Chapter 120: Winning Hearts with Jade Talismans

Lin Feng sat upright in the center of the high platform, while the venue staff began to clear the area. Soon, the hall fell silent, leaving only those on the dais. The leaders of the major factions sat obediently on either side, while Liu Ke and Long Yaoyang knelt in the center.

Liu Ke, already missing an arm and a leg, lay huddled and trembling on the ground. Long Yaoyang, having been resuscitated, also lay on the floor, head tilted back, glaring at Lin Feng with eyes full of fury.

"Liu Ke, I spared your life once before. Now you have conspired against me again. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Master Lin! I am a scoundrel, I was blinded by greed, and my heart was wicked. I should never have colluded with the Mara Society in an attempt to control the five coastal provinces. I deserve to die a thousand deaths, but please, in your magnanimity, spare my life! If you want to take my other arm and leg, I have no complaints—just please, spare my life!"

Liu Ke howled in misery, repeatedly banging his head against the floor, begging for mercy. However, Lin Feng curled his lip and said coldly, "What do you all think I should do?"

"Kill him!"

The leaders of the major factions were no naive youths; they had lived lives tempered by violence, their hearts hardened like iron. For a turncoat and a traitor who would collude with outsiders to sell out his own people, death was the only answer.

"Wait... I want to repent and turn over a new leaf. I can be a double agent..."

"Hmph, no need," Lin Feng replied coldly.

"There's more... I know that the Mara Society has discovered an ancient tomb in the Southern Frontier! They intend to enter it to search for ancient legacies! I can lead you there to ambush them, and all the treasures in the tomb will be yours, Master Lin!"

"Oh?" Lin Feng frowned slightly. Had the Mara Society truly discovered an ancient ruin in the Southern Frontier? Or was this merely a lie and a trap set by Liu Ke?

"No need. I will eradicate the Mara Society myself, and as for the ancient tomb in the Southern Frontier, I shall find it on my own."

"Master Lin, don't kill me, please, don't..."

Seeing that his most explosive information failed to move Lin Feng, Liu Ke screamed, begging for a path to survival. However, Lin Feng struck with his sword, leaving him no chance.

*Shing!*

With the sound of a sword hum, a silver light flashed. Liu Ke’s heart was instantly pierced by sword qi, leaving a wound the size of a bowl. One second he was begging for his life; the next, his eyes widened, and he died with lingering resentment.

The so-called ancient tomb Liu Ke mentioned could be explored later. For now, the most important task was to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, using a mix of grace and severity to completely control the leaders of the five coastal provinces. Having dispatched Liu Ke cleanly, the leaders of the great clans and underground forces watching from the sides felt a shiver run down their spines.

A young man who appeared to be in his early twenties was so decisive in his killing, executing Liu Ke with a single strike without a change in his expression or a blink of his eyes.

"My god, this five-province alliance leader is truly no ordinary person. He is a ruthless man who kills without batting an eye!"

"This is someone we must never offend!"

After all, many of the factions had only pledged allegiance under the pressure of the moment; there were still those with their own hidden agendas. To fully subdue them, Lin Feng would need more tactics.

"Long Yaoyang, what about you? Do you have anything to say?"

"Hmph, Lin Feng, even if I, Long Yaoyang, were to..." Before he could finish, Lin Feng struck with his sword, sharp and swift.

"You..." Long Yaoyang had never imagined that Lin Feng had no intention of sparing him, nor even any interest in hearing his words.

In his past life, Lin Feng had been humiliated and oppressed by Long Yaoyang, living a life worse than death. In this life, he had intended for Long Yaoyang to taste that same humiliation and abuse, but he had never expected Long Yaoyang to find a way to survive and immediately plot a comeback with the Skull Society. Such trash did not deserve to live.

"Everyone, you should have witnessed the power of the jade talisman worn by Wang Jisheng today, right?"

"The jade talisman? Master Lin, do you mean the item that protected Wang Jisheng with a light shield, allowing him to survive an attack from a master-level martial artist?" Fang Wenqing was the first to stand and ask.

"Exactly. This is a spiritual jade talisman refined by me personally. The average price is three hundred million. Not only can it block ordinary bullets and blades, but it can even defend against a sneak attack from a master-level martial artist."

Lin Feng nodded slightly at Wang Jisheng, who understood his intent. He stood up, removed the jade talisman from his chest, and handed it to the leaders to inspect.

"So this is the spiritual object that has been the talk of Binhai City—the one that can stop bullets?"

"This small thing blocked a strike from a master-level powerhouse? It truly is profound!"

The leaders praised the item, unable to put it down. They understood that this was a treasure capable of blocking a master-level strike; compared to so-called bulletproof vests, it was a divine artifact.

Seeing the look of craving on their faces, Wang Jisheng chuckled coldly: "Master Lin can refine hundreds of these talismans in a day. However, they have a limited lifespan; they will shatter after roughly three attacks from a master-level powerhouse, and their spiritual energy will dissipate after a year. My auction house only puts ten up for bid each month, and the profit exceeds one billion!"

"Hiss—one billion!"

One billion in monthly income was just from the auction of the talismans. If one added the other industries driven by these talismans, the income would be even more staggering—at least 1.5 billion a month! That amounted to 17 billion a year! Even mining for gold wasn't this profitable!

Now, none of them could remain calm, and they all fixed their gazes on Lin Feng. Lin Feng, knowing exactly what they were thinking, smiled faintly and said, "I will produce two hundred talismans a month. I will distribute these two hundred among you at a base price of one hundred million each, and I will claim thirty percent of your auction profits. Of course, if anyone finds it too expensive, I will not force you. However, this money is not free; in times of crisis, I require your absolute loyalty. Should you betray me, you will end up like these two."

Lin Feng pointed his fingers like a sword at the two corpses on the ground. Using both kindness and force, he made his point.

Wang Jisheng watched Lin Feng with a smile. Back then, he had been snared by this very tactic, and since then, he had become Lin Feng’s loyal dog. Among this group, some were loyal, others treacherous. Once the thirty percent share was collected next month, the truth would reveal itself.

"Very well, today’s matters end here. I shall return to Binhai City soon. I wish you all the best."

"Master Lin, what about your inauguration ceremony as Alliance Leader?" Fang Wenqing asked.

"Inauguration ceremony?" Lin Feng felt a moment of doubt.