The despair of Tian Zhi Shang and the few others who knew that Tian Zong had also been placed under Li Qi's restrictions was evident.
Li Qi, however, paid them no mind.
Even if they knew, what could they do? Would they dare to resist?
When even Tian Zong was completely under his control, if they truly wished to resist, Tian Zong himself would eliminate them.
After all, for the Tian Qin Merchant Guild to be one of the top merchant guilds in the Qing Rao Domain, the presence of Tian Zong, a cultivator at the Half-step Mahayana stage, was paramount.
Without Tian Zong's presence, even if the Tian Qin Merchant Guild wished to develop, it would ultimately become prey for others.
Strength had always been the most crucial thing in this world. Other matters were merely rules established out of deference to numerous cultivators of similar strength.
If there was one person who possessed the power to dominate the era, and they declared a common pebble to be worth one trillion spirit stones, all cultivators in the world would have to pool their resources to buy it.
"Alright, let's talk about the losses the Tian Qin Merchant Guild has caused my Penguin Medicine Pavilion," Li Qi said with a gentle smile.
Tian Zong's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank. Although he was controlled, he still harbored his own thoughts.
As long as he did not act to harm Li Qi, Li Qi would not kill him.
However, now that Li Qi spoke of the losses to the Penguin Medicine Pavilion, Tian Zong understood that his Tian Qin Merchant Guild was likely to suffer greatly today.
But there was nothing he could do. He was inferior in skill and had been placed under a restriction by Li Qi.
"Everything the Tian Qin Merchant Guild possesses belongs to you, my lord. If you desire it, take it," Tian Zong said.
"Good!" Li Qi smiled.
"Then take me to your Tian Qin Merchant Guild's treasure vault."
"My lord, please follow me," Tian Zong said, gesturing for Li Qi to follow him.
At the same time, his gaze swept over Tian Zhi Shang and the other individuals who currently held the highest positions within the Tian Qin Merchant Guild.
"You all handle the immediate matters and continue with your respective tasks."
Tian Zhi Shang and the others nodded, but they were helpless. They seemed to understand their predicament.
"Old Ancestor, leave it to us."
Then, Tian Zong directly led Li Qi into the Tian Qin Merchant Guild. As for Tian Zhi Shang and the other top figures of the Tian Qin Merchant Guild, they continued to pacify their subordinates.
Those who needed healing were tending to their wounds, and those who were assigned to guard branches continued to their posts.
But these minor matters held no significance for Li Qi.
At this moment, Li Qi had already entered the Tian Qin Merchant Guild's treasure vault with Tian Zong.
What greeted his eyes was an endless stream of radiant and ethereal energy.
Countless spiritual treasures were piled before Li Qi, along with an immeasurable amount of spirit stones, resources, and all sorts of heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Such a scene was only witnessed when Li Qi had previously destroyed the Qin Yang Merchant Guild and visited their treasure vault.
However, this time, compared to the Qin Yang Merchant Guild, which had been destroyed by Li Qi for hundreds of years, the Tian Qin Merchant Guild's treasure vault contained even more spiritual treasures.
"My lord, this is the treasure vault of our headquarters. If there is anything you fancy, please take it," Tian Zong said, speaking against his will under the control of the restriction.
"Good!" Li Qi nodded.
His gaze fell directly upon the numerous heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and spirit stones within the vault.
With a wave of his hand, the spirit stones and heavenly materials and earthly treasures, piled up like countless small mountains, swept towards Li Qi and were collected into his spatial ring.
In a short period, a large area within the Tian Qin Merchant Guild's treasure vault became empty.
It could be said that Li Qi had shown no mercy this time, taking all the spirit stones and heavenly materials and earthly treasures from the Tian Qin Merchant Guild's vault.
After all, there was no use in leaving them behind; it was better to take them.
The only things likely left were some spiritual treasures and spirit artifacts.
These combat-oriented items were of little use to Li Qi.
Although he could have let the Annihilation Space devour them to increase its strength, Li Qi would not do such a thing.
Compared to directly devouring these high-level spiritual treasures and spirit artifacts, it was better to exchange them for resources.
However, it was obvious that the Tian Qin Merchant Guild had accumulated these over countless years. The number of spirit artifacts that could be placed in the vault was immense, and it would take a considerable amount of time to exchange them all for resources.
Therefore, to avoid trouble, Li Qi simply left them untouched.
"Comfortable."
A smile spread across Li Qi's face, while Tian Zong trembled.
If not for the restriction Li Qi had placed on him, Tian Zong would have wanted to perish with Li Qi.
Li Qi had virtually emptied his entire treasure vault.
"Alright, you're no longer needed here," Li Qi said casually, stretching his arms.
"Continue to act as the Old Ancestor here in the Tian Qin Merchant Guild. I will contact you if I need anything in the future."
With that, Li Qi prepared to leave.
"Farewell, my lord," Tian Zong nodded, a sense of relief washing over him as he watched Li Qi recede into the distance.
...
After leaving the Tian Qin Merchant Guild, Li Qi began to reminisce.
Besides the Tian Qin Merchant Guild, seven other merchant guilds had attacked his Penguin Medicine Pavilion that day.
Since the Tian Qin Merchant Guild had already suffered a great calamity, Li Qi would not let the other seven merchant guilds off the hook either.
"Next, the merchant guild closest to me is... the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild."
"In that direction."
Li Qi's gaze shifted towards a certain direction, and then his figure vanished from his original spot, hurtling away at a terrifying speed.
Under Li Qi's incredible speed, three days later, another immensely prosperous, artificially created continent appeared before Li Qi's eyes, suspended in the vast and boundless void.
The Yan Zhi Merchant Guild seemed to have returned to its normal state after an initial period of alert, completely unaware of the great crisis that was about to befall them.
At this moment, Li Qi's figure was drawing ever closer to the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild.
"Halt, traveler," a majestic voice echoed from within the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild.
An aura of a cultivator at the eighth level of the Tribulation Crossing stage emerged, attempting to block Li Qi's advance.
However, Li Qi paid it no heed.
This time, his methods were even more brutal.
A terrifying aura emanated from him, forcefully crushing the aura of the eighth-level Tribulation Crossing cultivator.
Then, Li Qi unleashed a fist that directly hammered towards the artificial continent where the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild was located.
Under this punch, the void trembled.
Just as it was about to strike deep into the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild, a defensive barrier suddenly appeared at the edge of the artificial continent.
The collision between the two caused the entire Yan Zhi Merchant Guild headquarters to shake violently.
Immediately, a voice that encompassed the entire Yan Zhi Merchant Guild rang out.
"Enemy attack!"