Demanding a Price

"I don't know him," Elder Wu said with a strange expression.

"Who are you?" the old witch asked seriously, looking into Jone's eyes.

'Your cultivation is low, but your eyes… we have to be careful; we don't know what your bloodline can do,' she said telepathically to the others.

"I'm the one asking who you are. After all, you are the ones in our territory," Jone said with a slight smile, while a small part of the Primordial Aura emanated from his eyes.

All the disciples quickly felt a great pressure. Jone, now with much higher cultivation, even a small part of the aura from his eyes was overwhelming for these young disciples.

Everyone quickly averted their gaze from Jone and felt relief. The elders quickly went on guard, watching to see if Jone would do anything.

'I think I know who he is.' Elder Wu, who had been observing Jone the whole time, remembered a rumor he heard before coming to the mountains.

'Who?'

'Before we reached the Beast Mountains, I heard talk of a new genius emerging on the Demonic Horn Island. His bloodline is formidable, but they don't know his ranking. They suspect it might be a celestial bloodline.'

'They say that even in the 1° phase of the Qi Foundation Realm, no disciple of the Demonic Horn Sect could be his opponent.'

'As far as I remember, the strongest among the direct disciples of the Demonic Horn Sect is in the 7° phase of the Qi Foundation Realm.'

'This is absurd! How could someone like that appear in this place?' the old witch asked incredulously while looking at Jone and feeling the Primordial Aura pressing lightly.

Then she noticed something strange.

'Old Wu, didn't you say he was in the 1° phase of the Foundation Qi Realm?' she asked strangely.

'Yes, so what?' The elder then paid attention to Jone again and realized.

'6° phase of the Qi Foundation Realm? How? This should be impossible! How did he advance so quickly?' Elder Wu said it incredulously.

'Tsk, he's only in this realm because you're so concerned. Even with his lineage, he couldn't fight one of us, let alone all three. He must know that. Let's see why he came to us,' the other elder said, unconcerned with Jone after sensing his strength.

"What do you want in return for helping?" the old witch asked.

"Half of what's inside will be mine."

The old witch became even angrier and shouted, "As if! Why don't you ask for the entire treasure? Are you looking for trouble?"

A pressure emanated from the old witch as she spoke, pressing all the surrounding disciples. Only the elders and Jone remained unchanged, showing no reaction on their faces.

'As I thought, much weaker than Yue, probably in the 1° phase of the True Qi Realm, at most the 2° phase. Even if something happens, I'm sure I can escape.' Jone thought about his safety before continuing to stay in this place.

None of these elders had a special lineage, and their power wouldn't exceed their realm. Jone didn't think these old individuals were geniuses.

"Well, it's obvious that I deserve a large share. After all, all the work of breaking the formation will be mine. You won't be able to break the formation even if you join forces with all your disciples," Jone replied, smiling slightly with confidence in what he was saying.

"This brat is trying to deceive us. Let's do it ourselves. I doubt we can't break the formation if we join forces," the old witch said, irritated with Jone's request. They had worked hard to come to this place; it was unlikely they would share what they came for with a stranger, especially giving away half.

'Young brat, we are thirty people, and you still want half. What will be left for us? If you try anything, no matter your plan, I'll kill you before you can do anything,' the old witch thought as her aura returned to her body.

"We don't need your help. We'll open the formation ourselves. You can leave."

"Oh, that's not a smart choice, but fine, I'll stay here and watch how you break this formation. It'll be an interesting sight," Jone said sarcastically to the old witch.