Chapter 690 Have they seen through it?
After all, the opponent was a Dharma King, a top-tier expert.
A formidable expert, a key member of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
Jiang Bai was unwilling to kill the other party easily, as it would be difficult to explain later.
Although he has officially inherited the treasure vault, once he drips his blood upon leaving, the bronze relics here will be irreplaceable and belong solely to him.
He has mastered the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique and cultivated it to the ninth level. His strength is enough to suppress everything, and he also has a treasure vault in hand. He is already the de facto next master of Lingjiu Palace.
He can do anything he wants.
However, Bayantle was, after all, the King of France. Killing him without cause would be difficult to explain to the outside world and would not win over the people.
Jiang Bai can suppress everything with his strength, but that's not a long-term solution.
He wasn't going to be here all the time, and if he did this, there was no telling what trouble might arise once he left.
The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain will become an important force in Jiang Bai's hands in the future.
Jiang Bai was unwilling to do anything that would jeopardize his stable rule.
Therefore, the best way to deal with Bayantele is to arrest him, bring him before Abu Danzeng Rinpoche, expose the two brothers, and hand the matter over to Abu Danzeng Rinpoche to handle. This is the safest approach.
"Go to hell!"
Bayantler roared and threw a punch, charging towards Jiang Bai. Just as he was about to reach Jiang Bai, he suddenly turned to the side and ran towards the door.
Before leaving, he bit his finger, seemingly preparing to drip blood and seal it away.
If Jiang Bai still possessed his previous strength, he would have been caught off guard by this situation.
Just now, Jiang Bai thought this guy was going to fight him to the death, that he was going to kill him if things were exposed. Who knew this guy was such a good actor and would turn around and run away?
In the past, it would have been quite unexpected.
"Trying to run?"
Jiang Bai sneered and said disdainfully. He reached out and grabbed hard, and a force appeared out of thin air, forcefully pressing Bayantele to the ground.
At his level, he can now project his power in countless ways, unlike before when he could only use his true energy to form specific attacks.
Now his attacks are invisible, colorless, and silent.
Of course, this only applies when dealing with ordinary people. When dealing with true masters, one still needs to take action personally. The real strength of ancient martial arts practitioners lies not in these small tricks, but in their power to move mountains and overturn seas, and their ability to turn the world upside down.
Ancient martial arts masters such as Kuafu swallowing the river, Houyi shooting down the sun, the Human Emperor suppressing the universe, and Chiyou annihilating everything are all outstanding figures among ancient martial arts masters.
Without exception, they all relied on only one thing: powerful physical bodies and profound martial arts skills. This was their foundation.
Their greatest strength lies in their physical bodies, and Jiang Bai is no exception.
However, Bayantler at present is not enough to make Jiang Bai use his power.
He's just a nobody, not worth Jiang Bai's serious attention.
"This...this is impossible!"
Bayantele, who was knocked down by Jiang Bai with a casual slap and coughed up blood, looked at Jiang Bai in front of him with a face full of fear and disbelief.
He didn't understand what was wrong with Jiang Bai, how could he be so terrifying.
You must know, he is Bayantele, one of the four Dharma Kings of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, a genuine top-tier master, standing at the pinnacle of this world.
Even if the last remaining Living Buddha Abu Danzeng wanted to deal with him, it wouldn't be as simple as it is now. He didn't even move, and with a wave of his hand, he severely injured him.
This...how is this possible!
"What's impossible about that? Have you forgotten that I just swallowed a relic?" Jiang Bai said with a smile, walking over to Bayantele and stepping on Bayantele's head with one foot.
Jiang Bai really wanted to crush this guy to death with a little force, but he ultimately restrained himself.
Although this guy tried to kill him and almost succeeded, Jiang Bai really wanted to kill him. However, no matter what, the overall situation should be taken into consideration now. Bayantele's power was gone and there was no way he could make any more waves.
Killing him is something that can be easily done anytime, anywhere, so why rush it?
"A relic? How is that possible! How could it be so fast! You've broken through to the level of a supreme expert?"
Bayantele, who was being trampled underfoot, looked at Jiang Bai in front of him with a face full of fear and disbelief. However, he did not struggle, because he had just tried and found that no matter how much he struggled, it would be in vain.
If this angers Jiang Bai, he can easily blow his head off with just a little force.
Ignoring him, Jiang Bai saw no need to explain anything to him. The current Bayantler was not qualified to do so, and Jiang Bai was too lazy to bother with him.
In Jiang Bai's mind, Bayantele was already a dead man, so why bother arguing with a dead man?
Without hesitation, Jiang Bai severed his limbs, crippled his cultivation, and then carried Bayantele's head out the door, dripping blood before leaving to confirm his control over the place.
Having done all this, Jiang Bai finally opened the door to the treasure vault.
The door opened, and a commotion immediately broke out outside. Jiang Bai was stunned, and the people at the door were also astonished. They didn't know when, but Sangena and his confidants had surrounded the place, each holding a weapon and looking solemn.
When Sangena saw Jiang Bai walk out carrying Bayantler's head, he was clearly stunned.
Sangena opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent. Jiang Bai ignored him and, holding Bayantele, said to the man in front of him, "Where is the Living Buddha? I want to see him. This guy tried to kill me, but unfortunately... I saw through his plan and crippled him in the process. Now I want to see the Living Buddha and let him know what this guy has done."
Upon hearing this, Sangena paused for a moment, then nodded and bowed to Jiang Bai, saying, "The Living Buddha already knows about this matter. Xisanger has now captured Bayanter, and he has told him about Bayanter's affairs."
"We were waiting here for the elder of the Ascetic Elders' Council who was keeping the key to arrive, so we could open the treasure vault, rush in, and capture him. We didn't expect you to make the first move!"
This surprised Jiang Bai quite a bit. Had the Living Buddha Abudanzeng already seen through the Bayantele and Bayanteri brothers? And he even sent Sangena to help?
Judging from the looks of it, if the elder from the ascetic elders' council who had the key hadn't failed to arrive, these people would have already stormed in by now.
Twenty or thirty experts, including Sanghner and four masters?
That's enough to deal with Bayantler.
Chapter 691 Meeting the Living Buddha
This made Jiang Bai look at Abudanzeng Living Buddha with new respect.
I thought the other party was already exhausted and almost senile, otherwise I wouldn't have been deceived by these two brothers.
It seems the other party is indeed old now, but even an old tiger can still eat people. He's not completely senile yet; he reacted so quickly and even captured Bayanter.
Why did they even send Sangena?
I figured that even without the system, as long as I held on inside for a while, I could still be rescued once the elders of the ascetic elders group who had the key arrived.
Thinking about this, Jiang Bai felt that he had wasted his 100,000 prestige points. If he had known this would happen, he would have been better off waiting and seeing. At most, he would have suffered some physical pain, which was better than losing 100,000 prestige points.
However, there's no going back now; it's too late for anything.
The prestige points have already been used, so there's no way to get them back now.
You're asking the system for it?
Should we negotiate with it to get back the 100,000 reputation points?
Keep dreaming.
So he only regretted it briefly, and then put it out of his mind. He noticed Sangena's form of address, which was that Sangena had used the formal "you" (您) to address him.
What does this mean?
Did he suddenly become respectful towards him? Or did someone say something to him?
For example, the Living Buddha Abudanzeng.
Jiang Bai prefers the latter.
In fact, his guess was correct. Before the incident today, Abu Danzeng had already spoken with Sanghna at length, explaining the pros and cons.
Although he was still somewhat unhappy, after all, he had been in charge of this place for twenty years and had long considered the position of Living Buddha to be his own. Now that Jiang Bai had interfered and taken the lead, it would be a miracle if he felt happy.
However, he also knew that what the Living Buddha said made sense and explained the dangers, so he could only choose to compromise and make sacrifices for the grand undertaking of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
Sangna, who has lived in Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain since childhood, has a deep affection for the Great Snow Mountain that is incomprehensible to outsiders.
For the sake of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, let alone making some sacrifices, he wouldn't hesitate to die immediately. In this respect, he is many times better than Bayantele.
This is also the fundamental reason why the Living Buddha designated him as his successor.
Because Sangna is someone who would sacrifice everything for the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, while Bayantle is not.
After hearing Sangnar's words, Jiang Bai glanced at the respectful Sangnar in front of him, then at Bayantele, whose head he had lifted and whose limbs were paralyzed. He sighed at how fast the world was changing, hesitated for a moment, and then threw Bayantele to the ground: "Since the Living Buddha already knows, then I don't need to take this guy around anymore. I'll leave him to you!"
Sangener nodded without saying a word.
Two masters at the first-rank level immediately stepped forward, bowed to Jiang Bai, and then dragged Bayantele away.
Although it was obvious to everyone that Jiang Bai had crippled Bayantele, Bayantele was still a Dharma King. Even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse, and no one dared to approach a crippled Dharma King. Therefore, only two masters could lead the team to deal with him.
After they took Bayantler away, Sangena continued, "The Living Buddha is already waiting for you in his room. Please come with me to see him."
His tone was polite and respectful, though somewhat stiff, but Jiang Bai didn't mind. He nodded and followed Sangena away.
As for whether what the other party said was true, or whether there were any hidden conspiracies or tricks, Jiang Bai wasn't worried. Firstly, it didn't seem like it, and secondly, he genuinely didn't care.
Having absorbed that bronze relic, Jiang Bai is no longer the same person he once was; he has transformed from a sparrow into a phoenix. Now, he is confident that he can walk sideways in the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain. Let alone Sangna, even if the entire Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain were tied together, Jiang Bai wouldn't care.
They have no ulterior motives and aren't targeting us, so that's fine.
If this Sangna has some kind of conspiracy like Bayantler, Jiang Bai wouldn't mind killing him and causing a bloodbath.
Faced with absolute power, all schemes and tricks are nothing but a joke, a truth Jiang Bai deeply understood.
Moreover, he now possesses absolute power.
"Knock knock knock!"
The moment Sangna knocked on the door of Abudanzeng Living Buddha's room, and the moment Abudanzeng Living Buddha's old and gray face appeared before him, Jiang Bai knew he was overthinking things.
Sangena had no ulterior motives; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent himself to see Abudanzeng Rinpoche.
"You've arrived."
An aged voice echoed in the room. As Jiang Bai stepped inside, Sangena, who was behind him, tactfully left and closed the door. The voice of the Living Buddha Abudanzeng rang in Jiang Bai's ears.
He opened his eyes as he spoke. Although he was leaning against the bed, his skin was ashen, and he was weak all over, looking like he was about to die, his eyes were still clear and bright.
When he opened his eyes and saw Jiang Bai, his eyes immediately lit up with an unusual light, filled with excitement and trembling. He pointed a withered finger at Jiang Bai and said in a trembling voice, "You...you...you've broken through? To the ninth level?"
Each level of ancient martial arts cultivation was very different, with each level having distinct characteristics and aura. This was unlike the previous level where it was completely bronze, and it was difficult to distinguish the strength of those below the highest level.
However, ancient martial arts practitioners could tell at a glance a person's cultivation level from the color and density of the energy flowing around them.
Otherwise, there would be no such thing as star positions or celestial positions.
However, this sensitive, signature-like energy flow can only be perceived by those who are also ancient martial arts practitioners.
Moreover, this must be done without the other party deliberately concealing anything.
Undoubtedly, Jiang Bai is no longer hiding anything, so Abudanzeng Rinpoche immediately recognized Jiang Bai's difference.
"How is this possible? How is this possible... So young... Such a young master, at the ninth level... Whose relic did you obtain?"
Abu Danzeng Rinpoche looked at Jiang Bai in disbelief, muttering to himself with a complex mix of relief, fear, and curiosity.
"I don't know, but I guess it should be that legendary Dharma King. After all, because of Bayantele, I lost a lot of energy, and I can still have such cultivation. The owner of that relic must be a very powerful person. I thought about it and felt that Dharma King was more reliable."
Jiang Bai said noncommittally.
The reason he said it was that legendary Dharma King was just Jiang Bai's speculation, because he only knew of one such master in the history of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
Perhaps there are others, perhaps this relic belongs to someone else, but Jiang Bai doesn't know, so this is the only answer he can give.
Chapter 692 The Dragon Elephant Living Buddha
Jiang Bai's words made Abudanzeng Rinpoche nod silently, and then he looked Jiang Bai up and down, unable to help but admire him.
"The Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain has suppressed Tibet for a thousand years, and countless masters have emerged throughout the ages. However, the intermediate Martial King who can help you break through to the ninth level of the middle star position must be a master. It may not be that legendary Dharma King, but I cannot say for sure who it is."
"In order to prevent future generations from coveting the relics of masters, all bronze stupas were made without names or records. They were made in the same way inside and out, making it difficult to tell who your relics came from."
"However, that's not important. What's important is that you've broken through to the ninth level, which is enough to suppress the universe. I can go with peace of mind."
At this point, Abudanzeng Rinpoche was filled with relief. His biggest worry was that, with his impending death, Jiang Bai might not have grown up enough, or that the effects of consuming the bronze relic might not be significant enough to make him a powerful figure who could shoulder the responsibility.
In hindsight, his worries were unfounded.
Jiang Bai not only achieved a breakthrough in cultivation, but he was also a genuine mid-grade Martial King, whose strength surpassed that of his own.
More importantly, Jiang Bai is too young. He is only twenty-four years old this year. At the age of twenty-four, he has already reached the ninth level of the Martial King realm and become a master of the middle star level. Jiang Bai's future is limitless.
The future glory of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain for the next hundred years seemed to already appear in his eyes.
Yes, it was a century of ultimate glory!
Normally speaking, with Jiang Bai's current cultivation level, living to be a hundred years old would be a piece of cake. The standard lifespan for a mid-grade Martial King at the ninth level is one hundred and twenty years, and they all hover around this range to some extent.
If Jiang Bai can achieve a breakthrough in the future, his age may increase. There is no specific number, but it is roughly that his lifespan will increase by several decades for each realm he advances. The exact amount varies from person to person.
Abudanzeng Rinpoche was overjoyed with his choice. Although this matter resulted in the loss of two Dharma Kings at Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, compared to Jiang Bai's success, the deaths of these two people were somewhat insignificant.
Two Dharma Kings are nothing; with the resources of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, it won't be long before someone is able to match them.
In fact, several of the eight masters were on the verge of a breakthrough, but there was no suitable opportunity for them to take the final step.
Once you get past that, gathering the Four Great Dharma Kings and the like won't be difficult at all.
"It's only the ninth level. I still have a long way to go. I'm still young, so there's nothing to be proud of," Jiang Bai replied humbly in response to the praise from Living Buddha Abu Danzeng.
Nine levels is nothing to be proud of. Jiang Bai had a high opinion of himself, and this achievement might have satisfied him in the past, but now that he had actually reached this point, he felt it was nothing.
This is because human greed is insatiable.
Jiang Bai used to think that top-level masters were very powerful, but after he reached the level of a top-level master, he realized that the truly powerful ones were peerless masters and ancient martial arts practitioners, and he dreamed of one day being able to stand at the level of ancient martial arts practitioners.
However, to this day, Jiang Bai has already surpassed the minor star level of ancient martial arts cultivators and directly entered the middle star level.
Now he feels unsatisfied again. The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, a secret manual passed down by the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, has thirteen levels. Jiang Bai is four levels behind, which is the difference between the Great Star Rank, the Lesser Heaven Rank, the Great Heaven Rank, and the Supreme Heaven Rank.
The road ahead for him is still very, very long.
Moreover, Jiang Bai's "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" has a total of eighteen levels.
Jiang Bai's journey is exceptionally long.
It is important to know that the higher one's cultivation level, the more difficult it becomes to improve. After the ninth level, each improvement is extremely difficult. Jiang Bai checked the exchange amount for the tenth level and immediately gave up the idea of exchanging prestige points for cultivation techniques in the future.
To directly exchange for the tenth level of cultivation, Jiang Bai would need to spend over a million prestige points.
With a reputation of over a million, would Jiang Bai need to be looking around here?
As for what happens next, the price increases exponentially with each level, reaching an astronomical figure by the eighteenth level.
Jiang Bai felt hopeless for the rest of his life.
"A ninth level of cultivation is already quite impressive. To be able to step into the middle star level, even thousands of years ago, one would be considered a master. Before Qin Shi Huang destroyed Wu, he was a pillar of strength and definitely not weak."
"Our Great Snow Mountain Lingjiu Palace's secret manual, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, only has thirteen levels. You have already reached the ninth level. Moreover, you are too young. In the future, you may be able to reach the level of the founding patriarch, the Dragon Elephant Living Buddha, with the earth-shattering power of the thirteen levels of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill."
Jiang Bai opened his mouth upon hearing this. As far as Jiang Bai knew, the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain was established more than a thousand years ago, which should be slightly later than the Five Barbarian Invasions of Nangong Wentian, around the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty.
I never imagined there would be such a remarkable person back then!
Thirteenfold Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill?
Wouldn't that mean... suppressing an entire era?
You must know, that's the highest rank in the Heavenly Realm! Legend has it that before Qin Shi Huang destroyed Wu, he was one of the very few people in that position!
At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, according to Bayantele's previous statement, the Lesser Heavenly Realm was already extremely rare, and it was enough to suppress a region. Yet there was a Supreme Heavenly Realm expert.
Wouldn't that be suppressing the universe?
No wonder Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain was able to suppress Tibet and become the headquarters of Tantric Buddhism.
Fortunately, the Living Buddha Longxiang had no ambition back then; otherwise, if he had stepped down from the high plateau and snow-capped mountains and entered the Central Plains, who could have been his match?
Jiang Bai was just very curious: where was this Dragon Elephant Living Buddha?
Could such a master have also turned into relics?
Who possesses the relic formed from the essence of his cultivation? Is it hidden away, or was it consumed long ago?
All of this filled Jiang Bai with curiosity, because Bayantler had not told Jiang Bai any of these things before.
"The whereabouts of the Living Buddha of the Dragon Elephant are unknown. Some say he passed away on the summit of a snow-capped mountain, while others say he did not die but went to search for the ultimate path and the figure of the ancient Buddha."
"Of course, some people say that the Living Buddha of the Dragon Elephant has already transformed into a golden Arhat and gone straight to the Western Paradise."
As if sensing the doubt in Jiang Bai's eyes, the Living Buddha Abudanzeng smiled and said to Jiang Bai.
The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain has two most important things: a treasure vault and the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill." Now, both of them have fallen into Jiang Bai's hands.
The Living Buddha Abu Danzeng insisted on meeting Jiang Bai because he was worried about Jiang Bai's youth and whether Jiang Bai's abilities were sufficient to stabilize the situation.
However, after meeting him, he realized that all his worries were unnecessary. Therefore, the originally solemn scene of entrusting his son to someone turned into a gentle and pleasant passing on of knowledge. The Living Buddha Abu Danzeng used his last moments to answer Jiang Bai's questions, tell him some secrets and interesting stories, and help Jiang Bai understand this world and those hidden things.
Chapter 693 Demon Dragon Prison Suppression Technique
"Is it really possible for someone to become a golden-bodied Arhat?" Jiang Bai was astonished. The more he listened, the more mysterious it seemed.
Now even Arhats and such things are appearing, and the more they're heard, the more they sound like fantasy novels.
"I don't know, it's just a legend. Most Tantric believers, including myself, believe that we can be reincarnated and that if we cultivate diligently, we can ascend to the Western Paradise as soon as possible."
"As for whether there were ancient Buddhas or golden Arhats, there are no detailed records. The departure of the Dragon Elephant Patriarch is just one of the speculations. In fact, I personally think that the possibility of him passing away is more likely."
"According to rumors, the Longxiang Living Buddha was already 230 years old when he disappeared. He was probably about to pass away. He didn't want to disappear, so he left. No one knows where he went or what he did, and it's impossible for anyone to know."
"But I think he must have passed away somewhere in the world."
In response to Jiang Bai's question, Abudanzeng Rinpoche smiled and seemed to have a clear understanding of these matters and did not care about life, death, or reincarnation.
Jiang Bai remained silent. This was a secret of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. Although Jiang Bai was very curious, he also knew that it actually had nothing to do with him.
That era is too far removed from the present, and Jiang Bai doesn't really care what happened then.
"But you're right, you still have a long way to go. The Dragon Elephant Living Buddha said the same thing back then. It is said that the Thirteen Levels of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill originated from the Eighteen Levels of the Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique. If you are fortunate enough to reach that point in the future..."
"Why not look for some of the notes of the Longxiang Living Buddha in the historical archives? The most plausible explanation for his disappearance is that he went to find the complete eighteen-layered 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique'!"
After saying this, the Living Buddha Abu Danzeng smiled slightly and said this.
If it were an ordinary person, he might tell them some secrets or mention this matter, but he wouldn't tell them these things seriously, because it would be useless.
When a Living Buddha passes away, his successor is usually an old man in his fifties or sixties. His cultivation level is not yet at its peak, but it is close enough. If he wants to make any further progress, he can only rely on bronze relics.
Even if by sheer chance one manages to reach the ninth level of Jiang Bai, it's practically an exhaustion.
At that time, let alone the eighteenth level of the "Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique," he couldn't possibly have cultivated it to its peak even with the thirteenth level of the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique."
What's the point of saying it or not?
The reason I told Jiang Bai was because Abudanzeng Rinpoche had aspirations, hoping that Jiang Bai could one day reach the level of the founder of the school, Longxiang Rinpoche, and stand at the top of the world.
Perhaps, because of Jiang Bai, the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain will suppress another era.
That's why Abudanzeng Rinpoche told Jiang Bai so much.
The Eighteenfold Demon Dragon Suppression Technique?
Jiang Bai was taken aback when he heard this.
Because Jiang Bai's "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" has eighteen levels.
Could it be...?
"System, come out here! Why is my 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill' at eighteen levels, and what is its relationship with the 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique'?"
Jiang Bai immediately called upon the system in his mind, without waiting for a moment, as he was quite curious about this issue.
The Thirteenfold Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is derived from the Eighteenfold Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique.
This made Jiang Bai extremely curious. He would never believe that his eighteenth level of the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" had nothing to do with the "Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique".
He even had a certain guess in his mind, but no one could give him an answer to this guess, including the Living Buddha Abu Danzeng in front of him. Only the system could.
"Didn't you already guess? Young man! The Eighteen Levels of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique is actually the Eighteen Levels of the Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique. However, in order to make it easier for you to adapt, the great system has simply given you a different name."
"Besides, the name change isn't bad either, because your 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique' isn't the complete version; it's just a method for cultivating internal energy. The 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique' includes not only internal energy cultivation, but also fist techniques, palm techniques, claw techniques, weapon usage, and so on... even including physical supernatural abilities in the end..."
"You don't have the complete version, so it can only be called 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill' and not 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique'. Therefore, I've changed the name for you."
Jiang Bai was speechless at these words and asked helplessly, "How much prestige do I need if I want the complete 'Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique'?"
The Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique is undoubtedly powerful. Jiang Bai doesn't understand or care about things like physical supernatural powers. What he knows is that the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, which is derived from the Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique, is already so powerful. Moreover, it is a martial art without any special moves or techniques, yet it is already so heaven-defying.
The complete "Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique" must be earth-shattering and awe-inspiring.
Jiang Bai was determined to get it.
"Not much, six hundred thousand."
One sentence instantly turned Jiang Bai's burning heart cold. He opened his mouth, but didn't say another word.
This price... Jiang Bai couldn't afford it for the time being, because he was penniless at the moment.
Even if it isn't, 600,000... is still far too much. All the prestige Jiang Bai has accumulated to this day is probably only a little more than that.
I didn't calculate the exact amount, but it was less than a million.
Now, asking him to spend 600,000 to complete his cultivation technique is both painful and frustrating.
He knew he would be stabbed sooner or later, but not now, because he didn't need it yet, or rather... he needed it but didn't have the ability to get it.
Seeing Jiang Bai remain silent, Abudanzeng Rinpoche assumed that Jiang Bai was considering the "Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique," so he smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "The 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique' was passed down from a demon dragon in hell."
"According to legend, in the ancient times, there was no Buddha and the cycle of reincarnation was uncertain. There was a demonic dragon born from heaven and earth that suppressed hell and many worlds in hell, balancing yin and yang and all paths. An ancient great being created a unique skill based on it to suppress the universe. The name of this skill is 'Demon Dragon Suppressing Hell Technique'."
"The Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique is from an ancient time that cannot be traced back. When the Dragon Elephant Ancestor was young, he accidentally fell into the snow mountain and obtained a fragment of the Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique deep in the snow mountain. After the Dragon Elephant Ancestor practiced it, he renamed it the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill. These are all recorded in the secret room where the fragment of the Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique was found. Whether it is true or not, no one knows."
"However, one thing is certain: the 'Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique' truly existed. It was a vast and boundless cultivation method. Even the Dragon Elephant Ancestor, who obtained a fragment, was able to suppress an entire era. If one could obtain the complete version, its power would be unimaginable!"
Chapter 694 Passing Away
Hearing this, Jiang Bai pursed his lips and remained silent.
This is just too fantastical.
Jiang Bai took it all as a joke.
However, one thing is certain: this "Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique" is definitely not simple.
Just thinking about those 600,000 prestige points gave Jiang Bai a headache.
Fortunately, it's not unbearable.
Jiang Bai chatted with Abu Danzeng Rinpoche for a while, and the latter told him many interesting stories and some secrets hidden in the long river of history. He also gave a brief introduction to the properties and precautions of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. Jiang Bai then took his leave.
An hour later, the two remaining Dharma Kings, eight masters, and more than thirty renowned experts of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, along with the elders of the two ascetic elder groups, appeared in the hall.
In front of them, the Living Buddha Abu Danzeng entrusted the entire Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain to Jiang Bai, along with a string of pure white Buddhist beads, which was said to be a treasure left behind by the Living Buddha Longxiang.
This pure white jade, blessed by countless Living Buddhas and high monks, has now become the most supreme sacred object in the Lingjiu Palace of the Great Snow Mountain, and has always been worn only by the Living Buddha himself.
Jiang Bai did not refuse.
They accepted it all and didn't leave immediately.
It wasn't that he was curious about the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, or that he wanted to stay here to consolidate his power.
The power of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain is not really something to be consolidated. Everyone in Lingjiu Palace is a slave to the Living Buddha, no matter what kind of Dharma King or Guru you are.
Jiang Bai only needs to become the master of this place, maintain his cultivation level and control the treasure vault, then his position will be unshakable, supreme, and no one can resist him. He can decide a person's life or death with a single word.
What's there to consolidate?
Just hand everything over to Sangener. That's what he's been doing for decades, managing things. Although he's slightly hostile towards me, once my position is established, he'll be the first person I pledge allegiance to.
Jiang Bai still entrusted him with the management of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. Sangna showed neither overwhelming gratitude nor resentment. He remained calm and composed, quietly nodding and working silently.
This had been his habit for many years; in his view, serving the master of Lingjiu Palace was his lifelong responsibility.
Regardless of who the owner is.
He only cares about serving this place.
Of course, if he himself became the master of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, that would be a different story, but it probably wouldn't change much, as he is a person who follows tradition and adheres to rules.
I don't like, and I won't do, anything that breaks the rules or breaks tradition.
Jiang Bai can leave with peace of mind; just let us know if anything comes up.
The reason he did not leave was because the Living Buddha Abu Danzeng was about to pass away.
He had calculated that he would die that day. Although Jiang Bai felt somewhat confused, he dared not leave.
After all, the Living Buddha Abu Danzeng had given him such a great gift. In essence, he was half of his successor and the master of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. The previous Living Buddha had died, and he couldn't just leave after taking over.
Jiang Bai had originally thought that the Living Buddha could hold on for at least a while, and he was prepared to stay here for ten days or half a month. He had even called Tiandu to tell them that he might not be able to go back for the time being.
However, Jiang Bai did not expect that that very night... Abudanzeng Rinpoche would pass away.
The mournful cries echoed throughout the entire Great Snow Mountain. Countless families lit torches, and after a brief period of weeping, solemn and dignified scriptures began to resound from the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, spreading throughout the entire mountain range.
Countless people on and around the mountain began reciting scriptures, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Before they knew it, the night had passed. Early the next morning, under Jiang Bai's supervision, the Living Buddha Abu Danzeng was cremated. His ashes scattered and condensed into a relic in the fire, but it was not the kind of bronze stupa.
A monk bowed forward, took out the relic, and then placed it in the stupa, where it is now treasured deep within the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
This Living Buddha, who had ruled Tibet for decades, passed away atop the snow-capped mountains.
With mixed feelings, Jiang Bai left the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. However, the chanting of scriptures here did not stop. According to the rules, Jiang Bai should lead the chanting for forty-nine days to pray for the salvation of the Living Buddha Abudanzeng.
However, Jiang Bai was not a Tibetan monk after all, so it was not his place to do this. After giving some simple instructions and staying for two days, Jiang Bai left, and Sangna led everyone in chanting sutras for the deceased.
Jiang Bai himself embarked on his journey home.
The off-road vehicle chugs along the bumpy road. Leaning against the hood, smoking, he slowly moves forward, not knowing where he is going. As he traverses this vast plateau, Jiang Bai feels a pang of emotion. The Living Buddha Abudanzeng has vanished into the clouds.
This left Jiang Bai feeling somewhat unsettled.
This made him ponder the meaning of life, and he decided to cherish the present moment and not wait until he was old and dead to find nothing left.
Of course, Abu Danzeng Rinpoche did not die without a trace. Countless people remember him and pay tribute to him. He is like a saint in this snowy mountain.
This made Jiang Bai somewhat envious. He felt that if he were to die one day, only a few close friends and women would be sad, and he wondered how many people would applaud and lament that the world had lost a scourge.
The car sped off, heading straight for the ancient city of Sara, intending to stay there for two days before returning to Tiandu.
He didn't see many pedestrians along the way. Occasionally, herds of cattle would pass by, and one or two herdsmen would wave enthusiastically to Jiang Bai, who would always smile back.
Before he knew it, a day had passed. Late at night, Jiang Bai returned to the ancient city of Sara, found a place to stay, and then joined a group of backpackers to explore the area.
Two days later, Jiang Bai returned to Tiandu and landed at Tiandu Airport in his "Imperial Fortress".
No one came to greet them.
It wasn't that they didn't want to welcome Jiang Bai, but rather that Jiang Bai hadn't told them he was coming back at all. He went out alone, found a car, and returned to his residence. Jiang Bai decided to stay put for a while, teach and educate people properly, and enjoy life.
As for everything else, I'll leave those trivial matters aside for now.
But when he wanted some free time, some people wouldn't give Jiang Bai that opportunity. Jiang Bai got into the car, turned on his phone, and found a lot of missed calls, including from Cheng Tiangang, Li Qingdi, and Old Man Lieyang.
Jiang Bai ignored all of them, and was surprised to find that Ye Qingcheng was among them.
It's not that Ye Qingcheng doesn't call Jiang Baida normally; she definitely does, and often. However, it seems extremely rare for her to make more than a dozen calls in a row like this.
Not only her, but also Yao Lan and Ye Qingcheng's agent Huang Meizhen's phone calls, which is quite unusual.
Chapter 695 Framing
Yao Lan called me, probably because of work.
Ye Qingcheng called him because the two of them already had a good relationship, and there was a bit of ambiguity between them.
But what about Huang Meizhen?
Jiang Bai remembered that he had given Huang Meizhen his phone number and told her to call him if she needed anything. To this day, Huang Meizhen had never called him, but she had called him seven or eight times in the past few days.
It seems there really is a problem.
Without much thought, he called back immediately. After a few sounds, Huang Meizhen's voice came through: "Mr. Jiang, I've finally got in touch with you. Something's happened to Qingcheng!"
"What's wrong?" This made Jiang Bai's heart tighten, and he immediately frowned.
Has something happened to Ye Qingcheng?
This shouldn't be the case. You know, Ye Qingcheng is the pillar of Empire Film Industry, led by Huang Meizhen, and protected by Yao Lan. There shouldn't be any problems.
Empire Enterprises is now a completely different company than before, growing extremely fast. It is no longer unknown. Moreover, throughout China, who among the prominent figures doesn't know that Empire Enterprises belongs to Jiang Bai?
Daring to mess with Empire Pictures' star player? Are you tired of living?
"Here's the thing, we were filming a movie in Harbin and were invited by the local government to participate in an event..."
After hearing Jiang Bai's words, Huang Meizhen quickly told Jiang Bai what had happened.
Empire Enterprises has flourished and now, having swallowed up Flying Eagle Enterprises, it is no longer what it used to be. Jiang Bai was already mysterious and awe-inspiring, and now he is even more so. Huang Meizhen doesn't dare to breathe too loudly when speaking in front of Jiang Bai, and she would never dare to say more to him unless absolutely necessary.
She knew this matter was of great importance, otherwise she wouldn't have contacted Jiang Bai so easily. Now that Jiang Bai had asked, she naturally answered all her questions without reservation.
It turns out that a while ago, Empire Enterprises started filming a movie. It wasn't Jiang Bai who wrote the script; his script had already been completed and was now just waiting for its release.
It is a romance film written by a well-known domestic screenwriter. The story takes place in the north, so it was filmed in Harbin.
There was no problem at all, and the filming went smoothly; there was nothing to mention.
The key issue wasn't the filming itself, but rather that Huang Meizhen had arranged a commercial performance.
It's not uncommon for celebrities to take on commercial performances and earn extra money, which not only increases their fame but also allows them to make a considerable amount of money.
Empire Pictures doesn't prohibit such things; in fact, there's nothing to prohibit.
Ye Qingcheng had participated in commercial activities before.
However, this time, something unexpected happened. During the event, a small mishap occurred. The event organizer asked Ye Qingcheng to have a meal with them after the event.
Actually, this is to be expected. It's normal for the organizer to arrange a dinner or something to express gratitude or to show hospitality. However, since Ye Qingcheng had never attended one before, many people knew about it, so no one insisted.
It was just a dinner to express gratitude and build relationships; whether you participated or not didn't really matter.
No one has offered any other opinions on this matter.
Perhaps it's not that they don't want to, but that they dare not. Empire Pictures is a deeply entrenched company, and no one wants to cause them trouble.
But this time was different. As always, Ye Qingcheng rejected the suggestion and left the scene after the event.
This time, however, she angered the other party, who felt that Ye Qingcheng was not giving them any face.
Two days ago, after failing to invite Ye Qingcheng again, he made a harsh statement, saying that Ye Qingcheng could not leave Bingcheng.
Huang Meizhen had seen many people like this before and didn't take it seriously. She simply told Yao Lan about it, but the other party didn't just let it go.
Yesterday morning, local law enforcement located Huang Meizhen and Ye Qingcheng, saying that the organizers had reported that a necklace worth millions of yuan, provided by the organizers and worn by Ye Qingcheng during the event, had disappeared.
Someone from the organizers saw that Ye Qingcheng secretly put the item in her bag and took it away after the meeting, which constitutes theft.
This is a blatant injustice. Ye Qingcheng and Huang Meizhen will naturally not admit it. Ye Qingcheng is famous all over the country. Although the necklace is precious, it is not difficult for her to get it. There is no need for her to do such a despicable thing.
The other party was clearly innocent, but the fatal thing was that law enforcement found the necklace in Ye Qingcheng's bedroom.
At this point, Huang Meizhen reiterated that Ye Qingcheng had not taken that thing at all, and that someone had framed her.
Because she left with Ye Qingcheng, and Ye Qingcheng didn't bring a bag that day.
Jiang Bai couldn't help but smile at this. Did Huang Meizhen mean that she was afraid he didn't trust Ye Qingcheng?
How could that be? Don't you even know what kind of relationship you have with Ye Qingcheng?
Besides, even if Ye Qingcheng didn't take their things, this is a blatant frame-up. So what if Ye Qingcheng did take them? Taking your things is a sign of respect! If you call the police, you're just asking for trouble!
Clearly, Huang Meizhen didn't understand Jiang Bai's bandit logic and even emphasized it on this issue, unaware that Jiang Bai didn't care about such a trivial matter at all.
"It's alright, I don't trust anyone, but I can trust Qingcheng. Go on, and then what?" Jiang Bai replied with a smile and continued to ask.
The fact that Huang Meizhen could still call him meant that the problem wasn't so serious as to be out of control, which meant it was easy to resolve.
"Then Fang Qingcheng was transferred away by the other party. Our partners here have stepped in to bail her out, and she is resting in her room now."
Huang Meizhen said in a low voice, and then quickly added, "I also talked to President Yao about this matter. She found some businessmen who cooperate with our Empire Enterprises to mediate this matter, but there was no result."
"All our partners here have called us. They are not to be trifled with. Although they did not say it explicitly, their meaning was very clear: they want us to compromise as soon as possible."
This made Jiang Bai raise an eyebrow. The Empire Enterprises had many partners, but there were really not many powerful players in the North.
Of course, this power is relative to Jiang Bai. For ordinary people, those who can cooperate with Imperial Enterprises are all quite large companies. These companies have their own power and network of relationships. Yao Lan's attempts to reach them were to no avail.
Some of these people even seemed to be turning against us, not only refusing to help but also urging us to compromise.
What compromise? Isn't it just about handing Ye Qingcheng over?
It seems the other side has considerable influence in Ice City; otherwise, these guys wouldn't be acting like this.
"And then?" Jiang Bai asked in a deep voice. This matter was definitely not over yet. Yao Lan called him about this, and Ye Qingcheng called him about this as well.
However, Jiang Bai believed it was definitely not that simple. The other party's request was certainly not as simple as just a meal; otherwise, it wouldn't have escalated to this point.
Chapter 696 Ice City
However, the other party is not someone to be trifled with, while the Imperial Enterprises and Jiang Bai are not.
Those two-faced bastards, once this is over, Jiang Bai will definitely teach them a lesson.
"Then Qingcheng came back. Now there are local police officers guarding outside our hotel. They say Qingcheng is suspected of committing a crime, and this matter cannot be left like this. Qingcheng cannot leave Bingcheng until it is resolved. They even confiscated our documents."
"The other party called me last night and said that their boss admires Qingcheng very much. They told Qingcheng to think it over. If she is willing to accompany their boss for a period of time, not only can this matter be resolved, but they can also give her a sum of money!"
"Of course I wouldn't agree, that's why I called you. They gave us a day to consider it and asked us to give them an answer by tonight."
"And they threatened that if we didn't give a reply, not only would Qingcheng be arrested and imprisoned, but our Imperial Enterprises would never be allowed to set foot in Ice City again."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai sneered and said disdainfully, "Quite the boast!"
He then comforted them, saying, "You wait here, I'll be there today. I'll go and meet these people and see who they are. They dare to mess with Jiang Bai's people, they're asking for trouble!"
"By the way, comfort Qingcheng and make sure she doesn't get emotionally upset. Just tell her that I will handle this."
As soon as he said this, Huang Meizhen on the other end said something that surprised Jiang Bai and made him smile: "Qingcheng didn't seem to be upset at all. She was just like that. She couldn't get through to you when she called, but she wasn't worried. She said she would call her sister tonight and told me not to worry. This girl is really carefree."
Jiang Bai was taken aback for a moment, chuckled, and hung up the phone without saying anything more.
He knew Ye Qingcheng was no simple woman either; this girl had powerful backers, and it seemed her older brother and sister were both influential figures.
Jiang Bai didn't have anyone specifically investigate anything, but it could be inferred that her older brother and sister must be very remarkable, otherwise the little girl wouldn't be so confident. She vaguely remembered that she had even planned to ask her sister for help.
Jiang Bai stopped the taxi and made it turn around. He then called his crew, who hadn't left yet. Upon hearing Jiang Bai's call, they immediately returned.
Half an hour later, Jiang Bai set off for Ice City.
Sitting on the plane, holding a glass of Jiang Bai liquor, slowly savoring it, Jiang Bai's mind began to race, trying to figure out the background and background of the person who had just arrived.
Empire Enterprises is not what it used to be. Even if the other party doesn't know who the owner of Empire Enterprises is, they should be aware of the power and scale of this company. The fact that the other party dares to make things difficult for such a huge aircraft carrier worth hundreds of billions must mean that it is not simple.
Since it's not simple, there's no reason why they wouldn't know their own situation. If they knew their situation, why would they dare to provoke them?
Are you tired of living?
Jiang Bai was confident that even Nalan Zongde wouldn't dare to play games with him like this.
As for why Yao Lan couldn't resolve the matter, Jiang Bai wasn't surprised. Yao Lan was in charge of Empire Enterprise and was its president, but she wasn't Xu Jie, so many things weren't so easy for her to handle.
Yao Lan's methods mostly remain within the realm of legitimate business and law.
If Xu Jie were in Taiwan, or in mainland China, Yao Lan could have easily resolved the matter by simply talking to him.
Even if we can't resolve the situation, we won't let them run rampant. By now, Ice City is probably already awash in blood.
Unfortunately, with Xu Jie gone, Yao Lan only has Xiao Tian to rely on.
Jiang Bai called Xiao Tian, only to find that Xiao Tian knew nothing about it, so he didn't ask and instead called Yao Lan.
After chatting for a while, I learned that Yao Lan is currently looking for a powerful business partner to help her resolve the issue. The other party has already agreed and is working on it.
She didn't approach Xu Jie and Xiao Tian because she felt that Xiao Tian might not be capable of handling the matter, and Xu Jie was too impulsive and could easily ruin things. After all, it was someone else's territory, and if Xu Jie went there shouting for violence, there might not even be a chance to negotiate if things went wrong.
So while she was calling Jiang Bai, she kept asking for help, but she didn't ask Xu Jie, because she considered that a last resort.
Jiang Bai chuckled at this and didn't explain much. He simply told Yao Lan that he was on his way to Bingcheng and that she didn't need to worry about it. He just needed to give her the middleman's phone number.
He will handle everything.
Yao Lan did not object to this, and sent the number to Jiang Bai. After talking about some company matters, she hung up the phone.
She's really busy right now, especially after Empire Enterprises swallowed Eagle Enterprises. Managing such a behemoth with hundreds of billions in assets is no easy task, and she, as the president, is working non-stop all day long.
There was simply no time to chat idly with Jiang Bai like before.
"Honestly, they look down on our Xiaotian so much. Xiaotian could have settled this with just two phone calls." Jiang Bai chuckled to himself as he hung up the phone.
In fact, Xiao Tian didn't have much power under his command; he only had Jiang Bai's security force.
However, Xiao Tian, who also serves as Jiang Bai's driver, secretary, and housekeeper, is very capable and highly trusted. Jiang Bai also entrusts him with many tasks.
It doesn't matter if Xiao Tian can't handle this matter. Jiang Bai isn't here. As long as he uses Jiang Bai's name to make a phone call to Cheng Tiangang, Wu Tianxi, Li Qingdi, or any of them, how could this matter not be resolved?
Jiang Bai didn't believe it, but he didn't say much about it to Yao Lan.
Three hours later, Jiang Bai's private jet landed at Harbin Airport. Stepping out, Jiang Bai felt the temperature was slightly low, making him feel cold. Some of the people around him were already wearing thick coats.
Jiang Bai paused for a moment, looked at his thin clothes, smiled, and walked out of the airport. Huang Meizhen was already waiting for him there.
Besides Huang Meizhen, Yuan Yuan, the manager of the nearby Imperial Enterprises branch, also came over when he saw Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai shook hands with them and then got into his car.
"Where's Qingcheng? Is she alone at the hotel?" I should be able to get things done by the branch manager, why is Huang Meizhen here too?
What about Ye Qingcheng?
Did they leave her alone in the hotel?
These are extraordinary times, and their actions have made Jiang Bai somewhat dissatisfied.
"I haven't told her yet, but don't worry, she's not alone at the hotel. Miss Yao Lan has provided her with bodyguards and assistants, and the crew is also here, about a hundred people. Qingcheng will be fine."
Seeing Jiang Bai's expression, Huang Meizhen quickly spoke up, which made Jiang Bai nod indifferently.
He then glanced at Huang Meizhen and asked, "What is the background of this person?"
Jiang Bai was a bit impatient when he answered the phone earlier. He only learned the general outline of the matter and did not ask about the other party's identity or background. Now that he has arrived at the location, Jiang Bai finally asked.
Chapter 697 Ice City Haoyang
"This... I heard it's Bingcheng Haoyang Group. This whole thing was orchestrated by their boss. I don't know the specifics, but I do know that this company has a very strong background in Bingcheng. They monopolize the real estate and retail markets in Bingcheng, and they also own a large pharmaceutical company."
"It is said to be very powerful, but its true background is unclear. Anyway, when President Yao found a few intermediaries to mediate, the other party immediately backed down when they heard that it was Bingcheng Haoyang."
"We finally found a partner who patted us on the shoulder and said he could handle things, but after meeting him once, he called me in the afternoon. The implication was that I shouldn't argue with him anymore, and that Qingcheng should go and apologize to him."
"They even said that Qingcheng needs a backer, and Bingcheng Haoyang is the best backer. With their support, we can do whatever we want north of Shanhaiguan, etc. They even threatened that if we don't compromise, there's nothing they can do. Once they really get angry, they won't talk to us so nicely anymore."
Huang Meizhen answered Jiang Bai's questions without reservation.
Jiang Bai didn't know if there was any embellishment involved, but he figured there probably was.
But none of that matters. Even if Huang Meizhen embellished the story, it would only be to a limited extent; she wouldn't dare to completely exaggerate the situation.
Bingcheng Haoyang had no personal grudges against her, and they had never crossed paths before.
At most, this incident caused some conflict. Even if Huang Meizhen exaggerated the situation to get Jiang Bai to deal with them, she wouldn't dare to fabricate anything out of thin air.
Moreover, Jiang Bai didn't believe that Huang Meizhen was really making things up.
After listening to all this, Jiang Bai looked at Huang Meizhen in front of him and didn't say anything more. She was just an agent and could only tell him the situation; she didn't know anything else.
Asking is pointless.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Jiang Bai entered Ye Qingcheng's room in full view of everyone.
Ye Qingcheng was in a fairly good mood. Although she had encountered trouble, she was still able to remain calm and composed as she entered the room. Jiang Bai originally wanted to comfort her, but when he entered the room and found Ye Qingcheng eating snacks and watching Korean dramas, he knew that he had been thinking too much.
This girl is very confident; she's not worried at all.
"Jiang Bai! I knew you'd come! How's things going in Tibet lately?" Ye Qingcheng greeted Jiang Bai warmly with a smile as she walked down, her black leotard perfectly accentuating her figure.
"Not bad, how about it? You didn't suffer a loss this time, did you?" Jiang Bai chuckled.
Actually, he just asked casually, but judging from Ye Qingcheng's expression, he knew that she definitely hadn't suffered a loss this time.
"No, they just used some tricks to scare me after they went in, but Sister Yao Lan acted quickly and I was brought out. They didn't intend to harm me inside, so I didn't suffer any losses. It's just that those officers were a bit fierce."
Ye Qingcheng responded with a smile, but the last part of her words made Jiang Bai frown.
Are the people handling the case a bit fierce? How fierce?
It seems that after this matter is resolved, I will need to have a serious talk with Minister Cheng about it.
Don't think I can't do anything to you just because you're a law enforcement agency. With Cheng Laohu around, there's really nothing this department can't handle.
Afterwards, he chatted with Ye Qingcheng for a while, mostly about his recent situation and what he had seen and heard when he went out with Jiang Bai. Of course, Jiang Bai embellished these things when he told them. For example, he downplayed the matter of him extorting money from the nine major gambling groups.
He focused on describing his gambling skills, but made no mention of how he eventually left.
He briefly recounted his experiences in Tibet, without making it too complicated. He mentioned that he made several good friends there, including those who were much older than him, and that he inherited a villa in the mountains and several hundred servants.
He then described the beautiful scenery of Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, which prompted Ye Qingcheng to repeatedly plead to go and see it with Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai naturally did not refuse.
I wonder how the experts of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain will react when they hear this news. The Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain, which has been passed down for thousands of years and is even more magnificent than the Potala Palace, has become a villa in Jiang Bai's mouth, and hundreds of experts from the Great Snow Mountain have become servants.
But even if they knew, they probably wouldn't say anything.
After all... in reality, they really were Jiang Bai's servants, no, they couldn't be servants, they were practically slaves. Servants have human rights, but they didn't.
After chatting for a while, Jiang Bai left the room, told Ye Qingcheng that they would have dinner together that evening, and then left, saying that he had helped Ye Qingcheng deal with the matter.
Ye Qingcheng originally wanted to be with Jiang Bai, but Jiang Bai didn't agree, and Ye Qingcheng didn't insist.
After leaving the house, Jiang Bai thought for a moment, then made a phone call to an old acquaintance of his. As for the old prince Nalan Zongde in the Northeast, Jiang Bai had no connection with him.
However, Tan Zongming, one of his subordinates, had met Jiang Bai once before and had helped Jiang Bai in dealing with the affairs of the Wu brothers, Wu Tian and Wu Zhong.
That must have been in Harbin, too.
Jiang Bai couldn't remember who his rival was; he was too lazy to bother with such a nobody.
The call didn't go through. A few minutes later, Tan Zongming called back as Jiang Bai walked out of the hotel and asked, "What can I do for you, Mr. Jiang?"
Tan Zongming used to call Jiang Bai "brother," but he doesn't dare to now. Jiang Bai has inherited Zhao Wuji's entire business and is no longer the same as before.
More importantly, Jiang Bai has a wider circle of friends than Zhao Wuji. Although he is a complete troublemaker with enemies everywhere and few friends, those few friends are enough to give people a headache.
Wu Tianxi and Cheng Tiangang were already terrifying enough, not to mention Yang Wudi, with whom they had a good relationship, and Li Qingdi, who claimed to be a friend of Jiang Bai but was not actually that friendly.
Jiang Bai is not what it used to be.
He simply couldn't bring himself to call him "brother," so he could only address him as Mr. Jiang instead.
"I have some things to take care of in Harbin right now. Shall we meet?" Jiang Bai said with a smile, not rejecting Tan Zongming's address, and inviting him to meet.
Tan Zongming paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, I'll be right there. I'll contact you when I get there."
Prince Nalan was stationed in Shengjing, so Tan Zongming and the others naturally lived there as well, so they could be at his beck and call at any time.
Ice City is not close to Shengjing, but since Jiang Bai came and specifically asked to see him, Tan Zongming did not hesitate.
After consulting with the old prince, Tan Zongming then boarded Prince Nalan's private plane and headed directly to Harbin.
Chapter 698 I'll do it myself?
An hour and a half later, Tan Zongming, who had just gotten off the helicopter, met Jiang Bai in a rather quiet teahouse in the center of Harbin.
This is a property owned by a wealthy man in Bingcheng. Because Tan Zongming was coming, the man cleared out all the guests to facilitate the conversation between Tan Zongming and Jiang Bai.
After arranging a pot of the finest tea and saying hello to Jiang Bai and Tan Zongming, the other party tactfully took their leave.
Before leaving, Jiang Bai overheard the other party instructing that no one could approach the room without permission from inside. Only a pretty and innocent-looking girl was left in the room to serve tea and water to the two of them.
"I wonder what Mr. Jiang's instructions are this time?"
Before coming, Tan Zongming had already used his connections in Bingcheng to investigate Jiang Bai's intentions. He had a general understanding of the situation, but it was inconvenient for him to say it directly. Moreover, he was not sure if Jiang Bai had come because of this matter.
It was a bit abrupt to bring this up first, which is why he asked this question.
"My Empire Pictures has run into a little trouble. Ye Qingcheng, as you probably know, is in the spotlight right now. She's not only a pillar of my Empire Pictures, but also a good friend of mine. She's encountered a bit of trouble."
Jiang Bai responded calmly, briefly explaining the situation without going into details. He believed that Tan Zongming must have conducted a simple investigation before arriving and knew what Ye Qingcheng was up to.
As expected, Tan Zongming showed an "I knew it" expression after hearing this.
He chuckled and said, "I know about this."
"Liu Zhou, the boss of Haoyang Group in Bingcheng, is quite a figure. In this small city, he can be considered a local tyrant. Haoyang Group is very wealthy and powerful, with assets of nearly 100 billion yuan, spanning multiple fields. His personal network of relationships is extremely complex, not only radiating throughout Bingcheng, but I heard that he also has considerable connections in the capital."
As Tan Zongming spoke, Jiang Bai silently drank his tea without uttering a sound.
He was waiting for Tan Zongming to finish speaking. Jiang Bai didn't care at all whether this matter was easy or difficult to handle. He had come here to cause trouble for Bingcheng Haoyang, and it wouldn't be resolved easily. However, since the other party had bowed down, Jiang Bai had to give Old Nalan some face.
Jiang Bai invited Tan Zongming to meet him. It would be good if Tan Zongming could help, but if he couldn't, Jiang Bai wouldn't mind having him come. It was just to settle some unknown matters so that he could make a decision before taking action. If they could help, Jiang Bai would handle it himself.
In fact, in the vast area north of Shanhaiguan, there is nothing that Nalan Lao cannot help with; it's just a matter of whether he wants to or not.
Just like there are very few things near Tiandu that Jiang Bai can't handle.
However, he had never even met Old Nalan, and his relationship with Tan Zongming was only a nodding acquaintance. They would help with small matters, but whether they would help with big matters was another matter.
If this were Wu Tianxi's territory, Jiang Bai wouldn't have gone through all this trouble; a single sentence would have been enough to settle the matter with a few curses.
The main issue is that it's still within the country, so Jiang Bai can't just rush in and wreak havoc, leaving a bloodbath.
Dealing with Bingcheng Haoyang requires more of a combination of methods and relationships. Jiang Bai will not personally kill him and cause a bloodbath unless absolutely necessary, as that would not be in Jiang Bai's interest.
Admittedly, no one could stop him from doing this, but what would the higher-ups think of him doing it?
Jiang Bai, you kill people and cause rivers of blood at the slightest provocation. This time it was in Ice City, where will it be next time?
If you're ever unhappy, are you going to run to the capital and put on such a show again?
Admittedly, the higher-ups can't do anything about him for now, but once they do, they will definitely deal with Jiang Bai. At the very least, they will prepare a contingency plan, which is not a good thing for Jiang Bai.
The higher one's position, the more one should know how to be low-key; there are some things one cannot do arbitrarily.
However, if necessary, he can act freely. With his current power, Jiang Bai is truly fearless when it comes to tearing off pretenses.
"You seem to have considerable power? How about this, you all leave it alone, go back and tell the old prince that I'll handle this myself?"
"As for his connections in the capital, I'll give Li Qingdi a call; I think he should be able to handle it."
Jiang Bai glanced at Tan Zongming, sipped his tea noncommittally, and said leisurely.
After saying this, Tan Zongming's expression changed drastically, his face turned awkward, and his lips twitched.
What he just said was merely to set a high price in front of Jiang Bai, so that Jiang Bai would owe him a favor. Bingcheng Haoyang is indeed not easy to deal with, and Liu Zhou is arrogant and domineering, looking down on everyone.
But no matter how arrogant and domineering he was, this place still belonged to the old prince, and no one could cause any trouble here.
Tan Zongming was confident that he could handle it.
But to his utter surprise, Jiang Bai suddenly uttered a sentence that made him change color on the spot.
What a joke! Everyone knows what kind of person Jiang Bai is.
Drug kingpin Khun Sa, Hong Kong tycoon Yin Tianchou, and Taiwan's Flying Eagle Wang Zhenxu—which of them didn't fall into your hands? Wherever you went, rivers of blood flowed.
If you really let yourself do it, won't this ice city be plunged into chaos and death?
This is Northeast China, this is the old prince's territory. If you do this, where will the old prince put his face?
After coughing twice, Tan Zongming said, "No need for that. Since Mr. Jiang is personally handling this matter, he will have to give us face no matter what. I'll call him and have him come over."
After saying that, he called Liu Zhou from Haoyang in Bingcheng. When he received the call from Tan Zongming, Liu Zhou was very polite and greeted Tan Zongming warmly, calling him "brother" this and "brother" that.
When Tan Zongming invited him for tea, he readily agreed and said he would be there right away when he hung up the phone.
During this time, Jiang Bai felt bored and sent a text message to the person Yao Lan had found to ask how things were going. The other party replied that things were not easy and told Jiang Bai to wait patiently.
His tone wasn't exactly respectful; it was even somewhat cold.
However, Jiang Bai disagreed. The person Yao Lan had found was supposedly from the North and had some abilities, but in Jiang Bai's opinion, he was not up to par.
Although Empire Enterprises is Jiang Bai's business, not many people actually know that Jiang Bai is the boss.
This group is limited to a few top-level individuals, as well as some wealthy merchants and political figures near Tiandu. The person Yao Lan is looking for is not among them.
They are too far away and their identities are insufficient to investigate, otherwise they wouldn't be so indifferent.
Jiang Bai smiled at this, ignored him, and hung up the phone.
I chatted with Tan Zongming, talking about some interesting stories from ancient times and discussing some profound theories.
Jiang Bai was a learned man, and Tan Zongming was also an expert in this field; they had a very pleasant conversation.
Before they knew it, an hour had passed, and they had drunk several pots of tea before Liu Zhou finally arrived late.
Chapter 699 Liu Zhou is quite arrogant
"Haha, brother, sorry, sorry for keeping you waiting. I had something to do. A friend from the capital just came and insisted on accompanying me around. I finally managed to shake him off before I could come see you. I'm sorry for being late."
As soon as Jiang Bai entered the door, he heard a rough and bold voice. Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw a burly man, about 1.9 meters tall, with a thick beard, walk in from outside.
As soon as he entered, he walked towards Tan Zongming and explained his lateness, but the fierceness in his steps was unmistakable.
It seems that this person is Liu Zhou, the boss of Bingcheng Haoyang Group, who dared to make things difficult for Ye Qingcheng.
"It's not too late, and we have nothing else to do anyway. Come, come, let me introduce you to a customer."
Tan Zongming laughed and said to Liu Zhou, then pointed to Jiang Bai next to him and introduced, "This is the owner of Empire Enterprise, and also my friend, Mr. Jiang. Please come and meet him."
Tan Zongming didn't say that Jiang Bai was a friend of Prince Nalan, but only that he was his own. Jiang Bai was taken aback for a moment, but didn't say anything more.
He was wondering to himself, what did Tan Zongming mean by this?
Was I not qualified to be his friend, or was there some other reason?
"Imperial Enterprises?" Liu Zhou was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but look Jiang Bai up and down, and smiled noncommittally, "Mr. Jiang is so young."
Jiang Bai squinted at Liu Zhou and smiled noncommittally. The two of them didn't shake hands or greet each other at all.
Jiang Bai disdained associating with such a person, and the other party also seemed to think highly of himself, never taking the initiative to shake hands with Jiang Bai from beginning to end.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, so Tan Zongming quickly invited the two of them to sit down.
After taking their seats, Tan Zongming said with a smile, "I think you know Mr. Jiang's identity and you must also understand his purpose. How about I step in as a peacemaker and let this matter drop?"
He didn't say anything like asking the other party to give him face or asking Liu Zhou to be lenient, because that would be inappropriate. It wouldn't matter if other friends said that.
But sitting opposite him was Jiang Bai.
Does Master Jiang need others to show leniency?
If we say that, we'll immediately offend Jiang Bai, and this matter will become a life-or-death struggle. Even if the Heavenly King himself intervenes, it won't help, because it will embarrass Jiang Bai.
Even the old prince wouldn't dare to offend Jiang Bai, the fearsome devil.
However, Liu Zhou was indeed not someone to be trifled with, so he did not force Liu Zhou to apologize to Jiang Bai immediately.
Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow but remained silent, though he was somewhat dissatisfied. This is your territory, Tan Zongming, and you're playing games with me like this? What do you mean by "just let it go like this"?
Are you asking me to let it go, or are you asking Liu Zhou to let it go? It sounds like you're in cahoots.
I've already said it, Ye Qingcheng is my friend. How can you let it go with just one sentence if she dares to harass my friend?
On what grounds?
Even if it were old Nalan himself, he wouldn't have the same face!
It seems Jiang Bai wasn't the only one dissatisfied with Tan Zongming. Liu Zhou frowned slightly upon hearing this, glanced at Tan Zongming and Jiang Bai, and then said coldly, "Brother, you're not the first person to come to me for leniency these past few days."
"But you are the most important! Fine, I'll give you face and not hold this against them."
One sentence made Tan Zongming's expression change slightly. He knew things were going to get bad. Liu Zhou's words were somewhat condescending, but damn it, he had picked the wrong person!
To his surprise, Liu Zhou continued, "I won't make things difficult for Imperial Enterprises, but I've taken a liking to Ye Qingcheng. Let her stay with me for a few days, and we'll call it quits. Otherwise, I'll make sure she never leaves Ice City."
"Don't interfere with Imperial Enterprises' matter, and I'll give you face and not cause you any trouble. But if you interfere, hmph, then it won't be me not giving you face."
Before Jiang Bai could even speak, Tan Zongming's expression changed instantly. He knew Liu Zhou was quite arrogant. Although he wasn't one of the old prince's three top lieutenants, his father had some connections with the old prince, which naturally made him arrogant.
He was generally respectful to us, but not exactly deferential. Especially in recent years, after his power expanded, he became a local tyrant in this Ice City, showing no respect to anyone.
Apart from the old prince, there was probably no one north of Shanhaiguan whom he took seriously.
So he was quite polite in his words just now, but he didn't expect Liu Zhou to be so tactless, daring to speak like that. Refusing his face was the least of his worries. The key issue was that those words... offended Jiang Bai.
To be fair, if I were Jiang Bai, I wouldn't let this matter rest either. Besides, Jiang Bai himself is a notorious landmine, the kind that explodes at the slightest touch.
Provoke him?
Isn't that just courting death?
Tan Zongming felt a pang of regret. He regretted not explaining things clearly when introducing Jiang Bai to Liu Zhou, and regretted saying that Jiang Bai was his friend instead of someone even the old prince would treat with deference.
He didn't even know what he was thinking just now, that he didn't point it out.
The main problem is that he himself is too arrogant. He thought that if he stepped in, Liu Zhou would definitely compromise and back down. He never expected that this guy would be so arrogant.
Did he think he had brought people to beg him?
Actually, he didn't know that this wasn't Liu Zhou's fault.
The main problem is that Liu Zhou doesn't know Jiang Bai's situation. He knows that Jiang Ye is from Tiandu, but he doesn't know that Jiang Bai is Jiang Ye, and he doesn't know that Jiang Ye is the boss of the Empire Enterprise.
Having lived in the north for a long time, he was not familiar with the affairs of Tiandu.
More importantly, Yao Lan and her group caused trouble by asking four or five groups of local people to plead with Liu Zhou on their behalf, as if they were genuinely afraid of him. This made Liu Zhou look down on Empire Enterprises, thinking that although they were rich, they were incompetent.
The people they found were all mediocre and lacked any real influence.
Even if Tan Zongming himself came forward, he still felt that it was definitely because the Imperial Enterprises had pulled strings and found Tan Zongming, and that they were just casual acquaintances, which was why he spoke like that.
Everything is a misunderstanding and a misperception that has led to the current situation.
If Jiang Bai had sent Tan Zongming to intervene from the beginning, Liu Zhou would never have been so arrogant.
"Smack!"
Jiang Bai remained silent, but Tan Zongming became enraged first. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and roared at Liu Zhou, "Liu Zhou, what do you mean! Are you not even going to give me face?"
Liu Zhou was no pushover either. Startled by Tan Zongming's shout, he quickly changed his expression and stood up, coldly snorting, "I've already given you face, Tan Zongming, but don't push your luck. Stop glaring at me, slamming your fist on the table, and smashing chairs!"
"To tell you the truth, I'm giving you face because of the old prince, not because of you. If it weren't for the old prince, I wouldn't even bother to see you! Don't try to yell at me like that!"
"I, Liu Zhou, am not someone to be trifled with!"