Chapter 436: Chapter 436: Consecration!
 

At this moment, Huang Xiaolong was filled with excitement, eager to compete with the demon path.

Chen Xiong, however, chuckled. “There’s no rush… Huang Xiaolong, there is plenty of time for you to compete with the three masters. However, a contract must be signed first. As the saying goes, ‘no rules, no square.’

The challenge letter yesterday did not specify that Huang Xiaolong would be facing three masters alone. Now, when the contest began, Masters Qiao, Zuo, and Zhao all stood up, staring intently at Huang Xiaolong as if they wished to eat him alive.

“This… This is against the rules, isn’t it? You want to use numbers to win?” Sun Hu directly voiced his dissatisfaction with a snort.

“Ganging up, how despicable.” Even Jin Mengqi glanced at Chen Xiong with contempt.

“Ah~~ Hahaha… each match in this duel is held separately. How can you say it’s using numbers to win?” Chen Xiong glanced at Huang Xiaolong with a challenging look. “What, Huang Xiaolong, are you scared?”

“Hahaha~~ No need to provoke me. Bring on the contract, let me see it.” Huang Xiaolong casually responded.

Chen Xiong snapped his fingers, and a manservant handed Huang Xiaolong a contract.

Huang Xiaolong unfurled it to take a look.

The contract stated that Huang Xiaolong would consecutively duel with Masters Qiao, Zuo, and Zhao.

The first round was to consecrate the magic artifacts.

The second round was to vanquish the ghosts and exterminate evil.

The third round was to summon spirits.

Best out of three.

In addition, it also included a bet.

If Huang Xiaolong lost, he would hand over the secret recipe for his Elixir of Height, pledge allegiance to the three masters, becoming their slave and serving them for life.

Conversely, If Huang Xiaolong won, Masters Qiao, Zuo, and Zhao would pledge their allegiance to him. The Chen Family would also give him a cheque for 1 billion in cash.

“How about it, Huang Xiaolong, the terms of the bet are fair, aren’t they?” Chen Xiong sneered.

Huang Xiaolong shrugged. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s fair or not. After all, I’m going to win.”

“Then enough with the nonsense, sign the contract, stamp your handprint!” Chen Xiong urged him impatiently.

Ying Aoshan advised from the side. “Young Master Huang, be sure to read the contract carefully. There may be traps hidden in its clauses.”

“Alright, let’s sign the contract first then.” Huang Xiaolong agreed readily.

At that moment, Huang Xiaolong and the three masters each signed the contract and stamped their handprints.

The members of the Sun Family, Ying Aoshan, and Jin Mengqi found some vacant chairs to sit on and began to watch.

“Fine then, let’s begin the first round of the duel,” Chen Xiong nodded. “The first round is about consecration. Both Buddhism and Taoism have their own ways of consecrating magic artifacts. In Buddhism, it is called ‘blessing,’ and in Taoism, it is known as ’empowerment.’ In summary, it’s about restoring the magical abilities of the magic artifact that has been covered in dust—bring it up!”

At his command, a manservant carefully carried a table forth. On the tabletop, a dazzling array of items were arranged.

There were faded talismans, tools made from old copper and rusty iron, oil lamps, copper coins that smelled of copper, compasses, and rusty knives… and so forth.

“These are the magic artifacts that we will consecrate today,” Chen Xiong laughed as he looked at Huang Xiaolong. “In total, there are eighteen magic artifacts, which have all been rigorously inspected and there’s no doubt that they’re genuine and not fakes. However, due to their age, they need to be consecrated anew.”

“Huang Xiaolong, these magic artifacts are all personal collections of the various bosses here, you do not need to suspect that we have tampered with anything,” Chen Xiong said with a series of cold laughs.

Huang Xiaolong saw at a glance that the eighteen magic artifacts placed on the table were indeed all genuine, without a single fake among them.

However, these Magic Artifacts should have all been unearthed from tombs and thus tainted by corpse energy or corpse oil. In order to consecrate them anew, an ordinary Taoist would not possess such Mana.

“Huang Xiaolong, this first round will be a duel between you and Master Zuo. Master Zuo, please.” Chen Xiong welcomed Master Zuo, a man with a goatee, to join them.

“Master Zuo, don’t be too confident.” Master Qiao said with a heavy expression.

“No worries.” Master Zuo responded with a light smile.

Master Zuo’s specialty was identifying Magic Artifacts and consecrating them.

In his lifetime, he did not know how many Magic Artifacts he had consecrated. His reputation was extremely well-known domestically, even affluent businesses from Hong Kong and tycoons from Southeast Asia did not hesitate to pay heavily for his consecration services for their Magic Artifacts.

“Young man, there are a total of eighteen Magic Artifacts. We each choose nine, consecrate them, and see who finishes first in the shortest amount of time. How does that sound?” Master Zuo proposed as he stood in front of the altar, gazing casually at Huang Xiaolong.

At this time, one of the wealthy spectators voiced excitedly, “Last year, I invited Master Zuo to consecrate a Taoist deity statue for me, and my business has been booming this year. Master Zuo’s consecration skill simply can’t be matched. Hehehe, just to let you know, the price to have Master Zuo consecrate a single artifact is a seven-figure amount!”

“No need for something so complicated. You can go first.” Huang Xiaolong chuckled. “As for the eighteen Magic Artifacts, just consecrate them one by one. If you can’t, I’ll go. But I doubt you will be able to.”

Quite coincidentally, all of these Magic Artifacts were derived from tomb raids. Each one was full of corpse energy, which led Huang Xiaolong to doubt if Master Zuo before him could successfully consecrate them.

“Unacceptable!” Master Zuo became furious. “You brazen, young man, are you mocking me?”

Choosing nine Magic Artifacts each and seeing who can consecrate them in the shortest amount of time is a fair duel.

But Huang Xiaolong directly asked Master Zuo to go first, which utterly disdained him!

As if Master Zuo was nothing at all!

Instantly, gasps of astonishment arose from the wealthy spectators who came to watch.

The Sun Family members, Ying Aoshan, and Jin Mengqi all critically furrowed their brows.

There were only two possibilities for Huang Xiaolong’s behavior — first, he was so skillful and brave that he had seen through Master Zuo’s deficiencies and wanted him to go first.

Secondly, Huang Xiaolong couldn’t consecrate Magic Artifacts at all! He was forfeiting the first round of the contest!

“Master Zuo, considering this young man’s arrogance, why not fulfill his demand.” Master Qiao suggested as he stood up and projected his voice.

Master Zuo contemplated for a moment, nonchalantly saying, “Oh…I see, pretending to be foolish, you can’t consecrate at all! Hahaha… If you insist on courting death, I’ll grant your wish! I’ll win this first round!”

After speaking, Master Zuo walked up to the offering table, first picking up a rusty bronze mirror. “This is a demon-reflecting mirror. Now, I will begin consecrating it!”

Meanwhile, Master Qiao calmly sat down, turning to Master Zhao beside him, “Brother Zhao, it seems that Master Zuo will easily win this first round of the contest. The second round will be ‘Ghost-cleansing’. It is your turn. If you can win in succession, I will conveniently take a break. I will not have to show up at all, Hahaha… After all, it’s a best of three.”

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao responded with a stroking of his beard, laughing jubilantly.

In the camp supporting Huang Xiaolong, everyone was extremely anxious.

“No… he absolutely can’t lose… Once, once Huang Xiaolong loses, he will have to honor these three Taoists, and because my grandfather is Huang Xiaolong’s disciple, we, the Jin family, would be under these three Taoists’ control. No, no, we can’t lose!” Jin Mengqi held her hands together as if praying.

Sun Wei spoke nonchalantly, “What are you worrying about? Little Long will undoubtedly win. Little Long is invincible!”

At this juncture, still staunchly believing in Huang Xiaolong’s inevitable victory, was his beloved Sister Bai Hu.

At the altar, Master Zuo, with a paper charm in his hand, began chanting, “With a flash of divine light, the divinity is born. The immortals, saints and Buddhas reign supreme. The divinity is honored above all. Enter the divine womb and connect the divine energy, divine spirit in everything. Protect the disciples and bless the entire family with good luck… Open!!”

As the consecration chant was uttered, the charm in Master Zuo’s hand suddenly ignited, and a faint golden light fell onto the Magic Artifact, the “Demon-reflecting Mirror”!