Hearing these words, everyone from the Zhang family was momentarily stunned. Then, exchanging glances, they found themselves at a loss.
What news had the second-in-command brought back?
Why was the family head so delighted, even going so far as to prepare for war with the Yuan family?
Could it be that they'd managed to invite some particularly powerful expert to aid them?
The group asked about the reason, but Zhang Henglong didn't respond. Instead, he instructed them to stay at the family residence while he and Zhang Hengde left together.
Thus, under the puzzled gazes of the Zhang family's senior members, the two brothers quickly got into a vehicle and made their way to Su Xiaobai's temporary residence.
To avoid drawing attention, they had deliberately concealed their identities and suppressed their auras. But when they knocked on Su Xiaobai's door, Su Ling'er greeted them with the news that Su Xiaobai had gone out.
"Yes, my brother hasn't returned yet," Su Ling'er replied sweetly.
"All right, we'll come back later to visit him."
Instead of leaving, Zhang Henglong and Zhang Hengde headed to a tall building opposite the residence. From there, they quietly stood guard over Su Ling'er while awaiting Su Xiaobai's return.
At the same time, Su Xiaobai was in the Warrior Hall, selecting weapons specifically for his Shadows.
Long blades, long swords, and various other long weapons with area-of-effect capabilities… Su Xiaobai spent 3 million on five alloy-grade weapons.
"System, equip these five weapons for the Shadows," Su Xiaobai instructed.
"Equipment equipped!"
Far away, more than tens of kilometers outside the base, the Shadows that had previously been fighting beasts with just their limbs suddenly found weapons in their hands. Their fighting stances shifted instantly as they began wielding the weapons to fight the beasts.
After handling the weapons, Su Xiaobai went on to select micro-level combat techniques suited for long swords and long blades.
Spending another 1 million and an hour of his time, he memorized five micro-level weapon techniques in full.
"System, temporarily suspend the three techniques currently under practice."
"Replace them with these three." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novelꞁire.net
The automated training system adjusted the stances of the three Shadows, which began swiftly practicing various moves with simulated long blades and swords.
Within just a few minutes, all three techniques reached the beginner level.
Su Xiaobai quickly replaced two of the techniques.
"All at the beginner level now!"
"Next, I just need to wait a bit. Once they advance to intermediate and then senior levels, the Shadows' combat capabilities will improve by at least 50%!"
Su Xiaobai's eyes glinted.
Currently, the Shadows had combat power comparable to intermediate martial masters. With the addition of weapons and weapon techniques, they could even rival advanced martial masters!
This meant that the five Shadows' increased strength would lead to a substantial boost in monster-hunting efficiency.
By Su Xiaobai's estimation, within a week, he could earn at least tens of millions in spirit coins just from beast materials alone. If he also refined a bit of elixir in the meantime, monthly earnings of several hundred million spirit coins would be a piece of cake!
Just as Su Xiaobai was happily contemplating his ever-increasing profits and steadily rising strength, his expression suddenly changed.
"There are… several new auras outside the training room," Su Xiaobai murmured, his eyes narrowing.
His spatial perception quickly expanded outward.
The hallway outside the training room, usually filled with quasi-warriors or warriors waiting to take their turns, was now teeming with martial masters and warriors.
Intermediate warriors, advanced warriors, beginner martial masters, and even intermediate martial masters… A quick count revealed over thirty people!
Each one bore an unfriendly expression, their eyes filled with hostility.
Especially the advanced martial master leading the group, who glared at the door of the training room with such intensity it seemed he wanted to rip it apart and drag Su Xiaobai out.
"Finally found him after such a long search," muttered the advanced martial master.
This man was none other than Yuan Qi.
He had been searching relentlessly for Su Xiaobai for quite some time, only to come up empty-handed as though the latter had vanished into thin air. Just as Yuan Qi was about to give up, word came that Su Xiaobai had appeared in the Warrior Hall.
Immediately, Yuan Qi gathered his men and rushed over.
"Yuan Qi, shall we make a move now?" Another advanced martial master from the Yuan family asked.
"This is the government's Warrior Hall! Taking action here would cost the Yuan family dearly!"
"No need to hurry. Let's wait for him to come out. Then, we'll give him a 'proper reception,'" Yuan Qi said viciously.
Inside the training room, Su Xiaobai heard their words through his spatial perception.
"Hah! I wasn't going after them, and yet they've come looking for me!"
A cold smile spread across Su Xiaobai's face.
"Since they've delivered themselves to me, why should I show any mercy?"
By appearing openly in the Warrior Hall, Su Xiaobai had already made his stance clear.
The Yuan family wanted him dead.
He wanted the Yuan family dead.
It was kill or be killed.
If it weren't for the fact that the Yuan family resided in the core zone, potentially alerting the major families there, Su Xiaobai would not have waited this long.
But now, the situation had changed.
Their act of seeking him out indicated they had a plan to conceal their actions from the major families in the core zone. Su Xiaobai intended to use this to stage a spectacular counterattack.
With a faint hiss, the training room door slowly slid open.
Su Xiaobai, now calm and composed, appeared as though nothing had happened. He stepped out of the room nonchalantly.
Yuan Qi's eyes gleamed.
Seventeen years old, advanced quasi-warrior!
The appearance matched the image perfectly!
"Excuse me," Yuan Qi said, stepping forward to block Su Xiaobai's path. Flashing a harmless grin, he continued, "You must be Su Xiaobai, the esteemed Mr. Su, correct?"
"Yes, that's me," Su Xiaobai replied with a look of innocent confusion.
"I'm from the Zhang family. Our family head wishes to meet with you regarding an urgent matter," Yuan Qi said, his smile laced with malice.
"But I'm a bit busy right now," Su Xiaobai said, feigning hesitation.
"Don't worry, Mr. Su. It won't take up too much of your time. Our family head is already waiting, along with all the other guest experts. You're the only one missing!" Yuan Qi said with a bright smile.
"All right then. Since everyone's gathered, it would be impolite for me not to go."
"Lead the way," Su Xiaobai said, nodding in agreement.
A flicker of joy and ruthlessness flashed in Yuan Qi's eyes.
Under Yuan Qi's guidance, Su Xiaobai boarded the vehicle, heading toward the core zone.
"Kid, you wasted so much of my time. Just wait… Soon you'll learn how miserable it is to become an enemy of the Yuan family!"