji Sect.


    The Taiyi Sect, having lost contact for decades, had finally sent someone!


    How could they not be excited?


    "Chongming, quickly give us the details!" Despite his excitement, the middle-aged man still maintained his composure.


    He looked at Xia Liu and the others'' youth, all seemingly in their twenties.


    An elder from the Taiyi Sect couldn''t possibly be so young.


    Upon receiving the command, Chongming immediately recounted everything that had transpired at the mountain gate.


    "Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!" The corners of the white-haired elder''s eyes crinkled slightly.


    He was very familiar with the Taiyi Sect, and he knew that the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm was indeed a skill only those at the elder level or above could learn.


    But Xia Liu was only in his twenties¡ªhow could it be possible for him to be an elder, let alone learn the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm.


    "Chongming, you''re still too naive, judging him to be a Taiyi elder just by seeing the starting pose."


    After hearing Chongming''s explanation, the middle-aged man couldn''t help but shake his head.


    According to the records, the elders of the Taiyi Sect were all at least fifty years old, with extremely high martial arts cultivation.


    Such high martial arts realms were impossible for a youth to achieve.


    Chongming and Chongfan were instantly petrified with fear. If Xia Liu truly wasn''t an elder of the Taiyi Sect, the only thing awaiting them was the terrifying Regretful Cliff!


    "You see an elder and don''t show respect, do you want him to return and give you some punishment?"


    Li Qianqian, seeing the middle-aged man''s pointed words, thought for a moment before revealing Xia Liu''s supposed identity, threatening the middle-aged man with it.


    "What impudence from a little upstart! This is not your place to speak," the middle-aged man dismissed Li Qianqian without any regard.


    He then pointed at Xia Liu and said, "And you, I don''t know how you fooled my two disciples, but daring to impersonate a Taiyi elder, today your death sentence may be spared, but you cannot escape punishment!"


    "Ah! This¡­" Chang Wusheng and his teammates broke out in a cold sweat.


    There were at least three hundred disciples of the Taiji Sect on the scene. If a fight broke out, with Xia Liu''s level of skill, there was no way he could match them.


    Furthermore, he was filled with dread, realizing Chongfan''s strength was so formidable. If there were three hundred disciples as powerful as Chongfan present...


    "Qianqian, let me handle this negotiation," said Xia Liu quickly, stopping Li Qianqian as she seemed ready to draw her weapon.


    "Esteemed Elder, when I mentioned earlier, I never claimed to be a Taiyi Sect elder, so let''s just overlook that crime, shall we? Besides, my friends and I came here because one of your sect''s disciples killed three people in the county!"


    When Xia Liu mentioned the Taiji Sect disciple committing murder, the white-haired elder''s pupils constricted sharply for an instant, unnoticed by others.

 Chapter 207 Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm

    "You are unforgivable! How could a disciple of the Taiji Sect ever leave the mountain to harm others!" the middle-aged man yelled angrily.Allowing ordinary people from outside into the sect was already a deeply humiliating affair.


    And now, these ordinary people were even here to accuse them!


    If word of this spread, how could the Taiji Sect stand its ground in Huaxia or take root in the Warrior Realm!


    "Ha!"


    Seeing the middle-aged man angry, on the field, three hundred disciples simultaneously stood up, their imposing aura seemingly able to shake mountains.


    Facing such oppressive force, Chang Wusheng and his teammates all trembled.


    Li Qianqian''s jade hand rested on her handgun. Although she was scared, if these people dared to come forward.


    She would definitely shoot. Rather than standing and waiting to die, it was better to intimidate them and then look for a chance to run.


    However, facing the pressure of three hundred disciples, Xia Liu remained indifferent.


    Amidst numerous astonished gazes, he slowly walked onto the stage.


    Standing at the center of the stage, he looked up at the middle-aged man and the white-haired elder sitting in the observer''s platform.


    "I came here today for one simple reason, either hand over Chongyin or I will tear down this place!"


    Hiss...


    Chang Wusheng and Li Qianqian, among others, all gasped in shock.


    What had Xia Liu just said?


    Hand over the person or tear down this place!!!


    His aura seemed as if it were from the Heavenly Dao itself.


    And the hundreds of people from the Taiji Sect, like mere ants, showed neither fear nor weakness!


    The people of the Taiji Sect were also stunned.


    Xia Liu was just one man, just one man!


    And he dared to say he would tear down the entire sect!


    It was unimaginable.


    Either Xia Liu was an idiot or he was insane.


    "Young man, you are very interesting. I wonder who your master is?" Just as the middle-aged man was about to command the disciples, the white-haired elder stood up, looking at Xia Liu with a kindly smile.


    "No sect, no affiliation!"


    "Interesting. If you can defeat three disciples, I will have someone escort you down the mountain."


    "Sect Leader, this is absolutely not possible!"


    Upon hearing the white-haired elder speak thus, the middle-aged man immediately became anxious.


    Xia Liu was clearly here to cause trouble. With such arrogant attitude, if we don''t give him a lifelong unforgettable lesson, he really might think martial sects are a joke.


    "Qingfeng, all your fellow brothers have descended the mountain. Perhaps what this young man said is as serious as it sounds. Let three disciples take action as a lesson for his presumptuous words."


    The elder glanced at Qingfeng, shaking his head helplessly.


    Xia Liu''s straightforward demand to hand over Chongyin, along with the news of Chongyin killing three people, was already a disgrace to the sect.


    If they bullied Xia Liu now, where would the Taiji Sect''s dignity be?


    "It''s my oversight," the middle-aged man said, bowing to the elder. He had been too agitated earlier, not considering all of this.


    "Phew... three disciples, he should be able to handle it," Li Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief.


    Having defeated Chongfan in seconds at the mountain gate, dealing with three disciples shouldn''t be a problem.


    "Um, three disciples seems too few." Xia Liu glanced around the scene and then said with a naive smile, "How about this, everyone come at once."


    "Damn!" Even Chang Wusheng, who usually kept his cool, burst out with an expletive on hearing Xia Liu''s words.


    Li Qianqian''s face instantly paled.


    They had said they''d only send three disciples, and this idiot just had to ask for all the disciples to come at once!


    This could definitely be called the strongest suicidal statement of the year.


    As for the disciples of the Taiji Sect, none could hide their irritation.


    Feeling belittled was not a pleasant sensation!


    At this moment, all they wanted to do was tap into all their cultivation and crush Xia Liu completely!


    "Uh uh uh... Arrogant brat, today I, Qingfeng, an elder of the Taiji Sect, will accommodate you!" Qingfeng could no longer bear it.


    He could not forgive those who insulted the Taiji Sect, and such insults had already crossed his bottom line!


    This time, the white-haired elder didn''t speak. He slumped in his chair, eyes tightly closed.


    "Can you hurry up, what time is it now? We still need to eat even if you don''t." Xia Liu scratched his ear, speaking impatiently.


    "All disciples of the Taiji Sect, obey my command, fight!"


    "Charge!"


    As Qingfeng''s words fell, the disciples below immediately erupted into action.


    The disciples sitting in the front row leapt onto the stage with incredible speed.


    The two disciples who had been competing on the stage were the quickest; they immediately started swinging their palms at Xia Liu.


    Seeing this, Li Qianqian and Chang Wusheng felt completely drained and sat down on the ground.


    "It''s over, it''s over..."


    "Xia Liu, you really are an idiot, a super idiot!" Li Qianqian shouted, her eyes beginning to redden.


    With so many people, if Xia Liu wasn''t dead, he probably wouldn''t have much life left either.


    Why bother, why seek death like this!


    At this moment on the stage, Xia Liu''s expression gradually turned serious.


    Facing the first two disciples who ran towards him.


    Xia Liu slowly raised his palms, and then, his palms divided Yin and Yang, assuming the Taiyi Starting Position!


    "That is!" Upon seeing Xia Liu''s palms divide Yin and Yang in a flash, Qingfeng''s pupils shrank sharply; he would never forget it.


    The starting position of the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm was exactly this: palms dividing Yin and Yang, the palm moves following the lively Eight Trigrams!


    Xia Liu pushed his palms in the Eight Trigrams motion, the two disciples who first made contact were instantly knocked flying backwards.


    They collided with other disciples who were rushing towards the stage from behind.


    In an instant, at least thirty disciples lay on the ground clutching their chests.


    "Sect Leader!"


    Upon hearing Elder Qingfeng''s shout, the white-haired elder suddenly opened his eyes.


    The moment he opened his eyes, his expression was twisted.


    "That''s Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!!!" The elder was shocked, he suddenly jumped up from his chair, anxiously saying, "Make them stop! That''s the elder of the Taiyi Sect!"


    "Everyone, stop! Cease!" However, at this moment Qingfeng was powerless, except for those disciples who were still around the edge of the stage and heard his voice.


    The other disciples all furiously charged at Xia Liu.


    To the disciples of the Taiji Sect, humiliating their sect was an existence that must be killed!


    Only when Xia Liu fell would they stop!


    However, those disciples who rushed forward, within the next few seconds, were one by one knocked down from the stage.


    Li Qianqian and Chang Wusheng opened their mouths wide, their faces filled with disbelief as they watched that figure.


    He was actually using his own strength to resist a hundred disciples!


    And looking at the current situation, Xia Liu was not at a disadvantage at all!


    "Kill him!"


    Seeing their fellow disciples being knocked away, the remaining disciples reached the peak of their anger.


    They desperately stormed onto the stage, all to strike down Xia Liu!


    Seeing more and more Taiji Sect disciples surrounding him, Xia Liu lost interest in continuing the game.


    After knocking a few people away with the Taiyi Palm, he forcefully activated the Five Elements Mantra.


    Xia Liu furiously summoned Spiritual Energy, and within his meridians, the Five Element Spiritual Energy was almost in a frenzy.


    Sensing it was about time, Xia Liu spread his arms backward.


    His body spun on the spot, and a vast surge of Spiritual Energy burst forth from the palm of his hand.


    Boom!!!


    At the moment of the Spiritual Energy breaking through the air, a massive booming sound erupted, that was the sound of the air being shattered!


    S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 208 Sweep!

    ```The raging Five Element Spiritual Energy exploded outward, centering on Xia Liu.


    When the disciples of the Taiji Sect were swept by the Five Element Spiritual Energy, they vomited blood and were sent flying one after another.


    In a flash, on the stage, only Xia Liu was left, striking out in a defiant pose.


    As for everyone else, they were utterly overwhelmed.


    What just happened?


    Only a very few people knew how perilous that moment had been.


    "Officer Li, your boyfriend is too strong..." Chang Wusheng''s voice trembled ceaselessly.


    He had just discovered something, discovered another world!


    Xia Liu''s technique was just like those high-level martial artists on TV, releasing their inner qi outward! Sweeping through thousands of troops! Unmatched and invincible!!


    Li Qianqian had no energy to explain anything, she was completely stunned.


    She had never dared to imagine that Xia Liu could be so powerful, considering she had once provoked him.


    Looking back now, it seemed ridiculous; he must have always been laughing at her.


    "That is!!!"


    Qingfeng stared blankly at Xia Liu, his eyes nearly bulging out.


    "Inner Qi released outward!!! The release of Inner Qi by a Mysterious Rank Warrior!!!" The white-haired elder pointed at Xia Liu, unable to express his inner astonishment with words.


    "A Mysterious Rank Warrior!!!" Qingfeng exclaimed in surprise.


    He was very clear about the ranking of martial artists.


    A Mysterious Rank Warrior, even the Sect Leader couldn''t achieve that!


    "The released Inner Qi has cleared the entire stage; only a high-level Mysterious Rank Warrior could do that!" The white-haired elder swallowed a bit of saliva and added, "At the beginning, he even used the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!"


    "He is an Elder of the Taiyi Sect!!!"


    Reminded by the Sect Leader, Qingfeng cried out in realization.


    "Exactly!" The elder said, dashing towards the stage as fast as he could.


    Elder Qingfeng did likewise.


    The moment they stepped onto the stage, both men immediately knelt on one knee.


    "Please forgive us, Elder!" The two men said in unison.


    Seeing the Sect Leader and Elder Qingfeng kneeling before Xia Liu, the disciples on the ground, although injured, also knelt on one knee following their lead.


    "Everyone stand up," Xia Liu said with a pleased smile upon witnessing this scene.


    His reason for stepping onto the stage was to intimidate, and now that he had achieved his goal, it was time to question them.


    "The thirty-fifth Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect: Tianqian, thanks the Elder!"


    "And all of you stand up as well, I was merely testing your foundations just now, and it appears they are very good."


    "Thank you, Elder Taiyi!" Three hundred disciples said in chorus.


    "Elder Taiyi, please come inside to the inner hall to rest," Sect Master Tianqian said with a bitter smile.


    He was now regretting deeply; he couldn''t see anything remarkable about Xia Liu on the surface.


    But when Qingfeng had called for the disciples to attack, he hadn''t stopped them; if Xia Liu held it against him, not only could he lose his position as Sect Leader, but considering his status as a high-level Mysterious Rank Warrior, if Xia Liu made a move against him, death was the only outcome.


    In response to Tianqian''s invitation, Xia Liu did not refuse, for this was not the place for an inquiry.


    "Qianqian, let''s go, time to interrogate them." Xia Liu reached out and pulled her up from the ground as he approached Li Qianqian.


    Looking at Xia Liu''s smiling face, Li Qianqian didn''t dare say anything else, she nodded and let him lead her away.


    Chang Wusheng and his three teammates quickly followed Xia Liu, having collected their thoughts.


    ```


    In a scenic loft of the Taiji Sect, Qingfeng personally poured tea, while Sect Master Tianqian stood respectfully by the table.


    "Sect Master Tianqian, there''s no need for this, please sit down."


    Facing Tianqian''s unceasing apologies, Xia Liu felt quite embarrassed.


    The old man must be seventy or eighty years old, incessantly apologizing to him¡ªit was entirely unbecoming. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was as if he were bullying an elderly man.


    "I dare not. Questioning an Elder, offending an Elder¡ªaccording to the Taiyi Sect rules, one''s cultivation should be abolished and they should be expelled from the sect. That the Elder can forgive this junior, I am very gratified."


    "Pfft! Junior!" Upon hearing Elder Tianqian''s words, Li Qianqian immediately spat out the tea in her mouth.


    An old man with white hair calling himself a junior, addressing Xia Liu, who was in his twenties, as a senior¡ªit felt somewhat incongruous.


    "In front of Elder Xia, Tianqian will always be the junior," Tianqian said with a bitter smile, offering no further explanation.


    Those who practice martial arts understand that regardless of age, those of a higher rank are always the seniors, and those of a lower rank are forever the juniors.


    "Enough of that, just tell me what''s going on with Chongyin." Now that Xia Liu was an Elder of the Taiyi Sect, he directly questioned Tianqian.


    Li Qianqian and Chang Wusheng became serious. They were here for the kidnapping and murder case.


    The investigation was finally about to begin!


    "Chongyin is my closed-door disciple, extremely talented. He only needed ten years to reach the Primary-Level Mysterious Rank. Because no one in the sect could match him, the competitive Chongyin began to break free from the sect''s constraints."


    Speaking of Chongyin, Sect Master Tianqian''s face was filled with nothing but sighs.


    "So where is he now?" Li Qianqian asked timidly.


    "I''m not sure. Half a month ago, I ordered Chongyin to reflect in confinement at Regretful Cliff for destroying a pavilion, but who knew he would seize the opportunity to escape from the mountain!"


    "As expected, the Hejing kidnapping and murder case is very likely Chongyin''s doing!"


    "This wretched disciple! Once we capture him, his cultivation must be abolished!"


    "By the way, Sect Master Tianqian, you just mentioned that Chongyin''s cultivation is at Primary-Level Mysterious Rank, then what rank are you?" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    While he was abroad, the ranks he had become familiar with among Huaxia warriors were Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow.


    Each rank was divided into four sub-ranks: primary, intermediate, high, and peak. He wondered if this was the same as the cultivation divisions in the Huaxia heartland.


    "This junior has cultivated to this day without breaking through to the Mysterious Rank, remaining at the Yellow-Rank Peak," Tianqian said, his old face unwittingly blushing.


    Decades ago, among his brothers who shared the ''Tian'' generation name, perhaps only he remained at the lowest cultivation rank.


    Looking at Xia Liu, Tianqian felt even more embarrassed; the young man before him already possessed a High-Level Mysterious Rank cultivation.


    As for himself, after more than fifty years of martial arts training, he was still at the Yellow-Rank Peak; it felt as though he had wasted his time.


    ...


    Although Xia Liu didn''t know what Yellow-Rank Peak represented, Tianqian had mentioned earlier that they would abolish Chongyin''s cultivation upon capturing him.


    A Yellow-Rank abolishing a Mysterious Rank, bridging a major gap¡ªit''s like a child fighting an adult.


    "Hehe, no worries. Keep on cultivating, and you''ll progress in time," Xia Liu said with a bitter smile, feeling that the old man had suffered enough; if he were to rebuke him further, Tianqian might quite wish for death.


    Of course, the kind of cultivation Xia Liu practiced was not that of a martial artist but something even more powerful...


    After dinner, Xia Liu had Qingfeng report everything about Chongyin to Chang Wusheng.


    With this information to add to the search registration, the chances of finding Chongyin should greatly increase.


    After the meal, Tianqian paid a visit to Xia Liu, hoping to learn some news about the Taiyi Sect from him.


    But what would Xia Liu know? He made up an excuse and sent Tianqian away.


    Xia Liu wandered through the beautiful night scenery of the Taiji Sect, unaware that since some time, a sneaky figure was following him...

 Chapter 209 Burn the Bridge After Crossing

    Next to the swiftly flowing river, Xia Liu quickly stripped off his clothes and leisurely walked into the water."This jerk!" Li Qianqian, hiding behind a large rock and watching Xia Liu enter the water, couldn''t help but start complaining.


    She didn''t even know how to describe her feelings anymore.


    Xia Liu was too fast; she had thought he was just coming to wash his hands.


    But in the blink of an eye, he had removed all his clothes.


    And because of that, Li Qianqian ended up seeing things she shouldn''t have.


    Even when she hid, every time she closed her eyes, the image of Xia Liu''s solid chest appeared in her mind.


    Along with that frighteningly impressive "little buddy."


    "Tell me, Officer Li, you''ve followed me for so long and now you''re spying on me bathing, what exactly are you trying to do?"


    Just as Li Qianqian was shyly fantasizing, Xia Liu''s voice suddenly reached her ears.


    "Uh, was I discovered?" Li Qianqian felt bitter. She was certain she had been very careful with every step, yet she was still discovered.


    "You can do it, Li Qianqian!" She cheered herself on and came out from behind the rock.


    Seeing Xia Liu poking his head out of the deep water and grinning, Li Qianqian suddenly regretted it.


    She shouldn''t have come out. He must have known she was following him and then shamelessly stripped and entered the water right in front of her!


    "Officer Li, sneaking up on me late at night, if this gets out, my reputation will be completely destroyed."


    "Joke! Do you even have a reputation to ruin? Everyone knows you''re a ladies'' man. Just be careful not to become decrepit as you age," Li Qianqian angrily said.


    "Thanks for the concern, Officer Li. Even in a hundred years, I will still be undefeated! Of course, I''m talking about within the ''curtains.''


    "Can''t you have some shame?"


    "Of course, what did Officer Li come to see me for?" Xia Liu nodded, barely holding back a smile as he asked.


    After a moment of silence, Li Qianqian took a deep breath and said, "I want to learn your martial arts!"


    "Uh, that might not be possible," Xia Liu hesitated, his face showing a bitter smile.


    "Why not, does your master forbid outsiders from learning it?"


    Li Qianqian had watched many martial arts dramas, and it always went like this. Could it be the same with Xia Liu?


    "It''s not that, but my martial arts can only be taught to my wife, so I''m sorry, Officer Li."


    "You¡­" Li Qianqian pointed at Xia Liu, her mouth slightly open, but she couldn''t utter a single word.


    "I''ll trade you the information about Sister Fang."


    "The information on Sister Fang has already been exchanged. No can do," Xia Liu waved his hand dismissively. This girl really knew how to count every favor; she had already traded that case, yet she wanted to use it as a bargaining chip again.


    "Just undo the previous deal, and I won''t interfere with the case."


    "Officer Li, you can''t do this, it''s like crossing the river and demolishing the bridge."


    Xia Liu gained some new insights into the extent of women''s pettiness.


    This girl was just too adorable, locking onto a suspect and then kicking herself out of the picture; really slick.


    "That''s settled then, now you have to teach me martial arts!" Li Qianqian excitedly said. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ever since she saw Xia Liu sweep away a hundred disciples with a single palm strike, she knew she was hooked.


    If she could possess that kind of power, she wouldn''t have to fear danger in future cases.


    "That''s not possible. If you really want to do this, I''ll talk to Sect Master Tianqian and have him keep you here for a few months."


    "You jerk!" Li Qianqian gritted her teeth in anger.


    She had almost forgotten that the entire Taiji Sect was at Xia Liu''s command now.


    Fighting with him here was absolutely suicidal.


    "Haha, once we get back and file away the suspect, you''ll have to tell me all about Sister Fang," Xia Liu laughed, continuously scooping up water and splashing it towards the shore.


    "Ahhhh! You jerk! Jerk!"


    Li Qianqian screamed as she ran away.


    "Damn it! Leave my clothes behind!!!"


    "Run back naked!"


    ...


    After Li Qianqian disappeared, Xia Liu smiled bitterly.


    Indeed, in such situations, one shouldn''t joke with women, or else they just have to resign themselves to bad luck.


    In the end, Xia Liu could only use the cover of night, employing his ultimate speed to return to the room Tianqian had arranged for him.


    The two disciples guarding the door saw a dark red shadow flash by and couldn''t help but tremble.


    They were martial artists with good vision, after trembling, they couldn''t help but chuckle.


    It turned out that when speed was pushed to the limit, even clothes and pants couldn''t withstand it.


    Haha!


    If Xia Liu knew what they were thinking, he would definitely laugh until his stomach hurt.


    This was absolutely streaking, what did speed have to do with this?


    To avoid embarrassment tomorrow, Xia Liu asked the two disciples to find him a set of clothes.


    In the Taiji Sect, only the elders'' clothes were suitable for him to wear.


    The next morning, Xia Liu already wanted to get his own clothes back, as these Taiji Sect clothes were just ridiculous.


    A long robe in cyan and white, with a jade piece hanging at the waist, damn the ancient style.


    However, what calmed Xia Liu''s mood was that wearing this outfit, he actually looked uniquely handsome.


    "Elder Xia, are you leaving today?" Xia Liu was saying his goodbyes to Tianqian when the old man almost burst into tears.


    Taiyi Sect ah, it had been decades since they last contacted the scattered Taiji Sect members across Huaxia, how could Tianqian not weep bitterly?


    "Sect Master Tianqian, let me be clear, I''m not an elder from the Taiyi Sect."


    "Elder Xia, don''t say such things, you are indeed an elder of the Taiyi Sect, otherwise how would the mechanisms in the forest not have been activated? You must have stopped them."


    Recalling how that disciple had instructed, Xia Liu and his friend had passed through the primitive forest unharmed, this could explain that Xia Liu was intimately familiar with those mechanisms.


    "Ah! There were mechanisms in that forest?" Li Qianqian asked in surprise.


    Not only her but Chang Wusheng and others were also shocked.


    If it was as Tianqian said, the mechanisms set up in that forest must be terrifying.


    "You mean those bows and swords? I discovered them unintentionally and then destroyed them all," Xia Liu said with a wry smile.


    "Uh uh uh..." Tianqian stared blankly at Xia Liu, those mechanisms were set in very hidden places, how could Xia Liu have discovered them unintentionally?


    However, no matter how Xia Liu explained, Tianqian was convinced he was an elder of the Taiyi Sect.


    At the farewell, Tianqian''s tears flowed freely, it had been decades since someone from the Taiyi Sect had visited again.


    "Xia Liu, are you really not an elder of the Taiyi Sect?" On the way back, Li Qianqian asked doubtfully.


    Honestly, Chang Wusheng and the others also had such doubts.


    Because they had only recently come into contact with the martial artist level.


    Tianqian was quite old, to show such respect to Xia Liu, if he didn''t have that status, it would definitely be impossible.


    "I really am not, also give me back my clothes," Xia Liu said earnestly.


    "Officer Li, Elder Xia, you guys talk, my brothers and I will clear the road ahead." Hearing Xia Liu ask Li Qianqian for his clothes, Chang Wusheng understood and immediately led his teammates away.


    Xia Liu was indeed a martial arts master, life definitely easy-going, if he wanted at such a time, could Li Qianqian really refuse...

 Chapter 210 Committing Another Crime

    Realizing the implication in Chang Wusheng''s words, Li Qianqian''s expression turned sorrowful."I left your clothes at the Taiji Sect, you have to go back yourself to get them." Having said that, Li Qianqian turned around and walked away.


    "Damn!"


    Exclaiming in frustration, Xia Liu moved quickly and intercepted Li Qianqian.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, Li Qianqian''s phone suddenly started vibrating.


    "Hello, Director Chen, what happened?"


    This time, Chen Jin had provided Li Qianqian with a satellite phone.


    If it weren''t for something serious, Chen Jin would not call her, making Li Qianqian feel a sense of unease.


    "The kidnappers have started their operation again!"


    On the other end of the phone, Chen Jin''s voice sounded anxious.


    "What! Who did the kidnappers abduct?" Li Qianqian also became anxious.


    "The chairman of the Wanqing Group!!!"


    "Damn!" Hearing the voice from the other end of the phone, Xia Liu exclaimed loudly.


    He snatched Li Qianqian''s satellite phone and said, "Director Chen, what''s the situation now?"


    Xia Liu had not forgotten, the criminal, also known as Chongyin.


    His cultivation had reached Primary-Level Mysterious Rank.


    Currently, Chongyin had not yet fully controlled his power, and if anything happened to Mo Wanqing, he wouldn''t be at ease.


    "It just happened not long ago, according to the news from the city station, we can still hear the chairman of Wanqing Group''s voice, which means she is still safe." Discover more content at empire


    "Where is the kidnapping site?"


    "Binlai City, headquarters of the Wanqing Group!"


    "Good, we''re heading back right now." Xia Liu said and immediately hung up the phone.


    "Hey, don''t leave me behind." Seeing Xia Liu preparing to run off, Li Qianqian showed her weakness in front of him for the first time.


    The chairman of the Wanqing Group, Li Qianqian had seen him at the Osmanthus Village road completion celebration.


    Plus, judging from Xia Liu''s current expression, she could guess that their relationship was definitely unusual.


    Now that they were surrounded by dense vegetation and without the presence of Chang Wusheng and others, Li Qianqian became frightened.


    "Hurry up! Follow me!" Xia Liu glanced back impatiently and said.


    Li Qianqian quickened her pace and started running, but she still couldn''t keep up with Xia Liu.


    Given the situation, it would take at least five hours to get back to Binlai City.


    Five hours, he could afford to waste, but Mo Wanqing couldn''t!


    "You''re too slow, I''ll carry you!"


    Before Li Qianqian could react, she was already lying on Xia Liu''s back.


    "Ah!" Looking at the fast-moving scenery around her, Li Qianqian couldn''t help but scream.


    Xia Liu was moving too fast, she could barely keep her eyes open.


    No matter that she graduated from the police academy, no matter her courage, facing such extreme motion.


    She still felt countless chills rising in her heart.


    She couldn''t help but cling to Xia Liu''s back, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.


    "Damn! What is that!" Suddenly feeling movement behind him, Chang Wusheng glanced back just in time to see a shadow flash past.


    "Captain! That looked like Xia Liu and Officer Li..." a teammate pointed out the lingering shadows ahead.


    Gulp...


    Watching those lingering shadows slowly fading away, Chang Wusheng and others involuntarily swallowed.


    Twenty minutes later, at the foot of Martial World Mountain.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Li Qianqian appeared bewildered.


    Clearly, she had not yet recovered from the shock.


    What had she just experienced?


    The man by her side had taken her down from the mountain at a speed that didn''t belong to this world!


    "Hold on tight!" Xia Liu stomped on the gas, and the BMW car surged out like a wild beast.


    An hour later, in the suburbs of Binlai City, Li Qianqian leaned against a telephone pole, vomiting crazily.


    Her face had already turned pale.


    Martial World Mountain was three hundred kilometers away from Binlai City, and Xia Liu sped all the way, never dropping below two hundred and fifty.


    Several times she thought she was going to die, but she eventually made it back to the city.


    However, she could no longer endure Xia Liu''s torment.


    After composing herself, she called Chen Jin and asked him to contact partners on this side of Binlai City to pick her up.


    Headquarters of Wanqing Group, standing in the center of Binlai City.


    At this moment outside this towering eighty-story building, countless people kept looking on.


    They had all seen the news on TV that the chairman of Wanqing Group had been kidnapped more than an hour ago.


    And the kidnapper was very arrogant, not even moving Mo Wanqing, but staying right inside her company.


    Around the Wanqing Mansion, the police had put up barricades.


    Countless officers in uniform were walking back and forth.


    Because of Mo Wanqing''s special status, many important figures of Binlai had arrived at the scene.


    Even Chen Jin from Hejing had rushed over.


    "Director Chen, are you saying that the kidnapper killed three people in Hejing?" The speaker was the chief commander of the Binlai City Police Department, Sun Wei.


    "It''s very likely him, my colleague has already got the information on the kidnapper, and I believe it will be sent over soon."


    Chen Jin was not too certain, but one thing was clear.


    The kidnapper''s mentality was close to pathological.


    Kidnapping Mo Wanqing in front of everyone and staying put showed a degree of audacity that was virtually indistinguishable from that of a madman.


    "I see, ask quickly," urged Sun Wei.


    Following Sun Wei''s instructions, Chen Jin immediately called Chang Wusheng.


    After leaving the Taiji Sect, Chang Wusheng was tasked with carrying the documentation, not knowing he would be the last one to come down from the mountain.


    Upon receiving Chen Jin''s call, Chang Wusheng immediately had his teammates send Chongyin''s information to Chen Jin through the computer.


    "Chongyin, disciple of Taiji Sect, highly skilled in martial arts, danger level: 5S!"


    When they saw this information, both Chen Jin and Sun Wei were shocked.


    A danger level of five S''s was more terrifying than five tanks.


    "It''s indeed a disciple of the Taiji Sect!" Chen Jin muttered under his breath, his face turning completely dark.


    He had once entered the Taiji Sect and knew something about this faction. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The skills of those disciples were like the martial arts masters on TV: splitting wood with bare hands, breaking stones with their feet¡ªboth as easy as eating and drinking.


    Even specially trained SWAT officers would not stand a chance against them.


    "Chongyin!"


    Just then, suddenly three figures breached the barricade.


    The people around pointed and whispered because their attire was so peculiar.


    The three had wisps of long hair flowing by their temples, a black hairpin stuck on the top of their heads.


    Dressed in blue-and-white long robes and wearing soft-soled cloth shoes, they resembled the masters you might find in a Taoist temple.


    "Report to Director Sun, those three Taoist priests want to break through the barricade."


    "Go and explain the situation to them properly, appease them first," Sun Wei said, frowning with concern. He was almost overwhelmed with annoyance as even small matters were being reported to him.


    "Their clothes look like those of the Taiji Sect!" Chen Jin glanced at the direction of the three and couldn''t help but blurt out in surprise.


    "What! That means they are from the same sect as the kidnapper, have them come over quickly," Sun Wei instructed immediately, surprised yet decisive.


    Since the kidnapper was a member of a sect, maybe his fellow sect members coming over could make him surrender.

 Chapter 211 Helpless!

    Sun Wei''s instructions saw the three men quickly ushered inside the police cordon."Masters, I am Sun Wei, the commander at the scene. How may I address you?"


    "Taiji Sect Elder: Qingyong."


    "Qingning."


    "Qingling."


    The three introduced themselves with great magnanimity.


    "I just heard you mention the Taiji Sect disciple, Chongyin. May I know what that is about?" Qingyong, as the most senior Elder, immediately inquired.


    "It''s like this: my colleague suspects that the criminal is someone from a sect, so he went to the nearby Taiji Sect to investigate and eventually got information on Chongyin."


    Chen Jin explained the situation succinctly.


    "Are you saying the one who committed the crime above is Chongyin?" Qingyong''s eyebrows knit tightly.


    If it truly were Chongyin, that would complicate things.


    "It''s highly likely." Chen Jin dared not be certain, as no one had actually seen the kidnapper.


    "Senior brother, if it really is Chongyin, then we must clean our own house!" The speaker was Qingning.


    He had been challenged several times by Chongyin within the sect, but had not accepted due to his status as an Elder.


    However, Chongyin would go out of his way to provoke him.


    In the end, they fought in private, and Qingning was defeated.


    Chongyin then exposed this news, causing Qingning to completely lose face within the Taiji Sect.


    Now, Chongyin, with his cultivation, was doing as he pleased in the city. To the sect, he was a scourge that must be eradicated to save face before all under the heavens.


    "Qingning, Qingling, follow me to apprehend the scourge!" Qingyong did not answer Qingning directly.


    But he too made up his mind that if Chongyin did not fully repent, he would have no choice but to destroy him mercilessly!


    "Let them through, and let the three masters in!" Watching Qingyong and the others head toward the building, Sun Wei immediately directed over the radio.


    At his level, he had been privy to many things.


    He was naturally aware of sect affairs, and if the criminal were a sect disciple, dealing with it on their own would come at an unimaginable cost.


    Since their sect members had come, it was best to let them resolve the matter themselves.


    However, just as Qingyong and the others were about to enter the building, a shadow darted out from within.


    The surrounding guards noticed the figure and immediately aimed their guns at him.


    "No firing without my order!" The sudden turn of events took Sun Wei and Chen Jin by surprise.


    Continue your saga on empire


    The only people coming out of the building now were either their own or the criminals!


    Obviously, the one emerging was a criminal, and to shoot rashly might provoke a counter-attack.


    Moreover, without knowing the safety of Mo Wanqing in the building, they could only watch and wait.


    "Chongyin!!!"


    The moment they saw the individual, Qingyong and the others shouted in unison, shocked.


    Chongyin, 26 years old, was brought back to the Taiji Sect by Sect Master Tianqian when he was 16.


    At that time, he was in rags, without even shoes to wear.


    Because he was brought by Tianqian, the Taiji Sect treated him very well.


    However, when his talent was unleashed and his cultivation reached a certain realm,


    everyone realized that the ragged boy had changed!


    Now, Chongyin, standing at 1.75 meters tall and dressed in a black suit, had cut his long hair short, leaving a lock of hair to cover his left eye.


    He looked very much like the riffraff who loafed around the bar streets.


    "Hello, everyone!" Chongyin seemed not too surprised by the presence of Qingyong and the others, greeting them while continuously waving his hands around.


    "Chongyin! Do you realize what you are doing?" Qingyong rebuked angrily.


    "Know what, it''s just killing a few people, what''s the big deal? It''s like, do you care if you step on a few ants while walking?"


    Chongyin said indifferently.


    "You!" Qingning glared at Chongyin.


    He vaguely remembered, ten years ago, Chongyin was just a teenager, filthy all over.


    It was he who had helped clean Chongyin, taken him to eat, and introduced him to the Taiji Sect. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ten years later, Chongyin had changed to this extent, and nobody was more disappointed than Qingning.


    "Elder Qingning, don''t look at me with that kind of gaze, after all, you are just my defeated subordinate."


    "Chongyin! It''s not too late to turn back now, come back with us," Qingyong didn''t want to give up.


    Chongyin''s talent could be said to come once in a hundred years; if he dedicated his heart to cultivation, within fifty years, he would definitely become a powerhouse of his generation.


    The main reason the Taiji Sect had declined to its current state was that the disciples'' foundations were too weak.


    The Taiyi Sect hadn''t sent down any members for decades, and this was all because of the Taiji Sect.


    If there was a Yellow-Rank High Level martial artist sitting in power, the Taiyi Sect would definitely pay attention.


    "Turn back? Why should I turn back when I haven''t taken the wrong path?" Chongyin laughed wildly, "Hahaha! You are the ones who are mistaken, possessing strong cultivation yet you choose to sit and wait for death in the woods. If you want to wait for death, go back by yourselves, I''m about to start enjoying my life."


    "It''s hopeless!" Qingyong had nothing to say.


    From the beginning, it was a mistake for the sect leader to bring Chongyin back.


    He was too young and had thus transformed into this.


    If his cultivation were deeper, he would pose an even greater threat to society.


    "Qingning, Qingling! Join me in capturing this renegade disciple and clean up our Taiji Sect!"


    After sighing, Qingyong gave the command.


    "That''s what I''ve been waiting to hear!"


    "Hmm!"


    Qingning and Qingling understood that Chongyin harbored too much hatred for the outside world since he was young and now had high-strength cultivation.


    How could he possibly sit idly by?


    To let him be would only bring more shame to the Taiji Sect.


    "Attention to all units: retreat ten meters and take control of the onlookers, no photography or filming allowed!"


    Seeing that the four were about to start a fierce fight, Sun Wei quickly gave his orders.


    If matters of the Warrior Realm became too widely known, it would cause some panic, so blocking the news was very necessary.


    "Chongyin is at the Mysterious Rank Primary Level; the three of us must work seamlessly together, or the result will be unpredictable."


    "Hmm."


    Before acting, Qingyong gave one last reminder.


    The highest cultivation among the three of them was Qingyong, at the Yellow-Rank Peak, while Qingling and Qingning were at the Yellow-Rank High Level.


    If it were one-on-one, a Yellow-Rank facing a Mysterious Rank would surely perish without a trace.


    But with one Yellow-Rank Peak and two Yellow-Rank High Levels, there may be a chance to defeat a Mysterious Rank Primary Level martial artist.


    "Hahaha! Three Yellow-Rank martial artists thinking of taking on a Mysterious Rank powerhouse, how laughable!" Chongyin crossed his arms and watched Qingyong and the others with a triumphant smile.


    Qingyong and the others said nothing, their inner qi circulated through their meridians, and the next second, they all struck at Chongyin simultaneously.


    "Hmph! Let me show you the terror of a Mysterious Rank powerhouse!"


    With a cold snort, Chongyin spread his arms, wisps of inner qi emerged from his palms, creating an aura of pressure around him, and he met the familiar three elders with his Taiji Palm ready.


    In the instant the two sides clashed, at the back door of the building, Xia Liu rushed inside before the car had even stopped.


    Seeing Chongyin fighting with the three Taiji Sect elders, Xia Liu''s heart grew anxious.


    Chongyin coming downstairs ¨C could it mean that Mo Wanqing had been...?


    He didn''t dare to imagine as he dashed up the stairs at great speed.

 Chapter 212 Bomb Disposal

    Given Xia Liu''s current state of mind, he didn''t opt for the elevator. Read latest chapters at empireBecause his movement technique was much faster than the elevator.


    In one minute, he had reached the top floor, but this series of exertions made him gasp for air heavily.


    Looking at the chaotic office area, Xia Liu''s heart gradually chilled.


    Upon seeing the Chairman''s office, he immediately charged in.


    Mmm mmm mmm...


    As the door opened, a series of muffled sounds reached Xia Liu''s ears.


    "Huff..."


    Xia Liu let out a sigh of relief because Mo Wanqing was unharmed.


    However, she was tied up with hemp rope, and a cloth was stuffed in her mouth.


    Xia Liu immediately started to remove the gag from Mo Wanqing''s mouth.


    "Xia Liu, run away quickly! There''s a bomb here!" As soon as her mouth was free, Mo Wanqing shouted frantically.


    Before Xia Liu arrived, she had completely resigned herself to her fate.


    She even hoped that no one would come to rescue her.


    Now the very person she least wanted to see had come.


    "Aunt Qing, I''m glad you''re okay, leave the rest to me," Xia Liu said as he swept his hand, and the rope binding Mo Wanqing immediately broke apart.


    "Run, the bomb is about to explode!" Mo Wanqing''s eyes were red-rimmed, and she spoke somewhat crazily.


    "Where is the bomb?" Xia Liu asked, calm and unhurried.


    "Ah! At times like these, how can you still care about the bomb, just run!"


    "Aunt Qing, trust me, I can handle it," Xia Liu said, placing his hands on Mo Wanqing''s shoulders to calm her down.


    Leaving now would only cause greater damage.


    If the explosion occurred before they could get downstairs, he wasn''t sure he could protect Mo Wanqing.


    "The bomb is under the desk, that young man said that if it exploded, the whole building would crumble," Mo Wanqing said, her expression frantic.


    Upon receiving the information, Xia Liu immediately ran to the desk.


    America''s new type of C90 micro-bomb.


    "Hmm, this bomb is not as exaggerated as he described, at most it would blow up two floors," Xia Liu said after seeing the bomb, slightly relieved.


    "Oh my god! Xia Liu, stop talking and let''s get out of here!" Mo Wanqing didn''t know how else to express her emotions.


    To say so casually that it could blow up two floors, what on earth was going on in his head?


    "Zzzt zzzt..."


    However, the next second, Mo Wanqing was dumbfounded.


    Because Xia Liu had thrown the bomb in front of her, and it had been split in two.


    She hadn''t seen at all how Xia Liu had managed to do it.


    Given the current situation, the bomb was completely neutralized.


    "It''s just a small bomb, I dismantled it," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    In fact, even with a larger bomb, Xia Liu wouldn''t have been afraid.


    After all, the Five Element Spiritual Energy was no joke.


    As long as there was a tiny gap, the energy could penetrate the interior of the bomb.


    From there, activating the energy to cause internal disruption was all it took.


    "Xia Liu, how did you do that?" Mo Wanqing asked weakly, her fear having just subsided.


    "Well, how shall I say this, I touched it and it broke, seems like the thug just bought a model to scare people."


    "Huff... So that''s it, I was worried for nothing," Mo Wanqing let out a sigh of relief.


    Of course, that was just on the surface.


    She could tell that the bomb was real.


    Xia Liu didn''t want to say.


    She didn''t continue the topic, relieved that it was safe now.


    "I really can''t thank you enough, Xia Liu. If it weren''t for you, I might not have survived today," Mo Wanqing said.


    "Aunt Qing, you shouldn''t say that, it''s good that everything is fine now," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    "By the way, where did you get these clothes? Did you go to a shoot? If you are short on funds, just tell Auntie anytime."


    Seeing Xia Liu dressed like characters from TV, Mo Wanqing felt bitter.


    "No, I got involved in a case the day before yesterday, which was about chasing this criminal, so I went to his sect. Someone threw away my clothes, so I could only borrow a set from someone else."


    "Hehe, someone dared to throw away your clothes? I think it must be a girl," Mo Wanqing chuckled.


    Xia Liu laughed heartily and shared with Mo Wanqing the events about Taiji Sect and Chongyin.


    As for the situation downstairs, he temporarily chose not to pay attention, as three Elders from Taiji Sect were there.


    Moreover, with hundreds of police officers around, it would be exceptionally difficult for Chongyin to break out.


    While Xia Liu was comforting Mo Wanqing, countless people downstairs stared intently ahead.


    There, four figures were inflicting harm on each other.


    Their way of fighting, refreshed everyone''s vision.


    It felt like watching a live Martial Knight TV drama.


    "Director Chen, where is Xia Liu? Where is he?" Li Qianqian moved past the police line and immediately came to ask Chen Jin. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Director Chen, who is this?" Sun Wei asked, puzzled by the sudden appearance of Li Qianqian.


    Director Sun, she is Captain Li Qianqian from my department, the daughter of Officer Li," Chen Jin explained calmly.


    "So it''s Officer Li. But who is this Xia Liu you mentioned?" Sun Wei inquired, now aware of her identity.


    "This¡­" Li Qianqian looked at Chen Jin, who was actually shaking his head. Li Qianqian then said, "He''s very young, wearing the same clothes as those three people."


    "Wearing the same? Is he also from the sect?" Sun Wei expressed his surprise, looking in the direction Li Qianqian pointed.


    Currently, Qingyong and his companions were faring badly in battle. Without a powerful person stepping in,


    the criminal might have the chance to escape or cause even more damage.


    "Not exactly, he just happens to be wearing similar clothes."


    "Then, I have no clue. Only those three are wearing such clothes here."


    Just as Li Qianqian was about to ask further,


    suddenly a desolate cry echoed: "Qingling ah!!!"


    Everyone held their breath and shifted their gaze to the battlefield.


    One of them knelt to the ground, blood gushing profusely from his mouth.


    "To be so distracted facing a Mysterious Rank Warrior, you really think too highly of yourselves!"


    With a huff, Chongyin furiously released Inner Qi as he swiftly moved like the wind in front of Qingyong and Qingning.


    His ready palms struck out.


    Bang! Bang!!!


    As expected, with the sounds, Qingyong and Qingning were sent flying, crashing right into Qingling.


    "All units, be on your guard!" Seeing the three collapse, Sun Wei immediately issued the instruction.


    Li Qianqian glanced at the exceedingly arrogant Chongyin.


    She quickly drew her gun from her waist, aimed at Chongyin, and squeezed the trigger!


    Bang!


    The gunshot rang out in the blink of an eye.


    Chongyin sensed a potent threat approaching and spread his palms in front of him at a ghostly speed.


    Clang!


    The sound of a bullet falling to the ground was heard.


    In the very moment the bullet was about to hit, Chongyin stimulated Inner Qi from his body, using absolute Rigid Force to block the bullet.


    This scene stunned everyone watching.


    In the ensuing silence, Chongyin glanced at Li Qianqian, an intense murderous intent erupting from him¡­

 Chapter 213 Isnt This Being Obedient?

    Locked eyes with Chongyin.All present shuddered.


    That kind of gaze made them feel as if they were plunging into purgatory, with a senseless dead energy spreading over their hearts.


    Li Qianqian took several deep breaths of cool air.


    Barehanded bullet blocking was nothing.


    She had personally seen Xia Liu sweep away a hundred men with a mere wave of her hand!


    Such a minor skill was far from sufficient to make her sit and wait for death!


    Before Chongyin could make a move, Li Qianqian took the initiative to attack.


    Aimed at Chongyin''s muzzle, she fired off five bullets in rapid succession.


    Bang bang bang...


    The sound of gunfire once again jolted everyone back into shock.


    Yet, they soon fell into another kind of astonishment.


    They saw Chongyin sprinting rapidly toward Li Qianqian''s direction, leaving trails of afterimages as he dodged the bullets.


    "Fire! Start shooting!" Seeing Chongyin charging over, Sun Wei immediately issued the command.


    Bang bang bang!!!


    In the following few seconds, the police officers closest, with a clear angle to shoot, aimed their guns at Chongyin.


    A series of gunshots, although stopping Chongyin,


    didn''t harm him.


    If he couldn''t dodge, he would use his inner Qi to defend himself nearby.


    "This man can actually block bullets!"


    "Is that a monster?"


    "Going crazy! Going crazy!"


    "We need to get back! Otherwise, that demon will kill people!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The onlooking crowd couldn''t help but be amazed.


    They couldn''t believe their eyes at all.


    There was actually someone in the world capable of dodging bullets!


    And not just one, it was downright terrifying!


    Gradually, they too accepted the reality and kept retreating.


    Someone like Chongyin, who ignored everything, acted according to his whims.


    He was now likely to go and kill the woman who fired first!


    If they stayed where they were, they would be in extreme danger.


    "Quite a beautiful woman, but I still have to kill her!" Just a few meters away, Chongyin, while dodging bullets, roared in anger.


    "Ah! Run!" Sun Wei and Chen Jin screamed in unison, their bodies already retreating.


    Chongyin was too much of a shock for them.


    Such a man simply could not be subdued by firearms.


    "Senior brother! We can''t let Chongyin hurt that girl!"


    "Qingling, don''t talk, don''t aggravate your internal injuries."


    Qingning and Qingling watched Chongyin intently, wishing they could swap places with Li Qianqian.


    At this moment, seeing how dangerous the situation had become, Qingyong promptly stirred his inner Qi.


    But before the energy could circulate, he coughed up blood.


    The palm strike he had received from Chongyin had caused him internal injuries, and now he was even unable to mobilize his inner Qi.


    Seeing Qingyong in such a state, Qingling and Qingning both closed their eyes.


    That girl was as good as dead...


    Watching Chongyin, now only an arm''s length away, Li Qianqian became anxious, scared.


    However, in this situation, the image of Xia Liu unexpectedly emerged in her mind.


    She wanted to shake the image of Xia Liu out of her mind. She was about to die; she should be thinking of her parents, not that bastard.


    But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn''t dispel the image of Xia Liu.


    At this moment, Chongyin was only five meters away from Li Qianqian.


    Li Qianqian still had one bullet left in her pistol, her gaze focused intently on Chongyin.


    If he came any closer, she would launch a surprise attack.


    Even if I die, I must inflict severe injuries on him!


    Four meters, three meters, two meters, bang!


    Li Qianqian waited for the right moment to fire her last bullet.


    After the gunshot, Chongyin was seen using his open palm to block the bullet.


    Ding!


    The bullet fell to the ground, and since Chongyin and Li Qianqian were too close to each other, no one around dared to shoot again and could only watch helplessly.


    "Okay, woman, stop struggling. I''ll make sure you die quickly!"


    While speaking, Chongyin formed his palm into a claw and reached straight for Li Qianqian.


    Time seemed to stop at that moment, as Sun Wei and Chen Jin gaped in shock.


    Everyone was the same, unable to utter a sound.


    The world seemed to grow quiet in that instant.


    Before the palm reached her.


    Li Qianqian closed her eyes, and two streams of tears slid down her cheeks.


    "Can I finally rest now¡­"


    At the moment she closed her eyes, Li Qianqian felt light, unafraid of death, but what was terrifying was the fear of facing death.


    However, after a long wait, Li Qianqian didn''t feel any pain, and she slowly opened her eyes.


    In an instant, her pupils contracted imperceptibly.


    Unlike Li Qianqian, the others on the scene were once again taken by surprise.


    Because a person had appeared out of nowhere in front of Li Qianqian!


    He was dressed in the same clothes as the three people who had fought with Chongyin earlier.


    If there was a difference, it was that the person who appeared out of thin air had short hair, was tall, and his face was covered with a cloth, obscuring his features.


    Speaking of the most surprised, it was definitely Chongyin, as well as the Qingyong trio sitting paralyzed on the ground.


    They all knew that the newcomer was wearing the Elder garment of the Taiji Sect.


    But in their memory, there didn''t seem to be such a tall Elder with short hair.


    Furthermore, only those who practice martial arts could feel the overwhelming Haoran Righteous Energy emanating from him.


    If it weren''t for the other party''s released energy, they would definitely not have felt it.


    "Who are you!"


    Staring at the newcomer, Chongyin lost his previous arrogance.


    He even felt a deep fear welling up inside him.


    Moreover, his hand was held fast by someone else, no matter how much he increased his Inner Qi, he couldn''t free his tightly gripped hand.


    This was the real reason for Chongyin''s fear.


    He was a Primary-Level Warrior of the Mysterious Rank, yet being controlled by someone in the Elder garment of the Taiji Sect definitely meant that the person was a High-Rank Martial Artist!


    "Woman, you should learn to be more modest in the future. The world isn''t as you understand it, and guns are not invincible," Xia Liu said while looking back at Li Qianqian, his face covered.


    "I¡­" Li Qianqian''s eyes had already reddened. Faced with Xia Liu''s reprimand, she couldn''t utter a complete sentence.


    "Don''t be hesitant, just tell me, can you change?" Xia Liu continued to press.


    "Don''t be so fierce, I can change¡­" Li Qianqian bit her lip tightly, dropping all her burdens and lowering her head in front of Xia Liu.


    "There, now you''re being good¡­"


    Under the veil, Xia Liu revealed a slight smile.


    To the conversation between Xia Liu and Li Qianqian, everyone else was stunned.


    They hadn''t forgotten the formidable Chongyin.


    Yet now, at such a close range, Xia Liu was having a pleasant conversation with Li Qianqian. What kind of confidence allowed him to be so casual?


    "Senior Brother, is he from our Taiji Sect?" Qingning asked, feeling deeply embarrassed. Qingyong was a Primary-Level Warrior of the Mysterious Rank, but this masked warrior dared to chat with a girl!


    "I don''t know¡­" Qingyong was already scared stiff. To be so careless in front of a Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    If he wasn''t extremely skilled, then he was a fool.


    Chongyin was even more furious than ever! This was the first time he had been completely ignored since his cultivation had achieved results.


    Filled with irrepressible anger, he mobilized all the Inner Qi in his body to his left leg. A bloody red vital energy flashed in his eyes as his left leg viciously struck out at Xia Liu!


    "Be careful!" Just then, Li Qianqian suddenly saw Chongyin''s foot move!


    That posture clearly signified a full-force, desperate strike.

 Chapter 214 The Doomsday of Chongyin

    "Hmph! A mere primary-level Mysterious Rank scum dares to wreak havoc in the world!"Amidst the many fearful gazes, Xia Liu coldly snorted and applied a slight force to his palm.


    Crack!


    In the eerily quiet space, a crisp sound echoed all around.


    That was the sound of bones breaking!


    "Ah!" The pain from his wrist instantly spread throughout Chongyin''s body as he let out a miserable cry, and his feet gradually touched the ground.


    Xia Liu didn''t stop, he lifted his foot without adding any vigor and struck Chongyin with the sheer power of his physique!


    Thump!


    With the muffled sound, Chongyin flew back like a kite with its string cut.


    He traced a beautiful arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the flagstones.


    It wasn''t over yet; he slid across the ground for about twenty meters before coming to a halt.


    Silence!


    The silence of death!


    Everyone''s eyes were wide open as they stared at this scene.


    Terrible!


    Horrifying!


    Everyone felt a different kind of shock in their hearts.


    Xia Liu''s kick shattered their understanding of strength, showing them that a person could truly be this powerful!


    Compared to Chongyin dodging bullets earlier, Xia Liu''s kick truly delivered a visual impact.


    "Senior brother, can you sense what level of martial artist that masked person is?" Qingning swallowed a few times and slowly asked.


    "It''s definitely Mysterious Rank!" Had it not been for Qingning, Qingyong might still have been in a daze.


    To send a primary-level Mysterious Rank Chongyin flying dozens of meters with a single kick, one must possess at least the strength of a mid-level Mysterious Rank.


    "No, that''s not right! I didn''t sense any fluctuation of inner Qi at all!"


    Recalling Xia Liu''s kick, Qingyong suddenly exclaimed in surprise.


    "Yes! I also didn''t feel any fluctuation of inner Qi, could it be that his kick relied solely on his bodily strength!" Qingning too came to a realization.


    Both were Yellow-Rank martial artists endowed with inner Qi, able to sense the fluctuations when other martial artists deployed their inner Qi.


    Of course, they couldn''t discern the depth of the opponent''s inner Qi.


    But this time, there was no fluctuation of inner Qi from Xia Liu, what did this signify!


    The more they thought about it, the more frightened they became.


    Splat!


    Chongyin lying on the ground swiftly stood up.


    Before Xia Liu''s kick, he had activated his inner Qi to protect his body, which was why he could stand up again.


    However, strangely enough, his feeling was the same as Qingyong and the others; he too did not sense any inner Qi fluctuation from Xia Liu.


    If that were the case, then it meant Xia Liu was a martial artist specializing in body refinement!


    Those who specialize in tempering their physique would logically possess incredible speed and strength.


    But when faced with a martial artist who cultivates inner Qi, they should not be comparable.


    Because inner Qi could enhance all aspects of a martial artist''s abilities.


    "Hahaha! Bring it on!" Seeing Xia Liu charge towards him, Chongyin laughed.


    He was certain that Xia Liu was a body refining warrior.


    When facing a body refining warrior, as long as one avoids bodily contact, dealing with them becomes much easier!


    All eyes were fixed on Xia Liu.


    As he sped towards Chongyin, his footwork changed, swaying left and right. Suddenly, multiple afterimages appeared.


    "Since you''re a disciple of the Taiji Sect, then you shall be punished by the rules of Taiyi!" As he moved, Xia Liu''s voice boomed around like Heavenly Thunder.


    "The rules of Taiyi!" Upon hearing these words, Qingyong and the others tensed up instantly.


    However, Chongyin remained clueless.


    With his primary-level Mysterious Rank cultivation, he could see all of Xia Liu''s movements clearly. Even now, with one hand disabled, he could still defeat the assailant as long as he properly utilized his inner Qi.


    As he came close to Chongyin, Xia Liu''s palms instantly split apart.


    If he wished to prevent his identity from being doubted, he would have to reveal a signature martial arts skill of Taiyi Sect.


    "What is that!"


    "Turning palms into Yin and Yang, opening Eight Trigrams!"


    "It''s the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!!!"


    Seeing the move that was recorded only in the ancient tomes, Qingyong and his two companions were thrilled, tears filling their eyes in an instant.


    How many years had it been! How many years since there had been any news of Taiyi Sect!


    Today, they finally saw it! Who else but someone from Taiyi Sect could execute the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!


    "Ha! Baji Palm!" With a loud shout, Chongyin unleashed his strongest move with a single hand.


    At that moment, the dust around him was swept away, filled with an imposing readiness to strike.


    Chongyin could clearly sense the fluctuations emanating from Xia Liu, but it was not Inner Qi; it was an energy he had never felt before.


    In his desperation to defeat Xia Liu, he concentrated all the Inner Qi in his Dantian and met Xia Liu''s advance with a near-insane ferocity.


    Boom!


    Finally, the palms of the two men met.


    In that instant, a massive sound spread outwards in all directions, with the residual force stirring up a strong wind that blew fiercely around them.


    When the force had faded, all that was seen in the eyes of the onlookers was a single figure standing under the sun, the masked martial artist!


    "Pu!" Five meters away from Xia Liu, on the ground, Chongyin spat out another mouthful of fresh blood. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He looked at Xia Liu in horror; this was the most terrifying experience he had ever had since he began practicing martial arts.


    "As a martial artist, you do as you please with your immense strength; I won''t kill you. Instead, I''ll let you experience what it feels like to be crippled once again."


    Glaring at Chongyin, Xia Liu showed no mercy.


    Because such a person did not deserve any sympathy!


    Without waiting for Chongyin to beg for mercy, Xia Liu swayed and created a series of afterimages.


    In an instant, he appeared in front of Chongyin, who had just managed to stand and was thinking of escaping.


    Xia Liu gathered energy at his fingertips and then jabbed at the lower abdomen of Chongyin!


    That was the location of the Dantian!


    Bang!


    A stream of blood energy erupted from Chongyin''s back.


    Qingyong and the others stared at Xia Liu dumbfounded.


    With one finger, Xia Liu pierced through Chongyin''s body, directly shattering his Dantian!


    Sizzle...


    The moment his Dantian was breached, Chongyin''s face turned ashen, and dust stirred around him as the profound Inner Qi of a Mysterious Rank Warrior leaked out incessantly.


    In the blink of an eye, Chongyin''s body was utterly drained.


    Clutching his perforated lower abdomen, he vomited blood violently, his pupils already full of bloodshot veins.


    Without Inner Qi, and with one arm already useless,


    Chongyin descended into madness; with such an injured body, continuing to struggle through life would mean returning to the darkness of his youth, or even worse suffering than before!


    "Ah!" With a roar, Chongyin mustered his last bit of strength in an attempt to bring his palm down on his own head.


    Without cultivation, death seemed to be the best option.


    "Wishing for death? Did I agree to it? Did any of those you''ve harmed nod their heads?"


    Question after question, the quick-reacting Xia Liu struck Chongyin''s shoulder with a palm.


    Crack!


    "Aaagh!!!"


    His last intact arm shattered at the bone, and Chongyin, pale and in agony, cried out before losing consciousness.


    Such pain was unbearable for an ordinary person.


    The venue fell deathly quiet, save for Chongyin''s miserable screams echoing in their minds.


    At that moment, looking at Xia Liu''s figure, an unexplained chill rose behind their backs.


    This unseen person was the most terrifying of all!


    "Elder Taiyi!" Seeing Xia Liu approaching, Qingyong and the other two struggled to kneel on the ground through their severe injuries.

 Chapter 215 I Want You to Teach Me Martial Arts

    "Are you all not injured seriously..." Xia Liu shook his head as he looked at the three Qingyong kneeling on the ground."To see Elder Taiyi in our lifetime, we can die without regrets!"


    "Die without regrets!"


    The three Qingyong looked up at Xia Liu with excitement, although they could only see his gaze.


    That was enough!


    "Condense Energy, gather your spirit!" Without further explanation, Xia Liu issued the command.


    The three exchanged a glance, seeing the thrill in each other''s eyes, and then sat down cross-legged.


    Once the three were ready, Xia Liu placed his palm on Qingyong''s back.


    Invisibly, a gentle flow of Wooden Spirit Energy permeated through his palm into Qingyong''s body.


    Hmm?


    The next second, Qingyong''s eyes widened because he could clearly feel it.


    The injured liver inside his body was recovering at an unimaginable speed.


    About five minutes later, Xia Liu removed his hand and continued to heal Qingning in the same manner.


    Qingyong inhaled deeply, his astonishment reaching its peak.


    In just those five minutes, his internal injuries had actually healed!


    Is this the capability of Elder Taiyi?


    He didn''t dare imagine how powerful Elder Taiyi was; just this healing technique alone was enough to make him look up to for a lifetime.


    Qingning and Qingling completely recovered in less than ten minutes.


    After withdrawing his hand, Xia Liu''s brow was covered in cold sweat. He had used a lot of Spiritual Energy today and needed to find a place to recover it soon.


    Healing was different from high-output combat.


    Healing required a significant amount of focus; otherwise, precision was impossible.


    The reason he could heal the internal injuries of the three Qingyong in such a short time.


    It was primarily due to their special identities, Martial Artists.


    They themselves practiced Martial Arts, and their bodies had already undergone significant transformations compared to ordinary people.


    If it had been an ordinary person, the powerful Spiritual Energy entering their body directly would have been unbearable.


    But Martial Artists were different. Their internal organs, like their Cultivation, were forged, which allowed them to withstand Xia Liu''s immense Spiritual Energy.


    "Thank Elder Taiyi!" Overwhelmed, the three Qingyong kneeled on the ground once again.


    "No need for such formality, the three of you stand up," Xia Liu said with his hands behind his back, his demeanor showing the poise of a Grandmaster.


    "The matter with Chongyin is settled, you should also return. Besides, I''ve spoken with Sect Master Tianqian. If Chongyin causes trouble here, leave it to them to handle."


    "Yes!" The three Qingyong still had some doubts initially.


    When Xia Liu directly addressed Sect Master Tianqian by name, their excitement solidified into nothing but submissive nodding.


    "Be more cautious when you go back and forbid the presence of disciples like Chongyin!"


    "We will strictly adhere to Elder Taiyi''s decree!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright then, I have other matters to attend to, farewell until we meet again."


    As he spoke, Xia Liu''s figure gradually faded, leaving only a bluish-white afterimage whisking through the street in the pupils of the crowd.


    In the blink of an eye, the figure completely disappeared.


    "Elder Taiyi appearing here must have favored our sect. Let us hurry back!" Qingyong exclaimed excitedly.


    Immediately afterward, the three swiftly used their movement techniques to leave the scene.


    In front of these figures swift as the wind, the people on the scene gulped down mouthfuls of saliva.


    If not for seeing Chongyin lying on the ground, they would have truly thought it was all just a dream.


    "What are you all standing around for? Everyone, head up to Wanqing Mansion to search, see if there are any accomplices of the criminal." Once things calmed down, Director Sun directed the officers to start the aftermath procedures.


    "Officer Li, are you alright?" Chen Jin ran up to Li Qianqian and kept sizing her up, wanting to know how she was.


    "Yes, I''m fine," Li Qianqian said softly, nodding her head gently.


    Although she appeared composed, the one who was most affected by the shock, her heart was already boiling over.


    "By the way, did you notice just now? That masked person looked like Xia Liu," Chen Jin suddenly remarked after thinking for a moment.


    "That couldn''t be, why would Xia Liu dare to scream at me?" Li Qianqian clenched her teeth tightly, the lesson from a certain someone still echoing in her mind.


    Every time she thought about it, she was furious, but she never had the chance to explode.


    "Ha, I''m going to collaborate with Director Sun now. You''ve also been tired for the past few days, and this case is finally closed. Go back and take a few days off."


    After saying this, Chen Jin and Sun Wei went to handle the aftermath together.


    "Beep beep..."


    As Li Qianqian stood bewildered, a burst of car horns sounded from behind her.


    Turning back, she saw someone''s warm smile and his clothes had been changed.


    "Still angry? I just didn''t want you to be too impulsive." During the drive, seeing that Li Qianqian kept her head down and remained silent, Xia Liu felt somewhat helpless.


    "I know."


    "Give me a smile, will you?"


    "Heh heh."


    "I won''t force you anymore. To express my apology, let me treat you to a meal." Seeing Li Qianqian''s strained smile, Xia Liu felt bitter.


    He still hadn''t gotten any news about Fang Fei from this girl''s mouth.


    He absolutely must not provoke her again, or else he would be even more miserable.


    At that time, inside Wanqing Grand Hotel, Mo Wanqing personally welcomed Xia Liu.


    Having experienced the past few hours, Mo Wanqing felt she owed Xia Liu so much that she could never repay him in this lifetime.


    "Aunt Qing, you should really get some rest. Why are you still here?"


    Following Mo Wanqing upstairs, Xia Liu expressed his concern.


    "It''s okay, today I''m fortunate to have you; otherwise, I wouldn''t be standing here at all. I''ve delegated the company matters to the general manager for follow-up."


    To ease Xia Liu''s burden, Mo Wanqing explained in great detail.


    "By the way, Xia Liu, this is your girlfriend, right? She''s very beautiful."


    "This..."


    "Um, Aunt Qing, hello, my name is Li Qianqian."


    Shit!


    Xia Liu looked at Li Qianqian in shock; he thought it would take some time for this girl to cheer up.


    Who knew she would start happily chatting with Mo Wanqing.


    Furthermore, she admitted she was his girlfriend, what in the world...


    Seeing this, Xia Liu made no comment, since she said so, he might be able to get information about Fang Fei today.


    At dawn, Mo Wanqing opened a presidential suite for Xia Liu.


    As for Li Qianqian, what made Xia Liu somewhat helpless was,


    This girl got drunk.


    At the table, she kept clinking glasses with Mo Wanqing.


    Alright, the host was spirited while she ended up passed out.


    After tucking Li Qianqian into bed, Xia Liu shook his head.


    Looking at the situation, he probably wouldn''t get the information about Fang Fei until tomorrow.


    After covering her with a blanket, Xia Liu took a shower.


    Then he sat down cross-legged on the sofa, as his exhaustion today was not to be underestimated.


    He needed to gather Spiritual Energy to replenish it quickly.


    But just as he was halfway through gathering, he suddenly felt something was amiss.


    The moment he opened his eyes, he was met with a flash of white!


    It was Li Qianqian!


    At that moment, Li Qianqian stood before Xia Liu, uncovered, flawless, pure, starkly white.


    Gulp...


    Xia Liu swallowed hard. Slowly lifting his head, he saw Li Qianqian''s pretty face flushed, her spiritual eyes closed, revealing her unique beauty.


    "I want you to teach me Martial Arts..."


    A soft, delicate voice came from Li Qianqian, braver than she had ever been before.


    Seeing Xia Liu''s continual impressive moves had excited her, filled her with envy and inspiration, and given her hope¡­

 Chapter 216 Well Talk About It Later

    ```"We can talk about this later. First, put on your clothes," he said.


    Xia Liu felt a bitter taste in his mouth. She actually wanted him to teach her martial arts.


    Explore new worlds at empire


    But wasn''t there a proper way to ask? What was the deal with taking off her clothes?


    "That''s contradictory. If it''s for later, why are you still telling me to get dressed..." Li Qianqian murmured in a voice as tiny as an ant''s.


    Holy shit!


    Xia Liu was overwhelmed. Did he look like a fool?


    Since she put it that way, there was no need for him to be polite anymore.


    But after a moment of thought, he stopped his wild guessing.


    Women, he had never lacked them. Before returning to his country, such things were as common as eating and drinking.


    And now, he wasn''t much interested in drinking water, even if the water came to him on its own.


    "You know my background, and you know I have many girlfriends, so there''s no need to hurt yourself. If it''s just martial arts training, I''ll teach you," he said.


    While speaking, Xia Liu wrapped Li Qianqian up in the bath towel draped around him.


    "I don''t want to owe you," said Li Qianqian, clenching her teeth.


    "Just tell me about Sister Fang, and you won''t owe me anything," he replied.


    ...


    Li Qianqian was silent; she didn''t dare to look at Xia Liu.


    She understood that Xia Liu came to her all because of Fang Fei.


    If it weren''t for Fang Fei, would she be completely invisible to him?


    If she were truly invisible, what was with his pants then? Was it because he didn''t want to harm her?


    "Xia Liu, can we not talk about Sister Fang for now?" Li Qianqian summoned her courage to say.


    "Hmm, then what shall we talk about?" he asked.


    "I like you..." After a pause, Li Qianqian weakly said.


    Silence!


    A scary kind of tranquility.


    Xia Liu was stunned. Truly stunned.


    This girl, who had been targeting him ever since Fang Fei left, was confessing to him at this moment!


    "I have many girlfriends," he said.


    "I know," she responded.


    "They will all spend their lives with me."


    "I know."


    "And they all get along very well."


    "I know! I know! I know everything!" Li Qianqian''s eyes welled up as she nodded frantically.


    The next second, she flung her arms around Xia Liu: "I don''t even know when I started liking you, but you''re all I can think about."


    "I''m afraid to close my eyes at night because that''s when I see you."


    "Umm..." Xia Liu slowly lifted his hands and finally embraced Li Qianqian.


    After all she had said, what more could he say?


    "I just want to know if there''s a place in your heart for me?" Li Qianqian asked, feeling the warmth of his palms.


    "If I say there is, would you believe me?" he questioned.


    "I believe, I believe. I''ll change everything you said. Deep down I''m just a weak girl. I only act tough so no one sees my vulnerability," she professed.


    "Hmm, can you accept those sisters, willing to spend your life with them and me?" he asked.


    "I''m willing."


    "Then what are we waiting for!"


    Mmm mmm mmm...


    Before Li Qianqian could speak, her mouth was sealed with a kiss.


    She didn''t resist, clasping her hands firmly around Xia Liu. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    More than forty minutes later, Li Qianqian fell asleep with a blissful expression, her arms still tightly wrapped around Xia Liu.


    ```


    This was the first time she had held Xia Liu like this, his body warmth brought her a sense of comfort she had never experienced before.


    She wasn''t afraid, only shy.


    Looking at the sleeping girl with her mouth blocked in his arms, Xia Liu sighed, activated the Five Elements Mantra, and infused Spiritual Energy to repair Li Qianqian''s damaged areas.


    In the early morning, Li Qianqian thought she wouldn''t be able to get out of bed, but surprisingly, there was no pain at all.


    Seeing that Xia Liu wasn''t in the room, she took out a dagger from her clothing and cut out the Blood Plum imprint on the bed.


    Such a precious memory, she definitely had to preserve it.


    After she had dealt with it, Xia Liu returned with breakfast.


    "Husband, you promised me last night, you know, from now on you have to teach me Martial Arts," Li Qianqian said coquettishly, clutching Xia Liu''s arm.


    Xia Liu stared at her dumbfounded, her bright eyes blinking constantly, with a lethal cuteness!


    He almost lost his control.


    Moreover, he felt something was odd; this tone, this expression, was so different from the Li Qianqian he knew.


    Could this be her real face? If that was true, then her pretense was too good.


    Who would believe that the capable and cool police captain of Fengxing Hejing County would pout and act cute...


    "Qianqian, how about you be more serious?"


    "Serious my foot! Hurry up and teach me Martial Arts, or how will I protect the sisters later?" Li Qianqian''s face changed, this guy was asking for a lesson, so she would teach him a lesson.


    "Hehe, that''s more like it, let''s eat breakfast and then we''ll talk," Xia Liu said with a radiant smile.


    So this girl wanted to learn Martial Arts to protect her sisters, which is really great, very great indeed.


    "Qianqian, you have to tell me about Sister Fang, she''s your good sister after all," Xia Liu said.


    "She''s actually my sister."


    "I mean, within our circle."


    "What! You and Sister Fang are for real?" Li Qianqian almost dropped her chopsticks from surprise upon hearing this news.


    "Of course, that''s why I''m going to bring her back, so we can all be together," Xia Liu said, nodding with pride.


    "I see¡­" Li Qianqian fell silent for a moment before saying, "This matter is quite serious, I seriously request that the other sisters be present, and we''ll also need to audit your family background."


    "What''s all this about?" Xia Liu looked at Li Qianqian, puzzled.


    Could it be that the difficulties Fang Fei encountered were even greater than resolving things with a Martial Artist?


    Xia Liu didn''t ask any further, since she wanted to meet the sisters, then that was easy, he would go downstairs, check out, and return.


    When Xia Liu and Li Qianqian appeared at Longyun Hotel,


    Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Qing, and Huang Xue couldn''t believe their eyes.


    Xia Liu had actually taken Li Qianqian under his wing!


    Li Qianqian, the police flower, you know!


    And she had been targeting Xia Liu all along before.


    This made it even more baffling.


    These two should have been like fire and water, yet they had come together.


    Looking at them, it seemed that the woman was aware of the man''s situation.


    Scary, scary...


    "Hello to the three sisters," Li Qianqian greeted them cheerfully upon meeting.


    "Hello, Officer Li," the three women were not yet clear on the situation and dared not address her casually.


    What if Li Qianqian was threatening Xia Liu for an investigation?


    Hearing the women''s response, Li Qianqian smiled bitterly.


    Just as she was about to explain the misunderstandings, Xia Liu spoke up, "Xiaoxue, Xue''er, Sister Zhang, you don''t need to be so nervous, Qianqian is one of us now."


    The three women didn''t speak, looking at Xia Liu with puzzled faces.


    "Don''t believe it?" Seeing their reaction, Xia Liu immediately pulled Li Qianqian into his embrace and started kissing her wildly.


    "My goodness!"


    "It''s actually true!"


    "He really is our man, so incredible!"


    "Sister Qianqian, how did Brother Xia Liu win you over?" After confirming it, Zhang Xiaoxue ran up and took Li Qianqian''s arm to ask.

 Chapter 217 Fang Feis News

    Soon after, Li Qianqian laughed and started to chat away with the three girls.Of course, she definitely wouldn''t say that she threw herself at him.


    She went on and on about how Xia Liu pursued her and the extensive efforts he made.


    She nearly fabricated a story about being kidnapped.


    After listening to her, the three girls almost died laughing.


    "Umm, can I chime in?" Xia Liu said with feigned misery.


    How dare Li Qianqian twist the truth like this? If he didn''t give her a good lesson later, it would be the world upside down.


    "Of course, you can," she said, "I was just about to give you..."


    "Sister Zhang! Speak up! What happened between you and Xia Liu?"


    Upon hearing Zhang Qing''s response, the three girls immediately turned to look at her with excitement.


    "Can''t continue this talk!" Xia Liu shook his head, then darted into the sisters'' midst and scooped up Huang Xue.


    Then he walked into a compartment, to the three girls'' astonished gazes.


    Zhang Qing and Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t hesitate to drag Li Qianqian in as well.


    When they came out, it was already six in the afternoon.


    The four women had a rosy glow on their faces, a very clear flush of red.


    In their glances towards Xia Liu, all showed wariness.


    Yes, his physical condition was nothing short of miraculous.


    Even with four of them, they still weren''t confident they could best Xia Liu.


    Li Qianqian, attending such a gathering for the first time, naturally was the most shy one.


    Moreover, the women all saw through her lies, and then let Xia Liu teach her a good lesson.


    If Xia Liu hadn''t infused her with some Spiritual Energy, she wouldn''t even be able to walk today or even tomorrow.


    "Qianqian, Xia Liu said before that you have news from Sister Fang, what was she going back for?"


    The speaker was Huang Xue, as she was particularly sensitive to the issue about Fang Fei.


    Because her own family had an emergency a few days ago, and if Xia Liu hadn''t arrived...


    She wasn''t sure she would be standing here now.


    As soon as this topic was mentioned, everyone fell silent and all eyes turned to Li Qianqian.


    "Well, I didn''t tell Xia Liu right away because this matter is pretty serious, and I wanted all you sisters to know," she said.


    "Ah!"


    "That serious?"


    When they heard Li Qianqian say this, the three girls all grew tense.


    Xia Liu, on the other hand, seemed more casual, with a smile perpetually on his face.


    Serious? Was there anything crazier than a single person wiping out a hundred-man mercenary team?


    "Sister Fang left because of whom? I heard your conversation, you mentioned that someone was pressuring her, who is that person?" Xia Liu asked.


    "Huh? You overheard?"


    Li Qianqian looked at Xia Liu with disbelief.


    But then she thought about it and felt relieved, Xia Liu''s strength was indeed transcendent.


    "That person is kind of Sister Fang''s fianc¨¦."


    "What!" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fianc¨¦!"


    "This¡­"


    The three girls immediately grew restless¡ªdidn''t this mean Fang Fei was going back to get married?


    "Did they hold a wedding ceremony?" Xia Liu asked directly.


    At this moment, his face turned grim.


    His woman, even if she had a wedding, he would take her back!


    "No, there''s still about half a month left until their engagement ceremony," Li Qianqian replied, causing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.


    As long as there was time, there was a chance for reversal.


    "I believe Xia Liu will definitely bring Sister Fang back," Li Qianqian said confidently. Discover stories at empire


    She had seen Xia Liu''s martial skills first-hand, and they were extraordinary.


    "I believe it too," Zhang Qing and the three girls echoed in unison.


    "Half a month, huh¡­" Xia Liu smiled slightly, that much time was more than enough to abduct a thousand women.


    "But there''s a problem, Fang Fei''s family is quite unique, having been military officers for generations with a long family legacy. Her fianc¨¦''s family is also very wealthy and has achieced extraordinary results in various aspects."


    Li Qianqian thought for a moment before voicing the issue.


    "Military officers, huh¡­" Xia Liu murmured.


    His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to three years earlier, to what might have been if he had accepted that old man''s offer.


    Perhaps he himself would be a soldier now.


    "So, it means the two are a perfect match," Huang Xue speculated.


    "Yeah, they are the two largest families in Liu Hai City. This marriage alliance could change some of Liu Hai City''s future dynamics."


    "No problem, Xia Liu is no ordinary person. Stealing a rich girl has always been his true nature," Huang Xue said with a bright smile.


    "Right, look at Xue''er, she also comes from a wealthy family but ended up obediently coming back."


    "Sister Zhang, you''re teasing me again," Huang Xue pouted, showing her dissatisfaction.


    "Hehe, thank you all for trusting me so much. Of course, I must bring Sister Fang back," Xia Liu responded, appearing very relaxed, though the women knew what he meant.


    Once he made a promise, he would surely accomplish it.


    "So, when are you leaving?" Li Qianqian asked.


    "In five days. Oh, and Qianqian, could you help me get an ID card before I go?"


    "Huh? You don''t have an ID card?" Li Qianqian asked, puzzled.


    "You''ve never had one."


    "Did you do something bad?"


    "Sister Qianqian, have you forgotten? He''s just done quite a few bad things."


    ...


    Can we still have a serious conversation...


    Xia Liu lamented inwardly with tearful eyes.


    "Right! Before we leave, I plan to teach you a few self-defense moves."


    "Ah! You''re finally going to teach us?" Li Qianqian got excited upon hearing this.


    Seeing Li Qianqian''s excitement, the three women immediately asked what was going on.


    So Li Qianqian recounted everything that happened at the Taiji Sect and in Binlai City this time.


    "Wow! Brother Xia Liu is so amazing."


    "Of course, when we were in Yuanguang City, this guy defeated a master who used gu."


    After hearing the details, the women all expressed their amazement.


    After dinner, Xia Liu took the four women to the rooftop.


    Zhang Qing remembered this place well, where she spent quite some time in a certain corner, getting hurt with Xia Liu.


    The rooftop of Longyun was very spacious, big enough even to play football on.


    "Qianqian, didn''t you say you wanted to learn the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm?"


    "Yes, yes! Teach us quickly!"


    "That palm technique, I didn''t even know its name when I first learned it, and it does require some natural talent."


    Xia Liu couldn''t be certain whether they could learn it or not.


    The old man had said the same thing: without the talent, one could only learn the form, not the essence, and without spirit, there''s no strength.


    Soon after, Xia Liu didn''t explain too much and taught the women the key elements and core of the Taiyi Palm.


    Huang Xue was the quickest learner, memorizing the moves in her mind after just one look.


    "When will we see results?"


    "Practice the moves three times every day, and after a month, you should see some effects."


    "By then, can I also fight a hundred disciples of the Taiji Sect?" Li Qianqian said excitedly.


    "Pfft! Dream on. But once you get the hang of it, taking on five burly men should be easy," Xia Liu almost choked on his words. What did Li Qianqian think the disciples of the Taiji Sect were?


    Without cultivating the Five Elements Mantra, how could he possibly release a tremendous Spiritual Energy to repel those disciples?


    "All right, don''t distract me; you, Xiaoxue, and Sister Zhang better get familiar with the moves first."


    "Xue''er, have you got the hang of it?"


    "Hmm... what are you planning?"


    Planning...

 Chapter 218 Being Thought Of

    In the days leading up to his departure for Liu Hai City, Xia Liu had instructed the four women to perfect their techniques.After each practice session, Xia Liu naturally checked their progress, which of course took place in the office partitions.


    Meanwhile, Xia Liu visited Osmanthus Village several times.


    All aspects were running smoothly, although the liquor packaging factory had not yet been built, the plans were already drawn.


    Xia Liu was not in a hurry as the production cycle for Osmanthus Wine was quite long and he wanted to set things up properly.


    It wasn''t something that could be completed in just a day or two.


    As for the medicinal wine area, it was making a fortune, with Liu Lanxin sending trucks to transport it every few days.


    Once the packaging was completed, the money was transferred.


    Xia Liu delegated the distribution of profits to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Now, each household in the village had nearly ten million in assets.


    With oyster fishing no longer viable, the village''s young people had time on their hands and all went to get their driver''s licenses.


    Once they had their licenses, a slew of luxury cars would surely appear in the village.


    Xiao Hu was particularly quick, as Xia Liu had seen an Audi A6 parked at his house, worth over five hundred thousand.


    It seemed that to impress the girls, Xiao Hu spared no expense.


    The fishing boats were now docked at the village pier, and whenever she had a chance, Liang Caiming drove Xia Liu''s BMW X6 home to chat with her mother.


    Looking at the villa area that was about to be successfully built, Xia Liu left Osmanthus Village with a smile.


    When he returned with Fang Fei, they should be able to move into their new home.


    After ensuring everything was in order, Xia Liu drove towards Binlai City.


    Today was the day of departure, and it was essential to arrive early in Liu Hai City to get acquainted with the situation.


    It''s worth mentioning that Xia Liu finally had his own ID card.


    The address on it was from a certain street in Hejing.


    Xia Liu was pleased with this and faced no issues using his ID card to purchase a plane ticket.


    Once on the airplane, Xia Liu closed his eyes to rest.


    Meanwhile, in an unknown area.


    Inside a massive house.


    The place was filled with screens, with many people typing intently at their keyboards.


    Beep, beep, beep...


    The house was in a state of serene tranquility.


    Suddenly, a series of loud beeps disrupted the calm.


    Everyone tensed up at that moment.


    This was Huaxia''s security monitoring room.


    Every moment, a massive amount of ID information was transmitted through channels into this house.


    Normally, even if wanted murderers used their ID cards, it wouldn''t cause such a loud noise.


    There was only one situation where the system would emit such a loud sound: the information involved encrypted, dangerous data.


    The staff immediately checked the system for the alerting information.


    "Binlai City, Hejing City, Central Street, Number One, Name: Xia Liu, Age: Twenty-five, ID Account Number: 4¡­"


    Looking at the information revealed on the computer, the staff reported it. Read latest chapters at empire


    "Minister, there''s nothing notable about this identity."


    "Impossible, could the system be malfunctioning?" the person known as the minister pondered desperately, scratching his head.


    "Send this information to the checkpoint."


    A few dozen minutes later, the minister''s phone rang.


    "Give me all the information on this person."


    "Alright, I''ll look it up right away."


    Two hours later, the house''s doors flung open, and about ten warriors dressed in military uniforms entered.


    The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a colorful hat.


    "Colonel Ye!" The minister, upon seeing the middle-aged man enter, immediately stood up straight and saluted.


    "Copy all the information of the person who triggered the alarm," he said.


    Once the information was copied, Colonel Ye immediately sent a message to someone.


    Before long, his satellite phone rang.


    "Ye Song, immediately deploy someone to surround the airport where this person has landed. I want you to definitely arrest him!" an excited voice came from the other end of the phone.


    "General Fang, that''s impossible now, the plane already entered the airport ten minutes ago."


    "Hmm, forget it then, since he is going to Liu Hai City, I was planning to go home anyway. I''ll handle it myself."


    "Yes, sir!" Ye Song reported seriously before hanging up the phone.


    "Ye Song, brother, who is this person that even General Fang is concerned about?" Zhao Dayuan, who had a good relationship with Ye Song, pulled him aside and asked softly after he hung up.


    "Old Zhao, I can''t reveal that. But I can tell you this much, this person is extremely dangerous. If he appears again, notify me immediately."


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ye Song left.


    Meanwhile, General Fang was looking tense in another country.


    A man in military uniform beside him noticed his odd expression and immediately asked, "What''s bothering you, old man?"


    "He has gone back," Fang Huasheng said with a worried face.


    "Who is he?"


    "A legend from the Middle East region."


    "Could it be that one originally from Huaxia?"


    Hearing the man''s words, Fang Huasheng stopped talking and just looked towards the distance, in the direction of his hometown, hoping everything was alright there.


    Hiss!


    The man in military uniform gasped and memories flooded his mind.


    Thinking about it made him start shivering.


    Liu Hai City, the second most prosperous city in Huaxia, almost rivaling the capital, Yanjing City.


    At that moment, Xia Liu was looking around in a taxi.


    It was his first time in Liu Hai City, and he did not recognize the place or the people.


    Of course, he was never afraid of these things.


    "Master, do you know how to get to the Fang Family, one of the top families in Liu Hai City?" Just off the plane, Xia Liu had asked to go to the city center, but now he thought about it and decided to go directly to the Fang Family instead.


    "The top family, Fang Family? Buddy, are you joking with me? There''s no talk of ''families'' around here anymore. If you tell me the name of their company, I might be able to take you there."


    "I see, then let''s stick to the original destination."


    Xia Liu frowned.


    Qianqian had mentioned that the Fang Family was one of the top families in Liu Hai City, and the one engaged to Fang Fei was equally prestigious.


    Yet even the taxi driver didn''t know how to get there.


    It seemed they were very low-profile. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After getting out of the cab, Xia Liu found a restaurant to eat. During the meal, he asked the waiter and the front desk.


    But the answer was the same: they didn''t know, had no idea.


    After several hours, Xia Liu felt awkward.


    Not a single person knew where the Fang Family was located.


    During this time, he also called Qianqian.


    The response he got from Qianqian was similar, that she had never been to Fang Fei''s place and didn''t know where it was.


    "Damn! It seems I''ll have to ask those who live in high society then," he thought.


    Yes, Xia Liu immediately realized.


    Ordinary people didn''t know where the Fang Family was because they weren''t in that circle.


    Targeting the wealthy might yield a different answer.


    With that in mind, Xia Liu spotted a major company and after observing for a while, he slipped into the underground parking lot.


    Watching the neatly parked cars, Xia Liu chose a brand-new Maybach.


    He dodged the cameras and managed to sneak into the car in just a few minutes.


    He just needed to wait for the car owner to finish work, and then his mission would be nearly complete...

 Chapter 219 Fang Family, Fang Fei

    At midnight, the car door opened, and a beautiful figure pulled open the door.She was dressed in black office attire, wearing peep-toe high heels, with long wavy hair, and a face so delicately refined it resembled a finely crafted artifact.


    Up front in the driver''s seat sat an elderly man who appeared to be between fifty and sixty years old.


    "Miss Yazhi, you should balance work with rest. How long have you been working overtime past midnight now?"


    "I will, Uncle Fu. Once things at work settle down, I''ll definitely get some rest on time," Lin Yazhi said with a smiling face.


    If anyone else had discovered Lin Yazhi in this moment, they would have been agape with astonishment.


    The number one beauty of Liu Hai City''s business community was actually being so obedient!


    "Ah..." Glancing at the rearview mirror, Uncle Fu sighed and started the car to leave.


    Lin Yazhi gently stroked the car window, her gaze fixed on the beautiful scene outside without blinking.


    About ten minutes into the drive, Uncle Fu suddenly felt a shiver down his spine.


    He had glanced at the rearview mirror unintentionally and saw a shadow sitting beside Lin Yazhi!


    At that moment, Lin Yazhi''s expression was icy. She stared at the man who had appeared beside her, speechless and lost, likely because the shock was so severe that for a moment, she did not know how to react.


    After what felt like ten seconds of silence, Uncle Fu''s hand slowly moved beneath the seat cushion.


    Even though he was uncertain about the identity of this sudden appearance, considering Lin Yazhi''s standing in Liu Hai City,


    the presence of this person in her car would warrant calling the police even if it were just an ordinary citizen!


    "Sorry, I''ve broken the alarm system under the seat cushion, didn''t mean to disturb the two of you,"


    Seeing the movement of Uncle Fu''s hands, Xia Liu apologized with a wry smile.


    "Who are you? When did you get in the car!" Uncle Fu broke out in a cold sweat.


    He had indeed tried pressing the alarm button a few times, but there was absolutely no response.


    "My name is Xia Liu, from Binlai City. May I ask how the two of you are addressed?" Xia Liu introduced himself cheerfully.


    "What do you want?" Finally, Lin Yazhi could no longer bear it; she didn''t know what Xia Liu''s purpose was.


    But Xia Liu''s smile on his face made her afraid; even though her fear was at its peak, she did not let it show on her face.


    "I only came to Liu Hai City to ask about a place. I asked many people, but no one knew, so I turned my attention to you two, sorry about that."


    While speaking, Xia Liu took the chance to size up Lin Yazhi.


    This woman, it must be said, was as beautiful as Huang Xue.


    However, Lin Yazhi had more distinctive features, it would not be an exaggeration to call her reaction very cold.


    From the moment she got into the car until now, she had only smiled once; the rest of the time, her face was stern.


    It was easy to imagine that she must be the same during her work.


    "Young man, my name is Uncle Fu. Are you not aware of Miss Yazhi''s identity?" Uncle Fu was shocked for a moment and then asked with curiosity.


    "It''s good to meet you, Uncle Fu. Miss Yazhi, greetings. It really is my first time in Liu Hai, and I only got into your car to ask about a place,"


    Xia Liu explained meticulously.


    Uh uh uh...


    Uncle Fu and Lin Yazhi were a bit dumbfounded. Could it be that Xia Liu really was visiting Liu Hai City for the first time?


    If he had any evil intent, he would have acted by now.


    But he hadn''t done anything. Could everything he said really be true?


    "You say others don''t know the place you''re asking about, why do you think I would know?" Lin Yazhi asked quietly.


    "Because of your status, sitting in this kind of high-class car, your knowledge definitely wouldn''t be the same as that of a pedestrian or a waitress."


    "Hmm, you''re quite clever, young man. It''s a waste not to be a scout," Uncle Fu couldn''t help but admire after hearing Xia Liu''s explanation.


    Xia Liu just smiled without saying anything, waiting to hear Lin Yazhi''s response.


    "What do you want to know?" After a moment of silence, Lin Yazhi asked.


    "A family in Liuhai that ranks top among the elite, the Fang Family."


    The Fang Family!


    Upon hearing these two words, Uncle Fu''s pupils shrank sharply; in Liu Hai, the surname Fang could only refer to one particular family that could claim to be at the top...


    Lin Yazhi also trembled for an instant, but she quickly recovered and asked, "Why are you asking about the Fang Family? I want to know more specifics."


    "To bring my woman home."


    "Name."


    "Fang Fei," Xia Liu said with a solemn expression.


    Boom!


    Lin Yazhi and Uncle Fu felt as if a torpedo had exploded in their minds.


    What had Xia Liu said?


    To take his woman home, and his woman was Fang Fei!


    "Young man, what''s the surname of this Fang Fei you mentioned?" Uncle Fu asked.


    "The ''fang'' from ''fragrant heart''."


    "Phew... You almost scared me there, I thought you were talking about the ''fang'' from ''fang kuai'' (square)," Uncle Fu sighed in relief.


    "Hm? Is there something wrong with that?" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    "In Liuhai City, the name Fang represents legacy and the military. The children of the Fang Family are not like ordinary people."


    "Wait, so Fang Fei has nothing to do with the Fang Family?"


    "Of course, not. The Fang Family is a super-wealthy household. To put it bluntly, how could their children have anything to do with you?," Uncle Fu spoke frankly.


    He looked at Xia Liu''s clothing¡ªall cheap street market stuff; the total cost of his outfit probably summed up to only about a thousand yuan.


    People dressed like him were a dime a dozen in Liuhai City, and they were typically only the most bottom-rung workers.


    "Do you have a photo of Fang Fei?" Listening to their conversation, Lin Yazhi suddenly asked.


    "I do."


    "Let me see it."


    "That''s not a good idea; it''s a bit explicit¡­"


    ¡­


    "Alright, I''ll show you," said Xia Liu as he pulled out his phone.


    When Lin Yazhi got hold of Xia Liu''s phone, she was utterly upset.


    She had never been so agitated before; her expression gradually contorted as she grabbed Xia Liu''s arm and asked, "How did you meet her? Why do you have her portrait?"


    Miss Lin, please don''t get worked up. Here''s what happened..." Seeing Lin Yazhi in such a state, Xia Liu was sure she knew Fang Fei.


    He couldn''t help but tell her everything.


    "So, my sister has been living in a small county after running away from home all these years..." After hearing Xia Liu''s explanation, Lin Yazhi turned to stare out the window, her heart souring unwittingly.


    To escape an arranged marriage, Fang Fei ran away from home. Lin Yazhi was also restricted by her family at the time, but eventually, she managed to send one million yuan to Fang Fei through her connections.


    Unexpectedly, with just one million, Fang Fei actually managed to make it that far in a small county. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She must have compromised something with the family; otherwise, she wouldn''t have stayed in a small county for years.


    "Miss Lin, Uncle Fu just mentioned the Fang Family; does that mean Fang Fei deliberately changed her name?"


    "Yes, Fang Fei made many preparations to run away from home, even changing her name. She must have reached some sort of agreement in the end; otherwise, she would have been brought back long ago."


    Lin Yazhi explained softly.


    "Fang Fei, huh... With me, she will always be Hejing''s Fang Fei," Xia Liu murmured to himself.


    "Yazhi, does this young man truly know Miss Fei?" Uncle Fu, who had been silent until then, couldn''t believe that Xia Liu had actually presented the photograph.

 Chapter 220 Just Asking for Directions

    "Hmm.""I''m really sorry for intruding, but do you happen to know where the Fang Family is located?"


    Xia Liu could distinctly feel from the conversation between Lin Yazhi and Uncle Fu.


    Fang Fei was undoubtedly in a very tough situation, living a life she disliked.


    For anyone, this would be torture.


    If one had to endure it for a lifetime, what was the difference from a prison?


    Fang Fei, who belonged to Liuhai City, had disappeared years ago.


    Fang Fei belonged only to Hejing! Belonged to him, Xia Liu!


    Now, Xia Liu just wanted to bring Fang Fei back home as soon as possible.


    "Young man, pardon my frankness, but you won''t be able to even enter the gates of the Fang Family, let alone do anything even if you know Miss Fei," Uncle Fu bluntly said.


    Before he started driving for Lin Yazhi, he had always worked for the Fang family.


    He knew quite a bit about the Fang family; thinking that Xia Liu could storm in alone and take someone from the Fang family was pure folly.


    Not to mention that Miss Fei was even preparing to get engaged.


    "That doesn''t matter, just tell me where the Fang Family lives," Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    Just because others couldn''t take her away didn''t mean he couldn''t.


    If pushed to desperate measures, he wouldn''t mind shaking Huaxia a bit.


    "Xia Liu, is it okay if I address you by your name?"


    "Yes, Miss Lin, please go ahead."


    "Although Fang Fei and I are not related by blood, she is my sister. I''m not sure if what you say is true, but if it is, my sister definitely wouldn''t want you to go find her," Lin Yazhi said calmly.


    Xia Liu came to Liu Hai without even knowing where the Fang family lived.


    Clearly, Fang Fei hadn''t told him.


    If that was the case, then his insistence on going would certainly not be what Fang Fei wanted to see.


    How the Fang family was, Lin Yazhi knew better than anyone; they were a tiger entrenched in Liu Hai!


    "I know what you''re worried about, but please believe me, Fang Fei definitely doesn''t want to live this life now."


    "Yes! My sister doesn''t want to live like this, but if you truly want to cherish her, don''t make her sad. This will kill you," Lin Yazhi''s voice had a hint of anger.


    Fang Fei didn''t give Xia Liu the address; she was protecting him.


    Just this fact alone was enough to prove Xia Liu''s place in Fang Fei''s heart; you can imagine, she was very happy in that small town.


    "Even if it leads to death, I won''t let my woman suffer any injustice, Miss Lin, you also don''t want to see her unhappy, right?" Xia Liu looked sincere and resolute, Lin Yazhi laughed.


    This man was willing to risk his life for her sister; surely, many happy moments had happened between them.


    "The Fang Family..."


    "Yazhi shouldn''t say; Xia Liu is alone, isn''t it because Miss Fei didn''t want him to find her that she feared he would come knocking?"


    Just as Lin Yazhi was about to speak, Uncle Fu suddenly interrupted her.


    Once again stirred by thoughts of Fang Fei, Lin Yazhi fell silent.


    Indeed, if she gave Xia Liu the address, he might have no future.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu understood that they were all concerned about his safety.


    "Ah... I won''t ask about the Fang family anymore, can you tell me where the Ouyang family lives?" Knowing Lin Yazhi wouldn''t disclose the Fang family''s address, Xia Liu shifted his question to another family.


    "What do you want with the Ouyang family?" Hearing about this family, Uncle Fu became agitated once again.


    "Go and talk to that guy, ask him to give up the marriage with Fang Fei, and then everyone will be happy," Xia Liu said casually.


    Through Li Qianqian, he learned that the family Fang Fei was marrying into was another prominent clan in Liuhai City, the Ouyang Family.


    The Ouyang Family is a business giant, ranked among the top ten in Liuhai City and even across Huaxia.


    Their wealth could burn continuously for three days and nights without running out.


    Hiss...


    Lin Yazhi and Uncle Fu gasped in astonishment, as Xia Liu once again reset their understanding of shock.


    He was actually entertaining the idea of negotiating a breakup with the Ouyang Family, surely the coldest joke in the world.


    "Xia Liu, I don''t know what to say anymore, listen to me, just go back. They are not something you can handle," Lin Yazhi said, defeated.


    Paralyzed by helplessness, Fang Fei''s fate had long been sealed¡ªperhaps only a god could break her free from it.


    "Uncle Fu, you were a King of Soldiers from the Spearhead Troop before you retired, weren''t you?" Hearing Lin Yazhi say this, Xia Liu knew he wouldn''t get any information if he didn''t demonstrate something spectacular.


    So, he revealed what he had discovered just moments ago.


    "What did you say!" Uncle Fu suddenly braked hard, pulling the car over to the side of the road, his cold eyes intently fixed on Xia Liu.


    Even Lin Yazhi didn''t know his identity.


    But Xia Liu, seeing him for the first time, had been able to point it out¡ªhe was definitely no ordinary man!


    "Warriors from the Spearhead Troop each tattoo a knife on their body, the size of the knife indicating their rank. You have a scar on your wrist, deliberately obscured, but I can still make it out. When you left the Spearhead, you were at least at the King of Soldiers level," Xia Liu continued explaining.


    "Who exactly are you!" Uncle Fu panicked, as Xia Liu even knew such a carefully guarded truth.


    If he was an enemy, then Lin Yazhi was in danger!


    "Who I am isn''t important. What''s important is that I mean no harm to you; I''m just asking for directions," Xia Liu said bitterly.


    Even asking for directions could be this troublesome, he was exasperated.


    But since he had caught this opportunity, he definitely couldn''t simply give up.


    Lin Yazhi quietly observed Xia Liu; he seemed very calm, polite, and graceful to her.


    But seeing Uncle Fu''s reaction, he seemed terrified...


    "Uncle Fu, I trust Xia Liu. Let''s drive home, and we''ll talk then," Lin Yazhi said softly after some consideration.


    "This..."


    Uncle Fu was somewhat at a loss. Knowing so much about the Spearhead Troop and still being so composed, Xia Liu was surely no ordinary person.


    Taking him back home was akin to inviting a wolf into the den. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you, Miss Lin, for your trust. Uncle Fu, I can see that your energy is not flowing smoothly, probably a chronic condition left from fierce battles. I can heal you completely," Xia Liu said.


    "What! You could actually discern my injury!" Uncle Fu was utterly unsettled. Xia Liu was alarmingly dangerous.


    A chill ran through him.


    Xia Liu must have done extensive homework, otherwise he wouldn''t have known about his injury.


    This was a secret known only to a very few people, and he hadn''t told anyone else.


    Not even Lin Yazhi knew.


    "Uncle Fu, is what Xia Liu said true?" Lin Yazhi asked, astonished, realizing she had been far too careless in the years she had not noticed the injury Uncle Fu carried.


    "Hmm, but it''s nothing. I''ve gotten used to it," Uncle Fu said, forcing a smile.


    "Give me your hand."


    To ease Uncle Fu''s worries, Xia Liu decided to show a little of his ability.


    Xia Liu''s words were like magic, leaving Uncle Fu no room to refuse.

 Chapter 221 Healing and Trust

    Under Lin Yazhi''s gaze, Uncle Fu slowly extended his hand towards Xia Liu.Grasping Uncle Fu''s wrist, Xia Liu activated the Wood Spirit Energy.


    In the blink of an eye, the Wood Spirit Energy entered Uncle Fu''s body through his wrist.


    Hmm!


    The next second, Uncle Fu''s eyes widened; he could distinctly feel that the oppressiveness in his chest was gone.


    And his vision had also become much clearer!


    "Can I gain your trust now?" Seeing the shocked expression on Uncle Fu''s face, Xia Liu let go of his palm.


    Uncle Fu had undergone countless trainings and had even become the King of Soldiers in the Spearhead Troop, possessing a robust physique.


    But he was not a martial artist and had not cultivated any techniques, so his body was still very fragile.


    Spiritual Energy definitely could not linger inside his body so directly, or else the consequences would be unpredictable.


    "Uncle Fu, what''s wrong?" Lin Yazhi naturally saw the change in Uncle Fu''s complexion, so she quickly asked.


    "It''s nothing, Xia Liu is truly a Divine Doctor." Suppressing the excitement in his heart, the words ''Divine Doctor'' represented his trust. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For over a dozen years, he had finally seen hope today, the hope of healing!


    "It''s good if nothing''s wrong, let''s go home and then talk." Although she didn''t know what had happened, Xia Liu''s attitude was enough for Lin Yazhi to trust completely.


    Actually, the reason Lin Yazhi believed in Xia Liu was entirely because of Fang Fei''s artistic photo.


    For that kind of picture to appear on Xia Liu''s phone, it definitely wasn''t a coincidence.


    From this, it could be seen how happy she was with Xia Liu in the small county town.


    Over half an hour later, the Maybach stopped in front of a villa.


    Looking at the surrounding scenery, Xia Liu couldn''t help but admire.


    This Lin Yazhi really is damn wealthy, to live on a mountaintop within Liu Hai City, opening her door to the sight of Liu Hai City''s most bustling business center.


    The villa itself was massive and luxurious, complete with a spacious swimming pool.


    Inside the house, two young girls dressed as maids were working.


    Upon seeing Lin Yazhi enter the door, the maids immediately came over to greet her.


    Sitting on the imported leather sofa, Xia Liu''s expression remained calm, even the antique on the table that had seen many years couldn''t pique his interest.


    Lin Yazhi had invited him to her house surely to discuss Fang Fei.


    He had indeed been too anxious in the car just before.


    Lin Yazhi''s understanding of the Fang Family was definitely deeper than his own.


    This visit was for discussions, and Xia Liu didn''t want to exercise any other options unless absolutely necessary.


    He hadn''t forgotten the warning someone gave him; in a place like Liu Hai City, if he stirred up the slightest ripple, he''d definitely be noticed immediately.


    For a peaceful life in the future, negotiation was the best option.


    "Uncle Fu, why don''t I take care of your hidden ailment now?" Taking a sip of the mild tea, Xia Liu spoke up.


    "Ah! Really? Right now? What do I need to do?" Uncle Fu asked, his voice full of excitement.


    "You really can cure Uncle Fu''s ailment?" Lin Yazhi didn''t have the firsthand experience as Uncle Fu, and she was somewhat worried.


    "Yazhi, Xia Liu can definitely heal my old wounds, I was sure of it during our ride here," Uncle Fu said excitedly before Xia Liu could speak.


    Seeing this, Lin Yazhi smiled radiantly; she had never seen Uncle Fu this happy before. Any further doubt would be disrespectful to both him and Xia Liu.


    "You don''t need to prepare anything. Your injury should be from a mission in a cold region. When the north wind blows, your internal organs and limbs become cold and numb."


    "Incredible! You''re exactly right!"


    "The treatment might get a bit warm; Uncle Fu, you''re going to have to endure it."


    "Before I retired, I was the Spearhead Soldier King. If I can''t tolerate this much, I might as well bite a bullet," Uncle Fu said with vigor.


    "Heh heh, then let''s begin,"


    With a knowing smile, Xia Liu understood the soldier''s fervor and promptly had Uncle Fu sit cross-legged on the blanket.


    Next, Xia Liu slapped his pocket, and a piece of fine cloth fluttered in the wind.


    Under Lin Yazhi''s astonished gaze, Xia Liu reached out and drew a line across Uncle Fu''s chest, immediately slicing open the front of his clothing to expose his skin.


    Before Uncle Fu and Lin Yazhi could react in shock, Xia Liu''s hands formed a series of afterimages, grabbing one silver needle after another and inserting them into Uncle Fu''s chest.


    In the blink of an eye, ten silver needles stood wavering on Uncle Fu''s chest.


    Lin Yazhi covered her mouth with her hand; she was utterly astounded. Xia Liu''s supernatural ability struck her as nothing short of an immortal descending to earth.


    Uncle Fu felt the same. Before his retirement, he was the Spearhead Soldier King of the Spearhead Troop, yet he still couldn''t catch a glimpse of Xia Liu''s needling technique.


    One could imagine how swift his movements must have been.


    Just as Uncle Fu thought to express his admiration, suddenly a scorching sensation spread from his chest all over his body, and even his soul felt the burn.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu swept his palms over the silver needles, continuously infusing them with faint Water Spirit Energy.


    Only then did Uncle Fu breathe a sigh of relief; he had almost lost control and pulled out the silver needles from his chest.


    About ten minutes later, Xia Liu''s hands blurred into afterimages, and in a flash, he removed the silver needles.


    After all the silver needles were removed, Uncle Fu felt a sweet taste in his throat.


    Xia Liu, as if it were second nature, held a plate from the maid out in front of Uncle Fu.


    Thud!


    A mouthful of black blood sprayed out from Uncle Fu''s mouth.


    "Uncle Fu, how are you feeling?" Seeing Uncle Fu spit blood, Lin Yazhi immediately became anxious.


    "Don''t worry, Yazhi, I''m fine, hahaha!!!"


    After the black blood left his body, Uncle Fu burst into laughter.


    It had been over a decade! He had been plagued by this hidden illness for more than ten years!


    Today, at last, he felt a sense of relief, as though he had returned to those fervent years.


    "Divine Doctor Xia! I can''t thank you enough. How can I ever repay you?" Uncle Fu was excited and did not forget to show his gratitude.


    A man values his honor and must repay any favors he has received. How could it be otherwise?


    "You''re making too much of it, Uncle Fu. You were willing to help me, so naturally, I should help you to the best of my ability,"


    Xia Liu said with a shake of his head and a cheerful smile.


    "That won''t do, how about I transfer you some money?" Seeing how happy Uncle Fu was, Lin Yazhi got excited as well.


    "No need. In my eyes, money is just a string of numbers," Xia Liu declined once again, eager to get news of Fang Fei as quickly as possible.


    Lin Yazhi and Uncle Fu exchanged glances, seeing the surprise in each other''s eyes.


    Upon reflection, they both felt a sense of resignation.


    After all, Xia Liu, who could cure a decade-long chronic disease, was not likely to be interested in money.


    "In that case, since you''re going to the Fang Family, I shall accompany you there,"


    Feeling confident after his illness had been cured, Uncle Fu believed he could help Xia Liu fend off any danger.


    Additionally, he had some influence with the Fang Family ¨C at the very least, his face still held some sway.


    "If that''s the case, then I definitely have to lend a hand as well," Lin Yazhi also made her stance clear.


    Compared to Xia Liu, she was even less willing to see Fang Fei marry that man.


    "Well... I thank you then, Miss Lin and Uncle Fu."


    "You can just call me Yazhi. Now, let me tell you about what the Fang Family and the Ouyang Family are planning,"

 Chapter 222 Two Great Families

    Yes! Here they come!Xia Liu held his breath in anticipation. After such a long time, he was finally going to hear news about Fang Fei again.


    "For nearly a decade, the Fang Family''s business has been neither hot nor cold, so they decided to look for a partner, and the Ouyang Family is the most suitable match."


    "Is it because of the family''s development that they are selling their daughter again..."


    Upon hearing Lin Yazhi say this, Xia Liu could only feel helpless.


    Being born into a wealthy family, one would always face such a fate.


    The children cannot control their own destinies and marry for the family''s future benefits. Unhappy couples might end up living separately and crying through the days after their marriage.


    It''s not like they can divorce or anything anyway.


    Xia Liu had seen too much of this, and he couldn''t ignore it when his own woman was involved.


    "Pfft! It''s not exactly like that, the Fang and Ouyang families have always had good relations for generations. There have been marriages between the families in the past, and now they just continue the tradition for better, beneficial development, that''s all."


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s distortion of the Fang and Ouyang families'' actions, Lin Yazhi couldn''t help but snort.


    "Doesn''t the Fang Family have military power? Why would they still be worried about other aspects?"


    "The Ouyang Family has it too, and even more formidable than the Fang Family. It''s said that elder sister''s fianc¨¦, Ouyang Lingtian, is a soldier, but specific details are unknown to anyone."


    "Uncle Fu, you must know something," Xia Liu said, shifting his gaze to Uncle Fu as he saw Lin Yazhi looking dejected.


    "Hmm, I know some, just some," Uncle Fu replied with a bitter smile, having guessed that Xia Liu would ask him.


    "Two words will do."


    "Heaven Slaying."


    At Xia Liu''s behest, Uncle Fu spoke two words.


    "Heaven Slaying!" Hearing these two words, Xia Liu''s demeanor became solemn.


    The Heaven Slaying Troops, they were many times more formidable than Spearhead.


    If Spearhead was Huaxia''s five fingers, then Heaven Slaying was Huaxia''s fist.


    One can imagine how powerful the Heaven Slaying''s energy is in Huaxia, and even on a global scale, Heaven Slaying is an extremely terrifying presence.


    Seeing the change in Xia Liu''s expression, Uncle Fu knew that he understood what Heaven Slaying represented.


    Although Lin Yazhi didn''t understand what the two were discussing, her intelligence was by no means lackluster.


    Seeing their expressions, she knew the upcoming journey would be very challenging.


    "Xia Liu, I''m not trying to discourage you, but you should know when to stop. The outcome might not change. If you can see Fang Fei, you should just return," she said.


    Uncle Fu couldn''t help but sigh at Xia Liu''s persistence.


    If Xia Liu suffered any loss, it would be a tremendous loss for all of Huaxia.


    He could heal his hidden ailments in ten minutes, indicating that his medical skills were far greater than just that.


    If he used his abilities properly, he could bring many people back to life every day. Explore more adventures at empire


    "Hmm, I know, but I won''t give up."


    Even if it was Heaven Slaying, Xia Liu would not be afraid.


    Just an Ouyang Lingtian.


    Even if the entire Heaven Slaying Troops came, he would not be afraid.


    If aggravated, he wouldn''t mind unlocking the shackles.


    Even if it exhausted his entire life''s cultivation, he would take Fang Fei away.


    "It''s getting late, everyone should rest. I should be able to take you to the Fang Family tomorrow. If things don''t go well, just leave. Can you ensure that?"


    Feeling it was about time, Lin Yazhi spoke calmly.


    "Yes."


    Xia Liu dared not say otherwise, fearing that if his answer did not please her, she might abandon him there.


    After confirming, Xia Liu was led by a maid to a room to rest.


    After taking a bath, Xia Liu went out to the top of the villa.


    Although Liu Hai City was splendid, it wasn''t his home, and Fang Fei didn''t like it there either.


    Thinking about this, Xia Liu sat cross-legged on the ground and began practicing the Five Elements Mantra.


    He was going to the Fang Family the next day and didn''t know what he would encounter; there could be conflicts, so he needed to maintain his best condition.


    In the early morning, the sky still dark, Uncle Fu, dressed in black, persistently swung his fists inside the courtyard gate.


    For over a decade, his skills had been suppressed due to a chronic illness; now that he had recovered, he felt confident that he could return to his peak within a year.


    "Who''s there!" Uncle Fu, with his perception greatly enhanced after overcoming the illness, always felt someone watching him and unconsciously held his breath.


    "Uncle Fu, don''t be nervous, it''s me." Xia Liu called out with a smile from the cliff edge of the villa.


    "Uh¡­ oh, it''s Xia Liu. How did you get up there?" Uncle Fu sighed in relief upon seeing him.


    At the same time, he was slightly surprised, because there was no place around the villa from which to climb to the top, yet Xia Liu had managed, which was strange.


    Under Uncle Fu''s astonished gaze, Xia Liu leaped off, jumping continuously until he reached a pavilion about three meters high, where he only then landed.


    He could have landed safely from a height of ten meters, but concerned about alarming Uncle Fu, he had come down carefully.


    "Xia Liu, actually, I really want to know what your real identity is, how you saw through my former identity at a glance, and knew the significance of the Heaven Slaying," Uncle Fu expressed.


    Uncle Fu had been pondering over this the whole night.


    But in the end, he could not figure it out.


    If Xia Liu were a talented young man from the Heaven Slaying Division, he shouldn''t be competing with Lingtian Ouyang for a wife.


    "Don''t laugh at me, Uncle Fu, I''m just a country farmer who treats illnesses in my spare time. I lead a secure life."


    "Hehe, alright, I will know eventually." Uncle Fu knew Xia Liu was deliberately hiding something.


    He was his benefactor, and asking too much would only make him appear foolish.


    Soon enough, Xia Liu would inevitably encounter Lingtian Ouyang, and then everything would come to light.


    At eight o''clock, Lin Yazhi had already prepared the gifts.


    Uncle Fu drove, and three hours later, the car passed through a small forest and emerged in front of a lush, wooded hill.


    Although the trees were dense, it was still evident that there were many buildings on the hill.


    Upon arriving at the base of the hill, Xia Liu was slightly surprised.


    Surrounding the hill was a low wall covered in infrared, with a fully equipped security personnel in camouflage standing every ten meters. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This level of security would probably scare the daylights out of any ordinary person if they saw it.


    Lin Yazhi stole a glance at Xia Liu, noticing that from start to finish, his expression remained indifferent, betraying no emotion at all.


    She couldn''t help but suspect that he did have some ability and might truly make Fang Fei happy.


    But right now, the most important thing was to get past the test of the Fang and Ouyang families; relying on his abilities alone, that would be difficult...


    Seeing the familiar vehicle enter, the security personnel quickly allowed them through, mainly because Uncle Fu was driving.


    After reaching the top of the hill, Xia Liu truly understood the depth of the Fang Family.


    Behind the hill was a vast array of villas, at least a few hundred of them, all surrounding territories belonging to the Fang Family!


    This location was in the northern suburbs of Liu Hai City; from the top of the hill, one could see half of Liu Hai City, indicating the influential status of the Fang Family there.


    Xia Liu of course didn''t care about these things; he just wanted to see Fang Fei quickly to check if she was safe, suffering, or being forced by her family...

 Chapter 223 Grudges

    After parking the car, Xia Liu and the two others were led to the drawing room by a servant of the Fang Family."That''s a Spearhead Troop helicopter!" While waiting on the second floor of the reception hall for the Fang Family to arrive, Xia Liu unexpectedly caught sight of a helicopter five kilometers away.


    "Where is the helicopter?" Lin Yazhi asked, puzzled.


    She looked around but didn''t see any trace of it.


    "Five kilometers from here," Uncle Fu said weakly.


    At this moment, he felt somewhat intimidated by Xia Liu, who had actually spotted a helicopter that was five kilometers away!


    To ordinary people, it would''ve been impressive enough just to discern that dot as something.


    Yet Xia Liu directly stated it was a Spearhead Troop helicopter!


    One could imagine how incredible his vision was.


    "This... Could it be that your eyes are better than an eagle''s..." Lin Yazhi gasped.


    Since meeting Xia Liu, Lin Yazhi had been shocked by him time and again.


    "Heh heh, Uncle Fu, does the Fang Family have someone in the Spearhead Troop who''s a team leader or perhaps..."


    Xia Liu gave a bitter smile without explaining his eyesight, wanting only to understand the connection between Spearhead and the Fang Family.


    When he was abroad, Xia Liu had a few encounters with the Spearhead Troop, and in the end, he was even threatened by an old man.


    "The total commander of Spearhead is General Fang," Uncle Fu didn''t disclose too much, believing Xia Liu would understand his words.


    "General Fang? What''s his full name?" Xia Liu asked a bit hastily.


    "Fang Huasheng."


    "Fang Huasheng! That old man with white hair and kind eyes, who always has a bodyguard with him, named Yi Bing."


    Xia Liu looked somewhat agitated; if it really was that old man, then he was in trouble.


    "Hmm? You know General Fang?" Uncle Fu looked at Xia Liu with confusion.


    Hearing Uncle Fu say this, the corner of Xia Liu''s mouth twitched slightly; indeed, enemies often cross each other''s paths.


    No matter what, he had never expected to one day run into Fang Huasheng.


    Meeting Fang Huasheng had been three years ago, back when Xia Liu had just mastered the Five Elements Mantra and was wandering through various European and American countries.


    He eventually made his way to the Middle East and then he met Fang Huasheng. He vividly remembered.


    The first time he met Fang Huasheng, Xia Liu had taught his bodyguard Yi Bing a lesson.


    The method of instruction was to dislocate his hand bones and then put them back in place.


    This was repeated about ten times, until Yi Bing fainted on the spot.


    Although he later compensated Fang Huasheng to some extent, the old man still held a grudge against him.


    "Is Fang Fei related to Fang Huasheng?"


    "His granddaughter."


    "Bloody hell!" Xia Liu couldn''t hold back his swearing.


    Taking advantage of Fang Huasheng''s absence, he definitely had to seize the opportunity to take Fang Fei away; otherwise, he might not be able to leave himself.


    Observing Xia Liu''s expressions changing from nothing to something, then to sheer frustration, Uncle Fu surmised there must be some huge hidden trouble. He had no idea what the scene would be like when the two met.


    "Ah! Look, Yazhi has arrived!" Just as Xia Liu was about to inquire about some issues, an elegantly dressed lady entered from the doorway.


    "Godmother." Lin Yazhi beamed a smile, then stepped forward to link arms with the lady.


    "Old Fu is here too, you all haven''t come to the house for such a long time."


    "Heh heh, Yazhi has been really busy lately, if it weren''t for me constantly persuading her, she probably would have had to work overtime till dawn today," Uncle Fu chuckled.


    "Yazhi, is it true? You''re still so young, how can you work overtime so late? You''re not allowed to do this in the future."


    "Godmother, the company has had some urgent matters these past two days, so I had to work overtime. I do take rest very seriously, you know." Lin Yazhi said with a pout and a cheerful laugh. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re becoming quite the clever girl, who would believe that? Hey, who is this young man?" As she spoke, the noblewoman sized up Xia Liu, who was sitting quietly on the sofa.


    She had noticed Xia Liu earlier but refrained from asking immediately due to social status.


    "Godmother, let me introduce him. His name is Xia Liu, he''s from Binlai City. Remember my sister spent a few years abroad? Xia Liu is a good friend of hers."


    "Oh! So you''re Feifei''s good friend. Hello, Xia Liu, I''m Feifei''s mother, Lin Shuxia," Lin Shuxia greeted him cordially.


    "Auntie, hello." Xia Liu also responded with a cheerful laugh.


    "You''re here for Feifei''s wedding, aren''t you? You might have to wait a few days, though." Saying so, Lin Shuxia''s smile grew even brighter.


    Ever since Fang Fei returned home, she no longer held any grudge against her daughter.


    The daughter had lived outside for a few years; it was only natural she would make some friends.


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    And it was expected that these friends would come to the wedding.


    "Mm-hmm, Sister Fang sent me a message saying her wedding was set for nine days from now. So I rushed over early, fearing I wouldn''t find my way later on. Luckily, I ran into Miss Lin; otherwise, I might have gotten lost in Liu Hai City."


    "Uh-oh, seems like Feifei notified you way too early. The date for Feifei''s wedding was moved up a few days ago, it''s going to be held in about three days."


    "Uh-oh-oh..." Xia Liu''s heart suddenly started pounding.


    Lucky for him he had arrived on time. If he had been late, he would have regretted it for the rest of his life.


    Seeing something was off with Xia Liu''s expression, Lin Yazhi kept making surreptitious gestures to him, urging him not to get too agitated.


    This was the Fang Family''s place after all; any misstep could lead to being shot on the spot.


    However, Lin Yazhi didn''t wait for a response from Xia Liu; her phone rang, prompting her to run to a corner to answer it.


    Lin Shuxia took this opportunity to sit beside Xia Liu. Even though he was not finely dressed,


    he was, after all, the only person who had been in close contact with her daughter and knew about her recent life.


    Without delay, Lin Shuxia began to inquire about Fang Fei''s life in the county town.


    Xia Liu vaguely responded to her questions. He hadn''t had much contact with Fang Fei, and shortly after becoming closely acquainted, she returned home.


    "Godmother, my sister said she''s on the ship and told me to come over?" After hanging up the phone, Lin Yazhi hurriedly ran back to inquire with Lin Shuxia.


    "Yes, I was a bit surprised to see you just now. Why didn''t you go with Feifei?"


    "What is my sister doing on the ship?"


    "Lingtian and Feifei are preparing for the wedding, so Lingtian invited his friends to have a get-together on the ship."


    "What!" Xia Liu and Lin Yazhi exclaimed in unison.


    "Why are you both so startled?" Lin Shuxia asked, puzzled at their reaction.


    "It''s nothing, godmother, I have to go now. My sister said the ship won''t leave until I get there." Saying so, Lin Yazhi dashed down the stairs first.


    Xia Liu and Uncle Fu followed close behind, not slow either.


    An hour later, the three of them finally arrived at the largest dock in Liu Hai City.


    A luxury ship capable of accommodating a thousand people docked at the pier, surrounded by countless black-clad, sunglass-wearing bodyguards standing erect.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu and his party immediately got out of the car.


    "Miss Lin, who is this gentleman?" Before boarding, the bodyguards stopped Xia Liu.


    They were unfamiliar with him, and furthermore, what was he wearing?


    Pieced together, did it even cost five hundred yuan?


    To be on this ship, every guest comes from a household worth tens or hundreds of millions; those without such wealth have no right to board.

 Chapter 224 The Banquet on the Ship

    "He is a friend of my sister," Lin Yazhi explained.Hearing Lin Yazhi say this, the bodyguards all quieted down.


    Ouyang Lingtian had especially instructed that, even if they offended the Emperor at this time, they must not offend Fang Fei''s friends and family. Experience more on empire


    This showed just how much Ouyang Lingtian cared about Fang Fei.


    But he was destined to cry, because Fang Fei was Xia Liu''s woman.


    After boarding the deck, a lovely young woman came out to greet Lin Yazhi, her face covered with too much makeup, like she was wearing a white mask.


    "Sister Lin, you''ve finally arrived; everyone has been waiting for you."


    "Sisi, where is my sister?" Lin Yazhi was most concerned about Fang Fei.


    She had to inform Fang Fei about Xia Liu''s news in advance, or else she would be unprepared when the time came.


    If she showed any slip in front of so many people, the rescue operation would fall through.


    She had thought it over carefully last night; if Fang Fei insisted on leaving with Xia Liu, she would pretend to be good friends after meeting. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the opportunity arose, they would elope.


    "Sister Feifei is in the room," the young woman named Sisi cheerfully responded.


    "Oh, and who is this?" she then turned her gaze to Xia Liu, looking confused at Xia Liu''s strikingly handsome facial features contrasting with his cheaply dressed appearance.


    "His name is Xia Liu, he''s my sister''s good friend, and he''s here to attend my sister''s wedding."


    "Alright, let''s go in first," Sisi said as she pulled on Lin Yazhi to enter the luxurious cabin.


    "Xia Liu, are we going in now or?" Uncle Fu was not very keen on joining the young people''s gathering.


    "Let''s wait until the ship starts; otherwise, I''m afraid they might throw me off the ship," Xia Liu said bitterly, assessing his attire.


    Uncle Fu glanced at him and grinned, saying nothing more.


    He could already imagine the disdain Xia Liu would face once inside.


    Ten minutes after Lin Yazhi entered the cabin, the ship set sail.


    With countless black-clad bodyguards standing on the deck, Xia Liu and Uncle Fu couldn''t stand with the bodyguards, so they entered the cabin.


    The ship was like a moving five-star hotel.


    The interior was extravagantly furnished.


    Passing through two doors and being searched twice by bodyguards, Xia Liu finally saw the true face of the interior.


    Displayed before them was a luxurious, spacious hall with beverages and meals set up on both sides.


    In the center of the hall was a red carpet; beautiful music was playing at the moment, and some men and women were dancing a dance of the wealthy in the middle of the hall.


    Xia Liu''s arrival immediately caught the attention of numerous young men and women.


    They were all astonished; Xia Liu was exceptionally handsome, but what was he wearing?


    They were all in formal suits, looking impeccably sharp.


    And Xia Liu? He wore Anta sneakers, grey casual pants, and a grey shirt, almost defiantly casual.


    The young men and women began to snicker at that moment.


    Had it not been for Uncle Fu, who was somewhat familiar to them, they would probably have taken turns teasing him.


    Xia Liu scanned the whole room but didn''t see Fang Fei or Lin Yazhi, so he suggested they go eat something first.


    There they were, under the astonished gazes of everyone, Xia Liu and Uncle Fu sat at the dining area, furiously sweeping through the food on the table.


    Uncle Fu had just recovered the night before, and now he needed to eat a large amount of food, or else he couldn''t face upcoming, unexpected incidents.


    "Handsome guy, you''re not from Liu Hai, are you?" a cute young woman approached Xia Liu while he was eating and drinking.


    "Hmm, I came from Binlai City," Xia Liu replied, guzzling a swig of red wine.


    "Binlai City? Do you know Young Master Lingtian?" The girl had no idea where Binlai City was, and just wanted to figure out how Xia Liu managed to get on the boat.


    "I don''t know him."


    "Wow! Then how did you board the ship?" The girl widened her eyes, completely puzzled about how he could have gotten on.


    "Hahaha! I think, he must have sneaked in!"


    "That''s terrifying. Surely, the security must not have checked the ship properly; he must have been hiding inside the cabin from before."


    "His nerve, to be eating so boldly."


    Xia Liu and the girl''s conversation was evidently overheard by many people.


    They looked at Xia Liu with disdain.


    Some even pinched their noses, afraid they might smell something off from Xia Liu.


    To them, Xia Liu absolutely reeked.


    One whiff, and undoubtedly, it''d bring three hundred years of bad luck.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, he is a friend of Feifei," Uncle Fu didn''t want to see Xia Liu overwhelmed by saliva, so he forcefully explained.


    But his explanation was rather pale, as his attire was only slightly better than Xia Liu''s.


    And given his age, he looked just like a driver.


    "Hahaha! Uncle, stop explaining; you''re in cahoots with this guy, just here to freeload!" one of the young men laughed loudly.


    "Giggle, giggle..."


    Most of those present began to laugh.


    Feifei is who? The Fang Family''s esteemed young lady. To become her friend, even wealthy heirs with billions aren''t qualified.


    Someone looking as poor as Xia Liu claiming to be Feifei''s friend, nobody would believe it.


    However, a few knowledgeable men and women did not laugh.


    They all knew Uncle Fu and that he was Lin Yazhi''s bodyguard and driver.


    Xia Liu was able to get here definitely because of Lin Yazhi.


    What status does Lin Yazhi hold in Liu Hai? If they dare laugh at the people she brings in, they''ll end up in a tragic state themselves.


    But with the forest so big and all kinds of birds out there, the world never lacks fools who rely on their family''s little money.


    In front of others, they act as if they''re the top tycoon in the world.


    "Uncle Fu, let them talk. Come, let''s drink!" Xia Liu smiled slightly, with no time to entertain these fools.


    With that time, might as well eat more; after all, it''s free.


    Seeing Xia Liu ignoring him, the younger group of heirs started constantly harassing Xia Liu.


    Using such methods to showcase their presence in front of everyone.


    But Xia Liu let these people talk, ignoring them completely.


    He just wanted to see Feifei quickly and talk to her.


    Meanwhile, in a certain room on the ship, Lin Yazhi was worried about how to bring up Xia Liu''s matter.


    By the room''s floor-to-ceiling window, a beautiful familiar figure was staring out the window, where seagulls were crying and flying.


    "Yazhi, you seem a bit off today, why aren''t you speaking?" The figure turned around; it was that charming, familiar face. With shifting steps, Feifei quietly walked up to Lin Yazhi.


    "Sister, do you know a young man named Xia Liu?" After a moment, Lin Yazhi decided to ask.


    Hearing the name she had been daydreaming about, Feifei''s pupils abruptly contracted, and her eyes quickly turned misty.


    She immediately turned away, afraid Lin Yazhi would see her lose composure.


    "Sister, you..." Seeing this, Lin Yazhi became very certain of the relationship she might truly have with Xia Liu.

 Chapter 225 Meeting

    "I have very few friends over there, and this Xia Liu is also the first I''ve heard of him, what does he look like?"After composing herself, Fang Fei turned back with a face full of doubt.


    Hearing Fang Fei say this, Lin Yazhi almost dropped her jaw; such a panicked statement was too fake.


    "Sister, you''ve never been good at lying, so you can''t fool me, you and Xia Liu are close, aren''t you?"


    "Okay, you saw through me, Xia Liu is just a good friend of mine, nothing more," Fang Fei said indifferently.


    "Yeah, a good friend, that''s why he came to your wedding," Lin Yazhi didn''t argue, just waited; Fang Fei would naturally show her true feelings when she saw Xia Liu.


    "What! He''s here?"


    Hearing this news, Fang Fei''s face changed instantly.


    "Yes, he''s on the ship now."


    "He''s on the ship!!!"


    Shocked in an instant, Fang Fei fell weakly onto the bed.


    He had come!


    He had really followed her!


    In her imagination, Fang Fei''s eyes moistened.


    Memories of Xia Liu echoed in her mind.


    "No! He can''t be here; he has to go back!"


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    After her grievance, Fang Fei murmured to herself.


    Xia Liu couldn''t appear here, the boat was arranged by Ouyang Lingtian; if he saw Xia Liu, he would definitely do everything in his power to eradicate him.


    If the Fang Family knew about her relationship with Xia Liu, they would not show mercy either.


    The longer Xia Liu stayed here, the greater the crisis he faced.


    "Sister, Xia Liu won''t go back unless you leave with him," Lin Yazhi looked at Fang Fei tenderly.


    She had never seen her sister so agitated.


    She thought, if there were no obstructions between her and Xia Liu, they would surely have a very happy ending.


    "No! He must leave! Otherwise, he will die!" Fang Fei dared not think further.


    Xia Liu''s presence would trigger a destructive assault from both super clans.


    The outcome was clear without thinking.


    He still needed to take care of those sisters; how could he afford an accident here.


    "Sister, how much do you know about Xia Liu?"


    "Why do you ask that?" After calming down a bit, Fang Fei looked at Lin Yazhi, puzzled.


    "I think he can succeed. You don''t like Ouyang Lingtian, do you? You love Xia Liu. If you marry into the Ouyang Family, your life will be ruined."


    "That''s my fate. I can''t let Xia Liu get involved. He''s not wrong; it''s me who shouldn''t..."


    Fang Fei said with tears.


    She regretted so much that she shouldn''t have taken the initiative at that time.


    If she could have restrained herself then, maybe Xia Liu wouldn''t be in such a dangerous situation now.


    "Sister, why do you have so little faith in your man? I heard him say he knows Grandpa Fang."


    "Xia Liu knows Grandpa?"


    "Yeah, it slipped out while Xia Liu was talking with Uncle Fu. Xia Liu could even name Grandpa Fang''s bodyguard. Does that sound normal to you?" Lin Yazhi nodded vigorously.


    At that time, she carefully noted these details when Xia Liu was talking with Uncle Fu.


    Fang Huasheng is someone significant in Huaxia.


    Anyone who knows him is definitely not a simple character.


    So, Xia Liu is definitely not as simple as he appears.


    "Where is Xia Liu?" Fang Fei still worried, hastened to ask.


    "He and Uncle Fu should be in the hall, if my sister goes there, Ouyang Lingtian he..."


    "That guy isn''t on the ship, seemed like he went on a mission this morning, because he notified his friends yesterday, so even if he isn''t here, the banquet will still go on as planned."


    Fang Fei interrupted Lin Yazhi.


    Then, she pulled her quickly towards the hall.


    While Ouyang Lingtian was absent, persuading Xia Liu to go back might still prevent this crisis.


    In the lavish hall, many heirs were surrounding Xia Liu and Uncle Fu.


    Some bodyguards had also entered.


    They all thought that Xia Liu and Uncle Fu were intruders, determined to throw both of them out.


    Otherwise, their presence would be like polluting the environment. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Kid! Beat it, you have no right to stay here!" a man around thirty said fiercely, constantly exchanging glances with the woman next to him.


    He wanted to demonstrate his nobility and capability.


    "Just leave!"


    "Hahaha! Country bumpkin, just jump off the boat, if these bodyguards start moving, you might end up dead in the sea."


    "Hehe, just a country bumpkin, if he dies, so be it, what''s there to persuade."


    Xia Liu looked up, scanning the surroundings.


    His gaze rested on the Kawaii girl who had come up to flirt with him earlier.


    Xia Liu couldn''t understand how such a pretty girl could be so venomous.


    "I come from the countryside, but in the face of life, all beings are equal, what right do you have to despise me?" Xia Liu stared at the Kawaii venomous girl.


    "Stupid farmer, what''s wrong with calling you a country bumpkin, not only do you freeload, but you even have the nerve to lecture Miss here?" the girl visibly angered, she tightened her grip on her palm, fearing she would lose control and slap Xia Liu.


    She struggled internally because hitting Xia Liu might dirty her hands, requiring her to wash them ten times afterwards.


    "Hehe, Linlin, don''t stoop to his level, just let the bodyguards throw him into the sea." a young man saw the venomous girl getting angry and smiled as he comforted her.


    "You guys, throw him into the sea! Then pour some blood in after, to attract sharks to bite him to death!" the Kawaii girl named Linlin said furiously.


    Xia Liu felt a chill in his heart, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.


    He couldn''t understand why there was such a huge disparity between people.


    These wealthy heirs, don''t they have any family education? Not to mention their cursing, such cruel commands coming from the mouth of a twenty-year-old girl were truly sad.


    Looking at Xia Liu''s eyes that were as deep as the stars, Linlin stepped back in fear.


    She didn''t dare to speak again, Xia Liu''s eyes seemed to be talking, carrying a murderous aura!


    The surrounding heirs were also frightened, their glances signaling several bodyguards.


    "You all back off!" As the bodyguards started to move, Uncle Fu stood up, his aura as the King of Soldiers revealing itself with his words.


    Hearing this commanding speech, the bodyguards subconsciously felt fear.


    Just as a few bodyguards gritted their teeth and thought of advancing again, suddenly a voice resonated through the hall.


    "Everyone stop!"


    Hmm!


    Hearing this familiar voice, Xia Liu looked up intently.


    That gaze was enough to make him feel stunned, still the familiar figure, still so proudly charming.


    "It''s Miss Fei!"


    "And Miss Lin!"


    The heirs inside the hall also looked toward the source of the voice.


    They were all unknowingly astonished, everyone knew Fang Fei, the heiress of the Fang Family from Liuhai City!


    Lin Yazhi was the same, they all knew, this girl was from Yanjing, and had great relations with the Fang Family, the backing behind her was definitely trembling.


    Facing the two, everyone became excited.


    One was the number one beauty in the business world, the other was a heiress of a Super Clan.

 Chapter 226 You Will Die Like This

    In the astonished gazes of the crowd, Lin Yazhi descended the staircase with Fang Fei''s arm looped through hers.Click-clack, click-clack...


    In the silent hall, only the sound of their high heels tapping against the stairs could be heard.


    It was crisp, loud, and enchanting.


    "They are walking towards me!" This was the fantasy in the heart of every man present.


    Even though Fang Fei was about to become Ouyang Lingtian''s wife, it couldn''t stop the thoughts in their hearts.


    Goddesses remain goddesses, married or not.


    And there was also Lin Yazhi, the single goddess.


    But to everyone''s surprise, Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei actually walked up to Xia Liu!


    The whole room fell silent. What on earth was going on? The statuses of Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi in Liu Hai City were beyond imagination.


    Could it be that Xia Liu was a friend of one of them? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once this thought appeared, some of the second-generation rich were in disarray.


    Gazing at Xia Liu from such a close distance, Fang Fei''s throat choked up, and her eyes even started to moisten slightly.


    But she suppressed her emotions, having just discussed with Lin Yazhi during the descent down the stairs.


    She mustn''t reveal her close relationship with Xia Liu in public, otherwise Xia Liu would be in danger.


    Fang Fei was no fool; she knew what to do. Any previous impulsiveness was merely a natural bodily reaction.


    "My good friend Xia Liu, you came and didn''t even inform me. I would have sent my driver to pick you up," Fang Fei said to Xia Liu, laughing joyfully as if reuniting with a classmate after several years.


    The longing had come to an end, but a grand deception had to be performed.


    Boom!


    When Fang Fei referred to Xia Liu as her good friend...


    Some of the second-generation rich''s faces twisted instantly!


    What had they just said, what had they just done!


    To think they had mocked the friend of the Fang Family''s daughter!


    Perhaps the most frightened was Linlin. She started to tremble gradually.


    She could still remember ordering her bodyguard to throw him into the sea. Although it didn''t happen, those words alone...


    If Xia Liu complained to Fang Fei about it, the one being thrown into the sea might well be herself!


    Countless people at the venue were praying in their hearts, hoping Xia Liu wouldn''t reveal anything, or they''d be dead!


    Xia Liu, however, wasn''t paying attention to those second-generation rich. Seeing Lin Yazhi signaling to him continuously, Xia Liu understood why Fang Fei had said that.


    But how could he just hold back? His woman had to be known by everyone!


    "How could I inform you, when the calls wouldn''t go through. This time I came to bring..."


    "Haha, let''s not talk about that. I''m really happy you could come to my wedding. Today is just a small gathering; I hope you enjoy it," Fang Fei said, forcibly interrupting him just as Xia Liu was about to confess.


    Fang Fei stopped Xia Liu from speaking out, not because she was concerned about herself, but because she was afraid Xia Liu wouldn''t be able to leave.


    She didn''t care about her own future; marrying into the Ouyang Family, her days were set.


    But she couldn''t watch Xia Liu step into danger. He still had to look after Xiaoxue, take care of Zhang Qing, look after Xiaoman, and lead everyone in Osmanthus Village.


    So, even if it meant sacrificing her own life, Fang Fei couldn''t let anything happen to Xia Liu.


    "I''m not very used to this. I still prefer Hejing; there''s not so much gunfire and smoke there, you..."


    "Come on! Everyone, come here for a second. Let me introduce you to my good friend, Xia Liu!"


    Right as Xia Liu was about to be honest again, Fang Fei didn''t wait for him to finish and turned to shout towards the people behind her, drowning out his voice.


    "Ah! So the brother''s name is Xia Liu, nice to meet you!"


    Upon hearing Fang Fei''s introduction, the man who had earlier told Xia Liu to get lost immediately nodded and bowed respectfully.


    "Hello, Brother Xia Liu!"


    The other wealthy heirs did the same, showing their enthusiasm as best as they could.


    And none dared to look up, in fear that Xia Liu would recognize them.


    "Enough! Sister Fang!"


    Looking at the hideous faces greeting him, Xia Liu shouted loudly.


    Uh uh uh¡­


    The entire place fell into a hushed silence at this moment, and those second-generation rich kids who had just been mocking Xia Liu began to tremble.


    They could already imagine the horrific retaliation they would face if Xia Liu spoke of the incident that just occurred.


    However, at this moment, both Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei grew tense.


    Xia Liu''s demeanor became serious; he seemed angry, and he wanted to say something!


    What on earth did he want to do!


    "Xia Liu, calm down a bit, did someone say something just now?"


    "Miss Lin, thank you for bringing me here, and thank you too, Uncle Fu. Can I speak a few words with Sister Fang now?" Xia Liu asked plainly.


    "This¡­" Uncle Fu choked up, unable to get his words out.


    It seemed Xia Liu had made up his mind.


    Lin Yazhi''s teeth clenched, she glanced at Fang Fei, then back at Xia Liu.


    In the end, she didn''t speak further, choosing to trust Xia Liu. She clearly remembered that Xia Liu had once said, even at the cost of his life, he would make Fang Fei happy.


    Fang Fei gazed at Xia Liu with tear-filled eyes, wishing that this moment would never come.


    But Xia Liu was beyond her control; nonetheless, she mustered all her strength to shout, "You''ll die if you do this!"


    ???


    Upon hearing what Fang Fei said, the second-generation kids present grew puzzled.


    Xia Liu would die? How could he die?


    "Hahaha! Even if it costs my life, I will take you home! I promised!"


    In front of everyone, Xia Liu began to laugh wildly.


    A promise made upon his life!


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    "We are finished! I''m getting married the day after tomorrow!"


    Fang Fei roared, her greatest fear was Xia Liu reacting this way, yet he still said it.


    "Finished? I didn''t agree, and even an immortal couldn''t change that!"


    "You will die, you really will! Please, I beg you, keep living," Fang Fei collapsed, tears incessantly overflowing from her eyes.


    Her heart was in agonizing pain, so very painful.


    Regret, true regret, why did she ever get Xia Liu involved in this mess.


    "Even if it leads to death, I will take you home!" Xia Liu pledged solemnly.


    Boom!


    Everyone was thrown into disarray.


    The dialogue between Xia Liu and Fang Fei left them with an unprecedented shock.


    One was a villager from the countryside, the other a heiress from a noble family.


    Against all odds, the two had fallen in love.


    That wasn''t the frightening part; the frightening thing was that Xia Liu had actually come for her!


    Not only was he unafraid of the Fang Family, that could have been overlooked.


    But Fang Fei''s fianc¨¦ was Ouyang Lingtian!!!


    The Ouyang Family, one of the top noble families in Huaxia, and Xia Liu had developed feelings for the future bride of the Ouyang Family''s next Family Head!


    To put it bluntly, Xia Liu had cuckolded Ouyang Lingtian.


    What was slightly terrifying was that Ouyang Lingtian might never have even held Fang Fei''s hand from childhood to adulthood.


    If Xia Liu and Fang Fei''s affair came to be known by Ouyang Lingtian.


    That guy would definitely kill Xia Liu, without a doubt!


    Wuu wuu wuu...


    As everyone marveled, a sound of an urgent bell echoed through the cabin.


    "The Love Boat is experiencing leakage, everyone must immediately go to the deck!"


    The sound of the bell was followed by a grave voice resonating within the broadcast.


    "Ah! There''s a problem with the ship, everyone hurry to the deck!"


    Not knowing who shouted, everyone scrambled toward the exit.

 Chapter 227 Ouyang Lingtian

    However, as they passed by Fang Fei, despite their hasty movements, no one touched her."A leak! Could it be that this ship is sinking?" Lin Yazhi exclaimed in alarm.


    After about ten seconds, the emergency alarm grew louder, and only four people were left in the entire hall.


    Uncle Fu, Lin Yazhi, Fang Fei, and Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu and Fang Fei both gazed at each other, motionless, even if the ship were to sink immediately.


    "Yazhi, don''t worry, the ship is fine. It''s probably just a drill or something," Uncle Fu said nonchalantly.


    If the ship really were in trouble, the people inside wouldn''t have left in such an orderly fashion.


    Even those worth over a hundred billion wouldn''t be so composed when their lives were threatened. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some of the second-generation rich girls still had smiles on their faces as they left, as if they were participating in some fun activity.


    "Ah! Then why are they...?" Lin Yazhi was shocked and bewildered.


    Uncle Fu explained in a low voice to Lin Yazhi, after all, he had been the King of Soldiers in the Spearhead Troop before he retired¡ªif he couldn''t even observe this much.


    Then he wouldn''t have earned the title of King of Soldiers.


    "Xia Liu!" After a long stare, Fang Fei finally moved.


    She took a step forward, arms wide open, and embraced Xia Liu tightly.


    "Wuu wuu wuu..."


    Fang Fei, holding Xia Liu close, cried. Embraced once more by the warmth, she wept with bliss.


    "Sister Fang, come home with me. Little Xue and the others are waiting for you, and Xue''er, she''s back," Xia Liu whispered in Fang Fei''s ear.


    The more Xia Liu said, the more heartbroken Fang Fei cried.


    She knew she couldn''t go back; she wouldn''t be able to get past the Ouyang Family.


    Let alone the pressure from the Fang Family.


    "Xia Liu, I can''t go back. You must take good care of Little Xue and the others," Fang Fei said, choking up as she released her hold on Xia Liu.


    "No, you must go back. I promised them I would bring you back," Xia Liu said with a confident smile.


    Just as Fang Fei was about to speak, a harsh noise came from outside.


    "It''s a helicopter!"


    Uncle Fu was the first to react; it was the sound of helicopters.


    And not just one.


    Could it be that these helicopters were here for a rescue? That the ship was actually in trouble?


    "Let''s go out and see."


    With that, Xia Liu grabbed Fang Fei''s hand and ran outside.


    Just as Xia Liu and Fang Fei reached the deck, several loud explosions spread far and wide.


    Bang...


    Petals of countless roses began to drift down from the sky.


    Xia Liu looked up and saw that the petals were being scattered from helicopters.


    "Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."


    As the petals danced in the sky, the rich second-generation kids who had previously fled came running back onto the deck from behind.


    Cheering, they clapped their hands incessantly.


    This sudden turn of events completely stunned Fang Fei.


    "Look! Young Master Ouyang is coming down!" someone shouted first, and everyone shifted their gaze upward.


    There, a figure was descending from the helicopter, hanging onto a rope.


    In his hands, he held a huge bouquet of roses.


    "That must be Ouyang Lingtian," Xia Liu realized.


    All this about the ship leaking, the rescue¡ªit was all orchestrated by Ouyang Lingtian.


    "Yeah, he''s coming down now. Don''t say anything," Fang Fei said expressionlessly.


    "Alright, I won''t talk, and you shouldn''t talk either."


    "Huh? This, mmm mmm mmm..."


    Before Fang Fei could react, she found herself unable to speak anymore.


    Because Xia Liu had covered her mouth with his.


    As Ouyang Lingtian, who was hanging in the air and descending, saw this scene, his face instantly darkened, and his grip weakened.


    The next second, the bouquet slipped from his hand and dropped into the sea.


    Seeing this, everyone grew puzzled.


    "Ah! What is that?" As soon as someone noticed Xia Liu and Fang Fei on the deck, they immediately screamed.


    "Holy shit!"


    "Fucking hell!"


    "Damn it!"


    "Oh my God!"


    ...


    When everyone''s attention shifted to the deck, screams began to echo.


    What they saw was Xia Liu and Fang Fei kissing!


    Kissing in front of Ouyang Lingtian!


    "This is bad¡­ this is bad¡­" Lin Yazhi''s face turned pale; this was not according to the plan.


    Xia Liu actually dared to do this; it was an act of seeking death.


    Uncle Fu stared at Xia Liu briefly, not appearing too flustered and even quite excited, feeling as if the blood in his body was boiling.


    If he were still young, he would definitely do the same as Xia Liu!


    By now, Fang Fei had given up resisting.


    The moment Xia Liu kissed her forcefully, she realized, Xia Liu was risking it all.


    If he could do this for her, even if she had to give up her life, she would ensure his safety.


    The kiss between Xia Liu and Fang Fei lasted for several minutes, until Ouyang Lingtian landed on the ship.


    At this moment, Ouyang Lingtian''s face was full of dark lines.


    This was undoubtedly the greatest insult of his life!


    His fianc¨¦e was kissing another man right in front of him!


    And he clearly remembered that he was not even allowed to hold this fianc¨¦e''s hand.


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    "Does it feel like Ouyang Lingtian has been cuckolded by that peasant?"


    "Dude, shut up, do you want to die?!"


    ...


    In the crowd of onlookers, many were whispering among themselves.


    They could imagine Ouyang Lingtian''s current state; he must be wanting Xia Liu dead.


    Since Ouyang Lingtian had been admitted to the Heaven Slaying Division, his capabilities were naturally not to be underestimated.


    His hearing was excellent; he heard every sound in the crowd!


    "Fang Fei!" Unable to bear it any longer, Ouyang Lingtian roared.


    Over the silent sea, his voice lingered for a long time.


    "Xia Liu, may I handle this?" Gently pushing Xia Liu away with her hand, Fang Fei smiled slightly and said.


    "Yeah." Xia Liu nodded and looked at Ouyang Lingtian with a smile.


    That guy was probably in his late twenties, dressed in sharp clothes, and pretty good in all aspects. If he were to don the official military uniform, he would definitely charm a bunch of young girls.


    Xia Liu no longer hoped for negotiation and only wished that Ouyang Lingtian wouldn''t act rashly.


    Otherwise, Xia Liu wouldn''t mind letting him sleep in the sea forever.


    "Young Master Ouyang, I never had the chance to say this before, but now that things haven''t been finalized, let me be honest with you, I''m already married to Xia Liu, and I''m carrying his child."


    Pfft...


    Everyone was dumbfounded at that moment, Fang Fei said she was married to Xia Liu!


    And pregnant with his child!


    This was definitely the biggest headline news in Liu Hai City.


    The heiress from a prestigious family rejected a wealthy suitor to choose life with a peasant, and was even pregnant with his child.


    "Fang Fei! Do you think I''m an idiot? Someone reports your every move to me. He''s just a peasant from the mountains. Even if you give him all your property, so what? Even if you like him, so what? You still carry the blood of the Fang Family in your veins, and the only one worthy of you is me, Ouyang Lingtian!"


    "Young Master Ouyang, I''m just second-hand goods now. There are plenty of girls here, why bother? Let''s just end this ridiculous affair, shall we?"

 Chapter 228 Pirate Attack

    Everyone looked at Fang Fei with disbelief in their eyes.She was an aristocratic young lady, after all. Had they not heard it with their own ears, nobody would believe such words could come from her mouth.


    Ouyang Lingtian''s face darkened. He had given Fang Fei enough respect.


    But why did she still say such things?


    "Heh, if that''s what you say, what else can I do..."


    "Thank you," Fang Fei said with a slight smile. Indeed, she still had some usefulness.


    "It should end now." Muttering those words, Ouyang Lingtian pointed at Xia Liu, "Throw him into the sea!"


    "Yes!" The dozens of bodyguards surrounding them all shouted in unison.


    "Hmm, not giving up?" Xia Liu murmured softly. The Five Elements Mantra quietly began to circulate.


    "Who dares!" As the bodyguards stepped forward, Fang Fei opened her arms to shield Xia Liu behind her, "Ouyang Lingtian, I have no feelings for you, why must you be so heartless? I could clearly be happy with Xia Liu, what right do you have to stop us!"


    "I have every right because our marriage was agreed upon since we were children. Before we are married, I might not care about you, but your future must belong to me!"


    Ouyang Lingtian looked up with his eyes closed. He didn''t dare to look any further, fearing he couldn''t control himself and would kill Xia Liu in front of all these people.


    "Who dares to come forward!" Just as Fang Fei was about to speak, Uncle Fu stepped squarely in front of them.


    "Hmm? Uncle Fu, what are you..."


    "Miss Fei, please rest assured. Unless they step over my dead body, no one will harm you or Xia Liu," Uncle Fu said, looking back with a smile.


    "Uncle Fu, even you are helping him?" Ouyang Lingtian stared in surprise at Uncle Fu.


    Back in the day, Uncle Fu was known worldwide as the Spearhead Soldier King, Ouyang Lingtian''s former idol.


    Now, this idol of his youth was standing in front of his enemy, and Ouyang Lingtian''s heart grew colder still.


    "Xia Liu has been kind to me. As a soldier, I cannot fail him. Miss Fei is my eternal niece, and I won''t allow anyone to harm her!"


    Facing dozens of bodyguards, Uncle Fu was not the least bit intimidated.


    At the moment Xia Liu had cured a hidden illness, he had made up his mind that he must protect Xia Liu on this trip.


    Even though Ouyang Lingtian belonged to the Heaven Slaying Troops, Uncle Fu was unafraid, for he had recovered!


    Even if he couldn''t beat them, he could buy some time.


    "Uncle Fu, I respect you, but don''t make this difficult for me. I haven''t taken action out of respect already."


    "Thank you, Young Master Ouyang, for your kindness. I promised to protect Xia Liu, and I will not back down," Uncle Fu replied.


    "Young Master Ouyang, let''s all calm down. This matter can be discussed at the table," Lin Yazhi spoke up, stepping out from the crowd at that moment.


    "Miss Lin, there''s no need to talk. Fang Fei will definitely marry me. Not pursuing the matter further is already the greatest mercy I can offer."


    Ouyang Lingtian glared at Xia Liu. Really, if it weren''t for Lin Yazhi and Uncle Fu''s presence, he would have struck immediately.


    Only with Xia Liu dead would Fang Fei give up completely.


    "I think it''s necessary to talk."


    "Miss Lin, you''re Fang Fei''s sister after all. As a sister, do you think a man who seeks protection behind a woman deserves Fang Fei?" Ouyang Lingtian rebuked.


    "Hahaha! Mercy? I''m here to take my woman home, do I need your mercy? You have an issue with my woman protecting me?"


    In the silent crowd, Xia Liu burst into laughter.


    In countless astonished gaze, he slowly walked out from behind Fang Fei.


    "Xia Liu, you!" Fang Fei, realizing what was happening, looked at Xia Liu anxiously.


    "I''m fine, of course. But I won''t deny what he said. Seeking protection behind a woman is not what a true man should do."


    Xia Liu turned around and offered Fang Fei a reassuring smile.


    "Sister, just take a look before you say anything." Fang Fei was about to say more, but Lin Yazhi immediately pulled her back.


    "Xia Liu, let me help you."


    "That won''t be necessary, Uncle Fu. This is a conflict between him and me," Xia Liu gently patted Uncle Fu on the shoulder, remembering the retired King of Soldiers, who was over fifty.


    "Hahaha! Very well! So you''re looking to challenge me, huh?" Ouyang Lingtian laughed upon seeing Xia Liu step forward.


    "The word ''challenge'' isn''t quite appropriate to use on you. Facing you, I would be accused of bullying the weak."


    Whoosh!


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s words about bullying the weak, the whole place boiled over.


    Ouyang Lingtian was none other than the Soldier King of the Heaven Slaying Troops.


    In Liuhai City''s upper society, many people knew that it was said Ouyang Lingtian alone could annihilate a well-armed regiment.


    Xia Liu actually dared to say such a thing! Where on earth did he get the courage from, was it because his brain lacked oxygen?


    Fang Fei and her face were about to lose it.


    Originally, they thought Xia Liu would use his brain a bit, but now it seemed he was just courting death.


    Listening to the noisy voices around him, Ouyang Lingtian''s face gradually darkened.


    He was no longer angry; he just wanted to deal with Xia Liu right away.


    Of course, he wouldn''t kill Xia Liu. Taking a lunatic seriously was like playing the lute to a cow.


    "Wait! Everyone get down!" Just at that moment, Xia Liu, who was looking toward the sea, let out a roar. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He immediately ran to Fang Fei''s side.


    Once again, everyone was amazed at Xia Liu; this guy really knew how to play the game.


    A duel was about to start, and he was telling people to get down; there was no precedent for this.


    However, only two people didn''t mock Xia Liu; fear also gradually rose in their hearts.


    Because in their pupils, four bullets were speeding towards them from several miles away!


    "Get down!" Uncle Fu and Ouyang Lingtian shouted at the same time.


    "Ahhh!"


    ...


    All the people on the scene panicked, and some even jumped off the ship in fear.


    "Ah!" Ouyang Lingtian knelt on the ground; there were two of his friends on that helicopter.


    "Stop screaming and figure out a way to deal with that ship," Xia Liu said, pointing to a large pirate ship in the distance.


    "Ah! Pirates!"


    "Turn the ship around quickly! The pirates are coming!"


    "It''s over, it''s over! How did we run into pirates!"


    As the pirate ship drew closer, everyone began to panic.


    Uncle Fu looked at the man standing upright; he was the first to sense the crisis. Who exactly was he?


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    "All personnel on alert!" After the moment of shock, Ouyang Lingtian bellowed.


    The bodyguards immediately went into the cabin to get weapons; given the current situation, there were very few people still focused on Fang Fei''s issue.


    All they wanted was to get home safely.


    "Hello, dear friends from Huaxia, I hope you raise your hands and come to the deck to wait for inspection," came the awkwardly spoken Huaxia language over the loudspeaker, just as Ouyang Lingtian was arming himself.

 Chapter 229 Boarding the Ship

    "Ah! The pirates are talking! Quick, think of a way to escape!""Wuu wuu wuu... I don''t want to die yet!"


    "Mom and Dad, come and save me!"


    After the broadcast ended, the deck was filled with wails and cries, and it became chaotically noisy in an instant.


    "Everyone calm down! Don''t panic!" Ouyang Lingtian yelled loudly when he saw that the crowd was unable to control their emotions.


    But his words had no effect.


    They had known about the alarm beforehand, so they hadn''t panicked.


    But now, they had encountered real pirates, and four helicopters had already been destroyed.


    How could they remain calm?


    "Everyone, don''t panic, with Young Master Ouyang here, nothing will happen! Everyone, get to the cabin first!"


    Seeing everyone in disarray, Uncle Fu immediately stepped up to help.


    Upon hearing Uncle Fu''s words, the crowd''s hope rose slightly, and they all rushed into the cabin.


    "Xia Liu, take Miss Fei and Yazhi inside to take cover for a while."


    "Uncle Fu, you should come in too. Dozens of bodyguards along with Ouyang Lingtian should definitely be able to handle it."


    Xia Liu was very worried about Uncle Fu being outside; he had just recovered and considering the scale of combat.


    The long-retired Uncle Fu might not be very useful.


    "Yeah, Uncle Fu, come with us," Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei also insisted worriedly.


    "With Xia Liu protecting you, it should be fine. I need to stay with them to repel the pirates," Uncle Fu said with confidence.


    Seeing Uncle Fu''s attitude, Xia Liu and Fang Fei no longer protested, and they quickly entered the cabin.


    "Kid, the challenge between you and me was doomed to fail before it even started," Ouyang Lingtian said disdainfully as Xia Liu passed by him.


    "Don''t talk big too soon, figure out a way to deal with that pirate ship," Xia Liu replied sternly.


    Considering the people on the ship, facing potentially numerous and well-equipped pirates, it was really a matter of seeking blessings.


    "Hmph! I will repel the pirates now and show you how big the gap between us is!"


    With a cold snort, Ouyang Lingtian immediately issued an order: "Everyone, prepare for battle!"


    Uncle Fu opened a box containing firearms and picked out a few suitable ones.


    Although it had been many years since he had handled firearms, Uncle Fu was no joker.


    The moment he took hold of the sniper rifle, his whole body''s blood boiled.


    After selecting their weapons, Ouyang Lingtian began to position everyone.


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    Inside the hall, everyone was uneasy.


    Some were crying, some were laying on the ground pretending to be dead.


    Some ran into the rooms to hide.


    In contrast, Xia Liu, Fang Fei, and Lin Yazhi were much calmer.


    Perhaps because Xia Liu was by her side, Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei felt a tremendous sense of safety.


    "This sea area is not very far from Liu Hai City. Troops should arrive here within forty minutes," said Xia Liu.


    "Forty minutes, can Ouyang Lingtian hold on for that long?" Lin Yazhi became worried after hearing Xia Liu''s analysis.


    "Isn''t he very strong? If he can''t even last forty minutes, well..." Fang Fei looked disdainfully towards the deck.


    Hearing Fang Fei say this, everyone else felt a little more settled.


    Forty minutes, as long as Ouyang Lingtian could hold on for forty minutes, they could be safe.


    Tatatatat...


    Just as the second generation felt relieved, suddenly the sound of gunfire erupted.


    "Ahh!"


    The sound of gunfire threw the hall into chaos once again.


    But this time, they didn''t run around, just screamed, and those who were calmer hid behind obstacles.


    Xia Liu spread his arms and draped them over the backs of Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi''s necks.


    "Don''t be afraid, no one can hurt you today," Xia Liu said as he led them to a corner and crouched down.


    At the same time, Xia Liu released the Five Element Spiritual Energy.


    The Spiritual Energy formed a protective circle around Xia Liu, perfectly enveloping Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi.


    Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei could not see the Spirit Energy Barrier and did not pay much attention to Xia Liu''s words.


    Even Lin Yazhi, who usually hated men touching her, said nothing.


    The sound of gunfire lasted for about five minutes, then silence followed.


    "Um, could you remove your hand?" Lin Yazhi finally spoke after the silence outside became unbearable.


    "Xia Liu, you''re taking advantage of my sister," Fang Fei said with feigned anger.


    "Sorry, sorry." Seeing Fang Fei''s sly grin, Xia Liu knew what she was thinking.


    By taking advantage of her sister, if Xia Liu had more interactions with Lin Yazhi, perhaps Fang Fei would coerce him into devouring Lin Yazhi.


    "It''s alright, thank you for protecting both me and my sister. I wonder what''s happening outside now?" Lin Yazhi was not in the mood to joke with Xia Liu, only wanting to know if they were safe.


    After all, the people on this ship were very special.


    If hijacked by pirates, the hundred or so wealthy heirs on board taken as bargaining chips would surely cause Liu Hai City, and even the whole of Huaxia, to be shaken.


    "Don''t move around; I will check it out."


    Xia Liu was also concerned about the situation outside, and of course, he was worried about Uncle Fu.


    The old man couldn''t afford to have anything happen to him, as Xia Liu had yet to repay him properly.


    "Be careful, and come right back if something''s off," Fang Fei said tenderly to Xia Liu.


    "Understood!"


    But before Xia Liu could reach the door, the broadcast sounded again.


    "Dear young masters and misses, we will be boarding your ship shortly. Please gather in the main hall within five minutes, or we will kill anyone we find!"


    "Ah! We''re doomed!"


    "The pirates are coming!"


    "Ah! I don''t want to die!"


    All the people on the ship started wailing.


    "Anyone who doesn''t want to die, come over here!" Xia Liu returned to the front of Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi and shouted amidst the chaotic scene.


    Soon, everyone rushed towards the corner where Xia Liu was.


    Seeing the scene blocked by these wealthy heirs, Xia Liu also crouched down.


    With them in front, even if a fierce fight broke out later, Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi wouldn''t be involved.


    Bang!


    Just as everyone had finished gathering, the door burst open with a loud bang.


    As the smoke cleared, a figure was thrown in¡ªit was Uncle Fu!


    "Uncle Fu!"


    "Yazhi, sit down!"


    Seeing Lin Yazhi getting emotionally stirred, Fang Fei immediately pulled her down.


    The pirates would be entering any moment now; being noticed at this time would be extremely dangerous. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, a group of armed men of different ethnicities entered the hall, about thirty of them, all with radiant smiles on their faces.


    Seeing the pirates enter, everyone kept their heads down tightly, scared of being singled out.


    Xia Liu glanced around; Uncle Fu''s injuries were serious. His shoulders were bleeding, presumably from bullet wounds, and so were his legs.


    It baffled him where Ouyang Lingtian had gone¡ªcould the pirates have killed him?

 Chapter 230 Arch Enemy

    "Hahaha! Brother Gang, all these people are the wealthy youths of Liuhai City. We''ve hit the jackpot this time!"A yellow-skinned pirate among them said as he looked at the people cowering and squatting on the ground.


    Indeed, he spoke in the Huaxia language, which everyone could understand.


    "Nonsense! After finishing this job, we won''t have to worry for the rest of our lives!" replied the man called Brother Gang.


    "Hahahaha!!!"


    The pirates burst into wild laughter, discussing in their cryptic language.


    However, there were also many Huaxia individuals among the pirates.


    They eagerly discussed where to go and have fun after this job was done, regardless of everyone else.


    A few minutes later, more than ten fully-armed pirates came down from upstairs.


    "Report to Brother Gang, the search is complete, three have been killed, and the ship is now under our control," one of the pirates reported seriously.


    Upon hearing that three people had been killed, the wealthy youths squatting on the ground trembled with fear.


    Thankfully, they had heeded the pirates'' command to gather in the hall, otherwise, they definitely would have been among the dead.


    "Hello, everyone. We don''t want to hurt you. Just cooperate, and there won''t be any problems," Brother Gang scanned the crowd and said, "If you dare resist, this will be your fate!"


    Brother Gang said, pointing at Uncle Fu lying in a pool of blood.


    No one dared to speak; they hugged their heads, desperately trying to squeeze further inside.


    Most of them were born with a silver spoon and wouldn''t dare to gamble with their lives by risking it all, even if it meant losing all their family''s wealth.


    "All right, everyone stand up. Get ready to disembark. Once your families send the money, you can go back," Brother Gang said, his smile growing brighter as he saw everyone cooperating nicely.


    Boom!


    Just as everyone stood up, a part of the wall suddenly burst open, sending dust and wood splinters flying everywhere.


    Among the splinters, two figures slowly stood up.


    Everyone saw that one of them was Ouyang Lingtian, and the other, a tall man in tight clothes, was clearly with the pirates.


    "Enemy attack, gear up!" Brother Gang, seeing someone rush in, immediately yelled, and dozens of pirates aimed their guns at the intruders.


    "Stop your weapons!" the tall man commanded from within the dust in an obscure language.


    Upon hearing the man''s words, the pirates lowered their guns.


    "Huh, it''s actually him¡­" Xia Liu muttered upon seeing the man''s face clearly.


    "Xia Liu, you know that pirate leader?" Lin Yazhi asked quietly when she heard Xia Liu''s murmurs.


    Fang Fei also looked at Xia Liu with confusion, unable to comprehend how he could possibly know the pirate.


    "Not friends; I''ve seen him a few times before. He''s more like an arch-enemy," Xia Liu said bitterly.


    "Arch-enemy!" Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi exclaimed in surprise. If the pirate leader saw Xia Liu, wouldn''t he be killed on the spot¡­


    "Hahaha! Worthy of being the King of Soldiers from the Heaven Slaying Troops, you are very strong!"


    "Otte! I advise you to leave quickly. I''ll pretend nothing happened," Ouyang Lingtian glared at the tall man.


    Indeed, Ouyang Lingtian had seen this man in the files.


    Otte, a leading mercenary from abroad. His Otte Mercenary Corps was well-known in various countries around the world.


    The Otte Corps consisted of hundreds of men, each battle-hardened. Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t even begin to imagine.


    If this entire Mercenary Corps came over, without support, they would sweep across the entire sea area.


    And as the leader, Otte was rumored to be an extremely formidable expert.


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    Perhaps out of respect for the strong, Otte decided to duel Ouyang Lingtian, and now the two were intensely locked in battle.


    "Oh? I come and go as I please," Otte said with a naive smile.


    "Underestimating your enemy is the biggest mistake you''ve made in your life!" Ouyang Lingtian retorted angrily.


    "Haha!! Funny! After all this talk, aren''t you just trying to delay time? Now I''ll give you a chance, if you can defeat me, I will give the reinforcement troops another ten minutes,"


    Otte looked at Ouyang Lingtian with a face full of arrogance.


    The reason he kept Ouyang Lingtian around was to get some exercise.


    Since the last upheaval in the Middle East, he hadn''t exercised in two years, and he was determined to get active today with Ouyang Lingtian.


    "Very well!" Ouyang Lingtian smiled faintly. If he won, he could secure ten minutes. Adding to the time of the fight, twenty minutes should be achievable.


    By then, the Spearhead Team closest to this sea area would definitely be able to come to the rescue.


    Seeing their leader ready to fight, all the pirates became excited. It had been a very long time since they had seen their leader meet a worthy opponent.


    The people crouching on the ground also slowly raised their heads, as the duel that would determine their fates was about to begin.


    Everyone sincerely hoped that Ouyang Lingtian would win!


    "Excuse me, this old man has sustained severe injuries; may we treat him?" Just as Ouyang Lingtian and Otte were about to begin, a charming voice interrupted.


    All eyes were instantly drawn to Lin Yazhi, bravely standing in the center of the crowd.


    Next to her, Fang Fei looked pale. She had been holding onto Lin Yazhi, but still, Lin had managed to stand up. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What a beautiful woman!"


    "Damn! I never thought such a beautiful woman could exist."


    "To be with such a beautiful woman, even losing a decade of my life would be worth it!"


    The pirates all looked at Lin Yazhi with burning desire.


    "Hahaha! What a brave woman, after I take her away, I must personally taste her," Otte, too, was captivated; he had been with countless women, but compared to Lin Yazhi, they were heaven and earth.


    "Please," Lin Yazhi said, ignoring the pirates'' lewd comments; she just wanted Uncle Fu to be treated.


    "Xiao Gang! Bring this old gentleman over to the beautiful lady,"


    Otte ordered with a beam.


    Brother Gang, upon receiving the order, immediately moved the unconscious Uncle Fu closer to Lin Yazhi with two other brothers.


    "What are you looking at, kid? Believe it or not, I''ll make you eat a bullet later!"


    "Sorry," Xia Liu said, promptly lowering his head.


    Seeing that everyone bowed their heads and remained silent, Brother Gang then briskly stepped away; he still wanted to watch his leader''s fight.


    "Xia Liu, can you help treat Uncle Fu?" Lin Yazhi asked anxiously.


    "Mm," Xia Liu nodded and began to treat Uncle Fu unseen by the pirates.


    As time ticked by, Ouyang Lingtian and Otte had been dueling for five minutes.


    Bang!


    Their fists collided, sending an unmatched aura in all directions, providing a visual impact beyond description to everyone there.


    The more Otte fought, the more puzzled he became. He could feel that Ouyang Lingtian had not been using his real strength.


    "Delaying time!" Otte suddenly realized.


    The reason Ouyang Lingtian fought evenly with him was surely to delay time!

 Chapter 231 The Identity of Xia Liu

    "Have we been spotted..." Hearing Otte''s exclamation, Ouyang Lingtian''s face darkened instantly."Hahaha! The King of Soldiers from the Heaven Slaying Troops is indeed formidable, surround him!" After stepping back a few steps, Otte ordered his subordinates to move forward and control Ouyang Lingtian.


    Facing dozens of dark gun muzzles, Ouyang Lingtian also grew tense.


    If he were alone here, he could have wiped out this team with minor injuries.


    But there were so many unarmed rich second generations and beautiful wealthy people at the scene.


    If he really made a move, they would definitely be involved.


    Biting tightly on his teeth, Ouyang Lingtian eventually raised his hands over his head.


    Seeing this scene, the second generations at the scene instantly collapsed.


    The final hope was extinguished, and what awaited them now would be the toughest days of their lives.


    "You all, men and women, stand on each side!" Looking at the neatly dressed second generations, Otte roared.


    Hearing his words, everyone squatting on the ground immediately stood to either side as fast as they could, not daring to delay a second, for the stakes were their lives!


    "Did you three not hear?" Seeing Xia Liu and his two friends still staying by Uncle Fu''s side, Brother Gang roared.


    "What should we do, Xia Liu?" Fang Fei clung to Xia Liu, saying fearfully.


    "It''s okay, I''m here." Xia Liu gave Fang Fei a warm smile, providing her with boundless safety.


    "Xiao Gang, never mind them, the brothers will first take the men to the ship, and after the women are distributed, come over together!" Otte smiled gleefully watching Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei, when he realized that there were not only the young and beautiful Lin Yazhi but also the mature and charming Fang Fei aboard this ship!


    "Hehe, thank you, boss!" Brother Gang chuckled, fully aware of what Otte was thinking.


    The two most beautiful women were Otte''s trophies, but he and his brothers getting a taste of the other rich second-generation beauties was also nice.


    Hearing they were to be distributed by these pirates, the color drained from all the women''s faces.


    Although they had all been with someone before, if these pirates were to do that to them, it would definitely become a painful memory they couldn''t erase for their entire lives.


    "Ah! No!" Brother Gang was the first to approach, and he directly embraced Linlin, who was quite cute.


    "Little bitch, you better not scream, or both your mouths will face the gun!" Saying this, Brother Gang even gestured with his pistol on Linlin''s face.


    "Wuwu..." Linlin immediately broke down, tears falling from her cheeks. She was still just a child; why did she have to endure such an ordeal.


    "Brother Gang, I like this girl too."


    "So do I!"


    The two pirates of Huaxia origin with Brother Gang said excitedly.


    "Haha, I''ll let you two have a turn when I get tired later!"


    Hearing the conversation among the three, Linlin was nearly scared to the point of fainting.


    The other girls also turned pale, not daring to cry for fear they might end up like Linlin...


    "Otte! Have a duel with me if you dare!" Ouyang Lingtian roared as he saw Otte walking towards Fang Fei.


    No sooner had he spoken than a pirate punched him in the stomach! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hiss!" Ouyang Lingtian glared at the man, and right after, four guns were immediately aimed at his head.


    "With your kind of cunning nature, once I''m satisfied, I''ll personally kill you, so don''t rush it!" Otte looked back with a slow smile creeping at his mouth.


    "That country boy, you were quite arrogant, weren''t you? Protect Fang Fei!"


    With no way to deal with Otte, Ouyang Lingtian started yelling at Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, don''t let Ouyang Lingtian affect you, don''t look up, or you''ll die," Fang Fei said, holding Xia Liu''s hand, preventing him from standing up.


    Ouyang Lingtian was only saying this to provoke Xia Liu, and then have the pirates execute him.


    "Sister Fang, your man isn''t that weak," Xia Liu said with a slight smile, slowly standing up from the ground.


    "On guard!" Brother Gang shouted as he saw the change in the situation, but his hand did not move from Linlin.


    "Haha, I don''t want to kill in front of two beautiful ladies, but if you are seeking death, I''m more than happy to assist," he announced.


    Seeing Xia Liu stand up, Otte burst into maniac laughter.


    "Really? I wonder where you borrowed the courage to speak to me like that," Xia Liu said slowly raising his head, his eyes glistening like stars as he stared at Otte.


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    "Huh?" Otte stopped laughing and looked at Xia Liu intently.


    Suddenly, his pupils shrank violently, and his heartbeat sped up.


    "Nether Emperor!!!" When he clearly saw Xia Liu''s face, Otte staggered back several steps, his soul shaken to its core.


    His finger trembled as he pointed at Xia Liu, an unprecedented fear spreading to his very soul!


    Everyone turned to stare at Otte, unable to comprehend what could have frightened him so.


    "Nether Emperor?" Ouyang Lingtian''s face gradually darkened; he seemed to recall something, yet couldn''t grasp it.


    "Leader!" Finally releasing Linlin, Brother Gang rushed to Otte''s side as quickly as he could.


    He wouldn''t waste an opportunity to brown-nose.


    "Haha!!! Who would have thought!" After a long stare, Otte began to laugh like a madman.


    "What''s wrong with him, Xia Liu?" Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei asked in unison.


    They had just heard and seen Otte''s shocked demeanor; how had he changed so drastically in a few seconds?


    "Leader, what''s going on?" Brother Gang, sweating coldly, was utterly confused.


    "Xiao Gang, you''ve been with me for over a year, there are many things you might not know."


    "Yes! Please enlighten me, leader," Brother Gang said excitedly as he gazed at Otte.


    The reason he held some status in the team, the reason he could get close to Otte, was no accident.


    All Otte had to do was say something, and he would immediately start flattering.


    "This man, his name is not well-known, but in the Underground World, he has a nickname, the Mercenary Terminator: Nether Emperor!"


    "Nether Emperor!"


    "Mercenary Terminator!"


    "Nether Emperor!"


    All those present were shocked.


    Before they became pirates, they were mercenaries, and they had all heard of the Nether Emperor, the God of Mercenary.


    The nickname Nether Emperor originated from a massacre.


    Three years ago, in the Middle East region, a mercenary team of about a hundred men blatantly bullied a small group of five mercenaries.


    Overnight, the headquarters of the hundred-man mercenary team was left littered with bones.


    When someone discovered the incident and went to the scene, they only saw a flag, which belonged to the five-man mercenary team!


    It was only through a hidden camera that people saw what had happened to the hundred-man mercenary team that night.


    The footage was deemed the most bloodthirsty and brutal in the history of mercenaries.


    In the video, a single man with a knife brutally slaughtered a hundred mercenaries!


    For over a year after that, anyone who dared provoke that five-man mercenary team suffered a fate of complete annihilation.


    Eventually, people gave that man a title, Nether Emperor!


    In the Mercenary World, a saying circulated: "With a single tremor, Jiuzhou chills; with a single fury, heaven and earth quake; if you dare touch the Emperor''s scale, look back, where is your home?"

 Chapter 232 Terrifying Worth

    ```Memories buried deep in the soul were unearthed, and all the pirates began to tremble.


    Second generation onlookers at the scene stared at Xia Liu with their eyes wide and mouths agape.


    They did not know what the Nether Emperor represented, but seeing the pirates fear Xia Liu...


    ...gave them hope that they might be rescued this time!


    Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi quietly observed Xia Liu, also unaware of the man''s identity.


    But judging by everyone''s reaction on the scene, it seemed he was terrifying, terrifying enough to make one''s skin crawl.


    As for Ouyang Lingtian, even with a gun pointed at his forehead, he too was profoundly shocked.


    His unit was one of Huaxia''s most elite.


    They had access to many top-secret documents.


    Information on foreign mercenary teams was even more detailed.


    Among them, the person most feared by Heaven Slaying, and by military units across the globe, was the Nether Emperor with Huaxia citizenship!


    At the same time they dreaded him, they were also extremely exhilarated, because the Nether Emperor was Huaxian, and moreover, his deeds were extraordinary.


    The Nether Emperor became notorious for annihilating countless mercenary teams.


    In just over a year, the entire Mercenary World had been transformed.


    This was an exceptionally good thing for all involved.


    But, no one could forget the horror of the Nether Emperor. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Where he was, it was as if the Grim Reaper had descended; those who crossed him had a slim chance of survival.


    Ouyang Lingtian could not accept the fact that Xia Liu was the Nether Emperor.


    The Nether Emperor who terrified people to the depths of their souls!


    "Boss, are you saying that he... he is the Nether Emperor?" Brother Gang''s hand trembled as he pointed at Xia Liu. After exchanging a look, he quickly withdrew his hand in fright.


    "There''s no mistake, the Nether Emperor, the God of Mercenary World!" Otte said, licking his lips in excitement.


    "You seem very excited," Xia Liu taunted upon seeing this.


    "Of course! If I kill the Nether Emperor, then the Mercenary World and all the regions will fear me! And I can go to the black market and cash in thirty billion US dollars. How could I not be excited?"


    The more Otte thought about it, the more excited he became.


    Although the Nether Emperor was terrifying, his name was still on the blacklist of the black market assassins.


    Anyone who managed to kill the Nether Emperor could claim thirty billion US dollars!


    This was the highest bounty ever on the assassin ranking list. Countless assassins embarked on the path of the damned in pursuit of those thirty billion US dollars.


    "I''m worth thirty billion US dollars?" Even Xia Liu was startled by the price.


    The others on the scene were just as shocked; thirty billion was in US dollars, an amount even some national leaders didn''t command.


    "Sister, your man''s worth is truly terrifying."


    "Yazhi, don''t ask me. I know nothing," Fang Fei took the lead in declaring as Lin Yazhi looked on, confused.


    "Heh heh, so then, for everyone''s future happiness, would you prefer to commit suicide, or shall I help you?" Otte said, waving his hands, and countless dark gun muzzles pointed at Xia Liu.


    "Wait! I''ll do it myself!" Seeing so many guns pointed at him, Xia Liu raised his hands in panic and looked at the crowd with a frightened expression.


    ...


    Seeing Xia Liu''s attitude, everyone''s hearts grew cold.


    The second generations who had glimpsed hope had their jaws drop once again, having just witnessed the pirates tremble in fear and thinking they were saved.


    Who knew it would end up like this!


    "Coward!" Ouyang Lingtian cursed loudly, expecting Xia Liu to take action or something, but it turned out like this...


    Otte''s men were equally shocked.


    Wasn''t the Nether Emperor supposed to be where everything ceased to exist? It now seemed he was just a coward.


    "Xia Liu, what''s going on with you?" Tears were almost spilling from the eyes of Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei.


    ```


    "Otte, I don''t want my wife to see the bloody scene, could you let them leave first?"


    "Heh heh, to think you''re a legend of the Mercenary World, of course I can satisfy such a simple request. And don''t worry, when you''re dead, I''ll take care of your wife for you."


    Otte said this and then ordered five of his men to take the irrelevant people out.


    "King of Soldiers of the Heaven Slaying Troops, you go over there too." Otte looked back at Ouyang Lingtian and said.


    Afterward, he was pushed by Otte''s subordinate to Xia Liu''s side.


    "God of Mercenary, Nether Emperor? Ridiculous!" Looking at Xia Liu, Ouyang Lingtian sneered coldly.


    "Ah, it''s just a title, why bother about it? Besides, I heard that your Heaven Slaying really values it. Just now, when Otte''s men had you under control, I''m afraid you''ll have no face left to meet people." Xia Liu sighed, feeling nothing but sorrow for Ouyang Lingtian.


    "What did you say! I was at gunpoint with dozens of guns! Even if I die, it would be an honor!" Ouyang Lingtian got angry, veins popping on his forehead.


    "Gentlemen, please be ready to depart."


    "Hmm?" Hearing Otte''s reminder, Ouyang Lingtian immediately frowned.


    Now that there''s no one around, he could show off. Xia Liu''s life or death was not his concern.


    "Wait just a moment longer," Xia Liu pleaded with his hands raised high.


    "My respected Nether Emperor, do you have anything else?"


    "Did you just say you''d take care of my wife?" Xia Liu asked doubtfully.


    "Yes, I''ll take care of your wife, don''t worry, haha..."


    Otte laughed heartily, but his voice suddenly choked, and he couldn''t utter another word.


    In the hall, silence fell in that instant, all eyes on Otte, or rather, on the Nether Emperor in front of Otte!


    At this moment, Otte''s hands were tightly clutched around his neck, gushing blood in mouthfuls: "You you..."


    "My wife is not to be sullied by your words!"


    After speaking, Xia Liu struck Otte''s chest with his palm.


    Boom!


    Otte''s chest instantly burst open, and his entire body slammed into the wall.


    In the blink of an eye, Otte was dead!


    "Ouyang Lingtian, let''s see who kills more!"


    With a loud shout, Xia Liu''s movement technique engaged, transforming into trails of afterimages darting among the people, and in a blink, another ten fell.


    Ouyang Lingtian and the other pirates also reacted at this time, each one moving into action.


    Rat-a-tat-tat...


    Bang, bang...


    Countless gunshots echoed through the hall.


    But the gunfire lasted for less than ten seconds before the world went silent once again.


    Standing on the deck, Fang Fei collapsed weakly to her seat the moment the gunfire ceased.


    "It''s over, everything''s over."


    "Sister! You still have me, Xia Liu died because of us, we have to live well, otherwise how can we deserve him." Lin Yazhi''s throat was choked up, her eyes already moist.


    She clenched her teeth, determined not to let her sister give up on life. Discover stories at empire


    Not just Fang Fei, but the other girls also slumped powerlessly, without hope. With Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian gone, they were about to enter a dark doomsday.


    "Hahaha! Three hundred billion US dollars, once it''s in hand, I can live the high life forever."


    "Hmm? Three hundred billion is indeed a lot, but you no longer have lives to spend it," a voice like the Grim Reaper echoed beside the two pirates discussing, all of a sudden.


    Then, the two men only felt lightness in their bodies, realizing they were falling into the sea by the time they reacted.


    After dealing with them, Xia Liu''s movement technique shifted again, and his afterimages dispersed on the deck.


    "Ahhhh..."


    Several more screams rang out.

 Chapter 233 Saving People Out of Boredom

    All the women stared agape at Xia Liu, they had just witnessed something incredible.Xia Liu had actually thrown the pirates overboard!


    But that wasn''t the most terrifying part. What was terrifying was that he had walked out from the main hall!


    What about the pirates inside there?


    Xia Liu didn''t explain, nor would he explain, and he definitely wouldn''t spare those pirates.


    The ones he had thrown into the sea had their bodies already filled with Earth Spirit Energy, and it''s likely that before they even hit the water, their organs had completely hardened.


    "Xia Liu! It''s really good that you''re unharmed!" Looking at the indifferent Xia Liu in front of her, Fang Fei opened her arms and hugged him tightly.


    Xia Liu remained silent, raising his hands to hug Fang Fei.


    Just at that moment, Ouyang Lingtian walked out from the cabin.


    He was soaked in blood from head to toe.


    His eyes and spirit appeared vacant, as if he had seen a ghost.


    "Look! It''s Young Master Ouyang!" someone cried out, and everyone''s gaze shifted towards him.


    "Young Master Ouyang, thank you. If you hadn''t killed all those people, I might never have seen Sister Fang again." Read new adventures at empire


    Seeing Ouyang Lingtian come out, Xia Liu quickly thanked him.


    "Ah! Young Master Ouyang killed all those pirates!"


    "Sss...how terrifying."


    All the women looked at Ouyang Lingtian with a fearful expression.


    The pirates were detestable, and they wished all of them were dead.


    But when the pirates were indeed annihilated, they all became frightened.


    And being killed by one person, it was just too terrifying.


    "Young Master Ouyang, thank you," Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi also looked at Ouyang Lingtian with fear.


    His appearance was truly frightening, covered in blood, like a madman on a killing spree.


    "Xia Liu! What are you talking about! You killed those pirates! You did it!"


    Looking at the people who were watching him with terrified eyes, Ouyang Lingtian shouted forcefully.


    Even in death, he would never forget how Xia Liu had just butchered dozens of men with his bare hands!


    Whenever he closed his eyes, he would see Xia Liu slaughter those men. Even for a battle-hardened warrior like him, his body and mind still shuddered.


    "What! He was the one who killed them!" The women shifted their gaze onto Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, did you kill those pirates?" Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi also shuddered slightly.


    They didn''t quite believe Xia Liu was capable of such actions, but since it came from Ouyang Lingtian''s mouth, it could be true!


    "Well, I did kill a few, but most of the credit still goes to our Young Master Ouyang."


    "Nonsense! You murderer, Fang Fei, don''t go near him! He''s very dangerous!" Ouyang Lingtian, reminded by the dreadful scenes, immediately warned her.


    "Young Master Ouyang, you don''t need to worry about me and Sister Fang. If you still have the strength, go and rescue your rich friends on that ship."


    Xia Liu didn''t want to argue with him, nor did he want Fang Fei to hear any of the bloody details.


    "Yes! Young Master Ouyang, please go and rescue them quickly." Fang Fei remembered that the men had been taken away earlier.


    At this moment, perhaps only Ouyang Lingtian could save them.


    "If I go up, I might hurt them," Ouyang Lingtian reluctantly admitted during this critical moment.


    "What should we do!" everyone started to panic, worrying that if they delayed any further, the pirates on the ship might realize and start firing cannons at them, potentially ending everything.


    Ouyang Lingtian remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Xia Liu. He had to admit that Xia Liu was the only one capable of such a feat. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why are you looking at me? I need to protect my wife, I don''t have time for such boring tasks."


    Upon hearing Xia Liu say this, the girls were taken aback, considering rescuing merely a boring task.


    Were they extremely lucky just now? If Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi weren''t there, Xia Liu definitely wouldn''t have thrown those pirates into the sea.


    "Xia Liu, I just saw it, you are very fast. If you can rescue them without getting hurt, please help out."


    Fang Fei said weakly, pouting her lips.


    "Okay, I''ll listen to you." Xia Liu smiled knowingly, and immediately Spiritual Energy surged through his meridians at high speed.


    Under the watchful eyes of all, Xia Liu turned into streaks of afterimages, sprinting across the pirate ship''s steel deck.


    "Incredible!"


    "Such terrifying speed!"


    "So cool, just like an Immortal descending from the heavens!"


    With their nerves now relaxed, all the girls'' eyes gleamed as they witnessed Xia Liu''s frightening speed.


    "Sister, brother-in-law really isn''t an ordinary person¡­" Lin Yazhi began to firm up her guesses. Xia Liu could really take away her sister!


    "This¡­ he must still be human¡­" Fang Fei didn''t quite know how to respond.


    It was also her first time seeing this side of Xia Liu, one could imagine how exciting his past stories must have been.


    After Xia Liu boarded the pirate ship, they occasionally heard wailing sounds.


    Those sounds, as if endowed with Magic Power, made everyone shiver with cold.


    Five minutes later, a terrified-looking man appeared on the other end of the steel deck.


    "Yang Tian, don''t panic, I''m here, come over slowly." Ouyang Lingtian, who had been waiting at this end of the corridor, immediately said as he saw his friend approach.


    "Lingtian!" Seeing it was Ouyang Lingtian, Yang Tian breathed a deep sigh of relief.


    He couldn''t help but look back at the pirate ship, fear seizing his mind, and he quickly crossed the steel deck.


    After Yang Tian came down, a few more men emerged, all looking very tense.


    Their looks were mostly of fear, as they had just experienced something they''d never faced in their lifetime.


    They saw things they could never imagine in a lifetime.


    They couldn''t comprehend how a person''s speed and strength could be so terrifying!


    Xia Liu stood at the ship''s bow, silently watching the wealthy heirs cross the passage.


    But as soon as the last man boarded the ship, Ouyang Lingtian unexpectedly moved the steel plank, severing the connection between the two ships!


    "What are you doing!" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    He wasn''t worried; with just a ten-meter distance, he could easily jump across.


    "Ouyang Lingtian, do you know what you are doing?" Fang Fei was also angry at this time.


    You didn''t go on the pirate ship to rescue people, and even though Xia Liu risked his life to save them, the bridge was ultimately taken down!


    Not only was Fang Fei furious, but the previously rescued girls were also somewhat dissatisfied.


    After all, Xia Liu had risked his life to save them, only to be abandoned on the pirate ship in the end.


    "What am I doing? This was instructed by General Fang!" Ouyang Lingtian shouted.


    As soon as his words fell, the roar of fighter jets echoed around them.


    Everyone looked up to see two fighter jets flying low, followed by about ten helicopters.


    In the nearby waters, several large ships were racing, bringing a massive impact to everyone present.

 Chapter 234 Persist Until You Agree

    Seeing this scene and recalling Ouyang Lingtian''s words, Fang Fei was astonished, "Did you just say General Fang instigated this?""Yes! It was your grandfather''s doing, Fang Fei, look closely, he is the Nether Emperor who dominates the Mercenary World! A Demon Leader who kills without blinking an eye!"


    Ouyang Lingtian''s emotions were somewhat agitated; he was afraid of Xia Liu.


    It wasn''t just the fear of losing Fang Fei to him; he was more afraid of his methods.


    No organization in the world could forget those bloody scenes, at least a dozen Mercenary Teams had been annihilated.


    It was all Xia Liu''s doing!


    "I don''t believe it! He''s just a farmer in the village!" Fang Fei yelled, unable to believe that Xia Liu was the Demon Leader.


    Even if he really had killed someone just now, those he killed were all bad guys!


    "Don''t believe it? Wait for General Fang to come and ask him, or you can ask him yourself," Ouyang Lingtian said, pointing at Xia Liu.


    Not only was Fang Fei shocked, but everyone else on the ship was also shaken.


    The Nether Emperor, so this was the Nether Emperor!


    "Xia Liu, is what he said true?" Fang Fei asked, her eyes red and trembling as she looked at Xia Liu.


    Looking at Fang Fei, who was on the verge of breaking down, yet full of hope.


    Xia Liu was unsure how to respond for a moment, was it true?


    It was.


    But who else knew the hidden truths as well as he did?


    A murderous madman?


    He had indeed wiped out countless mercenaries.


    Completely inhumane?


    No, he had humanity, and it was strong!


    "Sister Fang, if there''s a chance, I will definitely tell you the whole story."


    Xia Liu responded, yet it was as if he hadn''t responded at all.


    Fang Fei and everyone on the ship were left confused.


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    "Nether Emperor! Don''t try to evade the truth! In that year, you killed at least a thousand mercenaries! Maybe even more!" Ouyang Lingtian continued to roar when he saw Fang Fei fall silent.


    Whoosh!


    A thousand people! Perhaps even more!


    Hearing this news, everyone''s faces filled with terror.


    "Ouyang Lingtian, how are you any different from me? Don''t tell me you''ve never killed anyone," Xia Liu angrily pointed at Ouyang Lingtian.


    This guy had been smearing his name in front of Fang Fei, which was truly detestable.


    "Heh, acknowledge it. The ones I killed were all enemies!"


    "Hahaha..."


    Xia Liu burst into laughter and said no more.


    The truth was in people''s hearts; Ouyang Lingtian''s words would let everyone understand.


    Indeed, Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi both began to calm down.


    Xia Liu had indeed wiped out Mercenary Teams, but if they were all of the same nature as pirates, then this was not a slaughter, but a deliverance from evil!


    Before Ouyang Lingtian could speak again, several helicopters arrived overhead, and soon dozens of fully armed soldiers descended from the aircraft.


    They all wore masks, their faces indistinguishable, but the uniforms on them identified their unit, the Spearhead Special Forces!


    Once Spearhead had secured the ship, patrol vessels also arrived in the vicinity.


    Shortly after, a walkway was constructed, and an old man in military uniform walked onto the ship, escorted by guards.


    His face showed his age, but there was an indescribable vitality in his brows.


    Even as he walked, you could tell how robust he was.


    "So we''ve indeed encountered this old man," Xia Liu, standing with his hands behind his back at the prow of the pirate ship, shook his head and sighed.


    "General Fang!" Upon seeing Fang Huasheng approach, Ouyang Lingtian immediately saluted.


    "Hmm, how''s the situation?" Fang Huasheng nodded slightly and asked.


    "We''ve successfully blocked the Nether Emperor on the pirate ship!"


    "Very good!"


    "Grandpa!" Just at this moment, Fang Fei ran over.


    "Fei''er, are you hurt? Let Grandpa have a look," Fang Huasheng doted on Fang Fei, fearing she had lost even a single hair.


    Since hearing the alarm that the ship had been intercepted by pirates, Fang Huasheng had been anxious. No matter how dangerous, he had to come himself.


    When he was almost there, he heard from Ouyang Lingtian that the God of Mercenary, the Nether Emperor, was on board and that he had a good relationship with Fang Fei. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief, after which he asked Ouyang Lingtian about the situation. Ultimately, he made a deployment strategy to trap Xia Liu on the pirate ship.


    "I''m fine, but this scum has trapped everyone''s benefactor, Xia Liu, on the pirate ship!"


    Fang Fei''s eyes reddened as she moaned weepily.


    "I know all about it."


    Although he hadn''t experienced it for himself, Fang Huasheng understood that with Xia Liu aboard, a small group of pirates was nothing to worry about.


    Moreover, Ouyang Lingtian had mentioned that these pirates were once mercenaries, which made them even less of a concern.


    After all, there was a King on board who specialized in annihilating mercenary teams.


    "Grandpa, please let them extend the bridge and allow Xia Liu to come over!" Fang Fei urged anxiously and even pulled Fang Huasheng to the prow so he could get a clear view of Xia Liu.


    Yi Feng naturally followed Fang Huasheng closely. When he saw Xia Liu again,


    his body began to tremble unconsciously, especially his right hand, as if acute pain was surfacing once more.


    It was a pain he would never forget in this lifetime.


    "Yi Feng, don''t worry," Fang Huasheng immediately reassured upon noticing Yi Feng''s state.


    "Hmm."


    "Yi Feng, let me introduce you. This is my good friend, Xia Liu. He''s the one who saved everyone just now."


    Since Yi Feng often accompanied Fang Huasheng, Fang Fei was quite familiar with him and quickly introduced them.


    "Miss Fei, he''s your good friend?" Yi Feng''s expression turned to one of shock upon hearing this.


    "Yes, he''s great, and from his experiences, I think the two of you could have a lot to talk about."


    "Fei''er, don''t speak for now," Fang Huasheng said gently, chuckling as he saw his granddaughter defending Xia Liu like this.


    "Alright, Grandpa, hurry up and let Xia Liu come over," Fang Fei implored, not giving up hope; she didn''t want things to turn out the way Ouyang Lingtian had said.


    She didn''t want Xia Liu to become an enemy of her grandfather!


    "Should I call you the Nether Emperor, or Xia Liu?" Fang Huasheng asked with a slight smile after a moment of silence.


    "Haha, old man, let''s speak plainly; my intentions for coming to Liu Hai are simple¡ªto take Fang Fei home," Xia Liu declared, standing tall at the prow, his sharp gaze fixed on the people opposite him.


    "Take Fei''er away? I am aware of your matters, but what if I don''t agree?"


    "Grandpa, I don''t want to marry Ouyang Lingtian. My heart belongs only to Xia Liu," Fang Fei cried, her face downcast as she saw her grandfather''s attitude.


    "No, Fei''er, you have no idea how terrifying Xia Liu can be. It''s decided, set sail!"


    Watching the slowly retreating steamship, Xia Liu roared, "General Fang, if you don''t agree, then I will persist until you do!"


    "Persist until I agree? Very well, I want to see just how persistent you can be..."


    As soon as Fang Huasheng''s words fell, Yi Feng immediately made a hand gesture.

 Chapter 235 The Rhythm of Destruction

    Everyone was staring dumbfounded at Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng.Torpedoes prepare!


    This was the rhythm of destroying Xia Liu!


    "Grandpa! What are you doing?" Fang Fei asked blankly as she looked at her grandfather, realizing she could no longer see through him.


    "Fei''er, Grandpa is doing this because he has no other choice. He is like a nuclear bomb that cannot be left unattended anywhere," he said.


    Fang Huasheng glanced at Xia Liu at the opposite boat''s bow, expressing his inner feelings.


    "Grandpa! He is the only love of my life! If something happens to him, I don''t want to live either!" Fang Fei screamed hysterically.


    "Guards! Take Fei''er to her room to rest!"


    "Yes!"


    "Grandpa! You can''t do this! You can''t do this!" Fang Fei, carried away by two Spearhead Warriors, was unleashing her emotions for Xia Liu.


    Tears had already blurred her vision, and even though she couldn''t see him, her heart and mind were filled with his image.


    After Fang Fei was taken away, Ouyang Lingtian laughed, confident that with Fang Huasheng and the Spearhead Troop there, Xia Liu was doomed!


    "Old man! Don''t push me!" Xia Liu declared fearlessly as he looked around at the surrounding warships and fighter jets. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ha-ha! Push you? Let''s see if you can survive first! Yi Feng!" Fang Huasheng said with a pleased smile.


    "Understood!"


    "Yi Feng! You dare!"


    "The humiliation you inflicted on me back then, today it''s finally all repaid!" Yi Feng couldn''t help but sigh.


    "Ha-ha! Nether Emperor! You deserve to die! No one in this world can tolerate your existence!" Ouyang Lingtian laughed maniacally.


    All the wealthy heirs on the scene fell silent; they had not forgotten.


    They were all standing here because of Xia Liu''s efforts.


    But now, their lifesaver might be about to die.


    "Very good! Very good! Ha-ha-ha¡­" Standing at the bow, Xia Liu''s laughter resonated across the sea, causing waves to erupt continuously over the ocean surface.


    "All I wanted was to take my woman away! Why must you force me like this! Why!"


    "Because you are too powerful, no one can tolerate you," Yi Feng sighed as he looked at the nearly demonized Xia Liu.


    After the two ships had moved a bit further apart,


    Yi Feng raised both hands high, and in the next second, he swung them down decisively: "Launch the torpedoes!"


    Bam bam!!!


    As soon as Yi Feng''s words fell, two sounds instantly thundered.


    Once again, everyone was left dumbstruck.


    It was shock as well as regret.


    Even if Xia Liu was guilty, he had just eradicated a ship full of pirates!


    Boom!!!


    In an instant, the torpedoes struck the pirate ship, setting off a magnificent firework display over the quiet sea.


    Seconds after the pirate ship exploded, large fragments immediately flipped and sank into the sea.


    "Xia Liu!!!"


    A painful wail echoed from the bow as Fang Fei ran wildly, unfettered by reason.


    Heartache and heartbreak overwhelmed her as she saw the pirate ship shatter; her own heart seemed to die along with the vessel.


    "Stop her!" Fang Huasheng ordered sternly upon seeing his granddaughter''s frenzy.


    Several Spearhead Warriors immediately restrained Fang Fei.


    "Let me go! Let me die! Let me join him!" Fang Fei screamed, her tears soaking her clothes.


    Memories surged in her mind; the person she loved most, the one she was most anxious about, ended up being destroyed right before her eyes by her own family.


    Despairing of life, her only thought was to drown herself in watery suicide, hoping that her sisters far away in Hejing would forgive her.


    "Fang Fei, don''t do this. Even if Xia Liu doesn''t die today, he won''t live long. The whole world is looking for him; nobody can tolerate his existence."


    Seeing Fang Fei in such a mad frenzy, Ouyang Lingtian gently offered his consolation.


    "Go away! Just go away! I don''t want to see you! If it weren''t for you, why would Xia Liu come to Liu Hai, and how would he have ended up like this!"


    "I..."


    "Lingtian, let Fei''er have some quiet," Fang Huasheng said with a slightly embarrassed expression as he saw Ouyang Lingtian being rebuffed.


    "Wuuu... you promised to take me home. Now that you''ve gone, I''ll go to keep you company. You won''t be lonely on the Netherworld Path," the powerless Fang Fei knelt at the bow of the boat, her tears dropping onto the steel deck.


    As she saw Fang Fei''s heartbreak, Lin Yazhi lifted her head, trying to hold back her tears from falling.


    "Sister, you must be strong. Xia Liu wouldn''t want to see you like this."


    "Yazhi!" Fang Fei embraced Lin Yazhi, her cries resounding once more.


    Watching the two women wailing more and more frantically, the wealthy beauties present gradually were moved by the tragedy, and couldn''t help but weep softly, their tears brimming over.


    "Fei''er, don''t blame grandfather. In this position, I have to think of everyone," he said.


    "I don''t blame you. If there''s anyone to blame, it''s myself for falling in love with him, so deeply in love."


    "Don''t even think of doing anything foolish, or else grandfather''s life would have been lived in vain."


    "When you ordered the execution of Xia Liu, you should have known that your granddaughter would not live on alone."


    "Ah..." Faced with Fang Fei''s stance, Fang Huasheng was at a loss, and with a sigh, he seemed to age a decade more.


    "Report! Report! Enemy activity!"


    Just as Fang Fei was lost in sorrowful desolation, suddenly Yi Feng''s walkie-talkie crackled with a flurry of urgent voices.


    "Report the situation immediately!" Yi Feng''s eyes widened. With the Spearhead Troop here, the enemy still dared to come; this was definitely an unusual response.


    "It''s the Nether Emperor! It''s the Nether Emperor!"


    The Nether Emperor!


    Hearing this title once more, everyone was stupefied!


    "What happened to him! What happened!" Fang Fei''s spirit shook as she yelled at Yi Feng!


    "On the open sea ahead! It''s him! He''s not dead!"


    Upon hearing this news, everyone rushed to the edge of the deck, their eyes wide as they gazed into the distance.


    This one glance would remain unforgettable for the rest of their lives.


    "That is!"


    "An Immortal?" Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Countless people gasped in astonishment.


    Before them, out on the sea, stood a man with his torso bare, his pants shredded into ribbons, barefoot upon the water''s surface!


    Yes!


    Like an immortal, standing erect on the sea surface without any aid!


    The man standing on the water looked up, his familiar, cold, and unmatched face, his eyes bloodshot, brimming with a burst of murderous intent!


    "He''s actually walking on the water!" Seeing this, Ouyang Lingtian''s cold sweat soaked through his clothes instantly.


    Not just Ouyang Lingtian, everyone from the Spearhead Troop felt the same.


    No one had thought that after two torpedoes sank the ship and the hull exploded, they still wouldn''t succeed in blowing Xia Liu to pieces!


    If this news were to spread, it would unquestionably shock the entire world!


    "Hahaha!"


    With a scoffing laugh and a hint of madness, the sight of Xia Liu standing on the sea shocked everyone to their core.


    "Dare to fire torpedoes at me! Do you really think I''m that easy to bully?" With a sinister smile on his lips, Xia Liu began to slowly raise his palms, even if it meant using up all his Spiritual Energy, he would retaliate, for the Nether Emperor is not to be humiliated by anyone!


    "Stop it!" Seeing Xia Liu raise his hand, Yi Feng yelled in panic.


    "Yi Feng, let him vent," Fang Huasheng said as he intently watched Xia Liu, a gentle smile on his face.

 Chapter 236 Probing

    Xia Liu angrily raised both palms, and the boundless Spiritual Energy, vast like a rainbow, continued to spill out around him.The wind grew sharp, and the waves increasingly fierce.


    Standing atop the azure sea surface, with a lift of his hand, an infinite momentum swept across all directions.


    With the Five Elements Mantra''s blessing, Xia Liu concentrated all of his Spiritual Energy into his fingertips!


    Seeing the unrivaled domineering presence of Xia Liu, everyone on the ship was dumbfounded.


    "What is he trying to do?" Lin Yazhi asked, astonished upon seeing Xia Liu like this.


    Because she saw a familiar shadow on Xia Liu''s body, it was the appearance of a Martial Artist releasing Inner Qi!


    Not only was Lin Yazhi astonished, but several members of the Spearhead Troop were also trembling.


    Because they sensed it, an endless oppressive force was surrounding Xia Liu.


    Ouyang Lingtian''s pupils shrank violently, "Inner Qi release!"


    "Hmm? Lingtian, you know this?" Fang Huasheng glanced at Ouyang Lingtian and asked.


    "I''ve heard that when Martial Artists cultivate to a certain realm, their Dantian will contain Inner Qi, just like the heroes in TV shows. Those with powerful Inner Qi, it''s possible to destroy half a mountainside."


    Ouyang Lingtian said slowly after composing himself.


    Hearing Ouyang Lingtian''s explanation, everyone held their breath in anticipation, witnessing the terrifying scene from the legends.


    "Hehe, the Nether Emperor is from Huaxia, and his martial practice is also a heritage, don''t worry, let him vent." Fang Huasheng squinted his eyes and smiled, his true thoughts unreadable.


    "Xia Liu! Stop it! Don''t do anything foolish!" Just as Xia Liu was about to shoot out the gathered Spiritual Energy, Fang Fei shouted loudly.


    "Quick, get the ships to move away, he''ll sink them!" Ouyang Lingtian yelled through the intercom.


    "Xia Liu, I beg you, stop! You''ll make a huge mistake¡­" Fang Fei knelt on the deck, powerless.


    She could imagine, if Xia Liu were to sink the ships, Grandfather would definitely be furious.


    That would indeed lead to an absolute bombardment.


    After Fang Fei''s voice fell, the sea surface suddenly became calm.


    Xia Liu retracted his hands, and the unmatched pressure dissipated into nothingness.


    However, in the eyes of the shocked crowd, Xia Liu ripped off his strips of trousers, wearing only his underwear, and ran across the sea surface.


    Of course, he was so fast that, aside from the very few people, no one could see clearly.


    Facing the more than ten-meter-high ship, Xia Liu formed the Xia Liu Hand Seal and channeled Spiritual Energy into his legs.


    With a leap, he directly jumped onto the deck.


    "Yi Feng, well done, you blew up both my clothes and pants, so..."


    "What are you doing!! Ah..."


    Before Yi Feng could step back, he felt a sudden chill as his clothes and pants were stripped off by Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu tightened the camo shirt he had taken; it was a bit short but thankfully didn''t reveal anything inappropriate.


    Once again, the crowd was stunned, Xia Liu had actually raided Yi Feng, taking at most ten seconds!


    Looking at the weird gazes of the crowd, Yi Feng''s face was about to turn green.


    Once again, he was humiliated by Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu! I thought you..." Fang Fei rushed into Xia Liu''s arms, her tears flowing unabated.


    "Don''t worry, I haven''t walked through life with you yet, how could I die so easily?" Xia Liu said with a radiant smile.


    "Yi Feng, go change into another set of clothes first, the rest of you take the kids to their rooms to rest." Seeing the two embrace tightly, Fang Huasheng directed the Spearhead Warriors to handle the follow-up.


    At this point, Ouyang Lingtian was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to stay or leave.


    Seeing Fang Fei rush into Xia Liu''s arms at that moment, he admitted to himself that he had failed.


    And the fact that Fang Huasheng didn''t say anything further proved that he no longer had a chance.


    However, he was somewhat puzzled by Fang Huasheng''s attitude just now, which clearly seemed intent on destroying Xia Liu.


    But now it didn''t look anything like it, and he smelt a hint of conspiracy.


    "General Fang, Sister Fang helped you win back two billion." Once everyone had entered the cabin, Xia Liu had Lin Yazhi take care of Fang Fei first; he was ready to talk business!


    "Hehe, don''t blame me, I just wanted to test whether your strength had decreased." Fang Huasheng said with a pleased smile.


    "Test?"


    As soon as Fang Huasheng spoke, Lin Yazhi, Fang Fei, and Ouyang Lingtian were all astounded.


    The two torpedoes were just a test, those torpedoes that could even smash pirate ships!


    Xia Liu was even more baffled now; so, it seemed Fang Huasheng never really wanted to kill him.


    What was the purpose of his test?


    "Old man, did you want to use two torpedoes to test whether I was capable of protecting Sister Fang?"


    "That''s right, now it seems you are quite good, although the outcome was a bit tragic." Thinking back to Xia Liu''s tattered trousers, Fang Huasheng couldn''t help but shake his head.


    ...


    Ouyang Lingtian and the Fang sisters were all stunned.


    After two torpedoes, the ship was smashed to pieces, yet Xia Liu only had his clothes and trousers destroyed; such a result was merely considered tragic...


    Ouyang Lingtian tried to imagine, if he were Xia Liu, that just now would have been a close brush with death.


    "Hehe, now that you''ve seen the result, I have the strength to protect Sister Fang and can take her home, right?"


    Xia Liu didn''t care about Fang Huasheng''s disdain, with Spiritual Energy as his protection, even ten torpedoes wouldn''t deter him from trying his luck.


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course not!" The speaker was Ouyang Lingtian, and even if Xia Liu was strong, he was ultimately a dangerous person.


    If Fang Fei stayed by his side, there would definitely be many hidden dangers.


    "What, you still won''t give up? If you also try two torpedoes, then you''ll prove you have the strength to protect Sister Fang."


    Xia Liu coldly eyed Ouyang Lingtian, his lifetime of reputation nearly sullied by this guy''s scheming, now here he was making snide remarks.


    Pfft!


    Both Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi burst into giggles, Xia Liu''s words were sharp indeed.


    They left Ouyang Lingtian speechless, unwilling to utter a word.


    Confronting two torpedoes was simply courting death.


    "Hehe, Xia Liu, Lingtian is right, of course you can''t take Fei''er away. How should I put it, you are almost everyone''s target, they all want to find and kill you; do you think I would let my granddaughter take such a risk?"


    Fang Huasheng spoke, sharing a similar view to Ouyang Lingtian''s.


    "Grandpa, no matter what kind of person Xia Liu is, I''m willing to stay by his side and take risks together." Fang Fei said resolutely.


    "And you, what do you think?" Fang Huasheng didn''t respond to Fang Fei but instead directed his gaze at Xia Liu.


    "I have no particular thoughts. Whoever dares to harm my woman, they will face a man-slayer, a god-slayer," Xia Liu said lightly.


    "Hmph! Just talk."


    "You''re always picking fights with me. If you''re so great, why don''t you try facing two torpedoes?"


    Xia Liu was genuinely annoyed with Ouyang Lingtian; him, of all people, always had these weird remarks, and Xia Liu had had enough.


    "Since you insist, I won''t say more, let''s discuss this in depth inside," Fang Huasheng suggested, glancing around before pointing to the cabin.


    "Ah! General Fang, you mustn''t!" Ouyang Lingtian panicked; if Fang Huasheng nodded in agreement, nothing could stop this tragic love of a noble lady for a wanted man.

 Chapter 237 Secret Mission

    "Lingtian, come join us," Fang Huasheng said with a radiant smile, slowing down his speech."Grandpa, are you trying to make it difficult for Xia Liu?" Fang Fei panicked. She could tell from her grandfather''s words that to take Xia Liu home, he would have to pass his test.


    If it''s two torpedoes again, Xia Liu might be done for.


    Xia Liu, despite being full of doubts, still followed Fang Huasheng into the hall.


    How should I put it? Right now, the old man definitely calls the shots in the Fang Family.


    If I can''t get through to him, there''s absolutely no way I''ll be able to take Fang Fei away.


    If I were to forcibly take her away, this old man could send a few Spearhead warriors after us at any time, then how could my peaceful life remain peaceful?


    Following Fang Huasheng into the hall were Fang Fei and Lin Yazhi, as well as Ouyang Lingtian.


    The hall had already been cleaned up.


    The Spearhead members who had cleaned the hall were all terrified; they had never seen such a purgatorial scene.


    At the scene, not a single body was left intact.


    Either their chests were shattered, or their throats were pierced through.


    Even if they recalled it several years later, they would still feel their hearts pounding.


    "Xia Liu! Are you all right?" Just as Xia Liu entered the hall, Uncle Fu, who was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, greeted him from his chair.


    "Uncle Fu, you don''t have to worry about me. Just focus on healing. You should be able to recover in half a month," Xia Liu replied with a nonchalant smile.


    "I''m really grateful to you. If you hadn''t arrived in time, the people on the ship might have..." Noticing Fang Huasheng, Uncle Fu immediately began to thank him excitedly.


    "Old Fu, you just focus on your recovery. I''ve heard all about what happened. Good on you; even though you''re retired, you are still my pride and the pride of the Spearhead Troop!"


    "Heh, it''s what I should do. But when I woke up just now and took a look at the scene, it seems that the Spearhead warriors nowadays are a bit... well..."


    Uncle Fu laughed. He hadn''t wanted to mention it, but after seeing the hair-raising massacre, he decided to speak up.


    Hearing Uncle Fu say this, Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei looked at Xia Liu.


    This wasn''t the Spearhead Troop''s doing; it was clearly Xia Liu''s handiwork.


    "Uncle Fu, you might not be aware, but all of this was done by the Nether Emperor!" Sensing the barbs in Uncle Fu''s words, Ouyang Lingtian decided to rat out Xia Liu.


    "Nether Emperor!"


    Upon hearing this title, Uncle Fu trembled, even though he was injured.


    As a retired King of Soldiers from the Spearhead Troop, he was well-informed about the current situation in various countries.


    The Nether Emperor was the nightmare of countless people; it was said that wherever the Nether Emperor went, it was like purgatory, where not even a blade of grass would grow.


    "This is crazy! It was the Nether Emperor! Where did he go in the end?" Uncle Fu asked weakly, worried that speaking too loudly might be overheard by the Nether Emperor.


    "Uncle Fu, don''t believe the rumors out there. The Nether Emperor is actually very kind, and he just saved everyone a moment ago," Lin Yazhi said with a beaming smile.


    "That''s right, and the Nether Emperor is very kind-hearted and honest too. If those pirates hadn''t kidnapped everyone, he definitely wouldn''t have taken action," Fang Fei chimed in after Lin Yazhi.


    "Was the Nether Emperor on the ship from the start?" Uncle Fu was astonished. Why would Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei speak so highly of the Nether Emperor? That just didn''t seem likely.


    "Uncle Fu, you should rest up. Don''t get too emotional, or you might aggravate your wounds. I just removed the bullets from you; I didn''t do any other treatment," Xia Liu said.


    "Thank you for your concern, Xia Liu."


    "Uncle Fu, you wanted to know who the Nether Emperor is, right? I''ll tell you¡ªit''s Xia Liu! He is the Nether Emperor, the Mercenary King who just slaughtered those pirates!"


    Watching the two of them laugh and joke around, Ouyang Lingtian seized the opportunity to immediately announce Xia Liu''s identity!


    Huh?


    Uncle Fu''s pupils contracted sharply; what had he just heard!


    The Nether Emperor is Xia Liu!


    Xia Liu is the Nether Emperor!


    Uncle Fu couldn''t believe it; he stared at Xia Liu, unable to reconcile the man before him with the terrifying figure of the Nether Emperor from the rumors, no matter from which angle he looked at him.


    "Xia Liu, is this true?" Uncle Fu asked feebly.


    "Hehe, it''s true."


    Seeing Xia Liu''s amused admission, Uncle Fu fell silent.


    Ouyang Lingtian instantly grinned stealthily; Uncle Fu and Xia Liu hadn''t been on good terms before, and he guessed things were about to become awkward.


    After some silence, Uncle Fu''s face suddenly burst into a brilliant smile, excitedly saying, "Haha! I knew it; I said you couldn''t be an ordinary person. No wonder you dared to come to Liuhai City alone; so you were actually hiding such a powerful identity."


    Seeing Uncle Fu''s reaction, everyone nearly stumbled and fell over.


    Especially Ouyang Lingtian; he had thought that once Uncle Fu knew Xia Liu''s identity, he would become fearful and distance himself from him.


    But instead, he was admiring him! Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hehe, Uncle Fu, don''t say that; without your help, I wouldn''t have been able to meet Sister Fang."


    Xia Liu smiled brightly; sure enough, Uncle Fu''s perspective was different from others''.


    "Old Fu, Xia Liu and I have some things to discuss. You go and have a good rest first."


    "Hehe, I''ll listen to Chief Fang."


    The Spearhead Warriors present then left the scene, and Lin Yazhi and Fang Fei went upstairs to chat with Uncle Fu.


    The spacious hall was left with only Ouyang Lingtian, Xia Liu, Fang Huasheng, and Yi Feng.


    Gazing at Xia Liu''s calm face, Yi Feng''s scalp tingled, and he didn''t dare to meet his gaze.


    "Yi Feng, don''t be so stoic. We''re all friends here. I admit I''ve done some wrong things in the past, and you''ve launched two torpedoes at me; we should be even now, right?"


    "Er, we''re even," Yi Feng replied in surprise, quickly regaining his composure.


    "Hehe, it''s nice that you two could reconcile. Yi Feng, show them the documents," said Fang Huasheng, with kindly crinkled eyes. Ever since he was ''handled'' by Xia Liu, Yi Feng had changed a lot; in a sense, Xia Liu was his benefactor.


    Unfortunately, Xia Liu''s methods were terrifying, or else Yi Feng wouldn''t remember it for so long. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Following Fang Huasheng''s command, Yi Feng slowly opened the document bag he was holding and handed two pieces of paper to Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu.


    "What is this?" Taking the papers without looking at the content, Xia Liu hastily asked.


    "This is a 5S level top-secret mission!" After scanning the papers briefly, Ouyang Lingtian burst out in astonishment.


    "5S level... what does that represent?"


    "5S level represents the highest-tier mission in Huaxia, such missions almost never occur because it signifies a one-way trip!" Ouyang Lingtian''s hands shook as he held the documents.


    A soldier''s duty is to contribute to the country, and to secure its safety!


    If one could take on a 5S level mission, it''s not just an honor but also a sign of trust.


    Every warrior dreams of the day they are assigned such a level of task, as it would be a test, a recognition of their worth!


    "Old man, you''re being a bit unfair, handing me the documents; you want me to do this task for you, but it''s a one-way mission..."

 Chapter 238 Getting Something for Nothing

    Xia Liu really wanted to give Huasheng a thumbs-up; this old man was incredible!"Hehe, you''ve noticed, haven''t you? Without my consent, you''re definitely not taking Fei''er away."


    Huasheng didn''t avoid admitting it; since he had learned about the relationship between Fang Fei and Xia Liu, he had been planning all this.


    Starting from the initial torpedo testing of Xia Liu''s strength to witnessing him walk on water like a deity.


    He was convinced that Xia Liu was the man he was looking for, and the most suitable person for the task at hand.


    As for his title of Nether Emperor, Huasheng also knew some secrets, which was why he had always wanted to recruit Xia Liu into the Spearhead Troop.


    If Xia Liu agreed to join the Spearhead Troop, then there was a great chance that Spearhead would become the strongest troop in Huaxia.


    The reason he had involved Lingtian was that the Heaven Slaying also had such a task.


    It would probably only be a few hours before Lingtian received a call to return.


    Since it had to be discussed, Huasheng decided to speak plainly.


    "Old man, are you planning to use me to kill someone by proxy?" Xia Liu said unreservedly.


    "Xia Liu! This is General Fang''s trust in you, it''s an opportunity! Please, don''t disrespect it!"


    Upon hearing Xia Liu tease Huasheng, Ouyang Lingtian said angrily.


    "It''s okay, Lingtian. First, take a look at the documents." Huasheng was not angry at all because he believed that Xia Liu was the only one who could complete the task!


    "Xia Liu, with your strength, not to mention a 5S-rated task, you could probably even handle a 9S."


    "Thanks for the compliment, old man, but I still can''t do it. I need to stay alive to take care of Sister Fang," Xia Liu said, waving his hand.


    "You could refuse my invitation to join Spearhead before, but not now, hahaha..."


    Huasheng smiled gleefully.


    Before, he had no way to deal with Xia Liu; he let him enjoy his freedom temporarily. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Now, well...


    Who else but you should I trick when the Nether Emperor falls in love with my granddaughter?


    "Old man, I really have no interest in joining Spearhead. Please, just spare me and Sister Fang," Xia Liu pleaded bitterly.


    He knew this old guy wouldn''t make it easy; after all this time, he was still insisting Xia Liu join Spearhead.


    "Hehe, who asked you to fall for my granddaughter? If you don''t want to go, that''s also fine; I believe Lingtian would be very happy to."


    "Of course! As a warrior in the Heaven Slaying Troop, it is my honor to contribute to Huaxia!" Ouyang Lingtian vowed.


    "Idiot!"


    "What did you say, Xia Liu!" Ouyang Lingtian glared at Xia Liu, no matter that he was the Nether Emperor, Heaven Slaying must not be insulted!


    Moreover, Ouyang Lingtian had his trump card; he dared not claim to be stronger than Xia Liu, but he believed in his power to compete!


    "Never mind, forget what I said." Xia Liu shook his head and then said to Huasheng, "Old man, this time you''re having me do a 5S task; what will you ask of me next time?"


    Xia Liu didn''t want to be led around by the nose by Huasheng forever.


    This old guy was clearly cunning; having made the request once, there would definitely be a second time.


    Therefore, before executing the task, he needed some commitment from him.


    "You are very cautious, which is excellent." Huasheng looked at Xia Liu, his smile deepening: "As long as you can complete this task, I won''t stop you from being with Fei''er."


    "Alright! I agree!"


    Xia Liu declared without any hesitation, with Huasheng''s words, just completing the task and returning, he wouldn''t bother with anyone else.


    If the Ouyang Family came asking, he would just send them to Huasheng.


    "Xia Liu, the old man promised me but didn''t promise you; I won''t give up on Fang Fei," Ouyang Lingtian said gravely, furrowing his brows.


    "Whether you agree or not is up to you, but Sister Fang is mine."


    Xia Liu wouldn''t bother with him.


    Fang Fei had made it clear enough: if she doesn''t like him, she just doesn''t like him.


    "You!" Ouyang Lingtian was so angry he almost jumped up.


    "Do you dare to bet with me?" Then Ouyang Lingtian shifted his gaze to the documents, a wicked smile slowly spreading.


    "Not interested¡­"


    ...


    Watching Ouyang Lingtian fuming, Xia Liu completely ignored him, causing Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng to almost burst out laughing.


    "Not even this much courage, how pitiful."


    "Can''t you be mature like me, Ouyang Lingtian? Using provocation? Do you think I''d fall for that?" Xia Liu was speechless; this guy really was relentless when he''s crazed.


    "Pfft!" Ouyang Lingtian almost spat blood.


    "Hahaha¡­" Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng finally couldn''t hold back their laughter.


    The two were like nemeses, but there was a unique flavor to their enmity. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If they could walk side by side, perhaps they could become friends, Yi Feng thought.


    "Xia Liu! I want to have a duel with you! Whoever wins gets Fang Fei!" Unable to endure the laughter of Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng, Ouyang Lingtian directed his anger at Xia Liu.


    "Old man, you heard that right, this guy is using Sister Fang as a bargaining chip, how terrible."


    "Xia Liu! Don''t frame me!"


    Ouyang Lingtian panicked, and he also regretted it, as he accidentally gave Xia Liu an opportunity.


    This statement could easily lead to a misunderstanding from Fang Huasheng.


    "Haha, how interesting, Lingtian, don''t be angry, Xia Liu is just joking." Seeing Ouyang Lingtian ready to burst, Fang Huasheng laughed.


    "Heh, since you want to lose, then I''ll just grant your wish!"


    Since the elders had spoken, it''d be hypocritical of Xia Liu not to respond.


    "Alright! Whoever completes the task first wins! The bet is leaving Fang Fei!"


    Ouyang Lingtian said solemnly.


    "I''m in till the end!"


    "Very good, two spirited youngsters, how about the old man joins in a round?" Seeing their energetic anger, Fang Huasheng seemed to have shed countless years.


    "Hmm, old man, what do you want to do?" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    "I want to bet with Lingtian."


    "With me? General Fang, what''s this about?"


    Ouyang Lingtian was confused; he had no idea what the old man was really planning.


    "If Xia Liu completes the task first, you''ll transfer to the Spearhead Troop."


    Uh uh uh¡­


    Ouyang Lingtian stood frozen, he couldn''t believe the elder would make such a statement, showing his immense confidence in Xia Liu.


    "Alright! I accept."


    "Haha, that''s the spirit! Xia Liu, you know what to do, right?" Fang Huasheng looked at Xia Liu with a grin.


    Since this guy refused to join the Spearhead, pulling in a stalwart like Ouyang Lingtian was indispensable.


    "Old man, honestly, I really admire you." Xia Liu was not oblivious to Fang Huasheng''s intention¡ªhe was quite skilled at leveraging what he didn''t own.


    Knowing that he wouldn''t join the Spearhead, he decided to try to pull Ouyang Lingtian under his command using him.


    The maneuvers were evident.


    What was sad was that Ouyang Lingtian had actually agreed.


    Ouyang Lingtian just smiled and said nothing. He understood what the elder was thinking¡­


    "Everything is settled, then let''s check out this 5S-level task."

 Chapter 239 A Certain Girl

    A 5S level task implies a one-way trip.However, that''s just what outsiders understand.


    For a King of Soldiers of Ouyang Lingtian''s caliber, such a level task is merely a test and training.


    As for Xia Liu, he could complete it with a bit of seriousness.


    However, if it''s not done well enough, leaving hidden dangers would cause trouble in the late stages.


    Xia Liu briefly scanned the document, his brows gradually knitting together.


    "Old man, you''re not joking, right? Is there actually technology to develop this thing?"


    "You know?" Fang Huasheng looked at Xia Liu in surprise; the document merely described the task''s target simply.


    That Xia Liu could discern the subtleties spoke volumes.


    "I''ve studied it a bit," Xia Liu said gravely, nodding.


    "Initially, we indeed couldn''t develop it, but after a certain girl developed the latest technology, this task was assigned."


    "A certain girl?" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    "Right, you wouldn''t want that girl to know you''re back¡­" Fang Huasheng said with a sly smile. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This..." Xia Liu''s heart suddenly sped up, his words getting stuck in his throat, unable to utter a word.


    "I understand, I just need to complete the mission, and I also hope you, old man, won''t reveal any information."


    After struggling to adjust his emotions, Xia Liu said sternly.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll reluctantly agree to your request, but you''d better do a beautiful job on this mission. If you come back empty-handed, I can''t guarantee that your information will remain confidential."


    "Please keep it a secret!" Xia Liu pleaded, his face somber.


    What?


    Ouyang Lingtian and Yi Feng both started to show confusion, watching Xia Liu and Fang Huasheng.


    They couldn''t understand what kind of girl could make Xia Liu look so troubled.


    As for the document, Xia Liu read it for a while, then handed it to Yi Feng.


    In a moment, he had memorized all its contents.


    The task was simple, to transport a rock weighing ten pounds back.


    This rock was known as the Demon Stone, symbolizing a stone possessing magic power.


    Its origin was unknown, and the surface of the stone was very smooth.


    It''s characterized by its ability to withstand any attack; not even bullets could penetrate it.


    The greatest and most formidable feature was that the Demon Stone was very soft and lightweight, just like silk.


    Moreover, by forging, the Demon Stone could be transformed into the strongest armor in the world.


    For instance, it could be made into a vest that, when worn, could not be shattered by bullets, not to mention a nuclear bomb.


    Demon Stones were available worldwide but in very scarce quantities. Yet, the materials stored there amounted to a terrifying ten pounds.


    If these ten pounds of material were developed, at least a hundred vests and a hundred helmets could be made.


    If a special forces unit were equipped from head to toe in this armor, their combat effectiveness could reach the top in the world.


    Xia Liu was excited not just because of a certain girl.


    But also because, if he could obtain the Demon Stone, he could make armor for the girls!


    That way, when he went out, he wouldn''t have to worry too much about them anymore.


    If Fang Huasheng knew Xia Liu''s plan, he would surely fall off his chair.


    Currently, there are only three pounds of Demon Stone within the country. This material, on the black market, could fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of US dollars per gram.


    Xia Liu was actually aiming for five pounds of Demon Stone; if people knew, they definitely wouldn''t be able to stay calm.


    As they conversed, hours quickly passed by, and the ship slowly approached the dock, protected by several naval vessels.


    "Xia Liu, there are still two days before the mission begins, how about coming to my house for a visit?"


    After docking, Fang Huasheng said to Xia Liu.


    "I''d love to disturb your house for a few days." Ouyang Lingtian panicked when he heard this. Before the bet was over, how could Xia Liu go to the Fang Family''s house? That would mean he could see Fang Fei all the time.


    "Young Master Ouyang, can''t you detect the mere formality in the old man''s words? Who actually goes to eat just because someone casual invites them when passing by their house?"


    Xia Liu gave Ouyang Lingtian a look; this guy was simply bizarre.


    "Er...er..." Ouyang Lingtian was so embarrassed he couldn''t say a word, he had indeed panicked just now.


    Thinking it over carefully, Xia Liu was quite right.


    "However, I''m pretty thick-skinned. If someone invites me to eat, I definitely will, hahaha..." Xia Liu couldn''t help but laugh out loud, Ouyang Lingtian was indeed easy to trick.


    "Asshole!" Ouyang Lingtian cursed angrily; he had been careless again.


    "Hehe, Lingtian, if you''d like to come, the Fang Family is always welcoming, don''t mind the rest," Fang Huasheng said with a smile.


    Although Fang Huasheng said this, Ouyang Lingtian didn''t have the face to go.


    After the ship docked, he hurriedly left, afraid that Fang Fei would see his defeated expression.


    Because the pirate incident was kept quiet by Fang Huasheng, it did not cause any sensation.


    As the second-generation children disembarked, they all nodded at Xia Liu to show their gratitude.


    "Brother Xia Liu, thank you for saving me. I even mocked you at that time; I''m really sorry," the cute Linlin said, continuously expressing her gratitude and apologizing before leaving.


    "No problem, putting down others is not a good habit. Remember to change that behavior in the future," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    "Linlin knows. Here''s my phone number. Linlin hopes Brother Xia Liu can supervise and hopes you will call me."


    After giving her phone number to Xia Liu, Linlin''s cheeks turned rosy, then she bowed her head and quickly ran away from the dock.


    "Sister, I just saw that girl give brother-in-law her phone number."


    "Mhm, I saw it too."


    "What should we do?"


    "Let''s give him some respect for now, but I''ll deal with him back at home."


    Hearing the whispers of the two women behind him, Xia Liu''s face grew troubled.


    Of course, he knew Fang Fei wouldn''t really deal with him; she just wanted to show off in front of Lin Yazhi.


    "Old man, you go back first. I need to go see Uncle Fu."


    "Sure, I''ve heard that the Nether Emperor holds the Asura Blade in one hand and his medical skills match Hua Tuo. With you here, I believe Uncle Fu will recover quickly."


    Fang Huasheng knew too much about Xia Liu.


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Because he knew him more, he tried to recruit Xia Liu time and again.


    Unfortunately, this guy was stubborn and would not accept any conditions.


    Now, having walked into the situation himself, thinking of these, Fang Huasheng was very pleased.


    Along with Xia Liu to Lin Yazhi''s house was also Fang Fei.


    The grandfather had already approved of Xia Liu, she surely wanted to stay by his side all the time.


    Upon arrival, Xia Liu used his spiritual energy to help Uncle Fu recover from his physical injuries.


    Of course, spiritual energy wasn''t omnipotent. Xia Liu could only speed up the physical healing process; instant recovery was obviously impossible.


    After having dinner at Lin Yazhi''s house, Fang Fei pulled Xia Liu and walked away from the villa.


    Barely out of the villa, Fang Fei pushed Xia Liu against the wall and then began biting his tongue.


    Xia Liu was not one to back down, and he bit back¡­

 Chapter 240 A Terrifying Person is Coming

    ```If it weren''t for a passing car, Fang Fei definitely wouldn''t want to part with Xia Liu.


    Touching her swelling lips, Fang Fei said with a mischievous smile, "Hee hee, Xia Liu, let''s not go home tonight. Let''s get a room."


    "Of course, everything is up to you." How could Xia Liu possibly refuse? After so many days, he finally saw Fang Fei again.


    It was like dry tinder meeting a fierce flame.


    At eight o''clock, Fang Fei saw her phone flashing.


    "Phew... it''s Qianqian calling, Xia Liu, hold on a moment," Fang Fei panted.


    Before answering the call, Fang Fei tried her best to compose herself.


    "Hello, what''s up, Qianqian?"


    "Sister Fang, this is bad. I didn''t tell you before, but Xia Liu has already gone to Liuhai City, and I can''t get through to his phone today. I''m worried about him..."


    By the end, Li Qianqian''s voice was trembling, and her throat was choking up.


    "About that..." Fang Fei was about to explain when she was startled into screaming.


    Li Qianqian on the other end of the phone stood stunned with her phone in hand.


    What had she just heard?


    That sound, she could never forget for the rest of her life.


    "Qianqian, Xia Liu is fine, he''s just busy," Fang Fei said through clenched teeth, cursing Xia Liu for humiliating her in front of Li Qianqian.


    "Sister Fang, you and Xia Liu aren''t doing..."


    Hearing the news about Xia Liu, then recalling Fang Fei''s voice, Li Qianqian''s face flushed red.


    "Qianqian, don''t worry about me, I''ve found Sister Fang. But I still have to deal with her family, so I''m not sure when I''ll be back. You all take care of yourselves, okay?"


    Fang Fei didn''t know how to respond, so she handed the phone to Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, you really have it, Sister Fang had us all worried for so long, you can''t let her off easy!"


    "Of course, I''ll teach Sister Fang a lesson for you."


    "Okay, that''s it for now, I''ll tell the others," Li Qianqian said cheerfully as she hung up the phone.


    "Sister Fang, you heard everything, it wasn''t my idea."


    "Ah! Can''t I just surrender..."


    "No¡­"


    ...


    At the Fang family dinner table.


    Fang Huasheng, the head of the family, sat in the place of honor, with Fang Fei''s father, Fang Cheng, sitting beside him.


    About twenty people were seated around the table, all key members of the Fang Family Clan. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Father, you seem especially happy since you returned?" Fang Cheng asked curiously, looking at Fang Huasheng''s smiling face.


    "You noticed. I was planning to wait for Fei''er to return before talking about this."


    "About Fei''er? What could make you so happy? Is it because Ouyang Lingtian has agreed to transfer to Spearhead?"


    Although Fang Cheng was a businessman, he still had some understanding of the elder and other forces within the family.


    Ouyang Lingtian was a King of Soldiers level personage in the Heaven Slaying Troops. If his father could use the marriage between him and Fang Fei to bring him into Spearhead, it would indeed be something to celebrate.


    "Ouyang Lingtian is entering Spearhead!"


    "This really is good news!"


    At the dinner table, two members of the Fang Family Clan who worked in the Spearhead Troop with Fang Huasheng couldn''t help clapping and laughing.


    They all knew the energy that Ouyang Lingtian brought with him; his entry would definitely elevate the entire troop to another level.


    "That''s one thing, but there is also the matter of Fei''er''s marriage."


    "Fei''er''s marriage, what about it?" Fang Cheng asked with confusion.


    "Fei''er and Lingtian''s engagement might be over."


    "What!"


    ```


    ...


    Not only Fang Cheng, but other members of the Fang Family Clan were also astonished.


    If it had been the Ouyang Family making noise, it would have been manageable, but if Fang Fei threw a tantrum and refused to marry Ouyang Lingtian, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    This concerned the friendly relations between two noble families.


    If the misunderstanding could not be resolved, as time went on, the Ouyang Family and the Fang Family would definitely enter into an unprecedented period of conflict.


    This would be an absolute disaster for Liuhai City.


    "Fang Yun, Fang Dao, do you remember the Nether Emperor?" Fang Huasheng squinted and said with a smile.


    "Nether Emperor?"


    Not only were Fang Yun and Fang Dao stunned, but Fang Cheng and other clan members were also puzzled.


    Could this name, which didn''t sound quite divine nor ghostly, hold some deeper meaning?


    "Are you talking about the Nether Emperor from the Middle East region?" Fang Yun thought for a while and then asked tentatively.


    "Yes, the Nether Emperor is now Fei''er''s boyfriend."


    Crack!


    The clay spoon in Fang Yun''s hand shattered.


    Fang Dao, coming to a realization, was equally shocked, his face twisting grotesquely.


    Nether Emperor, a memory so deeply embedded in their hearts that they could never erase it in their lifetime.


    Seeing the changes in their expressions, the other members of the Fang Family realized the complication of the matter.


    "Father, is this Nether Emperor the terrifying figure you mentioned to me a year ago?" Fang Cheng suddenly remembered.


    His father had returned from abroad a year ago always in a dour mood.


    Fang Cheng had inquired and learned about the Nether Emperor only after pushing for more information.


    "Yes, his name is Xia Liu, and Fei''er met him in Hejing."


    "Doesn''t that mean Fei''er is with a Mad Demon?" Fang Cheng was severely shaken.


    He would not forget the words his father had said.


    Nether Emperor, someone who should not exist in this world, like a nuclear bomb that could destroy everything within miles once detonated.


    "Fang Cheng, what on earth is going on here? Tell us the situation!"


    "Yes, come on, tell us."


    ...


    The several clan members older than Fang Cheng couldn''t help their curiosity and eagerly questioned him.


    "Let me explain the origins of the Nether Emperor..." Fang Dao then recounted the feats of the Nether Emperor.


    After a while, those around the table gasped for air, and the chills on their backs lingered long after hearing of his deeds.


    "Everyone, don''t be so alarmed. I am well aware of Xia Liu''s character. Just remember, he will be the Fang Family''s son-in-law in the future."


    "Father, your trust in him is one thing, but what if people from the Ouyang Family come to confront us? Fei''er''s marriage arrangement has been set since she was young."


    The Nether Emperor might be terrifying, but the Ouyang Family was not to be trifled with either¡ªnow it was like being caught between a rock and a hard place.


    "If the Ouyang Family is not satisfied, let Xia Liu make a trip over, and I refuse to believe Old Man Ouyang will dare to clash heads with him," said Fang Huasheng without further explanation.


    He was unclear about Xia Liu''s strength, but after witnessing his capabilities that day, he understood that if Xia Liu were pushed too far, the Ouyang Family might be razed to the ground, not to mention his immeasurable power overseas.


    Hearing Fang Huasheng say this, Fang Cheng and the others had a sudden realization.


    Still, Fang Cheng felt somewhat uneasy. Although Xia Liu was terrifying, the Ouyang Family remained the best marital alliance for the Fang Family''s prosperity and development. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Prepare accordingly. Xia Liu and Fei''er might return tonight or tomorrow. Don''t embarrass us in front of our guests."


    "Ah! The Nether Emperor is coming to our home!"


    "The terrifying man is coming!"


    "Heavens! This..."


    Knowing the terror of Xia Liu, the members of the Fang Family expressed their amazement in succession...

 Chapter 241 Meeting the Parents

    This night was a difficult one for the Fang family, as they were expecting a dreaded guest tomorrow.However, for Xia Liu and Fang Fei, it was exhilarating beyond words.


    Early in the morning, just after eight, Fang Fei lazily got out of bed. Today was an important day when Xia Liu would visit her family; she had to win her parents'' approval.


    As for Xia Liu, he was indifferent, since Fang Huasheng was definitely at home, having his back.


    The Fang family wouldn''t dare do anything to him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the Fang family''s living room, Lin Shuxia was pacing restlessly.


    After hearing about her daughter and Xia Liu''s situation from Fang Cheng last night, she couldn''t sleep.


    "Fang Cheng, what do you think we should do about this? How could Fei''er be with someone so terrifying?"


    Lin Shuxia was somewhat aware of the Nether Emperor''s deeds.


    That''s why she had been unable to sleep all night, her mind filled with images of her daughter being tormented by the Nether Emperor.


    "Ah, let''s just take it one step at a time," Fang Cheng said with a troubled frown.


    Ding ding ding...


    Just as Fang Cheng was about to speak, his phone rang.


    "Shuxia, get ready, Fei''er is coming home." After hanging up, Fang Cheng spoke with a serious face.


    "Ah! So, that means... with her comes..."


    Fang Cheng nodded, the Nether Emperor! He was coming too!


    "Xia Liu, what did you buy at the herbal medicine store just now?" Walking under the shade of the trees, Fang Fei asked curiously.


    "Luckily, I found the raw materials for Beauty Mud there."


    "Seriously? My mom has been dying to buy Beauty Mud; who knew you couldn''t even get a box for ten million at the end."


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s explanation, Fang Fei gave a thumbs up, thinking how well-prepared he was.


    "And what''s this bottle of wine for?"


    "It''s mixed medicinal wine, just in case we need it," Xia Liu explained with a wink.


    Fang Fei gave a wry smile, understanding exactly what Xia Liu meant.


    Soon, they arrived at the living room, where Fang Fei had been instructed by Fang Cheng to take their guest straight to the living room upon arrival this morning.


    "Mom! I''m back!" Seeing Lin Shuxia, Fang Fei immediately opened her arms and ran towards her.


    "Fei''er, you nearly scared me to death yesterday. If anything had happened to you, I wouldn''t want to live either." Seeing her daughter''s radiant complexion, Lin Shuxia was filled with mixed emotions.


    With her past experience, it was clear that Fang Fei must have been ''tormented'' by that person late into the night.


    "Hello, Aunt Lin." Before Fang Fei could introduce him, Xia Liu took the initiative to greet her: "Hello, Uncle Lin."


    "You''re Xia Liu!" Lin Shuxia said in surprise before Fang Cheng could reply.


    She had seen Xia Liu yesterday, and she thought well of this young man, considering he was a friend of her daughter outside.


    "Shuxia, you know him?" Fang Cheng was equally astonished.


    The person coming back with their daughter must be that terrifying Nether Emperor.


    "Yes, we even had a chat yesterday," Lin Shuxia said with a slight smile.


    Yesterday, Xia Liu gave her the impression of being mature and cheerful, as if he came to Liu Hai to attend his daughter''s wedding.


    "Mom, Dad, let me formally introduce to you, Xia Liu, my future husband, your son-in-law," Fang Fei quickly returned to Xia Liu''s side, taking his arm as she spoke.


    "Uh uh uh..."


    Looking at Xia Liu, and then thinking about the terrifying things her husband had told her, Lin Shuxia found herself at a loss for words.


    "Xia Liu, I''m Fei''er''s dad, just call me Fang Cheng." That''s right, in the presence of the world-renowned Nether Emperor, Fang Cheng dared not put on airs.


    This was what Fang Huasheng had instructed: whoever dared to bother Xia Liu, no matter who they were, would be thrown out of the house immediately.


    "Uncle Fang, I often hear County Chief Li mention you, it seems we are quite fated," Xia Liu said with a joyful smile. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    He could see the apprehension in Fang Cheng, and he was, after all, his father-in-law; how could his attitude be like this?


    "County Chief Li?"


    "Dad, he''s my godfather in Hejing," Seeing her father''s confusion, Fang Fei quickly explained.


    "Oh! You know my brother too," Mentioning Li Zhong, Fang Cheng became interested.


    "Yes, I''ve had a few drinks with Chief Li."


    "Come over and sit down, I''ve been too busy these past few years to visit him. Tell me, how has he been recently?" Fang Cheng patted the sofa to motion Xia Liu over.


    It didn''t take long for Xia Liu and Fang Cheng to hit it off, and with a common connection, the two chatted with great enthusiasm.


    "Fei''er, I heard that Xia Liu used to be quite terrifying," Lin Shuxia whispered to her daughter at one side, inquiringly.


    "Mom, where did you hear that from? If it weren''t for Xia Liu this time, everyone on the ship might have been killed by pirates."


    "Your grandfather also mentioned it yesterday. I can sense that Xia Liu must be a good person."


    Although Lin Shuxia was still worried, she couldn''t help but notice the brilliant smile that bloomed on her daughter''s face whenever she spoke of Xia Liu.


    It made her heart almost burst with joy. If she continued to stop her daughter, it might lead to undesirable consequences.


    "Xia Liu, didn''t you just buy something for mom and dad? Hurry up and bring it out."


    "Oh! I almost forgot, Aunt Lin, this is the Beauty Mud I made this morning, for you," Xia Liu said as he handed over a box containing Beauty Mud to Lin Shuxia.


    "Beauty Mud?"


    "Mom, this is the stuff that was a nation-wide craze recently. Eventually, even ten million couldn''t buy Beauty Mud," Fang Fei explained promptly, seeing her mother''s puzzled look.


    "What! Is that true?" Lin Shuxia''s eyes widened in disbelief, hardly able to believe that the unassuming box held the very thing she had been dreaming of.


    "I remember that Beauty Mud is produced by Tianluo Pharmaceutical. Xia Liu, you said you made it this morning, this..."


    Fang Cheng had some knowledge of Beauty Mud; after all, in the past, he had been constantly pressured to buy it.


    Despite searching countless channels, he was never able to get a box, which caused him no small amount of grief from Lin Shuxia.


    "I''m responsible for producing Beauty Mud; Tianluo Pharmaceutical handles the packaging and sales."


    "Wow! Thank you so much, Xia Liu, I''m going to try this Beauty Mud right now!" Lin Shuxia didn''t want to say more, she immediately pulled Fang Fei and headed out.


    "Heh, it figures that the Nether Emperor is the Nether Emperor, able to create such miraculous things like Beauty Mud," Fang Cheng couldn''t help but praise after a long time without seeing his wife so excited.


    "Uncle Fang is joking. ''Nether Emperor'' is just a title some bored people came up with; I was, am, and always will be Xia Liu."


    "Haha, I can tell you are very outstanding, but you brought something for Aunt Lin, what about me?" Fang Cheng asked unabashedly.


    "Heh, Uncle Lin, don''t worry, I definitely haven''t forgotten about yours," Xia Liu said as he brought out the medicinal liquor.


    "This is?"


    "This is the second product of my cooperation with Tianluo Pharmaceutical, medicinal liquor."


    "That medicinal liquor from Tianluo Pharmaceutical that sold out as soon as it hit the market?" Fang Cheng found it hard to breathe.


    He had been keeping an eye on Tianluo Pharmaceutical, an enterprise that soared to great heights, and was particularly interested in their new product.


    Because of the medicinal liquor''s effects, people said it was incredibly potent.

 Chapter 242 Mission Begins, Journey to the Island Nation

    Seeing no one around, Fang Cheng was very unceremonious in taking the medicinal wine.Fang Cheng had heard from his father that the Nether Emperor''s medical skills surpassed Hua Tuo.


    In front of such a doctor, pretending to be strong would just be hypocrisy.


    In recent years, he indeed felt that his body was somewhat hollowed out, and he had been planning to get this medicinal wine for a long time.


    He hadn''t been able to purchase any, but today, having obtained a large bottle, why would Fang Cheng be courteous?


    Soon after, Xia Liu couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    Fang Fei''s parents were already dealt with, and now all he needed to do was complete the mission, and he could take Fang Fei home.


    During lunch, Xia Liu''s appearance made all the relatives from the Fang Family Clan who knew his identity tremble.


    But then, Fang Cheng and Lin Shuxia kept speaking up for Xia Liu, and soon everyone accepted him.


    Fang Huasheng was also overjoyed when he saw this scene.


    The legendary figure of the Nether Emperor was about to become the son-in-law of the Fang Family, and if word of this got out,


    half the world would probably both admire and fear the Fang Family.


    Xia Liu spent a delightful two days at the Fang Family.


    Although his room was separate from Fang Fei''s, she would sneak into Xia Liu''s room every night when no one was watching.


    Thus, these two days were even more cheerful.


    Finally, the day to execute the mission arrived.


    After covering Fang Fei with a light blanket in the morning, Xia Liu got up and went downstairs.


    "Good lad, you''re more than ten minutes late," Fang Huasheng said sourly as he saw Xia Liu coming down, looking refreshed.


    "Sorry, I drank too much and went to bed late last night."


    "I bet you didn''t sleep at all last night, and don''t think I don''t know about it ¡ª Fei''er clinging to you. I don''t care, but if the mission isn''t completed perfectly, you''ll have to deal with it yourself."


    "Hehe, I will definitely complete the mission perfectly ¡ª the Spearhead Troop is waiting to take in Lingtian," Xia Liu said with a bitter smile, realizing the old man knew him very well, even being blunt about such matters.


    "Good, I''m not going anywhere these days; I''ll just stay at home and wait for news from you and Lingtian. Yi Feng, take him to the car."


    Watching the tail lights vanish from sight, Fang Huasheng gradually began to smile, "Just like you, the first time is there, why wouldn''t there be a second? Hahaha..."


    At a fisherman''s dock in Liuhai City, Ouyang Lingtian looked at the time, his face growing darker.


    In such a gloomy and cold atmosphere, Xia Liu and Yi Feng finally arrived.


    "Good morning, Young Master Ouyang."


    "You are half an hour late!" Ouyang Lingtian scolded, furious at Xia Liu, who treated the mission as a joke.


    "It''s not my fault, Yi Feng was driving too slowly," Xia Liu said with a downcast face.


    Pfft!


    Yi Feng nearly stumbled and fell.


    Xia Liu''s deflection was masterful, making Yi Feng almost want to kill him.


    Unfortunately, knowing how fearsome Xia Liu could be, Yi Feng dared not say anything and could only respond to Ouyang Lingtian with a wry smile.


    "Let it go, let''s get on the boat quickly, or we won''t reach the Island Nation in two days," Ouyang Lingtian said, knowing it wasn''t the time to be annoyed with Xia Liu.


    Only if he completed the mission would this guy soften up.


    "We''re taking this?" Xia Liu asked, astonished at the roughly ten-meter-long fishing boat in front of him.


    "What else do you want? Take a plane and announce to the Island Nation that you''ve arrived?" Ouyang Lingtian said with disdain.


    "That''s not a bad idea; it could save a lot of time." Xia Liu thought about it, finding his remark quite legitimate.


    "Dear Mr. Xia Liu, this was arranged by General Fang. Please bear with it. This mission is secret, so..."


    "Hehe, I know Yi Feng; I just wanted to hear this guy''s nonchalant remarks."


    "Haha, I wish you a safe return." Yi Feng said with an awkward smile.


    These ''enemies'' were traveling together by boat to the Island Nation, hoping that these two days would allow them to get along well.


    Otherwise, the Island Nation might be in for some bad luck...


    "The boatman is coming; watch you don''t blow your cover." Yi Feng warned as he saw a middle-aged man approaching.


    Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu merely smiled and said nothing.


    "Over there, these are two friends of mine going to the Island Nation for work; make sure you get them there safely."


    "Don''t worry, I''ve been doing this for over a decade and have always delivered safely," the middle-aged man said, taking the envelope from Yi Feng and squinting with a smile.


    After the old man boarded the ship, several young people came over.


    Once everyone was in place, the ship officially set sail.


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian watched from the bow for a while before they both entered the cabin.


    Only after being led by the young people to the rest cabin did Xia Liu realize.


    Yi Feng was sneaky, actually arranging for him to smuggle himself over with a group of young men and women.


    Ouyang Lingtian was indifferent since he had encountered such methods numerous times before.


    Fortunately, everything on the ship was calm and smooth.


    The fishing boat had left Liuhai City in the early morning, and by 5 A.M., when the sky was about to lighten, they had entered the waters of the Island Nation.


    Once in the Island Nation''s waters, Xia Liu, Ouyang Lingtian, and the other men and women smugglers were transferred onto a fishing boat with the Island Nation''s flag.


    Entering the Island Nation without any identification was the safest way.


    By around one in the afternoon, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian had reached the shore.


    Before them lay a sparsely populated small dock, and the boat''s crew unceremoniously hurried Xia Liu and the others off the boat.


    The group of men and women disembarked and quickly scattered.


    "Where''s the contact?" Looking around, besides the smugglers running off, Xia Liu didn''t see a soul.


    "Just wait a bit more."


    Ouyang Lingtian also felt anxious as it was already the appointed time, yet Fang Huasheng''s arranged contact had not yet arrived.


    It was very likely they had been discovered.


    Just as Ouyang Lingtian felt uneasy, a small speedboat was rapidly approaching.


    Hearing the sound of the speedboat, Ouyang Lingtian looked back and said, "Here it comes."


    Xia Liu glanced over; there were two people on the speedboat, a young man and a woman, both looking quite ordinary.


    Perhaps it was this very ordinary appearance that allowed them to infiltrate the Island Nation unnoticed.


    "General Ouyang! Sorry, we are late!" the man said with a bitter face as the speedboat docked.


    "General Ouyang?" Xia Liu looked at the young man and then at Ouyang Lingtian, finding it incredibly unbelievable.


    This guy actually made it to the rank of general, quite revealing indeed.


    "It''s fine; we just arrived too. And who is this?" Ouyang Lingtian asked, looking at the young woman with curiosity.


    "Hello, General Ouyang. My name is Lu Lizhen, and my code name here is Muzi." Muzi introduced herself sternly. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Understood, Yan Min, take us over," Lingtian said. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright!" The young man said with a smile, and once Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian boarded the speedboat, they immediately set off.


    "General Ouyang, who is he?" Yan Min asked, looking at Xia Liu, completely puzzled.


    "Yan Min, you can just call me Lingtian. This is Xia Liu; he''s here to help me complete the mission," Lingtian explained.


    "Pff! General Ouyang, you make me sound so cheap," Xia Liu thought to himself, wanting to slap Ouyang Lingtian in the face for daring to take credit for himself in front of the contact person.

 Chapter 243 Ouyang Lingtians Strategy

    "Lingtian, is this guy new to the Heaven Slaying Division? Why is he so arrogant?" Yan Min glanced at Xia Liu and found it unbelievable.This guy even dared to mock Ouyang Lingtian.


    "Well, he''s not from Heaven Slaying; he''s actually from Spearhead."


    "No wonder, everyone in Spearhead is so arrogantly insufferable, but when compared to Heaven Slaying, they all wilt."


    The speaker was Muzi, who had trained with Spearhead for a long time and knew something about the warriors there.


    She had only been transferred to Heaven Slaying a few days ago and realized that the truly formidable ones were very low-key.


    "Haha! What''s wrong with Spearhead, do you look down on them?" Xia Liu laughed; Yan Min and Muzi dared to disdain the Spearhead Troop.


    If they knew that Ouyang Lingtian was about to be transferred to Spearhead, who knows what their expressions would be.


    "I didn''t say that, but seeing your arrogant demeanor, you must hold a high military rank in Spearhead, around Colonel, whereas Lingtian is a Major General in Heaven Slaying!"


    Yan Min spoke with a look of admiration.


    His greatest goal in life was to catch up to Ouyang Lingtian''s pace, even though it was impossible, but he would still strive for it.


    "Holy shit! Major General!" Xia Liu was somewhat startled; after all, Ouyang Lingtian was too young.


    Being so young and having such accomplishments, he had the capital to be proud wherever he went.


    "Scared now, aren''t you, General Ouyang, no, Lingtian has handled countless missions, each executed perfectly, hoping this time you won''t drag him down."


    Muzi looked at Xia Liu with disdain.


    Ever since she learned about the Heaven Slaying Troop, she had nothing but head shakes and disdain for Spearhead.


    "Oh, I''m so scared, General Lingtian, please go easy on me, or you''ll take all the credit."


    Xia Liu feigned a scared expression.


    "This bastard!" Seeing Xia Liu acting this way, Ouyang Lingtian understood that he was definitely doing it on purpose.


    "Yan Min, Muzi, don''t bother with him; he''s a lunatic."


    "Yes!" Both spoke at the same time, and despite ignoring him, their gazes toward Xia Liu were still filled with disdain.


    In Huaxia, Spearhead and Heaven Slaying were in a competitive relationship, but Heaven Slaying was always one step ahead.


    Even though Spearhead was beaten by Heaven Slaying, their recklessness remained unabated, which was unbearable for onlookers.


    With no one to chat with, Xia Liu closed his eyes in frustration and rested.


    An hour later, the speedboat docked at a pier, which was part of a seafood trading area surrounded by many low wooden houses.


    Muzi and Yan Min led Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian through the trading area, and then they drove towards the city.


    Over two hours later, the car stopped in front of an ordinary residential house, and the four quickly got out of the vehicle.


    "Xia Liu, let''s formulate a plan of action." Inside the living room, Ouyang Lingtian took out a map and spoke.


    "Well prepared, aren''t we?"


    "Of course, Lingtian always completes his missions beautifully because of his thorough preparation, unlike you, who came this time without even bringing clothes," Yan Min once again disdained Xia Liu.


    "Hehe, my mistake, please continue, General Ouyang."


    "Hmph! Listen closely, the defense at our target this mission is undoubtedly extremely strong," Ouyang Lingtian said brusquely.


    He was speaking to Xia Liu solely because it was an order from Fang Huasheng.


    He didn''t care whether Xia Liu was listening or not, preferably not, so that if he died during the mission, he could alone take the Demon Stone and marry Fang Fei.


    "Hmm, the target is located downtown. They don''t dare to bring tanks onto the streets because of residents around, so this is our chance to act before they move them," Xia Liu analyzed.


    What?


    Hearing Xia Liu analyze in such a way, Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t help but glance at him, apparently this guy wasn''t as careless as he seemed.


    "Exactly, they plan to move the day after tomorrow, so we must act before tomorrow night!" Yan Min was very certain of this detail.


    If they acted after the Demon Stone was moved, it would be increasingly difficult.


    "But I''m puzzled, just a Demon Stone and yet so heavily guarded?" Xia Liu couldn''t comprehend this part.


    "I suspect, the Demon Stone is just a Blinding Technique; they are carrying out other top-secret activities," Yan Min said seriously.


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    "That''s possible; we''ll know for sure once we go in and investigate."


    Ouyang Lingtian nodded solemnly; he didn''t dismiss Yan Min''s speculation, but they would have to verify it once inside.


    "Good, then, General Lingtian, do you have a specific plan?"


    "A good question, of course, I have planned," Ouyang Lingtian said slowly, a cunning smile spreading across his face.


    "It''s a trap!"


    "You''re very fast; I''m sure, even a sports car can''t outrun you, so my plan is to feign an attack in one direction but strike in another."


    "I''ll lure the enemy while you sneak into the building?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Exactly, this way, the mission can be completed perfectly," Ouyang Lingtian said confidently.


    "I must say you''re quite a strategist, letting me divert the enemy so you can take all the credit." Xia Liu laughed; he knew Ouyang Lingtian had no good intentions.


    Now it seemed, this guy wanted to complete the mission alone.


    This wasn''t just about winning or losing, it was also about a man''s dignity and commitments.


    Xia Liu had a bet, whoever completed the mission would win, and the loser would never meet Fang Fei again in his life.


    "Xia Liu, what are you talking about! Lingtian has his reasons for arranging things this way!"


    "Exactly! Besides, look at your status, daring to question Lingtian."


    Yan Min and Muzi were stirred up.


    Lingtian''s status was there, even if Xia Liu was formidable and arrogant to the skies, in this place, he had to obey Ouyang Lingtian.


    Plus, only the powerful Ouyang Lingtian could complete this mission.


    "I know his intentions, but if he goes in alone and something happens, what if he dies?"


    "Xia Liu, don''t talk nonsense! Lingtian''s strength is terrifyingly fearsome; only he can complete this mission!"


    "Hehe, you really refresh my view of Spearhead; indeed, what characters they have. Lingtian risks his life to execute the mission, and you just simply lure the enemy, yet you dare curse like this, do you really think we won''t report this to General Fang?"


    Muzi was temperamental by nature, hearing Xia Liu say this, she grew even angrier.


    Especially since Ouyang Lingtian was her idol, she could never let anyone insult her idol.


    "Xia Liu, if you''re concerned about taking credit, I''ll transfer all the credit to you,"

 Chapter 244 Sect

    Xia Liu was speechless. Ouyang Lingtian was clearly determined to win at all costs.He didn''t argue further since Yan Min and Muzi were backing Ouyang Lingtian anyway.


    Even if he exhausted himself talking, it wouldn''t change their minds.


    "Since you want to go up the building alone, don''t blame me if something happens."


    "Heh, just take care of yourself and try not to get shot by stray bullets," Ouyang Lingtian replied unapologetically.


    Seeing the two exchange words like that, Yan Min and Muzi could only manage an awkward smile.


    Eventually, they all decided to go back to their rooms to rest.


    The next day, Muzi took Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian to scout the terrain.


    Yan Min went to get some firearms.


    The teams divided their tasks clearly and agreed to reconvene at the house after 4 PM to make a final decision.


    Sitting in the car, Xia Liu had no interest in scouting; he was only sizing up the security personnel arranged by the Island Nation around the building.


    Outside the window, a roughly fifteen-story building towered imposingly.


    The building''s exterior wasn''t particularly impressive, but the dozen or so armed personnel standing guard at the main entrance was cause for suspicion.


    Moreover, it was impossible to know how many more guards were inside the building.


    Ouyang Lingtian was discreetly marking up a blueprint.


    That was his method when on a mission: he always planned out both the attack and the retreat in advance.


    Only when there was a fifty percent chance of success would he act.


    "Muzi can go back now," Ouyang Lingtian said softly after 2 PM.


    As Muzi drove away, Ouyang Lingtian looked at the blueprint in his hand, his smile gradually becoming more pronounced.


    Xia Liu glanced at the blueprint in Ouyang Lingtian''s hand and couldn''t help but admire, "You''ve drawn the blueprint well; the lines are very straight."


    "What? What are you trying to say again!" Ouyang Lingtian could detect the disdain in Xia Liu''s words.


    Being with this guy meant you had to be on guard all the time, or he might trick you thoroughly.


    "You''ve planned the attack and retreat routes, but have you estimated how many people are inside the building?"


    "Even if there are a hundred people inside, I can take care of them!" Ouyang Lingtian said confidently.


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    "What if they are a hundred Mysterious Rank Ninjas?" Xia Liu''s expression slowly turned serious.


    "Mysterious Rank Ninjas!" Hearing these four words, Ouyang Lingtian fell silent.


    During his missions, Ouyang Lingtian had encountered ninjas from the Island Nation.


    Inside the Heaven Slaying files, there was also information about ninjas. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just like the warriors of Huaxia, the strength of ninjas was also classified by ranks.


    Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow; Heaven Rank being the strongest, the same as the ranking system for Huaxia warriors.


    Their Ninjutsu was merely a variation derived from Ancient Huaxia Martial arts; aside from different techniques and inner changes, their ranks and strength were similar.


    "On the boat, I could tell that you must be a High-Level Mysterious Rank Warrior," Ouyang Lingtian said after a pause.


    Recalling the events, Xia Liu''s aura was overwhelming, which was a sign of energy being accumulated and some of it already leaking out.


    But water stepping was beyond him; perhaps Xia Liu had cultivated some secret tome that made his body lighter.


    According to Ouyang Lingtian''s calculation, Xia Liu should be a High-Level Mysterious Rank Warrior!


    "Hmm?" Xia Liu hadn''t expected him to be so perceptive.


    But it was possible, even though this guy was highly secretive, Xia Liu could still see through him.


    Ouyang Lingtian was a martial artist! Moreover, he was a Mysterious Rank warrior capable of emitting Inner Qi. As for the specific rank, since Xia Liu had never seen him in action, he couldn''t confirm it.


    "Indeed, those who can become Heaven Slaying Commandos are not simple. You must be a Mid-Level Mysterious Rank warrior."


    "Correct, although your rank is slightly higher, don''t be too proud. You may not necessarily win against me," Ouyang Lingtian said, staring at Xia Liu.


    "You''re tough, aren''t you? A hundred Mysterious Rank ninjas haven''t yet answered me. What will you do then?"


    "Even if it exhausts all my Inner Qi, I will fight my way out!"


    "It seems your preparations are still not thorough," Xia Liu couldn''t help but shake his head.


    Ouyang Lingtian was indeed too desperate; it showed how much he valued victory and honor.


    "I am fully prepared. Just be careful when you lure the enemy; don''t die the moment you make contact."


    Once again mocked by Xia Liu, Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t miss this chance for an implied insult.


    "Heh, don''t worry about me." Xia Liu knew this man couldn''t spit out anything good, and he ignored his veiled curse.


    After thinking it over, Xia Liu still decided to ask, "What''s the name of your sect?"


    Being in Huaxia, he would definitely encounter many sect disciples in the future; Xia Liu planned to thoroughly understand them.


    Moreover, if he had the chance, he intended to find suitable Cultivation Techniques for the girls, so they could protect themselves.


    "I don''t mind telling you. I am the 40th generation disciple of Taiji Sect, and my master is the current Sect Leader."


    "Pfft! Taiji Sect!"


    "Did I scare you? Next time, I''ll speak softer."


    Seeing Xia Liu''s startled appearance, Ouyang Lingtian felt very pleased.


    Xia Liu wiped his mouth and said, "Well, you did scare me. Your sect should be in Liu Hai City, right?"


    "Yes, Taiji Sect from Liu Hai lineage has made more contributions than the other branches hiding in the mountains over the past decade and is the likeliest to be received by Taiyi Sect! Forget it, you wouldn''t understand."


    Xia Liu understood perfectly, having visited Taiji Sect where Tianqian had mentioned. It was normal for there to be a Taiji Sect branch in Liu Hai City.


    Still, he didn''t expect the Liu Hai lineage of Taiji Sect would practice in such a manner.


    Indeed, continually practicing within the sect would only lead to decline.


    Ouyang Lingtian was different. He had joined Heaven Slaying, served his country, and carried out missions.


    Combat was the quickest way to enhance one''s strength, but the cost might be life itself if one was not careful.


    Of this, Xia Liu was very aware, as he had come through the same path...


    Afterwards, the two no longer spoke. Xia Liu couldn''t help but wonder¡ªwhat would Ouyang Lingtian''s expression be if he saw him perform the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm?


    After waiting about half an hour back at the house, Yan Min came back with his gear.


    Looking at the tightly packed two large boxes, Xia Liu was slightly surprised.


    Yan Min didn''t look like much, but he seemed to do well here; getting hold of two boxes of goods in a place as heavily guarded as Sakura City was impressive.


    Without saying anything more, Yan Min immediately opened the boxes, and dazzling firearms were exposed to the air.


    Ouyang Lingtian immediately picked up several automatic pistols and started to examine them.


    "You''re not taking any?" After choosing the equipment he needed, Ouyang Lingtian saw Xia Liu standing motionless and couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    "How could you, as a Mysterious Rank warrior, need such child''s play?"


    "Kid! You talk pretty big. Are you saying that a martial artist can''t use modern weapons? Or do you plan to take on hundreds of people with your fists?"


    Yan Min got angry immediately. Being a Yellow-Rank Mid-Level warrior himself, he didn''t underestimate modern technology.


    "Don''t talk too much with someone so full of himself. His task isn''t significant. With a bit of brains, he won''t die," Muzi said coldly, glancing at Xia Liu. Members of Spearhead always liked to show off, no matter what...

 Chapter 245 The Mission Begins

    Watching the three faces before him, Xia Liu smiled without saying a word.Of course, unable to avoid Yan Min and Muzi''s gazes, Xia Liu symbolically picked up a few grenades.


    Night fell quietly.


    The time for action sadly arrived.


    Carrying his violin case, Yan Min stepped onto the elevator he was all too familiar with.


    He had been in hiding here for several months, carrying the case upstairs at this same time every day.


    Even if the security guards saw him, they wouldn''t stop him, since they had already checked him for two months.


    Dressed in clothes that blended with the surroundings, Yan Min shouldered his sniper rifle and aimed at a high-rise building three hundred meters away.


    That was the location where the Demon Stone was kept.


    Dozens of elite guards roamed around the building.


    Fully armed, this level of alertness didn''t seem like it was just for protecting the Demon Stone.


    No matter how precious the Demon Stone was, it wouldn''t justify such a large number of people on guard.


    "If I can''t make it back, take good care of Fang Fei," Ouyang Lingtian whispered in a voice as fine as a mosquito''s, instructing Xia Liu before getting out of the car.


    This mission, he had another task, personally assigned by Heaven Slaying.


    He didn''t know if he could accomplish it, but he was prepared to expend his last ounce of strength to destroy it!


    "Huh?"


    Startled by Ouyang Lingtian''s words, which seemed like a will, Xia Liu gave a slight start.


    "Don''t worry, Sister Fang will be very happy with me," he replied.


    "Go ahead, I''m looking forward to having a real fight with you when this mission is over," Ouyang Lingtian said, speaking his mind.


    Ever since he found out Xia Liu was the Nether Emperor, this thought had grown stronger.


    Regardless of stakes, the honor of defeating the Nether Emperor, who made countless people tremble, was something to look forward to!


    "That will depend on whether you have the life to get out of here," Xia Liu replied with a smile, glancing back, then proceeded to walk to the assigned spot.


    Soon after, Ouyang Lingtian got out of the car and walked to the planned position.


    Watching Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian, Muzi started the car and left.


    She was somewhat puzzled; previously, it was clear that Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu were not on the same side, and there even seemed to be enmity between them.


    Yet their conversation just now sounded like that of close buddies.


    Even if joking, in the face of danger, they were still mutually concerned about each other.


    She didn''t understand, really couldn''t grasp it...


    "Yan Min, report the current situation," Muzi said through the wireless device after parking the car at the designated spot.


    "This is Yan Min, Xia Liu is currently walking towards the designated location, Lingtian is in good condition, and as soon as the enemy leaves, he has thirty seconds to enter the building," Yan Min reported quietly, observing through the sniper scope.


    "Yan Min, you sure are long-winded," Xia Liu, wearing a small earpiece, also heard Yan Min''s report and couldn''t help but complain.


    Yan Min and Muzi both felt embarrassed, and Ouyang Lingtian heard Xia Liu''s complaint as well, but his expression remained serious, not revealing any change.


    "I''m sorry, I will report more concisely next time."


    "That''s more like it, so when can we take action?" Xia Liu, standing in a corner for a while now, was getting impatient.


    If it hadn''t been for Fang Huasheng''s instructions, he wouldn''t be following Yan Min''s commands and would have gone straight in, taking everyone down.


    "In one minute the guards will change shifts; at that time, there will be many of them. They can attract all of them, and Lingtian can enter the building without any worries about his back," Yan Min said, just as three armored vehicles entered their line of sight.


    Behind the armored vehicles, three large trucks sped along, one after the other.


    "Here they come!"


    "Xia Liu, if you can draw the attention of all the guards, I guarantee you''ll get out safely, and I''ll take back all the belittling remarks about Spearhead," Muzi said seriously.


    "Whether you disregard Spearhead''s words or not, it''s all the same to me, as I''m not from Spearhead anyway. But Young Master Ouyang is preparing to transfer there."


    Upon hearing this news, both Muzi and Yan Min wore faces of utter frustration.


    The thought of Ouyang Lingtian transferring to Spearhead was quite possibly the coldest joke in the world.


    "Xia Liu, it''s too early to draw conclusions now. Wait until you''ve won before you talk," Ouyang Lingtian retorted, irritated. Xia Liu was always so certain.


    He was merely a Mysterious Rank High-Level Warrior after all. How could he be so certain, when he himself was at least a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level?


    "Haha, you guys are too noisy, I''m taking off my headset." As he watched the guards in the process of changing shifts, Xia Liu fiddled and took the small black piece out of his ear.


    "Xia Liu! Don''t you dare!"


    Yan Min was frantic. What was Xia Liu doing? If he disconnected, how would he escape after luring the enemy in?


    "Yan Min, don''t worry about him; just continue to report on the latest situation," Ouyang Lingtian said, his brows furrowed. Clearly, Xia Liu didn''t want to listen to anyone''s orders.


    "This bastard!" Muzi somewhat regretted her earlier sentiments, as she had wanted to encourage Xia Liu.


    Now it seemed all her worries had been for nothing. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xia Liu is walking out there! What''s he doing!" Yan Min exclaimed in shock upon seeing Xia Liu brazenly step out from a corner in the mirror.


    "This!" Muzi also started to panic. What Xia Liu was doing was the very definition of seeking death.


    At the moment, there were fifty or sixty guards at the entrance of the building, exchanging shifts.


    A sweep of gunfire and he would be instantly turned into a meat pie.


    "Don''t mind him, the moment you see the guards let their guard down, notify me immediately!" Ouyang Lingtian said, his eyes fixated on the main entrance of the building, his heart gradually heating up.


    As a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior, he knew the capabilities of a Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    Even if he were to be exposed now, it didn''t matter, for he was the Nether Emperor.


    He, the Nether Emperor, comes to your Island Nation to snatch a demon stone, do you really have the nerve to reprimand him all the way to the Middle East or Europe?


    "Hahahaha! Kids, hurry up and eat, once you''re done it''s time to hit the road!" Walking on the spacious avenue, Xia Liu laughed wildly, utterly disdainful of everything around him! Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "He''s gone mad! He''s truly gone mad!"


    Although Xia Liu had taken off his headset, his microphone was still on, so the trio of Yan Min could still hear his voice.


    Yan Min trembled with shock at Xia Liu''s current actions.


    He was walking openly on the main road, provoking the fifty or sixty fully armed guards; this wasn''t something a sane person would do.


    However, when he saw that all the guards had noticed Xia Liu and had started to become alert,


    Yan Min couldn''t help but admire Xia Liu. This act of his managed to attract everyone''s attention.


    "Put your hands up!"


    "Or we''ll shoot!"


    Two security chiefs roared in the language of the Island Nation.


    Xia Liu clearly understood the language and slowly raised his hands.


    The next second, his arms shook, and two grenades were flung into the air with the wind!


    "Grenades!"


    "Get down!"


    Seeing Xia Liu throw something, the many guards started to shout anxiously.


    Bang! Bang!


    But before the guards could flee, the two grenades exploded right in front of them, shattering the quiet night with violent blasts.


    "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"


    Seeing some fall, the head of the guards roared, raising his gun to sweep in the direction of Xia Liu.


    "It''s over, this guy is done for!" Yan Min said, shaking his head as he watched the vitality of the enemy below surge viciously.


    "Snap out of it, he''s not going to die that easily. Find us an opportunity to get into the building!"

 Chapter 246 Lingtian Versus Ninja

    Facing the barrage of bullets, Xia Liu channeled his Spiritual Energy and his body turned into afterimages, speedily weaving through the bullets'' paths.Yan Min''s eyes bulged as he witnessed Xia Liu''s godlike speed.


    He couldn''t catch Xia Liu''s trajectory at all.


    But one thing was for certain, Xia Liu had dodged all the bullets!


    While displaying his movement technique, Xia Liu threw the last two grenades he had.


    Boom boom!!!


    Once again, a bunch of guards were killed or injured.


    "Haha! Act cool and then run off! Damn, that''s thrilling!" Amidst laughter, Xia Liu, using his movement technique, had already retreated over ten meters.


    The guards, seeing Xia Liu escaping, couldn''t help but use the walkie-talkie to call for the military forces stationed in the suburbs, planning to catch him in a pincer attack.


    "Yan Min! What''s happening?" After the gunfire ceased, Muzi urgently asked.


    "Xia Liu... he..." Yan Min breathed quickly, unable to get his words out.


    What he had just seen was unbelievable: Xia Liu had not only dodged all the bullets but also used grenades to kill at least twenty people!


    And he had calmly retreated!


    "Yan Min!" Ouyang Lingtian was planning his opportunity to enter the building; only Yan Min, from his vantage point, could see the entire battlefield.


    "Yes! Enter the building in five seconds!"


    Regaining his composure, Yan Min said sternly.


    Hearing this, Ouyang Lingtian silently counted the numbers in his mind and, just like Xia Liu, took his earpiece out.


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Time''s up! Enter!" Seeing the guards chasing after Xia Liu, Yan Min quickly spoke.


    Although he couldn''t hear any commands, Ouyang Lingtian was already primed to go.


    His Inner Qi overflowing, he rushed across the dozen meters of the street with incredible speed and entered the building in the blink of an eye.


    Seeing Ouyang Lingtian''s speed, Yan Min felt another twinge of anxiety.


    No wonder the higher-ups sent Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu here; their speeds were indeed remarkably agile.


    Yan Min could see that Ouyang Lingtian was a few notches below Xia Liu in terms of speed.


    But this didn''t hinder the mission at hand.


    "Yan Min, where''s Xia Liu now?" Muzi asked anxiously from inside the vehicle.


    Now that Ouyang Lingtian had successfully entered the building, Muzi naturally would keep his promise to safely get Xia Liu to his destination.


    "I don''t know! His speed is too fast, I completely lost sight of him."


    Yan Min''s face turned pale, Xia Liu''s speed was truly terrifying.


    After turning a corner, he had completely vanished.


    The guards were the same, each one dumbfounded and searching nearby.


    "This..." Muzi exclaimed in surprise.


    What was Xia Liu trying to do? He better not get caught by the guards at this time.


    "Forget it, let''s not worry about him for now; when can the forces from the suburbs get here?" What Muzi was most concerned about now were the forces from the suburbs.


    That was a terrifying presence; there were armored cars, tanks, and various kinds of advanced weaponry.


    If Ouyang Lingtian didn''t come out of the building before the suburban forces arrived, then everything would be over.


    "Twenty minutes!" Yan Min responded without hesitation.


    "For Lingtian, twenty minutes is enough!"


    Muzi had heard of Ouyang Lingtian''s strength, twenty minutes was more than enough to retrieve a stone.


    After Xia Liu mysteriously disappeared, the guards dared not act rashly and returned to the entrance of the building.


    Some of them began rescuing efforts, while others continued to patrol.


    The security was much tighter than before.


    Now, not even a swallow could fly into the building.


    In the stairwell of the building, Ouyang Lingtian was racing up one level after another with astonishing speed.


    Looking up, he saw the target floor, the tenth level, right in front of him.


    "Hmm? There''s a killing intent!" Ready to climb the stairs, Ouyang Lingtian''s brows furrowed.


    He could sense it, the air was thick with a strong killing intent.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh...


    After operating his cultivation technique, Ouyang Lingtian''s condition had always been at its peak, and all his senses were extremely sharp.


    Suddenly, he heard a sound of desolation, the sound of air being mercilessly cleaved!


    Ouyang Lingtian abruptly retreated backward.


    Clang!


    The moment Ouyang Lingtian stepped back, a crystal clear katana swiftly plunged into the stone slab.


    "Ninja!"


    That''s right, just as Xia Liu had said, there were ninjas hidden inside the building!


    Ouyang Lingtian had clashed with ninjas from the Island Nation a few times and knew well the might of the ninjas.


    This hidden katana attack, if it weren''t for the feeling of that killing intent, Ouyang Lingtian would not have stepped back.


    This was one of the ninjas'' concealment techniques; to kill invisibly was not an exaggeration.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh...


    Looking around, listening attentively, Ouyang Lingtian heard the sound of desolation again.


    "Ha!" With an Inhaling Breath, Ouyang Lingtian pushed forward with both palms, and his unmatched Inner Qi surged out powerfully.


    An Inner Qi Rigid Shield instantly surrounded his body.


    Clang clang clang!


    Blocked by the shield, more than a dozen kunai fell to the ground.


    Kunai, a common type of light assassination weapon used by ninjas from the Island Nation.


    Ding!


    Before Ouyang Lingtian could relax, a cold gleam struck the shield. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While blocking, Ouyang Lingtian reached out to grab the flying knife and, with no mercy, fired several more into the air ahead of him.


    Bang bang bang...


    As the throwing knives shot out, they also gradually disappeared into the air.


    "Mysterious Rank Ninja''s signature technique: Invisibility Technique!" Seeing this, Ouyang Lingtian''s brow tightened again.


    Just as Xia Liu had speculated, there was indeed a ninja of the Mysterious Rank in the building.


    The Invisibility Technique was a lethal move to Ouyang Lingtian, especially if his opponent''s cultivation was deeper than his own and did not reveal the slightest energy.


    He could not detect the opponent''s position at all.


    If his guess was correct, the ninja using the Invisibility Technique was at least a High-Level Mysterious Rank ninja.


    "Hmm! Killing intent! I''ve got it!" Ouyang Lingtian''s eyebrows crossed, and he immediately drew his military knife from his waist, enhanced it with Inner Qi, and swung it at the air in front of him without hesitation.


    Clang!


    A clear clashing sound echoed through the stairwell.


    "Tsk tsk, Huaxia warriors are indeed impressive," the ninja revealed himself, having his position discovered by Ouyang Lingtian.


    However, he was dressed in a night suit, entirely pitch black, obscuring his true face.


    Hearing the ninja speak in Huaxia, Ouyang Lingtian was stunned for a moment, and then strongly responded, "What follows will astonish you!"


    "I''ve killed dozens of Huaxia people with my blade, let''s see how you can astonish me!" the man in black said coldly.


    As soon as the words fell, the katana was withdrawn, and the man attacked Ouyang Lingtian with fierce moves.


    Clang clang clang!


    The sound of metal clashing echoed incessantly within the stairwell.


    After a long fight, Ouyang Lingtian confirmed the strength of the black-clad ninja¡ªHigh-Level Mysterious Rank!


    He understood that in this manner, the stalemate would last for a long time.


    So, after blocking a strike from the man in black, Ouyang Lingtian raised his palm with anger, and invisibly, Inner Qi continuously condensed on his palm.


    The pressure of a Mid-Level Mysterious Rank martial artist was constantly released.


    "Mmm-hmm, time to use martial arts..." the man in black muttered, then his palms formed seals, a special capability of the ninja.


    "Baji Palm!" With Inner Qi fully charged, Ouyang Lingtian didn''t give the man in black a chance, slamming his palm down with the unstoppable momentum of the Baji Palm...

 Chapter 247 Poisoned

    Boom!Their palms collided, and Qi force exploded around them.


    The next second, Ouyang Lingtian''s pupils constricted sharply, for the ninja in black was completely unharmed!


    That Baji Palm was his full force with eight layers of Inner Qi, yet it couldn''t injure the opponent, which spelled trouble.


    "Haha, you Huaxia warriors have Inner Qi, while we ninjas of the Island Nation do not. But for thousands of years, we ninjas have developed something even stronger than Inner Qi!"


    As the ninja in black laughed maniacally, a horrifying image reflected in Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes.


    An eerie object emerged from behind the ninja''s head, eventually taking the form of a one-meter-tall humanoid figure.


    "Godslayer!" The moment he saw the dark figure, Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes widened.


    Godslayer, which Island Nation ninjas could summon upon reaching a certain realm, was like the martial artists'' Inner Qi¡ªit could enhance the summoner''s strength and various other aspects.


    It can be said that with the aid of Godslayer, a ninja''s power would greatly increase.


    What shocked Ouyang Lingtian was that only Earth-Rank ninjas could summon Godslayer.


    Could it be that this ninja in black was able to summon one, indicating that he had reached Earth Rank!


    "No, you are not an Earth-Rank ninja!" After observing carefully for a moment, Ouyang Lingtian exclaimed in surprise.


    He had followed his master in battle against ninjas before, among which there was an Earth-Rank ninja.


    The Godslayer summoned by that Earth-Rank ninja was over two meters tall, and its facial features were very clear.


    Compared to the ninja in front of him, Ouyang Lingtian confirmed that he did not possess Earth-Rank Cultivation, perhaps he was at the Peak of Mysterious Rank!


    "You''ve seen through me, but it doesn''t matter. With my Mysterious Rank Peak Ninja Power, I can fully kill you, but I won''t let you die so easily. The intel in your head is valuable enough to let you struggle for a few more days!"


    The ninja in black spoke coldly, raising his katana to clash with Ouyang Lingtian again.


    This time, with the nascent Godslayer present, the ninja in black''s speed and strength were significantly enhanced.


    Ouyang Lingtian, dodging, was soon in trouble.


    However, he didn''t give up. Earth-Rank ninjas weren''t abundant in the Island Nation, and neither were those at the Mysterious Rank Peak.


    Reaching such heights, they would only be entrusted with extremely important missions.


    Therefore, this building should only have this one ninja.


    Just by eliminating him, he could successfully complete the mission!


    With his mind made up, Ouyang Lingtian released all his Inner Qi.


    "Hah!" With Inner Qi enveloping his body and holding a sharp military blade, Ouyang Lingtian threw himself into battling the ninja.


    Faced with the formidable Ouyang Lingtian, the ninja in black remained silent and unexpectedly took to dodging, causing Ouyang Lingtian''s attacks to miss every time.


    Gradually, Ouyang Lingtian grew impatient; his blade swings became more frequent, and his Palm Strength was unleashed chaotically.


    "Clang!"


    In a fleeting moment of opportunity, the ninja in black avoided Ouyang Lingtian''s Palm Strength, and his katana countered the military blade.


    In the clash, the ninja in black took a kunai and with a shadow-like speed, stabbed towards Ouyang Lingtian''s chest.


    Zzt zzt!


    Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t dodge in time, and the kunai sank half an inch into his flesh.


    "Ahh!" With a roar, Ouyang Lingtian mobilized his Inner Qi and blasted it at the ninja in black.


    Under the effect of summoning Godslayer, the ninja in black reacted extremely quickly, rolling away to the staircase below.


    Touching the blood gushing from his chest, Ouyang Lingtian''s brows furrowed tightly because he felt a numbing sensation spreading from his chest.


    "Poisoned!"


    Realizing the kunai was coated with poison, Ouyang Lingtian immediately tapped his body''s acupoints and used his Inner Qi to seal his meridians.


    To suppress the venom from attacking his vital organs.


    "Wa ha ha! Struck by our Yagy¨± Family''s Cherry Blossom Poison, you''ll soon weaken, then decay and die within three days. If you cooperate nicely, I might consider giving you the antidote."


    The ninja in black smiled triumphantly.


    After being poisoned, Ouyang Lingtian needed a massive amount of Inner Qi to suppress the venom, but it was all in vain.


    Apart from the antidote, martial artists below the Earth Rank couldn''t suppress the poison with their Inner Qi, let alone cure it.


    "Despicable!"


    "All''s fair in war. This is a proverb handed down from ancient Huaxia."


    Crack.


    Just as Ouyang Lingtian was about to speak, suddenly the sound of the stairwell door unlocking echoed.


    Both of them turned their gaze towards the source of the noise.


    Ouyang Lingtian placed his hand on his waist, ready to toss two grenades down as soon as the door opened, then proceed quickly with his mission.


    Of course, it was another top-secret mission, even more important than the Demon Stone.


    "Hey! What are you guys doing?"


    A voice arrived before the person did, echoing suspiciously through the stairwell.


    Hearing this familiar voice, Ouyang Lingtian was stunned¡ªwasn''t that Xia Liu?


    The ninja in black was also taking it seriously; he had just fought a round with Ouyang Lingtian and had expended quite a bit of energy.


    If the newcomer was a martial artist at the Mysterious Rank Peak, he himself would be in danger.


    Seeing that no one answered him, Xia Liu stepped slowly into view at the stairwell entrance.


    Above was an injured Ouyang Lingtian, below was a faceless ninja clad in black. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Bro, you seem to be hurt, and quite badly at that." Seeing the pale-faced, bleeding Ouyang Lingtian, Xia Liu couldn''t help but be moved.


    "This scratch is just a tickle. Didn''t we agree that you would lure the enemy away? How come you entered the building?"


    Even while injured, even with venom about to invade his heart, Ouyang Lingtian still refused to show weakness in front of Xia Liu.


    "If I didn''t come in, would you be able to leave alive?"


    "Damn!"


    "Both of you, how about we go to Earth Territory to chat instead? I still have things to deal with later." The ninja in black couldn''t stand the two of them talking.


    No sooner had the voice faded than he used a technique to conceal the kunai, then launched an attack towards Xia Liu.


    "Be careful!"


    Seeing the posture of the ninja in black, Ouyang Lingtian instinctively warned him.


    Um!


    Xia Liu''s eyes lifted, and in an instant, boundless Spiritual Energy radiated from his body!


    Clang Clang Clang!!!


    With just a hard stare, all the kunai fell to the ground.


    This scene made Ouyang Lingtian''s heart skip a few beats!


    The ninja in black was also shocked; he was now certain that the newcomer''s strength was absolutely at the Mysterious Rank Peak! Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Not giving Xia Liu a chance to breathe, the ninja in black formed seals with his hands, and disappeared into thin air.


    "Xia Liu, this is an Island Nation Ninja''s Invisibility Technique, pay attention!" Ouyang Lingtian warned again.


    "Understood!"


    Xia Liu spoke calmly, then closed his eyes. The next second, his eyes opened wide.


    A flash of brilliance crossed his eyes, and reflected in Xia Liu''s pupils was the black-clad ninja, attacking swiftly from the side.


    Seeing Xia Liu look towards him, the ninja''s eyelids twitched.


    It seemed he had been spotted.


    With no time to wonder how he had been discovered, he raised his hand to launch a fierce move!


    With the initiation of the killing move, the person moved in an instant, followed by a series of rapid attacks and defenses!


    Standing on the high-ground, Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes slowly gleamed, and his mouth gradually dropped open.


    He finally saw Xia Liu''s counterattack!


    Such speed, such power, completely out of his league!


    Boom!


    A muffled sound, and a dark shadow was sent flying backward¡­

 Chapter 248 Shatter

    "Earth-Rank Warrior!" the black-clad ninja whose pupils shrank sharply steadied his form against the wall.He had originally thought that Xia Liu was just a Mysterious Rank Warrior, but now it seemed he was definitely an Earth Rank!


    "Earth-Rank Warrior!" Ouyang Lingtian was equally shocked.


    Earth-Rank Warriors were exceedingly rare in the entirety of Huaxia.


    Even if they existed, they were either leaders of a sect or reclusive experts hidden from the world.


    To cultivate to the Earth Rank, even someone with extraordinary talent would need decades of accumulation.


    But Xia Liu was only in his twenties, if he truly was an Earth-Rank Warrior, then the history of Huaxia''s Warrior Realm would need to be rewritten!


    "No! Not an Earth-Rank Warrior! It''s Body Cultivation!"


    Ouyang Lingtian''s mind was even more shaken as he thought.


    Body Cultivation focused on the physical strength and various aspects of mobility.


    Xia Liu''s Inner Qi was not powerful, but his strength and speed could reach such a level.


    It was definitely Body Cultivation!


    "Hand over the antidote, you have a chance to leave a complete corpse," Xia Liu said sternly, without a reply, looking at the black-clad ninja.


    "Hm? He''s bargaining for the antidote for me!"


    A slight tremor ran through Ouyang Lingtian''s heart.


    "Ha ha! Martial Artist from Huaxia, even if you are at Earth-Rank Cultivation, what of it? Without the antidote, your friend is as good as dead," the black-clad ninja couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    "Yagy¨± Family, right? I suppose you don''t have the Cherry Blossom Poison antidote either, so die!"


    With a cry of "Die," Xia Liu activated his movement technique, his afterimage reappeared, and his outstretched palm struck at the black-clad ninja.


    "Humph! Just an Earth-Rank Warrior, Godslayer!"


    Not to be outdone, the black-clad ninja summoned the Godslayer in response to Xia Liu''s rapid attack.


    A pitch-black figurine appeared and immediately positioned itself in front of the black-clad ninja.


    The Godslayer was sometimes ethereal, sometimes solidifying; it could be considered the ninja''s strongest shield.


    And more importantly, the biggest feature was that the Godslayer was the nemesis of Inner Qi!


    Warriors below the Earth Rank couldn''t easily injure the Godslayer, let alone break it.


    Boom!


    Xia Liu''s mighty palm struck the Godslayer, instantly echoing a dull sound throughout the hallway.


    "Hm? As expected, it can''t break through the Godslayer''s defense..."


    Ouyang Lingtian knew something about the ninja''s Godslayer.


    The Godslayer was a unique hallmark of Earth-Rank Ninjas, and only Earth-Rank Warriors could possibly shatter it.


    Because Earth-Rank Warriors also had unique hallmarks.


    "Ha ha! You''re not an Earth-Rank Warrior, it looks like you two are headed to Hell together in this invasion," the black-clad ninja laughed.


    He had also been desperately trying, and unexpectedly, he had blocked it.


    With the power of the Godslayer, he was confident he could dispose of Xia Liu within five minutes!


    "Xia Liu, run now!"


    Feeling the venom entering his organs, Ouyang Lingtian knew he was doomed.


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    Right now, the person he was most concerned about was undoubtedly Fang Fei; if something else happened to Xia Liu, Fang Fei would certainly be devastated.


    Thus, Xia Liu must not die!


    Thinking thus, Ouyang Lingtian pulled back his Inner Qi that had been suppressing the venom, planning to cover Xia Liu''s escape.


    Just then.


    A mocking laugh came from Xia Liu''s mouth.


    "Who told you that only an Earth-Rank Warrior can shatter your lousy Godslayer?"


    Hm?


    Before the black-clad ninja and Ouyang Lingtian could react, Xia Liu was already in motion.


    Suddenly, Xia Liu withdrew his palm and struck fiercely again!


    Boom!


    A crisp sound, a palm infused with Five Element Spiritual Energy furiously struck the Godslayer.


    The Godslayer''s pitch-black body cracked, shattered, and crumbled into pieces!!!


    "Ah!!!"


    The shattering of Godslayer caused a massive backlash, and the black-clad ninja immediately let out a painful howl.


    The Godslayer had been obtained at the cost of their souls.


    If the Godslayer died, the ninja''s soul would also perish.


    Once the soul perished, the body would quickly follow.


    But before the black-clad ninja''s body could perish, Xia Liu struck him in the chest with a palm!


    Thump!


    A large hole was directly blown through the chest of the black-clad ninja.


    His whole body flew backward, cracking the wall as well.


    So strong!


    Cold sweat drenched Ouyang Lingtian''s back.


    He had never imagined that Xia Liu could be so powerful. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He hadn''t felt any enhancement from Xia Liu''s Inner Qi from start to finish, which meant he had shattered the ninja''s Godslayer with the mere strength of his body!


    Actually, Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t see Inner Qi or Spiritual Energy; otherwise, he wouldn''t have called Xia Liu a Body Cultivator.


    Spiritual Energy, unlike the Inner Qi cultivated by martial artists, was stronger and more versatile.


    After killing the ninja, Xia Liu rummaged through his body.


    Apart from finding some weapons, he did not find the antidote for the Cherry Blossom Poison.


    "Young Master Ouyang, has the venom reached your heart?"


    Xia Liu thought for a while before asking.


    "Yes, nearly, but don''t worry about me. Let''s hurry up and complete the mission," Ouyang Lingtian said politely.


    The main reason was that Xia Liu was too powerful.


    He could collapse at any moment now, so he had to set aside his pride and ask Xia Liu for help.


    "Ah¡­ about to die and still thinking about the mission, I''m really impressed," Xia Liu could not help but sigh.


    He knew something about the Cherry Blossom Poison.


    A unique toxin from the Yagy¨± family of ninja.


    If an ordinary person were poisoned, they would die within an hour.


    The death was extremely gruesome.


    Even a martial artist using Inner Qi could not hold off for more than a few days.


    This poison was chronically severe, and aside from the antidote from the Yagy¨± family, there was almost no cure.


    Even Xia Liu, who possessed the Five Element Spiritual Energy, could only delay the effects.


    The Cherry Blossom Poison had been passed down in the Yagy¨± family for hundreds of years, and this generation had added countless modern technological viruses to it.


    Once the venom invaded the internal organs, Xia Liu had no solution.


    Looking at Ouyang Lingtian clenching his teeth in determination, Xia Liu realized that the poison had invaded his vital organs.


    That desolate silhouette tugged at his heartstrings.


    If it had been a year ago, he might have been able to use his full Spiritual Energy with silver needles to detoxify him.


    Now, that might not be possible; it might even require a trip to the Yagy¨± family to find a cure.


    "Stop!" The moment they stepped into the tenth-floor offices, Xia Liu spoke up to caution him.


    "What''s wrong?" Although reluctant, Ouyang Lingtian obeyed Xia Liu and stopped.


    "Didn''t you notice that there are at least twenty ninjas standing in the hallway ahead?" Xia Liu exclaimed in astonishment.


    The poison had really invaded his vital organs; he couldn''t even detect those ninjas employing Invisibility Technique.


    "Uh uh uh¡­" Ouyang Lingtian stepped back in shock.


    "Wait for a moment then. I''ll handle this." Seeing Ouyang Lingtian follow his command to complete the mission, Xia Liu''s heart gradually softened.


    "Thanks."


    Without responding, Xia Liu''s Spiritual Energy surged, and his movement technique created trails of after-images as he maneuvered swiftly within the office area.


    Thud thud thud¡­


    Wherever Xia Liu went, two black-clad ninjas would fall the next second.


    In no time, Xia Liu had crossed to the other side, about fifteen meters away.


    And the floor was already densely littered with fallen ninjas.


    "Hiss¡­"


    Ouyang Lingtian took several sharp breaths, fully realizing today just how strong Xia Liu really was!

 Chapter 249 Recognition

    "What are you waiting for, hurry up and complete your task."Seeing Ouyang Lingtian''s surprised face, Xia Liu felt extremely satisfied inside.


    After this time, that guy should no longer underestimate him.


    Ouyang Lingtian lightly smiled, he didn''t retort, quickly making his way through the corridor.


    Following the mental map in his head, Ouyang Lingtian brought Xia Liu to a hidden laboratory.


    There were several gun-toting ninjas in the laboratory, who were killed by Xia Liu upon encounter.


    There were also a few researchers in white lab coats.


    Xia Liu didn''t take action, it was Ouyang Lingtian who wiped them out.


    According to his thinking, these developers with precious memories should be eliminated as they would only bring disaster.


    "The Demon Stone is yours," Ouyang Lingtian said, looking at the slick black stone sealed within the glass cover.


    Xia Liu certainly wasn''t shy, he wrapped the Demon Stone after taking off a researcher''s white lab coat.


    As for Ouyang Lingtian, he took out a USB drive, plugged it into the computer, and rapidly typed a bunch of things.


    After downloading what he needed, he started rummaging through the drawers.


    Finally, he found a hand-copied top-secret document.


    "Are you done?" Xia Liu waited for a while, having smoked two cigarettes, and this guy was still not finished, seriously slow.


    "Almost there."


    "Then let''s go."


    "Aren''t you interested in my task?" Ouyang Lingtian asked in confusion.


    Xia Liu glanced indifferently at the documents in his hand and said, "That trash? America hasn''t succeeded, let alone Huaxia. Even if they succeed, I believe with your Mysterious Rank Mid-Level strength, you''ll sweep them all."


    "Hmm? You know!"


    Although Xia Liu''s words were not explicit, Ouyang Lingtian heard them. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xia Liu knew the contents of the document in his hand, and even knew the progress and outcome!


    This was somewhat terrifying.


    "Merely the idle thoughts of a bored person; hopefully, once they bring it back to Huaxia, they will be careful with the experiments. Otherwise, it''s just wasting lives."


    After speaking, Xia Liu didn''t bother explaining further and took the lead in leaving the laboratory.


    "He actually showed such concern; that''s a bit surprising." Ouyang Lingtian, who had let down his guard around Xia Liu, couldn''t help but sigh in amazement.


    "By the way, how is your poison? Do you still have the energy to break through the guards?" In the process of descending the stairs, Xia Liu suddenly remembered to ask.


    "This bit of poison can''t trouble me..."


    Ouyang Lingtian hadn''t finished his sentence when he suddenly spat out a mouthful of thick black blood.


    His face turned three shades paler in that instant.


    "Tsk, even at this point, you''re still trying to act tough; I admire you for that," Xia Liu said, shaking his head.


    "Xia Liu! Promise me one thing, help me take this document and USB drive back and give them to General Fang!" Knowing that death was imminent, Ouyang Lingtian let go of all burdens, allowing his most vulnerable side to be seen by Xia Liu.


    "Don''t talk now; I''ll help you suppress the poison for a while."


    Without giving Ouyang Lingtian a chance to refuse, Xia Liu activated the Five Elements Mantra, and with spiritual energy, he opened the shirt on his chest.


    Then, he rapidly inserted ten silver needles into Ouyang Lingtian''s chest.


    A familiar warmth spread once more from his chest, and Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes trembled as he watched Xia Liu.


    He was astonished again; Xia Liu actually possessed such profound medical skills.


    If it weren''t for the relief in his heart and lungs, Ouyang Lingtian wouldn''t dare believe it even in death.


    A few minutes later, Xia Liu retracted the needles: "If the poison hasn''t reached your five internal organs, I might have been able to help you resolve it, but now I cannot."


    "That''s enough, thank you, Xia Liu. With these skills, I believe Fang Fei will be very happy with you."


    Ouyang Lingtian finally admitted that Xia Liu was more capable than himself and more suitable for Fang Fei.


    "Eh, eh, eh..."


    Looking at Ouyang Lingtian''s pale face, and hearing these words of gratitude, Xia Liu couldn''t bring himself to feel happy at all.


    "My life won''t last much longer, before I die, help me one last time."


    As he spoke, Ouyang Lingtian handed over a USB drive and documents to Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu glanced at the documents, but ultimately did not accept them.


    "Xia Liu! I''m begging you, if there''s an afterlife, I am willing to be your servant to repay you!"


    Ouyang Lingtian said, his eyes turning red when he saw Xia Liu rejecting the documents.


    He had risked his life for this mission; if he couldn''t deliver the documents back to Huaxia even with his life at stake, then his life would be wasted.


    "You should take them back yourself."


    After a long silence, Xia Liu slowly spoke.


    Take them back himself?


    Ouyang Lingtian was stunned, he had so little time left, how could he possibly return with the items?


    "It''s just the Yagy¨± Family, a mere trip is all it takes."


    "You''re going to fetch the antidote for me?"


    "Put the thanks on hold for now, see if you can Increase Energy; several tanks and an Elite Group have already arrived outside."


    Through the window, Xia Liu saw the scene below, guards were deployed all around the building.


    To escape with Ouyang Lingtian in tow, speed was no longer the key.


    And after shattering that Ninja''s Godslayer, Xia Liu had consumed a significant amount of Spiritual Energy.


    "My Inner Qi is nearly exhausted, you should break out on your own."


    Ouyang Lingtian took a deep look downstairs, and ultimately could only shake his head in resignation.


    "Heh, that''s not up to you, just wait inside, I''ll go out and wipe them out!"


    Xia Liu sneered, then quickly headed downstairs.


    "Xia Liu..."


    With no sign of Xia Liu left in sight, a heavy sorrow rose in Ouyang Lingtian''s heart.


    He didn''t know what got into him; he had been ready to give up his life, yet seeing Xia Liu about to confront the Elite Group alone, his will to live surged with force. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yan Min! The forces from the suburbs have already reached the front of the building! Why hasn''t Lingtian come out yet?" In the car, Muzi asked anxiously.


    She had been keeping an eye on the situation, and her heart grew more anxious as the Elite Group arrived.


    "I don''t know! Twenty minutes have passed, if Lingtian hasn''t come out by now, then maybe he..."


    Yan Min''s throat choked up, unable to finish his sentence.


    Muzi fell silent as well, more than twenty minutes had passed, and if Ouyang Lingtian had completed the mission, he would have been out by now.


    But now...


    "Wait! Something''s happening! Someone is coming out of the building!" Just as the two were losing hope.


    Suddenly, Yan Min saw a figure slowly walking out of the building!


    "Is it Lingtian?" Muzi asked loudly.


    "Hmm! It should be."


    Yan Min couldn''t see clearly, he wasn''t sure.


    "No, that''s wrong! Lingtian wouldn''t walk out so openly! It''s Xia Liu!"


    Recognizing the person emerging, Yan Min screamed in surprise.


    It''s Xia Liu! It''s Xia Liu!


    Muzi was stunned too; it was Xia Liu!


    "On guard!"


    Seeing Xia Liu walk out of the main entrance so casually, the guards at the door immediately shouted and all pointed their guns at him.


    "It''s over! He could have run; with his speed, why did he let the guards spot him, it''s like courting death!" Yan Min''s tears were nearly bursting out.

 Chapter 250 Alone

    Yan Min was completely terrified.Muzi was almost the same, Xia Liu clearly had that terrifying speed, so why did he still confront the security team head-on?


    "Yan Min, did you see Lingtian?"


    "No! There''s only Xia Liu at the entrance of the building."


    "Damn!"


    Hearing this news, Muzi was filled with fear, they all heard the conversation between Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian just now, could it be that Ouyang Lingtian had already...


    Yan Min couldn''t help but imagine as well, cold sweat had already eroded his back.


    Just when the two were about to collapse, suddenly a voice came through the earphones.


    "Yan Min, Muzi, I''m fine, trust Xia Liu."


    "It''s Lingtian!" Yan Min and Muzi were excited, Lingtian was unharmed!


    But their shouts were not heard by Ouyang Lingtian.


    At last, Yan Min could only focus on the entrance of the building.


    Xia Liu''s microphone was still on, and he and Muzi could hear Xia Liu''s dialogue.


    "You bastards, your grandpa is in a very bad mood, back off or prepare to die!"


    "Damn! So domineering!"


    "Yan Min, watch your language and make sure to give me the latest updates," Muzi''s face gradually turned helpless.


    Xia Liu was indeed still so arrogant.


    "Who are you!" at the entrance, a security chief who spoke the Huaxia language asked.


    "The one who''s going to kill you."


    "Don''t kill him! Leave one alive!" the security chief shouted to the security team behind him in Island Nation language.


    "Don''t kill? Tsk tsk, I hope you live to see tomorrow''s sun!"


    With that, Xia Liu slowly raised his hands.


    "Here we go! Both sides are preparing to duel!" Yan Min exclaimed.


    Xia Liu was now empty-handed, and even though he was a Mysterious Rank Warrior, he couldn''t possibly use his Inner Qi to handle hundreds of security personnel.


    Standing in a room on the second floor, Ouyang Lingtian scanned below.


    He admired Xia Liu''s strength, but now he was up against hundreds of special forces armed with advanced weapons!


    His Inner Qi was probably also greatly depleted, how would he break through the siege?


    Ouyang Lingtian didn''t know and quietly watched.


    At the entrance of the building, ten guards with daggers rushed towards Xia Liu, intending to capture him alive.


    Xia Liu slowly circulated the Five Elements Mantra, and Spiritual Energy continuously flowed out from his Dantian.


    In just a moment, his meridians were filled with a surge of Spiritual Energy.


    Facing the ten charging men, Xia Liu did not hold back, leaving afterimages, he killed all ten of them in their first encounter!


    The security chief watched this and couldn''t help but tremble.


    He was now certain, Xia Liu was not ordinary, just like their own Ninja!


    "Shoot to kill!" the security chief dared not take risks anymore, if they showed mercy again, perhaps the Elite Group would be wiped out.


    Tut-tut-tut...


    At the security chief''s command, countless guns fired at Xia Liu.


    At least three hundred guns, Xia Liu could no longer dodge.


    The only way was to overpower with might! Break through by killing! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Inner Qi Rigid Shield, with the enemy''s firepower being so strong, how long can you hold on?"


    Seeing Xia Liu deploy the Rigid Shield to protect himself, Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    He put himself in the same situation and thought, if it were him, the Rigid Shield would burst within a minute, and then, thousands of bullets would turn him into mush.


    So, how long could Xia Liu hold on after that?


    While Ouyang Lingtian was imagining, Xia Liu boosted his Spiritual Energy, his movement technique accelerating to its extremes.


    He kept charging at the guards, and upon contact, they immediately fell to the ground.


    In just a few seconds, dozens of guards lay on the ground.


    "Spread out!" Although terrified, the security chief''s mind was clear.


    If they continued to huddle, it would only cause more casualties, so he ordered the men to spread out.


    And he was sure, as long as the firepower continued, Xia Liu wouldn''t last much longer!


    Unfortunately, the ordinary guards were stunned and wanted to retreat only to find that their bodies could no longer move.


    It was only when bright red blood burst from their heads and necks that they realized they were dead.


    They were ordinary people, who had never witnessed such a terrifying scene.


    Bullets couldn''t get near them¡ªit was as if a ghost or god had descended.


    Seizing the opportunity while the guards were stunned, Xia Liu obliterated his way through, cutting at least a hundred elite troops in half within a minute.


    "Tank!" a guard captain hiding in a building exclaimed in shock.


    Xia Liu was too terrifying, instilling an indescribable fear in him.


    Since ordinary firearms were useless, it was time to fire powerful cannon shells!


    Whirr whirr whirr...


    Three tanks quickly raced down the avenue, their steel tracks screeching against the ground.


    "Damn! The tanks are here!" Seeing the three tanks aiming their barrels at Xia Liu, Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise.


    Xia Liu had just expended an enormous amount of energy, and his rigid shield, he estimated, probably couldn''t defend against three cannonballs. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Three tanks?" Xia Liu stopped in his tracks and quietly watched the tanks on the distant street.


    "Tank!"


    "Terrifying, terrifying!"


    Yan Min and Muzi''s eyes were already wide open.


    Especially Yan Min''s.


    From the rooftop, he had the clearest view of Xia Liu''s near-maniacal slaughter, which had already left him dumbfounded.


    He had thought they could have killed everyone, but who could have expected three tanks to arrive!


    Xia Liu was in trouble!


    That was what Yan Min and Muzi thought.


    They had no idea about the capabilities of a martial artist like Ouyang Lingtian did.


    If Ouyang Lingtian''s guess was correct, Xia Liu had already exhausted himself.


    He couldn''t defend against even a single cannonball.


    Speed?


    He probably could only grit his teeth to execute it.


    But then he wouldn''t be able to resist the second round.


    However, Ouyang Lingtian thought, there was no way Xia Liu could break through this crisis.


    "If that''s the case, then I can only let you witness the terror of the Nether Emperor!"


    Facing three tanks with ammunition ready, Xia Liu''s face slowly broke into a smile.


    "The terror of the Nether Emperor!"


    "Nether Emperor?"


    Hearing Xia Liu''s words, Yan Min and Muzi couldn''t help but be puzzled.


    "Yan Min, what is the Nether Emperor?"


    "In my memory, the Nether Emperor seems to be the God of Mercenary in the Middle East region, rumored to have slaughtered many mercenary teams within a year," Yan Min recalled carefully and then gasped.


    Xia Liu said Nether Emperor! Could it be that he is?


    "I remember now, the God of Mercenary Nether Emperor!"


    Muzi also remembered, the name Nether Emperor had not been heard for a long time.


    "Could Xia Liu be the Nether Emperor?"


    "I don''t know, Muzi, you should step back a bit so you aren''t involved," Yan Min didn''t know how to respond.


    He had never seen the Nether Emperor, even if Xia Liu was him., how could he deal with three tanks when he was out of ammo and supplies?


    "This feeling..." Ouyang Lingtian stared at Xia Liu, his eyelids suddenly began to tremble.


    He seemed to feel that the aura around Xia Liu was getting stronger!


    Boom!


    The nearest tank to Xia Liu didn''t give him any chances, firing a cannonball directly.


    Gazing at the rapidly approaching cannonball, Xia Liu, using his last bit of spiritual energy, dodged forward.


    Bang!


    Once his body stabilized, Xia Liu placed his hand on his lower abdomen...

 Chapter 251 The Night of Slaughter

    "It''s over! His Inner Qi has been completely exhausted!" Ouyang Lingtian, with sharp eyes, noticed that there was no fluctuation emanating from Xia Liu.His complexion immediately turned dim.


    Without any Inner Qi, he could be hit by a bullet at any moment.


    Bang!


    However, before Ouyang Lingtian could finish his thought, a shell exploded right in front of Xia Liu.


    Through the headset, a thunderous roar resounded, buzzing in Yan Min''s head. In pain, he immediately removed his headset.


    Inside the vehicle, Muzi reacted similarly, her hands covering her ears.


    "It''s over! It''s over! Xia Liu is dead..."


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    After snapping back to reality, Yan Min panicked.


    "He''s so strong; how could he possibly be dead¡­," Muzi weakly said, her eyes moistening without her noticing.


    Yan Min and Muzi had many opinions about Xia Liu before.


    But when they saw him desperately trying to break through the encirclement, they became worried and completely accepted this arrogant guy.


    Just when they caught a glimmer of hope, they had to face such a reality.


    They all found it hard to accept.


    "Wait! He''s not dead!" Ouyang Lingtian exclaimed, as he saw a figure slowly standing up from the blasted pit on the ground.


    "Huh? Not dead!" Yan Min and Muzi were both invigorated.


    The site was enveloped in thick dust, and the surrounding guards were slowly approaching the pit.


    Even if Xia Liu was dead, they had to take his body back.


    As they got closer, a wild laughter came from within the pit.


    "Haha! It''s been a long time since I felt this exhilarated!"


    Then, to the stunned gaze of the many guards, Xia Liu leaped out of the pit.


    The clothes on his body had been blasted off, revealing his muscular skin.


    At the moment, Xia Liu''s hand was placed on his lower abdomen.


    "That''s the location of the Dantian; what is he trying to do?" Ouyang Lingtian exclaimed in surprise once again. Could it be that Xia Liu still had a trump card?


    "Then prepare yourselves to face the wrath of the Nether Emperor..."


    Xia Liu''s complexion gradually darkened, and then he drove his two fingers charged with Energy Circulation into himself.


    "Self-mutilation?"


    Seeing this, everyone was shocked.


    Ouyang Lingtian was also baffled. What was Xia Liu trying to do?


    Given how he had just withstood the shell, he clearly had the strength to break through the encirclement.


    Why stay and self-mutilate?


    Swish!


    The next second, under numerous trembling gazes, Xia Liu pulled a golden circular object from within his body.


    As the mysterious object was extracted, an immense Spiritual Energy burst out from within Xia Liu''s Dantian!


    In just an instant, one-third of the Dantian was filled.


    An unparalleled aura spread from Xia Liu''s body.


    The wind rose, dust billowed, and slaughter was about to commence.


    Without giving anyone a chance to breathe, Xia Liu spread his palms, his Inner Spirit Energy overflowing continuously.


    Energy flowed through the twelve meridians, power infused the Eight Trigrams Palm!


    The formidable pressure swept in all directions, intimidating the guards present to the point where they could not move.


    As he raised his eyes, they were full of the crimson of slaughter, his afterimages flickering ¨C Fengdu Gate had been opened!


    In the distance of a mere ten or so meters, Xia Liu blinked and appeared instantly, facing the chilling tanks. He slammed a palm on the hood of one.


    Boom!


    The wild sound echoed through the night.


    The tank split at an absolute speed, its occupants already obliterated. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After destroying one tank, Xia Liu immediately moved; the nearby two tanks were both smashed with a palm.


    Sweeping his gaze over the guard squadron, Xia Liu''s movement technique kicked in again, crazily entering the crowd with a deranged demeanor.


    His palm, filled with unmatched vigor, struck the bodies of the guards.


    Flesh shattered, bones crushed, soul dispersed!


    In less than three minutes, only one person remained standing!


    Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes were wide open, and his breathing gradually quickened.


    So strong, terrifyingly strong!


    He didn''t understand at all how Xia Liu''s strength had improved so vastly.


    Just by the way he had shattered those tanks with a few palm strikes, his power must have reached the peak of Earth Rank!


    Earth Rank Peak, the highest rank of martial artists in Huaxia currently.


    Moving through the Martial World, that was an invincible existence.


    Yan Min had long since lost his soul, Xia Liu''s methods were too horrifying.


    Because he was too far away, he didn''t hear the cries of the guards.


    But just thinking about it, he understood they must have been the most sorrowful cries of their lives.


    "Yan Min, how is the situation?"


    Because she was too far back, Muzi had no idea what was happening on site and could only ask Yan Min.


    "Uh uh... Muzi, start the car and go to the entrance of the building."


    "Okay!"


    Receiving this reply, Muzi was ecstatic.


    But when she reached the entrance of the building, her heart was shaking uncontrollably.


    On the ground, there wasn''t a single intact body!


    Those three tanks, only burning fragments remained.


    The horrified Muzi pictured Xia Liu''s figure in her mind, this was the result of his handiwork.


    Whoosh... Whoosh...


    Muzi took deep breaths, trying her best to calm herself down.


    But no matter how hard she tried, her hands that gripped the steering wheel still trembled.


    While Muzi was trembling, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian were walking out through the main entrance.


    "Lingtian''s poison seems severe!" Seeing Ouyang Lingtian''s lips blackened and his complexion akin to deathly ash, Muzi couldn''t help but scream out loud.


    "Hmm, you heard just now, Cherry Blossom Poison, a fierce poison passed down through generations in the Yagy¨± Family. Apart from their family''s antidote, there are no other ways to cure it."


    Yan Min also found this to be a thorny issue.


    The Yagy¨± Family was one of the top ninja clans in the Island Nation, filled with a terrifying number of master warriors.


    Thinking about getting the antidote was almost impossible.


    "Yan Min, the mission is complete, let''s quickly withdraw." As soon as Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu got into the car, Muzi immediately relayed the message to Yan Min.


    "Understood, a helicopter will be here in five minutes, you have to be in the traffic on Lichuan Avenue within two minutes."


    "Okay!" With that promise, Muzi immediately stepped on the gas pedal.


    "Pfft!"


    The moment the car surged forward, Ouyang Lingtian, unable to hold back any longer, spat out a mouthful of black blood.


    "Lingtian, how are you feeling?" Muzi asked anxiously.


    "Don''t worry, he is not dying yet." Xia Liu grabbed Ouyang Lingtian''s wrist to check on him.


    With the Inner Spirit Energy he had injected to maintain his organs, he could survive for five days.


    But if the poison wasn''t cured within two days, all his Cultivation would be reduced to zero, and all the bones in his body would die. By then, even with the poison cured, he would be no different from a cripple.


    "Xia Liu, you..."


    Ouyang Lingtian didn''t know what to say. His mind was still clear, and he knew it was all thanks to Xia Liu.


    He had already become indifferent to his future and now only wanted to hand over the mission to Xia Liu.


    "Your poison, I will think of a way. If you were to die of poisoning before my eyes, my lifelong reputation would be ruined."


    "Uh uh... lifelong reputation?"


    Hearing this teasing from Xia Liu, Ouyang Lingtian asked in confusion.


    "I am the Divine Doctor. If I can''t cure you, wouldn''t my reputation be damaged?"


    Xia Liu said very seriously.


    "Mmm, then I''m really sorry for being a trouble that could damage your reputation." Ouyang Lingtian smiled contentedly. His mood suddenly lightened, perhaps due to Xia Liu''s concern¡­

 Chapter 252 Infiltration

    "Heh heh... isn''t it just finding an excuse to detoxify Lingtian? However, I admire you, Xia Liu!"The one driving, Muzi, couldn''t help but let his imagination wander upon hearing the conversation between the two.


    "Muzi, how much do you know about the Yagy¨± Family?" With his thoughts settled, Xia Liu immediately asked Muzi.


    "The Yagy¨± Family is one of the top Ninja Clans in the Island Nation, with countless ninjas, most of whom are working for the Island Nation," Muzi responded without hesitation.


    Muzi hadn''t thought about it; during the months he spent hidden in the Island Nation, what he heard about most was the Yagy¨± Family.


    After all, there are very few ninja families working for the Island Nation¡ªonly two.


    Apart from the Yagy¨± Family, there was also the Yamamoto Family.


    However, the Yamamoto Family mainly focuses on offense, while the Yagy¨± specializes in defense and assassination.


    "Where is the Yagy¨± Family located?"


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    "Hm? Shouldn''t you first learn about the Yagy¨± Family''s strength?" Muzi said awkwardly.


    "No need. Before the toxins in Lingtian erupt, I must quickly retrieve the antidote, otherwise his cultivation could be ruined," Xia Liu said.


    "Xia Liu, you..."


    Ouyang Lingtian felt moved. Xia Liu had just expended so much.


    Yet now he wants to retrieve the antidote as soon as possible for his own cultivation.


    Could he really be invincible?


    "You don''t have to worry about me. It''s good for you to owe me a favor, so you wouldn''t have the face to bother Sister Fang anymore and could dedicate yourself fully to the Spearhead Troop," Xia Liu said.


    "Pfft!"


    This time, Ouyang Lingtian didn''t spit blood.


    He and Muzi were both stunned. So that was his reason.


    "By the way, what was that golden object you pulled out from your body just now?" Suddenly, Ouyang Lingtian recalled what he saw and immediately asked.


    "You mean this? Here, keep it for me," Xia Liu said, taking the object out of his pocket.


    "This is?"


    Ouyang Lingtian''s scalp tingled, seeing the object up close, he was utterly clueless.


    Its surface was golden, about the size of a thumb, the base was fully rounded and flat, but it tapered down towards the bottom to a sharp point.


    "It''s called a Spirit Stabilizing Needle."


    "Spirit Stabilizing Needle! The legendary magic artifact used to seal the meridians of a martial artist?"


    Ouyang Lingtian began to tremble upon hearing these three words.


    He had read about it in a certain tome. A magic artifact is the collective name for the weapons or armor used by martial artists.


    They could be swords, spears, bows, or whips, extraordinarily varied; with any magic artifact, a martial artist could imbue it with Inner Qi and significantly enhance their war power in battle.


    But this Spirit Stabilizing Needle was legendary because its primary function wasn''t for combat, but for sealing!


    Naturally, what it sealed was a martial artist''s Inner Strength.


    That meant Xia Liu''s Inner Strength had always been sealed! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Boom!


    Upon this discovery, Ouyang Lingtian was completely flustered.


    So, up until now, Xia Liu''s strength had always been suppressed.


    Then, wouldn''t his strength reach the Earth-Rank Level if he released the seal?


    Right! It had to be Earth Rank, otherwise, how could he shatter a heavy tank with one palm?


    "Why do you have a Spirit Stabilizing Needle inside you? With your Earth Rank strength, there can''t be many who could be your match."


    "I got bored and inserted it myself to seal it," Xia Liu said, touching his head and smiling.


    "You inserted it yourself!" Ouyang Lingtian was stunned. Could this guy have a masochistic inclination?


    No, it couldn''t be that simple!


    But he couldn''t name anyone else who could suppress an Earth-Rank Warrior. There were only a few in Huaxia, and even fewer abroad.


    "Keep this for me. I''ll need to seal it later," Xia Liu didn''t want to explain too much.


    "Alright, can you tell me how far your cultivation has progressed?"


    "Mysterious Rank."


    ...


    "What if you pull out the Spirit Stabilizing Needle?"


    "I should be at Earth Rank, but I''m not sure," he answered vaguely.


    Xia Liu could only give a vague response, after all, there were still two Spirit Stabilizing Needles in his body. If all were removed, perhaps he could match a Heaven-Rank Warrior, or even surpass that...


    "So you are an Earth-Rank Warrior!" Receiving this news, Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t help but tremble.


    He finally understood just how great the gap between them was.


    "Let''s not talk about that now. Muzi, take me to the Yagy¨± Family''s manor gate, and I''ll go directly to get the antidote."


    Taking advantage of the chaos in the Island Nation, he thought it should be quite easy to obtain the antidote.


    "Lingtian, this..."


    Muzi hesitated to go immediately, not being very familiar with martial artists, so she had to ask for Ouyang Lingtian''s opinion.


    "You''ve just spent a lot of energy. If you go to the Yagy¨± Family, how sure are you that you can withdraw safely?"


    Ouyang Lingtian wasn''t certain either. If Xia Liu were to risk his life to save him, even his own death wouldn''t compensate for the mistake.


    "Visiting the Yagy¨± Family is as easy as eating or drinking. Why worry about surety?" Xia Liu said casually.


    ...


    Ouyang Lingtian and Muzi exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other''s eyes.


    Following that, Ouyang Lingtian nodded, and Muzi immediately turned to head toward the Yagy¨± Family.


    The Yagy¨± Family was located in the northeast corner of Sakura City by the sea, a place of beautiful scenery.


    As the night wind blew, a figure stood mightily on top of a city wall.


    Looking around, there were low-rise buildings stretching to the seashore, where a tower of over ten stories was constructed.


    "According to what Muzi said, that tower is where ninjas cultivate. Perhaps the antidote for the Cherry Blossom Poison is hidden there," Xia Liu murmured to himself as he leaped off the city wall.


    At that moment, dressed in a night suit similar to that of the ninjas he had killed in the building, his face was hidden, only revealing a pair of eyes gleaming with keen energy.


    Without the Island Nation ninja''s Invisibility Technique, Xia Liu could only sneak quietly through the estate.


    He saw many ninjas within the estate.


    Moreover, they all stood solemnly performing their techniques, invisible to ordinary people.


    Luckily, with spiritual energy enhancing his vision, Xia Liu could easily see through these ninjas'' camouflaging techniques.


    Otherwise, this visit might have turned into a massacre.


    Soon, he reached the vicinity of the tower.


    However, upon close inspection, the tower seemed to be a closed structure.


    This was confusing; if it was sealed, how could Muzi say that the Yagy¨± Family''s ninjas were cultivating inside?


    Since ninjas employing the Invisibility Technique surrounded the tower, Xia Liu didn''t rashly approach.


    He looked around; most of the internal structures were courtyards, so he decided to enter one to inquire further.


    Once he chose a courtyard, Xia Liu stealthily snuck inside.


    Upon landing, he detected a faint scent.


    "Hmm? It smells like medicine. Could this be where the Yagy¨± Family produces medicines?"


    The more he thought about it, the more excited Xia Liu became, quickly following the scent to its source.


    But after passing through two wooden houses, while he did find the source of the scent, it turned out to be an open-air hot spring bath!


    And in the steaming waters of the hot spring, there was a beautiful figure...

 Chapter 253 Liuming Caoru

    "Why are you still standing there? Bring me the towel," the delicate figure in the water turned around, frowning slightly as she glanced at him and spoke in the language of the Island Nation.With that glance, Xia Liu felt his blood begin to boil.


    It was all because of this woman, with her long hair and the slightly wet, fine strands at her neck, providing an unusual visual impact.


    Beneath her long eyelashes were eyes as beautiful and large as those you''d only expect to see in a manga.


    And her face was even more stunningly beautiful, reminiscent of the cute girls in anime.


    Xia Liu understood what the girl said, but he had no idea where the towel was, so he could only stand there.


    "Are you deaf? I said bring the towel over!" Seeing Xia Liu make no move, the girl''s brows knitted slightly, her cherry lips puckering up in dissatisfaction.


    "Damn it!" Xia Liu wanted to roar and then rush into the spring to overpower her.


    If it had been over a year ago, he definitely would have done so, but not now.


    Ever since he had sealed his cultivation, he had to behave, especially since his purpose this time was to obtain an antidote, so he had to be extremely patient.


    "Yes!" Scanning around, Xia Liu finally spotted the towel and nodded in agreement.


    And he used quite standard Island Nation language to respond.


    "You are a man?" The beautiful woman screamed upon hearing Xia Liu speak.


    "Yes!" Xia Liu didn''t know how to explain further, but saying so was enough; dressed in black, if she called for help, he would just use his movement technique to escape. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh! Come over here then," her big watery eyes spun a few times, and then she indifferently spoke.


    Xia Liu was somewhat confused, but still brought the towel over.


    Seizing the opportunity, he moved his hands behind his back, ready to threaten the woman with his knife as soon as he got close enough.


    Living inside the manor and so close to the high tower, this girl''s status in the Yagy¨± Family was definitely not simple.


    But as he approached the edge of the bath and was just about to draw his knife,


    at that moment, the woman suddenly grasped his hand.


    Feeling her exceptionally smooth palm, Xia Liu was slightly startled.


    The next scene was even more puzzling, as the woman slowly stood up.


    Being in the hot spring water, it evaporated into countless gases drifting upward due to the slight coldness of the air.


    Xia Liu was stunned; the girl was standing before him, stark naked!


    Just what did this girl, who looked like she had walked right out of an anime, want to do!


    "You''re lucky to be my first man," the girl spoke, and Xia Liu froze, utterly bewildered by the situation.


    "Miss, what is this?" Xia Liu asked respectfully in the language of the Island Nation.


    "Because I am still a virgin and cannot enter the Soul Tower to summon my destined Godslayer, my father told me to find someone to solve it."


    Even when talking about such matters, the girl''s expression remained unchanged, as if losing her virginity was just like any ordinary event.


    No, rather, it was slightly more important than ordinary matters since after losing her virginity, she could enter the tower to summon the Godslayer.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, the girl spoke again, "If you lose your virginity before summoning the Godslayer, you will never have the chance to summon the Godslayer. Will you help me?"


    Hmm?


    Xia Liu was taken aback; this woman needed to lose her virginity to summon the Godslayer, while a man must remain a virgin; the rationale was somewhat twisted.


    "Very willing!" Xia Liu agreed without a second thought.


    After enjoying the moment, he could just coerce her into revealing where the antidote for the Cherry Blossom Poison was kept.


    Being able to have pleasure and obtain the antidote too, this trip was indeed well worth it.


    "My name is Yagy¨± Ruyan, what''s your name?" Yagy¨± Ruyan solemnly introduced herself and then asked for Xia Liu''s name.


    "Liuming Caoru," Xia Liu thought for a moment and then spoke gravely.


    Before entering the Yagy¨± Family, Muzi had told him that there were two branches within the Yagy¨± family: the main branch that carried the Yagy¨± surname and the collateral branch with the Liuming surname.


    And the greatest duty of the Liuming lineage was defense, so the name Xia Liu had chosen was very appropriate, even if it sounded a bit awkward to the girl.


    But she did not think much of it and gently took Xia Liu''s hand to enter into the spring water.


    Xia Liu had intended to take off his hood, but Yagy¨± Ruyan stopped him and did not even deal with his coat.


    Her wish to summon the will of Godslayer was evident.


    As their eyes met, Yagy¨± Ruyan''s face gradually flushed.


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    She was a woman too, and she could feel shy.


    She was afraid of seeing Xia Liu''s face because she feared she might fall for this member of the collateral branch in the future.


    Xia Liu was somewhat inscrutable, originally planning to threaten this girl.


    Now it seemed impossible.


    So he picked up a bath towel from beside the pool and wrapped Yagy¨± Ruyan inside it, then carried her into the room.


    Seeing his clothes all wet, Xia Liu channeled Fire Spirit Energy and with a shake, instantly evaporated the water.


    Seeing that it was about to be dawn and feeling fully energized, he decided not to beat around the bush anymore.


    With a step, he headed toward the Soul Tower.


    The guards in front of the Soul Tower saw Xia Liu approaching and, despite a trace of suspicion, did nothing of what he expected.


    After all, clad in ninja attire, perhaps he was just another clansman coming to cultivate at night.


    But this made Xia Liu frustrated; initially, he thought he could just stealthily grab the antidote and leave.


    Who knew he would end up sleeping with Yagy¨± Ruyan, and moreover, these ninjas were ignoring him, which was unacceptable.


    "You lot! Where is the clan leader of the Yagy¨± family?" Xia Liu arrived in front of the Soul Tower, asking outright in the language of the Island Nation.


    "Enemy!"


    Realizing what was happening, the ninjas around the Soul Tower immediately moved to surround Xia Liu.


    The clan had been secure for decades, and they had thought no enemy could ever reach the Soul Tower.


    But unexpectedly, someone had!


    "If you call me an enemy, fine, but call your clan leader out," Xia Liu said unapologetically.


    "Hmph! Dare to invade the Yagy¨± house, prepare to die!" a ninja scoffed, then threw several kunai.


    Xia Liu looked up, his Spiritual Energy surged, and the Spiritual Energy swirling around his body directly blocked the kunai.


    "A master! Quickly inform the clan leader!"


    "Dare to attack me, prepare to die!"


    Xia Liu unceremoniously pushed forward, and invisibly, strong Spiritual Energy burst forth from his fingertips.


    Bang!


    The ninja had no time to react and was killed on the spot.


    Seeing their companion dead, several other ninjas drew their katanas from behind and surged toward Xia Liu.


    Boom!!!


    At the same time, a ninja struck a bronze bell, and the deafening sound of the bell immediately spread throughout Yagy¨± Manor.


    Facing the incoming ninjas, Xia Liu angrily channeled Spiritual Energy and swiftly killed them with a wave of his palm!

 Chapter 254 The Overbearing Xia Liu

    This time, he had no intention of showing mercy, since he had come here, it was only to intimidate!He had just eliminated dozens of ninjas at the scene, and now, another group was approaching from behind.


    The newcomers were dressed in traditional samurai clothing, with a katana at their waist.


    Among them were a few older individuals who appeared to be important figures of the Yagy¨± Family.


    The rest were weak ninjas clad in ninja suits, showing only their eyes.


    Upon seeing Xia Liu, these weak ninjas immediately surrounded him.


    "Who are you?" the middle-aged man who arrived asked promptly.


    "Who I am doesn''t matter. What''s important is, do you have the antidote for the Cherry Blossom Poison?"


    "Huh? Coming to the clan to steal the antidote? Hahaha!!!!!" the middle-aged man burst into laughter; his name was Yagy¨± Liangping, destined to be the future clan leader.


    "Be alert!"


    However, Xia Liu immediately caused all the ninjas to fear.


    Suddenly, he appeared in front of Yagy¨± Liangping, his hand gripping the man''s neck.


    "What''s wrong with stealing the antidote? Look down on it?" Xia Liu spoke in fluent Island Nation language.


    Yagy¨± Liangping was shaking uncontrollably, he hadn''t realized what was happening until his neck was seized, only then did he understand that his life was in someone else''s control!


    "Big brother, don''t be rash." Having his life in someone else''s grasp, Yagy¨± Liangping could only plead.


    "Is there or isn''t there an antidote for the Cherry Blossom Poison?" Xia Liu did not want to waste words, as Ouyang Lingtian could collapse at any moment, so it was crucial to get the antidote quickly.


    "There is! There is!" Yagy¨± Liangping responded to Xia Liu without a second thought.


    "Then hurry and bring it out in exchange for your life."


    "Tsk tsk! I really don''t know where you got the guts to wreak havoc in the Yagy¨± house!"


    Just as Yagy¨± Liangping was about to speak, an old man with white hair and a weathered face appeared.


    His body slightly bent, but Xia Liu could feel a pressure emanating from him.


    "An Earth-Rank Ninja..." The only ones who could make Xia Liu release the first seal and feel pressured were Earth-Rank Ninjas.


    "Unveil your face, let us have a fair fight," the elder said sternly.


    "Fight? With just you?"


    "Hmph! Daring to disdain Yagy¨± Taik¨­! You are definitely going to die!"


    As he spoke, the old man''s hand gesture condensed, and a Godslayer, about three meters tall, appeared behind his head.


    This Godslayer was different from the one he had destroyed in the building.


    It had a full face and a complete bodily figure.


    Seeing its armored and helmet-clad appearance, it was clear that this Godslayer was indeed a samurai in life.


    "Retreat!"


    Upon seeing Yagy¨± Taik¨­ summon the Godslayer, all the ninjas retreated several tens of meters.


    Because they all understood the terror of Yagy¨± Taik¨­''s Godslayer.


    "Your status in the Yagy¨± Clan." Xia Liu thought for a moment, then casually tossed Yagy¨± Liangping aside and looked at Yagy¨± Taik¨­ with more interest. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Current Clan Leader!" Yagy¨± Taik¨­ responded solemnly, then called out, "Summon your Godslayer; if you survive, I''ll give you the antidote."


    "Haha! To deal with you, I don''t need a Godslayer."


    "Hahaha! You are definitely going to die. My father''s Godslayer is the perennially undefeated General''s Soul." Yagy¨± Liangping burst into laughter, seeing Xia Liu scorn his father.


    The other ninjas also smiled faintly, Xia Liu''s speed just now had indeed been impressive.


    They thought it was some kind of speed Ninjutsu, but however fast it was, he couldn''t break through the Clan Leader''s Godslayer.


    "What is your clan and name?"


    "My clan is Yamamoto, my name is Yamamoto Taisharp!"


    "Yamamoto Clan!" Hearing this opposing name, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ frowned, but glanced at the ninjas who had fallen around.


    He became enraged, even if it meant clashing with the Yamamoto Clan, he was determined to kill Xia Liu.


    "Divine Soul grant me Ninja Power!" Without wasting more words, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ concluded his hand gesture and shouted.


    A powerful energy then burst forth from the Godslayer.


    Immediately after, Xia Liu could clearly feel that all the power flowing out from the Godslayer was being absorbed into Yagy¨± Taik¨­''s body.


    The atmosphere grew even more tense!


    Xia Liu didn''t fall behind, for he immediately activated the Five Elements Mantra, filling his body''s meridians with vast spiritual energy.


    By unsealing the Energy Sea Acupoint, his reserves of spiritual energy had tripled!


    Rejuvenated by the Godslayer''s power, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ perked up, no longer slouched, standing tall and straight.


    Compared to just moments ago, he seemed like a completely different person.


    Facing an Earth-Rank Ninja of unknown caliber, Xia Liu took him on with seriousness.


    Shout!


    Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, and Yagy¨± Taik¨­ made his move.


    He transformed into a blur, charging straight at Xia Liu!


    Seeing this, Xia Liu was fearless and met him with a clenched fist!


    Boom!


    The first clash!


    Their palms and fists met; each took five steps back, neither gaining the upper hand.


    But after coming into contact with Xia Liu, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ immediately perked up, "You aren''t from the Yamamoto Clan, you''re a Huaxia Warrior!"


    "Huaxia Warrior!"


    Hearing this news, all the ninjas present were invigorated.


    Since ancient times, Island Nation ninjas and Huaxia Warriors have been mortal enemies.


    Killing a Huaxia Warrior today would be an honor for the clan!


    "Oh! You figured it out." This time, Xia Liu didn''t speak the deeply hated Island Nation language, but used Huaxia language instead.


    "Tsk tsk, a young punk from Huaxia, today you''ll witness the power of an Earth-Rank Ninja!" Yagy¨± Taik¨­ also responded to Xia Liu in Huaxia language.


    To this, Xia Liu wasn''t surprised. Yagy¨± Taik¨­, this old coot, had definitely been to Huaxia, and being from such a clan, it would be strange if he didn''t speak Huaxia language.


    "Die, Huaxia punk!"


    With a roar, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ launched another attack.


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    Without any reservation, he mobilized all of his Godslayer Soul Power, intending to kill Xia Liu with a single blow.


    Xia Liu''s brow knitted, feeling a slight threat from Yagy¨± Taik¨­''s palm, but it was just a slight one.


    With a mighty grip, Xia Liu also channeled all of his surrounding spiritual energy into his palm.


    Boom!


    The two clashed with a second palm strike!


    The residual force swept across the area, causing the weaker ninjas who couldn''t retreat in time to be blown to the ground.


    All the spectators were shocked; if the two combatants were any stronger, they feared they would have suffered internal injuries from the impact.


    The two separated after the palm strike, leaving afterimages in their wake.


    For a moment, the battlefield was filled with afterimages.


    Facing such a level of combat, Yagy¨± Liangping began to tremble gradually.


    He couldn''t forget that he had just barely escaped from Xia Liu''s hands.


    If Xia Liu had used a bit more force just now, he probably would have died.


    The fight between Xia Liu and Yagy¨± Taik¨­ affected the entire manor.


    Countless members of the Yagy¨± Clan got up to check what was happening, including Yagy¨± Ruyan.


    She touched the still painful and stinging scar, clenched her teeth, and quickly dressed.


    When she arrived at the scene of the fight, her eyes widened in shock¡ªit was her grandfather fighting someone!


    And the opponent was incredibly strong!


    She was even fortunate to witness her grandfather''s Godslayer!


    The two in the battle circle struck a palm against each other, both retreating several steps before stopping.


    In that instant, Yagy¨± Ruyan''s gaze fixed on Xia Liu, and her heart trembled suddenly.


    She wouldn''t forget those stellar eyes. The man fighting her grandfather was the very person who had just sacrificed the opportunity to summon Godslayer for her: Liuming Caoru!

 Chapter 255 Obtaining the Antidote

    "Kid, you''re strong! But you''re destined to die!" Having fought for a long time and seeing a stalemate, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ decided to use his strongest ninjutsu!"Heh, bring on whatever skills you have."


    As soon as the voice faded, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ changed his hand seal, and the General''s Soul appeared in front of him.


    The appearance of the General''s Soul plunged the surroundings into a deathly atmosphere.


    As Yagy¨± Taik¨­ drew his katana from his waist, the General''s Soul also slowly drew the Yin Blade.


    "Oh, so the Godslayer can follow the summoner''s movements..."


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    Xia Liu realized he might have to fight two opponents.


    "It''s a Soul Technique, this Huaxia Pig is going to die!"


    "Hahaha! A Huaxia Pig is just a Huaxia Pig! How could he possibly defeat the Clan Leader!"


    Seeing Yagy¨± Taik¨­ summon the General''s Soul in such a manner, the members of the Yagy¨± Clan burst into laughter.


    "Die!" Yagy¨± Taik¨­ roared aggressively as he charged towards Xia Liu.


    Watching the opponent draw near, Xia Liu raised his eyelids slightly while his hands slowly came together in front of his chest. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gold symbolizes light, the perfect counter to a soul body like Godslayer.


    "Let me show you the strength of a Huaxia Warrior!"


    Muttering under his breath, Xia Liu formed a hand seal, releasing a vast righteous energy around him.


    At the scene, the ninjas forming the embryonic Godslayer immediately widened their eyes.


    For they sensed an inexplicable threat emanating from Xia Liu.


    It was as if their souls were trembling!


    Xia Liu concentrated Golden Spirit Energy at his fingertips, his hand seal enhancing the fierce sword intent within.


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ also felt the trembling of the Godslayer but having advanced to this point, he couldn''t possibly let Xia Liu escape!


    Even if it cost him his life, he was determined to exterminate Xia Liu!


    Here it comes!


    "Golden Spirit Sword! Unsheathe!" Xia Liu bellowed as he pointed his hand seal towards Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    As the words fell, furious Golden Spirit Energy burst forth from his fingertips.


    Invisibly, the Golden Spirit Energy coalesced into a massive sword shadow!


    The blade''s passage directly exploded the air.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh...


    In an instant, the golden sword pierced the chest of the General''s Soul.


    Piercing sound!


    A very crisp noise, heard by everyone present.


    The moment the golden sword penetrated the General''s Soul, Yagy¨± Taik¨­''s pupils sharply constricted.


    A wave of soul-wrenching pain overwhelmed his entire body.


    "Ahh!"


    The General''s Soul slowly dissipated, and Yagy¨± Taik¨­''s voice grew even more wretched and pained.


    Everyone stared intently ahead.


    No matter what, they couldn''t understand how Xia Liu, just by forming Inner Qi into a point, could severely injure the Clan Leader and make the Godslayer disappear.


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ roared briefly then stopped, feeling as if his soul had been drained.


    But he hadn''t died, which meant that the Godslayer had not been completely destroyed.


    "Not dead? Do you want your physical body or the Godslayer to die first?" Xia Liu said bluntly.


    Xia Liu believed his previous sword should have obliterated the Godslayer, yet somehow this guy was not dead.


    "Yagy¨± S¨­jo!" Just when Xia Liu was puzzled, Yagy¨± Ruyan called out to Xia Liu.


    Huh?


    Everyone was captivated by Yagy¨± Ruyan''s voice.


    She was the princess of the Yagy¨± Family, how could she know the enemy?


    "What a cute girl, are you calling me?"


    "You can''t fool me, you are Yagy¨± S¨­jo!"


    Yagy¨± Ruyan stared at Xia Liu; she couldn''t watch her grandfather fall in front of her own eyes, otherwise her entire clan would fall into crisis.


    She even regretted that if she had just taken off Xia Liu''s mask, she might have seen his face clearly.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," Xia Liu waved his hand and said.


    "What are you here for? We have no grievances; why do you want to kill my grandfather?"


    "Yeah, no grievances. I just came to get an antidote for the Cherry Blossom Poison. Who made your grandfather so tough? Not stirring up a little, really thought Huaxia warriors were easy to bully?"


    Xia Liu said unapologetically.


    "Grandfather! Give him the antidote quickly." Upon hearing Xia Liu''s words, Yagy¨± Ruyan immediately urged her grandfather.


    "Liangping, quickly get him the antidote." Faced with life and the future of the clan, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ chose to bow his head.


    Since his granddaughter knew this Huaxia man, they could always seek revenge later.


    Yagy¨± Liangping came to his senses and, trembling, walked up to Xia Liu and handed him a crystal-clear small bottle.


    "Damn, if only you had been this obedient earlier, your clan leader wouldn''t have gotten hurt."


    "Yes, yes, it''s my fault," a crestfallen Yagy¨± Liangping said.


    "By the way, before I leave, let me make it clear that I''m not currently residing in Huaxia. If you dare to come to Huaxia, the Yagy¨± Family will cease to exist. Also, my name is the Nether Emperor; if you''re brave, find me in the Middle East."


    Xia Liu again intimidated them before leaving.


    He was actually quite worried; though he could eliminate these people, his sisters couldn''t.


    If a few Mysterious Rank ninjas were to come, things would definitely get messy.


    "Dare not, dare not! Please go slowly," as the future successor of the clan, Yagy¨± Liangping nodded and bowed respectfully as he saw off Xia Liu.


    "Ruyan, what''s going on with him?"


    After Xia Liu left, Yagy¨± Taik¨­, though weak, wanted immediate information about Xia Liu.


    Yagy¨± Ruyan did not conceal anything and shared all her speculations.


    "Are you saying he might be the one who took your virginity?" A flash of vital energy passed through Yagy¨± Taik¨­''s eyes¡ªif it was true, the opportunity for revenge had arrived!


    "Yes!"


    "Very good, go prepare; we''ll start training in the Soul Tower the day after tomorrow!" Yagy¨± Taik¨­ spoke and then was helped away.


    They say Huaxia people value loyalty, especially in romantic bonds between men and women. If they could sneak Yagy¨± Ruyan into Huaxia, they might unexpectedly assassinate Xia Liu!


    This was the result of a consultation between Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yagy¨± Liangping.


    Before Yagy¨± Taik¨­ could rest, the Yamamoto Clan had already called to inform him about an attack on the building.


    "What! The building was attacked! What''s been lost?"


    "The Demon Stone, and that top-secret document!" a solemn voice came through the phone.


    "Damn!" an exasperated Yagy¨± Taik¨­ cursed.


    "Father, what happened?" Yagy¨± Liangping immediately inquired upon seeing his reaction.


    "The building was attacked, the losses were tremendous!"


    "Ah! Then my brother¡­"


    "He''s dead, the Godslayer shattered, his body destroyed."


    Upon hearing this, Yagy¨± Liangping immediately felt disheartened.


    "Wait, the Cherry Blossom Poison antidote! That young man just now was definitely the one who attacked the building, go to the Yamamoto Clan at once!"


    Reflecting on the just-ended battle, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ immediately commanded.


    In a house within Sakura City, the pale-faced Ouyang Lingtian was sitting cross-legged on the floor, his cultivation technique in operation, continuously channeling inner qi to suppress the Cherry Blossom Poison eroding his organs.


    "Why hasn''t Xia Liu returned yet, nothing happened to him, right?"


    Seeing the agonized Ouyang Lingtian, Yan Min grew increasingly anxious.


    "No, I must go see for myself!" Muzi was equally worried but she was more concerned about Xia Liu.


    Because she had fundamentally changed her opinion of Xia Liu, regarding him as such a loyal-hearted person; if something happened to him, it would be a tremendous loss for Huaxia.

 Chapter 256 Bewildered Lingtian

    "Do you all really not trust me?" Just as Muzi was about to leave, Xia Liu''s teasing voice arose at the doorway."Xia Liu!"


    Hearing this voice, deeply engraved in their hearts, both Muzi and Yan Min became excited.


    "You''ve returned, aren''t you hurt?" Ouyang Lingtian began to regain his senses as he slowly stood up from the ground.


    At this moment, he felt the strength inside his body slowly draining away. In just a few hours, his cultivation might be gone.


    Without cultivation, without inner qi to suppress the poison, what followed would be death.


    "Nonsense, the Yagy¨± Family is nothing. If it weren''t for the urgent need to come back and cure your poison, even exterminating them would have been possible."


    As Xia Liu spoke, he took out the sparkling small bottle.


    The appearance of the bottle caused Ouyang Lingtian, Muzi, and Yan Min to tremble with astonishment.


    Xia Liu actually brought back the antidote!


    And he seemed to be without any injuries.


    Suddenly, they remembered what he had just said, "If it weren''t for the urgent need to come back, even exterminating them would have been possible!"


    Powerful! Overbearing! Unparalleled!


    "Is this the Nether Emperor who reigns over the Middle East¡­"


    Yan Min and Muzi exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other''s eyes.


    "Hurry up and take it. If this is poison, then I will go and flatten the Yagy¨± Family."


    Xia Liu was very serious when he said this, making it hard to read his thoughts.


    Right, especially for Ouyang Lingtian.


    He was finding Xia Liu more and more incomprehensible.


    Why would he be so good to him? To flatten the Yagy¨± Family for his sake.


    Perhaps Xia Liu was just that straightforward and simple, or was he overthinking?


    Gazing at Xia Liu for a long while, Ouyang Lingtian''s face revealed a radiant smile; he then took the bottle and downed the medicine inside.


    As soon as the medicine entered his mouth, Xia Liu immediately grabbed Ouyang Lingtian''s wrist.


    "Hmm, it''s an antidote. I''ll assist you a bit more!"


    Feeling the effect of the medicine, Xia Liu hurried Wooden Spirit Energy directly into Ouyang Lingtian''s body.


    Together with the antidote, it soothed his five organs, and the Wooden Spirit Energy also repaired his damaged organs at a terrifying speed.


    Hm?


    Sensing the changes within his body, Ouyang Lingtian''s eyes widened.


    He changed his opinion about Xia Liu once again.


    As he had claimed, a Divine Doctor indeed!


    Ouyang Lingtian could clearly feel his damaged organs healing. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could even sense Xia Liu''s energy, which seemed like inner qi but was not quite the same.


    At that moment, he couldn''t quite describe what he was feeling.


    Ten minutes later, Xia Liu released Ouyang Lingtian''s wrist. The moment they parted, the latter spat out a mouthful of dark blood.


    "Lingtian, how are you feeling?"


    Seeing him vomit blood again, Yan Min and Muzi became anxious.


    "I''m very good!" Feeling that peak condition once more, Ouyang Lingtian felt an indescribable excitement.


    "Hm! My inner qi seems to have increased a bit!"


    Suddenly, Ouyang Lingtian''s pupils contracted because he noticed some changes in his dantian when he was gathering his qi - there were faint indications of a breakthrough to the peak of the Mysterious Rank.


    "Xia Liu, was it you who did this?"


    "Don''t overthink it, a rise in cultivation is a good thing," Xia Liu waved his hand without explaining further, he had merely assimilated the Wooden Spirit Energy into Ouyang Lingtian''s inner qi.


    That Ouyang Lingtian showed signs of a breakthrough was unforeseen.


    "Thank you," Ouyang Lingtian, devoid of his pride, bowed with clasped hands before Xia Liu, expressing gratitude as a junior would to an elder.


    "You''ve just recovered, so take plenty of rest. Also, what I need to say is, the Yagy¨± Family might know my identity. Once they start investigating, Yan Min and Muzi might be exposed, so we need to get back to Huaxia as soon as possible."


    "Ah! So soon?" Muzi responded with surprise and consternation. If their cover was blown, it would be an irreversible disaster.


    "I will contact a ship right away, we''re leaving tonight." Looking up at the sky that was about to brighten, Yan Min said and immediately left the house.


    Afterward, Muzi, Xia Liu, and Ouyang Lingtian each entered their rooms.


    In the room Xia Liu was in, two items were placed on the table.


    A smooth Demon Stone and a Golden Spirit Stabilizing Needle emitting a golden luster.


    He didn''t pay particular attention to the Spirit Stabilizing Needle but instead focused his gaze on the Demon Stone.


    If he were to forge it himself, he could make at least a dozen pieces of armor that swords and spears couldn''t penetrate, best for protecting the girls.


    However, he still had to hand over the Demon Stone to Fang Huasheng.


    In that case, then...


    Lost in thought, Xia Liu activated the Five Elements Mantra, and the Five Element Spiritual Energy surged out.


    Within the Five Element Spiritual Energy, the purest was the Fire Spirit Energy.


    Thus, Xia Liu condensed a seal in front of his chest, and controlled the Fire Spirit Energy down to a subtle level.


    Seal applied, his fingers moved towards the Demon Stone.


    Hiss...hiss...hiss...


    At Xia Liu''s fingertips, the Fire Spirit Energy actually condensed into a small red sword.


    The blade of the sword slashed at the Demon Stone, immediately producing a hissing cacophony.


    Fire Spirit Sword!


    Just like the Golden Spirit Sword, it was made by the same Seal Decree, but because of the purity of the Fire Attribute Spirit Energy, the Fire Spirit Sword was much more domineering than the Golden Spirit Sword.


    Even so, as soon as the Fire Spirit Sword touched the Demon Stone, it was still at a disadvantage.


    Ten minutes passed, and the Demon Stone was not even halfway cut through.


    Though some energy was consumed, Xia Liu''s smile grew even brighter on his face.


    The Demon Stone possessed such a degree of toughness that even with Spiritual Energy and Seal Decree, it couldn''t be immediately broken through.


    One could imagine how it could withstand hits from external forces.


    Eventually, Xia Liu spent half an hour before he could cut the Demon Stone into two halves.


    If he hadn''t unsealed the Energy Sea Acupoint, the half-hour''s consumption would have made him break out in sweat.


    "Elder, I''m taking Sister Fang back home with me, and I''ll need half of the Demon Stone too. I hope you won''t blame me, after all, its future use is to protect Sister Fang."


    After tidying up, Xia Liu wrapped each half of the Demon Stone separately.


    As for the Spirit Stabilizing Needle, he didn''t rush to put it back in place.


    They hadn''t yet left the bounds of the Island Nation, and an accident could happen at any time.


    There might even be a situation that requires the second seal to be broken in an emergency.


    Xia Liu didn''t want to face such a scenario, but life is full of uncertainties, and who knows what the future held.


    If the second seal really had to be broken, then all he could do was pray...


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian didn''t step out of the house all day, both of them had exhausted a great deal of energy, and while there was still time before their departure, they took the opportunity to sit cross-legged and recover their Inner Qi and Spiritual Energy. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    That night, a light rain began to fall from the sky.


    Hidden by the darkness, Yan Min drove back into the courtyard.


    "Yan Min, why have you come back so late?" Upon seeing Yan Min enter the house, Muzi immediately asked.


    "There are checkpoints everywhere on the streets now, it''s quite troublesome. But fortunately, I have contacted a boat. It will set sail at one in the morning, so we need to reach the spot by midnight."


    Thinking back to the strict checkpoints he saw on his way back, Yan Min swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva.


    If a regular person had come this time, they might have had to stay here forever.


    Luckily, with powerful martial artists like Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian, no matter how strict the security, with their abilities, they could still return to Huaxia.


    Click...


    Just as Yan Min and Muzi were about to speak, two crisp sounds of doors opening were heard.


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian were seen walking out of their rooms at the same time...

 Chapter 257 Reacquaintance

    Ouyang Lingtian had recovered to his peak condition, and his expression became radiantly joyous.Xia Liu was not far behind; his energy hadn''t been fully depleted, and he spent the entire day breathing and meditating, which restored half of his power after the sealing was undone.


    "Lingtian, we need to set off at ten o''clock, walking through the suburbs to the docks,"


    Upon seeing Ouyang Lingtian emerge, Yan Min immediately shared his plan.


    "You two didn''t show up during the siege on the building, so even if there''s an inspection, the people from the Island Nation won''t be able to identify you, so you go ahead to the place and wait for us."


    "That works, then Muzi and I will leave in a bit," Yan Min nodded and said.


    With that, Ouyang Lingtian turned to face Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu looked at him, puzzled.


    Under the astonished gazes of the three, Ouyang Lingtian slowly extended his hand. "I''m Ouyang Lingtian, everyone calls me Lingtian, twenty-eight years old!"


    Pfft...


    Xia Liu, Yan Min, and Muzi were startled by Ouyang Lingtian''s actions.


    What was he trying to do? Get to know each other all over again?


    "Xia Liu, twenty-six by nominal age." Xia Liu stretched out his hand and shook Ouyang Lingtian''s.


    Both men understood that from this moment on, they were friends.


    All things prior were to be left behind, and from now on, they would stand side by side!


    "Xia Liu, I''m really thankful for this trip."


    "Don''t mention it; once is enough for thanks. Otherwise, how many times will you have to thank me in the future."


    "Hahaha... Shouldn''t we have a drink or two now?"


    "Absolutely!"


    After that, Yan Min and Muzi saw the two of them leaving arm in arm.


    "This..."


    "Stop hemming and hawing. Xia Liu wiped out the guard squad, stormed the Liusheng family¡ªif it were you in Lingtian''s place, you''d have done the same."


    Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    Muzi patted Yan Min''s head and then went into the room to pack.


    "Haha! It''s great being brothers with those two. Too bad I don''t have that kind of strength."


    Yan Min couldn''t help but sigh as he reminisced about everything he had seen the previous night.


    In a busy street of Sakura City, the crowd was sparse tonight due to the frequent patrols by the guards.


    Inside a certain bar, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian were clinking bottles one after another.


    "Ha! It''s been a long time since I''ve felt this great." After finishing a bottle, Xia Liu took a long, satisfying breath and said.


    "Heh, it''s been a while for me, too. I''ve had to train for the mission and over the past few days, constantly strengthening myself. I couldn''t even touch alcohol or tobacco."


    Compared to Xia Liu''s nonchalance, Ouyang Lingtian felt a bit envious.


    "Martial artists should be carefree. Listen to me, get rid of all those stupid rules; otherwise, how can your cultivation improve?"


    "That... Alright! I''ll listen to you!" Ouyang Lingtian thought about it and then burst into laughter.


    Xia Liu was an Earth-Rank Warrior, and he was only twenty-six!


    This was definitely no coincidence. Perhaps his advice could help Ouyang Lingtian improve as well.


    "It''s about time to go; we shouldn''t keep Yan Min and Muzi waiting too long." Noticing that it was already half-past ten, Ouyang Lingtian spoke up softly.


    "Time to go, indeed. Are you interested in a little contest?"


    "What sort of contest?"


    "Qiao Feng and Duan Yu, they first compete in drinking, then in qinggong. We''ve had our drinks, so now let''s see who reaches the destination first."


    "Good!" Ouyang Lingtian agreed without hesitation.


    Even though Xia Liu was a high-level Earth-Rank Warrior, when it came to movement techniques, Ouyang Lingtian certainly couldn''t let himself fall short; he had to excel in something to be comparable to Xia Liu.


    "Then what are we waiting for, let''s go!"


    "We haven''t paid for the drinks yet."


    "You''re kidding, right? Never had a dine and dash before?"


    "Wait for me!"


    Seeing Xia Liu dash out the door, Ouyang Lingtian also got moving.


    The last thing seen was two waiters continuously chasing and shouting from behind.


    On the streets, a squad of guards was carrying out a strict inspection.


    Suddenly they heard the cries of the staff and immediately turned their gaze in that direction.


    Seeing Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian running out of the bar at high speed, they immediately aimed their guns, "Don''t move!"


    Facing about fifteen guards, Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu exchanged glances.


    Then, both exerted their energy and their movement techniques activated instantaneously.


    In the blink of an eye, Xia Liu had killed ten guards, while Ouyang Lingtian had only five.


    This abrupt scene left everyone on the street stupefied.


    It wasn''t until they screamed that they realized the murderers had disappeared.


    Above the secluded path of the mansion, two shadows continued to sprint wildly.


    They were almost impossible to catch with the naked eye.


    Xia Liu was in front, with Ouyang Lingtian behind.


    Whenever Ouyang Lingtian was close to catching up, Xia Liu would speed up to increase the distance.


    In truth, Xia Liu still had a lot in reserve, slowings down because he worried Ouyang Lingtian might be caught by the guards.


    Ouyang Lingtian gnashed his teeth all the way, that energy, no matter how he exerted it, he couldn''t catch up to Xia Liu.


    Under the cover of night, the two, one in front of the other, alternated between leaving after-images with instantaneous movement and appearing with frantic running.


    If anyone saw them, they would surely think they were high-level ninjas from the Island Nation, with a speed like that of gods.


    At eleven thirty, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian had already left the suburbs, heading towards the docks.


    Xia Liu stopped holding back, his Spiritual Energy surged, and his body turned into after-images as he pulled away.


    "Xia Liu? Where''s Lingtian?" Seeing Xia Liu suddenly appearing before them, Muzi and Yan Min asked with unsettled surprise.


    "It''s time to get ready," Xia Liu said slowly, lighting a cigarette.


    Just as Yan Min was about to speak, a shadow in the distance was running towards them at breakneck speed.


    "Your speed is just too fast, huh..."


    Ouyang Lingtian was nearly exhausted, regretting that he agreed to compete with Xia Liu; it was simply masochism.


    "Hehe, you can do it too, in the future."


    With a laugh, Xia Liu boarded the speedboat first.


    Ouyang Lingtian, Yan Min, and Muzi also hurried onto it.


    The speedboat raced away into the vast ocean.


    After about thirty minutes, a huge fishing boat appeared before them.


    "The owner of this boat has some connections in the Island Nation, this time we should be able to return without being detected."


    "No worries, if it really comes down to it, we''ll just take a warship from the Island Nation back."


    "Bro, I''m impressed with you," Yan Min nearly knelt upon hearing Xia Liu say this.


    Ouyang Lingtian gave Xia Liu a sideways glance, always feeling that he wasn''t joking.


    After Yan Min signaled the people on the fishing boat to come and get them, the speedboat was abandoned.


    Standing on the deck, Ouyang Lingtian felt a rush of excitement because he was about to return to Huaxia.


    He had never been this excited before; this mission was vastly different from the usual.


    Especially because he had come to see the man standing beside him in a new light.


    As the cold wind blew, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian entered the cabin of the boat.


    Just like on the way there, the cabin was filled with people, those being smuggled.


    Currently, aside from Muzi the only woman, there were a few others, who by their chatter, turned out to be women from the Island Nation.


    By their appearance and figures, they somewhat resembled characters from love action movies.


    "Hmm?"


    "What''s wrong?" Seeing Xia Liu''s expression off, Ouyang Lingtian asked in confusion.


    Xia Liu waved his hand nonchalantly, "Nothing, just a few little flies." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 258 Pirate Ship

    As the fishing boat swayed in the vast ocean, more than an hour had passed."You two young men, I remember you went to the Island Nation just the day before yesterday, and now you want to go back already?"


    The captain of the boat spoke in fluent Huaxia language.


    "Old Wang, these two friends of mine came here for business. Naturally, they had to return after finishing. You know, without legal documents, it''s hard to stay in the Island Nation for long."


    Yan Min quickly explained before Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian could speak.


    "Hehe, Brother Yan Min, we have known each other for more than just a day or two. But these two friends of yours are indeed special," Captain Wang glanced at Yan Min and then turned his attention back to Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian.


    "Special indeed, otherwise why would we be taking your boat back?"


    "What I mean by special relates to the skyscraper heist the night before last," Old Wang said with a slight smile.


    "And then? Just with these few Mysterious Rank ninjas? Are you going to keep us here?"


    Just as Yan Min was about to reply cautiously, Xia Liu, who was resting with his arms crossed, spoke.


    "Hmm?"


    Ouyang Lingtian was clearly shocked by Xia Liu''s words.


    Xia Liu had actually discovered that the captain was a Mysterious Rank ninja!


    Was this the capability of an Earth-Rank Warrior?


    Yan Min and Muzi were shocked for a moment but then quickly reacted.


    They immediately ran behind Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian.


    They could hardly imagine, if the captain was a Mysterious Rank ninja, then these stowaway Islanders definitely all had issues.


    Before they could finish their speculation, the stowaways immediately broke their Ninjutsu, revealing their true appearances.


    All of them were dressed in black, with only a pair of eyes visible.


    As for the captain, he chuckled happily, eagerly looking at Xia Liu, "You are quite impressive, no wonder you had the skills to raid the skyscraper."


    After saying this, Old Wang formed a hand seal, showing his true face.


    "We''re in trouble, we''ve boarded a pirate ship," Yan Min regretted deeply, originally thinking that he could be of some help.


    The situation had turned out like this, and he no longer had the face to meet Muzi.


    "Don''t worry, Yan Min, I can handle them!" It was Ouyang Lingtian who spoke.


    Since the Cherry Blossom Poison had been cured, the signs of his breakthrough to the Peak of Mysterious Rank had become more evident.


    Ninjas of this level were perfect for him to gain experience.


    "Are you sure you want to take him on?" Xia Liu asked doubtfully, worrying that if this guy was poisoned with Cherry Blossom Poison, he would have to boldly go to the Yagy¨± Family for the antidote.


    "Of course, let''s see if I can break through with him," Ouyang Lingtian said, full of anticipation.


    Xia Liu smiled lightly and said nothing more; he had experienced such situations before.


    Combat is the quickest shortcut for a cultivator to advance, as only in life-and-death situations can the human body unleash its greatest potential.


    "State your name."


    "Yamamoto Sixiu!"


    "Hmm, the Yamamoto Family, looks like you have my information," said Ouyang Lingtian, confirming that his and Xia Liu''s identities had been exposed.


    "Ouyang Lingtian of Huaxia''s Heaven Slaying, I hope you feel honored to die by the hands of a Yamamoto." Yamamoto Sixiu''s smile gradually brimmed across his face, invigorated ever since he found out that the invaders of the skyscraper were from Heaven Slaying.


    Over the years, he had clashed with members of Heaven Slaying a few times and had even killed several, his confidence stemming from these encounters.


    "And him? Did you manage to find out about him?"


    "Him?" Following Ouyang Lingtian''s finger, Yamamoto Sixiu saw Xia Liu and suddenly was at a loss for words.


    "Pitiful, daring to come out without proper investigation."


    "Lingtian, what''s the use of talking so much to a dead man? Pull him out and fight," said Xia Liu, already out of patience.


    If he were to take action himself, Ouyang Lingtian would have no chance to exercise.


    "Hmph! Arrogant boy, after I kill Ouyang Lingtian, I will make your life worse than death!" Yamamoto Sixiu roared angrily, "You guys, make sure to keep a close eye on him!"


    "Yes!" the ninjas inside the cabin responded in unison.


    "Xia Liu, what do we do now?" Yan Min asked weakly after seeing Ouyang Lingtian and Yamamoto Sixiu go out.


    "Let''s go outside and see if that guy can beat a Mysterious Rank Peak Ninja." Xia Liu was actually quite worried about Ouyang Lingtian.


    That guy was just a High-Level Warrior of the Mysterious Rank, going up against the Mysterious Rank Peak of Yamamoto Sixiu; it was hard to predict the outcome.


    "What about them?" Yan Min, unable to contain his surprise, pointed at the black-clad ninjas inside the cabin.


    "Just kill them..."


    A few seconds later, Xia Liu walked out of the cabin, and a few seconds after that, Yan Min and Muzi slowly came out.


    Both of their faces were covered with a look of shock.


    They had just witnessed Xia Liu''s methods up close and were stunned to their core.


    "It''s terrifying, Huaxia having such a master is enough to make the world tremble!"


    This was Yan Min''s assessment of Xia Liu.


    Watching that carefree figure, Muzi felt a chill rise up her back.


    She had previously scorned the Spearhead Troop in front of him.


    He did not respond at all, but proved the fearsomeness of the Spearhead with facts.


    On the deck, a fierce battle was currently erupting.


    Yamamoto Gangxiu did not have Earth-Rank Cultivation, but he could still summon Godslayer, albeit a pathetic one about one-meter high.


    Yamamoto Sixiu, possessing this rudimentary Godslayer, was somewhat formidable, especially to Ouyang Lingtian.


    If it were Xia Liu, having unsealed the first layer of Sealing, he could have finished him off in seconds.


    Bang!


    Another two fists collided, and both Ouyang Lingtian and Yamamoto Sixiu stepped back, causing the fishing boat to shake uncontrollably.


    "Indeed, you are a master!" Seeing Xia Liu standing and watching from behind, Yamamoto Sixiu furrowed his brows.


    He had arranged a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Ninja inside the cabin. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if at his worst, he should be able to withstand for a minute or two.


    Who could have expected that in not much time, Xia Liu, Yan Min, and Muzi would appear?


    "You are distracted!"


    While Yamamoto Sixiu was focused on Xia Liu, Ouyang Lingtian seized the opportunity, his Inner Qi continuously gathering in his fist.


    With a flash of movement technique, he appeared right in front of Yamamoto Sixiu in the blink of an eye.


    "Soul Shield!" Yamamoto Sixiu roared, and the embryonic Soul Eater immediately flashed in front of him to block the powerful punch.


    Boom!


    Qi Force erupted all around, but Ouyang Lingtian frowned tightly.


    Just as Xia Liu had said, Inner Qi had no effect on Godslayer.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh...


    Just as Xia Liu was considering stepping in, sudden bursts of sound tearing through the air came from afar.


    "That''s the Yamamoto Family''s battle helicopter!"


    "Look over there, two large Ninja Ships!"


    Yan Min and Muzi were dumbfounded.


    The Yamamoto Family had actually dispatched ships of this caliber, and there were five helicopters too!


    They collapsed powerlessly on the deck.


    No matter how strong Xia Liu''s abilities were, you can''t compare them to ship cannons.


    Beneath were Ninja Family heavy artillery ships, above were slaughter helicopters.


    Looking left and right, this time there was no escaping...

 Chapter 259 Xia Liu Strikes Again

    "Two ninja warships, five helicopters¡ªyou guys from the Yamamoto Family are quite determined to get those documents."Xia Liu commented nonchalantly as he watched the enemy aircraft approaching from afar.


    "You Huaxia brat, don''t act tough. In front of my Yamamoto Clan, you will be crushed like ants. Hand over the documents and the Demon Stone wisely, or be smashed to pieces!"


    Yamamoto Sixiu shouted angrily.


    "Xia Liu, what do we do now?" Ouyang Lingtian was also worried. This was no matter of dealing with just two tanks.


    These were two heavy-displacement ninja warships!


    "Leave the helicopters and ships to me. You take care of that guy."


    Xia Liu''s expression grew serious. A year ago, he could have handled this level of conflict easily.


    Now, with his cultivation sealed, and Yan Min and Muzi on top of that, an easy solution was impossible.


    But no worries, he could handle it well.


    "Right! I''ll definitely kill him!"


    "Haha! Kill me? Catch up with me first!"


    Knowing Xia Liu''s strength, Yamamoto Siyang chose to jump ship at such a critical moment. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Surprisingly, he was also capable of running on the surface of the water!


    "This..." Ouyang Lingtian''s face almost turned green, demanding how they could even fight.


    "Don''t worry, he''s just a Mysterious-Rank ninja. His water-stepping ninjutsu won''t last long."


    Before Xia Liu had finished speaking, Yamamoto Siyang dove into the water, continually sliding his palms forward as he swam.


    "Hehe! Then I''ll go kill him!" Seeing this, Ouyang Lingtian burst into laughter, regulated his inner qi to his feet, and leaped down to the sea surface.


    "Is this a martial artist''s qinggong!" Seeing Ouyang Lingtian''s graceful figure elegantly stepping on the water, Yan Min and Muzi''s eyes widened in awe.


    "Good, what I have to face next will be..."


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu turned back to look behind him.


    "The helicopter is coming!"


    Yan Min and Muzi''s eyes trembled as they stared at the back, two strong lights already shining on the ship.


    "Get behind me!" Xia Liu shouted urgently as the helicopter''s gunports were about to open fire.


    Ratatat!


    The heavy machine gun mounted on the helicopter immediately started strafing the boat.


    For a moment, the rear of the boat was riddled with holes.


    "We''re done for, we''re done for!" Yan Min and Muzi''s bodies trembled.


    With such scenes, even if Xia Liu could activate that special protective shield, it wouldn''t last long.


    And there were also two large warships nearby.


    "Damn!" Seeing the gunports about to sweep toward him, Xia Liu roared angrily.


    Inside his body, the spiritual energy had already surged violently.


    Xia Liu pointed at one of the helicopters, the distance from the ship to the helicopter being about fifty meters.


    Fifty meters was enough!


    With that confirmed, Xia Liu''s spiritual energy whirled furiously, a stream of colorful Five Elements Training bursting forth from his fingertips!


    This scene, even Yan Min and Muzi saw it!


    Their pupils constricted, time seemingly stopping in that moment.


    The flying strike of that colorful stream slowed down, and the helicopter slowed.


    Boom!


    The moment the Five Elements Training hit the helicopter, a loud explosion tore through the seas.


    Boom!


    Another roar sounded, as the exploding helicopter''s debris hit its closely arranged partner.


    One strike took out two combat helicopters!


    Yan Min and Muzi felt like they couldn''t breathe.


    They would never forget their entire lives that Xia Liu had just destroyed two aircraft with just two fingers!!!


    If this were to spread, probably no one would believe it.


    "Here comes the enemy! The enemy is here!"


    Seeing his comrade pilot the helicopter only to have it explode, the remaining three aircraft scanned their surroundings as if they had lost their souls.


    However, they didn''t spot any fleet or fighter jets.


    "Idiots! It was the enemy on the fishing boat that destroyed the fighter jet!"


    A roar came from the helicopter''s loudspeaker.


    Since it was the clearest view from the vessel below, a streak of light shot out from the fishing boat and ultimately struck the helicopter.


    "Spread out! Increase the firepower!"


    The order rang out once more in the headset, and the helicopters immediately coordinated.


    The three aircraft began to disperse in different directions, then opened fire on the fishing boat from a distance!


    Dang dang dang!!!


    Countless huge bullets were fired at Xia Liu''s Spirit Energy Gang Circle.


    Yan Min and Muzi couldn''t bring themselves to open their eyes, fearing they would be turned into a pulp by bullets in the next second.


    Xia Liu, with one hand forming the Condensing Seal and the other initiating Energy Gathering Destroyer!


    Boom boom boom!


    The Five Elements Training was fired once again, exploding one warplane, its fragments falling toward the sea.


    With another point of his finger, another warplane was destroyed.


    Yan Min and Muzi had already opened their eyes, but now their mouths hung open.


    They dared not imagine just how powerful Xia Liu was.


    Five helicopters were directly destroyed four!


    The light emitted from his hand, was it some kind of latest laser weapon from Huaxia?


    That was the guess of Yan Min and Muzi.


    After all, how could one person possibly possess such divine skills.


    Swish!


    Another streak of energy shot out, blowing up the final helicopter, and silence and eerie calm reclaimed the sea once more.


    "This is bad, the fishing boat is sinking."


    Feeling himself continuously sinking, Yan Min screamed.


    The helicopter''s strafing was as dense as a beehive; how could such a fragile fishing boat withstand it.


    Boom!


    Suddenly a massive sound broke the silence of the night!


    "It''s a Ninja Missile!" Seeing a Ninja Warship actually firing a missile, Yan Min cried out sharply.


    He and Muzi began to breathe rapidly, perhaps in the next second, they would be blown to pieces.


    Boom!!!


    Less than a second after Yan Min''s call, the missile hit the fishing boat, resulting in a thunderous explosion.


    "Haha! Your friends are doomed!" From the sea about three thousand meters from the fishing boat, Yamamoto Sixiu couldn''t help but giggle as he watched the brilliant sparks.


    "Hehe, better worry about yourself first, Baji Palm!"


    Even underwater, Ouyang Lingtian was not fearful; instead, he became more fierce as he fought, causing Yamamoto Sixiu to become frightened.


    The reason Ouyang Lingtian wasn''t worried about Xia Liu was because he had witnessed his abilities in Liuhai City before.


    A missile, a little more powerful than a torpedo.


    But as a possible Earth-Rank Warrior, before even breaking the sealing, he was capable of withstanding two torpedoes. Such a mere missile was nothing to fear.


    On the Ninja Warship, the commander sent current reports to the Yamamoto Family, while many guards had already started celebrating.


    They had not forgotten the heavy losses of the five helicopters; if the people on the fishing boat were not eliminated, death was all that awaited them.


    Just then, about three hundred meters away from the Ninja Warship on the sea.


    Ripples constantly spread out in all directions.


    In the dark night, a shadow stood towering upon the water''s surface!


    After the passing storm, the bright moon revealed its face once more, casting its faint light across the sea.


    Xia Liu''s expression was grim; his hands slowly rested on his stomach, his eyes fiercely staring at the warship.


    The moment the warship fired its shells, the people on the boat had already been declared dead.

 Chapter 260 Return Voyage

    Just as Xia Liu was pondering whether to unlock the second layer of the seal, two heads popped out of the water.Hiss!


    "Cough cough! I actually didn''t die?"


    Yan Min and Muzi both widened their eyes in astonishment as they looked at each other.


    They only remembered that, before they were submerged in the water, the Ninja Warship had fired a missile!


    The speed was so fast at that moment, they only saw a flash before they were in the water.


    "Ah!" When the two regained their senses and saw Xia Liu standing on the surface of the sea, terror instantly filled their entire beings.


    "You''re all alright?" Xia Liu looked back and asked with a slight smile.


    "Uh uh..."


    "No... no problems!"


    After hesitating for a moment, Yan Min and Muzi stammered out their response.


    They were somewhat numb, numbed by the shocks Xia Liu had given them.


    Wiping out five helicopters with a flick of a finger, avoiding a missile explosion, and even safely escaping with two people in tow.


    And now he was standing on the surface of the water! This was not something a human could achieve.


    He was already a god.


    At least that''s what Yan Min and Muzi believed.


    "It''s good that you''re fine." Xia Liu narrowed his eyes and smiled, then his gaze turned fierce once again as it shifted back to the Ninja Warship.


    He could hear the cheers of the guards from the warship.


    If possible, he would definitely split the warship in half with a single slash.


    But there were Yan Min and Muzi, as well as Ouyang Lingtian.


    This sea area was too far from Huaxia, the fishing boat had been blown up, and the warship could not afford any more losses.


    Having made up his mind, Xia Liu laughed, "Yan Min, Muzi, make sure the guards don''t spot you, I''m going to snatch the ship!"


    Before the two could react, Xia Liu dashed towards the warship with the speed of a fading shadow.


    He sensed the limited Spiritual Energy left in his body, and destroying a warship was still manageable.


    About ten minutes later, the cannon of the Ninja Warship slowly turned towards another warship at an oblique angle.


    Boom!


    A massive blast erupted once again over the sea area.


    Immediately after, one could see the targeted Ninja Warship explode in three stages, the entire ship being blown to pieces within a few seconds.


    The broken Ninja Warship burned fiercely as it capsized into the sea.


    Gurgle...


    Yan Min and Muzi watched dumbfounded as the enemy''s Ninja Warship was destroyed!


    All of this was done by Xia Liu in just ten minutes!


    Fear, dread, awe!


    Numerous thoughts burst forth in their minds.


    After struggling to calm themselves, they immediately swam towards the warship.


    Since there was cannon fire, it meant the warship must be under Xia Liu''s control by now.


    When the two reached under the ship, Xia Liu helped them aboard.


    Looking at the corpses strewn everywhere, Muzi felt nauseous, and Yan Min''s scalp tingled.


    "I''ve destroyed the radar and tracking devices, let''s take this ship and head back to Huaxia later."


    "This... might be a problem..."


    Yan Min said with a bitter face, taking a Ninja Warship of the Yamamoto Family back to Huaxia. One careless move could spell trouble to the death.


    "No worries, if anything happens, tell them to find the Nether Emperor in the Middle East. Can you control this warship?"


    "Haha! Nether Emperor! I admit defeat, Muzi and I will handle it," Yan Min laughed heartily.


    Yes, Xia Liu was the Nether Emperor of the Middle East, his job was just like this.


    Kill a few ninjas of the Yamamoto Family, seize a warship, and you still dare to boldly seek out the Nether Emperor in the Middle East?


    Soon, Yan Min and Muzi had the ninja warship under control; actually, all it took was familiarity with the buttons in the cockpit.


    Set the ship to autopilot, then there''s nothing else to worry about.


    As for Ouyang Lingtian, after seeing the warship explode, he was invigorated, and with maximum effort, finally killed Yamamoto Sixiu.


    Once back on the warship, he was completely drained.


    This time, the exhaustion was beyond anything before.


    "Xia Liu, you really got one, actually seizing a ninja warship," Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t help but admire Xia Liu''s prowess.


    "Hehe, forget that, you''ve exhausted a lot, rest up quickly," said Xia Liu as he too sat cross-legged on the deck.


    The ninja warship''s speed was many times greater than that of a fishing boat, and since they were in the waters of the Island Nation, Yan Min didn''t care whether they might hit any fishing boats; he pushed the warship to full power.


    He only needed to be careful not to crash into mountains and reefs.


    Five hours later, as the sky gradually brightened, the warship had dashed out of the Island Nation''s territory. In about three more hours, they would reach the waters of Huaxia.


    Ouyang Lingtian started to act as protector halfway through Xia Liu''s recovery.


    Xia Liu had depleted nearly all his energy, and in five hours of recovery, he had regained very little.


    Also, he took this time to put the Spirit Stabilizing Needle back in place.


    His cultivation had returned to what it was before he came to the Island Nation.


    "Why did you have to self-harm to seal yourself?" Ouyang Lingtian asked, puzzled, looking at the blood seeping from Xia Liu''s abdomen.


    "Let''s just say, I was afraid I couldn''t control myself."


    "What do you mean?"


    Ouyang Lingtian''s brows furrowed, unable to control himself, could it mean he would end up hitting himself?


    "Hahaha! It''s nothing, being invincible is quite lonely; to make life interesting, I have to hide my cultivation," Xia Liu explained with a light-hearted laugh.


    "What is that hint of red in the depths of your eyes?" Suddenly, Ouyang Lingtian, staring at Xia Liu, noticed something amiss.


    "Are you an idiot? I haven''t slept for days; my eyes are so sore that they''re practically blind," Xia Liu disdainfully replied to Ouyang Lingtian.


    "Hehe, I haven''t slept for many days either. When we get home, we must get a good rest."


    "Sorry, I don''t swing that way, find someone else for that. With your family''s wealth and your influence, you could definitely find a lot of high-quality comrades."


    "Damn it!"


    Even Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t help but swear faced with such teasing.


    But that was it, he knew Xia Liu was just joking.


    "Haha..."


    The two, with a light smile, looked ahead where the waters of Huaxia lay. Before long, they would be home...


    At this moment, on a certain part of Huaxia''s sea territory, several warships were sailing slowly.


    Suddenly, a piercing alarm sounded through all the warships.


    "What''s happening!" Fang Huasheng, who was inspecting a map inside the ship''s cabin, asked.


    "Report! According to the satellite alert, a ninja warship is preparing to cross through our Huaxia waters!" the operator immediately read out the intercepted message.


    "Can we get a precise reading of the situation on the warship?"


    "We can''t get an exact read!"


    "How long until it reaches Huaxia''s waters?"


    "At the warship''s current speed, it should be two and a half hours!"


    "Two and a half hours..." Fang Huasheng thought for a moment and said, "Yi Feng, give the order, the fleet will set out!"


    "General Fang, you can''t go personally..."


    Hearing that Fang Huasheng was considering going himself, Yi Feng became anxious. If something unexpected happened, he would become a criminal of Huaxia, a criminal of the Fang Family.


    sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 261 Return

    "Yi Feng, don''t worry. If I''m too afraid to step out of my own door, I might as well spend my whole life at home," Xia Liu said.Fang Huasheng helplessly shook his head.


    "Fang..."


    "Alright, give the order."


    Not allowing Yi Feng to speak, Fang Huasheng took command forcefully.


    Seeing this, Yi Feng had no choice but to carry out the order reluctantly.


    Subsequently, the fleet sped toward the designated alert location.


    An hour later, Fang Huasheng and the fleet arrived first at the maritime border.


    Surrounding them were many towering cliffs that had been washed by the waves, leaving only smooth surfaces.


    "How long until that warship arrives!" Fang Huasheng asked.


    The fleet lined up, standing guard at the door. If any enemy dared to intrude, Fang Huasheng would show no mercy.


    "About one more hour!" Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    "Very good!"


    Upon hearing this news, not only was Fang Huasheng invigorated, but the warriors on the other ships were also thrilled.


    Although they were not members of the Spearhead Troop, being led by General Fang Huasheng was an immense honor for them.


    Moreover, expelling ships from their waters was a rare occurrence, perhaps signaling upcoming combat!


    "Report! We''ve just received significant intelligence!"


    As everyone intensely anticipated the arrival of the expelling ship, suddenly the information officer operating the computer shrieked.


    "What happened?" Hearing the shriek, the sensitive Yi Feng immediately asked.


    "The night before yesterday, a major incident took place in Sakura City of the Island Nation."


    "Sakura City! That''s where Xia Liu and Lingtian went! What happened quickly?"


    Upon hearing the name of the place, Fang Huasheng''s heart trembled; he dared not speculate, as losing any of them would be an immense tragedy.


    "A building was attacked, a guard troop was slaughtered, and three tanks were left in ruins."


    "The guard troop annihilated! The tanks destroyed! Is there anything more specific, who did it?" Yi Feng''s heart burst with shock.


    This level of guard troop could sweep away hundreds on the battlefield.


    "There''s no more information."


    "Yi Feng, no need to ask; you know who did it." Just then, as his expression recovered, Fang Huasheng said with a smirk.


    "Are you saying Lingtian?"


    "That''s one way to put it, but clearly, Lingtian doesn''t have the capacity for such slaughter."


    "Nether Emperor!"


    Upon repeating the name, Yi Feng felt his breathing grow difficult.


    The Nether Emperor had swept through the building, then slaughtered the guard troop!


    "What a terrifying fellow indeed, could it be him coming back in a Ninja Warship?"


    Fang Huasheng muttered, looking into the distance over the sea.


    Hearing Fang Huasheng''s muttering, Yi Feng felt even heavier.


    If it truly was Xia Liu coming back in a Ninja Warship, his energy was unimaginable.


    "The Ninja Warship will arrive in ten minutes!"


    "Can you get through to them on the radio?" Upon hearing the reminder, Yi Feng immediately took charge.


    "We tried, but there''s no response, possibly due to damaged equipment."


    "No response..."


    "Yi Feng, don''t worry, they''ll appear soon." Holding binoculars and standing on the deck, Fang Huasheng could see a speck in the distance.


    That most certainly was the Ninja Warship.


    The worry in Yi Feng''s heart was immense. If this turned out to be an enemy arriving, uttering no words but launching two torpedoes, they would find nowhere to even cry.


    Before understanding the situation, Yi Feng stood in front of Fang Huasheng, believing his capabilities should fend off an imminent threat.


    Slowly, the warship came into everyone''s view.


    "Ninja Warship!!"


    "On alert!"


    Seeing the flag on the warship, everyone was instantly energized, yet they had to be extremely cautious.


    "General Fang, please enter the cabin to rest." Yi Feng worried upon seeing that flag.


    Ever since ancient times, Huaxia and the Island Nation had grievances, and given the current situation, it was impossible to predict what would happen the next second.


    "Don''t panic, Yi Feng, your nose is quite sensitive, can you smell the odors carried over by the sea breeze?"


    Hmm???


    Yi Feng was astounded; what did General Fang want him to do?


    However, he followed the instructions and closed his eyes, carefully smelling the air.


    Suddenly, his eyes widened, staring at the destroyer ahead, he said: "There''s a strong scent of blood!"


    "Hehe, I guessed it would be so, tell everyone to stand down from alert." Fang Huasheng said with a slight smile.


    "Xia Liu, huh..." Yi Feng swallowed hard as he watched the approaching warship.


    Just as Yi Feng was murmuring, the warship drew closer, and without knowing when, two figures appeared on the bow.


    For Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng, those were two long-missed, dignified figures, two resolute military souls!


    "Someone is appearing!"


    "Look quickly!"


    The warriors on the fleet kept urging, it was their first time seeing a Ninja Warship approach this side.


    "Haha! I knew it! I knew it!"


    Watching Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian for a long time, Fang Huasheng''s smile grew brighter and brighter.


    Because the destroyer hadn''t come close, they couldn''t see Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian clearly.


    Amid Fang Huasheng''s laughter, everyone started wondering.


    About a kilometer away from the fleet, the Ninja Warship stopped, and Yan Min and Muzi ran to the bow, waving towards the fleet.


    "Don''t shoot, it''s us!"


    Yan Min was excited; because of the mission, he had left his homeland and was now finally able to return home with a successful mission.


    Huaxia language!


    Hearing Yan Min''s shout, everyone on the fleet was surprised.


    If there were their own people on the Ninja Warship, that meant, they had hijacked the vessel!


    How frightening!


    Everyone gasped in astonishment; such an event was unimaginable.


    This type of Ninja Warship, was owned by the Yamamoto Family, and usually had at least a hundred people on board.


    And only four people were seen on the bow, how did they manage that?


    Amidst shock, everyone couldn''t help but feel puzzled; such an event was too implausible.


    Yi Feng led a team on the smallest warship to fetch Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian.


    Yan Min didn''t bring the ship into Huaxia territorial waters to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    Upon boarding the destroyer, Yi Feng and his teammates'' scalps went numb.


    Because there were so many bodies on the ship, it was simply like a Mortal World Purgatory.


    But no one felt pity, since these were the blood-thirsty ninjas! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the people on the fleet got a clear view of the four people who were brought back, they were even more shocked to the core; there really were only four people!


    Four people had exterminated all the ninjas on the ship and even steered it back.


    In the end, when they heard it was the people from Spearhead Troop, everyone somewhat relaxed; indeed, only such sharp warriors could accomplish this feat.


    "Old man, do you need to be this excited, personally coming to pick me up." Seeing the affectionate smile on Fang Huasheng''s face, Xia Liu teased.


    "Haha! General Fang is here to pick me up, after all, in a few days I will be part of the Spearhead Troop." Ouyang Lingtian responded jubilantly.

 Chapter 262 The Last Thing

    "Huh? You two?" Seeing Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu having such a conversation, both Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng were astonished.They definitely hadn''t forgotten that before going to the Island Nation, these two groups were practically enemies.


    Now, they seemed like brothers.


    "At the end of the day, you''re just the old man''s soldier, and I''m his son-in-law!"


    Fang Huasheng and Yi Feng almost fell over, Xia Liu was being so blunt in front of Ouyang Lingtian, it was terrifying.


    However, what terrified them more was Ouyang Lingtian''s response.


    "Alright alright, you''re impressive."


    "Umm... your brains didn''t get scrambled, did they?" Yi Feng weakly asked.


    "Is Yi Feng asking for a spanking? Be careful, or Lingtian might hang you up and beat you."


    "Hanging me up isn''t nice, I prefer a more subtle approach, knock me out first then hang me."


    Watching the two of them teasing each other, Yi Feng''s face instantly took on a mournful look. What kind of people are these?


    "Haha! I''m relieved to see you like this, go inside and rest." Observing the two for a while, Fang Huasheng laughed heartily, then pulled them into the cabin.


    Not giving up, Yi Feng had to find out what had happened between Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian, so he went to consult Yan Min and Muzi.


    Inside the ship''s office, Fang Huasheng watched Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian with keen interest.


    "Lingtian, report on the mission."


    "Yes! The mission went very smoothly, all thanks to Xia Liu. Without him, I wouldn''t have been able to return."


    While saying this, Ouyang Lingtian also took out a USB drive and documents to give to Fang Huasheng.


    "Very good! I indeed wasn''t wrong about you." Looking at the documents and USB drive in the vacuum bag, Fang Huasheng''s eyes narrowed into a smile.


    "Xia Liu, what about you?" Then Fang Huasheng turned his attention to Xia Liu.


    Even though the Demon Stone was slightly less important than the documents, either one was crucial for him to obtain.


    "Me? I wasn''t hurt, thanks for the old man''s concern."


    ...


    "That''s not what I asked. Where is the Demon Stone?"


    Fang Huasheng looked at Xia Liu disdainfully; if this guy was injured, that would be abnormal.


    "Oh, the Demon Stone? I''ll get it right now." Xia Liu said cheerfully while lifting up his shirt.


    There, attached to his belly with transparent tape, was the Demon Stone.


    "Is this it?" After receiving the Demon Stone, Fang Huasheng asked doubtfully.


    Ouyang Lingtian was also surprised, watching Xia Liu. He had been present when the Demon Stone was retrieved and could confirm that there had been much more than this.


    He knew a bit about the Demon Stone and had even tried breaking it open before, almost breaking his hands without even scratching it.


    But looking now, it seemed Xia Liu had cut the Demon Stone in two!


    This was absolutely inconceivable; what had he used to cut it?


    "Just this bit, you know, old man, this thing is tough as nails, completely unbreakable by human effort without heavy cutting equipment."


    Xia Liu said, spreading his hands in resignation.


    Listening to Xia Liu, Fang Huasheng fell silent for a moment.


    Indeed, what Xia Liu said was true; the Demon Stone was among the toughest, densest materials discovered.


    Even large cutting machines would ruin several blades just to cut through it, and it would take days or even weeks.


    "Forget it, let''s just consider it as your reward." Fang Huasheng sighed in resignation.


    Xia Liu, he knew his mentality well, this guy wouldn''t come back empty-handed from such a trip, it just wouldn''t be Xia Liu.


    "No need for rewards, after resting a few days, I''ll take Sister Fang back home."


    "Hehe¡­"


    Huh?


    Seeing the smile on Fang Huasheng''s face, Xia Liu shuddered.


    He sensed that this old man wouldn''t let him take Fang Fei home so easily.


    "You want to take my granddaughter? It''s not that simple," Fang Huasheng said slowly. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Grandpa, that''s not ethical. We clearly agreed that once I completed the task, I could take Sister Fang home. Now, what are you trying to do?"


    Xia Liu suppressed his resentment and said softly.


    This trip, he had risked his life to break the Sealing and had nearly been blown up several times.


    And to be troubled further, it was incredibly frustrating to think about.


    But, who made Fang Huasheng Fang Fei''s grandfather¡­


    Helpless sigh.


    "I never said you only had to complete one task."


    "Hahaha¡­" Hearing Fang Huasheng say that, Ouyang Lingtian couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    As expected, the older the ginger, the spicier. At the time, he thought that as long as Xia Liu completed the task, he could take Fang Fei home.


    Now it seems, the old man had more than one trick up his sleeve.


    Xia Liu really felt like crying without tears, clearly lacking compared to this old man.


    This meant, he would be delayed even longer before he could go home.


    "Grandpa, I can''t be away from home for too long, so just give me your orders later."


    Xia Liu was eager to take Fang Fei home; she had been away so long, and he had settled things with the other girls, he wondered if she would be struck speechless¡­


    "Hehe, no can do!" Fang Huasheng said with a slight smile and a very decisive rejection.


    "Grandpa, how about this, just one last thing, and after that, I''ll take Sister Fang home!"


    Xia Liu knew this old man wouldn''t let him have it too easy. Since he was adamant, Xia Liu insisted on being resolute too!


    "Very well, it won''t take too long, just five days at most, but let me make this clear, as the son-in-law of the Fang Family, you cannot stand by idly when I need you in the future."


    "Of course, but you can''t use this as an excuse to make me do things that Spearhead can handle."


    Xia Liu didn''t refuse, knowing that since Fang Fei was with him, he had to help with her family matters.


    Not just Fang Fei, but the other girls too¡ªif there were issues in their families, he definitely and absolutely had to step in and help.


    "Of course, with your value being so high, I wouldn''t dare ask you to handle simple matters."


    ¡­


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    Seeing the sly smile on Fang Huasheng''s face, Xia Liu knew he was in trouble. If he had known, he would have set firm rules with this old man.


    Now in this situation, what difference was there from joining Spearhead¡­


    "Forget it, having Fang Huasheng as a shield, there shouldn''t be anyone in Huaxia coming to bother me. Helping out is only right..."


    Upon reflection, Xia Liu resigned himself, without knowing Fang Fei, Fang Huasheng probably wouldn''t have spoken so candidly with him even if he knew his true heart.


    "Tomorrow, you come with me to Yanjing, as the annual competition is about to start." Seeing Xia Liu''s distressed look, Fang Huasheng finally disclosed the matter.


    "A competition? Between Spearhead and Heaven Slaying?"


    Ouyang Lingtian asked in amazement.


    "Yes, I always wanted to pull you into Spearhead after seeing your excellent performances over the years, and now I can finally have my wish fulfilled." Fang Huasheng said with some emotion.


    In past competitions, Spearhead always ended up in total defeat, but this time with Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu, tsk tsk!


    "Grandpa, wouldn''t that be a bit like bullying the small if I went?"


    "Xia Liu, don''t underestimate it, my master is the head coach of Heaven Slaying. If you don''t pull out the Spirit Stabilizing Needle, it might be tough..."

 Chapter 263 The Ultimate Weapon

    Ouyang Lingtian had witnessed Xia Liu''s methods.But he could not forget his master''s strength, a top-notch Earth-Rank Warrior!


    If Xia Liu did not unseal his cultivation, with his current Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation, he would definitely be unable to withstand his master.


    "Eh... Does Xia Liu have any methods to defeat that old man?" Fang Huasheng, the chief instructor of Heaven Slaying, was surprised.


    Ouyang Lingtian''s master, the leader of the Taiji Sect, possessed strength that nearly crushed everything.


    Fang Huasheng had known him since he was young, and as their interpersonal connections deepened, he became increasingly astounded by his strength.


    "Yes, if Xia Liu can unlock the chains binding him, my master will not be his match," Ouyang Lingtian said confidently.


    "Hey, it''s just an exchange match, why so serious?" Xia Liu said nonchalantly, waving his hand dismissively.


    Hearing this, Fang Huasheng immediately laughed, "Xia Liu, if you can''t win this match, there will be tasks for you when you come back."


    At these words, Xia Liu immediately chuckled.


    "Hahaha! Xia Liu, you''ll figure it out, or else stay a few more days, and we can obliterate the enemy side by side!" Ouyang Lingtian roared with laughter, imagining that Heaven Slaying would probably be crushed in this year''s competition.


    "Fine, winning is all that matters," Xia Liu didn''t want to say much more, in case the old man caught on to anything he said and made trouble.


    As for this match, he did not plan to remove the Spirit Stabilizing Needle. Doing so too frequently could have severe consequences.


    Ouyang Lingtian had said that he was a disciple of the Taiji Sect and his master was the Sect Leader, considering the Taiji Sect in Binlai City, he was sure to win this time!


    After deciding, the three celebrated the smooth completion of their mission with tea in place of wine in the office.


    After the ship reached Liu Hai City, Ouyang Lingtian declined Xia Liu''s invitation, saying he needed to visit his family first and would head straight to Yanjing.


    Switching from Heaven Slaying to Spearhead involved some complications; he needed to report to his master and discuss with his family.


    Xia Liu did not insist on him staying. With Ouyang Lingtian''s current influence, reporting was just a formality.


    Within the Fang Family district in Liu Hai City, Fang Fei had been waiting at the gate for Xia Liu early on.


    The couple embraced in a loving hug as soon as they saw each other and then wandered hand-in-hand within the district.


    With plenty of time before the evening banquet, Xia Liu and Fang Fei hurt each other in the room.


    "Sister Fang, prepare yourself these next few days; we''ll head home after I return," Xia Liu said, stroking Fang Fei''s beautiful hair, after they finished hurting each other.


    "Grandpa really, making you go again, those sisters at home must be so anxious," Fang Fei complained with a flushed face, her lips pouted.


    "You can''t blame the old man for that, his duty calls, and we will help if we can."


    "Mmm-hmm, I knew you are the best, and there''s still an hour until the banquet..." As she spoke, Fang Fei gave a lift of her body, taking control into her own hands.


    ...


    This night was undoubtedly the happiest one for Fang Huasheng; not only had Xia Liu completed the mission successfully.


    He was also going to crush Heaven Slaying next!


    After so many years, Spearhead was finally going to topple Heaven Slaying.


    Fang Dao and Fang Yun, who were among the high ranks in Spearhead, praised Xia Liu after Fang Huasheng briefly recounted the mission to the Island Nation.


    For the Fang Family to befriend and win over such a formidable figure was more important than anything.


    Lin Shuxia and Fang Cheng finally fully recognized Xia Liu.


    Ever since they used the Beauty Mud and medicinal liquor, they couldn''t praise it enough internally.


    Regarding the marriage alliance with the Ouyang Family, Fang Huasheng said he would resolve it with Xia Liu, which greatly pleased Fang Cheng.


    Although the Fang Family''s business hadn''t seen a huge improvement, as long as they could maintain the current situation, there would be no problems for decades to come.


    During the evening banquet, all of the Fang Family gathered to meet and celebrate Xia Liu.


    That night, Xia Liu drank a lot but still managed to stand until the end.


    The next day, at the time he had arranged with the old master, Xia Liu got up from his bed, unhurried and composed. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Fang Fei pouted her lips and gently tapped his cheek, "You must win, then we''ll go home together!"


    "Of course!"


    After making the promise, Xia Liu washed up and went to find Fang Huasheng.


    Yi Feng drove Fang Huasheng and Xia Liu to the Spearhead base first.


    The base of Spearhead was by the sea, and upon arrival, Xia Liu saw ten tall men wrestling in the water.


    "These ten were selected to go to Yanjing to compete in the duel with Heaven Slaying," Yi Feng hurriedly introduced.


    "Hmm, they''re all pretty good, and it seems they even have some foundations," Xia Liu observed carefully for a while and faintly sensed the fluctuation of inner qi in these ten men.


    "Of course, the General''s selection, all from righteous martial arts sects."


    "Sect disciples... looks like the strength of Spearhead isn''t coincidental," Xia Liu said with a slight smile. With Spearhead filled with warriors of Mysterious Rank or even Earth Rank, they could almost steamroll everything.


    "Heaven Slaying is even stronger, otherwise, I wouldn''t have bothered you," Fang Huasheng said helplessly.


    Although the warriors of Spearhead all came from sects, unfortunately, their cultivation was not high, the strongest among them only at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level.


    At Heaven Slaying, Yellow-Rank Martial Artists were everywhere, and even Mysterious Rank was common.


    And the most terrifying thing was, Taiji Sect was right there with Heaven Slaying.


    "No worries, this trip isn''t much pressure for me," Xia Liu said lightly.


    "Xia Liu, I have some understanding of martial artists as well. I wonder what your actual cultivation level has reached?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This had always puzzled Fang Huasheng. Xia Liu''s prowess was real, but his cultivation didn''t match what one his age should have; there must be some trick to it.


    "It''s no secret, just Mysterious Rank Mid-Level," Xia Liu replied.


    "Mysterious Rank Mid-Level!"


    Yi Feng and Fang Huasheng were both shocked. Ouyang Lingtian was a Mysterious Rank High-Level.


    For this trip to the Island Nation, Ouyang Lingtian had said that without Xia Liu, he wouldn''t have been able to return.


    Furthermore, Xia Liu had smashed three tanks and captured a ship; Mysterious Rank Mid-Level seemed a bit unrealistic.


    "Rest assured, even if it''s just Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, I can still win this duel, hehe¡­"


    After all, the chief instructor of Spearhead was the Sect Leader of Taiji Sect, and as long as he executed a move of Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm, everything would be calm.


    "Forget it, if you can''t win, you''ll just keep doing missions. Anyway, I''m not under any pressure. Yi Feng, get these guys up and prepare to set off."


    "Assemble!"


    Upon Fang Huasheng''s command, Yi Feng immediately shouted.


    The ten members of Spearhead had already spotted Fang Huasheng''s arrival and quickly ran over when they heard his call.


    "General Fang!"


    The ten stood at attention and saluted Fang Huasheng.


    "How are the preparations? Do you have the confidence to win the duel?"


    "Yes!"


    All ten shouted in unison.


    "Let me introduce to you, his name is Xia Liu, and he is the ultimate weapon for this duel," Fang Huasheng explained.


    "Ultimate weapon?" Hearing Fang Huasheng''s introduction, the ten members immediately furrowed their brows.


    They didn''t sense any fluctuations from Xia Liu, a seemingly ordinary person being called the ultimate weapon in front of warriors¡ªit was a bit of a slap in the face¡­

 Chapter 264 Heaven Slaying Base

    ```"You all acquaint yourselves; we''ll depart in an hour," Fang Huasheng cautioned before leaving with Yi Feng.


    On the scene, there remained only Xia Liu and ten members of Spearhead.


    The sea breeze whistled crisply, yet couldn''t sway Xia Liu''s figure, and the roaring waves roused the ten members to restlessness.


    "Hey kid, where are you from?" one of the members, a burly man standing at one point eight meters, asked impolitely.


    "Sorry, my name is Xia Liu. May I ask how to address you?" In the presence of these Yellow-Rank Martial Artists, Xia Liu showed no anger.


    He had concealed his energy well; before them, he appeared to be just an ordinary person. It was reasonable for them to be proud, after all, they were Martial Artists.


    "Niu Zhenjie! A disciple of the Kunlun Sect, from Liu Hai!" Niu Zhenjie introduced himself with arrogance.


    "My apologies, nice to meet you."


    "Ha, that''s laughable. I really don''t know how you became the ultimate weapon," another Yellow-Rank High Level Warrior said before Niu Zhenjie could continue.


    "Jiang Wenqiang, don''t bully him. Maybe Xia Liu has other skills," spoke the highest cultivation among the ten members, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior: Pan Jiang.


    Pan Jiang, about thirty years old, radiated an aura of righteous energy, clearly indicating that his sect was among the renowned in Huaxia.


    "Friend Xia Liu, you don''t need to mind them. They are all Martial Arts practitioners and their speech might be a bit direct. I am Pan Jiang, and I am pleased to meet you."


    As he spoke, Pan Jiang extended his hand.


    "Of course, I won''t mind. Those who practice Martial Arts are bound to be proud," Xia Liu said, shaking hands with Pan Jiang.


    "You little brat! How dare you call me proud!" Niu Zhenjie was displeased.


    Even if he was proud, what did it matter? Since when could an ordinary person judge that?


    "Brother Niu, the captain already said that he must be excellent at shooting. He hit the target within three seconds," another voiced.


    "Three seconds! That is indeed impressive!"


    Jiang Wenqiang and Niu Zhenjie couldn''t help but burst into hearty laughter.


    Apart from Pan Jiang, the two of them were considered the strongest in the team.


    On ordinary days, they disdained training.


    After all, the missions they were sent on always ended in perfection.


    "Xia Liu, don''t take it personally. They''ve just joined Spearhead not long ago. They have seen too little and are too arrogant. There''s a saying: You won''t cry until you see the coffin. After they''ve had a fight with Heaven Slaying, they''ll know they were wrong," Pan Jiang said to Xia Liu in a low voice, helpless against the two.


    "I won''t take it personally. One grows through experiences; it''s not possible to know everything from birth." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, that''s very true. I''ll take them to prepare. We''ll regroup later!"


    Seeing Xia Liu nod, Pan Jiang took the nine members back to pack their belongings.


    An hour later, everyone assembled at the vast helicopter pad.


    This time Fang Huasheng personally led the team, with Yi Feng following closely to protect him.


    This time, with Xia Liu around, there was almost no need for concern.


    After two hours of flight, the aircraft finally arrived in Yanjing.


    They headed straight for the Heaven Slaying headquarters; much like Spearhead, Heaven Slaying also had a separate training base.


    Unlike Spearhead, the Heaven Slaying headquarters was nestled in the mountains, surrounded by a dense primordial forest.


    In such a location, encounters with wild beasts were very likely.


    "The training at Heaven Slaying is extremely brutal; they often enter the primordial forest for wilderness survival without bringing any supplies!"


    ```


    After getting off the plane, Yi Feng began to introduce the training model of Heaven Slaying Base in simple terms.


    Among those who came this time were several new members who actually became interested when they heard about wilderness survival.


    After all, martial artists in all aspects were superior to ordinary people, making wilderness survival very simple.


    "If you think this is simple, then you''re wrong. This primordial forest is full of wild beasts, with bears being quite common. Mysterious Rank warriors might not have a problem, but Yellow-Rank martial artists will find trouble," Pan Jiang immediately explained upon seeing the disdain on the faces of some new members.


    "Hehe, here at Heaven Slaying Base we have high-strength martial artists. We established a base in the deep mountains and old forests to train better, and when we have the opportunity later, I will move Spearhead to an even better location," said one of the members.


    "That''s excellent," Fang Huasheng''s proposal was immediately affirmed by Pan Jiang.


    For martial artists, constantly training in comfortable places would definitely lead to limited improvement.


    "Speaking of which, when does the combat competition begin?" While everyone was discussing training, Xia Liu inquired.


    "Kid, that''s not right. Although I don''t know what you''re good at, I''ve heard that the highlight of the competition is the ring fight," Niu Zhenjie helplessly explained, somewhat numb to Xia Liu''s attitude and no longer offended.


    "Exactly, even if you''re superior in all aspects, if your fighting skills are unremarkable, then they''re of no use whatsoever," Jiang Wenqiang seriously chastised Xia Liu, following Niu Zhenjie''s lead.


    "Hehe, don''t worry, this guy''s fighting skills are very strong; taking on ten people alone is no problem for him," assured Fang Huasheng when he heard some team members expressing doubt.


    "Heh, General Fang, I can take on twenty by myself! Otherwise, you might as well give me the title of ultimate weapon," Xia Liu said jokingly.


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    "Brother Niu, with that build of yours, ultimate weapon, really? I think it suits the captain best," someone teased.


    "Jiang Wenqiang, are you an idiot? The captain has been participating for many years, how could he still be considered an ultimate weapon?" Another retorted.


    "You two stop bickering, and seriously make the most of the next few days," for Pan Jiang, these new team members were always a headache.


    But everything would settle down after the competition with Heaven Slaying Base.


    After all, they always lost decisively, and he even began to think that the reason Fang Huasheng organized such competitions was to motivate the new members of Spearhead.


    It was also to test whether the veteran members had improved.


    If Fang Huasheng knew what Pan Jiang was thinking, he would definitely cry out in injustice.


    When he founded Spearhead, his goal wasn''t just to strengthen Huaxia''s power.


    It was also to surpass the old Heaven Slaying faction and make the overall commander less arrogant.


    Xia Liu silently watched them, feeling no emotion inside, only hoping that the competition would start soon so he could go home!


    "Yo! General Fang has arrived," amid the heated discussions, a light chuckle sounded.


    Everyone looked back and saw three people approaching. The one leading the group was about the same age as Fang Huasheng, followed by two young guards.


    "General Ouyang, long time no see," Fang Huasheng responded very politely.


    "General Ouyang! Could he be Lingtian''s elder..." Upon hearing the address, Xia Liu immediately speculated about Ouyang Lingtian.


    "General, hello!" Yi Feng, Pan Jiang, and many other team members immediately straightened up and greeted respectfully.


    Ouyang Xiong glanced at everyone and couldn''t help but frown slightly and chuckled, "Huasheng, why do you always bring some new faces here every year? Are you trying to use Heaven Slaying to hit them hard then push them to work harder?"


    "Errr..."


    Upon hearing Ouyang Xiong say this, a bitter expression immediately appeared on the faces of Pan Jiang and the others.

 Chapter 265 Qualifications

    "Hahaha! This year is different, just wait for Heaven Slaying to be defeated."Seeing Ouyang Xiong''s attack, Fang Huasheng wasn''t angry; instead, he burst into laughter.


    "Different? With your tactics, always prowling the streets and bringing back some team members, it would be difficult not to lose."


    Ouyang Xiong didn''t finish his sentence, after all, there were Spearhead team members present.


    He meant to say that with Fang Huasheng picking up stray disciples from the streets, he still expected to win against the Heaven Slaying which had the Taiji Sect.


    It was like a fool''s dream, not to mention that there was an Earth-Rank Warrior firmly seated on the Heaven Slaying side.


    "That''s not how you should put it. The presence of each person is necessary. Only through continuous failure can one truly possess victory."


    "Not bad, you all have been failing for many years now, let''s see you win this year."


    Ouyang Xiong couldn''t even imagine what kind of confidence allowed Fang Huasheng to say such words.


    "Right, although my grandson is transferring to your Spearhead, I think I''ve guessed the reason, but since he has recently joined, he won''t be able to participate in this contest."


    Recalling last night''s negotiation with Ouyang Lingtian, Ouyang Xiong stated firmly.


    If Ouyang Lingtian took part in the competition, then the overall scores would become imbalanced.


    To defeat Spearhead, one must be thorough!


    "Hmm? Lingtian told you?"


    "Yes, he did, and I owe it to your precious granddaughter, otherwise why would he switch to Spearhead?"


    Ouyang Xiong felt a mixture of regret and happiness.


    After all, Fang Huasheng''s granddaughter would become his daughter-in-law in the future.


    Although he and Fang Huasheng had been covertly competing for years, the prospect of becoming in-laws was still pleasing.


    "He didn''t mention anything else?" Fang Huasheng asked doubtfully.


    "Something else?"


    "Hahaha..." Fang Huasheng laughed as he looked toward Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu gave a bitter smile; it seemed this trip required solving two issues.


    Presumably, it shouldn''t be a problem, if Ouyang Xiong dared to do anything, he should be able to discuss certain matters with the disciples of the Taiji Sect.


    "Haha... Then let''s bring these lads inside," Ouyang Xiong also began to laugh.


    Seeing Ouyang Xiong''s smiling face, Fang Huasheng couldn''t help but speculate, what kind of expression would he have if he knew his granddaughter had broken off her engagement to Ouyang Lingtian?


    Xia Liu and Pan Jiang were taken to a large dormitory by two guards following behind Ouyang Xiong.


    Seeing the conditions of the place, Niu Zhenjie immediately expressed displeasure, "Hey hey, brothers, this can''t be our resting area, can it?"


    Jiang Wenqiang and the other new team members also stared angrily at the two guards.


    "Newbies are just newbies. You even thinking about sleeping on memory foam mattresses? Scram!" one of the guards grudgingly responded.


    "But I just saw that you have private rooms here, and the facilities seem pretty good."


    "So what if we do? That place is for the Heaven Slaying Warriors to rest. You want to stay there? You''re not qualified!"


    Confronted by Niu Zhenjie''s sharp words, the guard replied without any evasion.


    "Hmph! Does that mean if I beat you, I can stay in those rooms?" Niu Zhenjie snorted coldly.


    "Zhenjie, don''t make trouble," Pan Jiang immediately raised his voice to stop him, seeing Niu Zhenjie and Ouyang Xiong''s guard confronting each other.


    "Captain, these Heaven Slaying guys are too arrogant. If we don''t show them some color, they really think we can be bullied!"


    "You want to fight me, huh? Fine, but if you lose, you''ll do ten thousand push-ups and then squat in the horse stance on the field tonight!"


    "Fine! I accept your challenge. If you lose, not only must you give me your room, you also have to find rooms for these brothers," Niu Zhenjie said, full of confidence.


    "Ow-wooo! Brother Niu is mighty!"


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    "Brother Niu will defeat him!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Hearing Niu Zhenjie fighting for their benefits, everyone cheered.


    Only Xia Liu and Pan Jiang shook their heads with a bitter smile; they could tell that this guard could not control his Inner Qi, which was slightly leaking.


    That meant he had reached the Yellow-Rank Peak. As long as he found the key, he would be able to advance to a Mysterious Rank Primary-Level Warrior!


    Niu Zhenjie was just a Yellow-Rank High Level. If he fought with a Yellow-Rank Peak Warrior, he would lose beyond a doubt.


    "If you all support him, then if he loses, you''ll all do push-ups with him, and squat as well!"


    "Sure! How could Brother Niu possibly lose to you!"


    "Exactly! Defeat him, Brother Niu!"


    "We support you!"


    The teammates all responded enthusiastically to the guard''s challenge.


    "Brother, let''s just let this matter go," Xia Liu said, stepping forward amid the heated atmosphere.


    "Yeah, this teammate of mine is here for the first time. Please excuse his impoliteness," Pan Jiang also stood up to mediate.


    "Brother Jiang, I''d heed your words, but that guy has no right to stay here!" Niu Zhenjie was utterly loyal to Pan Jiang, but what irritated him the most was Xia Liu being the first to step up and speak with the guard.


    "Zhenjie, Xia Liu is now one of us. If he''s right, he has the right to speak!" Pan Jiang couldn''t help but get angry.


    Although he did not know why Xia Liu was regarded as the ultimate weapon, his presence definitely had significance.


    Fang Huasheng would definitely not let someone incompetent come to compare with the Heaven Slaying team; that was common sense.


    "Hehe! You two don''t need to take part, but this guy is so arrogant and unruly, he needs a lesson to clip his wings!"


    The guard smiled at Xia Liu and Pan Jiang, then fixed his eyes on Niu Zhenjie.


    "Brother, let''s really drop this. We have another fight tomorrow, so let''s allow them some rest," Xia Liu stood up to mediate once more.


    On the plane, he had learned from Yi Feng that this competition covered all aspects. Even if they won the arena but lost other events, it would still be considered a loss.


    Therefore, they needed to keep some energy and not drag the overall score down.


    "Xia Liu! I''ve put up with you for a long time. If you don''t want a private room, then shut up. What are you trying to do, sabotaging your brothers!"


    "Zhenjie! This brother is a Yellow-Rank Peak Cultivator. How confident are you that you can win against him?"


    Seeing Niu Zhenjie chastise Xia Liu, Pan Jiang could not stand it any longer; it was like a dog biting Lu Dongbin, ungrateful and ignorant of good intentions.


    "Yellow-Rank Peak!" Hearing these words, Niu Zhenjie and the other teammates were shocked.


    They had originally thought that this guard was at most Yellow-Rank High Level, given his young age.


    "Hehe, brother, you don''t have to speak for them. Arrogant people won''t change until they''ve learned their lesson."


    "No matter, they will get the lesson and shock they deserve on the battlefield tomorrow. That will truly change them."


    "Xia Liu! What right do you have to talk about me! You have no Cultivation, you''re just an ordinary person. I really don''t know what you''re even doing here!"


    Hearing Xia Liu and the guard lecturing him, Niu Zhenjie couldn''t hold back any longer. He might not be a match for the guard, but as a Yellow-Rank High Level Warrior, he had his own pride!

 Chapter 266 The Oddball Team Member

    Niu Zhenjie''s words silenced everyone present.Indeed, Xia Liu lacked any cultivation, so what gave him the right to lecture a Martial Artist? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those who could become Martial Artists were all exceptionally talented, chosen from among thousands.


    Only those born with talent and that then engage in diligent cultivation could venture into the Jianghu World.


    Any Martial Artist would find it intolerable to be lectured by an ordinary person.


    Of course, if they joined a disciplined organization, they would have to submit to authority.


    But Xia Liu was not Fang Huasheng, he had no right to lecture anyone.


    Seeing the situation become so tense, Pan Jiang couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    "Tsk tsk, knowing that you are Martial Artists and that your cultivation is weak, yet still so arrogant; you guys are truly pathetic,"


    The guard could not help but smirk upon seeing the atmosphere.


    This competition had not even started yet, and in terms of momentum, Spearhead was already losing.


    "Alright, you powerful Martial Artists, if I move out and sleep elsewhere, will it satisfy you? I hope you all rest well, as tomorrow holds an important competition,"


    Unexpectedly, Xia Liu showed no anger but responded with a smile instead.


    This only deepened the contempt in the hearts of Niu Zhenjie and his many teammates.


    If Xia Liu were a Martial Artist, he would never have accepted this quietly, so they were in the right!


    "Hurry up, I''m annoyed just looking at you."


    "Exactly, I really don''t know what you''re doing here."


    "Get lost! You''re not welcome here!"


    ...


    Amidst the chaotic noise, Xia Liu and the guard left the communal dormitory.


    "Haha, Spearhead is really making a joke this year, even their own teammates are abandoning them."


    "When have they not been oddballs? Forget it, brother, you can sleep over in that dormitory tonight, it''s pretty much the same."


    "Hehe, Ouyang Lingtian hasn''t come back yet, right? I''ll make do with his room for one night," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    Pfft...


    The two guards nearly spat blood.


    Ouyang Lingtian, to make do for one night!


    That was the High-Level area where the Heaven Slaying Commandos stayed.


    Even they had to look up to that place, and yet this fellow was thinking of staying in Ouyang Lingtian''s room, terrifying to the extreme!


    "Brother, you''d better go to the dormitory over there," the guard said, not knowing how to respond to Xia Liu and pointing to a dilapidated dormitory next door.


    "You have Lingtian''s contact, right? Help me call him and tell him Xia Liu is looking for him."


    This...


    Though reluctant, seeing Xia Liu''s sincere expression, the guard decided to make the call.


    After all, it was about time for Ouyang Lingtian to return to the squad.


    Once the call connected, the guard exchanged pleasantries with Ouyang Lingtian.


    After chatting for a minute, the guard finally conveyed Xia Liu''s request: "Lingtian, there''s a young man named Xia Liu who wants to stay in your room."


    "Uh, Spearhead Troop has arrived, huh?"


    "Yeah, it''s time for you to come back."


    "Hand him the phone," seeing the guard trying to divert the conversation, Xia Liu said faintly.


    "Lingtian, Xia Liu wants to speak with you."


    "Hmm, give it to him," Ouyang Lingtian responded.


    Hearing Ouyang Lingtian agree readily, the guard was very puzzled. As he handed the phone to Xia Liu, he switched on the speakerphone, turning up the volume to see if the two knew each other.


    Once he had the phone, Xia Liu said bluntly, "Hey Lingtian, how much longer are you going to hide at home? Hurry up and come over to see how I''m going to crush Heaven Slaying!"


    ...


    Upon hearing what Xia Liu said, the jaws of the two bodyguards nearly dropped; if anyone dared to speak to Ouyang Lingtian with such an attitude inside Heaven Slaying, that person would be flirting with death.


    What shocked the two bodyguards even more was Ouyang Lingtian''s response.


    "I have some matters at home that you know of, with my wife being snatched away, my mom''s preparing to hang me up and beat me."


    Swipe, swipe, swipe!!!


    This was the only thought in the bodyguards'' minds.


    They knew about Ouyang Lingtian taking leave this time, to go back and get married.


    But what had he just said?


    His wife was actually snatched away by Xia Liu!


    And he could still talk to Xia Liu like this; this was not Lingtian''s style at all.


    "Alright, take your time explaining, and remember to come watch me beat up your master."


    "Sure thing, I''m also looking forward to the moment you face off against my master."


    Having said that, Xia Liu hung up the call.


    "Brothers, Lingtian has agreed, just let me rest at his place for the time being."


    Seeing the two of them spellbound, Xia Liu shook his hand in front of their eyes and said.


    "Whoa!"


    The two bodyguards stared at Xia Liu with their eyes wide open.


    They were utterly dumbfounded.


    Not to mention Ouyang Lingtian''s attitude toward him, this guy even said he''d beat up Lingtian''s master!


    That was the strongest person in Heaven Slaying, the Head Instructor, at the Earth-Rank Primary Level of cultivation!


    "Brother, what''s your relationship with Lingtian?" After coming back to their senses, the two bodyguards immediately escorted Xia Liu to Ouyang Lingtian''s residence, their curiosity getting the better of them.


    "Good friends."


    "Huh, you even said you were going to beat up Lingtian''s master, is that true?"


    "Of course, that was just a joke."


    ...


    Initially thinking they could learn some huge news from Xia Liu, the two bodyguards could only leave with frowns on their faces.


    But the shock in their hearts had not subsided.


    They all knew about Ouyang Lingtian''s temper, colder and more aloof than a high and mighty goddess.


    Yet, he could chat with Xia Liu to such an extent, which clearly showed the unusual relationship between them.


    Not daring to delay Xia Liu, the two bodyguards immediately took him to the house where Ouyang Lingtian lived.


    Looking at the well-equipped room, Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction.


    At supper time, the two bodyguards, acting as guides, took the members of Spearhead Troop staying in the barracks to the cafeteria for dinner.


    Niu Zhenjie looked around and, not seeing Xia Liu''s figure, burst into laughter: "Hehe, looks like that kid Xia Liu is too ashamed to show up for dinner."


    "That''s for sure, it''s his own fault for being so arrogant."


    "Exactly, just an ordinary person. If I were him, I''d cover my face and head straight back home."


    "Alright, you guys, it''s not ethical to speak ill of someone behind their back." Pan Jiang couldn''t listen anymore; Xia Liu''s actions and words hadn''t been wrong.


    The mistake was that he lacked cultivation. Even so, taking pleasure in one''s success should be enough.


    "Brothers, did Xia Liu have dinner? Where is he staying tonight?" After pondering for a while, Pan Jiang asked the bodyguards.


    "Haha! Brother Jiang, I advise you not to worry about him; I bet tonight he''ll be sleeping on the grass," Niu Zhenjie said, taking delight in teasing Xia Liu.


    The other members of Spearhead felt much the same; Xia Liu daring to look down upon martial artists, having no place to sleep was already his good fortune.


    "You don''t have to worry about him; he''s staying in the Heaven Slaying Commando District. There will be someone specially assigned to deliver his meals." Recalling Xia Liu''s conversation with Ouyang Lingtian, the two bodyguards were still a bit shaken.


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    They wanted to laugh; someone who could converse cheerfully with Ouyang Lingtian, and yet these silly fellows of Spearhead treated him in such a way, they were simply ignorant.

 Chapter 267 Huashengs Helplessness

    Hearing the guard say that Xia Liu was living in the King of Soldiers District, Pan Jiang, Niu Zhenjie, and all the Spearhead members were shocked.The Heaven Slaying Base''s King of Soldiers District!


    That''s where only those within Heaven Slaying who had reached the King of Soldiers level could reside!


    And now, Xia Liu had actually moved into the King of Soldiers District, which was simply terrifying.


    "This is absolutely impossible! He definitely can''t!" Niu Zhenjie couldn''t accept this fact, Xia Liu was an ordinary person, how could he possibly live in the King of Soldiers District?


    "Right! It must be fake!" Jiang Wenqiang thought the same as Niu Zhenjie; both couldn''t believe and accept this fact. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, we''re here, go and eat your meal," the two guards said without further explanation.


    Explaining to these barbaric recruits would be a waste unless one was really bored.


    "Captain! You don''t believe that Xia Liu has moved into the King of Soldiers District either, right?" Sitting around the long table, Niu Zhenjie spoke to Pan Jiang.


    "Hmm, I hardly believe it, but it must be true." Pan Jiang couldn''t believe it either, but he was willing to accept it.


    He even had some expectations; Xia Liu, who was deemed the ultimate weapon by Fang Huasheng, must have extraordinary skills and courage.


    "Brother Jiang, Brother Niu, I feel that Xia Liu relied on connections to move there," Jiang Wenqiang had been thinking all the way until he finally arrived at this thought.


    "That''s right! I almost forgot, he is General Fang''s designated ultimate weapon, it must be General Fang pulling the strings, otherwise how could he live there!"


    "Yeah! I also feel the same!"


    "Hmph, a commoner who relies on connections, even if he lives in a presidential suite, it means nothing."


    "Right, trash is always trash!"


    Niu Zhenjie and the many team members went from initial shock to now coldly mocking.


    In their hearts, they completely despised Xia Liu; they had all climbed their way up from weakness step by step. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    With no one''s help, knowing the hardships involved all too well.


    Now seeing Xia Liu becoming the ultimate weapon only by relying on connections, they were nothing but furious.


    However, they never imagined that Xia Liu had reached his position today by climbing step by step on his own.


    Only he knew his own efforts. If not for being overly diligent, he wouldn''t have sealed his own cultivation.


    "Alright everyone, don''t say any more, eat up, and rest well when you go back. Show your best condition tomorrow!" Pan Jiang couldn''t listen any longer.


    This team, all being Primary-Level warriors, discussing an ordinary person so unabashedly was particularly erroneous.


    Nevertheless, Pan Jiang felt restless inside; he had a feeling that this year''s competition would have astonishing developments, perhaps Spearhead even defeating Heaven Slaying.


    Naturally, Niu Zhenjie and others didn''t dare to defy Pan Jiang, not only because he had higher cultivation but also because he was the captain.


    However, Jiang Wenqiang and Niu Zhenjie, unwilling to be looked down upon by an ordinary person, went to the King of Soldiers District after their meal.


    They couldn''t even enter before being blasted out by a Primary-Level Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang were planning to take him on two against one.


    If not for Xia Liu appearing at that moment, those two groups would probably have been wasted.


    "Hmph! Xia Liu, you wait, I''ll show you what it means to tremble! What a true Martial Artist is!" Before leaving, Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang didn''t forget to leave harsh words behind.


    "Damn! Two idiots," the Mysterious Rank Warrior guarding the King of Soldiers District couldn''t stop complaining.


    "Young man, you came from Spearhead, right? How are you finding it living here?"


    "It''s okay, thank you for being merciful and not hurting them." Xia Liu responded with a light smile to the Mysterious Rank Warrior''s solace.


    "That''s good, call me anytime you need something," after saying that, the Mysterious Rank Warrior left.


    The reason he looked after Xia Liu was all because of the cautions from those two guards.


    Xia Liu didn''t think twice and turned to head back to his room.


    That night, in the early morning hours with a slight chill in the air, a knocking sound arose.


    When Xia Liu stopped his energy practice and opened the door, there stood Fang Huasheng, the old fox.


    "Not bad, Xia Liu, managing to snag such a room," Fang Huasheng remarked, admiring the room''s decor and furnishings.


    "Old man, you must have something important to say to come find me," Xia Liu didn''t want to beat around the bush with this old fox, who had tricked him twice already. He would need to be more cautious from now on.


    "Hehe, as you heard today, Ouyang Xiong, that old guy, still doesn''t know about you and Fei''er."


    "Mm, I can tell."


    Xia Liu nodded, knowing Fang Huasheng must have a solution as he was sharing this information.


    "I came here to tell you, you''ll have to handle this matter on your own."


    "Old man, that doesn''t seem right¡­" Xia Liu was about to complain, as the old fox was not offering him any help.


    "I will definitely intervene when it''s the right time, but this time Ouyang Xiong will surely send Tianjue into the fray¡­"


    By the end, worry surfaced on Fang Huasheng''s face.


    "Tianjue? The current Sect Leader of Taiji Sect?"


    "Yes, he''s the chief instructor of Heaven Slaying and is qualified to compete, so be careful. With me here, you won''t be beaten to death, but there will definitely be some pain," he said.


    Fang Huasheng knew more about Tianjue than Ouyang Xiong; after all, he was an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    His concern for Xia Liu stemmed from a phone call he had earlier with Ouyang Lingtian.


    Ouyang Lingtian said Xia Liu currently had only Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation, and he didn''t say much more than that.


    Mysterious Rank Mid-Level. If he were to face Tianjue, he would be mercilessly crushed.


    "Don''t worry, old man. Tianjue is just at Earth-Rank cultivation. I could make him kneel with just my two hands," Xia Liu said with a confident smile.


    ¡­


    "Ah, originally, I wanted to help you get away first, but Ouyang Xiong already knows about you and Fei''er, so this fight is inevitable."


    "It''s okay, I can handle it."


    "This way, tomorrow''s events are routine competitions, you don''t need to participate, just prepare for the day after tomorrow''s fight."


    Fang Huasheng made such arrangements, worried that Ouyang Xiong might become too emotional upon seeing Xia Liu.


    "Alright, I will prepare well," Xia Liu responded resignedly.


    He knew explanations would be futile; Fang Huasheng would never believe him.


    Once at the arena, he would naturally see the outcome for himself.


    "Alright, rest well. For Fei''er''s sake, I won''t let Ouyang Xiong and Tianjue go too far," Fang Huasheng said with unprecedented seriousness and determination before he departed.


    The next morning, the sound of horns echoed throughout the Heaven Slaying Base.


    This sound excited all the warriors participating in the competition.


    In less than ten minutes, both Heaven Slaying and Spearhead personnel arrived at the training ground to assemble.


    They stood face to face, each group eyeing the other intently.


    "Let me explain the rules of the competition: as long as it doesn''t violate morality, any form of action is permissible to accomplish the task."


    After the referee announced the rules, members from both sides reached out and grasped each other''s hands tightly.


    "There is a 100-kilogram backpack over there. The first round is a weighted forest cross; whoever reaches the 10-kilometer mark first and retrieves the mission symbol can return. This round tests both individual and team strength, and now it begins!"

 Chapter 268 Act First, Report Later

    When the judge issued the command, the eighteen warriors immediately rushed to grab the backpacks and started running at their top speed.Both sides were evenly matched because Ouyang Xiong did not want to bully the weaker with his strength.


    He had specifically picked warriors whose Cultivation was comparable to that of the Spearhead Team members to fight.


    If several King of Soldiers level individuals were to show up, the competition would have been meaningless.


    Fang Huasheng also did not wish to see that.


    What he wanted was for the Spearhead Team members to lose to the Heaven Slaying Team members of equal Cultivation.


    That''s right!


    Fang Huasheng''s initial thought was indeed to lose.


    That would effectively stimulate the Spearhead Warriors'' desire for victory.


    It could subdue their arrogance.


    However, they had always been losing, and Ouyang Xiong had mocked him every time, which made Fang Huasheng extremely irritated.


    Then he began to plot for a win.


    Standing on the towering tower, Fang Huasheng and Ouyang Xiong watched the fight through binoculars.


    After the fighters disappeared into the dense forest, Ouyang Xiong, who had not seen Xia Liu, said with a dark face, "Old Fang, it seems you really cherish that guy."


    "Of course, after all, he is going to be my granddaughter''s future husband," Fang Huasheng said with a faint smile.


    "Hmph, after decades of agreement between our two families, you actually stand behind that kid! Very well!"


    "Don''t be angry. If it weren''t for Xia Liu, Lingtian wouldn''t have been able to return safely. Besides, Xia Liu and my granddaughter are truly in love. As elders, can''t we be a bit more open-minded?"


    Seeing Ouyang Xiong''s rising anger, Fang Huasheng hurriedly explained.


    "Open-minded? My grandson couldn''t come back from the Island Nation because he wasn''t capable enough. But that kid ruining his marriage, that''s where the kid is wrong."


    "Marriage? That was just something we said when Lingtian and Fei''er were children. We''re old now, let''s both be a bit calmer."


    "Are you trying to slap my face along with that kid?" Ouyang Xiong''s eyes started to become fierce.


    If it wasn''t for Ouyang Lingtian pestering him not to trouble Xia Liu, he would''ve been more than just angry.


    "Old Xiong, I have to tell you, Xia Liu was the primary contributor to the top-secret mission. I''ve already reported it. If you do anything bad to him..."


    Toward the end, Fang Huasheng did not continue, believing Ouyang Xiong understood his point.


    "So what, act first and report later!"


    ...


    "Forget it, I don''t want to say more. But I''ll remind you one last thing, Xia Liu''s identity is not simple."


    Faced with Ouyang Xiong''s attitude, Fang Huasheng was truly helpless. He was still as inflexible as ever.


    "What, is he the grandson of someone important or not?"


    "That''s not it. He has a nickname in the Middle East, called the Nether Emperor."


    "The Nether Emperor of the Middle East!" Hearing this nickname, Ouyang Xiong''s pupils shrank suddenly.


    As the commander-in-chief of Heaven Slaying, he was very familiar with the thick file on the Nether Emperor in Heaven Slaying.


    Such a super dangerous person with a Star Level of five, he knew very well!


    And now, Fang Huasheng was saying Xia Liu is the Nether Emperor who reigns over the Middle East region!


    "Handle it as you see fit, but if you really bully him tomorrow, I believe his men won''t stand by. Whatever the consequences may be, I hope you can bear them."


    With one last warning, Fang Huasheng left the tower.


    Atop the tower, Ouyang Xiong clenched his fists tightly, his face unreadable.


    "Qingjie, go invite your master over. I have important matters to discuss with him."


    "Yes!"


    Qingjie, standing at the base of the tower, received the command and immediately set off toward the depths of the mountain forest.


    "Xia Liu, huh, the Nether Emperor, huh! Daring to slap my face, daring to humiliate the Ouyang Family, don''t expect to leave here in peace!"


    Ouyang Xiong''s gaze shifted to the Heaven Slaying Commando quarters, his eyes gradually becoming venomous.


    In contrast to the furious Ouyang Xiong, Xia Liu was utterly relaxed. He had gotten up in the morning and left the base to scout around the primordial forest.


    The area was not fully developed, teeming with herbs. If he could find some precious herbs, that would be a major windfall.


    As for today''s competition, it was incredibly exciting.


    The cultivation of the competitors was fairly equal, resulting in never-ending, fierce battles.


    Spearhead gained a one-person advantage and won the first round, surprisingly enough.


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang, having exhausted a large amount of inner qi at the start, found themselves swiftly overtaken by others after their energy was depleted.


    Facing defeat in the first round nearly brought them to tears.


    However, they were not discouraged. After resting for two hours, the second round began.


    This time it was shooting, and once more Jiang Wenqiang and Niu Zhenjie lost, but the other members of Spearhead Team managed to secure victory.


    Their cultivation might not be as good as that of Heaven Slaying or their team''s members, but they had other talents.


    Like marksmanship, laying mines, going undercover, and such. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today, after competing in more than a dozen events, Spearhead was ahead by two points, the gap not very large.


    But Jiang Wenqiang and Niu Zhenjie were worried.


    They nearly dared not lift their heads in the dormitory.


    From the first event, they were on losing streaks, managing to win only two or three events by the end.


    "Don''t put too much pressure on yourselves. Rest up, because tomorrow is the ring competition," Pan Jiang comforted them as he saw their despondent mood.


    "Brother Jiang, don''t worry, we''re all right," Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang replied bitterly.


    "Brother Qiang, Brother Niu, the two of you are just not familiar with the terrain. If you were to fight again, you would definitely defeat the other side."


    "Yeah, with Brother Qiang and Brother Niu''s skills, once you get used it, you can surely beat them."


    "Although Brother Qiang and Brother Niu lost a few times today, compared to a certain ultimate weapon, they are way stronger!"


    "That''s right! Much stronger than a certain ultimate weapon!"


    ...


    "Ah, get some good rest, don''t stress yourselves," Pan Jiang couldn''t help but sigh as he heard the team members making snide remarks about Xia Liu again.


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang exchanged glances, and their confidence began to build slowly.


    Right, they were Yellow-Rank High-Level Warriors.


    And Xia Liu, the ultimate weapon of Spearhead, was just an ordinary person.


    Moreover, he had been absent all day, which clearly indicated his treatment must have been very extreme.


    It was also possible that Fang Huasheng had figured out his capabilities, so it wouldn''t be surprising if he had been driven away.


    Approaching midnight, Xia Liu finally returned from the deep forest. He had picked some herbs nearby, all of which were common goods.


    But his "common" was valuable for martial artists.


    Xia Liu just needed to crush these herbs, then he could mix them into a medicine powder that could stop bleeding, alleviate pain, and accelerate the healing of flesh and blood!


    These medicine powders were specially formulated pill prescriptions for martial artists.


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    He had stolen Fang Fei to be his wife, right? Ouyang Lingtian''s hatred had subsided, but now they had become good friends.


    Since he was about to leave, he definitely wanted to leave something good for that guy, and this all-purpose medicine powder was most suitable...

 Chapter 269 Arena Battle [Part 1]

    The next morning, Xia Liu stretched languidly before washing up and stepping out of the house.On the table, five white bottles and a letter lay.


    He had left them for Ouyang Lingtian, hoping that when they met again, both would still be well.


    A duel on the arena was an exhilarating event for Spearhead and Heaven Slaying.


    Because it allowed them to truly feel the combat.


    Martial Artist versus Martial Artist!


    The fights between Martial Artists were not only spectacular but also allowed the audience to explore and discover opportunities.


    For instance, when Mysterious Rank Warriors fought, Yellow-Rank Martial Artists would be extremely excited.


    This allowed them to observe all the movements of Mysterious Rank Warriors, and perhaps, they might inadvertently catch a glimpse of a breakthrough opportunity.


    The arena was set up on the edge of the base near the mountains, surrounded by stone platforms and stone seats.


    Except for the Heaven Slaying members who were away on missions, everyone at the base had come to the arena.


    Even the lady who washed vegetables was very interested in the arena duels.


    Since no tables and chairs had been provided for the audience, they all sat on the ground, except for those at the King of Soldiers Level.


    Ouyang Xiong and Fang Huasheng were in a tower slightly above the angle of the arena, a position that allowed them to overlook the entire arena.


    Next to Ouyang Xiong sat a middle-aged man.


    It wasn''t quite appropriate to call him middle-aged since his hair was completely white.


    His facial features and physique were almost those of an elderly person.


    He was none other than the Sect Leader of Taiji Sect branch in Liu Hai: Tianjue!


    Next to Tianjue sat his Chief Disciple, Qingjie. Ouyang Lingtian seemed not yet to have arrived.


    "Old friend, when that kid goes on stage, just kill him, and I''ll take care of everything," said Ouyang Xiong sternly to Fang Huasheng while waiting for the combat to start.


    "Dear friend, you are upset. Death is but a moment away. If disputes can be resolved without violence, that would certainly be the best approach," responded Tianjue, knowing Ouyang Xiong''s temperament and not taking his words too seriously.


    "I wish I could, but now it''s not just me who''s been insulted, my friend, you''ve been disrespected as well."


    "Hmm? The person you''re talking about shouldn''t know me; how could he?" asked Tianjue, puzzled.


    "Little Zhao, explain."


    "Yes!"


    After being named, the guard who had connected Xia Liu with Ouyang Lingtian began recounting the events of that day. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm? Lingtian actually sided with him too?" After listening to the guard''s clarification, Tianjue became even more perplexed.


    Ouyang Lingtian was his Closed-door Disciple who had made significant progress, having advanced to High-Rank Mysterious in just ten years. Given a bit more time, he would certainly reach the Peak of Mysterious Rank or even ascend to Earth Rank.


    Yet such a high-ranking disciple was putting considerable faith in a young man in his mid-twenties, which was certainly no coincidence.


    "It seems Lingtian has also been beguiled by that young man and has even become his friend. Now, Lingtian has been so misled that he dares to disregard you as his Honored Master," Ouyang Xiong continued to stoke the fire.


    As long as Tianjue was angered, how could Xia Liu not perish?


    "Let''s see how it goes. I trust Lingtian''s judgment, and I am quite looking forward to this young man''s performance," Tianjue said with a faint smile, narrowing his eyes.


    For a practitioner of his caliber, anger was the utmost folly.


    This was a realization he had come to align with the Taiji Sect''s deep and mysterious Yin Yang cultivation technique. As for other warriors, he had no idea.


    Taiji Sect''s cultivation technique combined Yin and Yang, making it profoundly intricate; thus, Tianjue also wished to avoid much contact with the secular world.


    Seeing Tianjue remain calm, Fang Huasheng breathed a sigh of relief.


    He only hoped that Xia Liu would keep a low profile, leaving Ouyang Xiong with no way to touch him.


    The crowd had been squatting on the ground for a long time, yet no one had come out to start the fight, which only added to the excitement of the competitors.


    Every year, both sides of the competition would send out ten people, but now both sides only had nine.


    The last person not yet arrived was definitely their trump card!


    The members of Heaven Slaying looked at each other; they realized only Ouyang Lingtian had not shown up yet.


    If Ouyang Lingtian were the last one on the Heaven Slaying team to appear, then Spearhead was doomed.


    As for Spearhead, they were clueless.


    Even Pan Jiang and his team members from Spearhead didn''t understand.


    They all knew Xia Liu was the ultimate weapon, but he still hadn''t shown up; what was the plan?


    Although they despised Xia Liu, both Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang hoped he would appear quickly.


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    Only then could they display their true strength as martial artists in front of him!


    They would then witness Xia Liu''s pathetic moves; the enjoyment of such humiliation was immeasurable.


    "Buddy, that kid is coming!" Sitting atop the tower, Ouyang Xiong saw Xia Liu strolling leisurely from a distance, his teeth clenching unconsciously.


    "Is it him? Qingjie, how do you feel?" Tianjue watched for a while, then asked his chief disciple to give his opinion.


    "He''s very young, his steps casual, seemingly frivolous. His pupils are deep yet luminous, he seems like a man with a story."


    ¡­


    "You are still too young. This young man''s steps are casual because he is extremely confident in handling any sudden situations. His pupils shine like the stars, either he''s born with wisdom eyes, or his cultivation is profound!"


    Huh?


    When Tianjue mentioned that Xia Liu''s cultivation was profound, Qingjie and the others on the tower were all stunned.


    Fang Huasheng wasn''t very emotional,


    If Xia Liu''s cultivation wasn''t profound, could he have blocked two torpedoes without a scratch?


    Could he have easily shattered a tank? Could he have obtained the antidote from the Liusheng family in the Island Nation?


    "Master, I can''t sense his aura." Qingjie said bitterly.


    "That''s because he''s hidden it very deeply. If I hadn''t advanced to Earth Rank, I probably wouldn''t be able to sense his energy either."


    Tianjue became extremely interested in Xia Liu, especially in his method of hiding his aura.


    To be almost undetectable even by an Earth-Rank Warrior, either his cultivation is higher than mine or he possesses a formidable method of concealment.


    Tianjue chose to believe in the latter, given that Xia Liu was too young.


    How could his cultivation possibly be higher than his own.


    "Look! It''s Xia Liu!" A member of Spearhead noticed Xia Liu approaching and couldn''t help exclaiming in surprise.


    "Good that he''s here, we''ll definitely make him tremble!"


    "Tch, I can already imagine him kneeling on one knee begging us to teach him martial arts."


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang began to fantasize.


    "You two better watch yourselves. Xia Liu is no simple character." Pan Jiang didn''t want to say more to these two; once this competition on the stage ended, they would naturally regret their words.


    "Spearhead''s final team member seems to be an ordinary person?"


    "What seems, he is just an ordinary person, alright."


    "That''s kind of horrifying, actually letting an ordinary person participate in the competition¡­"


    Upon seeing Xia Liu, the Heaven Slaying people were deeply moved.


    "Brother Xia Liu, come sit here." Seeing Xia Liu approaching, Pan Jiang immediately waved him over.


    "How is it going, has the competition started yet?" Seeing the empty stage, Xia Liu asked quizzically.


    "Next, the match between Heaven Slaying and Spearhead officially begins!"


    Before Pan Jiang could respond, the referee suddenly jumped onto the stage and announced loudly.

 Chapter 270 Arena Competition [Part 2]

    It had finally begun!Everyone shifted their attention away from Xia Liu to focus on the stage.


    The members of Heaven Slaying, particularly eager to watch, were the Spearhead''s captain Pan Jiang and the Mysterious Rank Warriors participating this time.


    This provided an opportunity for the many Yellow-Rank Martial Artists to gain insight.


    "The first match, Spearhead Jiang Wenqiang versus Heaven Slaying Mo Xiaofeng."


    "Haha! The first one is me!" Jiang Wenqiang burst into laughter upon hearing the referee''s announcement.


    "Wenqiang, give it your all, show off your skills, let a certain person see the elegance of a martial artist!" Niu Zhenjie glanced at Xia Liu and said oddly.


    "Of course, I''ll make a certain person realize how ignorant they are."


    Jiang Wenqiang also looked towards Xia Liu, for apart from Pan Jiang, Spearhead largely ostracized and looked down upon this ''ultimate weapon.''


    Facing the disdainful looks from the members of Spearhead, Xia Liu was indifferent, his emotions showed no fluctuation.


    "Wenqiang, don''t mind the nonsense; winning this first match is the key!" Pan Jiang glanced at Xia Liu and was very satisfied with his attitude.


    "Rest assured, captain, I''ll definitely win this first round!"


    After firmly promising, Jiang Wenqiang immediately leaped onto the stage.


    Mo Xiaofeng from Spearhead also came up, both of them were of similar height, and their cultivation was the same, both being Yellow-Rank High-Level Warriors.


    "Please enlighten me!"


    After greeting each other with a fist and palm salute, they both adopted fighting stances.


    "Kongtong Sect''s boxing style."


    "Brother Xia Liu, can you see it?"


    Hearing Xia Liu analyze Jiang Wenqiang''s boxing style, Pan Jiang was very surprised.


    "I''ve had the fortune of drinking with a disciple from the Kongtong Sect." While Xia Liu spoke, his mind not only recalled that memory, he also wondered how his friend, who mastered the art from a hundred sects, was doing now.


    "Uh, can you discern Heaven Slaying''s boxing style?"


    "Taiji Palm, disciples of the Taiji Sect should be able to learn it."


    "Indeed, you are not as simple as you appear on the surface." Pan Jiang frowned, if he had been doubtful before, now he was certain.


    Xia Liu was definitely no ordinary person!


    As for the match between the two men, Xia Liu had no interest in watching.


    He shifted his gaze to the tower.


    By chance, he locked eyes with Ouyang Xiong.


    "Heh, you better not make things difficult for me, otherwise Heaven Slaying might end up being emptied..."


    Gazing slightly at the anger in Ouyang Xiong''s eyes, Xia Liu couldn''t help but mockingly smile.


    "That is..."


    Suddenly Xia Liu shifted his gaze to Tianjue, slightly surprised.


    "Just like Lingtian said, Tianjue, the Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect, Earth-Rank Cultivation!"


    After sensing it for a while, Xia Liu shook his head with a smile.


    "Hmm!" Tianjue had been watching Xia Liu, and seeing him shake his head, he suddenly felt indignant.


    He was only in his twenties, how could he be so arrogant, even if he was a martial artist with hidden cultivation?


    Facing an Earth-Rank Warrior, he shouldn''t act like this!


    Boom!


    The sound from the stage reverberated around, and everyone held their breath and watched intently.


    "Mo Xiaofeng''s palm technique is clear, his transitions orderly, Spearhead is likely to lose."


    "Xia Liu! What do you know! Wenqiang hasn''t exerted his full strength yet, and you dare say he will lose!" Niu Zhenjie, who had been paying attention to Xia Liu, roared.


    "Zhenjie, calm down, Xia Liu is telling the truth, Wenqiang''s lower stance has already begun to falter, he might not last much longer."


    "Ah! Even the captain says so."


    "Could Brother Qiang really be defeated?"


    "This..."


    Niu Zhenjie, who initially wanted to teach Xia Liu a lesson, didn''t know what to say anymore.


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    Pan Jiang, being a Mysterious Rank Warrior, said that Jiang Wenqiang was destined to lose, which meant there was almost no chance of winning.


    Bang!


    Not long after Pan Jiang''s words, a figure flew backward from the stage towards Xia Liu.


    Niu Zhenjie immediately went to catch him¡ªit was Jiang Wenqiang! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The first bout, Heaven Slaying Mo Xiaofeng wins!" the referee announced, raising Mo Xiaofeng''s hand.


    "Haha! Xiaofeng, that''s not right; you should have let the Spearhead comrade have a chance."


    "Exactly, otherwise Spearhead is going to be completely defeated."


    The members of Heaven Slaying all began to mock with faint smiles.


    They had all heard the grand ambitions Jiang Wenqiang had declared before he went on stage.


    Such arrogant and conceited people need to be put in their place; damn, they really think they can defy the heavens.


    "I lost..." Jiang Wenqiang felt a burning pain in his chest and couldn''t help feeling disheartened.


    "Losing is not scary. What''s scary is being afraid to face it. You held on till now, which is already quite impressive."


    Seeing Jiang Wenqiang''s low spirits, Pan Jiang immediately comforted him.


    He couldn''t remember how many times he had said this, but if it could help a disheartened martial artist regain confidence and strive hard, he was willing to say it until he was blue in the face.


    "Yes, even in defeat there is honor, unlike some people who just make gestures, probably can''t even stand for a second up there."


    "Right! Even though I was the first to be defeated, I''m definitely better than someone else! Haha..."


    Hearing Niu Zhenjie''s comforting words, Jiang Wenqiang''s mood greatly improved.


    He believed that as the ultimate weapon of Spearhead, Xia Liu, would surely fail more miserably than himself.


    Pan Jiang was already powerless; he didn''t want to explain anymore. If Niu Zhenjie didn''t lose a bout, he would surely continue to be so arrogant.


    Xia Liu glanced at the two, wore a smile, and did not say another word.


    "The second bout! Heaven Slaying Lin Mu versus Spearhead Niu Zhenjie!"


    "Hahaha! It''s Brother Niu''s turn!"


    "Brother Niu will definitely win!"


    "Isn''t that obvious? If Brother Niu loses, then we definitely won''t be able to win!"


    Like before Jiang Wenqiang''s match, the other members of Spearhead started their adulation.


    However, the spectators had already lost interest in Spearhead; they could predict the scene of Lin Mu knocking Niu Zhenjie out of the arena.


    And sure enough, ten minutes later, just as everyone predicted, Niu Zhenjie was slapped out of the arena by Lin Mu.


    "Ah! I still want to fight!" Niu Zhenjie screamed, unwilling to accept defeat.


    "Hehe... a sore loser."


    "Ah, how come there are even such people, who can''t admit defeat after losing."


    The members of Heaven Slaying no longer wanted to strike at Spearhead; it was no use hitting at the weak, it had become a joke to them.


    "Zhenjie, stop making a fool of yourself. Even if you fought a hundred times, you still couldn''t win. Cultivation is a problem, and so is your attitude," Pan Jiang said sternly.


    "I know I was wrong, but I lasted ten minutes; definitely better than someone else!" The defeated Niu Zhenjie shifted his gaze to Xia Liu.


    "Ah, clearly Heaven Slaying is going to steamroll us," Xia Liu lamented, watching the outcomes of the two matches.


    "Yes, Heaven Slaying is relentless; maybe we could win one or two bouts, but it wouldn''t change the outcome," Pan Jiang also felt helplessness. He was confident in winning, but overall, still losing.


    "You kid are the ultimate weapon, right? Go and change the outcome!"


    "Exactly! Really don''t know what you''re here for!"


    "Hurry up and go beat all the members of Heaven Slaying..."


    Before Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang could finish their mocking, Xia Liu moved; he leisurely walked through the crowd and climbed the steps one by one.

 Chapter 271 On Stage

    Seeing Xia Liu making such a move, both Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang were utterly shocked. Your next read is at My Virtual Library EmpirePan Jiang and the other Spearhead members felt the same, they couldn''t understand what Xia Liu was trying to do.


    As for the others present at the scene, they were even more baffled.


    There were many martial artists on the scene, and they could not sense Xia Liu''s energy.


    They all considered Xia Liu an ordinary person.


    An ordinary person, no matter how good your martial arts skills are, could never shake a martial artist who possesses Inner Qi!


    This is common sense; there is an insurmountable chasm between ordinary people and martial artists!


    "Old Fang, this is him seeking his own death, don''t blame me," Ouyang Xiong said with a growing smile on his face as he saw Xia Liu stepping onto the stage.


    "Heh, just mind yourself," Fang Huasheng didn''t say much else because he also couldn''t understand what Xia Liu was trying to do.


    He remembered telling Xia Liu just the night before to keep a low profile!


    You''re taking the stage before the referee even speaks, this is not being high-profile.


    This is arrogance, it''s presumptuousness, it''s courting death!


    "I haven''t announced anything yet, what are you doing up there?" the referee said unhappily upon seeing Xia Liu ignoring his presence.


    "My reason for stepping onto the ring is simple, to crush everyone from Heaven Slaying and then claim victory in this competition!"


    Dressed in Spearhead combat attire and under the dark clouds, Xia Liu confidently surveyed the entire crowd.


    As Xia Liu''s words fell, the whole venue fell silent.


    Whoosh!


    The members of Spearhead were the first to come to their senses.


    They were all shocked by Xia Liu''s words, to crush everyone from Heaven Slaying!


    Such domineering words, even Pan Jiang or the strongest member on a mission, Xiao Jie, wouldn''t dare to say them.


    However, Xia Liu said them, and they couldn''t comprehend where Xia Liu''s confidence came from.


    Could he have some trick up his sleeve? It was baffling...


    "Hahaha! This must be the coldest joke I''ve heard in recent years."


    "I''m getting goosebumps."


    "Young man, come down, I feel so awkward, you''re embarrassing me to death..."


    "Ah, the ignorant are always around, but this year there seem to be especially many, truly incomprehensible."


    The members of Heaven Slaying looked at the overconfident Xia Liu, all shaking their heads and sighing.


    "Qingjie, go down and meet him," Instructor Tianjue said, staring at Xia Liu for a long time without any expression.


    "Yes!" Qingjie really didn''t want to confront Xia Liu, since bullying ordinary people was not his style.


    But since his master commanded, he had to comply.


    Thus, under many astonished gazes, Qingfeng leapt down from a several meters high tower.


    "Oh my! King of Soldiers Qingjie!"


    "Could it be that Heaven Slaying''s final member is Qingjie?"


    "Definitely, poor thing..."


    Seeing Qingjie appear, the crowd began to discuss and sigh in a heated manner.


    "Qingjie? A Taiji Sect disciple of the Qing generation?" Hearing the crowd''s heated discussions, Xia Liu learned this guy''s name and couldn''t help but be puzzled.


    "Oh? You''ve investigated the Taiji Sect, yes, I am a disciple of the Qing generation," Qingjie was a bit startled, then replied with realization.


    The Taiji Sect wasn''t a secret on the side of Heaven Slaying; it was quite normal for Xia Liu to know about it.


    Especially since Fang Huasheng was protecting him, telling him about the Taiji Sect was only natural.


    After observing for a while, Xia Liu nodded leisurely and said, "Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, your cultivation is a bit low, but in the Taiji Sect, your cultivation is considered decent."


    "What did you say!" Qingjie was infuriated by Xia Liu, his face turning beet red.


    This was the first time someone had ever said that about him, Mysterious Rank Mid-Level!


    In the Warrior Realm, that was considered a mid to upper level.


    "Terrifying! Terrifying!"


    "He actually said Qingjie''s cultivation is low!"


    "Qingjie is actually at the King of Soldiers level of the Heaven Slaying Division!"


    "The Spearhead Troop really has all sorts of people..."


    The warriors from the Heaven Slaying side almost dropped their jaws, luckily they were not on the stage, otherwise they might have killed Xia Liu.


    Gurgle...


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva.


    Xia Liu''s words were simply too domineering, they almost believed that Xia Liu was a peerless master.


    If it weren''t for the fact that they couldn''t sense any energy from him, both would have believed him.


    "What exactly are you trying to pull?" murmured Pan Jiang, who had been watching Xia Liu from the beginning, trying to see through him.


    But, having watched for so long, he saw no traces of cultivation.


    He only saw his arrogance, wilder than anyone''s.


    In his eyes, the Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation called low? Could it be that he was an Earth-Rank master?


    Pan Jiang stopped his wild thoughts and focused intently on Xia Liu.


    "Interesting, very interesting! Young man, what''s your name?" At that moment, Instructor Tianjue stood on the tower platform, smiling cheerfully at Xia Liu.


    "Before asking someone else''s name, please introduce yourself first, otherwise, it''s impolite."


    Facing Instructor Tianjue''s naive smile, Xia Liu started to educate.


    At his words, the expressions of everyone present faltered.


    Tianjue! The Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect!


    And today he was being schooled by some cheeky kid!


    This almost made them bite their tongues.


    Tianjue''s face also darkened a bit.


    However, he did not get angry immediately, what Xia Liu said was not wrong.


    "My name is Tianjue, the Chief Instructor of the Heaven Slaying Troops."


    Wow!


    Seeing Tianjue respond to Xia Liu calmly, the members of the Spearhead screamed this time.


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang were already trembling.


    They both knew who Tianjue was, the Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect, a man of High-Strength cultivation, reportedly reaching Earth-Rank! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Earth-Rank Warriors! Each one a Sect Leader, each one awe-inspiring.


    Yet today, Tianjue was being schooled by an unknown kid...


    No matter where you put it, this would become a legend.


    "Hmm, your quality and cultivation are very good, no wonder you advanced to Earth-Rank."


    Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction, but everyone could hear, he once again schooled Tianjue.


    And he did not even report his own name!


    This behavior could no longer be called wild, but reckless, courting death!


    "Heh, kid, I quite admire you, you must be a disciple or descendant of an old friend. How about this, if you can defeat Qingjie, I will forgive your actions."


    Tianjue had intended to be angry, but upon hearing Xia Liu plainly pinpoint his cultivation, he understood.


    There must be someone behind Xia Liu, and a foe of his own!


    To try to expose flaws in his mindset in this way, his method was evident!


    "Instructor Tianjue, this isn''t quite appropriate, it would seem like I''m bullying the weak. How about we have a match, and if I win, then this competition, Spearhead wins, how about that?"


    "Kid! My good friend has already given you a lot of face, don''t push your luck!"


    After Xia Liu spoke, Ouyang Xiong also stood out.


    He couldn''t stand it anymore, to him, Xia Liu was just an arrogant kid who had returned from the Middle East.


    Even if he had some cultivation, made some achievements in the Middle East, he was now in Huaxia!


    In Huaxia, full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!


    Tianjue! The Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect! Cultivation Earth-Rank Primary Level!


    How could Xia Liu insult him, what right did he have, how dare he!

 Chapter 272 No One Is Simple

    "I''m just stating facts," Xia Liu said helplessly with a wave of his hand."Stating facts? I think you''re asking for death!"


    "Old Xiong, forget it, just consider this round a loss for me, don''t provoke Xia Liu."


    "And what if I provoke him? I still want to kill him!" Ouyang Xiong said furiously.


    The crowd on the field was puzzled by Ouyang Xiong''s words.


    They could not understand why the usually amiable Ouyang Xiong was so angry.


    "Forget it, I don''t care anymore, do as you please." Fang Huasheng truly did not want to speak this time.


    "My friend, no need to be angry. A small fry like him, Qingjie can handle," Tianjue said understandingly upon sighting Ouyang Xiong this way.


    After all, his grandson''s fiancee was taken by Xia Liu, which left him no place to save face.


    "Kid! Your opponent is me! If you want my master to make a move, go back and cultivate for another hundred years!"


    Although Qingjie appeared calm on the surface, his anger was already soaring. Xia Liu''s continuous disrespect towards him, his master, and the Taiji Sect was intolerable.


    If he did not beat him to the point of being unrecognizable by his own parents, he truly wouldn''t change.


    "Young man, if you can defeat my chief disciple, then I will exchange a couple moves with you," Tianjue said with a smile.


    "Qingjie, feel free to beat him to a pulp, if he dies I''ll take responsibility."


    "At your command!"


    With Ouyang Xiong''s order, Qingjie was now free to show his full capabilities.


    People like Xia Liu, he could extinguish thirty of them in one go. Usually, those who dared to disrespect the Taiji Sect only had two outcomes.


    One is to spend the rest of their life on a sickbed.


    The other is to lie in a coffin, with the grass above their burial mound taller than the people themselves.


    "Alright, but let me make it clear up front, if I win against you, our Spearhead Team can claim victory," Xia Liu said, still dismissing Qingjie, his gaze fixed straight on Tianjue.


    "Of course," Tianjue said, nodding.


    "In that case, please make your move, brother Qingjie."


    "I''m certainly not your brother; die!"


    With a roar, Qingjie spread his palms wide, revealing the Taiji Sect''s powerful move, the Baji Palm!


    "Wow! The chief disciple is going to kill Xia Liu with that rhythm¡ªthe Baji Palm with no mercy!"


    "Hmph! A palm strike to send this brat to heavens would be fitting! Daring to disrespect the Taiji Sect!"


    "I think killing him isn''t a good idea. We should torture him properly, first break his limbs, then twist off his jaw, so he can''t beg for mercy."


    ¡­


    On the field, the disciples of the Taiji Sect saw Qingjie using his full strength and instantly burst into exhilaration.


    In the Heaven Slaying Troops, more than half were Taiji Sect disciples, so no one felt pity for Xia Liu.


    "Haha! A full-strength strike from a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level martial artist! Xia Liu''s a goner!"


    "Hehe, let''s see how he can be arrogant now!"


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang whispered fervently.


    "Mmm, the Baji Palm is indeed powerful, but gathering energy for so long, if I were the enemy, you''d probably be the one lying down," Xia Liu said helplessly shaking his head as he observed Qingjie.


    "Damn!"


    Qingjie''s fury grew even more with Xia Liu''s words. He could perform the Baji Palm in a mere second, and the reason he hadn''t immediately moved was an internal struggle over whether to kill Xia Liu with one palm strike or not.


    Now it seemed there was no need to ponder; failing to kill him would be letting down both the Taiji Sect and himself.


    "Ha!"


    With a fierce shout, Qingjie''s movement technique flickered, leaving a lingering image on the stage.


    With just a blink, he flashed in front of Xia Liu, throwing a palm strike filled with Inner Qi viciously at him.


    A slight smile curled the corners of Xia Liu''s mouth as he suddenly twisted his feet, moving his entire body to the right, while simultaneously giving Qingjie a kick.


    Not only did Qingjie''s punch miss, but to his astonishment, Xia Liu''s kick sent him tumbling off the platform.


    Qingjie, sprawled beneath the platform, stared blankly at his hands and then back at the platform.


    He couldn''t understand what had happened¡ªhe had been knocked off the platform just like that...


    The crowd on-site was equally shocked, Xia Liu had actually kicked Qingjie, who was at the King of Soldiers Level, off the platform with a single kick...


    "Damn it! How is that even possible?" Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang''s eyes were wide with disbelief.


    They had imagined a hundred scenarios of Xia Liu''s death or serious injury.


    Unexpectedly, it turned out to be Qingjie who was defeated...


    "I don''t accept this! Another round!"


    Qingjie hastily called out from below the platform.


    It wasn''t just him, none of the disciples of Taiji Sect were convinced.


    How could Xia Liu be so shameless, resorting to such a sneaky kick to defeat Qingjie.


    However, they hadn''t closely observed the process of Xia Liu kicking Qingjie off, which was clearly not something an ordinary person could achieve.


    "A loss is a loss, there''s no disgrace in that. If you can''t handle defeat, then don''t step inside the ring," Pan Jiang said sternly.


    "Exactly, if you can''t win, stay off the platform!"


    "Haha! Xia Liu is really awesome, he even managed to kick Qingjie, who''s at the King of Soldiers Level, off the platform."


    Following Pan Jiang''s words, members of the Spearhead Team began to chime in.


    They had previously disliked Xia Liu, but now things were different.


    They didn''t loathe him, but they weren''t fond of him either. Perhaps they would accept him if Xia Liu could win the duel.


    "Haha, now it''s your turn to be unable to handle defeat, huh? See? Even an ordinary member of the Spearhead can defeat your King of Soldiers," said Niu Zhenjie, now looking forward to Xia Liu winning the match.


    If he could then defeat Xia Liu afterward, wouldn''t that imply he was stronger than Xia Liu?


    As he saw it, if Xia Liu could win, it was surely by fluke. If the arena were any bigger, even a low-level Yellow-Rank martial artist could defeat him because he''d have nowhere to run!


    "Qingjie, go to the side and rest for now." Just as Qingjie was about to bellow out, Tianjue slowly spoke up.


    "Yes, Master!"


    "Young man, you''re quite remarkable!" Facing Xia Liu, Tianjue couldn''t help but express his admiration.


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    "Everyone is remarkable in their own way."


    "Who is your teacher, and what is your purpose here?"


    "I''m unaffiliated with any sect, and my purpose here is simple¡ªto win the duel, and to offer General Ouyang a small apology," explained Xia Liu leisurely.


    "Hmph! Wishful thinking to win the duel! An apology? You might as well apologize in heaven," Ouyang Xiong said, completely dismissive of Xia Liu.


    To him, such insolent youths were all too common, and each one eventually got put in their place.


    The onlookers watching Xia Liu and Ouyang Xiong were suddenly flooded with confusion.


    No wonder Ouyang Xiong was furious; there was a history between him and Xia Liu. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were curious about the nature of their feud that was serious enough to invoke Ouyang Xiong''s murderous intent.


    "Let me handle this friend of yours," Tianjue said, aware of the issues between Xia Liu and the Ouyang Family, but he suspected things weren''t that straightforward.


    Xia Liu had seen through his level of cultivation, and there must be some trickery involved.


    "You claim to have no sect, so who would stand up for you if I crippled you?"


    "General Fang, I am his grandson-in-law, he wouldn''t want to see me crippled."


    "Xia Liu, enough with your arrogance. Know your limits, don''t soar too high," Huasheng said with a helpless, wry smile.


    "Haha, Old Fang, your grandson-in-law sure has a personality, but I always keep my promises¡ªI''ll cripple him." With a boisterous laugh and without giving Huasheng a chance to intervene, Tianjue leaped down to the platform...

 Chapter 273 Move Energy

    "Alright, I can satisfy your curiosity now, as long as you defeat me, you can win the match,"Tianjue nodded. Since Xia Liu refused to reveal the person behind him, he would make that person come forward himself.


    "Tsk tsk, wanting to defeat the Sect Leader without Earth-Rank Mid-Level Cultivation is difficult."


    "Haha! I like this kid, after all, he allows us to see the Sect Leader in action."


    "Right! I remember it''s been five or six years since the last time the Sect Leader made a move."


    "Hehe, I hope this time the Sect Leader will take longer."


    All the disciples of the Taiji Sect were excited.


    The Sect Leader personally taking action, the result could be anticipated, but the process was what mattered most.


    "This time, this guy will definitely die."


    "Better dead, who let him be so arrogant."


    "I also hope he dies, but I always feel something is not right."


    "Don''t overthink it, just watch carefully."


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang were whispering among themselves, with Jiang Wenqiang looking particularly worried; he even felt for an instant that Xia Liu was an unparalleled master.


    He didn''t frown even when facing a formidable Earth-Rank Warrior like Tianjue.


    If it were just a common Mysterious Rank Warrior under these circumstances, they probably couldn''t even stand steadily.


    "Go ahead, young man," Tianjue stood with his hands behind his back like a grandmaster, appearing casual but actually being very cautious. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He constantly scanned his surroundings with the corner of his eye, hoping to find the person hiding in the shadows.


    Unfortunately, he found no one; Xia Liu was alone.


    "Sect Leader Tianjue, you go first," Xia Liu stood similarly, confidently holding his head high with an air of arrogance.


    "Hmph! Arrogant boy! Today I''ll let you see the power of an Earth-Rank Warrior!"


    Tianjue snorted coldly, provoked by Xia Liu.


    He believed there must be someone behind Xia Liu, perhaps someone he had offended during his younger years now seeking revenge.


    "Come on, I haven''t fought with an Earth-Rank Warrior in a long time, I wonder how many rounds I can last,"


    Feeling the heavy pressure exuding from Tianjue, Xia Liu licked the corner of his mouth.


    The memory of an Earth-Rank Warrior he had brutally tortured lingered in his mind.


    "Hmph! Watch out!" Without further ado, Tianjue took a step and the Taiji Sect techniques began to emerge.


    Facing the mysterious Xia Liu, he didn''t use his trump card, simply employing Taiji Palm.


    Even the ordinary punching techniques of an Earth-Rank Warrior, without applying any strength, were generally enough to overpower a Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    Xia Liu had not removed the Spirit Stabilizing Needle; he could probably hold off Tianjue to a draw if it came to a hard clash.


    Since Tianjue didn''t start off aggressively, it meant he was wary of him; since he started with Taiji Palm, Xia Liu would shake him with the same palm technique!


    "Wow! That guy''s palm technique also looks like Taiji Palm!"


    "What do you mean ''looks like''? It clearly is!"


    "Damn! Who exactly is he?"


    Seeing Xia Liu also starting with Taiji Palm, the disciples of the Taiji Sect were all astonished.


    "Tsk tsk, by his looks, it seems he has studied Taiji Palm, even managing to bring out its essence!"


    As a disciple of the Kunlun Sect, Niu Zhenjie had some understanding of the techniques from other sects.


    "To bring out the essence, one must be a disciple of the sect; perhaps Xia Liu originated from the Taiji Sect!" Pan Jiang, hailing from the Wudang Sect, had quite a profound understanding of the Taiji Yin Yang.


    The Taiji Sect stemmed from the Taiyi Sect, and the Wudang Sect was also established by disciples of the Taiyi Sect in its early years but later diverged, hence forming its independent presence.


    Observing Xia Liu''s opening stance, he had his suspicions but wasn''t sure.


    "Very well! Be cautious!" Tianjue was also surprised by Xia Liu''s opening stance, but only slightly.


    With a reminder, Tianjue''s steps quickened, moving with high speed across the platform.


    Xia Liu also made his move, and his actions immediately astonished everyone present.


    Because his speed was almost identical to Tianjue''s!


    Before the crowd could exclaim in surprise, the two on the stage had already clashed!


    Boom!


    The palms met, and a muffled sound continuously filled the surroundings.


    From this first encounter, Tianjue was certain of Xia Liu''s undeniable strength.


    The crowd below the stage was also gaping in shock.


    Xia Liu was actually clashing with Tianjue, who possessed Earth-Rank Cultivation, and he was not at a disadvantage!


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang nearly popped their eyes out, constantly repeating to themselves, This isn''t real, this isn''t real!


    "Haha! Truly a peerless master!" Pan Jiang was thrilled, Xia Liu and Tianjue''s clash was nothing short of miraculous.


    "Hmm, Nether Emperor, eh... He''s got some skill, but don''t think Tianjue has just this little to show."


    "Old Xiong, don''t think Xia Liu has just this little either."


    Seeing Xia Liu so easily counter Tianjue, Fang Huasheng laughed heartily inside, it seemed Xia Liu had hidden quite a bit more than it appeared.


    "Are you a disciple of the Taiji Sect?"


    Tianjue asked, stepping back a few steps and looking puzzled.


    "No, just Taiji Palm, I learned it casually."


    "Damn it!" Hearing Xia Liu belittle the Taiji Sect again, Tianjue really got angry.


    Around him, the dust continuously flared up, as if a gentle breeze had blown from Tianjue''s body.


    "Here it comes! The Sect Leader is using his Inner Qi!"


    "The profound Inner Qi of an Earth-Rank Warrior!"


    "Haha! To make the Sect Leader use his Inner Qi, looks like this kid''s mouth is really sharp!"


    "Now let''s see how he still belittles the Taiji Sect!"


    Seeing Tianjue begin to mobilize the inner strength from his Dantian, the disciples of the Taiji Sect cheered.


    "The Inner Qi of an Earth-Rank Warrior..." Sensing the oppressive force emanating from Tianjue, Xia Liu murmured.


    Earth-Rank Warriors and Mysterious-Rank Warriors, two gaps that seemed vast as chasms.


    If the Inner Qi of a Mysterious-Rank Warrior was like a river, then that of an Earth-Rank Warrior was like a vast ocean!


    Xia Liu could see, the viscous Inner Qi that was almost solid continuously flowed out of Tianjue.


    At this, Xia Liu furrowed his brows.


    "Kid, be careful. Don''t blame me if you get hurt for bullying the young with the old!"


    "It''s fine, just do your thing."


    "Hmph! To the end, he won''t repent!" Tianjue scoffed and the thick, viscous Inner Qi began to flow through his meridians.


    An overwhelming oppressive force continuously swept across the stage.


    The people seated below the stage felt it difficult to breathe.


    The oppressive force of an Earth-Rank Warrior was extraordinary.


    A high-strength Earth-Rank Warrior could even use their oppressive force to shatter the bodies of ordinary people.


    "Eight Trigrams Palm!" Tianjue bellowed, as he executed the Eight Trigrams, invisibly creating an image akin to an Eight Trigrams Formation Chart.


    "Eight Trigrams Palm, eh..." Xia Liu gazed intently for a long time.


    Eight Trigrams Palm should belong to the Taiyi Sect''s palm techniques, and Tianqian had said that unless it was an elder descending from the Taiyi Sect, the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm could not be executed.


    Watching the way Tianjue executed his palms, Xia Liu couldn''t help but laugh, realizing this guy had self-developed a set of palm techniques, same in name but utterly devoid of the essence of Yin Yang Eight Trigrams.


    "Hahaha! Let me show you what the Eight Trigrams Palm is!" Xia Liu laughed wildly, his feet trembled, his palms parted...

 Chapter 274 Defeat! [Fifth Update]

    As he divided his palm, a ferocious oppressive force erupted from Xia Liu.He no longer concealed his cultivation. Amid the chaos of Spiritual Energy, a chilling sensation startled countless people at the scene.


    "He really is a Martial Artist!" Pan Jiang''s pupils suddenly constricted; he had said Xia Liu was no ordinary person!


    "Damn! This kind of pressure is almost no different from that of the Tianjue Sect Leader!"


    "He is an Earth-Rank Warrior!"


    Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang shuddered uncontrollably. Regardless of whether Xia Liu was an Earth-Rank Warrior or not, this kind of pressure was already enough to make them tremble and kneel.


    They hadn''t forgotten that from their first meeting until today, Xia Liu had always been the target of their mockery.


    Thinking of this, their faces immediately turned ashen.


    If Xia Liu didn''t forgive them after this match ended...


    "Terrifying!"


    "So horrifying!"


    "The pressure of an Earth-Rank Warrior!"


    "So this is why he has been so arrogant!"


    Many disciples of the Taiji Sect swallowed hard; they finally understood.


    The young Xia Liu, the reason he dared to be so bold was because he had the power to back it up!


    "I see; it seems that your confidence comes from yourself!" laughed Tianjue, coming to his senses atop the platform.


    Indeed, a young hero. Xia Liu, at such an age, possessing such oppressive power, clearly had an immeasurable future ahead.


    "However, your energy seems quite weak and has not reached the level of Earth Rank. Your cultivation should be at the Peak of Mysterious Rank."


    "Hmm, you are too certain; if this were on the battlefield, the price you would pay would be your life."


    "Sharp-tongued! Not letting you witness the real strength of an Earth-Rank Warrior, do you really think a bit of strength can sweep across the Martial World?"


    Rage flaring, Tianjue''s palm technique and movement technique both operated simultaneously.


    Above the platform, a peerless figure swept toward Xia Liu with a violent strike.


    "Just an Earth-Rank Warrior, even now, I can easily overpower you!"


    Xia Liu looked up, then immediately divided his palms in Yin and Yang to open Eight Trigrams!


    It was indeed the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!


    "That is the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!!!"


    Seeing Xia Liu''s move, Tianjue''s eyes suddenly reddened in an instant.


    For how many years! For how many years!


    He had finally seen once more the palm technique that appeared only in his dreams!


    The disciples of the Taiji Sect felt as if there was a Yin Yang Diagram appearing before Xia Liu, which then transformed into an Eight Trigrams Diagram.


    They felt as though they had seen this scene somewhere before but suddenly couldn''t remember.


    At this moment, Tianjue had no desire to fight, but the close distance prevented him from withdrawing his palm technique.


    "Be careful!" Unable to retract his palms, Tianjue roared; he did not know the extent of Xia Liu''s actual cultivation.


    But this kind of strike was in itself disrespectful to Xia Liu.


    "Tsk tsk, come on! How exhilarating! Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!" Xia Liu wore a delighted expression; he hadn''t sparred with an Earth-Rank Warrior in a long time.


    A sparring partner like Tianjue was not bad!


    With a push of his palms, Xia Liu firmly caught Tianjue''s Eight Trigrams Palm.


    "Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique!"


    As he shouted, his figure intensely whirled, fully absorbing Tianjue''s palm force, with an Eight Trigrams diagram emerging behind him.


    Gather force, Unload Force all in one go!


    Boom!


    A tremendous force burst out from Xia Liu''s shoulders, instantly covering the platform behind him with web-like cracks.


    Having unloaded the force completely, Xia Liu''s palm, concentrating pure physical strength, struck Tianjue''s chest.


    Bang!


    A muffled sound followed, and Tianjue, who possessed Primary-Level Earth-Rank Cultivation, was sent flying backward.


    He formed a beautiful arc in the air, then crashed down off the platform.


    The arena was utterly silent.


    This scene was too shocking, directly impacting their souls.


    The Eight Trigrams Palm imbued with Inner Qi from Tianjue had been completely caught by Xia Liu and even transferred behind him to explode!


    This was nothing to be alarmed about, but what terrified everyone was that Xia Liu had sent Tianjue flying with a single palm strike!


    A young man had defeated an Earth-Rank Warrior!


    Everyone who had doubted him had just watched him send an Earth-Rank Warrior flying!


    Wow!


    "That''s terrifying!"


    "Is he even human?"


    "A mighty being, an unparalleled mighty being!"


    "And he''s so young!"


    "Who exactly is he?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Chilling..."


    Beneath the stage, everyone looked at Xia Liu with fear.


    None of them had forgotten that just moments earlier, they had all been vying to mock him.


    Xia Liu remained silent, enduring patiently.


    He used facts and strength to completely slap back!


    Ouyang Xiong''s eyes went blank, and the moment Tianjue fell to the ground, he too slumped into his chair.


    Fang Huasheng''s heart also trembled.


    He had heard from Xia Liu himself that his cultivation was equivalent to a Mysterious-Rank Mid-Level warrior.


    Because of this, Fang Huasheng was worried.


    However, now an astonishing outcome had occurred.


    The person who was most excited, most exhilarated, and beyond words in the entire arena had to be Tianjue!


    He wasn''t disheartened at all, and he accepted his defeat gracefully, as he was defeated by a member of the Taiyi Sect!


    Although over the years he served Huaxia, disciples from within his sect had joined the Heaven Slaying sect.


    But he dared not forget the sect''s teachings or the headquarters of his initial memories, the Taiyi Sect!


    The historical records described the Taiyi Sect as a substantial Ancient Martial Sect with thousands of disciples.


    The location of the Taiyi Sect was unknown, and it had countless powerful members, enjoying immense prestige in the Ancient Martial World.


    As for the Taiji Sect, it was founded by disciples who came out of the mountains with the purpose of seeking exceptional new talents for the Taiyi Sect.


    In recent decades, however, the Elder who brought in new disciples in the Taiyi Sect suddenly disappeared, closing the opportunities for Taiji Sect disciples around the world to enter the Taiyi Sect.


    Seeing the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm again today brought Tianjue to tears.


    He slowly stood up and, facing Xia Liu, wiped away his tears unconcerned with everyone watching him.


    Tianjue''s actions were seen by everyone, making their faces twitch.


    The Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect cried! This was even more baffling than any fight.


    Their looks towards Xia Liu were already filled with fear.


    Fear for his power, fear for his identity.


    Fear for everything about him!


    Disregarding the crowd''s gaze, Tianjue bowed and clasped his hands towards Xia Liu.


    "Sect Leader Tianjue", although you lost, you needn''t do this, and we can talk about anything else later."


    As Tianjue was about to kneel, Xia Liu preempted his action and words.


    "Yes!"


    Tianjue resumed his previous solemnity, nodding in agreement with Xia Liu''s words.


    "Wow! Even the Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect is listening to Xia Liu."


    "Brother Niu, shall we run? Staying here might get us killed."


    "Hmm! I was thinking the same."


    "You two sit tight."


    Just as Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang were planning their escape, Pan Jiang sternly ordered them.


    "General Ouyang, I have already defeated Tianjue, so I''ve won this duel, right?" Xia Liu looked up and addressed Ouyang Xiong in the tower.


    "Humph, even if you have won, so what! The factions of Heaven Slaying do not acknowledge you!"


    Ouyang Xiong, boosting his energy, shouted angrily: "Also, you disregarded the morality of warriors and forcibly snatched someone else''s fianc¨¦e, what about that?"


    "Heaven Slaying factions, surround him!"


    Having vented his anger, Ouyang Xiong wasn''t satisfied, he immediately instructed the members of Heaven Slaying. Today he was determined to give Xia Liu an unforgettable lesson!

 Chapter 275 Confession

    ```This...


    Upon hearing Ouyang Xiong''s command, the members of Heaven Slaying looked at one another.


    Who was Xia Liu? He was the formidable individual who had defeated the Sect Leader of Tianjue. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without a doubt, he must possess Earth-Rank Cultivation.


    Even if there were five hundred disciples of the Taiji Sect on the scene, ganging up on Xia Liu, the likely outcome would still be a complete annihilation.


    At that level, victory couldn''t be achieved by sheer numbers.


    "Old Master Ouyang, Lingtian and I are now good friends, don''t you think this is somewhat inappropriate?"


    Xia Liu maintained his composure, looking at Ouyang Xiong with a faint smile on his face.


    "Hmph! Lingtian is still young, and it doesn''t matter if he doesn''t understand. After this experience, he''ll mature, but you, you''ve not a shred of righteousness or morality!"


    "Old Xiong! You''re playing with fire!" Fang Huasheng could not listen any longer.


    Xia Liu had defeated Tianjue; his strength was unquestionable.


    Moreover, he still vividly remembered the event at the Island Nation a few days ago.


    Xia Liu had annihilated the guard squad, destroyed a Ninja Warship, and with a single touch, obliterated five combat helicopters with his bare hands.


    If he unleashed such methods, it was probable that Heaven Slaying would cease to exist.


    To Xia Liu, killing might be as simple as eating and drinking.


    "Huasheng, are you opposing me as well?" Ouyang Xiong fixed his gaze on Fang Huasheng.


    Ouyang Xiong was well aware of the alliance formed through marriage between the Ouyang Family and the Fang Family.


    This change in his grandson''s marriage was a responsibility Fang Huasheng could not shirk.


    If it hadn''t been for his protection of Xia Liu, how could Fang Fei have so easily come together with Xia Liu?


    "Have we not been adversaries for a short time? I just don''t want to see you suffer losses."


    "Rest assured, the contributions I''ve made over the years are not to be taken lightly, much important than anyone else''s. So you see, the Life-Saving Talisman you applied for him? Useless, don''t you know?"


    Ouyang Xiong was confident about this, believing that even if he really killed Xia Liu, there would be no serious consequences.


    "Ai... you don''t understand what I mean. I''m saying that angering Xia Liu will lead to the destruction of Heaven Slaying!"


    "What a joke! The person who could pose a threat to Heaven Slaying hasn''t been born yet!" Ouyang Xiong laughed. With just Xia Liu, they wouldn''t be able to set off any fireworks.


    Even if he had some forces at his disposal, should they dare to step foot in Huaxia, what awaited them would be utter annihilation!


    "If that''s how you want it, then I..."


    "Xia Liu!" Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, suddenly a voice came from afar.


    Everyone looked and saw Ouyang Lingtian!


    "Eh, why are you the only one on the stage?" Ouyang Lingtian didn''t care about the gazes of the people around him and quickly climbed onto the stage.


    "You''re late. I''ve already swept through them all," Xia Liu shook his head and said with a smile.


    "Damn it! I tried my best, barely managed to shake off my mom."


    Ouyang Lingtian spoke with a bitter face.


    "Eh! Master, why are you standing down there?" As he spoke, Ouyang Lingtian suddenly noticed Tianjue and was immediately puzzled.


    Tianjue gave Ouyang Lingtian a slight smile but said nothing.


    Because he caught the meaningful look from Xia Liu, indicating he should keep silent.


    "Your master was defeated by me, that''s why he can''t speak."


    "What the heck! Really? You''re all in one piece, in fine condition, how could you have possibly defeated my master?"


    Seeing that Xia Liu''s Qi Sea Acupoint was unharmed, Ouyang Lingtian was somewhat baffled.


    Could it be Xia Liu had the strength to defeat Earth-Rank Warriors even before his sealing?


    ```


    "Get off it, right now your grandpa is giving me a hard time, explain yourself quickly," Xia Liu said as he slapped Ouyang Lingtian on the head.


    This¡­


    Everyone on the scene was already shocked enough to see Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu greeting each other.


    Now that Xia Liu actually slapped Ouyang Lingtian on the head, shock no longer seemed an adequate word to describe it.


    They had been so thoroughly stunned that they were numb; who exactly was Xia Liu?


    This question lingered in everyone''s minds.


    "Lingtian, you''ve arrived at just the right time. I don''t care what drugs this kid has fed you, snap out of it quickly."


    "Grandfather, Xia Liu is my good brother. Fang Fei has liked him from the beginning; this arranged marriage was my obsession," Ouyang Lingtian confessed his true feelings to his grandfather.


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    "You damned kid, as the next Family Head of the Ouyang family, where is your pride? Where is your dominance?"


    "Grandfather, you might not know, but this time when I was on a mission in the Island Nation, if it weren''t for Xia Liu, I would never have made it back. What use is all our family wealth? What good is high-level martial power? All I know is that he is my life-saving benefactor, someone I owe a lifelong debt of gratitude to; he''s my brother!"


    Ouyang Lingtian had come this time precisely to persuade his grandfather, and he did not hesitate to declare his allegiance to Xia Liu in front of everyone present.


    "Pfft..."


    Xia Liu burst out laughing; if Ouyang Lingtian had been a woman, he would happily engage in a verbal sparring match for three days and nights.


    The others were also stunned.


    In their memories, Ouyang Lingtian hardly spoke and was incredibly aloof.


    Yet today, it was as if he had exchanged souls, actually saying such words to another man¡­


    However, when they thought more deeply about the underlying meaning in Ouyang Lingtian''s words, they all quietly agreed.


    It''s rare in life to meet a benefactor, and a life-saving grace is worth more than any other kindness.


    A Martial Artist is supposed to stand tall and distinguishes clearly between debts of gratitude and enmity; having received kindness, one should repay it even if it takes a lifetime.


    "You... you..." Ouyang Xiong pointed at Ouyang Lingtian, but in the end, he could not utter another word.


    Although he didn''t want to admit it, the truth was, he could no longer control this grandson.


    Fine! He could overlook his grandson''s affairs, but Xia Liu''s disrespect, having no regard for the Ouyang Family, was an insult to a clan with centuries of inheritance; a warrior could be killed but not humiliated, he couldn''t let Xia Liu continue to act recklessly.


    "Heaven Slaying commandos, tie up these two for me!" Ouyang Xiong ordered forcefully.


    "Who dares!" Ouyang Lingtian spread out his palms and a vast surge of Inner Qi continuously flowed out, imposing no small pressure on everyone below.


    "Mysterious Rank Peak!" Tianjue exclaimed in surprise upon feeling Ouyang Lingtian''s Inner Qi.


    "Mysterious Rank Peak!"


    All of the Heaven Slaying were astonished; Ouyang Lingtian had actually advanced to Mysterious Rank Peak!


    They all remembered that just a few days ago, this guy was still high-level Mysterious Rank.


    Now he had advanced to Mysterious Rank Peak.


    Was it because of Xia Liu?


    The crowd was surprised but also began to harbor suspicions.


    "Hahaha, Lingtian, hold back, I''ll handle this," Xia Liu laughed happily; Ouyang Lingtian''s advancing to Mysterious Rank Peak was something he had anticipated.


    It was just that he hadn''t expected that it would happen so quickly, which showed how uncommon his talent was.


    "Okay, you handle it," Ouyang Lingtian said with a slight smile and stepped aside.


    "Old Master Ouyang, if you keep this up, then I will have no choice but to clear out all the Heaven Slaying members," Xia Liu said.


    "Hm? What did you say?" Ouyang Xiong thought he had misheard and asked again for confirmation.


    "I said, if you are still unwilling to let go, then I will have to send all the Heaven Slaying members over to Spearhead!"

 Chapter 276 Submission

    "Hahaha! Send all the members of Heaven Slaying to Spearhead? Could you try not to make me die laughing?" After confirming it, Ouyang Xiong burst into laughter.The Heaven Slaying Division has the most disciples of the Taiji Sect, and it even has Tianjue stationed there, so how could Xia Liu possibly empty it out. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Old Master, can Spearhead even accommodate so many people from Heaven Slaying?" Xia Liu didn''t pay any attention to Ouyang Xiong''s mockery, instead raising his head and looking at Fang Huasheng.


    "Hehe, there''s plenty of space at the Spearhead Base, enough to accommodate three thousand men."


    Although they didn''t understand why Xia Liu would say such a thing, given the current situation, all they had to do was cooperate with him.


    "Xia Liu, what exactly do you think you''re doing? The members of Heaven Slaying are all Taiji Sect disciples, not to mention my master is still there..."


    Ouyang Lingtian was full of bitterness. Xia Liu had bitten off more than he could chew.


    If he couldn''t back it up, he himself would be the one to suffer.


    "No worries, I can handle everything." Xia Liu gave Ouyang Lingtian a reassuring smile.


    He then turned his gaze towards Tianjue, "Tianjue! Would you be willing to take your disciples to the Liuhai Sharp Blade to assume office?"


    "What!" Members of the Spearhead Team like Pan Jiang immediately burst out in astonishment.


    Xia Liu had actually just given an order to Tianjue.


    And he did so with such authority; was he trying to throw his life away?


    Even though Tianjue had been defeated, he had not been utterly vanquished. The backlash from an Earth-Rank Warrior was by no means trivial.


    It was the same with everyone from the Heaven Slaying Division.


    Xia Liu dared to issue such commands to the Sect Leader, which was akin to courting death.


    The Sect Leader might have lost to a single palm, but he hadn''t sustained any injuries.


    If they were just a bit more careful, they believed that Xia Liu would definitely pay a heavy price.


    "Hahaha! Kid, Tianjue is my good friend; why would he listen to you? Moreover, you''ve been very disrespectful already. I hope you get to see tomorrow''s sun."


    Ouyang Xiong laughed, as he had known Tianjue for several decades and the amount of alcohol they had drunk together amounted to several tons.


    Even so, he wouldn''t dare to command Tianjue in such a manner.


    Yet, Xia Liu dared to do so, which meant he was bound to face Tianjue''s towering rage! Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Consequently, everyone turned their attention to Tianjue, but he seemed to show no expression, leaving them wondering what he was thinking.


    "Hey, hey, Sect Leader Tianjue, you can speak now, answer me, are you willing to take Heaven Slaying over to the Liuhai Sharp Blade Division?"


    Seeing that Tianjue remained silent, Xia Liu repeated the question.


    "Uh... Tianjue is willing to lead the way! I will follow the senior''s decree!"


    Tianjue was nearly scared to death; he had just been thinking about the matters of the Taiyi Sect when Xia Liu called on him at this moment.


    Wha¡ª!!!


    "This..."


    "What happened!"


    The entire scene erupted into chaos the moment Tianjue responded.


    He actually obeyed Xia Liu''s words, and there was even a sense of a hierarchy between them.


    No one knew what Tianjue was thinking, not even able to guess.


    An Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior nearing seventy years of age was actually telling a young man in his twenties that he would follow his decree!


    Decree! Senior!


    These were terms of respect used within the Warrior Realm only for High-Strength Martial Artists.


    Could it be that the young Xia Liu held a Cultivation above Earth Rank?


    But even if so, Tianjue, as the leader of a sect, would not likely agree to his demands.


    Everyone was confounded, including Ouyang Lingtian, Ouyang Xiong, and Fang Huasheng.


    They were the ones who knew Tianjue best.


    That the leader of a sect was now taking orders from Xia Liu was simply too terrifying.


    "How is this possible! My friend! Don''t mess with me, have you been poisoned or something?" Ouyang Xiong looked at Tianjue with fear and disbelief.


    Tianjue was Heaven Slaying''s biggest trump card; if something happened to him, then the significance of Heaven Slaying would cease to exist.


    "My friend, I haven''t been poisoned, in fact, I''ve never felt as excited and happy as I do now," Tianjue said with a smile to Ouyang Xiong.


    "Master, please stop this, what exactly happened? I''m really scared¡­" Ouyang Lingtian said with a mournful face as he walked up to Tianjue.


    "Lingtian, you truly are the pride of Taiji Sect!" Without any explanation, Tianjue patted Ouyang Lingtian on the shoulder, his benevolent gaze trembling unceasingly as he looked at him.


    Ouyang Lingtian was dumbfounded; he thought his master''s mind had been messed up by Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu, did you hit my master too hard just now, did you make him stupid?"


    "Not at all, I used less than a third of my strength when I sent him flying," Xia Liu replied bitterly.


    "Lingtian, I''m not stupid, everyone please rest assured," Tianjue responded to Ouyang Lingtian, then turned around and began to explain to everyone behind him.


    Afterward, he signaled for Ouyang Lingtian to join him on the platform.


    Before the countless shocked onlookers, Tianjue clasped his fists and knelt on one knee before Xia Liu: "Junior of Taiji Sect''s Yanjing branch, Sect Leader: Tianjue, pays respect to Elder Taiyi!"


    "Huh? Elder Taiyi!"


    "Elder Taiyi!"


    "The legendary origin of Taiji Sect, Taiyi Sect!"


    Hearing Tianjue formally address him in such a manner, all the disciples of Taiji Sect were reminded of what they had learned: though they had served their country over the years, they had never forgotten the secrets of their sect.


    Yet, in executing missions, facing life and death, they often forgot the objectives they strove for.


    The moment they were reminded, they all came to their senses.


    An eerie scene followed.


    All the disciples of Taiji Sect knelt on one knee, their loud chants echoing across the land: "Paying respects to the Elder Taiyi of Taiyi Sect!"


    The sight of this unanimous prostration struck those who were not from Taiji Sect, their pupils constricting sharply.


    They suddenly realized... Xia Liu''s identity...


    Absolutely terrifying indeed!


    Ouyang Lingtian''s legs trembled; his eyes widened as he looked at Xia Liu¡ªnever in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Xia Liu was a person from the legendary Taiyi Sect!


    The ancestral teachings of Taiji Sect stated that one must revere a member of Taiyi Sect as if they were the founding master. Anyone who disrespected them was to be stripped of their cultivation and cast out of the sect.


    Just as Ouyang Lingtian was about to prostrate himself, Xia Liu gave him a glare, making him not dare to move an inch.


    Xia Liu quickly helped Tianjue to his feet: "Sect Leader Tianjue, you''re taking this seriously."


    "And all of you, stand up. Even if I were truly an Elder Taiyi, you wouldn''t need to do this¡ªtoo old-fashioned," Xia Liu joked.


    Hearing Xia Liu''s teasing, all the disciples of Taiji Sect rose with bitterness.


    "Hahaha! Well done, Xia Liu!" Fang Huasheng couldn''t help but burst out laughing from the tower above.


    He remembered what had been said here before, at that time, Xia Liu had mentioned if things got serious, he would have Tianjue kneel on one knee!


    Who could have thought! No matter what, Fang Huasheng had never imagined that not only would Tianjue kneel, but so many of Heaven Slaying did too!


    "You''ve won, you''ve won¡­" Ouyang Xiong sat down on the ground, utterly drained.


    The moment Tianjue knelt on one knee, he had lost, completely and utterly.


    "Old Master Ouyang, I didn''t mean to do this. The reason I came here is quite simple ¨C I wanted to offer you an apology," Xia Liu said solemnly as he expressed his intentions, seeing Ouyang Xiong in such a dejected state.

 Chapter 277 Compromise

    "Lingtian, go and explain to your grandfather," Xia Liu said, having received no response from Ouyang Xiong. So he left the task to Ouyang Lingtian."Alright."


    "Elder, now..." Tianjue didn''t know how to express his emotions and could only inquire about Xia Liu''s next move.


    "Let all these kids disperse, and let''s go see General Ouyang."


    "Yes, Elder Taiyi has commanded, everyone disperse!"


    "Understood!"


    The disciples of Taiji Sect, as well as others present, left the stage in an orderly fashion within a minute''s time.


    But the restlessness in their hearts had yet to subside.


    Today, they hadn''t only witnessed a battle of an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    They had also seen a person from the legendary Taiyi Sect, which was even more exhilarating than a dream.


    As for Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang, they had been in a state of shock ever since they returned to the dormitory.


    Xia Liu could command all disciples of the Taiji Sect! Even Tianjue had to listen to him!


    If the entire Taiji Sect joined Spearhead, their own doomsday would come.


    Moreover, they had been relentlessly humiliating Xia Liu over the past two days. If blame was to be assigned, their cultivations would definitely not be spared!


    "Captain! What should we do..." After a long silence, Niu Zhenjie asked with a mournful face.


    "Heh, I warned you from the start, but you wouldn''t listen."


    "Captain, both Brother Niu and I know we were wrong, we beg for a way out."


    Jiang Wenqiang was nearly scared to wet himself; by now, he had given up any thought of running because he couldn''t outrun Heaven Slaying''s people.


    "Find a time to apologize to Xia Liu. The mistake you made isn''t severe, he won''t hold a grudge," Pan Jiang said, though he wasn''t entirely sure himself. It seemed to be the only viable option.


    "Alright, we''ll listen to the captain," Niu Zhenjie and Jiang Wenqiang both agreed, though with bitterness.


    The rest of the Spearhead members were also terrified. They would definitely have to apologize when Xia Liu returned, or their futures would be bleak.


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    Inside the tower, everyone was focused on Ouyang Xiong, who had collapsed earlier because of reaching an emotional nadir.


    He had actually fainted.


    After discovering this, Xia Liu immediately transferred some Spiritual Energy to him, and soon, Ouyang Xiong woke up.


    The first person he saw upon opening his eyes was Xia Liu. He didn''t speak because he didn''t know what to say.


    The Ouyang Family was large and had a long legacy, but in the end, it was just an ordinary family.


    The only one with Cultivation was Lingtian alone.


    Although Ouyang Xiong knew Xia Liu wouldn''t attack the Ouyang Family, he still felt a lump in his throat.


    Facing the overpowering Xia Liu, he was powerless to retaliate.


    "Friend, it was Elder Xia Liu who treated you just now," Tianjue reminded warmly, seeing Ouyang Xiong ignoring Xia Liu.


    Tianjue had known Ouyang Xiong for decades and treasured this close friend; otherwise, he wouldn''t have brought his sect to station in Heaven Slaying Base.


    If Ouyang Xiong continued like this, the Taiji Sect would have no choice but to leave.


    "Uh, uh, uh..." Hearing this, Ouyang Xiong''s face stiffened; he didn''t know how to respond.


    Grateful?


    He couldn''t bring himself to say it.


    To beg this man to spare himself and spare Heaven Slaying?


    He still couldn''t bring himself to say it.


    Ouyang Xiong looked as if he had aged decades, as if one foot was already in the coffin.


    "Grandfather, Xia Liu has helped us a great deal. Please let go of your prejudices," Ouyang Lingtian sensed that Ouyang Xiong was stubborn, but in times like these, he had to swallow his pride.


    "Lingtian..."


    "Old Xiong, Xia Liu didn''t mean to hurt you; he was just joking. Heaven Slaying isn''t really moving to Liu Hai," intervened Huasheng.


    "Huasheng..."


    "Heh heh, Old Master Ouyang, I truly am sorry for this visit. I offer my sincere apologies here, and ask for your forgiveness for my previous arrogance."


    "Xia Liu..."


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s sincere apology, Ouyang Xiong''s tears fell instantly.


    He was somewhat moved; he had lost everything before, yet now it had all returned.


    The great ups and downs of life were the most stirring of all.


    "Old Master Ouyang, you and Lingtian should go rest. Let''s have a drink together tonight."


    "Hmm!"


    With this response, Ouyang Xiong had completely let go of his prejudice against Xia Liu.


    "Haha, my good friend, you truly haven''t let me down!" Tianjue was overjoyed upon seeing this.


    "Old Master, Tianjue Sect Leader and I are going to make a trip to the sect. You should rest a bit, and we''ll have a few drinks tonight."


    "Alright, go tend to your matters," Fang Huasheng agreed readily.


    The events that had transpired on the arena stage were still shocking to him; the relationship between Xia Liu and the Taiji Sect was far from simple.


    Now that the relationship had been clarified, Xia Liu would definitely make a trip to the Taiji Sect.


    Afterward, Xia Liu left the Heaven Slaying Base, led by Tianjue and Qingfeng.


    "Elder Xia Liu, have you come because there is some news from Taiyi?" As they traversed the Primordial Forest, Tianjue took the opportunity to inquire.


    "There is, but I need to investigate a bit longer before I can answer you," Xia Liu stated earnestly. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mm! Thank you, Elder Xia Liu, for clearing up my doubts!"


    With Xia Liu''s response, both Tianjue and Qingfeng were thrilled beyond measure.


    It had been so many years!


    At last, there was news from the Taiyi Sect!


    Seeing the excitement of the two, Xia Liu made no illusions; he was currently ignorant of anything about the Taiyi Sect.


    Prolonging the time was just an excuse to peruse the Taiji Sect''s ancient texts to understand the Taiyi Sect.


    Their pace was brisk, and in about ten minutes, they had crossed the jungle.


    They stopped before a low mountain.


    Just like the Taiji Sect of Martial World Mountain, the gateway was crowned with the sect''s name.


    However, the architecture of the Taiji Sect here at Heaven Slaying Base was much more majestic, with pagodas and such built halfway up the mountain, and the summit was developed as well.


    "The design you have here is quite similar to that of the Taiji Sect on Martial World Mountain, and you''re also of the ''Tian'' generation, just like Tianqian."


    "Elder Xia Liu has been to the Taiji Sect of Martial World Mountain!"


    Upon hearing this news, Tianjue was greatly astounded; he had harbored some doubts about Xia Liu''s identity before.


    But as soon as he mentioned the Taiji Sect of Martial World Mountain, all his doubts dissipated.


    "Tianqian is my fellow disciple. Years ago, I made a mistake and left the sect in anger. I haven''t dared to return to face my fellow disciple for decades..."


    "So that''s how it is. Tianqian''s cultivation has remained at the Mysterious Rank. If you get a chance, you should advise him, otherwise there might never be another opportunity."


    "Ah... Fellow Disciple Tianqian!" Upon hearing the news, Tianjue''s eyes reddened slightly.


    "Let''s not talk about that. Are there any texts about the Taiyi Sect in the sect? Bring me a few."


    Xia Liu was now eager to learn about the Taiyi Sect.


    If Tianjue hadn''t recognized his Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm, he might not have this eagerness.


    But Tianjue, like Tianqian, recognized the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm and even considered it a hallmark.


    Perhaps he would soon unlock the old man''s secrets!


    "Mm! I''ll take you to the Library Pavilion right away!" Without any hesitation, Tianjue quickly led Xia Liu to check the ancient texts.


    Xia Liu dived into the Library Pavilion, not emerging until around five in the afternoon.


    At the entrance, Qingfeng and Tianjue had been waiting all along.


    They thought that Xia Liu was checking to see if the heritage texts were all intact.


    "Sect Leader Tianjue, how long has it been since the Taiyi Sect came looking for you?"

 Chapter 278 Taiyis Secret History

    Tianjue and Qingfeng were both somewhat perplexed.The first thing Xia Liu said when he left the house was to ask this kind of question.


    Wasn''t he just from the Taiyi Sect? Could it be that it had been so long that even the Taiyi Sect itself had forgotten?


    "It''s been about sixty years, I believe. I remember when I was very young, I heard my seniors mention it, but unfortunately, I was too young to understand anything at that time,"


    Tianjue recalled and shared everything he knew.


    "I see!"


    Xia Liu muttered to himself, nodding, causing Tianjue and Qingfeng to be puzzled once again.


    "Elder Xia Liu, do you know when our Taiyi Sect will start recruiting new disciples?"


    Tianjue asked timidly.


    The Taiyi Sect, as recorded in the classics, was a vast ancient martial sect.


    It possessed numerous cultivation techniques and martial arts skills, and even had pills and Spirit Grass.


    As long as a young person with extraordinary talent entered the Taiyi Sect, they would have a great chance to enhance their strength.


    "I''d like to know that too, to be honest with you, I''m not really from the Taiyi Sect,"


    Cornered with the question, Xia Liu did not want to hide any longer and straightforwardly spoke.


    "That''s impossible! The Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm is the best evidence! Unless one is from the Taiyi Sect, even someone from the Outer Sect or the Taiji Sect would be unable to learn its essence and display it."


    Tianjue was the first to disagree with Xia Liu''s words.


    It was clearly recorded in the classics that the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm was the sect-protecting move of the Taiyi Sect.


    To acquire the method to learn this move, one must become an elder level.


    Furthermore, the results of the learning varied from person to person.


    If there was no fate or opportunity, even if one learned it, the execution would be no different from an ordinary move.


    However, if a fated person learned it and grasped its essence, then it would be terrifying.


    Just like Xia Liu, who integrated Yin Yang and Eight Trigrams, varied his palm technique, absorbed every bit of the palm strength through Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique and then used Unloading Force.


    This was the essence of the essence.


    "Elder Xia Liu! The junior understands now! It''s Tianjue''s mistake, should not have allowed the Taiji Sect disciples to get involved in the secular world!"


    Tianjue suddenly had an epiphany; in the past years, Taiji Sect disciples were in quiet cultivation.


    But in his own generation, he had led the disciples out for experience, and this must be why Xia Liu refused to disclose the details!


    "Sect Leader Tianjue, don''t be agitated, let me explain everything slowly," seeing Tianjue about to kneel again, Xia Liu quickly stopped him.


    "Actually, this palm technique was taught to me by an old man, but unfortunately, he died two years ago, and he might have known about the changes in the Taiyi Sect."


    "Hmm? This¡­"


    "I don''t know where that old man came from, but now I might understand, he was a person from the Taiyi Sect,"


    Xia Liu spoke confidently.


    "Are you really not from the Taiyi Sect?" Tianjue was somewhat unwilling to accept this.


    "Truly not."


    Xia Liu could not explain too much, because he really did not know about the Taiyi Sect.


    "Even though I''m not from the Taiyi Sect, when I have time in the future, I will definitely go to search for this sect."


    "Haha, no problem, no problem, with your aptitude, if you go to the Taiyi Sect, you will definitely be able to become an elder or even the sect leader, because your Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm is extremely profound, definitely a true transmission disciple,"


    Recalling Xia Liu''s Taiyi Palm, Tianjue laughed heartily.


    The Taiyi Palm was the sect-protecting move, and the Taiyi Palm Xia Liu learned was definitely authentic.


    If his cultivation was a bit higher, the sect-protecting move of the Taiyi Sect would surely sweep across the Ancient Martial World.


    "Thank you, Sect Leader, for giving me this pleasing opportunity," Xia Liu said, bowing with a fist in the palm appreciation.


    He wanted to find the Taiyi Sect because he wished to send the old man''s remains back home, the Taiyi Sect was his home.


    As for the location of the Taiyi Sect, he had no clues whatsoever. The treasured scriptures of the Taiji Sect mostly described how powerful and otherworldly the Taiyi Sect was.


    "Xia Liu, I would like to ask you a favor, continuing to act as Elder Taiyi, and giving the disciples of the Taiji Sect a moment of joy."


    "Hmm, that I can do."


    Xia Liu agreed without a second thought, as anyway, his impersonation was unlikely to be discovered.


    Giving these Taiji Sect disciples some hope was a good thing, too.


    "Master, actually, you''re the one who wants to get excited this time, aren''t you? The Taiyi Sect hasn''t appeared for decades, you... sigh."


    Watching Xia Liu and Tianjue''s retreating figures, Qingjie silently pondered in his heart.


    That night, at the Heaven Slaying training ground.


    Ten fire pits were scattered around the place, some grilling wild boars, others wild rabbits.


    These were all hunted by the members of Heaven Slaying in the deep woods, belonging to nature and sourced from nature.


    "Disciples of the Taiji Sect, come listen to the instructions from Elder Xia Liu!" Tianjue called out during the banquet.


    Xia Liu, following the script given by Tianjue, delivered a long motivational speech to inspire the Taiji Sect disciples.


    Upon hearing this, every disciple''s blood boiled with excitement, wishing they could immediately improve their cultivation and then join the mysterious Taiyi Sect.


    After the banquet, Ouyang Lingtian approached him with a few small bottles, "Xia Liu, what are these things?"


    "They''re medicines I prepared for you for sprains and injuries."


    "Isn''t that like cursing me to get hurt?"


    "Haha! Use them sparingly, they''re really effective, they can even mend a broken hand," Xia Liu said with a beaming smile.


    "Haha! Thank you, Xia Liu, for changing my grandfather''s attitude," Ouyang Lingtian laughed heartily as well.


    Afterward, Ouyang Lingtian took out several bottles of liquor, and the two continued to clink bottles under the bright moon.


    They both understood that after this parting, the next meeting might be months or even years away.


    The cherished friendship that came with difficulty was something they both understood.


    Before parting, Xia Liu orally transmitted the exercise formula for the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm to Ouyang Lingtian.


    Being from the same lineage, maybe this guy could master it too.


    Ouyang Lingtian was so moved he almost kissed Xia Liu. He was certain that if he were a woman, he would definitely let Xia Liu have a good time.


    The next morning, Xia Liu and Fang Huasheng took a helicopter and left the Heaven Slaying Base.


    Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    At the Spearhead Headquarters in Liuhai City, many members were already waiting.


    They had received the news of victory the day before and were so excited they couldn''t sleep.


    After so many years, they could finally win against Heaven Slaying!


    It was their first time seeing Xia Liu, and each of them was shocked. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because Xia Liu was so young, yet it was this youth who defeated an Earth-Rank Warrior of Heaven Slaying with his unparalleled cultivation.


    Before Xia Liu left the Spearhead Headquarters, Jiang Wenqiang, Niu Zhenjie, and the other members who had participated in the contest all apologized to Xia Liu.


    To this, Xia Liu responded with laughter.


    "Old man, I''m heading back now, I''m going home today."


    "So soon? Does Fei''er know?" When he heard the news, Fang Huasheng was very reluctant to part.


    Even though he had only spent a few days with Xia Liu, he had grown to like the young man deeply, and was genuinely sad to learn of his departure.


    "Yeah, we''ve made arrangements, I''ll leave after having dinner with Uncle Fang and Aunt Lin."


    "Alright, but I''m telling you, if there''s ever a special mission that can''t be completed, you must help me, help Spearhead, help Lingtian."


    Fearing that Xia Liu might refuse, Fang Huasheng pulled in a bunch of people to kindle Xia Liu''s sympathy.


    "Of course, as long as I have time, as long as I can do it, I won''t refuse. So, I''m heading home now..."

 Chapter 279 Undercurrents Stir

    Going home!What a joyous occasion, it was after lunch with Lin Shuxia and Fang Cheng.


    Yi Feng had dropped off Xia Liu and Fang Fei at the airport.


    At eight o''clock in the evening, Xia Liu and Fang Fei left the Wanqing Grand Hotel.


    They had returned earlier, but after several days of not seeing each other, when they went to retrieve their car from the hotel, Fang Fei had pulled Xia Liu straight into getting a room.


    Then, they went on a three-hour frenzy. Sitting in the car, Fang Fei was almost too exhausted to move.


    "Xia Liu, do you think Xiaoxue and Sister Zhang will accept me?" Fang Fei asked timidly.


    "Hehe, not only will they accept you, but a few other girls will as well," he replied.


    "A few others? Come on, tell me, how many have you bewitched while I was away?" Fang Fei suddenly became interested.


    "Sister Fang, once we get home, you''ll understand," he said.


    Xia Liu gave a confident smile, mischievously refusing to explain as he played with Fang Fei''s hand.


    "If you won''t tell me, then I''ll just play with fire to see if you''ll drive or not!" Fang Fei kept teasing, determined to force Xia Liu to confess.


    ¡­


    On a plane to Huaxia from the Island Nation.


    In first class, there were only two figures.


    One of them was adorable and a huge anime fan, who would set any guy daydreaming for days on end¡ªshe was Yagy¨± Ruyan!


    The other was somewhat mysterious, her face covered with a mask, but her bright eyes shone like guiding lights in darkness.


    Her eyes alone could captivate countless men.


    Even seated on a plush chair, her figure was unmistakably supreme-grade!


    "Ruyan, I heard you''ve summoned Godslayer?" the woman with the mask asked softly.


    "Mhm." Yagy¨± Ruyan nodded, the image of that man flashing through her mind.


    "Is that man very strong?"


    "Very strong, I fainted at that time¡­"


    ¡­


    "I''m talking about his combat power."


    "Very strong! My grandfather, despite having the General''s Soul, was no match for him," Yagy¨± Ruyan admitted, her expression turning serious after the initial embarrassment.


    "So, will we be able to complete the task successfully?" the woman asked in a voice so gentle and delicate it sparked a strong instinct to protect her.


    "I definitely can''t, but you might. You don''t have the qualifications to summon Godslayer yet, but I believe with the traditions of Huaxia men, if you try hard enough, you''ll surely make him open up."


    "Hehe, I''ll do my best. When the time comes, I''ll let him know that the Yamamoto Family won''t tolerate any insolence!"


    ¡­


    America, one of the few most powerful nations in the world.


    This place is also known for having the most chaotic public order.


    In a very simple bar in one of the states of America.


    Entering the bar and descending the stairs, passing through four doors, what revealed itself was a vast space, where luxury was the keyword. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Gold covered the floor, silver goblets lined the bar, and various luxury spirits were arrayed on the shelves.


    There were many people here, some seated at the bar, some on couches. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone was silent, either scrolling through their phones for updates or watching a giant screen hanging on the wall.


    On that screen, there were two rankings.


    One was the Blood List.


    The Blood List! The global ranking of assassins!


    The name at the top was from Huaxia: Red Dragon Shadow!


    The second-ranked was also from Huaxia: Treading Snow Without a Trace!


    The rest were either in English, or if translated into Huaxia language, still carried a sense of dominance.


    The other list was called: Kill List!


    At the top of the list was only two characters: "Nether Emperor! Price: Thirty billion!"


    Second place, America''s so-and-so, thirty billion.


    The bar was as silent as usual, even though there were about a hundred people sitting there.


    Beep beep beep...


    Suddenly a beeping alarm rang through the entire bar.


    This level of alarm made numerous people look up and fix their eyes on the leaderboard.


    Then, they widened their eyes, some even cursing.


    All they saw on the leaderboard was a small avatar appearing behind the Nether Emperor!


    This indicated that someone had taken on the task of assassinating the Nether Emperor!


    "Hmm? Is it time to make a move? Interesting, interesting!" In a corner of the bar, a young man with long hair smiled, then got up and left.


    Hejing, in comparison to big cities, this county town was much smaller.


    But it was a warm home for many people.


    Just like the girls sitting tightly on the sofa in the lobby of the Longteng Hotel, their eyes sometimes turned to the doorway, hoping to catch sight of their long-missed loved ones at the first opportunity.


    Midnight, twelve o''clock, the BMW slowly stopped at the entrance of the Longteng Hotel.


    Under the illumination of the lights, the girls inside the lobby immediately ran out cheerfully.


    "Xia Liu! It''s all your fault! How am I supposed to get out of the car and face them now?" Fang Fei was almost crying as she looked at her damaged white shirt.


    If there were only Zhang Qing or Zhang Xiaoxue outside, it would still be fine, but there were also Li Qianqian, Huang Xue, and Gu Fangxia!


    Eyeing the clothes that someone had torn, Fang Fei''s eyes started to moisten.


    "Hehe, I didn''t do it on purpose..." Recalling the situation, Xia Liu could only touch his head and give a wry smile.


    "I hate you so much!" Fang Fei pouted and shouted indignantly.


    "Hehe..." Xia Liu laughed awkwardly, if she hated him, so be it.


    "Sister Fang! Come out quickly!"


    "Sister Fang!"


    ...


    Just as Fang Fei was sulking, outside the car window, the girls were waving their hands, urging her to get out.


    "Your Sister Fang is too shy to come out." Xia Liu was the first to get out of the car; he didn''t force Fang Fei and let the girl come out on her own.


    "Brother Xia Liu!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue was the first to rush into Xia Liu''s embrace.


    "You two need to be careful."


    "Hehe..."


    "With Xia Liu away, these times must have been hard for this little missy."


    "Speaking of Xiaoxue, what about yourself?"


    Li Qianqian, Huang Xue, Zhang Qing, and Gu Fangxia all spoke softly, filled with emotion.


    "Sister Fang, come out quickly and see, Xia Liu is about to be taken away."


    "Where? Who is taking Xia Liu away!"


    Fang Fei came out of the car with her arms crossed.


    "Wow!"


    "Sister Fang! What exactly did you and Xia Liu go through just now?"


    "Feifei! What happened to your clothes?"


    "Sister Fang, I remember you saying it was a flight at three in the afternoon, but now it''s midnight the next day, you and Xia Liu couldn''t have been..."


    "Terrifying!"


    Seeing Fang Fei''s appearance, all the girls were shocked.


    "What nonsense are you all talking about! I just had a nightmare, and then I tore my own clothes." Fang Fei''s face was slightly blush, but she still maintained a serious expression.


    "Yeah, such a terrifying nightmare that you even scratched marks on your own neck."


    "Marks?" Fang Fei glanced at the mirror and her complexion changed immediately as she ran towards Xia Liu: "Xia Liu you stop right there!"

 Chapter 280 Pretty Abnormal [Sixth Update, Please Subscribe!]

    In the end, Xia Liu couldn''t avoid a brutal beating from Fang Fei, for he had been the one to give her a "strawberry mark."Inside Longteng''s office, all the women were nestled together on the sofa.


    The return of Fang Fei had everyone buzzing with excitement.


    And Fang Fei was just as shocked because all the girls there had been swept up by Xia Liu!


    Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Qing, Huang Xue, and even the younger sister Li Qianqian had all been corrupted by Xia Liu!


    "Qianqian, I remember you had quite a bone to pick with Xia Liu, how come you were also harmed by him?"


    Fang Fei asked, puzzled. It was obvious that for Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Qing it was a natural progression, and the same went for Huang Xue.


    "I didn''t want it either, he forced me."


    "Sister Qianqian, we all know that you wrapped yourself up and presented yourself to Brother Xia Liu,"


    Zhang Xiaoxue said earnestly, blinking her big eyes.


    "Xiaoxue, that''s not true at all, he coerced me with countless tricks!" Li Qianqian protested, her neck flushed red.


    "Alright, we all believe you,"


    "Wuu, Xia Liu, they''re bullying me!" Seeing the playful smiles of the women around her, Li Qianqian whimpered and clung to Xia Liu.


    "Oh my god! Qianqian is actually acting cute and pitiful now!" Fang Fei''s eyes widened in disbelief¡ªthe younger sister she knew never used to act so pretentiously.


    This just proved that saying, "Women may seem as cold as ice, but once warmed by a man, the ice turns into warm water, ready for a luxurious shower."


    "Hey, hey, can''t you all talk about this later..." Gu Fangxia was on the verge of tears.


    Even though she had some kind of a ''thing'' with Xia Liu, there hadn''t been any physical contact, and talking about these things made her incredibly embarrassed.


    "Oh right, little sister Fangxia hasn''t been ravaged by Xia Liu yet," Fang Fei''s eyes narrowed into a mischievous gleam as she looked at Gu Fangxia.


    "Sister Fang, what are you going to do..." Gu Fangxia covered herself with her hands, a look of fear plastered all over her face.


    "What am I going to do? Of course, I''m going to strip you bare!"


    "Ah! No, please no!"


    "Xiaoxue, Sister Zhang, Xue''er! Come help!"


    "Hehe..."


    While the women were playing with Gu Fangxia, Xia Liu was already ''exchanging harm'' with Li Qianqian.


    As for Gu Fangxia, she seized the opportunity and dashed out of the office, her face red.


    Though she harbored some desire to become Xia Liu''s woman, with so many girls in the office, she just couldn''t let herself go...


    From the early morning hours until dawn, the office was filled with a special atmosphere, as the hotel had been closed the previous day, allowing the girls to cry out to their heart''s content.


    After adjusting the temperature to everyone''s liking, Xia Liu got dressed and went downstairs.


    Longteng Hotel had halted operations for two days, but Longyun Hotel was doing business as usual.


    Ye Ming was bustling around the lobby when he saw Xia Liu arrive and immediately came over to greet him.


    "Chairman, you''re back."


    "Hmm, business has been good these past few days, hasn''t it?"


    "Definitely good, with the new menu and abundant seafood resources, the hotel''s sales have doubled every day!" Ye Ming answered excitedly.


    This was his first encounter with such a peculiar situation in his over ten years as a manager.


    Longyun Hotel''s daily foot traffic reached a frightening number, not even counting Longteng.


    Xia Liu smiled jubilantly and took Ye Ming to a private room to discuss business matters.


    Xia Liu was unaware of the exact figure on the bank card deposits.


    His phone had been destroyed by two ''torpedoes'' from Fang Huasheng.


    After hearing the account balance from Ye Ming, Xia Liu nodded with satisfaction, "In that case, if we''re short on staff, keep hiring. Offer at least ten thousand for a salary; you decide the rest."


    "Of course, all current employees will get a salary bump. Everyone will get at least ten thousand more."


    "Wow! On behalf of all the employees, thank you, Chairman!" Ye Ming was so excited he almost knelt down to Xia Liu."


    This must be the best boss he had encountered in his career.


    "There''s no need for thanks, you all deserve it. I have other things to attend to, so I''ll be leaving now."


    Not wanting to accept too much gratitude, Xia Liu left Longyun after speaking.


    Since the hotel''s revenue would all end up in his hands, he didn''t pay too much attention to such figures.


    What he wanted to do was to make Osmanthus Village rise and become a village envied by the entire nation.


    Driving back to the entrance of the village, Xia Liu saw the villa district where several castle-like villas had already taken shape.


    As for when they could be finely finished and ready for moving in, he''d have to ask Gu Fangxia.


    The packaging factory at the village entrance had also been established.


    Just as Xia Liu parked his car, he saw Xiao Hu stepping out of an Audi A6.


    "Xiao Hu! Holy shit, you''ve bought a car!"


    "Brother Xia Liu! You''re back! Come check out my car, I just got it yesterday!"


    Seeing Xia Liu return, Xiao Hu excitedly came forward to respond.


    If it hadn''t been for Xia Liu, he might never have owned a car, let alone ridden in one, in his entire life.


    "Not bad, not bad. How are the other brothers in the village doing?" Xia Liu nodded approvingly.


    "A few of the brothers have already placed orders, and the rest still don''t have driver''s licenses, so they can only look on enviously."


    "Haha! Wow, you''ve even got a girl in your car!" Xia Liu glanced inside the car and saw a woman sitting in the passenger seat. Wasn''t that Tan Jingxue?


    "Hello, Brother Xia Liu." Tan Jingxue blushed as she greeted Xia Liu after being spotted.


    "Hehe, Brother Xia Liu, thanks to you, how else could I have met Jingxue?" Xiao Hu replied sheepishly, scratching his head."


    "Alright, just be careful not to flaunt too much in front of the other brothers in the village."


    "Hehe, not many people know about Jingxue and me yet, so it won''t hurt the brothers."


    "Then go ahead, enjoy your car date. I''m going to check out the factory..."


    Leaving a statement that made Xiao Hu and Tan Jingxue blush, Xia Liu headed towards the newly-built factory.


    The factory occupied ten acres, built with red bricks, and stood two stories high, with paint already applied.


    The first floor had already been equipped with many machines, and upon reaching the second floor, Xia Liu saw Li Dazhuang, who was taking measurements with a pen.


    "Brother Xia Liu! You''re back!"


    "Yeah! You''ve been working hard while I''ve been away." Xia Liu patted Li Dazhuang on the shoulder. Without these brothers, the village''s development progress would have stalled when he left.


    "What hard work? This is what I should do," Li Dazhuang said, touching his head with a simple smile.


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    "Hehe, how''s the equipment setup going?"


    "As soon as the labeling equipment is installed, we can start packaging Osmanthus Wine."


    "Good, nice job. Carry on with your work, I''ll check out upstairs."


    Upon reaching the top floor, Xia Liu saw some workers diligently painting the walls.


    Before he left last time, Xia Liu had instructed that the packaging factory should be built with two stories first, with the option to add more levels in the future if needed. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Old Gu, do you think our daughter is having an affair with the boss here? How else would she bring home so much money this month and get you transferred to work over here?"


    Before he even reached the third floor, Xia Liu heard people talking.


    "Don''t make wild guesses. Our daughter''s grown up. Can''t she date and get married?"


    "Dating and marrying is fine. But I''ve heard people in the village say that the young man who''s developing the village has many girlfriends and is quite a pervert."

 Chapter 281 Selling Daughter

    "Pretty perverted¡­"Upon hearing this assessment, Xia Liu stiffened on the spot.


    "Don''t just spout nonsense. The guy is talented¡ªhe came back from abroad. The fact that he could return to the village, I admire his sense of responsibility alone, never mind anything else."


    "What''s the use of responsibility if he''s still a playboy? If my daughter ended up with that kind of man, I''d break her legs when I got back home."


    "What do you mean ''playboy''? They''re loving each other; how is that being a playboy? That''s happiness! You need to change your views. As long as my daughter is happy, I support all her ideas."


    "You idiot! Got some money now, haven''t you? Thinking of getting a mistress, are you?"


    Hearing her husband talking like this about someone else, the middle-aged woman immediately felt sensitive and started beating him with the stick she was holding.


    "Cough cough cough¡­"


    As the middle-aged man was getting hit, Xia Liu coughed a couple of times and went up the stairs.


    "Boss, you''re here to inspect the work, eh!" When Gu Yi saw Xia Liu, he immediately greeted him.


    Of course, he didn''t know that Xia Liu was the boss. Since every young person in Osmanthus Village was a leader, that was the best way he could greet him.


    Seeing Xia Liu, Lu Zhen also stopped what she was doing and greeted him with a wry smile.


    "Mm, I came to see how the construction is coming along," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    "It''s going well. There are more than a dozen people working today, and we should be finished by tonight."


    "I appreciate your hard work, building this house so quickly."


    "It''s no trouble at all, and we have to thank the boss''s know-how. Otherwise, me and my brothers wouldn''t have had anything to eat," Gu Yi responded heartily, seeing how easygoing Xia Liu was.


    Afterward, Gu Yi and Lu Zhen took Xia Liu to tour around the rooftop.


    "Hmm, it''s about finished. How much did this project cost?"


    "I''m not sure about that; my daughter handles it. She''s the one who pays the workers." Gu Yi said with a proud smile when it came to his daughter.


    "Sister Gu, huh¡­" Xia Liu had guessed by now; Gu Yi''s daughter was Gu Fangxia.


    "Xia Liu, you seem like a nice person. Are you the boss around here?" The one who spoke was Lu Zhen, who had been observing Xia Liu the whole time.


    She noticed that this young man was articulate and modest, with nothing high and mighty about him, and his nature was gentle, a complete package.


    It would be better for her daughter to follow Xia Liu instead of those other bosses who kept company with lots of women.


    Lu Zhen was extremely confident in Gu Fangxia; after all, she was so beautiful. If Xia Liu didn''t have a girlfriend, with her daughter''s looks, she was sure to win Xia Liu over.


    That was what Lu Zhen thought.


    "Not exactly¡­"


    "Ah, I knew it. You got a girlfriend yet?"


    Xia Liu hadn''t finished speaking when Lu Zhen cut him off, looking somewhat excited.


    "That''s¡­"


    Seeing Xia Liu hesitate, Lu Zhen interrupted him again, "Right, you don''t, I knew it. You young people always prioritize your careers, but you should also pay attention to family. You''ve met Sister Gu, I suppose. What do you think?"


    "Sister Gu is very beautiful¡­" Xia Liu replied somewhat bitterly. It seemed like Lu Zhen wanted to introduce Gu Fangxia to him.


    He had wanted to say that everyone in the village was considered a boss, but unfortunately, he never got the chance.


    "Azhen, what are you trying to say?" Gu Yi felt a bit awkward; his wife was being too sensitive, trying to promote their daughter like this.


    "It''s none of your business."


    Lu Zhen gave Gu Yi a glance and continued speaking to Xia Liu. "Xia Liu, let me tell you, Gu Fangxia is my daughter. But it seems she''s tangled up with the bosses here. Before anything happens, if you like her, you should go after her quickly. I support you."


    "Aunt Lu, there''s no rush. If it''s meant to be, it will be. Besides, there are many bosses around here, and they are all good people."


    Xia Liu was reminded of the opinion he had overheard not long before, "Pretty perverted¡­"


    "Oh, I see... No problem, you''re pretty decent. If you interact more with Fangxia, I believe she won''t reject you."


    "Azhen, you''re overstepping. We''re talking serious business here," Gu Yi said with a face full of dark lines. His wife was already defying the heavens, and his daughter was no fool; all parents needed to do was to give their blessings.


    "Hehe, it''s okay. Actually, I quite like Sister Gu too. I''ll definitely seize the opportunity when I get some free time."


    "Really? That''s great!" Upon hearing Xia Liu''s response, Lu Zhen was very excited.


    Xia Liu was a good guy; if he could become her son-in-law, that would be perfect.


    The main thing was that Lu Zhen knew something¡ªOsmanthus Village was no ordinary hamlet.


    The families here, each and every one of them, had tens of millions, if not more; the developments happening now were all self-funded joint ventures.


    Her daughter was going to marry eventually. If she could marry into a place like The Peach Blossom Spring, that would certainly be fantastic.


    "Sigh..." Gu Yi couldn''t help but shake his head. If his daughter really had something to do with the boss around here, and Xia Liu got involved too, it was bound to lead to trouble.


    "Mom, Dad! I brought you lunch!" Just as Lu Zhen was about to introduce her daughter, Gu Fangxia arrived, carrying several bags.


    "Xia Liu, look, Fangxia is here!" Seeing her daughter come over, Lu Zhen immediately pulled Xia Liu along.


    "Why are you back too?" Before Lu Zhen could say anything, Gu Fangxia asked in surprise.


    She remembered clearly that Xia Liu had been partying in the office with Fang Fei and the other girls last night.


    This guy could actually walk today, and judging by his appearance, he had gotten up very early.


    "Hehe, I haven''t been home in a long time. I just stopped by to check on the progress of the construction," Xia Liu replied with a slight smile.


    "You girl, how can you have no manners at all?" Lu Zhen immediately said with a frown.


    "It''s no problem, Aunt Lu."


    "Mom, my bad, Boss, I was wrong," Gu Fangxia quickly apologized, knowing her mother''s temper.


    "Huh? Xia Liu is your boss?" Both Lu Zhen and Gu Yi were shocked.


    They had gathered that all the projects in Osmanthus Village were managed by one person. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone so wealthy, and who had returned from abroad, was either a potbellied middle-aged man or someone in their thirties.


    It never crossed their minds that the boss would actually be Xia Liu!


    After all, he was so young...


    "Sister Gu, you didn''t do anything wrong. Girls should have their own personalities."


    The surprise of Gu Fangxia was quite normal; it was just Lu Zhen being displeased.


    "Well, I''ll take the lunch to the guys."


    "I''ll come too."


    Gu Yi grabbed the bags and darted off, and Lu Zhen didn''t dare to stay any longer either.


    She remembered clearly that she had badmouthed Xia Liu just a moment ago, and not just once; he must have heard it.


    "Xia Liu, what exactly have my parents said to you? Why do I get the feeling something is not right?"


    "Nothing much. Aunt Lu doesn''t like the boss here very much, but she thinks highly of me. She wants me to woo you and then become your family''s son-in-law."


    ...


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    Hearing these candid words, Gu Fangxia''s face instantly flushed red.


    "What are your thoughts then?" After a long silence, Gu Fangxia weakly asked.


    "Of course, I can''t disappoint Aunt Lu. I responded very well to her, but don''t get me wrong, I''m not really going to woo you, as that would surely delay you."


    "Is that so? You jerk!" And with that, Gu Fangxia lifted her leg and aimed a kick directly at Xia Liu''s groin...

 Chapter 282 I Want You

    "Hey, hey... why are you hitting people?" Xia Liu quickly dodged; if he had been kicked, it would have definitely hurt for a while."I am hitting you, you jerk!" Having said that, Gu Fangxia covered her flushed face and ran downstairs.


    It was unclear whether her blushing was due to shyness or anger.


    Xia Liu didn''t immediately follow her; he greeted Gu Yi and Lu Zhen before heading downstairs.


    By the time he got there, Gu Fangxia was nowhere to be seen. Xia Liu decided to wait until the girl''s anger had subsided before looking for her.


    So, he drove to the distillery.


    The distillery was now bustling with activity.


    Almost all the men from the village worked there.


    They didn''t want a penny in wages; they just wanted to bring home more Osmanthus Wine every month.


    Since everyone loved the wine, it was inevitable that some would sneak drinks during distillation.


    So, Li Zhi set a rule: anyone caught sneaking drinks in the distillery would be dismissed, and they wouldn''t get any Osmanthus Wine for a year.


    If their performance was good, they could take home thirty kilograms a month, which amounted to about one kilogram per day.


    This system was met with cheers from everyone, and it boosted their motivation to work.


    Currently, one of the fermentation tanks in the distilling area was full; the production hadn''t ceased since Xia Liu had left.


    One batch was finished fermenting, and another was ready.


    Of course, there had been interruptions, but the output was still quite good.


    Seeing Xia Liu arrive, everyone was very excited and urged him to taste the wine to see if the flavor had changed.


    Xia Liu didn''t hold back. After tasting, he praised the flavor, which was very good compared to the first batch.


    With Xia Liu''s praise, everyone was thrilled.


    This meant that they had succeeded. As long as they maintained their performance, they would have an endless supply of Osmanthus Wine and energy.


    After exchanging pleasantries with everyone for a while, Xia Liu headed to the mixed spirits section to check in.


    At that moment, in the mixed spirits area, several young men, led by Xiao Hu, were cleaning the fermentation tank.


    After greeting them, Xia Liu left.


    He was confident in leaving the distillery in their hands. Currently, his task was to check on the progress at the villa complex and, incidentally, comfort Gu Fangxia.


    A few kilometers away from the beach, on a high slope stretching for miles,


    there, several plots of land were occupied by newly built miniature castles.


    The most magnificent was the one perched on a cliff edge.


    It looked like a palace among castles and was the largest. From afar, its appearance was stunning.


    Approaching it, one would be awestruck by its majesty.


    Even though Xia Liu had spent several years abroad, this was his first time at the entrance of this castle-style villa, and he was utterly amazed.


    The d¨¦cor was purely gray, and the main gate was eight meters tall, carrying a rustic aroma that greeted him as the wind blew.


    Creak... Xia Liu gently pushed, and the door quietly swung open.


    Just stepping through the gate, Xia Liu was again surprised by the decoration inside.


    Gleaming colors were everywhere, every nook meticulously perfected, with a polished red wooden staircase catchiing his eye.


    Moving forward, the layout included modern furniture arrangements, with a huge leather sofa placed in the hall.


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    "Clap, clap!" Xia Liu couldn''t help but exclaim; indeed, entrusting the construction work to Gu Fangxia was the right decision.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh... Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Xia Liu was thinking about how to reward Gu Fangxia, a faint sound of water suddenly reached his ears.


    "Someone upstairs? Could it be a decorator?" Unsure of who it might be, Xia Liu decided to go up and check.


    Having his house done so well, he felt it was only right to give a reward.


    The second floor was nearly complete, every detail exuding elegance and luxury.


    The sound came from a corner on the second floor; Xia Liu followed the sound to its source.


    When he reached the place from where the sound of water was coming, he froze on the spot, his eyes staring blankly ahead.


    In his view, a beautiful scene was reflected.


    A wooden door was wide open, and droplets of water continuously fell from the showerhead.


    Moreover, a pale figure stood motionless, beautiful curves, the daunting great mountains chilling to the bone, as if her slender waist could be easily grasped with a single hand.


    All this was blatantly exposed before Xia Liu...


    "Ah!" Gu Fangxia shrieked sharply, then slammed the door shut fiercely.


    Bang!


    A loud noise brought Xia Liu back to his senses, his breathing somewhat rapid.


    He didn''t know how to express his feelings at the moment.


    Although he had seen the extent of Gu Fangxia before, it was in the dead of night, and there were some obstructions, Xia Liu hadn''t thought much of it then.


    But just now was different, not only was it bare, but there was also the beauty of a bathing maiden.


    His blood began to boil a bit.


    Even though he had been blustering from early morning, Xia Liu was still restless.


    Ever since the Energy Sea Seal was undone, his restlessness had grown even more.


    As Xia Liu was imagining, the bathroom door suddenly opened.


    However, he could not see any figure, Gu Fangxia seemed to be hiding behind the wall.


    "Xia Liu! How did you get in here?" Gu Fangxia''s voice came from inside the door.


    "Haha, I didn''t mean to see you naked, I just wanted to check on the progress of the house."


    Xia Liu felt quite awkward because he had just had a strong impulse to open the door and go in.


    "You saw me come in, so you wanted to take advantage, didn''t you?"


    "Don''t get me wrong! I really didn''t do it on purpose, I wanted to check on the progress, I heard water upstairs and thought it was the construction workers, so I thought of coming up to blow off some steam and chat."


    Xia Liu was really in a bind now because that was exactly his initial intention.


    "Are you saying you didn''t even think a little bit about taking advantage of me?"


    "Hmm? What do you mean by that?"


    Xia Liu was somewhat surprised, did she really expect him to take advantage of her?


    "You knowingly ask." Gu Fangxia''s voice was somewhat cold.


    Xia Liu was dumbfounded, knowingly ask?


    Could it really be as he thought, that she wanted him to take the initiative?


    "Sister Gu, I was wrong about yesterday, I shouldn''t have forced you to witness that, what if I give you a raise?"


    Suddenly, Xia Liu recalled the awkward moment of Gu Fangxia last night, and he realized.


    It must be because of this, she must be upset because the other women and himself were being flirtatious, and then she got angry.


    "I don''t want your salary!" Gu Fangxia roared.


    "Then tell me, Sister Gu, what do you want? Whatever I have, I''ll give it to you." Xia Liu felt quite guilty, she helped him and everyone build a beautiful house.


    Just as he returned, he forced her to witness something quite irritating, which would annoy anyone.


    "I want you..."


    As she said this, Gu Fangxia slowly walked out from behind the wall.


    She was wrapped in a white towel, her wet hair draped over her shoulders.


    With a flushed face, she hung her head low, afraid to let Xia Liu see her embarrassment.


    Yesterday in the office, she saw how the girls talked and acted with Xia Liu.


    She was envious, and when she left the office, her heart was a bit twisted in pain.


    Fang Fei and Huang Xue were originally her closest friends, but now it seemed Fang Fei and Qianqian were focusing more on Xia Liu, as were Xiao Hu and Zhang Qing.


    Seeing her sisters all behaved that way, she too yearned to join...

 Chapter 283 Xia Liu Forced Me

    Xia Liu was dumbfounded once again. What had he heard!Gu Fangxia said she wanted him for herself!


    This was the rhythm of a sacrifice!


    "Sister Gu, don''t be impulsive, I''m afraid it might delay your...," Xia Liu''s heart was already racing, despite his words.


    But he was still reasonable.


    He had already had many women by his side.


    And he himself was like a ticking bomb, never knowing when it would explode.


    Plus, there were many people watching with covetous eyes. Being with his women would only add to their danger.


    "No, I''ve liked you for a long time," Gu Fangxia''s voice was so soft, so low that only she could hear it.


    It took a lot of courage for her to say these words, but she was still somewhat restrained.


    "Staying by my side might bring you a lot of danger."


    "I''m willing to take the risk."


    "My identity is quite special, those..."


    "Don''t say anymore!" Gu Fangxia suddenly raised her head and shrieked, then she stepped forward and embraced Xia Liu.


    Holding him, she looked into his eyes and said, "The first time we met was in Shanhe County, you saved me, helped me recover the overdue construction funds, I knew then that I had fallen for you."


    "Coming to Osmanthus Village, you gave me high-paying projects, beauty mud; everything I have is because of you. Now, on what grounds do you refuse me!"


    Looking at the girl in front of him with moist eyes, Xia Liu was stunned, silent; he hadn''t considered those things.


    Without speaking, he opened his arms and hugged Gu Fangxia.


    "Wuu... You bad guy, why do you live in my heart, no matter what I do, I can''t throw you out."


    At the moment of being embraced, Gu Fangxia cried, tears streaming down her face.


    She knew she had succeeded, and the emotions that had been building up inside for countless days were finally released.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to avoid it," Xia Liu whispered comforting words.


    "Wuu..."


    "I know I was wrong; I should have been proactive."


    Gu Fangxia didn''t make a sound anymore, just happy tears kept flowing.


    After a while, she slowly released Xia Liu.


    "I want to be like Feifei, Qianqian, and Xiaoxue," said Gu Fangxia shyly as she readjusted her gaze towards Xia Liu.


    "Like what?"


    "To become your woman!"


    ...


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    Before Xia Liu could respond, Gu Fangxia tore open her bath towel and dragged him into the room.


    She had personally overseen the construction of every part of this house.


    She knew everything about it, and at the moment, apart from the half-finished third and fourth floors, the rest were already perfectly renovated.


    The room they entered had a large round bed, which could have space to spare even if eight people slept on it.


    Gu Fangxia had customized it specially for Xia Liu.


    She had known Xia Liu for quite some time and was aware of his nature, so such a bed was necessary.


    What made her even happier was that she was the first one to lie in it.


    Of course, it was together with Xia Liu.


    Faced with Gu Fangxia''s initiative, Xia Liu naturally did not hold back.


    But he was also afraid of harming Gu Fangxia, so he was very careful in every respect, with a very appropriate force.


    When the blush of passion bloomed, Gu Fangxia''s tears flowed once again.


    Finally, she could be the same as her best friends...


    It was unclear how much time had passed, but Gu Fangxia''s voice filled the whole room.


    It was unclear how much time had passed when she lay exhausted and weak on the round bed filled with deep memories.


    "Whew... I finally understand why you could win over so many sisters," gasped Gu Fangxia, practically breathless.


    ```


    The sour, spicy, numbing bitterness made her involuntarily clench her teeth.


    "Hehe, don''t talk for now, I''ll help you transfer some of the pain." Having said that, Xia Liu took Gu Fangxia''s hand, continually channeling spiritual energy into her body to heal the recently damaged areas.


    A few minutes later, Gu Fangxia felt no discomfort at all.


    She was deeply impressed by Xia Liu''s technique.


    Impressed as she was, the first taste of sweet relief made her immediately request that Xia Liu keep hurting her.


    So it wasn''t until night fell that the two of them emerged from the villa.


    Gu Fangxia''s cheeks were flushed, a telltale sign that anyone with experience would instantly recognize.


    It was the kind of glow that only comes after an osmanthus bloom has been gently nurtured.


    "Xia Liu, I''m so nervous, do you think the sisters will accept me?" Gu Fangxia asked anxiously on their way to the county town.


    "Sister Gu, you haven''t been knocked silly by me, have you?" Xia Liu frowned, just from last night''s events, it was obvious that they couldn''t wait for Gu Fangxia to join them.


    "Knocked? You rogue!" Realizing the implication in Xia Liu''s words, Gu Fangxia couldn''t help but spit at him.


    "Hehe, don''t worry, I''m sure they''ll be very happy," Xia Liu didn''t bother to explain too much, Gu Fangxia would naturally understand once they arrived.


    Sure enough, as soon as the two entered the office, the women who had been through it all immediately noticed the blush on Gu Fangxia''s face.


    Zhang Xiaoxue: "Sister Gu, you look a bit different from usual..."


    Fang Fei: "Fangxia, how was Xia Liu''s taste?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huang Xue: "Sister Gu, how many times did you soar to the clouds?"


    Zhang Qing: "Younger Sister Gu, now that you''ve become a woman, do you have any thoughts to share?"


    Li Qianqian: "Sister Gu, tell us about it from all angles."


    Staring at Gu Fangxia, each woman offered a remark.


    "You''ve all misunderstood, me and..."


    "Ah!"


    Before Gu Fangxia could explain, Fang Fei pulled her onto the couch, and then the other girls pinned her down.


    "Still trying to explain? Spill it! Tell us everything!" Fang Fei pressed down on Gu Fangxia, demanding answers with a stern tone.


    "Feifei, I''m scared like this..."


    "Scared? Good! Now tell your sisters everything!"


    "I''ll tell you, I''ll tell you, it was Xia Liu who forced me!"


    Giggle giggle giggle...


    Hearing Gu Fangxia''s response, all the women simultaneously turned their gaze to Xia Liu.


    "Hmm, I did force her..." Xia Liu said with a bitter face.


    Ding Ding Ding...


    Just as the women were about to interrogate Gu Fangxia further, Li Qianqian''s phone rang.


    "Xia Liu, it''s for you." Seeing the caller ID, Li Qianqian passed the phone to Xia Liu.


    Looking at the note on the screen, Xia Liu asked with confusion, "Your dad''s looking for me?"


    "Yeah, just answer it," Qianqian responded.


    "He''s not going to accuse me of abducting his daughter, is he?" Xia Liu asked somewhat apprehensively.


    "Pfft! Of course not!"


    Li Qianqian laughed out loud; she didn''t believe for a second that Xia Liu was actually scared.


    Pretending to breathe a sigh of relief, Xia Liu answered the call: "Hello, County Chief Li, I heard you''re looking for me."


    "Hmm? It''s Xia Liu ah."


    "Yes, it''s me..." Hearing Li Zhong''s question, Xia Liu immediately realized that he had been set up by Li Qianqian.


    "Turns out Qianqian wasn''t fooling me, I just prepared a table full of dishes and was hoping you''d come over, I have something I want to discuss with you."


    "Okay, I''ll be there in a bit, don''t wait for me." Xia Liu didn''t refuse, knowing that by accepting this call, Li Zhong surely knew about his situation with Li Qianqian.


    So, he might as well take this chance to clear the air.


    ```

 Chapter 284 Eastern District Blueprint

    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu briefly explained to the women and then left.The women had no objections to Xia Liu''s departure because they now preferred tormenting the newly joined Gu Fangxia...


    Xia Liu grabbed a few bottles of cherished white wine from the hotel and drove to the county government office.


    This trip to Liu Hai City had a special request from Fang Cheng: to return and help cheer up Li Zhong.


    Moreover, Xia Liu suspected that Li Zhong might already know about his affair with Li Qianqian, so he decided to handle that as well during this visit.


    Seeing Xia Liu arriving with a few bottles of wine put Li Zhong in high spirits.


    Once seated, they didn''t talk about anything else, just how things had been recently.


    "Uncle Li, I recently visited Liu Hai City and met Fang Fei''s father," Xia Liu said when the time seemed right.


    "Hmm! You actually met my brother, how is he? We haven''t seen each other for a long time, and I can''t tell his condition through the phone."


    Talking about Fang Cheng, Li Zhong became a bit emotional.


    "Uncle Fang is doing well on all fronts. He asked me to tell you that he will come over and drink with you once the company is stable," said Xia Liu.


    "Hahaha! That guy has been saying that for many years, but it has never happened," Li Zhong said laughingly.


    "By the way, Xia Liu, did everything go smoothly this time?" Knowing Xia Liu''s purpose for this trip to Liu Hai, and regarding his daughter''s matters, Li Zhong would not intervene as long as his daughter was healthy and happy.


    "Very smoothly," Xia Liu said with a confident smile, then continued, "Uncle Li, I want to talk to you about something, Qianqian and I..."


    "I and Aunt Xu already know about it. Qianqian following you is a blessing she earned in her past life. I''m well aware of your character; the women by your side will definitely lead a good life."


    Before Xia Liu could confess, Li Zhong had already expressed his thoughts.


    Xia Liu could only bitterly smile; it turned out Li Zhong already knew.


    Indeed, Hejing was only so big; you couldn''t avoid seeing people even if you tried.


    Given Li Zhong''s status, how long could one possibly keep secrets from him?


    "Uncle Li..."


    "Xia Liu, still calling me Uncle Li? I think Uncle Li or Uncle Zhong sounds more pleasant."


    "Hehe, Uncle Zhong!" Xia Liu squinted and smiled, clinking his glass with Li Zhong, conveying everything through the wine.


    After drinking for a while, Li Zhong suddenly turned serious.


    Xia Liu''s heart trembled involuntarily. Could it be that Li Zhong, having gotten drunk, was about to severely criticize him?


    "Xia Liu, you''re the person I trust the most. What do you think about the future of Hejing?"


    After a moment''s silence, Li Zhong voiced the concern in his mind.


    "The future of Hejing? Uncle Zhong, what do you mean?" Xia Liu let out a sigh of relief. Not pursuing his personal issues was good, but what did he have to do with the future of this county town?


    "I have been observing the development of Osmanthus Village so far, and you have done very well. I only have a few years left before retirement and want to achieve something before I retire. Will you help me?"


    "Of course, please tell me more, Uncle Zhong."


    "Recently, a document came through proposing the development of residential housing and commercial streets in the Eastern District, close to your Longyun Hotel."


    "That''s excellent news. Currently, the traffic in Hejing is quite substantial, and development planning is inevitable," Xia Liu nodded and agreed.


    "Yes, but I don''t trust outside developers. You understand the tricks involved, so I want to entrust this to you," Li Zhong said, sharing his heartfelt thoughts.


    The Eastern District, the best candidate for development, was undoubtedly Xia Liu.


    His sense of responsibility, compassion, and capability were evident, and anyone who interacted with him would definitely give a thumbs up.


    "The Eastern District covers at least a thousand acres, and it''s on the outskirts, I presume they have the intention but lack the resources," Xia Liu said, somewhat helplessly. A thousand acres of land, the money he had openly wasn''t nearly enough to support it.


    "You don''t need to worry about that, money is not the main issue here, there will be subsidies, and they are quite substantial. The problem now is that we need the right person to take over," knowing Xia Liu''s concerns, Li Zhong explained somewhat excitedly.


    "Oh, in that case, I have absolutely no problem!"


    Since there were subsidies, the land shouldn''t be a headache. As long as he took over the project, once it was developed, money would flow into his pockets like seawater.


    Of course, it wasn''t just about the money; it was about the development of a place, and Xia Liu was very supportive of that idea.


    "With that statement, I''m relieved, but there''s still one issue. The scope of this project is quite large, and since it''s known to be a guaranteed profit, there will be a bidding competition," Li Zhong added.


    "I see, I completely understand. When and where will the bidding conference be held?"


    Xia Liu''s eyes shifted slightly, and everything was clear in his mind.


    As long as he won this bid, the project would be his.


    "At the County Theater, the bidding will start in ten days."


    "Hmm, got it."


    "However, only corporations can participate in the bidding, not individuals, so you need to register a company."


    Li Zhong felt helpless about this as well, given the enormity of the project, only companies with a strong foundation were qualified to participate.


    "That requirement too, ten days should be enough for me to meet that," Xia Liu stroked his chin.


    Using this opportunity to start a company wasn''t a bad idea either.


    "Hahaha! Good! I knew I wasn''t mistaken about you, you are fantastic!" Li Zhong didn''t say much more, at this moment only laughter and wine were paramount. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he left the county office, Xia Liu returned to Longteng Hotel.


    During his drinking, the girls had booked a presidential suite.


    They then played cards inside, with the rule that the loser removes a piece of clothing, and currently Gu Fangxia had lost down to her underwear.


    By the time Xia Liu arrived, Gu Fangxia had nothing left to lose.


    With her arms crossed and a tearful face, she looked at Xia Liu for help, "Xia Liu, they ganged up to bully me."


    "Damn it, you played cards while I was gone, and even had such a penalty system!"


    "Brother Xia Liu, you can join in too, but only after Sister Gu''s punishment is over," Zhang Xiaoxue said with a joyful smile.


    "Sister Gu, what''s your punishment?" Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    "My punishment is¡­" Gu Fangxia hesitated so long that she couldn''t speak, just blushed even more.


    "Fangxia''s punishment is to have a live session with you, and we''ll all be spectators," Fang Fei said excitedly, propping her chin with her hands.


    "This... I like it!" Before Gu Fangxia could speak, Xia Liu had already made his move.


    The card game lasted until four o''clock in the morning.


    The last spirited girls were Fang Fei and Huang Xue.


    Xia Liu took this opportunity to tell them about the bidding matter.


    After hearing that Xia Liu was starting a company, the two women volunteered to help.


    Delighted, Xia Liu rewarded the two of them generously until dawn.

 Chapter 285 Karmic Fire Refines Clothes

    After all the ladies had fallen asleep, Xia Liu got dressed, stood up, and drove back to Osmanthus Village.He had delegated the company''s affairs to Fang Fei and Huang Xue, so there was no need to worry about that.


    The matters of Osmanthus Village were left to Li Dazhuang and the other brothers, which also allowed him to rest easy.


    Next, what he had to do was refinement!


    Refine Demon Stones!


    He intended to make a set of Demon Stone Clothing for each of the girls.


    That way, if there were enemies in the future, it would definitely be a tremendous help to the girls.


    Moreover, they had all begun their cultivation, and although the results were not very good yet, with persistence, they would certainly reach Yellow-Rank Martial Artists.


    Gu Fangxia and Fang Fei had also started their cultivation, especially Fang Fei.


    Having seen Xia Liu''s skills, which were as powerful as those of a deity, Fang Fei was impressed.


    She did not dare to compare herself with Xia Liu, but her thoughts were similar to those of the other girls.


    It was all about making herself stronger so Xia Liu wouldn''t have to worry about her. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon returning to Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu didn''t disturb anyone; he placed the Demon Stones into a basket and carried it into the deep mountains.


    After walking for over three hours, Xia Liu passed through a forest and arrived at the foot of a tall mountain.


    This area was already well-trodden by him; at the foot of the mountain, there was a cave.


    It was an uninhabited spot, most suitable for seclusion and meditation.


    But Xia Liu wasn''t looking for meditation; he was there to refine Demon Stone Clothing!


    He took about six catties of Demon Stones out of the basket and after carefully studying them for a while,


    he finally decided to try refining them.


    The Five Elements Spirit Technique activated, and unmatched Spiritual Energy coursed through his meridians.


    With a Xia Liu Hand Seal completed, Fire Attribute Spirit Energy surged forth.


    Then he moved his fingertip over the Demon Stone.


    In an instant, a dazzling flash of Red Vastness shone in the cave.


    Fire Spirit Sword!


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    A normal technique that could only be performed with Fire Attribute Spirit Energy in combination with a Seal Decree.


    This world likely only had Xia Liu capable of performing such a strange technique.


    As time ticked away, Xia Liu, having had an experience of cutting once before, used one hour to cut the Demon Stone in half.


    Then, he continued cutting with the same method.


    Before the day darkened, he had already cut half of the Demon Stone into eleven pieces, the first half that he had initially cut was set aside.


    Among these eleven pieces, one was relatively large.


    The other ten pieces were all quite even.


    Looking at the neatly cut Demon Stones, Xia Liu wiped the sweat from his forehead, then, using the remaining Spiritual Energy, he caught some wild game outdoors.


    At night, he did not continue because the Spiritual Energy in his body wasn''t sufficient to sustain further efforts.


    At dawn, Xia Liu, who had been sitting cross-legged and inhaling Spiritual Energy, opened his eyes.


    He picked up a small piece of Demon Stone and set it aside, his Hand Seals coming together once again.


    This time, the method of forming the Seal was completely different from that for the Fire Spirit Sword.


    Xia Liu formed seals so quickly that one couldn''t see them clearly.


    "Feel the taste of Karmic Fire!"


    With a whisper, a stream of Spiritual Energy burst from Xia Liu''s fingertip, hitting the Demon Stone precisely.


    The moment it touched, inexplicably, a pure yellow flame soared and ignited.


    If a Martial Artist were to see this scene, they would definitely faint from shock.


    Xia Liu''s methods had already leapt beyond the scope of Martial Artists, and as for what exactly they were, no one knew.


    Engulfed by Karmic Fire, the Demon Stone remained resilient, only beginning to change after an hour.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu allowed the Spiritual Energy to flow back and controlled the Karmic Fire in his hands before he shaped the Demon Stone with his bare hands.


    Terrible! Terrible!


    Karmic Fire was only barely less powerful than Samadhi True Fire, and Xia Liu casually manipulated it in his hands.


    If his peers saw this, their jaws would definitely drop.


    After toying with it for a while, Xia Liu tossed the torn Demon Stone to the ground, and the Karmic Fire continued to burn.


    During the day, as Xia Liu used the Karmic Fire to forge Demon Stones, whenever there was a shortage of Spiritual Energy, he immediately performed breath control to replenish his Dantian.


    When he was too exhausted, he could only rest.


    This routine likely continued for about eight days.


    That night, in the early morning hours, laughter echoed from the cave: "Hahaha! Damn it! Finally finished."


    Inside the cave, the fire lit up the walls, and in front of Xia Liu lay a stack of white things.


    On closer inspection, they were in the form of clothes and pants.


    When Xia Liu picked up a piece, it was faintly transparent.


    One could imagine how many such garments it would take to achieve such a whiteness!


    Placing the Demon Stone Clothing into a basket, Xia Liu walked out of the cave somewhat groggily.


    He had almost suffocated, eight days!


    The whole eight days were spent forging Demon Stone Clothing.


    Luckily, the result was good, except for two pieces of Demon Stones wasted at the beginning due to uncontrolled fire, everything else was completed to perfection.


    When he returned home, Xia Liu found Zhang Xiaoxue sleeping, which wasn''t surprising since he had said he''d be home for a while. This girl would have definitely come to check since she couldn''t reach him on his cell phone.


    "Brother Xia Liu, is that you coming back?" Hearing the door open, Zhang Xiaoxue suddenly awoke, then her voice slowly emerged in surprise.


    "Hmm, Xiaoxue, you haven''t fallen into a deep sleep yet."


    "Brother Xia Liu! You almost worried me to death. Dazhuang said he saw you entering the mountain, and you''ve been gone for days." Zhang Xiaoxue got out of bed and hugged Xia Liu.


    She was the first woman to learn that Xia Liu had entered the mountain, and of course, she did not tell the other sisters, fearing they would worry.


    Originally, she planned to notify them at dawn, but fortunately, Xia Liu had come back.


    "Hehe, sorry for worrying you, I have something for you," said Xia Liu as he took out the Demon Stone Clothing.


    "This clothing is so transparent, what is it for?" Taking the Demon Stone Clothing, Zhang Xiaoxue asked, puzzled.


    "This clothing acts like a protective shield; it can protect you. Remember to wear it every day from now on. It''s not heavy anyway and won''t hinder your pretty outer clothes."


    "Ah! That''s amazing, I''ll listen to you, Brother Xia Liu."


    "Xiaoxue is so obedient. Come on, here are also some pants."


    Just as Zhang Xiaoxue was about to take her clothes off to try on the Demon Stone Clothing, Xia Liu brought out the pants.


    That prompted Zhang Xiaoxue to strip off all her clothing.


    "Xiaoxue, let''s try them on later, let''s warm each other up first!"


    "Mmm mmm..."


    Without further ado, Xia Liu began his moves with both mouth and hands...


    In the morning, Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue went together to the Longteng Hotel.


    After meeting with the ladies, Xia Liu took out the Demon Stone Clothing, asking all the women to change into it.


    During this process, Xia Liu couldn''t hold back his excitement, so rounds of teasing followed.


    "Wow! This clothing is so warm to wear."


    "The pants too."


    "Thank you, husband."


    Huang Xue, Gu Fangxia, and Fang Fei kept praising after putting on the Demon Stone Clothing.


    "Sister Zhang, just bear with it a bit longer, and you can wear it too." Seeing Zhang Qing with a pained expression and cries of discomfort, Li Qianqian laughed.


    "Xia Liu, look... Qianqian is making fun of me, you must punish her!" Zhang Qing said breathlessly.


    "Of course!"


    Li Qianqian exclaimed, "Ah! Xiaoxue, save me!"


    "I can''t save you... I''m almost exhausted..."


    ...


    Several hours later, Fang Fei suddenly remembered the company matters and said to Xia Liu, "Xia Liu, the company is already registered. In a couple of days, there will be a tender in the Eastern District."

 Chapter 286 Formidable Rival

    "Hm? Time to show my mettle," Xia Liu said, slightly taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure.He had been refining in the cave for eight days. If he couldn''t succeed, he would definitely have kept grinding away.


    "What''s our company''s name?"


    "Osmanthus Group! The legal representative is Xiaoxue," Huang Xue replied with a blink.


    "Nice name!"


    "Sister Fang and I also rented an office building, which is now fully decorated."


    "Xue''er, you and Sister Fang are truly my lucky stars," Xia Liu couldn''t help but plant a kiss on the girl upon hearing such a perfect response.


    "Hehe, Brother Xia Liu, I''m now the chairman, you know," Zhang Xiaoxue chuckled.


    "I''m the president."


    "I''m the general manager."


    "I''m the director."


    ...


    The women took turns stating their positions, which left Xia Liu asking with a frustrated face, "So, what position do I hold?"


    "You''re the undercover worker, just comfort and visit the leaders," Fang Fei said with a winning smile.


    "I''ll take it! I like this position," he said in acceptance.


    Afterward, Xia Liu started bantering nonstop with the women.


    In the afternoon, Fang Fei pulled Xia Liu aside to discuss something in private.


    Of course, it was serious business, concerning the bidding event.


    "Xia Liu, our company has just been established, which puts us at a disadvantage in the bidding," Fang Fei said worriedly.


    Although they were well-prepared, this wasn''t something that could just be handled with connections.


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    With no one in the company, if the authorities got serious or if someone held on tightly and didn''t let go, they would definitely not win the bid.


    "How much is the registered capital of the company?"


    "Two and a half billion."


    "Oh my God, where did all this money come from?" Xia Liu was shocked by the figure. Two and a half billion, a small group probably couldn''t come up with that, he thought.


    "The villagers knew you were starting a company, so each household chipped in ten million, totaling five billion. The rest of the money is yours."


    "Although I haven''t checked the balance in my card for many days, I estimate I don''t have twenty billion."


    "I contributed too, anyway, what''s yours is mine, and what''s mine is yours," Fang Fei said with a giggle.


    "Rich lady, do you need a talking ornament for your leg?" Xia Liu looked at Fang Fei with trembling, pitiful eyes.


    Even though he didn''t know the exact amount, Xia Liu understood that the girl had given him everything.


    "Don''t even start. My godfather gave me some information¡ªyou take a look. These are all potent groups that can compete for this project," she said as Fang Fei handed Xia Liu a document folder.


    "No need to look. I just want to know, will Wanqing Group be participating?"


    "For sure, Wanqing Group is Binlai City''s hegemon; how could they not be involved?"


    "Alright, I got it. We''ll go together and take the bid," Xia Liu nodded. If Mo Wanqing were to be there, then this bid would surely be his.


    "Don''t be complacent, though. Although Mo Wanqing might favor you, another very powerful rival from Wanqing Group will also be participating."


    Seeing Xia Liu full of confidence, Fang Fei decided to give him a reality check.


    "A formidable rival?"


    "Yep, another behemoth group from Binlai City, Ye Group. From the name, it sounds like a legacy family."


    "Ye Group, okay then. Legacy families aren''t scary."


    "It would be strange if they weren''t formidable. They might not be able to fight you, but when it comes to money and brains, they can certainly outdo you."


    "Pfft! Sister Fang, you really don''t have faith in me?" Xia Liu snorted. This girl was defying the heavens, belittling him by praising the strength of the opponent.


    Xia Liu wanted to say that if he wished, what was the Ye Family, a mere trifle? Even the oldest and wealthiest Ross family in America would show him some respect.


    "Alright, I''ll stop undermining you. But you''ve got to be cautious of that young master from the Ye Clan Family, I think his name is Ye Yiming or something."


    "No worries, no matter if it''s Yiming or Erming, in my eyes, they can only look up to me."


    "Okay, then there''s still more than a day left. You should really mingle with the sisters."


    "Mingle about what?"


    "Playing dumb now, huh! Go get some food, the mutual hurt-fest is starting come evening!"


    ¡­


    It was nights of revelry during Xia Liu''s days at Longteng.


    If it weren''t for his extraordinary physical fitness, he probably would have been worn out after a single night.


    Fortunately, each time it was he who triumphed, the girls all cried for mercy.


    Finally, the day of the bidding arrived.


    The County Theater, a large traditional stage.


    The entrance had large wooden doors arrayed in front, with many banners hung above, warmly congratulating the launch of the Hejing Eastern District project development.


    Today was indeed a special day for Hejing.


    Because on the streets there were countless luxury cars.


    Ferraris, Bentleys, Porsches, Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces.


    You name it, they had it.


    All these cars had Binlai City license plates, and there were even some from neighboring cities.


    The truth was, not all of them were qualified for the auction. Those who had come to spectate were there just to see who would clinch the Eastern District.


    That was a surefire win. If one could cooperate with the winning company, they''d make a fortune.


    So nobody wanted to miss this opportunity.


    Xia Liu entered the venue alone, towering and solitary. Fang Fei had promised to come with him but got carried away last night.


    The girl had insisted on going at it till dawn and, as for the other girls, they were sound asleep.


    Two consecutive days, even robots couldn''t withstand Xia Liu''s ravaging. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xia Liu, you''re here for the bid as well," a pleased laugh reached his ears just as Xia Liu was finding a place to sit.


    He turned and saw Mo Wanqing.


    "Aunt Qing, what a coincidence to see you here," Xia Liu greeted her with feigned surprise.


    "Heh heh, you probably knew already that I''d be here, huh? But tell me, are you qualified to bid?"


    Mo Wanqing asked doubtfully. Xia Liu was a local from Hejing; if he was indeed qualified, then with her help, the project could probably be his.


    Mo Wanqing''s reason for taking part in this engineering bid was precisely for Xia Liu.


    That way, she had many excuses to stay around and watch how Huang Xue and Xia Liu were getting along.


    "Of course, I''m qualified. We are competitors, after all."


    "Competitors my foot, just sit tight and wait, I will help you win the bid."


    "Haha, thank you so much, Aunt Qing," Xia Liu didn''t refuse Mo Wanqing''s assistance. He had harbored this intention anyway, so there was no point in hypocritically declining.


    "I know all about your group, Osmanthus Group. There might be some surprises later, so stay calm."


    "No worries, I also heard that Aunt Qing''s archrival, Ye Group, is here too."


    "Ye Group, eh? Tough but beatable," Mo Wanqing said with a hesitant smile, following up with confidence.


    "The representative from Ye Group has arrived," Mo Wanqing warned while scanning the room.


    Xia Liu looked up and saw a young man, his steps steady, chest out, head held high... Wait ¨C his energy was restrained!

 Chapter 287 Discredit

    Xia Liu scrutinized carefully and ultimately confirmed that Ye Yiming, the representative from Ye Group, was a martial artist!Moreover, he was a Peak Warrior of Mysterious Rank.


    Ye Yiming''s appearance was not outstanding and his cultivation was well concealed.


    If Xia Liu hadn''t observed carefully, he really wouldn''t have been able to tell that this guy was a martial artist. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye Yiming''s appearance didn''t surprise too many people; this was his first time representing Ye Group in front of the public.


    Instead, there were two young men who were rather high-profile. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    As soon as they entered, they received cheers.


    "Look, that''s the young master from East Enterprise: Xu Mingliang!"


    "And that one, the president of Lingyun Technology: Cheng Fei!"


    "Haha, this bidding is going to be interesting. Both East Enterprise and Lingyun Technology are among the top three groups in the neighboring city and can even be ranked in the top 100 nationwide."


    "Don''t forget, we also have Wanqing Group and Ye Group from our own city."


    "I really came to the right place this time. I wonder how these giants will compete for this spot."


    Before the competition started, the crowd sitting below began to discuss fervently.


    "Young Master Xu, I didn''t expect to see you here."


    "Young Master Cheng, to think that you''d be interested in such a small project."


    Xu Mingliang and Cheng Fei sat side by side, glancing at each other and starting to jest.


    "A project that''s guaranteed to profit and will be renowned for a hundred years is something Lingyun Technology must strive for," Cheng Fei said confidently.


    "Coincidentally, I also intend to use this project to showcase the strength and reputation of East Enterprise." Faced with a competitor from the same city, Xu Mingliang was not willing to give an inch.


    "Ah, why are you everywhere..."


    "Without me, you''d be lonely, wouldn''t you? There might be many people here, but they''re all broke. In the end, it''s just us two who have the capability to compete."


    As Cheng Fei let out a sigh, Xu Mingliang started to look smug.


    "Keep it down, you two idiots." Suddenly, Ye Yiming, who was sitting in front of them, spoke up.


    "What did you say!" Xu Mingliang, known for his hot temper, roared in anger.


    "I said, you keep it down!"


    Right after that, Ye Yiming turned and stared directly at Xu Mingliang, which made the latter''s heart jump, and his angry face gradually stiffened.


    With Ye Yiming''s voice, the entire venue fell silent.


    But inside, they were all greatly excited. One was the local tyrant, the other was a fierce competitor from across the river ¨C but who would be the winner in the end?


    "Young people nowadays..."


    Watching what was happening in front, Mo Wanqing couldn''t help shaking her head.


    "Heh, just impetuous. In a few more years, they''ll naturally grow up." Xia Liu had a deep understanding; after all, he had helped many wayward youths find their way back to the right path.


    Just as Mo Wanqing was about to say more, Li Zhong and several people of similar age came out from backstage.


    The audience all recognized Li Zhong, the mayor of Hejing, but the identities of the others were unclear.


    But one thing was certain, they had the ability to decide on the candidate for the project!


    "Hey, isn''t that Feng Mingkun?" Seeing the person who ascended the stage with Li Zhong, people from the neighboring city were all surprised.


    Feng Mingkun, an important figure from the neighboring city, was said to have close ties with East Enterprise.


    If Feng Mingkun had significant influence over the decision in this bidding event, then it was certain that East Enterprise would win the bid!


    "Young Master Xu, you''re damn cheating!" Cheng Fei''s expression turned sour upon seeing Feng Mingkun.


    "How could this be called cheating? My Uncle Feng just happens to be the host of this bidding event." Xu Mingliang smiled triumphantly.


    However, he still felt a bit of unease in his heart, and as he focused on Ye Yiming ahead of him, he thought to himself, "So you have a sharp eye, huh? Wait till I win the bid, and I''ll give you an even sharper look!"


    After Li Zhong and a few others came up, Li Zhong, the representative of Hejing, began to speak, announcing the start of the bidding conference.


    Then Li Zhong asked the representatives of the companies eligible to bid to come up to the stage.


    Ten people, two rows of seats, sitting opposite each other.


    Li Zhong asked the representatives to state their planning objectives one after another.


    Then the jury would review them, and finally, the votes would be cast for the results.


    "The first time I came to Hejing was half a year ago. I was captivated by this place at that time. Now that I have the opportunity, I''m willing to dedicate all my resources to develop Hejing!"


    This was Xu Mingliang''s declaration.


    The people from the neighboring city scoffed at Xu Mingliang''s exaggerated words as soon as they heard them.


    This guy was well-known in the city for being arrogant, indulgent, and for causing trouble for many female students in school.


    If someone like him were to get the development project, it would surely be a disaster for Hejing.


    "Haha, Xu Mingliang of East Enterprise, very good, he''s very responsible, and the company has a strong foundation. I''m willing to give him my vote," announced Feng Mingkun loudly after listening to everyone''s declarations.


    "Director Feng, I think the Osmanthus Group is quite good. The head of this group is a local from Hejing and also owns two iconic hotels," Li Zhong immediately tried to garner goodwill for Xia Liu as he heard Feng Mingkun praising Xu Mingliang.


    "County Chief Li, you''re not right to say that. The information is right here, the Osmanthus Group was just established a few days ago. Isn''t this obviously just to make money?" Feng Mingkun looked indifferently at Li Zhong.


    "Right! Director Feng is correct! A group that was just established a few days ago definitely got the news in advance and then set up the company for this bid. This is definitely fraud, we should call the police!" Xu Mingliang, who had already obtained the information on Osmanthus Group, with Feng Mingkun''s explanation as a preface, naturally took the opportunity to undercut them.


    "Osmanthus Group committing fraud? I must ask, Young Master Xu, what''s wrong with a local person investing their money into registering a group to gain bidding qualifications and planning to bring benefits to Hejing in the future?" Mo Wanqing immediately stood up to defend Xia Liu upon hearing Xu Mingliang''s insinuation.


    "That''s the head of Wanqing Group. I didn''t expect her to speak up for a newly established group."


    "I''ve heard that the head of this new group has a good relationship with Mo Wanqing, so it''s natural for her to help."


    People from Binlai City who had come down were murmuring to one another.


    "Bring benefits? Even if he truly has the intention, does he have the capital? To speak bluntly, he doesn''t even have the money. If we give the project to him, how much of the subsidy is he going to pocket?"


    "Hmm, Xu Mingliang has a point. A newly established group couldn''t possibly have much money."


    "Osmanthus Group was created by a local person; they must be acquainted with someone and have received the news in order to act so swiftly."


    As the others who ascended the stage with Li Zhong discussed, they all turned to look at him simultaneously.


    "Gentlemen, it''s not nice for you to say this," Li Zhong felt somewhat annoyed as these people were all from the neighboring city.


    And they all sided with Xu Mingliang, which was clearly targeted.


    "There''s nothing wrong with it. I have the feeling that someone here might have private ties with the Osmanthus Group."

 Chapter 288 Bringing in Reinforcements

    "Feng Mingkun, don''t slander me!" Li Zhong''s anger flared up."Li Zhong! Don''t think we don''t know about the special relationship between you and that young man named Xia Liu."


    Feng Mingkun also stood up and pointed angrily at Li Zhong.


    Xia Liu sat quietly in his chair, silently watching everything unfold, not wanting to explain anything.


    Anyone with eyes could see that Feng Mingkun was supporting Xu Mingliang, showing a definite tendency to award the project to him.


    "I have a good relationship with Xia Liu, that''s a fact, and everyone in the county knows it," Li Zhong readily admitted.


    "But Xia Liu''s achievements speak for themselves. He went back to Osmanthus Village for a few months and changed the whole village, built villas, bought two hotels, and just a few days ago, he spent over two billion to register a company! Tell me! Isn''t that ability?"


    Li Zhong scanned the crowd, passionately recounting all of Xia Liu''s accomplishments.


    "Holy shit! Over two billion to register a company!"


    "How can he be so insanely good!"


    "This is terrifying!"


    Hearing that Xia Liu had registered a company with over two billion, the audience trembled.


    More than two billion is not a small amount. Given to an ordinary family who saved, it would be impossible to spend in eight lifetimes.


    "Tsk, tsk, I may not understand his achievements, but I believe everyone else does. If there''s ever a shortage in subsidies, wouldn''t the project have to stop?"


    "This..." Li Zhong didn''t know how to answer this question.


    The scope of this project was huge, and it was impossible for the subsidies to be issued all at once.


    If delayed, more than two billion would indeed not be enough for development.


    "Regarding this matter, on behalf of Wanqing Group, I declare full support for Osmanthus Group," Mo Wanqing said when Li Zhong was feeling embarrassed.


    "Wow! The CEO of Wanqing Group is supporting Osmanthus Group!"


    "If that''s the case, then Osmanthus Group will definitely have strong backing."


    Feng Mingkun glanced at Mo Wanqing. He had been plotting for a long time against this legendary woman of Binlai City but dared not make a move.


    "Boss Mo, it''s undeniable that your group has strength, but Osmanthus Group is too young and lacks stamina. How long can you really support it?"


    "We are all here, and as the chairperson of Wanqing Group, let me make a statement. Wanqing Group will support Osmanthus Group forever!"


    Mo Wanqing responded strongly to Feng Mingkun''s doubt.


    "Aunt Qing, do you have to be so assertive? I''m almost moved to tears," Xia Liu said, somewhat distressed.


    "Heh, as long as it''s your business, I''m firmly supportive," Mo Wanqing said with a smile.


    "Haha! How laughable, a grown man having to rely on a woman''s help. If that''s the case, even if the project is given to you, I fear it has little future."


    Xu Mingliang, who was closest, burst into laughter.


    He had been paying attention to the silent Xia Liu all along. Seeing both Li Zhong and Mo Wanqing speaking up for him, if he didn''t assert himself now, he would end up being trampled on.


    "Haha! A bunch of trash relying on others! I believe this project should be given to me!"


    Just as Xia Liu was about to respond to Xu Mingliang, a brash voice echoed through the entire theater.


    Everyone turned to look, and it was Ye Yiming!


    "I know him! Ye Yiming, the general manager of Ye Group!"


    "Yeah! I recognize him too! I heard he refused his family''s arrangements and started his own company. In just a few years, he made tens of billions!"


    "Wow! Now that you mention it, I remember that company is very secretive, but its earning ability is definitely top-notch!"


    Upon hearing Ye Yiming speak, many in the audience began to chatter.


    "Haha, a bunch of internet water army! If they''re so good at making money, it must be because they cut corners. This project is for the welfare of the people; talking about making money, they can take a hike."


    Cheng Fei finally saw his chance and loudly rebuked.


    Xu Mingliang was also very displeased; Ye Yiming''s words were very straightforward, insinuating that except for him, everyone else relied on their families.


    Of course, for Xu Mingliang, this was an undeniable reality.


    "Kid, wait until you have the ability to earn money before you talk," Ye Yiming said arrogantly, looking at Cheng Fei.


    "You!" Cheng Fei wanted to retort but realized he didn''t know much about Ye Yiming and could lose face if he was counterattacked.


    "It seems every representative here is quite assertive, not bad, but I believe only East Enterprise has the qualifications and strength to develop this project."


    Feng Mingkun put aside the business with Li Zhong and Xia Liu, as it was now a stage of displaying strength.


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    "In terms of strength, Wanqing Group and East Enterprise are evenly matched, right?" Mo Wanqing said softly.


    "President Mo, indeed, they are evenly matched, but I have more than one investor backing me," Xu Mingliang replied with a pleased smile.


    "Since we''re talking about pulling in investors, what if I bring Ye Group into the picture?" Ye Yiming also stood up to declare his position.


    "Damn! If we compare all three, Ye Group is definitely more than twice as large as the other two!"


    "Things are getting lively now; let''s see who will be chosen."


    The fierce competition energized many people, wishing they had such strength themselves.


    "How about this, the bidding for this project will depend on who has the most substantial capital to determine the candidate for the job."


    Upon Feng Mingkun''s suggestion, the whole audience cheered immediately; a showdown between commercial giants was always so thrilling. Now it was time to see who they could all pull up on stage!


    "County Magistrate Li, what do you think?"


    "Fine, let''s do it your way," Li Zhong was at a loss, Feng Mingkun definitely had ulterior motives for coming, who knew why he had been sent here.


    "Then I''ll start. Besides East Enterprise, I also have the support of two powerful groups, Liuhai Jinyuan Technology and Xinxin Jewelry Group."


    After getting the confirmation, Xu Mingliang was the first to announce his backup groups. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pulling these companies into the spotlight was mere formality to intimidate; it was all just for show.


    In terms of developing the Eastern District, subsidies were almost enough. As long as one could take over, it was about making money, and with time being indefinite, it was impossible to estimate how much money could be made; so owing some favors now was no issue.


    "Young Master Xu, everyone knows how to talk big. So bring something real to the table and call up the representatives of those two companies onto the stage," someone said.


    "Hehe, I''ll call them right now." Hearing Feng Mingkun''s reminder, Xu Mingliang immediately picked up his phone to make the call.


    Before long, two men in their twenties to thirties entered from the doorway and walked up to the stage under everyone''s gaze.


    "Hello everyone, I am Yang Tian from Liuhai Jinyuan Technology."


    "I am Huang Yilong from Xinxin Jewelry."


    "I''ve seen Huang Yilong''s picture on a billboard, it''s really him!"


    "I''ve seen Yang Tian in commercials too!"


    "They really are the representatives from Jinyuan and Xinxin!"


    After taking a closer look at the two men, the crowd below cheered immediately. The combined weight of these two enterprises was substantial, and they both had excellent reputations! Xu Mingliang was now sure to win.


    "Huh, I think I''ve seen those two before." After glancing at Yang Tian out of boredom, Xia Liu remembered. Wasn''t this the guy who pissed his pants in terror on the pirate ship...

 Chapter 289 The Life-Saver

    ```"Do you know that person?" Mo Wanqing asked in a soft voice.


    "Mm, the experience was quite interesting," Xia Liu nodded with a smile, not knowing what these two guys would think upon seeing him.


    "Hehe, looks like East Enterprise is determined to win," Feng Mingkun couldn''t help but laugh with satisfaction.


    He had given instructions to Xu Mingliang beforehand, and now it seemed that everything was going very smoothly.


    "Damn it! Who could beat you like that!" Cheng Fei was annoyed; it was clear that Feng Mingkun and Xu Mingliang were in cahoots.


    Now that Xu Mingliang had also brought in two of the more powerful enterprises from Liu Hai, this project was bound to fall into his hands.


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    "Harumph! Trash will always be trash! Just pray it''s not you who wins the bid." Ye Yiming couldn''t stand it anymore and spat toward Xu Mingliang before stepping down from the stage.


    "Very well, a bidder has withdrawn," Feng Mingkun announced.


    "I''m out too!"


    "Me too!"


    "I give up..."


    In less than a moment, of the ten people who had gone on stage, one after another left until only Xu Mingliang, Cheng Fei, Xia Liu, and Mo Wanqing remained.


    "Do the two of you need to think it over more?" Xu Mingliang asked smugly upon seeing that Xia Liu and Mo Wanqing had not left the stage.


    As for Cheng Fei, Xu Mingliang wasn''t worried; this guy didn''t even know there would be a round of attracting investors and was unprepared for success.


    "You''re pleased with yourself too soon," Mo Wanqing said with a slight smile, immediately reaching for her phone.


    "Aunt Qing, let me handle it." Xia Liu knew Mo Wanqing had her methods, but now he had a way to deal with it on his own.


    Mo Wanqing looked at Xia Liu with doubt for a moment, but eventually, she put down her phone. This guy could even defuse a bomb.


    Maybe he had a way to snatch this project.


    "Kid, I''m advising you to tuck your tail and scram. Scamming money isn''t done like this." Seeing Xia Liu stand up, Xu Mingliang scorned without mercy.


    "Haha! Come on down, bro."


    "Yeah, what luck to have registered a company right before the bid."


    "I think he really did come here to scam money."


    "Fifty-cent army, please, he has the full support of the Wanqing Group. Have any of you ever spoken to the CEO of the Wanqing Group?"


    "Exactly! I support Osmanthus Group going all out, at least they''re locals."


    "Excuse me, what does being a local matter? Money is king."


    Xu Mingliang''s words sparked a heated debate among the audience; some opposed Xia Liu, and some supported him.


    Fortunately, Li Zhong signaled for the crowd to quiet down, or things would''ve become chaotic.


    However, nobody noticed that Yang Tian and Huang Yilong''s expressions had already changed.


    The two of them were silent not because they were shocked deeply inside.


    They dared not forget, and they couldn''t forget even until death.


    At that time they had been tied up in the ship''s hold by pirates¡ªa good few dozen of them.


    Yet, in about two minutes, a man slaughtered all the pirates with an extremely brutal and bloody method.


    Blood drenched the ship, and they could still remember the moment of the pirates'' deaths.


    They didn''t feel sorry for the pirates; they wished they could''ve killed them with their own hands.


    But to actually witness the pirates being slaughtered, especially by those methods, they were terrified to their core.


    They could never have imagined, their nightmare having stopped only a few days ago, that today in this small county town they would once again meet the nightmare!


    The terrifying man who had killed dozens of pirates with his bare hands!


    "Young man, since you''re not giving up, then call out all the enterprises that support you," Feng Mingkun said arrogantly.


    ```


    He certainly didn''t think Xia Liu could actually summon someone, saying so was just a formality.


    "Xia Liu, just do your best," Li Zhong knew Xia Liu''s situation well, having persisted until now was already quite remarkable.


    Xia Liu didn''t respond to Li Zhong in front of everyone, but simply gave him a reassuring glance.


    Then he looked towards Yang Tian and Huang Yilong and said, "Brothers from Liu Hai, haven''t we met on some ship?"


    "Ah!"


    Upon hearing Xia Liu calling them, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong immediately started trembling.


    Ever since the day they were hijacked by pirates, the second generations on the ship had all seen Xia Liu and also knew about his alias, the Nether Emperor.


    They had seen for themselves his almost immortal-like tricks. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No one dared to forget Xia Liu, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong suddenly looked at each other, then spoke in unison, "Benefactor! You are here too!"


    As they spoke, both were sweating cold sweat down their backs, having just realized Xia Liu was present, and not greeting him immediately was disrespectful towards him.


    Now they could only pretend to have just noticed him.


    The people present were all somewhat surprised, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong actually called Xia Liu a benefactor, this was quite unusual.


    "Young Master Yang, Young Master Huang, what is this about?" Xu Mingliang, seeing that the situation was off, immediately inquired.


    "Young Master Xu, he is our lifesaver," Yang Tian replied seriously to Xu Mingliang.


    "Damn!" Xu Mingliang almost cursed out loud, if Xia Liu was the savior of these two groups, then wouldn''t he be doomed this time.


    "I just noticed, you two seemed to be supporting East Enterprise," Xia Liu said knowingly.


    "Benefactor! You must have seen wrong!"


    "Right, we never said that," Yang Tian and Huang Yilong both vehemently denied.


    Who was Xia Liu, leaving aside the pirate ship incident.


    He was the man who snatched a bride right from Ouyang Lingtian!


    Word had already spread from Liu Hai, Fang Fei had left with Xia Liu, and her family was even very happy about it.


    This damn well meant that Xia Liu had become the son-in-law of the Fang Family.


    The Fang Family!


    That was the lineage family that stood alongside the Ouyang Family as a titan of Liu Hai.


    And both families held other significant powers in their hands; to provoke these families was no different from being sentenced to death.


    Now that Xia Liu was the son-in-law of the Fang Family, going against him was definitely suicidal.


    One careless move, and if the Fang Family exerted their power in business, let Golden Origin Technology, let Xinxin Jewelry declare bankruptcy.


    Crack!


    The teacup in Xu Mingliang''s hand dropped to the ground, he couldn''t believe it; the backup friends group he had spent a fortune to call in was now turning against him.


    The audience below all widened their eyes, staring at Xia Liu and the group of three.


    "What''s going on here?"


    "Why do I feel like Yang Tian and Huang Yilong are very afraid of Xia Liu?"


    "Today really did come at the right time, it''s indeed exciting!"


    "Mingliang, what''s happening here?" Feng Mingkun asked puzzled.


    As Feng Mingkun''s words reached his ears, Xu Mingliang quickly came back to his senses, then said, "Young Master Yang, Young Master Huang, you can''t do this, this is different from what we agreed on."


    "Who are you? I don''t know you."


    "Exactly, who are you?"


    Remembering how Xu Mingliang had tried to show off in front of Xia Liu using his own status, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong felt nervous, this man still dared to question them, they could only try to bluff their way through...

 Chapter 290 The Unexpected Winner

    "Yang Tian, do you know him?""Damn! How could I possibly know him? Isn''t he someone you know?"


    "Damn it! I don''t know him either!"


    Seeing the hesitation among the crowd, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong continued to feign ignorance.


    This scene left everyone utterly dumbfounded.


    What the hell was going on? The two were just fine a moment ago, and now they looked like their brains had been fried by Professor Yang.


    Xu Mingliang was utterly baffled since he had spent five hundred thousand yesterday to treat the two to top models.


    Moreover, he had given each of them five million just to make them show up and state their position.


    If everything had gone according to plan, he would have given them another five million afterward.


    But now? Seeing Xia Liu acted more obediently than towards his own father. Damn it!


    "Hahaha! Why do I feel something hilariously funny?"


    "Hehe, you''re not the only one who feels it''s funny." Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    "How does that saying go? Act tough and get struck by lightning, today I''ve truly seen it."


    "Hahaha..."


    In the audience, looking at the two feigning ignorance and the stunned Xu Mingliang, countless people burst into laughter.


    "Xia Liu, what''s going on? You seem too familiar with them just to have met them briefly." Mo Wanqing was also surprised by this turn of events, very curious as to what interesting incident led Yang Tian and Huang Yilong to abandon Xu Mingliang, their friend.


    "It''s nothing, I just saved them once," Xia Liu responded quietly.


    "Host, I represent Golden Origin Technology to support him."


    "I also represent Xinxin Jewelry to support him."


    Huang Yilong and Yang Tian pointed at Xia Liu and spoke solemnly.


    "Pfft!"


    Feng Mingkun almost sprayed out blood, the speed of this betrayal in the plot was too fast; he was totally bewildered by the abrupt turn of events.


    Li Zhong laughed, truly, a young hero, he hadn''t misjudged Xia Liu.


    The audience was also shocked.


    The boat of friendship had capsized suddenly as the two investors invited by Xu Mingliang defected to support Xia Liu.


    They could already guess that if today''s events got out, Xu Mingliang would lose face for years. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cheng Fei''s eyes widened; he had thought Xu Mingliang was certain to win and was about to declare his support for him.


    But in less than a few minutes, the winner had shifted to Xia Liu.


    Xu Mingliang sat down in his chair in a daze.


    Everything was over. He had come out this time full of ambitions and had even made a bet with his family, giving himself thirty million and was sure to secure the project.


    If the thirty million failed to secure it, then he was willing to give up a quarter of his family fortune.


    Now it seemed he had lost, and lost miserably!


    "Plus my Wanqing Group, I wonder if this would suffice to assure the Osmanthus Group?"


    Seeing this, Mo Wanqing added fuel to the fire, completely shattering Feng Mingkun and Xu Mingiang''s schemes.


    "Heh, looking at the current situation, the Osmanthus Group has gained the trust and support of three major groups. Director Feng, how should we announce this now?"


    Li Zhong subtly hinted at Feng Mingkun.


    "What else? The competitors are gone, other than him who else can we declare?" Feng Mingkun yelled back.


    Hearing Feng Mingkun say this, Li Zhong laughed, and the final winner turned out to be Xia Liu indeed.


    "So now, I declare that this round of bidding has been won by Osmanthus Group!" Li Zhong quickly announced the result.


    Down in the audience, many people started clapping, this bidding was simply miraculous.


    Initially, no one believed that Osmanthus Group could win, yet they actually did.


    However, all eyes were on Xia Liu, everyone was curious about this young man''s background.


    Even the investors brought in by Xu Mingliang had switched sides, and with Mo Wanqing''s strong support, it was certainly not something an ordinary person could achieve.


    After Li Zhong announced the result, the venue quickly cleared out. Some people wanted to get to know Xia Liu, but in the end, they didn''t dare to because they had all mocked him before.


    Ye Yiming gave Xia Liu a glance, his lips curling into a sly smile before he left the theater. As for what he was thinking, no one knew.


    Cheng Fei and Xu Mingliang also left quickly; they couldn''t afford to lose any more face.


    Especially Xu Mingliang, he didn''t dare speak about Yang Tian and Huang Yilong''s defection.


    The former were well-known enterprises in Liu Hai City, if he really provoked them, East Enterprise could face significant trouble.


    "Congratulations, Xia Liu." After everyone had left, Li Zhong and two others came over to congratulate Xia Liu.


    "Uncle Zhong, this is what I should do; Hejing''s future must be planned and developed by those who belong here."


    "Well said! I''m going back to write a report, and we''ll talk more in detail later." Li Zhong patted Xia Liu on the shoulder and left with his companions.


    "Xia Liu, I also want to congratulate you. In a few years, your achievements will be known nationwide,"


    Mo Wanqing knew the developmental value of the Eastern District, which involved cooperation at the county level or even higher. In the future, the land there would likely belong to Xia Liu and if Hejing develops, it would surely be worth its weight in gold.


    "Hey, being famous nationwide is nothing, as long as the whole world knows about Hejing," Xia Liu waved his hand indifferently.


    ...


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong almost fell to the ground; Xia Liu was really going all out with his act,


    "Heh, no matter what, I support you. I''ll continue to watch, and I will give you a surprise when the construction starts."


    Mo Wanqing knew Xia Liu''s character, and didn''t find his promises strange. After making her promise, she left.


    The scene was left with just Yang Tian, Huang Yilong, and Xia Liu.


    Without any instruction from Xia Liu, neither of them dared to move a step.


    "I heard you say that you''re going to support Osmanthus Group vigorously," Xia Liu said with a devilish smile, now that no one was around.


    "Damn!" Yang Tian and Huang Yilong inwardly groaned, Xia Liu was clearly setting a financial trap.


    "Of course! As long as the benefactor commands, we will definitely go through fire and water!"


    Both promised earnestly.


    "Going through fire and water won''t be necessary for you, but as you know, I now need a little¡­" Xia Liu didn''t finish his sentence and winked at them both.


    "Damn it!"


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong nearly cried; this trip turned out to be a loss of both wife and troops. Had they known that this killer god was here, they wouldn''t have dared to come even for a billion.


    "Benefactor, I have thirty million in savings. I will donate it all to the project," Yang Tian said weakly after thinking it over.


    Before Huang Yilong could speak, Xia Liu asked suspiciously, "Only thirty million?"


    "Wait! I just remembered, I have another twenty million, that''s fifty million total!"


    "Benefactor, I also have fifty million in savings, which I will now donate to the project."


    "Heh, then on behalf of Osmanthus Group, I thank you for your support," Xia Liu wrapped things up and then provided the two men with the account numbers to which they should transfer the money.


    After the transfer was completed, Xia Liu planned to invite them to dinner, but before he could even open his car door, a mocking voice came, "What? Had the winning bid and thought you could just leave?"

 Chapter 291 Grant You a Fortune!

    The three of them turned to look, only to see a young man striding over with reckless abandon.Xia Liu had a very strong impression of this youth.


    The young master of Ye Group, Ye Yiming, whose cultivation had reached the peak of Mysterious Rank.


    "Hahaha! What a joke, my benefactor becomes the winner, and you still want to snatch it away?" Yang Tian burst into wild laughter.


    Xia Liu, such a terrifying fellow, and there were still people who were so blind as to trouble him¡ªthis was simply seeking death.


    "You''re still young, scram back home, or you''ll regret it for half your life," Huang Yilong also cooperated very well.


    Xia Liu didn''t say a word; he guessed why Ye Yiming had come to block him.


    He just hoped the man wouldn''t go too far; otherwise, a Mysterious Rank peak would only get crushed!


    "I''ll deal with you two later. Right now, I''m giving you one chance, hand over the project to me."


    Ye Yiming pointed his finger at Xia Liu, determined to wrest control of the Eastern District''s development rights this time.


    Just this one Eastern District alone could generate a long and steady stream of income, and in the future, whether it was the Southern District, Northern District, or even near the county town, those places were definitely ripe for development.


    Thus, whoever obtained the development rights to the Eastern District wouldn''t have to worry about their future.


    "I really want to know, are you set on building Hejing, or is it just for the money?" Xia Liu asked indifferently.


    "If I tell you the truth, what about it? I''m in it for the money, and when the time comes, I''ll just put together anything," replied Ye Yiming.


    "I see. The Ye Group should be very rich, so why do you still want to come here to make money?" Xia Liu couldn''t understand; a Mysterious Rank Peak Martial Artist obsessed with money felt abnormal.


    "You wouldn''t understand the reason even if I told you. Seeing how you''re asking, you must have made up your mind," said Ye Yiming without continuing to answer Xia Liu, because that was not a realm a common person could involve themselves in.


    "Yeah, I''ve decided, no," Xia Liu nodded with a smile.


    "Fuck! Then I''ll beat you until you agree!" Ye Yiming was furious, his anger surging as he strode toward Xia Liu.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong were somewhat surprised.


    This Ye Yiming truly came to rob Xia Liu, and he was aggressive about it too.


    Now this would be interesting to watch. With Xia Liu''s ghostly quick speed, who could stop him?


    They would never forget how Xia Liu casually slapped the chests of those pirates, leaving them with a hole in their chest or with a cracked sternum.


    That such a ferocious man could still be offended was simply terrifying.


    "Do you know? Once, someone just like you postured in front of me," Xia Liu said.


    "And what happened?"


    "In the end, no one was there to trim the grass on their grave," Xia Liu replied.


    "Motherfucker!" Upon hearing Xia Liu''s mocking words, Ye Yiming completely lost it!


    He instantly gathered his Inner Qi, and the oppressive might of a Mysterious Rank Peak Martial Artist spilled out all around.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong felt it most palpably; they couldn''t bear the pressure and immediately fell to the ground.


    Otherwise, they couldn''t breathe, feeling as if the organs inside their bodies were being weighed down.


    The stone slabs couldn''t withstand the furious Ye Yiming; with every step he took, they would shatter.


    Seeing Ye Yiming like this, Xia Liu shook his head helplessly.


    In these times, Martial Artists indeed ran amok, and if he didn''t have the power to suppress this man today, the outcome would be unimaginably bad.


    Since it was so, Xia Liu could only fight violence with violence!


    "Die for me!" As Ye Yiming reached Xia Liu, he roared and threw a furious punch at him!


    Bang!


    A muffled sound followed, and then three pairs of pupils sharply constricted.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong, although they had witnessed Xia Liu''s strength before, they had been brought to the ground by Ye Yiming''s imposing pressure just now.


    They thought Ye Yiming was more ferocious than Xia Liu, but they didn''t expect that Xia Liu could catch Ye Yiming''s fist just by opening his palm!


    Huang Yilong and Yang Tian were not martial artists; they couldn''t feel Ye Yiming''s thoughts.


    At that moment, Ye Yiming had only one thought in his mind, and that was to flee! The farther, the better.


    To be able to stand after receiving his punch with five layers of inner qi and to be unharmed, what did that indicate?


    The opponent was definitely an Earth-Rank Warrior!


    An Earth-Rank Warrior, the strongest below a Heaven Rank.


    Since Heaven-Rank Warriors had disappeared from the Warrior Realm a long time ago, Earth-Rank Warriors had become the overlords!


    Ye Yiming couldn''t believe he had provoked an Earth-Rank overlord!


    He vividly remembered the words Xia Liu had just said, about no one to trim the grass on the grave of those who dare show off in front of him.


    "So you''re arrogant? You''ve probably always been like this since you were young, I can guess that you''ve used your cultivation to bully many people," Xia Liu said solemnly while holding Ye Yiming''s fist.


    "Senior, please spare my life! I was blind not to recognize Mount Tai, please give me a chance to make amends."


    Ye Yiming''s face was filled with the look of mourning, and his voice was trembling incessantly.


    The world of martial artists was different from that of ordinary people; if a Low-Rank Warrior dared to provoke a High-Rank Warrior, death could be as quick as a blink of an eye.


    And now, Ye Yiming was walking on the edge of death. He understood that he could die at any moment if Xia Liu wished it.


    "Heh, I''ve already given you several chances, but you didn''t know how to cherish them. Now, I''ll give you a transformation, letting you return to being an ordinary person!" Xia Liu said with a sinister smile on his face. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at the wicked smile on Xia Liu''s face, Ye Yiming was petrified with fear.


    "Ah!"


    Before Ye Yiming could beg for mercy, Xia Liu twisted his hand, turning it into a full circle.


    The arm that looked like it was twisted like a piece of clothing, with its contorted shape, filled Yang Tian and Huang Yilong with immense fear.


    They had evidently witnessed, again, Xia Liu''s brutal methods.


    However, for some reason, along with fear, they felt a sense of elation.


    Maybe it was because Ye Yiming had been too arrogant just now, and seeing him being taught a lesson felt satisfying.


    The screams didn''t last long before Xia Liu''s other hand also began to move, with spiritual energy coursing through his meridians and his palm furiously turning.


    "Ah! My hands!"


    The horrific screams echoed once again, and large sweat beads formed on Ye Yiming''s forehead.


    He was frightened, he trembled.


    He had never suffered such a severe injury before, since starting martial arts at the age of ten, he had always been the one bullying others.


    He could never have imagined that one day his hands would be ruined!


    The pain penetrated deep into his soul; he wished he could rewind time to avoid meeting Xia Liu, perhaps that could change his life.


    But the world isn''t filled with so many ''perhapses,'' and there is no medicine for regret.


    While Ye Yiming was in fear, Xia Liu''s fingers condensed and pointed at Ye Yiming''s dantian with extreme speed.


    Boom!


    A burst of bright red exploded from Ye Yiming''s dantian, and invisibly, massive inner qi continuously leaked out.


    Ye Yiming had long since lost his voice, and from the moment his dantian shattered and his inner qi leaked out, his heart was already dead, his body couldn''t hold up.


    Looking at the unconscious Ye Yiming, Xia Liu took out his phone and called the hospital to send an ambulance. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Benefactor, is he not dead?" After their shock, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong asked weakly.


    "Damn, killing people is illegal, how could I, as a good citizen, kill someone."

 Chapter 292 Another Creation

    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva, repeating in their minds, "Damn! Damn! Damn!"Xia Liu actually claimed himself as a good citizen!


    And he said he wouldn''t kill anyone, despite them seeing that whole ship of pirates numbering over a hundred!


    They had just witnessed a brutal episode!


    To Xia Liu, killing seemed as natural as eating or drinking water. If he desired, Ye Yiming could be dead at any moment...


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong''s backs were soaked with cold sweat, remembering that Xia Liu had invited them to a meal.


    They might have had an excuse to leave earlier, but now they dared not leave.


    They had driven their own cars over, so they followed Xia Liu''s car leisurely to the restaurant.


    As for Ye Yiming, they didn''t care about him or feel sympathy for him.


    In the car, Xia Liu shook the hand he had used to block Ye Yiming''s punch.


    Although he had summoned some Spiritual Energy earlier, his hand still felt a bit spicy. After all, he was at the Peak of the Mysterious Rank, just one step away from the Earth Rank.


    Xia Liu estimated that without unsealing his powers, his cultivation was about comparable to the Mid-Level Mysterious Rank. However, Spiritual Energy was more advanced than Inner Qi, so it should match up to the Peak of the Mysterious Rank. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking back at the incident, Xia Liu felt regretful. In the future, he couldn''t be so careless. If Ye Yiming concentrated all his Inner Qi in his punch, recklessly blocking it could have resulted in injuries.


    Xia Liu took Yang Tian and Huang Yilong back to the Longteng Hotel.


    These two had donated a billion to the development project in the Eastern District. Not treating them to a meal would have been somewhat remiss.


    Thus, Xia Liu booked a private room and allowed them to order dishes and drinks freely.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong felt awkward, unsure how to order dishes in front of Xia Liu.


    Eventually, being to polite to refuse, they ordered the cheapest dishes on the menu.


    When they entered the hotel earlier, they had heard staff addressing Xia Liu as "Chairman."


    Clearly, he was the boss here, and if they ordered expensive dishes and upset him, they could end up being coerced into making a donation. That would be damn annoying.


    During the meal, Fang Fei and Huang Xue knocked and entered. They hadn''t been able to wake up earlier but, hearing from the staff that Xia Liu was here, they hurried over to apologize.


    "Sister Fang, Xue''er, you''re up," Xia Liu greeted.


    "Sorry, Xia Liu, we didn''t join you for the bidding today," Fang Fei apologized.


    "Me too, how did it go? Did we win it?" asked Huang Xue.


    Upon seeing Xia Liu, the two women immediately started apologizing.


    "Of course we won, but I have to thank these two friends here," Xia Liu said, pointing towards Yang Tian and Huang Yilong.


    "Oh, isn''t that Yang Tian and... what''s his name? I forgot," Fang Fei said, puzzled upon seeing them.


    If she hadn''t lost her memory, these guys should have been in Liu Hai, not at Hejing.


    "Miss Fang, I''m Huang Yilong. I didn''t expect to see you here," Huang Yilong awkwardly greeted.


    "Hmm, quite a coincidence, really, thank you for helping Xia Liu get the development rights," Fang Fei nodded her head lightly, responding politely to Huang Yilong.


    "Miss Fang, please don''t be too formal with us. Being able to help our benefactor is truly our blessing," Yang Tian said with a grateful smile.


    Internally, he was already crying tears of despair. If he had known this trip would cost them fifty million for nothing, who the hell would have come here?


    "Hehe, Xia Liu, you''re amazing. Could you tell me and Sister Fang about the bidding process?" Huang Xue asked, her eyes wide with excitement.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong looked at Huang Xue, then at Fang Fei and Xia Liu, and couldn''t help but feel envious.


    They could easily see the relationship Xia Liu had with the two women.


    One stunning to perfection, surpassing even a Heavenly Immortal, and another alluring and mature, holding a distinguished status.


    Either of them alone was enough to drive the men of the entire city mad, but now it seemed they had both been recruited by Xia Liu.


    While sighing, Yang Tian stepped forward to shine, detailing the bidding process thoroughly.


    As Yang Tian finished speaking, two more girls entered the private room, Li Qianqian and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Oh, we have guests?" Both girls blinked their large eyes and said somewhat awkwardly.


    "Damn! Damn! Damn!"


    Seeing Li Qianqian and Zhang Xiaoxue entering, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong felt as if Xia Liu had just force-fed them ten thousand tons of dog food.


    Having two such women was already defying the heavens, and now there were two more.


    But that wasn''t all; they also got along very well.


    The most freaking crucial point was that they were all top-notch beauties.


    They had the figures and the faces.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong felt like they had wasted their more than twenty years of life.


    It''s true they were wealthy, but compared to Xia Liu, they were mere dirt.


    "Xiaoxue, why are you up too?"


    "Sister Fang, Sister Xue''er, our office isn''t set up yet, so we need to hurry over," Zhang Xiaoxue said with a smile.


    "Oh right! I almost forgot," Huang Xue said, slapping her forehead.


    "Hehe, then, Xia Liu, you guys go ahead and eat. My sisters and I will head off to work," Fang Fei said as she left with the three girls.


    "Benefactor, I really want to kneel before you and beg you to teach me the art of picking up girls!" Yang Tian said to Xia Liu, his eyes trembling.


    "Ha! Sure, as long as the tuition is paid in full, I guarantee beauties will flock to you," Xia Liu said with a cheerful smile.


    Damn!


    At those words, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong instantly went quiet.


    Just walking into Hejing meant casually losing fifty million, if learning the skills to pick up girls, without ten or twenty billion, it might be tough.


    If they were willing to spend that much, they could just hook up with a hundred third-tier actresses and even make them pretend to get along well.


    Sigh, thinking of these things, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong could only silently swallow their tears.


    Xia Liu wasn''t going to scam Yang Tian and Huang Yilong over this meal. Earlier, they had been too scared to order the expensive dishes.


    But feeling guilty, Xia Liu had many fine dishes served and ordered a lot of high-end liquor.


    After all, they''d spent a billion on this meal, they had to order the good stuff.


    During the meal, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong were extremely nervous, afraid they might be schemed against by Xia Liu again, but thankfully, nothing happened in the end.


    "Then, benefactor, thank you for your hospitality. Yilong and I will head back first," Yang Tian and Huang Yilong said, not daring to stay with Xia Liu anymore, since they had no idea what they might be tricked into next.


    "Don''t rush off, guys. I''d like to offer you a fortune," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    "Fortune!"


    At that word, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong''s hairs stood on end¡ªthey hadn''t forgotten. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    Just now Xia Liu had said the same thing to Ye Yiming, and now it was uncertain if Ye Yiming would live to see tomorrow''s sun.


    Facing the word "fortune," both men were deeply terrified.


    "Benefactor! Please, we beg you, we won''t dare again!" Yang Tian and Huang Yilong looked at each other and immediately knelt in front of Xia Liu.


    Now they had cast aside all dignity, hoping only to preserve a way out and stay healthy.

 Chapter 293 Regional Agent [Fifth Update]

    "What are you two doing, get up quickly," Xia Liu hurriedly helped them up, it was very public after all.Getting seen by others, they might think he was bullying the two of them.


    "Brother, we know we were wrong, really wrong, we definitely won''t step foot in Hejing again,"


    "No, I won''t even set foot in Binlai City!"


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong said with bitter faces.


    "Don''t misunderstand, this opportunity and Ye Yiming''s are different,"


    Recalling his own words just now, Xia Liu began to explain a bit more.


    "Eh, what do you mean?" Yang Tian and Huang Yilong looked at Xia Liu, puzzled.


    As long as it''s different from Ye Yiming, that''s fine; if it were the same, ten lives wouldn''t be enough to die here.


    "I have a distillery, you know, and I plan to look for regional agents. You two have been around Liu Hai City for so many years, I feel you''re up to the task,"


    Xia Liu then laid out his idea.


    "A distillery?" The two of them looked at Xia Liu, puzzled, not quite understanding what he meant. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    "It''s not very clear to explain like this, follow me to the distillery and take a look, then you can make a decision,"


    Having witnessed Xia Liu''s capabilities, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong didn''t dare entertain any thoughts of running away.


    You may run from the monk, but not from the temple, unless they went abroad to wander; otherwise, Xia Liu would definitely be able to find them.


    After that, the two of them drove after Xia Liu headed to Osmanthus Village.


    Seeing Osmanthus Village for the first time, they were stunned by everything before them.


    Especially the row upon row of gorgeously styled villas, which from a distance, looked like a bunch of castles.


    The most magnificent of them was the one on the cliff, which indeed looked like something out of a myth.


    As the car entered Osmanthus Village, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong couldn''t help but lament, such an environment, even living here for a day would make them uncomfortable.


    But what they couldn''t figure out was, from such a village, someone as heaven-defying as Xia Liu emerged.


    Maybe there''s more than one Xia Liu in this village.


    At the thought, the two began to shiver.


    Outside the distillery, three cars stopped one after another.


    As soon as they opened the car doors, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong smelled a strong fragrance of alcohol.


    "This scent of alcohol is simply too good, there''s the smell of osmanthus, and it seems like there are herbs, sweet potatoes, red dates..." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Idiot, that''s an exaggeration. With your nose, appreciating wine? If we put you in a toilet could you tell what kind of food there is?" Seeing Yang Tian''s pretentious look, Huang Yilong immediately started to mock him.


    "Damn it! What do you know! This is our benefactor''s distillery, and this wine aroma is not something mere mortals can smell," Yang Tian retorted unhappily.


    "Haha, don''t make me out to be something so miraculous, I''m human just like the rest of you," said Xia Liu as he led the two into the distillery.


    At that moment, a truck was picking up alcohol in the medicinal wine area. Xiao Hu and a few young people were carefully checking it.


    The winemaking area, on the other hand, was relatively quiet.


    The villagers, led by Uncle Li, were all working diligently.


    They certainly hadn''t forgotten that just yesterday, one worker got greedy and drank some of the alcohol, after which Uncle Li locked him up tight, banning him from the distillery for a month.


    The effect of killing the chicken to scare the monkey was immediate, and no other villagers dared sneak drinks of Osmanthus Wine while on the job.


    "What are they doing over there?" Seeing the alcohol being drawn from the tanks, Yang Tian asked in confusion.


    "That''s the medicinal wine, you''ve heard of Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s medicinal wines, right?" Xia Liu explained unhurriedly.


    "Tianluo Pharmaceutical! You mean the Vigor Wine!"


    "I''ve heard about it, but I never managed to buy any!"


    "Could it be that Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s medicinal wines all come from here?"


    The two of them stared at Xia Liu excitedly. If it was true, this guy was amazing.


    Xia Liu nodded. Few knew about the origins of Tianluo Pharmaceutical''s medicinal wines; everyone thought they were a product of Tianluo Pharmaceutical itself. If people knew they were from his place, many would surely come knocking for a bottle.


    "You rock, man!"


    "Oh my god!"


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong almost knelt down for Xia Liu again.


    Medicinal wine from Tianluo Pharmaceutical! Not only is it affordable, but the effects are also incredible. However, not everyone can get their hands on it.


    You have to line up to buy it. There have even been news stories about people being paid three thousand a day to queue up for the wealthy to get this medicinal wine.


    Both of them had dealt with a lot of merchandise and their health was no longer what it had been; it was a pity they had never managed to purchase it. Now, seeing the pioneer of the medicinal wine right in front of them, how could they not be thrilled?


    "If you two need some, I can scoop some out for you later," Xia Liu offered generously.


    "Thank you, benefactor!"


    The two spoke in unison.


    "All right, I''ll take you to see something even more amazing."


    Medicinal wine is one thing, while it doesn''t have many side effects, long-term use could lead to dependence. Once someone stops using it, they can''t achieve the same effects as when they were drinking it regularly, and they will surely continue to drink it.


    Too bad they didn''t realize that themselves, ten or twenty minutes would be enough.


    Osmanthus Wine is different; it can extend one''s lifespan and the more you drink, the healthier you become. It''s a pure, traditionally brewed wine.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong were seeing this old-school brewing method for the first time and started looking around curiously.


    "Xia Liu, you''re here. Who are these two?" Seeing Xia Liu bringing people over, Uncle Li immediately came up to greet them.


    "They''re my friends. They came over to check out the Osmanthus Wine and plan to sell it in their city later on."


    "I see, bosses just like you."


    "Haha, Uncle Li loves to joke."


    After a brief chat and laughter, Uncle Li led Xia Liu towards the wine storage pool.


    "You two, try the taste of the Osmanthus Wine." Xia Liu handed two cups to Yang Tian and Huang Yilong, letting them scoop for themselves.


    They didn''t hesitate and started scooping wine from the pool into their cups.


    This scene made the villagers working nearby envious; they all swallowed hard, wishing they too could have a taste.


    Seeing the villagers'' envious gazes, Yang Tian was slightly puzzled but then he began to savor the wine in his cup meticulously.


    "Hm? This flavor!" Yang Tian''s eyes widened as he took a small sip of the Osmanthus Wine.


    He had never tasted such good wine. It was refreshing upon entering the mouth and as it went down the throat, it felt like a sweet stream flowing through.


    The sweetness was laced with the taste of alcohol, along with a few other indescribable and delightful flavors.


    "Awesome! This wine is too good!" Huang Yilong, more straightforward, finished his cup in a few gulps and excitedly gave a thumbs up.


    "My friend, this wine is extraordinary, not like anything from the Mortal World. It has hints of Jade Dew Nectar!"


    "Damn, culture really makes a difference. My friend, this wine is better than any other wine in the world! I stake my life on it!"


    Seeing Yang Tian showing off, Huang Yilong spoke candidly and seriously.


    "Hehe, you can put down your glasses now if it suits you. This wine is quite precious." Seeing that the two were eager to scoop more, Xia Liu promptly reminded them.


    "Er, sorry, we got carried away by this Divine Wine." The two apologized, scratching their heads.

 Chapter 294 No matter who it is, I will make him die.

    "It''s not your fault, people who like drinking will inevitably want more once they encounter this wine," Xia Liu remarked thoughtfully. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire"Now that we''ve had our drink, let''s discuss the important matters," he suggested. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Important matters!"


    Seeing Xia Liu''s serious expression, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong swallowed nervously. Was Xia Liu about to start duping them?


    The worried duo followed Xia Liu outside and eventually drove to the village entrance.


    "What is this place?"


    As they had passed by earlier, both had wondered why such a large house was at the entrance of the village.


    "This is a liquor packaging factory." With that, Xia Liu led them inside for a tour.


    "Benefactor! Are you asking us to be regional distributors?" Yang Tian suddenly remembered what Xia Liu had mentioned in the county and exclaimed in astonishment.


    "Indeed, this Osmanthus Wine will definitely be hugely popular. Considering you donated to the project, I''m handing over Liuhai City''s sales to you two."


    "Wow!"


    The two screamed in excitement. This Osmanthus Wine was more delicious than any other wine in the world.


    If this product hit the market, one could already envision the frenzy it would cause.


    If they really became regional distributors, they wouldn''t need to worry about their lives anymore just by taking a little commission.


    This was indeed a stroke of luck!


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong felt a surge of excitement.


    "The packaging factory has not officially started yet, but if nothing goes wrong, it will begin by the end of the month. Then, the Osmanthus Wine will be on the market."


    "Once this wine hits the market, it is bound to explode in popularity!" Yang Tian agreed.


    "Hehe, of course. I brought you here mainly to let you understand the production and packaging better for when you promote it."


    "Got it. Could the benefactor show us the packaging too, so we can promote it heavily back home?"


    Xia Liu nodded and led them into the packaging workshop, focusing especially on the packaging bottles and trademarks.


    Seeing the 500 ml bottles, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong were puzzled.


    Filling such large bottles with this wine seemed like it would be a financial loss.


    "Benefactor, I think these bottles are a bit too big. Smaller ones would definitely sell better," Huang Yilong suggested boldly.


    "That''s not necessary. After all, at fifty thousand a bottle, we need to offer something substantial to convince consumers."


    "Holy shit! Fifty thousand a bottle!"


    Upon hearing the price, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong were completely astonished.


    Even imported fine wines might not reach this price, yet Xia Liu had set such a high price!


    Scary! Scary!


    "Fifty thousand a bottle is already quite cheap. Osmanthus Wine is positioned as understated luxury," Xia Liu explained with a smile.


    "Mmm hmm, benefactor is right. I also think it should be sold at this price. It''s almost divine like the Jade Dew Nectar, and fifty thousand a bottle might even undervalue it," Yang Tian commented earnestly, recalling the taste of the Osmanthus Wine.


    "Hey, why do I feel some heat in my lower abdomen, and my vision has become clearer?" During the tour of the packaging factory, Yang Tian suddenly noticed a change in his body.


    Especially feeling lighter than before, as if he had unknowingly shaken off a heavy feeling, he felt his entire body was filled with energy.


    "Damn! You feel that too? I feel like running a lap or doing some exercise," Huang Yilong had been experiencing this sensation since they entered the factory but hadn''t mentioned it.


    "Don''t worry, this is all the aftereffect of the Osmanthus Wine, which will make your bodies healthier and also has some medicinal wine effects."


    "Fitness!"


    "Medicinal wine!"


    Hearing these two effects, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong almost jumped up.


    This was the wine they had always wanted to buy!


    "Thank you, benefactor, for giving us this opportunity," they both exclaimed in unison.


    "Thank yourselves, each of you will take ten bottles to bottle the Osmanthus Wine, then take it back and promote it. Once the distillery starts officially, I will call you," he said.


    "Hehe! Thanks again, benefactor!"


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong couldn''t stop smiling, knowing that the sales of Osmanthus Wine in Liu Hai City were in their hands, they were destined to make a fortune.


    "Oh, and one more thing, the sale price of the Osmanthus Wine must be fifty thousand, no matter who buys it," he added.


    "Understood, even if it''s the last bottle, I will sell it according to the principle," one of them replied.


    "Me too," the other said.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong both solemnly assured.


    "Also, when you come to transport the wine back, forty thousand a bottle will do," he mentioned.


    "Is that really true?" they asked.


    "Yes, of course, it''s true," he affirmed.


    "Hahaha! Thank you, benefactor!"


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong couldn''t control their laughter.


    Osmanthus Wine, destined to be the nation''s blockbuster health wine, forty thousand a bottle, and selling for fifty thousand, they would make ten thousand a bottle!


    This might not be as explosive as medicated wine, but it would definitely be a hot seller.


    Selling ten thousand bottles a month, they could make a billion!


    That was just an estimate; what if they sold a hundred thousand bottles!


    The two didn''t dare to imagine further, the smiles on their faces said it all.


    Watching their excited demeanors, Xia Liu also began to smile.


    Speaking honestly, he was actually afraid of failure, the Osmanthus Wine was great, but knowledgeable people would certainly be few.


    It couldn''t really be called failure, but if he handled it himself, the speed of its popularity would definitely be slow.


    Handled by Yang Tian and Huang Yilong, the effect would definitely be different, it might even become popular before it officially hit the shelves.


    All these depended on luck, Xia Liu didn''t dare to conclude.


    After settling everything, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong did not stay longer, leaving Hejing with ten full bottles of Osmanthus Wine.


    Xia Liu called Zhang Xiaoxue, learned that the women were organizing the company, and immediately drove to help.


    Late at night, in a special VIP room of the county hospital, Ye Yiming lay on the bed, his eyes listlessly staring at the ceiling.


    His abdomen was wrapped in thick gauze, and both arms were even bound in plaster.


    Suddenly, the room door opened, and a man about forty years old hurried in.


    "Yiming! How are you! Who did this? Don''t scare me!" Ye Jingming felt his heart breaking at the sight of his brother''s condition.


    He had adored this talented and promising younger brother since childhood, and over the years, his brother had started companies and earned money, most of which he had used for his cultivation.


    Seeing his brother in this state now, how could Ye Jingming not be furious?


    "Who did this!" Spotting a doctor standing by, Ye Jingming grabbed the doctor''s neck with one hand, his overwhelming energy unrestrained.


    The masked doctor''s eyes widened instantly, his words stuck in his throat.


    "Brother, let him go for now," the noise at the bedside finally snapped Ye Yiming back to reality.


    Ye Jingming immediately threw the doctor out of the room and then gently approached the bedside.


    "Yiming, don''t be afraid, with brother here, no matter who he is, I will make him pay with his life!"

 Chapter 295 Must Kill in Five Days

    "Brother, don''t be angry, the opponent is a master." Seeing his brother so agitated, Ye Yiming weakly said, enduring the pain."Tell me what happened," Ye Jingming guessed that it was a master, and it might even be an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    This younger brother of his was at the peak of the Mysterious Rank. Besides Earth-Rank Warriors, who else in the world had the ability to harm him.


    "I came to Hejing mainly because of a bid¡­"


    Seeing his brother calm down, Ye Yiming then recounted everything that had happened.


    Half an hour later, Ye Jingming''s face was filled with solemnity.


    The fact that the opponent could take a punch from his brother, who was at the fifth level of cultivation power,, and remain unfazed indicated that the opponent definitely was high-ranked! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right, I heard someone say his name seems to be Xia Liu." As Ye Yiming mentioned this name, he immediately clenched his teeth tightly.


    He would never forget Xia Liu''s appearance!


    "Xia Liu! Good, I''ll remember him," A red vastness flashed in Ye Jingming''s eyes as the intent to kill lay hidden within him.


    "Right, Yiming, I somehow can''t feel your energy, what''s going on?" Ye Jingming thought it over and still asked.


    According to his brother, Xia Liu had disabled his arms without giving him any chance to fight back, but how could his Inner Qi also be missing?


    Actually, Ye Yiming had refrained from telling his brother about his ruptured dantian because he feared his brother would lose his composure.


    "Brother, my dantian was punctured by him¡­" After pondering for a while, Ye Yiming revealed it.


    "What!"


    Hearing this news, which was like a calamity, Ye Jingming''s expression changed immediately.


    If earlier he was containing himself, not wanting to show his intent to kill in front of his brother, now he completely let go, and the imposing pressure of an Earth-Rank Warrior filled the air around him.


    The surrounding space was filled with a sense of oppression.


    "Cough cough¡­" Unable to withstand the pressure of an Earth-Rank Warrior, Ye Yiming coughed out a thick mouthful of blood.


    "Yiming! Are you alright!" Seeing his brother spit blood, Ye Jingming was incredibly heartbroken.


    He had just feared that he might not be able to control himself, and it turned out just as he had feared.


    "I''m fine, brother., Xia Liu is a high-ranked Earth-Rank Warrior, don''t rush into action just yet."


    "I know, but trust me, brother, I will bring his head to you!" Ye Jingming looked up at the ceiling, holding back his tears from falling.


    "Brother, with your words, I feel at ease. Although I can no longer cultivate, I can earn money, earn money to buy you Spirit Grass and cultivation resources."


    "You rest well, we''ll return to Binlai City tomorrow." Ye Jingming forced a smile and instructed before leaving the sickroom.


    As an Earth-Rank Warrior, Ye Jingming knew the strength of Earth-Rank Warriors, so he wouldn''t easily confront Xia Liu.


    If Xia Liu became alert, then killing him would be even more difficult.


    "Xia Liu, right? I will kill you within five days!" Looking into the pitch-black night sky, Ye Jingming clenched his fists tight.


    The next morning, Xia Liu opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw were several figures in white.


    Surrounding him were rows of office areas, with several large characters engraved in the center of the main hall: Osmanthus Group!


    Indeed, after arriving here yesterday and having dinner with the women, Fang Fei locked the company''s door.


    What followed was an office vendetta, and in the end, they were the ones to surrender.


    "My back is so sore¡­" Not long after Xia Liu got up to wash up, Fang Fei also woke up.


    She had been continuously doing sit-ups for half an hour, but eventually, she surrendered obediently.


    "Feifei, you had it easier than me, my mouth is almost blistered," Zhang Qing recalled the experience, her face inevitably turning gloomy.


    "Sister Zhang, it''s almost the same for me, later we should really go and ask Xia Liu for compensation," Huang Xue complained incessantly.


    "I felt like I had died several times," Gu Fangxia said with a bitter face.


    "Ah, who can blame us for not being as young as Qianqian and Xiaoxue? Look at them, nothing bothers them, and they sleep so soundly." Fang Fei said enviously, watching Li Qianqian and Zhang Xiaoxue lying on the ground.


    "Sister Fang, it''s unfair to Qianqian and Xue''er really, they actually fainted last night."


    While the four women were complaining, Xia Liu leisurely walked out of the restroom.


    "Okay, I wronged them, but you, you jerk, can''t you be a bit weaker? We sisters nearly died," Fang Fei said, her eyes trembling as she looked at Xia Liu.


    "Of course not, if I were weaker, how would I take care of all of you?"


    "Wailing, it seems we need to find some more sisters," Huang Xue said with a mournful face.


    "I support that."


    "I support it too. With two more sisters, this guy is definitely doomed!"


    Hearing what the women said, Xia Liu just touched his nose, smiled, and remained silent.


    "Hey, hey, what''s with that look? Are you thinking about it now?" Fang Fei said a bit fearfully, noticing Xia Liu continuously glancing at her.


    "Hehe, I''m about to go out for a bit. Uncle Zhong is taking me to check out the situation in the Eastern District."


    "Well, you better hurry then," Fang Fei said, breathing a sigh of relief upon hearing Xia Liu''s words.


    The others felt similarly; they still felt burning sensations. If Xia Liu didn''t leave soon, no work would get done today; they might as well just lie down.


    "But there are still two hours left until the appointed time."


    "Oh my! Just that much time left? You better hurry over, don''t be late!"


    "Right! Two hours is enough for you to have breakfast; don''t go on an empty stomach."


    "Exactly, don''t make my dad wait; otherwise, he will be upset."


    ...


    Faced with the women''s remarks, Xia Liu, even if he wanted to do something, couldn''t bear to continue.


    He left the office area after giving a few instructions.


    The location of the Heaven and Earth Building is near the Longyun Hotel, and the decorations are quite decent. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    The reason the sisters are busy is that they want to decorate the office area to give it a personal touch.


    Once the Eastern District starts developing, they will definitely need to recruit more talent.


    And the Osmanthus Group has more projects than just the Eastern District, according to Xia Liu''s plans.


    He plans on incorporating both the distillery and the hotel into the group''s management so everyone can relax thoroughly.


    After all, the money will be distributed according to the shareholding system.


    An hour later, Li Zhong and a few others drove to the Longyun Hotel. After breakfast, they walked to the area being planned.


    Two kilometers away from the Longyun Hotel, the surroundings were rather empty of buildings, except for houses that sprang up along the highway.


    The Eastern District area still looked mostly like farmland and barren land.


    Li Zhong had someone hand over the design plans to Xia Liu, and then they all began to discuss and study it together.


    The most touching and satisfactory part of the project for Li Zhong was that in this area, many housing units were to be built.


    And the residents for these units would be the mountain people who obtained quotas.


    Li Zhong walked many mountain paths and witnessed those impoverished lives.


    "If we migrate on such a large scale, the county town''s employment rate won''t withstand it." Hearing Li Zhong lay out the migration plans, Xia Liu began to think...

 Chapter 296 Industrial Zone!

    "Yes, unemployment is a serious issue." Li Zhong had certainly thought about these things, but if they didn''t relocate,leaving the villagers deep in the mountains would surely result in substandard education for the younger generation.


    Furthermore, not many of those who go out to work would be willing to return.


    A few more years, and even the death of elders in the village might go unnoticed.


    So relocation is necessary.


    Those villages, with mostly rocks and barren land, simply cannot sustain a population all year round.


    "I actually have a pretty good idea."


    "Hmm? What idea, let''s hear it." Watching Xia Liu''s earnest demeanor, Li Zhong''s heartbeat sped up slightly.


    Perhaps Xia Liu might solve this problem easily.


    "We could build an industrial zone, so that the people who move here will have a place to work and earn money."


    Hiss¡­


    "That idea is somewhat terrifying!"


    "Not just terrifying, it''s horrifying!"


    Hearing Xia Liu mention building an industrial zone, the several office workers who came with Li Zhong all shuddered in shock.


    It''s not that they hadn''t thought about this; they had thought too much about it.


    Because they had thought too much, they were sensitive to the words "industrial zone."


    "Xia Liu, I''ve considered the industrial zone myself, but the conditions here just aren''t enticing to investors." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zhong was unfazed by his colleagues'' astonishment; the idea of an industrial zone had been on the table for quite some time.


    Efforts were made, but nobody was willing to come, so what else could be done?


    "I can probably see that, and since I''ve brought it up, I''ll figure out a way for the industrial zone," Xia Liu said gravely.


    "Young man, not to discourage you, but we''ve been wanting to build an industrial zone for a while. However, Hejing has transportation difficulties, and the only viable industry is tourism."


    "Yeah, Boss Xia, don''t put too much pressure on yourself, having built up the Eastern District is already quite an accomplishment."


    ...


    Seeing how serious Xia Liu was, Li Zhong''s colleagues couldn''t help but throw some cold water, afraid that he would actually proceed with it.


    They feared that if Xia Liu started on the industrial zone, the Eastern District''s projects would be halted.


    "Don''t rush to speak, let''s listen to what Xia Liu has to say." Li Zhong had a hunch that Xia Liu was no ordinary man, maybe he really had a solution.


    "Uncle Zhong, my idea is this: first establish two silk factories, which not only makes use of local raw materials but also increases the income of the farmers."


    "That''s a good idea, Shanhe County has a few silk factories, and we have sericulture farmers here who eventually sell their product there; having our own would be even better," Li Zhong immediately praised Xia Liu.


    "Hmm, that''s a smart move."


    "Impressive."


    Facing Xia Liu''s suggestion, everyone started expressing their admiration.


    "Uncle Zhong, such factories should be profitable, but why hasn''t there been any boss willing to come and build before?"


    Xia Liu asked, puzzled, as factories like these should have been realized by now.


    "Because of the transportation difficulties, along with some other reasons, even though I''ve dealt with them, the reputation has been damaged and no one is willing to come anymore."


    "Understood."


    Li Zhong spoke in an indirect manner, but Xia Liu, who was experienced, immediately understood.


    In the past, people had considered coming here, which surely involved numerous twists and turns, and they might even have been threatened for a half or majority share.


    So they left, and once the word spread, no one else dared to take the risk.


    "Then I really stumbled upon a great opportunity," Xia Liu said with a delighted smile.


    "Hehe, you could say that, but you''ve also given Hejing many employment opportunities. Do you know where you want to build the factory?"


    "Just ten kilometers away."


    "Ten kilometers away!"


    "That''s not quite right, it''s so far from the county town."


    "Yes, who would be willing to work so far away?"


    "It''s completely unnecessary; almost all the land ten kilometers away is farmland. Building a factory there all of a sudden seems awkward."


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s words, Li Zhong and several colleagues were immediately surprised.


    "Xia Liu, if you really want to start a silk factory, just do it in the Eastern District. There''s no need to go so far." After careful consideration, Li Zhong made up his mind, even if the Eastern District didn''t allow construction, Xia Liu had the intention, so he would make an exception this time. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Uncle Zhong, I even think ten kilometers is a bit close. At least twenty kilometers would be somewhat better."


    "Whoa!"


    Li Zhong''s colleague was astonished to the point of being speechless. Xia Liu was defying the heavens.


    Putting the factory so far from the county town, who would be willing to work there?


    Twenty kilometers away, where there are hardly any villages¡ªif a factory really were built, it would probably be ghosts from the mountains coming to work.


    "Hey, you can''t say that. Along this route, there''s an industrial area, and when many factories are built, just ten kilometers will be enough for several large factories."


    "Brother! I feel like kneeling before you."


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, one young man was incredibly shocked.


    He couldn''t believe that Xia Liu was actually thinking about an industrial area.


    It wasn''t just this young man; the others were equally stunned.


    A continuous industrial area of ten kilometers, if really developed, would improve every aspect of Hejing several times over.


    Especially with the employment problems of the relocated population, they might even have to post announcements in other counties, inviting them to send people to work.


    "Xia Liu, are you serious?" Li Zhong used to think he knew Xia Liu well.


    But after today''s meeting, he realized he was becoming less and less able to understand Xia Liu.


    An industrial area stretching ten and even twenty kilometers was simply unimaginable to him.


    "Uncle Zhong, trust me, in at most half a year, this line will become a perfect industrial area!" Xia Liu, looking into the distance, spoke with determination.


    Facing Xia Liu''s meticulous attitude, Li Zhong, including his colleagues, fell silent.


    In their hearts, they actually harbored no doubts.


    If Xia Liu really had the capability, it would be an incredible fortune for Hejing.


    "Alright! Xia Liu, don''t force yourself. Whatever you want to do, I will support you, even if you fail, don''t feel burdened."


    After a moment, Li Zhong smiled brightly.


    "Hehe, thank you, Uncle Zhong." Xia Liu smiled along as well.


    With Li Zhong''s support, many things would be much easier.


    After hanging out for a while, Li Zhong told his colleagues to go back first and wait for him. He continued walking with Xia Liu.


    "By the way, Xia Liu, how are things currently with Qianqian? Have you planned on getting married and having children?"


    "Um¡­"


    Faced with Li Zhong''s sudden question, Xia Liu hesitated.


    Marriage was certainly on the horizon but bringing it to the forefront, it was not possible to have a ceremony with just one girl.


    Children were a luxury to Xia Liu, due to physical reasons.


    The girls were almost impossible to become pregnant unless he found a solution himself.


    Otherwise, even after a hundred years, there would be no descendants¡­

 Chapter 297 Awesome, My Bro!

    "Hahaha! Xia Liu, don''t feel pressured, I was just speaking off the cuff."Seeing Xia Liu remain silent, Li Zhong quickly laughed to defuse the awkward atmosphere.


    "Uncle Zhong, you''re right, but I''m currently busy with the Eastern District and the industrial area, so I probably won''t have time for a wedding."


    "I know all about your situation. If you do have a wedding, it would surely cause quite a stir, so try to keep it low-key."


    As it stood in Hejing, many people knew about Xia Liu''s affairs.


    Although there were some idle talks, it didn''t matter¡ªif Xia Liu could develop the Eastern District and the industrial area.


    Any rumors would eventually turn into admiration, even wanting to marry their daughters to this capable and promising young man.


    "Mmhmm, I''ll take Uncle Zhong''s advice." Faced with such a reminder, Xia Liu had to nod in agreement.


    Some things are better known just between ourselves; speaking them out loud makes it awkward.


    "However, Xia Liu, you should consider Aunt Xu; she''s been so idle she''s nearly getting ill. In a few years I''ll also retire. If you and Qianqian have a child, then your aunt and I won''t be so gloomy every day."


    It was that question again, and Xia Liu''s face was full of embarrassment.


    He couldn''t possibly say that Li Qianqian couldn''t get pregnant now, could he?


    "Don''t worry, Uncle Zhong, Qianqian and I will try our best."


    With no other choice, Xia Liu could only play a game of words.


    "Alright, you young people have your own ideas. I won''t insist, let''s go have a few drinks."


    "Great! Let''s go drink!"


    Afterward, Xia Liu joined Li Zhong at the Longyun Hotel to celebrate.


    After settling things with Li Zhong, it was already the afternoon.


    Faced with issues at the silk factory, Xia Liu drove back to the village.


    As for matters like building a factory, of course, he should hand them over to Gu Yi.


    What can I say, this might be my future father-in-law, so I definitely need to strengthen our relationship.


    When Xia Liu returned to the packaging factory, Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi were observing the workers installing the last few machines.


    Seeing Xia Liu return, Li Dazhuang immediately greeted cheerfully, "Brother Xia Liu, come and take a look, once these machines are set up, we can package the Osmanthus Wine."


    "Mm, I appreciate all your help during this time," Xia Liu said, patting Li Dazhuang on the shoulder.


    "Hey, don''t mention it, Brother Xia Liu, it''s all part of the job. But once the Osmanthus Wine is packaged, how will we sell it?"


    Li Dazhuang had long harbored this worry¡ªthe quality of Osmanthus Wine was there, but the brand hadn''t appreciated in value. Even if it hit the market, not many people would buy it.


    "Hmm, Dazhuang is not wrong. I may not understand business, but suddenly introducing a new variety of alcohol surely won''t inspire confidence in buyers," Gu Yi added, expressing his concern.


    He still didn''t know exactly what was going on between Xia Liu and his daughter, but their relationship was certainly not simple. Given that, it was better to be straightforward.


    "Don''t worry about that, I''ve already asked two friends to help with advertising," Xia Liu had already considered this issue.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have entrusted the wine to Yang Tian and Huang Yilong. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With them promoting it in Liuhai City, by the time the wine becomes popular, the whole country will know that Osmanthus Village produces Osmanthus Wine.


    By then, it won''t be a sales problem but a production problem."


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''ve really thought of everything. Out of curiosity, which friends are these? Are they reliable?"


    "Reliability is one issue, effectiveness is another," both Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi stated their concerns.


    "Don''t worry, the two friends I asked are both second-generation rich kids from Liuhai City, their families can easily pull out tens or even hundreds of billions," Xia Liu waved off the concern.


    "Wow! Impressive, my brother!"


    "Gulp..."


    Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi were both taken aback.


    Liu Hai City''s second-generation rich kids live in what is considered the best city in the nation, known as the Demon City, only slightly less famous than Yanjing.


    Having such friends shows just how strong Xia Liu''s capabilities are.


    Xia Liu could see the surprise on their faces.


    If they knew that Yang Tian and Huang Yilong had been scared to the point of pissing themselves, terrified of him until death, he wondered what they would think...


    "So, sales will no longer be an issue now."


    "That''s right, now we just need to maintain the quality of the Osmanthus Wine."


    "This can be assuredly left to the elders, but Brother Xia Liu, I have a question. The bottles are 500 milliliters, how much will one bottle of wine cost?"


    Li Dazhuang''s question happened to be the same as the one Gu Yi wanted to ask.


    Previously, Gu Yi had the fortune to drink a couple of cups at Li Dazhuang''s house, and then he was hooked.


    Unfortunately, there wasn''t much brewed at that time, otherwise, he would have spent money to buy it.


    "This wine isn''t very expensive; a bottle costs just fifty thousand yuan."


    ...


    Hearing this price, Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi''s faces twitched a bit.


    Yeah, not very expensive, just fifty thousand yuan after all.


    Damn!


    Explosive, isn''t it!


    Fifty thousand yuan a bottle, and it''s only 500 milliliters!


    Gu Yi almost dropped to the ground.


    Previously, he had wanted to spend money to drink enough Osmanthus Wine to satisfy himself.


    But now he realized, with his little amount of private savings, not to say enough, whether he could afford it at all was still up in the air.


    "Don''t be too shocked. The manufacturing process of the Osmanthus Wine is all done the most original way, and with the quality guaranteed, even fifty thousand yuan seems like I''m undervaluing it."


    "Bro, you win, fifty thousand yuan and it''s still undervalued..."


    "I''m convinced too, from now on I''ll just see which families have wine, and go freeload a glass; can''t afford to buy."


    Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi didn''t know how else to express themselves.


    To Xia Liu, they could only give a thumbs up.


    "Dazhuang, do you know about the silk factory?" Xia Liu suddenly asked, remembering the silk factory matter.


    "I know about it, before getting back here, I was a driver at the silk factory and my wife was the workshop foreman. We''ve been there for several years."


    The mention of the silk factory excited Li Dazhuang; it was where he had met his wife.


    "Oh, that makes things simple." Xia Liu smiled slightly, asking himself was surely the right move.


    "Brother Xia Liu, what are you asking this for?"


    "I plan to start a silk factory. I''m not so worried about making money as long as expenses and income can break even." The purpose of Xia Liu starting the factory was to provide conveniences and increase income for the farmers raising silkworms.


    "Start a silk factory!"


    Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi were both surprised.


    Different from Gu Yi''s surprise, Li Dazhuang saw it as Xia Liu spotting a business opportunity and immediately began asking for details.


    "I can see to the equipment and workshop clearly enough, and I can handle the design." Knowing Xia Liu''s determination, Li Dazhuang said with a bit more confidence.


    "Good! Then the equipment and workshop are yours to handle."


    "Uncle Gu, I''ll need your help on this as well," Xia Liu then turned his gaze to Gu Yi.


    "Hey, there''s nothing too troubling for me, just tell me what you need."


    "I want to build a new factory, so I would like you to undertake the contracting."


    "This..." Gu Yi was stunned by the troublesome news¡ªhe had just been thinking about where to find a construction project after the packing plant was set up, and then...

 Chapter 298 Preparation

    "Uncle Gu, are you going to be busy with something else?""No, no, I''m just so thrilled I don''t know how to express it," Gu Yi responded quickly.


    "Uncle Gu, there''s no need to be so excited. In a few months, they''ll be building an industrial zone out there, and you''ll have your hands full then."


    Xia Liu began to smile slightly. What they lacked most now was a construction team. The people on both sides from Gu Yi and Gu Fangxia combined might not be enough.


    Once the industrial zone was finalized, they would still need to find several construction teams.


    "This can''t be real, can it?" Gu Yi and Li Dazhuang were both a bit stunned.


    An industrial zone!


    That would mean building hundreds of businesses, not to mention at least a dozen factories in the early stages.


    If this was really finalized, it would be no small feat.


    "Of course it''s real. The Eastern District of the county town is already being built by the Osmanthus Group. I''ll contact some friends later to set up factories."


    "Wow! Brother Xia Liu, are all your friends really rich?"


    Li Dazhuang looked at Xia Liu excitedly. Mentioning casually about his friends setting up factories, he spoke with no pressure at all, which was terrifying. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Yi felt the same way. He couldn''t help but be curious about what kind of person Xia Liu really was.


    "Well, I went to Liuhai City a few days ago and met quite a few people. I believe they will support me."


    Recalling the rich second generations on the boat, Xia Liu felt they would agree to his request, because obviously any factories they set up would need to be profitable.


    "Terrifying, terrifying!"


    Li Dazhuang couldn''t help but exclaim. Going to Liuhai City and making friends with so many rich second generations probably couldn''t have been done by anyone other than Xia Liu.


    "Let''s go pick a site for the silk factory, and we can talk about other things on the way." After everything was settled, Xia Liu drove the two to check out the site.


    Once it was confirmed, Xia Liu called Li Zhong, asking him to sort out the land issues.


    For the land, Xia Liu offered fifty thousand per mu on a fifty-year lease, not a permanent sale.


    When the person in charge told the farmers the price, they were all excited.


    The land was far from their homes and they weren''t growing much on it. Renting it out would definitely be a huge benefit.


    Not to mention at such a high price, which was unmatched.


    Villagers nearby heard that some farmers had rented out a few plots of land, making hundreds of thousands in income, and they all came to see.


    Some of their lands had been bought up, thirty thousand per mu, and they could never reclaim it.


    The fact that here it was for lease, fifty thousand for fifty years per mu!


    This news didn''t take long to spread throughout Hejing and the surrounding areas.


    At night, Xia Liu and Gu Yi were dragged to Li Dazhuang''s home to drink.


    Li Zhi had to part with several pounds of Osmanthus Wine for the occasion. If it weren''t for Xia Liu''s presence, Li Zhi might have killed his son.


    After the third round of drinks, as the alcohol took effect, Gu Yi patted Xia Liu and asked, "Xia Liu, what''s going on with you and my daughter? I haven''t seen her in many days, and when I call her, she says she''s busy. I ask where she''s busy, who she''s busy with, and she says with you."


    Hearing Gu Yi say this, the whole Li family lowered their heads with silly smiles.


    They were somewhat aware of Xia Liu''s affairs, and when you see through but don''t tell.


    But now that Gu Yi had actually mentioned it, it was simply hilarious.


    "Uncle Gu, just like aunt said a few days ago, Fangxia and I are together. We''ve been so busy that I didn''t have time to tell you," Xia Liu said.


    Facing Gu Yi''s straightforward question, Xia Liu didn''t dodge and openly told him everything.


    After hearing Xia Liu''s response, Gu Yi fell silent.


    Just when Li Zhong''s family thought Gu Yi was about to lose his temper, to their surprise, he burst into laughter.


    "Hahaha... this is just great, having Fangxia follow you is truly her good fortune."


    "Hehe, Uncle Gu is absolutely right, Brother Xia Liu is really amazing, whether it''s making money or taking responsibility, he''s incomparable."


    "Hmm, I''ve watched this boy grow up since he was little, he''s a good man, a good husband."


    Li Dazhuang and Li Zhong both laughed and agreed.


    "It''s not that exaggerated..." Xia Liu said modestly with a smile.


    "I know whether it is or not, but I''ve already made up my mind about you," Gu Yi said with a hearty laugh, bolstered by the drinks.


    By the end, Gu Yi was drunk, and Xia Liu helped him back to rest.


    It wasn''t until the early hours that Xia Liu returned to his own home.


    Tonight he planned to rest, and had already called the girls before that.


    Early next morning, Xia Liu called both Yang Tian and Huang Yilong.


    He told both of them about his idea for the industrial zone.


    After hearing Xia Liu''s news, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong immediately agreed to invest in two factory buildings.


    Huang Yilong even said that once the commercial street in the Eastern District was built, he wanted to rent a larger shop.


    Hejing''s population was sure to keep increasing, all projects would rise, and investing now was simply making a fortune.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong, having participated in past auctions, couldn''t possibly let this opportunity slip by.


    Moreover, they came back and secretly drank a bottle of Osmanthus Wine, then headed to Dabaojian, where the technician ended up crying while they nearly choked with laughter.


    Being able to become agents for Osmanthus Wine, they owed Xia Liu in return.


    This wasn''t just a favor, it was a matter of dignity!


    Xia Liu had given them the confidence and dignity a man should have!


    Xia Liu not only invited Yang Tian and Huang Yilong to build factories, but also encouraged them to find suitable spots and persuade friends to join them ¡ª if there was money to be made, they should earn it together.


    Making money while also helping themselves; if they weren''t willing to earn money, then there was nothing to be done about it.


    Actually, Xia Liu''s worries were unnecessary.


    As soon as Yang Tian made a phone call, anyone who had experienced the pirate incident with him on the ship only felt admiration, respect, and fear towards Xia Liu.


    Whatever Xia Liu requested, even if they lacked the ability, they would somehow make themselves capable.


    Thus, throughout the day, Xia Liu''s phone almost exploded from all the calls.


    One after another, calls from Liuhai City.


    Every time he answered, he would hear the excited words from the other side, and they even scheduled times to come and see the place.


    After receiving dozens of calls, Xia Liu simply told them that the news was true about the industrial zone starting, and he didn''t want to explain anymore, just asking them to spread the news to everyone.


    As for them, Xia Liu didn''t know them; after all, both men and women were making calls.


    However, one thing was certain, preparations for the industrial zone could start.


    "What! Already so many investors are rushing over?" In the meeting room, Li Zhong heard this news and nearly fell off his chair in shock.


    The colleagues meeting at the long table heard this news, all full of wonder, questioning what investors would come to Hejing?


    "County Li, is it about the boss of the Osmanthus Group?" the young man who had accompanied Li Zhong and Xia Liu to see the land in the Eastern District asked yesterday.


    "Hahaha! Let me tell you some great news, Xia Liu just called me, saying that many bosses are coming to look at the land in the next few days, and most likely, they will all establish companies!"

 Chapter 299 The Girl from Liu Hai

    Wow!As soon as Li Zhong spoke, everyone immediately became invigorated.


    There were people coming to view the site, and then they would all build factories!


    For Hejing, this was simply a massive reform!


    Perhaps in a few years, once it developed, this place could even transform into a part of the urban area.


    "Li County, you seem quite familiar with the boss of the Osmanthus Group. Just who is he?" The young man greatly admired Xia Liu and was very curious about his identity.


    They were of the same age, yet others had reached heights that he could only look up to for a lifetime.


    Many people at the event were also curious about Xia Liu''s identity, and everyone began to discuss fervently.


    "I feel like he might be a rich man''s son."


    "Hey, Old Liu, you think so too? I was thinking something similar."


    "Right, without a substantial family background, how could he possibly attract investors in such a short time?"


    "Haha, then you guys are mistaken," Li Zhong declared with a face full of pride as he looked around the room.


    "That doesn''t make sense, if Xia Liu didn''t have family resources, how could he be so capable?"


    "Xiao Gang, why don''t you explain it, since you''ve also watched Xia Liu grow up to where he is now," Li Zhong pointed at one of his subordinates.


    Xiao Gang was the young man who drove for him. The growth Li Zhong referred to was naturally Xia Liu''s path from nothing to splendor, step by step.


    "Well, I think the reason why it''s called the Osmanthus Group is related to Xia Liu''s hometown. He''s from Osmanthus Village," Xiao Gang shared his guess.


    "Wow! He''s actually from Osmanthus Village!"


    "Impressive! Osmanthus Village was just a few months ago considered the poorest village."


    "That''s true, when I went to Osmanthus Village last year, I still had to enter from the outside."


    Upon hearing Xiao Gang mention Xia Liu''s hometown, several older colleagues were shocked.


    "Last year was last year. A few months ago, the boss of Osmanthus Group, Xia Liu, returned to the village. He started with medicinal herbs, then moved on to seafood, and eventually acquired Longteng and Longyun Hotel. Until today, he built Osmanthus Group through his own efforts."


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    After listening to Xiao Gang''s narrative, people in the conference room fell silent.


    No matter what, they couldn''t believe that Xia Liu was from Osmanthus Village.


    And he started from scratch, building a major group in just a few months.


    The establishment of Osmanthus Group had indeed shaken Binlai City.


    Registered capital of two and a half billion!


    That was an astronomical figure, one that ordinary businesses or companies might not earn in their lifetime.


    Yet it was achieved by this young man from Osmanthus Village.


    "You know now, Xia Liu is from the poorest village in the county, and he alone has developed the village," Li Zhong would say with an indescribable sense of pride whenever he spoke about this matter.


    Because Xia Liu was now dating his daughter, and they were in a relationship with marriage as the goal.


    With such an impressive son-in-law, it was hard for Li Zhong to not smile.


    In Osmanthus Village, after Xia Liu had been idle for a while, he thought about going to the county town when another call from Liu Hai City came through.


    He didn''t want to answer it, but he did anyway.


    "Brother Xia Liu! I''ve arrived in Binlai City," a coquettish female voice came through the phone.


    "Who are you, girl? I don''t recognize this number, and you''re calling me with that flirty voice," Xia Liu hadn''t seen the number before and was baffled by the familiarity.


    "Come and pick me up, and you''ll know who I am."


    "I''m quite busy right now, if there''s nothing important, just take a cab here," Xia Liu firmly refused, he certainly wasn''t lacking women, and going there would only show a desperate level of thirstiness.


    "Hehe, I do have a reason. I heard Brother Xia Liu is looking for investors, so I came over with high hopes. If there''s still room, I''d like to invest a few billion."


    Listening to the voice on the phone, Xia Liu swallowed a few times. Invest a few billion!


    This was going against the heavens.


    He immediately asked for the girl''s address, then personally drove over to pick her up.


    Xia Liu had been worried whether anyone would come at all, but he hadn''t expected such a quick response, and with such a substantial amount of money too.


    An hour later, Xia Liu picked up the person at the airport. She was a girl with a cute appearance.


    And her image was rather memorable.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I''m over here!" Seeing Xia Liu arrive, the girl immediately opened her arms and ran towards him.


    Xia Liu couldn''t help but smile bitterly. Wasn''t this girl Linlin? He had even given her a lecture before.


    Although Linlin''s personality and attitude hadn''t been great in the past, her figure was top-notch. As she ran with a quiver, her undulating shape mesmerized countless onlookers.


    But Xia Liu dodged out of the way, joking to himself. How could he let such a little demoness bewitch him?


    "Brother Xia Liu, I''m a bit unhappy when you treat me like this. I''m thinking of going back," Linlin said with a pout when she saw Xia Liu ignoring her.


    "Linlin, the kind of investor I''m looking for is one who truly wants to invest and develop with Hejing. This isn''t really appropriate, you know."


    Xia Liu looked Linlin up and down and couldn''t help but shake his head.


    What on earth was this girl wearing? Striped stockings up to the knees, a short skirt, a white top, and a ponytail.


    Damn, wasn''t this a schoolgirl outfit from an Island Nation movie!


    "Brother Xia Liu, I was wrong. I''m here to invest. Please take me to see the place," Linlin said, lowering her head without any other thoughts, having been reprimanded by Xia Liu again.


    "Yo, not bad at all, much better than before. Let''s go then," Xia Liu was somewhat surprised. It seemed this girl had indeed changed.


    After that, Xia Liu drove Linlin back to Hejing.


    On the way, Xia Liu called Li Zhong, arranging to go see the site together once he was back.


    He was quite worried about the atmosphere being somewhat off when he was alone with Linlin.


    When Li Zhong heard an investor was coming, he immediately gathered the staff to welcome them.


    When they saw Linlin dressed in a school uniform, they were all dumbfounded.


    "Boss Xia, has the investor you mentioned not arrived yet?" one colleague tentatively asked.


    From his experience, if this kawaii girl was in Xia Liu''s car, she was either Xia Liu''s mistress or someone he had brought for the investor''s pleasure.


    "Haha, let me introduce her to you. Her name is Linlin. She''s a businesswoman who came here to invest from Liu Hai City."


    Seeing everyone''s hesitation, Xia Liu promptly introduced Linlin''s identity.


    "Pfft!"


    Everyone, including Li Zhong, spat out in disbelief.


    Linlin looked no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, yet she was an investor!


    This completely overturned their understanding.


    "Hello everyone, it''s my first time in Hejing. I hope to receive your support in the future," Linlin greeted everyone generously.


    "All good, all good!"


    "Hmm, Linlin, shall we go to eat first, or should we look at the site straight away?"


    "Let''s look at the site first. I''ve only brought thirty billion this time. If we''re late, all the good spots might be taken by those guys."


    ...


    The others were once again scared pale, thirty billion! This kawaii-looking girl Linlin had brought thirty billion with her this time¡­

 Chapter 300 A Meal Worth Two Billion

    Li Zhong and the others'' worldview had collapsed again.They no longer knew what to say.


    It could be said that appearances are deceiving, which they finally experienced today.


    "Linlin, what kind of company are you planning to build with these three billion yuan?" Xia Liu asked.


    "I''m thinking of developing and processing electronic products," Linlin replied, having obtained her family''s approval to proceed with making products similar to their company''s.


    "That three billion is a bit little, if possible, add another two billion, then the factory can be bigger."


    Pfft...


    Hearing Xia Liu''s words, Li Zhong and the others almost fell over.


    The girl hadn''t even decided to start the company yet, and here he was, asking her to add more funds.


    And she had already committed an earth-shattering three billion yuan, and using that tone to ask the lady to add another two billion was practically pushing someone to death.


    Just as Li Zhong was about to speak to ease the awkwardness, Linlin flashed a charming smile and said, "Sure, if Brother Xia Liu can be my boyfriend, I''ll have my dad send over a hundred billion."


    Damn!!!


    Everyone was ready to curse.


    To make Xia Liu her boyfriend, and add another hundred billion!


    This was beyond the understanding of ordinary people.


    The youths present couldn''t help but envy Xia Liu.


    Not only did Linlin have a great figure, but she was also young, simple, and if he could marry her...


    He could live off his wealth for three generations. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zhong was subtly worried, hoping Xia Liu could resist the temptation and not agree, otherwise, what would his daughter do?


    "Let''s not, we are not compatible."


    Damn!


    Li Zhong gave a slight smile, indeed, only Xia Liu would refuse such pie-in-the-sky fortunes.


    The youths present were dumbfounded, Xia Liu had actually turned down a wealthy and cute pure sweet girl.


    If this were recorded by reporters, it would definitely make headlines.


    The headline would read: Wealthy Young Woman Offers Billion-Yuan Love Confession, Mysterious Man Calmly Refuses.


    Just thinking about it could excite countless people.


    "Okay, then I''ll lower my request. You accompany me home for a meal, then I''ll add another twenty billion, how about that?" Linlin said, blinking her big watery eyes.


    The expression she revealed was simply irresistible, making one want to pity her and agree a hundred times over.


    The people around were already stunned senseless.


    Twenty billion for a meal!


    Only Xia Liu could command such a price in this world.


    "That depends on if I have the time, I''m really busy with lots of things lately," Xia Liu replied with a helpless smile, as he indeed had many things to deal with.


    Eastern District, the silk factory, the village, the girls, all kept him busy.


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    "I don''t care, you have to promise me first," Linlin pouted, looking like she wouldn''t leave without an agreement.


    "Alright, alright, I promise, now let''s go check out the place," Xia Liu agreed reluctantly; when exactly he would go, that was a matter for later.


    Afterward, Li Zhong and the others cautiously took Linlin to see the site.


    The girl''s background was immeasurable, and if they displeased her, the fifty billion yuan investment might just slip away.


    Actually, the biggest reason Linlin came here was for Xia Liu, which was obvious to anyone.


    Xia Liu knew this, but he had no other intentions, merely wanting to attract investors.


    He had plenty of girls already, and for the time being, just needed to develop the Hejing village.


    Of course, he couldn''t forget, he must find a way to deal with his own issues, otherwise, he would never be able to impregnate any of his girls in this lifetime.


    In the end, Linlin chose a plot of land closest to the Eastern District.


    The land spanned about thirty acres, and the treatment of the land was the same as Xia Liu''s silk factory, costing fifty thousand per acre with a fifty-year lease.


    For someone like Linlin, with an investment fund of 5 billion, thirty acres was only 1.5 million¡ªa sum she could spend without blinking an eye.


    The farmers, having received this money, were almost ready to kneel down to Linlin.


    Linlin smiled and greeted the farmers, chatting with them.


    Li Zhong and others started to have a reverence for this girl.


    A few young men even developed affection for her, thinking if they could marry such a girl, they would willingly live twenty years less.


    Xia Liu, however, held different thoughts; he was happy in his heart.


    It was because Linlin had changed.


    She was no longer the girl who casually demeaned and humiliated others. Perhaps as this girl grew older, she would become even more popular.


    After dealing with the land, Linlin asked Li Zhong and his colleagues to go back first, as she wanted to spend some time alone with Xia Liu.


    Naturally, everyone agreed to this request.


    After all, the factory was settled, and all that was left was to build it.


    Everyone felt warmth in their hearts.


    Finally, during their term, an investment of 50 billion Huaxia had been secured.


    This would bring a significant change to Hejing.


    It could impact the surroundings and even the entire country; perhaps Hejing would become famous because of this, and more people would visit in the future.


    Being alone with Linlin, Xia Liu always felt uncomfortable; the girl occasionally stole glances at him.


    Not only that, but she also frequently adjusted her top and played with her hair¡ªthose little actions.


    Xia Liu really wanted to say, "Girl, you''re not just playing with your hair, you''re flirting with me."


    Feeling that Linlin was not yet disheartened, Xia Liu drove her to Longteng Hotel.


    "Brother Xia Liu, are you bringing me here to get a room?"


    Looking up at the towering building, Linlin said timidly.


    "Mhm, eat and get a room."


    "Oh, then let''s go inside quickly."


    Linlin did not wait for Xia Liu to explain further; she immediately ran into the hotel.


    "Beauty, give me a single room." Taking advantage of Xia Liu not yet entering, Linlin planned to arrange the room first.


    Just as the front desk girl was about to take her ID and bank card to book the room, Xia Liu leisurely said, "Give her a presidential suite, for free."


    "Alright, boss."


    "Ah! Brother Xia Liu, you are still the boss here, that''s really amazing."


    Seeing Xia Liu arrive, Linlin awkwardly took back her documents, but she was quite happy inside.


    Because Xia Liu had booked a room voluntarily, after dinner, she could... hee hee hee...


    The more she thought about it, the more her face blushed.


    She hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to let anyone detect her blush.


    She then followed Xia Liu upstairs to a private room, trying her best to appear as cute and innocent as possible.


    However, Xia Liu directly delivered her a crushing blow!


    Halfway through the meal, Xia Liu''s phone rang; it was from Fang Fei.


    After being affectionate for a while, Xia Liu invited Fang Fei to the private room.


    In less than five minutes, Fang Fei arrived, having heard that Xia Liu was having dinner with a beauty.


    So, Li Qianqian, Huang Xue, Gu Fangxia, and Zhang Qing all followed suit, wanting to see if she might be a future sister-in-law.


    Seeing Fang Fei and the other women, Linlin was dumbfounded.


    Just Fang Fei alone could suppress her five hundred miles away, let alone with fairies like Huang Xue; she no longer had the courage to think about having something happen with Xia Liu.

 Chapter 301 The Arrival of the Martial Artist

    The women became excited when they heard Linlin was preparing to invest fifty billion to open a factory."Sister Fangfei, sisters, don''t praise me so much, I just want to do something meaningful, so I don''t have to worry my family."


    After getting to know everyone, Linlin suddenly had thoughts about Xia Liu.


    Because she had discovered a secret, all these beautiful sisters were actually Xia Liu''s women.


    This was an opportunity.


    If she also tried hard, maybe she could become Xia Liu''s girlfriend.


    "Hmm, if Linlin can be this amazing, I want to do something big too."


    Hearing that Linlin, two years her junior, was so ambitious, Zhang Xiaoxue became excited as well.


    "Yeah, I feel inspired too."


    "Why don''t we follow the positions we discussed earlier, and then manage the company?"


    "What a great idea, Sister Fang!"


    "I support it, with official positions in place, we can develop the company properly!"


    Hearing Sister Fang''s suggestion, the women all cheered.


    "Sisters are truly impressive. I''ve heard from Brother Xia Liu that you all manage the Osmanthus Group now, and it seems like Linlin is going to work with you."


    "Linlin, what are you daydreaming about? You have a factory to run; if you go work at the Osmanthus Group, how will you manage your factory?"


    Guessing the implication in Linlin''s words, Xia Liu hurriedly tried to dissuade her.


    "That''s right Linlin, you can''t do that. You must manage your own factory well. We''re close by anyway, so we can run back and forth, and we won''t ever get bored."


    Receiving a look from Xia Liu, Fang Fei immediately spoke up to persuade her.


    "I''ll listen to Sister Fangfei. From now on, sisters, you all have to take care of me," Linlin said with a cute smile that just made people want to kiss her.


    Nearing the end of the meal, Linlin said goodbye to Xia Liu and the women before heading upstairs first.


    She knew that she probably wouldn''t have any opportunity with Xia Liu for the next little while.


    Maybe it was because she had been too forward before, and now she needed to slowly make amends and show good behavior.


    As long as she stayed in the same place as Xia Liu, there would always be chances in the future.


    Encouraging herself, Linlin entered her room to rest.


    In the private room, the women looked at Xia Liu with laughing eyes, while Fang Fei kept sending flirty glances.


    They had all rested for the whole day and were now bursting with energy.


    With Xia Liu here, there was no need to say, their mutual teasing had to become even more intense.


    "Brother Xia Liu, are you full yet?" Zhang Xiaoxue propped her chin with her hands, her eyes gleaming as she looked at him.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t rush, eat up," Huang Xue echoed, mimicking Zhang Xiaoxue''s manner.


    ...


    "Hehe, even if I''m starving, I can still satisfy you all," Xia Liu responded confidently.


    "Ouch, getting cocky now, are we?"


    "How does that saying go?"


    "There are only dead oxen, no worn-out fields."


    "Giggle giggle giggle..."


    Seeing Xia Liu so full of confidence, all the women teased him.


    They were like people who forget about their scars once the pain is gone, right now, during their mutual teasing, Xia Liu wasn''t supplying them with any spiritual energy.


    If they increased the frequency even slightly, they could faint at any time.


    Xia Liu grinned at this, thinking, let the girls be even naughtier!


    "Hurry up and eat, Xia Liu," Huang Xue said impatiently.


    "Hmm, I''m full. Now it''s our time!" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu finished his drink and stood up fiercely. Just as he was about to take the girls to the room, his brows twisted: "An Earth-Rank Warrior!"


    As he approached the door just now, he had sensed the aura of an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    "What''s wrong?" The girls looked at Xia Liu in confusion, asking.


    "Nothing, I just remembered that Uncle Zhong asked me to stop by. You all go to the room and wait for me."


    Xia Liu didn''t want to worry the girls, so he could only cover it up this way.


    Before the girls could respond, Xia Liu had already bolted out of the door.


    Because he sensed that aura moving at an extreme speed, it would soon be out of his range; he couldn''t afford to wait.


    Whoever it was had reached an Earth-Rank cultivation level and had come to Longteng; fleeing as soon as they were sensed by him.


    This was definitely not an ordinary tourist, and certainly not a friend.


    Recalling recent events, Xia Liu came to a realization.


    But all conclusions had to wait until he intercepted the person in question.


    Xia Liu had been chasing for ten minutes and was now in the Eastern District.


    The darkness quietly enveloped everything, and the Eastern District, far from the town, was already pitch-black. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    The bright moon gradually pushed away the clouds, revealing two figures standing off on the vast land.


    Seeing the towering figure about 300 meters away, Xia Liu grew slightly more serious.


    He could clearly sense that the person''s cultivation was at the peak of the Earth-Rank Primary Level, perhaps a moment''s inattention away from breaking through to the Earth-Rank Mid-Level.


    "Your purpose in going to Longteng Hotel must be me, right?" After a few minutes of silent standoff, Xia Liu slowly spoke up.


    His voice echoed in the area, and the figure with his back to Xia Liu trembled slightly before closing his eyes and slowly turning around.


    "Is it because of this piece of land?"


    A chilly voice quietly emerged from the figure.


    "Oh, it turns out to be a warrior from the Ye Family. It seems Ye Yiming hasn''t completely died yet." Xia Liu reacted instantly.


    The only warrior related to this land was Ye Yiming, and he had already been crippled by him.


    An Earth-Rank Warrior came here; it must be for revenge.


    "Shut up!" Ye Jingming trembled with rage, releasing a towering pressure that made the surrounding atmosphere turn cold.


    Facing the pressure of an Earth-Rank Primary Level Peak warrior, Xia Liu waved his hand, and the dark clouds couldn''t hide the sun.


    "You''re very angry now; I suggest you go let a dog fuck you. Otherwise, the outcome will be very miserable." Facing Ye Jingming''s rage, Xia Liu had no fluctuation in his heart; he even felt like laughing.


    Such a fool as Ye Yiming, not killing him was already a huge favor.


    "Good, a sharp tongue, but too bad the cultivation is pathetic. If it weren''t for Yiming, killing you would only dirty my hands!"


    "That''s if you can kill me. But people who talk like this typically don''t live very long," Xia Liu said, his expression unchanged; then he added, "But you''re a bit special because you''re about to die."


    Xia Liu was quite interested in this kind of retaliation.


    A son acts recklessly and gets taught a lesson, then goes back and gets his father to come out.


    A brother is crippled, and the other comes for revenge¡ªgreat!


    "Heh! Don''t worry, I won''t kill you. I''m going to cripple you! Let you experience what despair feels like, then when my brother recovers, he can carve you to death one cut at a time!"


    Under the moonlit night, Ye Jingming gave a chilling smile, then started walking slowly towards Xia Liu.


    "Less nonsense, fight!"


    As soon as he spoke, Xia Liu''s Five Elements Mantra roared into action, and Spiritual Energy flowed through the meridians of his entire body in an instant.


    Feeling Xia Liu''s battle intent and that special Energy, Ye Jingming drew his palms together, pouring Inner Qi into them and hastening his pace.

 Chapter 302 Fierce Battle with the Earth-Rank Warrior

    Facing Ye Jingming enveloped in a powerful aura, Xia Liu pushed his Spiritual Energy to the limit.The Spiritual Energy and Inner Qi in his palms clashed in the blink of an eye.


    Boom!


    A Thunderclap exploded, shattering the air around as the palms of the two collided, emitting a sizzling sound.


    "Hmph! Just a Mysterious Rank Peak, die for me!"


    During the clash, Ye Jingming, sensing Xia Liu''s Spiritual Energy, slowly curved the corners of his mouth.


    Mysterious Rank Peak warriors didn''t even qualify to be taken seriously by him.


    But Xia Liu was different; Ye Jingming would take him very seriously, lest he accidentally kill him.


    Ye Jingming increased his Inner Qi again, his unmatched power immediately repelled Xia Liu.


    After retreating frantically for dozens of steps, Xia Liu dug his foot into the ground.


    He raised his head and stared at Ye Jingming.


    Just a step away from advancing to Earth-Rank Mid-Level, the Earth-Rank Primary Peak warrior.


    "Such a warrior, truly robust in Inner Qi!"


    Although Xia Liu had previously fought with the Earth-Rank warrior Tianjue, Ye Jingming was completely different from Tianjue.


    At that time, Tianjue, having seen Xia Liu perform the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm, although unable to contain his power, had already lost the will to fight, even willingly getting struck by Xia Liu''s palm.


    Ye Jingming was different; he had specifically come to take lives, how could he not be powerful.


    It should be said that Earth-Rank warriors are all powerful.


    Although Earth-Rank warriors are powerful, Xia Liu didn''t want to remove the Sealing immediately. Doing so would only make him reliant on it and might even lead him to break the second seal within a short time.


    After careful consideration, Xia Liu decided to finish Ye Jingming with a Martial Arts Skill.


    "So weak! It''s a pity, how could Yiming have been defeated by someone like you..." Seeing Xia Liu stand still, Ye Jingming couldn''t help shaking his head.


    "Still intending to use Martial Arts Skill, let''s see how much you can struggle."


    As Xia Liu started his hand movements, Ye Jingming looked on coldly, his pride not considering Xia Liu worthwhile.


    Dealing with a Mysterious Rank Peak warrior wasn''t even worth him using a Martial Arts Skill.


    Ye Jingming boosted his Inner Qi once more, enhancing his movement technique, leaving trails of afterimages in the air. In an instant, he had already flashed in front of Xia Liu. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Drink!"


    With a forceful shout, Ye Jingming''s fist, filled with Inner Qi, fiercely struck at Xia Liu.


    "Combat Rotation!"


    Xia Liu was already prepared to meet the move.


    He raised his left hand, skilfully absorbing Ye Jingming''s heavy punch.


    "Stellar Shifting!"


    Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique, one of the Taiyi Ultimate Styles.


    With a resonating sound, Xia Liu''s right fist rapidly crashed into Ye Jingming.


    Using the opponent''s method against himself!


    Facing Xia Liu''s counterattack, Ye Jingming didn''t fully recover for a moment.


    Thud!


    As his chest thudded and he staggered backward several steps, he finally came to. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Cough, cough, cough...


    Coughing several times, Ye Jingming could feel the heaviness in his chest along with the Qi Force.


    That was his own Qi Force!


    "No wonder Yiming lost; it turns out your Martial Arts Skill is tricky!"


    Having cultivated for over forty years, Ye Jingming had never seen a technique like Xia Liu''s, which transfers one''s attacks back to themselves.


    It can be said that with just a slight carelessness, he could very likely end up being killed by his own hand.


    "If the heart is true, the move is not strange."


    Xia Liu didn''t want to respond to anything Ye Jingming said; being delusional, there was only one outcome for him...


    "Hmph! I hope your move is still useful!"


    With a cold snort, Ye Jingming''s movements began instantly. Even though he sustained some internal injuries from the punch, it was only a minor one.


    But he had grown cautious. Facing a martial artist like Xia Liu with such unpredictable moves, he absolutely had to be extremely careful, otherwise, he might end up sacrificing himself.


    When his movements had fully commenced, Ye Jingming moved with a speed even faster than before.


    The naked eye couldn''t catch his figure; the afterimages almost connected into a line across the flat ground.


    "Bring it on!"


    Facing Ye Jingming''s swift pace, Xia Liu no longer held back, accelerating the rotation of his spiritual energy, which significantly boosted his speed as well.


    In the next few minutes, the open area was filled with the dull sounds of fists and feet colliding.


    Shoot!


    Both parties shouted simultaneously. As their voices fell, each shadow took several steps backward.


    A stern look never before seen appeared on Xia Liu''s resolute face.


    Ye Jingming felt the same; it was the first time in his life that he had encountered such a formidable mysterious rank warrior.


    If he hadn''t experienced it firsthand, he would not have believed that a mysterious rank warrior in the world could compete against an earth-rank warrior, and even more so, not be defeated!


    "This is an interesting fight, but you won''t have a chance after this!" Feeling the spiritual energy inside him, which was less than half at its peak, Xia Liu''s expression turned ice cold.


    If he didn''t break the seal, Xia Liu would not have enough spiritual energy to continue exhausting Ye Jingming.


    To win, he must now output at a tremendously fast and high level!


    "Is that so, then let''s see the Ye Clan''s sect-protecting move!"


    "Oh, then I''ll also try the Taiyi''s sect-protecting move!"


    Hearing this, Xia Liu laughed. Both moves being sect-protecting ones, it was time to see which was stronger!


    As the voice died away, one saw Ye Jingming clenching his fists, his unmatchable inner qi bursting out around him.


    Gradually, the violent inner qi completely enveloped his fists.


    Normally energy is colorless, but when condensed and combined with martial arts skills, it changes, achieving a higher, more powerful colored energy.


    At this moment, Ye Jingming''s hands, encompassed with all his body''s inner qi, turned a reddish-yellow. In the dark night, his arms looked like glowing electric rods.


    Xia Liu also felt a sense of threat emanating from Ye Jingming.


    But it wasn''t significant; Xia Liu was confident he could break through this move.


    "Ye Clan: Crimson Flame Fist!"


    Muttering quietly, Ye Jingming moved swiftly, attacking Xia Liu with unprecedented speed.


    Xia Liu was also well-prepared. The moment Ye Jingming moved,


    he took a deep breath, pushed his palms forward, displaying the taiji and yin-yang, swirling his hands, and the Eight Trigrams chart was swiftly empowered.


    The rotating yin-yang Eight Trigram Chart was extremely complex, and it faintly emanated an exotic force spreading around the area.


    Xia Liu''s Taiyi sect-protecting move, which drew spiritual energy, transcended the range of usual martial arts skills.


    Xia Liu''s complexion turned slightly pale. Facing Ye Jingming, who was nearly within reach, he pushed his palms fiercely.


    Yin Yang Eight Trigrams against the Crimson Flame Fist!


    Boom!!!


    At the moment of impact, a loud noise shook the heavens and earth. The ground where both stood could not withstand the clash of the two extreme moves and started to cave in.


    Seeing that he couldn''t break through the front chart, Ye Jingming bit down on his tongue tip, stirring a small wave of inner qi from his dantian.


    Boom, boom, boom!!!


    With additional inner qi, the Crimson Flame Fist began to reveal its overwhelming power.


    At this moment, Xia Liu was already pale-faced; unless he broke the seal, he would not enhance the power of his Yin Yang Eight Trigrams chart.


    Facing the about-to-shatter chart, Xia Liu''s expression suddenly changed.


    He then propped the chart with one hand while the retracting hand surprisingly performed a Condensing Seal at his chest!!!


    Xia Liu rarely did this in battles because doing so meant he must annihilate his enemy.


    He had not forgotten the dying words of the old man on that dim afternoon, his bony hand tightly clutching Xia Liu, his pale and powerless voice slowly entering his ears: "Unless it''s a crucial moment, do not easily use spirit arts!"


    "Ye Clan warrior, you are very lucky, yet very unfortunate..."

 Chapter 303 Sudden Change in Battle [Fifth Update]

    Hmm?Upon hearing Xia Liu''s murmured voice, Ye Jingming didn''t understand at all.


    However, he could feel the strength from his Crimson Flame Fist slowly dissipating.


    "Do you feel it?" A pale face suddenly lifted, Xia Liu deployed the Spirit Art using all his Spiritual Energy!


    Spirit Art!


    A technique that combines Spiritual Energy with hand seals, more powerful than any Martial Arts Skill.


    This was a technique only a Cultivator possessing Spiritual Energy could deploy.


    Meanwhile, a Martial Artist, breathing deeply to produce Inner Qi, compared to nature''s Spiritual Energy, was incredibly weak.


    But a Low-Rank Cultivator facing a High-Strength Martial Artist without deploying Spirit Art, would also find it difficult to prevail.


    Xia Liu was also cornered before he Condensed the Seal to deploy the Spirit Art, after all, Ye Jingming was going to die, so why not let him witness the mysteries of a Cultivator!


    "What on earth did you do! My hands!"


    Ye Jingming''s sweat continuously flowed down his forehead, and he thought to retract his hands as his Qi Force dissipated.


    But no matter how much he exerted strength, he could not withdraw his fists.


    And the power in his fists was about to completely disappear!


    If it continued like this, the result would be absolutely terrible.


    He dared not think further, and as he raised his leg to strike at Xia Liu, it was blocked by the Eight Trigrams in front of him.


    "This is!" With every kick, Ye Jingming could see the totem flashing.


    It was his first time seeing this kind of arcane totem, and he was instantly shocked to his core. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, you noticed..." It was no surprise to Xia Liu that a Martial Artist could see the clear Eight Trigrams totem.


    After all, they were both Cultivators, just practicing in different ways.


    "What did you do exactly! Let me go!"


    Ye Jingming panicked, a sense of fear like never before rising within him.


    A strong sense of impending death swept through his entire body.


    "Let me show you what a Cultivator can do!"


    Xia Liu faintly smiled, then his hand seal changed, completing the final technique.


    "Spirit Art: Limitless!"


    As Xia Liu''s voice fell, the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart flashed under the night sky, illuminating the surroundings.


    And Ye Jingming also finally saw this eerie scene clearly.


    The Extreme of Limitless, the ultimate move of Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm, absorbs all the power of the toucher and then devours it for a counterattack!


    "Ah!"


    Ye Jingming, with his hands embedded in the totem, let out a miserable howl.


    At this moment, he felt an intense heat spreading inside his arms.


    This heat was stronger than anything before, and he even had the illusion, that he might not be able to break out of this move in the end.


    He feared even his soul would be burned!


    "Don''t worry, Limitless hasn''t fully activated yet, but this is good, allows you to experience pain before death, and hopefully next life you''ll learn to behave."


    Xia Liu said weakly.


    Being able to maintain the Limitless move until now, he relied on willpower, as his Inner Spirit Energy was already exhausted.


    "Ah, ah!!!"


    Ye Jingming''s voice of agony continued, and he even spit out a mouthful of rich blood.


    "Stop it! Or I''ll kill them!!!" Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Just as Xia Liu was about to completely erase Ye Jingming in one go, suddenly a series of urgent voices rang out from behind him.


    "Brother Xia Liu! Don''t mind us!"


    "It''s Xiaoxue!" Hearing that deeply familiar voice, Xia Liu immediately put down his hands, and the Limitless Diagram instantly collapsed, turning into light spots scattered on the surrounding ground.


    As the Taiji Moves dissipated, Ye Jingming directly fell and lay on the ground, his whole body''s clothes drenched in cold sweat.


    He gasped for air.


    Since he began his cultivation, he had never come so close to death.


    Compared to the fearful Ye Jingming, Xia Liu''s complexion grew even paler.


    Because he witnessed the last scene he ever wanted to see.


    About three hundred meters ahead, Zhang Xiaoxue and Fang Fei were kneeling on the ground.


    Behind each of them stood a martial artist, a young Yellow-Rank Martial Artist!


    "Xia Liu! Don''t worry about us! Just do it, kill him!" Fang Fei screamed loudly.


    She had seen Xia Liu''s capabilities, but she had just seen Xia Liu and Ye Jingming fiercely fighting from a distance.


    This meant that the two were evenly matched in combat strength, and if Xia Liu stopped, he would definitely be killed by Ye Jingming.


    Tears streamed down Fang Fei''s face; she was willing to trade her own life for Xia Liu''s.


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t worry about us!"


    Zhang Xiaoxue''s thoughts were the same as Fang Fei''s, willing to sacrifice her life to buy Xia Liu time and opportunity.


    "Damn!"


    Hearing the endless chatter from the two women, the youth standing behind Fang Fei directly grabbed her hair and yanked it back.


    "Ah!"


    Fang Fei screamed in pain.


    "Don''t!" Xia Liu raised his hands high, his eyes slightly reddened.


    Fang Fei''s scream, like the wail of a Nine Heavens Infant Spirit, plunged Xia Liu''s soul into sorrow.


    "Hahaha!!!" While Xia Liu grieved, Ye Jingming, who had slightly recovered, slowly stood up from the ground, his laughter echoing around.


    "Let them go and do with me as you please!" Xia Liu closed his eyes, no longer daring to look.


    He was truly scared now.


    This feeling was like when he heard of his parents'' deaths that year.


    He feared losing Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    They were just ordinary people, unable to contend with a Yellow-Rank Martial Artist.


    "Brother Xia Liu..." Tears already covered Zhang Xiaoxue''s face; she dared not make a sound, fearing the martial artist behind her would beat her.


    She didn''t fear the pain; she feared that Xia Liu would be heartbroken because of her.


    "Haha! So you think you''re strong?" Seeing Xia Liu''s pleading, Ye Jingming chuckled, then delivered a kick to Xia Liu.


    Bang!


    The kick, fueled with Inner Qi, sent Xia Liu flying four or five meters away.


    Ye Jingming also fell to the ground due to the rebounding force.


    However, he was very excited, as Xia Liu no longer dared to lay hands on him.


    Fortunately, he had held back earlier, or he might have died himself.


    The fallen Xia Liu slowly stood up, his expression even more fierce than before.


    "Hmm! It seems your way of cultivation is quite special, and your body is very tough!" Seeing that Xia Liu was unharmed, Ye Jingming began to laugh joyously.


    He had feared that after Xia Liu was exhausted, he would become vulnerable. Now it seemed he could toy with him for a while!


    "I''ll say it again, I''ll exchange them for me," Xia Liu said expressionlessly.


    Although it was just a plain statement, to the ears of those around, it felt as if they were hearing the commanding presence of a mighty figure.


    It compelled them to follow his will from the depths of their hearts.


    "Snap out of it!" Seeing his two subordinates distracted, Ye Jingming immediately roared.


    He, too, had been taken aback by Xia Liu''s demeanor.


    Fortunately, thanks to his deep foundation, he was able to regain his senses quickly.


    Pulled back to reality by Ye Jingming, the two martial artists grew angry and once again considered attacking Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "I swear! If you dare to lay a hand on them, I will make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!"


    As the two martial artists prepared to strike, Xia Liu suddenly erupted in fury, his blood-red eyes staring chillingly.


    Chilled by those bloodthirsty eyes, a cold shiver ran down the spines of the two martial artists.


    But facing Xia Liu, who was now completely drained of any strength, how could they feel fear!

 Chapter 304 You Deserve to Die

    "Haha! He''s just a man who''s about to die, you don''t need to be afraid, hit him! I want him to die in agony!"Ye Jingming''s cold laughter continued.


    Having experienced the Death God''s Realm just now, he wanted to kill Xia Liu more than anyone else.


    But he had gradually learned to be patient, he couldn''t let Xia Liu die so easily, as that would be too easy for him.


    He wanted him to die in agony and resentment!


    "Brother Ming, I''m a bit reluctant to make a move, this chick looks very tender, how about we set her aside and have our fun before killing her later?"


    The young man behind Zhang Xiaoxue weakly suggested.


    "We''re definitely going to have fun! But before that, I want to see him in pain!" Ye Jingming wasn''t angry.


    Because he already had this idea, Xia Liu''s women all seemed like Heavenly Immortals.


    If all were killed, it would definitely be a pity.


    Once he had eliminated Xia Liu, he definitely planned to take these women back, have his fill of them, and then throw them to the dogs.


    Zhang Xiaoxue bit her lips tightly, she didn''t utter a word, tears in her eyes as she looked at Xia Liu, hoping he would understand her feelings.


    "Brother Ming, I have an idea, hitting her might not make that guy suffer enough, why not enjoy her in front of him..."


    "Damn! Ye Shen, I really didn''t see it coming, your idea is good, bring her to me, I''ll have my fun and then give her to you."


    Hearing Ye Shen''s suggestion, Ye Jingming nodded heartily.


    No hatred could compare to this method.


    "I don''t want! I would rather die than let you succeed!" Zhang Xiaoxue screamed loudly, and in the moment she got up, she broke free from Ye Shen''s control and ran towards Xia Liu.


    If something happened to Xia Liu, she wouldn''t live either, since her fate had already been determined here.


    How could she be afraid, even if being killed wouldn''t matter.


    At least in this life, she had become Xia Liu''s woman, that was enough.


    "Xiaoxue!"


    Seeing Xiaoxue recklessly running towards Xia Liu, Fang Fei cried out in alarm.


    "Xiaoxue..."


    Xia Liu, his face pale, slowly opened his eyes, everything he saw felt incredibly warm.


    "Damn it, she even thinks of running! Ye Shen, kill her!"


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue''s defiance, Ye Jingming became furious instantly.


    "This... Yes!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Originally, Ye Shen was reluctant to make a move on Zhang Xiaoxue, but seeing the fury in Ye Jingming''s eyes, he dared not have other ideas.


    "Hahahahahaha..."


    Just as Ye Shen was about to use his movement technique to run towards Zhang Xiaoxue, Xia Liu suddenly burst into laughter.


    Everyone present stopped their actions, unsure of what had happened to Xia Liu.


    "Dare to touch my woman! Well done!"


    After laughing, Xia Liu''s expression turned chillingly cool.


    "Haha, since you still have so much energy, then I really want to let you watch how I enjoy her in front of you!"


    Ye Jingming laughed as well, he had by then recovered some of his Inner Qi.


    Feeling that he could crush Xia Liu at any moment, what was there to fear?


    "By the time you said that, you should''ve been dead already, but I''ve changed my mind," Xia Liu slowly said.


    "Hahaha! Ridiculous to the extreme! What ability do you have to make a move?"


    "Tsk tsk, really brainless, not enjoying your woman right before your eyes, you probably can''t see who you are actually facing."


    Ye Jingming and Ye Shen couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you better run, the farther the better." Seeing Xia Liu in such a state, Zhang Xiaoxue kneeled helplessly on the ground.


    "Xiaoxue, don''t worry about me, just stay seated and don''t move." Faced with the distance of several tens of meters, Xia Liu gave Zhang Xiaoxue an affirming smile.


    "Ye Kong, leave that woman to you, have fun! Hahaha!"


    Seeing Xia Liu still so confident, Ye Jingming immediately directed the young man controlling Fang Fei in the distance.


    "Hehe, thank you, Brother Ming!" Ye Kong had wanted her the moment he first saw Fang Fei.


    If it weren''t for the tense situation here, they wouldn''t have had to wait until now.


    "Xia Liu, run away!" Seeing Ye Jingming and his two companions relax their guard, Fang Fei seized the opportunity to shout loudly.


    "Run? Even if he sprouted wings, he couldn''t escape now!"


    "Hahaha..."


    "Come on, beauty, let your man see how you beg for mercy under me!" Ye Kong instantly stripped off his clothes; faced with a Supreme-Grade sister like Fang Fei, how could he not be impatient?


    "Okay, stop it now." Xia Liu glanced around and then plunged his fingers filled with the last of his Spiritual Energy into his body.


    That was the location of the Energy Sea Acupoint!


    "Damn it! Thinking of suicide!"


    When Ye Shen saw Xia Liu stabbing himself, he immediately started complaining.


    "Damn, with that mentality, and he''s still a Martial Artist, and a special one at that, what the fuck!" Ye Jingming also shook his head incessantly.


    He originally thought he could take advantage of Xia Liu to get closer to Zhang Xiaoxue and Fang Fei, but now it seemed, there was no chance...


    "Brother Xia Liu, what are you doing, don''t hurt yourself, run!" Zhang Xiaoxue screamed desperately.


    Seeing Xia Liu bleeding profusely, Zhang Xiaoxue''s heart was almost breaking.


    "Something''s wrong!" Suddenly, Ye Jingming sensed a strong oppressive force emerging within Xia Liu.


    Yes! It appeared out of nowhere!


    "You three lackeys, I hope you don''t die too quickly! Also remember this, anyone who dares to touch my woman will die, no matter who it is!"


    As he spoke, Xia Liu flicked his hand, and the Spirit Stabilizing Needle suddenly flew spinning out.


    An immense oppressive force instantly closed in around them.


    "Ye Kong! Strike now!" Seeing Xia Liu regain his strength, Ye Jingming''s pupils shrank sharply, and he instantly yelled at Ye Kong.


    But his voice was clearly too late.


    At that moment, time seemed to have stopped.


    Under the still, dark night, a golden streak was racing towards Ye Shen.


    Where the streak passed, it illuminated the surroundings as bright as day.


    Everyone present was captivated by the blatantly obvious streak.


    As the target of the streak, Ye Shen opened his mouth wide and reflexively tried to move to the side.


    But the streak was too fast; he was unable to evade it.


    Hisss! Bang!


    Two muffled sounds spread throughout the area.


    Ye Shen was seen holding his neck, which was bleeding profusely; his eyes were wide open, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying before his death.


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    Boom...


    Unable to utter any words, Ye Shen then fell backwards onto the ground.


    "Ye Kong!" Seeing Ye Shen fall, Ye Jingming immediately looked toward Ye Kong.


    The last hope was all pinned on Ye Kong now; if he could control that woman, there was still a chance for him to turn the tables.


    But, when Ye Jingming looked over, all he saw was desperation.


    Ye Kong was seen being held by the neck and lifted into mid-air by Xia Liu''s one hand.


    At that moment, Ye Kong''s eyes were wide open, and his mouth even frothed slightly.


    He even smelt the scent of death.


    An unprecedented fear exploded in his heart and spread to the depths of his soul.


    "Please..."


    "Dare to touch my woman''s hair, you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"


    Before Ye Kong could finish speaking, Xia Liu''s arm shook.


    Crack!

 Chapter 7!]

    ```The crisp sound echoed through the entire night sky.


    Xia Liu casually threw Ye Kong''s corpse far away.


    If it weren''t for Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue being here today, he would never have killed the two so simply.


    Those who dared to provoke his fury would surely endure manifold the agony in death.


    "Hm? You still dare to make a move!" Just as Xia Liu was about to deal with Ye Jingming.


    Ye Jingming moved, his teeth clenched as he ran towards Zhang Xiaoxue, intending to use her to threaten Xia Liu.


    But his inner qi had not been replenished, and he couldn''t speed up.


    "Xia Liu!" Fang Fei immediately screamed, knowing that if Zhang Xiaoxue, who was just a regular person, was controlled by Ye Jingming, then everything would be over.


    "You dare!"


    With an angry shout, Xia Liu''s body transformed into a blurry afterimage as he rapidly moved with extreme speed.


    Such speed could only be looked up to by Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Ye Jingming was also aware of Xia Liu''s incredible speed.


    Seeing that Xia Liu would arrive just as he was about to seize Zhang Xiaoxue.


    In utter desperation, Ye Jingming didn''t hesitate and stretched his palm, directing all the inner qi in his body at Zhang Xiaoxue!


    "I will have you torn to pieces!" Seeing the inner qi strike towards Zhang Xiaoxue, Xia Liu''s eyes widened, turning completely bloodshot.


    He mobilized all his spiritual energy, determined to block the inner qi before it could strike her.


    But it was still too late.


    Boom!


    A muted boom spread in the silent night.


    Time seemed to stop once again, the night silent, the wind not cold, energy ceased to flow, and people felt desolate.


    Splat!


    Taking the full force of an Earth-Rank Warrior''s desperate palm, Zhang Xiaoxue spat out bright red blood. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue hit, Fang Fei sat paralyzed in shock, her vitality seemingly drained.


    Her face deathly pale, she fell backward.


    Xia Liu rushed over just in time, catching her body as she fell.


    Powerless, breathless, soulless, spiritless, Xia Liu opened his mouth wide but couldn''t utter a word.


    He hadn''t unsealed his power earlier for fear of hurting Zhang Xiaoxue and Fang Fei.


    Yet Ye Jingming still found an opportunity. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at the frail beauty in his arms, tears welled up in Xia Liu''s eyes.


    Who says men shouldn''t readily shed tears, who says men must be strong.


    When relatives, loved ones are hurt by accident, no one can avoid feeling distraught.


    "AHHHHH!!!" Xia Liu''s roar to the sky carried an unstoppable might, shattering through the clouds and instantly resonating through the entire Hejing District.


    "Ye Family dog! I want you dead!!!" Following the furious roar, Xia Liu''s eyes filled with Red Vastness.


    He looked down, his hand moving rapidly, forming the Fire Spirit Sword Seal Decree!


    Whoosh!


    In Ye Jingming''s trembling gaze, Xia Liu waved his hand, and the Fire Spirit Sword imbued with a sky full of rage cut through the void, slicing at Ye Jingming''s waist.


    Splat!


    After being cut at the waist, Ye Jingming spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, and his eyes shrank violently without uttering another word.


    Once more, the bright moon cleared away the dark clouds, casting a faint light upon Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    "Cough cough¡­" Just as Xia Liu was about to examine Zhang Xiaoxue''s body, she suddenly coughed twice.


    "Xiaoxue, how are you feeling, where does it hurt?" Xia Liu asked in some panic.


    He knew Zhang Xiaoxue was all right, angry because she was spitting blood. He had promised to protect her well for this lifetime.


    But he had allowed her to be hurt in front of him, an indescribable heartache.


    ```


    "Xiaoxue! Xiaoxue!" Hearing Xiaoxue''s voice, Fang Fei, who had been slumped on the ground, immediately perked up.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I''m okay, I just feel a tightness in my chest. Sister Fangfei doesn''t need to worry."


    Zhang Xiaoxue said weakly.


    "Don''t talk right now, let me treat you."


    Xia Liu forced a smile, then took Zhang Xiaoxue''s hand, constantly sending Inner Qi into her body.


    Upon observing, Xia Liu breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, her muscles and bones were not injured, otherwise, he definitely would have killed his way to the Ye Family.


    After being nourished by Inner Qi, Zhang Xiaoxue quickly recovered.


    The reason she could recover so fast was twofold.


    The first was that Ye Jingming no longer had much Inner Qi left.


    The second, and most crucial factor, was that Zhang Xiaoxue was wearing a Demon Stone Clothing.


    Xia Liu had personally spent several days refining the Demon Stone Clothing with Karmic Fire.


    "Wuu wuu... Xiaoxue, you almost scared me to death." Seeing Xiaoxue able to stand, Sister Fangfa gently embraced her, tears streaming down endlessly.


    After such a long time together, the two were closer than best friends.


    Perhaps they should no longer be called best friends or sisters, but family would be more appropriate, since they were both Xia Liu''s wives.


    "Sister Fang, I''m sorry to have worried you." Zhang Xiaoxue also shed tears, for the most unbearable thing in her life was to see her family and friends in pain because of her.


    "It''s okay, it''s all over now, all over."


    "Sister Fang, wuu wuu wuu..."


    Having walked once around the Gate of Life and Death, Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue hugged each other tightly for a long, long time before finally parting.


    "Xiaoxue, I''m sorry, I failed to protect you." After the two women parted, Xia Liu sincerely apologized.


    "Xiaoxue doesn''t blame you, Brother Xia Liu, really doesn''t. If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have been held back."


    "Yes, Xia Liu, you don''t need to blame yourself. I know your capabilities. If Xiaoxue and I hadn''t been brought here, you would have quickly taken out the bad guys."


    Zhang Xiaoxue and Fang Fei were both somewhat anxious; they were very afraid that Xia Liu might start thinking irrationally.


    If this incident were to change his mentality, then it really wouldn''t be worth it.


    "You really are my good wives." Xia Liu didn''t know what else to say, so he opened his arms and held both women tight against his chest.


    A thousand words were no match for the warmth and comfort of an embrace.


    Just as Xia Liu and the two women were embracing, suddenly, several intense beams of light shone over from a distance.


    Following them was the piercing sound of police sirens.


    Having been interrupted, Xia Liu could only release the women.


    Soon, several police cars arrived, and a man Xia Liu recognized stepped out¡ªit was Chen Jin, whom he hadn''t seen in a long time.


    "Xia Liu! Are you hurt?" Seeing blood on Xia Liu''s clothes, Chen Jin asked anxiously.


    "I''m fine, but I''m going to need Director Chen to take care of what comes next." Xia Liu smiled faintly, gesturing toward the three corpses nearby.


    Chen Jin and the accompanying officers immediately looked around.


    When they saw the bisected Ye Jingming, their scalps went numb.


    They had just received a report that there was a fight in the Eastern District and it was extremely violent¡ªeven the sound could be heard from the county center.


    After receiving the report, Chen Jin had immediately rushed over, not expecting it to be Xia Liu.


    "Director Chen, they kidnapped Xiaoxue and me, and Xia Liu almost lost his life. You must investigate this thoroughly."


    "Please rest assured, Boss Fang, I will definitely look into this matter," Chen Jin assured, his expression growing even more serious upon realizing the speaker was Fang Fei.


    He then pulled Xia Liu aside to start asking questions.


    After all, this brawl involved three human lives.


    Xia Liu, Fang Fei, and Zhang Xiaoxue didn''t return to Longteng Hotel until eleven o''clock that night.


    Looking at the untidy Longteng lobby, an unjustified rage erupted within Xia Liu...

 Chapter 306 If You Cant Borrow, Steal

    "Chairman, I''m sorry, someone smashed up the hotel..."


    Ye Ming, who had come down from upstairs, saw Xia Liu''s angry face and immediately began to apologize.


    "Manager Ye, it''s not your fault, nor can you blame anyone else; you all did well," Xia Liu said, turning anger into a smile. He would certainly deal with this matter. The Ye Family couldn''t get away with it!


    "Ah... I don''t even know where those two lunatics came from. Ten security guards couldn''t beat them, and one of the guards even had his hand broken."


    Recalling the scene of the incident, Ye Ming couldn''t help but sigh.


    "I already know the ins and outs of the situation. Please take care of the injured colleagues in the coming days, and don''t forget to provide them with the compensation they deserve."


    "Yes, I''ll handle this matter, and the renovation team can come over to fix up the lobby later."


    "Good, then you go ahead with your work. I''ll explain everything to our colleagues in a few days."


    Xia Liu patted Ye Ming on the shoulder and then went upstairs with the ladies.


    As soon as they entered the office, Li Qianqian hurriedly asked Fang Fei what had happened.


    At that time, Li Qianqian, Gu Fangxia, Huang Xue, and Zhang Qing were still busy at the new company. They had only returned to see the hotel smashed.


    Employees said that Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue were taken away by two men.


    This nearly drove them mad with worry.


    Fortunately, Xia Liu returned in time, or else they would have gone out searching for them.


    Fang Fei detailed what had happened in the Eastern District.


    Having heard the story, all the women were terrified and began to hold Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue, crying.


    "I''m sorry, everyone. It''s my fault that Xiaoxue and Sister Fang faced danger," Xia Liu said with a growing sadness in his heart as he saw their reactions.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you can''t blame yourself. If it hadn''t been for Sister Fang and me slowing you down, those three men wouldn''t have been able to threaten you," Zhang Xiaoxue immediately consoled him upon hearing his apology.


    "Yeah, Xia Liu, it''s us who have been holding you back, making you worry," Fang Fei added.


    "Xia Liu, don''t overthink it. We are now practicing martial arts, and soon you can rest assured," said Zhang Qing.


    "Yes, Sister Qianqian is the most diligent; she practices even before going to sleep every night," Huang Xue chimed in.


    "We must practice diligently from now on, so as not to hold Xia Liu back any longer," the ladies resolved firmly. After this crisis, they all felt their shortcomings.


    To stop Xia Liu from worrying, they knew they must train hard and make themselves stronger.


    "You really are my good wives." The phrase represented Xia Liu''s entire world.


    With them in his life, what more could he ask for?


    "But you don''t have to work too hard right now, just practice casually. To become highly skilled, you must have a cultivation technique," Xia Liu said, moved but highlighting a key point for warriors.


    "Cultivation Technique?" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The women looked at Xia Liu blankly, indicating they had never heard of this before.


    "Cultivation Technique is the foundation for a martial artist. Those two who vandalized the hotel, they are Yellow-Rank warriors. Although the Yellow-Rank is the lowest in the hierarchy of warriors, they are still much stronger than regular people," Xia Liu explained.


    "Ah! No wonder one of them could beat several security guards."


    "Brother Xia Liu, can we become as powerful as them?" Zhang Xiaoxue asked, still a bit shaken by what had happened at the hotel.


    "Xia Liu, I think I understand. So you''re saying, as long as we have a cultivation technique, we can become as strong as you?" Fang Fei asked. She had witnessed Xia Liu''s power firsthand¡ªtwo torpedoes exploding on him had left him unscathed, and he could even walk on water!


    It was the most breathtaking aspect, after all, aside from immortals, who else could walk on the surface of the water?


    "No, but anyone with cultivation at the Earth Rank or above would definitely win against the one we just encountered," Xia Liu shook his head.


    The cultivation technique he practiced wasn''t a warrior''s martial arts, but a cultivator''s spell, a fortuity that ordinary people simply couldn''t access.


    Xia Liu also wanted to transmit the Five Elements Mantra he was cultivating to the ladies, but the cost of cultivating the Five Elements Mantra was too great, and perhaps he was the only one in the world who could cultivate it.


    According to the elder, cultivators were extremely low-key on a global scale, elusive as ghosts and spirits, and one might never encounter them in a lifetime.


    If one doesn''t encounter a cultivator, then they wouldn''t have access to the cultivation techniques that cultivators practice, and that meant the ladies could not practice higher-leveled spells.


    However, Xia Liu believed that he would definitely obtain a proper cultivator''s spell for the girls in the future.


    By then, all of his women would be cultivators!


    "The one who just won! I saw it, that was really powerful!"


    "Yes! Sister Fang is right, I saw it too."


    Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue recalled the process of Ye Jingming and Xia Liu''s fight, and it was nothing short of shocking.


    In the clash, even the surrounding air almost shattered.


    "Actually, you haven''t truly seen the fierceness of an Earth-Rank Warrior. At their peak, that person could shatter this office with a single palm," Xia Liu said with slight seriousness.


    "Wow!"


    "Is that even human?" Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    "So strong, is there anyone in the world who can be their match?"


    ...


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s somewhat exaggerated statements, all the women were astonished, but none doubted the truth in Xia Liu''s words.


    Especially Fang Fei, when Xia Liu walked on the surface of the sea, if she hadn''t called out to stop him, those two battleships might have been destroyed by him.


    Moreover, what shocked them the most was that golden beam of light.


    At the time, Xia Liu was about a hundred meters away from Ye Shen.


    Xia Liu flicked his finger and directly shot that beam of light towards Ye Shen, and in the end, that guy had a big hole blasted through his chest.


    Although they couldn''t be as powerful as Xia Liu, being as formidable as Ye Jingming would suffice.


    In that case, there would be few in the world who could pose a threat to them.


    "So, Brother Xia Liu, when will you let us learn cultivation techniques?" Zhang Xiaoxue rubbed her hands together, her large eyes blinking continuously.


    Her words immediately sparked the interest of the other women, all of whom wanted to start practicing right away so that Xia Li wouldn''t have to worry about them anymore.


    "I don''t have any cultivation techniques right now, but I might have some in a few days," Xia Liu helplessly waved his hands and said.


    "In a few days?"


    Hearing this hopeful message, the women became puzzled.


    "Yes, the people who caused trouble in our hotel this time come from a martial artist family. They must have a long heritage, likely with a large collection of techniques, so I can borrow a few to bring back," Xia Liu nodded. He was definitely going to visit the Ye Family.


    He had killed an Earth-Rank Warrior from the Ye Family and crippled another; such martial artist families would definitely not tolerate this.


    Instead of waiting to be attacked, it''s better to take the initiative!


    "Brother Xia Liu, don''t scare me. You killed three people from that family, and you''re still planning to borrow cultivation techniques?" Zhang Xiaoxue said weakly.


    "Yeah, the relationship is already so strained, how can we borrow anything?"


    "Xia Liu, I feel like this family is quite fearsome. Why don''t we leave for a while?"


    "Mm, Sister Fang is right, better to retreat and live to fight another day."


    Xia Liu''s decision immediately made the women anxious; they didn''t think that after finding out their clansmen were killed, that family would treat Xia Liu kindly.


    "No worries, my strength is still alright, if I can''t borrow them, I''ll just take them!"

 Chapter 307 Believe It or Not, Ill Beat You to Death

    "If I can''t borrow it, I''ll snatch it..."


    The women were shocked by Xia Liu once again.


    This guy was just too domineering; such an attitude wasn''t good.


    "Don''t overthink it. Right now, the Ye Family and I are in a do-or-die situation. If I don''t make a move, definitely more martial artists will come after me. That would put all of you in danger too, so I need to take the initiative and strike first."


    "Taking the initiative is good, but you need to have the ability to confront a heritage family."


    "Yeah, don''t push yourself too hard. As long as you''re here, it doesn''t matter where we go."


    ...


    After learning Xia Liu''s thoughts, the women comforted him again; what they feared most was Xia Liu overexerting himself.


    There were still ways out, so why did he insist on charging headfirst into the muzzle?


    "You know my strength, it''s infuriatingly strong! This trip is mainly to get compensation from the Ye Family. Our hotel and colleagues can''t just be injured for nothing!"


    A sly smile appeared on Xia Liu''s face. In this world, unless there were Heaven-Rank Warriors, he truly feared no one.


    Even if faced with an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior, he wouldn''t mind pulling out the Spirit Stabilizing Needle when pushed into a corner.


    As they looked at the mischievous smile on Xia Liu''s face, the women actually bowed their heads and blushed.


    "Hey, hey, don''t get the wrong idea. I''m talking about strength, and of course, I''m very powerful in every aspect of it."


    "We know..."


    That night, Xia Liu was very calm, and the girls were quiet too. However, injuries were inevitable.


    Especially for Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Having returned from Ghost Gate Pass, they cherished every second that had passed more than ever.


    The next morning, Xia Liu got up early; after a night of rushed repairs, the hall would be ready to resume business in half a day.


    In response to the greetings from the hotel staff, Xia Liu acknowledged each one, showing his concern.


    After breakfast, Xia Liu drove towards Binlai City.


    He wasn''t planning to let the matter with the Ye Family drag on for long.


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    The news of Ye Jingming''s death wouldn''t take much time to reach the Ye Family.


    So, before they came looking for him, he would show up at their doorstep and settle the matter.


    In the chairman''s office of Wanqing Group, Xia Liu sat on the sofa with an A4 paper in hand, which contained the Ye Group''s information.


    Martial artist families often hide themselves well, and to find them, one had to rely on various exposed pieces of information.


    And the Ye Group was the breakthrough point.


    "Aunt Qing, this Ye Group seems very secretive?" Xia Liu said with confusion, looking at the incomplete information.


    "Yes, all the data about the Ye Group is very well protected. To obtain this much is already quite an achievement."


    Mo Wanqing was also powerless in this situation, since that group was on par with her own.


    For such a large corporation, how could the protection of their information be weak?


    "By the way, what do you need the Ye Group''s information for?" Mo Wanqing couldn''t figure out Xia Liu''s thoughts at all.


    Having secured the project in the Eastern District for Hejing, logically, he should be busy with the construction work.


    "My hotel was smashed by people from the Ye Family yesterday. I''m going to ask for some compensation," Xia Liu said leisurely.


    "Hmm? Your hotel was smashed! Was there anything else?" Mo Wanqing asked worriedly upon hearing the news.


    "Just a small matter, killed three people from the Ye Family."


    "Hmm, a small matter."


    "Wait a minute! You killed three people from the Ye Family!!!"


    After coming to her senses, Mo Wanqing''s pupils shrank violently¡ªthis man had actually killed three people!


    "Aunt Qing, listen to me, let me explain slowly, here''s what happened..."


    Seeing Mo Wanqing agitated, Xia Liu immediately started clarifying the events one after another.


    "Ye Yiming is despicable, to actually take you hostage and demand the project!" Mo Wanqing said with a face full of rage, after understanding the whole story.


    "There''s no other way, people like him are born this way, they don''t learn their lesson without a little punishment, indeed, it won''t make him change."


    Thinking back on this matter, Xia Liu felt quite helpless.


    He just wanted to develop a good life while embracing the girls.


    But then Ye Yiming came crashing in forcefully.


    After crippling one, another Earth-Rank Warrior appeared, and they even hurt the girls.


    If this matter wasn''t resolved, peace might be hard to come by in the future.


    While the situation hadn''t escalated to its extreme, it was most appropriate to pay a visit now.


    "Alright then, but I want to ask, how confident are you about this trip?"


    Having battled in the business world to reach this point, Mo Wanqing had some understanding of martial artists.


    The last time she had seen Xia Liu use martial arts in secret to defeat that scourge from Taiji Sect, but this time it was different, Xia Liu was facing the entire Ye Family.


    The details of the Ye Family were not clear, but it seemed they had been around for a very long time.


    Such a family with a long heritage was definitely not ordinary.


    "I always have a hundred percent confidence, except for last night..."


    "Understood, be very careful, and if you can''t handle it, leave." Although she was not quite clear about what happened last night, if it made Xia Liu frown, then it must have been a serious matter.


    Mo Wanqing had seen countless people, and there are things you need to understand without explicitly stating them, otherwise, things can''t continue.


    "Alright, Aunt Qing you go ahead with your business, I''ll go take a look at Ye Group."


    "Be very careful..."


    Without staying any longer, Xia Liu immediately drove toward Ye Group.


    The information provided by Mo Wanqing indicated that unlike Wanqing Group, Ye Group''s offices were on the edge of the suburbs.


    Located to the south, their towering buildings marked the division between the suburbs and the city.


    Arriving in front of Ye Group''s building, Xia Liu didn''t rush to enter.


    Facing the fifty or sixty-story high-rise, he was not sure how many Ye Family martial artists were inside.


    If a conflict broke out here, it might accidentally harm ordinary people, which would be sinful.


    "Ye Group, a despicable company! They forcefully bought my family''s storefront and haven''t paid me yet! Scoundrel! Bastard!"


    Just as Xia Liu was contemplating sneaking into the building, a shrill voice came from the entrance of the building.


    The voice attracted the attention of the pedestrians walking by, and naturally, Xia Liu was no exception.


    He looked over and saw an old man in his fifties or sixties and a girl in her twenties in front of the building''s revolving glass doors.


    Both of them were being stopped by the security guards, and judging by the guards'' attitude, no matter what happened, they weren''t allowing the old man and the girl to enter.


    "Hm? Interesting, an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior, as well as a Yellow-Rank Peak Warrior!" Xia Liu observed and smiled appreciatively.


    He had never expected that this old man, who was struggling weakly against the security guards, was actually an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior.


    And this girl, her cultivation had actually reached the Yellow-Rank Peak; with the old man''s guidance, it probably wouldn''t take long for her to advance to Mysterious Rank.


    "You two stop causing a disturbance here, or I might have to call the police!" Unable to withstand the grandfather and granddaughter''s persistence, the head of security bellowed.


    "Call the police? That storefront was left to me by my parents, your group purchased it forcefully without paying! And now you''re calling the police to arrest me? Believe it or not, I''ll beat you to death!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The girl obviously couldn''t take the security guard''s words; her inner Qi kept overflowing within her meridians...

 Chapter 308 I Advise You to Go Back

    "Little Ling, don''t be angry, let''s go back first!"


    Seeing his granddaughter getting angry, the old man immediately pulled her aside.


    He felt helpless towards his hot-tempered granddaughter, knowing that if he stopped her now, the guards might end up getting hurt.


    What was most important was that this was the Ye Group, and to use martial arts against the Ye Family meant becoming their enemy.


    "Grandpa, what are you doing, let me teach those beasts a lesson!"


    The girl known as Little Ling looked at the security guards with dissatisfaction.


    She was really about to explode with anger.


    The store left to her by her parents had been forcefully taken away and, to make matters worse, the payment hadn''t been settled even after several months.


    "Little Ling, this is a public place, if you start a fight, there could be trouble."


    "So what if there is, I want to teach the Ye Group a lesson!"


    "The Ye Group is a martial arts family business. Offending the Ye Clan would mean that we''d have to live on the run," the old man said with a shake of his head.


    "Grandpa, you are an Earth-Rank Warrior. What''s so scary about a martial arts family? If push comes to shove, we''ll fight it out," Little Ling puffed out her cheeks, speaking indignantly.


    "Hehe..." The old man chuckled affectionately and said no more.


    What could an Earth-Rank Warrior do after all, his abilities were limited; he was not afraid of losing his life, but he feared leaving his granddaughter uncared for...


    "Are you two also being bullied by the Ye Group?" Xia Liu approached after listening to their conversation.


    "Hmm? Who are you?" The old man frowned. He hadn''t sensed Xia Liu approaching at all, so he became cautious.


    "Hmph! The Ye Group is nothing but a company of scoundrels!" Little Ling glanced at Xia Liu and then turned to continue cursing to herself.


    "My name is Xia Liu, I''ve come here seeking compensation from the Ye Group," said Xia Liu with a smile as he introduced himself.


    "Hey, old man, my name is Zhou Taishan, and this is my granddaughter, Zhou Ling."


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    "Nice to meet you, Old Master Zhou, and Miss Zhou Ling."


    "Not nice! You''d better not talk to me, or else I''ll hit you!" Zhou Ling clenched her fists at Xia Liu, her mood very foul. If possible, she would unleash all her cultivation and smash the front entrance of the Ye Group.


    "Little Ling, that''s no way to talk," scolded the old man.


    "Don''t mind her, Old Master Zhou. I''m also filled with rage. I''ve been here for days, always blocked by the security guards," Xia Liu said with a helpless look.


    "Alas, we are in the same boat. I''ve reported to the police, but to no immediate effect."


    "I''m in the same situation. I feel that this isn''t getting us anywhere. If I knew where their chairman lived, I''d go and wait at his doorstep. Maybe then I''d get the compensation faster."


    "Hmm? That''s not a bad idea. If he doesn''t pay up, I''ll knock his teeth out!" Zhou Ling became interested upon hearing Xia Liu''s suggestion.


    She was someone who revered martial force. If something could be resolved through strength, she wouldn''t resort to any other method.


    "Young man, you shouldn''t entertain such thoughts. To tell you the truth, behind the Ye Group stands a family that has passed down traditions for many years, with each generation being masters at martial arts," Zhou Taishan said, no longer trying to scold his granddaughter.


    Now seeing Xia Liu like this, he felt he had to intervene, or the young man might end up maimed.


    "Martial arts? I''ve learned a bit too; taking on five at once is definitely not a problem for me," Xia Liu said seriously.


    "Hehe, young man, you might have misunderstood me. The Ye family practices the kind of high-strength martial arts that generate Inner Qi, like what you see on TV, not some flashy, fruitless techniques," Zhou Taishan explained with a wry smile.


    "That still doesn''t matter. It''s not like they can kill me. I''m just here to get compensation," said Xia Liu.


    "Big brother, your martial arts can''t compare to theirs, I advise you to go back," Zhou Ling looked at Xia Liu with disdain.


    With the martial arts moves on display, if they could compete with a martial artist who possessed Inner Qi, martial artists wouldn''t be so esteemed.


    "Yeah, go back, little brother. There''s plenty of time, and one day you''ll get the compensation you''re due."


    "Alright, I''ll listen to you guys. To express my gratitude, I''d like to treat you to a meal."


    "Eating sounds great, Grandpa, let''s go." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You just ate, girl, how can you be hungry again?" Zhou Taishan looked at his gluttonous granddaughter and couldn''t help shaking his head.


    "Little brother, there''s no need for a meal, just go back and attend to your matters. If we manage to get in for a talk, we''ll definitely speak on your behalf."


    "Old master, if what you''re saying is true, then you''ve saved my life, so I must insist on this meal, my car is right over there, let''s go together. Zhou Ling, little sister, you can pick whatever you want to eat."


    "Whoa! Grandpa, if you''re not going, I am!"


    Zhou Ling had already taken the lead, pulling Xia Liu along.


    Zhou Taishan wore an embarrassed face; they had just met Xia Liu, and here they were letting him treat them, which didn''t make sense.


    In the end, Zhou Taishan didn''t go. With his granddaughter''s Yellow-Rank Peak cultivation, an ordinary Mysterious-Rank Primary-Level Warrior might not stand a chance against her, so there was no risk in her following Xia Liu alone.


    However, what Zhou Taishan never anticipated was that indeed something did happen on this trip.


    "Zhou Ling, little sister, are you full now?" Xia Liu asked gently as he watched Zhou Ling devouring chicken legs with both hands.


    "Just give me a moment¡­" While gracelessly munching on a chicken leg, Zhou Ling replied.


    A few minutes later, Zhou Ling leaned back in her chair and stretched out her body. "Whew¡­ That was a really satisfying meal."


    "Hehe, as long as you''re satisfied." Xia Liu gave a sly smile, then continued, "Zhou Ling, little sister, do you know where the Ye Family is?"


    "Hm? You treated me to a meal just to find out where the Ye Family is?" A flash of realization crossed Zhou Ling''s mind as she gazed intently at Xia Liu.


    "I genuinely wanted to treat you, but the Ye Group smashed up all of my shops and seriously injured my staff. I must confront them for justice!"


    Seeing the determination in Xia Liu''s expression, Zhou Ling was taken aback. It turned out she had misunderstood; this guy''s sense of responsibility was simply too strong.


    "Alright! For the sake of my shop and my employees, and the shop left to me by my parents, let''s go and confront the chairman of the Ye Group together!" Zhou Ling declared staunchly after a long silence.


    "Okay, when we get there, I''ll take care of it."


    "Hehe, don''t underestimate me; I could knock out a hundred of you with your puny frame," Zhou Ling chuckled, assessing Xia Liu.


    "Hehe, Zhou Ling, little sister, you really are formidable. You direct, and I''ll drive."


    "Of course, I''m formidable. I''m a Yellow-Rank... cough, turn left¡­"


    Just as Zhou Ling was about to reveal her martial artist identity, she quickly stopped herself.


    Xia Liu merely smiled slightly without further comment. Since he had unsealed his Sealing yesterday, he hadn''t resealed it.


    This time, with Zhou Ling accompanying him, as long as there weren''t any Earth-Rank High-Level warriors, he should be able to protect her.


    Of course, he definitely wouldn''t let her get involved. If possible, he would have her wait in the car.


    Under Zhou Ling''s direction, Xia Liu drove out of the city, heading down the forest road towards its deeper reaches.


    "We should be about three kilometers away from the Ye Family estate now."

 Chapter 309 Who Dares to Move

    "Understood!" Xia Liu said as he slammed on the accelerator.


    But Xia Liu immediately lifted his foot off the gas, and the car slowly came to a stop at the side of the road: "Something urgent, I need to use the restroom. Wait for me in the car for a bit."


    ...


    Zhou Ling gave him a disdainful look and couldn''t be bothered to say anything else.


    After entering the woods by the road, Xia Liu''s spiritual energy stirred, and he sprinted towards the Ye Residence with great speed.


    He was actually a bit worried. If Zhou Ling lost control and started a fight, it wouldn''t be good if a martial artist of the Ye Family injured her.


    Zhou Ling, sitting quietly in the car, began to get angry as time passed.


    Xia Liu had already been gone for ten minutes and still hadn''t come back.


    So, she mustered the courage to get out of the car and check.


    "Even though you''re quite handsome, big sister here doesn''t like you. I''m getting out of the car just to hurry you up," she muttered as she opened the car door.


    Just as she got out, a taxi came speeding from behind and finally stopped behind the BMW.


    "Little Ling! How could you bring Xia Liu here?" Zhou Taishan said anxiously.


    He''d been waiting at the entrance of the building for almost three hours, and his granddaughter still hadn''t returned.


    He remembered that Xia Liu had once asked him about the location of the Ye Residence, and he trembled on the spot.


    And here he was, Zhou Taishan had rushed over as quickly as possible. Thankfully, nothing had happened to his granddaughter, or he would have considered his life a complete failure.


    "Grandpa, how did you know I was here?" Zhou Ling asked, slightly embarrassed by her grandfather''s anxious demeanor.


    "You think I don''t know you, girl? With Xia Liu egging you on, you were bound to bring him here."


    "Fine, I do feel like I''ve been fooled, but I wanted to. I''ve long wished to smash the Ye Residence''s gates," Zhou Ling said fiercely, clenching her fists.


    "You silly girl, the Ye Family is not someone we can afford to provoke." Zhou Taishan was tired of talking too much. He looked around and didn''t see Xia Liu, so he immediately asked, "Where''s Xia Liu?"


    Xia Liu dared to coax his granddaughter into causing trouble while he wasn''t around, how could Zhou Taishan not be angry?


    If he didn''t properly punish Xia Liu for what happened at their first meeting, it just wouldn''t feel right.


    "I don''t know. He said he had urgent matters, so he got out of the car, but it''s been more than ten minutes, and he hasn''t come back yet. Maybe you should go look for him, grandpa?"


    "Damn! He must have gone to the Ye Residence by himself. Little Ling, get in the car quickly. Let''s go see."


    Zhou Taishan released his inner qi but sensed no energy around him and slapped his forehead.


    Xia Liu had coaxed his granddaughter to bring him here, but since he parked the car, he clearly didn''t want to drag her into it.


    Though what he did initially was wrong, his intentions in the late stage were commendable.


    Hoping that nothing had happened yet, Zhou Taishan decided to pull Xia Liu back.


    Zhou Ling also realized what Xia Liu was about to face and quickly got into the taxi.


    After three minutes, the people in the taxi could clearly see the scene ahead.


    It was a massive entrance.


    Filled with a strong sense of antiquity, high walls concealed the interior of the residence, and the several-meter-tall gates gave off a powerful impact unintentionally.


    Above the gates hung a plaque bearing the words "Ye Residence."


    Ye Residence!


    The martial artist family: the Ye Family''s foundation. Although the Ye Family''s businesses were all located in the city center. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only martial artists of the Ye Family were qualified to reside here; those without talent and unable to cultivate weren''t worthy to live within the residence.


    And the person in charge of the Ye Group was a young Mysterious Rank Warrior, or else neither Zhou Taishan nor Zhou Ling would have come here.


    "Grandpa, it''s Xia Liu!" Before the taxi even stopped, Zhou Ling called out.


    At the entrance of Ye Residence, a slender figure watched the plaque hanging above the doorway from afar.


    Surrounding him, six Ye Family guards were staring at him intently.


    All six guards were at the Yellow-Rank High Level of cultivation.


    They all released their energy, but Xia Liu remained unmoved, so none of them dared to make a rash move.


    "Looks like I arrived just in time!" Zhou Taishan let out a sigh of relief after getting off the car with his granddaughter.


    Luckily, Xia Liu was still able to stand; if he had been more reckless, perhaps Zhou Taishan would have had to carry him back this time.


    "I''m here just to talk with your Family Head."


    Just as Zhou Taishan was about to step forward, Xia Liu''s profound gaze swept over the guards encircling him.


    "Tch, who do you think you are? Looking for our Family Head! Don''t blame us for getting rough if you don''t scram!"


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Just as the crowd was getting ready to make a move and send Xia Liu on his way, a voice echoed from inside the mansion.


    The guards turned around and couldn''t help but feel fear: "Young Master Yiming, what brings you out here?"


    "Is it any of your business! Close the gates, just looking outside is irritating!" Ye Yiming, his hand in a cast, waved it angrily. If his cultivation was intact, he would have gone up and given the guards a beating.


    "Young Master Yiming, instead of resting in bed, why are you wandering about? Aren''t you afraid you''ll fall and break even your legs?"


    Hearing that familiar arrogant voice, Xia Liu couldn''t help but tease.


    "It''s you!"


    When Ye Yiming focused his attention on the entrance, his pupils suddenly shrank.


    He could never forget Xia Liu in his life!


    If it weren''t for him, his Dantian wouldn''t be shattered, and both of his hands would not have been crippled!


    He had returned to the Ye Family a few days ago, and his father was preparing medicine for him; if lucky, his Dantian might still be mended.


    But even with cultivation, his power wouldn''t be able to return to its peak.


    Ye Yiming was filled with hatred!


    He wished he could devour Xia Liu alive!


    "Young Master Yiming, do you know him?" The guards, seeing Ye Yiming so furious, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.


    Luckily, they hadn''t gone too far just now. If Xia Liu was a friend of Ye Yiming, they might very well face severe punishment.


    "I''d recognize him even if he turned to ash! You all go! Kill him immediately! Kill him!"


    Ye Yiming roared, a murderous intent that had never been seen before manifested on him.


    If his cultivation was still present, he would have surely lost control.


    Facing Ye Yiming''s demeanor, the guards quickly reacted, clenched their fists, and prepared to gang up on Xia Liu.


    "Who dares to move!"


    Xia Liu glared furiously around him.


    Seeing Xia Liu''s profound and inscrutable fierce pupils, the actions of the six guards stiffened.


    They had never seen such terrifying eyes before, and Xia Liu''s words were imbued with an indescribable pressure.


    It made people dare not go against his actions or words.


    "Everyone, everyone! Hold on a moment." Seeing that the guards were about to attack Xia Liu, Zhou Taishan and Zhou Ling immediately ran over.


    "An Earth-Rank Warrior!" Although Ye Yiming was disabled, his perception power was still good; he could tell the level of Zhou Taishan''s cultivation as soon as he got close.


    "All of you, back off! Mind it or I''ll kill you!" Zhou Ling''s Yellow-Rank Peak energy erupted visibly.


    Together with Zhou Taishan''s subtle Earth Rank energy, they immediately intimidated the guards.


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    "Everyone, hold on a moment. Whatever the grudge or grievance, let''s lay it out and talk, no need to resort to fists," Zhou Taishan said with a kind smile.

 Chapter 310 Imminent

    "Tsk tsk, just an Earth-Rank Warrior, you are not qualified to uphold justice at the doorstep of the Ye Family!"


    Xia Liu looked down on Zhou Taishan with disdain.


    Even though he now lacked cultivation, he had the backing of the Ye Family! The Ye Family, strong in martial arts!


    "Young Master Ye, I definitely don''t qualify, but this young man here is still young, and if it''s just for mere wealth that you want to claim his life, isn''t that a bit too cheap?"


    "Wealth? Old man, you''ve lived too long, your brain must''ve gotten pinched by the door. If he crushed both your hands, destroying your cultivation, would you want to kill him?"


    Xia Liu let out an angry roar.


    Hmm?


    Hearing this, Zhou Taishan looked at Xia Liu in astonishment. Could this guy really ruin Xia Liu''s cultivation?


    "Haha! Good riddance, a person like you doesn''t deserve to practice cultivation!" Zhou Ling burst into laughter upon hearing that Xia Liu had lost his cultivation.


    She hadn''t forgotten that it was Xia Liu who had used his status as a high-rank martial artist to oppress and forcibly acquire the shop left to her by her parents.


    Now that Xia Liu had become incapacitated, how could Zhou Ling not feel elated?


    "Cheap wench! Keep laughing and even if an Earth-Rank Warrior protects you, you''ll still die!!!"


    Xia Liu''s urge to kill was overflowing; if he weren''t worried that Zhou Taishan might suddenly make a move, how could he possibly be patient?


    Once an Earth-Rank Warrior from his family stepped in, not only Xia Liu, but both Zhou Taishan and Zhou Ling were going to die!


    "Xia Liu, was it truly you who ruined his cultivation? Didn''t you say the Ye Group smashed up your shop?"


    "That''s right; Xia Liu was overbearing and tyrannical. I annihilated his cultivation in the name of justice, and instead of repenting, he ordered a hit on me, smashed up my shop, and almost killed my wife."


    Whoosh!


    Seeing Xia Liu nod, a surge of emotions welled up inside Zhou Taishan. To him, Xia Liu seemed to possess no energy at all.


    How could someone without any Inner Qi destroy a martial artist''s practice?


    And he even mentioned surviving an assassination by a martial artist, so how did he survive without any cultivation?


    Zhou Ling also paid close attention to Xia Liu; she hadn''t expected that Xia Liu would be capable of incapacitating a Mysterious Rank Warrior. What kind of power was that?


    "The assassination was honoring you..."


    Mid-sentence, Xia Liu suddenly stopped, a sense of fear welling up from the depths of his heart.


    He began to tremble gradually, and his voice did likewise, "You... should have died last night, right? How can you still stand here?"


    "Evil thoughts will only drag you deeper; the crooked path leads only to your total destruction."


    "Ah! Brother!!!"


    Seeing Xia Liu standing there made Xia Liu deduce that his brother must have died.


    The blood vessels in his eyes instantly burst, and as he looked up to the heavens, his legs heavily knelt to the ground.


    Xia Liu was not kneeling to the heavens or the earth but for the brother who died because of him.


    "Hmm? Five Earth-Rank Warriors are coming this way. Little Ling, take Xia Liu and step back a bit." Seeing the situation get out of hand, Zhou Taishan immediately started directing.


    "Xia Liu! You must die today!"


    "And you two as well! You must all die for me!"


    Xia Liu screamed maniacally, having completely lost everything at the moment of hearing the bad news.


    In the family, without the protection of his brother, he would be nothing and even his father would regard him with cold indifference.


    The Ye residence did not accommodate the useless; living in this residence signified honor and status.


    Xia Liu had lost everything now, and even more painfully, his most beloved brother.


    "Yiming! What happened?" Just then, a white-haired elder around seventy appeared in front of Ye Yiming.


    "Father, brother is dead!"


    "What! Who did it!" the white-haired elder exclaimed in fury as his Earth-Rank Mid-Level cultivation burst forth in an instant.


    The atmosphere around became oppressively tense to the extreme.


    "Yongqing, calm down!" Seeing Ye Yongqing''s oppressive energy burst out, the four Earth-Rank Warriors who followed tried to withstand this pressure.


    This was the Ye Family home, after all. An outburst from an Earth-Rank Warrior could very likely destroy this place. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    "Yongyuan, you get out of my way!" Ye Yongqing swatted away the palm on his shoulder, then reached out and lifted Ye Yiming to his feet, "Tell me, how did Jingming die?"


    "Cough, cough¡­" Overwhelmed by the Earth-Rank Warrior''s intimidating energy, Ye Yiming''s internal injuries erupted again, and blood spilled from his mouth instantly.


    "Father, he''s the one who killed brother," Ye Yiming said, enduring the pain and staring hard at Xia Liu with red eyes.


    "Xia Liu, just who did you kill?" Zhou Ling found it difficult to breathe under the thick aura of authority ahead.


    Yet, she was very curious. Who had Xia Liu killed to enrage a Warrior with Earth-Rank cultivation like this?


    "Considering the situation, it must have been the old man''s eldest son."


    "Ye Yongqing''s eldest son is named Ye Jingming, a cultivator at the Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak, nearly breaking through to Earth-Rank High-Level. How did you manage to kill him?"


    Zhou Taishan was immediately shocked upon hearing this news.


    He couldn''t sense any fluctuation of Inner Qi on Xia Liu, not even the faintest hint, which would be impossible to conceal so well.


    And he was so young; how could he possibly have the capability to kill an Earth-Rank Warrior?


    "Hahaha!!! My son!"


    Before Xia Liu could respond, the maniacal laughter of Ye Yongqing echoed around them.


    "You deserve to die!" Ye Yongqing looked at Xia Liu with fury written all over his face, determined to tear Xia Liu into a thousand pieces!


    "Please wait a moment, I came here today to talk peace..."


    "Talk peace? I''ll twist off your head first and then we can talk slowly! None of you move, I want to twist off his head with my own hands!"


    Not giving Xia Liu a chance to speak further, Ye Yongqing''s Inner Qi surged as he transformed into an afterimage and immediately charged out of the mansion.


    Several guards had already run off to the side. The battle of Earth-Rank Warriors was not something they could interfere with.


    "Little Ling, Xia Liu, run!" As Ye Yongqing made his move, Zhou Taishan roared while his own Inner Qi began to course through his body.


    Given Ye Yongqing''s crazed state right now, Zhou Taishan knew that if he and his granddaughter appeared before him, he would not let them leave easily.


    Perhaps this was fate. As long as Xia Liu could take his granddaughter away, he was prepared to exhaust all his cultivation to hold off the Ye Family warriors!


    "Grandfather!"


    Zhou Ling wanted to rush forward and stand in front of her grandfather, but the pressure exerted by an Earth-Rank Warrior''s released Inner Qi was not something she, a Yellow-Rank Peak Warrior, could contend with; she couldn''t even move her feet at the moment.


    "Is this how your martial families conduct themselves? Is this the dignity of your martial families? Do you really think everyone is easy to bully?" Faced with Ye Yongqing rushing toward him, Xia Liu posed three questions to the martial families.


    "Xia Liu, no more talking, just go! I''ll block him!"


    Without time for further words, Zhou Taishan''s Inner Qi surged from the palm of his hand. Even though his cultivation was not as high as Ye Yongqing''s, he was fearless!


    Boom!!!


    The next second, a thunderous roar resounded all around¡­

 Chapter 311 Bloodbath at Ye Residence!

    A thunderous explosion rang out, causing the surrounding air currents to churn chaotically.


    Witnessing the figure standing in front of him, Zhou Taishan''s eyes widened instantly.


    He had never expected that, when faced with the angry palm strike from the Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warrior Ye Yongqing, the person blocking it would actually be Xia Liu!!!


    Zhou Ling was also stunned. Under the oppression of an Earth-Rank Warrior, she didn''t even have the strength to move her feet.


    However, Xia Liu had actually caught the Earth-Rank Warrior''s palm strike for real!


    What kind of strength was this? She still remembered that at the entrance of the Ye Group, Xia Liu had a reserved smile on his face.


    Only at this moment did she realize that this guy was actually so terrifying.


    "A master!" Ye Yongyuan saw Ye Yongqing''s palm strike, fueled by his full Inner Qi, being caught by Xia Liu, and could not help but frown tightly.


    The other three Earth-Rank Warriors thought the same.


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    "Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warrior, so impressive, shout!"


    With a loud shout, Xia Liu''s Spiritual Energy surged explosively, and in a flash, he repelled Ye Yongqing!


    Bang!


    Unable to unload the rampaging Spiritual Energy, Ye Yongqing finally smashed violently against the city wall.


    "Hmph!" With a cold snort, Ye Yongqing vibrated his Inner Qi and immediately drove away the heaviness in his chest.


    Compared to before, he had calmed down.


    From their initial exchange, he knew, this seemingly young Xia Liu was a peerless master!


    His Cultivation had reached Earth-Rank Primary Level, if he hadn''t been distracted during the battle just now.


    Xia Liu would not have had the chance to repel him with a burst of energy.


    Thinking of this, Ye Yongqing sneered, "Hehe, it seems my son was careless, merely an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior, you won''t survive today."


    He still remembered the first time he saw Xia Liu; even using Inner Qi Sensing, he could not detect Xia Liu''s presence.


    This was enough to indicate that as long as Xia Liu hid his energy well, an Earth-Rank Warrior could not detect him.


    This explained everything; his eldest son was at the Mid-Level Peak of Earth Rank.


    In a direct fight, how could he possibly be killed by Xia Liu.


    Therefore, Ye Yongqing believed that Xia Liu must have used unfair means to luckily kill Ye Jingming.


    "Oh? My purpose here today isn''t to kill, but since you insist on it, I don''t mind wiping out the Ye Residence!"


    Xia Liu''s cold gaze swept over the people of the Ye Family.


    If the attitude of this family was all like Ye Yongqing''s, then such a cancer didn''t need to be left intact.


    It could even be inferred that this trashy family had continued to this day because of how many suffering people they had bullied and stripped.


    Facing Xia Liu''s deathly gaze, Ye Yongyuan and the other Ye Family warriors felt an inexplicable chill rise behind them.


    Ye Yongqing felt differently; in his eyes, Xia Liu was just a joke, a mere Earth-Rank Primary-Level, someone he could crush easily!


    "Hahaha! Wiping out the Ye Family! Ridiculous, ridiculous indeed!"


    "Xia Liu! Our Cultivations are comparable, why don''t we unite, resist together and then find a chance to escape."


    Zhou Taishan, too, treated Xia Liu''s harsh words as if they were wind past the ears, after all, which young Earth-Rank Warrior wasn''t somewhat arrogant?


    But one must be arrogant at the right place; the Ye Family, after all, was a Martial Artist family with hundreds of years of inheritance.


    Right now, standing at the gate were five Earth-Rank Warriors, and their Cultivations were very even.


    Aside from one Earth-Rank Primary Level, the rest were all Earth-Rank Mid-Level, even one was faintly reaching the Peak of Mid-Level Earth Rank.


    Facing four Earth-Rank Mid-Level powerhouses, plus one Earth-Rank Primary Level.


    Not to mention wiping them out, whether or not they could leave this place was still a question.


    "Old Master Zhou, you and Little Ling step aside, this is a private matter between me and the Ye Family."


    "Ah... you this..." Faced with Xia Liu''s resolute gaze, Zhou Taishan had no choice but to flash to a position dozens of meters away with Zhou Ling.


    Combat between Earth-Rank Warriors shouldn''t be followed too closely, or one would not even know how they died.


    "Grandpa... please go help Xia Liu, I feel like he''s going to die."


    "It''s not that Grandpa won''t help, but if Grandpa goes, it''s a nine-in-ten chance of death. Who will take care of you then?"


    Zhou Taishan had considered confronting the Ye Family, but Xia Liu had no thoughts of retreat.


    If he intervened, the outcome would certainly be tragic, and it might even implicate his granddaughter.


    Zhou Ling fell silent, today she truly understood the terror of Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Such a warrior could almost disperse someone with a mere glance!


    "Foolish boy, rest assured, I won''t kill you immediately. Daring to speak of massacring the Ye Residence, you are the first in a hundred years. Therefore, I will treat you with the highest courtesy of the Ye Family!"


    Before Xia Liu could respond, Ye Yongqing''s Inner Qi burst forth from his body. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ye Clan: Crimson Flame Fist!"


    Ye Yongqing made his move with the Ye Family''s Thunderclap Move, clearly not intending to give Xia Liu any chance.


    This Crimson Flame Fist was unique; hitting an enemy meant the scorching energy contained within would penetrate the opponent''s body.


    The scorching energy would devour the opponent''s Inner Qi completely, burning all the meridians and truly rendering the opponent crippled.


    "The Ye Family''s guarded secret technique! Xia Liu is doomed!"


    Seeing Ye Yongqing throw his punch, Zhou Taishan immediately got excited.


    He had seen this Crimson Flame Fist once in his long life.


    Therefore, he deeply understood the terrifying nature of the Crimson Flame Fist. Now that it was being executed by Mid-Level Peak Ye Yongqing, Xia Liu was likely ruined...


    Zhou Ling couldn''t see much, but she felt the increasing pressure emanating from Ye Yongqing.


    And his arms, encircling like molten rock, made one''s heart tremble inwardly.


    "Yongqing seems truly angry now."


    "Hmph, daring to speak of massacring the Ye family in our presence, killing him is letting him off lightly"


    "Being angry might not be a good thing. I always feel there''s something off about that young man." Listening to the two Earth-Rank Warriors beside him, Ye Yongyuan felt an inexplicable unease.


    Is it because of Xia Liu?


    Ye Yongyuan''s gaze fixed intently on Xia Liu, wanting to see how he would defend against the Crimson Flame Fist.


    "Crimson Flame Fist? Only trash like you would regard it as your guarded secret technique." Upon seeing this familiar move again, Xia Liu couldn''t help but shake his head and wryly smile.


    "Hmph! No need to explain too much to a dead man, die!"


    With a snort of rage, Ye Yongqing''s energy surged once more, and he immediately transformed into a blur, charging directly at Xia Liu.


    "Xia Liu! Dodge!" Seeing this, Zhou Taishan immediately roared.


    "Ha ha!! Wonder if he can dodge!" Ye Yongqing laughed maniacally, with his speed, there was no way Xia Liu could dodge!


    "Such trashy moves, are we even talking about dodging?"


    Xia Liu slowly lifted his head, now that he had released the seal on the Energy Sea, returning to the Peak Strength of five levels, how could he dodge!


    Thus, under the shocked gazes of the onlookers, Xia Liu moved.


    His speed was equally fast, immediately clashing with Ye Yongqing.


    Boom!


    In an unseen state of mind, Xia Liu used the Taiyi Unparalleled Move, Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique.


    Force absorption, Force Control, Unloading Force, synthesized into one!


    In the moment Ye Yongqing was irresistible, Xia Liu''s fist condensed, returning the Crimson Flame Fist with barely three layers of residual force!

 Chapter 312 Five People Together

    Thud!


    With a muffled sound, Ye Yongqing''s body flew backward like a kite with its string cut.


    In the end, he even smashed the city wall and tumbled over the grass inside the Ye Residence for tens of meters before coming to a halt.


    Spurt!


    Struck by Xia Liu''s powerful punch, a sweet taste filled Ye Yongqing''s throat without giving him a chance to suppress it. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mixed with visceral blood, it fiercely spurted out.


    Everyone was stunned¡ªwhat had just happened?


    It was just an encounter, and Ye Yongqing was severely injured!


    On the other hand, Xia Liu stood tall, his face calm, without a single injury.


    They had all seen it. Xia Liu had managed to catch Ye Yongqing''s Crimson Flame Fist!


    The Crimson Flame Fist, carrying scorching Energy, would penetrate the body upon contact and continue burning the meridians until it stopped.


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    Yet, they had all seen that Xia Liu caught the entirety of the Crimson Flame Fist without any issue.


    On the contrary, he unloaded all the Qi Force of the Crimson Flame Fist and even directed the last few layers of Qi Force onto Ye Yongqing.


    Terrifying!


    The martial artists from the Ye Family, who understood the Crimson Flame Fist best, felt a strong sense of unease.


    Hiss...


    Zhou Taishan inhaled sharply countless times.


    Xia Liu''s move had completely caught him off guard.


    Leveraging unloading force for counterattack!


    It was frightfully powerful!


    He couldn''t help but recall Xia Liu''s earlier words¡ªannihilating the Ye Residence!


    If he could master this move completely, perhaps he could truly annihilate the Ye Residence!


    After all, the Ye Family''s biggest reliance was these five Earth-Rank Warriors.


    With Earth-Rank Warriors dead, the remaining Yellow-Rank and Mysterious Rank warriors would be like crushing ants.


    Zhou Ling''s eyes widened as she stared at Xia Liu.


    She had initially thought Xia Liu was an ordinary person, with only a superficial understanding of martial arts.


    Yet the reality was unexpectedly contrary¡ª he was not only strong, but terrifyingly so!


    Recalling her own sarcastic remarks, Zhou Ling couldn''t help but feel embarrassed.


    "Haha! Good lad, I underestimated you!"


    Ye Yongqing slowly stood up from the ground, having dispersed all the scorching Energy inside of him.


    That Energy was originally his and returned to his body; had it not been for a faint breath, he could have stood up much earlier.


    After laughing wildly, his expression turned chillingly cold.


    After two exchanges, he finally understood that Xia Liu not only knew how to conceal his Energy, but his martial arts skills were also very peculiar.


    If one were not careful, one could very likely be killed by their own martial arts skills and Qi Force.


    "Oh? Are you ready now?" Xia Liu knew that Ye Yongqing wouldn''t go down that easily.


    Even if he were a weak Earth-Rank Warrior, killing him would still be troublesome, although it was just slightly.


    "Yongqing! Do not be careless, this lad''s martial arts skills are very unique. You alone cannot kill him."


    "Yonghao, just relax, I was just careless just now. As long as I''m a little serious, killing him will be like slaughtering a dog!"


    Ye Yongqing confidently smiled in response to Ye Yonghao''s well-meaning advice.


    He believed he could kill Xia Liu, after all Xia Liu was just an Earth-Rank Primary Level Warrior, even if his martial arts skills were a bit special.


    But he wouldn''t withstand the wear and tear from an Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warrior!


    "Yonghao, I advise you best not move." Seeing Ye Yonghao about to step forward, Ye Yongyuan immediately cautioned.


    "Yongyuan, are you scared? Just a mere Earth-Rank Primary Level Warrior who dares to come to the Ye Family to cause trouble, putting up a minute''s fight is already a disgrace to us!"


    Ye Yonghao said irritably.


    "Before we fully understand the situation..."


    "Stop talking, haven''t they already brought the fight to our doorstep? How can we not kill him to settle this?" Ye Yonghao asked angrily, not allowing Ye Yongyuan to continue speaking.


    "Yonghao is right, this youngster is too outrageous, uttering such humiliating words in front of us, I''m determined to kill him!"


    "Yes! He''s just an Earth-Rank Primary Level warrior, but his martial arts skills are unpredictable, let''s all of us, including Yongqing, take him on together!"


    The three Earth-Rank warriors next to Ye Yongyuan also angrily chimed in.


    If Xia Liu were just an ordinary person, at most they would have extracted his tendons and peeled his bones.


    But he was an Earth-Rank warrior, daring to say he would cleanse the Ye Residence in blood. As the holders of power in the Ye Residence, how could they tolerate this?


    "You all go," Ye Yongyuan said, closing his eyes, not saying anything more.


    As for the current state of the Ye Family, he no longer harbored any hopes.


    Why had Xia Liu come to seek retribution at the Ye Family? Why did he want to cleanse the Ye Family in blood? What had happened in all of this?


    Thinking of these, Ye Yongyuan felt sorrowful.


    "Hmph!"


    All four snorted coldly, Ye Yongyuan''s cultivation had reached the peak of the Earth-Rank Mid-Level.


    Yet in the face of a formidable enemy, he dared not make a move.


    As colleagues, they were definitely displeased, but other than snorting coldly, they dared not say anything else.


    The four exchanged a glance and all began to increase their energy as they stepped forward.


    Seconds later, including Ye Yongqing, the five Earth-Rank warriors surrounded Xia Liu.


    Four Earth-Rank Mid-Level, one Earth-Rank Primary Level!


    This setup immediately caught the attention of all the warriors of the Ye Family.


    They all came out from the residence.


    Seeing the five noble Earth-Rank warriors surrounding Xia Liu, they all inhaled sharply.


    Because Xia Liu was too young.


    What qualifications did he have to be surrounded by five high-strength warriors?


    "It''s over..."


    Seeing this, Zhou Taishan''s old face turned pale.


    Previously, Xia Liu had not used his strange techniques, and perhaps he could have cleverly defeated Ye Yongqing.


    Now there were five Earth-Rank warriors, all with higher cultivation than Xia Liu.


    To say nothing of winning, just surviving would already be a tremendous fortune.


    "Grandfather, what chances does Xia Liu have?" Zhou Ling asked weakly.


    After the preceding events, Zhou Ling had already lost her arrogance.


    Now she only felt very weak, unable to stir even a ripple in the vast world of warriors.


    "He has no chance."


    "If it were you, Grandfather, could you beat them?"


    "I''d last at most ten seconds."


    ...


    Hearing this nightmarish news, Zhou Ling''s trembling gaze looked distantly at Xia Liu, praying in her heart that he could safely survive this ordeal.


    "Hahaha! Xia Liu, oh, Xia Liu! You owe my brother his life!"


    Seeing his father and several uncles besieging Xia Liu, Ye Yiming laughed, certain that this time Xia Liu would undoubtedly die.


    As long as Xia Liu died, even if he himself were expelled from the family, even if it meant death, he would have no regrets.


    "Haha! Five Earth-Rank warriors, the Ye Family is really generous indeed."


    Facing the five people besieging him, Xia Liu did not show any fear; on the contrary, he even started to laugh.


    "Tsk tsk, enjoy your sneers while you can, remember to boast in the Underworld, after all, you were killed by five Earth-Rank warriors."


    Watching Ye Yonghao, boasting with arrogance, Xia Liu shook his head and said, "What I mean is, what would happen if I incapacitated all of you?"


    "Hmph! Why waste words with him! Let''s attack together and kill him!"


    The Earth-Rank Primary Level warrior, unable to stand Xia Liu''s smug look, clenched his fists. His arms immediately wrapped in a fiery red color as his Inner Qi surged violently.


    Ye Yonghao and Ye Yongqing also immediately started to channel the Ye Family''s Thunderclap Move.

 Chapter 313 Sect Leader

    When all five people launched the Crimson Flame Fist, the crowd on scene immediately shuddered.


    Especially the martial artists from the Ye Family who had come to check on the situation.


    The Crimson Flame Fist was a secret, sect-protecting technique of the Ye Family, seldom seen being used by the elders.


    Today, they finally got to see it, and what was unexpected was that it wasn''t just one elder who performed it, but five!!!


    They couldn''t help but be shaken to their core.


    Incomprehensibly, five elders were using the Crimson Flame Fist, and their target was actually a young man not much different in age from themselves!


    Who exactly was that young man?


    All the martial artists of the Ye Family burst with this question in their hearts.


    "Shameless!"


    Seeing this, Zhou Taishan couldn''t help but spit out a curse, facing Xia Liu who had Earth-Rank cultivation.


    Five high-strength Earth-Rank warriors of the Ye Family were actually using such a move.


    "Are you ready?" Xia Liu asked, casually glancing around.


    "Fuck! I''ll kill you!"


    Seeing Xia Liu''s contemptuous gaze again, Ye Yonghao couldn''t bear it any longer. With the Crimson Flame Fist fully condensed, his movement technique immediately enhanced, a shadow carrying the color of molten lava flashed through the air, charging forward.


    "Everybody attack together!" Having personally experienced Xia Liu''s bizarre techniques, Ye Yongqing understood that one-on-one against Xia Liu would be absolutely tragic.


    So, they must all attack together to distract Xia Liu''s attention.


    And attack from all directions to make it impossible for him to defend!


    All present were martial artists, their eyes wide open, eager to see the details of this fight.


    This was a battle at the level of Earth-Rank warriors, a mix of shock and grandiosity.


    If lucky, one might even gain insight into the arcane of advancing to the next level.


    Inner Qi enveloped Ye Yongqing and the other four, and Zhou Taishan, however willing, was powerless to interfere.


    Zhou Ling covered her eyes with her hands, not daring to continue watching.


    Facing the strong moves of five Earth-Rank warriors, one didn''t need to watch to know the outcome.


    Xia Liu was definitely unable to withstand it, and the scene was bound to be very bleak¡­


    "I already said, this move is pure trash!" Xia Liu quickly glanced at the few people.


    After murmuring this, he moved.


    Enshrouded in Spiritual Energy, an inhumanly oppressive force swept out from him.


    The pressure made the five charging figures tremble, but they were very confident in their Crimson Flame Fist, and with five Earth-Rank warriors attacking together, even if Xia Liu were a Peak Earth-Rank warrior, he would still be in considerable trouble!


    The five bit the tips of their tongues, the oppressive force immediately collapsed, and the five Crimson Flame Fists were almost upon Xia Liu!


    "Let me show you the Sect-Protecting Move of Taiyi!"


    In the face of the five, Xia Liu showed no fear, and in fact, his blood was even boiling.


    It had been a long time since he''d felt this kind of excitement!


    "Ha!"


    With a cold shout, Xia Liu pushed forward with both hands, executing the ultimate technique of Taiyi: the Extreme of Limitless!


    Invisibly, a gigantic Yin Yang Eight Trigrams Totem descended upon the Mortal World.


    As the five closed in, Xia Liu manipulated the Yin Yang diagram, enhancing his movement technique with Spiritual Energy, and in a flash had retreated several steps.


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    Seeing this, the five immediately lined up in formation, attacking Xia Liu with overwhelming force.


    "Bring it on!"


    With a deep shout, Xia Liu pushed his palms forward.


    Boom!!!


    At the moment of contact, there was a thunderous explosion that resonated in the surrounding area.


    The residual force of the clash swept across the vicinity, felling anyone below the Mysterious Rank Peak.


    Zhou Taishan, sensing this immense aura, immediately released his Inner Qi to protect Zhou Ling. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After the momentum of the residual force had faded, everyone turned their gaze to the center of the battlefield.


    This single glance left everyone dumbstruck.


    Ye Yongqing and the other Earth-Rank Warriors extended their fists straight ahead, and the color of molten lava encircling their arms was truly terrifying.


    But what shocked everyone was that the fists of Ye Yongqing and his four companions couldn''t advance three inches in front of Xia Liu!


    This bizarre scene set countless hearts racing.


    Especially the martial artists of the Ye Family, for the Crimson Flame Fist was their family''s Thunderclap Move.


    When five Earth-Rank Warriors performed it together, their power was enough to break mountains and fracture rivers.


    But what about now?


    They were actually stopped three inches away from their enemy!


    "Is this guy even human?"


    "How did he do that?"


    "Terrifying!"


    "Such horror!"


    The many martial artists of the Ye Family immediately began trembling and heatedly discussing.


    "Grandfather, Xia Liu, he¡­"


    Upon witnessing this eerie scene, Zhou Ling''s throat seized, and she couldn''t utter another word.


    At this moment, Zhou Taishan had no time to pay attention to his granddaughter; his gaze fixated on the barrier that blocked the Crimson Flame Fist.


    As an Earth-Rank Warrior, he saw much more than ordinary martial artists did, and much more clearly.


    But now, both Zhou Taishan and Ye Yongyuan were shaken by the sight.


    They could sense an elusive energy in front of Xia Liu, but no matter how hard they looked, they couldn''t see through it with the naked eye.


    Ye Yongqing and his four companions were even more anxious, as their fists couldn''t advance even half a step further.


    They were just a little bit short, just a tiny bit away from taking down Xia Liu!


    "Strange, isn''t it? Let''s see how you react to something even stranger!" Xia Liu''s mouth curled into a sinister smile, and suddenly his hands transformed, executing the Extreme of Limitless technique in an instant.


    Then before their eyes, the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart appeared in the air.


    "What is that?"


    Upon seeing the Yin Yang Totem reveal its true form, the color drained from the faces of everyone present.


    Many other martial artists'' pupils suddenly shrank.


    They had never seen a technique of this level before and were indeed trembling with amazement.


    "Yin Yang Eight Trigrams!"


    Zhou Taishan and Ye Yongyuan immediately screamed out, looking at Xia Liu with immense fear in their eyes.


    As Earth-Rank Warriors, and with age on their side, their experience could truly be described as profound.


    They had read numerous texts, among which they had also gained some understanding of various sects.


    Upon seeing the Yin Yang Totem, their minds swiftly searched through that ancient information they had once seen.


    Rumor had it that thousands of years ago, there was an extremely powerful sect in the Martial World called the Taiyi Sect.


    This sect became one of the top two due to one palm technique.


    The Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!


    The Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm was extremely arcane, and the texts Zhou Taishan and Ye Yongyuan had read were greatly damaged, so they didn''t know much about it.


    But what they could be certain of was one rule of the Taiyi Sect: anyone who could display the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart could instantly become the Sect Leader!


    "Sect Master of Taiyi!" These four words erupted in their minds, and both Ye Yonghao and Zhou Taishan trembled.


    The Taiyi Sect, flourishing with countless strong warriors thousands of years ago, had high-strength Heaven-Rank Warriors sitting in every hall.


    A sect of such caliber, not to mention a single family, not even ten martial artist families could compete against it.


    Moreover, in today''s world, millennia later, with cultivation resources becoming scarcer and the talents of later generations dwindling year by year.


    To offend a sect was to undoubtedly ruin the entire family!


    Ye Yongqing and the four others attacking together were drenched in cold sweat; they felt the strength inside their bodies slowly draining away.


    Moreover, their hands seemed unable to let go of this freakish totem...

 Chapter 314 When Abandoned

    "Ah! Boy, what exactly did you do!" Ye Yonghao roared loudly.


    Different levels of shock registered in the hearts of all five of them.


    If they didn''t remove their hands from the totem soon, their Inner Qi would be depleted before long.


    By that time, they would be easily slaughtered.


    With that thought, Ye Yongqing and the others struggled fiercely.


    But no matter how they struggled, they couldn''t break free from the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart.


    Seeing the tense situation, Ye Yongyuan couldn''t help but hasten towards Xia Liu.


    "If you take one more step forward, you will surely die!"


    Facing Ye Yongyuan''s action, Xia Liu looked up and stared intently.


    He had been polite to Ye Yongyuan because this man was still redeemable, understood reason, and hadn''t attacked him like those brainless fools.


    Xia Liu''s shout, like the sound of thunder, shocked everyone around.


    Everyone was stunned.


    Xia Liu actually dared to call out to an Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak Warrior in such a manner, which was terrifying.


    But seeing Xia Liu contending against five Earth-Rank Warriors with strange moves, everyone gradually let go of their worries.


    Ye Yongyuan halted in his tracks, and with a fist clasped in the other hand, he bowed in front of the numerous clan members, "Senior, it is the Ye Family''s fault, please spare their lives."


    "Hm?"


    Upon hearing Ye Yongyuan actually apologizing to Xia Liu, Ye Yongqing became furious on the spot and roared, "Ye Yongyuan! You are the Family Head of the Ye Family, how can you bow to an outsider! And he''s just an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior! Strike him down now!"


    "Yongyuan! Act quickly!"


    "Kill him!"


    ...


    Ye Yonghao and the other three also started to anxiously scream.


    At this moment, Xia Liu was not taking action, and if Ye Yongyuan made a move, he could surely defeat him.


    Then, they could also break free from this restraint.


    "Hahaha! You are more than welcome to try!" Xia Liu laughed wildly, waiting for Ye Yongyuan''s response.


    His response would determine the survival of the Ye Family in the future.


    "You fools! This senior is none other than the Sect Master of Taiyi! Kneel down and apologize to the senior at once!"


    "The Sect Master of Taiyi?"


    Hearing this title, everyone present, including Xia Liu, was shocked.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors like Ye Yongqing were aware of the Taiyi Sect. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for those from the Ye Family who were of Yellow-Rank and Mysterious-Rank, they had never heard of it.


    Even so, the words ''Sect Leader'' were still very influential.


    Being the leader of a sect, one must be far from ordinary.


    The faces of Ye Yongqing and the others instantly turned deathly pale.


    No matter what, they couldn''t have imagined that they would run into such an immovable obstacle this time.


    "Haha! I think you might be mistaken, I am not the Sect Leader of the Taiyi Sect, just a minor character who came to seek compensation for an injured colleague and for losses to the store!"


    "Damn it!"


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    Upon hearing this, Ye Yongyuan felt like cursing.


    His grandmother''s, if you are not the Sect Leader, would you know about the Taiyi Sect?


    Without confidence, would you dare to step onto the Ye Family''s threshold?


    Anyone could see that Xia Liu was bluffing too much.


    But who would dare to say anything? His strength and identity were there for all to see.


    "In recognition of your kind nature, do not follow the old ways of these people. Martial artist clans should exist to live peacefully and to guard their territories."


    While speaking, Xia Liu''s gaze wandered to the bodies of Ye Yongqing and the others: "And you! Allowing your son to do as he pleases, seizing a commoner''s business by force, and bullying Low-Rank Warriors with your High-Rank Cultivation! You should be crippled!"


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s words, Ye Yiming, who lay inside the mansion, was utterly bewildered.


    He couldn''t help but ask himself, had he made a mistake?


    "Ye Yiming, after being deprived of his cultivation by me, has not repented. He had his brother, an Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak warrior, come to kill me. That''s understandable, as it''s revenge, but why involve my colleagues, my woman!"


    "Martial artists should be honorable and upright. Dirty tricks like those employed by such deceitful martial artists should be met with severance from the waist!"


    Xia Liu swept his gaze over all the martial artists present, expressing the words he had bottled up in his heart.


    The crowd fell into silence, especially the warriors from the Ye Family.


    Previously, more or less, they had engaged in bullying behavior.


    "Aren''t you now just bullying us by relying on your peculiar martial arts skills?" Ye Yonghao retorted without humility or arrogance.


    "So, you''re saying that I should just stand here and let you kill me?"


    ...


    "Yonghao! Apologize to our senior immediately!"


    Ye Yongyuan''s old face gradually reddened with embarrassment. Xia Liu had put it so bluntly, yet Ye Yonghao was still arguing. He was truly courting death.


    "Pah! What''s there to apologize for with someone like him! Ye Yongyuan, don''t be deceived by him, he''s depleting our inner qi. If our inner qi is exhausted, it will be easy for him to deal with you. Attack now!"


    "Right! He definitely cannot free his hands now! Yongyuan, attack quickly!"


    ...


    Following Ye Yonghao''s lead, the other four from the Ye Family chimed in immediately.


    "How can you still not see the reality? Quickly apologize to this senior!" Ye Yongyuan was on the verge of madness. What had happened to the mentality of the Ye Family members to become so terrible?


    "You! Indulging your son to do as he pleases, you should be finished," Xia Liu, containing his anger, firmly pressed a finger toward Ye Yongqing''s lower abdomen.


    That was the location of the Dantian!


    Instantly, an invisible surge of spiritual energy lashed out from Xia Liu''s fingertip.


    Whoosh!


    The sound of rushing wind grew, as the energy pierced the air, immediately entering Ye Yongqing''s body.


    Thud!


    Before Ye Yongqing could react, a small hole burst open in his lower abdomen, and thick, nearly solid inner qi spurted out.


    "Ah!"


    With his Dantian shattered and inner qi exploding outwards, Ye Yongqing let out a mournful scream, a pain that pierced to the depths of his soul.


    As the inner qi dissipated, the lava item on Ye Yongqing''s arms also gradually vanished, and he eventually collapsed to the ground, unconscious.


    The other four watched this scene, their faces turning deathly pale.


    Not to mention the many other martial artists who were watching; their eyes were wide open in shock.


    The Dantian is the foundation of a martial artist. Once the Dantian is ruptured, the qi flows backward, and the cultivation disperses.


    Martial artists with shattered Dantians usually do not have the courage to continue living.


    What terrified them more was Xia Liu''s methods; with a single finger, he had ruptured the Dantian of an Earth-Rank Mid-Level warrior!


    What kind of technique was that?


    Nobody knew; nobody could guess.


    If these people were fearful, then Ye Yongyuan and Zhou Taishan were utterly shocked.


    Xia Liu''s methods were like those of a ghost or a god; with a flick of his finger, he shattered the Dantian of an Earth-Rank warrior.


    Ye Yongyuan felt somewhat relieved. If he had really stepped forward just now, as Ye Yongqing and the others had said, the outcome would have been very bleak.


    "You few, blindly supporting him, if you keep your entire cultivation, you''ll probably make even more foolish choices in the future," Xia Liu said slowly, watching the frightened four.


    "Ah! Senior, please spare our lives!"


    "Senior, please let us go!"


    "Senior, I had no intention to help! Ye Yongqing is an elder in our family; it was his command that led us to take action!"


    "Senior..."


    As Ye Yonghao and the other four turned ghostly pale, they started begging pitifully.


    Just a moment ago, they were thinking of killing Xia Liu; now, all they wanted was to hold onto their cultivation.

 Chapter 315 The Turmoil Ends

    They were all Earth-Rank Warriors, and it had taken them several decades to reach this level of cultivation.


    If they were to suddenly lose it, they would rather die directly.


    But Xia Liu didn''t give them the chance to negotiate, as soon as the Yin Yang Diagram was withdrawn, in an instant his fingers focused, touching four times in succession.


    "Boom..."


    Four uncontrolled bursts of Inner Qi exploded from the Dantians of Ye Yonghao and the other three.


    The thick Inner Qi caused the surrounding air to spill out stagnant.


    Xia Liu showed no mercy.


    He dared not risk the lives of the girls, for if Ye Yonghao and the others did not lose their cultivation, they would likely revert to their former mindset after some time.


    So, if it was to be wasted, then waste it!


    Ah!!!!


    Four desolate cries shattered the sky, and Ye Yonghao and the others collapsed on the ground, their faces defeated.


    They could clearly feel that there was no Inner Qi left in their bodies.


    In just that brief moment, they had lost everything.


    In a daze, they were filled with immense regret as tears streamed down their faces.


    They deeply regretted why they had to stand out just then.


    If they had spoken nicely with Xia Liu, if they had persuaded Ye Yongqing well, they could still be the spirited Earth-Rank Warriors they were.


    But it was all too late, too late.


    Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent, and dark clouds began to gather in the sky above.


    The wind whispering, stirring leaves and rolling dust; the rain drizzling, washing away the glorious chapters of their lives.


    In the face of the five people lying on the ground, the martial artists of the Ye Family, though heartbroken,


    did not dare to make any move. Xia Liu was too powerful; just one look from him could make them tremble all day.


    Droplets fell on his face, and Ye Yongyuan immediately snapped out of his daze.


    Losing five Earth-Rank Warriors, although the Ye Family suffered a great blow and were in pain, if they could not stabilize Xia Liu''s emotions now, they would truly face the bloodbath of the Ye Residence as he had threatened!


    "Senior! On behalf of everyone in the Ye Family, I, Ye Yongyuan, apologize to you!"


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    As he spoke, Ye Yongyuan bowed his head and knelt on one knee on the ground.


    Seeing the Family Head act in this way, the eyes of all the martial artists of the Ye Family reddened.


    Though they did not know what had transpired, they knew that if the Family Head behaved as such, it must be due to the recklessness of Ye Yongqing and the others.


    They would never forget how Ye Yongqing''s line had bullied the clan under the Family Head''s nose.


    The worst was Ye Yiming, who, relying on his brother and father''s status as Mid-Level Earth-Rank powerhouses, not only bullied others within the clan but also disrespected the Family Head.


    Now, retribution had finally come. Xia Liu had shown up and had taken down four Earth-Rank Warriors with him.


    Even forcing the Family Head to bow and apologize, what a sin...


    "I came here not wishing to kill, but to seek justice for my colleagues, for my wife."


    "Yes, yes! The Ye Family has wronged you, and anything you request, as long as the Ye Family can do it, we will not shirk our responsibilities."


    Ye Yongyuan felt like crying; Xia Liu''s purpose for coming here was so simple.


    If Ye Yongqing had not been angered, he would not have destroyed himself, or dragged down the other four Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Damn it!


    If time could be reversed, Ye Yongyuan thought, if he could go back, he would definitely teach Ye Yongqing a harsh lesson. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because of one person''s mistakes, the entire Ye Family had to bear Xia Liu''s wrath, and killing him would be letting him off easy.


    "Family Head Ye, please stand up," Xia Liu still maintained an optimistic attitude towards the Ye Family.


    Now that the ringleaders have been dealt with, perhaps he could finally find peace.


    "Thank you, Senior, for not pursuing the matter with the Ye Family!" Before rising, Ye Yongyuan touched his forehead to the ground, deeply thanking Xia Liu.


    "Heh heh..."


    Xia Liu didn''t want to say too much, for the Ye Family that had been passed down through generations wasn''t all bad, just a few bad apples.


    If he had truly decimated the Ye Family, it would have been an irrational act, though what he most hoped for was indeed to see the current scene.


    "Senior, please come into the residence, and let Yongyuan offer his apologies at length."


    Ye Yongyuan sincerely invited him.


    Xia Liu nodded, then turned his gaze to the people behind him and called out, "Old Master Zhou, Little Ling, let''s go have tea together."


    "Oh...I''m coming!" Hearing Xia Liu address him so, Zhou Taishan felt a warmth in his heart and immediately pulled his granddaughter forward.


    As Xia Liu and Ye Yongyuan entered, the guards of the Ye Residence carried Ye Yongqing and the others away for treatment.


    Seeing their readiness to face death, everyone in the Ye Family trembled with awe.


    One moment they were Earth-Rank Warriors who commanded respect, the next they had fallen to such a state.


    This served as a reminder that one must act with more humility, as one never knows when death might arrive.


    As for Ye Yiming, even the guards of the Ye Family couldn''t be bothered to spare him a glance.


    If it hadn''t been for him, Xia Liu wouldn''t have come to the Ye Residence, nor would they have lost several Earth-Rank Warriors.


    For a martial artist''s family, the loss of several Earth-Rank Warriors was a colossal blow.


    In the largest hall of the Ye Residence, Ye Yongyuan and Xia Liu discussed the previous events.


    Zhou Taishan and Zhou Ling sat on the side, occasionally sneaking glances at Xia Liu.


    Each harbored their own thoughts.


    Zhou Taishan couldn''t fathom how Xia Liu could be so formidable.


    And to be able to deploy the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart¡ªcould it be that he really was the Sect Master of Taiyi?


    "Senior Xia, I have fully understood the situation. On their behalf, Yongyuan once again offers you an apology," said Ye Yongyuan after listening to Xia Liu''s account, bowing deeply with his hands clasped in front of him.


    He had no doubts at all because the trio of Ye Yongqing and his sons were indeed that domineering.


    Ye Yongqing''s cultivation was at Earth-Rank Mid-Level, and his son, Ye Jingming, had even reached the Mid-Level Peak.


    In the family, they wielded more influence than Ye Yongyuan himself.


    Of course, they used their cultivation to oppress others, with Ye Yiming exploiting the situation to bully other members of the Ye Family.


    Ye Yongyuan saw all this clearly.


    Now that things had come to this, Ye Yongyuan even wanted to thank Xia Liu.


    If Xia Liu had been a bit more quick-tempered, the loss would not have been just several Earth-Rank Warriors this time¡ªit was likely that the entire Ye Family would have been no more.


    "Family Head Ye, that''s enough. You''ve apologized plenty, and I know you''re not like Ye Yongqing. Now that he''s gone, perhaps you''ll be able to manage the family better and make the Ye Family stronger under your leadership," said Xia Liu.


    "Thank you for the auspicious words, Senior. The Ye Family will take them to heart."


    "Heh, now that the Family Head is acquainted with the situation, let''s discuss serious matters," Xia Liu said with a slight smile, his expression turning serious.


    Seeing Xia Liu''s change in demeanor, Ye Yongyuan''s pupils contracted imperceptibly, and his heartbeat started to pick up.


    Zhou Taishan and Zhou Ling felt much the same; with Xia Liu''s formidable strength, his "serious matters" must be of great importance.


    "Please speak plainly, Senior..." Despite his fear, Ye Yongyuan still braced himself to face the situation.


    "Ye Jingming sent two men to smash up my hotel and even scared my wife. Although he is dead, he was still a member of your Ye Family, so how about compensating a few billion for this incident?" Xia Liu said, looking serious and earnest.


    Sputter...


    Upon hearing Xia Liu''s solemn and serious request, Zhou Ling immediately spat out the tea in her mouth.

 Chapter 316 Negotiation

    Zhou Taishan and Ye Yongyuan had just been startled by Xia Liu.


    Fortunately, the conversation turned to compensation; otherwise, Ye Yongyuan might have had to kneel again.


    "Regarding the compensation for Senior Xia, the Ye Family strives to complete it in the shortest possible time. May I know what amount Senior Xia thinks would be appropriate?"


    Ye Yongyuan didn''t dare to suggest a figure, fearing that saying too little would anger Xia Liu, while saying too much could cause his family to needlessly lose a huge asset.


    "That''s easy to talk about, just give me a few billion, and also, Little Ling''s shop was forcefully acquired by the Ye Group. I hope you can handle that as well."


    "Of course, I''ll have the group managers settle everything right away."


    Ye Yongyuan nodded earnestly as he spoke.


    He was now feeling somewhat bitter, for although Xia Liu had not mentioned a specific amount for the compensation,


    it looked like it was going to take eight or nine billion to settle things.


    "I am truly grateful to Senior Xia and Family Head Ye." Seeing his granddaughter''s issue resolved, Zhou Taishan hurriedly expressed his thanks.


    "No need for friends to say such things. The Ye family indeed acted improperly before, and now we are merely making amends."


    "Yes, I believe with Family Head Ye Yongyuan leading the Ye family, it will last forever and ever."


    Facing Ye Yongyuan''s attitude, Xia Liu offered his most sincere blessings.


    "Thank you, Brother Xia Liu," Zhou Ling also thanked him.


    "Little Ling, you need to change your temper, or you''ll easily get into trouble in the future."


    Recalling the girl''s previously explosive behavior, Xia Liu shared his advice.


    "Mm, I''ll listen to Brother Xia Liu. Without Heaven-Rank cultivation, Little Ling won''t dare to be arrogant again."


    "Haha, Heaven-Rank, that''s far away, but the little miss has grand aspirations, which I, Ye, admire."


    "Hehe..."


    Then Xia Liu and Zhou Taishan both laughed, causing Zhou Ling''s face to turn red for a long time.


    After settling the matters, Zhou Ling and Zhou Taishan left.


    They both understood that the gap between them and Xia Liu was too great, and even if they stayed, there wouldn''t be more interaction or communication.


    As for Xia Liu, he chose to stay at the Ye family''s residence for one night.


    This news almost caused Ye Yongyuan to bite his own tongue.


    Originally, he had only made a courteous insistence on staying, but to his surprise, Xia Liu actually agreed and decided not to leave that night...


    Xia Liu was like a bomb wandering between heaven and earth; you never knew when he would explode or what the magnitude of the explosion would be.


    That night, the wind was cold by the side of the natural lake in the Ye family''s estate.


    Steam rose slowly from the tea cup until it dissipated into the air.


    The two man sitting opposite each other were silent, neither of them spoke first.


    After sipping the light tea in his cup, Xia Liu slowly began, "Family Head Ye, during the day, I heard you mention the Sect Master of Taiyi?"


    "Hm?"


    Ye Yongyuan was slightly startled; he had indeed mentioned it, and that was because he saw the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart.


    The information was recorded in the annals, but its authenticity still needed to be verified.


    However, he still shared everything he knew with Xia Liu. As for the outcome, it was up to Xia Liu to decide.


    "Should the one who can display the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart be the Sect Master of Taiyi?" Upon hearing this news, Xia Liu was slightly shocked.


    This palm technique had been taught to him by the old man, who had also demonstrated it while he was alive. Could it be that he was the Sect Master of Taiyi?


    "Yes, the records passed down by our family state so. Excuse me for asking so directly, but are you, Senior Xia, the Sect Master of Taiyi?"


    This matter had been puzzling Ye Yongyuan since the day began.


    Because Xia Liu looked so young, yet his cultivation was evident as he overwhelmed five Earth-Rank experts with just his Earth-Rank Primary Level.


    Such strength would not be exaggerated even for a sect leader.


    "Could I take a look at that classic?" Xia Liu didn''t answer immediately. He didn''t know much about Taiyi Sect, and now he was looking for it.


    "Of course." Ye Yongyuan was about to get up and fetch the book. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Family Head Ye, please wait a moment."


    "Hm? Does Senior Xia have any other instructions?"


    "I have some disciples who have always been unable to find a suitable cultivation technique. I wonder if Family Head Ye has any prized cultivation techniques from other sects or families."


    "Uh, I see, just a moment, Senior Xia, I''ll go get them."


    Ye Yongyuan had no doubt about who Xia Liu was.


    He was the one who single-handedly crushed five Earth-Rank Mid-Level masters, even though his own cultivation was merely at the Earth-Rank Primary Level.


    His martial arts skills and cultivation techniques must be very special, so it''s understandable that his disciples could not practice them.


    After a few minutes, Ye Yongyuan returned with several handwritten books on yellow paper.


    Xia Liu had seen such books before, having seen many at the Yanjing Taiji Sect branch.


    "This is the classic recorded by our ancestors about the Taiyi Sect." Ye Yongyuan handed the book to Xia Liu as he spoke.


    Xia Liu nodded, took the book, and started to flip through it.


    After a while, he gradually frowned. Like the Taiji Sect, this classic merely boasted about how powerful the Taiyi Sect was.


    But it mentioned nothing about the sect''s location.


    "Family Head Ye, I have to tell you, I am not from the Taiyi Sect, but I am indeed seeking it."


    "Ah! What about the cultivation technique and martial arts skills you used..."


    Hearing this, Ye Yongyuan was somewhat incredulous.


    The Yin Yang Eight Trigrams Chart that Xia Liu used was definitely the authentic sect-protecting move of the Taiyi Sect.


    Without being a direct successor, one simply couldn''t learn it.


    To this, Xia Liu briefly explained the old man''s situation, and after seeing Ye Yongyuan nod, he continued to ask, "Does Family Head Ye know where the Taiyi Sect is?"


    Ye Yongyuan was silent for a while, then eventually shook his head helplessly. The Taiyi Sect, like many other sects, had disappeared many years ago, and the martial artist families had no way to uncover such high-ranking sects.


    "Never mind, let''s have a look at these cultivation techniques." Seeing Ye Yongyuan''s reaction, Xia Liu knew it was pointless and picked up the cultivation techniques on the table to check them.


    Ye Yongyuan brought over a total of five cultivation techniques this time, and Xia Liu examined each one.


    In the end, he couldn''t help but shake his head, as some of these techniques were incomplete and impossible to practice.


    Others were too rigid and absolutely unsuitable for women to cultivate.


    "Senior Xia, is there no suitable cultivation technique for your disciples?" Seeing Xia Liu frowning, Ye Yongyuan asked with concern.


    "Hmm, they are all girls, and these techniques are too rigid, not suitable for them," Xia Liu nodded and said.


    "Cultivation techniques for women..."


    It was not unusual for girls to engage in cultivation, but there were not many techniques suitable for them.


    Some sects had such specialized techniques, but unless one joined the sect, no one would part with them.


    The Ye family also had a few, but they were incomplete, so the family girls had to practice rigid inner strength techniques.


    Practicing rigid inner strength techniques was hugely disadvantageous for girls. Take Zhou Ling for example, she learned rigid techniques under the tutelage of Zhou Taishan.


    As a result, her personality changed quite noticeably, and without proper balance in Yin and Yang, she was prone to irritability. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Senior Xia, would you be able to spare a few days in a month?" After thinking for a while, Ye Yongyuan asked.

 Chapter 317 The Feeling of Discomfort

    "Hmm? I have plenty of time. What is it that Family Head Ye is asking?"


    Xia Liu''s interest was piqued, seeing the way Ye Yongyuan looked, as if he had a solution to his current predicament.


    "A month from now, the Immeasurable Sect will hold a Martial Combat Contest. Whoever ranks within the top three will be granted access to the Immeasurable Sect''s Library Pavilion, which contains thousands of Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts Skills. The top three winners will receive the privilege to choose them in sequence."


    "Immeasurable Sect?" Hearing this Sect for the first time, Xia Liu couldn''t help but feel curious.


    "Yes, the Immeasurable Sect is currently one of the most powerful and prestigious sects on the Righteous Path. Because it bears the responsibility of the Righteous Path, the Immeasurable Sect holds a Martial Combat Contest every three years, allowing the dissemination of a large number of techniques and skills."


    Speaking of the Immeasurable Sect, a look of deep admiration flashed in Ye Yongyuan''s eyes.


    As a leader on the Righteous Path, the Immeasurable Sect issues countless Martial Arts Skills and Cultivation Techniques every three years, empowering Loose Cultivators, small sects, and families.


    "Is the Library Pavilion of the Immeasurable Sect very powerful?"


    Hearing what Ye Yongyuan had said, Xia Liu vaguely understood that as a powerful sect on the Righteous Path, the Immeasurable Sect would organize the Martial Combat to allow skilled martial artists to acquire stronger Martial Arts Skills for enhancement. It seems they take great responsibility towards all warriors in the world. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course. The Immeasurable Sect has a legacy of thousands of years, and like those sects that have disappeared, the Library Pavilion holds at least tens of thousands of texts. Moreover, it is said that there are Earth-Rank Martial Arts and Techniques."


    Earth-Rank Martial Arts! Techniques!


    Xia Liu was slightly surprised.


    Earth-Rank Martial Arts and Techniques were rare treasures. If a martial artist could possess one or two Earth-Rank Martial Arts, they could fight across levels as easily as eating and drinking.


    Of course, Xia Liu thought this not with the intention of his own cultivation, but with the hope that the girls would become strong in the future.


    "It is said that there are also riddles set up in the Library Pavilion of the Immeasurable Sect. Those who can solve them might even obtain the legendary Heavenly Rank Techniques."


    "Heh, it seems that this Library Pavilion is quite impressive. Family Head Ye, you only need to tell me the location and the time it starts," Xia Liu said.


    "The Martial Combat Contest will start in a month. You just need to register at the Immeasurable Sect then. The location is on Immeasurable Island."


    Ye Yongyuan shared all the details of the Martial Combat Contest with Xia Liu without any reservation.


    "Immeasurable Island?"


    "Right, the Immeasurable Sect is established on an island. Because it''s shrouded in dense fog all year round, not many people know the exact location."


    Ye Yongyuan could only shake his head regarding this; he had been to Immeasurable Island a few times, and the grandeur of the Martial Combat Contest had left a deep impression on him.


    The power of the Immeasurable Sect also lingered in his memory, indelible.


    "If the location is unknown, how can I get there?"


    "Before the Martial Combat Contest begins, the Immeasurable Sect will send disciples to steer ships from designated docks to take martial artists to the island."


    "I see..." Xia Liu thought for a moment before saying, "Then, when the Martial Combat Contest begins, Family Head Ye should be going, right?"


    "Yes, the Ye Family has the qualification to participate in the Martial Combat Contest. I can take five of my clan to go."


    "Heh, you should only be able to take four clan members though, right?" Xia Liu said.


    "Errr... Heh, yes, only four." Ye Yongyuan stuttered for a moment, quickly catching the implication in Xia Liu''s words, and then chuckled wryly.


    "That''s fine. When the time comes, I''ll meet you at the Longteng in Binlai City. You can go directly to the Longteng Hotel in the county city and register my name."


    "Very well, I will heed the senior''s directive!" Ye Yongyuan replied respectfully.


    "There''s nothing else. I''ll be heading home." After settling all matters, Xia Liu left the Ye Residence, no matter how much Ye Yongyuan tried to retain him.


    On his way out of the Ye Residence, he heard numerous wails.


    Upon careful listening, he discovered that Ye Yongqing and Ye Yiming had committed suicide.


    For these two martial artists who had used their High-Strength cultivation to oppress ordinary people, their deaths were indeed a blessing for the world.


    After rushing away for a while using his movement technique, Xia Liu got back to his car.


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    As soon as he sat down, a strong sense of fatigue spread throughout his body.


    He had consumed too much spiritual energy today. At the Ye Residence, he of course couldn''t lower his guard, and only after leaving did he realize that his body was nearly emptied.


    Xia Liu bit his teeth and drove to the outskirts before stopping to absorb spiritual energy to replenish his exhausted dantian.


    He had not shown any weakness at the Ye Residence, fearing that Ye Yongyuan might suddenly turn against him, especially since he had destroyed several of the Ye Family''s Earth-Rank Warriors.


    For a family, Earth-Rank Warriors were extremely valuable, and the loss of even one would cause great distress.


    Whether he could fully trust Ye Yongyuan would be seen at the Immeasurable Sect''s Martial Combat Contest in a month.


    If it were true, then he would owe Ye Yongyuan a favor, which he would definitely repay when he had the chance.


    Time spent cultivating always passed quickly, and before he knew it, the sky was already bright.


    Xia Liu''s spiritual energy in his dantian had recovered by a quarter, and after feeling satisfied, he immediately drove back to Hejing.


    Having been away for two days, the girls were sure to be very worried.


    At noon, the BMW car slowly entered the underground garage of Longteng.


    Compared to usual, Xia Liu felt an incredibly oppressive atmosphere.


    His chest gradually became heavy.


    He immediately started his cultivation technique to circulate spiritual energy through his meridians, but he didn''t detect anything unusual.


    "This feeling is so uncomfortable." For some unknown reason, his heart clenched, and Xia Liu took the elevator straight to the office.


    As usual, the Longteng Hotel had many guests, and the lobby was bustling.


    As more people entered the elevator, Xia Liu slowly retreated to the back.


    That uneasy palpitation silently spread in his heart again.


    Was it because there were too many people?


    He didn''t know, but maybe he would feel calm once he saw the girls.


    Xia Liu, familiar with the place, stood at the office door and knocked a few times, hearing a familiar voice from inside.


    "Come in!"


    Upon hearing the response, Xia Liu felt much more relieved.


    Ever since Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue had been kidnapped, he had always worried that enemies might come to harm the girls while he was away.


    Fang Fei opened the door, dressed in a deep green short skirt with her long hair loose behind her head.


    Her jade hands played with her hair, giving off a charming allure.


    Xia Liu stepped forward and embraced her tightly, "Sister Fang, it''s been a while, did you miss me?"


    Fang Fei rolled her eyes at him and said, "It''s only been two days, and you''re already this desperate? Aren''t you afraid the girls will drain you dry?"


    "Haha! Not afraid, who says I''m invincible and tough? By the way, Sister Fang, where are Xiaoxue and the others?" Looking around and not seeing the other girls, Xia Liu asked curiously.


    "Xiaoxue and the others are busy with the new company. I''m here to help out in the shop," replied Fang Fei.


    "Oh, what an opportunity! So, Sister Fang, are you ready?" Hearing Fang Fei say this, Xia Liu''s smile gradually turned mischievous.


    "I''ve been ready for a while, just waiting to see how much you''ve got left from these two days," Fang Fei also broke into a playful giggle.


    "Sure to satisfy you, Sister Fang, hehe..."


    "Don''t rush, let me show you something." Facing Xia Liu''s roving hands, Fang Fei gently pushed him aside and then turned around.


    Suddenly, Fang Fei turned back, her hand glittering with a cold light, and struck towards Xia Liu!

 Chapter 318 Thousand Faces Rose

    ```


    Hiss!


    Facing the sudden dagger, Xia Liu didn''t make any attempt to block it, he even straightened his chest and took the blow.


    Cough cough!!


    Gripping the dagger, Xia Liu looked at Fang Fei with a face full of surprise and said, "You are not Fang Fei! Who exactly are you?"


    "Who I am is not important, what''s important is that you don''t have much time left." Fang Fei smiled seductively, speaking while stepping back, fully aware of the Nether Emperor''s fearsome reputation.


    "America''s T19 bio-venom, it seems you''ve gone to great lengths to kill me, but can you stop wearing my woman''s face?"


    "Oh?" Hearing what Xia Liu said, ''Fang Fei''s'' Liu Mei frowned slightly, then her hands danced across her face.


    In less than five seconds, she took her hands away from her face, and an astonishing scene unfolded.


    Fang Fei had completely disappeared, she was still wearing the same clothes, but the features on her face had all changed, even more seductive than Fang Fei''s.


    "The Blood List''s fifth-ranked Thousand Faces Rose!"


    Witnessing the woman''s transformation, Xia Liu instantly recognized her identity.


    "Such strong insight, indeed worthy of the title Nether Emperor," Rose said while tying up her hair and letting out a soft laugh.


    "Where is my woman?" Xia Liu, holding the dagger in his chest, asked weakly.


    Rose didn''t rush to answer Xia Liu, she stood up straight, smoothly tied her hair into a ponytail, then, after tossing her hair a couple of times, she said slowly, "She''s probably in some warehouse."


    "Are there accomplices coming over?"


    "No, you know, as assassins, unless it''s absolutely necessary, we don''t harm anyone other than our target."


    "Hmm, I appreciate that." Xia Liu nodded, feeling a sudden sense of relief. As long as the girls were fine, it was all good.


    "Don''t even think about controlling the venom, doing so will only make your death all the more terrifying."


    Seeing that Xia Liu could still talk, Rose immediately cautioned him.


    T19 venom, that could kill someone instantly, but martial artists could certainly suppress it a bit.


    But the more one tried to suppress it, the more ferocious the toxin would become. When the venom finally broke out, it would erupt violently, and the body would liquefy into a pool of blood, leaving not even the bones intact.


    "Thanks for your concern; I''m a bit curious, what''s the main reason you''ve come to kill me?"


    "Tsk tsk, have you become so naive, Nether Emperor? As the number one on the Blood List, your life is worth thirty billion US dollars!"


    Rose was somewhat helpless; this guy had too many women, which probably muddled his mind.


    "I''ll give you fifty billion US dollars, how about you spare me?" Xia Liu suddenly realized that this woman was motivated by the reward.


    He had thought that he had wronged her in the past, and she had come for payback today...


    "I''m a person of principle, so no matter how much money you offer, it''s no use. Besides, killing you will raise my ranking, possibly even above Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement''s second place!"


    Rose said sternly, staring at Xia Liu.


    "Damn! Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement has climbed to second place?" Learning this news, Xia Liu was somewhat surprised.


    He still remembered, that youth who had synthesized the strengths of hundreds of schools, who had just entered the Blood List and then got played by someone, ending up covered in dust.


    "Hm? I won''t waste my time talking nonsense with you anymore; it''s a waste of my feelings." Rose''s attitude suddenly turned cold.


    In a few more minutes, the powerful Nether Emperor would be dead. Then, she could take the recording back and collect her reward, ascending to second in the Blood List! Or even to the first! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thousand Faces Rose, I''m not quite at peace dying by your hand. Could you let me see your real face? That way, even in death, I won''t have any regrets."


    Xia Liu feigned weakness as he spoke.


    "So many requests even when you''re about to die, but seeing as your death brings me so many benefits, I''ll let you take a look," Rose said and once again moved her hands across her face.


    One minute later, she slowly lowered her hands.


    Upon seeing Rose''s true face, Xia Liu''s pupils subtly constricted.


    ```


    He could hardly believe that there was such a beautiful woman in this world.


    A delicate nose and mouth, slightly glowing eyes that seemed to carry a hint of demonic qi.


    Yes! She looked somewhat adorable, yet her cuteness was mixed with a mature aura.


    Erect and full breasts, a flowing ponytail!


    This!!!


    Xia Liu didn''t know how to express himself, because the girl had dazzled him with her beauty.


    "Are you mixed race?"


    "Yeah, my mom is from the Island Nation, my grandfather is Huaxian, and my grandmother is American, so I suppose I''m a mix of three countries," Rose replied, seeing how serious Xia Liu''s expression was, thinking to let him understand clearly before he died.


    "Hmm, you are very beautiful, whoever marries you in the future will certainly be extremely fortunate."


    Thank...


    "Right, because you can disguise yourself as someone else, so before going to bed, if you change into the appearance of another woman, then your husband can sleep with many different women every day."


    Before Rose could finish her word of thanks, Xia Liu interjected once more.


    As soon as Xia Liu''s words were spoken, the office became utterly silent.


    It felt as if even the space itself had been frozen solid.


    And the source of it all was Rose.


    At this moment, her face was delicate and beautiful, but the icy coldness of her expression was enough to chill someone to the bone.


    "I''ll kill you!" Rose roared angrily, reaching behind her back to pull out another dagger, one coated with a potent venom.


    She had originally intended to let Xia Liu die slowly, thus reducing her own sense of guilt.


    But now she had just one thought, to kill Xia Liu as quickly as possible!


    It was true that she could quickly change her face and even slightly adjust her body.


    Such jokes were not unprecedented, but they were always made behind closed doors.


    If Rose heard someone making such a joke about her, it would lead to only one outcome, and that was death!


    Now, the only thing waiting for Xia Liu was the same!


    Death!


    But before Rose could move towards Xia Liu, her footsteps suddenly halted.


    Xia Liu slowly removed the dagger and threw it on the ground.


    This scene shocked Rose.


    She clearly remembered stabbing Xia Liu in the chest with a dagger.


    Even though she remembered, what she saw before her eyes was also the truth, and Rose asked in amazement, "How could you be..."


    "Right, how come I''m not dead yet?" Xia Liu got up slowly and walked steadily towards Rose.


    "It''s impossible! No one can survive after being hit with T19!"


    Her body shook slightly; today was undoubtedly the most shocking day of her life.


    A single drop of T19 which could kill ten elephants, when injected into a person, and yet not harm them at all, it was as if she was seeing ghosts.


    "Have you only followed the Kill List, what about the Blood List?"


    "Yes! I''ve followed both lists! What does that have to do with you not being dead?"


    "What if you had a mission to assassinate the second-ranked on the Blood List, Treading Snow Without a Trace, what are your odds?"


    "No chance at all." Rose was aware of her own capabilities; had it not been for her exotic face-changing technique, she wouldn''t even manage to stay alive walking on the streets, let alone kill someone.

 Chapter 319 It Just So Happens That I Also Suffer From

    "You can''t even be sure of victory against Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, so on what basis do you believe you can kill me?"


    Xia Liu was speechless, considering he was ranked first on the Blood List.


    Besides, he had left a significant deterrent abroad. This girl''s hand and foot skills were nothing remarkable, yet she dared to come after his life, which showed she was unbelievably audacious.


    "Because you deserve to die. A year ago, in a small town in Africa, you used extremely bloody means to annihilate a mercenary team. Do you know that this mercenary team was specialized in protecting refugees?"


    Rose bit down hard on her back teeth, guarding herself with a dagger in hand.


    The reason she wanted to kill Xia Liu stemmed more from her inability to tolerate it any longer.


    His brutality, his bloodthirstiness, his utter lack of humanity.


    And by killing him, she could also get a large sum of money, which would then allow her to relieve those who were suffering.


    "A year ago, huh? I seem to remember that. That group of mercenaries had a decent public facade, but have you ever investigated what they did in private?"


    Xia Liu stopped in his tracks, sifting through his memories.


    "What about privately?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "They used the refugees to traffic drugs under the guise of protecting them, and after the deals were done, they would kill all the refugees."


    "That''s impossible!" Rose became agitated.


    She found herself getting led on by Xia Liu''s words¡ªthe information she had seen was not like this.


    "Alright, since your compassion seems quite substantial, I''ll take the liberty of asking¡ªwhat do you think of Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, ranked second on the Blood List?"


    Hearing Xia Liu mention Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement again, Rose couldn''t help but become suspicious.


    "Why do you ask that?"


    "Given your disguise and tracking abilities, you must have encountered Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement. Between him and me, who do you think is good and who is bad?"


    "Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement is my idol. Although he is an assassin, he''s an upright person; the jobs he takes are always against those who deserve to be killed. He never fails and donates a portion of his earnings to impoverished areas."


    Faced with Xia Liu''s earnestness, Rose, for some reason, spoke her mind.


    "It seems you hold him in high regard, but how much do you really know about him?" Xia Liu nodded, then his expression changed, becoming fierce, inscrutable.


    "Are you trying to say you are Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement?" A light bulb went off in Rose''s mind.


    Xia Liu kept bringing up Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement and comparing him with himself¡ªthere must be some trick to it.


    "Hahaha! I''m not going to answer that question. Right now, I feel like I have some serious business to attend to."


    Xia Liu burst into laughter, his eyes staring intently at Rose.


    "What do you want to do!"


    "Want!"


    "Don''t come any closer! Otherwise, I''ll kill you!" Faced with Xia Liu''s extremely ravenous look, Rose grew afraid and kept backing away.


    In terms of strength, she wouldn''t rank in the top hundred on the Blood List.


    The reason she was ranked fifth was because of her otherworldly Disguise Technique; just by observing someone for a few days, she could imitate them so well that it was impossible to tell who the real person was.


    "Kill me? With what? The bit of poison on your dagger blade?"


    In the face of Xia Liu''s relentless advance, Rose nearly cried. If the T19 mentioned by him was considered a ''little poison,'' then there would be no poison left in the world.


    Seeing the distance had closed to about a meter, Rose''s eyes changed, and with her dagger, she once again slashed through the air towards Xia Liu!


    Ding!


    With a crisp sound, Xia Liu effortlessly knocked the dagger away with a swipe of his hand.


    "If it were before, you wouldn''t live past a minute, but now I don''t feel like killing."


    "If you don''t want to kill, then let me leave! Why are you blocking my way?" Rose exclaimed sharply.


    "Though I won''t kill you, surviving a capital offense does not mean escaping punishment!" Xia Liu''s lips curled into a smile as he unabashedly appraised the captivating figure before him.


    "Brother Xia Liu, just let me go out,"


    Suddenly, as Xia Liu was about to make a move, Rose rubbed her face quickly with both hands and transformed into the appearance of Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Then she put on a cute, pitiful expression.


    "Xiaoxue is my woman."


    "Xia Liu, just let me go out,"


    "Huang Xue is too."


    "Xia Liu, I''m not feeling very well, go pour me a glass of water."


    "When Sister Zhang is in a bad mood, we end up hurting each other."


    ¡­


    "What do you really want! If you''re going to kill, just kill me. Dying at the hands of the Nether Emperor, my life wouldn''t have been in vain!"


    Unmoved by Xia Liu, Rose had no choice but to revert to her real appearance.


    "I won''t kill you. I''ll enjoy you thoroughly!" Xia Liu said, bracing his hands on the wall, trapping Rose so she had no way to escape.


    "I have a virus that starts with ''A.'' If you dare, come and get it!"


    Unable to evade, Rose glared at Xia Liu defiantly.


    "Conveniently, I have it too. In that case, I probably don''t need to use protection, right?" Xia Liu laughed, any virus, he could cure, even cancer.


    Rose stopped talking. She admitted defeat. Although she was a conservative woman, she thought she could endure this day.


    She silently remembered everything Xia Liu did to her, waiting for the chance to escape and kill him later¡ªthere would be plenty of opportunities!


    Ding ding ding...


    Suddenly, just as Xia Liu was about to strip Rose, her phone rang.


    Xia Liu changed his expression and began frantically searching her body, finally grabbing the phone.


    "Assassins'' phone for contacts, you still have accomplices?" Seeing Rose''s phone, Xia Liu''s energy burst out, and a formidable pressure spread instantly.


    In that moment, Rose''s pupils shrunk, and goosebumps covered her entire body.


    She had never felt this way before, her chest heavy to the point of suffocation.


    Her legs were so weak they seemed to reach their limit, as if her soul was trembling.


    "Nether Emperor, is this the one worth 30 billion US dollars?"


    Struggling internally, Rose also speculated that since she had come here alone, how could she possibly have accomplices.


    "Answer the phone. If a single hair from my woman is harmed, I''ll kill you instantly, and crush the shelter you have funded in America to dust!"


    Hearing the word "shelter," Rose''s eyes widened in shock, staring at Xia Liu, she had never expected this.


    This man actually knew her secret!


    "Hello, may I ask who is this?" Thinking of the orphans in the shelter, Rose, eyes reddening, spoke.


    "These women are in my hands. If you want them to be safe, bring the Nether Emperor to me."


    A distorted voice came through on the phone, one could tell it had been altered.


    "I don''t care who you are, if you dare to touch them! I''ll chase you to the ends of the earth, relentless until death!"


    Without waiting for Rose''s response, Xia Liu snatched the phone and shouted furiously.


    "Tsk, tsk, the Nether Emperor, is it? Seems like you''ve seen through Rose''s disguise. That''s fine, southeast in the small woods, if you don''t get here in ten minutes, I will slice a woman''s face. Your medical skills are so strong, it will be nothing more than a flesh wound for them, so don''t rush, take your time."


    "Damn bitch!!!"


    After yelling, Xia Liu crushed the phone. Without waiting for Rose to react, he hoisted her onto his shoulder.

 Chapter 320 Treading Snow Without a Trace [Fifth Update]

    "What are you doing!"


    "What am I doing? You brought the enemy here. I pray that nothing has happened to my woman; otherwise...."


    Xia Liu did not continue. Every girl was precious to him.


    He had not felt this way in many years.


    He still remembered when his heart died, the time his parents were buried.


    But now, as his heart was slowly opening again, how could he allow it to close once more!


    The elevator was too slow. Xia Liu kicked open the iron door of the fire escape with a single kick, then channeled his spiritual energy and turned into an afterimage rushing toward the basement. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Rose on Xia Liu''s shoulder had already held her breath.


    What she saw was scenery dissolving rapidly¡ªso fast, faster than taking a high-speed train.


    There was a dizzy feeling in her mind, and as she looked into the distance, her fear deepened even more.


    The speed was unimaginable; it was too fast.


    Elsewhere, about three kilometers from Hejing, in a small grove, Zhang Xiaoxue and the other girls were tied together with a rope, each linked to another, the source of the rope tied to a tree trunk.


    "You shameless villain! If you dare, confront Brother Xia Liu face to face!" Zhang Xiaoxue shouted at a figure not far away, no matter how hard she tried to escape the rope.


    "Hmph! As if people like him dare to confront Xia Liu." Li Qianqian spoke discontentedly.


    "Qianqian, Xiaoxue, don''t talk. It would be bad if we provoke him," Fang Fei quickly whispered noticing the two girls using harsh words to provoke the man.


    Li Qianqian and Zhang Xiaoxue realized their mistake and immediately fell silent.


    On the other side, Huang Xue, Gu Fangxia, and Zhang Qing all silently bit the ropes tied around their hands.


    But no matter how hard they tried, they could not break free, and eventually, they gave up helplessly.


    "You all must be the Nether Emperor''s women, right?" Suddenly, the young man turned around, his steps so light on the earth that he made no sound nor emitted any energy.


    The girls followed his movement with their gaze; until now, they had not clearly seen the man who had kidnapped them.


    Now they could see clearly. The kidnapper was young and if he could exchange his snow-white sportswear for a black suit and trim his long hair into a buzz cut, he would definitely be considered a heartthrob by countless women.


    Yet, it was such a handsome and slightly rogue-looking man who had stooped to kidnapping!


    The girls felt an immense hatred in their hearts, hating this man, hating themselves.


    If they were not so powerless, they wouldn''t repeatedly be used as leverage to threaten Xia Liu.


    "Hey hey, can you show some respect?" The young man''s cheeks twitched slightly, and had he not seen the girls still tied up, he might have thought he was the hostage.


    "Ah! Sir, what did you just ask?"


    ¡­


    "I said, are you all the Nether Emperor''s women? What do you know about the Nether Emperor?" the young man repeated patiently.


    "I know this, he is known as the God of Mercenary in the Central Region and then became known as the Nether Emperor," Fang Fei replied quickly, having heard it from her grandfather.


    "What else?"


    "Nothing else¡­" Fang Fei said bitterly; even if she knew, she wouldn''t say more.


    Saying that Xia Liu was called the God of Mercenary was intended to intimidate the young man, to make him afraid, perhaps allowing her and the sisters a chance to escape.


    "Ah, it seems he has hidden many things from you,"


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    "Are you familiar with him?" Fang Fei asked.


    "Not familiar," the man responded.


    "Then you should have heard of his title. Perhaps you still have a chance to leave now."


    "No, I came here specifically for him!"


    The young man said as he turned his silhouette, continuing to keep his distance from the women.


    "Does his silhouette seem lonely?" Watching the man turn away and leave, Huang Xue weakly commented.


    "Let''s not talk now. We''ll discuss it when Xia Liu arrives." Fang Fei maintained her previous demeanor. Since the young man had left, it was better for them to stay put so as not to court any accidents.


    Boom, boom, boom!!!


    Just as the women felt anxious, a harsh booming sound suddenly came from the front of the woods.


    "Has he arrived..." With a slight movement of his ears, a faint smile crossed the young man''s face. Was he finally here!


    Without waiting for everyone''s astonishment, suddenly, a shadowy figure instantly appeared within their field of vision.


    Sparing no expense of Spiritual Energy, Xia Liu, who had rushed over, was carrying a Rose on his shoulder. As soon as he saw Fang Fei and the others bound, he immediately dropped the Rose from his shoulder.


    Vomit!


    The Rose, who had just eaten a mouthful of dirt, hadn''t even had time to complain before vomiting out her breakfast.


    "Sister Fang, Xiaoxue, Qianqian... Are you all right?" Xia Liu immediately went forward to untie the ropes binding the women''s wrists.


    "Xia Liu, we are fine, but it seems that person came specifically for you." Now none of the women were in the mood for a reunion with Xia Liu; they all turned their gazes toward the distant towering figure.


    "Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement!" Rose had also noticed the distant figure.


    Upon realizing the truth about the other party''s identity, she couldn''t help but let out a sharp sound.


    "Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement? What''s that?" Hearing Rose''s shriek, the women all expressed their confusion.


    "You bunch of silly women. Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement is the second strongest assassin on the Blood List," Rose said, rolling her eyes at the women.


    "Blood List?"


    "It''s a list of assassins. Only the most formidable assassins worldwide make it onto the list, and that person is the world''s second-ranked assassin: Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement!"


    Seeing that the women still didn''t understand, Rose explained again.


    "Ah! An assassin!"


    "And one of the most formidable in the world!"


    "We''re doomed, what will we do about Xia Liu!"


    ...


    Hearing Rose reveal the identity of Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, the women immediately became fearful.


    Even Fang Fei felt scared. Although Xia Liu was formidable and had many deeds overseas,


    to be ranked second on the global assassin list, the strength of Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement was undoubtedly significant.


    Moreover, his profession was that of an assassin, and his skills were that of a killer; if Xia Liu faced him, the odds were definitely against him.


    "Nether Emperor, you''re done for! In this world, only one person can suppress Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement!"


    Seeing Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement make his move, Rose excitedly stood up from the ground.


    "Oh, why do I feel like I can suppress him too?" Xia Liu shifted his gaze away from Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, his excitement undetectable to others.


    "Haha! Although you are formidable, you do not understand the terror of an assassin. In this world, only Red Dragon Shadow, ranked first on the Blood List, can suppress Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement!"


    Rose laughed, presuming that besides Xia Liu, no one else would boast in front of the second-ranked on the Blood List.


    "Ah! Sister, where is this Red Dragon Shadow?" Hearing Rose say that only Red Dragon Shadow could defeat Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, Zhang Xiaoxue urgently inquired.


    "Hehe, Red Dragon Shadow has long since become a legend in the Assassins Realm. Such a person is like an Immortal; who knows where he is," Rose dismissively glanced at Zhang Xiaoxue as she spoke.

 Chapter 321 Identity!

    "Ah! What do we do now?" Although it was their first time meeting Rose, the certainty in her voice still startled all the women.


    "Don''t panic, with these third-rate assassins, I could take out two with one hand!"


    Seeing the girls alarmed and flustered, Xia Liu earnestly joked.


    ...


    As Xia Liu spoke, the women stabilised a bit, but they still couldn''t help worrying.


    The Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, second on the Blood List, were among the deadliest assassins globally.


    However, no one noticed that, as Xia Liu boasted, far away, the figure of Treading Snow Without a Trace trembled ever so slightly.


    He remained with his back to everyone, utterly silent.


    Like a pine standing firm against a relentless storm.


    "Hahaha! Ignorant fool, you may be well-known in the Central Region, but facing someone from the Blood List, you''ll only become a corpse to be assassinated!"


    Rose laughed again, although she was no match for Xia Liu.


    But she had been close to Xia Liu and had even made a strike at him.


    Though she didn''t know why he wasn''t dead yet, the fact that she had made a move proved Xia Liu was weak enough to be taken down.


    "Sister, my Brother Xia Liu is really amazing,"


    Zhang Xiaoxue was somewhat irritated. Rose had never seen Xia Liu''s strength and her presumptuous attitude was truly annoying.


    "I admit that point, but he''s still far from being a match for Treading Snow Without a Trace. In this world, only Red Dragon Shadow, the number one on the Blood List, can defeat Treading Snow Without a Trace!"


    Rose, left with no choice, brought up Red Dragon Shadow again.


    Red Dragon Shadow wasn''t just a formidable presence in her heart; in the Underground World, it was a terrifying legend.


    For from obscurity to first on the Blood List, Red Dragon Shadow took just one year.


    Just one year!


    This sudden emergence of Red Dragon Shadow naturally attracted the attention of the masters on the Blood List.


    So countless people challenged him, yet very few returned.


    Even those who did wouldn''t disclose a single word.


    As a result, the Underground Assassin World fell silent, and Red Dragon Shadow became a legend.


    "You keep mentioning Red Dragon Shadow. Have you ever met him?"


    Xia Liu temporarily set aside Treading Snow Without a Trace, his interest piqued by Rose''s constant muttering, and he couldn''t help but question her.


    "Hehe, a deity high above, how could someone like me have seen him?" Rose''s face showed a trace of bitterness.


    She too longed to witness Red Dragon Shadow, not just her, but any assassin in the Underground World wanted to meet Red Dragon Shadow.


    But how could gods possibly mingle with mortals...


    "Comparing Red Dragon Shadow to a god is something only the weak would do."


    "Hmph! What does it matter if I''m weak, you still got stabbed by me just now!"


    Hearing Xia Liu mock her, Rose vehemently retorted.


    "Ah! Brother Xia Liu, you got stabbed by this bad woman?"


    "Xia Liu, are you alright?"


    ...


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    Rose''s confession immediately made the women tense.


    They had thought Rose was just another sister sweet-talked by Xia Liu, but she turned out to be there to kill him!


    This contrast instantly filled the women with resentment towards Rose.


    "I''m fine, a little blade like that can''t hurt me," Xia Liu said nonchalantly.


    "That''s a relief. Some women, using their looks, engage in shameful deeds. They''re scum!"


    "Exactly, that kind of woman is the worst."


    ```


    "What are you talking about! Who has done anything disgraceful? I am an assassin, killing him with means is my skill!"


    Rose furiously roared upon catching the implications in the women''s conversation.


    "Hmph! Despicable!"


    Seeing Rose twisting the concept to that state of mind, the women knew that talking was futile and coldly snorted, ignoring her.


    "You all better cherish the time he can still breathe because in a little while, this man might be gone."


    Rose covered her lips and began to chuckle.


    If Treading Snow Without a Trace was taking action, it meant Xia Liu was a great evil.


    Then, when Xia Liu died and she received the reward, Treading Snow Without a Trace would surely do good deeds. That way, she would have a chance to get close to him.


    While her ultimate idol was Red Dragon Shadow, that being was like a god, unreachable. It was better to try to improve her relationship with Treading Snow Without a Trace, so she could persuade him to exert efforts for the poor people together with her.


    "However, I feel that even if Red Dragon Shadow were to come, he might not be a match for Treading Snow Without a Trace."


    Rose said softly, her thoughts drifting to that matter.


    "Why?"


    The women were puzzled. Wasn''t it said that Red Dragon Shadow was the first on the Blood List? How could he not beat Treading Snow Without a Trace if he came?


    "Rumor has it, Red Dragon Shadow couldn''t find joy in the world and so sealed himself away. The kind of sealing that cannot be undone. As such, his current strength is probably not even half of his peak."


    "He sealed his own power!"


    "Just like self-mutilation."


    "Stop talking about that; let''s think about how we are going to survive this ordeal."


    Hearing Rose reveal the secret of Red Dragon Shadow, the women began to worry again.


    Because if that was true, then there was no one who could truly defeat Treading Snow Without a Trace.


    In the end, all the women turned their gaze toward Xia Liu, each of them hoping deep inside that this man could pull off a miracle.


    "Survive? Just wait to collect the Nether Emperor''s corpse."


    "Rose was it? How about we make a bet? If I beat that long-haired man, you work for me for three years."


    "I understand what you''re thinking. How about this: If you really can beat Treading Snow Without a Trace, I''ll be your subordinate for five years, but if not, I''ll take every bit of your assets."


    Rose had been paying attention to Xia Liu all along and had investigated his holdings, which were worth several billion to say the least.


    "Cough cough..." Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, there was a dry cough in the distance from Treading Snow Without a Trace.


    "Brother Xia Liu, he''s speaking,"


    "Xiaoxue, don''t worry too much; Xia Liu can handle it."


    "Tch tch, go ahead. I''ll protect your women. Just don''t die too quickly; you should at least struggle a bit and put up a fight."


    Rose, of course, needed to take a stand now, otherwise if Xia Liu died and these women plummeted emotionally and followed him in death, where would she go to take the money?


    "A cough for what! Boy, I''m giving you a chance, come over here and apologize to my wives."


    "Pff!" Upon hearing Xia Liu say that, Rose immediately sputtered.


    Indeed as arrogant as the Nether Emperor, fame isn''t as impactful as meeting in person.


    "Hehe, should I call you Nether Emperor now? Or is it Red Dragon Shadow? Or Xia Liu?"


    Treading Snow Without a Trace''s eyes sharpened, his Eye of Killing Intent locked onto Xia Liu, and a tide of murderous aura swept out from within him.


    The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and the atmosphere became oppressively tense.


    "Did he just say Red Dragon Shadow?"


    After the shock subsided, the women mulled over Treading Snow Without a Trace''s words, and their eyes widened in realization. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Senior Without a Trace, did you just say he is Red Dragon Shadow?"


    Rose, who came from the Underground World, was observant of intricate details.


    She had picked up on the implications in Treading Snow Without a Trace''s words, but she couldn''t believe that Xia Liu might be Red Dragon Shadow!


    Li Qianqian and the other women also interpreted Treading Snow Without a Trace''s words, and involuntarily, everyone''s gaze converged on the two men in front.


    ```

 Chapter 322 Battle

    "Thousand Faces Rose, you''re lucky to be alive," Treading Snow Without a Trace had wanted to ask earlier.


    But he hadn''t quite sorted out his emotions; now, he finally had.


    Based on his understanding of Red Dragon Shadow, Thousand Faces Rose had not only attempted to stab him with a knife but had also kidnapped his woman.


    Yet Rose was still alive today, which was rather intriguing. Could it be that his character had completely changed after a few months?


    "Is he... really the Red Dragon Shadow?" Rose''s mouth was agape, her trembling fingers pointing at Xia Liu, and for a moment, she was unable to say anything else.


    "Xia Liu, are you really the Red Dragon Shadow, the number one on the Blood List?" Fang Fei asked, trying hard to calm her emotions, then spoke on behalf of the younger sisters.


    "As he mentioned, I indeed used to be the Red Dragon Shadow, but that was all more than a year ago. I am now Xia Liu of Osmanthus Village, your husband."


    Xia Liu gave a small smile, his words tinged with helplessness and yet filled with happiness.


    "Wow! You really are the Red Dragon Shadow!" Seeing Xia Liu admit it, Rose was the most excited.


    In the Underground World, who didn''t know of Red Dragon Shadow!


    He was almost everyone''s idol, treated like a god!


    Everyone wanted to meet this god, but this god had long since withdrawn from the Blood List and the Martial World.


    "If Brother Xia Liu really is the Red Dragon Shadow, doesn''t that mean he can defeat that Treading Snow Without a Trace?"


    "Xiaoxue, you''re right about that, but the bad woman said earlier, the Red Dragon Shadow had sealed himself."


    "Xia Liu, what does this bad woman mean by ''sealing''?"


    "Yeah, Red Dragon Shadow, there''s a rumor outside about you sealing yourself. What''s that all about?"


    Rose finally joined the other women in their questioning.


    To meet Red Dragon Shadow was already unimaginably fortunate; to learn more about him would be utterly fantastic!


    "Haha!!"


    Before Xia Liu could explain, Treading Snow Without a Trace burst into loud laughter.


    "Just a nothing. Succumbed to evil in his cultivation, otherwise why would he seal himself? Hahaha!"


    ......


    Facing Treading Snow Without a Trace''s disdain, everyone was taken aback.


    Rose was the same, a flash of vital energy passing through her eyes.


    If what Treading Snow Without a Trace said was true, it would explain why the Red Dragon Shadow hadn''t appeared since he became famous.


    Because he succumbed to evil in his cultivation!


    "Heh, we are somewhat similar, aren''t we? On the surface, you seem calm, but your inner breath is in utter disarray; I guess you''re about to burst."


    Facing Treading Snow Without a Trace''s disdain, Xia Liu responded strongly.


    "Uh, you''ve seen through me, but still, defeating you will be easy!"


    Treading Snow Without a Trace was slightly stunned, then suddenly, his feet swept across, releasing a tremendous burst of inner qi.


    The mighty strength swept through all directions, causing trees to tremble and the wind to carry dust and sand into the sky.


    Xia Liu stood protectively in front of the women, extended his hand and waved, spiritual energy from his body met and countered the force unleashed by Treading Snow Without a Trace until it dissipated.


    "Oh, regaining some of your strength, huh? Looks like the seal has been somewhat lifted."


    Seeing how easily Xia Liu had withstood his inner strength, Treading Snow Without a Trace was slightly surprised.


    "Don''t be surprised just yet. What comes next will surprise you even more!" Xia Liu grinned, then channeled his spiritual energy and transformed into a blur, charging forward.


    Seeing Xia Liu move, Treading Snow Without a Trace was not to be outdone. Gathering his inner qi, he displayed the Traceless Step Technique.


    Bang!


    Within an impenetrable state of mind, a dull clash erupted.


    The women were stunned, and Rose was no exception.


    She was Thousand Faces Rose, ranked fifth on the Blood List, and although her ranking was high, her combat power was quite weak.


    Today, she was fortunate enough to witness the top two competitors on the Blood List duel, stirring indescribable emotions within her.


    "Mysterious Rank Mid-Level: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!"


    After each competitor had been repelled, Treading Snow Without a Trace vibrated her feet and raised her hands towards the sky, her Inner Qi surging as she seemed to absorb the surrounding Mysterious Energy.


    "Oh, can''t control it and going for a big move already," mocked Xia Liu, seeing Treading Snow Without a Trace''s starting gesture.


    "To defeat you, I must act quickly, so just accept your fate!"


    Yell! Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    With that declaration and a cold shout, Treading Snow Without a Trace motioned with her palm, and the thick Inner Qi mixed with the energy of Mysterious Yellow converged into a whip striking directly at Xia Liu.


    "Since that''s the case, then I won''t be polite!"


    With an intense look, Xia Liu countered in a flash, employing the Taiyi Starting Position!


    Energy Transformation Nether, then to Yin, then summoning Yang, all in an instant, the Yin Yang Taiji Image took shape.


    "Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique!"


    Murmuring softly, Xia Liu cleverly countered the strong Mysterious Whip with his skill.


    Suction Force, Force Control, Unloading Force!


    Boom!!!


    The mighty Qi Force redirected by Xia Liu exploded the moment it touched the ground, the booming noise incessant to the ears.


    Instantly, an explosion of Qi Force created a pit three meters wide and two meters deep.


    This scene caused the surrounding women to tremble.


    Their fight resembled that of martial arts experts from TV, clashing in strength, power, and moves.


    Clearly, Xia Liu had just withstood a major attack.


    Apart from Rose, Fang Fei and others'' eyes turned intensely fervent.


    Because Xia Liu had mentioned before that upon returning from this trip, he would bring back a Cultivation Technique!


    A Cultivation Technique that could make them stronger!


    Having previously experienced the combat of the Eastern District, Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue''s admiration for martial prowess deepened.


    Seeing it again today, their excitement had ignited once more.


    Li Qianqian had also seen Xia Liu perform before, and she too became excited to a certain extent.


    Gu Fangxia, Zhang Qing, and Huang Xue felt similarly.


    If before they considered the Cultivation Method somewhat casually, now they were eager to acquire the technique and start training earnestly.


    "That''s an old trick! Can you change it up?" Treading Snow Without a Trace couldn''t help but quip when she saw Xia Liu using the Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique to alter the course of her own mystic whip.


    "The age of a move doesn''t matter as long as it secures victory!" Xia Liu replied with a slight smile, noting that although it had been a long time since they last met, this person''s impatient nature hadn''t changed.


    "Damn it! If this is how it''s going to be, then I''m going all out!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a roar, Treading Snow Without a Trace unleashed her Inner Qi explosively, a brisk wind rising under her feet as the pressure swept across the surroundings once again.


    "Just Earth-Rank High-Level, show me everything, or you''ll lose miserably."


    "You''ve succeeded, you''ve really pissed me off!" Treading Snow Without a Trace''s face darkened as she felt belittled by Xia Liu once again.


    "Peerless Technique: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!"


    Anger prevailing, Treading Snow Without a Trace raised her hand again, releasing her Inner Qi without reservation.


    To the naked eye, the extremely thick Inner Qi, like mist, continuously gathered in Treading Snow Without a Trace''s hand.


    Invisibly, Xia Liu also felt the movement of nature''s spiritual energy around them.


    Though very weak, it was indeed moving, and the direction of the flow was uniform, all towards the initiating point of Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!


    "This guy can actually absorb nature''s spiritual energy to enhance the might of his Martial Arts Skill; it seems he has made great progress in the last two years!"

 Chapter 323 Cultivation Maniac

    Feeling the atmosphere oppressively tense to the extreme, all the women held their breaths.


    Although they didn''t understand what Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement was, there was no doubt, judging by its momentum, that the move was extremely powerful!


    "Brother Xia Liu, you can do it! You will definitely defeat him!" Unable to stand the quiet, Zhang Xiaoxue gathered her courage and shouted loudly.


    "Yeah! Just watch closely!" Xia Liu turned back and raised his thumb, signalling that he had a way to handle the new move from Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement.


    "Still dare to be distracted! Die for me!"


    Seeing that Xia Liu actually ignored him in the midst of battle, Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement''s anger grew even more, his Inner Qi surging, increasing his momentum.


    Truth be told, Xia Liu could clearly feel the powerful force within that move.


    If he had no preparations, that strike would definitely injure him, even if he was wearing Demon Stone Clothing.


    This level of skill had greatly surpassed the category of Martial Arts Skills, and could even be called a Low-Level Spirit Technique!


    Because the technique contained Spiritual Energy!


    Spiritual Energy, the most mysterious and powerful existence between heaven and earth.


    It was unknown how Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement had learned such a technique to even be able to draw upon nature''s spiritual energy.


    But, Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement could only draw a very small amount of nature''s spiritual energy.


    For a Cultivator, it was negligible!


    "This time I will make you lose convincingly, take this!"


    With a long shout, Xia Liu''s hand seal rapidly changed in front of his chest, a sign that a Spirit Art was about to be unleashed!


    "Hmm? Is he going to use that thing? I''m looking forward to it!"


    Seeing Xia Liu''s actions, Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement smiled with anticipation and once again boosted his Inner Qi to its peak.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­


    Unknown when it started, gusts of wind swept across the battlefield.


    The two fighters in the battle stood as immovable as Mount Tai, staring intently at each other.


    "Let''s see what you''ve got!"


    Having said that, Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement violently released the violent energy he had accumulated, unleashing his strongest attack, Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow! Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Bring it on!"


    A crafty smile gradually appeared on Xia Liu''s lips, and then with a point of the hand seal, a formidable pressure formed around him, and an unrivaled Spiritual Energy burst forth from his fingertips ¨C it was the Fire Spirit Sword!


    The Fire Spirit Sword, like a divine artifact cutting through the heavens, evaporated the air it passed through, turning it into steam that rose up.


    Boom!


    With an explosive sound, the Fire Spirit Sword directly shattered the Mysterious Yellow Energy.


    In Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement''s eyes, a dazzling blood-red Spirit Sword, which flickered in and out of existence, continued to rush towards him.


    "Thinking of escaping? Tsk tsk!"


    Seeing Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement trying to dodge the Fire Spirit Sword, Xia Liu''s eyebrows twitched, and he pressed his palm down towards the ground, transforming it into a claw.


    Boom!


    A thunderous sound rang out again, and the ground where Xia Liu stood sank a meter instantaneously.


    On the other side, Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement inevitably fell into the soil.


    "Can''t dodge it!" Feeling his legs bound, cold sweat immediately broke out on Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement''s back.


    As the Fire Spirit Sword was about to pierce him, Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement roared, "Break it for me!"


    His Inner Qi erupted violently from his body.


    But facing the strange binding power, he couldn''t break free.


    "Pfft!"


    The next second, the Fire Spirit Sword penetrated Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement''s body.


    In the blink of an eye, the world fell silent.


    The women looked at Xia Liu in disbelief, originally thinking that with his seal, Xia Liu wouldn''t be able to beat Treading Snow Without a Trace Movement, but the result was as they saw.


    "As expected from my idol, this is terrifying." Rose was the most astounded, as she was also a Martial Artist, though of a very low rank.


    She had watched both of their duels carefully, and this battle could be described as extremely terrifying.


    Xia Liu seemed to have very little Inner Qi left, but he still defeated Treading Snow Without a Trace, and he did it with a speed that others couldn''t see clearly!


    "It''s been five years, we''ve known each other for five years, and I''ve been somewhat succumbing to evil lately, with my Inner Qi flowing in reverse. Would letting me win one round kill you?"


    As he pressed on the chest wound from which blood was flowing, Treading Snow Without a Trace said discontentedly.


    "If it were someone else, I would definitely let them win, but I can''t let you."


    Shaking his head, Xia Liu''s movement technique instantly shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Treading Snow Without a Trace. He then twisted his eyes into Sword Fingers and rapidly tapped several points on Treading Snow Without a Trace''s back.


    "I''ve sealed your meridians and took the liberty of transferring some Energy in to heal your wounds, reverting you to conservation of energy." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu didn''t have time to say much, Treading Snow Without a Trace just had to do as he was told.


    "Pfft!"


    No sooner had Treading Snow Without a Trace gathered his Energy than a stream of fresh blood sprayed from his mouth, and the energy within his body became even more chaotic.


    "Damn, have you been possessed by a dog or something? Your energy is so disordered; if this continues, I bet even your meridians will get twisted."


    After taking Treading Snow Without a Trace''s pulse, Xia Liu couldn''t help but complain.


    "Heh, lately, I''ve been researching the ''Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow,'' and I didn''t expect it to actually be able to Gather Heaven and Earth Energy. So I''ve been practicing day and night, but eventually, my Inner Qi couldn''t suppress the Heaven and Earth Energy, and this happened."


    "Holy shit! You''re nuts for drawing the violent nature''s spiritual energy into your body!"


    Upon hearing Treading Snow Without a Trace''s explanation, Xia Liu was shocked.


    He was well aware of how terrifying nature''s spiritual energy could be.


    If there wasn''t a Cultivator''s Technique to convert nature''s spiritual energy into gentle spiritual energy, then having that stuff enter one''s body would undoubtedly kill a person.


    He even felt somewhat admiring of how long this guy had been absorbing spiritual energy into his body and was still able to suppress it up until now.


    If it hadn''t been for their martial duel, he bet that the spiritual energy within Treading Snow Without a Trace wouldn''t have erupted yet.


    Scary, scary!


    For this cultivation maniac, Xia Liu felt admiration.


    "So that stuff is called nature''s spiritual energy..."


    "Mmm, don''t talk now, wait until I''ve refined it for you and then we''ll talk."


    "Huh? You can refine nature''s spiritual energy?" Treading Snow Without a Trace said in astonishment.


    "Will you shut up, do you believe I will gag your mouth?"


    ...


    Watching the two who appeared as close as friends or even closer, all the girls were stunned.


    What the hell was going on?


    One second they were calling for a fight to the death, and the next second they seemed to be getting along so well.


    "Why do I feel like Brother Xia Liu is very concerned about that assassin?" Zhang Xiaoxue asked timidly.


    "I get that feeling too."


    "There must be more to their relationship than what we see on the surface."


    "Ladies, there''s a basis for this speculation. When Treading Snow Without a Trace brought us here earlier, he didn''t have any designs on us, and he didn''t even dare to look at us more than necessary. What does that tell you?"


    Hearing Fang Fei say this, the girls all began to question it among themselves.


    Indeed, it was true. After being brought here by Treading Snow Without a Trace and tied up, he just went off to play by himself.


    "Evil Sister, are those two good friends?" Seeing Rose lost in thought, Zhang Xiaoxue nudged her and whispered.


    "Uh... um..."


    Rose was already at a loss, how could she possibly know what had happened.


    Although not fully understood, from the recent exchange between Xia Liu and Treading Snow Without a Trace, it wasn''t hard to surmise that the two had known each other beforehand.


    And they were very close; if they were enemies, one would have died already.


    "I think they must be friends..."


    Rose said with a bitter smile, unsure of the specifics herself, but perhaps soon the mystery would be revealed.

 Chapter 324 Wheres the Cultivation Technique?

    In the midst of the girls'' puzzled waiting, ten minutes later, Xia Liu finally retracted his palm.


    Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Treading Snow Without a Trace also changed his Hand Art, guiding his Energy back into his Dantian.


    "Hmm? This feeling is...!!!"


    Feeling the change within his Dantian, Treading Snow Without a Trace''s pupils contracted, his emotions surged with excitement.


    "Don''t get too excited, be careful not to succumb to evil again," Xia Liu said disdainfully, giving him a glance that was anything but amused.


    "Damn it! Brother! My cultivation is loosening up!" Treading Snow Without a Trace shouted excitedly before hopping up from the ground.


    Then, amidst numerous embarrassed gazes, he hugged Xia Liu tightly.


    "Get off! You''re ten years older than me, you call me Brother! Don''t hug me! No homo!" Xia Liu shoved Treading Snow Without a Trace away with a display of angry indignation on his face.


    "Brother! You are my brother, give me a few more sword strikes, maybe then I can advance!" Treading Snow Without a Trace shamelessly rubbed his hands together, his eyes blinking pitifully.


    ...


    "Brother..." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The girls, hearing Treading Snow Without a Trace calling Xia Liu brother, had their worldview shattered in an instant.


    They hadn''t forgotten that just a moment ago, this guy was clamoring to have Xia Liu beaten to death.


    Just a few minutes had passed, and he was almost ready to hit the sack with Xia Liu.


    Possible slapping sounds...


    "What''s going on here, Xia Liu?" Fang Fei led the girls over to Xia Liu and then asked in confusion.


    "Ladies, I''m really sorry about earlier, I was just joking with my brother," Treading Snow Without a Trace apologized with a wry smile and bowed his head before the girls.


    "Wait, you guys really know each other?" asked Li Qianqian, who came from a police background. She had distinctly felt earlier that Treading Snow Without a Trace really wanted to kill Xia Liu.


    "Yes, this kid is my brother. Every time we meet, he surprises me, and this time was no exception."


    Xia Liu was somewhat helpless, but also very pleased, because it was him who tied up the girls, and if it had been some other Blood List expert who came, then things would have been troublesome.


    "Is he really the Red Dragon Shadow?"


    Seeing how excited Treading Snow Without a Trace was, Rose took the opportunity to ask quickly.


    "Thousand Faces Rose, I have a name too, you can call me: Lin Xiaotian. From now on, you big sisters can just call me Xiaotian," Treading Snow Without a Trace said cheerfully, talking a lot today.


    "Xiaotian, then hurry up and tell us what other secrets Xia Liu is hiding from us?" Fang Fei asked.


    "Secrets? Does his liking for men count as a secret?"


    "Damn!"


    Before the girls could show their shock, Xia Liu slapped Lin Xiaotian''s back, sending him rolling away like a ball for more than ten meters.


    The girls watched the scene dumbfoundedly, Xia Liu''s reaction seemed a bit over the top...


    "Cough cough... good hit, just now there was some Dao Energy running wild in my meridians, now it finally feels better."


    Lin Xiaotian climbed out of the dirt, looking quite relieved as he spoke.


    "This..."


    The girls were startled again, to be sent flying and still say it''s good, probably only this dimwit would think so.


    "Now that your Energy is smooth, let''s head back, I estimate people will come over here soon."


    Xia Liu had no choice with this thick-skinned guy; whenever he was around, he was like a punching bag, needing a few good beatings from Xia Liu a day to feel invigorated.


    Looking at the mess around them, everyone nodded and then left the forest along the small path.


    In a private room at Longteng Hotel, the girls were gathered around a long table.


    Among the girls, Rose was present, although Xia Liu had wanted her to leave.


    But she insisted on staying, saying that a promise must be kept.


    After all, since Xia Liu had defeated Treading Snow Without a Trace, she was obligated to serve under Xia Liu for five years.


    As for Treading Snow Without a Trace, Lin Xiaotian, he wore a short-sleeved shirt, his shoulder seemingly wrapped in gauze.


    "Brother, that move of yours was too fierce, it almost pierced through my body," Lin Xiaotian recalled the moment with some trepidation.


    He knew he had taken the joke too far this time.


    Xia Liu wouldn''t have given himself such a harsh lesson otherwise.


    "Xiaotian, don''t call me brother, you''re freaking older than me by a few years!" Xia Liu''s voice was a bit loud.


    This guy really dared to say it, all over thirty years old, calling a youngster ''brother''.


    Well, a youngster...


    "All right, Nether Emperor."


    "Choose another one."


    "Nether God?"


    "Next."


    "Red Dragon Shadow?"


    "Red Dragon?"


    "Fine, Xia Liu..."


    Facing Xia Liu''s angry glare, Lin Xiaotian quickly corrected his speech.


    "Do you know why I had to be so ruthless?" Xia Liu finally got to the point as he saw Lin Xiaotian wasn''t joking around anymore.


    Lin Xiaotian shook his head; if he knew, he wouldn''t be asking, damn it.


    The women also turned their eyes to Xia Liu, they were very curious as well.


    They had seen everything from beginning to end, truly believing at the time that Xia Liu was going to kill Lin Xiaotian.


    The outcome turned out to be unexpected.


    "When you were gathering your Inner Qi, didn''t you notice a stream of Spiritual Energy devouring your Inner Qi? If I hadn''t broken through your meridians to destroy it, your internal organs would probably have turned into dust."


    "Uh uh... no wonder I felt like half my strength was stolen when I made my move."


    Having heard Xia Liu say this, Lin Xiaotian couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat.


    Had it not been for Xia Liu, he might have been off to meet King Yan.


    However, he was truly lucky this time to have had the chance to witness that move executed in full force.


    "Brother Xia Liu, can we talk about that later, is that okay?" Zhang Xiaoxue, not understanding Xia Liu''s explanation, blinked her big eyes pleadingly at Xia Liu. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mm, what''s the matter, Xue''er? Go ahead," Xia Liu said tenderly, nodding his head.


    "Didn''t you say before leaving that you would bring us back some Cultivation Techniques? So, where are they?" As she spoke, Zhang Xiaoxue stretched her hand out in front of Xia Liu.


    "Right, the Cultivation Technique?"


    "Cultivation Technique!"


    "Cultivation Technique!"


    ...


    With Li Qianqian and Huang Xue, as well as Fang Fei''s instigation, everyone started to knock rhythmically on the table with their silver spoons, the beat perfectly synchronized.


    Seeing the women like this, Xia Liu said with a bitter smile after a long moment, "Everyone calm down first, and let me explain slowly."


    "This time when I went to the Ye Family, I did get some Cultivation Techniques, but they''re all too robust and not suitable for you to cultivate."


    "So what if they''re robust? As long as we can become stronger, that''s all that matters," Li Qianqian said excitedly.


    She didn''t care about the nature of the Cultivation Techniques; as long as they could make her and her sisters stronger, that was enough.


    The women all felt the same, with the memory of the Martial Combat between Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian still fresh in their minds from earlier in the day.


    They couldn''t wait to become that strong themselves, so that they would never have to be afraid of being bullied again.


    Moreover, their physical fitness would definitely improve, not to mention their endurance; henceforth, they wouldn''t have to worry about being knocked out by Xia Liu...


    "If you cultivate the Rigid Martial Arts Techniques, it might change your personality. Do you still want to cultivate them?"


    "Explain in detail..."


    "What Xia Liu means is that if women cultivate the robust Cultivation Techniques designed for men, they''ll eventually turn into men."


    Before Xia Liu could answer, Lin Xiaotian spoke up first.

 Chapter 325 This is Indeed Very Nether Emperor

    ...


    "If you don''t talk, nobody will treat you like a mute!"


    Xia Liu said irritably.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I don''t want to cultivate the Rigid Martial Arts Technique." Hearing what Lin Xiaotian said, Zhang Xiaoxue immediately became scared.


    She certainly didn''t want to change her personality, let alone her gender; that would be disastrous.


    "Isn''t there another way?"


    "Yes, just look for another cultivation technique," Xia Liu said nonchalantly. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That''s right, look for another one, and he had already set his sights on one¡ªin the Immeasurable Sect!


    "That Xiaotian must be quite a formidable martial artist, doesn''t he have any?" Fang Fei suddenly turned her attention to Lin Xiaotian.


    This guy suddenly appeared; he must have roamed outside for a long time, definitely picking up many cultivation techniques and martial arts skills.


    "Sister Fang, even if this guy has them, we shouldn''t learn from him." Hearing Fang Fei ask about Lin Xiaotian, Xia Liu felt a bit anxious.


    If Lin Xiaotian said he did, the women would certainly not give up.


    "Why?" the women asked Xia Liu, puzzled.


    "Because he''s a martial arts maniac. You saw that martial arts skill he practiced in the daytime, right? He nearly succumbed to evil. If I hadn''t been there, he would have exploded today."


    "Whoa..."


    "That''s frightening..."


    The women''s gazes toward Lin Xiaotian gradually became fearful.


    At the same time, they also abandoned their resolve to demand cultivation techniques from him.


    "Hehe, I really should thank Xia Liu for that. I don''t have many cultivation techniques suitable for women anyway, so sorry ladies," Lin Xiaotian said as he scratched his head, evidently agreeing with Xia Liu''s words. If he were on any other battlefield today, the grass on his grave might be a meter high by next year.


    "So what do we do now? Without a cultivation technique, how are we going to get stronger?" Zhang Xiaoxue was close to crying; she didn''t want to be a burden to Xia Liu over and over again.


    It wasn''t just Zhang Xiaoxue who felt this way; the other ladies did too. Being able to follow Xia Liu was already the greatest fortune of their lives.


    If they couldn''t even protect themselves, that would be truly useless.


    "Don''t worry, I already have a target in mind. In no more than forty days, I can bring back suitable cultivation techniques for you to practice," Xia Liu stated confidently, believing that with his current level of cultivation, just a martial combat, anything but a Heaven-Rank warrior, would be no match for him.


    Even if there was a Heavenly Rank Expert, what of it? No one could predict his moves.


    "Wow, Brother Xia Liu is amazing!" Saying this, Zhang Xiaoxue lightly pecked Xia Liu''s cheek.


    "Forty days isn''t that long."


    "I hope you''re not deceiving us this time, or else, tsk tsk..."


    "Tsk tsk tsk..."


    "There definitely won''t be a this time, just wait and see. A cultivation technique is nothing; once the time comes, I can bring it back," Xia Liu understood what the women meant, knowing that if he didn''t come through this time, there would really be tsk tsk.


    In the days that followed, the women did not bring up the matter of the cultivation technique again.


    Because both Lin Xiaotian and Rose were here, they were very well-behaved.


    Even after meals, they were very sensible, allowing Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian some time alone.


    After getting to know each other, Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian had been acquainted for five years. As for how they knew each other, the women didn''t delve into it; knowing that the two were good buddies was enough for them.


    "Xiaotian, do you want to accompany me to a place next month?" After the women were gone, Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian raised their glasses for a casual drink.


    "So mysterious, are we going to fight?" Xia Liu had asked him this when none of their wives were around, which led Lin Xiaotian to believe it was something like a fight.


    "You''re quite familiar with the Huaxia Warrior Realm, have you ever heard about the Martial Combat Contest of the Immeasurable Sect?"


    "Pfft!"


    As soon as Xia Liu finished speaking, Lin Xiaotian sprayed out the wine he had just taken a swig of.


    "You''re planning to attend the Martial Combat Contest at the Immeasurable Sect?"


    Lin Xiaotian looked at Xia Liu with some surprise. Also, it''s worth mentioning that, as soon as he heard the words "Immeasurable Sect," his body couldn''t help but tremble for a moment.


    "Yeah, what''s wrong with that?" Xia Liu asked, confused, obviously noticing the other''s abnormal reaction.


    "There is nothing wrong with you going, but it would be different if I went."


    Lin Xiaotian fell silent for a moment, then said somewhat helplessly.


    "Huh? What''s the matter?"


    "Do you remember the thing I told you about three years ago?"


    "Are you talking about the Immeasurable Sect..."


    At this point, Xia Liu''s pupils contracted imperceptibly, and his words were tinged with a hint of shock.


    Lin Xiaotian nodded, then took his cup and began to drink heavily on his own.


    "Drink less, you''re still injured." Seeing Lin Xiaotian like this, Xia Liu couldn''t help but advise.


    "Ah, I''m upset that I can''t be of help to you."


    "Who says you can''t help? What about the Immeasurable Sect? Let''s you and I go and give it a try."


    "Are you serious?" Lin Xiaotian was a bit surprised as he had told Xia Liu everything back then; now, to go himself was to throw away all chances, wasn''t it?


    "Of course, if there''s really no other way, we''ll just plunder the Immeasurable Sect."


    "Hahaha! Dominant! That''s really like the Nether Emperor!"


    As they exchanged glances, they both erupted into laughter.


    "Xia Liu, I think it''s time to let our brothers come over to Huaxia and see the scenery." Setting down his cup, Lin Xiaotian murmured as he looked out the night view from the window.


    "Yeah, I know. Let''s contact them tomorrow." Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xia Liu was no different in wanting his brothers around, he just hadn''t had the opportunity.


    Now that Spearhead and Heaven Slaying had both been taken care of by him, it would at least be unimpeded for those brothers to come to Huaxia.


    Another major thing was, their arrival could protect the girls who were still in their vulnerable stage.


    With one Thousand Faces Rose, there would be a second, a third.


    Until finally, there would be a continuous stream of assassins coming their way.


    This industry was just like this, except for the rare few who could resist the temptation of money.


    Having parted ways with Lin Xiaotian around midnight, when Xia Liu stepped out of the elevator, a beautiful figure barred his way.


    "Xiaoxue, what are you doing?" Xia Liu asked with a smile, looking at Zhang Xiaoxue''s delighted face.


    At the same time, Xia Liu spread out his arms and pulled Xiaoxue into his embrace.


    As for what happened next with his hands, let''s just say it made Zhang Xiaoxue blush and her ears heat up.


    "Brother Xia Liu, the sisters are asleep. Let''s go to the room next door, so we don''t disturb them," Xiaoxue said.


    "Sure, I''ll listen to this little fairy," Xia Liu said as he picked up Zhang Xiaoxue and dashed towards a certain room.


    As soon as they entered the room, Xia Liu immediately silenced Zhang Xiaoxue with his mouth.


    Mmm mmm mmm...


    Zhang Xiaoxue couldn''t help but make muffled sounds.


    Feeling that Zhang Xiaoxue was a bit uncomfortable, Xia Liu let her go and had her sit down on the sofa.


    "Brother Xia Liu, be gentler, you''re hurting me."


    "Hehe, I couldn''t help myself. Um, I''ve admired Ms. Hodono for a long time. Could you disguise yourself to look like her?" Xia Liu said with a smile.


    As soon as he had spoken, silence fell in the room, especially for ''Zhang Xiaoxue.''


    Her face suddenly turned into a scowl; she had disguised herself so well, how could Xia Liu see through her¡­


    "Speak, what''s the purpose of you doing this? Don''t tell me you admire me and specifically came over to sleep with me..."

 Chapter 326 Deployment [Sixth Update]

    Rose, whose identity was discovered, turned around, restored her appearance with disguise, and then hung her head low.


    She didn''t dare to look directly at Xia Liu, for ever since she learned that Xia Liu was the Great God Red Dragon Shadow, she couldn''t calm herself anymore.


    She stayed just to seek an opportunity to get close to him.


    "Great God Red Dragon Shadow, why didn''t you kill me when I tried to assassinate you?" After a long silence, Rose finally mustered the courage to ask.


    "Right when I entered the office, I recognized your disguise, but I pretended not to know to ensure the safety of my women."


    Xia Liu still clearly remembered the situation during the day, when he sensed the killing intent and a faint Inner Qi emanating from Rose, and immediately understood everything.


    "I didn''t kill you because I felt you could still be redeemed. I rarely kill women, and you are like Xiaotian, who also likes doing good deeds."


    "How could you know so much about me?"


    This was what puzzled Rose the most; she had truly been frightened when Xia Liu mentioned the shelter.


    After all, the legend of the Nether Emperor was deeply ingrained in her heart, and she guessed it would never leave her for this lifetime.


    "If I didn''t know these little details about you, then I might as well hand over the title of Red Dragon Shadow to you."


    "Fine, Great God Red Dragon Shadow, I am convinced."


    "However, I want to know how you knew I was in Hejing?"


    Yes, this was the main reason why Xia Liu agreed to help this girl into his room.


    Having returned to Huaxia, although not very secretly, those outsiders should not have been able to find him.


    "I have a friend in the Island Nation, and she sent me the information. I just came to try my luck and didn''t expect you to really be here."


    "Island Nation, Ninjutsu..."


    Upon this reminder, Xia Liu suddenly realized the truth.


    The exposure of his location was entirely due to one name, Liuming Caoru.


    In the past, he had left some items, and with the Ninjutsu of the Island Nation''s ninja families, perhaps certain forbidden techniques could be used to locate him through mediums.


    "That''s all I know, Great God Red Dragon Shadow. If you have no plans tonight, you are welcome to stay here," Rose said, slowly drawing her clothes off her shoulder.


    Instantly, her pale, snowy shoulders were exposed to the air.


    ...


    "Maybe next time. Take a good rest. I''m leaving now," Xia Liu replied without further comment, decisively rejecting the invitation.


    Only after the door closed did Rose come back to her senses.


    Xia Liu was indeed able to resist her seduction. He truly was a great god!


    This made her determined to try even harder!


    What Rose didn''t know was that Xia Liu had almost exhausted his Spiritual Energy, and in this state, he wasn''t audacious enough to risk harming each other with a shapeshifting assassin.


    Xia Liu did not go to see the women; with his now dry Dantian, he likely couldn''t handle his sisters ascending to heaven.


    After briefly speaking with Fang Fei, Xia Liu went to the rooftop, sat down with his legs crossed, formed a hand seal, and began to absorb nature''s spiritual energy.


    Through this conversation with Rose, he could guess the challenges he might face in the future.


    The Yamamoto Family of the Island Nation would definitely seek strong revenge against him. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he left the Island Nation, he had, after all, destroyed two warships, not to mention countless ninjas.


    He wasn''t afraid of Ouyang Lingtian''s words, who was in the Heaven Slaying Troops; even if the Yamamoto Family wanted to make a move, they wouldn''t dare.


    Truthfully, Xia Liu wasn''t afraid of them sending ninjas, even if they were Heaven-Rank Ninjas.


    What he worried about was that the vulnerable girls might get hurt.


    That was the last thing he wanted to see.


    So he had to make sure he was well prepared for what was coming.


    First, he gathered his brothers to come to Huaxia, and he himself tried his utmost to obtain the suitable Cultivation Techniques for their cultivation.


    As for the promotion, he would figure out a way when the time came.


    During cultivation, the blink of an eye was like a fierce sun scorching the earth.


    Feeling the spiritual energy in his body that had just recovered to half, Xia Liu got up and ended his meditation.


    He had originally wanted to find the girls and have a scoff at each other, but all these girls were busy with their new company.


    The busiest were undoubtedly Fang Fei and Li Qianqian.


    Because these past few days, many second generations from Liuhai City had come, both male and female.


    The purpose of their visit was to start companies and set up shops, but to put it bluntly, they all came back to return Xia Liu''s favors.


    As Li Zhong was not familiar with the second generations from Liuhai City, he could only call Li Qianqian.


    Eventually, the task of receiving them fell on Fang Fei and Li Qianqian.


    Another thing worth mentioning was that Li Qianqian had quit her job at the police station.


    Li Zhong feared she wouldn''t have time to accompany Xia Liu, which was why he forced her to resign.


    After all, in Hejing, who didn''t know about Xia Liu''s support group? They were all girls as beautiful as celestial beings.


    In the following days, under Xia Liu''s treatment, Lin Xiaotian''s injuries gradually healed.


    The chaotic inner breath in his body also calmed down.


    What excited Lin Xiaotian was that his cultivation, which had not progressed for over three years, had finally shown signs of loosening these past few days.


    It wouldn''t be long before he could break through to the Peak of Earth Rank!


    The Peak of Earth Rank, above that was the mysterious Heaven-Rank Warrior.


    In an era where cultivation resources were scarce, Heaven-Rank Warriors were almost extinct.


    At least Xia Liu had never encountered one, nor had Lin Xiaotian.


    An adage always circulated in the Huaxia Warrior Realm: as long as one could advance to Heaven-Rank Warrior, one could become the Martial World Supreme.


    That was the highest level of honor for a warrior, but sadly, no Heaven-Rank Warriors had appeared for hundreds of years.


    On the fifth day of the martial combat at Xia Lin, three people appeared at the front desk of the Longteng Hotel.


    One dressed brightly, fairly good-looking, with not a single hair on his head, which made him look somewhat comical.


    The other two also had distinct features, one with a particularly huge body, also bald, his biceps looking like they could explode at any moment.


    The other had a slender build, wore glasses, had pale skin, and curly yellow hair, obviously a foreign guest.


    "Glasses, are you sure the boss is here?" Mark looked around, not seeing anything regarding the boss, and immediately became puzzled.


    "Don''t worry, the location Xiaotian sent me couldn''t be wrong," Glasses took out his phone, checked it, and calmed down gradually.


    "Tie Shan, are you hungry? I think you definitely are, let''s find somewhere to eat,"


    "Fuck, Mark if you want to eat then just go, if you mock me again, I''ll beat you till your parents can''t recognize you!" The massively built Tie Shan said angrily.


    "Both of you cut it out, the boss just sent me a message, let''s go upstairs!" said Glasses as he rushed into the elevator, not caring about the noisy duo.


    "Damn wait for me!"


    "Fuck!"


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    Two minutes later, upstairs in the office, Xia Liu and Glasses, along with Tie Shan, hugged each other tightly.


    "Boss!"


    The moment Glasses and Tie Shan embraced Xia Liu, their eyes instantly reddened. Xia Liu had been away too long, and they had almost thought they were abandoned. Finally, they met again today...

 Chapter 327 Deployment [Part 2]

    "Look at you two, your sorry state is enough for me to rest assured," Mark said with disdain as he saw Tie Shan and Glasses expressing their genuine feelings.


    "Fuck! You still dare to talk, don''t think I don''t know that you''ve been to Huaxia twice this year!"


    Hearing Mark mock himself, Glasses immediately exposed him.


    "Twice! Boss, I remember you saying that without your order, we were not to come to Huaxia!"


    Seizing the opportunity, Tie Shan also started to chime in.


    "Hm? Mark, besides the last time in Yuanguang City, you''ve been here again?" Xia Liu''s expression gradually became more serious.


    "It''s a misunderstanding, Master. The only reason I came here was because they invited me to a medical exchange meeting that I couldn''t refuse; I was forced to come," Mark said with a woeful face.


    "That''s somewhat understandable."


    "Forget it, Mark, let me remind you of something. Our identities have been more or less exposed to the outside world. If you get caught, the consequences will be very dire," Glasses immediately warned Mark, noticing his bitter expression.


    At this point, Tie Shan and Lin Xiaotian also fell into a brief silence.


    In the past, wherever they were, they wouldn''t care. If someone dared to arrest them, they would just crush them, and run if they couldn''t beat them.


    But Huaxia was different; it was the forbidden land for mercenaries!


    Moreover, it was Xia Liu''s homeland, and he had once instructed them.


    No matter where you wander, don''t easily cause trouble in Huaxia.


    "Hehe, brothers, don''t worry. I''ve already taken care of Spearhead and Heaven Slaying; from now on, you guys can come and go in Huaxia as you please," Xia Liu said with a joyful smile, lifting the spirits with this news.


    "What! Is that true?"


    "Master, that''s a bit scary!"


    "It''s just like our boss to handle both Spearhead and Heaven Slaying!"


    "Haha, in that case, we can go to the great treasures anytime!"


    Upon hearing this news, they all became invigorated.


    Before this, they felt great trepidation about Huaxia, largely due to Spearhead and Heaven Slaying.


    Now they could finally be at ease.


    "It''s settled, but you all have to behave. Don''t damage even the slightest bit of ordinary people''s lives, and if you happen to hurt anyone by accident, actively compensate them for their losses," Xia Liu still cautioned.


    "Don''t worry, boss, we''ll all listen to you," they reassured.


    "Master, I''m very well-behaved. Having the opportunity to come to this beautiful country, how could I dare to cause trouble?"


    "Heh, you guys, all of you stop pretending. The boss brought you here to protect our sisters-in-law. If any enemies come, you must guard them to the death!" Lin Xiaotian bluntly made things clear while looking at Glasses and Mark, who were smiling shallowly and making promises.


    "Uh, uh, uh, so that''s it; now I understand," Tie Shan was the first to catch on.


    During Xia Liu''s absence, he''d been utterly bored.


    Now, receiving this protection duty made him feel considerably relieved.


    "Sisters-in-law?" Glasses, picking up on the implications in Lin Xiaotian''s words, immediately became puzzled.


    "Hmm, you might not know, but I''ve met six sisters-in-law, and I reckon there are probably another four or five," Lin Xiaotian responded.


    "Pff! Xiaotian, that''s enough." Xia Liu spewed the tea he had just sipped all over Lin Xiaotian. This guy was telling tall tales with such a straight face.


    "Wow! Worthy of being our boss."


    "Indeed, with the Master''s unmatched martial power, it''s normal to have many mistresses," they said in admiration.


    "Alright you guys, if there''s a chance, you can get to know each other later. Right now, let me assign your tasks."


    Xia Liu couldn''t allow the conversation to continue, or his own dignity would be compromised, and he might end up with the nickname "Mad Demon."


    Half an hour later, Xia Liu had everyone''s tasks arranged.


    Tie Shan was the strongest, so he was in charge of contending with the enemy. The guy with the glasses was also quite capable, but his skills in data were even more impressive, so Xia Liu assigned him to the shadows to investigate which enemies had set their sights on this side.


    As for Mark, Xia Liu told him to get a wig and provide close protection when the time came.


    "Eh, isn''t Xiaotian joining us?" After the assignments were doled out, the man with glasses noticed that Lin Xiaotian didn''t have a task and immediately questioned. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hehe, I''m not like you idiots. In a few days, I''m going to join Xia Liu for a big adventure in a certain place."


    Thump!


    Lin Xiaotian had just finished speaking when a thump resounded on his head.


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    "Brother, can''t I admit I''m wrong?" Lin Xiaotian pleaded with a miserable look, facing an angry Xia Liu.


    "Boss, what''s this about?" The man with glasses asked with a puzzled face. Xia Liu had suddenly called him, Tie Shan, and Mark over, and it was definitely out of the ordinary.


    "From now on, just call me Xia Liu. ''Boss'' sounds awkward. As for Xiaotian and me, we have some matters to deal with."


    "This... Boss." The man with glasses realized his slip-up and immediately corrected, "Xia Liu, you can''t abandon us again. We should handle matters together."


    "That''s right, we should deal with it together."


    "Master, take me with you!"


    With the man with glasses taking the lead, Tie Shan and Mark also chimed in with enthusiasm.


    "This matter can be handled just by Xiaotian and me. Besides, your tasks are all very important. Without your help, there would be no one left."


    "We were just kidding earlier. I love guard duty the most."


    "Yes! I love it too!"


    "Hehe, Xia Liu, boss, I''d lay down my life for you if need be."


    "Haha! Good!"


    "We''ll listen to Xia Liu, boss!"


    Afterward, they went downstairs for a meal and then to a bathhouse.


    They didn''t return until late at night.


    When Xia Liu came back with his people, Fang Fei and the other women were dining in the private room.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xia Liu introduced Tie Shan, the guy with glasses, and Mark to them.


    After getting acquainted, the women all accepted them, although it felt a bit like being under surveillance. But they understood the dangers lurking around Xia Liu were numerous.


    If they were used as leverage to threaten Xia Liu again, they would truly become a burden to him.


    In fact, they were already a burden, but they were close to seeing hope.


    Before the Martial Combat Tournament began, besides interacting with the girls, Xia Liu spent all his remaining time on cultivation.


    He had learned a lot about the Immeasurable Sect from Lin Xiaotian.


    It could be said that the foundation of the Immeasurable Sect was extremely strong.


    And it was filled with many experts, including possibly some highly secretive Heaven-Rank Warriors.


    Of course, no Heaven-Rank Warrior had appeared for several decades.


    Even if there were any, Xia Liu wasn''t too worried; if worst came to worst, he could use Spirit Art.


    Yes, the trip to the Immeasurable Sect would definitely be fraught with difficulties because of Lin Xiaotian''s involvement, and it was unpredictable what changes might occur.


    Lin Xiaotian, just like Xia Liu, took advantage of the time before their departure, engaging in grueling cultivation day and night.


    If he could break through to the Peak of Earth Rank before the date arrived, then their confidence in the upcoming journey would increase immeasurably.

 Chapter 328 Someone from the Ye Family Comes

    While cultivating, Xia Liu had made several trips back to the village.


    The supply of Osmanthus Chicken''s Spiritual Energy feed was nearly depleted.


    He had Li Dazhuang buy a truckload of feed, even though it was a bit low on osmanthus.


    But that didn''t affect the meat quality and fragrance of the Osmanthus Chicken.


    This feed would be enough for one day''s work.


    The distillery''s business could be fully entrusted to the villagers, and he was confident about that.


    In his free time, Xia Liu went to the seaside to observe.


    During these days, Liang Caiming and Tan Jingxue had beautifully managed the fishing boat.


    And there were two girls onboard, though their looks were pretty average.


    As for these matters, Xia Liu didn''t have time to manage.


    Whether they could manage it or not, it was up to the village brothers.


    What was delightful was that the packaging for Osmanthus Wine was ready.


    The first batch of Osmanthus Wine produced about three thousand bottles.


    As soon as the wine was available, Li Dazhuang contacted Yang Tian and Huang Yilong.


    The two came over and took half back to Liu Hai City, and as for the payment, it was settled on the spot.


    The three thousand bottles of Osmanthus Wine brought in a total revenue of one hundred and twenty million, which was directly deposited into the Osmanthus Group''s finance card.


    Indeed, using a few days, Fang Fei had already planned various projects under the group''s name.


    The current model was to distribute salaries, as long as the villagers worked, they would get paid.


    As for the matter of shares, it would only be settled and distributed as dividends at year''s end.


    If anyone needed money, they could speak to Xia Liu or someone from the group, and it could be advanced beforehand.


    This move immediately elicited cheers from the villagers.


    They were all at home and wouldn''t be spending much money, and moreover, the houses were in their final stages of construction. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In another month, everything would be completed, and they could move into the new houses!


    It''s worth mentioning that even after moving into the new houses, there was no need to buy too much furniture because Xia Liu had Gu Fangxia prepare everything that was needed.


    The money was provided by Osmanthus Group, which also belonged to everyone.


    In fact, each household in the village now had a deposit of ten million; they couldn''t possibly spend all that money in such a short term, so they all agreed with Xia Liu and the girls'' decision.


    In the Eastern District, the subsidy hadn''t arrived yet, so after consulting Xia Liu''s opinion,


    Fang Fei started operations using the group''s funds.


    This month was undoubtedly the liveliest month for Hejing, symbolizing the beginning of a new era for Hejing.


    On the day work started in the Eastern District, countless people gathered around outside, and the sound of firecrackers crackled intensely for a long time.


    A few days later, large cranes began working on the vacant land.


    Currently, what the Eastern District needed most was vitality, and to achieve that, homes were necessary.


    Therefore, residential areas were the most necessary construction projects, based on Osmanthus Group''s current financial budget.


    If the subsidy hadn''t arrived in three months, the existing funds would only be sufficient for the construction of ten commercial residences.


    Fang Fei had initially thought the same, but when Xia Liu mentioned that there might be some money on his card,


    All the women were stunned.


    The employees hired by Osmanthus Group were also stunned.


    They saw a frightening number appear on the projector in the meeting room.


    Zhang Xiaoxue was operating the computer. They were in a meeting, and when Xia Liu heard that the group might not have enough funds, he had Zhang Xiaoxue log into online banking to check the balance.


    In the meeting room, apart from Fang Fei, Li Qianqian, and other girls, there were also many employees who had been recruited to work for the group.


    They had many ideas, but the one thing the group sorely lacked was money; even the best and most creative ideas couldn''t be realized without it.


    But when Zhang Xiaoxue accidentally checked the balance during the meeting, everyone was stunned.


    The image projected from the projector was a webpage of a bank.


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    All present had used online banking and understood what the webpage signified, so their curious eyes shifted to the balance displayed.


    Hiss...


    Instantly, the conference room filled with sounds of sharp intakes of breath.


    "One, two, three, four, five..." Since the image was quite large, some employees who were less sensitive to numbers started to count how many digits were in that balance.


    "Ninety-nine billion!!!" Finally, an employee burst out excitedly.


    Terrible!


    It was terribly frightening!


    The employees turned their gaze to Zhang Xiaoxue, unable to articulate their inner shock.


    This young, adorable-looking chairwoman had simply checked her online bank account and found nearly a hundred billion!


    A hundred billion!


    Even a powerful group might not be able to come up with that.


    But Zhang Xiaoxue had a hundred billion in liquid assets!


    That was outrageously obscene.


    Since employees were present, the women, shocked as they were, didn''t say much more.


    Later that evening, they pulled Xia Liu into a room to ask him where the money came from.


    "Didn''t I go to ask the Ye Family for compensation a few days ago? That''s how this money came," Xia Liu said lightly, responding to the women''s seriousness.


    "Whoa! Brother Xia Liu, don''t scare me; even if the storefront was smashed a bit and the staff injured, it couldn''t possibly justify that much money!"


    "Yeah, Xia Liu, you can''t just fool us like that."


    "If this money was obtained through illegal dealings, we can''t use it."


    Knowing about Xia Liu''s prior identity, the women took this sum of money very seriously.


    "Don''t guess wildly. This money was indeed a compensation from the Ye Family," Xia Liu got serious as well. "Anyone who dares to harm my women deserves to compensate us by a hundred billion, and that''s actually putting it mildly."


    "Wuwu, sorry Brother Xia Liu, we misunderstood you."


    Although Xia Liu mentioned it casually, anyone could tell that he wasn''t joking even a bit.


    And both Fang Fei and Zhang Xiaoxue had witnessed it firsthand.


    Xia Liu had severed Ye Jingming and two of his subordinates at the waist right there on the spot.


    The women were variously moved to different degrees.


    His words almost made them want to entrust their lives into his hands.


    "Brother Xia Liu, I want you!"


    "I want as well!"


    ...


    "Ah! One at a time, please..."


    Following that, Xia Liu once again found himself enveloped in tenderness.


    After the Osmanthus Group received an investment of ninety-nine billion, it developed even more rapidly; both commercial buildings and commercial streets began construction.


    By the end of the month, the first batch of subsidy funds arrived, adding several more billions to the coffers, and the Osmanthus Group was no longer financially concerned.


    On this day, there were three days left until the martial combat hosted by the Immeasurable Sect.


    Five people arrived at the front desk of the Longteng Hotel.


    Leading them was Ye Yongyuan. Although his hair was white, his face was vibrant, and he contained an energy like a sheathed sword, ready to strike fiercely when drawn.


    Behind Ye Yongyuan were four young faces, all with considerable cultivation levels.


    Among them, a young man had reached the Earth-Rank Primary Level!


    "Family Head, why have we come to such a small place? The Martial Combat competition is about to start, we should be preparing," said the Earth-Rank Primary Level Martial Artist, puzzled.


    "Ye Tian, during your time traveling, many things have happened at home; I''ll explain them to you slowly later."

 Chapter 329 Qualifications

    Ye Tian''s brows were tightly knitted, he had only returned last night and had not spent three hours in the family before following Ye Yongyuan out.


    Taking advantage of the moment Ye Yongyuan was inquiring at the front desk, Ye Tian quietly asked the other clan members accompanying them.


    However, no one dared to tell Ye Tian about the changes within the family.


    Even though he was at the Earth-Rank Primary Level Peak, Ye Yongyuan had instructed that only he could personally inform Ye Tian about the matter.


    Several minutes later, Xia Liu emerged slowly from the back of the hall, "Family Head Ye, you seem spirited as ever these days!"


    "Hehe, just as Senior Xia says," Ye Yongyuan responded, far from modest.


    "Family Head, you call him Senior?"


    Ye Tian was immediately displeased behind them, seeing Xia Liu''s youthful appearance, seemingly a few years younger than himself.


    If it got out to other martial artist families that the Family Head Ye was calling him Senior, wouldn''t it become a laughingstock?


    "Hm?" Xia Liu slightly furrowed his brows, sizing up Ye Tian and quickly came to a realization.


    Ye Tian indeed had the capital to be proud; reaching Earth-Rank Primary Level Peak at such an age, he would probably break through to Mid-Level within two years.


    Unfortunately, compared to Lin Xiaotian, he was indeed nothing much.


    "How can Ye Tian talk like that?" Ye Yongyuan''s brows furrowed as well; in his memory, Ye Tian was a rather introverted person.


    Normally, he would have been silent.


    Today, he unexpectedly showed a demeaning attitude in front of others¡ªsomething was off.


    "Family Head, you are the main pillar of the Ye family, how can you casually address someone as Senior, especially when that person is..."


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    Ye Tian could not continue, feeling no energy emanating from Xia Liu.


    In other words, Xia Liu was not a martial artist, a man without any cultivation. To have the clan leader calling him Senior was somewhat terrifying.


    "Ye Tian, you..."


    "Family Head Ye, this brother has a point, just call me Xia Liu from now on, otherwise it might lead to misunderstandings," Xia Liu hastily said just as Ye Yongyuan was about to reprimand Ye Tian.


    "Alright, as you say, Xia Liu," Ye Yongyuan responded with a benign smile.


    "Let''s go upstairs to a private room and sit for a while; it must have been tough on everyone coming from Binlai to this small county."


    "Not at all, not at all."


    Seeing Ye Yongyuan''s attitude, Ye Tian''s heart gradually grew heavy.


    He felt that after coming back from his travels, he could no longer understand this Family Head.


    Even though he was his elder, he shouldn''t treat an ordinary person in such a way.


    "Family Head Ye, I remember that the Martial Combat Conference is still three days away. Why have you come over today?" Inside the private room, Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    "Actually, we only have two days left, after we finish eating, we need to rush to the designated place, which I estimate will take a day, and then there''s another day on the boat." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I see, then I need to get prepared; otherwise, I won''t be able to leave later," Xia Liu nodded, realizing he hadn''t formally said goodbye to the girls yet; he would take the opportunity while Ye Yongyuan and others were eating to bid them farewell properly.


    "What! You''re going too?" Ye Tian exclaimed, catching Xia Liu''s implication.


    The other three accompanying Ye family martial artists suddenly realized.


    On their way out, they had noticed that the number of people was not right; one was missing, and now they understood, that spot had gone to Xia Liu.


    "Ye Tian, let me tell you..."


    "Family Head! Enough said, how can an ordinary person like him have any right to go to Immeasurable Island!" Ye Tian was clearly angry.


    This time around, as he ventured out, his cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough, and Ye Yongyuan could no longer control him too much!


    Having Earth-Rank cultivation himself, how could he watch the Ye Family decline?


    At this moment, Ye Yongyuan was no longer the spirited family head he once had been in his heart.


    "Oh? Weren''t you at the Ye family recently?" Just as Ye Yongyuan was about to explain, Xia Liu gestured with his hand for him to not speak, as he wanted to meet Ye Tian himself.


    For such a hot-tempered young man, he enjoyed training them the most.


    "Whether I am at home or not has nothing to do with you. All I know is that you have no cultivation at all. If you just want to spectate, my Ye family can''t afford it."


    "Ye Tian! Since when is it your turn to call the shots in the Ye family?" Hearing Ye Tian speak so authoritatively, Ye Yongyuan became a bit nervous.


    Xia Liu was someone capable of defeating five Earth-Rank Martial Artists.


    All five Earth-Rank Mid-Level ended up crippled by Xia Liu. If Ye Tian angered Xia Liu, he might truly be the one who wouldn''t qualify to go.


    "Family Head Ye is fine, this young man does indeed speak the truth. But just because I have no cultivation, it doesn''t mean my brother doesn''t."


    Xia Liu held his temper and brought up Lin Xiaotian explosively.


    "Your brother?" Ye Yongyuan looked at Xia Liu, puzzled, realizing that he had potentially made a big mistake and that Xia Liu might even have more than two people with him.


    "Hahaha! Funny! How does it matter who your brother is? I don''t care how you managed to make the family head trust you, but with me, you have no right to speak!"


    "Oh? Then, my friend, what do you believe qualifies someone to speak?"


    Just as Ye Tian''s anger was rising, suddenly the room''s door burst open, and an extreme aura of pressure instantly enveloped the entire room.


    "Earth-Rank High-Level Peak!"


    Feeling this pressure, both Ye Yongyuan and Ye Tian were profoundly stunned.


    An Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior! Only one step away from Heaven Rank, an extremely powerful warrior!


    As everyone held their breath, a figure lightly stepped into the private room.


    He appeared like a fallen leaf, drifting with the wind, silent and noiseless, his footsteps so light that they commanded attention.


    Ye Tian looked towards the door and saw a young man about his own age!


    This realization sent a surge of shock and awe through his heart.


    Because this peer, seemingly of his same age, exuded the aura of Earth-Rank High-Level Peak!


    The arrival of Lin Xiaotian silenced the people of the Ye family, even Ye Yongyuan dared not speak.


    In the Warrior Realm, the powerful are respected above all.


    With Earth-Rank High-Level Peak cultivation, Lin Xiaotian was enough to be considered a potential grandmaster.


    "Who is this senior?" Grinding his teeth, Ye Tian mustered his courage to ask Lin Xiaotian.


    "Cough cough! I am your grandfather! Lin Xiaotian, anyone who wants to live, behave!" Lin Xiaotian said while gazing coldly around the room.


    "This..."


    Hearing this grim statement, a chill arose in the hearts of the Ye family members.


    An Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior, in their realm, was akin to the sky itself. If Lin Xiaotian really made a move, they had absolutely no chance of resisting.


    "Xiaotian, whenever you can overcome your habit of bragging, I will surely be very happy."


    Seeing the Ye family members fall silent, Xia Liu helplessly shook his head, acknowledging that the world truly did prioritize strength.


    Having no cultivation at all, Ye Tian responded with anger.


    Then when his brother burst forth with aura, this guy actually seemed like he wanted to worship him...


    "Hehe, you say this, but how could I bear to make you sad? My friends, I was just joking earlier, please don''t mind."

 Chapter 330 Heading to

    Hiss...


    Other than Ye Yongyuan, Ye Tian and the other three Family Martial Artists all gasped in shock.


    Lin Xiaotian was actually speaking to Xia Liu like this!


    It seemed somewhat intentionally pleasing.


    An Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior ingratiating himself with an ordinary person!!!


    This scene completely shattered Ye Tian''s worldview.


    His clothes had long been drenched with cold sweat, so Lin Xiaotian was the confidence behind Xia Liu!


    An Earth-Rank High-Level Peak indeed had the authority to command Lower-Rank Warriors.


    Even over an entire family or a sect.


    "Xia Liu, who is this senior?" Ye Yongyuan asked softly, still in shock.


    "He is my brother, Lin Xiaotian. He will be joining me on this trip. Family Head Ye shouldn''t have any problems with that, right?"


    "Of course, no problem. Hello, senior. My name is Ye Yongyuan, the current head of the Ye Family. This is a younger member of our clan, Ye Tian, and this is Ye Liang..."


    Seizing the opportunity to interact with an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior, Ye Yongyuan enthusiastically introduced everyone.


    "Family Head Ye, I have heard about you from Xia Liu. I, Lin, hereby wish that under your leadership, the Ye Family will reach greater heights."


    Lin Xiaotian sincerely offered his blessings.


    Hehe! Thank you for the blessings, Senior Lin. Ye Tian was offensive just now. Please don''t take it to heart."


    "No worries. Young people, aren''t they all the same? But having no strength and still acting tough, that''s not right..."


    Lin Xiaotian said, glancing at Ye Tian at the end of his statement.


    This young guy really thought his Earth-Rank Primary-Level Cultivation could sweep the world, utterly foolish.


    Ye Tian pursed his lips and ultimately didn''t dare to say anything.


    Lin Xiaotian possessed Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Cultivation; he was merely at Earth-Rank Primary, not even Mid-Level.


    If he annoyed Lin Xiaotian, chances are his journey in the Martial Dao would come to a halt right here.


    He certainly didn''t believe that an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior would have a good temperament.


    Although he was wary of Lin Xiaotian, Ye Tian felt no affection for Xia Liu, his disdain for Xia Liu reaching its limits in his heart.


    Xia Liu had no cultivation; otherwise, he wouldn''t have resorted to pulling Lin Xiaotian into the situation when humiliated earlier.


    "You guys go ahead and eat. I''m going to get ready."


    Without waiting for everyone to respond, Xia Liu left the private room.


    He didn''t know how long he would be away, nor did he know what would happen on Immeasurable Island.


    But one thing was certain, when he returned one day, he would definitely bring back Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts Skills for the girls to practice.


    Moreover, the visit to the Immeasurable Sect must solve troubles for his brothers.


    The girls were all at work in the office since the completion of the office renovation.


    They were like urban office workers, working every day and resting on workdays.


    Watching the busy working girls, Xia Liu felt warmth in his heart.


    He had taken on this project, yet it ended up wearing them out.


    The most culpable was also himself, always bringing crises upon them.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you''re here!" Seeing Xia Liu standing foolishly at the office door, Zhang Xiaoxue called out cheerfully.


    "Mmm, I''ve come to say goodbye."


    "Goodbye?"


    "What do you mean? Where are you going!"


    "Xia Liu, don''t scare me."


    "Hmph! You better come back soon, or we''ll turn Hejing upside down!"


    ¡­


    Watching the varied attitudes of the women, Xia Liu''s smile never ceased.


    "Wait for me to return, everyone will definitely be able to cultivate."


    This was Xia Liu''s promise, and this time, he was determined to get the cultivation techniques suitable for the girls!


    "Mm! We believe in you, remember to take care of yourself!"


    "Okay, I''m off, if it''s nothing serious, don''t go out of the county town alone, okay."


    "Got it, go and get the cultivation technique quick!"


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    After leaving the company, Xia Liu met up with Mark, Tie Shan, and Glasses.


    In the coming days, he and Lin Xiaotian would not be in Hejing, in case a powerful enemy comes.


    With Tie Shan and the others'' abilities, they probably wouldn''t be able to handle it, but Xia Liu had left a backup plan, so even if they really encountered difficulties, the girls would be safe.


    After giving these instructions, Xia Liu returned to Longteng.


    Lin Xiaotian and Ye Yongyuan were already waiting at the door, and it was now noon.


    Without saying much else, everyone got into the car and left Hejing.


    The car moved forward, driven by Ye Tian, with Ye Yongyuan in the passenger seat, and Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian in the back seats.


    Because Xia Liu was in the car, Ye Yongyuan did not find the opportunity to discuss the family situation with Ye Tian.


    So, Ye Tian still didn''t understand Xia Liu, and still had reservations about this ''ordinary person.''


    Now, Ye Tian focused all his spare attention on Lin Xiaotian.


    He thought that he and Lin Xiaotian were about the same age, but Lin Xiaotian''s cultivation had reached the peak of Earth-Rank High-Level, and this was definitely not a coincidence.


    But as they spent more time together, Ye Tian''s expression became increasingly paralyzed.


    In front of Xia Liu, Lin Xiaotian was like a little brother, even getting his head patted by Xia Liu more than once.


    This completely overturned Ye Tian''s impression of an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    An Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior, to be humiliated by an ordinary person to this extent, and yet not to get angry...


    Ye Yongyuan didn''t talk much along the way; he kept observing Ye Tian.


    Noticing the displeasure on Ye Tian''s face, Ye Yongyuan knew that he still had issues with Xia Liu.


    Concerned about this, he was worried; Xia Liu, such a fierce person, even High-Level Warriors only amounted to little brothers in front of him, let alone you, Ye Tian, an Earth-Rank Primary Level.


    If you collided with Xia Liu, you wouldn''t even know how you died.


    The designated boarding place by Immeasurable Sect was in Beisong City, on the other side of that city lay the vast world ocean.


    After a ten-hour drive, Xia Liu and the others arrived at Beisong City.


    During a highway rest stop, Ye Yongyuan used the opportunity to try and talk to Ye Tian.


    But Ye Tian didn''t give him the time of day, and seeing this, Ye Yongyuan felt helpless, only able to leave him with a warning: "Do not anger Xia Liu, his wrath is not something you or the Ye family can bear."


    Recalling Ye Yongyuan''s warning, Ye Tian turned his attention back to Xia Liu.


    He just didn''t get it, even if there was a brother with the cultivation of Earth-Rank High-Level, he shouldn''t be so arrogant.


    "Hmph! An ordinary person is just that, a brother''s cultivation isn''t yours, mortals are ultimately just mortals."


    Muttering to himself, Ye Tian''s mood suddenly lightened.


    He decided to ignore Xia Liu from now on, he was, after all, a Martial Artist with Earth-Rank cultivation, and having issues with an ordinary person was in itself the biggest folly. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "We''re here!"


    In the early morning hours, reaching out to touch the slightly cool sea breeze outside the car window, Ye Yongyuan felt slightly invigorated.


    "Immeasurable Sect..."


    Ever since entering Beisong City, Lin Xiaotian had become much quieter, more often than not leaning back in the soft seat, his gaze drifting out of the boat window, lost in thought.


    "Xiaotian, rest easy, I''m here. If things go south, we just clap our hands and leave," said Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu knew what Lin Xiaotian was worrying about, and he too was deep in thought; this trip to Immeasurable Island might have him removing a second Spirit Stabilizing Needle, which might lead to potential...

 Chapter 331 Conflict

    "Haha! I am very much looking forward to it!" Lin Xiaotian understood Xia Liu''s meaning and immediately burst into laughter.


    The dialogue between the two reached Ye Yongyuan''s ears, to such an extent that the old man was thoroughly shocked.


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian''s visit this time was definitely extraordinary; perhaps the Immeasurable Sect was bound to witness some excitement this year.


    "Hehe, how extreme, clapping and leaving, so ignorant!"


    Hearing the arrogance in Xia Liu''s words, Ye Tian couldn''t help but scornfully imagine.


    In the world of martial artists, who doesn''t know of the Immeasurable Sect, a Great Sect?


    The sect has countless disciples, and even a random Chief Disciple''s cultivation is at Earth Rank.


    There are even those at Earth-Rank High-Level, with just an ordinary person like Xia Liu and Earth-Rank High-Level Lin Xiaotian, they still wouldn''t be able to cause any disturbance in the Immeasurable Sect.


    Ten minutes later, the car''s headlights illuminated a parking lot ahead.


    Upon alighting from the car, the vehicles parked there were all luxurious branded cars.


    The sight further ahead revealed dozens of people standing upright.


    "Ten Earth-Rank warriors, the rest are either Mysterious Rank Peak or High-Level," Xia Liu murmured after assessing the situation.


    Seeing this, it seems these warriors brought the cars here; indeed, martial artist families are really damn wealthy.


    Of course, Xia Liu also saw some martial artists wearing uniform sect garments.


    "Xia Liu, Xiaotian, these are representatives of martial artists and warrior families participating in the Martial Combat Contest," Ye Yongyuan explained.


    The reason Ye Yongyuan dared to directly address Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian was because he had been warned in the car.


    From now on, do not use the term ''senior''. According to Lin Xiaotian''s words,


    "You, an old man nearly in the coffin, calling a young man a senior, what would others think, how would the ladies view this, when I, sir, am still without a wife!"


    Ye Yongyuan, albeit reluctantly, had no choice but to follow Lin Xiaotian''s instruction.


    As Xia Liu and Ye Yongyuan, along with three others, alighted from the car, the distant crowd immediately cast intense gazes their way.


    Especially those Earth-Rank warriors, their eyes nearly all fixated on Xia Liu.


    Because they could not sense any Energy from Xia Liu, meaning he was an ordinary person.


    Bringing an ordinary person to Immeasurable Island was indeed a ludicrous and embarrassing affair for a warrior family.


    Even if there were no suitable candidates, picking any Yellow-Rank Martial Artist to fill the number would do.


    But to bring an ordinary person would indirectly signal to other warrior families that your family''s bloodline is inadequate, that the younger generation no longer produces new martial artists.


    "Haha! Family Head Ye, you really are hilarious, actually bringing an ordinary person here," an old man of similar age to Ye Yongyuan said with a laugh as Ye Yongyuan and Xia Liu were about to head to the dock.


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    "Family Head Li, haven''t you heard? The Ye Family was raided by some Super Expert recently, and several Earth-Rank warriors were crippled in their Martial Veins," another old man standing next to Li Shitian joined in.


    "Hmm, I''ve heard about that too. Honestly, some family''s young martial artists are like mad dogs, biting randomly at people in society. Once they bite something hard, they''re bound to break a few teeth," Li Shitian remarked.


    "Gentlemen, isn''t it inappropriate to speak like that of the Ye Family? When were they raided by a super expert, and how could their Earth-Rank warriors have their Martial Veins crippled?"


    Although Li Shitian and Zhao Guo were both Earth-Rank Mid-Level warriors, hearing such humiliating remarks about his family made Ye Tian lose his composure and he immediately glared coldly in response.


    "Oh, Family Head Ye, this young one of yours isn''t bad, learning to question his elders, which is commendable," Li Shitian responded indifferently.


    "You..."


    "Ye Tian, move back."


    Just when Ye Tian was about to retort again, Ye Yongyuan spoke seriously.


    Although Ye Tian was very displeased, Ye Yongyuan had given him a way out, so why would he stay?


    Li Shitian and Zhao Guo were both Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors. Although Ye Tian had some measures to protect himself, facing two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors still put a lot of pressure on him.


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian gave Li Shitian and Zhao Guo a faint look, thinking these two old fools always liked to act dumb.


    "You two old fools better pray. I''m feeling a bit off now and would really like to fight someone."


    "Hehe, you''ll have your chance at Immeasurable Sect. For now, let''s keep things low-key."


    Seeing Lin Xiaotian eager to stir up trouble, Xia Liu could not help but smile helplessly.


    "Alright, I''ll listen to you, but if those guys push their luck, you can''t stop me."


    Lin Xiaotian understood what Xia Liu meant, but seeing the smug expressions on Li Shitian and Zhao Guo, he had a premonition that they might cause trouble later.


    "Hey, if they really want to stir up trouble, just show them a little shock. Immeasurable Sect is your real stage."


    "Got it."


    After sending Ye Tian back, Ye Yongyuan stepped forward to confront Li Shitian and Zhao Guo.


    The Ye Family, Li Family, and Zhao Family, three martial families, although not in the same city, competed fiercely behind the scenes.


    If the Ye Family wanted to expand their business venture, that would inevitably meet with obstacles from the Li and Zhao Families.


    The reverse was also true. The families, situated in a triangulated positioning much like the three kingdoms of old, each could not stand to see the other prosper.


    Eventually, as the Ye Family grew stronger, Li and Zhao Families formed an alliance with the sole purpose of crushing the Ye Family.


    But the Ye Family had many talents, and over the years, the Li and Zhao Families had not found a good opportunity.


    Until half a month ago, when they learned that six of the Ye Family''s Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors had fallen!


    The news was like a festival in the ears of the Li and Zhao Families.


    With the Ye Family''s Earth-Rank Warriors nearly exhausted, they could finally strike back.


    Without strong Earth-Rank Warriors, whether in terms of cultivation power or in the commercial sector, any family was destined to fade from the stage of history.


    "The two of you are welcome to talk about me, but please do not shift your focus onto those two."


    "Damn! Old Ghost Ye is really scheming to have those two old fools target us," Lin Xiaotian could hardly suppress his laughter upon hearing Ye Yongyuan''s words.


    "I see, I would do the same."


    Xia Liu shook his head helplessly; Ye Yongyuan had indeed seen what he was capable of.


    At such a time, he would definitely try to make Li Shitian and Zhao Guo pay attention to himself.


    "Those two?" Zhao Guo looked bewildered, wondering what Ye Yongyuan was up to. Could those two possibly be supreme experts? Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Guo was meticulous, and his guess wasn''t unreasonable, but even after multiple careful sensings, he still couldn''t detect any energy from Xia Liu.


    As for Lin Xiaotian, there were fluctuations of Inner Qi within him, albeit very minute. Judging by the amount stored, he seemed no more than a Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    Like Zhao Guo, other Earth-Rank Warriors present were also confused. Ye Yongyuan deliberately shifted attention to Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian, but their actual capacities were puzzling¡ªone was just a Mysterious Rank Warrior, and the other a regular person...


    "Haha! This is too funny. One regular dumb fool and one Mysterious Rank trash, I look down on whatever they can do..."

 Chapter 332 Xiaotian, Dont Kill People

    "Ha ha ha... Just a common fool."


    "It''s really quite hilarious, a regular person wanting to go to Immeasurable Island."


    "The joke is on that family, ha ha..."


    As soon as Li Shitian spoke, the family martial artists participating in the martial combat immediately burst into laughter.


    The five clan members brought by Zhao Guo also sneered and mocked in the same manner.


    Since ancient times, martial artists and common people had been two different classes of existence. In front of a martial artist, common people were no different from dirt.


    "Heh heh, two old fools, are you trying to stir up trouble?"


    Just as everyone was indulging in ridicule, a cold laughter spread through the area.


    Huh?


    Everyone was shocked and turned to look at the speaker. When they saw clearly who it was, their expressions changed¡ªit was Lin Xiaotian...


    "Mysterious Rank child, do you realize what you just said?" Li Shitian''s face darkened, for this was the first time he had been humiliated by a low-rank martial artist.


    "Brother Li, calm down. It''s just a minor Mysterious Rank martial artist. Let the younger ones handle this."


    "Heh heh, I was agitated." Reminded by Zhao Guo, Li Shitian squinted and began to smile.


    "Xia Liu, I feel like killing someone." Looking at the arrogantly high-handed demeanors of Li Shitian and Zhao Guo, Lin Xiaotian timidly consulted Xia Liu.


    "They''ve lived so long already; it hasn''t been easy. If they really want to cause trouble, just crippling their cultivation will do." Xia Liu did not approve of Lin Xiaotian committing murder.


    All the martial artists at the scene fell silent. What had they just heard...?


    A Mysterious Rank martial artist and a common person were actually discussing whether or not to kill an Earth-Rank Mid-Level warrior!


    And that common person even said don''t kill, just cripple the cultivation!


    This was truly the funniest joke they had ever heard.


    "Ha ha ha! Elder Li, Elder Zhao, how does it feel to be degraded by a common person and a low-rank warrior? Isn''t it wonderful?"


    "Ah, the young people these days, really fearless."


    "Actually, those two are quite pitiful; they probably won''t live much longer."


    ...


    Other sects and family martial artists at the scene began to buzz with discussion.


    These comments, reaching the ears of Li Shitian and Zhao Guo, burned like acid; they wished they could smash Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian with a single slap.


    But with so many people around, to act against a common person and a low-rank martial artist, as Zhao Guo said, would undeniably lower their own dignity.


    Even if they were to make a move, it should be the younger generation who did so.


    "Li Ge! Leave those two to you; I want them unable to breathe!" After a moment of silence, Li Shitian, with a dark expression, instructed one of his clansmen.


    "Yes!" Li Ge nodded, his cultivation at the Mysterious Rank Peak was more than enough to handle a Mysterious Rank martial artist and a common person.


    Although it was somewhat overbearing to pick on the weak, since the Family Head had ordered, he naturally had to obey.


    "Who dares to move against them!" Just as Li Ge stepped forward, Ye Yongyuan blocked the way.


    Seeing Ye Yongyuan stepping forward to intercept, Ye Tian wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.


    Xia Liu might not have any cultivation as far as he knew, but Lin Xiaotian was an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak warrior; even if Li Shitian and Zhao Guo joined forces, they were not necessarily his match.


    Now, these two old fools daring to provoke Lin Xiaotian was akin to courting death.


    The other two martial artists of the Ye Family also started to chuckle bitterly.


    Their cultivation was at Mysterious Rank, and their sensing abilities were very weak, unable to determine the qi force of other martial artists.


    But they had all felt Lin Xiaotian''s imposing pressure, which was genuine Earth-Rank High-Level.


    The Li Family and the Zhao Family had already offended Lin Xiaotian, which was absolutely good news for the Ye Family.


    After all, the dignity of an Earth-Rank High-Level Martial Artist was not something that just anyone could infringe upon.


    They were very much looking forward to what would follow for the Li and Zhao families, hoping they would ultimately enrage Lin Xiaotian to the point where he would flatten both families.


    "Family Head Ye, you brought them here, and everyone heard what they just said. Do you intend to protect them?" Li Shitian''s face simmered with anger. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, his meridians were already rapidly flowing with Inner Qi, just waiting for Ye Yongyuan to speak, and he would immediately take action.


    The people at the scene silently watched both sides, and the situation was very clear; Ye Yongyuan had brought incompetent team members.


    Li Shitian and Zhao Guo took this opportunity to plan to destroy Ye Yongyuan.


    Thus, the resources of the Ye Family would soon be evenly split between the Li and Zhao families...


    "Thinking of laying hands on Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian, you are not yet qualified!"


    Ye Yongyuan took a firm stance, and as soon as he finished speaking, the pressure of an Earth-Rank Mid-Level Martial Artist swept out from within him.


    Li Ge was the first to bear the brunt, bombarded by the pressure of the Earth-Rank Warrior; his legs immediately trembled, and just as he was about to kneel, a dry and thin hand patted his shoulder.


    "If you''re looking for death, then don''t blame me!"


    Li Shitian also released his aura, and immediately, the pressures of two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Martial Artists counterbalanced each other, causing a fierce wind to blow throughout the area.


    "Family Head Ye, those two guys insulted me and Elder Li. Since you want to protect them, then we have no choice but to kill to preserve our honor!"


    Zhao Guo also exploded with pressure and advanced, and soon, two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Martial Artists went up against Ye Yongyuan!


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    "Haha! I feel this is even more exciting than the Martial Combat tournament."


    "Nonsense, the Martial Combat tournament is just minor skirmishes. This is a battle to the death, of course, it''s exciting."


    "Yes, a battle to the death. I don''t think Li and Zhao will hold back."


    "None of the three will hold back. The Li, Zhao, and Ye families have been competing for so many years. With this opportunity, whoever holds back will lose."


    Watching the three opponents, the surrounding Earth-Rank Warriors began to talk eagerly among themselves.


    As for those Low-Rank Warriors, their eyeballs were nearly popping out.


    To witness a battle of Earth-Rank Warriors was a once-in-a-million chance.


    They hadn''t expected to see it before going to the Immeasurable Sect.


    Moreover, the current battle had already surpassed the scope of mere sparring; it was a fight to the death!


    Seeing the three about to take action, Ye Tian became anxious. Damn it, Lin Xiaotian still hadn''t stepped forward. If this continued, how could the Family Head win?


    "Ye Tian, help me! Do not let them insult Xia Liu and Xiaotian!"


    "Okay!"


    Following Ye Yongyuan''s command, Ye Tian stepped forward, his moves unleashing an aura of an Earth-Rank Primary Peak, sweeping across the whole scene.


    "Earth-Rank Primary Peak! What a promising youth of the Ye Family!"


    "I told you, the Ye Family brought two Earth-Rank experts today. It looks tough for the old Li and Zhao."


    ...


    Seeing Ye Tian appear, the surrounding Earth-Rank Warriors once again started expressing their amazement.


    "Humph! Looks good but is useless trash! Today, I''ll let your Ye Family fall completely!" Li Shitian looked disdainfully at the two people in front, having long since dismissed Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian from his mind.


    The reason he stirred up trouble was to seize this opportunity to kill Ye Yongyuan!


    "Xiaotian, don''t kill anyone..."


    Watching Lin Xiaotian step forward, Xia Liu helplessly shook his head.


    Lin Xiaotian nodded and then chuckled softly towards the front: "Hehe, two old dogs, let me meet you..."

 Chapter 333 Revealing

    Hiss...


    Hearing Lin Xiaotian''s arrogant words, the martial artists present couldn''t help but inhale a mouthful of cold air.


    A Mysterious Rank Warrior was humiliating an Earth-Rank Warrior, not showing any sign of regret, and even relying on others to continue his arrogance.


    Such a supreme-grade character is truly unmatched.


    "Ha ha! Young man, don''t rush, once I''ve exterminated Ye Yongyuan, your doom is next!" Li Shitian was now focused on Ye Yongyuan, knowing that once he defeated him, half of the Ye Family would be his!


    Watching Lin Xiaotian approaching with light steps, Ye Tian slowly retracted his energy.


    He had understood Ye Yongyuan''s method before; it was simply to show sincerity in front of Lin Xiaotian. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now that he was stepping forward, he could step back too.


    "Xiaotian, leave these two to me and Ye Tian, you don''t need to come forward."


    "Pfft!"


    Ye Tian, who was about to step back, sprayed out a mouthful as soon as he heard Ye Yongyuan''s words.


    If Lin Xiaotian actually stepped back upon agreeing, wouldn''t he himself have to desperately withstand both Elder Li and Zhao Guo?


    Ye Tian felt like crying. What was Ye Yongyuan even saying? You can''t set someone up like this; it could get someone killed.


    He certainly wasn''t confident he could defeat the Earth-Rank Mid-Level, not to mention Li Shitian and Zhao Guo, who were experienced Earth-Rank Mid-Level experts.


    "Family Head Ye, stop pretending, I''m almost dying of secondhand embarrassment..." Lin Xiaotian said helplessly.


    From the beginning, this old man involved himself and Xia Liu just to use them to eliminate Li Shitian and Zhao Guo.


    That he could still pretend so long showed that the old are indeed cunning; the old swindler truly was remarkable.


    ...


    The martial artists at the scene were dumbfounded; they couldn''t comprehend the meaning behind Lin Xiaotian''s words.


    A low-rank warrior who should''ve stayed aside under the protection of an Earth-Rank Warrior was instead provoking the enemy.


    If such a fool appeared in their own sect or family, he would definitely be executed.


    "Heh heh, sorry, it''s a habit," Ye Yongyuan tightened his Inner Breath, touching his head with a slightly reddened old face.


    Upon reflection, he too felt his earlier words were a bit much.


    But fortunately, the effect had been achieved in the end; even without Xia Liu''s appearance, Lin Xiaotian alone was enough to crush Li Shitian and Zhao Guo.


    "Young man! Since you insist on seeking death, I''ll be the one to eliminate you first!" Watching the two talking and laughing, Li Shitian grew furious.


    Immediately, his Inner Qi swirled around, and a powerful Inner Strength burst forth from his fingers!


    Swoosh, swoosh!!!


    The Inner Strength tore through the air, seemingly capable of piercing through the void, emitting a fierce sound as it struck towards Lin Xiaotian.


    Everyone held their breath, low-rank warriors seeing such a scene for the first time, their pupils constricting.


    They could imagine the terrifying power of that Inner Strength; any warrior below Earth Rank who touched it would definitely die with no place for burial.


    Just when everyone thought Lin Xiaotian was about to die on the spot.


    Lin Xiaotian suddenly moved.


    Under the bright moon, Lin Xiaotian''s Inner Qi surged powerfully, his palms opened, and his Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Cultivation burst out in an instant.


    Around Lin Xiaotian, a two-meter radius began to rise with violent Qi Force.


    Boom!


    Before the crowd could be shocked, the Inner Strength cord instantly struck upon the rising Qi Force.


    To everyone''s amazement, the moment the Inner Strength cord touched the barrier, it transformed into specks of light that scattered across the ground.


    "Earth-Rank High-Level Peak!!!"


    Feeling that overpowering pressure, the Earth-Rank warriors on the scene exploded in astonishment.


    No matter what, they could never have guessed that this young man, who appeared to be just in his thirties, actually possessed Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Cultivation!!!


    As for those Low-Rank Warriors, the excitement in their hearts had reached its limit!


    Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior!


    This is the person just beneath the peak of Earth Rank!


    And looking at Lin Xiaotian''s appearance, they guessed his age was not much different from their own.


    To have advanced to Earth-Rank High-Level Peak at such an age, his future was definitely incalculable!


    Everyone was stunned.


    Not to mention Li Shitian and Zhao Guo.


    The expressions on their faces were as if they had seen a ghost.


    With Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Cultivation, they admitted that even ten of themselves might not be able to defeat their opponent.


    Recalling the scenes where they had insulted Lin Xiaotian just moments ago, the two elders trembled.


    Anyone who had advanced to Earth-Rank High-Level Cultivation was known for their peculiar temperaments.


    Now they had offended someone of such a rank, they were definitely doomed!


    Zhao Guo frantically clutched his hair, not knowing what to do. Escape?


    Clearly, that was impossible. To outrun an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, even three of himself combined would barely suffice.


    "I''ve taken your move, now it''s your turn," Lin Xiaotian said with a cold smile gradually appearing on his face.


    "Elder! Elder, please let me explain!"


    Li Shitian was extremely regretful. How could he possibly handle Lin Xiaotian''s move? Even if he did, he would be half-dead.


    "Don''t say anything else. If you can still stand after taking my move, I''ll spare you. But if you fall, I will cripple your Cultivation!"


    With a serious voice, Lin Xiaotian raised his hands towards the sky!


    Seeing Lin Xiaotian start his move like this, the Martial Artists opposite him ran away at their fastest speed.


    Even Earth-Rank Warriors dared not stand opposite him.


    Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Martial Arts Skill, without the same Rank of Cultivation, who could take it? Who would dare to?


    "Elder Li, there''s no way back, let''s fight him!" Zhao Guo understood the situation. If they didn''t take Lin Xiaotian''s move, Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    he guessed they would die soon. But if they did take the move, there was a slight chance of survival that might allow them to leave this place.


    "Yes! Unleash all our Cultivation. We should be able to withstand this move."


    Li Shitian agreed with Zhao Guo''s idea. Even if he didn''t agree, it was too late to retreat...


    "Hahaha...never thought these two would have such a day," Ye Yongyuan was extremely delighted seeing the panic on the faces of the two elders, Li and Zhao.


    "What kind of terror will an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Martial Arts Skill reach..." Ye Tian''s eyes widened as he stared at Lin Xiaotian, clearly sensing a tremendous threat emanating from him.


    It was a kind of oppressive force that made one''s body quiver involuntarily and even their souls felt fear.


    Like Ye Tian, the Earth-Rank Warriors at the scene were all focusing on Lin Xiaotian, very eager to see just how powerful his move would be.


    "Xiaotian, same as I said before, don''t kill anyone."


    Just as everyone was focused on Lin Xiaotian, suddenly a sigh echoed around them.


    Everyone looked and it turned out to be Xia Liu, who they thought had no cultivation at all!


    But now, they didn''t dare to underestimate Xia Liu. Just before, they were sure Lin Xiaotian''s Cultivation was at Mysterious Rank, but he burst forth with Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Cultivation.


    There were no signs of Inner Qi fluctuations on Xia Liu, but no one dared to look down on him. This was someone who could chat and laugh freely with an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior; obviously, he was no ordinary person.


    Even a few Earth-Rank Warriors who had mocked Xia Liu as a common person now felt fear. If Xia Liu were to burst out with Peak Earth-Rank Cultivation, they would be in big trouble.


    "Okay, then I''ll use just five-tenths of my strength. If someone dies, I can''t do much about it."

 Chapter 334 Great Handprint

    ...


    Everyone was nearly shaken to their souls by Lin Xiaotian''s words.


    Merely five parts of strength could terrify two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors into perishing; could this really be the power of an Earth-Rank High-Level at its peak...


    Li Shitian and Zhao Guo exchanged glances, and although terrified, their confidence in resisting increased slightly.


    It was only a matter of an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, and they were close to touching that barrier too.


    So knowing a bit about it, if Lin Xiaotian had exerted his full strength they might have been afraid.


    But with only five parts of strength, they were very confident.


    "Elder Li, hold nothing back!"


    "You do the same!"


    Their eyes met, and their palms immediately traced movements in front of their bodies.


    Two strong flows of Inner Strength immediately enveloped them.


    "That''s the Li Family''s strongest Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Martial Arts Skill, Heaven-Shaking Gang!"


    "Hmm, Zhao Guo''s using the Primary-Level Mysterious Rank: Vajra Hand!"


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    "Looks like neither of them is holding back, this is going to be exciting!"


    The Earth-Rank Warriors at the scene were all amazed when they saw Li Shitian and Zhao Guo''s starting moves.


    Given how small the circle of warriors was, and though they were not from the same city, they paid attention to the warrior families and sects from other cities.


    Thus, they could easily identify the Martial Arts Skills of Li Shitian and Zhao Guo.


    As for Lin Xiaotian, they couldn''t understand him, as they had never seen this young man before.


    Moreover, that level of Inner Qi fluctuation seemed to be something they were sensing for the first time.


    "Xia Liu, Xiaotian''s strike seems incredibly terrifying; I can taste death in his palms," a voice remarked.


    "My brother''s self-created move; its attack power is not very stable and might obliterate those two¡­" Xia Liu explained softly to Ye Yongyuan.


    "A self-created Martial Arts Skill!"


    Ye Yongyuan, Ye Tian, and those around who heard Xia Liu''s voice were all stunned.


    To create a Martial Arts Skill, even a grandmaster might not achieve it.


    Even if achieved, without sufficient cultivation, the power of the created skill would not be formidable.


    But, the move Lin Xiaotian was using was clearly beyond anyone''s predictions.


    "Haha! Interesting!" Lin Xiaotian roared with laughter and loudly declared, "Then be ready! Peerless Technique: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!"


    As his voice fell, Lin Xiaotian developed a special oppressive force around him, strong yet weak, as all the Inner Qi around him surged into his raised palms.


    Hmm?


    Xia Liu could sense that the sparse spiritual energy within a hundred meters was converging towards Lin Xiaotian.


    "In one month''s time, to what extent could you improve the shortcomings of Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow¡­" Xia Liu murmured. During this month''s visit, Lin Xiaotian had spent a lot of time alone in cultivation.


    The goal was to refine Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, and now was the time to verify the effects of his improvements!


    Before Xia Liu could continue his reflections, a tremendous oppressive force formed in Lin Xiaotian''s hands.


    The warriors at the scene felt this supreme oppressive force and began to hold their breath, as they could no longer breathe!


    And the Earth-Rank Warriors watching the battle began to tremble violently.


    They all sensed the taste of death in that oppressive force!


    Strike!


    Lin Xiaotian''s brows furrowed, and he flipped his hands towards Li Shitian and Zhao Guo to strike.


    Boom!


    As the Qi Force left his body, the space in front of Lin Xiaotian even began to distort.


    It was a sign that the space was barely able to withstand such power.


    Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, gathering his own Inner Qi as spirit and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as essence, was Lin Xiaotian''s integration of various families'' Martial Arts Skills into an extremely powerful move, surpassing traditional skills.


    In its rapid execution, it even transformed into a gigantic handprint.


    A continuous oppressive force massively emanated from the handprint.


    Wherever it passed, dust was thrown into the air.


    At first, Lin Xiaotian could control the power of Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, but towards the end, he barely managed to control it, the technique utilizing at least seven parts of his strength.


    As for whether it would kill someone, Lin Xiaotian did not know, and neither did Xia Liu, it all depended on how the two elders would respond.


    Facing the urgently approaching ultimate move, Li Shitian and Zhao Guo''s bodies were drenched in cold sweat.


    At this stage of events, unless they could withstand this move, their only fate would be death.


    "Let''s go for it!"


    Li Shitian and Zhao Guo shouted angrily, releasing their moves that had been charged to the peak of Energy Gathering.


    "Heaven-Shaking Gang!" As Li Shitian roared, he pushed forward with both hands, a wild Qi Force sweeping out from his body.


    In just an instant, everyone could see a milky-white Gang Bowl condensing in front of Li Shitian.


    Boom!


    The moment the Gang Bowl materialized, the gigantic hand transfigured from Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow struck immediately.


    With a heaven-shattering blast, the whole area rumbled open.


    Spurt!!!


    Li Shitian unexpectedly spat out a stream of fresh blood: "Zhao Guo!"


    "Vajra Hand!"


    Seeing the right moment, Zhao Guo instantly demonstrated the Vajra Hand.


    But there was a silver glow flickering on Zhao Guo''s right arm as he moved his body technique.


    His arm forcefully struck through the Gang Bowl toward the giant hand.


    "Hehe, daring to counter my brothers'' techniques with your flesh, I admire your courage."


    Seeing Zhao Guo''s frantic action, Xia Liu could not help but praise.


    He had experienced Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow himself; back then Lin Xiaotian used at most a quarter of his strength, and did not form the giant hand, so the power was much weaker.


    But he could still feel the power contained in the technique.


    Even facing this giant hand made Xia Liu''s heart tremble; if he had any reservations, he would definitely be seriously injured.


    Yet here was Zhao Guo, using his own body to fiercely collide with the giant hand, the outcome was predictable.


    Boom!


    "Ahh!!!"


    Amid the shocked gazes of the crowd, another shattering blast came from the front.


    And then there was a wave of agonizing screams that filled the sky.


    A gory scene immediately unfolded; Zhao Guo''s arm, which had touched the giant hand, was directly blasted into a mist of blood, and his body was sent flying backwards by the terrifying power, sliding over ten meters on the ground before stopping.


    And Li Shitian, without any other supporting force, could not last much longer, only hearing a crisp sound.


    Crack!


    But then, the Heaven-Shaking Gang cracked and completely shattered. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The remaining half-strength of the giant hand struck all over Li Shitian''s body.


    Vomit...


    In mid-flight backwards, Li Shitian spewed fresh blood from his mouth, finally collapsing not far from Zhao Guo.


    In one move, two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors'' fates were unknown, Zhao Guo''s arm was even shattered.


    After the event, everyone withdrew their fearful gazes.


    However, some Martial Artists still hadn''t snapped out of it, their mouths agape and expressions drained, which was somewhat comical.


    Hiss¡­


    It was not clear who inhaled sharply first, but then the surrounding area filled with the sound of sharp intakes of breath.


    All the Martial Artists'' gazes toward Lin Xiaotian were filled with fear.


    They were truly afraid now; this formidable technique had already branded itself in everyone''s hearts.


    That Great Handprint surpassed any Martial Arts Skill they had heard of before; an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior being able to create such a technique.


    Truly terrifying!


    "Do we still need to cripple their Cultivation?" Looking at the two lying on the ground barely breathing, Lin Xiaotian turned to Xia Liu with some confusion.


    ...


    Everyone fell silent, right now, let alone crippling Li Shitian and Zhao Guo''s Cultivation, whether they could even stand up again in the coming years was debatable.


    "Of course we should cripple them, I promised before."

 Chapter 335 The Ferry [Fourth Update]

    Hearing Xia Liu''s response, everyone''s hearts began to tremble.


    Zhao Guo and Li Shitian had already been crippled beyond recognition, yet Xia Liu still wasn''t planning to let them off, which was simply terrifying.


    They all remembered how they had just mocked Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian.


    Given Xia Liu''s resolute mindset, their deaths were certain!


    "It''s somewhat difficult to cripple their cultivation, why not just kill them?" Lin Xiaotian said lightly after some thought.


    Whoosh!


    The crowd was shocked once again; Zhao Guo and Li Shitian who were once proud Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Now seemed like two dead pigs, silently awaiting the butcher''s arrival.


    In front of Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian, everyone at the scene, including Ye Tian and others, began to tremble.


    They all secretly decided that even if it meant death, they must not offend Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian, or else their bodies might not remain intact after death.


    "Hehe, I''m just kidding, let''s leave this matter here," Xia Liu said with a faint smile. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uh uh... Haha, I was also joking." After a moment of stunned silence, Lin Xiaotian also began to laugh.


    But anyone could tell that Lin Xiaotian had indeed intended to kill Li Shitian and the other.


    Regardless, after today, no one present dared to disrespect Lin Xiaotian.


    And even if Xia Liu had no cultivation whatsoever, no one dared to speak idly anymore.


    Because Xia Liu could control Lin Xiaotian from a distance, and if provoked, one might not even know how they ended up dead.


    After Xia Liu declared the matter over, the warriors brought by Li Shitian and Zhao Guo immediately went to check on them.


    They were Mysterious Rank Warriors, and faced with their severely injured Family Heads, they didn''t dare to utter a sound.


    They also left the scene with their heads bowed, carefully carrying their respective Family Heads away.


    After the warriors from the Li Family and Zhao Family had left, the families and sects in charge who had originally been waiting at the scene.


    One by one, they went to greet Xia Liu, those who had spoken sarcastically before were all apologizing.


    Xia Liu did not pursue the matter too much, experiencing such events, these haughty martial artists could grow.


    If he were impulsive and killed them all, what difference would there be between him and a mad murderer?


    Moreover, they weren''t guilty enough to deserve death, a lesson would be enough for them to be more restrained once they returned.


    This might change the overall direction of a sect or martial faction, a stroke of fate indeed.


    However, there was one person who still harbored prejudice against Xia Liu.


    That person was Ye Tian.


    At twenty-eight years old, he was considered very young, and reaching the peak of Earth-Rank Primary Level at such an age.


    He was definitely a highly talented individual, what he couldn''t stand the most was how Xia Liu, a mere ordinary person, could come here and even have a high-strength martial artist like Lin Xiaotian as a brother.


    In the end, he was envious.


    But the only thing that made him feel better was that Xia Liu had no cultivation; the mentality and perspective of ordinary people were different compared to martial artists.


    This was where Ye Tian took pride.


    However, what he didn''t know was that Xia Liu was not without cultivation; he was just hiding it well.


    "Look! The transport ship from the Immeasurable Sect has arrived!"


    Just as the crowd was busy trying to curry favor with Xia Liu, a warrior suddenly shouted with excitement.


    Following the sound, everyone turned their gaze to the sea.


    They could see a huge ship racing towards them at high speed, three miles away.


    This ship had only one oil lamp at the bow that could be extinguished at any moment; the rest was devoid of any light.


    But the vision of martial artists is exceedingly fearful, especially that of those with Earth Rank cultivation and above.


    At such a distance, they could sweep over the whole appearance of the ferry with just one glance.


    This was a ship completely different from modern steamships, vast in size, and with an even more distinctive design.


    It was Xia Liu''s first time seeing such an antique vessel, and his heart was slightly filled with surprise.


    Particularly the enormous oars on both sides of the ship, the ferry turned out to be manually powered!


    "Xiaotian, is this ship gear-braked?" Xia Liu suspected the ferry used some sort of industrial replica braking system, and perhaps Lin Xiaotian knew more about it.


    "No, it''s all manually operated. Inside the power cabin, there are about thirty Mysterious Rank Warriors taking turns rowing." Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    Lin Xiaotian watched the ferry and spoke with a voice that trembled slightly.


    "Got it, your face looks off; did you serve on it before?"


    "Yes, from the age of eighteen to twenty-three, that''s where I spent my time¡­"


    "I understand..."


    With a slight nod, Xia Liu did not inquire further.


    He could imagine the hardships Lin Xiaotian had endured before.


    As the ferry slowly approached the dock, the younger generation of martial artists cheered.


    Some had come a few days earlier to wait, and it was their first time here, so they naturally yearned for the imposing might of the Immeasurable Sect.


    Once aboard, after a little more than a day''s time, they would arrive at the Immeasurable Sect!


    When the ship docked, a few young men in distinctive attire appeared on the deck.


    Noticing their clothes, Xia Liu took a few glances; it was somewhat reminiscent of the attire worn by the Elders of the Taiji Sect, the ancient Huaxia style, made of silk and embroidered with many elegant and grand designs.


    The most peculiar feature was the emblem on their chest.


    A blue sword.


    "The Immeasurable Sect concentrates on cultivating the Sword Dao, which is one of the stronger paths in the Martial Dao. Hence, they are known to the outside world as the Immeasurable Sword Sect, and the emblem on their chest is a small blue sword."


    "Sword Cultivation, then if they reach Man-Sword Unity, can''t they be called Swordsmen?"


    "Haha! Exactly."


    At the back of the crowd, Lin Xiaotian and Xia Liu whispered among themselves.


    "You two at the back!" Amidst their laughter, a stern voice suddenly descended from the ferry.


    Hmm? Everyone looked up, not sure when a composed young man had taken a stand at the bow of the ship, his aura concealed.


    This made it impossible for the martial artists below to discern his true cultivation, yet even Earth-Rank Warriors could feel a threat from him.


    Which meant that, no matter what, this young man was an Earth-Rank Warrior!


    "An Earth-Rank High-Level at the peak, Xiaotian, this guy looks a bit like you," Xia Liu bluntly pinpointed the young man''s cultivation after sizing him up for a moment.


    "The Chief Disciple of the Immeasurable Sect, hehe, looks can be deceiving, but it would be decent of him to withstand my Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow at the eighth layer," Lin Xiaotian commented after observing the young man and then continued talking in a voice only he and Xia Liu could hear.


    "Which sect or family do those two ordinary people belong to?" Just then, the youth standing at the front of the ship spoke again.


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian''s laughter had already drawn his attention, and now he found out that neither of them had any cultivation.


    Allowing two cultivation-less individuals to go to the Immeasurable Island would be an insult to the sacred land; therefore, a thorough investigation was necessary!


    Following the youth''s gaze, the crowd turned to look at Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian, their mouths gaping in surprise¡­

 Chapter 336 Looking Down on the Immeasurable Sect?

    They all hadn''t forgotten that it had started just like this a moment ago, and then Li Shitian and Zhao Guo had become paralyzed.


    Now it was the turn of the Chief Disciple of the Immeasurable Sect: Song Jie, and everyone fell silent.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors present couldn''t sense the energy of Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian.


    That was enough to prove that both of them could use secret techniques to conceal their energy.


    Terrifying!


    "Senior Song, they are from the Ye Family. I hope you can show some understanding," Ye Yongyuan said as he stood up immediately when he saw Song Jie targeting Xia Liu.


    At the same time, he also sensed that Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian had no energy on them at the moment, which implied something.


    They didn''t want people to know, otherwise, Lin Xiaotian, at the peak of the Earth-Rank High-Level, would definitely attract everyone''s attention.


    The same was true for Xia Liu, although Ye Yongyuan was not clear about the baseline of Xia Liu''s cultivation, but with his martial arts skills, he had overwhelmed five Earth-Rank Warriors.


    This was enough to prove how terrifyingly powerful Xia Liu was; if he used his full strength, it would definitely be appalling.


    Since that was the intention of Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian, Ye Yongyuan decided to follow their thinking.


    "Ye Family... are you looking down on the Immeasurable Sect by sending two ordinary people over?" Song Jie said coldly.


    "Senior Song is insightful. Their talents are somewhat poor and they have not yet cultivated Inner Qi. I wanted to use this Martial Combat to give them a chance to find a breakthrough," Ye Yongyuan said.


    Hearing Ye Yongyuan''s explanation, many martial artists in the audience showed a bitter smile.


    Their talents are poor, yes, very poor, being only at the peak of the Earth-Rank High-Level while so young.


    As for themselves, it took them nearly seventy or eighty years to reach Earth-Rank Mid-Level, what extraordinary talent.


    Surveying the expressions of the people below and then staring at Ye Yongyuan''s serious expression, Song Jie remained silent for a while without saying anything else.


    "Everybody on board," Song Jie said expressionlessly after a pause.


    As his voice fell, a wooden staircase was immediately thrown down from the ship.


    Everyone initially intended to let Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian go first, but seeing the look Xia Liu gave them, they all cheerfully ran up.


    After everyone had boarded the ferry, the vessel continued towards the next destination.


    Under the dark night, the ferry soon disappeared on the ocean surface.


    "Xiaotian, how has your unique technique improved, and how did you resolve the influx of nature''s spiritual energy into your body?" Inside the cabin, within a small room, Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian sat cross-legged.


    "I couldn''t improve it. Nature''s spiritual energy is too unruly; I can''t control it. At present, I just use my Inner Qi to protect my meridians and dare not let the spiritual energy enter my body," Lin Xiaotian said helplessly.


    As he cultivated, although he was reckless, when it came to nature''s spiritual energy, he truly had no solution.


    Nature''s spiritual energy is entirely different from Inner Qi, like heaven and earth.


    However, Lin Xiaotian was very satisfied with the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow technique.


    It was precisely because he could not control nature''s spiritual energy that when he gathered it for the Great Handprint, he couldn''t control it.


    If there was enough spiritual energy, the power of the Great Handprint would insanely swell, and how powerful it could be was beyond his prediction.


    "Your cultivation technique produces Inner Qi, and can''t control nature''s spiritual energy..."


    "Is there a cultivation technique that can control nature''s spiritual energy?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, Lin Xiaotian became excited. If there really was a cultivation technique that could control nature''s spiritual energy, that would be incredibly insane.


    "There are, but very few. Whether you can get one is still questionable," Xia Liu nodded seriously.


    "Damn! It looks like I need to strive to find such a cultivation technique," Lin Xiaotian almost jumped up.


    Xia Liu''s words, he never doubted, because Xia Liu was trustworthy.


    "Let''s encourage each other. I''m quite interested in your Great Handprint. Teach it to me," Xia Liu said.


    "Damn, this is simple, come closer."


    Upon hearing this, Xia Liu became interested, Lin Xiaotian immediately told him the cultivation method of Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow.


    After a while, Xia Liu turned back and continued to sit cross-legged on the ground.


    As for the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, he had almost mastered it.


    This kind of Martial Arts Skill that belongs to Martial Artists, he could understand it almost instantly just by watching.


    The Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow was even simpler because it required nature''s spiritual energy, so Xia Liu felt he could perform it effortlessly, and moreover, its power would be stronger than that of Lin Xiaotian''s.


    "This Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow is a transcendent Martial Arts Skill that I created by integrating the strengths of various schools. It may present many difficulties in cultivation. In the future, if there''s anything you don''t understand, you can always ask me, Teacher Lin,"


    "¡­"


    "Don''t be shy, I know you want to ask for guidance. Come on, I really want to teach you properly."


    "Don''t worry about me. You just used some energy, so quickly replenish it. Otherwise, you''ll miss a lot of fun when we reach Immeasurable Island."


    Xia Liu couldn''t be bothered with Lin Xiaotian; the guy was simply too narcissistic.


    If Lin Xiaotian knew that Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow could be executed by Xia Liu after a mental run-through and was even more powerful, who knows what expression he would have.


    The next afternoon, stirred by the bustling noise outside, Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian finally came out.


    By then, there were about a hundred Martial Artists on the boat.


    Last night, after the ferry left Beisong City, it seemed to have stopped somewhere else to pick up people, so there were many new faces.


    Xia Liu didn''t care much about this; he was determined to win this Martial Combat Contest.


    Besides, Lin Xiaotian''s affairs were also firmly within his control.


    If pushed to extremes, Xia Liu wouldn''t mind causing utter chaos on Immeasurable Island.


    As for the new faces, Xia Liu had no interest in making acquaintances. He looked around; all he saw was the endless blue sea.


    There wasn''t even a mountain in sight. He had asked Lin Xiaotian about it last night, but even he didn''t know where Immeasurable Island was located.


    Although Lin Xiaotian had been a rower before, according to his explanation, the Martial Artists inside couldn''t see outside and had only to listen to the leader''s instructions to regulate their energy and row all day long.


    "Get ready, we''re about to arrive at Immeasurable Island. Everyone, please prepare," just as Xia Liu was surveying the surroundings, Song Jie suddenly emerged from below deck to announce.


    "Haha! We''re finally arriving!"


    "Hehe! This year''s champion of the Martial Combat Contest will definitely be from my Qingyan Sect!"


    "Tsk tsk, the small Qingyan Sect dares to speak boldly! The champion will surely be from the Feng Family!"


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    "It''s mine!"


    "¡­from our sect!"


    After Song Jie''s announcement, everyone on the boat immediately started shouting.


    Some even got so heated that they almost wanted to settle it with a bout right then and there.


    Seeing the crowd''s enthusiasm, Song Jie chuckled for a bit before entering the cabin again.


    Xia Liu was not interested in these people; at this point, his great interest lay in Immeasurable Island.


    Because he saw that there were no islands in front of the ferry.


    According to what Song Jie had said, it seemed they were about to arrive.


    "Hmm? A massive fluctuation of spiritual energy!"


    As the ferry continued to travel, Xia Liu''s brow gradually furrowed because he sensed that, hundreds of meters ahead in the sea, something was very unusual.


    On the surface, nothing seemed amiss, but invisibly, it was converging with immense spiritual energy!

 Chapter 337 Its My Fault

    Xia Liu''s expression gradually became serious.


    Suddenly sensing such a massive amount of spiritual energy was definitely not a coincidence.


    He looked around and noticed that the Earth Realm Warriors were all very calm, while the Low-Rank Warriors were puzzled.


    Because it was their first time here, and they shared the same thought as Xia Liu, not a single island had been seen in the surrounding seas.


    Nor was there any land, yet Song Jie had said they were about to arrive at Immeasurable Island.


    This was just ridiculous...


    After the ferry continued to sail for a few more minutes, it suddenly came to a stop.


    Xia Liu could clearly sense that, thirty meters ahead, nature''s spiritual energy was gathering the most.


    "Could it be a formation?" As he continued his research, Xia Liu couldn''t help but speculate.


    Invisibly, that nature''s spiritual energy was very evenly enveloping the area ahead, even though he couldn''t sense it all.


    But with such evenness, there must have been something empowering it.


    And the most likely thing was a formation!


    Moreover, it was a Spirit Formation that only cultivators could deploy!


    "Family Head, why has the ship stopped?"


    "Master, what''s going on?"


    ...


    Because of the ferry''s stop, many of the Low-Rank Warriors on the deck started to inquire of their leaders.


    Those Earth-Rank Warriors who had been to Immeasurable Island before all smiled, feeling a great sense of achievement in answering such questions.


    "As I thought, I have returned here."


    Looking at the boundless sea ahead, Lin Xiaotian murmured with his head bowed.


    "Xiaotian, you said you sneaked out of the Immeasurable Sect, how did you deal with this Island Protection Formation?" Xia Liu was not sure either, but he could talk about anything with Lin Xiaotian; it didn''t matter if he was wrong.


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    "You know about this Island Protection Formation?"


    A flicker of surprise passed through Lin Xiaotian''s eyes at Xia Liu''s concern.


    If it was his first time on Immeasurable Island, he definitely wouldn''t know about the Island Protection Formation, but Xia Liu had brought it up, which was simply terrifying.


    "Mm, I can sense that a tremendous amount of nature''s spiritual energy is converging ahead," Xia Liu nodded and whispered.


    "Damn! You can sense nature''s spiritual energy?" Lin Xiaotian was excited; Xia Liu was defying the heavens, even able to sense spiritual energy.


    "Hold your admiration for now and tell me about your situation," Xia Liu waved his hand, as it was not the time to reveal his status as a cultivator.


    If Lin Xiaotian knew that he practiced a different cultivation technique, the guy might pester him endlessly.


    If it were a common cultivation technique, Xia Liu would certainly be willing to share it.


    But the Five Elements Mantra was akin to a heritage cultivation technique; without fulfilling those stringent conditions, one simply could not cultivate it, so he decided to keep it secret for the time being.


    Seeing Xia Liu take such an interest in him, Lin Xiaotian sighed and began to explain softly, "I made a mistake back then, sneakily entering the Library Pavilion. After the incident occurred, the Sect Leader sent martial artists to capture me..."


    "And then?"


    "Before the incident was discovered, my cultivation had already reached the Earth-Rank Primary Level. Because of the secret technique, no one was aware of my cultivation level, so the Sect Leader only sent Mysterious-Rank experts to intercept me."


    "Mm, that''s interesting, how did you break through this formation?"


    Xia Liu nodded; this guy''s approach was very good, knowing how to conceal himself, which could make others lower their guard.


    "Talking about it now feels like I''ve committed sin."


    Having reached this point in the story, Lin Xiaotian realized it was no longer possible to turn back, and could only continue, "At that time, the one in charge of the Island Protection Formation was the Sect Leader''s daughter, who had just come of age. I couldn''t control myself and did that to her, then I stole the command to open the formation and fled."


    After hearing this, Xia Liu was taken aback, as this was different from the version Lin Xiaotian had previously told him.


    He had earlier said that he accidentally killed two fellow disciples during a sparring session in the sect, and then the Sect Leader wanted to cripple his cultivation.


    As a consequence, he fled the sect, was hunted by elite martial artists from the sect across Huaxia, and only managed to escape abroad after exhausting all his strength.


    Now, it seemed that the matter was much more serious; he had actually done that to the Sect Leader''s daughter...


    "Xia Liu, I feel this trip has more dangers than fortune,"


    Seeing Xia Liu silent, Lin Xiaotian said weakly.


    "You could have imagined what you would encounter before coming here, so why did you still come?" Xia Liu really wanted to know Lin Xiaotian''s true thoughts.


    Having disappeared for several years and now reappearing, the Sect Leader of Immeasurable Sect would certainly be infuriated, and he would inevitably have to face the entirety of Immeasurable Sect.


    "I wronged that girl. After wandering outside for so many years, it''s time for me to atone."


    "Atone? That sounds too severe, an apology at most," Xia Liu responded.


    "Apology? The Sect Leader will never forgive me, not even if I died," Lin Xiaotian knew the Sect Leader of Immeasurable Sect''s temperament all too well; if he were discovered, he would be relentlessly struck down until death.


    "Alright, your matter is my matter. Let''s not think too much for now. After I get the cultivation technique, we''ll go talk to the Sect Leader," said Xia Liu.


    "Mm, if I accidentally expose myself, don''t come out,"


    "Heh heh,"


    Xia Liu smiled slightly, without saying a word. How could he not come out? His brother, Xia Liu, was not one to be trifled with by anyone in the world!


    Faced with Xia Liu''s attitude, Lin Xiaotian fell silent, taking every bit to heart.


    The moment Xia Liu achieved victory and entered the Library Pavilion would be the time for him to atone.


    Boom...


    Just as Xia Liu was about to say something else, a peculiar sound suddenly emanated from within the cabin.


    The sound was somewhat like a giant bell, but upon careful listening, it was different¡ªits frequency was just too low.


    However, what was astonishing was that, although the tone was very low, it could clearly reach everyone''s ears, indicating that the sound could travel very far, even breaking through the Island Protection Formation!


    "This is the lament of the dragon, a special method of communication of Immeasurable Sect. When such a sound is emitted from the ferry, the martial artists inside the Island Protection Formation will receive the message and then open the formation to let us through," explained Lin Xiaotian.


    "This is quite impressive, to be able to break through formation and reach the inside," Xia Liu said, slowly nodding in response.


    "Ah, I hope that girl isn''t the Great Formation Protector," recalling that delicate and fair youthful face, Lin Xiaotian couldn''t help but sigh. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s possible, you''d better stay hidden in the crowd for now. It''ll be troublesome if you''re discovered," said Xia Liu, now thinking about acquiring the cultivation technique and then addressing the matter between Lin Xiaotian and Immeasurable Sect.


    If Lin Xiaotian were to be recognized upon entering the formation, it would probably mean the end of the martial combat.


    Understanding Xia Liu''s concern, Lin Xiaotian nodded and immediately blended into the crowd.


    As soon as Lin Xiaotian was ready, a dazzling light suddenly appeared in the sky ahead.


    "Look! The Great Formation of Immeasurable Island has been opened!"


    Some of the experienced martial artists screamed in excitement at the sight.


    As the light slowly faded, everyone could see with the naked eye that the seascape ahead had undergone a tremendous change, and a massive island had miraculously appeared in the waters.


    Above the island, the sky was a brilliant azure, and there was a mountain peak with swirling mists at its summit. The greenery enveloped the island, presenting a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

 Chapter 338 The Girl from Those Years

    The ferry began moving again, and as they drew closer to the island, the excitement among the passengers intensified.


    Xia Liu also rejoined the crowd alongside Lin Xiaotian. As they neared the shore, they saw a line of people standing on the cliff edge.


    At the forefront was a woman in a long dress, notably wearing a veil over her face.


    It was precisely because of the veil that she possessed a strong sense of mystery.


    The island had no dock, but the cliff served as a natural dock, almost level with the ferry''s deck when the ferry docked.


    The martial artists visiting for the first time were all amazed by such ingenious design.


    Xia Liu''s gaze was mostly fixed on the veiled woman.


    This woman, about 1.75 meters tall, had a figure that could definitely be considered supreme-grade, though her exquisite eyes were hidden from view.


    Yet her eyes alone could provoke countless fantasies.


    "Hm?" As Xia Liu observed the veiled woman, he suddenly felt Lin Xiaotian trembling.


    "Xiaotian, could she be that... person?"


    "Yes, hope she hasn''t noticed me..."


    Lin Xiaotian slowly nodded, then bowed his head low.


    When he had erred and left in those years, if that girl had not been strong-minded, she might have committed suicide.


    Seeing the girl again, Lin Xiaotian felt somewhat relieved in his heart, but without her forgiveness, even in death, his soul would still be troubled, which was very distressing.


    "What''s her name?"


    "Bai Lili."


    "Bai Lili, huh? Her cultivation is quite impressive, peaking at Mysterious Rank. It probably won''t be long before she advances to Earth Rank."


    Xia Liu was very pleased with this veiled girl. If the issues could be resolved amicably, it would definitely be a good thing.


    If not, then he would let Lin Xiaotian find an opportunity to try and earn her forgiveness.


    "Junior Sister Bai! Sorry to have kept you waiting." After the ferry docked, Song Jie immediately came out from the cabin and spoke with a sly grin on his face.


    "Damn!" Numerous young martial artists cursed Song Jie silently.


    How could someone like Bai Lili, a rare and glamorous female warrior, be addressed so intimately by him, deliberately infuriating the young men present?


    "Xiaotian, it looks like Song Jie is going to be a problem," Xia Liu sighed upon seeing Song Jie''s attitude towards Bai Lili.


    "If the two of them are a couple, then all I can do is wish them well."


    Lin Xiaotian did not ask for much. It was he who had made the mistake back then. If Bai Lili could regain her confidence and marry and bear children, it would be more than great.


    Moreover, judging by Song Jie''s behavior, he seemed to really cherish Bai Lili. Maybe their love was true.


    "Senior Brother Song, please call me Junior Sister Bai. ''Lili'' sounds very unpleasant."


    To everyone''s surprise, Bai Lili''s voice carried a chill!


    Obviously, she didn''t hold much affection for Song Jie.


    With this realization, many young men present trembled with excitement.


    For they had heard from their elders or sect leaders that Bai Lili was the daughter of the Sect Leader of the Immeasurable Sect.


    If they could win Bai Lili''s favor, they could not only win the beauty but might even take over the entire Immeasurable Sect!


    Take over the Immeasurable Sect!


    What tremendous power that was ¡ª the Immeasurable Sect had many disciples, and was home to numerous high-level martial artists.


    The amassed wealth of these high-level martial artists was comparable to possessing a super warrior army.


    And yet to be able to move unimpeded within the Warrior Realm, that was the dream of many martial artists.


    Now the opportunity lay right before him, as long as he could gain Bai Lili''s favor, then everything would become possible.


    "Hehe, Junior Sister Bai..." Song Jie gave an awkward smile, his clasped hands behind his back unconsciously tightened.


    "I have other matters to attend to, I must be going." Bai Lili left without another word, her cold statement followed immediately by her departure with her group.


    From beginning to end, Bai Lili never even glanced at the people on the boat.


    "Xiaotian, this girl seems rather aloof," Xia Liu remarked, shaking his head as he observed the ice-like Bai Lili.


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    Bai Lili''s personality was quite cold, clearly, she had yet to move on from the incidents of the past.


    If Lin Xiaotian appeared at this moment, she might cast all caution to the winds and seek revenge.


    Xia Liu worried about this exact situation; while it was fine for others to seek revenge and just teach a lesson, if Bai Lili took action, it wouldn''t be appropriate for him to intervene, and Lin Xiaotian might not fight back either.


    "It''s because of me that she has become like this,"


    Lin Xiaotian said quietly, filled with emotion.


    He clearly remembered, back when he discreetly went to a small island for cultivation, that lively and lovable girl would always be there, chin propped up, watching him.


    Every time he succeeded in mastering a martial arts skill, he was happy, and that girl was happy for him too.


    Lin Xiaotian deeply regretted, even if he had been forceful with her, she still clung to the Open Formation Command Token, thinking he should apologize to her father...


    "Alright, don''t think too much about it, everything will get better."


    ¡­


    "All of you, get off the ship, the Martial Combat Contest starts tomorrow, go and rest with them!" After Bai Lili had walked away, Song Jie''s expression changed.


    From his orders, everyone could hear the anger in Song Jie''s voice.


    Yet no one dared to contradict or make a sound because of Song Jie''s identity and cultivation.


    Chief Disciple of the Immeasurable Sect, cultivation at the Earth-Rank High-Level Peak!


    "Xiaotian, what do you think of that Song Jie?" Walking towards the lodging with two Immeasurable Sect disciples, Xia Liu started planning.


    "I remember back when I was still around, this guy hadn''t even shown up yet; probably a disciple from some branch who was promoted to chief disciple after reaching the Earth-Rank High-Level Peak."


    "Forget it, take your time thinking about how to win her back."


    Xia Liu casually spoke, his eyes flickering with various colors, unknowingly thinking about something.


    Having passed through the perimeter forest with a few disciples, Xia Liu and his companions arrived at a vast architectural area.


    If one were only to observe from the sea, they would never guess that such large-scale buildings were hidden behind the forest.


    The several buildings resembling ancient post stations in front astonished the newly arrived martial artists.


    Many disciples dressed in Immeasurable Sect garb were patrolling and roaming around.


    The leading disciple explained the rules of the place and then allocated lodging rooms to everyone.


    Each building had thirty lodging rooms, and with only about a hundred people initially, three buildings were enough to accommodate everyone.


    As for the additional buildings, that disciple mentioned, today many more martial artists would arrive. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu wasn''t interested in this, however; after choosing a room, he went to rest with Lin Xiaotian.


    Tomorrow was the day the Martial Combat Contest would start, so the martial artists who had arrived were meditating in their rooms, ensuring they remained in peak condition.


    As for the rules of the Martial Combat, even Lin Xiaotian was unclear, because the rules could change each time it was held.


    Bored, Xia Liu found an excuse to leave the building.


    Taking advantage of the fact that Bai Lili had not yet met Lin Xiaotian, Xia Liu felt obligated to gauge Bai Lili''s mood...

 Chapter 339 Silencing by Murder

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    Wandering the brightly lit streets, Xia Liu truly sensed the grandeur of Immeasurable Island.


    The place he stayed seemed to be on the periphery of Immeasurable Island, not very large, almost the same size as Pinglan Town.


    To look for Bai Lili and scout the situation, Xia Liu definitely couldn''t just go over as he was.


    So, he found a secluded corner, knocked an Immeasurable Sect disciple unconscious, and then took his vest.


    Just like that, Xia Liu put on the vest with the blue little sword emblem; he was now also a disciple of Immeasurable Sect.


    Xia Liu thought about it, Bai Lili seemed to still like wearing a veil, so he decided to give her a sense of super mystery as well.


    A few minutes later, Xia Liu walked through the forest with a black mask, stepping silently.


    According to Lin Xiaotian, as the Great Formation Protector, Bai Lili and her maids were often stationed not far from the inner shore.


    This so-called Great Formation Protector was essentially like a security guard; as long as someone sent a message from outside, they would open the door to let them in.


    There was nothing dangerous about it.


    Bai Lili chose to become a Guardian in the past because she wanted to take the opportunity to run outside the formation.


    But she hadn''t expected what would happen later.


    That night, in the early hours, the island was silent, only the roar of the waves crashing against the rocky reefs could be heard.


    In the dense forest, Xia Liu slowly halted his steps. Two hundred meters ahead of him, several uniquely styled pavilions stood on a pile of messy rocks.


    Behind the pavilions was a cliff, waves constantly smashing against the rocks, sending sprays of water surging up to the base of the pavilions.


    Xia Liu stopped not because he was afraid of disturbing Bai Lili, but because there was an unwelcome visitor at the main gate of the pavilion.


    "Lili, I have now become the Chief Disciple, and in a few years, I might even become a candidate for Sect Leader!"


    Xia Liu listened quietly to the conversation between the two people in front, only to see Song Jie speaking fervently, boasting about his past achievements.


    "Senior Brother Song, please show some self-respect, and don''t call me Lili."


    Bai Lili''s tone was still as cold as ever; she stood tall, gazing obliquely at the horizon, giving no face to Song Jie whatsoever.


    "Alright, Junior Sister Bai, didn''t you say that as long as I became the Chief Disciple, you would accept my pursuit?"


    Song Jie pressed the issue once again.


    "I don''t remember agreeing to anything like that. My silence doesn''t mean consent, so Senior Brother Song has misunderstood."


    "Junior Sister Bai, everyone in our sect knows that I like you, that I am chasing you, they..."


    Hearing Song Jie''s words, which carried a threatening tone, Bai Lili remained indifferent and instead turned to walk towards the pavilion, leaving Song Jie confused and dumbfounded.


    "Junior Sister Bai! I know! Maybe someone defiled you before I came here, but I don''t mind! I just want to marry you!"


    Song Jie gritted his teeth and laid his cards on the table.


    Bai Lili, who was ascending the stairs, immediately stopped in her tracks.


    What''s more, around the pavilion, an invisible chill suddenly filled the air, and Song Jie felt an indescribable sensation in his heart.


    Bai Lili being defiled, he had known about this incident a year ago, when he had just joined the Immeasurable Sect.


    After a long time of deliberation, he had made up his mind to pursue Bai Lili.


    On the stairs, Bai Lili''s clothes fluttered without wind. Suddenly, she turned sharply, her angry finger pointing at Song Jie.


    Swoosh!


    The sound of the air being sliced through reverberated all around.


    A powerful Inner Strength shot forcefully towards Song Jie.


    Facing the super-strong whip of a Mysterious Rank Peak, Song Jie''s Inner Qi surged, directly shattering the whip.


    But when he saw Bai Lili''s eyes filled with killing intent, Song Jie knew he had truly angered her today.


    "Junior Sister Bai, my words just now were a bit harsh, but they were my true feelings, I hope..."


    "Scram!"


    Before Song Jie could finish speaking, a sharp voice came from Bai Lili''s mouth.


    ...


    Facing such an angry Bai Lili, Song Jie no longer knew how to explain and could only leave with a downcast face.


    "Damn it, bitch! Once I get the position of Sect Leader, I''m gonna make you pay! If not, I might as well get a few dogs to do it! Fuck!"


    Walking through the dark, narrow path, Song Jie, who had never tolerated such treatment, could no longer hold back his curses.


    Slap slap slap.


    Right after Song Jie finished cursing, the sound of a slap echoed through the woods.


    Hearing this noise, Song Jie''s face instantly turned pale: "Who''s there! Come out!"


    Song Jie became nervous and even more scared.


    If Bai Lili had heard his cursing just now, he was definitely finished.


    The loss wouldn''t just affect his current status and power within the Immeasurable Sect; it could even cost him his life.


    Sect Master Bai Shixiong would definitely kill him, as Bai Lili was almost everything to Bai Shixiong, even if you couldn''t see Bai Shixiong''s concern on the surface.


    But if the situation really did arise, then expect a frenzied retaliation from an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior.


    "Chief Disciple, tsk tsk, it seems your character isn''t all that great."


    Huh?


    Song Jie''s pupils shrank slightly, because he saw that the person who walked out of the dense forest was actually wearing the sect disciple''s clothes!


    "Which hall''s disciple are you?" Because Xia Liu was wearing a mask, Song Jie didn''t immediately make a move, as he didn''t think there was only one person with a covered face.


    "Does it matter which hall''s disciple I am? If you want to kill someone to keep a secret, you''re welcome to try anytime," Xia Liu didn''t know what Song Jie was thinking, but one thing was sure, this guy wasn''t going to let him go.


    "What an arrogant tone!"


    Song Jie was surprised at Xia Liu''s aura, but he immediately adjusted his attitude.


    Honestly, ever since advancing to an Earth-Rank Warrior, Song Jie had never been looked down upon like this.


    Did he really think I wouldn''t dare to make a move? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Stop looking around; we are one li away from Bai Lili''s residence area. Are you afraid she''ll discover you killing a fellow disciple?"


    Seeing Song Jie constantly looking in the direction of the seaside, Xia Liu couldn''t help but ridicule him.


    "Hmph! You''re overestimating yourself; with a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation, killing you is just a blink of an eye!"


    Having his thoughts exposed, Song Jie immediately snorted coldly. He was worried for nothing¡ªafter killing Xia Liu, he could easily pin a crime on him.


    Although past Sect Masters had forbidden disciples from attacking each other, sparring was allowed, stopping short of serious harm.


    If one accidentally killed the other, then they must be punished.


    Although the Sect Master was not present now, the Sect Leader would still enforce this regulation.


    So Song Jie was thinking about what kind of crime he could pin on Xia Liu. Now he had made up his mind: kill Xia Liu first and worry about the rest later!


    "Heh, let''s see just how strong an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak is," Xia Liu said with a slight smile, as Spiritual Energy slowly began to flow within him.


    "Initially, you weren''t qualified to make me use Earth-Rank Cultivation, but as time is of the essence, I hope you enjoy it!"


    Song Jie looked up at Xia Liu, and as his voice fell, a terrifying aura burst forth from him.


    Without giving Xia Liu time to prepare, Song Jie''s movement technique activated, and in the blink of an eye, he had already crossed the ten-meter distance¡­

 Chapter 340 Clash of the Two Strong

    Song Jie did not intend to give Xia Liu any chance, as he increased his energy and struck with a concentrated punch, aiming to kill Xia Liu in one blow!


    Bang!


    The next second, Song Jie''s eyes widened in disbelief. He could not imagine that Xia Liu, whom he perceived to be just a Mysterious Rank Warrior, caught the heavy punch without any movement!


    "How sad! Immeasurable Sect actually has trash like you." Xia Liu slowly lifted his head, his words utterly blunt.


    "Hmph! Just blocking one of my punches and now die!"


    With a cold snort, Song Jie''s fist turned into a palm, and he attacked Xia Liu again with extreme speed.


    Facing an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, Xia Liu had already been on the highest alert.


    As Song Jie struck with his palm, Xia Liu was already prepared, and his Eight Trigrams Palm met it immediately.


    The Eight Trigrams Palm used the force against the force, and as Song Jie was particularly aggressive, every strike was heavy.


    This allowed Xia Liu to find an opportunity, smoothly applying the movements and principles of Taiji amid the actions.


    Bang!


    Xia Liu grabbed Song Jie''s wrist, cleverly turning the attacker''s own move against himself.


    Struck by his own palm, Song Jie endured the sharp pain and stuffiness in his chest as he retreated dozens of meters away with his movement technique.


    In this close combat, Song Jie did not feel any stronger energy from Xia Liu.


    That is to say, he was indeed just a Mysterious Rank Warrior!


    Although Mysterious Rank Warriors do not have profound and strong Inner Qi, they capture the emotions of their enemies and cleverly make the attackers hit themselves!


    Brilliant!


    Even Song Jie could not help but admire inwardly; such techniques of using force against force were very much like those of the Taiji Sect.


    But seeing how well Xia Liu understood himself, Song Jie could not be sure about his true identity.


    However, one thing was certain, Song Jie was now intent on killing!


    "Your moves are very peculiar, but they are limited to close combat, next, I hope you continue to be so lucky!"


    Ha!


    With a loud shout, Song Jie gathered his Inner Qi, and the signature Martial Arts Skill of the Immeasurable Sect was immediately activated.


    "Hehe, a long-distance attack? In that case, let me try my brother''s Peerless Technique, hmm, five percent power should be about right."


    Seeing Song Jie start condensing energy, Xia Liu decided to try the "Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow."


    Although he had never used it before, Xia Liu was confident that this technique would not be weak.


    Facing an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, using about five percent power should be appropriate.


    If things got too explosive, his identity might be uncovered, which could lead to trouble.


    "Mysterious Rank Primary-Level Martial Arts: Flame Flow Eruption!"


    In a deep voice, one could see Song Jie''s palms violently drawing back, as the viscous Inner Qi continuously flowed around his body.


    Due to the fast flow of Inner Qi, Low-Rank Warriors seeing it would definitely think it was a tangible force!


    Xia Liu glanced at Song Jie and perceived that the Martial Arts of an Earth-Rank High-Level peak warrior were indeed a threat to him.


    If he were to use the Fire Spirit Sword, he might be able to withstand this Flame Flow Eruption and even potentially kill Song Jie with a forceful strike.


    But Xia Liu did not want to delay the Martial Combat because of Song Jie, so after trying "Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow," it would be best to retreat.


    After he entered the Library Pavilion and got the Cultivation Techniques suitable for the girls, that would be the time to show off!


    Taking advantage of the time, Xia Liu raised his hands fiercely, his Inner Spiritual Energy circulating through special meridians and gradually condensing in his raised hands.


    "Stop right there!"


    Just as both were about to launch their extreme moves, a cold voice carried over from afar.


    Song Jie and Xia Liu both turned to look, only to see Bai Lili, wearing a veil, running ahead with several Female Warriors, the highest Rank among them also just Mysterious Rank High-Level.


    Upon seeing Bai Lili, Song Jie''s body began to tremble.


    He had just exposed his ambition, and if Bai Lili were to find out, it would definitely spell trouble.


    So, taking advantage of the fact that Bai Lili had not yet had the chance to stop him, he had to eliminate Xia Liu!


    "Die! Flame Flow Eruption!"


    As the growl fell, Song Jie pushed forward with both palms, and unmatched Inner Qi burst forth.


    This Inner Qi, once stimulated by the cultivation technique, transformed as soon as it left his body.


    What could be seen was the majestic Inner Qi turning into a flame flow-like substance. Although small in size, anyone could sense the immense power it carried.


    Bai Lili and several female warriors immediately stopped in their tracks.


    They had all learned Flame Flow Eruption and knew the terror of this martial arts skill. Employed by Song Jie, who had Earth-Rank High-Level Cultivation, a mid-level Earth-Rank warrior could definitely not withstand it.


    For the rank of this Flame Flow Eruption had reached Mysterious Rank!


    Earth-Rank Martial Arts were rare nowadays, and Mysterious Rank Martial Arts nearly represented the highest existence.


    Bai Lili and the others were stunned. Although Xia Liu''s face was covered, he wore the attire of a disciple of the Immeasurable Sect.


    What kind of grievance was there that made Song Jie use such a fierce move to attack, a sure result of death?


    "Haha! Well done! Today, let me open your eyes!" Faced with such a fierce move, Xia Liu urgently stimulated his Spiritual Energy, and a terrifying might spread from his palms.


    "Huh! This pressure, could it be an Earth-Rank Martial Arts skill!"


    Song Jie and Bai Lili both sensed the might of the martial arts skill in Xia Liu''s palms at that moment.


    Everyone''s hearts began to beat faster.


    Because they had never felt this way before, even breathing had become difficult.


    "Peerless Technique: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!"


    Facing the formidable Flame Flow Energy, Xia Liu bellowed mightily and struck forward with a palm condensed with tremendous Spiritual Energy!


    Bang, Bang, Bang!!!


    When the Spiritual Energy burst forth, the space in front of Xia Liu immediately produced a series of explosive sounds, the sounds of air being shattered by extreme force.


    From this point alone, everyone could understand how terrifying this move was!


    Following the explosive sounds, everyone saw a virtual handprint about two meters tall, carrying a mighty pressure, tearing through the air toward the Flame Flow Energy.


    Boom!


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    Before the others could recover from their shock, the Great Handprint collided with the Flame Flow Energy. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In an instant, an extremely powerful force surged around, the trees around the point of contact were broken off at the waist, and sand and stones were lifted by the Qi Force.


    Bang!


    In the dust, a sound of explosion transmitted, followed by the remaining force of the Great Handprint breaking through the smoke, attacking Song Jie again!


    Seeing this fierce move for the first time, Song Jie, shocked, pushed forward with both palms, and the mighty Inner Qi of a high-level Earth-Rank warrior immediately emerged.


    It finally formed a robust Inner Qi Rigid Shield.


    Boom!


    The moment it formed, the Great Handprint struck the Rigid Shield relentlessly, and the deafening sound agitated the vicinity incessantly.


    Crack!


    The sound arose again, indicating that Song Jie''s Rigid Shield had cracked!


    However, Xia Liu had nothing to be pleased about, for the power of the Great Handprint was also nearly depleted.


    Even if it broke Song Jie''s Rigid Shield, it would not harm him much.


    Having cultivated to Earth-Rank High-Level, who didn''t possess a formidable body?


    A few seconds later, the Great Handprint slowly dissipated between heaven and earth.


    In the flicker of vanishing, Song Jie also retracted all Inner Qi, now with Bai Lili present, he had no chance to strike again.


    Xia Liu also pulled back his Inner Qi, now was not the time to kill; as long as Song Jie continued his malignance, death was merely a matter of time.

 Chapter 341 Shock

    After gathering his energy, Song Jie immediately ran to stand in front of Bai Lili, angrier as he faced Xia Liu.


    "Junior Sister Bai, why don''t you step back a bit? That person is extremely dangerous."


    "Hahaha! Senior Brother Song, what do you mean by that? How am I dangerous?" Xia Liu laughed. Song Jie was really amusing¡ªwas he trying to play the villain who accuses first?


    "You sneak around Junior Sister Bai''s living area and even wear a veil. If you''re not here to stir up trouble, then what?" Song Jie said angrily.


    "Senior Brother Bai, the reason I''m here is my own business, so you''d better not provoke me, or even the Chief Disciple might fall!"


    Huh?


    Hearing Xia Liu''s domineering words, Song Jie and Bai Lili and the others were taken aback.


    Because Xia Liu''s eyes contained a hint of murderous intent, even though he wore a mask, one could imagine his expression was ice-cold. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it had been earlier, they might not have thought much about it, but they had just seen Xia Liu use a martial arts skill they had never seen before¡ªthis was serious¡­


    "Excuse me, senior, may I know why you were lingering around here?" Bai Lili stepped past Song Jie and asked from the front.


    "My purpose here is simple¡ªit''s for you."


    "Heh heh! What a bold thief!" Song Jie laughed. He had been planning to pin a reasonable accusation on Xia Liu.


    Now, good, he had spared himself a lot of trouble by admitting it himself.


    "Senior Brother Song, I advise you not to speak, or you will bear the consequences!"


    Xia Liu did not say much; he believed Song Jie would understand.


    "Senior Brother Song, please calm down."


    "Yes, Junior Sister Bai, don''t worry. As long as the thief dares to disrespect you, I will surely kill him!"


    Bai Lili nodded. Not knowing whether Xia Liu was friend or foe, the only way to keep him in check for now was through Song Jie.


    "Senior, may I know what your business with me is?"


    "The Sect Master asked me to deliver some messages to you. This is not the place to talk,"


    Xia Liu said thoughtfully.


    "Sect Master!"


    Hearing this title that had disappeared for over a decade, Song Jie and Bai Lili and the others were all surprised.


    Indeed, the Sect Master of the Immeasurable Sect had vanished for over a decade!


    In the fifth year after the Sect Master''s disappearance, Bai Shixiong, under the pressure from within the sect, took charge of the Immeasurable Sect but dared not claim the title of Sect Master, merely acting temporarily as Sect Leader.


    "Haha! Next time you come to the Immeasurable Sect, remember to gather accurate information. Our Sect Master has been gone for more than a decade,"


    Song Jie burst into laughter, his Inner Qi already seething, ready to strike at Xia Liu the moment Bai Lili spoke.


    "Senior, please clarify, where did you see the Sect Master?"


    Bai Lili was somewhat skeptical of Song Jie''s certainty.


    Because nobody would joke about this in the Immeasurable Sect, and the Martial Arts Skill that Xia Liu used was completely different from any existing art in the sect.


    Yet, she could see traces of many Immeasurable Sect martial arts techniques in that single move.


    Therefore, Bai Lili believed that Xia Liu''s technique might very likely be an advanced version of the sect''s martial arts, created by a powerful person.


    Familiar with Immeasurable Sect martial arts and capable of creating new techniques, who else could have such skill but the Sect Master who disappeared over a decade ago?


    "This is a long story, but there''s one thing I must make clear¡ªthose unrelated should leave quickly."


    "Thief! Can''t make up more excuses, can you? Let me finish you!"


    Song Jie could no longer hold back. His movement technique activated instantly, he appeared in front of Bai Lili, and then his powerful Inner Qi surged, ready to attack Xia Liu once again.


    His Inner Qi wildly surged, and the force of Flame Flow Eruption spread throughout Song Jie''s body.


    Facing Song Jie''s threats, Xia Liu helplessly shook his head, "Since you want to cause trouble, I''ll oblige you!"


    As his words fell, Xia Liu''s palm slowly lifted.


    Spell, Oral Formula, both invoking simultaneously. Amid several astonished gazes, a beautifully sinister red flame rose from Xia Liu''s palm.


    This flame was none other than the Burning Entropy Flame, which Xia Liu had condensed from Fire Attribute Spirit Energy through an Oral Formula!


    Hmm?


    The moment they saw the Karmic Fire rise, a strong palpitation surged within Song Jie, Bai Lili, and others.


    A deep sense of fear spread from their souls.


    They all harbored a mistaken idea as if touching that flame would utterly consume their souls.


    Song Jie''s pupils dilated to their fullest¡ªhe was a warrior, with great aspirations for martial arts training and power.


    Yet, he couldn''t see through Xia Liu''s move at all¡ªa flame summoned out of thin air!


    What Martial Arts Skill was this?


    And it wasn''t just any ordinary flame. Even he, an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, felt fear that stemmed from the depths of his soul.


    It was conceivable what a dismal fate awaited him if Xia Liu were to unleash this flame through a Martial Arts Skill.


    "Senior, please forgive us, we didn''t mean to doubt your identity,"


    Although shocked, Bai Lili still found the courage to step forward.


    Xia Liu hadn''t shown all his abilities yet, and if pushed to the extreme, it could severely damage the Immeasurable Sect''s vitality.


    Moreover, if he truly was sent by the Sect Master, then she would have committed a grave error.


    "Hehe, it''s alright, the Sect Master would also be pleased to see such a promising junior in the Immeasurable Sect."


    "You really were sent by the Sect Master?"


    Seeing Xia Liu withdraw the Karmic Fire, Song Jie relaxed slightly. Although reluctant to believe it, the terrifying nature of the flame lingered in his mind, and he didn''t dare to confront Xia Liu head-on.


    "To be honest, it would be very easy for me to kill you, but I haven''t. I came here for something simple, to speak to Bai Lili and leave."


    "Senior, I understand. Please wait a moment."


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    Bai Lili was now thoroughly convinced about Xia Liu. Obtaining news from the Sect Master would absolutely delight her father.


    So she couldn''t allow Song Jie to continue provoking him, otherwise, the consequences might be unpredictable.


    Actually, Song Jie had been wanting to leave for a while now. With this opportunity, he could leave with his dignity intact.


    Regarding his previous curses, seeing Xia Liu''s demeanor, it seemed he didn''t like to meddle in Immeasurable Sect''s affairs, so it felt unlikely Xia Liu would mention them.


    With Song Jie and several female warriors leaving, only Xia Liu and Bai Lili remained at the scene.


    Both were wearing veils, which truly, didn''t quite match the surrounding scene.


    "Senior, there''s no one around now, you can speak."


    "Hmm, let''s go over there and talk."


    "Okay, as you say, Senior."


    Xia Liu and Bai Lili walked one after the other along a beach, with the ocean wind howling beside their ears.


    Seeing the timing was about right, Xia Liu slowly said, "Actually, I don''t know any Sect Master. I came to ask you, what would you do if that person returns? What would your father do?"


    Errr...


    Facing Xia Liu''s utterly blunt directness, Bai Lili was momentarily stunned.


    She had genuinely thought Xia Liu was an Envoy sent by the Sect Master.


    When she regained her composure, Bai Lili''s cold demeanor returned, and a killing intent gradually spread from her¡­

 Chapter 342 Words of Oblivion

    That person!


    When Xia Liu mentioned "that person," only one figure could ever emerge in Bai Lili''s mind.


    Even if she died, she wouldn''t forget that person!


    Even though Xia Liu was a Heaven-Rank Warrior, Bai Lili''s reaction would be the same, that person had pierced so deeply into her heart that she would never be able to cast them out for as long as she lived. It was hatred, towering hatred!


    "I will bite off his flesh, little by little!"


    Bai Lili''s words were somewhat crazed, and her demeanor became equally frenzied.


    Since that incident occurred, she had endured countless cold stares and pain over the years.


    All of it was a "gift" from that person; how could she not hate! How could she take it lightly!


    Xia Liu watched Bai Lili quietly, her every move could not escape his sharp gaze.


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    "Hmm, I roughly understand, are you able to tell me what your father, Sect Leader Bai Shixiong of the Immeasurable Sect, might do?"


    Bai Lili fell silent for a moment before softly saying, "As long as he appears, annihilation!"


    "Is there no room for maneuver?"


    "There is."


    "What is it?" Xia Liu asked with a slight urgency.


    "Suicide, which can reduce much pain."


    ...


    Xia Liu suddenly felt a cold wind blowing over him; it seemed this matter couldn''t be resolved calmly.


    He had learned from Lin Xiaotian that Bai Lili was Bai Shixiong''s only daughter.


    Her mother had passed away quite early, so Bai Shixiong''s love for his daughter exceeded everything.


    When he found out his daughter was in trouble, Bai Shixiong didn''t immediately take action because his daughter begged him to give Lin Xiaotian a chance.


    Bai Shixiong loved his daughter too deeply, and so he gave Lin Xiaotian several days. Yet, he received no response.


    Thus, Bai Lili was disappointed, and Bai Shixiong personally took action, but in the end, he couldn''t find Lin Xiaotian.


    This resentment had accumulated for five years, and if Lin Xiaotian appeared again, Bai Shixiong would not spare Lin Xiaotian, even if it cost him his life.


    "Whether you''ve taken my words to heart or not, before you leave, I have one piece of advice for you."


    Xia Liu turned around and walked away leisurely, speaking over his shoulder, "Tell your father, Lin Xiaotian is my brother. If the Immeasurable Sect dares touch him, I will ensure that Immeasurable Island disappears from the world!"


    Hmm?


    Upon hearing such ruthless words, Bai Lili hesitated for a moment, then quickly turned to catch up with Xia Liu for a detailed talk.


    But on the desolate The Bund, Xia Liu''s figure was already gone.


    Bai Lili stood still in place, her mind in disarray hearing that person''s name again, her heart writhing in agony.


    "Junior Sister Bai!" Just as Bai Lili was lost in thought, Song Jie and the few female warriors who had left earlier hurried over.


    They had all been watching from a distance, but in the blink of an eye, they could no longer see Xia Liu, so they came over.


    "Are you alright? Did he attack you?" Song Jie asked anxiously, looking at Bai Lili''s vacant eyes.


    Bai Lili glanced at him without speaking and turned to walk towards the loft where she resided.


    Song Jie was about to follow when he was blocked by the female warriors: "Senior Brother Song, Junior Sister Bai is in really bad shape right now. Let her be alone."


    Faced with their interception, Song Jie sighed and turned to leave.


    He now had to report this matter to Bai Shixiong, perhaps by doing so, he could earn significant credit for himself.


    Xia Liu used his movement technique and within moments returned to his residence.


    Lin Xiaotian restored his Qi to his Dantian and looked at Xia Liu with some confusion, "Did you just use your Qi?"


    "Yes, I used my movement technique to take a stroll around the island; the night view was quite nice."


    "Did she express anything?"


    "Who is she?" Xia Liu looked at Lin Xiaotian, baffled. Could it be that this guy had a Heavenly Eye and could see what he was doing outside?


    "Big brother, when have I not understood your thoughts? The moment you left the room, I knew what you were up to. Plus, the fight on The Bund caused such a commotion; it would have been hard not to know."


    Lin Xiaotian gave Xia Liu a look; if it wasn''t for the worry that his appearance would escalate the situation, he would have gone there already.


    "Alright, I went to find Bai Lili. Whether she showed it or not, let''s settle this together after I enter the Library Pavilion," Xia Liu said.


    "Hmm, I trust you, but you can''t stop me from atoning for my sins," Lin Xiaotian nodded, recalling the pure figure from the past in his mind.


    "Of course, but I have my limits. If it''s too much, heh heh..."


    Xia Liu stopped talking and went back to sit cross-legged on his couch.


    Looking at Xia Liu entering a state of cultivation, Lin Xiaotian felt a warm feeling in his heart.


    He knew of Xia Liu''s concern, but he was even more aware of the strong foundation of the Immeasurable Sect, a power that had been revered in the Warrior Realm for centuries; how could an individual shake such a foundation.


    The night passed without words.


    The next morning, the martial artists who came to participate in the competition at the Immeasurable Sect began to leave their rooms.


    After breakfast in the hall, everyone followed the Immeasurable Sect disciples toward the center of the island.


    The rules of the competition were out; it was the same as before, with each family or sect selecting two people. Regardless of their cultivation level, they would pick their martial combat opponents by drawing lots.


    Of course, this wasn''t very fair, but since no one could manipulate the draw, it all came down to luck.


    But those who could stand till the end would undoubtedly be high-rank martial artists; there was no doubt about it.


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian walked with Ye Yongyuan and others.


    Worried about being recognized by acquaintances, Lin Xiaotian somehow managed to get a Chinese-style conical hat to cover his face.


    And the cultivation level he revealed was only Mysterious Rank Mid-Level.


    Xia Liu did the same. If he hid all his cultivation, it would definitely attract numerous gazes.


    That wouldn''t be a good thing.


    Ye Tian, sensing Xia Liu''s cultivation level, couldn''t help but feel astounded.


    He felt somewhat relieved that he hadn''t had any conflict with Xia Liu before.


    This guy was extremely tricky¡ªpreviously concealing his full cultivation level, anyone who crossed him without seeing clearly would end up with a very bleak outcome, as the lessons of Li Shitian and Zhao Guo proved.


    Since everyone had already registered the night before, today they went straight to the dueling arena.


    The dueling arena was located below the peak of the island, where there was a natural sparring platform, surrounded by no seats, just a vast amount of space.


    In the words of the Immeasurable Sect disciples, being able to stand was good enough; if you wanted to sit, then make your sect or family''s martial artist defeat their opponents and enter the finals.


    According to the statistics from last night, there were a total of sixty families and sects participating.


    Only ten places were truly available to reach the Immeasurable Sect and vie for the title in the finals.


    Another thing Xia Liu slightly regretted was that Earth-Rank Warriors could directly obtain a final round spot!


    That was simply outrageous; he had not known this before, otherwise, he would have let Ye Yongyuan register his Earth-Rank cultivation.


    There was an age limit for the martial artists participating in the combat; they had to be under thirty-five years old. At such an age, it was rare to achieve Earth Rank cultivation.


    As it turned out, the Ye Family had only Ye Tian, and the other sects and families barely produced five individuals.


    Thus, these six people directly obtained qualification for the finals. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for Xia Liu, he had to achieve several victories to get there.

 Chapter 343 Surrendering Without a Fight

    After more than ten minutes of drawing lots, the martial artists participating in this promotion contest were all paired with their opponents.


    As for the cultivation of the opponents, no one knew until the names were called and they went up on stage.


    This excited many of the martial artists who were here for the first time; the format was truly thrilling.


    If the opponent was a Low-Rank Warrior, victory was absolutely guaranteed. If one encountered a High-Rank Warrior, one could only consider oneself unlucky.


    "Hello everyone, I won''t say much garbage, let''s start right away." As everyone finished drawing lots and the matchups were arranged, Song Jie went up on stage to announce the beginning of the first round of martial combat.


    "I am Mo Feng, the host for the first round of the Martial Combat Contest. The rules were mentioned this morning, so now when I call your name, please come up to the stage."


    A disciple with Mysterious Rank Peak cultivation took over as the host.


    After Song Jie stepped down, he sat down on a wooden chair, his gaze constantly sweeping the scene.


    He still vividly remembered the incidents of the previous night and had reported them to Bai Shixiong.


    Upon hearing it, Bai Shixiong immediately took it seriously. However, without any progress, he wouldn''t show up here.


    Thus, he instructed Song Jie to observe carefully and signal him immediately if he found the masked person.


    As for causing trouble in the Immeasurable Sect, Bai Shixiong would never agree to it.


    "The first match, Kunwu Sect: Ding Qianqiu versus Cangmang Sect: Xiao Jie."


    As Mo Feng called out the names, two people immediately came forward from the standing crowd below.


    After they each bowed with clasped hands, their cultivations fully burst forth.


    "Haha! Yellow-Rank Peak, it looks like Kunwu Sect is going to lose."


    "Cangmang Sect''s Xiao Jie is lucky. With Mysterious Rank Primary-Level cultivation, encountering a Yellow-Rank in the first round makes it hard not to win."


    Sensing the fluctuations of Inner Qi from both, the audience below started discussing and analyzing.


    The result, of course, was as expected ¡ª Xiao Jie achieved victory in this match. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    This contest for warriors below Earth Rank, with Mysterious Rank Peak warriors considered the peak.


    But with the age limit of thirty-five, how many Mysterious Rank Peak warriors could there be¡­


    In this era, when cultivation resources are scarce, reaching Mysterious Rank by the age of fifty is considered quite good.


    To reach Earth-Rank Cultivation before the age of thirty-five, one must be a monstrously talented being.


    People like Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian must be considered peerless monsters.


    "Next in the martial combat: From Ye Family: Xia Liu, from Xingmang Sect: Yan Da."


    After a while, it was finally Xia Liu''s turn to take the stage.


    "Hmm, Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation. That youngster from Ye Family isn''t bad." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You all better watch this match closely. That Xia Liu with Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation is facing Yan Da from Xingmang Sect who is Mysterious Rank High-Level."


    "Haha! A contest between Mysterious Rank Mid-Level and Mysterious Rank High-Level, I bet that Ye Family will lose!"


    "Isn''t that obvious! Winning a fight against a higher rank, that would require immense talent."


    "A lopsided duel, let''s hope Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Xia Liu can struggle for a while."


    "Hmm, now it''s up to Xia Liu whether he fights desperately or not. A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior fighting desperately against a Mysterious Rank High-Level would definitely be a fiery scene."


    Both contestants on the stage were Mysterious Rank Warriors, which excited the audience below.


    Generally, when Yellow-Rank Warriors encounter Mysterious Rank Warriors, they mostly concede, as the disparity in ranks is too great, leaving no chance for victory.


    Song Jie watched Xia Liu intently, feeling that he had seen him somewhere before.


    Right! It was when he took a ferry to pick up someone; at that time, he had picked Xia Liu and another person with no cultivation.


    "Hmm?"


    Suddenly, Song Jie''s brow furrowed together.


    He remembered that he had once scolded Ye Yongyuan, because Xia Liu and another young man had no cultivation at all.


    But now, how come Xia Liu possessed the cultivation of a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level!


    "Senior Brother Song, is something amiss?" At this moment, Lin Mu, who was also hosting the event with Song Jie, asked.


    Lin Mu, who had been in the sect for fifteen years, currently held an Earth-Rank Mid-Level cultivation, ranking him among the top disciples.


    But compared to Song Jie, he was much weaker.


    "Nothing, let''s continue watching," Song Jie said, unsure of what else to say.


    He and Lin Mu didn''t have a great relationship. Was he supposed to admit that he had previously misjudged a martial artist? That would be humiliating.


    Lin Mu nearly smiled slightly, turning his gaze back to the stage.


    Just as everyone was focused on the arena, expecting Xia Liu and Yan Da to clash fiercely, a surprising scene unfolded.


    Everyone couldn''t believe their eyes. What did they see?


    On the arena, Yan Da actually bowed deeply to Xia Liu!!


    Yan Da was a High-Rank Mysterious Warrior!


    He actually bowed and conceded to Xia Liu, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior!


    "I concede."


    Yan Da hadn''t spoken yet, and some martial artists thought his action was just a courtesy of his sect.


    But the next second, Yan Da directly conceded!!!


    This caused many martial artists to tremble with shock, each wondering about Xia Liu''s background.


    A High-Rank Mysterious Warrior hadn''t even made a move and conceded. Could it be that Xia Liu had bribed the Immeasurable Sect?


    However, the Cangmang Sect wouldn''t easily give up this chance for advancement.


    "Sect Master Yan, your Cangmang Sect''s performances this year are a bit off," a senior Earth-Rank elder from below the stage who knew the Cangmang sect leader inquired.


    "Hehe, Yan Da still needs training. Conceding might not be a bad thing," retorted Sect Master Yan rather stiffly. What sort of an excuse was that?


    In his heart, he was nearly crying; he had witnessed Lin Xiaotian''s methods in Beisong City.


    Back then, Lin Xiaotian and Xia Liu both had low-level cultivation, with Xia Liu having not revealed any cultivation at all.


    As a result, two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors were nearly dead.


    Facing such a peerless young man who could conceal his cultivation, who would dare provoke him? This was practically courting death!


    "Hehe, thank you, Brother Yan, for acknowledging it," Xia Liu understood Yan Da''s actions.


    He had some impression of Yan Da, as they had traveled together on a ferry.


    "Brother Xia is too modest. I will be watching from below. I hope you can take the lead!" Yan Da had no dissatisfaction. He had encountered Lin Xiaotian''s actions before; being an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, and knowing Xia Liu, who was Lin Xiaotian''s brother and had previously concealed his cultivation, now definitely still held terrifying power.


    For such an unfathomable martial artist, where would Yan Da dare to approach?


    Not just Yan Da, but others below who knew Xia Liu didn''t dare to confront him, instructing their disciples to concede if they met him in the martial combat contest.


    "Hmph! Cangmang Sect is simply rubbish, a High-Rank Mysterious Warrior actually conceding to a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior, how disgraceful."


    Just as Xia Liu and Yan Da were about to leave the stage, a young man watching the fight from the side of the arena disdainfully said.


    "Haha exactly! Cangmang Sect is really strange, a high-rank warrior conceding to a low-rank warrior."


    "This sect''s disciples are all sissies, they''re afraid of pain..."


    "Hahahaha..."


    Following that young man''s lead, more young spectators below started scoffing, while shaking their heads at Xia Liu; high-level warriors conceded, yet you greet them with a smile, utterly despicable!


    They were all Mysterious Rank Warriors participating in this martial combat, and even though some didn''t achieve high-level cultivation, they dared to make such jokes.

 Chapter 344 The Final Round

    In the Warrior Realm, admitting defeat to a warrior of a lower rank was considered the greatest shame.


    However, what was eye-catching was that such a thing indeed happened.


    People had different emotions, with some mocking Yan Da.


    Others were envious of Xia Liu.


    They had to give their all to achieve victory, and if they encountered a warrior of a higher rank, they wouldn''t even need to mention it; they would need to muster all their strength.


    But Xia Liu, he won without lifting a finger.


    This made those warriors who fought desperately grind their teeth in frustration.


    They had never seen Xia Liu, but one thing was certain, if they faced Xia Liu, they would definitely go all out, and make sure to beat this trash into dregs!


    Yes, many regarded Xia Liu as trash in their hearts, and Yan Da as a fighter jet among the trash.


    "My surrender is my own business; please do not involve the sect, or it shows a lack of upbringing."


    Facing the most despicable-looking young man, Yan Da stared back coldly, even if the opponent was at the Mysterious Rank Peak. So what?


    He was afraid of Xia Liu because he understood Xia Liu, but against Mysterious Rank Peak, he believed that he had the ability to fight!


    ...


    As soon as Yan Da spoke, everyone gradually fell silent.


    Then laughter erupted again: "Haha..."


    "Can you stop kidding around? I''m about to laugh my back out."


    "How can there be such an idiot, admitting defeat to a Mid-Level Mysterious Rank Warrior and then daring to challenge a Mysterious Rank Peak."


    "Scary, scary..."


    "Everyone just gasp in astonishment. Yan Da is a freak, no explanation."


    "Cangmang Sect is trash, no explanation."


    ...


    "Everyone, that''s enough; the martial combat is their affair. If you like it, you can admit defeat later on."


    When the crowd was noisy and heated, Mo Feng stood out to quell the disturbance.


    When a disciple of the Immeasurable Sect spoke up, everyone fell silent.


    Yan Da and Xia Liu also walked down from the platform side by side.


    Xia Liu actually felt quite sorry for Yan Da; just now, that guy could have fought, and Xia Liu could have just casually handled it and secured the victory. But he gave Xia Liu face like that.


    "Brother Xia, keep it up, you can definitely do it."


    "Hehe, just watch, Brother Yan. I''ll make those who laughed at you shut their mouths obediently."


    This was the promise Xia Liu gave to Yan Da; since the guy gave him face, he was definitely going to stir up some trouble.


    Yan Da''s face was full of smiles, with Xia Liu''s words, he was even more looking forward to the upcoming fights.


    As for those young warriors who had never seen Xia Liu, each one of them looked at him with a sidelong glance filled with enmity.


    Just wait, when it comes to fighting with me, I''ll make sure you suffer a miserable defeat!


    That was the sentiment of the angry young men toward Xia Liu.


    In the next two hours, the battles on the stage became even more intense.


    Because the Low-Rank warriors were all eliminated, those remaining were high-strength Mysterious Rank Warriors!


    However, those who previously looked at Xia Liu with enmity were even more angry with him.


    The reason was nothing else, but that Xia Liu had won three consecutive battles without even making a move.


    He simply walked around the stage and then claimed victory.


    This directly flabbergasted the warriors who had never seen Xia Liu; they were confused about what was happening.


    Even a Peak Mysterious Rank Warrior admitted defeat to Xia Liu.


    This nearly made the audience bite their own tongues.


    Song Jie, Xiao Lin, and other disciples of the Immeasurable Sect were also full of wonder.


    They even speculated that Xia Liu might have bribed these people.


    But the pairs for the competition were arranged by drawing lots, and even if Xia Liu''s faction had bribed someone, they would have needed the luck to pick the right person.


    However, the fact that all the martial artists on stage conceded was extremely awkward.


    Those who had been eliminated without the chance to fight Xia Liu and were defeated by stronger warriors all glared angrily at Xia Liu.


    Why should they admit defeat themselves!


    The man didn''t even move a finger and he won, which was simply unreasonable!


    As for these voices, Xia Liu felt no disturbance within himself; he even felt like laughing.


    He too hoped to face those unknown martial artists, but things turned out this way, with all his opponents being people he knew before boarding the ship.


    They were afraid of him and gave him face, which was to be expected.


    But Xia Liu also felt pity for them, as if things continued like this, they wouldn''t have many opportunities left.


    "Brother, you look like you''re feeling guilty?" Lin Xiaotian, who had been silent, couldn''t refrain from asking as he noticed the changing expressions on Xia Liu''s face.


    "A little bit, maybe."


    "Don''t feel that way, it''s good they surrendered. Otherwise, with their cultivation, not only would they lose, but they would also get beaten up. Which do you think makes more sense?" Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    "I know, but it feels a bit off," Xia Liu nodded. He understood the logic, but it somewhat soured him to see the young warriors who conceded being ridiculed, and their clans and sects looked down upon.


    "Haha, my kind-hearted brother is back."


    "Call me ''brother'' one more time, and I might just explode on you!"


    "Okay, okay, I was wrong. Although these people were scolded, they didn''t speak out because they didn''t want those cursing them to know your details. So, when the time comes, you can thrash them severely."


    ...


    When he thought about it carefully, that was indeed the case.


    It seems that these clans and sects were quite interesting; they didn''t lose anything by surrendering.


    When he finally erupts, those people would at least be seriously injured, and then they would feel even more humiliated because of the earlier insults.


    "Alright everyone, we are now down to the last ten martial artists, so the qualifying rounds are about to end!"


    "The final ten, huh... My Cloud Sun Sect will definitely make it to the finals!"


    "Hehe, your Cloud Sun Sect is formidable, but my Falling Flower Sect won''t be easily bullied either."


    "Five spots, the final round of the fight is coming up, now there''s something to watch!"


    "Hmm, the final round, and of those remaining, we have six at the Mysterious Rank Peak, three at Mysterious Rank High-Level, and that cheating piece of trash."


    "Haha! Let''s see how that trash cheats now."


    Some noticed that the remaining martial artists all bore grudges or disdain for Xia Liu.


    In other words, Xia Liu was sure and certain to make a move in the final round of the battle.


    "Haha! A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior, let''s see how he dies this time." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmph! Damn it, if I could''ve faced him earlier, maybe I could''ve won a spot!"


    "Fuck! I''m so unlucky, why couldn''t I have faced that trash!"


    ...


    "Heh, a bunch of idiots." Ye Tian had been watching the crowd''s reaction from the start.


    He was already eager to laugh, waiting for Xia Liu to show his methods and to see if they would still dare to look down upon him.


    Of course, he was also very interested to see Xia Liu''s true strength.


    Additionally, as Xia Liu was representing the Ye Family in the battle, if he were to win, that would also greatly enhance the Ye Family''s fame in this Martial Combat Tournament.


    Gaining fame and at the same time receiving Immeasurable Sect''s rewards.


    Having Xia Liu join was a great boon indeed.


    Yes, Ye Tian completely discarded all his previous views of Xia Liu, which included both fear and family interests.


    On any count, Xia Liu winning would be a definite boon for the Ye Family!


    "Everyone, take a break for now. The final showdown will take place after four ancient hours..."

 Chapter 345 Confrontation

    After Mo Feng announced the end of the event, disciples from the Immeasurable Sect led everyone to lunch.


    Exhausted and depleted from the morning''s bouts, everyone needed to replenish their strength.


    Without rest, the martial combat would be meaningless.


    After their meal, the young warriors who had been eliminated and had nothing to do began to banter under the pavilion.


    Of course, their conversations centered around Xia Liu.


    "Damn it, if I had faced that trash, I might have had a chance to advance!"


    "Same here, with my rotten luck, I actually ran into Mysterious Rank Peak fighter Lin Yu!"


    "Haha! You''re just as unlucky, but luckily Lin Yu didn''t target you, or else you might have ended up disabled."


    Hearing one youth''s lament, several onlookers joined in the teasing.


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    "Hmph! Who can beat Lin Yu? If luck had been on my side, letting me face that trash, I would have definitely secured a spot!"


    As the youth spoke, spiritual energy surged around him unrestrainedly, his cultivation reaching the peak high level of Mysterious Rank.


    This was practically a half-step into the peak of Mysterious Rank.


    Luck is unpredictable, look, there are still three high-level Mysterious Rank competitors who haven''t even reached the very peak.


    Yet, they still have the chance to gain a spot.


    It''s precisely because of good luck that they always face low-rank warriors in combat, which has led to the current situation.


    "Luo Dao, don''t be angry. If it doesn''t work out, just come back after three years and redeem yourself!"


    "Yeah, Luo Dao, with your strength, it''s just bad luck that stopped you from getting a spot."


    Seeing Luo Dao getting agitated, the surrounding youths started consoling him.


    "How can I not be angry? That trash is only at mid-level Mysterious Rank! Why should he get a spot!"


    The more Luo Dao thought about it, the angrier he became. He was a half-step away from the peak of Mysterious Rank and considered among the top in this round of martial combat.


    Yet, his spot had been snatched away by a mid-level Mysterious Rank competitor.


    "Xia Liu, that guy seems to have a big issue with you..." Ye Tian was keeping an eye on Luo Dao all along.


    At this point, he even noticed the surge of inner qi, clearly showing that Luo Dao was struggling to swallow his pride.


    "Hehe, if he can''t take a loss, he shouldn''t have come, what a character." Before Xia Liu could respond, Lin Xiaotian, who had taken off his fight hat, spoke dismissively and without concealment.


    Lin Xiaotian''s voice was loud, heard even by the family leaders and sect heads mingling outside the pavilion.


    As these grand gatherings were rare, the sect leaders and family heads were keen on fostering good relationships with each other.


    As for the matters of the younger generation, they certainly wouldn''t interfere, following the rules.


    "Family Head Ye, your junior seems to have incited public anger," said one sect leader, openly in front of everyone.


    "Hehe, it''s good for young people to have vigorous blood energy," Ye Yongyuan responded with a slight smile.


    "Hmph! It really takes some nerve, doesn''t it? Who knows how many resources were offered to trade for concessions."


    "Family Head Luo, what do you mean by that?" Ye Yongyuan stared at a peer not far away.


    "Nothing much, just that actions are observed by the heavens, be careful not to lose more than you bargain for," said Family Head Luo expressionlessly.


    "Family Head Luo, thank you for your concern. I know your clansman Luo Dao didn''t get the opportunity, but it''s not his fault. In the next martial combat conference, he will surely have a chance."


    "You!"


    Watching Ye Yongyuan''s smiling face, Family Head Luo was nearly exploding with anger, sensing the blatant sarcasm!


    In the end, Family Head Luo held back as Xia Liu had qualified, but with such low cultivation, he was expected to suffer a bitter defeat in the upcoming duel.


    "Haha, looks like the young ones from both of your families are about to come to blows, just you watch." Suddenly, an Earth-Rank warrior pointed towards the pavilion.


    The crowd shifted their attention, and in the spacious area below the pavilion, they saw Luo Dao marching towards Xia Liu, Lin Xiaotian, and Ye Tian.


    Behind Luo Dao were those young martial artists who had come to watch.


    These days, onlookers aren''t afraid of a big scene, they had all previously stood in a line, looking down on Xia Liu.


    At such a time, of course, they would stand behind Luo Dao to bolster the scene.


    "Interesting, what now, Xia Liu, are you going to blast them away?"


    Watching Luo Dao bring people over, Ye Tian smiled faintly, as long as Xia Liu said a word, he would definitely unleash the oppressive might of an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    By then, what about Luo Dao? What else would he have besides scurrying away?


    "No need, why bother getting serious with kids." Xia Liu lightly tapped the teacup, feeling no interest in oppressing a martial artist with cultivation like Luo Dao''s.


    In a corner of the pavilion, a young man coldly observed from the sidelines, surrounded by many other youths in the same fashion.


    They were all warriors who would duel later and were quite interested in Xia Liu, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior.


    "Kid! Have the guts to fight me; if you lose, give me your spot!"


    Luo Dao, who came to the little table, roared angrily.


    "Exactly! Have the courage to fight Luo Dao!"


    "Hmph! Relying on tricks to make others concede spots, scum!"


    "Trash! Have the nerve to fight, huh?"


    "That''s right, are you afraid to answer? Scared to expose yourself?"


    Listening to Luo Dao and those low-rank warriors'' malicious words, Lin Xiaotian''s palms trembled slightly.


    "Xiaotian, if you take kids too seriously, you''ll turn into a kid yourself." Noticing the change in Lin Xiaotian, Xia Liu softly reminded him.


    "Sigh¡­ alright, but I can''t hold it in for much longer." Lin Xiaotian sighed deeply and then closed his eyes, choosing not to look at Luo Dao and the others.


    "Fuck! You actually dare call us kids!"


    "Damn it! Believe it or not, we''ll beat you up together!"


    "Shit, I can''t take it anymore, don''t hold me back, let me at him to crush him!"


    ...


    "Family Head Ye, the younger generation of your family has quite sharp tongues, to be able to restrain themselves to such an extent shows great ambition."


    "Hehe, the young martial artists of our clan have all undergone various trials and hardships, if they can''t even restrain themselves in this respect, what''s the difference between them and third-rate warriors?"


    Ye Yongyuan was deliberately speaking for Family Head Luo to hear; every Earth-Rank Warrior present could see that Luo Dao obviously couldn''t stand losing.


    "Family Head Ye, it seems you have quite an interesting point there."


    "No particular point, I''m not naming names, so don''t take it personally."


    ...


    Family Head Luo had a face full of suppressed frustration, he truly couldn''t respond to Ye Yongyuan now.


    Now, his only hope was for Luo Dao to manage to slap Xia Liu in the face successfully.


    "If you can''t stand losing, you shouldn''t come at all. Martial Dao itself is full of injustices; if you push all the blame onto others, then you might as well not practice martial arts and go back to farming." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu originally didn''t want to talk, but in the end, he spoke up.


    "Haha! Those who can''t stand losing, just go home," one of the Ye Family''s Mysterious Rank Primary-Level Warriors mocked along with Xia Liu.


    "Fuck! I''ll kill you!"


    Unable to bear being ridiculed by a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level and a Primary-Level Warrior, Luo Dao instantly erupted with his Inner Qi.


    In a flash, the aura of a Mysterious Rank High-Level Peak Warrior enveloped the surroundings for five meters.


    "Hehe, interesting, even with just this level of cultivation you dare act arrogant, the young people these days¡­" Lin Xiaotian''s lips curled into a cold smile as he slowly opened his eyes¡­

 Chapter 346 Suppressing the Entire Scene! [Fifth Update]

    "What did you say! Believe it or not, I''ll clean you up too!" Seeing Lin Xiaotian mock him again, Luo Dao was even angrier.


    Although it wasn''t Lin Xiaotian who made a move, he was still one of the young martial artists on the Ye Family''s side.


    If Ye Tian is considered an Earth-Rank Warrior, then Xia Liu would have a spot to participate in the martial combat.


    Then, the cultivation of the others must be below Mysterious Rank Mid-Level.


    With that in mind, how could Luo Dao let Lin Xiaotian act so presumptuously!


    "Enough, both of you!" Ye Tian said in a soft yet stern voice, as the imposing pressure of an Earth-Rank Primary Level Peak warrior swept out forcefully.


    Hiss... sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, all the martial artists inside the pavilion felt a surge of heart palpitations and couldn''t help but gasp.


    The few Earth-Rank Warriors, however, remained unchanged.


    They even wanted to laugh, feeling like Luo Dao and his people had their heads caught in a door panel. With Earth-Rank Warriors from the family at the table, they still went looking for trouble ¨C wasn''t that courting death?


    "Family Head Ye, are you bullying the weak with your status?" Seeing Luo Dao suppressed by Ye Tian, Family Head Luo''s face turned dark.


    "Family Head Luo, we should interfere less in the affairs of the young. However, since you''ve mentioned it, I certainly can''t let Ye Tian continue," said Ye Yongyuan.


    Ye Yongyuan then instructed Ye Tian, "Ye Tian, don''t bully others."


    "Hmph!" Ye Tian snorted coldly, then retracted his oppressive aura completely.


    With the Earth-Rank Warrior''s pressure dissipating, Luo Dao and the others let out a long sigh of relief.


    Assured that Ye Tian wouldn''t make another move, Luo Dao and his companions continued to verbally bombard Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian.


    "Hmph! Have the courage to face Luo Dao one-on-one!"


    "Exactly, you two pieces of trash!"


    "Trash, increase your energy, why don''t you dare?"


    "Hmph, don''t think you''re so great just because someone''s covering for you. Without any real strength of your own, even calling you trash seems too kind."


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian listened silently to the words of Luo Dao and his companions, and their expressions gradually turned cold.


    Everyone has their limits, and neither of them was just an ordinary person.


    If this had happened a year ago, Luo Dao and the others probably would have been shattered halfway through their taunts.


    "Since you don''t dare to make a move, don''t blame me!"


    Luo Dao, seeing that his words failed to provoke Xia Liu, surged with inner Qi, and his palms ferociously struck forward.


    Hmm?


    At that moment, Xia Liu glanced sideways at Luo Dao, with a Red Vastness slowly forming deep within his eyes.


    The instant Luo Dao was stared at by Xia Liu, his body froze in place.


    The inner Qi on his palms also gradually dissipated, and he became completely dazed.


    He felt an intense killing intent enveloping him, knowing that if he dared to move even slightly, he would perish on the spot.


    The many youths behind Luo Dao also fell silent, all shocked by Xia Liu''s gaze.


    Most of them were used to cultivating within their families or sects and seldom ventured out; they had no real sense of what death felt like.


    But in Xia Liu''s eyes, they truly sensed the flavor of death.


    Outside the pavilion, the numerous Earth-Rank Warriors were taken aback.


    Because they were too far away, they had no idea what was happening.


    Even the young warriors who weren''t that close felt nothing.


    All they saw was that Xia Liu gave Luo Dao and his companions a look¡ªcould that look have carried the pressure of an Earth-Rank Warrior?


    That seemed a bit far-fetched.


    Seeing the group calm down, Xia Liu slowly turned his cheek away.


    Once they came to their senses, Luo Dao and the others swallowed saliva nervously; they could feel that their clothing seemed a bit damp.


    "What are you so proud of! Have the guts to increase your energy!" After the cold sweat, someone burst out with another statement.


    "Exactly! Staring is easy, why don''t you have the guts to increase your energy and have a match with Luo Dao!"


    "Trash!"


    "Scum!"


    ...


    Hearing the voices of the martial artists behind him, Luo Dao became spirited once again.


    He had almost been fooled by Xia Liu, intimidated by nothing more than a look, and he was deeply embarrassed by his own reaction.


    So he decided to reclaim some dignity, and his Peak Mysterious Rank High-Level cultivation unfolded once more.


    "I''ll give you one chance. If you don''t strike, I won''t be polite!"


    "Not be polite?" Lin Xiaotian laughed. If Xia Liu hadn''t been constantly signaling him with his eyes not to cause trouble, he would have exploded in rage long ago.


    Now that Xia Liu had closed his eyes, it meant that Lin Xiaotian could enter the fray!


    "Hmph! And you! What are you so proud of? Dare to face both of you at once! I''d ....."


    Suddenly, the words of Luo Dao were completely stuck in his throat, his eyes wide open, and he found himself unable to breathe at that very moment.


    Not just Luo Dao, but also the young man behind him, as well as all the martial artists in the pavilion, had their pupils dilated, unable to breathe.


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    Because they felt an overwhelming oppressive force enveloping the surroundings.


    Crack!


    Unable to stand any longer, Luo Dao and others instantly fell to the ground, feeling as if a great mountain weighed upon them, rendering them immobile.


    "Earth-Rank High-Level Peak!"


    "Half-Step Earth Rank Peak!"


    "It''s that young man!"


    "This..."


    Outside the pavilion, all the Earth-Rank warriors began to tremble.


    Family Head Luo''s expression changed continuously, as if he had seen a ghost.


    The other Earth-Rank martial artists were also shocked, having never imagined that the young man sitting with Xia Liu would possess a Peak Earth-Rank High-Level cultivation.


    A Peak Earth-Rank High-Level could also be called Half-Step Earth Rank Peak, just half a step away from the Earth Rank Peak!


    Earth Rank Peak was known as the strongest beneath Heaven Rank.


    Yet now, such a terrifying level of cultivation appeared in a young man, which astounded everyone present.


    "Had enough fun? Fight? You think you trash are worthy to talk about fighting with me? What makes you think you have the right!"


    Lin Xiaotian looked down upon Luo Dao and others with undisrupted authority emanating from his being.


    The oppressive force of a Peak Earth-Rank High-Level was overwhelming even for a Mid-Level Earth-Rank Warrior.


    Not to mention Luo Dao and his party, they hadn''t been able to breathe for a while, and if Lin Xiaotian didn''t withdraw his pressure soon, they would likely suffocate to death right there.


    The young Earth Rank warriors underneath the pavilion were extremely shocked.


    While they were shocked, they were also greatly puzzled; Lin Xiaotian''s cultivation could easily crush that of any sect leader or Family Head. If he were to represent the Ye Family in the martial combat,


    securing the championship would be a certainty.


    "Xiaotian, take your hat back; the martial combat is about to begin," Xia Liu said, picking up the hat from the table and firmly placing it on his head.


    With that, the oppressive force was lifted, and everyone could breathe the fresh air once again.


    But the looks they gave Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian were filled with intense fear.


    Luo Dao was nearly scared out of his wits.


    Lying on the ground, he feigned death, not daring to make any move.


    As for the other martial artists who were not overpowered, they looked at Xia Liu with substantial doubt.


    They had all seen Xia Liu firmly put the hat on Lin Xiaotian''s head.


    That was a Peak Earth-Rank High-Level martial artist!"


    Even within a family, it is improbable that a Mid-Level Mysterious Rank Warrior would treat a Peak Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior like that...

 Chapter 347 Xia Liu Takes the Stage

    Xia Liu''s actions scared many people, as a low-rank martial artist dared to treat a supreme martial artist so unreasonably.


    In the entire Warrior Realm, he was probably the only one.


    Actually, Xia Liu covered Lin Xiaotian with the bamboo hat because disciples from the Immeasurable Sect had arrived.


    If by chance these disciples discovered Lin Xiaotian, the ensuing issues would have been troublesome.


    Therefore, before entering the Library Pavilion to acquire the cultivation technique, Lin Xiaotian could not be exposed.


    Lin Xiaotian certainly understood Xia Liu''s thoughts; he had sensed the Immeasurable Sect disciples approaching the pavilion earlier.


    Even if Xia Liu hadn''t reminded him, he would have concealed his energy.


    "My friends, it''s about time, please head to the Martial Combat Arena."


    The disciples of the Immeasurable Sect, sensing some heaviness in the air when they arrived, were puzzled but had no reason to interfere in others'' affairs.


    Only after those disciples had left did the Sect Leaders and Family Heads at the scene come back to their senses.


    "Family Head Ye really keeps a low profile, that family member''s cultivation has already reached such a level."


    "Indeed, a hero is young, a Half-Step Earth Rank Peak, terrifying!"


    "Hehe, thanks to Family Head Ye for not wanting to bully the weak, otherwise if that family member participated in the Martial Combat, who could have won?"


    "Right, right! We should thank Family Head Ye."


    ...


    Listening to the surrounding Sect Leaders and Family Heads'' words of thanks, Ye Yongyuan smiled without speaking.


    Although Lin Xiaotian was not a member of the Ye Family, this face-saving move had indeed earned the Ye Family prestige, making this trip worthwhile!


    That so-called Family Head Luo had retreated to a corner as soon as Lin Xiaotian released his pressure.


    He was merely at Mid-Level Peak Earth Rank, and previously, Ye Yongyuan and Ye Tian could still resist him.


    Now that an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak martial artist had appeared directly in the Ye family, if he provoked Ye Yongyuan again, whether he could return to his family at all was another matter.


    As for those Earth-Rank warriors who had boarded the ship with Ye Yongyuan at Beisong City, they, too, smiled without speaking.


    They had guessed that the final outcome would be very embarrassing for Luo Dao and others, who had come to cause trouble.


    Lin Xiaotian was an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak martial artist and to be honest, if he had a worse temper,


    Luo Dao and others would probably have died; Mysterious Rank martial artists offending the dignity of Earth Rank martial artists could only end in death.


    "Lin Yu, it seems that Ye family''s Xia Liu is very secretive, you..."


    "Don''t worry, he seems to be at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level; I can definitely beat him."


    On the way to the Martial Combat Arena, Lin Yu kept observing Xia Liu from behind.


    He had been informed of Xia Liu''s cultivation level by the Sect Leader, so he was confident he would win this match.


    Even if Xia Liu''s brother was at Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, what of it? The person he was fighting was Xia Liu.


    Mysterious Rank Mid-Level against Mysterious Rank Peak, the outcome was without doubt.


    Soon, everyone arrived back at the Martial Combat Arena.


    The final ten martial artists with a chance to advance stepped forward, each aware of who their opponent was.


    Among these ten, the lowest in cultivation was Xia Liu, at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level.


    The highest was Lin Yu, at Mysterious Rank Peak! Just one step away from advancing to Earth Rank.


    However, these two with the greatest disparity in cultivation were actually martial combat opponents!


    "Everyone has arrived, so I announce the continuation of the Martial Combat!"


    Looking down at the ten neatly standing fighters, Mo Feng shouted loudly, "The battle for five spots begins, first match: Ye Family''s Xia Liu versus Meteor Sect''s Lin Yu!"


    Following Mo Feng''s announcement, Xia Liu and Lin Yu stepped onto the platform from opposite staircases.


    As for Luo Dao and many other martial artists who had been intimidated by Lin Xiaotian, they looked at Xia Liu with a great deal of hatred in their eyes.


    From beginning to end, they had not seen Xia Liu make a move. If it hadn''t been for Lin Xiaotian''s terrifying intervention just now, they believed they could have easily crushed Xia Liu.


    "Hehe, Family Head Ye has arrived at Xia Liu''s side. I wonder what kind of confidence he has to participate in the martial combat!"


    "Haha, let''s not even talk about that Earth-Rank High-Level youth just now. No matter how you look at it, Xia Liu seems to have only a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation. The outcome is already clear."


    "I heard that the Meteor Sect''s Stellar Scar Fist is extremely fast. If Xia Liu is only at a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation, he probably won''t last more than a few seconds."


    Hearing the discussion of the Earth-Rank warriors around them, those Earth-Rank warriors who knew some details about Xia Liu all laughed.


    "Sense it for a moment. What rank is that young man from the Ye Family who just released that pressure?"


    No one knew who said this, but Lin Xiaotian suddenly became the focus of the present Earth-Rank warriors.


    They all released their inner Qi to sense, and the next second, they all furrowed their brows.


    At this moment, Lin Xiaotian was actually only at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation!


    What does this mean?


    He had a secret technique to hide his cultivation.


    Suddenly, some insightful martial artists thought back to the previous combats, where the young martial artists fighting against Xia Liu had all conceded.


    This was definitely not a coincidence, but because they knew the details about Xia Liu, they knew how terrifying he was!


    These words were whispered quietly, and everyone couldn''t help but gasp.


    Terrible!


    Indeed terrible. If Xia Liu, like Lin Xiaotian, was hiding an Earth-Rank High-Level or even Earth-Rank Peak cultivation, then this martial combat would become truly dreadful.


    "Family Head Ye is really keeping his cards close to his chest. It seems this year''s martial combat champion will be from the Ye Family."


    "Alas¡­ When will our sect produce such a talented youth¡­"


    After understanding the situation, many sect leaders and family heads started to complain.


    But as the fight on the stage began, they became puzzled again because Xia Liu''s energy remained at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level from start to finish! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bang!


    Their palms met, Xia Liu and Lin Yu both retreated to the edges of the arena.


    "Haha, if you''re just at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, then I have surely won this bout!"


    After testing a few moves, Lin Yu had confirmed that Xia Liu truly only had Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation.


    Not only did Lin Yu confirm this, but the Earth-Rank warriors below were also so surprised that they couldn''t close their mouths.


    Before, they had thought Xia Liu was hiding his cultivation, but seeing Lin Yu overpowering him made them all astonished.


    "This isn''t necessarily the case. Who says cultivation determines everything? Energy may be fundamental, but martial arts skills are also extremely important," Xia Liu said with a faint smile in response to Lin Yu''s assured words.


    "Oh? So you''re saying that you can compensate for your foundational weakness with martial arts skills?" Lin Yu became interested, thinking it was probably the coldest joke he had ever heard.


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    In the Warrior Realm, who doesn''t know that the foundation is where a martial artist''s strength lies? No matter how cunning your martial arts skills may be, a strong inner Qi is enough to shatter any martial arts skills.


    "Haha, I can''t believe he would say such a ridiculous thing."


    "Hmph, had it not been for someone protecting him, he would have been fixed up earlier."


    "All of you, keep your voices down. Do you want to die?"


    The young men who had gone with Luo Dao to trouble Xia Liu, unable to stand Xia Liu''s pretense, murmured quietly among themselves.


    Not only them, but the Earth-Rank warriors in the audience who did not know the details about Xia Liu also continuously discussed the matter.


    They didn''t think Xia Liu could win over Lin Yu, who was at Mysterious Rank Peak, with only Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation, no matter how powerful his martial arts skills were.

 Chapter 348 Martial Arts Prodigy

    "Heh, enough talk, throw your punch already!"


    Xia Liu shook his head. Too much explanation was useless; for martial artists below Earth Rank, their Inner Qi wasn''t deep enough, and their Martial Arts Skill became their strength.


    "Hmph! Then I''ll let you see the power of my Meteor Sect''s Stellar Scar Fist!"


    With a cold snort, Lin Yu clenched both fists, his Inner Qi flowing seamlessly as he struck!


    Watching Lin Yu''s fist technique startup, Xia Liu shrugged: "Stellar Scar Fist, huh... I know a bit of it myself."


    As his words fell, Xia Liu also clenched his fist, his Spiritual Energy scattering about, fully displaying the extreme speed of Stellar Scar.


    The Stellar Scar Fist was famous for its speed, and within that speed, it incorporated extreme force, making it a rather classic Martial Arts Skill.


    Seeing Xia Liu''s Stellar Scar Fist startup, many martial artists below the stage couldn''t help but think of laughing.


    This Lin Yu was the Chief Disciple of the Meteor Sect''s Sect Master, and his Stellar Scar Fist had even reached the Peak Transformed Boundary Realm.


    Although they didn''t know where Xia Liu had learned the Stellar Scar Fist, comparing it with the secret technique of the sect that created it was simply asking to lose face.


    "Haha! To talk about the Stellar Scar Fist with the Meteor Sect''s Chief Disciple is practically seeking death."


    "Ah, jealousy kills, the guy has an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak martial artist as a backer. Even if he loses, he''ll still have face."


    "Heh, without personal strength, having all those backers is still trash."


    "That''s right, this Xia Liu is just luckier than us. When it comes to real strength, he''s far too inferior."


    ...


    Listening to the nonsensical discussions of the martial artists around him, Lin Xiaotian made no comment.


    Stellar Scar Fist of the Meteor Sect? That simple Martial Arts Skill? Back then, Lin Xiaotian hadn''t even wanted to cultivate it, but it was touted as the Meteor Sect''s signature move.


    Reluctantly, Lin Xiaotian learned it, and later, he taught it to Xia Liu.


    Yes, our famous Lin Xiaotian was the cultivation maniac known for integrating the strengths of various sects'' Martial Arts.


    Abroad, Lin Xiaotian often practiced certain sects'' Martial Arts in front of Xia Liu. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, if Xia Liu took a liking to that Martial Arts, he would straight away pass the secrets to Xia Liu.


    To Lin Xiaotian''s surprise, Xia Liu could understand and apply what he practiced after just one session.


    He was even more adept than martial artists who had cultivated the technique for years.


    "Haha! That''s definitely the startup of the Stellar Scar Fist, now let''s see how much you''ve learned!"


    Lin Yu laughed wildly, even though he didn''t know where Xia Liu had gotten the secret tome of the Stellar Scar Fist.


    But for him, with his Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation, to use Stellar Scar Fist against himself, that was him looking for defeat, not Lin Yu being unkind.


    Without giving Xia Liu a chance to respond, Lin Yu stepped forward to attack immediately.


    Puff puff!!!


    The Stellar Scar Fist was not only fast; it also possessed great strength. Every time Lin Yu threw a punch, a deep whooshing sound tore through the air.


    "Your punches are too slow..."


    Watching Lin Yu advancing with his punches, Xia Liu shook his head.


    Lin Yu''s expression became serious and his steps quickened.


    An outsider daring to trivialize the signature technique of the Meteor Sect, how could this not anger them?


    As Lin Yu drew closer, Xia Liu increased his Spiritual Energy, his movement technique accentuated by trailing afterimages.


    In the instant of their exchange, Lin Yu''s punches, swift as a hurricane, aimed straight for Xia Liu.


    "Still too slow!"


    Between the bantering, Xia Liu''s afterimages flickered into existence, and his Stellar Scar Fist struck with force.


    Although Lin Yu, being at the Mysterious Rank Peak, was somewhat slower, it was still difficult for Xia Liu to hit him at his current speed.


    Dodging to avoid the blows, Lin Yu clenched his fists and increased his Energy, attacking Xia Liu once more.


    And Xia Liu, facing Lin Yu, of course also used the Stellar Scar Fist.


    Both sides exchanged blows, their clash resounding throughout the vicinity.


    The martial artists below the stage were dumbfounded.


    Xia Liu was indeed countering Lin Yu with the Stellar Scar Fist.


    Moreover, he responded with the same fist technique at the Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Cultivation.


    Even amidst his unbeaten streak, some martial artists could discern that Xia Liu had gained some upper hand!


    Numerous fist shadows writhed before Xia Liu.


    As the duel intensified, everyone was agape with astonishment.


    Because Xia Liu''s Stellar Scar Fist was even more exquisite compared to Lin Yu''s.


    If it is said that Lin Yu had attained the Spirit State of Stellar Scar Fist,


    Then Xia Liu had achieved the Divine State!


    Refining a martial arts skill until it embodies spirit is considered truly integrating and mastering it.


    If one refines a martial arts skill until it embodies divinity, that suggests surpassing the limits of the skill and reaching a higher realm.


    By now, many martial artists had realized that Xia Liu was not just proficient in the Stellar Scar Fist, but he had brought it to its peak and even beyond!


    "Sect Master Wu, your sect''s Stellar Scar Fist seems to have been brought to another realm by him," someone remarked.


    "This youth is truly a martial arts prodigy, for he has managed to bring the Stellar Scar Fist to such a level," another person exclaimed.


    ...


    Listening to the surrounding crowd''s words of admiration, Sect Master Wu of the Meteor Sect did not respond.


    His face was already streaked with dismay, as an Outer Sect martial artist had mastered their sect''s signature technique to this extent, which was a slap in the face.


    Alarming!


    The crowd was again left dumbfounded.


    Those who had previously scorned Xia Liu were slapped across the face once more.


    Just like the old generation of martial artists used to say, Energy is the foundation of a martial artist, while martial arts skills are the branches and leaves; a sturdy foundation leads to flourishing branches and leaves, and both are essential and complementary to each other.


    Nowadays, Xia Liu''s branches and leaves were flourishing, and even with a Low-Rank foundation, he still had a chance to defeat Lin Yu.


    Up on the stage, Lin Yu''s fight became increasingly perilous.


    That very technique that was the strongest in his sect, now wielded by an outsider, Xia Liu, to defeat him.


    With countless sects and families watching, if he were to lose, it would impact the honor of his sect.


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    "I cannot lose, I must not lose!" Lin Yu roared, with Inner Qi enveloping his body.


    He planned to unleash all his cultivation in one strike to take down Xia Liu.


    "Ha!"


    With a loud shout, Lin Yu burst forth with all his Qi Force, with Inner Qi surging through his body, all converging into his fists.


    Seeing this, Xia Liu also increased his energy but paid more attention to his movement technique.


    It was most ideal to secure victory by being clever and winning without revealing more of his cultivation.


    Amidst the fervent gazes of many martial artists, Xia Liu and Lin Yu each exhibited their movement techniques on the stage.


    But more martial artists were trembling at the sight of Xia Liu''s movement technique, which was too fast for the naked eye to see, leaving only afterimages on the platform.


    For a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level martial artist to utilize such a movement technique was enough to shake the entire audience.


    "Hm? This person''s movement technique looks like the masked man from last night..."


    In the Immeasurable Sect disciples'' area, Song Jie couldn''t help but murmur to himself as he watched Xia Liu.


    But after pondering carefully, it didn''t seem right; the masked person''s cultivation from last night was on par with his, and that person had executed that terrifying martial arts skill.


    Even if that person was still in the Immeasurable Sect, it couldn''t possibly be Xia Liu.


    Right, it couldn''t possibly be Xia Liu...


    Song Jie comforted himself in his heart.


    Thud!


    In the midst of Song Jie''s speculations, a dull sound spread from the stage.


    A figure in white arced beautifully through the air before crashing to the ground.


    The crowd was stupefied in succession, for the person who had been sent flying from the stage was Lin Yu!


    As the Chief Disciple of the Meteor Sect and the rightful heir to the Stellar Scar Fist, he had actually lost to a disciple from another sect, and what''s more, he was defeated using the Stellar Scar Fist, which was a frightening thought.

 Chapter 349 Immeasurable Island, Inner Sect

    Whoosh!


    "He actually won!"


    "I''m not seeing things, am I?"


    "A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level martial artist won by relying on the signature martial arts skill of the other party''s sect!"


    ...


    Once the victory was confirmed, the Earth-Rank warriors in the crowd started exclaiming in astonishment.


    Their experience was indeed vast, but it was rare to see a martial artist leap over two ranks in just a few years!


    Mysterious Rank Peak and Mysterious Rank Mid-Level differ by two small ranks.


    While there''s no heaven and earth difference, the foundation between the two is not equal at all.


    Yet the result was that Lin Yu, a Mysterious Rank Peak, still lost.


    Luo Dao and the others were all dumbfounded, as Xia Liu had once again strongly slapped their faces.


    "I announce, Xia Liu of the Ye Family is victorious! Next, please welcome the Qingjian Sect..."


    As Mo Feng announced the result, Xia Liu silently stepped down from the arena.


    To win against a Mysterious Rank Peak was nothing; now that one Spirit Stabilizing Needle had been removed, he could even defeat an Earth-Rank High-Level without resorting to a Spirit Art.


    Xia Liu lost interest in watching the following fights, his quota was already in hand.


    Taking advantage of the heated battle on the stage, he and Lin Xiaotian quietly left the scene.


    Not long after Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian returned to their accommodation, the room door was knocked on.


    Lin Xiaotian went to open the door, only to see Lin Yu standing there.


    "Senior!"


    Upon seeing Lin Xiaotian, Lin Yu immediately clasped his fists and paid his respects, not daring to forget what had transpired in the pavilion.


    "No need for ''senior''; just say why you''re here," Lin Xiaotian replied with a faint smile.


    "I... I came to ask for some guidance," Lin Yu mumbled, lowering his head after hesitating for a while.


    When he saw Xia Liu bring his Stellar Scar Fist to the Transformed Boundary Realm, he knew he had lost.


    "Xiaotian, let him in," just as Lin Xiaotian was about to say something, Xia Liu''s voice came out from inside the house.


    "Alright..."


    Seeing the helpless look on Lin Xiaotian''s face, Lin Yu''s heart was shocked once again.


    Looking at him, Lin Xiaotian, an Earth-Rank High-Level at the peak, seemed to be following Xia Liu''s words!


    It was like the feeling between a subordinate and a superior.


    Lin Yu swallowed a few times and hurriedly entered the door, not daring to imagine how many secrets Xia Liu had hidden.


    "Xia..."


    "I know why you''ve come to see me." Just as Lin Yu was about to clasp his fists and bow, Xia Liu stretched out his hand to stop him.


    "Uh, please give me your guidance on the Stellar Scar Fist, Senior Xia Liu," even though Xia Liu stopped him, Lin Yu still bowed deeply with his fists clasped.


    "You''re not like Luo Dao and the rest. Even after a loss, you''re still so eager to learn; I admire that about you."


    "Thank you for your appreciation, Senior Xia Liu."


    Even if Xia Liu''s cultivation was not as high-strength as his own, being able to cultivate a martial arts skill to such a level made it natural to call him senior.


    "Seeing that you and Xiaotian are both so passionate about cultivation, why not let him give you some pointers on the Stellar Scar Fist," Xia Liu said after thinking for a moment, looking towards Lin Xiaotian.


    "Ah! This..."


    Lin Yu was somewhat at a loss when he saw Xia Liu pushing him towards Lin Xiaotian.


    It was true that Lin Xiaotian was an Earth-Rank High-Level warrior, but the Stellar Scar Fist was something that could be trained to the Transformed Boundary Realm with high-strength cultivation.


    "Kid, you should be satisfied. Xia Liu''s Stellar Scar Fist was also passed down from me; damn it, if you don''t want my guidance, I don''t want to teach you either," Lin Xiaotian retorted.


    "Ah! Senior, please don''t misunderstand. It''s just that I was too excited, and in the spur of the moment, I didn''t know what to say, leading to my hesitation," Lin Yu hurriedly responded, startled by Lin Xiaotian''s words.


    It turned out Xia Liu had learned his moves from him.


    But thinking about it, it made sense¡ªLin Xiaotian being an Earth-Rank High-Level warrior guiding a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level martial artist to train the Stellar Scar Fist to an external boundary¡ªthis was absolute capability.


    Following Xia Liu''s instructions, Lin Xiaotian took Lin Yu out for practice.


    It wasn''t until late at night that Lin Xiaotian returned to his room, removed his bamboo hat, and Xia Liu saw a look of worry on his face.


    "What, did you run into Bai Lili by any chance?"


    "You guessed right, I was instructing Lin Yu by the beach, when she unexpectedly stood on the dam watching me¡­"


    "You didn''t expose yourself, did you?" Xia Liu asked, somewhat surprised.


    "If I had exposed myself, I might not have been able to return." Lin Xiaotian said with a bitter expression on his face.


    "Hehe, don''t worry, in a couple of days I''ll confront the Immeasurable Sect with you," Xia Liu said with a light chuckle, his unwavering conviction shining through, leaving no room for doubt.


    "Alright!"


    ¡­


    The next morning, the Immeasurable Sect disciples knocked on the door at the same time as the day before.


    Once everyone had gathered, under the leadership of Mo Feng, they were about to truly enter the Immeasurable Sect.


    "Hehe! Finally, I can witness the grandeur of the Immeasurable Sect for myself!"


    "I heard from the Family Head that the Immeasurable Sect''s spirit is earth-shattering, with eight halls and nine palaces that are unmatched throughout history!"


    "Of course! The Immeasurable Sect has several thousand disciples; such a great sect is definitely magnificent."


    ¡­


    On the way to the Immeasurable Sect, many of the young martial artists visiting for the first time were exceedingly excited.


    "I''ve heard the Family Head say, as long as you pass the Immeasurable Sect''s assessment, you can become a disciple of the Immeasurable Sect!"


    "Tsk tsk, I''ve heard too, being a disciple of the Immeasurable Sect would allow one to stand tall wherever one goes!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    The ones discussing joining the Immeasurable Sect were from martial artist families.


    It''s fair to say that these martial artist families came not only for rewards.


    They came more so in hopes that their younger generations could join the Immeasurable Sect.


    Joining the Immeasurable Sect meant that their family would have a powerful backing in the future!


    Then outside, which family or sect would dare to provoke?


    Even if someone wanted to cause trouble, they would have to consider the Immeasurable Sect disciples within their family.


    So, every time the Immeasurable Sect held a martial combat tournament, families or sects would have five spots.


    Two would participate in the competition, while the other three came for trial.


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    If they reached the standards of the Immeasurable Sect for accepting disciples, then that family would make a fortune.


    As for those sects, they too wanted to form some relationship with the Immeasurable Sect, so that they could have prestige in the Warrior Realm and it would also serve as defense against enemies.


    Xia Liu wasn''t interested in any of that; even if he joined the Immeasurable Sect, his cultivation would not rise to another level because of it.


    "The Inner Sect is approaching, everyone, please quiet down a bit."


    After passing through the peripheral woods, a disciple of the Immeasurable Sect started instructing.


    Xia Liu looked up and was immediately astonished by the sight of the Immeasurable Sect three thousand meters away.


    He saw tall halls standing tall under the azure sky.


    There, the numerous buildings reached a terrifying three-digit number.


    Before even entering the Inner Sect''s range, people began to get excited.


    Because everything that appeared before their eyes was just too damn beautiful.


    Blue sky, ocean, white clouds!


    It was only when standing on the beachside that the newly-arrived warriors could clearly see that the Inner Sect was built on the largest island.


    "That is Immeasurable Island."


    Pointing at the towering island ahead, an Earth-Rank Warrior said enviously.


    "Immeasurable Island..." Looking at the beautiful island across the shore, Xia Liu murmured: "Immeasurable Island is beautiful, I hope the hearts of the people here are also beautiful..."

 Chapter 350 Peak, Bai Shixiong

    The seas where the Outer Islands and Immeasurable Island meet are filled with planks drifting between them.


    After dozens of minutes of transport, everyone finally set foot on Immeasurable Island.


    Walking a few meters forward, everyone saw the disciples from the Inner Sect, different from those on the Outer Islands.


    On this island, the disciples of the Immeasurable Sect all carried longswords on their backs.


    That''s right, the Immeasurable Sect was also known by another name, the Immeasurable Sword Sect!


    The Sect possessed numerous martial arts skills, but the primary focus of their cultivation was the sword.


    After Song Jie, Mo Feng, and others arrived on the island, several disciples brought swords over for them.


    With a sword slung on his back, a strong sense of confidence spread from Song Jie; he couldn''t help but imagine that if he had carried his Blue Peak the night before, he would have definitely defeated the masked person.


    "Everyone, please hurry a bit, the Sect Leader is waiting in the hall ahead,"


    said a disciple from the Immeasurable Sect, and the crowd quickened their pace.


    It was unprecedented for the Sect Leader of the Immeasurable Sect to personally receive them.


    After walking for a dozen minutes, the group passed through a bamboo forest and reached the outskirts of the Inner Sect.


    In front of them was a vast Sect with towering buildings that stood imposingly.


    The Reception Hall of the Immeasurable Sect, one of the eight halls, was only slightly less grand than the main hall.


    The Reception Hall was spacious, able to accommodate a thousand people without feeling crowded.


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian stood among the crowd in the middle with the three members of the Ye Family.


    Lin Xiaotian''s cheeks were hidden by the brim of his hat, but it wasn''t absolute; if Bai Shixiong noticed him, the situation would probably erupt into chaos.


    "Haha! Bai Shixiong welcomes all esteemed friends to the Immeasurable Sect,"


    As everyone waited quietly, a hearty laugh echoed from behind the hall.


    Following the sound was a white-haired martial artist wearing a purple robe and a purple crown from the Immeasurable Sect.


    As he walked, his Earth-Rank Peak cultivation poured out; although he had white hair, his appearance resembled a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What was most strikingly admirable were his sharp eyes; locking eyes with him gave rise to the erroneous thought that he could see right through everything about oneself.


    "Sect Master Bai!"


    All the Earth-Rank Warriors in the venue clasped their fists in salute.


    Bai Shixiong only showed up during the final stage of the previous competitions.


    No one expected that in this edition of the Martial Combat Contest, he would come out to meet them personally; it felt like an honor.


    Countless people looked at Bai Shixiong with envy, not just because of his status, but also due to his cultivation.


    An Earth-Rank Peak Warrior!


    The first under the Heaven Rank!


    Only one step away from ascending to the status of a Heaven-Rank Warrior, the goal of nearly all martial artists.


    And Bai Shixiong was just a hair''s breadth away from that step!


    "I am delighted that everyone has continued to support the Martial Combat Contest of the Immeasurable Sect. Today is incredibly important for you, and it is equally significant for the Immeasurable Sect because we will all witness who among the younger generation is a monster and who will be the young powerhouse to gain entry to the Library Pavilion!"


    Bai Shixiong stood impressively on the low platform, hands clasped behind his back, officially yet continuously scrutinizing the crowd below.


    "Haha! The monster of the younger generation!"


    "Sect Master Bai is right, the warrior who wins the contest unquestionably deserves the title of a monster,"


    ...


    Many Earth-Rank Warriors within the hall cheered enthusiastically.


    As for the disciples who came to participate in the martial combat or to watch, not one dared to utter a word.


    The present moment belonged to a high-level dialogue between Earth-Rank Warriors, leaders of sects, and heads of families.


    "Mo Feng, take our friends to Tongming Hall for some refreshments."


    "Yes!"


    Upon receiving Bai Shixiong''s order, Mo Feng immediately began to carry it out.


    As for everyone else, they all knew the rules. Today there would be a tournament fight, just like before, decided by elimination to determine the spots.


    So after finishing their meal, the platform combat was set to begin!


    This match garnered the enthusiastic attention of everyone because most of the participants were Earth-Rank Warriors!


    The battle of Earth-Rank Warriors was something spectacular no matter where it took place.


    Moreover, by watching Earth-Rank Warriors fight, Mysterious Rank Warriors and Yellow-Rank Martial Artists could both gain a lot.


    "Xiaotian, your father-in-law is quite impressive, he seems very amiable," Xia Liu said teasingly as they walked toward Tongming Hall, recalling his first impression of Bai Shixiong.


    "Ah, if only that were true it would be great, Earth-Rank Peak!" Lin Xiaotian sighed helplessly.


    He had thought that his years of desperate martial arts training had caught him up to Bai Shixiong.


    But to his surprise, Bai Shixiong''s cultivation had actually reached Earth-Rank Peak!


    "Just Earth-Rank Peak. I feel like, if you were to go all out, you would have a very good chance of beating him."


    "That''s not necessarily true. The supreme beings below Heaven Rank are not just one step but a large step ahead of those at Earth-Rank High-Level."


    "Have some confidence in yourself. At present, your Inner Qi is gradually condensing into mist, and I estimate you''ll advance before long. At that time, with some more effort, you can ascend to Heaven Rank!"


    Xia Liu, although he had not undergone martial arts training, had some understanding of martial artists.


    To judge how profound someone''s foundation was, you only needed to look at the quality of their Inner Qi.


    Now, Lin Xiaotian''s Inner Qi was not much different from that of an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior.


    If Lin Xiaotian were to fight Bai Shixiong, and the former burst forth from the start, there was a chance he could win.


    "Who can be sure about this..." The expression under Lin Xiaotian''s bamboo hat was filled with helplessness.


    "Don''t worry, I''m here, no one can touch you."


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    ...


    At the Reception Hall, Bai Shixiong, with an indifferent gaze, watched Song Jie: "Did you find out anything?"


    Bai Shixiong was very concerned about the incident from the night before; someone had dared to impersonate an acquaintance of the Sect Master and come to Immeasurable Sect.


    That person''s martial arts skills and Inner Qi were both extremely peculiar. Upon hearing this news, Bai Shixiong was intrigued.


    And upon learning that this person had come for his daughter, his interest was coupled with a surge of chilling intent.


    "This disciple is not capable enough; there has been no news of the mysterious person since that night."


    "Song Jie, don''t blame yourself. I see your abilities. Leave this matter to me to deal with fully, and you go take care of the Martial Combat Contest," Bai Shixiong had expected this outcome.


    He had visited his daughter yesterday, and she was colder than before, Bai Shixiong had a hunch, this mystery must be related to that monster!


    "This disciple accepts the command!" After bowing with a fist salute, Song Jie quickly departed.


    "Jiawei!" After Song Jie left, Bai Shixiong called out in a deep voice.


    "Present!"


    Shortly after, a martial artist with a longsword on his back came striding from the inner hall.


    Feng Jiawei had a cold expression, even when facing Bai Shixiong.


    "Among all disciples, you have the strongest perception power, and your cultivation is at Mysterious Rank High-Level, so I have a task for you."


    "Sect Leader, Honored Master, please give your orders,"


    "That monster might have returned. Blend in with the martial artists who have come to the sect, and as soon as you discover anything, report immediately!"


    "Hmm?" Upon hearing the word monster, Feng Jiawei hesitated, the memories sealed deep within his heart slowly began to unfold.


    "Lin Xiaotian!"


    Upon the name''s utterance, an Earth-Rank Peak oppressive aura burst forth from Bai Shixiong.

 Chapter 351 Everyone is Here [Fifth Update]

    "Lin Xiaotian!"


    Upon hearing this name, Feng Jiawei likewise trembled.


    Five years ago, this name had already resonated throughout the Immeasurable Sect.


    The incident that happened made everyone in the Immeasurable Sect remember this name.


    Unexpectedly, after five years, this name appeared again!


    "We cannot be sure yet, so I need you to work hard. Once confirmed, report immediately!"


    "I will obey the master''s orders!"


    After giving a bow, Feng Jiawei left the Reception Hall.


    In the moment that Feng Jiawei left, Bai Shixiong frowned, his gaze shooting toward the entrance of the hall.


    There, several graceful figures were stepping lightly into the inner parts of the sect.


    Leading them was Bai Lili, her face veiled.


    Seeing his daughter enter the Inner Sect, Bai Shixiong clenched his fists, wanting to go forward and talk to her, but he feared it might stir up painful memories for her.


    "Lin Xiaotian! If you dare to show yourself, I will grind you into dust!"


    ...


    In the Tongming Hall, after everyone had eaten, Mo Feng led them through the Inner Sect while heading to the dueling arena!


    Now, no one paid attention to the surrounding splendid scenery; they were all eager to witness the final matches.


    Aside from Xia Liu and the other four Mysterious Rank Warriors, all the rest were Earth-Rank Warriors!


    This kind of thrilling duel was more captivating than any beautiful scenery.


    "Hm?" While walking, Lin Xiaotian suddenly felt a pressure coming over him, causing him to frown immediately.


    "Someone has noticed you¡ªa High-Level Earth-Rank Warrior," Xia Liu also felt a powerful pressure sweep over him.


    It took a careful search to discover the source of the pressure was just a High-Level Earth-Rank cultivator.


    "I know." His gaze from beneath his hat glanced in a certain direction, his indifferent words drifting through the air.


    "An acquaintance?"


    "You could say that. There''s only one warrior in the Immeasurable Sect with this kind of perceptive power."


    "Will he report you?" Xia Liu was a bit worried; if Lin Xiaotian were discovered, the war would start instantly.


    "Not sure. It''s been too long since we last met; he might not even see through my identity."


    "Then we can only take it one step at a time."


    Hm.


    Setting aside this matter, Xia Liu shifted his focus to the large arena they were entering.


    The arena in front of them resembled an ancient Roman coliseum, with no seating below three meters around the edge.


    The design was very reasonable. Given the power of Earth-Rank Warriors'' moves, it was imperative not to accidentally hurt the spectators.


    Under Mo Feng''s arrangement, only the ten qualified warriors remained in the arena while the rest took their seats in the stands.


    The stands were quite large, capable of accommodating over a thousand people, but since only a few hundred had come, many had their choice of preferred seating.


    However, most still preferred to crowd together, like Luo Dao and others.


    As for Lin Xiaotian, he chose a spot at the very back of the stands.


    "Look! That masked woman!"


    "Whoa! It''s actually Bai Lili!"


    "Damn! Bai Lili is here to watch the match, how can I sit still? Don''t hold me back, I''m going on stage to show off!"


    "No one''s holding you back. Go on, then, go duel with the Earth-Rank warriors."


    ...


    Upon seeing Bai Lili, Luo Dao and a group of young people all grew excited.


    However, just thirty meters away from Bai Lili, Lin Xiaotian remained completely still.


    However, despite outward appearances, beneath the hat, his face was already subtly crumbling.


    The female warriors behind Bai Lili randomly chose seats and sat down.


    As for her, she was quietly walking towards Lin Xiaotian.


    One step, two steps, three steps.


    The distance between them was only ten meters, Lin Xiaotian held his hands tightly.


    He feared he couldn''t control himself and reveal himself, he couldn''t let anyone discover him now.


    Before Xia Liu obtained the Cultivation Technique, he had to be cautious, Lin Xiaotian closed his eyes, recited the mantra silently, and cleared all the distractions from his mind.


    Meanwhile, Bai Lili also stopped walking and sat down in the front row.


    While paying attention to the arena, Bai Lili''s peripheral vision was entirely fixed on Lin Xiaotian.


    For some reason, as soon as she entered the venue, she felt guided here and then focused on that man wearing a hat whose face was indiscernible.


    In the past, she might have remained unaffected, but ever since Xia Liu had threatened her, her heart had gradually revived.


    "Greetings to all seniors and colleagues, Mo Feng once again serves as the host. I would now introduce the high-strength warriors of the final round of competition!"


    Mo Feng''s voice, charged with Inner Qi, reached everyone''s ears clearly and succinctly.


    "First, from the Ye Family: Ye Tian, as well as Xia Liu!"


    "Disciple from the Wudang Sect: Zhang Xiantian!"


    ...


    The audience attentively listened as Mo Feng made the introductions.


    At the end, they realized that among those ten warriors, only one force had two spots, specifically the Ye Family!


    "Family Head Ye, congratulations indeed, the odds of winning are quite significant."


    "Haha, indeed, only the Ye Family got two spots until the end."


    "Ye Family really is a lineage with profound heritage, we sects are indeed envious."


    ...


    Listening to a few Earth-Rank Warriors around him expressing their admiration, Ye Yongyuan squinted and smiled: "My friends flatter the Ye Family. Ye Tian''s cultivation is just at Earth-Rank Primary Level. It''s nearly impossible for him to win..."


    "Heh! There is still Xia Liu! Ye Family will definitely emerge victorious this time!"


    "Yeah, there is also Xia Liu, whose mastery in Martial Arts Skills is unparalleled!"


    ...


    Ye Yongyuan remained silent, and his smile gradually stiffened.


    At first, he thought these people were truly admiring the Ye Family, but unexpectedly, the tone changed to mockery!


    "Ye Family is doing well this year. Just one question though, if it''s a family clan, why does that young man have the surname Xia?"


    "Eh! It''s Sect Master Bai!"


    "Sect Master Bai!"


    Seeing Bai Shixiong appear, everyone stopped their heated discussions; they had just intended to mock Ye Yongyuan some more, but now it seemed there was no chance.


    "This is because Xia Liu is from a certain external vein system, hence the different surname," Ye Yongyuan explained immediately amidst the tension.


    "Hmm, a very commendable young man. Although the competition involves some luck, fighting his way here with Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation shows his caliber," commented Bai Shixiong. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Shixiong had been attracted to Xia Liu the first time he saw him, always feeling that this young man held some mystery, perhaps not as simple as he seemed.


    "Sect Master Bai is right, this Xia Liu managed to defeat a warrior at the Mysterious Rank Peak with his Mysterious Rank Mid-Level cultivation!"


    "Hmm? There''s such a matter." Someone divulged the news, and Bai Shixiong grew even more interested in Xia Liu. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    Fighting above one''s level isn''t unheard of, but winning is very rare.


    Xia Liu had managed to overcome two levels and defeat his opponent, showing he was no ordinary competitor.


    Bai Shixiong had a plan; he wanted to recruit Xia Liu into the Immeasurable Sect!


    He was very confident that if Xia Liu joined his sect, within ten years, he would definitely advance him to Earth Rank and greatly improve his Martial Arts Skills.

 Chapter 352 I admit defeat

    "Hmm, Xia Liu indeed challenged beyond his Rank and won convincingly."


    "If this young man can receive further cultivation, his future is absolutely immeasurable."


    ...


    Seeing Sect Master Bai hesitating, the Earth-Rank Warriors around started analyzing aloud.


    "Family Head Ye, your clansman is extremely talented. I wonder, have you considered letting him join the Immeasurable Sect?"


    After a moment of silence, Bai Shixiong asked with a half-smile.


    "Ah! Congratulations, Family Head Ye!"


    "Hehe, congratulations, Family Head Ye. Sect Master Bai hasn''t taken any disciples for years, and this year he has made an exception!"


    "He is truly the luckiest, being able to join the Immeasurable Sect!"


    ...


    Hearing that Bai Shixiong took the initiative to recruit Xia Liu, the Family Heads of the surrounding martial families were filled with envy.


    This had a different meaning than joining the Immeasurable Sect through normal selection.


    As soon as Xia Liu became a disciple of the Immeasurable Sect, the Ye Family''s fortunes would rise dramatically.


    Having the support of a powerhouse like the Immeasurable Sect is the dream of countless martial families.


    Today, however, they could only look on enviously.


    They wished their own families had such a monstrously talented youth so that Bai Shixiong would also break the norm and actively recruit them.


    Compared to the envy and excitement of the others, Ye Yongyuan felt nothing but bitterness.


    Who was Xia Liu? A powerful fighter who defeated five Earth-Rank Warriors on his own and emerged victorious.


    Moreover, his origins were a mystery; it seemed impossible for him to join the Immeasurable Sect.


    "Sect Master Bai, Xia Liu is somewhat arrogant. Whether he wants to join the Immeasurable Sect, we would still need to ask for his opinion," said Ye Yongyuan.


    Whoosh!


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    Upon hearing Ye Yongyuan''s words, the Earth-Rank Warriors who were unfamiliar with Xia Liu began to tremble.


    Ye Yongyuan, the head of the Ye Family, was admitting his inability to control Xia Liu¡ªit was simply unheard of.


    Moreover, to refuse Bai Shixiong in front of so many people, how could Sect Master Bai maintain his dignity?


    Even if Xia Liu was outstanding, he was ultimately only at the Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, and it was unlikely that Bai Shixiong would take the initiative to recruit him again.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors who had been waiting for the boat with Xia Liu were unfazed.


    Lin Xiaotian had previously hidden his cultivation, only to burst out at Earth-Rank High-Level Peak.


    Xia Liu had clearly also concealed his cultivation, but what Rank could he burst forth with?


    Definitely not Mysterious Rank Mid-Level. Now, the martial combat tournament was getting more interesting.


    "Hehe, I can understand your helplessness. I will personally ask him after the first round has ended," said Bai Shixiong in a polite response to Ye Yongyuan, indicating he would personally seek out Xia Liu, nearly causing everyone to bite their tongues in astonishment.


    At the same time, many people discerned the implications in Bai Shixiong''s words.


    If the first round ends, isn''t he implying that Xia Liu wouldn''t make it to the second round?


    Indeed, everyone would think the same.


    In this round, besides Xia Liu, there were five Earth-Rank Warriors and four Mysterious Rank Peak Warriors.


    Xia Liu, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, might have won before, but that counted for nothing.


    This round would not be so simple. If he unluckily drew an Earth-Rank Warrior as his opponent, it would be the end for him.


    Ye Yongyuan smiled without saying a word; he knew what Xia Liu was fighting for in the martial combat.


    To enter the Library Pavilion and find a Cultivation Technique!


    With just this goal in mind, Xia Liu would not lose.


    Because among the Earth-Rank Warriors participating in the combat, the highest Rank was only Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak.


    Without even an Earth-Rank High-Level, how could Xia Liu possibly lose?


    "Next, we invite the contestants participating in the arena combat to come up and draw lots!"


    Just as everyone was about to comment, Mo Feng''s voice overpowered them.


    Whoever draws the corresponding number will be the opposing duo.


    Minutes later, the outcome was revealed. By fate or coincidence, Xia Liu had drawn Ye Tian!


    The two looked eye to eye, and a bitter smile gradually appeared on Ye Tian''s face...


    "The result is out, so let''s not waste any more words, and move directly into the first bout!"


    Looking at the list in his hand, Mo Feng said solemnly, "The first match, Ye Family: Ye Tian versus Ye Family''s Xia Liu!"


    "Pfft!"


    "Haha! It really happens that a family having two martial artists in the end would encounter this kind of situation."


    "Hehe, I remember this is the first time in decades that a family has had two people reach the finals."


    "Haha! Now this will be interesting to watch, an internal fight, and whoever wins will compete for the title of champion."


    "I think they won''t really fight."


    "Definitely not, they''re from the same family, not to mention they''re on good terms, and the gap in cultivation is there, Xia Liu is probably going to admit defeat this time."


    "Yeah, that''s what I think too, Xia Liu is going to admit defeat."


    On the observation platform, everyone was discussing enthusiastically, and the majority believed Xia Liu would admit defeat. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only a few people acquainted with Young Master Liao were aware of Xia Liu''s details, so they believed that if someone were to admit defeat, it would be Ye Tian.


    "Haha! Before it was others admitting defeat, now it''s finally his turn to do so!"


    "Humph! If he doesn''t admit defeat, won''t he get beaten to death by the Earth-Rank Warrior later?"


    ¡­


    Watching Xia Liu and Ye Tian enter the arena, Luo Dao and others couldn''t help but sneer.


    It seemed no matter how you looked at it, it was Xia Liu who was going to admit defeat.


    Ye Tian had peak Earth-Rank Primary Level cultivation, and if he advanced, it would be of great benefit to the Ye Family.


    And Xia Liu was only a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, unless Ye Tian had been kicked in the head by a donkey, there was no way he would admit defeat.


    However, the next second, something inconceivable happened on the stage.


    After exchanging a courteous fist salute with Xia Liu, a sincere voice came from Ye Tian''s mouth: "I admit defeat!"


    "Damn!"


    "Crap! I must be going blind!"


    "I must be hallucinating too!"


    Luo Dao and the others looked on, dumbstruck; they had been confiden Xia Liu would be the one admitting defeat.


    But, unexpectedly, it was Ye Tian who admitted defeat, allowing Xia Liu to advance.


    Not just Luo Dao and the other young martial artists felt it was inconceivable.


    Even the Earth-Rank Warriors watching the battle were frozen in shock.


    It was totally illogical for the disciple of the highest cultivation in the Ye Family to admit defeat.


    Especially to a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior of the same clan.


    This was too astonishing, and the spectators all rubbed their eyes, thinking they had been mistaken just now.


    "Haha! This is interesting, really interesting."


    Watching the bizarre scene unfold on the arena stage, Bai Shixiong couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    This had to be the most inscrutable bout in decades.


    Even a fellow sect member proceeding, but to have an Earth-Rank Warrior yield the way to a Mysterious Rank Warrior in the final round?


    All eyes were on Xia Liu.


    They couldn''t figure out what kind of trump card Xia Liu possessed that made Ye Tian concede.


    This was undoubtedly arranged by Ye Yongyuan, but what made him have such faith in Xia Liu?


    A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior, standing among a row of Earth-Rank Warriors, was indeed conspicuous.


    Because he was the only Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    "Hehe, the next matches will probably be very interesting."


    "Agreed."


    "It''s just unknown how Xia Liu will proceed."


    ¡­


    The martial artists at the scene who knew some details about Xia Liu began discussing fervently.

 Chapter 353 I am First, They are Second

    The first match ended in a manner that many expected, yet the victory was beyond logic and reason.


    Though the subsequent fights were quite spectacular, more people were focusing their attention on Xia Liu.


    They were all eager to find out what this youth was concealing.


    The competition continued until two o''clock in the afternoon, and finally, the last five spots were determined.


    Apart from Xia Liu, a Mysterious Rank Warrior who advanced, there were also two other Mysterious Rank Warriors and two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak Warriors!


    The two Mysterious Rank Warriors, who fought against warriors of the same rank, had nearly exhausted their Inner Qi and thus battled to the bitter end.


    Each of them sustained severe internal injuries that would likely take a month or two to fully recover from.


    Bai Shixiong then announced on the spot that the two warriors'' qualifications for the next round of competition would be revoked.


    The compensation offered was the opportunity to join the Immeasurable Sect!


    When the news of this compensation was announced, the two Mysterious Rank Warriors nearly broke down in tears.


    Because they were simply so moved.


    If they continued the competition, even if their strength returned to its peak, they would not be able to withstand the onslaught of Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Now, being able to join the Immeasurable Sect directly was indeed the most generous reward for them.


    With two spots removed, only Xia Liu and the two Earth-Rank warriors remained.


    One of the Earth-Rank warriors was Zhang Xiantian from the Wudang Sect!


    The other was Sun Mingcong from the martial artist family of the Sun Clan!


    Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong were both Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak Warriors.


    Standing between the two, Xia Liu was only a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level.


    To the audience present, this scene appeared somewhat amusing.


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    A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior actually competing against two Earth-Rank warriors.


    The thought was too beautiful to imagine.


    Although everyone had no confidence in Xia Liu, they couldn''t help but envy the Ye Family.


    Because as long as one could hold on to the final three spots, they would be qualified to enter the Library Pavilion.


    In other words, even if Xia Liu gave up now, he would still be eligible to enter the Library Pavilion, albeit with some restrictions.


    When Mo Feng mentioned this, everyone''s gaze turned toward Xia Liu, eager to hear his response.


    "As a martial artist, one should bravely advance forward, I will continue to fight!"


    That was Xia Liu''s response to everyone, he wanted to fight!


    "Haha! Such a spirit of moving courageously forward!" Bai Shixiong was touched by Xia Liu''s words from the spectator stands.


    He stood up and looked down, his eyes full of appreciation.


    Xia Liu, facing two Earth-Rank warriors, still showed such courage.


    Such bravery could earn respect anywhere.


    "This young man is very good. Sect Master Bai regards him so highly that, if he joins the Immeasurable Sect, he will definitely advance to Earth Rank within a few years!"


    "Indeed, and he is still so young; the possibilities for his future are boundless."


    ...


    Many Earth-Rank warriors looked at Bai Shixiong''s excitement and envied Xia Liu and the Ye Family.


    But few could sense the bitterness in Ye Yongyuan''s heart.


    Putting aside that Xia Liu was not a member of the Ye Family, if he were to reveal all his cultivation, he might even be able to contend with those at the pinnacle of Earth Rank.


    Such a powerful individual, could you, Bai Shixiong, recruit him? Would you dare to recruit him?


    "Due to the special circumstances, the rules for the final competition must be temporarily changed." Mo Feng said after a moment of silence, looking at the three on the stage.


    "It doesn''t matter, change them as you like."


    "How about this, I''ll face Brother Zhang in a match, and whoever loses takes the second place, and then the winner faces Brother Xia for the first place, and the loser gets third."


    After some thought, Sun Mingcong put forth his suggestion.


    "Haha! This suggestion is very good." Zhang Xiantian agreed wholeheartedly.


    After all, their cultivation was there for all to see; in the end, the victory would surely be between him and Sun Mingcong.


    ```


    Whether Xia Liu is there or not makes no difference.


    "Hmm, that''s a good suggestion. Xia Liu, what do you think?" After considering for a while, Mo Feng asked Xia Liu.


    Actually, he had also thought about making that suggestion himself, so having it come from the competitors was quite good.


    After all, altering the rules on the spot required reaching a consensus with the competitors.


    "I feel that would waste too much time. Why not take a break and then have a one-versus-two challenge?" Xia Liu thought it over and then voiced his own suggestion.


    Um um um...


    Xia Liu''s voice spread to every corner of the dueling arena.


    Everyone was stunned by his proposal for a one-versus-two battle. How was this supposed to work, and how would the victory be determined?


    If Xia Liu teamed up with Zhang Xiantian to deal with Sun Mingcong, the chances of winning would definitely exceed the norm.


    Although a Mysterious Rank Warrior hardly makes an impression in front of an Earth-Rank Warrior, if it was two Earth Rank Warriors fighting and a Mysterious Rank Warrior interfered,


    the outcome could be totally unexpected.


    Thus, this proposal had an incredibly terrifying flaw.


    "Haha! At this stage, you''re still looking for loopholes to gain an advantage, only Xia Liu could be like this," someone chuckled.


    "Yes, I admit we''ve all lost. If I had his brain, I could dominate the world too," another admitted.


    "Impressive!" another acknowledged.


    ...


    The younger generation of martial artists at the scene started to mock.


    Their perception of Xia Liu was being refreshed over and over again. Now all they could do was admire this individual whose cultivation wasn''t much but whose mind was formidable.


    "Hmph, a bunch of idiots," Lin Xiaotian snorted as he listened to the crowd''s words, unable to help his contempt for these fools.


    Yet just as he snorted, a pair of sharp eyes immediately shifted onto him.


    "Damn, I forgot she was here..." Lin Xiaotian felt his palms sweat a bit when he realized Bai Lili was staring intently at him.


    Fortunately, Bai Lili only looked for a while before shifting her gaze away, allowing Lin Xiaotian to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Many Earth-Rank Warriors at the scene, like Luo Dao, were shaking their heads incessantly. They could see that Xia Liu''s talent was indeed not bad.


    It was just that he was a bit too cunning, and you could even say his character was somewhat lacking.


    For a sect or family to have such a person was truly regrettable.


    Bai Shixiong''s thoughts were similar to many others; his initial desire to take Xia Liu as a disciple faded slightly.


    "Haha, the next match will definitely be very exciting!"


    "Yes, who knows how much Xia Liu has been hiding!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Those martial artists who knew the details about Xia Liu started whispering eagerly to one another.


    Bai Shixiong happened to overhear their conversation and couldn''t help but knit his brows.


    "Xia Liu! What exactly do you mean by one-versus-two?"


    Just as the platform fell into a silent atmosphere, Sect Master Bai''s robust voice carried with energy and suddenly quieted the entire arena.


    "I''m alone, they are two," Xia Liu raised his head, faced Sect Master Bai, and then looked around at all the martial artists with an indifferent expression.


    Quiet!


    Deathly silence!


    Everyone was shocked into speechlessness.


    What had they just heard?


    Xia Liu wanted to take on two by himself!


    This was going to be explosive!


    A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior challenging two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak warriors alone!


    People started digging their ears and rubbing their eyes, wanting to make sure they hadn''t heard or seen wrong.


    Many even thought they were dreaming. How could such a thing happen in real life? It''s impossible...


    ```

 Chapter 354 Not Simple at All

    Thump!


    Caught in a daze, Mo Feng''s hand softened, and the draw box fell to the ground with a muffled sound.


    "Wow, I must be dreaming!"


    "My god! A Mysterious Rank Warrior against two Earth Rank Warriors!"


    "Damn! I must be dreaming!"


    "This is insane!"


    ...


    After the silence was broken, the scene immediately stirred up numerous disturbances.


    Xia Liu''s words seemed to be filled with magic power, making people unable to resist retorting.


    He, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior, actually claimed he would duel two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak Warriors! S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was simply a huge joke!


    "Haha! Family Head Ye, your clansman is far too arrogant."


    "Exactly, even though he has perfected his Martial Arts Skill to the Transformed Boundary Realm, there is an insurpassable gulf between Mysterious Rank cultivation and Earth Rank!"


    "Young people are so impulsive, without failure and lessons, how can they improve in the future."


    "Hmm, maybe after this lesson, this young man will be able to aim higher in the future."


    ...


    The Earth-Rank Warriors at the scene were also shaking their heads endlessly.


    They, bearing this level of cultivation, knew the terror of this power.


    Recalling their youth when they advanced to Mysterious Rank cultivation, they too had been so wild.


    In the end, upon encountering Earth-Rank Warriors, their arrogance vanished in an instant.


    They all understood that Xia Liu had been too smooth previously, otherwise he would not dare to be so arrogant.


    Perhaps after this battle, he might change, otherwise his life might just be ruined.


    ...


    Listening to the surrounding people''s condescending words, Ye Yongyuan''s face was filled with a smile.


    What are two Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Peak Warriors? Xia Liu had once incapacitated five such warriors in one go.


    Although those were his own clansmen, seeing Xia Liu represent the Ye Family and come this far today, all of Ye Yongyuan''s reservations had dissipated.


    "Family Head Ye, you smiled," Bai Shixiong said while subtly observing Xia Liu and catching Ye Yongyuan''s smile, immediately growing puzzled.


    "Yes, I smiled. You will see how terrifying Xia Liu is shortly," Ye Yongyuan didn''t reveal more.


    "Hmm? Could it be that he''s concealing his cultivation?"


    Many in the crowd began to speculate.


    But they had sensed Xia Liu more than once without noticing any changes; he always remained at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level.


    "Hehe, then let''s show everyone just how terrifying he is," Bai Shixiong said with a sharp glance, his cold laugh resonating throughout the scene.


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    "Brother Zhang, wake up."


    On the stage, Sun Mingcong shook Zhang Xiantian, who was still lost in thought.


    "Uh, uh, uh, I''m here."


    "Did we all just hear wrong? He actually said he wants to fight one against two?"


    "We didn''t hear wrong, he indeed said he wants to fight one against two,"


    Zhang Xiantian shook his head and sighed.


    "Haha! This must be the coldest joke I have heard in my cultivation journey."


    Upon confirmation, Sun Mingcong laughed uproariously.


    "This isn''t just a cold joke, it''s disdain! The disdain from a Mysterious Rank Warrior!"


    Zhang Xiantian rarely got angry, but facing Xia Liu, he really got angry.


    A mere Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior, and yet so dismissive of others; must he really be crippled to mend his ways¡­


    "Hehe, just a kid, why bother so much with him, didn''t we also pass this way back in the day."


    Sun Mingcong remembered when he had broken through to Mysterious Rank cultivation, revealing his Inner Qi, feeling as if he could be invincible under heaven.


    "Ah, yes, I really envy that age," Zhang Xiantian sighed again.


    "You two should focus, after all, you are not facing an ordinary Mysterious Rank Warrior."


    Witnessing their sympathetic expressions, Xia Liu earnestly reminded them.


    "Hahaha! Focus, I could win against your Mysterious Rank cultivation with one hand!"


    Once again provoked, Zhang Xiantian laughed. He was even more determined that this time he must give Xia Liu an unforgettable memory, otherwise it would ruin his future.


    "Cough cough, so have you all reached a consensus?"


    After receiving Bai Shixiong''s signal, Mo Feng no longer tried to persuade others; he was very annoyed with Xia Liu as well.


    A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior actually made such arrogant claims, showing contempt for Earth-Rank Warriors.


    If they didn''t teach him a lesson, it would mean Earth-Rank Warriors were easily bullied.


    "I definitely have no objections," Xia Liu said, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.


    "Damn! We have no objections either!"


    "Hmph! Since he wants to try the fists of an Earth-Rank Warrior, then I will let him have a good taste."


    Sun Mingcong and Zhang Xiantian''s expressions changed. Xia Liu had blatantly challenged them; how could they back down now?


    "Since that''s the case, let''s rest for a while, replenish our energy and Inner Qi, and then compete."


    "No need, I want to eliminate him now."


    "Hmm, I don''t have a problem either. To deal with him, just a little intimidation will suffice."


    Sun Mingcong and Zhang Xiantian both rejected Mo Feng''s good intentions, their gazes at Xia Liu were mocking, as if they had him completely figured out.


    "You''ve both used up a layer or two of Inner Qi, rest for a bit, otherwise someone later might say I won through dishonorable means," Xia Liu kindly reminded.


    "Haha!"


    "Ridiculous!"


    "I''ve never seen someone so shamelessly thick-skinned."


    "This joke''s a bit too much. Xia Liu is definitely going to die."


    ...


    The crowd in the viewing platform burst into laughter upon hearing Xia Liu''s disregard for Earth-Rank Warriors.


    An Earth-Rank Warrior, even with only a tenth of their Inner Qi, could instantly kill a Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    Just the pressure alone was not something a Mysterious Rank Warrior could bear.


    Everyone noticed the frustration on the faces of Sun Mingcong and Zhang Xiantian.


    It was easy to imagine what kind of treatment Xia Liu would receive next.


    "Mo Feng, step back and leave the platform to the three of them," Bai Shixiong commanded sternly, his face expressionless, his thoughts unreadable.


    "Yes!" Mo Feng responded with a fist salute, then exited the platform.


    Finally, only Sun Mingcong and Zhang Xiantian remained on the platform to face Xia Liu.


    "Brother Sun, leave him to me!"


    "Alright!"


    With that response, Sun Mingcong crossed his arms and stepped aside.


    If dealing with one Mysterious Rank Warrior required two Earth-Rank Warriors, then both of their reputations would be tarnished.


    "You might as well come at me together, otherwise it''d be too quick of a defeat."


    "Tsk tsk! Arrogant boy, the dignity of an Earth-Rank Warrior cannot be trampled by just anyone! Ha!"


    With a loud shout, Zhang Xiantian vibrated his palms, and the pressure of an Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak fiercely swept out.


    Everyone''s attention was focused on Xia Liu, wanting to see how he could withstand this tremendous momentum.


    Seeing Zhang Xiantian make his move, Xia Liu merely smiled slightly.


    Then, Xia Liu''s eyes lifted sharply, and an unmatched robust energy burst forth, strongly resisting the incoming pressure.


    Hmm?


    "This..."


    "Earth-Rank Primary Level!"


    "The strength of an Earth-Rank Primary Level Warrior!"


    ...


    Faced with this sudden show of cultivation, the spectators'' eyes widened.


    They had been certain that Xia Liu was only at the Mid-Level of Mysterious Rank, but now they were completely taken aback.


    Xia Liu was actually at the Earth-Rank Primary Level!


    "Oh? No wonder you dared to be so rampant; it turns out you were hiding your cultivation."


    "Impressive! No wonder the ones before conceded the matches, they must have known about your details, but do you think you can just show off being at the Earth-Rank Primary Level?"

 Chapter 355 The Eruption of Xia Liu

    Having sensed Xia Liu''s imposing aura, everyone was left agape and dumbfounded.


    He actually was at the Earth-Rank Primary Level. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Although he lacked the deep cultivation of Zhang Xiantian, his ability to hide so flawlessly was truly impressive.


    The faces of Luo Dao and others turned deathly pale.


    Looking at each other, they could all see the tremor of fear in each other''s eyes.


    What had they been doing since the competition began?


    They had been mocking and ridiculing an Earth-Rank Warrior!


    They had even almost come into conflict with him!


    Recalling the earlier events, Luo Dao felt a chill down his spine.


    The surroundings also felt a tremor of fear as, had Xia Liu taken action then, their lives might have been utterly ruined.


    "Family Head Ye, your clansman really is adept at concealing his true capabilities," Bai Shixiong kept a close watch on Xia Liu.


    He had been sensing him even before his energy increase, but there had been no sign of him being anything but a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior.


    But now? Upon increasing his energy, he had leaped to the peak of Earth-Rank Primary Level!


    "Hehe, Xia Liu likes to keep a low profile, but when it comes to serious matters, he is very committed, like now."


    Ye Yongyuan didn''t know how else to explain, as he certainly couldn''t reveal that Xia Liu was external support.


    "Haha, understood, let''s see how far he can go," Bai Shixiong laughed heartily.


    Although Xia Liu was an Earth-Rank Warrior, his opponents were two warriors at the peak of Earth-Rank Mid-Level, even one Zhang Xiantian was enough trouble for him.


    "I prefer to keep a low profile, but there''s no one around now, so low profile is useless, so both of you come at me together."


    Facing the disdain from Zhang Xiantian, Xia Liu simply replied.


    "Brother Sun, you watch first. To deal with an Earth-Rank Primary Level warrior, if the two of us make a move together, even if we win, it wouldn''t be honorable."


    Seeing Sun Mingcong coming to help, Zhang Xiantian gestured to stop him.


    "Alright, I won''t force you guys then, so be careful now!"


    Xia Liu''s expression turned serious, knowing that without using Spirit Art and high-grade martial arts skills, defeating Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong without dedication was impossible.


    "Hmph! Let me show you the Taiji Fist of Wudang!"


    Having said that, Zhang Xiantian spread his hands from palm to fist; amidst the ambiguity of solid and void, he swiftly moved toward Xia Liu.


    "Taiji Fist... If that is so, then let me show you the ultimate secret of Taiji Fist!"


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu performed the Taiji moves, drawing Yin and Yang with his palms, a sign that a Taiyi Move was about to be deployed!


    "Hmm! Is that also Taiji?"


    "Where on earth did Xia Liu learn these moves from? He used the Stellar Scar Fist to defeat Lin Yu, and now he has Taiji Moves!"


    "Terrifying! Could he perhaps be proficient in the famous moves of hundreds of sects!"


    ...


    Spectating Earth-Rank Warriors, who had seen his previous bout with Lin Yu, were astonished by Xia Liu''s execution of Taiji Moves.


    This guy is simply infuriating others, using his opponent''s sect moves against them.


    If they lost, how would his opponent''s sect save face?


    "Zhang my friend, do the moves Xia Liu is using look like they come from the Taiji line?" Watching Xia Liu''s moves, which seemed like Taiji yet more profound, Bai Shixiong asked Sect Master Zhang Lin.


    "Yes, Sect Master Zhang, you are well-versed in Taiji Fist, please check if Xia Liu''s moves are from the Taiji lineage,"


    ...


    The surrounding Earth-Rank Warriors started to inquire as well, and if Zhang Lin answered yes.


    Then Xia Liu might really be proficient in the famous moves of myriad sects.


    That would be somewhat frightening, for a martial artist, becoming adept at a Sect-Protecting Martial Skill requires an immense amount of time.


    Yet Xia Liu had previously mastered the moves of the Meteor Sect to the Transformed Boundary Realm.


    If his Taiji moves were equally potent, that would be truly terrifying.


    "Not quite like that, allow me to observe some more," Zhang Lin dared not answer immediately.


    Although he was skilled in Taiji Fist, Xia Liu''s fighting style certainly didn''t seem to align with his own.


    "Ha!" A fervent, deep shout broke everyone''s train of thought, directing their attention to the stage.


    Zhang Xiantian, using Taiji moves in combination with his intense Inner Qi, launched a fierce attack on Xia Liu.


    While attacking, the techniques of Taiji Fist proved extremely versatile, allowing for both offense and defense.


    "Combat Rotation!"


    Xia Liu muttered under his breath, opening his palm to meet Zhang Xiantian''s ferocious punch, followed by a low chant, "Stellar Shifting!" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Force Gathering, Force Control, Unloading Force, all were completed in an instant.


    Xia Liu''s right palm forcefully struck towards the side, precisely in Sun Mingcong''s direction.


    The attack was indeed a redirected force using Zhang Xiantian''s Taiji moves.


    Seeing the immense Inner Strength heading his way, Sun Mingcong didn''t have time to tremble; he moved instantly, dodging out of the way.


    During the instant Xia Liu transferred the Inner Strength, Zhang Xiantian''s pupils sharply contracted, and in a moment of shock, he urged his Inner Qi to surge towards his palm again.


    Boom!


    Xia Liu also mobilized his Spiritual Energy, and the two forces exploded where their palm and fist met, sending both men staggering back dozens of steps.


    "That was!" Since witnessing Xia Liu perform the Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique, a terrifying thought burst into Zhang Lin''s mind.


    "What is it?"


    Hearing Zhang Lin''s astonished voice, everyone turned their gaze towards him.


    "Family Head Ye, has your clan member joined the Taiji Sect?" Zhang Lin didn''t answer right away but instead turned his gaze towards Ye Yongyuan.


    "I am not sure about that, he has always been drifting around¡­"


    Joking aside, how could Ye Yongyuan know? If he misspoke, he wouldn''t be able to cover it up later.


    Everything would be clearer after the match. Let Xia Liu handle them himself then.


    "The moves of the Taiji Sect... There is some similarity," Ye Yongyuan didn''t respond, but Bai Shixiong started to mutter.


    "Could he be from the Taiji Sect? But even if that''s the case, with his Earth-Rank Primary Level cultivation, he shouldn''t be able to defeat Zhang Xiantian."


    "Logically speaking, it''s impossible, but he clearly refined the Taiji Sect''s techniques to a transcendent level, so we should observe further."


    ...


    The spectators on the platform couldn''t be sure, mainly because Xia Liu had demonstrated too little.


    Although they were experienced, Xia Liu switched between different techniques and martial arts skills, all executed at their peak.


    This rendered him unpredictable.


    On the stage, having had an attack redirected by Xia Liu, Sun Mingcong grew furious.


    His Inner Qi erupted all around him, his movement technique writhing as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Xiantian.


    "Your martial arts skills are very peculiar, but let''s see how long you can show off against the two of us!"


    Having just observed from the side, Sun Mingcong was astounded by Xia Liu.


    Due to the peculiar shift of Inner Strength, if Zhang Xiantian fought alone, the result might have been brutal.


    "Brother Sun, be extremely cautious and strike quickly, don''t let him transfer the Inner Strength."


    "Understood! We''ll both go all out now; he definitely won''t be able to hold on!"


    "Good!"


    After strategizing, Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong both executed their strongest techniques.


    Moreover, they both drained their Inner Qi, determined to defeat Xia Liu!


    "Since it has come to this, then I must unveil this!"


    As he muttered, Xia Liu pushed his palms displaying Yin and Yang, following which the Eight Trigrams emerged!


    "Palm divides Yin and Yang, opens the Eight Trigrams!"


    Upon the platform, Bai Shixiong and Zhang Lin both exclaimed in unison.

 Chapter 356 Exposure

    The Earth-Rank Warriors all around turned their eyes toward Bai Shixiong and Zhang Lin.


    Apparently, they had seen through Xia Liu''s move! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Heh, not bad at all!" Bai Shixiong watched intently for a moment before muttering to himself.


    "Sect Leader Zhang, what exactly is Xia Liu''s move?"


    "Sect Leader Zhang, hurry up and speak, I''m dying of anticipation."


    ...


    "If I remember correctly, the move he used should be the Sect-Protecting Move of the Taiyi Sect: Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!"


    Zhang Lin said slowly.


    "Taiyi Sect!"


    "Sect-Protecting Move!"


    "Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!"


    ...


    Upon hearing these three keywords, everyone around began to tremble with shock.


    Their family or sect archives all had records of it.


    The Taiyi Sect was a superpower on par with the Immeasurable Sect thousands of years ago.


    And the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm was famous in the Martial World at that time.


    Nobody had expected that Xia Liu would know the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm of the Taiyi Sect.


    Because according to the records passed down from their ancestors, unless one was of Elder Level or above, they were not qualified to learn this palm technique.


    So, was Xia Liu an Elder of the Taiyi Sect now?


    Hiss!


    Everyone gasped in astonishment; if this speculation were true, it would be extremely interesting.


    Once two sects of equal strength, a Taiyi Sect Elder was now participating in a contest at the Immeasurable Sect. Were they giving face to the Immeasurable Sect, or were they here to slap their face?


    Bai Shixiong no longer displayed his previous pleasure, and his expressionless face was inscrutable.


    At this moment, a roaring sound suddenly emanated from the platform.


    Boom!


    With the sound''s descent, a large pit suddenly appeared on the platform, dust filled the air, and smoke curled upward into the sky.


    Just as everyone tried to open their eyes wide to see clearly, two figures flew out backwards from the dust cloud.


    They finally fell to the area below the platform.


    The two men were none other than Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong.


    At this time, the two of them were pale, their faces slightly twisted as if they had seen something horrifying.


    Not only them, the warriors who had previously not discussed Xia Liu''s identity were also shocked.


    Just now, with a set of bizarre martial arts skills, Xia Liu had suppressed the two men, and following the explosion, they flew backward from the dust.


    Everything happened too quickly, and no one saw what exactly had transpired.


    Even Sun Mingcong and Zhang Xiantian probably did not know how they ended up falling off the platform.


    The whole place was deathly quiet, leaving only one person on the platform!


    A gentle breeze blew but could not tilt Xia Liu''s figure; the dark clouds above him seemed to be parted by an invisible giant hand, allowing the setting sun to shine down upon him.


    Clap clap clap¡­


    Someone began to clap their hands first, followed by many others who started to applaud.


    This battle was too thrilling. Xia Liu had overcome two Earth-Rank Mid-Level martial artists all by himself. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    What was terrifying was that his cultivation was only at the Earth-Rank Primary Level.


    What was most memorable was not just him as a person but also the martial arts skill he had displayed!


    "Senior, may I be declared the victor now?" Xia Liu said with a smile, looking at the stunned Mo Feng below.


    "Eh eh eh... Yes, yes."


    Mo Feng immediately came to his senses; the fight just now had been too exciting.


    Xia Liu''s address of ''senior'' made him feel a bit bitter.


    His own cultivation was at Earth-Rank Mid-Level, and yet this guy had easily won against two opponents; Mo Feng felt undeserving of such an honor.


    "Then now, I announce that this year''s Martial Combat Contest..."


    "Wait a moment!"


    Just as Mo Feng was about to announce the results, a sudden and urgent voice echoed through the area.


    Everyone looked towards the source of the sound; it was Song Jie, the Chief Disciple of the Immeasurable Sect.


    "Sect Leader, Honored Master, he is the masked man who impersonated the Sect Master''s confidant and fought with me the night before last!"


    Song Jie looked somewhat excited; he had harbored some doubts when he saw Xia Liu using the Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique earlier.


    After seeing him use a strange move to defeat Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong, he became even more certain¡ªXia Liu was the masked man!


    "Hmm? What''s going on here?"


    "There''s something complicated about this."


    "The next part might be even more exciting than the Martial Combat Contest!"


    ...


    Seeing Song Jie directly accusing Xia Liu, the surrounding martial artists began to feel puzzled.


    At the same time, they also sensed that the matter was not simple; it seemed like Xia Liu had stirred up some trouble in the Immeasurable Sect.


    With this, things became interesting.


    "Oh! Are you certain?" The expression on Bai Shixiong''s face was resolute, and the aura around him underwent a drastic change.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors sitting quietly around him all felt a subtle, but immense, energy presence.


    "I am certain, he is the masked man who came to our sect to cause trouble!" Song Jie''s face was filled with conviction.


    After a moment of silence, Bai Shixiong looked at Xia Liu and said, "Young friend Xia Liu, I can somewhat guess your identity; please give me an explanation."


    Seeing Xia Liu surrounded by the disciples of the Immeasurable Sect, Lin Xiaotian, who was sitting on the viewing platform, slowly moved his hand to his hat.


    Just as he was about to take off his hat, a hand suddenly pressed his down.


    Hmm?


    Lin Xiaotian looked sharply and saw that the hand pressing his own was none other than Feng Jiawei!


    "This has nothing to do with you; you''d better not move rashly," Feng Jiawei said sternly.


    "I..."


    "Don''t speak, just wait and see how things unfold."


    ...


    As Lin Xiaotian placed his hand down, a pair of beautiful eyes cast their gaze upon him.


    However, she quickly shifted her attention back to the war platform.


    If Xia Liu truly was the masked man, then who was the person he spoke of?


    "I don''t understand what you''re talking about. I concealed my cultivation level only because I wanted to keep a low profile; that''s not a crime, is it?" Xia Liu said awkwardly, facing Bai Shixiong and the many disciples of the Immeasurable Sect.


    "You still want to argue? The night before last, you stole the clothes of a disciple of our Immeasurable Sect and then infiltrated The Bund, most certainly with ill intentions towards Junior Sister Bai. I caught you red-handed, and then you fooled both Junior Sister Bai and me with your deceit! And you claim to be innocent!"


    As Xia Liu played dumb, Song Jie roared angrily, and the aura of an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Warrior burst forth from him, dominating the entire venue with unparalleled pressure.


    Facing this pressure, Xia Liu didn''t feel too overwhelmed, but it was certainly uncomfortable.


    Just as he was about to explain, a beautiful yet cold voice came down from the viewing platform,


    "You told me last night that he had returned. What I would do, what my father would do¡ªnow it''s time for you to bring that person out."


    Between the long rows of stone seats, Bai Lili, her face veiled, stepped down gracefully.


    "Lili, you..."


    Bai Shixiong had noticed his daughter early on, but did not expect that she had come to watch the contest for this reason.


    "Father, he is a friend of Lin Xiaotian. I forgot to tell you something yesterday: This person said that if the Immeasurable Sect is not kind to Lin Xiaotian, he would make Immeasurable Island disappear from the world." Bai Lili said aloud, pointing at Xia Liu.


    Hmm!


    "Make Immeasurable Island disappear from the world!"


    "Terrifying!"


    "Did Xia Liu really say that?"


    ...


    Hearing Bai Lili''s words, the many Earth-Rank martial artists at the scene began to discuss heatedly.


    At that moment, Bai Shixiong''s face turned terrifying...

 Chapter 357 Take Action

    "Make Immeasurable Island disappear from this world!"


    This statement undeniably shook all the martial artists present.


    The Immeasurable Sect was, after all, one of the great sects that had rarely been passed down to the present.


    It was unimaginable that words of annihilating a sect would come from the mouth of an Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warrior.


    Looking at the slightly frail figure on the platform, Lin Xiaotian clenched his fists tightly.


    He knew Xia Liu''s character; the reason he had spoken those words was entirely because of himself.


    "Senior Brother Lin, you must not step forward, or the outcome will be extremely tragic."


    Feng Jiawei, sitting next to Lin Xiaotian, reminded him in a low voice.


    "Junior Brother Feng, you must have been ordered by the Sect Leader to investigate me, so why don''t you turn me in?"


    "Hehe, Jiawei dares not forget the brotherly affection of the past, nor the grace of Senior Brother Lin''s teachings. No matter what, I will stand by your side."


    Hearing Feng Jiawei''s sincere words, Lin Xiaotian was moved.


    It turned out that he still had such a supporter within the Immeasurable Sect.


    "Good, since you stand with me, then no matter what happens later, you must not show yourself."


    "Why?" Feng Jiawei asked, puzzled.


    He had been suppressing his excitement ever since he discovered that the person under the hat was Lin Xiaotian.


    But after coming clean, Lin Xiaotian actually did not want his help¡ªhow could that be!


    "Today, I am here to atone for my sins."


    After saying this, Lin Xiaotian said no more and quietly watched Xia Liu on the platform.


    If anything went wrong, he would appear immediately, whether to take action or to apologize, there was nothing he would not do.


    "Junior Xia Liu, although the Immeasurable Sect is not as strong as it was hundreds of years ago, its foundation is not something ordinary sects can compare with. How do you plan to make it disappear?"


    After a long silence, Bai Shixiong said coldly.


    "Since Sect Master Bai has said so, then I will not hide it."


    Seeing the situation at hand, Xia Liu had to speak frankly, "I came to the Immeasurable Sect for two reasons, one is to apologize on behalf of a brother, the other is to enter the Library Pavilion."


    "Apologize? Do you think an apology can make up for the faults Lin Xiaotian has committed?"


    Bai Shixiong''s face grew increasingly angry.


    "Then what else do you want? Let the past be the past, do you still want to repeat the tragedy again?" Xia Liu shrugged and said indifferently.


    "Hahaha! A repeat of the tragedy! Let me see how capable you really are!!"


    Bai Shixiong laughed, Xia Liu actually dared to intimidate him, moreover not taking the Immeasurable Sect seriously.


    If this matter were resolved blandly, the Immeasurable Sect would definitely become a joke in the Martial World.


    At this point, Bai Shixiong decided, to stop disgrace with a killing! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The pupils of the many warriors surrounding them all suddenly contracted, as Bai Shixiong was about to make a move!


    This was an absolute disaster for Xia Liu.


    Even though he had beaten two Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors one against two, Bai Shixiong was at the Peak of Earth Rank, not even a hundred Earth-Rank Mid-Level Warriors could stand against him.


    How could Xia Liu possibly win.


    This martial combat meet was not only exciting but also somewhat terrifying.


    "Father!"


    "What''s the matter, Lili?"


    Just as Bai Shixiong was about to erupt, Bai Lili suddenly called out to him.


    "Let me talk to him."


    Bai Lili said softly.


    Bai Shixiong nodded, his daughter was the person he cared about most in this life, no one could harm her, and if anyone tried, they must be killed! Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Xia, where is Lin Xiaotian?" Beneath the veil, Bai Lili clenched her teeth and spoke the name she least wanted to utter yet remembered in her heart.


    "Where he is I do not know, but definitely not here."


    After hearing this response, Bai Lili fell silent, and after a while, she spoke weakly, "Father, make your move."


    "Lili, you rest here for now, he won''t survive much longer!" Bai Shixiong had never heard his daughter so actively urge him to take action before.


    This indicated just how deep her hatred for Lin Xiaotian had become.


    Bai Lili hated him, but Bai Shixiong hated him even more.


    Once, his daughter had been lively and lovable, every presence a delight and endearment to those around her.


    But after that incident, she had changed, becoming reticent, reclusive, and unwilling to show her face.


    All of this had been bestowed upon her by Lin Xiaotian!


    Bai Shixiong had once vowed that if he ever encountered Lin Xiaotian in this life, he would surely kill him.


    If he didn''t encounter him, encountering his friends would suffice to flay their flesh and crush their bones!


    "Here it comes, the Earth-Rank Peak Warrior makes his move!"


    "Terrifying, how can Xia Liu escape this time!"


    Foreign Earth-Rank Warriors and Mysterious Rank Warriors like Luo Dao were all invigorated.


    On one hand, they were eager to witness the prowess of an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior; on the other hand, they were excited to see Xia Liu''s downfall.


    Under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, Bai Shixiong fully channeled his Inner Qi, and a formidable pressure spread across the area.


    On the platform, all disciples of the Immeasurable Sect backed away, fearing injury from the Sect Leader''s Qi Force.


    The frown on Xia Liu''s face grew more pronounced.


    He was not frightened, but rather, somewhat eager to test himself.


    Based on his current cultivation, he was unsure if he could defeat an Earth-Rank Peak opponent.


    Although uncertain, he wanted to try; if it didn''t work out, he would then consider other options.


    "Boy! Whether you have the backing of the Taiyi Sect or not, since you are Lin Xiaotian''s friend, prepare yourself for death!"


    "Ha!"


    With a ferocious roar, Bai Shixiong leaped onto the platform, and his concealed hands quietly reached out.


    All warriors on the viewing platform could feel the terrifying power emanating from Bai Shixiong''s palm.


    It was a force that could obliterate an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior!


    Xia Liu remained unshaken, his palms transforming with Yin and Yang!


    Boom!


    But just as Bai Shixiong was about to clash with Xia Liu, a figure suddenly appeared and met Bai Shixiong''s palm with his own!


    Upon contact, their robust Inner Strength collided, instantly releasing a deafening sound.


    The surrounding stone tiles were pulverized by the blast of Qi Force!


    The clash of their palms exhilarated everyone, for they all recognized the person who had intercepted the strike.


    It was the youth who had come with the Ye Family''s warriors!


    Bai Shixiong''s eyebrows tightened slightly as he intensified his Qi Force.


    Clad in a bamboo hat, Lin Xiaotian did the same, and a second later, both men staggered back several steps.


    "Didn''t I tell you, you would definitely not be here?"


    Catching his backward momentum, Xia Liu spoke helplessly.


    "Hehe, how could I watch you face the Immeasurable Sect alone?" Lin Xiaotian smiled slightly.


    Xia Liu''s actions on his behalf were as close as those of a true brother.


    If he had hidden and not shown up, what would be the difference between him and a cowardly, timid rat?


    Xia Liu shook his head helplessly; now that Lin Xiaotian had chosen to appear, they would have to face the entire Immeasurable Sect together!


    Upon seeing Lin Xiaotian enter the scene, a dazzling figure on the viewing platform fixated her eyes, eager to glimpse the face beneath the bamboo hat.


    "Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, a commendable cultivation, but shrinking back is not the spirit of a warrior!" having made contact, Bai Shixiong had already discerned the interceptor''s cultivation level.


    "Sect Master Bai, long time no see, may you always be well."


    As Lin Xiaotian spoke, he removed his bamboo hat¡­

 Chapter 358 Those Who Deceive My Brother Shall Die!

    The hat was lifted, and the attention of everyone in the arena focused on him.


    They saw a face that was extraordinarily handsome, with diagonally parted hair obscuring half of his eyes, giving him a somewhat sinister look.


    It was Lin Xiaotian!


    At the sight of Lin Xiaotian, Bai Shixiong''s pupils shrank imperceptibly.


    His heart surged with shock and awe.


    "Lin Xiaotian!"


    The surrounding disciples of the Immeasurable Sect cried out in surprise.


    Whether they were newly recruited to the Immeasurable Sect or had long been there,


    they were all very familiar with the name Lin Xiaotian.


    He was like a legendary figure, whose story was deeply ingrained among the sect''s disciples.


    There was a rumor among the disciples of the Immeasurable Sect.


    A few years ago, a monstrous disciple had emerged in the sect.


    He cleverly sneaked into the Library Pavilion and stole countless Martial Arts Skills.


    He then concealed his deeds and mastered all the Martial Arts Skills he had acquired.


    After the truth came to light, he unleashed a terrifying level of cultivation, injuring many disciples, and escaped from Immeasurable Island.


    As for the matter of Bai Lili being violated, those who had not experienced that event would not know about it.


    Because Bai Shixiong had decreed that anyone who spoke of Bai Lili''s violation would have their Martial Veins destroyed and then be expelled from Immeasurable Island!


    Years later, when the legendary figure appeared again, the disciples of the Immeasurable Sect stirred with excitement.


    But because Bai Shixiong had harbored too much malice towards Lin Xiaotian over the years, the sect''s disciples felt only fear and resentment towards him.


    On the viewing platform, the moment Bai Lili saw Lin Xiaotian, her eyes immediately reddened.


    Her body froze in that instant, unable to move even slightly.


    "Hahaha! I''ve been looking for you for five years! I didn''t expect this!"


    After the surprise, Bai Shixiong burst into laughter.


    In these five years, he had sent out numerous disciples to search for Lin Xiaotian in the outside world, but they had found not a single clue.


    Yet today, he dared to show up on his own initiative!


    It really was effortless!


    "I also didn''t expect to come back to this place one day," Lin Xiaotian said bitterly.


    "Since you have come to a realization, then die!"


    As he spoke, Bai Shixiong stirred up his Inner Qi vigorously, it surrounded his body like a tangible aura, pressing down with a mountainous pressure on all around.


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian secretly felt the terrifying force of the man before them.


    But neither of them were ones to shy away from a fight; no matter how powerful the cultivation, they would still fight it out!


    "Lin Xiaotian! I''ll kill you!" Just as a fierce conflict was about to erupt between the two sides, Bai Lili suddenly appeared on the platform.


    Her hand tightly gripped a red Longsword, its crimson blade emitting an unmatched cold brilliance, her aura of lethality greater than raging waves.


    After she cried out, Bai Lili rushed forward with her movement technique, swinging the crimson Longsword for the kill!


    As Lin Xiaotian saw Bai Lili''s eyes filled with bloodshot veins, he drew back his Inner Qi.


    Feeling his change, Xia Liu''s expression slowly grew solemn; Lin Xiaotian was about to stand and let Bai Lili kill him!


    Bai Shixiong remained silent; if Lin Xiaotian dared to Increase Energy, he would definitely strike with great force.


    Bai Lili''s sword did not pause, without any hesitation, its point was still aimed at Lin Xiaotian''s heart!


    Whoosh, whoosh...


    As countless currents of air were sliced open by the sword''s edge, the blade drew ever closer to Lin Xiaotian.


    Seeing that he was still indifferent, Xia Liu quickly raised his Spiritual Energy.


    "Hmph! This is what Lin Xiaotian deserves; Lili has suffered so much for him, he should be killed!"


    Seeing Xia Liu about to lend a hand, Bai Shixiong snorted angrily.


    "Whoever bullies my brother must die!"


    Xia Liu didn''t care about whatever Lin Xiaotian had done in the past, just about these last five years.


    The Lin Xiaotian he knew was a cultivation fanatic obsessed with studying Martial Veins, and he was his best brother.


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    As mercenaries together, they repeatedly stood side by side, obliterating enemies.


    When acting as assassins, he killed those who needed to be killed and did what needed to be done.


    In a five-man squad, every time they received their pay, they would donate most of their wealth to help those in need.


    Without regret for so many years, Xia Liu had long seen clearly and acknowledged Lin Xiaotian.


    Lin Xiaotian was his brother Xia Liu, how could he watch his brother be bullied by others!


    With a deadly shout, everyone at the scene was startled.


    Because Xia Liu''s expression was too fierce and serious, they even mistakenly thought he was an unparalleled top expert. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That momentum, that imposing air, was intimidating everyone on a spiritual level.


    Even Bai Shixiong felt a palpitation in his heart.


    "Xia Liu, this is my fault, I should repay it, you shouldn''t intervene."


    After calming down slightly, Lin Xiaotian, with a smile at the corner of his mouth, turned back and looked at Xia Liu.


    "Very well, if you dare die, then the Immeasurable Sect will be buried with you!"


    "Boastful!"


    Upon hearing that voice again, Bai Shixiong trembled, and in an instant, he flashed in front of Xia Liu and then reached out with his palm!


    Bang!


    A dull sound erupted, and although Xia Liu tried to resist with all his might by Condensing Energy, he was still sent flying by Bai Shixiong''s powerful Inner Qi.


    After instructing Song Jie to come over and protect Bai Lili, Bai Shixiong quickly pursued Xia Liu with his movement technique.


    Lin Xiaotian had no time to watch, as the Sword Qi had already reached him.


    He offered no resistance, letting the sword strike him.


    But things were not as simple as he imagined, and just as the sword blade was about to pierce Lin Xiaotian''s heart, Bai Lili swiftly intervened with her hand, changing the sword''s path so that it fiercely stabbed into his shoulder.


    His!


    A sharp pain pierced his body, and the crisp sound immediately spread around.


    A large amount of blood gushed out from Lin Xiaotian''s wound, causing those who saw this scene to shiver inside.


    "Why won''t you fight back! I want you to fight back!" Bai Lili screamed almost maniacally, her eyes red.


    "Five years, five swords, no regrets."


    Lin Xiaotian said with a bitter smile.


    His words undoubtedly made everyone at the scene hold their breath.


    Such a spirit could only be spoken by someone of his character.


    "Junior Sister Bai, kill him!" Seeing Lin Xiaotian so defiant, Song Jie was furious, his Inner Qi flowing incessantly, and his palm resting on the sword hilt, ready to draw his sword the moment Lin Xiaotian made any move to retaliate.


    Bai Lili gave no response, her cold gaze fixed firmly on Lin Xiaotian.


    Five years! She had endured for five years; wasn''t it all for this moment?


    If she killed him with one sword, wouldn''t that set her free?


    But why couldn''t she bring herself to do it...


    "Junior Sister Bai, a villain like this must not be spared!"


    Seeing Bai Lili standing rooted to the spot, Song Jie reminded her again.


    "This is between him and me, you don''t need to tell me what to do!"


    Er... Er... Er...


    Feeling snubbed like this by Bai Lili, Song Jie ground his teeth, his resentment deepening.


    "Lili, I''m sorry, there are still four swords, go on."


    "If you don''t fight back, I''ll have my father kill Xia Liu!"


    Bai Lili said coldly.


    "Heh, Xia Liu can''t be killed by a Sect Leader."


    Lin Xiaotian chuckled, given Bai Shixiong''s strength, perhaps with another hundred years of cultivation he might stand a chance, but not now!

 Chapter 359 Signature Move Versus Signature Move

    Boom!


    As Lin Xiaotian''s words fell, on the other side of the arena, Bai Shixiong and Xia Liu were fighting intensely.


    Bai Shixiong unleashed his full Inner Qi, powerfully shattering Xia Liu''s Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique.


    Bang!


    Unable to withstand Bai Shixiong''s vast Inner Strength, Xia Liu was once again sent flying.


    Yet, even so, the watching martial artists were all shocked.


    Xia Liu''s cultivation was just at the Earth-Rank Primary Level!


    But he had stubbornly fought Bai Shixiong for several rounds.


    In the Warrior Realm, this was simply a miracle, a legend.


    "If you didn''t know Lin Xiaotian, within a few years, you could definitely become the top below Heaven Rank, but now you only have to harbor resentment,"


    Bai Shixiong felt somewhat regretful, but Xia Liu had to die.


    "Hehe, bring out whatever moves you have," Xia Liu chuckled lightly, so arrogant even after being knocked back twice, Earth-Rank Peak, oh Earth-Rank Peak!


    "I hope your life is as tough as your mouth!"


    Bai Shixiong was angered once again, he, an Earth-Rank Peak warrior, the strongest below Heaven Rank.


    Was repeatedly looked down upon by a mere Earth-Rank Primary Level, what the hell.


    "Try my Extreme Move!" Xia Liu couldn''t delay any longer, as long as he defeated Bai Shixiong, the Immeasurable Sect without a high-strength martial artist would only become scattered sand!


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    "Taiyi, huh... I''m really looking forward to it."


    Honestly, Bai Shixiong was very excited to see Xia Liu use a secret move from the Taiyi Sect, a sect that had disappeared many years ago.


    The deeds of the Taiyi Sect could now only be seen in ancient texts. To fight Xia Liu today, who inherited Taiyi''s Moves, excited him greatly!


    "Ha!"


    Xia Liu took a deep breath, gave a deep shout, and then pushed both palms forward, dividing into the images of Yin and Yang.


    Spiritual Energy continuously swirled around Xia Liu, and finally, with the change of hand signs, a powerful oppressive force swept in all directions.


    All the martial artists in the arena trembled, the oppressive force released by Xia Liu was unimaginably strong, and it wasn''t from the pressure of cultivation, but from a martial arts skill!


    A martial arts skill having such power, must be at least Earth-Rank!


    "Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skill!"


    "Impossible, Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skills have already disappeared in the Warrior Realm."


    "This is definitely an Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skill, otherwise there wouldn''t be such an enormous pressure, even I, at Earth-Rank Mid-Level Peak, find it difficult to breathe."


    ...


    Foreign Earth-Rank warriors began to argue, as the pressure released by Xia Liu was too formidable.


    "That is..."


    Unlike other Earth-Rank warriors, Ye Yongyuan''s pupils dilated slightly, a wave of astonishment surging in his heart.


    "Family Head Ye, do you know what move Xia Liu is performing?"


    "Family Head Ye, please tell us, Xia Liu is from your Ye Family, we believe you know something."


    Hearing Ye Yongyuan''s hesitance, the crowd began asking questions.


    Just like before, Xia Liu''s move was too bizarre, resembling the martial arts skill of some sect, but also not.


    Now, without even releasing the move, such strong oppressive power had emerged, you can imagine how terrifying the fully formed move would be.


    "I can''t explain clearly, let''s just continue watching, you will understand soon," Ye Yongyuan did not answer immediately.


    But he could see, Xia Liu was employing the terrifying Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart!


    Before, he had personally witnessed Xia Liu using this move to suppress five Earth-Rank Mid-Level warriors.


    Now to see if he can suppress Bai Shixiong, an Earth-Rank Peak warrior.


    If he can, then Xia Liu might rightly claim the title of the top warrior below Heaven Rank.


    "You have some background, but don''t underestimate me!"


    Bai Shixiong sensed a crisis from Xia Liu''s aura, and this made him take things seriously.


    If he continued to underestimate this young man, he might end up being the embarrassed one.


    Xia Liu did not respond; by then, he had mobilized all his Spiritual Energy for one final struggle.


    He painted the Yin Yang, dotting the Eight Trigrams, and the Extreme of Limitless immediately condensed into form.


    "This feeling..."


    When Xia Liu''s Taiyi Eight Trigrams Ultimate Move, Extreme of Limitless, was fully condensed, Bai Shixiong raised his eyebrows, no longer daring to delay.


    He too immediately activated the secret move of the Immeasurable Sect!


    "A master from the Taiyi Sect, let me show you the terror of the Immeasurable Sect! Energy Break Cloud!"


    With a deep shout, Bai Shixiong raised his hands high, his Inner Qi gathering toward his palms.


    "It''s actually the Immeasurable Sect''s famous sect-defining move!


    "Energy Break Cloud! That''s a Mysterious Rank Peak martial arts skill, a half-step Earth Rank martial art!"


    "It''s over, it''s all over, such a monstrous talent is going to disappear."


    "Not necessarily, Xia Liu''s martial arts skills are also very powerful; maybe he can hold on."


    "His skills are strong, but his foundation is too weak to unleash much power."


    ...


    Seeing Bai Shixiong and Xia Liu each unleashing their extreme moves, the crowd was both excited and regretful.


    From the start of the duel, the talent Xia Liu had shown had almost completely overshadowed all other geniuses.


    Now, this monster probably won''t last much longer.


    If only he had a better temper, if only he wasn''t so arrogant, if only he hadn''t offended the Immeasurable Sect.


    In several decades, he would have definitely made a name for himself in the Warrior Realm.


    It''s such a pity...


    Many in the crowd thought this, today''s outcome for Xia Liu could only be regrettable...


    Atop the stage, Xia Liu and Bai Shixiong looked each other in the eye, the killing intent in their eyes intensifying. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without speaking much, both figures flashed, leaving trails of afterimages that dissipated on the stage.


    The crowd held their breath in anticipation; Xia Liu''s speed was even slightly faster than that of Bai Shixiong.


    But, it was unknown whether his martial arts skills were also the same, whether they could withstand Bai Shixiong''s shockingly famous move from the Immeasurable Sect.


    Boom Boom Boom!!!


    Suddenly, earthshaking sounds emanated and spread from the stage.


    Though the sounds spread, so did the terrifying residual force of great strength.


    Some Yellow-Rank Martial Artists at the scene were directly shaken into internal injuries.


    Only Mysterious Rank Warriors could resist it a bit through cultivation.


    "Hiss..."


    "That is..."


    "He''s held it off!"


    When the people saw the scene on the stage clearly, they all sucked in several breaths of cold air.


    Xia Liu was seen firmly withstanding Bai Shixiong.


    And a strange scene also appeared; in front of Xia Liu, a totem was gradually taking shape with the output of Bai Shixiong''s Inner Strength.


    Behind Bai Shixiong''s fist, a reddish-yellow solid giant fist also appeared.


    The giant fist against the totem, the unmatched Energy roiling all around, making it hard for numerous people to breathe.


    "Taiyi''s famed move, the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart!"


    Suddenly among the Earth-Rank Warriors who had come from afar, a keen-eyed warrior recognized the martial arts skill Xia Liu was using and exclaimed in surprise.


    "Ah! I remember now! That was the extreme move that made the Taiyi Sect famous all over the world thousands of years ago!"


    "I remember too. It''s said that back then, a young elder learned the Eight Trigrams Palm and, based on it, realized the extreme move: the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart!"


    "Yes, this move is definitely one of the most difficult martial arts skills in the Taiyi Sect. After that elder became the Sect Leader, he directly declared that whoever could perform the Yin Yang Eight Trigram Chart could take over his position as the Sect Leader."


    The crowd''s eyes widened, a terrifying thought erupting in their minds: Xia Liu is the Sect Leader of the Taiyi Sect...

 Chapter 360 The Transformation of Lin Xiaotian

    The Earth-Rank Warriors on the viewing platform were astonished by Xia Liu''s Extreme Move, and Bai Shixiong was even more shocked.


    The Yin Yang Eight Trigrams Chart, perhaps it should be called the Heaven and Earth Map.


    In the annals of the Immeasurable Sect, this move is recorded as the signature of the current Sect Leader of the Taiyi Sect.


    Whoever masters the Heaven and Earth Map, then, is the undisputed leader of the Taiyi Sect!


    But this move has already secured his position as Sect Leader.


    It is no longer a personal battle against Immeasurable Sect but the entire Taiyi Sect!


    Bai Shixiong wasn''t panicked; the Taiyi Sect had faded into obscurity for decades, what would change if they came out again.


    Since entering Immeasurable Island, Xia Liu had continuously threatened to annihilate the sect; even if you truly are the Sect Master of Taiyi, declaring to wipe out the sect upon arrival on the island, Immeasurable Sect would still exert all its strength to destroy you!


    Therefore! Bai Shixiong wouldn''t be afraid, the disciples of Immeasurable Sect wouldn''t be terrified.


    They would be invigorated, they would fight with even greater courage because this affects the dignity of the sect, the life or death, the survival of the sect!


    "You''ve surprised me, but let''s end everything here,"


    Bai Shixiong said indifferently, then his Inner Qi surged to the peak, the powerful suppression sweeping out, making the space around him oppressive.


    The ethereal giant fist, enhanced by Inner Qi, flashed brightly again, striking the Heaven and Earth Map with formidable power, intent on shattering it beyond repair.


    Xia Liu''s face gradually became lined with black streaks; the Heaven and Earth Map was almost unable to hold on.


    The main reason was that Bai Shixiong''s cultivation was too profound, his Inner Qi almost materializing into tangible force.


    Fighting force with Energy, this undoubtedly increased Xia Liu''s chances of failure.


    "Ha!"


    Xia Liu bit down on her silver teeth, channeling all her Spiritual Energy into the Heaven and Earth Map without reservation.


    In an instant, the mysterious and unfathomable Heaven and Earth Map majestically unfurled atop the war platform. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The totem emitted intense light, the surges of Daoist Power strongly withstanding the force of Energy Break Cloud.


    Crack!


    Unable to absorb anymore of Bai Shixiong''s robust Qi Force, the Heaven and Earth Map actually let out a sharp sound.


    All could clearly see a crack appearing in the Heaven and Earth Map!


    This signaled that Xia Liu was about to have her move broken by Bai Shixiong!


    Once the Heaven and Earth Map shattered, with Xia Liu''s Earth-Rank Primary Level cultivation, she would undoubtedly be struck down by Bai Shixiong!


    "Is this the power of an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior..."


    Looking at the cracked Heaven and Earth Map, Xia Liu shook her head helplessly; indeed, with her current cultivation level, she still couldn''t defeat an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior.


    "Hmph! Whether you''re the Sect Master of Taiyi or not, daring to insult Immeasurable Sect, there''s only one outcome for you!"


    Without saying the rest, Bai Shixiong poured all his Inner Qi into his giant fist without holding back.


    In a flash, the fist shone explosively, his ultimate move elevated to the Transformed Boundary Realm at its peak!


    Crack!


    The next second, the Heaven and Earth Map cracked, shattered, burst apart, dissolving bit by bit!


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    Boom!


    As the Heaven and Earth Map broke, the powerful force of Energy Break Cloud slammed into Xia Liu entirely.


    A loud boom suddenly echoed throughout the area, and Xia Liu''s body flew away like a kite with cut strings.


    In the end, even the barriers behind the war platform were toppled.


    Dust filled the area, blurring everyone''s vision.


    The entire place fell silent, numerous warriors agape without making a sound.


    The shock Xia Liu had provided them came in waves, with the last wave being the most intense.


    With her Earth-Rank Primary Level cultivation, she had withstood Bai Shixiong to such an extent.


    It was truly a miracle in the Warrior Realm.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors present, both High-Level and Mid-Level, believed that they would not last a minute against Bai Shixiong.


    This showed just how monstrous a young warrior Xia Liu was.


    "What a pity¡ªif only he had time, he would definitely be the brightest new star in the Warrior Realm in the future."


    "Actually, this might be for the best. His talent is too monstrous. If he were to succumb to the Demon Path in the future, it would be an unimaginable disaster era for the Warrior Realm."


    "Demon Path or Righteous Path, either way, I admire him."


    ...


    The Earth-Rank Warriors all had their own opinions about Xia Liu, now filled with more or less regret and pity in their hearts.


    "Family Head, Xia Liu, he..."


    Ye Tian couldn''t quite believe that Xia Liu had been repelled.


    Seeing Bai Shixiong''s attack just now, it was clear that he didn''t intend to leave any chance for survival.


    "He probably¡­ Eh! There''s a situation!"


    Just as Ye Yongyuan was about to speak, he suddenly sensed a faint yet discernible presence emerging from the shattered barrier.


    "Oh! Interesting, to survive all the vigor of Energy Break Cloud, you''re the first in history."


    Feeling the presence approaching him, Bai Shixiong couldn''t help but get emotional after a moment of surprise.


    The martial artists on the viewing platform all held their breath.


    The famous move of the Immeasurable Sect, performed by a Peak Earth-Rank Warrior, failed to kill an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior.


    If one didn''t witness this with their own eyes, absolutely no one would believe it if it were told.


    "Hehe, worthy of being the Immeasurable Sect''s renowned move..." Xia Liu, stepping out, gradually revealed a smile on his face.


    He had to thank the Demon Stone Clothing. Without this piece of protective gear, that punch just now could have left him severely wounded.


    Since the fist couldn''t penetrate the Demon Stone Clothing to directly hit his body, Xia Liu wasn''t critically injured, but the Qi Force still shook his insides and caused injury.


    "Very well, continue!"


    Bai Shixiong didn''t plan to give Xia Liu a chance to breathe. The Taiyi Sect was an ancient sect even older than Immeasurable Sect.


    Xia Liu was able to compete with him possessing only Earth-Rank Primary-Level Cultivation, and if he caught his breath, who knew what sort of Martial Arts Skill he would unleash.


    If he couldn''t suppress him, the Immeasurable Sect would be in grave danger!


    Opening his palms, his Inner Qi surged as he condensed another Extreme Move.


    Sensing the emptiness within his Dantian, Xia Liu''s face turned even paler.


    "Since that''s the case, then..." Muttering to himself, Xia Liu slowly moved his hands to the area below his abdomen.


    "It seems Xia Liu has exhausted his Inner Qi, how will he counterattack?"


    "Could he have a Spirit Pill that instantly boosts and replenishes Inner Qi?"


    "Truly terrifying!"


    "Terrifying indeed..."


    Everyone''s eyes were on Xia Liu, all wanting to see how he would turn the situation around,


    as Bai Shixiong was no longer able to show mercy, making Xia Liu exceedingly dangerous.


    When people are pushed to their limits, they often break through them, and perhaps Xia Liu was about to do just that!


    Just as Xia Liu was about to take action,


    a sudden painful scream resounded throughout the duel arena.


    "Ah!"


    Hearing this sound, Xia Liu''s pupils narrowed sharply as he quickly looked in a certain direction.


    Not only Xia Liu reacted swiftly, but at the first moment, everyone turned their gaze in that direction.


    They saw Lin Xiaotian, at the edge of the platform, recoiling while holding his wrist, his face void of its previous boldness.


    "Brother Xiaotian, are you okay?" Bai Lili shouted worriedly as she saw blood flowing continuously from Lin Xiaotian''s wrist.


    "Junior Sister Bai, step back! I''m going to kill him!" Fueled by Bai Lili''s intimate call to Lin Xiaotian, Song Jie roared furiously, his blood-dripped longsword swirling as he rushed murderously towards Lin Xiaotian!


    "Song Jie! You stop this instant! Stop, I say!"


    Bai Lili was screaming.


    She hadn''t expected things to turn out this way as just moments ago, Song Jie had taken advantage of Lin Xiaotian dodging his attack to slash at Lin Xiaotian''s Martial Veins¡­

 Chapter 361 Difficult Brothers

    Many people at the scene witnessed what happened between Lin Xiaotian, Bai Lili, and Song Jie.


    At that time, Lin Xiaotian was intimidated by Bai Lili, and then he made a move to resist.


    But how could he possibly strike Bai Lili, so he kept holding back.


    Unexpectedly, Song Jie, who was watching the battle, suddenly drew his sword.


    Lin Xiaotian, unable to dodge in time, raised his hand to defend and ultimately had his Martial Veins cut.


    At this moment, Song Jie''s demeanor was insane, his Inner Qi surged as he ran, and his longsword kept emitting dazzling cold glints.


    Seeing this, he was clearly intending to kill Lin Xiaotian completely.


    "Xiaotian!!"


    Seeing Lin Xiaotian injured, Xia Liu screamed hysterically.


    "Hmph! Lin Xiaotian''s death is not a pity, and you too shall die! Take this move!"


    After a cold snort, Bai Shixiong focused his finger and a merciless, whip-like force burst forth.


    Bang!


    Xia Liu had no strength left to resist and only felt a dull pain in his chest as he was immediately blasted away with a glance back. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xia Liu! Ahhh!"


    Seeing Xia Liu blasted and flying away, Lin Xiaotian became frantic.


    He had originally come to apologize and atone, but why did Bai Shixiong insist on being so ruthless, why did he have to injure Xia Liu!


    In the center of the arena, Lin Xiaotian''s presence alone created a pressure. Song Jie''s desolate Sword Qi approached but was blocked by the soaring aura.


    Towards a scoundrel like Song Jie, Lin Xiaotian was not polite. He transformed his right hand into a palm, filled with surging Inner Qi, and struck out!


    Ding!


    Facing Lin Xiaotian''s sudden move, Song Jie used his sword to block in front of his chest. A crisp sound echoed, and then he was repelled back by several meters.


    "Elder brother Xiaotian! Listen to my explanation..."


    Seeing Lin Xiaotian bursting with Energy, Bai Lili''s tears fell like rain, and a feeling of heartache filled her entire body.


    "Enough!"


    "Lin Xiaotian! My daughter is not someone you can yell at!" Not waiting for Lin Xiaotian to continue speaking, Bai Shixiong roared in anger.


    "Hmph! My brother is not someone you can bully either!"


    Lin Xiaotian responded forcefully.


    "Hahaha! Good! Song Jie! Protect Lili!"


    "Yes!"


    After seeing Bai Lili being controlled by Song Jie, Bai Shixiong''s powerful palm was raised again, and the Immeasurable Sect''s Sect-Protecting Move began to gather once more!


    "It seems today we are in a difficult situation, brothers!"


    "Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, Earth-Rank Peak! This move will be a matter of life and death!"


    ...


    As Bai Shixiong and Lin Xiaotian prepared to clash with their Extreme Moves, everyone at the scene focused intently. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Unforgivable!" Seeing Xia Liu slumped against the barrier, Lin Xiaotian gritted his teeth in anger.


    Following that, he tore off his clothes, wrapping them around his wrist.


    "Energy Break Cloud!" Clenching his fists angrily, Bai Shixiong summoned all his Inner Strength, determined to strike Lin Xiaotian with one killing blow!


    The unmatched pressure descended; Lin Xiaotian''s expression was cold and indifferent. He closed his eyes, and his gaze flickered with countless images.


    "You deserve to die!"


    Biting his teeth, Lin Xiaotian''s right palm faced upward, and his tyrannical Inner Qi immediately burst out from his body.


    The fierce pressure made the surrounding space seem oppressive.


    "This feeling, it''s just like Sect Master Bai''s technique!"


    "Could it be that Lin Xiaotian is also using the Energy Break Cloud move?"


    "No! Something''s very off about Lin Xiaotian''s technique!"


    ...


    Feeling the pressure from Lin Xiaotian''s Martial Arts Skill, all the Earth-Rank Warriors in the arena widened their eyes, wanting to see clearly how this young man was going to resist the Sect-Protecting Move of the Immeasurable Sect!


    "This move is created by merging hundreds of famous moves. Today, I have never used it to kill anyone, but today you are the first!"


    As he spoke, Lin Xiaotian himself generated a gust of wind, causing his clothes to dance in the air for no reason.


    "Self-created Martial Arts Skill!"


    "Integrating a hundred famous moves!"


    "He is even more monstrous than Xia Liu!"


    ...


    Hearing Lin Xiaotian''s stern words, all the martial artists were shocked. Creating one''s own martial arts skills was something only a Martial Arts Grandmaster could achieve.


    And a Martial Arts Grandmaster, at the very least, must be of Heaven Rank cultivation!


    It was unimaginable that Lin Xiaotian, who was merely at the peak of Earth-Rank High-Level, had actually created his own martial arts skill!


    What was frightening was that he actually used his self-created martial arts skill to combat a Peak Earth-Rank Warrior!


    "Haha! Your self-created martial arts skill, it''s not bad to accompany you in your burial!"


    Bai Shixiong was unconvinced, having almost watched Lin Xiaotian grow up. Even if he had talent, it wasn''t bad.


    But it was impossible for him to create a powerful move at his age and at this rank.


    "Peerless Technique: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!"


    Without any explanation, Lin Xiaotian uttered a low shout and immediately, the Peerless Technique coalesced. Even if he could only use his right hand, he was fearless!


    As the Oral Formula operated, all the Inner Qi swirling around him converged towards Lin Xiaotian''s palm.


    The winds howled, and invisibly, nature''s spiritual energy rushed wildly, all converging towards Lin Xiaotian.


    Peerless Technique! Technique Peerless!


    The sky and earth were tumultuous, and a pressure descended on all sides.


    All the martial artists'' hearts were throbbing because they smelled the scent of death on Lin Xiaotian''s unreserved Peerless Technique.


    Bai Shixiong''s complexion also changed; as the target, he felt an even stronger and more overbearing energy.


    If he underestimated this move, he would definitely fall right there and then.


    Involuntarily, Bai Shixiong exploded with his entire cultivation, completely mobilizing his Inner Qi.


    "Die!"


    Lin Xiaotian intoned softly, his palm pushing towards Bai Shixiong.


    Boom!


    The powerful move mixed with nature''s spiritual energy burst out instantly!


    The space in the way was shattered by the Extreme Move with a sharp, piercing sound.


    Seeing the Great Handprint coming at him quickly, Bai Shixiong threw his fist to meet it.


    Booming sounds echoed!


    The moment they made contact, a thunderous sound immediately rippled around them.


    The arena couldn''t withstand such a formidable move and was immediately blasted apart, leaving a natural crater.


    Dust rose with the wind, and the residual force shocked everyone nearby,


    Everyone''s eyes widened in shock at the strength of their exchange.


    Looking at the display, Bai Shixiong was definitely injured, not lightly.


    Bai Lili couldn''t find her father''s figure and suddenly felt weak, sitting down powerlessly on the ground.


    Seizing the opportunity, Song Jie''s Sword Finger condensed, he brought up his Inner Qi and launched a whip-like strike towards Lin Xiaotian!


    Thud!


    Lin Xiaotian, standing on the edge of the crater through sheer willpower, took the whip-like strike with his body without any reservation.


    As the dull sound reverberated, his body swiftly flew backward, then fell below the stage.


    This was all too sudden, everyone dumbfoundedly looked at Song Jie.


    Nobody would have thought that Song Jie would sneak attack just when Lin Xiaotian was at the end of his strength.


    Never mind the sword strike just now, this whip-like strike was enough to see his character!


    Xia Liu had been delighted to see Lin Xiaotian shake Bai Shixiong with his Peerless Technique, but now his face turned ashen.


    "Who gave you permission to make a move!" Suddenly, a deep voice came from the crater, followed by that magnificent figure leaping up from it.


    "Honored Master! He..."


    "Hold your tongue! I will personally take his life, there is no need for anyone else''s help," Bai Shixiong interrupted Song Jie.


    "Hahahaha!!!!" As the master and disciple argued over who would have the honor of injuring Lin Xiaotian, a desolate laughter spread from somewhere.


    Everyone cast their gaze in that direction, only to see Xia Liu walking slowly towards Lin Xiaotian, step by step.


    His face was smiling faintly, and he murmured words that no one could hear.


    Seeing the smile on Xia Liu''s face, everyone felt a chill in their hearts...

 Chapter 362 Unsealing!

    In the eyes of everyone present, Xia Liu walked up to Lin Xiaotian.


    "I..."


    Lin Xiaotian was already unable to move, having nearly exhausted all his Inner Qi to perform Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow just moments ago.


    He was almost pierced through the chest by Song Jie''s whip strike.


    "Don''t speak, you did well, I saw everything. Leave the rest to me," Xia Liu said with a slight smile as he pressed several of Lin Xiaotian''s acupoints.


    "Could it be that you are going to..."


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    "No, you haven''t recovered yet. Don''t unseal it, otherwise, there''s no turning back!" Lin Xiaotian exclaimed in horror, recalling everything that had happened before.


    "Xiaotian, don''t worry. During these days at home, I''ve learned a lot. You won''t have a problem."


    "Okay, I trust you, but please don''t hurt Bai Shixiong and Lili, they..."


    "I understand, I was impulsive just now. I''ll apologize properly afterward..."


    Recalling the situation, Xia Liu indeed had been impulsive, pushed by the threat to his brother''s life to act without thinking.


    "Mm, but I can no longer fight, my hand..."


    "It''s just that the meridians are severed, I will reconnect them for you after this is all over," Xia Liu said with a smile.


    While Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian were talking, Song Jie roared, "Stop pretending, you two. Whatever it is, save it for the road!"


    Xia Liu helped Lin Xiaotian lean against a barricade: "Xiaotian, just watch. I will use the martial arts skill you created to kill him."


    Xia Liu harbored a deadly intent for Song Jie, having been previously hesitant to kill him for fear of complicating matters.


    Now he could be at ease, because things had already gotten out of hand.


    "Hmm? You can proficiently execute Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow now?" Lin Xiaotian was somewhat astonished. Xia Liu really hadn''t changed at all; no matter what martial arts skill, he could master it after just one practice.


    "Heh, you rest well, it''s my turn to take the stage!"


    Xia Liu gave a slight smile, then his figure straightened sharply.


    In the trembling gazes of countless people, Xia Liu stepped back onto the platform.


    "Hmph! You are already exhausted, what more can you do?" Song Jie coldly snorted, looking at the calm-faced Xia Liu.


    "Song Jie, can you stop talking?" Bai Shixiong frowned deeply, finding himself more and more unable to understand Song Jie, who seemed to have transformed into someone else.


    "Sect Master Honored Master, he slanders our sect and claims he will destroy it. I must execute him!"


    With that, Song Jie swung his sword and leapt into action. With Xia Liu dead, the unprotected Lin Xiaotian would certainly not survive long.


    For his grand ambition, Song Jie would not leave any chances!


    Suddenly, just as Song Jie drew his sword, an indescribable oppressive atmosphere enveloped the whole venue.


    Hmm?


    Bai Shixiong''s heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he quickly turned his gaze to Xia Liu.


    Pfft!


    Xia Liu moved his hand to cover the right Tianshu Acupoint, then lifted his shirt and sharply inserted two fingers into his flesh!


    Sss...


    Seeing this terrifying act of self-injury, the entire audience instantly felt their hearts tremble.


    "What in the world is he doing!"


    "That seems to be the right Tianshu. Could it be that he is trying to stimulate his Inner Qi with pain?"


    "How terrifying! If this young man survives, he will surely be named among the top of the Warrior Realm in the future."


    ...


    Xia Liu''s actions immediately sparked a heated debate among the crowd, who could not understand the purpose of what he was doing.


    "Hmph! Playing tricks! Die!" Song Jie snorted coldly, then with movement technique like a lingering image, he charged directly at Xia Liu.


    "Father, stop Senior Brother Song! I don''t want them to die," Bai Lili yelled as she saw Song Jie make his move.


    "Song Jie, stop!" Upon hearing his daughter''s shout, Bai Shixiong immediately erupted with cultivation, shouting angrily while his movement technique also sprang into action.


    He understood that Xia Liu was now completely drained of energy, and Song Jie could easily kill him, but if his daughter wanted to keep them alive, he certainly had to ensure their safety.


    Unexpectedly, Bai Shixiong discovered that Song Jie''s speed was comparable to his own.


    Song Jie had not the slightest intention of holding back; he was resolute about killing Xia Liu!


    "Dare to cause trouble in the Immeasurable Sect, I''ll make sure you die!" The look on Song Jie''s face was nearly insane. As long as Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian were dead, Bai Lili would definitely be very pleased.


    If there was any displeasure, it would be even better. Then, he could comfort her, and Bai Lili would surely turn to him for support.


    As long as he had Bai Lili, would Bai Shixiong not fear passing the position of Sect Leader to him?


    Resolved, Song Jie intensified his Inner Qi. The Blue Peak in his hand emitted a dazzling light, aimed to kill Xia Liu.


    "Song Jie, you stop right now!" Bai Shixiong was frantic; this disciple was clearly not obeying his command.


    In case Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian died and his daughter met with some mishap, what then?


    "Hahaha! Too many people want me dead, but you''re still not qualified!"


    Just as Song Jie was about ten meters from Xia Liu, laughter suddenly echoed through the air.


    Then, under countless pitying gazes, Xia Liu clenched his fingers together and pulled a sharp cone-shaped object from within his body.


    "What is that?"


    "How could he have that inside his body?" Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What is it?"


    Everyone was stunned. Bai Shixiong and Song Jie both stopped dead; Xia Liu suddenly pulling that strange object from his body was absolutely not normal.


    "Hmm?"


    "Sect Leader Bai, take Lili and run!"


    Seeing Bai Shixiong hesitate, an exhausted Lin Xiaotian gritted his teeth and mustered his last bit of strength to roar.


    "Hahahaha! No one escapes today! No one!"


    Suddenly, Xia Liu raised his head sharply, his blood-red eyes scanning the surroundings.


    Then, a bloodthirsty intent surged from him.


    Along with the intent, a terrifying pressure also emerged!


    "This is the pressure of an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, no, it''s still rising!"


    Feeling the increasing pressure around him, Bai Shixiong felt somewhat powerless. As the pressure ascended to the Earth-Rank Peak, he immediately retreated.


    With no time for surprise, Bai Shixiong took Bai Lili with him and used his movement technique to quickly leave the stage.


    "How can his energy suddenly surge like this!"


    "His strength seems to have returned to its peak, maybe even surpassing it!"


    "What exactly is that object?"


    "It looks like a Spirit Stabilizing Needle!"


    "A Spirit Stabilizing Needle!"


    Someone recognized the Spirit Stabilizing Needle, and suddenly the entire arena vibrated with the awe of the warriors.


    The Spirit Stabilizing Needle, a ruthlessly ancient sealing material; it was unbelievable that Xia Liu had one inside him...


    Song Jie''s pupils shrank, and he too tried to flee, overwhelmed by the pressure from Xia Liu.


    It gave him a false sensation, as if not moving would crush him into pieces.


    "Think you can leave?" Xia Liu''s lips twisted into a sinister smile, his palms transforming into claws as he thrust them forward and down.


    In an instant, an irresistible pressure enveloped Song Jie. As Xia Liu''s palms transformed, his legs were buried deep into the stone slab.


    "Die!!"


    As his harsh words burst forth, Xia Liu raised his palms; Spiritual Energy flowed backwards and shot uncontrollably out of his body toward his palms.

 Chapter 363 The Transformation of Xia Liu

    "This aura, this pressure, is very similar to when Lin Xiaotian used Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow,"


    "That''s exactly Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, but Xia Liu''s expression seems a bit off, a bit like he''s succumbing to evil¡­"


    "Inner Qi backlash! This is a sign of succumbing to evil!"


    "This!"


    "An Earth-Rank Warrior at the peak, succumbed to evil!"


    The Earth-Rank Warriors present felt a chill surge in their hearts at this sight.


    Martial Artists who succumbed to evil were often dealt with by their own sect or family.


    Generally speaking, those who lost their sanity and succumbed to evil did not live long; their uncontrollable behavior made them extremely frantic.


    After venting all the power inside, they would not stop until they truly died from exhaustion.


    If completely demonized, that was a terribly frantic affair.


    Because demonized Martial Artists retained their own consciousness, had thoughts, and craved blood, such Martial Artists were truly a disaster for the world.


    Now, what they saw was a monstrously talented young man succumbing to evil!


    This was an utterly tragic and painful event for the Warrior Realm.


    Because once such a conscious demonized Martial Artist appeared, the Warrior Realm would gather strength to destroy them, otherwise many unforeseen events could occur.


    Compared to everyone else''s alarm, Song Jie only thought of freeing himself and escaping from the site at this moment.


    Because he felt the aura of death from Xia Liu''s palms.


    If he did not leave now, all dreams and futures could turn to dust.


    At this moment, the Inner Spirit Energy in Xia Liu''s body was flowing backwards, the vast spiritual energy uncontrollably rushing out of his body.


    "This kind of aura, is it really the move of Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow..." Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lin Xiaotian, who knew Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow best, couldn''t help but tremble inside.


    He could clearly feel that the move Xia Liu was using had already broken through the Mysterious Rank, as to what realm it had reached, he couldn''t clearly say.


    Without giving Song Jie any chance, Xia Liu raised his bloodthirsty eyes, and the peerless technique condensed from vast spiritual energy was immediately executed.


    Boom, boom!


    A giant handprint about five to six meters high swept toward Song Jie furiously.


    The lines on the Great Handprint were clear, as if it were a hand that had been expanded countless times.


    The palm emitted a terrifying pressure, crushing everything it encountered along the way into dust.


    Before Song Jie could cry out in shock, the Great Handprint was already before his eyes.


    His pupils constricted as he gathered all his inner Qi, trying to resist the power of the Great Handprint.


    But the moment the inner Qi Rigid Shield was formed, it was instantly crushed by the sweeping Great Handprint.


    Boom!


    The moment the Rigid Shield shattered, the Great Handprint struck Song Jie instantly.


    A deafening sound erupted, and Song Jie''s miserable scream echoed through the heavens: "Ah!"


    Unable to withstand the power of the Great Handprint, Song Jie was blasted out of the arena.


    But what was shocking was that the Great Handprint hadn''t dissipated, and the terrifyingly powerful Great Handprint swept towards out of the arena forcefully.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    In the blink of an eye, the Great Handprint struck the entrance of the Martial Combat Arena.


    The massive gate and courtyard wall were instantly smashed.


    The gate burst, stirring up a hundred zhang of dust, causing the entire Martial Combat Arena to shake.


    When the dust settled, the once majestic gate was now reduced to rubble.


    Everyone was dumbfounded.


    The abrupt loss of a city gate in a wall was shocking enough to make their hearts tremble.


    Furthermore, on those powdered debris lingered a strong aura, one so strong that a Yellow-Rank Martial Artist going past would have to lie down, unable to move.


    Everyone looked at the arena in fear.


    How strong was that slender figure who caused all this?


    This question arose in the hearts of countless people.


    At the same time, they had not forgotten Xia Liu''s earlier signs of demonization. If it were true, this place would definitely turn into an Asura Field.


    "I don''t know if everyone sensed it just now, but he has succumbed to evil!"


    "Sect Master Bai!"


    As many Earth-Rank Warriors watched in fear, Bai Shixiong and Bai Lili appeared at the top of the viewing platform with grim expressions. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sect Master Bai, Xia Liu shows signs of demonization, but his cultivation is too terrifying, his martial arts skill is too dreadful. We might not be able to..."


    "Yes, he is too dreadful. All of us together might not stand a chance against him."


    "Ah, how did it turn out like this!"


    The Earth-Rank Warriors exclaimed in alarm.


    It was one thing for Xia Liu to succumb to evil, but why did his cultivation have to be so high-strength?


    High-strength cultivation was one thing, but the "Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow" technique in his hands had become so powerful. Who among the warriors present could subdue him?


    "Father, hurry and stop him, he is walking towards Xiaotian."


    Seeing Xia Liu walking towards Lin Xiaotian on the arena, Bai Lili''s voice trembled.


    "Lili, you and Lin Xiaotian..." Once again hearing his daughter''s words about Lin Xiaotian, Bai Shixiong''s brows furrowed tightly.


    Actually, he thought this was a good opportunity for Xia Liu to kill Lin Xiaotian by his own hand while succumbed to evil.


    This way, everything would come to an end.


    "Father, now is not the time to talk. Please, you must save Senior Brother Xiaotian, or else I won''t be able to live either."


    "This..."


    "Sect Master Bai, please take action to subdue the monster!"


    "Sect Master Bai, please make a move. He has already demonized, and now only you can contend with him."


    "Sect Master Bai!"


    The Earth-Rank Warriors all pleaded with joined hands.


    They were aware of their own cultivation levels. To subdue Xia Liu, even another hundred years of cultivation would not suffice.


    The only one who could contend with Xia Liu at the scene was Bai Shixiong.


    Looking at his daughter''s eyes filled with earnestness, Bai Shixiong clenched his teeth and sprinted towards the arena using his movement technique.


    His heart was in anguish; after seeing Xia Liu destroy the entrance of the Martial Combat Arena with one palm strike, he knew he was absolutely no match for Xia Liu.


    But if it was confirmed that Xia Liu had succumbed to evil, then as a representative of the Righteous Path, he must take action to destroy Xia Liu.


    "Everyone, follow Sect Master Bai to exterminate the demon!"


    "Right!"


    Everyone understood that this was no longer just an issue for Bai Shixiong alone. Facing a demonized warrior was a collective responsibility of the Righteous Path Family and Sect.


    As a result, all the Earth-Rank Warriors at the scene took action, forming a group of dozens of Earth-Rank Warriors against Xia Liu.


    This mighty force made the Mysterious Rank Warriors at the scene tremble.


    They could never have anticipated that things would evolve into this situation.


    Although Xia Liu had succumbed to evil, he became the object of everyone''s envy, since his cultivation was indeed formidable!


    And the first one to act was Feng Jiawei; by the time Xia Liu reached Lin Xiaotian, he was already protecting in front of Lin Xiaotian.


    "Hmm?" Xia Liu looked up, his bloodthirsty eyes seeming to speak, conveying a dangerous message to Feng Jiawei.


    "Junior Brother Feng, you quickly leave. My brother might not remember people now!"


    Seeing Feng Jiawei blocking in front, Lin Xiaotian shouted frantically.


    "Senior Brother Lin, I want to use all my strength to help you, and not only I will, Junior Sister Bai and the Honored Master will as well."


    As he spoke, Feng Jiawei looked toward the arena, where dozens of Earth-Rank Warriors rushed forward rapidly¡­

 Chapter 364 Dont Get Excited [Finale]

    "Xia Liu! Wake up, wake up!"


    Ye Tian roared, leading the crowd.


    He had long since lost any reservation towards Xia Liu, and had even begun to admire him.


    His heart wrenched in pain upon seeing Xia Liu succumb to evil; it truly hurt.


    Everyone stopped twenty meters away from Xia Liu.


    They didn''t know his condition, and getting too close meant they might not even know how they died.


    "Xia Liu, you must control your heart and mind, there''s no one now who can check you..."


    Lin Xiaotian was undoubtedly the most concerned.


    He knew Xia Liu best; Xia Liu''s current aura was far below his peak. If he couldn''t turn back,


    if he unleashed all his power, the scene would definitely turn into Asura Purgatory.


    And beyond that, once off the Immeasurable Island, the situation would become even more extreme.


    Xia Liu stayed silent for a while, then turned to look around.


    "On guard!"


    Bai Shixiong was the first to shout, immediately releasing Inner Qi from his body.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors behind him also readied themselves with raised energy.


    Currently, Xia Liu''s cultivation had almost reached the peak of Earth-Rank; how to deal with that Great Handprint, not a single person could withstand it alone.


    To contend with Xia Liu, they had to consolidate the strength of all Earth-Rank Warriors.


    "That..."


    "Fall back!" Seeing Xia Liu raise his hand, an Earth-Rank Warrior immediately cried out in alarm. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "Can you guys not be so agitated?"


    Xia Liu was somewhat amused. Was he really that frightening?


    If people knew what Xia Liu was thinking, they would stumble and fall.


    ''Frightening'' was an understatement; ''terrifying'' might be more apt.


    "Xia Liu, you..." Ye Tian asked weakly.


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine," Xia Liu replied with a slight smile, then said to Bai Shixiong, "Sect Master Bai, I''m sorry for destroying your Martial Combat Arena, and also I sincerely apologize on behalf of my brother."


    After speaking, Xia Liu gave a fist salute with a slight bow.


    "As long as you didn''t succumb to evil, that''s good. We''ll discuss the rest later," Bai Shixiong breathed a sigh of relief.


    Seeing Xia Liu apparently fine after witnessing his terrifying Martial Arts Skill, Bai Shixiong himself, despite his peak Earth-Rank cultivation, had to tremble.


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    "Xia Liu, you did it," laughed Lin Xiaotian. Xia Liu was indeed still Xia Liu, capable of reverting even after succumbing to evil.


    "Can''t really say I did, it''s just suppression for now," Xia Liu didn''t hide the fact, still somewhat haunted by the intense pain in his head earlier.


    If he hadn''t regained his senses at the last moment, he dared not think what he might have done.


    "Xiaotian brother!" Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Bai Lili called out, running towards Lin Xiaotian with tears in her eyes.


    "Lili..." Hearing his daughter''s long-missed cheerful voice, Bai Shixiong''s heart ached deeply.


    Xia Liu did not stop Bai Lili''s approach; having been around for many years, if he couldn''t tell what Bai Lili was thinking, he might as well end it with a slab of tofu.


    "Lili, have you forgiven me?" Lin Xiaotian had been moved earlier when he heard Bai Lili calling him brother, but there was no opportunity to continue.


    "Yes, I have forgiven you, completely forgiven you," Bai Lili said as she opened her arms and hugged Lin Xiaotian.


    "Hiss..."


    Lin Xiaotian had no mood to enjoy that soft embrace, his whole body was filled with pain at the moment.


    Suffering a strike at the peak of the Earth-Rank High-Level without any guard, even with a sturdy body, but without the support of Inner Qi, how could one not be injured?


    "Xiaotian Senior Brother, did I hurt you?" Hearing the pained groan from Lin Xiaotian, Bai Lili asked weakly.


    "No, no, as long as Lili is happy..."


    Even in true pain, Lin Xiaotian still wore a smile.


    Having Bai Lili''s forgiveness was worth being paralyzed in bed for ten years.


    "Haha, sister-in-law, let me treat Xiaotian Big Brother for a bit."


    Seeing Lin Xiaotian''s pained yet smiling face, Xia Liu couldn''t help but laugh.


    When Bai Lili heard Xia Liu call herself sister-in-law, her beautiful face under her veil immediately became hot; had it not been for the veil, she probably would have fled, too embarrassed to face everyone.


    While shy, her heart warmed because Lin Xiaotian was back, and he still had such a good brother.


    "Xia Liu, your way of addressing her is not correct," Lin Xiaotian said bitterly.


    "Hmm? Then, how should he address me?" Bai Lili''s voice turned icy at the sensitive issue, casting a chill that everyone around could feel.


    "It should be junior sister-in-law..." Lin Xiaotian explained quickly, sensing that if he dared to say the wrong thing, Bai Lili would maim him.


    "Oh, in that case, Big Brother, please treat Xiaotian Senior Brother," Bai Lili said, chuckling and retreating to Bai Shixiong''s side after hearing the warm address again.


    Under the watchful eyes of many Earth-Rank Warriors, Xia Liu slowly approached Lin Xiaotian.


    The Five Elements Mantra surged, and Wooden Spirit Energy invisibly entered Lin Xiaotian''s body.


    Instantly, Lin Xiaotian could clearly feel his damaged organs slowly healing.


    About an hour later, Xia Liu withdrew his hand, and the Spiritual Energy inside him also calmed down.


    If the Tianshu Soul-Calming Needle were still present, Xia Liu would never dare take such a risk, especially with a group of Martial Artists whose thoughts were unknown lurking behind him.


    But now he had no fear, clad in Demon Stone Clothing, and his Cultivation restored to six layers of his former strength.


    If anyone sought to cause trouble, he could take them down in an instant.


    "The errant disciple Lin Xiaotian pleads guilt!" After recovering from his internal injuries, Lin Xiaotian approached Bai Shixiong with fists clasped in a bow, under countless trembling gazes.


    "Er... Let''s go back to the main hall to talk about it," Bai Shixiong was about to explode in anger, but Bai Lili was continuously holding his arm, making it impossible for him to get angry.


    "Yes!"


    Responding respectfully, Lin Xiaotian followed Bai Shixiong. Xia Liu didn''t linger either and accompanied Lin Xiaotian as both departed.


    "Everyone, what did Xia Liu just do?"


    "It seems he used Inner Qi to heal Lin Xiaotian, and he healed him!"


    "Wow! Inner Qi can at most stabilize an injured Martial Artist''s Energy, but Lin Xiaotian''s injuries were to his internal organs. How could he possibly recover without at least half a year of recuperation?"


    "What exactly did Xia Liu do?"


    "Could he really be the Sect Master of Taiyi?"


    After Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian left, the Earth-Rank Warriors present trembled.


    The healing technique they had just witnessed thoroughly astonished them with admiration.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors'' disciples and the younger clan members were more curious about Song Jie''s condition, so they gathered around to check.


    Although the disciples of the Immeasurable Sect had already dealt with some of it, when they saw Song Jie, their scalps tingled.


    "Ah! I need to leave here right away!"


    "Me too!"


    "We must leave quickly before that person has time!"


    ...


    After seeing Song Jie''s miserable condition, Luo Dao, and many other youths, shivered.


    They had all offended Xia Liu before, and if, after Xia Liu settled his conflict with the Immeasurable Sect, he turned his attention to them, even if they didn''t die, they''d spend the rest of their lives paralyzed in bed...

 Chapter 365 The Delayed Promise

    Compared to the panic in the Martial Combat Arena, the main hall of the Immeasurable Sect seemed rather solemn.


    Bai Shixiong sat on the Jade Cloud Throne at the top of the Treasure Palace, with Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian seated on either side of the main hall.


    Bai Lili was nowhere to be seen; otherwise, the three people in the main hall wouldn''t have been so awkward. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sect Master Bai, I''m sorry, I went a bit too far earlier." After a long silence, Xia Liu apologized.


    "Not at all, I was young once too. Looking back, I was even more impulsive than you for the sake of friends and brothers," Bai Shixiong said with a smile.


    Honestly, Bai Shixiong was still somewhat shocked by Xia Liu, as he harbored a significant suspicion.


    It was about the Spirit Stabilizing Needle Xia Liu had used. Once he had undone the sealing, his cultivation had reached the Earth Rank Peak, and the martial arts skills he displayed were extremely strong.


    If he were to burst forth, Xia Liu would definitely become a mad force sweeping across the entire Immeasurable Sect.


    Now, Bai Shixiong finally understood what Xia Liu meant when he said, "If you dare to be impolite to Lin Xiaotian, the Immeasurable Sect could indeed be destroyed."


    "By the way, you''re the Sect Leader of the Taiyi Sect, right?" Suddenly recalling the Heaven and Earth Map, Bai Shixiong asked.


    "No, no, I don''t know much about the Taiyi Sect."


    "Then how did you come by that Heaven and Earth Map?"


    "An old man taught me..." Seeing Bai Shixiong''s interest in his background, Xia Liu didn''t hide anything and simply laid out the facts, hoping he might have news of the Taiyi Sect.


    "I see, so you directly received the legacy of an elder of the Taiyi Sect," Bai Shixiong realized after listening to Xia Liu''s explanation.


    If Xia Liu were truly a Sect Leader of Taiyi, he likely wouldn''t use the Heaven and Earth Map here, since it represents the sect.


    "You could say that. Sect Master Bai, do you know where the Taiyi Sect is? I would like to take the old man''s remains there."


    "I''m not sure either. For some reason, the Taiyi Sect has been hidden for decades. Perhaps our Sect Master would know, but unfortunately..." Bai Shixiong shook his head and explained.


    "I see. Then where did the Sect Master go?" Xia Liu refused to give up, having finally found a clue, and he was determined to pursue it.


    "The Sect Master has been missing for many years. I don''t know about that either," said Bai Shixiong, equally helpless since the Sect Master had attained Heaven Rank when he left.


    Such a Martial Arts Grandmaster was not something ordinary martial artists could influence.


    Xia Liu said nothing more; such high-strength martial artists wandering in the world, even if one encountered them, it might be impossible to recognize.


    "Sect Master Bai, I..." As Xia Liu and Bai Shixiong finished speaking, Lin Xiaotian took the opportunity to speak.


    But before he had finished, Bai Shixiong raised his hand to stop him.


    This gesture made Lin Xiaotian extremely embarrassed.


    It''s not that Bai Shixiong didn''t want to speak with Lin Xiaotian, but he was captivated by a stunning scene.


    Seeing Bai Shixiong''s gaze fixed, Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian also looked in the same direction.


    On looking, both men were surprised in different ways.


    They saw a woman in a blue long dress approaching from afar, her skin white as snow, delicate and tender.


    Her hair reached her waist and fluttered with the breeze, her graceful posture captivating.


    Her eyes were clear, and as the wind brushed past her, it brought a whiff of pureness.


    "Lili!"


    Bai Shixiong and Lin Xiaotian exclaimed simultaneously.


    One was a father who hadn''t seen his daughter''s true face for years, and the other was a man who had made mistakes, fled, and broken promises.


    Two men, two identities, yet at this moment, both were equally shocked and joyful.


    Bai Lili was able to remove her veil, which means she would face life squarely and calmly confront everything from now on.


    "Father, Senior Brother Xiaotian, Big Brother Xia Liu," Bai Lili said shyly with her head lowered as she arrived at the main hall.


    "Ah, Lili, your father is truly delighted to see you like this."


    If Bai Shixiong wasn''t desperately holding back, tears would have surely streamed down his face.


    After his wife gave birth to Bai Lili and passed away due to her frail health, Bai Shixiong dared not forget the vows and promises he made to her that he would ensure their daughter''s happiness in this lifetime.


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    Today, Bai Shixiong finally saw his daughter''s smile again.


    "Senior Brother Xiaotian, don''t you have anything to say to me and father?" After waiting a while and noticing Lin Xiaotian''s silence, Bai Lili spoke up somewhat coquettishly.


    "Uh, Lili, I''m sorry for coming back late."


    "I don''t want to hear you say sorry."


    "Then..."


    "Forget it, just don''t speak," Bai Lili said, crossing her arms and not wanting to talk as she watched Lin Xiaotian''s sad expression.


    "Haha!" Xia Liu initially tried to hold back his laughter but eventually couldn''t help but let out a laugh.


    "Lin Xiaotian, you better think of something to say to Lili!" Seeing his daughter sulking, Bai Shixiong got anxious. He even wanted to slap Lin Xiaotian several times to clear his muddled head.


    "Junior Sister Lili, I''m back now. Will you marry me?" Suddenly, Lin Xiaotian had an epiphany and quickly kneeled before Bai Lili, adopting a proposing posture.


    "Uh, uh, uh¡­ What''s happening?" Bai Lili hadn''t even had time to feel shy before Bai Shixiong panicked.


    This was a sign that Lin Xiaotian was planning to elope with his daughter!


    "Sect Master, this was agreed between Lili and me, only I''m five years late. I promise from now on, I will wholeheartedly care for Lili and not let her suffer the slightest harm or unhappiness."


    "Agreement? Five years late?" The more Bai Shixiong heard, the less he understood. What on earth was going on?


    "Father, actually, it was like this. When I let Xiaotian leave back then, he said he would return after a few days to ask for your blessing, but he never returned..."


    Seeing her father''s confusion, Bai Lili began to explain everything.


    Actually, it wasn''t that Lin Xiaotian had mistreated her; they had been in love, and things had happened long before.


    But ultimately, Lin Xiaotian did not return, and that''s when Bai Lili released the news.


    At that time, her heart was nearly dead, but she managed to survive on her intense hatred.


    As Bai Lili recounted these events, Lin Xiaotian stood by with his head bowed, not knowing if his mind had been stuck in a door or something back then, to have let down such a great beauty.


    After hearing his daughter''s explanation, Bai Shixiong''s face darkened somewhat. So, his daughter had been seduced by Lin Xiaotian long ago!


    "Lin Xiaotian, since you and Lili were already involved back then, why did you still sneak into the Library Pavilion?"


    "Sect Master, hear me out. I had grown tired of practicing the Martial Arts Skill you entrusted to me, so I thought of learning more and eventually sneaked into the Library Pavilion through a loophole."


    Lin Xiaotian didn''t want it to be that way, but his talent made him reluctant to be mediocre and eventually led to a big trouble...


    "I admit you have exceptional talent, but that doesn''t justify your actions. Since you made a mistake, you must accept the punishment."


    "Father, you can''t punish Senior Brother Xiaotian!"


    Bai Lili immediately stood up to defend him.


    "Lili, he''s too wild by nature. Without proper discipline, he''ll never amount to anything in this life."


    "I heard Senior Brother Xiaotian say, he integrated various Martial Arts Skills and created his own; doesn''t that count as achieving something¡­"

 Chapter 366 Library Pavilion [Part 1]

    Bai Lili''s words had left Bai Shixiong stunned on the spot.


    Creating one''s own martial arts skill, that was something only a Martial Arts Grandmaster could achieve. It wasn''t just being promising, it was becoming a legendary figure.


    "I''ve also seen that palm technique, it couldn''t possibly be your own creation, could it?"


    Bai Shixiong recalled the recent fight and couldn''t help but look down on Lin Xiaotian.


    Such martial arts skill, in Lin Xiaotian''s hands, could only exert so much limited power.


    Only someone like Xia Liu might be eligible to create ''Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow''!


    Exactly, Xia Liu indeed had the cultivation of Earth-Rank Peak and showed signs of succumbing to evil. Plus, with the Spirit Stabilizing Needle, his cultivation was definitely not as simple as it seemed on the surface.


    "Sect Master Bai, please don''t misunderstand, ''Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow'' was truly created by Xiaotian."


    Seeing Bai Shixiong constantly sizing him up, Xia Liu hurriedly explained.


    This was being wrongly accused while lying down, Xia Liu felt helpless.


    If he really took credit for his brother''s accomplishment, he would be nagged for a lifetime.


    "It was really him?" Bai Shixiong still found it hard to believe. How could Lin Xiaotian, with just an Earth-Rank High-Level cultivation, possibly create a martial arts skill?


    Moreover, that palm technique apparently surpassed even the Sect-Protecting Move of Immeasurable Sect in fierceness, possibly reaching the Earth Rank!


    An Earth-Rank Martial Arts, even a thousand years ago, would be a rare existence.


    Now, an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior claiming to have created Earth-Rank Martial Arts, no martial artist would dare to believe it.


    "Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, Cyclone Dantian, condensed in the Qi Sea, Rushing to the Heaven Pivot, Turning the Governing Vessel..."


    Upon seeing Bai Shixiong''s utterly distrustful expression, Lin Xiaotian directly recited the cultivation method for ''Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow''.


    After listening, Bai Shixiong''s eyes widened; he was utterly convinced because the initial steps of Increase Energy and Condensing Energy in this technique started precisely like the ''Energy Break Cloud'' of Immeasurable Sect.


    "Haha! Good!" After being shocked for a while, Bai Shixiong laughed.


    Even if Lin Xiaotian had made a mistake before, it was out of his eagerness to learn. Such a martial arts prodigy was extraordinarily rare in the world.


    "Father, you aren''t blaming Xiaotian Brother anymore, are you?"


    "Lili, not only am I not blaming him, but I also intend to help him." Bai Shixiong was very happy. The matter between his daughter and Lin Xiaotian was almost beyond repair.


    Now, having such a martial arts prodigy as his son-in-law was not bad at all.


    "Thank you, Sect Master!" Lin Xiaotian said excitedly.


    "Hmm?"


    "Thank you, Uncle Bai." Seeing Bai Shixiong''s changing expression, Lin Xiaotian immediately altered his words.


    "Hehe, Xiaotian, come with me later to write down the details of ''Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow''. Since this technique was created by merging various martial arts from the Library Pavilion, there shouldn''t be any objections to placing it there, right?"


    "Of course not, actually, Uncle Bai, even if you didn''t mention it, I would have suggested it. ''Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow'' is very difficult and strict to practice, and there are many things to be cautious about. Without the cultivation of an Earth-Rank High-Level, I reckon it can''t be cultivated." Lin Xiaotian had no objections since cultivating this palm technique was very challenging, it would be impressive if even one disciple mastered it in ten years. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s that difficult? Xia Liu, how long did you cultivate it?" Bai Shixiong asked with curiosity.


    "Actually, I only listened to Xiaotian explain it before. It was my second time using it just now."


    ...


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    After asking, Bai Shixiong felt like he had been foolish; he was essentially asking to be embarrassed by such a monstrous talent.


    Being of such young age with such unfathomable cultivation, no wonder he had succumbed to evil. Therefore, it''s still best to cultivate leisurely, being too aggressive has its drawbacks.


    "Sect Master Bai, I did win the Martial Combat championship. I should be allowed to enter the Library Pavilion and choose Martial Arts and Cultivation Techniques, right?"


    ```


    ...


    Bai Shixiong was (once) again surprised by Xia Liu''s words.


    "Damn it, you''re already an Earth-Rank Peak Cultivator, even stronger than myself, yet you still want to go to the library pavilion meant for ordinary martial artists to pick out cultivation techniques and martial arts skills? This leaves one at a loss for words."


    Bai Shixiong found no reason to refuse, but it wasn''t the time yet, as there were a pile of matters waiting to be handled.


    After agreeing on a time to enter the Library Pavilion, Bai Shixiong left, and during this time, he didn''t mention anything about Song Jie.


    Xia Liu didn''t say anything else either. With someone as crafty and petty as Song Jie, Bai Shixiong probably noticed it as well.


    Killing Song Jie would probably make many in the Immeasurable Sect happy.


    Facing the couple who had been apart for a long time, Xia Liu didn''t disturb them and followed the disciples of the Immeasurable Sect to his new residence to rest.


    He needed some time to adjust himself.


    Two years ago, he had quietly felt that he was succumbing to evil, and over the course of two years, he had inserted three Spirit Stabilizing Needles into his body to seal his cultivation.


    Today, he had (already) removed two of them. When he removed the first one, his Dantian was normal, his meridians were normal, and his spirit was normal.


    This showed that using the Spirit Stabilizing Needles to stabilize his cultivation and heart state was very effective.


    However, he shouldn''t remove the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle for too long in such short time.


    The moment he pulled it out just now, Xia Liu could clearly feel that his spirit seemed to fall into slumber; if he hadn''t regained consciousness at that time, it probably would have been a disaster.


    So for the time being, the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle couldn''t be removed.


    Taking some time, Xia Liu once again placed the Spirit Stabilizing Needle back into the Tianshu Acupoint.


    His cultivation was sealed again, and Xia Liu sat cross-legged, circulating the Spirit Formula to breathe in nature''s spiritual energy.


    The next morning, a faint knocking echoed in the room.


    Xia Liu opened his eyes, his vital energy flashed through, aside from the blood on his clothing, his injuries and such had all healed.


    Even his Dantian was filled with spiritual energy.


    Perhaps due to the Island Protection Formation''s influence, a lot of spiritual energy drifted within Immeasurable Island, acting like an accelerator, enabling Xia Liu''s swift recovery.


    Standing outside the door was a young maid holding a set of clothes.


    It must''ve been Bai Shixiong''s arrangement, because the Library Pavilion has been handed down in the Immeasurable Sect for hundreds of years, and one must enter it wearing the sect''s clothing.


    This was just right for Xia Liu, otherwise, it would be really annoying to walk out in torn clothes and blood-stained pants.


    After changing into the clothes, Xia Liu casually ate something and then followed the maid to the location Bai Shixiong had arranged.


    In front of the Immeasurable Sect''s Library Pavilion, hundreds of people had (already) gathered by this time, including Immeasurable Sect disciples, as well as various martial artists who had come to participate in the martial combat.


    Seeing Xia Liu''s arrival, the crowd was instantly stirred.


    Every face was filled with admiration, even the older Earth-Rank Warriors felt the same.


    They had all witnessed yesterday''s battle with their own eyes, and they would never forget Xia Liu in their lifetime.


    Whether it was the Heaven and Earth Map or Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, Xia Liu had firmly rooted himself in their hearts, and the martial arts he performed were unforgettable.


    "Alright, everyone is here, get ready to open the Library Pavilion." As soon as Xia Liu walked over indifferently, Bai Shixiong immediately announced the matter.


    In front of the crowd, Xia Liu remained unmoved; he had (already) been attracted by the giant tower in front.


    The giant tower was about twenty meters tall, with a body of purple gold. Even before arriving, Xia Liu could feel that the giant tower was emanating a faint spiritual energy.


    Clearly, the giant tower was guarded by a Spirit Formation, which made Xia Liu very puzzled, how the Immeasurable Sect could have a formation that only cultivators were capable of setting up...


    ```

 Chapter 367 Library Pavilion [Part 2]

    Xia Liu didn''t get to imagine for long before Bai Shixiong took out a completely white jade block and threw it towards the giant tower.


    The jade block floated slowly in front of the stone gate of the giant tower, like a spirit.


    Humming...


    As the jade block started to emit a faint light, a low chanting sound came from the giant tower.


    Soon after, the huge stone gate rose without any apparent cause.


    As the gate of the giant tower opened, a desolate and distant aura emanated from within.


    Such a change came as a surprise only to a few low-rank warriors, while the others were already accustomed to it.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to enter first, Bai Shixiong stopped him, "To enter the Library Pavilion, one must increase energy; otherwise, you will encounter resistance."


    Xia Liu said nothing, looking towards Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong.


    They had both rested for a night and had recovered somewhat, all because Xia Liu had held back during the contest in the arena.


    The two exchanged glances with Xia Liu and showed forced smiles. Then, under his gaze, they first increased their energy and entered the Library Pavilion.


    Xia Liu noticed that as the two entered through the main entrance, indeed a force swept over them.


    But it was only a weak stream of Spiritual Energy.


    At this point, Xia Liu laughed. Was such weak Spiritual Energy supposed to stop him?


    Then, he walked forward amid many astonished gazes. As for increasing energy, that was merely the entry method for ordinary warriors.


    When Bai Shixiong saw that Xia Liu entered the Library Pavilion without increasing energy and without suffering any harm or even encountering resistance, he almost popped his eyes out.


    The warriors on-site were also puzzled; they all had some understanding of the Library Pavilion of the Immeasurable Sect, which had existed since the founding of the sect.


    A great power had set up a barrier in the Library, and to enter, one had to increase energy. Yet Xia Liu just walked in casually!


    "The barrier of the Library must be broken!" Bai Shixiong thought, and his heart rate sped up.


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    Under everyone''s gaze, Bai Shixiong also walked in casually like Xia Liu.


    Boom!


    But as Bai Shixiong was about to step through the stone gate, it was as if there was a glass wall in front of him, firmly blocking him and making a dull sound.


    "..."


    Barely avoiding a mouthful of dirt, Bai Shixiong quickly increased his energy and then entered through the stone gate under everyone''s astonished gazes.


    After Bai Shixiong entered the Library Pavilion, the warriors outside began to discuss heatedly.


    Xia Liu had entered the stone gate without increasing energy¡ªthis was simply mind-blowing! sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The oldest warrior on the scene was over eighty years old, and he had been participating in the Martial Combat Contest of the Immeasurable Sect for decades.


    He was certain that this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.


    In the past, there were warriors who attempted to challenge the barrier, but without exception, they all ended up on the ground.


    Compared to the bustling outside, it was much quieter inside the tower.


    After Bai Shixiong entered, the stone gate closed.


    The moment the stone gate closed, candles automatically lit up inside the tower.


    The dim candlelight, one after another, illuminated the entire Library Pavilion.


    Xia Liu, who was visiting the Library Pavilion for the first time, was perplexed by the layout he saw before him.


    He saw a long winding staircase that spiraled down from the top of the tower.


    It was clear that there were four floors in the Library Pavilion, and there was even a faint presence of Spiritual Energy lingering inside!


    "Based on the results of the Martial Combat Contest, Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong can go to the second floor, while Xia Liu can enter the third floor."


    Before ascending the staircase, Bai Shixiong announced the floor levels for the three of them.


    "Thank you, Sect Master Bai!"


    Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong responded with a salute and a fist.


    Although it was only the second floor, they were satisfied, after all, had they carelessly obtained third place in the Martial Combat Contest, they could only pick martial arts skills and cultivation techniques from the miserable first floor.


    "Sect Master Bai, is it possible to go up to the fourth floor?"


    "Hmm?"


    Bai Shixiong, Zhang Xiantian, and Sun Mingcong all showed surprise.


    Could it be that Xia Liu truly didn''t know the laws of the Library Pavilion?


    "This fourth floor is obstructed by mysterious forces, even with a token, I can''t go up," Bai Shixiong sighed and said.


    "Brother Xia Liu, since its creation, the Library Pavilion has been suppressed by marvelous forces. Without Sect Master Bai''s token, let alone the third floor, you couldn''t even reach the second floor."


    "Hehe, Brother Xia Liu, the third floor is not bad either, if you''re lucky, you can even find Mysterious Rank Peak martial arts skills or cultivation techniques."


    After coming back to their senses, Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong both smiled.


    "Is that so, then what are the conditions needed for me to reach the fourth floor?" Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    "Haha! As long as one relies on their own ability to reach the fourth floor, no conditions are needed!"


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, Bai Shixiong laughed; without his own token, let alone the fourth floor, he would have difficulty just reaching the second floor.


    "Brother Xia Liu, you might not understand the Library Pavilion, I advise you not to waste your energy."


    "Yes, without Sect Master Bai''s token, forget about the fourth floor, you wouldn''t even be able to reach the second floor."


    Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong both laughed in turn. If Xia Liu''s cultivation weren''t high-strength, they would have barraged him long ago.


    You should feel lucky just being able to reach the third floor, yet you still think about the fourth floor.


    Hmm?


    Just as Bai Shixiong and the others continued to try to dissuade Xia Liu, he had already walked to the staircase.


    "Sect Master Bai, since you said so, let''s talk about the third floor later, I''ll go up to the fourth floor to take a look," Xia Liu said.


    Finishing his words, Xia Liu quickly stepped onto the staircase.


    ...


    Bai Shixiong, Zhang Xiantian, and Sun Mingcong shook their heads helplessly.


    Previously, there were no young martial artists with such ambition who didn''t stop at the second floor.


    Because there is a barrier stronger than the entrance by countless times!


    But after a few seconds passed, Bai Shixiong, Zhang Xiantian, and Sun Mingcong all had their mouths wide open, their eyes bulging with shock.


    Because Xia Liu had already surpassed the first floor, and entered the second!


    "Whoa! That''s impossible!"


    "Am I seeing things? He has no fluctuations of Inner Qi at all, yet he made it to the second floor!"


    Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong exclaimed in astonishment.


    Bai Shixiong was already stunned, even with the use of Inner Qi, he could barely step onto the second floor''s staircase, but to truly want to go to the second floor clearly was impossible, because that barrier felt just like Mount Tai pressing down on him.


    "Damn it! He''s surpassed the second floor!"


    "He''s reached the third floor! What is this situation!"


    ...


    Seeing Xia Liu surpass the second floor and step onto the third floor''s staircase, the trio on the first floor were filled with shock and fear.


    "It must be broken, the barrier must be!"


    Bai Shixiong murmured, his movement technique flashing instantly to the end of the first floor, but as he attempted to step forward, he was immediately stopped by that mysterious force.


    "Sect Master Bai, how is it, is the barrier broken?"


    Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong quickly ran up to inquire.


    Bai Shixiong did not speak, gesturing for the two to experience it for themselves.


    When the two were stopped by the barrier, their expressions changed.


    "Eh! He''s stopped!"


    Seeing Xia Liu stop at the third floor, Bai Shixiong was once again filled with surprise.


    Could it be that when Xia Liu started climbing the stairs, the barrier hadn''t been activated, and that''s why he was able to go up smoothly?


    But before he could dwell on his surprise, he saw Xia Liu''s foot taking another step up...

 Chapter 368 Immeasurable Sword Art

    Thud, thud...


    Bai Shixiong''s heartbeat gradually quickened.


    The barrier was intact, yet Xia Liu had ascended to the third level without any hindrance!


    And now, he was heading toward the mysterious fourth level!


    Witnessing all this happen, Bai Shixiong was so shocked he could hardly speak.


    The fourth level¡ª even the Sect Master had not been able to ascend there during his time, yet now it was trodden by Xia Liu!


    Although energies began to swirl around Xia Liu, it appeared he truly ascended by his own abilities, which was simply defying the heavens.


    The fourth level of the Library Pavilion!


    The moment Xia Liu stepped into the fourth level, the oppressive force bearing down on him dissipated instantly.


    As soon as he had stepped onto the staircase to the fourth level, he could not move anymore.


    Fortunately, he stimulated his inner spirit energy, barely managing to ascend.


    If that force had been any stronger, he would have had to remove the Spirit Stabilizing Needle in the Tianshu acupoint; otherwise, he truly would not have made it here.


    The fourth level, in contrast to the three levels below, was a completely different place.


    Beneath, shelves of books stood solemnly, rows upon rows of books neatly arranged.


    On this fourth level, however, it seemed to be a minimalist tea room, with a wooden table, wooden chairs, a wooden cup, and a wooden pot set up in front.


    An extremely desolate energy met him head-on, and Xia Liu could hardly imagine how many years it had been since any living person had come here. Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    However, this level was somewhat special¡ªthere was no accumulation of years of dust. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If not for the extremely chilling energy, Xia Liu would have thought someone was here drinking tea yesterday.


    "Hmm? What is this!" Approaching the wooden table, Xia Liu suddenly saw two bamboo scrolls on it!


    It seemed to be ancient texts used for recording and conveying information.


    Xia Liu sat down, opened the bamboo scrolls, and glanced at the message recorded on them.


    "Cultivator''s script!" Upon seeing the characters, Xia Liu''s eyes widened!


    Little did he expect these to be the long-lost cultivator''s script.


    Cultivator''s script was used by cultivators for communication.


    It was vastly different from Huaxia Country''s script; however, if one earnestly studied this script, an ordinary scholar could decipher it in about twenty years.


    Xia Liu could recognize these characters thanks to the old man''s teaching.


    It was unclear what the old man was thinking when he slapped his head and then handed him the "Five Elements Mantra" written in cultivator''s script.


    Xia Liu''s familiarity with cultivator''s script was as natural to him as Huaxia people viewed their own script.


    After reading the bamboo scroll for a while, his expression turned somber.


    It was a recorded chapter, discussing the depletion of nature''s spiritual energy and the rare emergence of new talents.


    It also briefly mentioned the founding of the Immeasurable Sect, which was 3,000 years ago, when Immeasurable Sect was one of the several great cultivator sects of that era.


    Cultivator sect!


    Seeing these words, Xia Liu swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva.


    He had some understanding of cultivators, but not to a profound extent.


    The recorded chapter left sparse information. This founding great power merely documented the glorious century of the Immeasurable Sect and the decline of cultivators across the world.


    Based on the text recorded in the bamboo scroll, Xia Liu roughly understood the reason behind the decline of cultivators.


    It was mainly due to the depletion of nature''s spiritual energy, making it difficult to sustain the cultivation of cultivators.


    With no new blood among cultivators appearing, gradually, the line of cultivators was shattered; when the critical time came, some transformed into feathers, others simply died of old age, essentially all disappearing.


    The era of cultivators ended, followed by the era of martial artists.


    Martial artists require a talent far beyond that of cultivators for cultivation.


    But those who can cultivate their Inner Qi to the Transformed Boundary Realm also possess a power that rivals that of a Low-Rank Cultivator.


    Xia Liu put the recorded chapter aside, thinking that this wealth of the Immeasurable Sect should be left for them to figure out on their own.


    As he opened another bamboo scroll, Xia Liu''s pupils suddenly constricted!


    Cultivator''s Technique: Immeasurable Sword Art!


    "By the sun! What a find without any effort! Hahaha!"


    Xia Liu couldn''t help but burst into laughter, never having expected that the Immeasurable Sect could have acquired a cultivator''s cultivation technique!


    Even though it was merely the lowest Yellow-Rank Spirit Formula, it was enough to enable a person to become a cultivator!


    A cultivator! That was an existence many times more elevated than a martial artist!


    This technique had a total of fifteen levels, corresponding to the fifteen realms of an entry-level cultivator.


    Xia Liu examined it closely and discovered more and more benefits of the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    By reaching just the third level, one could spontaneously generate Sword Qi, and use it as a shield.


    This truly was a terrifying cultivation technique with both offensive and defensive capabilities.


    As for why the Immeasurable Sword Art was only classified as Yellow-Rank, that remained unknown.


    Xia Liu took the opportunity to commit all the contents of the Immeasurable Sword Art to memory.


    He did not plan to take this technique with him, partly because he was uncertain how many had the talent for cultivation.


    On the other hand, the emergence of this technique would definitely provoke a scramble among martial artists across the land.


    How could the now declining Immeasurable Sect possibly have the power to contend with martial artists from all over?


    "Senior Master Qingcheng''s great kindness and virtue, once Xia Liu achieves something significant, will surely revive the Immeasurable Sect and allow your deeds to be passed down."


    Looking at the bamboo scroll''s recorder''s name on the back, Xia Liu bowed slightly and made a promise of thanks.


    After returning the bamboo scroll back to its original place, Xia Liu looked around and, finding no further information about cultivators, descended the stairs.


    Coming down to the second floor, Xia Liu saw Bai Shixiong, Zhang Xiantian, and Sun Mingcong rummaging through the bookshelves.


    "Hey all, have you chosen anything yet?"


    "Xia Liu!"


    Hearing Xia Liu''s greeting, the three turned their heads, then exclaimed in surprise.


    "Xia Liu, what did you find on the fourth floor?" Bai Shixiong asked excitedly, rushing over and grabbing Xia Liu''s wrist.


    "Sect Master Bai, don''t be agitated, there was nothing much up there, just a few desks and chairs, it seemed like a place where the founder of the Immeasurable Sect rested and drank tea."


    "The founder!" Hearing this title shocked Bai Shixiong.


    Having endured prosperity and decline over thousands of years, Bai Shixiong, as the leader of the Immeasurable Sect, almost teared up at the mention of the founder whom even the Sect Master of his time might not have known about.


    "Sect Master Bai, you better stay here with Brother Zhang and Brother Sun to pick martial arts skills and techniques. I need to leave first, as Xiaotian''s Martial Veins still require some treatment."


    As he spoke, Xia Liu skillfully drew a circle in the palm of Bai Shixiong''s hand, his expression unchanged.


    "Uh... Then let me take you out first. I''m very sorry about Xiaotian''s situation; I will definitely find a way to help him recover," Bai Shixiong responded, slightly stunned, then promised immediately.


    "That''s not necessary, Sect Master Bai. I can heal Xiaotian''s Martial Veins. We only need some medicinal materials from the Immeasurable Sect."


    "Wow! Not only is Brother Xia''s cultivation Heaven-Reaching, but his medical skills have also reached the peak!"


    "To be able to heal the meridians, probably only Brother Xia could do such a thing in a thousand years!"


    Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong couldn''t help but be moved, witnessing all of Xia Liu''s transformations right before their eyes.


    They couldn''t help but worship such a formidable person¡­

 Chapter 369 Treatment and Confession

    Bai Shixiong could hardly wait to send Xia Liu out of the Library Pavilion after offering a light smile in response to Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong.


    The signal that Xia Liu had given him had already exploded in his heart.


    He wished he could throw Zhang Xiantian and Sun Mingcong out of the Library Pavilion and find Xia Liu to have a thorough talk in the dark.


    However, the rules of the Immeasurable Sect stood in the way, and Bai Shixiong could not violate them. He had no choice but to suppress his emotions and wait a little longer.


    "Eh! Brother Xia, how come you''ve come out?"


    Seeing Xia Liu emerge from the Library Pavilion, Ye Tian was the first to approach and ask in surprise.


    "I guess the Library Pavilion no longer has any cultivation techniques or martial arts skills that could impress Senior Xia."


    "Hmm, that''s absolutely right, Senior Xia''s cultivation is powerful enough to shake heaven and earth. There are probably very few martial arts skills or cultivation techniques in the world that could catch his eye."


    In fact, it was not enthusiastic debate, but all voices flattering Xia Liu.


    Ever since witnessing Xia Liu''s Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow move, the low-rank warriors had come to regard him as an idol.


    The high-rank warriors trembled before him, realizing such a person could only be befriended. If the relationship soured, the destruction of their sects and families would be but a moment away.


    As Ye Tian''s question arose, many martial artists present started to avidly discuss it.


    "It could be that personal pursuits differ. Although the Library Pavilion doesn''t have many cultivation techniques or martial arts skills to my liking, this trip to the Library Pavilion was hugely rewarding for me. As for what that reward is, I''d rather not go into detail with you all. Otherwise, should you try to intercept me along the way, I might find myself in danger."


    After finishing his words, Xia Liu waved goodbye to Ye Tian.


    Watching that brisk and indifferent back, the faces of the martial artists present all stiffened.


    Xia Liu''s joke was downright chilling.


    Even if he had obtained a heaven-rank martial arts skill or cultivation technique in the Library Pavilion, who would dare to intercept him?


    At the peak of his prowess, his cultivation had reached the Earth Rank Peak!


    The most formidable below heaven-rank, who would dare provoke him? Who could provoke him?


    Xia Liu paid no attention to what those martial artists were thinking; he wandered around the Immeasurable Sect and eventually realized he was lost.


    Having no choice, he had to ask a disciple for directions.


    In a certain courtyard, Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili were enjoying tea and sharing stories of their lives over the past few years.


    Xia Liu''s arrival made both of them exhibit shy behaviors, as Bai Lili was sitting in Lin Xiaotian''s lap chatting...


    "Sorry to interrupt you two, I didn''t expect that even in broad daylight you would be..."


    "Brother, compared to you, I''m far behind. You can''t say that during broad daylight you haven''t been with those sisters-in-law..."


    Teased by Xia Liu, Lin Xiaotian retorted without showing weakness.


    The conversation embarrassed Bai Lili, though.


    Blushing, she quickly ran into the main house, saying she needed to fetch some tea leaves.


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    "Haha! Xiaotian, give me your hand." After laughing it off, Xia Liu spoke seriously.


    Actually, he had wanted to check Lin Xiaotian''s wrist injury since the night before.


    But at that time, his consciousness was extremely unstable and his inner qi was too violent, clearly not the best state for healing, so Xia Liu had waited until now.


    When he unwrapped the cloth from Lin Xiaotian''s wrist, Xia Liu drew in a sharp breath.


    All that could be seen was a gaping wound with teeth and claws, soiled with dried blood that obscured the sight, preventing a clear view of the depth of the injury with the naked eye.


    "Senior Brother Xiaotian, didn''t you say the injury wasn''t serious? This..."


    Returning from inside the house, Bai Lili saw Lin Xiaotian''s injury and her eyes immediately reddened, a surge of heartache filling her. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She felt deeply guilty about it. If she hadn''t gotten angry with Lin Xiaotian back then and attacked him, Song Jie would not have had the opportunity to inflict such a wound on him.


    "Lili, don''t worry. Big Brother Xia Liu is a Divine Doctor. It''s nothing for him. Even if my head were chopped off, he could reattach it for me."


    ...


    "If you don''t speak, nobody will treat you as mute, and besides, if you call me ''brother'' again, I''ll sever the meridians in your other hand too."


    "Big Brother Xia Liu, can you help Xiaotian reconnect his martial veins?"


    ¡­


    Xia Liu was on the verge of going crazy. He was clearly many years younger than Lin Xiaotian, and this shameless guy not only called him ''brother'', but even his woman was doing it¡­


    "Junior sister, don''t worry. Meridians are nothing; I can easily reconnect them." Since he had already been called old for many years, Xia Liu didn''t care anymore and played it down according to Bai Lili''s expectation.


    "Wow! Big Brother Xia Liu is truly a Divine Doctor. It''s Xiaotian''s good fortune to have met you." Bai Lili exclaimed excitedly.


    As a martial artist herself, she understood the importance of the martial veins to a martial artist, and reconnecting them was as difficult as reaching the heavens. Yet, for Xia Liu, it was just a matter of moving his hand.


    "Junior sister, there should be a place within the Immeasurable Sect where medicinal materials are stored. Go find me some medicinal herbs. They are: Vajra Grass, Wind¡­"


    "Okay! I''ll go right now."


    After memorizing the herbs Xia Liu had listed, Bai Lili left the courtyard for the Medicinal Material Hall within the sect.


    As a powerful sect of the Righteous Path, the Immeasurable Sect would surely lose face if it couldn''t even produce the necessary medicinal materials.


    "Xiaotian, hold your breath and focus. I''ll help you reconnect the veins, but the process is bound to be extremely painful. You must endure it."


    After Bai Lili had left, Xia Liu did not waste any time and immediately reminded.


    "Haha, you must be joking. It''s just pain."


    Lin Xiaotian gave a small laugh in comparison to the battlefield; the pain of healing was hardly comparable.


    "Good!"


    As soon as the word "good" fell, Xia Liu activated the Five Elements Mantra, with his fingers pointed at several acupuncture points on Lin Xiaotian''s chest, and the Five Element Spiritual Energy continuously infused into Lin Xiaotian''s body.


    "Xia Liu, what is that energy inside me?"


    Lin Xiaotian had already recovered some inner qi, and he was very clear about the sensation of the energy entering his body.


    "Nature''s spiritual energy."


    "Nature''s spiritual energy!"


    Upon receiving this answer, Lin Xiaotian''s pupils suddenly contracted. He was very aware of what nature''s spiritual energy represented.


    When he initially attempted Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, due to his unfamiliarity, he absorbed some nature''s spiritual energy.


    Just those few insignificant strands of nature''s spiritual energy nearly caused him to succumb to evil.


    He didn''t dare to imagine that Xia Liu could actually control such terrifying nature''s spiritual energy and was even using it to heal his injuries!


    "Could it be!" Lin Xiaotian dared not imagine further.


    A terrifying guess arose in his heart. Xia Liu''s cultivation technique was different from ordinary ones; he could absorb and control nature''s spiritual energy!


    "Hiss!"


    A wave of severe pain made Lin Xiaotian abandon any speculation as a large amount of blood burst open at the wound on his wrist.


    Blood flowers continuously fell onto the stone table. If someone were beside him, their eyes would certainly be wet. Anyone who saw this scene would feel trepidation.


    After a few minutes, the blood on Lin Xiaotian''s wrist began to stop overflowing, but the pain did not subside.


    His complexion began to turn ashen.


    "Xiaotian, hold on. Once your martial veins are restored, I''ll give you a surprise beyond your imagination."


    "Mm, I can hold on. It''s not that painful anymore, but it''s incredibly itchy now."


    "That''s normal. I''m channeling spiritual energy into your meridians, using energy to guide the veins, connecting your severed hand. This process will take about ten minutes. Guard your mind well, as the pain is starting!"


    "Hiss¡­"


    Following Xia Liu''s words, Lin Xiaotian inhaled sharply as one wave of pain after another relentlessly followed.

 Chapter 370 Legacy

    About fifteen minutes later, Lin Xiaotian''s pain had completely subsided. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, his blood-drenched wrist looked extremely terrifying.


    When Bai Lili retrieved the medicinal herbs, seeing Lin Xiaotian''s wrist, she too was filled with horror.


    But she dared not speak and quietly stood by Lin Xiaotian''s side.


    After Xia Liu got the herbs, he selected a few withered roots; with a flick of his spiritual energy, he clenched his palm, and the roots turned directly into powder.


    He then sprinkled the powder on the wound on Lin Xiaotian''s wrist.


    After everything was packed up, Xia Liu finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The consumption just now was somewhat significant; a wave of fatigue swept through his body.


    "Brother Xia Liu, is Brother Xiaotian''s martial veins healed?" Bai Lili asked timidly.


    "Hmm, rest for a few days, and it should be almost fine, but do not use inner qi during this period, or your meridians might be completely ruined."


    "Haha, I definitely won''t use the qi, I can endure it."


    Feeling the smooth flow of his meridians, Lin Xiaotian couldn''t stop smiling.


    "Haha, I hope you can hold back. I''ll go back to rest now and come over tonight to discuss something with you."


    After a casual smile, Xia Liu left the courtyard to go back to his quarters to rest.


    Tonight was the most lively night of the year for the Immeasurable Sect.


    The Martial Combat Contest had ended, and although there were some hiccups, the celebration still had to be held.


    At the gathering, the only topic of fervent discussion was about Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian.


    This was mainly because Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian were not present; otherwise, no one would dare to discuss them openly.


    Inside Bai Lili''s courtyard, Bai Shixiong paced anxiously under a pear tree.


    He had already arrived before nightfall, and seeing Lin Xiaotian''s martial veins connected, Bai Shixiong became even more unsettled.


    He could no longer imagine how Xia Liu was not like an ordinary martial artist.


    Even a Heaven-Rank Warrior did not possess the skill to connect veins.


    According to his daughter, it took Xia Liu less than an hour to treat Lin Xiaotian.


    This was simply a miracle.


    What made Bai Shixiong the most restless was that Xia Liu had been to the fourth floor of the Library Pavilion!


    And he brought back news of the founder of their sect!


    "Father, don''t worry, Brother Xia Liu said he would come over tonight."


    "Lili, you don''t understand; today, no matter what I do, it''s not right. I keep thinking about the news Xia Liu will bring me."


    "Xia Liu is bringing news?"


    Lin Xiaotian was puzzled; before coming to Immeasurable Island, Xia Liu didn''t even know about the Immeasurable Sect, how could he possibly have news for Bai Shixiong.


    "Yes, Xia Liu went to the fourth floor of the Library Pavilion today without a token."


    "What!"


    Bai Lili and Lin Xiaotian exclaimed in unison.


    They both were very familiar with the Library Pavilion; without a token, let alone the fourth floor, even the second floor was inaccessible.


    If it hadn''t been for the token coaxed from Bai Lili, Lin Xiaotian was sure he could never have entered the Library Pavilion.


    Even with a token, one could not go to the fourth floor.


    Yet Xia Liu managed to reach the fourth floor without a token!


    Actually, Lin Xiaotian too eagerly awaited Xia Liu''s presence because he wanted to know how the nature''s spiritual energy was controlled.


    "Eh, Sect Master Bai, aren''t you going to preside over the celebration?"


    Just as the three were reflecting, Xia Liu''s voice came from the entrance.


    "Hehe, Young Friend Xia, forget the celebration; even if it were the Martial Combat Contest, I''ve lost interest now."


    "Hehe, like Uncle Bai, I''m now only interested in you."


    Lin Xiaotian, just like Bai Shixiong, was looking at Xia Liu with an expressive gaze.


    ...


    If Bai Lili weren''t present, Xia Liu really would have teased the two of them.


    "Haha, let''s not get excited. Let me ask a question first."


    "What question?"


    Bai Shixiong, Lin Xiaotian, and Bai Lili all looked at Xia Liu with puzzlement. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Do you know about the Cultivator Era? Or, should I say, the Cultivator Era?"


    "The Cultivator Era?"


    "The Cultivator Era?"


    The three of them looked at each other, clearly hearing this term for the first time.


    Seeing their expressions, Xia Liu understood that they knew nothing about Cultivators, and thus he explained, "The fourth floor of the Library Pavilion is the resting area of the sect''s founding ancestor. There are two volumes there, one of which is..."


    Xia Liu recounted everything he had seen.


    All these items were the legacy left by the founding ancestor of the Immeasurable Sect for its disciples. Having been fortunate enough to see them, he felt obligated to rightfully return them to their owners.


    When Lin Xiaotian and others learned about that part of history, they were utterly dumbfounded, never having imagined that so much had happened thousands of years ago.


    "So, Cultivators can control nature''s spiritual energy and rely on it for cultivation?"


    Lin Xiaotian, having been tormented by nature''s spiritual energy, knew the terror of that stuff.


    If nature''s spiritual energy could be used as an ingredient for cultivation, it would undoubtedly be extremely fierce.


    "Yes, Cultivators can absorb Spiritual Energy to train their bodies, minds, everything!"


    Xia Liu did not deny it, as they were all his own people, and he had no desire to hide it.


    "Wow! Does that mean that becoming a cultivator would allow one to traverse the heavens and the earth!" Bai Shixiong couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "That''s true in theory, but Cultivators also have ranks, just like martial artists. Low-Rank Warriors can''t do anything, whereas Earth-Rank Warriors who can turn their Inner Qi into mist are unstoppable."


    "Then how can one become a cultivator?" Bai Lili asked timidly.


    Lin Xiaotian and Bai Shixiong both fixed their gaze on Xia Liu, as this question was also their biggest puzzlement.


    They could deduce that Cultivators were likely hundreds if not thousands of times more advanced than martial artists.


    If one could become a Cultivator, they would definitely surpass all martial artists in the future.


    "Behold, the Immeasurable Sword Art."


    Without further explanation, Xia Liu simply took out the Cultivation Technique of the Immeasurable Sect.


    "This is..."


    "The Cultivation Technique to become a Cultivator!"


    Facing the paper filled with text, Lin Xiaotian and the others felt it hard even to breathe.


    This was the Cultivation Technique that could control nature''s spiritual energy, absorb it for cultivation, and transform one into a Cultivator!


    "Yes, this is the Cultivation Technique of Senior Master Qingcheng, the founding ancestor of the Immeasurable Sect."


    "Master Qingcheng! It truly is from the founding ancestor!" Upon hearing this name, Bai Shixiong got excited again.


    Because in the shrine hall of the Immeasurable Sect, there hung a portrait of Master Qingcheng, whom Bai Shixiong would go and pay respects to every month among other past Sect Masters.


    Master Qingcheng, as the founding ancestor, was naturally remembered by all disciples of the Immeasurable Sect.


    "I''ve relayed all the messages left by Master Qingcheng. As for this Cultivation Technique, it belongs to the legacy of the Immeasurable Sect, but whether one can cultivate it depends on individual talent. As for sharing it, it''s up to Sect Master Bai to decide," Xia Liu explained.


    "Thank you, Young Friend Xia!" Bai Shixiong gratefully clasped his hands together and thanked him.


    Xia Liu understood very well the meaning behind his words; this Immeasurable Sword Art was key to becoming a Cultivator, and if the news got out, it would put the Immeasurable Sect in jeopardy.


    "It''s nothing, even if I hadn''t come up, the message left by Senior Master Qingcheng would eventually be deciphered by someone destined," Xia Liu waved his hand dismissively. In fact, he should be thanking Bai Shixiong, as had it not been for the Martial Combat Contest, he would not have come here, let alone obtained the Cultivator''s Technique.

 Chapter 371 Going Home

    ```


    "However, Sect Master Bai, I''d like to remind you of something. Even if you don''t have the talent to become a cultivator, don''t despair, for the path of martial arts is also quite commendable," Xia Liu said.


    Anything could change. If Bai Shixiong couldn''t practice the Immeasurable Sword Art and his spirit collapsed, then he would be considered the culprit.


    "Young Friend Xia, don''t worry, I am no longer a young man and understand restraint," Bai Shixiong replied.


    "Hmm, with that, I am relieved."


    "By the way, Xia Liu, something you said today led me to a speculation..." Lin Xiaotian said.


    "I know what you''re speculating, and I can generously tell you that indeed I am a cultivator. As for my rank, it fluctuates, but you can consider me a low-rank cultivator," Xia Liu interrupted before Lin Xiaotian could finish. This guy had seen him control nature''s spiritual energy and listened to his explanation, and if he hadn''t heard the admission directly from Xia Liu himself, he probably would''ve lost sleep for many nights.


    "That''s a bit terrifying! I also suspected you were a cultivator, but you are just a low-rank cultivator!" Bai Shixiong was shocked to hear this at the scene.


    Xia Liu was merely a low-rank cultivator, so one could only wonder how strong a high-rank cultivator must be.


    If even a low-rank cultivator could be compared to a Heaven-Rank Warrior,


    then wouldn''t a high-rank cultivator surpass a Heaven-Rank Warrior? What realm would that be...


    "Haha! As I thought. No wonder you exhibited such terrifying power using Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow; you weren''t gathering Inner Qi, but nature''s spiritual energy!" laughed Lin Xiaotian, as he finally resolved the puzzle that had been troubling him for some time.


    If Xia Liu had been just a martial artist, Lin Xiaotian would''ve been brooding for years.


    His self-created martial arts skill, taught less than ten days ago, was being exhibited with countless times more power than he could muster.


    It was like a herd of a million alpacas had trampled over his head.


    Xia Liu just smiled and said nothing. The past was the past, and now that everything was out in the open, there was of course nothing he couldn''t discuss. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, a hero emerges from youth! Well then, I''ll go back and study this cultivation technique first. You two have a good chat," said Bai Shixiong as he hurriedly left, without any of the demeanor or dignity expected of a sect leader.


    In fact, Bai Shixiong couldn''t be blamed for his reaction. Any martial artist, regardless of status, would lose their composure upon obtaining a cultivator''s technique.


    "Big Brother Xia Liu! I want to kneel before you!" Lin Xiaotian exclaimed excitedly after Bai Shixiong had left.


    "Haha, Xiaotian, your share isn''t going anywhere, but now is not the time. Once your martial veins are healed, I will personally teach you," Xia Liu said with a slight smile, understanding exactly what Lin Xiaotian was thinking.


    This guy was the epitome of a cultivation fanatic. Knowing that Xia Liu possessed a cultivator''s technique, there was no way he could sit still.


    "Ah!!! How much longer will that take? I can''t wait any longer!" Lin Xiaotian had the urge to kill someone, especially now that he, unfortunately, was injured. It was as if he had cursed the entire zoo.


    "Sect Brother Xiaotian, don''t get too excited, or you might damage your meridians again, and you''ll have to wait even longer," Bai Lili immediately calmed Lin Xiaotian down.


    "Haha! The junior sister is right. For Xiaotian''s sake, I won''t pass on the cultivation technique to you just yet. Once he recovers, you can study it together," Xia Liu laughed.


    "Mmm, thank you so much, Big Brother Xia Liu," Bai Lili said gratefully, nodding with a smile. She was not very interested in the cultivation technique, as Lin Xiaotian was now all that mattered to her.


    Lin Xiaotian, though frustrated, had to compromise.


    If he became too excited, his chance to practice the cultivation technique might get delayed even more.


    As for the issue with his meridians, he trusted that even if they were damaged again, Xia Liu could repair them.


    To ease Lin Xiaotian''s mood, Xia Liu spoke with him for a long time until late into the night before he left the other courtyard.


    They had all agreed to leave Immeasurable Island together the day after tomorrow.


    Now that their purpose for this trip had been fulfilled, staying any longer would be meaningless.


    ```


    Before leaving, many people came to visit Xia Liu, most of whom were Earth-Rank Warriors.


    They always came in groups, as no one had the courage to come alone.


    Although Xia Liu was helpless about this, he courteously chatted with them.


    Time flew by quickly, and after five days at the Immeasurable Sect, today was the day of departure.


    Bai Shixiong personally escorted everyone to The Bund,


    walking arm in arm with Xia Liu at the front, their laughter occasionally carrying back to the envious martial artists behind them.


    Initially, they had all thought that Xia Liu and Bai Shixiong would become irreconcilable foes with the Immeasurable Sect.


    But now, the two of them were chatting and laughing cordially, and their arm-in-arm appearance was even more intimate than that of close friends.


    They were envious precisely because of the relationship between the two men.


    Having such a good relationship with Bai Shixiong meant that, regardless of which sect or family Xia Liu belonged to, he was considered to be aligned with the great Immeasurable Sect.


    Because of this, many Earth-Rank Warriors took the time to greet and chat with Ye Yongyuan as they walked.


    After all, Xia Liu had joined the competition under the name of the Ye Family.


    Whether he was a clan member or not, the fact that he could represent the Ye Family indicated that their relationship was not shallow.


    This time, the Immeasurable Sect must have reached some consensus with the Ye Family, and the rise of the Ye Family was just around the corner.


    At the barrier exit of The Bund, several female warriors were waiting with dignity.


    Before leaving, Bai Lili hugged them together.


    Yesterday, Bai Lili had made up her mind to leave the sect with Lin Xiaotian, and as for when they would return, that would depend on when her father needed them.


    Lin Xiaotian also expressed that he would return whenever the Immeasurable Sect needed him.


    For now, he could not stay in the Immeasurable Sect, as countless people outside were still watching Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu was in need of manpower, so even if Bai Lili wouldn''t leave, he would have to go.


    On the clear sea, two ferries were slowly sailing away from Immeasurable Island.


    Watching his daughter getting farther and farther, Bai Shixiong''s smile gradually turned bitter, and his heart was filled with indescribable emotions...


    Aboard the ferry, it was still the same group of people: Xia Liu, Lin Xiaotian, and Bai Lili went into the cabin to rest as soon as they embarked.


    In fact, Xia Liu''s trip to the Immeasurable Sect had helped Bai Shixiong carry out some reforms.


    Those disciples who worked hard but had no status had now all changed.


    Especially Feng Jiawei and Mo Feng among others.


    They had become the highest-ranking warriors among the disciples and, given some time, they would be able to participate in the assessment for Chief Disciple.


    Moreover, many low-rank disciples of the Immeasurable Sect were very grateful to Xia Liu for removing the greatest malignancy in the sect, Song Jie!


    While Song Jie was the Chief Disciple, he was extremely tyrannical.


    Apart from Bai Shixiong, he was the most powerful, and some female disciples had been tainted by him.


    However, they had all kept quiet about it. With Song Jie''s death, it was as if Immeasurable Sect had entered a new era of light.


    After two days of travel, Xia Liu finally returned to Beisong City.


    Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    It was late at night when they arrived, and everyone was very quiet, not making too much noise.


    Martial artists from various sects and families either walked away or went to the parking lot to get their cars.


    Xia Liu and his group didn''t linger, leaving immediately after retrieving their car.


    Ye Tian was driving, with Xia Liu in the passenger seat, and Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili in the back seats.


    Looking at the familiar yet strange skyscrapers around him, Xia Liu was extremely excited, already able to imagine the joy of the girls when he brought out the Cultivator''s Technique...

 Chapter 372 - 372: The Gradually Perfecting Group

    Chapter 372: Chapter 372: The Gradually Perfecting Group


    Xia Liu and his party returned to Hejing County by the afternoon of the next day.


    Ye Yongyuan and Ye Tian, among others, did not stay, as they needed to hurry back to their family for deployment.


    That¡¯s because in a few days, the Immeasurable Sect would send someone to discuss some cooperative matters.


    For the Ye Family, this was more thrilling than obtaining countless cultivation techniques and martial arts skills.


    With the support of the vast Immeasurable Sect, the rise of the Ye Family was inevitable!


    Xia Liu arranged for Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili to rest at Longteng Hotel, and immediately headed for the Osmanthus Group without notifying anyone.


    ...


    If the girls weren¡¯t at the hotel, they were definitely in the company¡¯s office area.


    Upon reaching the Eastern District, Xia Liu was slightly surprised.


    In just a few days, the construction of the Eastern District had already taken on such a scale.


    Countless buildings were under construction, each one nearly ten stories tall.


    It was estimated that it wouldn¡¯t be long before those residential buildings would be topped off.


    The construction of the business street was also nearly complete.


    All the shop fronts had started to remove the boarding, and once the demolition was done, they would just need some interior and exterior decoration. After that, an announcement could be sent out to invite investors to choose their storefronts.


    Xia Liu had not expected things to move so fast, for even if the shops were built now, without popularity, it would be meaningless.


    As the autumn wind swept through, withering leaves fell from the trees, and Xia Liu walked towards the Osmanthus Group, his heart filled with excitement.


    In just five days, not only the Eastern District had seen some improvements, but the Osmanthus Group had also evolved.


    Take the Heaven and Earth Building, for instance¡ªpassersby said it had been completely purchased by the Osmanthus Group.


    The parking lot at the entrance also had quite a few private cars, clearly indicating that the company had hired a good number of employees during this time.


    This was a good thing, if the only ones working were the girls and those few rare copywriters and designers, Xia Liu definitely would not have agreed.


    The security system of the group was enhanced, with several security personnel diligently standing at the main entrance.


    They immediately saluted at the sight of Xia Liu¡¯s unexpected visit.


    In Hejing County now, who didn¡¯t know of Xia Liu, from Osmanthus Village, who made his fortune through medicinal herbs and then seafood products.


    In just a few months, he had bought both Longteng and Longyun hotels, and within less than half a year,


    he registered the Osmanthus Group. Although not under his name, those with discerning eyes could see that Xia Liu was the mastermind behind it all.


    Because of the relocation project of the Eastern District, Osmanthus Group almost became the most beloved company of the entire county¡¯s citizens.


    Of course, it was also the first group enterprise in Hejing County.


    After greeting the security personnel, Xia Liu entered the building as if he were on familiar ground.


    He chose not to take the elevator, instead climbing the stairs floor by floor.


    His purpose was to check the work situation on each floor.


    After touring several floors, Xia Liu finally felt assured.


    The company now had many departments, and each one was well-staffed.


    Although there were still imperfections, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the Osmanthus Group would become a powerful enterprise.


    No longer continuing to inspect the departments, Xia Liu went straight to the top-floor office.


    That office was personally designed by the girls.


    They had set up their own work area inside, which made things more convenient for the company¡¯s staff.


    And it made things much more convenient for Xia Liu as well¡­


    ¡°Xiaoxue, there will be a document coming at six o¡¯clock that requires your signature.¡±


    ¡°Qianqian, call Sister Xia to check if the construction of the silk factory is completed.¡±


    ¡°Xue¡¯er, when we get busy with work, we need to visit Longyun. It¡¯s been several days since we last went.¡±


    ¡­


    Watching the women bustling in the office area, Xia Liu felt a slight pang of guilt; this work should originally have been his to deal with.


    But now he had entrusted it all to the girls, and thinking about it, he felt somewhat like a beast.


    ¡°Eh? Am I seeing things? That looks like Xia Liu¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Fang Fei shifted her gaze away from the computer and then saw Xia Liu sitting on the sofa with a bitter expression on his face. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No way, Sister Fang, you must be missing him too much. He said he was going out for many days; he couldn¡¯t possibly be back now.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, if he comes back too soon, it¡¯s definitely a bad omen.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, as long as he brings back the cultivation technique, I¡¯m willing, even if he¡¯s hung from a tree for three days and three nights.¡±


    Huang Xue and Zhang Qing teased Fang Fei nonchalantly, without even lifting their eyes.


    Finally, Li Qianqian made a more explosive comment, hastily saying something negative while Xia Liu was not around.


    ¡°Ah, I actually hope Brother Xia Liu comes back soon. I wonder if he has had enough rest.¡±


    Zhang Xiaoxue gazed at the ceiling, longing in her thoughts.


    Fang Fei wasn¡¯t listening to the other girls¡¯ conversation at all, because her eyes were all focused on the figure sitting on the sofa.


    ¡°Leaders, it seems like Xia Liu really has come back¡­¡±


    Rose spoke up. Ever since she found out Xia Liu¡¯s identity and lost a bet to him, she had kept her promise to work as his subordinate for a few years, now protecting the girls closely.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    When they heard Rose say this, Zhang Qing, Huang Xue, Li Qianqian, and Zhang Xiaoxue all turned their gazes that way.


    Suddenly, all the girls were dumbfounded¡ªit really was Xia Liu!


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu!¡± Zhang Xiaoxue was the quickest to recover. She called out while hopping and running towards Xia Liu.


    Watching her undulating, even contours, Xia Liu¡¯s throat became somewhat dry, but that was quickly covered up by Zhang Xiaoxue¡¯s strong embrace.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, Xiaoxue missed you to death!¡±


    Zhang Xiaoxue didn¡¯t care about the other girls¡¯ gazes, wrapping around Xia Liu¡¯s neck and acting coquettishly.


    Hearing her words nearly melted Xia Liu¡¯s bones and he almost lost control and stripped Zhang Xiaoxue down.


    ¡°Xiaoxue, I missed you too, and Sister Fang, Xue¡¯er, Sister Zhang, Qianqian, Sister Gu.¡±


    Xia Liu greeted the other girls while embracing Zhang Xiaoxue.


    ¡°We missed you too!¡±


    The girls all responded enthusiastically, then giggled and rushed over to the sofa.


    In the face of this at least 300 billion-ton dog food, Rose silently left the office; staying any longer would turn her brain dead.


    ¡°Really? But just now, I thought I heard someone say they¡¯d be willing to hang me from a tree for several days?¡±


    Xia Liu¡¯s face was filled with a mischievous smile, his straightforward gaze wandering over the girls¡¯ bodies.


    Hearing what Xia Liu said, Li Qianqian tasted bitterness then and there¡ªit was her who had said that.


    Little did she know Xia Liu would overhear; now she was doomed. If he got serious, she probably couldn¡¯t get out of bed for several days.


    Tears welled up in Li Qianqian¡¯s heart.


    ¡°It was Qianqian who said it!¡±


    ¡°Yep, it was Qianqian.¡±


    Seeing that Xia Liu was inquiring, Huang Xue and Zhang Qing immediately ratted out Li Qianqian.


    ¡°Xue¡¯er, Sister Zhang, you both said it too!¡±


    ¡°No we didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t say anything¡­¡±


    The two women giggled and shook their heads.


    ¡°Qianqian actually dares to say that, let¡¯s see how we handle this?¡±


    ¡°Knock her out!¡±


    ¡°Punish her harshly, make sure she can¡¯t walk tomorrow!¡±


    Xia Liu¡¯s suggestion immediately received an enthusiastic response from the girls.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this; when a sister is in trouble, we should bear it together. Ah! Don¡¯t pull at my clothes, my skirt¡­¡±


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 Chapter 373 - 373: Exposed Identity

    Chapter 373: Chapter 373: Exposed Identity


    As Li Qianqian¡¯s shouts echoed through the office, it quickly started to get a bit crazy.


    Of course, Xia Liu wasn¡¯t really angry; he just wanted to tease these lovely girls.


    Additionally, it was unfortunate that Gu Fangxia had to visit the construction site due to work affairs.


    Now with only five girls left, Xia Liu easily handled them all. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching them sitting on the couch panting heavily, Xia Liu tightened his clothes and said, ¡°Everyone take a rest, and then let¡¯s go for a meal. I have some gifts for you later.¡±


    ¡°What kind of gift?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! Is it a cultivation technique?¡±


    ¡°I bet it is. I almost broke my back this time. If he doesn¡¯t deliver the cultivation technique, I will, I just¡­¡±


    ¡°Qianqian, what will you do?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sister Qianqian, come on, don¡¯t leave us hanging, it¡¯s not nice.¡±


    Seeing Li Qianqian¡¯s annoyed look, everyone teased her again.


    ¡°Sisters, if you keep this up, I might just climb up to the roof and rip the tiles off!¡± Li Qianqian said with bitterness.


    ¡°Hehe, who made you the fiercest among us, but you are right. If Xia Liu can¡¯t produce the cultivation technique, we¡¯ll tie him up and then hehe¡­¡±


    Fang Fei stopped there, but all the girls understood her meaning.


    Seeing the eerie smiles on the girls¡¯ faces, Xia Liu felt a chilling draft below the belt.


    ¡°My dear wives, rest assured, I have honorably found a cultivation technique, but we¡¯ll talk about the details later.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah! I just knew Brother Xia Liu was the best!¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu is awesome!¡±


    ¡°This backache is worth it Qianqian!¡±


    ¡°Sister Fang, there you go teasing me again. Just a moment ago, wasn¡¯t it someone who said their jaw was almost sore?.¡±


    ¡­


    Listening to the girls¡¯ suggestive comments, Xia Liu was about to charge into battle again.


    As dusk fell, all the girls followed Xia Liu back to the hotel.


    Of course, they had arranged all the group¡¯s work beforehand so they could relax.


    The girls really enjoyed their current jobs, the pace was quick and they felt very fulfilled.


    Hearing that Lin Xiaotian had brought his wife back, the girls quickly ran to their rooms to shower, dress up, and make themselves beautiful.


    They couldn¡¯t afford to make a bad impression.


    Meanwhile, Xia Liu took the opportunity to meet with Tie Shan, Mark, and Glasses.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, Hejing has been very peaceful lately, without any incidents,¡± Mark reported on the recent observations.


    ¡°Hmm, Glasses, how about you? Any news?¡± Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°The Underground World seems very keen on the Nether Emperor; there might be some actions soon.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the killer leaderboard¡­


    It wasn¡¯t hard to guess, if Thousand Faces Rose could get his address and identity information, then other connected killers could do the same.


    Killers and mercenaries are different; they are kings of assassination.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid for himself, but he worried about the girls being threatened.


    ¡°I think someone has sold all your information to the black market. They now refrain from acting rashly, possibly planning or scheming.¡±


    Glasses shared his analysis.


    He had also met Thousand Faces Rose and talked to her.


    Thus, news about the Nether Emperor would definitely spread in the black market.


    Now the entire Underground World likely knows the identity of the Nether Emperor.


    Huaxia is the forbidding land for mercenaries, and they certainly wouldn¡¯t dare to rashly enter.


    But assassins are different, they infiltrate Huaxia, and perhaps no one would know.


    ¡°Understood, you all have worked hard during this period, take a few days off and have some fun,¡± he said.


    Xia Liu nodded. He had already thought of several measures, and all that was left was to arrange them.


    Specs, Tie Shan, and Mark looked at each other. They wanted to refuse Xia Liu, but knowing the temper of the Nether Emperor, they could only reluctantly nod in agreement.


    ¡°Hmph! Hope those beasts on the kill list don¡¯t come to court death, otherwise there won¡¯t be life after death!¡± Xia Liu murmured, a hint of bloodthirst flashing in his eyes.


    After Mark and the others left, Xia Liu headed to the private room where he had a meeting arranged with Lin Xiaotian.


    ¡°Lili, let me tell you, Xia Liu has several wives, so don¡¯t be surprised when you see them,¡± Sister Fang told her.


    ¡°Several wives, is this what you men all want, so many women?¡± Bai Lili was of course shocked, and she posed the question to Lin Xiaotian.


    ¡°How could that be? I only need you!¡± Seeing Bai Lili¡¯s displeasure, Lin Xiaotian immediately declared earnestly.


    He was internally tormented, quite envious of Xia Liu, and couldn¡¯t figure out what magic Xia Liu had that allowed him to have six women live together peacefully.


    ¡°Hehe, I didn¡¯t say anything. Why make random promises? If you are capable, then find me a sister,¡± she said with a wink.


    Bai Lili blinked as she spoke.


    Lin Xiaotian sweated profusely. What does being capable mean? Just a few hours ago, he felt as if his body had been hollowed out. If there were another girl, it would be too much to handle.


    ¡°Cough, cough, Xiaotian, younger sister, good evening,¡± Xia Liu said, coughing twice before daring to enter and greet them.


    ¡°Good evening, Brother Xia Liu,¡± they responded.


    ¡°Enough of the pleasantries, hand over the Cultivation Technique! My great sword is already starving!¡± Lin Xiaotian was not courteous with Xia Liu, as he had been eyeing the Cultivation Technique for several days, but Xia Liu had been tight-lipped, causing him great distress.


    Now that his meridians had recovered, how could he let Xia Liu delay things any longer!


    Hearing Lin Xiaotian say this, Bai Lili immediately bowed her head, her face blushing deeply.


    She really wanted to pull Lin Xiaotian¡¯s ear. She was still there, and he was speaking nonsense.


    ¡°Let me check your injury,¡± Xia Liu said. Without waiting for Lin Xiaotian¡¯s consent, his palm rested on his shoulder and Spiritual Energy surged, quickly sensing through Lin Xiaotian¡¯s body.


    ¡°Hmm, the recovery is good. It seems my medical skills have improved,¡± he observed.


    ¡°Brother! My dear brother, do I need to kneel for you to see my sincerity?¡± Lin Xiaotian nearly cried. His meridians were fine now, you should praise my recovery ability, but you boast about yourself, truly clever.


    ¡°You need to change your temper, this way you won¡¯t be able to learn that Cultivation Technique,¡± Xia Liu advised.


    Hearing what Xia Liu said, Lin Xiaotian immediately quieted down.


    Xia Liu was the leader, his word was law now.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it, we¡¯ll discuss when everyone is here¡­¡± Xia Liu began.


    Just as he was speaking, the door of the private room was knocked.


    Bai Lili, quick to react, stood up and opened the door.


    When she saw five beautiful girls standing outside, she was even more surprised. As Lin Xiaotian had said, Xia Liu had many women, and they were all quite beautiful¡­


    ¡°Hello, younger sister,¡± Fang Fei greeted promptly with an extended hand.


    ¡°Hello, sister, I am Bai Lili.¡±


    ¡­


    Afterward, Bai Lili and the other women got to know each other.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, now that everyone is here, shall we start the session?¡± Seeing it was about time, Lin Xiaotian gently reminded.


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 Chapter 374 - 374 Cultivator

    Chapter 374: Chapter 374 Cultivator


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, Sister Gu hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± Xia Liu glanced at the scene and then gave Lin Xiaotian a splash of cold water.


    ¡°Where is Sister Gu? I¡¯ll go fetch her!¡±


    ¡°Brother Xiaotian, don¡¯t be hasty, what¡¯s yours won¡¯t escape.¡± Seeing Lin Xiaotian so impatient, Bai Lili¡¯s face was completely flushed.


    ¡°Giggle, Xiaotian the hero, don¡¯t worry, Fangxia will be here soon¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here, did I delay anything?¡±


    Before Fang Fei could finish speaking, a hurried voice entered the private room.


    ...


    ¡°Sister Gu, you finally made it!¡± Lin Xiaotian was thrilled. Could the cultivation technique still get away now?


    ¡°Uh, uh, what happened?¡± Gu Fangxia blinked her large eyes in confusion.


    ¡°Hello Sister Gu, my name is Bai Lili, I¡¯m Xiaotian¡¯s wife.¡± Seeing another girl join, Bai Lili was no longer much surprised and hurriedly went forward to greet her.


    ¡°Hello Lili, my name is Gu Fangxia, Xia Liu¡¯s Xiao Liu.¡±


    Xiao Liu¡­


    Hearing this nickname, Bai Lili was somewhat stunned.


    Xia Liu was also taken aback; these girls really knew how to play¡­


    ¡°Haha, hello sisters-in-law, then it should be time for Brother Xia Liu¡¯s lecture.¡±


    ¡°Xiaotian, aren¡¯t you an Earth-Rank Warrior? Xia Liu is just bringing us some ordinary cultivation techniques, why are you so excited?¡±


    Fang Fei didn¡¯t understand, this guy¡¯s cultivation was earth-shattering, yet he was so excited; this didn¡¯t quite make sense.


    ¡°Sister Fang, you might not know, Brother Xia Liu, err no, Xia Liu obtained a Cultivator¡¯s Spirit Formula this time!¡±


    ¡°Cultivator¡¯s Spirit Formula?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It sounds really powerful.¡±


    ¡­


    Hearing this name different from the usual Warrior Techniques, the women all started discussing it, confused and excited.


    ¡°Xiaotian, you explain to them the differences between a Cultivator and a Warrior.¡± Seeing the women¡¯s indifferent reaction, Xia Liu immediately commanded Lin Xiaotian to start explaining.


    ¡°Ladies, a Cultivator is like the immortals from ancient myths who command the winds and summon the rain. A Warrior is simpler, like the heroes on TV who can only use Inner Qi. If the cultivation reaches Heaven Rank, Inner Qi can then be transformed into Inner Strength¡­¡±


    Lin Xiaotian was very excited as he analyzed the differences between Warriors and Cultivators.


    He had incessantly pestered Xia Liu to get this information while on the boat.


    ¡°Wow! That sounds so powerful!¡±


    ¡°Does it mean one can ascend to immortality after cultivating?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive!¡±


    ¡°I want to ask, can you stay young forever like those immortals?¡±


    ¡°Does staying young also come with a lot of life?¡±


    ¡­


    Imagining the mythical TV shows and stories they had seen, the women once again grew excited.


    Even Bai Lili, the most composed among them, was no longer calm.


    She too wanted to know if it was possible to be eternally youthful.


    Even if one didn¡¯t live for a thousand or ten thousand years, just living to be a hundred while forever young would be good enough.


    ¡°That¡­ well, let Xia Liu answer that,¡± Lin Xiaotian said, unable to come up with answers to the women¡¯s questions; he wracked his brain in vain.


    He wasn¡¯t a Cultivator himself and was currently yearning for the Cultivator¡¯s Spell.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, answer us quickly!¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu! Speak up quickly!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and tell us if we can stay young forever!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and say it!¡±


    ¡­


    The women¡¯s gazes converged on Xia Liu, their excitement unmistakable in their eyes.


    To this, Xia Liu could only offer a wry smile, ¡°Hehe, when a Cultivator¡¯s rank and cultivation reach a certain level, they can indeed maintain eternal youth¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah! Hurry and give us the cultivation technique!¡±


    ¡°I want to stay looking like this forever!¡±


    ¡°I am too!¡±


    ¡°And I want it!¡±


    When they heard that true eternal youth was within reach, the women became more excited than ever before.


    Eternal youth! Forever young!


    That was nearly every woman¡¯s dream.


    And now, they were just one Xia Liu away from their dream!


    How could they not be thrilled?


    ¡°Listen to me and let me finish. Unless you cultivate to a certain rank, you will still age and die,¡± Xia Liu said helplessly.


    ¡°Is that so? Then what kind of rank do we need to achieve to avoid aging?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t be certain, but I know it won¡¯t be easy to reach,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t want to dampen their spirits, but he had to.


    If he carelessly provided a number, and these girls cultivated to that point without maintaining their youth, then it would be a disaster.


    ¡°Ah! That hard¡­¡±


    The women fell silent, having thought that they just needed to cultivate to maintain their youthful looks.


    But there were cultivation restrictions, alas¡­


    ¡°Cultivators live very long lives. Those with high-strength can live for a thousand years.¡±


    ¡°A thousand years!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that just like an old turtle then?¡±


    ¡°Giggle, how can you live for a thousand years, the Earth would have exploded by then¡­¡±


    The women were excited, teasing, and even mocking.


    ¡°Sisters, let¡¯s not discuss this for now. Let Xia Liu talk about the cultivation techniques first, that¡¯s what really matters,¡± one said.


    ¡°Right, since we have to cultivate anyway, no matter what the technique is, as long as it can improve our strength, we must cultivate!¡±


    ¡°Sister Fang is right! We must cultivate!¡±


    ¡­


    Once Fang Fei took the lead, all the women became enthusiastic.


    No matter what, they did not want to become a burden.


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ve written down two sets. Take a look, and if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, just ask me.¡±


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t delay any further and pulled out two pieces of paper folded into squares from his pocket.


    Seeing the somewhat crumpled papers, Lin Xiaotian nearly cried.


    Xia Liu actually copied the precious Cultivator¡¯s Techniques onto such paper and even mistreated it by folding it like that¡­


    How terrifying¡­


    However, Lin Xiaotian didn¡¯t dwell on his feelings for long, as he quickly snatched the papers and started to scrutinize them earnestly.


    The women¡¯s reactions were ordinary. After all, they were all going to see and cultivate it in the end, so they were not in a hurry.


    Compared to Lin Xiaotian¡¯s blood-pumping excitement, they were much more reserved.


    About half an hour later, Lin Xiaotian put the piece of paper down.


    His face was calm, but there seemed to be a hint of bewilderment in his expression.


    Bai Lili was the same. Her beautiful, deep eyes made it impossible to know what she was thinking at that moment.


    As for the girls, there was no change. They were the same as before.


    Because the content on the paper was like reading a heavenly script, completely incomprehensible.


    ¡°What is this ¡®Energy Sinking to Dantian¡¯, and ¡®Energy Transformation Vein¡¯? What kind of nonsense is this¡­¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! So that¡¯s how it is, so this is what a Cultivator¡¯s Spell is like!¡±


    After being perplexed for a while, Lin Xiaotian suddenly burst into a peak of laughter.


    Already an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak warrior, he understood at a glance what the content of the paper was about.


    But he needed some time to digest that information. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now he had completely grasped it. Everything was so simple.


    He was very excited. He had once pursued the Martial Dao to its extreme, and finally, he learned of nature¡¯s spiritual energy from Xia Liu.


    It probably wouldn¡¯t be long before he could also absorb nature¡¯s spiritual energy for cultivation!


    Unlike a martial artist, he was about to become a Cultivator¡­


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 Chapter 375 - 375: None of it Makes Sense

    Chapter 375: Chapter 375: None of it Makes Sense


    Alongside Lin Xiaotian, Bai Lili also examined the Cultivation Technique.


    Her martial artist cultivation was not high, but she thoroughly understood the philosophy of cultivation, comprehending what those meridian circulations and Dantian Spirit Gathering signified.


    After reading this Cultivation Technique, she was genuinely shocked.


    Because this Cultivation Technique was too powerful.


    Once one cultivated to the third level, the body could autonomously generate Sword Qi, transforming into Spirit Sword Energy for defense and attack at will!


    Besides, the reason Bai Lili and Lin Xiaotian understood the Immeasurable Sword Art so quickly,


    ...


    was because this set of Cultivation Technique was handed down by the founder patriarch of the Immeasurable Sect.


    Both of them originally had foundations in the Immeasurable Sect, and the current cultivation methods of the Immeasurable Sect were certainly simplified Cultivation Techniques derived from the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    If the two could not comprehend the Immeasurable Sword Art within a short period, Xia Liu would find it strange indeed.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what is this? I can¡¯t understand any of it¡­¡±


    Zhang Qing complained with a gloomy face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand it either.¡±


    ¡°I understand the characters, but not the meanings behind them.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Xu, we can all understand the characters, just don¡¯t know what all these represent¡­¡±


    ¡­


    All the women looked at Xia Liu with gloomy faces, eager to hear what he would say.


    ¡°If you understood it, I would be shocked instead; everything has to start somewhere, take it slowly, I will guide you step by step.¡±


    Xia Liu gave the girls the warmest smile.


    ¡°Oh yeah!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really great!¡±


    ¡°Now we can also start cultivating.¡±


    Upon receiving Xia Liu¡¯s reply, all the women were overjoyed; as long as their cultivation became powerful, they would not become a burden to Xia Liu.


    Whenever they thought of this, their eyes moistened.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I am very familiar with this spell; let me teach our sisters,¡±


    Bai Lili spoke; she was not yet familiar with all the women at her first meeting, and this opportunity to increase mutual familiarity was absolutely great.


    ¡°The Immeasurable Sword Art was created by the patriarch of the Immeasurable Sect, having you as a descendant to teach us is absolutely great.¡±


    Xia Liu had thought before about letting Bai Lili or Lin Xiaotian teach.


    But Lin Xiaotian, being a Cultivation Fanatic, likely lacked the patience, making Bai Lili the most suitable.


    Now that she had taken the initiative, Xia Liu was definitely pleased.


    ¡°Well done, Lili! Truly my good wife!¡± Lin Xiaotian gave Bai Lili a thumbs up.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my duty,¡± Bai Lili said, lowering her head and becoming shy like a girl.


    ¡°Thank you, Lili!¡±


    ¡°Lili, make sure not to let us be willful; you must push us when needed.¡±


    ¡°Sister Fang is right, Lili, you can¡¯t be soft on us, we all trust in you!¡±


    ¡­


    The women immediately crowded around Bai Lili; Xia Liu¡¯s explanation meant that Bai Lili definitely was not wrong.


    But seeing her overly shy, they feared she would be tender-hearted, but a teacher cannot have such a disposition, otherwise how could the students progress?


    ¡°Sisters, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be soft! Hehe¡­¡±


    Bai Lili gave a cold laugh, revealing her uniquely fierce eyes that she previously kept concealed, rendering the women unable to speak.


    They only felt a chill rise up their backs, as if their souls had fallen into glaciers, nearly shaking with cold.


    Seeing the cold smile on Bai Lili¡¯s face, they all began to feel afraid, seeming to have provoked a fearsome ¡®girl¡¯ this time.


    ¡°Sisters-in-law, let¡¯s all eat some food, so we can cultivate well when we get back.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, what Brother Xiaotian said is right, we need to eat well to have strength.¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    Watching the pair go back and forth, Xia Liu and the girls began to snicker.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what¡¯s with that look? I¡¯m really getting hungry. I¡¯ll practice after eating.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, yeah? Can¡¯t I laugh?¡±


    ¡°Our Teacher Lili is blushing; it seems this cultivation isn¡¯t so simple¡­¡±


    ¡°Giggle, giggle, giggle¡­¡±


    With the laughter in the private room, everyone began to eat slowly and deliberately.


    Xia Liu¡¯s first night back, even though the girls understood the spells, they wouldn¡¯t start practicing immediately.


    Having rested for so many days, they intended to test Xia Liu¡¯s limits! Hurting each other was inevitable.


    It was almost 5 a.m. when Xia Liu finally knocked out Fang Fei, declaring the end of the battle.


    The girls lay scattered on the pristine white carpet; Xia Liu touched his nose, feeling like he might have gone a bit overboard since he didn¡¯t remember holding back.


    Actually, he couldn¡¯t blame himself, as when removing the Spirit Stabilizing Needle from the Tianshu Acupoint, he had already felt a surging heat within his body.


    It had burst forth a bit before, but now it had finally exploded completely.


    The girls had indeed suffered.


    Xia Liu dared not input Spiritual Energy into them to restore their strength.


    Otherwise, they might keep battling until the afternoon, which would delay a lot of time.


    Xia Liu carried the girls to the big bed to rest, leaving himself only the sofa to lie on.


    It was bit of a tough situation, but seeing the girls, mouths curved in smiles as they slept soundly, warmed his heart as well.


    This sleep, Xia Liu truly fell asleep.


    Ever since he rode with Ye Tian to Immeasurable Island, he hadn¡¯t slept, and he had erupted several times.


    Even as a cultivator, he was almost at his limit.


    When he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.


    Checking the time, it was already one in the afternoon.


    Seeing the girls were out, and after briefly washing up, Xia Liu also left Longteng Hotel.


    From the information he got at the front desk, at about 9 a.m., Fang Fei and the others had left with Bai Lili.


    It seemed they were seeking a secluded place with few people for cultivation.


    As for Lin Xiaotian, it was even less necessary to mention him; he probably wouldn¡¯t be seen for a day or two.


    Xia Liu first drove towards the region outside of the Eastern District.


    What came into view was a vast construction site.


    While he had been on Immeasurable Island, the second-generation investors from Liu Hai City had already started building their companies.


    Now it seemed that in another month or so, they would be more or less shaped up.


    Xia Liu drove on and reached the site he had designated for the silk factory.


    The silk factory should be the quickest constructed building within the Eastern District industrial zone.


    The exterior was already formed, and it appeared that with some finishing decorations, they could soon install the machinery and equipment.


    Once they started hiring, and buying silk from nearby, the factory could begin operating.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t intend to profit from this factory, he just wanted to give the farmers in each town of Hejing an additional source of income.


    By selling silk, they could earn money, and by working there they would earn as well. Once the sericulture season ended, the factory could close, waiting for the next season to start again.


    Even with an industrial zone, Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t abandon this idea.


    Without this source of income, it would increase the burden on the local families; and since they work in agriculture every day, with little education, and are mostly of an older age, it certainly wouldn¡¯t work for them to go to an electronics factory or other companies.


    Most of the factories from Liu Hai City investing here primarily dealt with electronic equipment.


    Suitable only for young people, anyone over thirty-five would find it very difficult to keep up in those workplaces.


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 Chapter 376 - 376: Preparing to Move into the New Home

    Chapter 376: Chapter 376: Preparing to Move into the New Home


    Seeing Li Dazhuang and Gu Yi squatting in front of the construction site of the factory, Xia Liu stopped the car and went over to greet them.


    Gu Yi was now his father-in-law, after all, so he ought to give him a warm welcome.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re back.¡±


    ¡°Yep, got in last night. Everything¡¯s going smoothly with the project, I hope?¡±


    Xia Liu nodded. With him not in the village, he had entrusted everything to Li Dazhuang. He was really thankful to this guy.


    ¡°Yep, everything is very smooth. With Uncle Gu here, it¡¯d be hard even if we wanted to have problems.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Heh, I definitely believe that. Uncle Gu¡¯s years of experience aren¡¯t a joke.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Xia Liu, you flatter me too much,¡± said Gu Yi modestly, but the confidence on his face was something no newcomer could display.


    ¡°By the way, Brother Xia Liu, following your advice last time, I only sold half of the Osmanthus Wine to Yang Tian and Huang Yilong, and I¡¯ve taken care of it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, very good. So how many bottles of the Osmanthus Wine are packaged up now?¡± Xia Liu asked with a nod and a smile.


    ¡°About five thousand bottles now.¡±


    ¡°Five thousand bottles, if it all sells, that¡¯s fifty million. Not bad at all,¡± Xia Liu nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Gu Yi, who had been taking a deep drag of his old cigarette, couldn¡¯t help but spit it out.


    He had visited the winery and knew the process of making Osmanthus Wine, which had virtually no cost.


    It could be said that Xia Liu had made a net profit of fifty million in just a few days.


    However, to Xia Liu, making fifty million in a few days was merely considered ¡®not bad¡¯¡­


    ¡°Uncle Gu, it¡¯s about time for a break. Let the guys rest and have a meal; let¡¯s go have a few drinks,¡± offered Xia Liu.


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s only ten-thirty right now. We should at least work until twelve,¡± Gu Yi decisively refused Xia Liu¡¯s suggestion.


    Although he wanted to go, he had his principles. Even though Xia Liu was involved with his daughter, work and life needed to be kept separate; otherwise, the rules would be in disarray.


    ¡°Alright then, Dazhuang, when you and Uncle Gu finish work at twelve, drive over to my place.¡±


    ¡°Okay, see you later.¡±


    Watching Xia Liu leave, Gu Yi couldn¡¯t help but feel touched, his daughter had indeed found a suitable husband.


    Although Xia Liu had somewhat more women, he was capable, personable, and everything he did was reasoned and principled, far better than those rich second-generation young men.


    Moreover, Gu Yi had learned from Li Dazhuang that the reason Xia Liu had started this silk factory was to increase the income of nearby farmers. As for profit, neither he nor the Osmanthus Group¡¯s planners had thought about it.


    Because of this, Gu Yi truly understood that Xia Liu not only had a sense of responsibility but also an unmatched level of compassion.


    After driving back to Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu went to the hill where the Osmanthus Chickens were bred and personally caught a few.


    Then he went into the forest to pick fresh wild vegetables and herbs for cooking the Osmanthus Chicken.


    In the end, he also took a thirty-pound plastic jug to the winery and filled it to bring back.


    The appearance of Xia Liu at the winery, where everyone was working, almost caused them to scream in excitement.


    In recent days, all of them had benefited from the Osmanthus Wine, and their bodies had become substantially healthier.


    After greeting everyone, Xia Liu hurried home to cook.


    He had to personally treat Li Dazhuang, and he couldn¡¯t leave out his future father-in-law, Gu Yi. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To Xia Liu¡¯s surprise, during the cooking process, Gu Fangxia suddenly appeared at the kitchen doorway.


    ¡°Sister Gu, shouldn¡¯t you be cultivating right now?¡±


    ¡°Just now, Lili was explaining the Cultivator¡¯s Technique to us. We couldn¡¯t remember too much, so Lili told us to rest and digest it and continue in the evening. I had nothing to do back in town, so I thought I¡¯d come back to the village to take a look.¡±


    ¡°I see, well then, hurry and wash your hands, it¡¯s almost time to eat.¡±


    Xia Liu nodded. It was his first time encountering a Cultivator¡¯s Technique, and even with a guide, it would take several days for Xiao Bai to learn it all.


    ¡°I saw a car outside, and I thought it wasn¡¯t you. Why did you think of coming home to cook?¡±


    While washing her delicate hands, Gu Fangxia asked.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m inviting your dad for a drink. Where else would I be if not at home?¡±


    ¡°Ah! My dad! Does he know about us?¡± Gu Fangxia asked in surprise.


    ¡°Of course, he does. I told him a while back,¡± Xia Liu said, shrugging nonchalantly.


    ¡°This is bad, this is really bad. The day before yesterday, I was still fooling my parents, and you, you told them without even giving me a heads up!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Uncle Gu and Auntie probably almost died laughing at the time.¡±


    ¡°You dare to make fun of me!¡± Gu Fangxia was about to hit Xia Liu when a horn sounded at the door.


    Gu Fangxia immediately ran into the house, setting the table like a daughter-in-law.


    Upon entering the house and seeing his daughter doing this, Gu Yi couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Fangxia, what a coincidence, you¡¯re also here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I came to report the progress of the villa to Xia Liu,¡± Gu Fangxia still didn¡¯t dare admit her relationship with Xia Liu in front of her father.


    ¡°By the way, Sister Gu, how¡¯s the villa project going?¡±


    Xia Liu, who came out of the kitchen with dishes, became puzzled upon hearing what Gu Fangxia said.


    He had checked it out last time and it seemed almost done, so it should be completed by now, right?


    ¡°The villa district was completed three days ago, but since you weren¡¯t here, I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s finished?¡± Xia Liu¡¯s heart jumped.


    The big project that took months had actually been completed.


    That means everyone can move into the villas whenever they¡¯re ready!


    ¡°It¡¯s all finished,¡± Gu Fangxia said seriously.


    ¡°Haha! That¡¯s great; we¡¯ll have to pick a day to move in,¡± Xia Liu said with a beaming smile.


    What began as a small, inconspicuous plan had now come to fruition!


    With this move, Osmanthus Village might well be the most prosperous village in the county.


    ¡°You¡¯re impressive. Here, Xia Liu, your uncle toasts to you,¡± Gu Yi said as he clinked glasses with Xia Liu as soon as the meal started.


    In truth, he was craving the Osmanthus Wine; it was, after all, fifty thousand a bottle.


    Now, with thirty jin under the table, how could Gu Yi possibly be polite.


    ¡°Dazhuang, when you go back tonight, tell Uncle Li that we are moving into the villas in three days,¡± Xia Liu said to Li Dazhuang, clapping him on the shoulder after a few rounds of drinks.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, isn¡¯t this a bit rushed? Didn¡¯t we just talk about picking an auspicious day?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I checked. Three days from now is an auspicious day according to the almanac, perfect for moving into a new home.¡±


    ¡°Pfft! Which calendar says that¡­¡±


    Gu Fangxia, who was sitting by the side, couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore; Xia Liu was completely disregarding common practice.


    For moving to a new home, most people would consult an Earth Daoist for an auspicious date, even inviting one to their home.


    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s not written anywhere, but the sooner we move, the sooner we can enjoy it. A peaceful and happy life is inevitable, and you don¡¯t need to check to know that,¡± Xia Liu replied.


    ¡°Haha! Well said! We should be free and easy, live as we wish. That¡¯s the happiest life. Fangxia, you should learn more from Xia Liu,¡± Gu Yi praised Xia Liu outright, now finding him very pleasing no matter how he looked.


    Li Dazhuang didn¡¯t delay and called his old man right away to share the news about moving into the new homes¡­


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 Chapter 377 - 377: Theres a Situation

    Chapter 377: Chapter 377: There¡¯s a Situation


    Li Zhi became excited as soon as he heard the news.


    The new residences were all stylish villas!


    Before, even dreaming about such a thing was unthinkable, but since Xia Liu¡¯s return, everything had become possible!


    The villagers working at the winery burst into celebration upon hearing the news about moving into the new residences.


    They had worked hard all their lives and could finally live in homes they had only seen on TV. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This news spread quickly throughout the village, and in the afternoon, the villagers stopped working and went to Xia Liu¡¯s house in groups.


    ...


    If Xia Liu hadn¡¯t strongly objected, they probably would have all knelt down.


    ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t get too excited. The new residences are just the beginning. I want to make Osmanthus Village the wealthiest and most powerful village in the world!¡± Xia Liu shared his dream in front of everyone.


    ¡°Hahaha! I support Xia Liu without reservation!¡±


    Zhang Tie was the first to chime in, his mood exceptionally excited.


    When Xia Liu had first returned, Zhang Tie had almost messed up his current and future life because of Zhang Xiaoxue¡¯s issue.


    Now, whenever he thought back, his eyes would become a little moist.


    As Zhang Tie¡¯s wife, Mo Li felt even more bitter. She had always been the one manipulating Zhang Tie to oppose Xia Liu from behind the scenes.


    She instigated Zhang Tie to spread bad rumors about Xia Liu and instructed him to poison the Osmanthus chickens on the hillside.


    Thinking back now, what had she been doing?


    ¡°Zhang Tie, it¡¯s not just you who supports without reservation; we all feel the same way!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Of course, as long as it¡¯s Xia Liu¡¯s endeavor, we will all support it!¡±


    ¡­


    The villagers at the scene excitedly vented their joy.


    Gu Yi watched all of this in silence. Looking at Xia Liu¡¯s slender yet powerful silhouette, his heart was filled with warmth.


    His daughter was following such a young man; the ancestors of the Gu Family must have blessed them.


    ¡°Everyone, take a look and prepare yourselves. In three days, we move into the new houses,¡± Xia Liu said with a smile after the noise from the villagers had diminished a bit.


    ¡°Yeah, we do need to prepare. After all, we¡¯re used to living in earth houses, so suddenly switching to a new one will mean letting go of many things.¡±


    ¡°Let go of what crap, Old Wine. If you don¡¯t want to move, just keep staying there.¡±


    ¡°Who says I¡¯m not moving? My son needs the new house for his wedding.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, Xiao Hu is getting married? When did this happen?¡±


    The moment Old Wine mentioned his son getting married, some of the young people immediately got excited.


    They were around the same age as Xiao Hu, and this guy had taken a step ahead of them. How infuriating.


    ¡°Xiao Hu, you tell them!¡± The young people pulled Xiao Hu out to question him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get excited, guys. Jingxue and I have only agreed tentatively; I still don¡¯t know if she¡¯s willing to marry me¡­¡±


    Xiao Hu said with a helpless wry smile.


    ¡°Damn! It¡¯s actually the captain!¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hu, you¡¯re quite something!¡±


    ¡°Damn, this guy beat us to the punch!¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t blame Xiao Hu for this one. When Captain Jingxue arrived, why didn¡¯t you show off your grandeur?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±


    A young man recounted the embarrassing incident of Xiao Hu¡¯s first time on the fishing boat, and the entire village burst into laughter.


    They all knew something about it.


    Xiao Hu¡¯s face instantly turned red. What the hell, everyone knew about it¡­


    ¡°`plaintext


    ¡°Haha! Don¡¯t laugh at Xiao Hu, the guy has a girlfriend now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Xiao Hu is your role model, young men.¡± Li Dazhuang followed Xia Liu¡¯s lead in advising the village¡¯s youth.


    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re not mocking him, we¡¯re too busy envying him.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Xiao Hu is younger than us. If I were still full of vigor, I could snag one of the new beautiful captains too.¡±


    ¡°Keep dreaming¡­¡±


    Listening to the young men¡¯s complaints, Xia Liu smiled slightly, ¡°Hehe, there¡¯s no need to hurry, everyone. What¡¯s meant to be won¡¯t escape you, and what¡¯s not supposed to be yours won¡¯t come no matter how much you force it. Everyone, go back home, we¡¯re moving into our new homes in three days!¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, about moving into the new homes, let¡¯s have a village feast and invite all our relatives and friends over for drinks and celebration.¡±


    ¡°That used to be the tradition; Uncle Li, just see to it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it.¡± Li Zhi nodded, this time he could finally make those relatives who looked down on him envious!


    That¡¯s right!


    Not only Li Zhi but all the villagers harbored this thought, wanting their relatives to truly envy them.


    A few months ago, when Osmanthus Village was still the poorest village in the county.


    Those relatives wouldn¡¯t even give a second glance.


    When visiting for New Year¡¯s, if they saw one¡¯s clothes a bit tattered, they wouldn¡¯t even let one in the door.


    Now, everyone in Osmanthus Village can hold their heads high!


    Of course, their primary thought wasn¡¯t to show off; after all, they were relatives.


    At the moment, the village has enough hands, but as development continues, it won¡¯t be long before many people will be needed.


    If those relatives are willing, there will be jobs for them.


    Li Zhi shared his thoughts with Xia Liu, who agreed wholeheartedly.


    If the villagers are tired, or as they age, it¡¯s much better to hand things over to relatives and friends than to outsiders.


    But this also depends on the person. Xia Liu understands Li Zhi, and if he were to judge people, he¡¯d be absolutely accurate.


    Not only the village will be short-staffed, but soon, when the Eastern District, the industrial area, opens, that will be a significant staff shortage.


    Having relatives and friends introduced to work and earn money is definitely great.


    Following Li Zhi¡¯s plan, in three days, the village feast will be set up in the center of the village.


    By then, a few hundred people should be arriving, and the current Osmanthus Village could easily accommodate them.


    Before nightfall, Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia wandered hand in hand in the villa district.


    Entrusting this project to Gu Fangxia was the right decision.


    Not only did she handle the decoration and everything perfectly, but she also got all the household appliances.


    If she went a step further, she might even have bought clothes.


    ¡°Sister Gu, meeting you is truly my fortune.¡± Back in his own villa, Xia Liu remarked with emotion.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s my fortune¡­ and where is your hand going¡­¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to continue studying the Cultivation Technique tonight? We still have some time now, let¡¯s hehehe¡­¡±


    ¡­


    It was past eight o¡¯clock in the evening when Xia Liu and Gu Fangxia came out of the villa.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault; you made me late!¡± Gu Fangxia complained with a pout.


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ll drive you there,¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile, opening the car door for Gu Fangxia.


    After Xia Liu dropped Gu Fangxia off for her reunion and Cultivation Technique study session with the girls, his phone rang.


    It was Glasses calling, and Xia Liu, puzzled, answered, ¡°Brother Xia Liu, there¡¯s a situation.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Who¡¯s coming?¡± A crimson light flashed in Xia Liu¡¯s eyes. The timing was perfect; it was time to make an impression on the Underground World.


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 378 - 378: Old Grudges and Loose Technique

    Chapter 378: Chapter 378: Old Grudges and Loose Technique


    ¡°It¡¯s a somewhat renowned team from Huaxia,¡± the voice of Glasses carried out coldly.


    ¡°Huh? A somewhat renowned team? How do they know about me?¡± Xia Liu was puzzled, as Spearhead and Heaven Slaying had already made agreements with him.


    Could there still be teams coming his way, perhaps something had changed at Liu Hai?


    ¡°According to the information we got, there are two people from Pinglan Town with them, and it seems they came specifically for you.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Pinglan Town, specifically for me¡­¡± Xia Liu gave a bitter smile.


    This was quite awkward already, coming specifically to target him¡ªlooks like they really had a big grudge.


    ...


    ¡°Are these two people called Li Hao and Lan Jian?¡± Xia Liu asked doubtfully.


    Only Li Hao and Lan Jian from Pinglan Town, who could gather a team in such a short time, had grievances with him.


    At that time Lan Weiming likely had sent them into the army.


    If it really was the two of them returning, things were going to get lively.


    ¡°Yeah, those seem to be the names. The team consists of thirty people and is a special forces squadron from Binlai City,¡± Glasses asserted firmly.


    ¡°Good, those two guys certainly did not disappoint,¡± Xia Liu laughed, thinking that thirty people aiming to target him were clearly delusional.


    Suddenly remembering something, Xia Liu said, ¡°Glasses, keep an eye on the movement of this team at all times, I want to give them a truly unforgettable experience.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, based on the information, their base will be set up in Shanyan Village, and they will enter Osmanthus Village in three days,¡± Glasses said firmly.


    Xia Liu was slightly startled, then added, ¡°Hmm? Looks like they¡¯ve started to prepare. I got it. Keep an eye out, if they enter Osmanthus Village early give me a call.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll look into other data.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Liu went back to his car.


    Li Hao and Lan Jian possibly heard from the villagers in Shanyan Village about a banquet happening in Osmanthus Village in three days and hurried over to have their revenge.


    Xia Liu smiled without a word, just an ordinary special forces team; compared to Spearhead, they were barely worth mentioning.


    Thinking it over, Xia Liu called Ouyang Lingtian.


    ¡°Hey, Xia Liu, you¡¯ve been back for over a month, and suddenly calling me must mean you need a favor, right?¡±


    As soon as the call connected, Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s voice immediately transmitted.


    ¡°Lingtian, I¡¯m running into some trouble. A team wants to mess with me, and after some thought, you¡¯re the only one who can help,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t hide anything and laid out the situation briefly.


    ¡°Damn! I knew it had to be something like this¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s voice became sharp, ¡°Never mind, in light of you teaching me the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm, I¡¯ll reluctantly help you out.¡±


    ¡°Haha, this is why I love your temperament. Three days from now, at noon, location: Osmanthus Village, bring more people to deter them.¡±


    ¡°How many approximately, I don¡¯t have many people on this side. If it¡¯s around ten to twenty thousand, I might need to borrow from Yanjing Military Region,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said lightly.


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Xia Liu was somewhat startled, damn, ten to twenty thousand people, if they really came, it might make global headlines.


    ¡°Not that many, a hundred or so will do, just bring things like fighter jets and helicopters neatly arranged, plus that day is the day I move into my new house, come over for a drink.¡±


    ¡°Forget the drink; I still have missions and cultivation to do,¡± Ouyang Lingtian declined.


    ¡°Cultivation, huh? If you have a blast drinking, I¡¯ll offer you a tremendous fortune!¡± Xia Liu thought for a moment and added, ¡°Don¡¯t ask what that fortune is; it¡¯ll drop your jaw.¡±


    There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, then a calm voice came through: ¡°Alright! See you in three days.¡±


    After the call, Xia Liu drove to the place where his sister was held captive by Lin Xiaotian.


    According to Bai Lili¡¯s words, Lin Xiaotian had gone into the forest early that morning.


    Xia Liu knew his brother well.


    The title of Cultivation Fanatic was no joke.


    Having obtained the Immeasurable Sword Art, he would definitely try even harder than before.


    Once he arrived at the forest, Xia Liu followed the faint sounds in search of him.


    Eventually, he saw Lin Xiaotian in a dense part of the forest, at the moment, the latter was sitting cross-legged on the ground. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The expression on his face was slightly contorted, as if he was in great pain, yet it seemed he was also struggling with something.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you have arrived,¡± just as Xia Liu was planning to observe a little longer, Lin Xiaotian calmly said.


    ¡°Hmm, how is your cultivation going?¡±


    Xia Liu emerged from behind the bushes and sat on a tree stump, watching how Lin Xiaotian practiced the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    ¡°Somewhat sad,¡± Lin Xiaotian said bitterly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡±


    ¡°I can operate the Immeasurable Sword Art freely, but according to the Cultivation Technique, gathering nature¡¯s spiritual energy to hone my meridians and body, when the transformed gentle spiritual energy enters the Dantian, the Inner Qi becomes violent. It took me a long time to calm it down, but it won¡¯t be long before it continues, and then I won¡¯t be able to suppress it.¡±


    At this point, Lin Xiaotian felt helpless. Inner Qi and spiritual energy simply could not coexist.


    ¡°That¡¯s simple, just disperse all your Inner Qi.¡± Xia Liu thought it was something serious. Now with Spiritual Energy and becoming a Cultivator, this fellow was still thinking about Martial Artist¡¯s Inner Qi.


    ¡°Dispelling the martial cultivation will leave me weak for a short time. If enemies come, I won¡¯t be able to fight.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just disperse the Inner Qi, and later I will teach you a few Spirit Arts.¡±


    ¡°Spirit Arts? Using Spiritual Energy to perform?¡± Lin Xiaotian¡¯s heart jolted. It was the first time he heard of such methods. By the sound of it, it seemed like the spells from ancient myths.


    ¡°Just disperse it already, no need for so much talk.¡± Xia Liu gave him a look; explaining Spirit Arts in words wouldn¡¯t clarify things. Once he started cultivating it, he would know what it was.


    ¡°Haha, alright! Then I will disperse all my Inner Qi!¡±


    Laughing wildly, Lin Xiaotian extended his arms in opposing directions, and as he exerted his technique, he saw the boundless robust Inner Qi ripple out from his palms.


    That nearly tangible Inner Qi, under Lin Xiaotian¡¯s release, was all dispersed within seconds.


    In the end, Lin Xiaotian slammed his palm against a tree trunk.


    The Inner Strength he had condensed to the point of tangibility explosively burst forth.


    Whoosh!


    Bang!


    Amidst the sound of the winds and the force of the Thunderclap, the large tree collapsed, marking the complete loss of Lin Xiaotian¡¯s martial capabilities.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve dispersed all the Inner Qi,¡± Lin Xiaotian said, his lips somewhat pale. The feeling of having his Inner Qi drained was more agonizing than anything else.


    ¡°It¡¯s evident, you are determined, even dispersing the Inner Qi you¡¯ve condensed for years,¡± Xia Liu nodded lightly.


    ¡°No worries, becoming a Cultivator is the true path. So first, I need to operate the Spirit Formula and absorb Spiritual Energy for cultivation.¡±


    Having said that, without waiting for Xia Liu to respond, Lin Xiaotian closed his eyes, his hands forming seals in front of his chest. After a day¡¯s accumulation, he formed the seals swiftly. As the seals settled, his body started operating the Immeasurable Sword Art¡­


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 Chapter 379 - 379: Qi Cultivation

    Chapter 379: Chapter 379: Qi Cultivation sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu could feel that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was converging towards Lin Xiaotian.


    More than two hours later, Lin Xiaotian opened his eyes, and a dash of vital energy flashed through them.


    Under the bright moon, the surrounding space was eerily quiet.


    Feeling the new power within his body, Lin Xiaotian finally burst into laughter, ¡°Hahaha! Is this spiritual energy? It¡¯s so strong, so terrifying!¡±


    Clutching his hands, Lin Xiaotian was stunned for a long time.


    Compared to inner Qi, spiritual energy was many times stronger.


    ...


    However, the amount of spiritual energy stored in his Dantian was not much, and he could no longer absorb any more.


    ¡°To what level have you cultivated the Immeasurable Sword Art?¡± After giving Lin Xiaotian some time to be excited, Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°The second level, it now feels like it¡¯s stuck in my throat, no matter what I do, I can¡¯t advance,¡± Lin Xiaotian said, somewhat helplessly, fully aware of the power¡¯s magnitude but lamenting his own inadequacy.


    ¡°What the heck! You¡¯re already at the second level, and you still look like this. Get excited, young man, when I first cultivated, it took me half a year to reach the first level of Qi cultivation,¡± Xia Liu teased.


    Confronted with Lin Xiaotian¡¯s grimace, Xia Liu couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    ¡°Uh, uh, I didn¡¯t know, please enlighten me.¡± Lin Xiaotian looked dumbfounded, wondering if he was even more of a monster than Xia Liu.


    ¡°The Immeasurable Sword Art has fifteen levels of mental method, each representing a rank, and these ranks are the ranks of cultivators,¡± Xia Liu thought for a moment, then explained.


    ¡°So, am I now at the second level of Qi cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, a cultivator¡¯s Energy Training Realm has a total of fifteen levels. For ordinary cultivators, to advance to the second level of Qi cultivation, it would usually take several years.¡±


    Xia Liu nodded and said.


    Sss¡­


    Lin Xiaotian took a sharp intake of cold air and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m extremely talented since I advanced to the second level of Qi cultivation in just a few hours!¡±


    ¡°Cut it out, if you didn¡¯t have the foundational strength of an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, let alone the second level of Qi cultivation, you couldn¡¯t have reached the first level,¡± Xia Liu quickly threw cold water on him, not wanting him to become too arrogant.


    Actually, he was also guessing; whether it was true or not would be seen in the speed of subsequent realm advancements.


    If Lin Xiaotian could enhance his cultivation to the fourth level of Qi cultivation in a few months using the normal methods, that would really mean his talent was extraordinary.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh, so that¡¯s how it is. Well, that¡¯s not bad either. I feel like the amount of spiritual energy inside me is almost the same as that of a Yellow-Rank Peak Martial Artist,¡± Lin Xiaotian said bitterly.


    If he only had the cultivation of a Yellow-Rank Peak Martial Artist, he¡¯d practically be a cripple.


    ¡°Hmm, the second level of Qi cultivation indeed has that much, but if you advance to the third level, you might be comparable to a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level,¡± Xia Liu nodded seriously.


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s enough. With this level of power, I feel like I wouldn¡¯t lose to a Mysterious Rank Peak Warrior.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the second level of Qi cultivation combined with Spirit Art can achieve that,¡± Xia Liu nodded, having a good understanding of a cultivator¡¯s martial power.


    If what he had used earlier wasn¡¯t martial arts skill but a Spirit Art, any Earth Rank Warrior would have been swiftly defeated.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about Spirit Art later, I want to try the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow move!¡± Excited by his own created Peerless Technique, Lin?Xiaotian said eagerly.


    The Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow required the condensation of spiritual energy, and now that his Energy was spiritual energy, if the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow was entirely composed of spiritual energy, would the power unleashed be capable of destroying half of a large Martial Combat Arena like Xia Liu did before?


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it! We are too close to the county town. Do you want everyone in the county to come and watch?¡± Xia Liu quickly intervened, knowing the power would definitely be formidable if unleashed.


    By that time, if people from the town came over, it would be very embarrassing.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go deep into the mountains where there should be fewer people,¡± Lin Xiaotian said excitedly.


    Xia Liu shook his head helplessly; this guy clearly wanted to test his strength, and if he wasn¡¯t allowed to, he¡¯d probably be very uncomfortable.


    Having no choice, Xia Liu could only follow him, heading deep into the forest.


    After about a hundred li and around three in the morning, Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian finally stopped.


    Having run for so long, and with the boost of spiritual energy, Lin Xiaotian had used up quite a bit of his spiritual energy, so he sat down with his legs crossed and started to absorb more.


    Another hour passed, Lin Xiaotian got up and faced a nearby cliff, immediately displaying his Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow technique.


    Boom!


    A handprint over two meters high forcefully struck the cliff.


    All that could be heard was a deafening noise as rocks rolled down from above, and when the dust settled, the originally smooth cliff now had a hole blasted in it!


    ¡°Terrifying, terrifying!¡±


    Looking at that dark cave, Lin Xiaotian felt a lingering fear. He had exerted his full strength in using the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow, and its power was not weaker than at his peak when at Earth-Rank High-Level.


    It was even much stronger than back then!


    ¡°This is the power of spiritual energy. Control it well and, once it¡¯s light out, I will teach you a few Spirit Arts basics,¡± Xia Liu patted Lin Xiaotian¡¯s shoulder, figuring this should calm him down.


    ¡°Haha, got it! But this really drains a lot, my body¡¯s spiritual energy is almost completely drained,¡± feeling his empty Dantian, Lin Xiaotian couldn¡¯t help but break out in a cold sweat.


    Now that his cultivation is still too weak, he must be cautious in using it. If his strike does not kill the enemy, he would be left with no strength to fight again.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand. Continue with your cultivation,¡± Xia Liu nodded and sat down cross-legged together with Lin Xiaotian.


    Not only did Lin Xiaotian need to cultivate, but Xia Liu also needed to do the same.


    During cultivation, time always flies.


    In a blink, two days had passed, within which,


    Lin Xiaotian had made significant progress.


    Especially in the area of Spirit Arts, Xia Liu did not teach too many because Lin Xiaotian¡¯s cultivation did not allow it.


    With his current Qi Cultivation second level, casually using a few Spirit Arts would deplete his spiritual energy completely.


    Also, using high-level Spirit Arts with too low a cultivation could even cause a backlash.


    That would be a loss rather than a gain.


    Whoosh!


    Under the setting sun, Lin Xiaotian¡¯s hands formed the Sword Finger, and a azure Sword Qi burst forth from his fingertips, a bleak sound spreading around.


    Wherever the Sword Qi passed, tree trunks, branches, and flowers were all sliced open with a sharp cut.


    ¡°Haha! I did it!¡±


    Looking at the destruction he caused ahead, Lin Xiaotian laughed wildly.


    ¡°Impressive! In just two days, blending common Spirit Sword Technique with the Immeasurable Sword Art, you¡¯ve actually reached this Sword Realm,¡± Xia Liu praised.


    Lin Xiaotian really had great talent. Normally, the Immeasurable Sword Art had to be cultivated to the third level before a cultivator could generate the Immeasurable Sword Intent, which allows for launching Sword Qi to injure enemies at any time.


    Yet Lin Xiaotian achieved it at Qi Cultivation second level!


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your teaching,¡± Lin Xiaotian naively scratched his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time to leave now. Let¡¯s head out together. Tomorrow, a brother is coming over from Yanjing, and then you¡¯ll need to bring him down,¡± Xia Liu said as he looked toward the Hejing direction, his smile slowly turning icy as he was curious to see what Li Hao and Lan Jian would come up with!


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 Chapter 380 - 380 The Way to Advance

    Chapter 380: Chapter 380 The Way to Advance


    ¡°What¡¯s his cultivation?¡± Lin Xiaotian asked, puzzled.


    ¡°His cultivation should be at the Mysterious Rank Peak, but what I¡¯m talking about is laying him flat on the table with drinks.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, then let¡¯s head back.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian gave an awkward smile, having become a bit obsessed with cultivation these days, he almost didn¡¯t understand Xia Liu¡¯s words.


    Afterward, the two, with their movement technique enhanced by Spiritual Energy, dashed out at high speed.


    About more than two hours later, they finally burst out of the forest.


    ...


    Sitting in the BMW, Lin Xiaotian was gasping for air.


    In contrast, Xia Liu was not red-faced or out of breath.


    ¡°Compared to you, I am far behind.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve just started. Once you get the hang of it, I reckon you¡¯ll surpass me.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian was notorious as a Cultivation Fanatic, and Xia Liu didn¡¯t dare to be sure that Lin wouldn¡¯t surpass him, given his talent and diligence.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to surpass you. Although I¡¯ve only been cultivating for two days, I can feel that nature¡¯s spiritual energy is extremely sparse. After reaching Qi Cultivation Level 3, I¡¯m afraid it will be very difficult to make any further progress,¡± said Lin Xiaotian with a touch of sorrow.


    After two days, he finally understood where his barrier lay.


    The main issue was that the spiritual energy from nature that he absorbed was too sparse to break through his bottleneck.


    Otherwise, by now, he might very well have reached Qi Cultivation Level 3.


    ¡°Uh uh, you can sense it too¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. Is there any solution?¡±


    Faced with this question, Xia Liu fell silent for a moment before replying, ¡°There is.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xiaotian perked up, because if there was a solution, his cultivation could rapidly advance!


    ¡°Spirit Grass.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°A type of plant nourished by nature¡¯s spiritual energy is called Spirit Grass,¡± Xia Liu explained what he knew.


    ¡°Where can this Spirit Grass be found?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve been searching for several years and have only encountered a few Spirit Grasses.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean there¡¯s no chance for me to improve¡­¡±


    After understanding the situation, Lin Xiaotian became somewhat disheartened, realizing that if even Xia Liu couldn¡¯t find it, it must be rare in the world.


    ¡°Not necessarily. Spirit Grass is one method, but there are other ways to improve as well.¡±


    ¡°I get it, if I cultivate normally by absorbing spiritual energy, I should be able to advance to Qi Cultivation Level 3 in half a year.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t respond further, as Lin Xiaotian, formerly an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, was very clear about cultivation matters.


    As of now, his strength had undoubtedly improved far beyond what it was before.


    He just mustn¡¯t expose his Spirit Art too much. Otherwise, if he catches the attention of some High-Strength Martial Artists, it could lead to unpredictable troubles.


    Lin Xiaotian knew what Xia Liu was worried about and assured him time and again that he wouldn¡¯t use Spirit Art unless the circumstances allowed it.


    As for Martial Arts Skills, ¡°Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow¡± should be able to shake an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior, or even a Peak Earth-Rank Warrior.


    But once used, the Spiritual Energy might be completely depleted, so Lin Xiaotian had to be a lot more cautious when facing Earth-Rank Warriors in the future.


    When the two returned to the Longteng Hotel, Bai Lili was in the general manager¡¯s office explaining the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    With the passage of a little more than two days, Fang Fei and the other girls had almost grasped it.


    However, they hadn¡¯t started practicing right away, as they had to thoroughly understand the Cultivation Technique before beginning.


    ¡°Otherwise, if you stopped knowing how to cultivate halfway through, and the spiritual energy couldn¡¯t be digested, causing it to stagnate inside your body, it would be troublesome.¡±


    Xia Liu agreed wholeheartedly, feeling that the girls having this state of mind was terrific.


    When Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian entered through the opened door, Bai Lili stopped explaining, and the girls all ceased their activities.


    They amiably asked Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian how they were and then all went downstairs to eat together.


    ¡°Everybody prepare tonight, we are moving into the new house tomorrow, and we¡¯ll all live there from then on,¡± Xia Liu announced at the table, bringing up the matter of the house.


    ¡°We all know about this, it¡¯s just that we feel a bit uncomfortable,¡± Fang Fei was the first to respond.


    ¡°What¡¯s there to feel uncomfortable about?¡±


    ¡°Are you brainless? We¡¯re all living under one roof, what will the people in the village think?¡± Li Qianqian said bluntly.


    ¡°Yeah, I also feel a bit uncomfortable, the villagers will definitely gossip about us,¡± Huang Xue chimed in.


    ¡°Hey, relax sisters, although I haven¡¯t been here for a long time, I¡¯ve heard some talk, but it¡¯s all just envy and jealousy.¡±


    Just as Lin Xiaotian finished speaking, Bai Lili gave him a sharp look.


    ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry, everyone in the village knows about us, they¡¯ll just bless us, not criticize,¡± Xia Liu laughed, understanding the girls¡¯ concerns.


    ¡°Right, Brother Xia Liu is correct, I¡¯ve been in the village for many years, there might have been some noise in the past, but definitely not anymore.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I also believe in the folks of Osmanthus Village, it¡¯s true that we weren¡¯t united enough before, but after Xia Liu came back, everyone changed a lot,¡±


    Zhang Qing and Zhang Xiaoxue both voiced their support for Xia Liu.


    When Gu Fangxia had announced the news the day before yesterday, the girls who were unfamiliar with Osmanthus Village immediately felt awkward.


    After all, they would be living in the same place from now on, potentially seeing each other every day.


    The awkwardness of that situation was evident to everyone.


    With Xia Liu¡¯s assurances and the encouragement of Zhang Qing and Zhang Xiaoxue, Fang Fei, Huang Xue, Gu Fangxia, and Li Qianqian all became reassured in turn.


    But thinking about the upcoming move into the Osmanthus Village house made their cheeks flush with a crimson hue that spread unconsciously to their necks.


    The meal was eaten quickly, as the girls had exerted a lot of mental effort over the past two days, leaving them as hungry as if they had been doing manual labor.


    Moreover, they were moving into their new house tomorrow and needed to celebrate.


    For now, the best way to celebrate was, of course, to have a staggering tryst with Xia Liu.


    After booking a presidential suite, as soon as Xia Liu entered, he was overwhelmed by the women.


    It wasn¡¯t until past three in the morning that the women finally fell asleep contentedly.


    Tomorrow was an important day, and they couldn¡¯t afford to drop the ball, conserving their energy for the real celebration with Xia Liu in the new house.


    Xia Liu naturally wasn¡¯t worried, with his constitution, even a few more girls were of no consequence.


    Lying in the middle of the women, he too quickly fell asleep.


    In the early morning, Xia Liu and the girls got up one after the other.


    Since they decided to live at home from now on, they needed to pack their clothes.


    The girls¡¯ clothes were all there, which made packing simple, but Li Qianqian¡¯s were still at home.


    Faced with this situation, Xia Liu asked Fang Fei and the others to pack up and drive back to the village first, while he took Li Qianqian home to get her belongings.


    Upon their arrival at the county seat, what surprised Xia Liu and Li Qianqian was that Li Zhong and Xu Fang had already packed Li Qianqian¡¯s things.


    ¡°Xia Liu, I know all about Osmanthus Village and your affairs, and Qianqian following you is her good fortune, I also understand you won¡¯t let her down,¡± Li Zhong said.


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle Zhong,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t know what else to say but to express gratitude.


    ¡°With such a big event happening in Osmanthus Village, of course, I have to be there, is there still room?¡±


    ¡°There is! There definitely is, and Aunt Xu has to come too!¡±


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 Chapter 381 - 381: The Relatives Were Stunned

    Chapter 381: Chapter 381: The Relatives Were Stunned


    This time, Li Zhong rode in Xia Liu¡¯s car to Osmanthus Village without any particular status.


    Xu Fang and Li Qianqian sat in the backseat, with Xu Fang¡¯s eyes reddening as she admonished Li Qianqian along the way.


    Li Qianqian also felt some heartache; moving to live with Xia Liu was tantamount to marrying him.


    Though they lacked a marriage certificate, the status was there.


    What family doesn¡¯t feel sorrow when their daughter gets married? What home doesn¡¯t feel the pain?


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t cry at every turn. Our daughter is just moving to Osmanthus Village, not some other city.¡±


    ...


    ¡°What do you know? Be quiet when I¡¯m talking to our daughter.¡±


    ¡­


    Li Zhong and Xia Liu exchanged glances, each seeing the embarrassment in the other¡¯s eyes. Silence was the only option for the time ahead.


    Fortunately, the distance from Hejing to Osmanthus Village wasn¡¯t very far.


    After returning to Osmanthus Village, Xia Liu did not stay but drove straight to the villa complex.


    Along the way, they passed through spacious tar-sealed roads, with osmanthus trees flanking both sides. With the car windows down, one could smell the fragrance of the osmanthus.


    The end of the tar-sealed road was the entrance to the villa complex, and by now, many people were already standing at the entrance.


    Xia Liu glanced around, recognizing some from the village and others who were strangers.


    The unfamiliar faces must have been relatives from the village¡¯s extended family.


    Those relatives, beholding the villas before them, were shaken to the core. They couldn¡¯t comprehend how, in just over a year without visiting Osmanthus Village, it could have transformed to this extent.


    Halfway there, Xia Liu spotted two cars, a Bentley and an Audi A8. Pulling over for a closer look, he realized it was Fang Fei and the others¡­


    Xia Liu cracked a slight smile; it was obvious. Seeing so many villagers in front of the villa complex, they must have felt too shy to proceed.


    After honking the horn, Xia Liu signaled for them to follow him onward.


    The girls cooperatively started their cars and followed behind Xia Liu.


    ¡°Look, Xia Liu has arrived!¡±


    ¡°Is Xia Liu the young man who came back from abroad to develop the village?¡±


    As the villagers pointed at Xia Liu, those from other villages or counties began to wonder aloud.


    ¡°Yes, this transformation of the village is all thanks to Xia Liu¡¯s efforts.¡±


    ¡°He funded these villas all by himself.¡±


    If there were questions, the villagers were very enthusiastic in explaining.


    It nearly drove the visiting relatives green with envy.


    Not only had each family¡¯s income increased significantly, there were also free villas to live in!


    ¡°Hey, there are a few more cars coming.¡± Someone noticed that in addition to Xia Liu¡¯s and the girls¡¯ three cars, another five were approaching, prompting queries.


    ¡°Those look like Audis!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself, three are Audis, two are BMWs!¡±


    ¡°That actually might be true!¡±


    ¡°Those are definitely luxury cars! Who could be coming?¡±


    A young man from a nearby county town noted the newly arrived five vehicles and started to point them out.


    They paid close attention to cars, distinguishing BMWs and Audis even from a kilometer away.


    ¡°That looks like Xiao Hu, behind him is Da Xiong, and those three cars seem to have been just bought yesterday. They don¡¯t look too expensive, though.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I heard they only cost a little over half a million after all the paperwork. I might buy one tomorrow to give to my daughter, so she can drive my grandson to school.¡±


    ¡°Not a bad idea, my daughter¡¯s been married off for a few years now, I¡¯ve been thinking of getting a car, maybe I¡¯ll buy her a BMW in a few days.¡±


    ¡­


    Listening to the villagers¡¯ discussion, those young people who had come to visit relatives from other county towns suddenly felt deflated.


    Damn it, over half a million wasn¡¯t even considered money to them, and they were giving it away so casually.


    Was this village really the same poverty-stricken place their elders had spoken of???


    When Xia Liu and the women got out of their cars one after another, the visiting youths were utterly stunned.


    They had never seen such beautiful girls before.


    And there were six of them all at once!


    Six of them! Their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.


    ¡°Uncle Li, whose daughters are they?¡± one of the youths asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Zhang Chi, did you see the cars they drove? Those are Bentleys worth millions!¡±


    ¡°Damn! They really are Bentleys!¡±


    ¡°This is kind of crazy!¡±


    Seeing how shocked the youths were, the asked Li Zhong said slowly, ¡°They are all Xia Liu¡¯s wives, yes, all of them.¡±


    ¡­


    Upon hearing this answer, the youths all fell silent.


    They were all Xia Liu¡¯s wives!


    Not only the youths fell silent, but even the older folks who had come over to visit relatives also fell silent.


    Their gaze was all focused on Xia Liu.


    They couldn¡¯t understand how such girls, prettier than fairies, could all belong to him!


    And by the looks of it, they all seemed to get along very well.


    This was truly something to be envied.


    It was also the first time for the villagers of Osmanthus Village to see Xia Liu bring these girls over, and everyone¡¯s face was brimming with smiles.


    Some felt a bit bitter, as there were eligible women in their own homes as well.


    Unfortunately, the girls by Xia Liu¡¯s side were too beautiful and outstanding.


    They all understood that their own daughters had no chance now.


    Facing everyone, Fang Fei, Huang Xue, and the other girls were all quite bashful.


    Although they had seen their fair share of situations, this was the first time they faced such an occasion.


    These were the people who would be their neighbors in the future, and thinking of that, they all summoned the courage to lift their heads.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯re back, and oh, there¡¯s Village Chief Li too!¡± Li Zhong stepped forward to greet Xia Liu, and upon seeing Li Zhong, he expressed his surprise.


    ¡°Yes, Uncle Zhong is here today for the wedding banquet.¡±


    ¡°Village Chief Li, we should definitely have a few good rounds later,¡± Li Zhong said with a smile brimming on his face.


    ¡°Heh heh, of course, we won¡¯t return unless we¡¯re drunk today!¡±


    ¡°Uncle Li, why is everyone still standing here¡­¡± Seeing that everyone was still standing at the intersection with their gifts, Xia Liu was somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°Everyone had already gone to see the houses two days ago. Today, we are moving in, so of course we have to wait for you to come back.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I thought something was up. Well, let¡¯s all go in then, and we¡¯ll celebrate in the village later!¡±


    As soon as Xia Liu spoke, the prepared firecrackers were immediately lit. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In no time, the surroundings were filled with the loud and lively sound of firecrackers.


    Amid the smoke and dust, Xia Liu was the first to step through the entrance with a luggage in hand.


    The women behind him each dragged their little suitcases along, and the villagers were not much different.


    However, only representatives from each household came; the majority of the people were busy in the village, as there was going to be quite a feast later on.


    After bringing their gifts to the villa, Xu Fang and Li Zhong were both astounded.


    The decorations were like a palace hidden within the deep mountains.


    But what Xu Fang cared more about were her daughter¡¯s ¡®sisters,¡¯ and after inspecting the house for a bit, she pulled her daughter aside to get to know the other girls.


    Upon getting to know Fang Fei and the others, Xu Fang felt relieved. Her daughter would surely be very happy with such a group of sisters around her.


    After wandering around in their own villas with their relatives for a while, everyone then headed towards the original site of the village.


    As for Xia Liu, after confirming the next arrangements over the phone, he also proceeded towards the village with the girls.


    He was curious to see what kind of spectacle Li Hao and Lan Jian could create¡­


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 Chapter 382 - 382 Arrival

    Chapter 382: Chapter 382 Arrival


    At the former site of Osmanthus Village, on the square where the villagers used to hold meetings.


    Crowds of villagers wearing aprons were busily preparing the food and drinks.


    At least thirty tables were set up, and Li Zhong with some others went to the village entrance to welcome the guests.


    One by one, many relatives started to arrive.


    Some came on motorcycles, others by bicycle.


    Some relatives hadn¡¯t visited Osmanthus Village in a long time, some of them came from Shanyan Village.


    ...


    But when they arrived at Osmanthus Village and saw the changes here, their mouths were agape in surprise.


    There was even a secondary road leading directly to the village.


    This was simply terrifying, a secondary road¡ªthat¡¯s something special that could only be built in special areas.


    And yet it ended up in a small mountain village!


    Scary, isn¡¯t it?


    When the visiting folks saw what their relatives referred to as their new homes, they were shocked and speechless.


    It was like a castle-like luxury villa; was it really possible for ordinary people to live in such places?


    They couldn¡¯t imagine what had happened to their relatives in Osmanthus Village to warrant such a transformation.


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Mayor Li?¡±


    Suddenly a relative spotted Li Zhong and was immediately astonished.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s Mayor Li Zhong!¡±


    ¡°Amazing, I just saw him on Hejing TV Station a while back!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t miss this opportunity, let¡¯s all go and shake hands with Mayor Li!¡±


    Seeing Li Zhong in person for the first time, the middle-aged relatives rushed forward to talk to him.


    Li Zhong was very composed and chatted leisurely with everyone.


    Zhang Qing and Fang Fei, along with the other girls, were all busy.


    They helped the villagers set up the tables, laid out the tablecloths, and placed some snacks on them.


    The scene was one of harmonious joy.


    Ten minutes before the banquet was about to start, Lin Xiaotian, Mark, and others arrived.


    Word was immediately spread to everyone there.


    If that group dared to cause trouble, at Xia Liu¡¯s word, they would be crushed without mercy!


    ¡°Sorry Xia Liu, I¡¯m late.¡±


    ¡°Not late, I see you¡¯re walking with a buoyant step, must¡¯ve not slept all night,¡± Xia Liu said teasingly to Lin Xiaotian¡¯s apology.


    ¡°Yes, I went back and cultivated all night, I¡¯m indeed a bit tired.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, dual cultivation can be quite exhausting, you¡¯ll get used to it.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian: ¡­


    ¡°Haha, later you should drink more Osmanthus Wine, it¡¯s good for the kidneys and body, and works really fast,¡± Xia Liu said, clapping Lin Xiaotian on the shoulder.


    ¡°Is it that miraculous? If it works, I must get a ton of it.¡±


    ¡°Cut it out, I know you, stop pretending.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ I do have good stamina, but staying up until dawn, no matter how high my cultivation, I would not be able to handle it,¡± Lin Xiaotian laughed helplessly.


    ¡°Then you must work hard to cultivate to the point where you don¡¯t feel tired,¡± Xia Liu said, leading Lin Xiaotian to a specific table.


    There weren¡¯t many people at his table, just Li Dazhuang and Xiao Hu for the moment.


    Li Zhong and Li Zhong were busy greeting the relatives and friends who had come to the village.


    They were not just there to greet, but also to talk about the industrial zone.


    Before long, the industrial zone would need to start advertising for workers.


    ¡°`


    This propaganda opportunity was not something Li Zhong wanted to pass up.


    Ding ding ding¡­


    Xia Liu had just sat down and had not yet picked up his cup when his cellphone rang.


    It was Glasses calling; that guy had disappeared as soon as he got off the car, and now he was calling. Xia Liu knew what was up without even answering the phone.


    ¡°Glasses, is it that team that¡¯s arrived?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they brought quite a few people from Shanyan Village, looks like there won¡¯t be any peace today.¡±


    ¡°No worries, tell Mark and Tie Shan to come over for dinner, I¡¯ll handle the situation.¡±


    After giving these instructions, Xia Liu hung up. He wouldn¡¯t mind giving Li Hao and Lan Jian another forceful lesson.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, what team is it?¡± Li Dazhuang and Xiao Hu asked, surprised.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t explain, knowing that Li Hao and Lan Jian would arrive in just a moment.


    ¡°I heard about the situation, do we need to get physical?¡± Lin Xiaotian said fearlessly.


    ¡°No need, I can handle it peacefully.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s drink and watch the show.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian nodded, grabbed his cup, and gestured for Xiao Hu and Li Dazhuang to drink.


    Wuu wuu¡­


    A few minutes later, a piercing siren resounded in all directions.


    To the sudden sound of the alarm, everyone present was startled.


    The panicked crowd looked around, finally spotting several vehicles at the intersection.


    Leading was a car with a loudspeaker mounted on its roof, followed by three large green trucks.


    Everyone stared blankly at the approaching vehicles; their aggressive manner made it clear that these cars were definitely not here to celebrate in Osmanthus Village.


    The four vehicles stopped at the edge of the square; the doors opened, and four young men in camouflage attire stepped out.


    Clang!


    Three successive sounds of metal clashing rang out as the back doors of the three green trucks were let down, and dozens of people wearing camouflage outfits and carrying sophisticated equipment got out.


    And the first person to descend from the truck closest to the sedan was Li De!


    Taking a closer look at the four people standing beside the small car, the villagers could tell it was that fierce young man from Shanyan Village, Li Hao!


    Faced with this well-equipped team, the crowd was almost scared speechless, not daring to utter a word.


    ¡°Hahaha! Osmanthus Village sure is lively!¡± Li De stepped out of the car and immediately looked up, taking deep breaths; the fragrance of osmanthus kept wafting into his nose.


    Smelling this scent, Li De would unconsciously recall the cruel scene a few months back when he was chased down by the villagers and slapped in the face by Xia Liu.


    Today, he finally dared to look down on Osmanthus Village!


    Li Hao and Lan Jian quickly noticed Xia Liu too; their eyes were filled with venomous hatred, their resentment was sky-high as they glared at Xia Liu, their palms slowly clenching.


    After months of enduring, they were finally ready to take their revenge today!


    ¡°Surround the scene!¡± Lan Jian extended a hand and issued the stern command.


    ¡°Who dares!¡±


    Tie Shan and Mark immediately charged to the front, sweeping their gaze across the crowd, ready to add a few blood-soaked heads to the scene at Xia Liu¡¯s signal.


    ¡°Tie Shan, Mark, go back to the table and drink,¡± Xia Liu immediately ordered.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Though reluctant, Xia Liu¡¯s command was supreme, and they had to comply. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Haha! Xia Liu, oh Xia Liu! You put on quite the act! Today I¡¯m going to make you eat shit,¡± Lan Jian bellowed angrily, seeing Xia Liu¡¯s formidable appearance.


    ¡°Xia Liu! You were quite the big shot a few months ago, but times have changed, accept your fate!¡± Li Hao said sternly, then jumped down the steps and walked toward Xia Liu step by step.


    Lan Jian and two other men in camouflage also stepped down.


    ¡°Li De! Do you have no respect for the law?¡± Li Zhong knew Li Hao and Lan Jian; seeing their demeanor, he understood that they were here not just to cause a scene, but also to cripple Xia Liu.


    ¡°County Magistrate Li, I didn¡¯t expect you to be here. Thanks to you and Lan Weiming, my son is able to have such accomplishments, I really appreciate it. However, today Xia Liu must pay the price!¡±


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 383 - 383: Theres Always Someone Better Out There

    Chapter 383: Chapter 383: There¡¯s Always Someone Better Out There


    Hearing the sarcasm in Li De¡¯s words, Li Zhong fell silent and secretly tried to call Chen Jin.


    But before he could dial the number, a large hand snatched away his phone, ¡°Li County, don¡¯t reject the face given to you!¡±


    Li Hao said unapologetically, considering how much he and Lan Jian suffered after Lan Weiming had sent them to the team up until now!


    Now that they could finally turn the tables, how could Li Hao possibly let a minor character like Li Zhong get away with it!


    ¡°Li Hao, I know your information. I¡¯ll give you a word of advice, ¡®There¡¯s always a higher sky above and a stronger person beyond.''¡± Li Zhong wasn¡¯t angry, since this guy wanted to clash with Xia Liu, well, just wait and see.


    After all, Xia Liu had even made trouble in Liuhai City.


    ...


    Now, the Ouyang Family and Fang Family are both courteous to him. With just a small team, and you, a minor Li Hao, can you turn the heavens upside down?


    Clang!


    After hearing Li Zhong¡¯s words, Li Hao reached out and flipped the table over, ¡°A fine saying, ¡®There¡¯s always a higher sky above and a stronger person beyond¡¯! Unless Xia Liu grows wings today, he won¡¯t escape!¡±


    Dishes and drinks from the large plates scattered all over the floor.


    In the face of his domination, nobody at the scene dared to speak.


    After all, those dark gun barrels were no joke.


    ¡°Haha! Xia Liu, why aren¡¯t you hopping about now? Jump! Come hit me!¡± Lan Jian walked over to Xia Liu, laughing in triumph.


    ¡°Kid, you¡¯d better¡­¡±


    ¡°Xiaotian.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you handle it yourself, I won¡¯t talk anymore,¡± Lin Xiaotian said helplessly to the idiotic pair of Lan Jian and Li Hao, whom he could kill in a minute.


    ¡°Yo, still pretending with me! Kneel down right now!¡± Lan Jian¡¯s booted leg kicked swiftly towards Xia Liu¡¯s shin.


    Hiss¡­


    However, the moment it made contact with Xia Liu¡¯s shin, Lan Jian gasped in pain.


    He had used almost all the strength of his body for that kick, but it felt like kicking a stone, the only sensation was of unyielding hardness, utterly solid!


    ¡°Cousin, what are you doing? Just cripple him!¡± Seeing Lan Jian¡¯s strange expression, Li Hao hurried over as well.


    They had come today not just to ruin Osmanthus Village¡¯s village feast, but even more to cripple Xia Liu!


    ¡°Everyone, flip over all the tables for me; I¡¯ll handle Xia Liu personally!¡± Li Hao shouted toward the folks from Shanyan Village at the back.


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve been itching to do this for a while!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, give it your all, let¡¯s wreck this place in a minute!¡±


    The Shanyan Village crowd was laughing and eager; they rolled up their sleeves in anticipation.


    ¡°Who dares to touch anything!¡±


    ¡°Come at me, I¡¯ll stab you to death!¡±


    ¡°Come on!¡±


    The youths from Osmanthus Village weren¡¯t without backbone, seeing the people from Shanyan Village approach with smiles, they picked up weapons.


    Those without anything simply smashed beer bottles, holding the sharp broken pieces as they faced off against the Shanyan Village crowd.


    ¡°Brother Hao!¡±


    The people from Shanyan Village didn¡¯t dare move forward and could only seek help from Li Hao.


    ¡°Hmph! A bunch of cowards! Liu Feng! Control them!¡±


    With a cold snort, Li Hao called out to a young man who had arrived in the same car as him.


    ¡°Yes! Everyone on guard!¡±


    Liu Feng immediately took command, leading by example as he charged towards the few youths who dared to resist.


    Facing a well-equipped and trained team, Xiao Hu and the other youths from Osmanthus Village didn¡¯t dare make a move.


    It would have been fine if they hadn¡¯t had guns, but they did.


    On the surface, they had already lost.


    ¡°Xia Liu! What are you still waiting for?¡± Fang Fei couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; she knew Xia Liu¡¯s capabilities well.


    If this guy exploded into action, those barbarians could likely turn into corpses in an instant.


    ¡°Xia Liu! Don¡¯t worry about anyone! Make your move!¡±


    ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s do this!¡±


    ¡­


    Following Fang Fei, Li Qianqian and Huang Xue, as well as Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Qing, and Gu Fangxia all began to shout excitedly.


    They had all witnessed Xia Liu¡¯s strength firsthand, and now, in this situation, there was no room for holding back.


    ¡°Haha! Make a move? This retard thinks he can make a move?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s laughable, but damn, you really are lucky with the ladies. Haven¡¯t seen you for a few months, and you¡¯ve got so many beauties supporting you.¡±


    ¡°Cousin, let¡¯s completely take this guy down later, make it so he can¡¯t take care of himself.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Facing the provocation of the women, Li Hao and Lan Jian weren¡¯t too angry. On the contrary, they seemed very interested in checking them out.


    ¡°Hehe, you two done yet?¡±


    Xia Liu finally spoke.


    ¡°Done? We¡¯re far from it!¡± Li Hao roared and transformed his palm into a claw, attacking Xia Liu.


    Bang!


    Before Li Hao could even touch Xia Liu, his body involuntarily flew backward, finally crashing into the steaming hot soup pot.


    ¡°Ahhh!!!!¡± Li Hao¡¯s scream, similar to that of a slaughtered pig, echoed around.


    The area below his waist was doused with scalding soup, and the pain was undoubtedly more severe than killing him.


    Seeing his son drenched in the soup, Li De¡¯s heart contracted sharply, and he quickly ran over to check the situation.


    Li Hao was his biggest support now. If something happened to him, Li De would be nothing but a cripple.


    Lan Jian¡¯s eyes widened in shock because, in front of Xia Liu, an extra person appeared at some point¡ªit was Lin Xiaotian, who was just sitting nearby!


    ¡°Put your hands up!¡±


    Lan Jian immediately grabbed the gun at his waist, the icy barrel pointed at Lin Xiaotian and Xia Liu.


    ¡°Cousin! Shoot! Shoot them both for me!¡± Li Hao, tears streaming down, was screaming hysterically.


    He could feel the extent of the burns on his skin, and by then, no amount of remedy would help.


    His entire thigh was soaked in the soup, and his skin was already burnt.


    The only thing he wanted to do now was to kill Xia Liu! Kill Lin Xiaotian!


    This sudden turn of events shocked everyone present. Li Hao was actually crippled.


    As cruel as it was, everyone there was inwardly cheering.


    They didn¡¯t know what the conflict was between Li Hao and Xia Liu.


    But seeing the ferocity that Li Hao brought today, giving him such a lesson was well deserved.


    The youths of Osmanthus Village were overjoyed. If they had the strength, they would have gone up to beat Li Hao to death just now.


    Back when Osmanthus Village didn¡¯t have its roads built, Li Hao from Shanyan Village had been a roadblock, utterly detestable and hateful.


    Even Zhang Xiaoxue almost applauded.


    If it weren¡¯t for Li Hao and Li De, her adoptive father wouldn¡¯t have died of anger.


    ¡°Liu Feng, finish that guy off for me!¡± Seeing Lan Jian hesitate and not daring to move, Li Hao continued to bellow.


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, what do you say, to kill or not to kill?¡± Facing the charging crowd, Lin Xiaotian didn¡¯t show a trace of fear. On the contrary, he was eager to try.


    His Immeasurable Sword Intent had just made minor achievements, and he was curious how long it would take to wipe out all these people.


    Xia Liu reached out to stop him, then looked up at the sky, ¡°Listen, do you hear something?¡±


    Hmm?


    Seeing Xia Liu acting so foolishly at this moment, everyone was somewhat astonished.


    ¡°There¡¯s a sound, the sound of a battle eagle, and there are several high-speed helicopters.¡± Lin Xiaotian closed his eyes to sense carefully and immediately figured it out.


    ¡°Oh, after all this time, you can still discern sounds.¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


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 Chapter 384 - 384 Thirty Seconds

    Chapter 384: Chapter 384 Thirty Seconds


    ¡°Damn, who am I, Earth Rank, no¡­ a Cultivator, why is my memory like that of an ordinary person?¡±


    Lin Xiaotian said proudly.


    The people at the scene silently watched the two converse, all feeling utterly bewildered.


    Is there a sound? They probably heard hallucinations.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯d better behave yourself!¡± Lan Jian didn¡¯t dare to shoot Xia Liu dead, but he still had his wits about him.


    The Battle Eagle, that¡¯s Huaxia¡¯s highest-grade fighter jet, ranking in the top three of the world¡¯s formidable machines.


    ...


    Even if it were to appear, it would not show up in a place like this.


    Not to mention he neither saw nor heard any sound, what does this indicate? Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian are playing dumb to scare him off, utterly ridiculous!


    ¡°Liu Feng! Take action now!¡± Feeling the heat in his body, Li Hao roared again.


    ¡°Surround Xia Liu!¡±


    Once Liu Feng snapped back to reality, he immediately directed everyone to surround Xia Liu.


    ¡°Sister Fang, what should we do now?¡±


    Seeing dozens of dark gun barrels pointed at Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue was a bit nervous.


    She had seen Xia Liu deploy his skills, but it was only against three men, none of whom carried such thermal weapons.


    ¡°Xiaoxue, don¡¯t worry, Brother Xia Liu is very strong. Even a bomb he can diffuse,¡± Bai Lili reassured Zhang Xiaoxue in a soft voice, holding her hand.


    ¡°Yes, Lili teacher is right; when in Liu Hai, Xia Liu walked out unscathed from amidst two torpedoes, so don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s just watch those people get put in their place,¡± Fang Fei said in agreement with Bai Lili, as she had witnessed Xia Liu¡¯s abilities with her own eyes.


    ¡°Could you wait for thirty seconds?¡± Xia Liu spoke weakly to the people who wanted to start a fight.


    Seeing them look at one another in confusion, Xia Liu spoke again: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t call the police. Even if I did, they couldn¡¯t get here in time, right?¡±


    Everyone on the scene looked at Xia Liu, not understanding.


    He was faced with a well-equipped squad, and although they did not know what had happened,


    nobody believed he could change anything in thirty seconds.


    Was he hoping to get a good look at his wife in those thirty seconds because he was afraid he would get blinded later?


    It made no sense, except for a few individuals, no one could figure it out.


    In thirty seconds, what kind of havoc would Xia Liu wreak?


    ¡°Ah! Cousin, give me the gun! I¡¯m going to blast him!¡± Others might wait thirty seconds, but Li Hao couldn¡¯t.


    The pain in his legs kept stabbing at his body and soul.


    All he wanted was to kill Xia Liu immediately, right now!


    ¡°Haozi, wait up, I¡¯ll blast him for you right away!¡±


    Lan Jian pondered for a moment, then began removing the safety off the gun, ready to shoot at Xia Liu!


    The dozens of people around, dressed in camouflage, also adjusted their guns, all aimed at Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian.


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡±


    ¡°Stop, let¡¯s talk this out!¡±


    Li Zhi and Li Zhong were both very nervous; the scene was looking dangerous for Xia Liu.


    They had initially thought Xia Liu would pull out some backup to resist or defuse the situation, but he didn¡¯t even make a phone call. What was he planning, to just stand there and let himself get shot dead?


    ¡°Ha-ha! Die¡­¡±


    Lan Jian turned, smiling, his finger moving toward the trigger.


    But before he could finish,


    a piercing roar came from afar in the sky.


    Whiz whiz whiz!!!


    Everyone present knew what that sound was; it was the sound of an aircraft breaking through the airflow at high speed.


    Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked up to the source of the sound.


    But a kilometer up in the sky, five planes flew in a straight formation, clear enough to see, the markings painted on their bodies and the weapons they carried.


    ¡°Those are Heaven Slaying¡¯s combat eagles!!!¡±


    Liu Feng suddenly shouted in astonishment, he liked to research various types of information within the team, and naturally paid great attention to these combat jets, which ranked among the top three in the world.


    He never thought he¡¯d have the chance to see a combat eagle with his own eyes, and yet, here he was seeing one!


    The way they looked, those combat eagles were in battle mode, ready to unleash destructive power as soon as they received their orders.


    ¡°Heaven Slaying Troops!¡± Liu Feng suddenly cried out again.


    He had been so captivated by the combat eagles that he had forgotten to look for the insignia beneath the planes, the strongest ace troops of Huaxia!


    Their current identities meant they knew that Heaven Slaying was based in Yanjing, thousands of kilometers from Binlai City. Why would these combat eagles be flying over this area?


    Could it be that there was fighting at the border in this direction? But if that were the case, he should have received some news about it.


    Suddenly, Liu Feng and a few others who were alert had a terrifying speculation flashing through their minds.


    Before they could continue their speculations, the whooshing sound once again swept through the area.


    Above Osmanthus Village, from different angles in the sky, eight helicopters approached at high speed.


    Like the combat eagles, these eight helicopters also bore the distinctive insignia of Heaven Slaying!


    Li Zhong, Li Zhong, and others naturally could not tell what these helicopters and combat eagles signified.


    But Lan Jian and others in camouflage were shocked to their core.


    That was Heaven Slaying, the highest ace troops of Huaxia!


    Every soldier dreamed of joining Heaven Slaying.


    It was not just a symbol of honor, but also a symbol of strength!


    However, Heaven Slaying, the idol and target of their pursuit, had now appeared before them, leaving them unable to take any action.


    Under countless trembling gazes, those five combat eagles circled in the sky thousands of meters high.


    The eight helicopters quickly reached the airspace above Osmanthus Village.


    They stabilized at a certain altitude.


    The cargo bay doors opened, with ropes thrown down from inside.


    Then, one by one, figures rapidly descended to the ground along the ropes.


    They were well-equipped, wearing helmets, and barely a half inch of skin was visible on their entire bodies.


    What one saw were only their eyes.


    From eight large helicopters, at least one hundred and twenty people descended, encircling Osmanthus Village with absolute speed.


    And the most elite eighty rapidly converged towards the village center.


    Upon seeing this, Li Hao was stunned, Lan Jian was stunned, and Liu Feng was utterly dumbfounded. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Heaven Slaying Troops had actually surrounded Osmanthus Village!


    What were they here for? Could it be they had a grudge against Xia Liu, just like him?


    The villagers present were even more terrified; although they didn¡¯t understand what Heaven Slaying signified, seeing the attire of these people and the likes of Li Hao, they all thought these people had come to deal with Xia Liu.


    ¡°We¡¯re done for, done for, done for¡­¡±


    ¡°With so many more people coming, what are we going to do about Brother Xia Liu!¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hu, don¡¯t lose heart. If something happens to Brother Xia Liu, we¡¯ll fight them with all we¡¯ve got!¡±


    ¡°Right! We¡¯ll fight!¡±


    ¡­


    When the youths of Osmanthus Village saw more troops arriving, unlike before, most of them were not surprised; instead, they were boiling with blood.


    If Xia Liu were injured, they would definitely rush forward to fight with all their might!


    ¡°Haha! Xia Liu, you¡¯re done for. It seems you¡¯ve made enemies with more than just the two of us¡­¡± Lan Jian laughed wildly.


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 Chapter 385 - 385: Great Satisfaction

    Chapter 385: Chapter 385: Great Satisfaction


    ¡°Surround them!¡± Before the echo of Lan Jian¡¯s laughter subsided, a sharp voice resounded in all directions.


    At least seventy fully armed individuals surrounded Li Hao, Lan Jian, and the others without revealing any expressions.


    Swish swish swish!!!


    Gun barrels were raised, producing a series of trembling sounds.


    Li Hao was stupefied, Li De was scared, Lan Jian was terrified, and Liu Feng was shaking.


    The whole place fell silent.


    ...


    What in the world was going on here? Weren¡¯t these people here to help Lan Jian and Li Hao? Or had they arrived to save the day?


    ¡°Friend! Our enemy should be him, right?¡± Lan Jian protested, opening his mouth wide and pointing at Xia Liu as he shouted.


    Thud!


    However, as soon as Lan Jian uttered these words, one of the fully armed individuals near him lifted a leg and thrust it into his chest.


    A muffled sound reverberated throughout the area, and Lan Jian flew towards Li Hao and Li De like a kite with its string cut. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The father and son couldn¡¯t avoid it and were knocked to the ground.


    ¡°Friend, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!¡± Seeing this situation, the wide-eyed Liu Feng quickly came to his senses and immediately spoke up.


    From the kick that flew toward Lan Jian, Liu Feng could tell that these Heaven Slaying Troops¡¯ members were nothing short of monstrous!


    If this misunderstanding wasn¡¯t cleared up, his entire team would be annihilated!


    ¡°Misunderstanding? My Heaven Slaying Division¡¯s instructor had a gun held to his head by you, and you call this a misunderstanding!¡± While speaking, he walked up to Liu Feng, raised one hand, grabbed his neck, and lifted him into the air.


    Hearing the other party¡¯s words, Liu Feng¡¯s pupils shrank, and not just him, but also the team members that had come with him.


    What had they just heard, an instructor from Heaven Slaying!


    That was someone with high status and immense authority!


    This meant Xia Liu was part of Heaven Slaying!


    Realizing this, Liu Feng and the others were filled with fear, and countless cold sweats broke out on their backs.


    Li Hao and Lan Jian lying on the ground were also trembling. They could never have imagined that Xia Liu was from Heaven Slaying.


    If the information was correct, then the two of them had truly reached a dead end.


    The villagers present were also shocked to the point of being speechless, although they didn¡¯t understand what Heaven Slaying signified.


    But judging by the frightened expressions on the faces of Liu Feng, Li Hao, and others, Xia Liu¡¯s identity was absolutely formidable!


    With this development, they no longer had to worry about Xia Liu.


    ¡°Lingtian, when did I become an instructor for your Heaven Slaying Division? Don¡¯t go assigning me a false identity,¡± Xia Liu said, shaking his head helplessly.


    Ouyang Lingtian discarded Liu Feng to the side, turned around to face Xia Liu, and revealed a bitter smile after discarding his stoic demeanor, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it; General Ouyang said so.¡±


    Hiss¡­


    Upon hearing what Ouyang Lingtian had said, Liu Feng and the others were completely panicked.


    That General Ouyang must be the top commander of Heaven Slaying!


    If even the top commander said Xia Liu was an instructor, their fate was sealed.


    Even if their lives weren¡¯t threatened now, their positions would be revoked.


    How they regretted following Li Hao and Lan Jian back here.


    It was like throwing away both the wife and the soldiers, and they might even end up in jail!


    Holding a gun to the head of a Heaven Slaying instructor could, if taken seriously, mean a decade behind bars.


    With this thought, Liu Feng and his teammates shivered uncontrollably.


    ¡°General Ouyang? Isn¡¯t that your grandfather? Anyway, say whatever you want; I don¡¯t have the time to play with you,¡± Xia Liu said, looking completely indifferent.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m just kidding. How are they going to deal with them? Are they going to kill them for the crime of attacking a Heaven Slaying instructor or what?¡±


    ¡°Squad leader, we don¡¯t know!¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡±


    ¡°Please, squad leader, see the truth of the matter.¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s words made Liu Feng and his teammates tremble once again.


    This time, they had indeed made a mistake, but they had done so out of ignorance.


    ¡°Squad leader, it¡¯s all Li Hao and Lan Jian¡¯s fault. They misled us, saying how bad the instructor was, and we, as hot-blooded youths, couldn¡¯t just stand by and let it happen, so we made a mistake.¡±


    Seeing that Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, Liu Feng defended them again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. My brother was just joking. I know all about it. Take those people back with you, handle it as it should be handled. As for these two, leave them to the Heaven Slaying Division.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Instructor, thank you, Instructor!¡± Once Liu Feng received Xia Liu¡¯s instructions, he almost wanted to kneel to him in gratitude.


    As for the Shanyan Village folks that Xia Liu had pointed out, they all stood there as though soulless.


    They had thought that this time they could turn the tables and kill Xia Liu, but it turned out that they ended up risking their own lives in the process.


    Without any chance to resist, the villagers from Shanyan Village were immediately put into the vehicle by Liu Feng and his teammates.


    Li De still wanted to resist, but in the end, Liu Feng knocked him out and took him away.


    From the time they had spent together since yesterday, Liu Feng had always seen Li De as a decent person.


    It wasn¡¯t until he came to Osmanthus Village that he realized Li De, Li Hao, and Lan Jian were utterly despicable scum.


    Their change in attitude baffled Liu Feng.


    In the end, he could only act according to instructions.


    Now that he had seen through them, once he got back, he was determined to confess everything to his superiors and take all the responsibility on himself.


    As for Li Hao and Lan Jian, having the two of them in the team was like having a cancer. Leaving them to the Heaven Slaying Division was the most appropriate.


    After Liu Feng and his men took the Shanyan Village people away, Ouyang Lingtian also issued commands.


    With the speed of the fighting hawks and the helicopters, it would only take a few hours to fly back to Yanjing, and these troops still had missions to complete.


    Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t want to delay them, so he ordered them to take Li Hao and Lan Jian back with them.


    As for how to deal with those two groups, he would handle it personally upon his return.


    Clap clap clap¡­


    Watching the helicopter fly away, everyone present began to applaud.


    ¡°Hahaha! I knew Brother Xia Liu was extraordinary. Turns out my guess was right!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, from now on, we probably won¡¯t see Li Hao again, which is really satisfying!¡±


    ¡°Right! It¡¯s incredibly satisfying!¡±


    ¡°Not just Li Hao, it¡¯s likely we won¡¯t see Li De again either. It¡¯s sad that Shanyan Village was tainted by that family.¡±


    The villagers of Osmanthus Village were all heatedly discussing the matter.


    Everyone had their own opinions, but they all agreed that none would pity Li Hao or Li De.


    If it were before, they would have wished to tear Li Hao and Li De apart with their bare hands.


    Now that the village has changed, Li De and Li Hao could no longer bully them, and they had almost forgotten about those two men.


    After everything settled down, Xia Liu introduced Ouyang Lingtian to everyone.


    The presence of the young Heaven Slaying General struck everyone with awe, even the world-wise Li Zhong trembled.


    A Major General, after all. In a formal setting, he would have to address Ouyang Lingtian as ¡®General¡¯.


    Li Zhong couldn¡¯t understand what Xia Liu had been through in Liu Hai that allowed him to become good friends with someone as young and promising as Ouyang Lingtian.


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 Chapter 386 - 386 Xia Lius Thoughts

    Chapter 386: Chapter 386 Xia Liu¡¯s Thoughts


    Xia Liu unceremoniously introduced Lin Xiaotian, Glasses, Tie Shan, and Mark to Ouyang Lingtian.


    Knowing that Tie Shan possessed cultivation at the peak of the Mysterious Rank, Ouyang Lingtian treated him with solemn respect, and even wished to have a sparring match with him.


    To this, Tie Shan expressed his willingness, as long as the time and place allowed it.


    ¡°Young Master Ouyang, I¡¯m truly grateful to you today.¡±


    Seeing Ouyang Lingtian and Xia Liu chatting enthusiastically, Fang Fei came over with the girls to express their gratitude to Ouyang Lingtian.


    ¡°Fang¡­ Fei.¡± In fact, Ouyang Lingtian had long anticipated that he would encounter Fang Fei here.


    ...


    No matter what, they once had an engagement between them.


    Moreover, Ouyang Lingtian had put in a lot of effort for Fang Fei, and now seeing her again always felt quite awkward.


    ¡°Thank you for your help, Young Master Ouyang.¡±


    Noticing Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s awkward stupor, Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Qing, Huang Xue, Gu Fangxia, and Li Qianqian, the five women thanked him in unison.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh, no need to be polite, Xia Liu is my brother, even if there were great dangers, I would still come rushing over,¡± Ouyang Lingtian quickly recovered his wits, then voiced his inner thoughts.


    Hearing Ouyang Lingtian say this, Fang Fei laughed, ¡°Giggle, Xia Liu really knows how to bluff, to think that he could even make someone as stubborn as you say such words.¡±


    ¡°Heh, people always change.¡±


    ¡°Yes, people always change,¡± Fang Fei murmured softly, then led the women back to their own table.


    After all, if she and the girls continued to talk with Xia Liu, it would probably feed Ouyang Lingtian hundreds of tons of dog food.


    ¡°Xia Liu, apart from Fang Fei, who are those girls?¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, Brother Lingtian, perhaps you¡¯re still not aware, but those girls are all Xia Liu¡¯s wives, our sisters-in-law,¡± Lin Xiaotian seized the opportunity to explain to Ouyang Lingtian before Xia Liu could answer.


    ¡°Crap! Xia Liu, you unexpectedly¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian was shocked, having previously read Xia Liu¡¯s profile, which mentioned that besides Fang Fei, Xia Liu had two other women.


    But damn, coming here today, he saw that including Fang Fei, there were actually a total of six women! And he couldn¡¯t help noting that all six women were top-notch beauties.


    ¡°Lingtian, don¡¯t get agitated, do you sense any resentment from them? Aren¡¯t they happy?¡± Xia Liu asked calmly while holding his wine glass.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian was momentarily stunned, his gaze stealthily drifted over to where Fang Fei and the others were.


    He saw the women whispering to each other, laughing merrily, with two of the girls even joking around.


    They seemed far from unhappy; they appeared closer than any best friends, more intimate, and more incredible.


    ¡°See, Xia Liu¡¯s cultivation is far more formidable than ours, even my previous Earth-Rank peak cultivation didn¡¯t have his abilities,¡± Lin Xiaotian said with a bitter face.


    ¡°Earth-Rank peak cultivation! Xiaotian brother, you¡¯re not joking, am I sensing that you¡¯re not even at the Mysterious Rank¡­¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian was startled by Lin Xiaotian, and he couldn¡¯t help wondering if the guy liked to talk big.


    Earth-Rank peak cultivation, those are extremely rare even within the Warrior Realm.


    Moreover, Lin Xiaotian was only a few years older than himself, how could he possibly have such cultivation? It was absolutely impossible.


    ¡°All tears, but now it¡¯s also quite good, at least it has allowed me to enter a new domain,¡± Lin Xiaotian said with a wry smile shaking his head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t disbelieve it, Lingtian. Although Xiaotian doesn¡¯t have Earth-Rank peak cultivation, just three days ago he was at the high-level peak of Earth Rank, which is half a step into the Earth-Rank peak,¡± Xia Liu explained seriously upon seeing Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s disbelief.


    ¡°What happened during these three days? Why did his high-level peak Earth-Rank cultivation fall to where it is now?¡± Ouyang Lingtian believed it because Xia Liu¡¯s words were beyond doubt.


    He just couldn¡¯t understand how half-step Earth-Rank peak cultivation could plummet to the Yellow Rank.


    Could it be that he has taken some sort of medicine¡­


    ¡°If I must say why, then I can only say that he must have had his head struck by a door, then dissipated all his Earth-Rank cultivation power on his own.¡±


    ¡°Pfft! To fully dissipate the power of Half-Step Earth Rank Peak! This¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian was shocked.


    Not just him, Tie Shan was also staggered. He, too, was a martial artist; although his cultivation was only at the Mysterious Rank Peak, he was well aware of how formidable Lin Xiaotian¡¯s cultivation level was.


    To willingly dissipate Earth-Rank High-Level Peak cultivation, this truly is like one¡¯s head being stuck in a door.


    ¡°Feel free to say what you will about this¡­¡± Lin Xiaotian did not offer any explanation.


    The Cultivation Technique was taught to him by Xia Liu, and without his consent, he definitely couldn¡¯t reveal it carelessly.


    ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t be surprised yet, you two. After the village banquet ends, I¡¯ll tell you everything; perhaps you¡¯ll be thinking of dissipating your power too.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ alright then.¡±


    ¡°Mm, then we¡¯ll wait for Xia Liu¡¯s big brother¡¯s arrangement.¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian and Tie Shan were very perplexed in their hearts, but since Xia Liu had said as much, of course, they wouldn¡¯t say anything else.


    ¡°Glasses, Mark, after the village banquet is over, you all stay behind too, I have important matters that will need you.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    ¡°I like to challenge all the impossibilities.¡±


    Glasses and Mark nodded in agreement.


    Looking at the group of brothers around the table, an idea gradually rose in Xia Liu¡¯s heart¡ªto have them practice the Immeasurable Sword Art!


    This village banquet lasted from noon all the way until evening, and even those relatives who came to visit didn¡¯t want to leave.


    Because the Osmanthus Wine almost drove them mad; if they rested now, they might never get to drink such good wine again.


    So they kept drinking, even if they became drunk, they¡¯d rest for a while, sober up and continue drinking.


    For these alcohol-loving relatives, Li Zhi left them to the village¡¯s youth to handle; coming to Osmanthus Village, naturally they had to make sure the guests were all laid down.


    As for Xia Liu, he looked at the time and thought it was about right, so he led Lin Xiaotian, Ouyang Lingtian, and the others away.


    The girls, well, they had gone back to the county city with Bai Lili long before it got dark.


    They all still had a lot of homework to do; in order to fully understand the Immeasurable Sword Art and what needed to be heeded during cultivation, they spared no effort in learning.


    They rarely got involved in the company¡¯s affairs, but of course, they would take care of them in their free time.


    It is worth mentioning that the various projects in the Eastern District are now on the right track, the big direction unchanged, and the affairs can be completed by the staff of Osmanthus Group.


    On one side, Bai Lili was teaching the girls hands-on.


    In Osmanthus Village, after Xia Liu led Ouyang Lingtian and the others back home, he had Lin Xiaotian reveal everything about cultivators.


    When Ouyang Lingtian understood what a cultivator was, his whole person was dumbfounded.


    Not just him but Tie Shan, Mark, and Glasses felt the same.


    They each had their own strengths, but compared to a cultivator, they were far from just a little bit behind.


    If given the choice, they would definitely choose to become cultivators.


    ¡°Xiaotian brother, you can¡¯t be deceiving me. Are there really such terrifying cultivators in this world?¡±


    After coming back to his senses, Ouyang Lingtian asked in disbelief. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Of course, there are, because I am one¡­¡±


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 Chapter 387 - 387 Unable to Cultivate

    Chapter 387: Chapter 387 Unable to Cultivate


    Seeing Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s astonishment, Lin Xiaotian spoke with pride.


    ¡°You are?¡±


    Lin Xiaotian¡¯s words immediately raised doubts among Tie Shan, Mark, and Glasses.


    They had been together for several years and knew Lin Xiaotian very well. This guy should be an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    How had he suddenly become a cultivator now?


    ¡°Brother Xiaotian, you used to be only at the Yellow Rank in cultivation. Can you explain how you became a cultivator?¡± Ouyang Lingtian regained his composure and joined Tie Shan and the others in their confusion.


    ...


    ¡°Tie Shan, do you remember my previous cultivation level?¡±


    ¡°I remember, earth-rank high-level peak.¡±


    ¡°Right, a few days ago I was still at the Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, but then I discarded my cultivation power and started cultivating nature¡¯s spiritual energy, so naturally, I became a cultivator,¡± Lin Xiaotian asserted proudly.


    Apart from Xia Liu, Tie Shan and Ouyang Lingtian and the others remained puzzled.


    Even as Lin Xiaotian explained, they were still in a fog; a cultivator was something they had heard Lin Xiaotian mention as a super expert who could summon wind and rain.


    It¡¯s a higher form of practitioner than a martial artist.


    ¡°My cultivation power is not profound enough; Xia Liu, why don¡¯t you demonstrate?¡± Lin Xiaotian felt somewhat helpless. With only his few weak spirit arts, a demonstration would be simply embarrassing. Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow was powerful, but this was not the place for demonstrating it.


    Thus, Ouyang Lingtian and the others all turned their attention to Xia Liu, wanting to know what being a cultivator truly entailed!


    Whether it could indeed summon wind and rain!


    ¡°Hmm, then I¡¯ll just show a little.¡± Facing the doubtful crowd, Xia Liu slowly raised his hand.


    His palm opened, the atmosphere tensed, and an intangible yet powerful aura spread from Xia Liu.


    In the blink of an eye, a brilliant spark rose in Xia Liu¡¯s palm!


    ¡°This is!¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian and the others¡¯ pupils dilated; Xia Liu could actually create fire out of thin air.


    And they could all feel an extremely scorching aura emanating from this flame.


    A guess burst forth in their minds that if they themselves touched this flame, the outcome would be extremely dire. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn, bro that¡¯s not cool, what level of spirit art is this, why didn¡¯t you teach me?¡±


    Feeling the aura of the flame in Xia Liu¡¯s palm, Lin Xiaotian was both astonished and immediately began to complain.


    ¡°This is the Burning Entropy Flame. You wouldn¡¯t be able to cultivate it, nor could you deploy it,¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile, quenching the flame in his grasp.


    ¡°So this is a cultivator¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, the reason I called you all here is to encourage you to cultivate as well. Compared to martial artists, cultivators are far more powerful.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! What are we waiting for? Hurry up and bring out the cultivation technique!¡± Ouyang Lingtian was excited. If he could become a cultivator, his combat power would increase manyfold.


    Tie Shan, Mark, and Glasses were also invigorated to varying degrees.


    Although each of them had their own ways of cultivation, the path of a cultivator was clearly more advanced than theirs.


    Even Tie Shan could vaguely sense that becoming a cultivator might be the ultimate endpoint of the Martial Dao.


    ¡°If you want to switch to the Spirit Formula, you¡¯ll have to discard your current cultivation level. Have you all decided?¡± Xia Liu asked seriously before taking out the cultivation technique.


    ¡°Haha! If I can become a cultivator, what does my current cultivation level matter? Let it be wasted.¡±


    ¡°Mark and I have different physiques, so we might not need to discard ours. Let¡¯s see what the cultivation technique is like.¡±


    ¡°Lingtian, what about you?¡± Xia Liu understood Mark¡¯s and Glasses¡¯ physique; as for the results, it would depend on how they operated the cultivation technique.


    ¡°I, of course, have no reluctance to let go. As long as I can become a cultivator, I will release my cultivation power on the spot,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said resolutely.


    ¡°Good! Next, let Xiaotian teach you the basic cultivation technique!¡± After saying this, Xia Liu took out a piece of paper with the Immeasurable Sword Art and handed it to Ouyang Lingtian.


    Lin Xiaotian naturally would not refuse Xia Liu¡¯s command. Once Ouyang Lingtian and the others finished reading the Immeasurable Sword Art, he immediately instructed them on how to operate the Spirit Formula.


    At around 3:00 A.M., within Xia Liu¡¯s courtyard, Ouyang Lingtian, Mark, Tie Shan, and Glasses were sitting cross-legged on the ground.


    Their hands were forming seals in front of their chests. Lin Xiaotian and Xia Liu stood around, observing their changes.


    ¡°Xia Liu, have you considered one possibility?¡± Watching the different expressions on their faces, Lin Xiaotian said weakly.


    ¡°Are you suggesting that not everyone can cultivate the Immeasurable Sword Art?¡±


    ¡°Yes, like martial artists, unless one is talented, one simply cannot operate the cultivation technique.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. Without a Spirit Root, one cannot become a cultivator because without a device to check for the Spirit Root, we can only use this ancient method to see if they can become cultivators,¡± Xia Liu said worriedly.


    Xia Liu was quite anxious about this.


    Not only about these brothers present but also about Xiaoxue and the others.


    What would he do if they couldn¡¯t cultivate?


    Every time he thought about this, Xia Liu felt scared.


    He truly felt frightened, for his understanding of cultivators was also not very vast. If they really couldn¡¯t cultivate, he also didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°Hmm? Something seems off with Lingtian!¡± Just as Lin Xiaotian was about to respond to Xia Liu, he suddenly sensed a change within Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s body.


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed it; there is a conflict between the Spiritual Energy and the Inner Qi. His Inner Qi is too weak, but when confronted with the encroaching Spiritual Energy, it still tries to contend with all its might,¡± Lin Xiaotian stated.


    Xia Liu also detected the change in Ouyang Lingtian at once and quickly moved behind him.


    He then placed a palm on his back, infused with Spiritual Energy.


    Invisibly, Spiritual Energy entered Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s body, and a few seconds later, Xia Liu withdrew the Spiritual Energy. As for the Spiritual Energy transformed by Ouyang Lingtian, it was also expelled.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡± At the moment the Spiritual Energy was expelled, Ouyang Lingtian opened his eyes and exhaled deeply, ¡°Is this the Spiritual Energy of a cultivator? It¡¯s so powerful, so fearsome.¡±


    Recalling the changes within his body, Ouyang Lingtian still felt a lingering fear and at the same time, his desire to cultivate Spiritual Energy grew even stronger.


    ¡°Lingtian, gathering Spiritual Energy is only the beginning of cultivation, or rather, becoming a cultivator is just the start of another path in the Martial Dao,¡± Xia Liu advised.


    ¡°Yes, I can feel it. Once one becomes a cultivator, there are boundless prospects ahead,¡± Ouyang Lingtian agreed strongly with Xia Liu and said no more. He spread his arms wide and, reciting the Oral Formula, began to release his own Martial Dao cultivation!


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I think I am unable to cultivate¡­¡±


    ¡°Me too¡­¡±


    ¡°Same here.¡±


    Just as Ouyang Lingtian was about to release his cultivation, Mark, Glasses, and Tie Shan quietly spoke.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian exchanged glances, each seeing the bitterness in the other¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel the many light spots floating around while operating the cultivation technique? You just need to absorb those light spots into your body and then guide them to the Dantian with the Spirit Formula,¡± Ouyang Lingtian shared his recent cultivation experience.


    Tie Shan, Glasses, and Mark all shook their heads; let alone light spots, they hadn¡¯t seen a single dark spot.


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 Chapter 388 - 388 Xia Lius Worries

    Chapter 388: Chapter 388 Xia Liu¡¯s Worries


    ¡°Uh uh¡­ this can¡¯t be right, after circulating the Immeasurable Sword Art, one should be able to sense those light dots during meditation.¡±


    Faced with Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s astonishment, Tie Shan and the others still shook their heads.


    They had just circulated the Immeasurable Sword Art and felt a strong sense of frustration, an indescribable feeling.


    No matter what, they did not feel that this cultivation technique was of any use.


    ¡°Something¡¯s not right, have you fully comprehended the Spirit Formula?¡±


    ¡°Lingtian, stop it¡­¡± Seeing Ouyang Lingtian still in doubt, Xia Liu said in a low voice.


    ...


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, what¡¯s happening to us?¡±


    ¡°Could it be that we¡¯re practicing in the wrong way?¡±


    ¡°Or that we don¡¯t have the conditions to become cultivators?¡±


    Tie Shan, Mark, and Glasses began to ask, puzzled.


    ¡°Glasses, you might not be wrong, to become a cultivator, one must have a Spirit Root¡­¡±


    ¡°So, Tie Shan and the brothers don¡¯t have Spirit Roots?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, Brother Lingtian, like you, I am very lucky to have a Spirit Root; otherwise, we couldn¡¯t become cultivators.¡± Lin Xiaotian nodded in agreement with Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s words.


    Upon this revelation, the room fell silent.


    Xia Liu¡¯s expression was undoubtedly the most solemn; he not only felt sad for Tie Shan and his friends.


    He was also worried about the girls who were diligently studying the cultivation techniques.


    If they didn¡¯t have Spirit Roots, then they couldn¡¯t cultivate¡­


    ¡°Heh heh, boss, you don¡¯t need to look so worried, even if I can¡¯t become a cultivator, I am still a Mysterious Rank Peak warrior, and with a few more years of training, I could advance to become an Earth-Rank Warrior!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, boss, although Glasses and I aren¡¯t warriors, when it really comes down to it, our strength is not weaker than Tie Shan¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°I agree with Mark¡¯s statement, although we can¡¯t cultivate the techniques, our strength is undeniable.¡±


    Listening to the three¡¯s warm words, Xia Liu cracked a slight smile: ¡°I know your strength, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have called you here to protect Xiaoxue and the others.¡±


    ¡°That settles it then, there is a champion in every field, even if we can¡¯t become cultivators, cultivating our own domains to the peak is also a commendable way to live.¡±


    Tie Shan spoke straightforwardly; he didn¡¯t believe for a second that increasing his cultivation to Heaven Rank would make him any weaker than a cultivator.


    ¡°Mhm, Tie Shan is right, if Glasses and I could reach the peak of our strength, it would also be quite terrifying. Although the method of our training is different, the power is not to be underestimated.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, so boss, there¡¯s no need to worry about us, we¡¯re all doing well.¡±


    ¡°Alright, all of you, no more talking, it¡¯s time to get up, wash up, and go to sleep.¡± Lin Xiaotian didn¡¯t want Tie Shan and the others to continue.


    He could tell that at that moment, Xia Liu¡¯s heart must be feeling terribly heavy.


    Not just because his brothers could not cultivate, but also because of that deep concern he held.


    ¡°Xiaotian, I need to make a trip to the county town first, I¡¯ll leave things here to you.¡± Xia Liu turned back, smiled at everyone, and after giving his instructions, he left the courtyard.


    Watching that somewhat lonely figure, Lin Xiaotian clenched his fists tight.


    The others also felt various emotions stir inside them.


    ¡°Wait, to become a cultivator one needs to have a Spirit Root, then Fang Fei and the others¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian suddenly thought of Fang Fei and the girls he saw today, and his eyes widened in realization.


    The reason for Xia Liu¡¯s desolation could largely be due to those women.


    ¡°Brother Lingtian, let¡¯s not disturb Xia Liu these next few days; let¡¯s hope everything turns out well.¡± Lin Xiaotian patted Ouyang Lingtian on the shoulder and said earnestly.


    ¡­


    Xia Liu quietly made his way to the hotel office in Hejing.


    Originally, the girls were supposed to stay in their new house in Osmanthus Village, but because Bai Lili¡¯s lecture hall was set up in Hejing, they probably wouldn¡¯t move into their new home until they had thoroughly understood the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    In fact, they had almost grasped it; as long as they understood the first level of the Immeasurable Sword Art, the rest would be easy.


    Xia Liu gently pushed open the office door, and what he saw made him feel even heavier.


    He saw Fang Fei asleep on the sofa, hugging a notebook.


    Zhang Xiaoxue, Huang Xue, and Li Qianqian were sprawled on a rug, likewise holding notebooks in their slumber.


    Gu Fangxia and Zhang Qing had more regular sleeping postures.


    But no matter from which angle he looked, it was obvious that these girls had been studying very hard.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t want to imagine what their mental state would be like if they didn¡¯t have Spirit Roots and couldn¡¯t practice cultivation. The thought was too heartbreaking.


    He really didn¡¯t dare to think about it; that image was too painful.


    After watching for a while, Xia Liu gently adjusted the girls to more comfortable sleeping positions before leaving the room.


    Just as he was about to leave, Bai Lili emerged from a room. Seeing Xia Liu, she immediately greeted him, ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re back. Where¡¯s Xiaotian?¡±


    ¡°Xiaotian is instructing Lingtian in the practice of the Spirit Formula, and I¡¯m about to return as well.¡±


    ¡°I see, make sure you both get some rest.¡±


    ¡°By the way, junior sister, how many more days do Xiaoxue and the others need to study before they can start cultivating?¡±


    ¡°They have almost grasped the Cultivation Technique. They should be ready by dawn,¡± Bai Lili replied.


    ¡°Alright, I got it. Let¡¯s talk more at dawn.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, see you later, Brother Xia Liu.¡±


    After saying goodbye to Bai Lili, Xia Liu drove back to Osmanthus Village. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By then, Ouyang Lingtian had completely released his Inner Qi and was currently sitting cross-legged on the ground, circulating the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    Lin Xiaotian was doing the same, while the three from Tie Shan were idly sleeping on the couch, each to their own.


    Without disturbing the three, Xia Liu went out and walked towards the villa area.


    The girls hadn¡¯t started their cultivation yet, and the specifics were unknown. Everything would have to wait until dawn.


    At noon, within the opulent villa atop the cliff, Xia Liu looked out aimlessly as he called Fang Fei to have them come back home.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I believe all the sisters-in-law have Spirit Roots and can become cultivators.¡± Seeing Xia Liu so anxious, Lin Xiaotian comforted him.


    ¡°I hope so¡­¡±


    Muttering to himself, Xia Liu asked again, ¡°By the way, how is Lingtian¡¯s cultivation? To what step has he reached after abandoning his previous practice?¡±


    ¡°Qi Cultivation first level. He says he feels he can break through to the second level, but without enough Spiritual Energy, he¡¯s stuck,¡± Lin Xiaotian informed.


    ¡°Hmm, with his previous cultivation at the Mysterious Rank Peak, he might not be able to reach the second level like you, and the scarcity of nature¡¯s spiritual energy is also a problem,¡± Xia Liu nodded, thinking that if Ouyang Lingtian could consume a Spirit Grass at this critical time, maybe he could break through the bottleneck.


    ¡°The sisters-in-law are here.¡± Lin Xiaotian indicated as he saw two cars approaching from a distance.


    ¡°What¡¯s meant to come can¡¯t be avoided. Let¡¯s hope everything is alright¡­¡± Xia Liu murmured as he went forward to welcome the ladies.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! We¡¯ve all thoroughly understood the Cultivation Technique now,¡± Zhang Xiaoxue said with a beaming smile as soon as she got out of the car.


    ¡°Hehe, we¡¯re going to surprise this guy soon.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly¡­¡±


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 Chapter 389 - 389 Signs of Cultivation

    Chapter 389: Chapter 389 Signs of Cultivation


    All the women were very confident, having fully grasped the first layer of the Immeasurable Sword Art through their days of study.


    Even progressing to the second layer of cultivation wouldn¡¯t pose a problem.


    Of course, to start cultivating the second layer, they needed to reach the second level of Qi Cultivation.


    Aside from anything else, the immediate issue they faced was whether they could cultivate at all.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside first,¡± Xia Liu said with a smile. In front of the girls, he hid even his most burdensome thoughts.


    The girls had already familiarized themselves with the villa the previous day, so as soon as they entered, they immediately ran to the couch and made themselves at home.


    ...


    Without waiting for Xia Liu to organize them, each of them sat cross-legged on the couch, ready to execute the Immeasurable Sword Art at the deep recesses of their minds the moment Teacher Bai Lili instructed.


    Seeing the women¡¯s eagerness, Bai Lili turned to Xia Liu and said, ¡°Big Brother Xia Liu, why don¡¯t you lead them?¡±


    ¡°No, you go ahead; I can observe better from the side.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, Lili, don¡¯t mind us,¡± Lin Xiaotian said, knowing what was on Xia Liu¡¯s mind since he was also worried.


    If Zhang Xiaoxue and the others couldn¡¯t cultivate, it wouldn¡¯t just be them who might collapse; Xia Liu might not be able to bear it either.


    That was Lin Xiaotian¡¯s own thought; as for what Xia Liu was really thinking, only he himself could know.


    ¡°Are you all ready?¡± Bai Lili asked sternly.


    ¡°Ready at any moment!¡±


    Upon receiving their response, Bai Lili immediately shouted, ¡°Seal Forming!¡±


    At the command, the women instantly formed the Seal Technique they had rehearsed countless times, their delicate hands condensing the seal in front of their chests.


    The gestures of the six women were almost synchronized, and both Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian were somewhat surprised by this sight.


    However, they were more focused on the changes within the women¡¯s bodies and the nature¡¯s spiritual energy in the surrounding space.


    As time passed, the expressions on the women¡¯s faces also began to change.


    ¡°Wow! Those white dots of light are so beautiful, like fireflies.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Xiaoxue, do you see those dots?¡± Hearing Zhang Xiaoxue say this, Xia Liu¡¯s body trembled slightly!


    Those dots were nature¡¯s spiritual energy; Zhang Xiaoxue being able to see them meant she had a Spirit Root and could cultivate!


    ¡°Eh, Xiaoxue, you saw those dots too? I felt them too; they disappear the moment they touch the body and then it feels warm inside,¡± said Li Qianqian as she opened her eyes in confusion.


    ¡°I felt the same; those dots disappeared the moment they touched me.¡±


    ¡°Such a pity, those beautiful dots just vanish upon contact,¡± sighed both Huang Xue and Zhang Qing following suit.


    ¡°That¡¯s four!¡± Hearing Zhang Xiaoxue, Li Qianqian, Huang Xue, and Zhang Qing say this, Xia Liu¡¯s palms trembled even more fiercely.


    They weren¡¯t just meditating on the spiritual energy; they were absorbing it into their bodies.


    This was a sign of official cultivation!!!


    So now, only Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia were left.


    Lin Xiaotian and Xia Liu simultaneously focused their attention on Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia.


    If these two could successfully gather nature¡¯s spiritual energy, then they could let go of all their concerns!


    ¡°Phew! I thought I wouldn¡¯t see the dots, but finally, there they are.¡± Gu Fangxia also opened her beautiful eyes a few minutes later; she had heard her sisters talking about seeing light dots.


    She hadn¡¯t seen any at first, but after focusing intently, she finally did.


    ¡°Hehe, now it¡¯s just Sister Fang left!¡± Xia Liu laughed joyfully; five out of six sisters having Spirit Roots was truly like finding a needle in a haystack.


    And he had actually encountered it. Now all eyes were on Fang Fei.


    Before long, Fang Fei also opened her eyes, but her face showed little emotion.


    ¡°Sister Fang, did you see any light spots?¡± Xia Li immediately asked upon seeing Fang Fei ending her cultivation.


    Fang Fei¡¯s face gradually turned troubled, she somewhat didn¡¯t know how to answer. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Sister Fang, you¡¯ve got to tell us, we all saw them.¡±


    ¡°Xiaotian said it¡¯s a symbol that we can cultivate.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sister Fang, please tell us if you saw them.¡± Xia Liu became anxious. It was all down to Fang Fei now; if she didn¡¯t have a Spirit Root, then everything would have been in vain.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see them.¡± Facing everyone¡¯s eager expressions, Fang Fei weakly replied.


    This announcement abruptly made Xia Liu¡¯s pupils shrink.


    Xiaotian was also slightly shocked.


    The girls present also became gloomy.


    ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t see them clearly because they kept flashing and moving onto my body, then they just disappeared.¡±


    Seeing the disturbed looks on everyone¡¯s faces, Fang Fei hurriedly explained.


    ¡°Uh¡­ uh¡­ uh¡­¡± Xia Liu was immediately astonished.


    It turned out that the light spots moved so quickly, Fang Fei couldn¡¯t see them clearly!


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ We can relax now.¡± Xiaotian regained his composure and laughed heartily. With this, Xia Liu didn¡¯t need to worry anymore; his woman could indeed cultivate!


    ¡°Phew, Sister Fang, don¡¯t scare us anymore; we thought you couldn¡¯t cultivate.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Sister Fang, you just scared us all. Brother Xia Liu, you decide what to do, you must punish Sister Fang severely.¡±


    Seeing that the women were against her, Fang Fei repeatedly apologized, ¡°I was wrong, it was all because the light spots moved too fast, yeah! It¡¯s all the light spots¡¯ fault.¡±


    ¡°The speed at which your body absorbs nature¡¯s spiritual energy is very fast; this indicates that your talent is very good, and your future cultivation speed will definitely be very fast!¡± Xiaotian thought it over and then was suddenly astounded.


    ¡°Right, Sister Fang absorbs spiritual energy quickly, so her advancement in the future will definitely be faster than us, I¡¯m so envious.¡± Bai Lili¡¯s eyes sparkled intensely.


    She was previously a Martial Artist and deeply understood the importance of talent to a cultivator.


    If the talent isn¡¯t strong, advancing to Yellow-Rank might take ten years.


    If the cultivation talent is extraordinary, while others advance to Yellow-Rank, this person might have already jumped to Mysterious Rank or even Earth Rank.


    ¡°Ah, it seems that¡¯s the way it is, Sister Fang, protect us!¡±


    ¡°Sister Fang, quickly share some of your talent with us!¡±


    Hearing Bai Lili¡¯s analysis, all the women became excited.


    ¡°Haha! Everyone just play at home for now, I¡¯m going to cook myself shortly!¡±


    With that, Xia Liu took Xiaotian and headed out.


    He needed to vent his exciting emotions and, of course, to celebrate that all the women had succeeded in their cultivation; he decided to cook a meal himself.


    In the afternoon, Xia Liu acted as the head chef and Xiaotian as the assistant; the two busied themselves together in the kitchen.


    It wasn¡¯t even fully dark yet when Xia Liu had already prepared the dishes.


    Before they started the meal, Xia Liu had Xiaotian go to his stone house to call Lingtian and Tie Shan over for dinner.


    In the end, Xiaotian came back alone.


    After finding out, Xia Liu then knew that Lingtian had gone mad with cultivation after advancing to the first level of Qi Cultivation.


    He had already thoroughly felt the power of a cultivator, seeing that he was about to break through to the second level of Qi Cultivation, there was no way he would waste time.


    The fact that nature¡¯s spiritual energy was scarce was frustrating, not only hindering Lingtian but also giving Xia Liu a headache¡­


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 Chapter 390 - 390: Difficult Problem

    Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Difficult Problem


    After the meal, Xia Liu handed over a key to Lin Xiaotian.


    With fifty villas constructed, the village folks couldn¡¯t occupy them all, and there were still unoccupied ones reserved for Gu Fangxia and Zhang Xiaoxue.


    After Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili left, Xia Liu¡¯s villa immediately turned into a battlefield.


    Any place, any girl, as long as Xia Liu caught them, it would result in a battle to the point of exhaustion.


    Xia Liu was very happy today, because the girls all possessed Spirit Roots.


    The girls were even happier than Xia Liu, because from now on, they could have the power to protect themselves.


    ...


    This ordeal lasted until three or four in the morning.


    From the next day on, the girls split into two groups, three in each.


    Whenever there were group matters to deal with, they would alternate, with one group heading out while the other stayed in the villa to cultivate.


    This routine continued for ten days, then a problem occurred.


    Although they could absorb Spiritual Energy, no one managed to break through and advance to the first level of Qi Cultivation.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what is going on?¡± Fang Fei was almost in tears, being the most talented among them.


    In ten days, she absorbed more Spiritual Energy than the other girls, but still couldn¡¯t break through.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, we still can¡¯t break through to the first level of Qi Cultivation.¡±


    ¡°Are we possibly cultivating in the wrong posture?¡±


    Along with Fang Fei, Huang Xue and Gu Fangxia were also distressed.


    They had initially thought they could absorb nature¡¯s spiritual energy and rapidly increase their strength.


    But nothing had changed from before, which felt like a zoo-like uproar.


    ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic, the path of cultivation isn¡¯t as easy as imagined, Cultivation naturally progresses step by step,¡± Bai Lili consoled when she saw the sorrow in the trio.


    ¡°Lili, Xia Liu said that you have already advanced to the first level of Qi Cultivation, but we can¡¯t even touch the edge of the first level.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s frustrating!¡±


    Fang Fei and Huang Xue said with downcast faces.


    ¡°Sisters, Lili had been practicing for ten years with a Martial Artist¡¯s rank as her foundation, which allowed her to quickly reach the first level of Qi Cultivation on her first try,¡± Lin Xiaotian said bitterly.


    ¡°Oh, at this rate, when will we ever advance to the first level of Qi Cultivation?¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t reach the first level of Qi Cultivation, we won¡¯t have the strength, and we¡¯ll still need protection.¡±


    ¡°No, I need to cultivate harder, I must reach the first level of Qi Cultivation!¡±


    ¡°Right! We must reach the first level of Qi Cultivation!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t hold Xia Liu back any longer!¡±


    ¡­


    Seeing the determination in the faces of the three women, Xia Liu felt a heartache.


    If possible, he truly wished to transfer his own Cultivation Power to them, letting them advance directly.


    Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t possess that ability.


    Ding dong¡­


    Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, the doorbell rang.


    Lin Xiaotian immediately went to open the door, and surprisingly, it was Ouyang Lingtian looking quite sorrowful.


    ¡°Lingtian, what brings you here?¡±


    When Xia Liu saw Ouyang Lingtian, he immediately asked him, for he remembered that Lingtian had entered the mountains a few days ago, saying that the concentration of Spiritual Energy was greater in the depths, and that cultivating there might enable him to break through to a higher level.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it, I just fed the mosquitoes for a few days, and my cultivation hasn¡¯t shown the slightest change.¡± Ouyang Lingtian appeared helpless, unable to break through to the nearby rank no matter how he absorbed the Spiritual Energy.


    It was truly infuriating, but all these things couldn¡¯t be forced, with nature¡¯s spiritual energy being so scarce.


    ¡°Young Master Ouyang, at least you¡¯ve also advanced to the first level of Qi Cultivation, we few can¡¯t even touch the edge.¡± Seeing Ouyang Lingtian complain, Fang Fei really wanted to hit him over the head.


    ¡°What? None of you have advanced either?¡± Ouyang Lingtian was surprised, he thought Fang Fei and the others had advanced, which was why they came to seek help from Xia Liu.


    ¡°No, can¡¯t even find the door.¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, do you have any way to help us all improve, even just a little bit would be enough.¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian looked expectantly at Xia Liu, feeling that today he might receive a satisfactory answer from him.


    Everyone else also looked towards Xia Liu; he had procured the cultivation technique and was also a pioneer, although they did not know his exact cultivation level.


    But his rank must be very high, given his age here. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wouldn¡¯t be possible to have advanced through normal absorption of Spiritual Energy, so he must have some special methods to enhance himself.


    Facing everyone¡¯s gaze, Xia Liu was silent for a while then said, ¡°There is a way, however¡­¡±


    ¡°However nothing! Hurry up and spit it out!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, hurry up and say it!¡±


    ¡°Quick, say it!¡±


    Before Xia Liu could finish, Fang Fei, Huang Xue, and Gu Fangxia were already excited.


    Had they known earlier, they would have pestered for it days ago.


    ¡°Haha! I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong in finding you, come on, let¡¯s do it!¡± Ouyang Lingtian also broke into laughter.


    It was not just them; even Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili expected to different degrees.


    Because the two of them were also blocked by the current barrier.


    They felt that just a bit more help might advance them a rank.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited, this method is very rare.¡± Xia Liu said with a bitter smile.


    ¡°Are you talking about Spirit Grass?¡± Lin Xiaotian was the first to react, Xia Liu had once spoken to him about it.


    Grown in places where Spiritual Energy is rich and nourished by the essence of the sun and the moon, after a long growth period, it can become Spirit Grass.


    ¡°Yes, Spirit Grass can indeed enhance cultivation levels, but without some luck, you might not even find a leaf of it.¡± Xia Liu felt helpless, as he had been searching for ways to enhance himself since he began cultivating.


    Among those, he had indeed encountered Spirit Grass, but it was far too rare.


    On one occasion, he even mistakenly consumed a Spirit Grass, which caused latent issues in his body.


    ¡°Is this Spirit Grass so precious? Don¡¯t they sell it in dispensaries?¡± Huang Xue asked with wide eyes.


    ¡°Xue¡¯er, you¡¯re really cute, if dispensaries had it, Xia Liu would have already bought us a house full of Spirit Grass,¡± Fang Fei retorted with a dismissive glance at Huang Xue.


    Ouyang Lingtian thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Although this Spirit Grass is rare, I think there must still be many in the world, is there any clue where to find them?¡±


    Xia Liu shook his head. If there were any clues, he would have set off already, instead of waiting until now.


    ¡°Ah! Doesn¡¯t that mean we have no chance of advancing?¡±


    ¡°No way! I want to break through to the first level of Qi Cultivation!¡±


    ¡°Lili, is there any Spirit Grass in the Immeasurable Sect?¡± Suddenly, Fang Fei remembered Bai Lili¡¯s background and immediately asked.


    Xia Liu also had a sudden inspiration, ¡°Right, junior sister, isn¡¯t there a Medicine Hall established inside the Immeasurable Sect, and are there any herbs with an unusual aura?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, the Sect Medicine Hall mostly stores healing medicine, and the herbs that can enhance cultivation levels exist only in the records.¡± Bai Lili shook her head, she got to know about the distribution in the Medicine Hall while she was being idle as a Barrier Guardian.


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 Chapter 391 - 391 The Solution

    Chapter 391: Chapter 391 The Solution


    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s indeed the case. Once, I too considered using external items to enhance my cultivation, only to end up staring blankly at the tomes detailing herbs.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian recalled those days of frenzied cultivation and couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional.


    ¡°Sigh, if that¡¯s the case, we can only resign ourselves to absorbing energy peacefully.¡± Fang Fei shook her head helplessly. Even if there were methods to advance quickly, they were useless to her¡ªit was helplessness through and through.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen records of those herbs that can boost cultivation. I¡¯ve been inquiring about them over the years, perhaps you can find them at the Warrior Traders Guild.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Where is the Warrior Traders Guild located?¡± Xia Liu¡¯s interest was piqued when he heard Ouyang Lingtian mention it.


    Martial artists, like common people, have their own marketplaces where they can purchase items of use to them.


    ...


    Perhaps the Spirit Grass could also be found at the Warrior Traders Guild.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about the nearby cities, but I do know there¡¯s one in the suburbs of Yanjing,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said after some thought.


    ¡°No matter where it is, let¡¯s go take a look. There might be something to gain.¡±


    ¡°Now is not the right time; the marketplace is quite ordinary and only becomes grand at the end of the month,¡± Ouyang Lingtian explained, shaking his head.


    ¡°Hmm, what do you mean?¡± Everyone turned their gaze to Ouyang Lingtian.


    This was the key to making a breakthrough to the first level of Qi Cultivation. They all listened intently, believing if they could purchase the Spirit Grass¡ª


    ¡ªthey all believed they could certainly advance to the next level.


    ¡°During normal times, the guild only sells things like swords and armor. Things like herbs only appear during the auction segment at the end of the month.¡±


    ¡°An auction segment? Doesn¡¯t that mean many martial artists will be there?¡± Lin Xiaotian asked inquisitively.


    ¡°Yes, my master and I have been there once, and we encountered High-Rank martial artists. It took me several days to recover and come to my senses after we returned.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Recalling the scene at the auction he attended years ago, Ouyang Lingtian still felt a lingering fear when he talked about it.


    ¡°Did you encounter a Heaven-Rank warrior?¡± Xia Liu inquired.


    ¡°No, the most common were Earth-Rank Warriors, and there were at least a hundred of them.¡±


    ¡°A hundred Peak Earth-Rank Warriors?¡± This time it was Lin Xiaotian¡¯s turn to be surprised.


    ¡°Brother Xiaotian, do you think Peak Earth-Rank Warriors are as common as cabbages and turnips¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s mouth twitched slightly; what kind of question was that?


    ¡°What¡¯s there to panic about? Back in the day, even against Peak Earth-Rank, I had the strength to fight, but now, well¡­¡±


    Lin Xiaotian didn¡¯t dare to make any promises now, as he still didn¡¯t understand the full extent of his own power.


    Sometimes he felt like he was the greatest under the heavens.


    But at other times, he would mistakenly believe that Earth-Rank warriors were invincible.


    All these issues stemmed from his level of cultivation. If Lin Xiaotian¡¯s store of Spiritual Energy was immense, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have such thoughts.


    ¡°When does the auction take place?¡± Having confirmed there were no Heaven-Rank warriors, Xia Liu had no more concerns; he only wanted to know when the auction would be.


    ¡°If it¡¯s this month, it should be in eight days,¡± Ouyang Lingtian calculated and said.


    ¡°Good, then you¡¯ll take me there when the time comes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Xia Liu will surely be able to buy us the Spirit Grass!¡± Huang Xue said excitedly.


    ¡°Definitely, with Xia Liu taking action, success is assured.¡±


    ¡°I believe in Xia Liu¡¯s ability.¡±


    Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia also nodded and expressed their admiration.


    ¡°Haha, before we go, I must say, Spirit Grass, which can enhance a cultivator¡¯s cultivation, will certainly be greatly beneficial to martial artists as well¡­¡±


    In the end, Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t continue. He knew that a powerhouse of Xia Liu¡¯s caliber would understand the implications.


    ¡°Competing with a bunch of Earth-Rank Warriors, huh¡­¡± Xia Liu murmured to himself, ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to it!¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, won¡¯t that be very dangerous?¡± Fang Fei asked, somewhat concerned.


    Xia Liu shook his head. Earth-Rank Warriors were nothing to him, especially given his experiences over the recent period.


    ¡°Sister, rest assured, Earth-Rank Warriors are like grasshoppers that Xia Liu can easily crush with his hand.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen brother Xia Liu¡¯s methods. Even my father, with his Peak Earth-Rank cultivation, is no match for him.¡± Even though that martial combat did not conclude with a clear victor.


    But seeing Xia Liu completely obliterate Song Jie with a single palm strike, that kind of power left no doubt that even her own father would stand no chance against him.


    ¡°Alright, then with a few days left, we should prepare more.¡± Fang Fei nodded, her worries finally eased.


    ¡°Yes, we should prepare well. After all, the items at the auction are not just expensive, they are prohibitively expensive!¡± Ouyang Lingtian added.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Everyone exclaimed in surprise. Ouyang Lingtian was the successor of the Liu Hai Ouyang family and if even he found them expensive, then the prices must be truly terrifying.


    ¡°Just a common Mysterious Grade sword can provoke Earth-Rank Warriors to compete, and the final auction price is usually around five billion Huaxia currency.¡±


    ¡°Holy shit! Even though I don¡¯t see money as money, that¡¯s just too scary.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Mysterious Grade swords, regarded as Mid-Level weapons, were something he had encountered before, but he couldn¡¯t imagine them selling for such a price.


    ¡°Five billion! That¡¯s way too expensive!¡±


    The clueless Fang Fei and others were astonished. Five billion could support a moderately wealthy family for generations, even if they spent extravagantly.


    Even now, as they were busy earning money in the company, it would require a significant amount of time and effort to earn five billion Huaxia currency.


    Seeing that the others didn¡¯t understand the significance of the weapons, Ouyang Lingtian explained warmly, ¡°The price is justified. Above Mysterious Grade is Earth Grade, and Earth-Grade weapons are very rare. If one appears, it might make Earth-Rank Warriors fight to the death. It¡¯s bloody in the Jianghu World.¡±


    Warriors categorize their weapons into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow; and like martial arts skills, each is subdivided into three minor ranks.


    If Yellow-Rank Martial Artists use Yellow-Grade or higher-ranked weapons in combat and can coordinate them skillfully with their own strength, they can certainly fight beyond their ranks.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve never used one so I won¡¯t comment,¡± Lin Xiaotian said helplessly as he shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Anyway, we don¡¯t need swords and such. I will find better things for you when the chance comes.¡± As a cultivator, Xia Liu knew what cultivators needed. The items used by martial artists, though not entirely irrelevant to cultivators, had limited effect and could be neglected.


    ¡°Sure, but even weapons are so expensive now. If there really is Spirit Grass, the price will certainly be terrifying. Let¡¯s calculate our finances at the group these next few days, to see how much we can afford.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, thanks Sister Fang. It¡¯s alright if we don¡¯t have enough. I have a feeling that this trip will result in many gifts coming our way,¡± Xia Liu replied with a grateful smile in response to Fang Fei¡¯s kindness.


    ¡°Gifts? Hopefully, we don¡¯t offend those Earth-Rank Warriors and end up being robbed instead,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said, shaking his head resignedly.


    ¡°Hahaha! I too have a feeling we will be receiving quite a few gifts,¡± Lin Xiaotian laughed, unlike Ouyang Lingtian, he was quite cheerful.


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 Chapter 392 - 392: The Trading Firm [Part 1]

    Chapter 392: Chapter 392: The Trading Firm [Part 1]


    Facing Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian¡¯s laughter, Ouyang Lingtian felt a chill run down his spine, and the bone-piercing cold made him shiver.


    In the days leading up to the auction, Xia Liu redeployed his plans.


    Tie Shan and Glasses continued to protect in secret, while Mark transformed into the head of security, responsible for the group¡¯s internal security operations.


    The close protection of the girls fell to Bai Lili.


    Since Bai Lili also wanted to integrate more quickly into the world outside Immeasurable Island, she learned to work alongside the other ladies.


    She was now at the primary level of Qi Cultivation, practicing Spirit Arts every night after dual cultivating with Lin Xiaotian.


    ...


    Bai Lili¡¯s current strength could be said to be extremely formidable.


    If she had to compare herself with warriors, she firmly believed that if she went all out, she could definitely kill an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior.


    As Earth-Rank Warriors weren¡¯t very common, having Bai Lili personally protect Fang Fei and the others was enough.


    Of course, Lin Xiaotian would also coordinate from the outside.


    That¡¯s right, Xia Liu left him in Hejing.


    No matter how much Lin Xiaotian pestered Xia Liu, he didn¡¯t bring him along.


    On one hand, it was a consideration of the girls¡¯ safety; not leaving a super expert here made people feel uneasy.


    On top of that, for this trip to Yanjing, Xia Liu had a vague feeling that something might happen.


    And since Lin Xiaotian was willing to entrust his life to him, Xia Liu absolutely couldn¡¯t allow him to take the risk.


    Taking advantage of the time left, Ouyang Lingtian clung to Xia Liu, asking him to personally instruct in the practice of Spirit Arts.


    Unfortunately, Ouyang Lingtian was only at the primary level of Qi Cultivation, and his storage of Spiritual Energy was not abundant.


    He practiced Spirit Arts for a few hours every day, with the remaining time spent absorbing nature¡¯s spiritual energy to recover.


    After five days of hard work, Ouyang Lingtian had indeed become promising; he had mastered the essence of the Immeasurable Sword Art.


    At this moment, he could even vaguely condense Sword Intent, and he believed that once he broke through to the second level of Qi Cultivation, he would be able to condense Sword Qi to injure the enemy.


    As for the other technique, Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow created by Lin Xiaotian, Ouyang Lingtian also learned it, but unfortunately, the technique was too complex, and its moves were based on the Energy Break Cloud of the Immeasurable Sect, so he didn¡¯t master it immediately.


    But he believed it wouldn¡¯t take much time before he could perform Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow.


    What pleased Xia Liu the most was that Ouyang Lingtian had practiced the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm taught to him before leaving the Heaven Slaying Base to the Combat Rotation Stellar Shift Technique.


    If he persevered for a month or so, Xia Liu felt that the guy could perform the Taiyi Ultimate Style, the Limitless Technique.


    Five days allowed Ouyang Lingtian to progress quite a bit in the aspect of Spirit Arts, but unfortunately, his foundational cultivation level remained the same.


    On the other hand, the girls had also tallied the liquid assets they could utilize.


    Eight billion Huaxia currency.


    This was the amount of liquid assets the Osmanthus Group could have after accounting for all possible contingencies.


    In response to this, Xia Liu was not shy because an auction is precisely where money is needed.


    Eight billion Huaxia currency, as Ouyang Lingtian would say, would probably be just enough to rank at the bottom at the auction site, and it was embarrassing to admit having such an amount to others.


    Xia Liu was very satisfied with the money, as it was better than going empty-handed and having some face to save.


    Finally, after settling everything, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian boarded a plane to Yanjing City.


    The early morning was cold, and a desolate autumn wind blew, bringing a chilling pleasure to the two people walking in the night.


    ¡°Xia Liu, there are two days left until the auction opens. If we don¡¯t find Spirit Grass then, do we have any other chances?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the world is so big that as long as we keep running, opportunities will come our way, and we will be able to encounter Spirit Grass.¡±


    ¡°Pfft! What¡¯s the difference between that and saying nothing?¡± Ouyang Lingtian almost stumbled and fell.


    ¡°You asked, so of course I have to answer,¡± Xia Liu said with a helpless, bitter smile.


    If opportunities were everywhere, he wouldn¡¯t be in such pain, and the remaining two Spirit Stabilizing Needles in his body would have been removed.


    After all, having two metal-like substances embedded in one¡¯s body was an uncomfortable feeling that only the person experiencing it could understand.


    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll just prepare well in these two days.¡± After stifling his lament, Ouyang Lingtian waved down a taxi.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to prepare for, just wait for the time to come.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go back and rest up. Tomorrow I¡¯ll take you to see the place.¡± Ouyang Lingtian could only be resigned to Xia Liu¡¯s unfathomable strength. Let this guy do as he wishes, as long as he can get his hands on the Spirit Grass, that¡¯s all that matters.


    As the taxi came to a stop, Ouyang Lingtian led Xia Liu into a villa district.


    This location could be considered part of Yanjing City¡¯s downtown area.


    Standing at the doorstep, one could see the bustling and lively downtown area of Yanjing City.


    ¡°Lingtian, your family really is rich. A villa in a place like this must cost a few hundred million, right?¡± Xia Liu spoke enviously as he looked at the spacious and lavishly decorated European-style villa.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that, I never paid attention to it.¡±


    ¡°Damn! You¡¯re really clueless. While you¡¯re still young, you should start squandering your family¡¯s fortune. Otherwise, you¡¯ll regret it when you¡¯re too old to enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not like you. What I¡¯m pursuing is the ultimate path of the Martial Dao!¡± Ouyang Lingtian glanced at Xia Liu before leading him into a room and instructing him before leaving.


    Facing the unfamiliar room, Xia Liu washed up and went to bed without any hesitation.


    Right now, he was only interested in the Warriors Traders Guild, hoping for a surprise tomorrow.


    The next day at noon, Ouyang Lingtian drove Xia Liu towards an auction for martial artists situated in the suburbs.


    When the car entered an industrial area, Xia Liu became puzzled. Could it be that the famed Warrior Traders Guild was actually inside an industrial zone?


    A few minutes later, he was completely baffled. Ouyang Lingtian parked the car in an inner-city parking lot surrounded by luxury cars, no doubt.


    But what on earth was this environment?


    It looked just like a large, ordinary electronics processing plant.


    And no matter how you looked at it, their destination seemed to just be a workshop of a factory.


    If Ouyang Lingtian hadn¡¯t repeatedly introduced it as the trading hall, Xia Liu would have never believed it.


    Xia Liu had managed many places abroad, like an Assassins Guild branch located in an extremely dilapidated area.


    But that was the Assassins Guild, inherently shrouded in darkness.


    Huaxia Warriors, on the other hand, were supposed to be upright and blatantly arrogant.


    For the trading hall to be in such an environment was truly a bit frightening.


    At the entrance of the workshop-like main gateway, two Mysterious Rank Warriors were intently focusing on their guard duties.


    Seeing someone approaching, both guards immediately swept their gaze over.


    After just one glance, they returned to their original positions, as their main job was to keep ordinary people out of this place.


    Identifying a cultivator had become a skill for them, one glance was enough to determine whether a person was a cultivator or not.


    Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t greet them, and went straight through the main gate.


    There was another smaller door after the main gate; pushing it open would lead to the Warrior Traders Guild.


    As Ouyang Lingtian pushed open the small door, Xia Liu hadn¡¯t yet seen the people or objects inside when he was greeted by numerous chaotic sounds. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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 Chapter 393 - 393 Transaction Row [Part 2]

    Chapter 393: Chapter 393 Transaction Row [Part 2]


    As he entered through the main entrance, Xia Liu scanned the entire venue.


    The Warrior Traders Guild somewhat resembled certain upscale commercial districts, with well-maintained storefronts and merchandise displayed at the entrance.


    Golden floors and bright lights, everything that met the eye was so luxuriously unpretentious.


    It was this place, resembling a workshop on the outside but akin to a luxurious commercial district on the inside, that couldn¡¯t help but evoke admiration.


    ¡°Elder, this Xuanyuan Sword is a treasure passed down from my ancestors. If you purchase it, you will definitely advance three levels undefeated!¡±


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re going to blow the horns off a bull with that claim.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Elder, I feel a destiny between us, which is why I brought out this treasure of the store. Normally, it¡¯s always cherished inside a brocade box.¡±


    ¡°Elder, let me introduce you to this blade. It was the sect-guarding blade of Lingxiao Sect a thousand years ago, it slices through iron as if it were mud and cuts through waist without drawing blood. For just ten billion, you can take it away.¡±


    ¡­


    Walking along the spacious streets, there were always many jumbled sounds reaching one¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Because of the monthly auction, many martial artists gather here, so you could say these few days are the busiest for the trading hall,¡± Ouyang Lingtian detailed carefully.


    ¡°Hmm, understood.¡± Xia Liu had also been wondering why there were so many martial artists in this place.


    He quickly realized that the start of the auction must have attracted countless martial artists.


    But the martial artists currently wandering within the trading hall were mostly of Mysterious Rank, and even some of Yellow-Rank.


    Some martial artists were in groups of three or five, all wearing the same sect uniforms.


    There were also some young Low-Rank Warriors accompanied by High-Rank Martial Artists, clearly indicating they were young masters from certain families.


    From this, one could see how attractive the monthly auction was.


    Xia Liu roughly estimated that the trading hall covered about fifty acres, with the shops at the front occupying about thirty acres.


    All kinds of dazzling stores.


    However, those with cultivation reaching Mysterious Rank and above could tell at a glance whether the shops had what they needed.


    Though there were many goods, those truly worth noticing were frighteningly scarce.


    Even more horrifying, Xia Liu saw a store selling dolls in some area.


    This was truly terrifying; indeed, in the Warrior Traders Guild established within the Secular World, one could purchase anything.


    ¡°The auction hall is set up at the end of these shops. On the day it opens, we can drive straight there from outside. Today, I just brought you here to check out the regular shops.¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s continued wry smile, Ouyang Lingtian explained leisurely.


    ¡°Not bad, this place is great. I¡¯ll see if I should buy some premium items to take back for the ladies.¡±


    ¡°Could you consider my feelings?¡± Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s face could hardly maintain composure.


    He clearly knew he was still single, yet he was repeatedly provoked. Was this trying to make him resort to desperation?


    ¡°My bad, my bad¡­¡± Xia Liu continuously waved his hands, smiling bitterly.


    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Young Master Ouyang? The auction hasn¡¯t started yet; how come you have time to wander around here?¡±


    Just as Xia Liu was thinking about what gift to choose, suddenly a delicate voice reached his ears.


    He looked up and saw a woman standing about three meters ahead.


    She was dressed in a purple cheongsam, her delicate feet unabashedly exposed to the air.


    Three thousand cascades of purple hair fell to the back of her neck, her large eyes slightly fierce as they faced forward.


    Xia Liu sized her up a bit, this girl appeared to be in her late twenties, with a supreme-grade figure, behind her was an antiqued tea house, with wafts of tea fragrance carried out by the breeze.


    ¡°Boss Ye, it¡¯s been a long time, thank you for remembering me,¡± Ouyang Lingtian regained his senses and immediately responded with a delighted smile.


    ¡°Of course I remember you, you¡¯re so robust and handsome, and have such high-strength cultivation. It would be my loss not to remember you,¡± Ye Xuan said, hands clasped behind her back, head lowered in a shy manner.


    ¡­


    Xia Liu was somewhat stunned. Could it be that this beautiful lady had taken a liking to Ouyang Lingtian?


    ¡°Heh, Boss Ye, you really love to joke. With the auction about to start, I brought a friend along for a visit today.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a friend, do come inside and sit,¡± Ye Xuan said as she stepped forward, attempting to grab Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be right in,¡± said Ouyang Lingtian, stepping back slightly to avoid Ye Xuan¡¯s initiative.


    Ye Xuan didn¡¯t say anything to this, she simply giggled and led the way into the tea house: ¡°Then I¡¯ll go ahead and get some fine tea ready, you and your friend hurry up and come on up.¡±


    ¡°Hey Lingtian? this beauty is absolutely supreme-grade, you must have wooed her before,¡± Xia Liu said, patting Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s shoulder as he watched Ye Xuan enter the door.


    ¡°Shh¡­ Don¡¯t joke about that,¡± said Ouyang Lingtian. ¡°This woman is the boss of this Warrior Traders Guild, and the power behind her is terrifyingly outrageous. Don¡¯t let her hear you say that, or you¡¯re done for.¡±


    Hearing that, Xia Liu took it lightly, as Ouyang Lingtian bristled, having witnessed it firsthand.


    Once, an Earth-Rank Warrior caused trouble in the tea house and was taken outside and beaten half to death, his cultivation reduced to Mysterious Rank.


    ¡°Heh, I said it was a joke. With her relationship to you, I definitely won¡¯t have any issues,¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true, I don¡¯t even know what she¡¯s really thinking,¡± remembered Ouyang Lingtian, still bewildered by his encounters with Ye Xuan.


    ¡°Alright, this isn¡¯t the place to ask for details, but I must remind you, this woman is very complicated. If you can charm her, just go ahead; it will be tremendously advantageous for you.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s scalp went numb. He had already warned him, yet he still dared to speak in such a manner. If Ye Xuan heard it¡­


    He could guarantee that Xia Liu would definitely be dragged out by at least ten Earth-Rank Warriors and beaten brutally.


    ¡°Young Master Ouyang, handsome fellow, the tea is ready, come on up,¡± Ye Xuan called out from a window on the second floor of the tea house.


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll be right there,¡± Xia Liu responded warmly.


    ¡°Xia Liu, don¡¯t talk nonsense upstairs, otherwise I can¡¯t save you,¡± Ouyang Lingtian warned before going up the stairs.


    ¡°Got it, just take care of yourself,¡± Xia Liu responded irritably.


    He was somewhat afraid of Ouyang Lingtian. Did this guy like men more? Considering someone like Ye Xuan, who came from a powerful background and had obscure, high-level cultivation that even he couldn¡¯t understand, and yet Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t make a move. It was indeed terrifying.


    ¡°This handsome guy, I¡¯m Ye Xuan, what¡¯s your name?¡± At the warm tea table, Ye Xuan smiled brightly.


    ¡°Xia Liu, the bodyguard and enforcer of Young Master Ouyang,¡± said Xia Liu with a knowing smile.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it, you two feel more like brothers. But in comparison, Young Master Ouyang is just a bit handsomer than you.¡±


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 Chapter 394 - 394 News

    Chapter 394: Chapter 394 News


    ¡°Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, don¡¯t talk nonsense. Boss Ye holds a very distinguished status. How could someone like me, a primary-level warrior, be with her¡­¡±


    ¡°Young Master Ouyang, Xia Liu is right. In my heart, you are better than anyone else.¡± Before Ouyang Lingtian could finish speaking, Ye Xuan interrupted him.


    ¡°Heh, Boss Ye, you flatter me.¡± Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t say anything more; he picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and turned his gaze out of the window.


    Xia Liu shook his head with a bitter smile. This guy is a fool. A woman like Ye Xuan, no matter her status, is such an initiator. Not accepting her is simply idiotic.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯re here to participate in the auction, aren¡¯t you?¡± Seeing that Ouyang Lingtian wasn¡¯t paying attention to her, Ye Xuan shifted her focus to Xia Liu.


    ...


    ¡°Yes, I need some things, so I thought I¡¯d try my luck.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I happen to be one of the administrators of the auction. If you have any items you wish to consign, you can show them to me. If they are valuable, they can be put up for auction.¡±


    ¡°Hm? It works like that?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Boss Ye has always been the host of the auction. Any useless cultivation techniques or martial arts skills can be brought in. If they are valuable, they can be auctioned off.¡± As he spoke, Ouyang Lingtian chimed in.


    After thinking for a moment, Xia Liu said, ¡°I don¡¯t have that for now. However, I would like to ask Boss Ye if there are any herbs in the items up for this auction?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss Ye, my friend here is here for the herbs. Could you possibly reveal some information in advance?¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian was also a bit excited because he too needed spirit grass to enhance his cultivation.


    ¡°Young Master Ouyang, I feel it¡¯s not your friend who needs it, but you who does.¡±


    ¡°Uh, I indeed need it.¡± Ouyang Lingtian couldn¡¯t deny it; Ye Xuan was better than anyone when it came to reading people. Lying in front of her was simply courting death.


    ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t need to ask. As long as you agree to join the trading company, I can provide the herbs you need for free.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that later. For now, please reveal some news, Boss Ye.¡± Ouyang Lingtian refused somewhat awkwardly.


    Every time he encountered Ye Xuan, she would pull him to join the trading company. Over the years, he had become numb to this issue.


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll reveal some information. This time there will be herbs at the auction, specifically the very precious Condensing Energy Grass.¡±


    ¡°Condensing Energy Grass!¡±


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other¡¯s eyes at that moment.


    Because the Condensing Energy Grass was a precious herb recorded in the ancient texts that could enhance a martial artist¡¯s Inner Qi!


    However, there was a catch; the Condensing Energy Grass was only effective for Yellow-Rank martial artists, and it also depended on luck.


    If lucky, a Yellow-Rank Primary Level warrior could possibly advance to the Yellow-Rank Mid Level.


    But if one was unlucky, not only would there be no advancement, there could even be a risk of internal injury from the medicine¡¯s backlash.


    In any case, the Condensing Energy Grass was considered a rather peculiar herb in the Warrior Realm.


    ¡°I suppose you both already know about the Condensing Energy Grass, so I won¡¯t introduce it. This time there are a total of ten fresh strands of Condensing Energy Grass.¡± Ye Xuan said dispassionately, observing the expressions on Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s faces.


    ¡°Ten strands!¡± Xia Liu was slightly surprised. Although he was not sure if it was Spirit Grass, it would definitely have some effect on cultivators.


    If he could win the auction, it would certainly give the girls an excellent chance of making a breakthrough.


    Martial artists could find the opportunity for a breakthrough by consuming the Condensing Energy Grass, so those with a Spirit Root who swallowed it and combined it with the Spirit Formula for cultivation might achieve a similar effect!


    Xia Liu got excited; no matter what, he had to get his hands on these ten strands of Spirit Grass!


    Ouyang Lingtian also secretly smiled, when he first began his cultivation, Honored Master had given him a stalk of Condensing Energy Grass.


    At that time, he had not yet stepped foot into the realm of Yellow-Rank Martial Artists, but after taking that one stalk of Condensing Energy Grass, his cultivation leaped to Yellow-Rank Mid Level.


    Therefore, he had strong confidence in this Condensing Energy Grass. As long as he could get one, he was absolutely sure he could break through the crucial point of the first layer of Qi Cultivation and reach the second layer!


    ¡°Young Master Ouyang, I¡¯m a bit unsure, wasn¡¯t your previous cultivation at the High-Level Mysterious Rank? Even if it has been a long time since we last met, your cultivation couldn¡¯t possibly have regressed to Yellow-Rank,¡± she said.


    ¡°Uh¡­ you noticed, I was seriously injured during a mission and my foundation was destroyed, I¡¯m very lucky to be alive,¡± he said.


    Facing Ye Xuan¡¯s skepticism, Ouyang Lingtian quickly responded.


    ¡°Ah, you should be fine now, right? Do you want me to find someone to check on you?¡± Ye Xuan suddenly became anxious.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that Ouyang Lingtian was on high alert, she might have been hands-on.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ve been healed a long time ago, as long as I diligently practice, my cultivation will still rise,¡± he said.


    Ye Xuan smiled slightly and said, ¡°Well, if there¡¯s anything you need, don¡¯t be polite with me.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Boss Ye, we¡¯ve troubled you for a long time already, we should leave now,¡± he said.


    ¡°Stay for a while longer,¡± she suggested.


    ¡°No, my brother here needs to buy some gifts for his wife, so I¡¯m going to take him for a walk,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said with a bitter smile while declining.


    ¡­ S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s departing figures getting further and further away, the smile on Ye Xuan¡¯s face gradually faded.


    In its stead was a cold and indifferent expression, her profound eyes emitting a chilling coldness: ¡°Ouyang Lingtian, I didn¡¯t expect that, in just three months, you¡¯d have the chance to abandon your Martial Veins and start cultivating with nature¡¯s spiritual energy!¡±


    ¡°And you, Xia Liu, your cultivation is very well concealed, but you cannot fool me, High-Level Energy Cultivation Master!¡± Her beautiful eyes were like the stars, as if a black hole that swallowed everything, murmuring to herself, Ye Xuan stepped into the backstage of the teahouse in high heels.


    After leaving the teahouse, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian continued to stroll around the trading district.


    It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon that they headed back home.


    Xia Liu had purchased many exquisite accessories, all of them purely crafted by hand, without any use to cultivation.


    They were simply beautiful and refined.


    These items didn¡¯t cost much, just tens of thousands.


    It must be mentioned that today Xia Liu had witnessed what it means to be expensive.


    Anything casually displayed in the trading district was selling for over ten thousand.


    If it were ancient swords or fragments of relics left over from thousands of years ago, the asking price would be sky-high.


    Xia Liu could already imagine how terrifying both the scenes and the prices would be when the auction arrived.


    In the two days leading up to the auction, Xia Liu learned from Ouyang Lingtian about his and Ye Xuan¡¯s exceptional relationship.


    It turned out Ye Xuan had met Ouyang Lingtian during a mission, and the situation seemed quite dangerous then; Ouyang Lingtian took a bullet for her.


    After the mission ended, Ouyang Lingtian and his master came to the trading district, where they met Ye Xuan again.


    And so Ye Xuan began to carefully entangle herself with Ouyang Lingtian.


    Whenever he came to the trading district, he would be dragged into the teahouse by Ye Xuan, and then they would discuss life together, yes, very pure life or interesting matters.


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 Chapter 395 - 395: The Powerful Ye Family, The Mysterious Ye Xuan

    Chapter 395: Chapter 395: The Powerful Ye Family, The Mysterious Ye Xuan


    Additionally, Ouyang Lingtian also informed Xia Liu of some news, the true identity of Ye Xuan.


    The beloved pearl of the Ye Family, one of the four great Ancient Martial families in Yanjing!


    If this were in ancient times, she would be considered a personage of Commandery Princess status.


    Xia Liu had no interest in understanding the other three great Ancient Martial families that were on par with the Ye Family.


    Regarding this, he asked Ouyang Lingtian about the details of the Ye Family.


    ¡°The Ye Family is the only Ancient Martial family that does not hold official positions in the Huaxia sector, but no one dares to provoke this family because their foundation is incredibly strong, owning trading businesses all across the country.¡±


    ...


    ¡°So, all these trading houses belong to the Ye Family!¡± Upon hearing this news, Xia Liu was somewhat tongue-tied.


    The wealth within these trading houses can be said to be endless, and if they all belonged to the Ye Family, that would be incredible.


    ¡°Of course, the goods are owned by the shopkeepers, and the Ye Family is like a landlord. They do not charge any store fees, but whenever a shop sells something, they take five percent of the funds.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s somewhat terrifying, too. With Warrior Traders Guilds in busy locations, the daily turnover could reach tens of billions or even hundreds of billions. The Ye Family really knows how to make money!¡±


    Xia Liu roughly calculated it in his head and decided not to continue; this method and speed of making money were simply astonishing.


    ¡°What¡¯s frightening is that no one knows exactly how many Earth-Rank Warriors or Heaven Rank¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Heaven-Rank Warriors, looking back over a hundred years, have almost never appeared.


    Such Rank warriors certainly do not die easily¡ªit¡¯s a mystery why they haven¡¯t appeared.


    ¡°Indeed powerful. It seems the key reason you are unwilling to comply with Ye Xuan lies here,¡± Xia Liu said with a smile.


    Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s family might be at the peak of existence in the Secular World, but in front of the ancient foundation of the Ye Family, they are as weak as ants.


    ¡°Heh, I received an insider tip that even the current Family Head of the Ye Family concedes to Ye Xuan, so her identity is not as simple as just being the Ye Family Princess,¡± Ouyang Lingtian shared with Xia Liu the news he learned from the teahouse Little Er.


    ¡°Oh, now that¡¯s interesting, to be more powerful than the current Ye Family Head.¡± Xia Liu was puzzled but believed that Ouyang Lingtian still had a chance, considering he was a Cultivator!


    ¡°Ah, forget about her, let¡¯s pack up and head out so we don¡¯t miss the auction.¡±


    ¡­


    At eight-thirty in the morning, in the suburban industrial area, Ouyang Lingtian parked the car and led Xia Liu into the auction venue.


    Although it was early, the auction site had already gathered quite a number of people.


    Most of them were young faces, some of whom were sitting alone in their seats, cultivating with their eyes closed.


    Others were making new friends, a few people gathering in one place to chat.


    Xia Liu briefly scanned the entire venue, and apart from the two Earth-Rank Warriors standing on stage, there were no other Earth-Rank Warriors present.


    The setup of the auction was like that of a common stage venue, with chairs placed around the stage.


    Each chair had a sign and a screen; the screen was used for bidding, while the sign was to confirm seating arrangements.


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian casually chose a spot and sat down.


    In the next half-hour, many warriors trickled into the auction house. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At least three hundred warriors came in, with over a hundred of them having reached Earth Rank in their cultivation.


    Such a display could only hint at the drawing power of the auction for Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Most of these Earth-Rank Warriors were middle-aged or older, the majority of them having the youthful appearance of old men.


    Ordinary people of such age might be lying on a chair listening to the radio.


    But they couldn¡¯t afford to do that¡ªthey were Earth-Rank Warriors, and if they wanted to keep living, they needed to break through to Heaven-Rank Warrior.


    Rumor has it, Heaven-Rank Warriors possess two hundred years of longevity.


    This rumor was known throughout the Warrior Realm, but no one had come forth to clarify its authenticity.


    After all, no Heaven-Rank Warrior had emerged for a century.


    As an Earth-Rank Warrior entered the scene, the once noisy auction house promptly fell silent.


    Everyone knew that these older Earth-Rank Warriors had quirky tempers.


    If one inadvertently offended them, one¡¯s life might be forfeited after leaving this place.


    At around nine thirty, the auction house¡¯s main doors closed on schedule.


    The lights brightened the entire venue, and by now the number of Earth-Rank Warriors on stage had reached five.


    They were all fully armed, donning black headscarves that masked their faces, revealing only a pair of discerning eyes.


    ¡°They are all Earth-Rank Warriors from the Ye Family, maintaining order throughout the venue.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already figured that out,¡± Xia Liu responded with a wry smile.


    Ouyang Lingtian gave Xia Liu a sidelong glance, feeling that he had become redundant.


    Nevertheless, that was just fine, for Xia Liu remained unfazed, even by the presence of over a hundred Earth-Rank Warriors. Perhaps there would be a chance to purchase the Condensing Energy Grass later on.


    Ouyang Lingtian harbored this flicker of hope because the Condensing Energy Grass was only effective for Yellow-Rank Warriors.


    Perhaps Earth-Rank Warriors wouldn¡¯t even spare it a glance.


    Previously at the Heaven Slaying Base, he had seen Xia Liu face off against his master, and without the intervention of Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Even enmity with a common Mysterious Rank Warrior was inconsequential¡ªthe strongest ruled!


    Dong¡­


    A short while after the main doors closed, a loud bell suddenly resounded throughout the venue.


    Those warriors familiar with the auction rules understood that this bell signified the start of the auction event!


    As the bell ceased to echo, the red curtains on the stage slowly parted to reveal an enchanting figure emerging from within.


    She was dressed in a purple short robe, with a bold design featuring an ample opening at the front that swayed with each step she took.


    A strip of purple fabric elegantly split from the legs, with a piece of black lace tied around one thigh.


    This woman was none other than Ye Xuan!


    Ye Xuan¡¯s appearance immediately captured everyone¡¯s gaze.


    All who gazed upon her had eyes that shone; this woman was not just beautiful, but her current attire was irresistibly alluring.


    Two strands of hair cascaded down from her shoulders to her chest, with two cute loops tied atop her head.


    Some of the younger onlookers nearly drooled at the sight.


    Even Ouyang Lingtian was no exception.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, your expression betrays you. Here¡¯s a piece of advice: if you get the chance, take her, and you¡¯ll become one of the administrators of the Warrior Traders Guild. It¡¯ll make things much more convenient for me the next time I come here to make purchases.¡±


    ¡°Knock it off; she¡¯s out of my league,¡± Ouyang Lingtian retorted with a glare at Xia Liu, realizing that his instigation was purely for his own convenience for future transactions at the auction house.


    ¡°Ahem, good evening, everyone. It¡¯s my pleasure to host this month¡¯s bidding event again. I hope for your generous support,¡± Ye Xuan announced from the stage.


    Although Ye Xuan did not use a microphone, her voice was still crystal clear and audible in every corner.


    The Earth-Rank Warriors seated in the front row, familiar with the bidding rituals even without having participated, swiftly urged Ye Xuan to start.


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 Chapter 396 - 396: Condensing Energy Grass!

    Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Condensing Energy Grass!


    ¡°Boss Ye, let¡¯s get started!¡±


    ¡°Boss Ye, please bring out some good stuff!¡±


    ¡°I hope there will be Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skills!¡±


    ¡°There must also be Earth-Rank Cultivation Techniques!¡±


    Even though the front rows were occupied by Earth-Rank Warriors, the venue was still filled with many young people shouting loudly, creating an incredibly lively atmosphere.


    Those anxious Earth-Rank Warriors in the front rows turned to look at the shouting youths, glanced at them, and then turned their attention back to the original spot.


    ...


    Xia Liu also took a look and immediately understood.


    It turned out that these shouting youths were all accompanied by someone, and these companions were Earth-Rank High-Level Warriors.


    Even though those seated in the front were impatient, in such a situation they would ultimately turn a blind eye.


    After all, having Earth-Rank Warriors as bodyguards meant that the other party had a strong foundation.


    ¡°Thank you for your support. With that, I announce the start of this month¡¯s auction!¡± Facing the passionate crowd, Ye Xuan smiled symbolically and launched the auction.


    As her voice fell, the red curtain was drawn aside, and a girl dressed as a maid came up holding a box.


    ¡°The first item up for auction this month is a set of Martial Arts Skills from the lost Great Sect the Taiqing Sect, titled: Gentle Wind Palm! Rank: Mysterious Rank Mid-Level!¡±


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s a Martial Arts Skill from a Great Sect that has been lost for a thousand years!¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve read about it in the classics; if the Gentle Wind Palm is practiced to the peak, one could even challenge opponents of a higher rank!¡±


    ¡°This is such good fortune. Although the Taiqing Sect is lost, the fact that they left behind such Martial Arts Skills is simply wonderful!¡±


    ¡­


    As Ye Xuan introduced the auction item, the crowd below immediately erupted into quite a commotion.


    Firstly, it was because of the rank; in an era where Heaven-Rank and Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skills are scarce.


    Mysterious-Rank Martial Arts Skills are almost peak level, and even Earth-Rank Warriors show great interest in them.


    Secondly, it was because of the fame; the Taiqing Sect was once a Great Sect documented in the classics, on par with the Taiyi Sect and even stronger than the Taiyi Sect.


    The Gentle Wind Palm was one of the most famous techniques of the Taiqing Sect, and now that the Taiqing Sect is lost and left no trace, such rank Martial Arts Skills appearing in the Warrior Realm is a stroke of fortune.


    ¡°Starting bid: ten million! Begin your bids now!¡± Observing the excited crowd, Ye Xuan called out loudly.


    ¡°I bid twenty million!¡±


    ¡°Thirty million!¡±


    ¡°Fifty million!¡±


    ¡­


    Watching the fierce bidding among the warriors at the scene, Xia Liu was astonished, his heart burning with excitement. Just a Mysterious-Rank Martial Arts Skill, yet the price had soared to such heights.


    In just a short time, the bid had already climbed to one hundred and fifty million!


    I, too, know many Martial Arts Skills. If I took them out for auction, could I also fetch such a price?


    ¡°Who exactly put up this Martial Arts Skill for auction!¡± Compared to Xia Liu¡¯s comment, Ouyang Lingtian was frowning with concern.


    The reason a Sect can last for so long without falling lies in its heritage and, more importantly, its Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts Skills.


    If a set of Martial Arts Skills or Cultivation Techniques falls into the hands of the warrior community, it won¡¯t be long before the worth of those skills declines; even using them would require caution to avoid the risk of being countered by an enemy.


    Because once a skill is cultivated by too many people, countermeasures will naturally arise. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret over it; Boss Ye has already said that the Taiqing Sect has fallen. It¡¯s better to contribute their Martial Arts Skills to the Warrior Realm than to hold on to them. Who knows, maybe one day it could give rise to a new Taiqing Sect.¡± Xia Liu patted Ouyang Lingtian on the shoulder. For a lost Sect with no master, it was normal for their Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts Skills to be traded.


    ¡°Sigh.¡± Ouyang Lingtian couldn¡¯t help but think of his own Sect.


    The Taiji Sect was a branch set up by the Taiyi Sect in various places to cultivate and scout for talented disciples. It has been a long time since the Taiyi Sect has been in contact with the Taiji Sect.


    In a few more years, will it happen that the powerful Martial Arts Skills of the Taiyi Sect are up for auction¡­


    Xia Liu seemed to see through Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s thoughts but didn¡¯t point them out. Why not let everything take its course when talking about it couldn¡¯t change anything?


    The Gentle Wind Palm, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Martial Arts Skill, was finally taken by a young master of a family for eighteen billion Huaxia currency.


    This caused many to exclaim in surprise. However, this palm technique meant a lot to a family, and getting it for eighteen billion was considered lucky.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t dwell on it much. His focus was on the Condensing Energy Grass!


    As for those Martial Arts Skills and Cultivation Techniques, they were of little significance to him.


    During the following auction items, aside from the few that would attract Earth-Rank Warriors to bid, the over one hundred Earth-Rank Warriors at the scene were all resting with their eyes closed, including Xia Liu.


    ¡°The next item up for auction is truly impressive. I believe everyone has heard of it, the Condensing Energy Grass!¡±


    ¡°Condensing Energy Grass! It¡¯s actually Condensing Energy Grass!¡±


    ¡°I thought this miraculous herb was extinct. How can it still be found?¡±


    ¡°That is a Divine Herb for Yellow-Rank Martial Artists!¡±


    ¡°Too bad, if it were a higher-level Divine Herb, I could have used it.¡±


    ¡°Haha! I must buy it all!¡±


    ¡­


    Faced with the sudden appearance of the Condensing Energy Grass, many people at the scene were stirred up, but everyone had their own opinions.


    Warriors with Cultivation above the Mysterious Rank had little interest in it.


    The most excited were undoubtedly the Yellow-Rank Martial Artists.


    Some of these Yellow-Rank Martial Artists were very formidable, with Earth-Rank Warriors following them, so their loud bidding went unchallenged.


    ¡°Has it finally come to this¡­¡± Xia Liu opened his eyes and immediately focused on the exquisite box in the hands of a maid on the stage.


    Inside lay the Condensing Energy Grass that could help his sister advance!


    ¡°Xia Liu, we must get this Condensing Energy Grass!¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°However, there are three strong competitors,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said, his eyes greedy, but he was clear about the situation.


    There were three Yellow-Rank Martial Artists at the scene with bodyguards, and those three bodyguards were Earth-Rank Warriors.


    ¡°Simple, two Earth-Rank High-Level, one Half-Step Earth Rank Peak,¡± said Xia Liu, describing them lightly.


    ¡°Ss¡­¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian gasped. He couldn¡¯t see through the strength of those three bodyguards and thought they were just Earth-Rank Primary Level.


    He had no idea they were actually three Earth-Rank High-Level!


    They were powerful experts, many times stronger than his master.


    That Xia Liu was so nonchalant about it truly made Ouyang Lingtian gasp several times.


    ¡°The effects of the Condensing Energy Grass, I believe everyone understands, so I won¡¯t go into detail. The bidding starts at ten million, let¡¯s begin, everyone!¡±


    Ye Xuan, not bothering to explain too much, glanced in the direction of Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian before starting the auction.


    ¡°Fifty million!¡± As soon as Ye Xuan finished speaking, a lone Yellow-Rank Peak Martial Artist in the crowd immediately made a bid.


    ¡°One hundred and fifty million!¡±


    The price was directly raised by a billion. Everyone turned to look, it was one of the Yellow-Rank youngsters with bodyguards.


    ¡°Hahaha! Brother Lin Hui, I must have the Condensing Energy Grass, so three hundred million!¡±


    Woosh! A fresh gust of surprise swept through the crowd. The bidding youngster was none other than Zhao Daxi from the Zhao Family of Yanjing, a second-rate Martial Artist family.


    Despite his common name, no one dared to mock him, for the bodyguard beside him had reached Earth-Rank High-Level Peak Cultivation.


    Just as Lin Hui and another youngster protected by an Earth-Rank Warrior were about to speak up, Xia Liu pressed the screen on his chair¡­


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 Chapter 397 - 397 Tigers Mouth Snatching Food

    Chapter 397: Chapter 397 Tiger¡¯s Mouth Snatching Food


    ¡°Guest number one hundred eighty bids five hundred million!¡± Ye Xuan¡¯s crisp voice rang out.


    The crowd immediately directed their gazes to see who dared to snatch food from the jaws of a tiger.


    Even some Earth-Rank Warriors were interested, after all, those currently bidding were from somewhat renowned martial families.


    Particularly, the Zhao Family from Yanjing, a second-tier family¡ªif they could produce a Heaven-Rank Warrior, they might even have a chance to ascend to first-tier status.


    Additionally, Lin Hui¡¯s family was not weak either, even though they were not located in Yanjing.


    Their family background was on par with Yanjing¡¯s second-tier families; to compete with these two young masters for the Condensing Energy Grass, one would either need a similar background or it would be sheer suicide.


    ...


    When the crowd saw the young face of Xia Liu, they revealed expressions of dumbfounded shock.


    Because they all realized that Xia Liu¡¯s aura was very weak, merely at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level¡­


    Even if the young man sitting beside him was his companion, he was only at Yellow-Rank.


    To compete with two young masters from grand families for the Condensing Energy Grass at Mysterious Rank Mid-Level?


    Everyone was dumbstruck. Such an impossible event was happening right before their eyes today, and it was somewhat terrifying.


    ¡°Five hundred million going once! Are there any other guests wishing to raise the bid?¡± Seeing that everyone¡¯s attention had converged on Xia Liu, Ye Xuan on the stage called out.


    ¡°Guest number two hundred twenty-one bids eight hundred million!¡±


    Just as Ye Xuan had finished announcing, a message alerted her.


    ¡°Uh, Young Master Zhao has bid; it seems he doesn¡¯t care much about that Mysterious Rank Warrior.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to care about? It¡¯s possible that the Mysterious Rank Warrior simply doesn¡¯t know the extent of the Zhao Family¡¯s power in Yanjing.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I think so too. Maybe he bid mistakenly just now and wishes to take it back, but can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, I admire Young Master Zhao¡¯s confidence.¡±


    ¡­


    Facing the bid from Zhao Daxi, people held different opinions.


    More people were inclined to believe that Xia Liu had pressed the wrong button by accident.


    Or that he was previously unaware of the Zhao Family¡¯s clout in Yanjing.


    ¡°Guest number two hundred fifty bids one billion!¡± Not long after Zhao Daxi¡¯s bid, Ye Xuan called out a new price again.


    This time, people realized it was Lin Hui who was bidding.


    Regarding the bidding war between these two young masters from prominent families, they found it very reasonable, believing that only they had the right to vie for the Condensing Energy Grass.


    ¡°Xia Liu, let¡¯s just give it to them¡­¡± Seeing Xia Liu about to bid again, Ouyang Lingtian weakly suggested.


    He too had just been subject to the scrutiny of the entire crowd and was feeling the invisible pressure, which made him worried.


    After all, the opposing side had two Earth-Rank Warriors, including a Peak Half-Step Earth Rank.


    If Xia Liu bid again, it would undoubtedly offend the two young masters, and then how could those two Earth-Rank High-Level masters let Xia Liu go?


    ¡°The word ¡®give up¡¯ does not exist in my dictionary. Since hope is in sight, how can I let it slip through my fingers?¡±


    Xia Liu spoke with grave seriousness, stirring a slight boiling of passion within Ouyang Lingtian.


    ¡°Guest number one hundred eighty bids one billion and ten million!¡±


    Whoosh¡­


    As Ye Xuan declared Xia Liu¡¯s bid, everyone in the audience was taken aback.


    Xia Liu¡¯s bid was only ten million more than Lin Hui¡¯s, and what did that imply! It was a slap in the face!


    Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi simultaneously fixed their gazes on Xia Liu, their faces changing expressions.


    Others could clearly discern Xia Liu¡¯s intentions, and naturally, they could too.


    Outbidding them by just ten million, this smacked of provocation!


    ¡°One billion and three hundred million!¡± Zhao Daxi pronounced each word carefully, glaring at Xia Liu.


    ¡°One billion, three hundred and ten million.¡±


    ¡°One billion and five hundred million!¡±


    ¡°One billion, five hundred and ten million.¡±


    Finally, both Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui fell silent, utterly convinced that Xia Liu was intent on stirring up trouble!


    ¡°It seems we¡¯re in for some excitement today, daring to provoke Young Master Zhao and Young Master Lin like this.¡±


    ¡°Interesting, truly interesting. A Mysterious Rank Mid-Level Warrior, and he dares to bully people like this.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha! What an amusing lad, just my type. If he survives until tomorrow, I¡¯ll definitely take him as my disciple. He¡¯s got a bit of my young self¡¯s audacity.¡±


    ¡°Old Xiu, do you really think he¡¯ll live past tomorrow? Do you think the Zhao and Lin families can¡¯t discipline a mere Mysterious Rank Warrior?¡±


    The Mysterious Rank Warriors and Yellow-Rank Martial Artists around them chuckled, and even two Earth-Rank Peak Warriors joined in the banter.


    ¡°Brother Lin, I feel like this is getting a bit pointless.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I see that now.¡±


    ¡°I give up. The Condensing Energy Grass is rare, but offending a Mysterious Rank Warrior¡­ one has to tread carefully outside.¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯m completely rattled now. A Mysterious Rank Warrior, that¡¯s a Super Expert. I hope he doesn¡¯t remember me.¡±


    Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui remarked in a mock serious tone.


    Because the auction house had rules against bidders quarreling or engaging in direct conflict, Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui expressed their stance using such words.


    The watching martial artists, on the other hand, were different. They could say anything they wanted, provided they weren¡¯t afraid of being targeted in return.


    Now, everyone laughed without speaking, all of them interpreting the true meaning behind the words of Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui.


    It was expected that once Xia Liu stepped outside the Ye Family¡¯s property, he would meet a very gruesome end.


    Situations like this had happened before. As a Mysterious Rank Warrior, if you bid according to normal procedures, with sufficient funds, the item would be yours.


    But now, by deliberately causing trouble, escaping death would be tough.


    ¡°Xia Liu, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going a bit too far¡­¡± Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s face had long since turned pale.


    Xia Liu was really pushing his luck, managing to offend two distinguished families in one go.


    Now it looked like the moment they stepped outside, the two Earth-Rank High-Level Warriors present would encircle and attack.


    ¡°Since we¡¯ve played, we might as well play it rough. Moreover, by bidding like that, they definitely won¡¯t raise the price any further. Acquiring the Condensing Energy Grass for a smaller sum of money is a win for me,¡± Xia Liu responded.


    ¡°Sure, you¡¯ve made a profit, but one needs to be alive to spend it¡­¡±


    Faced with Xia Liu¡¯s recklessness, Ouyang Lingtian could only sigh in frustration.


    He had no idea what Xia Liu was thinking; surely he wasn¡¯t a match for two Earth-Rank High-Level Warriors. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even Cultivators, when at a Low-Rank of cultivation, would tremble in fear when facing Earth-Rank Warriors. A single misstep might lead them to meet their end.


    ¡°One billion, five hundred and ten million for the first time. Does any esteemed guest wish to raise the bid?¡± Ye Xuan surveyed the room, taking note of everything beneath the stage. As the host, she could not intervene unless chaos broke out.


    The other noble young master who was considering raising the bid alongside Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui, now thought better of it.


    Seeing the attitude of Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui towards Xia Liu, it was pointless¡ªwinning the bid would only draw trouble upon himself.


    ¡°One billion, five hundred and ten million for the second time¡­ for the third time, sold! Congratulations to guest number one hundred and eighty,¡± Ye Xuan announced with a smile, affirming Xia Liu¡¯s right to purchase the Condensing Energy Grass.


    This outcome elicited bitter smiles all round. In their minds, everyone was guessing just how long Xia Liu could stay alive once he left the room.


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 Chapter 398 - 398: The Mysterious Stone

    Chapter 398: Chapter 398: The Mysterious Stone


    ¡°`


    After confirming that Xia Liu had obtained the slot, a maid came to his position with a card reader.


    The card was swiped, and an exquisite box containing ten stalks of Condensing Energy Grass fell into Xia Liu¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Damn¡­¡±, staring at the box, Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t know why, but he suddenly wasn¡¯t too happy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just two Earth-Rank Warriors. I hope they don¡¯t come looking for trouble, or they will bear the consequences,¡± Xia Liu patted Ouyang Lingtian on the shoulder.


    Without showing off a bit, this guy probably wouldn¡¯t understand how terrifying a Cultivator can be.


    ...


    ¡°Haha! There¡¯ll be a good show to watch after this ends.¡±


    ¡°A Mysterious Rank Warrior is actually clashing with two great families, that¡¯s gonna be ugly.¡±


    ¡°I admire his courage, but unfortunately, he won¡¯t live long.¡±


    ¡­


    Seeing Xia Liu chatting cheerfully with Ouyang Lingtian, many people shook their heads and sighed.


    They ridiculed Xia Liu¡¯s ignorance and naivety.


    Even those Earth-Rank Warriors felt the same, as they had all risen from Mysterious Rank cultivation.


    To possess Earth-Rank cultivation, one should know the terror of such cultivation, yet Xia Liu was still laughing foolishly, clearly showing his inexperience in the world.


    Because of Xia Liu¡¯s incident, the enthusiasm for the following auction had diminished considerably.


    They all focused their attention on speculation, besides, the Earth-Rank Warriors were definitely going to take action later, and they could take the opportunity to witness the glory of an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    ¡°Dear guests, this month¡¯s auction is almost over, and we¡¯re down to the last item,¡± said Ye Xuan, her smile already somewhat stiff, but as she mentioned this last item, she vaguely perked up.


    ¡°The last item!¡±


    ¡°The final pieces in past auctions have all been supreme-grade Martial Arts Skills or Cultivation Techniques, or rare weapons. I wonder what it is today.¡±


    ¡°I bet it¡¯s an Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique!¡±


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s an Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skill!¡±


    ¡°A weapon!¡±


    ¡­


    The final item had everyone¡¯s blood boiling with excitement.


    They had all been through this several times and knew the preciousness of this final treasure.


    Even those seated in the front row, the Earth-Rank Warriors, perked up, the biggest reason for their presence was this final treasure!


    Even Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi temporarily shifted their attention away from Xia Liu, turning their gaze to the stage.


    A maid walked gracefully toward the stage, holding a tray with a red cloth drawn slowly aside to reveal a mysterious treasure beneath.


    ¡°Mmm! Strong fluctuations of Spiritual Energy!¡±


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian exchanged glances and could see the surprise in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Indeed, both of them were Cultivators, and Cultivators are the most sensitive to nature¡¯s spiritual energy. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though the red cloth covered the treasure, both could still sense the intense Spiritual Energy emanating from the item below.


    Not only did Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s expressions change, but the hundred or so Earth-Rank Warriors seated in the front row also became all attention.


    Although they didn¡¯t sense the Spiritual Energy like Xia Liu did, they could also feel that whatever was under the red cloth was emitting a strong presence.


    As for what it was, they didn¡¯t know, but they were certain that it was a very rare treasure!


    Even at the moment the treasure drew near, the Cultivation within the Earth-Rank Warrior that hadn¡¯t stirred for many years trembled slightly!


    ¡°`


    What does this mean? The treasure could potentially allow an Earth-Rank Warrior to enhance their cultivation!


    As Ye Xuan lifted the red cloth, everyone could clearly see the appearance of the final treasure.


    It was actually a piece of stone.


    Unlike other stones, this one was transparent, and impurities inside could be seen with the naked eye!


    To call them impurities might be an overstatement, as what floated inside were some white specks, sometimes clear and sometimes shimmering brightly.


    This stone gave everyone the sense that it was far from ordinary!


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the origin of this stone, nor do I know what it does, but I feel it¡¯s extraordinary, so I¡¯ve kept it as the final treasure.¡±


    Ye Xuan scanned the audience, her voice tinged with a hint of sorrow.


    ¡°Boss Ye! You really don¡¯t know anything about it?¡±


    ¡°This stone was consigned by an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior. As for his name, I cannot disclose it according to the rules. This is also the first time I¡¯ve seen such a stone. Although I don¡¯t know what it is, I can sense that the stone contains a strong energy. When an Earth-Rank Warrior gets close to it, their cultivation is very likely to loosen, so¡­¡±


    Ye Xuan did not continue, believing that the Earth-Rank Warriors present all had their own feelings about it.


    ¡°To be able to loosen an Earth-Rank Warrior¡¯s cultivation! Could it be that comprehending this stone could allow an Earth-Rank Warrior to advance!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s incredible, it¡¯s just a stone, yet it can loosen an Earth-Rank Warrior¡¯s cultivation!¡±


    ¡­


    The Low-Rank Warriors who couldn¡¯t feel the stone¡¯s energy were shocked.


    If this stone could allow an Earth-Rank Warrior to advance, then it would definitely become the world¡¯s most coveted treasure!


    This object could not only become a treasure but also the origin of a disaster.


    Because many years have passed without a sight of a Heaven-Rank Warrior, in an era where Earth-Rank Warriors struggle to advance.


    A treasure that could allow Earth-Rank Warriors to ascend would undoubtedly add much bloodshed to the Jianghu World!


    ¡°Haha! Boss Ye, quote a price quickly!¡± an excited elder sitting in the front row called out.


    ¡°That¡¯s the Loose Cultivator Shi Hentian! An Earth-Rank Peak Warrior who does not belong to any faction!¡±


    Recognizing the elder¡¯s identity, a Martial Artist in the audience cried out in surprise upon hearing him.


    Shi Hentian, with his High-Strength cultivation, getting the auction started, would likely cause many Earth-Rank Warriors to make way.


    ¡°Daoist Fellow Shi, of course, I can¡¯t let this stone go.¡± As Shi Hentian¡¯s excitement died down, another white-haired elder spoke out.


    ¡°That¡¯s Yan Wuqing, the Family Head of a third-rate Martial Artist family in Yanjing, with Earth-Rank Peak cultivation!¡±


    ¡°The two Daoist Fellows, this stone is of particular importance to me, I beg your forgiveness for my presumption,¡± said a middle-aged man, speaking out after Shi Hentian and Yan Wuqing expressed their intentions.


    ¡°Wow! Elder Qiu Wenfu is from a second-rate family of Yanjing, holding an Earth-Rank High-Level Peak cultivation!


    ¡°Now this is exciting, three Earth-Rank Peak Warriors are all interested in that stone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to guess who else might join in.¡±


    As these three people expressed their intentions, the audience immediately became restless.


    These three were High-Rank Experts, and while a physical fight was out of the question, a financial battle was sure to astonish everyone!


    However, looking at the situation, Shi Hentian, as a Loose Cultivator, might not be able to compete with Qiu Wenfu and Yan Wuqing, given the strong foundations of their respective families behind them.


    Just as the situation below was as intense as fire and water, Ye Xuan announced with a charming smile, ¡°I¡¯ll tentatively call this stone the Stellar Stone because it closely resembles a star. The auction for the Stellar Stone begins now, with a starting bid of one hundred million!¡±


    ¡°Bid number one hundred eighty bids one hundred and fifty million!¡± As soon as Ye Xuan announced the start, someone immediately made a bid.


    Indeed, the everyone present still had a vivid impression of bid number one hundred eighty, who had audaciously snatched treasures from the hands of the two young masters, Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi, and had even succeeded!


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 Chapter 399 - 399: Snatch Again

    Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Snatch Again


    Xia Liu once again captured everyone¡¯s attention because his actions were simply too terrifying.


    You snatch the targets from Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi, and perhaps afterwards people will let it go in consideration of the difficulties of cultivation, handing over the Condensing Energy Grass and be done with it.


    But now, he¡¯s openly challenging the authority of three Earth-Rank Peak Warriors!


    This is toying with one¡¯s life!


    ¡°Two billion,¡± Shi Hentian stated a price nonchalantly.


    ¡°Guest number 08 bids two billion!¡± Ye Xuan announced, smiling as she called out the bid from the participant.


    ...


    ¡°Xia Liu, stop messing around, those are Earth-Rank Peak Warriors, and dealing with two major families is troublesome enough,¡± Ouyang Lingtian immediately interrupted just as Xia Liu was about to raise the bid.


    ¡°That stone is very useful to me,¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    ¡°At least five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors, are you confident you can escape?¡± Ouyang Lingtian saw determination on Xia Liu¡¯s face, certain that he wouldn¡¯t give up.


    If one has no ability to escape from the hands of Earth-Rank Peak Warriors.


    What¡¯s the point of getting the stone if, in the end, you¡¯re still going to be killed and robbed?


    ¡°Just five Earth-Rank Peaks, I am confident, just watch,¡± Xia Liu stopped explaining and was about to raise the bid.


    Just then, the crowd in the venue gasped in astonishment again.


    ¡°Elder Qiu Wenfu has raised the bid to five hundred million!¡±


    ¡°Family Head Yan Wuqing seems unwilling to give up either, bidding six hundred million.¡±


    ¡°Loose Cultivator Shi Hentian is also determined, ten billion now!¡±


    Listening to Ye Xuan announcing the bids of the three, the crowd at the venue began to buzz.


    This was a struggle among Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Because Xia Liu had not made a bid for a long time, everyone thought he realized his mistake, and they focused their attention on Yan Wuqing and the other two.


    ¡°Daoist Fellow Shi, ten billion is no small sum, wouldn¡¯t it be nice to save it and enjoy life?¡± As the head of a second-rate family, Yan Wuqing was especially sensitive to money.


    Ten billion was roughly the family¡¯s income for a quarter. If the struggle continues there might be more, and even if he won the auction, the figure would roll into the Heaven-Rank digits.


    ¡°Yeah, Daoist Fellow Shi, I don¡¯t think that stone is all that eye-catching; keeping the money to enjoy life sounds quite good,¡± Qiu Wenfu also began to dissuade, agreeing with Yan Wuqing.


    Both being from families, they certainly had money, but such meaningless competition would eventually harm themselves.


    And since the Yan and Qiu families were close, no matter whose hands the stone fell into in the end, it would likely be shared.


    But Shi Hentian was different, he was just a loose cultivator.


    Without a sect or clan, if it weren¡¯t for his Earth-Rank Peak cultivation, a loose cultivator would never stand out at any time.


    Not to mention having status and position.


    ¡°My two daoist fellows, I, Shi, still have some savings. As we all know, unless it reaches the limit, I won¡¯t give up on this stone,¡± Shi Hentian¡¯s attitude was very firm.


    He was over eighty years old, having reached Earth-Rank Peak twenty years ago and had been searching for a way to break through to the next level for decades.


    Now that he saw an opportunity, how could he possibly give up?


    A loose cultivator, unlike families or sects, doesn¡¯t need to consider so much, their life¡¯s pursuit is the ultimate in Martial Dao!


    If this stone could truly help Shi Hentian advance to Heaven Rank, he would definitely be ecstatic.


    ¡°Daoist Fellow Shi, since that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s see whose resources are greater,¡± Yan Wuqing¡¯s expression grew stern, as Shi Hentian was clearly determined not to back down.


    Yan Wuqing had just made eye contact with Qiu Wenfu, and they agreed to split the final bid price, no matter how much it was.


    After obtaining the stone, they would study it together.


    Qiu Wenfu did not oppose this suggestion, even considering it very good under the current circumstances; the two families could deal with a loose cultivator together.


    ¡°The latest price, guest number 180 bids one billion and ten million!¡± Just as everyone in the venue was ready to watch Yan Wuqing and Shi Hentian fight it out, Ye Xuan¡¯s words broke the tense atmosphere.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s him again!¡±


    ¡°What in the world is his identity!¡±


    ¡°Terrifying, absolutely terrifying!¡±


    ¡°Bidding against Earth-Rank Warriors for items!¡±


    ¡­


    When they came back to their senses, the crowd burst into exclamations.


    They all focused their gazes on Xia Liu, unable to believe that it was Xia Liu once again!


    There were over a hundred Earth-Rank Warriors present, and they viewed Xia Liu differently now, not daring to compete with people like Shi Hentian for the stone.


    And yet a Mysterious Rank Warrior dared to do so, what was this all about?


    A calf that does not fear a tiger because it¡¯s young?


    Shi Hentian, Yan Wuqing, and Qiu Wenfu also paused in dumbfoundment.


    They initially thought that Xia Liu was just ignorant, and that¡¯s why he placed the first bid. They felt they should understand the young martial artists present.


    But now, he had suppressed them again by calling out a bid of ten million.


    What was this, a slap in their own faces? A slap in the faces of Earth-Rank Peak Warriors?


    ¡°Haha! This is so interesting! VIP no. 180, tsk tsk.¡± Lin Hui gazed at Xia Liu for a long time, and now he didn¡¯t know how to express his feelings.


    Even though he was a Yellow-Rank Peak martial artist, being part of a family with a profound background, he held a disdainful view of Mysterious Rank martial artists.


    Xia Liu¡¯s actions now seemed even more laughable to him, actually competing with Earth-Rank Warriors for items.


    He was already somewhat worried that once Xia Liu left the venue, he would no longer have the chance to retrieve the Condensing Energy Grass.


    ¡°Hahaha, heroes emerge from the youth. I give up, and I¡¯ll let Daoist Fellow Shi and that little friend continue to bid,¡± Yan Wuqing suddenly said with a light laugh amidst the shock of the crowd.


    ¡°Hehe, I give up too,¡± said Qiu Wenfu, smiling faintly and waving his hand dismissively.


    Hearing what they said and looking at their expressions, the crowd all shook their heads.


    Everyone could see the meaning behind their words.


    Giving up on the bidding didn¡¯t mean giving up on the item; they just wanted to let Xia Liu spend the money to buy it and then take it back without lifting a finger.


    Extremely clever, truly clever.


    ¡°Hehe, I truly appreciate the generosity of the two seniors,¡± said Xia Liu, beaming as he rose to his feet and bowed with his hands clasped.


    Hiss¡­


    The surrounding crowd sucked in a breath of cold air once again. They thought they had heard wrong, but when they saw Xia Liu standing up, it was no mistake!


    This guy even stood up to express his thanks. They wondered if he even had a brain. Had he really thought that Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu had given up their desire for the stone because they were serious about giving up the bidding?


    Ridiculous! The crowd no longer wanted to pass any judgment on Xia Liu. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because a dead man, and one whose cultivation was so low, was never scarce in this world.


    ¡°The latest price: 1.1 billion!¡± Suddenly, Ye Xuan on the stage announced.


    ¡°Hm? Senior Shi Hentian has bid again, it seems he is more focused on the stone,¡± someone remarked.


    ¡°No, no, I think Senior Shi is declaring that he has more right to acquire the stone,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Think about it, he¡¯s the last one to bid. Even if he loses to Xia Liu, he can ask for it openly and legitimately, whereas if Family Head Yan or Elder Qiu were to act, it would be considered stealing.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference between the two?¡±


    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a difference. If you don¡¯t shut up, you might end up like that fool over there.¡±


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 Chapter 400 - 400 Run

    Chapter 400: Chapter 400 Run


    Faced with Shi Hentian¡¯s bid, the martial artists present all had varying levels of understanding.


    Many were mainly focused on whether Xia Liu would bid again; if he did not, then the definite losers would be Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu.


    Even if Xia Liu gave up now, his life was over.


    Because Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu had been played, and unless Shi Hentian stood up to protect him,


    Xia Liu would certainly meet an inescapable death; it was almost impossible for a Mysterious Rank Warrior to survive under the hands of an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior.


    Even now, if Xia Liu handed the stone to Shi Hentian, Shi Hentian might agree to keep him alive under the hands of Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu.


    ...


    But there were also two other young masters from prestigious families, Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui.


    Both had been humiliated by Xia Liu, and even Shi Hentian could not withstand the pressure from four warrior families.


    In the end, for a mere Mysterious Rank Warrior, Shi Hentian would not risk his life.


    So, no matter from which angle one looked at it, Xia Liu¡¯s end result was death.


    ¡°Guest number one hundred eighty bids again; one billion one hundred million.¡±


    Boom!


    The moment Ye Xuan¡¯s announcement rang out, all the martial artists were shocked, feeling as if thunderclaps were exploding in their hearts.


    Xia Liu had actually raised the bid by ten million to suppress Shi Hentian!


    What did this mean! He disregarded everything, even Shi Hentian!


    How terrifying!


    This time, Xia Liu had thoroughly offended three high Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Two Earth-Rank Peaks, one Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, along with two young masters from prestigious families.


    Different expressions were brimming on everyone¡¯s faces.


    Most were mocking.


    They were actually quite eager to see how Xia Liu, after acquiring the item, would escape from the hands of five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors.


    Facing Xia Liu¡¯s actions, Ouyang Lingtian by the side had long been startled.


    With a cold expression and not speaking a word, if it were just the two young masters, he might have been able to threaten them using Heaven Slaying and the Taiji Sect.


    But now, Xia Liu had not only offended the two young masters but also three High Earth-Rank Warriors!


    Even bringing up the Taiji Sect was futile at this point.


    As for his own Ouyang Family, there was no chance, as ordinary families in the Secular World couldn¡¯t intervene in martial artists¡¯ conflicts.


    In the end, Ouyang Lingtian could only shake his head, secretly hoping that Xia Liu could unleash a Heaven Rank Cultivation, otherwise he was definitely doomed.


    Shi Hentian stared intently at Xia Liu with slightly squinted eyes, not saying anything, his calm demeanor chilling the atmosphere. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°One billion one hundred million once¡­three times! Sold! Congratulations to guest one hundred eighty on acquiring the mysterious stone.¡±


    Ye Xuan announced with a smile the winner of the stone.


    Her smile also contained a bit of expectation, what she was expecting, only she knew.


    After obtaining the stone, Xia Liu didn¡¯t leave immediately, and neither did the people around him.


    They all wanted to see just how tragic Xia Liu¡¯s end would be.


    ¡°Lingtian, you should go first.¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian, clutching a stalk of Condensing Energy Grass in his pocket, gradually turned grim, ¡°No, I¡¯ll face it with you.¡±


    Earlier, while others weren¡¯t paying attention, Xia Liu had given a stalk of Condensing Energy Grass to Ouyang Lingtian, hoping he would leave ahead.


    However, how could Ouyang Lingtian leave? Even though Xia Liu had a confrontation with the Earth-Rank Warriors over the Condensing Energy Grass and his cultivation was Low-Rank, they faced it together.


    Moreover, Ouyang Lingtian had some confidence. Although he couldn¡¯t freely unleash his Sword Qi now, he could still form seals and condense Sword Qi to kill enemies.


    If he were to battle an Earth-Rank Warrior later and unexpectedly condense Sword Qi to slay one, it would definitely cause shock, perhaps even creating a path to survival.


    ¡°In that case, how about you take the Condensing Energy Grass and the stone, and I handle those martial artists?¡±


    Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian had carried out missions together before, knowing well the man¡¯s tenacity. Not even Earth-Rank Warriors could deter him, it seemed he had to strike fiercely this time.


    ¡°Alright.¡± No unnecessary words, a glance, a slight nod of the head was a sign of trust, of entrusting one¡¯s life to a brother.


    ¡°Where nearby is spacious and less populated?¡±


    ¡°Drive for two hours, and you can reach the large forest on the outskirts, it¡¯s generally deserted.¡±


    ¡°What are we waiting for then, run!¡± After saying this, Xia Liu immediately grabbed Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s wrist and sprinted outside.


    Xia Liu¡¯s speed was extremely fast, causing bystanders to gasp in astonishment.


    They hadn¡¯t expected Xia Liu to pull such a move and just run away¡­


    ¡°Chase!¡± Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi immediately started running as they shouted.


    Even if Xia Liu hadn¡¯t offended Shi Hentian and his two associates, they couldn¡¯t let Xia Liu escape just like that.


    Shi Hentian, Yan Wuqing, and Qiu Wenfu also set off in pursuit.


    As long as Xia Liu had escaped from the Ye Family Trading Company¡¯s territory without causing much of a commotion, they wouldn¡¯t encounter any trouble.


    Even if they were blamed, it didn¡¯t matter. If Xia Liu provoked them first, where would the Earth-Rank Warriors display their face?


    By the time everyone got out the door, Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian were already nearly rushing out of the factory area in their car.


    Those martial artists who had cars drove, those who didn¡¯t ran in pursuit.


    Earth-Rank Warriors were very fast, but they couldn¡¯t sustain a long chase and soon became tired.


    However, their hearing was excellent and having overheard Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian talk about the large forest outside, they all chased in that direction.


    They all harbored some hope, thinking that if they reached Xia Liu before Shi Hentian and his group, they could directly seize him, kill him and then they could get that mysterious stone.


    Yes, the stone that could loosen the cultivation of Earth-Rank Warriors wasn¡¯t only coveted by Shi Hentian, Yan Wuqing, and Qiu Wenfu.


    Today, all the Earth-Rank Warriors who came to the auction were tempted.


    They all faced bottlenecks.


    If that stone could help them advance, they would definitely fight desperately to snatch it.


    And if they could snatch the stone without anyone noticing, that indeed would be a great deed.


    ¡°Five Ghosts, prepare the car.¡± After the other martial artists left the auction room, Ye Xuan coldly ordered.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Five martial artists fully draped in black cloth responded in unison and promptly left the auction room.


    ¡°Great changes are coming to Yanjing¡­¡± Recollecting the events that had just transpired, Ye Xuan muttered softly.


    On the ring road, a black car passionately sprinted among the flow of vehicles.


    Its speed was astonishing, not less than two hundred miles per hour.


    Behind it, two supercars were also madly chasing. Although they were supercars, with so many cars on the road, even supercars had their speed constrained.


    ¡°Brother Lin, no need to go too fast, I¡¯ve already had a friend use a satellite to track that car; he can¡¯t escape.¡± In the supercar, Zhao Daxi casually spoke.


    ¡°Alright, but we have to agree beforehand, if we retrieve the Condensing Energy Grass later, we split it equally between us.¡±


    ¡°Naturally, I don¡¯t have the capability to monopolize it¡­¡±


    Inside the car, the two men chatted and laughed easily, while the numerous cars behind them sped up in pursuit. Their target was all the same, Xia Liu!


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 Chapter 401 - 401 Arguing

    Chapter 401: Chapter 401 Arguing


    ¡°Really going to the outskirts?¡±


    Driving, Ouyang Lingtian weakly asked.


    ¡°Of course, if we were to start anything here, we¡¯d be on the front page tomorrow night,¡± Xia Liu nodded and said.


    ¡°That won¡¯t happen, actually if we were to fight in the city, we might still have a slim chance of survival.¡±


    ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the specifics, but if a martial artist battle breaks out within the city limits, no matter who it is, they will be punished,¡± Ouyang Lingtian recalled his master¡¯s warnings and immediately shared them.


    ...


    ¡°Oh? Punishment?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s interesting, but let¡¯s forget about it for now, the target is still the outskirts.¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t want to know about these things, because the current situation and his cultivation level didn¡¯t allow it, maybe in the future he would slowly come to understand.


    Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t continue speaking and drove seriously toward the previously agreed location.


    By four in the afternoon, the scorching sun had faded, and the glowing light bathed everything.


    In the outskirts of Yanjing, lush trees lay ahead, with vast plains stretching out behind.


    On the other side of the big river was the bustling city with towering buildings, and on this side lay the mountains leading to the wilderness with no trace of man.


    The car stopped on an open ground, and Xia Liu stood facing the wind.


    A few minutes later, several cars roared up from behind.


    About a dozen Earth-Rank warriors used their movement techniques to land on the side.


    However, they didn¡¯t get too close because Xia Liu was someone else¡¯s prey.


    Even if they were salivating with envy, they could only watch with wide eyes as Xia Liu was devoured.


    Before long, many warriors were watching from a distance of five hundred meters, such an occurrence likely being the first of its kind.


    A Mysterious Rank Warrior daring to challenge an Earth-Rank Warrior outright was surely courting death.


    No one sympathized with Xia Liu; they just wanted him to die quickly, because Mysterious Rank warriors were not supposed to compete with Earth-Rank warriors for resources.


    Frankly speaking, all these onlookers were just jealous.


    They couldn¡¯t stand to see Xia Liu claiming the Condensing Energy Grass and the mysterious stones.


    After all, their cultivation levels were Mysterious Rank or even Earth Rank, if they weren¡¯t eligible to obtain them, how could Xia Liu, a Mysterious Rank Mid-Level warrior, be qualified!


    ¡°Kid! Why don¡¯t you run? Why aren¡¯t you running now!¡± Suddenly, a young man with sunglasses walked out from the crowd, his mouth curved in a mocking smile.


    ¡°Can you even run? Daring to snatch the Condensing Energy Grass from right under my nose!¡±


    Another voice emerged, and the crowd saw Lin Hui appear with his Earth-Rank warrior bodyguard.


    ¡°Haha! Let¡¯s see what he does now!¡±


    ¡°Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi are both scions of great clans, daring to snatch their things is simply suicide.¡±


    ¡°Death might be a bit much, but it would be best to cripple his martial veins, let him spend the second half of his life on a sickbed, so he understands what he has done.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! Support Young Master Zhao and Young Master Lin!¡±


    ¡­


    After Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui made their entrance, the onlooking Low-Rank warriors all started to shout.


    ¡°Heh, a bunch of idiots,¡± Xia Liu looked up, scanning the surroundings, and shook his head at everything he heard.


    He had won the items fair and square, how had it become natural in their eyes to be robbed by more powerful warriors?


    Even if there was indeed a provocation, they could have offered a higher price.


    Since they had given up bidding, did that make their actions now morally elevated?


    ¡°`


    Killing and robbing seemed so reasonable in the eyes of these people that Xia Liu was utterly astounded. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Young Master Zhao, how about you let us handle this guy?¡± As Zhao Daxi was about to order his bodyguards to take action, a deep voice carrying considerable oppressive power suddenly echoed around them.


    Immediately afterward, Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu appeared side by side, both wearing faint smiles on their faces.


    ¡°Hehe! With Family Head Yan and Elder Qiu joining in, things are getting interesting.¡±


    ¡°Not just interesting, absolutely thrilling! Five forces up against one Mysterious Rank Warrior and one Yellow-Rank Martial Artist, thrilling indeed!¡±


    ¡°If I were those two, I would have dropped the item and walked away by now.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, only idiots would do something as life-threatening as this.¡±


    ¡­


    While everyone was bustling with discussion, Shi Hentian arrived too!


    A blurred shadow suddenly dashed in from the side, and when the figure finally stood still, everyone became excited once again.


    They could already imagine what would happen to Xia Liu.


    Now their attention was focused more on Shi Hentian, Yan Wuqing, and Qiu Wenfu!


    All three, being Peak Earth-Rank and High-Level Peak Warriors, would surely fight to the death over the unclaimed stone.


    When that time came, the trio would definitely fight it out!


    A battle among Peak Earth-Rank Warriors, absolutely more exciting than any other martial combat!


    Moreover, this place was on the outskirts, outside the urban district. The authorities would turn a blind eye.


    With the right time, location, and people, today was definitely the most boisterous, blood-pumping day of recent years!


    ¡°Daoist Fellow Shi, you¡¯ve come as well.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I have to come. After all, this kid snatched the stone right from my hands,¡± Shi Hentian stated confidently.


    ¡°Snatched the stone from your hands?¡± Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu were both taken aback. Since when had the stone belonged to Shi Hentian?


    ¡°Certainly, I was the only one bidding and was about to get the stone when this overconfident brat suddenly interfered. If he¡¯s not snatching my stone, then whose is he snatching?¡± Shi Hentian¡¯s expression was dead serious.


    Indeed, as some people had thought, Shi Hentian really considered the stone as if it was childishly stuffed into his own pocket.


    ¡°Hahahaha! How hilarious, Daoist Fellow Shi, everyone¡¯s here, and that joke of yours is really quite cold,¡± laughed Yan Wuqing heartily.


    ¡°Not cold, not cold at all. I¡¯m just here to take back what belongs to me.¡±


    ¡°Your belonging? Daoist Fellow Shi, don¡¯t be too adamant,¡± Qiu Wenfu retorted, even though he was merely at High-Level Peak Earth-Rank Cultivation. However, he had his own trump cards and feared not even those at the peak of the Earth Rank.


    Furthermore, with Yan Wuqing, an ally, present, he certainly didn¡¯t want to give Shi Hentian any face.


    Even though you, Shi Hentian, are highly skilled, you are still just one man.


    If you truly anger the martial families, they would unite against you at the cost of severe losses.


    Watching the tension rising, the surrounding spectators held their breath.


    This was becoming increasingly interesting. If Shi Hentian continued to insist on what he believed, the consequence would surely be Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu taking action against him together.


    Just thinking about it was thrilling: two High-Strength Earth-Rank Warriors against one man!


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s have a match! Whoever wins earns the right to the stone!¡± Shi Hentian took a step forward as his formidable oppressive force swept across the area!


    ¡°Why not!¡±


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu also released their energies, and instantly, three forces of oppressive power began to collide invisibly.


    ¡°Elders, I think we should retrieve the stone first before discussing how to distribute it. If those two thieves take the chance to run away during our sparring¡­¡±


    ¡°Young Master Zhao makes a good proposal. Let¡¯s get back the stone first!¡±


    As Yan Wuqing¡¯s voice trailed off, Shi Hentian retracted his aura and turned his gaze towards Xia Liu.


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 402 - 402: What Do You Think You Are?

    Chapter 402: Chapter 402: What Do You Think You Are?


    ¡°So have you all come to a decision? Who¡¯s getting the stone?¡± Xia Liu asked as he touched his nose.


    ¡°Tsk tsk! A brat who¡¯s not afraid of death! I¡¯ll kill you first!¡±


    ¡°Hey, Family Head Yan, he did get the stone through the auction, it seems somewhat inappropriate for us to do this.¡±


    ¡°Daoist Fellow Shi, what do you mean by that?¡± Yan Wuqing was somewhat puzzled.


    In a world where the strong are revered, it is the capable who should possess the treasure; murder and robbery are wrong.


    However, it is an irrefutable fact that Xia Liu does not have the right to own that stone.


    ...


    Shi Hentian was also among the crowd, now criticizing his own actions, but was he himself any more correct?


    ¡°It means nothing much, just that I feel if the young friend has paid for it, then he should own it.¡±


    ¡­


    As soon as Shi Hentian spoke, the onlookers were flabbergasted. What was he even talking about?


    If Xia Liu had obtained it through a legitimate channel and you¡¯ve become so enlightened, why still attempt to intercept him?


    ¡°Young friend, how about this: you give me the stone, and I ensure your safety, how about that?¡± In the midst of everyone¡¯s confusion, Shi Hentian squinted his eyes, looking at Xia Liu with a benevolent smile.


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    As Shi Hentian¡¯s words were spoken, everyone at the scene could not help but snort. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So this old fellow had said that in hope to curry favor with Xia Liu, and then naturally acquire the stone.


    Horrible!


    Truly horrible!


    ¡°Haha! Daoist Fellow Shi, you¡¯re not being fair, but do you think you can walk out of here safely by yourself?¡± Yan Wuqing said coldly, his eyes flashing with several chilly gleams.


    Everyone felt a chill as they sensed the thinly veiled killing intent in his words!


    ¡°Hmph! You might as well try!¡± Shi Hentian snorted.


    Seeing the standoff between these two powerful forces, Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui were anxious. If Xia Liu really handed over the stone to Shi Hentian, they would have no chance of getting back their Condensing Energy Grass.


    ¡°Senior Shi, Xia Liu took our Condensing Energy Grass, he should give it back, right?¡± Zhao Daxi said in a soft voice, his thoughts flickering.


    ¡°That¡¯s a given,¡± Shi Hentian said, as he was only interested in the mysterious stone and had no need to protect anything else.


    Just as Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi were about to rejoice, suddenly, a laugh rang throughout the venue: ¡°Hahaha! Interesting, this is really interesting!¡±


    ¡°Young friend, does this mean you are willing to accept my proposal?¡± Shi Hentian asked with a slight smile.


    Confronted by the sincere Shi Hentian, Xia Liu answered with a faint smile, ¡°What do you count for?¡±


    Crack!


    No sooner had the words fallen than the sound of something breaking echoed, and a stone at Shi Hentian¡¯s feet instantly shattered into pieces.


    The bewildered onlookers couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of courage Xia Liu mustered to utter such a statement.


    ¡°Hahaha! This is somewhat interesting.¡±


    ¡°How does it feel to be toyed with by a Mysterious Rank Warrior? You must be quite angered, I suppose.¡±


    Seeing Shi Hentian being scorned by Xia Liu, both Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu burst out laughing with delight.


    ¡°Very well! Very well! Since that¡¯s the case, I have no choice but to kill you!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, didn¡¯t you just say you¡¯d protect me? And also help me decide the fate of the Condensing Energy Grass, now why do you want to kill me?¡± Xia Liu laughed coldly.


    He had long been displeased with arrogant warriors like Shi Hentian.


    ¡°You said you wanted to call out the stone yourself and keep safe, but why did you hand over the Condensing Energy Grass? Do you really think everyone is a fool?¡±


    ¡°Because you deserve to die!¡±


    As the words fell, Shi Hentian suddenly erupted with the aura of an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior, and the thick, almost tangible Inner Qi burst forth shockingly.


    Increase Energy, focus finger, all of it completed in a flash, one saw Shi Hentian point with his fingers, and a whip carrying a destructive aura swept towards Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian.


    Just when everyone thought Xia Liu would be brought to his knees by this energy whip, in the next second, everyone¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted!


    One saw the lone figure wave his arm, and the death-bringing energy whip dissipated in front of him.


    Silence, silence, silence!!!


    The surroundings fell into a particularly deathly silence, as if it were the calm of a battlefield after the war, eerily quiet.


    No one saw clearly how Xia Liu had just dispersed the energy whip, their eyes filled only with intense shock, as if their very souls had been stirred.


    Because no one felt any fluctuation in Xia Liu¡¯s cultivation; he was still the same Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    He was still the young Xia Liu.


    It was different for Earth-Rank Warriors, their pupils shrank imperceptibly for a moment.


    Xia Liu¡¯s move just now was Energy Increase Protection, though it was for an instant, but sufficient for Earth-Rank Warriors to notice.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± The observing Earth-Rank Warriors suddenly had an epiphany.


    They finally understood why Xia Liu dared to publicly challenge a scion of a great family and an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    It turned out he had his own fail-safe measures. Now, although his aura was at the Mysterious Rank Mid-Level, those with discerning eyes could guess that he used a secret technique to conceal his cultivation!


    So young, and yet hiding his cultivation level, the thought alone was somewhat terrifying.


    Furthermore, Xia Liu easily destroyed Shi Hentian¡¯s energy whip, which was enough to prove he had the cultivation of around Earth-Rank High-Level.


    ¡°Ha-ha! So it turns out to be one of our own, but you¡¯re really looking down on people too much!¡± Shi Hentian reined in his angry expression and laughed crazily, his words filled with a bone-chilling intent.


    ¡°One of our own! Could it be that he is also an Earth-Rank Warrior?¡± Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other¡¯s eyes.


    They even felt a streak of luck¡ªif they had intercepted Xia Liu before Shi Hentian did, the outcome would surely have been unpredictable.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to pull any connections with me, if you¡¯re going to attack then come at me together, I still need to go back for dinner,¡± Xia Liu said, somewhat annoyedly.


    ¡°Damn!¡± Upon hearing Xia Liu¡¯s arrogant words, the onlookers couldn¡¯t help but curse.


    To attack together! That would be three Earth-Rank Peak masters, plus two bodyguards of the same cultivation level.


    On average, that would be five Earth-Rank Peak experts, and yet Xia Liu said to come at him together!


    Where did his confidence come from? Could it be that he also possessed a cultivation level that one of his age should not have?


    Shi Hentian, Yan Wuqing, and Qiu Wenfu all had dark lines across their faces, for it was the first time anyone had looked down on them like this.


    If the other party were an old man, they would definitely feel some intimidation, because someone who dared to be so brazen and was of advanced age was very likely a Heaven-Rank Warrior in hiding.


    But what about Xia Liu, with a youthful face, he could be at most thirty years old.


    At thirty years old, even a super genius could not possibly have a Heaven Rank cultivation, so how could they not be angry?


    A strong will to kill erupted from the three of them, and the air around them froze, unable to flow.


    No wind, no air, no light.


    When a cloud engulfed the dawn light completely, Shi Hentian¡¯s energy shook, his movement technique flashed, bursting forth with his own formidable strike!


    ¡°Lingtian, step back a bit, today I¡¯ll show you how to fight with energy!¡±


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 Chapter 403 - 403: The Sect-Protecting Move Reappears

    Chapter 403: Chapter 403: The Sect-Protecting Move Reappears


    When Shi Hentian made his move, Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu exchanged glances, both of them raising energy to execute their moves.


    If Shi Hentian managed to kill Xia Liu and obtain the stone before them, it would be very troublesome to compete with Shi Hentian later.


    If they couldn¡¯t kill him and seize the item, it could bring irreparable trouble to their families.


    Thus, Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu had to get the stone before Shi Hentian!


    ¡°Wow! Three Earth-Rank Peak Warriors have made their move!¡±


    ¡°Terrifying indeed!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Now, even if that young man has concealed his cultivation, he probably can¡¯t contend with the three from the Yan Family Head!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for sure. Two Earth-Rank Peak experts, plus one Earth-Rank High-Level Peak, might even make a Heavenly Rank Early Level Warrior hesitate.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! You all think too lowly of Heaven Rank Warriors; even ten Earth-Rank Peak Warriors might not be able to defeat a single Heaven-Rank Warrior.¡±


    ¡°Are Heaven-Rank Warriors that terrifying?¡±


    ¡°More than terrifying; they¡¯re absolutely infuriating!¡±


    ¡°Heaven-Rank Warriors are infuriating. What does that have to do with the young man? Just sit back and watch him get killed.¡±


    ¡­


    Seeing Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu make their move together, the onlookers were filled with emotion.


    As for Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui, they took no action; with the Yan Family, the Qiu Family, and a Earth-Rank Peak Loose Cultivator contesting, their bodyguards joining would be futile. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since they had no interest in the Condensing Energy Grass, they might as well wait for the others to secure the stone and then take the grass themselves.


    On the battlefield, three figures gathered their mightiest techniques, their bodies transforming into afterimages as they furiously bombarded Xia Liu.


    Facing such formidable moves, Xia Liu unleashed the Yin Yang Eight Trigrams, executing the first stance of the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!


    Invisibly, the Tai Chi Totem manifested, and Shi Hentian¡¯s palms were also stealthily approaching.


    A strong aura brushed past with the wind. Xia Liu looked up, meeting it with a single palm!


    Boom!


    The sounds of the explosion thundered.


    In the moment of palm contact, Xia Liu activated one of the Taiyi Ultimate Styles.


    ¡°Combat Rotation!¡±


    With a low chant, Xia Liu directed the vast palm energy to one arm.


    ¡°Stellar Shifting!¡± Xia Liu shouted, pushing his right palm forward.


    The sound of a roaring wind ensued, as bursts of wild inner strength erupted from his palm.


    ¡°Defend!¡±


    Yan Wuqing¡¯s face changed abruptly, and he countered with a guarding move.


    Qiu Wenfu did the same, the rapid developments catching them off guard. Xia Liu had incredibly redirected Shi Hentian¡¯s powerful palm energy towards them, creating a bizarre turn of events.


    Boom!


    The sounds of the explosion erupted, as the massive palm energy struck the Gang Qi displayed by Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu.


    The breeze carried a profound pressure to all around, causing the onlookers to retreat several steps.


    The Yellow-Rank Warriors turned pale, the collision of the mighty moves shook them to their core.


    Shi Hentian¡¯s pupils slightly constricted; instantly, he boosted his Inner Qi and sent Xia Liu flying back dozens of meters.


    ¡°A Sect-Protecting Move from the Taiyi Sect?¡± Upon seeing Xia Liu stand unharmed, Shi Hentian murmured in confusion.


    ¡°Taiyi Sect!¡±


    ¡°Sect-Protecting Move!¡±


    ¡°Yes! That young man¡¯s move just now was definitely the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm from the Taiyi Sect!¡±


    ¡°Terrifying! I¡¯ve only read about this move in ancient texts.¡±


    ¡°Haha! It¡¯s getting more and more interesting, that young man is actually from the Taiyi Sect!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that only those of Elder Level or above in the sect can learn the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm!¡±


    ¡°Ironclad!¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, just a declining sect, what does it matter if he truly is from the Taiyi Sect? Who in the Warrior Realm has heard of the Taiyi Sect these days?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the Taiyi Sect hasn¡¯t been heard from in nearly a hundred years; I fear this young man might be the last heir.¡±


    After confirming that Xia Liu was using the Taiyi Eight Trigrams Palm, the Earth-Rank Martial Artists watching the fight gasped in shock.


    The Taiyi Sect was recorded in historical texts as a super sect. If Xia Liu¡¯s identity as a Taiyi Sect member was true, then Shi Hentian and others were indeed in trouble.


    A sect not seen for a century, how much deterrent power could it still have?


    No one knew, now everyone just hoped Xia Liu would unleash a heaven-defying cultivation; otherwise, a tragic death was unavoidable.


    ¡°Interesting, a man from the Taiyi Sect, but it¡¯s a pity your cultivation is too weak. Even if you can perform the sect-protecting move flawlessly, with your low foundation, what do you have to resist with!¡±


    Having said that, Shi Hentian displayed all his cultivation at the Earth-Rank Peak, and the air around him instantly solidified, his aura oppressed the surroundings.


    ¡°Daoist Fellow Shi, he¡¯s not your sole prey; let¡¯s see who kills him first!¡±


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu released their energy simultaneously, all three targeting Xia Liu!


    ¡°And you two, come at me,¡± Xia Liu said without even glancing at Shi Hentian and his companions, instead shifting his gaze to Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui.


    Feeling the casual sweep of Xia Liu¡¯s glance, Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui frowned deeply.


    Xia Liu was courting death; even if he could withstand an Earth-Rank Peak warrior, without Heaven-Rank cultivation, he couldn¡¯t possibly handle five High-Level Earth-Rank experts!


    ¡°Truly an exaggeration! Uncle Feng, join Family Head Yan and attack together, kill him!¡±


    ¡°Elder Li, you go help too, don¡¯t hold back, kill this brat and let everyone witness the Zhao Family¡¯s strength!¡±


    Lin Hui and Zhao Daxi both issued commands, with Uncle Feng and Elder Li joining, that was three Earth-Rank Peaks and two Earth-Rank High-Level warriors.


    This lineup was more than enough to kill a warrior with strange martial arts skills and lower cultivation; it was akin to using a giant cleaver to kill a chicken.


    But Xia Liu was too arrogant, no one would sympathize with him, and the watching warriors were actually eager to witness such a confrontation.


    Because once a warrior was pushed to the brink, he would fight desperately, making the battle extraordinarily exciting!


    ¡°Xia Liu, five Earth-Rank Peaks¡­¡±


    ¡°Lingtian, don¡¯t worry, step back five hundred meters and watch carefully how I perform,¡± Xia Liu said seriously, not letting Ouyang Lingtian finish his sentence.


    At this, Ouyang Lingtian could only shake his head helplessly, though he had seen Xia Liu perform many methods.


    But those were five Earth-Rank Peak warriors, having been a warrior himself, he naturally knew the terror of Earth-Rank warriors.


    Facing five against one, Xia Liu was sure to be extremely dangerous.


    Without further ado, Shi Hentian was the first to strike, this time his speed was even faster, and his palm strength was exceptionally ferocious.


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu were also ready to strike; the unexpected moves of Xia Liu last time weren¡¯t easily defended against, but this time they wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake!


    Uncle Feng and Elder Li exchanged glances and burst forth their cultivation, utilizing the Increase Energy Body Turning Technique.


    Five figures charged towards Xia Liu instantly, their raging aura causing the surrounding ground to tremble slightly.


    ¡°Lingtian, watch carefully, the ultimate move of the Taiyi Palm: ¡®Extreme of Limitless¡¯!¡±


    Muttering softly, Xia Liu split his palms into Yin and Yang performing the Eight Trigrams, and in an instant, a massive totem appeared out of the void.


    The totem glowed with white light, sending waves of dangerous energy dispersing in all directions.


    Boom Boom Boom!!!


    As the Heaven and Earth Totem solidified for a moment, five ferocious palm energies suddenly arrived.


    Upon collision, the mountains were shaken, and the ground cracked like a spider web.


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 Chapter 404 - 404: Unsealing Again

    Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Unsealing Again


    The thunderous sound echoed throughout the area, and waves of residual force swept fiercely around.


    As dust rose, the crowd held their breath and watched intently, and when they saw that strange Heaven and Earth Map, they were all tremendously shaken.


    What shocked them the most was that before the five palm prints, Xia Liu stood unmoved, with a push of his hand in front, blocking the five men!


    An indescribable shock burst in the hearts of the onlookers, who couldn¡¯t believe that Xia Liu had blocked five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors with his own power!


    ¡°A Heaven-Rank Warrior?¡±


    This guess erupted in everyone¡¯s mind. If Xia Liu wasn¡¯t a Heaven-Rank Warrior, how could he possibly withstand five Earth-Rank Peak opponents by himself?


    ...


    ¡°Hmm? Something¡¯s fishy!¡±


    Shi Hentian initially wanted to withdraw his palm and strike again, but discovered he couldn¡¯t pull back!


    ¡°Strange, this map totem formed by Inner Qi can actually forcibly absorb Inner Qi!¡±


    Yan Wuqing also realised something was amiss¡ªhis Inner Qi was uncontrollably being absorbed by the totem.


    ¡°This martial arts skill is a bit odd, but it doesn¡¯t matter. His foundation is weak; everyone, release your Inner Qi wildly at the same time!¡± Shi Hentian reminded immediately, not waiting for the others to be surprised.


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu understood the situation at hand¡ªthey had to deal with Xia Liu first before negotiating with Shi Hentian later.


    The other two Earth-Rank bodyguards also understood.


    The next second, the five men unleashed their strongest Qi Force all at once.


    Boom!!!


    Five powerful streams of Inner Qi bombarded the Heaven and Earth Totem, and the sound of a Thunderclap exploded once again. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu¡¯s eyes flashed sharply as he drove Spiritual Energy to bolster the totem.


    But, with his cultivation sealed at the moment, even though he used the Taiyi Sect-Protecting Secret Technique, he still couldn¡¯t withstand the might of five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors.


    Crack!


    Before long, the Heaven and Earth Totem crumbled bit by bit from the force that the five men exerted.


    The enormous Vigor struck Xia Liu squarely.


    Bang!


    A muffled sound echoed around, and Xia Liu was seen flying backward like a kite with a broken string.


    ¡°Heh, as expected, he can¡¯t withstand the power of five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Relying on a special martial arts skill and still deluded enough to resist five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors, what idiocy!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Now let¡¯s see how he continues to show off. Dammit, his low cultivation was bad enough, yet he still had to act so tough. Enjoying it now, are you?¡±


    ¡°Heh, if he had a few decades, he would surely grow into a terrifying force. Too bad his life is short!¡±


    ¡­


    The watching martial artists saw Xia Liu flying out and revealed disdainful expressions.


    They had all been deceived by Xia Liu just now; he was still a Mysterious Rank warrior, after all.


    However, they still admired Xia Liu¡¯s courage, daring to confront Earth-Rank Warriors despite his weak cultivation level.


    What was terrifying was the number he challenged at once¡ªit was five.


    Aside from Shi Hentian, the other four were from families with strong backgrounds.


    They couldn¡¯t understand where Xia Liu got so much confidence.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s actually alright?¡±


    None were closer to Xia Liu than Yan Wuqing and the others, and they discovered that Xia Liu had no injuries whatsoever.


    He just calmly stood up from the ground.


    Just how terrifying the combined Qi Force was, they were very clear on that.


    Had they been in the same position, they couldn¡¯t believe what kind of injuries they would have sustained.


    And now, Xia Liu had stood up from the ground without anything happening to him¡­


    The onlooking martial artists were also scared out of their wits, unable to comprehend how five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors couldn¡¯t harm a mere Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    If this were to spread, surely no one would believe it.


    If they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn¡¯t dare to imagine, could Xia Liu possibly have an Undying Body?


    All eyes were focused on Xia Liu, wanting to know what secret he possessed that left him unscathed.


    Touching his somewhat numb chest, Xia Liu felt very uncomfortable.


    Although there were no visible injuries, his insides had still been shaken up.


    If it weren¡¯t for the protection of the Demon Stone Clothing, he probably would have suffered serious internal injuries.


    ¡°As I thought, the second layer of the Sealing hadn¡¯t been unlocked, I¡¯m no match for an Earth-Rank Warrior.¡± Looking at Yan Wuqing and the others with their predatory gazes, Xia Liu murmured bitterly.


    ¡°Boy! I¡¯ll give you one last chance, hand over the stone and I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯re safe today!¡± Staring at Xia Liu, Shi Hentian insisted without giving up.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, if you could hand the stone over to us, we also guarantee your safety for the next few days.¡± Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu discussed for a while and then made their promise.


    Seeing that Xia Liu had no intention of cooperating, the three of them fell silent.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s come to this, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± Yan Wuqing said fiercely.


    ¡°Have you ever considered this question¡ªif the one to die later is yourselves, what kind of scene would that be?¡±


    Whoosh¡­


    As soon as Xia Liu said this, the whole place was abuzz.


    They thought they had heard wrong, but after contemplating, they realized they hadn¡¯t!


    Xia Liu actually dared to say such a thing! What kind of trump card did he have?


    Earth-Rank Peak Warriors, and even five of them!


    On what basis could he kill them!


    ¡°Hahaha! Bluster and bluff!¡± Shi Hentian laughed wildly.


    ¡°Little fellow, I was considering sparing your life just now, but it seems unnecessary now!¡±


    ¡°Interesting! It¡¯s truly interesting. A Mysterious Rank Warrior claims he will make Earth-Rank Warriors perish? Even if you survive one attack unscathed, what about ten times? With your foundation, you can¡¯t shake an Earth-Rank Warrior!¡±


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu stared coldly at Xia Liu, their hearts had already harbored the intent to kill.


    They might have been uncertain just now, but they no longer had any reservations.


    ¡°Quite interesting, let¡¯s see how much Cultivation a disciple from Taiyi Sect can burst out with!¡± Sitting in an off-road vehicle a few kilometers from the battlefield, Ye Xuan murmured as she put down the binoculars in her hand.


    ¡­


    Standing in the center of everyone, Xia Liu slowly moved his palm, finally halting it over his abdomen.


    That was where the Tianshu Acupoint was located!


    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s he doing?¡±


    Seeing that Xia Liu looked off, everyone began to feel puzzled.


    They all sensed an odd and imperceptible atmosphere that sent shivers down their spines.


    Splat!


    In the silence, a crisp sound spread.


    The pupils of countless people constricted; Xia Liu was actually stabbing himself!


    ¡°Is he trying to commit suicide?¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Suicide would be better; at least he¡¯ll leave a whole corpse. If Shi Hentian and the others were to take action, he probably wouldn¡¯t even have any bone fragments left.¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous, if he had no ability, why did he offend others like that just now.¡±


    ¡°There really are many people with issues in their heads these days.¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s actions, the spectating martial artists began to jeer.


    Unlike these people, Shi Hentian and the others suddenly felt a violent tug at their hearts, and the smile on Xia Liu¡¯s lips made their hairs stand on end.


    ¡°Drink!¡±


    Ignoring the gazes of everyone present, Xia Liu shouted loudly as he pinched a golden, sharp object from his bloody fingers.


    Before the crowd could react with surprise, a suffocating pressure began to spread out from Xia Liu.


    ¡°His Cultivation has increased!¡±


    ¡°How could this happen!¡±


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, a wave of indescribable shock unfolding in their hearts.


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 Chapter 405 - 405 Peerless Technique

    Chapter 405: Chapter 405 Peerless Technique


    ¡°This aura, its strength has reached the Earth-Rank Primary Level.¡± Shi Hentian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression as calm as a still pond.


    However, in the next second, his complexion dramatically changed because Xia Liu¡¯s aura was continuously increasing!


    Earth-Rank Primary Level Peak!


    Earth-Rank Mid-Level!


    Mid-Level Peak, High-Level!


    Earth-Rank High-Level Peak!


    ...


    Finally, in the blink of an eye, Xia Liu¡¯s aura stabilized at Earth-Rank High-Level Peak.


    Faced with this sudden change, everyone was left dumbfounded.


    What kind of monster was this? His cultivation could soar to such an extent in an instant.


    ¡°That thing seems to be a Spirit Stabilizing Needle!¡±


    ¡°Spirit Stabilizing Needle? Isn¡¯t that a Sealing Device recorded in the ancient texts?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, his cultivation had always been sealed by the Spirit Stabilizing Needle!¡±


    ¡°Too terrifying! Who is he, and why would he seal his own cultivation?¡±


    Martial Artists examining the sharp object in Xia Liu¡¯s hand exchanged looks, now perceiving him as a formidable presence.


    They all felt extremely fortunate that they hadn¡¯t clashed with Xia Liu. Otherwise, confronting him with their Earth-Rank Primary and Mid-Level strength would surely have led to a very grisly outcome.


    ¡°Hmph! Although I don¡¯t know why you sealed your cultivation, you are ultimately just an Earth-Rank High-Level Warrior. You cannot contend with five Earth-Rank Peak!¡±


    ¡°Family Head Yan, we should still be cautious. This youngster is very strange.¡± Shi Hentian, who traveled the Jianghu World alone and possessed vast experience, felt that Xia Liu was very different. If they were careless, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    ¡°Understood. Just now, he had the capability to contend against the five of us, and he is surely not lacking now. Therefore, let¡¯s take this seriously and make it a quick battle!¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡±


    Shi Hentian and the rest agreed with Yan Wuqing¡¯s proposal concerning Xia Liu, a Martial Artist whose strength was deeply concealed and mysterious.


    They must kill him as quickly as possible, or the consequences would be unpredictable.


    ¡°Is this your true power, Xia Liu?¡± Ouyang Lingtian looked at Xia Liu, slightly exhilarated.


    Although he couldn¡¯t sense Xia Liu¡¯s specific level of cultivation, he could infer that his current cultivation was undoubtedly not weaker than the third layer of Qi Cultivation!


    Even though the aura he emitted was only Earth-Rank High-Level, Ouyang Lingtian, who was at the first layer of Qi Cultivation, knew that Xia Liu was deliberately holding back. He was definitely capable of unleashing the pressure of a Heaven-Rank Warrior!


    It was not until this moment that Ouyang Lingtian realized that all his worries had been unnecessary.


    Even with a Spirit Stabilizing Needle inserted in his body, Xia Liu was able to resist five Earth-Rank Peak. Now that he has pulled it out, he would assuredly sweep through the opposition just like he did in the Island Nation.


    However, Ouyang Lingtian was unaware that the Spirit Stabilizing Needle Xia Liu had pulled out was the second one!


    ¡°Old dogs! Are you ready to die?¡± Xia Liu slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with a blood-red hue as he stared at the five people in front, his face wearing a chilling smile.


    ¡°Hmph! Arrogant brat! I¡¯ll let you witness the true power of an Earth-Rank Peak Warrior!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s attack together!¡±


    Facing the insult from Xia Liu, Yan Wuqing and others like Shi Hentian immediately gathered their Energy and concentrated it into their fists.


    ¡°Hm? Family Head Yan and the others are about to deploy their Martial Arts Skills!¡±


    ¡°Earth-Rank Peak Warriors utilizing Martial Arts Skills against their foe!¡±


    ¡°Haha! What luck to be able to witness Earth-Rank Peak Warriors deploying Martial Arts Skills!¡±


    ¡°It looks like that youngster is done for. Five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors launching Martial Arts Skills in unison, even five lives wouldn¡¯t suffice.¡±


    In the excitement of the crowd, Shi Hentian and the others began mobilizing their Inner Qi, unleashing their strongest Martial Arts Skills!


    For a moment, the ground where the five stood could not withstand the ferocity of their Qi Force and sunk half an inch.


    ¡°Lingtian, watch carefully!¡± Glancing back to signal Ouyang Lingtian, Xia Liu raised his palms towards the sky: ¡°Peerless Technique: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!¡±


    The Cyclone Dantian, condensing through a hundred meridians, began to surge from his palm.


    The atmosphere from all sides became eerily unpredictable, and as spiritual energy diffused through the air, all of it surged toward Xia Liu¡¯s palm, from which an otherworldly oppressive force began to spread.


    It was like the waves crashing against the eastern shore, like the Heavenly Water sweeping across the vault of the sky¡ªwave after wave of oppressive force hammering at the hearts of everyone present.


    Faced with this terrifying aura, the surrounding martial artists turned deathly pale and, without a second thought, quickly left their spots.


    They couldn¡¯t believe how strong a martial arts skill unleashed under such a potent aura could be.


    An Earth-Rank martial arts skill? Or perhaps Heaven-Rank!


    ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back any longer! Go all out!¡± Shi Hentian¡¯s face was lined with black veins as he hadn¡¯t expected the martial arts skill Xia Liu was using to pose such a terrible threat to him.


    There was no need for Shi Hentian¡¯s reminder; Yan Wuqing and the others understood as well.


    They all sensed the whiff of death from the martial arts skill Xia Liu was performing; if they didn¡¯t use all their cultivation, they would definitely be in danger soon!


    ¡°Die!¡± Xia Liu¡¯s voice rose as he struck forward with a palm gathered with terrifying power!


    Instantly, a massive handprint appeared!


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!


    The Great Handprint sped forward at an extreme velocity, the space emitting a series of piercing sounds.


    In the blink of an eye, the Great Handprint reached them, and Yan Wuqing and the others narrowed their eyes, unreservedly striking at the Great Handprint. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Boom!


    Five mighty moves shook the Great Handprint, and the deafening sound spread in all directions.


    At the moment of impact, Qiu Wenfu and another Earth-Rank High-Level bodyguard were immediately sent retreating several meters.


    Seeing the situation turning grim, the idea of escape blossomed in the minds of the two retreating figures.


    But how could Xia Liu possibly let them escape!


    ¡°Hmph! Thinking of running? Go to the Underworld and repent!¡±


    With a cold snort, Xia Liu let his spiritual energy leak out, instantaneously enclosing the surrounding terrain, then with a shake of his arm, the feet of the five people in front of him were forcefully pressured into the ground.


    Under the influence of the spiritual energy from all directions, the power of the Great Handprint increased several fold.


    Gradually, the techniques of Yan Wuqing, Shi Hentian, and that Earth-Rank Peak bodyguard began to fade.


    Finally, their techniques were crushed by the Great Handprint!


    Boom!


    With their techniques shattered, Shi Hentian and the others bore the brunt of it as the Great Handprint mercilessly struck them.


    Soon after, Qiu Wenfu and the Earth-Rank High-Level bodyguard couldn¡¯t avoid it either and were sent flying by the Great Handprint in the blink of an eye.


    After sending the four flying, the Great Handprint didn¡¯t dissipate because the spiritual energy concentrated within it was too vast and powerful, and Xia Liu couldn¡¯t even contain it.


    The Great Handprint continued to sweep forward with irresistible force!


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!


    As the Great Handprint flew, sharp, resonant sounds continuously burst through the air.


    Finally, under the frightened gazes of countless people, the Great Handprint struck a bridge a kilometer away!


    Boom, boom, boom!


    All that could be heard was a deafening roar, and before their eyes, the bridge collapsed at a terrifying speed.


    Everyone present held their breath, shifting their gaze away from the bridge.


    They saw a clear imprint spreading endlessly across the battlefield on the ground.


    There on the ground lay five figures, and further ahead stood an extraordinary figure, coldly watching the five people on the ground.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Shi Hentian slowly sat up from the ground, his internal injuries so severe that he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with bits of his innards.


    Yan Wuqing and the others also gradually sat up one after another, their faces varying degrees of pale.


    They looked like elderly men with one foot already in the coffin.


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 Chapter 406 - 406: No Holding Back

    Chapter 406: Chapter 406: No Holding Back


    At this moment, Yan Wuqing and the others looked at Xia Liu with eyes filled with fear.


    The move just now had dealt them a strong blow; it was definitely not of the Mysterious Rank¡ªit was a Martial Arts Skill of the Earth Rank or above!


    Only those with Earth-Rank Cultivation could truly understand the terror of an Earth-Rank Martial Arts Skill.


    Only when directly confronting Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow could one understand the horror of that move.


    ¡°Do you still have the ability to resist now?¡± Xia Liu slowly walked toward the five people. He was a person who would return respect with even greater respect.


    If someone dared to offend him, he wouldn¡¯t hold back!


    ...


    ¡°Senior, please spare us, we were presumptuous,¡± Shi Hentian immediately knelt on the ground as Xia Liu approached. Life was more precious than dignity. As a Loose Cultivator who had experienced too much in his youth, what was the harm in bowing his head? As long as he was alive, everything else was still possible.


    ¡°Senior, please have mercy!¡± Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu also began to plead with their fists clenched.


    ¡°Hmph! What would have happened if I didn¡¯t have the strength to defeat you? Isn¡¯t it a bit late for you to beg for mercy now?¡± Xia Liu coldly snorted, showing no regard for the three people begging for mercy.


    ¡°Not late at all, because¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Shi Hentian¡¯s voice stopped, as he swiftly drew a dagger from his waist with his remaining Inner Qi, launching a desperate, all-out attack!


    Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu had noticed Shi Hentian¡¯s suspicious behavior while he was begging for mercy.


    The moment Shi Hentian made his move, the two of them also rose from the ground while increasing their energy, launching three deadly surprise attacks at Xia Liu, who was barely an arm¡¯s distance away.


    Facing this sudden change, Xia Liu had long been prepared.


    Spiritual Energy surged, a ghostly silhouette flickered, and his raised hand struck Shi Hentian¡¯s head.


    Boom!


    Blood splattered, and a cultivator at the Peak of Earth-Rank instantaneously perished!


    The ghostly figure moved again, and Xia Liu skillfully grabbed the wrists of Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu. Then, exerting force, he made each of them forcefully slap their own foreheads with their energy-condensed palms.


    Thump! Thump!


    Two dull sounds followed, and the space around them quieted down.


    The current head of the Yan Family, the current elder of the Qiu Family, dead.


    A chilling silence fell over the entire place as everyone stared blankly at Xia Liu.


    No one had expected the young man to be so decisive, killing three Earth-Rank Peak martial artists without hesitation!


    The other two bodyguards locked eyes and, bursting out the last of their Inner Qi, attacked Xia Liu once more.


    But they were no more than the sick and weak at this moment; where could they be opponents for Xia Liu, who had already collapsed breathless before even making a move.


    Within the battle ring, only Xia Liu stood, his gaze surveying the surroundings.


    All martial artists trembled as his gaze swept over them.


    They stood frozen on the spot, unable to take any steps, shaken to the core of their souls.


    The sight of five Earth-Rank Peak martial artists slashed in half before them was a shock they would likely remember for a lifetime.


    ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to die, get out!¡± Xia Liu¡¯s eyes glowed with a blood-red tint as he looked around, his wild aura bursting forth.


    Hearing Xia Liu¡¯s words, the martial artists observing from a kilometer away immediately fled.


    Xia Liu¡¯s presence at this moment was incredibly intimidating for them, looking at him as if staring directly at an Asura.


    Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui, who were closer to the battlefield, slumped to the ground, unable to take a step.


    They wanted to leave but found their legs wouldn¡¯t move!


    This was actually because they were too scared, causing them to lose all strength and their bodies to become paralyzed.


    ¡°Since you wish to die, I will oblige you!¡± Seeing that Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui did not heed his command, Spiritual Energy around Xia Liu immediately erupted violently. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui gaped, unable to utter a word, their souls shook to the core, leaving them incapable of any movement.


    Just as Xia Liu was about to make his move, an urgent voice echoed around, ¡°Xia Liu, stop!¡±


    Huh?


    Drawn by the voice, Xia Liu slowly turned around to see Ouyang Lingtian running towards him with a box in his arms.


    ¡°Xia Liu, don¡¯t kill them!¡±


    Ouyang Lingtian was anxious, having already caused enough trouble by killing Yan Wuqing and Qiu Wenfu. If he killed Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui as well,


    they would then have to face four martial artist families.


    ¡°Err¡­err¡­ err¡­ Lingtian, give me that stone, quick!¡± Xia Liu cried out urgently.


    Although not understanding why Xia Liu was so anxious, Ouyang Lingtian still quickly opened the box.


    After obtaining the stone, Xia Liu furiously activated the Five Elements Mantra, and streams of pure energy immediately began to flow from the stone.


    After a short while, the blood-red hue in Xia Liu¡¯s eyes completely faded, replaced by deep black pupils.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s aura become calm, Ouyang Lingtian asked.


    ¡°Haha! What a great item!¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t rush to answer Ouyang Lingtian, instead, he stared at the jade-stone in his hands and burst into mad laughter.


    Ouyang Lingtian felt slightly embarrassed. Had Xia Liu just done something? This look seemed a bit foolish¡­


    ¡°Lingtian, let¡¯s head back first. After performing for so long, I¡¯m starving,¡± said Xia Liu as he took the lead walking toward the vehicle.


    His elation was known only to him, as was the power held within that stone!


    Seeing Xia Liu and Ouyang Lingtian drive away along the riverside, Zhao Daxi and Lin Hui collapsed to the ground.


    Their clothes were soaked through with cold sweat, not daring to imagine what would have happened if Ouyang Lingtian hadn¡¯t been there; they surely would have met an irredeemable death.


    ¡­


    On the empty space behind the broken bridge, a graceful figure stepped out of the car door slowly.


    Compared to the chaotic dry grass around her, she was so prestigious and noble.


    ¡°Such a terrifying cultivator, failing in his cultivation breakthrough, Divine Sense damaged, he actually survived by sealing his own cultivation!¡±


    ¡°No! Judging by the killing intent just now, he¡¯s possibly not only damaged in Divine Sense but demonized! What exactly happened to him, could it be due to mistakenly swallowing Spirit Grass?¡±


    Watching the car gradually disappearing into the distance, Ye Xuan¡¯s expression began to change slowly.


    ¡­


    That night, Xia Liu walked out of his room, his spirit appearing quite good.


    ¡°Are you fully recovered?¡± Ouyang Lingtian asked eagerly.


    When they had returned from the suburbs, Xia Liu had plunged straight into his room, and it had been five hours since; finally, he emerged.


    ¡°Mm, nearly,¡± Xia Liu replied.


    ¡°So, do you still need this Spirit Stabilizing Needle?¡± Pointing to the sharp golden object on the table, Ouyang Lingtian asked with a bitter expression.


    ¡°No need for that anymore, it¡¯s uncomfortable having a piece of metal stuck in your body,¡± Xia Liu said, waving his hand dismissively.


    If it had been before, he would have instantly had the Spirit Stabilizing Needle put back in its place without a second thought.


    In those five hours, he had already confirmed that his injuries had greatly improved and that he no longer needed the Spirit Stabilizing Needle to suppress his cultivation.


    ¡°Is it because of that stone?¡± Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t know what had happened to Xia Liu, but he could guess that nobody would willingly have such a thing stuck in their acupuncture point for no reason.


    ¡°Mm, that stone contains an extremely pure Spiritual Energy. I feel that with just a few more, I might even be able to advance in rank!¡±


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 Chapter 407 - 407: Xia Lius Hardships and Tears

    Chapter 407: Chapter 407: Xia Liu¡¯s Hardships and Tears


    ¡°With a few more pieces, I could even advance in rank!¡±


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s eyes lit up with fervor.


    Currently, Xia Liu¡¯s cultivation was above the third level of Qi Cultivation. If he could advance with just a few pieces, then getting even one, or half a piece, would surely mean that he could advance too!


    ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be envious. That stone isn¡¯t for you. The Spiritual Energy within is too pure, and purity often means it¡¯s violent. With your cultivation, you can¡¯t refine such pure Spiritual Energy,¡±


    Xia Liu bluntly dashed any hopes as he saw what was going through Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Hehe, wishful thinking on my part. However, I¡¯m curious about your cultivation rank,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said, scratching his head.


    ...


    ¡°My cultivation fluctuates quite a bit. Without comparing with other cultivators, I don¡¯t know exactly which rank it corresponds to,¡±


    ¡°Cultivation can fluctuate?¡± Ouyang Lingtian wondered.


    ¡°Yes, this is the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle. I still have one more in my body,¡±


    ¡°Damn! There¡¯s actually another one!¡± Instantly, Ouyang Lingtian was dumbfounded.


    According to Xia Liu, when he was in the Island Nation and removed the Spirit Stabilizing Needle, his aura wasn¡¯t as powerful, which meant that was the first needle!


    Removing this second one and having the power to crush an Earth-Rank Peak, what if he removed the third? Could he not then kill a Heaven-Rank Warrior in an instant!


    ¡°Calm down, you think I want this thing in me? If it weren¡¯t for a hidden affliction in my body, why would I endure this pain¡­¡± Xia Liu could only sigh. The extent of his suffering and tears, only he understood.


    ¡°Can I timidly ask what your affliction is?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. The Spirit Stabilizing Needle seals my cultivation, and it can seal my Divine Sense as well.¡±


    ¡°Divine Sense? What is that?¡± Ouyang Lingtian felt confused, sensing he was about to uncover an unknown truth.


    ¡°Divine Sense is essentially a cultivator¡¯s spiritual power. When you reach a certain realm, you¡¯ll have Divine Sense too. I was too aggressive when I was training. I swallowed any Spirit Grass or herb with Spiritual Energy that I came across, until I mistakenly ate some Nether Grass, which while advancing my rank, caused great damage to my Divine Sense. Once I kill someone, my Divine Sense becomes berserk and uncontrollable.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s it. That¡¯s why you use the Spirit Stabilizing Needle to seal your cultivation and your Divine Sense,¡±


    ¡°Exactly. When my family head found out about my condition, he inserted the Spirit Stabilizing Needle. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could find a cure for me.¡±


    At this point, Xia Liu was full of regret, truly somewhat falling apart then.


    Not only did he leave a hidden danger within himself, but his old man had also died.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Life involves birth, aging, sickness, and death, even for cultivators, and we all meet our limits eventually,¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good attitude. Lastly, let me ask, have you found any method to treat your Divine Sense over the years?¡±


    ¡°Maybe I have, maybe I haven¡¯t,¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ouyang Lingtian grew serious, as he would certainly help Xia Liu recover if he could.


    ¡°Breaking through my realm, strengthening my Divine Sense, maybe then my affliction would disappear,¡±


    ¡°I see, then obtaining a few more of those stones could mean you¡¯d break through,¡±


    ¡°Maybe, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Let¡¯s make some food; I¡¯ve been hungry all day,¡± Xia Liu said with a forced smile.


    ¡­


    Compared to the joyful duo, the atmosphere was significantly heavier inside a certain manor in Yanjing.


    Only two bodies lay on the ground, completely covered by white sheets.


    ¡°Who did this?¡± asked a middle-aged man standing nearby, his expression grave, with a chill emanating from his body.


    Several elderly men with silver hair stood beside him, their expressions similarly grim.


    ¡°According to the martial artists who were present at the scene, it was a young man,¡± someone said.


    ¡°A young man? How could he have the cultivation to kill Earth-Rank Peak warriors? Even if Elder Qiu is not at the Earth-Rank Peak, it¡¯s quite close.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Everyone turned their attention to the elderly man who had spoken.


    ¡°From the information I received, Wu Qing and Wen Fu, after losing an auction, followed a loose cultivator named Shi Hentian along with the Zhao Family young master and Lin Family young master from the neighboring city to intercept this young man.¡±


    ¡°This battle involved five Earth-Rank Peak experts fighting against that young man, and they all got killed by him.¡±


    Everyone present gasped in shock.


    Five Earth-Rank Peak warriors against one young man, and they were all killed by him¡ªthis was too shocking.


    Even if the young man had immense talent, he could not have reached a Heaven-Rank cultivation at his age.


    So, after regaining their senses, they all believed that there was more to this situation.


    ¡°Elder Qiu, what is the cultivation of this young man?¡± the only middle-aged man present asked.


    ¡°Vice Family Head Yan, I believe that this young man is at least of the Earth-Rank Peak or higher. Otherwise, he could not possibly have killed five Earth-Rank Peak warriors in one go,¡± Elder Qiu responded gravely.


    ¡°Is there any clue to this young man¡¯s whereabouts?¡± Yan Song asked calmly.


    ¡°I heard that the martial arts skills used by this young man were quite unique, belonging to Taiyi Sect¡¯s Sect-Protecting Move, and the final move used was a Great Handprint, at least an Earth-Rank martial arts skill.¡±


    ¡°Taiyi Sect¡¯s Sect-Protecting Move!¡±


    ¡°An Earth-Rank or higher Great Handprint!¡±


    Hearing this information, everyone was uneasy¡ªthis surely meant a formidable enemy!


    ¡°The Taiyi Sect, huh¡­¡± Yan Song fell silent for a moment, then snorted coldly, ¡°Even so, to dare kill important members of the Yan and Qiu families, no matter the faction or cultivation level, we must seek justice!¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Vice Family Head, won¡¯t this provoke a strong enemy unnecessarily?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I also feel it¡¯s improper. Given that Wu Qing and Wen Fu intercepted him with the intent of killing and plundering, and now being counter-killed, it well indicates the other party¡¯s strength.¡±


    ¡°Yes, if that person comes knocking, our families will surely¡­¡±


    ¡°Everyone, quiet down for a moment. Remember, there were hundreds of martial artists watching. If our families don¡¯t take some action, where will our honor stand?¡± Elder Qiu seriously interrupted the others.


    ¡°Here¡¯s a suggestion: each family should send out an Earth-Rank Peak warrior, and once we ascertain the details of this young man, we¡¯ll decide how to handle the situation,¡± he continued.


    ¡°Hmm, this proposal is good; I¡¯ll make arrangements once I return,¡± Elder Qiu agreed wholeheartedly with Yan Song¡¯s suggestion. If there hadn¡¯t been so many martial artists watching, perhaps they could have let this incident slide. However, now, with Wei Qing and Qiu Wenfu being high-ranking and respected members of their clans, to remain silent would diminish their family¡¯s dignity.


    Though the elders present felt it might be improper, both men were the authoritative administrators of the clans, so their suggestions had to be implemented.


    Meanwhile, in a certain villa, Ouyang Lingtian was meticulously swallowing a strand of Condensing Energy Grass.


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 Chapter 408 - 408: Returning Home

    Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Returning Home


    Next to Ouyang Lingtian, Xia Liu looked extremely serious.


    This was not only about whether Ouyang Lingtian could advance in rank, but also about whether the girls could break through to the key point.


    The Condensing Energy Grass was a herb effective for consumption by Yellow-Rank Warriors.


    For cultivators, only Spirit Grass could have the effect of advancing their ranks.


    Xia Liu was very expectant because the Condensing Energy Grass had a thread of condensed Spiritual Energy on it, which was extremely pure.


    Without waiting for Xia Liu to speculate, Ouyang Lingtian opened his mouth and swallowed the Condensing Energy Grass.


    ...


    Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s hand seals activated Condensation of Energy, running the Immeasurable Sword Art within his body.


    At this moment, Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s expression dramatically changed, his eyebrows relaxed¡ªan obvious sign of his excitement.


    ¡°Hmm! There¡¯s some effect, Lingtian, speed up the circulation of your Spirit Formula to instantly refine the Condensing Energy Grass!¡± Sensing a surge of pure Spiritual Energy suddenly within Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s body, Xia Liu urgently reminded him.


    Ouyang Lingtian didn¡¯t speak, his chest seals accelerating continuously!


    Boom¡­


    A few minutes later, a muffled sound suddenly emanated from Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s body, followed by a pressure emanating from his physique, not weaker than that of a Mysterious Rank Warrior.


    ¡°Haha! Success! Qi Cultivation second layer!¡± Ouyang Lingtian¡¯s eyes flew open, vital energy flashing within, and his excited words tumbled out of his mouth, as he jumped up and down on the spot.


    Feeling the power of the second layer of Qi Cultivation, his body trembled because it was so strong!


    Although his aura was not as strong as the previous martial artists¡¯ cultivation, the confidence that the Spiritual Energy gave him was formidable.


    He firmly believed that, even if he were to face an Earth-Rank Warrior now, by deploying Spirit Art, he would definitely be able to kill his opponent!


    Cultivators! Multiples more advanced than martial artists!


    ¡°Haha, the Condensing Energy Grass really is good stuff!¡± Xia Liu was also excited.


    If Ouyang Lingtian could break through from the first to the second layer of Qi Cultivation, then the girls could definitely break through to the first layer of Qi Cultivation.


    ¡°Hmm! This stuff is really good! But I can tell that even if I were to swallow the remaining Condensing Energy Grass now, I wouldn¡¯t be able to advance.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, but anyway, no matter what you say, I¡¯m not giving you any more Condensing Energy Grass,¡± Xia Liu said indifferently.


    ¡°Damn! That¡¯s not what I meant, I¡¯m being serious.¡±


    ¡°I understand, no need to get worked up¡­¡±


    Xia Liu was embarrassed, a little jest and the guy couldn¡¯t take it¡­


    ¡°Xia Liu, I feel that the forces behind those you killed this time won¡¯t let things go,¡± Ouyang Lingtian said with a hint of worry after he calmed down.


    ¡°Just a few martial artist families, don¡¯t worry about it, besides, it will take them some time to find me.¡±


    ¡°Heh, I¡¯m not worried, I¡¯m concerned about Fang Fei and the girls.¡±


    Joking aside, the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow technique that Xia Liu used, while not a proper Spirit Art, was enough to severely injure five Earth-Rank Warriors¡ªif he were to use a true Spirit Art, those people probably wouldn¡¯t last a second.


    Why would such a formidable person need to worry?


    What Ouyang Lingtian was really worried about was Fang Fei and the girls; the martial artist families had been publicly slapped by Xia Liu in front of hundreds of martial artists, and they would certainly not just let it go.


    If these people set their sights on the girls, what was Xia Liu going to do?


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that when the time comes, if it comes to that, I¡¯ll send them to the Immeasurable Sect,¡± Xia Liu said, not having overlooked this issue.


    The previous bloodshed was out of his control, and now the situation had been escalated.


    If the martial artist families dared to cause trouble, he wouldn¡¯t mind sending the girls to a safe place first, then making sure these so-called martial artist families were erased from the world.


    ¡°Lingtian, you go back to Heaven Slaying for the time being and stay out of sight, I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll trouble you,¡± Xia Liu advised.


    ¡°No, no, I need to return to Liu Hai. Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m a Spearhead man now,¡± Ouyang Lingtian replied with a smile.


    ¡°Spearhead? Then why were you with Heaven Slaying¡¯s people before?¡±


    ¡°My grandpa is the commander-in-chief of Heaven Slaying¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Xia Liu felt like an idiot for asking such a stupid question.


    Then he stopped talking, reminded Ouyang Lingtian to book the plane ticket, and went back to his room to rest.


    The next evening, Xia Liu returned to Osmanthus Village, and Ouyang Lingtian followed Xia Liu¡¯s advice to lay low in Liu Hai.


    Driving his car, Xia Liu could see from a distance the girls were in groups, watching the seascape atop the cliff.


    ¡°Sister Fang! Is that Xia Liu¡¯s car?¡± Li Qianqian spotted the BMW driving on the oil-slicked road from afar and asked with uncertainty.


    ¡°It¡¯s him! I didn¡¯t expect him to come back so quickly!¡± Fang Fei had spotted the BMW earlier, that car used to be hers, how could she mistake it!


    ¡°Great! Xia Liu is finally back!¡± Gu Fangxia, who was enjoying the sea breeze, was thrilled.


    ¡°I hope Xia Liu has brought back the Spirit Grass!¡± Fang Fei, Li Qianqian, and Gu Fangxia were all filled with anticipation.


    Only when their own cultivation improved would they have the power to protect themselves, so they wouldn¡¯t be a drag on Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu¡¯s car hadn¡¯t even come to a full stop before the three women pounced on it and opened the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited, everyone! Take it easy¡­¡± Seeing the three women pounce on him like hungry wolves, Xia Liu fearfully tightened his clothes and spoke.


    ¡°Stop pretending, just tell us, did you bring back the Spirit Grass?¡± Li Qianqian demanded. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hehe, Sister Fang, Sister Gu, Qianqian scared me just now. If you help me strip her bare, I¡¯ll give you a surprise.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Sister Fang! Sister Gu, I was wrong!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s useless to tell us that.¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, I was wrong, isn¡¯t that enough¡­¡± Li Qianqian pleaded weakly as she retreated before the two advancing women.


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s not enough!¡± With that, Xia Liu grabbed Li Qianqian into his arms and immediately started kissing her.


    Mmm mmm¡­


    Three hours later, as the sky grew slightly dimmer, Xia Liu shirtless, carried out a pot of fragrant clear soup from the kitchen.


    On the living room sofa, Li Qianqian lay weakly and limp.


    Beside her, Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia smiled gleefully at Xia Liu.


    Their three fair and lovely figures dimmed the lights in their radiance.


    ¡°That guy is so despicable!¡± Once Li Qianqian recovered some energy, she began to pick up the clothes scattered on the carpet to put them on again.


    ¡°Ah, we were too excited, we must not do those dangerous things again, otherwise that guy will punish us severely again.¡±


    ¡°Agreed, let¡¯s all clean up quickly, when Little Snow and Sister Zhang Xue¡¯er come back and see us in such a mess, they¡¯ll definitely laugh out loud.¡±


    Gu Fangxia and Fang Fei both hurriedly searched for their clothes scattered around.


    ¡°It¡¯s so infuriating, once our strength grows, we must bully him back!¡± Li Qianqian said puffing up her cheeks after getting dressed.


    ¡°Definitely!¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°Oh? Who are you planning to bully back?¡±


    Hearing this teasing voice, all three women changed their expressions.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing, Master Xia Liu, you must have heard wrong,¡± Li Qianqian said with an irresistibly cute face that made one want to pinch her cheeks.


    ¡°Hehe, I just called Little Snow; she said she¡¯ll be home in a few minutes. Everyone wash your hands and get ready to eat. After dinner, we¡¯ll all advance together!¡±


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 Chapter 409 - 409: Promote Together

    Chapter 409: Chapter 409: Promote Together


    ¡°Advance together!¡±


    Upon hearing Xia Liu say this, Fang Fei, Gu Fangxia, and Li Qianqian were all spirited up.


    They had been dreaming of advancing.


    Xia Liu had talked about giving himself a surprise before the mutual hurt began, and this surprise truly was a delight!


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu!¡± Before the three women could fiercely hug Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoxue had already returned.


    Xia Liu opened his arms and embraced the soft girl who ran into his arms.


    ...


    ¡°Sister Fang, you guys have some issues, huh.¡±


    Seeing the yet-to-fade rosy blush on the faces of Fang Fei and the others, Huang Xue and Zhang Qing started chuckling softly.


    ¡°Cough cough¡­ Sisters, Xia Liu brought back Spirit Grass, so soon we will all be able to advance!¡± Fang Fei cleared her throat twice, then excitedly shared the thrilling news!


    ¡°Ah! Is this for real?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! I knew Xia Liu would be successful this time around!¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! You¡¯ve worked hard!¡±


    Zhang Xiaoxue, Huang Xue, and Zhang Qing all expressed their joy.


    Advancing was something they had dreamt about, and today it was finally going to happen!


    ¡°Hehe, everyone, don¡¯t get too excited. Before we start cultivating, we must all fill our stomachs,¡± Xia Liu said humbly as he touched his nose, accepting the girls¡¯ praise.


    However, none of them had yet attained cultivation, lacking the ability to fast, and after a day¡¯s work, they definitely needed to replenish their energy.


    It was the same for Fang Fei, Li Qianqian, and Gu Fangxia; they had just given away their savings of several days to them, so their own exhaustion was unimaginable.


    After eating, the women took turns sitting cross-legged in the living room.


    In their hands, they each held a stalk of Condensing Energy Grass.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, is this the Spirit Grass? It looks almost like ordinary weeds, and it also has an unpleasant smell,¡± Zhang Xiaoxue playfully said while looking at the ordinary Condensing Energy Grass in her hand.


    ¡°Good medicine tastes bitter, spiritual medicines smell bad. It¡¯s pretty much the same idea,¡± Xia Liu said thoughtfully, casually bluffing his way through.


    ¡°Alright then, Mr. Xia Liu, how should we consume this Spirit Grass?¡± Li Qianqian asked, voicing the question all the girls were concerned about.


    ¡°First, run the Spirit Formula. When the Spiritual Energy in the Spirit Grass emerges, use the Formula to guide it to the Dantian, and then speed up the operation of the Formula, trying to refine it as quickly as possible.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. Then I¡¯m going to start!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starting too!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s all start together!¡±


    Once they understood, all the women began to run the Immeasurable Sword Art in succession, then tossed the Condensing Energy Grass into their mouths.


    Xia Liu watched each girl with utmost concentration, ready to intervene the moment any of them lost control or failed to refine the Spiritual Energy.


    Thankfully, everything went very smoothly.


    And Xia Liu was even more gratified.


    Because these girls had reached a stage where they could operate the Immeasurable Sword Art at will.


    This was related to their previous efforts to understand and diligently practice.


    Boom¡­


    Ten minutes after the women swallowed the Condensing Energy Grass, a faint and deep sound emanated from Fang Fei¡¯s body.


    Immediately after, the aura of a Qi Cultivation first layer emerged from Fang Fei.


    Boom boom boom¡­


    Following Fang Fei¡¯s advancement, similar sounds came from both Gu Fangxia and Li Qianqian simultaneously.


    After the sounds came the externalization of their energy, all indicating they were advancing!


    Then, after a few more faint sounds, Zhang Xiaoxue, Huang Xue, and Zhang Qing also advanced to the Qi Cultivation first layer!


    In just twenty minutes, this villa had produced six Qi Cultivation first layer cultivators!


    After advancing to the next level, the girls didn¡¯t stop immediately, as they were all engrossed in the power of Qi Cultivation at the first level.


    Before, some of them struggled to even lift fifty pounds, but now they all had confidence that even two hundred pounds would be effortless for them to lift.


    They felt power coursing through every part of their bodies. Facing this kind of strength for the first time, they carefully cherished the experience, and the thought of becoming powerful one day filled them with wonder.


    ¡°Phew!¡± Fang Fei let out a deep breath and then opened her beautiful eyes.


    ¡°Is this the power of a cultivator? It¡¯s so strong!¡±


    ¡°Haha! From now on, we have power too. Xia Liu won¡¯t have to worry about us anymore!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, now Xia Liu can finally rest assured.¡±


    The women were overjoyed. Their dedication to cultivation was entirely for Xia Liu¡¯s sake.


    If they were weak and powerless, when Xia Liu¡¯s enemies came, they would only serve as bargaining chips to threaten him.


    Now that they had power, even if they couldn¡¯t assist Xia Liu, at least they had the ability to protect themselves!


    ¡°Why is there such a strong foul smell!¡± Suddenly, Fang Fei¡¯s brow furrowed as she pinched her nose and exclaimed.


    ¡°Sister Fang! The smell seems to be coming from you.¡±


    Li Qianqian, who was closest to Fang Fei, also smelled it, but since no one had mentioned it, she felt awkward pointing it out.


    ¡°That¡¯s not right, Qianqian, you have it on you too.¡±


    ¡°Gu Family, it¡¯s on you as well¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah! What is this sticky and fishy stuff on my body!¡± Suddenly, Li Qianqian checked her body and then screamed.


    It wasn¡¯t just Li Qianqian; the other girls also felt something was wrong with their bodies. Seeing the dark, sticky, and foul substance, their faces turned pale.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic, everyone. That¡¯s the impurities from inside your bodies. When advancing to the first level of Qi Cultivation, the impurities are automatically expelled. Just go wash up, and you¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Seeing the panicked looks on the women¡¯s faces, Xia Liu quickly explained.


    ¡°Ah! I need to go rinse off quickly!¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡±


    ¡°Xiaoxue, wait for me!¡±


    ¡°The bathroom on the first floor is full, everyone go to the second floor!¡±


    ¡°Save a spot for me¡­¡±


    After hearing Xia Liu¡¯s explanation, all the women rushed off.


    Their earlier panic was mainly because they feared that they would constantly have such sticky and foul substances on them, which to them was a fate worse than death.


    Although they were relieved now, showing such an embarrassing side in front of Xia Liu, they were worried it might burden him psychologically.


    Listening to the giggling and playful sounds from the bathroom, Xia Liu felt parched and fidgety.


    Then he closed the doors and windows, and slyly opened the bathroom door.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    &¡­


    Various voices erupted in the bathroom as Xia Liu¡¯s sudden appearance triggered different emotions in the women.


    Concerned that Xia Liu hadn¡¯t rested well these past few days, Fang Fei, Gu Fangxia, and Li Qianqian let him be during the night.


    However, Zhang Xiaoxue, Zhang Qing, and Huang Xue weren¡¯t yet satisfied, especially after just advancing to the first level of Qi Cultivation.


    Feeling an inexhaustible strength within their bodies, of course they wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity to test it out.


    Unfortunately, as they became stronger, Xia Liu grew even stronger. Like a War God, he commanded such an awe that all adversaries bowed their heads in submission.


    By three in the morning, Xia Liu, too, was peacefully asleep. These days had truly worn him out.


    But seeing all the women advancing to the first level of Qi Cultivation, no matter how tired, it was all worth it.


    After dawn, Xia Liu prepared breakfast for the still-sleeping women, and then took the remaining three stalks of Condensing Energy Grass to the villa where Lin Xiaotian lived¡­


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 Chapter 410 - 410: The Shocking Young Couple

    Chapter 410: Chapter 410: The Shocking Young Couple


    ¡°`


    Xia Liu felt a bit embarrassed when he actually heard a faint roar coming from the room at the entrance.


    ¡°It¡¯s terrifying, early in the morning,¡± said Xia Liu, shaking his head helplessly, aware of what Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili were doing.


    However, he didn¡¯t wait, pressing the doorbell directly.


    As the doorbell¡¯s echoes rang out, he could hear the flurry of activity inside the room.


    A few minutes later, Lin Xiaotian opened the door, looking at Xia Liu with a somewhat distressed expression, ¡°Bro, you caught me at a critical time, I don¡¯t believe you couldn¡¯t hear.¡±


    ...


    Lin Xiaotian was extremely helpless, because ordinary people wouldn¡¯t come to find him, and the only person who would ring his doorbell besides Xia Liu was nobody.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand a thing,¡± said Xia Liu, feigning ignorance.


    ¡°You know, just remember this, when my cultivation is high-strength, I will definitely teach you a lesson!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite bold. Well then, I¡¯ll take the Spirit Grass and go, sorry to disturb you.¡±


    ¡°Spirit Grass!¡± Upon hearing the words ¡®Spirit Grass¡¯, Lin Xiaotian¡¯s expression immediately changed.


    ¡°Bro! My dear bro! Don¡¯t go, I was wrong!¡± Lin Xiaotian clutched Xia Liu¡¯s hand and refused to let go.


    Spirit Grass, after all, was something that could potentially allow one to advance.


    And seeing Xia Liu¡¯s appearance, Lin Xiaotian was sure that the Spirit Grass must be exceptionally effective. Surely those sisters-in-law have advanced!


    ¡°You little rascal, still dare to threaten me!¡± Xia Liu said triumphantly.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, you¡¯ll always be my dear bro. Come on in and sit. I¡¯ll make you tea and massage your legs.¡±


    Xia Liu sat in the living room for a while, and then Bai Lili came down from upstairs.


    Her face was flushed with a rosy glow, and she lowered her head, not daring to look too directly at Xia Liu.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, have you encountered any bottlenecks in your cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Not really, I¡¯m still a little bit away from the second layer of Qi Cultivation. Thank you for your concern, Big Brother Xia Liu,¡± Bai Lili replied in a soft voice.


    ¡°I see. Take this Condensing Energy Grass. Once you reach the bottleneck of the first layer of Qi Cultivation, consume it and refine it, and you will be able to break through to the second layer.¡±


    As he spoke, Xia Liu handed Bai Lili a beautifully crafted small box.


    ¡°Condensing Energy Grass!¡±


    Bai Lili obviously recognized the herb. She trembled, her palms unnerved, the surprise was too sudden.


    ¡°My dear bro! I massaged your legs for quite a while, I deserve some surprise too,¡± Lin Xiaotian said, almost in tears, upon seeing Xia Liu straight-up giving Bai Lili Spirit Grass, especially the crucial Spirit Grass. If only he had known this, he would not have dared to threaten Xia Liu earlier.


    ¡°This leg here is still a bit stiff; put a little more strength into it.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Big Brother Xia Liu, you should keep the Spirit Grass for Sister Fang and the rest,¡± said Bai Lili.


    ¡°Lili, don¡¯t be so formal with him!¡± As Bai Lili spoke considerately, Lin Xiaotian immediately grabbed the box, with the manner of someone who feels it would be a huge loss not to accept.


    Bai Lili gave Lin Xiaotian a white look. To take a gift with such entitlement, only he could dare to do so.


    ¡°Xiaotian, have you also reached a bottleneck in your cultivation?¡± Xia Liu asked. He and Lin Xiaotian were close enough to trust each other with their lives, so formalities were not an issue.


    ¡°Nonsense, I just couldn¡¯t break through the crucial point. Quick, give me about a hundred Spirit Grasses, I want to break through!¡±


    ¡°I spit on your face, a hundred or so, do you think Spirit Grass grows like radishes or cabbages? I only have two left, whether or not you can break through depends on your luck now.¡±


    ¡°Haha, with my monster talent, is there anything I can¡¯t break through?¡± Lin Xiaotian¡¯s eyes twinkled with vital energy as he took the box.


    Off to the side, Bai Lili shook her head helplessly. This guy was truly supreme-grade, never knowing to be a bit modest.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to be confident, but the potency of Spirit Grass is limited, I¡¯m not sure if it will be of any use to you,¡± Xia Liu said, not worried about Lin Xiaotian¡¯s talent but about the efficacy of the Condensing Energy Grass.


    ¡°`


    The Cultivation of martial artists is only aimed at Yellow-Rank martial artists.


    Now Lin Xiaotian has reached the peak of the second layer of Qi Cultivation, and I really don¡¯t know if it will have any effect.


    ¡°We¡¯ll know that in a bit, what I¡¯m more concerned about is the process you went through on this trip,¡± Lin Xiaotian said, a hint of excitement in his voice.


    ¡°I came to you to talk about this very matter.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? What happened?¡±


    Bai Lili and Lin Xiaotian both looked at Xia Liu with puzzled eyes, for if everything had gone smoothly, Xia Liu would never have spoken like this¡ªsomething must have happened.


    ¡°On this trip, I killed five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors in Yanjing,¡± Xia Liu¡¯s deep voice carried forth.


    Boom¡­


    Bai Lili and Lin Xiaotian felt as if a bomb had detonated in their minds!


    To have slain five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors!


    Exchanging glances, the couple swallowed hard, the sound echoing around them.


    Five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors, compared to now, that¡¯s the equivalent of five Sect Leaders or Great Elders.


    Moreover, Heaven-Rank Warriors haven¡¯t appeared for many years.


    So, these Earth-Rank Peak Warriors could be considered the pinnacle of today¡¯s Warrior Realm.


    Who would have thought that Xia Liu would directly kill five on his journey!


    If it weren¡¯t for their understanding of Xia Liu¡¯s character, Bai Lili would never believe it.


    At that moment, she felt somewhat relieved; if she had truly resented Lin Xiaotian at that time and wanted him dead, Xia Liu, as Lin Xiaotian¡¯s brother, would have stopped at nothing to carry it out.


    Now she fully understood that Xia Liu¡¯s talk of annihilating a sect was no joke.


    He had the capability¡ªfive Earth-Rank Peak Warriors, even the Immeasurable Sect wouldn¡¯t be able to produce them.


    ¡°Brother, please tell me the details of what happened,¡± Lin Xiaotian urged after recovering from the shock.


    Xia Liu nodded and began to recount the events that had taken place at the auction.


    Half an hour later, Lin Xiaotian leaped up from the sofa¡ªwhat had he heard!


    Xia Liu had used the martial arts skill he created to leave five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors severely injured!


    Such glory was more exhilarating than any other moment.


    Though Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow was created by merging and evolving various martial arts skills, it was regarded as Lin Xiaotian¡¯s own creation, giving him grounds for pride.


    ¡°Haha! Lili, did you hear that? The move Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow blasted five Earth-Rank Peak Warriors!¡± Lin Xiaotian exclaimed proudly.


    Bai Lili didn¡¯t speak and just gave him a look; she had been aware of the power of Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow since the day it wrecked the Martial Combat Arena of the Immeasurable Sect.


    Of course, she believed that the effectiveness of the move depended on the user¡ªif it were her executing it, it certainly wouldn¡¯t harm an Earth-Rank Warrior, so it was still the caster who was truly powerful. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Wait a second, you¡¯ve killed important figures from two martial families, and so many people have seen it¡ªaccording to the nature of Huaxia Warrior families, this bunch of animals definitely won¡¯t let things slide easily.¡±


    Lin Xiaotian suddenly realized the true meaning behind Xia Liu¡¯s words.


    ¡°So, I¡¯d like to ask my sister-in-law for a small favor.¡±


    ¡°Me? Xia Liu, Brother, please speak. As long as I can be of help, Lili absolutely will not refuse.¡±


    ¡°If those two martial families send people, please take Sister Fang and the others to Immeasurable Island to hide for a while.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly not a problem, I was even thinking about when to take them to see the scenery of Immeasurable Island.¡± Hearing Xia Liu say this, Bai Lili was somewhat happy¡ªthis was hardly a favor at all¡­


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 Chapter 411 - 411: Strive to Earn Money

    Chapter 411: Chapter 411: Strive to Earn Money


    ¡°I am truly grateful to you, younger sister,¡± Xia Liu expressed his sincere gratitude.


    For those two aristocratic families, the safest place might be Immeasurable Island.


    Because Immeasurable Island possesses that powerful Island Protection Formation, which even Xia Liu cannot break through. It¡¯s an immensely strong formation.


    Xia Liu knew who had set up the great formation on Immeasurable Island¡ªit must have been the founder, Master Qingcheng.


    Although he did not know how powerful Master Qingcheng¡¯s cultivation was, to be able to set up such a formidable formation, not to mention Earth-Rank Warriors, even if a hundred Warriors at the Heavenly Rank Peak appeared, they couldn¡¯t break it.


    Thus, the girls going to Immeasurable Island would indeed be in an exceedingly safe existence.


    ...


    ¡°I truly hope that day will never come,¡± Lin Xiaotian murmured softly.


    ¡°That¡¯s beyond our control now. If they truly intend to cause trouble, I don¡¯t mind shaking Yanjing to its core,¡± a blood-red flash passed through Xia Liu¡¯s eyes, the extent of the commotion would only be known at the moment it happened.


    Bai Lili watched Xia Liu and Lin Xiaotian calmly, sensing a faint murderous intent emanating from both.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. I¡¯m going to cultivate and strive to break through to the third level of Qi Cultivation!¡± Lin Xiaotian, who had been at the peak of second level for a long time, could hardly wait.


    This time in seclusion, he was determined to break through to the third level of Qi Cultivation!


    Currently, he could kill an Earth-Rank Primary-Level Warrior, but he wasn¡¯t satisfied. The enemies of Xia Liu in the future would definitely not be weak.


    Thus, he needed to return to his former strength, or else he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything for Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu did not continue to bother Lin Xiaotian, returning to the villa to eagerly discuss and analyse the human code with the girls.


    After spending a crazy morning with the girls, Xia Liu finally left the house.


    He could not stop now; he must do everything possible to enhance his strength.


    Because he felt that among those two martial families, there might exist Heaven-Rank Warriors.


    Although he had never encountered Heaven-Rank Warriors, Xia Liu could imagine that such warriors must be extremely formidable.


    Because they possess Inner Strength!


    Strength!


    Tangible strength!


    On the path of a martial artist, once Inner Qi is transformed into Inner Strength, one¡¯s overall power will elevate to a terrifying degree.


    Though Earth-Rank Warriors currently dominate, that¡¯s because the Heaven-Rank Warriors do not appear.


    Once a Heaven-Rank Warrior appears, Earth-Rank Warriors are nothing but dust to be brushed away casually.


    The difference between Heaven-Rank Warriors and Earth-Rank Warriors is that between Inner Qi and Inner Strength¡ªlike heaven and earth.


    Xia Liu knew his own power; against Earth-Rank Warriors he could crush them easily, but facing a Heavenly Rank Peak or higher warrior, with his current cultivation, he could not kill them without using Spirit Art.


    But once he used Spirit Art, the secret of cultivators would be exposed. If the news got out, his future would become even more troubled.


    Therefore, without the certainty of killing the opponent, Spirit Art could not be used lightly.


    As for the third Spirit Stabilizing Needle, it couldn¡¯t be removed until his Divine Sense was strengthened, otherwise the consequences would be unpredictable.


    After this auction, Xia Liu understood that if he wanted to improve his cultivation by buying Spirit Grass, he would need much more money.


    This time, if he hadn¡¯t been lucky to encounter narcissistic warriors like Shi Hentian, thirty billion or so in currency would definitely not have been enough to buy that stone and the Condensing Energy Grass.


    Luck!


    If only his luck were a little better, it would have been great to come across some Spirit Grass in the mountains.


    Unfortunately, matters of luck are uncertain; now the only reliable thing to do is to earn money earnestly, then visit various places to check, and once he finds any Spirit Grass, to buy it.


    At that time, only Longteng, Longyun, and the distillery were profitable. The group¡¯s development was heavily investing at the moment and it would take about a year or two before seeing substantial profits.


    Xia Liu had to think about restarting his money-making strategies.


    Of course, the distillery required attention, as a bottle of Osmanthus Wine could sell for fifty thousand pieces. Producing a thousand bottles a day would yield an enormous profit.


    This money would definitely be shared with the villagers, who didn¡¯t need much money for now, so it was preferable to buy Spirit Grass first if Osmanthus Group was being drained.


    Then it would be gradually replenished later, and Xia Liu was confident about it.


    Xia Liu first visited the distillery, where Li Dazhuang and the others were busy, all with smiles on their faces, working daily in the fragrance of wine, they didn¡¯t feel tired at all.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t disturb them, just quietly watched at the door for a while before he left.


    In the medicinal wine area, the storage pools were empty, either because Tianluo Pharmaceutical had picked it up today, or these past few days they didn¡¯t lack stock.


    Then Xia Liu left the distillery discreetly and headed to the hills where the Osmanthus Chickens were bred to check on them.


    Everything was as usual here, with Osmanthus Chickens running all over the hills and several women sweeping with brooms.


    Later, Xia Liu went to the Osmanthus Wine packaging factory, which was operating at that moment. Li Dazhuang, as the manager, was inspecting the workshop.


    The workers were about eight young men.


    ¡°Dazhuang!¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re here.¡± Seeing Xia Liu call out to him, Li Dazhuang immediately came over.


    ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°They are all younger brothers from a generation younger than us, some went to work right after junior high, others after high school, and only recently returned to the village.¡±


    Xia Liu nodded in realization; no wonder he hadn¡¯t seen them before, they were all younger fellows from the same village.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu!¡± The eight young men also noticed Xia Liu and promptly stood up to shout.


    Since they had just returned from working outside and saw the changes in the village and heard from their families, they learned about Xia Liu¡¯s legend.


    As for this formidable legendary figure, they nearly dropped their jaws in awe.


    They still remembered, a few years ago, when they were still in school, Xia Liu was a few grades higher than them.


    Originally having a harmonious family, due to a bizarre incident, his grandparents and parents all died, leaving him alone.


    When he reappeared after disappearing for a few years, he already possessed such skills, becoming a legendary figure in the village and the county.


    Admirable!


    ¡°Hello¡­¡± Seeing the eight young men, Xia Liu smiled slightly; not having seen them for several years, these youths who used to be only up to his waist had grown up, how the hell could he know who was who¡­


    Then Li Dazhuang led Xia Liu to the storage room of the packaging factory to check.


    ¡°Heh heh, really not bad, there are already ten thousand bottles of Osmanthus Wine!¡± Xia Liu was slightly surprised after hearing Li Dazhuang¡¯s report.


    These in front of him were worth several billion Huaxia currency.


    ¡°And that¡¯s not all, I also transported a thousand bottles to the headquarters two days ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What do you mean?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Osmanthus Wine was promoted in Liuhai City. After we limited the supply to those two distributors, customers who know about Osmanthus Wine started coming directly to our group.¡±


    ¡°Haha! That¡¯s great news.¡± Xia Liu kept laughing with joy, those two guys from Liu Hai City were really effective, allowing customers to know about Hejing; it seemed that Yang Tian and his team hadn¡¯t held back.


    ¡°Uh, by the way, Brother Xia Liu, a few days ago Miss Liu Lanxin from Tianluo Pharmaceutical called you¡­¡±


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 Chapter 412 - 412 Guardian?

    Chapter 412: Chapter 412 Guardian?


    ¡°Miss Liu called me?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu was puzzled. What could that girl possibly want from him?


    Back in the hotel, the video he took had fallen into the water. Now, without any leverage on her, why was she reaching out to him?


    ¡°Yes, Miss Liu said you need to be at Binlai University on the 8th of this month, or else the cooperation will cease,¡± Li Dazhuang said meaningfully.


    If the cooperation stopped, that would mean losing a deal worth over a hundred million yuan in a single supply.


    Tianluo Pharmaceutical had already shaped up the sales of Vigor Wine. If Osmanthus Group took over the production of accompanying beverages, it would definitely take a long time to build up the reputation.


    ...


    Without reputation, who would dare to buy those expensive beverages?


    In Huaxia, Tianluo Pharmaceutical is a deeply-rooted major pharmaceutical company. The medicinal liquors they produce are guaranteed quality.


    ¡°Uh, she wants me to go to Binlai University? What is she up to?¡± Xia Liu couldn¡¯t understand at all.


    As for halting the cooperation, Tianluo Pharmaceutical would definitely not agree. The profits that the medicinal liquor brought to Tianluo Pharmaceutical were absolutely tremendous. Nobody would complain about making too much money.


    ¡°That¡¯s all she asked me to convey to you,¡± Li Dazhuang said, shaking his head with a bitter expression.


    ¡°All right, I got it. I¡¯ll contact her myself later.¡±


    Although Xia Liu was clueless, he wasn¡¯t facing a formidable enemy but just Miss Liu.


    If he couldn¡¯t handle her, then he might as well quit the game.


    After leaving the distillery, Xia Liu called Miss Liu.


    ¡°Hello, Miss Liu, I¡¯m not sure what you needed to talk about?¡± As soon as the call connected, Xia Liu spoke enthusiastically.


    ¡°Xia Liu! You finally called me! Very good, very good!¡±


    ¡­


    Xia Liu could sense the anger in Miss Liu¡¯s tone and was utterly confused about the situation. Ever since she went off to study, he hadn¡¯t contacted her much. Could it be just because he hadn¡¯t contacted her that she was now angry with him?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been quite busy lately. I even had my phone stolen a while back, so I lost your number too,¡± Xia Liu apologized, even though he wasn¡¯t sure that this was the reason.


    ¡°Someone dared to steal your phone? That really is strange,¡± Miss Liu responded coldly.


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s all true. I don¡¯t know how else I can explain to make you believe me,¡± Xia Liu said, touching his nose, thinking to himself that it would be even harder to believe if he said his phone had been shattered by two torpedoes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your explanation. Just be there at the school gate at 7 a.m. on the 8th.¡±


    ¡°What is it exactly? I¡¯m getting scared with you acting like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, stop pretending. I just want to talk to you for a bit. It won¡¯t delay you much.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll see you then,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t ask further. This girl had helped him too much. What¡¯s wrong in agreeing to meet her?


    Perhaps Miss Liu really was angry about something. As soon as Xia Liu finished speaking, she hung up.


    ¡°Ah, such a little girl¡­¡±


    After a resigned shake of his head, Xia Liu decided to head to the beach.


    ¡°Xia Liu, Xia Liu¡­¡± Before he had taken a few steps, someone was calling his name from behind.


    Turning around, it was Zhang Tie.


    ¡°Uncle Zhang, what happened? You look so anxious?¡± Xia Liu had long since let go of any grudge against Zhang Tie.


    Mainly, it was just that Zhang Tie¡¯s family was too kind to Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Since the day Zhang Tie and his wife apologized, they had been especially protective of Zhang Xiaoxue.


    Not only that, but since Zhang Tie had reformed, Xia Liu could tell that he was the most vocal supporter among the villagers.


    When there was trouble in the village and Li De brought people to cause trouble, Zhang Tie was the first to stand up in front.


    Xia Liu took note of all these things, so calling him Uncle Zhang was well-deserved.


    ¡°Heh, Xia Liu, you can just call me Zhang Tie. My wife has not been feeling well these past few days, but Xiaoman needs a guardian to make a trip, so I was wondering if I could trouble you¡­¡± Zhang Tie said with a bitter face.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xiaoman?¡± Not dwelling on how to address Zhang Tie, Xia Liu straightforwardly asked.


    ¡°Xiaoman is in her senior year now, and she will be starting her internship in a few days, then the school is organizing some event that requires the students¡¯ guardians to attend.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu hesitate, Zhang Tie continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never been to Binlai City, and I don¡¯t know the way. Plus, Xiaoman¡¯s mom is unwell these days, and I might need to go to the hospital to take care of her, so I didn¡¯t know who else to ask but you. If it¡¯s inconvenient for you¡­¡±


    ¡°No worries, I have a lot of time. What¡¯s going on with you, though? Is it a hospital stay?¡±


    ¡°Xiaoman¡¯s mom has some high blood pressure, and the doctor said she needs to be hospitalized for observation for a while.¡±


    ¡°For high blood pressure, you can come to me. Which hospital is it? I¡¯ll accompany you to check on her first.¡± Although Mo Li had been rather unpleasant before, Xia Liu naturally wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge after Zhang Xiaoxue forgave her. Now they were all villagers, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t stand idly by in case of illness.


    ¡°Thank you so much Xia Liu. Actually, there¡¯s nothing seriously wrong with Xiaoman¡¯s mom, it¡¯s just some common symptoms for an older pregnant woman. She should be able to return home from the hospital in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Uh uh¡­¡± Xia Liu was dumbfounded, his face bemused. The daughter was already in her early twenties, and Zhang Tie was still so virile, impressive indeed.


    ¡°Really congrats Uncle Zhang, I¡¯ve got the guardian thing covered, what¡¯s the date?¡± Xia Liu smiled slightly, a village adding a new life was certainly a cause for happiness.


    ¡°Xiaoman mentioned it¡¯s on the eighth, see if you can schedule it. If not, don¡¯t worry about it. These schools are something else, though, what¡¯s the deal with organizing events? Couldn¡¯t they just handle it themselves instead of dragging us into it?¡±


    ¡°Ah, you can¡¯t really say that. When schools organize events, they definitely have their reasons. Anyway, leave it to me, and you take care of Aunt Mo.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really grateful, and when Xiaoman¡¯s sibling is born, you¡¯ll have to help us pick a name too,¡± Zhang Tie said happily.


    ¡°Heh, if I¡¯m around, I definitely will.¡±


    ¡­


    Watching Xia Liu¡¯s retreating figure, Zhang Tie murmured in his heart, ¡°Xiaoman, this is as far as dad can help¡­¡±


    The eighth?


    On his way back, Xia Liu couldn¡¯t help but feel troubled. Liu Lanxin had also asked him to be in front of Binlai University on the eighth, and Xiaoman had an event on the same day.


    And it was the same university, what a coincidence.


    However, Liu Lanxin¡¯s issue was easier to handle, as she only wanted to speak a few words with him.


    Xiaoman¡¯s matter, since he had promised Zhang Tie, meant he would have to attend as her guardian.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve been thinking about how to make money recently anyhow; a little outing might do some good.¡± Murmuring to himself, Xia Liu could only smile wryly.


    With his abilities, he was sure he could resolve both girls¡¯ issues.


    He thought that taking the opportunity to explore a bit more during this outing might open up new avenues for making money.


    Otherwise, the next time Spirit Grass came up, he wouldn¡¯t have the funds to bid or purchase it.


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 Chapter 413 - 413: Is It Difficult?

    Chapter 413: Chapter 413: Is It Difficult?


    Xia Liu wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go to Binlai University; it took only about two hours to drive there from the city.


    In the following days, Xia Liu had visited all the industries under the banner of the Osmanthus Group.


    Wherever there was a need for improvement, he would personally give instructions.


    For instance, over by the fishing boats, because of his absence, Liang Caiming and a few female captains received fewer and fewer red packets, sometimes even none at all.


    The moment Xia Liu showed up, he immediately gave each of them a substantial red packet.


    This caused the girls to scream with excitement, almost plucking up the courage to throw themselves at Xia Liu.


    ...


    Liang Caiming silently watched Xia Liu, with so much she wanted to say.


    But as the words rose to her throat, they were pushed back down by the resolve in her heart.


    Xiao Hu seemed to be the most successful one on the boat; after his affair with Tan Jingxue was exposed, it led to a lot of cheering among the village youth.


    Even more impressive, Xiao Hu was actually going to get engaged to Tan Jingxue.


    This situation was certainly the envy of countless young men.


    They too were thinking of making an effort, as they were also getting older, and if they didn¡¯t marry now, they might not find someone who truly loved them in the future.


    Osmanthus Village was continuously developing, and many people knew that the villagers had all become wealthy.


    The number of girls introduced by relatives was also increasing.


    But the young men in the village didn¡¯t like such setups.


    Because these women were not true love, to put it bluntly, they were only interested in the money.


    If they really wanted to marry into Osmanthus Village, why didn¡¯t they think of it half a year ago?


    And then there were those matchmaking relatives, who, to anyone with clear eyes, were obviously just trying to profit through their bride-to-be.


    The once poverty-stricken villagers of Osmanthus had their wits about them and knew how to judge people.


    They understood the real intentions behind people¡¯s actions, they just didn¡¯t expose them or stop this kind of behavior.


    As long as nothing too outrageous happened, Xia Liu would turn a blind eye.


    But if it involved the property or personal safety of the villagers, he would retaliate without holding back.


    The number eight was a rather meaningful digit.


    On the morning of the eighth, Xia Liu appeared at the entrance of Binlai University as promised.


    The Bentley parked in front of the main gate undoubtedly caused quite a stir.


    ¡°Look! That young guy is so handsome and rich!¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey! Why doesn¡¯t he have a few bottles of water in his car, then I would¡¯ve had a chance.¡±


    ¡°I wonder which lucky girl will get to hang out with this rich second generation, she really hit the jackpot!¡±


    ¡°Look at me, look at me, I¡¯m so pretty, sitting in the passenger seat would definitely add to your image, I¡¯d even be willing to quake in the car for three days.¡±


    ¡°Such a handsome rich second generation, I¡¯m willing to do anything for you, come hit on me!¡±


    Xia Liu, with his exceptional hearing, heard all the comments made by those girls as he passed by them.


    He couldn¡¯t help but laugh awkwardly and walk away from his car; he¡¯d also overheard several male students talking about picking up bricks to smash his car.


    Xia Liu wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, but he didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention.


    If it weren¡¯t for Fang Fei insisting that he drive this car for the prestige, he would have preferred to drive Li Dazhuang¡¯s domestic car.


    After sitting in some bushes for a while, Xia Liu finally saw Liu Lanxin coming out of the main gate.


    Liu Lanxin was still as charming and adorable as ever, dressed in student attire, which gave her an additional kind of allure.


    ¡°Miss Liu, over here!¡±


    Hearing someone call out to her, Liu Lanxin looked toward the source of the voice, and then her expression turned icy as she quickened her pace and walked up to Xia Liu.


    ¡°You jerk, do you even regard me as your partner? You haven¡¯t contacted me in months!¡±


    Looking at Liu Lanxin¡¯s angry appearance, Xia Liu said awkwardly, ¡°Miss, in order to support my whole family, I¡¯ve been working hard every day and really couldn¡¯t spare the time. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap, the company transfers tens of millions to you every few days, and you¡¯re still not able to support your family?¡±


    ¡°Er, er, er¡­ Enough, but I have great ambitions. I want to become the richest man in Huaxia, so I need to work even harder,¡± Xia Liu said with a beaming smile.


    ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m your partner, and you didn¡¯t even bother to greet me. I really don¡¯t know how you plan to carry on with your ambition,¡± Liu Lanxin continued angrily.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely change in the future. What is it that Miss Liu has asked me to come here for?¡±


    ¡°Since you admit your fault, act as my guardian and attend the parent meeting today.¡±


    ¡°What! Act as your guardian!¡± Xia Liu exclaimed in shock. This was just too coincidental.


    He had promised Zhang Tie to act as Xiaoman¡¯s parent, and now Liu Lanxin was asking this of him. How on earth could he be in two places at once¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is this request too difficult for you?¡± Liu Lanxin stared at Xia Liu, demanding a clear explanation.


    ¡°Rumble¡­¡±


    Just as Xia Liu was about to explain, suddenly a disturbing noise arose in the distance and was rapidly approaching.


    Glancing over, he saw a car with a BMW logo speeding toward him. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The car had been modified, and the sound emanated from the exhaust pipe.


    The appearance of this car attracted the attention of many people; they all knew who was driving.


    Involuntarily, the passing students looked at Xia Liu with sympathy.


    They had been worried for him ever since they saw Liu Lanxin and Xia Liu standing together earlier.


    That¡¯s because there was a well-known rich playboy in the school pursuing Liu Lanxin, and he had made it clear that any guy who dared to get within a meter of Liu Lanxin would have his legs broken.


    When they saw Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin chatting, they all wondered, how would that playboy react upon seeing this scene?


    Enrage him and then break Xia Liu¡¯s legs?


    No one knew for sure, but it promised to be very interesting, so many students stood by, watching from a distance.


    ¡°Why is this guy here¡­¡±


    ¡°Is he your friend?¡±


    ¡°No, just an immature little boy,¡± Liu Lanxin said, shaking her head.


    ¡°Who the hell are you! Is Lan Xin not my woman?¡± Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, a young man got out of the BMW car, dressed in casual wear, his face looking extremely unpleasant.


    Xia Liu observed the shouting young man with interest because he had discovered something amusing.


    This guy¡¯s BMW had some tricks up its sleeve. Ordinary people might not notice, but Xia Liu saw through it at a glance.


    The car was actually a domestically produced sedan that had been modified to resemble a BMW, its craftsmanship so skillful that no one else could tell.


    ¡°You brat, Brother Yuan is talking to you! Do you have a death wish?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, believe it or not, I¡¯ll slap you right now!¡±


    Just then, two more young men, about twenty years old, came over and stood beside the first, staring menacingly at Xia Liu, full of arrogance.


    ¡°Yuan Hao, what nonsense are you spouting! Do I even know you!¡± Liu Lanxin pointed at Yuan Hao in anger.


    ¡°Lan Xin, there¡¯s nobody else here, no need to be like that,¡± Yuan Hao said with a grin.


    ¡­


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 Chapter 414 - 414: Country Bumpkin

    Chapter 414: Chapter 414: Country Bumpkin


    Liu Lanxin felt too powerless to reply, she had no idea how many times she had cursed Yuan Hao.


    Because Yuan Hao was notorious for fighting in school, he actually spread rumors that he himself was her boyfriend.


    Whenever she cursed Yuan Hao in front of her classmates, they would snicker as if to say, look, this couple is having another emotional outburst.


    Therefore, whenever Liu Lanxin encountered Yuan Hao, she would remain silent to avoid further misunderstandings.


    ¡°Xia Liu, let¡¯s go.¡± After being silent for a while, Liu Lanxin pulled Xia Liu, preparing to enter the school.


    ¡°Wait! You bumpkin! What gives you the right to hold Lan Xin¡¯s hand! Let go of her now!¡± Yuan Hao felt extremely restrained when he saw Liu Lanxin reaching out for Xia Liu, even if it was just her wrist.


    ...


    He had been chasing Liu Lanxin for over a year, and she hadn¡¯t even looked at him properly; he couldn¡¯t bear to see Xia Liu, dressed in a tracksuit and slippers, touching Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Yuan Hao, you¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get agitated, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Just when Liu Lanxin was about to get angry, Xia Liu warmly smiled, signaling her to watch his ¡°performance.¡±


    ¡°Your name is Yuan Hao, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve not changed my name or my seat, I¡¯m Yuan Hao! You bumpkin, if you know what¡¯s good for you, scram! Otherwise, we¡¯ll let you taste what it¡¯s like to be hit by fists as big as sandbags!¡±


    ¡°Bumpkin! Scram already! Brother Yuan has money and power, if you don¡¯t leave, he¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t stay in Binlai City!¡±


    Yuan Hao¡¯s two young followers clenched their fists, continuously gesturing at Xia Liu.


    ¡°Ah, the ignorance of youth; it is said that Yuan Hao has connections in the city. If he wants to make trouble for someone, that person definitely won¡¯t be able to stay in Binlai City.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just look at the car he drives, you can tell that Yuan Hao can afford a BMW; his family must be rich.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Look at the license plate, five eights! If he didn¡¯t have some connections, how could he have possibly gotten that license plate!¡±


    ¡°Heh, that young man is going to be unlucky!¡±


    The crowd started expressing their amazement when they saw Xia Liu daring to confront Yuan Hao head-on.


    ¡°Bumpkin! I¡¯m giving you one last chance, roll away from here to the street corner! Remember, you have to roll!¡± Yuan Hao, seeing Xia Liu remain indifferent, pointed and shouted at him angrily.


    ¡°Bumpkin? That¡¯s quite interesting. I¡¯m just curious, what makes you so confident to talk to me like this?¡±


    Xia Liu laughed; he hadn¡¯t wanted to bother with a child like Yuan Hao, but now it seemed he had no choice.


    If he didn¡¯t teach him a lesson now, this guy would surely become unbearably arrogant in a few years.


    Plus, he had discovered his secret; naturally, he had to expose it, otherwise the girls at the school wouldn¡¯t know how many he had tricked.


    ¡°Hmph! My car, for one, and my family¡¯s wealth! Look at your outfit, you must be from a village,¡± Yuan Hao said proudly, his eyes filled with contempt for Xia Liu.


    ¡°Hmm, I come from a village, so what? Does that answer satisfy your sense of superiority?¡± Xia Liu nodded, his expression very serious.


    ¡°Humph! If I said it did, wouldn¡¯t that be stooping to your bumpkin level? Just roll away! Don¡¯t embarrass yourself here.¡±


    ¡°Roll, bumpkin!¡±


    ¡°Roll!¡±


    Hearing Yuan Hao¡¯s roar, the two lackeys too started jeering along.


    ¡°Ah, Yuan Hao really is persistent, taking this so seriously with a farmer from the village, I¡¯m speechless.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m more speechless. Liu Lanxin is the beauty of our school, yet she¡¯s holding hands with that farmer. I really don¡¯t know what their relationship is.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ don¡¯t mention it, I¡¯m about to vomit.¡±


    ¡°Liu Lanxin is really disgusting¡ªno wonder there¡¯s always that foul smell around her!¡±


    The spectating male and female classmates all voiced different opinions regarding Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin.


    But it wasn¡¯t hard to see that they were envious of Xia Liu, and also envious of Liu Lanxin.


    Especially the female students, as Liu Lanxin was the school beauty and received many love letters every day.


    That might have been fine, but the rich male students even sent her phones, flowers, watches, and many other gifts.


    But Liu Lanxin turned them all down, which only fueled their resentment towards her.


    They believed Liu Lanxin was just putting on airs¡ªthey saw her eating frugally like her family was surely poor, yet she refused those gifts, acting all high and mighty. They thought she deserved to be poor all her life.


    ¡°It¡¯s just ridiculous¡ªyou¡¯re a student, and instead of learning something worthwhile, all you do is show off. Does your family even know how ¡®impressive¡¯ you are?¡±


    ¡°What did you say!¡± Hearing that Xia Liu dared to lecture him, Yuan Hao rolled up his sleeves and took a big step forward, ready to start a fight at a moment¡¯s notice.


    ¡°The clothes you¡¯re wearing have a designer label, but the logo and the genuine trademark are placed wrong. And this car of yours, it¡¯s clearly a domestic model, but you¡¯ve got it modified to look like a BMW, with a lousy exhaust pipe added to make it louder, trying to cover up its other defects, right?¡±


    Boom!


    Xia Liu¡¯s words exploded like a bomb in Yuan Hao¡¯s mind.


    His pupils shrank sharply, as an indescribable feeling spread throughout his body. His disguise had never been seen through by anyone until now.


    If his classmates found out the truth about him, he would lose face for sure.


    ¡°What are you talking about! My Brother Yuan¡¯s family is incredibly wealthy, why would I wear counterfeit clothes!¡±


    ¡°Brother Yuan¡¯s car is a modified BMW 6 series, it would take millions to pull that off. What would you, a bumpkin, know about it!¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu daring to point things out to Yuan Hao, the two lackeys were immediately filled with rage.


    ¡°The two of you are really pathetic, being played for such a long time by him.¡±


    ¡°Enough! I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t talk today! I¡¯m not someone you can insult!¡±


    Yuan Hao roared as he ran towards Xia Liu. Now that his secret was discovered, he couldn¡¯t let Xia Liu get another word in, or he would become the laughing stock of the school.


    What Yuan Hao didn¡¯t expect was that, as soon as he got close to Xia Liu and before he could even strike, he was sent flying backward.


    And he ended up crashing into his two lackeys.


    The spectating classmates were stunned, wondering what they had just witnessed. Xia Liu hadn¡¯t made any move, yet Yuan Hao was sent flying backward, almost as if he had pushed himself back.


    Many of them looked at Yuan Hao with puzzled expressions, not understanding how someone could retreat backward without the other person moving an inch.


    What they didn¡¯t know was that Yuan Hao felt a fierce sting in his chest. He couldn¡¯t understand why he had been sent flying, but once he landed, the pain and the shoe print on his clothes made it clear¡ªit was Xia Liu who had kicked him!


    And that kick was incredibly fast!


    Regaining his senses, Yuan Hao clutched his chest and didn¡¯t dare utter another word.


    Are you kidding? If Xia Liu could kick that fast, if he went up again, he could be kicked to death before anyone even saw it.


    Indeed, if Xia Liu wanted to use his hands and feet to kill Yuan Hao, the people around wouldn¡¯t be able to tell, unless they had surveillance footage¡ªand even then, they would probably have to slow it down by a hundred times just to catch a glimpse of it.


    ¡°You bumpkin, you¡¯re dead! How dare you hit our Brother Yuan!¡±


    ¡°Fuck! The money in Brother Yuan¡¯s family could bury you! Just you wait! Brother Yuan won¡¯t let you off!¡±


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 Chapter 415 - 415: Seeing Through

    Chapter 415: Chapter 415: Seeing Through


    Seeing his lackeys backing him up so staunchly, Yuan Hao almost burst into a rage, for although others might not know about Xia Liu, he had experienced that kick firsthand.


    If he were to anger Xia Liu, he might end up disabled.


    Even though his secret was pointed out by Xia Liu, they definitely wouldn¡¯t believe him due to Xia Liu¡¯s status.


    If he could just back off silently now, he wouldn¡¯t become the butt of jokes.


    ¡°Hehe, wealthy young master, how do you plan to deal with me?¡±


    Xia Liu smiled as he looked at Yuan Hao. He was already thinking of leaving, but the two lackeys were too deeply poisoned; he had to pull them out of their misery.


    ...


    ¡°Misunderstanding, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding,¡± Yuan Hao, furious yet unable to voice it, had just been embarrassed, but if he continued to provoke Xia Liu, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    ¡°Misunderstanding? Weren¡¯t you acting all high and mighty just now? Isn¡¯t your car awesome? Isn¡¯t your family very rich?¡±


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, Yuan Hao¡¯s face was covered with black lines, this guy was clearly not going to let go!


    ¡°Hey, look, Yuan Hao doesn¡¯t dare to speak anymore.


    ¡°Could it be that what that young man said was all true?¡±


    ¡°Very likely, although Yuan Hao drives a BMW, he doesn¡¯t spend money lavishly, in fact, he¡¯s quite frugal.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about!¡± Hearing the onlookers¡¯ loud discussions, one of Yuan Hao¡¯s lackeys shouted angrily.


    ¡°Hmph! You really got scared. Frugality is a traditional virtue of Huaxia, our Brother Yuan is merely continuing the legacy of virtue!¡±


    Hearing his lackeys¡¯ words, Yuan Hao just smiled faintly without saying anything.


    These two guys were very sharp-tongued; how could the other students contend with them?


    Indeed, after the sharp words of the two lackeys were uttered, the onlooking students all fell silent.


    Although they disliked Yuan Hao, if Yuan Hao really was powerful and influential, being targeted by him would mean they couldn¡¯t get by at school anymore.


    Compared with Xia Liu, they definitely didn¡¯t dare to speak against Yuan Hao.


    ¡°Haha! Country bumpkin, hurry up and scram! While our Brother Yuan is still not angry!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, otherwise one phone call from Brother Yuan, and a thousand thugs will come over, you won¡¯t have a life!¡±


    The two lackeys continued to intimidate Xia Liu.


    ¡°Kid! Scram before I lose my temper,¡± Yuan Hao spoke. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His confidence was restored. His sway at school was still effective; those students definitely wouldn¡¯t dare speak ill of him.


    Moreover, Xia Liu was a man about town and close to Liu Lanxin, so many classmates would definitely be jealous. He could call this a complete victory!


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the handsome guy who drove in earlier?¡±


    ¡°Ah! It really is!¡±


    Suddenly, many screams emerged among the onlookers.


    Those girls who had entered the campus earlier saw that many students were gathered at the entrance and couldn¡¯t help but come back to check.


    When they saw Xia Liu, they couldn¡¯t help but scream, trying to attract Xia Liu¡¯s attention.


    Xia Liu drove a million-dollar Bentley to school and was so young, his family must be super wealthy.


    ¡°Everyone, come and see! I just searched on Baidu, and just like that handsome guy said, the logo on Yuan Hao¡¯s branded clothes is misplaced!¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hong, stop causing trouble. What can a misaligned logo prove? Can¡¯t a brand have different styles that move the logo?¡±


    ¡°Goudan, look carefully. This is a foreign hand-crafted brand, their logos are always on the left chest, for both men and women!¡±


    The girl known as Xiao Hong said earnestly, holding up her phone.


    She was also curious, and after hearing Xia Liu mention Yuan Hao¡¯s misaligned clothing logo, she opened her phone to start searching, and indeed, she found it.


    When Xiao Hong said this, some classmates gathered around to watch.


    ¡°Oh! It really is!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s terrible! Having no money is one thing, but pretending to be rich is another!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s disgusting!¡±


    ¡°Strutting around in counterfeit clothes, I won¡¯t be surprised if his car gets smashed someday.¡±


    The male and female students who discovered the truth all began to talk heatedly.


    Yuan Hao had often used his family¡¯s wealth to bully classmates by driving fancy cars.


    He hadn¡¯t physically attacked anyone; it was mostly verbal sarcasm, which many remembered bitterly.


    Now that they saw his true colors, no one could tolerate him anymore, all thinking of redeeming their past embarrassments.


    Yuan Hao¡¯s face turned increasingly ugly. Facing the cold stares of many classmates, he didn¡¯t dare to argue because what they said was true. His clothes were counterfeit products bought online.


    ¡°Screw you all!¡±


    ¡°How could my Brother Yuan possibly buy counterfeit clothes!¡±


    Two flunkeys were displeased and immediately started yelling at the onlooking classmates.


    ¡°Haha! Two idiots!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really interesting! Only someone with a sick mind would follow Yuan Hao!¡±


    ¡°Two pieces of trash! Take your Brother Yuan and get lost!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Rich family? What a joke, wearing counterfeit designer clothes.¡±


    Facing the yelling of the two flunkeys, the surrounding classmates weren¡¯t afraid at all; instead, they just smiled faintly at them.


    Not giving the two a chance to argue back, suddenly a loud voice rose beside Yuan Hao¡¯s BMW: ¡°Who modified this? It¡¯s so rough! Clearly, it¡¯s just a scrapped domestic car worth thirty thousand!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the top student from the auto repair department!¡±


    ¡°Giggle! Just like that handsome guy said, not only are Yuan Hao¡¯s clothes fake, even his car is domestically modified!¡±


    ¡°Ah! Even the car is modified!¡±


    ¡°I thought he had rented it from a car dealership!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over, a modified car!¡±


    Seeing the revelations about the car from the school¡¯s auto repair top student, the onlooking students burst into heated discussions again.


    Many female students¡¯ faces rapidly changed, as they had all been in Yuan Hao¡¯s car and had done certain things inside it.


    Thinking back on it now, they all deeply regretted their actions.


    ¡°Enough! You bunch of pigs! Stupid pigs! You believe the words of a bumpkin?¡± Finally, Yuan Hao couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He shouted loudly, angrily pointing at Xia Liu.


    ¡°You bunch of pigs! You believe the words of a bumpkin!¡±


    ¡°And that student over there, you didn¡¯t receive money from that bumpkin for your labor? How dare you frame our Brother Yuan!¡±


    Yuan Hao¡¯s two flunkeys immediately started berating the onlookers. Their confidence had already been shaken, but hearing Yuan Hao¡¯s confident words, they chose to believe him!


    Yuan Hao and his flunkeys¡¯ words made the surrounding students fall silent. Although Xiao Hong had found the information, they couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility that she might have been paid off by Xia Liu.


    Honestly, the appearance of that auto repair top student was too timely, making them unable to help but suspect.


    The top student was also being stared at by many classmates. As he was about to explain, suddenly two school security guards ran over.


    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the two security guards approached Xia Liu¡­


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 Chapter 416 - 416: You Beast

    Chapter 416: Chapter 416: You Beast


    ¡°Sir, according to regulations, your car cannot be parked at the front entrance.¡±


    Two security guards came over and immediately saluted Xia Liu, showing great respect in their attitude.


    To become a school security guard, they both possessed extremely keen eyesight.


    When a Bentley suddenly appeared at the front entrance, they were somewhat embarrassed because parking there wasn¡¯t allowed.


    Most likely, anyone who could afford to drive a Bentley in Binlai City was somebody of status and privilege.


    So, they turned on the surveillance and, after confirming it was Xia Liu, immediately rushed over.


    ...


    As for the dispute between Xia Liu and Yuan Hao, they didn¡¯t dare get involved.


    One was driving a Bentley, the other a BMW; both were beyond their capacity to offend, as mortals simply step aside when immortals clash.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the higher-ups insisting they ask Xia Liu to move his car, they wouldn¡¯t have dared speak to Xia Liu even if they had a thousand times the courage.


    ¡°Ah¡­ sorry about that, I¡¯ll move it right away,¡± Xia Liu replied with an embarrassed smile to the two men.


    ¡°Wait for me!¡± At this moment, Liu Lanxin didn¡¯t want to delay any further and followed Xia Liu.


    The two of them got into the Bentley under the gaze of countless pairs of eyes, then everyone watched the car enter through the school¡¯s main gate.


    ¡°Brother Yuan! That looks like a Bentley!¡±


    ¡°And it has our city¡¯s license plate, Brother Yuan, do you recognize him?¡±


    Two henchmen were trembling with shock when they saw Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin drive a Bentley into the school.


    Yuan Hao¡¯s face had already turned deathly pale; he couldn¡¯t possibly be in the mood to pay attention to these two fools.


    He never, ever expected Xia Liu would come driving a Bentley!


    That was worth several million Huaxia currency!


    His car was nothing more than a domestically made vehicle that had been modified. Compared with Xia Liu¡¯s Bentley, it was like comparing heaven and earth!


    Moreover, he considered a significant problem.


    How could someone who could afford a Bentley be a nobody? He was already unsure how to take his next step.


    Just a little display of power from Xia Liu, and he definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to stay in the school, let alone Binlai City.


    ¡°Wow! That handsome guy is actually driving a Bentley!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t really tell! He turns out to be a rich second-generation!¡±


    ¡°Damn beast! Coming to school in a luxury car to snatch the school beauty!¡±


    ¡°Such a beast!¡±


    ¡°Stop complaining; if you could afford a Bentley, the schoolgirls would all be yours for the choosing.¡±


    ¡­


    The students who saw the Bentley leave were stunned, then as they came back to their senses, different emotions surged within them.


    In the end, they all shifted their gaze to Yuan Hao.


    Xia Liu being able to afford a Bentley indicated his status¡ªeither wealthy or noble!


    And just now, Xia Liu had called out Yuan Hao¡¯s clothing and attire, so it was definitely true!


    At the moment, the on-looking students looked at Yuan Hao with deep contempt.


    ¡°Heh heh! Some people, having neither money nor power, still try to put on such airs, really makes you wonder how thick their skin is.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! What would those girls who sat in his domestically modified car be thinking now?¡±


    ¡°Giggle! It¡¯s hilarious, those cheap women must be feeling so deceived.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s this silly girl in Class 3 who even paid for a hotel room herself to go with Yuan Hao ¨C losing both her body and her money!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Shut your mouths! Brother Yuan is not that kind of person!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Get lost, or be careful that Brother Yuan sends over two trucks of men with just a phone call!¡±


    The two henchmen once again used their strength to shout at the on-looking students.


    ¡°Hahaha! What a pair of lapdogs!¡±


    ¡°A pair of morons!¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡±


    Seeing the two lackeys still defending Yuan Hao, the onlooking students burst into laughter.


    ¡°You two, get lost!¡± Unable to bear it any longer, Yuan Hao shouted and kicked the two lackeys.


    ¡°Motherf***** Yuan Hao!¡±


    ¡°Xiao Li, I remember now, I think I saw him wearing a waiter¡¯s uniform at a bar the night before last, he might really be a poor loser.¡±


    ¡°Damn! A mere waiter dares to kick us, Xiao Li, beat him up!¡±


    After being hit, one of the lackeys voiced what he had seen, and the other immediately flew into a rage.


    And so, the two lackeys began to fight with Yuan Hao.


    This scene made the surrounding students laugh even harder.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, a Bentley slowly made its way down the school avenue, attracting many envious stares.


    ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± Liu Lanxin said somewhat irritably as she saw the envious gazes of the students. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The last thing she wanted was to draw attention, but Xia Liu had insisted on driving this kind of car, and now, she was bound to be misunderstood by her classmates.


    However, it didn¡¯t matter much, she was going to start her internship in a few days and considered herself virtually graduated.


    ¡°You mean this car? I didn¡¯t want to bring it either, but my wife insisted, saying it was prestigious.¡± Xia Liu said helplessly.


    ¡°Oh? Really now, which one of your wives insisted on driving this car here?¡±


    ¡°Miss Liu, let¡¯s set that aside for the moment, I might not be able to help you today because¡­¡±


    Ding ding ding¡­


    Just as Xia Liu was about to explain, his phone began to ring.


    After checking the caller ID and recognizing a Binlai City number, knowing not many had his number, Xia Liu promptly answered the call.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I heard from my dad, thank you for agreeing to attend the parent meeting for him.¡±


    As soon as he answered, a cheerful voice came from the other end.


    Xia Liu responded with a slight smile, ¡°Yeah, Xiaoman, where are you? I¡¯ve driven into the school.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at the biggest basketball court. If you drive down the main road for about five minutes, you¡¯ll see the court.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± After saying that, Xia Liu hung up and started to look around. He wasn¡¯t sure if he had passed the basketball court yet.


    ¡°Stop looking, we¡¯re not there yet!¡±


    ¡°Uh uh¡­ Miss Liu, my visit this time isn¡¯t just for you. There¡¯s also a girl from the village. I promised her dad I¡¯d attend the meeting for him,¡± Xia Liu explained.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Liu Lanxin snorted coldly, crossing her arms without speaking further.


    Xia Liu gave an awkward smile, wondering about her odd mood.


    Two minutes later, Xia Liu finally saw the basketball court.


    As he parked the car and looked around, he spotted Zhang Xiaoman.


    At that moment, Zhang Xiaoman was sitting in the rest area next to the court, laughing and talking with a few female classmates.


    ¡°Huh? Are you standing in for Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s parent?¡± Just as Xia Liu was about to get out and greet her, Liu Lanxin asked in surprise.


    ¡°Oh? You and Xiaoman are in the same class?¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Xia Liu was somewhat speechless, but for some reason, Liu Lainxin¡¯s laughter hinted at an ominous feeling.


    Without overthinking it, Xia Liu opened the car door and walked towards Zhang Xiaoman.


    ¡°Wow! Look, a handsome guy is coming this way! And he¡¯s driving a luxury car too!¡±


    ¡°Really! He must be coming over to hit on someone!¡±


    ¡°Wait, Xiaoman seemed to have called her Lover just now, could he be Xiaoman¡¯s handsome boyfriend?¡±


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 Chapter 417 - 417: The Two Contradictory Women

    Chapter 417: Chapter 417: The Two Contradictory Women


    Listening to the whispers of her classmates, Zhang Xiaoman slightly lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with a few strands of red.


    But just as she was about to stand up and call for Xia Liu, her expression suddenly stiffened.


    The girls around her were also stunned, as Liu Lanxin had gotten out of the car and quickly caught up to Xia Liu, even taking his arm¡­


    ¡°Miss Liu, what are you doing?¡± Xia Liu was also surprised. This girl just came up and took his arm, what was that about?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t cooperate with me, then our partnership is over!¡±


    ¡°Cooperate with you on what?¡± Xia Liu asked helplessly.


    ...


    Before Liu Lanxin could explain, Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s voice came over: ¡°Brother Xia Liu!¡±


    ¡°Xiaoman!¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, why are you with her?¡± Zhang Xiaoman demanded.


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman, Xia Liu is my boyfriend, why can¡¯t he be with me!¡± Liu Lanxin said arrogantly before Xia Liu could respond.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Brother Xia Liu is married! You fox spirit!¡± Saying this, Zhang Xiaoman was about to start scuffling with Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Everyone quiet down, what exactly is going on here?¡± Xia Liu quickly intervened to stop the two women, completely baffled by what was happening between them.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Both women snorted coldly at the same time.


    Zhang Xiaoman couldn¡¯t stand seeing Liu Lanxin holding Xia Liu¡¯s arm, so she went over to fling off her hand: ¡°Fox spirit! Brother Xia Liu is married, you better recognize your own behavior!¡±


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman! What does my man have to do with you!¡±


    ¡°As if! Your man, Brother Xia Liu would never like you!¡±


    ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t like me, he wouldn¡¯t like you! Dumb woman!¡±


    ¡°You are the woman! I am a girl!¡±


    ¡­


    Listening to the nonstop bickering of the two women, Xia Liu had a distressed look on his face, realizing that this trip was destined to be tumultuous.


    ¡°Both of you quiet down. Whatever the problem is, talk about it, and I¡¯ll solve it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t want to!¡± The two women glared at each other and then turned their heads away in opposite directions.


    After the anger subsided, Zhang Xiaoman came over and took Xia Liu¡¯s arm: ¡°Brother Xia Liu, thank you for coming to the meeting in place of my dad.¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, I also thank you for coming to the meeting as my boyfriend.¡± Not waiting for Xia Liu to explain, Liu Lanxin also took his other arm.


    Xia Liu had no mood to respond at this moment, for both Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin had used beauty mud, so their contours were fully plump.


    He could distinctly feel that extraordinary softness.


    One was already miraculous enough, now there were two!


    This scene left the onlooking students dumbfounded.


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman is actually fighting with Liu Lanxin over a guy!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just damn infuriating! Let go of that beast! Come at me!¡±


    ¡°Damn, who is that guy anyway! Both of the school¡¯s top beauties clinging to him!¡±


    The male students all halted, grinding their teeth in resentment towards Xia Liu, but of course, it was mostly jealousy. The school¡¯s two acknowledged beauties, both holding onto him, infuriating!


    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the car first; otherwise, this will make the school¡¯s news.¡±


    Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin didn¡¯t refuse Xia Liu¡¯s suggestion. They both usually kept a low profile, and if it were not for Xia Liu, they wouldn¡¯t have openly quarreled today.


    ¡°Damn! Actually cheating to pick up girls!¡±


    ¡°F*ck! A Bentley!¡±


    ¡°Ah, the school beauties¡­¡±


    Watching Xia Liu, Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin drive away in the Bentley, the onlooking students shook their heads and cursed.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the issue between you two?¡± Xia Liu parked the car in a secluded area, intending to mediate the conflict between the two women.


    ¡°No issues.¡±


    Both women said simultaneously.


    ¡°No issues? Then what are you arguing about?¡± Xia Liu was at a loss for words. If he weren¡¯t there, they probably would have come to blows.


    Neither woman spoke again, but the air was still thick with the smell of gunpowder.


    ¡°If there are no issues, let¡¯s talk business. Miss Liu, I¡¯ve already promised Xiaoman¡¯s dad, so I can¡¯t help you,¡± he said.


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s lips curved slightly upwards, chuckling to herself, ¡°Liu Lanxin, you¡¯re far from beating me.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Your identity as Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s brother, and then as my fianc¨¦, will do,¡± Liu Lanxin said nonchalantly.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Both Xia Liu and Zhang Xiaoman spluttered.


    They were both shocked by Liu Lanxin¡¯s comment about ¡®fianc¨¦¡¯; the word had a special significance.


    ¡°Fairy! My Brother Xia Liu is a married man! How could he possibly be your fianc¨¦!¡±


    ¡°So what if he is? I didn¡¯t say anything. Don¡¯t you know that being the other woman usually gets you more favor?¡±


    ¡°Liu Lanxin, you really have no shame!¡± Zhang Xiaoman was furious at hearing this logic.


    ¡°Everyone quiet down a bit. I have a perfect solution.¡± Xia Liu had determined that Liu Lanxin definitely wouldn¡¯t give up on him, so he might as well represent both their guardians at the meeting.


    Under the confused gaze of the two women, Xia Liu said, ¡°I¡¯ll attend in the capacity of both of your brothers.¡±


    ¡°Acting as our brother?¡± Liu Lanxin was the first to catch on and said.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Xia Liu nearly suffered an internal injury from shock, this girl was just too much¡­


    ¡°Liu Lanxin! How dare you make such a joke about my Brother Xia Liu! Have you no shame!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a face? How much is it per pound?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Ladies, if you keep arguing, I¡¯m going home!¡± Xia Liu¡¯s expression changed, and his attitude suddenly became stern.


    Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s serious look, both women finally quieted down.


    ¡°When does this parent-teacher meeting start?¡±


    ¡°At two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, in the auditorium.¡±


    Xia Liu nodded, and then said, ¡°We still have a few hours, let¡¯s go grab something to eat. You two are not allowed to argue anymore, or I won¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Both women nodded with bright smiles.


    Before the meeting began, the two women took Xia Liu for a lengthy stroll around the campus.


    Walking together with Xia Liu and the two women always attracted many looks.


    Eventually, the three had to return to the car to wait.


    Finally, at one o¡¯clock, Xia Liu followed the directions of the two women and drove towards the auditorium.


    ¡°Wow, are all the students at your school wealthy heirs? There are so many luxury cars,¡± Xia Liu said with some surprise as he looked at the cars parked outside the auditorium.


    In this parking lot, BMWs and Audis were quite plain and unremarkable.


    The parked cars were Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and next in abundance were Porsches worth over a million.


    ¡°Not really, these cars might not all belong to the students¡¯ families. Some are from friends, and some are from benefactors,¡± Liu Lanxin explained.


    ¡°Benefactors?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Like you¡¯re replacing my parent for the meeting. If you were keeping me, you¡¯d be my benefactor,¡± she said.


    ¡°Liu Lanxin, can¡¯t you be more serious?¡±


    ¡°You two, don¡¯t start anything.¡± Xia Liu felt utterly embarrassed. It seemed this so-called parent-teacher meeting was about to turn into a festival of one-upmanship¡­


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 Chapter 418 - 418: The Water is Quite Deep

    Chapter 418: Chapter 418: The Water is Quite Deep


    After being lectured by Xia Liu again, both girls calmed down a bit.


    At least in Xia Liu¡¯s presence, they wouldn¡¯t argue or glare at each other. Those scenes would occur only when Xia Liu couldn¡¯t see them.


    Although it wasn¡¯t time yet, there were already quite a few people in the hall.


    The moment he entered, Xia Liu was astonished by the scene.


    Because he couldn¡¯t understand what kind of meeting this was.


    Students and ¡°guardians¡± were sitting next to each other, and some female students were rather extreme.


    ...


    They were actually sitting on the laps of these middle-aged-looking men.


    ¡°Ninety percent of the guardians here are sugar daddies, this is a pre-graduation event, and it was up to the students to inform their parents, so very few actually notified them,¡± Zhang Xiaoman immediately explained upon seeing Xia Liu¡¯s surprise.


    ¡°And the other ten percent are either friends or those looking to become their sugar daddies,¡± Liu Lanxin added.


    ¡°Well, the waters are quite deep,¡± Xia Liu nodded, realizing that this so-called parent meeting was probably just a final moment of comparison and show-off before graduation.


    Xia Liu casually glanced around and saw many young women sitting by themselves.


    Some of them had plain looks, others were fairly attractive, but all had an unapproachable air about them.


    There were also a few male students sitting with young women next to them. Zhang Xiaoman introduced them as boyfriends and girlfriends.


    Xia Liu casually looked around, then found a place to sit down.


    This so-called parent meeting seemed meaningless to him.


    Just as he sat down, Xia Liu noticed many glances directed toward him.


    ¡°Wow, those two girls are so pretty!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Who is that guy?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°He obviously looks like he¡¯s from the countryside! To be accompanied by two such beautiful girls, unacceptable!¡±


    The sugar daddies of the female students were immediately scheming upon seeing Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin sitting on either side of Xia Liu.


    Especially when they saw Xia Liu¡¯s attire, which was all cheaply made.


    With such attire, how could he have two beautiful girls with him!


    Thus, a middle-aged-looking man with a female student approached Xia Liu and said,¡± Young man, judging by your outfit, you¡¯re from the countryside, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Is there a problem?¡± Xia Liu looked up and asked.


    ¡°No problem. Your girls are pretty cute. How about letting them go with me for fifty thousand yuan?¡± the middle-aged man said with a grin.


    Xia Liu was stunned. This man was indeed straightforward, but didn¡¯t he already have a girl by his side?


    ¡°Young man, my name is Yang Lin, I work in construction. If you let them go with me, I¡¯ll give you fifty thousand yuan, and you can also work on my construction site,¡± Yang Lin said with a smile.


    Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin glanced sideways at Yang Lin, a wave of disgust welling up, but they remained silent.


    With Xia Liu there, they weren¡¯t scared. They were even thinking about how Yang Lin, the pig-headed man, would end up being put in his place.


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman, Liu Lanxin, my husband is very wealthy. If you follow him, you¡¯ll surely live a luxurious life,¡± the female student clinging to Yang Lin¡¯s arm persuaded.


    ¡°Liu Lanxin, could you possibly be any more disgusting?¡± Liu Lanxin angrily said.


    ¡°Liu Lanxin, don¡¯t act so high and mighty. After graduation, without any connections, you¡¯ll likely only be able to work in a hotel,¡± Lin Jing said disdainfully.


    ¡°Classmate Liu, Jing¡¯er might be blunt, but if you come with me, I¡¯ll take you shopping for designer brands right away,¡± Yang Lin said sincerely.


    Liu Lanxin didn¡¯t speak anymore; talking to such people was simply lowering her own intelligence.


    ¡°Bro, what do you think about the offer? Fifty thousand plus a job,¡± Yang Lin believed that as long as Xia Liu nodded, Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman would be disappointed, and then he could throw some Huaxia currency their way, to make the two beautiful women his.


    ¡°Fifty thousand is a lot. I suggest you take it and get a CD to see which part of your brain is broken.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha! Idiot!¡±


    When they heard Xia Liu say this, Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman both burst out laughing.


    ¡°Kid, are you refusing to toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit?¡± Yang Lin¡¯s voice grew icy.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t get lost now, I¡¯ll have you hanging on a glucose drip soon,¡± Xia Liu said, his cold black eyes fixed on Yang Lin.


    If this guy dared to speak another word, Xia Liu guaranteed a streak of Fire Spirit Energy would enter his body.


    ¡°Fine, fine! You just wait, kid!¡± Fuming, Yang Lin quickly left with Lin Jing.


    After returning to his spot, Yang Lin felt a chill on his back, because Xia Liu¡¯s gaze had just given him an illusion.


    An illusion of being in the depth of death¡¯s abyss.


    ¡°Haha! Some small-time foreman daring to compete for women, ridiculous!¡±


    ¡°I feel like the girl on the left looks familiar, but I can¡¯t recall who she is¡­¡±


    ¡°I must be blind. Nowadays, all the women look like internet celebrities. Young Master Pan, are you interested in trying?¡±


    ¡°Young Master Qin, which one do you fancy?¡±


    ¡°I kind of have a spark for the one on the right.¡±


    ¡°Great! Then I¡¯ll go for the one on the left!¡±


    As the buzz of discussion grew, two young men from a nearby spot walked toward Xia Liu.


    ¡°Young Master Qin, how lucky to see you here.¡±


    ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t this Young Master Pan? You¡¯re here to have fun too?¡±


    ¡­


    All along the way, Qin Feng and Pan Jie were greeted by investors who had come for a meeting.


    These investors were all businessmen from Binlai City, and they naturally recognized Pan Jie and Qin Feng.


    Both young masters, one owning a real estate company and the other an entertainment company, and both handsome, those two girls definitely couldn¡¯t escape.


    The unpleasant encounter that had occurred earlier between Yang Lin and Xia Liu was witnessed and heard by everyone around.


    This time, with Qin Feng and Pan Jie stepping in, the crowd paid even closer attention.


    ¡°Hello beautiful ladies, my name is Qin Feng, CEO of Fenglin Entertainment Group. I believe you both have great potential. If you join Fenglin Entertainment, I am confident that within a year, I can make you top female stars,¡± Qin Feng and Pan Jie said, stepping in very amiably and politely, immediately causing a buzz among the crowd.


    ¡°Not interested,¡± Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin responded simultaneously.


    ¡°And you, young man, how may I address you?¡± Seeing the two women¡¯s rejection, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t upset but shifted his gaze to Xia Liu.


    Qin Feng thought Xia Liu might be the brother of the two women or something similar. He was sure with the mindset of girls today, they wouldn¡¯t stick with Xia Liu, especially since he dressed so plainly and probably didn¡¯t have much money.


    ¡°Xia Liu.¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu?¡± Qin Feng and Pan Jie glanced at each other, both feeling somewhat mocked by Xia Liu.


    ¡°Xia, like in Xia Tian¡­¡± Xia Liu explained reluctantly.


    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s Xia Liu, brother. Well, I run an entertainment company. I see your two sisters have great potential. Just by joining Fenglin Company, I guarantee they could soar to success! A monthly income of one hundred thousand is for sure,¡± he said.


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 Chapter 419 - 419: Red Envelope

    Chapter 419: Chapter 419: Red Envelope


    ¡°A hundred thousand? What can that do?¡± With no teacher in sight, Xia Liu idly responded, browsing.


    ¡°Bro, a hundred thousand is just the starting salary. As soon as their fame rises, they¡¯ll be making at least a million a month! Way more comfortable than any part-time job!¡± Qin Feng followed up, seizing the opportunity.


    ¡°A million!¡± Xia Liu exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°Exactly! Once they¡¯re famous, not just a million, even ten million is possible!¡± Pan Jie, seeing Xia Liu¡¯s interest, promptly promised.


    ¡°Ten million!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, little bro, don¡¯t be despondent. As long as your two sisters sign with Fenglin Entertainment, they could turn into phoenixes flying high on the branches.¡±


    ...


    ¡°We¡¯ll think about it and give you an answer tomorrow,¡± Xia Liu said seriously.


    Pan Jie and Qin Feng exchanged glances before Qin Feng said, ¡°Ladies, there¡¯s no need for your brother to think it over. Just sign the contract, and you¡¯ll have money.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my brother,¡± Liu Lanxin said softly.


    ¡°He¡¯s not my brother either,¡± not knowing what Liu Lanxin was up to, Zhang Xiaoman followed suit.


    Not their brother?


    Qin Feng and Pan Jie were shocked. Could it be, like those middle-aged men, Xia Liu was keeping these two sisters as mistresses?


    But no matter how you looked at it, Xia Liu seemed like someone without money, how could he possibly afford to keep two women?


    ¡°Then, who is he to you?¡± Pan Jie asked puzzled.


    ¡°He¡¯s my husband.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, he¡¯s our husband,¡± they said together.


    Pfft¡­


    Hearing Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman say this, those who were paying attention to the conversation were suddenly stunned.


    This was simply terrifying.


    Two campus beauties turned out to be the wife of a farmer!


    The rich patrons who came all heard from their kept mistresses that Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman were campus beauties!


    Now hearing them acknowledge Xia Li as their rich patron, everyone was shocked to their core.


    That¡¯s just insane.


    Keeping one mistress was one thing, but to have snatched both campus beauties, that¡¯s just freaking unbelievable.


    And the rich patron turned out to be a farmer!


    ¡°Ladies, you¡¯re not kidding, right? He just looks like a laborer to me,¡± Qin Feng refused to accept it; he didn¡¯t believe Xia Liu had the capacity to be a rich patron.


    ¡°No joke. You guys can go back where you came from. My husband¡¯s hometown is really beautiful, with mountains and seas,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said, once again clinging to Xia Liu¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Yeah, you better leave. We¡¯re not interested in that little bit of money. I want to go home with Xia Liu, live in a thatched hut, and rear cattle and sheep,¡± Liu Lanxin chimed in, mimicking Zhang Xiaoman.


    ¡­


    Xia Liu gave a wry smile; the teacher hadn¡¯t arrived yet, so he let the two girls have their fun.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, the prestigious Bin University campus beauties going home with a farmer, that¡¯s just hilarious.¡±


    ¡°Disgusting, still calling themselves campus beauties? More like trash beauties!¡±


    ¡°Some people are just born cheap. No matter how hard they try, they can only marry into the countryside in this lifetime.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re too proud of themselves. Fenglin Entertainment Group specializes in creating stars, but they just look down on it.¡±


    ¡°Cheap! To reject an invitation from Manager Qin, they must be out of their minds!¡±


    The female classmates, who were already jealous of Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman, wouldn¡¯t let go of this opportunity.


    ¡°Heh, Qin Feng is a well-known young master in the circle, and now that he¡¯s been played by them, who knows what the consequences will be.¡±


    ¡°That Pan Jie isn¡¯t one to be trifled with, and the two of them came here today specifically to pick up girls. That little construction worker is definitely going to bleed.¡±


    ¡°Bleeding is better than losing a life.¡±


    The patrons all knew Qin Feng and Pan Jie, and those two were unmistakably young masters.


    Now, toyed with by a worker from the countryside, there was sure to be quite a scene unfolding.


    ¡°Kid! You better take the face I¡¯m giving you; otherwise, you¡¯re on your own with the consequences!¡± Listening to the heated discussions around him, Pan Jie¡¯s short temper flared up instantly.


    ¡°Uh¡­ where¡¯s the face? Show it to me, and I¡¯ll definitely take it,¡± Xia Liu said somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°Xia Liu, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve got guts! Pray you can still make it home!¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face turned icy; it was the first time he¡¯d been mocked like this. If he didn¡¯t make an example of Xia Liu, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hang around in Binlai City anymore.


    After throwing down their threats, Qin Feng and Pan Jie immediately left the auditorium.


    They had already set their sights on Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman and now just needed to wait outside.


    The moment the three of them left the school gate, they would strike immediately!


    ¡°Who do they think they are!¡± Liu Lanxin said irritably, watching the two walk away.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, they might wait for us at the entrance. What will we do after school?¡± Unlike Liu Lanxin, Zhang Xiaoman was more concerned about what would happen next.


    Considering Qin Feng and Pan Jie¡¯s demeanor, they definitely weren¡¯t going to let things slide.


    And the pitying glances from those around them said it all; the end of school was definitely going to be tough.


    ¡°Just two idiots, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Xia Liu said, shaking his head. He really didn¡¯t take those two blockheads seriously.


    ¡°Ahem! Thank you, parents, for taking the time from your busy schedules to come to our school¡­¡±


    As Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman were about to say something, the teacher¡¯s voice suddenly echoed through the auditorium.


    On the platform at the front, a bespectacled fat man gazed over the audience with a beaming smile.


    He was about 1.65 meters tall, his eyes squinted into slits, looking like a creepy man with glasses.


    ¡°This is for you, Xia Liu. That¡¯s the grade director. When he comes over later, just give this to him,¡± Liu Lanxin said, handing over a red envelope to Xia Liu.


    Seeing the red envelope Liu Lanxin handed over, Xia Liu was taken aback. What was this situation? Did they have to pay more before graduation?


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the rule. The report cards haven¡¯t come out yet, and if you don¡¯t give that fat man a red envelope, there won¡¯t be a diploma for you, then you¡¯ll just have to repeat the grade,¡± Liu Lanxin explained.


    ¡°Xiaoman, did you prepare a red envelope too?¡± Xia Liu turned and asked Zhang Xiaoman.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s ready,¡± said Zhang Xiaoman, pulling out a red envelope as well.


    ¡°How much money did you two put inside?¡± Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°Two thousand each.¡± Both women replied at the same time.


    ¡°Two thousand!¡± Xia Liu exclaimed in surprise.


    Two thousand each, and there must be at least sixty people here, that¡¯s one hundred and twenty thousand if everyone gives two thousand!


    And that¡¯s just for one class. What about the entire grade?


    Xia Liu dared not think further, realizing how corrupt it was.


    For a family like Liu Lanxin¡¯s, giving a two thousand yuan red envelope was nothing, but for someone like Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s family, two thousand yuan was a whole month¡¯s, maybe even two months¡¯, income.


    Xia Liu could also see that students sitting alone, holding their red envelopes, had trembling hands.


    Although they were capable of working, there weren¡¯t many opportunities to earn money at school, so the funds were likely scraped together or borrowed from home.


    Giving that money to the fat man as a red envelope was undoubtedly a significant loss!


    Xia Liu was getting angry; how was this any different from looting during a fire!


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 Chapter 420 - 420: Questions from the Audience

    Chapter 420: Chapter 420: Questions from the Audience


    While Xia Liu was thinking about how to resist this red envelope practice, the fat man with glasses on the stage spoke up.


    ¡°Hello everyone, I am the head teacher for the entire senior class: Yang Yongxin. I am delighted that everyone could come to the school. The students¡¯ achievements today would not be possible without your support¡­¡±


    On stage, Yang Yongxin rattled off a long spiel.


    Almost no one in the audience was listening; to them, patrons were usually prey.


    Just like Yang Lin and Qin Feng, if they saw a pretty girl, they would go up and hit on her.


    What mattered most was that the girls around them would help, and of course, afterwards, they would offer some money as a reward.


    ...


    As for those students who sat alone in their seats, their ears were practically calloused from listening to Yang Yongxin spout these grand principles.


    They were now simply waiting silently for the last part, which was when the red envelopes would be collected.


    ¡°Next, let¡¯s warmly welcome Principal Guo to speak!¡± After finishing with the grand principles, Yang Yongxin grinned and switched places for the next speaker.


    Then a middle-aged man with a big belly took to the podium, the balding man wearing golden-rimmed glasses looked like a cultural worker full of knowledge and wisdom.


    But the students below all knew how despicable this bald man was.


    ¡°Hello everyone, I am the principal of Bin University: Guo Mingliang. I am very happy to see everyone today. Your children, the future pillars of our country, have achieved excellent academic results this term. Today¡¯s meeting is kind of a farewell party¡­¡±


    Guo Mingliang began his gabble as soon as he got on stage.


    ¡°What does Guo Mingliang think about the red envelope thing?¡± Xia Liu asked the two girls while they were seated.


    ¡°What else can he think, either sitting or standing.¡±


    ¡°Liu Lanxin, can¡¯t you be serious for once? Brother Xia Liu is asking a question.¡± Hearing Liu Lanxin¡¯s teasing reply, Zhang Xiaoman could not stand it.


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Brother Xia Liu, let me tell you, this Guo Mingliang and that Yang Yongxin are in cahoots. They¡¯re really corrupt. There are even rumors among the students that a few years ago, a graduating girl was taken out to dinner by them and then¡­¡±


    Zhang Xiaoman stopped there because she could feel that Xia Liu was angry.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what are you thinking of doing?¡± Sensing that something was off with Xia Liu¡¯s expression, Liu Lanxin weakly asked.


    ¡°Beasts do not deserve to teach!¡± Xia Liu said coldly.


    ¡°It¡¯s best to be careful with this. I heard that Guo Mingliang seems to know some people; otherwise, he would have been taken away long ago,¡± Liu Lanxin cautioned.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity he doesn¡¯t know me.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s all give Principal Guo a round of applause for his speech.¡± Back at the podium, Yang Yongxin took up the microphone and started another impassioned speech.


    As the coerced applause fell, Yang Yongxin smiled and said, ¡°Today¡¯s meeting is about done. But there¡¯s one last thing I want to say.¡±


    ¡°The school has not had it easy over the years, especially the teachers who have spent countless energy training future social elites and national pillars. Day after tomorrow, report cards will be issued, and students will leave the campus after receiving their grades, so today might be the last chance for students to express their gratitude. I hope you can thank your teachers¡­¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, making it seem so right to take money, that¡¯s really something.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Oh, what can be done, the report cards are still in their hands, they can do whatever they like,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said, somewhat resignedly.


    In fact, many of the female students present thought this was relatively okay; they had all seen the news.


    In some places, if you don¡¯t pay a bigger price, the outcome can be very tragic.


    Nowadays, it¡¯s just two thousand yuan. Once you start working, with a bit of luck, it¡¯s at most half a month¡¯s salary, so it¡¯s worth it.


    ¡°Now, starting from the back, parents who are here, please come to the stage as representatives,¡± Yang Yongxin said, focusing his gaze on Xia Liu because he was sitting at the very back.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s starting with that laborer from the village. I wonder how much he will give?¡±


    ¡°Heh, Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman are sitting next to him, how pitiful.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of being pretty? In the end, they¡¯ll just marry into the countryside, and their life is over.¡±


    Those in the audience looked at Xia Liu, Liu Lanxin, and Zhang Xiaoman and quietly buzzed with discussion.


    They also wanted to see if Xia Liu could take out four thousand yuan and stuff it into the box.


    This red envelope rule had been going on for years here, and almost everyone understood what it was all about.


    ¡°That parent, please represent your two classmates and come up here,¡± Yang Yongxin said in a low tone when he saw Xia Liu remain unmoved.


    ¡°Xia Liu, go on up,¡± Liu Lanxin urged; she could already feel the gaze of the entire hall focusing on them, especially a few particularly loathsome stares.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, go ahead, we¡¯re not short of that little money anyway,¡± Zhang Xiaoman also urged.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going,¡± Xia Liu said as he took the red envelopes from the girls and stood up to walk toward the stage.


    Seeing Xia Liu make this move, Yang Yongxin¡¯s smile grew even wider.


    It had been more or less the same every year; once the parents and students caught on and there was a first representative, things became much easier to handle afterwards.


    ¡°This parent, please place the students¡¯ token of gratitude into the donation box.¡± Seeing the two somewhat thick red envelopes in Xia Liu¡¯s hands, Yang Yongxin said with a smile.


    ¡°Yo, actually able to take out a red envelope.¡±


    ¡°Who knows if there¡¯s money inside, I think it¡¯s a stack of newspapers.¡±


    ¡°Haha! It might really be, a laborer showing gratitude for two students, how could he possibly come up with so much gratitude?¡±


    ¡°Right, right! Teacher Yang, you better check it, there must be newspapers in his envelope!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d bet the lives of the two thousand workers under me, it¡¯s definitely stuffed with newspapers!¡±


    ¡°Yes! Definitely newspapers!¡±


    Just as Xia Liu raised his hand with the red envelope, those patrons below shouted out one after another.


    They simply didn¡¯t believe Xia Liu could come up with four thousand yuan.


    Even if he really could take it out, he wouldn¡¯t be willing to do so at such an occasion.


    If you don¡¯t open the red envelope, you would never guess what¡¯s inside.


    Just like some people who get on a bus, sometimes they drop two Game Coins¡ªwho would notice?


    ¡°This parent, you wouldn¡¯t mind the teacher checking the students¡¯ sincerity in gratitude, would you?¡± Hearing the patrons¡¯ comments below, Yang Yongxin was also somewhat anxious.


    Because every year during graduation season, they always received many empty envelopes, or you could say, they were filled with paper or Joss Paper.


    There may not have been a chance before, but today the voices from below were clamoring so vehemently.


    Yang Yongxin saw an opportunity; he could legitimately ask the person making the donation to open the envelope for inspection.


    ¡°Alright, Teacher Yang, look carefully, I¡¯m going to open it.¡± Saying this, Xia Liu actually began to open the red envelope right in front of everyone.


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 Chapter 421 - 421: Falling Out

    Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Falling Out


    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Xia Liu actually opened the red envelope, revealing two stacks of bright Huaxia currency inside.


    ¡°Damn! This migrant worker actually has money!¡±


    ¡°This is really awkward, he actually stuffed money in there.¡±


    ¡°I can guarantee, that money must be what he had saved from three months of hard work!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! It must be!¡±


    ¡°Tsh! It might not even be his money, I saw Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman take out red envelopes from their bags, who knows what they could have done to get it.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Exactly! It must have been given by Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman.¡±


    ¡°Scumbags!¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu take out money, the crowd began to find excuses to show that their thoughts were not wrong!


    This money definitely couldn¡¯t chave come from Xia Liu, it must be what Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin got by doing something.


    Unlike everyone else, Yang Yongxin had a better appreciation for Xia Liu because he was able to generously take out money.


    With this, the students behind were relieved.


    Even Guo Mingliang, sitting in the front row, smiled.


    If the first person was straightforward, then this gratitude event could be declared a success.


    But what Xia Liu did next shocked everyone.


    He just put the money in his pocket and then, in front of Yang Yongxin and everyone present, tore the red envelope into pieces.


    ¡°Teacher Yang, watch closely, I am stuffing the red envelope in now,¡± said Xia Liu as he slowly stuffed the pieces of the envelope into the box.


    ¡°Wow! What is he doing?¡±


    ¡°Does he not want those two girls to graduate?¡±


    ¡°Typical of a migrant worker!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just laughing¡­¡±


    After seeing Xia Liu¡¯s actions, everyone was startled and began to exclaim.


    It was incredibly bold of him, to put the money away in front of Yang Yongxin¡¯s face and then tear the red envelope into pieces.


    This was a total slap in the face for Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang.


    They could guarantee that the two girls represented by Xia Liu were definitely going to stay in school.


    It doesn¡¯t matter if they don¡¯t want to stay, go home then!


    Four years of schooling wasted, and they wouldn¡¯t even leave with a certificate in the end.


    Finding a job would then be difficult.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡± After his shock, Guo Mingliang immediately stood up and roared.


    ¡°You, as a parent, seem to not want your student to graduate!¡± Yang Yongxin adjusted his glasses and stared coldly at Xia Liu.


    ¡°What am I doing? Not wanting my student to graduate? I just want to ask, who gave you the right to force everyone here to throw in money!¡± Xia Liu said coldly, scanning everyone present.


    Many students, upon hearing what Xia Liu said, secretly cheered him on in their hearts.


    But they could only offer silent support to Xia Liu; in a few days, they might have to pay an even bigger price to get the treatment they deserved.


    ¡°Forced? You might not have understood the situation, this gratitude event is voluntary, if you don¡¯t want your student to appreciate it, then sit back down, I didn¡¯t force you.¡± Yang Yongxin said mockingly.


    ¡°Heh, the report cards are still in your hands, so if I just walk away now, are you going to not let them graduate later?¡±


    ¡°So what! I¡¯m making it clear today! If you don¡¯t have money, get out!¡± Yang Yongxin wasn¡¯t afraid of the issue being exposed, because everyone knew about it, they just hadn¡¯t pointed it out yet. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today he spelled it out. If Xia Liu wanted to make trouble, then he would accompany him to see who could outlast whom.


    ¡°Young man, looking at how you are dressed, you must definitely be having a hard time. How about this, let¡¯s halve the gratitude fee,¡± Guo Mingliang said, seeing how the situation had evolved, and immediately tried to sound generous.


    Today was a fairly formal meeting, and Xia Liu had come in sportswear and slippers, clearly unable to afford formal attire.


    Facing such an agitated parent, Guo Mingliang was inclined to give some leeway.


    ¡°Alright then, since Principal Guo has said so, I won¡¯t ask for anything else. You know what I mean.¡±


    Looking at the repulsive expressions on Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang¡¯s faces, Xia Liu smiled faintly, ¡°I won¡¯t give you a dime, even if I had to buy feed for pigs, I wouldn¡¯t want you to get your hands on it to buy pig feed.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    ¡°What an interesting little migrant worker.¡±


    ¡°Now those two girls absolutely cannot graduate.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really ironic, two top beauties ended up with such a poor man.¡±


    Everyone present could discern the meaning behind Xia Liu¡¯s words; he was essentially calling Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang pigs¡­


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Yang Yongxin lost control and became furious.


    In his position, he had never had anyone dare to speak to him like that!


    Guo Mingliang was also extremely angry, but his health wasn¡¯t great. A teacher next to him held him back to sit down. He shouldn¡¯t faint right here due to excessive anger.


    ¡°Bastard is too kind a word. Compared to Teacher Yang, you are even more of a bastard.¡±


    ¡°Security! Security!¡± Yang Yongxin couldn¡¯t afford to start a physical altercation with so many people around, as he needed to maintain his image. In this situation, his only option was to call security.


    Seeing several security guards charging in angrily, Zhang Xiaoman got scared, ¡°Liu Lanxin, aren¡¯t you very powerful? Call your people to help quickly!¡±


    ¡°I dare not. Compared to you, I am not powerful.¡± Compared to Zhang Xiaoman, Liu Lanxin was very calm.


    Because she still had that video on her phone!


    The video in the hotel where Xia Liu beat Liu Mang with a few punches and kicks¡­


    ¡°Is calling security useful? Can they help you cover up the facts?¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t want to get physical, because once he did, Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang would be crippled in minutes.


    ¡°Hmph! You¡¯d better leave the school. As for those two students¡¯ scores, don¡¯t bother coming to collect them. They¡¯re expelled!¡± That was the first time Yang Yongxin had been so angry.


    But this was also good. He could use Xia Liu, the troublemaker, as a way to shock the other students and parents watching.


    With the example of Xia Liu, Liu Lanxin, and Zhang Xiaoman, the remaining students would definitely behave very meekly.


    ¡°Haha! A migrant worker is just a migrant worker after all!¡±


    ¡°Heh, lowly people remain lowly no matter what.¡±


    ¡°Now our school beauties have no diploma. Once they leave school, they can probably only work as waitresses.¡±


    ¡°Being a waitress might be too ambitious. I reckon they¡¯ll just have to go back to their village and farm.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Two penniless nobodies, if you don¡¯t have money, don¡¯t come to study!¡±


    ¡­


    The female students seized another opportunity to mock Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman, intensifying their jeering.


    At the same time, a tremendous sense of superiority sprouted in their hearts. It didn¡¯t matter if Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin were beautiful; once they left school, they would just go back to farming.


    And themselves, with a diploma, even if abandoned by a sugar daddy, they had saved some money. They could enter a big company, hook up with a general manager or president, and make their lives all the more wonderful.


    ¡°Principal Guo, the philanthropist who has donated the most to our school has just arrived at the entrance of the hall,¡± just as the security guards were about to make their move, a male teacher suddenly ran up to Guo Mingliang, urgently reporting.


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 Chapter 422 - 422: The Person Who Appears

    Chapter 422: Chapter 422: The Person Who Appears


    ¡°Ah! Are you talking about that lady?¡± Guo Mingliang¡¯s eyes widened in panic as he asked.


    ¡°Exactly, her!¡± The male teacher nodded vigorously.


    ¡°This is bad! If she comes in and sees the gratitude event, the consequences will be terrifying!¡± Guo Mingliang panicked; this activity was a violation of many principles.


    If that figure saw it, his reputation and position might vanish altogether.


    He might even end up handcuffed!


    ¡°Teacher Yang! Terminate the event immediately!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Understood!¡± Yang Yongxin, having heard the news reported by the male teacher, was also anxious.


    This gratitude event was originally organized by him.


    If it were to be found out by the biggest donor, he would be dead beyond dead!


    So now it was imperative to wrap things up!


    Others might not have heard, but Xia Liu was very clear that Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin were panicking.


    Once that figure entered and discovered this red envelope event, these two were definitely done for!


    ¡°Dear parent, I was just kidding with you. Please step down from the stage; the gratitude event is over,¡± Yang Yongxin said with a bitter smile.


    ¡°No, no, I think this event is excellent. We should continue. Otherwise, how can we reflect the hard work of Teacher Yang and Principal Guo?¡± Xia Liu shook his head earnestly.


    ¡°Dear parent, there really is no need. Just take it as a joke; we will record your student¡¯s achievements based on their exam scores.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I am not without money. Hurry up and bring out the box; I want to give money.¡± Seeing Yang Yongxin shove the box under the table, Xia Liu tugged at him.


    Yang Yongxin was on the verge of tears; he understood that Xia Liu knew what the figure about to enter represented.


    He wanted to drag him down with him in this way.


    But had he forgotten? There were several security guards still here!


    ¡°You guys, take him away! If he refuses to comply, cripple him!¡± Yang Yongxin finally exploded, showing his true nature.


    ¡°Dear parent! Please leave the stage!¡± The security chief bellowed.


    ¡°What is this? I generously offer to help lend a hand by donating money out of kindness, and you reject my sister¡¯s good intentions?¡±


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, those who understood the situation in the audience sneered endlessly.


    If you really wanted to give money, you wouldn¡¯t have torn the red envelope to shreds earlier.


    On the other hand, the students from impoverished families felt relieved. If they could get through today, maybe they wouldn¡¯t have to give red envelopes.


    That was the hard-earned two thousand yuan!


    For these animals, it would be better to keep it and buy some good clothes for their parents.


    ¡°I ask you one last time! Are you leaving or not?¡± The security chief spoke sternly.


    ¡°What, you want to get physical?¡± Xia Liu glanced at the security chief. The man had a shifty look about him; it was clear he was cut from the same cloth as Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin.


    If Xia Liu hadn¡¯t been there today and they had gotten the money, they surely would have shared some with those in the know or participants.


    Otherwise, the security chief wouldn¡¯t be so desperate.


    ¡°Hmph! Drag him out!¡± the security chief ordered the people behind him.


    But before they could lay a hand on him, the male teacher at the door shouted loudly, ¡°Welcome Chairman Mo to the senior class parent-teacher meeting!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s here!¡± Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin tensed up.


    Please don¡¯t let us be discovered; otherwise, our careers are over!


    Everyone was drawn to the male teacher¡¯s voice and after a moment, the main doors of the hall opened, and several figures slowly stepped through.


    ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s actually her!¡± The moment Xia Liu saw the newcomer, he almost laughed aloud.


    Wasn¡¯t that Mo Wanqing, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for a very long time¡­


    If Mo Wanqing was the biggest donor to Binlai University, then all of this would have been easy.


    ¡°Kid, you¡¯d better not speak, or else those two girls would have no academic standing and be directly expelled!¡± Seeing Mo Wanqing and several philanthropic donors enter, Yang Yongxin immediately threatened Xia Liu. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xia Liu gave a slight smile. He had not intended to speak, but he knew he would definitely have to speak soon.


    ¡°Eh! Isn¡¯t that the president of Wanqing Group?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! The legendary goddess of Binlai City is actually here!¡±


    ¡°This is so lucky, to be able to see Boss Mo here!¡±


    ¡°Ah! My idol, I truly hope I can start from scratch just like her one day!¡±


    ¡°Amazing! The president of Wanqing Group is actually coming to our school!¡±


    ¡­


    Upon seeing Mo Wanqing, the patrons and students at the scene all screamed.


    Mo Wanqing was too famous in Binlai City.


    In both the business and charitable worlds, she was a model and a legend.


    If there was someone in Binlai City who didn¡¯t recognize the Secretary or the Mayor,


    they would definitely recognize Mo Wanqing or have heard of her.


    She was the target every merchant chased after and the goal every ordinary worker strived for¡ªshe was a legend.


    ¡°Aunt Qing!¡± Just as Mo Wanqing was about to reach her seat, Liu Lanxin called out enthusiastically.


    ¡°Oh, Lan Xin, long time no see. Are you a graduate of this year¡¯s class?¡± Mo Wanqing¡¯s memory was excellent, and she immediately remembered Liu Lanxin upon seeing her.


    After all, this girl had some connection to Xia Liu.


    Xia Liu, in turn, had that kind of relationship with her niece. In short, as long as it was a woman associated with Xia Liu, Mo Wanqing remembered.


    Moreover, Liu Lanxin was the heiress of Tianluo Pharmaceutical, and Wanqing Group had many collaborations with Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    ¡°Ah! Liu Lanxin actually knows Mo Wanqing!¡±


    ¡°And she even calls Mo Wanqing, ¡®Aunt¡¯!¡±


    Watching the two greet each other, many students at the scene were shocked.


    In Binlai City, there were not many who could know Mo Wanqing and be so affectionately addressed by her.


    In light of this, the background identity of Liu Lanxin must be extremely formidable!


    With this thought, the girls who had mocked Liu Lanxin all bowed their heads.


    This was truly an embarrassing loss of face.


    The person they were facing knew the legendary figure Mo Wanqing, so what did their own feelings of superiority count for?


    ¡°Aunt Qing, Brother Xia Liu is on stage.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I saw him as soon as I entered. I thought he came here to see girls, but it turns out he came for you.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, actually, Xia Liu mainly came for Xiaoman.¡±


    ¡°Xiaoman?¡± Mo Wanqing looked questioningly at Zhang Xiaoman standing nearby.


    ¡°Hello Aunt Qing, I¡¯m Xia Liu¡¯s little sister,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said shyly.


    ¡°Er¡­ ¡®little sister¡¯ and ¡®sister¡¯ are a bit different, but it doesn¡¯t matter. After this is over, we all have to get together, and you¡¯re not allowed to refuse me,¡± Mo Wanqing said with a cheerful smile.


    Mo Wanqing¡¯s words made Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin blush; they could clearly comprehend the implications of her words.


    After chatting with the two girls for a while, Mo Wanqing walked towards the podium.


    The first sentence she spoke took everyone in the audience by surprise¡­


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 Chapter 423 - 423: Get Out of Bin University!

    Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Get Out of Bin University!


    ¡°Xia Liu, you haven¡¯t been to the city in quite some time. Today, you must come to my house for dinner,¡±


    Mo Wanqing¡¯s voice was soft, but because the hall was too quiet, everyone heard her.


    The financiers, upon hearing Mo Wanqing invite Xia Liu to her home for dinner, were agape, their jaws nearly hitting their chests.


    And who is Mo Wanqing? The wealthiest and most powerful woman in Binlai City!


    Wanqing Group is even among the top 100 enterprises in Huaxia.


    Such a prominent boss personally inviting a young man to her house for a meal!


    ...


    One would realize with just their toes that this young man was no ordinary person¡ªvery extraordinary!


    At the spot, whether financiers or students, everyone looked at Xia Liu with a sense of dread.


    Because they had all been mocking Xia Liu just a moment ago.


    Having Mo Wanqing personally invite someone to her home for dinner, if you mock him and he takes it seriously, you would surely be dead beyond dead.


    Not to mention having a company, even a somewhat large group wouldn¡¯t withstand the ruin from such a person.


    One could say, as long as the Wanqing Group speaks a word, unless someone could contend with Wanqing Group, no business could survive.


    Compared to the financiers and those students who mocked Xia Liu, Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin were undoubtedly the most trembling.


    They had been involved in shady dealings for years; if exposed, the outcome was imaginable.


    With Mo Wanqing¡¯s influence in Binlai City, their lives were utterly destroyed.


    ¡°Aunt Qing, I¡¯ve been quite busy recently, just got some free time these past few days. I will definitely come to your house later,¡± Xia Liu responded with a delighted smile.


    ¡°You said it yourself, if you dare run away, I¡¯ll come to mooch off your meals at your place tomorrow, and for a whole month at that!¡±


    Mo Wanqing said, feigning a casual manner.


    Faced with such a jest from the wealthiest and most powerful woman in Binlai City, the entire place went silent, deadly silent.


    This was sufficient to prove Xia Liu¡¯s status¡ªhe was untouchable! S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Aunt Qing, do you have the authority to judge some of the teachers in the school?¡± Suddenly, Xia Liu¡¯s expression turned serious.


    This statement had not yet finished, and some of the teachers at the scene were already trembling in body and soul.


    Mo Wanqing might not have the power, but the energy she possessed was unimaginable.


    Judgment!


    Upon hearing Xia Liu¡¯s words, the students at the scene had sweaty palms from excitement.


    Of course, Mo Wanqing could!


    Previously, some students had wanted to report this matter, but all were intercepted midway.


    Now, with Xia Liu¡¯s presence, it might herald a significant turning point!


    Meanwhile, the faces of Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang and others had turned deathly pale.


    During Mo Wanqing and Xia Liu¡¯s exchange of greetings, they had already envisioned their future predicament.


    Xia Liu would certainly not let them off.


    ¡°Hmm? What do you mean by that?¡± Mo Wanqing asked, puzzled.


    ¡°The situation is like this: Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin are holding a gratitude event here. Then, they are making the students show their gratitude to them through red envelopes,¡± Xia Liu explained.


    ¡°Well, although it¡¯s a bit over the top, the students know to be grateful and to take action, which seems reasonable,¡± Mo Wanqing nodded. She saw no conflict in the matter, wondering why Xia Liu looked so upset.


    ¡°Yeah, young man, it¡¯s all voluntary. A small token of appreciation will do. They might not be able to return to the school later due to their jobs or positions, so today could be considered a farewell party,¡± Yang Yongxin said, continuously winking at Xia Liu as he spoke.


    He was certain that if Xia Liu didn¡¯t pursue this matter further, everything could be settled, and he would also be safe.


    Before coming to Bin University, Yang Yongxin had been a second-rate teacher in a training institution in an industrial zone, charging fees to teach workers how to draw, use office software, etc.


    He had encountered issues of gratitude far too often. Eventually, he met Guo Mingliang, and then the two started planning.


    But now, the nature was slightly different from those unlicensed training institutions, and if exposed, he would be completely ruined.


    ¡°I can accept this, but Yang Yongxin demanded that they must give two thousand yuan! Two thousand yuan might not be a lot for us, but for those striving to squeeze out their savings to study, it makes a huge difference.¡±


    ¡°What!!!¡± Mo Wanqing was shocked!


    Two thousand yuan! For the classmates who had few opportunities to work on-site, that was a substantial amount!


    If it were as Xia Liu had said, then Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang were simply beasts.


    ¡°This is utterly despicable!¡±


    ¡°This is outrageous! Who decided it had to be two thousand yuan!¡±


    The philanthropists visiting Bin University with Mo Wanqing were also furious.


    They had succeeded in their careers and donated money here so the students could receive better educational quality.


    To make their lives more carefree.


    And yet, right under their own eyes, scum like Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang emerged!


    Utmost despisal!


    ¡°Chairman Mo! I was wrong!¡± Hearing the surrounding public opinion, Yang Yongxin finally bowed his head, no longer daring to underestimate Xia Liu¡¯s influence.


    Perhaps admitting his errors now could offer him a chance to see the light of day again.


    ¡°Ha-ha! Yang Yongxin, you¡¯ve finally met your day!¡±


    ¡°Big black dog Yang Yongxin, get out of Bin University!¡±


    ¡°Get out of Bin University!¡±


    Several male students sitting alone at the venue started shouting excitedly.


    Now that the situation had turned this way, with someone who loathed evil like Xia Liu here, and considering his relationship with Mo Wanqing,


    Yang Yongxin was absolutely doomed!


    ¡°I was wrong! Everyone, I truly was wrong, please forgive me,¡± Yang Yongxin knelt on the podium.


    Now, dignity was something he dared not care about; only by bowing and apologizing could he have a chance to be forgiven by the public.


    ¡°Wrong? Why didn¡¯t you do that just now.¡±


    ¡°This parent, I truly realize my mistake now, please show mercy, I will cherish this lesson for my whole life,¡± Yang Yongxin pleaded.


    ¡°Humph! Stop talking nonsense! Not only do you have issues, but Guo Mingliang won¡¯t escape either!¡± Xia Liu¡¯s piercing gaze swept over Guo Mingliang with a cold snort.


    Being scrutinized by Xia Liu¡¯s gaze, Guo Mingliang fell directly from his chair.


    ¡°Hahaha! Guo Mingliang, your day has come too!¡±


    ¡°Support Chairman Mo in sanctioning them!¡±


    ¡°Make them get out of Bin University!¡±


    ¡°Return Bin University a rainbow-like sky!¡±


    ¡°Support Chairman Mo!¡±


    Seeing Guo Mingliang fall, the crowd burst into laughter.


    During their four years at Bin University, they knew all too well the hints, pain, and exhaustion imposed by Guo Mingliang.


    Even the female students who had sponsors started calling out.


    If they hadn¡¯t found sponsors, they definitely would have faced endless difficulties from Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin within Bin University.


    ¡°Guo Mingliang! Yang Yongxin, you really are!¡± Seeing the crowd¡¯s excited reactions, Mo Wanqing realized the true extent of the situation.


    If she didn¡¯t take some action, then Bin University might indeed continue to deteriorate day by day.


    ¡°Chairman Mo, we were wrong, truly wrong! Please, everyone, forgive us,¡± Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin both knelt on the ground¡­


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 Chapter 424 - 424: Apology

    Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Apology


    ¡°Wrong? If it were just that, you wouldn¡¯t know you were wrong,¡± Xia Liu said coldly to the two.


    If this weren¡¯t Bin University, if this weren¡¯t Huaxia. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For people like Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin, Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t even give them a chance to breathe.


    They don¡¯t deserve to be human!


    ¡°Xia Liu, how do you think they should be dealt with?¡± Mo Wanqing asked.


    Hiss¡­


    ...


    Upon hearing Mo Wanqing¡¯s words, everyone present couldn¡¯t help but gasp.


    The CEO of Wanqing Group, actually asking a young man to decide the fate of Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin.


    Their already anxious hearts felt even heavier.


    If it weren¡¯t so quiet at the scene, they would definitely leave this place without a word.


    In their hearts, they prayed that Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t remember them, otherwise their companies, their enterprises, would be doomed.


    ¡°Aunt Qing, you handle it, I believe you won¡¯t let them be comfortable,¡± Xia Liu said with a faint smile.


    ¡°I see, then I understand,¡± Mo Wanqing said as she took out her phone to make a call.


    About ten minutes later, Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin were no longer seen in the hall.


    Seeing the two being taken out of the hall with black hoods over their heads, all the students burst into an uproar.


    Some of the female students, although they had sponsors, had gained some insights after a year or two.


    As long as Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin were out of Bin University, future juniors could study happily.


    Perhaps they wouldn¡¯t have to follow the same old path.


    In the end, through the coordination of Mo Wanqing and several philanthropists, a middle-aged female teacher took the stage to preside over the meeting.


    In fact, the objective of today¡¯s parent-teacher meeting was just the red envelopes.


    Now that Yang Yongxin and Guo Mingliang were gone, there was no need to continue the meeting.


    They just needed to notify the students to pick up their grades tomorrow noon.


    ¡°Students, don¡¯t stay up too late, you need to come pick up your grades tomorrow noon,¡± the female teacher finished and declared the meeting over.


    The students sitting below clenched the red envelopes in their pockets, their eyes staring intensely at Xia Liu.


    If not for Xia Liu today, they would have lost a significant amount of money.


    Xia Liu changed not only them but also the entire Bin University.


    From now on, the gratitude meetings will no longer exist, nor will the cancer of Bin University!


    Many people gratefully left the scene.


    However, those sponsors hesitated to leave.


    They had all mocked Xia Liu, and with Mo Wanqing there, if they just left, their companies would definitely be doomed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xia Liu, my brother, it was all my fault just now. I apologize to you,¡± Yang Lin was the first to bow before Xia Liu.


    He was the first person to approach Xia Liu after he entered the hall.


    Ever since he saw Mo Wanqing greeting Xia Liu, his heart had been pounding non-stop, constantly worrying about how Xia Liu would retaliate against him.


    With Xia Liu¡¯s current connections, his construction team would definitely be dismantled in no time.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here, Xia Liu?¡± Mo Wanqing, feeling that Yang Lin looked somewhat familiar, asked puzzledly.


    ¡°Chairman Mo, just now I offended Xia Liu, my brother. I¡¯ve realized my mistake, and I beg Chairman Mo and Xia Liu, my brother, to show some mercy,¡± Yang Lin said earnestly.


    His construction team had some collaborations with Wanqing Group, and he deeply understood the power and terror of Wanqing Group.


    If Xia Liu pursued the matter, Mo Wanqing would definitely make it impossible for him to survive in Binlai City.


    Even in other cities and provinces, he might have been unable to continue, how could Yang Lin not be afraid?


    ¡°Xia Liu, big brother, I was also wrong,¡± Lin Jing, seeing the look Yang Lin gave him, immediately understood and apologized.


    ¡°What I want to tell you is, don¡¯t easily look down on anyone when you go out, because once they turn around, they might be richer and have more energy than you,¡± Xia Liu said indifferently.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu is right, I, Yang Lin, will definitely remember this from now on,¡± Yang Lin said, his face brightening. Xia Liu saying this meant that his career was finally safe.


    ¡°As for you, you haven¡¯t offended me, but you should also keep your eyes peeled in the future, Lan Xin is the heir to Tianluo Pharmaceutical,¡± Xia Liu said lightly to Lin Jing.


    ¡°Ah! The heir to Tianluo Pharmaceutical!¡±


    Upon hearing this news, Lin Jing was like struck by lightning, standing dazed on the spot.


    It was not only Lin Jing, but also those who ridiculed Liu Lanxin under the guise of being patrons who began to feel frightened.


    Aside from Wanqing Group, the most famous and most promising enterprise in Binlai City is Tianluo Pharmaceutical!


    Moreover, many of the female students at the scene had been obsessed with Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡¯s Beauty Mud just a few days ago.


    Now knowing that Liu Lanxin was the heir to Tianluo Pharmaceutical, how could they remain calm?


    That was the heir who could crush them without needing anyone else¡¯s power!


    The future super beauty boss, and they had just offended her.


    The regret in the hearts of the female students on the scene was immense.


    If there was a chance to do it over, they would definitely cherish Liu Lanxin.


    Only now did they realize that they had missed so much¡­


    Watching those trembling glances around her, Liu Lanxin smiled bitterly; she had never intended to reveal her identity.


    She just wanted to study quietly and not get involved in those meaningless affairs.


    ¡°Young master, I was also a bit wrong earlier, please don¡¯t take it to heart,¡±


    ¡°We are also, please don¡¯t mind it, young master.¡±


    ¡­


    Seeing Yang Lin forgiven by Xia Liu, the other patrons also started to apologize.


    Though his identity was unknown, Mo Wanqing had greeted him with such an affectionate demeanor.


    If he kept them in mind, they wouldn¡¯t even know how they might die.


    The female students sponsored by patrons also apologized to Liu Lanxin, for Tianluo Pharmaceutical was indeed a hot and promising group.


    Give it a bit more time to develop, and it might break into the Huaxia Top 100.


    Having a conflict with the heir of a Top 100 enterprise, it was certain that it would be very difficult for them in the future.


    So they chose to apologize humbly.


    Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin were not the kind of people who loved to hold grudges; like the patrons and female students, having learned a lesson this time, they would definitely be more cautious in the future.


    Step back to broaden the sky; both chose to let bygones be bygones with a smile.


    After sorting out the matter, Xia Liu took Liu Lanxin, Zhang Xiaoman, and Mo Wanqing out of the hall.


    Mo Wanqing let the driver go ahead, she got into the Bentley, instructing Xia Liu to drive to her house.


    She rarely had free time these days, of course, she had to host Xia Liu and his two sisters well.


    People leaving the hall saw Xia Liu driving away in the Bentley and couldn¡¯t help but shake their heads and sigh, ¡°Ah, a low-profile talented person.¡±


    ¡°Truly a young hero, this young man¡¯s future achievements will definitely be extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°Today, all of us were fooled, but honestly, he is just too damn low-profile.¡±


    ¡°Wait, it seems Qin Feng from Fenglin Entertainment and that real estate company¡¯s Pan Jie plan to deal with Xia Liu¡­¡±


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 Chapter 425 - 425: Looks Like an Acquaintance

    Chapter 425: Chapter 425: Looks Like an Acquaintance


    ¡°`


    Everyone recalled Qin Feng and Pan Jie, and they couldn¡¯t help but narrow their eyes with a smile.


    A small Fenglin Entertainment Company compared with Wanqing Group is like a candlelight next to the brilliant moon, incomparable.


    Pan Jie¡¯s family business was just starting out, and moreover, they dealt with real estate. If he offended Xia Liu, with Mo Wanqing¡¯s intervention, Pan Jie¡¯s family¡¯s enterprise could collapse in an instant¡­


    With these thoughts in mind, the sponsors quickly got into their cars with the girls by their side and started the engines.


    They all wanted to see what the ultimate fate of Qin Feng and Pan Jie would be!


    ...


    At the entrance of Bin University, many students wandered nearby as if nothing was happening.


    The corners of their eyes were all glancing at a group of people at the main entrance.


    These people leaned against their motorcycles, each lighting a cigarette, their attitude carefree and relaxed.


    For such events, students who loved to gather for excitement knew that these people were definitely waiting to ambush a fellow student!


    Even the security guards dared not say much about it.


    Because these people did not enter the school¡¯s domain; once someone stepped out of the school gates, whatever happened was not something the guards could prevent.


    There were about twenty people in the group, among them were Qin Feng and Pan Jie.


    ¡°Brother Xiao Fei, in just a little while that bastard will come out, and if you can break his two legs, I¡¯ll add a hundred thousand to your payment,¡± Pan Jie said with a smile to the young man lying across a motorcycle.


    ¡°Another hundred thousand! That would make it three hundred thousand!¡± Brother Xiao Fei sat up alertly, for they were in the business of making money through force.


    The price Qin Feng and Pan Jie initially offered was two hundred thousand to disable the target¡¯s hands.


    Now adding another hundred thousand to break his legs!


    Worth it!


    After all, they never gave a second thought when it came to beating someone.


    ¡°Haha! Brothers, smoke!¡± After confirming with Qin Feng and Pan Jie, Brother Xiao Fei roared with laughter and called to his brothers behind him.


    ¡°A car¡¯s coming out!¡± Seeing the moving barrier at the gate open, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes sparkled with vital energy.


    He absolutely could not let Xia Liu escape from the school!


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    ¡°Rich second generation, huh! Showing up at school in a Bentley!¡±


    ¡°A Bentley! Students at this school are bloody rich,¡± Brother Xiao Fei and a few of his followers exclaimed when they saw the car¡¯s emblem.


    ¡°Eh, that bastard seems to be the one driving!¡± Qin Feng also felt something was off because he saw that the person driving was Xia Liu.


    Logically, dressed like a construction worker, Xia Liu shouldn¡¯t be able to afford such a car.


    ¡°Yo! It indeed is him, seems like the kid has rented a luxury car just to impress the girls,¡± Pan Jie said disdainfully.


    ¡°Hehe! Brother Xiao Fei! That bastard¡¯s sitting inside the car, get your brothers to intercept him!¡± Qin Feng¡¯s thoughts were similar to Pan Jie¡¯s; he didn¡¯t believe Xia Liu could afford such a luxury car.


    ¡°Mm-hmm! Brothers, stop that car for me!¡± Upon the reminder, Brother Xiao Fei immediately waved his hand and commanded his followers.


    These followers were reckless; as soon as they saw Brother Xiao Fei¡¯s signal, they immediately dropped their cigarette butts and rapidly ran in front of the Bentley¡¯s path, blocking it with their bodies.


    ¡°Eh, that guy looks familiar¡­¡± Inside the car, Xia Liu did not take the intercepting followers seriously, but the youth lying on the motorcycle caught his attention.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, it¡¯s Qin Feng and Pan Jie,¡± Zhang Xiaoman exclaimed as she spotted those two detestable faces.


    ¡°Bastards! Actually gathering so many people for an ambush,¡± Liu Lanxin said through gritted teeth.


    If it had just been five or six people, she believed Xia Liu could have easily dealt with them.


    But now with more than a dozen people surrounding the car, if Xia Liu got out, he would definitely be beaten up badly.


    ¡°Has some conflict occurred?¡± Mo Wanqing asked indifferently.


    ¡°`


    She trusted Xia Liu completely, and on the contrary, she was worried that Xia Liu might not be able to control himself and accidentally kill these people.


    When Chongyin from the Taiji Sect came to create trouble at the company, Mo Wanqing had witnessed everything Xia Liu displayed.


    In the end, he disabled that extremely formidable Martial Arts assassin with a single punch.


    With the power that Xia Liu possessed, Mo Wanqing believed he could easily deal with these dozen or so people, even if they were a dozen experienced Samurai.


    ¡°It¡¯s a minor matter, I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Xia Liu said without further explanation and then got out of the car.


    When Xia Liu appeared, the group of underlings was somewhat dumbfounded, as the ambush had actually been successful.


    There was only one person on the other side, and he dared to get out of the car?


    Compared with the underlings, the onlooking students were the ones really exclaiming in surprise.


    The girls, seeing Xia Liu¡¯s handsome features, were almost ready to start cheering.


    The boys, witnessing Xia Liu¡¯s fearlessness in front of the underlings, all clenched their fists tightly, imagining themselves as Xia Liu, driving a Bentley and stunning the entire crowd with their audacity.


    ¡°Ha ha! He really has guts!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, you dared to mess with us brothers, today if I don¡¯t cripple you I¡¯ll take your last name!¡± Pan Jie said furiously.


    ¡°Are you sure you want to disable?¡± Xia Liu asked, looking at Pan Jie and Qin Feng with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile.


    Or rather, he was looking at Brother Xiao Fei who was sitting on the motorcycle.


    After a string of memory searches, Xia Liu recalled that this young man was none other than Brother Fei, whom he had scared into wetting his pants not so long ago.


    At that moment, Brother Xiao Fei¡¯s pupils dilated in shock the instant Xia Liu showed up.


    He would never forget Xia Liu, for once he had accepted money from Wang Ping to help clear out the families who refused to vacate their old homes.


    Then Xia Liu appeared, not only revealing terrifying skills.


    But also with a single phone call, he had summoned the president of Wanqing Group, and in the end, Wang Ping was also disabled.


    Thinking back on those events from a while ago, Brother Xiao Fei¡¯s heartbeat accelerated.


    In that period, he would have nightmares every night, dreaming that Xia Liu was dislocating his bones and then reassembling them.


    Too horrifying¡­ sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Brother Xiao Fei! It¡¯s this bastard! Tell the brothers to beat him up!¡± Pan Jie glared at Xia Liu with rage, completely oblivious to the fact that Brother Xiao Fei¡¯s expression was as ugly as if he had just lost his father.


    ¡°Brother Fei!¡± a subordinate reminded, turning his head.


    They were ready; with just an order from Brother Xiao Fei, they would immediately gang up and start beating Xia Liu.


    ¡°All of you, dammit, get back here!¡± Brother Xiao Fei snapped back to reality and immediately roared.


    Everyone at the scene was startled by his voice.


    Especially Qin Feng and Pan Jie, hadn¡¯t they paid for these people to beat Xia Liu?


    Now that Xia Liu was right here, why wasn¡¯t Brother Xiao Fei taking action, and instead ordering people to fall back?


    While everyone was bewildered, Brother Xiao Fei quickly ran up to Xia Liu and then bowed respectfully, saying, ¡°Big brother, are you here to visit the school for fun?¡±


    Once again hearing Brother Xiao Fei¡¯s shocking words, the underlings all widened their eyes.


    They didn¡¯t remember ever meeting Xia Liu.


    Since they hadn¡¯t met Xia Liu, and Brother Xiao Fei was calling him big brother, that meant¡­


    Qin Feng and Pan Jie exchanged glances, each seeing surprise in the other¡¯s eyes.


    They couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of scenario they would face if Xia Liu truly was the big brother of this group¡­


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 Chapter 426 - 426: The Foolish Young Master Seeks Death

    Chapter 426: Chapter 426: The Foolish Young Master Seeks Death


    The onlookers were all dumbfounded.


    They all knew Xiao Fei and his crew.


    These people rode their motorcycles near the school every day, not only bullying others but also openly robbing.


    Who in the school didn¡¯t hate them, who would dare to oppose them?


    Now seeing the leader of the motorcycle riders bowing down to Xia Liu, the students were all forcibly swallowing their saliva, not knowing what would happen next.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Brother Fei? We haven¡¯t seen each other for a few months, have we?¡± Xia Liu said with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    ...


    ¡°Big Brother! You are the brother here. Just call me Xiao Fei.¡± Xiao Fei was shivering a bit.


    Last time, Xia Liu acted pretty much the same, and then Wang Ping ended up crippled.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Fei wanted to cry without tears.


    He couldn¡¯t figure out if he had eaten shit or what in the past few days to have run into this Demon Leader.


    And he had been stupid enough to have his guys surround him; how was that any different from seeking death?


    ¡°Are they all your men?¡± Xia Liu dropped his trivial manner and asked seriously.


    Thump!


    Seeing the change on Xia Liu¡¯s face, Xiao Fei¡¯s legs went weak, and he immediately knelt on the ground: ¡°Big Brother! I really didn¡¯t know you were in the car, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have dared to block your car even if I had a thousand guts.¡±


    Xiao Fei mourned, firmly deciding in his heart that if Xia Liu¡¯s attitude got even a little bit tougher, he would slap his own face.


    ¡°Young Master Qin! I think we better get out of here.¡± Seeing Xiao Fei kneeling down, Pan Jie realized the situation was even more serious and made the most rational judgement on the spot.


    ¡°Yeah, we should go,¡± Qin Feng agreed without hesitation; touching Xia Liu now was undoubtedly off the table.


    Plus, seeing how Xiao Fei was acting towards Xia Liu, their own motorcycle gang might turn against them and beat them up.


    ¡°Gentlemen! Before things are clear, I hope you¡¯ll stay,¡± just as Qin Feng and Pan Jie were about to sneak away, a mocking voice reached their ears.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Qin Feng and Pan Jie both cursed inwardly. Damn it, how sharp someone¡¯s eyes had to be to spot them even at the back of the crowd?


    ¡°Brothers! Surround those two!¡± In order to get Xia Liu to let him off, Xiao Fei decided to switch sides.


    Not to mention Xia Liu¡¯s formidable skills, he knew the boss of Wanqing Group! Just for that reason alone, he had to submit to him.


    ¡°You get up first; we¡¯ll deal with your matter later.¡± From the lively discussions of the surrounding students, Xia Liu heard about Xiao Fei and the Motorcycle Gang. Had he not heard, he would have stayed out of it, but since he had, he was not going to stand idly by.


    Xiao Fei stood up, excited. He believed that as long as he behaved a little better, Xia Liu would definitely let him off.


    ¡°Xia Liu, right! What now! You dare to have them hit me, don¡¯t you?¡± Pan Jie looked around arrogantly.


    He had memorized everyone¡¯s faces already. If he got hit, it would mean the end for this group tonight.


    If it wasn¡¯t for convenience, Pan Jie wouldn¡¯t have bothered finding Xiao Fei near the school.


    Qin Feng, meanwhile, said nothing, watching Xia Liu walk toward him step by step.


    ¡°You two don¡¯t need to be like this; we don¡¯t really have any grudge between us,¡± Xia Liu stated calmly.


    ¡°Screw you! You dare make a fool of us, this is already a deadly feud!¡± Before Qin Feng could speak, the hot-tempered Pan Jie roared.


    ¡°`


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xia Liu calmly looked at Qin Feng, wanting to know if this young man shared the same thoughts as Pan Jie.


    ¡°My meaning? Just let them try to make a move, and I swear they¡¯ll all be dead by tonight!¡± Qin Feng raised his neck, trying to look down on Xia Liu from a superior position.


    However, he was much shorter than Xia Liu, and even standing on tiptoe, he barely reached Xia Liu¡¯s chin.


    Xiao Fei, who had wanted to show off after hearing Qin Feng and Pan Jie, suddenly felt his hot-blooded enthusiasm wither.


    What a joke, one was a ruthless individual skilled in combat and acquainted with Mo Wanqing; the other, a young master of a company.


    He couldn¡¯t afford to offend either of them and could only silently bow his head to the side.


    ¡°Killing you all wouldn¡¯t take more than a finger, but it would dirty my hands,¡± Xia Liu said calmly.


    Although he appeared composed, both Qin Feng and Pan Jie felt a biting coldness when they looked into Xia Liu¡¯s dark, calm pupils.


    After a steady gaze, they realized their backs were soaked with sweat without them noticing when it had happened.


    ¡°Trying to scare us? You¡¯re still too green for that!¡± Pan Jie glared at Xia Liu, snapping out of his shock.


    ¡°To be honest, you¡¯re just cocky because your families have money. If you were dirt poor, I doubt you¡¯d have the courage to be so arrogant.¡±


    ¡°Heh, my family does have some money; what about it? If you¡¯ve got the guts, why don¡¯t you try acting tough?¡± Qin Feng said, smugly.


    ¡°You seem to be from the same circle. I¡¯d advise you to keep your head down. The circle is much bigger than you think, and you can¡¯t afford to mess with anybody,¡± Pan Jie said arrogantly, lecturing Xia Liu.


    ¡°Haha! The calf doesn¡¯t fear the tiger precisely because it¡¯s a newborn!¡±


    ¡°I must make a point of teaching my son well when I return. If he ever turns out like these two young masters, even billions in wealth could collapse.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. If these two young masters knew that Chairman Mo and the heir of Tianluo Pharmaceutical were sitting in the car, I wonder what their expressions would be.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t discuss too loudly. Just watch the brainless young masters dig their own graves.¡±


    The group of financiers that had been meeting inside had already come to the door and had been observing for a while.


    They all understood that Xia Liu¡¯s reluctance to act immediately was intended to give Qin Feng and Pan Jie a chance to back down.


    If he started to take things seriously, and Mo Wanqing and Liu Lanxin stepped out of the car, Fenlin Entertainment Company and the budding real estate development company could be crushed or even swallowed up by the two major conglomerates within minutes.


    ¡°Since you mentioned the circle, I want to ask, how much do you really understand about it? Why do you assume that I have no influence within it?¡±


    ¡°You? Aside from the car you¡¯ve rented, you¡¯re nothing but a peasant worker!¡±


    ¡°Heh! Let me ask you just one thing, are you even worthy of carrying our shoes?¡±


    Qin Feng and Pan Jie were relentless in their ridicule. They had been mingling in the circle for ten years, knew which company had which boss, and were acquainted with young masters and misses of various enterprises.


    They had never seen Xia Liu before, and what did that tell them? It was all an act!


    ¡°My family is indeed from a rural area, but there¡¯s no need for your sarcasm, is there? And, what makes you think I can¡¯t slap your faces?¡±


    ¡°Show us what you¡¯ve got!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about having these guys take action, then have them try it. Unless you kill us two in front of everyone, I¡¯ll make their lives worse than death! And you¡­ you¡¯re definitely going to die!¡±


    Pan Jie was dead serious. Facing Xiao Fei and the others, he did feel some fear, but it was only temporary. If you don¡¯t let yourself live to leave, then everyone here is going down!


    ¡°Have you two had enough?¡± Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, suddenly, a chilling voice came from behind¡­


    ¡°` sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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 Chapter 427 - 427: Kicked the Iron Plate, Didnt You?

    Chapter 427: Chapter 427: Kicked the Iron Plate, Didn¡¯t You?


    Pan Jie and Qin Feng¡¯s brows furrowed, and they immediately turned their gaze toward the source of the sound.


    Upon seeing the person who spoke, they both instantly widened their eyes.


    An indescribable feeling surged in their hearts.


    Who did they see?


    Mo Wanqing!


    The supreme powerhouse of Binlai City! The legendary businesswoman!


    ...


    The CEO of Wanqing Group!


    Not only were Qin Feng and Pan Jie shocked by this unexpected scene.


    The onlooking students were even more trembling.


    Mo Wanqing¡¯s photos were hung in the school classrooms; she herself was a legend, an inspiration.


    She was the goal of all strivers, the role model that all students were bound to study.


    It could be said that no one at Bin University did not recognize Mo Wanqing.


    Now that these students saw Mo Wanqing stepping out of the Bentley, how could they not be shocked?


    Since Xia Liu was the driver of the Bentley, Mo Wanqing being in there clearly spoke of their relationship.


    Watching the shocked expressions at the scene, the financiers who had come out of the conference hall with Xia Liu smiled silently.


    That Qin Feng and Pan Jie even dared to block Xia Liu was simply suicidal.


    They recalled Xia Liu¡¯s words just now and couldn¡¯t help but look at Qin Feng and Pan Jie with pity.


    One was the young master of Fenglin Entertainment Company, the other the young master of some unknown real estate company.


    Well now, they had offended Xia Liu, offended Mo Wanqing.


    It probably wouldn¡¯t be long before their families¡¯ companies would announce they were in crisis, or even filing for bankruptcy.


    The financiers watching Xia Liu and Mo Wanqing felt a chill up their spines.


    If they had acted impulsively like Pan Jie and Qin Feng just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable.


    ¡°The CEO of Wanqing Group!¡± After their surprise, Qin Feng and Pan Jie were stunned into silence.


    ¡°You two young men, always thinking of crooked ways and even using such means to take revenge on others, I am truly worried about your future,¡± Mo Wanqing said bluntly.


    She had heard everything from Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman while she was in the car.


    If their target of revenge had not been Xia Liu but someone else powerless, the outcome would have been unspeakable.


    Having encountered them today, she, Mo Wanqing, had the responsibility and obligation to teach Qin Feng and Pan Jie a lesson.


    If they continued this way, sooner or later, it was going to harm them.


    ¡°Mo-Mo-Mo¡­ President,¡± the voices of Qin Feng and Pan Jie trembled immensely.


    At this moment, they were no longer the spirited young masters they had been just before, but students caught smoking in the school bathroom, petrified.


    They looked at Xia Liu, their eyes now devoid of disdain, filled instead with fear and shock.


    Even with a thousand brains and ideas, they could never have imagined Mo Wanqing would step out of Xia Liu¡¯s car.


    What an utter shock.


    Their legs buckled, and Qin Feng and Pan Jie knelt on the ground: ¡°Brother Xia Liu! We were blind earlier.¡±


    ¡°We are sorry, Brother Xia Liu, it was our fault.¡±


    Pan Jie and Qin Feng had been in this circle for a long time, always acting with some degree of measure. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But today, without any measure, they had offended Xia Liu, a person of unbelievable influence.


    They both cherished their current positions and resources very much.


    If Mo Wanqing and Xia Liu were to take any action, they were sure that their family¡¯s business would plummet at a terrifying speed, ending in bankruptcy.


    Who had they offended?


    The CEO of Wanqing Group!


    The most connected and wealthiest woman in Binlai City!


    ¡°Haha, now you realize your mistake? Weren¡¯t you the ones who said even carrying our shoes was beyond you?¡±


    ¡°Bumped into a steel wall, didn¡¯t you!¡±


    ¡°Feel like dying now, huh?¡±


    ¡°Arrogant! Presumptuous! A pair of idiots!¡±


    ¡­


    Seeing Pan Jie and Qin Feng¡¯s state, the surrounding students couldn¡¯t help but sneer.


    They had seen how imposing Pan Jie and Qin Feng had been, and now they finally saw them kneeling and bowing their heads.


    How utterly satisfying!


    ¡°You two don¡¯t need to be like this.¡± Xia Liu wasn¡¯t interested in further provoking them, as he already had a plan in mind. If they were simply forgiven this easily, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they forgot today¡¯s pain and continued on their overbearing path, contemptuous of everyone.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! We brothers bow to you, we truly know our mistake.¡± Pan Jie spoke and immediately slammed his forehead onto the stone tile.


    Qin Feng also followed Pan Jie¡¯s lead in bowing his head.


    Now they had no choice but to submit, if kneeling and bowing could preserve their millions in assets, they were willing to kneel all day.


    ¡°Do you two feel humiliated?¡± Mo Wanqing asked coolly.


    Qin Feng and Pan Jie dared not lift their heads, instead continuing their bowing motions even more rapidly.


    They hoped to garner the pity of Mo Wanqing and Xia Li so that their family¡¯s business could be saved.


    ¡°In your state, without experiencing a heart-stopping ordeal, it¡¯s very difficult to change,¡± Mo Wanqing continued.


    ¡°Ah! President Mo! We know our mistake!¡±


    ¡°President Mo, please spare us!¡±


    Hearing Mo Wanqing say that, a sudden anxiety surged within Qin Feng and Pan Jie.


    A heart-stopping ordeal, that would definitely be unforgettable for a lifetime.


    Even though the ordeal had not yet occurred, the two could already imagine, it would surely be terrifying.


    ¡°I advise you both to get up quickly, otherwise it won¡¯t just be an ordeal,¡± Xia Liu said, watching them closely.


    Seeing those eyes as deep as the stars, Qin Feng and Pan Jie shuddered and immediately stood up.


    Xia Liu¡¯s words held an irresistible Magic Power.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what do you plan to do with them?¡± Mo Wanqing asked softly, seeing Xia Liu speak.


    ¡°I feel Aunt Qing already has a plan, just go ahead as you see fit.¡±


    ¡°Is that so, then leave it to me,¡± Mo Wanqing said, slightly startled before nodding.


    People like Qin Feng and Pan Jie, at such an impressionable age, must be hit hard, otherwise in a few more years, they might grow into the kind of wealthy heirs that everyone despises.


    ¡°You two, get out! Remember from now on to think before you speak or act, and don¡¯t think money in your family lets you show off.¡± Xia Liu bluntly told Qin Feng and Pan Jie.


    ¡°Thank you, Brother Xia Liu! Thank you, President Mo!¡±


    With hearts wild with joy, they thanked them and immediately retreated.


    Being able to leave so quickly and unscathed, they both thought Xia Liu had forgiven them.


    But what they didn¡¯t expect was that in the following few years, they would undergo the most difficult period of their lives, almost falling to pieces¡­


    As Qin Feng and Pan Jie faded from the scene, Xia Liu turned his gaze to Xiao Fei.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! Xiao Fei knows his mistake too!¡± Feeling Xia Liu¡¯s gaze, Xiao Fei¡¯s face turned pale instantly, and he quickly apologized after regaining composure.


    ¡°A mistake isn¡¯t something you can mend with just an apology, especially when what you¡¯ve done could land you several years in prison.¡±


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 Chapter 428 - 428 Continue Processing

    Chapter 428: Chapter 428 Continue Processing


    Hearing Xia Liu say that, Xiao Fei¡¯s body immediately became powerless.


    The followers around him also realized that something was wrong and gathered behind Xiao Fei.


    With just a command, they would certainly pounce towards Xia Liu.


    ¡°What are you guys doing! All of you apologize to Brother Xia Liu!¡± Seeing these newly recruited followers being so clueless, Xiao Fei was almost crying in desperation.


    Others might not know Xia Liu¡¯s power, but how could he not know.


    If Xia Liu got serious, one wouldn¡¯t even know how they died.


    ...


    Moreover, there was a super-rich tycoon here now.


    How significant is a little Motorcycle Gang? Could they last even an hour against others?


    Seeing Xiao Fei truly angry, about ten followers immediately bowed their heads, not daring to say a word.


    ¡°Wow, what do I see! These guys are actually bowing their heads!¡±


    ¡°That handsome guy really has guts! It would be great if he could drive these motorcycle thugs out of the surrounding area.¡±


    ¡°These bastards! I think we should throw all of them into the sea!¡±


    ¡°Handsome hero! Please drive them out of Binlai City!¡±


    ¡°Drive them out of Binlai City!¡±


    With Xia Liu taking the lead, the onlooking students were all loudly calling out.


    They weren¡¯t afraid of making a scene since Xiao Fei¡¯s crew didn¡¯t know who was shouting.


    Now, both Xia Liu and Mo Wanqing were here.


    Just a minimal effort from these two, and names like Brother Xiao Fei or the Motorcycle Gang would probably be hard to find in the future.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! I will change for sure in the future, I will protect the students, and not let thieves harm them even a bit.¡±


    Noticing the discordant voices around him, Brother Xiao Fei hurriedly tried to explain.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s too late for you to change. How about I help you by crippling your limbs, so you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the students facing extortion anymore?¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha! Handsome hero, well done! You are my idol!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Benefactor! We support you in crippling them!¡±


    ¡°These vile people finally have their day! Truly, the heavens have opened their eyes!¡±


    ¡­


    The surrounding students were all stirred up, having been humiliated and extorted by the Motorcycle Gang countless times.


    Now, they would finally see the evildoers punished, how could they remain calm?


    Those boys who were a bit bolder had already stood at the school gate. If Xia Liu really made a move, they would surely join in to help.


    ¡°Xiao Fei, did you hear that? It¡¯s not that I am cruel, but you have been too cruel. Otherwise, these innocent students wouldn¡¯t hate you so bitterly.¡± Xia Liu had already guessed that the students would be excited, given the terrible things Xiao Fei and his crew had done.


    ¡°Big Brother! I really realize my mistakes! I will definitely change! Definitely!¡± Xiao Fei, shaking to his core, didn¡¯t know how else to express his regret.


    Having witnessed Wang Ping being crippled by Xia Liu, the pain and torment were unbearable, and he wouldn¡¯t dare face death.


    ¡°Xia Liu, why not give him another chance?¡± Mo Wanqing looked at Xiao Fei and his followers with pity.


    She felt that there was still room for turning things around, and if Xiao Fei and his crew could truly correct their ways, it might actually benefit the students of Bin University.


    Because with people like Xiao Fei and his crew in the surrounding area, other forces might not come over, thus the students could enjoy some peace.


    ¡°Boss Mo, thank you for your understanding. I truly realize my mistake.¡± Xiao Fei dared not show any joy because Xia Liu had not yet spoken.


    ¡°Aunt Qing, you take charge of the matters in Binlai City, and I will just coordinate accordingly,¡±


    In the midst of many expectant gazes, Mo Wanqing leisurely said, ¡°From now on, everyone must pay attention, as long as they continue to operate around the school, just call Wanqing Group, and I will deal with them immediately.¡±


    ¡°President Mo is mighty!¡±


    ¡°President Mo is mighty!¡±


    ¡­


    Upon hearing Mo Wanqing¡¯s words, a fervent cheer immediately erupted from the surroundings.


    After all, they were all students, and they didn¡¯t want to witness violence and killing.


    Now that Mo Wanqing had spoken, if the Motorcycle Gang dared continue their petty thievery, they would definitely face severe punishment.


    This punishment would come from Wanqing Group! A company filled with wonders.


    ¡°Thank you, President Mo! Thank you, Brother Xia Liu!¡±


    Xiao Fei was very satisfied with this resolution.


    He had always had the intention to not engage in rule-breaking activities, and now he could finally make a firm decision to end it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too soon, you and your people must continue to operate in this vicinity, not for anything else, but to protect the students. If they get bullied, I will come looking for you!¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, rest assured, Xiao Fei has long been aware of this, as long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t allow other gangs to step foot in this vicinity, I guarantee!¡± Xiao Fei, knowing Xia Liu¡¯s intentions, solemnly promised.


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s good that you understand. Move those motorcycles away, if I encounter you next time still in this manner, I¡¯ll ensure you spend your life on a hospital bed.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Xiao Fei looked grave, knowing that Xia Liu was not joking and he would follow the promises he had made.


    ¡°Everyone, move the bikes away!¡±


    Following Xiao Fei¡¯s command, his underlings immediately ran to move the bikes, clearing a wide lane for Xia Liu and the cars following him.


    A Bentley led the way, followed by many luxury cars, as the convoy majestically left Binlai University.


    Accompanying the departure of the vehicles was a wave of enthusiastic applause.


    Some students, lacking in willpower, had moist eyes.


    Xia Liu and Mo Wanqing had really done so much for the school, for the students¡ªthey were truly benevolent people and super role models worthy of emulation.


    ¡­


    ¡°Having Brother Xia Liu come over was really great, we resolved both the vampire in school and the bully outside!¡± In the Bentley, Zhang Xiaoman was deeply moved recalling what Xia Liu had done.


    ¡°Hehe, of course, Aunt Qing and I also played a role. If I hadn¡¯t notified Xia Liu many days in advance, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to make time,¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s words contained a bit of sting, particularly directed at Zhang Xiaoman.


    ¡°You two think too highly of me. Whether it was Guo Mingliang, Qin Feng, or Xiao Fei, the outcomes are all Aunt Qing¡¯s achievements.¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯re just too modest,¡± Mo Wanqing said, shaking her head lightly.


    If Xia Liu had been more high-profile, he might have become famous much earlier.


    Let¡¯s not talk about today¡¯s events; just taking the incident with the Martial Artist Chongyin, the whole city was watching, and Xia Liu had entered wearing a mask and defeated Chongyin.


    This act of doing good deeds anonymously certainly deserves to be emulated by many.


    ¡°Exactly! He¡¯s just too low-key,¡± Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin thought similarly.


    Xia Liu could only smile in response. Was he capable of being high-profile before?


    With the Spearhead Troop and Heaven Slaying keeping an eye on him, gaining fame in Huaxia would mean trouble from both factions.


    Moreover, the primary issue was that many foreign forces were also watching him, so when it¡¯s unnecessary to reveal himself, he needed to be even more discreet¡­


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 Chapter 429 - 429: Increase the Cost Price

    Chapter 429: Chapter 429: Increase the Cost Price


    As the Bentley entered a villa district, Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman were both shocked.


    This was really a wealthy residence area, located in the most bustling part of Binlai City, and it was not just about having money to live here, but one must also have the strength to qualify.


    Clearly, Mo Wanqing had ample strength.


    ¡°Xia Liu, will you be returning tonight?¡± After arriving home, Mo Wanqing asked with curiosity.


    ¡°I probably won¡¯t return, not until Xiaoman collects her report card tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Hee hee, that really inconveniences Brother Xia Liu.¡± Hearing these warm words, Zhang Xiaoman couldn¡¯t hide her delight.


    ...


    ¡°Then good, I will have someone tidy up a room later, and you two can stay at my home tonight,¡± Mo Wanqing said happily.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Great! Then we really are troubling Aunt Qing,¡± Xia Liu was just about to refuse when Liu Lanxin interrupted him and accepted the offer.


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble; we will probably only go for the report cards at noon tomorrow. With that being the case, we can enjoy a few drinks.¡±


    ¡°We will follow Aunt Qing¡¯s arrangements.¡±


    ¡­


    Xia Liu had stopped thinking too much about it; anyway, they needed a place to stay, and sleeping here was fine.


    Staying here had another benefit, too: there would be no worry about these two women getting up to any mischief.


    As time passed, before the night fell, Xia Liu joined Mo Wanqing, Zhang Xiaoman, and Liu Lanxin around a luxurious dining table.


    ¡°Here¡¯s to our hero, Xia Liu!¡± Liu Lanxin declared, raising her glass with vigor.


    ¡°Cheers!¡±


    All four of them emptied the red wine from their glasses.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what are your plans after you go back?¡± A few drinks later, Liu Lanxin, bolstered by the alcohol, asked.


    Actually, what she wanted to say was that since she had graduated, she might take on many business dealings with Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    If it was possible, she would like to invest so that Xia Liu could produce some innovative products, achieving a win-win situation.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re asking like this, then let me discuss with you some matters about cooperation,¡± Liu Lanxin started, and Xia Liu immediately became interested. He had been planning this for a while, and running into Liu Lanxin was the perfect time to broach the topic.


    ¡°Hmm? Did you encounter any problems with your cooperation?¡± Although Mo Wanqing didn¡¯t know what their cooperation entailed, she was quite worried something might go wrong, given that both were friends she cherished.


    ¡°Aunt Qing needn¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no issue with the cooperation, I just want to adjust it somewhat,¡± Xia Liu replied with a light smile.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mind letting Aunt Qing know about your cooperation, do you?¡±


    Zhang Xiaoman was also all ears, eager to find out exactly what this cooperation was about.


    ¡°That¡¯s still for Xia Liu to say, I¡¯m not good at explaining,¡± Liu Lanxin said with some embarrassment, because it involved medicinal liquor, and its primary effect made her shy¡­


    ¡°Xiaoman, Aunt Qing, what kind of look is that? My deal with Lanxin is strictly business,¡± Xia Liu quickly explained, seeing the peculiar looks on Zhang Xiaoman and Mo Wanqing¡¯s faces.


    ¡°Actually, I have a partnership with Lanxin, or I should say with Tianluo Pharmaceutical, to produce a product called ¡®Beauty Mud,¡¯ and as for the effects¡­¡± Xia Liu stopped there.


    The atmosphere became awkward; it was one thing to discuss such matters with two young women who were still innocent, but it was going overboard to talk about it with Mo Wanqing.


    ¡°Hmm, I am already aware of Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡¯s medicinal liquor, go on,¡± Mo Wanqing did not show any sign of discomfiture, as she wanted to know how Xia Liu intended to adjust the cooperation.


    Liu Lanxin was also interested in this because this collaboration had been going on for a long time.


    Both sides had been operating very smoothly, so Xia Liu¡¯s sudden desire for adjustment indicated that there might be some unfavorable issues.


    ¡°The situation is this: the raw materials for making medicinal liquor are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and if we continue consuming at this rate, it won¡¯t be long before we face the same fate as the Beauty Mud.¡±


    ¡°What! The raw materials for medicinal liquor are running out too!¡± Hearing this news, Liu Lanxin was undoubtedly the most agitated.


    Beauty Mud had brought endless hope to the Liu Family, and medicinal liquor had brought endless wealth to Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    If that chain were to break, from any angle, it would be a colossal loss.


    ¡°Ah! Such a sad state of affairs, if Beauty Mud had continued to this day, it might have already become a global sensation.¡±


    Mo Wanqing deeply understood the quality and allure of Beauty Mud, and she somewhat regretted not buying more from Xia Liu when she had the chance.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves, I said the raw materials are hard to find, not that there are none.¡±


    Hearing Xia Liu¡¯s explanation, Liu Lanxin immediately pressed him, ¡°Then what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The production costs have increased¡­¡±


    ¡­


    As Xia Liu slowly revealed this, those at the table fell into silence.


    Mo Wanqing, having seen her fair share of people, curled up the corners of her mouth with a faint smile; it seemed she knew what Xia Liu was planning.


    ¡°Haha! What a strong reason, just say the costs have increased, alright? No need to scare people,¡± Liu Lanxin said, rolling her eyes at Xia Liu once she caught on.


    This guy really was something else; given the current sales heat of the medicinal liquor, even if Xia Liu didn¡¯t mention it.


    She would have discussed raising the price with her family when she returned.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, you can check if you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Xia Liu said earnestly.


    ¡°Check what? Even if the medicinal liquor were given to the most authoritative analysis team, they couldn¡¯t uncover the mysteries it contains.¡±


    ¡°Eh? Is that medicinal liquor really so formidable?¡±


    ¡°Aunt Qing, it¡¯s not about being formidable; no matter how many times it¡¯s tested, the results are always the same; there¡¯s nothing harmful to the human body in its components. On the contrary, the liquor contains various nutrients that boost human hormones, making people healthier the more they drink it.¡± Seeing Mo Wanqing¡¯s astonishment, Liu Lanxin immediately clarified.


    ¡°Any product made by Xia Liu, I knew it wouldn¡¯t be anything substandard,¡± Mo Wanqing said with much heartening.


    She had great expectations for Xia Liu, and indeed, just by observing his way of doing things, it was clear that he was bound to become a world-renowned figure.


    ¡°So tell us, what kind of price would you be satisfied with?¡± After her explanation, Liu Lanxin turned her gaze to Xia Liu.


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m easy to satisfy,¡± Xia Liu remarked as he picked up his wine glass and gently swirled the pale red liquid within.


    ¡°Speak up, this is a partnership between you and me, I can make the decisions.¡± Liu Lanxin was almost driven to the edge of annoyance by his sluggishness, which was exasperating.


    ¡°I did some calculations, producing three hundred milliliters of medicinal liquor now costs thirty thousand.¡±


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Just as she was about to swallow the wine in her mouth, Liu Lanxin heard Xia Liu¡¯s price and ended up spraying the wine all over Xia Liu.


    It wasn¡¯t just Liu Lanxin who was stunned; even Mo Wanqing was shocked.


    Three hundred milliliters for thirty thousand yuan!


    The price was simply astronomical.


    What gold, what diamonds, compared to this medicinal liquor, they paled in significance.


    Zhang Xiaoman propped her chin with her hand, her bright eyes fixed on Xia Liu, filled with admiration that was both shy and immense.


    ¡°Xia Liu! You might as well rob a bank, it would be faster that way.¡± Once she collected herself, Liu Lanxin said sarcastically.


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 Chapter 430 - 430: Reaching an Agreement

    Chapter 430: Chapter 430: Reaching an Agreement


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Mo Wanqing laughed without saying a word, as Xia Liu¡¯s price increase indeed exceeded her expectations.


    Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t deny that the medicinal wine¡¯s reputation was out of this world.


    If the cost could reach thirty thousand yuan, then the selling price would definitely go up by a lot.


    Currently, at ten thousand yuan a bottle, one could imagine that the cost was absolutely several thousand yuan.


    This price increase was over twenty thousand, and it was hard to predict the outcome.


    ¡°I think Brother Xia Liu¡¯s proposal is good,¡± Zhang Xiaoman would support whatever decision Xia Liu made.


    ...


    Just like several months ago, not many villagers believed in him.


    But now, without his leadership, how could the village have achieved such heights? S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Mhm, Xiaoman understands me,¡± Xia Liu chuckled softly, believing that the medicinal wine market had already opened up, and raising the selling price was only the first step¡ªhe had even bigger moves planned.


    If the production of Osmanthus Wine could be comparable to that of medicinal wine, he wouldn¡¯t have to go through so much trouble negotiating with Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Does her understanding you help in any way? The market doesn¡¯t understand you, skyrocketing a product¡¯s price from ten thousand to forty or fifty thousand yuan, does that make sense?¡±


    Liu Lanxin didn¡¯t hold back as she began to teach him a lesson.


    ¡°Miss Liu, it¡¯s not right to say that. The quality of the medicinal wine is there, and such prices are originally targeted at the high-end market. Do you think the sales will decrease with the price increase?¡± Zhang Xiaoman was not pleased.


    She had received an education after all. With the medicinal wine originally at ten thousand yuan a bottle, ordinary people definitely couldn¡¯t afford it.


    Since it¡¯s specifically targeted at wealthy people as a luxury good, then what¡¯s the problem with fifty thousand yuan a bottle, or even a hundred thousand yuan?


    The most important thing was, the effects of the medicinal wine were simply too necessary for some people.


    ¡°Of course it will decrease. With such a steep price increase, they can choose other products.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I haven¡¯t seen any other products. Perhaps your Tianluo Pharmaceutical might also have developed medicinal products with such effects. May I ask, do they benefit the body?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Facing Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s ringing laughter, Liu Lanxin actually didn¡¯t know how to retort.


    It seemed she had trapped herself.


    In her company, every product developed with such effects extracted a toll on the body, and if used long-term, would definitely cause irreparable damage.


    But Xia Liu¡¯s medicinal wine wouldn¡¯t, and it could even make one healthier with each sip.


    Thinking of all this, Liu Lanxin subconsciously started to think Zhang Xiaoman made a very good point.


    Moreover, Xia Liu¡¯s suggestion seemed very reasonable as well; with the rise in cost price, the selling price definitely needed to soar.


    This was too beneficial for both parties in collaboration.


    ¡°Lan Xin, I also think Xia Liu¡¯s idea is not bad. You¡¯ve also said, the test results of the medicinal wine show it¡¯s beneficial to the body, and that one¡¯s health improves with each drink,¡± Mo Wanqing said with a light smile after being silent for a while. ¡°Wealthy people, they¡¯re no longer intrigued by money; it¡¯s just a string of digits to them. What they desire most is good health.¡±


    ¡°If a product, say a type of wine, could contribute to one¡¯s health, and even enhance certain abilities, then it¡¯s nothing short of a blessing for them, not to say thirty thousand a bottle¡ªeven a million, they would buy.¡±


    After analyzing everything, Mo Wanqing shared her accumulated experience.


    She had encountered too many tycoons in the business world, and she understood their mindset, even if they didn¡¯t say it outright.


    She herself was a wealthy person, working overtime every single day.


    Despite that, she always managed to carve out time for exercise.


    If one doesn¡¯t have good health, all the money in the world is useless.


    Just like a wise man once said, if you don¡¯t cherish life now and use it to strive and earn money, by the time you have the money, you won¡¯t have much life left. In the end, your wife and children will take your money and spend it on other men.


    So, reasonable exercise is a must, and the wealthy dare not forget this point.


    But they needed to socialize frequently, whether at the dinner table or in bed.


    The appearance of the medicinal liquor undoubtedly excited and invigorated them, so once its popularity had been established, raising the price was a must!


    ¡°Does Aunt Qing think so too?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, Xia Liu¡¯s judgment won¡¯t be off.¡±


    ¡°Great! Then I¡¯ll take Aunt Qing¡¯s advice.¡± Liu Lanxin smiled happily; in truth, she was just looking for a way to gracefully step back.


    ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Zhang Xiaoman was very happy, her reverence for Xia Liu growing even more in her heart.


    A product¡¯s price had leaped from a few thousand to thirty thousand in an instant¡ªshe could guess some of the trickery involved.


    Xia Liu held his glass with a faint smile on his face; he knew Liu Lanxin would say this.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight, I¡¯ll agree to the cost price you mentioned, but as for the selling price, that¡¯s entirely up to me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re the boss, I¡¯m just the supplier. Do whatever you want to do.¡± Xia Liu nodded, thinking this was all obvious. As long as he got his money, he didn¡¯t care what else happened.


    Suddenly, Liu Lanxin¡¯s face was suffused with a blush, whether from the alcohol or Xia Liu¡¯s earlier words, it was unclear.


    ¡°Hehe, congratulations to the two bosses on reaching an agreement.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to Brother Xia Liu, congratulations Miss Liu!¡±


    Mo Wanqing and Zhang Xiaoman raised their glasses to celebrate for the two.


    ¡­


    Time flew; as nightfall came and it was a little past eight, Mo Wanqing received a call from the company just as they were wrapping up the celebration.


    She had no choice but to leave behind Xia Liu and the two ladies at home after giving some instructions.


    Watching Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman with flushed cheeks, Xia Liu felt helpless.


    These two girls obviously couldn¡¯t hold their liquor, but they had insisted on drinking hard. Now, their eyes were glazing over.


    ¡°I still want to drink!¡±


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman! You¡¯re drunk! Giggles!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk! I know you¡¯re Liu Lanxin. We¡¯ve been fighting for so long, now we must see who¡¯s the winner!¡±


    ¡°Come on! Who¡¯s afraid of whom? You were never better than me at school, do you think your drinking ability is?¡±


    ¡­


    Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin each swayed with a bottle in hand, trying to stand up but finding it impossible to stay upright no matter how hard they tried.


    If not for Xia Liu¡¯s swift reaction, these two silly girls would have fallen under the table.


    ¡°Ugh, not this again, damn it!¡± Xia Liu had lost count of how many times he had supported drunken girls.


    If it were a woman, it might be more appropriate. If it happened, it happened.


    But these were two young women.


    With no other choice, Xia Liu could only lead them to the room Mo Wanqing had prepared for him.


    As soon as they entered the room, a slightly wild scene unfolded.


    The moment Xia Liu switched on the light, Liu Lanxin broke free from his grasp, and started pulling off her clothes while stretching out her hand.


    In a moment of astonishment, her fair and proud silhouette was exposed¡ªalthough it was just a back view, it was enough to obliterate countless cells.


    ¡°Shit! Crafty fairy!¡± Zhang Xiaoman, who had appeared groggy moments before, suddenly perked up, cursing inwardly, she also pretentiously wriggled free from Xia Liu¡¯s grasp¡­


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 Chapter 431 - 431: Why Bother

    Chapter 431: Chapter 431: Why Bother


    Gurgle¡­


    Watching the heart-shaking scene unfold before him, Xia Liu forcefully swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva.


    What did he see!


    Zhang Xiaoman, like Liu Lanxin, was also running towards the mattress and, on the way there, she tore off her top.


    Another expanse of pale, striking, and tender, attractive skin.


    Xia Liu could clearly feel the blood in his body speeding up, even reaching a boiling sensation.


    ...


    At this moment, the room was filled with the smell of alcohol, and the youthful scent of two distinct sources.


    Xia Liu secretly channeled the Five Elements Mantra, using spiritual energy to guide and calm his boiling blood.


    Sharing the same mindset and similar figures, the two women turned over just as Xia Liu was regulating his energy and purifying his mind.


    Pfft!


    Because he pulled out the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle, Xia Liu¡¯s blood was extremely vigorous, and the moment he saw what was revealed, blood sprayed from his nose.


    Suddenly, Xia Liu saw the corners of the women¡¯s mouths turn up slightly, and he frowned, ¡°Are you two playing with me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, just keep pretending!¡± Both women thought to themselves at the same time, then writhed on the bed, acting as if they were as unconscious as drunkards.


    ¡°I¡¯m out, you two should get some rest.¡±


    Bang!


    The room door closed, and both women opened their eyes at the same time, all looking dumbfoundedly at the door.


    Xia Liu actually left!


    He left in front of two girls!


    And these two girls were drunk, acting over-the-top, yet he still left!


    Was this an example of a gentleman¡¯s utmost self-control, or could it be thought of as impotence?


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Zhang Xiaoman pointed at Liu Lanxin and shouted angrily.


    ¡°Hmph! If it weren¡¯t for your stupidity, would Xia Liu have left? It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Liu Lanxin retorted undaunted.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu has been interested in me for a long time, and he even said he would marry me after I graduate. What about you? The other woman! No, that¡¯s not right! You¡¯re probably the Nth woman!¡±


    ¡°What a joke! You may have known Xia Liu earlier, so what? I witnessed Xia Liu¡¯s growth. His love for me is countless times more than for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh please, with those two fried eggs of yours, no wonder Brother Xia Liu isn¡¯t interested!¡±


    ¡°Pah! Clearly, you¡¯re the one obstructing my relationship with Xia Liu! Also, some of your ¡®indescribableness¡¯ is already turning purple!¡±


    ¡°What! I¡¯m going to strangle you!¡± Unable to endure Liu Lanxin¡¯s excessive jest, Zhang Xiaoman angrily made a move.


    How dare she speak of her purple! If so, she would make sure Liu Lanxin couldn¡¯t get any more purple!


    ¡°Sigh¡­ why bother.¡± Outside the room door, Xia Liu shook his head helplessly. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Indeed, why bother, not just saying it to Zhang Xiaoman, or to Liu Lanxin, but also to himself.


    Why all this trouble, was it because he was afraid?


    Perhaps.


    Although Xia Liu was very excited, sometimes when one needs to be restrained, one must be restrained.


    Currently, he already had six girls by his side.


    If he hadn¡¯t come out just now, that number would have become eight.


    It didn¡¯t matter to him whether there were ten or eight, what he cared about was that Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman might face unpredictable dangers because of their deep interactions with him.


    The Underground Assassin World had already taken notice of him. Those hidden in the shadows would surely not miss any opportunity to kill or threaten him.


    ¡°`


    Setting aside the world of assassins, the two martial artist families in Yanjing would definitely seek him out.


    Though they were merely third or fourth-tier families, in a place like Huaxia with numerous rules and regulations, being entangled by them would also bring a considerable amount of trouble.


    Having just graduated, they were still in their youthful prime, and perhaps they would soon meet someone suitable, who deeply loved them.


    Not experienced with society, he couldn¡¯t ruin their lives right away.


    Even if he did want to take them in, he would have to wait until the recent troubles had calmed down.


    Perhaps during this time, they might find someone truly suitable for themselves¡­


    Musing, Xia Liu wandered into his room. Sleeping was out of the question now. The troubled man sat cross-legged and began to cultivate the Five Elements Mantra, hoping to break through to the pivot level soon and remove the third Spirit Stabilizing Needle. By then, maybe he would be able to do as he pleased¡­


    At dawn, Xie Liu opened his eyes.


    It was early, yet there was already noise downstairs. Xia Liu washed up and went downstairs to see Mo Wanqing, apron tied, making breakfast.


    ¡°Xia Liu, didn¡¯t you sleep last night? You¡¯re up so early?¡±


    ¡°I slept well. Is it that Aunt Qing, you came back from overtime work in the morning?¡± Xia Liu¡¯s gaze swept over Mo Wanqing and sensed that her body seemed a little weak, her steps faintly unsteady.


    This was a sign of staying up late. Although she tried her best to hide it, she couldn¡¯t escape Xia Liu¡¯s discernment.


    ¡°You¡¯ve noticed. There was indeed a bit of a problem at the company yesterday, but it¡¯s okay, I can handle it. I came back and on a whim decided to make you breakfast,¡± Mo Wanqing said with a slight smile, carrying a tray out of the kitchen.


    ¡°Hm? What happened at the company?¡± Xia Liu felt that the issue was unusual. A troublesome matter that made Mo Wanqing stay up all night must be significant.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about. I¡¯ve almost dealt with it. Let¡¯s eat first. I¡¯ll go check on Xiaoman and Lan Xin.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡± Xia Liu felt somewhat helpless. He wasn¡¯t boasting¡ªwhen it came to business, he knew a thing or two, and he was certain he could help Mo Wanqing if he put his mind to it.


    If it involved something shady, then it would be even easier to handle.


    ¡°Wait, Aunt Qing!¡± Just as he was eating his noodles, Xia Liu suddenly remembered Zhang Xiaoman and Liu Lanxin¡¯s actions from the previous night. He immediately called out to Mo Wanqing, fearing what she might think if she saw the state of the room.


    However, his voice was a bit too late. Mo Wanqing had already knocked on the bedroom door a few times, and after hearing no response, she reached out and turned the doorknob¡­


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    When Mo Wanqing saw the disarray in the room, the clothes strewn all over the floor, and even the fragments of undergarments.


    A wave of embarrassment instantly surged through her.


    Fortunately, she was quite experienced and regained her composure in less than ten seconds.


    ¡°Not bad, Xia Liu. But I still need to remind you, although it¡¯s great to be young, if you don¡¯t know restraint, you¡¯ll regret it when you get older.¡± Seeing the two women still hugging each other and sound asleep, Mo Wanqing quietly closed the door and finally looked at Xia Liu with a laugh.


    ¡°Aunt Qing, do I look like that kind of beast to you?¡± Xia Liu knew it would turn out this way. If he had realized Mo Wanqing was about to open the door earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have said anything.


    Now he felt a frustrating sense of a thief crying ¡®stop thief.¡¯


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± Mo Wanqing seriously nodded her head, then added, ¡°Yeah, right.¡±


    ¡­


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t respond to the topic anymore and shifted his attention to the problem Mo Wanqing faced yesterday.


    This topic indeed shifted Mo Wanqing¡¯s focus, but she only responded vaguely, revealing no relevant clues.


    Xia Liu was helpless about this.


    After Xia Liu finished his noodles, sharp cries erupted from the room where Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman were sleeping.


    After hearing this, Mo Wanqing gave Xia Liu a resentful look and quickly headed to the room.


    ¡°Liu Lanxin! You actually held me while sleeping!¡±


    ¡°You did the same to me! So disgusting!¡±


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 432 - 432 Xiaoman is back

    Chapter 432: Chapter 432 Xiaoman is back


    Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman opened their eyes to find themselves holding each other, and immediately started pinching each other again.


    Fortunately, with Mo Wanqing, the elder mediator, intervening, otherwise, the two women would have definitely fought to determine a victor.


    Because last night, they had both consumed alcohol and couldn¡¯t control their strength, tearing each other¡¯s tops.


    In the end, Mo Wanqing found clothes for the two women, leaving them with endlessly blushing faces.


    Xia Liu was worried it would be more awkward, so he went out for a stroll during the women¡¯s breakfast and only returned after more than an hour.


    ¡°Aunt Qing, I¡¯ll be leaving soon, and I¡¯ll come to visit you again when I have the chance.¡±


    ...


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you remember, just be careful on the road.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Aunt Qing!¡±


    As Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman waved their hands, the car slowly drove away from the villa.


    ¡°Xia Liu, my time may not be much longer, this opponent is too strong, I don¡¯t want to drag you into this¡­¡± Mo Wanqing murmured with her head down as she watched the car gradually disappear.


    ¡­


    Within Binlai University, as the Bentley entered the campus, all the students became excited.


    Yesterday, someone had filmed a video of the scene, and now, Xia Liu and this Bentley were known by the entire student body.


    Fame at last!


    Dealing with Guo Mingliang, teaching the wealthy second generation a lesson, cleaning up the dark forces around the school¡­


    All of this was the work of Xia Liu; the university would get better and better in the future, all thanks to that handsome young man¡¯s changes.


    The submission of Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin even affected many well-known teachers.


    After a day of adjustments, Bin University was ready to stabilize.


    Welcoming Xia Liu, Liu Lanxin, and Zhang Xiaoman was an older grade director.


    He naturally recognized Xia Liu and dared not be negligent in receiving him.


    In the end, Liu Lanxin and Zhang Xiaoman left with their transcripts, and the entire office full of teachers came out to see them off.


    ¡°It¡¯s really great that Xia Liu appeared.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, otherwise, Guo Mingliang and Yang Yongxin would have harmed more students.¡±


    ¡°In the future, we must work hard. We had a Xia Liu today, and there will be more in the future.¡±


    ¡°Right, so we have to be strict, we can¡¯t make any mistakes, and we can¡¯t harbor any different thoughts.¡±


    ¡­


    Watching the Bentley drive off, the teachers were filled with emotions.


    After leaving Bin University, Xia Liu drove the car to the front of the Liu Family villa area; he had already consulted with Liu Lanxin. Liu Buyi had gone out to travel, so he didn¡¯t plan on entering.


    ¡°Get out of the car, Miss Liu!¡± Zhang Xiaoman said unkindly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t get out, I want to go home with Xia Liu!¡±


    ¡°Pfft! Miss, what are you trying to do?¡± Xia Liu burst out laughing. Just what was Liu Lanxin thinking? She knew his situation well, so was she really willing to suffer with him?


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to take responsibility?¡± Liu Lanxin pouted with her big watery eyes shimmering.


    ¡°Heh, I¡¯m not responsible,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said, giving Liu Lanxin a disdainful glance.


    ¡°Haha!¡± Xia Liu couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman, you¡¯re rushing me!¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s face turned pale, and she immediately opened the car door to get out.


    ¡°Humph! You really have thick skin!¡±


    ¡°Alright Xiaoman, let¡¯s go back. Do you need to buy anything else to take back for Uncle Zhang?¡± Xia Liu shook his head helplessly, hoping that Liu Lanxin wouldn¡¯t be too stubborn, or in the end, it would only hurt herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already bought everything; now, I just want to go home and work for Brother Xia Liu.¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if Uncle Zhang told you, but you might be getting a brother or sister.¡±


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh, this¡­¡± Zhang Xiaoman was somewhat astonished. That shouldn¡¯t be possible, right? Could Dad really resort to such an excuse to get Xia Liu to come over?


    ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just that the surprise was too sudden, I was startled,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said bitterly.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll talk more when we get back.¡±


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t say anything more and drove seriously toward his hometown.


    A few hours later, the Bentley stopped in front of Osmanthus Village.


    Facing the brand-new Osmanthus Village, Zhang Xiaoman was so surprised she couldn¡¯t close her mouth.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! When were those villas built!¡±


    Zhang Xiaoman had known before that the villas were going to be built, but she didn¡¯t expect that in just over half a semester of her return, they were already constructed! And there were clothes hanging on the balconies of some of them.


    ¡°Everyone just moved in a few days ago,¡± he said.


    ¡°What are these houses for?¡±


    ¡°This is our Osmanthus Wine packaging factory.¡±


    ¡°Our own brand of wine?¡± Zhang Xiaoman asked as she pulled Xia Liu into the packaging factory.


    ¡°Yeah, our very own Osmanthus Village brand that will be known all over the world in the future.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Brother Xia Liu, you are amazing!¡± Zhang Xiaoman took a look at the layout inside the packaging factory and couldn¡¯t help but blurt out her admiration.


    ¡°The village has changed a lot, you¡¯ll get used to it in a few days.¡±


    ¡­


    Afterward, Xia Liu took Zhang Xiaoman for a tour around the villa area.


    Since every villa looked almost the same, it would be hard to know who lived where if not for the names by the doors.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, is that big villa on the cliff yours?¡± Looking at the door of her home in front of the car, Zhang Xiaoman didn¡¯t immediately go in; right now, she really wanted to visit Xia Liu¡¯s house.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xia Liu responded.


    ¡°I want to visit Brother Xia Liu¡¯s house for a bit.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, please let me visit, pretty please¡­¡± Seeing Xia Liu hesitate, Zhang Xiaoman moved forward and took his hand, cooing pleadingly.


    ¡­


    With Zhang Xiaoman acting like that, Xia Liu naturally couldn¡¯t refuse.


    As the Bentley stopped at the front door, Zhang Xiaoman ran at top speed to the front gate and started pressing the doorbell.


    She had just wanted to press it once to see what sound it would make or what the reaction would be.


    But the door opened before Xia Liu even arrived!


    ¡°Oh, Xiaoman, you¡¯re back.¡± The person who opened the door was Zhang Xiaoxue. She was a bit surprised; hadn¡¯t Xia Liu said it would take three or four days? How had she come back so soon?


    ¡°Sister Xiaoxue! You¡¯re at home!¡± Zhang Xiaoman had just been guessing if Zhang Xiaoxue might be at Xia Liu¡¯s house, and it turned out she really was.


    ¡°Yeah, come on in. You must be exhausted after sitting in the car all day,¡± Zhang Xiaoxue said with a smile, pulling Zhang Xiaoman into the house.


    ¡°Wow! The decoration inside the house is really beautiful.¡± Looking at the living room decor, Zhang Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but praise it.


    ¡°Xiaoman, your house is the same, it¡¯s all thanks to Sister Gu.¡±


    ¡°Wait a second, Sister Xiaoxue, I feel like¡­ like you¡¯ve changed since before,¡± said Zhang Xiaoman, sitting on the sofa, suddenly getting a sense that her cousin had changed, becoming more feminine.


    ¡°There¡¯s no change. Aren¡¯t I still your sister?¡± Zhang Xiaoxue looked puzzled as she glanced at herself, unable to find any difference.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s a scent about you that I don¡¯t have, and your complexion looks more spirited than before, like a flower that¡¯s become more beautiful, more fragrant after being fertilized and watered. It couldn¡¯t be that you¡­¡± Speaking to this point, Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, and an indescribable thought burst forth in her mind.


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 Chapter 433 - 433: Mysterious Merchant

    Chapter 433: Chapter 433: Mysterious Merchant


    As Xia Liu was about to enter the door, he heard Zhang Xiaoman say that and couldn¡¯t help but turn around to smoke at the distant railing.


    Having just sent away the headache-inducing Liu Lanxin, Zhang Xiaoman might be giving him another headache.


    About half an hour later, Xia Liu finally entered the villa.


    By then, Huang Xue and Zhang Qing had both come down from upstairs.


    The four girls were sitting on the sofa chatting and laughing merrily.


    Xia Liu listened carefully for a while and felt nothing amiss, he even had some illusions; could it be that Xue¡¯er and the others hadn¡¯t told Zhang Xiaoman about the matter?


    ...


    That shouldn¡¯t be the case, with Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s intelligence, could she possibly know everything and be plotting something?


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu!¡± Seeing Xia Liu enter, Zhang Xiaoman called out.


    Along with Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s call were the gazes of Zhang Xiaoxue, Huang Xue, and Zhang Qing.


    The looks from the three women seemed to tell Xia Liu, you know what¡¯s going on¡­


    Xia Liu, brimming with a smile, walked over to the sofa. ¡°Xiaoman, now your Sister Xiaoxue and Sister Zhang have both started cultivating. Are you interested?¡±


    ¡°Cultivation? What is that?¡± Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s interest was instantly piqued by Xia Liu.


    ¡°Xiaoman, let me tell you, we¡¯re all cultivators now,¡± Zhang Xiaoxue said excitedly, holding Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Cultivators? Sister Xiaoxue, tell me quick, what is it?¡± Zhang Xiaoman had forgotten everything else, now only wanting to understand what cultivation and cultivators were all about.


    Seeing the excited Zhang Xiaoman, Xia Liu smiled slightly, finally diverting her attention, otherwise it would have been awkward later.


    As for explaining, it wasn¡¯t Xia Liu¡¯s turn to do so now.


    Zhang Xiaoxue, Huang Xue, and Zhang Qing each said a bit, and soon Zhang Xiaoman completely understood.


    ¡°Wow! You three sisters are amazing! Can you now take on ten people each?¡± After understanding what cultivation was, Zhang Xiaoman said enviously.


    ¡°I suppose so,¡± the three women said somewhat awkwardly.


    Although they felt their strength was overwhelming now, without testing, they really didn¡¯t know to what extent they could reach.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, can we take on ten people each?¡± Zhang Xiaoxue, uncertain, looked at Xia Liu, hoping the teacher could provide an answer.


    ¡°If you practice your energy well and master the martial arts skills Lili taught you, don¡¯t talk about ten people, even a hundred, a thousand ordinary strong men would be no match for you,¡± Xia Liu said confidently.


    ¡°Wow! That¡¯s really incredible!¡±


    ¡°Is this for real!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided, starting today, I am going to seriously cultivate martial arts skills and cultivation techniques!¡±


    All four girls were excited, the idea of being able to defeat a hundred strong men was unimaginable before, now they were almost there!


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! I want to cultivate too! I want to become a cultivator!¡± Zhang Xiaoman said with a dour face.


    She felt a bit regretful; just missing school for two or three months, her friends had all become so powerful.


    She couldn¡¯t fall behind, she must strive to blend into this sisterhood, otherwise she would truly regret it later.


    ¡°Alright, alright, let Xiaoxue and Xue¡¯er teach you to understand the cultivation techniques first. Cultivation is all about moderation, one step at a time; you can¡¯t be too hasty, otherwise it will all be in vain in the end.¡±


    ¡°Yes! I will definitely listen to Brother Xia Liu¡¯s teachings,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said with eyes brimming with intense hope. She believed that she could also reach the same heights as her sisters.


    As the three women began to teach Zhang Xiaoman, Xia Liu left to visit the company.


    It was still early, and after checking the company, he could even spend a few hours playfully sparring with the girls before returning to cook.


    Upon arriving at Osmanthus Group, Xia Liu was respected by all employees.


    Even employees who had just joined the company revered Xia Liu immensely.


    Nowadays, in Hejing county, there was hardly anyone who did not know Xia Liu.


    Not to mention Osmanthus Group, where the first thing for new employees was to remember Xia Liu¡¯s face.


    If they could not remember it, they would use his photo as their computer wallpaper, to see it every day, and if they still couldn¡¯t remember Xia Liu¡¯s face, then they would resign on their own.


    Arriving at the top-floor office, Xia Liu found the girls busy at work.


    Even Rose, a special girl, was doing clerical work.


    Seeing Xia Liu arrive, Fang Fei immediately stopped her work and said with a grin, ¡°How come you are back so soon this time?¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu is back!¡±


    ¡°This time he even came back early, which is really great.¡±


    Gu Fangxia and Li Qianqian also looked at Xia Liu happily and greeted him.


    ¡°Yes, nothing strange happened, so I returned quite quickly. How is everything going at the company?¡±


    ¡°Great God Red Dragon Shadow, you really are carefree, leaving the company to your wives and letting them work themselves to exhaustion. This is the first time I¡¯ve heard you ask about the company,¡± said Rose, looking seriously at Xia Liu with a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Heh, truly sorry to my wives, I will definitely stay at the company more from now on and work alongside you all,¡± Xia Liu said, rubbing his head. Rose was right; he needed to work more, otherwise the girls would be too exhausted.


    ¡°Hehe, Xia Liu, you don¡¯t need to do that; there¡¯s not much going on at the company, and we handle it quite easily. Remember, you have six strong wives to back you up,¡± Gu Fangxia said cheerfully.


    ¡°Exactly, we¡¯re much tougher than you might think,¡± Li Qianqian said, nodding.


    ¡°I think you should travel more and bring back some sisters for us, hehe¡­¡± Fang Fei, grinning, glanced at Rose as she spoke.


    ¡°Ahem¡­ Sister Fang, wasn¡¯t there a mysterious investor coming to invest these days? Now that Great God Red Dragon Shadow is back, it¡¯s time to handle this matter,¡± Rose coughed twice, then brought up the significant change concerning the industrial area.


    ¡°Oh right! I almost forgot,¡± Fang Fei said, light striking her forehead. If not for Rose¡¯s reminder, she might have forgotten this matter again.


    ¡°What happened? Who is this mysterious investor?¡± Xia Liu frowned slightly, looking at Rose and Fang Fei, sensing this topic might be quite significant.


    ¡°Xia Liu, it¡¯s like this, a few days ago an out-of-province investor called us, saying they wanted to invest, but they would only make a decision after discussing it with you,¡± Fang Fei explained briefly.


    ¡°They want to discuss it with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they mentioned investing about a hundred billion, so they must meet with the real person in charge of Osmanthus Group.¡±


    ¡°A hundred billion!¡± Xia Liu was somewhat surprised.


    Such an amount of money invested in Hejing could change the entire county.


    ¡°Did they specifically ask to meet me?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    This mysterious investor¡¯s sudden approach was too abrupt, and Xia Liu knew that the person must have researched Osmanthus Group and knew he was here.


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 Chapter 434 - 434: Carry Me Back

    Chapter 434: Chapter 434: Carry Me Back


    ¡°Hmm, she specifically asked to see you, and if the talk goes well, she¡¯ll invest a hundred billion in Hejing,¡± Fang Fei, who had talked with the businesswoman several times and had an excellent memory, was sure that the other party wanted to meet Xia Liu.


    ¡°Is it a boy or a girl?¡±


    ¡°A girl, and her voice sounded so soft, she must be a pretty girl,¡± Fang Fei said, batting her eyes coquettishly.


    ¡°A girl?¡± Xia Liu was puzzled by this answer.


    To specifically ask to talk business with him, and for it to be a girl.


    Moreover, she claimed to have a hundred billion, this definitely wasn¡¯t a simple woman.


    ...


    He didn¡¯t recall knowing any woman with that much money.


    Even if there was one, their age wouldn¡¯t match the mysterious person Fang Fei mentioned.


    So Xia Liu really couldn¡¯t figure out who this girl was.


    ¡°Did she leave contact information?¡± Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±


    ¡°Did she tell you any background information?¡± Xia Liu continued, after getting the phone number.


    ¡°She mentioned something, Guangming Electronics from Ha City,¡± Fang Fei said after thinking for a moment.


    ¡°Guangming Electronics, I got it,¡± Xia Liu said, nodding his head after thinking it over.


    He had never been to Ha City, and it was also his first time hearing the name of this corporation. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was necessary for him to remember, and later have Glasses investigate it a bit. With Glasses¡¯ abilities, perhaps they could figure out the identity of this mysterious woman.


    ¡°You got it? Who is she?¡± Li Qianqian asked, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯m planning to go to the market to buy groceries; whoever comes with me will get the details.¡±


    ¡°Me! Me! Me!!!¡± Li Qianqian, with heaviest curiosity, raised her hands high and also got up running towards Xia Liu.


    Her previous job instilled such curiosity in her that she might not be able to sleep if the issue wasn¡¯t resolved, so she was determined to go grocery shopping with Xia Liu.


    Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia smiled faintly, as they were very familiar with Li Qianqian¡¯s personality.


    Letting Li Qianqian go was fine; if she knew, then they would definitely find out too, it was just a matter of time.


    After following Xia Liu out of the office, Li Qianqian said, puzzled: ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like the way to the elevator.¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu walking in the opposite direction, Li Qianqian stopped in her tracks, wondering if he was just playing tricks on her!


    ¡°Look who¡¯s behind you!¡±


    ¡°Mmm, mmm, mmm¡­¡±


    The moment Li Qianqian turned her head, Xia Liu covered her mouth and carried her into the neighboring conference room.


    Click.


    The conference room door locked, curtains drawn.


    ¡°Xia Liu! Are you playing with me?¡± Li Qianqian said angrily, watching Xia Liu¡¯s adept movements.


    ¡°Not at all, actually, I don¡¯t know who that mysterious businesswoman is either.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you bring me here and close the door and windows?¡± Li Qianqian said, furiously.


    ¡°Hehe, my dear Qianqian, we haven¡¯t spent time alone together in a long while, I need to check if your cultivation has improved,¡± Xia Liu said, his lips curling into a mischievous smile.


    ¡­


    Li Qianqian was bitterly disappointed; this guy obviously lured her out of the office.


    Then he wanted to be alone for that suggestive activity.


    ¡°Mmm, mmm, mmm¡­¡±


    Just as Li Qianqian was about to teach Xia Liu a lesson, her vision darkened as she was pinned down on the office desk, her lips sealed by his, unable to utter a word.


    Thanks to the good soundproofing of the conference room, Xia Liu didn¡¯t hold back.


    Now, he had no doubts, Qianqian being a Qi Cultivation stage one cultivator after all.


    Her body had transformed during her last advancement, and now the strength of her body was at the level of Qi Cultivation stage one.


    Two hours later, Li Qianqian, breathing heavily as she dressed, even as a Qi Cultivation stage one cultivator,


    She was very tired, because Xia Liu¡¯s physique was terrifying.


    ¡°Qianqian, it¡¯s about time, let¡¯s go back home and cook,¡± Xia Liu said, swallowing several times as he watched her slowly get dressed.


    ¡°Hmph! You, I can¡¯t even walk now; you have to carry me back!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I of course have to fulfill my wife¡¯s wishes, just like a moment ago,¡± Xia Liu laughed in response.


    ¡°You¡¯re despicable! Who asked for anything from you just now?¡±


    ¡°Did I hear wrong then? Who was it that was yelling for more at the beginning?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Xia Liu! If you dare mention it again, I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Li Qianqian, coming back to her senses, couldn¡¯t finish her sentence, her face red with both anger and shyness.


    ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll carry you home,¡± knowing when to stop, Xia Liu stopped the jokes and immediately pulled Li Qianqian onto his back.


    Soft!


    By some coincidence, just as Xia Liu was coming downstairs, he ran into Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia, who were about to leave.


    Their eyes locked in place for a moment.


    The two reception girls were also astonished.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you two going to buy groceries?¡± Fang Fei asked half-jokingly after a moment of shock.


    ¡°Zi zi, coming down from the stairs, could it be¡­¡± Gu Fangxia winked suggestively.


    ¡°Sister Fang, Sister Gu, you¡¯re misunderstanding. I just sprained my ankle a while ago. I rested upstairs for a bit, and then Xia Liu carried me downstairs,¡± Qianqian explained.


    ¡°Qianqian, if you¡¯ve sprained your ankle, then how about that blush on your face?¡± Fang Fei teased.


    ¡°Yeah Qianqian, don¡¯t you want to explain that again?¡± Gu Fangxia chimed in.


    Both Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia laughed gently at different levels, they being no strangers to such things, naturally knew what Li Qianqian¡¯s blush was all about.


    ¡°You two sisters, it¡¯s all Xia Liu¡¯s fault! I was tricked by him!¡± Li Qianqian broke free from Xia Liu¡¯s back and rushed, upset, into the arms of Fang Fei and Gu Fangxia.


    ¡°See, went out to buy groceries and ended up ¡®drinking milk¡¯, huh.¡± one commented.


    ¡°Hehe, Qianqian, you¡¯ve got to be more careful in the future,¡± they advised, throwing Xia Liu a meaningful glance as they spoke to Li Qianqian.


    ¡°Yes, I got it. Let¡¯s head back now. We¡¯ll deal with that guy harshly tonight.¡±


    Watching the three women leave affectionately, Xia Liu was rueful, he could already imagine the scene he¡¯d face tonight.


    It would be crazy for sure, but how did that matter, he could handle each and every challenge!


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 Chapter 435 - 435: The Mysterious Merchant Is Not Simple

    Chapter 435: Chapter 435: The Mysterious Merchant Is Not Simple


    The banquet lasted from the darkness of night until the break of dawn, and if it weren¡¯t for Xia Liu¡¯s exceptional constitution, he probably would have collapsed long ago.


    Fortunately, he was incredibly resilient.


    Watching the woman fall into an exhausted sleep, he then got dressed and left the house. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Stepping outside the villa, Xia Liu thoroughly enjoyed the sea breeze before taking out his phone to contact Glasses.


    ¡°Hey, Glasses, how did the investigation go?¡± Xia Liu had sent Glasses a message the night before, asking him to look into Guangming Electronics.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just organized everything. Guangming Electronics is an extremely powerful enterprise. As they¡¯ve kept a low profile by not going public, many people are unaware of this company,¡± Glasses reported the information he had gathered.


    ...


    Could Guangming Electronics really be seeking cooperation with him?


    Xia Liu couldn¡¯t figure it out. Even Glasses said they were strong, so Guangming Electronics was definitely not weak.


    A company that hadn¡¯t gone public, maintaining a low profile, was reaching out to him.


    Could he be overthinking? Maybe they truly did want to cooperate.


    ¡°By the way, boss, there¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure whether or not I should mention,¡± Glasses suddenly said as Xia Liu was lost in thought.


    ¡°What is it? Don¡¯t beat around the bush with me.¡±


    ¡°The information I found on Guangming Electronic Technology Company seems to be only superficial. I have an intuition that their data is far more extensive than this.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What does that imply?¡± Xia Liu asked curiously.


    ¡°Behind Guangming Electronics lies either a massive financial group or a formidable power,¡± Glasses shared his speculation.


    Xia Liu wasn¡¯t too shocked since he also sensed that Guangming Electronics wasn¡¯t as simple as it appeared on the surface.


    ¡°Based on your guess, where would you place the power behind Guangming Electronics?¡± Xia Liu was most clueless about this; Guangming Group was not simple.


    But if he could figure out the power behind it, everything else would be much easier.


    If the enemy were specifically targeting him, then it was necessary for him to demonstrate his deterrence.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found some leads, the main possibilities are either America or the Island Nation.¡±


    ¡°America! Island Nation!¡± Hearing these two answers, a sharp vitality flashed through Xia Liu¡¯s eyes.


    Some people in these places, he had offended; however, many would also support him.


    Currently, it was unclear whether the people from Guangming Group coming this time were supporters or troublemakers.


    ¡°Glasses, keep an eye out these days; we might have visitors soon.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    After a few reminders, Xia Liu hung up the phone.


    The sea breeze was fresh, cleaning the waters below the cliff, bringing some peace to his days. But was something finally about to happen¡­


    Lost in thought, Xia Liu walked to the villa where Lin Xiaotian resided.


    Given his experiences, Xia Liu didn¡¯t find an opportunity to tease Lin Xiaotian this time.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, has something happened?¡± Wearing an apron, Bai Lili got up early to prepare a breakfast with love, but when she saw Xia Liu arrive, she immediately stopped everything to wait for instructions.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you look troubled. Don¡¯t tell me something really happened,¡± Lin Xiaotian also looked puzzled.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for sensing Xia Liu¡¯s arrival, he would have already gone into the kitchen and flipped up Bai Lili¡¯s apron¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic; nothing¡¯s happened. I just feel that something is about to go down, so I came over to let you know,¡± he explained.


    To be honest, seeing Lin Xiaotian and Bai Lili so concerned about his condition warmed Xia Liu¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Uh-uh! Does that mean we can start getting ready?¡± The thought of imminent battle made Lin Xiaotian¡¯s blood surge with excitement.


    In the past, he might have worried about the ladies getting into trouble.


    But now, there was no need. If anything went wrong, Bai Lili would take them to Immeasurable Island.


    At that time, he could fight at full force!


    Right now, he was eager to test the energy of his Qi Cultivation at the third level!


    He was curious to know just how terrifying the might of the Spiritual Energy could be when executed with the technique Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow using the copious energy within his body.


    ¡°Xiaotian, don¡¯t rush things; there will be chances in the future, plenty of opportunities for you to show your skills. Take this time, while trouble hasn¡¯t arrived, and don¡¯t slack in your cultivation,¡± Xia Liu said, understanding Lin Xiaotian¡¯s excitement. The Cultivation Fanatic, a warrior passionate about battle, would boil with energy at the slightest whiff of gunpowder¡ªan explosive Mad Bullet, ready to ignite with the slightest trigger.


    ¡°Heh, of course! Whether it¡¯s an odd or even day, I¡¯ve been diligently cultivating,¡± Lin Xiaotian whispered into Xia Liu¡¯s ear as he gazed at Bai Lili busily preparing breakfast in the kitchen.


    As Lin Xiaotian finished his sentence, Bai Lili shuddered slightly; with her Qi Cultivation at level one, she heard everything clearly!


    ¡°Ha ha, I hope you¡¯ll still be jumping around later; I¡¯m going to step out and make a call,¡± Xia Liu, noticing Bai Lili¡¯s reaction, conveniently excused himself to leave the villa.


    He hadn¡¯t gone far when he heard screams, like those of a pig being slaughtered, echoing from within the villa.


    ¡°Brother, you really have it rough¡­¡± Xia Liu chuckled awkwardly as he strolled away.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time we had a talk.¡± Thinking this, Xia Liu took out his phone and dialed the mysterious tycoon from Ha City.


    ¡°Hello, good to hear from you,¡± a pleasant voice answered as soon as the call connected.


    The voice was soft, warm, and even had a hint of coquettishness.


    ¡°Hello, this is Xia Liu, I¡¯m in charge of Osmanthus Group,¡± Xia Liu said directly.


    ¡°Uh, it turns out to be the boss of Osmanthus Group. You finally got in touch with me,¡± the voice paused briefly, then replied cheerfully.


    ¡°I apologize; I was out on business these past few days, and I¡¯ve just returned to the office. I hope I haven¡¯t kept you waiting. May I inquire how to address you?¡± Xia Liu spoke very politely.


    He was still unsure about this woman¡¯s intentions. If she truly intended to invest in Hejing, he didn¡¯t want to scare her away by being too standoffish.


    ¡°My name is Ye Zi. I heard from friends that Hejing has beautiful scenery, so I went there for a visit and ultimately fell in love with the little county town. After returning, I discussed it with my family and eventually received permission,¡± Ye Zi said smoothly, her tone conveying excitement.


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 Chapter 436 - 436: The Agreement

    Chapter 436: Chapter 436: The Agreement


    ¡°¡±¡±


    Xia Liu could also tell that Ye Zi still had reservations, and hadn¡¯t spoken about the main issues.


    After discussing it with her family, she obtained permission.


    Obtained permission for what?


    This woman was just fishing for his curiosity.


    ¡°Hehe, Hejing is very fortunate to have Miss Ye Zi¡¯s presence,¡± Xia Liu politely said.


    ...


    ¡°Hejing is indeed beautiful, that¡¯s for certain. By the way, President Xia, after discussing with my family, I¡¯m planning to invest in some industries.¡±


    ¡°Hejing is very lucky to receive Miss Ye Zi¡¯s favor. May I know what you need? As long as it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll definitely ensure your satisfaction,¡± Xia Liu replied.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve done my research on Hejing, and the only major corporate enterprise there is Osmanthus Group. If I were to invest in Hejing, I¡¯d definitely need President Xia¡¯s guidance, so I would like to have a discussion with you,¡± she said humbly over the phone.


    ¡°No problem, may I know where Miss Ye Zi would like to have this discussion?¡± Xia Liu naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse; it was just a woman, after all. If he couldn¡¯t handle this, he¡¯d hardly be worthy of the title of cultivator or his own name.


    ¡°As for the time, I¡¯m free the day after tomorrow; would that work for you, President Xia?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, Miss Ye Zi. Where would you like to meet? You decide the place.¡±


    ¡°Then, how about at 7 PM the day after tomorrow at the Splendid Hotel in Binlai City?¡± Ye Zi proposed after thinking for a moment.


    ¡°That works. We¡¯ll talk in more detail the day after tomorrow,¡± Xia Liu nodded and said.


    ¡°Great, I¡¯m very much looking forward to meeting with President Xia. Let¡¯s not miss it,¡± she said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not miss it.¡±


    After exchanging pleasantries, the sound of the phone hanging up came through.


    Xia Liu pondered for a long time; Ye Zi seemed very ordinary to him, and he couldn¡¯t detect anything amiss.


    Could it be that she really came to talk about collaboration?


    Although he couldn¡¯t feel it, Xia Liu was still very cautious; he called over his lieutenants including Glasses, Tie Shan, and Mark.


    The next few days were critical, so everyone had to be extremely careful.


    After receiving Xia Liu¡¯s instructions, Tie Shan and the others understood the gravity of the situation.


    It was indeed serious, and naturally, they didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly.


    After instructing Tie Shan and the others, Xia Liu turned to go to the distillery.


    It was necessary to inform the brothers in the medicinal alcohol area about the changes in the partnership with Liu Lanxin the day before yesterday.


    The distillery was as bustling as ever, with Li Zhi in charge of the brewing area.


    Xiao Hu was in charge of the medicinal alcohol area.


    As for Li Dazhuang, he was now a busy man; in Xia Liu¡¯s absence, he had to run around on Xia Liu¡¯s behalf.


    The silk factory was nearly ready, and according to the current progress, once the trial run was finished, the local farmers¡¯ silkworms would also be ready to spin their silk.


    Li Dazhuang also had to manage the packaging factory for Osmanthus Wine and even check on the Eastern District.


    All in all, this fellow had become an important member of Osmanthus Group.


    When Xia Liu told Xiao Hu about the price of the medicinal alcohol, he nearly fell into the storage pool in shock. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Thirty thousand for three hundred milliliters!¡±


    Xiao Hu couldn¡¯t imagine; three hundred milliliters could fetch thirty thousand, what about three liters, or three tons?


    That was simply an astronomical figure!


    ¡°Yes, so work hard. It won¡¯t be long before we become the richest village in the world,¡± Xia Liu said, patting Xiao Hu on the shoulder.


    ¡°Yeah! Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re amazing! With your leadership, I believe the village will reach unprecedented heights,¡±


    Xiao Hu was thrilled. The medicinal alcohol he was working on was all money.


    ¡°¡±¡±


    With just a slight scoop of his palms, he was handling at least tens of thousands of yuan.


    Wow, crap!


    Thinking of this, Xiao Hu¡¯s body started to tremble with excitement.


    Indeed, following Xia Liu had made everything seem possible.


    After touring the distillery, Xia Liu went on to visit the packaging factory.


    The current stock of Osmanthus Wine had reached more than 12,000 bottles, and in a few more days, it was expected to hit the 20,000-bottle-mark.


    At 50,000 yuan a bottle, 20,000 bottles amounted to ten billion yuan! Even after taxes, that was still an indescribably terrifying number.


    After saying goodbye to Li Dazhuang, Xia Liu went to check on Longteng and Longyun Hotels.


    Since Zhang Qing, Huang Xue, and Fang Fei had all gone to Osmanthus Group, that left only Ye Ming to manage the two hotels.


    Sitting in his car, Xia Liu saw Ye Ming hurrying around the hotel and felt a warm surge in his heart, mixed with a hint of sourness.


    He had said before that if the hotel management staff was not enough, they should keep hiring.


    But Ye Ming simply wouldn¡¯t listen and insisted that one person could manage, arguing that hiring more people meant more salaries to pay.


    Xia Liu made a phone call to Ye Ming.


    Upon seeing Xia Liu¡¯s incoming call, even though Ye Ming was so tired he was nearly collapsing, he managed to respond cheerfully.


    ¡°Manager Ye, don¡¯t put on an act. Forget the tea, just come out to the entrance. I¡¯m in my BMW.¡±


    After hanging up, Ye Ming looked toward the doorway and sure enough, saw the familiar BMW, and awkwardly hurried toward Xia Liu.


    ¡°Manager Ye, this won¡¯t do. Just listen to me this time, hire a few managers. You pick the people and decide the salaries.¡±


    ¡°But Chairman, this¡­¡±


    ¡°No ¡®buts¡¯ about this and that, don¡¯t be thrifty on my behalf. I¡¯ve looked at Longteng and Longyun Hotels¡¯ sales figures, they can compete with any hotel; so, don¡¯t try to save me money, because I¡¯m not lacking that bit.¡±


    Faced with Xia Liu¡¯s frank words, Ye Ming could only manage a wry smile.


    Xia Liu was saying this just to take the pressure off Ye Ming, assuring him that even if he hired poor performers, Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t blame him.


    ¡°I understand, thank you for your concern, Chairman.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Manager Ye. You¡¯re the person in charge of Longteng Hotel. Whatever you want to do, just do it. If you need more staff, hire them. If you can¡¯t find people, report it to the head office. Whatever you do, you can¡¯t work yourself to exhaustion. Can you promise me that?¡±


    ¡°I promise, I¡¯ll hire people tomorrow!¡± Ye Ming¡¯s eyes grew slightly moist, as he had felt right from the start that Xia Liu was no ordinary person.


    Starting from scratch, Xia Liu had now not only grown Longteng and Longyun but also transformed Osmanthus Village and established Osmanthus Group, and currently, was aiming to reform Hejing.


    He was still so young, and his future achievements were bound to be limitless.


    Having sorted out the affairs of the two hotels, Xia Liu began to inspect and learn at Osmanthus Group.


    He had promised that upon his return, he would work harder and try to take on more to help out the ladies.


    As for the Osmanthus Wine, Xia Liu planned to launch a major event after his negotiation with Ye Zi.


    And regarding the medicinal liquor, if he let Tianluo Pharmaceutical handle it on their own, that would be inhumane of him.


    Given that he had already raised the cost so much, the sales were bound to slump, and he would certainly need to help push it forward.


    The more medicinal liquor Tianluo Pharmaceutical needed, the more money he could make in a short time.


    He had been constantly asking Ouyang Lingtian to keep an eye out, so that if there was any Spirit Grass or an auction event, he should be informed immediately.


    To go to an auction, he would need a lot more money!


    Xia Liu spent the whole day learning in the company, touching base with every department. He repeated the same work the following day.


    Finally, the time of his appointment with Ye Zi was drawing close¡­


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 Chapter 437 - 437 Poison!

    Chapter 437: Chapter 437 Poison!


    The appointed time with Miss Ye Zi had arrived, and as evening approached, Xia Liu drove to Binlai City.


    Splendid Hotel, a sumptuous establishment in Binlai City rivaling the luxury of Wanqing Grand Hotel.


    A Bentley slowly stopped at the spot, and a server came to escort Xia Liu through the hotel¡¯s main entrance.


    Ding ding ding¡­


    Just as Xia Liu wanted to check the time on his phone, he received a call; it was from Ye Zi.


    ¡°Miss Ye Zi, good evening,¡± he greeted.


    ...


    ¡°President Xia, good evening. I¡¯m in the Wind Spirit Room on the second floor. Please come straight up,¡± came Ye Zi¡¯s Spirit Sound from the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on my way up.¡±


    After hanging up, Xia Liu thought he had arrived a tad early, but to his surprise, Ye Zi had not only reserved a table but had also noticed his arrival.


    Under the server¡¯s guidance, Xia Liu arrived at the Wind Spirit Room.


    As the room opened, a gentle fragrance wafted out, and a Qin Master screen stood erect, concealing the refined interior environment.


    Walking past the screen, Xia Liu saw the mysterious merchant Ye Zi, seated in her place.


    She seemed like a lady who had walked out of a painting, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders with a slight curl, long eyelashes, and bright, clear eyes.


    A nose sculpted by an artist, and soft cherry lips lightly brushed with a subtle red hue.


    The human body has a total of 206 bones, but when Xia Liu cast his first glance at Ye Zi, he had 207!


    Astonishment! Shock!


    This Ye Zi was breathtakingly beautiful. Even if she hadn¡¯t spoken a word, just sitting there with a cool expression, she exuded an indescribable aura that spread all around her.


    Xia Liu quickly employed the Five Elements Mantra to calm his restlessness; if the beautiful woman in front of him were to see him in an embarrassing state, cooperation would be the least of his worries¡ªhe reckoned she might even call the police to arrest him.


    ¡°Hello, are you Miss Ye Zi?¡± Xia Liu asked politely, as he had never met Ye Zi before.


    ¡°Yes, President Xia, please take a seat,¡± replied Ye Zi with her cherry lips slightly parted, her captivating face blooming with a welcoming smile.


    Xia Liu was stunned by Ye Zi¡¯s beautiful posture, his actions slightly hesitant until she stood up, bringing him back to reality.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Miss Ye Zi. I¡¯m late,¡± apologized Xia Liu, quickly shifting his gaze elsewhere.


    ¡°Not at all, I just had some free time and arrived earlier,¡± she responded.


    ¡°I can manage on my own,¡± Xia Liu said quickly, preventing Ye Zi from helping him with the chair, and then he pulled out a chair for himself and sat.


    ¡°Hehe, I had seen a photo of President Xia before, but did not expect you to be more handsome and elegant in person,¡± praised Ye Zi as she returned to her seat.


    ¡°Miss Ye Zi is the beautiful one. I am certain that even fairies in heaven cannot compare with your beauty.¡±


    ¡­


    Afterward, Xia Liu and Ye Zi embarked on a simple exchange to get to know each other.


    They also ordered some of Splendid Hotel¡¯s signature dishes.


    ¡°President Xia, I have visited Hejing once. The county¡¯s popularity is gradually increasing. I heard you are planning to build an industrial area; how is that going?¡± she inquired.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xia Liu replied with a slight smile. ¡°At the moment, the industrial area is still in the planning and construction phase. Many friends from Liu Hai City are planning to invest around the county.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ye Zi¡¯s spirited eyes swiveled slightly. ¡°Is there still any available space left in Hejing?¡±


    ¡°Of course, there is. If Miss Ye Zi is interested, you might also consider investing in the town,¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Are you referring to spaces within the county and the town?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, the industrial district can only be distributed around the county town, and no matter where, the areas within the county and town are always the hottest spots.¡±


    Xia Liu actually wanted to develop Hejing and Pinglan Town, but he might not have the energy for it right now.


    If he could introduce a super-wealthy investor to invest, in a few years¡¯ time, Hejing might be upgraded to a city.


    ¡°President Xia¡¯s proposal is good, but I can only obtain a hundred billion from my family this time. I wonder how much that can develop?¡±


    ¡°A hundred billion, that¡¯s about half of Hejing. If it¡¯s just for development and construction, that much money is enough.¡±


    Ye Zi fell silent for a while before saying, ¡°Can President Xia be certain that this project will make money?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Xia Liu was very sure, ¡°as soon as the Eastern District and the industrial district construction are completed, Hejing¡¯s popularity will rise to a terrifying level. If you can get half of Hejing¡¯s area, then you¡¯ll be making money while lying down.¡±


    Once Hejing¡¯s popularity increased,


    it would expand continuously like the downtown area. And as the central region of Hejing, that would definitely be worth its weight in gold.


    If one could buy the agency rights for these areas, then setting up any shop or house would be ridiculously profitable.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I actually just returned from abroad, and this is technically my first time doing business. President Xia will have to forgive my inexperience.¡± Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s passionate demeanor, Ye Zi said with an awkward smile.


    ¡°Not at all, if it were me, I would also be cautious and careful.¡±


    ¡°President Xia, if my enterprise suddenly enters Hejing, it will definitely cause discontent among the existing populace. I would like to cooperate with President Xia to develop it together.¡±


    ¡°This idea isn¡¯t bad!¡± Xia Liu became interested, he had the same intention originally and now that the other party took the initiative, it meant much more than if he had suggested it himself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s settle on that for now. Once we get back, we¡¯ll have our professionals draft the details of our cooperation,¡± Ye Zi said with a pleased smile as she raised her glass. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu also raised his glass; he strongly agreed with Ye Zi¡¯s idea.


    ¡°Here¡¯s to a successful partnership!¡±


    ¡°Yes, to a successful partnership!¡±


    After speaking, Xia Liu lightly sipped the red wine in his glass.


    Hm?


    But the moment the red wine touched his lips, Xia Liu¡¯s pupils imperceptibly contracted!


    Because he could clearly feel the poison mixed in with the wine!


    This was at least potent enough to kill three elephants, and what¡¯s most terrifying is that this poison wouldn¡¯t kill a person immediately but would slowly torment the one who ingested it. Over a few days, it would turn their internal organs into pus, which would then ooze out from their mouth and nose.


    Xia Liu had seen this poison before: the Cherry Blossom Poison from the Yagy¨± Family of the Island Nation!


    Xia Liu kept his composure as he immediately used his energy to suppress the Cherry Blossom Poison. Now that he had undone the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle,


    the concentration of his Inner Spirit Energy was much stronger than before.


    As long as the Cherry Blossom Poison hadn¡¯t spread to his vital organs, he had the ability to completely expel it; he just needed some time.


    As he finished the wine, Xia Liu also enveloped the entirety of the Cherry Blossom Poison within his body, unseen.


    Additionally, he detected that the wine not only contained the Cherry Blossom Poison but also a powerful drug that could cause a person to fall unconscious upon sleeping after drinking it.


    Xia Liu was fortunate; while he used his Spiritual Energy to contain the Cherry Blossom Poison, he also enveloped the sleep-inducing drug.


    With some time, he would be able to use his Spiritual Energy to neutralize both poisons.


    Clang!


    The stemmed glass slipped from Xia Liu¡¯s hand, striking the hardwood floor and scattering glass shards everywhere.


    ¡°Nether Emperor? To dare harm a member of my clan, you should have foreseen this day coming!¡± As Xia Liu leaned on the table and lost consciousness, Ye Zi¡¯s bright spirit eyes gradually became extremely icy cold¡­


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 Chapter 438 - 438: Counterattack

    Chapter 438: Chapter 438: Counterattack


    Thud, thud, thud¡­


    Just as Yamamoto Yezi was about to check on Xia Liu¡¯s condition,


    suddenly, a series of clapping sounds echoed from the entrance.


    Yezi turned her gaze and saw a woman with a captivating figure approaching.


    She wore contact lenses, and her purple hair and clothes made her look like a seductive beauty straight out of an anime.


    ¡°Yezi, congratulations on completing the mission,¡± she said.


    ...


    ¡°Ruyan, he seemed much simpler than you imagined,¡± Yezi said with a smile as she checked Xia Liu¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Simple? Maybe your bewitching technique was too powerful. His strength is terrifying, even my grandfather Yagy¨± Taik¨­ couldn¡¯t match him,¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan recalled the battle between Xia Liu and her grandfather, a sense of fear creeping into her heart.


    She was in regular contact with her grandfather. Xia Liu had injured Grandfather¡¯s Godslayer with a strange object, and it had not yet recovered, rapidly weakening to below Earth Rank.


    ¡°Heh, men from Huaxia are all the same, they can¡¯t move when they see a beauty. I just slightly used my bewitching technique, and he obediently drank the poison,¡± Yamamoto Yezi giggled.


    ¡°Fine, since he¡¯s poisoned with the Cherry Blossom Poison, his death is certain. Let¡¯s leave,¡± Ruyan didn¡¯t want to see Xia Liu anymore.


    It reminded her of Xia Liu¡¯s majestic form during the battle with Grandfather, and of what happened by the hot springs.


    ¡°I also added some drugs to his drink. When he wakes up, all his cultivation power will dissipate, posing no threat to us. We might as well take him to a room and record a video for the Family to prove our capabilities,¡± Yezi proposed.


    ¡°Oh Yezi, even now you¡¯re thinking of showing off,¡± Ruyan sighed softly, then her eyes lit up, ¡°But I like it!¡±


    Subsequently, Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi, each supporting him on one side, carried Xia Liu from the private room to another room.


    ¡°So soft!¡± Xia Liu, feigning unconsciousness, couldn¡¯t help but admire inwardly.


    Unlike the others, Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s skin were extremely smooth and very soft.


    Even around their necks and shoulders, and when close to them, a faint, unique fragrance seemed to emanate from their bodies.


    Now, there was only one word in Xia Liu¡¯s mind ¡ª thrilling!


    Yagy¨± Ruyan was an Earth-Rank Ninja, and her strength was terrifying. Even without Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s help, she could carry Xia Liu to the room on her own.


    As for Yamamoto Yezi, she hadn¡¯t cultivated her physical body, preferring to focus on bewitching techniques, or Pupil Skills.


    This ninjutsu, when cultivated to its peak, could induce illusions with just a glance, and even control the opponent¡¯s mind.


    Through the conversations of the two women, Xia Liu realized why he had been so struck by Yezi at first sight.


    It was because of her technique!


    However, the technique didn¡¯t have much of an effect on Xia Liu.


    Or rather, Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s rank was too low.


    If it had been a high-rank Pupil Skill Ninja, Xia Liu would have noticed immediately. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After getting Xia Liu into the room, Yagy¨± Ruyan casually tossed him onto a fluffy carpet.


    ¡°Phew¡­ finally back. Ruyan, I¡¯m going to take a shower first. After, let¡¯s record a video for him to prove our capabilities!¡± Yamamoto Yezi, after catching her breath, shed her clothes and walked into the bathroom.


    ¡°Ah, if only he hadn¡¯t injured my grandfather, if only he hadn¡¯t killed so many ninjas from the Yamamoto Family¡­¡± Watching Xia Liu lying on the ground, Ruyan poured herself a glass of red wine, gazing at his sleeping form.


    To be honest, letting Xia Liu die like this made her feel somewhat regretful, because Xia Liu was her first man.


    Perhaps he could be the last one.


    It¡¯s a pity that Xia Liu is not a cooperating family on Huaxia¡¯s side. Otherwise, she might have fallen for him and, over time, possibly even come to love him.


    ¡°Actually, I think we could sit down and have a proper conversation, but your tactics make me feel quite unfriendly,¡± she said.


    Just as Yagy¨± Ruyan gently tapped her glass, a magnetic voice burst into her ears.


    In an instant, Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, and her jade hand moved to her thigh, attempting to take down the kunai tied there.


    But her movement was clearly slow. By the time her palm touched the kunai, a warm, large hand covered her own.


    Yagy¨± Ruyan looked up to see a stern face that she could never forget in her lifetime.


    She could even smell the scent of cigarettes and red wine he was breathing out.


    Unimaginably, she had witnessed Xia Liu down all the poison herself; the cup contained Cherry Blossom Poison and a potent sleeping drug. How could this man be awake and possess such immense strength without an antidote?


    Yes, no matter how hard Yagy¨± Ruyan tried, she couldn¡¯t free herself from Xia Liu¡¯s strong grip.


    ¡°Ah umm umm¡­¡± Just when Yagy¨± Ruyan wanted to shout to let Yamamoto Yezi know the situation on the scene, the quick-reacting Xia Liu immediately covered her mouth.


    ¡°Want to scream? Weren¡¯t you acting all mighty just now? Even wanted to record a video of me? Alright, now I¡¯m quite interested in filming a love action movie with you,¡± he said.


    Speaking, Xia Liu¡¯s palm moved like a phantom, and the sound of tearing echoed distinctly within the room.


    In less than half a second, Yagy¨± Ruyan had her shirt ripped off by Xia Liu.


    Seizing the opportunity, Yagy¨± Ruyan silently recited an oral formula, followed by a burst of blinding white light from her body.


    This was the rhythm of summoning Godslayer!


    Xia Liu remained utterly unphased. Godslayer?


    What kind of thing was that? Once the Golden Spirit Sword was released, it would incinerate her completely.


    Actually, Yagy¨± Ruyan didn¡¯t even have the chance to truly summon Godslayer, because her hands were controlled by Xia Liu, making it impossible for her to form seals, let alone summon Godslayer.


    She couldn¡¯t even perform basic Ninjutsu.


    Now, she could only erupt with her ninja energy, trying to scare Xia Liu away, but how could her courage and cultivation power intimidate him, a man not just any primary-level Earth-Rank ninja.


    ¡°Ruyan, are you alright?¡± Just as Xia Liu was about to take off Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s pants, suddenly a puzzled voice came from the bathroom.


    ¡°Hmph! Yezi, right? I¡¯ll start with you then!¡± Xia Liu glanced toward the direction of the bathroom, then his fingers turned into sword fingers as he gathered energy and increased strength, pressing a few points on Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s body.


    By the time Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s eyes glazed over, Xia Liu removed his hand.


    ¡°Err err err¡­¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan tried hard to open her mouth to speak, but in the end, she found that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t open her mouth.


    She could feel a powerful force locking up her body, making it impossible for her to move.


    She could only watch helplessly as Xia Liu gradually approached the bathroom.


    ¡°Ruyan, don¡¯t scare me, please respond,¡± Yamamoto Yezi didn¡¯t get any answer, so she turned off the hot water, wrapped herself in a white towel, and opened the bathroom door.


    The moment she opened the door, all movement ceased.


    Drip¡­


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 Chapter 439 - 439: Breaking the Spell

    Chapter 439: Chapter 439: Breaking the Spell


    As droplets fell to the ground, their crisp echo reverberated through the silent room.


    Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly, as a strange burst of color exploded from her eyes. If an ordinary person were to lock eyes with her,


    they would be captivated in an instant, to the point of losing their soul.


    But Xia Liu was a cultivator, cultivating the heart, body, and soul!


    How could he possibly be bewildered by a mere pupil skill ninja like Yamamoto Yezi?


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you affected!¡± Seeing the upward curve of Xia Liu¡¯s mouth, Yamamoto Yezi cried out in alarm.


    ...


    ¡°Why should I be affected? Do you really think your measly pupil skill can influence me?¡± Xia Liu laughed.


    From beginning to end, he was merely cooperating with the actions of Yamamoto Yezi and Yagy¨± Ruyan.


    Now that even this trap had been sprung, to continue playing dumb would be genuinely foolish.


    ¡°Impossible! My pupil skill¡¯s rank is Earth Rank! How could you be unaffected!¡±


    Yamamoto Yezi had never encountered such a peculiar situation before; usually, regardless of their rank, as long as she used her pupil skill, even martial artists would fall under her control, let alone Mysterious Rank ninjas.


    But Xia Liu showed not the slightest effect, despite the fact he¡¯d cultivated Huaxia warrior techniques.


    Yamamoto Yezi had once conducted an experiment on a martial artist, which proved that her pupil skill had an even greater impact on warriors. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And combined with her seductive looks, almost no male warriors could resist her.


    Yet, now Xia Liu remained completely unaffected, even mocking her.


    ¡°Hmph! Apart from being trash, there¡¯s nothing left of the Island Nation¡¯s ninja techniques. Today I¡¯ll show you the might of a Huaxia strongman!¡±


    With a cold snort, Xia Liu¡¯s shape shifted, and an afterimage flashed immediately through the room.


    In the blink of an eye, Xia Liu had Yamamoto Yezi cradled in his arms.


    ¡°Ah! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± After coming to her senses, Yamamoto Yezi let out a cry.


    She wanted to strike down Xia Liu, but there were no weapons at hand.


    Her specialty was the pupil skill; she had no physical strength at all, just like an ordinary girl.


    Right, her strongest ability was the pupil skill, followed by acting spoiled.


    Acting spoiled in conjunction with her pupil skill, she had never failed.


    So she decided to use it on Xia Liu.


    The moment she fell onto the plush, round bed, her tender cherry lips puckered up slightly, and she purposefully infused her voice with a whining tone that could melt any shut-in¡¯s heart.


    ¡°My good big brother, don¡¯t bully Yezi, okay? Yezi will cry, please let Yezi go.¡±


    Hm?


    Xia Liu was taken aback. The instant he heard Yezi speak, an indescribable sense of pity and a desire to protect rose in his heart.


    ¡°Big brother, Yezi¡¯s body really hurts, I need spiritual medicine to heal, could you help me buy a pack downstairs, just one pack.¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu space out, Yezi continued to coo and whine, while clutching her stomach, feigning an extremely pained and pitiful look that begged for protection.


    ¡°Hehe, I think only milk can cure your pain now,¡± Xia Liu said, taking steps toward Yezi.


    ¡°You!¡± When Yezi realized that Xia Liu hadn¡¯t fallen for her bewitching technique, she trembled with fear.


    This was the strongest insult she had faced since mastering her pupil skill.


    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Seeing Xia Liu slowly strip off his clothes, Yamamoto Yezi asked in fear.


    ¡°I want to!¡±


    ¡°Ruyan, save me! Ruyan!¡±


    As she watched Xia Liu¡¯s eyes burn with a bestial heat, Yamamoto Yezi screamed loudly, trying to wake Yagy¨± Ruyan.


    Yagy¨± Ruyan practiced conventional Ninja Technique and had reached the Earth-Rank Primary Level in her Cultivation!


    Yamamoto Yezi believed that as long as Yagy¨± Ruyan summoned Godslayer, she would definitely be able to kill Xia Liu.


    Now, the only lifeline she had was Yagy¨± Ruyan.


    But no matter how much Yamamoto Yezi yelled, there was no response from Yagy¨± Ruyan at all.


    At that moment, Yagy¨± Ruyan was lying face down on the bed, her watery eyes staring directly at the two of them, her mouth slightly open, yet no words came out.


    ¡°Ruyan¡­¡± Realizing something was off with her best friend, Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s voice gradually softened.


    ¡°Stop shouting, it will be her turn soon!¡± Xia Liu said as he tossed his pants onto a clothes rack to one side.


    ¡­


    An hour later, Yamamoto Yezi lay weakly on the round bed, a bright red plum blossom blooming on the pink sheets.


    Her flailing appearance made it clear what tremendous events had just taken place.


    ¡°Crying? When you poisoned the wine, you should have thought about the consequences. Don¡¯t worry, this is just the beginning!¡± Xia Liu lit a cigarette and arrogantly watched Yamamoto Yezi.


    He was never a villain, but when faced with a malicious woman like Yamamoto Yezi, he had no choice but to fight fire with fire!


    Breaking her was just the first step; there were many more things to do after that.


    ¡°You bastard! Despicable scoundrel!¡± Yamamoto Yezi screamed hysterically.


    Tears had already blurred her vision.


    She slowly sat up from the bed, her fair hands wrapping around her knees, trying to cover everything.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Xia Liu laughed. Was he despicable? Who had poisoned the wine? Who wanted to make a video to show off to her family back home?


    He was merely giving her a slight lesson, and besides, aren¡¯t all women from the Island Nation like that¡ªso affected?


    To advance in Ninja Technique, they¡¯d casually pick a man and lose their virginity.


    That was something he had experienced firsthand with Yagy¨± Ruyan.


    ¡°Whimper¡­¡± Yamamoto Yezi did not respond, instead just crying softly with her head down.


    Xia Liu was unaware of her secret, just as even Yagy¨± Ruyan didn¡¯t know, with her virginity taken, she had lost all her abilities.


    The Pupil Skill she had cultivated was primarily a Bewitching Technique, and it had strict requirements: she must remain unmarried for her entire life.


    If her virginity was taken, then her Pupil Skills would become utterly useless.


    Now, with her virginity taken, Yamamoto Yezi was just an ordinary and delicate woman.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t know¡ªif he had, he would have taken even more pleasure in doing what he did.


    Suddenly, just as Xia Liu was about to speak, a strong sense of crisis overcame him.


    Without hesitation, he immediately gathered Spiritual Energy, and in an instant, his figure turned into a shadow and flashed to the side of the curtains.


    Whoosh¡­


    The air being split made a sound, as a dart pierced through the space before him, eventually going through the mahogany headboard.


    Xia Liu looked over and saw Yagy¨± Ruyan glaring at him furiously, her hands continuously forming Seals in front of her chest.


    ¡°Summoning Godslayer? Interesting.¡±


    Seeing the hand gestures of Yagy¨± Ruyan, Xia Liu shook his head.


    He knew he couldn¡¯t bind Yagy¨± Ruyan for too long, and while he was hurting Yamamoto Yezi, he had been paying attention. Fortunately, he had completed his task before she broke free from the binding.


    ¡°Ruyan! Kill him!¡± Upon seeing Yagy¨± Ruyan forming the Seal, Yamamoto Yezi got excited, her lost confidence finding its way back.


    However, the next second, she was stunned again as she saw Xia Liu appear in front of Yagy¨± Ruyan with a terrifying speed¡­


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 Chapter 440 - 440 Continue Cooperation

    Chapter 440: Chapter 440 Continue Cooperation


    Xia Liu¡¯s hand rested on Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s delicate shoulder while his other hand pinched her chin.


    Instantly, the potent Soul Energy within Yagy¨± Ruyan began to fade until her aura had completely dissipated.


    The room fell into silence in a moment.


    Although Yamamoto Yezi had not cultivated the Godslayer Ninja Technique, she was very familiar with it, and Yagy¨± Ruyan had been close to successfully summoning it just now.


    In such a state, she should not have been able to interrupt it.


    Even if she immediately removed her hand seals, the Godslayer would materialize in an instant.


    ...


    But from start to finish, the Godslayer never appeared! It was utterly shocking.


    Yamamoto Yezi felt this way, and Yagy¨± Ruyan, the person involved, was even more frightened.


    She could clearly feel an incredibly bright power piercing through her body and even her soul the moment Xia Liu¡¯s palm touched her shoulder.


    Then the Godslayer, which was about to be successfully summoned, actually recoiled!


    For the Godslayer to actively recoil was an unprecedented occurrence.


    Not even when a Mysterious Rank Peak Martial Artist summoned the Godslayer would it recoil on its own; at most, the summoning would fail.


    But the Godslayer would strive to cooperate with the Ninja to break free from the darkness and appear in the world.


    This man¡¯s power could directly suppress the Godslayer!


    The thought struck Yagy¨± Ruyan suddenly, and perhaps it was true.


    Otherwise, when he fought with Grandpa last time, he didn¡¯t have a strong presence, yet he still managed to make the Godslayer retreat on its own!


    Moments of recollection sent shivers down Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s body.


    If her speculation were confirmed, this man would become the dominator of the Godslayer!


    The moment that bright power emerged, no matter how powerful the Godslayer, it would be repelled by him, even burned and destroyed completely!


    ¡°Your revered Godslayer is useless to me, so just behave yourself!¡± Xia Liu said as he shook his hand, and Spiritual Energy surged forth, shattering Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s clothes into pieces.


    Pieces of torn fabric fluttered around the room like snowflakes, and Xia Liu casually threw Yagy¨± Ruyan onto the round bed.


    Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t show any mercy to Yagy¨± Ruyan, unlike with Yamamoto Yezi.


    During this process, Yamamoto Yezi likewise didn¡¯t escape.


    As Yagy¨± Ruyan fainted, Xia Liu pulled Yamamoto Yezi over as well.


    After adjusting his jacket, Xia Liu lit a cigarette and pulled over a chair to sit facing the round bed.


    On the bed, two silhouettes gasped for air, their faces bearing distinct expressions.


    ¡°What do you want to do? Kill us?¡± Already used to being bullied by Xia Liu, Yagy¨± Ruyan, who had slightly regained some strength, asked him directly.


    ¡°Just kill us! Tormenting us like this, you will regret it one day!¡± Yamamoto Yezi bit her lip hard, her complexion even paler than before.


    She had never been with a man, but today she was ravaged by Xia Liu in a frenzied rhythm, leaving her body numb, and she might not be able to walk for the next few days.


    ¡°No hurry, no hurry, killing is but a blink of an eye, I will let you slowly realize just what kind of powerhouse you have provoked!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re despicable!¡± the two women exclaimed in unison.


    ¡°Compared to you, I still have a long way to go. At least I don¡¯t poison people¡¯s drinks.¡±


    ¡­


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, the two women did not respond; after all, Ninjas primarily rely on assassination as their main technique.


    But trying to explain to a normal person is like when a scholar meets soldiers, even with reason on their side, they can¡¯t make themselves clear.


    ¡°Miss Ye Zi, let¡¯s continue discussing our cooperation,¡± Xia Liu said leisurely after a moment¡¯s thought.


    ¡°Cooperation? What cooperation do I have left with you!¡± Ye Zi bit back her pain and spoke through gritted teeth. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Of course, you plan to invest a hundred billion into Hejing, don¡¯t you? Or have you forgotten?¡± Xia Li feigned a fearful expression as he spoke.


    ¡­


    Yamamoto Yezi and Yagy¨± Ruyan both fell silent.


    Xia Liu knew it was all a trap, and yet he was bringing it up now. Did he think humiliating her further wasn¡¯t enough?


    ¡°Don¡¯t all stay quiet now. I remember you saying your family agreed to let you invest a hundred billion,¡± Xia Liu continued.


    ¡°You despicable man! If you dare, kill us!¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan could no longer hold back; after all, she was an Earth-Rank Ninja, and now she was stripped and confined to this place.


    Plus, she had to be on guard in case the other party decided to harm her again out of a bad mood.


    ¡°Wait, are you thinking of¡­¡± Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s mind.


    Xia Liu kept insisting that his family had agreed to the investment; was he planning to go to their home to get it!


    ¡°Mhm, you understand now¡­¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    ¡°Hehe, if you think you¡¯re capable, then go ahead. I guarantee that as soon as you step onto Island Nation soil, you¡¯ll be blown to bits by my clan!¡± Yamamoto Yezi laughed mockingly, her body in pain, but still unable to help but laugh at the joke.


    ¡°Haha! How arrogant! Do you really think you can just go to the Island Nation whenever you wish?¡± Alerted by the reminder, Yagy¨± Ruyan also burst into laughter.


    Although she couldn¡¯t be sure whether Xia Liu was the nemesis of Godslayer, if he dared to set foot on the Island Nation, he would face the powerful onslaught of the Yagy¨± and Yamamoto Families.


    And that included not only ninjas but also powerful modern technology.


    One thing was for certain: as soon as Xia Liu went to the Island Nation, he would experience an unprecedentedly fierce attack!


    This, because he had already drawn intense scrutiny from both the Yagy¨± Family and the Yamamoto Family.


    ¡°A tiny speck of land, I¡¯ll go there if I want to, what can it do to me?¡± Xia Liu spread his hands, unconcerned. When the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle had not yet been removed, he had been fearless.


    Now that the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle had been removed, what was there to worry about?


    ¡°Go then! Go right now!¡±


    ¡°Why are you trying to provoke me?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t dare to go? If you have the guts, go now,¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan continued.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry. I haven¡¯t finished ¡®educating¡¯ the two of you. How could I leave?¡± Xia Liu licked his lips, revealing a wickedly charming smile.


    Upon hearing him say that, the faces of the two women immediately changed.


    They knew all too well what kind of ¡®education¡¯ Xia Liu was talking about.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t commit suicide, because then I would become the murderer, and it would be troublesome for me if someone files a report.¡±


    ¡°Before we kill you, we won¡¯t die! Rest assured, for all the humiliation you give us today, we will repay it doubly in the future!¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan said earnestly.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good mindset to have. But before I go to the Island Nation, you two cannot leave this room. I truly am sorry for the inconvenience,¡± Xia Liu nodded as he spoke.


    Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi said nothing more. Although they were controlled by Xia Liu, they would take any opportunity to escape this place.


    Unfortunately, Xia Liu wasn¡¯t going to give them that chance.


    Right now, the biggest threat to him was Yagy¨± Ruyan, so Xia Liu transmitted a wave of Spiritual Energy into her body to suppress her Ninja Energy.


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 Chapter 441 - 441 Debt Collection Action

    Chapter 441: Chapter 441 Debt Collection Action


    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Feeling the change inside her body, Yagy¨± Ruyan screamed.


    ¡°So that you can stay here comfortably,¡± Xia Liu said coldly and lay down on a sofa.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Ruyan?¡± Seeing Xia Liu come and then go, Yamamoto Yezi let out a sigh of relief. If Xia Liu came over again, she might really get seriously injured.


    ¡°He must have used some technique; I can¡¯t use my ninjutsu,¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan said.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Yamamoto Yezi was incredibly surprised. With a mere clap of his hands, Xia Liu could seal Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s cultivation. How strong was he exactly?


    ...


    The two women exchanged glances, then turned their gaze to the sofa where Xia Liu was resting. They wanted to leave the room but had to pass by Xia Liu.


    Having no other choice, they carefully pulled over the blankets and rested.


    They were both extremely exhausted.


    Xia Liu knew Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s constitution well. She had fainted just like before.


    She didn¡¯t even dare to imagine what would happen if she hadn¡¯t practiced ninjutsu and had a constitution as weak as an ordinary woman¡¯s; she might not even be able to walk.


    After the two women lay down, Xia Liu quietly sat up cross-legged.


    He certainly had no time to sleep now.


    The Cherry Blossom Poison and the nerve-numbing medicine were still enveloped by Spiritual Energy inside him.


    It was impossible to force it out of his body; he could only refine it with Spiritual Energy.


    However, the amount was somewhat vast and extremely toxic, so he had to refine it very cautiously. It might take about three days.


    So, in the time that followed, Xia Liu refined the toxins during the day and when he got tired, he would stop and absorb Spiritual Energy.


    When he got angry, he would drag Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi aside to hurt each other.


    After several rounds of these ¡°lessons,¡± the two women became much more docile.


    Xia Liu understood that this was just a mask they wore; if the hard approach didn¡¯t work, they tried the soft one.


    Their goal was to get him to let them leave.


    But how could Xia Liu give them a chance? Over these three days, he truly became a tyrannical despot.


    Of course, Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi also thought of ways to escape.


    Each time, they were caught by Xia Liu, then thrown aside and tormented until they had no strength left.


    After discussing it, the two women began to resist.


    Their resistance was not to fight against Xia Liu head-on, but rather to drain him in a manner like a bottomless pit.


    Unfortunately, they misjudged again; Xia Liu¡¯s constitution was not something ordinary people could compare with.


    Each time, they ended up exhausted, which gradually made them lose confidence.


    Finally, a glimmer of hope arrived for them.


    On the morning of the fifth day, Xia Liu went out but returned quickly, carrying two bags in his hands.


    ¡°Here you go, yours. Pack up; we¡¯re heading to the Island Nation soon,¡± Xia Liu said, then turned and continued to meditate on the sofa.


    Originally, he had planned to refine the toxins within his body within three days, but he became caught up with Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi and only managed to completely refine them by early morning of the fifth day.


    After recovering, he decided to go to the Island Nation to collect debts immediately.


    Yamamoto Yezi had promised a hundred billion in investment!


    Yes! Xia Liu was that shameless. Now that he was so short on cash and Hejing needed development, he needed such a good opportunity to make money; anyone who wouldn¡¯t take it was a fool.


    Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi thought they had heard it wrong.


    After a careful confrontation, they were shocked to realize that Xia Liu indeed intended to go to the Island Nation!


    Looking at the clothes in her hands, different thoughts surfaced in the hearts of the two women. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Half an hour later, Xia Liu, Yagy¨± Ruyan, and Yamamoto Yezi left the hotel.


    Sitting in Xia Liu¡¯s Bentley, the two held hands, reminiscing about the unforgettable five days in their minds.


    Having decided to go to the Island Nation, Xia Liu called Fang Fei to inform her.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t forget to call Lin Xiaotian; during these days that he was away, he, Bai Lili, and Tie Shan would definitely have a tough time since several Yanjing families might be eyeing them greedily.


    After receiving a response, Xia Liu then called Mo Wanqing.


    In Binlai City, Mo Wanqing could definitely handle many important tasks that he couldn¡¯t, such as booking the three fastest flights to the Island Nation.


    ¡°Hello, little villain, are you really going to the Island Nation?¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan said unceremoniously after Xia Liu hung up the phone.


    ¡°Miss, please call me by my name, Xia Liu, or if you prefer, Liuming Caoru.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Of course, I have to go and collect debts. Miss Ye Zi is willing to invest one hundred billion.¡± Seeing the discomfort on Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s face, Xia Liu continued.


    ¡°Heh, hurry up, I can¡¯t wait to see you get shot through by bullets.¡±


    ¡°Miss Ye Zi will probably be disappointed, bullets are useless against me,¡± Xia Liu said disdainfully.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re looking to die, then we¡¯ll just wait and see. I hope you don¡¯t die too quickly because I¡¯d like to take your life myself,¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan said coldly.


    ¡°If you want to kill me, it¡¯ll have to be in your next life. Before that, give me your phone.¡±


    Though she was reluctant, Yagy¨± Ruyan still gave it to him as Xia Liu had asked.


    Xia Liu flipped open the contacts and then dialed Yagy¨± Taik¨­¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello, Ruyan? How are things? Is that man still in the hotel? I¡¯ve already gathered people, just hang on a little longer.¡±


    As soon as the phone was connected, an old and somewhat anxious voice speaking the Island Nation¡¯s language came through.


    ¡°Yagy¨± Taik¨­? You don¡¯t need to send people over. I¡¯ll be at Sakura City¡¯s airport by eight o¡¯clock tonight,¡± Xia Liu fluently replied in the Island Nation¡¯s language.


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already booked three plane tickets. Make sure to arrange transportation to pick us up.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! What a Huaxia Warrior! As long as you dare come! I will make sure you meet your demise!¡±


    ¡°Stop your nagging, see you tonight.¡± After saying that, Xia Liu handed the phone back to Yagy¨± Ruyan.


    ¡°Grandpa, quickly inform the Yamamoto Clan that he will arrive at Sakura Airport at eight o¡¯clock tonight,¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan immediately reported to her grandfather after getting the phone back.


    Since Xia Liu was already being so bold, she held nothing back either.


    At noon, Xia Liu, Yagy¨± Ruyan, and Yamamoto Yezi boarded a plane to the Island Nation.


    Even seated in first class, Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi felt incredibly unreal.


    Xia Liu was actually going to the Island Nation, and he was so blatantly straightforward about it.


    He even had to broadcast it beforehand, as though afraid that others wouldn¡¯t know he was heading to the Island Nation.


    Looking at Xia Liu, who was lying on the chair with his eyes half-closed, the two women were completely baffled.


    What kind of strength did he possess to have such unwavering confidence?


    Even if he could suppress the ninjas, how would he deal with the Yamamoto Family¡¯s powerful modern weapons?


    Unable to figure it out, the two women simply gave up on thinking about it.


    But just when Yamamoto Yezi wanted to rest, Xia Liu took her to the restroom¡­


    In ancient times, a robust horse could travel a thousand miles in a day; today, Xia Liu also traveled a thousand miles in a day.


    As time passed minute by minute, the sky gradually darkened. Through the plane window, Xia Liu could see the stars outside and the bright lights below¡ªSakura City was in sight!


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 Chapter 442 - 442: Accept All

    Chapter 442: Chapter 442: Accept All


    The night was cold, the wind chillier, and as he stepped out to the airport gate, the distance started to blur.


    A fine drizzle fell like needles from the sky, leaving the streets deserted.


    ¡°Your family¡¯s people have arrived quite quickly,¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile, glancing at the two women behind him.


    ¡°Of course, you are a distinguished guest from the Island Nation, and we will welcome you with the highest honor,¡± Yamamoto Yezi clenched her teeth. She would not forget how she almost fainted in the airplane¡¯s bathroom just moments ago.


    And all this catastrophe was Xia Liu¡¯s doing!


    Yagy¨± Ruyan said nothing. In her eyes, Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t be living for more than a few minutes.


    ...


    No need to talk too much to a dead man; after all, it¡¯s all useless!


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept all your gifts!¡± Xia Liu nodded, his voice filled with immense confidence.


    Without waiting for the women to respond, he walked leisurely down to the steps below.


    At this point, the rain grew heavier, and the wind increasingly howled.


    A chilling intent came with the wind, cold and dreary.


    Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed around, and two loud beams of light shone down from above, illuminating Xia Liu.


    They were two combat helicopters operated by ninjas.


    Then, the sound of uniform footsteps gradually emerged from around.


    Xia Liu scanned the surroundings, only to see ninjas clad in black continuously closing in from all directions.


    Their footprints landed in puddles, sending ripples across, which were immediately dispersed by the falling rain before they could spread.


    Next, several dim lights dotted from afar approached.


    Soon, the screech of brakes was loud and clear.


    Bang!


    Four people came out of two vehicles, dressed in the garments of Ninja Grandmasters; one of them Xia Liu recognized as Yagy¨± Taik¨­, who he had repelled with the Godslayer technique before!


    The other two ninjas, showing their faces and stepping into middle age, stood firm and exuded a subtle yet palpable pressure.


    The last one, with white hair as ravaged as Yagy¨± Taik¨­¡¯s and keen eyes that betrayed his far superior mental state to any youth, was certainly one to be reckoned with.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t have to guess, this old man was the Clan Leader of the Yamamoto Family, known alongside Yagy¨± Taik¨­ as Yamamoto Ikisui!


    From Yamamoto Yezi, Xia Liu knew that Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s cultivation had reached the peak of Earth Rank! Just one step away from being a Heavenly Rank Ninja!


    ¡°Huaxia man, I truly admire your courage, what makes you so bold to come to our great Island Nation openly!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui stared at Xia Liu for a long time, and finally, his words came out. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Listening to Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s awkward Huaxia language, Xia Liu felt a bit uncomfortable, indeed, the Island Nation folks sounded terrible speaking Huaxia.


    ¡°Today, my purpose here is simple, to settle accounts.¡± Despite the awkwardness, Xia Liu responded plainly.


    ¡°Oh? I don¡¯t recall our clan owing you anything; in fact, we haven¡¯t even come to you for accounts!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    ¡°That lady over there, Miss Ye Zi, she is from your Yamamoto Family, right? She said she had discussed with her family to invest a hundred billion in me, so today I am here to collect. There is nothing wrong with that, right?¡± Xia Liu pointed to Yamamoto Yezi behind him and said.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­¡± Yamamoto Ikisui, along with Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and the other two middle-aged ninjas exchanged glances, all seeing the surprise in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Although they didn¡¯t know the specifics, it was absolutely absurd.


    It was perhaps just a tactic by Yamamoto Yezi to attract Xia Liu, but unexpectedly, the Huaxia man took it seriously, and Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and the others became excited.


    ¡°Hahaha! So naive!¡±


    ¡°Huaxia people might inherently have some problems with their brains.¡±


    ¡°Family Head, Ichiro requests permission to eliminate the criminal clansman!¡± one middle-aged man said mockingly, then spoke respectfully to Yamamoto Ikisui.


    ¡°Mr. Ichiro, this Huaxia man is not easy to deal with. His inner strength can directly injure Godslayer,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ immediately warned upon hearing Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s request to strike.


    Yamamoto Ichiro was just Earth-Rank Mid-Level in cultivation, equal to his own. If he indeed attacked Xia Liu, the outcome would certainly be dire.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, just because you are not strong enough to defeat him doesn¡¯t mean others are the same,¡± Yamamoto Ichiro sneered at Yagy¨± Taik¨­, his words dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°Yamamoto Ichiro! My family head kindly warned you; please don¡¯t be too presumptuous!¡± a middle-aged man standing by Yagy¨± Taik¨­¡¯s side said angrily.


    ¡°Yagy¨± Yuanming, don¡¯t speak so loudly. You Yagy¨± Family are all cowards, letting the enemy walk around in your home and even giving him the antidote.¡±


    ¡°Yamamoto Ichiro!¡±


    ¡°Enough, Mr. Yuanming, let Mr. Ichiro try,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ intervened just as Yagy¨± Yuanming was about to lose his temper.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Cowards remain cowards!¡± Yamamoto Ichiro scoffed, then quietly started discussing with Yamamoto Ikisui.


    ¡°Hey, have you guys decided yet? Are you paying up yourselves, or should I kill a few ninjas first before you pay?¡± Xia Liu shivered, shaking off the water droplets deposited on his clothes onto the ground. If not for the one hundred billion, he wouldn¡¯t stand in the rain.


    ¡°Hmph! Arrogant Huaxia warrior! Today, you will witness the terror of an Earth-Rank ninja!¡± Yamamoto Ichiro glared angrily at Xia Liu, barely able to restrain himself, ready to kill Xia Liu violently, awaiting only a signal from Yamamoto Ikisui.


    ¡°Ichiro, don¡¯t kill him, just cripple him,¡± Yamamoto Ikisui said casually after sizing up Xia Liu for a while.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    With the Family Head¡¯s permission, Yamamoto Ichiro immediately rushed forward, his hand signs fused in an instant, and a tremendously strong soul power spread out from his body.


    The ninjas clad in black around him trembled.


    Envy flashed in their eyes.


    Earth-Rank Ninja! A high-strength ninja capable of summoning Godslayer at will!


    And they were merely Mysterious Rank ninjas, how could they not envy Yamamoto Ichiro who was about to summon Godslayer.


    ¡°Mr. Ichiro¡¯s Godslayer is an ancient samurai, even higher ranked than the Family Head Yagy¨±¡¯s; that despicable man is doomed!¡± Seeing Yamamoto Ichiro summon Godslayer, Yamamoto Yezi¡¯s eyes flashed with countless Red Vastness, and although she couldn¡¯t kill Xia Liu with her own hands, his death at the hands of her clansman was nearly the same.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan felt a sense of unease for some reason.


    Whether Xia Liu possessed the ability to counter Godslayer would soon be evident.


    Xia Liu scrutinized the Godslayer summoned by Yamamoto Ichiro, its whole body pitch black, holding a battle ax, and the intensity of the dead energy it emitted was even more potent than the War General summoned by Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    Moreover, the face of Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s Godslayer appeared clearer, even the lines on its forehead were somewhat visible.


    ¡°Huaxia warrior! Today, I will make you unable to stand!¡± With a roar, Yamamoto Ichiro launched the first offensive.


    At his command, the Godslayer swung its battle ax, sending up a surge of dead energy.


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 Chapter 443 - 443: One-hit Kill

    Chapter 443: Chapter 443: One-hit Kill


    The pervasive Dead Energy spread in all directions, a bone-chilling cold enveloping the area within half a mile.


    Facing the Earth-Rank Ninja¡¯s Godslayer, Xia Liu didn¡¯t feel threatened in the slightest.


    Ninjas, like Martial Artists, share the same ranking system. In essence, Xia Liu was only facing a Mid-Level Earth-Rank Martial Artist.


    Moreover, he possessed the world¡¯s most sacred Golden Spirit Energy, killing a ninja of such level was a matter of a mere blink.


    ¡°Mr. Ichiro! Don¡¯t kill him, no matter what!¡± Seeing Yamamoto Ichiro unleashing his Soul Technique, Yamamoto Ikisui reminded him once again.


    ¡°Heh, you don¡¯t have the ability to kill me! By the way, are you ready? I¡¯m about to make my move,¡± Xia Liu said with a cold laugh, finally fixing his gaze on Yamamoto Ichiro.


    ...


    ¡°Arrogant Huaxia Warrior! Watch as my War Soul cripples your cultivation power! Soul Technique: Battle Axe Break!¡±


    With a roar, Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s hands moved quickly to Condense Seal.


    Then, the Godslayer in front of him became wildly aggressive, swinging the battle axe faster and faster.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Ichiro intends to completely kill the Huaxia Warrior,¡± said Yamamoto Ikisui, shaking his head in resignation as he saw his own ninja display a High-Strength Soul Technique.


    He originally planned to cripple Xia Liu, then take him back and force him to divulge his Cultivation Technique.


    And finally, to dissect his body to examine the Martial Artist¡¯s inner structure.


    ¡°Does the Yamamoto Family Head have such confidence in Mr. Ichiro?¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ asked.


    Ever since Godslayer was injured by Xia Liu, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ had harbored fear towards Xia Liu. His presence here today was mainly because of the surrounding ninjas, or rather the special weapons they carried with them.


    ¡°Haha! Family Head Yagy¨±, you must be scared out of your wits. Our clan¡¯s Mr. Ichiro¡¯s Godslayer is an ancient War General, far more advanced than yours, and his cultivation power is greater than yours. Killing this Huaxia person is nothing but the blink of an eye,¡± boasted Yamamoto Ikisui proudly.


    ¡°Heh, suit yourself,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ muttered, not wanting to argue with Yamamoto Ikisui, knowing the outcome would soon be clear.


    Hmph!


    Without another word and with a cold snort, Yamamoto Ikisui had absolute confidence in Yamamoto Ichiro; his only hope at this moment was that Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t die too quickly, otherwise, there would be no chance to study the Huaxia Warrior¡¯s Cultivation Technique.


    Souls filled with Dead Energy were often considered polluted and could not stand the light.


    Even if Godslayer were of a high level, what of it? Facing the sacred Golden Spirit Energy, it would ultimately have to avoid and recede!


    In the face of the furious Soul Technique from Yamamoto Ichiro, Xia Liu activated the Five Elements Mantra, and his majestic presence descended in all directions.


    ¡°Golden Spirit Sword!¡± Xia Liu bellowed, staring at the ever-encroaching Godslayer War General, his fingers condensing at his chest.


    The Golden Spirit Energy within his body surged wildly, passing through the extraordinary meridians, and finally converged between his two fingers.


    ¡°Die, Huaxia Pig!¡± Yamamoto Ichiro roared, his fingers pointing at Xia Liu, as the Godslayer Battle Axe immediately left his body, charging towards Xia Liu three meters away.


    ¡°Hmph! Stand back!¡± Xia Liu shouted as he performed the Inhaling Breath, and immediately pointed his Sword Finger ahead.


    Suddenly, a golden light appeared, its majestic presence spreading all around.


    Godslayer seemed to sense a strong danger from this light, eager to flee.


    But the golden sword shadow transformed by the light was too fast; it pierced Godslayer¡¯s body in the blink of an eye.


    Boom!


    With a thunderous explosion, the Godslayer Battle Axe¡¯s figure instantly came to a halt.


    In the midst of countless horrified gazes, the Godslayer began to look ferocious. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spurt!


    A mouthful of essence blood from his heart spewed out of Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s mouth, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.


    His pupils also shrank abruptly; he could clearly feel that he had lost all connection with the Godslayer!


    There were only two reasons for this situation to occur, one was entering the Soul Tower and forging a new, powerful Godslayer, and the other was the complete death of the Godslayer!


    Clearly, Yamamoto Ichiro was in the latter situation.


    As he spat out blood, the body of the Battle Axe God Slayer became distorted, its blood-red eyes staring at the sky as if it were howling and struggling.


    In less than three seconds, the Battle Axe God Slayer completely shattered into the rain.


    ¡°Family Head save me!¡± The moment the Godslayer shattered, pain from his broken soul spread throughout Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s body, the intensity of the pain nearly causing him to faint.


    Without giving Yamamoto Ikisui any chance, Xia Liu flicked his fingers again, a golden streak piercing Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Ah!!!¡± A miserable scream spread from Yamamoto Ichiro¡¯s mouth, and soon after, that towering body collapsed onto the rain-drenched street with a thud.


    Earth-Rank Mid-Level Ninja: Yamamoto Ichiro, dead!


    Faced with this shocking scene, the entire place fell into silence.


    They couldn¡¯t imagine that such a powerful Earth-Rank Ninja could die with a flick of Xia Liu¡¯s finger!


    Even the Godslayer had shattered at an extremely fast rate.


    ¡°Terrifying! He really possesses Holy Power capable of restraining Godslayers!¡± At this moment, Yagy¨± Ruyan could affirm that Xia Liu truly possessed the supreme power to kill Godslayers.


    Yamamoto Yezi didn¡¯t speak, staring blankly ahead. Yamamoto Ichiro was her cousin, a dazzling genius of the family since childhood.


    He was the ninja closest to becoming the Clan Leader, but now this shining talent could not last a minute against Xia Liu, which was a huge blow to her and to the Yamamoto Family!


    When Yamamoto Ikisui came back to his senses, his face was covered with a deathly pallor. With his cultivation at the peak of Earth-Rank, he could clearly feel the terrifying power carried by the golden sword shadow of Xia Liu, a Holy Power that could make the soul tremble!


    Family Head Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yagy¨± Yuanming both remained silent; they had both witnessed Xia Liu¡¯s methods before.


    Not only could he directly injure the Godslayer, but now his cultivation power seemed even stronger, killing the Godslayer with a single move!


    Their only hope now was the latest weapon in the hands of the ninjas on the scene, the ultimate weapon designed to counter the Inner Qi of Huaxia Warriors!


    ¡°You actually killed him!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui glared at Xia Liu furiously.


    ¡°To dare act arrogant in front of me, killing him is letting him off easy. And considering how many people from the Yamamoto Clan there are, losing one or two shouldn¡¯t hurt so much. Plus, if you don¡¯t pay up, even more will die,¡± Xia Liu said.


    ¡°Hahaha! Pay you? You killed our clan¡¯s finest ninja, you killed countless of our guards, you cost our clan several ships and helicopters! We¡¯re going to kill you completely!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui laughed furiously, incredulous that Xia Liu dared to bring up money, his laugh laced with ironic bitterness.


    ¡°Cut the crap and bring as many people as you¡¯ve got!¡± Xia Liu couldn¡¯t care less to listen; all he wanted to do now was fight!


    ¡°Hmph! You think I would fall for that? Your power can directly harm Godslayers,¡± Yamamoto Ikisui bluntly stated.


    ¡°Then why the hell are you still blabbering on!¡± Xia Liu was speechless. Everyone knew he was formidable, and yet they were still whining. Was it because of the surrounding ninjas?


    ¡°Be on guard!¡±


    As Yamamoto Ikisui let out a cold roar, the surrounding ninjas swiftly grabbed their firearms.


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 Chapter 444 - 444 Corrosion

    Chapter 444: Chapter 444 Corrosion


    ¡°Hey old man, can you stop playing with such stupid stuff?¡± Xia Liu frowned slightly. Had these people not learned their lesson? Did they really want him to start a massacre again?


    ¡°Haha! Foolish Huaxia Warrior! Do you think that¡¯s a normal firearm?¡±


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ laughed. If he hadn¡¯t seen several tests himself, he wouldn¡¯t have the courage to stand in front of Xia Liu.


    ¡°Oh? A firearm specifically designed to deal with martial artists?¡± Xia Liu became somewhat interested. If it truly could effectively injure or kill a martial artist, he would have to take some back for the girls to use for self-defense.


    ¡°Huaxia Pig! I¡¯ll give you one chance, just incapacitate your own meridians, and I won¡¯t kill you,¡± Yamamoto Ikisui said coldly.


    Actually, he felt quite distressed over these firearms because they were so expensive to make due to their special nature¡ªone of these would cost a million US dollars, and they were disposable, to be thrown away after use.


    ...


    ¡°Today might yield a bit more loot.¡± Xia Liu blinked his eyes, judging from Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s attitude, it seemed these firearms were quite formidable.


    ¡°Hmph! Stupid Huaxia Pig!¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore. Xia Liu was too pretentious.


    If it weren¡¯t for his fear of Xia Liu¡¯s holy power, Yagy¨± Yuanming would have charged at him long ago.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Ninja Poison Dart Spear!¡± Yamamoto Yezi exclaimed after clearly seeing the firearms in the hands of the surrounding ninjas


    It was indeed a powerful weapon developed jointly by the Yamamoto and Yagy¨± families to deal with Huaxia warriors.


    And now, to their surprise, it had actually succeeded!


    ¡°He¡¯s definitely going to die this time!¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan also gritted her teeth with anger. Since ninjutsu was useless against Xia Liu, this Ninja Poison Dart Spear would surely kill him!


    ¡°You two don¡¯t get your hopes up too high. I just made a decision to bring the Yamamoto and Yagy¨± families under my control; soon, you two will become my slaves. I hope you look forward to serving me well. Otherwise, I might get angry, and that could lead to unpleasant things happening.¡± While the two women were reflecting, Xia Liu turned his head and spoke.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­¡± The two women looked at each other, seeing the irony in each other¡¯s eyes. Xia Liu was actually talking about bringing the Yamamoto and Yagy¨± families under his control.


    This was undoubtedly the coldest joke they had heard in their lives.


    Not only did Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi feel the chill, but Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yamamoto Ikisui were also surprised to varying degrees.


    ¡°Foolish Huaxia Pig! Since you refuse to compromise, I will just kill you!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui knew that he couldn¡¯t persuade Xia Liu, so since that was the case, he might as well spend some money!


    ¡°Ninja poison, ready!¡±


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    Following Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s command, the surrounding ninjas were alert and immediately pulled their triggers.


    Bang, bang!!!


    Numerous dull sounds spread around the airport.


    Xia Liu had unleashed his Spiritual Energy the moment Yamamoto Ikisui had shouted the command. Invisibly, robust, sweeping Spiritual Energy enveloped around Xia Liu¡¯s body, forming an impenetrable barrier.


    When the special bullets fired from the Ninja Poison Dart Spear arrived, although the Rigid Shield blocked them,


    something unexpected occurred for Xia Liu. Upon impact with the shield, a burst of green liquid sprayed out from the bullets.


    This green liquid seemed to be an extremely corrosive venom. Xia Liu could feel some of his Spiritual Energy dissipating!


    ¡°It can corrode Spiritual Energy!¡±


    Seeing this, Xia Liu finally understood why Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yamamoto Ikisui were unafraid even after seeing him kill Godslayer with their battle axe¡ªit was because they possessed such firearms.


    Honestly, if it were an Earth-Rank Warrior facing this venom, their Inner Qi would definitely not hold up.


    It might even carry some of this venom back during the process of inhaling breath. Within half a minute,


    the entire Dantian would be corroded by the venom, eventually decaying the entire body from the inside out.


    What a pity.


    Xia Liu was not a martial artist, he was a cultivator!


    A cultivator who possessed Spiritual Energy!


    ¡°Haha! Huaxia pig! Let¡¯s see how you can be arrogant this time!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, congratulations to Family Head Yamamoto, the Ninja Poison Dart Spear has finally been successfully developed,¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming said with a giggly smile.


    The success of developing this firearm was a major breakthrough for the Yamamoto Family.


    It was a super contribution to the whole Island Nation as well.


    From now on, there was no need to worry whenever a martial artist came to the Island Nation.


    Once the Ninja Poison Dart Spear was unleashed, what were martial artists anyway? In the end, they were just a puddle of blood.


    ¡°The successful development of the Ninja Poison Dart Spear certainly owes credit to the Yagy¨± Clan, right, Family Head Yagy¨±?¡± Yamamoto Ikisui said, smiling gleefully while looking at Yagy¨± Taik¨­. The undertone of his words was known only to themselves.


    ¡°Hehe, the contribution of the Yamamoto Clan is the greatest, our clan merely assisted,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ said with a bitter smile, catching the implication in Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s words.


    ¡°Hmm! It¡¯s good that you understand,¡± Yamamoto Ikisui snorted coldly. Although his cultivation was higher than Yagy¨± Taik¨­¡¯s, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ had never bowed before him due to his connections with the Island Nation¡¯s higher-ups. Today, he finally got his wish.


    Seeing the Family Head bowing his head in silence, Yagy¨± Yuanming was about to speak when a whooshing sound in front caught his attention.


    He saw that ahead, there was a huge sphere enveloped in numerous green liquids¡ªit was well-known among the ninjas that it was a martial artist¡¯s Rigid Shield.


    According to their calculations, it would take at most three minutes for the Ninja Poison to completely corrode the martial artist¡¯s Rigid Shield.


    However, Xia Liu had already been corroded by the Ninja Poison for five minutes, and there was still not a single sign of the shield breaking.


    Moreover, the huge sphere had just made a weird noise.


    ¡°You insignificant ninjas, today you will witness the terror of a martial artist!¡± Xia Liu said softly with a smile from within the Spiritual Energy Rigid Shield, then his hand seals condensed.


    The onlookers¡¯ pupils suddenly dilated, as they saw flames of a brilliant red that had come from nowhere, actually burning the Ninja Poison!


    The fierce flames enveloped the green huge sphere, and in a short while, all the green venom on it had completely dispersed.


    When the last trace of green venom was burned away, the onlookers saw the scene inside once more.


    They saw Xia Liu with his palm outstretched forward, his expression arrogantly sweeping over his surroundings.


    Breathtakingly, they actually saw a burning ember in the center of Xia Liu¡¯s outstretched palm!


    That is to say, those suddenly appearing fierce flames were all emitted from his palm!


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    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yamamoto Ikisui were at a loss for words.


    They had studied many martial artists and clearly understood martial artists¡¯ Martial Arts Skills and Cultivation Techniques.


    Conjuring fire out of thin air was simply not something a martial artist could achieve.


    In Huaxia terms, it was a feat only Immortals could accomplish!


    ¡°Are you all prepared?¡± Xia Liu looked around.


    ¡°No answer? Then I take it as your consent!¡± Seeing the silent ninjas, Xia Liu slightly smiled, then his hand seals condensed again, a formidable aura swept out irresistibly!


    ¡°Fire the Ninja Poison Bullet!¡± Staring at Xia Liu¡¯s terrifying eyes, Yamamoto Ikisui roared intensely¡­


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 Chapter 445 - 445: Peerless Technique

    Chapter 445: Chapter 445: Peerless Technique


    As Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s roar echoed, the surrounding ninjas continued to fire their guns.


    Bullets rained down like droplets aiming fiercely at Xia Liu, their sheer number causing the confidence of the onlookers to wane.


    ¡°Ha!¡±


    With a deep shout, Xia Liu¡¯s palms opened wide, unleashing a torrent of Spiritual Energy.


    The azure venom was halted five meters away as though forming twin azure walls, leaving the spectators in awe.


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yamamoto Ikisui, who knew the Huaxia warriors best, had their pupils constrict once again.


    ...


    They had battled against Earth-Rank Warriors from Huaxia before, but they had never seen anyone whose Inner Qi could reach this extent.


    Xia Liu¡¯s strength had clearly surpassed that of an Earth-Rank Warrior!


    This was the conjecture that sprang to the minds of Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yamamoto Ikisui.


    ¡°It seems you all quite enjoy using poison, so I¡¯ll just send it back to you. I hope you all have an antidote with you, otherwise, that would be unfortunate!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Yamamoto Ikisui screamed, immediately summoning the Godslayer.


    The numerous surrounding ninjas had no clue what was happening until the next second when they all widened their eyes.


    The azure Ninja Poison was hurtling back at them at an unimaginable speed.


    No escape! Nowhere to run!


    Aaahhhhhhh¡­


    Within two seconds, the area was filled with sounds of mournful shrieks.


    Xia Liu¡¯s energy pulsed, and his Spiritual Energy instantly sprayed outward. The ninjas didn¡¯t have time to react before they were drenched in the azure venom.


    It was still not over. Xia Liu activated his movement technique, leaving afterimages in his wake.


    Dressed in black, he moved like a swift dragon among the group of ninjas.


    One hand turned into a blade while the other spread open to harness the Eight Trigrams!


    Where his blade hand passed, blood sprayed red, and where the Eight Trigrams Palm swept, the sounds of shattering bones were relentless.


    Xia Liu was like an Asura from Purgatory, leaving behind a trail of corpses, drenched in blood.


    At the entrance to the airport, Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi stood with their eyes vacant, looking as if they had lost their souls.


    They couldn¡¯t believe how cruel that man could be, taking lives without distinction as if they were nothing more than weeds.


    Moreover, they had been in the same room with this man for five days!


    And during those five days, they had continually thought about how to kill him.


    Now, having witnessed such a bloodbath, they only felt fear when facing Xia Liu, the thought of killing him completely vanished because he was unkillable!


    ¡°Monster! Stop your hands!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui was trembling as he watched Xia Liu decimate his clan¡¯s ninjas.


    Nearly half of the clan¡¯s strength was at the scene. If all were to be killed by Xia Liu, the Yamamoto Clan would have to withdraw from the eight great Ninja Clans of the Island Nation.


    Yamamoto Ikisui had never been so panicked. He had estimated that bringing these four hundred ninjas today, at most, would result in a loss of fifty men.


    But now, half were already dead!


    And the other half were sprinkled with Ninja Poison. Even if their lives were saved, they would end up crippled.


    Yamamoto Ikisui was enraged, and he wanted to tear Xia Liu to pieces!


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Scared? I came here today just to settle accounts, but you actually want to kill me. So, I can only fight back simply. I¡¯ll ask you one last time, will you repay the debt?¡± Xia Liu casually threw the corpse in his hand to the ground, his eyes tinged with the Red Vastness as he stared directly at Yamamoto Ikisui.


    ¡°I will tear you to pieces bit by bit!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui ground his teeth in anger, his forehead¡¯s veins bulging with fury.


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to say. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re capable of,¡± Xia Liu said coldly, with the shadow of the floating dragon reappearing. He moved his feet toward Yamamoto Ikisui for an attack.


    ¡°Hmph! Huaxia brat! I will kill you today!¡± Yamamoto Ikisui refused to believe Xia Liu truly possessed Divine Power that could counter the Godslayer.


    Even if he possessed it, he would not shrink back; he was determined to personally slay Xia Liu!


    Only to see Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s Seal Forming complete, as he unleashed his mightiest Soul Technique!


    His Godslayer was an Archer War General, gripping the Sky Shooting Bow in hand and the Sun-Slaying Sword hanging at his waist.


    As the Extreme Move burst forth, the War General stamped his feet, drew back the bow with his right hand, and invisibly, a black arrow formed from condensed Soul Power appeared.


    Whoosh!


    The Soul Arrow was released, immediately erupting with a piercing noise as it tore through the air.


    The rain droplets falling from the firmament split apart at the touch of the arrow¡¯s energy, as if the Soul Arrow cleaved through everything.


    It flew toward Xia Liu at a speed that was difficult for ordinary people to catch.


    ¡°Somewhat interesting,¡± Xia Liu stopped in his tracks. If he killed his opponent with Golden Spirit, the deterrent effect might not be significant. It would be better to wipe out Yamamoto Ikisui using his full strength.


    No sooner said than done, Xia Liu raised his hand, and a Spirit Energy Barrier rose up three meters in front of him, stirring the Rootless Water accumulated on the ground. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The curtain of water gradually rose, and the Soul Arrow finally arrived.


    Clang!


    A clear sound rang out as the Soul Arrow shattered into nothingness.


    Upon seeing this, Yamamoto Ikisui did not hesitate; his nimble figure sprinted, wildly drawing the Sky Shooting Bow in the hands of Godslayer.


    As Yamamoto Ikisui moved, Soul Arrows were fired toward Xia Liu from all directions.


    Xia Liu defended each one the same way, with a wave of his hand, a surge of Spiritual Energy completely deflecting those Soul Arrows.


    ¡°Such a boring battle,¡± Xia Liu sighed after a few defenses, shaking his head. He condensed two fingers and a whip-like stream of energy violently surged out.


    The whip crackled with potent Fire Spirit Energy, brilliant red and dazzling to the eyes.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­


    The sound of tearing through the air resounded, and Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted, seeing the fiery red whip already upon him.


    He couldn¡¯t dodge at such extreme speed!


    Boom!


    Before his thoughts even settled, the whip struck him squarely in the chest.


    Yamamoto Ikisui was immediately knocked back dozens of meters. If not for Godslayer¡¯s protection, that attack would have taken his life.


    Just as he steadied himself, Yamamoto Ikisui sensed a powerful killing intent continuing to rush toward him.


    Without any thought, his hands changed the Cultivation Technique, and Godslayer sheathed the Soul Bow and drew the sword at his waist.


    The black blade was unleashed, and dense Soul Energy instantly spread in all directions.


    As a Martial Artist at the peak of Earth Rank, Yamamoto Ikisui was confident in slaying Xia Liu.


    Similarly, Yamamoto Ikisui drew the sword from his waist, and after completing the final Seal Decree, Godslayer was assimilated, their movements becoming unified.


    ¡°That¡¯s the union of a person and soul by a Heavenly Rank Ninja!¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ trembled in alarm upon witnessing Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s transformation.


    Because only a Heavenly Rank Ninja could achieve such a fusion of person and soul.


    In that state, a person could gain all the powers of the Godslayer, which then acted like a super armor clad around the body, and Godslayer¡¯s movements were synchronized with the Ninja¡¯s, capable of both defense and attack!


    ¡°Another transformation, truly interesting,¡± Xia Liu taunted.


    Facing Xia Liu¡¯s mockery, Yamamoto Ikisui glared back coldly, ¡°You¡¯re going to die!¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then I must get a bit more serious as well,¡± Xia Liu said, smiling faintly.


    As the smile faded, Xia Liu made a Seal Forming with his left hand and raised his right hand to the sky, ¡°Peerless Technique: Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow!¡±


    An unparalleled move appeared in the Island Nation, and Xia Liu felt no burden, even if it meant destroying the entire Sakura City, he wouldn¡¯t bat an eye.


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 Chapter 446 - 446: Incorporation

    Chapter 446: Chapter 446: Incorporation


    ¡°`


    The Seal Decree was activated, and the thick clouds in the sky immediately changed.


    A torrent of Spiritual Energy exploded from within Xia Liu¡¯s body, carrying a violent force that made the atmosphere around him become oppressive.


    The pouring rain at that moment suddenly stopped, with no rain, no wind, no light.


    It seemed as if Xia Liu was the only one between heaven and earth, his figure gradually becoming radiant.


    The bright moon appeared, its faint glow gradually spreading and shining upon him.


    ...


    Then, the majestic Spiritual Energy surged back, all of it spiraling towards the upturned palm of Xia Liu.


    A powerful aura spread from Xia Liu.


    The surviving ninjas could not withstand such power, their legs giving way as they all knelt to the ground.


    They had never felt such pressure, not even the Heavenly Rank ninjas could make them feel this way.


    Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s face changed color, he bit his tongue fiercely, and the intense pain stimulated the Ninja Energy within him to surge.


    But any remedy he attempted was too late, as he saw Xia Liu¡¯s hand slap from afar.


    The spiraling Spiritual Energy transformed into a gigantic Great Handprint,


    which was a reddish-yellow color, with its pattern clearly visible.


    Passing through the air, waves started forming from the water gathered below.


    Facing the overwhelming Great Handprint, Yamamoto Ikisui didn¡¯t have time to unleash his strongest Soul Technique and could only transform his attack into release.


    Sword held across, to block, spirit to block.


    Clang!!!


    At the moment of collision, a piercing sound erupted.


    Crack!


    Another crisp sound was heard as the Godslayer Sword that blocked the Great Handprint shattered.


    The sword in Yamamoto Ikisui¡¯s hand also disintegrated instantly, as the merciless Great Handprint crushed both man and soul.


    Boom boom boom!


    With no resistance, the Great Handprint struck the side of the enormous airport in the next second.


    A massive sound erupted, shaking the heavens, with smoke and lightning exploding on the side of the terminal.


    Everyone watched in stunned silence as half of the terminal crumbled away, the magnitude of the attack causing their hearts to race with fear.


    Looking back at the ruined street, a decrepit figure lay desolately on the ground.


    The bow along with the Godslayer had long shattered, and in the moment the Godslayer broke, Yamamoto Ikisui, connected through his Soul Body, also closed his eyes forever.


    Shocking! Trembling!


    The silence after the explosion was terrifying.


    In front of the terminal, Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Ye Zi had their eyes wide open, as they were the closest to the explosion site.


    They felt the full force of the Great Handprint.


    They dared not imagine that such a move could be executed by a human.


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and Yagy¨± Yuanming were also dumbstruck, staring woodenly at the exploded building and then at Yamamoto Ikisui, lying lifeless on the ground, as an endless sense of dread spread from their souls.


    Terrible!


    That youth was too terrible!


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ dared not imagine, if he had been impatient earlier and had clashed with Xia Liu, what the outcome would be now.


    His death would be of no consequence, but he feared angering Xia Liu. If his killing intent could not be stopped, he estimated that all the members of the Yamamoto Family, Yagy¨± Family might be killed.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s just you left.¡± Xia Liu looked around the scene for a while, then cast his gaze onto Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


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    Hiss¡­


    With Xia Liu¡¯s bewitching gaze fixed upon him, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ sharply inhaled a few breaths of cold air, then held his hands together, bowed his head, and remained silent without a word.


    ¡°What about you guys?¡± Xia Liu swept his gaze over the remaining ninjas clad in black.


    Thump¡­


    Looking at Xia Liu and then at Yagy¨± Taik¨­, who was quietly lowering his head, the remaining dozen or so ninjas knelt on the ground in unison.


    ¡°Sigh, I really don¡¯t understand you. If you had been this obedient from the start, so many wouldn¡¯t have had to die.¡± Xia Liu shook his head and sighed helplessly.


    He didn¡¯t want to kill, yet they kept forcing his hand.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, give the Yamamoto Clan a call. Tell them to prepare twenty billion US Dollars for me. Also, have them all gather at home tomorrow; I¡¯m coming over to take control.¡±


    ¡°Respected Mr. Xia, isn¡¯t this takeover a bit¡­¡±


    ¡°A bit what? You¡¯re just a piece of trash from the Yagy¨± Family, let Yagy¨± Taik¨­ speak!¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming actually cut off Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and responded to Xia Liu, which immediately angered him.


    ¡°Yes, yes! I will call the Yamamoto Clan right away.¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ trembled as he hurriedly took out his phone to make the call.


    Yagy¨± Yuanming kept his head down, eyes filled with murderous intent.


    But he didn¡¯t dare to act, nor even raise his head, such was the great deterrent force Xia Liu had over him.


    One move to kill a mid-level Earth-Rank ninja.


    One palm strike to annihilate a peak Earth-Rank ninja, and on top of that, he partially destroyed the airport.


    This level of power was beyond what an Earth-Rank ninja could contend with.


    ¡°You two, come here!¡± Seeing Yagy¨± Taik¨­ readily making the call, Xia Liu beckoned to Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Ye Zi who were standing behind him.


    Upon hearing Xia Liu¡¯s call, the two women trembled, starting to become flustered.


    ¡°Do I really need to carry you over here?¡± Xia Liu¡¯s eyebrows knitted together; was his display of power not shocking enough that these two dared to defy him?


    ¡°Ruyan, Ye Zi, hurry up and get over here!¡± When Yagy¨± Taik¨­ noticed the change in Xia Liu¡¯s expression, he immediately shouted in anger.


    The two women bit their lips tightly and finally started walking towards Xia Liu.


    ¡°Later, when I take control of the Yagy¨± Family, and the Yamamoto Family tomorrow, you two will become my maids from now on. Any objections?¡± Xia Liu said sternly, facing the two women whose faces had turned pale.


    Upon hearing that Xia Liu would take control of the Yagy¨± Family, Yagy¨± Ruyan immediately lifted her head, a fierce glint flickering in her eyes.


    ¡°Ruyan, please reply respectfully to Mr. Xia!¡± Seeing the murderous intent in Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s eyes, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ immediately reminded her.


    ¡°Yes, respected master.¡± Yagy¨± Ruyan lowered her head and called out, biting her lip tightly, though her voice carried an edge of spite.


    Despite Yagy¨± Ruyan¡¯s tone, Xia Liu was still satisfied, and then he turned his attention to Yamamoto Ye Zi, ¡°And you, Miss Ye Zi?¡±


    ¡°Respected master.¡± Compared to Yagy¨± Ruyan, Yamamoto Ye Zi radiated a more amiable attitude, and her face even bore a hint of a joyful smile, as if becoming Xia Liu¡¯s maid was a very happy thing for her.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, show me around my new domain.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ did not dare hesitate. Before coming here, he had already entertained such a notion.


    If they failed to kill Xia Liu, both he and his family were sure to take a big hit.


    ¡°Mr. Yuanming, clean this place up. I will take Mr. Xia home first.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming responded swiftly, without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    Watching the car¡¯s tail lights recede in the distance, Yagy¨± Yuanming¡¯s knees buckled and he sank to the ground, his eyes moistening.


    He could never have imagined that his family would face this day¡­


    The Yagy¨± Family; Xia Liu had visited once several months ago, so the place was filled with memories.


    After all, he had freeloaded on a sizeable meal here.


    After arriving at the location, Xia Liu instructed Yagy¨± Taik¨­ to first gather the family members in the square.


    He, on the other hand, went with the two women to a room to bathe and change clothes¡­


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 Chapter 447 - 447: Master

    Chapter 447: Chapter 447: Master


    After gathering his clan members, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ ordered them to wait in the square while he and a few servants waited outside the room Xia Liu had entered.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­, standing respectfully at the door along with several servants, listened to the sounds emanating from the room, and a look of embarrassment appeared on their faces.


    Especially Yagy¨± Taik¨­, given his age, could only envy and be jealous of what Xia Liu was accomplishing.


    As for the maids, they kept their heads down, one looking at another, all of them fully aware of what was happening inside the room.


    About half an hour later, Xia Liu walked out of the room.


    ...


    ¡°Respected Mr. Xia, the Yagy¨± clan has already assembled, please proceed to pass judgment,¡± said Yagy¨± Taik¨­ humbly with his head bowed.


    ¡°How long have you been standing here?¡±


    ¡°About thirty minutes.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear any particular sounds?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°No, not at all.¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ knew exactly what Xia Liu was asking and promptly avoided the question.


    ¡°Well then, the soundproofing in your house is just too damn good,¡± Xia Liu shook his head and then had Yagy¨± Taik¨­ lead the way.


    Recalling everything that had happened in the room, Xia Liu felt somewhat surreal.


    Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi, who had previously been somewhat resistant to him, had become very proactive and were also very considerate towards him.


    They had completely turned into his maids.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t dwell on his thoughts for long; he arrived at the Yagy¨± family¡¯s square, which was already crowded with many people.


    Most were cloaked in black, and their faces were completely obscured.


    According to Yagy¨± Taik¨­, these were all clan ninjas; the family members, on the other hand, did not come over as they held no status in the clan.


    Xia Liu was unconcerned about this, as his recruitment was not about actual clan affiliation.


    The main purpose of gathering them was to have them manage the headless Yamamoto family!


    ¡°You all must have heard from Family Head Yagy¨±,¡± Xia Liu began, ¡°from now on, I¡¯ll be your boss. You can just call me Mr. Xia.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Xia!¡±


    The moment Xia Liu¡¯s words fell, the scene erupted with intense responses.


    The ninjas present had also gone to the airport, but they were held back by Yamamoto Ikisui, who claimed they were not capable enough.


    In fact, Yamamoto Ikisui just wanted to use the opportunity to humiliate the Yagy¨± clan; after all, how could he lose with a Huaxia Warrior and a Ninja Poison Dart Spear in hand?


    Who would have known that Yamamoto Ikisui would end up losing his life, and most of the Yamamoto Clan¡¯s ninjas would die, leaving the survivors useless.


    This truly gave the Yagy¨± Clan¡¯s ninjas a lucky break.


    Those ninjas who went to the scene reported back to their fellow clan members, so all the Yagy¨± clan ninjas knew about the terrifying power of Xia Liu.


    And since Yagy¨± Taik¨­ had already compromised and submitted to Xia Liu, what could these minions say?


    ¡°Very well! Actually, I don¡¯t have much else to say, I won¡¯t be staying in the Island Nation either. Your family head will still be Yagy¨± Taik¨­. The reason I¡¯m standing here is just to facilitate a smooth transition for you to take over all the assets and power of the Yamamoto Clan.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Upon hearing this news, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ nearly fell over.


    Xia Liu actually decided to help the Yagy¨± Clan take over the Yamamoto Clan¡ªthis was an incredibly lucky opportunity!


    The ninjas at the scene exchanged glances.


    Through the eyes revealed in their hoods, they saw excitement and elation reflected in each other¡¯s eyes.


    In the Island Nation, there are eight major ninja families, among which the Yagy¨± and Yamamoto families are the most secluded, but their missions are also the most crucial.


    Just like guarding the frontier, other clans may be strong, but they lack power on some levels.


    Therefore, once the Yagy¨± Family and the Yamamoto Family unite, they will undoubtedly become the most powerful ninja clan in the Island Nation.


    If the Yagy¨± Family managed to merge with the Yamamoto Family, they would surpass the other six major families in overall power. Yes, now there are only the other six, as one of them, the Yamamoto Family, was about to be absorbed by the Yagy¨± Family.


    Always, in Sakura City, the two great ninja families had wanted to integrate each other. Now, the powerful Yamamoto clan¡¯s ninjas had suffered heavy casualties, and even Yamamoto Ikisui, the most cultivated among them, was out of the picture.


    Being absorbed by the Yagy¨± Family was only a matter of time, especially now with Xia Liu, a powerful expert, here.


    The moment that demand was raised, the Yamamoto Family would instantly submit to the Yagy¨± Family.


    All the ninjas from the Yagy¨± Family were looking keenly at Xia Liu, waiting for his further confirmation.


    ¡°Everyone go and rest, and take me to take over the Yamamoto Family tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Xia!¡±


    The ninjas roared in unison, their voices so loud that they could be heard for miles around.


    Returning to the courtyard, Yagy¨± Ruyan, in a beautiful kimono, welcomed Xia Liu at the door, ¡°Welcome, master, back home.¡±


    Seeing Yagy¨± Ruyan kneeling on the ground with her head lowered, Xia Liu felt an immense sense of awkwardness.


    Especially her appearance, he didn¡¯t know when she had changed her hair color back, but her face was still as cute as those girls from anime, making him want to pinch her cheeks. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You can get up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ye Zi?¡± Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°In the bath, waiting for the master¡¯s use.¡±


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Xia Liu almost spat out blood, that was too bluntly stated, but he liked it!


    ¡°Take me there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    That day, Xia Liu finally enjoyed an emperor-like treatment; both maidens had their considerable merits.


    And most importantly, their personalities had undergone a massive change from before.


    Xia Liu held nothing back, and only ended the fight after Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi were knocked unconscious.


    The next afternoon, Xia Liu walked out of the courtyard, followed by Yagy¨± Ruyan and Yamamoto Yezi.


    Or perhaps now they should be referred to simply as Ruyan and Ye Zi.


    Earlier that morning, during his rampage, Xia Liu had removed their surnames.


    ¡°Respected Mr. Xia, you are awake,¡± Family Head Yagy¨± greeted respectfully at the courtyard gate.


    Behind him, Yagy¨± Yuanming, though grim-faced, still bowed his head low just like Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    Xia Liu also noticed several white-haired, weathered elders beside them.


    According to Yagy¨± Taik¨­, they were Elder-Level ninjas within the clan, all of Earth Rank Cultivation.


    These were the clan¡¯s strongest forces over the years, and last night, they too were present at the scene, although cloaked with the Invisibility Technique and went unnoticed.


    However, Xia Liu had seen them, intentionally or not, but had not spoken out.


    After all, they were just a few Earth-Rank ninjas and could be easily dealt with.


    But their presence at the battle had its advantages, as there would be no objections when it came time to integrate them, otherwise, he would have had to make an example out of someone.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, lead the way, let¡¯s proceed to take over the Yamamoto Family.¡±


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 Chapter 448 - 448: Three at the Peak

    Chapter 448: Chapter 448: Three at the Peak


    Hearing these stirring words, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ did not delay and respectfully led Xia Liu to the car to set off immediately.


    ¡°Hmph, I hope you still have a life to return to!¡± Watching Xia Liu leave first, Yagy¨± Yuanming murmured softly to himself.


    In front, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and clan members drove in a Crown sedan, while Xia Liu followed in a Rolls-Royce.


    Ye Zi sat in the front passenger seat, with Ruyan sitting behind her.


    During the drive, Ye Zi suddenly asked, ¡°Respected master, do you require any services from Ye Zi?¡±


    Hmm?


    ...


    Xia Liu glanced at Ye Zi, who was currently looking at him with tender affection, her eyes brimming with a pleading desire that seemed wholly genuine.


    ¡°Ye Zi, I feel like you¡¯re troubled by something. Speak up, and I¡¯ll decide for you.¡±


    ¡°Respected master, I am very happy and don¡¯t have anything particular on my mind.¡±


    ¡°Just say it. If you think it¡¯s not good for the clan to be taken in, then go fight Ruyan,¡± Xia Liu said helplessly.


    ¡°No no, I think this is very good¡­¡± Ye Zi hastily replied.


    ¡°Master, you may not know, but if a female ninja with Pupil Skill loses her virginity, once she returns to the clan, she¡¯ll become an outlet for other ninjas. No matter her previous status, once she loses her Pupil Skill ability, she will be despised and left with no standing whatsoever,¡± Ruyan, sitting behind, began to explain.


    ¡°So the Pupil Skill becomes useless after losing virginity¡­¡± Suddenly, Xia Liu felt somewhat guilty, but upon remembering that this girl was out to kill him, he felt relieved.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay now. The Yamamoto Family is finished. Ruyan will be able to protect me in the future.¡± Ye Zi gave a charming smile. When she got off the plane, she had thought that if Xia Liu were to die, she would take her own life as well.


    After all, becoming an outlet for the clan¡¯s ninjas would be the most tragic fate.


    When Xia Liu said he wanted to take her as a maid, for some reason, she felt a strong surge of joy.


    Ye Zi and Ruyan had discussed it, and it turned out Ruyan had the same thought.


    Perhaps this is human nature; since ancient times, heroes have loved beauties, and why wouldn¡¯t beauties like heroes?


    In any case, at present, the two women harbored no ill thoughts towards Xia Liu. Perhaps because of his influence, their status in the future clan would be quite high.


    ¡°Respected master, if there¡¯s nothing you need, Ye Zi is going to sleep,¡± Ye Zi said to Xia Liu, blinking her large, adorable eyes.


    ¡°Yes, there is! Of course, there is,¡± Xia Liu looked beneath the steering wheel and then said with a smile.


    Ye Zi understood Xia Liu¡¯s meaning, licked the corner of her mouth, and then slowly bent forward¡­


    After driving for about two hours, the convoy finally arrived at the headquarters of the Yamamoto Family.


    The estate was similar in scale to that of the Yagy¨± Family, and their locations were even side by side in the city¡¯s districts.


    Xia Liu got out of the car, stretched lazily, looking refreshed and spirited.


    Ye Zi and Ruyan quickly came to his side, with a noticeable blush on Ye Zi¡¯s face, as if she had just eaten some high-calorie food in the car.


    ¡°Respected Mr. Xia, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ came over anxiously to report.


    ¡°Good, let¡¯s go in,¡± Xia Liu waved and led everyone through the gate.


    In fact, the Yagy¨± Family¡¯s ninjas had already come over last night, and the Earth-Rank ninjas from Young Master Liao were the only ones following Xia Liu.


    ¡°What do you think of Yagy¨± Yuanming?¡± Xia Liu quietly asked Ruyan as they walked.


    ¡°He is the most dazzling new star in the family, a candidate for the next Family Head.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, looks like he¡¯s got big ambitions. You wouldn¡¯t be upset if he died, would you?¡± Glancing at Yagy¨± Yuanming who was dawdling in the car behind them, Xia Liu whispered into Ruyan¡¯s ear.


    ¡°As long as the master is happy.¡± Although she didn¡¯t understand why Xia Liu was asking her this, Ruyan could only smile and nod in agreement. Among ninjas, there isn¡¯t much affection to speak of, even between family members or teachers.


    Xia Liu asked no further and followed Yagy¨± Taik¨­ through the main entrance.


    Inside the estate, a middle-aged man from the Yamamoto Family greeted them.


    Following the man, the group arrived at a huge training ground.


    However, what was strange was that there was no one on the training ground. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu carefully sensed and realized that some ninjas were using the Invisibility Technique to watch from the sidelines of the training ground, with many more standing silently in the distance.


    It appeared as though they had deliberately made space, wanting to watch the ninjas battle it out in the arena.


    ¡°Yamamoto Taro! What is the meaning of this?¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­, who had obviously sensed those hidden ninjas, couldn¡¯t help but question.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk! The cowardly Yagy¨± Family is willing to become slaves to the Huaxia pigs, but we of the Yamamoto Clan will not!¡± Yamamoto Taro¡¯s face suddenly contorted with emotion.


    ¡°You¡¯re seeking death!¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­¡¯s brow furrowed. He had clearly told Yamamoto Taro everything last night.


    Yet he was still so obtuse. Was he trying to risk the lives of the entire Yamamoto Family?


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, you¡¯ve grown too old, maybe your brain is rusting.¡± Suddenly, a mocking voice came from behind Xia Liu.


    Everyone turned around to see that it was Yagy¨± Yuanming.


    At this moment, Yagy¨± Yuanming was not alone; by his side were three old men with white hair and weathered faces.


    ¡°Yamamoto Koumura! Yamamoto Nakata! And from the Kawasaki Family, Kawasaki Kaede!¡± Recognizing the three men, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ immediately burst out in surprise.


    Because those were three Earth Rank Peak ninjas!


    If the Yagy¨± Family did not possess certain powers at some level, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ would not be able to sit on an equal footing with these people.


    ¡°Yagy¨± Taik¨­, it seems you¡¯re becoming more cowardly the longer you live,¡± Kawasaki Kaede said coldly after glancing at Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    ¡°Kawasaki Kaede, I hope you don¡¯t meddle in this affair, or your Kawasaki Family won¡¯t be spared,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ said unapologetically.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±! Is this the man who killed the head of our Yamamoto Clan?¡± Yamamoto Koumura looked down and asked coldly as he eyed Xia Liu.


    ¡°Koumura, I hope you won¡¯t be stubborn. I told you everything last night.¡±


    ¡°Enough, you coward!¡± Without giving Yagy¨± Taik¨­ a chance to explain, Yamamoto Koumura swiftly formed a hand seal, and immediately summoned Godslayer.


    ¡°Family Head, you are old. Why do you still insist on taking the Family Head¡¯s position? It¡¯s time to pass it to me,¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming said with a face full of scornful laughter.


    His longing for the position of Family Head had been so great that he had nearly thought about killing Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    ¡°Mr. Yuanming, I can assure you that this is the biggest mistake you¡¯ve made in your life, and you won¡¯t have the chance to regret it,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ said, shaking his head in resignation, already foreseeing the end for these people.


    ¡°Family Head, these are three Earth-Rank Peak ninjas. Together, they can surely kill that Huaxia pig, and of course, you will have to die too!¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming¡¯s eyes became crazed, willing to give up everything to take the position of Family Head.


    ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s just a Huaxia pig; no need for three people to act together,¡± Kawasaki Kaede said disdainfully.


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 Chapter 449 - 449: Showing off in Front of Me Only Leads to Death

    Chapter 449: Chapter 449: Showing off in Front of Me Only Leads to Death


    ¡°Mr. Kawasaki, you might not know, but this Huaxia Pig is quite formidable; he seems to possess a power that can directly injure Godslayer.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha! Have you lost your mind, Mr. Yuanming? How could there possibly be a power that can directly injure Godslayer?¡± Upon hearing Yagy¨± Yuanming¡¯s nonsensical words, Kawasaki Kaede laughed.


    It wasn¡¯t just Kawasaki Kaede; the silent Yamamoto Koumura and taciturn Yamamoto Nakata felt the same.


    In all their lives, they had never seen or heard of any power that could directly injure Godslayer.


    ¡°Surround them!¡± Yamamoto Koumura bellowed, and the ninjas who had been using Invisibility Technique immediately sprang into action.


    In less than five seconds, over three hundred ninjas had Xia Liu and his companions completely encircled.


    ...


    Although most of them were Mysterious-Rank ninjas, such a large group unleashing their power was enough to defeat an Earth-Rank Primary-Level ninja.


    ¡°Have you all chirped enough?¡± The silent Xia Liu finally spoke, and he used Huaxia language, not caring whether these idiots understood him or not.


    ¡°Huaxia Pig, today you will feel the wrath of the Yamamoto Family!¡± Fearing Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t understand the Island Nation language, Yamamoto Koumura replied in his poor Huaxia language.


    ¡°All of you come at once, don¡¯t waste any more time.¡±


    Boom!


    Provoked by Xia Liu¡¯s challenge, Yamamoto Koumura¡¯s anger surged, and he broke through a nearby wall by summoning Godslayer.


    ¡°Ha ha! To deal with a Huaxia Pig, Koumura is more than enough!¡± Kawasaki Kaede sneered.


    In his view, Xia Liu was too young; even as a Huaxia Warrior, what of it? Their Cultivation was on par with the peak Huaxia Earth-Rank Warriors.


    Unless Xia Liu had Heaven-Rank Cultivation, there could only be one outcome: death!


    As for the notice given to them by Yagy¨± Taik¨­ yesterday, they simply treated it as a joke.


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ watched Kawasaki Kaede and the others with interest, somewhat puzzled. Did none of these people bother to examine the scene?


    Even if Xia Liu didn¡¯t possess the direct power to injure Godslayer, his strength was still incredibly formidable. A single Great Handprint of his could destroy a small half of the airport¡¯s waiting area¡ªsuch terrifying power.


    Couldn¡¯t understand¡ªdid Kawasaki Kaede and the others truly have that much confidence in their own abilities?


    ¡°Mr. Kawasaki, I hope you and Mr. Nakata will attack together. This Huaxia Pig is very cunning¡ªif we don¡¯t kill him in one go, he might have a chance to escape.¡±


    Having witnessed Xia Liu¡¯s terror, Yagy¨± Yuanming believed that Xia Liu¡¯s strongest move was the Great Handprint.


    If three Earth-Rank ninjas attacked, he would definitely have no chance to perform the Great Handprint.


    Without the Great Handprint, there was no way he could withstand the furious assault of three peak Earth-Rank ninjas.


    Yamamoto Nakata stayed silent, immediately performing Hand Art to summon Godslayer.


    Kawasaki Kaede also agreed that Yagy¨± Yuanming¡¯s suggestion was good, so he too summoned Godslayer.


    Three peak Earth-Rank ninjas, three High-Strength Godslayers!


    Facing such powerful oppression, everyone present, except for Xia Liu, felt a tremendous pressure bearing down on them.


    Furthermore, a slave mentality began to spread over their souls, a trembling of the soul that urged them to kneel before the three Godslayers.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, you take good care of Ye Zi and Ruyan.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Master, do your best!¡± Ruyan and Ye Zi clenched their fists at Xia Liu, the corners of their mouths slightly raised in a smile.


    Xia Liu was nearly overwhelmed by the charming smiles of the two women, but he knew what he needed to do now: shatter these three Godslayers!


    ¡°Looking for death!¡± Anger surged within Kawasaki Kaede on seeing the two cute girls waving at Xia Liu.


    ¡°Mr. Kawasaki, don¡¯t worry. After killing this Huaxia Pig, you can choose any girl from the Yamamoto Clan and Yagy¨± Clan,¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming said with a cheery smile.


    ¡°Heh heh! Then what are we waiting for, kill him!¡±


    With a cold laugh, Kawasaki Kaede immediately formed seals with his hands and stepped forward, moving to strike at Xia Liu.


    Yamamoto Koumura and Yamamoto Nakata also began to take action.


    After all, Xia Liu had destroyed half of the Yamamoto Family, and they were intent on avenging that grievance!


    The onlooking ninjas of the Yamamoto Clan immediately stepped back as three Earth-Rank Peak ninjas made their move, a power beyond their imagination.


    ¡°If you ask me, this Huaxia pig won¡¯t last a minute,¡± one of them said.


    ¡°A minute is too generous, he¡¯ll be dead in thirty seconds, tops,¡± said another.


    ¡°Yeah, thirty seconds,¡± chorused a third.


    The surrounding Yamamoto Clan ninjas whispered their mocking agreement; of course, they too yearned to kill Xia Liu.


    But with insufficient cultivation, they could only watch as the clan¡¯s high-strength ninjas took action.


    They all agreed that Xia Liu wouldn¡¯t last a minute against the three.


    Boom!


    At that moment, a clashing sound erupted; to their surprise, Kawasaki Kaede and his two companions were stuck, unable to advance beyond about five meters from Xia Liu.


    Ninjas who had reached the Earth Rank narrowed their eyes in that instant because they sensed it too.


    In front of Kawasaki Kaede and his men was an invisible barrier!


    ¡°Break it!¡± Kawasaki Kaede screamed, as he unsheathed his katana and fiercely struck the barrier.


    Yamamoto Koumura and Yamamoto Nakata did the same.


    Clang clang clang!


    The sound of swords clashing filled the air.


    Their blades seemed to strike iron, not advancing an inch.


    ¡°Die!¡± Xia Liu shouted, his hands quickly forming seals.


    In an instant, Xia Liu pointed forward with two fingers!


    Swoosh swoosh swoosh!


    A virtual giant sword emitting a golden glow hurtled towards Kawasaki Kaede.


    Bang!


    Unable to dodge, the Godslayer took Xia Liu¡¯s fierce hit head-on, the Golden Spirit Sword piercing his form.


    Kawasaki Kaede¡¯s Godslayer contorted into a ferocious expression.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Kawasaki Kaede collapsed to the ground, his screams of agony coming from the Godslayer.


    ¡°Retreat!¡± Yamamoto Nakata and Yamamoto Koumura, seasoned veterans, knew the situation was dire the moment they saw Kawasaki Kaede¡¯s Godslayer¡¯s ferocious state.


    But before they could move, two streaks of golden light had already penetrated the Godslayer.


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    With pitiful screams, Yamamoto Koumura and Yamamoto Nakata fell to the ground, their faces drained of all color.


    This scene completely shocked the onlooking ninjas.


    They saw what happened; with just one point from Xia Liu, three Earth-Rank Peak ninjas were brought down to their knees.


    And it seemed like the Godslayer had sustained grievous injuries, with signs of cracking.


    ¡°The nemesis of Godslayers!¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ was drenched in cold sweat, trembling in body and soul once again seeing Xia Liu use this mysterious power.


    Since the last time Xia Liu had injured his Godslayer, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ still hadn¡¯t fully recovered his strength.


    And at his core, he was terrified of Xia Liu¡¯s mysterious force.


    ¡°Mr. Kawasaki!¡± Yagy¨± Yuanming¡¯s eyes bulged, and he roared in an effort to remind Kawasaki Kaede to get up and fight.


    But Kawasaki Kaede would never rise again.


    After the Godslayer weakened, Xia Liu unleashed another whip-like strike, sending Kawasaki Kaede flying and ultimately smashing through the wall.


    ¡°Show off in front of me, and there¡¯s only one way out¡ªdeath!¡± Xia Liu couldn¡¯t bother checking on Kawasaki Kaede¡¯s condition. With his Godslayer slashed by the Golden Spirit Sword and then his chest pierced by that solid strike, death was all but certain¡­


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 Chapter 450 - 450: Conclusion

    Chapter 450: Chapter 450: Conclusion


    Everything in the arena fell silent.


    Xia Liu¡¯s methods were too sudden.


    With just two moves, he killed an Earth-Rank Peak Ninja!


    That was supposed to be the highest expert below a Heavenly Rank Ninja.


    All those Yamamoto Clan ninjas who had mocked Xia Liu were now frozen in place.


    They didn¡¯t even dare to run, fearful that Xia Liu would kill them instantly.


    ...


    At this moment, the one trembling the most had to be Yagy¨± Yuanming.


    He had bet wrongly!


    Xia Liu actually possessed a mysterious power that could counteract Godslayer.


    Even the highest-level Godslayer could be casually erased by him.


    He panicked, truly panicked. He had originally thought he could make a deal with Kawasaki Kaede and the other two, where they would kill Xia Liu, and he would take the position of the Family Head of the Yagy¨± Family.


    But now, not only were those three about to die, he would have to join them.


    ¡°Respected martial artist, please spare my life!¡± Just at this moment, Yamamoto Koumura, who was rolling on the ground, struggled to steady himself and knelt down to beg Xia Liu for mercy.


    ¡°Spare your life? When you made your move, you should have understood that you must die!¡±


    Speaking thus, Xia Liu readied the Xia Liu Hand Seal again, and the Golden Spirit Sword immediately unsheathed.


    Whoosh!


    The crisp sound of cutting air resonated around, and the voice of Yamamoto Koumura was silenced forever.


    ¡°Huaxia pig! Wait to be eradicated!¡± Yamamoto Nakata, full of pride, saw his elder brother beg for mercy and still get killed.


    Without a second word, he bit his silver teeth and took a kunai to stab into his own neck.


    In less than two minutes, all three Earth-Rank Peak Ninjas were dead!


    This scene shocked everyone to their core.


    The masked ninjas of the Yamamoto Clan all stood frozen in place, not daring to make any moves.


    Most of them had been selected by the Yamamoto Family from various places to study ninjutsu; they did not share the blood of the Yamamoto Family.


    Now that the Yamamoto Family had been swallowed by another, for them, it was merely a matter of changing masters, so they had no intention to resist.


    Of course, they also lacked the ability to resist.


    ¡°Thinking of running? Stay where you are!¡± Seeing Yagy¨± Yuanming run away without a word, Xia Liu snorted coldly, and lashed out with his energy whip.


    Thwack!


    Yagy¨± Yuanming, completely unguarded, was struck by the whip on his legs, his body immediately tumbling to the ground.


    ¡°Family Head Yagy¨±, I¡¯ll leave the rest to you to handle.¡±


    After dealing with Yagy¨± Yuanming, Xia Liu turned and instructed Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­ immediately bowed and then ordered the family martial artists to enclose the training ground.


    Seeing this, the ninjas of the Yamamoto Clan knelt down one after another.


    With most of the high-strength ninjas of their clan dead, how could they possibly still have the strength to resist?


    If they did not submit, the only outcome would be death.


    Xia Liu¡¯s decisive ruthlessness deeply shocked them.


    To kill Earth-Rank Peak Ninjas without any mercy¡ªthe lack of sentiment was blatant.


    ¡°You all understand now, Mr. Xia is the leader of our clan. As for the Yamamoto Clan, because they offended Mr. Xia, whether you want to live or die, the decision is in your hands,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ spoke to the kneeling ninjas in the language of the Island Nation.


    ¡°We are willing to follow Mr. Xia!¡±


    ¡°Willing to follow!¡±


    Soon, the ninjas who were exchanging glances burst out with a unanimous voice.


    They were human too, and they cherished their lives. Since they could live, they would not seek death.


    Of course, there were one or two ninjas who thought about fleeing.


    But the result was that they were all ordered to be killed by Yagy¨± Taik¨­.


    Xia Liu lay at the edge of the training ground in a rest area, with Ruyan and Ye Zi squatting in front of him massaging his calves, and one leaning by his shoulder from behind.


    Enjoying the services of two maids, Xia Liu¡¯s mood was even more pleasant.


    Yagy¨± Taik¨­¡¯s way of handling matters also gave him quite a bit of peace of mind.


    According to this old man¡¯s pace, the Yagy¨± Family should be able to thoroughly take over the Yamamoto Clan¡¯s territory and assets within two days.


    Seeing that the situation on-site was nearly handled, Xia Liu drove the two women back.


    Now that he had pulled out the second Spirit Stabilizing Needle, his blood energy was too vigorous, and having two obedient and lovely maids, of course, he planned to make good use of them.


    Two days later, inside the Yagy¨± Family.


    Xia Liu tightened the clothes on his body, full of energy as he walked out of the room.


    Shortly after, Ruyan and Ye Zi also came out.


    However, their pace was relatively slow, and anyone could tell that something was off about them.


    Arriving in the meeting hall, Xia Liu sat in the main seat, with Yagy¨± Taik¨­ and some elders from the Yagy¨± Family on both sides below him.


    On the other side were faces that were somewhat unfamiliar; Xia Liu could sense that everyone present was an Earth-Rank Ninja.


    ¡°Mr. Xia, the Yagy¨± Clan and Yamamoto Clan have now merged, here is the personnel list,¡± said Yagy¨± Taik¨­ as he handed a booklet to Xia Liu.


    ¡°I won¡¯t look at the list. I just want to understand, how many Earth-Rank Ninjas do we have now, and how many are dissatisfied.¡±


    As Xia Liu¡¯s icy gaze swept over them, everyone present trembled in body and mind.


    They had all witnessed Xia Liu¡¯s tactics, two moves directly killing a peak Earth-Rank Ninja.


    ¡°We have a total of twenty Earth-Rank Ninjas in the clan now, including five at peak levels, all of whom will follow Mr. Xia¡¯s instructions,¡± Yagy¨± Taik¨­ said hurriedly.


    ¡°Hmm, the power is still decent. In the future, if other clans or forces come to fight and you can¡¯t handle them, just give me a call.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xia!¡± Hearing what Xia Liu said, everyone at the scene became excited.


    If they had Xia Liu as their backer, who would they fear in the Island Nation?


    Earth-Rank Ninjas certainly wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke them, Heavenly Rank Ninjas?


    Those haven¡¯t appeared for many years, and even if they did, with Xia Liu¡¯s strength, if one comes, kill one, if two come, kill a pair.


    ¡°Of course, correspondingly, you guys should pay me some protection fees every month. As for how much, just give me a suitable amount after considering expenditures and reserves,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t spell it out completely¡ªwool comes from the sheep, and if you shear all the wool at once, the sheep will certainly freeze to death in the winter.


    ¡°Mr. Xia, rest assured, I¡¯ve already been handling this matter,¡± initially, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ thought Xia Liu would demand a terrifying sum, but it seems he worried too much.


    Everyone else at the scene also showed varying degrees of happiness.


    Xia Liu was now the master here, and even if he said he wanted to take all the money, who would dare to resist?


    But he didn¡¯t. Offering tribute this way, and also being able to protect the newly established family for the future, was truly not bad!


    ¡°However, I have a request. From now on, let Ruyan take the position of Family Head, with Ye Zi assisting. Their status within the clan shall be the same as mine.¡±


    ¡°Uh uh uh¡­¡±


    Hearing Xia Liu make this arrangement, Ruyan and Ye Zi standing behind him were both taken aback.


    It was the same with everyone present; having two girls who were not yet twenty-three take on the leadership of the clan was unheard of. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But since it was Xia Liu¡¯s request, they did not dare to refuse.


    Moreover, with Ruyan in charge, they wouldn¡¯t dare to harbor any thoughts, because Xia Liu was right there.


    After giving his orders, Xia Liu took the two women back to the courtyard. His visit this time was to collect debts, and managing to acquire two clans as future money-making tools was a big gain indeed.


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 Chapter 451 - 451 Terrifying Things

    Chapter 451: Chapter 451 Terrifying Things


    On his fifth day in the Island Nation, Yagy¨± Taik¨­ finally finished sorting out the accounts.


    He transferred the money to the Osmanthus Group¡¯s account as per Xia Liu¡¯s request.


    After that, there was no reason for Xia Liu to stay in the Island Nation any longer.


    So, after a wild night, Xia Liu got up, preparing to leave.


    ¡°Master, are you going back?¡± Although Xia Liu didn¡¯t say it, Ruyan could feel that Xia Liu was about to leave.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xia Liu responded without turning his head.


    ...


    ¡°Master, Ye Zi and Ruyan will miss you,¡± Ye Zi said as she sat up, dragging her exhausted body.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to miss me. Just live your own lives,¡± Xia Liu knew he said this, but he also knew that both women would definitely not make new boyfriends; he would first let them manage the two families here, and if they performed exceptionally, he would consider other plans.


    ¡°Master, can we visit you in Huaxia?¡± Ye Zi and Ruyan asked with tender eyes.


    ¡°If needed, I will inform you. Before that, manage the new families well.¡±


    ¡°Yes! We will definitely not disappoint your expectations.¡± Ye Zi and Ruyan looked at Xia Liu¡¯s retreating figure, their vision gradually blurring with tears.


    If they hadn¡¯t initially met him with the intent to kill him, perhaps today¡¯s outcome would have been different.


    Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.


    They cherished their current situation very much.


    Xia Liu was a decisive person; had he not been a woman, he might have already died in a hotel in Binlai City.


    Therefore, both Ye Zi and Ruyan felt extremely fortunate.


    They not only had to thank Xia Liu for not killing them, but also for the care and love he offered during this time.


    At nine in the evening, Xia Liu walked out of Binlai City¡¯s airport.


    It felt good to be back in Huaxia; taking deep breaths, Xia Liu headed to Wanqing Grand Hotel.


    ¡°Manager Edward, don¡¯t be too much! I, Mo Wanqing, am not so easy to bully!¡±


    Just as Xia Liu was about to knock on the door of Wanqing Hotel¡¯s chairman, a voice filled with anger suddenly came from inside.


    Snap!


    It was the sound of hanging up the phone. Xia Liu frowned, then knocked on the door immediately.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯re back.¡± When Mo Wanqing opened the door and saw Xia Liu, the worry on her face instantly changed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived. Aunt Qing, are you facing some difficulties?¡± Xia Liu asked, recalling the response he had just heard.


    Before going to the Island Nation, he had heard from Mo Wanqing that the company was experiencing some troubles, perhaps those issues had not yet been resolved.


    ¡°Did you hear something?¡±


    ¡°Manager Edward,¡± Xia Liu said with a serious expression.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a foreign partner. We had some disagreements about cooperation, but don¡¯t worry too much, I can handle it,¡± Mo Wanqing said with a slight smile.


    Although Xia Liu was curious, seeing that Mo Wanqing had not changed much, he decided not to continue questioning this matter.


    After drinking a few cups of tea in the office, Xia Liu said goodbye to Mo Wanqing and drove home.


    As soon as Xia Liu entered Osmanthus Village, he felt several pairs of eyes watching him.


    He was not surprised by this; on the contrary, he felt relieved.


    Because he had made arrangements before going to the Island Nation, his friends Tie Shan and Mark, along with others, had done very well.


    After parking, Xia Liu also saw Lin Xiaotian sitting not far away, completely engrossed in something.


    Invisibly, a large amount of nature¡¯s spiritual energy was drifting towards Lin Xiaotian¡¯s location.


    His body acted like a container, continuously absorbing the nature¡¯s spiritual energy.


    Sensing someone approaching, Lin Xiaotian opened his eyes, and the sight that greeted him made him smile.


    ¡°Xiaotian, given how intensely you¡¯ve been cultivating, it won¡¯t be long before you advance to the fourth level of Qi Cultivation.¡±


    ¡°Stop teasing me, with the current scarcity of nature¡¯s spiritual energy, it would be good if I could advance to the fourth level within ten years.¡±


    Looking at Xia Liu with a smile, Lin Xiaotian could only give a wry smile; of course, he knew Xia Liu was joking.


    But he couldn¡¯t help but hope that he could advance to the fourth level within a few days.


    Right now, his energy was not even comparable to that of an Earth-Rank Warrior.


    This was utterly ridiculous.


    Of course, he also understood that if he went all out, even Earth-Rank High-Level Warriors might perish.


    After all, a cultivator¡¯s Spirit Art can catch you off guard.


    Furthermore, the Energy Depleted to Mystic Yellow technique was so powerful that ordinary Earth-Rank Warriors couldn¡¯t withstand it,


    but to kill an Earth-Rank Warrior with one palm strike would probably drain all his spiritual energy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself too much; with the right opportunity, you might advance in the next second,¡± Xia Liu said, patting Lin Xiaotian on the shoulder.


    He believed in such opportunities because each time he had faced a bottleneck in the past, he had encountered Spirit Grass that helped him advance.


    It was precisely because of such opportunities that he chose to seal his cultivation.


    Similarly, if he hadn¡¯t sealed his cultivation, he wouldn¡¯t have returned home so soon, nor would he have developed Osmanthus Village to its current state.


    Moreover, he wouldn¡¯t have met so many lovely girls.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t relaxed for a few days, right? Take your girls back and relax a bit.¡±


    ¡°Hehe!¡± With a sly laugh, Lin Xiaotian took out his phone and sent a message to Bai Lili.


    Soon, Bai Lili came out the door.


    After exchanging a few words, Lin Xiaotian went back with Bai Lili first.


    Following Xia Liu into the lobby, he saw the girls who were earnestly cultivating.


    Fang Fei, Huang Xue, Li Qianqian, Zhang Qing, Gu Fangxia, Zhang Xiaoxue, and Zhang Xiaoman.


    The appearance of Xia Liu immediately caught the attention of all the girls, so they ceased their exercises and gathered their energy.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! You¡¯re back!¡± The first to greet him was Zhang Xiaoman, who was more proactive than any other girl.


    However, once she reached Xia Liu, she didn¡¯t dare make any more overt moves.


    ¡°Hmm, not bad, you¡¯ve started cultivating too.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the sisters¡¯ guidance; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to grasp it so quickly,¡± Zhang Xiaoman humbly said.


    ¡°Xiaoman is being too modest. It¡¯s clearly because you¡¯re smart.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Xiaoman is so diligent, she¡¯ll definitely advance before long,¡± Fang Fei and Huang Xue said with a smile.


    ¡°By the way, Xia Liu, something terrifying happened yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, now that Brother Xia Liu is back, we can talk about it with peace of mind.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Qianqian and Zhang Xiaoxue looked somewhat excited, causing Xia Liu to frown.


    ¡°What happened? It¡¯s that terrifying?¡± Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you have to hear this. Yesterday, over two hundred billion got deposited into our company¡¯s account,¡± Gu Fangxia whispered into Xia Liu¡¯s ear after checking her surroundings.


    ¡°Eh, eh, eh¡­¡± When Gu Fangxia moved her face away, Xia Liu was somewhat stunned.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, that¡¯s what happened. Our company suddenly got over two hundred billion,¡± Zhang Xiaoxue also reported in a low voice.


    As the surrounding girls looked at him with a sneaky expression, Xia Liu couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing, ¡°Pfft, hahaha¡­¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, why are you laughing? Don¡¯t scare us,¡± Zhang Xiaoxue was almost crying, as this issue had troubled all the girls for an entire day.


    An unexpected appearance of so much money in the company account, who could be at ease¡­


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 Chapter 452 - 452: Why Should I Pay Back Money Borrowed Fairly

    Chapter 452: Chapter 452: Why Should I Pay Back Money Borrowed Fairly


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop laughing,¡± Xia Liu said, although he couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    ¡°Xia Liu! Just tell me whether it was you who put that money in or not,¡± Fang Fei crossed her arms, feeling increasingly that something was off.


    Because there had been one instance before when Xia Liu went to Binlai City, and afterwards, the company¡¯s account suddenly gained almost ten billion.


    So, it was very likely that this two hundred billion was obtained by Xia Liu somehow.


    ¡°It must have been Xia Liu who put it in.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡±


    ...


    Li Qianqian and Gu Fangxia also suddenly saw the light; they had this suspicion for a while, and now seeing Xia Liu¡¯s expression, they were sure it was him!


    ¡°Hmm, that money was indeed borrowed by me,¡± faced with the women¡¯s skeptical looks, Xia Liu nodded and said seriously.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, did you actually borrow over two hundred billion?¡± Zhang Xiaoman was the first to ask in surprise.


    ¡°Who would want to lend two hundred billion?¡±


    ¡°I feel like Xia Liu just robbed some bank.¡±


    Once Xia Liu said this, all the women were astonished.


    Borrowing more than two hundred billion, with such a huge amount, who would dare to lend it, and who could possibly afford to lend it?


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, if we borrow so much money and the investment fails, how are we going to pay it back?¡± Zhang Xiaoxue, different from the other girls, believed in Xia Liu.


    But now she was worried about what would happen if, just if, the development wasn¡¯t successful¡ªhow would they repay two hundred billion?


    ¡°Right, we haven¡¯t started using it yet, so let¡¯s hurry up and give it back.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, our development is going smoothly now, and we¡¯ll slowly make money in the future, so let¡¯s return this money first, in case we end up not being able to¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Although they didn¡¯t know the main source of this money, all the women were worried because the amount was too large.


    Even if Xia Liu really had robbed some place, returning it now would mean nobody would pursue it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t return it. Spend it liberally, invest it liberally,¡± Xia Liu said sternly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t return it, but what if we run out?¡± Fang Fei asked.


    ¡°If it¡¯s gone, it¡¯s gone. Money borrowed on skill, why should it be returned.¡±


    Pfft¡­


    Hearing Xia Liu say this, all the women present couldn¡¯t help but feel inwardly hurt.


    Money borrowed on skill, why should it be returned?


    It did seem to make sense¡­


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! Thumbs up for you!¡± Xiaoman looked at Xia Liu with trembling spiritual eyes.


    She didn¡¯t care where Xia Liu¡¯s money came from, she believed Xia Liu would find a way, even if it was all spent, nothing bad would happen.


    ¡°You¡¯re really not afraid?¡± Fang Fei asked weakly.


    ¡°Really not afraid, that¡¯s our money,¡± Xia Liu said very seriously.


    ¡°Oh yeah! Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re the best!¡±


    ¡°Giggle¡­ Tycoon, cover me!¡±


    ¡­


    Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s serious demeanor, all the women felt reassured.


    In fact, they didn¡¯t place too much importance on money as the company¡¯s funds were very sufficient.


    Moreover, they had all shifted their focus to cultivation, not caring much about money as long as the sisters were together and Xia Liu was there.


    ¡°Actually, this money isn¡¯t much, just plan a little and it¡¯ll be gone.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­ two hundred billion! And that¡¯s not much?¡± All the women threw a white eye at Xia Liu; by his standards, did two trillion only count as a lot of money? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll go talk to Uncle Zhong and try to get the development rights for Hejing, and then invest all of the two hundred billion in it,¡± Xia Liu thought aloud.


    ¡°Two hundred billion invested in Hejing!¡± All the women were shocked.


    A small area like Hejing, with two hundred billion invested in development and construction, would probably rival the city center!


    They finally understood Xia Liu¡¯s point; indeed, once the money was invested in developing Hejing, two hundred billion really wasn¡¯t that much.


    But that amount could bring earth-shaking changes to Hejing.


    ¡°I want Hejing District to become a part of the urban area!¡± Previously, Xia Liu might have thought about making Osmanthus Village the central area.


    But now his thoughts had changed; Osmanthus Village should be peaceful, a residential living area, while commercial development could be built in the county town area instead.


    Of course, he still needed to earn money, otherwise how would he have the funds to purchase Spirit Grass.


    Clap clap clap¡­


    All the ladies stopped speaking and spontaneously began to applaud.


    Xia Liu¡¯s action was unprecedented, and if it were truly successful, it was possible that a statue of him might be erected in Hejing in the future.


    But one thing was certain: Hejing would continue to improve.


    ¡°It¡¯s late, Xiaoman, shouldn¡¯t you be resting by now?¡± Scanning the scene, Xia Liu said.


    ¡°Nope, I usually don¡¯t go to bed until two or three o¡¯clock in the morning.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already two or three o¡¯clock, go to sleep quickly,¡± Xia Liu said with a wry smile.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, don¡¯t try to fool me, I¡¯m not nearsighted.¡±


    Seeing Xia Liu¡¯s embarrassed face, the ladies couldn¡¯t help but snicker.


    How could they not understand Xia Liu¡¯s thoughts, and how could they not have similar desires.


    As the atmosphere grew awkward, Fang Fei leaned in to whisper something to Zhang Xiaoman.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to Sister Fang,¡± Xiaoman glanced at Xia Liu, then ran giggling into the room: ¡°Goodnight, sisters!¡±


    ¡°Sister Fang, what did you say to Xiaoman? Why is she so happy?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°If you still have the energy to stand up later, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡°Sister Fang, show some restraint!¡±


    ¡°Show some restraint¡­¡±


    Hearing Fang Fei¡¯s frank words, the other girls lowered their heads, their cheeks flushed with embarrassment.


    ¡°Hehe, then let¡¯s wait and see!¡± With that, Xia Liu flashed a move, immediately embracing Fang Fei into his arms, and then gestured for the ladies to go upstairs.


    ¡°Ah! Sisters, save me!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Qianqian, let¡¯s go up quickly, too, we must make Xia Liu surrender today!¡±


    ¡°Yes! We must make Brother Xia Liu surrender!¡±


    ¡­


    Once they reached a consensus, the remaining girls eagerly ran upstairs.


    However, it was a pity that although they were all Qi Cultivation-level cultivators with strong physical strength and spiritual energy,


    they still fell far short when compared to Xia Liu, a high-rank cultivator.


    Less than three hours later, the room was filled with pleas for mercy.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I can¡¯t keep going¡­¡± Zhang Xiaoxue said with a pained expression, turning to Xia Liu.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    With a wicked smile, Xia Liu moved Zhang Xiaoxue to one side and then reached for Fang Fei, who had rested for a while.


    Finally, in the fourth hour, Fang Fei was also out of energy. She was breathless as she spoke, ¡°Xia Liu¡­ you should go check on Xiaoman.¡±


    ¡°That¡­¡±


    ¡°Just now, I told Xiaoman that you would go to her room later¡­¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­ Sister Fang, that¡¯s not fair, I didn¡¯t say anything like that,¡± Xia Liu said with a touch of embarrassment.


    ¡°Hurry up and go, I¡¯m exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, go on, Xiaoman must be uncomfortable too.¡±


    ¡°Right, by having her stay here, she must have her own thoughts, so don¡¯t worry about us.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we need more sisters! Go on quickly!¡±


    The girls who regained some strength all encouraged Xia Liu to go.


    ¡°I swear, I really don¡¯t have any special thoughts, hey hey, I¡¯m telling the truth, don¡¯t look at me like that¡­¡±


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 Chapter 453 - 453 Now Ive Graduated...

    Chapter 453: Chapter 453 Now I¡¯ve Graduated¡­


    ¡°`


    ¡°Pfft, we can see right through you; just hurry up and carry Xiaoman up here.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! We¡¯ve long been sisters; it¡¯s your move now.¡±


    Faced with Xia Liu¡¯s explanations, Li Qianqian and Huang Xue immediately rebutted him.


    ¡°Alright, I admit it, I¡¯m going right now¡­¡±


    As he spoke, Xia Liu put on his clothes and left the room.


    ...


    At that moment, Zhang Xiaoman was pacing restlessly in her room; even if she didn¡¯t want to listen, she couldn¡¯t escape the muffled howls coming from upstairs. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    More than her restless heart, she was looking forward to what Fang Fei had told her.


    She was waiting, waiting for Xia Liu to arrive.


    Knock, knock¡­


    The door knocked, and Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s heartbeat sped up.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! You¡¯re here.¡± As the door opened, Zhang Xiaoman greeted him in a low voice, her head bowed.


    ¡°Yeah, Sister Fang told me your cultivation is stuck, so I came to check on you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Upon hearing Xia Liu say this, Zhang Xiaoman immediately felt bitter; Fang Fei had told her something completely different.


    ¡°Then, Brother Xia Liu, help me take a look¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey, you just need to run your cultivation technique and absorb spiritual energy; there¡¯s no need to take off your clothes¡­¡± Seeing Zhang Xiaoman begin to unbutton, Xia Liu immediately intervened.


    ¡°When I run my cultivation technique, I get very hot; if I don¡¯t take off my clothes, it¡¯ll be extremely uncomfortable¡­¡± Zhang Xiaoman said, pouting.


    ¡­


    Alright, Xia Liu didn¡¯t stop her anymore; he wanted to see just how hot it could get.


    As Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s youthful figure unfolded, Xia Liu swallowed several times; the beast within him was slowly being awakened.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I¡¯m going to start practicing the Immeasurable Sword Art now¡­¡± Zhang Xiaoman said softly.


    ¡°Okay, start.¡±


    At Xia Liu¡¯s cue, Zhang Xiaoman began making hand seals, and invisibly, nature¡¯s spiritual energy continuously converged towards her.


    ¡°Very good, you¡¯re just one step away from breaking through to the first level of Qi Cultivation,¡± Xia Liu said after watching for a while, nodding.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, why did Sister Xiaoxue and the others break through so quickly, and I¡¯ve been stuck here for so many days? No matter what, I can¡¯t break through,¡± Zhang Xiaoman said, almost in tears, nearly losing confidence in herself.


    ¡°The path of cultivation is about gradual progression; don¡¯t be anxious, once the opportunity comes, you¡¯ll naturally break through the bottleneck.¡±


    ¡°Okay, can I stop now?¡±


    ¡°You can; I¡¯ll try to get some spirit grass for you later on.¡±


    Zhang Xiaoman nodded; she had heard about spirit grass from Zhang Xiaoxue, but she didn¡¯t dare to ask Xia Liu too directly.


    Now that Xia Liu had brought it up on his own, she was overjoyed.


    Because she felt that her place in Xia Liu¡¯s heart was almost the same as those elder sisters.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you once said that after I graduated, you would take me¡­¡± When the atmosphere turned a bit somber, Zhang Xiaoman timidly spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I never promised you anything like that?¡± Xia Liu was surprised; did he really promise Zhang Xiaoman anything?


    ¡°You did! You said that once I graduated, I could become your woman, and now I¡¯ve graduated¡­¡± Zhang Xiaoman looked at Xia Liu with trembling eyes.


    ¡°Pfft! Xiaoman, you have to know, I¡¯ve got many women now; are you still willing to be with me?¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t dispute her claim but shifted the focus onto his relationships with other women instead.


    Zhang Xiaoman didn¡¯t speak, but took a step forward, hugged Xia Liu tightly, and began to kiss his face clumsily and poutingly.


    That was her response; that was her resolve.


    What could Xia Liu say at this point, and what need was there to say anything?


    Before long, the scents of youth and maturity filled the room.


    ¡°`


    More than an hour later, Zhang Xiaoman slept contentedly in Xia Liu¡¯s embrace on the round bed.


    In the morning, Xia Liu got up early and busied himself in the kitchen.


    It wasn¡¯t just him; the girls who had slept upstairs last night also woke up very early.


    After coming downstairs, they all entered Zhang Xiaoman¡¯s room.


    Xia Liu could hear the teasing and playful noises coming from the room.


    ¡°From now on, our team will have one more member.¡±


    ¡°Right, now we can stand up to Xia Liu.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, at least we have a significant advantage in terms of momentum.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we all surrendered last night, and Brother Xia Liu had to come downstairs, and then I felt Xiaoman couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Just when the girls were full of confidence, Zhang Xiaoxue threw cold water on their excitement.


    ¡°Xiaoxue, stop spouting such blunt truths, come out and have breakfast.¡± Just when the girls wanted to argue, Xia Liu called out from the doorway.


    ¡°Hmph! Just wait, Xia Liu, one day we sisters will surely make you beg for mercy!¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡±


    ¡°Yes! I agree with Qianqian¡¯s statement!¡±


    ¡°I think Brother Xia Liu is very powerful, we can¡¯t defeat him¡­¡± After experiencing it once, Zhang Xiaoman held endless admiration for Xia Liu.


    She had discussed it with other female students at school who had boyfriends.


    So she had some understanding, and after enduring Xia Liu once, she knew that in this aspect, he was almost unbeatable.


    Though they all understood this, the girls still harbored hope.


    After breakfast, Xia Liu drove out, while the girls stayed at home to cultivate. They had taken care of all the company matters, and any documents in the future would be delivered to the house.


    This earned Xia Liu¡¯s approval; the girls being together was convenient for Lin Xiaotian and Tie Shan to protect them.


    When he reached the entrance of the village, Xia Liu phoned Glasses to inquire.


    What he was most concerned about was the families of the two Earth-Rank Warriors he had slain, as reported by Glasses.


    As for foreign powers entering Huaxia, they probably couldn¡¯t escape Glasses¡¯ surveillance if they did.


    ¡°There haven¡¯t been any movements from Yanjing¡¯s side, but I always have this uneasy feeling, like the calm before a storm,¡± Glasses¡¯ response was not straightforward.


    Because he had an intuition that those two martial families from Yanjing would definitely not let this lie.


    Perhaps they were investigating now, and the moment they got results, they would come attacking fiercely.


    ¡°Hmm, I almost understand, you¡¯ve worked hard these days.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, as long as the sisters-in-law are safe, Glasses doesn¡¯t mind dying,¡± Glasses responded with a cheerful laugh.


    ¡°Glasses, don¡¯t talk like that, you¡¯re my brother, I won¡¯t allow anything to happen to you.¡±


    ¡°Just kidding, just kidding, boss, you go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll keep an eye on them.¡±


    ¡°Alright, make sure you all rest when you¡¯re tired.¡± After speaking, Xia Liu hung up the phone.


    ¡°Martial Artist families! Hmph! I hope you don¡¯t continue to be delusional¡­¡± With a cold snort, Xia Liu drove towards the Hejing direction.


    At the county government, Li Zhong¡¯s workplace.


    Xia Liu had given him a heads up before arriving.


    Originally, Li Zhong wanted to cook a few dishes at home and wait for him, but hearing it was about an important matter related to Hejing, Li Zhong thought it best to gather some important figures.


    ¡°County Chief Li, what do you think President Xia will talk about this time?¡±


    ¡°Whatever President Xia is going to talk about definitely relates to the Eastern District, or maybe the industrial zone.¡±


    ¡°President Xia is really an impressive youth. The Eastern District is already halfway developed, and the industrial zone is bustling¡­¡±


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 Chapter 454 - 454: Self-righteousness

    Chapter 454: Chapter 454: Self-righteousness


    ¡°I feel like President Xia is facing a funding problem this time.¡± Just as everyone was discussing Xia Liu¡¯s achievements, a discordant voice appeared.


    ¡°Deputy County Magistrate Yan, you¡¯re wrong to say that. Is President Xia the sort of person who¡¯d be short of cash? Besides, this month¡¯s subsidy funds have also been released.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, how could President Xia possibly be short of money?¡±


    As soon as Yan Gang spoke, many people in the conference room disagreed with him.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, Xia Liu is still too young after all. Even twenty billion is far from enough.¡± Thinking back to Osmanthus Group¡¯s registration with over twenty billion in funds, Yan Gang couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°Deputy Yan, isn¡¯t twenty billion more than enough?¡± Li Zhong said, casting a sidelong glance at Yan Gang.


    ...


    ¡°Twenty billion is a lot, but investing so much all at once is definitely not enough. Although the subsidies have been released a few times, it¡¯s still far from covering the expenses for the development of the Eastern District,¡± Yan Gang countered.


    ¡°Right, the Osmanthus Group isn¡¯t slowly building up; many projects are started all at once, so the money is bound to flow out like water.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that President Xia is here this time possibly to ask for our help in getting the subsidies released faster?¡±


    ¡­


    Thinking of the current volume of projects in the Eastern District, everyone gradually began to let their minds wander.


    Yan Gang crossed his arms, sitting in his seat with a smirk.


    If the Osmanthus Group¡¯s projects were to stall due to financial difficulties, then Li Zhong¡¯s position would be at risk!


    Thinking this, Yan Gang laughed. The development trend of Hejing had already caught the attention of many.


    If he could reach Li Zhong¡¯s level, then everything would be much more convenient.


    ¡°Deputy County Magistrate Yan, don¡¯t speak nonsense. Also, everyone else, how do you know that the Osmanthus Group is short of money? If there was a funding problem, could those projects still continue?¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zhong was somewhat angry at Yan Gang and everyone else for slandering Xia Liu.


    But he still tried to remain patient. Even if the Osmanthus Group did have difficulties, he would help Xia Liu apply for subsidy funds. The development of Hejing would not stop.


    ¡°Li County, your good son-in-law, ah, you better not be mistaken. I have heard there are many women in his family.¡±


    ¡°Deputy County Magistrate Yan, what do you mean by that?¡± Li Zhong¡¯s brows progressively furrowed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything. As long as you understand what¡¯s at stake. If the development of the Eastern District stops, I hope you can grasp the consequences for everyone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Even if there really is a problem, I¡¯ll take it all upon myself. You don¡¯t have to worry about it,¡± Li Zhong said, tired of listening to Yan Gang¡¯s words. He understood what everyone in the room was thinking.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    Hearing Li Zhong say this, the people at the scene all smiled knowingly.


    To be honest, they were all afraid that Xia Liu would fail. If his failure led to blame coming from above, they would definitely be implicated.


    Now that they had Li Zhong¡¯s assurance, they felt much more confident.


    ¡°President Xia is here,¡± said a clerk entering the conference room, just as Yan Gang was about to say something else.


    Everyone immediately reacted, straightening up and waiting for Xia Liu.


    However, they were all secretly amused; if Xia Liu was truly there to request their assistance in applying for the subsidy funds, then both the Osmanthus Group and Li Zhong would essentially become a joke.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯re here,¡± said Li Zhong, standing up with a welcoming smile as Xia Liu entered the conference room.


    ¡°Uncle Zhong, and everybody¡¯s here too,¡± greeted Xia Liu with a smile on his face.


    ¡°Yes, hello President Xia.¡±


    Everyone responded with a smile.


    ¡°Xia Liu, just now you mentioned something about the county to me, what¡¯s the matter?¡± After a brief greeting, Li Zhong asked plainly.


    ¡°Li Zhong, what else could it be? It¡¯s just a shortage of funds, and then coming over to ask us to co-sign for assistance, right?¡±


    Just as Xia Liu was about to respond, Yan Gang made a sarcastic remark.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Xia Liu frowned slightly; he had met Yan Gang a few times and was aware of his position.


    Since he and Li Zhong became close, this middle-aged man, over fifty, had been continuously displeased with him, and now, without even knowing what he was going to say, he made such a sarcastic comment. Truly speechless.


    ¡°Deputy County Magistrate Yan, even if Xia Liu is here because of a cash flow issue, we should all help. Everything he does is for the sake of Hejing,¡± Li Zhong answered with some seriousness, and there was a hint of anger in his words.


    He was genuinely a bit angry. It was fine for you to talk like that when Xia Liu wasn¡¯t here.


    But now that Xia Liu is here, you still talk like this, what are you trying to do? Make Xia Liu embarrassed?


    Xia Liu, being embarrassed here and losing face, what¡¯s in it for you?


    ¡°Of course we should help. Our President Xia is still very young, and it¡¯s certain that some things he does are not reasonable. After this experience, he¡¯ll become much more mature in the future,¡± Yan Gang said, acting like an elder.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, no matter what, we¡¯ve got to help apply for the subsidy.¡±


    ¡°With this experience, I believe President Xia will become more composed.¡±


    ¡°Construction is, after all, a gradual process. Starting the construction of apartments and a commercial street in the Eastern District all at once, the company surely couldn¡¯t handle it.¡±


    Following Yan Gang¡¯s words, many middle-aged people in the conference room expressed their opinions.


    They had felt long before that a day would come when Xia Liu would definitely need them.


    And here it was, today had finally arrived.


    Osmanthus Group¡¯s registered capital was substantial, but it couldn¡¯t withstand the consumption of numerous projects.


    Facing everyone¡¯s remarks, Li Zhong didn¡¯t say anything else, now he just wanted to hear what Xia Liu had to say.


    Actually, Xia Liu was completely flabbergasted. He, short of money? That was a joke.


    If he were to withdraw his money, he reckoned he could bury everyone in the building with it.


    Even if it was to burn, it would take days.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not here today because of money,¡± Xia Liu said slowly after trying to calm himself down.


    ¡°Not about money!¡±


    Upon hearing Xia Liu¡¯s words, everyone present, except for Yan Gang, was surprised.


    Thinking back to their own comments just now, they all looked down, only feeling their faces heat up, it was just too damn embarrassing.


    ¡°President Xia, don¡¯t be shy. If there¡¯s a problem with the cash flow, just say it, we will all do our best to help you,¡± Yan Gang said nonchalantly as everyone else felt awkward.


    ¡°Heh, Deputy County Magistrate Yan, I think you¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Li Zhong said with a smile, looking at Xia Liu¡¯s earnest demeanor.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t overthought anything. If President Xia isn¡¯t here for a shortage of funds, what¡¯s he doing here? Isn¡¯t it to have us co-sign for the quick disbursement of the subsidy?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m really sorry, but I¡¯m not short of money, and neither is Osmanthus Group,¡± Xia Liu said without naming names, because he felt that the name Yan Gang was unworthy of being uttered by him.


    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s very interesting indeed. I wonder what important matter concerning the county town President Xia has come to discuss with us today?¡± Yan Gang said, not believing Xia Liu¡¯s words, and he felt already that if Xia Liu were to ask people here to apply for funds later, he would blast him!


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 Chapter 455 - 455: Slapping the Face in Anger

    Chapter 455: Chapter 455: Slapping the Face in Anger


    ¡°I wonder what brings President Xia here today?¡±


    All eyes in the room turned to Xia Liu, curious as to what he wanted to talk about.


    ¡°Hehe, what else can it be but a cash crunch?¡± Yan Gang said sarcastically before Xia Liu could speak. ¡°In my opinion, young people should be more low-key and work within their means instead of always dreaming of skyrocketing to success.¡±


    Without waiting for Xia Liu to reply, Yan Gang spoke again, his tone mocking.


    ¡°Deputy County Magistrate Yan, you¡¯re amazing. Why don¡¯t you register a company with two billion Huaxia currency and bid for it yourself?¡± Li Zhong couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and said to Yan Gang with a stern look.


    ¡°Li Zhong, why are you getting so worked up over a little comment about young people? Oh, right, he is your son-in-law, of course, you¡¯d be mad,¡± Yan Gang said, emphasizing the personal connection.


    ...


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hearing this, others in the conference room couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly.


    Everyone knew about the relationship between Xia Liu and Li Zhong; they just wouldn¡¯t say it to their faces as a form of mockery.


    ¡°Uncle Zhong, don¡¯t get worked up.¡± Xia Liu quickly intervened when Li Zhong¡¯s anger was on the rise.


    Then he scanned the people in the room and said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, my purpose for coming here today is quite simple: to secure the development rights for Hejing.¡±


    Pfft!


    The middle-aged men who were drinking water spat it out upon hearing Xia Liu¡¯s statement.


    Cough, cough, cough¡­


    Yan Gang choked even more, nearly suffocating.


    Their disbelieving eyes turned to Xia Liu. What had he just said?


    To secure the development rights for Hejing!


    What did that imply? S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A county town or just some minor position?


    If it were the entire county town, what justified his claim for bidding?


    If he secured them, what did he plan to do with them?


    Develop?


    That seemed utterly impossible. How big was Hejing, and how much capital would development require?


    It was simply not feasible for anyone to achieve that.


    If possible, it could only be someone from the top hundred richest in Huaxia.


    ¡°Haha! President Xia, you are still too young. Securing the development rights for Hejing? Do you really think you have what it takes?¡± Yan Gang scoffed, having regained his composure.


    ¡°Heh, the great thing about youth is that even their dreams are big,¡± he added mockingly.


    ¡°I agree, young people are full of vigor and ambition, something we don¡¯t have anymore. Developing Hejing? We wouldn¡¯t even dare to dream of it,¡± the middle-aged men intoned with feigned righteousness, yet their sarcasm towards Xia Liu was unmistakable.


    ¡°Everyone! Don¡¯t jump to conclusions just yet, let¡¯s hear what Xia Liu has to say,¡± Li Zhong said, his palms trembling. Having known Xia Liu for a long time, he understood his character.


    When Xia Liu talked about securing the development rights for Hejing, it certainly wasn¡¯t a joke!


    ¡°Whether we listen or not, it¡¯s all the same,¡± Yan Gang said indifferently.


    ¡°Xia Liu, tell us your thoughts,¡± Li Zhong said, no longer interested in entertaining Yan Gang; he just wanted to know what Xia Liu was really thinking.


    ¡°My idea is simple: to build Hejing and make it as prosperous as a district in the city!¡± Xia Liu said earnestly.


    ¡°Good!¡± Li Zhong couldn¡¯t help but applaud. He supported Xia Liu¡¯s ambition to the fullest, even if it seemed unattainable.


    ¡°Hehe, what¡¯s so good about that? Making Hejing comparable to the city district, and prosperous? Without subventions from higher-ups, you won¡¯t be able to carry on with even the Eastern District, let alone Hejing,¡± Yan Gang criticized blatantly.


    ¡°Yes, the funds required to develop Hejing would be massive,¡± others chimed in.


    ¡°Everyone has plans, but who can truly make them happen?¡± they continued with skepticism.


    ¡°Indeed, Hejing holds a promising future, but without money, who could possibly take a bite out of this golden egg?¡± they concluded disparagingly.


    ¡­


    Everyone on the scene had studied Xia Liu¡¯s ideas, but in the end, without exception, they all shook their heads.


    Wanting to develop a county town and even have it comparable to a city district?


    This idea was simply a fantasy.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask how much money we would need to develop Hejing?¡± Xia Liu asked with a serene smile on his face. He didn¡¯t argue with everyone, nor did he make a fuss, because none of that would be of any use.


    To make them convinced, he had to show them the money! Only actual development would do it!


    ¡°Not to exaggerate, but without at least a hundred billion Huaxia currency, let¡¯s not even talk about developing Hejing; you couldn¡¯t even afford to develop half of it.¡±


    ¡°Deputy County Magistrate Yan, aren¡¯t you exaggerating a bit? We¡¯ve discussed this before. To transform the entire Hejing, it wouldn¡¯t exceed fifty billion at most, right?¡± Li Zhong disagreed with Yan Gang¡¯s statement.


    He had seen clearly that Yan Gang was deliberately making things difficult and mocking Xia Liu.


    ¡°Li County, fifty billion is just a conservative estimate. Without a hundred billion, what kind of development are we talking about?¡±


    ¡°In that case, as long as we can secure the development rights for Hejing, Osmanthus Group will invest two hundred billion for development, how¡¯s that?¡± Xia Liu said calmly without waiting for Li Zhong to refute Yan Gang.


    ¡°Two hundred billion!!!¡±


    Hearing this figure, everyone present was stunned!


    Two hundred billion! That was an astronomical number.


    And this represented liquid funds, much more terrifying than any fixed assets.


    Who could have known that Xia Liu came here not to humbly discuss subsidy funds, but proudly to fight for Hejing¡¯s development rights!


    ¡°Xia Liu! Are you not joking?¡± Li Zhong was already trembling, for if Xia Liu could really bring two hundred billion to develop Hejing.


    Let¡¯s not even mention, once it¡¯s truly built, it could definitely compare to a city district, becoming the most prosperous and luxurious county town!


    ¡°Uncle Zhong, you know me, I never joke,¡± Xia Liu said earnestly.


    ¡°Wow! President Xia is amazing!¡±


    ¡°Yes! I always knew President Xia was extraordinary!¡±


    ¡°This is incredible, President Xia is simply Huaxia¡¯s number one youth!¡±


    ¡°No, President Xia is definitely the world¡¯s number one promising young man!¡±


    ¡­


    Witnessing Xia Liu¡¯s serious demeanor, everyone on the scene couldn¡¯t contain themselves any longer.


    They had completely forgotten how they had ridiculed Xia Liu just moments before.


    Now they were utterly convinced.


    Investing two hundred billion in Hejing was undoubtedly the boldest and most selfless act.


    Listening to those words of admiration, Xia Liu touched his nose and smiled lightly.


    ¡°Haha! I feel like, if some people can¡¯t do it, they should please refrain from making rash statements, lest their attempts to show off backfire.¡±


    ¡­


    Yan Gang¡¯s words echoed in the office, and everything seemed to quiet down.


    Xia Liu almost laughed out loud himself. He hadn¡¯t expected that this middle-aged man, well past his fifties, would follow the mainstream and speak such convincing words.


    ¡°This distinguished middle-aged man, what you cannot achieve doesn¡¯t mean that someone else can¡¯t,¡± Xia Liu paused and continued, ¡°Today, I came here to discuss the development rights for Hejing with Uncle Zhong, and yet you keep insisting that I came to ask for your help in applying for subsidies. I really don¡¯t see what benefit there is for you in saying this. Even if I truly didn¡¯t have the money for development, you wouldn¡¯t donate a cent, would you? So don¡¯t stick your neck out for me to hit!¡±


    Yan Gang¡¯s repeated taunts had become unbearable for Xia Liu.


    Some people, if you keep tolerating them, will think you¡¯re a fool.


    Once they believe that ridicule is a situation you must accept, they become more arrogant, and their superiority complex grows stronger and stronger.


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 Chapter 456 - 456: Dividing Agreement

    Chapter 456: Chapter 456: Dividing Agreement


    Xia Liu¡¯s words caused Yan Gang¡¯s face to alternate between pale and flushed.


    Indeed, he realized that he had been fooled.


    Xia Liu had never mentioned anything about the subsidy funds from start to finish, and now, it was as if he had offered his face for Xia Liu to slap.


    Yan Gang no longer had the face to stay in the meeting room and found an excuse to leave in a sullen manner.


    As for Yan Gang¡¯s departure, everyone present understood what was going on.


    They all just smiled and said nothing, guessing that it wouldn¡¯t be long before he would disappear from the county government.


    ...


    Now, their concern was even more on Xia Liu and the Osmanthus Group!


    If he really invested two hundred billion in developing Hejing, that would be a tremendous joy for anyone!


    ¡°Xia Liu, how would you like to define the rights to this development?¡± After Yan Gang left, Li Zhong asked Xia Liu to sit down and discuss the development rights issue.


    ¡°I think like this, sign a profit-sharing agreement with the existing landowners.¡±


    ¡°A profit-sharing agreement?¡±


    Everyone was somewhat puzzled. Didn¡¯t Xia Liu want to buy those plots outright? With his current capital, he could certainly afford to buy them all and develop them however he wanted without anyone having anything to say.


    ¡°Not a complete purchase?¡± Li Zhong also asked, puzzled.


    ¡°No, my ultimate idea is to achieve a win-win situation¡ªI make money, and the landowners make money too.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡±


    The moment Xia Liu spoke, he immediately received everyone¡¯s approval.


    This is what a businessman is, this is what a promising young man is, making money without forgetting others.


    It¡¯s like the saying, ¡®When you drink water, think of the well-digger,¡¯ isn¡¯t this exactly the principle it denotes?


    The people at the scene all admired Xia Liu¡¯s thoughts; such selfless spirit, how many in the world could achieve that?


    ¡°However, that does not rule out those who would like to buy the lands outright.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Zhong is right. If they want to buy outright, then the Osmanthus Group will purchase at a price double the original,¡± Xia Liu said, nodding.


    ¡°Generous!¡±


    ¡°Bravo, President Xia!¡±


    The crowd was again amazed by Xia Liu¡¯s words.


    They finally understood why Li Zhong supported Xia Liu so firmly. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He truly was not an ordinary person.


    He truly was extraordinary.


    He truly had a magnanimous attitude¡ªcapable in action and understanding of human emotions.


    Slowly, everyone started to foster a thought in their hearts; whatever Xia Liu wanted to do, they would support him.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, but you also need to act according to your capacity. If the funds are not enough, I will apply to the higher-ups. The development of Hejing should not fall on your shoulders alone.¡±


    ¡°Right! County Chief Li is correct. President Xia has the will and the capital, but if one person shoulders it alone, there will inevitably be pressure.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we co-sign this proposal and send it up? If there is a subsidy, that would be great, but even without one, we should do our utmost.¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡±


    The people, following Li Zhong¡¯s fervent discussion, became enthusiastic.


    Xia Liu gave them hope in their lifetime.


    The development of Hejing was related to their achievements in life.


    This was definitely not just Xia Liu¡¯s affair; they would definitely not stand idly by if they could help.


    ¡°Then I really thank all the senior leaders.¡± Xia Liu said, graciously expressing his gratitude.


    ¡°Hehe! Compared to President Xia, what are we?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, President Xia is way more formidable.¡±


    ¡°I am sure, President Xia will definitely change Hejing.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Alright you guys, go back and prepare a document, I will submit it this afternoon,¡± Li Zhong instructed, barely containing his elation.


    Everyone excitedly left the conference room, determined to write the most perfect and effective document to ensure Xia Liu obtained the development rights for all areas of Hejing.


    Actually, Xia Liu could have negotiated directly with the occupying merchants, but everything would be much easier with Li Zhong¡¯s assistance.


    Moreover, his approach was not about leaving no room for survival; on the contrary, this move,


    would enhance everyone¡¯s interests.


    As for how much it would increase, it was incalculable, truly incalculable.


    If Hejing Center became the center of the downtown area, that would be terrifying.


    It would indeed become horrible.


    ¡°Xia Liu, tell me, how did you suddenly get so much money?¡± after everyone had left, Li Zhong asked Xia Liu in a low voice.


    ¡°I visited the Island Nation a few days ago where I have many friends with spare cash, so I borrowed some,¡± Xia Liu responded leisurely.


    He would never tell Li Zhong that he had taken over two families in the Island Nation; that would scare him.


    Even the ladies he chose to keep it a secret from, as unbelievable as it was, and even if he was to reveal it, he would wait for the right moment.


    ¡°Two hundred billion is your friends¡¯ spare change!¡± Li Zhong¡¯s face nearly turned pale; those are indeed friends.


    Casually lending out two hundred billion¡­


    Actually, Li Zhong didn¡¯t believe it, but he understood what Xia Liu meant. Since he didn¡¯t want to talk about it, he shouldn¡¯t keep probing; it might lead to many unsettling outcomes, so he just needed to cooperate with him.


    After chatting idly with Li Zhong for a while, Xia Liu left the county office.


    Li Zhong had promised that as soon as the report was in, he would inform him.


    Xia Liu was not in a hurry; such matters would surely be approved from above since he wasn¡¯t buying out the whole of Hejing, but rather, it was a revenue-sharing situation, so the land would still remain with the original owners.


    Plainly put, he was merely a facilitator, pushing Hejing towards greatness, nothing changed about the past, only transforming the income of people in this region.


    After leaving the county office, Xia Liu drove around the county town a few times to check out the locations and plan how he would develop them once the development rights were approved.


    For the moment, he didn¡¯t have many ideas, as Hejing was quite large, so it had to be taken slowly.


    The first order of business was to help Tianluo Pharmaceutical promote its medicinal wine.


    So, he made a call to Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Mmm, Xia Liu, save me!¡± As soon as the other party picked up the phone, Xia Liu immediately heard a burst of urgent cries for help.


    ¡°Miss Liu! What¡¯s wrong!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been kidnapped by bad people, come quickly and save me! Mmm mmm mmm¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic! Quickly, tell me the address!¡± Xia Liu panicked, it would distress him if anything happened to Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Talk to me! Quickly, speak!¡± Xia Liu roared.


    ¡°Damn! Anybody alive, say something! Just tell me how much money you want!¡± Xia Liu continued to bellow.


    Hmm?


    Suddenly, Xia Liu¡¯s brow furrowed, and his emotions gradually calmed down.


    He had inadvertently overheard a soft snickering on the other end of the phone; it was faint, but he still caught it.


    ¡°Xia Liu, come save me! I¡¯m in a forest on the outskirts of Binlai City, surrounded by bamboo, with a river nearby, come quickly!¡±


    ¡°Miss Liu, don¡¯t run while you¡¯re talking; you might fall and break your teeth.¡± Listening to Liu Lanxin¡¯s breathless and anxious voice, Xia Liu wiped his forehead helplessly. If that girl were in front of him, he really needed to teach her a lesson; she must think fooling him was fun¡­


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 Chapter 457 - 457: Demand Outstrips Supply

    Chapter 457: Chapter 457: Demand Outstrips Supply


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! I¡¯ve really been abducted by bad guys, hurry and save me!¡±


    Liu Lanxin¡¯s anxious voice came through again.


    ¡°Miss Liu, I had planned to go to Binlai City to help you promote the medicinal liquor, but now that you¡¯re tricking me like this, I¡¯m not going anymore.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Brother Xia Liu, can¡¯t you see I¡¯m admitting my mistake?¡± Liu Lanxin immediately changed her tone to one more gentle.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Xia Liu finally let out a sigh of relief.


    He could not see the exact situation on Liu Lanxin¡¯s side, and if she had really been kidnapped, he wouldn¡¯t know what to do.


    ...


    ¡°More like it? Xia Liu, sir, you bumped up the cost price to thirty thousand, and now that sales have hit a problem, but what about you? You just chucked the issue at me and disappeared for days. Do you even care about me?¡± Liu Lanxin said angrily.


    ¡°Of course, I do. I¡¯ve been abroad these past few days discussing business, or else I would have gone to Binlai City to help you already.¡±


    ¡°So, you mean you do care about me?¡± Liu Lanxin asked.


    ¡°Uh¡­ of course, who else would I have as my partner?¡± Xia Liu replied hesitantly.


    ¡°Hmph! If you really consider me a partner, then hurry over here; my head is about to explode.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there in about three hours. Where are you?¡±


    ¡°At the entrance of Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡¯s headquarters.¡±


    ¡°Alright! Have a cup of tea first; I¡¯m on my way.¡± After responding, Xia Liu hung up the phone.


    He had also guessed that Tianluo Pharmaceutical might run into trouble since the price of medicinal liquor had suddenly increased from ten thousand to tens of thousands, which would definitely anger many people.


    Especially those who saved up to buy it, only to find out that the price had skyrocketed to forty or fifty thousand when they had just managed to save ten thousand.


    It would be weird not to be angry.


    Two hours later, Xia Liu appeared at the entrance of Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡¯s headquarters.


    It was a towering skyscraper that would usually be resplendent and dazzling.


    But today, there was a very different atmosphere.


    Outside the building, at least a hundred people were lingering.


    They were shouting, their faces displaying either anger or helplessness.


    And they were holding up a banner that read: Tianluo Pharmaceutical is shameless! Maliciously raising the price of medicinal liquor!


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! You¡¯re finally here.¡± Just as Xia Liu was preparing to assess the situation, a melodious voice sounded from behind him.


    ¡°Miss Liu, this seems to be getting out of hand.¡±


    ¡°What can be done? If the cost price rises, naturally the selling price needs to go up,¡± Liu Lanxin said, her voice filled with blame for Xia Liu¡¯s increase in cost price.


    ¡°It¡¯s unavoidable. How else can we find the rare ingredients?¡± Xia Liu shrugged.


    Now that he was so short on cash, not making a little extra would leave him unable to cope with the exorbitant prices of Spirit Grass later on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about that; it¡¯s a mess you created, and you have to figure out how to solve it.¡± Liu Lanxin puffed out her cheeks, pushing the problem off onto Xia Liu.


    ¡°I¡¯m responsible too, but we have to take things slowly. Let¡¯s go somewhere to sit and talk first,¡± Xia Liu nodded and said.


    ¡°Where do you think is a good place to talk? A hotel room or some secluded place?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡±


    ¡°Miss, my willpower is very weak. If you keep this up and I bleed, don¡¯t blame me.¡±


    ¡°Rascal! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s face turned fiery red, and before Xia Liu could notice, she quickly turned her head away: ¡°Come to the company with me, grandpa and my parents are also upset about this.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t say anything more, considering the girl had made fun of him, and not responding was his way of pretending to be a gentleman.


    ¡°By the way, Xia Liu, that Liu Mang from Liu Pharmaceutical died a few months ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that guy always looked like a loser; it¡¯s quite normal that he¡¯s dead,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t show much of a reaction. After being hit by his Earth Spirit Energy, it would have been abnormal for him not to die.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find that very strange?¡± Liu Lanxin asked somewhat fearfully.


    ¡°What¡¯s so strange about it?¡± Xia Liu asked in return.


    ¡°Back then you said you would teach Liu Mang a lesson, and then he just died¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think I killed him, do you?¡±


    ¡°He died of liver cirrhosis, and you are well-versed in medicinal herbs¡­¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s voice grew quieter as she spoke, harboring a strong intuition that Liu Mang¡¯s death might have been caused by Xia Liu.


    ¡°Stop imagining things. If I were capable of that, I¡¯d be living free and easy by now, who would dare to oppose me?¡± Xia Liu felt somewhat speechless¡ªjust because he was proficient in medicinal herbs didn¡¯t make him a murderer, otherwise, wouldn¡¯t all the doctors in the world be butchers?


    However, Liu Mang¡¯s death was indeed his doing; leaving someone like that alive would only harm society.


    ¡°Alright, you really have it tough, wherever you go people will¡­ hehe, I won¡¯t say it¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Looking at Liu Lanxin, who was running along the corridor, giggling madly, Xia Liu started to feel a bit thirsty.


    But his state of mind was soon sorted out by Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang.


    In an office, Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi were having tea. Although they should have been leisurely, their brows were furrowed with worry at the moment.


    ¡°Grandpa, Dad, look who I¡¯ve brought,¡± Liu Lanxin called out with a mischievous grin as she entered.


    ¡°Lan Xin, stop it. Just go and entertain your friend,¡± Liu Liguang was almost worried to death; he had no time to spare for his daughter¡¯s friend.


    ¡°Dad, Brother Xia Liu is here, you know.¡±


    ¡°What! Xia Liu is here!¡± Both Liu Buyi and Liu Liguo stood up from the sofa in surprise.


    ¡°Grandpa, Uncle Liu, long time no see,¡± Xia Liu greeted them with a cheerful smile.


    ¡°Xia Liu, come on in, take a seat. You haven¡¯t visited for a long time, you can¡¯t leave later, okay?¡± Liu Buyi hurriedly invited him courteously.


    ¡°No rush, Grandpa, I came mainly for the medicinal wine, so I might be staying for a while,¡± Xia Liu replied.


    ¡°Haha! Xia Liu, that¡¯s what you said! We are having some problems with our medicinal wine right now. If you can help, it won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s restored to its former state,¡± Liu Liguang exclaimed excitedly.


    The medicinal wine was supplied to Tianluo Pharmaceutical by Xia Liu, and now both the sales and reputation were facing issues. Even if Xia Liu hadn¡¯t come, Liu Liguo would probably have gone to Binlai to find Xia Liu.


    His help today was more than welcome.


    When Liu Lanxin relayed Xia Liu¡¯s message back to Tianluo Pharmaceutical, everyone was stunned.


    Raising the cost price from five thousand to thirty thousand was an insanely steep increase.


    However, there was no choice. Since Xia Liu provided the raw materials and he was a benefactor of the Liu Family, they had to go along with his arrangement.


    His willingness to help Tianluo Pharmaceutical showed that he still held the Liu Family in regard.


    ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee it will be exactly as it was, but what I can guarantee is that the medicinal wine will sell like hotcakes in the coming time. It will be in high demand and short supply!¡± Xia Liu said earnestly.


    ¡°Uh uh uh¡­¡±


    ¡°In high demand and short supply¡­¡±


    Liu Lanxin, Liu Liguang, and Liu Buyi were all left speechless.


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 Chapter 458 - 458: The Price is Too Low

    Chapter 458: Chapter 458: The Price is Too Low


    ¡°Xia Liu, there¡¯s no need to force it; we¡¯re all very happy that you could come,¡± Liu Buyi said with a gentle smile in his eyes.


    ¡°Uh, uh¡­ that¡¯s right, Xia Liu, you don¡¯t need to force yourself. The medicinal wine is just one of Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡¯s products. Even if its sales performance is poor, we¡¯ll keep collaborating,¡± another added.


    <>Seeing his own father say this, Liu Liguang quickly followed suit.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯ve made a promise, you know ¨C to keep it in high demand!¡± Liu Lanxin was serious, unlike Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang, because Xia Liu had made the promise himself.


    ¡°Lan Xin, is that how you should be talking to your Brother Xia Liu?¡± Liu Buyi chided.


    ¡°Grandpa, but he said it himself¡­¡± Liu Lanxin pouted, a bit at a loss.


    ...


    ¡°You think you¡¯re right? If someone invites you over and offers you food, do you actually eat it?¡± Liu Buyi continued his lesson.


    ¡°Hahaha! Elder, don¡¯t be like that to Lan Xin. I will fulfill my promises, no doubt about it,¡± Xia Liu laughed. He could be polite sometimes, but in situations like this, he was no jester. He had said he would create high demand, and so he would.


    ¡°See, Grandpa? Brother Xia Liu is really capable,¡± Liu Lanxin said proudly, straightening her back.


    ¡°Of course, Xia Liu is capable; we know that without you telling us,¡± Liu Liguang said with a chuckle.


    Despite that, he still had some doubts about Xia Liu¡¯s promise, considering the drastic price increase of the medicinal wine.


    The thought of achieving sales like before was too intimidating to even contemplate.


    ¡°Elder, what¡¯s the current selling price of the medicinal wine?¡± Xia Liu asked.


    ¡°Since this batch of packaging went live, the selling price has risen to 35,000 yuan per bottle,¡± Liu Buyi responded.


    ¡°35,000 yuan a bottle? That¡¯s¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu frowned slightly; that was way too timid. To make a fortune, they had to go big.


    ¡°Do you also think this price is too high?¡± Liu Lanxin asked with a particular tone in her voice, as if to say, it¡¯s all because of you that the selling price has shot up to 35,000 a bottle.


    Although Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi felt the same way, they would never voice it.


    The medicinal wine was supplied by Xia Liu; if they couldn¡¯t sell it, they could store it and sell it slowly.


    But the biggest profit-maker, Xia Liu, would be the one with a headache.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too high, it¡¯s too low,¡± Xia Liu shook his head, somewhat helplessly.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Liu Lanxin almost sprayed Xia Liu in the face; 35,000 and it¡¯s still low!


    Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi were also dumbfounded; 35,000 was already an astronomical figure, yet Xia Liu claimed it was too low.


    How vast was his ambition?


    ¡°Xia Liu, what do you think would be an appropriate selling price?¡± Liu Liguang asked weakly.


    ¡°At the very least, this number.¡± As he spoke, Xia Liu raised his hand and waved it.


    ¡°Fifty thousand?¡±


    Facing Liu Lanxin¡¯s astonished expression, Xia Liu nodded.


    The medicinal wine was targeted at the wealthy, so a price tag of fifty thousand wasn¡¯t unreasonable.


    ¡°My word! Can you be any more impressive?¡± Liu Lanxin was astounded. Xia Liu dared to name such a price.


    Did he really think people would buy it?


    ¡°This price hike is too drastic; I bet we won¡¯t sell a single bottle when the time comes,¡± Liu Liguang also shook his head. He had initially thought that Xia Liu would offer a reasonable suggestion or price, but now it seemed that Xia Liu wasn¡¯t too keen on dealing with medicinal wine anymore.


    Fifty thousand yuan could perhaps be a regular worker¡¯s annual salary.


    If that was truly the price, the only people who could afford the medicinal wine would likely just be the rich.


    ¡°Xia Liu, I want to know your exact intentions.¡± Just as Liu Liguang and Liu Lanxin were about to speak, Liu Buyi asked leisurely.


    ¡°The sales issue has arisen because we¡¯re not bold enough, and we lack good promotional channels,¡± Xia Liu said earnestly.


    ¡°Are you saying that being decisive means changing the medicated wine contract and only starting to sell after hitting 50,000 units upon release? The company spent millions on advertising, isn¡¯t that a good promotion?¡±


    Liu Lanxin disagreed with Xia Liu¡¯s argument, thinking everything he said was nonsense.


    ¡°Lan Xin, don¡¯t get worked up, Xia Liu must have his reasons for saying this.¡± Both Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi could sense that Xia Liu had more up his sleeve, an even bigger trump card!


    ¡°As for promotional channels, I can get in touch with them right now, and they all happen to be fans of the medicated wine.¡±


    ¡°Then get in touch with them quickly. If it doesn¡¯t work out, don¡¯t bother coming back here, just stay at my place,¡± Liu Lanxin said coldly, arms folded.


    ¡°Yo, Lan Xin, are you confessing to Xia Liu?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa! Look at Dad¡­¡±


    ¡°Liguang is right, Lan Xin, you¡¯ve graduated, and you¡¯re not getting any younger. If Xia Liu is willing to have you, we have no objections,¡± Liu Buyi said with a kind smile.


    ¡­


    Liu Lanxin, unable to face them any longer, made an excuse and quickly left the office.


    Watching Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang glance at him from the corner of their eyes, Xia Liu touched his phone, pretending he heard nothing.


    ¡°Benefactor! You¡¯re not joking! We can really be the agents for Tianluo Pharmaceutical¡¯s medicated wine!¡± Upon receiving Xia Liu¡¯s call, Huang Yilong nearly jumped off the sofa.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not joking with you. Don¡¯t blame me for not notifying you earlier, I need you to come to Binlai City as soon as possible to discuss the partnership.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah! Wait for me, Benefactor! I¡¯ll be there in at most five hours!¡± Huang Yilong said excitedly.


    With the Osmanthus Wine partnership, he had tasted huge profits, making ten thousand yuan from just one bottle of wine.


    He had already made several hundred million!


    The money he had once donated to Xia Liu had been thoroughly earned back through Xia Liu¡¯s help, and there were plenty of profits to boot.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t just save his life ¨C he also gave him the opportunity to make money, providing him, just as Xia Liu had said, with an opportunity for fortune!


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. Bring Yang Tian with you when you come. It might be too much for you to handle alone,¡± Xia Liu advised.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Benefactor. That guy and I are sworn brothers now. If I have a bite to eat, he definitely won¡¯t go without,¡± Huang Yilong mused on his current relationship with Yang Tian, feeling quite emotional.


    ¡°Alright, if you¡¯ve got a plane, fly over here. And make it quick, if you¡¯re late and the medicated wine is all gone, don¡¯t blame me.¡±


    After finishing his piece, Xia Liu hung up before Huang Yilong could respond.


    When it came to promoting, leaving things in the hands of Huang Yilong and Yang Tian would definitely not go amiss.


    With their experience from Osmanthus Wine, now that he intended to stockpile his own, letting them handle the medicated wine wasn¡¯t a bad idea, since it was all his own product anyway.


    Plus, medicated wine was even easier to produce, so why not take advantage of it?


    However, in terms of staying power, Osmanthus Wine was definitely much stronger than medicated wine.


    He wasn¡¯t talking about endurance in the bedroom but rather sales longevity.


    ¡°Have you got it sorted?¡± Liu Lanxin returned after washing her face, then listened to Xia Liu making the phone call.


    But after listening for a while, she felt that Xia Liu didn¡¯t sound like he was asking for help; it was as if he was bestowing a favor instead.


    Not just Liu Lanxin, both Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang felt the same.


    None of them could understand what Xia Liu was up to¡­


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 Chapter 459 - 459: Are Their Hearts Eaten by Dogs?

    Chapter 459: Chapter 459: Are Their Hearts Eaten by Dogs?


    ¡°It¡¯s all settled.¡± Noting the puzzled looks from the three, Xia Liu nodded earnestly.


    ¡°Wow! Brother Xia Liu, what did you just say?¡± Liu Lanxin was baffled. It was settled just like that?


    Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi were also puzzled. Was it really settled just like that?


    Are you kidding?


    Just one phone call, and Xia Liu¡¯s tone was almost soaring to the skies.


    If this could actually change the sales of the medicinal liquor, that would be absolutely amazing.


    ...


    ¡°You¡¯ll see tonight.¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t explain right away, after all, it was something that no one would believe if he merely spoke about it.


    Only when Huang Yilong and Yang Tian actually arrived, showing their Huaxia currency and taking the medicinal liquor back, would it become a reality.


    ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll just have to wait and see!¡± Liu Lanxin bit her lip slightly, Xia Liu, this guy, still keeping secrets.


    If it doesn¡¯t get settled, don¡¯t blame me for not giving him face!


    ¡°Hehe, let¡¯s not talk about that anymore. It¡¯s not often Xia Liu comes here, Liguo, you go back and instruct them to prepare a few tables to whet the appetite,¡± Liu Buyi said with a smile.


    Somehow, he had an intuition that Xia Liu could really handle this well.


    How should I put it, the raw materials for the medicinal liquor came from him, and the price was so high too.


    If he didn¡¯t handle it with care, the orders from this side would definitely decrease more and more in the future.


    Therefore, Liu Buyi believed that Xia Liu was indeed making a diligent effort.


    In the next hour, Xia Liu and Liu Buyi chatted idly in the office.


    Liu Liguang and Liu Lanxin went home to prepare the banquet.


    Not exactly a banquet, just an ordinary arrangement with careful attention, hoping to make a good impression on Xia Liu.


    After receiving a call, Xia Liu drove Liu Buyi to the Liu Family estate.


    Unlike before, the people of the Liu Family were respectful on the surface when they saw Xia Liu, but as soon as they turned their backs, Xia Liu could hear many sarcastic remarks.


    Xia Liu wasn¡¯t finding it difficult to guess that he had raised the cost price of the medicinal liquor to the current price.


    Definitely, that would provoke dissatisfaction among many people; even though they didn¡¯t say it to his face, they would certainly discuss him behind his back.


    Under the guidance of Liu Buyi, Xia Liu arrived at an artificial lake.


    Under a pavilion ahead, a large table was quietly set.


    Like Xia Liu, a few people were walking toward the pavilion from the opposite side of the secluded path.


    Among them were Liu Liguang and Liu Lanxin.


    Three other middle-aged men and an old man with white hair, who looked somewhat like Liu Buyi, were also present.


    ¡°Why is he here¡­¡± Seeing the elder, Liu Buyi¡¯s brows gradually tightened.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xia Liu asked, puzzled. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Nothing, there might be some trouble later, just keep quiet,¡± Liu Buyi said seriously.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll listen to what the old man says.¡± Although Xia Liu didn¡¯t quite understand, nothing had happened yet, so he could only agree to Liu Buyi.


    ¡°Grandfather! Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re finally back, I¡¯m almost starved to death.¡±


    ¡°You girl, we have so much food at home, you could have just eaten anything, but you insisted on waiting for us,¡± Liu Buyi said with a shake of his head and a kind smile.


    ¡°Hmph! We might have food now, but that might not be the case soon enough.¡± Just as Liu Lanxin was about to speak, the elderly man with a head of white hair suddenly interjected.


    Hmm? Smells a bit like ammunition.


    Hearing the elderly man¡¯s words filled with sarcasm, Xia Liu began to speculate.


    ¡°Bu¡¯an, is that any way to speak?¡± Liu Buyi said, visibly displeased.


    ¡°Big brother, is there a problem with what I said?¡± Liu Bu¡¯an asked emotionlessly in response.


    At that moment, Xia Liu glanced between Liu Bu¡¯an and Liu Buyi, realizing they were brothers, which explained their resemblance.


    Looking at this, it seems like the younger brother does not respect the elder.


    ¡°How can there be no problem? If you have any grievances, we can discuss them when we get back home. Don¡¯t act so offensively in front of our guest,¡± Liu Buyi said, somewhat helplessly. If it weren¡¯t for Xia Liu¡¯s presence, he would definitely take this opportunity to properly scold his ignorant brother.


    ¡°Guest? Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s a guest!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an said angrily, facing Xia Liu.


    As Liu Bu¡¯an spoke those words, the expressions of the three middle-aged men also changed.


    In the past, they might have respected Xia Liu, but now, representing their interests here, they mainly came to confront Xia Liu!


    ¡°Uncle Buyi, anyone can be a guest of the Liu Family, but not him!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! If it weren¡¯t for him, our group¡¯s stock price wouldn¡¯t have plummeted so badly.¡±


    The three middle-aged men stared at Xia Liu, their eyes reflecting unfriendliness and even anger.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Xia Liu raising the cost price of the medicinal liquor without changing the selling price, Tianluo Pharmaceutical could have become famous in Huaxia within a few years.


    Now, however, the sales price of the medicinal liquor had increased, and the company¡¯s stock price had almost fallen to its lowest level.


    What¡¯s worse is that there were people in the streets with banners, wanting to protest against the company.


    All these issues were caused by Xia Liu.


    ¡°Have your hearts been eaten by dogs? Who contributed to the group¡¯s development to this prosperous state today? Who is our benefactor?¡± Liu Buyi yelled angrily.


    ¡°It was Xia Liu! His Beauty Mud made our group famous overnight! His medicinal liquor drove people crazy! His arrival gave us the opportunity to collaborate with the medical troops! It was all because of him!¡±


    As Liu Buyi spoke, the three middle-aged men immediately fell silent, as indeed Tianluo Pharmaceutical had been lukewarm before Xia Liu¡¯s involvement.


    But with Xia Liu¡¯s arrival, Tianluo Pharmaceutical had experienced a qualitative leap and faintly had a chance to break through Huaxia and go international.


    Xia Liu¡¯s face was filled with bitterness; he had not expected that his small actions would cause so much difficulty for Liu Buyi at home.


    ¡°And now? What has the group become now? People are protesting with banners, the stock market has plummeted, and I think it won¡¯t be long before we¡¯ll have to file for bankruptcy!¡±


    Though Liu Buyi spoke true principles, Liu Bu¡¯an couldn¡¯t appreciate them, only aware that the group was now in crisis.


    If the problem is not resolved soon, Tianluo Pharmaceutical could return to its previous state, or even worse.


    ¡°You can¡¯t talk like that. Xia Liu came to our house today to help the group solve problems.¡±


    ¡°Big brother! Face the facts. Even if we revert to the original price, Tianluo Pharmaceutical will still be tarnished with a reputation for being money-grubbers,¡± Liu Bu¡¯an solemnly said. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s you who have aged, it¡¯s you who have misplaced your trust. Following a kid like him, you won¡¯t even know how you died.¡±


    ¡°Bu¡¯an, that¡¯s enough! You can criticize me, but don¡¯t speak ill of Xia Liu!¡± Liu Buyi was truly angry now.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with speaking the truth about him? If he was really capable and really smart, he wouldn¡¯t have made such a decision. Such a kid might as well be remade in a woman¡¯s womb!¡±


    Liu Bu¡¯an looked disdainfully at Xia Liu; he did not think Xia Liu had any ability, beyond making medicinal liquor, he was clueless about everything else.


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 Chapter 460 - 460: The Old Sickness Returns

    Chapter 460: Chapter 460: The Old Sickness Returns


    Hiss¡­ Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Liu Bu¡¯an uttered these words, everyone around him inhaled sharply.


    They slowly shifted their gaze to Xia Liu, wanting to see his attitude at the moment.


    However, to their disappointment, Xia Liu still wore a smile on his face, neither angry nor indignant.


    But they could all feel the atmosphere around them had become oppressive.


    Sometimes, a smile is more terrifying than anger.


    ...


    ¡°Liu Bu¡¯an! Are those even human words? Are you fit to be a member of the Liu family?¡± Liu Buyi exploded in rage.


    Even if the Liu family¡¯s situation is dire, so what?


    Is that an excuse for the members of the Liu family to lose their dignity and insult others at will?


    This is ridiculous! It¡¯s a sign of lack of upbringing.


    Even if Xia Liu was truly at fault, the Liu family has no right to lecture him, much less to insult him with such ferocity!


    ¡°Big brother! I call you big brother out of respect! Don¡¯t push your luck! He is doomed to be too young to make a difference! If we don¡¯t sever ties with him immediately, it won¡¯t be long before the Liu family becomes a slave to others!¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± With eyes wide open, Liu Buyi pointed at Liu Bu¡¯an but couldn¡¯t articulate his words.


    ¡°Grandpa! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Seeing her grandfather clutching his chest and falling backward, Liu Lanxin shouted in panic.


    The quickest to react was Xia Liu. As Liu Buyi began to tilt, he reached out his arms to catch him.


    ¡°Father! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Liu Liguang also became anxious. The Liu family¡¯s current position was solely sustained by his father.


    If his father were to fall, the Liu family might very well be finished.


    Although Liu Liguang was of a certain age, his network and relationships were still all built by Liu Buyi.


    If the Liu family wanted to thrive and prosper, they were still relying on Liu Buyi.


    ¡°Heh, big brother, you¡¯re not young anymore. Don¡¯t always be so angry. If one day you can¡¯t get up, that would indeed be a loss for the Liu family,¡± Liu Bu¡¯an said, with not a hint of concern as he saw Liu Buyi fall, but rather seemed eager to provoke further.


    As long as Liu Buyi fell, the Liu family would fall into his hands, and by then, the entire Tianluo Pharmaceutical would be controlled by his lineage.


    Thinking of this, Liu Bu¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but gloat silently.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, how is my grandpa?¡± Seeing Liu Buyi with his eyes tightly closed and a pained expression on his face, Liu Lanxin asked weakly.


    ¡°The old master¡¯s chronic illness has flared up. He must receive immediate medical attention, or he won¡¯t live more than an hour!¡±


    After examining Liu Buyi¡¯s pulse, Xia Liu was also somewhat surprised.


    If he hadn¡¯t been there today, Liu Buyi would probably be in a white shroud by now.


    ¡°Ah! The chronic illness has flared up!¡± Hearing what Xia Liu said, Liu Liguang¡¯s body began to tremble.


    He knew something about Liu Buyi¡¯s illness, which dated back to his youth.


    Back when Liu Buyi had just started managing the Tianluo Chinese Medicine Pharmacy in Pinglan Town, he went into the mountains to gather herbs during the winter and eventually became rather frail.


    Finally, he passed out in the mountains and was stricken with cold.


    Afterward, whenever he became agitated, the cold inside his body would rise and eventually enter his liver.


    If he wasn¡¯t rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment at such times, he would certainly die.


    ¡°Big brother! Did you hear that? They¡¯re always telling you to rest well, and now look, the cold has struck, hasn¡¯t it!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an could hardly contain his desire to laugh.


    He was well aware of Liu Buyi¡¯s chronic condition. It had flared up a few times before, but never as severely as this time.


    Perhaps this time, it could claim his life¡­


    You have no respect for the elderly! To mock and ridicule your elder brother as he suffers an attack of his illness is utterly heartless,¡± Xia Liu could no longer tolerate it and glared furiously at Liu Bu¡¯an.


    As soon as Xia Liu spoke, the surrounding atmosphere plunged into silence.


    Especially those three middle-aged men, they wanted to retort against Xia Liu¡¯s words.


    But upon making eye contact with him, it felt as if their entire beings had fallen into an ice cave; his gaze was so cold!


    The frosty look in his eyes made one¡¯s spine chill, causing their bodies to tremble uncontrollably.


    Liu Bu¡¯an himself was frightened by Xia Liu¡¯s gaze.


    But the sharpness of his words was very uncomfortable to bear.


    ¡°What right does a greenhorn like you have to lecture me? If you don¡¯t want him to die, hurry up and drive to the hospital,¡± Liu Bu¡¯an straightened his chest with some trepidation.


    Now that things were almost settled, once Liu Buyi died, he would become the supreme leader of the Liu Family.


    Why should he be afraid?


    Xia Liu?


    A mere peasant, a rural doctor, what trouble could he stir up?


    ¡°Second Uncle! Are you really so heartless?¡± Liu Liguang shouted angrily.


    ¡°Liguang, you hurry and drive. Your dad can¡¯t hold on much longer. Rest assured, after this, the Liu Family will continue to thrive. Just supervise, and these three cousins of yours are all very enthusiastic.¡±


    With that, Liu Bu¡¯an looked towards the three middle-aged men, who were in a state of excitement.


    ¡°Cousin Liguang, rest assured, we will definitely expand Tianluo Pharmaceutical in the future,¡±


    ¡°Indeed, go and accompany your uncle to seek medical attention.


    ¡°Yes, hurry up; otherwise, if something unfortunate happens to the uncle, it will all be because of your procrastination,¡± the three middle-aged men said with hidden smiles.


    ¡°Hey you, what are you looking at? Better rein in your glare, or I¡¯ll call security!¡± one middle-aged man said angrily upon seeing Xia Liu still giving that chilling look.


    ¡°Liu Nantian! Don¡¯t get above yourself; The Liu Family is not yours to command yet! And you, Second Uncle, pray that nothing happens to my father, or the Tianluo Pharmaceutical you desire will become nothing but an empty shell,¡± Liu Liguang was truly angered.


    He and Liu Buyi had very high status in the family, and thus he always had to show restraint to avoid any divisions among the Liu Family members.


    But now he didn¡¯t need to, because being too forbearing made others think he could be easily bullied. So, bring it on!


    Let¡¯s see who can touch whom!


    ¡°Liguang, you!¡± Suddenly, Liu Bu¡¯an had a foreboding feeling, but he couldn¡¯t be certain about the meaning behind Liu Liguang¡¯s words.


    ¡°Lan Xin, get me some tissues,¡± Xia Liu said, just as both sides were about to argue heatedly, his voice echoing under the tranquil pavilion.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Liu Lanxin had been watching Xia Liu all along. Although she didn¡¯t know what he was planning to do, she was certain it would not harm their grandfather.


    Liu Liguang, Liu Buyi, and the three middle-aged men all focused their attention on Xia Liu.


    Then, they saw Xia Liu place Liu Buyi down on the ground, sitting cross-legged, before moving behind him.


    ¡°Xia Liu, what are you doing?¡± Seeing Xia Liu raise his hand as if to hit his father, Liu Liguang hurriedly asked.


    ¡°Emergency treatment,¡± Xia Liu replied and with a focused palm, lightly tapped Liu Buyi¡¯s back.


    Thump!


    As soon as Xia Liu¡¯s palm made contact with Liu Buyi¡¯s back, a jet of Blood Sword sprayed forth from Liu Buyi¡¯s mouth.


    Seeing such a frightening scene, everyone around was struck dumb.


    ¡°Hahaha! Look at that, he is the calamity of the Liu Family. Not only has he brought chaos to the company, but now he¡¯s also going to finish off Liu Buyi. How amusing!¡±


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 Chapter 461 - 461: Smash!

    Chapter 461: Chapter 461: Smash!


    ¡°Murder!¡±


    ¡°Murder!¡±


    ¡­


    Regaining their senses, the three middle-aged men¡¯s faces turned pale, their mouths crying out in shock and panic.


    It was their first time seeing someone cough up blood, and the scene had thoroughly shaken them.


    Liu Liguang had already collapsed onto the ground, powerless, with a vacant look in his eyes.


    ...


    He couldn¡¯t imagine that Xia Liu could send his own father spitting blood with a single palm strike!


    He had such high hopes for Xia Liu, even wanting to introduce his daughter Liu Lanxin to him.


    But why had he struck his father¡­


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! What are you doing?¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s eyes filled with tears immediately, her cries accompanied by hot tears rolling down her smooth cheeks onto her clothes.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t answer; instead, he struck another palm on Liu Buyi¡¯s chest.


    Pfft!


    Blood sprayed out of Liu Buyi¡¯s mouth once again.


    ¡°Ah!!!¡± The three middle-aged men clawed at their hair in fear.


    In their minds, Xia Liu was like a demon, his palm strikes capable of shattering a person¡¯s organs, causing them to spit blood.


    ¡°Xia Liu! Stop it right now!¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank, her body moving forward to push Xia Liu away.


    ¡°Call the police and arrest this murderer!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an also felt fear creeping in.


    Xia Liu¡¯s methods were too fierce; with two palm strikes he had made Liu Buyi vomit blood. If he were to strike them as well, would they end up like Liu Buyi, spitting blood to their deaths?


    Liu Liguang¡¯s expression had long since turned icy cold, unsure how to express his emotions.


    To grab a knife and stab at Xia Liu?


    No, he couldn¡¯t do it, the only thing he could do now was to call the police, then go check on his father¡¯s condition.


    Looking at the frenzied scene, Xia Liu was beyond embarrassed.


    He wanted to say, ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone seen someone spit blood before? Getting so panicked, what a bunch of oddballs¡­¡±


    ¡°Xia Liu! Why would you do this, what has my grandfather ever done to wrong you?¡± Liu Lanxin shouted, her voice tearing.


    Her vision blurred by tears, she knelt beside her grandfather, heartbroken to the core.


    ¡°No, the old man has been very good to me,¡± Xia Liu spoke weakly.


    ¡°Then why hurt him! Why!¡± Liu Lanxin couldn¡¯t understand at all what was going on with Xia Liu, what was happening to the world.


    ¡°Lan Xin, don¡¯t be angry at Xia Liu, it was he who saved me¡­¡± Just when Liu Lanxin was about to roar again, a faint voice rang beside her ear.


    ¡°Hmm!¡±


    Liu Lanxin stopped in place instantly, lifting her head violently, a kind and loving face piercing deep into her heart.


    Liu Liguang and Liu Bu¡¯an were also frozen in place at that moment.


    ¡°Old man, how do you feel?¡±


    ¡°The energy flows smoothly, and there¡¯s a warm feeling inside my body, how did you do it?¡± Liu Buyi asked with a tender smile after feeling thoroughly.


    ¡°Old man, you¡¯ve forgotten, my medical skills are pretty decent,¡± Xia Liu said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Hahaha! I was the fool,¡± Liu Buyi laughed heartily and then stood up.


    ¡°Liguo, Lan Xin, haven¡¯t you two hurried to apologize to Xia Liu!¡± Liu Buyi had heard all the commotion while lying there.


    But he was unable to open his eyes or explain anything until he spit out the second mouthful of poison blood and finally felt clear-headed, as if his entire body had become lighter, and his outlook on things much more relaxed.


    He had heard everything his granddaughter had accused Xia Liu of.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­¡± Liu Liguang and Liu Lanxin¡¯s faces were filled with embarrassment.


    How could they have known that Xia Liu was treating Liu Buyi, with those palm strikes and spitting of blood, anyone would have thought wildly. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Xia Liu, I¡¯m sorry, I almost misunderstood you¡­¡±


    ¡°Uncle Liu, there¡¯s no need for so much formality between us,¡± Xia Liu interrupted before Liu Liguang could finish speaking.


    The two exchanged a smile, and the misunderstanding from before was thoroughly resolved.


    As for Liu Lanxin, she turned her head to the side silently, her thoughts unknown.


    ¡°Liu Bu¡¯an, did you see that? Xia Liu¡¯s medical skills are superior to any doctor¡¯s, and his character is beyond question.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, what¡¯s the use of telling me this? If we continue to cooperate with him, the Liu Family will be doomed sooner or later,¡± Liu Bu¡¯an said disdainfully. ¡°And he even insulted an elder, what kind of character is that?¡±


    ¡°Heh, you dare call yourself an elder? Not enough brain nutrition supplements, huh? I really wonder if you¡¯re actually the old man¡¯s biological brother,¡± Xia Liu said, fists clenched behind his back.


    If Liu Bu¡¯an wasn¡¯t Liu Buyi¡¯s brother, Xia Liu¡¯s fist would have already shattered his chest.


    ¡°You dare, youngster!¡±


    ¡°What, only you¡¯re allowed to speak? Does everyone in the world have to tolerate you? Everyone has a bottom line, and mine is very fragile. I hope you don¡¯t touch it, or even if you are the old man¡¯s real brother, I won¡¯t be soft!¡±


    With those words, Xia Liu slapped his palm down on the stone table.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a loud noise spread from underneath Xia Liu¡¯s palm, and to the astonishment of everyone around, the stone table shattered inch by inch, with all the dishes on it falling to the ground.


    Clink clank, the sound of broken bowls and cutlery echoed all around.


    Silence!


    Everything became quiet.


    Liu Buyi was stunned.


    Liu Bu¡¯an was stunned.


    Liu Liguang and Liu Lanxin were also stunned.


    Not to mention the three middle-aged men who were on the verge of wetting their pants.


    What had they just witnessed?


    A young man had shattered a stone table with a single palm strike! Shattered!


    What tremendous strength that must be!


    Was that really the strength a human could possess?


    Many questions exploded in the minds of the onlookers.


    Gulp¡­


    Xia Liu swallowed nervously. He had only wanted to present a strong demeanor but hadn¡¯t expected to completely smash the table¡­


    ¡°Sorry everyone, I didn¡¯t control my strength just now. How much for the table? I¡¯ll compensate you for it later¡­¡±


    ¡°Whoosh!!!¡±


    The three middle-aged men collapsed on the ground, their souls shaken by Xia Liu¡¯s strike.


    Liu Buyi and the others all forced down saliva, their hearts palpitating as they came back to their senses.


    Especially Liu Bu¡¯an, who now realized that Xia Liu¡¯s palm could indeed kill a person!


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke like that, Xia Liu. Even if you tear down the Liu family, no one would dare ask you for compensation,¡± Liu Liguang said, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    ¡°Uncle Liu, I¡¯m really sorry about this, old man¡­¡± Xia Liu touched his nose, sensing their fear of him. If it continued like this, many things in their relationship might change in the future.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­


    Just as Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi were about to speak, suddenly the sound of something cutting through the air echoed in their ears.


    ¡°Liguo! There¡¯s a helicopter above our house. They say it¡¯s come from Liuhai City looking for Xia Liu!¡±


    ¡°Quick, guide the helicopter to land!¡± Hearing that someone had come in a helicopter looking for Xia Liu, Liu Liguang immediately ordered without a second thought.


    As the whirring sound gradually faded, Liu Buyi, Liu Liguang, and the rest all focused their gazes on Xia Liu, wanting to know what exactly was going on¡­


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 Chapter 462 - 462: Taking Advantage of Ones Seniority

    Chapter 462: Chapter 462: Taking Advantage of One¡¯s Seniority


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, are they the people you just called over the phone?¡±


    Suddenly, Liu Lanxin remembered Xia Liu making a very impressive phone call at the company.


    Perhaps this helicopter belonged to the person on the other side of the phone!


    ¡°Yes! I remember now, Xia Liu, is it them?¡± Liu Liguang also had a sudden realization; at the time, he thought Xia Liu had been joking, but the helicopter¡¯s sudden arrival made him suspect that it was indeed the phone call that had done the trick!


    ¡°Yes, they are my friends from Liuhai City, who have a knack for promotion. They have been successful once before¡ªperhaps our medicinal alcohol could be publicized through them.¡±


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t deny it; other than Huang Yilong and Yang Tian, he couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would fly a plane here and seek him out.


    ...


    He had just received a text message from Yang Tian; Xia Liu thought the two were coming on a passenger plane and had casually given them the Liu Family¡¯s location.


    To his surprise, they really did as he had said and came by helicopter¡ªit was utterly explosive!


    ¡°Do they really have a way to promote the Osmanthus Wine?¡± After hearing Xia Liu¡¯s explanation, Liu Liguang trembled.


    If the current situation changed, then Tianluo Pharmaceutical would have to recreate a new Peak!


    ¡°Hmph! Just with a few people, thinking they could promote medicinal alcohol is daydreaming.¡±


    At that moment, Liu Bu¡¯an, who had regained his composure, spoke in a mocking tone.


    ¡°Hehe, did I say anything?¡± Xia Liu looked coldly at Liu Bu¡¯an.


    Confronted with Xia Liu¡¯s gaze, and looking at the shattered stone table on the ground, Liu Bu¡¯an dared not utter a word.


    The three middle-aged men beside him also kept silent.


    They now desperately wanted to flee this place¡ªthe shock that Xia Liu had brought them ran deep to their souls.


    Ding Ding¡­


    Just then, Liu Liguang¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it.¡±


    After hanging up, Liu Liguang turned to Xia Liu and said, ¡°Xia Liu, your friends are already in the reception hall having tea.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s go take a look, and bring along two bottles of the medicinal alcohol.¡± Liu Buyi quickly instructed.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t say anything; Liu Buyi¡¯s thoughts were in line with his own.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this!¡± Liu Lanxin eagerly said, and then she ran off.


    ¡°Let¡¯s all go over as well.¡± Watching his daughter¡¯s retreating figure, Liu Liguang felt reassured; all he wanted to know now was how Xia Liu would discuss the promotion strategy with his friends.


    ¡°You guys go ahead, I¡¯ll go back to rest.¡± As one of Liu Bu¡¯an¡¯s line, Liu Nantian didn¡¯t really want to get involved in this matter any further; the shattered stone table had already proven Xia Liu¡¯s fearsome power.


    ¡°Trying to leave? Little brother, are you scared?¡± Liu Liguang sneered.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, Nantian, don¡¯t rush off to do other things, let us all have a look at whether that kid can really turn the sky upside down!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an looked at Xia Liu and Liu Buyi with disdain.


    He was curious to see how Xia Liu would reverse the Liu Family¡¯s current predicament.


    If not, then he would gather people to overthrow Liu Buyi after returning!


    The group then all headed towards the reception hall.


    ¡°President Xia!¡± Seeing Xia Liu approaching, recalling the nickname Xia Liu had mentioned in the text message, Huang Yilong and Yang Tian immediately greeted him respectfully.


    ¡°President Huang, President Yang, your speed is truly astonishing.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, if it weren¡¯t for President Xia giving us an opportunity a while back, we wouldn¡¯t be where we are today,¡± Huang Yilong and Yang Tian said with bright smiles on their faces.


    They were genuinely happy from the bottom of their hearts.


    Thanks to the good fortune Xia Liu had provided them, they no longer had to rely on their families and could truly stand on their own two feet.


    Even though the quantity of Osmanthus Wine was constantly decreasing, they were still making a hefty profit.


    For each bottle of Osmanthus Wine, after deducting shipping and other miscellaneous fees, they still made a profit of nearly ten thousand.


    Ten thousand bottles, that¡¯s a hundred million. As long as they continued to cooperate with Xia Liu, they would be able to earn even more money in the future.


    ¡°Let me introduce you to someone. This is the Chairman of Tianluo Pharmaceutical: Old Master Liu, and this is President Liu Liguang,¡± Xia Liu said, introducing Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang after the pleasantries were done.


    As for Liu Bu¡¯an and Liu Nantian, he didn¡¯t even give them a glance.


    Huang Yilong and Yang Tian also picked up on Xia Liu¡¯s cue and didn¡¯t say much to Liu Bu¡¯an and the others, not even making eye contact for more than a second.


    ¡°Old Master Liu, we came in a bit of a hurry this time and didn¡¯t bring anything with us. I¡¯m really sorry about that,¡± Yang Tian said awkwardly to Liu Buyi.


    ¡°You¡¯re all too polite. I¡¯m very happy just to have you visit the Liu Family,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Old Master Liu is really vigorous in his old age and so easy-going. You¡¯re truly a role model for us younger folks.¡±


    ¡°Hmmph! Enough with the flattery. It¡¯s time to talk business,¡± Liu Bu¡¯an suddenly interjected, just as Huang Yilong and Yang Tian were about to lay on some more praise.


    ¡°Who is this elderly person, if I may ask?¡± said Yang Tian with feigned ignorance.


    ¡°I¡¯m your father!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an said furiously.


    ¡°Liu Bu¡¯an! Shut your mouth. They are guests of the Liu Family!¡± Liu Buyi scolded him once more.


    ¡°Hehe, so it¡¯s old man Liu Bu¡¯an. My apologies indeed,¡± Huang Yilong said leisurely, a smirk of disdain spreading across his face.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    Huang Yilong¡¯s remark immediately drew a joyful laugh from Xia Liu. Not only him, but also Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang couldn¡¯t help but snicker.


    ¡°You! You¡¯re so rude!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an pointed at Huang Yilong and scolded angrily.


    ¡°Old Master Liu, who is he anyway? He seems to like to throw his weight around a lot. Besides being quite old, he doesn¡¯t seem to have any filter on his mouth, and he always has a sour face on. If we didn¡¯t know any better, we might think we owe him money,¡± Huang Yilong added.


    ¡°Kid! Shut your damn mouth! Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?¡± Liu Bu¡¯an angrily pointed at Yang Tian.


    ¡°Insolence! Do you really think the Liu Family can¡¯t function without you, Liu Bu¡¯an? Liguo, get some men to throw him out to the front gate!¡± Liu Buyi was now thoroughly enraged.


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong were invited by Xia Liu to promote their wine, and to be treated like that upon entering the house by family members¡ªif it weren¡¯t for Xia Liu being there, Huang Yilong and Yang Tian probably would have left already.


    Both of them had come via helicopter from Liuhai City, which just goes to show how powerful the support and connections behind them were.


    ¡°Hmph! If you want me to leave, then deal with the Liu Family¡¯s crisis first!¡± Liu Bu¡¯an never believed in Liu Buyi¡¯s approach.


    ¡°President Yang, President Huang, the main reason for inviting you here is to discuss this matter,¡± Xia Liu said seriously, seizing the moment. Since Liu Bu¡¯an wanted to see, Xia Liu would give him something clear to see!


    ¡°Please speak freely, President Xia,¡± the two said, following Xia Liu¡¯s previous instructions to keep up appearances even though they understood.


    ¡°I¡¯m also a partner of Tianluo Pharmaceutical and the developer of the medicinal wine. This time, I¡¯ve discussed with Tianluo Pharmaceutical to hand over the distribution channels for the medicinal wine in Liuhai to you two.¡±


    ¡°The distribution channels for the medicinal wine!!!¡±


    Hearing this news, Huang Yilong and Yang Tian were both exhilarated.


    The expressions on their faces were indescribable with words.


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 Chapter 463 - 463: Finalized

    Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Finalized


    Huang Yilong and Yang Tian were truly excited, preferring medicinal wine over Osmanthus Wine.


    The reputation and quality of medicinal wine were well-known.


    Just a tiny sip could produce unimaginable energy, such was the charm of Tianluo Medicinal Wine!


    During their visit to the Osmanthus Village distillery, Xia Liu had mentioned medicinal wine.


    But at that time, they had not had the opportunity to experience the medicinal wine; instead, they ended up with Osmanthus Wine.


    Of course, Osmanthus Wine was also good.


    ...


    But they were more eager to take the medicinal wine back with them!


    Because it would be easier to promote and sell than Osmanthus Wine.


    ¡°Since you all are insiders, I¡¯ll just speak the truth,¡± said, ¡°do you know why I called you here?¡±


    After letting the two revel in their excitement for a moment, Xia Liu calmly asked.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it must be due to a series of issues that have arisen with the medicinal wine these past few days,¡± said Huang Yilong, who was particularly focused on the medicinal wine.


    Because he had used his connections to buy several bottles, he was someone who couldn¡¯t control themselves and wielded the ¡°daily great sword.¡±


    How could he not buy some medicinal wine for protection?


    So he was also aware of the issues that had arisen at Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    ¡°Yes, because the cost price has increased, the selling price will surely fluctuate upward,¡± nodded Xia Liu.


    ¡°Actually, I think the recently revised selling price is not very reasonable,¡± Huang Yilong reflected and then said.


    ¡°Oh, you think it¡¯s unreasonable too?¡± Seizing the opportunity, Liu Bu¡¯an immediately said sarcastically.


    ¡°Yes, very unreasonable. If it were me, I would price the medicinal wine at at least fifty thousand per bottle. A price of thirty-five thousand really depreciates it,¡± Huang Yilong said seriously.


    Pff¡­


    Liu Bu¡¯an nearly spurted out old blood.


    Apart from Xia Liu, everyone else at the scene trembled to different extents.


    They couldn¡¯t help but think, who are these people?


    A price of thirty-five thousand was already nearly crushing Tianluo Pharmaceutical. If it were raised to fifty thousand, wouldn¡¯t it kill the company?


    However, Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang felt differently; they found it incredible.


    Huang Yilong¡¯s thoughts were the same as Xia Liu¡¯s; could it be that they saw the world differently?


    They had their reasons for suggesting such a price.


    Listening to their forthcoming analysis might yield some insights.


    ¡°You make it sound so simple. Now that you¡¯re in charge of Liu Hai¡¯s sales channels, would you dare to take all the medicinal wine priced at thirty-five thousand per bottle?¡± Liu Bu¡¯an said disdainfully.


    ¡°Haha! Old man, can you make the decision? Let¡¯s not talk about thirty-five thousand. I¡¯ll add three thousand to that, thirty-eight thousand per bottle, I¡¯ll take all you have right now!¡± Huang Yilong became excited. Damn it, thirty-eight thousand per bottle, and selling them for fifty thousand, that¡¯s a profit of twelve thousand per bottle!


    Moreover, the good reputation of Osmanthus Wine had been too prominent. Once a stronger wine appeared.


    The sales to a certain clientele could be terrifying.


    Though Huang Yilong and Yang Tian were in Liu Hai, they had many friends in other cities.


    Their friends were all wealthy young heirs of the sort.


    Even without spending money on promotion, just relying on friends to spread the word, they could make a killing in a month.


    Seeing Huang Yilong¡¯s excited expression, Liu Bu¡¯an¡¯s face suddenly filled with disgust.


    He had intended to provoke Huang Yilong, but now it seemed he had been the one slapped in the face!


    Unlike Liu Bu¡¯an, both Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi were excited.


    The earnest expression on Huang Yilong¡¯s face was too serious.


    They could tell that this guy was not joking.


    Once they nodded, he would definitely offer thirty-eight thousand per bottle and take all the medicinal wine back with him.


    With that, sales would no longer be a problem.


    As for the banners on the streets outside, Liu Buyi could easily take care of them with a simple phone call.


    He hadn¡¯t dealt with them these past few days because addressing the symptoms without curing the root was useless and would even incur favors, so observing and waiting was the priority.


    Now that the sales issue could be resolved, everything else would no longer be a problem, and Tianluo Pharmaceutical could become hot because of this!


    Just as Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi were about to share their opinions, a sneering laugh resounded through the room, ¡°President Huang, you¡¯re not joking, right? Thirty-eight thousand? That would mean Tianluo Pharmaceutical wouldn¡¯t make any money. Why not round it up to forty thousand?¡±


    ¡°Uh uh uh¡­¡±


    Huang Yilong and Yang Tian both felt awkward.


    They had just been joking; the real price, of course, had to be decided by Xia Liu.


    ¡°If you both think forty thousand is too high, thirty-eight thousand is also acceptable.¡± Seeing their hesitation and troubled expressions, Liu Liguang immediately clarified.


    ¡°Ha-ha! Still pretending! Nephew Liguo, even at thirty-five thousand, they couldn¡¯t afford it. I think these guys are just actors hired by the youngster.¡± Seizing the opportunity again, Liu Bu¡¯an relentlessly criticized.


    ¡°Old Master Liu¡¯s brother, I¡¯ll give you some respect, please accept this. Don¡¯t make people angry; otherwise, it¡¯s difficult to predict what might happen,¡± Xia Liu didn¡¯t say everything.


    If Liu Bu¡¯an dared say another word, he promised he wouldn¡¯t show respect to anyone.


    Recalling that shattered stone table, Liu Bu¡¯an dared not speak anymore.


    After an oppressive moment, Huang Yilong timidly broke the atmosphere, ¡°Well¡­ President Liu, don¡¯t get me wrong, we just discussed it, we understand the medicinal wine quite well, so we can accept the price of forty thousand per bottle.¡±


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Liu Liguang thought he heard wrong. After Huang Yilong and Yang Tian confirmed it again, he immediately got excited, ¡°That¡¯s really great!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, truly a hero from the youth,¡± Liu Buyi finally relaxed.


    ¡°Let me be clear upfront, you will have to sign a contract later. It¡¯s not forcing you to purchase a certain amount, but you must strictly control the sales price, not exceeding fifty thousand, the rest is up to you.¡±


    ¡°President Xia, don¡¯t worry, we understand the limits, and having a contract is certainly best.¡±


    ¡°I also agree with this contract.¡±


    Yang Tian and Huang Yilong both started smiling happily.


    A price of forty thousand per bottle, selling for fifty thousand, earning ten thousand!


    This was no different from Osmanthus Wine.


    If there was a difference, it was just a matter of quantity.


    Because they had seen at the distillery, the medicinal wine was being produced by the tons!


    Once those tons of medicinal wine were packaged, their era of making money would arrive! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, Liu Bu¡¯an didn¡¯t dare say another word.


    If he dared to doubt before, it was because he couldn¡¯t see any prospects.


    However, Huang Yilong and Yang Tian had just signed the contract.


    Forty thousand per bottle for the medicinal wine, not to be sold for more than fifty thousand, as for the rest, it was up to them to arrange.


    After watching the two sign and stamp the contract, Liu Bu¡¯an sat collapsed in his seat, his eyes somewhat vacant.


    All his plans were ruined, and appearing here today had been an absolute slap in the face, especially by a group of young people¡­


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 Chapter 464 - 464: President Xia, Divine Doctor Xia

    Chapter 464: Chapter 464: President Xia, Divine Doctor Xia


    ¡°`


    ¡°Cheers!¡± Inside a finely decorated building of the Liu Family, everyone was holding their wine glasses high, their faces brimming with joy unlike any they had felt before.


    Apart from Liu Liguang and Liu Buyi, the other somewhat eminent members of the Liu Family present knew about the events of the day.


    Their happiness was genuine, for the reputation issue of the company had been resolved.


    Once the sales channels for the medicinal liquor were established, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the buyers were without objections.


    The problems of Tianluo Pharmaceutical would be swiftly resolved and revenue would climb even higher.


    ...


    Of course, Tianluo Pharmaceutical had more than just medicinal liquor as a product.


    They had numerous products, but it was undeniable that the medicinal liquor was the highest-earning one.


    No matter what, they had to secure the cooperation for the medicinal liquor.


    Now, at last, it had come to fruition.


    ¡°Today, we really can¡¯t thank President Xia enough!¡± Several middle-aged members of the Liu Family raised their glasses to Xia Liu.


    ¡°Ah, if you say thanks, it¡¯s like we¡¯re strangers, and the medicinal liquor is also my business, so we all have to thank President Huang and President Yang!¡±


    ¡°Right, right! Thanks to President Huang and President Yang!¡±


    Afterward, everyone raised their glasses to Yang Tian and Huang Yilong.


    Huang Yilong and Yang Tian could certainly hold their liquor, but facing the continuous toasts from the Liu Family members, they eventually collapsed beside the table.


    ¡°Xia Liu, it¡¯s so late, why don¡¯t you stay and rest?¡± After the banquet, Liu Buyi said with a benevolent smile.


    ¡°Um, I just called home, and tonight I will impose upon your gracious hospitality.¡± Xia Liu nodded. He couldn¡¯t head back immediately anyway; he still had to perform acupuncture on Liu Buyi.


    The two slaps he had delivered today were only meant to temporarily guide some of the cold energy out of the body; the underlying problem had not yet been entirely eradicated.


    ¡°President Xia, we are now all family, and the Liu House is your home too, how can you call it imposing?¡±


    ¡°Yes, President Xia, feel free to treat this place as your own home.¡±


    The members of the Liu Family, who were sitting around enjoying their tea, overheard Xia Liu¡¯s polite words, and before Liu Buyi could respond, they all eagerly expressed the same sentiment.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xia Liu smiled without saying anything; he didn¡¯t know what else to say, so maintaining his smile seemed best.


    ¡°President Xia is young and handsome, and Liguo¡¯s daughter is graceful and lovely, now that she has graduated, if the two of them could become boyfriend and girlfriend, it would be a match made in heaven.¡±


    ¡°Hey! I¡¯ve noticed too, when Lan Xin and President Xia are together, they seem just like boyfriend and girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, President Xia, seeing that Lan Xin doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend right now, why don¡¯t you try dating her?¡±


    As the conversation deepened, the members of the Liu Family started jokingly chattering among themselves.


    Xia Liu could only give a wry smile in response; back at his own home, there were already seven dutiful sisters, and if he were to court Liu Lanxin, wouldn¡¯t that be a great sin?


    ¡°Xia Liu, I think this suggestion isn¡¯t bad, Lan Xin is also at the age to marry,¡± Liu Buyi said in a gentle probing tone.


    ¡°Support President Xia!¡±


    ¡°Support President Xia!¡±


    With Liu Buyi¡¯s support, the members of the Liu Family were even more excited.


    ¡°Hehe, everyone, let¡¯s not get excited, these things depend on fate, and cannot be forced,¡± Xia Liu said with a wry smile.


    Thankfully, Liu Lanxin wasn¡¯t present, otherwise, it would have been even more awkward.


    ¡°Old Master, the most important thing to do now is to remove the hidden danger from inside your body,¡± Not waiting for everyone to speak, Xia Liu forcibly shifted their focus back to Liu Buyi.


    ¡°Hm? Can the old master¡¯s chronic illness from his youth really be completely cured?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you all heard? Today, with just a gentle pat on the old master¡¯s back and chest by President Xia, he revived!¡±


    ¡°Could it be that President Xia is a Divine Doctor!¡±


    Sure enough, as soon as Xia Liu brought up Liu Buyi¡¯s health issues, the members of the Liu Family began to eagerly discuss.


    ¡°`


    ¡°I¡¯m not a Divine Doctor; I¡¯ve just learned a bit from my master, enough to deal with common diseases,¡± Xia Liu said modestly.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you can handle more than just simple diseases. This chronic cold of mine has plagued me for decades, and with just a couple of pats from you today, most of the chill was dispelled. The title of Divine Doctor is truly well-deserved!¡± Recalling how his chill flared up during the day, Liu Buyi was endlessly amazed and held countless admiration for Xia Liu.


    Liu Buyi also came from a background in traditional Chinese medicine and understood his own body quite well.


    The two mouthfuls of blood he coughed up today were just emergency treatment for an urgent situation; his hidden cold-related illness was still present.


    ¡°Old Master, your chronic illness has been with you for so long that acupuncture is necessary for a complete cure.¡±


    ¡°What! You say it can be completely cured!¡± Hearing what Xia Liu said, Liu Buyi became excited, his voice trembling uncontrollably.


    This hidden illness had accompanied him for decades. When his career just started to pick up, he had sought medical advice far and wide.


    After a few years with no results, he could only suppress it with medication and concentrate on running his company.


    By now, Liu Buyi had forgotten how much herbal medicine he had taken.


    He had almost given up hope on his body, living each day as it came.


    But now Xia Liu was saying that a cure was possible, how could he not be thrilled?


    ¡°Wow! I told you President Xia is a Divine Doctor!¡±


    ¡°He can actually cure it!¡±


    ¡°President Xia is definitely a Divine Doctor!¡±


    ¡°Right, some time ago I heard a friend mention that there was a young Divine Doctor in Hejing who could cure hereditary diseases with just a few needles, and he even cured two at once!¡±


    ¡°Wow! Is there really such a Divine Doctor in the world?¡±


    ¡­ Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After the surprise from Liu Buyi, everyone else began to stir.


    And there was one who seemed to have heard of Xia Liu¡¯s feats.


    ¡°President Xia, is that Divine Doctor in Hejing my friend talked about you?¡± the middle-aged man asked Xia Liu with curiosity.


    All eyes in the room turned to Xia Liu, eager to hear his response firsthand.


    ¡°I dare not claim the title of Divine Doctor, but I indeed cured two patients with hereditary diseases through acupuncture,¡± Xia Liu modestly said, touching his nose.


    ¡°Ha! So it really is President Xia!¡±


    ¡°Divine Doctor Xia!¡±


    ¡­


    After Xia Liu¡¯s confirmation, the crowd went wild.


    Although they didn¡¯t have any diseases themselves, Xia Liu¡¯s experiences were proof enough of his ability to cure Liu Buyi!


    Once Liu Buyi was restored to health, the Liu Family¡¯s fortunes could soar even higher.


    ¡°Old Master, please take off your clothes, and I will perform the acupuncture.¡± After the surroundings quieted down a bit, Xia Liu said.


    ¡°I¡¯m in your hands,¡± Liu Buyi said with a kind smile, and then began to prepare as instructed by Xia Liu.


    The members of the Liu Family all fell completely silent. They might not be practitioners of medicine, but they had some knowledge.


    During the process of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, noise and commotion are the least desirable.


    They all widened their eyes, wanting to see just how Xia Liu was going to cure Liu Buyi.


    Once Liu Buyi was ready, Xia Liu took out the silver needles he carried with him.


    The assorted silver needles displayed before everyone caused a chill to slowly rise up their backs.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t give the onlookers much time to be shocked. With a flick of his hand, he grasped the needle and, with a surge of Fire Spirit Energy, sterilized the silver needle in an instant.


    Then Wood Spirit Energy followed the Spirit Needle into Liu Buyi¡¯s head ¨C Wood Vitality, Spirit Stabilizing, signifying tranquility¡­


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 Chapter 465 - 465: The True Divine Doctor

    Chapter 465: Chapter 465: The True Divine Doctor


    Xia Liu¡¯s movements were incredibly fast, leaving the Liu Family members around him no choice but to gasp in astonishment.


    They could not even see Xia Liu¡¯s hands, only their afterimages¡­


    Xia Liu¡¯s speed was just like that, he had no need to let others see clearly.


    Next, he once again demonstrated his lightning-fast hand speed by inserting nine silver needles into Liu Buyi¡¯s chest and lower abdomen.


    Three seconds!


    In just three seconds, nine silver needles were embedded in Liu Buyi¡¯s body.


    ...


    Gurgle¡­


    Only when they saw Xia Liu sitting aside, drinking tea, did they come to their senses.


    They all forcefully swallowed their saliva. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fast!


    This was definitely the fastest speed they had ever seen.


    Moreover, what shocked them the most was that Xia Liu was performing acupuncture to save a life.


    The art of acupuncture in Huaxia Traditional Chinese Medicine requires precise acupuncture points, and if there is a slight deviation, the outcome of the treatment can greatly change.


    However, today they truly had their eyes opened.


    Xia Liu not only possessed shadow-like speed but also, judging from his relaxed posture, he had absolutely not missed any acupuncture points!


    Terrifying!


    As horrific as this!


    ¡°Divine Doctor Xia, how is the old master¡¯s condition?¡± After collecting themselves for a while, a Liu Family member weakly inquired.


    ¡°Wait about ten minutes and it should be about right,¡± Xia Liu said nonchalantly.


    ¡°Wow! Cured in just ten minutes! That¡¯s just terrifying!¡±


    ¡°This is truly unbelievable!¡±


    ¡­


    All the Liu Family members present were amazed; the healing of Liu Buyi¡¯s longstanding ailment in about ten minutes was a medical skill that could defy the heavens.


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot!¡± Just as everyone was marveling, Liu Buyi, biting hard on his teeth, spoke out in some pain.


    ¡°Old master, endure it for a while, it¡¯s at least another five minutes before we can remove the needles,¡± Xia Liu reminded.


    ¡°Hmm, I can bear this much,¡± Liu Buyi nodded, his body feeling uncomfortable, but having endured for decades, he wasn¡¯t afraid of this moment.


    ¡°Eh, father, what are you doing?¡± Liu Liguang, who was entering through the main gate, saw Liu Buyi with needles in his body and a face full of pain and was immediately startled.


    ¡°Liguang, Divine Doctor Xia is treating the old master,¡± they explained.


    ¡°Treating him? Wasn¡¯t that done earlier today?¡± Liu Liguang, puzzled, asked hearing his relatives¡¯ explanation.


    ¡°According to Divine Doctor Xia, this afternoon was only an emergency treatment. Now he¡¯s aiming for a radical cure,¡± they explained further.


    ¡°What! My father¡¯s illness can be radically cured!¡± Liu Liguang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing others explain.


    He was the one who knew Liu Buyi best and naturally understood how long that hidden ailment had been lurking in Liu Buyi¡¯s body.


    In the past, his father had traveled far and wide because of this ailment, always seeking remedies everywhere.


    He knew his father wasn¡¯t afraid of death; his father feared that his budding career would turn to dust.


    Ultimately, his father had obtained many prescriptions and had been taking medication over the years, but a complete cure was absolutely impossible.


    However, Liu Liguang had just heard something.


    They said his father could be completely cured of his illness!


    And from the looks of it, it seemed like Xia Liu was the one treating him¡­


    ¡°Liguang, you must seize Divine Doctor Xia. His medical skills are said to be comparable to those of an Immortal Doctor in heaven. He¡¯s already cured two patients with genetic diseases in Hejing,¡± they pressed on.


    ¡°Indeed, Liguang, you have the advantage now,¡± another chimed in.


    ¡°Lan Xin is also about the age to get married. You see to it, and try to hold onto Divine Doctor Xia,¡± they added.


    ¡­


    Watching the dazed Liu Liguang, many of the Liu Family members approached him and reminded him in whispers.


    However, Xia Liu had overheard all these whispers.


    In response, he could only display helplessness. Liu Lanxin was excellent, and her personality was also quirky and elflike; you simply never knew what she was thinking.


    Perhaps she already had a boyfriend? Perhaps she just wanted to play with him?


    Yes, Xia Liu was being narcissistic again, believing he had seen some signs of affection from Liu Lanxin towards him.


    But the whimsical Liu Lanxin¡¯s true thoughts were perhaps known only to herself.


    ¡°Xia Liu! Can my father truly be healed?¡± After dealing with his relatives, Liu Liguang immediately focused his gaze on Xia Liu.


    ¡°Uncle Liu, rest assured, it¡¯s possible,¡± Xia Liu said with a slight smile.


    ¡°Hiss!¡± At that moment, a soft moaning sound escaped from Liu Buyi.


    Looking at his father¡¯s fierce expression, Liu Liguang anxiously asked, ¡°Father, how are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Look at your courage, keep calm, I¡¯m not going to die,¡± Liu Buyi said sharply.


    This might have been due to the pain, or because he did not want to show weakness in front of Xia Liu.


    ¡°Ugh, ugh, ugh¡­¡± Liu Liguang¡¯s face showed bitterness, his concern having made him overly anxious.


    ¡°Xia Liu, how much longer until my father is free from pain?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost done, Uncle Liu, please step back a bit,¡± Xia Liu said after observing Liu Buyi for a moment.


    Like Liu Liguang, the surrounding Liu Family members also dispersed.


    ¡°Old master, when the needles are pulled, they will also bring out the lingering Cold Poison, so you will need to keep enduring it.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, we¡¯ve been old partners, I would actually miss it somewhat when it completely leaves,¡± Liu Buyi joked.


    ¡­


    The people around, hearing Liu Buyi say this, couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward.


    Xia Liu smiled, then quickly pulled out nine silver needles with the blur of his hand.


    The moment the silver needles left the body, Liu Buyi¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, feeling a severe cold Energy being dragged out with the needles, and he tasted a sweet cold and warmth exchange in his throat.


    As soon as the silver needles were pulled from his head, Liu Buyi uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of scarlet blood.


    The blood on the ground was dark green, and gaseous vapors rose from it.


    ¡°Is this the Cold Poison that has accompanied me for decades?¡± Liu Buyi asked calmly as he watched the rising vapors from the dark green blood.


    ¡°Yes, now, old master, you won¡¯t have to worry about Cold Poison anymore,¡± Xia Liu nodded and said.


    There were, in fact, some things he did not reveal.


    As soon as the Spiritual Energy was carried into the body by the silver needles, it had already purged a large amount of Cold Poison, and this dark green blood was just the remnants that couldn¡¯t be refined away.


    ¡°Old master need not worry about the Cold Poison anymore!¡±


    ¡°Haha! It is truly incredible!¡±


    ¡°President Xia is truly a Divine Doctor!¡±


    ¡°A real Divine Doctor!¡±


    Everyone initially had some doubts, but seeing Liu Buyi¡¯s complexion looking obviously better than before.


    That healthy glow of vitality, known to those who have seen recovering patients, was a sign of coming out of a severe illness!


    ¡°Xia Liu! Thank you so much!¡± At this moment, Liu Liguang didn¡¯t quite know how to express himself except to offer thanks.


    ¡°Uncle Liu, you¡¯re too kind, it is my responsibility to cure the old master¡¯s illness; no need to thank me,¡± Xia Liu said with a cheerful smile.


    ¡°Haha! It is really incredible! Divine Doctor Xia!¡±


    ¡°Today I finally saw it for myself, indeed, my friend was right, the Divine Doctor of Hejing is President Xia!¡±


    ¡°President Xia is not only good at business, but his medical skills are also miraculous, truly a young hero¡­¡±


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 Chapter 466 - 466 I Want to Practice with You

    Chapter 466: Chapter 466 I Want to Practice with You


    ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t get too excited, my father has just gotten rid of his hidden ailments and needs to rest in a quiet environment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Liguo¡¯s right, everyone, please be quiet.¡±


    As the crowd quieted down, Xia Liu sent Liu Liguang a text message on his phone, which contained a prescription.


    After receiving the prescription, Liu Liguang immediately sent someone to the Medicine Hall to fetch the herbs.


    ¡°Elder, it¡¯s getting late, go home, have a bowl of medicine, then rest. In ten days, I guarantee your health will be excellent, and you¡¯ll live another fifty years!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Divine Doctor Xia is right! Another fifty years of life!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Exactly! With Divine Doctor Xia here, even a hundred years wouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    Everyone started to flatter Xia Liu.


    ¡°Enough, you all. Another hundred years, and I¡¯d become a decrepit old tortoise!¡± Although he said this, Liu Buyi was very happy.


    The Cold Poison that had troubled him for years was finally gone today.


    He felt as if he had a new body, lighter and much stronger than before.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you go rest as well, it¡¯s the same room as before¡­¡± Liu Buyi cut himself off before finishing.


    The room he referred to was in Liu Lanxin¡¯s¡­


    ¡°Uh¡­ understood, Elder, remember to rest after taking the medicine.¡± Xia Liu, jolted from his reverie, immediately responded.


    After saying goodbye to the Liu family members present, Xia Liu left and headed towards Liu Lanxin¡¯s residence.


    At this moment, Xia Liu¡¯s emotions were like a lake surface brushed by a gentle breeze, with light ripples, seemingly troubled, yet so regular.


    Through the gap beneath the door, Xia Liu could see the lights in Liu Lanxin¡¯s villa shining brightly.


    Now it was eleven at night; he wondered if that girl had gone to sleep.


    If she hadn¡¯t slept, would she be wandering around the living room in her flimsy nightgown?


    Probably not, the weather gets quite cold after nightfall, and even if she were in the living room, she¡¯d probably be wearing something warm.


    Gently knocking on the door, Xia Liu waited a while, but there was no response.


    ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s asleep¡­¡± he murmured to himself, casting aside other thoughts and trying to open the door.


    Click!


    It wasn¡¯t locked!


    As the front door opened, Xia Liu¡¯s pupils contracted imperceptibly.


    At this moment, a series of soft moans entered his mind, quickly turning into high-pitched screams.


    ¡°Island Nation language! What the¡­¡± Focusing, Xia Liu was completely dumbfounded after a moment.


    He was all too familiar with these sounds and yells; they could only belong to the exaggerated Island Nation romance action movies!


    Liu Lanxin was watching those DVDs!


    Xia Liu suddenly remembered when he had first come to this villa, he had discovered some DVDs in a drawer in the room!


    At the time, he suspected they were Liu Lan¡¯s, but couldn¡¯t be certain. Now, he was entirely sure.


    Those DVDs were Liu Lanxin¡¯s!


    And she was watching them right now!


    That was what was truly thrilling¡ªshe was watching them!


    Xia Liu stood frozen, struggling to move forward while the sounds continued to invade his ears and penetrate his mind.


    The sound originated from the room he had slept in several times before.


    Xia Liu didn¡¯t know what came over him, but he really wanted to sneak a peek at Liu Lanxin¡¯s current situation.


    Then, he moved silently to the door.


    Good, the door was only half-closed.


    In the room, a movie was playing on the LCD screen, and that delicate figure was sitting on the bed, hugging a pillow.


    From the way she was burying her head, she seemed to be gnawing on the pillow.


    But she was very focused, her facial expressions probably changing continuously.


    Xia Liu had never had any interest in such movies, and for him, watching this movie was of no use whatsoever.


    But now, with Liu Lanxin present, even without looking at the screen, just listening to the sounds, the blood in his body would start to flow faster.


    Creak¡­


    Suddenly, just when Xia Liu wanted to use his cultivation technique to suppress the restlessness inside him, his trembling hand accidentally touched the door.


    With the unusual noise from the door, a pair of beautiful eyes looked over at the same time¡­


    Time seemed to freeze at that moment.


    The two people looking at each other, rigid cheeks, frozen gazes, the movie still playing on the LCD screen.


    In that eternal instant, Liu Lanxin¡¯s face turned red all the way to her neck.


    After coming back to her senses, she grabbed the remote control in a panic and started pressing it frantically at the TV.


    However, the more embarrassing situation arose; she not only failed to turn off the screen.


    On the contrary, she kept turning up the volume!


    This¡­


    The sudden scene caused the surroundings to fall into an odd atmosphere once again. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xia Liu was already stunned, and the blood inside him grew even more tumultuous.


    ¡°Cough cough, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you¡­¡± Xia Liu cleared his throat, planning to leave the awkward space first.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! Please don¡¯t get me wrong, I don¡¯t have that kind of fetish!¡± Liu Lanxin called out loudly just as Xia Liu was turning around.


    ¡°I know¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me!¡± Liu Lanxin was on the verge of tears, yet her explanation still sounded somewhat weak.


    Because the voices from the movie characters were still playing, and the volume was getting louder and louder, as if they were about to die.


    ¡°How could I? I watch them regularly, so I wouldn¡¯t think of anything inappropriate.¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, can you help me see what¡¯s wrong? I seem unable to turn it off¡­¡± Liu Lanxin¡¯s beautiful eyes trembled if there had been a crack in the floor, she would have dived in without hesitation, feeling utterly humiliated.


    Xia Liu wore a bitter smile on his face and after taking the remote control and pressing it a few times to no avail, he simply unplugged the TV.


    Instantly, everything quieted down.


    In this silence, being alone together in the room, there was an indescribable subtle feeling between them.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, don¡¯t let your imagination run wild, I am watching the movie to learn because I have no experience following my best friend¡¯s advice¡­¡±


    Liu Lanxin¡¯s feeble voice broke the silent atmosphere.


    ¡°Pfft¡­ I know, most girls learn and understand through such methods¡­¡± Xia Liu was almost amused by Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu! Don¡¯t make fun of me, I have never had a boyfriend from when I was young until now, so I lack knowledge in this area¡­¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯m not laughing at you. I was just like you, learning from movies at the beginning.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying, don¡¯t boys just know how to do it when they grow up?¡± Liu Lanxin said with her head down, somewhat unable to look directly at Xia Liu.


    ¡°How could that be possible? It¡¯s only after observation and plenty of practice that one dares to claim they know how, it¡¯s the same for everyone.¡± Xia Liu explained earnestly.


    ¡°I see, so I want to practice with you¡­¡± Liu Lanxin lifted her head, her soft gaze trembling as she looked at Xia Liu.


    Pfft¡­


    Xia Liu burst out laughing again. What had he just heard?


    Liu Lanxin was actually proposing such a thing, wasn¡¯t this like forcing him to commit a crime?


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 Chapter 467 - 467 Request for a Pause

    Chapter 467: Chapter 467 Request for a Pause


    ¡°Lan Xin, it¡¯s already late, I think you need to rest.¡± Xia Liu said calmly after some disordered thoughts.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Brother Xia Liu.¡± Liu Lanxin stared at Xia Liu for a long time before she finally spoke.


    Hmm?


    Sorry?


    What does that mean?


    Xia Liu was a bit confused. Did she have something to apologize for?


    ...


    It seemed not.


    On the contrary, he had raised the cost price of the medicinal wine, almost causing a reputation crisis for Tianluo Pharmaceutical. He should be the one apologizing.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Brother Xia Liu, I lost my temper at you rashly today,¡± recalling how she screamed at Xia Liu in front of her grandfather, Liu Lanxin¡¯s eyes immediately welled up with tears.


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing, If I were you, I would have drawn a knife on someone long ago.¡± Xia Liu joked.


    ¡°Hehe, Brother Xia Liu, you really are funny. Killing is illegal, after all.¡± No matter what, seeing Xia Liu¡¯s serious yet mischievous expression, Liu Lanxin gradually became cheerful.


    Since leaving the scene today, she had been uneasy.


    All she could think about was whether Xia Liu was angry with her.


    Now she could finally relax, Xia Liu wasn¡¯t angry.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for us to rest.¡± Xia Liu reminded again.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s time for us to rest,¡± Liu Lanxin said, nodding shyly.


    ¡­


    After a standoff, seeing that Liu Lanxin had no intention of leaving the room, Xia Liu felt somewhat helpless.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I feel like I can¡¯t be without you.¡± Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, Liu Lanxin said softly.


    ¡°Uh uh uh¡­¡±


    ¡°Ever since you first appeared before me, you have lingered in my heart, hoping you would go to the store every day to sell medicine so I could see you every day.¡±


    ¡°Later, you discovered Atractylodes, and our collaboration grew bigger, but it took a long time before I could see you again. Afterward, my dad wouldn¡¯t let me stay in Pinglan Town. When I went home, I thought about you every day¡­¡±


    Liu Lanxin lowered her head, recalling every detail of the past. Although shy, she understood that she had to speak out.


    Because she had been suppressing it in her heart for far too long.


    What scared her a bit was that if she didn¡¯t confess to Xia Liu now, she might never have another chance.


    She had been keeping an eye on Xia Liu, and she knew about the women around him.


    Now that Zhang Xiaoman had gone back, perhaps his number of women had reached seven. If she kept silent any longer, Xia Liu would only become a passerby in her life.


    Even if he didn¡¯t accept her after her confession, it didn¡¯t matter. At least she had spoken.


    Xia Liu leaned against the wall, listening to Liu Lanxin¡¯s memories, while images from the past simultaneously floated through his mind.


    After Liu Lanxin finished speaking, Xia Liiu closed his eyes, silently reflecting, and finally spoke: ¡°Lan Xin, you should know, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know, you already have six or even seven wives, but I don¡¯t mind,¡± Liu Lanxin interrupted him earnestly before he could finish.


    ¡°Yes, I love them deeply, and I¡¯ve secretly pledged to protect them well, not letting them suffer the slightest harm. But trouble always finds its way to me, and I dare not accept lightly¡­¡±


    Did Xia Liu have no feelings for Liu Lanxin?


    Definitely not.


    He was afraid.


    Afraid that his enemies would target his women.


    He still didn¡¯t possess the immense power needed to fully protect his women.


    Additionally, not only was he being secretly watched by powerful enemies.


    He was also carrying a huge hidden danger himself, if his Divine Sense couldn¡¯t be repaired, then pulling out the third Spirit Stabilizing Needle would trigger terrifying events.


    Even after several years had passed, he couldn¡¯t remember what exactly he had done when he lost control.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid! As long as I can be with you, even if it¡¯s the end of the world I can face it bravely!¡±


    As Xia Liu was worried, suddenly that soft figure embraced him, and her delicate oath echoed in his ears.


    Boom!


    Xia Liu felt as if a nerve in his brain had exploded in madness.


    At the same time, all the blood in his body began to flow faster.


    Lan Xin had said that, what reason did he have to be timid anymore?


    What reason did he have to let down such a pure girl?


    What of a formidable enemy? If it comes, deal with it; what of damaged Divine Sense? As long as he wasn¡¯t dead, there was a chance to repair it.


    With that being the case, what need was there to fear anymore!


    Mmm mmm mmm¡­


    Just as Lan Xin was about to say something else, Xia Liu suddenly kissed her to silence her.


    She felt the world spin, a faint scent of tobacco spread in her mouth.


    She had never been kissed before, never experienced another¡¯s breath and taste.


    At that moment, she was intoxicated because it was somewhat like unripe fruit, slightly bitter, but on closer savor, it tasted beautiful.


    She had no experience, just like a lost lamb, following the guidance constantly towards the light, towards proficiency.


    When Xia Liu touched her, a sensation like an electric shock flowed instantly throughout her body.


    Soon, her trembling body began to adapt, allowing Xia Liu¡¯s movements without the slightest resistance.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, my stomach hurts a bit, please stop for a moment¡­¡± As Xia Liu was about to make a move, Lan Xin¡¯s face contorted.


    ¡°Hmm? Let me check.¡± Xia Liu could not care less about anything else and immediately took Lan Xin¡¯s pulse. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No need, it¡¯s an old problem, it always happens during my period.¡± Lan Xin felt like crying; she had forgotten to check the date today, otherwise, she would not have missed such a good opportunity.


    Now, she didn¡¯t even have tears to cry.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve noticed. Tomorrow I¡¯ll prescribe you a medication to completely cure the source of the illness, and now I¡¯ll adjust a bit for you.¡±


    ¡°Adjust? How do you adjust?¡± Lan Xin asked in surprise.


    ¡°Like this¡­¡± With a smile, Xia Liu took hold of Lan Xin¡¯s hand, Spiritual Energy surged, entering her body through the palm.


    A few minutes later, Lan Xin stared at Xia Liu in surprise: ¡°Brother Xia Liu! What magic did you just use? I don¡¯t hurt at all now!¡±


    ¡°You forgot? I¡¯m a doctor.¡± Xia Liu flicked Lan Xin¡¯s nose and said.


    ¡°Okay Divine Doctor Xia, wait for me for a moment, I¡¯ll be right back upstairs.¡± After speaking, Lan Xin tightened her clothes and ran out of the room.


    A few minutes later, she returned to the room, now dressed in a black sheer nightgown.


    The vague outline made Xia Liu parched and dry.


    He had just used Spiritual Energy to suppress his own irritation, and now it was all undone¡­


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you must be feeling very uncomfortable, right?¡± Lan Xin asked with her eyes welling up.


    ¡°No, no¡­ hiss¡­¡±


    Before Xia Liu could reply, he inhaled sharply. He never expected that this girl would dare to bite him¡­


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 Chapter 468 - 468: Youre So Domineering

    Chapter 468: Chapter 468: You¡¯re So Domineering


    About an hour later, Liu Lanxin emerged from the bathroom, noticeably choked up.


    Fortunately, Xia Liu had helped her suppress the agony inside her body, otherwise she might have been lying in there.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, look at you, my mouth is almost numb.¡± Liu Lanxin pouted her cherry lips and looked at Xia Liu somewhat angrily.


    ¡°I really couldn¡¯t help it¡­¡± Xia Liu spread his hands, his constitution was just like that, sadly for Liu Lanxin.


    ¡°Hmph, as punishment, you have to hold me while we sleep!¡± Liu Lanxin declared with her hands on her hips, pretending to be serious.


    ¡°Alright! I accept the punishment!¡± Xia Liu nodded in resignation, knowing that if it had been earlier, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have been so relaxed about it. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Thankfully, the turmoil inside him had been dealt with by Liu Lanxin.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t dare to let such a tender lamb lie so comfortably by his side.


    That night was definitely the most comfortable and peaceful sleep Liu Lanxin had ever had, because her long-held wish had finally come true.


    Even though they hadn¡¯t taken their relationship to the next level, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    Because their hearts were already connected, and in just a few more days, she would truly become his woman, and then everything would be perfect.


    The next morning, Xia Liu got up early to make breakfast for Liu Lanxin.


    He was very thoughtful, as Liu Lanxin was on her period, so he prepared ingredients that were very light.


    Moreover, he even had someone send over a bag of medicinal herbs, which he instructed her to drink after she finished her breakfast.


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re really too good to me, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to live without you in the future,¡± Liu Lanxin said, pouting cutely.


    ¡°What, you¡¯re thinking of leaving me?¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, you¡¯re so domineering.¡± Liu Lanxin, with her cheek pinched by Xia Liu, made a sad face.


    ¡°Oh? Well then, just think of me as domineering. You rest well at home, I¡¯m going to take care of some matters. Come to Osmanthus Village with me in the afternoon, or maybe tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Going to your family¡¯s place¡­¡± Liu Lanxin felt distressed, she knew she had to face his sisters and Xia Liu¡¯s relatives, but now when it was actually happening, she was somewhat panicking.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go and talk to the old man, Uncle Liu, and the Auntie right away,¡± Xia Liu said, nodding with a smile.


    ¡°Okay, okay, Brother Xia Liu, go on with your work.¡± Although somewhat scared, Liu Lanxin knew she could overcome it.


    After Xia Liu left, he first went to find Huang Yilong and Yang Tian.


    These two were a complete mess from their drunkenness the day before, but fortunately, they had sobered up early.


    When Xia Liu found them, they had already settled many details of their cooperation with Liu Liguang.


    ¡°Xia Liu, you¡¯re up. President Huang and President Yang are about to leave,¡± Liu Liguang said, focusing on the important point as he saw Xia Liu arrive.


    ¡°So soon? You two don¡¯t want to hang around Binlai City for a couple more days?¡±


    ¡°No way, the helicopter was borrowed, and now they need it back, so we need to return it quickly.¡±


    ¡°Plus, I posted about the medicinal liquor agency online yesterday, and my friends from Liu Hai and neighboring cities nearly blew up my phone, insisting I bring back a hundred bottles right away to sell to them,¡± Yang Tian said excitedly, almost jumping with joy, as selling a hundred bottles on his trip back would earn him a cool million!


    ¡°Yo! Not bad, President Yang, just don¡¯t forget about your little brother here once you¡¯ve made your fortune,¡± Xia Liu said, watching Yang Tian with delight. Selling the medicinal liquor to them was definitely the right choice.


    ¡°President Xia, stop joking. Compared to you, I¡¯m less than nothing,¡± Yang Tian said, feeling truly awkward, knowing that for the rest of his life he would be looking up to Xia Liu.


    ¡°Heh heh, Brother Yang, don¡¯t get too full of yourself. This morning I also got messages from someone who wants me to bring them two hundred bottles of medicinal liquor immediately,¡± Huang Yilong added, also excited.


    ¡°Damn! He actually got a hundred more bottles than me!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Congratulations to both presidents on the deal!¡± Seeing the two happy individuals, Liu Liguang laughed heartily. Without them, with the current promotional channels of Tianluo Pharmaceutical, it would be incredibly hard to sell three hundred bottles of herbal wine.


    But all they did was post some messages online, and they secured a deal for three hundred bottles. Based on this method, with just a little effort on their part, they could be selling thousands of bottles a day.


    ¡°Joy shared is joy doubled, we all make money when the herbal wine is sold.¡±


    ¡°Right, President Xia, we¡¯ve discussed with President Liu, and the domestic sales agency for the herbal wine will be in our hands, what do you think about this¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great news! I trust you both as people and have no doubts about your abilities,¡± said Xia Liu, clapping his hands immediately upon noticing Yang Tian¡¯s hesitancy.


    He had originally wanted to discuss with the two of them not to confine themselves to Binlai.


    It now seemed that they thought the same as him, aiming to push the herbal wine to all corners of the country.


    ¡°Hehe, as long as President Xia doesn¡¯t mind us taking the initiative on our own,¡± said Yang Tian and Huang Yilong, both trying to contain their excitement.


    If they could sell the herbal wine without restrictions, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the two of them struck it rich!


    ¡°Far from it, you two should also seize the time to stir things up when necessary.¡±


    ¡°Sure! Next time you¡¯re in Binlai, President Xia, you must come for tea!¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yang Tian and Huang Yilong followed Liu Liguang to move several boxes of the herbal wine.


    As for the future supply of herbal wine, they would have their own transportation channels, so there was no rush for now.


    Afterward, Xia Liu was led by the Liu family to Liu Buyi¡¯s residence.


    Liu Buyi seemed even more spirited than usual today.


    He had gotten up early, donning a white exercise outfit and practicing Taiji in the courtyard.


    ¡°The old master looks in excellent spirits,¡± Xia Liu remarked with a big smile, greeting Liu Buyi after he finished his routine.


    ¡°Xia Liu is here! If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be in such good shape now. Otherwise, I might have ended up in a coffin in another couple of years.¡±


    ¡°Hey, how could that be? A good man like the master is blessed by heaven, and misfortunes can¡¯t touch you.¡±


    Although he knew Xia Liu was just being polite, Liu Buyi felt genuinely pleased and asked, ¡°Xia Liu, what do you think of yesterday¡¯s proposal?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday? What proposal?¡± Xia Liu was confused; had someone talked to him about something yesterday?


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s about Lan Xin¡¯s matter.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s exactly why I came to see you. Lan Xin and I have become¡­¡± Xia Liu suddenly realized what was being referred to and stopped mid-sentence, trusting Liu Buyi would understand.


    And indeed, after hearing this, Liu Buyi¡¯s face lit up with delight, and he gave Xia Liu a hefty pat on the shoulder, saying, ¡°Haha! Excellent! That girl can finally rest easy. Let¡¯s celebrate today, how about we set up two hundred tables?¡±


    ¡°Master, let¡¯s not rush into that for now. We can deal with it later; let¡¯s have a small gathering today¡­¡±


    Xia Liu was somewhat startled; two hundred tables sounded like something that would hit the headlines.


    ¡°Alright, alright, keeping a low profile is good, but when the opportunity comes, we all have to go big,¡± Liu Buyi agreed with Xia Liu¡¯s suggestion, considering it was indeed inappropriate to be too high-profile before things were set in stone.


    ¡°Yes, one day, I will surely invite everyone to celebrate and let them witness the perfect moment between Lan Xin and me!¡±


    [And of course, the other ladies¡­]


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 Chapter 469 - 469: Boiling County Town

    Chapter 469: Chapter 469: Boiling County Town


    At night, within Liu Lanxin¡¯s residence, a table of delicacies steamed invitingly.


    Smiles adorned the faces of those sitting nearby.


    There weren¡¯t many people, but each was a close relative of Liu Lanxin.


    Liu Liguang and his wife, along with Liu Buyi, were present.


    Xia Liu and Liu Lanxin were busy in the kitchen preparing the last dish.


    To be honest, Liu Lanxin was somewhat apprehensive about coming clean with her family.


    ...


    Since her parents and grandfather had entered the house, she had hidden in the kitchen, too scared to come out.


    ¡°Lanxin, come out.¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, I¡¯m scared¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be scared of? You have to say it sooner or later anyway.¡± Xia Liu touched Liu Lanxin¡¯s cheek, which had reddened from shyness. After all they had been through, his skin had thickened beyond that of a city wall.


    Following Xia Liu out to face her family, Liu Lanxin bowed her head slightly, despite the courage in her heart.


    But when actually confronting the situation, she always felt incredibly nervous.


    ¡°Oh my, our Lanxin is getting married, and she¡¯s still so shy,¡± said her mother teasingly.


    ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? I¡¯m not,¡± Liu Lanxin retorted with puffed cheeks, teased by her own mother.


    ¡°Haha! Lanxin, you needn¡¯t worry about anything. We all know already. But according to Xia Liu, we¡¯ll let everyone else know when you two are truly bound,¡± said Liu Buyi, feeling gratified looking at his granddaughter who was inseparable from Xia Liu.


    If he had liked Xia Liu a lot before, now his admiration for him had grown even more.


    Xia Liu¡¯s medical skills were nothing short of a miracle. The cold poison that had troubled him for decades was cured by just a few needles¡ªa true miracle.


    ¡°Grandpa, there¡¯s no need to rush¡­¡± Liu Lanxin said, somewhat relieved. If they told everyone, it would be so embarrassing¡­


    ¡°Hehe, Lanxin, don¡¯t be too shy, or Xia Liu might take advantage of you,¡± Liu Liguang noted.


    ¡°Uncle Liu, I wouldn¡¯t bully Lanxin,¡± Xia Liu hurried to refute the unwarranted accusation.


    ¡°Exactly, not even a potato can shut your mouth¡­¡±


    ¡­


    That evening, the family enjoyed a harmonious dinner together.


    During the meal, Xia Liu brought up the matter of taking Liu Lanxin home with him.


    Without any surprise, Liu Buyi and Liu Liguang strongly supported the idea.


    Liu Lanxin¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t too thrilled, but she still respected her daughter¡¯s and Xia Liu¡¯s decision.


    However, she insisted on borrowing Liu Lanxin for the evening; it was the first time her daughter was going to her husband¡¯s home, and she certainly had some advice to impart.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Xia Liu¡¯s home had more than just one sister¡­


    The next morning, Xia Liu placed two large suitcases into the car, then drove to Liu Liguang¡¯s residence.


    There, Liu Lanxin stood with her mother, hand in hand, whispering things that others couldn¡¯t hear.


    At nine in the morning, under the watchful eyes of many members of the Liu Family, the BMW slowly left the estate.


    ¡°Um, Brother Xia Liu, will those sisters at your house bully me?¡± Inside the car, Liu Lanxin asked with a worried expression.


    ¡°You just called them sisters, how could they bully you? But as for Xiaoman¡­¡±


    Xia Liu developed a headache recalling the conflicts he¡¯d seen at Binlai University between the two girls.


    Both women had strong personalities; he hoped they wouldn¡¯t start a fight upon meeting.


    ¡°Zhang Xiaoman, I don¡¯t really have any major issues with her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good then. Actually, it¡¯s not a problem. Your sisters won¡¯t let the conflict continue,¡± Xia Liu said confidently, thinking of the understanding Fang Fei.


    Liu Lanxin clenched her translucent, red jade hands tight, her heart beating faster. In just two more hours, she would see the sisters of her future¡­


    Hejing is a county town on its way to bustling development.


    In the last two days, a piece of news has the entire city of Hejing bubbling with excitement.


    The Osmanthus Group has obtained approval from above to invest two hundred billion to transform the county town!


    Notices about this are plastered in many places around Hejing.


    Those who see the notice are invariably thrilled.


    Transforming the county town, this is the beginning of a march towards a better life!


    However, the specific details have not been released.


    Instead, some people mistakenly believe that the Osmanthus Group plans to cut off their land and their sources of income.


    Here is Director Guo, one of the more hot-tempered citizens of Hejing. He¡¯s twenty-eight this year, with enough heft to intimidate.


    Director Guo is standing in front of the Osmanthus Group¡¯s entrance today with at least thirty people, holding up a big red banner.


    ¡°Osmanthus Group, go to hell! Buying up the land, forcing merchants to sell at low prices!¡±


    ¡°Osmanthus Group, get out of Hejing!¡±


    ¡­


    In front of the Heaven and Earth Building, Director Guo leads his boys in a furious roar, and constantly pulls eggs from plastic bags to throw at the huge glass door in front of them.


    The security guards of the Osmanthus Group, although on guard, can¡¯t stop so many people like Director Guo.


    Chen Jin also arrived on the scene two hours earlier.


    But with more and more people joining Director Guo in causing trouble, he can¡¯t take them all back, can he?


    And they haven¡¯t done anything wrong, just trying to use public opinion to force a greater benefit for themselves.


    ¡°What the hell are you all whining about! Has the Osmanthus Group stolen your money?¡± Facing Director Guo and others, Lin Xiaotian stands undaunted.


    ¡°Who knows what the Osmanthus Group is up to; now that you have support from above, you definitely want to buy back the land at a low price!¡± Director Guo¡¯s large frame Booms out sharp words, which can be heard clearly within half a mile.


    ¡°Uncle! When did the Osmanthus Group say they are going to buy back the land at Earth Rank prices? We don¡¯t have such intentions, and we¡¯re even more inclined to spend money to help you rebuild your current properties,¡± replies Zhang Xiaoman, standing up to respond after learning some of Xia Liu¡¯s ideas.


    ¡°Haha! You women, touch your conscience. Paying to help us rebuild our storefronts, is that true? Are you really that kind-hearted?¡±


    Director Guo laughs heartily, his naked gaze firmly fixed on Zhang Xiaoman and the line of Heavenly Immortal beauties behind her.


    ¡°Haha! Girls, touch your consciences! If you can¡¯t find it, we¡¯re very willing to help!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, otherwise let us touch your consciences! See if they¡¯ve all turned black!¡±


    Once Director Guo¡¯s voice rings out, his lackeys behind immediately follow suit, laughing and teasing.


    Listening to the filthy language coming from the front, Fang Fei, Huang Xue, and the other girls all furrow their brows.


    Now that Xia Liu isn¡¯t here, they have no idea how to handle the situation.


    It¡¯s not that they aren¡¯t capable, but the situation has come on too suddenly, and they really don¡¯t know what Xia Liu¡¯s plans are.


    Li Zhong has mentioned some things, but he went to Binlai City to get documents, and he can¡¯t explain much over the phone.


    So, until Xia Liu comes back, they are truly helpless. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± The girls may be helpless, but that doesn¡¯t mean Director Guo and his men can rampage unchecked. Lin Xiaotian and Tie Shan stand guard, releasing their Qi Force as they shout.


    The surrounding space itself seems to be suppressed by the reverberation.


    Director Guo and his men are momentarily stunned, facing Lin Xiaotian and Tie Shan, they feel as if there are two mountains standing before them.


    But to complete a task given by someone, Director Guo puffs out his chest, grits his teeth, and presses on¡­


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 Chapter 470 - 470: The Boss Hits Someone!

    Chapter 470: Chapter 470: The Boss Hits Someone!


    ¡°What! Now that you have support from above, you think you can just oppress the people at will?¡± Director Guo glared at Chen Jin, grinding out each word with anger.


    ¡°Yeah! If you¡¯re so capable, take our land and lock us all up, why don¡¯t you!¡±


    ¡°Come on then! Take us away!¡±


    ¡°Come on!¡± The brothers behind Director Guo were all worked up.


    Some of them had storefronts in Hejing, some owned several plots of land.


    If those lands were to be acquired at a low price, their future income would be greatly reduced.


    ...


    With each passing year, as Hejing¡¯s popularity increased, their losses would be even greater.


    Initially, Director Guo came with just thirty people to hang up banners, but as the incident grew, more and more onlookers gathered.


    Eventually, even those with storefronts and land in the county started to panic.


    They relied on rental income from their properties, and if their land was acquired by the Osmanthus Group at a low price, their future would become uncertain.


    At first, they thought the public notice was good news, believing their shops would benefit from the upper echelons¡¯ revamp.


    In that case, they would definitely see higher returns in the future.


    But after Director Guo stood up, they all started to feel that the Osmanthus Group behind the scenes wouldn¡¯t be so kindhearted.


    There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and the merchants became afraid.


    So more and more people began to gather in front of the Osmanthus Group¡¯s entrance.


    And their emotions were even more agitated than Director Guo¡¯s, for they truly owned the land.


    Faced with at least a hundred people, Chen Jin had long been troubled.


    Lin Xiaotian and Tie Shan were also gritting their teeth.


    If this were a battlefield, they would have started killing long ago.


    But this was Hejing, a county town, a place meant for betterment.


    ¡°Qianqian, did you get through to Xia Liu¡¯s phone?¡± As the crowd prepared to surge into the Osmanthus Group, Fang Fei asked anxiously.


    ¡°Not yet, I don¡¯t know if that guy has finished his errands¡­¡± Li Qianqian felt helpless. Xia Liu¡¯s phone had been unreachable since this morning.


    It was just a trip to Binlai City and yet such problems arose, impressing all the ladies.


    ¡°Qianqian, call your godfather again and ask him what the situation is all about.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call him now.¡±


    ¡­


    Watching the scene verge on chaos, Director Guo bowed his head, secretly smiling.


    He wanted this turmoil as soon as the crowd grew larger, they would surely break through the gates of the Osmanthus Group.


    He would then receive his due benefits, and perhaps even take advantage of the commotion to take liberties with those supreme-grade beauties.


    Before Director Guo could indulge his fantasies any longer, suddenly, a piercing honk sounded from behind the crowd.


    Everyone was jolted by the abrupt noise and turned their attention to it.


    ¡°It¡¯s Brother Xia Liu!¡±


    ¡°The guy finally came back!¡±


    ¡°If he had been any later, the company might have been torn down¡­¡±


    Seeing that familiar vehicle, the ladies¡¯ eyes began to moisten slightly.


    ¡°Damn, the guy¡¯s finally back.¡± Lin Xiaotian was also full of emotion; if Xia Liu had been any later, and these people had charged forward, he wasn¡¯t sure he could have kept his cool.


    Looking at the banners raised by the crowd ahead and hearing their heated discussions, Xia Liu¡¯s face was filled with a look of helplessness.


    His original intention was to renovate Hejing and create a win-win situation for the Osmanthus Group and the merchants.


    What¡¯s going on now, who¡¯s spreading the rumor that Osmanthus Group is acquiring Hejing¡¯s land at a low price?


    ¡°Brother Xia Liu, it seems like your company is in trouble¡­¡±


    Liu Lanxin looked around with a bitter expression.


    It seemed like what happened at Tianluo Pharmaceutical had befallen Osmanthus Group.


    The scene looked much more serious than the reputation issue at Tianluo Pharmaceutical.


    ¡°Yes, looking at it, it seems someone¡¯s playing dirty tricks behind my back! I hope it¡¯s not what I think it is!¡± Xia Liu gripped the steering wheel tightly. The people outside, who should have been simple merchants, were now so agitated, it was clear that something had provoked them.


    As the crowd slowly made way, Xia Liu drove the car to the forefront, but was then stopped by the instigator of the event, Director Guo.


    ¡°My brothers and sisters, the person in the car is the boss of Osmanthus Group, he¡¯s the one who¡¯s colluding with the higher-ups to buy our land at a low price!¡± Director Guo looked at Xia Liu for a long time before shouting loudly to the crowd.


    ¡°Ah! The person in the car is the boss of Osmanthus Group!¡±


    ¡°Get him out here! Otherwise, we¡¯ll smash the car!¡±


    ¡°Come out! If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll smash your car!¡±


    ¡­


    Director Guo¡¯s words instantly ignited the nerves of the surrounding crowd.


    The boss of Osmanthus Group was now the enemy to them¡ªan evil brute that would bleed them dry!


    ¡°Lan Xin, don¡¯t come out, I¡¯ll deal with this.¡± After instructing her, Xia Liu immediately got out of the car.


    The moment he stepped out of the car, a sense of ominous foreboding surged within Xia Liu.


    His brows furrowed slightly, and suddenly, he turned around and his palm swept out, gripping a wrist.


    ¡°Ah!¡± A sharp and desolate scream echoed continuously.


    The surrounding crowd became silent and stepped back a few meters from Xia Liu.


    ¡°He hit someone! The boss of Osmanthus Group hit someone!¡± The young man whose wrist had been gripped by Xia Liu shouted loudly.


    ¡°Ah! He dared to hit someone! Is there no law anymore!¡±


    ¡°Right, Director Chen is here from the county, and he still dares to hit someone! Could it be that he¡¯s truly bought off all the connections?¡±


    The crowd at the back, hearing the news that Xia Liu had hit someone, immediately erupted into heated discussion.


    However, those at the front of the crowd could see very clearly that Xia Liu had not hit anyone.


    On the contrary, someone wanted to kill him!


    ¡°Who sent you to kill me?¡± Xia Liu asked the young man in front of him, his expression ice-cold.


    ¡°Hmph! I wanted to kill you on my own!¡± the young man retorted coldly.


    ¡°And what¡¯s your reason?¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re colluding with the higher-ups to buy all the county¡¯s land at a low price, so you deserve to die!¡± The young man grew angry, his eyes appeared to spit fire as if he wished he could devour Xia Liu whole.


    After hearing the young man¡¯s explanation, Xia Liu contemplated him for a long time before finally letting him go.


    This scene baffled the onlookers. Xia Liu clearly had the opportunity to harm the young man who had attempted to hurt him, yet why did he let it pass?


    Did the young man¡¯s words awaken his conscience?


    The young man was also confused. He had been lectured by Director Guo all afternoon yesterday, mainly about how terrible Xia Liu was. Yet now, when Xia Liu had the chance to retaliate, he chose to let him go. What was his intention in doing that?


    ¡°My uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, I believe you all know me. I just came back from Binlai City, and I heard about some things in the back just now. As a representative of Osmanthus Group, I solemnly announce that Osmanthus Group will not coerce or force you into selling your storefronts or land under any influence.¡±


    Xia Liu faced the now quiet crowd and declared his promise loudly.


    Looking at Xia Liu¡¯s earnest expression, the encircling merchants were stunned for a moment before looking at each other in bewilderment.


    ¡°Tsk tsk! Just because you say you won¡¯t, you won¡¯t? I have a friend who works at the county government, and he personally told me that your Osmanthus Group wants to buy the whole Hejing!¡±


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