Liao Ruyan

Chapter 5: Liao Ruyan

At this moment, inside the Gravity Tower, some disciples sat cross-legged, laboriously circulating their cultivation techniques.

Some disciples swung massive hammers with the force of roaring tigers, while others carried boulders on their backs and did frog jumps around the area.

The moment Xu Zimo and Lin Ruhu stepped inside, they felt an immense force surging in from every direction.

Xu Zimo was alright. The force merely slowed his movements somewhat, but it did not hinder him.

But for Lin Ruhu, it was as though he had been struck by a speeding carriage. He was directly crushed flat onto the ground, nearly unable to catch his breath.

"Don't think about using your body to resist gravity," Xu Zimo reminded him from the side. "Take deep breaths. Let your body adapt to this gravity first, then relax your mind. Seek out the path of gravity and merge your body with it."

Hearing Xu Zimo's words, Lin Ruhu hurriedly closed his eyes and took several long breaths before gradually adapting.

Not long after Xu Zimo began using gravity to temper his foundation, a group of disciples gathered around them.

The leader of the group was a young girl. Surrounded by stars like the moon, she strode up to Xu Zimo with her chin held high and asked, "Xu Zimo, Lin Ruhu, what are you two doing here? Are you trying to cause trouble again?"

Xu Zimo glanced at the young girl. She was Liao Ruyan, the granddaughter of the True Martial Sacred Sect's First Elder.

"What does it have to do with you?" Xu Zimo replied blandly.

"Exactly. Women just love sticking their noses into other people's business. Brother Zimo isn't going to marry you anyway," Lin Ruhu shouted from the side.

The First Elder and Vice Sect Master Xu Qingshan had always been at daggers drawn. When the Sect Master left back then, the First Elder had hoped all along that power would be handed over to him.

Yet in the end, Xu Qingshan still obtained control. The First Elder had harbored a grudge ever since.

Over the past few years, two factions had naturally emerged within the True Martial Sacred Sect.

One was the Youth Faction led by Vice Sect Master Xu Qingshan, while the other was the Elder Faction led by the First Elder.

At this moment, hearing Xu Zimo's words, Liao Ruyan said angrily, "Xu Zimo, if you have the guts, let's have a match."

"Not interested." Xu Zimo yawned and waved his hand. "Go play somewhere else. Don't disturb my cultivation."

"If you're scared, just say so. As long as you admit defeat, I'll let you off," Liao Ruyan said smugly.

Xu Zimo shook his head helplessly. She really was like a spoiled little princess!

Then again, as the First Elder's granddaughter, who wouldn't desperately curry favor with her? How was that any different from his previous life?

He said slowly, "It's not that I'm afraid. But matches usually involve stakes, don't they? Can you offer a stake that satisfies me?"

Liao Ruyan fell silent for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "If you win, I'll tell you a secret."

"That won't do." Xu Zimo hurriedly shook his head. "Who knows whether your secret will be useful to me? What if you tell me that you've actually had a crush on me all along?"

At Xu Zimo's words, the many youths present burst into laughter.

"You're shameless!" Liao Ruyan's face flushed red as she pointed at Xu Zimo furiously. "If you win, I'll tell you that my grandfather's Medicinal Dao Sacred Chicken laid two chicks a few days ago. Do you dare?"

emmmmmm...

Xu Zimo's face went dark as he said in silence, "I suddenly lost interest in your secret. How about we change it to another secret?"

Upon hearing the words Medicinal Dao Sacred Chicken, Lin Ruhu's eyes opened wide. He licked his lips, his eyeballs rolling as though he were pondering something.

Medicinal Dao Chickens were rare spirit birds of heaven and earth. Even in the outside world, they were the sort that ten thousand gold could not buy.

They were excellent at tending immortal fields and spirit herbs. They could fertilize the soil, loosen the earth, and catch insects. They were practically perfect gardeners.

The Medicinal Dao Sacred Chicken was an even greater treasure among Medicinal Dao Chickens.

It was like the overlord among beggars. Though it was still a beggar, its standing was completely different from those ordinary coquettish, cheap creatures.

Medicinal Dao Sacred Chickens had eaten spirit herbs since they were young. Every piece of flesh and every drop of blood in their bodies contained dense spiritual energy.

It was said that when a mortal ate Medicinal Dao Sacred Chicken meat for the first time, one chicken could increase their lifespan by a year.

"Then what stake do you want?" Liao Ruyan asked hesitantly.

"I heard that your grandfather's mount, the Dark Sky Tiger, had an affair with the Reincarnation Heavenly Ox some time ago and gave birth to a litter of cubs." Xu Zimo chuckled. "Is that true?"

"What are you trying to do?" Liao Ruyan asked warily. "My grandfather said those cubs are to be given away as favors. I wouldn't dare touch them."

"I want two Dark Sky Tiger cubs," Xu Zimo said directly. "If you won't agree, then forget it. There's no need to compete.

Besides, aren't you always your grandfather's precious darling? Sneaking away with two Dark Sky Tiger cubs shouldn't be a big deal.

Could it be that, in your grandfather's eyes, you aren't even as important as two cubs?"

"Who said that?" Liao Ruyan hurriedly retorted. "My grandfather loves me very much. I, I, I... Fine, I agree."

"Then that settles it. What do you want to compete in?" Xu Zimo asked with great interest.

"It's very simple. Let's fight. The winner and loser will be obvious at a glance," Liao Ruyan replied, smiling from the corners of her eyes.

"That's not fair!" Lin Ruhu shouted from the side. "You began Body Tempering cultivation half a year ago, while Brother Zimo has only just come into contact with cultivation. How could he possibly be your opponent?"

"Then what do you say we compete in?" Liao Ruyan glared at Lin Ruhu, revealing her little tiger teeth.

"I have an idea, though I don't know whether you would allow me to serve as the judge," a voice suddenly came from the second floor of the Gravity Tower.

Everyone looked up to see a man slowly walking down from the upper floor.

The man wore a blue robe. His features were resolute, his nose bridge high, and all his long hair was tied atop his head. A jade-green longsword hung at his waist.

"Senior Brother Zhong Xin!" Seeing the man arrive, Liao Ruyan happily ran over at once.

"Junior Sister, the world outside is treacherous. Try to have as little contact as possible with those who harbor improper designs," Zhong Xin replied with a smile.

Xu Zimo glanced at him. He was the First Elder's Personal Disciple, known throughout the martial world as the "Flowing Light Swordsman."

When the surrounding disciples saw Zhong Xin arrive, they hurried forward to greet him. Whether they knew him or not, they all wanted to make themselves familiar.

"What method do you have?" Xu Zimo asked lightly.

"No rush." Zhong Xin smiled calmly and shook his head. "Ruyan just promised that if you win, she'll give you two Dark Sky Tiger cubs.

But what if you lose? You still haven't stated your stake."

"If I lose, I'll unconditionally fulfill one thing within my power. How about it?" Xu Zimo replied.

"Good. If you lose, I won't make things difficult for you. Just bark like a dog three times within the sect. How about that?" Zhong Xin said with a soft laugh.