But how would one know the result without giving it a try?
A Gold Coin?
Indeed, it is expensive, but Ye Luo just so happens to have a Gold Coin. Moreover, to Ye Luo, this Gold Coin is practically no different from one found on the ground. So, why not give it a try?
With that thought, Ye Luo did not hesitate to take out a Gold Coin!
"Alright, Iāll give it a try!"
As Ye Luo spoke, both the attendant and Nalan Chen were taken aback. No one expected Ye Luo to actually attempt the challenge.
But this indubitably was a good thing!
After all, the purpose of the merchant guild setting up challenges was to attract more customers.
However, with nobody showing interest at present, the challenge was as useless as a chicken rib.
Ye Luo wanting to challenge, no matter how you look at it, was good news for the merchant guild!
"Good, good, young master, please wait a moment. I will immediately notify the Elder to begin the challenge!"
The attendant seemed somewhat excited, raising his voice a few decibels, instantly attracting the curious gazes of the people around.
The matter of the merchant guild setting up challenges was not a secret. In fact, almost every person in Nan Zhou City knew about it. However, the challenge was truly too tricky; set high and yet unattainable by anyone.
Many even thought it was a scheme. At the beginning, there would occasionally be individuals who took on the challenge, as the fee of a Gold Coin wasnāt too little but not too excessive either.
Thus, those who considered themselves capable naturally wanted to try. But as one powerful contender after another from Nan Zhou City continually hit a wall, people couldnāt help but wonder: could anyone really complete such a challenge?
The merchant guild was also in a tough spot. The challenge could indeed be completed, as there had been completions in other cities despite its great difficulty. Besides, this was a challenge set by the headquarters of the merchant guild; they didnāt have the authority to alter it. So even if they faced a barrage of criticism and no longer had challengers, they could only pretend not to hear.
At this moment, hearing someone wanting to take the challenge, the Elder of the merchant guild could be described as extremely delighted, promptly bringing people over.
"This young master is prepared to take the challenge?"
As the Elder arrived beside Ye Luo, he couldnāt wait to ask.
Ye Luo nodded: "Yes, itās me. Start your challenge. I want to give it a try!"
"Very well, young master, please wait a moment. Weāll immediately prepare. Oh, and young master, because our challenge will be livestreamed throughout the city, please forgive us. However, if the young master is reluctant, we can process the image so that you wonāt appear in person!"
The goal of setting up the challenge was to draw more attention to their merchant guild, hence livestreaming it was not peculiar.
Ye Luo casually waved his hand: "No need, since Iāve decided to take on the challenge, Iām not afraid of being seen!"
"Great, great, this way please, young master!"
While the Elder led Ye Luo to prepare for the challenge, he signalled to the others with his eyes to quickly get ready for the livestream.
It didnāt take long before loud advertisements were seen all over Nan Zhou City.
"Yibao Commerce Guild, the challenge resumes!"
Despite being just a brief eight characters, there was no one in Nan Zhou City who didnāt know what the challenge at Yibao Commerce Guild meant; it had once been the talk of the town, even considered to be a scam.
Seeing this title, many people instinctively stopped in their tracks.
Many of the public buildings in Nan Zhou City had the ability to project images, especially Yibao Commerce Guild, which directly unfolded a projection of a colossal size, spanning a kilometer!
It seemed as if they feared people would not know about the challenge.
Nalan Chen shook his head in resignation; the youth was brimming with vitality, ready to take on a challenge at a momentās notice.
Before long, Ye Luoās figure appeared on the screen, along with his personal information. Yibao Commerce Guildās challenge was, in fact, connected to virtual combat and borrowed from the virtual combat system, so Ye Luoās details were mostly pre-existing!
"What, an ordinary person actually dares to challenge Yibao Commerce Guildās scam? Could this be a publicity stunt?"
"And whatās he relying on to take the challenge without even a Qi Cyclone?"
In an instant, the crowd was abuzz with discussion, and not a single person believed that Ye Luo could win!
At this moment, within the Nalan Family, a group of people also gathered together.
"This new patron of ours seems rather unreliable!"
"Yeah, heās trying too hard to show off. Who does he think he is? Yibao Commerce Guildās challenge is not something he can just participate in willy-nilly. What were those people at Yibao Commerce Guild thinking, allowing an ordinary person to take part in the challenge? Isnāt this making our Nalan Family lose face?"
"Hmph, I think itās because of the young miss. Letting an ordinary person become a patron? Even if he is well-versed in the art of stone analysis, thatās still far too frivolous. I think itās necessary for us Elders to step forward and properly guide the young miss. Otherwise, who knows how many more embarrassments our Nalan Family will face in the future!"
...
At the top floor of a certain tavern!
"This guy is quite interesting, even with his status as a commoner, he wants to take on the challenge. There are all kinds of odd characters in Nan Zhou City. A small place indeed, too little exposure. Yibao Commerce Guildās challenge, although itās true that ordinary people have a chance, is far from being that simple."
"Feng Uncle, what are you talking about?"
A delicate voice rang out as a young girl approached.
"Young miss, have you finished your cultivation? Iām watching Yibao Commerce Guildās challenge; itās quite interesting!"
"Oh?"
The girl referred to as young miss came over, and seeing Ye Luoās indifferent appearance on the screen, she found him somewhat familiar.
"Why does he look familiar?"
"Young miss has a good memory. This young man was fortunate enough to sample your new dish last time, the Heart Cleansing Spirit Solidifying Soup. Back then, he even had a conflict with a few other youths in the tavern!"
"Oh, I see. He indeed is somewhat peculiar. In theory, if he were an ordinary person, he surely couldnāt withstand the potency of my soup. Not to mention anything else, his Divine Sense is definitely not simple!"
...
Inside a luxurious manor, Wang Tianli and a group of wealthy young masters were engaged in leisure.
"Wang Brother, you have no idea, my father pushes me to cultivate every day. If you hadnāt called me over today, I would probably be locked up in seclusion again!"
"Indeed, my father is the same, saying that without cultivation there is no future, even pressuring me to apply for the Royal Academy. Alas, life is hard. How nice it would be to have the freedom that you do, Wang Brother!"