Zhang Wen sat in silence for a long time. Countless thoughts surged through his mind like overlapping waves. The system. Zhang Lin. The rules that even the system itself could not clearly explain. Everything intertwined so tightly that he could no longer tell which thread was the cause and which was the result.
At last, he spoke in a cold voice.
"Is that so… then is his Affinity sufficient for investment?"
The system's voice answered at once, firm and unwavering.
[Yes. His Affinity is 100, and Zhang Lin's Affinity will never decrease under any circumstances.]
Zhang Wen gave a slight nod. The final hesitation in his heart completely vanished. He reached out and touched the spatial ring on his finger. Gentle water energy spread outward in ripples like transparent waves.
This ring, and the one Zhang Lin possessed, were special spatial rings he had crafted himself. They could connect to one another regardless of distance. As long as the location contained water, or even a trace of moisture, communication was possible.
He used the water in the surrounding environment as both transmitter and receiver. Even if the two of them were separated by the edge of the heavens, they could still speak so long as water existed in that place.
Then his voice echoed clearly within his mind.
"In that case… I will invest the Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill in Zhang Lin."
The system replied immediately.
[Understood. However, I cannot return investment rewards that exceed the Emperor level within this small world. Quantity is not an issue, but for the safety of the Host, as well as this small system of mine, if the laws of the universe were to notice us, both you and I would need to prepare our coffins in advance.]
Zhang Wen nodded indifferently, not paying it much mind. He then turned his consciousness toward the spatial ring once more.
"Little rascal, do you still have the Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill with you?"
Zhang Lin's voice responded at once.
"It's still in my spatial ring. Does big brother need it? I can have an elder deliver it to you."
Zhang Wen let out a soft chuckle.
"Eat it."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Zhang Wen continued.
"My cultivation has already broken through to the Nirvana Realm."
The moment those words were spoken, Zhang Lin's eyes widened.
"What? It's only been a few days. How did your cultivation rise that fast?"
Zhang Wen smiled, but he had no intention of explaining anything.
"Put that aside for now. Eat the Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill."
Zhang Lin hesitated slightly.
"You really do not need it?"
"No." Zhang Wen answered without hesitation. "But you must eat it now."
His tone grew distinctly serious.
"Something this precious is dangerous even if you are inside a sacred land with the Supreme Elders protecting you. With your current cultivation, keeping it is no different from holding a ticking time bomb. Eat it and turn it into your own power instead."
The other side fell silent for a moment before replying.
"I understand, big brother."
At that instant, the system notification sounded within Zhang Wen's consciousness.
[ Ding. Detected that the Host has given the Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill to Zhang Lin ]
[ Investment successful ]
[ Calculating returns according to Luck Color ]
[ Target Luck Color: Gold ]
[ Return multiplier: 10,000 times ]
[ Obtained: Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill x10,000 ]
[ Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill (Emperor Grade): An emperor-grade pill that reforges life itself. Restores the origin body and repairs shattered souls. Heals all forms of injuries, burns away all poisons and ominous energies, reconstructs the foundation from its source, massively increases vitality, and greatly accelerates cultivation. ]
Zhang Wen's breathing stalled for a brief instant before calming immediately. He closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke silently in his mind.
"System. Can you conceal the phenomenon or aftermath after I consume the Phoenix Emperor Nirvana Pill?"
The cold mechanical voice responded at once.
[ Apologies, Host. The system cannot conceal or suppress external phenomena at this time. Because I have already interfered with the laws of this world previously, further interference would greatly increase the risk. ]
Zhang Wen opened his eyes. His gaze was calm, without disappointment or anger. He simply nodded slightly, as if he had expected this answer from the beginning.
"Then so be it."
He stood up and pushed the door open. Light from outside poured in at once. The atmosphere within the White Dragon Merchant Hall had become far livelier than before, as Ming Yuan and Zhen Yi were already deep in discussion, planning the complete revival of the merchant hall.
He saw Ming Yuan sitting together with Zhen Yi. The two were reviewing account records and discussing matters with solemn expressions, but what stood out the most was Ming Yuan's gaze.
It seemed that… Ming Yuan could no longer conceal Zhen Yi's identity.
The bond between them was laid bare, clear and unmistakable, without any intention of hiding it.
Zhang Wen no longer paid attention to that matter. He walked straight toward Ming Yuan and handed him a spatial ring. Ming Yuan accepted it and probed it with his spiritual sense, only to be met with an overwhelming amount of top-grade spirit stones.
Zhang Wen spoke at once.
"With this amount of spirit stones, do you think it's enough to revive this merchant hall?"
Ming Yuan stared at the mountain of spirit stones inside the ring, his breathing faltering for a moment before he lifted his head with firm resolve.
"I'm confident it can be done."
Zhang Wen nodded, then glanced briefly at Zhen Yi.
"Use these spirit stones to buy healing pills for her injuries as well."
He paused slightly before continuing in a calm voice.
"I'll leave the reconstruction of the merchant hall to you. I'll return later."
Ming Yuan nodded immediately.
"Leave it to us."
Zhang Wen said nothing more. His body was enveloped by a sphere of water before vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
Zhen Yi continued staring at the place where he had disappeared, confusion written across her face.
"Is he… truly someone we can trust?"
Ming Yuan fell silent for a moment before replying in a firm voice.
"I don't care whether he's trustworthy or not."
He turned to look at her directly.
"My life was already given to him on the day I began breathing again."
Zhen Yi froze, unable to say another word. Ming Yuan then stood up with a faint smile.
"Come on. We need to start rebuilding the merchant hall."
At the same time, far outside Sword Heaven City, tens of thousands of li away, within a desolate mountain valley devoid of human presence, Zhang Wen's figure descended from the sky.
Originally, his first plan had been to use the poisonous rain he created the night before to reap enormous profits by selling antidotes. He had ordered the Rat Tunnel Society to spread fear-inducing rumors, forcing the people of the city to prepare medicinal countermeasures.
But in truth, his poison did not exist only within the rain.
It was also hidden within the pills and liquid medicines he had just sold.
If the merchant halls stored those products together with their other goods, the pills and liquids would slowly release poisonous particles that would contaminate surrounding merchandise.
Everything, however, came to an abrupt halt the moment the system informed him that he could invest in Zhang Lin from a long distance.
That was something he had never anticipated.
With just a single sentence, all of his plans were forced to change.
Zhang Wen began laying down formations at high speed. Layers of barriers overlapped one another. Concealment arrays. Energy-severing arrays. Spiritual-sense isolation arrays.
They could not completely block the coming phenomenon, but they were enough to buy him time.
Once everything was ready, he instructed the system to release the pills at once.
A copper-gold flame ignited within the air, writhing like a living being. The aura of an emperor surged outward, causing the surrounding barriers to tremble violently.
Zhang Wen did not hesitate in the slightest.
He lifted his head and swallowed it in a single motion.
The instant the pill entered his body, blazing flames erupted from within. A deep rumble of thunder echoed from the heavens above, as though the sky itself had sensed the birth of a new power.
Phoenix fire began to incinerate his blood, his bones, and his soul.
The transformation… had begun.