Chapter 295: The Weak Take a Seat at the Table
When faced with the choice between “better the poor Daoist die” or “let fellow Daoists die,” the Golden Flower Group chose without the slightest hesitation to let the fellow Daoists die.
After the board of directors of the Golden Flower Group approved Jin Yushu’s proposal, they decided to act that very night.
The longer the night, the more dreams it bred. At such a critical moment, no one wanted any accidents to occur.
As night descended upon Qinghui Base, neon lights illuminated the bustling nocturnal scene. The Golden Flower Group’s upper management split into two teams and moved simultaneously.
Before the upper echelons of the Qi and Han Families even realized what was happening, large-scale soundproof barrier devices had already enveloped their family compounds.
At the same time, optical camouflage shadow-curtain barrier devices also covered their residences.
These two special devices possessed the ability to isolate sound and simulate visual scenes.
They had originally been modeled after the Alliance base’s anti-air energy shield. Their drawback was the lack of actual defensive power, and they could not isolate energy auras.
However, they were sufficient to prevent ordinary people from noticing anything, ensuring that the disturbance would not cause excessive impact.
While the Golden Flower Group launched its operation, official personnel within the base began, under various pretexts, to prevent vehicles and individuals from approaching the two family compounds.
For a time, under the cover of night, the two family residences became isolated islands.
As violent energy fluctuations erupted from the Qi and Han Family compounds, Professional Beast Tamers within Qinghui Base turned their gazes toward those locations.
Many small forces unaware of the truth secretly speculated that Zhou Ming was taking action against the two families.
But the Alliance Officials, the three Transcendent-level Experts within the base, and the four major forces of Qinghui Base all knew exactly what was happening.
Regarding the tragedy unfolding beneath the night sky, no one intervened, as though this were a collective decision made by all.
The next day, the factories, hotels, and shops under the control of the Qi and Han Families continued operating as usual. The only change was that the upper management had been replaced.
In a single night, two families with over a century of inheritance were annihilated simply because Zhou Ming had advanced to Transcendent Master.
He did not even need to personally make a move—others had willingly removed the trouble for him.
And while undercurrents stirred within Qinghui Base, Jin Yushu brought the Golden Flower Group’s sincerity to Three Mounds Ridge.
Upon receiving the news and learning of Jin Yushu’s purpose, Su Mei immediately led her to meet Zhou Ming.
This matter had already exceeded her authority to handle, and only her lord had the qualification to forgive the Golden Flower Group.
Within the pitch-black underground dark river passage, two figures moved swiftly.
As the daughter of the Chairman of the Golden Flower Group, thirty-year-old Jin Yushu had successfully advanced to Phantasmal Tamer the previous year.
Thus, the rugged environment of the dark river passage posed no difficulty for her.
Instead, the structures left behind in the camp slightly astonished her.
No one had expected that beneath the earth not far outside Qinghui Base, such a well-established camp had been constructed.
And seeing that the camp had begun to fall into disuse, Jin Yushu instantly thought of the passage into the Dark Domain.
While various thoughts surfaced in her mind, Su Mei had already led her to the Waterfall Entrance leading into the underground lake.
Before Jin Yushu could react, she suddenly felt an overwhelming aura descend upon her. Terror flooded her mind, leaving it blank.
In the next moment, water exploded across the lake’s surface. A Spirit Molting Giant Serpent over two hundred meters long burst forth from the depths. Its enormous serpent head resembled a locomotive.
The surrounding Shadow Energy Particles became exceptionally active upon the Spirit Molting Giant Serpent’s appearance, and various bizarre phenomena continuously manifested.
“Su Mei, is there something?”
Sensing that Su Mei had brought a stranger, Zhou Ming, who was currently adapting to the power of a Shapeshift Spirit, proactively revealed himself and asked.
Though it was not her first time witnessing Zhou Ming use his transformation ability, Su Mei still could not help but feel profoundly shaken.
Yet faced with her lord’s inquiry, she quickly regained her composure and explained Jin Yushu’s intentions in detail.
After Su Mei finished speaking, the Spirit Molting Giant Serpent’s body shrank by half. Zhou Ming now stood in his normal form atop the serpent’s head.
“Your Golden Flower Group is quite decisive.”
Zhou Ming looked at Jin Yushu, who had deliberately dressed up, revealing a hint of sensual beauty. He was somewhat surprised by the group’s decisiveness.
They were not only willing to dirty their hands by handling the Qi and Han Families for him, but were also prepared to offer thirty percent of the Golden Flower Group’s interests.
“We ask Master Zhou to grant the Golden Flower Group an opportunity.”
“In addition, this is a fifth-tier spiritual material, Extreme Cold Marrow Jade, from my Jin Family’s collection. Please accept it, Master Zhou.”
Having regained her composure, Jin Yushu bowed respectfully toward Zhou Ming, who stood atop the Spirit Molting Giant Serpent’s head, requesting forgiveness.
At the same time, she retrieved from her Spatial Ring a semi-transparent crystal box, its interior shrouded in a layer of pale-blue mist.
From her posture, it was clear that if Zhou Ming was unwilling to spare the Golden Flower Group, she hoped he would at least show leniency toward the Jin Family.
“Interesting.”
Zhou Ming naturally understood her thoughts. The Golden Flower Group had treated the Qi and Han Families as expendable fellow Daoists, and the Jin Family was likewise prepared to treat the Golden Flower Group as expendable if necessary.
In the face of life-and-death crisis, the Jin Family proved even more decisive than imagined—or rather, Jin Yushu herself was more decisive than most had expected.
Zhou Ming did not immediately agree. Instead, he raised his hand. As Spiritual Power fluctuated, the crystal box flew from her grasp into his hand.
Opening the box, a fist-sized, diamond-shaped blue jade stone emitted a piercing chill.
The fifth-tier spiritual material Extreme Cold Marrow Jade typically formed in lands of extreme cold and possessed the special effect of enhancing and tempering Spiritual Power.
Even a Transcendent Master could gain considerable benefits from using it.
“Since your Golden Flower Group is so sincere, we shall consider previous matters settled.”
“Additionally, developing the passage into the Dark Domain requires considerable resources. Discuss with Su Mei to see whether there is room for cooperation.”
After brief contemplation, Zhou Ming decided to spare the Golden Flower Group. Unlike the Qi and Han Families, they were not small forces.
Keeping them would instead yield greater benefits.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Gazing at Zhou Ming’s handsome features, Jin Yushu appeared visibly excited.
This time, not only had the Golden Flower Group’s crisis been resolved, but they had also formed a connection with Zhou Ming, the newly advanced Transcendent Master. It was a substantial gain.
In this world where the Transcendent had manifested, any force wishing to develop required sufficient power as backing.
Otherwise, it would be nothing more than a reflection of the moon in a well or flowers in mist—an illusion.
Afterward, Zhou Ming dismissed the two of them, intending to use the Extreme Cold Marrow Jade to stabilize his Spiritual Power.
As for Jin Yushu and Su Mei, after leaving the underground lake, they returned to the Snake King Fortress within the Underground Cavern to discuss cooperation.
When night fell once more, Jin Yushu finally returned to Qinghui Base with a face full of joy.
Upon receiving her message, the upper management of the Golden Flower Group held a celebration banquet overnight, and Jin Yushu used this opportunity to ascend to the position of Executive President of the group.
Time passed swiftly. A month slipped by quietly amidst various upheavals.
At the airship takeoff and landing field of Qinghui Base, a private airship belonging to the Duanmu Family of Yunhai Base slowly descended.
Duanmu Ruibo and the Scorpion-Lion arrived at Qinghui Base with the Duanmu Family’s upper echelon.