Around half past two the next afternoon, Zhang Yong arrived at Ning Wangshu's home.
"Young Brother Ning, shall we head to the Blue Mountain Club now?"
Zhang Yong asked.
Ning Wangshu nodded slightly. "Sure. Let's go."
He followed Zhang Yong out and climbed into his car...
About twenty minutes later, Zhang Yong drove them to the Blue Mountain Club, on the outskirts of Linchuan City.
Though it was called a club, it was quite different from an ordinary one. It had an outdoor swimming pool and all kinds of recreational facilities—even a golf course!
Zhang Yong led Ning Wangshu into the club, then took him straight to an elegant private room.
A man in his fifties sat inside. He had a somber air and an imposing presence, and several bodyguards stood behind him.
To his left sat a man who looked to be in his early forties. He wore his hair in a close-cropped style and was dressed in a black martial arts uniform. His sharp gaze gave him the look of a fierce tiger.
"Manager Song, this is Young Brother Ning, the one I told you about. Young Brother Ning, this is Manager Song..."
Zhang Yong hurriedly made the introductions.
When Manager Song saw Ning Wangshu enter with Zhang Yong, he couldn't help frowning slightly.
The middle-aged man seated to his left glanced at Ning Wangshu, then let out a quiet laugh. Turning to Manager Song, he said, "Manager Song, you don't actually think this green kid can handle Wu Shengtian, do you?"
Manager Song seemed hesitant. His expression turned slightly unfriendly as he looked at Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong hadn't told him much about Ning Wangshu before. Now that he could see Ning Wangshu was barely twenty, he clearly didn't trust him much.
Seeing this, Zhang Yong hurried to explain. "Manager Song, Young Brother Ning may be young, but his abilities are truly beyond belief!"
"Just like I told you, I saw with my own eyes how Young Brother Ning destroyed an Evil Spirit with nothing more than a flick of his finger. And the Talisman he gave me easily wiped out at least twenty or thirty more!"
"Young Brother Ning really does have astonishing abilities!"
Before Manager Song could respond, the middle-aged man sneered. "Let's set aside whether what you've said is true. Even if it is, and he can destroy Evil Spirits, that doesn't mean his abilities will work on martial artists like us."
"This time, we aren't facing an ordinary person, nor an Evil Spirit, but a true martial arts expert! Wu Shengtian's cultivation has long since reached the Xiantian Realm. Even I wouldn't dare claim I had much chance of dealing with him."
"This kid hasn't even grown his whiskers yet. How high could his cultivation be? Bringing him in to help... Heh. Forgive my bluntness, but that's just asking to get killed!"
Zhang Yong didn't know who the middle-aged man was or what his relationship with Manager Song might be. Though he wanted to speak up for Ning Wangshu, he didn't dare do so rashly and could only look toward him.
Manager Song was frowning as well. He glanced at Zhang Yong with displeasure, seemingly wondering if Zhang Yong was playing him for a fool.
He needed a true expert, not some green kid.
Ning Wangshu took in everyone's reactions and couldn't help laughing. He glanced at the middle-aged man and said coolly, "So what if he's in the Xiantian Realm? Since when was a person's cultivation judged by his age?"
"Xiantian or not, it's all the same to me."
The middle-aged man immediately sneered. "Hah! What arrogance! Young people really don't know the limits of heaven and earth. You actually dare look down on Xiantian Realm experts!"
"I bet you don't even know how strong a Xiantian expert is, do you?"
Ning Wangshu smiled. "I don't know what these so-called Xiantian experts you speak of are capable of. But to me, your so-called Xiantian experts are no different from ordinary people."
Ning Wangshu truly didn't understand how martial artists on Earth classified their cultivation realms, but it wasn't anything he needed to concern himself with.
"Arrogant!"
Hearing Ning Wangshu speak so brazenly, the middle-aged man gave a cold snort.
"Today, I'll show you what a Xiantian expert can do, so you stop acting like you don't know the limits of heaven and earth. Don't think that knowing a few ways to exorcise evil spirits means you can look down on Xiantian martial artists!"
"To a Xiantian expert, no matter how many ordinary people come at him, they're no match."
With that, he pressed one palm lightly against the solid-wood tea table before him.
When he lifted his hand, a palm print more than half an inch deep had appeared on the table!
Manager Song, the bodyguards behind him, and Zhang Yong all gasped. Their eyes widened as they stared at the middle-aged man in disbelief.
After a long moment, Manager Song finally came to his senses. He took a deep breath, his eyes full of astonishment and admiration.
He looked at the middle-aged man and exclaimed, "Master Hu, you really are impressive! This table is solid wood, yet you left such a deep palm print with nothing but your bare hand!"
"With Master Hu here, we finally have a decent chance in this dispute with the Qi Family!"
At this, Hu Guangji's face showed a hint of pride. He smiled faintly and said, "You flatter me, Manager Song. I used less than thirty percent of my power."
"Still, as I said, Wu Shengtian, whom the Qi Family has brought in, is no pushover. He's a Xiantian Realm expert like me."
"If we actually fight, I can't say I'm sure to win. All I can do is give it a try!"
Watching Hu Guangji's smug expression, Ning Wangshu chuckled. He simply stepped forward and pressed his own palm lightly against the solid-wood tea table.
Everyone was taken aback by what Ning Wangshu did. They looked at him with some suspicion, unsure what he was up to.
Ning Wangshu glanced at Hu Guangji and smiled faintly. "Is this really so hard?"
With that, Ning Wangshu lifted his hand.
When Hu Guangji, Manager Song, and the others saw the deep palm print on the table, they were stunned. It was just as deep as Hu Guangji's—and every detail of Ning Wangshu's fingerprints was clearly visible. The surface was smooth as well.
Hu Guangji's brows drew together slightly. He clearly hadn't expected Ning Wangshu to be able to do this too. The palm print he'd left was even deeper and clearer than Hu Guangji's!
Then Hu Guangji gave a quiet snort and thought, This kid has some ability. To do this, he must be not far from the Xiantian Realm, even if he hasn't reached it.
No wonder he's so arrogant at such a young age, with cultivation like that.
But I used less than thirty percent of my power just now. This kid must have given it everything he had, right? If I used my full strength, that single strike would have been enough to punch right through the table!
Though Ning Wangshu's display had surprised Hu Guangji, he didn't believe Ning Wangshu's strength was on par with his own.
After his surprise, Manager Song immediately brightened with delight.
To him, a master like this was naturally welcome. Each additional expert meant another layer of protection.
He quickly changed his attitude, clapping his hands and praising Ning Wangshu with a broad smile. "I never expected you to be this capable, young brother. I was wrong to underestimate you!"
"Come, young brother, please sit!"
Seeing the sudden warmth in Manager Song's manner, Ning Wangshu smiled slightly. He didn't put on airs and casually took a seat nearby.
Seeing this, Zhang Yong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling pleased.
Ning Wangshu had earned Manager Song's approval. So whether or not Ning Wangshu could truly help him, he'd at least made a good impression on Manager Song!
That two million in travel expenses had been money well spent...