“Yes, Grandpa! People like Wang Chongyan and Zhou Xingchen have controlled the Southeast Asian magical arts world for far too long. We must show them the unique skills of Hong Kong Island! Beat them so badly they’ll be crawling on the ground looking for their teeth!” The girl waved her delicate fist valiantly.
“Wang Chongyan does have real skill. He was already a martial arts grandmaster during the Republic of China era, and then absorbed Nanyang magical arts to fuse into his own. He’s one of the few in this world who cultivates both magic and martial arts!”
When Wang Chongyan was mentioned, a hint of seriousness appeared on Xu Mozhai’s face. Then he said with a disdainful smile:
“But as for Zhou Xingchen… heh heh… his position as the number one master of the Nanyang Talisman School should be coming to an end!”
“Grandpa, do you mean that besides Wang Chongyan, there are other masters in this world who cultivate both magic and martial arts?”
The girl in the Taoist robe asked curiously.
“Of course!”
Xu Mozhai’s tone was deep and full of regret as he said: “China is the true source of magical arts. Whether it’s the orthodox Pill Cauldron School, Talisman School, Finger Mysticism, He-Luo School, or the heretical paths like Gu poison, soul detention, and ghost raising—they all once flourished. It was only the historical movement to destroy the Four Olds and the catastrophe that followed that dealt a devastating blow to magical arts…”
A look of reverence appeared on his face as he continued: “But throughout history, Ye Tianren and several others who were half-step Divine Realm in martial arts were all geniuses who cultivated both magic and martial arts. Their words carried the weight of law, their spoken words became truth! Back then, Wang Chongyan was so mighty, yet he was nothing more than a defeated opponent of Ye Tianren!”
“Are they still alive?” The girl in the Taoist robe asked curiously.
“They have already withdrawn from the world. It’s even hard to say whether they’re alive or dead!” The old man sighed.
“Grandpa, everything you’ve said is history. Just now you were clearly talking about the present, and that’s what I asked about too!” The girl in the Taoist robe pouted, somewhat dissatisfied.
“Alright, alright, Grandpa will tell you. In this present age, there is still one person who cultivates both magic and martial arts…”
A trace of affection appeared on Xu Mozhai’s face as he stroked the girl’s head.
Then, his expression became incomparably solemn as he said slowly, almost word by word:
“The peerless genius who crushed Wei Shuofeng, the number one master of China’s Southern School of magical arts—Jiang Taichu!”
……
Hilton Hotel.
A silver-gray extended Bentley drove in. Jiang Tian, accompanied by the Red Leaf Daoist Xu Wenjie, stepped into a presidential suite.
“Master Jiang has arrived!”
As soon as Jiang Tian entered, all the figures of the Southern School of Feng Shui and Mystic Arts stood up to applaud and welcome him, their faces full of joy, like grassroots employees greeting a top leader coming for inspection.
“Everyone, sit down!”
Jiang Tian sat down and said with a smile: “Two or three months of continuous collection work—everyone has worked hard!”
Jiang Tian now felt more and more favorably toward these martial artists and practitioners, and they were becoming easier and easier to use.
Although their cultivation could not compare to his, every one of them was loyal and devoted, racking their brains. They had collected all those strange and rare formation materials. Especially Huo Qingtian and the other two, who had even found information about the Emperor’s Daughter Flower.
“It’s no trouble at all, no trouble at all!”
Being acknowledged by Jiang Tian, everyone felt greatly encouraged, their blood boiling with excitement.
It could be said that their admiration for Jiang Tian had deepened even further. In the battle at Mount Everest, Jiang Tian had crushed many powerful figures from Southeast Asia, even killing the Celestial Master Oye La Qinglian.
Looking across the globe, how many people could compete with Jiang Taichu? Being able to serve Master Jiang was truly a blessing earned over several lifetimes.
Now, “a running dog under Taichu’s banner” had almost become an honorary title.
“Master Jiang, tomorrow there happens to be an auction of magical tools and magical tool materials at the Millennium Hotel. This is the catalog of auction items…”
The Red Leaf Daoist presented a beautifully bound catalog and said respectfully.
“Good!” Jiang Tian lazily flipped through it.
But in truth, he didn’t hold out much hope.
True magical tools would be kept as family heirlooms by major powers and masters—they would absolutely never be put up for auction.
Jiang Tian’s visit this time was only partly for the auction. More importantly, he was here to seize things from the Singapore Chinese Association.
Anyway, the grudge had already been formed. A battle was inevitable sooner or later, so it was better to strike first.
If they did not submit, he would slaughter them all without mercy. If they submitted loyally, he would spare their lives.
Sure enough, the catalog only contained some old sandalwood prayer beads, a horsetail whisk, a jade ruyi scepter, a high monk’s relic bone, and the like. They might possess some magical power, but they absolutely could not be considered top-tier magical tools.
“Hmm, there’s a fragment of a map here?”
Jiang Tian’s heart stirred.
This map fragment had text and pattern styles completely consistent with the copy of the Immortal Ruins fragment he had seen at the old man’s place. Part of its jagged edges could even match up.
“Unnamed map fragment, material is animal hide, era unknown, author unknown… but it has slight magical fluctuations. Auction price: three million Singapore dollars!”
Three million Singapore dollars, converted at the exchange rate, was about twelve million RMB. To Jiang Tian, it was nothing but pocket change.
“Hmm, tomorrow, I’ll go with you!” Jiang Tian said with a faint smile, giving his instructions.
“Master Jiang, I have one more presumptuous request!” The Red Leaf Daoist smiled slightly.
“Feel free to speak!”
“After we checked into this hotel, we met the Hilton sisters, who are in Singapore on business. During this time, they have been targeted for assassination three times. I helped repel the attackers, but my magical power is insufficient, and I have never been able to find the hidden mastermind behind it. They heard that Master Jiang possesses great magical power and wish to ask Master Jiang to lend a hand!”
The Red Leaf Daoist clasped his hands and bowed.
“I don’t meddle in such idle matters!” Jiang Tian shook his head lightly.
“This…” The Red Leaf Daoist looked embarrassed.
“Red Leaf, you’re being foolish!”
Jiang Tian sighed and said earnestly: “Magical combat is extremely dangerous. You don’t even know who the hidden mastermind is, yet you dare to fight them. Do you have any chance of winning? What if the opponent is Wang Chongyan?”
“Yes! Master Jiang’s lesson is correct!” Red Leaf quickly bowed.
“Moreover, I have reminded you to keep a low profile. You came to Singapore to collect magical treasures, not to stir up trouble!”
Jiang Tian said: “Even if you want to stir up trouble, you should be fully prepared. If you don’t act, then fine—but once you act, you must pull out the roots and leave none alive. A few days ago, before I arrived, if the Singapore masters had all attacked together to suppress you, would you have been able to handle them?”
“Yes! I understand now!” The more the Red Leaf Daoist thought about it, the more frightened he became. His face turned pale, and cold sweat poured down.
“Remember: either slaughter across thousands of miles, pull out the roots and eliminate all future troubles, or hide your talents and bide your time, showing the world a friendly face.”
Jiang Tian left these words and walked into his own room. The others also dispersed.
In the early morning hours, Jiang Tian sat cross-legged on his bed, circulating the Chaos Creation Art, silently cultivating.
Knock, knock, knock!
There was a knock at the door. Jiang Tian swept the area with his spiritual sense and saw a pair of blonde, blue-eyed young women standing outside.
“This must be the legendary Hilton sisters…” Jiang Tian smiled wryly and had no choice but to go open the door.
“Mr. Jiang, what a pleasure to meet you!”
When Jiang Tian opened the door, Paris Hilton, wearing a golden evening gown studded with diamonds, was all smiles as she proactively extended her small, jade-white hand.
“You’re Paris Hilton?” Jiang Tian shook her hand lightly, like a dragonfly touching water, and sized her up.
She was tall, standing at least one meter seventy-five in height, and with her crystal high heels, she looked even more like a lofty empress standing head and shoulders above the rest.
Her figure was curvy and exquisite, and her low-cut evening gown revealed a deep expanse of fair skin—truly extremely alluring.
“I never expected Master Jiang to know my name. I feel so honored!” Paris Hilton said with a charming smile, her voice sweet.
Her features were stunningly beautiful, enchanting to the extreme. Her beautiful eyes were like deep blue sapphires, sparkling brilliantly. Her facial contours were well-defined, her lips full, full of an exotic beauty.
Behind her, her younger sister Nicky Hilton wore denim hot pants and canvas shoes, dressed like a college student, looking at Jiang Tian with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
“Heh heh, I’ve heard of you!” Jiang Tian chuckled and stepped aside to let them in.
Paris was the elder sister. Throughout the international socialite circle, she was known for her formidable wealth, luxurious lifestyle, and sexy beauty.
Besides being a legitimate heiress of the Hilton family, she also had careers as a model, singer, film star, and writer. Moreover, her private life was extremely wild and promiscuous.
News about her romantic entanglements was endless and ever-changing. Her scandals with male celebrities and wealthy tycoons frequently dominated the headlines of major media outlets.
“How did you know it was me?” After Jiang Tian sat down, he smiled faintly and gestured for the two to sit.
“Heh heh, who in all of China could make the Red Leaf Daoist personally welcome them? How many people could there be?”
Paris Hilton sat down on the leather sofa across from Jiang Tian. Her Chinese was quite good.
In fact, she had mastered seven or eight foreign languages. In her daily business activities, she didn’t need a translator at all.
“You want me to act on your behalf, but I really don’t have time!” Jiang Tian said directly.
Actually, he had long heard of the Hilton sisters.
The Hilton family was a very old American family, founded in 1919. In less than 90 years, it had expanded from one hotel to over 100, spread across major cities on all five continents, becoming one of the largest hotel chains in the world. The Hilton family was also one of America’s ten major financial oligarchs.
Come to think of it, in his previous life, Jiang Tian had once seen the Hilton sisters.
That was in 2008, when the Jinling branch of Hilton Hotels opened. The Jiang family had also been invited to attend.
But at that time, the two girls were like royal princesses, lofty and untouchable. Jiang Tian had no chance to get close to them at all.
Yes, at that time, Jiang Tian and they were worlds apart. The two were world-class socialites who drove a crowd of Jinling’s wealthy young heirs wild.
At that time, not only Jiang Tian had looked at them with worshipful, yearning eyes—even so-called young talents like Nie Mingyuan and Xia Miao were like country bumpkins meeting a city mayor’s daughter.
But returning in this life, Jiang Tian had weathered the ups and downs of the world and had long since seen through all of this.
International socialites—what did they have to do with him? Even if she were a royal princess, what would be worth his effort?
“If Mr. Jiang can help us eliminate this hidden opponent, I can give you one hundred million US dollars!”
Paris Hilton sat on the sofa like a charming little wildcat, crossing her long legs, revealing a stretch of snow-white, slender leg. Her cute little toes in her crystal high heels unconsciously curled and flexed, alluring and seductive.
“No amount of money you give me will work. I really don’t have time!” Jiang Tian shook his head.
One hundred million US dollars was equivalent to about seven hundred million Chinese yuan, but to Jiang Tian, it was nothing.
Paris Hilton was slightly taken aback, a hint of anger appearing on her face. This was the first time she had met such an arrogant Chinese person.
