Chapter 99: The Transaction

Upon hearing Yan Hao’s words, Gu Changqing narrowed his eyes and looked at him with a sly smile. “It’s a family heirloom. Minister Yan, do you have any thoughts?”

Yan Hao smiled, realizing it was an object, not an ability.

“Could you tell me what it is?” Yan Hao asked first. He cared deeply about this matter but did not want Gu Changqing to feel any resentment because of it.

Gu Changqing’s current potential and strength were truly worth paying attention to.

Gu Changqing shrugged and casually tossed over an intermediate-level golden light talisman. It was something he had obtained from those three men outside Youxian City.

In fact, ever since he revealed the Dao Demon Hammer and the Turtle-Snake Bagua Lamp, he had been thinking about this. Unless he hid everything and never used it, he was bound to draw attention.

But what was the point of living to such an extent? Was it fun?

Although possessing a treasured object often invited trouble, he had little concern.

As long as he could hold out for a month or two, with his talent and effort, he would reach the strength of a level six awakener. By then, who could do anything to him?

After all, there was only one level seven awakener in Southern Chu.

Since he was going to be watched anyway, he might as well reveal some inconsequential items.

If they could really research something from these, it might even be beneficial.

“What is this? Qi?” Yan Hao picked up the talisman and immediately sensed the presence of qi on it.

“A golden light protection talisman! As for the rest, you all can study them!” Gu Changqing said with a smile, then added with interest, “Now, let’s talk about another matter — what do I get out of this?”

“What do you want? Resources, or something else?” Yan Hao had expected some negotiation, but Gu Changqing’s straightforwardness surprised him and improved his impression of him.

Though the guy could be a jerk, he still had a good sense of the bigger picture.

Gu Changqing then took out a fireball talisman and activated it with spiritual energy. A fireball appeared in the room, causing the temperature around them to rise sharply.

Yan Hao immediately stood up, his face full of shock, almost speechless.

He never expected Gu Changqing to unleash the power of a fire-type awakener with just a piece of paper.

With a thought, Gu Changqing directed the fireball toward the door, where it exploded in the courtyard.

Boom!

Even the awakeners in the nearby temporary quarters were alerted and rushed out.

Yan Hao dashed to the center of the courtyard and saw a large portion of the cement floor melted and shattered.

The destructive power of this single fireball was roughly equivalent to that of a level four fire-type awakener.

He immediately realized that the items Gu Changqing had brought out were far more valuable than he had imagined.

They were not only for defense or offense but were carried on a piece of paper. Could other things also be carried this way? If researched thoroughly, could ordinary people use them?

Even if only awakeners could use this technology, it would be revolutionary — even more so than a level seven awakener.

“Everyone, return to your posts!” Yan Hao commanded solemnly as he surveyed the crowd.

***

He quickly returned to the room and sat opposite Gu Changqing, staring at him for a long moment before asking, “How are these made? And what do you want?”

“How they’re made depends on your research. As for what I want… I want a level four spiritual equipment — an identical knuckle duster!” Gu Changqing pulled out his knuckle duster.

“Especially the demon eye on it, I want a disaster-level one!”

He was not too concerned about money or power. As long as he reached level six or even seven, those things would be readily available.

This pair of knuckle dusters suited him perfectly.

The demon eye on it could cause opponents to experience a brief mental haze!

The one he had was a high-grade feather-level demon eye, but if it were replaced by a higher-level demon eye, the opponent would be trapped in that state for a long time.

“There are no disaster-level demon eyes. That thing has never appeared. Also, level four spiritual equipment can’t be made just from disaster-level relics!” Yan Hao said bluntly.

“The headquarters should have calamity-level demon eyes. I can help you apply for those.”

“And relics from the Phantom Monk — I want all levels!” Gu Changqing added after some thought.

“I won’t ask where you got these, but I want to know how many you can provide,” Yan Hao asked first. Even for analysis and research, one talisman was far from enough.

Though excited inside, Yan Hao remained restrained.

Gu Changqing was the type to respond better to softness than force, and his attitude seemed agreeable, so he produced another intermediate golden light protection talisman, an intermediate fireball talisman, a fog summoning talisman, and three wind-running talismans.

All were intermediate level, and he hadn’t used them much.

Yan Hao looked at these talismans as if they were treasures. After a long moment of contemplation, he said, “The headquarters warehouse has a dozen Phantom Monk relics. Most are feather-level, only one is calamity-level. All of these can be given to you.”

Yan Hao referred not to the Yongzhou headquarters but the entire Chongming organization’s headquarters. Altogether, only these existed.

After all, Phantom Monks were rare, and Chongming had only developed for a short time. Most of these relics had only been acquired in the past half month from various locations.

“There’s also the fog pouch! I want a disaster-level one!” Gu Changqing suddenly remembered something.

Rooting fog was indeed very useful, especially in his hands.

Besides, he knew water condensation techniques, which he rarely used, but combined with the fog pouch, he could almost always create a field of rooting fog.

“There are only two disaster-level rooting fog pouches at headquarters! Those can be given to you!” Yan Hao nodded.

To him, these talismans represented an extremely valuable new technological foundation.

Though he wondered if Gu Changqing knew how to make these talismans, he did not press too hard. He had thought about Gu Changqing’s character — a typical troublemaker, headstrong and unruly.

If pushed too far, he might defect on the spot.

Best to send these items back to headquarters for analysis and evaluation.

As long as Gu Changqing stayed with Chongming and was treated well, more could be coaxed out eventually.

“Interested in transferring to Yong’an? You can take missions as you please; participate or not, no one will control you. I can give you the utmost freedom. Even if you just go around causing trouble with the guards... that’s not impossible either...” Yan Hao offered.

“Such good conditions?” Gu Changqing smiled.

“But I’m quite comfortable in Angang...” he said cheerfully.

“Change your mind anytime and come find me!” Yan Hao said regretfully. This matter was not urgent; it could be dealt with later.

***

Young people naturally had preferences, and preferences meant weaknesses.

“When is the next exploration?” Gu Changqing asked directly.

“The information you brought back this time is very important. Headquarters has already decided to investigate Dongyang Mountain. I will personally lead the next expedition, along with some level five and level four awakeners.

However, assembling the team will take some time; it’s expected to be in a week,” Yan Hao did not conceal the truth.

“Then I’ll head back to Angang!” Gu Changqing prepared to leave and return in a week.

Yan Hao thought for a moment and then agreed.

“Alright.”

“Will the things I want be sent to the Angang branch?”

“The fog pouch and Phantom Monk relics can arrive within a day and a half. As for the spiritual equipment, at least five days!”

“Then I’m off!” Gu Changqing stood and headed out. He had realized Yan Hao was practically spoiling him now.

He quite liked it.

These talismans he had brought out were definitely worth it.

After Gu Changqing left, Yan Hao placed the talismans into a metal briefcase, then called to arrange a plane to send the case directly to headquarters.

He then sat down to contemplate another matter — the guards had surely noticed Gu Changqing by now.

After all, Gu Changqing had clashed with the guards multiple times, and the red glow outside his body was impossible for them to ignore.

But this might not be a bad thing.

After some thought, Yan Hao made two more calls.

***

Gu Changqing returned to the camp, where many eyes watched him with complicated expressions, though most of the hostility had diminished.

Mainly because the guards had been beaten even worse by him.

This brought some satisfaction to many awakeners in Chongming.

Plus, Gu Changqing’s power was terrifying. Many now guessed he had already reached level five.

Gu Changqing smiled as he glanced around, circled his tent, then grabbed his things and left, driving back to Angang.

On the way back, he pondered whether to call Meng Xi but abandoned the idea.

Meng Xi’s physical condition was too poor; it was becoming increasingly uninteresting.

Besides, women were nowhere near as fascinating as visualizing deities. His priority was to first visualize the spinal spirit, Mo Gai.

(End of chapter)