Chapter 361: Selling Exotic Beasts

Chapter 361: Selling Exotic Beasts

"Mr. Ji!"

As soon as Sophia's projection appeared, she greeted him with a smile and enthusiasm. "Congratulations on defeating Li Xuan and rising to the top of the Global Battle Power Ranking!"

Compared to a couple of months ago, when they were in the New Roman Empire, her tone now carried an additional hint of respect.

Just a few hours after the conclusion of the battle, she had sent her congratulatory message.

Moreover, Sophia had also been present to witness the battle today.

"Thank you, Princess," Ji Xinghuo said, well aware of the reason for her enthusiasm. He cut straight to the chase and asked, "I don't know if the Princess is free?"

"Yes, I am!"

Sophia's eyes lit up. "I'm in Chang'an."

"Let's meet tomorrow at 10 in the morning," Ji Xinghuo said, sending her his apartment address.

"Okay, I'll be there on time," Sophia replied immediately, her eyes sparkling with barely concealed excitement.

Ji Xinghuo hung up the call.

Zhao Manying asked in a low voice, "Xinghuo, are you planning to sell Absolute Hit to her?"

"It's just an intention," Ji Xinghuo explained. "Neither of us has any use for it, and it's useless to keep it. I'm thinking of exchanging it for ether crystals. Sophia offered the highest price, but I haven't agreed yet, and there are additional conditions attached."

Zhao Manying was quick-witted, and she immediately guessed that this had something to do with her overseas funds.

"I'll tell you about it later," Ji Xinghuo said.

As he spoke, he turned to look at Su Ziyu, who was approaching. Since Ji Xinghuo had made the call in front of Su Ziyu, it was natural that he had overheard the conversation.

"Xinghuo," Su Ziyu asked, "to be honest, I also desire the Absolute Hit. May I compete with Princess Sophia for it?"

Leaning against the edge of the pool, Ji Xinghuo smiled and said, "That depends on your financial resources."

Su Ziyu's face fell, revealing his dilemma.

He knew that Ji Xinghuo didn't lack money, and exotic beasts couldn't be traded with Earth's currency. They could only be exchanged for ether crystals or treasures of equivalent value, such as expansion wonders, exotic beasts, or equipment. Although Su Ziyu had accumulated a substantial fortune, he didn't have anything suitable for the trade.

"May I ask what Princess Sophia offered?" Su Ziyu inquired.

Ji Xinghuo didn't hide the truth. "2,000 ether crystals, but I haven't agreed to it yet."

"So much!"

Su Ziyu was taken aback for a moment before shaking his head helplessly. Even if he converted all his assets into ether crystals, it wouldn't amount to 1,000. Although he was a legendary exotic beast with top-notch talent, his wealth couldn't compare to that of a imperial princess.

"Forget it, I guess Absolute Hit is not meant for me," Su Ziyu sighed, consoling himself.

Ji Xinghuo nodded. "We can always do business in the future."

It was just a casual remark.

However, after hearing this, Su Ziyu's expression shifted, and he pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Actually, I do have some information that I can sell to you separately. It's related to expansion wonders. Originally, I intended to use it as a bargaining chip in our trade, but now I can only sell it to you separately. Are you interested?"

"Of course, I am," Ji Xinghuo replied, sitting up straight. "What expansion wonder are you talking about?"

For exotic beasts, expansion wonders were the most precious treasures after exotic beasts themselves.

The higher the rank, the more difficult it was to find expansion wonders.

In fact, for those at the level of Heavenly Kings and Holy Masters of the Stars, expansion wonders were even more valuable than exotic beasts.

Even a mere clue about an expansion wonder held great value.

Su Ziyu looked around.

The people present were Ji Xinghuo's family and friends, most of whom were exotic beasts with exceptional hearing. It wasn't convenient to discuss this openly.

"Let's go inside to talk," Ji Xinghuo suggested.

He got up and walked into a private room, which had soundproof walls to prevent eavesdropping. Su Ziyu followed him in.

"The expansion wonder I want to tell you about is not an ordinary 'thing,' but it can still increase the number of exotic beasts one can fuse with," Su Ziyu said carefully, his expression solemn and hesitant. "This is my secret, Xinghuo. Please keep it confidential after I tell you."

"Alright," Ji Xinghuo nodded.

Su Ziyu stared at him for a few seconds before finally continuing, "What I'm about to tell you is a ritual, a ritual to pray to a Star God."

"Which Star God?" Ji Xinghuo's heart skipped a beat as something about this didn't feel quite right.

"Lingzun," Su Ziyu whispered.

Ji Xinghuo's expression froze, and the look in his eyes toward Su Ziyu became more scrutinizing and doubtful. "Brother Su, you're not a follower of Lingzun, are you?"

In the past, Ji Xinghuo might not have fully understood the implications of the name "Lingzun," only knowing that it referred to a Star God. However, over the past few months, he had been taking classes daily during his cultivation, acquiring a vast amount of knowledge about the Star Realm, including a course called "Introduction to Star Gods."

According to the professor specializing in Star Gods, the exact number of Star Gods in the Star Realm was unknown, but the four God Lords were undoubtedly the most formidable.

The so-called "Lingzun" was one of the four major Star Gods of the Star Realm!

His full title was "The Lord of Mystical Ways, Lingzun."

And this was just one of his widely known names. Followers also revered Lingzun as the "Lord of Spiritual Energy," "Chaos King," "Supreme Mentor," "Omniscient One," "God of Wisdom," "God of Change," "Weaver of Fate," "Dark Prophet," "Faceless One," and many more.

Lingzun had countless incarnations and forms.

He was enigmatic and ever-changing!

Lingzun's followers were spread across the Star Realm's nations and galactic civilizations. He possessed wisdom beyond the comprehension of mortals, especially when it came to spiritual energy-related knowledge. It was said that he had grasped the ultimate truth of the universe.

Among the four God Lords, Lingzun's power ranked second.

However, he preferred to work behind the scenes, manipulating everything through cunning schemes and causing chaos within civilizations and nations.

This blessing could be an opportunity to turn one's life around, an answer to a long-troublesome problem, a path to strength, or even a powerful ability. Thus, Lingzun was also known as the "God of Hope."

However, Lingzun was an unequivocal evil god!

Praying to him for blessings was a path of no return. The more one prayed, the more addicted they became, doing anything to satisfy their greed for knowledge and power.

In this process, the believer's mind would be eroded and twisted, gradually leading to various hallucinations and becoming a psychiatric patient.

Eventually, they would become worthless pawns, abandoned by Lingzun.

Lingzun took pleasure in the self-destructive endings of his followers, driven mad by his deceptions, and this was all part of his plan.

All four of the Star Realm's God Lords were evil gods.

This was true of the Red Emperor.

And it was true of Lingzun as well.

They were entirely unlike the gods in the common understanding of humans. Of course, the term "evil god" was based on human perception and morality. Many races, civilizations, and nations embraced the principles and doctrines of the four God Lords without hesitation and worshiped them fervently.

For example, the Star God "Doomsday Dragon," revered by the True Dragon Empire, could also be considered an evil god to some extent.

But on Earth, the four God Lords were absolutely forbidden faiths.

"No!" Su Ziyu quickly denied, "The ritual I'm talking about, while a supplication to Lingzun, is not done in the capacity of a follower. It is a sacrificial ritual, offering a sufficient price to Lingzun in exchange for power, with both parties on equal footing."

"Sacrificial ritual..."

Ji Xinghuo immediately thought of the followers of the Red Emperor.

The numerous tribes on the Bloody Highland slaughtered each other for countless years, offering their blood as a sacrifice to the Red Emperor in exchange for blood crystals.

Indeed, all evil gods had similar methods.

However, he was skeptical of Su Ziyu's words. How could a mortal claim to be on equal footing with a great Star Realm God Lord?

Anyone who believed that would be a fool.

Lingzun was notorious for manipulating believers and mortals, always plotting, and difficult to fathom. Most likely, this was one of his traps, and anyone who performed the ritual would be marked and watched.

"Have you performed this sacrificial ritual, Brother Su?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"Yes," Su Ziyu replied calmly, "Lingzun's sacrificial ritual requires an offering of knowledge, creativity, or wisdom. The more you offer, the greater the feedback. I've only performed the sacrifice once and received two expansion opportunities in return."

Seeing the doubt on Ji Xinghuo's face, Su Ziyu smiled.

"Rest assured," Su Ziyu said confidently, "I performed this ritual ten years ago, and nothing has happened since. I don't plan on performing a second sacrifice or receiving the 'Wisdom Seal' from Lingzun."

Ji Xinghuo's expression softened slightly.

Lingzun's "Wisdom Seal" was similar to the Red Emperor's "Blood Drinking Rage." One had to undergo multiple trials and prayers to be granted the Wisdom Seal.

It could enhance a mortal's talent, allowing them to be more focused during cultivation and battles, significantly improving efficiency, especially with spiritual energy. The recipient would often experience bursts of inspiration and possess the creativity that mortals craved, becoming a true genius.

Those who bore the Wisdom Seal could be considered Lingzun's chosen ones.

At the same time, it was also more dangerous.

The Wisdom Seal would erode one's mind faster, accelerating the believer's descent into self-destruction.

"If you're interested in Lingzun's sacrificial ritual, I can arrange it for you," Su Ziyu said, "The ritual requires a specific venue and Lingzun followers, including the sacrificial offerings, which I can also prepare for you. You only need to pay the ether crystals."

He was even providing the sacrificial offerings! This sacrificial ritual sounded like an all-inclusive package, and Su Ziyu couldn't possibly manage it alone; he was merely the middleman.

Ji Xinghuo thought to himself and asked, "How many ether crystals?"

"Between 300 and 2,000 ether crystals, depending on your needs," Su Ziyu replied.

This statement was even more straightforward.

Ji Xinghuo asked directly, "Brother Su, is this a connection you found?"

"Yes," Su Ziyu admitted without hesitation, "You know the 'Jue Luo Kingdom,' right?"

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

There were many vassal states in the southern region of the True Dragon Empire, and Tianyu King's Court was one of them, as was Jue Luo Kingdom.

This Star Realm kingdom was located east of Tianyu King's Court. From Olympia, one would have to pass through the territory of the Beiluosimen Tribe, and it was about 12,000 kilometers from Olympia. It was not very large, only half the size of the Thousand Peak Forest.

"I went to Jue Luo Kingdom over a decade ago to seek my fortune, and there I met some high-ranking followers of Lingzun," Su Ziyu explained, "If you're interested, I can take you to Jue Luo Kingdom."

"Let me think about it," Ji Xinghuo said, neither agreeing nor refusing.

The expansion opportunities were extremely valuable, and the fact that Lingzun's sacrificial ritual could provide two such chances was very enticing.

"I'm merely informing you of the opportunity. Whether you want to use it or not is up to you," Su Ziyu said.

"Thank you, Brother Su," Ji Xinghuo said after contemplating for a few minutes. "I'll contact you if I need it in the future."

Without further ado, the two men left the private room.

The celebration party lasted until 3 a.m. before it finally concluded, and everyone returned to their respective homes.

As Ji Xinghuo's residence was nearby, he carried Zhao Manying back to her place, where they indulged in their passion and relished the wonderful time together until dawn, only catching a brief nap afterward.

Before 10 a.m., Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying rose feeling refreshed and invigorated. They got ready and made their way to the Tianwu Qin Capital Center.

"Your Highness," Ji Xinghuo greeted Princess Sophia as he received her downstairs. Accompanying her were two legendary bodyguards, and the three of them traveled in one car, keeping a low profile with their casual attire.

"Mr. Ji," Sophia greeted him with a smile and shook his hand.

Ever since their phone call the previous night, she had been awake all night, contemplating various scenarios, but upon seeing Ji Xinghuo in person, she felt surprisingly calm and composed.

"Please come with me," Ji Xinghuo said as he led her upstairs to his apartment.

In the living room, Sophia greeted Zhao Manying again. The two legendary bodyguards stood still like sculptures, one by the door and the other by the window.

After everyone was seated, Ji Xinghuo wasted no time and placed the "Absolute Hit" exotic beast on the small table in front of the sofa.

Sophia's expression flickered, but she refrained from touching it.

"Your Highness..."

"Please, just call me Sophia. Mr. Ji, we are friends, so there's no need to be so formal," Sophia said with a smile.

"Alright, Sophia," Ji Xinghuo said. "If you want this star-fall exotic beast, in addition to the 2,000 ether crystals we discussed earlier, I have one more condition."

Sophia straightened up, her eyes fixed on the exotic beast, "Please tell me."

"I have a sum of money in the New Roman Empire that I want to use entirely to purchase ether crystals. However, due to my limited connections and manpower, and the fact that I am a citizen of the Asia-Pacific Community, it's inconvenient for me to handle certain matters. I hope you can help me with this, Sophia," Ji Xinghuo stated his request.

"That shouldn't be too difficult," Sophia said, her heart racing. "How much is the sum we're talking about?"

"200 billion Asia-Pacific dollars," Ji Xinghuo replied.

This amount had been decided after discussing it with Zhao Manying the previous night. The remaining 40 billion would be used to purchase ether crystals in the international market from various countries.

"Ah?"

Sophia's smile froze, and she fell silent for a few seconds before speaking with a troubled expression, "At the average transaction price, 200 billion Asia-Pacific dollars can buy about 10,000 ether crystals. Such a large sum entering the market will definitely drive up the price. I estimate that the most I can buy is around 8,000 crystals."

"The price doesn't matter, as long as I can get my hands on some," Ji Xinghuo said.

After all, this money couldn't be spent elsewhere, so regardless of the cost, any amount of ether crystals he acquired would be a gain for him.

Sophia still shook her head, "The total number of ether crystals in the global circulation market is far less than that, and even fewer in the Empire."

Ji Xinghuo laughed.

"What I want are the ether crystals that aren't in circulation."

Everyone knew the true value of ether crystals, so most people kept them for themselves. Only when one was truly desperate for money would they consider selling them.

Only a small portion of the ether crystals that flowed into Earth were circulated in the market.

The majority was collected by Exotics.

Various countries also had "Ether Crystal Reserves," but they were generally inaccessible to the public.

This was where Princess Sophia's status and influence came into play.

With her power and position, whether it was acquiring ether crystals from Exotics or directly tapping into the New Roman Empire's reserves, she would undoubtedly be more efficient than Ji Xinghuo.

"Mr. Ji, you've certainly given me a difficult task," Sophia said with a wry smile, but seeing the exotic beast on the table, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

What else could she expect? She was a princess, the most beloved daughter of the Iron Emperor.

Ji Xinghuo exchanged a glance with Zhao Manying.

"200 billion Asia-Pacific dollars is indeed a large sum," Sophia admitted. "Please allow me some time to arrange this. I'm afraid I can't do it in the short term."

"I don't require the entire sum to be converted into ether crystals immediately. It can be done in batches," Ji Xinghuo said. "The longest it should take is three years." He could afford to wait three years to acquire 8,000 to 10,000 ether crystals.

Sophia was deeply tempted.

She pondered for a long while before finally nodding, "Alright! Give me a week, and I will hand over 3,000 ether crystals to you. This includes the 2,000 crystals for purchasing the exotic beast, and at least 1,000 more using your funds."

"Deal!"

Ji Xinghuo smiled and shook Sophia's hand.

"I must return to Ivanogle now," Sophia said, her eyes lingering on the exotic beast with reluctance. She then hurriedly took her leave.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end