Chapter 728: 728 What can you do if I forcefully take it from you?
"May I know what business the Special Envoy has with me?"
This person, mysterious as he was, had given Yun Xiao an unpleasant feeling from the start. Therefore, without any hesitation, he stepped forward and asked directly. In fact, he had already guessed some of the envoy’s intentions.
Although the person before him was at least in the late stage of the Seeking Origin Realm, Yun Xiao wasn’t too worried; since Xia Yong did not come in disguise but rather had Xu Huang accompany him and also informed the owner of the Lin Family’s attic, Lin Xuanhao, it showed that he still had some reservations.
After all, the Douling Commerce started as a mercantile guild. If some disgraceful tactics were brought to light, it would be a substantial blow to the guild’s reputation; hence, Yun Xiao could remain so calm.
"Good, very direct!"
Upon hearing Yun Xiao’s words, Xia Yong finally lifted his head and then spoke: "Since you’re so straightforward, then I, as the Special Envoy, will not beat around the bush either. Yun Xiao, I have taken a liking to your two Meridian Spirits. Name your price!"
The envoy from the headquarters of Douling Commerce, Xia Yong, indeed did not beat around the bush. However, as soon as he spoke, Yun Xiao’s expression instantly darkened.
To be honest, Yun Xiao had suspected that Xia Yong was interested in his Vein Demons but hadn’t expected him to be so forthright about it. Didn’t he feel the least bit embarrassed at all?
In Yun Xiao’s heart, though the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad could be let go, the Golden Snake Worm Little Dragon had already become a life-and-death partner to him, someone he absolutely could not hand over to someone else.
"Yun Xiao, just name your price, and don’t doubt the resources of the Douling Commerce. If you need a Meridian Spirit of the eighth rank, I can get it for you!"
Seeing that Yun Xiao was silent, Xia Yong continued to speak, making use of his identity and background. However, for someone at least in the late stage of the Seeking Origin Realm, obtaining a Meridian Spirit of the eighth rank was not something difficult.
Furthermore, the Douling Commerce originally dealt in the trade of Vein Demons. Xia Yong, seemingly with a high status in the headquarters, might not find it as difficult to get an eighth rank Meridian Spirit as outsiders would imagine.
In Xia Yong’s eyes, this youth was no more than an early stage cultivator in the Qi Seeking Realm. Trading a mere eighth rank Vein Demon for the Golden Snake Worm and the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad would probably make the kid overjoyed.
"I’m sorry, I might have to disappoint the Special Envoy!"
However, just after Xia Yong spoke his last word, the youth in front of him, without a moment’s hesitation, outright refused him, leaving him momentarily unable to recover.
"Yun Xiao, do you think an eighth rank low-level Meridian Spirit is not enough? You can ask for more; as long as I can do it, I will not disappoint you!"
Xia Yong wasn’t giving up — he was determined to obtain those two Vein Demons, hence why he personally visited as the Special Envoy, putting aside his pride, only to be unexpectedly rejected so swiftly, leaving him somewhat at a loss.
"This has nothing to do with conditions. Even if you offered me the position of Douling Commerce Chairman, I would not agree."
Seeing that he was being persistent, Yun Xiao lost his patience. His words made Xia Yong’s expression finally darken, no longer masking his anger.
"Yun Xiao, I am asking you nicely; don’t be ungrateful!"
Perhaps this was Xia Yong’s true face showing, his words laced with an intense threat, and around him, a suppressive aura faintly emanated.
"What now, Special Envoy? You intend to forcefully take them now that asking nicely has failed?"
Yun Xiao took a step back, but his tone remained defiant. The cold laughter in his voice caused the fury in Xia Yong’s eyes to grow more intense, as if he would explode in the next moment.
"So what if I take it by force, do you think the ants of Yuyang City would dare to meddle in my, Xia Yong’s, business?"
Xia Yong’s fingers were wrapped in a layer of dangerous aura, his spoken words imbued with oppression. True to his statement, with his status, even if it were known that he had taken something by force from someone else, no one would dare to stand up and say a word.
Moreover, aside from Lin Xuanhao, no one in Yuyang City had any relationship with Yun Xiao, and many were even jealous of the limelight he received in the Spirit Fighting Conference.
"So self-important, are we, Special Envoy? I would like to see if you could cover the sky with one hand within the vast Douling Commerce."
When it came to rhetoric, Yun Xiao was not one to be afraid of anyone. Furthermore, he was increasingly convinced that the Special Envoy, having said so much without making a move, must have some unknown concerns.
"Do you realize the consequences of offending the Douling Commerce, Yun Xiao?"
As expected, Xia Yong was merely trying to scare Yun Xiao. Seeing that the youth was unfazed by both carrot and stick, he had little option but to once again invoke the Douling Commerce behind him.
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Throughout the Tenglong Continent, Douling Commerce is present in every major city, and the frequently held Spirit Fighting Conference is also booming. It can be said that as long as one has reached the level of the Spirit Vein Realm, most cultivators desiring to find a Meridian Spirit that matches them would seek the assistance of Douling Commerce.
After all, hunting for Vein Demons oneself is too risky, and at most, one could only get a Meridian Spirit that is roughly equal to their own strength.
Within Douling Commerce, there are not only many powerful Vein Demons, but many also match the attributes of cultivators. Although expensive, once one can refine a powerful Meridian Spirit that also matches their attributes, their combat power is likely to surge instantly.
"Heh, the Special Envoy is overthinking it. The only one I’ve offended is you alone. Surely you don’t represent the entirety of Douling Commerce, do you?"
A hint of cold sarcasm flashed through Yun Xiao’s eyes. Having once seen the true power brokers of the Tenglong Continent, he knew that Xia Yong, who is possibly at most at the Late Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm or the Peak, could probably not even secure a seat among the Elders of the Douling Commerce headquarters. To think he could represent Douling Commerce was laughable indeed.
Douling Commerce is one of the four top forces on the Tenglong Continent, its overall strength likely far surpassing that of places like Impermanence Island and Firewood Valley.
And as for elders like Meng Liyang from Demons Mountain, despite reaching the Peak of the Origin Seeking Realm, he was still at the bottom among the Demons Mountain elders. An elder dispatched to the Lower Realm to preside over the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, what real authority could he have?
These thoughts flashed through Yun Xiao’s mind in an instant, allowing him to speculate on Xia Yong’s status within the Douling Commerce headquarters. His words struck home, causing the Special Envoy’s face to darken even further.
"Yun Xiao, the Spirit Fighting Conference will eventually come to an end. Are you really not going to consider your own safety?"
The moment Xia Yong stood up to leave, somewhat reluctantly, he turned back and issued one more threat to Yun Xiao.
"Then let’s wait until after the Spirit Fighting Conference is over to discuss it!"
Yun Xiao remained noncommittal, his impervious demeanor making Xia Yong finally realize that he had been somewhat rash in his approach this time. Had he known this would happen, he would have preferred to come discreetly and taken action directly.
Xia Yong originally thought that with his strength and the backdrop of Douling Commerce to intimidate, this young upstart would surely not defy his will. Yet, he encountered such unexpected resistance.
Whoosh!
Annoyed, Xia Yong’s motion of sliding the door open was a bit forceful, which startled Xu Huang, who was waiting outside. Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of the extremely unpleasant look on Xia Yong’s face.
"Special Envoy..."
Xu Huang cautiously greeted him, but he was met with a cold snort filled with anger, causing him to swallow the questions he intended to ask.
"Did he fail?"
Xu Huang had already had a vague idea of Xia Yong’s intention to visit. To be honest, he was quite interested in Yun Xiao’s two Meridian Spirits, but since the Special Envoy had set his sights on them, even if he had the courage, he wouldn’t dare to show it.
Now, it seemed that Yun Xiao had not agreed to Xia Yong’s demand, as the Special Envoy would not have looked this unsightly otherwise. This actually gave Xu Huang a glimmer of hope.
"Special Envoy, have a good trip back, not seeing you off!"
While Xu Huang’s thoughts were in turmoil, a voice came from behind him, confirming his suspicions, though he couldn’t quite understand why that young man had the audacity to reject the request of Special Envoy Xia Yong.
Even Xu Huang himself dared not disrespect Xia Yong, yet this Yun Xiao, merely a guest of the Lin Family and seemingly someone without a strong backing, what gave him the confidence to refuse Special Envoy Xia Yong’s request?
As for Yun Xiao, he spared no thought for the considerations of the two who had left. However, Lin Xuanhao, who was by his side, was utterly bewildered. Even in his naivety, he could guess what had transpired in the room earlier.
If the conversation had been pleasant, the Special Envoy would not have such an expression. Offending an official from the Douling Commerce headquarters, even Lin Xuanhao felt a cramp in his calf at the thought.
"Big Brother Yun Xiao, are you really okay?"
Worried, Lin Xuanhao directly asked him. He wasn’t concerned about himself but was afraid of implicating the entire Lin Family. After all, for a colossus like Douling Commerce, if they really decided to act against the Lin Family, wouldn’t they be able to effortlessly annihilate them by sending just any Origin Seeking Realm Middle Stage powerhouse?
"Don’t worry, he was targeting me specifically. He shouldn’t vent his anger on the Lin Family!"
Knowing full well what Lin Xuanhao was thinking, Yun Xiao spoke to reassure him without going into detail about what had just happened. He then casually returned to his room to continue studying the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad’s Meridian Spirit as if nothing had occurred.
Of course, after Xia Yong and Xu Huang’s late-night visit, Yun Xiao knew he had to be more cautious. He made up his mind that as soon as the Spirit Fighting Conference concluded, he would take the Thunder Spirit Crystal prize for winning the championship and leave Yuyang City in a new guise. After all, the powers of those in the Origin Seeking Realm were far beyond his current ability to contest.
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