Chapter 203: Chapter 203: 204: The Star Effect

Translator: 549690339

“Gu Ling, you!”

Xing Mohan’s expression changed, as Gu Ling, who usually treated people with courtesy, was being so rude today, directly poking at the backbone of Xingtian Sect in public.

His own father’s rise to power was notorious for being achieved through patricide, something that everyone was well aware of, but never expected that today this elderly man would show no respect and speak it out loud.

Behind this Li Xiaobai was only Elder Tianwu, yet he could wield such great power.

“Enough, Young Master Li is a distinguished guest of Treasure Pavilion, and anyone who makes things difficult for him is making an enemy of Treasure Pavilion!” Gu Ling’s face darkened as he said coldly.

“Very well, Li Xiaobai, you’re lucky this time, with Gu Ling protecting you, I won’t touch you. Tomorrow, I will set up a stage in Central City to settle our differences once and for all. Do you dare to come?”

Xing Mohan said, unable to swallow his pride.

Moreover, he was also very interested in the title of being ranked first on the leaderboard of figures.

“Why wouldn’t I dare? If you want to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone, then I shall oblige,” Li Xiaobai said with a faint smile.

“Good, tomorrow at noon, I’ll be waiting for you!”

Xing Mohan’s expression was icy as he gave Li Xiaobai a deep look, a cold smile swept across his lips, and he turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

The onlookers whispered among themselves, saying that aside from that one person, they couldn’t think of a second who had such a powerful background and was so arrogant in his actions.

“I didn’t expect this person to be that Li Xiaobai!”

“Yes, wasn’t it said that he had gone to the Western Desert? How did he suddenly appear in Central Province? Could it be that he wants to strike at the orthodox figures and catch them unprepared?”

“Who knows? The Treasure Pavilion auction is imminent; perhaps these bigwigs invited him as well. We shouldn’t speculate wildly; there’s a lot of depth to these matters!”

“Right, let’s disperse. There will probably be news tomorrow.”

With no more drama to witness, the onlookers dispersed to go about their business.

Gu Ling watched as Xing Mohan’s figure receded into the distance and furrowed his brows, “Young Master Li, you were impulsive just now. The rules of the dueling platform in Central City are very different from those in the Northern Region.”

“Oh? What’s different?” Li Xiaobai asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“In an ordinary platform battle, both parties can simply step up and compete, but the platform in Central City is different. It is meant to test the disciples’ comprehension and true combat abilities. On this platform, no matter what one’s cultivation level is, it will be suppressed to the Nascent Soul Stage for the fight.”

“Moreover, all of one’s learned skills will be suppressed, and only the cultivation techniques randomly provided by the platform can be used. Therefore, the user must grasp the technique provided by the platform in a short time to defeat the opponent. Having grown up in Central Province, Xing Mohan likely has an idea of what techniques might appear on the platform and can comprehend them quickly, which probably means he’ll be faster than you, Young Master,” Gu Ling explained.

The rules of the platform were indeed peculiar, but this way, it was sure to be as fair as possible.

The starting points were different; the competition between the two was not about who was stronger, but about determining the winner based on innate talent. Central Province really had a way of teaching disciples.

“No matter, I am a genius bestowed by heaven, the top-ranked figure on the leaderboard. A mere disciple of Xingtian Sect is nothing to fear,” Li Xiaobai waved his hand, his tone full of indifference.

Gu Ling was speechless, for the young man was overconfident, and he found it difficult to offer words of caution.

“I will arrange accommodation for you first, Young Master. Rest assured, I have some connections with Elder Tianwu, and here in Tianfeng City, there’s nothing you need to worry about. No one will dare to lay a hand on you,” Gu Ling said.

“Then I must thank Elder Gu.”

Li Xiaobai felt somewhat gloomy, not having anticipated that Gu Ling still had some connection to that old beggar. Without anyone daring to trouble him, the source for his Attribute Points had been cut off.

Sometimes, having such connections could also prove to be quite troublesome.

“With a few days left until the Treasure Pavilion’s auction, may I know what items Young Master would like to auction this time?”

Gu Ling led Li Xiaobai into the Treasure Pavilion and found a private room to ask.

“I still have a few hundred stalks of Spiritual Medicine, plus some cultivators’ Magic Treasures, tools, elixirs, which I can sell wholesale.”

Li Xiaobai’s wrist flipped, taking out a batch of stock to show Gu Ling.

Gu Ling squinted his eyes, staring at the items on the ground for a long while without speaking. The quality of the cultivators’ Magic Treasures was mixed, all plundered by Li Xiaobai. There was no problem selling them at the Treasure Pavilion, it was just that they were not up to his standards.

As for the Spiritual Medicines, they were indeed good items, but they also hadn’t reached the high expectations he had in mind. He had thought that to cause the likes of Yun Yan from Fire Qilin Cave to compete, there would have to be more sensational items, but these were only above average and not the best.

“Elder Gu is not satisfied?” Li Xiaobai glanced at him, perceiving his thoughts.

“Young Master’s goods are of high quality and plentiful in quantity, there’s no problem for the auction, but I had initially thought that Young Master would bring out better treasures.” Gu Ling spoke honestly—as in business, the unpleasant truths needed to be stated upfront.

“I see, Elder Gu is looking for something more sensational to attract more cultivators, is that right or not?”

Li Xiaobai smiled slightly, for he had items more alluring than treasures at hand.

“Oh? Young Master has other treasures? May I have a look?” Gu Ling’s expression shifted as he inquired.

“Of course, Elder Gu, just look, what do you think of this item?”

Li Xiaobai’s wrist turned again, taking out an item to give to Gu Ling, whose face instantly darkened. The item in his hand was none other than a female cultivator’s Inner Armor, an intimate piece of clothing.

To put it up for auction—what was Li Xiaobai thinking?

“Ahem, if I’m not mistaken, this should be a female cultivator’s Inner Armor, and its grade is rather ordinary,” Gu Ling said dryly.

“Correct, this is indeed an Inner Armor, but do you know whose Inner Armor this is?” Li Xiaobai said with an air of mystery.

“Whose?” Gu Ling suppressed the urge to hit someone and asked. His intuition told him that Li Xiaobai was not so frivolous without reason.

“The 6th-ranked player on the leaderboard, the intimate Inner Armor of Su Mei’er, the saintess of the Hehuan Sect!” Li Xiaobai proclaimed.

“So it’s hers, but what of it? Surely Young Master isn’t suggesting that the Treasure Pavilion auction off this Inner Armor?”

A flash of rage crossed Gu Ling’s eyes. The Treasure Pavilion was not a place of indecency; to auction personal and private items such as the Inner Armor of a female cultivator was out of the question.

“Has Elder Gu ever heard of the celebrity effect?” Li Xiaobai said lightly.

“Celebrity effect?”

Gu Ling’s face showed puzzlement, hearing this term for the first time.

“Exactly, Su Mei’er has a very high popularity on the Immortal Spirit Continent, with countless admirers; the number of male cultivators coveting her beauty is vast like the ocean. Yet, due to a variety of reasons, they can usually only admire from afar, not dare to defile. In some ways, Su Mei’er is like a goddess.”

“If this Inner Armor were to be put out there, it would certainly cause a sensation and provoke a frantic scramble among the cultivators!”