Chapter 315: Do You Take Me for a Brood Sow?

As the self-proclaimed "humble merchant" Mephisto finished speaking, the atmosphere on the plaza grew even more bizarre. The Blazing Sky Lord snorted two streams of scorching white air from his nostrils, the flames on his massive axe flickering on and off, clearly impatient with this "doing business" pitch. The Annihilation Envoy beneath his black robe let out an unintelligible low chuckle, the black crystal atop his bone staff spinning faster. And the enchanting Lady Venomblade continued to stare at Xia Wan with a predator's gaze, only temporarily restraining her urge to strike.

Mephisto paid no attention to his companions'—or rather, temporary allies'—reactions. He smiled as he looked at Xia Wan, then seemed to look through her, toward the Temple behind her, and toward the master of this place who might exist somewhere beyond perception.

"Beautiful lady, there's no need to be so nervous." Mephisto's voice carried a bewitching magic. "Business is about mutual benefit. Violence is often the least efficient solution. You see, each side has its needs; we can perfectly well sit down and talk, and find a price that satisfies everyone."

He paused, his gaze settling on Xia Wan as though appraising a priceless treasure: "Take you, for instance—young life, a pure and powerful Bloodline, and bearing such a precious 'contract'... this in itself is a tremendous fortune. To remain in such a remote Starfield about to face upheaval is truly a pearl hidden in dust. Better to come away with me; I can introduce you to a far broader stage, where your worth will be brought out to its fullest. The 'Myriad Realms Commerce Alliance' behind me possesses resources beyond your imagination..."

"Shut up!" Xia Wan cut him off sharply, her eyes icy. "I am not merchandise!"

"Heh, young and fiery—understandable." Mephisto didn't take offense, his smile unchanged. "Then let's change the subject of trade. This 'Origin Sacred Hall,' and the 'Origin Core' that may exist within it... such a wonder containing the fundamental laws of the universe, left here, is merely waiting to rot. Hand it over to us, and we can bring out its true value—we can even share a portion of the profits with the Guardian of this place..."

He spoke at length, as though the Temple and its treasures were already in his pocket, already planning how to distribute the profits.

Just then, a flat, unruffled voice abruptly rang out across the plaza, cutting off Mephisto's "business plan."

"Finished?"

The voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying an indescribable penetrating quality.

Everyone was startled, jerking their heads up!

Within the gaping doors of the Temple, the originally deep radiance rippled, and Qin Feng's figure, as if rising from water, slowly stepped out. He still wore that same simple clothing, his expression indifferent, as though the four powerful invaders from another world before him were no different from pebbles by the road.

His gaze swept past the Blazing Sky Lord, the Annihilation Envoy, Lady Venomblade, and finally settled on Mephisto.

"Your 'business,'" Qin Feng spoke, his tone utterly flat, "does not interest me."

The smile on Mephisto's face stiffened slightly, but quickly recovered. He adjusted his monocle and bowed slightly: "You must be the one in charge here? My apologies. Since this deal holds no interest for you, perhaps we might discuss... a 'passage fee'? The four of us crossed realms at no small cost; we only ask to enter the Temple for a look, to obtain some opportunities. For this, we are willing to pay..."

Qin Feng raised a hand, cutting off his words.

His gaze passed over Mephisto and looked toward the edge of the plaza, at the torn gap in the energy curtain, as though seeing something at a deeper level.

"The ones behind you, who went to such trouble to send you lot over as scouts," Qin Feng's voice remained flat, yet carried an all-seeing coldness, "should know the rules here."

The Blazing Sky Lord, the most fiery-tempered, smacked his great axe down at this, making the ground tremble, and roared: "Rules? Whose rules? In this Endless Star Domain, power is the rule! Whatever I take a fancy to is mine!"

The Annihilation Envoy rasped: "Death is the only truth... those who resist shall return to annihilation..."

Lady Venomblade also laughed coquettishly, her dagger flipping between her fingertips: "What big talk, little brother—I wonder if your flesh and blood are as tough as your mouth?"

Only Mephisto's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly rapidly analyzing Qin Feng's background and the meaning behind his words.

Qin Feng turned a deaf ear to their bluster. His gaze returned to Mephisto, and he said something that left everyone baffled:

"Did you bring the goods?"

Goods? What goods?

Mephisto was also taken aback, instinctively asking: "What goods?"

Qin Feng looked at him, his gaze seeming to say "Are you playing dumb?" He spoke flatly, rattling off a string of names:

"Three Thousand World Stone, Nine Nether Yellow Springs Water, Solar Gold Essence, Lunar Moon Radiance, Chaotic Breath Earth, Hongmeng Purple Qi..."

With each name he uttered, Mephisto's face stiffened a fraction more, and the expressions of the Blazing Sky Lord and the others beside him shifted from arrogance to stunned disbelief.

Each of these items was a cosmic-grade wonder that existed only in legend—things that even beings of their caliber had only heard of and rarely seen! Any single one leaking out would be enough to plunge an entire world into bloody strife!

Qin Feng rattled off over a dozen in one breath, then stopped, looked at Mephisto whose face had gone somewhat green, and asked flatly:

"Aren't these the 'samples' you came here to 'do business' with?"

Mephisto: "..."

He opened his mouth, his throat a little dry. They had indeed come to seize opportunities—where would they have prepared any "samples"? And of this caliber, no less?!

The Blazing Sky Lord couldn't help but roar: "Bullshit! I came to rob, not to deliver treasures to you!"

Qin Feng finally turned his gaze to him. That gaze remained calm, yet it made the Blazing Sky Lord feel an inexplicable pang of heart palpitation.

"Oh?" Qin Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. "Coming empty-handed, and you want to 'stock up' here?"

His gaze swept over the four again, finally fixing on Mephisto's wonderfully expressive face, his tone carrying a hint of almost imperceptible... disdain?

"Do you take me for a brood sow?"

"Pfft—"

Xia Wan, who had been keeping her nerves taut and fully on guard, heard this line and nearly burst out laughing. She quickly bit down hard on her lip, barely managing to maintain a solemn expression. But her shoulders still trembled slightly.

A... a brood sow?!

Sir, he... actually uses metaphors like that?!

The Blazing Sky Lord, the Annihilation Envoy, and Lady Venomblade were all dumbfounded, momentarily unable to process the meaning of those words.

Mephisto's face went completely dark! What was his status, traveling between realms—when had he ever suffered such... insult?! This was treating them as a bunch of stupid thieves who came empty-handed to take advantage!

"You...!" Mephisto was so angry he nearly crushed his monocle. That formulaic smile could no longer be maintained; his face alternated between green and red.

Qin Feng, however, seemed to have merely stated a fact. Paying them no more attention, he turned to look at Xia Wan and instructed:

"These few, I'll leave them to you for practice."

"Dead or alive, doesn't matter."

Having said that, he actually turned around, seemingly about to walk back into the Temple, leaving the entire scene entirely to Xia Wan!

At this, not only did the four invaders feel the fury of being completely ignored—even Xia Wan was stunned!

Have her alone deal with these four otherworldly powerhouses with such terrifying auras?!

Sir, aren't you being a little too confident in me?!