The Supreme Treasure Moves Hearts, Crisis!

Lin Feng looked at the glaring zero in his sea of consciousness, his chest aching as he slumped his face and wailed.

"Uncle Zhao, I'm not feeling well!"

Zhao Wuji had long been accustomed to this display of his—acting as if he'd lost half his life whenever his money was gone. Leaning against the doorframe, he teased him with a playful smirk:

"You brat, wait another two years and that face of yours will surely be handsome. Pair that with that silver tongue of yours that could talk a dead man back to life—and since your Martial Soul burns through money—Uncle Zhao will point you toward a shortcut."

He winked, deliberately goading him.

"Sacrifice a little of your charm. Find a wealthy young lady like the one who came in today and just go along with it. You could blow through millions of Gold Soul Coins as you please; wouldn't that be better than working yourself to the bone running this Soul Recovery Pavilion?"

Hearing this, Lin Feng crossed his arms and began to think seriously.

Recalling the bitter days of the past two years—getting up early and staying up late, running here and there, guarding the shop, and pinching pennies to save every coin—his eyes suddenly lit up. He nodded heavily, a look of sudden realization dawning on him.

"That makes so much sense!"

Seeing his dead-serious expression, Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched violently.

"No, I was just joking. You're actually considering it, kid?"

Lin Feng paused, then looked him up and down with an extremely strange expression, saying solemnly:

"Uncle Zhao, aren't you a ready-made example?"

"Besides, I'm an auxiliary type. It doesn't matter who I assist, as long as I can exchange it for Gold Soul Coins."

Zhao Wuji was so choked up by the retort that he couldn't catch his breath, gritting his teeth:

"You brat, has anyone ever told you that your words are truly heart-piercing? I think you're just..."

Before he could finish, the smile on his face vanished without a trace. His brows furrowed as he turned toward the shop entrance, thick soul power surging beneath his skin.

Several dark shadows pushed through the door like ghosts, all dressed in identical black tactical gear. They exuded an undisguised stench of blood; one look was enough to tell they were ruthless characters who had spent years dancing on the edge of life and death.

"My guests, the Soul Recovery Pavilion is already closed. If you have business, please come back early tomorrow."

Flender adjusted his glasses, his soul power quietly circulating as his gaze locked onto the burly man in black leading the group.

One, two, three...

The leader possessed deep, vast soul power—he was clearly a Soul Douluo. Behind him followed four powerful Soul Saints, and ten Soul Emperors stood on either side, blocking every exit.

Even more terrifying was the fact that outside the shop, behind the courtyard walls, there were at least a hundred other auras of varying strength, surrounding the entire Soul Recovery Pavilion so tightly not even water could leak through.

Damn it, we're completely surrounded!

The lead man in black took a step forward, his raspy voice carrying undisguised greed.

"Closed? No matter."

"I am very interested in that treasure in your shop that can rapidly recover soul power. Name your price; as long as you are willing to part with it, you can ask for whatever you want."

Flender looked at the four murderous Soul Saints and curled his lip in a cold, mocking sneer.

"Buy? Your method of doing business is truly unique."

"If I don't part with it today, I fear I won't even be able to walk out of this door... May I ask what to call you?"

Inwardly, however, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, these people only assume there is some supreme treasure here and haven't suspected Lin Feng.

Lin Feng showed no signs of panic; instead, he was unusually calm as he lowered his voice to ask Zhao Wuji.

"Uncle Zhao, which faction are these people from?"

"Their auras feel familiar, but they don't seem like a sect, nor do they look like people from the Imperial Palace."

Zhao Wuji sneered, fierce light churning in the depths of his eyes as his hands quietly clenched into fists.

"In this Star Dou Forest, who else could mobilize so many high-level soul masters and dare to surround us so brazenly, other than those top-tier mercenary groups of death-seekers?"

"A pack of mad dogs who will do anything for money."

He remembered the days of being hunted by the Martial Soul Hall and fleeing everywhere. The fierce light in his eyes intensified, and his voice dropped to a low, ruthless growl.

"It's been so many years, yet this is the first time I've been treated to such a grand spectacle—even more glorious than when I was being hunted back then."

"Little Lin, blood is destined to be shed tonight. Get ready to run!"

"Understood."

Lin Feng didn't try to be a hero; he nodded calmly and scanned the room, saying coolly:

"Don't fight them head-on. My Godly Gear has a limited duration. Once we gain the advantage, we break through immediately. Don't get bogged down in the fight."

Although there were many enemies, the only ones who could truly threaten them were the Soul Douluo in the lead.

As long as he stacked the buffs on Flender and Zhao Wuji, even a Soul Douluo wouldn't find it easy to get the upper hand.

Behind Zhou Man, the seventy-third-level assault-type Soul Saint Chu Shao could no longer restrain himself, slamming his crimson Blood Axe into the ground.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven soul rings erupted from beneath his feet, the halo instantly flooding half the shop.

He glared at Flender, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he snarled:

"Lord Man, I've seen plenty of misers like this. If we don't chop off one of his hands and teach him how to spell 'death,' he'll never hand over the goods obediently."

Upon hearing this, the cold rigidity on Flender's face suddenly collapsed, and he gritted his teeth to squeeze out a sentence, his tone filled with unwillingness and resignation.

"Your Excellency, I had long anticipated this day; today, I concede."

"One million Gold Soul Coins, plus I want twenty percent of the subsequent profits from this treasure. If you agree, I will give the supreme treasure to you. If you don't, we shall perish together, and no one will get it."

"You should be aware that I am not alone."

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji on the second floor turned and picked up the wooden box that had been prepared on the table. He walked downstairs expressionless, his stern face revealing no emotion, though a flash of ferocity flickered in the depths of his eyes.

"Sensible! Your terms, this old man agrees!"

Zhou Man laughed heartily, his gaze toward Flender holding a hint of appreciation.

"You are a smart man, and this old man likes smart men. With the abilities of you and your brother, why not join my Blood Wolf Mercenary Group directly?"

"So it is Lord Man of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group; my apologies for the lack of respect."

Flender feigned realization and adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"I have long heard of the great name of the Blood Wolf. This Humble One is Wang Long, and this is my second brother, Wang Erxiong. In the future, within this Star Dou Forest, I ask for Lord Man's kind guidance."

Having said that, he turned his head, gestured with his chin toward Zhao Wuji, and said in a deep voice:

"Erxiong, bring the supreme treasure over for Lord Man to inspect."

Hearing this ridiculous name, Zhao Wuji's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. As he stepped forward, he cursed Flender to high heaven in his heart.

Fine, Flender, just wait until I settle this score with you later!

For a moment, everyone from the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group present stared at the wooden box in Zhao Wuji's hands, their eyes filled with undisguised greed and fanaticism.

As long as they obtained this mysterious supreme treasure, within ten years, the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group would be wealthy enough to rival a nation and surpass all surrounding powers.

Watching Zhao Wuji personally carry the wooden box forward, everyone simultaneously relaxed their vigilance.

After all, a direct assault was the inferior strategy; a Soul Saint-level powerhouse was extremely difficult to surround and kill. If they were truly forced into a desperate fight, even if they eventually won, they would inevitably pay a painful price.

Now that the other party was willing to obediently hand over the treasure, it was naturally the best possible outcome.

Four Thornmail gold coins engraved with thorn patterns spun nimbly at Lin Feng's fingertips, the coins rotating with increasing steadiness in rhythm with Zhao Wuji's footsteps.

At the very instant Zhao Wuji's hand touched the lid of the box and was about to flip it open, the eyes of everyone present were nailed to that rustic wooden box, their breathing collectively hitching for half a beat.

No one would have imagined that in a desperate situation surrounded by hundreds of high-level Spirit Masters, this seemingly resigned Soul Saint would actually dare to strike first!