Chapter 267 - 166: What Do You Mean We Got a Head Start!?

Chapter 267: Chapter 166: What Do You Mean We Got a Head Start!?

When Ju Jiasu first came over and proposed using Alliance Coins to negotiate the ownership of the prizes, Guo Xing rejected her outright without a second thought.

But then Ju Jiasu brought up Cao Xing’an.

Even though he was planning to leave Longya City, Guo Xing was unwilling to directly antagonize a Five-finger Peak Master, so he had no choice but to bring Ju Jiasu here.

Guo Xing had never revealed who had raised this Crimson Monochromatic Dragon Carp.

Ju Jiasu also hadn’t expected to meet Wen Tao again today.

Ju Jiasu had left Waking Dragon Creek Valley early in the morning to complain to Cao Xing’an, hoping he would stand up for her.

But not only did Cao Xing’an not stand up for her, he even blamed her for failing to properly host the Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City.

Now, her uncle wanted the final prizes of the Dragon Soaring Association and had entrusted her with negotiating the matter.

Rather than having Wen Tao and the others readily agree, Ju Jiasu actually hoped they would refuse.

That way, the conflict would shift from herself to her uncle.

Ju Jiasu was well aware that Wen Tao didn’t particularly like her.

’Once Wen Tao realizes he has offended my uncle, a Five-finger Peak Creator, he’ll definitely come to me to smooth things over.’

’Then I’ll be able to savor the taste of being begged by Wen Tao.’

"I’m sure you all know already, but let me introduce him again. My uncle, Cao Xing’an, is a Five-finger Peak Creator."

"The Dragon Carp he raised would have surely leaped through the nine Dragon Gates. It’s just that his Dragon Carp was only placed in the Hidden Dragon Waterfall this afternoon, which allowed you to get a head start."

"He hopes that you will give up these prizes. When the Federation Coins are distributed at the end, he can give you an extra five percent."

"Even just five percent more of the value of the Panlong Jade Willow and the Dragon Blood Rose is equivalent to several years of Potential Points you’ve accumulated."

Ju Jiasu’s words were dripping with superiority.

With a Five-finger Peak Creator for a backer—and being his direct relative at that—such a sense of superiority was somewhat understandable.

But Ju Jiasu’s condescending, charitable attitude truly infuriated Wen Tao.

Just as Wen Tao was about to speak, Zhong Yi said in a hostile tone,

"You have Federation Coins. You think we don’t?"

"We won these prizes through fair competition, according to the rules of the Dragon Soaring Association."

"What do you mean, you ’allowed us to get a head start’?"

"This Dragon Carp is mine, and I do not agree to an exchange."

"When it’s time to distribute the Alliance Coins to the other prize winners according to the rules, we will take exactly what we are owed according to Longya City’s regulations."

"We won’t take less, and we won’t give any extra."

As he said the words "give any extra," Zhong Yi deliberately stressed them.

Zhong Yi could see that Wen Tao wanted to refuse Ju Jiasu on his behalf, but that would only redirect her and Cao Xing’an’s malice onto Wen Tao.

Zhong Yi had already proven his worth in Starlight City. Even the Star Emperor, one of the Three Emperors, was willing to make a trip to Longya City for him.

Zhong Yi really had no need to care about what Ju Jiasu and Cao Xing’an thought.

Zhong Yi knew in his heart that he could heal Tao En.

In terms of Talent as a Creator, Cao Xing’an was inferior to Tao En.

With a Five-finger Peak Creator on his side whose Talent surpassed Cao Xing’an’s, Cao Xing’an held no value in Zhong Yi’s eyes.

Ju Jiasu had considered that Wen Tao might refuse her, but she never imagined she would be rejected by this new-generation Celestial Destiny Seeker who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.

’On what grounds does a new-generation Celestial Destiny Seeker with S-rank potential dare to speak to me like this?’

’But this is good too!’

Ju Jiasu could tell that Cao Xing’an was already displeased by Wen Tao’s attitude and the fact that the Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City were in constant contact with Tao En.

This incident would just add more fuel to the fire in Cao Xing’an’s heart.

"Remember what you said!"

"Don’t come crying to me later with your Panlong Jade Willow and Dragon Blood Rose, begging to trade them for Federation Coins."

With that, Ju Jiasu turned and left, just as she had before.

Seeing this, Zhong Yi pursed his lips, thinking to himself that Ju Jiasu was more than a little full of herself.

Guo Xing, however, was quite worried. Just as he was about to say something, Wen Tao patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"Old Guo, you don’t need to worry. I don’t believe Cao Xing’an would dare to make a move against Celestial Destiny Seekers like us who have come from other cities."

"Even if he did get such ideas, Elder Cui can protect us."

Ju Jiasu’s reappearance didn’t affect the mood of Zhong Yi and his group.

Wen Tao’s words, however, did nothing to lessen Guo Xing’s worries.

He was afraid that if anything happened to Zhong Yi and Wen Tao in Longya City, it would affect his own chances of joining Starlight City.

Having dealt with Ju Jiasu and Cao Xing’an for so many years, Guo Xing knew exactly what kind of power a highly opportunistic Five-finger Peak Creator possessed.

If Cao Xing’an were to spread the word and publicize his grudge with Wen Tao,

then many people would likely have to consider Cao Xing’an’s influence before interacting with Wen Tao in the future.

As soon as Zhong Yi’s group left Waking Dragon Creek Valley, they returned to Tao En’s shop.

Zhong Yi had squeezed out the last dregs of the Resurrection Celestial Lord’s Energy. The largest fissure in Tao En’s soul was now almost halfway healed.

"Young Lord, aside from my Lifebound Guardian Beast, I can now summon my other Guardian Beasts as well."

With that, Tao En channeled his Soul Power, and three mimetic Guardian Beasts appeared before Zhong Yi.

Tao En’s Soul Base had an affinity for deer-type Guardian Beasts.

Normally, deer-type Guardian Beasts were mostly skilled in support and healing.

But all three of Tao En’s deer-type Guardian Beasts were exceptionally skilled in offense and assassination.

His Lifebound Guardian Beast was the Dark Attribute Shadow Horned Deer.

The other two Contracted Guardian Beasts were a Swift Emperor Halberd Deer and a Blood-Seeking Sword-Hoof Deer.

The moment he saw these three Guardian Beasts, he didn’t even need to use All Things Exploration to inspect them.

Just from their external appearances, it was clear that Tao En had invested a massive amount of resources into them.

The hooves of the Blood-Seeking Sword-Hoof Deer, in particular, were shaped like sharp swords. They hovered in mid-air, allowing it to walk by tearing through the void with its sword-hooves.

The sword-hooves shimmered with a dense, dark-gold luster, fully coated in biological metal.

This indicated that the Blood-Seeking Sword-Hoof Deer even had the potential for Tier Jumping combat!

Zhong Yi had been a little worried about Tao En’s safety, but seeing these three Guardian Beasts of his, he could finally put his mind completely at ease.

"Master Tao En, your soul hasn’t fully healed yet. Try to summon your Guardian Beasts as little as possible."

"Even after you’ve recovered your strength, you should still keep a low profile until we leave Longya City."

"Once you get to Starlight City, you will receive all the courtesy befitting a Five-finger Peak Creator."

Hearing this, Tao En bowed respectfully to Zhong Yi once more.

"Young Lord, back when I could summon my Guardian Beasts at will, I didn’t think much of it."

"After this ordeal, now that I have the chance to summon my Guardian Beasts again, I feel my state of mind has improved greatly."

"Rest assured, I know very well what I should and shouldn’t do."

"When I get to Starlight City, I don’t want any special treatment as a Five-finger Peak Creator."

"Just let me stay by your side and watch Niannian grow up healthy."

"Young Lord, actually, this disaster I’ve faced wasn’t entirely a bad thing."

"Because my soul was damaged, I was constantly doing everything I could to enhance my soul’s sensitivity and precision, just to maintain my Creator Tier and prevent it from falling below the Three-finger realm again."

"I’ve discovered that after you helped me clear out those toxins and the Soul-Devouring Demon Insects, my soul’s sensitivity has increased compared to before."

"Perhaps once my soul is fully recovered, I can start trying to concoct a Sixth Level Potion."

At this, Tao En paused for a moment before continuing.

"Actually, before my soul was injured, I had already successfully concocted a Sixth Level Potion once."

"I’ve never mentioned this to anyone before."

As he said this, Tao En’s face was filled with confidence.

In the domain of Creators, Tao En had always been confident that his Talent was second to none.