Song Qingshan gave a cold snort and tossed the string of copper coins in his hand high into the air.
Then he formed hand seals with both hands. The coins, which had scattered through the air like a goddess scattering flowers, began to float and arrange themselves into a formation.
Seeing this, the crowd cheered. Not everyone could pull off a trick like that.
Qin Ming stared in amazement. These feng shui masters really had some skills?
Song Qingshan was clearly pleased by the crowd's cheers.
He pointed at Celestial Master Zhao.
The coins floating in midair shot toward Celestial Master Zhao one after another.
"A cheap trick, and you dare show it off in front of me?"
Zhao Shizhu's face was full of disdain. He raised a hand and called out,
"Sword, come!"
A young Taoist attendant stood behind him, holding the Celestial Master Sword in both hands.
At his command, the Celestial Master Sword flew into the air and struck down the coins one by one.
The moment the sword hit them, the coins split in two and fell to the ground.
In only a few moments, nearly half of the sixty-four coins had been ruined.
Song Qingshan's heart ached so badly he nearly spat blood.
Those were his family's heirlooms!
He had no time to continue the duel and hurriedly tried to call the coins back.
But the Celestial Master Sword kept pressing the attack, chasing after the coins.
Song Qingshan's heart ached beyond measure.
He glared at Zhao Shizhu and shouted, "Celestial Master Zhao, why go so far as to wipe me out?"
"Would you dare challenge me without paying a price? I can't let you go just like that."
Zhao Shizhu smiled faintly.
Song Qingshan's face turned liver-purple. Through gritted teeth, he said in a low voice,
"Song was rash today. I hope Celestial Master Zhao will be magnanimous and spare me."
"Now that's more like it."
Only then did Zhao Shizhu point a finger. The Celestial Master Sword flew back into his hand.
Song Qingshan hurriedly gathered up the coins, his expression frighteningly dark.
He hadn't earned a penny today, and he'd ruined his family's heirloom!
The other members of the mystic sects were also stunned by Zhao Shizhu's display.
Many of them began to have second thoughts.
They were no match for Song Qingshan. How could they dare provoke Zhao Shizhu?
"Which fellow cultivator would like to challenge me next? Go ahead and make your move. If no one dares, then I'll be taking this lucrative job from the Qin Family."
Zhao Shizhu held the Celestial Master Sword and stroked his beard with a smile, looking every inch the otherworldly master.
"I'll take you on."
A little old man with a youthful face and white hair stepped forward.
He, too, wore a Taoist robe, though his was rather filthy. Still, no one present dared look down on him.
He was famous among the mystic sects of the north and was honored as Elder Kuixing.
Zhao Shizhu glanced at him and said coolly, "Come on. Show me your treasure and let me have a look."
Elder Kuixing gave a cold snort. A red cord in his hand rose into the air, faint flames shimmering across it until it looked like a fire snake.
The sight left everyone amazed.
Qin Ming slapped his thigh.
"Damn, big bro, these people really do have some tricks. I should learn a couple and use them to pick up girls."
"You'd probably have to spend ten years learning them."
Tang Yu had already seen the plot, so he wasn't particularly interested.
Even if they're impressive, it's useless. They're all destined to be stepping stones for Ye Chen.
According to the plot, the old man will lose to Celestial Master Zhao, and then Zhao will come into conflict with Ye Chen.
Once Celestial Master Zhao fails at his exorcism, it'll be Ye Chen's turn to show off. That silly girl Qin Kexin will start admiring him from then on.
Poor Qin Ming. Ye Chen won't just get him killed—he'll end up with his family fortune and his sister, too.
When Qin Kexin heard the voice in her mind again, her gaze quickly locked onto Qin Ming.
Then she spotted Tang Yu sitting beside him and suddenly realized that the voice was his!
There was no mistake.
Other than him, her younger brother didn't have any other big brothers!
She was utterly shocked inside, but her expression remained calm.
She wanted to see if things really would unfold as Tang Yu had said!
By now, Elder Kuixing had begun dueling Zhao Shizhu.
The red cord he controlled turned into a fire snake and shot toward Zhao Shizhu.
Despite the attack's impressive momentum, Zhao Shizhu merely smiled in disdain.
When the fire snake formed from the red cord reached him,
he pointed a finger, and the fire snake abruptly stopped in midair!
"Back you go!"
Zhao Shizhu gave a sharp shout. The fire snake formed from the red cord flew backward, straight toward Elder Kuixing.
The moment his opponent took control of his weapon, Elder Kuixing's expression changed dramatically.
He ran around frantically, trying to dodge the attack, and looked utterly miserable.
The crowd burst into laughter, and their respect for Zhao Shizhu grew even more.
As expected of Celestial Master Zhao from Longhu Mountain!
One move was enough to prove he was a master among masters. They were completely convinced.
"Celestial Master Zhao, this old man has lost. I accept my defeat completely."
After running around for a while, Elder Kuixing had no choice but to swallow his pride and beg for mercy.
Zhao Shizhu smiled with satisfaction.
He pointed a finger, and the red cord fell to the ground and stopped moving.
Looking thoroughly bedraggled, Elder Kuixing picked up the cord and tied it around his hand. He grunted a couple of times, not daring to say anything else.
After that, no one in the crowd dared challenge Zhao Shizhu.
Zhao Shizhu gave them a smug smile and clasped his hands.
"My fellow practitioners, you've graciously yielded. Since that's settled, I'll take care of the Qin Family's problem."
Though the feng shui masters were unwilling, they had no choice but to accept it.
After all, not one of them could match him.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Celestial Master Zhao."
Qin Pengchi had witnessed quite a spectacle today.
"We who cultivate the Dao are meant to vanquish demons and exorcise evil. It's only right that I do this."
Zhao Shizhu was quite courteous to Qin Pengchi, after all, he was a wealthy patron.
Qin Kexin was utterly stunned.
Everything was exactly as the voice she had just heard foretold.
She quickly composed herself and turned to Ye Chen.
"Mr. Ye, Celestial Master Zhao is amazing. He's practically like a deity."
Ye Chen's face filled with disdain.
"They're nothing but tricks from a side path."
The Taoist did have some ability, but compared with him, he was a hundred thousand miles behind.
Once he showed what he could do, Qin Kexin would understand what a true master looked like.
As soon as he said that, everyone's gaze turned toward him.
Here he goes again, running his mouth and picking a fight.
He'll provoke the man, then challenge him to a wager and trample him underfoot.
Afterward, he'll act magnanimous to win everyone over. If anyone knows how to turn people into dogs, it's you.
Tang Yu, holding a cup of tea, couldn't help rolling his eyes.
This familiar plot was so overpowering it practically stank.
Sure enough, Zhao Shizhu flew into a rage at his words.
When he looked over and saw a young man in his twenties, his face darkened.
"What young punk are you? You dare call Longhu Mountain a side path? If you disagree, come outside and fight me."
"Who invited this man? Throw him out."
"What a ridiculous, ignorant little brat."
"A grandmaster cannot be insulted! Celestial Master Zhao, teach him a lesson."
The feng shui masters all joined in, looking at Ye Chen as if he were a clown.
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