Chapter 645 - 441: Choice 3

Seeing that Qing Ji’s expression wasn’t feigned, Fang Qingyuan retracted his White Tiger and Cyan Dragon True Spirit Dharma Aspects.

"Withdraw your waters and send him down. Though he was defeated, it was a loss with honor. I admit, had it gone on just a little longer, my Magical Power would have been exhausted. Victory would have been his."

Fang Qingyuan was lying through his teeth. As long as the creatures in his Immortal Mansion weren’t all dead, his energy was practically infinite. He could have fought Chunyu Hua for another day and night without issue.

He was only saying these things because it was one of the conditions he had just negotiated with Chunyu Hua: to give the man a respectable way to bow out.

Chunyu Hua had even tried asking if Fang Qingyuan could let him win, which had thoroughly amused him. ’Let you win? And who’s going to reimburse me for the tens of thousands of Top-grade Spirit Stones I’ve invested in this?’

’What’s that? You’ll pay for it? Wouldn’t that just be match-fixing?’

’In my past life, I despised match-fixing and throwing games more than anything. Now that I’m a Cultivator, you want me to throw a match? Dream on.’

So, Fang Qingyuan had harshly rejected Chunyu Hua’s request. And to make the outcome convincing for everyone, he had deliberately struck him one more time with the Godslaying Needle. This time, Chunyu Hua’s severe injuries were completely real, with no hint of acting.

But one only had to look at Qing Ji’s expression to see how effective Fang Qingyuan’s attempt to save Chunyu Hua’s face had been.

She glanced at Fang Qingyuan, who was completely unscathed—not even a single drop of water on him. Then she looked at Chunyu Hua, who was unconscious and drenched in his own blood. Her large, draconic eyes radiated deep suspicion.

When the Protective Array around the arena opened, a group of Cultivators rushed up and crowded around Chunyu Hua, each professing their loyalty. One of them, clearly not thinking straight, glared angrily at Fang Qingyuan, looking like he wanted to charge forward and confront him.

In response, Fang Qingyuan sent a slap across the distance that made the man spit up blood and fall unconscious, sent to keep his master company.

Faced with such ruthlessness, the previously indignant crowd shrank back, not daring to look at Fang Qingyuan again. They carried Chunyu Hua off the stage and toward a private room.

"Care to make a victory speech?"

At some point, Nangong Meng had appeared beside Fang Qingyuan. A faint smile played on her lips as she posed the question.

Facing a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Nangong Family, Fang Qingyuan’s earlier ferocity vanished, replaced by the polite deference of a junior. He offered a respectful greeting.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder Nangong. The duel is over and the grudge is settled, so let’s consider the matter closed. I would just like to return to my quiet life. I have no desire for any more commotions in the near future."

Nangong Meng’s expression was unreadable as she listened to his reply. Maintaining her previous tone, she commented on the techniques Fang Qingyuan had just displayed.

"Those two Divine Techniques of yours are quite impressive. Even in the Nascent Soul Realm, many have yet to master an Escape Technique, let alone a Five Elements Escape Technique like yours. How rare! I hear you are not yet married? What do you think of Nangong Wan from my Nangong Family, the one who accompanied you before?"

Fang Qingyuan felt a jolt at her words. ’A woman from the Nangong Family? I wouldn’t dare. If I really married a Nangong woman, wouldn’t I have to hand over half of the Qingyuan Sect’s vast assets to the Nangong Family?’

’Eventually, after I’m gone, the entire Qingyuan Sect would belong to them. The Nangong Family has pulled that kind of stunt plenty of times over the last millennium.’

’But I can’t just bluntly refuse Nangong Meng. What excuse can I use?’

For a moment, Fang Qingyuan’s head throbbed. ’Why are so many women trying to marry me all of a sudden? Back when I was hustling for fares with Yinbao, I don’t recall any Female Cultivators throwing themselves at me.’