Chapter 499 497: Doesn't Know the Goods

Mu Lin raised an eyebrow. "Opening with ten billion? And I haven't even helped you drive up the price. It seems ten billion is just pocket money for the Ning Family."

Elder Ning was silent. The Ning Family had dominated Di Yang for decades; their annual income was well into the tens of billions.

A payout like this wouldn't even be enough to break their bones; it was nothing more than a trifle.

Mu Lin stated decisively, "Fifteen billion in funds, plus all the Xu Family assets you stole through your schemes. Everything must be returned."

Elder Ning's expression turned hideous, shifting uncontrollably. "How is that possible? No! Absolutely not!"

Mu Lin shifted his stance and planted a foot on Elder Ning's shoulder.

"It seems you still don't grasp your situation!"

Elder Ning cried out in pain as large beads of sweat trickled down his face.

"I'm just asking you to return what was stolen. What's so difficult about that?"

"Furthermore, I'm going to go have a look inside. If I find anything I like, I'm taking it with me!"

Mu Lin gestured toward the classical-style building behind them.

Ning Bai Nian's expression changed drastically. "That's my Treasure Pavilion! How dare you have designs on it? You've got some nerve!"

"Oh! So it's yours?" Mu Lin said nonchalantly. "That makes me even more interested. An Immortal's Treasure Pavilion surely won't disappoint."

"You don't have the option to refuse!" Mu Lin repeated, his meaning utterly explicit.

Ning Bai Nian snorted coldly and opened his mouth to refuse Mu Lin's demand once more.

Before he could, Mu Lin formed his fingers into a blade and, without a moment's hesitation, lopped off Ning Zuoren's arm.

Ning Zuoren let out a bloodcurdling scream, like a pig being slaughtered.

"Stop!" Ning Bai Nian, concerned for his grandson's safety after all, roared, "Fine! I'll let you go!"

Mu Lin shot Ning Bai Nian a mocking glance, saying with a hint of disappointment, "And here I thought you'd hold out until I'd chopped off all his limbs."

Rage surged through Ning Bai Nian. 'This insolent, arrogant junior! And that damned Wen Lianggong!'

'And the meddlesome Imperial Martial Bureau!'

'When I get the chance, I'll make them all pay, one by one!'

Wen Lianggong remained on high alert, not daring to let his guard down for even a second, his eyes locked on Ning Bai Nian.

When an Immortal got angry, it wouldn't take long for them to kill someone at the Innate stage.

'He truly feared that if Ning Bai Nian threw caution to the wind and was dead set on killing Mu Lin, he wouldn't be able to protect him.'

'And what good would it do if the Imperial Martial Bureau punished Ning Bai Nian afterward?'

'Mu Lin's nerve was something else. To dare provoke an Immortal while only at the Peak of Innate Stage...'

'If he weren't here keeping things under control, even ten lives wouldn't be enough for a guy like Mu Lin.'

'Mu Lin didn't have a powerful background to speak of. Would the Imperial Martial Bureau really kill Ning Bai Nian for his sake?'

With a couple of nimble steps, Mu Lin appeared before the Treasure Pavilion.

He casually rummaged around, only to find that everything was shoddy merchandise without any real value. He wondered where Ning Bai Nian had scraped together such trash.

He picked out a water-attribute cultivation manual and casually grabbed a Crystal Ball. If Jiang Long were to see him now, he'd surely think Mu Lin had developed an addiction to collecting them.

Mu Lin toyed with the Crystal Ball in his hand for a moment before walking out of the Treasure Pavilion.

Ning Bai Nian said, "Can you leave now? I have nothing else for you."

Mu Lin was in an excellent mood. With a brilliant smile, he said cheekily, "Hahaha, who knew the Ning Family was so loaded? I'll be thinking of you all!!"

Ning Bai Nian was so furious he felt like he would explode. He wanted to rip Mu Lin to pieces.

Wen Lianggong stood beside Mu Lin and said with a smile, "Young friend, shall we be on our way?"

Mu Lin nodded, then shot a final warning at Ning Bai Nian. "Tell Elder Ning to watch his step. If he provokes me again, I'll kill him!"

Wen Lianggong was absolutely speechless. 'How did I never realize what a massive troublemaker Mu Lin is?'

Ning Bai Nian was already on the verge of erupting; a single spark could probably set him ablaze.

'You're an Innate Divine Realm expert, so why do you have to keep antagonizing him??'

Mu Lin and Wen Lianggong left the Ning Family estate, making a cool and easy departure.

Ning Bai Nian watched their retreating figures, his long-suppressed rage finally erupting. He let out a cold snort, venting his bitter resentment.

Beneath Ning Bai Nian's foot, a patch of ground the size of a soup bowl instantly turned barren. The grass and plants withered in a flash, and the soil was compressed several centimeters deep.

"I have to say, that kid has no eye for real treasures. My Treasure Pavilion is full of priceless items from every corner of the world, and he walks out with a piece of junk like it's a prize!"

He'd bought that ball for his grandson to play with years ago. It was utterly worthless. Only a good-for-nothing like Mu Lin would treat it like some precious artifact.

Wen Lianggong escorted Mu Lin back to the nightclub.

"Elder Wen, you can head back now. I can handle things from here on out."

Wen Lianggong gave Mu Lin a respectful nod. "You must be extremely careful. Without the pressure from the Imperial Martial Bureau Patrol, Ning Bai Nian will undoubtedly come after you."

"You've stirred up a huge mess. There's no way this is going to end quietly!"

As he spoke, Wen Lianggong took out a bright yellow piece of talisman paper. "If Ning Bai Nian makes a move, burn this. I'll know."

Mu Lin asked, "Elder Wen, what is this? I've never seen these runes before. They're truly mysterious."

"Ah," Wen Lianggong said. "It's normal that you haven't. This is a True Essence Talisman, created when an Immortal infuses it with True Qi. When the holder burns it, the creator of the talisman will be alerted instantly."

Mu Lin asked, "Only Immortals can create these True Essence Talismans?"

"That's right."

Mu Lin thought for a moment, then said, "Elder Wen, do you have any spares? I'm willing to pay. I'd like to study the runes on them."

Wen Lianggong was surprised by Mu Lin's interest. "Only Immortals can create these. There's no point in you studying them so early. You'd be better off focusing on honing your own abilities. I think that would be a more meaningful use of your time."

Mu Lin said, "But won't I be able to use them sooner once I become an Immortal? In that sense, it's quite meaningful!"

Wen Lianggong burst out laughing. "This is the first time I've ever heard someone speak of becoming an Immortal so lightly."

"Then I wish you luck in becoming a Land Immortal within the decade!"

Mu Lin just shook his head calmly. "I'm already at the Peak of Innate Stage. Becoming a Land Immortal might just take the blink of an eye. It'll be very soon."

Wen Lianggong couldn't be bothered to bicker with Mu Lin any longer. He left him a few blank True Essence Talismans that hadn't been infused with True Qi and let him play with them on his own.

'Ah, to be young,' he thought. 'A Land Immortal isn't some common stray you can just pick up off the street. To achieve it within ten years would already be at the level of a prodigy.'

Mu Lin didn't know what Wen Lianggong was thinking, and even if he had, he wouldn't have cared in the slightest.

He walked into the nightclub. It was quiet. Evidently, Li Ba had cleared the place out and closed up after the incident.

When the siblings Li Ba and Li Yan saw Mu Lin return, they rushed to greet him.

Li Ba was more respectful than ever. "Mr. Mu, you're back!"

Mu Lin nodded, slapping the bank card from the Ning Family onto the coffee table. "Here. Fifteen billion in compensation from the Ning Family."

Li Ba was so startled that he fumbled, and the bank card slipped right through his fingers.

"Mr. Mu, how much did you say?"

Fifteen billion?!

Li Ba was too stunned to utter a single word.

But Mu Lin, acting as if it were nothing, simply went straight upstairs.

Li Ba could only take one deep breath after another, telling himself that working for Mu Lin meant having to get used to such astronomical figures.

Li Yan was dumbfounded. "Bro, that's fifteen billion! How is Mr. Mu so nonchalant about it? Are all badasses like this?"

Li Ba took a deep breath. "Even if he gave us the money, we can't just spend it. It's Mr. Mu's money. The most we can do is help him manage it..."

Li Yan looked up at the ceiling, feeling that the gulf between herself and Mu Lin had grown even wider.

Her heart churning with a mix of awe and anxiety, she sighed, "Bro, Mr. Mu is just... too amazing. He's absolutely not a normal person!"

Li Ba nodded in agreement. "Mr. Mu's power is truly unfathomable. Back when I was still at the Jade Pavilion District, some big shots were speculating that he was a young master from some major power, sent out to gain experience. I'm starting to think there was some truth to those rumors. If we stick with him, our lives are bound to get better and better."

"It seems leaving the Jade Pavilion District wasn't a bad thing at all... It was a blessing in disguise! Thank God!"

Mu Lin went upstairs. Pushing open the door, he saw Gu Qiang looking after Elder Gu.

"Grandmaster Gu, how are you feeling now? Do you need me to take a look?" Mu Lin asked, placing a fruit platter he'd brought along on the table.

Elder Gu's expression was serene, his breathing steady. "I'm mostly recovered. It's truly thanks to you that I managed to keep my old life."

Mu Lin smiled. "I was the one who brought this trouble to your door. I should be the one apologizing to you!"

Mu Lin was just being too courteous; Elder Gu didn't know what else to say.

If they kept going back and forth like this, it would be endless.

Mu Lin chuckled and gave him a brief summary of events. Elder Gu listened, utterly dumbfounded, his mouth agape. He felt that all the legends he had heard in his entire life couldn't compare to the outlandish tale unfolding before him. "Mu Xiaoyou, your abilities are truly heaven-defying. You know Immortal Wen?"