Volume Five: Astonishing Wealth - Everything Goes Smoothly
"The Li Family, the last Soaring Dragon Map is in the Li Family." Zhang Xingfeng muttered to himself. Suddenly, Zhang Xingfeng glanced at the location of the Tianyu Bracelet, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"Second brother, the conflict between the Li Family and us is not ordinary, so the possibility of cooperation is not high." At this moment, Lang Feng thought of how Zhang Xingfeng had manipulated those old guys in the Li Family several times, and believed that the Li Family was extremely ruthless towards Zhang Xingfeng.
"Earl Zhang, although the Li Family is always so Hegemonic Way, I believe that as long as the imperial court intervenes, they won't dare to go too far. Moreover, with a peerless expert like Earl Zhang around, I believe there won't be any problems." Zhu Xi was very confident about this.
Zhang Xingfeng merely smiled slightly, neither saying he believed nor disbelieved.
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The Li Family's residence in the capital city.
"Zhu Ming greets Your Grace, Duke." A handsome young man in white, holding a green bamboo flute, bowed slightly to the Li Family Head.
The Li Family Head immediately stepped forward with a smile and helped the third prince up. The Li Family Head valued the third prince highly. The third prince's talent was probably no less than that of his son, Li Tianxiang. Most importantly, the third prince seemed to have no interest in power at all.
Among scholars, the Third Prince held an extremely revered position. It was said that his martial arts skills were unfathomable, and no one knew the extent of his power. Even the current second-rank Li Family Head couldn't discern the Third Prince's abilities! And that's not all; even the patriarch, Li Shimin, couldn't see through the Third Prince's power. Could the Third Prince's skills be higher than the patriarch's? Probably few would believe that. Most importantly, the Third Prince had never displayed any martial arts skills!
"Your Highness, what brings you here today? Speak freely. I am confident I will give you an explanation." The Li Family Head said with a kind expression.
The Third Prince smiled and said, "Your Grace, this matter is quite important, as you probably already guessed!"
The Li Family Head was taken aback. "Could it be a treasure map?"
"Yes, it's a treasure map. Now the ownership of the three treasure maps is clear. The Soaring Dragon Map is with Your Excellency, the Ascending Dragon Map is in the hands of our royal family, and the Duke knows very well about this last one." The Third Prince spoke eloquently, explaining everything clearly.
Although the Li Family Head understood why the Third Prince had come, Li Family Head was still very reluctant. Looking at the Third Young Master, he thought to himself, "My Li Family spent 500 million taels of silver on this Latent Dragon Chart, and the Tuoba Family still couldn't save it in the end. They're truly hopeless. Why haven't the people in the palace found the location of the Ascending Dragon Map yet! Now that we haven't even obtained those two maps, are we really going to have to share the treasure with them? What a huge treasure that is! With it, my Li Family can stay ahead of the other Aristocratic Clan for at least another two hundred years! No one will be able to shake our position as the number one Aristocratic Clan!" A glint of fanaticism flashed in the Li Family Head's eyes.
The Third Prince glanced at it briefly, picked up the teacup beside his chair, slowly sipped it, and then continued, "Your Grace, I've come here to persuade all three parties to cooperate in uncovering this treasure."
Li Family Head was startled. He really didn't want to hear this, but the Third Prince still brought it up. Li Family Head, as one of the four great family heads, was troubled inside, but on the surface he was still very kind and said, "This matter is not urgent, not urgent."
The Third Prince immediately said, "Your Grace, you should understand that Zhang Xingfeng Earl Zhang has already obtained the Latent Dragon Chart. Does your Li Family even think of taking it from us? Do you even have the ability to do so?"
The Third Prince spoke bluntly, showing no mercy and stating the truth directly. The Li Family Head smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned and showing no embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed, and said, "The Third Prince is well aware of Earl Zhang's abilities. It's impossible for us to seize the Latent Dragon Chart from him!"
"If that's the case, why doesn't the patriarch agree to go and excavate the treasure together? Is it because you want to steal the Ascending Dragon Map from our royal family?" The Third Prince's tone suddenly changed, and the surrounding air seemed to become oppressive.
The Li Family Head immediately said, "No, no, Third Prince, please don't think like that. How could our Li Family steal something from the royal family?" Although the Li Family was not afraid of the royal family, they still couldn't go too far on the surface. This was the tacit understanding among the major Aristocratic Clan.
"In that case, does that mean His Excellency the Duke agrees?" The Third Prince smiled.
The Li Family Head was taken aback.
"Ha, ha, ha. Well said, well said, Third Prince. Your speaking skills seem to be quite high. If there are levels of speaking skills, then you have probably surpassed the Divine Realm in this aspect!" A middle-aged man stepped forward, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, his aura sweeping through the hall like a whirlwind.
A flash of lightning appeared in the Third Prince's eyes, but he remained seated without moving. The water in his teacup stirred slightly, but instantly returned to calm. The surrounding wind seemed quite tranquil, not at all turbulent, and the middle-aged man's imposing presence had no effect on him whatsoever.
"Why does the ancestor speak so strangely? Does he have the power to speak? Does he have the power to speak?" The Li Family Head was taken aback, but seeing the Third Prince's reaction to the ancestor's imposing aura, he understood what the ancestor meant.
"Zhu Ming greets Senior!" The Third Prince was very respectful. Others might not recognize the middle-aged man in front of him, but he did. He had long admired the middle-aged man's deeds.
"Third Prince, there's no need for that. Our Li Family certainly agrees to the treasure hunt," Li Shimin said with a smile. He liked and admired the Third Prince very much. The reason for this admiration came from the mysterious Demon Lord Ni Xiao Reversal; even the Demon Lord Ni Xiao had shown rare respect for the Third Prince.
"Oh, so you're saying that you've agreed to go treasure hunting with all three parties? What does Your Highness think?" The Third Prince didn't seem to mind what had just happened.
"Of course I agree. How could I disagree with something that would make everyone happy?" The Li Family Head seemed to have forgotten his earlier hesitation about the matter.
"Very well, since Li Family Head has said so, it's settled then. The day after tomorrow morning, in the Imperial Garden of the Palace, Father Emperor will personally entertain Li Family Head and Earl Zhang. What do you think, Li Family Head?" The Third Prince put down his teacup and stood up.
"Alright, the day after tomorrow, I will definitely go the day after tomorrow." The Li Family Head readily agreed.
"Very well, Your Grace, senior, I shall take my leave now!" the Third Prince said, bowing.
Li Shimin nodded slightly, and the Third Prince turned and left.
After the Third Prince had left, the Li Family Head said, "Ancestor, are we really going to give up? We've already spent so much manpower and resources on this matter!"
Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Zhang Xingfeng, ha, Zhang Xingfeng, can you snatch the Latent Dragon Chart from Zhang Xingfeng?"
"But we can get our hands on the Ascending Dragon Map in the palace!" said the Li Family Head.
Li Shimin glanced at the Li Family Head, a slight disappointment in him regarding this generation's leader. He turned and left, leaving behind only one sentence. "Ha, so there's a third prince in the palace too!"
The Li Family Head was taken aback: Third Prince, can the Third Prince possibly withstand the Li Family?
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"Earl Zhang, our three families are excavating the treasure together. What is your attitude on this matter? Although the Li Family and Earl Zhang personal grudges, I believe Earl Zhang will not let personal matters affect important matters!" Zhu Xi was getting a little anxious. Zhang Xingfeng hadn't said a word yet.
Zhang Xingfeng glanced at the somewhat anxious Zhu Xi, took a deep breath, and said, "Alright, who said I wouldn't agree? This is a win-win situation for everyone, so why would I refuse?"
"Good, good, that's wonderful, Earl Zhang. The day after tomorrow morning, Father will personally entertain Earl Zhang and the Li Family Head. Earl Zhang, you must go!" Zhu Xi was all smiles.
Zhang Xingfeng smiled slightly, "Yes, I will definitely go, Your First Prince, there's no need to worry!"
"Alright, it's settled then, we'll be going!" The First Prince turned and left after seeing Zhang Xingfeng nod. Lang Feng stared at Leyue's back for a long time in a daze.
Zhang Xingfeng looked at Lang Feng and smiled mockingly.
Looking up at the backs of the First Prince and his entourage, Zhang Xingfeng's eyes flashed with a strange light. He said, "Treasure map, Li Family, imperial court..." A glint of light flashed in Zhang Xingfeng's left hand.
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