Chapter 116: The Challenge from the Ninth on the Golden Ranking

Murong Yueyin’s motives were quite different from Hu Qingqing’s; she had no intention of protecting Xin Lang. In her eyes, Xin Lang was a "Martial Saint" figure who would never concern himself with the likes of those on the Golden List. She accompanied Xin Lang and Hu Qingqing only to gain a deeper understanding of him.

Poor Xin Lang was left to feel touched for nothing!

"Xin Lang, where are we heading?" Hu Qingqing, acting as their guide, asked first.

Xin Lang pondered for a moment and replied, "An auction house, a pharmacy, a martial arts manual shop, or a weapons store—any of those will do."

He wanted to gauge the market in the Capital of Xia to see how much Holy-tier potions and Heaven-tier martial arts techniques were currently worth.

"Those places aren't lively at all. Let's go stroll along the Capital's pedestrian street instead! It's not only bustling, but it also has the most famous snacks in the Great Xia Dynasty and plenty of fun little trinkets," Hu Qingqing suggested.

Murong Yueyin’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. "The pedestrian street! I’ve always wanted to go, but I never had the chance. Xin Lang, let’s go there, shall we?"

Xin Lang felt his forehead twitch. It was supposed to be Hu Qingqing accompanying him, with Murong Yueyin tagging along; now, it had turned into him escorting both of them. Moreover, these two rivals were in unprecedented agreement on the matter of shopping.

"Fine, let’s go to the pedestrian street first," Xin Lang conceded, bowing to the majority.

"Yay!"

Hu Qingqing and Murong Yueyin high-fived to celebrate their victory, but upon realizing who they were dealing with, they both snorted coldly and turned their heads away.

"Ugh... women, what strange creatures," Xin Lang sighed.

With the two beauties flanking him, the trio made their way toward the pedestrian street. Before long, Hu Qingqing deliberately pressed closer to Xin Lang, casting a provocative glance at Murong Yueyin. Not wanting to be outdone, Murong Yueyin also leaned in, though she wasn't as accustomed to such intimacy as Hu Qingqing.

Three students—Student A, Student B, and Student C—had followed them out of the Martial Arts Academy and witnessed this scene of Xin Lang flanked by two beauties.

"Damn, I thought Xin Lang was just bragging! I didn't expect Hu Qingqing and Murong Yueyin to actually be his concubines," Student A exclaimed.

"So that’s why those two are always at each other's throats—they’re competing for his favor," Student B remarked.

Student C whispered mysteriously, "What do you think is the relationship between Shangguan Ningyu, Huangfu Huijing, and Xin Lang? Could they be his concubines too?"

"That... that shouldn't be possible!" Student A argued. "If it were Shangguan Ningyu, maybe, but Huangfu Huijing is the First Princess of our Great Xia Dynasty. The Emperor dotes on her, and there's talk that he intends to crown her as the Crown Princess to inherit the throne. It’s impossible for her to have any scandalous relationship with Xin Lang."

"Tch, you never know! Before today, would you have believed Hu Qingqing and Murong Yueyin were his concubines? And yet, here we are. So, perhaps Huangfu Huijing really does have some unspeakable connection with him," Student B countered.

Suddenly, Student C shouted, "Look! Isn't that Zhang Liang? The ninth-ranked on the Golden List! He’s a suitor of Shangguan Ningyu. Haha, this is going to be good!"

"Zhang Liang? He's only ninth. Huang Shiyu, who was tenth, already lost to him, so I don't think he stands a chance," Student A said.

"That's not necessarily true! Don't forget, Xin Lang is only at the peak of the Martial Artist realm. Zhang Liang is different from Huang Shiyu; Huang had only just broken through to become a first-level Grandmaster, whereas Zhang Liang is a bona fide second-level Grandmaster," Student C countered.

Student B excitedly chimed in, "Come on, let's place bets on who will win!"

"I bet on Zhang Liang," Student C declared.

"I bet on Xin Lang," Student A firmly stood his ground.

Zhang Liang had a nondescript face, the kind that would easily disappear into a crowd. Seeing a stranger blocking his path, Xin Lang thought happily, "After searching for so long, finally, someone has come to help me farm points!"

"Xin Lang, I challenge you!" Zhang Liang said bluntly.

Seeing the sub-quest notification pop up on his leveling device, Xin Lang was overjoyed.

"Classmate, whose suitor are you? Qingqing’s or Yueyin’s?" Xin Lang asked.

Having waited so long, Xin Lang was grateful to Zhang Liang for being the first to challenge him, so he decided not to make the boy’s defeat too humiliating. As for the kowtowing, he would let that slide.

"Me?" Zhang Liang hesitated for a moment. "I'm not anyone's suitor! I just think you're too arrogant and have come to teach you a lesson so you know to be more humble in the future!"

Zhang Liang didn't dare admit he was a suitor of Shangguan Ningyu. He was ranked ninth on the Golden List, only one spot above Huang Shiyu, who had lost to Xin Lang despite being a first-level Grandmaster. He feared that if he lost, Xin Lang would demand he kowtow, and he couldn't afford that loss of face. After all, no one knew if Xin Lang had been hiding his true strength all along.

"Fine, fine, fine..." Xin Lang said. "Whatever your reason, coming to challenge me shows you're a man, unlike those cowards who wouldn't dare show their faces. I respect that. If you lose, I won't make you kowtow."

Zhang Liang thought, "I didn't say I was Shangguan Ningyu's suitor! Still, not having to kowtow is a good thing. Pfft, why am I worrying about losing before we've even started?"

Xin Lang's reputation in the academy had created immense psychological pressure on Zhang Liang.

"Let's start! Quick and decisive—I'm hoping to entertain a few more today," Xin Lang urged.

"Fine! We're outside the academy, so there are no complex rules. Let's begin!" Zhang Liang, acting with extreme caution, made the first move. "Heaven-tier martial art..."

Watching Zhang Liang attack, Xin Lang was ecstatic. "Experience points! A mountain of experience points is coming my way!"

Though Xin Lang was only a first-level Grandmaster, his internal energy reserves were over ten times greater than Zhang Liang's. Combined with his mastery of high-tier Heaven martial arts, defeating Zhang Liang would be child's play.

Just as Xin Lang was about to counter, his view was blocked by two gracefully curved figures. Hu Qingqing and Murong Yueyin had both stepped in front of him.

Hu Qingqing declared, "Zhang Liang, if you want to touch Xin Lang, you'll have to get through me first!"