227: Chapter 227 A Joke of Fate

Tang Long's meaning was clear: not a single cent would be shaved off, and he even wanted to increase the price.

That was tens of billions at stake.

Although the Dukes Mansion and The Sect were wealthy, extracting such a large amount of liquid cash meant someone's interests would definitely suffer; it might even have to be pulled from someone's pocket.

Someone immediately couldn't help but shout.

"For such a large sum, is it really necessary to be so petty?"

"Old Liu, Old Lv, please persuade this Excellency. We are all servants of the Red God; let's not damage our harmony over a bit of money."

"He's even trying to raise the price on the spot; this is going a bit too far."

"The Wuque Method is a priceless treasure. For you to just ask for it empty-handed, isn't that a bit too impolite?"

"What do you mean by 'petty'? The unit of that amount is in billions! Shaving off a bit is over a hundred million!"

"Oh, so once the help is finished, it's time to burn the bridge, right? Is this the quality of people in Feng City?"

"You allowed the Blasphemers to infiltrate until you were riddled with holes, yet you lot still have the nerve to speak? Without Excellency Tang Long, how much would your losses have been?"

Liu Zhiming, Lv Yang, and a few others immediately started arguing with them.

Just then, Tang Long suddenly said loudly, "Everyone."

Hearing him speak, the few fell uncharacteristically silent.

But Tang Long then began to take off his clothes, revealing a body covered in scars, and then he removed his right arm and threw it on the ground as well.

Then he said, "Everyone, you are all Spirit Map powerhouses; perhaps you are used to seeing big scenes and great wealth."

"But I am just a small Qi Manipulation."

"Most of the scars on my body were left from fighting the Blasphemers."

"This one here is from a crazy woman with a whip. This area is from a bird-person who could shapeshift. And this arm was destroyed by a Sun Worshiper using the Power of the Sun."

"Although I have the love of the elders of The Sect, the threat the Blasphemers pose to me is far greater than it is to any of you."

"After today, they will only be more desperate to see me dead."

"I'm not showing you these or saying these things to make you pity me. I want to tell you that every cent and every resource I have was hard-earned."

"What I shouldn't take, I can choose not to. But what I deserve, not a single cent can be missing."

"You can refuse. But if a similar situation occurs in Feng City in the future, don't blame me for being unable to help."

The powerhouses of Feng City were also speechless for a moment.

Because they truly felt that Tang Long's scars were shocking enough.

Everyone here considered themselves experienced and knowledgeable, yet they had never seen such dense scarring on anyone, and he had even lost an arm.

After what happened today, if they were the Blasphemers, they would definitely spare no cost to kill him.

And he was indeed just a Qi Manipulation.

There was nothing more to say.

But they didn't know that while Tang Long had indeed been through several fierce battles, he wouldn't actually have sustained so many injuries if he had fought normally.

However, with his formidable self-healing ability, and later having even stronger healing support, his fighting style had inadvertently become somewhat reckless.

Many times, he deliberately took hits to confuse his opponents or traded injuries for injuries, so the scars on his body grew exponentially, looking even worse than thirty years of struggling in the Doomsday Era.

Xie Jin sighed, stepped forward to pick up his clothes and drape them over him, then placed the metal arm in his hand.

"Excellency Tang Long, this money will be paid in full, with everyone present as witness."

"However, I must ask for your understanding. Withdrawing such a huge amount of capital at once will put the Feng City treasury in extreme difficulty."

"The Duke's intention is to ask you to allow some time. Today we can pay ten billion plus five hundred thunder spirit stones at once, and the rest will be paid monthly over two years. Is that acceptable to you?"

"Also, this Wuque Method of Han Feng's, I will give it to you on behalf of the Duke."

Tang Long immediately smiled, "No problem. Then please, Elder Xie, convey my thanks to the Duke on my behalf. Let's exchange phone numbers; it will be convenient to contact each other in the future."

Xie Jin gladly agreed.

Both sides dispersed, and Xie Jin took Han Feng's corpse back to the Dukes Mansion.

Ye Baiming had already dug a hole in the backyard waiting for him.

After taking one last look at Han Feng, he signaled for Xie Jin to place him in the hole, then began to bury him.

Xie Jin hurriedly stepped forward, "My Lord, let me do it."

Ye Baiming shook his head, "No need. After all, he has been with me for so many years; I will see him off with my own hands."

Xie Jin did not insist further, merely standing by.

Shovel after shovel of dirt covered him, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

At this moment, Ye Baiming suddenly asked, "Elder Xie, do you think the suffering in this world truly originates from the gods?"

Xie Jin smiled bitterly and shook his head, "My Lord, it is better not to discuss such things. You... also need not be overly sorrowful."

Ye Baiming asked again, "The Wuque Method you gave to Tang Long, along with extending the payment time, is that to exchange for his Thunder Emperors Eight Scenes Art?"

Xie Jin nodded, "Yes. The Thunder Emperors Eight Scenes Art is an ancient technique capable of reaching the Huagai Realm level directly. This old man wants to climb a little higher."

Ye Baiming sighed, "Very well."

"Without the absolute power of the Huagai Realm level, our great cause cannot be realized."

"However, Empowerment-type techniques can only go from top to bottom. Do you have a method to solve this problem?"

Xie Jin hesitated, "There is a method. But it requires Tang Long's absolute trust, and it might even cause great damage. The difficulty of achieving it... is immense."

"The difficulty is indeed immense. Even if the Empowerment is successful, advancing to the Huagai Realm level is extremely arduous."

Ye Baiming smiled, "That kid has great ambition too. I heard he wants to expand the White Clothing Society. It looks like he won't live for long. You need to gain his trust as soon as possible."

————

Jinyue Martial Arts Hall, Miao Manman's room.

Miao Manman was sleeping very soundly, with no intention of waking up.

And by her window, another woman, identical to her, was staring blankly at the whitening sky.

He was Phantom Fox, a Hetero-blood Species.

This ability was his Hetero-blood talent, which was actually true shapeshifting, so it was almost impossible to see through.

When he discovered that Jinyue Martial Arts Hall had no experts from The Sect guarding it, he even felt it was a bit surreal.

It wasn't until he infiltrated Jinyue Martial Arts Hall that he confirmed it was far more ideal than he had expected.

His plan was to impersonate Miao Manman and sneak into Tang Long's room at night to carry out the assassination.

Supplemented by sleeping pills and poison, if the situation were ideal, he felt he might be able to complete the mission and successfully withdraw before others noticed.

Even if it wasn't so ideal, approaching the target shouldn't be a problem.

To launch a sudden attack while caught off guard—as long as it wasn't a Spirit Map powerhouse, he was confident he could take him down.

He had considered hundreds of uncertainties, potential interferences, and situations he might encounter while escaping.

But he never expected that Tang Long wouldn't return all night.

Dawn was approaching.

In a while, the people in the martial arts hall would wake up one after another, and he would have to withdraw.

And just at this moment, he saw a car drive over and stop at the entrance of the martial arts hall.

When he saw Tang Long's face clearly, Phantom Fox felt that fate had played a bit of a joke on him.

He immediately pulled himself together, preparing to act.

He listened carefully and heard Tang Long enter the front door and walk up the stairs.

So he went to the door, preparing to follow.

But he heard footsteps approaching rapidly; Tang Long was actually heading toward this room, and a few seconds later, he knocked on the door.

"Manman, wake up!"

Phantom Fox thought for a moment and decided to respond in a tone that sounded like he had just woken up.

"What is it?"

"Come to my room for a moment; I have something to discuss with you."

"What are you discussing so early? Wait a second while I put on clothes!"

"Hurry up, I haven't slept all night."

Phantom Fox showed some impatience, trying not to let Tang Long suspect anything. After the footsteps faded, he slowly opened the door and followed the footsteps upstairs.

Arriving at the door of Tang Long's room on the fourth floor, he heard the sound of a faucet; he felt he must be washing up.

A great opportunity!

He immediately pushed the door open and entered.

However, as soon as he entered, his heart tightened instantly.

Because Tang Long was not washing up; he had just changed into pajamas and was walking out of the bedroom.

But sitting on his sofa was a sinister-looking man in red robes, who was hugging his arms and staring at him without blinking.

He hadn't noticed at all when this person had entered.

But based on years of experience, he could feel that this red-robed man was extremely dangerous.

"Sit. There is a document on the coffee table; read it before we talk."

Phantom Fox tried to stay calm, "You have a guest; you two should talk first."

Just as Phantom Fox turned to leave, Tang Long said again, "Hu Xiaofei, sixteen years old, 153 cm tall, attends Gushan District 109 Middle School in Feng City. Are you sure you don't want to sit down and talk?"

Phantom Fox was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen in place, unable to move.