"Puff!"
At Chen Xiao's words, some of the people nearby couldn't help but laugh outright. The sound was sudden, sharp, almost explosive, and soon, it was joined by others. Laughter filled the courtyard, echoing against the walls of the Liu family estate.
Tianyang Marquis Mansion… Nangong Qi!
That name was not unfamiliar.
He was a rare, peerless genius of the Dayu Immortal Cultivation Dynasty. A prodigy spoken of in reverent tones throughout the lands. Not only did he possess a top-grade fire spiritual root, but rumor had it, he was born with a special physique. Before the age of fifty, his cultivation had already reached the Nascent Soul stage—a level that placed him among the very top talents of the entire Dayu Dynasty.
Yet here he was. Right in Aurora City. And, unbelievably, he had even climbed onto Liu Ruyan's bed.
Chen Xiao's earlier words, it seemed, were not idle boasts. The projection had shown Nangong Qi's prowess… his skills in intimacy seemed undeniable. And now, seeing the scene unfold, everyone finally understood.
No wonder the tiny, unremarkable Liu family had dared to openly break off their engagement with the Chen family and scheme against Chen Xiao. It turned out—they were under the protection of the Marquis of Tianyang himself.
Nangong Qi's eyes burned as he stared at Chen Xiao. Every glance was like fire, scorching the space between them.
Host, calm down!
The system's voice reverberated in Nangong Qi's mind. The other party is obviously trying to provoke you!
Nangong Qi took a deep breath, forcing himself to steady his raging heart. Still, the interest he held for Liu Ruyan was undeniable. She had been his harem choice for a reason. After all, he had spent countless system points redeeming treasures, lavishing them upon her as if they were nothing.
He took a step forward, lowering his voice to a growl. "Chen Xiao… do you dare to fight?"
Chen Xiao's gaze swept Nangong Qi up and down, slow, deliberate, teasing. Then, he nodded. "Sure… but only if you pay those ten million high-grade spirit stones first. Otherwise, forget it."
Nangong Qi's pride flared immediately. "Defeat me, and I will give you all ten million high-grade spirit stones!"
Chen Xiao's attention shifted away from Nangong Qi as he addressed Liu Yuanzun. "Master Liu, if you can't come up with those ten million high-grade spirit stones, then I'll have to take over your Liu family and go mining myself to pay the debt."
The words struck Nangong Qi like a thunderclap. He inhaled deeply. "Chen Xiao! Do you, the young master of the Chen family, truly lack the courage to accept a challenge?"
Chen Xiao only sneered. "Challenge me? Then give me the ten million high-grade spirit stones. Otherwise, don't waste my time. This young master is… very busy."
He wasn't worried in the slightest. He already knew Nangong Qi's plan: challenge, suppress, and plunder the destiny that lay hidden within himself. Chen Xiao had no fear that Nangong Qi would fail to deliver the ten million spirit stones.
To the onlookers, however, it looked as if Chen Xiao were deliberately raising the stakes, making the impossible demand. Nangong Qi, after all, was a celebrated genius of the Dayu Immortal Cultivation Dynasty. Chen Xiao… was a mere upstart, a dandy in comparison.
To suggest that Chen Xiao could contend with Nangong Qi was, in their eyes, an insult. Chen Xiao's arrogance seemed reckless, audacious, even dangerous—but Aurora City was his territory. If Nangong Qi had yielded the ten million high-grade spirit stones simply to challenge him, he would have been the real fool.
Yet, moments later, the impossible happened.
Nangong Qi considered for only a heartbeat, then nodded. "Fine… I'll give you the ten million high-grade spirit stones."
Defeat Chen Xiao… crush him completely. Intercept the destiny the heavens had laid upon him. Unlock more of the system's potential and claim greater power. Ten million spirit stones were a small price to pay.
With a flick of his hand, the impossible became reality.
Crash!
Spirit stones fell from the sky like torrential rain, striking the courtyard one after another. They piled up into a mountain, a towering heap of pure high-grade spirit stones within the Liu family estate.
The gathered onlookers could only gape in disbelief. No one had expected Nangong Qi to literally throw ten million high-grade spirit stones at Chen Xiao's feet, a challenge so audacious it defied reason.
"Ruyan… she was the one I loved. She died at your hands today. I must avenge her!" Nangong Qi's voice rang loud, almost desperate.
And just like that, understanding dawned on everyone. Apart from Liu Ruyan, what could possibly draw Nangong Qi's attention to such a diminutive family? Even at the start, the Chen family had aided the Liu family because of her alone.
Chen Xiao, dismissive as ever, laughed. "Ah… how touching. Shall we hurry and collect her body, then?"
The words froze Nangong Qi in place. Those around him regained their senses as well. Yes, the young marquis's love for Liu Ruyan ran deep. He was willing to expend ten million high-grade spirit stones to personally avenge her. Yet, curiously, since her death, he hadn't even looked upon her body.
The scene was… awkward.
Chen Xiao, unconcerned, signaled the Chen family cultivators to gather the mountain of spirit stones, taking inventory as they worked. Nangong Qi merely watched, a faint sense of bewilderment tugging at him.
A moment later, Chen Xiao's eyes narrowed. "Young Marquis… twenty-five pieces are missing."
Nangong Qi's teeth clenched, his face darkening. "If we agreed on ten million… it must be ten million. One less, and it's not ten million."
If this weren't Aurora City… if he were elsewhere, he might have struck Chen Xiao where he stood.
With a frown, Nangong Qi retrieved another twenty-five high-grade spirit stones and threw them toward Chen Xiao. The latter accepted them, smiling faintly. "Now… we are even."
"When and where," Chen Xiao asked calmly, "shall our battle commence?"
Nangong Qi ground his teeth. "Here… now."
Chen Xiao nodded. "Then… young marquis, won't you take care of the body of the one you loved?"
He gestured toward the ground where Liu Ruyan lay. "It won't stay intact for long. Soon… it will be impossible to gather."
Nangong Qi's eyes flicked toward Liu Yuanzun, his meaning clear: Do you even care for your daughter?
Liu Yuanzun, snapping awake as if from a dream, hurriedly ordered attendants to collect Liu Ruyan's body.
Meanwhile, one of the Liu family cultivators discovered something odd. "Strange… where did the fifth-level Fiery Talisman go?"
Nangong Qi's face burned crimson. Already… at this moment, the Liu family still sought that talisman? Isn't that… embarrassing enough?
"That's enough!" Nangong Qi's voice boomed. "Step back, everyone!"
The Liu family, shaken from their stupor, quickly retreated, leaving a vast, open space before Nangong Qi.
"Xiao'er… are you certain?" A dull voice echoed in Chen Xiao's mind. Chen Wenxu, the eldest elder of the Chen family, spoke from the void. Chen Xiao merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Host, attack with all your strength. Do not give the protagonist even the slightest chance to resist, the system urged. I've suppressed his destiny luck this time, ensuring that I can plunder more in the future.
"Don't worry… I won't give him a chance," Chen Xiao replied silently.
The courtyard cleared. Every Chen family cultivator watched nervously, ready to intervene should anything go wrong.
Chen Xiao hooked his finger, inviting Nangong Qi to make the first move.
The young marquis's expression remained unreadable. A violent motion of his hand, and the void itself seemed to ripple. A wave of heat surged, accompanied by a ten-foot-long fiery dragon-shaped shadow, fangs bared, claws extended, pouncing toward Chen Xiao.
"Sword Intent!" someone shouted in shock.
In the world of cultivation, those who comprehend Sword Intent achieve the honorific "Sword Saint." Nangong Qi's mastery made him a figure worthy of such reverence. Facing him was a terrifying prospect.
Yet Chen Xiao's expression remained calm, emotionless. A hand stretched out—and with it, a small dark shadow appeared in his palm. Within it, a crystal-clear stone gleamed: a top-grade fire crystal.
Boom!
The dragon-shaped sword collapsed instantly. Nangong Qi's flying sword snapped back.
The shadow in Chen Xiao's palm expanded in an instant, enveloping his entire form. When he reappeared, it was already in front of Nangong Qi, eyes dark, expression unreadable.
A single punch shot toward Nangong Qi's face.
Host, be careful! Chen Xiao's cultivation has skyrocketed to the Nascent Soul stage!
Nangong Qi's pupils shrank. Three sword lights appeared, slashing toward Chen Xiao's approaching fist. But something strange occurred—the lights pierced through Chen Xiao's arms and torso one after another, yet caused no harm.
"What… is this?!" Nangong Qi's voice trembled with horror.
Undiminished momentum carried Chen Xiao's punch to its target, striking Nangong Qi squarely in the face.
And with that, the battle of destinies had truly begun.