Inhumanly Lavish

"You're only seventeen this year, while your big brother here is already twenty-four. In another two months, I'll be twenty-five. No comparison, no comparison at all!" Xia Daoming shook his head modestly, though he did not deny his cultivation realm.

Seeing Xia Daoming's humble act, Ji Wenyue rolled her eyes at him irritably.

Others might not know how formidable he was, but how could she not?

Back when he was at the fourth rank, he had beaten a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master to death with his bare hands. Now that he was a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master himself, Ji Wenyue could tell even with her toes that his fifth rank was surely far stronger than hers.

However, Xia Daoming's words also reminded Ji Wenyue of something.

He was no longer young. Reaching the sixth rank before thirty should not be a major problem, but reaching the seventh rank—or even the eighth—was highly unlikely.

Unless he obtained tremendous financial and material support, or encountered some other great opportunity, only then could his chances increase.

As for the Grandmaster realm—

Ji Wenyue did not even consider it.

To only become a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master at nearly twenty-five meant his chances of becoming a Grandmaster were infinitesimal.

Moreover, the Mysterious Divine Rhyme Diagrams of Transforming Strength were secrets among secrets, with exceedingly few passed down through the ages.

Even if Xia Daoming encountered a great opportunity and cultivated to the eighth rank before thirty, he would have nowhere to observe a Mysterious Divine Rhyme Diagram of Transforming Strength.

"I believe Big Brother's family circumstances were merely a little poorer. Otherwise, you would never be inferior to Li City's most outstanding young talents. Even now, though you entered the Great Martial Master realm somewhat late, as long as you take plenty of supplements and cultivate diligently from here on, you will surely catch up from behind.

"As it happens, your little sister has no great abilities, but when it comes to alchemy, I am confident I rank among the very best in Li City. As for wealth, among the younger generation, aside from a select few, no one can compare to me.

"Since Big Brother has come to Li City, why not stay at Ji Mansion? From now on, I will provide all the supplementary pills and fine nourishing meats you need for cultivation." Thinking that Xia Daoming's age could no longer withstand delay and waste, Ji Wenyue made her decision without hesitation.

"Never thought that one day, I, Xia Daoming, would be able to make a living off my face, with a rich, beautiful woman voluntarily spending a fortune to keep me!"

Xia Daoming looked at Ji Wenyue with a subtle expression, secretly delighted.

"Big Brother Xia, why are you looking at me like that?" Ji Wenyue's little face flushed crimson under his gaze.

"You haven't fallen for your big brother, have you? Let me tell you, I don't sell myself." Xia Daoming said with a "wary" look.

"Pah, pah! Big Brother Xia, stop being so narcissistic. With those looks of yours, do you think I would like you? I'm repaying your kindness!" Ji Wenyue's face grew even redder, her heart thumping wildly, yet she immediately spat out those words.

"Shallow. Do women judge men by their looks? When you grow up a little more, you'll understand that the most important thing about a man is his inner bearing.

"With your big brother's bearing, once you understand men, you'll realize it's absolutely the kind that charms people to death without paying for their lives!" Xia Daoming declared without blushing or skipping a beat.

"Big Brother, you..." Ji Wenyue was utterly speechless.

She had seen shameless men before, but never one this shameless.

Yet she simply could not bring herself to dislike him!

Could he possibly be more shameless than he had been in the desert?

"Forget it. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it now. Let's talk business instead. You were right—my family circumstances are rather poor, so I want to save some money and get Ji Family pills from you at cost.

"Here are five thousand taels of silver. Get me some pills that strengthen blood, qi, and force. Preferably ones on the level of Three Yuan Blood Return Pills or better. Slightly inferior ones will do too, but not too much worse."

As he spoke, Xia Daoming took out five thousand taels' worth of silver notes, placed them on the tea table, and pushed them toward Ji Wenyue.

"Big Brother, what are you doing? You are my lifesaving benefactor. Why would you need to pay for pills you get from me?" Ji Wenyue's expression changed slightly.

"I'm not someone who demands repayment by holding kindness over others. It's already proof that you remember my kindness if you give me the cost price," Xia Daoming said.

"Big Brother Xia, don't I know what kind of person you are? What repayment or not repayment?" Ji Wenyue said.

"But you just said you were repaying my kindness," Xia Daoming said.

"Big Brother Xia, I'm a girl. If I don't say I'm repaying your kindness, should I say that I like you?" Ji Wenyue blurted out.

The moment the words left her mouth, Ji Wenyue realized she had misspoken. She lowered her head, face burning red, her chin nearly touching the towering weapons on her chest.

What... is it really true that women only love bad men? I've been such a hooligan to her, and she still... Or is my personal charm really that great? Xia Daoming stared blankly.

"Ahem, ahem. You're still young. Let's not talk about this. Let's not talk about this," Xia Daoming quickly said, somewhat awkwardly.

Seventeen was still underage in his old world!

It was only because this world differed from his own—and because Ji Wenyue's status made it impossible to truly regard her as a minor—that he had been a little flirtatious with his words and let his eyes stray a little.

But the age gap was there after all. If they suddenly started talking about love and romance, Xia Daoming truly felt a little intimidated.

Besides, he still had a "golden-haired cat" at home. Just the night before last, he had played poker with her for more than half the night. To turn around and start luring an underage girl now—was he even human?

"I'm not small!" Ji Wenyue thrust out her chest.

"I wasn't talking about that!" Xia Daoming blurted out.

"Big Brother Xia, you..." Ji Wenyue's entire face turned scarlet.

"Ahem, ahem, I really didn't mean that this time!"

"Then what did you mean?"

"Well... forget it. Let's talk business."

"Anyway, I won't take your silver."

"How can that be? Even blood brothers settle accounts clearly. Besides, didn't I already tell you not to profit off me and just give me the cost price?"

"What settling accounts? What profit? I don't lack money. Can't I simply like giving pills to Big Brother for free?"

Ji Wenyue's final sentence left Xia Daoming stunned into silence as he looked up at the sky.

"Truly inhumanly lavish!"

After a long while, Xia Daoming silently sighed to himself, then lowered his head and nodded.

Since he could not resist the extravagance of a rich, beautiful woman, he might as well enjoy it properly.

At worst, once he became powerful and invincible, he would protect her in return!

Seeing Xia Daoming nod, Ji Wenyue broke into a happy smile, shallow dimples appearing in her cheeks.

"However, the amount of supplements I need will be enormous, perhaps even several times yours," Xia Daoming said.

"That's no problem. Our Ji Family may not have much of anything else, but we have plenty of silver and plenty of pills. I am now a lineage elder, as well as the most skilled alchemist in the Lineage. The resources and funds I can mobilize far exceed those of ordinary lineage elders—I can even rival half a family head.

"As long as Big Brother can absorb and refine them—no, even if you can only absorb and refine a tiny portion, and most of it goes to waste, it doesn't matter! The key is raising your cultivation as quickly as possible.

"In fact, what Great Martial Master disciples of those great families was not raised through wasting huge amounts of good things? As for genius disciples, that goes without saying. They receive special care from childhood," Ji Wenyue said.

Xia Daoming had originally worried that the sheer quantity he required would arouse Ji Wenyue's suspicions. Only now did he realize he had simply overthought it.

The great quantity he consumed went toward strengthening his meridians, and the conversion rate of the medicinal power was extremely high. There was basically no waste.

But when disciples of major powers consumed massive supplements within a short period to rapidly increase their cultivation, the conversion rate of the medicinal power was very low, resulting in immense waste.

Thus, even if the quantity he consumed at the same realm was great, the difference should be limited and not too outrageous.

In Ji Wenyue's eyes, it would likely seem perfectly normal. After all, he was older and naturally needed to supplement himself more quickly and in greater quantities.

Poverty really has limited my imagination! I sneak a bite of abalone once in a while and think it's something incredible, trembling with fear that I'll be caught red-handed, never realizing that rich people feast on abalone every day. Xia Daoming relaxed and secretly mocked himself.

"Also, Big Brother Xia should consider cultivating a few capable people around you. Otherwise, a lone man with little strength will find it difficult to gain a firm foothold in this world.

"Our Ji Family has many people eyeing us greedily, but although my grandfather is currently our only true expert, we have used wealth to cultivate and recruit many Martial Masters and even Great Martial Masters. That is why others do not dare move against the Ji Family lightly.

"Of course, Big Brother need not worry about pills. So long as you need them, I will provide them," Ji Wenyue continued.

Xia Daoming looked at Ji Wenyue, and his view of married women and young girls suddenly changed once again.

It seems I was still too shallow!

How could I lump them all together?

A young girl like Ji Wenyue is wonderful!

Not only will she support me, she'll even help me support my people.

"Since you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony with you. Otherwise, it would seem as though I looked down on you," Xia Daoming said.

"That's how it should be. Why should there be any ceremony between us?" Ji Wenyue blurted out.

"Then without further delay, bring me some supplementary pills today," Xia Daoming said.

"Since Big Brother has come to Li City, why not stay at Ji Mansion? Wouldn't that be much more convenient?" Ji Wenyue said.

"Not only are you a great beauty, you're talented and wealthy too. Who knows how many heirs of powerful Li City families have their eyes on you? I'm merely a grassroots Martial Master, without much ability or any background. If word gets out that you favor me, your Big Brother Xia will probably die young before long!

"So unless absolutely necessary, it would be best not to reveal our relationship—or the matter of you supplying me with such large quantities of supplementary pills—even to those around you." Xia Daoming's expression turned solemn by the end.

Having gone through the dangers of the northern desert, Ji Wenyue had long since matured greatly and seen through much of human nature. Once Xia Daoming pointed out the crux of the matter, she considered it briefly and nodded. "I understand. Then please wait here, Big Brother. I'll return to the manor, gather some pills, and bring them to you first."

"Alright!" Xia Daoming nodded.

PS: I recommend the new book Songhu: Never Fall by my old author friend Lonely Swordsman, a veteran historical-fiction writer. His books have always been hot-blooded and stirring. There is a link below; readers who enjoy it, please add it to your collections and support it. The book has grown a little fat already, ready to be devoured.

Today's updates are complete.