Niu Houdao swung a punch: "I’m ready to fight you to the death right now!"

Seeing this situation, the others present couldn’t sit still either. They all stood up and rushed forward to stop Niu Houdao.

"Hey!"

"Old Niu!"

"Calm down!"

"Why take him seriously?"

"That’s just how Old Hong is. Just treat the words coming out of his mouth like farts."

"Hey!"

"Hey! Hey!"

Though Niu Houdao seemed elderly with graying hair, he was actually full of brute strength. Among the group present, no one could stop him. At the moment Niu Houdao broke free from the restraint, he immediately leaped up, and his fist came crashing down towards Hong Jiang’s forehead!

There was a loud bang!

Under the massive sound, the walls and floor trembled, shaking until the teacup in front of Hong Jiang shattered into pieces!

The corner of Hong Jiang’s mouth twitched, and he said with a smile: "Old Niu, take it easy. This is a white porcelain craftsmanship, a completely antique-style teacup. If you break it and blame me, I won’t have much to say, but the problem is I don’t have money!"

"You’re trying to extort a barefooted poor wretch like me, what’s the point?" Hong Jiang stared at the shattered teacup on the coffee table, shaking his head softly: [This old Niu, after a hundred years, still has a reckless nature. No matter how low-key his attire is, he easily falls for provocation and takes the bait.

Hey!

I’m sorry for the kids at the First Military Academy.

Having such a mentor, who knows what kind of rash behaviors they’ll learn.]

As Hong Jiang was calculating in his mind, Niu Houdao listened to his words and felt slightly choked, hurrying to retract his released momentum.

But! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Niu Houdao felt aggrieved! His entire heart felt blocked!

Angry!

Hong Jiang, that old scoundrel! He looks refined but is actually a shameless bastard!

Niu Houdao shook his arms and loosened his muscles, saying: "Come on! How do you want to compete?

Today I’m going to make sure you Hong Jiang shut up once and for all!"

Niu Houdao gritted his teeth and was starting to roll up his sleeves when someone stood up and blocked his way, saying, "Old Niu, no need to bet with him."

It was Yang Zhi. As the principal of the First Military Academy, he couldn’t watch his own people suffer.

Upon hearing this, Niu Houdao thought it made sense; betting with Hong Jiang has no point.

Losing makes one aggrieved, and winning doesn’t do much good.

So, as Niu Houdao was about to back down, he heard Hong Jiang tease: "See, they all chickened out from top to bottom?"

Niu Houdao: "..."

Before Niu Houdao could speak, Yang Zhi said: "Compete with him!"

"Let’s do it now!"

"Does my First Military Academy fear his group of brats?"

Niu Houdao: "..."

Others in the tea room: "..."

Everyone had to marvel, indeed from top to bottom, they’re all Iron Fools.

Hong Jiang smiled and said: "True, a match between us is meaningless, let those kids compete instead."

Niu Houdao and Yang Zhi both cast sidelong glances at Hong Jiang, the type that smiles but doesn’t actually smile, not saying a word.

Which meant, bring it on!

The corner of Hong Jiang’s lips slightly curved up, revealing a look of unbridled triumph in front of everyone, saying: "Old Niu, I’m not cheating you, how about this, if I lose, I’ll let you beat me for free and publicly broadcast across all Star System for three days and nights confessing that I, Hong Jiang, am inferior to Niu Houdao. How does that sound?"

Niu Houdao’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, but then he pulled a face and despised, saying: "You’ve been a disgrace not just for a day or two, falling into disgrace for another three days doesn’t harm you a bit. What purpose would it serve me?

I’m not interested in your public broadcast."

Not interested?

Really not interested, this little old man’s eyes shine like they could be mirrors?

Looks like this move will work.

Hence, Hong Jiang said: "You’re not interested in three days, how about I broadcast it for seven days?"

Niu Houdao disdainfully said: "Three days is enough, who are you disgusted with? Not only me but the entire interstellar?"

Hong Jiang: "Cough!"

Niu Houdao thought for a moment and immediately said: "I know you have a High-level Soul Device from Master Kong Zhe in your possession. If you lose, give that as a bonus to me!"

Hong Jiang’s pupils shrank, exclaiming in surprise: "A High-level Soul Device as a bonus? Your appetite is too big."

Niu Houdao acted as if he couldn’t care less: "Whether you compete or not."

Hong Jiang slightly lowered his head, appearing to be very difficult to make a decision. After a while, he gritted his teeth, saying: "Alright! High-level Soul Device is a High-level Soul Device, as if I’m afraid of you?

But—" Hong Jiang paused.

Everyone was on edge:

Here it comes!

Hong Jiang’s motive finally revealed.

After all this, with provocations and self-deprecation... was Hong Jiang just bored?

Of course not.

Must be purposeful.

In the next second, the crowd heard Hong Jiang seriously asking: "Old Niu, if I win, I don’t want anything else, just your Heart Flower."

Everyone: "..."

A look of bemusement filled the air, as Niu Houdao furrowed his brows deeply: "You want it?"

Hong Jiang chuckled: "I just want that."

Everyone: "..."

This Heart Flower is not a metaphorical heart but a rare plant root system from a star system far from the Alliance. Its flowers don’t bloom on leaves or branches but inside the root system, taking a heart-shaped form, hence the name Heart Flower.

In the eight main star systems inhabited by humans, this plant doesn’t exist, and it can’t be cultivated from cells. On some planets in that distant star system, this plant is incredibly scarce, blooming perhaps once in several hundred years, acquired mostly by luck.

For humans, Heart Flower offers tremendous enhancement to spiritual power and physical strength, nearly allowing the complete reconstruction of a broken, scarred body.

Only without side effects, hardly causing any damage to spiritual power.

Those who have used it have significantly expanded their Spirit Space.

Such a thing is too precious, hardly having the chance to appear before being completely divided among people.

However, not everyone knows about it. Most of the Alliance teachers present hadn’t heard of the ’Heart Flower’, a rare treasure,

Hence, even now, quite a few people appeared puzzled and confused upon hearing the word ’Heart Flower’.

Niu Houdao curled his lip, asking: "How do you know it’s in my possession?"

Hong Jiang tapped the table lightly, saying nonchalantly: "Is there a need to ask? Of course, Old Yang told me."

Yang Zhi: "..."

Yang Zhi angrily said: "I’m not taking this blame."

Principal Hong raised his hand, showing no embarrassment from being exposed, saying: "Oh, not Old Yang, it was Old Qu from the Second Military Academy who told me."

Sitting on the side enjoying the show, Principal Qu’s melon suddenly lost its appeal: "Hey! It wasn’t me, don’t make things up."

Niu Houdao spoke unhappily: "This is between us, don’t drag others into it."

Principal Hong raised the volume, saying: "So, what’s it to be? Compete or not."