226: Chapter 226 Annihilation

Upon hearing this price, Xie Jin immediately realized that The Sect was trying to shirk responsibility and didn't want to pay.

After a moment of thought, he asked Tang Long, "Is it Han Feng?"

Tang Long chuckled, "Elder Xie is truly worthy of being Elder Xie."

"Although my eyes couldn't directly see the blasphemy mark when we last met, based on my subsequent experiences, it is highly likely."

"Of course, I will help you confirm it in a moment."

Xie Jin nodded, "If it is confirmed to be him, this price is not expensive. One billion in cash... is not a problem either. But sir, why must you have so many thunder spirit stones?"

"You don't know?" Tang Long laughed. "On Christmas Eve, I obtained a thunder-element Wuque Method during the Heavenly Remnant Trial, the kind passed down via Empowerment. That's why I need a large number of thunder spirit stones."

"A Wuque Method passed down via Empowerment?!" Xie Jin asked in surprise, "What is it called?"

"Thunder Emperors Eight Scenes Art."

"Was it created by the ancient Thunder Emperor Martial Venerable!"

"Elder Xie is knowledgeable; the inheritance information does indeed mention that title."

Xie Jin stood frozen in place for a moment, staring straight at Tang Long, looking very excited.

Lv Yang and Red Hand immediately flashed in front of Tang Long, "Chief Steward Xie, you had better calm down."

Ren Jianwen smoothed things over from the side, "You two don't need to be nervous."

"You should have heard that Brother Xie is known as the Thunder Leopard and is one of the rare thunder-element Spirit Map holders in this world."

"I think he is just a bit excited to see a Wuque Method of the same element."

"Besides, he has a thunder-element Spirit Map to maintain, and Feng City might not find it convenient to deplete their thunder spirit stones all at once."

"Brother Xie, what do you say?"

Xie Jin finally came back to his senses and nodded, "Yes. Everyone, I wonder if you could make a concession in this regard?"

Liu Zhiming, Lv Yang, and Red Hand could not help but turn their gazes toward Tang Long.

Tang Long sighed, "Out of respect for the High Priest of Feng City, I already made a concession. Now, out of respect for Elder Xie, I can make another one. But let's get the unpleasant things out of the way first: you cannot ask me to make a third concession."

"Of course!"

"Good! The number of thunder spirit stones must not be less than three hundred, and the shortfall will be made up with Sun, Moon, and Yuan spirit stones. Is this condition acceptable?"

Xie Jin's old face twitched, and he had no choice but to hold his nose and accept it.

"Also! What we are discussing now is the price for Han Feng alone; other Blasphemers are not included in this."

"When counting the results, we will charge per head: five million for Qi Manipulation, twenty million for Blood Refining, and one hundred million for Open Origin. If there are other Spirit Map holders... it wouldn't be excessive for me to ask for ten billion, right?"

The two bishops, Xie Jin and Guo Ren, looked at each other.

Compared to the investment required to cultivate each realm, it is indeed not expensive.

Unless one is exceptionally gifted, five million won't get you through Qi Manipulation, and twenty million won't get you through Blood Refining.

As for Open Origin, if one could buy one for one hundred million, no faction would hesitate.

And as for Spirit Map holders... reaching that stage is often no longer just a matter of money.

The problem is, if a large group of Blasphemers is dug out later, no one has any idea how much the total amount will add up to.

If they had to cough up over ten billion at once, even the Fengcheng Sect and the Dukes Mansion would be quite distressed.

They wanted to bargain further, but since the other party had already made concession after concession, how could they open their mouths?

The two bishops hurriedly sought instructions from the High Priest, and Xie Jin immediately called Ye Baiming.

In the bedroom of the Dukes Mansion, under the dim bedside lamp, Ye Baiming listened to Xie Jin's report, his face looking terrifyingly grim.

After a moment of thought, he nodded. "Agree to it."

"You are right to consider that; this kid is a complete jinx."

"In one month, so many things have happened in Song City, and even the High Priest could not be spared. It is important to send him away early."

"But two points must be made clear. First, this matter must be concluded as quickly as possible. And they must guarantee that this matter will be kept strictly confidential."

"Second, no matter how much money is calculated in the end, I, Ye Baiming, will not default on the debt, but they must allow us to pay in a convenient form."

"That is all."

Hanging up the phone, Ye Baiming let out a long sigh. "Han Feng, oh Han Feng... you beast."

The operation began.

To ensure strict confidentiality, the four bishops of the Fengcheng Sect all set out, plus the three City Guard division commanders led by Xie Jin, totaling eight Spirit Map holders.

And all the attendants from both sides were at the peak of the Open Origin Realm, totaling over sixty people.

A silent, swift, and decisive purge began in the quiet night.

In the initial stage, for those identified by Tang Long, the Fengcheng Sect still insisted on using secret methods to verify them.

But after verifying more than thirty people in a row and finding not a single mistake, they simply stopped distinguishing.

They started by sweeping the military camp, then moved on to important figures in the government at all levels in the core area, and then finally the Dukes Mansion.

And finally, a certain underground base outside the city belonging to the Duke's Guard.

Tang Long's eyes were opened. For true experts, killing is an art form.

That precise grasp of timing and power was something he could hardly experience in his past life.

There was not a shred of waste, not a shred of hesitation, and if silence was required, there would be no sound at all.

Until the final high-end confrontation took place.

The perception of true experts is very keen; even though the encirclement was initiated from ten kilometers away, it was still quickly discovered by Han Feng.

But this was, after all, a meticulously planned encirclement, and he had even been lured out of the city by false information.

When he became alert, it was already a bit too late.

When he sensed the aura of Spirit Map experts from all directions, he understood that he was doomed.

Yet he still immediately activated his Blasphemy Power and fought back desperately.

At this moment, using his Blasphemy Power, he actually managed to forcibly condense a Spirit Map for a short time while at the peak of the Open Origin Realm.

Lightning, fire, gold, and green light, and even the spiritual light erupting from the collision of massive spiritual energy, stung Tang Long's eyes so much that he had to close his Fire Eye.

The battle was extremely intense, yet also exceptionally short. In just over a minute, the battle ceased.

When Xie Jin and the others returned to Tang Long, they all looked ashen and dispirited.

Tang Long muttered in a low voice, "Eight against one, surely that wasn't necessary? Is that Han Feng very powerful?"

Lv Yang explained in a low voice, "That Han Feng was originally at the peak of the Open Origin Realm, but he could use his Blasphemy Power to forcibly unleash the combat power of a Spirit Map. Moreover, his cultivation method is unusual—it should also be a Wuque Method—and his Spirit Map contains extremely strong toxins, so he was quite troublesome."

Red Hand also nodded slightly, "Fortunately, it was an overwhelming encirclement; otherwise, with such a disgusting cultivation method, it probably wouldn't have been easy for one or two people to take him down."

Liu Zhiming was all smiles, "Congratulations to everyone for successfully removing the tumor of Feng City."

"You flatter us." Xie Jin coughed a few more times and let out a long sigh.

"Han Feng's father was originally the old Duke's personal guard. After he sacrificed himself in a battle years ago, the Duke took him in and raised him by his side."

"For so many years, the Duke treated him as his own, bestowed upon him a Wuque Method, cultivated him step by step to the peak of the Open Origin Realm, and even placed him in the most critical position."

"His betrayal deeply pained the Duke, and if it got out, it would damage the Duke's reputation."

"Therefore, I implore you all to please keep today's events confidential."

Tang Long immediately agreed, "Please tell the Duke to rest assured; the Songcheng Sect knows the gravity of the situation."

"I also know that the Duke does not particularly welcome an ominous person like me."

"The favor has been done, and dawn is approaching. Should we settle the accounts and disperse quickly?"

Liu Zhiming immediately stepped forward, "Everyone, I have roughly counted."

"Two hundred and thirty-three in the Qi Manipulation Realm, eighty-nine in the Blood Refining Realm, and twelve in the Open Origin Realm. Not counting this Han Feng, a total of 334 Blasphemers were eliminated tonight."

"According to the previously agreed-upon prices, the Qi Manipulation Realm total is 1.16 billion, the Blood Refining total is 1.78 billion, and the Open Origin total is 1.2 billion, for a grand total of 4.14 billion."

"I might not have calculated it accurately; you should check it again."

Although the experts from Feng City didn't speak, they were cursing inwardly.

Damn it, you've calculated it down to the decimal point; you call this a rough count?

This old bastard didn't do anything all night; was he just here specifically to count the money?

Old Liu didn't used to be like this, did he? How did he become so mercenary after becoming the acting Sect Leader?

Today, we've really let these ruffians see a big joke, and now we still have to give them money.

Xie Jin looked around, "Four billion... to be able to eradicate Blasphemers who have entrenched themselves so deeply in one fell swoop, it is not expensive."

Hearing this, several Feng City experts couldn't help but nod one after another.

It is indeed not expensive to eliminate a major threat for just a few billion.

They also cast approving glances at this Holy Messenger from the Songcheng Sect.

But Tang Long's next sentence immediately made them wince.

"Elder Xie, it is 4.14 billion. This money, I heard you agreed earlier that the Dukes Mansion and the Fengcheng Sect would split it, right?"

"And for this Han Feng, one billion plus some thunder spirit stones."

"In addition, I want this Wuque Method of Han Feng's."