Lord Yuan Shi was once again speechless. Sha Chen's words cut deep, attacking not just his actions but his very intentions. Moreover, Sha Chen showed him absolutely no deference, yet Lord Yuan Shi could find no reason to refute him. Because, as Sha Chen had asserted, even if he were to comply, Lord Yuan Shi wouldn't simply let him off the hook.
His demand for the peach and ginseng trees, along with the Innate Earth, was merely an excuse. If Sha Chen really gave them to him, Lord Yuan Shi would press on relentlessly, demanding even more. If Sha Chen refused, he would have an excuse to deal with him. Alternatively, he could feign a retreat and demand less, which would still serve as a future opening to demand more. In short, it was merely a pretext and an opportunity for him, a gambit that allowed him to advance or retreat as he saw fit.
