Chapter 772: Mad Shen Haoran

“I’ll give five hundred thousand Elemental Stones!”

A moment later, a middle-aged man stepped forward and spoke to Shen Haoran, his face etched with bitterness. He was just the Clan Leader of a family from a small city in the Southern Domain. He had only come to try his luck, to see if he could gain some benefits from the Five Elements Sect. But now, it seemed his greed had not only failed to get him anything but had also cost him his entire family fortune.

“Five hundred thousand Elemental Stones. Very good!” Shen Haoran’s face was all smiles. Behind him, Shui Ruolan immediately recorded the middle-aged man’s family name.

“Next. You’d all better hurry up. My patience is limited. Also, let me offer a word of advice: I’ve already investigated your family fortunes. Don’t even think about trying to get away with anything. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee any of you will leave this place alive!” Shen Haoran said coolly.

Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, the leaders of the other powers stepped forward with extreme reluctance and declared what they were worth. Under the threat of death, these Martial Artists were surprisingly honest, offering up the most they could possibly give. Shen Haoran was quite satisfied as he listened. Some offered Elemental Stones, some offered Spirit Medicines and Elixirs, and others offered Cultivation and Martial Skills. These were all things the Five Elements Sect desperately needed right now.

Soon, the leaders of those powers had all given Shen Haoran what they could. The only ones who hadn’t moved in the entire square were the Illusion Transformation Sect, the Guiyuan Sect, and the Blood Evil Alliance.

“Alliance Master Xue, aren’t you going to make an offer?” Shen Haoran asked, looking at Xue Chentian coolly.

“Hmph! Don’t think I don’t know what tricks you’re playing. You really think you can scare me like you did this bunch of cowards who are afraid of dying? I was playing mind games when you were still in diapers!” Xue Chentian snorted coldly at Shen Haoran. He refused to believe Shen Haoran would actually detonate the thousand-year-old Spirit Vein.

“Oh, you don’t believe me? Then let’s test that theory!” Upon hearing Xue Chentian’s words, a strange smile crept onto Shen Haoran’s lips, making Xue Chentian’s heart skip a beat.

The next moment, Shen Haoran’s hands began to form a rapid series of Seal Techniques. As he did, the tremors underground grew more and more intense. Terrifying pillars of Spiritual Power erupted from the earth, and massive fissures spread across the Central Square. All the Martial Artists present could see the violent Spiritual Power rampaging within the thousand-year-old Spirit Vein below. In that instant, the hair on everyone’s bodies stood on end.

“Xue Chentian, what do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to get us all killed?”

“Xue Chentian, how can you be so selfish? We all ended up in this mess because we were trying to help you! How can you do this to us?”

“Xue Chentian, is your life really worth more than the lives of everyone from every power in the Southern Domain? Hurry up and agree to his terms!”

Feeling the increasingly violent Spiritual Power around them, the leaders of the various powers began to turn on Xue Chentian, their voices filled with accusation.

“Stop! Stop, I agree to your terms!” Xue Chentian roared, his clothes soaked through with cold sweat. ‘He’d never felt Death so close before. This Shen Haoran actually dares to detonate the thousand-year-old Spirit Vein. I’ve never seen someone so insane.’

“What’s this? A change of heart, Alliance Master Xue?” Shen Haoran stopped his Seal Technique, his expression as calm as if the thousand-year-old Spirit Vein about to explode beneath his feet had nothing to do with him.

“Tell me. What do you want me to do?” Xue Chentian said through clenched teeth. ‘He had never bowed his head to anyone before, yet today he had actually yielded to a mere Sect disciple.’

“The Blood Evil Alliance has deep pockets, so I won’t ask for much. Fifty million Elemental Stones and four Earth Tier Martial Skills. As for Elixirs, we’re not interested. Hand them over now. Otherwise, you know the consequences!” Shen Haoran said coldly.

“Don’t push your luck! This is robbery!” Xue Chentian immediately retorted upon hearing Shen Haoran’s demand.

“What, is your life so worthless, Alliance Master Xue? You should know, the fate of every power in the Southern Domain rests in your hands right now!” Shen Haoran sneered.

Hearing this, Xue Chentian’s expression turned grim. ‘There’s a hidden meaning in Shen Haoran’s words. He’s trying to stir up conflict between me and the other powers.’ Xue Chentian glanced at the other Martial Artists and, just as he’d expected, they were all staring at him warily.

Xue Chentian had to admit that Shen Haoran’s move was brilliant. Shen Haoran had used the threat of mutual destruction to extort these Sect Powers. Naturally, they would hold a grudge. After they left safely, they might have united with the Blood Evil Alliance, leaving the Five Elements Sect with no escape. But Shen Haoran had exploited their fear of death, turning them against Xue Chentian. This way, even after they left the Five Elements Sect safely, they wouldn’t dare return for revenge, because they would have also offended the Blood Evil Alliance. They could only swallow this bitter pill. Shen Haoran had planned his exit strategy with meticulous care.

“Fine. I agree!” Xue Chentian had no choice but to bow his head. He had no other options. He knew that if he refused, Shen Haoran would absolutely detonate the Spirit Vein below. ‘Compared to Shen Haoran’s life, my own is far more precious. As long as I’m alive, I’ll pay him back for this humiliation sooner or later!’

Xue Chentian placed the items Shen Haoran demanded into a Storage Ring and handed it to him. He stepped in front of Shen Haoran and said coldly, “You will regret what you’ve done to me today!”

“Is that so? You’ll also come to regret what you’ve done to my Five Elements Sect,” Shen Haoran replied with a smile, his eyes showing not a trace of fear.

“Hmph! We’re leaving!” Xue Chentian shot Shen Haoran a cold glare, then led the Martial Artists of the Blood Evil Alliance out of the Five Elements Sect. After suffering such a huge loss today, there was no way Xue Chentian would swallow it so easily.

Seeing Xue Chentian leave, the Martial Artists from the other powers also fled from the Five Elements Sect as if their lives depended on it. They didn’t want to stay in this place for a second longer. In an instant, the once-crowded Central Square was empty, leaving only Shen Haoran, Zi Yuexi, and Jiannan Chun of the Sword Control Palace.

*PHEW…* Seeing the leaders of the other powers finally leave, Shen Haoran collapsed onto the ground, his back also soaked through with cold sweat. ‘If Xue Chentian had held out for even one more second, he would have called my bluff. There was no way I would actually detonate the thousand-year-old Spirit Vein. Compared to those power-hungry leaders, I value my own life far more. I still have so many responsibilities on my shoulders. Until I’ve accomplished those things, I absolutely cannot allow myself to die…’