Longcheng, The Su Clan Manor.
In the dead silence of the hall, a sickening sound echoed—the distinct crunch of bone snapping.
Wang Dingtian's face went ghastly pale, sweat pouring down like rain, but he didn't utter a single sound. He had used his left hand like a blade to forcefully break his own right arm. The limb now hung limp at a grotesque angle.
Enduring the agonizing pain, he bowed deeply to Su Qingxue, his voice trembling but laced with the relief of a survivor.
"Thank you, Miss Su… no, Grandmaster Su, for sparing my life. The Wang family… will leave now."
Without daring to glance at her again, he turned and fled, leading his terrified entourage out of the Su Clan's gates. The arrogance they had arrived with was replaced by the panic of stray dogs escaping a beating.
Inside the hall, the Su Clan members remained frozen like statues.
After a long while, the Patriarch, Su Xiong, stepped forward tremblingly. He looked at his daughter, who felt both familiar and alien, and swallowed hard. "Qingxue… did you… did you break through to the Innate Realm?"
To cripple a Half-Step Innate expert with a single finger—what else could it be but a legendary Innate Master?
Su Qingxue turned, the cold indifference in her eyes softening slightly as she shook her head at her father.
"Dad, I haven't broken through to the Innate Realm."
Su Xiong was stunned. "Then what was that just now…"
Su Qingxue took a deep breath, her gaze drifting toward Dragon's Hidden Mountain, filled with profound reverence. "That was Immortal Art. Dad, the Wang family problem is solved, but there is something far more important I must inform the family."
She scanned the room, her tone becoming incredibly solemn.
"From today on, everyone in the Su Clan must unconditionally obey one person. He is the master I met at Dragon's Hidden Mountain—Shan Hu."
"My cultivation, my power—it was all bestowed by him. If the Su Clan wishes to survive, or even rise, in the coming upheaval, the only path is to become his loyal dogs."
"Loyal dogs?" An elder frowned, displeased. "Qingxue, the Su Clan is a premier family in Longcheng. Isn't that term a bit too…"
Su Qingxue cut him off coldly. "Premier family? In the eyes of Lord Shan Hu, even the top dynasties in the capital are nothing but ants. To be his dog is a blessing the Su family has cultivated over generations. This is not up for negotiation."
Seeing the resolute, almost fanatical look in his daughter's eyes, Su Xiong remained silent for a moment before nodding heavily. He trusted his daughter's judgment, and he certainly trusted the terrifying power of that single finger.
One hour later. Dragon's Hidden Mountain, by the pool.
Shan Hu was lounging on a smooth, flat rock, holding his phone and playing a popular MOBA game.
"Push! Jungler, do you even know how to play? I'm 1v5 in the mid-lane, and you're picking mushrooms in the jungle?" Shan Hu trash-talked as he tapped furiously.
Su Qingxue approached softly, standing respectfully to the side. She didn't dare interrupt until the sound of the enemy crystal exploding rang out (Shan Hu won, of course).
"My Lord, the Wang family matter is settled. The Su Clan is ready to serve you."
Shan Hu put away his phone and stretched. "It took you that long to deal with a Half-Step Innate? Seems your control over True Essence is still pretty rough."
Su Qingxue bowed her head in shame. "I am dull-witted."
Shan Hu waved his hand. "Alright, skip the formalities. Since the Su Clan is on board, I have a job for you."
"Please command me, My Lord!"
Shan Hu pointed to the pool behind him.
After days of the array's operation, the water in the pool was no longer ordinary. Every drop contained faint but pure spiritual energy.
"As you can see, I need massive amounts of jade, ancient herbs, and rare metals to repair the array. These things cost money—a lot of money."
Shan Hu could easily rob a bank, but as an Immortal Emperor, stealing from mortals was beneath his dignity.
He casually tossed an empty plastic water bottle—retrieved from the pile of trash Elder Jing had organized—to Su Qingxue.
"Go. Fill that bottle with water from the pool."
Su Qingxue was confused but obeyed immediately, filling the bottle to the brim.
Shan Hu looked at the bottle, a "profiteer's" grin curling his lips.
"This water is now called 'Longevity Elixir.' Take it to the upper circles of Longcheng. Host an auction, or just find a dying billionaire to test it on."
"Tell them the starting bid for this one bottle is fifty million."
Su Qingxue's hand trembled, almost dropping the bottle.
"F-fifty million? For a bottle of water?" She knew it had spiritual energy, but fifty million seemed insane.
Shan Hu raised an eyebrow. "What? You think it's expensive? If a mortal takes one sip, they gain three years of life and cure all ailments. Men regain their vigor; women regain their youth. Fifty million is practically charity."
"Besides," Shan Hu added, "that's the diluted version—one hundred times weaker than the pure stuff. If anyone wants something better, tell them to trade century-old herbs or rare spiritual materials for it."
Su Qingxue stared at the plain mineral water bottle in her hand, her mind racing. Extend life by three years? Cure all diseases? If the effects were real, let alone fifty million, even five hundred million would cause a bloodbath among the ultra-rich who valued their lives above all else.
"I understand! My Lord wants to build a… business empire?" Su Qingxue asked tentatively.
Shan Hu scoffed, picking up his phone to queue for another match.
"Business empire? No interest. I just need a wallet."
"Go. Make a big splash. I want the resources of Longcheng—hell, of all China—to be delivered right to my doorstep."
Su Qingxue gripped the bottle tightly, her eyes shining with excitement. She knew that with the release of this "water," the landscape of Longcheng, and the rules of the mortal world, were about to be rewritten.
"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"
While Su Qingxue descended the mountain with the "Miracle Water," another plot was brewing.
Longcheng, Chairman's Office of the Ascent Group.
Lu Zhentian slumped in his chair, staring at the company's stock chart—a green line plummeting vertically. Since offending Shan Hu, despite paying the compensation and apologizing, the mysterious attacks on his business hadn't ceased. His empire was hitting walls everywhere.
Suddenly, the office door burst open. His son, Lu Shaoxiong, ran in, waving an exquisite invitation card.
"Dad! A chance! We have a chance to turn this around!" Lu Shaoxiong shouted excitedly.
Lu Zhentian looked up weakly. "What chance? Unless a god descends to save us, we're finished."
"It is a god!" Lu Shaoxiong slammed the invitation on the desk. "The Su Clan! Su Qingxue is out of seclusion! She came back and instantly crippled Wang Dingtian! Now the Su Clan has announced a top-tier gala tomorrow night at the Longcheng International Hotel. They're auctioning a miracle drug called 'Longevity Elixir'!"
"Rumor has it this elixir cures all diseases and extends life! Every billionaire in the city is going crazy trying to get an entry ticket!"
Lu Zhentian's eyes lit up, then dimmed. "What does that have to do with us? We don't have the money to bid."
Lu Shaoxiong lowered his voice, a vicious glint in his eyes. "Dad, we're cash-poor, sure. But I found out that the Su Clan did not invite Shan Hu to this gala! That implies Shan Hu and the Su Clan might not be that close!"
"If we can win this miracle water and present it to that Big Shot in the Capital… with a backer from Beijing, would we still need to fear Shan Hu?"
Lu Zhentian trembled. His only way out of this hell in Longcheng was to cling to a bigger, stronger leg!
"Fine! Withdraw all the remaining liquid assets! We're going all in!" Lu Zhentian gritted his teeth. "Shan Hu, you drove me to a dead end. Now I'll make you pay!"
Father and son had no idea that the "lifeline" they were desperate to grab was nothing more than a scoop of bathwater from the very man who had driven them to ruin.