Ye Zhongming reached out and opened the box. As expected, it contained level-nine magic crystalsâbut the quantity was...
Fifteen.
To be honest, this was somewhat unexpected.
Based on the information he had, his allies shouldnât have been able to gather this many level nine magic crystals.
Li Daqian? Or Commander Mu?
At most, they could contribute a few. The rest must have come from the reserves of the two major commercial alliances.
It seemed he had underestimated them. Quietly, they had nearly gathered enough for a full spin of the level nine wheel.
"These magic crystals should be of help to you..." Wang Hanran hesitated, his expression uneasy, even nervous.
"We... we suspect that your villa possesses someone with the ability to reduce the cost of wheel spinsâcoughâor exclude certain rewards, perhaps even control the pointer."
Within Cloud Peak, only core members knew of Ye Zhongmingâs Exclusion Technique, an overpowered ability that was strictly guarded from outsiders.
Cloud Peak frequently traded in potions. Ordinary people wouldnât think much of it, assuming the villa was simply lucky, either spinning batches of evolution potions at lower costs or "acquiring" them from other evolved. Some even believed Cloud Peak was simply discounting high-level potions they had no use for.
But organizations like Cannibal Chain and Five Ring Money, with their sharp commercial instincts, meticulously tracked potion trade volumes. From this, they deduced that someone in Cloud Peakâlikely Ye Zhongming himselfâmust possess a unique wheel-spinning ability.
Considering Ye Zhongmingâs rise to power, they were over 80% certain the ability belonged to him.
Otherwise, the King of Cloud Peak today might have been Liu Zhongming or Wang Zhongming, not Ye Zhongming.
Keeping this knowledge secret allowed them to negotiate slightly lower prices in potion trades, especially for low-level potions, Cloud Peak cared little about. But voicing it outright? Not only might it anger the King of Cloud Peak, but future tradesâespecially high-level potionsâwould likely become more expensive.
The reason was obvious if one thought about it...
But these were extraordinary times. To persuade Ye Zhongming to ascend, Wang Hanran had no choice but to lay it bare.
"If you or your subordinates possess such abilities, the success rate of wheel spins would naturally be higher, perhaps even requiring fewer magic crystals. That makes you... The most suitable candidate."
Ye Zhongming raised an eyebrow but didnât react angrily. This golden finger, obtained on the first day of the apocalypse, was indeed a power that could inspire greed. If revealed when he was weak, he would have been captured. But now? No one could touch him. At most, this knowledge would only inspire greater aweâand among allies, it posed little harm.
"Iâll accept these. Thank you."
The King of Cloud Peakâs response made the others exchange wry smiles.
Deacon Water shrugged at Wang Hanranâs glance, as if to say, "See? I told you."
Wang Hanran then produced... a sheet of paper.
"If you agree to ascend and pave the way for us, we naturally have a responsibility to ensure youâre fully prepared."
Before arriving, these leaders had gathered near Cloud Peak to discuss this very matter.
Deacon Water, who knew Ye Zhongming well, had warned them: The King of Cloud Peak would demand a kingâs ransom. The fifteen magic crystals, while precious, wouldnât be enough.
When asking for a favorâespecially one involving life and deathâthey had to be ready to pay dearly.
Besides, from another perspective, level-nine magic crystals were just the baseline, not the real reward for such a perilous mission.
Ye Zhongming skimmed the document and immediately grasped its contents.
The list was staggering in both length and value. Just from this sheet, he could see their sincerity.
"We know youâre a top-tier craftsman, so weâve prepared top-tier materials. How you combine them is up to you. If you need anything else in this regard, weâll do our best to provide."
Wang Hanran spoke lightly, but inwardly, he was wincing in pain.
Most of these materials came from Cannibal Chain and Five Ring Money. The other factions had, at most, contributed materials from level-nine lifeformsâbut those alone wouldnât have swayed Ye Zhongming. The two commercial giants had to fill the gaps.
This section was what intrigued Ye Zhongming the most.
The materials listed were the highest-grade he had ever seen.
His current stock of level nine magic crystals came from the Secret Realm, the Mountain King Wheel, and only a few from actual hunts. Thus, Cloud Peakâs level-nine materials didnât match the number of magic crystals.
But this list? At a glance, it contained materials from at least ten level-nine lifeforms.
Calling this a treasure trove was no exaggeration.
Instinct told him he could use these materials for over twenty refinement attempts... all for purple-grade equipment!
The exact success rate was uncertain, but it would guarantee at least five purple items.
"Weâve also included specialties from other regions and nations, along with some rare curiosities. We hope they interest you."
Ye Zhongming nodded. Beyond materials, the list included many exotic itemsâsome plant-based, others region-specific.
There were even oddities whose purposes eluded him.
"Naturally, we wonât skimp on warbeasts, mechanical fortresses, Exquisite Floating Balls, and the like. If you leave for the skies, Cloud Peakâs safety must be ensured. Beyond our full commitment to defend this place, these will bolster the villaâs strength."
These contributions clearly came from Li Daqian and Commander Mu. Since Cannibal Chain and Five Ring Money had shouldered the bulk of the list, the others had to chip in.
"Mr. Ye... are you satisfied?"
Wang Hanran watched the King of Cloud Peak nervously, awaiting his answerâacceptance or refusal.
There was no denying that the level-nine magic crystals and this list would tempt anyone under normal circumstances. But ascending to the heavens? Even a fool knew the risks. Refusing to preserve his life would be perfectly reasonable.
The King of Cloud Peak sat in thought. Under the expectant gazes of all, he finally spoke:
"If you agree to one more condition... Iâll do it."