"I want to see who dares to cause trouble on my turf!" The bulky and sturdy Qi Chen strode angrily into the main hall, kicking up a storm.
His subordinates hurried to follow, repeating, "Big Brother, calm your anger."
"Just a second-rate pretty boy, not worth getting this worked up over."
Everyone in Luocheng knew that Qi Chen commanded a troop of Heteromorphs. Relying on them, he had carved out a respected position for himself in Luocheng.
Everyone knew his rules: these Heteromorphs were a family heirloom. Although their power had waned by his generation, he could still scrape by on his ancestors' reputation. Yet now, someone actually had the audacity to demand his entire roster of Heteromorphs—did they think he was dead?!
Now someone was actually scheming to take a piece of his pie. Only a fool would let that happen!
"Who is it? Step forward!" A deep voice boomed.
Years of bloodshed and turmoil had left his eyes gleaming with a terrifying, piercing light.
...
Yet there was dead silence. No one answered him.
Sheng Xiuhan wore a white robe reminiscent of ancient attire, elegant and solemn. He sat gracefully, giving the illusion of unshakeable calm and absolute certainty of victory. He picked up a teacup and slowly savored the tea of the Yi Manor.
Qi Chen's first impression was unexpectedly: *An immortal descending from a painting.*
His second impression was that this must be that pretty boy, and he certainly was pale enough.
"So it's you, spouting such wild nonsense!"
Sheng Xiuhan smacked his lips expressionlessly. It didn't seem much different—not as good as the Tribute Golden Melon tea he usually drank.
Completely ignored, Qi Chen clenched his fists so tightly that veins began to bulge.
No one had ever dared to act so insolently on his turf! Damn it, he had given this guy too much face!
Qi Shuoxin, who had been lingering in the main hall, saw that his older brother had arrived, tiptoed over to Qi Chen's side, and whined pathetically, "Big Brother, it's him! He wants to take all our Heteromorphs. And he's not paying for them!"
Qi Chen shoved Qi Shuoxin aside and roared in his booming voice, "Acting all timid in your own house, aren't you ashamed? Get out of here!"
Having just been suppressed by Sheng Xiuhan and now scolded by his older brother, Qi Shuoxin stood off to the side, feeling deeply wronged.
Heteromorphs: humanoid tools crafted through unique methods, fitted with spiritual stones internally as their cores, while their exterior shells could be forged from various materials. They possessed rudimentary human-like thinking and could be applied to a wide range of tasks.
The Qi family had made their fortune through craftsmanship, later studying under a master from the Hidden Realm to learn the method of forging Heteromorphs.
Half an hour ago.
Sheng Xiuhan brought Sheng Mo to the Yi Manor.
Qi Shuoxin had greeted Sheng Xiuhan, who at a glance clearly looked like a major patron. With that attire and that demeanor, he was obviously a wealthy, fat sheep.
"Come, come, please step inside. We definitely have whatever you're looking for." Qi Shuoxin rubbed the thumb ring on his hand, a gleam of calculation flashing in his eyes.
A big fish! He would have to fleece him good.
Their Yi Manor operated on the principle of opening for business once every six months, and living off that single deal for the next six months, tailoring their prices to the customer.
"What kind of Heteromorphs does the honored guest want? Guaranteed to satisfy you. They can eliminate people and plunder goods, and even services of the 'special' kind are top-notch."
Those probably weren't that kind of services.
He hadn't expected Heteromorph jobs to be quite so versatile these days.
"Then I want all your Heteromorphs." A deep, magnetic voice rang out.
Qi Shuoxin was instantly overjoyed. Indeed, this was a big fish. He personally poured a cup of tea for Sheng Xiuhan. "Have a taste."
"A massive undertaking, sir. The lease term is negotiable, but as for the price—" Qi Shuoxin rubbed his hands together and made a gesture indicating money. "I'll give you a discount: fifty thousand Buling."
If someone has money, you have to grab it while you can and fleece them hard!
These were all their Heteromorphs after all! He had to show off their true value and set a precedent for those who came after.
Sheng Mo frowned slightly and glanced at Sheng Xiuhan. His master would never agree to this price. Were they really this bold? Did they take them for fools?
They certainly had the nerve to ask. Heteromorphs were indeed good items, but they weren't exclusively produced by this family; it was just that the central Sanskrit incantations were a bit troublesome, and most people couldn't be bothered with such things. Still, it was the first time he had ever seen anyone open their mouth so wide.
Sheng Xiuhan raised his hand, and his slender fingers formed the number five.
Qi Shuoxin beamed with joy and chimed in excitedly, "Fifty thousand Buling! My lord is truly magnanimous!"
Sheng Xiuhan said nothing, giving Qi Shuoxin a cool, unfathomable look.
"Then... five thousand Buling?"
Qi Shuoxin's enthusiasm waned. *No way, are they really this stingy? Are they just messing around?*
Suddenly, Qi Shuoxin lost all interest in leasing out the Heteromorphs; if things went like this, he wouldn't be able to turn a decent profit.
Who ever felt they had too much money?
Buling: a spiritual treasure native to the Hidden Realm used for cultivation. It was rare and generally only circulated in large quantities among those of high status and influence.
Sheng Mo couldn't watch any longer. This guy must have gone mad thinking about money—what an idiot. "Can't you tell? Five thousand spirit stones is more than enough."
Spirit stones: a tier below Buling.
Qi Shuoxin's face went cold. Gone was his previous flattery as his voice dropped sharply. "Are you playing games with me?!"
"The rules are set by us. Do you think you can just eat for free and walk away?"
In their Yi Manor, they called the shots. If you didn't accept their terms, don't expect to leave in one piece!
"So this is a trap for me." Sheng Xiuhan's tone remained unchanged. As he raised his eyes, his pitch-black gaze exerted an invisible pressure. "What, do you think I'm easy to fleece?"
For a moment, Qi Shuoxin didn't even dare meet those eyes. How could anyone be born with such a pair of sharp, cold, and stern eyes?
Qi Shuoxin couldn't understand why, even though he was just sitting there, it gave him the illusion that he was looking up at him.
"On my turf, prices are set by me. My friend, you'd better not push it, otherwise I guarantee the two of you won't be walking out of here."
Sheng Xiuhan set down his teacup and slowly stood up. "Is that a threat?" he asked, using a tone of certainty.
Given Sheng Xiuhan's height, once he stood up, Qi Shuoxin truly had to look up just to make out the expression on his face—though from what he could see, it didn't seem to have changed at all.
"My friend, you can't just quote prices like that either!"
"Haven't you ever heard of... dog eat dog, hmm?"
Qi Shuoxin started in shock. What? The man wanted to shake *him* down! An overwhelming pressure rushed toward him, ferocious and surging, forcing Qi Shuoxin to drop to his knees on the spot, unable to move a muscle.
"Admirable courage," he remarked.
Realizing the situation had gone wrong, the subordinate nearby scrambled away on all fours to report the news. Enraged by the report, Qi Chen had charged straight over.
Seeing Sheng Xiuhan, Qi Chen pointed directly at him: "So it's you, a mere pretty boy, who dares to mess with my property!" "In all the years the Yi Manor has stood, I've never seen anyone as arrogant as you!"
Qi Chen began channeling his arts to summon the Heteromorphs. With the combat prowess of his Heteromorphs, would he be afraid of these two running amok here?
Sheng Xiuhan suddenly chuckled, looking at Qi Chen with curved brows.
Qi Chen couldn't help a sudden sinking feeling in his chest.
The surrounding area remained completely unresponsive.
Qi Chen couldn't help wondering, *How can this be?!*
Logically speaking, the Heteromorphs should have swarmed out by now, yet there was not a single sound.
"Hmph, I've finally seen one today. Some things aren't up to you." It seemed the man was just a half-baked amateur.
Meeting Sheng Xiuhan's smiling eyes, Qi Chen felt his heart tremble. He had been cut off from them—just how high was this man's cultivation...?
Before Qi Chen could say another word, the teacup Sheng Xiuhan had just set down suddenly shattered, and a shard flew at lightning speed toward Qi Chen, grazing right across his neck.
"Big Brother!"
"What are you shouting for! I'm not dead!"
Qi Chen knew that just a fraction of an inch closer, that shard would have slit his throat, and he wouldn't even have had time to dodge.
He had run into a master.