Chapter 27

Zhu Hongyi had already driven from Luodian City's Zhenglong County to Jinzhou City and was now by Zhu Rongqiang's side, nodding gently at him... Through the glass on the door, he had already been able to confirm with 100% certainty that the person lying on the bed in this ward was the young master who had resolved the factory haunting incident last night!

After receiving Zhu Hongyi's confirmation, Zhu Rongqiang felt a slight relief... To be honest, he was really worried that this might be another farce!

Since Yang Chen's identity had been confirmed, Zhu Rongqiang calmed his mind and lowered his attitude significantly.

Gently pushing open the ward door, the gray-haired but ruddy-faced Zhu Rongqiang first appeared in Yang Chen's line of sight.

The elderly man, over seventy years old, was full of energy and had a loud voice.

As soon as he entered, he bowed to Yang Chen and said, "Thank you, sir, for your help last night..."

"Old Mr. Zhu, there's no need for such formalities. In fact, I am your junior," Yang Chen, who was leaning against the bed, smiled slightly.

"Oh? What do you mean, sir?" Yang Chen's demeanor was very calm, which surprised Zhu Rongqiang. In his original assumption, a young genius like Yang Chen would be arrogant and unapproachable.

Especially the second sentence Yang Chen said, clearly intended to bridge the gap between them... This also made Zhu Rongqiang quite pleased, as this trip to Jinzhou was of great significance to the Zhu family!

As they spoke, apart from the two bodyguards, secretary, and assistant Zhu Rongqiang brought, who remained at the door, Zhu Rongqiang, Zhu Hongyi, and Tang Yino, who had returned together, entered the ward. Zhu Hongyi turned to close the door.

Yang Chen smiled and said, "I am a university classmate of Zhu Shishou. This time, I helped mostly because of him."

"Oh?!" Upon hearing that Yang Chen and Zhu Shishou were university classmates, Zhu Rongqiang was overjoyed. If Zhu Shishou were standing next to him, he would have hugged and kissed him twice!

Before coming, he had thought of countless possibilities and felt that the most likely one was that Yang Chen would be cold to him and would not care about the Zhu family's request.

After all, the metaphysical community, though not large, had a few thousand people, and the number of high-level experts above the fourth stage was even fewer... They had every reason to ignore the Zhu family!

Especially a young genius like Yang Chen, who had reached the fourth stage at a young age, was likely to be arrogant and proud. The Zhu family's influence was not significant...

But Zhu Rongqiang never expected that Yang Chen would be his grandson's university classmate! With this connection, his previously uncertain mind became much more confident...

Zhu Rongqiang asked with a delighted expression, "Mr. Yang, did you study in Beijing?"

"Um, yes," Yang Chen nodded and smiled, "I stayed in Beijing for two years. Zhu Shishou was my classmate and one of the few close friends I had in university... So, both emotionally and logically, I wouldn't stand by and do nothing when the Zhu family is in trouble."

"My grandson being able to have a friend like you is truly a blessing from his past life!" Zhu Rongqiang sighed.

"Oh? Zhu Shishou is your grandson?" Yang Chen was surprised, then smiled and said, "What a coincidence... Since that's the case, Old Mr. Zhu, you can just call me by my name. Calling me 'sir' makes it seem too formal..."

"Indeed, indeed..." Zhu Rongqiang was not being polite, and immediately said, "But calling you by your name might not be appropriate, but I am quite old... How about calling you 'little brother' in the future? It will be more intimate and won't mess up the hierarchy..."

The older generation seemed to be particularly particular about this? Yang Chen smiled without comment and asked, "What is the purpose of your visit, Old Mr. Zhu?"

"This... It's a long story..." Originally, Zhu Rongqiang had prepared a lot of rhetoric to convince Yang Chen to listen to him, but since their relationship had become so good... It seemed unnecessary to lay the groundwork.

After a brief moment of thought, he said, "The purpose of my visit is, first, to personally thank you, little brother, and second, to seek your help... There's a small matter I hope you can assist with..."

"Feel free to speak, Old Mr. Zhu," Yang Chen raised his hand, showing no airs.

"Do you know about the Longmengze Trading Fair that happens every six years?" Zhu Rongqiang asked seriously.

Yang Chen chuckled and said, "That's not called the Longmengze Trading Fair. I think it's more aptly named the 'Sucker Line-Up to Get Ripped Off Fair'... It's just a money-making event organized by a bunch of greedy metaphysical practitioners."

"Ha ha..." Zhu Rongqiang laughed awkwardly, not arguing with Yang Chen. He continued, "Six years ago, our Zhu family also played the role of a sucker. Although we didn't gain much, we didn't lose money... Now, the Longmengze Trading Fair is about to start, but we haven't found a suitable metaphysical practitioner to go with us..."

In his previous life, the sect Yang Chen belonged to was one of the organizers of the Longmengze Trading Fair. As a core disciple, he was very clear about the nature of this fair... Every few years, the sects in the metaphysical community would throw out some useless but valuable items to exchange for money.

And the business tycoons who participated in the fair were collectively known as "Pighead Three" in the metaphysical community. If a qualifier were to be added, it would be "particularly wealthy Pighead Three"!

However, since he wasn't the one paying, Yang Chen patiently listened to Zhu Rongqiang's story.

After listening to Zhu Rongqiang's narration, Yang Chen nodded and said, "For the Zhu family to need me to support the scene and compete for a bid, it's not a big deal... But if I remember correctly, to gain something at the fair, you need to pay with valuable treasures, right?"

"Little brother is right..." Zhu Rongqiang smiled bitterly, "If not for this, we wouldn't be in such a dilemma... So, the purpose of this visit is to hope that little brother can help us. If we gain something at the fair, the Zhu family will surely reward you generously!"

"But I don't have any valuable treasures myself," Yang Chen frowned, "This is quite a difficult matter."

Zhu Rongqiang, a shrewd person, understood immediately. He quickly said, "If little brother can secure five... no, four or more bids for the Zhu family, we will pay you 20 million as a reward! Little brother, what do you think?"

"What if it's five, six... or even ten bids?" Yang Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Ah..." Zhu Rongqiang hadn't expected this, but after a moment of surprise, he said firmly, "For each additional bid beyond four, the Zhu family will pay you an additional 10 million!"

Yang Chen nodded in satisfaction and pointed to the silent Daoist sitting beside him, smiling, "This Daoist is a fifth-stage expert... I think getting ten bids shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Oh?!" Zhu Rongqiang was surprised again and quickly bowed to the unremarkable Daoist, "You are a fifth-stage expert... I was too hasty earlier, and my manners were lacking. Please forgive me, senior..."

The Daoist smacked his lips, about to say he had sworn an oath, but noticed Yang Chen looking at him with a playful expression... He then remembered that he had already agreed to be Yang Chen's lackey for three years?

So, he just huffed and said nothing.

"As for the treasures needed for the fair..." Yang Chen showed a pained expression but said with a sense of righteousness, "Since it's a matter for the Zhu family, I won't hold back. My sect has a few talismans passed down by our ancestors..."

"Talismans?" Zhu Rongqiang was nervous. Talismans were the most common items at the Longmengze Trading Fair! After all, many people could draw them themselves, though the cost was not low, it wasn't that high, right?

Seemingly understanding Zhu Rongqiang's thoughts, Yang Chen added casually, "These talismans are our sect's unique 'Five Gang Hui Ling Talisman,' and they are approximately mid-third stage."

"Mid-third stage talismans?!" Zhu Rongqiang was shocked. In the entire Chinese metaphysical community, the highest level of Daoist techniques passed down over five thousand years was only early sixth stage, and the highest level of talismans was only early fourth stage!

The 'Purple Qi Zhengyang Ling Talisman' enshrined in the main hall of the Chongyang Palace was one of the few early fourth stage talismans! It had been passed down for over a thousand years, but no one in the Chongyang Palace's lineage had been able to replicate it!

Fourth stage and above talismans were rare treasures left by exceptional talents throughout history, and each use reduced their number. The possibility of replicating them was almost zero!

While third stage and below talismans were not as rare as fourth stage and above, they were not something ordinary sects could possess.

Logically, a mid-third stage talisman would require an eighth stage or higher expert to successfully replicate, and due to the immense mental effort required, it would take years to draw one talisman!

In the world today, there were only a handful of eighth stage or higher experts, and in the Daoist community, besides the two Grand Elders of the Chongyang Palace, there were no known sects with such ancient masters still around!

In an instant, countless possibilities about Yang Chen's background flashed through Zhu Rongqiang's mind, but none of them were something the Zhu family could aspire to!

He said with a delighted expression, "If it's a mid-third stage talisman... the biggest winner of this year's Longmengze Trading Fair will surely be our Zhu family!"

"Cough, cough..." Yang Chen interrupted Zhu Rongqiang's imagination, kindly reminding him, "These Five Gang Hui Ling Talismans are not just scraps of paper for my sect..."

"Of course!" Zhu Rongqiang quickly said, "But what are the specific effects of these Five Gang Hui Ling Talismans?"

"They gather the essence of heaven and earth, and each talisman can create a miniature version of a blessed land with highly active energy! They are very beneficial for practitioners of all types! The duration is about thirty years... Not every sect has a blessed land, so having these talismans is better than nothing..."

"In that case, these Five Gang Hui Ling Talismans are not very useful for ordinary people..." Zhu Rongqiang thought for a moment and then said tentatively, "Mid-third stage talismans are extremely valuable, and the Zhu family will not take them for free... How about this, if the talismans can successfully be bid, we will value each one at 300 million, is that acceptable?"

"Just 300 million? I'm afraid I can't explain it to my sect..."

Zhu Rongqiang gritted his teeth and said, "400 million?"

"That makes it much easier." Yang Chen finally smiled in satisfaction, "If it's convenient, can the Zhu family transfer two to three hundred million first? I can then return to my sect and fetch the talismans."

"How confident are you in getting the talismans?"

"99% confident," Yang Chen said confidently, "You should know, hidden sects... they may be carefree, but life is not easy. The mountains are almost destitute. With two to three hundred million as a deposit, it will definitely be no problem!"

"Very good, very good..." Zhu Rongqiang beamed, "We will do as you say. I will leave this matter to you, little brother..."

"Old Mr. Zhu, you're too polite... It's only right, since Zhu Shishou is my university classmate!"

"Indeed, indeed... My grandson having a friend like you is truly a blessing from his past life!"

Both the old and the young had smiling faces, but who knew what they were thinking?

The Daoist sneered and muttered, "Hypocritical..."

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