Chapter 1073: Kicking an Iron Plate
Yun Che stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. "What do you mean it's no longer for sale?"
The black-clothed middle-aged man's words startled everyone, and even Ji Ruyan's expression changed slightly.
They had never encountered such a situation at the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce... or rather, in the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce's tens of thousands of years of history, it had never happened before.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
The black-clothed middle-aged man slowly walked toward Yun Che. His attitude was far from Ji Ruyan's gentleness, and his face remained cold and hard. "Just now, the adult who captured this Royal Wood Spirit sent word that they intend to take it back from us. Since that's the case, this transaction is void, so I can only apologize. But don't worry, your Purple Mysterious Coins will be refunded in full."
Though he said "apologize," his tone was unmistakably a command that brooked no refusal.
"This..." Ji Ruyan quickly stepped in front of the black-clothed middle-aged man, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "The Black Feather Chamber of Commerce has never taken back something it has sold. May I ask... what exactly happened?"
The black-clothed middle-aged man glanced at her. Even when looking at Ji Ruyan, his gaze carried a chill. His lips moved slightly as he sent her a brief sound transmission.
"Ah!?" Whatever she heard made Ji Ruyan's face turn pale in an instant. She even took a step back, as if struck by a tremendous shock.
Just as Yun Che was about to speak, he suddenly felt the Wood Spirit boy he was holding tremble all over. The boy's small hand tightly clutched Yun Che's clothes, and his shivering body shrank behind Yun Che, clearly terrified of being returned.
Yun Che turned around, his eyes fixed on the black-clothed middle-aged man. "Is this how the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce conducts business?"
"No, absolutely not!" Before the black-clothed middle-aged man could speak, Ji Ruyan said urgently. Having hosted such a trading meeting, she was certainly skilled at managing situations, but now her eyes were trembling, clearly genuinely flustered. "The Black Feather Chamber of Commerce has stood in Heiya Realm for fifty thousand years precisely because we place great importance on our principles. Forcing the return of a sold item—I swear this has never happened before. But this time, the situation is extremely special... How about this: if you, honored sir, are willing to return him, not only will we refund all four hundred million Purple Mysterious Coins, but I will also present you with an additional fifty million Purple Mysterious Coins as compensation. What do you think?"
These words left everyone dumbfounded... A compensation of fifty million Purple Mysterious Coins! Even for figures at their level, that was a huge sum. It was undoubtedly a very sincere offer.
"Heh, principles?" Yun Che sneered. "A chamber of commerce that hosts such shady trading meetings dares to speak of principles?"
He taunted without any mercy. He had expected Ji Ruyan to laugh it off indifferently, but instead, she suddenly turned pale, lowered her head, and bit her lip hard, offering no rebuttal.
Yun Che: "???"
Yun Che fixed his gaze on the black-clothed middle-aged man and said expressionlessly, "It seems you've completely misunderstood something. I've already paid the Purple Mysterious Coins in full, and this Royal Wood Spirit is now in my hands. Since the transaction is complete, those four hundred million coins are now your property, and this Wood Spirit is mine, having nothing to do with the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce anymore. 'Take it back'? You don't have the right to say those two words."
Everyone in the room held their breath and exchanged glances. This was the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce's turf; no one dared to act rashly here. And the identity of that black-clothed middle-aged man—many had vague guesses and were deeply wary, which was why no one had asked Ji Ruyan about his identity until now.
No one expected Yun Che to be so tough and uncompromising when facing this black-clothed man.
"Hehe, young man, it's better not to be so impulsive." The black-clothed middle-aged man chuckled lightly. "What you said isn't wrong. Since the transaction is complete, this Royal Wood Spirit belongs to you. Forcing its return is indeed improper. But I must remind you: the person who wants this Wood Spirit back—I can't afford to offend him, and you certainly can't either. It's best if you return it honestly, and everything will be fine. Otherwise, the consequences might be beyond what you can bear."
Clearly, he didn't want to burn bridges. After all, Yun Che had casually thrown out four hundred million Purple Mysterious Coins and displayed a sharp edge, suggesting a very strong background. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to offend him completely.
Little did he know... Yun Che currently had no background at all, not even a companion. He was entirely alone!
"If the compensation of fifty million Purple Mysterious Coins is still insufficient, honored sir, you may name your terms. As long as it is within my power, I will satisfy you." Ji Ruyan said softly, her shifting eyes carrying a hint of pleading... and anxiety?
Just as Yun Che was about to speak, he heard Ji Ruyan's sound transmission in his ear: "Brother Ling Yun, I beg you to return him immediately. The situation is far more serious than you can imagine. It involves an upper realm! And the man before you has a very significant background. While he is still reluctant to completely offend you, comply with him. Otherwise... he will not only seize it by force but may also kill you to silence you!"
An upper realm. To a lower realm, it was like an unassailable celestial palace. If it truly involved an upper realm, even a realm king of a lower realm would be terrified and hastily hand over the Wood Spirit.
But unfortunately, they happened to encounter Yun Che. He narrowed his eyes, completely ignoring Ji Ruyan's sound transmission, and sneered at the black-clothed middle-aged man. "He's already mine. If I refuse to hand him over, what can you do to me?"
"Honored sir!" Ji Ruyan exclaimed softly.
"Hehehe." The black-clothed middle-aged man let out a strange laugh, but there was no trace of amusement on his face. "It seems you prefer a punishment to a drink!"
As his tone and expression shifted, the entire stone chamber suddenly became oppressive.
"Hehehe." Yun Che laughed in the same manner. "What? Since you can't get what you want by shamelessly asking, are you ready to just rob me outright?"
The black-clothed middle-aged man said nothing more. A gust of chilling wind suddenly swept through. He shot forward like a black hawk charging out of the night, his speed like thunder, his outstretched hand grabbing directly at the Wood Spirit boy behind Yun Che.
The black-clothed middle-aged man's sudden attack unleashed a powerful aura of the Divine Tribulation Realm in the stone chamber, startling those seated in the front rows to retreat hastily.
Yun Che shoved the Wood Spirit boy behind him, grasped the Heaven-Defying Sword, activated Purgatory, and swung his sword horizontally to meet the charging man.
Although Yun Che's profound strength was only at the second level of the Divine Soul Realm, which the black-clothed middle-aged man considered negligible, his willingness to spend four billion and his sharp demeanor kept the man wary of his background. So even when he struck, he aimed for the Wood Spirit, not Yun Che. But he never expected that, instead of panicking and fleeing under the pressure of his Divine Tribulation aura, Yun Che would draw a weapon and meet his attack head-on.
This laughable "attempt to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm" made the black-clothed man sneer: "A foolish brat who doesn't know how to die. You're asking for..."
Before he could finish, his expression changed drastically. The incoming force storm, like a dragon emerging from the sea, crushed him, making him instantly suffocate. His face twisted in shock.
Boom, boom, boom—
Amidst a thunderous roar that no one had anticipated, all the stone tables and chairs shattered completely.
At the center of the exploding profound force storm, the black-clothed middle-aged man let out a muffled groan. He staggered backward, his back slamming heavily into the stone wall behind him. The wall, protected by high-level profound runes, cracked and split apart. He lifted his head, his eyes no longer holding the earlier calm and gloom, only deep shock and disbelief. His right arm trembled slightly, almost numb.
Everyone in the room was stunned. The terrifying power just now had come from someone at the Divine Soul Realm? And it had actually repelled a Divine Tribulation Realm cultivator head-on!?
"What did you say just now?" Yun Che asked slowly, his eyes narrowed.
"You!" The black-clothed middle-aged man's expression had completely changed. The numbness in his right arm gradually faded. He let out a low growl, and between his outstretched fingers, a black lightning bolt suddenly flashed. A pitch-black spear materialized in his hand. Black lightning danced on the spear like dozens of true dragons, thrusting straight at Yun Che.
"Black Soul Thunder Firmament... He is indeed from the Soul Sect." A person at the far end of the stone chamber murmured.
Yun Che's brow sank. He shoved the Wood Spirit boy back hard, then lunged forward. The approaching black lightning writhed like demonic snakes, but he ignored them completely, swinging his sword down with Falling Moon and Sinking Star.
The Wood Spirit boy was thrown far away by Yun Che's shove, tumbling to the ground. He sat there dazed, momentarily forgetting to stand up.
And less than ten zhang behind him stood Ying Yushan, his face full of shock. Seeing the Royal Wood Spirit so close, after a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth, dashed forward, and reached for the Wood Spirit boy.
Boom!!!
Spear and sword clashed. In an instant, all the black profound lightning on the spear dispersed. The nine-foot spear shaft bent into a crescent moon. Under the overwhelming force, the black-clothed middle-aged man's entire body shook violently, then he flew backward without touching the ground, his back slamming into the stone wall once more.
Boom—
The already cracked stone wall collapsed. The black-clothed man's arms, holding the Black Soul Spear, trembled with numbness. A streak of crimson blood had leaked from the corner of his mouth.
Having knocked back the black-clothed man with a single sword strike, Yun Che used the rebound force to flip backward and, like a violent storm, pounced on Ying Yushan, who was approaching the Wood Spirit boy. He threw a punch.
Ying Yushan, who had tried to seize an opportunity, never expected Yun Che, who had just lunged forward, to turn back instantly. He only had time to look up in shock before Yun Che's fist slammed into his chest. At that moment, he felt as if all the bones in his body had shattered at once. A spray of blood erupted several zhang into the air. His entire body, amidst a scream, flew sideways and smashed into the stone wall at the far end, shaking the entire chamber violently.
Bang!
Ying Yushan's body hit the ground, twitched a few times, and then went still. Only a large pool of blood spread rapidly beneath him.
Around him, no one moved forward. Instead, they retreated slowly in fear. Ying Yushan's profound strength had reached the pinnacle of the Divine Soul Realm. But Yun Che was clearly only at the second level of the Divine Soul Realm... yet he had knocked him unconscious with a single punch!
"Gaaaaaah!"
A storm of wind surged behind Yun Che. The black-clothed middle-aged man's body now bore a massive black serpent shadow, accompanied by crackling lightning. An aura of terrifying ferocity spread rapidly.
"The Black Serpent of the Soul Sect!" someone exclaimed.
"Boy... you asked for this!" The black-clothed man's face darkened, his teeth clenched.
Sssssssss!
Lightning screamed. With a roar from the black-clothed man, the black serpent shadow seemed to come alive, carrying all the lightning on his body into the spear. Instantly, the Black Soul Spear transformed into a ferocious black serpent, opening its dark fangs, tearing toward Yun Che with terrifying lightning.
Having been repelled twice by Yun Che, the black-clothed man, in his fury, no longer dared to underestimate or hold back. And fear had begun to creep into his heart... because he had never taken Yun Che, who had only early-stage Divine Soul Realm profound strength, seriously. He was completely confident that Yun Che couldn't take the Royal Wood Spirit away from him.
But he had never dreamed that Yun Che, who clearly had only second-level Divine Soul Realm profound strength, possessed power that defied all logic! He wasn't afraid of Yun Che himself—he was afraid that if Yun Che actually took the Royal Wood Spirit away, his own consequences would be far more miserable than death!
Having only obtained Mu Xuanyin's Ice Phoenix primal yin two days ago, Yun Che couldn't fully gauge the extent of his own strength now. But after sensing that the black-clothed man, who had early-stage Divine Tribulation Realm profound strength, didn't put much pressure on him, he was thoroughly confident. Facing the man's all-out attack, Yun Che once again pushed the Wood Spirit boy away with one hand and met the attack head-on.
This time, the Wood Spirit boy was pushed even farther. But with the lesson of Ying Yushan, no one dared to approach.
"An... ni... hi... la... tion... of... Hea... ven... and... Earth!"
The black-clothed man's black lightning serpent was terrifying, but the power Yun Che unleashed was several times greater than before. Under the storm of force shrouded by the Heaven-Defying Sword, the black lightning serpent was suppressed heavily. But then, as if thoroughly enraged, it let out a roar, charged against the profound force storm, and barely withstood the sword's might.
Boom!!
Like a thunderbolt from the nine heavens descending, the underground stone chamber trembled and cracked rapidly.
"What...?" The black-clothed middle-aged man's eyes widened, his twisted expression as if seeing a ghost. He couldn't believe that his full power was being blocked head-on by Yun Che!
No, rather, it was Yun Che's power that he was barely holding off.
Yun Che's face was cold and calm. But the black-clothed man supporting the black lightning serpent was trembling continuously, drenched in sweat. The immense force pressing down on his spear and his body was like a ten-thousand-zhang mountain slowly toppling onto him.
"You..." The greatsword pressed down slowly. The Black Soul Spear bent inch by inch. The black lightning serpent coiled around it began to wail. The black-clothed man's pupils gradually dilated, filled with growing terror.
Boom... Heaven!
Yun Che silently chanted in his heart. The fourth gate of the Evil God Realm opened mercilessly.
Boom!!!!!
"Wuuuaaahhh!!!"
The profound force surged abruptly. The black lightning serpent, which had been barely holding on, let out a mournful cry as it was torn to shreds instantly. The black-clothed man's arm bones shattered completely, and he was sent flying amidst the rampaging profound force storm, blood spraying. The Black Soul Spear flew out of his hand.
Yun Che reached out, grabbed the Black Soul Spear in midair, and hurled it.
Pfft!
Like a black meteor flashing by, the spear pierced precisely through the black-clothed man's right chest, passing through mercilessly and pinning his flying body firmly to the ground. Blood splattered everywhere.
Drip...
Drip...
The stone chamber finally fell silent. Except for the rapid dripping of blood, even breathing seemed to have ceased.
Ji Ruyan stood not far away, her face pale, unable to speak. The Heiya profound practitioners behind her were pressed against the walls, mouths agape, sweating, not daring to make a sound or even take a deep breath.
Second level of the Divine Soul Realm... In just a few exchanges, he had overwhelmingly crippled a Divine Tribulation Realm expert!
They had never seen or heard of such a thing! They couldn't even imagine what kind of realm could nurture such a monster.
The Wood Spirit boy sat on the ground, staring blankly at Yun Che. But it seemed he had forgotten his fear; a brilliant light flickered in his eyes.
Yun Che walked forward slowly. His footsteps, though light, seemed to trample on everyone's hearts. He stopped in front of the black-clothed man, looked down at his pitiful state, and said slowly, "Next time you ask someone for a favor, you'd better have a gentler attitude. Otherwise, if you're unlucky enough to run into someone like me... you're just asking to die!"
————————————————————
————————————————————
[Yun Che: a man suspected of being cursed—wherever he goes, he's bound to stir up a huge mess!]
[Also, I still haven't sold off the thirty tons of razor blades I received last year, so I won't be taking any more this year!!]