The Boss's Strength

"Boss! Boss! The whole Mystic Crystal City is talking about our shop!" Hu Li came running in, her face flushed with excitement as she told Ye Chuan the news, her little cheeks rosy and animated.

At that moment, Ye Chuan, who was sitting on the sofa counting his spirit stones, merely glanced up upon hearing this and finally said he understood.

After all, that city lord would definitely tell other cultivators about these matters after returning—and building a good relationship with Zhang Hongyuan wasn't a bad thing either, as it spared them from harassment by thug organizations like the Azure Dragon Gang.

With fewer petty troublemakers around, Ye Chuan could sit on the sofa every day, leisurely counting his spirit stones. Later, he could take the spirit stones to the real world to resell; financial freedom wasn't far off.

"It's just a shame the system eats up so much." Ye Chuan glanced at the interface on his phone. All his various functions required money to support them, and some aspects could also be exchanged using spirit stones.

One could only say that no matter how much he earned, there was never an end to the need for money and spirit stones.

But the good thing was that these things genuinely enhanced his cultivation.

What's wrong with getting stronger by spending money?

Just as Ye Chuan was leisurely enjoying the massage service from little Hu Li, he seemed to sense something and looked toward the door—

The wind chime at the shop entrance jingled "ding-ling" as a man dressed in black, with a cold and sinister aura, slowly walked in.

He wore a silver mask, revealing only a pair of deep, penetrating eyes. A faint, almost imperceptible killing intent emanated from him, making the temperature in the entire shop seem to drop several degrees.

How terrifying!

Hu Li shrank back, frightened by this aura, instinctively hiding behind Ye Chuan, her furry tail tucked tightly.

There were also a few customers in the shop who had come seeking enhancement. The moment they felt the aura, they all gripped the magical treasures at their waists, eyeing the black-clad man with wary gazes—

This aura was definitely not from a friendly sort!

A demonic cultivator?!

The black-clad man ignored the reactions of the others, his gaze falling directly on Ye Chuan. His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper grinding:

"So you're the master who can repair and enhance magical treasures?"

Ye Chuan leaned back on the sofa, his fingertips still spinning a spirit stone like a top, his tone calm: "That's me. What can I do for you?"

The black-clad man took out a black scroll from his storage pouch and slowly unrolled it.

The scroll emitted a dense dark aura. Painted on it was a strangely shaped scythe, covered with ferocious bone spikes, from which the faint wails of vengeful spirits could be heard.

"This is the Soul-Devouring Scythe, a supreme-grade magical treasure. This scroll details the method of its creation, but because the materials are hard to find, I only have this one copy." He paused, a trace of urgency flashing in his eyes, "I heard your forging methods are quite miraculous and can even enhance a treasure's power. I wonder if you can craft it?"

A supreme-grade magical treasure!

Upon hearing this, the customers nearby were shocked once more.

Supreme-grade magical treasures were extremely rare; most people only ever saw them in ancient texts in their entire lives!

What was the identity of this black-clad man, to actually want such a treasure crafted?

Ye Chuan looked up and glanced at the scroll of the Soul-Devouring Scythe. Although the scythe was quite ugly, the information displayed on the scroll indeed showed a golden name.

Meaning it was a supreme-grade, top-notch item.

However, what surprised Ye Chuan a bit was—

[Item: Soul-Devouring Scythe Gold

Contains endless resentment, the artifact spirit is violent. Slaying living beings can seize their power to enhance itself.

A growth-type magical treasure?

Slaying living beings to enhance itself—this was quite similar to Ye Chuan's own Human Emperor Banner.

Though it seemed its area-of-effect attack was far inferior to the Human Emperor Banner.

Ye Chuan propped his cheek with his hand, withdrawing his gaze from the scroll. "It can be made, but the price isn't cheap. Fifty million low-grade spirit stones."

Fifty million?!

The customers present were also stunned by this price. This was no longer just an astronomical figure; a small shop like this casually dealing in tens of millions!

"Even if I provide the materials myself, it still costs fifty million?" the black-clad man asked in a low voice.

"You can find someone else to make it for you," Ye Chuan said indifferently. "Take care, I won't see you out."

"I'll have it made. What's the probability of success?"

Hearing this, Ye Chuan suddenly smiled. "The probability of success? Are you asking me?"

"Not ten out of ten, but ninety-nine percent is about right."

Ninety-nine percent?!

"Even the most top-tier forging masters wouldn't dare guarantee a ninety-nine percent success rate when refining a supreme-grade magical treasure," the black-clad man said.

"They're pure trash."

"..."

Hearing Ye Chuan's supremely confident tone, a laugh came from behind the black-clad man's mask.

Without the slightest hesitation, he took out a storage pouch and placed it on the counter.

"Inside are fifty million low-grade spirit stones, along with the prepared materials."

Ye Chuan checked it; it was indeed around fifty million and more. It seemed these guys really had money.

Seeing Ye Chuan accept the money, the black-clad man asked, "How many days will it take?"

He had other tasks; if it took too long, he wouldn't stay in Mystic Crystal City for now.

"Half an hour."

"Half a year, is it? Alright... huh?" The black-clad man was stunned for a moment, his tone changing, "How much?"

"Sit right there." Ye Chuan pointed to a chair nearby.

"Oh." The black-clad man was a bit confused but still sat on the chair. Hu Li, seeing he was just a customer, though still somewhat afraid, brought tea. "Please have some tea."

"..."

Seeing the black-clad man remain silent, Hu Li, frightened, shrank back to Ye Chuan's side again.

Ye Chuan, meanwhile, sat on the sofa, tossed the materials and design into the forging function, and waited for the countdown.

Hmm, cost a thousand spirit stones.

And he brought his own materials.

How nice.

Just then, another set of footsteps came from the shop entrance. Zhao Hongyuan rushed in with several guards, his face full of excitement.

"Master! I thought about it last night. I've brought forty million spirit stones. I want to give the Rift Seal another push to the seventh layer..."

Before he could finish, he spotted the black-clad man nearby. Sensing the other's strange aura, his expression instantly turned grave.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

The black-clad man slowly turned around, a cold smile curling under his silver mask:

"The City Lord of Mystic Crystal City? I didn't expect to run into you here."

"But I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, otherwise..." The killing intent around him erupted, a terrifying pressure bearing down on Zhao Hongyuan.

Zhao Hongyuan's face changed, and he quickly circulated his spiritual power to resist.

He could feel that this black-clad man's strength far surpassed his own—at least a Comprehension Realm expert!

But that didn't mean Zhao Hongyuan was afraid. Faced with a hostile visitor, he still drew his own magical treasure.

"Demonic cultivator, this is Mystic Crystal City! It's not lacking in Comprehension Realm experts! What do you dare to do here?"

The black-clad man: "..."

Beside them, Ye Chuan watched the two men at daggers drawn and simply said calmly, "What's all the noise? If you want to fight, take it outside. Don't wreck my shop."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a pressure that instantly overwhelmed the auras of the two men.

Both the black-clad man and Zhao Hongyuan were taken aback, able to feel their spiritual power being suppressed by Ye Chuan!

The boss's strength was this formidable?!