That dignified middle-aged man was named Mo Shangsheng, a City Lord with high position and great authority in Nine Heavens Continent.
As for Kindly Brows and Angry Eyes and the Nine Star Elders, they were his subordinates.
Nine Heavens Continent was the same as Chihai Continent—every five years they would dispatch major powers to garrison the battlefield. This time it just happened to be City Lord Mo’s turn.
Several hundred years ago, he had led subordinates here before. What should have been a relaxed and comfortable affair resulted in so many subordinates falling into the hands of an unknown Xingyun Continent.
Mo Shangsheng was very irritated, very depressed.
He could even imagine how utterly humiliating it would be when this matter spread through the planar battlefield!
Especially when news spread back to Nine Heavens Continent—it would inevitably be used for propaganda by enemies, thereby subjecting him to cold mockery and ridicule.
If it weren’t for Jun Changxiao sitting in the safe zone, Mo Shangsheng would probably have already furiously attacked, abusing him a thousand times over.
Stay calm, stay calm!
This continent’s arranged thunder formations were somewhat formidable. If he couldn’t control his emotions, his ten subordinates would definitely be done for!
Although Nine Heavens Continent’s overall strength was higher than Xingyun Continent, Earth-rank powerhouses were still top-tier powerhouses. Forget ten dying—even one dying would be heartbreaking.
Moreover.
Mo Shangsheng also had enemies and rivals in his home territory.
If they died on the planar battlefield, what would he use to contend with them after returning?
Therefore, after brief deliberation, Mo Shangsheng chose to compromise and agree to exchange resources for the captured ten people.
“So they’re called Six-Star Stones.” Jun Changxiao now knew the name of these stones, so he stroked his chin and said: “One million stones per head.”
“One million?”
Mo Shangsheng said in a deep voice: “This City Lord cannot produce that many!”
One million each, ten would be ten million—this was definitely a massive amount. Even if he could really produce them, it would be equivalent to massive bloodletting.
“This seat is not an unreasonable person, so I’ll make a concession.” Jun Changxiao said: “Nine hundred ninety thousand stones per head.”
“…”
Mo Shangsheng’s mouth twitched.
You call this being reasonable, only reducing by ten thousand?
Mo Shangsheng said with a dark face: “Kid, this City Lord is being very serious in negotiating with you.”
“I’m also very serious.” Jun Changxiao rested his chin on the back of his hand and said: “We’re not doing business here—there’s no haggling. Nine hundred thousand stones per head.”
This concession was relatively acceptable, at least reducing by a hundred thousand stones.
However, Mo Shangsheng still couldn’t accept it. After all, taking out nine million stones would definitely hurt his foundation.
“Of course.”
Jun Changxiao said: “If you can’t produce that many Six-Star Stones, you can also use medicinal materials, ores, treasures, weapons and so on to substitute. This seat won’t mind.”
“…”
Mo Shangsheng was nearly angered to internal injuries.
As the City Lord of a major city ruling over a territory in Nine Heavens Continent, when had he ever been this passive?
“Kid!”
An elder beside him roared angrily: “My City Lord being willing to talk calmly with you is already giving you enough face—don’t fail to appreciate it!”
“City Lord Sir.”
Jun Changxiao narrowed his eyes and said: “This subordinate of yours seems to still not understand what the current situation is.”
What situation?
The hostages were in his hands, ready to be killed at any moment.
Mo Shangsheng’s brow furrowed tightly: “Six-Star Stones are extremely rare martial dao resources for continental cultivation. The quantity you mentioned—this City Lord finds it difficult to produce.”
“How many can you produce?”
“A hundred thousand.”
“A hundred thousand per person?”
“Ten people.”
“Forget it.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head and said: “There’s no sincerity at all. This seat might as well kill them all.”
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
As soon as the words fell, those thunder formations erected outside the stronghold flashed with dazzling light again, as if only the tiniest bit away from exploding.
The Nine Heavens Continent martial artists immediately panicked somewhat, even preparing to retreat.
Mo Shangsheng suppressed his rage and said: “Young fellow, judging from your stronghold’s area, you should have just started. If you kill them, this City Lord will dispatch people to blockade this place and fight you to the death. Are you certain this is worthwhile?”
Jun Changxiao fell silent.
He was telling himself that he planned to go all-in?
Mo Shangsheng sneered and said: “According to planar regulations, strongholds that haven’t reached a certain scale have time limits inside. When the time comes and you all are sent out, how can you live to return?”
“Therefore.”
Jun Changxiao said: “This seat is very urgent right now. If you don’t quickly produce ransom money to ransom people, I can only kill them. At worst we’ll all perish together.”
The stronghold’s time limit had absolutely no effect on him, because he only needed to return to Eternal Sect within the time limit.
Mo Shangsheng didn’t know this.
He thought he could use this to threaten and thereby gain the initiative in negotiations.
“Moreover.” Jun Changxiao said: “This seat has already killed one of your continent’s Earth-rank powerhouses. The grudge is thoroughly established. What’s wrong with killing ten more?”
“Better to reconcile enemies than to make them.”
Mo Shangsheng’s tone gradually softened: “As long as Your Excellency releases them, we’ll treat previous matters as if they never happened. However Xingyun Continent acts on the planar battlefield, my Nine Heavens Continent will not interfere.”
“Do you think this kind of talk meant to deceive three-year-olds, this seat would believe?” Jun Changxiao said.
Mo Shangsheng said earnestly: “This City Lord is the City Lord of Sacred Sky City in Nine Heavens Continent, always keeping my word.”
Jun Changxiao fell into thought, seemingly moved by his words.
“Good.”
He slapped the armrest and said: “This seat believes you. One price—two hundred thousand stones per head.”
Dropping from one million to two hundred thousand—this was definitely a major concession. But Mo Shangsheng was somewhat breaking down, the sentiment being that after saying all this, he still had to pay ransom money!
Nonsense.
Jun Gou Sheng wasn’t someone who casually changed his principles.
Since he’d done the extortion deed, regardless of extorting more or less, he absolutely must extort something!
“City Lord Sir.”
Jun Changxiao said: “If you feel this price is suitable, then quickly close the deal. Otherwise this seat really fears I can’t resist detonating the thunder formations.”
“…”
Mo Shangsheng began deliberating.
“Nine Heavens Continent must also be a world of survival of the fittest. The weight of ten Earth-rank powerhouses definitely isn’t small. If they die on the planar battlefield, you’ll probably suffer great losses, right?” Jun Changxiao said.
“…”
“Furthermore, this seat being able to capture so many of your people naturally isn’t a soft persimmon to be kneaded at will.”
“If we really go all out, Your Excellency will probably suffer additional losses. Why not readily hand over two million Six-Star Stones? You’re good, I’m good, everyone’s good?”
Mo Shangsheng’s brow furrowed tightly.
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
The thunder formations continued flashing with light. The thunder-element attributes permeating the air grew increasingly intense. This also forced him to be unable to delay time or have excessive deliberation.
“Fine!”
Mo Shangsheng said: “Two million!”
“Pay first, release people after.” Jun Changxiao said.
Mo Shangsheng’s mouth twitched.
He had experienced this type of situation before, but had never been led by the nose by the other party like this.
“This seat is the Sect Master of Xingyun Continent’s Eternal Strongest Sect, always keeping my word once spoken. So please rest assured.” Jun Changxiao said.
“Swish!”
A distinctive spatial ring fell at the stronghold’s edge.
Mo Shangsheng suppressed his heartache and physical pain, saying with difficulty: “Inside are two million Six-Star Stones.”
Jun Changxiao beckoned.
Purple Scale Demon King immediately stepped out, picked up the ring and quickly retreated back to the stronghold. He apparently was also worried the other party would take advantage to attack.
“The City Lord is a forthright person. I hope we can cooperate again next time.” After taking inventory and confirming the quantity, a smile appeared on Jun Changxiao’s face.
Although he didn’t extort ten million, two million Six-Star Stones were sufficient to match tens of millions of natural spirit stones.
As for people?
Be content, and you’ll be happy.
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
Dozens of thunder formations suddenly dissipated, and the violent aura that had been present gradually disappeared.
Sect Master Jun really was a person of integrity!
“Swish!”
“Swish!”
Just as the thunder formations were removed, several Nine Heavens Continent powerhouses flew over and rescued the unconscious Kindly Brows and Angry Eyes and others. Only after returning to their original positions did they all glare furiously at Jun Changxiao and others in the stronghold.
Initially with hostages in the other party’s hands, they were forced to be cautious. Now that they’d been rescued, they naturally had no more reservations!
Jun Changxiao stood up and cupped his hands: “The time is getting late. We’ll take our leave first.”
Take leave?
Mo Shangsheng and the Nine Heavens Continent martial artists all looked bewildered.
“Snap!”
Jun Changxiao snapped his fingers.
A gradually coalescing flowing light vortex appeared at the steps below the great hall.
Mo Shangsheng immediately widened his eyes.
This… could it be a transmission formation leading to the outside world?
That’s not right!
Xingyun Continent’s territory was only so small, completely not meeting the standards. How could they have a transmission device to leave the plane?
The martial artists behind him were also confused.
In their view, being able to achieve two-way transmission required developing the stronghold to at least town scale!
“Swish!”
“Swish!”
Lu Qianqian and He Wudi and others entered one after another.
Jun Changxiao was the last to walk over. Before transmitting, he waved at Mo Shangsheng and said: “See you tomorrow.”
“Whoosh—”
The person vanished into thin air as the vortex gradually dissipated.
Mo Shangsheng and numerous Nine Heavens Continent powerhouses gathered outside the stronghold remained in a bewildered state, clearly finding it difficult to accept the fact that before the stronghold had developed, Xingyun Continent martial artists could transmit out!