Today’s second update! Still begging for monthly votes, and working hard on the third and fourth! Legend tells of two newly rich country bumpkins who strode into Tianxiang City with five thousand taels of silver, feeling so wealthy they decided to splurge a bit at the Aristocrat’s Hall. Upon arrival, the two simpletons asked the guard at the gate, "What can five thousand taels of silver get us here? How long can we have fun with it?"
The guard cast a look of pity upon the two nouveau riche, waved a hand dismissively, and said, "See that over there? There’s a noble teahouse. Hand over your five thousand taels of silver, find a seat on the first floor, and you can enjoy a pot of tea. Remember this: you can only sit for half an hour, at most." Then, "You can get up, dust yourselves off, and go home…"
"Another piece of advice: Behave yourselves while drinking tea. Absolutely do not make any demands just because the serving girl is pretty. The moment any girl sits down—I mean, just sits down—and her backside touches the chair at your table, regardless of any other requests you might have, you won't be leaving this grand gate without fifty thousand taels of silver!"
The two "rich men" conferred for a long time before reaching a conclusion: Five thousand taels of silver was only enough for a single pot of tea at the Aristocrat’s Hall teahouse… they couldn't do anything else. Even if they weren't short on cash, spending it like that was ridiculous! So, they left crestfallen, saving that five thousand gleaming silver taels…
Later, this little story circulated as a jest, with many people angrily denouncing the Aristocrat’s Hall as rapacious, simply mocking the poor! Yet, those lords who could afford it became even more eager to frequent the place! They didn't feel shame; rather, they wore it as a badge of honor.
Are you a noble?
Have you been to the Aristocrat’s Hall?
No?
Then what kind of noble are you? A piece of trash!
Want to discuss business?
Sure, let’s go negotiate at the Aristocrat’s Hall Teahouse.
What? You can't afford it?
If you can't even afford the Aristocrat’s Hall, how dare you talk business with me? Forget it then! If you suffer a loss, can you even afford to pay for it?
Do you have any items auctioned from the Aristocrat’s Hall at home? Then… you are truly laughable…
The Aristocrat’s Hall—only super-nobles can afford to frequent it! Only super-nobles are qualified to enter! Once you enter the Aristocrat’s Hall, even if you leave with your purse as dry and withered as a shriveled eggplant, you instantly gain the superhuman feeling of having leaped to the highest rung!
Those who can enter the Aristocrat’s Hall are the elite!
They are the pinnacle!
They are the absolute best!
This was the fundamental guiding principle and promotional slogan established by Young Master Jun when he first founded the Aristocrat’s Hall!
After Tang Yuan took over, he vigorously promoted this concept, escalating the publicity across the entire Profound Profound Continent! As the reputation of the Lord of Evil grew louder, so too did the fame of the Aristocrat’s Hall! It seemed the price structure of the Aristocrat’s Hall had also skyrocketed like a rocket!
But the higher the price, the more people flocked there!
This was something ordinary commoners simply could not comprehend…
It was the legendary "Effect"…
Medicinal herbs that were considered worthless when they flowed out from under Young Master Jun’s hands would immediately be put up for auction at the Aristocrat’s Hall! An item that could originally be bought for a thousand taels of gold, if auctioned by the Aristocrat’s Hall… don’t even think about getting it for less than fifty thousand taels of gold!
Why? Because Grandpa is a noble! What the noble is auctioning isn't spirit medicine; it's status! Understand? Bidding with only a thousand taels of gold? That truly disgraces the nobility! When tea was fifty taels of silver a pot, no one drank it; when it rose to five hundred taels, it became instantly packed! When it rose again to five thousand taels, one actually needed to book in advance…
This teahouse was merely the lowest tier within the properties of the Aristocrat’s Hall, offering a glimpse of the terrifying wealth that Fatty now possessed…
Wealth can command spirits and even connect with the divine!
When the sheer quantity of wealth reaches a point capable of moving anyone in the world, even if you possess no astounding personal strength, you become a figure who can shake the world!
The entire Profound Profound Continent buzzed with excitement. Major powers dispatched their elite, all spirits high and bearing distinguished air! This was not just an attendance to the invitation of the Lord of Evil to establish his manor, but a golden opportunity to show one’s face before the heroes of the world!
Who would dare let such a chance slip by?
The inauguration ceremony of the Lord of Evil’s manor set the entire continent ablaze! From the Three Great Sacred Lands down to the secular great families! Even some rogue bandits mobilized simultaneously! Some who hadn't even received invitations were actively scrambling to prepare tribute gifts! If one could present a fine gift that caught the eye of the Lord of Evil, it would mean instantaneous ascension! Whether invited or not, at least two-thirds of the populace were agonizing over what gift to offer!
One certainly couldn't attend empty-handed, but what was appropriate to send?
What gift would allow one to shine brightly and stand out before the Lord of Evil?
It was rumored this Lord was incredibly unreasonable; if a gift failed to stand out, being displeasing to him might mean one’s life was in jeopardy…
Consequently, incidents of theft, robbery, and kidnapping erupted among many extremely wealthy families…
They didn't want gold or silver; they specifically wanted rare, seldom-seen, precious, cherished items…
There was a well-known, affluent old landlord who had always maintained good relations with the heroes and families in the vicinity. However, after these events began, this old landlord’s only legitimate son was kidnapped twice within three days by "familiar friends," and the thieves almost polished the black iron stone floor of the family vault clean just by pacing back and forth…
After this ordeal passed, the old landlord removed all the mirrors in his house… If he wished to see his reflection, he just went to the entrance of the secret chamber; the floor was polished so bright it was visible, seemingly clearer than looking into a bronze mirror…
Standing there in just his shorts during summer, he could even clearly count the hairs on his private parts… Yet, Young Master Jun was utterly oblivious to the turmoil shaking the martial world.
Currently, he was walking alone through the dense forests of the deep mountains…
This time, leaving the Illusory Mansion and returning to the Profound Profound Continent, he did not reappear at the same location where he entered. When he entered, that location was not far from the Dongfang Family. But upon his return, Jun Moxie found himself in a completely unfamiliar place. Although this area was also covered in deep mountains and dense forests, it bore no resemblance to the initial entrance point!
Looking out from the summit, he could see no familiar scenery around him.
The trees here were abnormally thick; even with Young Master Jun's sharp eyesight, he couldn't see very far…
However, Jun Moxie wasn't worried. As long as he had returned to the Profound Profound Continent, that was enough. He simply chose a direction at random and began walking leisurely.
There was truly no need to rush. He just needed to find a populated area, ascertain his current location, determine the correct direction, and then hurry back to Tiannan. Even if the distance was greater, a few days would suffice.
Moreover, since yesterday, after Qianxun emerged from that Saint Tree Essence Blood, Jun Moxie had forcefully fed her four or five times. Now, the Snake King’s pulse was growing stronger, her breathing heavier, and her condition was clearly improving, suggesting she might wake at any moment…
At such a critical juncture, how could Jun Moxie let the urgency of travel delay his desire to see the Snake King awaken as soon as possible? This pitiful woman had been in a coma for several months for his sake…
During this time, Jun Moxie had repeatedly questioned himself: First, he took Guan Qinghan, then accepted Mei Xueyan. After accepting Mei Xueyan, he couldn't bear to let go of Guan Qinghan, and he also accepted Dugu Xiaoyi. Now, he was also taking Miao Xiaowei…
Then why couldn't he accept the Snake King?
This was inherently a world where men held authority and polygamy was the norm. Even the women took it as commonplace. Did he really not dare to shoulder the responsibilities he ought to bear?
Would pushing these intelligent, deeply affectionate women toward mere commoners truly bring them happiness? No, if he did that, it wouldn't bring them happiness at all; it would utterly cast them into an abyss, and he would suffer lifelong torment of conscience!
Since that was the case, what did he have to fear? Who did he fear?
Guan Qinghan, back then, was condemned by the world, almost universally scorned and reviled, yet he endured it! After all he had been through, was he now going to become timid and hesitant?
I am who I am! I am Jun Moxie!
Amongst all the wicked things in the world, I am the Sovereign!
Why should I care about others' opinions?
Acting as I please is enough!
As for what others think or say… Who the hell are they to judge?
If they anger me, I will annihilate their nine generations!
Thinking this, Jun Moxie felt a sudden clarity wash over his spirit, causing his entire body to relax. In this instant of mental clarity, he recalled the Jun family's ancestral instruction: "When a man is born, he must stand tall between heaven and earth—to hell with everything else!"
He couldn't help but burst out laughing, roaring with mirth: "To hell with everything! Truly, to hell with everything! Hahahaha…"
His bold laughter pierced the clouds and broke the wind, startling the birds in the mountains into panicked flight… Suddenly, Jun Moxie clearly heard a faint moan echo from within the Hongjun Tower. Jun Moxie instantly identified the source of the sound and his heart soared with joy. With a flicker of his body, he abruptly vanished from the woods, his entire being instantly phasing into the interior of the Hongjun Tower…
Inside the Hongjun Tower, the Snake King Qianxun was struggling to prop up her frail body, her beautiful eyes casting a confused glance over the surroundings, filled with bewilderment.
"You're awake?"
Jun Moxie had restored his true appearance after leaving the Illusory Mansion.
Seeing Qianxun awake, he couldn't help but ask gently.
"You…"
A flash of surprise quickly crossed the Snake King's face, followed by a darkening expression. She lowered her head and whispered, "…Brother… Where are we? Why didn't I die?"
"With Brother-in-law here, how could I let you die! This place is indeed a hidden sanctuary!" Jun Moxie replied with a smile, though his heart inexplicably ached. He had witnessed the overwhelming ecstasy and the look of complete, regret-free satisfaction in Qianxun's eyes the moment she awoke. This woman, initially filled with confusion and fear regarding this strange place, saw all her doubts and dread vanish the moment he appeared!
It was as if no matter where this place was, as long as he was present, nothing else mattered… (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, see more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)