Duke Fu's Mansion

After leaving the mansion, Chu Xuanao quickly asked Qiuyue to remove the blood-soaked bandages from his body. They were too uncomfortable wrapped around him.

At this moment, Chu Xuanao was all smiles. He had earned five thousand taels of gold first thing in the morning, which was equivalent to fifty thousand taels of silver.

Yes, although personal combat power in this world could reach incredible heights, there were no spirit stones like those in novels from his previous life.

Even if there were rare medicinal herbs and supreme treasures for alchemy, these rare items were traded through bartering.

Ordinary currency was still gold and silver.

Of course, when it came to top-tier heavenly materials and earthly treasures like the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus, money was not enough; one needed to rely on their fists and their father, Zhang He.

Cultivation was basically all about personal talent and comprehension, and the skill of being born into the right family.

And were those four women really worth so much?

Chu Xuanao hadn't expected it either. According to his initial plan, haggling relentlessly today would at most fetch ten thousand taels of silver.

He couldn't ask for too high a price, otherwise his fourth brother might get ruthless and refuse to buy, leaving the goods stuck with him.

He hadn't expected his fourth brother to offer ten thousand taels right off the bat. He knew then that this deal today wouldn't be small.

As expected, people said his fourth brother was rich, and it was true. He must have profited a lot from the Divine Kingdom!

He had already prepared for a fight. Five experts at the Ascension Realm were not brought along for nothing. He knew that his fourth brother's mansion only had five Ascension Realm experts left.

Tested by Yuan Tiangang's scanner, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that he could find out how many hairs his fourth brother had if he wanted to.

As for that Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, would they dare to make a move?

Once one reached the Celestial Realm, the nature of things changed.

This was Dagan, the capital city of Dagan, Tiandu City, and he was a prince of Dagan.

A Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert from the Divine Kingdom making a move against a prince of Dagan in the capital of Dagan?

Were they tired of living?

Directly stepping on the faces of Dagan's Imperial Clan?

What did that mean? It was equivalent to Japan, in the present day, going to Nanjing on December 13th, the anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, and shouting about how awesome the Japanese devils were back then and how they dared to bully the flowers of our nation on the streets. Did they think they would dare?

(Brothers, remember! The anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre is December 13th on the Gregorian calendar every year.)

They wouldn't have the guts!

Even if they were truly tired of living and dared to make a move, so what?

Yuan Tiangang was by his side, never far away.

If they truly dared to make a move, Yuan Tiangang could crush them without even lifting a finger.

He just wanted to fish, not to be a fish himself.

When it truly came down to needing to act, he would strike with lightning speed.

His main principle was not to tolerate such bad behavior!

If the System hadn't arrived, he was subservient. If the System arrived, he was still subservient. What kind of a system was that?

In terms of manpower, he was confident that even ten fourth brothers couldn't compare to him.

After glancing back at Prince An's Mansion, Chu Xuanao turned and got into the carriage.

Fourth brother, no rush. There's plenty of time!

Upon returning to the mansion, Chu Xuanao gave one thousand taels of gold to Zhu Wushi from his fourth brother's generous donation. Weihu Mountain had also suffered damage, and his subordinates had followed him, so they couldn't be shortchanged. He also took out fifty taels of gold and gave them to Er Niu.

"Take this and have a good meal with the brothers. As for the rewards I promised before, go to the accounting office to collect them."

With the service of Qiuyue Shuangxue, Chu Xuanao bathed again, washing away the bloodstains.

Meanwhile, Yuan Tiangang found Zhu Wushi.

"Don't worry, Hall Master. Duke Fu's Mansion and Dragon Guard Manor have an informant. I will send word immediately."

Dagan's Four Great Dukes' Mansions. Their status in the court was above that of the feudal lords, at the very top of the court.

They were like a large tree, deeply rooted and intricately connected.

Various factions in Dagan could all be linked to them in some way.

Duke Fu's Mansion had been passed down for over a thousand years. The current Duke Protector, Ling Feng, was in the late stage of the Ascension Realm.

Within Duke Fu's Mansion, a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance but a slightly sinister aura was walking towards a courtyard ahead.

His hands were not visible from the palms and fingers; both hands were covered in ironware, with sharp and fierce fingertips, wearing a pair of iron claws.

He was stopped by the guards at the entrance when he reached the courtyard.

"Commander Flying Eagle, what is it? What are you doing here?"

"Flying Eagle has an important matter to request an audience with the Duke, please announce me."

The middle-aged man, who called himself Flying Eagle, paid no mind to the guards blocking him.

Although these guards respectfully addressed him as Commander, he knew his own standing. He was merely an ordinary guard commander in Duke Fu's Mansion, and there were many like him here.

Those standing guard outside this courtyard were at least the personal guards of Duke Fu's Mansion.

If it hadn't been for the fact that the guard post in front was on his shift today, he would have been stopped at the previous post.

"Commander Flying Eagle, could you please tell us what's happening? So we can report it."

"My apologies, brothers. It is indeed urgent, but I cannot tell you. Please make the report!"

The personal guards exchanged glances, and one walked into the courtyard.

In the courtyard, two people sat at a stone table, conversing. One was a majestic middle-aged man, seated in the main position by the main entrance, exuding an imposing aura. This was Duke Protector Ling Feng.

To his left sat a young man with a clear complexion and a carefree demeanor, Ling Feng's son, Ling Chen. He was the heir to Duke Fu's Mansion, destined to inherit the entire estate.

Seeing the guard enter, the two stopped their conversation.

"Reporting to the Duke, the mansion's guard commander, Flying Eagle, requests an audience. He claims to have urgent matters to report."

After hearing the personal guard's words, the black-robed elder standing behind Duke Protector Ling Feng spoke.

"Patriarch, Flying Eagle has been with the mansion for nearly twenty years. His cultivation is in the late stage of Transcendent, and he is one of the twelve junior commanders. He usually acts with prudence and responsibility, and his character is upright.

He is dedicated to martial arts and has no other ambitions. Although his talent is somewhat lacking, he understands the gravity of situations. He must have come because something has happened."

The elder's address to Duke Protector Ling Feng was "Patriarch" instead of "Duke," indicating he was not an outsider but a member of the Ling family.

Duke Fu's Mansion had a history spanning over a thousand years. It had evolved from a small group of founders into a prominent aristocratic family, standing at the pinnacle of Dagan.

Upon hearing the elder's words, Duke Protector Ling Feng nodded slightly.

"Have him come in!"

The guard nodded and retreated. Moments later, Flying Eagle entered.

"Flying Eagle pays his respects to His Grace, the Duke."

"Rise, Flying Eagle. What urgent matter requires you to report directly to me?"

Normally, any mansion affairs, even if there were any, would not be reported directly to the Duke Protector by a junior commander. There were superior commanders above him.

If something happened, it should be reported to his commander, not directly to the Duke.

However, Flying Eagle remained silent, instead glancing subtly at the surrounding maids and guards. His meaning was clear.

Seeing Flying Eagle's action, Duke Protector Ling Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, and the elder behind Ling Feng's expression also changed.

Duke Protector Ling Feng looked at Flying Eagle, then at the people around them.

"All of you, leave!"

Hearing the Duke's command, the guards and maids in the courtyard slowly withdrew.

Only Flying Eagle, Duke Protector Ling Feng, his son Ling Chen, and the elder behind Ling Feng remained in the courtyard.

"Speak! There are no outsiders now."

Upon hearing this, Flying Eagle took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Duke Protector Ling Feng.

"My lord has a letter for His Grace the Duke. Please peruse it."

Hearing Flying Eagle's words, Duke Protector Ling Feng frowned, his eyes narrowed, staring intently at Flying Eagle.

Even the Duke's heir, Ling Chen, who had been resting his arm on the stone table with his head propped on his hand, looking idle, now sat up straight, his gaze fixed on Flying Eagle with a mixture of inquiry and killing intent.

No one liked having a spy among their ranks, especially one who only revealed themselves when discovered. A successful spy was even more detestable.

The elder behind Duke Protector Ling Feng, however, had a particularly complex expression.

First, a flicker of shock, disbelief.

I just praised you to the Patriarch!

No, buddy, you!