Chapter 87: Brothers

"Don't think you're something special just because you've been to the Netherworld. If it wasn't for the old ancestor's favoritism, how could you have surpassed us by so much? When you emerged from the Netherworld, you were only at level three or four. How much of a difference could that make?"

Song Zining shook his head and said, "The gap is unbridgeable. You only see the levels, but you don't understand the true purpose of the Netherworld. It's about fully unleashing our potential in a life-and-death situation, training us to use every resource to the utmost, and seizing every tiny opportunity. When I came out of the Netherworld, these things had already become instinct. So, what you see as no opportunity is, to me, a golden chance—both on the battlefield and in the market. That's why, starting from the same point, my Ningyuan Heavy Industries is now a hundred times larger than yours."

Song Zian's face alternated between pale and flushed. He was considered a talent, and he could discern the truth in Song Zining's words. But the more he understood, the harder it was to accept. The opportunity was lost, and regretting not going to the Netherworld now was pointless. Moreover, back then, Song Zining was sent to the Netherworld by his parents as a desperate move to give him a chance. For this, Song Zining had long been the butt of jokes among his brothers, until the great exam of the Song Clan.

Song Zian sneered, "What good did it do for you to go to the Netherworld? Now, aren't you in my hands? Little Brother, when you were in your glory, did you ever think you'd end up like this? Heh, you, the future war god, didn't you foresee this day?"

Song Zining shrugged and said, "A few days ago, there was a small accident, and I temporarily lost my ability to divine. I didn't realize it, so I stayed here for a few days. It's just a minor setback; I'll recover in time."

Song Zian suddenly punched Song Zining in the stomach! The punch was brutal, and with all his primordial energy sealed, Song Zining couldn't defend himself. He curled up like a shrimp, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Still not satisfied, Song Zian kicked him repeatedly, aiming for his face, leaving Song Zining's face covered in blood.

Breathing heavily, Song Zian laughed in a somewhat manic manner, "Ha! Who would want to marry you now! Haha, haha! Isn't the Seventh Young Master supposed to be charming and handsome? Is this what that looks like?"

After he stopped, Song Zining slowly got up, wiping the blood from his face. Though his face was swollen and his nose broken, he still wore a carefree smile.

This only fanned the flames of Song Zian's anger. He grabbed Song Zining by the collar and roared, "What kind of look is that? Why are you looking at me like that? Say it, or I'll beat you to death!"

In Song Zining's eyes, the initial pity had turned to cold indifference. "Song Zian, it's time to get down to business. If you mess this up, you won't have any more chances."

Song Zian was startled, breaking into a cold sweat. But his anger soon flared again, "You can't fool me. You can't even use divination anymore. Do you know what I need to do?"

Song Zining closed his eyes and remained silent.

Song Zian said, "Fine! I'll give you one chance. Hand over the tokens and all the technical drawings of Ningyuan Heavy Industries, and I'll spare your life!"

Song Zining opened his eyes and sighed, "So many years have passed, and you haven't changed at all. You want my Ningyuan Heavy Industries? What good will it do you if I give it to you?"

"Under my management, Ningyuan Heavy Industries will be better than it ever was with you. Once I have Ningyuan Heavy Industries, I won't fear anyone, including Song Zicheng. The position of clan head will be mine. And you, always busy with frivolous pursuits, have no time or energy to manage it. Admit it, Ningyuan Heavy Industries isn't even yours. The old ancestor funded it, so it belongs to the Song Clan!"

Song Zining replied calmly, "To set your mind at ease, I never took a single gold coin from the Song Clan for Ningyuan Heavy Industries. And being beaten here has nothing to do with you; it's just a price I have to pay for some things I've done. It could have been anyone, not just you."

A sense of unease crept into Song Zian's heart. "What are you trying to say?"

Song Zining sneered, "It's simple. You're not as important as you think. Even now, whether you exist or not, it makes no difference."

Enraged, Song Zian grabbed Song Zining's throat and shouted, "No difference? If I strangle you now, will there be a difference? Hand over Ningyuan Heavy Industries, and I'll let you die quickly!"

At that moment, Song Zian suddenly stiffened as a sharp pain pierced his spine, paralyzing him.

The cell door opened, and a werewolf priest walked in, pulling Song Zian's hands away.

Song Zining's face was red, and he coughed for a while before recovering. Two red handprints on his neck began to swell, showing how harsh Song Zian had been.

The werewolf priest said, "Young Master Zining, you can leave now. Follow me."

"Wait!" Song Zining called out, "Do you have a mirror or something I can use?"

Mirrors were not common in cells, but the priest reacted quickly, drawing a short knife and handing it to Song Zining. The knife's blade was reflective enough to serve as a mirror.

Looking at his swollen and bruised face, Song Zining was surprisingly satisfied, "Not bad, not bad!"

As Song Zining was about to leave with the priest, Song Zian, still paralyzed, shouted, "Wait! You're letting him go? How can you do this?! You promised me!"

The werewolf priest glanced at Song Zian and said coldly, "Someone offered more."

Song Zian was shocked, breaking into a cold sweat. "No, you can't do this! This was a deal, how can you break it?"

"A deal? I don't know anything about it, nor does the Wolf King," the priest replied coldly.

"No, no! I can increase the offer. Whatever they paid, I can pay more, even double!"

The priest finally paused, "So, you have money."

Song Zian nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, we may not have much else, but the Song Clan has plenty of money!"

Beside him, Song Zining sighed, and the priest mused, "So, holding you hostage could net even more money?"

Song Zian was terrified and hurriedly said, "I'm just a minor figure in the Song Clan, sent here for negotiations. I'm not worth much, really."

The priest seemed to consider this, eyeing Song Zian thoughtfully.

Relieved, Song Zian asked, "Sir, can't we continue the deal?"

The priest responded coldly, "No. The terms offered by the other party are beyond your means."

"Then what must I do?" Song Zian probed.

The priest's eyes flashed with disdain, "By your human standards, you'd need a fearless general here for us to negotiate."

Song Zian's face fell. In the Song Clan, only Madam An was a general. Though she was powerful, she was old and vital to the clan's stability, so she wouldn't engage in combat. Generals were always significant figures, and none lacked money. They needed rare cultivation resources, which the Song Clan would also hoard for their own descendants.

Finding a general was difficult, let alone one willing to fight for Song Zian. His current status made it hard to even approach a general, let alone get one to risk their life for him.

Unwilling to give up, Song Zian pointed at Song Zining, "Is there a general who would fight for this brat?"

To his surprise, the priest said, "The general they brought isn't here to fight, but to subdue us. We have no choice but to agree to this deal. I'm telling you this because you spent a lot of money."

Song Zian froze, struggling to comprehend. Realizing the word "subdue" meant suppressing the ancient totem fortress, and thus the Wolf King, Song Zian was shocked. The Wolf King was a formidable figure, and the other party could actually suppress him!

Such a person, even with the Song Clan's backing, was untouchable. Someone who could rival the old ancestor, a true warlord. Offending him would be a death sentence. The Song Clan wouldn't risk such a grudge for a minor member.

That such a person would stand up for Song Zining!

Jealousy, hatred, fear, and regret flooded Song Zian. In his desperation, his primordial energy surged, breaking through the blockage and restoring his mobility. Grabbing the priest's sleeve, he pleaded, "I don't care about the money. Just one request: cripple his primordial energy! Please, just this one request!"

Hearing this, Song Zining sighed softly, remaining silent.

The priest sneered, "You humans are truly treacherous, even turning on your own kin. No wonder the Evernight is overwhelming you."

Song Zian felt no shame, only urgency as he pleaded with the priest. Meanwhile, Song Zining's expression darkened, "For a thousand years, the Great Qin Empire has produced heroes, expanded its territories, and now controls four continents. We are fighting for the floating continent, ready to invade the upper continent. Even the true wolves of the Evernight dare not be arrogant before us. You, hiding in neutral lands, dare to speak so arrogantly? I, with a ragtag group, can defeat you. There are countless people in the empire stronger than me. You dare to boast?"

These harsh words infuriated the priest, who glared with fury. Song Zian, however, secretly rejoiced, hoping the priest would attack Song Zining. The empire's glory was distant, less important than his immediate concerns.