Chapter 456: I’m the Most Sincere in Business

“Old Du…”

“Gone?”

From the back of the small town in Eight Palace, everyone watched Xu Xiaoshou slap down, and Old Du vanished, leaving them collectively stunned.

Even caught completely off guard, it shouldn't have been like this, right? Old Du hadn't dispelled any of his protective spiritual energy; in fact, when he noticed someone behind him, he instinctively used a defensive spiritual technique. Even though the technique only half-formed. But how could a dignified Grandmaster be wiped out with a single slap? (Suspicion, Passive Point +424.)

When Luo Qinglang recovered from his daze and turned his head from the sidelines, he saw Old Du being completely submerged into the ground. The splattered blood, even a few drops, had directly spattered onto him, several yards away. It was clear how terrifying the force of Xu Xiaoshou's palm strike truly was.

“A congenital body?” Luo Qinglang stood frozen. From the moment his hand was gripped by this person, he had vaguely realized that their physical body was extraordinary. But perhaps they had used some secret technique? In short, he had never considered the possibility of a congenital body. However, the scene before him forced him to ponder deeply. A powerful sword cultivator with Grandmaster Sword Will, plus a congenital body?

“Where in the hell did this monster come from?” Although he couldn't see the person's face, based solely on their exposed eyes, Luo Qinglang was certain that this individual was not old. It was even possible they were peers. But when had such a figure emerged in the more than ten counties around White Cave in recent years? Luo Qinglang had never heard of them.

Within the Qinggang Spirit Palace team, Yu Zhiwen, who had retreated to the back, frowned slightly, and a flicker of remembrance passed through her eyes. Her Starry Eyes were unique; she could essentially remember everything she saw. Even the most powerful concealment spiritual techniques couldn't deceive her eyes. This person vaguely reminded her of a certain figure from the Tiansang Spirit Palace at that time.

“This peculiar way of speaking, and this Sword Will, this physical body…”“Xu Xiaoshou?”

Yu Zhiwen instinctively took a step forward, but she quickly stopped herself, halting in time.

“No, Xu Xiaoshou isn't that strong.”“Grandmaster Sword Will, and a physical body that might have already reached the Grandmaster level…”“It's only been a few days? A month? Less than a month, right? Has Xu Xiaoshou really undergone such a massive transformation?”“Is it a coincidence?” Yu Zhiwen mused to herself. To be honest, what truly made her dismiss her suspicions wasn't the person's rapid progress. Ultimately, it was still her Starry Eyes.

“There's no power in this world stronger than these eyes.”“If they couldn't remember…”Yu Zhiwen inwardly chuckled, “I was overthinking it. It seems it truly is a coincidence.” She feigned an unconscious glance at Cheng Xingchu beside her. If this person really were Xu Xiaoshou, then Cheng Xingchu, who had been beaten by him at that time, would surely react more strongly than she. After all, Cheng Xingchu was an outstanding talent from the Holy Divine Palace branch in Eastern Heavenly City. Some of his special spiritual techniques were even imperceptible to her. But unfortunately, he seemed only surprised by the masked straw-hat person's high combat power, showing no other expression after a slight frown.

“It truly is a coincidence…”

However!

“Teleportation?” Yu Zhiwen subconsciously murmured. Others might have mistaken Xu Xiaoshou's sudden disappearance as merely extreme speed. Only she could clearly see that the spatial fluctuations at that instant could not have been caused by mere movement.

“So powerful!”“Teleportation… How could such a person come to Eight Palace to sell exquisite stones? Is he that desperate for money?” (Awe, Passive Point +234.) (Suspicion, Passive Point +128.)

In the arena.

Xu Xiaoshou calmly shook his hand. He looked around. Now, none of Old Du's subordinates dared to act recklessly. Catch the thief, catch the king first – these ancient sayings were indeed correct. With the alpha dead, those below were truly just a disorganized rabble.

“Calm down, don't be nervous.” Xu Xiaoshou waved a hand, calming the scene before saying, “As I said before, I am a businessman, I don't like killing. My hobby is world peace.”

Everyone: “...”

(Curses, Passive Point +334.) (Awe, Passive Point +221.)

“So this is what 'loving peace' means, I've learned something new.”“Indeed, killing one person to subdue the entire crowd – strictly speaking, this guy really did prevent more casualties.”“Uh, what you're saying…”

Those still daring to speak were naturally the bystanders who hadn't taken action before. They suddenly found that watching the spectacle was incredibly enjoyable. They had thought that with Old Du stepping in, the masked straw-hat person would be doomed. Who would have thought that events would take such a turn, resulting in a complete reversal? Well, perhaps it couldn't exactly be called a reversal. After all, that person didn't seem to be at a disadvantage from start to finish?

“Du-Du Ge?” Old Du's subordinates still had some loyalty; at least after a moment of shock, someone finally spoke up. They had naturally seen the pit in front of Xu Xiaoshou. But at that time, they were still frantically attacking; who could have imagined Xu Xiaoshou would instantly vanish and blast Old Du away?

“Here.” Xu Xiaoshou smiled, pointing to the pit at his feet. In his 'Perception,' Old Du was not dead. He hadn't used his full strength, so of course, the guy wouldn't die. And to be out here in the first place, Old Du clearly had some tricks up his sleeve. In just a few breaths, he had already completed his self-healing within the pit. At this moment, he was fiercely darting upwards, about to break out of the pit.

“You scoundrel, daring to ambush me! Watch as your grandpa here teaches you how to be a person… Mmmph!”

Before he could finish his enraged roar, Xu Xiaoshou swiftly shifted his weight above, using his left foot to directly block the pit's opening. Old Du was horrified to find that at the end of his upward leap, a footprint suddenly appeared, and within that footprint, a spark of fire erupted. A small fireball technique detached from the sole of the foot, making intimate contact with the guy's slightly open mouth as he looked up. Xu Xiaoshou's timing was exquisitely precise. It was as if he could constantly monitor Old Du's movements; the compressed fire seed detached precisely at the moment he was about to emerge from the pit. Caught off guard yet again, Old Du barely managed to activate that half-formed defensive spiritual technique a second time.

“Boom!”

The ground exploded with a roar. Everyone's bodies swayed rhythmically, and their expressions froze.

“Damn, that's too brutal, isn't it?”“What did that guy do? That was probably more than just the force of a single foot strike?”“Is he still just a pure spirit refiner?”“Fire-elemental?”

Cheng Xingchu had initially maintained an attitude of indifference. After feeling the warmth emanating from the floor and smelling the scorched scent in the air, he completely lost his composure.

“Xu Xiaoshou?” This familiar scent of fire… wasn't it the special spiritual technique from Xu Xiaoshou that had directly knocked him unconscious at the entrance of the main assembly hall that day?

Yu Zhiwen was completely taken aback. Her beautiful eyes stared blankly at the masked straw-hat person's back; for a moment, she was speechless. Just moments ago, she had used various conclusions to directly overturn her own suspicions. Who would have thought, after just a few breaths? She'd been proven wrong!

“It really is Xu Xiaoshou?” She tilted her head and asked.

Cheng Xingchu's entire face was green, and he gritted his teeth, saying, “This smell… I'll never forget it for the rest of my life!”

Yu Zhiwen: “...” Her Starry Eyes had made a mistake? How could that be? They were something that couldn't even misidentify a Throne's aura!

“This…” (Suspicion, Passive Point +1.)

“Boom!”

As she pondered, another roar echoed from underground. Yu Zhiwen glanced over, only to see that while Xu Xiaoshou hadn't moved, the energy from his foot struck wherever it was aimed. Old Du, who had fortunately withstood the blow, was now completely trapped underground. Like a gopher. Even though he hadn't surfaced, he was being hit by one compressed fire seed after another, completely disoriented.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Each time that brutal sound rang out, everyone felt their hearts jump. Looking at the floor that was on the verge of collapsing, everyone fell silent. Such terrifying bombardment, even the town gate of Eight Palace, was about to crumble!

“Is this the legendary… ‘I'm a businessman’?”“And what else, what else? World peace!” Someone excitedly added. (Admiration, Passive Point +424.)

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled cheerfully, offering a rare explanation. “Third time's the limit! After all, I've already given him two chances. If I give him another, I'll lose face.”

Face… Upon hearing those two words, Luo Qinglang's mouth twitched, and his body convulsed. If it weren't for your ‘face,’ I probably wouldn't have been turned into a human stick, being swung around and thrown everywhere!

It must be said, Old Du was too strong. This guy had been tormented by the compressed fire seeds like a cat playing with a mouse for so long, yet he could still endure it. For a good part of a stick of incense's time, the roars from the entrance of Eight Palace town hadn't stopped.

Finally.

As the town gate collapsed, Old Du gravely realized that the masked person attacking with foot-based energy truly had more spiritual energy than he did! Because at this moment, not a single drop of spiritual energy remained in his Qi Sea.

“Young hero, spare my life!” Old Du's humiliated voice came from underground; he had directly given up resisting. Because judging from the words of the person above, he wasn't a brutal individual and didn't like to indiscriminately kill innocents. Perhaps this person genuinely just couldn't tolerate losing face. Once he was given a way out, he would retreat.

As a result, the remaining compressed fire seeds ruthlessly shot into his nostrils, armpits, and between his legs.

“Boom, boom, boom!”“Pfft!”

Old Du, dumbfounded, spat out a mouthful of blood, his body covered in wounds. He raised his head, roaring in fury with tears in his eyes. “Let me go!” (Request, Passive Point +1.)

Xu Xiaoshou withdrew his foot. Only then did he realize that the ground beneath Eight Palace had been thoroughly blasted open by him. Even the vertical height of the ground had been lowered by several levels. Like a small basin.

“Tsk, tsk.”“What a resilient fellow.” Xu Xiaoshou peered down into the pit. Old Du couldn't see him clearly, but after his 'Perception' advanced, even through such obstacles, he could still see the nervousness in the guy's eyes through the gaps.

“Have you figured it out?”

Old Du: “...” Figured what out? I wasn't thinking anything at all!

Only after asking did Xu Xiaoshou realize he'd mixed up his memories. Figuring it out – wasn't that Luo Qinglang's business? He instinctively turned his head, only to see Luo Qinglang's body tremble, and he also backed away a step. (Fear, Passive Point +1.)

“Heh heh, don't be nervous.” Xu Xiaoshou raised a hand to indicate he was a kind person, then loudly addressed the bottom of the pit, “So, do you want to buy my exquisite stones now?”

Old Du almost exploded on the spot. Damn it all… Just for one exquisite stone! Was I asking for trouble? Why did I have to provoke this guy?

“I'll buy!” Everyone could hear in that mournful shriek a mix of bitterness, indignation, humiliation, and finally, utter helplessness.

“Oh, you want to buy it? You should have said so earlier.” Xu Xiaoshou beckoned, “What are you doing down there? Business is conducted face-to-face. Come up!” (Awe, Passive Point +428.)

At this point, everyone's gaze towards Xu Xiaoshou was no longer confusion, bewilderment, or doubt about his strength. Regardless of his cultivation, this person… He was a devil!

Old Du, seething with anger, cautiously protected his head, clenched his lips, and pinched his nostrils before slowly flying out of the pit.

“Good heavens!” Everyone's eyes widened. Before them was a man covered in black char, with all his hair and eyebrows burned off, his spiritual attire blasted to shreds, revealing his tattered inner protective armor, and his face scarred…

“Old Du?” It was as if he hadn't just been in the pit but had gone to reincarnate and come back as a different person! If it weren't for his characteristic scars having multiplied rather than diminished, most likely, no one would have recognized Old Du.

“Boss?” Old Du's subordinates on the side were equally stunned. This was too tragic; a dignified Grandmaster, blasted into such a state underground?

“Boss, didn't you break through to the Star Worship Realm a few days ago?”“How could you still be beaten so badly…”“Shut up!” Before the conversation could escalate, Old Du roared in fury, silencing his subordinates instantly. How humiliating! Still daring to speak!

Everyone was dumbfounded. Star Worship Realm! None of the people present were simple; they weren't deaf, so how could they not hear the subordinate's murmur?

“But the Star Worship Realm is too absurd, isn't it?”“That explosion before wasn't a very powerful spiritual technique either. How could Old Du, after reaching the Star Worship Realm, become weaker and be unable to dodge it?”

Immediately, hearing the discussion, Old Du's fierce gaze swept towards them. This truly 'inhuman' being, who had 'crawled' out from the 'abyss,' genuinely startled everyone, and for a moment, no one dared to speak. Old Du felt helpless. What the hell are you mumbling about?! Have you ever experienced what it's like to have energy points that seem to have eyes? Movement underground was already restricted, and this damn thing could still pinpoint… Could that guy actually see it? His spiritual sense, so special? Old Du looked at Xu Xiaoshou with lingering fear.

Xu Xiaoshou cheerfully watched him, waiting for the guy to speak. His mouth twitched, and after stammering for a long time, Old Du finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.

“Young hero, how much for the exquisite stone?” (Awe, Passive Point +454.)

Everyone sighed. Indeed, Old Du had been beaten into submission…

“There you go!” Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand, “Wouldn't it have been better if you had this attitude earlier?”

Old Du instantly considered moving himself back into the pit. But imagining that scene… He swore that for the rest of his life, he would have no more association with the underground. From now on, even his residence would be moved to a high mountain. The higher you go, the cooler it is. How nice it is up high. How cool!

“Name a price,” Old Du said, lowering his head and speaking in a muffled voice.

“You name it.” Xu Xiaoshou narrowed his eyes, “When I do business, I value sincerity above all.”

Old Du's body trembled. “Quite sincere, indeed…” He mumbled, and his mind suddenly became active again. Usually, when someone asks others to name a price, either they have a very precise understanding of their product's value and can dismiss someone based on their first offer. But this method is typically used when demand far exceeds supply. Now, he's the only one buying, and he's asking this? Could it be that he doesn't know the market price for exquisite stones?

Old Du hesitated, then put on an expression of being short on funds. “Although I really do need this item, currently…”

“Enough nonsense!” Xu Xiaoshou directly cut him off.

Old Du gritted his teeth, “I want one, I'll give you one million spirit crystals!”

A collective gasp of cold air came from behind before Xu Xiaoshou could speak. What a swindler, Old Du! Even at a time like this, he still didn't forget to rip people off. How could this guy's body be so frail, yet his heart be so strong? However, this time, no one spoke. After all, they were all from Eight Palace. Even if they had arrived a day earlier, they were still natives. If this masked straw-hat person knew the market, then so be it. If he didn't know, it meant this guy was just another lamb to the slaughter who wandered in from who-knows-where.

Xu Xiaoshou's heart had already skipped a beat when he heard “a million.” This broken stone, so valuable? And he still had sixteen more on him; wouldn't that mean tens of millions in assets flowing in? Damn it… How delightful! But with the startled and suspicious reactions from the people behind him, even if Xu Xiaoshou were stupid, he would have realized something.

“Are you trying to trick me?” He lowered his voice, his tone laced with suppressed anger.

Old Du's heart instantly bloomed. Sure enough, this guy was also a rookie! Knowing nothing, yet trying to do business like others? Today, I'll swindle you out of everything, down to your underwear!

“One million… five hundred thousand!” Old Du looked him in the eye, his expression earnest, then said gravely: “That's the market price. At most, I can only offer this price. Any more, and I simply can't afford it.”

Xu Xiaoshou's 'Perception' watched the people behind him. He truly was new to the place and knew nothing. And this time, the people behind him stopped smiling, and their expressions even conveyed a slight affirmation of Old Du's words. However, he glanced at the information panel. Xu Xiaoshou was enraged. (Ridicule, Passive Point +250.)

These guys, they're all in cahoots! Exquisite stones are definitely worth more than that!

“Are you playing with me?” Without a word, Xu Xiaoshou raised his hand, unleashing the Five-Finger Pattern Seed technique, and slammed another palm onto Old Du's skull.

Old Du: ???

“Bang!” He was once again embedded into the ground with an explosion.

Immediately after.

“Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…”

Mu Zixi and Xin Gugu, not far away, simultaneously recoiled their necks. Damn… This time, even they didn't react fast enough!

“That's the move!” Cheng Xingchu's eyes nearly popped out. At this moment, he was absolutely certain that this person was Xu Xiaoshou. But… How could Xu Xiaoshou have grown so quickly? Grandmaster, Star Worship Realm? Wiped out with one slap. The second slap, also wiped out? (Doubt, Passive Point +1.)

Old Du below was once again stunned by the slap. “What happened?” Only when the blood bloomed above his head again did he realize that he had made another mistake. This person in front of him absolutely could not be messed with.

“Damn it…” Internally cursing, the bloodied Old Du ascended again. This time, he dared not conceal anything, revealing an expression of agonizing grief and indignation.

“Five million!”“I'll buy one from you for five million! That should be enough, don't push your luck!”

Xu Xiaoshou stared at him indifferently. After a long pause, he suddenly turned to look at the bystanders behind him.

“Is he telling the truth?”

No one dared to speak. Everyone felt Xu Xiaoshou's genuine anger. You can't stroke a tiger's whiskers; as for Old Du, they couldn't afford to offend him either.

“You, say yes.” Xu Xiaoshou immediately pointed at the closest person.

“Yes?” The guy, utterly bewildered, repeated a single word. (Deception, Passive Point +1.)

“Well, well.” Xu Xiaoshou let out an admiring chuckle. Turning back again, his eyes were only cold.

“Whoosh!” Compressed fire seeds instantly emerged in his hand. One, two, three.

Old Du suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

“Click!” With a soft click, two compressed fire seeds instantly nested together. The strong aura of death they instantly emitted caused everyone present to stare in horror.

“What in the hell is that…” Before the exclamations of the crowd finished, Xu Xiaoshou's now pitch-black nested fire seed made another soft 'click' and added another layer.

“What the hell!” (Fear, Passive Point +465.)

At this point, even Yu Zhiwen dared not look directly at this double-nested fire seed technique. Old Du's face turned even paler. His airborne body rapidly retreated.

“Bro, I was wrong!”“Ten million! The market price is actually ten million! I'll buy yours at the original price, three of them! I'll buy three!”

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled coldly, “I suddenly don't want to sell to you anymore.”

“I…” Old Du nearly split apart on the spot. He realized he might have truly been wrong. Who could withstand this thing?! If he were in peak condition, he might still have had hope, but at this moment, his spiritual energy was completely drained!

“I can be saved, there's still hope, don't panic.” As the thought barely flashed through Old Du's mind while retreating at light speed, he suddenly felt a stinging pain throughout his body. It was as if countless tiny, dense swords had instantly pierced his body. Even the slightest bit of spiritual energy used for flight was completely lost control of at that moment.

“Whoosh!” A soaring white sword energy instantly froze his body in mid-air.

Old Du: ??? (Fear, Passive Point +1.)

“St-stop it…” He forcibly suppressed his panic, and the little spiritual energy he had left could only be used for a telepathic message. This was Eight Palace; if he was truly restrained and shot through… No one could save him! At this moment, Old Du panicked. Life was more important than money.

Xu Xiaoshou, without a care, drew his hand back, adopting a javelin-throwing posture.

Old Du: “Don't shoot!”“Twenty million! I'll give you twenty million!”“I'll buy all your exquisite stones!”

Buzz— The air currents trembled, and the scorching ember-light aura filled the entire area. Everyone was scared half to death, but to their surprise, Xu Xiaoshou's nested fire seed had not been released at all.

Slowly lowering his hand, Xu Xiaoshou's eyes narrowed, and the sword energy dissipated.

“When I do business, I value sincerity above all.” He said calmly, “What you just telepathically told me, why don't you say it for everyone to hear? Let's all witness it.”