【Prompt】: The target's emotional fluctuation value exceeds 90, randomly obtaining the mortal-level technique "Basic Sword Technique: Slash."

【Prompt】: "Basic Sword Technique: Slash" obtained a critical hit, advancing to the profound-level technique "True Solution of Slash."

Ying Wuji: "......"

Long time no see!

He turned his head and looked at his personal maid.

"My Xiaobaizhi, you lost it again."

Baizhi was obviously the one with the greatest emotional fluctuation. She stared at Ying Wuji in a daze, feeling lost.

Ying Wuji rubbed her head. "What's wrong with you?"

Baizhi snapped out of her daze and hurriedly asked, "Young Master! I heard that in order to become a royal consort, the physical condition must be good. The princess will send a maid to test the consort's body. Is it true?"

Ying Wuji paused for a moment. "It seems like there is such a thing, but I am not an ordinary consort. This step should not be necessary..."

Baizhi clenched her tender fist. "Why does that maid have the right to do so?"

Ying Wuji: "......"

Baizhi looked worried. "Young Master, your health has always been poor. If she finds out, it will be bad. Can you talk to the princess and let me help you test it? We are on the same side, and I will definitely keep it a secret!"

Hua Chao: "......"

Luo Ming: "......"

Ying Wuji: "???"

He felt a bit embarrassed and cursed, "Damn it! That Gu Jiba thing said I can't do it? I fought in the brothel for three days and three nights. How could I not be able to do it?"

Luo Ming sighed. "That's the problem. They said your physical condition was still good, but it was ruined by those three days. It has been over a month, and you haven't even been to the brothel once. This is the best evidence!"

Ying Wuji: "???"

Luo Ming added, "They also said that you don't even need to explain. Which young man in this world doesn't enjoy the taste of women? You just experienced it, but you haven't been to the brothel for a month. Either you can't do it anymore, or you have had a great realization. But based on your recent performance, it doesn't seem like a great realization."

Ying Wuji: "???"

Now even Hua Chao was worried. "Wuji, your body..."

Ying Wuji became anxious. "My body is perfectly fine. Do you really have to force me to prove it?"

"Well, there's no need for that."

Hua Chao blushed, then worriedly said, "Actually, these rumors only affect one's reputation. The key is that many talents from other countries have come for the Hundred Families Gathering. If they all come looking for trouble..."

Ying Wuji had already realized that something was wrong and turned to Luo Ming. "Luo Ming! Besides the Wei family, I haven't offended anyone. Why is all the hatred directed at me?"

Luo Ming's expression was a bit strange. "Have you ever heard of Da Zhou's Bai Xiaosheng?"

"I have!"

Ying Wuji frowned slightly. This Bai Xiaosheng was a wanderer. He was born in the Yue Kingdom and traveled to various feudal states after the Yue Kingdom was destroyed. He had a good understanding of the political affairs and strange events of the feudal states.

In short, he was a human encyclopedia.

What he said should be believed by many people.

Luo Ming spread his hands. "He has also come to Jiangcheng. He said that although many talents from various countries have come for the Hundred Families Gathering, compared to you, they are all insignificant."

"Damn it!"

Ying Wuji cursed. There must be someone behind this person.

Just as the news of his marriage with the Li Kingdom's princess was announced, this talented person appeared on the first day, and rumors about his physical condition spread throughout Jiangcheng in just one afternoon.

The speed of spreading was like writing a short essay on Weibo about a celebrity's affair.

He asked, "Is it the Wei family?"

Luo Ming asked back, "Who else could it be?"

Hua Chao worriedly said, "Wuji! If they come to challenge you, you must not accept it. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet."

"Don't worry, I'm not stupid!"

Ying Wuji smiled. Regardless of whether he could defeat them or not, even if he could easily defeat them, if one after another came, he wouldn't have time to do anything else.

Baizhi was a bit puzzled. "Young Master! I feel like these people are so stupid. If we just ignore these rumors, wouldn't it be fine? Can these rumors really affect the marriage alliance?"

"Of course not!"

If these rumors could really affect the marriage between the Qian and Li Kingdoms, the courtiers would have already advised against it and clashed with Zhao Ji.

There was no other reason. They had no reason to stop the marriage between the two countries.

Baizhi was even more confused. "Then..."

Ying Wuji furrowed his brows slightly. "Actually, the alliance itself is not scary. There have been many historical alliances that were just empty talk. The key issue is the status of this marriage. If both the princess and I are unimportant figures in our respective countries, then this marriage is just a waste.

But if our statuses are high, it will affect the actions of the royal families of both countries. That's what they are afraid of.

By using these two rumors to tarnish my reputation, their methods may not be clever, but they are somewhat effective."

On the side, Luo Ming smiled. "That's an exaggeration, Brother Ying. You now have a big business in your hands. How can your status be affected by these rumors as long as you don't care about these false reputations..."

Ying Wuji interrupted him with a curse. "Who said I don't care about false reputations? I live for these false reputations! Just wait and see, I'll crush them!"

Hua Chao became anxious. "Didn't you just say..."

Ying Wuji waved his hand with a smile. "Of course, I won't foolishly fight them head-on. Just wait and see..."

Saying that, he walked to the desk.

He quickly wrote on two pieces of paper.

He handed them to Hua Chao. "Stick them on the door of the bookstore tomorrow!"

Everyone gathered around and looked at them for a while. Their brows furrowed more and more, but the corners of their mouths curved upwards.

In the end, they came to a conclusion.

"Brilliant!"Ying Wuji saw that Luo Ming was fine, so he pushed him out and said, "There's nothing else, you can go back first. I have something to talk to your sister."

"Hey hey hey!"

Luo Ming resisted desperately, but he was still pushed out of the door.

Ying Wuji turned his head and said, "Bai Zhi, you go back to your room too!"

"Ah?"

Bai Zhi was somewhat unwilling and glanced at the two of them sneakily. She asked in a low voice, "Young Master, could it be that you want to test your physical strength with Miss Hua Chao?"

Ying Wuji's face stiffened for a moment, and he rubbed her head into a mess and said, "Otherwise, should I test it with you?"

"I!"

The little maid pouted her neck. She originally wanted to say, "Let me test it," but she hesitated when the words reached her mouth.

She could only lower her head and leave in a sullen manner.

"Bang!"

The door closed.

Hua Chao's pretty face blushed slightly, but she also knew that Ying Wuji wouldn't do anything excessive to her. She took the initiative to ask, "What do you want to tell me?"

Ying Wuji sighed lightly, "Sister Hua Chao! What I'm about to say next may have a great impact on you. Be mentally prepared."

"Ah..."

Hua Chao pondered for a moment and nodded, "Go ahead!"

Ying Wuji no longer held back and told her everything about Hua Wanqiu, including his views on the matter and the words he scolded Luo Yan with in Chongli Palace.

Sure enough, after listening to the whole story, Hua Chao fell silent for a long time.

"Ah!"

She sighed lightly, her eyes filled with a hint of sadness. "No wonder I feel so familiar with her. I didn't expect that there would actually be some connection between her and my mother."

Ying Wuji's expression became serious, "You won't really be affected by this relationship, will you?"

Hua Chao shook her head and smiled, "How is that possible? You're right, this woman is just a person imagined by Luo Yan! She can't do what my mother can do. What she does, my mother can't do.

Moreover, she doesn't even have my mother's memories because she didn't provide enough essence from her heart. So, she and my mother are completely different people. How could I be affected?"

"Phew! That's good!"

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

Ying Wuji finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew that Hua Chao would definitely think this way, hearing her say it in person still gave him a sense of relief.

"But..."

Hua Chao sighed lightly, "She's so pitiful."

Ying Wuji nodded in agreement, without any objections to this conclusion.

A person...

It's unknown whether she can be called a person.

Let's just call her a life form with self-awareness, discovering her own existence, only to be a substitute for others.

Her appearance belongs to someone else.

Her family belongs to someone else.

She doesn't even have a past.

She can't even decide for herself who she likes and who she treats well.

And now she's locked up in the Minister's Mansion...

It's really miserable.

Ying Wuji felt a bit of pity, but he wouldn't do anything out of pity.

It's not like I caused this, what does it have to do with me?

After making sure that Hua Chao didn't have any psychological burden because of Hua Wanqiu, Ying Wuji finally relaxed and said, "I have something to do outside. If there's any danger, just call Bai Zhi!"

"Okay!"

Hua Chao smiled and nodded, without asking further. She knew that Ying Wuji had important matters to attend to, and as a family member, she shouldn't hold him back.

After leaving the study.

Ying Wuji stretched lazily. He didn't have much to worry about.

The business matters were settled, and the marriage alliance was almost confirmed. He was in a relaxed state of mind.

He just wanted to go and chat with the mysterious princess again...

But he didn't expect that when he went out, the little maid was blocking the door in the courtyard.

"Young Master!"

Bai Zhi was a bit annoyed. "Why is it that I closed the door for a moment, and when I came out, you're already getting married?"

Ying Wuji pouted, "That's because I'm clever. Otherwise, if you came out, I would probably only see you in prison."

Bai Zhi: "..."

She lowered her head slightly, her eyes slightly red.

When she was at the theater troupe today, she heard Hua Chao talk about a lot of things. She couldn't help but feel distressed when she knew how much suffering Ying Wuji had gone through.

She pouted her small mouth, "Young Master! It's because I'm too weak and can't protect you!"

"It's alright!"

Ying Wuji's heart softened, and he rubbed her head, speaking gently, "I didn't blame you. Besides, who in this world is absolutely safe? Even the lofty King Li worries every day about his own territory being taken away. As long as you think about protecting me, it's enough."

"Okay!"

Bai Zhi nodded, but she still felt a bit down.

Ying Wuji asked, "By the way! How is your cultivation of the Embryonic Transformation Technique going?"

Since the day he heard about it from Thirteenth Prince, he felt that it was appropriate to teach the Embryonic Transformation Technique to Bai Zhi.

Breaking through the Embryonic Shedding Realm would definitely bring back her demonic body.

If she could cultivate the Embryonic Transformation Technique, it would definitely reduce a lot of danger.

Bai Zhi had a hint of pride on her face, "I've achieved some success. It's just that I feel this technique is not very useful. Although it can restore the innate energy in my body, my energy was already close to innate..."

Ying Wuji: "..."

Damn, what kind of monster is this?

Although the Embryonic Transformation Technique is marketed as being able to transform easily, the truly terrifying thing is the innate energy.

But your energy was already close to innate?

And, it's only been a few days, and you've already achieved some success in a Earth-ranked technique.

You should know that among the Earth-ranked techniques, the difficulty of cultivation can be ranked in the upper-middle level.

"Having achieved some success is already enough. If you feel that it's not fun, then practice something else."Ying Wuji took out a small booklet from his pocket and handed it to Bai Zhi, saying, "Take a look! Practice whichever skill you find useful. You can continue to cultivate in seclusion during this period and try to practice more."

"Huh? Seclusion again?"

Bai Zhi was somewhat reluctant.

Ying Wuji's expression turned serious. "Something big might happen in a few days, and it could be dangerous."

Upon hearing the word "danger," Bai Zhi stopped complaining and went into seclusion with the booklet in her arms.

"Phew..."

Ying Wuji breathed a sigh of relief. The booklet was specially prepared for Bai Zhi, containing all the skills he had learned at the Earth Rank level.

It was to deal with Nangong Ling.

Although he had made up his mind not to have too much involvement with Nangong Ling, Nangong Ling's imposing arrival meant that he must be prepared for any tricks.

Moreover, this time he privately took out three Qi Talismans, in addition to the one he already had, making it a total of four.

According to Jiang Taiyuan, there was a chance to obtain the inheritance of the Saint of Arms in the bandit's tomb.

Such a great temptation, refusing to enter would only make him look suspicious.

He didn't want to enter the tomb.

But he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't enter.

"Phew..."

Ying Wuji shook his head and went straight out, heading towards the Siqi Palace.

He had just left for a short while when a carriage appeared at the entrance of Shangmo Bookstore.

"Brother Ying!"

"Brother Ying! Let's have a drink tonight since there's nothing to do!"

"Hey? Where's Brother Ying?"

Zhao Ning was in a good mood, but when he found out that Ying Wuji was not there, he felt disappointed.

In the past, there were countless political affairs waiting for him in the palace, and every time he left the palace, there was a time limit. The Queen even issued a strict order prohibiting her from drinking.

This time, with the support of the King, she not only could leave the palace, but also move out of the palace. She deliberately chose a place close to the bookstore so that she could talk to Ying Wuji every day and maybe hear some enlightening words.

And the Wei family's actions were not small. Those two rumors were quite annoying, and he could give her some countermeasures.

As a result, Ying Wuji was not there.

Zhao Ning looked at the sky and helplessly complained, "Going out at this late hour, could it be that he's interested in someone's wife and went to steal her?"

...

Siqi Palace.

Qingjiang Hall.

Before Ying Wuji emerged from the ground, he specifically looked at the color of the stone.

Good!

No one around!

Only then did he crawl out of the vegetable garden.

Li Caimei was originally staring at the moon absentmindedly, but when she saw Ying Wuji appear, she couldn't help but be startled. "You dare to come at this late hour!"

Although she had already guessed the transaction between Ying Wuji and Zhao Ning, it was still better to keep it low-key, right?

After all, she and Zhao Ning were nominally husband and wife. Wasn't she afraid that Zhao Ning would stay here overnight?

Ying Wuji shrugged. "Are you afraid of being seen by others?"

At this late hour.

It was not easy for King Li to come out of seclusion. He and the Queen were like newlyweds, how could they come to supervise a princess's cultivation?

Li Caimei asked back, "Aren't you afraid?"

Ying Wuji smiled and waved his hand. "It doesn't matter! I've already settled everything. Even if it's discovered, it doesn't matter. If it weren't for their face, I would have entered the palace through the main gate."

His father-in-law had even made a solemn vow, saying that all his daughters could marry.

Even if he discovered it, the guilty one should be him. He hid such a good daughter from him.

But when Li Caimei heard this, it sounded completely different to her.

This was too arrogant...

But when she thought about it, Zhao Ning had moved out of the palace for this reason, just to make room for Ying Wuji, right?

Thinking of this, she felt a little depressed. Although this was not coercion, she still felt like she was being traded.

She smiled bitterly. "That's true! You are now a great hero in my father's eyes. You can do whatever you want. Why do you need to ask for my opinion?"

"Hey! Don't think like that."

Ying Wuji felt that she was a bit emotional and said with a smile, "In a marriage, what matters is mutual affection. Even if it's a forced marriage, the married life won't be happy. Besides, it will also have an impact on your body."

To be honest, he had no intention of forcing a marriage.

Firstly, they had only met a few times, and although he admired her appearance and talent, her personality was not as arrogant as ordinary geniuses. But it was too early to say that he was deeply in love.

Secondly, her Jade Maiden Art was delicate. If she lost her virginity, her cultivation would be greatly affected, which would be a loss for the Li royal family. He and the Li royal family were on the same boat, and their loss would be his loss.

Third... there were more than just her as a marriage partner. Wasn't there "Zhao Ling"?

Speaking of "Zhao Ling," she was really good. Being with her was completely comfortable.

But there was one thing... she seemed to treat him like a brother. Although her true appearance was also very good, he always felt that something was missing.

Sigh!

It's hard to choose.

Li Caimei gave him a blank look. "You do think for others."

He really knew everything. The Li family's bloodline was like this. The nurturing of the fetus relied on the mother's vitality, especially for the Kun inheritance.

After the ancient ancestor gave birth to two sons, her profound cultivation almost completely disappeared. From being a powerful expert, she became an ordinary person.

Sigh!

Although Ying Wuji was a bit annoying, he was too straightforward.

Ying Wuji sat down on a stone stool without being polite. "When I interact with people, honesty is the most important thing. Anyway, you don't owe me, and I don't owe you. If we can get along, then great. If not, then forget it."

"You..."

Li Caimei laughed helplessly. This extreme honesty actually made him look a bit simple-minded.

She pursed her lips. "So, you're not indispensable to me?"

"I can't say that!"Ying Wuji sighed, feeling a bit dazed for a moment. "I just feel that many things now are pushing us towards a dangerous situation, forcing us to make choices for survival, including marriage, which is just a means to an end. But a family should always have some warmth. If there is a chance to marry for true love, why not take it?"

If it weren't for this terrible situation, he might have already proposed to Hua Chao.

But now, they could only interact as "family," and although their feelings were still good, it would be false to say that neither of them felt any discomfort.

But if he didn't choose a marriage alliance, he might have to face various terrible things.

Today it was Wei Teng, tomorrow it could be something even worse.

Forget about living peacefully, even survival itself was a problem, and he might not even make it to the day when he achieved great power.

As for "Zhao Ling" and the princess in front of him, they were both good, but their feelings were far from being in place.

Li Caimei: "..."

After listening to these words, her mood also became a bit low. It turned out that he also thought this way.

Ying Wuji smiled and waved his hand. "Since you're bored in the palace, come and chat with me."

And also to show off some skills.

Even if he couldn't marry her, it wouldn't be a loss to show off some skills.

He silently added in his mind.

"Um..."

After the conversation, Li Caimei no longer rejected him and smiled, saying, "Can you play the tune you played at the market last time for me again?"

Ying Wuji pursed his lips. "You still want to listen? I have a new one this time, I didn't play it for you last time."

Listening to a tune once can trigger a breakthrough.

The effect will be much worse the second time, and it won't trigger any skills!

"I want to listen to the market tune first!"

Li Caimei propped her cheek and felt that her tone sounded a bit like acting spoiled, so she quickly changed her tone. "A person shouldn't be too fond of new things and tired of old ones. Moreover, good tunes should not be forgotten."

Ying Wuji thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright! What about the pipa?"

"It's still in the same place!"

"Good!"

Ying Wuji got up and went into the house. The pipa was still on the table by the window, placed in a very conspicuous place.

But in the corner of the window, there seemed to be something extraordinary.

Cylindrical and long.

And broken.

With bloodstains on it.

"What the hell!"

Ying Wuji was a little surprised. "Isn't this the sugar-coated haws I bought a few days ago? How did it end up here with you?"

Li Caimei smiled through the window. "After Ji Su confessed, your trial ended. His Highness didn't want any changes, so he ordered all the evidence in this case to be destroyed. I found it interesting and took it back with me."

She did have some ulterior motives for bringing this thing back.

At that time, her reason for giving it to Zhao Ning was that seeing this sugar-coated haws would remind her of her childhood.

At that time, she thought she could fool Zhao Ning, but now she realized that Zhao Ning probably knew all along.

So she simply placed it on the windowsill, letting Zhao Ning know that she already knew, and she didn't have any special aversion to it.

"I see!"

Ying Wuji smiled and asked through the window, "Hey! Can I call you Tang Tang from now on?"

Li Caimei: "..."

To be honest, it was a bit cheesy and awkward.

In Li Caimei's words, how greasy of a man would it take to say such a cheesy thing.

But when she looked into Ying Wuji's eyes, she felt quite calm and didn't feel like he was intentionally playing awkward.

But she still asked, "Why call me that?"

Ying Wuji asked back, "What else should I call you? Your real name?"

Jokingly, you haven't even told me your name.

Li Caimei: "..."

So he didn't want to call me by my real name. Does he also know that I dislike my identity as a member of the Li family?

Sigh! Why does Zhao Ning tell him everything?

She pursed her lips and was about to agree directly, but changed her mind before the words came out. "Then tell me, were you originally planning to give me this sugar-coated haws?"

Ying Wuji naturally said, "Of course!"

Finally, a smile appeared at the corner of Li Caimei's mouth, and her voice became much softer. "You can call me that if you want!"

"Hey!"

Ying Wuji smiled and then returned to the courtyard with the pipa in his arms. He asked with a smile, "Still want to listen to the market tune?"

"Yes!"

Li Caimei nodded. It wasn't that "Market" was the best tune she had ever heard, but it was the tune that could best fill the void in her heart.

Perhaps only in the market in her memories could she temporarily forget the coldness and loneliness of the deep palace.

Any other tune would not have the same effect.

After the tune ended, a wave of attribute points burst out.

But no skills were triggered.

Ying Wuji smiled. "Can I play a new tune now?"

Li Caimei propped her cheek and her beautiful eyes carried a faint smile. "I still want to listen to 'Market'!"

"Let me play a new one. I guarantee it will be as good as 'Market'!"

"I don't believe it!"

"I insist on playing!"

Ying Wuji became anxious. Aren't you stopping me from triggering skills? This tune, 'Joyful Melody,' can also have the same effect on you!

So, despite Li Caimei's ineffective resistance, Ying Wuji played 'Joyful Melody' once.

At first, Li Caimei was a bit disappointed, but soon she became captivated again. In the cheerful melody of 'Joyful Melody,' she seemed to be back in her childhood, stealing bird eggs with her sister.

【Hint】: Target's emotional fluctuation value exceeds 90, randomly obtain the Earth-ranked spell "Thirty-Six Techniques of Heavenly Gang: Mastering the Five Thunders."

Damn!

Ying Wuji was overjoyed. Thunder magic! This was the ultimate move that all cultivators dreamed of!

As a Thunder Master, one could control heavenly demons and capture them; as an Earth Thunder Master, one could control rain and pray for clear skies, regulating the earth's energy; as a Water Thunder Master, one could control thunder to bring rain and relieve droughts; as a Divine Thunder Master, one could control the Five Elements Divine Thunder, thus mastering killing and destruction; as a Social Thunder Master, one could control ancient artifact spirits and suppress the original qi.

Although it is a ground-level spell, it is already close to the heavenly level in some aspects.

It is absolutely no problem to call Nanbo Wan, a ground-level spell.

For a moment, Ying Wuji almost laughed out loud.

Li Caimei couldn't help but say when she saw his appearance, "Why are you laughing so exaggeratedly?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Ying Wuji quickly waved his hand, "I just remembered something happy!"

"Look how proud you are!"

Li Caimei lightly spat, but couldn't help but slightly raise the corners of her mouth.

It turns out that just making me happy can make him so happy!

She looked at Ying Wuji holding the pipa and couldn't help but have a thought:

It doesn't seem so bad.

...

The next morning.

Ying Wuji slept until the sun was high before getting up. Yesterday, he only released the "Mastering the Five Thunders" and was then asked by Tang Tang to play the market and Huan Qin several times. He played until late at night before he was allowed to go back.

This young man is really energetic, and he really tired himself out.

But the gains were quite substantial. He earned a lot of Thunder techniques, and even if he didn't release any skills, he gained nearly a thousand attribute points.

And... he found that Tang Tang is really nice.

With such high talent and status, she hardly has any arrogance. She can actually make him happy just by playing two songs.

This should be related to her being confined in the palace for many years. It's quite pitiful to think about it...

After washing up casually, he went out.

But unexpectedly, there was a guy guarding the door. As soon as he saw Ying Wuji going out, he hurriedly greeted him anxiously, "Young Master! Something big happened!"

"What's the big deal?"

"There are many people outside who heard that you are talented in both literature and martial arts, and they want to learn from you. They also said they want to crowdfund to find a divine doctor to give Da Zhou Baixiaosheng a pair of dog eyes so that he can see people more clearly."

"..."

"Young Master! Do you want to go out? The bookstore is not open yet, and they won't wait any longer before smashing the door."

"..."

Ying Wuji felt a bit annoyed. He didn't know why these young people were so aggressive and couldn't even withstand a little provocation.

But thinking about it, it's also because the lords of the world are in constant conflict, and it's the stage for the truly strong.

The probability of geniuses dying young is too high. After dying young, they can no longer be called geniuses. Only when you become a truly strong person do you have the qualifications to be remembered by others. So there are basically no official institutions that rank geniuses, which is quite annoying for the geniuses.

Therefore, the rankings given by Da Zhou Baixiaosheng, who has a broad knowledge, are quite well-known.

And this Hundred Schools Gathering is originally a good opportunity for young talents from all walks of life to make a name for themselves. It's a perfect time to provoke hatred. Once provoked, it's accurate.

"Just wait a moment!"

Ying Wuji smiled and calmly went back to his room to take out two pieces of paper and handed them over, "Stick them on the front door and I'll go back to sleep!"

"Hey..."

The guy was a little anxious, but he couldn't stop him, so he could only sigh.

The situation outside is much more difficult than he described.

These young talents from various countries and sects are all proud, and most of them are relatively restrained. They just want to see if Young Master Wuji is just a name.

But there are still some arrogant or foolish ones who are clamoring at the door, saying that Ying Wuji is a coward for not daring to fight.

Losing a battle is a small matter, but losing one's integrity is a big deal!

Can these two pieces of paper really stop them?

...

Outside the gate of Shangmo Bookstore.

There are more than thirty young people from various countries and sects gathered here.

Although this is one of the busiest areas in Jiangcheng, it is still unusual for so many people to gather here in the morning, attracting the attention of many passersby.

"Why are so many people buying books early in the morning?"

"Why hasn't Shangmo Bookstore opened yet? Are they going out of business?"

"Hey! Don't you know? Young Master Wuji... no! Our son-in-law is in trouble!"

"Oh? Tell me!"

"It's like this, blah blah blah..."

"I see! But it seems that the son-in-law doesn't intend to fight back?"

"It seems so!"

"The big guy from Flame Kingdom scolded him so badly. If he doesn't fight back, it's really pathetic."

"Actually, I'm more curious if the son-in-law is really incapable. Isn't he letting the princess become a widow?"

The young talents who challenged Ying Wuji were tired, but the discussions among the passersby became more and more intense.

Most of them had no intention of leaving and were staring at the gate of Shangmo Bookstore.

They wanted to see if Ying Wuji was really just a name.

In a teahouse diagonally opposite.

In one of the elegant rooms facing the street, several young people dressed in luxurious clothes and extraordinary demeanor were sitting.

"It seems that the Wei family is really anxious. They can even use such insidious tricks and deceive so many fools to come and block the door."

A young man in green clothes smiled and said, with a hint of sarcasm in his words.

Wei Meng sneered, "Among these many fools, you should also be included, otherwise why would you come here so early in the morning? Am I right, Tian Wenjing?"

The young man in green clothes is named Tian Wenjing, an elite student from the Legalist School sent by the Qi Kingdom to the Hundred Schools Gathering.

The Tian family is almost overshadowing the Jiang surname in the Qi Kingdom, which is nominally the Jiang surname. Therefore, he cannot have the title of a young master.

Tian Wenjing is not angry either, "I just came to watch the show. Does that mean I have become part of the show just by watching it? Isn't that right, Xiang Monkey?"

"You wild bastard, your mouth really stinks!"

Xiang Ding snorted coldly, not holding back his insults at all.

With just one word, "wild bastard," Xiang Ding managed to provoke Tian Wenjing, "Who are you calling a wild bastard?"

Xiang Ding glanced at him, "Who doesn't have a legitimate mother, is a wild bastard.""You really have no manners when speaking. Are all the descendants of the noble families in the Kingdom of Chu like this?"

"You're so full of yourself when you speak, but when others speak, you can't handle it. And you say others have no manners?"

"You!"

Tian Wenjing sneered, "Did I say something wrong? If it weren't for Mi Xingli stopping you earlier, I'm afraid you would be the only one standing outside the bookstore."

Xiang Ding looked at him disdainfully, "Huh! We barbarians do enjoy joining in the fun, but does that mean you're a wild bastard? Some people come from humble backgrounds and suddenly find themselves benefiting from being the son of Tian Weihou. It's inevitable that they become arrogant and look down on others.

But you better wake up. This is not your Kingdom of Qi, where everyone spoils you!

Everything you have now is not because of your profound knowledge of the Fa family, but because Tian Weihou slept with your mother!"

"You! You!"

Tian Wenjing's face turned as red as a pig's liver. In Qi, no one had ever spoken to him like Xiang Ding, without any restraint. This was the first time he had encountered such a person.

Lies don't hurt, only the truth does.

He pointed at Xiang Ding, his lips trembling with anger. "Your Kingdom of Chu is truly a barbaric land."

Xiang Ding sneered, "I've already said it before, I am a barbarian. What can you do about it?"

As he spoke, he flexed his muscular body.

"Xiang Ding! Don't embarrass yourself anymore."

The woman next to him, with a cold and beautiful appearance, wearing a Daoist robe, finally couldn't help but speak. Her figure was extremely voluptuous, and if it weren't for the robe being wide enough, it probably wouldn't be able to cover her properly.

Although Xiang Ding was a little unwilling, he could only nod and say, "Yes, Princess!"

The woman corrected him, "Don't call me Princess, call me Lady!"

She was Mi Xingli, the one mentioned by Tian Wenjing. She was the most beloved daughter of the King of Chu and also a representative figure of the younger generation of the Fa family in Chu.

Seeing that Xiang Ding didn't change his words and didn't give him a hard time, Mi Xingli shook her head and asked, "Wei Meng, tell us! Why did you invite us here?"

Although many young talents had come to watch the excitement today, Wei Meng had only invited a few of them, so there must be something he wanted to say.

Wei Meng composed himself and said, "You should have all heard about the recent situation in our Wei family. Ying Wuji had already been acquitted, and we didn't want to pursue it further. But unexpectedly, he publicly boasted that he deliberately killed our brother, Wei Teng!"

Tian Wenjing sneered, "So what if he killed Wei Teng? When your Wei family causes trouble and bullies others, you can't handle it when your own people are killed?"

"Hmph!"

Xiang Ding made a sound from his nose, expressing his disdain for Wei Meng.

Wei Meng's face didn't look good, but he didn't explain anything about this matter. "The key to this matter is the attitude of the King of Li towards Ying Wuji. Even though Ying Wuji is so arrogant, he still protects him and even facilitated the marriage alliance between Li and Qian.

And at yesterday's court meeting, he even intimidated all the officials and took over the power of examining and selecting officials in the country. Can't you see the determination of the King of Li to reform and ally with Qian?

Lady! During the nearly hundred years of struggle between Li and Chu, Li has suffered a lot from Qian.

Tian Wenjing! Although your Kingdom of Qi is also a great kingdom, are you willing to just watch the Kingdom of Li reform and grow stronger?"

Hearing this, both Tian Wenjing and Xiang Ding had unpleasant expressions on their faces.

This was indeed not a good sign.

Although Li had rarely been involved in wars in the past hundred years, its strength was well known throughout the world. If they were to reform and grow stronger, and form a good alliance with Qian, the momentum...

But Mi Xingli shook her head and smiled, "You're exaggerating too much! Everyone knows that reform can make a country stronger, but besides Qian, who has truly succeeded? Even Chu has only halfway reformed, and your Li and Han families are not easily successful in reform either.

Besides, is Qian really afraid of your Li? On the surface, you say that Qian and Li are friendly nations, but how many obstacles has your Li secretly created for Qian? Qian's rise is not easy, and the difficult situation is caused by your Li. How could it be changed by a mere marriage?"

It's obviously your Wei family that fears the alliance between the Zhao royal family and Qian and wants to drag our Qi and Chu nations into it!

This method is really not clever!"

Wei Meng's face didn't look good. He didn't expect Mi Xingli, an outsider, to analyze the situation of the Wei family so clearly and quickly. No wonder everyone in Chu called her Lady. She was indeed extraordinary.

Xiang Ding's expression eased a bit. "I wondered why you, Wei Xiong, were so afraid of your own country's rise. So you're playing this little trick. I have interacted with Ying Wuji, and he is not as legendary as Bai Xiaosheng described.

Although he has good literary talent, he doesn't understand politics, and he is covered in the smell of copper. When he killed Wei Teng, although he had considerable strength and a cruel nature, he was also arrogant and boastful. Just for the sake of a woman, he became the target of public criticism.

He is nothing more than a rash man with a bit of cleverness, not worth worrying about. Even if the alliance between Qian and Li really goes smoothly, this marriage will at most enhance the reputation of your Qian-Li friendship. It's too early to join forces and intimidate the world.

You're feeling guilty and want to suppress Ying Wuji. You can do it yourself. I think the effect today is quite good, right?

A good person has been forced to become a cowardly turtle by all of you!"

Mi Xingli nodded slightly. Although her views were somewhat different from Xiang Ding's, they were generally consistent. She thought it was fortunate that the members of the Xiang family were educated strictly, so Xiang Ding didn't become a muscle-headed fool.

She just gave him a little reminder, and he was able to react.

Wei Meng shook his head helplessly and had to give up.

"Such poor rhetoric may deceive the fools, but it's not enough to deceive us."Tian Wenjing sneered, noticing Wei Meng's face turning even more unsightly. He quickly shifted his gaze to the bookstore, "I think this Ying Wuji is nothing special. He doesn't deserve such a big name. Just a couple of rumors have scared him into hiding."

But just then.

"Creak!"

The door of Shangmo Bookstore opened.

However, it wasn't Ying Wuji who came out, but a shop assistant.

"We want to challenge Ying Wuji, what's the point of you, an assistant, coming out? Is Ying Wuji too scared to show up?"

Someone immediately grumbled.

The assistant was unfazed, and immediately had a piece of paper posted next to the door.

He held another piece of paper in his hand, cleared his throat, "I'm here to deliver a message on behalf of the young master: Baixiaosheng was right, the young master is indeed a master of both literature and martial arts. But if he has to accept every single challenge, when will he have time for his own affairs?

The young master knows that you all consider yourselves great talents in both literature and martial arts, but in front of the young master, you are nothing but chickens and dogs.

If you want to challenge the young master, please prove your strength first!

The young master is the number one fighter below the Fetal Metamorphosis Realm, single-handedly defeating dozens of strong fighters in the Fetal Metamorphosis Realm. If you want to fight with the young master, go and challenge a dozen or so masters in the Fetal Metamorphosis Realm without dying first. Remember, this includes six sixth-grade spirit fetuses, don't forget.

If you want to challenge the young master in literature, accept a question from the young master. If you can solve it within a quarter of an hour, the young master wouldn't mind having a discussion with you.

If you can't solve it within a quarter of an hour, don't even think about entering the bookstore."

Ignoring the provoked crowd whose faces were red and necks thick, the assistant cleared his throat and added the last sentence: "My mother doesn't allow me to play with idiots."

Everyone present: "......"

Mi Xingli: "......"

Tian Wenjing: "......"

Wei Meng: "......"

Xiang Ding: "......"

Not allowed to play with idiots?

Who's the idiot here?

For a moment, the whole place was in an uproar.

(End of the chapter)