Chu Xiong forced himself to grip a longsword, its tip aimed at Chen Changqing. But his hand shook like a sieve, sending the blade tip tracing circle after circle of utterly harmless arcs through the air.
"Chen Changqing, you dare kill a legitimate member of the imperial family? You're provoking a war between two dynasties!" Chu Xiong shouted fiercely, though his heart was weak.
Chen Changqing stopped ten steps away from the two of them.
He sighed, and the sigh was utterly sincere, full of weariness and helplessness.
"You young masters from great powers only ever have the same few lines. First, you make threats. Then, you threaten my sect. Finally, you bring up your imperial father or sovereign. My ears are growing calluses from hearing it."
He shook his head and raised the Heavenly Thunder Sword, pointing its tip directly at Chu Xiong's nose.
"At the auction house just now, you spent forty-five million to buy face."
Chen Changqing smiled kindly, but to Chu Xiong, that smile was no different from an evil ghost baring its teeth.
"Now, I'll give you an opportunity too. Buy your lives. One hundred million Top-grade Spirit Stones per person. One stone short, and I'll remove one of your parts."
Chu Xiong's eyes flew wide open, his pupils abruptly shrinking.
"One hundred million Top-grade Spirit Stones?"
Even if they turned the Great Chu Dynasty's treasury upside down, they might not be able to scrape together that much cash at once!
This was outright robbery!
"You're insane!" Chu Xiong cursed, his voice cracking from agitation.
"One hundred million Top-grade Spirit Stones? Why don't you just rob the Nine Provinces Auction House?!"
Chen Changqing nodded, his tone as calm as if they were discussing the pleasant weather. "So, no money, then."
Whoosh.
A flash of sword