Inquiring About Information, Wang Chen's Enemies

"This time, we've really troubled Master Wang a lot."

This is a small token of appreciation from the Mittel Family.

After receiving the basic Storage Ring containing thirty pills from Wang Chen, Mittel Tengshan also took out a Storage Ring from his own person and handed it to Wang Chen.

This was the reward he had prepared beforehand.

Although Wang Chen had already said that no payment was needed for refining the pills this time.

But since Wang Chen said so, Mittel Tengshan couldn't do the same.

He's not some greenhorn fresh out of school.

He had already discussed it with the Supreme Elder, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, and prepared a reward specifically for Wang Chen.

"Didn't I say that this time, there will be no charge for refining the pills?"

"All you need to do is help me collect Exotic Metal, Magic Core, and Beast Flame."

Upon seeing the Storage Ring offered by Mittel Tengshan, Wang Chen did not accept it but instead righteously refused it.

After all, he had already made it clear that if he were to ask for payment at this point, it would be extremely unethical.

Wang Chen is not the kind of man without principles.

"Master Wang, you've misunderstood."

This small token of my appreciation is not payment for refining the elixir, but a testament to our friendship.

Seeing Wang Chen's firm and resolute refusal, Mittel Tengshan did not panic.

He answered in a very serious manner.

When he discussed it with Ice Emperor Hai Bodong before, he had already guessed that a young man like Wang Chen must be very concerned about his reputation.

A promise made is generally impossible to break.

They had already come up with the excuse.

This way, Wang Chen would accept the gift without feeling like he was breaking his promise.

It's fair to say that the Mittel Family went to great lengths to cultivate a good relationship with Wang Chen.

If Queen Medusa hadn't been with Wang Chen, Mittel Tengshan would have almost given his granddaughter Mittel Ya Fei, to Wang Chen.

They were not from the Jia Ma Imperial Clan. The Supreme Elder, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, had a certain relationship with Wang Chen, so he did not use this move.

After all, the outcome of this move is somewhat unpredictable.

If this tactic were actually used and Wang Chen accepted it, then everyone would be happy.

But refusing would seriously damage the relationship between the two parties.

After all, Wang Chen already has Queen Medusa by his side, and this move could be seen as damaging their relationship.

That's why the Mittel Family didn't use this tactic.

However, Mittel Tengshan naturally wouldn't miss out on other methods that didn't have too many side effects.

"This..."

Upon hearing Mittel Tengshan's words, Wang Chen was momentarily at a loss for words.

Although he knew very well that the gift Mittel Tengshan was giving him at this time was to repay him for helping him refine the elixir.

But they didn't say that; they only said it was a testament to the friendship between the two sides.

It wouldn't be appropriate to refuse.

"Since that's the case, then I'll be shameless enough to accept."

After a moment's thought, Wang Chen decided to accept the Storage Ring.

Otherwise, it would be really awkward for Mittel Tengshan to keep holding it up like that.

Wang Chen took the Storage Ring and sensed its contents; there were indeed quite a few treasures inside.

They are mostly medicinal herbs, or treasures that can be related to alchemy.

Wang Chen recognized most of the treasures in the Storage Ring.

After a simple valuation, Wang Chen made his decision.

He took out ten small jade Jade Bottle containing pills from his Storage Ring.

He then handed it directly to Mittel Tengshan.

Seeing Wang Chen's actions, Mittel Tengshan was completely baffled.

"Master Wang, this is..."

Mittel Tengshan had just opened his mouth to ask for advice when Wang Chen interrupted him.

"This is also a testament to our friendship."

Wang Chen is the kind of person who will reciprocate even more respect if you treat him with the same respect.

The Mittel Family helped me collect the materials needed for the Heavenly Demon Puppet, and now they've brought out so many treasures.

Wang Chen, of course, wouldn't be stingy.

He took out ten pills directly from his Storage Ring.

Moreover, they were all Tier 6- grade pills.

Among them was a Peak Tier 6 Sect-Breaking Pill.

For the Mittel Family, the value of these ten pills is definitely no less than the thirty pills that Wang Chen helped refine this time.

In any case, these ten pills were nothing to Wang Chen, so Wang Chen naturally wouldn't be too stingy.

Hearing Wang Chen say the same thing as him, Mittel Tengshan didn't know what to choose.

If we accept it, then this gift will be meaningless.

If you don't accept it, people will think you don't acknowledge the friendship.

"Okay, don't think about it so much."

Seeing the conflicted look on Mittel Tengshan's face, Wang Chen spoke up directly.

"As long as you work hard to collect what I need, these pills are nothing."

After Wang Chen's persuasion, Mittel Tengshan accepted the Storage Ring.

"Master Wang, please rest assured."

"My Mittel Family will definitely do everything in our power to collect those things."

Mittel Tenshan also solemnly assured him.

Since this gift is meaningless, we can only try to find other ways to make a difference.

Fortunately, Wang Chen still has the treasures he needs. As long as the Mittel Family can collect more, it will surely deepen their friendship with Wang Chen.

After handing over the pills, Wang Chen went back and rested for a while.

He then left the Mittel Family alone and wandered around the Jia Ma Imperial City.

Jia Ma Imperial City, XC District.

"It's been so many years since I last came here."

Outside a large courtyard, Wang Chen stared intently ahead.

This courtyard wasn't particularly bustling, but it was still quite nice within the Jia Ma Imperial City.

This place was the former Headquarters of the Xiao Clan in the Jia Ma Imperial City.

Some traces still remain in Wang Chen's memory.

However, at this point, the courtyard no longer belonged to the Xiao family.

This is also why Wang Chen came to the Jia Ma Imperial City.

Back then, the Xiao Clan fell into decline and was driven out of the Jia Ma Imperial City.

Wang Chen did not show much emotional reaction to this.

After all, no power can guarantee its prosperity for thousands of generations.

It's normal for a country to decline and be gradually taken over by others.

From the decline of Ancient Emperor Clans to a Dou Wang family in the Jia Ma Imperial City in the Northwestern Continent, a new family has emerged.

Not to mention that they only declined from Dou Wang family to a Da Dou Shi family.

In a world where the strong prey on the weak, it's understandable that the Xiao Clan was suppressed and gradually devoured by others when it declined.

Even for Wang Chen, he wouldn't seek revenge against anyone just because the Xiao Clan had fallen on hard times.

At most, he could only contribute his efforts to help the Xiao Clan regain its former glory.

However, during the turmoil that led to the downfall of the Xiao Clan, Wang Chen's parents were both killed.

Even as a son, and even though he was a time traveler, he still felt he had to avenge the murder of his parents.

However, Wang Chen was too young at the time, and his strength was practically nonexistent.

Naturally, he had no idea which force had killed his parents.

Now that we're stronger and have more trump cards up our sleeves, it's natural that we need to make a special trip.

Wang Chen could ignore those forces that were taking advantage of the Xiao Clan's decline to erode the Xiao Clan's businesses and shops.

However, Wang Chen would inevitably have to deal with the forces that were trying to kill his parents.

However, without specific information, Wang Chen could only try to find out quietly for the time being.

This is also why Wang Chen did not enter the capital in a grand manner under the Xiao Clan's name.

The only way to find out about this is to do it secretly yourself.

If other forces are sent to gather intelligence, it would be very easy to alert the enemy.

Let the culprit take the opportunity to hide.

Wang Chen wasn't the kind of indiscriminate killer; he couldn't possibly wipe out all the forces he had initially been involved with.

If that were to actually be done, the forces within the Jia Ma Imperial City would likely be largely wiped out.

Perhaps only the Mittel Family and the Jia Ma Imperial Clan could escape unscathed.

Wang Chen excluded these two forces not because he had any personal relationship with them.

Moreover, due to the unique nature of these two forces.

The Mittel Family, needless to say, is a power that made its fortune through auctions, and its reputation is of utmost importance to them.

If they had truly sought to devour the remnants left behind by the Xiao Clan, the Mittel Family would never have been able to develop to its current state.

After all, powerful families in other cities also fear that it's easy to invite a deity but difficult to send him away.

If the Mittel Family were to truly reveal its aggressive nature, it would definitely be resisted by other family forces, making it impossible for them to open Mittel Auction House throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

As for the Jia Ma Imperial Clan, that was naturally due to resistance from other powerful families.

The Jia Ma Imperial Clan was originally the nominal ruler of the Jia Ma Empire. If destroying the family would benefit them, it would inevitably allow the Jia Ma Imperial Clan to develop without limit.

This is not good news for other powerful families.

Moreover, the Xiao Clan back then was a marshal's family in the Jia Ma Empire.

By all accounts, they are on the side of the Imperial Family.

If you kick your own people when they're down, no one will continue to serve the Jia Ma Imperial Clan.

If that were to happen, the Jia Ma Imperial Clan would likely be forced to remain confined to the Jia Ma Imperial City.

The City Lord's Mansion of other cities simply could not develop.

After all, no one would risk their life for a boss who might turn on their own people at any time.

It was precisely for these reasons that Wang Chen excluded the Mittel Family and the Jia Ma Imperial Clan.

At most, they would have just stood by and watched; they wouldn't have kicked someone when they were down.

No one with the power would do something that harms others without benefiting themselves.

"The Zhang Residence!"

As Wang Chen swam to the courtyard gate, he also came to the plaque above the courtyard from afar.

"The Zhang Clan."

Seeing that the Xiao Clan's former Headquarters in the Jia Ma Imperial City had become the Zhang Clan's territory, Wang Chen frowned.

He really didn't have any recollection of this so-called Zhang Clan.

In the original story, the families that appear in Jia Ma Imperial City are all top-tier, long-established families; there is no such family as the Zhang Clan.

"Forget it, let's go find some information from the Mittel Family instead."

After pondering for a moment, Wang Chen made his decision.

Initially, he didn't allow other forces to help him gather intelligence, mainly because he himself didn't know who the enemy was.

If we send other forces to investigate, it's very easy to alert the enemy.

That's why he chose to investigate on his own.

To his utter surprise, he had overestimated himself.

After wandering around the Jia Ma Imperial City for a long time, I learned that the Xiao Clan's Headquarters had been occupied by the Zhang Clan, but I didn't make any other progress.

"Damn it, I forgot what I'm best at!"

Wang Chen cursed himself in his mind.

I am simply not the kind of person who is good at gathering secret information.

Besides, that incident happened more than ten years ago, and most people would never discuss those things.

Only some established powers might have some intelligence records.

As long as I spend a little bit of the pills, there will definitely be forces that will help me gather intelligence.

It just so happens that Wang Chen has a good relationship with the Mittel Family. As an old and established family, the Mittel Family might be able to help Wang Chen find some useful information.

After making his decision, Wang Chen quickly returned to the Mittel Family.

"I want to see Chief Mittel Tengshan."

After Wang Chen returned, he spoke directly to the Mittel Family servant who had been staying nearby.

"OK."

"Please come with me, Master Wang."

Upon hearing Wang Chen's request, the servant didn't waste any words and immediately led the way.

Under normal circumstances, who would want to meet the head of the Mittel Family?

First, a formal invitation must be sent, then it depends on whether Mittel Tengshan is interested before a meeting can be confirmed.

However, exceptions exist.

Wang Chen is a special case.

For the Mittel Family, Wang Chen's status was comparable to that of the Supreme Elder, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong.

Mittel Tengshan had given orders that the Mittel Family must go all out in response to any arrangements made by Wang Chen.

Now that Wang Chen wants to meet Mittel Tengshan, the servant naturally won't say anything like that he needs to send a formal invitation in advance.

The servant, who was specially arranged to come by Mittel Tenzan, was certainly not someone without judgment.

"Master Wang, what brings you here?"

Outside the study, Mittel Tengshan was also there to greet Wang Chen.

While his servants were leading the way, he arranged for others to inform Mittel Tenshan in advance.

That's why he was able to greet Wang Chen outside the study.

"It's a personal matter."

"Master Wang, please!"

Upon hearing Wang Chen's words, Mittel Tengshan naturally understood their deeper meaning.

He directly invited Wang Chen into the study and asked everyone else to leave.

"Please."

Wang Chen exchanged a polite remark, and then walked into the study with Mittel Tengshan.

After pouring two cups of tea, Mittel Tengshan asked, "I wonder if Master Wang has any questions for me?"

"Chief Mittel should also know my true identity."

The matter I want to inquire about is related to the decline of the Xiao Clan more than ten years ago."

Upon hearing Wang Chen's words, Mittel Tengshan understood what Wang Chen wanted to ask.

So he spoke directly, "Master Wang, when the Xiao Clan fell from grace, many forces in the Jia Ma Imperial City intervened."

However, I can assure you that the Mittel Family absolutely did not interfere.

As for the Imperial Family, they probably didn't get involved either.

As for which forces are involved, I need to gather some hidden information about the Mittel Family."

After speaking, Mittel Tengshan looked at Wang Chen, intending to get up and make arrangements.

"Oh, right. The Nalan Clan must have eaten some meat back then too."

Suddenly, Mittel Tengshan recalled some details from many years ago and spoke to Wang Chen.

That's not what I meant.

Upon hearing Mittel Tengshan's words, Wang Chen quickly responded.

Wang Chen's goal was not to seek out those forces that had taken advantage of the Xiao Clan's decline.

Instead, he wanted to find the culprit who ultimately besieged and killed the Xiao Clan, leading to the deaths of his parents.

"The law of the jungle prevails over the weak; that is the truth of this world."

With the Xiao Clan in decline, it's only natural that other families would take advantage of their misfortune.

I'm not here to pursue this matter.

Instead, I want Mittel to help me find out who was behind the attack on the Xiao Clan after the Xiao Clan withdrew from the Jia Ma Imperial City.

Wang Chen quickly stated his purpose to avoid any misunderstanding by Mittel Tengshan, which could lead to errors in his target.

Is that so?

Upon hearing Wang Chen's request, Mittel Tengshan frowned.

This level of difficulty is completely different from what he described before.

It's very easy to identify someone who kicks you when you're down and tries to take advantage of you.

After all, given the powerful businesses the Xiao Clan had back then, once the backing for those businesses changed, it became clear who had taken advantage of their misfortune.

However, the forces that the Xiao Clan pursued after leaving the Jia Ma Imperial City were too difficult to investigate.

After all, no one would be so brainless as to loudly proclaim something like this.

They would only do it secretly, never choosing to leave a trace.

However, as the old saying goes, geese leave their calls as they fly by, and people leave their traces as they pass through life.

Mittel Tengshan had heard about the Xiao Clan's withdrawal from the Jia Ma Imperial City and their subsequent attack.

Now that Wang Chen has made a request, he naturally has to do his best to fulfill it.

After all, this was something Wang Chen had asked him to do.

"I understand, but it will take a little time."

Mittel Tengshan quickly agreed to Wang Chen's request.

Of course, he was aware of the difficulty of this matter and did not issue a direct order.

Otherwise, if they can't do it, it will definitely damage their relationship.

As the old saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

Wang Chen was aware of the difficulty of this matter, so he naturally did not require it to be completed today.

"That's troublesome."

Do your best; it would be great if you could find it, but don't worry if you can't.

Wang Chen also spoke up.

The two then parted ways.

Mittel Tengshan needed to arrange for the Mittel Family's influence to investigate what Wang Chen had mentioned, so he couldn't afford to delay for too long.

In addition, Wang Chen was not in a particularly good mood because of what had happened before, so he naturally did not continue the conversation or pleasantries.

After leaving Mittel Tengshan's study, Wang Chen did not continue to wander around, but instead chose to return to his secluded cultivation.

Feeling down, and with Queen Medusa in seclusion, Wang Chen had no choice but to join her in her arduous training.

Only that feeling of continuous improvement can make him feel good.

Fortunately, he still has quite a few cultivation-aid pills.

A short period of seclusion and practice should resolve the issue without major problems.

Even after all the pills were used up, Wang Chen still had a lot of medicinal herbs in his Storage Ring.

With just a little refining, it would be more than enough to satisfy his cultivation needs.

After entering the Seclusion Chamber, Wang Chen didn't waste any time and immediately began cultivating.

He planned to cultivate for a few days first, and then come out of seclusion to take a look.