Chapter 1763: Slapped by Spiritual Stones
"No problem! No problem at all!" Luo Shanhe's delight was written all over his face. He had not expected Chen Xiaobei to make such a high offer!
Like what Chen Xiaobei had explained, although the Giant Barbaric Tiger had Earth-God health and its pelt and bones akin to Earth-God material, they were not actual Earth-God materials. When made into instruments, they would be devoid of Earth-God abilities.
That was why, in the market, an entire Giant Barbaric Tiger carcass was valued no more than 300 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones.
Chen Xiaobei had offered to pay 500 million!
That was way beyond Luo Shanhe's expectations!
500 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones was equivalent to 5 trillion low-grade Spiritual Stones! Even the royalties of the Nine Zones would not be able to cough up so many Spiritual Stones in one breath!
For Saint Duke, this would mean being able to equip a company of 3 million soldiers with the best weapons in all of the Nine Zones!
Luo Shanhe himself even began to question if Chen Xiaobei was indeed a Tenshou spy!
Spending such an amount would mean completely emptying the Tenshou's s exchequer and still owing a sum!
If Chen Xiaobei was the enemy's spy, why would he be willing to hand over such a large number of Spiritual Stones to the adversary? That would be extremely irrational and foolish!
"Eighth Wangye! How could you believe such sacrilegious bullshit? Don't you think you're being a little too naïve?" Helian Tulong scowled. "Even I would have to borrow from my family's fortune to pay 500 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones! How could this kid's backup compare to our family?"
"I..." The excitement on Luo Shanhe's face was instantly wiped off. "Childe Chen! You're not joking about paying 500 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones, are you?"
Clearly, between Chen Xiaobei and Helian Tulong, Luo Shanhe was more inclined to trust the latter.
In his subconscious mind, he had already pre-conceived that Helian Tulong was the default Fuma, and Chen Xiaobei was just a wretched Tenshou spy!
Luo Shanhe was now unconvinced that Chen Xiaobei could pay Saint Duke the 500 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones he promised.
In spite of knives pointed at him, Chen Xiaobei did not bother to justify himself. He waved a hand and thousands of Spiritual Stones came pouring out of his Infinite Space Ring!
The stones were as big as a fist, crystal clear and trickling with Spiritual Qi that was denser and purer than those of medium-grade Spiritual Stones!
"Good heavens... That... Those... Those are high-grade Spiritual Stones!"
The people in the hall exclaimed.
Feng Chongwu and Yun Changxiao held their breaths.
"High-grade Spiritual Stones! These are genuine, honest-to-goodness high-grade Spiritual Stones!" Luo Shanhe's cried in excitement. "Childe Zhufeng! You... You're too generous! This sum of Spiritual Stones means a lot to us! It could even help us turn the war situation around!"
Chen Xiaobei made no further comment and said, "There are 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones over here. You can count them, Eighth Wangye!"
"Oh... Alright..."
Luo Shanhe kept the Spiritual Stones in his storage bracelet and before confirming the sum through a Spiritual Connection.
"It checks out! That's exactly 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones - not one less!" Luo Shanhe could barely control his emotions. "Childe Chen! You've really given me such a big and wonderful surprise! On behalf of the Saint Duke imperial family, I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
"You don't have to thank me!" Chen Xiaobei shrugged.
"No... This is impossible... I must be imagining things... This can't be happening..." Helian Tulong looked ridiculous with his mouth ajar and eyes wide open in bafflement. Hot flushes were rising from his neck to his face, coloring them a bright red.
After all, he was the one who pulled Chen Xiaobei's chains and cast doubt on Chen Xiaobei's ability to pay 500 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones!
50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones was equivalent to 500 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones, which in turn, carried the value of a whopping 5 trillion low-grade Spiritual Stones!
Out of the three types of stones, high-grade Spiritual Stones were the scarcest and the rarest.
There was practically none to be found in the nine major starfields.
Even in Apocalypse Starfield, only in Green Dragon continent was the stone a more common thing. The high-grade Spiritual Stones were not within sight in Vermillion Phoenix, White Tiger nor Black Tortoise.
Even if Helian Tulong had an extra brain, he would never have guessed that Chen Xiaobei actually possessed 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones!
In fact, Chen Xiaobei did not appear to be afflicted nor disinclined to give up the 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones! He gave the impression of someone who had only taken out 5 low-grade Spiritual Stones!
Helian Tulong found himself questioning if even the wealthiest of the wealthy in Apocalypse Starfield could have done what Chen Xiaobei did without being the slightest bit affected.
What he did not know, was that Chen Xiaobei considered giving the 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones to Saint Duke as giving it to Luo Puti. Such was why Chen Xiaobei did not so much as blink.
Moreover, Chen Xiaobei still had another 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones, 508.9 million medium-grade Spiritual Stones, and roughly 160 million low-grade Spiritual Stones in his Infinite Space Ring.
Chen Xiaobei was loaded. That 50,000 high-grade Spiritual Stones was a negligible sum to him.
"Alright! Now that we're done with that, can you please announce the third task now?" Chen Xiaobei asked Eighth Wangye.
"Of course! Yes, of course!" Luo Shanhe could not stop smiling. "The third task is very simple. All you need to do is prepare a dowry or betrothal gift. You have forty-five days to complete this task. The person whose gift can win Princess Puti's heart will become Saint Duke's Fuma!"
Feng Chongwu frowned. "This task sounds easy, but in reality, it's very difficult. How are we supposed to know what Princess Puti likes?"
Yun Changxiao nodded in agreement. "Yeah. And there are too many variables for something like this. The final winner will be decided by Princess Puti alone. That doesn't sound very fair!"
"Heh, this task is simple! Saint Duke's biggest threat right now is Tenshou and Royal Dome! My family can help Saint Duke eliminate these threats!" Helian Tulong announced confidently. "Even if I return 45 days later, empty-handed, Princess Puti will still choose me to be the Fuma! Our Helian family's resources and connections are the best betrothal gifts! Hahaha..."
Helian Tulong left the hall, still laughing vaingloriously.
Luo Shanhe stifled a gasp. He did not think that Helian Tulong would be smart enough to read Saint Duke's mind.
Feng Chongwu and Yunchangxiao looked at each other and came to the same conclusion that even if the both of them participated in the final round, it would only be for mere formality!
They all knew that Helian Tulong was right, and conceded to that fact.
Chen Xiaobei was not concerned about the third task at all. In fact, he was very hopeful. "Eighth Wangye! Will Princess Puti appear in person on the day of submission?"