Chapter 769: Supreme

Qing Gang's expression shifted subtly. "An advance payment for eight to ten epochs' worth of salary..."

A hundred thousand Creation Profound Crystals per epoch.... In eight to ten epochs... that amounts to roughly a million Creation Profound Crystals.

With a million Creation Profound Crystals, he could easily pick up even a Sovereign Divine Weapon.

Even the high-ranking Heavenly Emperors at the decision-making level of the Omni-Merchant Guild only earned about a hundred thousand Creation Profound Crystals per epoch during peak earnings.

And now, Li Pin is asking for that much as an advance payment? Did he really think the Omni-Merchant Guild was an easy mark?

"About this—"

Qing Gang had been about to speak, but Li Pin cut him off, saying, "I believe my talent and potential are worth that price. The Omni-Merchant Guild offered me a hundred thousand Creation Profound Crystals per epoch because they recognized my value, didn't they?"

He added, "If the guild still doubts me, I'm willing to sign an agreement. If I fail to reach the Heavenly Emperor Realm within one epoch, I'll work for the guild for free until I fall to the Eternal Oblivion Force."

Qing Gang was momentarily stunned by those words. "Become a Heavenly Emperor in a single epoch?"

A sneer nearly tugged at the corner of his lips. Fortunately, he managed to suppress it just in time.

He exchanged a glance with his sister, Zi Shuang. Both of them caught the flicker of mockery in each other's eyes.

Become a Heavenly Emperor in one epoch? Who did he think he was?

Just because he reached Cosmic Radiance in two hundred years, he thought the rest of his cultivation path would be as easy as eating and drinking?

The leap from Cosmic Radiance to Tyrant, and then from Tyrant to Sacred Monarch, demanded time, effort, and unwavering dedication.

Especially the step from Cosmic Radiance to Tyrant. One had to constantly refine their lacking secret arts, combat techniques, and insights accumulated before reaching Cosmic Radiance, just to begin grasping a full understanding of the universe.

As for the Tyrant stage, mastering the universe's evolution was like juggling a live bomb. Any excess from such an attack could prove dangerous. At that level, every step forward in cultivation required complete focus.

The path from Sacred Monarch to Heavenly Emperor wasn't as perilous as the Tyrant stage, but it hinged entirely on one's comprehension of space and time. Without the right insight and sufficient understanding, even a powerful Tyrant could remain stuck there for eternity.

Among the Human Race, many Tyrants had been trapped at the threshold of Sacred Monarch ever since the Ancient Astral World shattered.

It was no exaggeration to say that nine out of ten Tyrants would never take that next step.

Qing Gang scoffed coldly in his heart.

Under such circumstances, Li Pin wants to become a Heavenly Emperor within just one epoch? Utterly delusional.

He couldn't stand Li Pin's arrogance.

But what if Li Pin actually succeeded? That would be even worse.

Why him? Why not me?

Still, none of that showed on his face. Instead, he put on an even brighter smile.

"Since you're showing such sincerity, the Omni-Merchant Guild naturally won't let you down. I'll report this to my master right away. Please wait a moment."

"Alright." Li Pin gave a slight nod. "When it comes to cultivation, we speak of wealth, methods, companions, and grounds—and among all these, resources have always been the top priority. I look forward to the Omni-Merchant Guild's response."

Although the order of "wealth, methods, companions, and grounds" wasn't fixed, Li Pin's use of it to highlight the guild's importance left both Qing Gang and Zi Shuang pleased to go along with it.

***

Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi was one of the highest-ranking figures in the Omni-Merchant Guild. His status was comparable to that of a deputy chairman.

As soon as Qing Gang passed on the message, the higher-ups swiftly convened for a discussion.

Or rather... they had probably already prepared multiple contingency plans for dealing with Li Pin. This time, they simply chose the most appropriate one and relayed it back to Qing Gang.

"There's a response," Qing Gang said with a smile. "Light of Origin, since you've placed such trust in us, we naturally won't disappoint you. According to my master's message, we agree to your proposal in principle. However, the prepayment will be capped at five epochs for now.

"Furthermore, the compensation for those five epochs will be split into ten installments—one every ten thousand years—each consisting of fifty thousand Creation Profound Crystals. How does that sound?"

He quickly added, "Of course, once the agreement is signed, the first installment of fifty thousand Creation Profound Crystals will be transferred to you immediately."

Even by Li Pin's extravagant standards, fifty thousand Creation Profound Crystals were enough to sustain his cultivation for fifty years.

That was already close to the price of a Pinnacle Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon.

For Sacred Monarchs without powerful backing, many of whom had gone bankrupt just to reach their current level, fifty thousand was a figure beyond their reach.

It was already a generous offer.

But... the very fact they were still negotiating meant there was room to push for more.

Li Pin shook his head. "Ten installments is too long. My goal is to reach the Heavenly Emperor realm within one epoch, and that depends entirely on receiving the full advance from the guild.

"Without the full million Creation Profound Crystals, even with my talent, I can't guarantee I'll fully grasp the secrets of space and time in time—let alone break through.

"Even in something as mundane as a home renovation, there's a down payment, a progress payment, and a final payment. And by agreeing to join the Omni-Merchant Guild, I've already offended the Sacred Flame Hall.

He continued, "So at the very least, the guild should pay twenty percent upfront. Now that you've cut my original term from ten epochs to five, if the guild is truly sincere, then once we sign the agreement, I expect an immediate payment of 200,000 Creation Profound Crystals. The remaining 300,000 can be paid in three installments."

"This..."

"Don't forget, I'll be taking part in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War soon," Li Pin said. "Just imagine—once I become the champion, and people hear I'm from the Omni-Merchant Guild, can you imagine the kind of publicity that would bring to your organization?"

"I'll consult my master again..." Qing Gang replied.

"No need." Li Pin waved him off. "I'm sure Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi has already given you a set of conditions. If they meet my expectations, I'll naturally join the Omni-Merchant Guild. But if neither of us is satisfied, then there's no need to force something that should be built on mutual agreement. Don't you think so?"

Qing Gang quickly smiled. "Of course. At the Omni-Merchant Guild, we treat everyone like family. And for family, we give nothing less than our utmost sincerity. I just wanted to confirm things with my master, that's all."

Seeing this, Li Pin didn't push further. He simply watched as Qing Gang busied himself, though whether he was truly contacting Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi remained uncertain.

Not long after, once nearly all the Dragon Origin Dojo token holders had arrived, Qing Gang returned with a bright smile.

"Lord Light of Origin, congratulations. My master has agreed to your terms. Once the agreement is signed, we'll pay 200 thousand Creation Profound Crystals upfront—that's forty percent of your projected income. The remaining sixty percent will be paid in three installments: one after a thousand years, another after ten thousand years, and the final one upon reaching the end of the epoch. What do you think?"

Li Pin gave a slight nod. "That's acceptable. However, I'll be devoting all my efforts to preparing for the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War. During that time, I probably won't be able to report to the Omni-Merchant Guild.

"Understood. That's perfectly reasonable. The tournament carries the honor of the entire human race. Naturally, it takes precedence," Qing Gang replied with a smile.

"Not just before the tournament," said Li Pin. "During the battle itself, with fortune and fate converging, I'm bound to gain some insights..."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I'll return to the Omni-Merchant Guild within a thousand years after the tournament ends.

"Let's include this clause in the agreement. Pass it along to Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi and see if he approves."

"A thousand years..."

To Qing Gang, who had cultivated for an entire epoch to reach the Cosmic Radiance Realm and then remained at that level for twenty-six more, it meant nothing.

To him, it was no different than someone saying, "I've just gotten back from a major international event and need a couple of days off before returning to work."

He smiled and readily agreed. "At the Omni-Merchant Guild, we value the well-being of every member. As long as you report within a thousand years, that's more than acceptable."

Li Pin nodded again.

After a short discussion, the two agreed to finalize and sign the contract following Supreme Dao Origin's ten-year lecture.

***

While both sides continued to discuss the finer points and clarify responsibilities, an invisible wave of force suddenly spread out, creating a faint yet overwhelming pressure that seemed to envelop everyone present.

In an instant, everyone from the Starshine to the Sacred Monarch stage fell silent.

At the edge of the chessboard-like plaza, a middle-aged man appeared, clad in a black and white long robe, holding a jade ruler in his hand. He appeared to be in his early fifties, with no signs of ethereal immortality. Instead, he was notably thin, almost malnourished.

Yet his drooping eyes gave off no impression of weakness. On the contrary, there was a strange, chilling aura that instinctively made everyone stand straighter.

No introduction was needed. The moment he appeared, his mere presence was enough to make the hundreds of "Children of Fortune" rise and bow deeply.

"Supreme Dao Origin."

Supreme Dao Origin lifted his gaze slightly.

There was something about his eyes... as if he hadn't fully awakened from sleep.

While his gaze swept over the many Children of Fortune, Li Pin was also carefully observing him.

By now, Li Pin had already cultivated his Endless Reincarnation Secret Art to a certain level, but the moment his eyes fell upon the Supreme, he noticed something unusual. Supreme Dao Origin's fortune was incredibly scattered, completely lacking cohesion.

It felt as if countless beings' fortunes had been entangled together into one chaotic stream.

What's more, the moment he appeared, Li Pin could sense that the fortune of everyone in the Dragon Origin Dojo, including his own, had intertwined with this man.

This sensation...

Li Pin only needed a moment to understand.

Since they were here to attend Supreme Dao Origin's lecture, they would naturally owe him a karmic favor. With that, a bond of cause and effect was formed, linking their fortune together.

"No need for formality. Since you've entered the Dragon Origin Dojo, then fate has already tied us together."

Supreme Dao Origin spoke in a calm, detached tone. He sounded neither happy nor sorrowful.

"As always, I will use fortune as the foundation. Starting from Starshine, I will explain the continuation and succession of the path from an Astral God to the Supreme."

As he finished, he raised a hand and pointed.

A projection of an Astral God manifested above the mountain.

"Fortune is everywhere, intricately linked to all living beings... All things in this world operate in accordance with order. This is unchanging and eternal. Yet, that very constancy stems from change. And at the heart of change... is fortune. Likewise, fortune governs all change, allowing both change and permanence to return to order."