These three people stepping forth caused the crowd to buzz with chatter. From the restlessness of the crowd, it was clear that no one had expected this sight.
The great clans always had reasons for their actions. If there were no benefit to them, they would not have done this. To many clans, whenever they were hesitating, they would just need to look at those most influential clans to know what to do.
And there was no question that the support of Bai Siling, Zhao Yatong, and Xu Gan had greatly affected the crowd.
The somewhat minor clans seemed about to act.
"Wait a moment!" the Duke Su guard hastily shouted. "Hmph, if my memory is right, Bai Siling, Zhao Yatong, and Xu Gan, you're all Wang Chong's friends. If you help him… there's no problem. But there's no need for the rest of us to follow!
"And besides, all the people here come from clans that are in no way lacking for money. Moreover, many of these experts are ones that we spent a great deal of time and energy raising. The rest of them are ones that we spent large sums hiring from the outside. If we gave them to you, wouldn't we be helping out the Wang Clan for no gain! I know that your Wang Clan recently sold off the spirit vein, but no matter how much money you offer, we're not selling!"
The Duke Su guard wasn't willing to let the matter end like this. And with his troublemaking words, many people began to hesitate once more.
The prestigious clans had exceptional status that was very effective on the other clans of the capital. However, if one said that Bai Siling, Zhao Yatong, and Xu Gan had always been Wang Chong's good friends, then this matter took on a completely different flavor.
In the end, Wang Chong wasn't borrowing pots and pans or gold and silver from them. For many of these clans, top-notch experts were the backbone of the clan that couldn't be lightly loaned to others.
Damn, how did this fellow know who Bai Siling, Zhao Yatong, and Xu Gan were? Wei Hao silently cursed. This scoundrel seemed determined to make trouble.
"Ha, who said that I was going to buy them with money?" Wang Chong indifferently said.
"Is that not so?" the Duke Su guard immediately shot back. Gold? Treasure? All of these things had utterly no appeal to these clans.
As for status, the Wang Clan couldn't offer such a thing.
Wang Chong gave him no further explanation, only a faint smile. He turned his eyes to the other representatives.
"First of all, my thanks to everyone for coming. And then, the reason I didn't write it in my letters is because just words alone wouldn't be enough to make you believe me. If you didn't hear them from my mouth, none of you would have any faith in the exchange."
Wang Chong paused for a moment, his expression unhurried, his manner exceptionally convincing.
"There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Since I have asked for help from all the clans, I'm naturally not asking for them for free. Thus, each person can decide next if they want to accept.
"I want the clans present to lend me their strongest guards. They must be at True Martial realm Tier 4 or above. I need them for three months. In these three months, all of them have to follow my orders without question. And once these three months are over, these guards will naturally return to your clans! As for the price…"
Wang Chong paused, during which the entire hall was absolutely silent, everyone looking at Wang Chong.
Even the Duke Su guard who had been making trouble kept his mouth shut, a focused expression on his face.
Wang Chong had just stated that he wouldn't be using money to borrow these True Martial realm experts from the clan, so now, everyone was very curious to see what Wang Chong would give them if not gold or silver.
Given the status of all these clans, there was truly little that could attract them.
"One Wootz Steel weapon!"
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Wang Chong slowly raised a finger.
"For three months, for each True Martial Tier 4 or 5 expert loaned, you can obtain one Wootz Steel weapon from me. Once the three months are over, then whether I've completed what I wanted or not, you can get one Wootz Steel weapon along with the guard you loaned me!"
The moment Wang Chong finished speaking, the entire hall fell into an eerie silence.
"Wang Chong, you've gone crazy!"
Wei Hao was the first to react. His wide-open eyes stared in disbelief at Wang Chong. No, it wasn't just disbelief, but deep concern.
"How can you give the Wootz Steel weapons to them? And for only three months? Quickly, take back your words."
"That's right. Wang Chong, Wootz Steel weapons are currently priceless. You can't even buy one if you wanted to. If you require a few elite experts, we can think of ways to help you. There's no need to do this."
Bai Siling was also stunned.
Not even she had imagined that Wang Chong had gathered so many people to carry out this sort of exchange. Wootz Steel weapons could cleave through regular steel and were hailed as the king of weapons.
Wang Chong himself probably didn't have enough of them!
"Siling is right. Wang Chong, do you not want to reconsider?" Xu Gan added in support.
From his perspective, Wang Chong was suffering a severe loss. This sort of exchange was absolute insanity!
"Wang Chong, if you need help, I can also assist. Our Zhao Clan is a military clan and has probably been involved in the army for much longer than your Wang Clan. In this aspect, our Zhao Clan can offer you aid, so there's no need to ask them for help."
Zhao Yatong walked up to Wang Chong's side.
"No!"
Before Wang Chong could respond, someone in the crowd became nervous.
"The Wang Clan is still a clan of ministers and generals. Once these words have left his mouth, they are a horse that can't be retrieved. He's already made the promise, so he can't back down now!"
With these words, a fierce and stubborn figure squeezed their way out of the crowd. It was not the Duke Su guard, but someone else.
"Bastard! Su Bai, it's you!"
Wei Hao's eyes went red as he roared and leaped through the reception hall toward that person who had been hiding in the crowd all this time, Su Bai.
Chapter 481: The Capital Quaking!
Chapter 481: The Capital Quaking!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
"Wei Hao, do you think I'm afraid of you? You want to challenge me? You're just making trouble for yourself."
Although Su Bai had spent quite some time hiding in the crowd, he seemed not at all humble in the face of Wei Hao's charge.
Foul scoundrel, just because I can't deal with Wang Chong doesn't mean that I can't deal with a brat like you!
A vicious look appeared in Su Bai's eyes.
What sort of person was Wei Hao?
He was the butt of the jokes they made while messing around, their punching bag in Eight Gods Pavilion. Su Bai had never been afraid of Wei Hao. And besides, Wang Chong had repressed Su Bai so much that his belly was almost bursting with rage.
Boom!
Su Bai thrust out a palm, his entire body suddenly going red. His dantian began to reverberate with the ringing of metal as a majestic energy burst out from his body. This was not the strength of the Origin Energy realm, but the Stellar Energy of the True Martial realm.
Although he seemed ignorant and incompetent, Su Bai had broken into the True Martial realm a long time ago. As a member of one of the top-ranking noble clans in the empire, Su Bai couldn't actually be a true incompetent.
"Wei Hao, this time, I'll let you get a good taste of pain!"
Su Bai had a sinister gaze as his voice turned into a roar. But then suddenly, boom! A boundless power rang out with the clattering of metal as it smashed into Su Bai's hand.
Like he had been struck by some massive mountain, Su Bai flew backward like a stray kite.
As Su Bai flew backward, he brought the seven or eight people in his path down with him.
"Aaaaah!"
"Su
Bai, you bastard! Don't you have eyes?"
"What are you two doing? Fighting here?"
……
The orderly reception hall fell into chaos as those clan representatives knocked down by Su Bai began to curse.
"Wang Chong, shouldn't you be controlling Wei Hao!"
On the ground, Su Bai was both shocked and furious. He was shocked at Wei Hao's power and angry over the fact that he had shamed himself in front of so many people.
"Wei Hao, it's fine, that's enough."
Wang Chong couldn't help but inwardly laugh. From the moment Wei Hao appeared, Wang Chong could sense that his strength had increased by leaps and bounds. The Mountain Ascension Art had been an elite art back then, so it would have been stranger if Su Bai had won.
However, he had not called on Su Bai so that he could humiliate him or take revenge. Such a matter wasn't even worth mentioning when compared to what he planned to do.
"Hmph, Su Bai, weren't you mouthing off just now? Can't back it up? Heh, I'll let you go this time for Wang Chong's sake, but I won't go so easy next time!" Wei Hao said with a huff.
Now that Wang Chong had spoken, he naturally couldn't continue, but it was fine to give him a good tongue-lashing.
Su Bai's complexion fluctuated between green and purple, but to everyone's surprise, he didn't leave out of anger from his humiliation.
"Wang Chong, do those words of yours count? Do you really plan to exchange three months of one True Martial realm expert's time for one Wootz Steel weapon?" Su Bai asked, staring at Wang Chong.
He originally intended to not show himself. While he had outwardly agreed to listen to his father, he had actually wanted to make Wang Chong look like a fool.
But it was no longer the time for that.
Wootz Steel swords were the highest class of weapons. They were not only gorgeous, they were also incredibly tough, simultaneously almost invulnerable and incredibly sharp.
Almost no saber or sword in the capital could compare to them. As a result, although every Wootz Steel weapon was remarkable, they had always been priceless.
The Duke Su Residence had once attempted to buy a Wootz Steel sword, but found out that the Wootz Steel swords were only being circulated in the palace and were simply impossible to buy outside.
In the past, Duke Su's status had meant that he had always been able to easily obtain any information or object he wanted from the Imperial Army.
The situation in this case was completely different.
The Imperial Army that had always been extremely respectful to the dukes of the empire had an attitude as different as night and day to the Wootz Steel swords. Anyone who got their hands on a Wootz Steel weapon wasn't willing to let it go.
Ever since the Wootz Steel weapons had started being auctioned off, the number of them that had appeared outside the Imperial Army could be counted on one's fingers.
To the majority of the clans, this object was something they could look at, but not touch, could encounter, but not seek.
More importantly, the clans of the capital all had a few precious swords that had been passed down through the generations, but the sharpness of the Wootz Steel weapons far surpassed them.
The price of such weapons was naturally impossible to estimate.
Martial artists had a lifespan, but sabers and swords could be passed down without limit. This was where the value of Wootz Steel weapons rested.
If they only needed to lend one True Martial realm Tier 4 or 5 expert for three months to receive an indestructible Wootz Steel sword that could slice through metal, this would be an incredibly profitable exchange.
"Right, right, Young Master Wang, you can't just take back your words!"
"A great clan also needs its dignity. Young Master wouldn't throw away the Wang Clan's dignity for a Wootz Steel sword, right?"
"Five True Martial realm experts is no problem! Young Master Wang, you'd better not go back on your word!"
"That's right! That's right!"
……
It only took a few moments for the crowd to take a completely different tone and voice their approval.
The conditions the Wang Clan had offered were simply impossible to resist. No one had expected the terms to be so generous.
"Wait a moment! Wang Chong, don't do this!"
Bai Siling was quite panicked over the fact that Wang Chong had made this sort of promise.
"Siling, it's fine!"
Wang Chong smiled and waved his hand. After allaying Bai Siling's worries, he turned to the crowd and announced, "Our Wang Clan's words can naturally be counted on, and I'm also putting my reputation on the line here. On my end, I only have one thousand Wootz Steel weapons. After this wave, even if I wanted to, I wouldn't have any to give out. Thus, I'll stop as soon as I reach one thousand True Martial realm experts. Whether or not you can get a Wootz Steel weapon will depend on yourselves!"
Boom!
Wang Chong's words were like a boulder falling into the crowd, instantly causing them to rush out of the room.
This matter involved a massive boon to the clan. Everyone was afraid to fall behind.
"Su Bai, wait a moment!" Wang Chong sternly called out.
In the crowd, Su Bai, who had already run seven or eight zhang, suddenly came to a quivering halt. As he slowly turned around, he had an unsightly grimace on his face.
"Wang Chong, are you going back on your word?"
Though he truly had come to make trouble, he was also no fool. Exchanging ten elite experts for ten Wootz Steel swords would be of massive benefit to the Duke Su Residence.
Only an imbecile wouldn't make such a deal. In comparison, the grudge between him and Wang Chong might as well not exist.
If Wang Chong suddenly went back on his word, then he would be in trouble!
"Hmph! I'm not going that far!"
Wang Chong waved his sleeve and grinned.
"But I presume that you also understand our relationship. So, Su Bai, don't think that you can send some people over, take the Wootz Steel, and also make trouble for me in secret.
"I don't demand much of others, but for you, don't send any of your Su Clan's trusted agents. And don't send anyone below True Martial Tier 6. In addition, I know that your Su Clan recently recruited a new batch of experts. It shouldn't have been more than two months ago. This amount of time probably hasn't been enough for you to completely tame them, right? If you want to get some Wootz Steel swords, you should know what to do, right?" Wang Chong indifferently said.
Su Bai's face froze, his complexion ghastly pale. Wang Chong had been right on the mark. He really did have such plans.
No matter what Wang Chong planned on doing, as long as he planted a few of the Su Clan's trusted agents inside, he could obtain the sharp Wootz Steel swords while also getting a grasp of Wang Chong's movements and secrets. If it was necessary, they could even stab Wang Chong in the back.
If something really did happen, they could just say that they didn't know anything and push the responsibility on a few of their guards.
Alas, Wang Chong had already prepared to defend himself against this move. And he even knew about the new batch of experts that the Su Clan had recruited.
"Hmph! Wang Chong, don't get too smug! There will come a day that you'll regret this!"
Although Wang Chong had seen through his plans, Su Bai wasn't willing to give him the final word. After throwing out this phrase, Su Bai quickly departed.
A matter involving Wootz Steel weapons was no minor one. He had get back and tell his father as quickly as possible.
"Wang Chong, why do you need so many people? And you're even exchanging them for Wootz Steel weapons!"
Once everyone had left, Zhao Yatong took a few steps forward and voiced the question on her mind.
"Does it have to do with the southwest?"
It was still Bai Siling who was the first to catch on.
Wang Chong said nothing, only glanced at Bai Siling and gave a deep nod.
; ……
As those clan representatives left the Wang Clan Residence, the news that the Wang Clan was exchanging Wootz Steel swords for experts quickly spread through the capital.
The entire capital began to quake!
"Fuck! I knew I should have gone!"
"It's over! It's over! It's all your fault! This was a chance dropped right in our laps, but it was lost all because you jabbered too much!"
"Hurry up! Do you know how much effort the clan head wasted trying to get a Wootz Steel sword from the palace? And he still failed! Now the Wootz Steel weapons are being sent right to our doorstep! We can't miss out!"
"I don't care how many experts the Wang Clan wants from our clan. I don't even care if they die! We have to get those weapons!"
"Quickly, gather the clan's experts. In addition, make preparations! I have to immediately pay a visit to Young Master Wang! No matter what, I have to get a few spots!"
……
In the capital, the clans were in a flurry, many of them regretting their previous decisions. The matter of the southwest had currently transfixed the entire capital, but the southwest was very far away.
In comparison, the exchange offered by Young Master Wang was intimately related to the well-being of their clans.
Countless clans quickly began to take action.
And while the clans were beginning to gather the experts, all the thousands of sword shops and sword smiths in the capital were also in a frenzy…
Chapter 482: The White Lion Great General, We Tadra Khonglo!
Chapter 482: The White Lion Great General, We Tadra Khonglo!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
"400,000 taels of gold to buy out the production of your Jadecut Sword Shop for the next three months. This is the schematic. Forge the items according to the instructions. No mistakes are permitted!"
As the horse galloped away, a heavy bag of gold flew through the air, through the door of Jadecut Sword Shop, and thumped onto the floor of the reception hall.
The impact of the bag was so great that the entire sword shop quivered.
"400,000 taels?!"
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 334
