Chapter 5: The Fake Dragon Emperor

"It is called the Root of Infinity."

"Legend has it that it is shadowless and invisible, transparent in color."

"This kind of spirit root is ten times, even a hundred times, stronger than the ninth-grade."

"But such a spirit root only exists in myths, it simply doesn't exist in reality."

"What, do you think you have the Root of Infinity?"

The Tower Master mocked, "Ninth-grade is the existence you can look up to in this life, cherish the opportunity to face the genius of ninth-grade!"

"Once he grows up, you won't even have the chance to receive a glance from him for the rest of your life!"

Hearing this, the young man was full of bitterness.

Just one talent assessment determined their future status as superior or inferior.

One was a true dragon in the sky, the other an ant on the ground.

Such a comparison, so cruel that it was despairing.

Jiang Fan, in the adjacent room, naturally noticed this commotion.

"No way? Lu Zheng has a ninth-grade spirit root?"

Jiang Fan's face showed surprise. If he had such talent, why did ten years of consuming the Xu Family's resources still leave him inferior to Xu Yining's sixth-grade?

As he pondered, he suddenly realized his crystal ruler reacted once again.

A dim ball of light flew out of the ruler, landing in front of him.

When the light dispersed, it turned out to be two cultivation techniques!

"Oh? Are these rewards for me?" Jiang Fan's heart felt joy.

He quickly picked them up and looked closely.

One was a Yellow Level high mental method called the Pure Wind Scripture.

The other was a Yellow Level high attack skill called the Seven-star Sword Jue.

The highest-level technique in Lonely Boat City was only Yellow Level medium.

He unexpectedly received two Yellow Level high techniques at once!

Most importantly, one of them was the mental method he urgently needed!

"What level am I at to receive such high rewards?" Jiang Fan couldn't help but be surprised.

Xu Yining, with her sixth-grade spirit root, was only rewarded a Yellow Level lower mental method.

But regardless of the reason,

with these two techniques and this transparent spirit root, he would make rapid progress in the shortest time!

He safely tucked the techniques and opened the stone door.

The huge sound of the opening door attracted the attention of countless onlookers.

"So it's Jiang Fan! He scared me. I thought it was Lu Zheng coming out!"

"Didn't Jiang Fan's assessment show no spirit root again this time?"

"Alas, just a wall apart, one is a peerless ninth-grade, the other has no spirit root. The difference is mountainous!"

"The Xu Family is a miraculous place. Ten years of sheltering raised both a waste and a peerless dragon, ha-ha."

Jiang Fan frowned.

He wanted to argue with them, but after thinking it through, why bother?

Quietly training in the two Yellow Level high techniques and silently increasing his strength was the right path.

He was now alone. If people knew his details, it would instead bring big trouble.

Thus, he responded with a calm smile.

"Jiang Fan, you are here too? What's the situation inside?" Xu Yining and Xu Zhengyan came over, noticing Jiang Fan also undergoing the assessment.

Xu Yining bit her red lips, speaking rapidly.

Jiang Fan calmly wrote on a note: "Lu Zheng's assessment showed a ninth-grade spirit root."

What?

Xu Yining's face turned ghastly pale, staggering a few steps, unable to believe this reality: "Impossible, this is impossible!"

Could it really be a ninth-grade genius born?

Moreover, he was fostered in their own family?

Her strong pride couldn't bear the blow, and she burst into tears.

Jiang Fan silently sighed. He always felt there was some issue with Lu Zheng's spirit root assessment, so he casually comforted her, writing:

"Keep calm and continue cultivating, await the future."

Xu Yining glanced at it, feeling it was Jiang Fan's sarcasm towards her, and said angrily: "Seeing me cry makes you feel happy, right?"

"You think me rejecting your marriage proposal has its retribution, right?"

"No matter what, I'm a sixth-grade prodigy, a hundred times, a thousand times better than you, a waste of a mute!"

Jiang Fan was speechless.

She was angry, but why take it out on him?

Truly, like "not grateful," a dog biting Lü Dongbin without knowing a good person's heart!

At this moment,

the Tower Master, who also noticed Xu Zhengyan's arrival, quickly ran over with an incredibly kind smile.

"Brother Xu, congratulations, congratulations!"

Xu Zhengyan was flattered.

The Detection Tower Master usually never gave face to anyone, only slightly smiled at the City Lord.

So suddenly being so kind, calling him 'Brother Xu,' made him feel light as if walking on air.

Next, the strongest person in Lonely Boat City, the City Lord Ye Jifeng, also came with cupped fists: "Family Head Xu, congratulations, Xu Mansion produced a true dragon!"

Seeing Ye Jifeng's barely smiling face, Xu Zhengyan felt even more like he was dreaming.

Once upon a time, he visited Ye Jifeng with heavy gifts, only to be shut out, receiving no audience.

Now, he proactively came to express goodwill with envy and jealousy.

Several secluded old monsters, whom Xu Zhengyan had to address with utmost respect, also kindly approached, speaking about the connections between their ancestors and the Xu family.

It seemed as if overnight, the Xu family transformed from an obscure declining family to the hottest first family in Lonely Boat City.

Xu Zhengyan was in a daze for a long time before gradually calming down.

He understood it was all thanks to Lu Zheng!

Wang Yingfeng proudly walked over: "Husband, do you remember what you said when I insisted on bringing Zheng into the Xu family for cultivation?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhengyan's face was full of guilt.

He had strongly opposed it, after all, the Xu family's resources were limited, giving them to an outsider would mean less for their own people.

Under Wang Yingfeng's desperate plea, he reluctantly agreed.

He never expected Lu Zheng to be so promising!

"I was blind at the time, all thanks to you, my fortunate wife, that our Xu family could attach itself to Zheng, this future peerless talent!"

Xu Zhengyan embraced Wang Yingfeng, feeling extremely grateful.

Wang Yingfeng's face was full of glory: "Indeed? Back then, that eighth-grade prodigy from Biyun City directly entered the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, and later became its Vice Pavilion Master."

"Our Zheng is a ninth-grade prodigy, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion will soon recruit him!"

"Your Xu family will soar to new heights with my Zheng's help!"

Xu Zhengyan was swayed in his thoughts.

Lu Zheng's ninth-grade spirit root changed not just his fate, but the entire Xu family!

Not long after,

amidst everyone's anticipation, Lu Zheng finally opened the stone door, walking out confidently.

He came before Xu Zhengyan, knelt on one knee, and said: "Thank you, uncle, for your years of nurturing."

"I have not let you down, my assessment showed a ninth-grade spirit root!"

For a moment, everyone envied Xu Zhengyan.

No one knew how much luck was required to get such a heavenly prodigy!

Xu Zhengyan didn't dare to act superior, quickly helping him up: "This won't do, Zheng, you're a ninth-grade prodigy, how can I, your uncle, deserve this kneel? Stand up quickly."

Lu Zheng felt unprecedentedly elated.

In the past, he always spoke and acted cautiously in front of Xu Zhengyan, slightly off would trigger a reprimand.

Now, Xu Zhengyan revered him as a god.

And the Tower Master, the City Lord of Lonely Boat City, and some old monsters from various families all looked at him eagerly, hoping to establish a good relationship.

This made him, who had long been at the bottom, feel invincible, as if he was overlooking the world from the nine-layered heaven.

However, from the corner of his eye, he saw Jiang Fan's silhouette.

Everyone bowed to his ninth-grade spirit root's brilliance.

Only Jiang Fan, with his hands in his sleeves, showed neither reverence nor fear.

This annoyed him greatly.

A waste mute, why didn't he bow to him?

"Jiang Fan, are you unconvinced?"

In front of all the strongmen, all the bigwigs, and all the martial artists in Lonely Boat City, he threw his question firmly.