The burly man looked at Xiao Fan with a challenging gaze, his face full of disdain. A greenhorn like him dares to spout such nonsense here?
He was a member of a mercenary group, and a Five-Star Great Dou Shi to boot. Ordinarily, he wouldn't have taken on a small job from Wutan City.
But the Jialie Family had offered too much, and he had some connections with Jialie Bi, so he'd accepted the commission.
"If you've got the guts, come fight me!"
"This grandpa here is merely a Three-Star Dou Shi. If you lose, get on your knees and call me Grandpa!"
The burly man boasted shamelessly, even hiding his cultivation level in an attempt to lure Xiao Fan into a trap.
He had been hired by the Jialie Clan.
He was supposed to defeat the Xiao Clan's genius young man in a showy fashion and, if possible, cripple one of his hands and one of his legs.
The Jialie Clan would take care of everything afterward.
Watching this unfold, Xiao Yu's face turned icy, anger flashing in her beautiful eyes. That wretched man! How dare he provoke Xiao Fan?
She was just about to step forward and stand up for Xiao Fan.
The crowd, delighted to have fresh gossip, put on expectant looks and began whispering among themselves.
"Hey, that burly man looks pretty strong."
"That guy's got a terrifying presence. I'd say he's killed more than a few people!"
"Looks like our young master Xiao Fan has finally met his match!"
"That guy looks like he's got plenty of combat experience. And our young master Xiao Fan? Hmph, he's just a braggart."
"Exactly, exactly. If you ask me, young master Xiao Fan might not even dare accept the challenge. Hahahaha!"
Some malicious remarks kept coming from the crowd. They were clearly planted by the Jialie Clan.
Xiao Fan calmly watched the Five-Star Great Dou Shi put on his act. Not the slightest hint of panic crossed his face as he coolly uttered a single word: "Get lost!"
The pressure of his Heaven Realm Soul surged toward the burly man alone.
The man felt as though he'd just come face-to-face with a terrifying magical beast. He was so scared that he wet himself.
His face went as white as paper, and his body shook like a sieve.
The burly man tried to draw his blade, but his hand trembled several times and he couldn't get it out.
Terror filled his heart. H-How is this possible?
At that moment, he finally understood that this young man was someone he couldn't possibly handle.
So he fled as if his life depended on it.
As he ran, he shouted,
"Monster!"
The sight stunned the spectators, and made them believe Xiao Fan's boasts even more.
"Th-That was subduing the enemy without a fight?"
"He scared that guy off with just one word! As expected of young master Xiao Fan!"
"Hahahahahaha! The guy even wet himself!"
The Jialie Clan's hired hecklers exchanged glances in the crowd.
Wait, how did that guy get scared off by one sentence?
Just then, the system's voice rang out.
[Ding! Many people have been convinced. You have gained 2000 Bragging Points!] [The system shop is now available, as the host has boasted for the first time after reaching Dou Emperor.]
Xiao Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. A glint of keen interest flashed through his long, narrow eyes, and he was intrigued.
He cupped his hands toward the crowd in farewell and called out, "That's all for today's storytelling. Until we meet again!"
But the people around him weren't willing to let him leave, and called out to stop him.
"Young master Xiao Fan, tell us a little more!"
"Yeah, it's getting to the good part!"
But Xiao Fan had made up his mind. Ignoring their desperate pleas, he turned and left without hesitation.
He moved like the wind, his robes fluttering. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the highest point of the Xiao Clan Back Mountain.
The place was tranquil and secluded. A gentle mountain breeze stirred the lush trees all around, while birds chirped merrily from the branches.
Xiao Fan sat cross-legged on a boulder atop the mountain. The wind tugged at his robes, making them snap and flutter.
He tilted his head slightly toward the sky and murmured, "System, open the shop..."
At his quiet call, the system shop slowly opened.
[Random Nine Secrets]: Includes Secret of Weapon, Secret of Combat, Secret of Recovery, Secret of All, and the other Nine Secrets. Each represents the pinnacle of one of the nine paths of cultivation. For instance, Secret of Weapon grants control over weapons, while Secret of Combat is the ultimate offensive art. Cost: 10,000 points (90% off for the first purchase) [Heavenly Art of Immortality]: Created by Ruthless Empress. It can devour the origins of others and the energy of the world. When cultivated to perfection, it can create a Chaos Body. It can also let the cultivator shed their old body and form a divine embryo. Price: 10 million points [Beginningless Scripture]: Created by Great Emperor Beginningless. Only those with the Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus can cultivate it. It records Great Emperor Beginningless's divine powers and cultivation experience. Its forbidden art, Beginningless Art, can return everything to its origin and turn it into nothingness. Price: 1 million points (discounted) [Heavenly Emperor Scripture]: Created by Ye Fan. It not only contains all manner of divine powers and wondrous techniques, but can also allow someone to cultivate every secret realm to its utmost. It is the only cultivation art that can be practiced from beginning to end. Price: 20 million points [Beginningless Bell]: Great Emperor Beginningless's ultimate imperial weapon, both offensive and defensive. Its toll can suppress and kill powerful foes. Price: 1 million points (discounted) ...
Good, good... Every single one of them cost more than he could afford right now.
Xiao Fan narrowed his eyes further, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Even if the system is dangling these treats in front of me, they're just too tempting to resist! But those points aren't exactly a small sum."
These days, ordinary Dou Techniques didn't interest him at all. Thanks to his innate affinity with the Dao, even though his physical talents hadn't been fully unlocked, his extraordinary comprehension had already reached a terrifying level.
Yesterday, he'd traded with Yun Yun for a few books. Those mere Profound-tier Dou Techniques had taken him less than a few minutes to grasp; he'd already mastered and thoroughly understood them.
He pursed his lips and said softly, "Perhaps only Earth-tier or Heaven-tier techniques would be worth spending a little time comprehending. But... this little Wutan City doesn't have any Earth-tier or Heaven-tier cultivation arts for me to study in peace. Looks like I'll have to venture out and see more of the world after that event."
It wouldn't be long now...
Xiao Fan shook his head and sighed helplessly. "Ah, time is running short."
He slowly rose to his feet. In an instant, the imposing aura of a Great Emperor surged out in all directions like a raging tide.
The chirping of insects and birds around him stopped at once, as if cowed by that terrifying aura, not daring to make another sound.
He thought again of what had just happened.
Xiao Fan gave a cold snort, a chill flashing through his eyes. "So, the Jialie Clan, huh? I hadn't planned on bothering with you, but since you've come looking for trouble, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Xiao Fan vanished from where he stood. Only a gentle breeze remained, brushing over the fallen leaves and sending them spinning away into the distance...