My Crazy Upgrade System

"Lord Ming, what is the meaning of this?"

Elder Luo, standing nearby, looked furious. To be attacked so suddenly, and on his own territory, filled him with rage.

"It’s nothing. I suddenly felt a killing intent from that direction, so I attacked reflexively. I’m not sure if I hit anyone. Please, don’t mind me." Ming Chen smiled nonchalantly, completely dismissing Elder Luo.

"Killing intent?" Elder Luo’s expression darkened. He glanced in the direction of the attack but said nothing more.

"In any case, I hope Elder Luo will consider our offer carefully. It makes no difference to us, but the same can’t be said for you." Ming Chen smiled, then turned and waved his hand. "We’re leaving!"

He then boarded a Dragon Vehicle that had been prepared nearby, pulled by a Giant Dragon of considerable power. Its lavish exterior was a clear symbol of his status. With a dragon’s roar, the Dragon Vehicle soared into the sky. The other Cultivators quickly followed, flying alongside it.

The Giant Dragon was certainly far slower than Ming Chen could be on his own, but it was a symbol of his status, meant to flaunt his position.

’Strange... That killing intent vanished so quickly. Such a powerful Concealing Technique? Who was it that bore me such ill will? Could it be someone from the Phoenix Race?’

Ming Chen frowned, a flicker of killing intent in his eyes. ’Forget it. Plenty of people want me dead... The Phoenix Race is truly tactless. I’d like to see just how long they can hold out. And that brat... after a while, once things here are settled, I’ll have to make a trip up there myself! Even if I have to break the rules, I’m going!’

The memory of the agony of his soul being crushed seemed to surface. With a fierce wave of his hand, he unleashed an attack that shot out in all directions. It didn’t strike any of his own people, instead crashing into the ground below and exploding. Any Cultivators who happened to be passing by were sent flying by the blast; their casualties were unknown.

His guards were unfazed. As long as they weren’t the ones being attacked, whatever else happened was none of their concern.

After Ming Chen and his entourage departed, Elder Luo frowned and said coldly, "I refuse to believe that no one besides the Celestial Nether Divine Kingdom can help us with this matter!"

"Elder Luo, did the negotiations fail?" a nearby guard inquired.

"They failed. The Celestial Nether Divine Kingdom’s price is too high. They’re demanding five Phoenix Eggs and twenty drops of Phoenix Essence Blood!" Just recalling it made Elder Luo furious. It was a price no one could possibly accept.

"Five Phoenix Eggs and twenty drops of Royal Bloodline Essence... That’s not just a high price, is it? They’re trying to devour us whole!" the guard said, seething with anger. The demand far exceeded their absolute bottom line.

Five Phoenix Eggs was the same as giving away five of our own. That point alone was non-negotiable.

Elder Luo held up a hand, silencing them. His gaze was fixed on a spot not far away. Soon, a figure emerged. It was Yi Tianyun.

He made no attempt to hide this time. To get inside, he had to pass through here; he had no intention of forcing his way in. The Phoenix Nest was filled with powerful experts. Barging in would be suicide. The Elder Luo before him alone was already at the seventh layer of the Spirit King Stage.

Truly worthy of a Divine Country Power. Experts at the Spirit King Stage were to be expected. While not a common sight, they were by no means rare.

"Who are you? You’ve got some nerve. You were the one who directed that killing intent at Ming Chen just now, weren’t you?" Elder Luo sized him up, but there was no real hostility in his gaze. Anyone hostile toward Ming Chen must harbor a great deal of resentment for the Celestial Nether Divine Kingdom. Since he felt the same way, it created a sense of solidarity.

"That’s right." Yi Tianyun nodded, not bothering to deny it. He was the only one in the area; a denial would be pointless.

"What business do you have with my race?" Elder Luo asked calmly. "You may bear ill will toward Ming Chen and resent the Celestial Nether Divine Kingdom, but you should know that we of the Phoenix Race have never been particularly welcoming to human Cultivators."

His words were tantamount to an order of expulsion. If not for their shared animosity toward the Celestial Nether Divine Kingdom, the guards would have already sent him flying with a kick, if not killed him outright.

Humans frequently came to plunder the Phoenix Race’s various resources. Who would be happy about that?

"I am aware," Yi Tianyun said gravely, "but I have come at the request of another to return one of your kin."

"Return one of our kin?" Elder Luo’s eyes narrowed.

Without further explanation, Yi Tianyun waved his hand, and Yan’Er appeared before them. The moment she materialized, Yan’Er clung tightly to Yi Tianyun’s arm, staring at the others, not daring to approach.

She wasn’t her usual lively self in front of strangers and certainly wouldn’t have emerged from the Pet Space on her own.

"This is one of your people," Yi Tianyun said. "Before her mother’s soul dissipated, she asked me to bring her back here."

"This... this is..." Elder Luo stared at Yan’Er, stunned. After examining her closely for a moment, his eyes reddened. "The... the resemblance... Could she be Luo Huang’s child? The resemblance is uncanny... just uncanny..."

He walked over, wanting to hold Yan’Er, but she quickly hid behind Yi Tianyun and cried out, "Who are you? My daddy is super strong!"

"Daddy?" Elder Luo looked at Yi Tianyun, stupefied. "He’s not your daddy... though both are already..."

Yi Tianyun felt a wave of embarrassment. He certainly wasn’t her father, but she had decided he was. What could he do?

"My apologies," Yi Tianyun said sheepishly. "I’ve been looking after her for a while, so she’s started to think of me as her daddy."

"That’s quite alright. Please, come inside. There’s no need to stand out here." Elder Luo’s attitude had changed completely as he ushered Yi Tianyun in. He then turned to Yan’Er and said gently, "I’m your grandfather... I’m not a bad person..."

Yan’Er stared at him with her beautiful eyes and said curiously, "Grandfather? I don’t know you."

Elder Luo looked embarrassed. He glanced up at Yi Tianyun and said, "She’s still too young. Once she’s a bit older and her memories awaken, she should be able to remember things."

They all have hereditary memories passed down through each generation, so there’s no need to worry. That’s why they know some Martial Arts not long after they’re born.

Yan’Er already knew some Martial Arts; she just hadn’t had the chance to use them yet.

"I understand. I was simply entrusted with bringing her back, and now I have..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a ray of light descended from the sky, releasing him from the oath he had made. At the same time, a voice echoed in his ear, and his eyes lit up.

"Ding! You have successfully completed the side quest ’Return the little Fire Phoenix to the Phoenix Nest and Fulfill a Phoenix’s Wish.’ You have been awarded 200,000,000 Experience, 1,000,000 Madness Value, 300 Character Value, and Phoenix Race Favorability +100!"

"Ding! You have accepted the side quest ’Help the Phoenix Race Solve Their Problem.’ Completion Reward: 100,000,000 Experience, 500,000 Madness Value, and Phoenix Race Favorability +100!"

’I just finished one quest, and a new one popped up right away. It’s a chain quest!’