309: It's just a pseudonym.

"Boss? What's wrong?" the subordinate asked, confused.

Zhao Peng clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking as he roared, "My parents said Feng Ming's target must be the Rank Seven or Higher Medicinal Herbs I possess, and they want me to hand them over voluntarily to avoid trouble! That's outrageous!"

Hearing this, the subordinate sighed helplessly, "Boss, you can't blame the Family Head and the others. Think about the fate of Li Cheng and the Li Family! The masters are scared too!"

"They're scared, so they want me to hand over the medicinal herbs that rightfully belong to me? That's not fair." Zhao Peng was furious, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

The subordinate advised earnestly, "But who told us we had previously plotted against Jiang Shuwan? Besides, Boss, the Cultivation World is inherently a place where the weak are prey to the strong. What fairness is there to speak of?"

Listening to his subordinate, the fury filling Zhao Peng's chest finally subsided slowly, replaced by a look of dejection. He knew his subordinate was speaking the truth.

In the end, he compromised, choosing silence, and did not move an inch. He truly followed Feng Ming's demand, obediently staying put and waiting.

There was no helping it. Where there are people, there is conflict, and conflict inevitably leads to distinctions between the strong and the weak. If this was true even in the world of beasts, how much more so in the complex human Cultivation World.

However, Zhao Peng was someone who could pick up and put down things easily.

Since he decided to wait for Feng Ming to arrive, he ignored the ridicule and abuse, treating the discussions of the crowd as mere wind passing his ears.

Gradually, the mocking voices faded away. When Feng Ming learned of this, he felt a measure of admiration for Zhao Peng.

A person who can bend and stretch like this is truly capable of achieving great things.

Although Feng Ming and Zhao Peng did not have a deep relationship, judging from Zhao Peng's past conduct, he was definitely not an ordinary person; he possessed certain methods and strategies.

For example, back at the Fishbone Mountain Ridge, he stole so many people's heaven ranking tickets that even an arrogant person like Li Cheng was enraged and refused to leave, yet Zhao Peng turned and left with his men without a word, showing no hesitation. This decisiveness alone far surpassed the average person.

Also, the last time Li Cheng led people to besiege Jiang Shuwan, Zhao Peng watched from behind but never rashly made a move. When Feng Ming appeared from Wangyue Spring, he immediately decided to withdraw his men without the slightest hesitation.

This caution was definitely not indecisiveness; rather, it was a clear understanding of the gap in power between himself and Feng Ming, ensuring he never did anything without certainty.

However, admiration was one thing, but when faced with the medicinal herbs and the intentions he once harbored toward Jiang Shuwan, this small amount of admiration was not enough for Feng Ming to let the matter drop.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Feng Ming's figure finally appeared outside Zhao Peng's camp.

At this moment, the area around the camp was deserted, save for Zhao Peng and his subordinates.

Zhao Peng had clearly figured everything out. Seeing Feng Ming appear, he wasted no words, directly taking out a storage ring and tossing it toward Feng Ming.

Feng Ming raised his hand to catch the storage ring. His Divine Thought swept over it, revealing exactly eight Rank Seven medicinal herbs inside, all of excellent quality.

"I've given you the items. Can I leave now?" Zhao Peng's tone was calm, as if he had already accepted this outcome.

Feng Ming merely raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on him, his voice completely level: "Swear a Blood Oath that you are not secretly hoarding any Rank Seven or Higher Medicinal Herbs."

"You!" Zhao Peng snapped his head up, fury churning in his eyes. "Is it necessary to humiliate me like this? I've already given you the medicinal herbs. Do you really think I'd hide one or two?"

"Why wouldn't you?" Feng Ming countered, his tone slightly cold. "We are neither relatives nor friends, so why should I trust your character? In comparison, I trust the binding power of a Blood Oath more."

He paused, his gaze suddenly sharp: "I don't want to waste time with you. Swear the oath, or I will kill you."

"You!" Zhao Peng trembled with rage. Seeing this, the subordinates nearby stepped forward, attempting to shield him.

But under Feng Ming's invisible pressure, they couldn't even take half a step, only able to freeze in place, their faces pale.

Zhao Peng knew clearly that his subordinates were no match for Feng Ming. He gritted his teeth and finally compromised, waving his hand to signal his subordinates to retreat to the side.

Then, in front of Feng Ming, he swore the Blood Oath word by word: "I, Zhao Musi, hereby swear a Blood Oath that I am not secretly hoarding any Rank Seven or Higher Medicinal Herbs. Should I violate this, my body and soul shall be utterly destroyed!"

"Zhao Musi?" Feng Ming raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Is that your real name?"

The subordinate beside him couldn't help but shout angrily, "My Young Master's real name is Zhao Musi! Zhao Peng was just an alias! Are you satisfied now?"

Hearing this, Feng Ming curved his lips into a faint smile: "Is that so? Then I should verify it thoroughly."

With that, he immediately sent a message to Feng Da, instructing him to thoroughly investigate the details of this name.

Seeing this, Zhao Peng angrily said, "Feng Ming, you are going too far! Even if the name is fake, the Blood Oath recognizes the person, not the title! Must you quibble over a mere name?"

"Caution is the parent of safety," Feng Ming responded indifferently. "Since you think it's just a name, why do you care if I verify it?"

Looking at Zhao Peng's ashen face, he added, "Didn't you end up in this situation today precisely because you weren't cautious enough back then?"

Zhao Peng was left speechless by this remark. He could only turn his head away bitterly and remain silent.

An hour later, Feng Da's message returned, confirming that Zhao Musi was indeed Zhao Peng's real name.

Only then did Feng Ming nod in satisfaction, putting away the communication stone: "So your real name is Zhao Musi."

He changed the subject, his tone still calm but carrying an undeniable weight: "Now, hand over your heaven ranking tickets as well."

"What did you say?" Zhao Musi snapped his head up, his eyes filled with disbelief. He clenched his fists, and the veins on his neck bulged.

Seeing his reaction, Feng Ming's expression remained unchanged, and he slowly raised his hand.

In an instant, a massive Lightning Arc Palm condensed in the sky. Terrifying pressure poured down, making the air in the entire camp feel solidified.

Zhao Musi's subordinates turned deathly pale, retreating several steps, their eyes filled with terror as they looked at the Lightning Arc Palm.

The fury in Zhao Musi's heart dissipated significantly in the face of this absolute disparity in strength. He had no doubt that if he dared to utter the word "no," the Lightning Arc Palm would slam down without hesitation, crushing all of them into dust.

"Although you never truly attacked Shuwan," Feng Ming's voice slowly sounded, laced with coldness, "the thoughts you harbored should never have existed."

He looked at Zhao Musi and said word by word, "Therefore, I want not only your medicinal herbs but also your tickets. Refuse, and die."