379: A million spirit stones bet

Although the Sword Pavilion's Earth Rankings only ranked talent, the top thirty generally possessed the combat power of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Lu Guihong was ranked twenty-first, and an ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator would likely be no match for him.

Given Lu Guihong's status, even the Peak Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors of small Sects would have to be polite to him; only a Golden Core Immortal Master could make him bow his head.

However, he found that no one here paid him any mind. It was only after a long while that a Merchant Alliance deacon responsible for recording the fighting platform came over with a smile to apologize:

"My apologies, Senior Lu. The duels here require both parties to make an appointment in advance. If you wish to challenge our City Lord, you can first go to the City Lord's Manor to submit an appointment."

What was Eldest Son's status? He was now the City Lord of Great Sun City and a Disciple of An Yunmiao, the Eldest Senior Sister of the Southern Courtyard of the Beast Taming Sect. How could any random person just challenge him?

Furthermore, he wasn't even here right now; he was cultivating deep within the underground Yin Sha Hall. How could he have the time to engage in duels with others?

Lu Guihong's brow furrowed, and the aura of a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator was released from his body, causing countless nearby Qi Refining Cultivators to retreat one after another.

The deacon from the Liu Clan Merchant Alliance, however, was not afraid at all. This place was adjacent to the outer courtyard of the Liu Manor. Let alone a single Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, even if a Golden Core Immortal Master came, they wouldn't dare to act presumptuously.

As expected, Lu Guihong did not dare to act recklessly. A sliver of a smile appeared on his Face as he cupped his hands and said, "No matter! I will wait right here. I believe Fellow Daoist Liu wouldn't dare not to come!"

"Suit yourself, Senior!"

The Merchant Alliance deacon bowed respectfully, then ordered his subordinates to restore order to the surroundings before hurriedly running off to report to Xiao Ran, the Head Housekeeper of the Liu Manor.

The news of a Sword Cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Pavilion Earth Rankings challenging Eldest Son quickly spread through the manor, and it wasn't long before it reached Liu Xuan.

Such a small matter could no longer catch his attention. He simply had someone tell Eldest Son to handle it as he saw fit.

While Liu Xuan didn't care, Xiao Ran took it to heart. She told Eldest Son not to pay him any mind for the time being, leaving him out in the cold for a while to see what he was really up to.

A few days later.

Lu Guihong's expression was extremely ugly because Liu Daoyuan had completely ignored his challenge. Every day, he stood near the fighting platform like a clown being watched by the crowd.

The problem was that he had no other options. Although the Liu Family had no Golden Core Immortal Masters, they had the support of the Beast Taming Sect. He had heard that Yun Xian, a Late Golden Core Great True Person, was a guest at the Liu Manor. Acting recklessly would be seeking death.

"Isn't it said that Liu Daoyuan is a martial idiot? Why does he not even dare to accept when I come to his door to challenge him?"

Lu Guihong's challenge this time wasn't purely for the sake of sparring; he had come with a mission.

He not only had to defeat Liu Daoyuan but also pretend to make a mistake and heavily injure or even cripple him!

"You, come here! Go tell your City Lord that I am willing to use two hundred thousand Spirit Stones as a bet to invite him to spar. If he wins, they are his," Lu Guihong said to the Merchant Alliance deacon from before.

"Please wait a moment, Senior!"

The Merchant Alliance deacon went to the Liu Manor to report.

Xiao Ran smiled when she heard the report and ordered her subordinates to continue ignoring him.

"Recently, the Merchant Alliance's business has been facing setbacks everywhere, especially in the Heavenly Sword Sect's territory where people frequently cause trouble. I want to see what you all are trying to do."

Great Sun City was rising rapidly. After the news spread that the Late Golden Core Stage Rat Demon had been heavily injured during the last city siege, the number of Cultivators in the city was increasing every day.

Now, Great Sun City had a large-scale Artifact Refining Workshop, the Liu Family Pill Refining Tower, and Guanghui Tower, which had the support of Shen Yunshu's faction within the Heavenly Sword Sect. It had gradually developed into the most booming commercial city on the northern battlefield of the Peach Blossom Sect.

The rise of Great Sun City was accompanied by a decrease in business and damaged interests for many cities and markets, including Red Pine Sect's Feiyu City.

The Liu Family was wealthy and powerful, intercepting all kinds of relatively cheap spiritual materials from the battlefield. Many cities within the Heavenly Sword Sect's borders, like Feiyu City, had lost their most important way to make money for no reason. Naturally, people would come looking for trouble.

What was annoying was that Liu Xuan had latched onto the Beast Taming Sect, become a Personal Disciple of True Lord Haoran, and was also a Third-Rank Alchemist. They gnashed their teeth in hatred but couldn't do anything to him.

Since they couldn't do anything to the Liu Family openly, they would resort to underhanded tactics! Many high-level members of the Heavenly Sword Sect stepped forward and ordered the cutting off of business dealings with the Liu Clan Merchant Alliance, refusing to supply them with goods.

As large as Great Sun City was, the goods produced by the Liu Family's Artifact Refining Workshop and Pill Refining Tower were far from enough to meet demand. Previously, the Red Pine Sect and Shen Yunshu's faction within the Heavenly Sword Sect had been maintaining the supply.

But recently, Xiao Ran had keenly noticed that the Heavenly Sword Sect faction under Shen Yunshu had been complaining to her one after another, saying that their businesses were being investigated by the higher-ups and they couldn't supply the goods.

As long as people from the Liu Clan Merchant Alliance left the Red Pine Sect for other places in the Heavenly Sword Sect, they would immediately Face all kinds of difficulties and suppression. It was clear that someone was targeting them!

The Liu Family could do as they pleased in the Peach Blossom Sect by relying on the Beast Taming Sect, but the people of the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn't give them Face.

Shen Yunshu had gone to the front lines, and it was uncertain if she would ever return. Her internal faction was slowly fragmenting, and they were even less capable of helping the Liu Family in such matters.

At such a time, Lu Guihong, ranked twenty-first on the Heavenly Sword Sect's Earth Rankings, coming to challenge Eldest Son—Xiao Ran had felt there was a problem from the start.

A few more days passed, and Lu Guihong could really no longer stand it. He directly and high-profilely announced that he was putting up one million Spirit Stones as a bet, asking only for a battle with Liu Daoyuan.

Fearing the Liu Family would still ignore him, Lu Guihong made the announcement in public this time, stating bluntly that if Liu Daoyuan still didn't dare to accept the challenge, he had better take a detour whenever he saw him in the future.

Fifteen minutes later.

Eldest Son, dressed in a black robe, came over slowly riding a Big Black Ox. He was followed by a group of siblings including Ling Hui and Ninth Son, as well as two Big Black Bears waddling along with their arms crossed as his left and right Protectors.

"Kid, can you even produce a million Spirit Stones?" Dashan lowered his head and bared his teeth. "If you can't, don't blame this Great Master for beating the crap out of you!"

Lu Guihong's Face was unsightly. The auras of Dashan and Big Stone were too terrifying; if they made a move, he would definitely not be able to win.

"Liu Daoyuan, your Liu Clan Merchant Alliance is known for its integrity and fairness. These two are not your natal Spirit Beasts. Do you mean to say you don't even dare to have a fair fight?"

Liu Daoyuan jumped down from the Big Black Ox. "Don't worry! As long as you produce a million Spirit Stones, I won't need any Spirit Beasts. You can fight however you want."

Lu Guihong took out his Storage Pouch and threw it toward Liu Daoyuan. "There are three hundred thousand Spirit Stones inside, along with various Medicinal Pills and miscellaneous items, with a total value of five hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

He waved his hand, and an azure Flying Sword appeared by his side. His whole body erupted with Sword Intent, layer upon layer. "With this natal flying sword and my life added to it, is it worth a million Spirit Stones?"

Hearing that there were only five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, Eldest Son was somewhat disappointed. "Fine! We'll do as you say."

He ordered the onlookers to move back, then asked Aunt Xiao Ran to preside over the activation of the city defense array to avoid damaging the nearby buildings.

Once everything was ready, Eldest Son stepped out and arrived in the air above the fighting platform, facing Lu Guihong from dozens of meters away.

With a flash of light, a golden-yellow long staff appeared in his hand. A heavy pressure emanated from it, and the onlookers nearby all felt their bodies grow heavy, as if the gravitational pull of heaven and earth had suddenly increased significantly.