MTLNOVEL Chapter 497: Strangeness (Part 2)
This scene seemed vaguely familiar to him, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Xue Qing tightly pressed her lips, the killing intent almost bursting forth from her body. Her cold gaze swept over Zhao Qingchen and the terrifying auras of his followers, with reason frantically warning her.
The disparity in strength between the two sides was like heaven and earth. She did not fear Zhao Qingchen, but those followers, all of whom had entered the Sixth Realm, were another matter.
To make a move now would be akin to striking a stone with an egg—certain death with no survival.
She had long since cast life and death aside, but she could never let Chu Zheng be trapped in a fatal situation due to her impulsiveness.
The icy, bone-piercing killing intent clashed madly within her body, yet she forcibly suppressed it. Her hands clenched into fists within her sleeves, knuckles turning white with the intense pressure.
Xue Qing took a deep breath, turned her gaze towards Chu Zheng, and handed over the final decision-making power to him.
Chu Zheng was smarter than her, and he would naturally have a better way to handle the situation.
The air was leaden, as if coated in oil, waiting for a single spark to ignite an explosion.
At this critical moment.
"Mr. Zhao must be joking."
A clear and hearty voice, carrying a perfectly timed hint of amusement, rang out in the box, easing the tense atmosphere abruptly.
Several figures stepped leisurely into the box, led by a man in azure garments, his robes fluttering untainted by dust, exuding an extraordinary and transcendent aura—Xu Menghan.
He wore a faint, appropriate smile on his face, a warmth that seemed capable of melting ice and snow, yet there was a sense of aloofness to it.
His gaze did not linger on Zhao Qingchen but instead fell upon Chu Zheng and Xue Qing. He nodded in greeting with an air of elegance and composure, as if meeting long-lost friends.
"Our Xu family is truly insignificant among the numerous ancient clans of the Great Universe."
Xu Menghan's voice was gentle, carrying a hint of self-deprecation that only served to underline the unfathomable depth of his heritage. His eyes were clear and sincere: "Xu Menghan's purpose here is simply to make friends with the two of you."
The word 'friends' rolled lightly off his tongue, yet struck Zhao Qingchen's heart like a heavy hammer.
His expression stiffened momentarily, his face paling slightly. He quickly understood Xu Menghan's implicit meaning.
This was tantamount to selling him out.
His face went through shades of pallor and green before Zhao Qingchen forced a dry laugh: "I misunderstood; I am truly sorry."
As he spoke, he felt dryness in his throat and saw shadows pooling in his eyes.
Yuan Feng breathed a sigh of relief. What standing did Xu Menghan have? A descendant of the Ancient Ancestor!
How could the friends he spoke of be ordinary? This was clearly a more sophisticated strategic approach, advancing by stepping back, elevating the opposing party to a level of equality, which was far more effective than brute coercion.
In this light, perhaps today would end smoothly.
Xu Menghan's next move took most of the room's breath away in shock.
Before his words fully settled, his slender fingers lifted slightly, and an intensely pure red-gold Immortal Radiance slowly emanated from his palm, suspended in mid-air.
It was a small jade talisman, the last auction item known as the "Mystic Sun True Understanding"!
The red-gold jade talisman hovered silently, emitting a brilliant Immortal Radiance.
Xu Menghan's gaze swept past Zhao Qingchen, his eyes calm and unperturbed, causing the latter to instantly feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, cold sweat pouring down.
His tone remained gentle: "Let this item serve as a greeting gift. And incidentally..."
Her gaze turned to Chu Zheng and Xue Qing, with a hint of apology in the faint smile:
"To apologize to the two of you for Mr. Zhao's earlier abruptness and misspeaking."
Buzz—
Yuan Feng felt a chill shoot from his soles straight to his crown, his scalp tingling as his vision dimmed, nearly unable to stand.
A greeting gift?! An apology?!
Xu Menghan actually offered this Immortal Scripture as a greeting gift?! Apologizing on behalf of Zhao Qingchen?
This gesture placed them at a level unattainable even by Zhao Qingchen!
However, this seemingly generous and sincere act to Yuan Feng was akin to a Death Sentence!
His heart pounded frantically, almost breaking through his chest, cold sweat soaking through his back.
Because more than anyone, he understood that the original owner of the "Mystic Sun True Understanding" was the individual Xu Menghan was laboriously trying to win over and offering a gift to.
When Chu Zheng casually produced this Immortal Scripture for auction and Yuan Feng personally sealed the information, layer upon layer of confidentiality was maintained.
Outside of Yuan Yu, the initial contact and under strict orders to remain silent, no one else in the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower knew the true origin of this Immortal Scripture.
He had gone to great lengths to avoid unnecessary future complications and covetous glances.
But now...
Xu Menghan, right in front of its original owner, presented this Immortal Scripture, which the owner had auctioned off, as a gift back.
This was the height of absurdity and irony in the world.
Yuan Feng's breath halted as he stared fixedly at Chu Zheng's calm profile, his mind racing.
Praying that Chu Zheng would not reveal the truth at this critical juncture. If he did...
The consequences were unimaginable for Yuan Feng.
What kind of person was Xu Menghan? An Ancient Ancestor's descendant.
He humbled himself, offering the Immortal Scripture as a gift, referring to them as friends, lowering his stance that much.
If exposed in front of everyone, that his grand gift was actually something the recipient had sold, it would be as if he was treading on Xu Menghan's face and the honor of the Xu family—a matter far graver than mere embarrassment.
No matter how well Xu Menghan cultivated his demeanor or how deep his mind ran, facing such an insulting disgrace, he would absolutely turn hostile instantly.
The rage of an Ancient Ancestor's descendant was enough to scorch an entire realm. Not to mention Chu Zheng and Xue Qing at the forefront—Yuan Feng, simply observing events, would not escape unscathed!
Moreover, this situation had stemmed from him sealing away information, equating to an indefensible crime of oversight!
For a moment, Yuan Feng felt as though his blood would soon freeze, unable to interject, and could only fix his eyes on Chu Zheng, continually pleading in his heart:
Don't say it! Please don't say it!
Within the box, all eyes focused on Chu Zheng and Xue Qing.
Xu Menghan still carried a soft smile. Although his gaze appeared amiable, it harbored a subtle scrutiny and a self-assured control over everything, awaiting surprise and gratitude from those opposite.
The murderous intent once hidden in Xue Qing's eyes now flashed with extreme astonishment, clearly not expecting the situation to develop as it had.
She looked toward Chu Zheng, her eyes questioning.
Chu Zheng observed Xu Menghan before him, a faint strangeness flickering in his eyes.
Xu Menghan gave him a peculiarly odd feeling.
Although there was no visible anomaly in his actions, behavior, or tone, from the Qi Cultivator's perspective, his Yang Qi was very weak.
His body carried a heavy Yin Qi no different from a woman's.
Without a doubt, the person before him, if not a woman, was certainly not a typical man, and his nature was somewhat elusive.
The pride belonging to someone of the clan within him, though deeply concealed, was still sensed by Chu Zheng.
Yet, given the huge disparity in strength between the two, there was clearly no need to turn hostile.
As for how to shake off this person's entanglement, another way would have to be found.
The Red Gold Order Token floated, and the radiant aura of the Immortal Scripture highlighted Xu Menghan's seemingly sincere expression. His posture was already sufficiently low; this sincerity should have been enough to overwhelm any cultivator from the Lower Realm with gratitude.
Chu Zheng's gaze flickered over Yun Tianji beside Xu Menghan, pausing slightly.
If he wanted to extricate himself, he feared it would involve the Communication Jade Talisman Yun Tianji had given him previously.
Thoughts spun rapidly, all within an instant.
Chu Zheng met Xu Menghan's gaze, the strangeness in his eyes replaced by a perfectly judged complexity, tinged with a bit of flattery yet steadfastly composed. He cupped his hands, his voice carrying a hint of hesitance and earnestness:
"Young Master Xu is overly generous; I am unworthy of such honor. Such a heavy gift overwhelms us."
He did not immediately reach for the Immortal Scripture Order Token but instead shifted his tone, with a sincere request:
"Yet this auction has been quite taxing on the mind. If you could allow us two days to recuperate, stabilize our minds before we express formal thanks to Young Master Xu and listen to your guidance, I wonder... if that would be acceptable?"