Chapter 362  : Coercion

‘Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore…’

Xu Ning shook his head.

For him, this question was meaningless.

For him, the most important thing now is to return to the Martial Arts World and advance to the grandmaster realm.

However, just when Xu Ning was about to undo his clone, he suddenly felt several powerful auras approaching.

‘There are a total of eight rank nine arcanists approaching the Gao family…’

Xu Ning raised his eyebrows.

He paused his decision to return to the Martial Arts World.

Soon, the eight rank nine arcanists broke into the Gao family mansion and came to the Gao family’s courtyard.

‘Who are the big shots that are arriving?’

Gao Linhe, the Family Head of the Gao family, a rank nine arcanist, also sensed the arrival of outsiders.

He came out with the other three rank nine arcanists of the Gao family.

“So it’s the people from the Green Frame Institute and the Smoke Rune Institute!”

Gao Linhe came to the central courtyard and was shocked when he saw who they were.

Of the eight rank nine arcanists who came to the Gao family, five were from the Green Frame Institute, and three were from the Smoke Rune Institute.

‘Why are they together?’

Gao Linhe smiled, but a strong fear was brewing in his heart.

The Green Frame Institute and the Smoke Rune Institute were the two strongest forces in the city. Normally, there were conflicts between them, and they would even secretly fight each other.

But at this moment, they gathered together and barged into the Gao family mansion without greeting anyone. Moreover, they looked extremely unfriendly.

“Family Head Gao!”

The leader was the Green Frame Institute Head, Fei Qingyi.

He had the appearance of a young man, but his eyes were full of vicissitudes and coldness.

“I came to the Gao family today because I have a request!”

Fei Qingyi said.

Although he was asking for help, his attitude was overbearing.

“Please speak.”

Gao Linhe seemed straightforward, but he was already on guard.

“The Smoke Rune Institute and I wish to borrow the Gao family’s hidden fragments.”

Fei Qingyi’s expression did not change, as if he was just making a casual request.

But for Gao Linhe, his expression changed greatly.

His smile was a little forced. “Is Institute Head Fei joking? How can hidden fragments be borrowed?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t agree to your request.”

Gao Linhe stretched out his hand. “Institute Head Fei and the gentlemen present, please leave.”

Fei Qingyi was not angry at Gao Linhe’s rejection. Instead, he smirked.

He turned his body slightly and exchanged looks with the other silver-clothed man next to him.

The silver-clothed man stood out.

“Family Head Gao, I might as well tell you the truth.”

The silver-clothed man said, “As of now, the Green Frame Institute has joined forces with our Smoke Rune Institute. We are preparing to gather the hiddens fragments of both sides and study them together. Together, we will solve the secret of advancing to rank ten.”

“But during the research process, we discovered that our hidden fragments are still not enough. We have decided to gather another batch of hidden fragments. Therefore, we are ready to borrow a batch of hidden fragments from the Gao family and several other forces to study them further.”

Gao Linhe recognized the silver-clothed man.

He was Qiu Shili, the Deputy Institute Head of the Smoke Rune Institute.

“However, Family Head Gao, you can be rest assured. Once we make progress in the study of the hidden fragments and solve its secrets, we will share it with the Gao family.”

“So, Family Head Gao, please agree to our request.”

Qiu Shili cupped his fists towards Gao Linhe.

Although his posture looked lower, he was still aggressive.

Gao Linhe could feel the hostility from the guests.

He knew very well that once he refused, these eight rank nine arcanists might directly attack him.

However, Gao Linhe also knew that since the other party had already made such a move, there was a high probability that he would not be able to get back the hidden fragments after lending them out.

Furthermore, with both sides acting so domineering today, he didn’t believe that the other party would tell them the secret of advancing to rank ten.

However, the current situation was quite serious.

“How many hidden fragments are you planning to borrow?”

Gao Linhe’s tone softened.

“All of them.”

This time, it was Fei Qingyi who answered.

“All of them?”

Gao Linhe’s face was pale. “Are you kidding me?”

Gao Linhe would never agree to this request.

Handing over the Gao family’s hundreds of years worth of hidden fragments was essentially an act of betrayal to the family.

“It seems that Family Head Gao is unwilling.”

Fei Qingyi showed a look of pity. “In this case, we will do it ourselves!”

As soon as Fei Qingyi finished speaking, the eight of them instantly rushed towards the Gao family’s forbidden area.

“Stop them!”

Gao Linhe shouted anxiously.

The direction where Fei Qingyi and the others went was the Gao family’s treasury.

It was an independent space, and all of the hidden fragments of the Gao family were stored in it.

Gao Linhe and the three rank nine arcanists intercepted Fei Qingyi and the others.

“Pathetic!”

Fei Qingyi was at the peak of rank nine, the strongest person in the city. He was only one step away from rank ten.

He would not be at a disadvantage against the entire Gao family alone, not to mention that he had several helpers by his side.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fei Qingyi spread out his arcane domain, covering half of the Gao family.

“Fei Qingyi, Qiu Shili, you are too much!”

Gao Linhe and the other three felt endless pressure coming from Fei Qingyi’s arcane domain. They even found it difficult to activate the power of arcanism in them.

“If you keep talking, I will kill all of you!”

Fei Qingyi’s eyes were full of murderous intent.

Gao Linhe was full of grief and indignation, but there was nothing he could do.

However, at this moment, Gao Linhe and the other three suddenly felt their bodies lighten.

Fei Qingyi’s arcane domain actually disappeared.

Fei Qingyi was taken aback.

“Coming uninvited and taking advantage of others, isn’t this a robbery? If the Green Frame Institute Head does such a thing, won’t he be a laughing stock?”

A voice rang out.

Xu Ning slowly descended from the sky.

“This… is Xu Ning!”

Gao Linhe and the other three also recognized Xu Ning.

Xu Ning had contributed a lot of hidden fragments to the Gao family, which made the four rank nine arcanists aware of his existence.

One of the rank nine arcanists even offered Xu Ning an invitation to join the Gao family, but Xu Ning refused.

‘His aura… is at the peak of rank nine!’

Gao Linhe and the other three were confused.

Xu Ning was only in rank eight previously. Even if he advanced to rank nine, he should be in the early stages. How did he suddenly reach the peak of his realm?

The difference in stages in the Arcanist World was huge. The difference between the elementary, middle, and peak stage was equivalent to a minor realm in the Martial Arts World.

“Who are you?”

Fei Qingyi and Qiu Shili were on guard.

They didn’t expect such a top-notch master to be hidden in the Gao family.