Dai Bingjun's face flushed red as he resisted the pressure on his shoulders, which felt like a Mount Tai Pressing Down. He looked at the handsome young man in white robes walking slowly through the door, who looked just like a scholar, and spoke with great difficulty.
"Atlas Spear, Yun Ming! You."
But before he could finish, Yun Ming took another step forward, and an even more formidable pressure slammed down. This time, it was aimed solely at Dai Bingjun; the man, who had still been able to sit on the ground, was forced flat onto his back. Yun Ming spoke again.
"This uncle seems tired, but he shouldn't be sleeping here."
Luo Shide was struck with terror and shouted out loud.
"Your Highness!"
At the same time, he hurried forward, wanting to help Dai Bingjun up, but before he could even get close, a locking pressure slammed down on him. Luo Shide stumbled and fell to his knees in front of Dai Bingjun, unable to rise.
The sudden display from these two prominent figures, combined with the name Dai Bingjun had shouted, left the representatives of the Silver River City pharmaceutical industry who had accompanied them trembling with fear.
Yun Ming rarely made serious moves; his reputation was primarily built during the Seven Sects Throne Contention Battle. Because he had risen so quickly and was still so young, many people lacked a real sense of his power. Yet now, the man had forced the Star Luo Prince and the Silver River City Lord to the ground with nothing more than a bit of pressure.
One had to remember that Star Luo was not Heaven Dou; it championed individual heroism, and most high-ranking positions of real power required a certain level of cultivation. Dai Bingjun and Luo Shide were both Soul Saint powerhouses, yet they had been downed in a single encounter. What kind of world-shaking cultivation did this man possess?
Furthermore, the reason these people dared to scheme against the Breaking Clan was the backing of the Star Luo Royal Family. With them standing at the front, it was generally assumed they could suppress the intensity of the Breaking Clan's retaliation. But now, Yun Ming had arrived and pinned their top two leaders to the ground, trampling their dignity into the dirt. It was clear he feared nothing! A powerful, daring, and fearless dragon crossing the river—how could these local snakes not be terrified?
Yun Ming's sudden action didn't just startle his opponents; it surprised his allies as well. Yang Wutian hadn't expected Yun Ming to act so decisively, but since Yun Ming had already made his move, he didn't intend to interfere. He would leave the rest to him. However, not interfering didn't mean he wouldn't kick them while they were down!
A mocking expression appeared on Yang Wutian's face as he said, "City Lord Luo, what's wrong? Leg cramp?!"
"You're not doing so well; you need to drink more bone soup."
Rage surged within Luo Shide. Leg cramp? Drink more bone soup? This damn old thing! But because the other side had backing, he didn't dare talk back.
Dai Bingjun and Luo Shide both had veins bulging as they activated their Martial Soul Avatar. One transformed into a White Tiger Man, while the other summoned a Green Pine. Their soul power erupted wildly as they tried to stand, but for every bit of power they unleashed, Yun Ming added an equal amount of pressure. Faced with that soul pressure containing the power of the Atlas Spear's Space Prohibition and the mental pressure of Absolute Dominance, their resistance was of little use.
After struggling to no avail, Dai Bingjun suppressed his inner fury and forced himself to look up at the calm and composed Yun Ming, his tone icy.
"Young Master Yun, some jokes go too far and stop being funny!"
He had never suffered such a humiliating insult in his life. And was this man crazy? He actually dared to hit him—to slap the face of the Star Luo Royal Family!
Yun Ming chuckled in response.
"Not funny? I thought you would quite enjoy it. After all, before I arrived, you put on quite a humorous comedy yourselves!"
Yun Ming had arrived late and hadn't heard much, only the other side's price quotes and nonsense, but that was enough. He had a good temper, but that didn't mean people could ride roughshod over him.
Looking at the playful glint in Yun Ming's eyes, Dai Bingjun's face turned ashen. He was wrong—everything was wrong. The plan might have been flawed from the very beginning; the other side simply didn't care about the so-called royal family. But at this point, he couldn't bow his head. The face of Star Luo and the glory of the Dai Family could not be lost through him. Therefore, he chose to let someone else lose it. He gave Luo Shide a look, signaling him to admit fault quickly.
Seeing Dai Bingjun's signal, Luo Shide couldn't stop himself from cursing internally, but he had no choice! His entire family was in Star Luo! He adjusted his breathing, calmed his mood, and said, "This incident was due to my own greed. I made a mistake, obstructed the trade, and caused the Breaking Clan to suffer losses."
"I hereby offer my apologies to Young Master Yun, Clan Leader Yang, and the Breaking Clan!"
As he spoke, he lowered his head, looking completely resigned to his punishment.
Since Luo Shide had taken the fall, Dai Bingjun could naturally climb down the ladder. He said coldly, "Luo Shide, I am very disappointed in you. From today on, you are no longer the City Lord of Silver River City!"
"Regarding the resumption of this trade, we will offer a seventy percent discount to compensate for your clan's losses."
"Young Master Yun, I hope this shows my sincerity in apologizing."
Watching Dai Bingjun, who had immediately conceded once the situation turned against him, Yun Ming was somewhat impressed by the man's ability to read the room. He knew how to bend and stretch! However, he really disliked the man's tone and the way he scapegoated his subordinate. He spoke directly.
"It does not."
Dai Bingjun's brows furrowed tightly. "Then what does Young Master Yun want?"
"If you have other conditions, feel free to speak."
Yun Ming stared at Dai Bingjun. "Didn't you just ask for four times the price? Then now, you must lower the price to one-fourth."
Dai Bingjun's face turned even darker. Lowering the price to one-fourth—how much money would they lose! But thinking of his current predicament, he could only grit his teeth and agree.
"Fine! It shall be as Young Master Yun says."
Yun Ming looked down at Dai Bingjun. "Also, I want the mastermind behind today's events to come out personally and take responsibility, and apologize to my clan."
"I won't accept a scapegoat."
Dai Bingjun's heart was filled with monstrous hatred. This damn brat actually wanted him to apologize?! Impossible! Absolutely impossible. He said stubbornly, "Luo Shide has already admitted he is the mastermind; there is no one else. Young Master should change his condition!"
Yun Ming smiled at the still-stubborn Dai Bingjun.
"Are you sure?"
Dai Bingjun didn't speak, but his expression made it clear he would not comply.
Yun Ming didn't make things difficult for him and said calmly, "Very well, since that is the case, then so be it."
"From this day forward, not a single Pill from my Breaking Clan will flow into Star Luo. I will release the news later; anyone caught transporting Pills to Star Luo will be added to the Breaking Clan Blacklist, and their purchasing quotas will be revoked."
"How does that sound to you?"
Hearing these words from Yun Ming, Dai Bingjun could finally no longer hold back, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"Yun Ming, do you even know what you are saying? Are you making an enemy of my Star Luo?!!"
Watching the exasperated Dai Bingjun, Yun Ming laughed.
"I know perfectly well. My clan's Pills are sold to whomever I choose, and no one has the right to interfere."
"As for being an enemy of Star Luo? Heh~"
"I would like to see who dares to be an enemy of mine!"
Domineering, confident, and peerless—this was what everyone present felt from Yun Ming; otherwise, no sane person would dare say such things. In the eyes of Dai Bingjun, this youth Yun Ming was simply arrogant to the extreme; he could not believe that anyone would actually dare to provoke an Empire.
Yun Ming looked at Dai Bingjun and finally spoke.
"I will count to three. If you cannot give me a satisfactory answer, I will assume your choice is made."
"Three!"
Dai Bingjun snapped out of his daze and spoke anxiously to Yang Wutian.
"Clan Leader Yang, is this the intention of your Breaking Clan? Even if it means mutual destruction? You would still do this!"
Yang Wutian replied.
"Yes."
"Two!"
Yun Ming continued the countdown.
Dai Bingjun's face turned as dark as a jujube; he had not expected the other party to be so unyielding.
Seeing that the other party still wanted to hold out, Yun Ming did not intend to stop and continued counting. It was a joke—not to mention how many years the Star Luo Dai Family could keep their throne, even if they remained the royal family, what of it? In the world of a Soul Master, strength is the ultimate truth. The concept of the divine right of kings could not restrain a man who would nearly become a god in the future.
"One."
"I concede!!"
Dai Bingjun, this smiling tiger, finally could not withstand the pressure; he abandoned his pride and bowed his head. He had been sent to collect the Pills, and if he failed to get the extra supply and even managed to lose Star Luo's existing quota, it was hard to say how the Star Luo Emperor would treat the Breaking Clan, but he would surely be the one killed.
"This matter was masterminded by me, Dai Bingjun. I express my deepest apologies to your clan. I am sorry!"
As the words fell, Dai Bingjun's spirit seemed to deflate entirely.
Dai Bingjun apologized, and Yun Ming had achieved his goal, so he said.
"We accept the apology. As for the transaction, we will proceed as just discussed."
"If you try to play these underhanded tricks again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
With that finished, Yun Ming turned and walked away. Seeing Yun Ming leave, the Breaking Clan followed under the lead of Yang Wutian.
Once Yun Ming left, the pressure on Dai Bingjun and Luo Shide naturally dissipated.
Luo Shide stood up and went to Dai Bingjun's side to help him up. Looking at Dai Bingjun's distraught appearance, Luo Shide said softly.
"Your Highness, are you... alright?"
Hearing his subordinate's words, Dai Bingjun regained his senses, scanned the crowd, and spoke coldly.
"If a single word of today's events leaks out, all of you will die!"
Feeling the terrifying, genuine killing intent from Dai Bingjun, the group dared not say a word and hurriedly responded.
"Yes! Your Highness!"
Dai Bingjun: "All of you, get out!"
Luo Shide and the others received the order and hurriedly took their leave. However, they had not gone more than a few steps outside when they heard the sound of smashing coming from the reception room.
Yun Ming's ears twitched slightly as he heard the noise, but it was unimportant; he had already given his warning. If the other party dared to stir up trouble again, he would make them pay.
On the other side, in the ranks of the Breaking Clan.
Yang Wutian looked at Yun Ming and said.
"Ming Er, if that man surnamed Dai had refused to admit defeat, would you really have fought them to the end?"
Yun Ming replied.
"That depends on them. If they want to, I don't mind."
Yang Wutian spoke again.
"But that would cause our clan a great loss."
Yun Ming did not stop his pace and said casually.
"It won't. Our clan's Pills have no shortage of buyers. At most, we lose the drug channels in Silver River City temporarily, and we can just find others. As for the rest, the Dai Family cannot flip the sky; they aren't qualified."
"Whether we earn a little more or a little less money is secondary, but some precedents cannot be set. We need to make an example."
Yang Wutian was silent for a moment before shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Indeed! My train of thought was wrong; I overthought it."
"Being the Clan Leader has made me feel like I'm no longer myself."
Yang Wutian sighed with deep emotion. If it were the old him, he would have rolled up his sleeves and fought. But now, when Dai Bingjun offered a way out by restoring trade and lowering prices, he would have likely taken the opportunity to step down gracefully.
Yun Ming advised him.
"Different positions and different personal circumstances naturally lead to different choices, so Fifth Grand Uncle need not dwell on it."
"However, next time, if something like this happens again, Fifth Grand Uncle can stand firm to the end. Our Breaking Clan has no need to fear anyone."
Yang Wutian laughed.
"Good, I will keep that in mind."
Having shaken off his negative emotions, Yang Wutian's Clan Leader mindset was back online.
"But this incident has exposed some issues. We need to develop more medicine supply channels; we cannot be so passive in the future."
"..."
The core members of the Breaking Clan on the side expressed their agreement one after another. While they were in agreement, Yun Ming was ready to slip away, so he spoke up to bid farewell.
"Fifth Grand Uncle, I won't participate in the matters that follow. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."
Hearing that Yun Ming was leaving, Yang Wutian waved his hand.
"Go, go! Ever since you left earlier, I knew you hadn't come here specifically to do chores."
Yun Ming smiled without refuting him and bid farewell to everyone.
"Everyone, I will see you back at the clan!"
After everyone responded, a silver light flashed on Yun Ming's body, and he vanished, returning to his destination.
Half an hour later, Luo Shide finished discussing the medicine quotas for the Breaking Clan with several representatives and returned to his City Lord's Mansion, physically and mentally exhausted.
He had been blinded by greed for a moment and boarded Dai Bingjun's sinking ship. Now, he hadn't gained any benefits, his position as City Lord was teetering on the edge, and he didn't know if he would even keep it later. Furthermore, the fact that the other party had unhesitatingly made him take the fall left Luo Shide feeling deeply resentful.
The servants in the mansion, seeing that their master was in a bad mood, dared not speak much and could only serve him with extreme caution.
Luo Shide ignored the servants and headed straight toward his private courtyard. Although today's events were a trap, he had realized one thing: if a Soul Master has strength, they can do whatever they want. If that Junior Yun Ming weren't strong enough, would he dare to slap Dai Bingjun in the face? Certainly not. Therefore, he had to redouble his efforts to improve his strength!
Originally, his talent was only average, and his cultivation speed had dropped significantly after breaking through to become a Soul Saint. There wasn't much hope of him reaching the Soul Douluo realm in this lifetime, but ever since that day over three years ago when he accidentally obtained that strange treasure, everything had changed.
With the assistance of that treasure, his cultivation speed had surged. Even if he couldn't compare to the top geniuses of the continent, he now had a chance to glimpse the peak realm of Soul Masters in the future.
Carrying a strong desire for advancement, Luo Shide arrived at his Small Courtyard, only to see someone he didn't particularly want to meet playing with his most prized treasure.
The person looked up at the returning Luo Shide and said in a flat tone.
"Hello there! City Lord Luo."
Seeing the person opposite him, Luo Shide's expression turned ugly. He almost wanted to cry; why had this bane of his existence come to his home? He steadied his mind and said.
"Greetings, Young Master Yun!"
"I wonder what brings you here, Young Master? If it's about the medicine, Young Master need not worry; I have already given the orders, and there will be absolutely no problems this time."
Yun Ming waved his hand.
"It's not about that. I came here for you this time, and also for it."
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader