In the end, Hall Master Hong and Shen Haoran drove out Elder Zhang, Elder Li, and Elder Qian. So what if they were Spirit Emperor Powerhouses? With the Spirit Emperor Pill on offer, there was no shortage of takers; those three wouldn't be missed.
Watching their retreating figures, Hall Master Hong couldn't help but shake his head and sigh internally. 'This Shen Haoran is just too domineering. Those three are quite famous around White Fox City, yet he just drove them out like that.' However, considering Shen Haoran was a Sixth Grade Alchemist, the three of them truly had no recourse.
Shen Haoran merely shot them a passing glance before turning back into the Medicine Hall. He felt no regret for driving away the three Spirit Emperor Powerhouses. 'Narrow-minded people like them might not even put in the effort after getting what they want. Even if I took them in, they'd likely just be rotten apples spoiling the bunch.' Shen Haoran would rather do without them. Besides, plenty of Spirit Emperor Powerhouses needed a Spirit Emperor Pill; he wouldn't miss those three.
Perhaps word of the incident spread, leading Spirit Emperor Powerhouses to believe the Medicine Hall wouldn't accept anyone below the rank of Tier Three Spirit Emperor. As a result, all the subsequent arrivals were Tier Three Spirit Emperors or higher. One of them, an Elder Lu, had even reached the rank of Tier Five Spirit Emperor. In just three days, Shen Haoran had assembled five Spirit Emperor Powerhouses. He was pleasantly surprised by this. 'It seems being a bit forceful isn't always a bad thing!'
When the five Spirit Emperor Powerhouses, led by Elder Lu, saw Shen Haoran, a flicker of astonishment crossed their eyes. They had never seen such a young Alchemist. Unlike the previous three, however, they didn't voice any sarcastic doubts. They could sense something extraordinary about this young man. Having grown old and shrewd and seen much of the world, they knew not to judge a book by its cover.
"Young Friend Shen, what is it you need from us?" Elder Lu asked, looking at Shen Haoran. An Alchemist who could offer a Spirit Emperor Pill—whether he refined it himself or had a backer who did—commanded their respect.
"You're too kind, Elder Lu. Just call me Shen the kid. I just need you all to come with me and make a show of force," Shen Haoran said to Elder Lu and the others with a faint smile.
"A show of force?" Hearing Shen Haoran's words, Elder Lu and the other four were taken aback. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion. The five of them were all Spirit Emperor Powerhouses: three Tier Three, one Tier Four, and even one Tier Five. With a Sixth Grade Alchemist on top of that, this group could cause a massive uproar in White Fox City with a single stomp of their feet. What kind of situation required such overwhelming power for intimidation?
"Is it really that simple? Just a show of force?" Elder Lu and the others still found it hard to believe. This was a Spirit Emperor Pill, an item countless Spirit Emperor Powerhouses would fight tooth and nail for. To think they could obtain one so easily for a simple job like this... it just felt too good to be true.
"Of course. I wouldn't deceive you. You only need to accompany me. If all goes smoothly, you won't have to do a thing to receive your Spirit Emperor Pills. If, however, there's a... minor complication, I will need you to take action. So, are you interested?" Shen Haoran nodded. 'This mission really is quite simple.'
"Of course we are! It'd be foolish to pass up such an easy task!" Elder Lu and the others replied in unison upon hearing Shen Haoran's words. If they could get a Spirit Emperor Pill just for taking a trip, nothing could be better.
"Young Friend Shen, where exactly are we going to make this show of force?" Elder Lu asked.
At his words, a cold smile touched the corner of Shen Haoran's lips. "Right here," he said. "The Bai Family of the Fox Race, in White Fox City!"
"The Bai Family of the Fox Race?" Hearing this, Elder Lu and the others exchanged uneasy glances. The Bai Family was deeply rooted in White Fox City—the city itself was named White Fox, a testament to their power. 'It seems this mission isn't so simple after all!' They were also a bit puzzled. The Fox Race generally had a very good reputation; how could they have provoked a Sixth Grade Alchemist?
"Rest assured, everyone," Shen Haoran said calmly, noticing the grim expressions on their faces. "The Bai Family's Patriarch passed away some time ago, leaving the Fox Race leaderless. Their second-in-command, Bai Hong, is an insidious and treacherous man, and many within the clan refuse to follow him. We aren't going there to annihilate the Fox Race, but simply to help select a new leader."
"Oh, so you mean to..." A thought struck Elder Lu, and he seemed to grasp Shen Haoran's intention.
"That's right. I intend to stage a coup," Shen Haoran said coldly, a frigid glint in his eyes.
"Right now, the Bai Family is under Bai Hong's control, but a great many of them are dissatisfied with him. As long as we force him out and let Lady Ya take the position of Patriarch, the Bai Family of the Fox Race will become my allies," Shen Haoran explained softly.
"Lady Ya? You mean the Half-human Half-demon girl beside you? The Fox Race is unlikely to accept her as their Clan Leader, are they? After all, they ostracize Half-human Half-demon Martial Artists," Elder Lu said gravely.
"That's precisely why I need your strength! The Bai Family of the Fox Race is currently facing external threats from the Snow Wolf Race and the Vajra Ape Race, while internally they are leaderless. If we add the threat you all pose, they will naturally agree to our terms if they don't wish to be annihilated. As for earning their trust, that's simple enough. Once we resolve the crisis with the Snow Wolf Race and the Vajra Ape Race, the Bai Family will naturally accept Lady Ya," Shen Haoran said with a light chuckle. He had already devised a plan.
With his strength now recovered and his status as a Sixth Grade Alchemist, it was time for Shen Haoran to deal with his lingering troubles. He had already gathered intelligence on the strength of the Fox Race, Snow Wolf Race, and Vajra Ape Race; they were comparable to some of the second-rate powers in the Northern Domain. It would still be difficult for him to handle them alone, so he had to start with the Fox Race. With Lady Ya's help, he would first bring the Fox Race under his control, and everything after that would be much simpler.
"Since Young Friend Shen already has a plan, we just need to execute it," Elder Lu said after hearing Shen Haoran's proposal, asking no more questions. They were being paid to do a job. Even if Shen Haoran hadn't had a plan, they would have helped him come up with one for the sake of the Spirit Emperor Pills.
"Then when do we depart?" Elder Lu asked.
"Right now, of course." Shen Haoran glanced at Lady Ya and gave a slight nod. 'Knowing Bai Hong's character, he's probably plotting against me as we speak. There's no better time to go than now.'
Hearing this, the others all nodded. Then, under Shen Haoran's lead, they began to stealthily approach the Bai Family of the Fox Race...
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