172: Chapter 172 Lifting the Dragon Vein Seal

Lin Fan distributed paper and pens with satisfaction.

The content of the agreement was very simple, roughly meaning: I voluntarily join Lin Fan's renovation team, providing labor and materials free of charge until the project passes inspection. All consequences are my own responsibility and have nothing to do with Lin Fan.

Watching these second-generation heirs, one by one with tears in their eyes, press their bright red thumbprints on the voluntary column, Lin Fan's internal calculator was clicking away.

This wasn't just free labor; more importantly, it would draw out the family forces behind these people.

Once everyone had finished signing, Lin Fan casually tossed out a bottle of air freshener to temporarily suppress the stench.

Only then did the second-generation heirs seem to come back to life, collapsing on the ground and gasping for breath, their eyes filled with deep fear as they looked at Lin Fan.

A devil!

This guy is definitely a devil!

"Alright, since you've signed the agreement, you're one of us."

Lin Fan's face changed faster than flipping a book, instantly stowing away his previous ferocity and becoming pleasant and kind.

He pulled a pre-prepared list from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Wujing.

"This is the list of materials needed for tomorrow's renovation. Divide it among yourselves. Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, bring your own food and tools, and deliver them on time."

Zhao Wujing took the list with trembling hands and glanced at it by the moonlight.

With just one look, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

[Ten-Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood (for the main gate beam) x 2 pieces]

[deep sea sinking silver (for laying floors) x 5 tons]

[B-Grade Alloy Plate (for wall reinforcement) x 1000 square meters]

[Spirit Crystal Powder Coating (for interior wall painting) x 50 buckets]

...

What kind of warehouse renovation was this? This was practically building an imperial palace!

Especially that deep sea sinking silver—that was a material for crafting B-grade weapons, and this guy was actually using it to lay floors?!

"This... this is too precious..."

Zhao Wujing swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "These materials would cost at least over a billion..."

"What? Young Master Zhao can't produce it?"

Lin Fan looked at him with a half-smile, "I recall the Zhao Family controls thirty percent of the metal mines in Kyoto. You're unwilling to part with such small scraps? It seems I really should send those photos after all..."

"Don't! I'll get them, I'll get them!"

Zhao Wujing jerked in fear and hurriedly tucked the list into his pocket, "They will definitely be delivered tomorrow!"

Compared to social death and having his legs broken by his old man, spending some money to avert disaster was already the best choice.

"Very good."

Lin Fan waved his hand as if shooing flies, "Alright, you can scram now."

"The cars are temporarily impounded; they'll be returned once the project is finished and passes inspection. Oh, and don't think about calling the police or finding people to retaliate. This agreement has your fingerprints and spiritual imprints; it's protected by military law."

The second-generation heirs felt as if they had received a great pardon, scrambling and crawling to escape this nightmare of a place.

As for the cars?

Who would dare mention the cars!

Watching the group support each other as they limped away into the night, Lin Fan gave a cold laugh.

Fighting with me? You're still a bit too green.

Having sent off those plagues, Lin Fan turned and went back into the warehouse.

Although the warehouse was still very crude, it was at least much cleaner.

He walked to the innermost corner of the warehouse, the place where the spiritual energy was most concentrated.

Lin Fan took out a high-tech outdoor camping tent from his system space and expertly set it up. Next, he pulled out an array disk and casually arranged a small [Spirit Gathering Array] and [Soundproofing Array].

As the arrays activated, a faint soft light enveloped the tent. The originally cold air instantly became as warm as spring, and the outside noise was completely blocked out.

"Done."

Late at night, all was silent.

Lin Fan did not sleep.

He walked out of the tent and stood in the center of the empty warehouse, closing his eyes to feel the majestic rhythm deep within the earth beneath his feet.

That was the breath of the dragon vein.

Despite being abandoned for many years and weighed down by thick concrete and industrial waste, the spirituality of this dragon vein node was still astonishing.

"Good stuff, it's just been sealed for too long; it's a bit stifled."

Lin Fan opened his eyes, those golden pupils shining in the darkness as if they could see through the layers of rock underground.

In his Eye of True Sight, he could see a layer of grayish-black shackles ten meters underground, tightly locking that mass of golden dragon vein energy.

This was a suppression array left behind when the factory was built. The technique was crude; it not only suppressed the spiritual energy but also turned this place into a gathering spot for malevolent energy—no wonder no one wanted it for so many years.

"Since it's in my hands, then open for me!"

Lin Fan flipped his wrist, and several crystal-clear stones emitting terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations appeared in his palm.

These were Top-Grade Spirit Stones.

They were spoils of war scavenged from that unlucky fellow Wei Changkong's storage ring. Each piece was worth a fortune, enough to make Grandmaster experts fight to the death.

But at this moment, Lin Fan used them as array foundations without the slightest heartache.

"Myriad Phenomena Forest, rise!"

Lin Fan gave a low shout, treading the Seven Stars, his figure moving through the warehouse like a phantom.

With every step he took, a Top-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand turned into a streak of light, accurately shooting into key nodes underground.

Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun...

As the final spirit stone fell.

Hum—the ground of the entire warehouse shook violently.

It was as if a dragon's roar sounded deep underground.

Crack! That invisible grayish-black shackle instantly shattered under the impact of the Top-Grade Spirit Stones.

Boom! A surge of pure spiritual energy that had been suppressed for decades erupted from the ground like a volcanic eruption!

The originally cold, damp, and moldy air of the warehouse underwent a qualitative change in that instant.

The spiritual energy was like mist, visibly spreading out.

The weeds in the corner, nourished by the spiritual energy, actually turned lush green at a visible speed, even blooming with unknown small flowers.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, feeling his pores expand and the blood energy in his body become several times more active.

Lin Fan quickly took out a small defensive array from the system space and set it up around the warehouse. The array instantly enveloped the entire building; this was an array returned by the system that had previously been gathering dust in the system space.

Under the cover of the array, the erupting spiritual energy was locked inside the warehouse; from the outside, no abnormality could be seen.

"This is what a Strategic Department headquarters should look like."

Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction.

Although it was still just a prototype, as soon as that batch of free materials arrived tomorrow, combined with the nourishment of this dragon vein energy, this place would soon become a premier cultivation holy land in Kyoto.

...

Meanwhile.

Kyoto, Zhao Family Mansion.

"Dad, you have to stand up for me!"

Zhao Wujing, with his face swollen like a pig's head, cried with snot and tears, kneeling on the study carpet.

Behind him followed several other equally wretched second-generation heirs who had just returned together.

In the main seat of the study sat a middle-aged man wearing a Tang suit; it was the Zhao Family head, Zhao Gang.

Looking at his son's miserable state, Zhao Gang's face was so dark it could drip ink.

"What happened? In this territory of Kyoto, someone actually dared to beat you like this?"

Zhao Gang slammed the table, his Grandmaster Level aura exploding, causing the antique vases in the study to hum, "Was it that kid from the Qin Family? Or the Tang Family?"

"No... it was a hillbilly from out of town!"

Zhao Wujing said through gritted teeth, "His name is Lin Fan. He said something about being a consultant for the newly established Strategic Department. He not only impounded our cars but also forced us to sign indentured contracts, making us go do hard labor to renovate a warehouse for him tomorrow!"

"Dad, quickly send someone to kill him! Get my car back!"

"Lin Fan?"

Hearing this name, Zhao Gang, who was originally fuming with rage, suddenly froze.

He had heard this name so much over the past two days his ears were getting calloused.

Personally named by the military's General Ye Canglan, number one in the Tianjiao Camp, killed Wei Changkong, holding blind box technology...

This series of labels made Zhao Gang swallow the harsh words that were at the tip of his tongue.

He was protective of his own, but he wasn't a fool.

If he moved against someone that madman General Ye Canglan was personally protecting, it would mean a complete falling out with the highest levels of the military.

"You said... he told you to go renovate tomorrow?"

Zhao Gang narrowed his eyes, looking at the "sky-high material list" his son had produced.

This was renovation? This was clearly extortion!

"Dad, why are you still hesitating?" Zhao Wujing grew anxious. "He's already shitting on our Zhao Family's head!"

"Shut up!" Zhao Gang glared at his son and took a deep breath to calm his emotions.

"This matter is not as simple as you think."

Zhao Gang tapped his fingers on the desk, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "This Lin Fan is currently at the height of his power; we can't touch him openly."

"However..."

Just then, Zhao Gang's private phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, his expression changing slightly, and immediately answered.

From the other end came an old and cold voice—it was the Second Elder Qin of the Logistics Department, who held immense power.

"Old Zhao, I heard your boy was also detained by that Lin Fan?"

Second Elder Qin's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude, but more of it was sinister, "This kid is too arrogant. He just arrived in Kyoto and already dares to use several of our families to establish his prestige. Does he really think having General Ye Canglan as a backer means he can do whatever he wants?"

Zhao Gang said solemnly, "What does Elder Qin mean?"

"Hmph, General Ye Canglan can protect his life, but he can't protect his business."

Second Elder Qin sneered, "Doesn't he want to renovate? Doesn't he want materials?"

"Pass my word down. Notify all the construction material dealers, spiritual material shops, and auction houses in Kyoto."

"From now on, blacklist Lin Fan city-wide!"

"Anyone who dares to sell him even a single screw is making an enemy of my Qin Family and the Zhao Family!"

"I want to see how he renovates without materials! When the Strategic Department fails to be built, I want to see how he explains himself to the military!"

Hearing this, Zhao Gang's eyes lit up.

This move was ruthless enough.

"Good!" A cruel smile curled on Zhao Gang's lips. "I'll arrange it immediately."

"Lin Fan, you green boy... Heh, the waters of Kyoto are much deeper than you imagine."