Chapter 437: Probing from a Mysterious Force

Looking down at the Black Abyss, which was shrouded in black mist all year round, Xiao Han felt a wave of emotion.

Since entering the Great Thousand World, his greatest stroke of luck was perhaps finding the Black Abyss by chance; whether it was the inheritance or that super-large Nine Nether Jade Vein, both had greatly shortened the speed at which he recovered his strength.

Withdrawing his chaotic thoughts, Xiao Han transformed into flying snow and, following the gentle breeze, drifted wantonly toward the distance.

Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion.

The manager, Jin Wuxie, saw his leader once again and stood respectfully to one side.

"It is said that as long as one can afford the price, the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion can obtain anything?"

Xiao Han asked with a faint smile.

"Pavilion Master, you jest; that is merely the flattery of the outside world, and this subordinate does not have such great ability."

Jin Wuxie said very humbly.

"Now is not the time to be humble with me." Xiao Han's tone was somewhat serious,

"I need you to give me the bottom line."

"What exactly is the strength of the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion?"

Xiao Han had already spoken to this extent; if Jin Wuxie still could not grasp the former's intent, he would not have been able to manage the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion so successfully.

He could not help but straighten his expression,

"I wonder what treasures the Pavilion Master wishes for this subordinate to find?"

Xiao Han did not reply, simply handing the other party a Scroll.

"This..."

As soon as he opened the Scroll, the content that met his eyes made his pupils shake violently; until he had firmly memorized every bit of content within the Scroll, Jin Wuxie let out a long sigh, and fine cold sweat soaked his back.

He revealed a troubled look and said:

"Pavilion Master, these items are not exactly common goods."

"I naturally know that."

Xiao Han said dismissively,

"If it were not so, there would be no need to have the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion take action."

"Can it be done?"

Jin Wuxie's expression stalled for a moment; logically speaking, facing the first task assigned by a new boss, he, an old employee, should naturally go all out and handle the matter perfectly to show his loyalty.

Yet...

"Pavilion Master, let alone in the Tianye Continent and the surrounding few continents, these materials are extremely precious even when looking at the entire Great Thousand World."

"This subordinate has limited ability and fears I will be unable to collect them all."

Jin Wuxie did not know how much determination it took to give this reply; even though it might cause him to lose his current position, he still did so.

It was for one reason only: it was truly impossible to do.

Without the diamond drill, one should not take on the porcelain work. Jin Wuxie had always held this as a golden rule, and this was also his greatest reliance for being able to reach this height.

He knew that once he took on this task but failed to complete it, causing a delay in important matters, his fate might be even more miserable than losing his current status.

"How many can you gather?"

To Jin Wuxie's surprise, he did not sense any anger in Xiao Han's tone.

Professionalism led him to give his answer,

"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, this subordinate can collect most of the materials on the list."

"Only the Magic Bone Flower, Life Liquid, and Eternal Cold Branch are beyond my power."

Jin Wuxie carefully stole a glance at Xiao Han's back, "According to what this subordinate understands..."

"These three types of materials are at the very least main ingredients for Ninth Grade Medicinal Pills; the Magic Bone Flower can even be used to refine the spirit pill, the Return to Spirit Pill."

"I beg the Pavilion Master's forgiveness for my incompetence."

"Then just keep an eye out for the traces of these three Medicinal Herbs." Xiao Han said casually,

"First gather the other Medicinal Herbs; is there a problem?"

"No."

Jin Wuxie answered with a sonorous and forceful tone, though his heart was bleeding; to collect those Medicinal Herbs, the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion would likely have to suffer a major financial loss.

However...

"These two hundred million Supreme Spiritual Liquid should be able to solve it, right?"

Xiao Han suddenly gave Jin Wuxie a huge surprise.

"Pavilion Master, this..."

Jin Wuxie looked hesitantly at the Storage Bracelet Xiao Han had placed in his hand.

"Is there a problem?"

Xiao Han's words were slightly heavy, appearing displeased.

"No."

Jin Wuxie shivered suddenly and answered decisively.

"Two months later, I will come again."

Xiao Han dropped this sentence, and his figure instantly vanished from sight.

Jin Wuxie only felt a blur before his eyes, and he lost sight of Xiao Han; when he came to his senses, only a few snowflakes remaining on the ground indicated that someone had been there.

"Terrifying cultivation!"

Sighing, Jin Wuxie gripped the Storage Bracelet in his hand and went to handle the matter nimbly; with the Supreme Spiritual Liquid in hand, if he still could not complete the Pavilion Master's instructions, he would not need to continue surviving in the Great Thousand World.

Leaving the Tianye Continent, Xiao Han did not stop along the way, casually setting up Transfer Spirit Arrays to hurry on his journey, traveling through various continents, and in just two or three days, he arrived above the Northern Continent.

"Keep a close watch on the Immortal Fox Sect; you may deploy the Cold Night Battle Puppet if necessary."

Yang Qianshan, Vice President of the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce, instructed his subordinates below with a grave expression and a cold, stern tone.

"Understood."

Hearing Yang Qianshan's cold words, the subordinate's body trembled; the Cold Night Battle Puppet was a powerful Puppet at the Earth Sovereign realm and the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce's strongest combat force, so the extent of Yang Qianshan's concern was clear.

After that subordinate withdrew, Yang Qianshan rubbed his brow, which was aching slightly from long hours of fatigue, and leaned back in his seat to relax.

"What, is the Immortal Fox Sect preparing to tear up the contract I drafted with them?"

The calm words reached Yang Qianshan's ears, and the latter was startled awake; he followed the sound and looked, and within his line of sight was the backbone of the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce.

"This subordinate greets the President."

Yang Qianshan's tone was somewhat agitated; although Xiao Han had long since left a message saying he needed to find a secluded place for closed-door cultivation and told him not to worry.

Yet, as the greatest backer of the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce, only by seeing him appear in person could he finally set his anxious heart at ease.

Xiao Han lifted his palm slightly, lifting Yang Qianshan up from thin air.

"Let's dispense with these empty formalities."

"Tell me about the situation with the Immortal Fox Sect; have those people grown bold?"

Not only bold, but stupid!

Xiao Han's eyes now carried a faint murderous intent; although people often forget their benefactors once they are gone, it had only been five years, and this change of face was perhaps a bit too fast.

Did they really think he wouldn't settle scores later?

It seemed his gentle methods back then had truly made people think he had a good temper.

"President, you have misunderstood; there is no problem with the Immortal Fox Sect."

Yang Qianshan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized and explained.

Immortal Fox Sect: Nearly suffered an unprovoked disaster!!!

"Then why did you want to activate the Cold Night Battle Puppet just now?"

Xiao Han frowned slightly; as the final resort he had handed to Yang Qianshan when he left, the Cold Night Battle Puppet was only meant to be used as a deterrent unless absolutely necessary and the situation was critical.

"Reporting to the President, something has happened on the Shang Continent."

"The Shang Continent?"

"Two years ago, a mysterious force appeared on the Shang Continent..."

Yang Qianshan began to detail the various situations that had emerged after Xiao Han went missing.

A quarter of an hour later, Xiao Han finally understood the current situation of the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce.

Two years ago, a certain mysterious force suddenly intervened in the Shang Continent and united a large number of local small and medium-sized sects on the Shang Continent to oppose the alliance between the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce and the Immortal Fox Sect; their strength was formidable, far surpassing the former Shadow Demon Sect, and they had caused great trouble for both factions.

Especially in the last year, the situation had deteriorated rapidly, and the local faction, the Immortal Fox Sect, was already struggling to hold on.

"And..."

"This subordinate suspects that this force is targeting our Hanyi Chamber of Commerce."

Yang Qianshan then added a sentence and provided his reasoning, saying with confusion:

"This subordinate always feels that the other side seems to be testing our strength or, rather, our bottom line, and has no intent to kill."

"Otherwise, given the combined strength of us and the Immortal Fox Sect, we should not be their match."

"Very well, I understand."

Xiao Han's expression was calm; he seemed to have guessed who was testing the Hanyi Chamber of Commerce.

(End of this chapter)