Chapter 1151 - 952: Goddamn 2 Trillion

The related situation quickly reached Situ Zhen, who was at the Refining Heaven Sect.

On the Two Hills Mountain, after reading the content on the Mother-child Talisman, Situ Zhen slowly raised her head to look at the horizon outside the window and muttered to herself in doubt, "Shi Chun? Could the peeper who used the 'Divine Splitting Skill' be someone from Shi Chun?"

She was somewhat suspicious of this, and the source of the information was also unconfirmed.

However, upon deeper thought, it didn't seem entirely impossible. The astonishing deeds that repeatedly appeared around Shi Chun made it plausible that some force was supporting him from behind.

In the depths of the Forbidden Land maze in West Ox Butterfly Valley, a Demon Path old man on the rack had been tortured beyond recognition, with his body covered in wounds, exposing white bones, and his limbs and face partially missing. Yet, no matter how he was tortured, he refused to confess.

Even Bai Sheng, who had exhausted all means, was tired. He sat down slowly on a chair, his face looking grim, realizing that this time he had truly encountered a tough nut to crack.

Breaking fingers, gouging out eyeballs, castration, hallucinations, even poisoning—none of these broke the man; his only response was the screams elicited by the torment.

After calming himself for a while, Bai Sheng crossed his legs and mocked, "Why do this to yourself?"

The old man, with blood occasionally dripping from his mouth, could no longer lift his head and weakly chuckled, finally responding for the first time, "Bai Sheng, what's your ulterior motive for this private torture? If I don't talk, I might still survive. If I do, you will surely silence me. If I'm crippled, I can recover. If I'm dead, there's nothing left. Do you think I prefer death over life? Use whatever tricks you have. I'll take them all."

Bai Sheng raised an eyebrow, "You know me? Have we met before?"

The old man replied, "Even if I haven't met you, based on your surprise attack using an Illusion Technique in Green Rong Manor and your deceptive Illusion inquisition techniques just now, if I couldn't guess who you are, I might as well quit this game."

Bai Sheng slowly stood up, pacing with his hands behind his back. As for interrogation, the fear is when the other party doesn't make a sound. Once they speak, there's a psychological gap to exploit.

This opportunity can slip away in an instant, and he was weighing how to carefully seize it.

After a brief consideration, he stood directly in front of the other party and said slowly, "Yes, if you don't speak, I might not kill you, but I can keep torturing you. Let's compromise. I'll ask you one question that means nothing to you, and if you answer, I promise not to torture you anymore. How about it?"

The old man fell silent. No one wishes to endure torture. If an insignificant question can stop it, it's not an unacceptable deal.

After a long time, he laboriously lifted his bloodstained face, "Let me hear it first."

He still needed to judge whether the question posed was answerable.

Bai Sheng directly asked, "Is there an ancient Demon Path relic beneath the Extreme Abyss of the Battle of Great Pardon?"

The question was somewhat blunt, and the answer's truth might be hard to judge, but to reduce the other's guard, the question had to seem simple and harmless.

The old man looked a bit confused, as if to ask, just this question?

After staring at each other for a moment, the old man weakly said, "What's called the Heavenly Domain was originally the Demon Realm established when the Demon Ancestor set the path. It's not unusual for an ancient Demon Path relic to remain inside the Extreme Abyss."

Bai Sheng's heart surged, and he questioned again, "What relic?"

The old man sneered, "You said just one question. If you go back on your word, it's nonsense."

Bai Sheng said, "Your answer was ambiguous. I need confirmation. What's the breach?"

The old man stared at him for a while, yet the other had already seized the slight movement of opportunity; psychologically, he had already loosened up a bit, making it easy to relax a little more, seeking a slim hope, and immediately lowered his head, slowly uttering two words, "Demon Altar!"

Bai Sheng pursued again, "Which two words?"

The old man lowered his head and slowly replied, "The 'Demon' from Demon Path, the 'Altar' from the altar."

Demon Altar? After slightly understanding the form of things in his mind, Bai Sheng asked again, "What is it?"

The old man coldly snorted, "It seems the Illusion Demon King's promise is as worthless as shit."

Bai Sheng gripped his hands behind his back tightly but did not break his word. He ceased further torture and turned away.

He knew very well that only by fulfilling the promise this time could he possibly get the person to speak again another time.

He was well aware that many people in captivity could withstand the punishment of instruments but couldn't endure the torture of time's agony.

He appeared outwardly calm and composed, yet his mind was churning, repeatedly murmuring the words 'Demon Altar'.

Regarding this matter, he had his psychological assessment method. The old man's admission that there was a Demon Path relic inside the Extreme Abyss might be untrue, but the mention of the 'Demon Altar' didn't seem fabricated.

Because it was a specific name, which provided a direction for verification, and the person spoke to avoid torture, pointing a direction for validation. If it were false, harsher torture would surely follow. So, the likelihood of falsehood is slim.

Despite previously believing that Shi Chun's words to Chai Wenwu weren't false, he would still take any opportunity to reconfirm.

The confirmation of the existence of a Demon Path relic beneath the Extreme Abyss filled him with renewed spirit and resolution to cope with the West Bull King Court.

The news from Heavenly Capital about the Heavenly Mirror revealing Demon Path matters had already alerted the West Bull King Court, summoning him for questioning.

Of course, he had to go, but he would not admit any involvement without evidence, not even to the court.

Comparatively, Shi Chun was much better to the captive Gong Yuanzhi; there wasn't even any severe questioning, and the person hadn't even been awoken.

He found that even having Situ Zhen interrogated didn't matter much and wanted to continue feigning ignorance of Situ Zhen's secret.

Hiding in the old place, taking drugs to refine Demonic Qi and increase cultivation, occasionally lying on a chair and flipping through books.

Not making any moves yet, also wanting to drag it on a bit, hoping to handle matters with borrowing money from Liang Mian and Thunder Sound Sect before making any moves, trying to avoid any complications before the money is in place.

Yet, the message from Feng Chi eventually came, informing him again that his old friend Gong Shaoci came looking for him again.

Shi Chun thought about it and decided to meet, with the meeting place set by him.

On the way out of the city, he received another message from Feng Chi, saying that Gong Shaoci refused to meet him alone and wanted to bring an important guest along.

Shi Chun agreed and summoned two of his strongest followers to accompany him.

The meeting place for both sides was within a gorge, where surrounding troops had been dispatched for vigilance.

Feng Chi arrived at the destination with two guests but encountered an illusion wave inside the gorge, preventing them from entering.

Shi Chun walked out from the cave inside, first gesturing to Feng Chi to retreat, and then approached with hands cupped in salute, "Brother Gong, my apologies, the newly established Dingnan Prefecture has been hectic, causing you to come all the way into this wilderness to meet."

While speaking, his gaze targeted the cloaked and hooded person beside Gong Shaoci.

Gong Shaoci touched the illusion wave defense of the array in front of him, sarcastically saying, "They all say Brother Chun is both wise and brave, but seeing you today, how timid you are, like a rat."

He had already lost the chance with Miao Yilan and no longer needed to worry about the opinions of the Miao family, thinking about marrying an ugly woman, naturally had no good words for Shi Chun.

Shi Chun stood in front of him, smiling, "No choice, someone didn't follow the rules, actually colluding with the 'Blood Shadow Pavilion' to hire assassins against me, I really have to be cautious. How does the saying go, oh, 'once bitten by a snake, afraid of ropes for ten years.'"

Gong Shaoci's face changed suddenly upon hearing this, only now realizing that the other party already knew about his secret actions.

The information he controlled was clearly less than what the Gong family knew, and many things the Gong family had evidently not told him.

Before he could clear the relationship, the cloaked figure waved his hand to signal, "Shaoci, you go out first, I'll talk to Commander Shi alone."

The hesitant Gong Shaoci ultimately dared not cause any trouble, complied with an "Alright," coldly glanced at Shi Chun, and turned away.

Presently, Shi Chun couldn't be bothered to deal with this young master, nor did he need to curry favor with him anymore, given the strength he grasped currently, the opponent no longer matched as his rival, bluntly speaking, he could crush the opponent easily, whether openly or covertly.

He could grab the opponent's father with ease, why would he fear the son?

Without substantial power, under the current situation, he couldn't possibly maintain his position.

Thus, he ignored Gong Shaoci, focused on the cloaked figure, curiously asking, "And you are?"

The cloaked figure raised his hand to unveil the hat, revealing his true identity, replying, "Shaoci's uncle, Gong Yuanhao."

Shi Chun's expression turned serious, this indeed was truly an influential person appearing, though not holding an official position, even Miao Dingyi would be respectful upon meeting him, representing the Gong family in external matters, immediately bowing in salute, "So it's Elder Gong, my apologies."

After bowing, he feigned curiosity, "I've always wondered, your nephew wasn't on good terms with me, why frequently wanted to meet, seems it's you wanting to see me."

Gong Yuanhao calmly replied, "You've been hiding and avoiding everyone, me frequently looking for you would draw attention, not good for optics, had to have a reason to see you, luckily Shaoci knew you from before."

Shi Chun understood the meaning behind the words, recognizing that given Gong Yuanhao's prominent status, frequently seeking him wouldn't be appropriate, would attract unnecessary suspicion and trouble, immediately nodding, "I see, may I know the reason for your summons?"

Gong Yuanhao pulled out two invitation cards and showed them, "Shaoci is getting married in two months, since you two know each other, hope you can come celebrate."

Regardless of sincerity, with him presenting the invitation personally, it truly was a sign of respect, considered goodwill ahead of negotiations.

Shi Chun naturally bowed to thank, but still pointed to the array defense, apologizing, "The invitation can be given to Feng Chi later."

Gong Yuanhao didn't mind, understanding the inconvenience caused by caution, nodded and directly got to the point, "Since you know about Shaoci hiring assassins, then those involved in Wuyu Trading House borrowing everywhere, that's your idea, right?"

Shi Chun laughed, "Sure enough, can't hide it from the Gong family. Yes, with Dingxi and Dingbei prefectures having deficits without finding places to cover them, your nephew insisted on opposing me, so I had to be ungracious, forced me to fight back when pushed."

Surprised by his direct acknowledgment, Gong Yuanhao mildly remarked, "Commander Shi really has a good mouth, however, perhaps too greedy, two trillion, you're sure you can swallow?"

Shi Chun paused, puzzled, "What two trillion?"

Gong Yuanhao, "Shi Chun, pretending to not know at this point is pointless, the account is clear, just needs turning, two trillion, you can't swallow it all."

Shi Chun appeared confused, thinking he misheard earlier, realizing it truly was two trillion being mentioned.

Confusingly, what two trillion, he should know how much has come in, less than one trillion one hundred billion, even after deducting thirty percent as benefits, a two trillion total should deliver one trillion four hundred billion to him, with such an amount, no need to risk with Thunder Sound Sect.

The gap is several hundred billion, where did it vanish?

Finding it unnecessary for Elder Gong to falsely report numbers personally, he suspected whether Young Master Nan's side privately took anything.

Unclear for now, could only inquire later, suppressing inner doubts promptly, counter-asked, "Elder, what do you mean?"

Gong Yuanhao, "We're reasonable people, acknowledging Shaoci's initial faults, if you return what you've taken, we can act like it never happened."

This amused Shi Chun instantly, since he dared openly admitting, he didn't fear the other party coming with accusations, laughed and queried, "Elder Gong, you must think I'm unaware the Gong family cut off my source in Yanfu Continent? I could originally bring enough funds to fill the two prefectures' deficit, now, if unfilled, I'd have to perish, kindly advise Elder on how to turn back? Willing to heed your insight!"