Chapter 173: Ruthless and Merciless (1)

On the Life and Death Stage, the air seemed to freeze.

Chen Chuan’s raised palm hung in mid-air, wreathed in the light of pale golden Spiritual Power; with just a drop, he could easily take Li Feiyun’s life.

Below the stage, Elder Li Yan’s cry of "Stop," filled with shock and fury, was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand layers of waves.

Everyone’s gaze focused on Chen Chuan, waiting for his decision.

This was not just a choice about life and death, but a test of his future situation, Mental State, and wisdom.

Below the stage, there was dead silence as everyone held their breath.

Some quick-witted Disciples had already begun to whisper.

"Elder Li has lowered his head; will Chen Chuan agree?"

"If he doesn’t, he’ll completely offend a powerful Elder to the death. He’ll likely find it hard to move a single step in the Sect later on; the Pill Hall just withholding a few resources would be enough for him to suffer."

"But if he agrees, given Li Feiyun’s vindictive nature, if he lets him go today, he will surely seek frantic revenge once he recovers in the future! Chen Chuan would be releasing a tiger back to the mountain!"

"It all depends on how Chen Chuan chooses. Will he go head-to-head until the end, or temporarily avoid the brunt of the storm?"

Su Mengxi also watched Chen Chuan nervously, her jade-like hands unconsciously clenching.

She both hoped Chen Chuan would stop here to avoid being hated by Li Yan, and felt that letting Li Feiyun go would lead to endless future troubles; her heart was in a state of contradiction.

Chen Chuan’s suspended hand slowly lowered, but that icy Killing Intent did not dissipate.

He turned around, looked calmly at Li Yan below the stage, and the corners of his mouth curled into a half-smile.

"Elder Li’s love for his grandson is truly touching." Chen Chuan’s voice was not loud, but it spread clearly throughout the field. "Since the Elder has spoken, this Disciple is not an unreasonable person."

Hearing this, a flash of joy appeared in Li Yan’s eyes.

Li Feiyun was even more relieved, as if he had heard celestial music, his face showing the luck of surviving a disaster.

However, Chen Chuan’s next words caused their hearts to sink to the bottom once more.

"However!" Chen Chuan’s tone shifted, becoming playful. "Letting him go is fine, but there is a price."

He stared at Li Yan with burning eyes, as if looking at a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

He knew clearly that as an Elder of the Pill Hall, Li Yan handled various rare Medicinal Pills and resources all year round; his net worth must be immensely wealthy.

If he didn’t use this opportunity to extort a heavy sum, it would be an affront to heaven.

"What do you want?"

Li Yan asked in a heavy voice, already having a bad premonition.

Chen Chuan extended five fingers and said unhurriedly, "Simple. Five saint-grade elixirs and five hundred thousand catties of low-grade Origin Stones. Once the items are in my hand, I will release him immediately."

"What?"

"Five saint pills? Five hundred thousand catties of Origin Stones?"

"My god! Has he gone mad?"

As soon as Chen Chuan finished speaking, the entire plaza instantly erupted. Gasps and sounds of people sucking in cold air rose and fell.

How precious were saint-grade elixirs?

They were treasures that even Core Disciples and some Elders craved; a single one was enough to cause a struggle, yet Chen Chuan had the audacity to ask for five.

And five hundred thousand catties of low-grade Origin Stones was nearly the entire annual income of a small Cultivation Clan.

This wasn’t just Chen Chuan opening his mouth wide like a lion; he practically wanted to hollow out Elder Li Yan’s life savings.

Su Mengxi was also so shocked she covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes full of astonishment.

She knew Chen Chuan might set conditions, but she hadn’t expected his appetite to be this massive.

Li Yan’s face instantly turned ashen, his chest heaving violently, clearly incensed.

He suppressed his rage and gritted his teeth, saying:

"Chen Chuan, you are being far too insatiable. Saint-grade elixirs are incredibly rare; this old man only has one spare on him."

"As for low-grade Origin Stones, I can at most take out a hundred thousand catties. This is my bottom line."

"Only one? A hundred thousand catties?" Chen Chuan sneered and shook his head.

"Elder Li, we are all sensible people. Why play dumb?"

"As an Elder of the Pill Hall for so many years, who would believe you don’t have a net worth of five saint pills and five hundred thousand Origin Stones?"

Chen Chuan possessed the Eye of Wisdom; he knew exactly how much Li Yan had down to the last hair.

That was why he opened his mouth so wide.

As long as Li Yan wanted to save Li Feiyun, he would have to bleed profusely.

"You!" Li Yan was choked into silence.

He did indeed have them, but that was almost his entire fortune; how could he bear to part with it?

Seeing Li Yan still hesitating, Chen Chuan’s gaze suddenly turned cold.

He didn’t waste any more words and applied a slight pressure with his foot.

"Crack!"

The tooth-aching sound of a bone snapping rang out clearly, accompanied by Li Feiyun’s shrill, pig-slaughtering scream.

His left arm was twisted at a bizarre angle, clearly snapped by Chen Chuan’s brute force.

"Ah! Grandfather! It hurts so much! Save me! Quickly give him the things! I’m going to die!"

Li Feiyun’s tears and snot flowed together as his screams tore through the air.

This scene made the scalps of all the watching Disciples tingle, and their gazes toward Chen Chuan held even more awe and fear.

This guy was too ruthless!

Completely disregarding Elder Li Yan’s face and threats, he acted as soon as he spoke.

"Feiyun!"

Li Yan’s eyes nearly split from their sockets; seeing his grandson’s miserable state, his heart felt like it was being pierced by needles.

He pointed at Chen Chuan, his whole body trembling with rage. "You little beast, how dare you!"

"Elder Li, my patience is limited." Chen Chuan’s tone was indifferent, as if he had just stepped on a dry branch. "Whether you keep your fortune and collect your grandson’s corpse, or pay to avert disaster, is up to you. I will count to three."

"One."

Li Yan’s expression shifted erratically, his fists clenched so tight his nails sank deep into his palms.

"Two."

Li Feiyun’s screams and pleas continued; the fear of death had completely overwhelmed him.

"Stop! I’ll give it! I’ll give it to you!"

Just as Chen Chuan was about to count "three," Li Yan finally broke down.

He roared, then with trembling hands, he took out five exquisite jade bottles and a Storage Ring containing Origin Stones.

He used Spiritual Power to support them as they passed through the barrier of the Life and Death Stage and were sent before Chen Chuan.

Within those jade bottles, a majestic medicinal power was swirling, with faint holy radiance flowing—they were indeed five saint-grade elixirs.

And in that Storage Ring, a slight sweep of Divine Sense revealed mountains of low-grade Origin Stones, exactly five hundred thousand catties, no more and no less.

Chen Chuan took them without ceremony. After checking them carefully, a satisfied smile finally appeared on his face, and he casually put them into his own Storage Ring.

"Now you can release him!"

Li Yan almost spat these words through gritted teeth, his heart bleeding.

This was nearly the accumulation of most of his life!

Seeing Chen Chuan accept the items, Li Feiyun, who was slumped on the ground, was instantly filled with immense wild joy and malice.

He was saved!

He had survived!

He lowered his head to hide the malice and Killing Intent that were almost overflowing from his eyes.

"Chen Chuan, you wait. Today’s humiliation, I will surely repay a hundredfold in the future."

"Once I recover, I will make you beg for life and crave for death."

"And that bitch Su Mengxi, I won’t let her go either."

However, his fantasies were ruthlessly shattered in the next second.