Feeling Ian Stone's gaze, the two Sun-Soul experts of the Lei Family tensed up, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts. One of them hurriedly said, "Young Master Chu, our Lei Family is willing to form an alliance with you, to support and watch over each other. Our patriarch has a daughter, just eighteen, with stunning beauty. As long as you agree, the two of us will persuade the patriarch to marry her to you!"
"Are you done talking? If so, I'll send you both on your way!" Ian looked at the Lei Family's Sun-Soul experts with a mocking smile. He'd seen this trick too many times before—if they couldn't win, they'd try to rope him in, then scheme and use him.
Ian was a master strategist, but he wasn't interested in playing mind games with the Lei Family.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ian's Solar divine sigil suddenly flew out from his body, hovering above his head and shining brilliantly, illuminating the world.
"No wonder!"
Seeing Ian's divine sigil, the two Lei Family Sun-Soul experts suddenly understood. Now they knew why Ian's combat power was so monstrous—he was cultivating a Royal-Grade Technique. Only a sigil condensed from a Royal-Grade Technique could be so pure and powerful.
At the same time, their hearts sank—they were ready to risk it all.
"Young Master Chu, do you really refuse to reconcile with us?" one of them asked again.
The other chimed in, "Even if you kill us, it won't affect the Lei Family much. We still have at least ten Sun-Soul experts. Your cultivation is impressive, but you only match the Sun-Soul Realm. Once you lose your formation's protection, just two Sun-Souls working together could take your life. We hope you won't act on impulse. If you ally with us, we can help you take control of the Zhu Family—how about it?"
"Young Master Chu, why not think it over?"
Ruby Nie also tried to persuade him, because she knew just how powerful the Lei Family was. Becoming their mortal enemy really wasn't the smartest choice.
"So when bribery fails, you switch to threats?" Ian sneered at the two, "Too bad, this young master isn't buying it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ian swung his sword and struck.
Skyless!
Boom!
A mysterious wave of Sword Intent radiated from Ian, instantly enveloping the two Lei Family Sun-Souls and Ruby Nie. For a moment, all three looked dazed.
The Heavenbreaker Sword Canon wasn't just about raw power—its Sword Intent had all sorts of subtle uses.
"Slash!"
Ian stepped through the air, instantly closing in on the two Sun-Souls. The Azure Flood-Dragon Sword came down, and the two only managed a muffled grunt before being chopped into dozens of pieces.
The shattered Sun-Souls surged wildly, trying to recombine, but under the influence of Ian's Sword Intent, the fragments couldn't get anywhere near each other.
Heaven-Earth Copper Furnace!
Suddenly, Ian's Solar divine sigil flew out from above his head and transformed into a raging sea of fire, enveloping the shattered Sun-Souls of the two Lei Family experts. Ian took the chance to cast several alchemy seals.
When the sea of fire faded, more than a hundred thumb-sized, crystal-clear pills appeared in the air.
With a wave of his hand, Ian collected all the pills into his palm.
These pills were refined from the Sun-Souls of the two experts. Ian had already stripped out all stray thoughts, so each pill was packed with the purest spiritual power.
"Big Sis Ruby, you just broke through to Sun-Soul and your foundation is still shaky. Please take these twelve pills!"
With a casual flick, twelve pills flew to Ruby Nie, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.
For a moment, Ruby Nie was deeply moved. Ian was right—she'd just advanced and her foundation was unstable. Normally, it would take at least a year to fully stabilize, but with these Sun-Soul-refined pills, ten days would be enough, and she could even push her Sun-Soul further.
"Young Master Chu, I can't accept such a gift without earning it. You should take the pills back!"
"I never take back what I've already given. If you don't want them, just destroy them," Ian said calmly.
Hearing that, Ruby Nie was speechless. All she could say was, "Looks like I owe Young Master Chu another huge favor!"
Half an hour later.
In the Chu estate's Reception Hall, Ian sat leisurely in the main seat, sipping tea. Below him sat the patriarchs of the Qin, Wang, and Zhou families, all looking nervous and full of respect.
"You all did well this time. None of you kicked the Chu Family while we were down. Take these three King-Grade Techniques!"
With a casual wave, Ian tossed the three manuals to the three patriarchs.
King-Grade Techniques?
Holding the manuals, the three patriarchs were so excited their hands trembled. Even if they sold everything they owned, they couldn't afford a single King-Grade Technique. No, even if they had the gold, they didn't have the qualifications to buy one.
"Young Master Chu, my Qin Family will always follow your lead and respect the Chu Family as our upper clan!" The next moment, Roger Qin suddenly knelt down, his expression resolute.
The Wang and Zhou patriarchs quickly followed suit, kneeling and pledging to become subordinate families to the Chu Family.
"Get up, all of you!"
Ian raised his hand and tossed another bottle of pills to the three patriarchs. "You're all getting on in years, so even with King-Grade Techniques, breaking through to Yuan-Core won't be easy. This bottle contains a Marrow-Cleansing Pill to help you shed your old limitations, and a Sun-Soul Pill, refined from the thoughts of a Sun-Soul expert. Take them, and within a year you'll reach Yuan-Core. As for reaching Sigilforge, that's up to your own fate!"
"Ah!"
Hearing Ian's words, the three patriarchs were overjoyed and started kowtowing to him.
"Alright, that's enough. You may leave now!" Ian waved them off.
The three patriarchs bowed in thanks and left the hall.
Once they'd gone, Ian called out toward the door, "You two, come in as well!"
"Yes, sir!"
The next moment, Wu Yuntong and Wei Le entered the hall.
"Old Wu, you can stay in the Chu Family as our guardian from now on!" Ian tossed him a bottle of pills containing ten Sun-Soul Pills. With these, breaking through to Sigilforge would be no problem for Wu Yuntong.
After Wu Yuntong left, Ian beckoned to Wei Le.
Wei Le approached Ian, nervous and excited, but Ian simply reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"Young Master,"
Wei Le's cheeks flushed, her eyes misty with emotion. Clearly, she'd fallen for him. She was a practical woman who admired strength, and after seeing Ian slay Sun-Soul experts, her admiration had reached its peak.
Half an hour later, Wei Le shyly adjusted her dress in front of Ian.
Ian stuffed two bottles of pills into her hands. "Take these and cultivate well. In at most three years, you'll have the power to take revenge on the Feng Family!"
"Thank you, Young Master!" Wei Le said excitedly.
Ian waved her off. "Go on!"
After Wei Le left, Ian's face grew thoughtful. After killing Zhu Zhenyue, he'd received a message that his mission was complete, along with a new main quest: Become famous throughout the Xuanyang Domain. Success would earn him two billion reputation points; failure would cost him three billion.