16: I think you are mistaken. It is three million spirit stones.

The Cui Family Head, Cui Yan.

One of the four great masters of Yunzhou, a ninth-level Flying Heaven Realm expert.

In Yanshan Kingdom, apart from those Venerable Realm old monsters who rarely appeared, he feared no one.

Therefore, he had the right to say such words.

The Tao Family brothers, who had come with him, stood frozen in place.

Cui Yan's name was renowned throughout the Yanshan Kingdom.

Once, a gang robbed a Cui Family caravan that was traveling, killing over a dozen Cui Family members.

Cui Yan, single-handedly, stormed their headquarters, using a blazing spear to turn the gang's stronghold into a river of blood.

The gang's high-ranking members were almost completely wiped out, including three Flying Heaven Realm experts.

From then on, no petty scoundrel dared to scheme against the Cui Family again.

Now, this legendary figure stood before them, making them both nervous and excited.

"I'll return the same words to you. Cripple one of your arms and offer two million spirit stones, and I can spare your life," Lin Mu said, completely fearless.

"Hahaha, you are the first person who dared to speak to me like this. Since you are so eager to die, I shall grant your wish."

A fiery red long spear suddenly appeared in Cui Yan's hand. At this moment, Cui Yan seemed like a god of slaughter.

"Die!"

Cui Yan thrust his spear straight forward.

To deal with a junior, no special techniques were needed.

Just as the long spear reached one meter in front of Lin Mu, something astonishing happened.

With a crisp clang, the long spear fell to the ground, and with it, an arm.

An arm belonging to Cui Yan.

Cui Yan was also stunned; he even forgot the pain in his arm.

He had only felt a black shadow flash by, and then one of his arms was severed.

"It's him?"

Cui Yan looked at Lao Mo, whose long sword was still at Cui Hao's neck.

It had only taken an instant to complete this series of actions.

Venerable Realm?

Thinking of this, Cui Yan couldn't help but shiver.

If what he had just severed wasn't his arm, but his head, then he would already be a dead man.

As the head of a clan, Cui Yan's adaptability was beyond doubt.

He quickly used his hand to tap a few points on his severed arm, stopping the bleeding.

Then, without hesitation, he knelt on one knee before Lao Mo: "Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy."

Lao Mo said faintly, "My Master only wanted your arm, not your life."

"My Master?" Was he referring to this young man?

As a Flying Heaven expert, changing one's appearance was easy; his own true age was over a hundred years old.

Thinking of this, he turned around and bowed to Lin Mu again: "Thank you, Young Master, for sparing my life."

Lin Mu said indifferently, "I just said, one arm plus two million spirit stones for your life."

"This lowly one will immediately order someone to fetch two million spirit stones for Young Master," Cui Yan quickly said.

"I think you've misunderstood. Your life is two million, plus his one million." Lin Mu pointed to Cui Hao at the side.

"Yes, yes, yes! Someone! Go fetch three million spirit stones, quickly!" Cui Yan shouted outwards.

"See, wouldn't it have been better this way from the start? No need for all this fighting and killing," Lin Mu said, feigning regret.

"It was this lowly one who failed to recognize a great master. I apologize to Young Master again." Cui Yan made to bow once more.

Lin Mu waved his hand and said, "Get up!"

Cui Yan heard this and slowly stood up.

It had to be said, Cui Yan's words were indeed effective.

After only a moment, a Cui Family member ran in, holding an ancient-looking ring.

Cui Yan took the ring and opened his hand, placing it before Lin Mu:

"The spirit stones are all here. This ring is a small space created by an ancient powerful cultivator, and I'm offering it to Young Master as well."

Lin Mu picked up the ring and probed it with his divine sense; it contained several hundred square meters of space.

The crystal-clear spirit stones occupied nearly half of the space.

Lin Mu casually put the ring on his hand.

He said with satisfaction, "Goods and payment settled."

Lao Mo heard this and withdrew the long sword that was at Cui Hao's neck.

Cui Hao hastily fled from his side; this man was too terrifying.

"Young Master Lin gracing my humble abode is the Cui Family's greatest honor."

"This evening, I will host a banquet at my residence to apologize to Young Master Lin."

Lin Mu immediately saw through Cui Yan's intentions; he merely wanted to curry favor and seize an opportunity to strike at the Lin Family.

He didn't want to be used as a pawn for now.

"No need. I will leave Yunzhou City once the Yunzhou Grand Gathering concludes."

Lin Mu took a step forward, then stepped back.

He leaned closer to Cui Yan, whispering in his ear, "Have your people keep an eye out for this kind of thing for me."

Lin Mu then used his spiritual power to conjure the appearance of a heavenly dao stone.

"See it clearly! Notify me if you find any clues."

"If you can help me find one, you can make one request of me, any request."

Cui Yan desperately etched the appearance of the heavenly dao stone deep into his mind.

This was an immense opportunity; the promise of a person with a Venerable Realm subordinate was incredibly precious.

Cui Yan smiled fawningly, "As soon as there's any news, this lowly one will notify Young Master immediately."

He didn't ask where Lin Mu was going.

As long as he was in Yunzhou City, the Cui Family could always keep track of his movements.

On the bustling streets, Lin Mu and his companions strolled leisurely.

Suddenly, Tao Rong appeared from somewhere.

"Young Master, I've inquired and found out that the largest inn in Yunzhou is the Cloud Inn, not far ahead."

The Cloud Inn was located in the east of the city; only people of status and position could stay there.

As Lin Mu and his group entered, a waiter immediately came forward.

"Are you here for a meal or a stay, esteemed guests?"

Tao Rong stepped forward and said, "A meal first, then a stay. Get us four of your best rooms."

The waiter looked troubled and said, "I apologize, esteemed guests, but many outsiders have arrived in Yunzhou recently, and we don't have enough rooms."

"How many rooms are left?" Tao Rong asked.

"Only two 'Earth-level' rooms, esteemed guests, what do you think?" He then looked at the four people.

Lin Mu suddenly asked, "Which are the best rooms?"

The waiter didn't know why Lin Mu asked this, but he still replied, "The best are naturally the 'Heaven-level' rooms, but they are already full."

As soon as the waiter finished speaking, Tao Qian, who was nearby, suddenly said:

"It doesn't matter if they're full. Go clear out four rooms for us; we'll pay double the price."

Tao Qian's personality had always been carefree.

He had only restrained himself before due to Lin Mu.

But after the incident with the Cui Family, he had understood Lin Mu's way of doing things.

"Trouble-seeking, fearless of trouble."

So, he was now letting his true nature show.

Seeing the waiter standing still and unmoved, he shouted again, "What, are you afraid this great master can't afford the spirit stones?"

The waiter muttered to himself, "Where did these country bumpkins come from? The Heaven-level rooms are occupied by high-level martial artists, officials, and nobles."

"Making them give up their rooms? They must be tired of living."

But the waiter dared not say this, so he could only smile apologetically, "How could this lowly one dare? It's just that the guests in the Heaven-level rooms are not people this lowly one can afford to offend."

Just as the waiter was in a dilemma, a refined young master walked over and asked.

"What is all this commotion about?"

The waiter saw that the newcomer was the manager's son and replied, "These guests insist on staying in the Heaven-level rooms, but the Heaven-level rooms are already full."

The newcomer saw that Lin Mu had an extraordinary bearing, and the old man behind him had profound spiritual power, making his cultivation unfathomable.

He dared not be negligent and said, "This humble one is the manager of this inn, Lin Chen. May I ask your name, honored guest?"

Lin Mu heard that the other party's surname was Lin, and immediately knew whose property this establishment was.

The Yunzhou Lin Family.