The conversation was half-finished when Zhang Yang suddenly stopped, leaving everyone eager. Someone couldn't help but ask,
"Zhang Yang, have you discovered something?"
Zhang Yang chuckled at the question and didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to Luo Yiren, took the remote control for the video from her hand, and replayed the previous few clips. However, he slowed the playback speed by half and said again,
"Everyone, take a closer look. You should be able to notice something."
The crowd immediately focused, watching the video again with great attention. Soon, Huo Zhu, He Ao, and Jiang Pan all spotted an issue.
"Comparing the earliest recorded time to the later footage," Huo Zhu observed, "it seems the other party's control over their power is becoming more precise. They're no longer wasting a lot of energy on certain actions like in the initial videos."
Hearing this, Zhang Yang immediately smiled.
"Exactly, that's what I discovered. This person likely obtained great power suddenly and, while adapting to it, couldn't control it properly, hence the large disturbances. Therefore, I'm certain this isn't the same demonic dragon from Jiangnan City. It's highly probable that this person found something left behind by the demonic dragon."
Zhang Yang paused, recalling the past carefully before continuing.
"Elder, do you remember the two dragon whiskers I pulled out at the Dragon Pit in Jiangnan City back then?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Pan and He Ao instantly recalled the event and their realization dawned!
"Are you saying the person in the video found those two dragon whiskers and thus gained the demonic dragon's abilities?"
"Yes, that's likely the case," Zhang Yang replied.
If he hadn't seen the familiar demonic dragon's power in the video, Zhang Yang wouldn't have made this connection. The demonic dragon had been completely shattered back then, but the two dragon whiskers he had pulled out seemed to have been forgotten. Seeing the person's unfamiliarity and poor control over their newfound power in the video further solidified Zhang Yang's conviction.
"I see."
Knowing the truth, He Ao and the others breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't the demonic dragon, things would likely be much simpler. Now that they knew this person only possessed a portion of the abilities, they probably wouldn't cause too much trouble. As long as they could find this individual who happened to possess the demonic dragon's power, everything would be resolved. If the person could be persuaded to join them, that would be ideal; if not, they would simply eliminate them! Now that they had decided to re-establish a base for the Five Dragons of Huaxia in Jiangnan City, they absolutely would not tolerate any powerful martial arts experts other than themselves appearing in the city.
With the reason behind the person in the video found, everyone felt at ease. Zhang Yang then shifted the topic back to the reconstruction of the Five Dragons of Huaxia and asked,
"How have you all discussed the reconstruction matters?"
Getting down to business, Huo Zhu immediately replied,
"The base for the reconstructed Five Dragons of Huaxia will be here. We must thank Miss Yiren for her assistance. Additionally, I will personally meet with the Mayor of Jiangnan City this afternoon to discuss our takeover of the former affairs of the Patrol Division and the Dragon Group. Furthermore, after the base is rebuilt, we will contact all the former members of the Five Dragons of Huaxia. I believe our strength here will be complete in no time."
"Good," Zhang Yang nodded. He couldn't offer much help in the reconstruction of the Five Dragons of Huaxia, as he wasn't aware of who the original members were. The only thing he could do was deter experts from other factions from causing trouble.
"Then I'll trouble you, Great Elder. If anyone dares to cause trouble, feel free to notify me," Zhang Yang said.
"Heh, if we can't handle someone, we'll naturally notify you," Huo Zhu replied with a smile.
Zhang Yang nodded and quietly sat down, listening as Huo Zhu made arrangements for He Ao and the others, as well as the various high-ranking members of the Five Dragons of Huaxia, and discussed the matter of recruiting new members. When it came to new members, Luo Yiren was naturally the first to join. She had also brought the Luo family into the fold of the Five Dragons of Huaxia. Of course, Luo Yiren had discussed this with Elder Luo beforehand, and he had wholeheartedly agreed.
The first meeting for the reconstruction of the Five Dragons of Huaxia lasted for about three hours. When the meeting concluded, everyone went about their own business. Zhang Yang, however, found himself with free time. He left with Luo Yiren. Just as they were about to go out for a meal, Luo Yiren's phone rang.
"What? You're saying people from the Guan family are extending their reach towards us?" Luo Yiren asked into the phone with a serious tone.
"Yes, Miss Luo. In the past half-month you've been away, the Guan family's behavior has become increasingly egregious. They no longer treat us as partners. I heard from Elder Luo that you've returned to Jiangnan City. Do you have time? Perhaps you should come over in person," the voice on the other end said anxiously.
"Where are the Guan family members now? I'm on my way," Luo Yiren said, then hung up the phone. She then headed towards their current location, with Zhang Yang following her.
As soon as they got into the car, Zhang Yang noticed Luo Yiren's somber expression and asked curiously,
"What's going on? What happened with the Guan family?"
"The Guan family's appetite has grown. Not only do they want to annex the Luo family, but they also..." Luo Yiren didn't hide anything and told Zhang Yang everything that had happened.
It turned out that while Zhang Yang and the others were heading to the capital to find the Dragon Transformation Water, the Guan family's ambition had suddenly surged. They not only seized all the assets of the defunct Qin family's industrial chain but also acquired small families and businesses in Jiangnan City, becoming their largest shareholders. Now, they were extending their reach to their partners, the Luo family and the Han Corporation. If the Guan family had only targeted the Luo family, Luo Yiren wouldn't have felt the need to inform Zhang Yang. After all, she could counter any move the Guan family made. However, now that the Guan family wasn't sparing the Han Corporation, Luo Yiren had to tell Zhang Yang. After all, the Han Corporation belonged to Han Xiyao. This shameless greed of the Guan family was completely digging their own grave!
After listening to her account, Zhang Yang's expression also turned grim.
"The Guan family's appetite is that big? Aren't they afraid of choking? Do you know who initiated this matter with the Guan family?"
"I don't know, but we should find out when we get there," Luo Yiren replied, focusing on driving.
About half an hour later, Zhang Yang and Luo Yiren parked their car at the entrance of an old residential area in the southern part of Jiangnan City. Since the Jiangnan City Dragon Vein incident concluded, the demolition in the southern part of Jiangnan City had been completed. Some new buildings had already completed their basements, and other plots of land were under construction in an orderly manner. At that time, the development rights for this old residential area in the newly rebuilt Jiangnan New City belonged to the Luo family, the Guan family, and the Han Corporation. However, as the forces vying for the Jiangnan City Dragon Vein retreated, the development of the entire southern part of Jiangnan City fell into the hands of these three families. Because these three families were local powers in Jiangnan City and the most capable enterprises to undertake such a large project. Guan Fenghua had been responsible for the matters here when the Dragon Pit was being excavated. Out of trust, the Luo family and the Han Corporation had only sent a few people to supervise. Other matters proceeded as usual, with the Guan family always taking the lead. However, Luo Yiren received news tonight that the Guan family intended to develop the entire southern new city of Jiangnan independently, planning to kick the Luo family and the Han family out. And they intended to do so without giving them a single cent!
"Miss Luo, you've arrived."
As soon as Luo Yiren stopped the car, a Luo family member immediately walked up and bowed in greeting.
"Where are the Guan family members? Take us there," Luo Yiren said.
The Luo family manager immediately led Luo Yiren to the on-site conference room, with Zhang Yang following closely behind. Soon, Zhang Yang and the others saw the temporarily erected board room. At this moment, the conference room was filled with people, most of them from the Guan family. Before Zhang Yang and the others even entered, they could hear the arguments coming from inside.
"Guan Qiang! You're going too far! The Jiangnan New City was jointly developed by our three families. Why should we withdraw?"
"Besides, this land in the old residential area originally belonged to the Han Corporation. We are the largest shareholders. What do you mean by making us all withdraw without a single cent?"
The representative from the Han Corporation was Shen Ling. Her face had been grim since she learned the content of the meeting tonight. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer, angrily slammed the table, and rebuked Guan Qiang.
"Heh, too far? What can you do about it?"
"Let me tell you, my Guan family wants the development of the Jiangnan New City. If you have any objections, you'd better keep them to yourself, or do you believe I'll make you disappear tonight?" Guan Qiang said with disdain, glancing at Luo Yiren and sneering.
"A mere girl, how dare you yell at me? Since you say this land in the old residential area belongs to the Han Corporation, it's simple. I'll buy it for a hundred yuan."
With that, Guan Qiang placed a hundred-yuan bill directly on the table. Shen Ling's chest heaved with anger at the sight. She glanced at the hundred-yuan bill on the table, filled with fury. Even forced sales weren't as outrageous as Guan Qiang! The land in the entire old residential area was currently valued at at least three billion yuan. The other party was only offering a hundred yuan, which was no different from outright robbery!
"Impossible! My Han Corporation will absolutely not sell the land in the old residential area, and we will not give up our development shares in the Jiangnan New City!" Shen Ling stated forcefully!
Hearing this, Guan Qiang's eyes narrowed, and his sneer turned into a cruel laugh.
"It's not that you can refuse to sell now. You guys, go on, let this girl understand that in this world, besides money, there are other things they can't afford to offend!"
As his words fell, the Guan family guards standing behind Guan Qiang immediately stepped forward aggressively. Seeing this, Shen Ling panicked and instinctively took a few steps back, saying nervously,
"What do you want to do? Don't mess around!"
"Heh, what can you do if we mess around? My Guan family has plenty of qualifications to mess around now!" Guan Qiang said with a cold smile.
Shen Ling, who had retreated to the corner, had nowhere else to go. She wasn't lying when she said she was afraid of these Guan family guards. But as a weak woman with no strength to even tie a chicken, how could she possibly be their match? Even if she wanted to resist, it would be impossible to succeed. Fortunately, at this moment, Zhang Yang and Luo Yiren entered.
Instantly, Zhang Yang turned into an afterimage and rushed to Shen Ling's side. As his internal true qi erupted, he directly sent the Guan family guards flying.
"I've only been away from Jiangnan City for less than ten days. Since when did the Guan family become so powerful?" Zhang Yang said in a deep voice.
"Zhang Yang! You're back?" Shen Ling said with surprise and joy. Seeing Zhang Yang return, her nervousness was instantly dispelled.
"Sister Shen Ling, I know about everything. Leave it to me to handle," Zhang Yang nodded at Shen Ling and walked directly towards Guan Qiang.
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in my Guan family's affairs? Are you tired of living?" Guan Qiang said angrily. He looked displeased when he saw his Guan family guards being sent flying by Zhang Yang. However, he wasn't afraid and even took the initiative to stand up and walk towards Zhang Yang.
"Tired of living? With just your Guan family, you're not qualified to boast like that in front of me!" Zhang Yang sneered. Then, he suddenly swung his palm, sending Guan Qiang flying.
*Bang!*
Guan Qiang's body smashed through the conference room wall and fell heavily outside, his face covered in dust.
"Pah!" Guan Qiang spat out the dust in his mouth and cursed loudly.
"Damn it, I was careless just now and didn't dodge. But your strength is still not enough to deal with me. Die!"
As his words fell, a black force emanated from Guan Qiang's body and rapidly rushed towards Zhang Yang.
This! Zhang Yang's eyes narrowed. Black force! This seemed to be the power of the demonic dragon! But... compared to the person in the video, their strength seemed much weaker. What was going on?
*Slap!*
Zhang Yang looked at Guan Qiang, who had rushed in front of him, and raised his hand again, sending him flying. Luo Yiren, unable to bear it any longer, also rushed towards Guan Qiang. As her primal energy erupted, countless fist shadows rained down on Guan Qiang.
"Yiren, leave one alive," Zhang Yang quickly called out.
Luo Yiren nodded in understanding, but her actions didn't stop.
"I'm really curious. After only a few days away, the Guan family's appetite has become so voracious! Speak, who ordered us to withdraw from the development of the Jiangnan New City?"
*Pfft~* Guan Qiang's mouth spewed blood as if it were free. The confidence in his eyes was gone, replaced by fear. He couldn't understand how he, an expert at the Hidden Yuan Realm, could be defeated by two young people.
"Don't, don't hit me anymore, I'll tell you..." Guan Qiang quickly begged for mercy. If he didn't, he'd be skinned alive.
*Bang!* Luo Yiren, still not appeased, kicked him again and then asked, "Who is it!"
"It's my young lady. She told me to do this," Guan Qiang said quickly.
"Your young lady?" Luo Yiren was shocked! Zhang Yang also couldn't believe it. He stepped forward, grabbed Guan Qiang by the collar, and questioned him,
"Do you know the price of lying?"
"I'm not lying. It was my young lady who told me to do this. If you don't believe me, let me make a phone call." Guan Qiang confirmed again.
Hearing this, Zhang Yang and Luo Yiren exchanged glances, feeling very confused. Before coming here, they suspected that the Guan family patriarch was behind this matter. Who would have thought it was Guan Fenghua! This... Given their relationship, why would Guan Fenghua do such a thing? Zhang Yang and Luo Yiren were puzzled, so they gave Guan Qiang the opportunity to make a phone call. After the call ended, Guan Qiang quickly said,
"My young lady will be here soon."