Chu Xiong forced himself to grip a longsword, its tip aimed at Chen Changqing. But his hand shook like chaff in a sieve, the blade tracing circle after circle of utterly harmless arcs through the air.
"Chen Changqing, you dare kill imperial royalty? You're provoking a war between two dynasties!" Chu Xiong shouted fiercely, though his courage was hollow.
Chen Changqing stopped ten paces away from the two of them.
He sighed, and the sigh was utterly sincere, full of exhaustion and helplessness.
"You young masters from these great powers only ever have the same few lines. First, you make threats. Then you threaten my sect. Then you drag out your imperial father or sovereign ruler. My ears are growing calluses from hearing it."
He shook his head and raised the Heavenly Thunder Sword, its tip pointing directly at Chu Xiong's nose.
"Back at the auction house, 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 person, one hundred million top-grade spirit stones. One stone short, and I'll remove one of your parts."
Chu Xiong's eyes widened, his pupils suddenly contracting.
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 gather that much cash immediately!
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 go rob the Nine Provinces Auction House!"
Chen Changqing nodded, his tone as calm as if they were discussing today's pleasant weather. "So that means you have no money."
Swish.
A flash of sword light streaked forth, so fast