Mortals cultivate immortality, and their IQ is playing with their heartbeats

#972 - Greed

The Black Mountain Demon Lord sneered and said, "Haha, as I expected.

Although Xuanwu's plan is seamless, I, Black Mountain, must also consider the interests of my Treasure Pavilion.

The reason I helped him was because I thought his plan was feasible and could help me obtain more treasures.

However, I discovered a flaw in it. What if Xuanwu fails? That will definitely lead to the Wanfa Old Ancestor taking action personally, and with your notorious personality.

You will definitely abandon the Battle of the North Sea and come to my Treasure Pavilion headquarters for a decapitation strike.

Haha, everything is as I guessed.

So, I immediately spared no expense to hire the top formation masters of the entire Central Plains to set up this super killing array in my secret realm.

Now, this place is a inescapable net, just waiting for you, Daoist friend, to walk right into it."

Li Chengfeng's substitute puppet stood there, calm and composed, as steady as a statue.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice carrying a hint of incomprehension and indifference: "So that's how it is. Your Treasure Pavilion, this dazzling pearl in the sea of commerce.

Only wishes to roam in the ocean of trade, unwilling to be involved in the raging waves of various forces.

Then, where exactly have I, Li Chengfeng, offended the Treasure Pavilion, that you would target me so?"

Hearing this, the Black Mountain Demon Lord's laughter rang out like thunder, echoing in the empty hall.

His voice carried an undeniable domineering aura: "Target you? Hmph, perhaps this is just an arrangement of fate.

A tall tree attracts the wind. Your rise is like the brightest star in the night sky, too dazzling, naturally causing unease among the people.

Although the Treasure Pavilion is wealthy, it is also well aware that in this world of cultivation, dangers lurk everywhere, and one must tread on thin ice.

Xuanwu and the others either use the power of the Treasure Pavilion to grow stronger, or achieve mutual benefit and win-win with us, but you are different.

Li Chengfeng, you are like a wild horse that has broken free, galloping in the world of cultivation entirely on your own strength.

You have never sought help from our Treasure Pavilion, nor have you allowed our investment to bear fruit on you. This is the difference between you and us."

His voice carried a hint of regret and unwillingness, as if recounting a missed opportunity.

Immediately afterward, his eyes became firm, and his tone revealed an undeniable decisiveness: "However, now your growth has threatened the interests of the Treasure Pavilion, which forces me to act cautiously.

After all, the long-term stability of a force requires careful consideration of the future and decisive decision-making.

Even if I, the Black Mountain Demon Lord, were to fall one day, the Treasure Pavilion I have built would shine forever in this world like an immortal star, for countless millennia.

I want to expand the Treasure Pavilion's business from the mortal realm to the spirit realm, and even further. This is my dream, my lifelong pursuit, and I will not allow anyone to destroy it."

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng's substitute puppet nodded slightly, a look of understanding on his face: "I understand your meaning. As the master and first manager of the Treasure Pavilion, your worries and concerns are all reasonable.

However, have you ever considered that if you cooperate with me, Li Chengfeng, perhaps we can jointly create an unprecedented era of glory?

Perhaps, we can not only develop the Treasure Pavilion to the spirit realm, but also establish our own commercial empire in the immortal realm, making the name of the Treasure Pavilion resound throughout the nine heavens and ten earths."

As soon as these words came out, a look of astonishment appeared on the Black Mountain Demon Lord's face.

Even a powerhouse like Xuanwu would not dare to easily mention such a bold idea.

Xuanwu's goal was only to expand the Treasure Pavilion's business to a small area of the spirit realm, but Li Chengfeng's words.

Seemed to open a door to infinite possibilities for himself.

At this moment, layers of ripples could not help but rise in the Black Mountain Demon Lord's heart, as if he was contemplating this seemingly impossible dream.

However, the moment Li Chengfeng's substitute puppet's words fell, the Black Mountain Demon Lord rejected the proposal without hesitation.

His eyes flickered with the light of wisdom, as if he had already seen through everything: "Hmph, Wanfa Old Ancestor, although you have grown rapidly.

Rising like a comet, you are ultimately too young and have not truly witnessed the foundation of a great power.

That old monster Xuanwu can stir up wind and rain in the spirit realm, and is already an existence in the Tribulation Transcending stage, yet he does not dare to easily make such promises, nor does he dare to give me any definite commitments.

And you, a mere Wanfa Old Ancestor, have come from a grassroots cultivator to where you are today. Although your achievements are remarkable, in my eyes, you still lack that accumulation and foundation."

His voice carried a hint of disdain and mockery, as if reminding Li Chengfeng not to be too arrogant and naive.

Then, a smug smile appeared on the Black Mountain Demon Lord's face: "The reason I have been able to live for tens of thousands of years is not just because of the protection of this secret realm.

I have money, power, and countless secret methods that allow me to be as carefree as if I were immortal in this world of cultivation.

But do you know what? Any immortality that goes against common sense will be accompanied by unspeakable backlash and suffering.

I fight against these pains every day, but even so, I have never given up on the pursuit of the Treasure Pavilion's future."

Speaking of this, his tone became cold and resolute: "Wanfa Old Ancestor, although you have grown rapidly, your foundation is too shallow and your foundation is insufficient.

You put on a show of force in the North Sea to intimidate the world, but you secretly came here, wanting to obtain greater benefits from me.

However, you are wrong in that you killed Xuanwu's clone, but you also offended Xuanwu's true self in the spirit realm.

This has made your future path full of thorns and dangers.

And I, as the master of the Treasure Pavilion, how can I easily put myself and the entire Treasure Pavilion in danger?

We have been enemies many times with someone as vindictive as you, and I have even issued a reward for your capture.

In your eyes, I am already your enemy.

Rather than letting you continue to grow and eventually become my formidable opponent, I might as well nip you in the bud now."

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng's substitute puppet nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face, but that smile concealed endless sarcasm and disdain: "As expected.

You merchants value profit above all else. So-called fairness and morality are nothing more than illusory phantoms in your eyes.

All your decisions are based on how to obtain the greatest benefits.

Under such logic, where can fairness be found? Since there is no fairness, then so-called morality becomes empty talk.

You have been walking on a wrong path, but you still presumptuously believe that you have grasped the truth."

The Black Mountain Demon Lord let out a hearty laugh, his laughter revealing some uninhibitedness and arrogance: "Fairness? Hmph, how can there be so much fairness in this world!

If I could truly control fairness, my Dao rhythm would have already broken through the existing realm and broken open this cage that binds me.

I have spent tens of thousands of years, experienced countless hardships and difficulties, but I still cannot touch that true fairness.

This human realm is just a huge cage, imprisoning all of us here. We are just slightly stronger ants.

Therefore, I have long understood that there is no absolute fairness in the world.

Although I cultivate the so-called 'Path of Fairness,' it is just a guise for me to expand my business empire, a self-aggrandizing banner.

In fact, what I truly cultivate is the 'Path of Self,' the path of selfishness.

Only in this way can I be invincible in the business world and earn a fortune."