"Two top-grade spiritual veins, how could you possibly ask for more?"
Dan Feng was utterly enraged. Even with the Alliance Leader's backing, he couldn't stomach this.
This brat was too dismissive of someone at the Half-step Mahayana realm. He was here to rob him.
Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone the highly esteemed Peak Master of the Dan Feng.
Normally, those at the Mahayana realm would greet him respectfully, yet now he was being squeezed by this brat.
If this news were to spread, how would Dan Feng maintain any semblance of dignity?
As a Half-step Mahayana cultivator and an eighth-grade alchemist, Dan Feng's status and position were extremely noble.
Normally, other Peak Masters would greet him with smiles.
Today, Zhang Ergou, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, dared to extort him. Su Dan Fiction Network.
A scholar can endure, but this is unbearable.
Sensing Dan Feng's fury, Zhang Ergou felt he might have pushed his luck too far. Were the conditions he proposed too outrageous?
The room fell silent once more, the only sound the faint breaths of the individuals present.
Li Zhan and Qu Yao were like two insects trapped in a wall crack, vulnerable to the impending storm.
Neither dared to breathe too deeply.
Qu Yao grew even more curious. By provoking Dan Feng so recklessly, did Zhang Ergou no longer wish to enter the Dan Feng to refine pills?
Zhang Ergou, looking at Dan Feng's grim expression, felt his heart pounding frantically.
However, the situation had come to this, and he still had to maintain appearances.
He remained silent, his gaze fixed on Dan Feng, while his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts: "Am I not already robbing you? What do you think this is, a game of make-believe?"
But he dared not voice these thoughts to Dan Feng. If he did, forget the top-grade spiritual veins.
Dan Feng might as well find a prime spot and bury him, perhaps even nurturing a spiritual vein from his remains in the distant future.
Hua Xu also dared not utter another word. He hadn't expected this brat, Zhang Ergou, to make such an outrageous demand.
Two top-grade spiritual veins, did he think they were ordinary cabbages?
He truly didn't know how this brat had the audacity to ask for them.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible."
After a prolonged period of mental fortitude, Dan Feng managed to suppress the volcanic rage building within him.
"Unless you agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
Zhang Ergou keenly detected the wavering tone in Dan Feng's voice.
The other three also looked at Dan Feng with disbelief. To agree to such an unreasonable demand, it seemed the Dan Feng was indeed incredibly wealthy.
Li Zhan regretted not choosing alchemy himself.
Qu Yao, however, had stars in her eyes. If everything went as expected, she was certain to be selected by the Dan Feng.
Who would complain about having too much money?
"You must agree to it first," Dan Feng said.
Dan Feng was weary of being extorted by Zhang Ergou. If his heart weren't robust, he might have coughed up blood from anger by now.
However, he had not forgotten his true purpose for being here.
Visiting Zhang Ergou was merely a pretense.
"You haven't told me, so how can I agree? What if you ask me to do something impossible or to give up the two spiritual veins? Wouldn't I be at a great disadvantage?"
Zhang Ergou was no fool; he wouldn't easily fall for such an obvious verbal trap.
Unless, of course, he received the two spiritual veins first.
It seemed the situation had reached an impasse once more.
"Let's meet halfway. I will offer one top-grade spiritual vein first, and you agree to the condition. How about that?"
Zhang Ergou's eyes darted back and forth as he scrutinized Dan Feng.
To be so generous so suddenly, could there be a bigger trap waiting for him?
"Empty words..."
"Take it."
Dan Feng casually tossed out a high-grade storage ring. Zhang Ergou hastily caught it. Inside the ring, the gleaming spiritual veins emanated potent spiritual energy. Zhang Ergou's eyes widened in awe.
Hua Xu and the other two were also surprised by Dan Feng's generosity. Before Zhang Ergou could even agree, he had so readily produced a top-grade spiritual vein.
"Heh heh, Peak Master, you are truly magnanimous. What conditions, what not, I, your humble servant, will agree to anything."
Zhang Ergou chuckled, his gaze lingering on the storage ring with increasing fondness.
"Haha, good. As long as you don't go back on your word."
Dan Feng's expression instantly changed, as if his previous anger had been a mere act.
"Junior Brother Hua, let's go."
With that, he vanished in a flash, paying no heed to Zhang Ergou or the reactions of the other two.
Before leaving, he hadn't even told Zhang Ergou what the condition was.
...
After Dan Feng and Hua Xu departed, the room fell into silence once more.
Li Zhan and Qu Yao looked at Zhang Ergou with complex expressions.
Just like that, they had successively extorted a top-grade spiritual vein, twenty high-grade magical artifacts, and several bottles of pills from a Half-step Mahayana cultivator.
It all felt too unreal.
...
Zhang Ergou recuperated for a few more days, his body fully recovered. The time had arrived for the final match between the sword cultivators and those who cultivated other weapons.
When they arrived at the plaza, everyone else had already gathered.
Upon seeing Zhang Ergou, people nodded in greeting, hoping to leave a good impression.
Zhang Ergou also noticed that these people seemed unusually enthusiastic towards him. He had never received such treatment before.
"Why are they so friendly towards me?"
Zhang Ergou asked Li Zhan and Qu Yao beside him, bewildered.
Over the past few days, Qu Yao had also become familiar with Zhang Ergou and the others. She had practically stayed in Zhang Ergou's room, citing a desire to discuss alchemy with him.
"Brat, you don't know you stole the show in the alchemy selection trials, even completely overshadowing Li Qian. These people naturally see your potential, which is why they are so enthusiastic."
"Besides, who wouldn't want a friend who is a fifth-grade alchemist?"
"So, you've really struck gold."
Zhang Ergou nudged Li Zhan with a smile.
"Actually, besides wanting to build a good relationship with you, they were also moved by your performance last time. Haven't you noticed the admiration in their eyes?"
Qu Yao added, pointing specifically at the crowd.
Zhang Ergou followed her gesture and indeed saw a fervent look in the eyes of those individuals.
...
"Which peak do you think that kid will ultimately choose?"
On the main stage, the peak masters of the various major peaks were seated, their attention immediately drawn to Zhang Ergou's appearance.
"It's hard to say. I've heard that he wasn't a proper alchemist before coming here and had apprenticed under several masters."
The peak master with the surname Liu spoke with a hint of excitement.
After the alchemy competition concluded, he had extensively investigated, even utilizing the alliance's intelligence network across the continent, to thoroughly understand Zhang Ergou's past.
The other peak masters turned their gazes towards Dan Feng, eager to hear his opinion.
"He has already agreed to come to my Dan Feng," Dan Feng stated calmly.