Feeling the icy chill radiating from Lengxiao, many higher-ups of the Green Fla Adventure Group broke into a cold sweat in the council hall.
"Leader Lengxiao, suddenly increasing our tribute of Yuan Stones fivefold—isn’t that a bit excessive?" Manager Xu couldn’t help but ask.
Lengxiao’s gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over Manager Xu. "Hmm?" he said coldly. "Who do you think you are to question ?"
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
Manager Xu was a Martial Artist in the early stages of the Third Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, but under Lengxiao’s gaze, an icy chill spread through his body, and he involuntarily retreated several steps.
At that mont, a figure stepped in front of Manager Xu.
Lu Qing, Leader of the Green Fla Adventure Group, his dark brows slightly furrowed, looked at Lengxiao and said, "Leader Lengxiao, our Green Fla Adventure Group is rely a mid-tier adventure group in Red Valley City. You should know that we simply don’t have that many Yuan Stones."
Lengxiao gave a sinister, cold smirk. "You don’t?" He was about to speak when the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the council hall.
"Leader Lengxiao, for you to personally co for a small matter like collecting Yuan Stones is truly surprising." A lodious and gentle voice sounded as Lanyu walked into the council hall from outside.
"Vice Leader Lanyu!"
Seeing Lanyu, the higher-ups of the Green Fla Adventure Group breathed a collective sigh of relief.
In terms of cultivation, Lanyu’s was not exceptionally high. However, she was an indispensable pillar within the Green Fla Adventure Group. Lanyu strategized many important affairs, and her contributions were crucial to the group’s current success.
Lengxiao’s eyes lit up upon seeing Lanyu. He picked up his teacup and smiled faintly. "I was idle anyway, so I thought I’d take a stroll."
Sensing the unusual atmosphere in the council hall, Lanyu sent a voice transmission to Manager Xu, saying, "Manager Xu, there should still be several thousand second-grade Yuan Stones in the storeroom. Why haven’t you given them to them?"
A bitter smile touched Manager Xu’s lips. "Vice Leader, the Yuan Stones were prepared yesterday. However, the amount Lengxiao has co to collect this ti isn’t two thousand second-grade Yuan Stones."
"How many then?" Lanyu realized sothing, her daii furrowed slightly.
Manager Xu glanced at Lengxiao and said, "The amount has been increased fivefold—ten thousand second-grade Yuan Stones!"
"Ten thousand second-grade Yuan Stones!"
Even Lanyu, despite her usual composure, couldn’t help but gasp at this number.
Seeing the shock on Lanyu’s face, the expressions of the nearby Green Fla Adventure Group higher-ups turned grim.
Previously, under the protection of the Blood Roar Adventure Group, they only had to pay one thousand second-grade Yuan Stones each month. Later, Lengxiao increased it to two thousand. For the Green Fla Adventure Group, this was already a significant expenditure.
Now, a sudden fivefold increase was pushing the Green Fla Adventure Group to a dead end.
"Lengxiao, what is this all about?" Lanyu’s beautiful eyes turned to Lengxiao, who was seated to her right.
Lengxiao put down his teacup and calmly and composedly stated, "It’s exactly as you heard. Starting this month, if the Green Fla Adventure Group wishes to maintain its footing in Red Valley City, you must pay ten thousand second-grade Yuan Stones every month."
Lanyu took a shallow breath and said, "You should know that our Green Fla Adventure Group simply cannot produce that many second-grade Yuan Stones."
"Is that so?" Lengxiao imdiately shook his head and signaled to one of the Cold Origin Five Tigers behind him with a glance.
A Cold Origin Adventure Group Martial Artist stepped forward and sneered, "Four days ago, at the Return to Qing Pavilion, I personally saw you and Manager Xu’s party purchase a Nine Apertures YuanLing Pill and a jar of Green Radish Cream."
Lengxiao swept a glance at Lanyu and continued, "The Nine Apertures YuanLing Pill is a mid-level fifth-grade Spirit Pill. Together with the Green Radish Cream, their value is twenty thousand second-grade Yuan Stones. A re ten thousand second-grade Yuan Stones shouldn’t be an issue for your Green Fla Adventure Group, should it?"
"A mid-level fifth-grade Spirit Pill!"
Hearing this, Lu Qing and the others were also astonished. Although they had never heard of the Nine Apertures YuanLing Pill, they understood what a mid-level fifth-grade Spirit Pill signified.
"That Nine Apertures YuanLing Pill and Green Radish Cream were not..." Manager Xu began to speak but was stopped by Lanyu’s outstretched hand.
Lanyu pondered for a mont, then looked at Lengxiao and said, "Lengxiao, that Nine Apertures YuanLing Pill was purchased on behalf of soone else. The Green Fla Adventure Group truly doesn’t possess that many Yuan Stones. How about we each take a step back? From now on, the Green Fla Adventure Group will provide the Cold Origin Adventure Group with four thousand second-grade Yuan Stones each month."
Hearing Lanyu’s words, Manager Xu and the others looked resentful, yet they were helpless.
The Cold Origin Adventure Group was powerful. Not only was its leader, Lengxiao, a Martial Artist at the early stages of the Fifth Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, but the group also had another mber at the mid-stages of the Fifth Level, among many other experts. If relations soured, the Green Fla Adventure Group would be the one to suffer.
At this mont, Lengxiao spoke, "I, Lengxiao, am a man of my word! Ten thousand second-grade Yuan Stones, not one less."
"You!" Lanyu ground her teeth, glaring at Lengxiao. "Lengxiao, what is your true purpose for coming here today? Just say it plainly."
"Good! I appreciate your straightforwardness." A smile appeared on Lengxiao’s face. "It’s fine if you can’t produce the Yuan Stones. But I have two conditions."
Holding up two fingers, Lengxiao continued, "First, hand over the brat who dared to confront the other day."
Lanyu’s gaze flickered. Lengxiao had been publicly humiliated that day but hadn’t held Luo Feng responsible. She had found that surprising at the ti; it seed he had other plans all along.
"Second..." His gaze fell upon Lanyu’s spirited face, and Lengxiao raised an eyebrow. "Lanyu, starting today, you will leave the Green Fla Adventure Group and join the Cold Origin Adventure Group. Rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly..."
As soon as these words were spoken, anger flared on the faces of the Green Fla Adventure Group’s higher-ups. They knew Lengxiao had coveted Lanyu for a long ti and naturally understood the implication behind his words.
Lanyu’s pretty face flushed slightly, her fists clenched tightly.
"Lengxiao, we’ve already made concessions! Don’t push us too far!" Lu Qing’s face turned livid as he shouted.
"Hahahahaha..." Lengxiao rose to his feet, hands clasped behind his back, and looked at Lu Qing and the others, laughing triumphantly. "So what if I bully you? The weak are prey to the strong. You have only yourselves to bla for your weakness. If you don’t agree to my conditions today, the Green Fla Adventure Group will disappear from Red Valley City by tomorrow!"
"Lu Qing..." Lanyu knew Lu Qing’s fiery temper. She reached out to stop him, shaking her head slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lengxiao, her lips pressed into a thin, pale line. Lengxiao was ruthless and cruel. Since he had said such words, if he didn’t achieve his goal today, the entire Green Fla Adventure Group would likely be annihilated.
"’What a fine ’law of the jungle’!’"
Just as Lanyu was caught in a dilemma, unsure what to do, a clear, resonant voice ca from outside the council hall.
Hearing the voice, the five experts behind Lengxiao tensed, their expressions changing slightly. "Who is it?" They all drew their swords, warily watching the entrance to the council hall.
WHOOSH!
With a sound of rushing air, a figure appeared at the entrance of the council hall, dressed in blue martial attire, a crimson long saber strapped to his back, his aura extraordinary.
"Luo... Feng Luo!" Lanyu’s face lit up when she saw Luo Feng, then a flicker of surprised disbelief crossed her beautiful eyes. Luo Feng’s appearance now naturally ant he had finished his cultivation, but she couldn’t tell if he had made a breakthrough.
Luo Feng stepped into the hall and nodded slightly at Lanyu.
"It’s you!" A cold gleam flashed in Lengxiao’s eyes at the sight of Luo Feng.
Luo Feng looked at Lengxiao and smiled faintly. "Leader Leng, we et again. Did you change your mount today? I hope it’s not as timid as the Green Scale Wolf you had last ti."
Upon hearing this, the senior mbers of the Green Fla Adventure Group’s expressions turned peculiar; they wanted to laugh but dared not. They had all heard about the incident four days prior.
Lanyu looked at Luo Feng, her enticing red lips curving into a faint smile. ’To speak so casually in front of the notoriously infamous Leader Lengxiao of the Cold Origin Adventure Group... you’re probably the only one.’ Her previously gloomy mood had lightened sowhat. However, recalling Lengxiao’s earlier words, a seed of worry sprouted in her heart. Lengxiao was ruthless; he likely wouldn’t let Luo Feng off easily.
As expected, hearing the sarcasm in Luo Feng’s words, Lengxiao’s eyes flickered, filled with murderous intent. He said coldly, "Boy, you still dare to spout such arrogant nonsense! Today, I’ll make you understand the consequences of offending , Lengxiao."
A ferocious, cold smirk curled Lengxiao’s lips as he commanded the five n behind him, "Cut off his limbs and hang him in the streets to die slowly."
The five Cold Origin Adventure Group Martial Artists acknowledged the order. "Yes!" Killing intent glead in their eyes as they stared at Luo Feng, their figures lunging forward.
"Feng Luo!" Lanyu, Lu Qing, and the others hadn’t expected Lengxiao to act so decisively. They tried to intervene, but as soon as they moved, an imnse pressure washed over them, forcing them to involuntarily retreat.
Lengxiao stood with his hands clasped behind his back, stating coldly, "Don’t waste your efforts. He’s as good as dead today."
"You brat! Daring to offend our Leader, we’ll make sure you die without a burial place!" The five Cold Origin Adventure Group Martial Artists charged toward Luo Feng. Chilling Sword Gang erupted from the edges of their swords, and a bone-chilling cold enveloped Luo Feng.
Facing the five encircling Cold Origin Adventure Group Martial Artists, Luo Feng’s expression remained calm. He stated calmly, "All of you attack together. Save the trouble."
"’Impudent!’"
"’Brat, you’ll soon regret those words!’"
Rage flared in the eyes of the five Cold Origin Adventure Group Martial Artists. All five were Fourth Level Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artists. Although their strength couldn’t compare to Lengxiao’s, they were still well-known figures in Red Valley City. To be looked down upon by a re youth today made them uncontrollably furious. Their intense killing intent caused the temperature in the hall to plumt, and those with lower cultivation levels shivered involuntarily.
"’Kill!’"
"’Snow Shadow Cold Sword!’"
"’Remnant Wind Break!’"
...
Despite their anger, the five did not lose their composure. Each unleashed their ultimate techniques, attacking Luo Feng from five different directions. The powerful force of their swords slashed terrifying cracks into the floor of the council hall.
Luo Feng glanced at the five n, a cold smile playing on his lips. He clenched his right fist.
"Great Wilderness Fla Explosion!"
With a low shout, Luo Feng punched into the empty space to his left. A seemingly tangible crimson ripple spread out in every direction.
"’Quick, retreat!’" At that instant, Lengxiao, who had seed in complete control until now, his expression changed drastically as he shouted a warning.
But it was too late.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The crimson ripple slamd into the five Cold Origin Adventure Group Martial Artists. A scorching blaze erupted, soaring towards the sky. Four of them were instantly killed, their swords shattering. Only the last one, who had managed to hide behind the others at the critical mont, narrowly escaped death. However, he was still caught by the fist’s power, sent flying backward to crash heavily onto the ground, coughing up large mouthfuls of blood.
HISS!
A series of sharp gasps echoed through the hall.
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