C11 Invite

"I'm dealing with him today, no question about it. Who's the blind fool daring to disrespect me like this?"

The manager, having been frightened twice already, was seething with rage. Upon hearing someone challenge his authority, he couldn't contain his fury and began to lash out, sight unseen.

But as the figure emerged before the crowd, the manager's face drained of color, turning deathly pale.

The newcomer was none other than Xue Rensheng, the CEO of A Group!

The manager's knees buckled, nearly sending him to the ground, as his voice quivered:

"Xue... Director Xue, what brings you here?"

"What, I need to report to you when I decide to inspect my own mall?"

Xue Rensheng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, fixing the manager with a stern look.

He had been strolling outside the mall when he caught sight of a familiar silhouette within the luxury clothing store. He was about to enter when he noticed the figure was encircled by a crowd.

Stepping inside, he recognized the man as his lifesaver, Mr. Qi!

Caught off guard, the manager stammered:

"My deepest apologies, Director Xue! We had a slight issue in the store. This pretty boy claimed the money was from you and even insulted you! I was about to set him straight on your behalf, with no disrespect intended to you!"

Mid-sentence, he spun around, hurling insults:

"Damn it, it's all your fault! Just wait and see how I deal with you!"

As he turned back, a slap caught him off guard.

"Smack!"

The sound of the slap echoed, silencing the crowd. No one dared utter a word of protest, for the one who had struck was Xue Rensheng himself!

The manager, hand clutched to his cheek, looked at Xue Rensheng in utter disbelief.

"Director Xue, you...?"

Ignoring the manager, Xue Rensheng's demeanor softened into a smile as he approached Qi Xiao with due reverence.

"Mr. Qi, are you alright?"

The crowd was taken aback. They all recognized him as Director Xue, the head of A Group, yet he was showing such respect to a young man in ragged attire?

"It's nothing serious. They simply refused to believe you had given me the money."

Qi Xiao spoke nonchalantly, but Xue Rensheng was visibly shaken. Turning back to the manager, he delivered another sharp slap across the man's face.

"You blind fool, how dare you defame Mr. Qi? I'm the one who pays Mr. Qi. If he feels like scolding or hitting me, that's his prerogative. What, you got a problem with that?"

It was only then that the manager realized he had seriously misjudged the situation. Terrified out of his wits, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Director Xue, Director Xue! I was blind to greatness, my eyes might as well be useless! I'm so sorry, so very sorry!"

While apologizing, he slapped his own face repeatedly, quickly reddening his cheeks.

The customers and staff of A Group, including Luo Xiaoman and Qi Yun, were all baffled by the scene. Was this really Xue Rensheng, the CEO of A Group?

Why was the CEO treating Qi Xiao with such deference? Were they seeing things?

"Hmph, you're just trash that can't see past your own nose. Our group has no use for someone like you. Pack your things and get out!"

Xue Rensheng kicked the manager aside, then turned to Qi Xiao with a respectful demeanor.

"Mr. Qi, I deeply regret the inconvenience you've experienced in my mall today."

Qi Xiao simply waved it off, saying, "It's nothing."

Relieved that Qi Xiao bore no grudge, Xue Rensheng allowed himself to relax.

While others might be oblivious, he was well aware that if this young man lost his temper, with his lethal skills, everyone present could meet their end without even realizing how it happened.

He sidled up to Qi Xiao and murmured:

"How about this, Mr. Qi, let's share a meal together. I owe you an apology, and I'd like to express my gratitude as well."

Qi Xiao shook his head: "No, it's too much trouble."

Xue Rensheng looked distressed and pressed on: "Please, Mr. Qi, you must join me! I also have another favor to ask of you."

After a moment's thought, considering that the Limitless Jade Book required worldly experience, Qi Xiao decided that taking on more tasks wouldn't be such a bad thing and nodded in agreement.

"Fine, but first I need to take my sister and her classmate home."

Upon Qi Xiao's acceptance, Xue Rensheng's face lit up with joy, as if he had just stumbled upon a great fortune.

"No problem! I'll be waiting for Mr. Qi in the Sky No. 1 Room at A Hotel!"

With those words, Xue Rensheng turned and departed.

The moment Xue Rensheng was out of sight, Luo Xiaoman leapt up with glee.

"Yay! Yun, did you see that? The manager's head was hanging so low! It was hilarious!"

Luo Xiaoman was bouncing around with excitement.

"Yun, why didn't you ever mention how awesome your brother is? He's wealthy and good-looking. Did you notice? Even Director Xue calls him Mr. Qi!"

While Luo Xiaoman was talking to Qi Yun, her gaze kept drifting back to Qi Xiao.

"Not at all! My brother... he only just got back on his feet a couple of days ago!"

Qi Yun said this, but there was a hint of reluctance in her heart as she turned to Qi Xiao.

"Brother, don't you think that was a bit too harsh?"

Qi Xiao gently tousled Qi Yun's hair and replied:

"Showing kindness to scum like that is cruelty to the good-hearted."

At that, Qi Yun finally cracked a smile.

Luo Xiaoman watched Qi Yun with eyes full of envy.

"Oh Yun, I wish I could claim your brother as my own too. I'm so jealous!"

Qi Xiao then spent some more time strolling with Qi Yun and Luo Xiaoman.

Qi Yun was too timid to express her likes, but Qi Xiao knew her all too well. If she lingered on something with her gaze, that meant she liked it. Without a second thought, he would buy it, and Qi Yun's objections were futile.

He also picked out a few gifts for Luo Xiaoman, which made the usually outspoken girl blush with shyness.

After escorting the girls home, Qi Xiao withdrew some cash for Qi Yun's expenses before setting off for A Hotel.

Opting not to take a cab, Qi Xiao chose to walk. The distance was considerable, but he had many thoughts to sort through, and the walk provided a perfect opportunity to contemplate his future training regimen.

Qi Xiao's sword soul had only recently been revived, but further repair was not possible for now. The reason was straightforward: his current body simply couldn't sustain such a formidable sword soul.

Thus, the initial phase of his training was clear: he needed to strengthen his physique!

Whether in the realm of cultivation or martial arts, establishing a solid physical foundation is the crucial first step.

In his previous life, Qi Xiao's progress in cultivation was hindered by an inadequate physical foundation, which left his swordsmanship and dharma body flawed. This time around, Qi Xiao is determined to take it slow, ensuring his body's foundation is rock-solid.

The primary mental cultivation technique in the "Limitless Jade Book" is the "Internal Canon of Medicine," which allows for body refinement through the power of the mind rather than relying on true qi. This psychokinetic energy, raw and untamed, is both vast and excruciating to wield in tempering the body, yet its effects are far superior to the gentle nourishment of true qi.

The "Internal Canon of Medicine" encompasses seven stages, each aligning with a specific level of cultivation: Body Forging, Qi Refinement, Golden Core, Incarnation, Void Refinement, Qi Condensation, and Great Perfection. Beyond Great Perfection lies the ultimate goal of shattering the void and ascending through tribulation.

As Qi Xiao, with an expert grasp of the Internal Canon, strolled along, he covertly engaged his cultivation technique. To any onlooker, he appeared untroubled, but internally, he was enduring immense pain. To him, however, such pain was merely a trivial matter.

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