Chapter 137: What Do You Require

Walking up the staircase to the second floor, Lin Qi carefully scrutinized the minute details of this luxurious mansion.

The Black Spirit Continent possessed an extremely rare and incredibly precious timber known as "Luminous Ebony," a unique variety of enchanted wood. Only the ebony trees native to the Black Spirit Continent could produce this extraordinarily expensive material, and then only if their saplings managed to survive on certain rare mineral veins for several hundred years.

These specific mineral veins were lethal to almost all living things; if an ordinary human were to approach them, their skin would fester and their nails would fall off within a short time. Consequently, it was exceedingly difficult for ebony saplings to survive in such conditions, and only a very lucky few survived for reasons unknown.

As the name suggests, Luminous Ebony possesses the characteristic jet-black, fine, smooth texture and iron-like hardness of standard ebony. Yet, it spontaneously emits a pearlescent, translucent luster in the darkness. This light is so penetrating that it requires at least three layers of black cloth to be completely obscured.

Those who live bathed in the light of Luminous Ebony year-round find that their bodies receive a strange, nourishing effect: their skin becomes as delicate and smooth as a teenager's, their faces remain free of wrinkles, and even into their seventies or eighties, they retain the physical strength and vitality of a man in his prime. Legend even has it that living in a house constructed entirely of Luminous Ebony can more than double a human's natural lifespan.

Naturally, the cost of Luminous Ebony is exorbitantly high—an astronomical price unimaginable to the average person.

Yet, in this mansion, every staircase and railing was crafted from it. Polished by master craftsmen until they shone like mirrors, the wood radiated a soft, brilliant glow, enveloping the surroundings in a faint, pleasant fragrance. Lin Qi could indeed feel a gentle warmth seeping into his body. Having practiced battle energy since childhood and consumed countless beneficial medicinal herbs, Lin Qi was certain of the wood's restorative properties.

Upon reaching the second-floor reception room, Lin Qi was shocked once again.

The entire hundred-square-meter room—the floor, the wall panels, and every piece of furniture—was fashioned from Luminous Ebony. There was no need for lamps; the phosphorescence emitted by the wood made the room as bright as day. There was no fireplace, for the Luminous Ebony possessed a unique ability to regulate temperature, and the air was filled with a warm, lingering fragrance that held no trace of cold.

"Please, have a seat," Elham said with a slight nod, gesturing toward the sofa in the center of the room.

Tixian held his head high, struggling to stop himself from staring at the pitch-black, mysterious, and alluring darkness that surrounded them. He cursed inwardly: how could someone be so decadent and corrupt as to decorate an entire reception room with Luminous Ebony?

Where on earth did the former Minister of Internal Affairs obtain so much of it? Damn it, how much Luminous Ebony did the Empire import from the Black Spirit Continent each year? And how much could the continent actually produce? One had to realize that harvesting this precious wood was a life-threatening endeavor; a skilled worker could likely only fell two or three trees before dying from the mysterious toxins within the mineral veins.

Everything pointed to the scarcity of the material, yet here, everywhere he looked, was this impossibly expensive timber.

Taking a deep breath, Tixian sat on the sofa, while Lin Qi stood behind him. Through the tinted crystal lenses of his mask, Lin Qi’s gaze swept across the priceless room, quickly lingering on a wall hanging.

The painting was several meters wide and tall, depicting the legendary Goddess of Victory slaying a demon from hell. The demon, sprawled on the ground, had deep, glowing eyes, clearly inlaid with two black crystals. To a vigilant observer like Lin Qi, this mechanical arrangement was glaringly obvious; without a doubt, someone was standing behind the painting, peering through those two crystals at the scene unfolding in the room.

Two manservants, moving with the mechanical precision of puppets, brought hot tea and snacks, then retreated to the corner of the room, standing expressionless, waiting for Elham’s summons. Elham picked up his teacup and signaled to Tixian: "Please, enjoy. This is the finest black tea from the East. After two years of fermentation during transport, it has a very rich and mellow flavor."

Taking a sip, Elham sighed lightly: "On a cold winter night, enjoying a cup of hot tea is truly one of life's great pleasures."

Tixian raised his cup in return, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

The tea was indeed excellent, comparable to what his grandfather drank daily. However, the creamer and sugar added to it were undoubtedly not of the highest quality. It was like a fresh cream cake topped with rotten, spoiled strawberries; the entire harmony was ruined.

If it were Lin Qi, he might not have noticed such details, but Tixian was different. As one of the top playboys in the Imperial Capital, discerning the subtle nuances in the quality of tea had become an instinct—a necessary survival skill for any self-respecting socialite.

With a faint smile, Tixian put down his cup. The tea was not the best, and he had lost interest in it.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Tixian Huali," Tixian said with a reserved air. "As I said, I represent my grandfather's will. Without a doubt, my grandfather’s will is second only to His Majesty the Emperor's within the borders of the Empire."

Elham’s eyes flickered. He looked at Tixian and then at the strangely dressed Lin Qi, saying calmly: "Elham, seventh son of the Golden Sail family of the Vias Commercial Federation. I am quite curious as to what will Lord Huali has brought this time, Sir Tixian."

Tixian smiled. He leaned back on the sofa, his fingers gently stroking the gold thread inlaid along the seam of his trousers. He laughed softly: "Oh, Mr. Elham. Well, I simply wanted to ask: what is it that you need?"

Elham frowned and said in a deep voice: "Is that truly the will of the honorable Lord Huali?"

Tixian raised an eyebrow and replied naturally: "Oh, of course. That is the old man's will. If you don't believe me, you are welcome to ask him yourself. I want to ask, what do you need? You, or perhaps those two lovely young ladies by your side!"

Elham’s face darkened. He said coldly: "Yasha and Ling? They are my sisters."

Tixian immediately interjected: "What do you need? I can help those two lovely ladies resolve all their troubles."

Elham’s expression grew even uglier.