Chapter 170: Chapter 160: I Want to Have a Match With You

"City Lord, if a promise can’t be fulfilled, does an empty promise like that count as a violation of the rules?"

Inside the hall, everyone’s attention was fixed on the quiet room Nie Yun and Yu Jie had entered. But there wasn’t the slightest sound. After a moment, the old man who had spoken earlier chimed in again, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

At this trading meet, exchanges could be made with physical goods or with promises. For example, some years ago, Liu Chengze traded for an item he didn’t have on hand. He promised to deliver the required elixir a month later, and sure enough, he did!

That’s a promissory exchange. The young man’s guarantee that Yu Jie would advance to the Qi Sect realm fell into the same category. If he failed to deliver, it would be a violation of the rules!

"Of course it counts as a violation!" Liu Jifei nodded.

"And how are violations handled? Is there a protocol?" The old man had been waiting for the City Lord to say this, and he chuckled slyly.

"While this trading meet may not be the most high-profile, all who attend are prominent figures. If someone violates the rules, we will act accordingly and confiscate the treasures they’ve presented!"

Liu Jifei laughed, seemingly in perfect accord with the old man.

Confiscating the items meant that the Royal Family’s Low-Grade Long Spear and the Ultimate Venerable Talisman would become the property of the City Lord’s Mansion!

"Hehe, as long as we have the City Lord’s word, I trust Miss Tie Lan won’t object!" the old man said, turning to Tie Lan with a sinister smirk.

"Th-that... Of course. I won’t object," Tie Lan replied. Remembering the young man’s confident expression, she nodded her assent.

’Good...’ Hearing the young woman agree, even a stern, unsmiling military man like Liu Jifei couldn’t stop a sharp glint from flashing in his eyes.

’If I really got my hands on a Royal Family’s Low-Grade Divine Weapon, my strength would easily double!’

CREAK!

Just as everyone in the hall was lost in their own thoughts, the door to the quiet room creaked open and two figures emerged.

"Haha! So this is the power of the Qi Sect realm? Haha, it’s incredible!"

The moment he stepped out, the stout Yu Jie burst into laughter. He threw a punch into the air, and a ripple, like one on the surface of water, instantly spread through it.

"What? He really reached the Qi Sect realm? But..."

"How is that possible? I don’t believe it..."

A punch that could create ripples in the air indicated extremely focused power—something impossible for someone at the Peak of Armor Realm. Could Yu Jie have truly broken through?

"Hmph! Whether you’ve broken through or not isn’t for you to decide. I’ll be the judge of that!"

The old man who had spoken earlier snorted coldly. With a sudden leap, he shot toward the stout man, his fist flying straight for him.

The moment he attacked, the old man’s cultivation was on full display: Early-Stage Qi Sect!

The man was an Early-Stage Qi Sect expert!

"Hmph!" Yu Jie seemed to have anticipated the old man’s attack. He snorted, and instead of dodging, met the blow head-on with his right fist.

BANG!

The two experts’ fists collided with no frills. The old man grunted and was sent flying backward, his expression turning grim. Yu Jie, however, hadn’t moved an inch, seemingly unaffected.

’His cultivation is indeed at the Early-Stage Qi Sect realm, but... how is he this strong?’

Seeing Yu Jie send a veteran Early-Stage Qi Sect expert flying with a single punch, everyone was stunned. They stared blankly at Nie Yun, unable to believe their eyes.

Logically, someone who had just advanced to the Qi Sect realm shouldn’t be able to defeat a veteran of the same stage, as their power would not yet be fully stabilized. Yet, Yu Jie had sent the old man flying with a single punch. The proof was undeniable.

"The elixir Brother Yun gave me is truly incredible! It allowed me to get lucky and break through. Alright, I’m giving all my items to Brother Yun now. No objections, I presume!"

Thrilled at having sent the old man flying with a single move, Yu Jie laughed excitedly. He returned to his seat and, with a sweep of his arm, handed all of his items to Nie Yun.

He had deliberately mentioned the incredible elixir, of course—it was all at Nie Yun’s instruction.

’In any case, the Alchemy Skill is as vast and profound as the ocean. Even if someone were suspicious, they would never be able to find any issues.’

"Heh!" Seeing the Purple Splendor Jade Seal among the pile of items, Nie Yun could no longer contain his excitement. He chuckled and stored it in his Storage Dantian.

’I finally have the Purple Splendor Jade Seal. It seems all my hard work wasn’t for nothing!’

"Alright, since the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps has completed their exchange, let us proceed!"

Although Liu Jifei didn’t know how the young man had helped Yu Jie advance, he was delighted to see that the Royal Family’s Low-Grade Long Spear and the Ultimate Venerable Talisman hadn’t been traded away, so he quickly spoke up.

"Aside from the items from the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps, the elixirs we’ve presented are the most valuable. Therefore, the second choice should be ours. Does anyone object?"

Liu Chengze said coolly.

"No objections!" the crowd replied in unison.

"Very well. Miss Tie Lan, I wish to trade this Great Yang Pill and this Child Returning Pill for the Petrifying Tumor. Would you be willing to make that exchange?"

Seeing that no one objected, Liu Chengze turned his gaze to Tie Lan.

"The Petrifying Tumor? What’s that?"

"That item wasn’t presented, was it? How can they trade for it?"

Everyone had assumed Liu Chengze would try to trade for the Royal Family’s Low-Grade Long Spear or the Ultimate Venerable Talisman. They never expected him to ask for something called a Petrifying Tumor and were completely baffled.

"Heh, sorry. No trade."

Nie Yun had known all along that Liu Chengze would ask for the Petrifying Tumor, so he refused without a moment’s hesitation.

"You must be Nie Yun, my friend. Don’t be so quick to refuse! How about we make a wager?" The young man’s refusal was just as Liu Chengze had expected. He spoke with a faint smile.

"A wager? I’m listening," Nie Yun said.

"It’s simple. This is my son, Liu Yuan. His talent is nothing special, and his strength is hardly worth mentioning. I see the two of you are close in age, so why not have a fair duel? If you win, all the elixirs on my table are yours, free of charge! But if you lose... you will give me the Petrifying Tumor, along with that spear and the Ultimate Venerable Talisman. What do you say?"

Liu Chengze said with a smile.

"A fair duel? Master Liu, you’re quite the schemer! Young Master Liu Yuan’s talent may not be the greatest, but with the endless supply of elixirs you provide, I’m sure he’s already reached the Armor Realm! This young man here... while his spirit seems strong, I doubt his cultivation has even reached the Gang Formation Realm. Someone not yet at the Gang Formation Realm dueling an Armor Realm expert... Heh heh!"

"Your elixirs aren’t worth anywhere near the price of that spear and the Ultimate Venerable Talisman, and the duel is completely one-sided. Master Liu, you’re trying to fleece him!"

Hearing Liu Chengze’s proposal, everyone in the room began to laugh.

Although Liu Yuan’s talent wasn’t the best, he had an Alchemy Master for a father, so his foundation had been built solidly from a young age. Despite being under thirty, he was already an Armor Realm expert. Pitting that kind of power against a sixteen or seventeen-year-old... wasn’t that just bullying?

Although the crowd held no particular fondness for Nie Yun, they certainly coveted the Royal Family’s Low-Grade Divine Weapon and the Ultimate Venerable Talisman. Naturally, none of them wanted to see those items fall into Liu Chengze’s hands, so they started to speak up.

"Young man, you don’t have to agree. No one will blame you for refusing!"

"It’s hardly a fair fight. You should just refuse..."

Another two "kind souls" piped up to advise Nie Yun.

"A fair duel, you say? And if I win, you’ll give me all these elixirs?" Nie Yun hadn’t expected such a proposal. A faint, almost bashful smile appeared on his face. "My cultivation isn’t very high, but... I’d still like to give it a try!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)