The outer city.
Lu Mian sat cross-legged on the ground, his entire body wreathed in translucent, illusory Fiendfire.
He was cultivating the Fiery Baleful Qi Scripture.
An hour later, the Fiendfire burning over Lu Mian's body slowly died out.
"I've finally perfected the first level."
"Give me a little more time, and I'll be able to break through to the second."
Lu Mian murmured to himself.
The Fiery Baleful Qi Scripture had nine levels in total. With ample medicine nourishing him, a month of cultivation had brought Lu Mian to perfection in the first level.
Of course, the price was that his money was nearly gone.
Practicing martial arts already meant spending money like water, and that only grew more extreme after entering the first realm: qi accumulation. The vital essence provided by ordinary meat was now a drop in the bucket. He had to keep swallowing large quantities of pills and digesting them through his gluttonous stomach to sustain the growth of his Mystic Qi.
Lu Mian reckoned that his current savings would not last many more days.
Knock, knock, knock...
A sudden knocking interrupted Lu Mian's thoughts.
"Who could it be... this late?"
Lu Mian frowned slightly.
He left his room, crossed the courtyard, and opened the wooden gate.
A refined middle-aged man in brocade robes stood outside.
"My name is Tian Feiguang."
The middle-aged man introduced himself politely.
"You're from the Tian Family?"
"What do you want with me?"
Lu Mian narrowed his eyes.
"Why don't you let me into the courtyard so we can discuss it properly?"
Tian Feiguang smiled.
Unafraid of him, Lu Mian readily invited him inside.
"Lu Mian."
"I want you to lose to Tian Sheng in tomorrow's match."
After sitting down, Tian Feiguang spoke as though it were a trivial matter.
Lu