Lin Feng stared at the glaring zero in his sea of consciousness, his heart aching as he pulled a long face and wailed.
"Uncle Zhao, I feel awful!"
Zhao Wuji had long grown used to him acting like he had lost half his life whenever he lost money. Leaning against the doorframe, he teased him with a mischievous grin.
"You brat, give it another two years and that face of yours will definitely be handsome. Add that silver tongue of yours that could talk the dead back to life, and since your martial soul burns through money, Uncle Zhao will show you a shortcut."
He winked, deliberately teasing him.
"Sacrifice a little of your looks. Later, find some rich young lady like the one who came today and submit to her. You can spend millions of Gold Soul Coins however you want. Wouldn't that be better than working yourself to death running Soul Recovery Pavilion?"
Hearing that, Lin Feng folded his arms and considered it seriously.
Thinking of the miserable past two years of getting up early and staying up late, running around, watching the shop, and pinching every coin to save Gold Soul Coins, his eyes immediately lit up. He nodded heavily, looking as though he had suddenly seen the light.
"That makes so much sense!"
Seeing how serious he was, Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched violently.
"No, I was just joking around. You're actually taking it seriously?"
Lin Feng froze, then looked him up and down with an extremely strange expression before speaking solemnly.
"Uncle Zhao, aren't you a perfect example?"
"Besides, I'm in the Support System. Who I support doesn't matter. As long as it can earn Gold Soul Coins, that's fine."
Zhao Wuji nearly choked on his breath at that retort. Gritting his teeth, he said,
"You little brat, has anyone ever told you that your words really stab people in the heart? I think you're just..."
Before he could finish, the smile on his face vanished without a trace. He frowned slightly and turned toward the shop entrance, dense Soul Power surging faintly around him.
Several black-clad figures pushed open the door like Ghosts. All wore fitted black clothes and radiated undisguised bloodlust. At a glance, they were clearly ruthless people who had spent years walking the line between life and death.
"Sir, Soul Recovery Pavilion is already closed. If you wish to do business, please come back tomorrow."
Flender adjusted his glasses, silently circulating his Soul Power as he fixed his gaze on the burly black-clad man in the lead.
One, two, three...
The leader possessed deep, unfathomable Soul Power. He was clearly a Soul Douluo. Behind him stood four powerful Soul Saints, while ten Soul Emperors lined both sides, blocking every route of escape.
Even more frighteningly, outside the shop and beyond the courtyard walls, there were over a hundred more auras of varying strength, sealing off the entire Soul Recovery Pavilion without a gap.
Damn it, we've been completely surrounded!
The lead black-clad man stepped forward, his hoarse voice filled with naked greed.
"Closed? No matter."
"I am very interested in that treasure in your shop that can rapidly restore 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, a cold, mocking smile curling at his lips.
"Buy it? Your way of doing business is certainly unique."
"If I refuse to part with it today, I'm afraid I won't even be able to walk out this door... May I ask who you are?"
But inwardly, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, these people only thought there was some supreme treasure here. They had not yet suspected Lin Feng.
There was not the slightest panic on Lin Feng's face. Instead, he remained exceptionally calm as he lowered his voice and asked Zhao Wuji.
"Uncle Zhao, what faction do these people belong to?"
"Their aura feels familiar. They don't seem to be from a sect, nor do they seem to be from the royal family."
Zhao Wuji sneered. Murderous light churned in his eyes as his hands slowly clenched.
"In Star Dou Forest, aside from those top-tier desperado mercenary groups, who else could mobilize this many high-level soul masters and dare to surround us so openly?"
"A pack of mad dogs. They'll do anything for money."
He remembered the days when Spirit Hall had hunted him down and he had fled everywhere. The vicious light in his eyes grew stronger as he lowered his voice, his tone filled with ferocity.
"After all these years, this is the first time I've received such grand treatment. It's even more impressive than when I was being hunted."
"Xiao Linzi, blood will be spilled tonight. Get ready to run!"
"Got it."
Lin Feng did not try to act tough. He nodded calmly, sweeping his gaze across the room as he said coolly,
"Don't fight them head-on. My Godly Gear can only last for a limited time. Once we gain the upper hand, break out immediately. Don't get dragged into a prolonged fight."
Although the other side had many people, the only one who could truly threaten the two of them was the Soul Douluo leading them.
As long as Flender and Zhao Wuji were fully buffed, even a Soul Douluo would not get off easily.
Behind Zhou Man, Chu Shao, a level seventy-three Power Attack System Soul Saint, could no longer hold himself back. His crimson Blood Axe crashed into the ground.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven soul rings erupted beneath his feet, their glow instantly covering half the shop.
He stared at Flender with vicious eyes and snarled,
"Lord Man, I've seen plenty of miserly bastards like this. If we don't chop off one of his hands and teach him how to write the word 'death,' he'll never hand over the goods obediently."
At those words, much of the coldness on Flender's face suddenly collapsed. He gritted his teeth and forced out a sentence, his tone full of reluctance and resignation.
"Sir, I've long expected this day. I admit defeat today."
"One million Gold Soul Coins, plus twenty percent of the future profits from this treasure. Agree, and I'll give you the supreme treasure. Refuse, and we'll fight to the death. No one will get it."
"You should know that I'm not alone."
Hearing that, Zhao Wuji turned around on the second floor, picked up the wooden box that had long been prepared on the table, and walked downstairs expressionlessly. His stern face revealed no emotion, save for a flash of viciousness in his eyes.
"Good. I accept your terms!"
Zhou Man laughed heartily, looking at Flender with a hint of appreciation.
"You're a smart man. I like smart men. With the abilities of you and your brother, why not join my Blood Wolf Mercenary Group directly?"
"So you are Lord Man of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group. My respects."
Flender pretended to have a sudden realization and adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
"I have long heard of Blood Wolf's great reputation. I am Wang Long, and this is my second brother, Wang Erxiong. In the future, please take care of us in Star Dou Forest, Lord Man."
With that, he turned and lifted his chin toward Zhao Wuji, saying in a deep voice,
"Erxiong, bring the supreme treasure over for Lord Man to inspect."
Hearing that ridiculous name, Zhao Wuji's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot. As he stepped forward, he cursed Flender bloody murder in his heart.
"Flender, just you wait. I'll settle this score with you later!"
For a moment, everyone from the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group stared at the wooden box in Zhao Wuji's hands, their eyes filled with undisguised greed and fervor.
As long as they obtained this mysterious supreme treasure, within ten years, the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group would become richer than a nation and surpass every surrounding faction.
Watching Zhao Wuji personally carry the wooden box forward, everyone relaxed their guard without realizing it.
After all, a direct assault was the worst option. Soul Saint-level experts were already extremely difficult to kill in an encirclement. If they truly fought to the death, even if they ultimately won, they would have to pay a terrible price.
Now that the other side was willing to hand over the supreme treasure obediently, it was naturally the best possible outcome.
Four Thornmail Gold Coins engraved with thorn patterns spun rapidly at Lin Feng's fingertips. As Zhao Wuji advanced, the coins spun more and more steadily.
At the instant Zhao Wuji's hand touched the lid and was about to lift it, every gaze in the room nailed itself to that ancient wooden box. Even their breathing paused for half a beat in unison.
No one could have imagined that, in such a desperate situation, surrounded tightly by over a hundred high-level soul masters, this Soul Saint who seemed to have accepted his fate would actually dare to strike first!
Before you continue