"I apologize, Clan Head Li, but we need these white-grub cores for ourselves! And I'm afraid I won't be able to purchase any on your behalf. If Zhang Lie were to find out, his anger would surely shift to us, so please find some other method!"

"Clan Head Chu, please, I'm happy to negotiate regarding the price—"

"Clan Head Li, do you think the problems you have with the Zenith Dojo can be fixed by money alone? Does Zhang Lie lack for your wealth?"

Li Mo's face grew progressively uglier over the course of his conversation with Chu Lin. In the end, he had no choice but to drop the call in despondence. The Chu clan head was right: the enmity that lay between the Li clan and Zhang Lie wasn't something that money could resolve.

"Well, Clan Head? Have you managed to secure the cores?" mocked several of...