298: One hundred million spirit stones

Feng Ming watched the two excited men and spoke calmly, "The Liangzhou Trial is a great Opportunity to choose a master to serve. Since you have acknowledged me as your master and sworn a Blood Oath, I believe in your loyalty."

His voice was steady and powerful, "I won't waste words on empty talk. From now on, as long as I, Feng Ming, have a meal to eat, I will never let the two of you go hungry. Once the Trial is over, I will help you reconstruct your Physiques."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Hu and Guan Rong were completely stunned, the excitement on their faces instantly turning into wild joy.

Reconstructing their Physiques!

They had seen with their own eyes how Feng Mian's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds after his Physique was reconstructed. They hadn't even dared to dream of such a Heaven-Defying Opportunity before!

The two looked at each other and knelt down again with a "thud," their voices choked with emotion, "Thank you, My Lord!"

"Get up." Feng Ming waved his hand, a smile in his eyes, "We were fellow disciples once; there's no need for such formality. Just call me Brother Feng."

"Yes! Brother Feng!" The two quickly responded, and holding their Medicinal Pills, they retreated to the side with full hearts to consume them and Cultivate.

Only then did Feng Ming turn his head to look at Li Cheng, who was being held to the side.

Li Cheng had long since lost his former arrogance; he was covered in blood and in a wretched state.

Seeing Feng Ming look over, he acted as if he had caught a lifeline. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his arm, he scrambled over and cried out for mercy, "Lord Feng Ming! Spare my life! Don't kill me! I'll give you Spirit Stones! My family has plenty of Spirit Stones!"

Feng Ming looked down at him from above, his voice indifferent: "Tell me, how many Spirit Stones is your life worth?"

Li Cheng trembled all over, gritted his teeth, and held up one finger as if he were going all out: "One hundred million! I'll give you one hundred million Spirit Stones! As long as you let me go, I'll have my father send the Spirit Stones over immediately!"

Feng Ming raised an eyebrow with a half-smile: "I'll give you ten minutes to contact your father."

"Okay! Okay!" Li Cheng nodded repeatedly and tremblingly pulled out a communication stone, beginning to contact the outside world urgently.

On the other side, far away in the Feng Residence outside the trial grounds, Feng Da was giving instructions to a Waiter: "Keep an eye on the Hua Clan Merchant House. As soon as Li Cheng's father arrives, report back immediately."

"Yes, Head Butler!" The Waiter responded and withdrew.

Feng Da turned and gave a look to Chun Tao beside him, signaling her to wait here. Then, leading his men, he hurried toward the Hua Clan Merchant House... Feng Ming watched Li Cheng hurriedly and repeatedly urging into the communication stone. He tapped his palm with his fingertip, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, though his face remained calm and undisturbed.

Soon, word came back from Feng Da's side that the Li family was only willing to pay sixty million Spirit Stones.

Feng Ming wasn't surprised by this; it was even within his expectations.

The Li family wanted to save Li Cheng but was unwilling to exhaust their family fortune. They even tried to bargain with money, thinking Spirit Stones could smooth everything over. They didn't know that Feng Ming was never someone who would compromise for profit, nor would he let someone who harmed those close to him get away easily.

Over here, Li Cheng had just confirmed that the Li family had transferred sixty million Spirit Stones into the Hua Clan Merchant House's escrow account. He was immediately overjoyed, and even the pain in his body seemed to dissipate by half. He looked up at Feng Ming with a fawning smile:

"Brother Feng, the Spirit Stones have arrived. About my side..."

Before he could finish, he was abruptly interrupted by Feng Ming's cold voice: "The Spirit Stones have arrived, but your life hasn't been settled yet."

The smile on Li Cheng's face instantly froze as if he had been doused with ice water. The hair on his body stood on end as he shouted in alarm, "Brother Feng, what do you mean by that? I've given you the Spirit Stones, and you clearly told my father to transfer the money. Didn't you agree to let me go?"

"I only said to let your father transfer the money. When did I ever say I would spare you once the money was transferred?"

Feng Ming leaned down, his gaze piercing straight into Li Cheng's eyes like a cold blade, his tone devoid of any warmth. "You gathered people to surround and block me, and you threatened to harm Shuwan. How could this debt be settled with a mere sixty million Spirit Stones?"

The surrounding air instantly froze. Qin Hu and Guan Rong, who had just finished refining their Medicinal Pills and stood up after adjusting their breathing, felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this. The awe in their eyes as they looked at Feng Ming grew even stronger.

Only now did they truly see clearly that the master they had sworn to follow to the death, though seemingly gentle and steady, was actually decisive and ruthless. He would never waver in his principles because of others' pleas or enticements.

Jiang Shuwan walked slowly to Feng Ming's side and gently grasped his wrist. There was no surprise in her eyes, only complete trust and understanding.

She knew Feng Ming too well. Li Cheng had crossed his bottom line, and he would never let this grudge go easily.

Feng Mian slapped his thigh and laughed loudly, "Good! This is the younger brother I know. I knew you couldn't be soft-hearted. This scum frightened Shuwan and even dared to bring people to surround you. How could we let him walk out of the Liangzhou Trial alive!"

Li Cheng completely lost his nerve. He slumped on the ground, using both hands and feet to scramble backward, crying out for mercy in a tone full of despair: "Feng Ming! You're breaking your word! My father won't let you off! Our Li family will never let this matter rest!"

"The Li family?" Feng Ming stood up, his tone so indifferent it was almost detached. "Do you think that after today, the Li family will still be in a position to cause me trouble?"

The moment his voice fell, in a private room of the Hua Clan Merchant House outside the trial grounds, Feng Da received Feng Ming's message. He looked up at the anxious Father Chen opposite him, a cold, mocking smile curling his lips.

Father Chen was holding a teacup, waiting for a reply. Seeing Feng Da's expression, his heart sank for some reason. He asked in a deep voice, "What? Has little friend Feng Ming received the Spirit Stones? When will he release my son?"

"Release?" Feng Da set down his teacup and slowly stood up, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority. "Manager Chen, I'm afraid you've misunderstood from the very beginning."

"What my master wants has never been these sixty million Spirit Stones, but an accounting. These Spirit Stones shall serve as an apology for Li Cheng disturbing the Mistress. As for his life, it cannot be spared."

"What did you say?!" Father Chen slammed the table and stood up, his face ashen. He shouted angrily, "Feng Ming dares! My Li family has handed over sixty million Spirit Stones, and he still wants to kill my son? Does he really think my Li family is a soft persimmon that can be squeezed at will?"

"Whether you're a soft persimmon or not, you'll find out soon enough." Feng Da's tone was indifferent as he added, "Also, let me remind you that the people from the Feng Residence are already waiting outside the Li family estate."

"You took out sixty million Spirit Stones today, greatly damaging the Li family's strength. From now on in Liang Province, I'm afraid you'll no longer have a place to stand."

Father Li felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He staggered back two steps and only managed to steady himself by grabbing the edge of the table. He never imagined that Feng Ming not only wanted to kill his son but had even set a trap in advance to take over the Li family.

At this moment, he finally realized that he had misjudged everything from the start.

He thought Feng Ming was just a newcomer who relied on talent to show off, but he didn't know the other party was meticulous and calculating. From the moment Li Cheng provoked Jiang Shuwan, he had already dug a grave of no return for the Li family.

Inside the trial grounds, Li Cheng's shouting became increasingly hysterical. Feng Ming didn't even bother to look at him again, simply nodding his chin toward Qin Hu and saying concisely, "Handle it."

Qin Hu responded and stepped forward, his movements clean and efficient without any hesitation. After a moment, Li Cheng's screams came to an abrupt halt, and he was completely lifeless.

Feng Ming looked around the trial grounds. The hidden gazes that had been watching the commotion instinctively looked away when they met his eyes.

He knew that after today, his name would spread throughout Liang Province. Those who wanted to target him or looked down on him would have to reconsider whether they had the ability to be his enemy.

"Clean up and let's continue deeper into the Trial." Feng Ming looked away and spoke calmly to everyone, as if he had just handled a trivial matter.

Jiang Shuwan took his arm, her eyes gentle and full of peace. Feng Mian patted his shoulder with a hearty smile and full approval.

Qin Hu and Guan Rong followed closely behind, their expressions respectful and their steps firm.

The group walked toward the depths of the Liangzhou Trial, their figures becoming more upright in the light and shadows of the forest. Though there were unknown challenges ahead, no one felt the slightest fear.

Meanwhile, inside and outside the Liangzhou Trial, discussions about Feng Ming had already begun to surge like a tide.

Some said he was decisive and ruthless, a tough character who would always settle a grudge; some said he was deep and calculating, with such ingenious planning that even the wealthy Li family had fallen by his hand.

Others said that in this Opportunity of the Liangzhou Trial to choose a master to serve, Feng Ming had ultimately come out on top. In the future territory of Liang Province, this dazzling new star was destined to rise.

Far away outside the Li family estate, Feng Da watched the panicked figures fleeing inside. A faint smile curled his lips as he gave a deep-voiced instruction to the servants beside him: "Go in. Take over the Li family's properties as the master instructed. For those clansmen who behave themselves, leave them a way out; if any dare to resist, deal with them on the spot."

"Yes, Head Butler!"

The setting sun cast long shadows over the land of Liang Province. Deep in the dense forests of the Trial mountains, Feng Ming's group gradually disappeared from view.

Yet the landscape of Liang Province had quietly undergone an earth-shattering change because of this single incident today.

Feng Ming knew that this was only the beginning of the Liangzhou Trial, and there were more dangers and opportunities waiting for him ahead.

But he was fearless because he had people he wanted to protect by his side, loyal brothers following him, and the courage and confidence to forge ahead.

In the future, he would lead those around him step by step toward higher ground, letting everyone know that the name Feng Ming was by no means undeserved.