If this conjecture was true, why would this mysterious expert hidden behind the scenes want to wipe out the Lu Family? Did they harbor a deep-seated hatred for the Lu Family? But then why not kill Lu Tingting and Lu Feng? Were they interested in their talents? Impossible. As for Lu Tingting’s talent, I still don’t know, but Lu Feng is just a good-for-nothing, utterly worthless to cultivate. There are simply too many questions in my mind.
A moment later, Fan Jian said in a low voice, "Brother Qin, we have arrived."
Qin Feiyang looked up and saw a majestic hall before him. It was the Dong Family’s council hall.
At the entrance, two guards were stationed, and four maids were waiting.
PHEW!
Taking a deep breath, Qin Feiyang temporarily pushed aside the thoughts in his mind and followed Fan Jian into the hall.
"Greetings, Guard Commander."
The guards and maids all bowed in salute.
"Mm," Fan Jian nodded and asked, "Where are your Ancestor and the Family Head?"
One of the guards responded, "Please take a seat inside, Guard Commander. We will inform his venerable self immediately."
"Alright." Fan Jian nodded, leading Qin Feiyang into the hall.
"Ensure the Guard Commander is well attended," the two guards instructed the four maids, then hurried away.
Two of the maids also quickly went to prepare tea.
Fan Jian chuckled softly. "It seems Wei Zhongyang is highly respected in the Dong Family!"
"Birds of a feather flock together," Qin Feiyang sneered.
"ER!" Fan Jian was taken aback, then shook his head with a wry smile. He sat down on a chair and gestured to another. "Sit down!"
"I am your trusted subordinate now. I cannot sit," Qin Feiyang said, shaking his head. He walked behind Fan Jian and stood there ramrod straight.
Fan Jian felt quite awkward. Although he was now a Nine-Star War Emperor, he was terrified of Qin Feiyang from the bottom of his heart.
Qin Feiyang said in a low voice, "Don’t be nervous. Be careful how you respond."
Fan Jian took a few deep breaths and asked softly, "Can you guarantee that you’ll bring down the Dong Family and Wei Zhongyang?"
Qin Feiyang nodded.
Fan Jian breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid that Qin Feiyang wasn’t confident. After all, he was now effectively Qin Feiyang’s accomplice. If they failed and Wang Hong investigated, even as a Nine-Star War Emperor, he wouldn’t make it out alive.
After waiting for roughly a hundred breaths, Old Monster Dong and the Dong Family Head finally arrived at the main hall.
The Dong Family Head clasped his hands and said with a smile, "Brother Wei, your visit is quite a surprise! If you had notified us beforehand, we could have prepared a proper welcome!"
"You’re too kind, Brother Dong," Fan Jian replied, rising with a smile to greet them.
The Dong Family Head quickly said, "No need to get up, please, sit, sit."
Once Fan Jian returned to his chair, the Dong Family Head looked at Qin Feiyang quizzically. "Brother Wei, who might this be?"
Fan Jian chuckled. "He is my trusted confidant, named Fan Jian. He is completely trustworthy, so there’s no need for any reservations."
Fan Jian?
The Dong Family Head and Old Monster Dong exchanged glances, their eyes glinting strangely.
How could anyone have such an eccentric name? It sounds just like ’being servile’!
The Dong Family Head then smiled and said, "Brother Fan Jian, since we’re all on the same side, there’s no need to be so formal. Please, sit down and talk."
"It’s quite alright. I’m fine standing," Qin Feiyang replied.
The Dong Family Head didn’t press further and, along with Old Monster Dong, took the main seats.
Old Monster Dong said, "Brother Wei, your sudden visit... has there been some unforeseen development concerning Qin Feiyang?"
"Unforeseen development?" Fan Jian feigned surprise for a moment, then said disdainfully, "With Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue in our hands, what trouble can he possibly cause?"
Upon hearing this, Old Monster Dong and the Dong Family Head burst into laughter.
The Dong Family Head asked, "So, have you spoken with him?"
"I just finished talking with him," Fan Jian replied.
"And how did it go?" the two asked, looking at him with apprehension.
Although Wei Zhongyang had repeatedly assured them that Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue were Qin Feiyang’s Achilles’ heel, given Qin Feiyang’s past actions in State City—where he had demonstrated utter ruthlessness—they couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
"Rest assured, he has already compromised," Fan Jian said with a faint smile. He reached into his robe, took out a jade box, and placed it on the tea table.
Old Monster Dong asked in surprise, "What is this?"
"Potential Elixirs," Fan Jian replied.
Their eyes instantly lit up. The Dong Family Head immediately stood, walked over to Fan Jian, snatched up the jade box, and opened it. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
"Hmm?" Seeing his reaction, Old Monster Dong approached with suspicion and also froze.
How is this possible? Three Elixir Patterns! And there are ten of them!
Fan Jian said, "Qin Feiyang has been able to refine elixirs with three Elixir Patterns for some time now. He just kept it a secret, and very few people knew."
The two gasped.
How can this little bastard’s talent in alchemy be so astonishing?
In reality, these elixirs had been refined by Qin Feiyang on the way here. After all, Qin Feiyang carried his alchemic flame and Pill Furnace with him, so refining ten elixirs was a matter of minutes. And these ten Potential Elixirs were the bait!
"Well? Tempting, isn’t it?" Fan Jian said with a smirk. "It’s said that the last time the Treasure Pavilion auctioned Potential Elixirs with two Elixir Patterns, the closing price was around twenty billion. Moreover, I heard that the Treasure Pavilion is starting another auction in a few days, and the starting bid will be thirty billion. Potential Elixirs with three Elixir Patterns will certainly fetch at least double that. If you were to sell these ten Potential Elixirs, even if the Treasure Pavilion blacklists you, it would be enough for your Dong Family to survive for decades without decline."
Survive for decades without decline!
The two of them trembled, body and soul, their eyes radiating fervor.
Old Monster Dong gulped and asked, "Brother Wei, are these ten Potential Elixirs for our Dong Family?"
Fan Jian retrieved the jade box and said coolly, "What’s the rush? As long as we obtain the Elixir Formula for the Potential Elixir, why would you need to worry about not having Potential Elixirs?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Wei is absolutely right!"
"So, is he prepared to give us the Elixir Formula?" the two asked excitedly.
Fan Jian sighed deeply and said helplessly, "You both know that Qin Feiyang has some sort of treasure he can hide within. Although he can’t escape the prison, I can’t lay a hand on him either."
Old Monster Dong and the Dong Family Head nodded.
Fan Jian continued, "He told me he must see Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue with his own eyes before he’ll give us the Elixir Formula."
The Dong Family Head shook his head. "That’s unacceptable. That little bastard is full of tricks. If something unexpected happens, wouldn’t all our efforts be for naught?"
"Indeed," Old Monster Dong agreed. "We can’t take that risk."
Standing to the side, Qin Feiyang subtly frowned.
Fan Jian lowered his head, his brow furrowed in silence.
Truthfully, I don’t know what to do next.
Qin Feiyang glanced at Fan Jian, then looked up at Old Monster Dong and the Dong Family Head with a smile. "Actually, you two needn’t worry. Although Qin Feiyang is cunning, as long as you don’t let him get near Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue, he’ll be powerless."
Fan Jian (as Wei Zhongyang) suddenly declared, "Exactly! What are you afraid of with me here? I tell you, I want to kill him even more than you do, because he’s the one who cost me everything! My son died because of him! This time, I will not only get all the treasures he possesses, but I will also end his miserable life! As for Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue, they too will die once this is over!"
Fan Jian’s eyes blazed with intense murderous intent and venomous hatred.
Hearing this, Old Monster Dong and the Dong Family Head fell silent.
Qin Feiyang’s eyes flickered. He lowered his head to look at Fan Jian (posing as Wei Zhongyang) and said respectfully, "Sir, it seems the Dong Family still doesn’t quite trust you. We need to discuss this matter thoroughly to avoid being used as pawns."
The Dong Family Head quickly looked up at Qin Feiyang. "Brother Fan Jian, you mustn’t say such things! It’s not that we don’t trust Brother Wei; it’s just that Qin Feiyang is incredibly difficult to handle. We must proactively eliminate all potential risks."
"Yes, yes, yes, it’s a misunderstanding! Brother Wei, please don’t take it to heart," Old Monster Dong added, looking at Fan Jian with a sycophantic expression.
Right now, Wei Zhongyang is crucial for keeping Qin Feiyang in check. We can’t afford to sour this relationship! Otherwise, the Dong Family might very well end up trying to steal the chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it.
Qin Feiyang pressed, "So it’s truly a misunderstanding? To be blunt, the Dong Family is not what it once was; in State City, it can, at best, be considered a first-tier family. The Guard Commander personally coming to see you is already giving you immense face, yet you continuously evade. Is this the sincerity of the Dong Family? Furthermore, I’d like to ask: if the plan succeeds and we obtain the Elixir Formula for the Potential Elixir, will it belong to our Guard Commander, or to your Dong Family?"
Fan Jian nodded. "Indeed. To avoid unnecessary complications later, this is an issue we must clarify beforehand."
"This..." Old Monster Dong and the Dong Family Head looked at each other, a sense of anxiety creeping in.
Qin Feiyang continued, "It appears you’ve never seriously considered this issue. In that case, wait until you’ve thought it through before seeking out the Guard Commander. Sir, let’s go!"
"Mm." Fan Jian nodded, rose, and produced a teleportation portal.
This portal had also been given to him by Qin Feiyang. Qin Feiyang’s intention in doing this was precisely to force the Dong Family to hand over Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue. He was confident that the Dong Family would compromise, because in their current predicament, they dared not antagonize Wei Zhongyang.
And just as he expected!
Seeing the two about to leave, the Dong Family Head and Old Monster Dong grew anxious. They quickly stood up and intercepted them.
Old Monster Dong forced a laugh. "Brother Wei, please don’t be angry! We can talk things over, let’s talk!"
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Fan Jian said, his face devoid of expression, "Forgive my bluntness, but with your current attitude, I see no way to sit down and have a proper discussion."
"Yes, yes, yes, we were indeed in the wrong on this," Old Monster Dong said, laughing apologetically. "How about this? For safety’s sake, we’ll have someone impersonate Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue to meet with Qin Feiyang."
"Impersonate?" Qin Feiyang’s eyebrow twitched.
They still haven’t given up? Are they truly seeking death?!
His lips curled into a cold sneer as he said, "Do you take Qin Feiyang for a fool? If he were that easily deceived, could he have brought down your Dong Family and the Lu Family? Having someone impersonate them will only backfire."
The Dong Family Head and Old Monster Dong looked at each other, a hint of helplessness in their eyes. At the same time, they felt a deep sense of frustration.
Why is this little bastard so incredibly hard to deal with? Compared to him, the disciples of our Dong Family can’t even hold a candle.
Old Monster Dong let out a long breath. "Alright, we’ll listen to Brother Wei’s counsel. I trust that Brother Wei will be able to handle this appropriately."
Fan Jian felt a surge of joy and laughed. "Don’t worry. With me here, they won’t be able to escape."
Old Monster Dong nodded and chuckled. "Brother Wei was once the Commandery Prince of Yan Province; I certainly trust your abilities. However, we’ll need to wait a bit, as Lin Yiyi and Lo Qianxue are not currently at the Dong Family estate."
Not at the Dong Family estate?
Qin Feiyang’s heart clenched.
If not at the Dong Family’s, then where could they be? Could it be...
Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes.
I’ve got it! That mysterious War Ancestor who injured Yan Nanshan!

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