"A modest gift for our first meeting. What do you all think?"
Sun Gui straightened up, stroking his chin with a faint smile.
The Qingyuan Sect was considered a major sect within a single prefecture, but Yunzhou comprised three domains and twenty-seven prefectures, each no less prosperous than Purple Sun Prefecture. The financial accounts he handled annually could easily fund the establishment of several sects of Qingyuan Sect's scale.
His calculations were precise.
The items displayed outside were roughly equivalent to the treasury of a mid-sized sect.
Yet, the hall remained silent.
Qian Bufan: "..."
Ouyang: "..."
He scratched his head, mentally tallying how many sets of Li Mo's calligraphy supplies those gifts could buy.
Xue Jing: "..."
Recalling the sight of young Li Mo casually pouring out medicinal herbs, Old Xue remained utterly unfazed.
The room was dead silent.
So silent it grew awkward.
Sun Gui was at a loss. Could the Qingyuan Sect's wealth far exceed his expectations?
Or were they simply too worldly to show any reaction?
Li Mo, young as he was, surely hadn’t seen such extravagance before...
"Young Hero Li, what do you think?"
"I’ve always regarded wealth as dirt and have never been interested in gold or treasures."
Li Mo smiled politely.
He sensed a gaze boring into his back.
As everyone knew, Li Mo didn’t have eyes on the back of his head.
But had his training with his beautiful master been for nothing?
Now it proved useful.
"Please take these gifts back, Manager Sun."
Sun Gui’s expression shifted. Skilled in reading people, he detected not a trace of greed or reluctance in Li Mo’s demeanor.
Was this young man truly noble, free from base desires?
But... everyone in this world sought something.
Be it fame, fortune, or personal transcendence.
Sun Gui narrowed his eyes and chuckled.
"In that case, I’ve been presumptuous."
"However, Young Hero Li, you should know that our Hengtong Trading Company has branches across the land. We possess every manner of rare treasure, miraculous elixirs, divine weapons, and secret manuals. Even if we don’t have something in stock, we can procure it through our connections."
"Divine weapons?"
"Uh..."
"Do you have any divine-grade swords?"
Sun Gui’s smile froze.
Divine weapons were typically in the hands of Heaven Ranking experts—treasures even they hesitated to wield, often enshrined in ancestral halls.
"The company could acquire one, but that would exceed my authority..."
"So it was just an exaggeration. What about divine techniques?"
"..."
Sun Gui himself only practiced a top-tier martial art, far from divine.
"Do you have any pills like the Nine-Aperture Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir?" Li Mo asked.
"Ah? What’s that?"
Sun Gui had reached the limits of his knowledge.
For the first time, he felt... constrained by his own lack of imagination.
Tang Xiaobao scratched his head. "Junior Brother Li, it seems everything he mentioned was just hyperbole."
Sun Gui suddenly felt the weather grow unbearably warm, sweat beading on his forehead.
After an awkward pause, he cleared his throat.
"Let’s order first."
"We can discuss further over dinner... Waiter!"
Li Mo said, "The waiter’s asleep in the firewood shed."
"Huh?" Sun Gui blinked, then forced a smile. "Actually, I’m quite close with the owner here. I’ll invite him to join us."
"You mean Manager Zhang? He’s... probably halfway back to his hometown by now," Li Mo mused.
"He left? Why so suddenly..."
"Naturally, because he sold the tavern for a good price."
"Old Zhang once said this tavern was his life’s work. What sum could make him abandon it and retire in peace..."
Sun Gui took a sip of tea.
Li Mo replied, "A chest of banknotes—about the size of yours."
"A chest... of banknotes? What kind of fool would..." Sun Gui glanced around, then frowned.
"Young Hero Li, how do you know this so clearly?"
Li Mo pointed at himself expressionlessly.
"Because that fool was me."
"??"
Sun Gui suddenly understood why Li Mo had no interest in money.
He coughed lightly, his voice shrinking.
"Well... my eldest daughter is quite beautiful, refined, gentle, and deeply admires you. She should meet your standards for a partner."
"A rich, beautiful noblewoman, dear disciple," Shang Wu teased, nudging Li Mo with her elbow.
Li Mo waved his hand emphatically. "I have no interest in well-bred ladies."
Sun Gui pressed on. "Then my second daughter—though a bit spoiled, she’s lively and loves chivalry..."
"Same for the spoiled heiress."
"My third daughter serves in the magistrate’s office as a constable. She despises evil and fights injustice relentlessly."
"...Can she help me wipe out the Drizzle Tower?"
Li Mo’s forehead creased with exasperation.
Just how many daughters did Manager Sun have?
This was getting ridiculous. If he weren’t careful, Sun Gui might offer him the whole lot.
But his stance was clear!
Why was this man so determined to make him a son-in-law?
Blame Tian Miao—whether the "prosperous spouse" rumor was true or not, why did the Hidden Dragon Ranking have to include such nonsense?
"I have no plans to marry anytime soon," Li Mo said firmly.
Sun Gui pondered, then suggested, "Then perhaps... Young Hero Li could spend time with my daughters individually? Feelings might blossom over time..."
Li Mo’s gaze was unwavering. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
As he spoke, someone sat down beside him.
Ying Bing sipped tea as if no one else existed, her jade-like complexion radiating an untouchable nobility.
When her eyes swept over him, Sun Gui no longer felt hot.
Yet his sweat poured even more uncontrollably.
"Manager Sun, I appreciate your kindness, but please take these gifts back."
Li Mo picked up his teacup.
Sun Gui, ever the diplomat, conceded gracefully.
"A gift once given cannot be taken back."
"Just having made your acquaintance makes this trip worthwhile."
He clapped his hands.
Servants carried in another chest—this one far more ornate, its material alone worth its weight in gold.
"What’s this?" Li Mo asked.
Sun Gui strode to the chest in the center of the hall and patted it.
"Though it may not be precious to you, Young Hero Li, it’s something you’ll find useful."
Just as he moved to open it—
A sudden chill gripped his heart.
Across the room, the Qingyuan Sect elders stiffened in unison, sensing an abrupt shift.
No—not abrupt.
The chest exploded the next instant.
A domain of inner vision descended.
Pitch-black darkness swallowed the tavern, so absolute that not a sliver of light remained.
"Altering Heaven and Earth"?
Wasn’t this the signature technique of the Malevolent Bright King?
A name flashed through their minds:
Disciple of the Malevolent Bright King, ranked 73rd on the Human Ranking—
Ten Thousand Horses Silenced Blade, Peng Keshan.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
iemie, male, Race: Moon. Hobby: Collecting anomalies. At first, he thought he possessed two systems: the Crimson Rainbow Moon and the Clear Cold Frost Moon. One day, he discovered that he himself could also become a system for others, holding the chessboard of fate. The Eighth Epoch, also known as the Eternal Moon Epoch. Humans, witches, elves, bloodline descendants, specters, demons, and spirits together compose a new history. Walking the path on behalf of the moon, before he knew it, Chen Miemie's footsteps were followed by all manner of strange and wondrous anomalies. As time passed, many titles circulated about him—The King in Yellow, Lord of Anomalies, Heart of the Eternal Moon, and more. "Me? I'm just a traveler who enjoys collecting interesting creatures," Chen Miemie said.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
