Chapter 2582: The Netherworld Race Finally Made It (Bald and All)
Even if the Carbon-Based Alliance is established, as long as the member races consider the Netherworld Race a threat, it's useless no matter how eloquently one speaks, even if flowers bloom from one's mouth and petals fall from the sky!
They simply won't set this precedent!
Jiangnan rested his chin on his hand: (͡°ก͡°) "I know the difficulty lies here. Not to mention other races, even if I stand from the perspective of the Human Race, I would feel uneasy letting the Netherworld Race return to the Starry Sky just like that..."
Youming's mouth twitched. Was it necessary to put it so bluntly?
Jiangnan squinted: "So... I need bargaining chips. Chips to negotiate with other races, to make them speak up to protect the Netherworld Race, to take your side!"
"These chips, only you can give them to me!"
Youming frowned deeply: "What chips?"
Jiangnan grinned: "I need the Netherworld Race to hand over control of the Seven-Colored Big Crucian Carp to me."
"Just this point alone is enough..."
As soon as these words were spoken, both Youming and Bing Chacha's expressions changed drastically, and even Jiu Lan's expression stiffened.
River Styx Koi? Control rights? Since when could the Netherworld Race control it?
Youming gave a dry laugh: (⌒ㅂ≠;) "This point is unnecessary, right? Besides, you all know the situation with the River Styx Koi. How could our Netherworld Race have the ability to control it?"
"And we haven't even left the cage yet. Where would we have the mind to consider other trivial matters?"
Jiangnan said flatly: (￢_￢) "Really not? Not considering now doesn't mean not considering later."
"The River Styx Koi has almost no intelligence. It can be easily guided and controlled using Great Strength or River Styx Crystal. To be honest, I've brought the purification method for Great Strength this time."
"As for what I promised to the Netherworld Race before, I, Jiangnan, won't shortchange you."
Youming swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his burning gaze falling on the sack. Did he really bring it?
However, Jiangnan leaned forward, a smile spreading across his face: "You and I both know how much Great Strength can improve the overall strength of the Netherworld Race! Whether it's physical fitness, cultivation speed, or the efficiency of utilizing the River Styx, there will be a qualitative leap!"
"And with such a Netherworld Race returning to the Starry Sky! After gaining a foothold, using Great Strength to lure the River Styx Koi to expand waterways and territories, wherever the River Styx flows, among the ten thousand races of the starry sky, who would be your match?"
"Human nature is greedy; I am greedier than you! No one can be sure about the future. We are all adults. As the Era Lord of the Human Race, I also need to be responsible for my race."
"And with a Netherworld Race so full of threats, who would dare to let you out? Who would speak for you?"
At this moment, the entire meeting room fell silent. Bing Chacha's forehead dripped with sweat. Good heavens, Nan Shen had directly scripted the Netherworld Race's path to dominating the Starry Sky?
But the Netherworld Race, having gathered all conditions, indeed had such potential!
Youming's eyes flickered. This statement was true. If it really came to that, putting himself in their shoes, even Youming wouldn't give the Netherworld Race a chance!
Only by cutting off one arm could the member races of the Carbon-Based Alliance feel reassured, speak for the Netherworld Race, and give the Netherworld Race a chance to return to the Starry Sky!
"But handing over the River Styx Koi doesn't that just add another shackle to the Netherworld Race? Where is the freedom in that?"
Hearing Youming say this, Jiangnan instead laughed: "Freedom? The Netherworld Race hasn't even left the prison cage yet. What true freedom can you talk about? Who in this world is truly free? Not even I am!"
"Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want, but the ability to not do what you don't want to do."
"Handing over control of the River Styx Koi is not a shackle, but an insurance policy. If the Netherworld Race needs it for development, the River Styx Koi can help you expand your territory. I won't interfere with that. But if you have other intentions, I at least have a countermeasure, right?"
"At least this way, the Netherworld Race can join the Starry Sky Sequence, and your people can walk freely under the starry sky. There's no perfect solution in this world!"
"To put it one step further, you originally had no ability to control the River Styx Koi! Even if I didn't give you the purification method for Great Strength today, you'd just have to stare helplessly, wouldn't you?"
Youming's expression froze instantly. How should he decide?
If he didn't hand over the River Styx Koi, the Carbon-Based Alliance would always consider the Netherworld Race a threat and simply wouldn't let the Netherworld Race break out of the cage!
But if he did hand it over, the Netherworld Race would lose its capital to dominate the Starry Sky, yet it could also achieve the grand enterprise that generations of ancestors had never completed, allowing the Netherworld Race to set foot in the Starry Sky World!
"Wait! Let me think about it..."
Jiangnan smiled: "No rush~ I have plenty of time."
With that, he extended his hand, and Qing Ke quickly trotted over to pour a cup of tea for Jiangnan to drink.
Bing Chacha's mouth twitched as she watched. If she remembered correctly, this one was the Child of Destiny, right? Although a bit yellow, it should be her.
The Child of Destiny had become Nan Shen's tea server?
This this this...
Youming finally took a deep breath, slapped the table with his big hand and said: "No choice! I'll hand it over. Since we've come this far, if I don't go for it, there may never be another chance."
"We'll deal with the future later. For now, the primary goal is to let the Netherworld Race break out of the cage and set foot in the Starry Sky!"
"Just achieving this point, I, Youming, will have no shame before the ancestors of my race!"
Jiangnan grinned: (๑¯ิ↼¯ิ) "Refreshing! With this, plus my Two-Dimensional Blade, it should be enough to dispel the concerns of our allies."
Youming immediately spat blood. "Damn it, with you saying that, even if I had that intention, I wouldn't dare to make a move, would I?"
"Although I'm handing over control of the River Styx Koi, I can't handle that thing. If you want to deal with it, you do it yourself..."
He had been tortured enough by that fish.
Jiangnan rubbed his small hands: (ʃƪᵒ̶̶̷̀↼˂̶́) "Why would I need you to act? It's just a mere Seven-Colored Big Crucian Carp. Easy peasy, right?"
Once he got his hands on the Seven-Colored Big Crucian Carp, it would be equivalent to owning an unlimited supply of Seven-Colored Small Fire Jars.
That thing's power could break the flow of the River Styx.
Youming cleared his throat twice: (￢ก≠٥) "Um... may I ask, who are the current member races of the Carbon-Based Alliance?"
Jiangnan counted on his fingers: "Human Race, the Star Farming Clan we just negotiated with, you're the third. Ah, right, welcome the Netherworld Race to join the Carbon-Based Alliance as one of the core member races!"
"Come on, call me Alliance Leader Jiang a couple of times?"
Youming's mouth opened wide, instantly petrified.
(๑ʘ̅口≠๑)...
"What the hell? You've been talking my ear off, and in the end, including the Netherworld Race, there are only three?"
"And you talk about say? Say your sister!"
"Are you messing with me? You damn..."
Jiangnan grabbed the sack in one go: sack٩(ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)☛ "Hey hey hey? How dare you speak to the Alliance Leader like that? Watch your language!"
Youming immediately choked: (´థж≠) "Damn it, you really are a talent. Well done!"
His face turned green. Jiangnan really did cheat people to death without paying compensation.
Jiangnan said casually: "With the chips, it's easier to negotiate with them. And if negotiations fail, the Netherworld Race can simply not go to war. You won't lose anything? The risk has been minimized, you know?"
"Once it's done, the Carbon-Based Alliance will directly open trade routes for the Netherworld Race. River Styx Crystals and various specialties of the Netherworld Star Domain will be hot commodities."
Youming rolled his eyes: "That's still up in the air. Let's not talk about that for now. The Great Strength purification technology you mentioned earlier? Did you really get it?"
Jiangnan didn't keep him in suspense and directly opened the sack to take things out.
"Here, take it. This is a purification sample of River Styx energy. The effect is almost the same as Great Strength, but the duration and effectiveness are slightly inferior."
"The factory design plans for the purification equipment, along with the purification methods, data, etc., are all in the quantum storage. Later, let your race's researchers take over, and then you can pump water from the River Styx to build the Great Strength factory."
"Ah, right! Energy barely works in the Netherworld Star Domain. This purification equipment uses mechanical energy. You can build a dam on the River Styx, using the water flow to convert into mechanical energy as the factory's power source."
Li Bing had already designed everything, even adapting it to the Netherworld Star Domain version according to local conditions.
Youming excitedly took the sample, tilted his head back, and drank it.
And what he drank was exactly the "improved version" of the Violent Potion.
Youming suddenly shivered, and the hair on his head instantly fell off, reflecting the light from the ceiling.
His eyes filled with tears: (*ಥ⌓≠) "Yes~ This is the taste, authentic! This is exactly the flavor I've been dreaming of~ The taste of Great Strength!"
"Although it only increased by about eight times, eight times is enough! Brother Jiangnan, you are the savior of the Netherworld Race! You are a god!"
As Jiangnan spoke, he felt the effect of the potion and waved his hand lightly.
The space was pressed and twisted out of shape.
Jiangnan's eyelids twitched at the sight. Every time he saw this, he thought Youming's physical strength was truly abnormal.
Under the Starry Sky, there were few beings that could surpass Youming in physical strength.
Jiangnan waved his hand: (︶.̮︶〃)ﾉ "Hai~ It's nothing. To let the Netherworld Race drink authentic Great Strength, I strongly requested to improve the potion ratio, and that's how we achieved this effect."
"It just has a little side effect. You shouldn't mind, right?"
Youming touched his bald head and couldn't help shaking his head: "Between strength and hair, of course strength is more important! The Great Strength potion's boost to the Netherworld Race is extraordinary. Compared to the enhancement effect, what is mere hair?"
"If you want to get something, you have to pay something! Bald head... so be it. There's no other way. Eh~ Thank you."
Jiangnan immediately gave a thumbs up: (∗͡°͜ʖ͡°)☛✧ "Brother Youming has truly understood life. Good mindset!"
However, Jiu Lan beside him twitched her mouth. Should she not tell Lord Youming that there was a version of the Violent Potion without side effects?
To spare his feelings.
If he didn't know about the light, how could he dislike the darkness?
But thinking that she would never see a single strand of hair in the Netherworld Star Domain from now on, Jiu Lan couldn't help but shed tears and cry.
(๑ᵒ̴̶̷̥́﹏ก̀) "Wuu~ I'm useless! I've let everyone down~ Wuu~"
Youming was stunned: (๑ŏ～≠) "Why are you crying? You must be crying tears of joy seeing the Netherworld Race finally made it through, right?"
"There's no need to apologize. You've done very well. A girl should get married, right? If you miss us in the future, you can always come back to your hometown to visit. You're always welcome here."
Jiu Lan: (๑•̌ࡇ•̑)ˀ̣ˀ̣ Ha???
Chong Feiyu's mouth twitched. You guys have not only made it through, but all gone bald, right?
Jiangnan rubbed his hands excitedly: (ʃƪಡ̫ಡ) "The alliance is done, the purification method is given. Shouldn't we go fishing now?"