Nine Abyss Soul-Bearing Lotus

Chen Tiannan waved a hand.

The guards behind him immediately placed the specially made alloy combination case on the desk and entered the password. With a crisp click, it opened.

A dense wave of spiritual energy, so intense it almost seemed to take physical form, instantly filled the entire office!

Inside the case lay a lotus flower that was entirely deep violet, glowing with a faint light.

Every petal seemed to bear naturally formed soul-array patterns. Just one glance at it was enough to make anyone feel refreshed and clear-headed.

“This is…”

Nie Changkong’s pupils contracted slightly.

“The Nine Nether Soul-Nurturing Lotus?!”

Chen Tiannan nodded heavily. A trace of pain flashed through his eyes, but it was quickly covered by determination.

“That’s right!”

“This Nine Nether Soul-Nurturing Lotus is three hundred years old. It is the most precious spiritual treasure in the Chen family’s treasury for nurturing spiritual power!”

“On the market, it’s worth at least thirty billion Dragon Coins—and even then, it’s virtually impossible to buy!”

Chen Tiannan took a deep breath and stared intently at Nie Changkong.

“In addition…”

He took an ancient jade slip from his robes and handed it over with both hands.

“This contains the cultivation insights passed down by the Chen family’s ancestors regarding the cultivation of the Formless Tribulation Blade.”

“It records in detail every bottleneck and breakthrough technique, from the initial stage all the way to mastery.”

There was a trace of reverence in Chen Tiannan’s voice.

“Our ancestor speculated that Senior Su Yuan’s spiritual power was so profound that he forcibly simulated our Chen family’s secret art.”

“Since Senior is interested in spiritual-power techniques…”

“This Nine Nether Soul-Nurturing Lotus, along with these cultivation insights, is our Chen family’s humble token of respect!”

“We respectfully ask Principal Nie to introduce us. We wish to pay our respects to Senior Su Yuan in person!”

After hearing Chen Tiannan out, Nie Changkong sat in his chair, outwardly calm while his heart churned like a stormy sea.

Forcibly simulated it?!

These old foxes from the Chen family had an imagination that was simply unbelievable!

They had no idea that the kid, Su Yu, had not only truly cultivated the technique, but had reached the Great Perfection stage in less than a few hours!

However, Nie Changkong reconsidered.

Although Su Yu had reached Great Perfection, he had done so in far too short a time.

With the Chen family’s accumulated cultivation insights, perhaps he could gain even greater control over his spiritual power!

What was more, this Nine Nether Soul-Nurturing Lotus, worth thirty billion, was genuinely a treasure.

That kid, Su Yu, was short on money at the moment.

If such a juicy offering was delivered right to his door, there was no reason not to accept it!

“I understand the Chen family head’s intentions.”

Nie Changkong reached out and casually pulled the jade slip and combination case toward himself.

“However…”

His tone shifted, and his expression became especially solemn.

“Su Yuan has just gone through an earth-shattering battle. He is currently in seclusion, comprehending what he gained, and is not receiving visitors.”

“So there’s no need for an introduction.”

A clear look of disappointment flashed across Chen Tiannan’s eyes.

But even if he had ten times the courage, he would never dare force his way into Capital Martial University and disturb a God of Slaughter who had defeated a Demon Saint despite being at a lower realm.

“Of course! Of course!”

Chen Tiannan nodded repeatedly, not daring to show the slightest complaint.

“As long as our sincerity reaches Senior, our Chen family will be perfectly satisfied.”

“Since Senior is in seclusion, I won’t impose any further.”

“Farewell!”

Chen Tiannan bowed deeply once more, then led his guards out of the office.

…

Half an hour later.

An extended luxury hovercar with bulletproof-grade protection traveled smoothly along the road back to the Chen family manor.

Inside the vehicle, Chen Tiannan leaned against the leather seat with his eyes closed, resting.

Sitting opposite him was Chen Feng, whose face was pale.

“Dad.”

Chen Feng gritted his teeth, but in the end, he could not hold back any longer.

“We didn’t even get to see him, yet we gave away a treasure worth more than thirty billion, along with the family’s core cultivation insights.”

“Was it… really worth it?”

Chen Tiannan abruptly opened his eyes.

Two intimidating beams of light shot from those eyes, which had seen countless people and events.

“Foolish!”

Chen Tiannan’s cold shout made Chen Feng shudder.

“Do you even understand what investment is?!”

“You think that was thirty billion? That was a life-saving talisman! A ticket to becoming an unrivaled aristocratic family!”

Chen Tiannan pointed at Chen Feng’s nose, his expression full of exasperation.

“That Su Yuan is not only comparable to a Martial Saint in combat strength—he is also very likely an elusive grandmaster whose spiritual power is unfathomably deep!”

“The waters behind him are so deep they could drown our entire Chen family!”

Chen Tiannan took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger.

“And Su Yu is this grandmaster’s representative in the mortal world!”

“He may even be his blood descendant!”

Chen Tiannan stared at Chen Feng.

“Feng’er, I don’t care how aggrieved you feel.”

“And I don’t care how badly you lost at Nameless Lake or how thoroughly you disgraced yourself!”

“From this day forward!”

Chen Tiannan enunciated every word, his voice carrying an unquestionable resolve.

“When you return to school, you must do everything possible to befriend Su Yu!”

“Even if you have to serve him tea and water, even if you have to become his lackey!”

“You must find a way to draw closer to him!”

“Do you understand?!”

Chen Feng’s entire body trembled violently.

Befriend Su Yu?

Become the lackey of the man who had defeated him in a single move in front of the entire school and humiliated him?

Humiliation!

An unprecedented sense of humiliation gnawed at Chen Feng’s heart like a venomous snake.

He clenched his teeth tightly, both fists balled up, his fingernails digging deeply into his flesh.

But then—

An image flashed through his mind: the battered figure in the news photograph, the one who had impaled a Demon Saint with a single spear.

All his humiliation and pride instantly collapsed before that absolute, despair-inducing power!

That God of Slaughter named Su Yuan had even dared to sever the projection of a Demon Emperor!

Killing Chen Feng would be easier for him than crushing an ant—by ten thousand times over!

“I…”

Chen Feng slowly relaxed his clenched fists.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse and filled with the helplessness of resignation.

“I understand, Dad.”

“I’ll do it.”

Dignity?

In the face of a supreme grandmaster with such a terrifying background, what was dignity worth?

…

Night fell.

Capital Martial University, special-grade freshman apartment.

Su Yu sat cross-legged in the training room, having just finished another round of tempering his blood and energy.

Ding-a-ling-ling.

His private communicator rang.

It was Nie Changkong calling.

“Hello, Principal Nie.”

“Su Yu, someone from the Chen family came by earlier.”

Nie Changkong’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

“They brought you a generous gift.”

“A Nine Nether Soul-Nurturing Lotus worth thirty billion, along with the Chen family’s ancestral cultivation insights into the Formless Tribulation Blade.”

The moment Su Yu heard the words “thirty billion,” his eyes lit up.

“Thirty billion?!”

The Chen family was being far too generous!

Not only had they sent money, they had even sent him an experience pack!

Although those cultivation insights were completely useless to a cheater like him, who had directly paid his way to Great Perfection with the system, the thirty-billion-coin Soul-Nurturing Lotus was genuine hard currency that could be exchanged for system balance!