Chapter 164: Just Leave the Money Counting to Me

At this moment, Gongsun Miao also hurried over.
Upon seeing Zhang Long, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Over the past few days, Zhang Long’s performance had completely exceeded Gongsun Miao’s comprehension.
Although his cultivation realm had not advanced, his combat prowess had skyrocketed at a linear rate. Judging by the current situation,
it wouldn't be long before Zhang Long surpassed him entirely.
This made Gongsun Miao hold Zhang Long in even higher regard. During this period, all resources of the entire peak had been tilted in Zhang Long’s favor,
all for the sake of letting him crush the competition and claim the championship title in the upcoming sect grand tournament a few days later.
Of course, even without further cultivation, Zhang Long’s current strength was already enough to overwhelm the entire Giant Spirit Sect.
Greater combat prowess also signified Zhang Long’s immense potential.
Gongsun Miao even felt that as long as the position of the Giant Spirit Sect Master was announced, it would undoubtedly belong to him.
These past few days, he had also enjoyed unparalleled flattery.
Some individuals who had previously remained neutral began visiting one after another as soon as Zhang Long made his breakthrough.
For a time, his reputation as the First Elder even overshadowed that of the Sect Master, Jing Potian.
"Long'er, what is your combat prowess right now?"
"Fourth-layer Martial Marquis!"
Gongsun Miao gasped sharply.
Fighting across realms was extremely difficult, let alone leaping across three realms at once.
Such a genius was not only something he had never witnessed, but one that had never even appeared in the thousand-year history of the Giant Spirit Sect.
The only person capable of cross-realm combat in the past was the founding patriarch of the Giant Spirit Sect.
Yet even the patriarch had only ever fought two realms above his own.
And yet, his own disciple could now fight three realms above him.
This talent had already surpassed the founding patriarch.
"Hahahaha! Good, good, good! Truly worthy of being my disciple."
Gongsun Miao could not help laughing out loud.
"Master, I want to challenge that fellow who snatched my quota."
"I agree."
Without the slightest hesitation, he directly gave his approval.
In his view, the fellow who obtained the quota was at most a first-layer Martial Marquis. To dare contend with his disciple for the qualification was simply courting humiliation.
Moreover, Zhang Long happened to need a stepping stone, using the opponent's reputation to elevate Zhang Long's own renown.
Why not seize such an opportunity?
"I will contact your Uncle Jin and have him reach out to that person, then set a time for the two of you to have a sparring match."
"Very well, Master."
Zhang Long clenched his fists slightly, already contemplating how to defeat his opponent.
He wanted to crush his adversary instantly with thunderous momentum.
He would defeat him not only in cultivation, but also in spirit.
He would become that fellow's eternal nightmare.
Gongsun Miao directly took out a jade talisman. This was left behind by Jin Bulang before his departure, with instructions to use it for contact if anything came up.
If Jin Bulang saw it, he would respond.
Whether by coincidence or not, no sooner had the message been left than a reaction stirred from within the talisman.

"Elder Brother Gongsun, what do you need from me?"
A voice emerged from the talisman—it was none of other than Jin Bulang's.
"Junior Brother Bulang, my disciple wishes to challenge that person."
Hearing this, the other side fell silent for two seconds before asking,
"Very well, I will arrange it for you. There should be news within seven days."
Jin Bulang did not ask about Zhang Long's condition; he knew in his heart that since Gongsun Miao had approached him personally,
Zhang Long's strength must have undergone a leap forward.
At the same time, he eagerly desired such a duel to prove that his judgment back then had been correct.
"Then I thank you greatly."
A trace of joy appeared on Gongsun Miao's face.
"I have matters to attend to here, let us speak again later."
"Agreed!"
As soon as the communication ended, Zhang Long walked over.
He wasn't worried about failing to defeat his opponent; he only feared that the other party would not dare to accept the challenge.
"Master, how did it go?"
"Your Uncle Jin has already gone to ask on your behalf. There should be news in a few days."
"You needn't worry either; this matter is a 90 percent certainty."
Zhang Long nodded slightly.
The next day!
After deep and careful consideration, Xiao Yang resolutely decided to take Zhou嫣 back with him.
This place was simply unlivable any longer.
People were shouting at his doorstep early in the morning,
refusing to even wait for business hours to open.
It almost drove Xiao Yang mad, and only upon asking did he find out
that this girl Zhou嫣 had been waking up at the Hour of Chou every single day to busy herself. If it were back in the old days, she'd have been up at that hour selling breakfast.
At that moment, Xiao Yang's heart ached terribly.
Why was this girl so stubborn?
Instead of thinking about how to cultivate, she insisted on being a cook.
To avoid ruining Zhou嫣's future, he decided to set off immediately and get far away from this ghost of a place.
As for the properties here, he simply handed them over to Zhao Wude to manage. Selling them for a million or so—was that even considered money?
Indeed, certain individuals no longer kept one million in their eyes.
To Xiao Yang now, one million was of little consequence; it was better to leave it behind to generate more wealth.
As for what they would do with it, he couldn't be bothered to care, content to be a hands-off boss,
and simply take charge of counting the money afterwards.
"Senior Brother, are we really going back right now?"
Zhou嫣 looked at Xiao Yang with pleading eyes, utterly reluctant to let go of the profession of a chef.
Clearly, she hadn't had enough fun these past few days.
Zhou嫣 even harbored the thought of simply being a chef and abandoning martial arts altogether.
If that were truly the case, Xiao Yang felt as though he could already picture his own master sharpening his sword and preparing to hunt him down.

"Impossible, absolutely cannot let this happen."
Xiao Yang shuddered.
He was already packing his things, preparing to return to the Giant Spirit Sect immediately.
He wouldn't give this girl Zhou嫣 any chance to be a chef.
"We've been out for nearly ten days as well; it's about time we went back to take a look."
"Alright then."
Although somewhat reluctant, Zhou嫣 still obediently nodded.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yang walked towards the window.
He couldn't let a crowd keep blocking his doorway forever; he needed to clear things up.
"It's opening, it's opening!"
Suddenly, the opening window caused the crowd outside to shout with excitement.
When they saw it was a young man, they were momentarily stunned.
But soon after, wails of despair filled the air.
"No, no, no! My goddess, my fairy..."
"Who is this punk? I'll offer ten thousand taels of silver for his complete background!"
"I'll offer twenty thousand taels, beat this bastard to death for me!"
Because of Zhou嫣's appearance, she had attracted a swarm of playboys.
However, these people all knew that Zhou嫣 was protected by two Martial Marquises, so they didn't dare to act presumptuously.
Today was different, though. A young man had actually appeared inside the Gathering Fortune Mansion.
This caused the crowd's imaginations to run wild instantly.
"Damn it all, shut your traps, every last one of you!"
Xiao Yang roared, subduing the entire crowd.
Being woken up early in the morning had left him full of irritation, and being pestered by this bunch only made him angrier.
Yet this single sentence completely incensed the crowd.
"Kid, you're courting death! We don't dare mess with Miss Zhou嫣, but we sure as hell can beat you to death."
"That's right, that's right! If you've got the guts, come down here!"
Xiao Yang glared, his anger flaring up as well. Disturbing his sleep and they still had the nerve to act justified, dammit!
"Fine!"
Without another word, he didn't even bother taking the door, vaulting straight out through the window.
This left the crowd momentarily startled.
Yet remembering their own numerical superiority, they couldn't help puffing out their chests.
A representative even stepped forward from among them.
This person had delicate facial features, fair skin, and an exceedingly handsome appearance.
"Why are you inside the Gathering Fortune Mansion? Speak clearly right now, or else... hmph."
Yet the voice that came out of his mouth was that of a thoroughly crude and rugged man.