Jia Lie Ao's Jealousy

"Jia Lie Ao, please step aside. We have things to do." Looking at Jia Lie Ao's brazen stare, Xiao Xun'er furrowed her delicate brows, her tone somewhat cool.

Her coolness did nothing to make Jia Lie Ao restrain himself.

"Heh, how can Miss Xun'er be so heartless? I came to give you a gift!" Jia Lie Ao said with a false smile, his eyes fixed on Xiao Xun'er.

As he spoke, Jia Lie Ao pulled a bracelet from his robes. It was set with glittering green crystals that gave off a brilliant, gentle glow, making it quite eye-catching.

"Miss Xun'er, I bought this Wood Spirit Bracelet especially for you. It's set with a wood-type magic crystal that can help restore Dou Qi. And it's so beautiful—if you wear it, you'll look even more lovely and charming!" Jia Lie Ao continued, his voice brimming with affection, as if he had admired Xiao Xun'er for a long time.

Looking at the Wood Spirit Bracelet, Xiao Xun'er was about to refuse when she caught sight of the green wood-type magic crystal. Her heart stirred, and a hint of warmth appeared on her usually cool face. Joy shimmered in her beautiful eyes.

"Heh heh, Miss Xun'er, I knew you'd like the Wood Spirit Bracelet I specially bought for you!" Seeing the change in Xiao Xun'er's expression, Jia Lie Ao rejoiced inwardly. He hurriedly placed the bracelet in Xiao Xun'er's snow-white hand, acting every bit the obsequious flatterer.

However, the moment he handed over the Wood Spirit Bracelet, Xiao Xun'er immediately turned around and looked up at Xiao Tian beside her. A brilliant smile bloomed across her pure, beautiful face.

"Brother Xiao Tian, here, you can have it. This Wood Spirit Bracelet can boost Dou Qi recovery quite a bit. I hope it helps you!"

Xiao Xun'er blinked and placed the Wood Spirit Bracelet in Xiao Tian's hand.

Feeling the soft touch of her hand and catching her soothing fragrance, Xiao Tian froze for a moment, somewhat taken aback. He then lowered his eyes to the Wood Spirit Bracelet in his palm.

The bracelet was indeed exquisite, and it was set with a green wood-type magic crystal. But he really had little need for it. Besides, he had just accepted the Ice Pure Glazed Necklace Xun'er had given him.

"Xun'er, I appreciate your kindness. Xiao Yan might need this Wood Spirit Bracelet more." Xiao Tian smiled faintly and passed it to Xiao Yan, who stood nearby.

His Dou Qi had already reached an almost terrifying level and seemed inexhaustible, so the Wood Spirit Bracelet was of little use to him. Xiao Yan, whose strength had regressed, would benefit more from it.

Besides, over the years, the Clan Leader, Xiao Yan, and Xun'er had all looked after him in private. He would feel bad asking them for anything else.

Xiao Yan, however, didn't seem particularly interested in the Wood Spirit Bracelet either. Instead, he shot Xiao Xun'er a somewhat reproachful glance, as if he blamed her for accepting a gift from that Jia Lie Ao.

Everyone knew what kind of person Jia Lie Ao was. He must have an ulterior motive for giving Xun'er a gift.

"Jia Lie Ao, we appreciate your kindness, but you should take this Wood Spirit Bracelet back." With that, Xiao Yan handed the bracelet back and looked up with a smile.

By now, Jia Lie Ao's face had darkened, and fury blazed in his heart.

He had bought the Wood Spirit Bracelet especially for Xun'er, only for Xiao Xun'er to accept his gift and immediately give it to Xiao Tian.

He knew exactly what kind of person Xiao Tian was: a good-for-nothing who had been deemed incapable of ever becoming a Dou Zhe. What gave him the right to earn Xun'er's special regard?

A powerful jealousy rose in Jia Lie Ao's heart. He couldn't be bothered to maintain his composure and sneered sarcastically.

"Xiao Tian, I know your standing in the Xiao Clan is low, and everyone knows you're a useless waste. But you don't have to keep living off Xun'er, do you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the underlings around Jia Lie Ao burst into laughter, their faces full of mockery as they looked at Xiao Tian.

In the past, Xiao Tian would have kept his head down and not dared utter a word. But things were different now. Jia Lie Ao's taunts had no power to hurt him; they only seemed childish.

"Heh, Jia Lie Ao, not just anyone gets to live off Xun'er. If you want to, you'll need to be lucky enough to survive it." Xiao Tian shrugged and replied with a calm smile.

Jia Lie Ao's smile abruptly vanished. His face twitched, and a cold glint flashed in his jealous eyes. His cheeks reddened as he said, "If you're still a man, then face me in a fair duel. Of course, you can ask your cousin Xiao Yan to help you, so you can't accuse me of bullying someone younger or winning unfairly!"

At Jia Lie Ao's provocation, the merchants and mercenaries around the marketplace looked at him with contempt.

Everyone knew that Jia Lie Ao was already a twenty-one-year-old One-star Fighter, while Xiao Yan, standing before him, was only fifteen and still at the Three stages of Battle Qi. Xiao Tian was only eighteen. The gap between them was like a chasm.

In everyone's eyes, the duel Jia Lie Ao proposed was nothing but bullying someone younger—utterly shameless and despicable!

"Jia Lie Ao, this is the Xiao Family Marketplace. Are you planning to start a fight here?" Just then, a shout rang out nearby.

As soon as the voice fell, a burly man dressed in Xiao Family attire hurried over with several guards. He respectfully nodded to Xiao Yan and the others, then stood beside them, glaring at Jia Lie Ao and his men.

"Uncle Payne, since Young Master Jia Lie Ao is so eager for a duel, I'll gladly oblige." Yet Xiao Tian showed no fear at Jia Lie Ao's provocation. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he stepped forward, looking completely composed.

This bearing left everyone present stunned. Jia Lie Ao's face turned ashen. Seeing Xiao Tian so unruffled, as if a mountain could crumble before him without changing his expression, only made him angrier. You're a useless waste—what are you putting on airs for?

"You asked for this," Jia Lie Ao said through gritted teeth. He had already decided to teach Xiao Tian a harsh lesson in the duel and humiliate him while he was at it.

Nearby, Payne furrowed his thick brows, ready to intervene and stop the fight. But Xun'er blinked at him, signaling that he needn't worry.

Seeing this, Payne could only nod slightly and turn his gaze to Xiao Tian. Xiao Tian remained calm, with even the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Payne paused, then silently closed his mouth and let events unfold.

"Xiao Tian, I hope you can stay this calm in a moment." Jia Lie Ao took a deep breath, suppressing his savagery, then sneered at Xiao Tian.

The moment he finished speaking, Jia Lie Ao swung his right fist. Green Dou Qi burst forth, accompanied by a sharp rush of wind, as he drove it toward Xiao Tian.

Faced with Jia Lie Ao's seemingly lightning-fast attack, Xiao Tian remained composed, neither dodging nor retreating.

Seeing this, everyone's hearts lurched. Was Xiao Tian insane? Did he really intend to take Jia Lie Ao's blow with his bare body?

Bang!

But in the next instant, when everyone saw what had happened, their pupils shrank to pinpricks and their eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets!

Jia Lie Ao's full-force blow crashed into Xiao Tian. Yet Xiao Tian stood firmly in place as if nothing had happened—not even his clothes had fluttered!

Jia Lie Ao, on the other hand, staggered several meters backward before coming to a stop. His knuckles were shattered and drenched in blood, his face as pale as paper and twisted with pain, sweat beading on his forehead.

Everyone drew in a sharp breath at the sight, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"So hard! How is that possible?!" Jia Lie Ao clutched his bloodied fist and stared at the unharmed Xiao Tian in utter shock. His eyes were wide, his face full of disbelief. He was a genuine One-star Fighter—how could Xiao Tian withstand his attack?