Chapter 534

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Taking the old account book is tantamount to colluding with him.

Taking the new account book is equivalent to accepting Wang Han.

If it were someone else, they might hesitate, unsure how to choose.

However, Xu Zhangqing circulated his mana without the slightest hesitation; the old account book in his hand turned to dust in his palm in an instant, vanishing without a trace.

The contents inside were completely gone in a flash.

"You!"

This one move alone made Wang Han look at the person before him with new eyes.

The old and new account books had largely similar contents, only differing in price and details; in other words, submitting either one would do.

Choosing the old book means "one of us."

Choosing the new book means "the manager."

Therefore, whichever one Xu Zhangqing chose, he would be led by the nose by him.

On the surface, the choice seems to be in the other party's hands, but in reality, it has been in his own hands from beginning to end.

According to normal logic, one would definitely keep one as evidence, making it easier to control and beneficial for future cooperation, yet Xu Zhangqing chose to destroy it.

However, just when Wang Han thought the other party was making a choice by keeping the new account book, he never expected that in the very next second, the new account book likewise turned to dust.

Meaning, both account books were gone.

Seeing this scene, Wang Han was struck dumb on the spot, unable to utter a complete sentence: "Xu... Junior Brother Xu, you this is……"

The old book destroyed, he accepted it, counting it as the other party unwilling to collude.

But the new book destroyed too, what does this mean?

Truly bizarre, completely unable to see through this young man.

Xu Zhangqing mocked: "Since you could produce two account books, you can produce a third, am I right, Senior Brother Wang!"

This person before him is truly a master at playing mind games.

If it were Hu Bugui, Zhao Ziyue, or Lu Wu, they would absolutely one hundred percent fall for it.

To put it bluntly, these two account books, or rather these two choices, are essentially both traps.

One high risk, high reward.

One low risk, low reward.

Moreover, whichever one is chosen, one would be deeply bound to the other party.

Once something goes wrong, it's die together if dead, crippled if not dead.

Upon hearing these words, Wang Han's face instantly drained of all color, his obese body stiffening abruptly.

He subconsciously touched his round belly; the true "bottom account" was indeed hidden here, a remarkably rare spirit skin refined inside.

This is also why the bottom account has always been kept on his person.

Contact with anything would be imprinted with spirit sense, recorded on it in detail.

Therefore, it recorded not only the past few years' contents, but even all the shady affairs of Fengrao Commandery over thirty years.

For example, which aristocratic family embezzled a certain spirit plant.

How many scarce items the Commandery Guard demanded over these years.

Which stationed disciple of Fengrao Commandery the spirit stones flowed to.

Even the amount supplied to Elder Li each year was recorded clearly, not a single stroke missing.

This is the foundation of his life preservation!

Xu Zhangqing saw it in his eyes and secretly speculated: "Could it be the real bottom account has been on him all along?"

He immediately scanned again with divine sense, yet discovered nothing.

Pondering left and right, he simply pried at the Law Xuan Seal, letting it perceive.

Sure enough, this move immediately detected the minute details.

This person actually had two streams of spirit power fluctuations on his body.

The first stream was the large fluctuation of realm and spirit power in the Qi Sea blended together.

The second stream was extremely fine, weak, almost impossible to capture, a tiny fluctuation.

Every so often it would appear once, and the duration was extremely brief.

Originally, this tiny fluctuation was masked by the other party's large fluctuation.

Not to mention ordinary people, even sharp people would find it hard to distinguish.

But Xu Zhangqing is different; not only is he ranked Heaven-grade Golden Core, he also possesses the Law Xuan Seal, and ultimately he saw through the other party's cunning method.

From this it can be seen, this person is not as simple as he appears on the surface.

Seeing the other party staring at him with a playful expression, Wang Han first swallowed a mouthful of saliva, moistened his dry throat, then asked: "Junior Brother Xu, you... what are you looking at?"

Xu Zhangqing sighed: "Senior Brother Wang, you always say your talent is ordinary, comprehension ordinary, that you've neglected cultivation these thirty years.

I disagree; at the very least, this ability to hide things is far more clever than others."

These words cast a shadow over Wang Han's eyes; pondering, he simply cut straight to the point to see what the other party actually wanted: "Junior Brother Xu, the tea's been drunk, the chat's been had.

Tell me the truth, what exactly do you want?"

He had to admit, he couldn't outplay the other party.

Young, yet possessing such scheming and depth — truly terrifying.

Xu Zhangqing lifted his long-cold Cloud Mist Tea and took a light sip: "Actually, I want little — just two things."

First, the accounts must be genuine.

Second, the person must be obedient."

Wang Han was stunned, failing to grasp the meaning, his brow knotted: "Junior Brother Xu, speak plainly if you have something to say."

I, Wang, have been in Fengrao Commandery for thirty years — what scenes have I not seen?"

Xu Zhangqing set down his teacup and said lightly: "I don't want that hidden bottom ledger of yours."

Hearing this, Wang Han was not surprised at all; his expression grew even uglier: "You don't want this, you don't want that — what exactly do you want?"

Surely not my current identity and status!"

Xu Zhangqing shrugged: "Once those sordid matters you recorded are exposed, you won't survive, those backing you will lose face, and even Qingmu Peak will be tainted by ill fortune."

I have no interest in stirring up old scores and bringing so much trouble upon myself."

This instead made Wang Han's eyes brighten suddenly: "Ah, right, right, right!"

However, Xu Zhangqing suddenly shifted his tone: "Therefore, I want the accounts from now on."

Wang Han gasped: "Ah?"

Xu Zhangqing said seriously: "From now on, every entry — the spiritual field output of Fengrao Commandery, spirit stone consumption, official consumption, and clan tributes — must be recorded truthfully."

Resources allocated by the sect, replanting, maintenance, subsidies — not a single one can be missing."

Actually, he had already guessed what scheme Senior Brother Zhu was plotting.

No surprise, it should be to pave his own path.

The He Master manages not only the vast spiritual fields, but also control over external resources.

Originally, these should have been handled by the Si Geng, namely Xu Zhangqing's master.

But because he dislikes managing these trivial matters, he delegated the authority.

Nowadays, outside rumors say the next He Master will be Xu Zhangqing.

Although the facts are unclear, there is no smoke without fire.

If the next He Master is truly to be chosen, the Spirit Cultivator certainly has the qualification.

Wang Han's eyes were full of shock: "You don't want the bottom ledger, won't bring up old scores, only want future accounts — just that?"

In his thirty years of mortal world maneuvering, he had always seized the other's leverage and demanded exorbitant prices.

Xu Zhangqing's sneaky move of letting ready-made evidence go unused, instead wanting only future promises, truly exceeded his understanding.

Xu Zhangqing nodded lightly: "Just that!"

Wang Han's Adam's apple bobbed as he probed: "Junior Brother Xu means, from now on everything follows your rules?"

Xu Zhangqing stood up abruptly, staring at him fixedly, then said loudly: "My rules are the rules of the spiritual fields!"