The saintess is pregnant, what does that have to do with me, a spoiled brat?

Dust filled the air inside the Chen residence.

Dozens of armored guards from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion lined up in a row, their hands on their sword hilts, exuding a murderous aura.

The Chen family's guards, armed with sticks, huddled on the steps, their legs trembling. Facing them was a regular army veteran, and they wouldn't dare move even if they had ten times the courage.

"Promise!"

A furious shout came from the backyard.

Surrounded by several trusted confidants, Chen Wanjin strode out. His face was ashen, and he stared intently at Xu Nuo, who was standing on the ruins of his own gate, his teeth practically grinding to powder.

"You led your troops to trespass on civilian property and destroyed my gate! Do you really think there is no law in Dali?!"

Chen Wanjin took the initiative and tried to overwhelm his opponent with his imposing manner.

Xu Nuo casually tossed the knife to Lin Hu and slowly walked forward.

"The law?"

Xu Nuo smiled.

He pulled a black iron plate from his pocket and casually tossed it at Chen Wanjin's feet.

Clang.

The metal plaque landed on the ground, and the character "Shadow" on it was particularly glaring in the morning light.

When Chen Wanjin saw the sign clearly, his pupils contracted sharply, and his blood instantly turned cold.

The Shadow Pavilion's identity token!

This little bastard not only survived, but he also killed the assassin? That was a sixth-rank martial artist!

"Master Chen, does this look familiar?" Xu Nuo walked up to Chen Wanjin, looking down at him. "Last night, some thief broke into my room, claiming you paid a deposit of 100,000 taels to have my life. Tell me, how should this debt be settled?"

Suppressing his fear, Chen Wanjin forced a defense: "I don't know what you're talking about! What Shadow Pavilion? My Chen family does business honestly and would never do such a thing! You're framing me!"

"frame?"

Xu Nuo nodded.

boom!

Without warning, Xu Nuo kicked Chen Wanjin in the stomach.

Chen Wanjin's obese body, weighing over 200 pounds, was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the red-painted pillar behind him, spitting out a mouthful of acidic water.

"master!"

The butler and several trusted confidants screamed in fright and rushed over to help him up.

"You dare hit me!" Chen Wanjin clutched his stomach, his face contorted in pain. "I have the Minister of Revenue behind me! No matter how powerful your Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is, it can't be more powerful than an official appointed by the imperial court!"

Xu Nuo walked over, grabbed Chen Wanjin by the collar, and lifted him up like a chick.

Snapped!

A resounding slap landed on Chen Wanjin's face.

Chen Wanjin's face swelled up on one side instantly, and he spat out two bloody molars.

"The Minister of Revenue is nothing," Xu Nuo said in a chilling tone. "Let him stand in front of me right now, and see if I dare to whip him too."

The entire room fell silent.

The guards of the Chen family didn't dare to breathe. This heir of the Duke of Zhenguo was simply insane!

"You..." Chen Wanjin was stunned by the beating, his mind buzzing.

"My patience is limited." Xu Nuo released his grip, letting Chen Wanjin slump to the ground. "Last night, he smashed my shop, 100,000 taels. He hired someone to kill me, 100,000 taels for emotional distress. A total of 200,000 taels in cash. Now, immediately, hand it over."

Chen Wanjin covered his face, trembling with anger.

Two hundred thousand taels!

Although the Chen family is the richest family, most of their money is tied up in businesses and goods. Taking out 200,000 taels of silver in one go is equivalent to draining most of the Chen family's working capital!

"No!" Chen Wanjin gritted his teeth. "I have no money, but you can take my life! Go ahead and kill me right here today if you dare!"

He didn't believe Xu Nuo would actually dare to kill someone in public.

This is the capital city, right under the emperor's nose.

"OK."

Xu Nuo turned to look at Lin Hu.

"Lin Hu, take your men to the Chen family's warehouse. Take all the money and smash everything in sight. Anyone who tries to stop you will be killed on the spot."

"yes!"

Lin Hu drew his sword and waved it.

Dozens of fierce-looking guards rushed directly into the Chen family's inner courtyard.

"Stop them! Stop them now!" Chen Wanjin shouted anxiously at the guards.

Several daring guards had just raised their sticks.

Swish!

Lin Hu swiftly swung his blade, instantly cutting down the two men charging at the front. Blood splattered onto the bluestone slabs, a gruesome sight.

The remaining guards were so frightened that they dropped their sticks and ran away with their heads in their hands.

"Xu Nuo! This is robbery!" Chen Wanjin's heart bled as he watched the guards rush into the inner courtyard.

Xu Nuo pulled over a grand chair, sat down with an air of authority, and crossed his legs.

"I'm a robber, what can you do to me?"

In less than half an incense stick's time.

The sounds of smashing and the screams of women came from the inner courtyard of the Chen family.

Lin Hu and his men carried the items out, box by box.

Not only were there gleaming silver ingots, but also boxes of antique calligraphy and paintings, and top-quality medicinal herbs.

"Young Master, the storeroom door has been broken open." Lin Hu walked over to report, holding a century-old blood ginseng as thick as an arm in his hand. "This old man has quite a few good things in his storeroom, just these top-grade medicinal herbs alone number over a dozen boxes."

Xu Nuo's eyes lit up.

What he lacks most right now is cultivation resources. The Ancient Dragon Soul is a bottomless pit, and he's worried about not having anything to fill it.

"Move everything out," Xu Nuo said with a wave of his hand.

"You dare!" Chen Wanjin's eyes turned red. That was a treasure he had spent a fortune to collect in order to bribe powerful figures in the capital!

He suddenly scrambled to his feet, trying to pounce on Xu Nuo.

Xu Nuo didn't even glance at him before kicking him.

Click.

Chen Wanjin's right knee was shattered by the kick, and he screamed in agony as he fell to the ground again, writhing in pain.

"I told you, my patience is limited." Xu Nuo stood up, walked up to Chen Wanjin, and looked down at him. "Two hundred thousand taels of silver, plus these medicinal herbs, can buy the lives of dozens of people in your Chen family. You've made a profit on this deal."

Chen Wanjin was in so much pain that he broke out in a cold sweat. Looking into Xu Nuo's emotionless eyes, he finally felt a chilling fear.

This kid really dares to kill!

"Give...I'll give..." Chen Wanjin said weakly, completely admitting defeat.

The butler, trembling, took the key and led Lin Hu to the cellar to retrieve the silver.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver filled more than a dozen large carts. Adding to that the top-quality medicinal herbs and antiques, the Chen family suffered a massive financial blow and a severe blow to their health.

Xu nodded in satisfaction after counting the items.

"Master Chen, thank you for your generosity." Xu Nuo patted Chen Wanjin's face. "If you want to buy my life again in the future, remember to prepare more money. Ten thousand taels, who do you think you are?"

After saying that, Xu Nuo turned and walked towards the door.

"Let's go back to the manor."

The grand motorcade drove out of the Chen residence.

Lying in the ruins, Chen Wanjin watched the convoy depart, his anger and frustration overwhelmed him, and he fainted.

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

As soon as Xu returned, he had all those dozen or so boxes of top-quality medicinal herbs moved into his yard.

As for the 200,000 taels of silver, he simply gave it to Old Li to run the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and the Chicken Essence Workshop.

inside the room.

Xu Nuo sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the mountain of medicinal herbs in front of him, a smile playing on his lips.

Centuries-old blood ginseng, millennium-old lingzhi mushroom, purple bone vine...

That old bastard Chen Wanjin is practically a money-giving boy.

The jade pendant on her chest felt slightly warm.

Roar.

An excited roar from the Primordial Dragon Soul echoed in his mind.

Xu Nuo closed his eyes and began to circulate his energy.

The medicinal herbs in the room visibly dried up, transforming into streams of extremely pure energy that surged wildly into Xu Nuo's body.

The fifth dragon pattern began to flash.

His physical strength, at the peak of the sixth rank, surged once again. His bones crackled like thunder, and his muscle fibers continuously reorganized and strengthened.

Two full hours.

When the last century-old blood ginseng turned to ashes, Xu Nuo suddenly opened his eyes.

The fifth dragon pattern is now fully illuminated!

A violent aura erupted from his body, shattering the tables and chairs in the room.

A fifth-rank martial artist!

Relying solely on his physical strength, he is now capable of withstanding the qi of a fifth-rank martial artist. If he were to add the characteristic of the Primordial Dragon Soul to devour qi, he would dare to even challenge a fourth-rank martial artist.

"call."

Xu Nuo exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling the surging power within his body, and felt great.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

"Xu Nuo! You come out here!"

Li Wanning's clear voice rang out in the courtyard.