The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Seeing the man's wretched state, fear crept onto the faces of the surrounding disciples.

But among the many Inner Sect Disciples, some still refused to submit to Qian Hu. One immediately shouted an accusation, "Qian Hu, are you trying to monopolize the leaves for yourself!"

The powerfully built Qian Hu let out a sinister chuckle. "Not at all. I simply want to establish a new set of distribution rules!"

When all was said and done, the leaves were all anyone cared about.

Seeing his chance, one disciple eager to curry favor with Qian Hu asked, "Senior Brother Qian, how do you propose we distribute them?"

"It's simple. Every senior brother at Foundation Establishment Perfection and Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment gets one leaf. As for those at the Eighth-Layer and Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment, anyone willing to follow my, Qian Hu's, orders will also get one."

The disciples at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer and above were instantly galvanized by this news. When Senior Brother Chen Tianmo was in charge, they had never received such treatment. Of course, the number of available leaves also played a part.

One after another, they voiced their support.

"I agree with Senior Brother Qian's distribution!"

"I agree, too!"

With all these Late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples in agreement, the others were left speechless. It was useless to object. Without the power to resist, there was no such thing as fairness.

Qian Hu took the leaves and immediately began distributing them to the disciples who met the cultivation requirements and had pledged their support.

Qian Hu had a poor reputation in the Qixia Sect, known for bullying disciples with lower cultivation levels. But now that he held the leaves, even those who normally disliked and couldn't stand him had no choice but to curry favor for a chance at a leaf.

A disciple at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer, his face a cold mask, reluctantly stepped forward. "Senior Brother Qian, I also approve of your distribution plan!"

Who would have thought that Qian Hu, having just handed out over forty leaves, would suddenly channel his True Qi and kick the disciple.

"Are these leaves for just anyone? I can see in your heart you don't agree with me! Scram! There's no leaf for you!"

They couldn't beat him in a fight. Among those who had already received leaves, a few wanted to speak up for their wronged junior brother, but Qian Hu continued, "What are you looking at? If anyone else has an issue, they won't be getting a leaf next time. The deadline is here. Only those with leaves will get more opportunities for enlightenment!"

For their own sakes, they could only grit their teeth and endure. Even more disciples at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer and above began to side with Qian Hu.

And so, within Dragon and Phoenix Valley, Qian Hu seized complete control.

Qian Hu was far more insatiably greedy than Chen Tianmo. Of the ninety-six leaves, he only distributed forty-three. It wasn't because there weren't enough people in the valley who met his requirements, but because he deemed the remaining disciples no threat.

At that time, there were a total of sixty-nine disciples at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer or higher within the valley. This level and above was also known as Late-stage Foundation Establishment, and their combat power was significantly greater than those at the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment. Qian Hu had won over two-thirds of these Late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples; he felt it was unnecessary to waste leaves on the remaining third.

Seeing Qian Hu preparing to return to his cave, Wang Xian'Er grew anxious and quickly ordered Wang Wan'Er.

"Go find Senior Brother Qian and get me a leaf!"

When Chen Tianmo had been forced out of Dragon and Phoenix Valley, Wang Xian'Er had been terrified. In terms of aptitude, Chen Tianmo was far superior to her—in fact, probably everyone in the valley had better aptitude than she did.

Ever since time had run out, she had been tormented daily, terrified that she would be teleported out of the valley at any moment. In an entire year, she hadn't managed to comprehend even a single minor Technique. She was the only one who had entered the valley to fail so completely. Even the other Qi Refining Stage disciples had comprehended at least one minor Technique.

If she were teleported out like this, she would have no way to face her father.

The leaves were her only hope! Only by refining a leaf would she have a better chance of staying in the valley, a better chance of finally comprehending a Technique.

Wang Wan'Er hesitated for a moment, but decided to try for her young miss's sake.

She was already harboring some resentment. For nine whole months, she hadn't had a single proper chance to comprehend any Techniques. Every time she sat down to meditate, she wouldn't even last an hour before Wang Xian'Er would start ordering her around or endlessly berating her.

Despite her resentment, she endured it. 'The young miss is only lashing out because she's frustrated about not comprehending a Technique,' she thought. 'She wasn't like this before.'

"Senior Brother Qian, could you possibly spare me a leaf?" Wang Wan'Er asked in a low voice as she stepped forward.

Qian Hu snorted coldly. "You? You're only at the Second-Layer Foundation Establishment. Why should I give you a leaf?!"

He sized up Wang Wan'Er, a light smirk playing on his lips. "Your figure and looks aren't bad, though. If you're willing to be my Dao Companion, like Xu Sirong, then I can give you a leaf!"

Wang Wan'Er shook her head coldly.

"Oh? Still unwilling? Other Female Cultivators in this valley would beg for such a wonderful opportunity! How about this: agree to be my Dao Companion, and I'll give you three leaves! Your aptitude is even better than Xu Sirong's—you're worth nurturing!"

Wang Wan'Er's brow furrowed, and she turned to leave.

But just then, Wang Xian'Er, who had been watching intently, rushed over.

"I accept! As long as you give me three leaves, I'll have her be your Dao Companion!"

Wang Wan'Er stared at Wang Xian'Er in disbelief.

"She's my handmaiden. She'll do whatever I say!" Wang Xian'Er added quickly, afraid Qian Hu didn't understand their relationship.

Wang Wan'Er said pleadingly, "Young Miss, I don't want to—"

But Wang Xian'Er cut her off coldly. "Shut your mouth! You eat the Wang Family's food and use the Wang Family's things. Your very life was given to you by the Wang Family! Now I'm just marrying you off. What right do you have to say anything?!"