The Mu Family's Genius, a Good-for-Nothing?

"Yes, Ya Fei is one of the great beauties of our Jia Ma Holy City, and she is also hailed as one of the Three Beauties of the Holy City!" Seeing Nalan Chaoge's confusion, Guo'er took the initiative to explain.

"The Three Beauties of the Holy City?" How had he never heard of them?

"That was just something those mercenaries outside came up with!"

"Who are they?"

"Grand Princess Yaoye of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, Ya Fei of the Mite'er Family, and... Young Lady Yanran of our Nalan Family!"

Nalan Chaoge smiled faintly. He had to admit, their ranking made quite a bit of sense.

"Hello, welcome to the Mitel Auction House. What does this Young Master need?"

The moment he entered the Mitel Auction House, a staff member dressed in a form-fitting qipao came forward to greet him.

"Uh, I need a First-tier Magic Core!" Nalan Chaoge felt a little uncomfortable.

It somehow felt as though buying just one First-tier Magic Core did not live up to the service she was providing.

"Certainly, Young Master. Please follow me!" The woman showed no hint of contempt just because Nalan Chaoge was buying only one Magic Core.

The woman led the way. After walking for quite a while and turning a corner, she stopped before a row of shelves.

"Pigu, this Young Master needs a First-tier Magic Core. Please assist him!" After speaking, the woman turned and gave Nalan Chaoge a respectful curtsy before leaving.

The service at great families really was different.

"Greetings, Young Master. What attribute of Magic Core do you require?"

Pigu sized Nalan Chaoge up. When he spotted the Nalan Family insignia on Nalan Chaoge's chest, his eyes lit up.

"Uh, what attributes do you have?"

"The most basic Five Elements Attributes, Wind and Thunder Attribute, uh, and there is also one..."

"Uh, no need to make it so complicated. I just need the most basic First-tier Magic Core. Uh, the cheapest kind!"

"Certainly, Young Master. Please wait..."

"Pfft!"

A sudden laugh came from nearby.

Hearing it, Nalan Chaoge and Guo'er turned to look.

A large group of people was making its way toward them as well.

"Young Master, they're from the Mu Family! The one who just spoke is called Mu Lu!"

"Mu Lu? Does he have an older brother named Mu Tie?"

"How did you know, Young Master? Do you know him?" Guo'er looked at Nalan Chaoge in confusion.

"There really is one? Then are there also Mu Tong, Mu Yin, and Mu Jin?"

"Shh, Young Master, keep your voice down. I heard Mu Jin and Mu Yin are already Dou Ling-level experts, and they both hold the rank of general in the Jia Ma Empire!"

"Well, if it isn't the Nalan Family's good-for-nothing!"

"Hahaha..."

"Young Master Mu, you can't put it that way. I heard recently that he can cultivate now. I just wonder what level he's reached!"

"A good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing. What level could he possibly be? You can tell just by looking at him buying a First-tier Magic Core, and the cheapest kind at that!"

"No way. The Nalan Family doesn't look like the sort to lack money!"

"The Nalan Family doesn't lack money, but the Nalan Family's good-for-nothing does! I'm sure that if Nalan Yanran were here, she'd definitely pick the most expensive one!"

"Don't compare a good-for-nothing to a genius!"

"Hahaha..."

Nalan Chaoge's face darkened. Was this the plot forcing him to show off?

But why?

"Guo'er, what do they mean by that? I haven't offended them, have I?" Nalan Chaoge took a step back and whispered into Guo'er's ear.

"Young Master, have you forgotten? Young Master Mu Lu also likes Princess Yaoye, and he proposed to the Jia Ma Imperial Family too! I heard the Jia Ma Imperial Family did not immediately accept Old Master's proposal precisely because the Mu Family was waiting in line behind us!"

So that was it!

A love rival!

"Guo'er, do you know what level this female donkey is?"

"Female donkey?" Guo'er froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Young Master, you're so funny. But I heard Young Master Mu is also a cultivation genius. At fifteen, he has already reached Seven-stage Dou Qi!"

"Eight-stage?"

A particularly sinister smile appeared on Nalan Chaoge's face.

Enemies were especially bitter when they met, let alone love rivals.

He naturally had to seize such a perfect chance to show off.

"Oh my, who did I think it was? So Young Master Mu is here. Good thing my Sister Guo'er reminded me, or I would have thought some family's female donkey had come loose and run over here to bray nonsense!" Nalan Chaoge eyed this Mu Family genius with disdain.

Reaching Seven-stage Dou Qi at fifteen did give him the right to be proud.

It was clear this fellow was a key member of the Mu Family's cultivation efforts, but he was still incomparable to Nalan Yanran, who had reached Eight-stage Dou Qi at twelve, or Xiao Yan, who had become a One-star Dou Zhe at twelve.

"You..."

Mu Lu's face immediately turned livid.

Throughout Jia Ma Holy City, everyone knew that the Mu Family's genius Young Master had an unpleasant nickname: female donkey. But who had ever dared call him that?

Mu Lu had four older brothers: Mu Jin, Mu Yin, Mu Tong, and Mu Tie.

"Are you fucking courting death?" Mu Lu's eyes widened, his clothes billowing as though he could no longer restrain himself from lunging forward and tearing Nalan Chaoge to pieces.

"Young Masters, please stop. Um..."

"What the hell are you? You dare meddle in this Young Master's business? Get lost... or I'll kill you too!" Mu Lu glared at Pigu, who had tried to mediate.

"Uncle Pi, don't mind him. Just treat it as being bitten by a female donkey. I heard donkeys bite people sometimes, especially female donkeys!" Nalan Chaoge smiled at Pigu as he handed over his Green Card.

"Please help me get a Magic Core, Uncle Pi! The cheapest one will do! Our Nalan Family isn't like certain parasites in the army! We're poor!"

"Cough, cough... Yes, Young Master Nalan. The cheapest First-tier Magic Core here costs 450 gold coins. However, this old man has some authority to offer discounts. How about this? I'll give you a high-grade First-tier Magic Core at a twenty percent discount, for 400 gold coins. What do you say?"

A high-grade First-tier Magic Core would cost at least 500 gold coins. He had not expected that female donkey's commotion to save him money instead.

"Thank you, Uncle Pi!" Nalan Chaoge's sweet little mouth was practically dripping with honey.

"Wait!" Mu Lu suddenly sneered. "There should always be first come, first served when buying things. How many First-tier Magic Cores does your Mite'er Family have..."

Oh?

Hearing that, Nalan Chaoge was stunned. It looked like this fellow intended to buy them all out!

"In reply to Young Master Mu, our Mite'er Family has a total of 1,277 auction houses spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire. There are seven main branches in Holy City alone. The warehouse in Holy City should still have 12,000 First-tier Magic Cores. May I ask, Young Master Mu, are you..."

"Twelve... thousand?" Mu Lu froze.

He had gone a little too far with that boast.

Twelve thousand times five hundred was six million gold coins. Even if the Mu Family had money, it could not be squandered like that. Besides, if the Jia Ma Imperial Family learned of this, the Mu Family would be in serious trouble. The Mu Family had risen through the army—where could they have gotten so many gold coins?

"Uh, it's nothing, nothing. I was just asking!" Mu Lu's face turned livid as he shot Pigu a glare.