Chapter 22 What Does It Mean to Be Wealthy and Imposing_2

"Where do I have that." Meng Hongchen stuck out her tongue, "I'm just looking at the problem from a standpoint of absolute rationality."

As she spoke, she couldn't help stealing a glance at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao's face showed no emotion.

But he understood in his heart.

This girl was trying to boost her favor with him.

It was a little absurd.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go now, I have things to do."

Qin Xiao couldn't be bothered to waste any more words with them.

Wasn't it better to devote this time to his own research?

Or maybe, popping a couple of pills to improve his cultivation level was also a good use of time.

"No way!"

Xiao Hongchen ignored Meng Hongchen's attempts to stop him and walked straight up to Qin Xiao, declaring loudly, "You must have a competition with me."

"Why should I?"

"Not for the sake of my face, but for this..."

Xiao Hongchen flipped his hand and took out a jade bottle from a Spatial Soul Guidance Device, "Inside are plenty of elixirs that can improve cultivation level, and they're perfect for you right now."

"Oh?"

Qin Xiao's interest was piqued.

His invisible spiritual power spread out from within, and in an instant, he knew the grade of the medicinal pills.

He had to admit, they were impressive.

No worse than the ones Kong Deming had handed over to him through Jing Hongchen's help.

If he could get his hands on this bottle, there was a strong possibility he could break through level 40 before the Soul Master contest.

He could tell from this that Jing Hongchen treated his granddaughters very well, sparing no expense.

However, Qin Xiao wasn't in a hurry to accept.

"How do you want to compete? My Soul Power is only in the 20s right now, barely enough to be considered a proper Second-level Soul Master."

If you asked Qin Xiao if he could make soul tools beyond his level?

The answer was, of course, positive.

But why put in 80% effort when just 30% was enough to get the elixir?

That would just be silly, wouldn't it?

So, Xiao Hongchen was just asking to be taken advantage of.

Not taking advantage of his proactive offer would be remiss.

"Alright, if that's the case, I won't make it hard for you. We will both carve a second-grade array, and whoever finishes first wins.

And if you win, the elixir is yours."

"And if you win?" Qin Xiao curiously asked.

"What could you have that I would be interested in? Don't be ridiculous."

Xiao Hongchen snorted disdainfully, "I don't need anything from you, I just want to prove that I'm stronger than you."

"Heh."

After hearing Xiao Hongchen's words, Qin Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

Young people like this were rare.

Handing out resources for free, the more the merrier.

"What are you laughing at? Can you give me a straight answer?"

"Sure, I accept your challenge."

Qin Xiao nodded, then looking at Meng Hongchen, said, "Then I'd like you to be our witness."

"Of course, of course."

Meng Hongchen responded eagerly, nodding like a pecking chicken, "You can trust me, I'll make sure Xiao Hongchen doesn't cheat."

Xiao Hongchen: "..."

He didn't know what to say to his own sister.

He even began to doubt in his heart.

Who was the outsider really?

Could a real sister treat her brother like this?

At the very least, she shouldn't.

The way Meng Hongchen was acting, she wasn't just turning her elbow out; she was practically smacking her brother in the face with it.

"Fine, no problem, let's begin."

Qin Xiao decided to make it quick.

He felt it was unnecessary to waste too much time on a stranger, if not for Xiao Hongchen bringing out the pills that tempted him, he would have kicked these two out long ago.

"Heh, you're in such a hurry to be defeated by me?

But on the other hand, I also want to see just how talented you really are."

Xiao Hongchen said, securing his position beside the worktable.

Then he glanced at the diagrams on the table, and just so happened to spot a second-grade array.

"Let's carve this one."

"It's a bit challenging, but I think it's just right. What do you say?"

Xiao Hongchen estimated that he would need a minute to carve this array.

Qin Xiao also glanced in the direction Xiao Hongchen was pointing and casually nodded, "No problem."

It's worth mentioning.

Even Xuan Ziwen, an Eighth-level Soul Master, would need around half a minute to carve this array.

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"Okay, Meng, 5-second countdown."

Xiao Hongchen said to Meng Hongchen, then pulled out his carving knife and a piece of metal.

Meng Hongchen nodded her head, her lips parted slightly, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, begin."

As Meng Hongchen's voice trailed off, Qin Xiao and Xiao Hongchen's hands quickly drew trail after trail of afterimages in the void.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.

The carving knives fluttered like dancing butterflies, as lively as sprites.

Xiao Hongchen and Qin Xiao were both immersed in their own worlds, in a state of self-forgetfulness.

As time rapidly passed, a beautifully intricate array formed under Qin Xiao's hands.

30 seconds.

Meng Hongchen came up with an exact number in her heart, utterly astonished.

But she did not forget her duty as a referee.

As soon as the carving knife in Qin Xiao's hand stopped, she immediately shouted, "The competition is over!"

Clang.

At her words, Xiao Hongchen dropped the array he was working on onto the workbench as if struck by lightning.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

What the hell?

Meng Hongchen said Qin Xiao had finished engraving?

"Xiao Hongchen, are you alright?

Qin Xiao only took 30 seconds to finish his engraving, you've lost." Meng Hongchen nudged the somewhat dazed Xiao Hongchen with her elbow.

"I, I..."

Xiao Hongchen finally came back to his senses, his eyes began to sparkle, "You, you actually finished engraving in just 30 seconds?"

In the face of Xiao Hongchen's doubts, Qin Xiao shrugged his shoulders.

His attitude was clear.

As if to say, can't you see for yourself?

"Fine, I'll see for myself." Xiao Hongchen muttered, "Don't be too smug, just completing the engraving of the array doesn't mean it's finished. Being fast doesn't necessarily mean you win. If your array cannot transmit soul power, then it's also a failure."

Saying that, he picked up the array in front of Qin Xiao and infused a thread of Soul Power into it.

Gradually, the array began to glow and shine, becoming more and more dazzling.

"A finished product.

This is actually a finished array!

And to engrave such an array, you only took 30 seconds..."

Xiao Hongchen murmured under his breath.

In fact, his heart was anything but calm.

What did it mean to engrave such a complex array in 30 seconds?

Let's put it this way.

Although he's now a Fourth-level Soul Master, even if he became a Sixth-level, Seventh-level, or even Eighth-level Soul Master, he might not be able to achieve this level.

To his knowledge, only a few Eighth-level Soul Masters might be able to reach such speed.

Because to engrave this array so quickly, one must have a unique insight and understanding of the array.

Yet Qin Xiao had done it at the level of a Second-level Soul Master, which was simply... too astounding.

At that moment, he couldn't help but think two words, impressed!

"Brother, how do you feel? Convinced or not?"

At this time, Meng Hongchen had to bring up the touchy subject.

Xiao Hongchen's expression stiffened.

Even if he was convinced, could he admit it?

As the future heir to the Hongchen Clan, his pride wouldn't allow him to bow to anyone.

At least not for now.

"This time it was just my carelessness, next time, next time I will definitely take back today's loss."

Xiao Hongchen said, then shoved the bottle of elixir into Meng Hongchen's hand and turned to leave.

Why stay here?

To wait for a banquet?

"Qin Xiao, congratulations."

Meng Hongchen took the elixir from Xiao Hongchen's hand, turned, and handed it to Qin Xiao with a delighted expression on her face.

"Thank you!"

Polite as always, Qin Xiao took the bottle of rare elixir in hand.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The Hongchen Clan sure didn't skimp on spending.

How much could this bottle of elixir cost, a few hundred thousand golden soul coins?

But then again, that made sense.

Mingde Hall wasn't short on money.

In the original story, they even spent 1.5 billion golden soul coins to buy the Snow Emperor.

And if Mingde Hall wasn't short on money, could Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master, be short on money?

However.

The next moment, Qin Xiao frowned, puzzled as he looked at Meng Hongchen: "Aren't you leaving with your brother?"

With her head down, Meng Hongchen looked at her toes, "Leave? What for, we are classmates from today onwards."

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