Chapter 1301: Alternative Ways to Earn Dragon Essences
Li Luo's appearance had attracted all the attention in the area. Everyone looked over curiously. They wanted to know what Li Luo was planning. How would he dare to proclaim so confidently that he would buy this Jade Lotus Spiritual Essence from the Dragon's Blood Guardians for 60,000 dragon essences?
After all, everyone in the Heavenly Dragon Five Guardian Armies knew about his incident with the Sovereign Pearl earlier. He was in a huge debt because of that. For the past two months, Jiang Qing'e had been taking on risky missions and working non stop in order to pay it back as well.
Yet, Li Luo still dared to confidently proclaim that he could pay for the 60,000 dragon essences? Where's he going to get the dragon essences from?
Was he continuing to borrow? There was no way the Dragon's Blood Guardians would agree to it. Even if they escalated this matter to Li Jingzhe, there wasn't much he would be able to do as well...
However, Li Luo's face did not change despite all their gazes of doubt. He looked at Li Zhihuo with a grin and said, "You don't need to care about whether I can afford the 60,000 dragon essences. If I am really able to pay up, are you going to hand the Jade Lotus Spiritual Essence over?"
Li Zhihuo frowned at his words. Li Luo's nonchalant attitude was making him feel a little suspicious but considering his previous open declaration, it wasn't good for him to go back on his words now. Besides, he really doubted that Li Luo would be able to fork out such a large sum of dragon essences.
"If you can pay up, i'll naturally hand the Jade Lotus Spiritual Essence over to you. However, let me remind you first. We do not accept anything on credit. Hand over the dragon essences and we'll hand over the Spiritual Essence." Li Zhihuo replied.
"Good." Li Luo nodded his head.
Li Zhihuo stared back at Li Luo. "Hand over your dragon essences then."
Li Luo shook his head. "Well I still don't have it right now."
Li Zhihuo's face turned cold. "Are you trying to mess with me?"
Whispers began to spread amongst the other members of the Five Guardian Armies in the surroundings.
If Li Luo was attempting to make a fool out of him in public, it would truly be a little too much. "Don't be impatient. I'll have it soon."
Li Luo smiled happily and walked towards the crowd suddenly. There was a beautiful lady in a white dress. She had a pure and charming temperament with pretty eyes that was as clear as a pool of spring water. One should not be fooled by her gentle appearance either as she was the Guardian General of the Dragon's Scale Guardians, Li Tingyue. Li Tingyue had come over to check out the commotion but was surprised to see Li Luo walking up to her. She gave him a gentle smile and asked, "Grand Commander Li Luo, you're not planning to borrow dragon essences from me right?"
The two of them weren't very close to each other so she had no plan to get involved with the dispute between the Dragon's Fang Guardians and Dragon's Blood Guardians.
"Guardian General Tingyur, I have a business proposal for you. Are you interested?" Li Luo responded with a smirk.
Everyone was confused by his words. Not even Li Foluo and Li Zhihuo knew what Li Luo was up to. What business would he have with the Dragon's Scale Guardians?
"Please elaborate, Grand Commander Li Luo." Li Tingyue answered with a little doubt.
"The World End's River Falling Star Terrace will be opening again in 3 days time. From what I recall, the Dragon's Scale Guardians obtained around 60,000 Star Pearls previously, right?" Li Luo asked.
Li Tingyue nodded her head.
Li Luo continued with a beam, "Our Dragon's Fang Guardians refined 260,000 Star Pearls."
Li Tingyue wanted to answer that she already knew about this but how would that concern her. However, she suddenly realized that if Li Luo was telling her about this right now, his goal must be...
Her heart skipped a beat when she thought about it.
Before she could open her mouth, Li Luo had continued speaking, "My business proposal for you is that Sister Qing'e and I will help the Dragon's Scale Guardians to refine Star Pearls in the next World End's River Falling Star Terrace. I will promise to refine 160,000 Star Pearls for all of you. Of course, we'll need to be paid for it. It wouldn't be much, 30,000 dragon essences will do."
As soon as Li Luo finished his words, many whispers began to spread in the surroundings.
Soon, it was bursting with chatter.
It was especially loud coming from the members of the Dragon's Scale Guardians. Their faces turned excited. 160,000 Star Pearls? This was close to three times what they would have originally gotten. If they could really get so many Star Pearls, their cultivation progress would become much faster.
The Calamity Mist had already appeared in the World End's River Region. This meant that the opening day of the World End's River Treasure Domain was arriving. There's still the Stygian Rain of Calamity afterwards. If they could power up just a little more before then, it could give them a much better chance of survival.
Every month, the cultivation resources from the World End's River Falling Star Terrace contributed close to half of their monthly progress.
No one from the Dragon's Scale Guardians had expected to get involved in this so suddenly. After all, they were simply here to watch the show.
But this was actually fantastic news for the Dragon's Scale Guardians. They would receive 160,000 Star Pearls so the payment of 30,000 dragon essences was only fair. No one would object to it.
After they had divided up the payment among themselves, they would all be forking out 3 dragon essences each only. This was a small price to pay for significantly better cultivation conditions in the Falling Star Terrace.
It was definitely a bargain for them!
The eyes of all the members from the Dragon's Scale Guardians lit up as they looked at Li Luo.
This guy was truly a genius! Li Foluo, Li Zhihuo and the rest were dumbfounded by this. You could do this as well?! One could earn dragon essences like this?! Li Tingyue, the Guardian General of Dragon's Scale Guardians, was also taken aback for a moment before the cacophony from the Dragon's Scale Guardians behind her snapped her back to attention. Her eyes flickered. "Grand Commander Li Luo, this is truly a creative proposal. However, I recall that you were nearly at your limit in refining the 260,000 Star Pearls for the Dragon's Fang Guardians a few months ago. Will you still be able to refine the Star Pearls for our Dragon's Scale Guardians in that state?"
Li Luo answered with a smirk, "As you've said, that was a few months ago."
Both Jiang Qing'e and him had grown stronger since then, especially him. He had evolved his dragon resonance into the Heavenly Dragon Resonance and powered up significantly.
When she heard his reply, Li Tingyue's eyes lit up too. Her smile grew brighter as she asked, "Grand Commander Li Luo, can't you lower the price a little? You are really earning quite a bit for 30,000 dragon essences." Li Luo sighed. "It's not much but it's honest work... Please don't squeeze us dry, Guardian General Tingyue." Li Tingyue chuckled. "Can you increase it to 200,000 Star Pearls then? From the number of Star Pearls that your Dragon's Fang Guardians refined, I believe 200,000 shouldn't be too hard for you all. Our Dragon's Scale Guardians members also have a tough time cultivating, please help them out as well."
Li Luo shook his head decisively. "Guardian General Tingyue, why do you need to be so fussy? I approached you all first because our two Guardian Armies have a good relationship."
Li Tingyue grinded her teeth when she noticed this fellow was unwilling to make any concessions. She felt a little disgruntled at how easy it was for this fellow to earn such a large amount of dragon essences. Even for her, it would take her almost half a year of hard work to do so.
Although the dragon essences wouldn't be paid by her alone, it made her feel that things were a little unfair.
"If Guardian General Tingyue is so hesitant about it, shall I ask the other Guardians first?" Li Luo asked again lightheartedly.
Before Li Tingyue could answer his question, the Dragon's Scale Guardians members behind her had begun to get rowdy. Wen Xuan, the First Grand Commander of Dragon's Scale Guardians, quickly gave Li Tingyue a light tug from the side. There was no need to worry about the small details.
If this discussion broke down because of it, it would be hard for them to answer to the other members of the Dragon's Scale Guardians.
After all, this offer was a big boon for all of them.
Li Tingyue understood her position when she saw the situation as well. She was in no position to bargain with him. As such, she quickly replied with a smile, "Alright, we'll do as you propose. 30,000 dragon essences. However, you'll have to answer the rest if you're unable to refine it as promised, Grand Commander Li Luo."
"No problem."
Li Luo accepted it without any hesitation. "Hand over the dragon essences first."
Li Tingyue did not have any objection to this request. After all, she understood that Li Luo had come up with such a proposal because he needed the dragon essences urgently. He wanted them to exchange for the Jade Lotus Spiritual Essence.
As such, she took out her Guardian General plaque and handed over 30,000 dragon essences.
Li Luo accepted it with a beaming face. Then, he walked over to Li Jushen, the Guardian General of Dragon's Bone Guardians. Everyone in the surrounding had their eyes fixed on him.
Li Luo cut to the chase this time.
"30,000 dragon essences for 160,000 Star Pearls. Deal or no deal?"
Li Jushen rubbed his chin but he was more decisive than Li Tingyue. He accepted it with a nod of his head.
"Deal!"
With that, he handed over 30,000 dragon essences too.
Just like this, Li Luo had easily raised 60,000 dragon essences.
Li Zhihuo's face was as dark as the bottom of the pot at that moment. His eyes were full of fury and shock. He wasn't afraid that Li Luo would really raise the 60,000 dragon essences. It was the fact that he could help the other Guardians harvest even more Star Pearls than usual. If he was really able to do so, he would become the most popular individual within the Heavenly Dragon Five Guardian Armies!
If that happened, the other members might even think Li Luo was more important than Guardian Generals like themselves!
Li Luo kept the 60,000 dragon essences as Li Zhihuo stared at him. However, he did not stop here. He continued walking towards Li Boyuan, the Guardian General of Dragon's Horn Guardians.
"Guardian General Boyuan, there is too much work for the Falling Star Terrace this time. I am afraid I won't have much energy left when I reach your side. I can only promise you 120,000 Star Pearls but I'll only ask for 20,000 dragon essences. How about it?" Li Luo said cheerfully.
Li Boyuan was a little dissatisfied when he heard this. "Why's it only 120,000 Star Pearls for us? Do you think our Dragon's Horn Guardians cannot afford the dragon essences? Why don't I pay you 40,000 dragon essences for you to help the Dragon's Horn Guardians refine the Star Pearls first?" "Li Boyuan, do you have a death wish?!" As soon as he said that, Li Tingyue, who had always maintained a pure and gentle temperament, raised her eyebrows and glared at him with murderous eyes. Why's this bastard messing with the market? Just imagined what would happen if he started such a trend.
"Li Boyuan, stop messing around!" Li Jushen, the Guardian General of Dragon's Bone Guardians, also told him off sternly.
Li Boyuan pouted his mouth helplessly as the two of them pressured him. "Alright, 120,000 Star Pearls then. However, Grand Commander Li Luo will have to help our Dragon's Horn Guardians first in the next World End's River Falling Star Terrace."
"Sure, sure."
Li Luo accepted it with a grin. He received the 20,000 dragon essences payment from Li Boyuan.
Then, he turned around and returned to the side of Jiang Qing'e, Li Hongyou and Li Fengyi. They were staring at him in disbelief as he returned with the 80,000 dragon essences.
Most importantly, the gazes from the other members of the Four Guardian Armies were looking at him with passion and complex expressions.
At this moment, Li Luo had indeed become the man of the hour within the Heavenly Dragon Five Guardian Armies.