Chapter 97: A Windfall

Seeing Chu Feng nod in agreement, the two Gao brothers were overjoyed. Although it was not certain that Chu Feng could create the Ice Bead and Gold Pearl, agreeing to try was far better than shaking his head and refusing.

"Chu Xiaosheng, time is of the essence. If you have no other matters, shall we set off now?" Gao Guangying said.

"Set off?" Chu Feng was startled. "Where? To Jiu Xuan Sect, or to the Wu Han Xue Tribe?"

"First to Jiu Xuan Sect, then to the Wu Han Xue Tribe—it fits the route perfectly!" Gao Guangying said.

Chu Feng frowned and replied, "The two Senior Uncles Gao have misunderstood. I only suggested trying to use my own spiritual power to see if I could create the Ice Bead and Gold Pearl. I never intended to go to Jiu Xuan Sect, nor did I plan to travel to the Wu Han Xue Tribe. If you simply bring the Ice Bead and Gold Pearls here and let me try, that would suffice, wouldn't it?"

"Sigh, Chu Xiaosheng doesn't know this. The Wu Han Xue Tribe urgently needs Ice Bead and Gold Pearls and has none to spare for testing. If Chu Xiaosheng agrees to create a few, you'll have to make a long journey to the Wu Han Xue Tribe!" Gao Guanghe said.

"Is that so? Then I need to reconsider!" Chu Feng frowned, lost in thought.

Originally, Chu Feng had planned to choose a training site within the Wind Thunder Martial Hall to stabilize the inner qi in his dantian, refine his spear skills, study the Storm Hammer Thunder Scripture, and attempt to break through to the seventh layer of the Body Refining Stage. He had no intention of traveling far and wide.

For Chu Feng, nothing was more reassuring than focusing solely on cultivation and training without distraction.

Seeing Chu Feng clearly waver, Gao Guangying rubbed his hands together anxiously and said, "Chu Xiaosheng, do us a favor! If you go with us to the Wu Han Xue Tribe and can create the Ice Bead and Gold Pearls, everyone will be happy. Our Jiu Xuan Sect will definitely reward you handsomely! Even if you cannot create them, we will not let Chu Xiaosheng travel for nothing!"

"Yes, Chu Xiaosheng! In fact, this is quite a coincidence! We know you have the divine ability to create gold-attribute items, so even though this Cloud Piercing Cloud Sculpt was not injured because of you, we would still seek your assistance! And if you lack the divine ability to create items, even if this Cloud Piercing Cloud Sculpt dies in your hands, we would not hold a grudge!"

The Gao brothers spoke in turn, appealing to Chu Feng with emotion and reason, using gentle words and soft tones.

Although the Gao brothers were hall masters of the Jiu Xuan Sect, in this matter they could only beg Chu Feng softly. If he did not agree, they would not dare utter a harsh word or force him.

Chu Feng stood and paced a circle, saying, "How far is it from here to the Wu Han Xue Tribe? How long will it take? I want to know how much time it will require for me to travel there to create the Ice Bead and Gold Pearls."

"The Wu Han Xue Tribe is approximately eight thousand li from here. Riding the Fire Feather Flying Sculptures, we can cover the first six thousand li in at most two days. The remaining two thousand li are snowy paths in the Snow Mountains, which will require some time—about four days. Therefore, Chu Xiaosheng reaching the Wu Han Xue Tribe will take roughly six or seven days!" Gao Guanghe said.

"Six or seven days? One way is six or seven days; round trip, half a month. How much time do I have before the battle at the Gate of Fear?"

Chu Feng's brows remained furrowed. Suddenly he said, "Senior Uncle Gao, you mentioned that even if I cannot create the Ice Bead and Gold Pearls, I will not travel for nothing?"

"That's right!" Gao Guangying nodded at once.

"Oh, explain how I will not travel for nothing?" Chu Feng asked.

Gao Guangying thought for a moment and said, "Xiaosheng, what do you think? The round trip is fourteen or fifteen days. One day counted as ten thousand gold—fifteen thousand gold total. Even if you fail to create the Ice Bead and Gold Pearls, the Jiu Xuan Sect will still pay you fifteen thousand gold upon return. How does that sound?"

Hearing this, Han Mo nearby drew a sharp breath, and Chu Feng felt deeply shaken!

Even if the creation failed, one could still receive fifteen thousand gold in travel expenses. The Jiu Xuan Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost major force among the nine mountains and eighteen veins—wealthy indeed!

Chu Feng sighed inwardly, realizing just how important creating the Ice Bead and Gold Pearls for the Wu Han Xue Tribe truly was. Otherwise, even with such vast resources, the Jiu Xuan Sect would not be so generous.

Fifteen thousand gold was a substantial sum; some martial families with over a hundred members might not possess that much. When Ding Wanchong's scandal was exposed and he planned to flee, he only requested twenty thousand gold from the Mu family.

Generally, carrying around ten thousand gold allowed one to purchase spiritual pills, heavenly materials, or earthly treasures from the Exotic Treasures Pavilion outside Hengshan.

"Chu Xiaosheng, our sincerity has been shown. We will not let you work in vain. How do you feel about it?" Gao Guangying said.

Chu Feng thought it over and replied, "To be honest, not fifteen thousand but thirty thousand! With this thirty thousand gold as assurance, I will exert twelve points of effort and twelve points of strength for this matter!"

"Thirty thousand gold?"

The two Gao brothers exchanged glances, and even Han Mo was stunned, his tongue nearly tied in shock.

Originally, the Gao brothers had believed fifteen thousand gold would be enough to persuade Chu Feng. They had not expected fifteen thousand to be only half of what he wanted; thirty thousand was the minimum.

"Chu Xiaosheng, this... isn't it too much? Thirty thousand gold could support a hundred-plus mercenary group traveling ten thousand li and risking their lives!" Gao Guangying bargained softly.

Gao Guangying was not exaggerating. A martial cultivator possessing thirty thousand gold could establish a sect with a hundred or eighty disciples in the nine mountains and eighteen veins.

"Senior Uncle Gao, I am different from those people, Chu Feng!"

Chu Feng smiled bitterly and shook his head. "It is not that I am being arrogant. If the two Senior Uncles had not come to discuss this with me, even if the Wu Han Xue Tribe had thirty thousand gold waiting for me to take, I would not go. Would you believe me?"

"I believe, I believe!"

Gao Guanghe nodded and said, "Very well then! Let's be straightforward. Thirty thousand gold to hire you for this journey—it's settled!"

"Um, time is of the essence. We shall set off now!" Chu Feng nodded.

Seeing Chu Feng agree so readily, the Gao brothers exchanged a glance, both wearing bitter smiles. Money was indeed wonderful—sufficient payment surpassed ten thousand words!

For Chu Feng, money was also beneficial. The more, the better. Who knew how much would be needed on the path of martial cultivation?

In truth, Chu Feng felt a trace of regret. If he had demanded forty or fifty thousand gold, perhaps it could have been negotiated?

But the thought of greed and excess in martial cultivators quickly faded.

With this unexpected windfall, the journey to the Snow Mountains was worthwhile. Even if unsuccessful, the thirty thousand gold could purchase heavenly materials and earthly treasures to compensate for the cultivation progress lost to travel. In the end, it would be pure profit.

"Chu Xiaosheng, we have brought three Fire Feather Flying Sculptures. You may ride one each. Let us depart!"

Gao Guangying opened his storage bag. The three Fire Feather Flying Sculptures flapped their wings and flew away, landing on the ground.

"Chu Jun! News! News—"

At that moment, the Wang Hall Master from Lei Sect ran over from afar, holding a fire-lacquered letter envelope, loudly calling Chu Feng's name.

Chu Feng's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that someone else had matters to discuss with him?