Vol. 1 - Chapter 154 - Sending Off the Guest

Upon hearing Shi Potian’s intentions, Chen Xingzhen was unsurprised. The Four Great Families coming to this remote and desolate place could only mean one thing—Blood Rice.

Now that the Shi clan had sent someone specifically to purchase it, it was clear that the Divine Tree’s previous intervention had indeed left an impression. That was good news for the clan.

After Shi Potian finished speaking, he quietly sat to the side, not even sparing a glance at the tea on the table.

Chen Xingzhen smiled. “Of course, that can be arranged. How much Blood Rice does your esteemed clan require?”

Seeing Chen Xingzhen’s willingness to cooperate, a slight smile appeared on Shi Potian’s otherwise indifferent face.

“Not much, just two thousand catties. Naturally, our Shi clan values fairness. We will purchase it at thirty jade coins per catty.”

Chen Xingzhen let out a wry chuckle. “To be frank, our clan doesn’t have that much to sell.”

The faint smile on Shi Potian’s face vanished, replaced by a sharp, cold expression.

“Patriarch Chen, are you trying to deceive me? Your Chen clan cultivates dozens of acres of fertile land. How is it possible that you don’t even have two thousand catties of Blood Rice?”

He leaned forward slightly, voice low and deliberate.

“The price we offer is already fair. I advise you not to make a mistake. Otherwise, next time, it won’t be me visiting—it will be several of my Shi clan’s Innate Realm warriors.”

In truth, the Shi clan had authorized a maximum price of thirty-five jade coins per catty. But after traveling for days and observing the Chen clan’s situation firsthand, Shi Potian felt that his clan had been far too generous.

If thirty jade coins could secure the deal, why waste thirty-five?

This time, he was determined to save the clan unnecessary expenses.

After all, how could such a weak clan possess Blood Rice? From the information he had gathered over the past two days, even with their so-called totem, the Chen clan was no real threat.

Did the Shi clan not have their own ancestral totem?

In his eyes, his patriarch was too indecisive. If it were up to him, he would have acted long ago—seizing control of the Chen clan before the other three families made their move. Taking the initiative now would give them an edge.

Once they acquired the Blood Rice, they could dictate the terms. With the Shi clan’s influence across multiple cities, they would undoubtedly reap the benefits. Why bother purchasing it when they could simply take it?

If the Chen clan knew what was good for them, they would comply. If not, he would report back to his clan and persuade the patriarch to act.

Chen Xingzhen’s expression darkened at Shi Potian’s words.

The Shi clan clearly held no regard for them. If he continued this conversation, it would only put his clan at a disadvantage, undermining the position they had worked hard to establish.

His voice was firm as he spoke. “Qingyu, see our guest out.”

Chen Qingyu materialized from the shadows, his gaze locked onto Shi Potian with undisguised hostility.

Shi Potian, who had initially planned to press further, was momentarily stunned before anger flickered in his eyes.

But as he sensed the unmistakable aura of an Innate Realm cultivator radiating from Chen Qingyu, his fury shifted into something else—a wry smile.

“Very well, Patriarch Chen,” he said, folding his fan with a sharp flick. “We will meet again. I hope you won’t regret this decision.”

With that, he turned and strode away.

Once Shi Potian was gone, Chen Qingyu glanced at his patriarch. “This man is arrogant. Should I take care of him?”

He spoke casually, as if the late-stage Blood Coagulation Realm cultivator was nothing more than an insect beneath his feet.

Chen Xingzhen shook his head. “No matter how insolent he is, he represents the Shi clan. Simply refusing to sell Blood Rice isn’t reason enough to make an enemy of them.”

The clan’s strength was still lacking. If they acted recklessly now, they would gain nothing from it. That was the real issue at hand.

The Divine Tree’s previous display of power had deterred outsiders for now, but it had already warned him—it wouldn’t be able to intervene a second time anytime soon.

That meant they could only rely on the lingering fear of that event to maintain their current standing. They could not afford to escalate the situation any further.

Hopefully, the Zhou clan’s token would be enough to keep things stable for a while longer.

Then again… they might not even need the token.

The Zhou clan would likely send someone to collect the Blood Rice soon.

Still, Shi Potian’s arrival made Chen Xingzhen realize one thing—their clan’s growth needed to accelerate.

Only absolute strength could grant them security in this chaotic world. Otherwise, not even the remoteness of the Chaotic Burial Mountain would shield them from the greed of the larger clans.

Once the Blood Rice matured, they needed to sell the surplus in Yong’an City immediately. And this time, they would bring along the clan’s other stored resources as well.

His gaze sharpened. “Qingyu, how is the matter with the Green Wolves progressing?”

…

Far from the Chen clan’s territory, deep within the Chaotic Burial Mountain, a lone wolf’s howl pierced the night.

A massive Green Wolf, its dark mane rippling under the moonlight, raised its head and let out a long, resonant cry.

At the sound, other Green Wolves emerged from the darkness, their forms appearing one after another.

They varied in size, yet even the weakest among them—those still in the Body Tempering Realm—stood nearly as tall as a human.

The leader’s piercing gaze swept over them before it howled again, each cry carrying a different meaning.

The pack responded with excited, eager howls. The Wolf King had spoken. The time for revenge had come. But first, a vanguard was needed.

After careful selection, a small group of young wolves was chosen.

They were not the strongest, merely at the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm, but their size made them ideal for infiltration.

Encouraged by their king, a team of four or five wolves set out under the cover of darkness, their destination—the Chen clan.

From the hilltop, a Blood Coagulation Realm Green Wolf watched them depart with confusion.

Pack strategies had always been direct assaults. Why send a vanguard this time? And why had they not received a mission themselves?

Before the question could take root, the overwhelming presence of the Wolf King crushed all doubts.

The king’s decisions were absolute. As loyal pack members, their duty was to obey.

As the Green Wolves slunk through the shadows, the Chen clan remained oblivious, the night filled with the usual laughter and chatter of its people.

No alarms were raised. It was only when the wolves slipped through a broken section of the perimeter wall that someone finally noticed.

A few startled cries rang out.

Then silence.

The wolves never emerged again. Even the desperate howls of their kin went unanswered.

From his vantage point, the Wolf King watched with an unreadable expression as his vanguard vanished within the Chen clan’s stronghold.

The remaining wolves turned to him, awaiting his command. He lifted his head to the moon and let out another long, echoing howl.

At its sound, the wolves retreated into the darkness, unwilling but obedient.

The message in that howl was clear—

The prey is formidable. Next time, we strike with full force.

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