Chapter 409 - 401: People from Wanlong, Liangyi Immortal Jade
This wasn’t just her stance.
It was the collective will of the Wanlong Commerce Association!
The recent exposé had caused a massive uproar within the Wanlong Commerce Association!
The Board of Directors was utterly furious, demanding a clear explanation from the Chu Family!
After all.
The nature of the Chu Family’s actions was truly malicious.
As high-ranking members of the association, they had diverted cultivators during a time of war to prepare an escape route in a remote sea region.
If investigated strictly, such an act amounted to treason!
What’s more, to the board’s even greater vexation, the escape route wasn’t even successfully established!
Victory is its own justification, and failure its own condemnation. Results were all that mattered.
After all.
The Candle Python Cave’s fleet was invading like a wildfire, their advance swift and ferocious!
Within the Wanlong Commerce Association—and indeed, the entire Flame Alliance—there was no shortage of cultivators wanting to prepare their own escape routes, to have multiple bolt-holes ready.
Had the Chu Family’s operation succeeded, it’s unlikely anyone would have held them accountable. Most would have probably just gone with the flow and accepted the fait accompli.
In fact.
They would have even tried to cozy up to the Chu Family, asking them to arrange a few sanctuary spots for their own clans.
But the problem was that the Chu Family had failed!
Not only that, but Chu Jiangheng, a cultivator at Crystal Perfection, had activated a Golden Core edict and was still easily defeated and captured by Su Ye under the watchful eyes of many!
A crushing defeat!
According to the Wanlong Commerce Association’s assessment, Su Ye’s combat power had already reached the Tier-4 level!
Furthermore, when factoring in his quasi-Tier-4 spiritual warship, it could be said that he was invincible below the Golden Core Realm!
This was bad!
The Flame Alliance’s Golden Core forces were already stretched thin dealing with the Candle Python Cave and the Dragon-men!
Where would they find the spare power to send another Golden Core Master to deal with Su Ye and his Nanyaoguang Corporation?
If the Chu Family’s actions caused the Nanyaoguang Corporation to side with the Candle Python Cave, the situation in the Day Flame Sea Region would become exceedingly dire!
Turning a powerful, potential ally into an enemy?!
This was a blunder the Wanlong Commerce Association had to avoid at all costs.
Zhao Quling’s objective for this trip was to placate Su Ye, soothe his anger, and prevent the Nanyaoguang Corporation from turning against the Flame Alliance over the Chu Family affair.
Beyond that.
She also had to attempt a rescue—to get the captured Chu brothers out.
After all, Chu Wunian was a Golden Core Ancestor with a lofty position in the association. As furious and dissatisfied as Zhao Quling and the board were, they still had to clean up his mess!
At the very least, they had to ransom back his direct blood relatives.
Otherwise, that notoriously protective Golden Core Ancestor would be difficult to placate.
...
"Mr. Zhao, please have a seat."
Su Ye said calmly, his voice even.
After they were seated and had exchanged a few pleasantries.
Zhao Quling got straight to the point.
"Mr. Su, please accept this gift list!"
Su Ye took the jade slip, and as he casually scanned its contents, a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes.
The list of gifts was truly extravagant, and what’s more, perfectly tailored to his needs.
’A Tier-4 Array Dao inheritance, the legacy of Array Dao Insight left by a quasi-Tier-4 Array Master, five million units of Life Soul Blood Essence, one High-quality Crystal Condensing Elixir...’
The Tier-4 Array Dao inheritance spoke for itself.
This was the first time Su Ye had ever seen an inheritance of this grade.
The Array Dao Insight was similar to a Sword Cultivator’s Sword Intent, allowing an Array Master to gain enlightenment and advance their craft!
These two gifts were clearly tailored to his status as an Array Master.
Life Soul Blood Essence was also an excellent item; it could be fed directly to the Ghostly Flood Dragon. After devouring these five million life souls, the Ghostly Flood Dragon’s total would surpass twenty million!
As for the High-quality Crystal Condensing Elixir, it too had a specific target: Luo Qing’e!
According to the Wanlong Commerce Association’s analysis, his official Daoist partner held no small place in his heart. This High-quality Crystal Condensing Elixir would greatly increase her chances of reaching the Crystal Realm!
It was another well-aimed, generous gift.
Beyond these major items, there were also dozens of smaller entries, all of them rare treasures and exotic trinkets!
The total value of these items alone amounted to one or two million Spirit Stones!
It could be said.
The Wanlong Commerce Association’s gift was incredibly generous!
A full-blown financial offensive!
A money offensive!
"Very nice. Quite thoughtful."
"I see the sincerity of your esteemed association."
"The matter with the Chu Family must have been a misunderstanding."
Su Ye nodded and smiled, his tone gentle.
He was indeed very satisfied with this gift.
"Phew..."
"I’m glad you like it, Mr. Su!"
Zhao Quling chuckled lightly, letting out a sigh of relief.
This carefully prepared, lavish gift had not been in vain; it had produced the desired effect!
After presenting the gift.
Zhao Quling tentatively brought up her request.
"Release them, you ask?"
"That’s fine. I never planned on detaining the Chu brothers long-term. What benefit is there for me in keeping them here?"
"However, if you want me to release them, there’s one condition: you must pay a ransom!"
Su Ye took a light sip of his Spirit Tea, his tone leaving no room for argument as he stated his demand.
"Eh?"
"A tribulation-averting item?"
"That... might be a little difficult."
Hearing Su Ye’s demand, Zhao Quling wasn’t surprised.
The director of Nanyaoguang Corporation.
Was now at Crystal Perfection.
Although she didn’t know what fortunate encounter had allowed him to advance so quickly.
Or perhaps he had concealed his cultivation base and hidden his true strength in the past?
But in any case.
It was perfectly logical for a cultivator at his realm to want a tribulation-averting item.
It was only natural to want one to overcome the heavenly tribulation and reach the Golden Core Realm.
It’s just.
"Tribulation-averting items are quite rare, even within the Wanlong Commerce Association."
"We don’t even have enough for the ruling families and the Golden Core candidates the association is grooming."
"Of course, if you are willing to sign a Rule-based contract and formally join the association, Mr. Su, we might be able to make an exception given your talent."
Zhao Quling said hesitantly, appearing somewhat troubled.
Her words were half-truth, half-lie. While tribulation-averting items were rare, an organization with the Wanlong Commerce Association’s wealth definitely had some to spare!
They were simply unwilling to give one to Su Ye. The reasoning was simple: if he was this formidable at the Crystal Realm, why would they help him reach the Golden Core Realm?
—It was akin to a nation refusing to share nuclear technology with its neighbors.
Of course, if Su Ye was willing to sign the Rule-based contract, that would be a different story.
This type of contract used the Power of Rules as its foundation and had an extremely strong binding force, even on Golden Core Realm cultivators!
Once the contract was signed, he would be one of them!
However...
’I have no desire... to be bound by such a thing.’ Su Ye’s eyes grew cold.
Besides, demanding a tribulation-averting item was just a pretext. He had already expected to be rejected.
"In that case."
"I won’t make things difficult for you, Mr. Zhao."
"I’d like a few Tier-4 Wondrous Items instead. That’s not too demanding, is it?"
Su Ye gazed at Zhao Quling, a faint smile gracing his refined features as he posed the question.
"This..."
"Alright!"
Zhao Quling thought for a moment before agreeing.
After all, while Tier-4 Wondrous Items were precious.
they were still a far cry from a treasure like a tribulation-averting item, which could bring about a qualitative transformation in a cultivator!
"However, Mr. Su, you should be aware of how precious Tier-4 Wondrous Items are. One is acceptable... any more than that is out of the question."
Zhao Quling said softly.
Her meaning was simple.
The Wanlong Commerce Association was no pushover. They wouldn’t allow themselves to be endlessly extorted!
Su Ye nodded slightly. He was aware of this. If they truly shed all pretenses and entered a fight to the death, he would be no match for the Flame Alliance, let alone just the Wanlong Commerce Association.
Therefore, it was crucial to know where the line was.
"However..."
"What if I said that the Nanyaoguang Corporation is willing to join the war?" Su Ye smiled, dropping a bombshell!
"What?!!" Zhao Quling was stunned for a moment, then became overjoyed and presented a jade slip with both hands.
"Mr. Su, this is a list of Tier-4 Wondrous Items from the Flame Alliance. Please, take a look!"
...
The list of Wondrous Items provided by Zhao Quling had over twenty entries.
Su Ye easily found a Tier-4 Wondrous Item he needed on it.
Nether River Soul Gold!
This Wondrous Item was quite similar to the Ghostly Flood Dragon’s element of blood.
It represented the element of Soul!
"Blood, Soul."
"Earth, Fire, Water, Wind."
Su Ye had arranged the elements for the Ghostly Flood Dragon.
"Still missing Water and Fire."
"Huh?"
"This pair of Wondrous Items... not bad. This is it!"
"Eh?" Zhao Quling was startled.
"Mr. Su, you want the Chu Family’s heirloom Spiritual Object—the [Liangyi Immortal Jade]?"
...
From now on, Chapters will be 4k characters.
It’s more comfortable to write.