Two more chapters at 7 am (GMT+8) and three chapters tomorrow.
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"Su Rou, take the healers and help the injured mages," Brother Li Shen said as we cleared out the battlefield. Su Rou huffed and got to her work.
"Well, she will be like this for a while," Brother Zhu said, trying to hide his smirk. Su Rou is one of the seven top high-level mages in our group. Her primary element is healing, while her second and third are fire and water.
"Then you should let her fight next time?" I said. She is the only high-level healing mage in our group, so this time Li Shen and the others didn't let her fight, and she is very annoyed about it.
Once we finished everything, we departed for our base. It took us two days to get back to Shanghai. Then Li Shen and the others held one more meeting, this time to decide how to use the gains from the hunt.
"So, here it is: This time we got 10 sub-monarch level spirit essences and 10 mid-monarch level ones. There are 90 spirit essences of commander level, 700 warrior level, and 1600 servant level." The first thing I did was give them the number of essences we got from the hunt. Then I left everything to Brother Shen.
"Good, we can use 5 mid-monarch level essences to trade for Star Sea Celestial Veins with the Zhao clan, and the rest can be used for creating Star Sea Magic tools." As Li Shen said, this was the best way to use these essences, and the others agreed. After some discussion, it was decided that all the sub-monarch level essences would be forged into Star-River magic tools (Galaxy magic tools).
"Then Jun and I will be going to meet Zhao Xumeng tomorrow. Yuzi, do you want to come with us?" Brother Li Shen asked me.
Since I didn't have anything else to do, I agreed. I also wanted to see the father of Zhao Manyan; he didn't even have a name in the original book. The only way I found out his name was Xu Meng.
Once everything was settled, I returned to my room at the base and sat on my bed. I didn't rush to cultivate my magic system; instead, I took the mind stone from my system space and started to cultivate my spiritual level. Before the hunt, my spiritual level had already reached level 4; now I need to reach the peak of level 4 as soon as I can.
I had seven mind stones at the start: I had given two to Brother Wei and Brother Han, and one to Grandma Zheng. I have already used one, so I have three left, and one is enough for now.
As time ticked away, morning soon arrived. Brother Jun came to my room to tell me it was time to leave. As we left the base, Brother Shen, who was standing outside the car, got into the driver's seat. I sat beside Brother Shen while Brother Jun sat in the back. I asked, "So, where exactly are we going to meet the head of the Zhao clan?"
"Oh, about that—we hold these kinds of meetings at the prime auction house of the Zhao clan in Shanghai." During these years, my brothers had frequent dealings with the Zhao group auction house, and because of that, they had a good relationship with Zhao Xu Meng.
It didn't take us long to arrive at a tall, beautiful building. As we got out of the car, a man in a black outfit approached us and said, "Mr. Li, please, this way. The Head is waiting for you inside."
As we entered the building, I looked at the interior; it was truly excellent, fitting for the name of the Shanghai Prime Auction House. Soon we reached the room; the man opened the door, and we went inside.
As we entered, I saw a middle-aged man sitting on the sofa with two young boys sitting on either side of him. I didn't need to think twice about their identities: Zhao Manyan and Zhao Youqian.
Zhao Manyan is a core member of Mo Fan's group and one of Fanxue Mountain's most reliable allies in the original story. Despite his initial appearance as a playboy, he became one of the best "turtle shell" mages in the world.
Zhao Youqian is driven by a cold and calculating nature. Unlike his brother, Youqian is defined by ambition and greed; he sees the world through the lens of profit and loss. He is ruthless and cold.
"Haha, Brother Li, you are here! Come, let me introduce you to my sons, Zhao Youqian and Zhao Manyan. Oh, who is this young boy with you?" Xu Meng said happily.
Hearing how he addressed my brother, my lips twitched. 'Damn, old man, you are messing up the seniority,' I thought.
"He is my younger brother, Li Yuzi," Brother Li Shen introduced me. As I expected, both Youqian's and Manyan's lips twitched at the same time, but Zhao Xu Meng didn't give it much thought.
"You said that you wanted to trade some heaven-level resources for Star Sea Veins. So, what are those things you wanted to trade? You know that Star Sea Veins are strategic resources for major families, and even as the head of the family, I can't move them in large quantities." He didn't waste time and went straight to the point.
"Then I won't waste your time, Head Zhao," Li Shen said. The casual air vanished, replaced by the heavy, stifling pressure unique to a Super-level mage. He reached into a spatial container and set a row of reinforced crystal vials onto the mahogany table with a series of sharp clinks.
The office transformed instantly. A rhythmic, silver-blue light pulsed from the glass, casting jagged shadows against the wallpaper. The temperature plummeted; a thin layer of frost bloomed across the water glasses, and the air turned brittle and cold.
"Five Mid-Monarch Level Soul Essences," Li Shen stated. His voice was flat, as if he were discussing the price of tea.
The silence that followed was absolute. Zhao Youqian, who usually wore a mask of bored professional indifference, physically recoiled before leaning in, his pupils shrinking as he crunched the market numbers in his head. Even Zhao Manyan—who had been half-distracted by his phone—snapped his head up, eyes wide. A single Monarch Essence was a legendary auction centerpiece. Five of them appearing at once wasn't just a trade; it was a market-destabilizing event.
Zhao Xu Meng's face hardened. He gingerly picked up a vial, squinting at the purity of the silver luminescence. "Mid-Monarch... and the quality is pristine. Brother Li, you didn't just hunt a beast; you must have wiped out a goddamn nest."
"We had a productive trip to the West," Li Shen replied, keeping it vague. "We know how rare Star Sea Celestial Veins are. We aren't here for a handout or a favor. We want a trade that secures the Zhao Clan's auction prestige while providing the foundation we need."
To Be Continue....
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