First Clash with Li Mou

As Zhou Ming's blood qi erupted,

The entire Spring Fragrance Tower shook.

"Damn, isn't that Zhou Yuxi? How was he already at the peak of Fifth Grade?"

"Something's off. It had only been a few days. Wasn't he at the completion of Sixth Rank?"

"Could he have been hiding his strength?"

"By the way, how did he run into Yang Shuo?"

"So what if they ran into each other? That bastard relied on being from the Yang Family to do whatever he wanted. Well, he had finally met someone tougher."

Just then, four figures entered the private room.

The man in the lead said, "Brother Zhou, do me a favor and let this go."

Zhou Ming said coldly, "How much is your favor worth?"

The sight of the newcomer gave Yang Shuo a little confidence.

He immediately cursed, "Who the hell are you? Do you really think no one in Qing Prefecture can deal with you?"

The moment the words fell, his pupils suddenly contracted.

A powerful gust swept toward his face, so fast that he had no time to react.

A palm covered in Jade Skin viciously struck his face.

Slap!

The crisp sound echoed through the private room.

At the same time, he smashed through the second-floor railing and crashed heavily into the first-floor hall, sprawled on the ground like a dead dog.

Zhou Ming walked to the railing and said coldly, "My thing is gone. Have you figured out how you'll compensate me now?"

Inside the private room, two figures jumped down into the hall and helped Yang Shuo to his feet.

One of them asked softly, "What did you take from him?"

Yang Shuo clutched his burning right cheek and snapped, "I wanted to take it, but it disappeared! It vanished the moment I touched it!"

The other said flatly, "Why did you provoke him? You couldn't beat him even when he was Sixth Rank. Hurry up and take it out. Stop hiding it. Now that he's at the peak of Fifth Grade, the fact that he didn't slap you to death means you were born lucky."

Yang Shuo roared, "Shen Chong! I'm not lying! That thing is gone! I really didn't hide it!"

Seeing the looks in their eyes, he felt somewhat helpless. "Wu Yuan, you don't believe me either?"

Wu Yuan shrugged and said calmly, "I believe you. Zhou Yuxi just said it was gone too. So have you figured out how you'll compensate him?"

Ignoring the pain in his right cheek, Yang Shuo pointed at himself and shouted, "He slapped me, and I have to compensate him? Whose side are you on?"

Zhou Ming expressionlessly looked at the three below as blood qi seeped from his body and slowly took shape.

"Yu Xi, he's General Yang's grandson. Let it go for the sake of the cultivation technique."

Hearing Li Mu's voice behind him,

Zhou Ming dispersed the manifestation and said coldly, "For General Yang's sake, I'll spare you today. Remember to compensate the inn for the damaged railing!"

Yang Shuo looked up at Zhou Ming, his mouth just opening.

Wu Yuan and Shen Chong beside him immediately sealed him off in two layers, covering his mouth.

Shen Chong said with a placating smile, "Thank you, Brother Zhou, for showing mercy. We'll go find the proprietor right away. Don't worry, we know the rules. Triple compensation."

After the three left, Zhou Ming withdrew his gaze, turned around, and looked at the two people who remained before him.

He said to one of them, "Brother Huang, stay away from trash like that in the future, understand?"

Huang Muheng smiled awkwardly. "Actually, I don't like him much either. Li Mu's brother invited us to get together, that's all."

Zhou Ming glanced at Li Mu, then at the man who had asked him for a favor.

Seeing Zhou Ming's appraising gaze, Li Mu said unhappily, "My brother, Li Mou."

Zhou Ming blinked.

Damn!

Wasn't this a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King Temple?

Zhou Ming immediately stepped forward, put a hand on Li Mou's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Brother Li should've said so earlier. If you'd said it earlier, I definitely would've given you face."

Li Mou lowered his gaze and glanced at the hand that had presumptuously landed on his shoulder. The vast, powerful blood qi within his body suddenly surged, racing through his meridians toward his shoulder.

A sharp stabbing pain instantly spread from Zhou Ming's palm throughout his body. He abruptly withdrew his hand and looked solemnly at Li Mou.

Li Mou shifted his gaze to his younger sister and said flatly, "In three days, return to the imperial capital with me."

Li Mu's expression changed, and she immediately said, "I'm not going back to the imperial capital with you!"

"The Ninth Princess said that if you don't return, she'll send Sky Patrol to arrest you and bring you back, then confine you for three years." After Li Mou spoke, he turned and left.

Huang Muheng cupped his hands toward Zhou Ming and left alongside Li Mou.

"It's over, it's over! Jiang Jiang, I haven't had enough fun yet!"

When Zhou Ming turned around, he saw Li Mu lying in Jiang Jiang's arms, looking as though she wanted to cry but had no tears.

Li Mu glared at Zhou Ming from Jiang Jiang's arms. "It's all your fault! All your fault! If you hadn't brought out that ghostly thing, how would it have drawn my brother here? Great, now I have to go back to the imperial capital."

Zhou Ming stood frozen in place.

Were women all this unreasonable?

How was this somehow his fault too?

This meal had not been particularly pleasant.

After returning to the small courtyard, Zhou Ming looked at Li Mu, who was suddenly brimming with excitement, unable to understand what Jiang Jiang had said to her.

She had been full of resentment just moments ago, yet she changed her attitude in the blink of an eye.

Seeing the two holding hands as they entered their separate courtyard, Zhou Ming turned and headed toward his own room.

Back in his room, Zhou Ming sat down in a chair.

Feeling the lingering sting in his palm, he shook his hand.

Damn it.

He was still a little too weak!

Li Mu's brother looked to be under thirty.

Fourth Grade? He really had some skill.

Sooner or later, Zhou Ming would get even.

"Brother Ming, may I come in?"

At that moment, Jiang Jiang's voice came from outside.

Hearing Jiang Jiang's voice, Zhou Ming's old face reddened. This girl!

That had been his first kiss after being single in both lives.

It was one thing for her to take it.

He had not even properly savored it before it ended just like that.

What embarrassed him even more was that he had been the passive one.

"Jiang Jiang, it's getting late..."

"There's an important matter to discuss!"

Uh!

What else could he do?

A moment later, Zhou Ming frowned.

He had just confirmed something with Jiang Jiang.

The reason Jiang Jiang could not eat food was that after eating, Turbid Qi would once again arise inside her body, because she could once again merge spirit into her body.

This meant that although people refined through spiritual cleansing had improved their talent and foundation, they could not become an Immaculate Body like him.

The Turbid Qi between heaven and earth would still erode their bodies.

Zhou Ming fell into deep thought.

Was it because of the Immaculate Body? Mine was a permanent state, while theirs was an added state?

As time passed, once the Turbid Qi accumulated to a certain degree, its negative effects would erupt.

Divine abilities... the War God left behind thirty-six jade slips. I mastered them, and after gaining an Innate Divine Ability, no one else could master them.

Was that the uniqueness of an Innate Divine Ability?

After a long while, Zhou Ming raised his head and said gravely, "Because your body resembles the Immaculate Body, every breath you take is subject to Turbid Qi's erosion. But it is only slight and won't make you uncomfortable."

"But eating intensifies the process. It's equivalent to actively absorbing Turbid Qi, and it will be very unpleasant. Are you sure you want to live like this from now on?"

Jiang Jiang's gaze was resolute. "I'm sure!"

Zhou Ming teased, "Then you won't get to eat delicious food anymore. And if you want to maintain your aptitude, you can't do without the spiritual essence of heaven and earth."

Jiang Jiang's pretty face reddened slightly, and she said softly, "But aren't you here?"

Hearing that, Zhou Ming smiled. "All right. Since you promised Li Mu, I agree to this. Consider it her lodging fee."

Jiang Jiang hesitated. "Although I mentioned this to Mu Mu, I never promised her that you would agree! If this matter harms you in any way, you don't have to force yourself to accept it."

Oh?

Was this girl worried about him?

Zhou Ming broke into a wide grin. "It's no trouble at all."