237: Chapter 237 The Zhao Family's Return Gift

Zhao Fenghua was quick-witted; he swiftly swept the hundred catties of Tier 5 Dragon flesh from the table and into his Storage Pouch, not giving the two of them even the slightest chance.

"Brother Hua, your greed is showing a bit too much, don't you think?" Zhao Fengkun said anxiously, and as he spoke, he actually reached out to rummage through Zhao Fenghua's Storage Pouch.

"Hey, what are you doing? Robbery?" Zhao Fenghua slapped Zhao Fengkun's hand away, clutching his Storage Pouch tightly, embodying the image of a miser to the fullest.

"Uncle, we agreed on this; you were supposed to give me twenty percent. You can't go back on your word!" Zhao Zuoxiang was getting desperate, grabbing the sleeve of Zhao Fenghua, who was already turning to leave.

"Who agreed with you? Who can prove it? This is a betrothal gift for my granddaughter; how could I give it to outsiders?" Zhao Fenghua flipped the script immediately and denied it.

"If you're going to be like this, don't blame me for being impolite. I'll spread the news of you pocketing the betrothal gift among the Family Elders. By then, it won't just be the two of us splitting it with you." Zhao Zuoxiang had known this old man would go back on his word and immediately unleashed his ultimate move.

"That's right, and me too. I'll make sure to give you a thorough promotion!"

"Are you threatening me?" Zhao Fenghua narrowed his eyes, his right hand behind his back, and a Black Tortoise Formation Plate suddenly appeared in his palm. Just as he was about to make a move, he was interrupted by a shout from Zhao Zuoxiang.

"Uncle, don't do anything reckless. If you're not careful, something big could happen." Zhao Zuoxiang was holding a sword-shaped jade talisman, green all over, and he put some distance between them.

Every Martial King in the Zhao Family carried one of these sword-shaped jade talismans. They had two main functions: first, defense, which could form a three-zhang-wide Tier 5 protective barrier around the Martial Artist, lasting for half an hour.

Second, for seeking aid. Once the jade talisman was activated, every Zhao Family Martial King within a hundred thousand li radius holding such a talisman could sense it and quickly provide support.

Zhao Zuoxiang was desperate; using this jade talisman as a threat certainly made Zhao Fenghua dare not act rashly.

Seeing it was effective, Zhao Fengkun followed suit, taking out his own sword-shaped jade talisman and standing in another direction, staring at him from afar.

"Hahaha, what are you all doing? It's just a few dozen catties of Tier 5 Dragon flesh; it's not like I wouldn't share it with you. Put them away, put them away." Zhao Fenghua let out a dry laugh, took out the piece of Tier 5 Dragon flesh, and cut off a portion. "Zuoxiang, these fifteen catties are yours."

"And these five catties are yours."

Seeing he received so little, Zhao Fengkun blew his beard and stared with wide eyes, immediately refusing to accept it. Before he could lash out, Zhao Fenghua choked him back with a single sentence.

"Take it or leave it; if you don't want it, I'm putting it away."

"I'll take it, I'll take it!" Zhao Fengkun saw that although Zhao Zuoxiang was unwilling, he had already stopped and put his jade talisman back into his Storage Pouch, so he immediately took the pitifully small piece of Tier 5 Dragon flesh.

It was tasteless to eat but a waste to discard; it was like chewing on chicken ribs.

"Now that you've got your share, get lost." Zhao Fenghua unceremoniously issued an eviction order, telling Zhao Fengkun to disappear.

Zhao Fengkun looked longingly at Zhao Fenghua's Storage Pouch a few times, knowing this was his maximum concession, so he didn't linger and turned to leave the Shuangxue Residence.

"I'm afraid I've let Brother Ye see a joke." Zhao Zuoxiang woke up the pretending-to-be-asleep Ye Rongming and generously brought the farce to an end.

"Not at all, I am envious if anything." Ye Rongming felt a complex mix of emotions. He was truly envious; if only the Family Ye could have a few Martial Kings, he could finally take a real break and wouldn't have to run around everywhere like he was doing now.

"Rongming, sit." With the betrothal gift accepted, the marriage was officially settled, and Zhao Fenghua became much more affectionate toward Ye Rongming, even changing how he addressed him.

"Uncle Zhao is too kind." Ye Rongming sat back in his original seat as requested. Noticing that Zhao Zuoxiang across from him was still staring at him, he sighed helplessly and said, "Brother Zhao, please stop staring at this poor fellow. You know as well as I do that back then, the two of us only harvested a thousand catties of Tier 5 Dragon flesh each."

"Over the past six months, in order to consolidate and improve my cultivation, I've already used up most of the Tier 5 Dragon flesh I had, with very little left."

"These hundred catties were specifically set aside as a betrothal gift; otherwise, they would have been consumed long ago."

To take out a hundred catties of Tier 5 Dragon flesh for Ye Yisong's marriage—it would be a lie to say he didn't feel the pinch.

Added to the reward paid last time for hiring Zhao Fenghua to set up a Tier 5 Formation, Ye Rongming had been fleeced of a total of two hundred catties by the uncle and nephew before him.

It made life even harder for Ye Rongming, who was not wealthy to begin with.

"Zuoxiang, stop eyeing Rongming." Zhao Fenghua scolded him lightly, as if he hadn't been staring at Ye Rongming himself just a moment ago. They were both old foxes who had lived for hundreds of years, each pretending to be more innocent than the other.

"The Spirit Stones and treasures I've accumulated over so many years have mostly been used on those good-for-nothing kids. I don't have anything good to give as a return gift." As Zhao Fenghua said this, a flash of loneliness crossed his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, he still took out a black token from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Ye Rongming. "Help me give this token to Yisong. After this Secret Realm mission is over, return it to me."

Ye Rongming's right hand trembled slightly as he looked at the token on the table in disbelief. Was Zhao Fenghua really willing to give up a chance to enter the Secret Realm?

Within the East Sea Prefecture, there was a large Secret Realm called Wangchuan!

To open this Secret Realm, nine keys needed to be gathered. The King of Donghai, the Four Great Families of the East Sea, the three major sects of the East Sea, and Hermit Hanjiang—each of the major forces with a Martial Emperor in command held one key.

Each key came with 50 black tokens, and those holding a token could enter the Secret Realm once every hundred years.

The Secret Realm was divided into three layers. The outer layer was the most extensive, mainly growing some rare Tier 3 and Tier 4 Spirit Medicine, such as Vermilion Fruit that could quickly increase a Martial Artist's cultivation, Blood-Coagulating Ginseng for recovering injuries, and Marrow-Cleansing Flowers for improving Aptitude, but most were guarded by Grade 4 Demonic Beasts.

Crossing the fog of the outer layer and entering the inner layer, one could find many Tier 5 precious medicines. Every plant was surrounded by a Late Stage Grade 4 Yao Beast waiting for the Spirit Medicine to ripen. These Yao Beasts accumulated over time, consuming large amounts of Tier 5 precious medicines, and might have a slim hope of using the power of the Spirit Medicine to advance to a Tier 5 Demon King.

As for the core layer, it was said that high-grade Spirit Medicine grew all over the mountains and plains, but few Martial Artists dared to step foot into the core layer. Legend had it that a Rank 6 Demon Emperor was sleeping there, and if one angered the Demon Emperor, one might not even be able to save their own life while fleeing the Secret Realm.

After entering the Secret Realm, Martial Artists from major forces mainly searched for Opportunity in the outer and inner layers. If they could return with a few Tier 5 precious medicines and go into seclusion for a period, their strength would surely increase greatly.

Zhao Fenghua's five children were all disappointing. Their Martial Dao Aptitude was decent, but they themselves were not hardworking, immersing themselves in luxury. They would end up as nothing more than a Martial Ancestor by the end of their lives. Only the youngest son and daughter were still alive.

Among his grandchildren, there were not many outstanding ones either. The only one who could be considered promising, Zhao Qingfeng, was kept by his side and trained personally.