Chapter 63: Bargaining Chips!

—

As Xu Shen left the Xinhuo Guard headquarters, his face beneath the mask was dark and grim.

Saying he wasn’t worried about the old man, Yan Gui, would be a lie.

Flame Mastery Realm or not, how could he possibly take on two Yinshen Realm experts?

At the same time, Xu Shen couldn’t wrap his head around it. When Yan Gui had demonstrated Battle Art to him before, the old man had coughed up blood. By all accounts, he shouldn’t have been able to fully utilize such techniques.

How did he manage to cripple Cheng Huang? Xu Shen wondered. Was the blood-spitting just an act?

—

“Dammit! That old bastard!” Xu Shen cursed under his breath.

Anxiety gnawed at him as his thoughts spiraled.

“The techniques I know were all taught by him. He should be even more proficient in them,” Xu Shen muttered. “But against two Yinshen Realm experts… can he really escape?”

Clenching his teeth, Xu Shen glanced around to ensure he was alone. He had already left the headquarters area.

In a flash, he moved to a secluded spot in the mountains and pulled out a black stone.

Infusing it with a trace of his blood energy and spiritual power, the stone trembled slightly, emitting a faint, mysterious aura.

—

“Xu Shen?” A familiar, aged voice echoed in his mind.

It was Jiang Ruyue.

“You know the old man, don’t you?” Xu Shen asked directly, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

This black stone had been given to him by Jiang Ruyue. He had said that if Xu Shen ever encountered a dangerous or unsolvable situation, he could use it to contact him.

—

“You’ve seen the news?” Jiang Ruyue’s tone carried no surprise, as if he had already anticipated this conversation.

“Can you find him?” Xu Shen cut straight to the point.

There was a long silence before Jiang Ruyue’s voice returned.

“Don’t worry. With his abilities, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be caught. Even if discovered, he should be able to escape.”

“Don’t underestimate him.”

Hearing this, Xu Shen felt some of the tension in his chest ease slightly. But after a moment of silence, he asked again:

“Can you help him? I saw reports that he’s seriously injured.”

—

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Ruyue replied. “I cannot leave the pavilion.”

“Then… can you contact the Flame Pillars?”

Even as he said it, Xu Shen realized how naive his request sounded. Sure enough, Jiang Ruyue’s voice returned with a hint of exasperation.

“The Xinhuo Pavilion and Xinhuo Guard are deeply connected by history, but we cannot command the Flame Pillars. Once one enters the pavilion, they no longer involve themselves in such matters.”

—

“So if he’s discovered again… there’s a chance the old man will be killed?” Xu Shen asked quietly.

“There’s a possibility,” Jiang Ruyue admitted. “If he continues to act recklessly.”

Xu Shen sat silently atop the mountain as cold winds whipped through his hair. His eyes grew colder and sharper with each passing moment.

“If the old man dies,” Xu Shen said slowly, “I will take his place.”

“And at that time, I will leave Xinhuo Guard. I cannot guarantee what I might do.”

“Even if it means joining the Moon Cult.”

“But if they stop pursuing him… I promise to become a Flame Pillar in the future.”

“The choice is yours,” Xu Shen finished before placing the black stone back into his bracelet.

He had thought long and hard before saying those words.

From what he had observed during his time with Xinhuo Guard, it was clear they valued him highly. The Moon Cult seemed to feel the same way—otherwise, Qu Zhixing wouldn’t have risked exposing his decade-long cover by using the Heart of Reversal against him.

Of course, joining the Moon Cult was an empty threat—just a way to add weight to his argument.

Xu Shen had vowed long ago that he would never let another loved one die before his eyes.

And Yan Gui… was family.

Far away in Yuan City, Jiang Ruyue sat silently at his desk, deep in thought.

He hadn’t expected Yan Gui to mean so much to Xu Shen—enough for him to issue such a bold ultimatum through him to Xinhuo Guard’s higher-ups.

After a long pause, a faint smile appeared on Jiang Ruyue’s weathered face.

“Old Brother Yan… it seems you didn’t misjudge this time.”

—

Xinhuo Guard Headquarters

“Did he really say that?” Ye Xiaoxin asked sternly as he looked at Jiang Ruyue’s projected image.

“Yes,” Jiang Ruyue replied calmly. “The choice is yours: maintain your relationship with the Cheng family or gamble on Xu Shen’s potential future.”

With that, Jiang Ruyue’s figure slowly dissipated.

Nearby, Xiao Ruyi toyed absentmindedly with a small pearl in her hand while two men flanked her on either side.

“What do you think?” Ye Xiaoxin asked, glancing at Xiao Ruyi and her companions.

“Me? I’m just here to watch,” Xiao Ruyi said with a sly smile.

“I’ll watch while sitting,” one of the men said dryly.

“Same here,” added the other man with equal indifference.

Ye Xiaoxin nearly laughed in frustration. “That kid is just a Core Solidification rookie!”

“I’m the one who erased his identity and arranged for people to protect his family. How dare he make such threats?”

“And joining the Moon Cult?!”

Ye Xiaoxin slammed his hand on the table in anger as the three Flame Pillars watched him silently.

“Oh my!” Xiao Ruyi exclaimed theatrically. “I just remembered—my nephew recently had his rune repaired by Xu Shen. Not only was it perfectly restored, but it was also significantly enhanced.”

“How should I thank him?”

She tapped her chin as if genuinely pondering the question.

—

“Now that you mention it,” one of the men said thoughtfully, “a disciple I took in from Yuan City was saved by someone wearing a gray mask in Hengduan Mountain Range recently.”

“I should figure out how to express my gratitude as well.”

“And don’t forget,” added the other man. “That gray-masked fellow brought back some Phantom Wood material. Elder Mo Yu plans to use it for me—I expect my strength will increase significantly.”

Ye Xiaoxin stared at them incredulously before bursting into laughter out of sheer exasperation. “Fine! Play your little games!”

“If my heart gives out from all this stress, don’t come crying to me!”

He stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him, leaving the three Flame Pillars exchanging knowing smiles.

—

Xu Shen sat on his sofa in silence, holding a glass of wine. The lights were off, and his gaze was distant and contemplative.

He had spent nearly a month away on missions. Upon returning home, he noticed that the house had been decorated with elegant and tasteful furnishings—not something Xu Guang would have done on his own.

Apparently, Gu Xiao had sent them over, saying the house felt too empty.

According to Xu Guang, ever since Xiao Yun’s visit, people had been coming by intermittently—even while Xu Shen was away. Most left disappointed upon learning he wasn’t there.

It seemed Xu Shen’s reputation had already spread throughout Capital University.

Even an elderly professor—Xuexue’s grandfather and a senior figure in the engraving department—had come looking for him. He left his contact information and requested that Xu Shen reach out upon his return.

—

Aside from students, there had also been several unfamiliar faces whose intentions were unclear. But with Dong Tianming—a Tongyou Realm expert—guarding the house, Xu Guang wasn’t afraid of anyone.

Word had spread quickly: near Capital University was a mysterious rune shop run by three enigmatic figures who never showed their faces.

– Red Mask: The receptionist.
– Ice Mask: A terrifying bodyguard whose strength was rumored to be immense.
– Gray Mask (Ming): The mysterious shop owner and rune engraver whose skills were said to rival Silent Realm masters—even though his cultivation level seemed low.

Xu Shen paid little attention to these rumors. He was waiting—for an answer.

—

Under the moonlight, a shadowy figure approached silently.

Upstairs, Dong Tianming’s aura flickered briefly before vanishing again.

In front of Xu Shen’s sofa sat Xiao Ruyi, her face adorned with a faint smile. It was unclear when she had arrived.

“You’ve won your gamble,” she said simply.

Xu Shen exhaled deeply, a smile breaking across his face for the first time in days.

—

“But this is both your first and last time,” Xiao Ruyi warned sternly. “If Yan Gui shows up again… there will be no reason not to act against him.”

“What he did was too outrageous,” she added, her tone serious and her eyes cold with warning.

Xu Shen met her gaze fearlessly and spread his hands. “Let me ask you something—does the Cheng family have any Destruction Realm rune engravers?”

Xiao Ruyi blinked in surprise before shaking her head instinctively. “No.”

“Then it’s simple,” Xu Shen said confidently. “Tell Ye Xiaoxin—or rather, your commander—that once my cultivation level is high enough, I’ll become a Destruction Realm rune engraver.”

—

Xiao Ruyi’s eyes widened slightly in astonishment. She hadn’t expected such bold confidence from him—Destruction Realm engravers were exceedingly rare. There were only two in all of Xia Nation!

“And not only that,” Xu Shen continued smoothly. “The materials I brought back today? Only I can find more like them.”

He knew he was revealing much more than usual—but for Yan Gui’s safety, it was worth it. The more valuable he made himself to Xinhuo Guard, the safer Yan Gui would be.

—

“If what you say is true…” Xiao Ruyi murmured thoughtfully as she stood up. “Your value outweighs that of the Cheng family.”

She turned to leave immediately—eager to report this startling revelation to Ye Xiaoxin. After all, no single family could compare to the potential of a future Destruction Realm rune engraver…

“Wait!” Xu Shen called out suddenly.

“What is it?” Xiao Ruyi asked curiously.

“I have one question,” Xu Shen said seriously. “In Xia Nation… does Xinhuo Guard hold ultimate authority? Or do these so-called families wield more power?”

Xiao Ruyi paused before answering softly:

“They are interdependent.”

“When Xia Nation nearly fell during its darkest days, these families united with hidden forces within our nation to overcome that crisis.”

“The prominent families we see today are descendants of those who made great sacrifices back then.”

“Xinhuo Guard emerged later—during the rebuilding phase.”

—

“As long as these families don’t get caught breaking laws outright… there’s little we can do against them,” she explained. “And while they may not always get along with each other or us… Xinhuo Guard won’t move against them without cause.”

Xu Shen frowned slightly—it seemed the relationship between Xinhuo Guard and these families was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

—

“The vast territories of Xia Nation require strong support from these families,” Xiao Ruyi continued. “Many Xinhuo Guard branches rely on their backing within cities.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” she added knowingly. “But remember this: as long as you continue to excel and grow stronger… the scales will eventually tip in your favor.”

“When you reach a point where no one can ignore or dismiss you—when they must consider you regardless of consequences—that’s when both Xinhuo Guard and these families will value you equally.”

“But until then…” she trailed off meaningfully before adding:

“A dead genius garners no attention.”

“A sword being forged is fragile—it breaks too easily during its creation.”

—

Xu Shen chuckled softly. “So what you’re saying is that my current value is just enough to make you stop hunting Yan Gui—but not enough to prevent the Cheng family from acting against him?”

Xiao Ruyi nodded silently.

“That’s enough for now,” Xu Shen said with a faint smile. “Thank you… Sister Xiao.”

As Xiao Ruyi’s figure faded into the shadows, Xu Shen turned his gaze toward the moonlit sky.

His eyes glimmered coldly as he muttered under his breath:

—

“The real world is far crueler than East Street ever was…”

“The petty squabbles of my past pale in comparison to this overwhelming power dynamic.”

“The essence of this world has always been survival of the fittest—it hasn’t changed across any era…”

“The strong reign supreme—that is eternal.”

“If Xinhuo Guard values my future potential… then I’ll show them just how far I can go.”

“I climbed from being nothing on East Street to where I am now.”

“And from here… I’ll rise to heights that force them all to look up at me!”