An intent to recruit

The Tongbao Antique Purchasing House did business throughout Shangjing City and at least ten surrounding cities!

Its headquarters stood in a city near Shangjing City.

Jiangba City!

The Tongbao Antique Purchasing House was many times more powerful than the Ghost Infant Sect in Jiangba City!

It had no fewer than three or four Heaven Tier experts within its ranks alone!

Zhou Zifeng held a special position. He was not merely a renowned young genius in Jiangba City's cultivation world... he was also the son of the man who controlled the Tongbao Antique Purchasing House behind the scenes. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would eventually succeed him as its leader.

"Uncle Liu, if you keep talking like that, my head will swell beyond all reason." Zhou Zifeng smiled and shook his head. How could breaking through to the Heaven tier be so easy? The Tongbao Antique Purchasing House had no fewer than three hundred Earth-tier experts!

But how many Heaven Tier experts did it have?

Fewer than five!

An enormous gulf lay between the Earth Rank and Heaven Tier.

Many people reached the Earth Rank and went no further, never crossing the barrier to the Heaven Tier before they died.

Setting aside the question of advancing to the Heaven Tier, Zhou Zifeng turned his attention to what Uncle Liu had just said about Yang Yu.

Zhou Zifeng frowned and asked in puzzlement, "Yang Yu? That name sounds familiar... someone at the Human Tier actually slaughtered a group of experts sent by the Ghost Infant Sect? And killed an Earth Rank expert as well? What's his background?"

Uncle Liu smiled, then waved a hand, dismissing the curtains of energy surrounding the arena.

"Young Master Zifeng, you've actually met this young fellow named Yang Yu once before."

"Bring it up!" Uncle Liu called to someone below the arena. A Human Tier subordinate then handed him a tablet containing extensive information on Yang Yu, including photographs and videos.

"Take a look." Uncle Liu handed the tablet to Zhou Zifeng.

Zhou Zifeng took the tablet and examined it curiously.

A moment later, understanding dawned in his eyes.

"So it was him! The fellow who sold antiques at the Ten Thousand Layers Tower branch a few days ago?"

"That's the one." Uncle Liu nodded.

"Young master, the Ghost Infant Sect is currently doing everything it can to hunt him down. I think this young fellow Yang Yu is quite capable... his potential is also worth watching and cultivating. Should we take this opportunity to help him in secret, then find a way to recruit him into the service of our Tongbao Antique Purchasing House?"

No one could predict how far a genius with limitless potential might go.

Even ordinary factions would try to recruit such talent when they discovered it.

That went doubly for a giant like the Tongbao Antique Purchasing House, which had developed over many years... they naturally understood this principle all the better.

"The Ghost Infant Sect in Shangjing City has never been on good terms with our Tongbao Antique Purchasing House. We're also strong enough that we have no need to worry about retaliation from them." Zhou Zifeng considered it, then said, "That's a good suggestion, Uncle Liu."

Uncle Liu smiled faintly, his aged face creasing as he said, "Since you agree, young master, I'll arrange for men to find Yang Yu and bring him somewhere safe. Your reputation within the purchasing house is growing, and you do need to build a personal following of your own. Having a strong group of followers under your command will also help when you take control of the entire purchasing house in the future. At the very least, anyone harboring ill intentions will have to think twice before causing trouble."

The Tongbao Antique Purchasing House was a considerably powerful organization.

But internal power struggles meant it was far from united.

The ruling Zhou faction, to which Zhou Zifeng belonged, was the strongest. But the other branches... the groups serving the other Heaven Tier experts were hardly content to know their place. They constantly eyed the rich prize held by the ruling faction.

After all, whoever held power received the greatest share of resources.

If Zhou Zifeng wanted complete control of the purchasing house in the future, he would need more than the full support of his father, its current ruler... he would also need formidable abilities of his own and a powerful following to back him!

Uncle Liu was Zhou Zifeng's confidant, the strongest and most trusted man under his command.

He frequently helped Zhou Zifeng devise plans and strategies.

"Mm." Zhou Zifeng thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, I'll leave everything to you, Uncle Liu. You know I trust you more than anyone to handle things."

"Of course. Rest assured, young master. This is a simple matter. I'll have it settled very soon."

After agreeing with a smile, Uncle Liu stepped down from the arena, ready to gather his men and deal with the matter immediately.

"Wait!" Zhou Zifeng suddenly called out as Uncle Liu turned away.

"Young master, do you have any further instructions?"

Zhou Zifeng said calmly, "Just send some men to locate Yang Yu first. We'll watch him secretly for a while... I also want to see how far he can go in his conflict with the Ghost Infant Sect. If he can't hold out, it won't be too late for us to rescue him at the most critical moment. If he's truly as powerful as the rumors say, with limitless potential, we certainly can't shortchange him. This will also give us a basis for deciding what terms to offer him."

"I understand." Uncle Liu smiled.

"Help in a time of need is far more valuable than an added favor when things are already going well. By acting at the critical moment, we can not only assess this lad Yang Yu's strength in secret, but also make him feel our goodwill more deeply and more readily accept our offer."

"With you at my side, Uncle Liu, how could I fail to accomplish great things?" Zhou Zifeng smiled as well.

"Go."

"I'll leave this matter entirely in your hands."

Undercurrents stirred in Shangjing City. The Ghost Infant Sect, the Tongbao Antique Purchasing House... and various other factions, large and small, all began moving in secret.

Everyone drew on the resources and networks at their disposal, searching with all their might for Yang Yu's whereabouts.

Some merely wanted to watch the spectacle, while others had the same intention of recruiting him as Zhou Zifeng.

There were even those who hoped to exploit the chaos by finding Yang Yu and handing him over to the Ghost Infant Sect... to win its favor!

At that moment, Shangjing City's cultivation world teemed with schemers, each pursuing their own hidden agenda!

Yet Yang Yu, the man at the eye of the storm, acted as though nothing had happened... he could well have been the only person unconcerned with the matter, because all his attention was focused on the Insect Codex.

The second page of the Insect Codex had been completely unsealed, and Yang Yu had absorbed the vast majority of the immense inheritance power it released.

Now, only the last trace remained.

"So powerful!"

"Such powerful strength! I feel like I've already reached Elder Xu's level after he used the Strength Frenzy Scroll! But it's still not enough. I haven't reached my perfect state yet. I can keep improving!" Yang Yu absorbed the inheritance power to his heart's content, feeling his physical strength increase rapidly. From the depths of his genes, every cell and every muscle fiber improved at incredible speed, growing stronger, tougher, and brimming with boundless explosive force!

Truthfully, the sensation was wonderfully pleasurable!

At that moment, Yang Yu felt every pore in his body open. Endless power filled every cell... at the same time, the second page of the Insect Codex transmitted an ocean of inheritance knowledge alongside that power!

The immense torrent of information surged through him like an exploding planet, battering the core of Yang Yu's Fate Soul until it teetered on the brink of collapse!

Vast quantities of newly unlocked, clearly higher-level cultivation formulas, secret arts, and hidden knowledge of the universe poured into the depths of Yang Yu's mind, etching themselves deeply into his brain's memory cells!

Time passed.

One second, two seconds, dozens of seconds... five minutes later, the cave where Yang Yu sat finally fell silent again.

The deep crimson light of inheritance vanished. Vast quantities of natural treasures had been reduced to remains, without a trace of power left... everything was calm.

Deep within the cave, Yang Yu rose.

Crack, crack, crack—

A series of sharp cracks rang out from his bones. His entire body brimmed with an incomparably powerful aura that had nowhere to vent!

"Congratulations on advancing to the Earth Rank, master!"

Zhao Zixuan walked over to Yang Yu and immediately knelt respectfully in salute.