Hikaru's sudden appearance in front of Tianxia Corporation caused an instant stir.
Onlookers gasped. The security team rushed forward, alert and cautious. After all, appearing out of thin air wasn't exactly normal, even in a world full of cultivators.
"Who are you? State your business!" one guard barked, already reaching for his sidearm.
But Hikaru simply gave them a disinterested glance.
He wasn't here to chat with gatekeepers.
He locked on to the strongest presence in the building—
And vanished.
A breath later, he reappeared inside a lavish office—directly before none other than Feng Zhenghao, the scheming mastermind and chairman of Tianxia Corporation.
For a moment, Feng's eyes widened.
Then he calmly adjusted his glasses, suppressing his surprise with practiced ease.
If this person could arrive without him sensing it—
Then he could also kill him just as easily.
This wasn't a threat.
It was a statement.
So Feng Zhenghao did what he did best: adapt.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, little friend?" he asked smoothly.
His eyes sparkled behind the lenses—curious, but cautious.
Hikaru smiled faintly. He liked smart people.
They saved time.
"I have two requests," he said plainly. "In return, I'll offer compensation."
Feng raised a brow and gestured for him to continue.
"First, I want an official identity."
"Second… I want to study your family's secret technique: Binding Spirits and Summoning Generals."
Feng's pupils contracted slightly.
He wasn't surprised that Hikaru knew about it.
He'd used that technique before—for Tianxia's sake. Traces of it existed.
It was only a matter of time before someone put it together.
What shocked him was how direct Hikaru was.
And with the identity request tacked on—
He couldn't help but suspect: Was this man a foreign operative?
A spy after one of Huaguo's deepest arcane secrets?
He silently began to draw on his Black Qi, preparing to trigger a large-scale reaction and call for help.
But just as he prepared to act—his sixth sense screamed.
Danger.
Pure, fatal danger.
If he moved now, he might not even have time to blink before dying.
He reined it in immediately.
The dark aura around him dissipated.
Hikaru nodded, seeing through him.
"I understand your concerns. But I don't take things without paying."
He pulled out a tiny model of a mansion, palm-sized but exquisitely detailed.
"This is a custom-crafted Soul Mansion. It allows spirits to reside inside and grow stronger over time."
He glanced at Feng's aura.
"Based on your spirit strength, I'd say… in six months, this mansion could refine spirits stronger than yours."
This was no bluff.
It was a prototype Hikaru had crafted specifically for this negotiation.
He didn't want unnecessary conflict—especially not in a world this volatile.
Feng Zhenghao's eyes flickered.
Greed. Calculations. Hesitation.
This item was a perfect fit for his family's secret art. It could revolutionize his clan's power.
But he didn't reach out.
He knew: if Hikaru was a threat to national security, and he accepted this, his whole family would burn.
Hikaru smiled, admiring Feng's restraint.
'No wonder this guy kneeled to Wang Ai without hesitation… cold-blooded but smart.'
"Relax, Chairman Feng. With my level of power, who could possibly command me?"
He paused.
"Oh—and by the way. This mansion can train ten spirits at once."
That did it.
A ten-fold enhancement to their core ability?
Feng Zhenghao's mind spun.
His mouth was dry. Hands almost moved on instinct.
But he held back. Just barely.
And then—
Bang! The office door flew open.
Feng Shayen, his daughter, stormed in.
"Father! Security reported someone suddenly appeared at the—"
She froze.
Her eyes fell on Hikaru.
A stranger.
A powerful stranger.
Feng Zhenghao's face darkened like thunder.
Dark Qi surged around him.
"Shayen, how many times have I told you—knock before entering?"
She flinched, caught off guard by his fury.
"I—I was just—"
"No excuses! Get out!"
"...Yes, sir."
Biting her lip, Shayen bowed and exited quietly.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Feng Zhenghao exhaled, his Qi retracting. His face returned to its usual composed expression.
"Apologies for that, little friend. My daughter was out of line."
He then shifted gears.
"As for the Binding Spirits and Summoning Generals scroll… I'll need time to consider."
"But your identity request? I'll begin that process immediately."