There is a cellar in Miaoqiu’s house, mainly used for brewing.

Now Lin Tian has found another use, suitable for imprisoning people. Xu Dongxu is locked inside.

This morning, when Xv Baiping invited a revered monk, they specially recited scriptures several times here and placed a consecrated Dharma Artifact. They feared Xu Dongxu might summon some unclean things into the house.

The room where Xu Dongxu is held is not large, with nothing inside, but the door is locked with a large iron lock.

Lin Tian opened the door, and when he walked in with the elder, Xu Dongxu was sitting cross-legged on the cold ground, looking quite fearless.

He looked up and smiled at the elder in front of him, "Seems I’ve helped you a lot."

The elder looked at him and couldn’t help but get furious. He naturally had a short temper and, without saying a word, rushed forward and kicked Xu Dongxu in the chest.

Bang~

Xu Dongxu was knocked backward by the force of the kick, flying until he hit the wall, then fell to the ground.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Xu Dongxu lay on the ground, coughing like he had asthma, but no matter how he coughed, he couldn’t spit out the blood clotted inside.

Swish~

A sharp sword was unsheathed, the blade pressed against Xu Dongxu’s neck.

Xu Dongxu had no doubt they would kill him; they definitely had the guts!

The two factions had fought for many years, and to his surprise, Lin Tian’s meddling caused his faction to utterly lose! Even if he died, there might not be anyone able to avenge him.

Slap! Slap!

The elder held the sword and tapped Xu Dongxu’s neck with the blade, asking coldly, "You don’t seem afraid of death?"

"Hmph." Xu Dongxu sneered, "Does fear help? Besides, I won’t die."

He turned his head, coldly staring at the elder’s face, asking, "You wouldn’t kill me."

Whoosh!

The elder raised his wrist, the sword blade like a white streak cutting through the air, slicing diagonally from beneath Xu Dongxu’s left cheek to his right forehead, down along his mouth and eye corner, leaving a long, deep sword scar on his face.

Blood instantly covered half his face, making him look eerie like a bloody figure.

Xu Dongxu took a deep, cold breath, his hands trembling as he touched the scar on his face, shrieking in agony.

Lin Tian stood behind the elder, arms crossed, watching like a spectator.

With his keen eye, he clearly saw that this sword stroke was extremely precise. Any lighter, it would have been a favor to Xu Dongxu. A bit heavier, it would have damaged muscle and bone.

"I damn hate people acting tough in front of me." The elder sneered, "Aren’t you skilled at arraying to draw thunder? I, a dignified Golden Core master, almost got played to death by you, and now you’re so meek?"

Xu Dongxu closed his eyes, the pain on his face stimulating his nerve endings, causing him to tremble slightly.

But at this moment, he was overly calm, knowing that now he was like meat on a chopping block, able to do nothing.

"But I must say, you’re quite talented indeed. With just high-level Martial Artist strength, you almost killed me, a feat even my master couldn’t achieve before. If I were at the Early Stage of Golden Elixir, I might have died, but unfortunately, I’m at the Middle Stage of Golden Elixir now; you’re too confident in your skills still."

The elder paused, discarded the sword to the side, squatted in front of Xu Dongxu, and smiled, "Can you rid me of my Heart Demon?"

Xu Dongxu closed his eyes, silent.

"No reply means consent. Now I’ll give you two choices: first, die! Second, rid me of my Heart Demon, from now on, we owe nothing to each other."

"Owe nothing? Hahaha..." Xu Dongxu suddenly burst into mad laughter, "My little sister, because of those fox eyes, has suffered all life, now barely alive due to you all. And now you say we owe nothing to each other? Let me tell you, you owe me, and even with ten lifetimes, you can’t repay!"

Laughing exaggeratedly triggered his facial wound, causing the blood to flow even more grotesquely. But Xu Dongxu didn’t care at all.

"So there’s no room for negotiation, huh?" The elder said coldly.

"No negotiation! Isn’t it just death? I’ve long seen through it."

The elder sneered and nodded, "Alright, then I’ll fulfill your wish."

As his voice fell, the elder raised his right hand high, ready to snap his life!

Just as the elder’s palm was about to fall, Lin Tian suddenly stepped forward, wrapped his hands around the elder’s hands, easing his force, and pushed the elder back two steps.

The elder steadied his body, staring at Lin Tian with confusion, "Master, what do you mean?"

Lin Tian stood between the two, saying, "You both are impatient. If business were always conducted like this, wouldn’t it be mutual destruction?"

Xu Dongxu coldly snorted, "Cut the crap, kill if you’re going to!"

The elder chose silence, Xu Dongxu alone could be killed anytime, why not first listen to the master’s words.

"If I can save Xu Nanhai, can you rid my Heart Demon?" Lin Tian squinted and asked.

Xu Dongxu pondered for two seconds, "How to save?"

"What she did to Ruyan is unforgivable; I could’ve killed her with one blow that night, but spared her life upon your elder brother’s plea. Now she’s just severely wounded internally, under my prescription’s care for a month, she’d be fine. Additionally, I can give you three Longevity Elixirs. One elixir extends life roughly by five years, but eating too many results in diminishing returns, so three would offer only ten years at most. But Xu Nanhai’s special constitution might grant five years more."

Lin Tian said, "Do you think using Xu Nanhai’s five years to have you help a favor isn’t a good trade?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Though Xu Dongxu’s face bore a scar, his mind was clear. He asked, "Why should I believe you?"

Lin Tian said, "When I was at Luoyan Dock, I gave the Longevity Elixir formula to the major families. If those old foxes couldn’t distinguish its authenticity, do you think they’d agree? The three Longevity Elixirs I offer are definitely of the best quality. Though precious to others, they’re as common as rice to me, giving them to you is no harm."

"Five!"

Lin Tian shook his head, "Only three."

"Five!" Xu Dongxu insisted.

Lin Tian looked at Xu Dongxu, sneering, "Humans are indeed greedy like snakes swallowing elephants. Do you really think my elixirs are blown by the wind? Three already promise ten years’ lifespan to commoners; giving you two more would be a loss for me."

The elder heavily snorted, interjecting, "Such greed! You know how precious five are? Master, let me smash his head; these elixirs are so valuable, better to gift them to me."

Xu Dongxu’s face gradually darkened, "Fine! Three it is!"

With that, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.