Chapter 144: Chapter 0154: How to Win Chapter 144: Chapter 0154: How to Win As the indigenous cultivators dispersed, the disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion returned to the safe house or gathered nearby. Because of Qi Tian’s astounding performance during the day, those disciples who originally thought Qi Tian did not deserve to occupy the safe house all quieted down and dared not say a word. Qi Tian’s consecutive defeat of Li Hongbin and Cai Qilong during the day was truly intimidating. None of the Imperial Master Mansion disciples felt they could match Li Hongbin or Cai Qilong. Since even they were not a match for Qi Tian, it would be wise not to provoke Qi Tian, a star of calamity, unnecessarily.
Qi Tian did not pay attention to what others were saying about him. Outside the safe house, he set up a rack, started a fire, put up a pot and began to stew water salamander. Given that he had ti and wouldn’t be disturbed, he decided to treat himself well.
While Qi Tian was busy cooking, disciples of Imperial Master Mansion ca over one after another. These were the people whom Qi Tian had redeed from the indigenous cultivators with a huge ransom. Most of them ca to express their gratitude to Qi Tian, saying a bucketful of grateful words. However, they were penniless now and couldn’t even bring anything to give thanks to Qi Tian even if they wanted to.
There were a few who gave Qi Tian I.O.U.s, expressing that no matter what, they would repay Qi Tian’s ransom with interest in the future. Qi Tian accepted all these I.O.U.s. As for those who didn’t write I.O.U.s, he didn’t force them to do so. It was of their own volition. His intention in ransoming them was not for any repaynt, but because he didn’t want to see the strength of the Imperial Master Mansion decreasing too much.
Not all the disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion whom Qi Tian salvaged ca to express their gratitude. Qi Tian had rescued more than 30 people in total, but only seven or eight of them showed up. They indeed included so who were seriously injured and unable to move, but there were also those who were fine. Regarding Qi Tian’s rescue, they didn’t express anything at all.
However, Qi Tian didn’t say anything.
Among all those saved by Qi Tian, the person who was most grateful to him was Wen Di, the first disciple from the Imperial Master Mansion that Qi Tian had rescued. When Qi Tian started cooking, Wen Di rushed over, first expressing his gratitude to Qi Tian again, then hustling around, helping Qi Tian with chores such as starting the fire, preparing water salamander by slicing and gutting it, cleaning, stewing, and almost everything else he was eager to do.
By the ti the water salamander stew was ready, Wen Di scooped up a bowl, of which more than half was filled with at, and handed it to Qi Tian.
“Thank you. You also get a bowl for yourself.” Qi Tian smiled and nodded to Wen Di.
Wen Di nodded, grabbed a bowl for himself, filled it half full with salamander soup, then sat down below Qi Tian.
At this ti, Chu Yang, along with Hao Zhigang, Bi Ji and several other second-ranking deacons, walked over. “Wow, that slls good! We ca over because we followed the sll. Qi Tian, what delicious food are you cooking here? Would you mind if we added a few more bowls and chopsticks?”
“Oh, it’s Chu Yang, Hao Zhigang, Bi Ji, as well as Liang Jiashun and Wang Fali. Welco, welco. I have a big pot of stew here, and I was just wondering how to finish all of it. Your visit is a big help to .” said Qi Tian with a smile.
Wen Di hastily put down his own chopsticks, then took clean ones to scoop at and soup for Chu Yang and others.
Chu Yang took out a basket filled with a variety of clean, tempting-looking wild fruits. Hao Zhigang and the others didn’t co empty-handed, either. So brought out wine, and others brought dried at and snacks. Soon, a lavish al was prepared.
Qi Tian knew that Chu Yang and the others ca to curry favor and befriend him, and he was more than welcoming. These people may not beco his friends in the future, but as long as they are not his enemies or stumbling blocks, he would be content. Of course, it would be even better if they could beco his friends. He’s not averse to making friends with anyone.
The group sat together, chatting away. Chu Yang talked about their hardships and interesting experiences while serving in the Lianying Realm. They also discussed so matters of the Imperial Master Mansion, especially the power struggle within the Sky Eagle Hall, which was a major focus of their conversation. They shared with Qi Tian so inside information about the Sky Eagle Hall to ensure that when Qi Tian entered the Hall, he wouldn’t be completely in the dark.
Many of the things Chu Yang and the others revealed were known only to those inside the Sky Eagle Hall and hadn’t been circulated outside. This inside information gave Qi Tian a feeling of lifting the veil to see the sun.
Finally, soone from Chu Yang’s side proposed a drinking contest—specifically, an arm-wrestling match, the loser of which would have to drink.
The drinks were strong, and a full bamboo tube, containing more than a pound, would surely cause intoxication if consud completely. Even a cultivator couldn’t withstand that.
The opponents for the drinking contest would be Qi Tian and Chu Yang. This had been previously agreed upon by Chu Yang and his companions, as a way to gauge Qi Tian’s strength in a friendly manner. Therefore, arm wrestling had been their first choice.
Qi Tian and Chu Yang faced each other, placing their elbows upon a large rock, their palms clasped together.
Bi Ji set a bamboo tube aside, pulling out the stopper, releasing a rich aroma of the wine that made everyone feel slightly tipsy with just a whiff. “Gentlen, pay attention. This wine is excellent, but if you try to gulp it all down, it’s enough to knock anyone out. If you don’t want to end up drunk and embarrass yourself, put in everything you’ve got and win this drinking contest,” he said.
After saying that, Bi Ji abruptly let go, and the arm wrestling contest between Qi Tian and Chu Yang began.
Initially, Qi Tian solely exerted the power of his ridians. His fifteen ridians could now supply him over four thousand pounds of strength, but applying such imnse power was like sinking a stone into the sea. Chu Yang’s hand didn’t move an inch.
At this mont, if Chu Yang seized the opportunity to harness all his strength, it would have been the end of Qi Tian. But Chu Yang’s hand remained steady, not letting Qi Tian lose face. “Junior Brother, show your true skills. Don’t disappoint .”
Moved by this, Qi Tian turned on the Heavenly Dao Engine, switching to double Power Mode, then doubled his ridian power. In an instant, his strength surpassed nine thousand pounds, although not quite ten thousand. In this arm wrestle, Qi Tian couldn’t use the Eight Desolate Demon Tiger Fist, nor wore any fist guards, so he couldn’t rely on the added strength from the Demon Tiger Fist or the guards. He could only rely on his own strength.
Qi Tian didn’t hold back at all this ti, causing Chu Yang’s expression to change slightly. If Chu Yang only used his own strength, without any external assistance, his strength would also be under ten thousand pounds, barely more than Qi Tian’s but by a very slim margin.
Chu Yang was already feeling the pressure from the force transmitted by Qi Tian’s hand, any slight distraction could lead to his defeat. He had already begun not to underestimate Qi Tian after his successive victories over Li Hongbin and Cai Qilong, but he had never realized that Qi Tian was almost at the sa level as him.
For a mont, Chu Yang was at a loss for words. Qi Tian, a re twelve or thirteen-year-old boy at the fourth stage of Qi Cultivation, trained for significantly less ti than him, was performing at a level where even a simple strength competition didn’t assure Chu Yang an obvious advantage.
Despite his shock, Chu Yang didn’t intend to take it easy or gift Qi Tian a victory. He had his pride. He was significantly older than Qi Tian. If he couldn’t even win at arm wrestling, wouldn’t it make him a laughingstock among the disciples in the Imperial Master Mansion? Moreover, it wasn’t honorable for esteed second-class leaders like them to lose to Qi Tian. For the sake of his pride and the prestige of the second-class leaders, he had to do his best to defeat Qi Tian.
However, Chu Yang rembered to save so face for Qi Tian. He didn’t quickly bring Qi Tian’s wrist down to taste defeat. He planned to keep them evenly matched for a while, then bring Qi Tian down when he couldn’t hold on anymore. This way, he could save face without making Qi Tian lose too badly.
Qi Tian’s expression changed slightly. He had always relied on absolute power to crush his opponents, which had been almost invincible, but this ti, it seed like he had t his match. He could feel that Chu Yang was on par with him, but Chu Yang likely still had so strength left in reserve and hadn’t gone all out.
Chu Yang had most likely done so to save him face.
Qi Tian didn’t particularly care about winning, but the thought of having to drink that large bamboo tube of wine if he lost made him abandon the idea of conceding. He didn’t like drinking a lot. Drinking a little now and then was tolerable, but drinking a lot was too unpleasant.
However, he had already mobilized all his ridian power and was even operating the double Power Mode of the Heavenly Dao Engine. How could he increase his strength? Did he need to unleash the Eight Desolate Demon Tiger Fist against Chu Yang? If so, the arm wrestling match would lose its aning.
Without using the Eight Desolate Demon Tiger Fist, and with all his strength already used up, how could he win this small competition, especially when Chu Yang was at an advantage? Was he supposed to compete with Chu Yang on endurance?
Chu Yang was at the Half-step Foundation stage. His cultivation realm was solid and genuine. anwhile, Qi Tian was only at the fourth stage of Qi Cultivation. The difference was more than just a little bit. With such a significant difference in cultivation realm levels, Qi Tian had almost no chance of winning an endurance match against Chu Yang. Moreover, there were restrictions on the operation of the Heavenly Dao Engine. Once the fuel for the Heavenly Dao Engine ran out, Qi Tian would revert to his original form.
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