Chapter 18

Xiaoran returned to the main world, where only a month and a half had passed.

By the time in the main world, it had only been four months since Xiaoran broke through from the second level of Body Tempering to the third level. This speed was considered very fast even in the main world!

He chose a forest when he left the main world and returned to a forest as well, so as not to draw attention!

He looked at the sky, with its blue expanse and white clouds, green mountains and clear waters, like a painting!

"The weather is nice!"

Xiaoran took out a mirror from his storage space and looked at himself.

In the martial arts world, Xiaoran was busy practicing every day and didn't pay much attention. Now, upon looking, he found that he hadn't changed much since he left!

Xiaoran was now eighteen years old, his body had just matured, but there should have been some changes over the year. However, Xiaoran didn't notice any changes in the mirror.

"Could it be that I still grew according to the time flow of the Ancient Continent while in the martial arts world?"

"So amazing, forget it, I can't figure it out, so I won't think about it anymore!"

Xiaoran put away the mirror and headed for the city. Now that he had broken through to the third level of Body Tempering, he needed to reach the Great Perfection of the third level of Qi Cultivation. With the help of elixirs, it would definitely be much faster. Moreover, he had many questions to ask others to avoid taking detours. After all, he had read a lot of books but lacked practical experience!

After walking for half a day, Xiaoran returned to the city.

...

In this world, the human race was ruled by ten major sects, including the Golden Light Sect!

The Golden Light Sect was almost at the bottom among the ten major sects, but it still ruled over thirteen provinces, each with about one or two hundred million people.

Each province had about twenty to thirty prefectures, and each prefecture had over a hundred small cities like Golden Light City!

Although Golden Light City was named after the sect, it was actually just a small city on the outskirts of Jinlan Prefecture in the Golden Light Province!

The Xiao family owned a tavern, a pharmacy, and a clothing shop in this city, which could be considered quite wealthy, but compared to the truly powerful families, they were nothing!

It was still early, so Xiaoran didn't go home but wandered around the city, eventually reaching his family's clothing shop.

His family's clothing shop was doing very well, mainly thanks to Xiaoran.

Although Xiaoran liked sports and martial arts and would occasionally write, his main job was a designer!

Although not a professional fashion designer, he was good at drawing.

After coming to this world, he found that the people here were open-minded and receptive to new things, and women had a high status!

This was quite normal, as powerful nations always had an inclusive and open attitude, embracing the world!

So, Xiaoran drew some of the more conservative clothes he was familiar with from Earth and had them made!

He also set up crystal display cabinets at the entrance to showcase the new clothes, which quickly became popular throughout the city.

Seeing girls in dresses coming in and out of the shop, Xiaoran couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.

Next time, I'll make some mini skirts, black stockings, and high heels. I want this city to be covered in black stockings and high heels in the summer!

As Xiaoran was excited about his ambitions, he was spotted by the shop's female staff, who all knew him as the young master. Someone immediately came to greet him, but their eyes were a bit strange!

Xiaoran smiled and responded, but he noticed that a few girls shopping in the store were looking at him with pity!

The first and second floors were for ready-made clothes, while the third floor was for custom orders, so the girls on this floor were from ordinary families!

Xiaoran was curious why they were looking at him like that.

At this moment, Xiaoran noticed that not only the girls shopping but also his own staff were looking at him with the same expression, but they would avoid his gaze when he looked at them!

Xiaoran faintly heard someone whispering!

"Is it him?"

"Yes, it's him! He looks decent, but how pitiful!"

"He's just too weak, being dumped. He should at least have said something like 'Thirty years on the east, thirty years on the west' or 'Don't underestimate the poor young man'..."

"Be quiet, don't let him hear. What if he hears and commits suicide again? That would be our fault!"

"Very likely. I heard he didn't leave the house for months after being rescued and then disappeared for a while. He must be very fragile inside..."

"But he's only at the first level of Body Tempering, so he probably doesn't have good hearing!"

"Pity has its reasons... Although Lan Yan'er is too materialistic, it's also because this Xiaoran is too weak..."

Xiaoran blinked, not wanting to be an object of sympathy and contempt!

What happened that I don't know about?

Good news doesn't spread, but bad news travels a thousand miles. My predecessor's embarrassing stories have become common knowledge!

Forget it, what does it have to do with me? I didn't do it.

Although he said that, Xiaoran still didn't like the looks, so he turned and left!

Just as he turned the corner, he saw a crowd gathered in front of his family's pharmacy, as if something had happened.

Suddenly, he sensed something and looked up, seeing a familiar figure in the private room of the tavern across from his pharmacy, moving into the shadows!

Xiaoran thought for a moment, "That person... looks familiar! Right, it's my predecessor's former brother-in-law... Lan Bofu?"

Xiaoran didn't think much about it and walked forward!

...

In the tavern, Lan Bofu finished his drink and whispered, "He noticed me? Felt my gaze?"

"How is that possible? This waste of space..."

An old man beside him said, "Young Master, don't underestimate him. I just saw him with vigorous energy and abundant qi and blood, clearly having reached the third level of Body Tempering!"

Lan Bofu was shocked, spilling his drink.

After a while, he said, "Elder Zhang, you can't be wrong, can you?

This kid couldn't break through to the second level of Body Tempering in ten years at the martial arts school. How could he break through two levels in just a few months?"

Elder Zhang, who looked to be in his forties with piercing eyes and a long sword on his back, snorted, "I, Zhang, have been at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation for ten years..."

Lan Bofu immediately apologized, "Elder Zhang, I'm just surprised, not doubting your judgment!

But isn't his progress a bit too fast, a bit unreasonable?"

Elder Zhang's expression softened, and he chuckled, "It's hard to say.

I heard that the Golden Light Sect's senior disciple, Lu Hanqiu, spent ten years at the first level of Body Tempering, five years at the second level, and three years at the third level.

Everyone thought he would be like that for life, but who knew he would break through levels like drinking water, reaching the eighth level of Qi Cultivation in just one year.

He might break through to the Tianyuan Realm in another two years and become a high-ranking elder in the sect!"

Lan Bofu sneered, "How is that possible? This kid is just a weakling. Breaking through to the third level of Body Tempering is his limit..."

Elder Zhang also laughed, "You're right, how can this kid be compared to someone like Lu Hanqiu..."

...

Xiaoran didn't know his former brother-in-law was discussing him. He pushed through the crowd and saw a group of people arguing with the shop's staff!

The group was only at the first level of Qi Cultivation, but they shouted, "I've been buying your Body Tempering Soup for five years, and I haven't broken through to the second level of Qi Cultivation. Isn't there something wrong with your soup?"

Another person said, "We became your regular customers because your soup was cheaper than others, but I haven't broken through to the second level of Body Tempering in five years.

It must be because you're selling at a low price and adulterating the soup!"

"Exactly, exactly!

Otherwise, why hasn't your young master broken through to the second level of Qi Cultivation in ten years?"

The staff member inwardly sighed. The young master doesn't even use the cheap Body Tempering Soup; he's served with Body Tempering Pills every day!

But how could he convince them of that!

Xiaoran was caught in the crossfire, but thinking of the figure he saw and the obvious targeting, a light bulb went off in his head. He shouted at the entrance, "Lan Bofu, I challenge you to a duel in five days at the arena. Will you accept?"

Lan Bofu's appearance here wasn't strange, but his sudden appearance when there was trouble was suspicious!

Seeing the crowd's words pointing at him, it wasn't hard to guess the connection!

Since these people were being manipulated, he would go straight to the source!

Why would the Lan family keep targeting him?

They shouldn't provoke him anymore; it would be like stepping in dog poop!

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