Chapter Forty-Six: Tang Feng

The other party seemed equally unwilling to give up on the thunderstruck wood. That person raised the bid again, “Twenty-five million.”

Chu Han narrowed his eyes. He had thought it would be easy to acquire this piece of thunderstruck wood, but an unexpected obstacle had emerged. Last time at the auction in Jingyuan City, he had lost out to someone else because of money. He turned to glance at the Young Prince, who naturally understood his intention. “Bid as you wish. I’ll back you with whatever you need.”

The Young Prince's wealth was beyond question, and given his current relationship with Chu Han, helping him obtain this item was of no great consequence.

“Look at that! There’s actually someone in the Imperial Capital competing with Tang Feng for something. Must be some country bumpkin who doesn’t know how terrifying Tang Feng really is.”

“Exactly. That guy’s doomed. Tang Feng never lets anyone who competes with him off easily.”

Hearing the murmurs around him, Chu Han immediately realized his opponent’s identity. So, this was the genius of the Tang Royal Residence, Tang Feng. He hadn’t expected to cross paths with him so soon. Clenching his fists, Chu Han regarded Tang Feng intently.

He could also sense Tang Feng’s strength—on par with his own, both at the Wheel Sea Realm, Heavenly Palace stage. Indeed, he was a worthy adversary, a true genius.

“Thirty million.”

But Tang Feng alone was not enough to make him back down from this thunderstruck wood. Sooner or later, he would have to face off against the Tang Royal Residence anyway. Now was not the time to show weakness. He had to visit the Tang Royal Residence the next day; if he showed weakness now, it would only invite ridicule. With the Young Prince as his support, even the mighty Tang Royal Residence could not match the financial power of the Jing Royal Residence.

“Thirty-five million.”

“Forty million.”

“Forty-five million.”

The two began a fierce bidding war, leaving the onlookers stunned. Though the thunderstruck wood contained the power of heavenly tribulation, it was nowhere near worth such an exorbitant sum. The price had skyrocketed to a staggering fifty-five million.

“Go find out who that kid is. How dare he go up against me, Tang Feng?” Tang Feng instructed the servant at his side. Then he stood up and looked at Chu Han with open provocation. “Bid fifty-five million—do you really have that much money? At Green Jade Tower, you pay on the spot. If you don’t have the money, don’t embarrass yourself here.”

As Tang Feng’s words fell, the crowd nodded in agreement. They had been awed by the escalating bids, but now realized the truth: if someone placed a bid without sufficient funds, Green Jade Tower would blacklist them, and they would be publicly humiliated, never able to show their face in the capital again.

Chu Han sneered at Tang Feng’s words, knowing he had reached his limit. Though the Tang Royal Residence was wealthy, they would never let Tang Feng squander money so recklessly—he was merely testing Chu Han. The Young Prince at his side could not help but snicker.

“Enough with the nonsense. If you have the money, keep bidding; if not, get out of the way. I will pay every coin I bid. If you can’t afford it, get lost—what’s so special about Tang Feng?” Chu Han stood up, loudly mocking Tang Feng so that everyone could hear. The onlookers couldn’t help but give Chu Han a thumbs up; to openly challenge Tang Feng in the capital took true courage.

Tang Feng’s expression darkened; he glared at Chu Han, grinding his teeth. “You’ve got guts. What’s your name? You’re the first to talk to me like this in the capital. It seems you don’t plan on leaving here alive.”

“I go by Chu Han, and I won’t change my name or surname. As for you, you’re not nearly strong enough to keep me from leaving the capital. Are you bidding or not? If not, then you can get lost.”

Chu Han didn’t even deign to look at him, waved his hand, and sat back down.

Though Tang Feng dearly wanted to kill Chu Han on the spot, he could not act here—the capital had its rules, and fighting within the city was forbidden. He could only swallow his anger and storm out of Green Jade Tower.

Everyone around gave Chu Han sympathetic looks. Many had offended Tang Feng before, and none had ended well. They did not think much of Chu Han’s prospects.

In the end, the thunderstruck wood fell into Chu Han’s hands, and the Young Prince grinned beside him. “Not bad! You really gave the capital’s number one genius a tongue-lashing. No wonder I admire you.”

Chu Han merely smiled faintly and said nothing. He paid for the thunderstruck wood, and as he felt its surging power, he nodded in satisfaction.

The two of them returned to the inn. Chu Han swallowed the thunderstruck wood whole, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state.

Now, he no longer needed to cut a bloody hole in his heart to absorb the thunder energy—direct absorption was possible, and such pain was nothing to a cultivator like Chu Han.

Countless currents of thunder energy poured into his dantian and meridians, and his strength steadily increased.

Time slipped by. Chu Han had now reached the very peak of the Heavenly Palace stage, faintly able to sense the barrier of the Dao Palace. Yet he did not break through; instead, he forcibly suppressed his power, slowly compressing his true qi.

Before long, his true qi was compressed to its utmost limit, and the thunder energy from the wood was fully absorbed.

Although he had not broken through, his true qi was now at its peak. In terms of raw strength and physical prowess, he was already the equal of a master at the seventh level of the Dao Palace, and could even hold his own against an eighth-level expert.

“Tang Royal Residence, I hope you treat my father well. Otherwise, tomorrow I will return every humiliation my father suffered over the years with interest.”

Chu Han muttered to himself and continued cultivating.

At the Tang Royal Residence—

“Young master, I’ve found out. The other party is named Chu Han, from Jingyuan City. He is Tang Hao’s son.”

A spy knelt before Tang Feng, quietly reporting his findings.

Tang Feng nodded, but upon hearing Tang Hao’s name, he paused. “Tang Hao? I remember Uncle Yuan brought someone named Tang Hao today.”

“That’s right. Tang Hao used to be part of our residence, but later he committed a grave mistake and fled. He’s back this time to be punished.”

The spy nodded. After receiving this information, Tang Feng stood up and went straight to Tang Yuan’s room.

Tang Yuan was in his room, discussing how to deal with Tang Hao, when Tang Feng strode in.

“Uncle Yuan, I heard you brought Tang Hao back. What are you planning to do with him?” Tang Feng asked bluntly and recounted the day’s events with Chu Han, leaving Tang Yuan to decide.

Learning that Chu Han had arrived in the capital and was so brazen, Tang Yuan was furious, though the sinister curve at the corner of his lips never faded.

“Rest assured, everything is arranged. I’ll have Tang Hao give up this opportunity for reward to you. With the emperor’s favor and this opportunity, you’re sure to soar. As for Tang Hao, once we’ve used him, we’ll discard him. He committed a grave offense against the Tang Royal Residence—now that he’s back, he must pay the price.”

“As for Chu Han—he’s nothing to worry about. Once Tang Hao is dead, we’ll quietly send some experts to assassinate him. No one will be the wiser.”

Tang Feng nodded in satisfaction, never having regarded Chu Han as a threat. For the Tang Royal Residence, dealing with a single person was a simple matter.

Tang Feng and Tang Yuan exchanged a glance, both wearing treacherous smiles.

Meanwhile, Chu Han remained completely in the dark, thinking that Tang Hao’s return to the residence truly meant a reconciliation. Little did he know, it was all a trap.