Chapter 274: Chapter 273: Discovered? (Please Subscribe)
The vast Anshan City was of deathly stillness.
On the streets, not even a shadow of a person or a ghost could be seen. The shops along the road had their doors tightly closed, with occasional whispers heard.
"It seems quiet outside, should we go check it out?"
"Are you crazy? What if something bad happens? What can we do with our small bodies?"
"True, but what happened anyway? Why is there such a big commotion at the City Lord’s Mansion?"
"How would I know? We shouldn’t worry about things that don’t concern us. Even if the sky falls, there are taller ones to hold it up."
"But what if the tall ones can’t hold it up?"
"Then we all perish together."
Chen Fan reached the door of the Awakened Association and knocked. Only then did someone cautiously come to open it.
"Brother Chen, did you just come back from outside the city?"
asked the person who opened the door.
"Yes, why?" Chen Fan replied with a smile.
"Didn’t encounter any danger, did you? There was such a huge commotion on the mountaintop just now, it was terrifying."
The woman patted her chest, looking extremely shaken.
Just as Chen Fan was about to say something, his phone rang. It was Sun Wei calling, probably after seeing him through the hall’s camera.
"Hello, Chairman."
"Brother Chen, you’re back? Are you alright?"
Sun Wei asked.
"I’m fine, Chairman. Did you need something?"
"Yes, come to the conference room on the third floor. There’s something important to discuss. Everyone’s here."
"Alright."
Chen Fan hung up the phone without surprise. This was just the beginning. When news of Yan Ming and the others’ deaths spread, that would be the real shock for Anshan City.
Upon entering the conference room, Xu Jie, Tu Yue, and the others were already waiting.
"Brother Chen, did you just come back?"
"Didn’t encounter any danger, did you? The commotion on the mountaintop earlier was terrifying."
"Yes, it felt like an earthquake!"
They all spoke one after another.
"Yes, I noticed it too while outside. I worried about running into trouble, so I didn’t come in immediately."
Chen Fan found an empty seat and asked Sun Wei, "Chairman, what exactly happened?"
With these words, everyone turned their gaze to him.
Sun Wei shook his head solemnly, "I’m not sure exactly what happened. The earthquake-like feeling was likely Ma Sheng’s doing. The other Awakeners couldn’t cause such a commotion."
"Right, his superpower is gravity. He loves crushing people with it. Before, I’ve seen him crush several High-level Fierce Beasts into meat patties from the city wall."
"So he was fighting someone? But even then, there was no need for such a huge commotion."
"Yeah, those who don’t know would think it was a beast invasion."
Chen Fan listened, appearing puzzled.
In reality, no one paid much attention to him,
After all, he hadn’t been here long and didn’t know about those C-level Awakeners, which was quite normal.
Some even patiently explained the situation to him.
"Chairman, it’s been almost ten minutes with no activity from the mountaintop. Should we go check it out?"
Xu Jie licked his lips, feeling like something was clawing at his heart.
"I think we better not."
Tu Yue frowned, "We never got along with the City Lord’s Mansion. We can’t even approach halfway up the mountain normally. If this commotion was just them playing around, we’d humiliate ourselves."
"I agree with Tu Yue. Chairman, we should watch and see," Gao Shan said.
"Yes, I think we should stay cautious too."
Sun Wei nodded, "Maybe we’re overthinking. Nothing might have happened after all."
The mountaintop has the strongest guard force in Anshan City, not to mention several C-level Awakeners living there.
If someone wanted trouble with Yan Ming, they wouldn’t choose such a place,
"Even though we don’t know what happened, we must be careful for the next few days. If something really happened to Yan Ming, we can’t handle those people."
Sun Wei spoke sternly, sweeping his gaze over everyone present.
"Understood!"
"We will be careful, Chairman."
Chen Fan echoed, laughing inwardly.
They would never guess that the "culprit" was sitting right among them.
"Good, be careful. This emergency meeting is over. Others can leave now. Brother Chen, stay a moment," Sun Wei said.
Xu Jie and the others glanced at Chen Fan and then left.
Chen Fan’s heart sank. Had he celebrated too soon?
Had the Chairman noticed something?
But that shouldn’t be possible; he hadn’t left any evidence.
The meeting room now only had Chen Fan and Sun Wei.
Sun Wei looked around, then asked in a lowered voice:
"Brother Chen, the incident with the trading company, it wasn’t you, right?"
Chen Fan was taken aback, then also lowered his voice, "Chairman, do you think I did it?"
"Cough, cough, I just wanted to ask."
Sun Wei coughed a few times, "Good to know it wasn’t you."
As per the scene, a Meridian Refining Martial Artist was involved,
Among them, only Chen Fan had that capability.
"I wish I did it," Chen Fan snorted, "That lot always against us. Last time, they even brought people over. If you hadn’t arrived on time, they might have started a fight."
"It’s all in the past now."
Sun Wei gave an awkward smile.
If his guess was right, Chen Fan was already a Meridian Refining Martial Artist then. That would explain how he killed High-level Fierce Beasts so quickly.
His timely arrival wouldn’t have made a big difference.
"It’s best it wasn’t you, Brother Chen. The City Lord’s Mansion side won’t let this slide."
Sun Wei sighed, "This action was a slap to Yan Ming’s face. Soon, people from the City Lord’s Mansion will come asking about it. But don’t worry. It doesn’t involve us. Even if Yan Ming comes personally, they can’t do anything."
"Understood, Chairman."
Chen Fan smiled.
The City Lord’s Mansion wouldn’t send anyone over. But the Hunters Meng Xue mentioned might come to investigate.
He’d deny it entirely.
"Oh, Brother Chen, your request to add another Pill Furnace in the Elixir Room has been fulfilled. You can see it when you return."
"Chairman, you’re so efficient. I thought it would take a day or two."
Chen Fan smiled, feeling pleased inside.
Another Pill Furnace would double the refining efficiency of True Qi Pills. He was racing against time.
"Ha ha, adding a Pill Furnace isn’t a big deal," Sun Wei waved, "Compared to the Top-grade Qi Blood Pills you made, it’s nothing."
"You’re too kind, Chairman. It’s just a small favor,"
Chen Fan glanced at the wall clock, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll head to the Elixir Room."
"Go on."
Sun Wei waved with a smile as Chen Fan left.
His smile faded quickly, his expression growing serious.
His intuition said the mountaintop event wasn’t simple, maybe something really happened.
Despite his conflict with Yan Ming’s group, they were why Anshan City stood today. If something happened to them, how would they defend against another Beast Tide?
Before returning to the Elixir Room, Chen Fan collected ingredients for refining True Qi Pills.
He got a total of eighty sets.
Returning with the ingredients, he frowned.
If another Beast Tide happened, restocking ingredients would be impossible.
Growing them wasn’t an overnight solution. Unless there was an Awakener who could speed up plant growth.
Which seemed unrealistic.
"I need to buy more, as much as I can."
Determined, Chen Fan thought.
Not just Meridian Refining but True Essence Realm also needed True Qi Pills. Contribution points were his worry.
He had materials from several Elite-level Fierce Beasts, originally for sale to the Awakened Association. But maybe selling to the Martial Arts Association for ingredients was better.
Two of them were ordinary-level Elite-level Fierce Beasts, if complete, worth over ten million. But with only key materials, the price was lower.
Including the Fire Scaly Pig, they might fetch two to three million.
With each True Qi Pill material set costing two hundred thousand, he could buy about two hundred sets.
"Two hundred sets make two thousand True Qi Pills. Despite being Celestial Grade and Top Grade, it’s too few."
Chen Fan frowned.
This would be enough to break through to the True Essence Realm,
But advancing beyond?
Unlikely.
And a True Essence Realm Martial Artist was just like a B-level Awakened, maybe less. Not enough to handle Beast King or Beast Emperor Levels.
"I miscalculated."
Regretting giving the Pill Formula to the Association, Chen Fan sighed.
With the thought of receiving constant Contribution Points, it seemed profitable. But time for the Human Race was running out.
This method was unfeasible now,
And selling refined True Qi Pills was impossible.
To quickly get a large amount of True Qi Pill ingredients, the only way was to sell the Pill Formula!
"This time, I need a different approach."
Determined spark shone in Chen Fan’s eyes.