The Lion Opens Its Jaws Wide

Tianyang City, Zhou Manor.

"Patriarch Zhou, it is not impossible for me to help your Zhou Family. If you can meet my conditions, I will agree to fight the Qin Family."

In the hall, a somewhat effeminate-looking young man dressed in white sat in the Head Seat, gently fanning himself with a folding fan. A meaningful smile curled at the corners of his lips.

Beside him, Zhou Qingtian, the patriarch of the Zhou Family, had a smile plastered across his face as he said,

"Oh? And what are Young Master Chen's conditions? So long as my Zhou Family can bear them, we will certainly find a way to satisfy your demands."

At this moment, the elders below were also murmuring among themselves. For this showdown, the Zhou Family had exhausted every means to invite a young expert.

This effeminate youth was named Chen Ziyu, and he was a Half-step Divine Palace Realm expert. So long as Chen Ziyu agreed to act, they would still have a sliver of hope in their battle against the Qin Family.

"If you want me to act, then the Zhou Family must give me five hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones, fifteen Grade 3 High-grade medicinal herbs, twenty top-grade Spirit Nurturing Pills, and one King-grade weapon. Well? These conditions should not be difficult for the Zhou Family, should they?"

Chen Ziyu smiled faintly.

Whoosh!

"What did you say?"

At that moment, the entire hall erupted into commotion, and Zhou Qingtian's expression darkened.

They had not expected Chen Ziyu to open his jaws like a lion and demand such an astronomical price!

Five hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones was an astronomical figure. What was more, Chen Ziyu also wanted fifteen Grade 3 High-grade medicinal herbs, twenty top-grade Spirit Nurturing Pills, and a King-grade weapon.

Although the Zhou Family was wealthy enough to rival a kingdom, producing five hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones in such a short time would still be exceedingly difficult.

As for Grade 3 High-grade medicinal herbs, there was even less need to mention them. The Zhou Family could not bear to use herbs of that caliber and instead treasured them away as precious relics.

Yet Chen Ziyu had demanded fifteen high-grade medicinal herbs the moment he opened his mouth!

Fury burned in Zhou Qingtian's heart, but he could not tear off the mask at this moment. After all, he still needed Chen Ziyu's help, so he could only conceal the displeasure on his face.

"Young Master Chen, your conditions are truly too costly. Could you perhaps lower your demands somewhat?"

Zhou Qingtian forced out a smile.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ziyu's face immediately darkened. He said,

"No! Not even one Spirit Stone less! If you want me to fight for your Zhou Family, then you must fulfill every one of my conditions!"

"This..."

Zhou Qingtian sighed helplessly.

He knew perfectly well that Chen Ziyu was clearly trying to extort them while the opportunity was ripe.

"Patriarch, you must not!"

The First Elder hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

It was not that their Zhou Family could not afford these conditions. But even if they could, it would leave them badly battered and weakened for quite some time.

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Qingtian had already made his decision. In the end, he could not help sighing. For the sake of seizing the Crimson Fire Origin Copper mine vein, any price was worth paying!

"Father!"

However, just as Zhou Qingtian was about to agree, a gentle voice sounded from outside the hall.

Then Zhou Zhirou entered the grand hall with Lu Changsheng.

"Hahaha! You little girl, I have finally been waiting for your return!"

Upon seeing Zhou Zhirou, Zhou Qingtian promptly rose to greet her, and a long-unseen smile appeared on his face.

At the side, when Chen Ziyu saw Zhou Zhirou's breathtaking beauty and exquisite, alluring figure, a lecherous glint immediately surfaced in the depths of his eyes.

"Miss Zhou, I am your Zhou Family's outside helper, Chen Ziyu. I can fight on behalf of your Zhou Family as the Zhou Family's son-in-law!"

Chen Ziyu declared arrogantly.

However, Zhou Zhirou merely glanced at Chen Ziyu, and a trace of disdain immediately appeared on her face.

Clearly, Zhou Zhirou had also heard Chen Ziyu's earlier words.

This fellow actually wanted to open his jaws like a lion while the Zhou Family was in trouble. Naturally, she had no favorable impression of Chen Ziyu.

"There is no need! Our Zhou Family already has a better candidate!"

Zhou Zhirou said coldly.

"What?!"

Chen Ziyu froze. His gaze suddenly shifted to Lu Changsheng beside her, and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said,

"Heh, could the better candidate Miss Zhou speaks of possibly be this brat?"

"That's right!"

Zhou Zhirou nodded.

"Girl! This is no child's play. Our Zhou Family paid no small price to invite this Young Master Chen!"

Zhou Qingtian hastily transmitted his voice to her.

Clearly, Zhou Qingtian feared that Zhou Zhirou would offend Chen Ziyu.

After all, Chen Ziyu was their Zhou Family's only hope of victory!

"Father, trust me. Junior Disciple Lu will definitely be able to defeat the Qin Family as our Zhou Family's outside helper!"

Zhou Zhirou said with complete confidence.

"Hahaha! How laughable! Him? He is merely at the eighth level of the Core Condensation Realm. He is not even worthy to carry my shoes, much less defeat the Qin Family's opponent!"

Chen Ziyu said disdainfully.

"Yes, Miss. You must not act on impulse. This concerns the life and death of our entire clan!"

The First Elder hurriedly urged.

Clearly, everyone in the Zhou Family believed Chen Ziyu was the better choice. Lu Changsheng's eighth-level Core Condensation Realm strength was decent, but he was still far inferior to Chen Ziyu.

"How about this? The two of you can have a match. Whoever wins will fight on behalf of our Zhou Family!"

Zhou Zhirou said with a smile.

"Fine!"

Chen Ziyu agreed without hesitation. A cold smile hung on his lips. A mere eighth-level Core Condensation Realm cultivator could be crushed with a single finger. He had already secretly decided that he would put on a good show before the beauty later and crush Lu Changsheng until he lost all face!

"I have no objections."

Lu Changsheng said indifferently.

At the side, Zhou Qingtian immediately revealed a doubtful expression. Seeing Lu Changsheng so calm and composed, he also felt rather favorably toward him. Still, he could not help wondering—could this boy truly defeat Chen Ziyu?

After all, Chen Ziyu was a Half-step Divine Palace Realm expert. His strength far surpassed that of someone at the eighth level of the Core Condensation Realm.

"Begin..."

After Zhou Zhirou spoke, an imperceptible smile lifted the corners of her lips.

Because she had already foreseen the sight of Chen Ziyu being beaten black and blue.

After all, this junior disciple of hers had once defeated Liu Yan, who was at the first level of the Divine Palace Realm. Dealing with a Chen Ziyu would naturally be no trouble at all.

"Junior Disciple, give him a good beating. This fellow opened his jaws like a lion, trying to take advantage of our Zhou Family. Let him learn a lesson!"

Zhou Zhirou secretly transmitted her voice to him.

"Understood!"

Lu Changsheng nodded.

Boom!

All of a sudden, Chen Ziyu stamped his foot fiercely. A surging wave of spiritual power erupted, and the floor beneath his feet instantly cracked apart.

In an instant, Chen Ziyu shot forward like lightning. He clenched his fist swiftly and shouted,

"Vajra Mountain Breaking Fist!"

Boom!

A powerful fluctuation of spiritual power erupted from his fist like a vortex, blasting viciously toward Lu Changsheng's chest...