Lord of the Universe

Ch.2 - Qiao Yue's Skills

Wang Chen defeated Wang Zhu’s two subordinates with astonishing ease, even though he possessed no cultivation at all, while the two youths were already at the early stage of Qi Refinement.

If Wang Chen still had the weak body he once possessed, accomplishing such a feat would have been extremely difficult. But now, although his physique was still inferior compared to true cultivators, he had excellent combat techniques.

Back on Earth, he had once been a practitioner of the black belt, mastering several martial arts. Defeating young men who were still immature in martial knowledge was naturally easy for him.

“You…” Wang Zhu had not expected this.

Just last year, those two subordinates had been able to beat Wang Chen with ease. Back then, Wang Chen had looked fragile and feeble—completely different from the refreshed and vigorous appearance he had now.

Wang Zhu had no idea what Wang Chen had done over the past year to become this strong. Not that he cared what Wang Chen had done, anyway.

“Heh, you’ve grown stronger lately, haven’t you? If you’re not taught a lesson, you’ll only become more arrogant,” Wang Zhu said as he stepped forward, took a stance, and leaped into the air.

And then—

Wang Zhu met the same fate as his two subordinates. He was defeated in just a few moves, crashing headfirst into the ground and forming a large bump on his head.

Wang Chen clapped his hands lightly. “At the very least, you’ll need to reach the late stage of Qi Refinement to defeat me. Let’s go, Xiao Yue.”

The two of them left the market.

“You’re quite interesting, young man.”

After only a few steps, Wang Chen suddenly stopped upon hearing a man’s voice.

“Xiao Yue, did you hear something?” Wang Chen asked as he looked left and right, unable to find the source of the voice.

“Hear what?” Qiao Yue asked with a puzzled expression.

“Was it just my imagination?” Wang Chen muttered and ignored it. But after taking just one step, the voice sounded again.

“It seems you truly have no cultivation. I thought you might be using something to conceal it, but it turns out I was wrong. Well, that’s only natural.”

Wang Chen stopped and turned around again, his brows furrowed.

“To your right!”

Wang Chen turned to the right and saw only a man sitting by the roadside, selling goods laid out on a short table.

‘Could this be some mysterious cultivator hiding in plain sight?’ Wang Chen suspected that the voice came from the vendor.

“Tsk, how pathetic. The voice you’re hearing is coming from the black ring on his table. Look closely.”

Wang Chen raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the table. Sure enough, there was a black ring there.

‘Is this like in those novels? A trash young master finally finding a magical treasure and encountering a hidden master who teaches him cultivation?’ Wang Chen recalled the novels he had once read.

“I know why you’ve been unable to cultivate and why you’ve had a weak body since childhood.”

This time, the voice caused Wang Chen to freeze.

“And I know how to cure you.”

Wang Chen immediately pulled Qiao Yue closer and whispered to her.

“Xiao Yue, I want that black ring.”

Qiao Yue looked left and right, then raised her thumb confidently.

“Don’t worry, young master. I’ll get it for you.”

She then walked toward the left side of the street, even though the item Wang Chen wanted was on the right. Wang Chen neither complained nor pointed it out.

Qiao Yue examined the goods on a nearby table and picked up a ring.

“How much is this ring?” Qiao Yue asked.

“You’ve come to the right place, miss. This ring is made of black metal obtained near a volcano. The original price is 100 silver coins, but since you’re so beautiful, I’ll give you a 50% discount—only 50 silver coins,” the vendor said enthusiastically and confidently.

“Hah? Fifty silver? Are you trying to scam me? This shabby ring is worth at most ten silver—and even that would already be expensive!” Qiao Yue said loudly. She placed the ring down heavily on the table and walked away.

“Hmph! What do you even know about jewelry?!” the vendor cursed, but Qiao Yue ignored him completely.

She then walked over to the vendor selling the ring Wang Chen wanted and picked up a bronze ring.

“How much is this?” Qiao Yue asked.

“Young miss has a good eye. This is a copper ring with a sea gem embedded in it—perfect as a gift for a loved one. It costs only ten silver coins,” the vendor said. Having overheard Qiao Yue’s earlier argument, he deliberately set the price at ten silver.

Qiao Yue studied the ring briefly, then put it down and picked up the black ring Wang Chen wanted.

“What about this one?”

“This one is made from very valuable black metal. It’s hard to obtain, and forging it requires extra effort. The price is five silver coins.”

“This ring has a sea gem and costs ten silver, yet you’re pricing this black ring—which is already about to fall apart—at half that? Are you joking? One silver. Either you sell it, or I’m not buying.”

“Miss, if it were that easy, I’d suffer a loss. Five silver—that’s the lowest I can go.”

“Alright, then.” Qiao Yue turned around to leave.

“Ah—wait, young miss! Fine, fine. One silver,” the vendor hurriedly said.

“Hm. You should’ve said that from the beginning.” Qiao Yue handed over one silver coin and took the ring.

That was how Qiao Yue always managed to obtain unbelievably cheap prices whenever she bought something.