Chapter 6: Deadly Alignment

Jiang Fan turned his head to look. With an expressionless face, he casually wrote: "Are you worthy?"

In this life, he only respected his father, who had raised him single-handedly.

Everyone else was unworthy.

"Ridiculous! What right does a talentless waste, devoid of spiritual roots, have to act so superior in front of me?" Lu Zheng scoffed.

He turned to face Xu Zhengyan, bowing deeply. "Uncle Xu," he said, "I have a favor to ask."

Xu Zhengyan quickly replied, "Please speak, my dear nephew. There's no need for such formality."

Lu Zheng glanced at Jiang Fan, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yao Ran and I grew up together," he said. "I can't bear to see her marry a good-for-nothing."

"Please, Uncle Xu, let Yao Ran marry me."

"Only I can give her happiness and a future!"

This...

Xu Zhengyan was in a difficult position. He had already promised Yao Ran to Jiang Fan. Could he now go back on his word and arrange another marriage for her?

Wouldn't that make him untrustworthy?

"Uncle, if I were to announce my intention to marry, I'm sure many families present here would be eager to form an alliance with me, wouldn't they?"

Lu Zheng said, his hands clasped behind his back, a hint of menace in his tone:

"At that point, I'd become another family's son-in-law."

Xu Zhengyan's expression changed dramatically.

Lu Zheng was the cornerstone of the Xu family's prosperity!

If they lost him, Xu Zhengyan would be condemned as the Xu family's eternal sinner!

Compared to the dishonor of breaking his word, being labeled an eternal sinner was far more unbearable.

Just as he was about to make a decision, Jiang Fan lifted his brush, sharply outlining a few words: "Uncle Xu, whether one can give Yao Ran happiness depends on strength, not just words."

"I'm willing to compete against Lu Zheng!"

Xu Zhengyan's heart instantly lightened when he saw this.

If Jiang Fan lost and voluntarily withdrew, then he wouldn't have to bear the reputation of being untrustworthy.

Lu Zheng would also get his wish to marry Xu Yao Ran.

A win-win situation!

As for the unlikely event that Jiang Fan won...

One had no spiritual roots, while the other possessed a Ninth-grade spiritual root.

He couldn't fathom how Jiang Fan could win.

He quickly turned to Lu Zheng and said with a smile, "Zheng'er, what do you think?"

Lu Zheng burst into laughter. "A good-for-nothing challenging a Ninth-grade spiritual root? Hahaha!"

"Alright, since you both grew up in the Xu estate, I'll give you a chance to compete against a Ninth-grade spiritual root."

"Even if you lose, you'll have a lifetime of bragging rights!"

Xu Zhengyan completely relaxed and said:

"I'll give you three days. Whoever breaks through one cultivation stage will be worthy of marrying Xu Yao Ran!"

"How about it?"

One stage in three days?

Jiang Fan felt that in three days, he might break through more than just one stage.

With his mysterious spiritual root and high-grade Yellow-tier cultivation method, it would be effortless.

He immediately lifted his brush and swiped it: "Agreed!"

Lu Zheng smiled confidently. "Just one stage? Uncle, you underestimate my Ninth-grade spiritual root! Just wait and see in three days!"

At this moment, an old man dressed in luxurious robes emerged from a group of prominent figures, cupping his hands. "Young Master Lu," he said, "I am Qin Changsheng."

Hearing this, everyone present was moved.

Qin Changsheng was the head of Lone Boat City's foremost alchemical family. Relying on an inherited Qi Cultivation Elixir formula, he monopolized the supply of all Qi Cultivation Elixirs in surrounding cities.

The Qi Cultivation Elixir was the only medicine that could enhance cultivation in the Qi Cultivation realm.

Thus, in Lone Boat City, there was a saying: "Better to offend the city lord ten times than the Qin family once."

His appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.

Lu Zheng recognized him too and asked, puzzled, "Patriarch Qin, what brings you here?"

Qin Changsheng smiled, holding a brocade box. Inside, ten small jade vials were neatly arranged, shimmering with spiritual light – it was the renowned Qi Cultivation Elixir!

"The Qin family congratulates Young Master Lu on discovering his Ninth-grade spiritual root. We have nothing else to offer but these ten freshly refined bottles of Qi Cultivation Elixir, which we present to you."

"We hope Young Master Lu will win the beauty in three days!"

Ten bottles?

Many people gazed at the Qi Cultivation Elixir with greedy eyes. Even a single bottle of this item was immensely valuable, beyond the reach of ordinary families.

The Qin family giving ten bottles at once was truly a huge investment.

With ten bottles of Qi Cultivation Elixir, even a pig could undergo a qualitative change, let alone Lu Zheng, who possessed a Ninth-grade spiritual root.

They couldn't help but look at Jiang Fan with pity.

This young man was destined to lose his future wife.

Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. Was the Qin family openly backing Lu Zheng?

As if sensing Jiang Fan's gaze, Qin Changsheng not only didn't restrain himself but rather dismissed it, saying, "Furthermore, starting today, all of my Qin family's shops are forbidden from selling Qi Cultivation Elixirs to Jiang Fan."

It wasn't just support; it was outright suppression!

Jiang Fan's gaze turned cold. He lifted his brush and swept it: "I hope you won't regret this."

Qin Changsheng sneered, "Regret? Regret abandoning a waste like you to cling to Young Master Lu's leg?"

The entire hall erupted in laughter.

Jiang Fan gave Qin Changsheng a meaningful look and silently departed.

As the farce ended, the crowd gradually dispersed.

On the way back, one of the family elders accompanying Qin Changsheng looked hesitant. "Patriarch," he asked, "why were you so aggressive and suppressive towards a junior just now?"

As an alchemical family, the Qin family earned immense profits each year, which many people envied.

Therefore, the Qin family had always adhered to the principle of keeping a low profile and offending no one.

Qin Changsheng, in particular, was well-versed in this philosophy, always prioritizing harmony for wealth and never interfering in disputes. His current bullying of Jiang Fan was hard for the elder to understand.

Qin Changsheng said expressionlessly, "Do you remember that mysterious Soul Master who appeared out of nowhere ten years ago?"

The elder nodded. "Of course, I remember. The Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Elixir he refined almost destroyed our Qin family's century-old legacy."

"If he hadn't only refined ten bottles, exchanged them for money and some materials, and then stopped, his Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Elixir might have completely taken over our Qin family's Low-grade Qi Cultivation Elixir market."

The Qin family's Qi Cultivation Elixirs were Low-grade, with less than half the effectiveness of Mid-grade ones.

If that person had mass-produced and sold Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Elixirs, who would still buy the Low-grade ones?

His appearance back then almost led to the direct decline of the Qin family.

Qin Changsheng said meaningfully, "Then do you remember when Lu Zheng arrived in Lone Boat City?"

The elder thought carefully, then gasped in alarm. "Ten years ago! Patriarch, are you implying..."

"Exactly!" Qin Changsheng's eyes glinted with excitement. "Ten years ago was precisely when Lu Zheng arrived, and that mysterious Soul Master also appeared around that time. This is no coincidence!"

"I believe he is very likely Lu Zheng's Dao Protector, given his Ninth-grade spiritual root!"

"So, do you understand why I intervened in the competition between Lu Zheng and that Jiang Fan?"

The elder suddenly understood and exclaimed with admiration, "The Patriarch wants to do Lu Zheng a favor, thereby gaining the approval of the Soul Master behind him?"

"If he can become our backer, our territory will extend far beyond just a few surrounding cities!"

Qin Changsheng slowly nodded.

He raised his five fingers to the sky, clenching them tightly, and declared with a surge of ambition, "I have always been meticulous and cautious in my life, never making a wrong choice."

"I believe this choice will not be wrong either!"

"As for that Jiang Fan, he only has himself to blame for being so blind and blocking the Qin family's path to greatness!"

"Anyway, he's just an insignificant figure; offending him won't stir up any trouble!"