Seeing Ge'er Yan walk up to Pu Losi, Jiang Chen and the others put away their golf clubs and joined him.

Pu Losi glanced at Jiang Chen, then turned to Ge'er Yan and said, "No, tonight I want to have a chat with the Head of the Ge'er Family."

Ge'er Yan froze for a moment, his face showing a look of surprise.

When he posed the question earlier, he was full of confidence. After all, today Pu Losi had shown immense admiration for Jiang Chen, coupled with Jiang Chen's revelation of the technique for controlling Inner Qi, Ge'er Yan was certain Pu Losi would support their side.

But unexpectedly, Pu Losi refused without hesitation!

"Very well then, Mr. Pu Losi, see you tomorrow!"

Jiang Chen displayed no hint of surprise, offering a casual smile as he bid farewell, then turned and led Yan Hu and the others toward the roadside.

Ge'er Yan regarded Jiang Chen briefly, then said his goodbye to Pu Losi and Ge'er Kusi before quickly catching up.

"What do you think?" Pu Losi quietly asked Ge'er Kusi, his eyes lingering on Jiang Chen's departing figure.

Ge'er Kusi also gazed at Jiang Chen, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Though impulsive, he has a clear purpose. He treats friends with humility but can demonstrate decisiveness in killing."

"That murderous intent toward Pusi just now—it was clearly showcased for me to see. He wants me to understand that once a choice is made, hesitation cannot exist. One must commit fully to the path ahead or risk losing even the trust of allies."

Taking a deep breath, Ge'er Kusi sighed, "This Head of the Jiang Family might truly be capable of bringing about some changes."

"Have you made up your mind?" Pu Losi chuckled lightly while looking at Ge'er Kusi.

Ge'er Kusi froze momentarily, casting Pu Losi a surprised glance.

"The reason the Head of the Jiang Family revealed his murderous intent before you was likely also to test whether you truly made your choice. And while your response wasn't wrong, it showed that your decision isn't resolute enough. As you've noted, as you are now, it's difficult for the Head of the Jiang Family to genuinely trust you!" Pu Losi remarked indifferently.

"This..." Ge'er Kusi's heart shook violently, his brows furrowing slightly. "Is he really this astute?"

"You should have investigated him, but your research likely isn't as thorough as mine."

Pu Losi smiled faintly. "A man who rose from a rural village as an outsider joining a family through marriage and now commands three highly influential groups."

"Moreover, nearly half of the martial arts forces connected with Flame Dragon have formed alliances with him. And within those alliances, he stands as the central figure—he possesses the highest level of authority within the coalition!"

"More importantly, the Flame Dragon Group has reportedly mobilized its peak power for him, and there's even word that one of Flame Dragon's elite members once traveled overseas to protect him personally. Do you think all of this could have been accomplished merely through talent, or certain bloodlines?"

"This..."

Ge'er Kusi was utterly shocked, casting a distant look at the tourist vehicle on the asphalt road as it faded into the horizon, a strong sense of awe surging in his heart!

Pu Losi also turned to gaze at the now-diminished tourist vehicle and murmured softly, "These discoveries make my trip to Flame Dragon worthwhile. This young man—he's worth anticipating!"

"You..." Ge'er Kusi was yet again startled. So Pu Losi's visit to Flame Dragon wasn't purely for leisure, but instead...

The notion that a member of the Royal Family—a Grand Duke—would personally visit Flame Dragon for investigation spoke volumes!

Ge'er Kusi's perception of Jiang Chen underwent a dramatic change!

...

...

Early the next morning, the Ge'er Family estate reflected a bustling scene.

Teams of guards normally not involved in routine patrols appeared throughout the estate, each radiating an imposing presence.

At the parking lot within the estate gates, fifty Maybachs were lined up in perfect order. These vehicles had just returned from the airport, carrying individuals who had now gathered in the central villa's large conference hall.

The conference hall was already packed with attendees.

Three people were seated at the primary seats: Ge'er Kusi in the center, flanked by a white-haired elder on his left and a stern-faced middle-aged man on his right. Behind them stood the butler, Fei Lipu.

The first seat on the left side row held an elderly figure dressed in ceremonial garb, exuding a faintly sacred aura.

Below that elder sat Ge'er Yan, followed by Jiang Chen and the others.

Compared to yesterday's golf meet, a few new faces were present. Yan Mo now occupied a seat behind Jiang Chen, while Yan Hu and Fang Tiancheng stood behind Jiang Chen.

On the rightmost primary seat was a youth with an unruly smile. Standing behind him was an intimidative middle-aged man emanating a cold aura. Below the youth sat Ge'er Pusi, accompanied by his butler, Lu Li, and a group of middle-aged men and women occupying subsequent seats.

The central segment of the left and right seating arrangement intentionally left two gaps, appearing to create a subtle divide.

Behind these gaps, most individuals were Ge'er Family representatives or key relations, except for one anomaly—positioned directly behind Jiang Chen's gap was Pu Losi.

Noticing Pu Losi's seat placement, Jiang Chen's lips curved into a meaningful smirk.

"I'd first like to welcome the friends supporting both of my sons,"

Ge'er Kusi spoke loudly, glancing at those seated behind Jiang Chen as well as behind Ge'er Pusi before acknowledging them with nods. Upon spotting Spirit You adjacent to Jiang Chen, his gaze turned briefly quizzical.

In the seats closest to the conference table's head positions, apart from Ge'er Kusi's trio and the individuals occupying prominent positions on either side, everyone else represented distinct factions.

Spirit You, aligned with Jiang Chen, was granted an individual seat instead of standing alongside Yan Hu and Fang Tiancheng. This peculiar arrangement intrigued Ge'er Kusi.

"Today marks the Ge'er Family's successor competition. I'll keep it brief! Allow me to outline the competition's rules," Ge'er Kusi stated, promptly shifting focus without dwelling on Spirit You.

"First, business acumen. The commercial capabilities of both Ge'er Yan and Ge'er Pusi will not be judged directly but rather the capabilities of those supporting them."

"Second, martial prowess: likewise, neither Ge'er Yan nor Ge'er Pusi's personal strength will count."

"Third, influence and network: similar to the above, Ge'er Yan and Ge'er Pusi's personal connections will not factor in. This competition specifically weighs what impact they can bring to the family through external forces! Are there any objections?"

No one responded. These rules seemed fairly balanced. Including Ge'er Yan and Ge'er Pusi themselves might introduce concerns of favoritism, while the origins of their supporters—whether self-recruited or family-assisted—would remain open to interpretation. At least on the surface, the rules appeared impartial!

"Good!"

Seeing no dissent, Ge'er Kusi continued, "Let me introduce the witnesses present for today."

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