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Chapter 426: Chapter 422: Method
Heavenly Master Hall, there’s a problem.
Gu Jinlai listened to Jin Sixian’s words, his thoughts churning.
In his heart, he had always harbored a guess.
Saint Soil...
Was it really as peaceful as they made it out to be?
Those devils lurking around the world, were they truly incapable of affecting the Saint Soil, and that’s why they maintained the current situation?
Or could it be...
Gu Jinlai dared not continue this line of thought.
If it was true...
"We are currently investigating, and our method is to come into contact with the Heavenly Master Hall. The Heavenly Master Hall is one of the top organizations of the Holy Dynasty, and probing into the Heavenly Master Hall poses too great a risk, possibly involving our brethren, so we have lowered the activity level of the Blue Light Association."
Jin Sixian glanced at Zhao Yushu, "This is also the reason why coming to Wind and Rain City has become difficult. Otherwise... Despite the Blue Light Association having not many powerful members, relying on our outstanding abilities, each of us holds significant status, wielding influence far beyond our own cultivation levels, and some of us even have Martial Kings, or even Devas, to ensure our safety."
"Martial Kings, Devas!?"
Zhao Yushu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Martial Kings were one thing, but Devas...
Even the weakest among them were equivalent to the existence of a Top Martial King.
And though their cultivation might be on par with a Top Martial King, the status of a Deva was a notch above that of a Martial King. It was normal for everyone to see Devas and Peak Martial Kings on equal footing.
Those Peak Heavenly Beings could even converse and laugh on equal terms with Martial Saints.
The Blue Light Association, they actually had this kind of power!?
"Star Shadow has already reached your hands; perfect, I will tell you how to activate it. From now on, we will contact each other through Star Shadow."
Jin Sixian said.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Gu Jinlai responded.
Soon, with Jin Sixian’s help, Gu Jinlai and Zhao Yushu activated Star Shadow.
Just as Jin Sixian had described, the function of Star Shadow was akin to a "chat room."
Once Gu Jinlai and Zhao Yushu had entered, Jin Sixian spoke through Star Shadow: "Two new friends have joined us, Gu Jinlai from Central Earth Country’s Xia Yu City, and Zhao Yushu from Yellow Dragon Country’s Yunhai City, currently residing in Wind and Rain City. Everyone, welcome."
"Newcomers again? The organization has grown stronger; welcome."
"Gu Jinlai, Zhao Yushu, welcome to both of you. We are all castaways in this cruel and foreign world, and I hope we can come together and seek warmth in our unity."
"Wind and Rain City, huh? I’m in Midnight City, a bit far from you, but if you ever need help, feel free to find me; I work at the World Building."
Soon, people in this "chat room" like application began to speak one after another.
The atmosphere was nothing like the casual humor of online chatting; everyone was serious and formal.
Gu Jinlai, seeing this, also adjusted his own attitude.
Having fallen into a completely unknown world, not even knowing what tomorrow might hold for them, naturally, none of them were in the mood for idle chatter.
"Thank you."
Gu Jinlai formally responded.
By his side, Jin Sixian said: "The Blue Light Association was established with the principle of mutual aid. In theory, everyone would be willing to help with any request within their power. But, helping is kindness, not doing so is the right; there is no entitlement, hence, Mr. Gu, if some of your requests are refused, please try to understand."
"I understand."
Gu Jinlai nodded.
At this moment, the people in Star Shadow started discussing.
"Central Earth Country and Yellow Dragon Country? It seems that for the past five or six years, most of the new members have been from the East Continent. Looks like Wei Heng’s guess wasn’t wrong; is there really a cyclical pattern, and this cycle is twenty-four years?"
"Haven’t you noticed that the number of people coming recently has increased quite a bit? This can’t be explained just by the Blue Light Association getting stronger; it must be that the difficulty of coming to this world has decreased."
"I have this feeling too, and with the increasingly clear shadow of the Blue Star above the Saint Soil... the two worlds are getting closer and closer... I wonder if I can live to the day when the two worlds merge and see my friends and family once again."
"You will, I believe that day is not too far off."
The members exchanged thoughts.
Gu Jinlai wanted to ask for more specific information about the Heavenly Master Hall.
But after pondering for a moment, he dismissed the idea.
He had just joined the Blue Light Association and was not yet certain if it was as wonderful as Jin Sixian had said. With the lesson learned from Wind and Rain City right before his eyes, he decided it was better to observe for a while before drawing conclusions.
"I heard from Zhao Yushu that your cultivation requires collecting Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold to prepare for Derivation Divine Abilities?"
Just then, Jin Sixian suddenly asked.
"Yes."
Gu Jinlai nodded. "Do you guys..."
"Have."
Jin Sixian replied: "Our Purple Thunder City Chamber of Commerce has stored about three hundred portions of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold. If necessary, we could also request another three to five hundred portions. If you need them, I can sell this Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold to you for six million taels of silver each."
"Six million!?"
Gu Jinlai couldn’t help but express his surprise upon hearing the figure.
Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold, unlike Immortal Essence Gold which had more variable prices, was material that when condensed into a Thunder Element Sacred Body, provided great benefits during tribulation. The price generally fluctuated around ten million each.
Six million each...
That was a considerable discount.
But the excitement he felt cooled quickly.
Even at six million, he couldn’t afford it.
To cultivate his Chaotic Thunder Primordial Body to the Mahayana Realm, he would need at least one hundred and fifty portions of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold, which adds up to nine hundred million.
His entire assets amounted to just over a hundred million, which he had because he defeated the Luo Family and Sky Silver Tower, confiscating numerous Spirit Swords.
This amount was far from nine hundred million...
He fell far short.
However...
"I need one hundred and fifty copies!"
Gu Jinlai said solemnly, "However, I’m a bit short on funds right now; I need some time to gather the money."
"One hundred and fifty copies..."
Jin Sixian hesitated for a moment, but then she made a decision, "I can guarantee for you and have Purple Thunder City send the goods first. Such precious resources involve nine billion; they will surely be escorted by Martial Kings or even Devas themselves. They should arrive within ten days at the latest. How long will it take you to gather the funds?"
"Ten days..."
Gu Jinlai shook his head, "I can’t guarantee that."
Jin Sixian pondered for a while, then said, "Qiao Sen of Sunset Empire works in the bank in Liuhuo City. You could contact him. As a Martial King, securing a loan of three to four hundred million should not be difficult."
"A loan?"
Gu Jinlai was taken aback.
Then he realized that this world indeed had a banking system.
If there were banks, naturally there were loans.
"Loan!"
Gu Jinlai said without hesitation.
"You make contact," said Jin Sixian.
Zhao Yushu, who was next to her, added, "I can persuade the Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce to give you a loan, which should amount to two to three billion."
"That should be enough," said Gu Jinlai. "I have some Spiritual Artifacts on me, and I’ll gather more in these ten days. Three billion is not difficult; plus the loans from Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce and the bank... nine billion, enough."
After finishing, he said directly, "Let your Chamber of Commerce send the goods."
"Alright," Jin Sixian nodded.
On this side, Gu Jinlai quickly contacted Qiao Sen.
Being a member of the Blue Light Association, and Gu Jinlai being a revered Martial King himself, Qiao Sen naturally did his utmost in this matter.
A few hours later, he responded with good news.
He had secured a loan of three hundred and fifty million.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yushu left in a hurry to communicate with the decision-makers of the Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce.
Half a day later, she successfully brought back good news, securing Gu Jinlai a support of two hundred and thirty million from the Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce.
Together with the Spiritual Artifacts Gu Jinlai produced, despite some damage, they were still valued at one hundred and forty million.
The nine billion shortfall was now only one hundred and eighty million.
...
In the courtyard.
Zhao Yushu was still trying hard to get more support for Gu Jinlai from the Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce and from the clan.
Jin Sixian was also contacting the power behind her to see if she could negotiate a delay in the payment for Gu Jinlai.
Gu Jinlai himself was also considering his options.
"This one hundred and eighty million... depends on Sky Silver Tower."
He was contemplating whether to withdraw the one hundred and seventy million from Sky Silver Tower in advance.
Once the money was out, borrowing it from Zhou Ming for a while, he wouldn’t refuse.
At that moment, Zhao Qiao’s report came from outside the door.
Qian Wuque was visiting.
And with Qian Wuque, there was also a Zhang Family Martial King—Zhang Wanhua.
Unlike the previous visit by Zhang Guangming, Zhang Wanhua was a High-level Martial King, whose physique was said to be nearly perfected, and his true combat power wasn’t much inferior to that of the Top Martial Kings.
And he was the second strongest among the four great Martial Kings of the Zhang Family, second only to the Peak Martial King, Zhang Zhongshan.
"The timing could not be better," said Gu Jinlai as he quickly went to the parlor.
...
"Martial King Gu,"
Qian Wuque greeted with a smile, "I’ve already heard about the matter between you and Sky Silver Tower. There is no need for both parties to make a spectacle over such a small affair..."
"Martial King Qian,"
Before Qian Wuque could finish, Gu Jinlai’s gaze fell on Zhang Guanghua, immediately noticing the dark red karma on him.
If it weren’t for Qian Wuque leading the way, he wouldn’t have wanted to waste words with him.
"Martial King Zhang, has your Sky Silver Tower already gathered the remaining one hundred and seventy million taels of silver?"
"Martial King Gu,"
Zhang Guanghua said with a glint in his eye, "I know the reason you’ve been associating with Zhou Ming is for the profit of two hundred million silver. Seeing that you are a Sweeper and have contributed a lot to the stability of Wind and Rain City, I understand. The thirty million silver given to you earlier, take it as making a friend. What do you think, Martial King Gu?"
"I think not,"
Gu Jinlai replied evenly, "The Zhou Family deposited two hundred million in your Sky Silver Tower, naturally possessing the right to withdraw at any time. Sky Silver Tower taking control of the two hundred million with a reason that convinces no one, and even exterminating the entire Zhou Family of thirty-six people, is just too unsightly."
Zhang Guanghua’s eyebrows furrowed, "So what are you suggesting...?"
"Two hundred million; we’ve taken thirty million, leaving one hundred seventy million. Give me the one hundred seventy million, and that’s the end of it," Gu Jinlai said.
But he hadn’t finished speaking when Zhang Guanghua already interjected with a cold shout, "Gu Jinlai! Are you taking a stand for the Zhou Family? So noble in speech, aren’t you also eyeing that two billion? I’ll tell you, us negotiating doesn’t mean we’re scared of you! Don’t fool yourself!"
"Is that so, then don’t blame me for making a big deal out of this. Let’s see who will be unable to save face in the end," Gu Jinlai said, tired of further explanations, "Have the money ready by this time tomorrow, otherwise, don’t blame me for reporting directly to the City Lord Mansion!"
After speaking, he waved dismissively, "Show the guests out."
