Chapter 056: Swallowing the World with Ambition (Seeking Votes)

"The second condition?" Xin Lang thought for a moment. "I'll tell you when I figure it out!"

Meng Linglong was speechless.

Last night, Meng Linglong heard that Xin Lang had returned to Xuyang Academy. She came early this morning to see if it was true, never expecting Xin Lang to surprise her so greatly.

Meng Linglong left, satisfied, but Xin Lang was troubled. He had no idea how strong the other academies were. If he didn’t win the Nine Academies Tournament, he’d be demoted to the Martial Apprentice rank!

If he really got demoted, it would be hard to cultivate back to his current level!

"A five-diamond main quest! Looks like this is going to be tough." Staring at the five hundred experience points reward, Xin Lang realized just how difficult this five-diamond main quest would be.

"I can't rely on myself alone for the tournament. I need to find at least two more people!"

Xin Lang already had suitable candidates in mind.

After enjoying the free breakfast at Xuyang Academy, Xin Lang left the campus.

He headed straight for the most popular brothel in Jiuyang City—Spring Delight House.

Scarlet lanterns hung high at Spring Delight House, the whole place awash in flowers and greenery. Before he even reached the entrance, Xin Lang caught a strong whiff of powder and perfume.

He frowned, forcing himself not to inhale the heavy scent.

Yet the entrance was unusually quiet, and when Xin Lang stepped inside, he saw only a few guests. Not a single girl was offering herself.

"Huh? What’s going on? Is Spring Delight House going out of business?" Xin Lang wondered.

As he puzzled over this, a chaotic chorus of curses erupted from upstairs.

"Fat bastard, come out!"

"Get out here!"

"Come out! You’ve booked all the girls, what are we supposed to do?"

"Damn it, this guy's hogged the place for ten days straight! How are we supposed to relieve ourselves?"

"Let’s break in and teach him a lesson!"

"Yeah, castrate the fat pig!"

The louder the shouting outside, the wilder the commotion inside became—the sounds of flesh slapping, and women crying out in ecstasy.

"Wait, are they talking about that lecherous fat guy?" Xin Lang worried.

He climbed the stairs. The group of frustrated wolves, lured by the sounds within, could no longer restrain themselves. Someone kicked open the door, and two or three dozen men stormed inside.

"Beat him!"

"Kill him!"

"Castrate that fat bastard!"

A deep voice thundered from within, "Anyone who lays a finger on me, I’ll make sure you never become a man again!"

Screams erupted—chaos reigned as women shrieked and men cried out in pain.

Xin Lang saw several naked women fleeing the room, as well as a few men who were hurled out, crashing into the walls and passing out.

He approached the doorway for a look inside. "Good grief, what is this place?"

The spacious room was strewn with dozens of women, bodies rising and falling in waves. In the center, a mob of furious men surrounded a fat man.

Despite his bulk, the fat man’s clenched fists revealed arms bulging with muscle.

"A level nine Martial Apprentice?" Xin Lang exclaimed, recognizing Gu Ge.

At that moment, Fat Gu unleashed the advanced common martial skill, "Ten Thousand and Eight Palms of the Dragon," sending all the raging patrons flying.

These men, used to a life of debauchery, were no match for Fat Gu, who dispatched them all in an instant.

"Fat bastard, your cultivation’s coming along nicely!" Suddenly, a voice snapped Gu Ge out of his frenzy.

"Boss! I missed you so much!" Fat Gu, seeing Xin Lang, instantly sobered up, striding over and opening his arms for a hug.

Xin Lang quickly blocked him with his arm. "Put your bird away first; I don’t want too much contact with it!"

"Uh... haha..." The fat man chuckled lewdly, grabbed his clothes, and followed Xin Lang downstairs.

Once Fat Gu was properly dressed, the two left Spring Delight House. Xin Lang got straight to the point. "Have you seen Qian Baidu lately? Know where he is?"

"Uh..." Fat Gu laughed awkwardly. "I’ve been at Spring Delight House for the last ten days. Haven't seen him recently, but I know he was working at the blacksmith shop in the east end of town a while ago. We can look for him there. By the way, Boss, what do you want with him?"

Xin Lang said, "I have something important for you two to do. I'll explain once we find him."

Following Fat Gu, Xin Lang arrived at the eastern blacksmith shop. From a distance, they saw Qian Baidu bare-chested, swinging a heavy hammer at the forge, crafting something with repeated blows.

"Level eight Martial Apprentice?" Xin Lang immediately recognized Qian Baidu’s current strength.

"Negotiator student!" Qian Baidu spotted Xin Lang as well.

The blacksmith shop was small; passersby could see everything clearly.

Xin Lang asked, "Qian, how much do you earn here per day?"

"Ten copper coins. Why do you ask, Negotiator student?" Qian Baidu said.

"I have a job for you—ten silver coins a day. Interested?" Xin Lang offered.

"Ten silver coins?" Qian Baidu hesitated. "What kind of job?"

Xin Lang smiled. "It’ll definitely help your cultivation more than smithing here."

"Alright, I’m in!" At those words, Qian Baidu immediately agreed.

Xin Lang led the two back to Xuyang Academy and explained the Nine Academies Tournament to them.

"You want us to join the tournament?" Qian Baidu asked.

"No," Xin Lang corrected. "We’re not just participating—we must win, and we must take the championship!"

Fat Gu stood up. "Boss, whatever you decide, I’ll support you mentally and physically!"

Xin Lang looked at Qian Baidu. "Qian, if you have any difficulties, just say so."

"Stupid fatso, don’t tell me you’re too scared to do this?" Fat Gu goaded.

"Fat bastard, who says I’m scared? I just want to know if the ten silver coins a day is real," Qian Baidu said.

"Here, a hundred gold coins! Three months paid up front!" Xin Lang tossed him a bulging coin pouch.

Qian Baidu opened it and stared in shock at the shining gold coins. "A hundred gold coins! So many?"

He’d never seen so much gold in his life.

Xin Lang said, "If we win the championship, I’ll give you another thousand gold coins!"

"Ah!" Qian Baidu nearly fainted. "Negotiator student, the tournament prize is only a few hundred gold coins! Why do you insist on the championship? Is it because…"

Fat Gu interrupted, "Boss, did the beautiful headmistress seduce you? What technique did she use to make you submit? Was it 'Domination of the World,' or 'Venomous Dragon Exploring the Chrysanthemum'? No way—did the two sisters double-team you?"