Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 259 - 259 0220 Take Your Words to the Chi Di

Chapter 259: Chapter 0220: Take Your Words to the Chi Di People_2 Chapter 259: Chapter 0220: Take Your Words to the Chi Di People_2 Luo Xia was being driven crazy by the commotion, he waved his hand and grumpily said, “Alright, alright, a bunch of money-grubbing lot. So, three stones every three days is too little, huh? Then I’ll raise it for you. Two stones every five days. That should be acceptable, right?”

“Lord, it’s still too little. At least it should be one stone every two days.” Someone immediately started to haggle with Luo Xia.

…

Watching Luo Xia and the cultivators in front of him haggle, Qi Tian couldn’t help but feel a bit upset. These were Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators of the Imperial Master Mansion, but here they were, squabbling over a mere spirit stone, like petty merchants in a marketplace. It was apparent just how unsatisfied they were with their lives. Here, in the Cultivation World of Great Zhao, specifically the Imperial Master Mansion, spirit stones were indeed an incredibly scarce resource for cultivation.

Although Qi Tian felt that Zhao Yanwei, Han Tianyu, and other Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators were pitiful, he didn’t offer to give them any spirit stones, despite having hundreds of thousands of them, and thousands of middle-grade spirit stones. He had no acquaintance with them, nor is he their benefactor. He had no responsibility or obligation to gift them spirit stones. If he were to actually do so, it would certainly not be a good thing for him. Let’s not forget that there are hundreds of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators in the Imperial Master Mansion, all lacking spirit stones. If they came to him for spirit stones, should he give or not? Besides, if these people got something once, they would want it a second time. If they didn’t get it, they might even bear a grudge against him. In that case, he would be spending money to make enemies.

These people were not the same as Wang Song. Wang Song was the Master of the Golden Roc Hall, and a ninth level Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. Leaving all other factors aside, based solely on potential, Wang Song was a much more worthy investment than these Foundation Establishment cultivators. The reason Qi Tian was willing to part with a top-grade spirit stone was to cultivate a future friendship with a Gold Core cultivator. If Wang Song advances to the Gold Core Stage in the future, Qi Tian would be glad to give him a top-grade spirit stone, or even a hundred, in a bid to curry favor.

After Luo Xia, Zhao Yanwei, and others had haggled for a while, they finally agreed on the final plan, that everyone would receive three spirit stones every seven days. Such a price would not attract a glance from any Foundation Establishment cultivator if it were in Wanjie City. Yet here, it is a contract that Zhao Yanwei and others can reluctantly accept. This shows the vast disparity between the two regions.

“Qi Tian, these are the conditions. You don’t have to worry about the spirit stones, the Sky Eagle Hall will cover the cost later. What you need to do now is decide who will accompany you to the frontier. It’s not feasible for you to take them all, there needs to be a quota,” Luo Xia said with some embarrassment. Of course, he knew that if Zhao Yanwei, Han Tianyu, and a dozen other Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators accompanied Qi Tian to the frontier, it would be the best. But the Sky Eagle Hall is too poor to afford that many spirit stones. Furthermore, taking too many people to the frontier wouldn’t help Qi Tian improve. “You can choose up to five brothers. The cost for these five people will all be covered by our Sky Eagle Hall. However, if you feel that’s too few and want to bring more, I won’t stop you, but any extra costs will have to come out of your pocket.”

“I understand,” Qi Tian replied. His cultivation expenses were significant, especially with the Heavenly Dao Engine, a gold-guzzling beast, to sustain. He might have hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, but if he started spending, it wouldn’t last long. However, sparing a little to hire help was not a problem. But he did not intend to bring too many cultivators to the frontier. The key for a frontier expedition was quality over quantity. He’s going to the border to intercept the Chi Di, and the ones to intercept should be the cultivators among the Chi Di. His opponents wouldn’t have too many people either. If he brought too many people, it wouldn’t be beneficial to combat. The strength in essence was the main factor in Qi Tian’s mind for his frontier expedition.

Qi Tian thanked Luo Xia with a cupped fist salute, then turned to Zhao Yanwei, Han Tianyu, and the other brothers. “I don’t like the idea of bringing weak people along with me, just as Brother Zhao Yanwei said. I don’t want to have to worry about protecting you while we’re holding back the southward moving Chi Di. If you want to go with me and get spirit stones as your reward, you’ll have to pass my test first. Whoever wants to go with me, please step forward. Walk up to me and have a palm exchange. Any brother who can take one of my palms without harm can qualify to continue in the selection.”

“What?” Qi Tian’s words were like stirring a hornet’s nest. This was an insult to them, right? To use such a simple method as a palm exchange to screen them, he was clearly not taking them seriously.

“Qi Tian, you’re too arrogant. Who do you think you are, using this method to screen us? What do you take us for?”

…

Qi Tian raised his eyebrows, saying, “I’m adding a condition on the spot: anyone who accompanies me to the border must possess one quality— obeying commands and follow orders. I am the captain of the team, and within the team, I have absolute authority. All team members must follow my orders without question. You can have opinions, but do not voice them, keep them to yourselves.”

“Qi Tian, you… you’re too authoritarian.” A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator immediately criticised Qi Tian.

Qi Tian didn’t bother explaining. He welcomed those who were willing to follow this rule, and had no interest in wasting words on those who weren’t. “That’s all I have to say. Those who are willing to follow this rule can come over to me and slap palms with me. Is there anyone willing?”

Zhao Yanwei, Han Tianyu and the others looked at each other, no one stepped forward. Whoever stepped forward at this moment would become the public enemy; nobody wanted to be that scapegoat.

Luo Xia snorted coldly, rebuking, “Look at you all, cautious and hesitant, always considering gains and losses. You forget your duty for minor profit. It serves you right that you’re all not doing well. I’m telling you, the opportunity is given by me. If you don’t want to seize it, get lost. Finding men with two legs should not be harder than finding a toad with three legs, right? I will ask you one last time. Anyone willing to follow Qi Tian’s rules and come forward to slap palms with him? If there is, come over quickly. If not, get lost and stop lingering in front of my eyes. It’s annoying.”

When Luo Xia, the Master of Heavenly Eagle Hall got angry, it was rather effective. Perhaps it is also to say that Zhao Yanwei and the others needed to find a way out. The condition proposed by Qi Tian is perhaps a bit tough and unreasonable in their view, but nobody wants to give up spirit stones. For the spirit stones’ sake, they could swallow their anger and suffer under Qi Tian for a while, after all, the southern invasion by the Chi Di people usually only lasts a month or two, not too long.

“I will.” Zhao Yanwei was the first to stand up and walked up to Qi Tian, saying, “Qi Tian, I’m doing this as a favor to Master, not to you.”

“Alright, I know. Are you ready? If you are, raise your hand and slap palms with me. One, two, three, go.” Qi Tian thrust out a palm at Zhao Yanwei in a calm and unhurried manner, and with a boom, Zhao Yanwei, who was close at hand, was sent flying as if he had been hit by an angry bull.

Zhao Yanwei had just hit the ground heavily when he heard Qi Tian’s cold and ruthless voice. “Unqualified, eliminated, next.”

“This is not fair. Qi Tian, I clearly wasn’t ready, and you made your move.” Zhao Yanwei, who had just climbed up from the ground, shouted.

Qi Tian glared at Zhao Yanwei, saying, “Go tell that to the Chi Di people. Tell them you weren’t ready and ask them not to kill you. If they listen to your explanation, I’ll give you a second chance. Next.”

Han Tianyu and the other cultivators suddenly hesitated. Qi Tian had just thrown Zhao Yanwei out with a clean and swift slap, which indeed intimidated them.