After listening to Luo Xiyao’s words, Qin Haoyan stroked his beard. “Xiyao, your idea isn’t bad, but they might not be willing to hand over the Tianyuan Fruit.”
Given Haoling State’s strength, winning two out of three matches was naturally no problem.
In the first match, Qian Fusu had been suppressing Su Yubai the entire time. Now that Su Yubai was injured, he was clearly no match for Qian Fusu.
If Qingyun State agreed to the bet under such a sure-loss situation…
Qin Haoyan would really suspect those two sect masters had something wrong with their heads.
“Master, send a message to Senior Brother Fusu. Tell him not to kill Su Yubai yet—just torture him slowly. After we finish negotiating with Qingyun State, then he can kill Su Yubai.” Luo Xiyao’s beautiful eyes held venom, and her nightingale-like voice, pleasant as it was, sent chills down one’s spine.
“Xiyao, come with me to negotiate.” A gleam of light flashed through Qin Haoyan’s murky eyes.
If they could really obtain the Tianyuan Fruit, then there would be nothing to worry about when it came to advancing to the Fusion Stage in the future.
Qin Haoyan first sent a message to Qian Fusu, then walked toward Qingyun State.
Upon receiving the message, Qian Fusu slowed his attacks. His eyes looked at the blood-soaked Su Yubai with amusement, and he chuckled softly, “The game of cat and mouse begins.”
After saying that, Qian Fusu flipped around and kicked Su Yubai in the abdomen.
Bang!——
Su Yubai crashed onto the edge of the arena, nearly falling off.
When Yun Hai saw this, his cold eyes swept over the two of them, then shifted to Qin Haoyan. Sending a voice transmission right under his nose—Qin Haoyan really had gotten full of himself!
Qin Haoyan had just walked up to Rong Zhuofan and Xiao Qingfeng when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He turned and scanned the area but couldn’t find the source of the coldness.
“What are you two doing here?” Xiao Qingfeng asked with a sour expression.
Luo Xiyao took the initiative to explain, “Sect Master Xiao, my master has something to discuss with you.”
“What’s there to discuss?” Xiao Qingfeng raised his chin slightly, his cold eyes gloomy.
Rong Zhuofan laughed heartily. “Old Xiao, don’t get upset. All who come are guests. If you two have something to say, just say it quickly.”
A flicker of disdain passed through Luo Xiyao’s eyes as she spoke proudly, “The first round between our two states was originally set as best of three. But that’s rather boring. We want to compete all three matches against you.”
Rong Zhuofan’s bushy beard twitched. Good heavens, what was Haoling State up to?
Rong Zhuofan put on an honest face. “I can’t really decide that. If we win the first two matches, whether we compete in the third will still depend on the disciples’ opinions.”
A hint of mockery flashed in Luo Xiyao’s eyes. You think you can win the first two matches? Dream on.
However, Luo Xiyao didn’t want to argue about winning and losing for now—the result would definitely be Haoling State winning the competition.
Her current goal was to make Qingyun State willingly put up the Tianyuan Fruit as a bet.
“If you agree to compete in the third match, we can put up a Yuanyang Pill as a bet. As long as you can win all three matches, we’ll give you the Yuanyang Pill.” After saying this, Luo Xiyao looked utterly arrogant.
The Yuanyang Pill was a ninth-grade pill. The people of Qingyun State had surely never seen one.
“Yuanyang Pill?” A strange look flashed through Rong Zhuofan’s eyes. Could it be that these people all liked to trade with Yuanyang Pills?
“Yes, the Yuanyang Pill. If you’re afraid we’ll go back on our word, we can sign a contract,” Luo Xiyao said confidently.
“Uncalled-for favors are either treacherous or thieving!” Xiao Qingfeng sneered.
Rong Zhuofan immediately tried to smooth things over. “That young lady might have misunderstood our meaning. How about this—I’ll call someone over to negotiate. Please wait a moment.”
Rong Zhuofan turned to look at Feng Qingran and waved at her. “Feng Qingran, come over and talk with her.”
Since Haoling State sent a junior to negotiate with them, they couldn’t show weakness either—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Feng Qingran was still dressed in light blue-green robes, giving off a clear and ethereal feeling.
But she had already applied a Concealment Talisman, hiding her peerless beauty. Only her glass-like eyes shimmered with brilliance.
Luo Xiyao’s gaze landed on Feng Qingran, and her eyes instantly widened. She had definitely seen Feng Qingran somewhere before!
Luo Xiyao carefully recalled. The black market!
“Master, she’s the one who bought that painting!” Luo Xiyao pointed at Feng Qingran, absolutely certain.
The aura around Qin Haoyan suddenly turned cold.
After leaving the black market, Qin Haoyan had immediately checked the two hundred fifty-one paintings he had bought. Not a single one of them contained any Taiji aura.
Obviously, the painting that truly contained the Taiji aura had fallen into someone else’s hands.
And they had waited outside the black market for a long time but never saw Feng Qingran come out.
Later, he returned to his residence and carefully went through ancient texts and records, finally finding some clues.
The Taiji Diagram described in the ancient texts was identical to the paintings he had bought.
Except, all the ones he had bought were copies. The original had long since been purchased by someone else.
So the painting in Feng Qingran’s hands was very likely the Taiji Diagram!
Whether or not Feng Qingran had recognized it as the Taiji Diagram, he had to get that painting back!
The Taiji Diagram was a primordial spirit treasure left behind by a sage from ages past.
It was said that the Taiji Diagram could split open the heavens and separate the pure from the turbid. Moreover, the Taiji Diagram encompassed all things—it could not only be used as a magical treasure, but one could also enter it to seek treasures.
Qin Haoyan’s murky eyes revealed authority. “Little girl, hand over the painting in your possession, and I’ll give you one hundred million top-grade spirit stones.”
Feng Qingran smiled faintly, her dimples appearing and disappearing on her cheeks. She asked in confusion, “What painting?”
Qin Haoyan’s eyes burned with anger, and a mighty pressure surged toward Feng Qingran.
Xiao Qingfeng raised his hand to block the pressure and said coldly, “Qin Haoyan, you’re a Void God, yet you’re pressuring a junior? Where’s your shame?”
“She stole something from my master. My master is asking for it back with a good attitude—what’s wrong with that?” Luo Xiyao’s voice was like a nightingale’s, speaking with self-righteous confidence.
Ning Shiyue also rushed out, her face beautiful as a blooming flower. “When did my junior sister steal something from your master? Explain clearly!”
“She was at the black—” Luo Xiyao said halfway.
Qin Haoyan interrupted her. “Xiyao, step back for now. I’ll talk with this young lady.”
