Chapter 50: Trading Spiritual Treasures

Having survived a brush with death and threatened by Lin Feng with "poison," forced to become someone else's lackey, Wang Jisheng's face was utterly desolate.

Lin Feng observed this but had no intention of relying solely on ruthless methods to command loyalty.

"Wang Haiyang, do you have any jade pieces on you? Give me one."

"Jade?" Wang Haiyang, somewhat bewildered, reached around his neck and handed Lin Feng a jade Guanyin pendant.

Taking the jade pendant, Lin Feng extended his sword-like fingers, channeling a stream of spiritual energy from his dantian, concentrating it at his fingertips like a droplet suspended in ice, emitting a brilliant white glow.

With a swift motion, his fingers fell, using them as brush and spiritual power as ink. The strokes danced elegantly, as if Wang Xizhi himself were present, every movement infused with divine mastery.

In less than a minute, Lin Feng had inscribed a first-level spiritual array—the Gale Formation—onto the jade pendant.

Lin Feng had cultivated for a hundred thousand years, mastering nearly all techniques of cultivation: medicine, alchemy, artifact forging, array formations, martial arts—his skills shone like countless stars, beyond measure.

Among these, array formations were Lin Feng's specialty, second only to alchemy.

Spiritual arrays were typically divided into twelve levels, each with three grades: superior, middle, and inferior, denoting their quality.

The Gale Formation was a first-level array, capable of channeling wind energy to create a defensive gale, blocking attackers—a very basic and ordinary defensive array.

Lin Feng had long discovered that Earth's jade stones could store spiritual energy, with higher quality stones possessing stronger capacity. Wang Haiyang's jade Guanyin was an extremely valuable emerald, making the array inscription effortless for Lin Feng.

Once the array was complete, Lin Feng infused it with spiritual energy, activating the formation.

A brilliant radiance spread forth, and suddenly an intricate diagram appeared atop the jade.

Moments later, the glow faded, leaving behind what seemed to be an ordinary emerald pendant.

"This is... an array... and this jade..." Luo Qiankun, though unable to grasp the intricacies, roughly understood what Lin Feng was doing.

He had only heard of such techniques in passing; generally, only Dao practitioners could wield spiritual power to inscribe arrays—martial artists simply could not.

Could Lin Feng be dual-cultivated in both martial and mystical arts?

Luo Qiankun was deeply shocked. To possess martial mastery at a young age was already extraordinary, but to also be proficient in the mystical arts was unimaginable.

Such talent appeared perhaps once in a century! He was destined for greatness, the makings of a true powerhouse.

Thinking thus, Luo Qiankun was secretly delighted, determined to follow Lin Feng faithfully and become his loyal hound, convinced that his own future would be boundless.

The inscription completed, Lin Feng transformed the pendant into a jade talisman with practiced ease.

Clutching the talisman, Lin Feng glanced at Wang Jisheng and said calmly, "Wang Jisheng, shoot me."

"Shoot you? Master Lin, how could I dare!"

"I said shoot. Don’t worry, mere firearms cannot harm me."

"Alright..."

He retrieved an M1911 pistol from the fallen bodyguard nearby, raised it with both hands, the dark muzzle aimed straight at Lin Feng.

Deliberately avoiding vital spots, Wang Jisheng swallowed nervously and looked Lin Feng in the eye. "Master Lin, I’m firing now!"

"Go ahead."

Bang!

Wang Jisheng disengaged the safety and pulled the trigger.

A gunshot rang out, smoke burst from the chamber, and a bullet shot from the barrel.

A tongue of flame flickered from the muzzle, and the bullet sped toward Lin Feng’s right shoulder.

In a flash, the bullet was less than a meter away.

Yet Lin Feng stood smiling, holding the pendant, unmoving, radiating the composure of a true master.

"Master Lin!" Wang Haiyang's eyes widened in shock, shouting in alarm.

But at that critical moment, a fierce gale suddenly howled forth, like a steel blade, slashing directly at the bullet.

Clang!

A sharp metallic sound echoed—the bullet was cleaved cleanly in two midair!

"What..." Wang Jisheng was dumbfounded, jaw nearly unhinged.

Wang Haiyang, overwhelmed, rushed to Lin Feng to check for injuries, then knelt down to pick up the two halves of the bullet.

The slug had been sliced perfectly down the middle by some unknown force, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"

"Master Lin, you are truly an immortal among mortals!"

Wang Jisheng, heart pounding, gave a thumbs up, singing Lin Feng’s praises.

Luo Qiankun remained relatively calm, having already guessed Lin Feng’s intentions. Such spiritual items would tempt anyone, especially wealthy magnates who hired bodyguards for protection.

This was far superior to automated defense systems, with virtually no burden.

It was a miraculous tool for self-defense!

Lin Feng casually tossed the pendant to Wang Haiyang, who nearly dropped it in his excitement.

This was a divine artifact! He couldn’t afford to let it slip!

"Wang Jisheng, I know you resent having to submit to me. This is my balm for your grievances. From today onward, collect all jadeite above ice-grade or high-grade jade pieces and deliver them to me. I’ll craft them into jade talismans—not only for defense, but also for calming the mind, extending life, and other miraculous effects."

"You’ll handle the auctions, and you’ll receive ten percent of the proceeds!"

Lin Feng smiled at Wang Jisheng, speaking with assurance.

Ten percent?

Each of these spiritual items would fetch at least a hundred million! Ten percent means ten million!

By gathering jade, hosting a simple auction, and selling these items, he’d net over ten million in profit—far more than his most lucrative businesses.

It was as if fortune had dropped from the sky!

"Thank you, Master Lin! From now on, I, Wang Jisheng, will follow you without question, heed your every command!"

This time, Wang Jisheng was truly convinced.

As the proverb goes, "The world bustles for profit; all strive for gain." After subjugation by force, enticement by profit—even a veteran underworld boss like Wang Jisheng could not resist.

"As for the remaining ninety percent, I shall keep none. You’ll use all of it to procure various spiritual items for me. Here’s the list—keep it safe."

"Yes, Master Lin! Since you trust me, I shall be loyal unto death!"

With profits reaching into the hundreds of millions, Lin Feng’s trust—using without suspicion—earned Wang Jisheng’s admiration, dispelling all resentment.

The items listed were for Lin Feng’s construction of the "Three Pure Gathering Array."

Over these days, Lin Feng’s cultivation had steadily advanced—now a first-grade Meridian Spiritualist, stage four, having opened four main meridians.

But progress was still too slow.

There were twelve main meridians; only when all were cleared could he run the Minor Cycle and attempt to reach the second-grade Foundation Realized Realm.

Recently, as he entered Binhai City's upper circles, Lin Feng realized the world was far more complex than it appeared. Beneath the surface calm, undercurrents roiled.

Martial artists, mystical practitioners, the Demon Society...

Each event reminded Lin Feng that the fundamental logic of this world was still the law of the strong.

Only power was the true foundation of vengeance.

Cultivation was one part, influence another.

Thus, Lin Feng conceived the plan to build his own power base—winning over Wang Jisheng was just the first step. His next goal: to dominate the entire planet.

Drawing back his thoughts, Lin Feng waved Wang Jisheng and the others away, leaving only Luo Qiankun.

Having entrusted Wang Jisheng with a business worth hundreds of millions, Lin Feng naturally couldn’t neglect Luo Qiankun, his equal in status.

With the experience of countless battles over a hundred thousand years, Lin Feng swiftly guided Luo Qiankun, granting him insight into the essence of martial arts.

Seeing his long-standing bottleneck begin to loosen, Luo Qiankun was ecstatic, grateful to Lin Feng to the point of nearly prostrating himself.

Lin Feng helped him up, then departed with casual grace.

Today’s trip to White Cloud Pavilion had yielded abundantly.

Gazing at the sun sinking toward the western horizon, Lin Feng’s eyes chilled as he murmured,

"Long Yaoyang, Liang Fengnian, soon you will know what true despair is."

"I look forward to it immensely."