Hearing Drake Ward speak so earnestly, Ian Song looked genuinely tempted and asked, "Tell me more about the Central Domain."
Seeing Ian Song's interest, Drake Ward grew even more enthusiastic: "The Central Domain is the birthplace of humanity. Its territory is larger than all the other nine domains combined—really, the other nine just encircle and protect the Central Domain.
All cultivation legacies originate there, so the Central Domain's martial civilization is incredibly advanced—far beyond your imagination. For example, Demigod Realm warriors are the absolute elite in the other nine domains, but in the Central Domain, they're nothing special. That should give you an idea of how powerful the Central Domain really is!
Besides that, the Central Domain's spiritual qi is hundreds of times denser than anywhere else. With such rich energy, even someone with pig-level talent could easily reach the Core Formation Realm.
But that's not even the most important part—the Heavenly Principles are much more active in the Central Domain, making breakthroughs dozens of times easier than elsewhere. That's the real reason it's called a cultivation holy land.
Of course, another reason everyone wants to go is the countless ancient ruins and hidden abodes there. If a clan manages to open even one, their fortunes skyrocket!"
"So what kind of trial do you have to pass to enter the Central Domain?" Ian Song asked again.
Drake Ward replied, "The Central Domain may be vast, but it's unified under one power: the Central Empire. Their rule is strict—any force wanting entry must send one to three young Demigods into the Ancestral Realm for a trial. Whoever passes earns the right to settle in the Central Domain; if they fail, their clan can't try again for a hundred years.
A century ago, our Ward Clan spent enormous resources to cultivate three young Demigods, but all of them died in that trial. The loss nearly crippled our clan, and even after a hundred years, we still haven't recovered!"
"All three Demigods died? That means the Ancestral Realm must be insanely dangerous," Ian Song said.
"What's going on?"
Everyone was confused, searching Drake Ward and Ian Song's faces for answers.
Ian Song quickly formed a series of hand seals. With a flash of light, Victor Ward reverted from his Fire Qilin form back to human—unfortunately, he was completely naked.
Ian Song tossed him a robe. "Put this on."
Victor Ward put on the robe and gave Ian Song a deep look. "Evan Chu, I won't forget what you've given me. Someday, I'll repay you!"
Ian Song just laughed it off. "Ha! Little Qilin, looks like you're still not convinced. That's fine—anytime you think you're stronger than me, feel free to challenge me. But fair warning: if you lose again, getting your dignity back won't be so easy!"
Victor Ward's eyes narrowed sharply. He said in a low voice, "Next time, I'll definitely beat you!"
Ian Song looked impatient. "Alright, enough yapping! Want me to capture you again?"
Victor Ward's expression changed dramatically. He turned and left, earning loud laughter from the entire Vermin Squad.
"Hey, Master Chu, you've let Victor go—can you let me go too?"
Zhou Yan'er spoke to Ian Song in an exaggeratedly pitiful tone.
"No way!" Ian Song refused flatly.
"Why not?" Zhou Yan'er protested, feeling utterly wronged.
Ian Song deliberately raised his voice: "Because the Ward Clan gave me enough benefits. As for you—nobody's offered me anything for you!"
"I can have my uncle pay!" Zhou Yan'er's eyes lit up, suddenly excited.
"Your uncle?"
Ian Song glanced at Tang Gongqing, whose cultivation he'd sealed, and smirked, "He's my prisoner now—he needs someone to ransom him, so how could he ransom you?"
"Master Chu, whatever you want—if you let Yan'er and me go, we'll pay you a ransom that'll satisfy you!" Tang Gongqing suddenly offered.
"Does your family have a Sovereign-grade scripture?" Ian Song asked.
"Nope!"
Tang Gongqing shook his head without hesitation.
"Then do you have any Imperial-grade techniques?" Ian Song pressed.
"We do!"
"Ten Imperial-grade techniques will buy your freedom!"
"No way!"
Tang Gongqing exclaimed, "The Tang family doesn't have that many Imperial-grade techniques! Even if we did, there's no way we'd use so many to ransom just the two of us!"
Ian Song replied coldly, "In that case, you'll stay by my side as a servant!"
Then his gaze shifted to Cheng Baishan and Situ Yuliang. "You two—if your factions are willing to pay five Imperial-grade techniques each, I'll let you go!"
"That's not fair! Why do they only need five, but we need ten?" Zhou Yan'er shouted.
Ian Song teased, "There are two of you. Or do you think you're not worth five Imperial-grade techniques?"
"Of course I'm worth it!"
Zhou Yan'er stammered.
"There you go!"
Ian Song rolled his eyes at her, then turned to the others. "And for the rest of you—except the Ward Clan, every other faction, leave one Imperial-grade technique and I'll let you go. Otherwise..."
"Master Chu... isn't this a bit much?"
Someone spoke up.
Ian Song's face darkened. "I told you before you could leave, but you chose to stay. Now, if you want out, you'll have to pay! I'll give you half an hour to decide. If you don't hand over a technique, I'll kill you. Oh, and Poison Dragon, Shadow Phoenix—you two are free to go!"
Everyone gave Poison Dragon and Shadow Phoenix strange looks, some even suspecting the Ward Clan and Evan Chu had set them up together.
Seeing this, Poison Dragon and Shadow Phoenix could only force a bitter smile. Evan Chu was just too crafty—he'd managed to hustle them good.
(Missing line, continue translation if there is more raw text for lines 50-59)
"Of course I'm worth it!"
Zhou Yan'er stammered.
"There you go!"
Ian Song rolled his eyes at her, then turned to the others. "And for the rest of you—except the Ward Clan, every other faction, leave one Imperial-grade technique and I'll let you go. Otherwise..."
"Master Chu... isn't this a bit much?"
Someone spoke up.
Ian Song's face darkened. "I told you before you could leave, but you chose to stay. Now, if you want out, you'll have to pay! I'll give you half an hour to decide. If you don't hand over a technique, I'll kill you. Oh, and Poison Dragon, Shadow Phoenix—you two are free to go!"
Everyone gave Poison Dragon and Shadow Phoenix strange looks, some even suspecting the Ward Clan and Evan Chu had set them up together.
Seeing this, Poison Dragon and Shadow Phoenix could only force a bitter smile. Evan Chu was just too crafty—he'd managed to hustle them good.