Chapter 34: Aggressive Pressure

The Chen Army’s argument was righteous and moral, condemning Cang Luo from the pinnacle of national and global human ethics.

Upon hearing this, Cang Luo’s face instantly darkened. He coldly asked, “What did you say?”

Chen Da assumed Cang Luo hadn’t understood, and continued: “For your family, for your homeland, for all humanity on Earth, we must negotiate with the Profound Heaven Sect.”

“All you need to do is hand over the only phone capable of communicating between the two worlds to the Profound Heaven Sect’s leader.”

“Then, when necessary, cooperate with us to persuade the Profound Heaven Sect to ally with Huaxia...”

“Enough!” Cang Luo roared, laughing bitterly with rage.

“Ha ha... You call me selfish? Isn’t your behavior selfish too? Have you ever considered me?”

“Don’t bind me with grand moral principles—I know exactly what will happen to me if I hand over the phone.”

Cang Luo would never hand over the phone, because it represented his value—his intelligence value.

Earth’s desire to learn about the other world must pass through him, allowing him to demand his own terms.

Besides, when he first crossed over, he lied to the Profound Heaven Sect, claiming the phone was merely an ordinary lighting tool.

If the Profound Heaven Sect learned the truth—that the phone could connect to Earth—Xuan Qiankun would kill him.

Yet, if they discovered the phone could only be used by him, they might spare his life and imprison him instead.

Turn him into a puppet for communication with Earth, lock him in a dark room with no hope of sunlight...

Cang Luo was merely an ordinary person, both on Earth and on the Yuanwu Continent.

But even ordinary people have the right to seek better prospects—he could not sacrifice himself for strangers.

In the end, Cang Luo roared: “Are other people’s lives precious, while mine is worthless? Am I doomed to sacrifice myself for all of Earth?”

“And Chen Da, listen to me—don’t you ever threaten my family again, or when I return to Earth, I’ll kill your entire family.”

Cang Luo’s roar and final threat echoed through the entire Fenglin Huoshan headquarters via several speakers.

Over two hundred staff members, upon hearing Cang Luo’s “bold words,” first froze, then sneered in disdain.

Who do you think you are, Cang Luo? A cultivator? A transmigrator?

You’re just a worthless bum who got lucky and was summoned to another world—in any world, a bum stays a bum.

Do you think you’re the chosen protagonist? The dragon-tian?

Not only are you arrogant, you’re audacious enough to threaten to slaughter the entire family of Minister Chen, the “Devil Commander”?

Are you tired of living? Want to see the Devil Commander’s methods?

Or do you think you’re safe because you’re not on Earth?

Hah! If not for your stupid luck being summoned to another world, would a trash like you—bottom of society—ever even speak to Minister Chen?

Not even Minister Chen—just the lowest-ranking recorder at Fenglin Huoshan—is someone you, Cang Luo, could ever reach.

Anyone here, if placed outside, would be an elite earning millions annually in their field...

The Fenglin Huoshan elites whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with mockery toward Cang Luo.

They believed they and Cang Luo belonged to entirely different social strata—while ordinary people struggled to earn a few thousand a month to support their families, they drove luxury cars and lived in villas...

Everyone shook their heads in disdain and returned to work, but their glances kept stealing toward Minister Chen, wondering how he’d react to being threatened with family annihilation.

Chen Da’s fury was unmistakable—his hair stood on end, his teeth bared as if ready to shatter.

He thought of his decades in the military—what enemies hadn’t he faced? What scenes hadn’t he endured?

But when had anyone ever threatened him like this?

Kill my whole family?!

“You—” Chen Da moved to strike, but Li Weiguo swiftly restrained him.

Li Weiguo feared that the enraged Cang Luo might do something reckless, so he urgently urged: “Cang Luo, rest assured—we’ll negotiate with the Profound Heaven Sect and guarantee your life won’t be in danger.”

“We’ll even appoint you as Huaxia’s ambassador to the Profound Heaven Sect on the Yuanwu Continent—you’ll gain security, and with Huaxia’s aid, access to cultivation resources...”

“Enough!” Cang Luo cut him off, laughing coldly three times.

“What nonsense! What can you possibly guarantee? I’ll say it one last time—don’t ever test my limits again.”

“If I find my family harmed, don’t blame me for doing something extreme—don’t think I can’t retaliate just because I’m in another world.”

“That’s enough. I won’t waste words with you anymore. I’ll gather as much data as I can on the Yuanwu Continent and cultivation—we’ll talk next time.”

Cang Luo dared not speak definitively—his family still remained on Earth, and he, stranded on the Yuanwu Continent, couldn’t protect them. He had no choice but to retreat.

Yet his retreat achieved nothing—Chen Da still pressed him relentlessly.

Chen Da barked: “Cang Luo, I won’t waste words either. I’ll say it one final time—this isn’t a request. It’s an order.”

“If you fail to complete Fenglin Huoshan’s mission, from this moment, all privileges and benefits granted to your family will be revoked.”

“Including your residence in the capital, all material aid, and security protection...”

“...”

At Chen Da’s words, silence fell over both Cang Luo and Fenglin Huoshan. Many staff members paused their work to stare at him.

If Chen Da’s earlier command had been backed by the nation and all humanity, standing on the moral high ground of global destiny...

This was outright exposure—plainly a threat.

Cang Luo was Cang Luo. His family had nothing to do with him—they were innocent.

If protection for Cang Luo’s family were withdrawn, they’d be kidnapped by foreign forces within three days...

Many shook their heads, sighing softly. They no longer felt envy or jealousy toward Cang Luo—only pity.

Even if you transmigrated, so what? You’ve merely gained a year’s head start in encountering cultivation civilization.

You, a worthless bum, think you’ll become a Martial Saint?

Once the two worlds reconnect next year, your only advantage will vanish. As elites, we’ll surpass you in every way—including cultivation.

Becoming a Martial Emperor or Martial Sovereign is within reach!

And what can you do for your family?

You can’t even provide basic protection—you’re dragging them down. Without Fenglin Huoshan’s protection, they’d have been captured long ago.

“Deputy Minister Chen, watch your words—you have no authority to revoke protection for Cang Luo’s family,” Li Weiguo said sternly.

Chen Da replied coolly: “For someone like Cang Luo, whose behavior is selfish and self-serving, there’s no need to waste resources protecting his family. I’ll report this to the Council.”

Li Weiguo fell silent. Though his rank was half a level higher, his actual power was nearly identical.

He oversaw the “Forest” and “Mountain” divisions of Fenglin Huoshan—focused on R&D and logistical planning.

Chen Da oversaw the “Wind” and “Fire” divisions—responsible for intelligence and operations.

Neither reported to the other; both answered only to the Council.

He could seek help from other Council members, but they’d never risk conflict over something as trivial as “revoking protection for Cang Luo’s family.”

Chen Da ignored Li Weiguo, turning to Cang Luo, whose expression was grim, as if wrestling internally. He continued: “Cang Luo, this is your final chance—will you hand over the phone?”

“Ha ha...” Faced with Chen Da’s relentless pressure, Cang Luo could only offer a bitter smile.

Chen Da assumed Cang Luo was about to yield, and reassured him: “Don’t worry—once the two worlds reconnect next year and you return to Earth, I’ll have you join Fenglin Huoshan’s combat unit, serve your country...”

Before Chen Da finished, Cang Luo cut in: “Ha! You left out a key precondition, didn’t you?”

“Ha ha... You mean, if I can survive to return to Earth, right?”

With that, Cang Luo ended the video call—and made a decision.

“Damn it!”

Chen Da flew into a rage upon seeing Cang Luo hang up without permission.

After a few seconds of hesitation, he picked up his communicator and ordered: “Revoke all aid and protection for Cang Luo’s family. Switch to covert surveillance—see if we can lure in a few big fish...”

Chen Da was a soldier; defending his homeland was his duty—he wouldn’t abandon Cang Luo’s family.

But soldiers have priorities. When Cang Luo refused cooperation, his family’s safety became secondary to eliminating enemies.

Li Weiguo sighed helplessly, wanting to speak but holding back.

At that moment, Zhuge Qing, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke: “Wait...”

“Hmm? Miss Zhuge has something to say?” Chen Da dared not take Zhuge Qing lightly.

Her grandfather was the former Chief of Staff; though no longer in power, his influence remained formidable.

Zhuge Qing said nothing, only pointed to the WeChat app on her computer.

Chen Da and Li Weiguo turned to look—Zhuge Qing’s WeChat had just received a video call invitation from Cang Luo.

“Has Cang Luo changed his mind?”

Chen Da smiled confidently and pressed the answer button.

But he didn’t notice this was a group video call.

Just moments ago, while giving orders to his subordinates, Zhuge Qing’s WeChat ID had been added by Cang Luo to a WeChat group...