31: Whether I take it or not is my business.

A sheet of Xuan paper covered in tiny, regular script fluttered down onto the sandalwood table.

Su Xuanchen pinched the paper with two fingers, his gaze sweeping over the content, and his mouth couldn't help but twitch twice.

"tribulation crossing lotus, heavenly tribulation fruit, nine heavens divine thunder liquid, Taiyi Fine Gold..."

As he read, he looked up at Gu Lingshuang, who was holding a teacup with a cold expression.

"Wife, you're trying to empty out the entire treasury of the Sacred Ruins Continent."

Su Xuanchen slapped the paper on the table with a crisp sound.

"Just this 'heavenly tribulation fruit' alone is an eighth-grade Saint medicine. It blooms once every five thousand years and bears fruit once every five thousand years. In the entire Northern Wilderness, I'm afraid no one except the Wang Family, who built their reputation on Alchemy, could produce it."

"And this 'tribulation crossing lotus' is the protective treasure of the Lingxiao Sword Sect. I heard Sect Master Lingxiao treats it like his own father."

Gu Lingshuang set down the teacup, her phoenix eyes lifting slightly, her tone as calm as if she were commenting on the nice weather today.

"Too expensive?"

She extended a slender, jade-white finger and lightly tapped the table.

"If it's too expensive, then undo my Seal, and I'll undergo tribulation myself."

"Although it's a narrow escape, it's better than watching you, this miser, worry yourself to death over the cost."

Provocation.

Blatant provocation.

Su Xuanchen looked at her "I knew you'd be stingy" expression and laughed out of sheer annoyance.

He suddenly leaned in, hands bracing on the armrests, trapping Gu Lingshuang in the chair.

"Money, I have plenty of."

"Life, you only have one."

Su Xuanchen stared into her eyes, speaking each word deliberately.

"Three days."

"Within three days, every single item on this paper will be placed before you."

Gu Lingshuang was stunned for a moment.

She had originally just wanted to make things difficult for this bastard to make him back down.

After all, even in her past life as the Empress, gathering these things would have taken quite some effort.

"Are you crazy?"

Gu Lingshuang frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

"The Wang Family is one thing, but the Lingxiao Sword Sect is your mortal enemy. Would they give you the tribulation crossing lotus?"

Su Xuanchen straightened up, straightened his collar, and gave a meaningful smile.

"Whether they give it or not is their business."

"Whether I take it or not is my business."

"In this world, there is nothing that I, Su Xuanchen, want but cannot get."

After speaking, he turned and walked out.

When he reached the door, his footsteps paused, and he looked back to drop a line.

"Take good care of your body. Once the items are gathered, we'll start our 'baby-making' plan."

"Get out!"

A teacup smashed against the doorframe with a whistling wind, shattering into pieces.

Su Xuanchen laughed heartily as he stepped into the air and left... Northern Wilderness, Sunset Mountain.

This was the ancestral land of the Alchemy Family, the Wang Family.

Although the Wang Family was not as domineering as the Myriad Spirits Sect or as sharp as the Lingxiao Sword Sect, they had an extremely wide network in the Northern Wilderness thanks to their superb Alchemy skills.

Usually, Sunset Mountain was bustling with activity, with Cultivators seeking medicine lining up from the foot of the mountain to the peak.

But today, the entire Sunset Mountain was deathly silent.

The mountain-protecting grand array was fully active, and all Disciples and Elders were standing by, their faces pale as if facing a formidable enemy.

Because just now, an extremely terrifying Divine Thought had swept across the entire mountain range without any concealment.

That was a Saint's Divine Thought.

Moreover, it was the kind of fierce person who had just slaughtered a top-tier Sect, with the scent of blood still clinging to them!

"Rumble—"

Above the firmament, the clouds split apart.

A grand path paved with starlight extended from the end of the horizon, directly bridging onto the main peak of Sunset Mountain.

A figure wearing a starlight robe, with hands behind his back, stepped onto the starlight and walked over step by step.

With every step, heaven and earth trembled accordingly.

"Su... Su Xuanchen!"

In front of the Wang Family's main hall, the current head of the Wang Family looked at that figure, his legs going weak with fear, nearly kneeling on the ground.

"Why is he here? Is he going to destroy my Wang Family?!"

"Shut up!"

A low, aged shout rang out.

Two old men with white hair and beards flew out from the depths of the hall.

These two were precisely the two Saint Old Ancestors of the Wang Family.

One of them had a withered face and emitted a heavy Death Qi, clearly nearing the end of his lifespan.

He was the highest-ranking member of the Wang Family, Wang Qingxuan, a Second Heaven Saint.

"We did not know Saint Su was visiting. The Wang Family failed to welcome you properly, please forgive us!"

Wang Qingxuan suppressed the fear in his heart and bowed deeply toward Su Xuanchen in the air, maintaining a very humble posture.

Su Xuanchen stopped in mid-air, looking down upon the entire Wang Family.

He didn't waste words and simply flicked his finger.

A list turned into a stream of light and hovered in front of Wang Qingxuan.

"I have come today only to seek medicine."

"The 'heavenly tribulation fruit' on this list, I heard your Wang Family has it."

"Name your price."

Wang Qingxuan caught the list, glanced at it, and his eyelids twitched violently.

heavenly tribulation fruit.

That was the lifeblood of the Wang Family!

The reason the Wang Family could stand tall in the Northern Wilderness for tens of thousands of years without falling was entirely due to that ancient Heavenly Tribulation Tree left from antiquity.

The three fruits it bore every five thousand years could not only be used to refine Tribulation Crossing Pills but also help the Family's Prodigies comprehend the power of the Lightning Tribulation, increasing their chances of becoming a Saint.

This thing simply couldn't be measured with Spirit Stones.

If it were in the past, if anyone dared to ask for the heavenly tribulation fruit, the Wang Family would have long since activated the grand array to fight for their lives.

But now... looking at the ominous star above who could casually crush the Myriad Spirits Sect to death, Wang Qingxuan fell silent.

Refuse?

That bottomless pit where the Myriad Spirits Sect used to be was the consequence of refusal.

Give?

If they gave it this time, what if he came back for more later?

Was the Wang Family to become the Su Family's blood bank?

The air solidified.

Su Xuanchen didn't rush him either, just quietly watching him, his finger lightly tapping the Void Realm.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Each soft sound was like a hammer hitting the hearts of the Wang Family members, making it hard to breathe.

Just as the Wang Family's head was dripping with cold sweat and preparing to grit his teeth and agree to give one fruit.

Wang Qingxuan moved.

He looked up, and in his cloudy old eyes, a resolute light suddenly erupted.

"Saint Su."

Wang Qingxuan's voice was hoarse but exceptionally clear.

"The heavenly tribulation fruit, my Wang Family has it."

"But once this fruit is picked, its medicinal efficacy will start to dissipate."

Su Xuanchen's brow arched slightly: "So?"

Wang Qingxuan took a deep breath, as if making a decision that went against his ancestors.

He suddenly waved his sleeve.

"Rumble!"

The Forbidden Ground in the back mountain of the Wang Family suddenly split open.

An ancient tree about a hundred zhang tall, entirely entwined with purple lightning, along with the spiritual soil beneath it, was uprooted by him using great magic power!

On that ancient tree hung three fist-sized fruits flickering with lightning.

The Heavenly Tribulation Tree!

The entire scene was in an uproar.

The eyes of the Wang Family members were about to pop out.

"Old Ancestor! What are you doing?!"

"That is the Foundation of our Wang Family!"

Wang Qingxuan ignored his clansmen's cries of alarm.

He held up the massive Heavenly Tribulation Tree, walked step by step to Su Xuanchen, and offered it with both hands.

"Saint Su."

"My end is near, and I cannot protect the Family for much longer."

"This Heavenly Tribulation Tree, along with the three fruits on it, is all gifted to Saint Su today!"

"I only ask for one promise from Saint Su."

Wang Qingxuan looked up, his gaze burning as he looked at Su Xuanchen.

"If my Wang Family is in trouble, I beg the Su Family to take action once to ensure my clansmen's Bloodline is not extinguished!"

Quiet.

Deathly silent.

Su Xuanchen looked at the lightning-flickering treasure tree before him, then at the elderly man nearing his end, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

A smart man.

This old man was a top-tier smart person.

Instead of guarding a tree that would sooner or later be snatched away, it was better to use it to trade for the protection of the strongest.

This was a huge gamble.

Gambling on Su Xuanchen's character, gambling on the Su Family's future.

"Good."

Su Xuanchen showed an appreciative smile.

He gave a large wave of his sleeve.

Buzz!

The massive Heavenly Tribulation Tree instantly disappeared, taken into his System space.

"I accept your promise."

"As long as the Su Family exists, no one in the Northern Wilderness will be able to touch your Wang Family in the slightest."

After speaking, he turned and stepped through the Void Realm, vanishing.

Only a single sentence remained, echoing above Sunset Mountain.

"Old man, this deal of yours was worth it."

Wang Qingxuan watched the direction Su Xuanchen had left, his tense body finally collapsing as he gasped for breath.

He had won the gamble... Meanwhile.

Eastern Region, Lingxiao Sword Sect.

As a sword Dao Holy Land that had been passed down for fifty thousand years, the Lingxiao Sword Sect was situated atop nine sword peaks that pierced straight into the clouds.

Sword Qi surged to the heavens, and cold light gleamed.

However, at this moment, inside the main hall of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, the atmosphere was so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.

"Bang!"

A table made of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron was slapped into iron powder by a single palm.

Sect Master Lingxiao sat in the high seat, his face so dark it looked like it could drip water.

His wounds hadn't fully healed yet, which were left from that day at the Purple Heaven Palace when he was thrown out like a dead dog.

It wasn't just physical wounds, but wounds to his dignity as well.

"Too much! This is simply going too far!"

Sect Master Lingxiao roared, his voice echoing through the hall.

"What does Su Xuanchen think he is?!"

"An upstart who became a Saint by luck!"

"It's one thing to snatch the Myriad Spirits Sect's territory, but now he actually dares to send someone with a letter, demanding our Sect's 'tribulation crossing lotus'?!"

Below the hall.

A messenger wearing Su Family attire stood with his head held high.

Facing the Killing Intent of a group of Sword Cultivators that nearly wanted to cut him into a thousand pieces, this Su Family messenger, who was only in the Void Breaking Realm, showed no fear whatsoever.

Because standing behind him was Su Xuanchen.

"Sect Master Ling."

The Su Family messenger cupped his hands neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"My Old Ancestor said that he must have this tribulation crossing lotus."

"If you give it, the Su Family will remember this favor."

"If you don't give it..."

The messenger paused, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"The Old Ancestor said he'll just have to come and take it personally."

"When that time comes, what he takes might be more than just a single lotus."

A threat!

A blatant threat!

This was rubbing the Lingxiao Sword Sect's face into the dirt!

"Impudent!"

A Grand Elder could take no more, drawing his sword and pointing it straight at the messenger's throat.

"A mere ant of a messenger dares to bark in my Lingxiao Hall?!"

"Do you believe this old man will cut you down right now!"

The Su Family messenger's expression remained unchanged as he looked calmly at the sword.

"Killing me is easy."

"But after this sword strike, the Elder should think carefully about whether the Lingxiao Sword Sect can still exist."

"Saint Zilei of the Myriad Spirits Sect was just as unyielding."

"You—!"

That Grand Elder trembled with rage but simply didn't dare to stab forward.

That big pit where the Myriad Spirits Sect was is still sitting there.

Who would dare to gamble?

Everyone's gaze turned toward Sect Master Lingxiao.

Sect Master Lingxiao gripped the armrests tightly, his nails sinking deep into the cold iron.

Give?

That was the Lingxiao Sword Sect's only remaining eighth-grade Saint medicine!

And once given, the backbone of the Lingxiao Sword Sect would be broken. How would they survive in the Eastern Region in the future?

Not give?

That madman Su Xuanchen really would come knocking!

Humiliation, anger, fear... various emotions intertwined in his heart.

Ultimately, they turned into complete madness.