Arrogance

This tantalizing gimmick is something many men dream of.

Li Miao could easily tell that the words were directed at him. Yet such a thing was something he would never do. Not to mention he had Guo’er by his side, even if he were traveling alone, he would never so easily entangle himself with a woman he’d never met.

Such self-discipline was the habit of a transcendent warrior—never to be changed lightly!

He watched with a smile, unmoved.

After a while, He Tianxiang couldn’t help but ask, “Master Liu, can you declare me the winner now?”

Liu Xuanfeng looked a bit frustrated.

He stepped onto the stage and said, “Right now, Brother He is the second strongest here. If the strongest among us does not make a move, I’ll declare him the winner.”

This time, his intentions were clear—he was obviously provoking Li Miao to join the contest.

His gaze fixed directly on the edge of the rooftop, drawing everyone’s attention.

He Tianxiang, who was waiting to be named champion, was agitated by those words. Being called the second-best made him unhappy; his eyes were hostile, as if to say, “If you dare make a move, I’ll fight you to the death.”

Li Miao couldn’t help but laugh.

He Tianxiang clearly didn’t know him, unaware that he was the “honored guest” of the Hundred Herbs Sect, and his fighting spirit was fierce.

But Li Miao had no intention to fight!

Firstly, the opponent was too weak—unworthy of a contest. Secondly, he didn’t want to win the championship and get involved with Green Jade Pavilion, inviting trouble.

Everyone was watching him, waiting for his response.

He Tianxiang provoked further, “We’re all in the same game, stop pretending—come down and fight!”

“Yeah, come down and fight!”

“Let’s see who’s really stronger—show your true skills!”

“Don’t chicken out, take him on!”

A cluster of spectators stirred up trouble, egging him on.

Li Miao paid them no mind.

Guo’er tilted her head, looking at him in confusion, and asked, “Uncle, they’re calling you down, why aren’t you answering?”

Li Miao flicked her little forehead, laughing and scolding, “You little rascal, how can you help others pressure your uncle into becoming a customer here?”

He said to those below, “I’m just here for the spectacle. I have no interest in this so-called Lady Qi or any dual cultivation. If you won’t fight, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, he picked up Guo’er, about to jump down from the rooftop.

His words enraged many, especially He Tianxiang, who shouted, “You brat! How arrogant!”

“Take this!”

He stomped his foot and soared into the air, crossing several yards in a single leap. His right fist, charged with tangible energy, smashed toward Li Miao.

Li Miao curled his lip.

“Does watching a fight mean you get hit these days?”

He shifted slightly, moving Guo’er to his left arm. His right hand opened, palm ready to meet the aggressive punch.

He Tianxiang wasn’t a body cultivator, but his punch containing ninth-level Qi refinement was formidable—if it landed, the rooftop would be shattered.

But unfortunately, his opponent was Li Miao!

Fist met palm, and He Tianxiang immediately felt his tiger-like punch sinking into a swamp. Li Miao’s palm seemed to have infinite suction, not only dissolving his attack but also absorbing all the force that escaped.

“How is this possible?”

He Tianxiang was shocked, twisting his waist and lifting his foot for another attack.

But Li Miao was faster. After dissolving the punch, he pushed forward, his palm softly pressing against his opponent’s chest, sending him back with gentle force.

The figure in coarse robes flew backward, landing on the stage, stumbling several steps before regaining his balance. Meanwhile, the man on the rooftop stood firm as a rock, even the surrounding tiles unscathed.

The difference was immediately clear.

Li Miao chuckled, “Good thing I learned the art of force redirection. Otherwise, getting hit would be minor, but if the eaves broke, someone would have to pay for it.”

The crowd below was dumbstruck.

He Tianxiang’s name was familiar to many—they knew he was a renowned expert in Wu’an Town.

Yet this expert was casually defeated by an unknown young man!

Although their exchange was brief and neither fought with full strength, discerning eyes could see the gap—their abilities were not even on the same level. He Tianxiang was completely outmatched.

“Who is he?”

“Which sect does this young genius come from?”

“Could he be a core disciple of one of the three great sects, out on his travels?”

Many speculated quietly.

On the stage, He Tianxiang stared at his hands in disbelief, his face full of defeat.

“I lost…” he muttered, spirit crushed, stepping down.

Liu Xuanfeng smiled ambiguously, not stopping him, but instead looked at Li Miao from afar.

“Friend, your cultivation is profound and your bearing far surpasses ours. Might you tell us your name so all may know you?”

“You flatter me. I am Li Miao, a lone cultivator.”

As soon as the words “lone cultivator” left his lips, the crowd stirred, many whispering in surprise.

A lone cultivator, practicing independently, usually lacked the resources available to sect disciples, and their progress tended to be slower.

But his cultivation was not only not weaker than his peers—it was even stronger. That meant his talent must be extraordinary.

More importantly, he had no affiliation, making him a potential recruit for any sect or faction!

Liu Xuanfeng’s face lit up with delight. “Brother Li, a pleasure. Since you’ve won the martial championship, the opportunity for dual cultivation with Lady Qi this month is yours. If you don’t mind, please come to Green Jade Pavilion for a drink and to discuss the matter further.”

Li Miao was stunned.

He blurted out, “Ha? What did you say? Me? Dual cultivation? You… Are you all just playing the rogue here?”

“Eh? Brother Li, what do you mean?”

Liu Xuanfeng asked, puzzled.

Li Miao, half amused and half exasperated, said, “I said I’m not interested. It was the Hundred Herbs Sect’s young fellow who came to stir up trouble. He attacked me—I couldn’t just stand there, could I? But as soon as I casually defended myself, he surrendered! I didn’t even step onto the stage, and you’re declaring me the winner—isn’t that playing tricks on me?”

He was annoyed and amused.

Had he known these people were so childish, he wouldn’t have come to watch. Now, being stared at by everyone, he’d become the center of attention—quite embarrassing.

The crowd below was baffled, not understanding his reaction.

Others would be eager to outshine the crowd and seize the championship. Yet he, clearly capable of winning, seemed desperate to avoid it?

The coveted “dual cultivation with Lady Qi” opportunity, he shunned as if it were plague.

“Is he a fool?”

People wondered to themselves.

Liu Xuanfeng picked up on his meaning and hurried to explain, “My friend, I think you may have misunderstood our Green Jade Pavilion.”

“Misunderstood? How so?”

“This…”

Liu Xuanfeng looked embarrassed, lips moving slightly, and a voice transmitted directly to Li Miao’s ear: “Brother Li, you may have the wrong impression. Green Jade Pavilion is not an ordinary pleasure house. While… well, while it has some of that, at least Lady Qi and the other leading courtesans are pure. They practice the Lesser Yin technique, their internal energy gentle. Dual cultivation with them benefits men—ordinary folk can prolong life, cultivators can advance their Dao. It’s not the carnal thing you imagine.”

This was spoken through a voice transmission art, so none else could hear.

Li Miao listened, silent for a moment, realizing he’d misunderstood.

Liu Xuanfeng had just said Lady Qi was a ninth-level Qi refinement cultivator, at the same level as He Tianxiang. Such a woman, even among top sects, would be considered a promising talent. How could she debase herself in a brothel, selling her body?

This so-called “dual cultivation” was not as depraved as he imagined—rather, it was an unusual form of cultivation.

He felt his earlier reaction was excessive, a bit embarrassed.

However…

Even knowing this, he would not accept the so-called “dual cultivation.”

Because until he fully understood this world, he didn’t want to entangle himself too deeply with others.

Others needed dual cultivation to quickly increase their power—he did not.

With triple his previous cultivation speed, even if he slacked off daily, he could grow strong rapidly, with no need for shortcuts!

He nodded and said, “In that case, let this opportunity go to those who need it. I have other matters to attend to—I’ll take my leave.”

With that, he moved, jumping from the upper floor, heading north with Guo’er.

“Eh?” Liu Xuanfeng was stunned.

For all his experience with people, he hadn’t expected that even after a thorough explanation, the other party would still leave without hesitation.

He couldn’t help thinking: Does this man have a powerful background, so he cares nothing for the nourishment of Lesser Yin? Yet he didn’t seem like it—if he did, how could he have appeared so down-and-out at first…

Liu Xuanfeng frowned, unable to figure it out.

At that moment, a gentle voice suddenly came from Green Jade Pavilion, tinged with a trace of annoyance.

“You smashed my place and now intend to leave just like that?”

Whoosh~

The wind stirred.

Two red silks shot from the embroidered window on the second floor, arching over the crowd, chasing after Li Miao!

“Lady Qi!”

“Lady Qi!”

Many exclaimed in unison.

The red silks were long—seemingly endless. One end remained in the window, the other had already reached behind Li Miao, dozens of meters away.

But they were not meant for attack, instead looping left and right around two street poles, forming a floating red bridge.

Then, from the embroidered window, a figure like crimson clouds soared, gliding along the silks.

She was a woman in her early twenties, dressed in a vermilion gauze gown, tall with a slender willow waist, her features exquisitely gentle—memorable at a glance.

The men below craned their necks, eager to pierce the silks with their gaze for a full view.

Her jade feet bare, she stepped lightly as a dragonfly, crossing to the end of the street, pausing atop the final length of red silk.

“If you won’t give me an explanation, you won’t leave today!”

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of annoyance, yet pleasant to the ear.

Li Miao turned, seeing Lady Qi standing as light as a swallow on the red silk, half a yard above ground, swaying gently in the breeze. Her hands formed obscure gestures—perhaps maintaining her agility, perhaps preparing for him.

He laughed lightly and replied, “An explanation? Simple. Everyone saw clearly—I was only here for the spectacle, with no intention to interfere. It was your Master Liu who set me up, provoking He Tianxiang to challenge me, forcing me to respond.”

“It was you who forced me to strike, and now you accuse me? Is Wu’an Town owned by Green Jade Pavilion—does your word rule all?”

With a few words, he laid the matter bare.

The truth was so—only because everyone assumed spectators were eager for dual cultivation, did they interpret his actions as “disrupting the event.” Unaware that the world was vast, not everyone fit their assumptions.

“This…”

Lady Qi was momentarily speechless, but soon insisted, “Regardless, you must stay today.”

“And if I don’t?” Li Miao replied.

His answer came from Liu Xuanfeng.

“Rules cannot be broken—unless you defeat me.”

Liu Xuanfeng’s figure flashed, appearing at the opposite end of the street, blocking the way. His white jade prayer beads rolled, mid-stage Condensed Essence energy radiating, white robe fluttering without wind.

It seemed a fight was inevitable.

“Fine. If you want a fight, I’ll play along.”

Li Miao shrugged, unconcerned, as if he didn’t take his mid-stage Condensed Essence opponent seriously.

He casually took out his cold steel warblade, resting it on his shoulder. He said to Guo’er, “Little one, you’ll be a cultivator someday. From today, uncle will teach you to fight.”

“Mm.”

Guo’er nodded and obediently ran aside to take cover, freeing him to act without worry.

“Hmph, arrogant.”

No sooner had Guo’er moved than Lady Qi struck first.

With a flick of her red sleeves, two beams of energy shot through the air. The spells she’d been preparing burst forth, three violet needles forming in the void, shooting like lightning.

Li Miao remained calm, gene energy surging throughout his body, his mountain-and-river-level strength fully unleashed. He shattered the incoming energy and even stalled the magic needles for a moment, sweeping them aside with his blade.

Prepared as he was, a ninth-level Qi refinement cultivator posed no threat!

Seeing his dominance, Lady Qi faltered, her next spell held in check, hesitant to attack.

But the other opponent was not so simple.

Liu Xuanfeng’s scholarly aura vanished, replaced by intense yin energy. His right hand manipulated the white jade beads, left hand forming gestures, eyes focused, summoning dozens of razor-sharp winds from all directions.

His mid-stage Condensed Essence cultivation was a level above the Guo brothers; these blades rivaled their ice-fire sword energy—taking such a hit would be dangerous.

Li Miao wasn’t so confident as to withstand spells head-on. He swiftly took three steps, dodging the nearest blades, activated his Splitting Arm Gauntlet’s shield, shattered several spells, and charged toward the white-clad youth at the street’s mouth.