*Slap!*
Fang Ming wouldn't indulge him.
Another slap landed on his face.
"Or what? Hurry up and tell me, I'm very curious to know!"
Fang Ming looked at him playfully and said, "Let me tell you, I have the Lin family behind me. I'm a seed in the family with the potential to reach the Dao Foundation realm. You can go ahead and ask your family to retaliate. Let's see who can retaliate against whom!"
Fang Ming had already seen through him. This white-clothed youth's cultivation was only at the third level of Meridian Condensation, not even as strong as a direct disciple of the Lin family. Perhaps this could be attributed to his poor talent, but strong background, influential parents, and high status within the clan.
However, even his attendant was only at the second level of Meridian Condensation. This was laughable. Which pampered young master with a strong background and high status wouldn't be surrounded by a large entourage? Even the few servants newly assigned to Fang Ming by the Lin family patriarch were at the fifth level of Meridian Condensation at their highest, but Fang Ming was accustomed to acting alone and hadn't brought them out.
This white-clothed youth, being so arrogant and overbearing, was definitely not a low-profile person. Thus, the conclusion was obvious: he was merely borrowing the prestige of the Lei family to intimidate others, and his status in the Lei family was likely mediocre, definitely not comparable to Fang Ming's current status in the Lin family.
Therefore, Fang Ming was not afraid of him at all.
The Lin family was also a "force," another layer of prestige.
This also came with benefits—otherwise, Fang Ming would have long abandoned the identity of Lin Xuan and wandered the Nine Provinces Great World alone. Why else would he still retain this identity?
Was it not for the convenience brought by the identity of Lin Xuan, a pure direct disciple of the Lin family?
Fang Ming was no longer without a background. Naturally, he could use his background as he pleased.
"You..." The white-clothed youth, after being slapped, was initially extremely angry. But upon hearing Lin Xuan say he was from the Lin family and a top-tier mortal body genius, cold sweat broke out.
He hadn't expected this thirteen or fourteen-year-old youth to be from the Lin family! And a top-tier mortal body genius!
The Lei family was indeed the number one family in Liangchen County, surpassing the Lin family. But he was merely a collateral disciple of the Lei family, how much influence could he mobilize from his family? How could his background compare to that of a top-tier mortal body genius?
Damn it, I originally thought this young man was young and easy to bully, but I didn't expect to hit a steel plate. This is a bad start to the day!
"You're just talking nonsense. You're a top-tier mortal body genius from the Lin family? I don't believe you!" The white-clothed youth already had thoughts of retreating. He no longer cared about being slapped and, after uttering some empty threats, prepared to leave.
He didn't believe it before because he didn't know Fang Ming's cultivation.
Now, from that slap, he could tell that Fang Ming's cultivation was completely above his.
Cultivation was a form of proof. Now that Fang Ming's cultivation was higher than his, it made him believe Fang Ming's words to some extent.
And from Fang Ming's tone, he couldn't detect any hesitation. The words he spoke likely held truth...
"If it's false, I'll make you pay."
The white-clothed youth said this to himself. He would definitely investigate this matter thoroughly upon returning.
If it was false, his revenge would be very severe.
Of course, at this moment, he absolutely dared not do anything.
After all, he hadn't brought many people with him this time. With just himself and this servant, he couldn't handle the person in front of him.
Fang Ming saw the expression on the white-clothed youth's face.
Fang Ming immediately said coldly, "My name is Lin Xuan. You can go back and inquire if there is someone like me in the Lin family. Now get out! You phony who borrows prestige."
Fang Ming circulated his spiritual energy, picked them up one by one, and threw both of them out of the Tianbao Pavilion.
One had to be ruthless when dealing with such people.
Fang Ming understood very well that with this kind of personality, the tougher you were, the more they would fear you. If Fang Ming had been kind to him, he would have gained courage.
As Fang Ming had expected, things unfolded as he predicted.
The white-clothed youth and his servant were thrown to the ground by Fang Ming, with two large lumps on their heads and bleeding limbs.
Although Fang Ming's methods were ruthless, this precisely made the white-clothed youth believe even more that Fang Ming was telling the truth, and that Fang Ming truly had a great background and high status in the Lin family to dare treat him this way.
Therefore, he dared not do anything, no longer uttered empty threats, and hobbled away with his servant.
"Little brother has great skill." The nearby manager smiled after watching the entire process.
He was laughing at the white-clothed youth's lack of discernment, failing to see that Lin Xuan was the one with the greater background.
"You flatter me. It's just some minor tricks." Fang Ming replied humbly, but in fact, he also perceived the manager's mindset from his expression.
Clearly, this person looked down on the white-clothed youth.
Yet, when Fang Ming and the white-clothed youth clashed earlier, he had completely refrained from intervening, hiding to the side and watching neutrally.
Only after the victor was decided did he come out to praise Fang Ming.
This was clearly a case of "hindsight is 20/20."
This made one wonder if, had Fang Ming been the one to lose, this manager might have shown a different face.
Fang Ming thought, "A manager responsible for life and death, when a customer has just purchased goods and encounters an attempted forced purchase upon leaving, hides to the side and observes neutrally."
"This manager's actions, while seemingly wise for self-preservation, actually damage the reputation of Tianbao Pavilion."
"I just don't know if this person is aware of this but prioritizes his own safety even more, or if he hasn't seen through this point."
If it were someone else, they might have become angry with the manager at this point.
However, Fang Ming acted based on his interests and naturally wouldn't provoke enemies unnecessarily. Although he had understood the manager's ignoble role in this conflict, he didn't bother to argue with him.
Currently, his focus was still on gathering the nine spiritual herbs and learning the Stellar Sword Art.
"Little brother, your abilities are extraordinary, there's no need to be modest." The manager smiled after hearing Fang Ming's words.
Then he turned to discuss the spiritual herbs.
"Little brother, to be frank, Tianbao Pavilion is one of the best in Liangchen County, with a vast array of spiritual herbs. Of the nine spiritual herbs you mentioned, we can acquire seven. The remaining one, a blue-quality spiritual herb, should be manageable. You might be able to find it in other shops... However, the purple-quality spiritual herb, Shadow Moon Blood, is likely difficult to collect in this town."
The manager seemed to ponder for a moment, then said, "I can see that little brother is in urgent need of spiritual herbs. Perhaps you should check the Taihang Mountains."
The spiritual herbs in Tianbao Pavilion were collected by some herb gatherers in the Taihang Mountains. Therefore, the manager knew where to look if there were no spiritual herbs in Liangchen County.
Taihang Mountains?