Meanwhile, in a teahouse on the other side of Yuan Yi Town.
Jiang Xiong Ba was here, conversing with someone.
The other person was a man in a Daoist robe, around sixty years old.
"Patriarch Jiang, what do you think of my proposal? Do you agree or not?"
The man in the Daoist robe held a horsetail whisk in his hand and had a small goatee, giving him an air of an immortal.
Jiang Xiong Ba had a pensive expression, seemingly hesitating about something.
After a few seconds, he shook his head, "Daoist Wu Dao, I appreciate your kind offer, but your terms are too steep. Our Jiang family cannot afford it. Let's forget it!"
The man in the Daoist robe was indeed Daoist Wu Dao, the Daoist priest from the Zhongnan Mountain Daoist temple.
As soon as Jiang Xiong Ba arrived in Yuan Yi Town, he did not go to the hotel with Qin Yi and Jiang Hong Xin. Instead, he came here first, specifically to meet this person.
Just now, Wu Dao Zi had said that during this exchange meeting, the Zhongnan Mountain Daoist temple could join forces with the Jiang family to deal with other forces, ensuring the Jiang family would not lose.
But there was one condition: the Jiang family had to cede one of their cultivation grounds, Yun Wu Mountain, to Zhongnan Mountain!
Seeing Jiang Xiong Ba refuse, Wu Dao Zi was not angered. He picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, "Patriarch Jiang, you need to think clearly. If you join forces with us from Zhongnan Mountain, you only lose one place, Yun Wu Mountain. If you don't join forces with us, your Jiang family might lose much more!"
Jiang Xiong Ba remained silent.
In his heart, he secretly thought that with Qin Yi's help this time, and Qin Yi being a Grandmaster, their Jiang family would surely be invincible!
Seeing his silence, Wu Dao Zi continued, "Patriarch Jiang, you don't still harbor any hopes that your Jiang family has a chance in this exchange meeting, do you?"
"Your Jiang family is severely lacking in talent now. The only person qualified to participate in this exchange meeting seems to be your nephew, Jiang Hong Xin, right?"
"Are you planning to rely on him?"
Wu Dao Zi's expression clearly showed disdain, "If that's the case, I advise you to surrender quickly. From what I know, the participants from the Bagua Sect and the Ninjutsu Way for this exchange meeting are all very formidable..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Xiong Ba stood up, "Daoist Wu Dao, my mind is made up. Please don't try to persuade me further! I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave. We can talk again later!"
With that, he turned and left the teahouse, regardless of Wu Dao Zi's reaction.
Instantly, Wu Dao Zi stared at his departing back, his slight smile gradually disappearing and turning grim.
Then, he held his teacup with one hand and applied a little force. The teacup cracked and broke.
"He refused a good offer. In that case, don't blame me for being impolite the day after tomorrow!"
...
When Jiang Xiong Ba returned to the hotel, he learned that the luxury suite they had booked had been taken by people from the Bagua Sect. Although he was angry, he ultimately did not go to Peng Ba Chi to demand it back.
The main reason was that he saw Qin Yi staying in a regular room and not seeming to be upset by it!
That evening, Qin Yi, Jiang Xiong Ba, and Jiang Hong Xin went to a restaurant for dinner.
Through the introduction of Jiang Xiong Ba and Jiang Hong Xin, Qin Yi learned the rules of the martial arts exchange meeting.
At each exchange meeting, all martial arts factions in Nan Province would participate, and participants were limited to those under forty years old.
If a faction did not participate, its cultivation resources and territories would automatically be divided among the other factions.
This was why the Jiang family had lost so miserably in every previous exchange meeting, yet still participated each time!
Participating factions would send at least one and at most three participants.
Each faction had one opportunity to issue a challenge to any other faction.
Before the fight, both sides would agree on the stakes, and the losing side would have to hand over the stakes to the winning side.
Of course, if a faction lost and had no more participants, other factions could no longer challenge that faction, preventing them from kicking it while it was down and completely snatching away all of its cultivation resources!
If a faction was challenged simultaneously by two or more factions, those factions would first have to determine their own winner, and then the victor would go on to challenge that faction...
"It's a bit complicated!"
Qin Yi shook his head after listening to their explanation.
"It is a bit complicated, but Mr. Qin, you don't need to worry about these rules. Just defeat anyone who dares to challenge you!" said Jiang Hong Xin.
Jiang Xiong Ba glared at him and quickly said, "Mr. Qin, as long as you can help us win this exchange meeting, our Jiang family will be at your beck and call from now on!"
With that, he picked up the teapot and personally poured a cup of water for Qin Yi.
Immediately afterward, he also served food to Qin Yi, acting extremely courteous and respectful!
Coincidentally, this scene was witnessed by Peng Ba Chi and his two companions, who were also dining at the same restaurant.
In an instant, Peng Ba Chi, leaning on his cane, led Xiang Yu and Le Wu Shuang, and walked directly towards them.
"Heh, the dignified Patriarch of the Jiang family actually kowtows to a young man like this. Am I seeing things?"
Before he even got close, Peng Ba Chi mocked him.
Jiang Xiong Ba turned around and saw Peng Ba Chi, his expression turning unpleasant. "So it's Sect Master Peng!"
Peng Ba Chi and his two companions approached, all looking at Qin Yi with curious eyes.
Earlier that afternoon, they had already seen Qin Yi at the hotel with Jiang Hong Xin.
However, at that time, none of them had paid Qin Yi any attention, thinking he was just a servant of the Jiang family!
Now, seeing Jiang Xiong Ba being so respectful to Qin Yi, they were surprised and confused!
"This young brother looks unfamiliar. Where are you from?" Peng Ba Chi asked Qin Yi.
Qin Yi did not hide anything and calmly replied with two words: "Hai Cheng!"
"Hai Cheng?"
Peng Ba Chi exchanged glances with Xiang Yu and Le Wu Shuang.
Xiang Yu whispered, "In Hai Cheng, there isn't even a single martial arts sect, let alone any prominent families!"
Clearly, seeing Jiang Xiong Ba's respect for Qin Yi, they had assumed Qin Yi was the scion of some powerful faction with a strong background.
Now, hearing that he was from Hai Cheng, the three of them were even more puzzled!
However, despite their confusion, Peng Ba Chi felt relieved. As long as Qin Yi wasn't from a powerful faction's scion, they had nothing to fear.
The next moment, Peng Ba Chi's tone became even more mocking, "Jiang Xiong Ba, you're really going backward with age! You're the Patriarch of the Jiang family, yet you're fawning over this young man. I'm embarrassed for you!"
Jiang Hong Xin couldn't stand it and blurted out, "Mr. Qin is a Great..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Xiong Ba cut him off, "Hmph, what do you know, Peng Ba Chi!"
Undoubtedly, he didn't want Jiang Hong Xin to expose Qin Yi.
Jiang Hong Xin understood Jiang Xiong Ba's intention and closed his mouth, remaining silent.