Chapter 158: The Spendthrift Madman Ying the Eldest Young Master: Can't Beat Him

In that Xiao Hong Lou in Center City, Ying Lin removed the smart glasses linking to the terminal network, his face flushing with an unusual red; he lay limp on the genuine leather sofa as if after intense exercise.

When he first arrived in Hengzhou, Ying Lin was still keen on "concubine selection events," immersed in wine, women, and song.

But he soon lost interest; vigorous young bodies could no longer provide more stimulation or excitement.

So Ying Lin turned to taking contraband; as a top-tier rich second generation who would rank even in the Imperial Capital or Haizhou, he naturally had no fear of Patrol Bureau searches.

During that time, the Red Building gatherings were regarded as a dream holy land by those fun-loving second generations in Center City; almost every day was a bacchanal, cycling from emptiness to satisfaction and back again.

But the abyss of desire can never be filled; trapped in the Xiao Hong Lou, unable to take a single step out, Ying Lin — like a prisoner — had already experienced every entertainment he could enjoy.

"Still, the feedback from the virtual world never bores me."

Ying Lin fiddled with those smart glasses, Qingming Technology's latest product, originally meant to let people enter virtual space for interaction or gaming.

Somehow some ghost talent cracked it, developed all kinds of 18+ restricted content, and cranked the realism to one hundred percent; among them were no lack of killing, torture, or experiences that pushed psychological thresholds.

This non-compliant product is not safe; because of the one hundred percent realism, the stimulation intensity to every aspect of the human body is very high, easily leading to unpredictable dangers.

But for Ying Lin, who had grown numb even from taking contraband, only courting death could make him feel alive instead of a walking corpse trapped in the Red Building.

After resting a while, Ying Lin summoned the bionic butler to attend to his changing and bathing; ever since Second Brother Ying Qi died, he no longer trusted outsiders — all the servants inside and outside this Red Building were high-priced custom bionic machines ordered from Haizhou.

Fortunately Center City's Iron Curtain is strong enough to withstand the local electronic blockade of Hengzhou; otherwise these bionic machines would likely have turned into mechanical lifeforms at the first moment.

Ying Lin soaked in the bathtub, intravenously injecting two vials of "Dao Heart Potion" that excited the spirit; this is one of the Pharmacist Buddha Enterprise's flagship products, specially for keeping the mind lively and clear — originally a cultivation resource for the Spiritual Path, later used as a tranquilizing auxiliary medicine.

He breathed deeply; the Xiao Hong Lou might be large, but ultimately it cannot compare to the vast world outside.

Not to mention, this Ying family rich second generation had long since witnessed the boundless Star Sea.

Now imprisoned in a tiny house, not daring to step half a pace outside for over a decade, Ying Lin felt that not having been driven mad was already proof of extraordinarily strong mental fortitude.

"The Nanhuang Dao Guan lunatics found me this fast, and they're even guarding Center City — looks like they value that poor kid a lot."

Ying Lin rested his head on the bathtub edge, pulled out his terminal and dialed a number, saying softly:

"Uncle Mo, this is Ying Lin."

The voice on the other end was very steady, each word deep and powerful:

"What do you need me to do, Third Young Master Ying?"

Ying Lin raised an eyebrow, but his tone sounded extremely respectful:

"Uncle Mo, you're too polite; I'm just a junior, you're the esteemed Director of the Center City Education Bureau — how could it be my place to order you, am I worthy? Your nephew just wants to discuss a deal with you..."

That steady voice was very calm, not stirring the slightest ripple:

"Ying Lin, since you know I'm a civil servant of the highest level unit under Dongxia's administrative stars, you shouldn't be calling me at this juncture. I have no reason whatsoever to discuss any nature of business with a social idler."

Blue veins throbbed at Ying Lin's temples; this old geezer was really pushing his luck — twenty years ago you'd be kneeling begging this Young Master.

"Uncle Mo, you can't put it like that. Business or not, friendship remains; this isn't the first time you and I have done business — you can't just because you've secured the Director's high position and don't need your nephew anymore, speak coldly to me."

That steady voice fell silent for a moment, then said with a hint of helplessness:

"If there's something, say it; don't beat around the bush."

If he could, he indeed didn't want to get entangled with the Ying family again, especially a brainless rich second generation lunatic like Ying Lin; unfortunately past entanglements were too close, impossible to shake off and cut clean.

Ying Lin smiled:

"The Top Hundred Tournament organized by the Hengzhou Martial Association — I want to make a contribution."

The other end made no sound, as if even breathing had vanished; a long time passed without a response.

"Uncle Mo, you and I are grasshoppers on the same rope. The Nanhuang Dao Guan doesn't just have a feud with me alone; how Shen Zhangyuan died, you know perfectly well. That Netherworld Exploration was initiated by the Center City Education Bureau; that old Zhang fellow doesn't have the magnanimity to turn swords into plowshares — sooner or later he'll settle accounts."

Ying Lin had dealt with that Uncle Mo many times and knew his "no rabbit, no hawk" temperament, so he laid it out straight:

"Your son Mo Zhen Ting is already in the Seventh War Corps, awarded the Gold Spike shoulder epaulets, preparing for promotion to regiment commander. How did he get into the North China Imperial Capital? That visualization scripture passed down from ancient times — whose hands was it seized from? Shen Zhangyuan dead — who benefited most? Do I really have to bring all this up one by one?"

"Uncle Mo, the Nanhuang Dao Guan old man has only half a breath left; either we outlast him, or he goes mad one last time and kills us both. There's no other path!"

"You helping me is helping yourself, and more importantly helping your son. The Seventh War Corps guards the Beidou Star Domain; Mo Zhen Ting became a regiment commander before forty, awarded the Gold Spike — in the future he might well command an army corps and become a second Jiang Wanli."

That steady voice finally spoke:

"What do you want to do? The Nanhuang Dao Guan has been silent for a long time; they've finally found such a seedling, undoubtedly treating him like their lifeblood."

"You strangle him, and you destroy the Nanhuang Dao Guan; you think Zhang Qiang will just let it go? A repeat of the Shen Zhangyuan affair, and we'd face a Martial Path Grandmaster who's lost his reason? Give him a military Divine Machine with dedicated weapons — who in Center City could stop him? Back then it took the Governor stepping in to halt that massacre, letting you scrape back your life."

"Don't think your life too precious and others' too cheap; to an armed and armored martial man, us Dongxia Nine Surnames noble scions are just a single slash away."

Ying Lin smiled, looking neurotic:

"Uncle Mo, I'm not an idiot; how could I not know how terrifying it is to thoroughly enrage a Martial Path Grandmaster? But there's no choice — that poor kid has both learned He Lanchan's 'Xu Kong Meditation Method' and possesses the monstrous talent of Spirit-Flesh Unity, and is favored by the Nanhuang Dao Guan, walking the Old Martial Arts Limit Breaking Path."

"Given time, he'll surely reach the Star Cup and go to the Borderlands... the people above don't want a second He Lanchan; this matter was assigned to the Ying family simply because of the Ying family's personal grudge with He Lanchan. The Xiao Family or Rong Family would be the same."

That steady voice seemed to ponder; after ten-odd seconds:

"I cannot guarantee your life safety; you must understand this. Even if Center City's Iron Curtain project has poured massive field resources into your Xiao Hong Lou, if Zhang Qiang is determined to kill you, it won't hold long."

The corner of Ying Lin's mouth curled up, extraordinarily self-assured:

"Then let him come! Against Dongxia, whether I die or live, the Nanhuang Dao Guan will have its plaque removed and its permit to bear arms and wear armor revoked!"

"Uncle Mo needn't worry; I only ask one small favor — give me the data on the top fifty of the Top Hundred Tournament. I'm willing to invest my entire net worth, mobilize five hundred 'Xu Kong Coins' stored in the 'Entropy Sea Bank' to supply them cultivation resources."

"The Nanhuang Dao Guan's backbone is this stiff; I'll use money to smash that poor kid to death, make him unable to even enter the top fifty."

That steady voice gave an "mm":

"As long as you don't use illegal means again, everything's negotiable."

Ying Lin added:

"Uncle Mo, I know the Education Bureau discovered a good seedling this year, called 'Zhou Yuanchen', right? How about letting him sign with our Ying Clan? Ying Clan's exclusive Artificial Meridian Body technology can absolutely help him achieve a huge leap in a short time."

That steady voice sighed:

"The Supernova the Education Bureau puts forward could never become a dog for your Ying Clan. I don't know how good Ying Clan's Artificial Meridian Body technology is, but your dog-raising skills are absolutely top-tier."

"You treat the Spiritual Path as 'mining machines', having them dig Xu Kong Coins in the Netherworld all day; the Martial Path you send into security companies... heard your Ying Clan even issues 'Time Bonds' to your kept house dogs, pre-selling their future twenty or even fifty years of cultivation resources; if returns don't meet targets, they're saddled with debt."

"Signing with your Ying Clan — what's the difference from jumping into a fire pit?"

Ying Lin didn't think there was any problem; the Ying Clan hadn't deceived anyone, and all actions were voluntary.

Besides, countless people wanted to be the Ying Clan's dogs, yet they had no way in.

"Mo Shu Shu, that poor brat from Nanhuang Dao Guan is indeed no ordinary person; I tentatively arranged an assassination, but he resolved it all. That Zheng Yun is also trash, and he got knocked down too. Apart from the top fifty of the Hengzhou Hundred Strong, I still need a true genius who can settle things once and for all."

Ying Lin didn't back down either, insisting as he spoke.

"I'll hand over Zhou Yuanchen's contact information to you; whether you can persuade him is up to you."

Click— the call was hung up as soon as those words were spoken.

It was very obvious that that Education Director was unwilling to speak even half a sentence more with Ying Lin.

"Old geezer, acting all high and mighty with your mouth! Pretending to be a gentleman with me! Pah!"

Ying Lin sneered coldly, then called the communications company and had them help transfer the call to Haizhou.

Although Dongxia's Great Universe Server could achieve cross-planet communication transmission, limited by a Star God sleeping in Hengzhou, they couldn't deploy "base stations" on a large scale, so they could only have state-run communications companies help out.

After a long "beep beep beep beep" lasting several minutes, the call finally connected.

"Young Master Ying, what orders do you have?"

The voice on the other end was very young, and the attitude was very respectful.

"Luo Bing, help me withdraw the Xu Kong Coins stored in the Entropy Sea Bank and exchange them for fifty portions of cultivation resources of different specifications. Then spread the word on my behalf: whoever smashes Nanhuang Dao Guan to pieces in the Hengzhou Hundred Strong will obtain these generous resources sufficient for them to reach Professional First Segment."

Ying Lin said indifferently; he no longer cared about his wealth shrinking, as long as he could leave this godforsaken place, anything was fine.

The Ying Clan assigned an Exclusive Steward to every direct descendant after they came of age.

Luo Bing was precisely the confidant who managed Ying Lin's finances and was responsible for operations.

"Withdraw all of it? Young Master Ying, this is currently your largest asset; think it through."

Luo Bing confirmed once more.

Xu Kong Coins were condensed from the essence of the Netherworld, a new type of circulating currency even harder than Mineral Essence.

Only the Spiritual Path of the Saint Embryo stage could serve as a "Spiritual Mining Machine," roaming the Netherworld day and night, consuming mental energy to mine them.

Five hundred Xu Kong Coins were no small asset even placed in the Star Sea.

They counted as "well-off."

"Confirmed. Nanhuang Dao Guan is at least the pillar of Hengzhou's Old Martial Arts faction; if I don't empty the family coffers, how can I smash their heir to death."

Ying Lin spoke calmly.

"Understood, Young Master Ying, give me two days."

Luo Bing said with a grave expression.

The Entropy Sea Bank's origin was very mysterious, its strength extremely formidable; it could operate across the Star Sea, with a credit foundation unbelievably strong — it was said even Dongxia had no authority to inquire or access customers' relevant information.

It could be called a First Echelon superpower!

"As fast as possible, I want all thirty-two administrative districts to know this news! Let everyone know that even without the Ying Clan using tricks, within the rules, getting rid of a stinking brat from a poor backwater is easy as flipping a hand!"

(Chapter End)