Chapter 2179: Asking an Exorbitant Price
Shen Wumingque had been silently observing every subtle shift in Meng Jianxi's aura and expression. She detected his surprise and caught his quite intense inclination.
But when Meng Jianxi's gaze moved away from the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade, his face presented a light smile that was four parts humility and six parts certainty: "The Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade is indeed something I have long dreamed of obtaining. However, since 'Panlong Seven Profound Crystal' can make an esteemed personage like yourself personally condescend to come here, it is evidently valuable... at least to your country, its value far exceeds that of a single Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade."
Shen Wumingque's expression did not change, but within her heart, she sighed heavily.
This response from Meng Jianxi was something she was not surprised by at all.
As the number two figure of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom on the surface, her personal visit was already equivalent to directly informing them of the extreme extraordinariness of the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal and the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom's extreme importance attached to it.
But involving the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal, how could Wuming Divine Venerable allow it to be handled through a "subordinate"?
From the very beginning, she had been at a disadvantage, yet she had no choice.
Without attempting to argue or exert pressure, and certainly lacking the confidence to leave disdainfully, Shen Wumingque slightly narrowed her eyes and said without evasion: "What the Xi Shenzi said is correct. If it were an ordinary item, how could it require my personal presence? If it were an ordinary item, how could it be worthy of my offering such a perfect Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade? But its preciousness lies only within my Eternal Night Divine Kingdom. In your hands, Xi Shenzi, it is truly nothing more than a useless waste crystal."
"Of course, of course." Meng Jianxi immediately humbly agreed: "Given your esteemed status, you naturally would not stoop to deceiving a junior like me. I indeed know nothing about this crystal and have no idea how to use it..."
He repeatedly agreed sincerely, then said in an even more sincere and humble tone: "However, since you, Senior, have a request, shouldn't it be up to me, the junior, to set the price?"
"Good." Shen Wumingque's heart relaxed slightly. What she had feared most was not a price being set, but the other party refusing. Since the other party was willing to propose a price, it basically meant the matter was already settled.
"I detest hypocrisy the most. Please speak frankly, Xi Shenzi. As long as it is not too excessive, I can agree to it."
"Then I shall not decline." At this moment, Meng Jianxi calmly raised his head, his gaze meeting Shen Wumingque's directly, frank and unflinching: "Although the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade is incomparably precious, it is only a single piece. How could it be worthy of the immense face you have shown by personally visiting?"
He unhurriedly extended his right hand, opening his fingers one by one: "Five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades, and I will respectfully present the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal to you, Senior."
Even though she had prepared herself for Meng Jianxi to open a lion's mouth, when the shocking words "Five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades" came out of his mouth, Shen Wumingque's eyes still sharply contracted, and her chest heaved violently for a moment.
"Ha!" She let out a cold laugh: "Does Xi Shenzi know what he is saying?"
Meng Jianxi quickly said in a soothing tone: "If you did not hear clearly, Senior..."
"Insolent brat!" Shen Wumingque suddenly stepped forward. Although she released no profound energy, the terrifying pressure emanating from the Eighth Level of the Divine Extreme Realm was enough to make any Divine Annihilation Realm expert's soul contract: "Five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades? Ha! As a Divine Son of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, you should know better than anyone what the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade means to the younger generation of a Divine Kingdom. A single Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade can create a genius who can rise to fame overnight out of thin air. With your status as a Divine Son, you have only been granted one in your entire life!"
"I have heard that the Weaving Dream Divine Son, though young, is quite astute, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. But I never expected... Hmph!" She sneered, fully expressing her derision: "I am very curious—how can such an esteemed person as Xi Shenzi speak such delusional words as 'Five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades'?"
Meng Jianxi naturally knew what the concept of five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades represented, but since Yun Che had instructed him to open a lion's mouth, he had to open it wide enough—wide enough that even he himself thought it absolutely impossible to accept... As for what price could ultimately be negotiated, that would depend on their respective skills.
Facing Shen Wumingque's terrifying pressure, Meng Jianxi's entire body was stiff, barely able to breathe. He took a deep breath, gave a faint bow, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Forgive me for speaking frankly, but this confidence and this bargaining chip are precisely what you, Senior, have given me. If I asked for too little, it would instead show that I do not know my place and am slighting your esteemed presence."
"..." This was an initial disadvantage Shen Wumingque could not refute. She could only narrow her eyes again and said coldly: "Although the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal is quite important to my Eternal Night, it is far from indispensable, and it is certainly impossible for it to outweigh a full five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades."
"I came in person, showing my sincerity. Xi Shenzi is willing to set a price, also wanting to achieve a win-win situation. But this request is nothing short of an absurd joke. If Xi Shenzi insists, then this originally mutually beneficial situation will likely become a widely spread, utterly ridiculous tale marked by greed and ingratitude."
Temptation with benefit, pressure with reputation—it was indeed a heavy move. Meng Jianxi was about to take a small step back at the right moment when his gaze suddenly shifted toward the door, and the words he was about to speak were withdrawn.
Yun Che sauntered in slowly. He glanced at Shen Wumingque and said indifferently: "I heard that a distinguished guest from the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom had arrived. It turns out to be a senior Patrol Envoy in person. My apologies, my apologies. May I ask what business brings you here?"
He offered no salute, not even the slightest respect, and his eyes and tone even carried undisguised nonchalance.
Shen Wumingque frowned slightly but did not flare up... It had only been two months since Shen Wuyi nearly killed Yun Che; how could he show any good face to Eternal Night?
Meng Jianxi quickly approached and said: "Brother Yuan, do you remember the dragon-shaped Abyss Crystal I happened to obtain some time ago? Senior Shen Wu has come precisely for that Abyss Crystal."
"Oh?" Yun Che pretended to be surprised, then let out a derisive laugh: "The chief of the Eternal Night Patrol Envoys, personally coming to beg for an Abyss Crystal of unknown origin? Then... what did Xi Shenzi say?"
Meng Jianxi cooperated: "Since Senior Shen Wu came in person, the value of that Abyss Crystal is naturally extraordinary. Therefore, I just proposed that if Eternal Night wants to obtain it, they must exchange it for five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades."
"..." Yun Che's expression visibly faltered. Then he slowly turned his head, stared at Meng Jianxi, and his tone became somewhat stiff: "You said... five?"
"Five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades"—these six words were enough to make even the Divine Venerables of various countries change color. Meng Jianxi clearly misunderstood, thinking that his "open mouth" was too wide, and quickly said: "Indeed, such a price is a bit..."
"A bit!?" Yun Che suddenly spoke, his voice rising sharply, his brows heavily furrowed: "Xi Shenzi, do you still remember... the journey to the Pure Land, the Forbidden Domain of the Sleeping Gods, where I nearly died at the hands of the Eternal Night Divine Maiden, Shen Wuyi!"
"A life-and-death grudge is hard to resolve in this lifetime! And now, only two months have passed, yet you allow the people of Eternal Night to exchange a mere five Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades for a peerless Abyss Crystal that my Weaving Dream obtains only once in a million years?!"
He pierced Meng Jianxi with his gaze, each word laced with cold fury: "Xi Shenzi, are you the Divine Son of my Weaving Dream, or the Divine Son of Eternal Night!?"
Shen Wumingque was stunned. Meng Jianxi was also frozen there, then immediately said in panic: "Brother... Brother Yuan, why do you say such a thing? My life and soul belong to Weaving Dream; how could I..."
"Save your nonsense!" Yun Che waved his hand violently, clearly not wanting to hear him continue. He then abruptly turned around, facing Shen Wumingque, whose expression had stiffened: "Although that dragon-shaped Abyss Crystal was obtained by Xi Shenzi, it is property of my Weaving Dream and cannot be decided by him alone. If you want to take it, you can! But the price needs to be changed slightly."
Just like Meng Jianxi before, he slowly extended five fingers: "Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades... fifty!"
The corner of Meng Jianxi's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He finally understood that Yun Che's personal appearance was not because he had opened too wide, but because it was far too small.
Fifty Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades... Not to mention a single Eternal Night Divine Kingdom, even if you turned all six Divine Kingdoms upside down, you couldn't gather that many.
Shen Wumingque's face turned completely cold: "Yuan Shenzi, your words... are going too far?"
"Going too far?" Yun Che let out a disdainful cold laugh: "A voluntary transaction—if it works, it's a win-win; if it doesn't, neither side loses anything. How is that going too far? Surely it's not more excessive than your Eternal Night wanting to put me to death for no reason?"
"..." Being in the wrong from the start, Shen Wumingque could not refute.
Yun Che stepped forward, his voice turning several degrees colder: "The origin of that dragon-shaped Abyss Crystal is still unknown, nor do we know its use. If another country needed it, I would have no problem giving it away. But for you Eternal Night alone... fifty Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades—not half a piece less!"
Shen Wumingque stared at Yun Che. Though her gaze was deep and imposing, inside she was filled with a profound helplessness.
She also clearly sensed that Yun Che, standing so close to her, entirely within the range of her pressure, remained resolute in expression, not a trace of fear or trepidation, not even the instinctive shrinking that a body should show.
A body at the Divine Lord Realm, able to face and resist the might of the Divine Extreme Realm head-on... She had never seen such a thing in her life.
Seeing that Shen Wumingque remained silent for a long time, Meng Jianxi stepped in at the right moment: "Brother Yuan, as things stand... Even if you add up all the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades currently existing in the entire Abyss, it's probably not fifty pieces."
He remembered Yun Che's earlier instructions... Although it was about opening a lion's mouth, the intention was still to facilitate this matter.
Meng Jianxi took a step closer and said in a voice not trying to hide from Shen Wumingque: "Brother Yuan, I know you hold a grudge. But Father God has already personally punished them, so this matter can be considered even. Now that the Eternal Pure Land is approaching, Father God has repeatedly instructed us not to cause trouble. However precious the Abyss Crystal is, it is ultimately a dead object. Senior Shen Wu's personal visit is a major event. If we rebuff her like this and provoke Wuming Divine Venerable's anger... I fear even Father God might..."
Yun Che's brows were tightly knitted, his anger not yet dissipated, but he did not immediately retort... It seemed the words "Father God" had calmed him down.
At this moment, Shen Wumingque also spoke: "The Panlong Seven Profound Crystal is indeed something our Sovereign needs. The words of the High Priest are still ringing in my ears. My Eternal Night also does not wish to cause any unnecessary trouble so close to the era of the Eternal Pure Land. Therefore, as long as the price is not too excessive, I will not hesitate. But if Yuan Shenzi insists on stirring up trouble, then I can only say... there is nothing I can do!"
The last four words were faint and expressionless.
A dead silence fell. Then Yun Che's gaze lifted faintly, a faint smile once again tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Fifty Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades is indeed too unreasonable. If my personal grievance alone causes my Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom to lose its grace, that would also be a bad bargain. In that case, I'll change the price."
The corner of his mouth slowly curled upward—a slight movement that, in Shen Wumingque's eyes, bloomed into a dangerously alarming arc: "Rest assured, it will be a price your Eternal Night Divine Kingdom can afford, and it will be extremely easy to accomplish."
Shen Wumingque looked at Yun Che, holding her breath, as she heard him slowly state the new price:
"Let your Eternal Night Divine Kingdom's Divine Maiden, Shen Wuyi, come to beg me personally."
The space suddenly froze, then a bone-chilling coldness spread out.
In the land of Weaving Dream, facing two juniors from the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, she had lost control of her anger... only because it involved Shen Wuyi.
Meng Jianxi's brows sank, and he instinctively stepped in front of Yun Che. Hundreds of auras locked onto him instantly, the atmosphere becoming as oppressive as if the heavens were about to collapse.
But Yun Che seemed completely unaware, instead putting on a mocking demeanor: "Whether to agree or not is your choice. And... there is absolutely no room for negotiation!"
Ignoring Shen Wumingque's anger and not waiting for any response from her, Yun Che turned around and said: "Xi Shenzi, let it be settled this way. Considering that the senior from Eternal Night has come from afar as a guest, we will give three days' time."
"Within three days, if Shen Wuyi personally comes to beg, that dragon-shaped Profound Crystal will belong to the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom—I won't go back on my word. But if three days pass... Xi Shenzi, please completely destroy that Abyss Crystal—not even a fragment left!"
Shen Wumingque's aura trembled again: "You..."
"Senior Shen Wu had best be careful with your words." Yun Che interrupted her without any courtesy, his posture arrogant, as if he were not facing a high-ranking elder: "I am young, with shallow experience, and naturally narrow-minded. If I accidentally hear something I don't want to hear, I might just give the order to destroy the Abyss Crystal directly!"
"Senior might as well give it a try."
Anger, words, resentment... mingled with surging turbid breath, all were trapped in her throat, unable to spill out. Then a wave of icy fear surged into her heart.
The Panlong Seven Profound Crystal was the last type of Abyss Crystal needed for Shen Wuyanyue's rejuvenation. If she failed... if she caused it to be permanently destroyed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After a long silence and daze, Shen Wumingque's somewhat unstable aura gradually dissipated. She said nothing more and turned to leave directly.
"See the guest out!" Yun Che shouted loudly, but his feet did not move, nor did he even glance in her direction.
Meng Jianxi, who had been about to step out, had to withdraw. Only when Shen Wumingque's aura had completely faded did he say, full of surprise and curiosity: "Brother Yuan, this move of yours... is it not just to vent your anger, is it?"
"Personal grievances are indeed secondary." Yun Che's demeanor was leisurely: "But since the world calls me Yuan Shenzi, this grievance is no longer personal but concerns the face of our Divine Kingdom. Compared to a Divine Venerable elder stepping in, wouldn't it be far more satisfying for me to collect the debt myself?"
Meng Jianxi thought for a moment, offered no words of persuasion, and instead said: "Setting that aside, I'm suddenly curious whether the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom will agree to this condition. And if they do, I'll be even more curious... what divine use does this Panlong Seven Profound Crystal have, to make them yield this far?"
Yun Che smiled without speaking, a deep, boundless cold pool hidden deep in his eyes.
...
Returning to the dark, unbroken domain of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom, Shen Wumingque's suppressed mood did not ease at all. Instead, it grew heavier.
Her steps gradually slowed, slower and slower, until each step seemed extraordinarily difficult. She didn't know how to describe this encounter, nor what punishment awaited her.
"Fairy Mingque."
A familiar soft call interrupted her thoughts. In her mental turmoil, she hadn't noticed the other approaching.
Shen Wuyi stood in black, her eyes like hidden stars. Seeming to sense her agitation and unease, her gaze carried a hint of concern: "Fairy, you seem travel-worn and troubled. Has something happened?"
Facing the only bright light of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom, Shen Wumingque felt much of the gloom in her heart dissipate. Then she suddenly thought that perhaps the best thing she could do was to ask and listen to her wishes, for she was so exceptionally intelligent.
Forcing a faint smile onto her face, she said softly: "The whereabouts of the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal have been found."
Shen Wuyi's eyes sparkled with a different light, her voice tinged with undisguised joy: "We only just obtained the Abyss Heart Vine, and now there's news of the Seven Profound Crystal so quickly. It seems heaven favors Mother God! But... Fairy, why do you look so troubled? Is it not going smoothly?"
Letting out a light sigh, Shen Wumingque said: "The Panlong Seven Profound Crystal is in the hands of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom."
The excited emotions gradually cooled. Shen Wuyi murmured: "I see. We have only just forged a great grudge with Weaving Dream. Your trip, Fairy, must have been exceptionally difficult, and you did not get what you wanted."
Shen Wumingque said directly: "The Panlong Seven Profound Crystal is useless to them. But because it's us, Eternal Night, they proposed an excessively harsh condition."
At this point, her voice paused, and she avoided Shen Wuyi's gaze.
Shen Wuyi immediately understood: "The condition of Weaving Dream... concerns me?"
"..." Shen Wumingque's voice had become strained: "Weaving Dream's condition is... that you personally go to beg Meng Jian Yuan within three days."
The air instantly congealed... but only for a moment. Shen Wuyi slowly nodded, her eyes calm: "Alright, I'll go."
"Wuyi!" Shen Wumingque's gaze snapped back sharply, her voice urgent: "Do you know? Meng Jian Yuan's purpose is to publicly humiliate you! This matter must first be reported to the Sovereign; there will be room for negotiation."
"No," Shen Wuyi shook her head decisively. Her voice lowered, and her gaze was extremely resolute: "This matter must never be made known to Mother God. The humiliation Weaving Dream inflicted—Mother God's anger has not yet subsided. If it is reported, it will only add to her fury."
"Mother God needs peace of mind above all else, not disturbance... and we must never let Mother God be troubled on my account."
Shen Wumingque's eyes were full of pain and pity: "But..."
Shen Wuyi raised a jade finger, pointing it gently before Shen Wumingque's lips: "If I can exchange a small amount of dignity for something Mother God has long hoped for, then for me, there is nothing in the world more worthwhile or happier."
A smile bloomed on her lips, and she comforted her in turn: "Besides, after all, it is the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, and I am the Divine Maiden of Eternal Night. His humiliation will not dare overstep too much. Rest assured, Fairy... Have you forgotten? You once said that the glass heart I possess is a miracle given by heaven, that I would be blessed and protected by fate. Could the renowned Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom be more perilous than the gray, deep Mist Sea?"
"Wuyi..." Shen Wumingque murmured, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Come. Please trouble Fairy to take me to the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom now."
She gently took Shen Wumingque's arm: "The Panlong Seven Profound Crystal has no record in the entire history of the Abyss. Its appearance now must be the heavens pitying Mother God. And as long as it remains in another's hands, each passing moment increases the unpredictable risk. We must retrieve it as soon as possible... Then we will accept Mother God's punishment."
Shen Wumingque was still hesitating, but Shen Wuyi had already pulled her along. She thus had no choice but to follow, flying back in the direction of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom.
No one knew that as their figures vanished into the dark sky, deep within the Eternal Night Divine Temple, behind the black curtains, a series of chaotic and hoarse gasps resounded, finally dissolving into a few hushed, intermittent sobs...