Chapter 359: No Budget for the Dead
Chapter 359: No Budget for the Dead
"Elaine!"
"What are you waiting for? Come and help me!"
A loud and impatient shout echoed within the lake island Mystic Realm.
As Li Sai was dragged underground by the Forest Will, the battle between two Sixth Stage Awakened individuals reached its climax!
Under Qinggan's skilled control of Life Assimilation, the ground beneath their feet and the surrounding lake water merged into one.
They became a living mud giant, unleashing relentless attacks like waves, pounding towards the trapped Aly Kun in the center of the Mystic Realm.
The merchant, on the other hand, erected an impenetrable wall of money.
He bought off each attack one by one, only to have them collide and cancel out with the subsequent assaults.
However, Qinggan's offense was too dense, seemingly endless, leaving Aly Kun overwhelmed and barely able to defend himself.
Just as the stalemate continued...
Aly Kun's gaze swept around, and in the barren land not covered by mud, he spotted a surprising sight—Elaine.
Other merchants or Awakened individuals had either perished or fled the Mystic Realm in disarray.
Yet, the female merchant who had struck a business deal with him remained unnaturally in place.
At this moment, Aly Kun was preoccupied with defense, while Qinggan focused on offense, leaving both of them barely able to spare a hand.
The only one left here was Elaine, whose power, though far inferior to the Sixth Stage, was still enough to become the turning point of the battle.
Aly Kun couldn't care less about the dignity of a powerful individual.
He promptly spoke up, pleading for Elaine's assistance:
"Elaine, lend me your money. If we can defeat this guy, I'll pay you 25% interest!"
"..."
As Aly Kun called out, even Qinggan glanced in Elaine's direction.
But Elaine showed no reaction.
The merchant girl merely took two steps back, moving away from Aly Kun and Qinggan's confrontation, observing them with a calm gaze as she had done before while spectating the battle.
Seeing this, Aly Kun immediately shouted, reminding her:
"Elaine, we are business partners!"
"Don't forget our stocking trade. This is a rare business opportunity!"
Aly Kun's heart was filled with anxiety.
On the surface, it seemed like a balanced contest between him and Qinggan.
But upon closer inspection, one would notice that Aly Kun could only defend passively, and his actual power was inferior to that of the Life Scholar.
Not to mention, his opponent was a Life Origin Type skilled in self-recovery.
If this battle of attrition continued...
The one most likely to lose would be Aly Kun, the merchant.
"..."
Meanwhile, upon hearing Aly Kun's shout, Elaine finally reacted.
However, her response was not to lend him a helping hand.
The female merchant from Platinum City, like him, replied with a calm tone:
"The Riverbank Chamber's plan has already failed. You won't hold any position on Financial Street."
"Mr. Aly Kun..."
Elaine sighed:
"You should also know the basic principle of a merchant—never budget for the dead."
This response undoubtedly rejected Aly Kun's plea for help.
Qinggan, who had been suppressing Aly Kun with relentless assaults, taunted him:
"Aly Kun, look at your business partner."
"This is the money principle you believe in, and it has indeed proven effective!"
"..."
Aly Kun's expression darkened.
His confrontation with Qinggan rapidly depleted his essence, and his skill in maintaining emotional stability weakened.
The only good news at the moment was that the oppressive presence from the Eighth Stage observer had finally vanished from the land.
Aly Kun steadied himself and made a final plea to Elaine:
"Elaine, I can increase the interest to 50%!"
As he pleaded, Aly Kun discreetly manipulated his skill, extracting a trace of value from the Twin Serpent Coins blocking the attacks, intending to tempt Elaine into agreeing to his request.
But as this trace of value took effect on Elaine...
It was instantly devoured by something within her, rendering it completely ineffective.
"?"
"This is... the United Guild's Financial Exemption Order?"
Aly Kun's expression froze, and he identified the source of this power, realizing a terrifying fact.
"You have connections with the Guild..."
"No wonder the boss suddenly went bankrupt! He was schemed against by you beasts."
"You want to devour it all..."
Elaine suddenly interrupted Aly Kun's cursing, "Master Aly Kun, please refrain from such harsh words."
"I'm merely engaging in regular business activities, just like what you did to the forest's Vein."
"I must decline the 75% interest you offered."
Aly Kun's anger surged.
Fortunately, his emotional control skill kicked in once more.
He suppressed the rage in his heart and the sudden realization about the Riverbank Chamber's fate.
He refocused his mind entirely on the battle at hand.
Aly Kun's thoughts cleared.
At this point, he knew he would die here today; there were no other variables.
But the Riverbank Chamber wasn't just him; there were two other Sixth Stage merchants, who, despite their differences with Aly Kun, were still active in the Forest Courtyard World.
The interests of the Riverbank Chamber were aligned with theirs.
All was not yet lost.
"Huff—"
"This trade is indeed challenging."
Aly Kun took a deep breath.
His slightly plump body stood firm, and his right hand reached into the collar of his purple elegant attire, pulling out a silver necklace that was tightly pressed against his chest.
Ding—
The silver necklace shone in the merchant's hand.
Crafted purely from white silver, it was shaped like a river.
This was the Essence Vessel Aly Kun had chosen after becoming an Awakened and confirming his Essence type.
Aly Kun gazed at his most prized possession.
His eyes briefly misted over, as if he were still on the day he left his apprenticeship and first held the necklace that symbolized his Awakened status.
"..."
"It ends here."
After a few seconds, Aly Kun tossed the necklace.
The Essence of a Sixth Stage merchant was within, and as he threw it high into the air, it immediately hovered, releasing its power in all directions.
Boom—
It was also an Essence Vessel, but Aly Kun's necklace was not on the same level as Finn's branch.
It contained a special Essence.
The concept of buying and renting was spreading.
Qinggan, who was also engaged in battle, was affected, and his skills became unstable. The mud giant, like a flood meeting a dam, violently collided and then retreated, even starting to dissipate!
"Essence interference?"
Qinggan's expression darkened as he took a rare step back in the midst of battle.
His Essence was being depleted at an unusual rate, and Aly Kun's final trump card was even causing him difficulty!
"Qinggan, there's no conflict between us that can't be resolved."
"Kang Qi is of the forest..."
Puff—
Just as the battle turned in Aly Kun's favor, and he was about to persuade Qinggan to surrender, he heard a voice from behind.
A brown-red wooden spear suddenly pierced through Aly Kun from behind!
It was an ordinary-looking piece of wood.
In an instant, it penetrated the concept barrier formed by money, tearing open his elegant purple attire and finally reaching the merchant's beating heart!
"Ah?!"
Aly Kun's chest ached.
All the power in his body seemed to be instantly drained, and his skills could no longer be maintained.
He realized his heart had been pierced.
If not for external interference, he could have used the Twin Serpent Coins to buy his injuries. But in his current situation, there was no chance for that.
"..."
Aly Kun's body stiffened, his expression frozen in shock.
He glanced back.
On the ground where there had been nothing a moment ago, a man stood, bearing Kang Qi's appearance.
The weapon in his hand was the very one that had pierced his chest.
But Aly Kun couldn't sense the aura of a Life Scholar from him!
When had he returned to the ground?
How could he not have heard the sound of the soil breaking?
As a scholar, how could Kang Qi possibly move so fast?
Infinite questions flooded his mind, but Aly Kun had no more strength left. As his body slumped backward, he could only ask in a faltering voice:
"You're not... Kang Qi, who... are you?"
Whoosh—
The merchant received no answer.
The spear was withdrawn, and he lost consciousness, falling to the ground and sinking into eternal darkness.
(End of Chapter)
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