39: Chapter 39 Coercion

The endless stream of people on the street also noticed this powerful pressure.

They all stopped and looked up.

In mid-air, a middle-aged man with white hair and beard but an upright countenance was floating.

Everyone quickly recognized this middle-aged man who bore a resemblance to Xie Chengye.

"It's the Xie Family's head, Xie Chengming. What is he doing here?"

"It's probably just a routine patrol. After all, there are signs that Robber Cultivators are becoming active again."

Xu Changsheng agreed with the second statement. He lowered his bamboo hat and continued walking toward his courtyard.

Just then, an unexpected change occurred.

Suddenly, Xie Chengming's voice rang in his ear: "It's little friend Xu, right? Please come to the Prefects Mansion; I have something to discuss with you."

Hearing this...

Xu Changsheng's footsteps paused, and his expression instantly flickered with uncertainty.

Although he was a Xie Family Guest Elder, the highest level of the Family he had interacted with was Xie Wantang, and he had only seen the Xie Family's Foundation Establishment Elder, Xie Chengye, from a distance once.

Being summoned so suddenly now was not a good sign.

"Little friend, rest assured. You are a Guest Elder of my Xie Family; I will not harm you."

Xu Changsheng reluctantly agreed.

Seeing this, Xie Chengming nodded in satisfaction and flew toward the Prefects Mansion.

Xu Changsheng pondered for a moment, feeling that there was no possibility he had exposed Lu Yuanze's identity or the Array Patterned Turtle egg.

Moreover, since Xie Chengming had sought him out, he must have already given orders to the market guards; there was no way for him to escape quietly now.

"I can only go and see what this is all about."

...

Upon arriving at the Prefects Mansion, the guards naturally let him enter.

They led him into the main hall.

As soon as he entered, Xu Changsheng sensed something was wrong.

The reason was...

Almost everyone standing in the hall was an acquaintance.

On the left were Chen Xuan and Jiang Wenzhou.

On the right were Xie Wantang and a withered-looking, short old man.

Xie Chengming sat on the main seat of the hall's platform, looking very majestic.

Seeing Xu Changsheng enter...

everyone's gaze converged on him.

Xu Changsheng remained neither humble nor arrogant as he stepped forward and bowed: "Junior greets Senior Xie."

"You may rise."

Xie Chengming waved his hand: "Little friend Xu, I won't beat around the bush."

"Previously, my clan brother Xie Chengye was ambushed by Lai Mingyuan of the Lai Family and fell into a bitter struggle. In his moment of peril, he used a secret technique that consumes Lifespan. Now, his Lifespan is less than a year."

"The Withered Wood Secret Realm happens to be in a fertile period this time, and the tianyuan fruit, the main ingredient for a first-rank life continuation pill, will grow inside."

He paused for a moment.

Xu Changsheng looked at Chen Xuan's half-smiling face and felt increasingly uneasy. He asked:

"What does that have to do with me? I am just a minor Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivator; I'm afraid I won't be of much help."

Xie Chengming sighed slightly: "Alas, the tianyuan fruit is on the other side of the Flowing Light Talisman River."

"This Flowing Light Talisman River is very strange. One must refine a special first-rank High Grade Talisman, the 'Spirit Siphoning Talisman,' to absorb the river's spiritual energy and condense it into a 'light-crossing boat' to cross safely."

"You and Fellow Daoist Ding Zhengxiang, standing behind Tanger, are currently my clan's only two Talisman Guest Elders."

"Although Fellow Daoist Ding is a First-rank High-Grade Talisman Master, he is getting on in years and lacks the strength to refine the Spirit Siphoning Talisman alone. He needs your assistance."

Xu Changsheng finally understood: "You want me to accompany you into the Withered Wood Secret Realm?"

"Yes. Generally speaking, little friend won't need to take action; bringing you along is just a precaution."

Xu Changsheng's brow furrowed: "And if I refuse?"

Entering the Secret Realm voluntarily was a completely different situation from being forced into it by others. Moreover, Chen Xuan was there, and who knew what schemes he had up his sleeve.

Upon hearing this, the silent Chen Xuan suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

Xie Chengming's voice also turned cold.

"No! For this matter, it must be you!"

"You have no choice; you must go!"

Xie Chengming's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Xu Changsheng's face was as dark as water as he turned to look at Xie Wantang: "I recall that the spirit contract the Second Miss signed with me back then did not include such an obligation."

Xie Wantang looked apologetic, her red lips parting slightly.

But she was interrupted by Xie Chengming.

"Then let this be a contract made between little friend and me in my personal capacity, how about that?"

After saying that...

the powerful pressure of the Foundation Establishment realm bore down on Xu Changsheng, causing his originally straight back to bend slightly.

"Uncle! How can you force someone like this?"

Xie Wantang finally couldn't help but speak up for Xu Changsheng.

"Shut up. I am doing this for the sake of the Family. Right now, only Fellow Daoist Xu can help our clan. This matter has nothing to do with you; leave first."

Having said that, he ordered people to take Xie Wantang out of the hall.

He questioned Xu Changsheng again.

"Little friend, my patience is limited."

"Accept, and you can walk out of this door on your own today."

Another pause.

"Refuse, and you will be carried out."

As these words were spoken, a cold wind blew in from outside the hall, making the entire main hall as silent as an ice cellar.

Xu Changsheng's clenched fists trembled, his teeth gritted so hard they creaked.

He slowly raised his head, meeting the sharp eyes, and forced out his agreement: "Fine... This task, This Xu accepts."

"Good!"

Xie Chengming smiled, the coldness on his face vanishing as if what just happened had never occurred.

He took out a spirit contract and handed it to Xu Changsheng.

The terms on the spirit contract were consistent with what Xie Chengming had said, symbolically promising five hundred Spirit Stones as a reward upon completion—a sum he considered quite high.

Seeing no other traps in the spirit contract, Xu Changsheng pressed his handprint onto it with force.

"If Fellow Daoist has nothing else, you may return."

Treating him like an insignificant nobody to be summoned and dismissed at will.

Walking out of the hall, his fingertips were clenched white.

"I will remember today's matter. Xie Chengming, you old geezer, you'd better stay alive until I advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage."

...

A few hours later.

In the most Advanced private room at the top of the Wangjiang Restaurant.

A large round table was set aside, and only two people were clinking glasses at a side tea table.

Chen Xuan raised his wine cup: "Come, Fellow Daoist Ding, I toast to you. You are indeed experienced and sophisticated, using such a scheme to pull that Xu Changsheng into the Secret Realm. Originally, just tricking him out of the market would have been considered a success."

Ding Zhengxiang returned the toast: "I've also found this Xu Changsheng an eyesore for a long time."

"He's like a buffalo with no temper. He refines whatever the Xie Family tells him to, and hands it over whenever they say, with no independent thoughts at all."

"Because of him, I, who could have gotten my rewards by slacking off and delaying deliveries, now have to work hard and even refine High Grade Talismans. This brat really doesn't understand the ways of the world."

Putting down his cup, his expression turned serious: "However, since this kid is a Talisman Master, he likely has many tricks up his sleeve and won't be easy to deal with."

Chen Xuan had a sudden flash of inspiration: "I have a good idea. Since he loves making Talismans so much, Fellow Daoist Ding might as well let him be the main helmsman."

"Let him make as many as he wants on the Flowing Light Talisman River until he dies! Let's see how many a First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master like him can make and how long he can last!"

Ding Zhengxiang was overjoyed: "Excellent! If a Mid-grade Talisman Master forcibly refines a Spirit Siphoning Talisman, their spiritual energy will be drained dry, and they will die within fifteen minutes."

"Then it's settled. We must ensure Xu Changsheng has the life to enter but not the life to leave!"