Chapter 746: The Merchant Lord

At this moment.

The Lord's Mansion of Shenmu City.

This is the place closest to that divine tree; its colossal canopy blazes like gold, and the radiant light cascading down converges to illuminate every inch of this land.

Everything visible is bathed in golden hues; the brilliance here is so intense it feels as if one stands near the sun itself—ordinary warriors cannot remain in the lord's mansion for long, as the tree's power would crush those too weak to withstand it.

Only those of the Shenmu lineage, warriors who carry the same divine blood as the tree, can walk freely here without fear of being harmed by its radiance; among these warriors, those bearing patterns resembling golden leaves are symbols of the highest honor.

For they are the direct bloodline of the Shenmu lineage.

But today,

A powerful beast pulls a carriage covered in golden leaves, speeding swiftly along the broad road within the lord's mansion.

The golden leaves on the carriage shield its occupants from the tree's harmful radiance, allowing even ordinary people to travel safely across this sacred ground—but riding such a carriage requires an exceptionally noble status.

Yet today is an exception.

For inside the carriage sits merely an ordinary merchant lord of Shenmu City.

"Do not attempt to lift the curtains and look outside—the tree's radiance will instantly blind your eyes and burn your body to ash. This is not merely the lord's mansion; it is the most sacred place of the Shenmu lineage."

Inside the carriage sat an elderly man, clad in a fur-lined robe, hunched over, with disheveled hair adorned with a single golden leaf—a leaf plucked from the divine tree, now worn by the old man as decoration.

"Master Mu Sang, thank you for your warning. Thanks to your introduction, I have been granted entry into this holy and noble mansion and the chance to meet the sages of the Shenmu lineage," Xiu Xiang said with deep respect.

The elder Mu Sang replied calmly: "I too am a descendant of the Shenmu lineage. Though the golden blood of my ancestors no longer flows in my veins, I am willing to do anything to aid the Shenmu lineage's prosperity and continuity. Though you are but a humble merchant, you saved two Shan-level Shenmu warriors—such a great debt will be richly repaid by both me and the sages of our lineage."

"With those words from Master Mu Sang, my heart is at ease," said Xiu Xiang.

Mu Sang nodded slightly: "Wait until the carriage stops in the shadow before stepping down—avoid the areas bathed in the tree's light. Today, I will secure for you the rewards you deserve—not because of my promise, but so other merchants may witness that rescuing Shenmu warriors brings astonishing returns. Only then can our family endure and thrive."

"I hope the sages of the Shenmu lineage understand this truth as well," Xiu Xiang said calmly.

Soon,

The beast pulled the carriage into a grand hall.

This hall blocked the divine tree's light, sparing its occupants from its scorching rays.

Here,

Several elders of the Shenmu lineage awaited them, having heard of the disaster that befell Mu Xi, Mu Tuo, and Mu Shu—whose bodies were utterly destroyed, their enemies still unknown.

Now, a merchant had arrived with the wounded Mu Tuo and Mu Shu, and they were eager to see them at once.

Mu Sang led the merchant Xiu Xiang out of the carriage.

They glanced around, then fixed their gaze on an elderly man seated at the center of the ancient hall: his body was robust, yet his hair and beard were pure white; though aged, his physique remained astonishing, and golden leaf-like patterns adorned his skin.

Clearly, he was an elder warrior—and a direct descendant of the divine bloodline.

"Mu Sang, you should know me—I am the eldest divine-blooded elder of the Shenmu lineage. Call me Mu Wu," the aged warrior spoke.

"Your Holiness," Mu Sang immediately stiffened and bowed deeply in reverence.

Mu Wu was the Grand Priest of the Shenmu lineage, a figure of immense prestige.

"Your Holiness," Xiu Xiang, the merchant, also bowed quickly.

Mu Wu said: "Mu Sang, I hear this merchant brought two wounded divine-blooded warriors to our lineage?"

"Yes," Mu Sang replied. "He is Merchant Xiu Xiang. According to his account, they are Mu Tuo, a direct divine-blooded heir, and Mu Shu, a divine-blooded warrior."

Mu Wu then turned his gaze to Xiu Xiang: "Your kindness shall be remembered by our lineage. Please bring Mu Tuo and Mu Shu to us—they are wounded and require healing. I cannot bear to see them perish from their injuries or lose their divine blood forever."

Xiu Xiang paused, for Grand Priest Mu Wu made no mention of reward—his tone carried the weight of command, demanding Xiu Xiang surrender the wounded warriors.

Is this the arrogance of the divine-blooded lineage?

Yet he had promised Da Yi to return with enough divine tree leaves—and if he failed, he would rather die here.

Xiu Xiang immediately said: "Your Holiness, I am a merchant. Merchants deal in trade. These two treasures I hold are rare and precious—what reward will Your Holiness offer to acquire them?"

At these words,

A thunderous roar echoed from behind the hall: "Audacious! You lowly merchant dare to treat our divine-blooded warriors as merchandise? Are you mocking the Shenmu lineage? Do you wish to lose your head?"

"Your Holiness, permit me to slay this merchant, so all may know the price of insulting the Shenmu lineage!"

"This merchant is too weak to have saved Mu Tuo and Mu Shu—he is deceiving us, seeking reward under false pretenses. Do not believe him!"

One voice after another rose in righteous fury, a chilling aura spreading through the hall.

Suddenly, brilliant golden lights flared throughout the dim hall.

These were the divine-blooded warriors of the Shenmu lineage, enraged.

Merely their wrath seemed ready to incinerate Xiu Xiang on the spot.

But Xiu Xiang knew the danger of this journey—he did not flinch. He stood tall, meeting Grand Priest Mu Wu's gaze, and spoke again: "If Your Holiness refuses to purchase these two treasures, I shall seek another buyer. Of course, you may kill me here—as you say, I am but a lowly merchant. But then, you will never see Mu Tuo and Mu Shu again."

"Are you threatening the Shenmu lineage?" A young, powerful warrior, bare-chested and wielding a spear forged of crimson gold, strode forward, radiating the heat of a blazing sun.

His skin, as if cast in crimson gold, was etched with countless golden leaf-like patterns.

Clearly, he was an extraordinary divine-blooded warrior.

"Stop! You cannot kill a merchant—do you wish to turn all merchants against the Shenmu lineage? Do you wish to lose two divine-blooded warriors over a few coins? One of them is a direct heir!" Mu Sang immediately rebuked.

He sensed the warrior's lethal intent.

He feared the warrior's spear would strike off Xiu Xiang's head.

Such an act, though momentarily satisfying, would doom the Shenmu lineage to ruin—he would not allow it.

"Your ancestors once carried the blood of the Shenmu lineage—yet now you defend a lowly merchant?" The powerful warrior glared at Mu Sang, his fury palpable.

Mu Sang replied: "I am not defending the merchant—I am defending the future of the Shenmu lineage. Your Holiness, as our sage, you understand my meaning."

He knew Mu Wu was not stopping this out of mercy, but to intimidate the merchant.

If the merchant cracked under pressure and surrendered the warriors, all would be well.

"Mu Yan, return. Mu Sang is right—do not kill a merchant without cause; it invites disaster. And this man brought us two of our own warriors—we owe him a return." Grand Priest Mu Wu spoke slowly at last.

"Yes, Your Holiness."

The powerful warrior reluctantly shouldered his crimson-gold spear and stepped back.

Yet his eyes still glowed with divine light, fixed on Xiu Xiang as if ready to strike at any moment.

Xiu Xiang tensed, overwhelmed by crushing pressure—but as a merchant, he held firm, determined to close this deal.

"Merchant, since you choose to forsake the debt of gratitude and demand payment, I shall not refuse—but your actions are like trading a pebble for a jewel," Grand Priest Mu Wu said again.

Xiu Xiang replied: "I am but a merchant. Gratitude has no place in trade. I seek enough divine tree leaves from these two warriors."

"So you covet the leaves of our divine tree. As a merchant, your vision and greed are fitting," Mu Wu said. "I shall offer you one hundred divine leaves as payment. Is that acceptable?"

"One divine-blooded warrior and one direct heir—are they worth only one hundred leaves? If other Shan lords learn this price, no one will ever risk their lives to rescue your warriors again."

"I'd rather sell the direct heir to another Shan lord—they would surely value Shenmu blood immensely."

He spoke without hesitation.

The implication was clear: a direct heir could reproduce.

With proper use,

A new branch of Shenmu warriors might yet arise.

As long as it is used properly.

There may yet be another warrior from the Divine Wood lineage in the future.