Chapter 383: Of Eighty Thousand Words, Only One Word Moves the Heart
"Haha, so it seems you've all said your final words. In that case, let me send you on your way!"
The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce headquarters, on the Commerce Continent.
As Xiao Tiance's voice rang out, the clouds above the Four Seas headquarters began to churn violently. Furious winds howled as thunderbolts, thicker than a man's torso, illuminated the skies.
Below, the tenderness in Tong Sihai's eyes vanished, replaced by a venomous rage. He was unwilling to accept this fate not meeting the woman he loved one last time, not seeing the organization he built over centuries reduced to ash, and not losing his life for what he now recognized as a single fatal misstep: provoking a powerhouse like Xiao Tiance.
He wanted to fight back. He wanted to defy fate. He wanted to embrace his beloved and make the Fire Spirit Clan regret their betrayal the clan responsible for separating him and the woman he loved.
Yet, under the suffocating might of Xiao Tiance's overwhelming aura, all resistance crumbled. The very air felt like it would crush him, and death itself seemed imminent.
With a heavy thud, Tong Sihai, who had been kneeling on one knee, dropped to both knees, his head hanging low.
"Hm? What's this?"
Above, Xiao Tiance had been preparing to unleash his power to reduce everything below to ash. Yet, Tong Sihai's sudden action made him pause.
"Tong Sihai, what is the meaning of this?" Xiao Tiance asked coldly.
Hearing the question, Tong Sihai fell to the ground, prostrating himself like a lowly dog. His voice was loud and full of desperate humility:
**"This lowly one, Tong Sihai, has offended Your Eminence's great authority. I acknowledge my guilt and unworthiness! However, I do not wish to die, nor do I wish to vanish from this world like this.
I beg Your Eminence for mercy. I am willing to offer the entirety of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce as a gift to you. From this day forth, I shall be no more than a loyal dog at your side. Command me as you will, and I shall obey without question!"**
The atmosphere grew tense as his words reverberated throughout the area.
Onlookers from other chambers of commerce, who had been observing from a distance, were utterly shocked.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce wasn't the strongest organization on the continent, but it was undoubtedly one of the top three. And Tong Sihai himself had been a figure many feared and respected.
Cunning, ruthless, and relentless, Tong Sihai was the type of man who clawed his way up from nothing to create an empire. He was a figure who commanded deference wherever he went, yet here he was, groveling like a dog, offering up everything he had built to save his life.
The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's wealth alone could rival the combined resources of some medium sized continents. It was a staggering fortune, even with the headquarters in ruins.
Some sneered. Others were in awe. A few felt pity, while many were filled with contempt. Tong Sihai's actions left mixed impressions, but one thing was certain:
If Tong Sihai survived today, backed by a powerhouse like Xiao Tiance, the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce could easily rise to dominate all others.
"Interesting," Xiao Tiance mused, momentarily stunned.
He had come to annihilate the Four Seas Chamber and use Tong Sihai as an example to establish his reputation. In this vast Great Thousand World, reputation was as crucial as strength. By erasing the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, he could send a clear message to deter others from challenging him in the future.
But now, Tong Sihai's unexpected plea made him reconsider. If Tong Sihai were sincere in his submission, his wealth and resources could be invaluable in building a powerful force for Xiao Tiance and his allies.
"Brother Xuan, what do you think?" Xiao Tiance asked, turning to Xiao Xuan, clearly torn.
Xiao Xuan furrowed his brows. On their journey here, they had discussed the benefits of annihilating the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. But Tong Sihai's capitulation presented a new variable.
After a moment, Xiao Xuan nodded. **"Tiance, sparing Tong Sihai might be more beneficial. His wealth and influence could provide the resources we need to establish a powerful faction. Additionally, Tong Sihai himself is no weakling. In a one on one fight, even Mu Ling isn't his match.
However, my concern is whether his loyalty is genuine. If he's only submitting out of fear for his life, he could become a liability in the future."**
Xiao Xuan's words resonated with the others. Gu Xun'er, Mu Ling, and Xiao Tianming all nodded in agreement.
"Tiance, if I may offer my opinion?" Chen Yunqiao stepped forward respectfully.
"Oh? Go ahead," Xiao Tiance replied, curious about what the relatively weaker Chen Yunqiao had to say.
**"Your Eminence, sparing Tong Sihai and the Four Seas Chamber would be more advantageous than annihilating them. Though I hail from a distant continent, I've heard of Tong Sihai's reputation.
He is ruthless and cunning, traits that have allowed him to navigate countless crises and grow the Four Seas Chamber into one of the top organizations on the Commerce Continent. Such a person could be invaluable to us.
Moreover, as Brother Xuan mentioned, Tong Sihai's strength is formidable. If he truly submits, we not only gain access to his vast resources but also acquire additional Earth Sovereign experts under our command.
According to my knowledge, the Four Seas Chamber has three other Earth Sovereigns one at the upper level and two at the lower level. These individuals owe their lives to Tong Sihai and are utterly loyal to him.
If we take him under our wing, the benefits far outweigh the risks."**
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance exchanged glances with Xiao Xuan and the others, admiration flickering in their eyes. Though Chen Yunqiao's strength was unremarkable, his insight and analysis were impressive.
"Very well," Xiao Tiance said, his voice thoughtful. He turned his gaze back to the groveling Tong Sihai below.
"Tong Sihai, you've chosen well. But know this betray me, and not even the heavens will save you."
Over the past few days, Chen Yunqiao had demonstrated several admirable qualities. First, his attentiveness: he meticulously handled travel arrangements, meals, accommodations, and even shared valuable insights into local customs and culture along the way. Second, his strategic vision, as seen from his concise yet insightful suggestions earlier. Third, his adaptability and loyalty: though Liu Changkong had not yet officially instructed him to pledge allegiance to Xiao Tiance, Chen Yunqiao had already conducted himself as though Xiao Tiance was his sole superior.
"Hahaha, well done, Chen Yunqiao. You are indeed exceptional."
Xiao Tiance praised him warmly, then pressed his left hand downward. In an instant, a ferocious bolt of lightning descended from the heavens.
"Boom!"
Under the ravaging lightning, Lan Tian's body was obliterated into a mist of blood. Even his soul was annihilated, leaving no trace behind.
Kneeling on the ground, Tong Sihai trembled uncontrollably. He assumed Xiao Tiance had rejected his plea for mercy and was simply waiting to kill him next. Despite this fear, he remained motionless, lowering his head even further in submission.
Moments later, Tong Sihai sensed a figure approaching. Recognizing the oppressive aura, his body shook even harder as he quickly pleaded:
"Please, Lord Tiance, spare my life!"
"Heh, stand up, Tong Sihai."
Xiao Tiance chuckled softly. With a wave of his hand, the grandmaster level formation that had enveloped the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was dispelled. At the same time, a surge of spiritual energy gently lifted Tong Sihai to his feet.
"Lord Tiance…"
As the oppressive aura dissipated, Tong Sihai finally dared to raise his head. His gaze landed on Xiao Tiance's handsome, smiling face a stark contrast to the killing intent he had exuded earlier.
At that moment, Tong Sihai realized his life had been spared.
He heaved a sigh of relief, then immediately bowed deeply. Taking the storage pouch from his waist, he held it with both hands and respectfully offered it to Xiao Tiance.
"Thank you, Lord Tiance, for sparing me. This is my storage pouch. Inside, you'll find fifty million drops of Supreme Spirit Liquid, along with countless rare treasures. Please, accept them as a token of my gratitude."
Xiao Tiance did not immediately take the pouch. Instead, he smiled and asked:
"Do your earlier words still hold true?"
Tong Sihai froze momentarily before falling to his knees again. With absolute sincerity, he declared:
"This lowly one, Tong Sihai, swears loyalty to Lord Tiance. From this moment onward, I am but a dog at your side, wholly obedient to your every command. Should I ever betray this vow, may the heavens and all living beings strike me down, leaving me without a place to be buried!"
"Haha, no need to be so tense," Xiao Tiance said, his tone light yet firm. **"As long as you uphold your promise, I won't make things difficult for you.
However, I must warn you I despise betrayal above all else. Should you ever break your word, even if you flee to the ends of the earth or beyond this Great Thousand World, I will personally hunt you down and tear you to pieces. Do you understand?"**
As his words fell, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy erupted from Xiao Tiance's body.
Tong Sihai felt as if he were a tiny boat caught in a raging storm, teetering on the brink of being swallowed by the abyss.
"This lowly one understands and will never betray Lord Tiance's expectations!" Tong Sihai vowed fervently, kowtowing in submission.
"Good. Rise."
As Tong Sihai stood, Xiao Tiance unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy. Under the astonished gaze of everyone present, the ruins of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce began to rebuild themselves. Stone by stone, beam by beam, the buildings were restored as if reversing time itself.
Though these structures were mere inanimate objects, for a Heavenly Sovereign like Xiao Tiance, reconstructing them was a trivial matter. After all, even high level Dou Saints on the Dou Qi Continent possessed similar abilities.
As for reviving the dead, that was a different matter entirely. It involved a higher level of power, often requiring immense sacrifices something Xiao Tiance deemed unnecessary for now.
"Have your people clean up this mess. Then find a quiet place where we can talk," Xiao Tiance instructed calmly.
"Yes, Lord Tiance."
Tong Sihai immediately relayed orders to his subordinates, who began organizing cleanup efforts. Once arrangements were made, he led Xiao Tiance and his companions to the Four Seas Chamber's reception hall.
Inside the hall, Xiao Tiance took the central seat, with Xiao Xuan, Mu Ling, Gu Xun'er, Xiao Tianming, and Chen Yunqiao each finding their places. Tong Sihai, however, remained standing respectfully in the center of the room.
Shortly after, several men and women at the Sovereign level entered, carrying trays of tea. They placed the cups gently on the tables before retreating quietly.
Breaking the silence, Xiao Tiance asked, "Tong Sihai, what is your connection to the Fire Spirit Clan?"
Now that Tong Sihai had sworn allegiance, the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce belonged to Xiao Tiance. However, Xiao Tiance was deeply curious about Tong Sihai's ties to the Fire Spirit Clan especially since they had sent both of their Heavenly Sovereigns to intervene.
Despite Xiao Tiance's earlier show of dominance against the Fire Spirit Clan's elders, their strength as one of the Great Thousand World's top tier forces was undeniable.
Standing at attention, Tong Sihai quickly organized his thoughts before responding respectfully:
**"To answer Your Eminence, I technically have no direct ties to the Fire Spirit Clan. However, I once shared a romantic relationship with Huo Yue Rou, the granddaughter of the Fire Spirit Clan's elder.
We lived happily together until the elder himself appeared and took Yue Rou away. It was only then I learned of her noble lineage as one of the Fire Spirit Clan's brightest stars.
At the time, I was weak and powerless, unable to challenge the Fire Spirit Clan. However, fate smiled upon me during a business venture when I stumbled upon the burial grounds of a powerful cultivator. There, I received his inheritance.
With my newfound strength, I built the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and believed that once I reached the Earth Sovereign level, the Fire Spirit Clan would return Yue Rou to me.
But when I visited the clan, not only was I denied even a glimpse of Yue Rou, but I was also thoroughly humiliated. Still, my longing for her outweighed the humiliation. Over the years, I sent countless treasures to the Fire Spirit Clan, hoping to win their favor.
After a century of this, the clan leader finally allowed me to see Yue Rou briefly and even gave me a fire sealed scroll for communication.
That is why, when Lan Tian manipulated me, I used the scroll to contact the Fire Spirit Clan."**
Pausing, Tong Sihai smiled bitterly. "Who could have guessed that even two Heavenly Sovereigns would fail, leading to today's events?"
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance chuckled lightly and sighed.
**"So that's the story. It seems you, too, are a pitiable man.
Of all the words in the world, 'love' is the most moving."**
(End of Chapter)
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