A Deal Between Two Families

The second floor of a restaurant in Tongling Commandery City was packed with diners.

"Have you heard? The fight among the three parties over Mine Mountain has gotten so big it's become the talk of Qing Province!"

"Heard about it ages ago. The mine's deposits are so rich that the Luo Family, the He Family, and Tiance Sect refused to give an inch. In the end, the authorities stepped in, and they agreed to hold some contest among the younger generation to decide their shares."

"So it's a contest to see whose network has the strongest youngsters?"

"Exactly. The Luo Family had invited a young man named Qiao Zi'ang, a Late Qi Condensation Martial Artist. But yesterday, they suddenly sent him away."

"Sent him away? Why?"

The man lowered his voice and, at the risk of offending someone, shared the gossip. "I heard Qiao Zi'ang raised his price at the last minute! Think about it. Would you agree if you were the Luo Family?"

The man he'd asked put himself in their shoes for a moment, then shook his head.

"That really was out of line. But doesn't that leave the Luo Family short a Human Tier contestant? And I heard Qiao Zi'ang is as strong as the Luo Family's Luo Qin! Luo Qin is an Earth Tier contestant!"

Before anyone could answer him, another man spoke up. "The Luo Family found another martial artist they could put their trust in, of course!"

Everyone turned toward him and pressed him at once. "Brother, do you have news?"

The man they'd addressed as brother gave a light cough. Every eye settled on him.

"The Luo Family's new fighter is no small talent! Inside word is... the family moved both its direct descendants down a tier just to make room for him