Chapter 438: Chapter 426: You Don’t Have the Right to Bargain (Please Subscribe)
Tang Yong’s forehead was covered in cold sweat.
He had heard about the chairman of the Anshan City Awakened Association.
It was said that the chairman was very powerful and had once single-handedly killed several B-level Awakened from Jiulong City in the association’s hall.
Of course, this was just a rumor. He wasn’t sure if it was true and had no desire to verify it.
Anyway, the fact that the chairman allowed them entry into Anshan City was indeed a good thing for them. They were just here to lay low until the storm passed and then leave, so they didn’t think they’d have to deal with Chairman Li.
But he never expected that the chairman would appear in front of them right now and seemed to be targeting them.
The others beside him also sensed that something was wrong.
Someone tentatively asked, "Who are you?"
"Li Ping."
Chen Fan continued, "Chairman of the Anshan City Awakened Association."
"Li Ping? Chairman of the Anshan City Awakened Association!"
Everyone was stunned, and then their eyes showed extreme shock.
"Are you that Chairman Li?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere became quiet, and time seemed to stop.
The onlookers also stood there in shock, their eyes fixed on the figure in the center.
Was this really Chairman Li?
The Chairman Li who had let them stay without asking for anything in return?
Many people felt their faces burning with embarrassment.
Earlier, they had been complaining in their hearts that this Chairman only bullied a weak woman and kicked her out of the city in the middle of the night.
But now, they felt differently.
The person that Chairman Li expelled couldn’t be a good person, right?
Maybe she was a cultist!
Instantly, the crowd looked at Wang Lingling with suspicion instead of pity.
Wang Lingling bit her lip.
Her plan to manipulate public opinion had failed. It seemed tonight she would have to find a small village to stay in.
However, those few people seemed to be hiding their strength just like her.
She decided to wait and see what happened next.
Chen Fan’s gaze fell on Tang Yong, and he asked, "Your strength isn’t at the Meridian Refining Realm, is it? Neither are the others beside you at the Ming Jin or Transforming Force levels, right?"
As his words fell, Tang Yong and his companions’ faces changed again.
However, they also felt a sense of relief.
They had thought their identities had been exposed, prompting this powerful figure to show up personally.
If that were the case, whether they could survive today would be in question.
"Why would Chairman Li say that?"
Tang Yong quickly regained his composure and smiled, "I am indeed at the Meridian Refining Realm, Mid Stage. My brothers here are all at the Entry Force Realm."
"Yes, yes, Chairman Li, our big brother is right. We’re all at Entry Force Realm, my strength is just a bit better, at the Transforming Force level."
"I’m at Dark Power."
"Me too, Dark Power."
"And I’m at Ming Jin."
The other four quickly chimed in with fawning expressions on their faces.
Unless absolutely necessary, they didn’t want any conflict with this man before them.
"Is that so?"
Chen Fan looked disappointed, "I gave you a chance, but like her, you don’t treasure it."
Tang Yong and his group exchanged looks with Wang Lingling, who appeared innocent.
"You all, along with her, must leave Anshan City now."
Tang Yong and his group looked at each other.
A moment ago, they were mere bystanders.
The next, they became the subjects of the matter?
"Chairman Li, this is a bit unreasonable, isn’t it?"
Tang Yong smiled uncomfortably.
"Oh?"
Chen Fan didn’t get angry, merely asked, "How so?"
"Everyone here came because of your grand reputation, including my brothers and me. But,"
Tang Yong sighed, "It seems Chairman Li isn’t as benevolent as the rumors say."
"Big brother is right."
One of his companions immediately agreed, "Chairman Li, as the owner of Anshan City, if you want to chase us out, we have nothing to say. However, it’s unreasonable to do it in the middle of the night."
"Yeah, there are fierce beasts outside the city. Once we go out, we might be surrounded and killed by them."
"Chairman Li, we’ll leave first thing in the morning, okay?"
Their tone had lost the respect it held earlier.
At this point, they didn’t hold any hope of staying the next few days.
But going out at night, even the big brother at the True Essence Realm was at risk of getting hurt or killed.
Let alone them at the Meridian Refining Realm.
So they could only hope Chen Fan would let them leave in the morning.
Still, their anger wouldn’t simply dissipate like this.
"You have no right to bargain with me."
Chen Fan coldly laughed.
"My condition for allowing you entry was that you follow my rules. Most of the people here have followed my rules and truthfully stated their strength. Naturally, they are welcome to stay as long as they wish."
Hearing this, most people there breathed a sigh of relief, their eyes filled with gratitude.
Just now, Tang Yong and his group’s words had made them anxious, fearing they too might be expelled in the middle of the night.
But now they understood it wasn’t the case.
So?
They looked at Tang Yong and his group.
So these people hadn’t stated their true strength?
If that was the case, then being expelled by Chairman Li seemed justified.
Before entering the city, the awakened in the city had warned them several times. If they didn’t believe it and chose to violate the rules, who could they blame?
"Chairman Li."
Tang Yong looked aggrieved, "How many times must I say it for you to believe we didn’t hide our strength?"
"Yes, Chairman Li, we really didn’t deceive you. Hiding our strength doesn’t benefit us at all, does it?"
"Chairman Li, if you say we hid our strength, you need to provide some evidence, right? You can’t just claim we hid our strength and that’s it, can you?" A burly man protested discontentedly.
"Right, Chairman Li," Wag Lingling timely added, "I said I’m a Meridian Refining Martial Artist, but you insist I’m not. It’s really troubling."
She exchanged a look with Tang Yong and his group, feeling a bit pleased.
Whether they hid their strength couldn’t be determined just by words; it would have to be proven through action.
And when it came to fighting, they could control how much of their strength they showed.
This man may not be able to push them to their limits.
"Chairman Li, let’s compromise."
Tang Yong sighed, "We’ve wandered around, thinking we finally found a place to stay, but it turned out to be an illusion. Fine, we will leave by ourselves first thing in the morning. Is that agreeable?"
"Compromise?"
Chen Fan snorted, "You want proof? Isn’t it simple? As martial artists, you’ve heard of a technique called the Soul Shifting Technique, right?"
"What? The Soul Shifting Technique?"
"Soul Shifting Technique?"
Hearing those words, Tang Yong, Wang Lingling, and the others turned pale.
"You, you know the Soul Shifting Technique?"
Tang Yong asked in disbelief, showing fear.
"As an Awakener, having greater spiritual power than martial artists, learning a few Spirit Secret Manuals, what’s so surprising about that?"
Chen Fan said, looking around, "Those affected by the Soul Shifting Technique become puppets, revealing any secrets without reservation."
"What? Such an amazing thing?"
"Chairman Li is too awesome to know this?"
"What did you think? Chairman Li is the strongest in Anshan City. Knowing many things is normal."
"True. I think Chairman Li wants to use the Soul Shifting Technique to get those people to tell the truth?"
"So, did those guys hide their strength or not?"
"Nonsense, have you seen any bad guys admitting they’re bad? They won’t admit it even if they hid their strength."
"Right, Anshan City is big, and many people moved in today. If Chairman Li went after only those few, he must have had a reason. Does he seem to have time to waste?"
"Exactly."
Many people agreed out loud.
"Chairman Li, you expect us to just cooperate and be subjected to your Soul Shifting Technique, is that it?"
Tang Yong sneered.
Even a mild person can get angry, not to mention him.
Being hit by the Soul Shifting Technique would mean his life was in the hands of the other party!
What normal person would agree to such a thing?
"Yes."
Chen Fan nodded, "Don’t worry, I’m not interested in your backgrounds or secrets. I’ll only ask you one question about your strength. If you still say you’re at the Meridian Refining Realm after being hit by the Soul Shifting Technique, I’ll apologize and compensate you.
But if you say you’re at the True Essence Realm, you know what to do next, right?"
Tang Yong’s heart skipped a beat.
True Essence Realm?
Had the other party already noticed his strength?
No, impossible!
He hadn’t even taken action; how could this guy see through his strength?
No, now was not the time to think about this.
Let himself be subjected to the Soul Shifting Technique? Absolutely not!
"It seems you don’t agree with this proposal. Then leave now. Don’t make me act, or the consequences will be more severe than just being expelled."
A cold glint flashed in Chen’s Fan eyes.