Chapter 613: Chapter 614: The Third in Command is Whitewashing Us
“Cough cough, if possible, I would like to exchange everything for top-grade Spirit Stones,”

Li Xiaobai said without a second thought. He didn’t practice cultivation, and as someone who had allocated all his Attribute Points to defensive power, he didn’t need the assistance of Magic Treasures; he was a person-shaped Magic Treasure with invincible defensive power himself.

Cultivation Techniques and Magic Treasures were useless to him, only Spirit Stones were his true love.

As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent, even more so than when Long Xue had been defeated moments earlier.

What had they heard? Li Xiaobai had actually refused top-tier Cultivation Techniques and Magic Treasures, opting to exchange them all for the least valuable top-grade Spirit Stones.

One must know that Spirit Stones could always be earned, or if worse came to worst, one could go out and rob others to amass a large quantity. However, Magic Treasures and Cultivation Techniques were not so readily available, especially such top-tier Techniques, which were fundamental to a cultivator’s potential.

Even if one could not cultivate them, merely observing and comprehending something from them was very beneficial. But Li Xiaobai had outright refused.

Not only had he refused, he had even begun to negotiate terms with the third-in-command, hoping to exchange all the treasures for Spirit Stones?

How dare he converse with the third-in-command as equals; was this man completely unaware of the meaning of death?

The other party was the ruler of Aolai Country, a god-like figure to the citizens. Li Xiaobai was truly audacious!

“It’s possible. Since Young Master Li has requested it, then we will exchange everything for Spirit Stones,”

“Aside from the original one hundred thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, one Great Crossing Realm Technique is valued at three million top-grade Spirit Stones on the market, and then there are several Transcendance Tribulation Stage Magic Treasures priced at one hundred thousand each. Adding up, that’s a total of three million five hundred thousand. Is the Young Master satisfied?”

Master Rong chuckled lightly as she spoke.

“It’s possible. Third-in-command is as magnanimous as ever, truly, one who harbors the world in their heart is different, not bothering to haggle over the details with someone as insignificant as me,”

Li Xiaobai said with profound meaning, but in his eyes, there was a clear sense of indifference and resistance.

The third-in-command’s schemes were indeed sophisticated, but the series of actions that treated him like a disposable pawn, easily manipulated and sacrificed, had completely destroyed any goodwill he had.

If it weren’t for the fact that this was the home of Liuren, he would have razed this place to the ground by now.

Grab the loot and run, never to interact again; that was Li Xiaobai’s most genuine thought at the moment.

“Heh, Young Master Li jests. To be able to seize the champion title in the grand competition of Aolai Country, our younger generation should look up to you as a model. Moreover, the citizens within Aolai Country trust and admire you greatly,”

“Be it in terms of strength, cultivation level, or personal conduct and upbringing, Young Master Li stands out. You must not belittle yourself,”

Master Rong replied with a light laugh, brushing off the remark with ease.

She picked up on the implications in Li Xiaobai’s words, but after all, he was just a junior, and his cultivation level was not yet something she took seriously. While he might have boundless potential, he was not significant enough for her to pay serious attention at the moment.

With a flick of her wrist, she threw out a Space Ring.

Li Xiaobai took a brief glance. The total was four million, fifty thousand more than the third-in-command’s original offer.

“The extra Spirit Stones can be considered an apology. Many things have happened in Aolai Country recently that may have startled Young Master Li. Consider this fifty thousand as tea money,”

Master Rong said, smilingly amiably.

“The third-in-command is generous; then, this junior will not refuse,”

Li Xiaobai’s face lit up with joy. He carefully put the Space Ring into his pocket, not expecting the third-in-command to be so forthright, voluntarily adding a compensation of fifty thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. She really was wealthy and generous.

“Thus, the grand competition of the arena has come to a perfect end. I hope the younger generation of cultivators within Aolai Country will set Young Master Li as their target and strive to emulate him. In the years to come, do not waste your time in cultivation and make sure to present a better performance in the next grand competition of the arena!”

Master Rong’s cool voice spread to everyone’s ears.

“Understood!”

“We shall certainly not fail to live up to the trust placed in us, with boldness and unremitting diligence!”

“We will surely not disappoint the heavy expectations of the Third Family Head!”

A group of family disciples hurriedly said, their faces respectful, yet their hearts were ablaze with urgency. Today was the day the Third Family Head would rewrite history, and they could hardly wait to witness this moment.

“So next, there is a matter that needs to be resolved, which I also ask all fellow cultivators to witness together.”

Master Rong’s expression became stern and rippleless in an instant, and his gaze, deep and silent like the ocean, seemed to see through the world’s vanities.

It’s coming!

Whether it were the disciples, or the numerous Family Heads on the stage, at this moment, everyone held their breath and watched the figure in treasure-blue on the platform with fervent eyes.

The moment Master Rong raised his arm, they would promptly raise the banner, overthrow the Great Family Head’s rule, and write their own legendary history!

But the words that followed caused a wave of foreboding to surge in their hearts.

“The incident reported by the Immortal Spirit Daily some time ago is something that no one in Aolai Country is unaware of, yet it was suppressed overnight by me. The reason is simple; the mastermind behind the turmoil is neither a single individual nor a particular clan.”

“In order to dig out all the big fish hiding behind the scenes, it took quite some time. Perhaps there are already many within the country who are puzzled by my actions, but no matter, today, I shall resolve the doubts in your hearts!”

Master Rong’s eyes flashed coldly, staring intently at the numerous Family Heads on the high platform.

“Will you tell them, or shall I speak on your behalf?”

“What… what’s going on?”

“This is not what we agreed upon!”

“Where is the promised coup? Patriarch Situ, what is this situation?”

“Weren’t we on the side of the Third Family Head? What does she mean by acting this way, does she intend to abandon us?”

On the high platform, a crowd of Family Heads panicked, as the script wasn’t following what had been agreed upon.

Wasn’t it supposed to be the Third Family Head who instigated the conflict, broke with the Great Family Head, and then they would rise in support of the Third Family Head to establish a new house and depose the Great Family Head?

Why was it now that they, the loyalists, were being questioned instead?

“I’m also clueless, what exactly is the Third Family Head playing at?”

The mind of Patriarch Situ was also in turmoil; he could not discern the Third Family Head’s intentions. He had believed firmly that he and the Third Family Head were on the same side, which had led him to advocate forcefully to all parties, even using the tactic of threatening his own family members, but the result he saw now was baffling.

Was this some kind of strategy from the Third Family Head?

Perhaps it was an opportunity to clear their names?

“Yes, it must be that; the false charges against us were temporarily suppressed by the Third Family Head but not resolved. As the Third Family Head brought this issue up today, she is probably aiming to clarify and exonerate us, turning the spearhead back towards Li Xiaobai!”

Patriarch Situ said with a resolute gaze.

The crowd slowly nodded, accepting this explanation.

A rift between the Third Family Head and the Great Family Head had long been inevitable, and they were certainly on the side of the Third Family Head; indeed, there was nothing to worry about.

“So it turns out; we worried needlessly.”

“Heh, to have doubted, even for a moment, I truly owe the Third Family Head an apology for not understanding her profound intentions!”