svetikya 25. Arrogant and overbearing
25. Arrogant and overbearing
"Five hundred million gold coins, the total value of the tribute paid by the empire under the Xuanwen Sect for two years, seven Xuanwen Sect techniques comparable to high-level Xuanwen condensation methods, twenty sixth-grade pills, and fifty seventh-order magic cores," the maid outside VIP room number one replied truthfully.
Even Xue Ningyi's breathing became erratic upon hearing such a price. Even He Kui, the Dou Zun beside her, stared intently at VIP room number one, as if on guard against something.
Xu Chengze's brows were almost furrowed, and Su Zhang said with a wry smile, "Has Lu Huangtian gone mad?"
Just now, the six major forces took turns making bids. Although the Heroes Alliance was no longer competitive due to the heavy losses they had just suffered, and Echo Valley and Heavenly Serpent Mansion were not prepared to buy because of Xiao Xun'er's reminder, everyone tacitly understood the matter of raising the price.
As the five major forces continued to clash and raise their bids, the VIP room number one made the final decision, releasing the bid they had just received.
"Ten billion gold coins. The value of the tributes from the empire under our command has exceeded one billion over the past two years. The Xuanwen Sect has fifteen methods for refining patterns, which are never passed on to outsiders. Ten of them can only be practiced by those with the surname Lu. As for the twenty sixth-grade pills and fifty seventh-order magic cores, they can almost empty half of the Xuanwen Sect's warehouse." Xu Yingwu did not forget to explain to Xiao Yan and the others.
"Everything else is fine, but they dared to bring out seven different methods of Xuanwen condensation. Something's not right with the Xuanwen Sect..." Xu Chengze's face showed no joy at having tricked the Xuanwen Sect. Something was definitely amiss.
The same misunderstanding occurred in several other VIP rooms, not because the Xuanwen Sect's bid was high, but because it was so high that it was unreasonable.
"President Xue, I wonder if our Xuanwen Sect's bid is higher than the previous bid?"
Lu Zhi appeared outside the door of VIP room number one, dressed in a loose robe with his long hair flowing freely. The robe was not straightened and was casually draped over his body, which, combined with his appearance, gave him a unique charm.
"Who is this? Lu Huangtian is so young?"
"Hey, you're such a country bumpkin. This is Lu Zhi, the young master of the Xuanwen Sect and the son of Sect Master Lu Huangtian."
"Can he make that decision?"
A person next to him rolled his eyes repeatedly. "Please move around outside more. Lu Zhi is the number one young genius who can overpower Xu Yingwu, Wan Qing, Shi Meng and all the other geniuses. He has even directly killed a Dou Zong expert! He is the sure thing to become the next sect master of Xuanwen Sect."
Xue Ningyi, realizing her earlier lapse in composure, gracefully bowed and apologized, saying, "It was my fault. Young Master Lu's bid has been successful. Are there any higher bids?"
Although there was absolutely no suspense, Xue Ningyi still asked the price three times.
"Since there were no higher bids, the Emperor's Essence Fruit will be won by Young Sect Master Lu!"
Lu Zhi looked at the Emperor's Fruit in Xue Ningyi's hand, a barely perceptible glint of greed and fervor flashing in his eyes.
Then, as if remembering something, he grinned and said, "President Xue, the maids trained by the Chamber of Commerce are quite good. I just used them to cultivate the Bloodthirsty Rune. Name your price for compensation, and my Xuanwen Sect will cover it together."
Upon hearing this, Xue Ningyi frowned. Everyone in the Northwest Region knew that the Xuanwen Sect had fifteen methods for refining runes, which were the foundation of the sect. Each method of cultivation and enhancement was different, and the most cruel was the Bloodthirsty Rune. Enhancement required draining the life essence of a living person under extremely intense emotions, resulting in a gruesome death for the deceased.
Absorbing two maids in front of so many people is a blatant slap in the face to the Gold Alliance Merchant Guild.
He Kui stepped forward and looked at Lu Zhi, saying, "Young man, having money and power doesn't mean you can do whatever you want in the Golden Alliance Chamber of Commerce."
He Kui earned his reputation as the "Fierce Hand" through countless punches in his youth. When he stood in front of Lu Zhi, he exuded an invisible pressure. The four elders behind Lu Zhi all changed their expressions, and Lu Chen even had to summon his fighting spirit to resist this pressure.
But Lu Zhi didn't move; in fact, he seemed quite calm.
"I presume you are the renowned He Kui, the Fiendish Master? I, Lu Zhi, am unworthy to learn a thing or two from you!" Lu Zhi spoke with boundless pride.
Even the four elders were startled and hurriedly stepped forward, only to be stopped by Lu Zhi.
Many people who thought everything was settled and were about to leave immediately sat down again and looked at the center of the venue upon hearing this.
"Asking a Dou Zun for guidance? Has Lu Zhi gone mad?!"
"Is this the courage of the number one young person in the Northwest Region?"
"Even Dou Zong are like clay figures, isn't he, a Dou Huang, just throwing his life away?"
"Lu Zhi is a junior after all; He Kui can't possibly go all out!"
Not only were ordinary people surprised, but even Xu Yingwu, who was also of the younger generation, said with a wry smile, "Lu Zhi really is a madman!"
"Challenging a Dou Zun is just courting death, isn't it?" Zi Yan pouted and complained. She had never had a good impression of the people from the Xuanwen Sect.
Xu Yingwu shook his head: "Just now, He Kui commented that he was rich and powerful, but he is actually proving to He Kui that he has the ability through his actions! Moreover, due to his background, He Kui will not really kill him."
Xiao Yan looked at Lu Zhi and sighed. This world is never short of geniuses!
He Kui narrowed his eyes. He quite admired the young man in front of him. After all, he was a fearless rascal back in the day.
"Young man, you are still a junior. If you apologize to me, I can forgive your previous rash behavior."
Lu Zhi extended one hand forward: "Please enlighten me, Senior He Kui!"
Most people gasped in shock. When asking a senior for guidance, one should bow with clasped hands. To extend one hand forward is a blatant act of insult.
He Kui was also a little angry. No matter how much he admired Lu Zhi, he could not allow such a junior to ride on his head and act recklessly.
"I've suppressed my cultivation level to Dou Huang. If you can withstand one of my moves, this matter will be over for today," He Kui said, gathering his powerful Dou Qi in his right hand, his voice becoming chilling.
Although it is said to be a suppressed realm, He Kui's battle qi is all at the Dou Zun realm, and he has a wealth of combat skills.
Judging from the energy of the condensed battle qi, it is no less than the full-force attack of a low-star Dou Zong.
A massive amount of battle qi condensed on He Kui's right hand, but not a single trace of it was exposed. He Kui's right hand had turned blackish-gray, no less than a divine weapon capable of cutting through stone and shattering metal.
"The Ghostly Hand!"
He Kui grabbed down with one hand. Although the speed was extremely slow, most people suddenly felt a suffocating sense of having no way to escape or avoid. After closing their eyes and waiting to die, they suddenly realized that the target of the attack was not themselves at all. Looking back at the people next to them, most of them were also sweating profusely.
Beneath Lu Zhi's wide robe were densely packed, mysterious patterns. He thrust out both palms to meet He Kui's attack. Lu Zhi's robe fluttered loudly from the force of the blow, and the clash of their fighting energies sent Lu Zhi flying with a single blow.
Two marks, each nearly half an inch long, appeared on the expensive floor beneath Lu Zhi's feet. Then, he bumped into the wall of VIP room number one. The expensive black spirit stone could not withstand the pressure, cracked, and finally shattered into pieces with a "bang".
Dust filled the air, and everyone who looked at the ruins of VIP Room No. 1 swallowed hard. A Dou Zun powerhouse, terrifying indeed!
The four old men immediately rushed into the VIP room, but they had not yet begun their search.
Lu Zhi slowly emerged from the center of the dust, his wide robe torn to shreds.
His aura was also somewhat weak, and the patterns on Lu Zhi's body slowly faded away from between his tattered clothes.
Blood trickled from the corner of Lu Zhi's mouth, his eyes filled with arrogance. A blood-red line appeared on the corner of his mouth, swallowing the blood.
"Thank you for your guidance, senior!"