The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 2152: Why Should I?

Jing Yan stood up and cupped his fists in return.

Previously, when Xin Li came to see him, he addressed him as Mr. Jing Yan, whereas now this Qi Yuan was calling him "Little Friend Jing Yan."

Although Jing Yan didn’t much care how others addressed him, from this he could still see the difference in attitude between the Xin Family and the Mystic Moon Trading House toward him. One had to know, even the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch addressed Jing Yan as "Daoist," treating him as a peer. The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch might indeed have been elevating Jing Yan somewhat, but this Building Owner Qi Yuan’s way of addressing Jing Yan was undeniably a bit presumptuous.

Still, it didn’t matter. As long as this Mystic Moon Trading House could offer an employment fee he was satisfied with, Jing Yan wouldn’t care what they called him. The wealth of the Mystic Moon Trading House was far greater than that of forces like the Xin Family. In terms of wealth, even the Shadow Tower couldn’t compare with the Mystic Moon Trading House, not even when compared just to the regional Mystic Moon Trading House Headquarters.

"Little Friend Jing Yan, you should be able to guess my purpose for coming, right?" Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Jing Yan nodded.

"Our Mystic Moon Trading House is willing to offer an employment fee of fifteen billion Black Crystal Stones for Little Friend Jing Yan. As long as Little Friend Jing Yan is willing to represent the Mystic Moon Trading House in the Yellow Spring Cave points-competition battle, then the fifteen billion Black Crystal Stones can immediately be handed over to Little Friend Jing Yan and Yuantong Immortal Venerable." Qi Yuan continued speaking.

Fifteen billion Black Crystal Stones.

Hearing this number, Jing Yan couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

He had thought that the Mystic Moon Trading House would offer an employment fee higher than the Xin Family’s, yet to his surprise the Mystic Moon Trading House had only quoted a paltry fifteen billion Black Crystal Stones, and the tone they used made it sound as if Jing Yan were getting an immense bargain. Even the Xin Family had offered thirty billion Black Crystal Stones, twice the Mystic Moon Trading House’s quote.

He sneered in his heart, but there was no change in Jing Yan’s expression.

"Building Owner Qi Yuan, fifteen billion Black Crystal Stones won’t do. If it were fifty billion Black Crystal Stones, that would be about right." Jing Yan stated directly.

Hearing this, Building Owner Qi Yuan immediately drew in a deep breath. His half-squinted eyes opened wide, his face full of disbelief.

"Fifty billion Black Crystal Stones?" Building Owner Qi Yuan wondered if Jing Yan had misspoken.

"Yes, fifty billion Black Crystal Stones. If the Mystic Moon Trading House is willing to spend fifty billion Black Crystal Stones to hire me, then I can agree." Jing Yan nodded in confirmation.

"Haha..." Building Owner Qi Yuan laughed aloud.

"Little Friend Jing Yan, do you perhaps not understand the going rates? An employment fee of fifty billion Black Crystal Stones is extremely rare in all the past points-competition battles before each opening of the Yellow Spring Cave." Building Owner Qi Yuan’s expression darkened somewhat.

"I understand the going rates, which is exactly why I’m asking for fifty billion Black Crystal Stones. And this is only the employment fee for the first-round battle. If it’s the second and third rounds, the employment fee I ask for will be even higher." Jing Yan’s voice also rose a notch.

"Jing Yan! Your idea is laughable. Do you know that even Jiao Zuoyan’s employment fee is only forty billion Black Crystal Stones! You—on what basis do you demand fifty billion Black Crystal Stones?" Building Owner Qi Yuan’s expression had already turned quite ugly.

The Jiao Zuoyan he mentioned was also one of the Hired, and at the same time a guest of Yuantong Immortal Venerable. Before Jing Yan joined the ranks of the Hired, Jiao Zuoyan was faintly considered the strongest of the ten Hired.

Before contacting Jing Yan, the Mystic Moon Trading House had already approached Jiao Zuoyan. Jiao Zuoyan had also agreed to fight for the Mystic Moon Trading House, with an employment fee of forty billion Black Crystal Stones.

"I base it, of course, on my own strength." Jing Yan couldn’t be bothered to say more to Building Owner Qi Yuan.

The Mystic Moon Trading House was only willing to offer fifteen billion Black Crystal Stones, whereas he wanted fifty billion; the gap was far too large. Jing Yan figured that this force, the Mystic Moon Trading House, probably didn’t need to be considered any further; they were unlikely to raise the employment fee to fifty billion.

"Hmph, then I’ll just wait and see which force is willing to hire you." Building Owner Qi Yuan angrily flicked his sleeve and left Jing Yan’s residence in a fury.

Jing Yan also watched Building Owner Qi Yuan’s departure with a cold sneer.

After he left Jing Yan’s residence, he went back to report the outcome of his contact with Jing Yan.

In one building, the Inspector of the Mystic Moon Trading House regional headquarters was residing there. The Inspector was the highest person in charge of the Mystic Moon Trading House regional headquarters; Building Owners of the Divine Continent like Qi Yuan all took orders directly from the Inspector.

"Building Owner Qi Yuan, you’re saying that Jing Yan wants fifty billion Black Crystal Stones?" Inspector Ao Hong’s brows creased slightly.

"Yes, his attitude was very clear. The employment fee had to be fifty billion Black Crystal Stones." Building Owner Qi Yuan nodded heavily. Even after returning before Inspector Ao Hong, the anger in his heart toward Jing Yan had not yet subsided.

"Heh, and on what basis!" Ao Hong let out a cold laugh.

"Inspector General, he said he bases it on his own strength. He also said that those fifty billion Black Crystal Stones are only the employment fee for the first-round battle. Once it gets to the second and third rounds, he’ll demand even more. In my view, this brat is just a fool; he has no idea what he’s really worth. Even offering him fifteen billion is already generous." Building Owner Qi Yuan said.

"We can’t underestimate this person’s strength either. In Divine Martial City of the Blue Rain Divine Continent, he indeed forced Ji Bian to withdraw of his own accord." Ao Hong pondered as he spoke.

"Inspector General, Divine Martial City is just a very ordinary city in the Blue Rain Divine Continent region. That battle between this Jing Yan and Ji Bian was indeed seen by quite a few people, and Ji Bian did voluntarily withdraw. But whether there were other reasons involved is hard to say. I think it’s more likely that Ji Bian discovered the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch’s presence and thus wanted to flee. As far as I know, the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch had once warned Ji Bian not to continue committing evil within the Blue Rain Divine Continent." Building Owner Qi Yuan added.

"I’ve heard of this as well. The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch is the helmswoman of the Blue Rain Divine Continent. She personally stepped out to warn Ji Bian; if Ji Bian refused to listen, that was a provocation to her. To uphold her dignity, it would be perfectly normal for her to personally strike and kill Ji Bian. Ji Bian understood that too, so once he discovered the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch, he would certainly try to escape at the first possible moment." Another voice rang out in the room; this was another high-ranking member within the Mystic Moon Trading House.

"Mm. In any case, for him to demand fifty billion Black Crystal Stones, that fee is indeed far too high. Since he’s unwilling to be hired by our Mystic Moon Trading House, then forget it." Inspector Ao Hong waved his hand.

"I’ll be waiting to see which force will spend fifty billion Black Crystal Stones to hire him. Whoever hires him will be the sucker, a fool whose brain’s been soaked in water." Building Owner Qi Yuan said with a sneer, his tone full of disdain.

After the Mystic Moon Trading House’s talks with Jing Yan broke down, the news that Jing Yan was asking for fifty billion Black Crystal Stones quickly spread.

The Shadow Tower and the Ancient Land of Morning Light naturally soon learned that Jing Yan’s employment fee was fifty billion as well.

In the high-level quarters of the Ancient Land of Morning Light, several figures sat together discussing this matter.

This time, the one leading the team for the Ancient Land of Morning Light was a War God of the Ancient Land. In the Ancient Land of Morning Light, a War God was a leader-level figure.