Chapter 174: Hiring Help, Slashing the Price to Thirty Percent

The days since their return to Tianyi City had been peaceful.

However, Qin Xiao had also purchased intelligence on Chen Shunyi from the Immortal Dao Merchant Association.

After all, the Immortal Dao Merchant Association operated this business, and Qin Xiao guessed that since Chen Shunyi had lost two disciples, he would undoubtedly seek revenge.

“Qin Xiao, I have the latest intelligence. This news is worth at least a million Spirit Stones.”

Upon receiving the latest report, Ling Ruoxue came directly to the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to find Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao had been supervising Yun Man’s cultivation over the past few days; otherwise, she would fall too far behind her master.

He had been about to visit the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, but Ling Ruoxue came to him first.

“Young Miss, Spirit Stones are a minor matter. Let’s hear the intelligence first.”

Qin Xiao had long since realized that Ling Ruoxue was a little money-grubber with eyes entirely fixed on Spirit Stones.

“Hand over the Spirit Stones first, quickly. It’s urgent intelligence.”

Though Ling Ruoxue knew Qin Xiao wouldn’t renege on a debt, she needed the Spirit Stones in hand to make it a proper transaction.

“Fine, fine, here you go.”

Qin Xiao immediately produced a thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones and handed them over.

“Over the past few days, Chen Shunyi has contacted numerous people-all close friends or those who owe him favors. Among them are many Soul Formation stage experts, and even four Body Integration stage cultivators. They are likely coming to seek revenge against you.”

With the Spirit Stones safely in hand, Ling Ruoxue quickly delivered the intelligence.

No matter how many Soul Formation stage cultivators there were, they could be managed. But this time, the enemy had invited four Body Integration stage cultivators. Combined with Chen Shunyi himself, that made five. If they came looking for blood, even Ye Qiuyue wouldn’t be able to protect him.

“As expected of a Grand Commander, such extensive connections. Five Body Integration stage experts-that is indeed troublesome.”

Hearing that five cultivators of that realm were involved, Qin Xiao couldn’t help but frown.

No matter how formidable Master’s Wife was, holding off two was roughly her limit. That still left three Body Integration stage enemies whom he couldn’t handle. Let alone three, he probably couldn’t deal with even one.

“Don’t you know Elders from the Pure Yang Sect? Just invite a few of them over.”

Seeing Qin Xiao’s furrowed brow, Ling Ruoxue was quick to offer a reminder.

Since you have Spirit Stones, are you afraid you can’t hire Body Integration stage help? If they bring five, you just hire ten.

“Young Miss, how much influence do you think I have? Getting help last time cost me dearly, and I can’t afford that price again. Even if I could, they might not come. This is different from last time.”

Qin Xiao wanted help too, of course, but he could not hand out treasures like Immortal Comprehension Fruits too freely. Other things might not interest them, especially since this time they might actually have to fight.

Though everyone spoke of acting in a private capacity, what true private capacity existed here? It was merely an excuse. When a real fight broke out, everyone had their own concerns.

“Right, what realms are those four Body Integration stage experts Chen Shunyi found?”

Qin Xiao suddenly realized he hadn’t asked about their specific cultivation levels yet.

“All at the same level as Chen Shunyi-early Body Integration stage. Generally, mid Body Integration stage experts disdain participating in such matters. After all, Senior Ye is only at early Body Integration stage herself, so there’s no need for mid-stage figures to get involved.” Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.

Having accepted Qin Xiao’s Spirit Stones, Ling Ruoxue provided a detailed explanation.

That was somewhat manageable. A small realm gap still allowed for fighting three at once; while killing them outright would be difficult, holding them off was entirely feasible. This meant that if he could find a single mid Body Integration stage helper, the crisis could be resolved. But where on earth was he supposed to find one? Not to mention the numerous Soul Formation stage followers trailing behind them.

Despite knowing their cultivation levels, Qin Xiao remained troubled. Mid Body Integration stage experts were far harder to secure than early-stage ones; at this level, every single small realm required countless years of accumulation.

“Right, aren’t I a distinguished member of your merchant association? Can’t you provide me with some solutions?”

After turning it over in his mind, Qin Xiao realized he lacked personal connections, but the Immortal Dao Merchant Association had plenty. While they couldn’t intervene directly, they could certainly help locate people-for a proper intermediary fee, of course.

“Solutions do exist, of course, but you understand how this works.”

Ling Ruoxue had been waiting precisely for Qin Xiao to bring it up himself. If she recommended it unprompted, she wouldn’t be able to fleece him properly.

“State the market rates and pricing first.”

Hearing her tone, Qin Xiao knew she was about to bleed him for intermediary fees again.

“Normally, you can only hire cultivators below Soul Formation. Beyond that, they care about their dignity and usually won’t take this kind of work. Even when they do, they charge a great deal. Hiring someone at Body Integration costs a fortune. You’ve done it before, so you know how hard it is.”

Rather than stating the price outright, Ling Ruoxue laid out the sheer difficulty first to pave the way for her exorbitant figures.

“Come on, my dear lady, this is urgent! Just tell me the price. Keep dragging this out and I’ll have to run away and hide. If I leave, they won’t have a legitimate reason to attack the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, will they?”

Qin Xiao was speechless. At a time like this, she was still finding ways to raise the price.

Chen Shunyi was coming after him personally, which gave the enemy a valid pretext. If worst came to worst, he would just run away; since he wouldn’t be around, they had no reason to assault the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion and would simply be forced to search everywhere for him.

“Don’t do that! They haven’t even set out yet, so there’s plenty of time. Why are you in such a rush? I have to explain things clearly, or else you’ll accuse me of swindling you.”

Seeing Qin Xiao ready to bolt, Ling Ruoxue hurriedly intervened.

“Fine, fine. I’ll state the prices directly then: hiring an early Soul Formation expert costs ten million per instance; mid Soul Formation, thirty million; late Soul Formation, one hundred million; peak Soul Formation, three hundred million; early Body Integration, three billion; mid Body Integration, ten billion; and late Body Integration requires thirty billion.”

Ling Ruoxue stopped there. It wasn’t because the prices beyond that were too high. Peak Body Integration cultivators no longer took such jobs: they were in seclusion trying to break through to Great Ascension. Who had time for these petty affairs?

Even late-stage Body Integration cultivators were usually unwilling to help unless they had a personal connection.

According to these market rates, hadn’t his previous bodyguards been an incredible bargain? Was this pricing even remotely real?

Qin Xiao felt a twinge of doubt. Was this girl trying to rob him while he was down?

“Young Miss, you aren’t trying to extort me, are you? One must maintain a shred of honesty.”

Qin Xiao asked with a skeptical look.

“How could that be extortion? You’re overthinking it. Besides, I’ve already multiplied everything by ten.”

Qin Xiao hadn’t complained about the price, which meant he could afford it. Of course Ling Ruoxue would multiply it by ten.

“Then what level of expert can you actually secure?”

Qin Xiao knew Ling Ruoxue wasn’t quoting the real prices, but what could he do? He didn’t have the connections.

“If you have thirty billion, I can secure a late Body Integration expert. Just one would completely neutralize this crisis. How about it?” Read the latest chapters at novelping . com.

Ling Ruoxue attempted to rope Qin Xiao into the most expensive option, which would net her a staggering twenty-nine billion in commissions.

“Are you joking? Thirty billion-do you think spirit stones are sand? Even if they were sand, I wouldn’t have thirty billion!”

Qin Xiao was utterly speechless.

Only nineteen days had passed between his taking disciples the day after the secret realm quota tournament and the secret realm opening. Add a month inside and three days back in Tianyi City, and it was only fifty-two days in all. Even at six thousand Spirit Stones a second, he had produced less than twenty-seven billion. Where would he get thirty billion to hire help?

“Then a mid Body Integration expert will do. That’s only ten billion, which should barely suffice.”

Ling Ruoxue knew she had asked too much. However rich Qin Xiao was, he couldn’t have that many Spirit Stones. Of course, if he counted his Spirit Liquid and other assets, he certainly could.

“Be honest with me. I know what kind of person you are. Give me a proper discount; ten billion is still far too high. If push comes to shove, I’ll just run away.”

Qin Xiao could afford a mid-stage Body Integration helper. He just thought Ling Ruoxue’s inflated price was too high.

“Considering you’re a distinguished member of our association, I’ll grant you a ten percent discount.”

Sensing that Qin Xiao was genuinely leaning toward fleeing, Ling Ruoxue hastily offered a concession.

“Forget it, there’s no sincerity here. I’m leaving.”

She had offered the ten percent discount so readily that Qin Xiao knew she could lower the price further.

“Wait! Twenty percent. A twenty percent discount, alright?”

Ling Ruoxue slashed the price further, desperate not to let a fat fish slip away.

“Thirty percent of the original price, and I’ll hire two, payable in Middle Grade Spirit Stones.”

Qin Xiao threw out a definitive counteroffer. Take it or leave it.

His rule for bargaining was to halve the price, then halve it again: twenty-five percent. He decided to let Ling Ruoxue earn a little and offered thirty percent as his final price.

“Who bargains like this? Straight down to thirty percent? At that price, I simply can’t hire anyone!”

Ling Ruoxue never expected Qin Xiao to slash the price so ruthlessly in a single stroke, immediately declaring it impossible.

“Then there’s nothing more to discuss. I’ll go pack my bags and run. Farewell, Young Miss, we shall meet again if fate allows.”

Qin Xiao turned as if he were going back to the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to pack.

“Hey, hey, hey! Fine, fine! Consider it me doing you a favor-you’ll owe me one for this!”

Ling Ruoxue thought it over. Fine, she would take a little loss. She thought just like Qin Xiao: whatever she failed to earn counted as a loss.

Even at thirty percent, two helpers would cost six billion. She would pay out two billion and settle for a mere four billion in profit. She could have earned eighteen billion, so she had lost fourteen billion outright. What a loss!

“Damn, she agreed immediately? I still quoted too high! Just how much did this girl inflate the initial price?”

Qin Xiao was stunned when Ling Ruoxue agreed so readily. Doing business? She was a swindler!