Star Essence Liquid in Hand
That tone.
That voice.
That posture.
They were so humble.
Qin Wansheng's smile froze on his face, and he stood there dumb as a wooden chicken.
Elder Lin was really funny. He even called someone sect leader before teaching him a lesson. How polite of him.
He would probably make his real move in a moment.
Courtesy before force.
And then... even Qin Wansheng couldn't keep the story going.
What the fuck!
How was this possible?
No wonder he was losing his mind. The scene before him was simply too bizarre!
You're the dignified eighth elder of the Dragon-Seeking Sect, yet you're afraid of a...
Sect leader?
He... he... was the sect leader of the Dragon-Seeking Sect?
Qin Wansheng's mouth fell open, and his whole body shook violently with terror.
Even if he had ten thousand brains, he never could have imagined that this man was the sect leader of the Dragon-Seeking Sect!
If you were the sect leader of the Dragon-Seeking Sect, why didn't you say so sooner? Why keep such a low profile?
If you'd said so sooner, forget a qualification or a dance diagram-even having him, Qin Wansheng, get on the ground and bark like a dog wouldn't have been out of the question!
"Hee hee hee hee..."
Qin Wansheng put on a smile uglier than if he were crying.
"What are you doing? Don't go scaring people in broad daylight."
Seeing Qin Wansheng's ingratiating manner, Chen Ning's goosebumps fell all over the floor.
In fact, he hadn't heard what Qin Wansheng and Shopkeeper Yang had said, nor did he know that Lin Xiaotian was his backer.
Even if it had been someone else, it wouldn't have interfered with Chen Ning's plan.
If he killed Qin Wansheng, so be it. Within Spirit Province Territory, who would dare risk offending the Dragon-Seeking Sect to protect a mere Qin Wansheng?
But with Lin Xiaotian present, things were even easier to handle.
Mo Sanniang also watched the scene in surprise, feeling as though her heart had skipped half a beat.
She had considered that Chen Ning might have a powerful background too, perhaps enough to rival the person behind the Qin Clan, but she hadn't expected his background to be this formidable.
Even Elder Lin had to bow his head to him.
As someone from Spirit Province, how could she not know the name of the Dragon-Seeking Sect? It was a super sect that ranked among the very strongest in all the Nine Provinces.
In Spirit Province, its word was law.
Even a power as mighty as the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty had to treat it with courtesy and honor its members as distinguished guests.
A force like that truly possessed the terrifying strength to wipe out a dynasty.
"Sect Leader, this blind fool didn't hurt you, did he?" Lin Xiaotian stepped forward and asked with concern.
"He did."
Chen Ning wiped his eyes, then pointed at Qin Wansheng. "It was him!"
"And him too! They hurt my feelings and made me start questioning the fairness and justice of this world. Boo-hoo-hoo..."
Chen Ning pointed at Shopkeeper Yang next, his eyes showing three parts coldness, three parts melancholy, and four parts helplessness. He delivered a gold-medal performance that made the hearts of those who heard it ache and brought them to tears!
The latter was struck as if by lightning and thought to himself, You can't go wronging an innocent man!
Shopkeeper Yang hurriedly said, "You... Sect Leader, you've misunderstood. I haven't so much as laid a finger on you or the Mo Clan. I was the one who gave Sanniang of the Mo Clan the chance to compete today. Sanniang, please, say something for me."
Mo Sanniang was unmoved.
Shopkeeper Yang grew even more anxious. He had clearly seen Lin Xiaotian's gaze fall on him.
There was unmistakable reproach in that gaze.
The succession of events since Lin Xiaotian had entered had already nearly crushed Shopkeeper Yang's spirit.
He had thrown fairness aside to side with the Qin Clan, only to offend someone with an even greater background.
He regretted it now. He regretted it terribly!
The Heavenly Ox Chamber of Commerce was nothing in the eyes of such a power. He was truly afraid.
Shopkeeper Yang's knees gave way, and he knelt and kowtowed. "Sect Leader, I deserve ten thousand deaths. Please spare my wretched life. From now on, I'll await your orders."
"Then today's competition..."
"Naturally, the Mo Clan won. If anyone dares question it, I'll bite him to death!"
"And the Star Essence Liquid that was promised..."
"Naturally, I'll hand it over at once! Not only that, I'm also willing to pay for repairs to the Mo Clan residence and the Prolonged Beauty Hall, and work with the Mo Clan for the rest of my life!"
"Good."
Chen Ning chuckled, then looked at Qin Wansheng.
Shopkeeper Yang had merely been unlucky in choosing a side after weighing the situation. He wasn't terribly wicked, and he was also trying to survive. But Qin Wansheng's conduct couldn't simply be overlooked like that.
"Lord Sect Leader, I'm willing to..."
Qin Wansheng hurriedly spoke up, but before he could finish, Chen Ning slapped him across the face.
Chen Ning put on an aggrieved expression. "Eighth Elder, what do you say we should do?"
Lin Xiaotian first gave Chen Ning a respectful smile, then his face darkened as he stared at Qin Wansheng.
Lin Xiaotian's feelings were complicated at that moment.
Not a single one of his subordinates could spare him worry.
First Han Zhuang, then Qin Wansheng-both had nearly gotten him killed.
He really felt like a dog had fucked him.
"Elder Lin... Elder Lin, save me... I was following your orders."
Seeing the killing intent in Lin Xiaotian's eyes, Qin Wansheng pleaded for help in utter terror.
"You fool who doesn't know the difference between life and death, you offended the sect leader. How could I let you live?"
Crack!
Lin Xiaotian raised his hand and snapped Qin Wansheng's neck.
From that day on, there was no Qin Clan in Gold and Iron City.
Lin Xiaotian could have spared his life, but he had only himself to blame for running his mouth and saying what he shouldn't have.
Even a money-making tool he had casually cultivated in Gold and Iron City had nearly gotten him killed because of it. Lin Xiaotian was deeply frustrated.
He had personally severed this source of wealth.
In previous years, Lin Xiaotian had arranged for the Qin Clan to make appearances in the imperial dynasty and, on that basis, had gained countless riches. But now he had no choice but to cut off his own arm to save himself.
"Ah!!"
At that moment, the Qin Clan woman also regained consciousness. Seeing the dead Qin Wansheng before her, she screamed and collapsed helplessly to the ground.
Mo Sanniang walked over, her gaze full of icy coldness as she looked at her. "Years ago, you stole the dance diagram and caused my grandfather's death. Now it's time to settle that debt properly!"
Several Mo Clan dancers came forward, tied the Qin Clan woman up with rope, and dragged her away.
The Qin Clan woman looked grief-stricken and resigned herself to whatever the Mo Clan chose to do with her.
She had long ago imagined that this day might come.
Mo Sanniang crouched down and said, "You kept calling me a bitch. Now I'm returning every one of those words to you, you wretched bitch."
Shopkeeper Yang acted quickly. He immediately designated the Mo Clan to participate in the Autumn Years Banquet and handed the Star Essence Liquid to Mo Sanniang.
Mo Sanniang then came before Chen Ning and bowed. "Benefactor... ah, I should call you Sect Leader now. You saved the Mo Clan and avenged me as well. I'm endlessly grateful and have no way to repay you. From now on, the Mo Clan will be your vassal. If you need us, we won't shrink from ten thousand deaths."
Mo Sanniang handed the Star Essence Liquid to Chen Ning.
Chen Ning also noticed a subtle detail in her choice of words: she had said they would become his vassals, not the Dragon-Seeking Sect's.
That was a very skillful way of putting it.
But at that moment, Chen Ning's attention was entirely on the bottle of Star Essence Liquid.
In his hand, the Star Essence Liquid shone like starlight and seemed to contain vast power. Chen Ning put it into his spatial bag.
Now! He could begin hatching that spirit beast egg!