Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 153 - 153 0161 Has Your Hair Grown Evenly

Chapter 153: Chapter 0161: Has Your Hair Grown Evenly? Chapter 153: Chapter 0161: Has Your Hair Grown Evenly? Xiao Xiaowu said coldly, “Qualified or not? Even if he is not competent enough to serve as a county master for us in the Imperial Master Mansion, he can still serve as your county masters. After all, Jingling County, Shuibei County, and Lubei County are traditionally within our Imperial Master Mansion’s sphere of influence.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Wenbo did not show any irritation but said, “Uncle Master’s words are quite absolute. We, the three National Master Mansions come from the same source, we are family. It’s only fitting that we support each other and share both the good and the bad. I implore you to do us this favor and relinquish control over Lubei County.”

Xiao Xiaowu snorted coldly and said, “Speaking of favors? Over the years, our Imperial Master Mansion has had the least number of county masters among the three National Master Mansions. Why don’t your Guardian National Master Manor give us two slots? How about that?”

Chen Wenbo laughed and said, “Uncle Master, your words are unreasonable. It is only natural that the strong Guardian National Master Manor has more county masters. Conversely, the weaker Imperial Master Mansion has fewer county masters, and there is no need to discuss this. If you really want more county master quota, you should go to my master, as I do not have the authority. Let’s get back to the matter of Lubei County. I request that you, Uncle Master, take back your decree and give Lubei County to us.”

Xiao Xiaowu’s face darkened, “What if I don’t?”

Chen Wenbo laughed and said, “Surely, Uncle Master, you cannot demean yourself by stepping in to be the county master? There has to be someone appointed to do this job. Who do you think is superior when compared with Gao Han?”

“What are you trying to do?” Xiao Xiaowu furrowed his brows, sensing a veiled threat in Chen Wenbo’s words.

Chen Wenbo said, “Nothing much, I just wanted to remind Uncle Master of the huge gap between them. Lubei County is a dangerous place, surely you do not want your disciples to die as soon as they take office? Don’t take it the wrong way, I’m just stating a very likely possibility. Of course, if your Imperial Master Mansion has abundant manpower and wants to assign a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator to serve as a nanny for your county master, then disregard my words.”

Xiao Xiaowu’s face gradually darkened. Chen Wenbo, as his junior and a mere Half-step Golden Core cultivator, would have been smacked to death long ago if it were anyone else. But Chen Wenbo was different; he had to bear with it even when repeatedly provoked by him. If he made his move, that would mean an official fallout with the Guardian National Master Mansion. Then, when the Guardian National Master Mansion and National Master Manor join hands, or if Wu Tie and Yu Ting join forces to storm his residence, it’s very likely they would bring down his Imperial Master Mansion.

That being said, the Guardian National Master Mansion is currently nibbling away at the Imperial Master Mansion’s power. This time, they want a county master’s quota, who knows what they would ask for next? This is tantamount to killing with a blunt knife, and it is unbearable for anyone. As the master of the Imperial Master Mansion, if he shows no reaction, the unity of the Imperial Master Mansion would surely be disrupted. Then, the disciples below will inevitably defect quickly. At that point, even if he does not become a commander without soldiers, he wouldn’t be far off. By then, it would be almost equivalent to having the Imperial Master Mansion taken down by others.

For Xiao Xiaowu, neither choice seems advantageous at the moment. He thought for a moment and said, “Since your Guardian National Master Mansion insists on Lubei County, I have a solution. You can buy Lubei County with your money. Considering you’re my nephew, I’ll give you a discount, 50 million tales of silver will do.”

Chen Wenbo’s eyelids twitched violently, “Fifty million? Are you treating me like a fool?”

Xiao Xiaowu remained calm and said lightly, “If you cannot accept this, I have another way. How about a wager? I put forth the county master position of Lubei County, and you, on behalf of Guardian National Master Mansion, put forth ten million tales of silver. You can have Gao Han represent your Guardian National Master Mansion, and I will also select a cultivator not exceeding Half-step Foundation Establishment. The two will engage in a fair contest, and in the end, whoever wins shall take the county master position and the ten million tales of silver. What do you think?”

Chen Wenbo smacked his lips – ten million tales was not a small sum. Even as a cultivator at the Half-step Golden Core stage, he couldn’t put together such a large sum of silver, even by emptying out all his savings. Like all cultivators, any bit of money he had would be converted into cultivation resources as soon as possible. To reach the Half-step Golden Core stage at the age of thirty, countless resources have been poured into him, not just by the Guardian National Master Mansion, but by himself as well. In terms of silver, it would be worth at least several tens of millions.

“Uncle Master, do you have some misunderstanding? All I asked was for your Imperial Master Mansion to demonstrate some generosity by yielding Lubei County. I did not mean to gamble or buy it from you.” Chen Wenbo said, his tone carrying a threat, “Is it because you don’t value my face? Do you want my master to intervene personally?”

Xiao Xiaowu’s face became darker, “You got that right. What do you think you are? Your dignity means nothing to me. If not for the fact that you are my fellow disciple’s student, I would have slapped you to death a long time ago.”

“You…” Chen Wenbo was choked with anger.

Xiao Xiaowu glared at him and said, “What, are you not convinced? How about I, Xiao Xiaowu, try to slap you? If you can block my slap without letting me kill you, I will admit that you have some credibility here. How about that?”

Chen Wenbo shuddered violently, feeling himself decisively locked in by a powerful aura, as if being watched by an angry beast on the edge of a rage. He felt a sense of humiliation. His fists tightened, driven by an impulse to accept Xiao Xiaowu’s request. He refused to believe that, being a Half-step Golden Core, he wouldn’t be able to block a single slap from Xiao Xiaowu.

Chen Wenbo had always been arrogant. The Imperial Master Mansion had been weak these years, and as its Mansion Master, Xiao Xiaowu naturally seemed inferior in Chen Wenbo’s eyes. Otherwise, he would not have been so perfunctory when saluting Xiao Xiaowu, disrespect echoing in his voice.

Chen Wenbo’s habitual arrogance made him feel he did not fear Xiao Xiaowu, however, he found he had underestimated the deterrent force of his Gold Core Stage uncle when he truly had to face him – especially when this uncle was on the brink of rage.

Chen Wenbo nervously swallowed, reassuring himself that it was not fear, but a lack of mental preparation. Once prepared, what could Xiao Xiaowu do to him? “Uncle, do you want to kill me? Aren’t you afraid of my Master seeking revenge afterwards?” he challenged.

Xiao Xiaowu sneered, “Fear? Why would I fear? Both he and I are at the Gold Core Stage, it would be a desperate fight. But I can assure you that before he and I fight to the death, none of you will survive. Chen Wenbo, didn’t you want the nomination of Lubei County? Fine, I’ll give it to you. If you can survive my slap, it’s yours.”

Chen Wenbo hurriedly said, “Uncle, don’t be impulsive, I have thought it over. Let’s go with your previous proposal. We, Guardian National Master Manor, will put up ten million taels of silver, and you give up the nomination of Lubei County. There will be a high-stakes game. The winner takes both, and the loser gets nothing. How is that?”

“All right, I agree,” Xiao Xiaowu knew when to stop. Killing Chen Wenbo with a slap would indeed make him feel good, but he did not know how to face the revenge of the Guardian National Master Manor afterwards. More importantly, he stated he would kill Chen Wenbo with a slap, but he himself was not confident about doing so. He believed he could break Chen Wenbo’s bones with a slap without a problem, but to kill would probably be impossible.

“So, who from Imperial Master Mansion will compete with Gao Han? And when do we set the date for the duel?” Chen Wenbo asked.

Xiao Xiaowu’s gaze naturally fell on Qi Tian. Normally, since Qi Tian chose to go to Lubei County as the County Master, and now the Guardian National Master Manor overtly wanted to take the nomination of the County Master of Lubei County, there would be a fundamental conflict of interest with Qi Tian. It would be natural to let Qi Tian duel with Gao Han.

But the problem was Gao Han was a Half-step Foundation Establishment, and he was an adult. Whereas Qi Tian was only at the Qi Cultivating Stage 4 and was still a child. Allowing Qi Tian to duel with Gao Han seemed far too dangerous even for Xiao Xiaowu to attempt. The Imperial Master Mansion had not declined to the extent where Qi Tian needed to take on such an extremely dangerous situation.

“Go, bring Chu Yang to me,” Xiao Xiaowu ordered.

At this moment, Qi Tian, who had been an observer until now, stepped forward, bowed fist in hand. “Mansion Master, please allow me to fight for the dignity of the Imperial Master Mansion and my personal interests.”

“You want to challenge me?” Gao Han laughed heartily when he saw a teenager standing before him. “Boy, have you grown hair yet?”

Chen Wenbo glared at Gao Han, then said to Xiao Xiaowu, “Uncle, it seems it will take you some time to determine the participant for the duel. Let’s set the date for the duel first, and then you can take your time to decide the participant. How about that?”

Chen Wenbo’s meaning was obvious, he did not care who would compete with Gao Han. Whoever it would be, Gao Han was guaranteed to win.

Xiao Xiaowu was very annoyed. Chen Wenbo repetitively belittled the Imperial Master Mansion. However, there was nothing he could say since Gao Han was indeed very good. To find someone in Imperial Master Mansion who would be of the same age or cultivation level, able to compete with Gao Han was extremely difficult.

Xiao Xiaowu waved his hand, “All right then. Xiao Ge, take Chen Wenbo and the others to the Spirit Raven Hall. Treat them well, don’t be negligent.”

Xiao Ge quickly stepped forward, bowing, “Yes.”