Chapter 9: Red Prairie (Part 1)

Zhen Wuyi said, “The continent the Wolf Dike Merchant Alliance wants is the Red Prairie Continent on the edge of our Ancient Town family’s territory. There’s nothing special about this continent—it’s just our family’s livestock farm, where carnivorous animals are raised. For some reason, the Wolf Dike Merchant Alliance wants to obtain this continent. They’ve come several times, but we’ve refused them…”
Zhen Wují interrupted him and asked, “Why refuse?”
Zhen Wuyi replied, “Mainly… it just feels wrong. For the Wolf Dike Merchant Alliance, a single continent isn’t much, but they seem very eager. They even offered two continents in exchange. So… we didn’t dare agree.”
Zhen Wují nodded and asked, “Have you figured out the reason?”
Zhen Wuyi smiled bitterly. “Not yet. Recently, they’ve become more aggressive. Though they don’t dare take force, they send people to negotiate from time to time. With the Ancestor Wushuang and you both absent, we’re finding it hard to resist.”
A continent isn’t a serious issue for an ancient family. An ancient family can possess many continents, and a large family like the Ancient Town family can even hold hundreds. What’s most abundant in this world are continents—virtually endless. No one knows how big this world is, or how many continents and secret realms exist.
But for a large ancient family, giving up a continent involves matters of pride. They can’t just hand it over at the first request. The most important issue is that they don’t understand why the other side wants the Red Prairie Continent. Perhaps there are treasures on it that the family is unaware of. If they give it away and later discover something valuable, it will no longer belong to the Ancient Town family, making it difficult to intervene later.
Zhen Wují said, “Investigate! Find out clearly!” He was annoyed. Others had come to them, yet they still couldn’t figure out the reason.
Zhen Wuyi smiled bitterly. “We’ve already sent several teams, but so far, there’s no news back.”
At that moment, a professional came in and reported, “People from the Wolf Dike Merchant Alliance want to meet. They’re already outside the headquarters.”
Zhen Wují stood up. He glanced at everyone and said calmly, “Let them in! Bring them here.” The professional replied and left. Zhen Wují said to Li Ran, “I’m sorry, I need to handle some matters. Why don’t you all take a break first?”
Li Ran smiled and said, “Oh, I know what you’re thinking. We’ll stay here and hold up the facade for you.”

Zhen Wuji was overjoyed; he had the same intention. He had been worried that Li Ran wouldn’t agree, and never expected that a simple courtesy would lead to such a result. He was extremely happy. With Li Ran and the others present, their deterrent power was immense. Even without taking action, just standing there was enough to inspire fear.

Soon, a dozen professionals came in from outside, led by two who were at the ninth-level altar stage.

Guo Shier said under his breath, “Since when have ninth-level altar professionals become common? It used to be hard to even see one, but now they keep appearing.”

Halechi replied, “That’s not strange. When you reach this level, people at this level will appear.”

Zhen Wuji stepped forward and stood in front of the group of professionals, saying calmly, “I thought it was someone else. It turns out to be two big shots from the Langyan Merchant Alliance—Goha and Lü Chongyue. What serious matter requires you two to come in person? Have our Guzhen family offended your Langyan Merchant Alliance?” His tone was filled with mockery.

Goha and Lü Chongyue probably didn’t expect that the ancestor of the Guzhen family at the ninth-level altar stage had returned. But they weren’t afraid. They were both experts at the ninth-level altar stage. One-on-one, they might not be sure of winning, but two against one—even Zhen Wuji couldn’t win. So they were quite confident that their strength was enough to suppress the opponent.

Si Debing, Lei Zhenhuo, and Lei Yuan sat behind Li Ran, all with their heads lowered, whispering to each other. Si Debing shook his head and said, “I didn’t expect people from the Langyan Merchant Alliance to come… Hmph, they’re in for trouble…” He had experienced the treachery of these guys before.

Lei Zhenhuo said softly, “Yeah, they think bringing two ninth-level altar professionals makes them something special. Here… damn it, sigh, we were just as stupid back then too…”

Goha stepped back, while Lü Chongyue stepped forward, laughing and saying, “Haha, I didn’t expect Brother Wuji to be back. Coincidentally… our merchant alliance has some matters we’d like to discuss with you. Your subordinates keep delaying things and can’t make any decisions. Since you’re here, things will be much easier.”

Zhen Wuji blocked the entrance, refusing to let them sit down or introduce them to Li Ran and the others. Standing at the door, he said, “Lü Chongyue, your merchant alliance is quite bold, sending two experts at the ninth-level altar stage at once. Are you here to show off?”

Lü Chongyue smiled and said, “How could that be… We’re a merchant alliance, not a domineering one.”

Goha added, “We’re just here to discuss the transfer of the Hongyuan Continent. Zhen Wuji, this is just a business talk. Don’t act so hostile.”

Zhen Wuji sneered, “Stop talking nonsense… Sending two experts from the ninth-tier altar to negotiate? Who are you trying to fool? With the strength of your merchant alliance, are ninth-tier altars so common that you have extra to spare? Using two top professionals just for this—let me tell you… There’s no room for negotiation on the Red Plains. No exchange! No sale! Since I’m back, then… there’s no deal.”

A young man from the merchant alliance stepped forward and said, “Why not sell? We’re very sincere. You can’t reject us outright!”

Zhen Wuji glanced at him and said indifferently, “Who do you think you are? Is it your turn to speak?” Those words filled the professional with shame and anger.

The man said, “I’m Geshunuo, a senior executive of the Langyan Merchant Alliance, an elder of the alliance, and a sixth-tier altar professional!”

Zhen Wuji replied calmly, “When the master speaks, kid, stay out of it!”

Geshunuo flew into a rage and shouted, “I’m a senior executive in charge of negotiations!”

Guo Shier quietly ran to the door, acting like he was just watching the excitement, as if he were about to bring snacks and a stool. Wang Keer also came over, and the two hid by the door, whispering and chatting while watching.

Zhen Wuji paid them no attention at all and said, “You can go back. The Red Plains… our Guzhen family won’t sell. Hear that clearly. I hope you won’t bother us again.” He instinctively felt something was off. A place on the Red Plains that required the merchant alliance to send two top experts—if there was no trick behind it, he would never believe it, so he rejected them outright.

Guo Shier asked softly, “Do you think they’ll fight?”

Wang Keer smirked and said, “They won’t be able to fight. People from the merchant alliance are the most cunning. But maybe this time it’s different. They sent two top experts—I sense there’s something up… Um, maybe… perhaps… probably…”

Guo Shier laughed and said in a low voice, “What ‘maybe,’ ‘perhaps,’ ‘probably’? I think they’ll definitely fight.”

Wang Keer laughed and said, “If they do fight, hehe, who will be the happiest?”

Guo Shier asked, “Who?”

Wang Keer replied, “You!”

Guo Shier said, “Hey, don’t wrong me! Why would I be the happiest? It has nothing to do with me, right?”

Wang Keer grinned mischievously and said, “Because… you love to take advantage of chaos, hehe.”

Ge Ha and Lü Chongyue were both stunned. They didn’t expect Zhen Wuji to shut down negotiations without asking any questions. They immediately felt extremely stuck.

Although the Langyan Merchant Alliance was powerful, it wasn’t something that could easily suppress a large ancient family. If the other side closed the door to negotiations, one had to either return to discuss things again or force them to open the door to talks. Goha and Lü Chongyue exchanged a glance and made their decision—they would suppress the other side.

Goha and Lü Chongyue simultaneously summoned their ninth-tier altars, and their subordinates also brought out altars, with the lowest being fourth-tier altars. They hung these altars above their heads, emitting a massive spiritual force.

Lü Chongyue said solemnly, “I hope you’ll reconsider… this decision!”

Zhen Wuji sneered and said, “Are you threatening me?”

Guo Shier, hiding behind the door, looked excited and said, “Hey! It’s going to be a fight!” He watched eagerly, rubbing his hands together.

Wang Keer laughed and said, “I told you… you’d be the happiest if a fight broke out.”

Goha said, “I hope Brother Wuji can make a careful decision!”

Ge Shunuo, also holding an altar, said, “Elder Wuji, if you start a conflict, the consequences…” He directly threatened them. Before he could finish, Goha realized something was wrong. Sure enough, Zhen Wuji slapped him. Goha darted forward to block it, raising his hand to parry. With a loud crash, both of them were pushed back several steps.

Ge Shunuo was shocked and snapped, “How dare you hit me!”

Goha turned and shouted, “Back off!”

Guo Shier whispered, “Hmm, these two must be family—Goha, Ge Shunuo… maybe father and son or uncles and nephews. Strange, with his temper, how could he be a high-ranking executive?”

Ge Shunuo grumbled and stepped back two steps. Goha said, “Brother Wuji, I’m sorry. The kid got carried away.”

Zhen Wuji’s face darkened as he said, “Do you think you’ve got me cornered?” Then he nodded and said, “Come in…” He stepped back into the reception hall. As if threatening him was enough—come on in and try it.

Goha, Lü Chongyue, and the others smiled. They thought that Zhen Wuji inviting them into the reception hall meant he had given in to pressure, believing that the ancient Gu family wouldn’t risk war, as losing a continent was far more serious than facing danger to the family itself.

Zhen Wuji stepped to the center of the hall, and the professionals from the Langyan Merchant Alliance flooded in. Only then did they realize there were many people sitting in the hall. Goha was surprised and said, “Si Debing, Brother Zhenhuo… Huh, Lei Yuan, what are you all doing here?” Suddenly, he had a bad feeling—these three were all experts with ninth-tier altars. He hadn’t heard that Zhen Wuji was on good terms with them.

Guo Shier and Wang Ke’er had slipped back to their seats, sitting there seriously to watch the scene.
Si Debing stood up and said with a wry smile, “Oh, we were just passing by, stopping here for a short rest.”
Goha and Lü Chongyue exchanged glances. Passing by? What kind of excuse was that? Three experts from the nine-story altars, taking time to rest in the ancestral hall of an ancient town family? They would never believe it again. Goha asked tentatively, “Just stopping by for a rest? If you have something to discuss, you can talk first; our matter isn’t urgent.”
Lei Zhenhuo said, “We have nothing to discuss. Goha, do what you need to do—don’t drag us in.”