"Right, send word to the Hall Master immediately. Tell him Qin Wuyou's strength has recovered to the Primordial Spirit Realm, and it's time the Lin Lineage's price went up!"
The Seven Kills Hall's Deputy Hall Master chuckled. "The Primordial Spirit Realm, eh? I wonder whether the Lin Lineage can still afford the price."
"Also, pass down the order to ease up on the search for now. Until we hear that the Lin Lineage has agreed to pay more, just go through the motions."
Once everything had been arranged, the Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master looked at the enormous palm print on the ground, fully a thousand feet across, and frowned as he muttered,
"That fellow couldn't really be Qin Wuyou, could he?"
He had only identified the peak Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator who had attacked here as Qin Wuyou to give himself an excuse to demand more money from the Lin Lineage.
He certainly did not want that fellow to actually be Qin Wuyou.
If the person who had struck here really was Qin Wuyou, even he, the Deputy Hall Master, would probably have to flee.
"According to the Lin Lineage's information, that fellow doesn't even have a Dantian anymore. How could he possibly have the strength of the Primordial Spirit Realm?"
The Seven Kills Hall's Deputy Hall Master gave a cold laugh and shook his head in self-mockery. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
How could a cripple without even a Dantian possibly have Primordial Spirit Realm cultivation?
Xuantian City.
The Lin Lineage.
The lineage head, Lin Nantian, wore an utterly grim expression.
"The Primordial Spirit Realm? Is your Seven Kills Hall trying to extort us?"
"Everyone knows Qin Wuyou's Dantian has been destroyed. He probably doesn't even have Essence Condensation Realm cultivation now. How dare you claim he's in the Primordial Spirit Realm?"
"Hall Master Li, even if you want more money, surely you can't raise the price like this?"
The difference between the prices for Purple Mansion Realm and Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators was far too great.
"Has Qin Wuyou's Dantian really been destroyed? Heh, Lin Clan Chief, I don't think that information is necessarily true."
The Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master sat sprawled boldly in the Lin Clan Chief's seat, a chicken drumstick in his hand. He took an unabashed bite and chuckled.
"How could a cripple without a Dantian have Purple Mansion Realm cultivation? Don't forget, the commission your Lin Lineage placed was for a Purple Mansion Realm target. Since he has Purple Mansion Realm cultivation, why couldn't he have Primordial Spirit Realm cultivation?"
"Have you forgotten who Qin Wuyou is, Lin Clan Chief? Shall I remind you? Qin Wuyou is the Holy Son of the Xuantian Holy Land. He was already in the Myriad Phenomena Realm three years ago. Although everyone says his cultivation regressed three months ago, who can say whether that regression was genuine?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Nantian said grimly, "I can guarantee it! I dug out his Dantian with my own hands!"
"Did you?"
The Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master took another bite of his drumstick with a smile, then stared at Lin Nantian and countered, "Since you dug out his Dantian yourself, Lin Clan Chief, how could he still have Purple Mansion Realm strength? Haven't you ever considered that question?"
"As far as I know, repairing a Dantian is difficult, but it isn't entirely impossible. With enough money, what can't be done in this world? I heard your Lin Lineage only rose to prominence thanks to the astronomical betrothal gifts you received by selling your daughter."
"Do you really think someone who could afford such astronomical betrothal gifts couldn't afford to replace his Dantian, Lin Clan Chief?"
Those words from the Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master were like clarified butter poured over his head, bringing sudden enlightenment. Lin Nantian's expression changed drastically.
"Hall Master Li, are you saying Qin Wuyou might already have had a new Dantian transplanted?"
He had not considered that possibility before, but the Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master's pointers immediately brought him to his senses.
The Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master was absolutely right. What was there in this world that money could not buy?
Hadn't he himself acquired the capital to build his fortune by selling his daughter three years ago?
If even a daughter could be sold, why not a Dantian?
In an instant, Lin Nantian's expression turned exceedingly grim.
After all, Qin Wuyou was a peerless genius.
A teenage genius in the Myriad Phenomena Realm.
If he had obtained another Dantian, wouldn't he soon recover to the Myriad Phenomena Realm?
If he really recovered to the Myriad Phenomena Realm, wouldn't his position as Holy Son be as unshakable as Mount Tai?
What would Lin Qingxue do then?
What would their Lin Lineage do?
No!
I absolutely cannot allow that to happen!
At once, Lin Nantian gritted his teeth and made his decision. He said gravely, "Hall Master Li, we can raise the price! But you must show me proof that he's in the Primordial Spirit Realm. Otherwise, we can only pay the original price!"
Hearing that Lin Nantian was willing to pay the Primordial Spirit Realm rate, the Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master casually tossed aside his drumstick, rose, and strode toward the door, laughing as he went. "Now that's more like it, Lin Clan Chief! Rest assured. Once Qin Wuyou is dead, I'll have someone deliver his head to you!"
When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to remind him, "Oh, and Lin Clan Chief, don't forget to send the payment to the Seven Kills Hall. If we don't see it before nightfall, don't blame the Seven Kills Hall for failing to keep its word."
"Of course, of course."
After respectfully seeing off the Seven Kills Hall's Hall Master, Lin Nantian's expression immediately darkened.
"Damn them! Those bastards from the Seven Kills Hall should all go to hell!"
A single piece of information whose truth was uncertain had made him pay a hundred times the original fee. It was like draining his blood.
Clap, clap!
He clapped his hands, and the maid Yue'er came in from outside.
"Greetings, Clan Chief."
"Mm."
Lin Nantian nodded expressionlessly and instructed her, "Go and ask the young lady to return."
"Yes!"
Just as the maid Yue'er was about to leave the room, Lin Nantian suddenly added, "And ask Lin Fan to come here too!"
The Underground Cavern in Demon God Valley.
When word arrived that the Lin Lineage was willing to pay more, the Seven Kills Hall's Deputy Hall Master roared with laughter.
"Proof? The Lin Lineage actually wants proof? How ridiculous!"
"But Deputy Hall Master, the Hall Master's message said we should cut off Qin Wuyou's head and send it to the Lin Lineage."
The Seven Kills Hall elder beside him offered the reminder cautiously.
"Send his head back? Has your fucking brain been flooded with water? If they have his head, won't the Lin Lineage be able to check whether Qin Wuyou was in the Primordial Spirit Realm?"
The Seven Kills Hall's Deputy Hall Master unleashed a torrent of abuse. "What head? When the time comes, just send back his Identity Token. Never mind sending them an Identity Token—even if I send them nothing, what can their Lin Lineage do? If I say he's dead, he's dead! Would the Lin Lineage dare refuse to pay the Seven Kills Hall?"
His words made everyone's eyes light up.
The Seven Kills Hall elder could not help raising his thumb and showering him with flattery. "You truly are brilliant, Deputy Hall Master! If a mere Lin Lineage dares oppose our Seven Kills Hall, their deaths are at hand!"
They were the Seven Kills Hall!
Talking to them about keeping their word?
Wasn't that like asking a tiger for its skin?
Never mind a first-rate lineage like the Lin Lineage—even the ranked lineages in Xuantian City would not dare refuse to pay the Seven Kills Hall!
Before you continue