Call it quits?

Dream on!

I’ve spent nearly twenty days just to deal with you, finally breaking through the barrier, and you think I’d just let it go?

This one clearly lacks the confidence to defeat me, probably hoping to form his Golden Elixir and settle scores later…

Lucky I arrived early!

Du Ge looked at the Valley Master of Tianlan Valley and nodded with a smile: “Alright!”

The Valley Master of Tianlan Valley was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Du Ge to agree so readily, his gaze upon Du Ge now carried a hint of scrutiny.

“Senior brother, this cannot be. Letting the tiger return to the mountain…” the seventh junior brother stepped forward anxiously to remind him.

“Cough.” Du Ge coughed to interrupt his impetuous junior brother, calmly turning to the Valley Master, “May I ask for the esteemed name of the Valley Master?”

“I am Xu Heming,” the Valley Master of Tianlan Valley said indifferently, “Since Sect Leader Wang agrees to retreat, take your people and leave Tianlan Valley. I will not pursue the losses of the valley.”

“I’ve heard that Valley Master Xu comes from a merchant background, is that true?” Du Ge asked.

“Yes,” Xu Heming replied.

“How fortuitous, I, Wang, also have some understanding of the merchant ways. Honesty is paramount in business, and once a word is given, not even four horses can retract it,” Du Ge said with a smile, “Isn’t that so?”

“Yes,” Xu Heming replied.

“Merchants value profit above all, and wouldn’t rise early if not for gain, that’s also true,” Du Ge said.

“The world bustles for profit, and all hustle and bustle is for gain,” Xu Heming said, “Who among the secular isn’t tempted by immediate fame and fortune?”

“Then this will be easy to handle,” Du Ge smiled, “Valley Master Xu won’t pursue the losses of Tianlan Valley, but I must discuss the losses of the Seven Stars Sect with the Valley Master.”

“…” Xu Heming frowned, “Sect Leader Wang, you’ve caused a commotion in my Tianlan Valley, costing the lives of eight Elders. I haven’t even sought compensation from you, yet now you demand compensation from me…”

In the crowd, Ling Ping Shuang muttered to himself, nine, including me!

“My master is dead,” Du Ge sneered, “Valley Master Xu, the Seven Stars Sect neither provoked nor offended you, yet because you coveted Seven Stars Mountain, out of the nine people in my sect, including my master, only four remain alive. Shouldn’t I seek compensation for these losses?”

“With Sect Leader Wang’s skills, how could my disciples kill your master?” Xu Heming retorted angrily.

“Exactly because my master was harmed by you, I was spurred to improve, forcefully breaking through barriers, and now I possess these skills. I’ve nearly died from cultivation deviation several times, Valley Master Xu, if it were you, could you swallow such grievance?” Du Ge said.

That’s clearly the eldest senior brother, you’ve been this formidable since you arrived, never seen you practicing…

The seventh junior brother muttered in his heart, watching closely and listening intently, learning the skill of inverting right and wrong from the third senior brother. After so many years with the master, he hadn’t learned as much as he had from the third senior brother in twenty days. If not now, then when?

“The dead are gone, and it is my oversight,” Xu Heming said solemnly, “But in the vast Tianlan Valley, out of twelve Elders, you’ve taken down eight, the loss far exceeds that of the Seven Stars Sect. What more do you want? You’ve injured people, that’s one thing, but you’ve also stripped them of their clothes and cut off their arms. Such demonic methods, if brought to the supervisory institution, won’t do you any good. I don’t wish to quarrel with you, but that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you…”

“Since that’s the case, does Valley Master Xu refuse to compensate for the losses of the Seven Stars Sect?” Du Ge sneered, stepping forward.

“There’s no such logic in the world,” Xu Heming said.

“Valley Master Xu, if we can’t agree as merchants, then let’s settle this with a fight, following the rules of the cultivation world!” Du Ge stepped forward again, “Just the two of us, a fair fight to the death, what do you say?”

Watching the aggressive Du Ge, Xu Heming’s hands, hidden behind his back, clenched into fists, veins bulging.

He was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from becoming a carefree Golden Elixir master and entering the true cultivation world.

Becoming a Golden Elixir master, he could command the spiritual power of heaven and earth as if it were his own limbs, a world apart from the Foundation Establishment stage.

At this moment, he was unwilling to take any risks.

Xu Heming, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, knew he couldn’t strip eight Foundation Establishment experts of their clothes and leave unscathed in a head-on fight.

He couldn’t see through Wang Chong.

Observing the fluctuations of spiritual power in his body, it was clear he was at the Qi Refining Stage, and even at its peak, it was impossible to defeat a Foundation Establishment expert.

He feared Wang Chong possessed a divine treasure.

A treasure imbued with spiritual power could help one fight across levels. He had sought such treasures for fifty years, to no avail.

If Wang Chong truly had a treasure, and during their fight, his arm was severed, even if reattached, it could reduce his chances of advancing to Golden Elixir; if it couldn’t be reattached, becoming a one-armed man, even as a Golden Elixir, his combat power would be greatly reduced…

“Valley Master Xu, will you fight or not?” Du Ge stepped forward again, raising his voice.

Xu Heming, fearing injury, was unwilling to engage with Du Ge.

Du Ge was also apprehensive.

Xu Heming’s arrival was too swift, far surpassing those Foundation Establishment Elders.

With plundering to support him, he could quickly recover from injuries, but if his head was chopped off or his body bisected, he would die…

The gap between the peak of Qi Refining and the peak of Foundation Establishment was too great.

Du Ge was looking for an opportunity.

An opportunity to get close to Xu Heming, to unleash a crippling blow. Just taking a leg or an arm, and Xu Heming would be at his mercy.

He had already taken three steps forward under the guise of conversation.

…

It’s like beating a wolf with a stick, both ends are afraid.

However, Du Ge, having been through seas of blood in the Simulation Field, and having faced Jannie directly, had long since forged extraordinary courage. From the outside, there was no sign of fear.

“Valley Master Xu, will you fight?”

Du Ge advanced step by step, building his momentum.

The disciples of Tianlan Valley watched their Valley Master with anticipation. Earlier, he had not taken immediate action, instead proposing to call it quits, which had already disheartened them.

Now.

With Wang Chong pressing him so, if he retreated again, it would be better to leave Tianlan Valley and simply join the Seven Stars Sect directly.

Wang Chong of the Seven Stars Sect, though young, sought revenge for his master, daringly stormed Tianlan Valley, and humiliated eight Elders. That was the true spirit of a man, worth following.

At least in times of trouble, he would protect you, and if you died, he would avenge you…

Faced with Du Ge’s advancing steps, the heavily concerned Xu Heming ultimately lacked the courage to fight: “What kind of compensation does Sect Leader Wang want?”

A buzz!

A sudden uproar of discussion erupted on the hillside.

After Xu Heming spoke, the morale of the disciples of Tianlan Valley plummeted.

Behind Du Ge, Ling Ping Shuang sighed dejectedly and closed his eyes, having misplaced his trust in this life.

Ha!

Is that all?

Du Ge laughed: “Valley Master Xu, have you thought it through?”

“Taking over a sect’s mountain gate, although I was unaware, it is indeed Tianlan Valley’s fault first. Compensating the Seven Stars Sect is only right,” Xu Heming, with sharp ears and eyes, could hear the murmurs of his disciples.

But at this point, he could no longer care about that.

He silently swore that as long as he could become a Golden Elixir master, he would repay Wang Chong’s humiliation today a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

The moment he returned with Wang Chong’s head, he wouldn’t fear his disciples’ disloyalty.

“Valley Master Xu has quite the temperament,” Du Ge said mockingly.

Xu Heming made his decision and was much more at ease, smiling faintly: “Sect Leader Wang has also said it, I, Xu, come from a merchant background, valuing harmony and believing that harmony brings wealth, which is also my creed.”

“Well said, harmony brings wealth,” Du Ge applauded, “Then I shall state my conditions.”

“Sect Leader Wang, please do,” Xu Heming said, “As long as it’s not excessive, I will agree.”

“Firstly, the disciples who agreed to join the Seven Stars Sect today, I will take them all, and Tianlan Valley shall not obstruct,” Du Ge said.

“Agreed,” Xu Heming glanced at the Tianlan Valley disciples behind Du Ge and raised an eyebrow, “If they wish to join the Seven Stars Sect, it’s due to Sect Leader Wang’s ability. If their hearts are not with Tianlan Valley, keeping them is pointless.”

The disciples of Tianlan Valley were in an uproar.

“Secondly, I want half of Tianlan Valley’s assets,” Du Ge demanded boldly.

“…” Xu Heming’s fists clenched again behind his back, staring at Du Ge, he took a deep breath, “Sect Leader Wang, don’t push too far. Although I am a mere merchant, I have my pride, and I won’t be bullied by you. If you push me too far, we might as well part ways. I’d like to see if Sect Leader Wang can withstand the power of a peak Foundation Establishment…”

“Thirty percent,” Du Ge smiled, holding up three fingers, “This is my final bottom line. Otherwise, let’s fight. My life isn’t worth much; I’d rather die here if necessary. Maybe I can’t defeat Valley Master Xu, but I’m confident I can take off two of his arms…”

Xu Heming’s face twitched a few times: “Fine, I agree. Later, Elder Qian will take you to tally the resources.” His face darkened, “Sect Leader Wang, you’ve asked for enough, I have my limits too.”

“Thirdly, Valley Master Xu must swear an oath that after becoming a Golden Elixir master, he will not seek revenge against me or anyone from the Seven Stars Sect,” Du Ge looked at Xu Heming, stating his final demand.

Heh!

Xu Heming sneered, so that’s what you’re worried about?

An oath?

If oaths were useful, I would have been struck by lightning long ago.

“It’s not a problem, I swear,” Xu Heming smiled faintly, “If I become a Golden Elixir master, I will not seek revenge against the Seven Stars Sect. If I break this oath, may thunder strike me down! Sect Leader Wang, is that satisfactory?”

“Words alone are not proof; we need written evidence,” Du Ge nodded, looking relieved as he spoke to Xu Heming, “Write down the above terms, sign both our names, and I will file it with the supervisory institution…”

Hmph!

So you’re just a paper tiger.

You won’t be leaving today…

Seeing Du Ge relax, Xu Heming chuckled lightly and turned to instruct: “Elder Qian, fetch paper and pen. I will make a contract with Sect Leader Wang, to put his mind at ease.”

Qian Dajin responded and left.

Shortly after.

He returned hastily with paper and pen.

Xu Heming wrote down the promised terms on two sheets of paper, signed his name, pressed his handprint, and called Du Ge over: “Sect Leader Wang, please come forward and check if there are any omissions in the contract…”

Du Ge, unsuspecting, approached with ease.

“Third senior brother,” the seventh junior brother called out softly.

Du Ge turned back, shook his head at him, and said: “I’d rather Valley Master Xu break the agreement and attack me. With the resources from Tianlan Valley, the rise of the Seven Stars Sect is imminent…”

Watching Du Ge approach.

A cold glint flashed in Xu Heming’s eyes, his palm secretly gathering spiritual power, ready to strike as soon as Du Ge came close.

Du Ge stepped up to Xu Heming and reached for the contract.

But in the next instant, his figure swayed, his palm suddenly changing direction, slicing towards Xu Heming’s arm.

Xu Heming reacted swiftly, raising his hand to strike Du Ge’s chest.

But Du Ge struck first.

Before Du Ge could hit him, he struck Du Ge’s chest.

Pfft!

Du Ge spat out blood, his body flying backward.

Xu Heming sneered: “Thief, did you really think you could come and go from Tianlan Valley as you please?”

“Valley Master!”

Qian Dajin’s face changed drastically, pointing at the flying Du Ge, his face filled with shock, stumbling over his words.

Xu Heming’s expression turned stern.

Only then did he see that Du Ge, flying away, had somehow acquired a complete hand.

Pain shot through his wrist.

Looking down, Xu Heming saw his right hand had been severed at the wrist.

With his golden body broken, Xu Heming’s eyes were filled with rage, no longer able to remain calm, he lunged at Du Ge, shouting: “Thief, give me back my hand…”

Peak Foundation Establishment, is that all?

Du Ge, struck by Xu Heming, had his heart meridian shattered, but his fingertips had just grazed his palm, activating the ‘plucking feathers from a passing goose’ technique, snatching his hand away.

The injury to his heart meridian healed instantly, and he even took a sliver of Xu Heming’s spiritual power.

Realizing Xu Heming couldn’t kill him with one blow and had lost a hand, Du Ge was no longer polite. Adjusting his posture in mid-air, he met Xu Heming’s charge. As he neared Xu Heming, a smile flickered at the corner of his mouth, and with a sudden burst of force from his palm, he threw the severed hand behind him.

Xu Heming instinctively turned around.

Du Ge’s hand had already passed over his body, stripping off his coat and taking some of his power…