I Will Win! You Will Win!

The outside world was shaken in all directions.

Meanwhile, within the Martial Arts Academy, Lin Yi continued cultivating diligently inside a martial arts training room.

He gripped a long saber in his hand. The snow-white blade seemed to come alive in his grasp.

As he swung it again and again, dense streams of silvery-white Saber Light splashed through the air like water, forming all manner of strange phenomena.

At last, who knew how much time had passed.

"Splash!"

Inside the martial arts training room, the Saber Light that had filled the void like endless flowing water suddenly scattered apart.

Then, on the level ground, Lin Yi abruptly sheathed his saber and stood still. He exhaled a breath of turbid air, then shook his head.

"Whew! This Full Moon Star Saber truly deserves to be called a Fourth-Rank Martial Art. It really is difficult to cultivate."

"I originally thought that, with my Perfected Bright Moon Saber Art as a foundation, I could grasp the basics in one or two hours at most, and reach Minor Accomplishment in a few days. Who would have thought it would take an entire afternoon just to barely get started?"

"At this rate, unless I encounter some stroke of fortune, I might not even be able to cultivate it to Great Accomplishment by the time Tianshan Sect holds its disciple recruitment examination next year."

"Looks like I need to start gathering silver and evolving my talents now."

At that thought, Lin Yi could not help but smile wryly.

He had previously thought that even if he needed to evolve his talents in the future, it would only be when he encountered a bottleneck in the later stages of cultivating the Full Moon Star Saber.

Yet he had never imagined that he would need to evolve them after cultivating for just one afternoon.

Still, evolve them it was!

Every talent on the Attribute Panel was extraordinarily remarkable anyway. Evolving a few more talents could only be beneficial.

"Let's go!"

With a thought, Lin Yi immediately sheathed his long saber and headed outside the Martial Arts Academy.

"Are you Young Master Lin Yi?"

Outside the Martial Arts Academy, just as Lin Yi stepped through its gates, a somewhat familiar voice rang out beside him.

Lin Yi turned at the sound and saw a middle-aged fat man dressed in a yellow robe embroidered all over with copper coins, smiling at him ingratiatingly.

Behind him stood a large crowd, roughly thirty or forty people. Most appeared to be servants or guards, while only three figures stood at the head—two men and one woman.

At that moment, the three each led a group of people, forming three small factions that confronted one another. Though no words were exchanged, the air reeked of gunpowder, as if it could explode at any moment.

Seeing this, Lin Yi's heart stirred, and he vaguely guessed what was happening. Still, he smiled and asked, "So it's Steward Li. May I ask why you have come to see me today? And who might these others be?"

"Young Master Lin Yi!"

The moment Lin Yi finished speaking, before Li Long could answer, the Sharp Woman among the three spoke first, her voice ringing like metal.

"My name is Gong Yan, President of the Guangling Branch of Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce. Today, I heard that Young Master Lin Yi displayed great might in the Martial Arts Academy Entrance Examination and possessed world-shocking talent, so I immediately came to recruit you into the Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce."

"As for Li Long, I learned that this fat pig had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai. Though he encountered you long ago, not only did he fail to recognize Young Master Lin Yi as a true dragon, he even slandered you behind your back."

"Therefore, I have specially brought this fat pig here today to apologize to Young Master Lin Yi. I hope that, in consideration of my sincerity, Young Master Lin Yi will join the Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce and become one of our Profound-grade Geniuses."

"As for this fat pig Li Long, whether you wish to kill him or carve him up, it is entirely up to Young Master Lin Yi!"

"Young Master Lin Yi! I was wrong! I was wrong!"

Hearing Gong Yan's words, Li Long was decisive as well. His fat body immediately went limp, and he dropped to his knees like a ball, repeatedly kowtowing to Lin Yi.

"It was I, Li Long, who had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai. I looked down on Young Master Lin Yi, and I even secretly slandered you behind your back."

"If Young Master Lin Yi bears any resentment today, then no matter how you choose to deal with Li Long, I will have no complaints!"

"In short, as long as Young Master Lin Yi vents his anger and is willing to join our Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce, then even if I die, I will have no regrets!"

Li Long wailed with tears and snot streaming down his face, looking every bit like a man ready to die heroically for the Chamber of Commerce at any moment.

In truth, it was not that he was genuinely so loyal to the Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce. Rather, he knew just how ruthless Gong Yan was!

If Lin Yi failed to join the Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce because of him this time, then not only would he die, but his entire family would die as well!

On the other hand, he was merely kneeling and kowtowing to beg Lin Yi for mercy now. Though it cost him some dignity and face, given the temperament of a youth like Lin Yi, even if he harbored some anger over what happened before, he most likely would not take his life.

Li Long's mind raced at high speed, struggling for survival in the cracks.

It sounded pitiful, but there was no helping it. Such was the sorrow of insignificant people in society.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi paid little attention to Li Long's miserable appearance.

Compared to the major matter of which great power he should join, this little issue between himself and Li Long was truly insignificant.

Besides, he and Li Long did not really have any deep grudge. When the other man had recruited him before, he had always been quite courteous.

Not only had he carefully explained the details of the Yellow-grade Genius contract, but he had also allowed Lin Yi to come into contact with knowledge of the Extreme Strength Realm ahead of time. That counted for something.

As for the slander behind his back?

Since he was already kneeling and kowtowing now, Lin Yi would let it go!

After all, Lin Yi knew that while he was no great saint, he was no bloodthirsty fiend either. He would not take someone's life over such a trivial matter.

As his thoughts turned, Lin Yi smiled faintly and spoke to Gong Yan:

"President Gong, I have seen your sincerity. However, there is no great enmity between Steward Li and me, so there is no need to kill him. As for recruiting me? That is simple enough!"

"I am currently in my growth phase, and what I need is resources. Whichever side offers more resources, that is the faction I will join!"

"Ha ha! Well said!"

The moment Lin Yi said this, the Majestic Middle-aged Man among the three burst into laughter.

"Lin Yi truly deserves to be called a genius who comprehended the Extreme Strength Realm at fourteen. You are indeed exceptionally clever, knowing when to advance and when to yield."

"What do petty grudges and contests of youthful pride amount to?"

"In this world, strength is the only thing that matters! So long as there are resources to increase one's strength, then after becoming a powerful expert in the future, what problem could one not solve oneself? Why need to borrow another's hand?"

"And as everyone knows, here in Qingzhou, our Wanlong Chamber of Commerce has always been the most generous because we are short on manpower."

"So, as long as Young Master Lin Yi is willing to join our Wanlong Chamber of Commerce this time, then in addition to the annual eight thousand taels of silver offered under the standard Profound-grade Genius contract of the major chambers of commerce, our Wanlong Chamber of Commerce can provide you with an additional two thousand taels of silver in annual support, making a total of ten thousand taels of silver. What do you think?"

"Ten thousand taels of silver a year!"

At that figure, not only Lin Yi, but even the Sharp Woman, Li Long kowtowing on the ground, and everyone else present could not help but shudder inwardly.

Wanlong truly was Wanlong—so generous indeed! They opened with ten thousand taels of silver per year!

One had to know that ten thousand taels of silver was no small sum. Even many ordinary Fifth Grade Martial Artists could only barely earn that much in a year.

Yet Wanlong was offering it directly to Lin Yi, a mere Seventh Grade Martial Artist, with other benefits on top of that.

Altogether, they would probably have to spend at least fifteen thousand taels of silver a year on Lin Yi alone.

And a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist generally needed twenty or thirty years to mature. Before that, the silver had to keep being paid.

Thus, the entire contract would add up to a full three or four hundred thousand taels of silver—enough to buy two ordinary Third Grade Precious Medicines. The scale of this investment could not be called anything but immense.

At that thought, Lin Yi was faintly tempted. Yet his ever-steady temperament kept him from agreeing at once. Instead, he continued to wait.

Sure enough, in less than two breaths, Gong Yan spoke again, her voice as sharp as ever.

"My Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce offers eleven thousand taels of silver per year. All other conditions remain unchanged."

"Eleven thousand taels? Gong Yan, what are you doing?!"

Hearing that number, the Majestic Middle-aged Man could not help frowning.

"As far as I know, when your Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce recruits Profound-grade Geniuses, you can generally raise the base contract by no more than twenty-five percent. The highest price you can quote is ten thousand taels of silver."

"You are now offering eleven thousand taels. Do you not know that you have exceeded your authority? Are you not afraid that the Prefecture City Branch of your Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce will punish you afterward?"

"Hmph! Punishment?"

Gong Yan gave a cold laugh.

"What does a little punishment amount to if it means recruiting a genius like Lin Yi, one suspected of having undergone Martial Aperture Opening?"

"At worst, I will write a few more reports to headquarters at the end of the year. I am a dignified Fourth-Rank Martial Artist—could they really do anything to me over a thousand taels of silver per year?"

"You..."

Sun Qianshan was furious at those words. Yet when he thought of Lin Yi's talent, as well as the speculation recorded in the files that Lin Yi might have opened his apertures, he still spoke up.

"Fine! Since you, Gong Yan, want to play, then I will play with you to the bitter end!"

"Isn't it just a bit of silver? If you, Gong Yan, can offer it, do you think I, Sun Qianshan, cannot? I raise it to eleven thousand five hundred taels!"

"Eleven thousand six hundred taels!"

The instant the Majestic Middle-aged Man finished speaking, Gong Yan's eyes widened and she immediately called out.

"Eleven thousand seven hundred taels!"

The Majestic Middle-aged Man matched her without hesitation.

"Eleven thousand eight hundred taels!"

Gong Yan continued.

"Twelve thousand taels! Gong Yan, do not go too far."

After naming that figure, Sun Qianshan, the Majestic Middle-aged Man, showed a pained expression.

"Twelve thousand taels only slightly exceeds my authority. If I write a few reports, the Prefecture City Branch will still approve it, and they will not do anything to me."

"But what about you? How far beyond your maximum authority has the figure you quoted gone? If you keep making trouble like this, be careful—the Prefecture City Branch might truly send someone to investigate."

"Hmph! None of your business! Twelve thousand one hundred taels. If you have the nerve, keep following."

Gong Yan snorted coldly.

"Fine! Then let me see just how much you dare to offer!"

Hearing this, Sun Qianshan gritted his teeth and then raised the price by a large margin.

"Twelve thousand five hundred taels!"

"You... Thirteen thousand taels!"

Faced with Sun Qianshan's sudden price hike, Gong Yan seemed too impatient to keep haggling with him and sharply raised her offer as well.

Her eyes had even reddened slightly by now, clearly showing the immense pressure she was under: "Sun Qianshan, thirteen thousand taels. This is my final offer. If you can bid any higher, then Lin Yi is yours. I'll willingly concede this contest. Well? Do you dare?"

"I... I..."

Sun Qianshan's breath caught. He opened his mouth, wanting to continue bidding, but in the end, he could not say a word. All he could do was curse in exasperation, "Crazy woman! Crazy woman! You really are a crazy woman! To be stuck in the same Commandery City as a crazy woman like you—I, Sun Qianshan, must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck! I'm done competing. Lin Yi is yours, Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce!"

"Haha! Very good!"

Hearing this, Gong Yan paid no attention to Sun Qianshan's frustrated outburst. Instead, a victorious smile appeared on her face. "Young Master Lin Yi, since Sun Qianshan has admitted defeat, come back to the Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce with me to sign the contract! Don't worry! As for the silver I promised you just now, I, Gong Yan, guarantee it with my life. The Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce will certainly honor it."

As she spoke, Gong Yan took Lin Yi's hand, intending to bring him back to the Purple Thistle Chamber of Commerce.

But just then—

"Hold it!"

A voice carrying a faint smile suddenly rang in everyone's ears.

Following the sound, they saw that the Myriad Phenomena Tower Master, who had been like a transparent bystander and had not spoken a word until now, snapped his folding fan shut. That trademark carefree, cynical smile appeared on his face as he said, "President Gong, I've been waiting here for quite a while and haven't even had the chance to make a bid. Yet you're already so eager to take Young Master Lin Yi away. Isn't that a little too hasty?"

"Hasty?"

Gong Yan paused slightly, then immediately gave a cold laugh. "What am I in a hurry for? Chen Fengyuan, though your Myriad Phenomena Tower is the strongest among the three great chambers of commerce, with businesses spread across the Nine Provinces, and even the holy lands of the Buddhist Sect and Daoist Sect have to give your Myriad Phenomena Tower face—"

"But precisely because your Myriad Phenomena Tower is so powerful, your contracts for recruiting geniuses have always been the strictest. Not even the slightest alteration is permitted, or there will be severe punishment."

"What, do you intend to break the Myriad Phenomena Tower's rules for Lin Yi and compete with me?"

"No, no, no!"

At Gong Yan's words, Chen Fengyuan merely smiled and shook his head. "The Myriad Phenomena Tower's rules are so strict. How could a mere Tower Master of a commandery-level branch dare violate them so easily?"

"However, while the rules cannot be broken, I can use my own money to compete with you for Young Master Lin Yi."

"Young Master Lin Yi, I will give you an offer as well. Join my Myriad Phenomena Tower. Aside from the standard Black-grade contract, I will provide you with twenty Tiger Tendon Leopard Blood Pills each year, or pills of equivalent value."

"In addition, I will provide you with eight thousand taels of silver every year as supplementary funding. Both subsidies will be provided in full for ten years. What do you think?"

"What?! Twenty Tiger Tendon Leopard Blood Pills! Eight thousand taels of silver every year?!"

Upon hearing those numbers, even Gong Yan's originally sharp voice turned shrill as she roared, "Chen Fengyuan, are you insane?!"

"Twenty Tiger Tendon Leopard Blood Pills and eight thousand taels of silver—that's a terrifying annual expense of twelve thousand taels!"

"Even if, as Tower Master, you can buy pills more cheaply, it would still cost close to eleven thousand taels of silver."

"Although we Fourth-Rank Martial Artists earn far more than Fifth Grade Martial Artists and can make fifty or sixty thousand taels a year, we still need to cultivate and cover other expenses."

"After deducting those expenses, the money we have left does not even reach eleven thousand taels. Are you planning to borrow money for Lin Yi?"

"Borrowing money won't be necessary."

Chen Fengyuan smiled and shook his head. "I won't be able to break through to the Third Grade in this life anyway. At worst, I'll use fewer pills from now on. Wouldn't that save enough money?"

"Use fewer pills?"

At this, Gong Yan could not help grinding her teeth. "Madman! Chen Fengyuan, you're the real madman!"

"To recruit a genius, you're actually willing to disregard your own cultivation."

"Not to mention this genius only supposedly underwent Martial Aperture Opening—even if he truly did, even if he really becomes a Third Grade Martial Artist in the future—"

"A Third Grade Martial Artist could only count as upper management in your Myriad Phenomena Tower's prefecture-level branch. He could not possibly influence the branch's decisions. How much help could he really be to you? Do you expect him to become Second Grade?"

"Second Grade?"

"Who says it's impossible to hope for?"

Chen Fengyuan smiled, that trace of carefree cynicism still on his face. "Every genius who undergoes Martial Aperture Opening is an unfathomable existence. Some geniuses become monstrously gifted the instant they open their apertures, soaring straight up from then on until they stand upon the summit."

"Others do not show much at the beginning, but the further they progress, the more they build up before bursting forth. Their improvement grows faster and faster, and in the end, their achievements are not the least bit inferior to—or may even surpass—those of the former."

"And from what I have seen of Young Master Lin Yi's cultivation ever since his Martial Aperture Opening, he shows signs of being the second kind of genius. That is why I am willing to place a wager on him today."

"A wager?"

Hearing that word, Gong Yan's eyes lit up. She immediately sensed an opportunity and spoke again:

"Chen Fengyuan, haven't you always gone on and on about how gambling is what you hate most in your life?"

"Whenever Sun Qianshan and I asked you to take a gamble, you'd refuse no matter what. So why do you want to gamble today?"

"That's right! Under normal circumstances, I truly do dislike gambling."

Chen Fengyuan still nodded with a smile and said slowly, "After all, that damned father of mine had his hands and feet chopped off because of gambling, turned into a human stick, and wailed for three days and three nights before finally dying."

"My mother was also driven to jump into the river and kill herself because of his gambling. Even I was sold into a wealthy, powerful family as a servant because of it. I went through heaven knows how much suffering before finally reaching where I am today, so I have always hated gambling beyond measure!"

"But, sigh! Perhaps it's because the blood of that rotten gambler flows through my veins as well!"

"At the rarest and most critical moments, I always inexplicably feel the urge to stake everything on one gamble!"

"Because of this bad habit, I've suffered quite a few losses over the years. Several times, I even lost everything, and nearly threw my life away along with it."

"However..."

At this point, Chen Fengyuan suddenly paused. Then, his brilliant eyes fixed steadily on Lin Yi, seeming to flicker with light.

"This time, I have a feeling that I... will win!"

"Win?"

"You dare say you'll win? You madman!"

Hearing this, Gong Yan could not help but curse angrily.

The others looked at one another as well. Even the people of Myriad Phenomena Tower wore strange expressions, feeling that their own Tower Master might have gone mad.

But...

"Indeed! Tower Master Chen, I also believe that this time, you will win!"

A voice suddenly rang out. Beside Gong Yan, Lin Yi, who had remained silent all along, abruptly spoke.

Then, under everyone's gaze, he gently shook off Gong Yan's hand and walked up to Chen Fengyuan. Meeting the brilliance in the other man's eyes, he slowly nodded with a smile.

"And you will definitely win!"