Xu Huang.

In the South, his name was not well-known, but in The North, he enjoyed an imposing reputation. This was solely due to his 'Xuantian Finger', a technique that made him unrivaled among those of the same rank.

It was rumored that in his youth, he had served as a bodyguard for a prominent central government official. He was later dismissed due to his poor reputation and eventually returned to his hometown to establish a martial arts school.

However, the school's acceptance of disciples was entirely dependent on fate—or rather, on money.

Without an enrollment fee of several million, Xu Huang wouldn't even give a prospective disciple a second glance. Wan Li's ability to become his apprentice was purely a matter of luck, coupled with the fact that she had indeed offered a substantial amount of money.

CREAK—

A black Mercedes stopped in front of the Wan Family's main entrance.

Wan Li hurried to open the door, and a white-haired elder with a sharp glint in his eyes stepped out of the car.

"Teacher," Wan Li greeted respectfully.

"Hm."

Xu Huang nodded nonchalantly, his hands clasped behind his back. Even when the old head of the Wan Family personally came to greet him, he only offered a few perfunctory, noncommittal words in return.

Faced with Xu Huang's arrogant attitude, neither Old Master Wan nor Wan Li showed the slightest dissatisfaction; in fact, they found his behavior perfectly normal.

This was a Martial Ancestor, after all!

With one finger, he could sunder a great river.

With one fist, shatter a high mountain.

With one thought, soar to the heavens.

With a single burst of anger, slay ten thousand.

To ordinary people, he was akin to an immortal, so his loftiness was to be expected.

"Martial Ancestor Xu, we will be troubling you for the time being," the head of the Wan Family said cautiously as he accompanied Xu Huang to his room.

Leaning on his cane, the old man's steps were unsteady, yet he endured the pain and forced himself to keep pace with Xu Huang.

Wan Li wanted to speak several times but ultimately didn't dare.

Asking a Martial Ancestor to halt his steps for her grandfather, an ordinary mortal, was a sign of disrespect!

"Old Master Wan," Xu Huang said indifferently, "The previously agreed-upon conditions are insufficient. I want double!"

"This..."

Old Master Wan's pupils constricted. He had promised that if Xu Huang made a move, the Wan Family would pay an appearance fee of one hundred million, win or lose! If he successfully won the championship, the one hundred million yuan prize money donated by the tycoons of the thirteen cities would also be his, along with thirty percent of Sea Temple Island's profits for the next ten years.

These terms were already a massive expenditure!

But to help the Wan Family advance, Old Master Wan had spared no expense. Who could have imagined that after a mere ten days, the price would suddenly double…

"What, you don't agree?"

Xu Huang finally stopped walking.

Exhausted and pale, Old Master Wan didn't even have a chance to catch his breath before quickly waving his hands. "No, no, I wouldn't dare. It's just..."

"Feng Lang from the Northwest will also be competing. He's at the peak of the Seventh Grade, and his Innate Talent is of the Wind Attribute. Barring any accidents... he will be the first Martial Artist to arrive at Sea Temple Island," Xu Huang stated calmly. "Only I can defeat him! Or, you could try contacting Feng Lang and see how many times my price his will be."

Although the Wan Family Head was deeply displeased with this last-minute price hike, he could only grit his teeth and accept it. At this point, it was too late to find anyone else.

A similar scene was unfolding within the leading families of other cities, as they all prepared for the upcoming Sea Temple Festival.

This was an opportunity for a carp to leap over the dragon gate. If they could seize it... they could completely change their destiny!

…

…

Xu Lai arrived at the Dongli University Medical Office only to find both Zhou Feng and Liu Nanwei absent, which surprised him. Usually, even if they had matters to attend to, one of them would remain behind just in case.

"Ah, Director Xu."

A man pushed the door open. It was Li Shouzhong, who had just returned from the restroom. The former head of the municipal hospital's emergency department was now brimming with excitement. "When did you get back to East Sea? Xiao Liu told me you went on a trip with your family."

"I got back last night," Xu Lai said with a smile. "Where are those two?"

"Hmph," Li Shouzhong said with rare displeasure. "Don't even mention it. That kid Zhou Feng went off to the Go club again to watch Ke Ji play against a ninth-dan Go player. As for Xiao Liu, she wasn't feeling well, so she took leave to rest at home."

"I see," Xu Lai nodded. "Well, you go on and get back to your work. I'll take care of things here."

"This... Are you sure that's okay?" Li Shouzhong hesitated.

"Go on," Xu Lai waved his hand.

Li Shouzhong rubbed his hands together, picked up the teacup from the table, and left. The research on Xu Lai's medical theories had reached a critical point, and he absolutely did not want to miss it.

Xu Lai was left alone in the school clinic. Although it was a bit boring, he was long accustomed to it. He had lived like this for tens of thousands of years, so what was a single day? Besides, the mere thought of seeing his adorable daughter and beautiful wife in the evening filled his eyes with anticipation.

Three hours passed that morning.

Not a single student came for treatment. Just as Xu Lai was about to go out for a walk, his sister-in-law pushed the door open…

Ruan Lan burst in and declared, "Brother-in-law, I have two pieces of news, one good and one bad. Which do you want to hear first!?"

"Neither." Xu Lai glanced at her and started to walk out on his own.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't be like that," Ruan Lan feigned annoyance. "Come on, Brother-in-law, give me some face and play along."

"You have no face to give."

"..."

Ruan Lan rolled her eyes. "The bad news is about my favorite niece!"

"Hmm??"

Upon hearing it involved his daughter, Xu Lai's focus sharpened instantly. "Speak."

"Yiyi got into a fight with another kid," Ruan Lan said.

"And the good news?"

"She won."

"..."

Xu Lai rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to the school right now."

With Tan Chang watching in secret, and Beibei, one of the greatest swordsmen, providing backup from the shadows, there was no way Yiyi could lose. He was just going to deal with the aftermath.

"Don't!" Ruan Lan said, panicking. "Yiyi is afraid you and my sister will find out, so she didn't dare to give the teacher your phone numbers. Why else do you think the teacher contacted me?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Xu Lai frowned.

"How about this, we'll go together," Ruan Lan said after some hesitation, then added a condition. "But let's get one thing straight first. You are not allowed to yell at Yiyi. She's the victim!"

Xu Lai rolled his eyes.

Nonsense. I couldn't dote on my daughter enough. How could I ever bring myself to yell at her?

Xu Lai drove, taking his sister-in-law to Galaxy Kindergarten. When they arrived, they saw Yiyi standing by the school gate. Opposite her stood a middle-aged woman, jabbing a finger in Xu Yiyi's direction with a very arrogant attitude, screeching, "You little bitch, how dare you hurt my son! Kneel down for my son!"

"I won't!" Xu Yiyi lifted her small face, which was full of defiance. "He hit me first! I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not apologizing!"

"Shut up!" the middle-aged woman snapped angrily. "Does it matter who started it? What matters is that my son is hurt, and you, you little wretch, are completely fine!"

"Ma'am, please show some respect," Teacher Miao Momo said coldly as she shielded Xu Yiyi behind her. "Yiyi is only a five-year-old child. Your words are excessive. I demand that you apologize to my student."

"Apologize? Do you even know who I am?" the middle-aged woman scoffed. Does this young teacher really take herself so seriously?

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