Chapter 166: Do You Have Money?

Chapter 166: Do You Have Money?

Ten minutes ago—

Chen Huai’an watched as Luo Haisheng’s body withered into a pile of bones beneath the morning light.

Reaching out, he plucked the half-burned cigarette still clenched between the skeletal jaws.

"I hate people like you the most," Chen Huai’an muttered, staring into the hollow sockets of the Bearded Guy’s skull.

"Always yelling about ‘protection’ and ‘redemption,’ doing things just to make yourself feel moved.

Who cares about you?

How long do you think people will even remember your name?

People should live for themselves—if you don’t, Heaven and Earth will wipe you out.

And look at you now. Wiped out."

He snorted, tossing the cigarette onto the ground.

"You really were just a f***ing gambler."

"Betting your own life just to save mine? Did you even ask if I wanted to take this goddamn deal?"

The scent of disinfectant mixed with the illusionary aroma of cigarette smoke.

Chen Huai’an’s fingers clenched around the biological pod’s frame, lightning sparking between his knuckles.

"And you even said I’d be your adopted son, huh?"

His teeth ground together.

"Now I can’t even burn incense for you because there’s no damn corpse left!"

His gaze flickered over the autopsy table, where Luo Haisheng’s ashes had been analyzed.

Next to it, a petri dish contained a sample of demonic dragon cells—a dark red, writhing mass.

Chen Huai’an slammed the dish onto the glass surface, watching as the viscous substance oozed down like rain streaks, reflecting the lightning raging in his eyes.

"You bet your life just to shove your mutated cancer cells into my body…"

His forehead pressed against the cold glass, his eyes bloodshot.

"But do you know what’s really f***ing ironic?"

"Not only did you dump your cells into me, but you also sneaked in some of your own personal bullsh*t!"

Chen Huai’an let out a hoarse laugh, his voice dripping with anger.

"Your living cancer cells are eating away at the demonic dragon cells in my body… and you left behind a damn recording."

His fists clenched.

"Every time those cells fight inside my brain… I hear your smoky-ass voice humming ‘Sweet Honey’!"

A bolt of lightning split the night sky.

Inside the petri dish, the demonic dragon cells began multiplying wildly.

Yet the moment Chen Huai’an’s fingers brushed against them,

They burned to ashes.

His eyes locked onto the scattering embers—

And for a brief second, he saw the moment Luo Haisheng’s skull was pierced by the neural probe.

His fury slowly settled.

Reaching out, he grabbed a diamond-shaped crystal from the biological pod’s side.

According to Xiang Xiaoyuan, this crystal contained fragments of Luo Haisheng’s separated consciousness.

But there was no way to know if those fragments were still viable.

Right now, this crystal was just a symbol of hope.

Maybe in the future, as Spiritual Qi continued to recover, they would find a way to piece those memories back together.

But for now…

"Bearded Guy… don’t think you can just peace out like this."

"I don’t owe anyone favors.

And I don’t do adopted dads.

So one day, you’re gonna come back.

And apologize for that goddamn song stuck in my head."

One last glance at the ashes in the pod.

Then he turned and walked away.

…

Outside the room, Xiang Xiaoyuan quickly wiped her red-rimmed eyes and stepped forward.

She pressed a badge into his hands.

"Chief Luo made this the day he met you. He wanted you to be part of his team."

Chen Huai’an lowered his gaze.

The badge’s front was inscribed with a bold, sweeping ‘安’ (An).

The back bore the Demon Slayer Bureau’s emblem—a sword cutting through flames.

At the bottom, there was a serial number: .

A number that must have been added after he became a Containment Object.

"Thanks."

Chen Huai’an nodded.

Then—

A loud, arrogant voice drifted in from the conference room down the hall.

This was the Demon Slayer Bureau’s HQ.

Who the f*** dared to act so high and mighty here?

Stepping to the door, he saw three men seated across from Zhao Ying.

An old man and two middle-aged men, all dressed in black-and-white martial robes.

Their posture was relaxed, filled with arrogance and disdain.

"…Then hand over Chen Huai’an. We are very interested in this Revived One’s corpse. If not, his Companion Spirit will do just fine."

Clan members.

Chen Huai’an immediately understood who they were.

The Demon Slayer Bureau had risen to the top thanks to the Qi Absorption Technique, making them a leading power.

The only forces capable of standing on equal footing with them—

Or even looking down on them—

Were the Ancient Clans.

But so what if they were from a powerful clan?

They had the audacity to say they wanted his Companion Spirit?

Ridiculous.

"Who the hell is calling me a corpse?"

Chen Huai’an strolled in, leaned against the doorframe, and locked eyes with the old man.

"Old man, you’ve lived a long time…"

His voice was icy.

"You really wanna die now?"

"How dare you!"

The two middle-aged men erupted in fury, leaping forward with their hands curled into claws.

Their movements carried the roar of a tiger.

"Tiger Fist?"

Chen Huai’an let out a mocking laugh.

"More like a couple of sick kittens scratching around."

He raised his hands, lightning coiling in his palms.

Then he clashed with their attacks—

BOOM—!

A deafening thunderclap exploded.

Both men were blasted backward, their hands charred black, howling in pain as they rolled across the floor.

The Lightning of the Violet Sun had permanently altered his Spiritual Root.

Now, every move he made carried explosive thunder energy—especially effective against evil spirits.

Chen Huai’an had been in a terrible mood already.

And these idiots had walked right into his fists.

"You are Chen Huai’an?"

The old man’s face twitched before he quickly smiled, his voice oily and smooth.

"My apologies, Mister Chen. The Corpse King was such a powerful foe. I had assumed no one would survive his hands. Seeing you now… well, you are truly a hero among the young generation!"

He leaned forward.

"Why don’t you join our Lin Clan as a Guest Elder? We have far more resources than the Demon Slayer Bureau."

Now that Kunlun Immortal Palace, Great Thunderclap Monastery, and other legendary sects had revealed themselves, they were openly recruiting talented disciples.

If an Ancient Clan could produce a disciple chosen by these legendary sects, their entire lineage would rise.

And Chen Huai’an—

Just the fact that he had survived after slaying the Corpse King was proof enough.

His original goal was to claim Chen Huai’an’s Companion Spirit.

But now, seeing him alive, the target had shifted—

To Chen Huai’an himself.

Both Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan held their breath.

If Chen Huai’an defected, the Demon Slayer Bureau—already weakened—would be slowly overtaken by clan influence.

Chen Huai’an stared at the old man for a long moment.

Then, slowly…

He smirked.

"So…"

"You guys got money?"

The old man blinked.

Then he burst into laughter, slapping his knee.

"Of course! How much does Mister Chen desire?"

Chen Huai’an hesitated.

Then, looking slightly embarrassed, he raised ten fingers.

"Ten million?"

The old man chuckled, shaking his head.

"No need to be modest! I’ll make it one hundred million!"

"No, no, no."

Chen Huai’an’s grin widened.

Teeth flashing, he tilted his head and said:

"You’re wrong, old man.

I want…

TEN. BILLION. DOLLARS."

…

…