"Speak! Who are you people?" Yang Chen demanded sternly.
"N-no! Don't kill me, I'll tell you everything, I'll confess it all!"
Blacky's right arm had been shattered by Yang Chen's punch, and his internal organs were displaced by the force of the blow, rendering him completely incapable of fighting. Old Crow had already fled during the scuffle. With his life in Yang Chen's hands, Blacky spilled everything.
"We're from the Three-Legged Crow."
"Three-Legged Crow?"
"Yes... yes, it's an ancient organization. Old Crow and I are just outer members, helping the organization collect rare antiques."
Yang Chen was even more shocked. If Blacky's combat strength only made him an outer member, how terrifying must the core members of the Three-Legged Crow be!
"What is the Three-Legged Crow's purpose in collecting rare antiques?"
Given such a formidable organization, Yang Chen didn't believe their collection of antiques was merely for amusement.
"Many antiques are actually magical artifacts used by cultivators in ancient times. These artifacts possess special energies that are very beneficial to us cultivators. However, ordinary people don't know about this... You are also a cultivator, you should know this, shouldn't you?"
Magical artifacts!
When Yang Chen had previously activated the "Innate Dao Method," he knew many antiques possessed special psychic energy. But the concept of magical artifacts was something new to him.
"I'm asking you now, not the other way around!"
Yang Chen's fingers dug into Blacky's forehead. With a slight exertion, he pressed five finger marks into his skin and barked, "Is the prayer bead you were looking for a magical artifact?"
"Yes... yes, but it's not a prayer bead, it's a Qiankun Bead, also known as the Five Spirits Bead. Legend has it that it belonged to the Yellow Emperor, and there are five in total. If all five are gathered, they can reverse fate and cleanse the body!"
Cleanse the body!
Yang Chen's heart churned with excitement. "This is no legend! Just by obtaining one, my consciousness recovered and I received the Yellow Emperor's 'Innate Dao Method.' If I gather all five, I might truly be able to reverse fate!"
"Where are the other four Qiankun Beads?"
"I-I don't know."
"You don't know!"
Yang Chen sneered and brought his hand down on Blacky's left arm. With a "crack," his bone snapped, causing him to writhe on the ground in agony.
"Now do you know!"
"I, I really don't know..."
Seeing Yang Chen raise his hand again, Blacky quickly shouted, "Don't... don't torture me anymore! I'm just an outer member. The organization tasked me and Old Crow with relaying the Qiankun Bead to our superiors. I truly don't know its origin!"
Yang Chen saw the veins bulging on his forehead and his eyes turn bloodshot. He clearly appeared to be in extreme pain and didn't seem to be lying. Without dwelling on the matter, he asked, "Who is your superior?"
"I... I don't know..."
Blacky had learned his lesson this time. Before Yang Chen could break his legs, he quickly said, "The people above only contact me and Old Crow through a single channel. And every time we meet, he wears a mask. I really don't know who he is!"
"You don't know this, and you don't know that. What use are you to me!"
Yang Chen raised his hand and struck Blacky on the crown of his head. Blacky let out a sharp scream and slumped to the ground.
Last time, Yang Chen had accidentally caused Lao Wu's death, and he still didn't realize he had killed someone. He couldn't bring himself to directly kill someone. This palm strike didn't kill Blacky, but rather used his internal energy to sever his brainstem.
"This guy's brainstem is shattered. Even if he wakes up, he'll just be an idiot and won't be a threat to me!"
Yang Chen clapped his hands and drove away in his car.
...
Three-Legged Crow!
Magical artifacts!
Qiankun Bead!
The three phrases echoed in Yang Chen's mind as he drove back.
"No wonder those in high society are so obsessed with antiques!"
"Even if some of them don't know about the existence of magical artifacts, the energy overflowing from these artifacts can make them feel vigorous and healthy... If I can obtain these artifacts, won't I be able to quickly improve my cultivation and completely cure my mother's illness!"
"I must obtain these artifacts!"
"But where can I find them?"
Yang Chen slammed the steering wheel, pondering deeply.
"Not every antique is a magical artifact, but precious antiques have a higher chance of being one!"
"Right, when I was helping President Li clean her office, she had a manual detailing the major treasures sold at global antique auctions over the past decade. There should be clues in there."
"I'll go back and look for it now!"
Yang Chen made up his mind, turned left at the next intersection, and floored the accelerator. His car shot towards the company like an arrow.
...
Yang Chen was now one of the company's bosses and had a key to the auction house. He went directly to the second floor to Li Yu's office and quickly found the manual on the bookshelf. It detailed the whereabouts of precious antiques auctioned globally over the past ten years.
"The older the item, the more likely it is to be a magical artifact. I'll record these items now and verify them when the opportunity arises!"
Yang Chen took out his phone and photographed each page.
Tap, tap...
Footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.
"Who is still coming to the company so late?"
As Yang Chen wondered, Li Yu's voice came from outside: "Xiao Ran, I've arrived at the company. I won't talk long... Yes, there's an exchange meeting in a couple of days, I need to sort out some documents... Unfortunately, the previous head of the department, Zhang Chi, betrayed us, so I have to handle many things myself now... I'll call you back later..."
Oh no!
Yang Chen had intended to go out and greet her, but Li Yu's mention of Zhang Chi jolted him.
"I'm sneaking around in her office right now. What if President Li misunderstands and thinks I'm here to steal things like Zhang Chi?"
"No, she can't see me!"
Yang Chen quickly turned off the lights and was about to open the window to jump down from the second floor when the sound of keys turning in the lock came from outside the door.
"No time!"
Yang Chen looked around, with nowhere to hide, and desperately squeezed under the desk.
Click!
Just as he got under, Li Yu pressed the switch again, and the office lights turned back on.
Tap, tap...
Accompanied by the sound of high heels on the floor, Li Yu walked to the desk, picked up the auction manual, and muttered to herself, "Why is this book here? Did I forget to put it back before leaving work?"
"Don't discover me... please, don't discover me..."
Yang Chen's heart leaped into his throat. He clasped his hands together and prayed silently.
However, Li Yu didn't think much of it, casually placed the auction manual aside, and sat down.
This is deadly!
From Yang Chen's perspective, he could see Li Yu's long, black-stockinged legs, especially when she crossed her legs, revealing glimpses of what lay beneath.
"No, if I keep looking, I'll get a nosebleed again!"
The last time Yang Chen had merely glimpsed a sliver of white at Li Yu's chest, he had bled profusely. He immediately pinched his nose and turned his head away.
Crack!
The space under the desk was already narrow. His six-foot-one frame bumped against the board as he turned his head.
"Who!"
Li Yu jumped back in shock, grabbed a utility knife from the desktop, held it tightly with both hands, and shouted, "Who's down there? If you don't speak, I'm calling the police!"