“Ling Xi, you brave little scum! You dare show that face of yours in my Hundred Herb Hall?” No sooner had his voice left the air, in came Shopkeeper Zhao with thundering footsteps. His gaze sliced through the air between him and Ling Xi as he added in distaste, ” Here’s your best chance to get the f*ck out ¹ , wretch. Hundred Herb Hall has no interest in seeing anyone from the Ling Family!”

　　Ling Xi laughed dryly at his threat.

　　“Oh…. Shopkeeper Zhao. C’mon. Your little establishment already has a new master in waiting! Sure, Gu Ruoyun promised results within a month, but hey! I pride myself as the compassionate kind, so I extended her little promise to two months — just so she could squeeze in whatever little bit of improvement she can do! It’s just that…only you people would be optimistic enough to bet the Hundred Herb Hall on that loser. From the way I see it, that’s just a roundabout way of pleading for me to own this place, man. Don’t you worry, with my guidance though, this place will have its worth doubled!”

　　When one had the support of the mighty Weapon Refining Sect, there was no need for courtesy and pleasantries — even if the opponent now was someone as formidable as the Hundred Herb Hall. All that they had just could not possibly match the Weapon Refining Sect anyway!

　　“The Hundred Herb Hall has never seen such a shameless proposal — EVER!” Shopkeeper Zhao was enraged as he balled his hands into fists.

　　“Aww…Are you finally smart enough to be afraid of what I can achieve now?” Ling Xi smirked.

　　His words stirred the crowd as they turned their attention to this trespasser. The murmurs started.

　　“A lower level Martial Warrior? Ling Xi has already broken through to level eight in the Qi Collection ranks, and has now attained the stage of a lower level Martial Warrior! How did I not see that?”

　　“Damn it! Wasn’t he only at, like, level 5 last month? How did he even attain that stage so quickly?”

　　“Huh, guess the Hundred Herb Hall got used to underestimating everyone. Now that this kid is showing them what he’s really got, it’s too late for them to eat their words now!”

　　All eyes were filled with mockery as they started directing their remarks at Shopkeeper Zhao. This unfounded contempt enraged him so much that he wanted to annihilate that son of a bitch right there and then!

　　The situation was tense as two sides seemed to be locked into a stand-off.

　　Suddenly, a jaunty laughter was heard. “It’s fine, Shopkeeper Zhao. Let me handle this.”

　　Milady ² ? The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at the voice, quickly turning to find himself in the presence of Lady Ruoyun herself. His mouth was agape as he tried to say something.

　　“There you are, Gu Ruoyun. I’ve been oh-so-waiting for you,” Ling Xi sneered. His expression darkened immediately like a storm the moment he saw her.

　　“Now that you’re finally here, the time is ripe — for us to duel!”

　　“A duel?’ Gu Ruoyun laughed with a tinkle. “Not that I’m against it, but are you really that willing to break your end of the deal?”

　　“What deal?”

　　‘If you lose, all properties of the Ling family belong to me, remember? While you’ll have to kneel before me and call me your Master. Plus, the extra benefit of calling that old geezer of yours an old dotard.”

　　“THAT’S BULLCRAP!” Ling Xi’s face unraveled as he retorted in bluster. “I’d agreed to no such terms!”

　　She raised her brow. “But then… Why else would it be possible for me to bet the entire Hundred Herbs Hall in this duel?”

　　“That’s…IT!” Ling Xi shouted, his chest about to explode in fire and fury. “That’s some bait you got there, Gu Ruoyun. Do you honestly think that you can defeat me? You’re just a pitiful trash whose best move is gathering Qi. You’re not even an actual Martial Warrior yet! I can give you a hundred lifetimes just to try, and you’d still have no hope against me!”

　　Let’s face it. Qi gathering did not make one a martial artist. It was a “NOOB’S ONLY!” skill set