Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Chapter 174 - 148: This Is Extortion

Yuan Chujun sensed it too and reached out to stop it, but he was a step too slow.

Just then, Jinbao’s body suddenly swelled in size. He turned, wrapped Fang Qingyuan in an embrace, and prepared to take the blow with his back.

But a moment later, Jinbao felt as if nothing had happened. He was a bit puzzled. Just then, Fang Qingyuan patted his arm and said:

"Loosen your grip a little. You’re about to crush me to death."

At Fang Qingyuan’s reminder, Jinbao sheepishly removed his thick arms. When he turned around, he saw an elegant black panther extending its left foreleg. A single sharp claw was pressed against the tip of the approaching Magical Artifact, which was swirling with roiling black energy.

"A Demonic Magical Artifact. You’re courting death!"

The black panther coldly spat out these words, then unleashed the immense pressure of a Golden Core, forcing all the other Cultivators—everyone except Fang Qingyuan and his companion—to the ground.

Yuan Chujun’s face was a mask of shock. He never imagined a Golden Core Demon Beast had been lurking nearby. Despite his cultivation level, he hadn’t detected a thing. Seeing the black panther’s rage, Yuan Chujun hurriedly shouted:

"Elder, please calm your anger! This is entirely Zhao Erchang’s own doing! It has nothing to do with us!"

After Yuan Chujun finished speaking, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators immediately reacted, all scrambling to distance themselves from Zhao Erchang. As for Zhao Erchang himself, the black panther had used Spiritual Power to seal his mouth and nose, rendering him unable to speak.

Just then, Fang Qingyuan walked over to the black panther’s side, bowed, and said gratefully:

"I owe you my deepest thanks this time, Master Heiye. If you hadn’t intervened, I would have suffered a terrible loss."

Heiye’s whiskers twitched at the corners of his mouth, forming a gentle smile. He chuckled and said:

"It’s nothing. My purpose here is to ensure your safety. However, since I had to intervene this time, the Spirit Stone fee will have to go up."

Fang Qingyuan laughed and said:

"Of course. I can’t expect you to act for free, Master."

Fang Qingyuan had previously made an arrangement with Zhao Liangde: a fee of five Top-grade Spirit Stones for Master Heiye to accompany him on this trip, with an additional five every time he had to take action.

Five Spirit Stones were equivalent to Fang Qingyuan’s entire annual income, but that was nothing compared to his life. Besides, he wouldn’t be the one footing this bill.

"Elder Yuan, I address you with respect, but I never imagined you would allow someone to launch an attack like this. You must give me an explanation."

Yuan Chujun looked completely innocent as he vehemently argued:

"I honestly didn’t know! Who could have imagined Zhao Erchang would be so audacious? If I had known what he was planning, I would have killed him myself before you even had to speak! Besides, I was about to step in and stop him!"

With Heiye backing him up, Fang Qingyuan was naturally full of confidence. He adopted a skeptical expression and said:

"Anyone can put on an act. Weren’t you the one who brought Zhao Erchang here? If I didn’t trust you, why would I have let him get so close to me? Moreover, you’re a senior member of Jiuye Square. These men all follow your lead. Without your signal, how would Zhao Erchang have dared to act?"

Yuan Chujun now found himself in a bitter predicament he couldn’t explain. Zhao Erchang’s sudden attack had put him completely on the back foot. With a Golden Core master present, if his answer was unsatisfactory, he might very well lose his life here today.

At this thought, a wave of bitterness washed over Yuan Chujun. Just as he was trying to figure out how to extricate himself, he noticed something. ’Fang Qingyuan looks furious, but his eyes aren’t angry at all.’

And so, the wily and experienced Yuan Chujun said:

"Younger Brother Fang, could we have a word in private?"

Seeing that Yuan Chujun was playing along, Fang Qingyuan nodded to Heiye. The Golden Core Black Panther released the pressure on Yuan Chujun, allowing him to approach Fang Qingyuan’s side.

Once he reached Fang Qingyuan, Yuan Chujun cast a sound-insulating barrier, and the two began to whisper. As for the other Foundation Establishment Family Masters, they could only watch Yuan Chujun anxiously, hoping he could get them through this crisis.

A moment later, Yuan Chujun dispelled the sound barrier and shouted furiously at Fang Qingyuan:

"This is extortion! I would rather die than agree! If you must, then just kill us all right now to quench your anger!"

As soon as he said this, the other Foundation Establishment Family Masters nearby hurriedly cried out:

"Elder Yuan, no! Please, reconsider!"

"Elder Yuan, just agree to his terms for now! Whatever the conditions, our families will shoulder them together. There’s no reason for you to bear this alone!"

Seeing the other Foundation Establishment Family Masters pleading with him, some on the verge of tears, Yuan Chujun finally sighed and said:

"Fine. For the sake of everyone here, I, Yuan Chujun, will agree. Now, can you let us go?"

Fang Qingyuan finally smiled broadly and said:

"Then I’ll leave it in your hands, Elder Yuan. For now, every Patriarch may leave—except for Zhao Erchang. As for my conditions, Elder Yuan can explain them to you all after you’ve returned. If anyone thinks about backing out once you’re back... then don’t blame me for asking Grandmaster Lechuan to come and collect the payment himself. I assure you, the price will not be the same then."

After the dejected Foundation Establishment Cultivators had quickly flown back to their distant army formation, Heiye finally remarked sourly:

"You’re more ruthless than I am, kid. Demanding three hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones right from the start... Are they really going to pay?"

Hearing Heiye’s doubt, Fang Qingyuan replied with confidence:

"Of course they will. By keeping Zhao Erchang here, I’m giving them the green light to pick his family clean without us having to lift a finger. After they raid the Zhao family’s assets, they should be able to scrounge up at least a hundred and fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones. Add in the Zhao family’s Spirit Mountain, their shops, and their business channels... the other families can easily pool the rest. My demand for three hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones isn’t excessive at all."

Just as Fang Qingyuan finished speaking, a great uproar of battle cries erupted from the distant army formation where Yuan Chujun had returned. Soon after, dozens of Qi Cultivation Cultivators were swiftly subdued.

Witnessing this scene, Fang Qingyuan gave a smug smile. He then led his group back inside the Li Family’s Mountain Gate. Meanwhile, the people of the Li Family inside the Scripture Pavilion were still completely unaware that the reinforcements they had been so desperately awaiting had been stopped by Fang Qingyuan—and extorted for an enormous sum.