"Old man, one of the two permanent residence spots in Nanhai Stockade has to be mine!"

"Damn it, what a sly fox. What are we in Gu Hei supposed to do then? Should I go ask Lord Kuang for a small courtyard so I can live in Nanhai Stockade permanently too?"

Kuang Nie was thrown into chaos. He couldn't comprehend what Lord Chen Zheng had done yesterday. Why had Nanhai Stockade, a place people once avoided at all costs, suddenly become the center of everyone's attention?

At that moment, Chao Gu and the other two had sensed Chen Zheng's presence through a mysterious insect. Without hesitation, they rushed toward his courtyard.

"Lord Chen Zheng!"

"Chao Gu of the Gu Qing lineage!"

"Shi Xun of the Gu Yun lineage!"

"Qing Pan of the Gu Hei lineage!"

"We humbly request an audience!"

At the doorway, the three of them bowed respectfully, a mixture of nervousness and reverence on their faces, as if terrified that Chen Zheng would refuse their request.

"Please, come in."

Finally, Chen Zheng's voice drifted out from inside the house.

As if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders, the three men took a deep breath before stepping into the verdant courtyard.

Chen Zheng was reclining leisurely on a rattan chair. His eyes opened slightly, and he glanced at their figures.

"What brings you here?" his voice was low and detached.

Chao Gu and the others immediately bowed low, and Chao Gu spoke. "Lord Chen Zheng, we are deeply grateful to you for eliminating the threat of the Gu Chi lineage to the southern barbarians. This is a gift we have carefully prepared, and we hope you will accept it."

"Oh?" Chen Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly, then gently shook his head. "The Gu Chi lineage was a nuisance to me. I dealt with them in passing. There's no need for this."

Despite the lack of warmth in his words, he did not refuse their gift.

BOOM!

A clap of thunder seemed to rock Zeng Gu's mind, leaving him utterly stunned.

What did he just hear? Chen Zheng single-handedly defeated the Gu Chi lineage? And he acted as if it was nothing. In that moment, Zeng Gu's worldview shattered like a broken mirror. His first reaction was disbelief, but he knew the Great Elder's status. Why would he make such a joke? He had no choice but to believe it.

"Lord Chen Zheng, the Gu Chi lineage was a great menace to the southern barbarians," Chao Gu insisted. "We hope you will accept this gift, otherwise our hearts will not be at ease."

"Yes, Lord Chen Zheng, you must accept it," Shi Xun and Qing Pan added respectfully. "This is a small token of our sincerity. Please accept it!"

Chen Zheng did not respond immediately. Instead, his sharp gaze swept over them. Cunning old foxes!

He knew all too well that accepting a gift meant shouldering a debt of gratitude that was difficult to repay. These three old men were undoubtedly trying to establish some kind of connection with him through this gesture.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully triggering a choice mission.]

[Choice One: Accept the gifts from Chao Gu and the others. Reward: Body Tempering Liquid Formula.]

[Choice Two: Reject the gifts from Chao Gu and the others. Reward: A 1,000-year-old medicinal herb.]

Two tempting options lay before Chen Zheng. After some thought, he chose the former.

These formulas were rare and wondrous, their effects far surpassing those of thousand-year-old medicinal herbs. Moreover, accepting the offerings of the three lineages and establishing a connection with them was not a bad thing. After he left the southern barbarians, this relationship should ensure that Nanhai Stockade would not run into any trouble.

Thinking of this, Chen Zheng smiled and said, "In that case, I'll accept your gifts!"

The three men's faces lit up with joy, but just then, Chen Zheng's tone shifted. "However, I won't let you give them to me for nothing!"

The hearts of the three men tensed instantly.

"I have a unique gift that can accelerate your True Qi cultivation. Consider it my gift in return."

With a gentle wave of his hand, the formula for the mysterious Spirit Jade Elixir appeared in Chao Gu's hands.

A glint of astonishment flashed in Chao Gu's eyes.

Chen Zheng smiled and continued, "This Spirit Jade Elixir can increase the cultivation speed of someone in the Qi Condensation Realm by at least five times. For someone with outstanding talent, it can even reach a tenfold increase!"

Upon hearing this, Chao Gu, Shi Xun, and Qing Pan all felt a surge of excitement. But they were experienced men and quickly controlled their emotions, rapidly calculating the Spirit Jade Elixir's value in their minds.

"Lord Chen Zheng, this formula is priceless! Our three lineages truly cannot accept such a generous gift," Chao Gu said urgently, trying to decline, but the words caught in his throat. Shi Xun and Qing Pan also nodded frantically in agreement.

However, Chen Zheng simply waved his hand. "Just take it. After I leave, I want you to guard Nanhai Stockade well. I will need to acquire a large quantity of medicinal herbs from there in the future."

He reminded them that they knew the value of the formula and that it was best not to let it leak. Even if it were passed on to people within their stockades, it must be strictly controlled. If this item ever fell into the wrong hands and the leak was traced back to them, they wouldn't even need him to act; the state itself would make them pay the price.

Hearing this, a chill ran down their spines; they had some understanding of the state's power. The three men silently vowed to engrave the formula deep in their hearts. Unless someone could probe their very minds, its existence would forever remain a secret.

"Please rest assured, Lord Chen Zheng," Chao Gu said with renewed solemnity as he carefully put away the precious formula. "Nanhai Stockade is in our hands now. Unless all three of us fall, its peace will never be broken!"

Shi Xun and Qing Pan nodded quickly in accord.

"Good. If there's nothing else, you may leave."

Chen Zheng nodded in satisfaction, then leaned back lazily in his rattan chair.

"Yes!"

The three men responded respectfully. Their disciples promptly put down the gifts they were holding, and the group quietly exited the courtyard.

"Our three lineages are about to be reborn, like a phoenix rising from the ashes!" the youngest, Qing Pan, exclaimed, his eyes blazing like fire.

"Exactly! Let's hurry back and select our sharpest elites, like honed blades, to station at Nanhai Stockade!" Shi Xun nodded, his eyes burning with a similar resolve.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the selection. Reward acquired: Body Tempering Liquid Formula.]

With a mere thought, the formula for the Body Tempering Liquid appeared in his hand, looking like a mysterious tome.

Oh? It's this powerful!

Chen Zheng examined the formula, his heart filled with surprise.

The Body Tempering Liquid was like a dazzling pearl. It possessed the astounding power to enhance one's physical strength, with no restrictions. Even a powerhouse like Chen Zheng could derive endless benefits from it. However, this miraculous liquid was not easily made. The medicinal ingredients required were all exceedingly rare, and they needed to be at least a century old to unleash their full effect.

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