Chapter 1077: Kicked the Steel Plate

Yun Che stopped, but did not turn around. "What do you mean by 'not for sale'?"

The black-clothed middle-aged man's words astonished everyone. Ji Ruyan's expression also changed slightly. They had never encountered such a thing at the Black Feather Merchant Guild; indeed, in the tens of thousands of years of the Black Feather Merchant Guild's history, it had never happened.

"It means exactly what it says," the black-clothed middle-aged man slowly walked towards Yun Che. His demeanor was not as gentle as Ji Ruyan's; his face remained stern. "Just now, the lord who captured this Royal Wood Spirit sent word that he intends to reclaim it from us. Since that is the case, this transaction must be canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience. However, rest assured, all your Violet Profound Stones will be returned to you without a single loss." While he said "apologies," his tone was clearly a commanding one that brooked no refusal.

"This..." Ji Ruyan quickly approached the black-clothed middle-aged man, hesitated, and then asked, "The Black Feather Merchant Guild has never reclaimed anything it has sold. May I ask what happened?" The black-clothed middle-aged man glanced at her, his eyes still cold even when looking at Ji Ruyan. His lips moved slightly, and he briefly sent a telepathic message to her. "Ah!?" Ji Ruyan's face instantly paled, as if she had heard something terrifying, and she even took a step back, appearing greatly startled.

Just as Yun Che was about to speak, he suddenly felt the Wood Spirit boy he was holding in his hand tremble. The boy's hand gripped his clothes tightly, and his shivering body cowered behind him, clearly terrified that Yun Che might hand him back. Yun Che turned around, his gaze fixed directly on the black-clothed middle-aged man. "Is this how your Black Feather Merchant Guild operates?"

"No, absolutely not!" Before the black-clothed middle-aged man could speak, Ji Ruyan hastily interjected. Her ability to manage such a transaction fair was certainly not poor, but at this moment, her eyes were trembling, clearly indicating she was genuinely flustered. "The Black Feather Merchant Guild has stood in the Black Yama Realm for fifty thousand years because we place immense importance on principles. I guarantee that we have never forcibly reclaimed something after it's been sold. It's just that this situation is extremely unusual. How about this: if you are willing to return him, not only will all four hundred million Violet Profound Stones be returned to you, but I am also willing to offer an additional fifty million Violet Profound Stones as compensation. What do you think?" Everyone listened with wide eyes. Fifty million Violet Profound Stones as compensation was an enormous sum, even for individuals of their standing. It was undoubtedly a highly sincere offer.

"Heh, principles?" Yun Che scoffed. "A merchant guild that hosts such illicit transactions actually has the audacity to talk about principles?" Yun Che's merciless taunt, which he expected to be met with a carefree laugh, instead made Ji Ruyan's face suddenly turn pale. She lowered her head and bit her lip, offering no rebuttal.

Yun Che was puzzled. Yun Che again stared at the black-clothed middle-aged man and said expressionlessly, "You seem to have completely misunderstood something. I have already paid you all the profound stones that were due. This Royal Wood Spirit is now in my hands. Since the transaction is complete, those four hundred million profound stones are yours, and this Wood Spirit belongs to me. It has absolutely no connection to your Black Feather Merchant Guild anymore. 'Reclaim'? You seem to have no right to utter those two words."

Everyone in the room held their breath and exchanged glances. This was the Black Feather Merchant Guild's territory, and no one dared to cause trouble here. Many vaguely guessed the identity of the black-clothed middle-aged man, and they were extremely wary of him, which was why no one had dared to ask Ji Ruyan about his identity from beginning to end. No one expected Yun Che to be so unyielding and leave no room for negotiation when confronting this black-clothed man.

"Heh heh, young man, it's best not to speak so impulsively," the black-clothed middle-aged man said with a faint smile. "You're not wrong, once a transaction is complete, this Royal Wood Spirit does indeed belong to you. Forcibly taking it back is certainly inappropriate. However, I must warn you: the person who wants this Wood Spirit back is someone I cannot afford to offend, and you certainly cannot either. It would be better for you to honestly return him; then everything will be fine. Otherwise, I fear the consequences will be more than you can bear." Clearly, he didn't want to show hostility. After all, Yun Che had casually thrown out four hundred million Violet Profound Stones without batting an eye, and his fierce demeanor suggested he had an extremely powerful background and origin. It was certainly better not to completely offend him unless absolutely necessary. Little did he know, Yun Che currently had no background whatsoever, not even a companion; he was completely alone!

"Young Master, if fifty million Violet Profound Stones is still not enough compensation, please state your terms. As long as it is within my ability, I will surely meet your demands," Ji Ruyan softly said, her flickering eyes showing a hint of pleading and anxiety.

Just as Yun Che was about to speak, Ji Ruyan's telepathic message suddenly sounded in his ear: "Young Master Ling Yun, I beg you to return him immediately. The situation is far more serious than you imagine; it involves an Upper Star Realm! Furthermore, the person before you has a very powerful background. While he is still unwilling to completely offend you, quickly comply with him, or he will not only forcibly seize the Wood Spirit but might also kill you to silence you!" To the Lower Star Realm, an Upper Star Realm was like a heavenly palace. If it truly involved an Upper Star Realm, even a King of a Lower Star Realm would be terrified and quickly hand over the Wood Spirit, pale with fright. But unfortunately, they had encountered Yun Che this time. He narrowed his eyes slightly, ignoring Ji Ruyan's telepathic message, and sneered at the black-clothed middle-aged man, "He is already mine. If I don't hand him over, what can you do to me?"

"Young Master!" Ji Ruyan exclaimed softly.

"Hehehe." The black-clothed middle-aged man let out a sinister laugh, though there was not a trace of amusement on his face. "It seems you prefer to choose the hard way!" As his tone and expression changed, the entire stone chamber suddenly became oppressive.

"Hehehe." Yun Che let out the same laugh. "What? After failing to shamelessly demand it, are you now prepared to completely discard your decency and just seize it by force?"

The black-clothed middle-aged man said no more. A cold gust of wind suddenly swirled around him, and he moved like a black eagle bursting forth from the night, as swift as lightning, his five fingers reaching directly for the Wood Spirit boy behind Yun Che. The black-clothed middle-aged man's sudden attack unleashed a powerful profound energy at the Divine Tribulation Realm, startling those in the front rows and making them retreat.

Yun Che pushed the Wood Spirit boy behind him, Hell God's Sword already in hand. Purgatory was activated, and he swung his sword horizontally to meet the charging black-clothed man. Although Yun Che's profound strength was only at the second level of the Divine Soul Realm, which the black-clothed middle-aged man considered insignificant, Yun Che's casual display of four hundred million profound stones and his imposing aura made the man wary of his origins. Thus, even when attacking, he only aimed for the Wood Spirit, not directly at Yun Che. He never expected Yun Che, instead of fleeing in panic from his Divine Tribulation power, would draw his weapon and confront his attack head-on. This laughable "mantis trying to stop a chariot" act made the black-clothed man sneer. "A fool who doesn't know his place, seeking death—" Before he could finish, his expression abruptly changed. The storm of power rushing towards him was like a dragon emerging from the sea, instantly suffocating him and twisting his face in alarm.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Amidst a series of thunderous roars that no one had anticipated, all the stone tables and chairs completely shattered. At the center of the profound energy storm, the black-clothed middle-aged man grunted, retreated in a hurry, and slammed hard against the back wall, shattering the wall that was protected by high-grade profound formations. He abruptly looked up, his eyes no longer holding their previous certainty or gloom, only deep shock and disbelief. His right arm trembled slightly, almost devoid of sensation. This scene left everyone in the stone chamber dumbfounded. That terrifying power had actually come from someone at the Divine Soul Realm? And it had directly repelled a Divine Tribulation Realm expert!?

"What were you saying just now?" Yun Che said slowly, his eyes narrowed.

"You!" The black-clothed middle-aged man's expression greatly changed. As the numbness in his right arm gradually faded, he suddenly let out a low roar. A black bolt of lightning flashed between his splayed fingers, and a dark spear appeared in his hand. Lightning on the spear danced like dozens of true dragons as it thrust directly at Yun Che. "Black Soul Thunder Force... He truly is from the Soul Sect," someone in the back of the stone chamber gasped.

Yun Che's brow furrowed slightly. He forcefully pushed the Wood Spirit boy backward and suddenly lunged forward. The black lightning approaching him danced like demonic snakes, but he completely ignored it, striking down directly with a sword strike: Falling Moon Sinking Star. The Wood Spirit boy was sent flying backward by Yun Che's push, falling far away. He sat there bewildered and helpless, for a moment forgetting to stand up. Less than ten zhang behind him was Ying Yushan, his face full of shock. Seeing the Royal Wood Spirit so close, after a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth, flashed out, and lunged for the Wood Spirit boy.

*Boom!*

Spear and sword clashed. Almost instantly, all the black profound lightning on the spear disintegrated, and the nine-foot spear shaft bent into a crescent shape. Under the incredible force, the black-clothed middle-aged man's body violently shook, and he flew backward without his feet touching the ground, slamming hard against the stone wall once again.

*Boom—*

The stone wall, already cracked, completely collapsed. The black-clothed man's arms, holding the Thunder Soul Spear, trembled with numbness, and a crimson trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

After forcing back the black-clothed man with a single sword strike, Yun Che used the recoil to flip backward, then, with a powerful storm, lunged towards Ying Yushan, who was approaching the Wood Spirit boy, and slammed down with a punch. Ying Yushan, attempting to seize the opportunity, never expected Yun Che, who had just lunged forward, to instantly double back. He only had time to look up in alarm before Yun Che's fist heavily smashed into his chest. In that instant, he felt as if all the bones in his body had shattered. A spray of blood mist shot out several zhang, and his entire body flew horizontally amidst a scream, slamming violently against the stone wall of the chamber, shaking the entire room intensely. Ying Yushan's body hit the ground, twitched violently a few times, and then fell still. Only a large pool of blood rapidly spread beneath him.

Around them, no one moved forward; instead, they slowly retreated in fear. Ying Yushan's profound strength had reached the peak of the Divine Soul Realm. Yet, Yun Che, who clearly only possessed the second level of the Divine Soul Realm, had critically injured him and knocked him unconscious with just one punch!

"Urgh!"

A violent storm surged behind Yun Che. At this moment, a massive black serpent shadow appeared on the black-clothed middle-aged man's body. Lightning hissed all around him, and an overwhelmingly terrifying aura rapidly spread. "The Soul Sect's Black Thunder Serpent!" someone exclaimed.

"You asked for this!" the black-clothed middle-aged man said, his face dark and his teeth clenched.

*Slaaash!*

Lightning hissed and crackled. With the black-clothed man's roar, the black serpent shadow suddenly came alive, carrying all the lightning from his body onto the spear shaft. Instantly, the Black Soul Spear transformed into a ferocious black giant serpent, its dark fangs bared, tearing towards Yun Che with terrifying lightning. Having been repelled twice by Yun Che, the black-clothed man, in his fury, no longer dared to underestimate him or hold back. Fear and panic had begun to set in, because he had previously not even considered Yun Che, with his early-stage Divine Soul Realm profound strength, a threat, and thus had not worried about Yun Che taking the Royal Wood Spirit from him. But he never dreamed that Yun Che, who clearly only possessed second-level Divine Soul Realm profound strength, would have such terrifying power, completely disproportionate to his cultivation. What he feared was not Yun Che himself, but that if Yun Che truly took the Royal Wood Spirit, his own consequences would be far more miserable than death! Having only received Mu Xuanyin's Ice Phoenix Primordial Yin two days prior, Yun Che couldn't fully comprehend the extent of his current power. However, after sensing that the black-clothed man, despite his early Divine Tribulation Realm profound strength, didn't pose significant pressure, Yun Che was utterly certain. Facing the man's unreserved attack, Yun Che still pushed the Wood Spirit boy away with a palm and directly met the assault head-on.

This time, the Wood Spirit boy was pushed even further away, but with Ying Yushan's fate as a warning, no one dared to step forward.

"World Extinguishing Cross Slash!"

The black-clothed man's Black Thunder Serpent was incredibly fearsome, but the power Yun Che unleashed was several times greater than before. In the power storm of Hell God's Slash, the Black Thunder Serpent was instantly suppressed, but then, as if completely enraged, it hissed and lunged into the profound energy storm, forcibly withstanding the sword's might.

*Boom!*

Like thunder descending from the nine heavens, the deeply hidden underground stone chamber rapidly cracked and crumbled amidst its trembling.

"What?" The black-clothed middle-aged man's eyes widened, his twisted expression as if he had seen a ghost or god. He absolutely could not believe that his full power had actually been blocked head-on by Yun Che! No, to be precise, he was barely resisting Yun Che's power. Yun Che's face was cold and calm, while the black-clothed man supporting the Black Thunder Serpent continued to tremble violently, sweat pouring down his entire body. The immense pressure on his spear and body felt like a ten-thousand-zhang mountain slowly toppling onto him.

"You..." The heavy sword slowly pressed down, the Black Soul Spear bent little by little, and the Black Thunder Serpent coiling around it began to wail. The black-clothed man's eyes gradually widened, filled with increasing terror.

"Hailing Heaven!" A low thought echoed in Yun Che's mind as the fourth stage of the Evil God Arts, "Merciless," ruthlessly activated.

*BOOM!!!!!!!*

"Uwaaah!!!"

Yun Che's profound strength surged explosively. The Black Thunder Serpent, which had barely been holding on, let out a mournful cry and was instantly torn to shreds. The black-clothed man's arm bones completely shattered, and he flew backward, bleeding profusely amidst the rampaging profound energy storm, his Black Soul Spear flying from his grasp. Yun Che extended an arm, drawing the Black Soul Spear into his hand, and then sharply flung it.

*Pffft!*

Like a black shooting star, the Black Soul Spear precisely pierced the black-clothed man's right chest, ruthlessly passing through him and pinning his horizontally flying body firmly to the ground, blood splashing across the floor.

The stone chamber finally fell silent. Aside from the sound of blood rapidly flowing, not even a breath could be heard. Ji Ruyan stood not far away, her face pale with shock, unable to speak. The Black Yama profound practitioners in the back were pressed against the walls, gaping, sweating profusely. Not to mention speaking, they didn't even dare to breathe heavily. A second-level Divine Soul Realm practitioner had, in just a few exchanges, overwhelmingly and severely injured a Divine Tribulation Realm expert! They had never seen or heard of such a thing! They couldn't even imagine what kind of plane could cultivate such a monster.

The Wood Spirit boy sat dazedly on the ground, his eyes fixed on Yun Che. He seemed to have forgotten his fear, his eyes now gleaming with an extraordinarily brilliant light.

Yun Che slowly walked forward, his light footsteps sounding as if they were treading on everyone's hearts. He came before the black-clothed man, coldly looking down at his pathetic state, and slowly said, "Next time you need something from someone, it's best to have a gentler attitude. Otherwise, if you're unlucky enough to meet someone like me, you'll be seeking death!"