South of Capitalview City, in a mountain forest shrouded with mist, a simple wooden hut stood on the slope. Outside the hut, piles of gleaming gold, stone, and jade lay scattered—each worth a fortune. On the door, a Bagua diagram was painted, lending the hut an air of mystery.
Beyond the hut, the grass and trees were lush and vibrant. Wild rabbits darted through the undergrowth, and flocks of birds and insects burst into the sky.
Not far away, a group of people stood respectfully about two hundred meters from the hut. Beside them sat a chest filled with jade stones, each one freshly cut from raw ore.
At the front of the group were none other than Harold Zhou and Walter Wei from Lily Manor!
But at this moment, these two jade dealers—well-known in Capitalview—looked anxious, as if awaiting judgment.
Time ticked by, second after second.
Two hours later, the sun climbed high in the sky. It was noon, and the heat was intense.
Suddenly, from inside the quiet hut came a crackling sound—like firewood catching flame—growing louder and sharper by the second. In an instant, orange flames erupted, engulfing the entire hut. The blaze was so fierce that Harold Zhou, Walter Wei, and the others turned pale, fear written all over their faces.
"Why have you come to see me?"
Moments later, a figure stepped out from the blaze, moving at a leisurely pace. With a casual grasp, he caught a clump of fire in his palm and fixed his icy gaze on Harold Zhou and Walter Wei in the distance.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master Greenwater!"
Snapping back to his senses, Harold Zhou quickly called out in a loud voice.
The man who emerged from the fire wore a green Daoist robe. His build was thin, but his eyes were razor-sharp.
At that moment, flames swirled around him, yet he handled them as if they were solid objects, playing with them at will. To the onlookers, it was a scene so shocking it left them speechless.
"Master Greenwater, these are the latest jades we've cut. Please accept them!" Walter Wei hurriedly presented the chest next to him.
Greenwater stepped forward, glanced over the jades laid out on the ground, and immediately frowned. "The jade is fine, but where are the Law Seeds we discussed?"
"These trinkets—none of them are Law Seeds. To my master, they're nothing but useless rocks. You really dared come here with just these?"
Greenwater's eyes narrowed, his voice cold as ice.
Terrified, Harold Zhou and Walter Wei dropped to their knees.
"Master Greenwater, you don't know the whole story! My jade yard did produce a Law Seed, and we planned to offer it to Master Baiyun. But out of nowhere, a kid showed up—ruthless as hell—and snatched the Law Seed right in front of us!" Harold Zhou's face twisted with grief and anger as he spoke.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master Greenwater!"
Harold Zhou snapped to attention and quickly shouted his greeting.
The man who stepped from the flames wore a green Daoist robe, his frame thin but his eyes piercingly sharp.
At that moment, fire swirled around him, yet he toyed with the flames as if they were solid objects. The sight left the onlookers completely stunned.
"Master Greenwater, these are the newest jades we've cut. Please accept them!" Walter Wei hurriedly offered the chest beside him.
Greenwater strode forward, glanced over the jades laid out on the ground, and immediately frowned. "The jade is fine, but where are the Law Seeds you promised?"
"None of these are Law Seeds. To my master, they're nothing but worthless stones. You really had the nerve to bring only these?"
Greenwater's gaze turned icy, his voice cold and unforgiving.
Harold Zhou and Walter Wei, terrified, immediately dropped to their knees.
"Master Greenwater, you don't know the whole story! My jade yard did produce a Law Seed, and we were planning to offer it to Master Baiyun. But out of nowhere, a kid showed up—ruthless as hell—and snatched the Law Seed right in front of us!" Harold Zhou's face twisted with grief and anger as he spoke.