258: You're quite adept at making empty promises.

Chen Heng scratched his ear, looking at Hong Feng with some confusion.

How could these beasts, who use Mortals as nourishment, say such things?

It sounded quite idealistic, but he didn't know if it was true.

"Uh, Gang Leader Chen, please release me first. In a little while, my son will be completely dead."

Hong Feng glanced at Hong Lie, whose upper body was just a skeleton, and pleaded with difficulty.

"Alright, I'd like to hear what you have to say." Chen Heng released Hong Feng's head and threw him to the ground.

Hong Feng swallowed, trembling as he pulled out a finger-sized red worm from his In my arms.

The red worm melted the moment it touched Hong Lie, continuously repairing Hong Lie's body.

Hong Feng felt uneasy. Although he had guessed that Chen Heng was powerful, he hadn't expected him to be so terrifying.

The strongest martial artist in their family was Hong Lie, yet he couldn't even retaliate against Chen Heng.

He could only be unilaterally beaten.

However, this was also a good thing. Once negotiations with Chen Heng succeeded, a Divine Artifact would be added to the Second Prince's faction!

Soon, Hong Lie sat up again, a hint of fear in his eyes as he looked at Chen Heng.

That feeling just now was very unpleasant; he even suspected he would die here today.

"Gang Leader Chen, as you can see, only my son and I came. This shows our sincerity, doesn't it?"

Hong Feng climbed up from the ground, forcing a smile onto his face.

Against such an overwhelmingly powerful expert, any flowery words or schemes were useless.

Such a strong individual could shatter all conspiracies, tricks, and rhetoric with a single light strike.

Therefore, there was only one path to cooperation with such an expert: mutual benefit and sincerity.

"What happened in Zhenxi City?" Chen Heng didn't engage, instead asking an unrelated question.

"The Grand State Preceptor of Jade Fan Kingdom, Chang Yutian."

Hong Feng recounted everything that happened in Zhenxi City to Chen Heng, including the imperial decree that could summon a Clone of the Emperor of Daliang.

"So that's how it is." Chen Heng nodded, his gaze towards the father and son becoming strange.

"Let's go. Some things don't need to be known by others."

Chen Heng probably guessed what Hong Feng and Hong Lie wanted to do, which was nothing more than changing dynasties.

This was not something the Five Spirits Gang could get involved in, including his own family.

Hong Feng's eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled the slumped Hong Lie up and followed him... Back in his secluded courtyard, Chen Heng closed the granite door.

"Tell me, let's see if I'm interested." Chen Heng lightly tapped the table with his finger, looking indifferently at Hong Feng.

"Gang Leader Chen, do you know what the Aristocratic Families do?"

Judging by his stance, Hong Feng was about to begin his long speech.

"I know. They raise Anomalies using Mortals as nourishment."

Chen Heng nodded.

"They use so-called 'Divine Artifacts' to devour Anomalies to strengthen themselves and rule Great Liang."

"That's right, but not entirely." Hong Feng first nodded, then shook his head.

"Only what the Great Liang Imperial Clan possesses can be called a Divine Artifact. What our Aristocratic Families have can only be called the 'Monster Refining Method'."

"We cultivate Anomalies that are compatible with our own Bloodline, and then extract the Anomaly's power through special methods. This is why the Aristocratic Families can stand strong."

"The Imperial Clan's Divine Artifacts are completely different; they can devour the power of all Anomalies, completely disregarding Bloodline differences."

"This is also why the Imperial Clan can lord over the Aristocratic Families."

"So, you and the Human Race are completely different species?" Chen Heng raised an eyebrow, recalling the System's term for the Aristocratic Families.

'Demons'

"Not entirely. We are also Human Race, but our Bloodline was polluted by Anomalies, granting us power."

Hong Feng sighed, seemingly not fond of this power.

"The reason why Anomalies are widespread within Great Liang is also a result of the Imperial Clan's guidance."

"To create a balance between the number of Mortals and Anomalies, which is the best outcome for the Imperial Clan and other Aristocratic Families."

"But we don't agree!"

Hong Feng slammed the table, his anger evident.

"Gaining power through the slaughter of Mortals, what's the difference between that and a beast?"

"But our family alone can't do anything."

"It was at this time that His Highness, the Second Prince, appeared."

"He found a completely new path, a path that doesn't require harming Mortals."

"Moreover, this path is open to everyone, allowing everyone to gain the power to resist Anomalies."

"However, the Imperial Clan and most Noble and powerful clans will not allow this to happen, so we have always been weak."

"Then you came to me?" Chen Heng scrutinized the furious Hong Feng, discerning the truthfulness of his words.

"Yes, our strength is insufficient..."

Hong Feng wanted to continue explaining their goals, but Chen Heng interrupted him directly.

"Tell me, what can you offer me, and what can I do?"

Chen Heng was not some great benevolent person, but he also didn't disregard the lives of Mortals.

After all, many of his relatives and friends were Mortals, and enabling them to live stable lives was a good thing.

"Kill!" The moment Hong Feng uttered this word, Chen Heng's eyes immediately lit up.

"As long as the forces of the other Imperial Princes are weakened to a certain extent, we are confident in helping the Second Prince seize the Dragon Vein."

"Moreover, the current Emperor has already begun selecting a successor..."

"No." Chen Heng frowned.

Although Hong Feng's words sounded executable, they hadn't clarified the most important point.

That is, what was the current Emperor's attitude?

Stating his doubt, Chen Heng waited for Hong Feng's answer.

"This..." Hong Feng was silent for a while, wanting to say something but not speaking.

"Never mind, I don't care about these things either." Chen Heng waved his hand, realizing that this so-called Second Prince was an idealist.

"Tell me, what can you offer me?"

"As long as you help the Second Prince successfully ascend the throne, becoming a marquis and prime minister will be within reach."

Hong Feng let out a sigh of relief. Chen Heng had finally asked about the part he had prepared for.

"Moreover, your merits will be sung for generations and recorded in history!"

"Do I look like someone who cares about these things?" Chen Heng looked at Hong Feng as if he were an idiot.

"Something practical. These empty titles are nonsense."

"Divine Artifacts! If the Second Prince successfully ascends, we can bestow the Imperial Clan's Divine Artifacts upon you!"

Hong Feng, fearing Chen Heng's refusal, directly threw out his last trump card.

"Tell me, who do you need me to kill?" Chen Heng realized that these people were both poor and good at making grand promises.

They couldn't offer anything substantial, just kept painting a rosy picture for Chen Heng.