Sea City Martial Association Headquarters.

In the quaint and stately meeting room.

The handsome middle-aged man staring at Luo Xiu looked as if he was about to write the word "displeased" on his face. This was because Luo Xiu appeared sickly, lacking the vitality a young person should have.

In his many years of experience, this kid has probably been indulging in excessive carnal pleasures!

"Your name is Luo Xiu, right? I appreciate you curing my Yueyue, and I can compensate you, but business is business. The Martial Way Grand Ceremony is the nation's top martial arts competition and is no child's play. We should send our most capable young people to compete. Only then can we ensure a higher ranking."

This middle-aged man's name was Su Quan, the son of Su Guobang and the father of Su Shanyue. Next to him was a graceful, middle-aged woman named Feng Xi, Su Shanyue's mother. The couple, who were busy managing several martial arts schools and scouting for martial arts talents all year round, rarely returned to Sea City. Their hasty return this time was, naturally, because of the Martial Way Grand Ceremony.

To be precise, it was because Su Guobang had already finalized the roster for the Sea City Martial Association's participants and was preparing to submit it to the event organizers. Upon learning that Luo Xiu was the main contender, the couple was furious.

The old man must have gone senile!

Su Quan stated bluntly, "Father, this roster needs to be changed. I think Ren Xuan is the most suitable representative for the Sea City Martial Association as the main contender."

"As for Luo Xiu, if you insist on him competing, he can only be a substitute."

Hearing this, Su Guobang frowned.

Feng Xi also spoke up, "Father, this is the best choice. My Xuan'er is only twenty-five this year, yet he has already reached the late stage of Embrace Qi. With such strength, he will definitely achieve a good ranking at the Martial Way Grand Ceremony."

As she spoke, Feng Xi pulled the young man standing behind her to the front. The young man, Ren Xuan, was a close disciple whom Su Quan and Feng Xi had taken in long ago.

After paying his respects, Ren Xuan said, "Grandfather Su, rest assured. I will live up to my master and mistress's teachings and will secure a top-ten ranking for our Sea City Martial Association!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Luo Xiu, his face filled with unconcealed disdain.

"A top-ten ranking?" Luo Xiu spoke up, raising an eyebrow. He looked at Su Guobang and said, "President Su, didn't we agree to aim for the championship? Are we settling for the top ten now?"

Su Guobang flushed with embarrassment.

Su Quan let out a cold snort. "All talk and no substance," he said disdainfully.

Ren Xuan suddenly slammed his hand on the table. Staring at Luo Xiu, he declared, "We martial artists let our strength do the talking!"

"Luo Xiu, I'm a straightforward person, so I won't play dirty with you. Let's settle this with our strength. We'll have a match, and whoever loses becomes the substitute!"

He looked at Luo Xiu with a contemptuous gaze and smiled. "I will use my absolute strength to make you see reality and accept defeat!"

Hearing this, a nearby Su Shanyue was quite displeased and found the situation secretly amusing.

Make Luo Xiu see reality? Make him accept defeat? You've probably never seen him slap a Grandmaster across the face! A mere bronze player trying to show off in front of a king. How utterly ridiculous!

Luo Xiu shrugged and said with a smile, "Sorry, I'm really not interested in competing with you."

Ren Xuan jeered, "What's the matter? Scared to lose?"

"Enough!"

Su Guobang suddenly barked, his eyes scanning the room. In a stern voice, he announced, "I am the president, so my decision is final!"

"There is one main spot and ten substitute spots. Currently, Luo Xiu is the main contender, with Yueyue and Ren Xuan as substitutes. The other eight substitute spots are still to be determined; I will select them from the other disciples later."

"Tomorrow morning, I will submit the roster to the organizers."

"This meeting is now adjourned!"

With that, he rose and left.

「In the quiet meeting room.」

Su Quan, Feng Xi, and Ren Xuan glared at Luo Xiu as if they wanted to eat him alive.

But Luo Xiu paid them no mind.

The weak can only express their displeasure with glares. I don't care what they think. My goal is clear: win the championship and get the Scorching Sun Profound Purity Fruit.

Just then, Su Shanyue walked over, took Luo Xiu's hand with an apologetic smile, and led him outside.

Seeing his precious daughter siding with an outsider, Su Quan gritted his teeth in anger, and Feng Xi was just as furious. Ren Xuan was so enraged he wanted to rush over and chop Luo Xiu to pieces.

I grew up with Su Shanyue and have always loved her…

"Husband, what should we do now? If Xuan'er can't be the main contender, are we really going to let that sickly-looking Luo Xiu take the spot?" Feng Xi asked.

"Forget getting a good ranking, just looking at him, I'm afraid he'll go up there and embarrass our Sea City Martial Association in front of the entire country."

Su Quan took a deep breath and suddenly grinned.

"I have an idea," he said in a low voice. "I'll quietly change the roster later, switching the main contender to Xuan'er. Once the list is handed to the organizers, everything will be set in stone."

Ren Xuan looked worried. "But if President Su finds out, with his temper…"

Su Quan placed a hand on his shoulder and said sternly, "Xuan'er, for your future, your master doesn't mind playing the villain this once."

"The old man has a temper, but the most he'll do is give me a beating. I'm his son. Is he really going to kill me over it?"

Feng Xi nodded and added gravely, "Xuan'er, in this day and age, for martial artists like us to make a name for ourselves and build a career, we must showcase our abilities on the biggest stage."

"With your talent and strength, I believe you will become famous this time."

"That way, we can also entrust Yueyue to you in the future with peace of mind."

Hearing this, Ren Xuan was so moved he was on the verge of tears.

"Thank you, Master, Mistress. I will definitely make a name for myself, and I will take care of Yueyue for the rest of my life!"

"Good boy!"

***

「At the entrance of the Martial Association headquarters.」

"Luo Xiu, I'm sorry about my parents…" Su Shanyue said in a low voice.

"It's okay."

Luo Xiu gave a carefree smile. "I don't hold any grudge against them. They don't have any ill intentions toward me. From their perspective, they're just favoring their own disciple."

Su Shanyue smiled and nodded. "Where are you going now?"

"I think I'll go fishing," said Luo Xiu.

"Uh… isn't that boring?"

"I fish precisely because it's boring."

"Well, you go on ahead. I still need to train."

"Alright."

"By the way, Luo Xiu, we're leaving for the provincial capital in three days. This year's Martial Way Grand Ceremony is being held in Henghai Provincial City. Even though the official opening is more than half a month away, we have to go early."

"Got it."

***

Riding the electric scooter Xu Qianqing had left him, Luo Xiu went to his usual fishing spot.

His dream was to one day catch a fish that weighed over ten pounds. Of course, he didn't fish just for the sake of fishing. While fishing, he could also calm his mind and focus on his cultivation.

He fished until evening, when the sky suddenly grew dark. Unnoticed, the sky had filled with thick, dark clouds, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. A heavy downpour was clearly on its way.

Luo Xiu hurriedly packed his fishing gear and rode the small electric scooter home. On the way, the rain began to fall, and he was soaked to the bone.

But when he reached his doorstep, he found that Ye Ningxue was also soaked to the bone. She stood there motionless, like a wooden post.

"What are you doing standing here like a fool?" Luo Xiu asked.

"Didn't you tell me to stand here and not move, Master?" Ye Ningxue replied.

"You…"

Luo Xiu was utterly flabbergasted.

Could this simpleton have really stood here from morning until dusk just because of a single, careless remark I made?

"Don't you know enough to go inside when it's raining?"

"Master didn't tell me to move, so I kept standing."

Looking at her, Luo Xiu's heart suddenly ached a little. In a gentle voice, he said, "Go on inside."

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