Jiang Fan turned his head to look, his expression blank as he casually wrote: "Do you deserve it?"
In his entire life, he only respected his father, who single-handedly raised him.
Everyone else was unworthy.
"How laughable, a worthless person without a Spirit Root, what qualification do you have to act high and mighty in front of me?" Lu Zheng said contemptuously.
He then turned to Xu Zhengyan, bowed, and said: "Uncle Xu, I have a request."
Xu Zhengyan hurriedly said: "Dear nephew, you may speak, there is no need for such formalities."
Lu Zheng glanced at Jiang Fan, a smirk at the corner of his mouth: "I have grown up alongside Youran, and I cannot bear to see her marry a worthless person."
"I implore Uncle Xu to give Youran's hand in marriage to me."
"I am the one who can bring her happiness and a future!"
This...
Xu Zhengyan was in a difficult position; he had already promised Youran to Jiang Fan, could he go back on his word and have Youran remarry?
Wouldn't that make him a man of no integrity?
"Uncle, if I declare my desire to marry, I believe many families present would gladly form an alliance with me, right?"
With his hands behind his back, Lu Zheng said with a hint of threat:
"At that time, I would be someone else's son-in-law."
Xu Zhengyan's face changed dramatically.
Lu Zheng was the Xu family's Sky-reaching Tree! If he were to lose him, Xu Zhengyan would be the eternal sinner of the Xu family!
Compared to breaking his word and losing his integrity, being an eternal sinner was something he could not bear.
As he was about to make a decision, Jiang Fan lifted his pen and aggressively wrote a few words: "Uncle Xu, whether one can bring Youran happiness depends on strength, not words."
"I am willing to compete with Lu Zheng!"
Xu Zhengyan felt a sudden relief.
If Jiang Fan lost and withdrew voluntarily, he wouldn't have to bear the name of a man with no integrity.
And Lu Zheng could marry Xu Youran as he wished.
A perfect solution!
As for the possibility of Jiang Fan winning...
One had no Spirit Root, the other had a Nine-grade Spiritual Root.
He couldn't see how Jiang Fan could win.
He quickly looked at Lu Zheng and said with a smile: "Zheng, what do you think?"
Lu Zheng laughed heartily: "A worthless person wants to challenge a Nine-grade Spiritual Root? Ha ha ha!"
"Fine, since we both grew up at the Xu Mansion, I'll give you a chance to compete against a Nine-grade Spiritual Root."
"Even if you lose, you can brag about it for a lifetime!"
Xu Zhengyan completely relaxed and said:
"I'll give you three days, whoever breaks through one level will have the qualification to marry Xu Youran!"
"What do you think?"
One level in three days?
Jiang Fan thought that in three days, it was possible that he might break through more than one level.
With his mysterious Spirit Root, coupled with the high-grade Yellow Level mental method, it was not difficult at all.
He immediately lifted his pen and wrote: "Agreed!"
Lu Zheng smiled confidently: "One level, Uncle, you underestimate my Nine-grade Spiritual Root! Just wait and see in three days!"
At this moment, an old man dressed in luxurious robes stepped forward from among the dignitaries and said with clasped hands: "Young Master Lu, I am Qin Changsheng."
On hearing this, everyone was moved.
Qin Changsheng, the head of the first alchemy family in Lonely Boat City. With the ancestral formula for Qi Cultivation Liquid, they monopolized the supply to all surrounding cities.
And Qi Cultivation Liquid was the only medicine that could enhance cultivation in the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Thus, Lonely Boat City had a saying: it's better to offend the City Lord tenfold than to offend the Qin family slightly.
His appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.
Lu Zheng also recognized him and asked in confusion: "Qin Family Head, what is the matter?"
Qin Changsheng smiled and presented a brocade box. Inside were ten small jade bottles, each emanating spirit light, filled with the famous Qi Cultivation Liquid!
"The Qin family congratulates Young Master Lu on detecting a Nine-grade Spiritual Root. We have nothing else to offer, so please accept these ten newly refined bottles of Qi Cultivation Liquid."
"We hope Young Master Lu will win the beauty's hand in three days!"
Ten bottles?
Many people looked greedily at the Qi Cultivation Liquid; a single bottle was priceless, not affordable for ordinary families.
The Qin family giving away ten bottles at once was indeed a generous gesture.
With ten bottles of Qi Cultivation Liquid, even a pig could undergo qualitative changes, not to mention Lu Zheng with his Nine-grade Spiritual Root?
They couldn't help but look sympathetically at Jiang Fan.
This young man was destined to lose his bride.
Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly; the Qin family was clearly supporting Lu Zheng?
Noticing Jiang Fan's gaze, Qin Changsheng did not withdraw. Instead, he said indifferently: "Additionally, from today, all Qin family shops are prohibited from selling Qi Cultivation Liquid to Jiang Fan."
It wasn't just support; it was blatant suppression!
Jiang Fan's eyes turned cold, and he lifted his pen and wrote: "I hope you won't regret it."
Qin Changsheng sneered: "Regret? Regret abandoning a worthless person and embracing Young Master Lu's favor?"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Jiang Fan gave Qin Changsheng a meaningful look and silently walked away.
The crowd also dispersed, following the end of the farce.
On the way back, an elder following Qin Changsheng looked hesitant: "Family Head, why did you press so hard and suppress a junior?"
As an alchemy family, the Qin family earned enormous profits each year, attracting envy from many.
Therefore, the Qin family had always adhered to a low-profile principle, offending no one.
Qin Changsheng, understanding this well, had always maintained harmony and avoided conflict. Now he was so oppressive towards Jiang Fan, puzzling the elder.
Qin Changsheng's expression was emotionless: "Do you remember the mysterious Soul Master who emerged ten years ago?"
The elder nodded: "Of course, I remember. The Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid he refined nearly destroyed our Qin family's hundred-year enterprise."
"If he hadn't stopped at refining ten bottles, exchanging them for money and some materials, his Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid might have completely taken over our market for Low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid."
The Qin family's Qi Cultivation Liquid was low grade, less than half as effective as mid-grade.
If that person had mass-produced and sold mid-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid, who would still buy low-grade ones?
His emergence back then almost led to the direct decline of the Qin family.
Qin Changsheng said meaningfully: "Then do you remember when Lu Zheng came to our Lonely Boat City?"
The elder thought carefully and exclaimed in shock: "Ten years ago! Family Head, you mean..."
"Exactly!" Qin Changsheng's eyes gleamed with excitement: "Ten years ago was when Lu Zheng arrived, and that mysterious Soul Master also appeared then. This is no coincidence!"
"I think he is very likely the protector of Lu Zheng, the one with a Nine-grade Spiritual Root!"
"So now do you understand why I got involved in the competition between Lu Zheng and Jiang Fan?"
The elder suddenly understood and praised: "Family Head wants to gain Lu Zheng's favor and thereby receive recognition from the Soul Master behind him?"
"If he can become our backer, our domain will far exceed the few surrounding cities!"
Qin Changsheng slowly nodded.
He raised his fingers to the sky, gripping tightly, and said with great spirit: "All my life, I have been cautious, never making wrong choices."
"This time, I believe I won't be wrong either!"
"As for that so-called Jiang Fan, he can only blame himself for not seeing the bigger picture and blocking the Qin family's path to greatness!"
"He's just a small character; offending him won't cause any big waves!"