Chapter 238: Time for a Beatdown!
Yeop Hyeon halted his steps and turned around.
“What is it?”
Gwangsa exchanged a glance with the prince before speaking to Yeop Hyeon.
“Brother Yeop, we just received word that a large force of demon and ghost sect warriors has entered Qingzhou. And their target... is none other than you, Brother Yeop.”
“Hmph! Fools!”
“Does Hogye Meng plan to strike them down?”
“Of course!”
“Then why haven't you mobilized yet?”
Yeop Hyeon replied to Gwangsa's question in a calm tone.
“Justification! We have none until they attack Qingzhou first. But the moment they draw their blades, we'll sever their heads without mercy!”
“But Hogye Meng once declared it would abandon Qingzhou to protect Jungto Sinju...”
Yeop Hyeon looked at Gwangsa with pity-filled eyes.
“To think so many still believe that nonsense...”
“...”
The silent prince then interjected.
“Brother Yeop, if we cooperate with you, what real benefits can we expect?”
“That depends on how much you contribute, doesn't it?”
Yeop Hyeon spoke with a faint smile.
“I'll let you in on something. Once Qingzhou's chaos ends, turmoil will soon reach Jungto Sinju. Hogye Meng has always strived to protect the Qingcang Realm, but it's tragic how some forces only seek to shatter its order. Enough rambling. If you're willing to work with me, come to the Imperial City of Jiang Kingdom. No pressure!”
With that, Yeop Hyeon left the three behind.
His retreating figure showed no trace of lingering attachment.
Gwangsa and the prince exchanged glances before turning to the veiled woman.
“What do you think?”
Gazing into the distance, the veiled woman replied to Gwangsa's question.
“We could give it a shot. If there's profit, we stay. If not, we leave.”
The prince nodded in agreement.
“Well said.”
Gwangsa nodded too, signaling his assent.
The veiled woman, eyes closed, revealed nothing of her thoughts.
Yeop Hyeon returned to Canglan Academy. He absentmindedly pulled out the Hogye token but, for some reason, tucked it back into his bosom.
Of course, his Hogye token was a fake, forged at a smithy for a single gold ingot.
It might still prove useful. Few in the Qingcang Realm knew its appearance, and even fewer would dare counterfeit it.
Pocketing the token, Yeop Hyeon headed straight for the back mountain. As he reached the entrance, Sa Do-myeong appeared before him.
“How'd you reel them in?”
“The mercenaries?”
Sa Do-myeong nodded, and Yeop Hyeon grinned.
“They came for wealth, so just give them what they need.”
“Good. I'm here today to relay one policy. Starting now, you'll receive five hundred million top-grade spirit stones monthly.”
This was to cap Yeop Hyeon's demands in advance.
But even this sum was enough to drop his jaw.
Five hundred million top-grade spirit stones every month...
Fortune had struck too suddenly.
“Five hundred million is far too little.”
Yeop Hyeon forced his gaping mouth shut and spoke nonchalantly.
Sa Do-myeong's brow twitched, his expression darkening.
“You know the demon and ghost sects are already marching on Qingzhou with hordes of warriors. Hogye Meng must be getting desperate. If I can't stop them, Qingzhou falls in three days, and Hogye Meng seizing its core is only a matter of time. If they claim Qingzhou's heart...”
Yeop Hyeon sighed deeply before continuing.
“You might think me greedy. But consider: warriors from Jungto Sinju swarm like dogs, and I can't handle them alone. In this crisis, the only way is to hire fighters with coin.”
Sa Do-myeong eyed him coldly before speaking.
“Every word from your mouth demands billions. Do you think our money grows on trees?”
“Hmm... no choice then. At a time like this, squabbling over gold dooms us both.”
As Sa Do-myeong stayed silent, Yeop Hyeon pressed on.
“Here's the deal: eight hundred million top-grade spirit stones monthly. In return, I, Yeop Hyeon, vow to defend Qingzhou no matter what. True Law Realm experts are still yours to handle. And keep the intel flowing. Do that, and I'll manage the rest!”
After deliberation, Sa Do-myeong agreed.
“Fine!”
Yeop Hyeon nodded in satisfaction and extended an empty hand toward him.
Sa Do-myeong pouted in annoyance but tossed a lead case his way.
Snatching it midair, Yeop Hyeon asked calmly.
“When do you expect the demon and ghost sects to arrive?”
“Three days, four at most.”
“Then we sweep every Jungto Sinju remnant in Qingzhou within those three days!”
“Don't get cocky!”
“Just easing your worries. Oh, and if desperate Hogye Meng crashes the party, prepare accordingly.”
“Don't worry. We'll handle any True Law Realm foes. You clean up the scraps!”
With that, Sa Do-myeong vanished.
Yeop Hyeon stared after him before heading to the main hall. There, he spotted Gu Jiu handling affairs.
She oversaw most of Canglan Academy's operations now.
Spotting her, Yeop Hyeon cut straight to it.
“How many Jungto Sinju warriors are currently in Qingzhou?”
“A bit over a hundred thousand. But true elites are few.”
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
“Good. Keep tracking them and ready the Canglan Dao Soldiers for immediate deployment.”
Gu Jiu met his gaze.
“Going to hit them?”
“Soon!”
“What about True Law Realm experts?”
“I'll handle it!”
Yeop Hyeon exited the hall.
Gu Jiu watched his back briefly before resuming her work.
Back in his room, Yeop Hyeon sat and fed spirit stones into the Gyeok Ok Tower.
One must guard their own safety—never rely on others.
About a hundred million stones vanished, and as he prepared more, the tower shuddered.
Boom!
A jolt to his head sent him crumpling. He awoke half a shichen later. Checking himself, Yeop Hyeon froze in shock.
The Gyeok Ok Tower had recovered.
He rushed inside. On the first floor lay hundreds of stacked lead cases.
Among them, he found two from True Law Realm experts, his face lighting up with joy.
One contained a single piece of Heavenly armor. Pitch-black, its front bore a phoenix carving—three legs, massive wings, glaring fiercely ahead. The back layered black scales that shimmered under light.
Clearly no ordinary item.
Besides, twenty-plus high-grade spirit artifacts, six mid-grade weapons, and sundry valuables—all exceptional.
Excluding the Heavenly armor, it tallied two to three hundred million top-grade spirit stones' worth.
Yeop Hyeon examined the next case. Fewer items, but priceless.
Yeop Hyeon pored over the manual, its contents growing more astonishing. Now he understood the Dark Realm assassins' prowess.
A true Heavenly technique!
He couldn't suppress his grin.
Besides, eighteen high-grade spirit artifacts.
This was just the start. Hundreds more cases awaited.
For the first time, Yeop Hyeon felt truly rich.
Inspecting them took half a shichen. The haul was historic.
One Heavenly armor, one Heavenly technique, seventy-nine high-grade spirit artifacts, ninety-seven mid-grade, one hundred twenty-seven low-grade, and countless famed-grade...
He was filthy rich overnight.
“Hahaha... hahahahaha!”
His laughter echoed through the Gyeok Ok Tower. His pockets bulged instantly.
Enough to upgrade every Canglan Dao Soldier's gear to high-grade.
Selling it all? Billions in top-grade spirit stones minimum.
But the Heavenly technique and armor stayed with him.
Especially Dun (遁)—perfect for shadowy operations later.
His laughter swelled.
He began cultivating it immediately.
Not overly complex, but it guzzled spirit artifacts or stones.
With over eight hundred million stones, no issue.
His insight into martial arts was deep; Sword Emperor realm deepened spatial grasp. He hid in space after one night—though aura concealment was incomplete.
Exhilarating already.
A sudden thought struck; he exited the tower and dashed to Mu Yun Qi's room. Mu Yun Qi sat meditating on his bed.
Then—
Thwack!
The table before Mu Yun Qi shattered.
Startled, he leaped up, scanning wildly.
“Who goes there?!”
The room remained deathly still.
Mu Yun Qi's brows furrowed as he probed his surroundings. Footing for his shoes, he realized one had vanished.
My shoe...!?
The neatly placed shoe gone without a trace, Mu Yun Qi blinked in stunned immobility.
Next, Bai Ze's room. A shoe flew at the sleeping Bai Ze, smacking his forehead with a crack.
A massive shoe print marred his face.
Bai Ze bolted upright, glancing around before spotting the shoe on his chest. Rage exploded; his roar shook Canglan Academy.
“Mu Yun Qi! Haven't beat your ass in a while, and you're itching for it?!”
Soon, a man's pitiful screams filled the mountain.