Chapter 12

Just after Lin Haoming left the market, Xie Ruolan came to Wang Chen's side again.

Looking at the more than 1,200 spirit stones Wang Chen took out, Xie Ruolan was somewhat surprised, "So many this month?"

Wang Chen smiled and said honestly, "Senior Sister, it was quite a coincidence this time. The boy we met when you and Senior Brother Ling came last time bought a lot of things, including the mother and son swords and the tortoise shell shield you left behind."

"Oh! An outer sect disciple actually has so many spirit stones? Do you know his name?" Xie Ruolan was also very surprised.

Wang Chen laughed bitterly and shook his head, "I don't know either. After all, I have to do business here, and there are some things I shouldn't inquire about. Moreover, anyone who can spend so many spirit stones is definitely not simple. The sect is full of hidden dragons and tigers, and casually inquiring might cause trouble."

Although Xie Ruolan was curious, Wang Chen was right. Especially for a female cultivator like her with no major background, she had to be cautious at every step. She nodded and said, "You did well."

Hearing Xie Ruolan's praise, Wang Chen smiled and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Senior Sister Xie, there's something I want to tell you!"

"What is it?" Xie Ruolan frowned slightly at his hesitant look.

"It's like this, my cultivation has reached the peak of the Ninth Level of the Qi Condensation stage, so I want to break through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation stage!" Wang Chen spoke his thoughts.

Xie Ruolan's divine sense swept over Wang Chen, and she found that what he said was indeed true. After a moment's thought, she nodded and said, "Alright, here is a bottle of Intermediate Qi Condensation Pills, which will be very helpful for you to break through to the Great Perfection. You're not yet thirty, right? If you reach the Great Perfection before thirty, you don't need to take an exam to enter the inner sect. I hope you can help me in the inner sect in the future!"

Hearing this, Wang Chen was overjoyed, but he still didn't reach out for the Intermediate Qi Condensation Pills, smiling, "The Intermediate Qi Condensation Pills are also very important to you. I have already prepared for the breakthrough, so it's better for you to keep them, Senior Sister."

"Intermediate Qi Condensation Pills can be bought in the second-level market. Don't be so polite. Just remember, if you do well for me in the future, you will benefit. Especially when you enter the second level, an outer sect disciple needs to have some support to stand firm!" Xie Ruolan gave him a favor while also applying a bit of pressure.

"Of course, then I won't be so polite, Junior Brother will take it!" Wang Chen had some understanding of the inner sect situation. Hearing these words, he felt more at ease and accepted it.

"If you go to the inner sect, there will be no one to manage here. Before you close yourself off to break through to the Great Perfection, find someone to take over your work!" Xie Ruolan instructed.

"Thank you, Senior Sister. Give me a few days, and I'll find someone for you!" Wang Chen smiled and agreed.

Lin Haoming returned to his residence and immediately started cultivating.

A few days later, it was time for the monthly competition.

After receiving the spirit stones and pills from Ma Gaofeng, the two sides faced off at the entrance.

Situ Ping and Zhou Zhiye were naturally also there, as they would get a cut of the winnings if they won.

As expected, Zhou Zhiye looked at Lin Haoming with venomous eyes, clearly unwilling to let him off until he was dead.

However, with Situ Ping there, Lin Haoming didn't think the other side would dare to do anything. Moreover, according to the rules, he didn't have to participate this time. He had already made up his mind that no matter how the other side provoked him, he wouldn't show up.

While Lin Haoming was waiting for the competition to start, Li沧 suddenly walked out and directly threw a bag of spirit stones in front of Ma Gaofeng, saying, "Manager Ma, according to the rules, if I put up 100 spirit stones as a bet, I can choose anyone as my opponent. I want to challenge Lin Haoming!"

"What? There's such a rule?" Lin Haoming was startled. No one had ever told him about this rule.

Niu Wu laughed bitterly, "There is such a rule, but I've never seen anyone really put up 100 spirit stones since I've been here."

Lin Haoming knew that this was definitely not Li沧's idea, but Zhou Zhiye's. The spirit stones might even be from him. It seemed they were determined to see him dead!

"Alright, Li沧, you can fight Lin Haoming in the first match!" Ma Gaofeng looked at the spirit stones and agreed immediately.

Seeing Manager Ma agree, Lin Haoming cursed inwardly, "No wonder it's been calm for the past three months. They were all waiting for this day. Li沧 is at the Ninth Level of the Qi Condensation stage. They must be sure they can beat me!"

Lin Haoming looked at Situ Ping and found that he had no intention of speaking up. It was clear that this so-called Senior Brother Situ was completely unreliable.

"Before the match, I want to add a rule: no using talismans above the low-grade intermediate level. Otherwise, who would have such talismans, and what would be the point of the competition?" Zhou Zhiye said sarcastically after Situ Ping remained silent.

After he spoke, everyone looked at Situ Ping, waiting for him to object. But to everyone's surprise, Situ Ping still didn't say a word.

Seeing that he wouldn't help even now, Lin Haoming became even more annoyed with him. Wasn't he clearly ignoring him?

Lin Haoming's face turned grim, and he grabbed Niu Wu and asked quietly, "What's going on?"

Niu Wu was also puzzled. He was Lin Haoming's subordinate, so why wasn't Situ Ping doing anything? It was Tang Gaojun who whispered, "Did you visit Senior Brother Situ after the last competition?"

Hearing Tang Gaojun's words, Lin Haoming finally understood. It turned out that the pills and other things Situ Ping gave him last time were just a show, waiting for him to show gratitude. He had been so focused on cultivation that he completely ignored him, so now Situ Ping was ignoring him.

Thinking about this, Lin Haoming cursed Situ Ping for being greedy and untrustworthy, but no matter how much he cursed, the current situation was not easy to handle.

Li沧 had already walked out and looked at Lin Haoming with a cold smile, "Lin Haoming, don't hide. If you don't come out, hand over 100 spirit stones to redeem yourself! I saw you throw out high-grade talismans last time. Just give me two, and I'll let you off today!"

If it were the old Lin Haoming, he would have handed them over immediately if he had them. But for the current Lin Haoming, even if he had them, he wouldn't give them. Some things can be compromised, but some things cannot.

Ignoring everything, he took out the storage bag hidden in his chest, hung it on his waist, and said arrogantly, "I have spirit stones, but I won't give them to you. If you want to die, I'll send you to the netherworld right away. Do you dare to have a life-or-death duel with me?"

A life-or-death duel is a means for the sect to resolve internal conflicts. As disciples of the demonic sect, most of them are very murderous, and conflicts often lead to fights. To resolve conflicts, the sect has a rule that if both parties agree and there is a witness, they can have a life-or-death duel. Once the winner is decided, the conflict is resolved, and no one can use the same conflict to trouble the other party again. Moreover, the rules of the life-or-death duel stipulate that outer sect disciples can only fight other outer sect disciples, and inner sect disciples can only fight other inner sect disciples. The cultivation levels of the two parties can differ by at most one minor realm to prevent someone from deliberately using this method to kill their fellow disciples.

Although Li沧's cultivation was higher than Lin Haoming's, he was very angry at being forced into a life-or-death duel. He didn't think he would lose to such a young man, so he immediately agreed without much thought, "A life-or-death duel, then a life-or-death duel. I'm not afraid of you. What a joke!"

PS: The second chapter of today is a bit late. Everyone, please support! Throw your votes at me!