Tian Heng revealed a knowing expression and sneered, "If you refuse, it's simply because you find my terms not generous enough. How about this: you desperately want this Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit, don't you? As long as you agree to let me plant a restriction to prevent you from betraying me, I will bestow this Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit upon you. What do you say? If you are not under my control, I cannot rest assured entrusting such a treasure to you."
Just as Tian Heng had predicted.
Upon hearing Tian Heng's offer, Ling Fan was clearly tempted. Gritting his teeth, he seemed to make a firm decision.
"I request the esteemed envoy to bestow the restriction!"
Ling Fan hardened his heart and proactively lowered all his defenses.
"Good, straightforward." Tian Heng laughed heartily. He pointed a finger, and immediately, surging demonic energy spread from his fingertip, transforming into various terrifying demonic scenes. Finally, it coalesced into a skull imprint and entered Ling Fan's glabella.
Ling Fan's face instantly turned a mixture of black and white, contorted with extreme pain.
After a while, he struggled to stand up.
"I have allowed you to plant the restriction. You should give me the Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit now," Ling Fan said, suppressing his pain.
"Hmm?"
Tian Heng's earlier words were merely to deceive Ling Fan. He hadn't expected Ling Fan to be so audacious, to actually take him seriously and dare to make demands in public. Tian Heng was instantly filled with anger but couldn't show it.
After all, he was an inspector from the Heavenly Court and needed to maintain his dignity.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I will naturally give it to you," Tian Heng replied displeasuredly.
"The esteemed envoy will not go back on his word, will he? As the saying goes, people die for wealth, just as birds die for food. I have paid such a great price for this Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit. If I cannot obtain it, I will die with regret!" Ling Fan gritted his teeth.
The few first-tier Great Emperor slaves behind Tian Heng glared and reprimanded, "How dare you! You are now a lowly slave to the master, and you still dare to make demands of the master and threaten him? Are you seeking death!"
"It seems I need to teach you a lesson to help you remember your place and recognize your identity!"
"Wait, I, the esteemed envoy, keep my word. I will give it to you."
Tian Heng harbored murderous intent towards Ling Fan but did not reveal it. He thought to himself that this clueless fool had already been restricted by him. Once everyone dispersed, he would deal with him properly and make him understand that he was his master!
For now, in front of so many influential figures from Cold Mountain City, it was not appropriate to refuse.
"Take it. Do not damage this treasure, or I will hold you accountable!"
Tian Heng tossed the treasure box containing the Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit to Ling Fan.
Ling Fan's face immediately lit up with ecstatic joy. He received the Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Hmph, such little ambition! Truly shortsighted."
"Heh heh, this kid is truly a hothead. For this Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit, he has completely offended Tian Heng. He is now Tian Heng's slave, and Tian Heng can do whatever he wants with him. Who knows when this kid will die."
The cultivators such as Ling Dan Shangren, Gu Shen Sect Master, Shang Bao Lou Master, and Jin Clan Patriarch sneered inwardly, watching the spectacle with amusement.
Beside them, Lan Gu.
Her expression was sorrowful.
She had never expected Ling Fan to actually submit to Tian Heng's tyrannical power.
She felt extremely disappointed.
"Did I misjudge him..."
Ling Fan seemed to not notice Lan Gu's gaze at all.
After obtaining the Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit, he stood behind Tian Heng blankly.
In reality.
At this moment, Ling Fan's divine sense had already taken the Ten Thousand Emperor Blood Fruit into the Samsara Divine Cauldron.
All the prepared auxiliary materials were also thrown into the Samsara Divine Cauldron.
The Demonic Fire Red Lotus ignited with a roar.
Instantly, under the combined effect of the Samsara Divine Cauldron and the Demonic Fire Red Lotus, all the materials rapidly liquefied and mixed. Under Ling Fan's superb alchemy skills, they quickly took shape.
...
And just as Ling Fan was busily refining the Qiankun Wuji Emperor Origin Great Pill using the Samsara Divine Cauldron.
In Shang Bao Lou.
Tian Heng also began to discuss important matters with the Shang Bao Lou Master, Jin Clan Patriarch, Gu Shen Sect Master, Ling Dan Shangren, and other prominent figures of Cold Mountain City.
"Everyone, you must have heard about a recent incident, haven't you?" Tian Heng said.
The Shang Bao Lou Master, being the most well-informed, immediately replied, "Esteemed Envoy, are you referring to that criminal who ascended from the lower realm!"
"Indeed," Tian Heng nodded.
The Shang Bao Lou Master asked, "What unforgivable, heaven-shattering crime did this person commit to alarm the entire Heavenly Court? Could there be a powerful being of this caliber in the lower realm? That shouldn't be the case. Could this person be a Heavenly Venerate?"
Tian Heng replied, "That is not something we need to concern ourselves with. The order from above is merely to thoroughly investigate everyone who has recently ascended. As for this person's crime, it has nothing to do with us. We are merely executing the Heavenly Court's orders. If you discover anyone suspicious, you must report them to me, understand?"
The Jin Clan Patriarch said, "Esteemed Envoy, the number of beings from the lower realm is as vast as the sands of the Milky Way. The number of cultivators ascending from the lower realm every day is simply uncountable. In our Cold Mountain region alone, there are countless lower realm cultivators who ascend secretly every day, their names and identities unknown. This is difficult to investigate."
"If the matter were this easy, what would be the need for us inspectors and you local powers?" Tian Heng glanced sideways at the Jin Clan Patriarch, causing the latter to shrink his neck.
"All of you, pay close attention. If you handle this matter well, I will soar to the heavens, and you will not be left out of the benefits!"
"We are all relying on the esteemed envoy's guidance!" the Shang Bao Lou Master flattered.
Tian Heng said, "Don't rush to flatter me yet. Get the job done first. Actually, it's not entirely without clues. This criminal was injured by heavenly tribulation during his ascension. The Dao injuries he sustained are extremely severe. He must be hiding in some corner of the Heavenly Realm to recuperate. You must pay special attention to this."
"Dao injuries!"
Ling Dan Shangren pondered the words and suddenly seemed to recall something, but then he became a little uncertain.
"What do you want to say?" Tian Heng frowned.
"Esteemed Envoy, what you just said reminded me! We have someone here who has sustained Dao injuries, and furthermore, this person's origin is also unknown," Ling Dan Shangren said.
"Who are you referring to?" Tian Heng asked.
"It's the slave you just subdued, it's him!" Ling Dan Shangren pointed at Ling Fan.
Tian Heng was taken aback and chuckled, "Ling Dan Shangren, are you holding too much of a grudge? Do you want to put this kid to death so badly? If he were the wanted criminal that has alarmed the entire Central Heavenly Court, then I, Tian Heng, would be a Heavenly Venerate. Do you think someone capable of stirring up such a storm would be willing to be my dog?"
Tian Heng's subordinates also laughed, thinking that Ling Dan Shangren was being too imaginative and stretching the truth too far.