The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 2165: Variables

In the Underworld Points Battle, the combatants dispatched by the Four Major Forces can only come from two sources: one is hired by Yuantong Immortal Venerable, and the other is a cultivator nurtured internally by the Four Major Forces.

Cao Zhiqun emerged from the headquarters of the Xuanyue Commerce Building, so naturally, he cannot be considered a cultivator cultivated by the Xuanyue Commerce Building under Inspector Ao Hong’s jurisdiction. This is precisely why Cao Zhiqun did not accompany Ao Hong and the others to the Yellow Spring Cave this time.

At this moment, those present felt a ripple of emotion upon hearing Inspector General demand Cao Zhiqun’s presence. After all, Yuantong Immortal Venerable must be afforded a certain respect by the Xuanyue Commerce Building. Should Yuantong Immortal Venerable become displeased, he could outright refuse Cao Zhiqun’s participation in the Underworld Points Battle.

"First let Cao Zhiqun come here, I will report the situation here to Elder. Yuantong Immortal Venerable, must give face to my Xuanyue Commerce Building’s Elder, right?" Ao Hong sneered as he spoke.

He was genuinely infuriated.

Originally, had Jing Yan not emerged, the Xuanyue Commerce Building would not have needed to summon Cao Zhiqun. They could have easily secured four entry slots into the Yellow Spring Cave, the same as last time the cave opened. Now, without Cao Zhiqun in the fray, even three entry slots might not be guaranteed.

"Request the Elder..." Everyone present took a deep breath.

The Xuanyue Commerce Building is a force of Immortal Domain Level. Everyone present here is considered part of the management in Xuanyue Commerce Building and naturally is not unfamiliar with the term ’Elder’.

It is the highest echelon composition of the Xuanyue Commerce Building headquarters. The highest tier of Xuanyue Commerce Building is the Elder Council.

"Inspector General, should we immediately send a message back and have Cao Zhiqun come here at once? He can still make it in time for the second round of the Underworld Points Battle." Pang Bang said gravely.

Ao Hong nodded and then rose and left the Great Hall, intending to report the situation here to an Elder at the Xuanyue Commerce Building headquarters.

There are still more than two hours, close to three hours, before the second round of the Underworld Points Battle begins.

Within the palace where Yuantong Immortal Venerable resides, he retrieved his communication treasure, and upon seeing the Divine Soul Mark within it, his expression subtly changed.

He drew a gentle breath, then resumed his smile, his Divine Thought rippling as he said, "Greetings, Senior Kuo Lian!"

Yuantong Immortal Venerable’s tone was rather respectful.

"Yuantong Daoist, this old man cannot bear the term ’Senior’." The Divine Thought ripple came from the other side.

"In my heart, Senior Kuo Lian is indeed a senior." Yuantong Immortal Venerable insisted.

"Haha..." Kuo Lian’s Divine Thought continued to ripple, "Yuantong Daoist, there is something I need to discuss with you. Over at Ao Hong’s side, there is a kid named Cao Zhiqun who wants to participate in the second round of the Underworld Points Battle. I’m just here to inform you first."

This Senior Kuo Lian is indeed an Elder of the Xuanyue Commerce Building.

"Oh?" Yuantong Immortal Venerable immediately understood why Kuo Lian suddenly contacted him.

"Senior, is this Cao Zhiqun a cultivator trained by Inspector Ao Hong?" Yuantong Immortal Venerable actually knew very well that Cao Zhiqun certainly wasn’t cultivated by Ao Hong. If he were, then Kuo Lian, as an Elder of the Xuanyue Commerce Building, wouldn’t need to communicate with him.

"Yuantong, Cao Zhiqun wasn’t originally at Ao Hong’s side, but he was assigned there ten thousand years ago. From now on, this kid will continue to follow Ao Hong. I just wanted to inform you about Cao Zhiqun, fearing you might not be aware." Kuo Lian said with a smile.

"I see! I understand the meaning of Senior Kuo Lian." Yuantong Immortal Venerable replied.

"Mm, if you have time, do come by for a visit." After rippling this last Divine Thought through the communication magical treasure, Kuo Lian then withdrew it, ending this communication.

After the communication was interrupted, the face of Yuantong Immortal Venerable immediately darkened, and the veins on his arms bulged prominently.

"Immortal Venerable, Mr. Jing Yan requests an audience!" At this moment, a voice came from outside the Great Hall.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable quickly restored his normal expression and said, "Let him in!"

Jing Yan entered from outside and saluted Yuantong.

"Young friend Jing Yan, is there something you need from me?" Yuantong Immortal Venerable asked with a smile.

"Yes!" Jing Yan nodded, "Immortal Venerable, I have established an employment relationship with the Shadow Tower for the second round of the Underworld Points Battle. The hiring fee is this list of material resources; please have a look, Immortal Venerable."

Jing Yan presented the material list for the cultivation of the fifth level of the Great Demon Seal Execution Technique to Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable’s eyes slightly contracted, then he said, "This seems to be the material for cultivating the fifth level of the Great Demon Seal Execution Technique. The Shadow Tower is indeed generous."

Who is Yuantong Immortal Venerable? He knew that the materials were intended for the cultivation of the fifth level of the Great Demon Seal Execution Technique, exactly what Jing Yan had anticipated. Moreover, Jing Yan had previously demonstrated the Great Demon Seal Execution Technique, an Immortal Venerable level spell, in front of Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

"Immortal Venerable is absolutely right; I am currently cultivating the Great Demon Seal Execution Technique and need this material. Therefore, I wish to request permission from the Immortal Venerable to offset part of the cost with Black Crystal Stones." Jing Yan said with a bow.

The remuneration Jing Yan receives is required to pay half to Yuantong Immortal Venerable. In the first round, the Xin Family hired Jing Yan for fifty billion Black Crystal Stones, and Jing Yan turned over twenty-five billion Black Crystal Stones to Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

"That is certainly possible! Young friend Jing Yan, this material will be priced at eighty billion Black Crystal Stones, so you only need to pay me forty billion Black Crystal Stones!" Yuantong Immortal Venerable was quite straightforward.

Priced at eighty billion Black Crystal Stones, Jing Yan did not suffer a loss. This material is worth approximately one hundred billion Black Crystal Stones and might even exceed that amount. Even if Yuantong Immortal Venerable had set the price at one hundred billion, Jing Yan would have had no complaints. Now that it’s set at eighty billion, it’s actually a bargain for Jing Yan.

"Thank you, Immortal Venerable, for your generosity!" Jing Yan thanked him.

Afterward, he produced thirty billion Black Crystal Stones along with some other resources he temporarily did not need to offset ten billion Black Crystal Stones, totaling about forty billion Black Crystal Stones to hand to Yuantong Immortal Venerable. Jing Yan had just over thirty billion Black Crystal Stones on hand, so he needed to use some resources to offset the amount.

"Immortal Venerable, then I shall take my leave." Jing Yan said his farewell to Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable nodded.

As Jing Yan was about to leave the Great Hall, Yuantong Immortal Venerable suddenly spoke again to halt him.

Jing Yan hesitated briefly and turned back, saying, "Immortal Venerable, is there anything else you wish to instruct?"

"Young friend Jing Yan, this second round of the Underworld Points Battle may involve some uncertainties; you must be aware of them!" Yuantong Immortal Venerable pondered aloud.