Chapter 0438: Excellent Helper

When Li Luo exited the stone room, Yu Hongxi was already awaiting him outside. Leaning casually against the wall, her expression was dragged down by a hint of sadness, but upon seeing the young man stride out, she recomposed herself.

"So, have you taken everything?" Yu Hongxi queried.

Li Luo nodded.

Without speaking further, she led Li Luo out.

"President Yu..." Li Luo wheedled as he rushed over, moving to her side. "I have a tiiiiiiiiny task I need your help with."

Relentless and without skipping a beat, she coolly responded, "If it's just business, we can settle things professionally. I know you've helped Qing'er in the Golden Dragon Dao Fields and will give you a discount. But if it's anything else that has nothing to do with the Golden Dragon Bank... Well, you can keep this request to yourself."

"I need your help to refine a little something... It requires a Duke's vast might." Li Luo didn't hesitate.

A flash of surprise could be seen in her eyes before they narrowed in contemplation. What is this brat up to now? What would require a Duke's strength?

"Nope. Can't do it. Since this requires a Duke's involvement, this thing you're trying to refine must be of great significance. If news of this leaks out, it would inevitably leave a shadow on the Golden Dragon Bank's stance of neutrality." Yu Hongxi was not going to lightly accede to such a shady request, so she simply rejected him immediately.

On the other hand, her response did not seem to be out of Li Luo's expectations. Furthermore, this rejection didn't seem particularly firm... No longer planning to beat around the bush, Li Luo coughed and cut straight to the chase. "President Yu is truly an esteemed business leader. What if I told you I could sufficiently compensate you?"

"What sort of compensation? Are you trying to hire me for a ride?" Yu Hongxi's red lips turned into a smirk as she teased him. "An old lady like me is extremely expensive. Do you think House Luolan is able to afford me?"

Yu Hongxi's proud proclamation did not faze Li Luo in any way. On the other hand, he gently opened his palm, revealing a jade gourd, a golden object slowly flowing within.

The jade gourd on its own seemed pretty uninspirational, and an uninspired, casual glance was all she afforded it. But when she noticed the golden substance waffling around within, her gaze quickly sharpened. She came to a halt, and a passionate look finally surfaced within her eyes.

"President Yu, I think you know what this is. I don't know... Do YOU think this is enough to warrant your help?" Li Luo asked earnestly.

After which, he proceeded to put the jade gourd away slowly. Yu Hongxi continued to endlessly stare at his hands, as though an intense glare could cause the gourd to reappear.

"If this isn't enough... sigh... I guess I have to find someone else, then." Looking at her lack of response, Li Luo could only sigh wistfully.

Yet just as he almost completed his slow show, Yu Hongxi reached out and firmly grabbed his hand, directly taking the jade gourd away for closer inspection.

"You brat! Are you trying to mess around with this old woman?" Yu Hongxi snorted with a cold smile.

"This is definitely some good stuff... In fact, if you were to wantonly parade this in front of any Duke Stage expert, you'd definitely attract the attention of even more hungry wolves hoping to take a bite out of House Luolan."

With an innocent face, Li Luo replied, "Well, it’s because I trust President Yu with my heart and soul that I would dare to do so. You’re not a starving wolf, slobbering over my items, right?"

Her gaze immediately softened and she became more cordial, all the while fiddling with the jade gourd in her hand. "Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan clearly left behind some goodies for you." She easily made the connection that this was something that Li Luo had only just obtained.

"So is this a yes?"

A brief moment of silent contemplation was punctuated by Yu Hongxi's final reply. "Although I have no idea what you're trying to refine, this compensation definitely moves me. I'm a businesswoman, as you've said. Since the remuneration is sufficient, I have no reason to reject your humble request."

"Then you have my thanks!"

Li Luo was absolutely jubilant upon hearing this reply. Immediately, he took out a list of items with a smile. "Since President Yu is willing to help, I would kindly like to trouble you with just another small matter. I hope you can help me obtain the goods within this list." These were all materials required for the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Wheel, some extremely complex and rare to find. If he had to locate these ingredients himself, it would undoubtedly take up a significant amount of time. Enlisting President Yu's help was definitely the smartest choice.

Yu Hongxi took the list and briefly scanned through it. "Some of these items here can even be considered to be peculiar and esoteric. I still can't for the life of me fathom what you're trying to do. Uncommon as they may be, they are definitely going to be expensive. I reckon this would cost you around seven to eight hundred thousand skygold. However, this cost is something I can bear for you."

"President Yu is truly generous and kind!" Li Luo emphatically exclaimed. He silently heaved a huge sigh of relief. President Yu was truly a wealthy lady. Only someone like her could casually flaunt hundreds of thousands of skygold. "This is just a token sum compared to your King Quintessence. Barely even a drop in the ocean when compared to this item's true worth. I'm not keen on ripping off the younger generation, and if Qing'er knew about this, I would definitely get an earful for the rest of the day," Yu Hongxi casually replied.

"Okay, so when do we begin?"

Li Luo replied, "Around 10 days from now should be good."

The Holy Grail Meet would start in 10 days, and he would have to leave the Xia Kingdom. Hence, he would have to complete the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Wheel before he left.

"Location?" Li Luo gave it a thought, and if he were to request both Mentor Chi Chan and Yu Hongxi's help, the location could not be House Luolan's headquarters. The headquarters possessed a ward that suppressed the might of any Duke Stage expert, and he would definitely require them to give their all. Thus, he would definitely have to find a safe location to carry out this clandestine task.

"It would most likely be in the Astral Sage College." Li Luo smiled. There was probably no safer location in the entire Xia Kingdom.

"Within the school?" Yu Hongxi seemed a little taken aback at the suggestion, but she came around quickly. "Hmm... that would indeed be the ideal place."

"This refinement will require the assistance of two Dukes, hence I will also need to reach out to someone else to help," Li Luo quickly explained.

Yu Hongxi's brows furrowed upon hearing his words. "I have to remind you, Li Luo, that this King Quintessence possesses an uncanny attraction to any Duke. You can't simply wave this around openly. House Luolan is already in dire straits, and adding fuel to the fire is not the way to go."

Li Luo knew that this warning was well intentioned and thus nodded in agreement. "Rest easy, President Yu. I am well aware of this, and the other Duke expert I plan to enlist is none other than my mentor, Chi Chan. I trust her, and as a mentor of the Astral Sage College, she is a neutral party to all this too."

"Chi Chan, hmm...?" She nodded and no longer said anything. Having had some interaction with her in the past, this was indeed a good choice.

"I will assist you with gathering the ingredients. When the time comes, I will find you in the school."

Li Luo nodded and once again heaved a sigh of relief. Thankfully, his kind parents had left behind him these precious King Quintessences. Otherwise, he would have had no way to get a Duke expert to help, and he would’ve been ruined! As both Mentor Chi Chan and Yu Hongxi were neutral, one would naturally have to produce something of equivalent value to obtain their help.

Now that half the problem was resolved, he would have to look for Mentor Chi Chan. Things seemed to be looking up now.