Richest Rag-picker

"Haha, sorry about the humble accommodations. It’s a bit small and simple."

Brother Xiaoma started with a humble remark before getting straight to the point.

"A moment ago, my friend, you asked me about the levels of a Martial Artist, right? How to distinguish between them isn’t something you can just decide by talking. It has to be determined through a fight.

Let me put it this way. My current level is a Seventh Floor Martial Artist. Anyone who can challenge and defeat me can be ranked as an Eighth Floor Martial Artist.

Of course, someone who can beat me might even be at the Martial Artist Peak, but after defeating me, the highest they can be ranked is the Eighth Floor. If you want to be ranked at the Martial Artist Peak, you can only get that title after defeating an Eighth Floor Martial Artist. Does that make sense?"

Fang Chenyi and Qi Xiaotian understood Brother Xiaoma’s explanation and nodded. ’So that’s how it works.’

But Fang Chenyi was a little curious. ’Couldn’t he have just said all this in the study? Why did we have to come all the way out here for him to explain it?’

Brother Xiaoma’s next words provided the answer.

"To be honest, it’s not every day you get to meet a powerful expert, and I haven’t had a real match in a long time. So when I saw this young man here, my hands started to itch. I was wondering if we could spar a round or two?"

’Damn, so this guy wants to have a go with Qi Xiaotian.’

However, Fang Chenyi had no objection. On the contrary, he was quite eager to watch.

He wanted to see for himself just how strong a legendary Seventh Floor Martial Artist really was.

At the same time, he also wanted to find out what level Qi Xiaotian, who had taken the Medicine Pill, would be considered in the Martial Arts Realm.

He glanced at Qi Xiaotian, who understood Brother Fang’s intent immediately. Without a moment’s hesitation, Qi Xiaotian cupped his fist in a salute to Brother Xiaoma and walked into the center of the training area.

Seeing this, Brother Xiaoma’s face lit up with excitement. He gave Fang Chenyi a nod and quickly strode to the center of the area as well.

Fang Chenyi could only give a wry smile and shake his head. He turned and walked toward a wooden chair not far away.

He wanted to get a good seat to watch their fight unfold.

But before Fang Chenyi could even reach the chair, a rapid series of THUDS from fists and feet connecting echoed from the training area.

The sound made Fang Chenyi freeze. He muttered under his breath, "Damn, they started already? Couldn’t you guys have waited for me to sit down first?"

However, no sooner had the words left his mouth than a figure suddenly flew past him. The next instant, with a heavy THUD, a body lay sprawled face-down on the ground in front of him.

He took a closer look. Who else could it be lying on the ground but Brother Xiaoma?

"Uh... Brother, what happened? How’d you end up on the ground?"

He hurried forward, extending a hand to pull the disheveled Brother Xiaoma to his feet, his voice filled with concern.

But as Fang Chenyi helped him up, Brother Xiaoma’s face flushed beet red. He coughed twice and said awkwardly,

"Ahem, it’s not like I wanted to. This young man here took me down in just a few moves. Ah, I completely misjudged him. His strength isn’t just a little bit greater than mine. He’s a Martial Artist Peak, no doubt about it!"

Just then, Qi Xiaotian walked over from the training area. He looked apologetically at the dust-covered Brother Xiaoma and said,

"Uh, my apologies. I didn’t control my strength properly for a moment. I’m sorry."

Hearing this, Brother Xiaoma’s face grew even redder. He quickly waved his hands and said,

"Hey, no, no, don’t be sorry! There’s nothing to apologize for. My skills were just inferior, that’s all. But you, young man, you’re truly remarkable. To reach the Martial Artist Peak at such a young age... And from the speed of your punches and your movements, I’d wager you’re about to break through the Peak itself."

For a moment, Qi Xiaotian didn’t know what to say. ’Martial Artist Peak? He had no idea what that even meant. All he knew was that he’d become this powerful after taking the Medicine Pill Brother Fang had given him. He didn’t even know if he was technically a Martial Artist.’

Of course, he couldn’t possibly tell Brother Xiaoma any of that. So he just smiled, scratched his head, and said nothing more before taking his place behind Fang Chenyi.

Seeing that the young man didn’t intend to talk, Brother Xiaoma tactfully dropped the subject. However, when he looked at Fang Chenyi, there was a newfound sense of awe in his eyes.

’To have a subordinate like that, Fang Chenyi must be no ordinary person. But I can’t sense any Martial Artist aura from him at all.’ This puzzled him even more. It made it increasingly difficult to get a read on what kind of man Fang Chenyi truly was.

Of course, regardless of who Fang Chenyi was, he knew it was best to stay on good terms with him. There was absolutely no downside to doing so.

At that moment, Brother Xiaoma suddenly remembered the slip of paper he had given to Fang Chenyi. He turned and said,

"My friend, could you give me back that piece of paper I gave you?"

Fang Chenyi didn’t think twice and handed the list of the Baida Clans back to Brother Xiaoma.

After Brother Xiaoma took it, he pulled a pen from his pocket and quickly scribbled a new line in the middle of the list.

Once he was done, he handed the paper back to Fang Chenyi, who looked down to see what Brother Xiaoma had written.

A single glance left him speechless.

Brother Xiaoma had written a new name between the 15th and 16th rankings:

Huaxia, Fang Family. Rank: 16th!

He didn’t have to ask to know that by "Huaxia Fang Family," Brother Xiaoma meant his family.

Before Fang Chenyi could ask, Brother Xiaoma’s voice piped up beside him.

"My friend, I didn’t realize you had such an expert by your side. Let me put it this way: based on his strength alone, combined with your current net worth, your family absolutely qualifies for the 16th spot!"

Of course, Brother Xiaoma only knew about Fang Chenyi’s publicly known assets. He was completely unaware of things like Microsoft or the family assets transferred to him by the Poseidon Clan.

Otherwise, with Fang Chenyi’s true financial power, even without factoring in his martial might or his 300 men, his family would have easily broken into the top 10 of the Baida Clans!

And that was a conservative estimate.

According to Brother Xiaoma, Qi Xiaotian’s level had reached the Martial Artist Peak.

And the strength of his 300 subordinates would certainly qualify them as Martial Artists.

Therefore, when you factored in those 300 men, it wasn’t impossible for Fang Chenyi’s family to contend for the very top of the Baida Clans!