It turned out to be like this. The corner of Mu Aotie’s mouth twitched slightly, realising that this fellow, Old Fifteen, was truly ruthless.
“Forget it. The matter of the person is simple, but this money matter is utterly ridiculous. Can we earn it back? Let us go, we will find someone else to ask.” Yu Qing waved his hand with a sigh and beckoned Mu Aotie to leave with him.
He had actually asked the people from “Gongshan Hall” this very question just now. However, they were too lazy to explain and simply dismissed him with an “I do not know”. He did not even dare to show any temper.
Fortunately, this was no secret. The two spent a hefty sum to change their clothes and strolled around the city for a short while, quickly figuring out whether this registration fee was truly worth ten million.
On their way, they spotted a rather talkative old man who seemed quite familiar with Kuilei City. They immediately asked for this passerby’s convenience and pulled him aside to seek his advice.
Upon hearing the question, the old man laughed heartily and said, “Compared to the income, this registration fee is not expensive at all. The key is that for most sects, even if they participate, it is impossible to get first place. This money would be like throwing it into the water, which is unnecessary. Young brothers, you must also see that the interests that make the top sects of Tianji Mountain compete cannot possibly yield a small return.
“Just calculate it. Take that speciality fish from Tongque. The selling price regulated by Kuilei City cannot be lower than ten thousand taels per fish. If you can sell just one thousand fish a day, that is ten million. Even if it is a little less, it does not matter. What is the concept of the cumulative total over three years?”
Hearing that the daily income could be tens of millions, Yu Qing and Mu Aotie gasped in shock, their eyes widening. Yu Qing hurriedly asked, “Can you really sell one thousand fish every day?”
The old man stroked his beard and said, “Then I do not know. People who make this kind of money do not show off. However, one can imagine that this thing is not only sold within the borders of Tianji Mountain, but is sold to the entire world. Those ‘Qianli Lang’ who rise and fall on Tongque Lake are said to be hired by rich people from all over the world to make purchases. The travel expenses are much more expensive than the fish, but to those truly wealthy people, this means nothing at all.”
Hearing this, the two martial brothers knew what to expect in their hearts. They began to grit their teeth and calculate silently. Even if the daily income was a million, a year would be nearly four hundred million, let alone three years. If the daily income was ten million for three years, the revenue would be simply terrifying. Even if most of it had to be distributed among the sect members, the remainder would still be incredible. After having the silently calculated figure in mind, the two martial brothers looked at each other, suddenly feeling that the Qilin Ginseng did not seem so appealing anymore.
The old man continued, “Apart from the manpower expenses of the sect members, which just involves providing some fresh lake food for Kuilei City every day, there is no significant cost investment. If they cannot even earn back ten million, that would be a joke. If it were less than one hundred times ten million, the past ‘Tongque Martial Events’ would never have made those top sects risk their lives.” His tone and teasing implication seemed to mock the young men for being short-sighted.
Yu Qing swallowed hard and asked, “In the past ‘Tongque Martial Events’, apart from those top sects, have any smaller sects ever won?”
Hearing Old Fifteen say this, Mu Aotie knew immediately that he was holding onto a sliver of hope for the Scorpion Sect.
The old man laughed and said, “There probably has not been. It is basically monopolised by the powerful large sects.”
Yu Qing was somewhat unwilling to accept this. “Do smaller sects really have no chance at all?”
The old man shook his head as if he had heard a joke. “An arm cannot twist a thigh, that is the norm. Unless one can know the examination questions of the competition in advance and make corresponding preparations ahead of time, how could they possibly win?”
Knowing the examination questions in advance? Yu Qing froze on the spot, a look of deep contemplation appearing in his eyes.
The old man also noticed something unusual from their reactions and asked suspiciously, “I say, you are probably not just asking casually, are you? Could it be that you also want to participate in the ‘Tongque Martial Event’?”
Yu Qing hurriedly said, “We are new here, just curious.” He then cupped his hands and bowed, “Thank you, senior, for your guidance!”
The old man fell silent for a moment. Thinking about it, he realised it was true. People coming to participate in the “Tongque Martial Event” could not possibly not know these things. He felt he had indeed overthought it. After exchanging a few polite words, the old man leisurely walked away, but Yu Qing still looked somewhat restless.
Mu Aotie raised his hand and patted his shoulder, sighing with regret, “Old Fifteen, forget it. We really have no chance of winning. It is not worth throwing ten million into this.”
Yu Qing looked up and asked, “We have seen many grand scenes. Who do these so-called top sects think they are? Do we really need to be afraid of them?”
Mu Aotie said, “Being blinded by greed is one thing, but not knowing the danger of death is wrong. What does this have to do with being afraid or not? The gap in strength is indeed there. Not being afraid is one thing, but if it cannot be overcome, crashing into it is still seeking death.”
Yu Qing asked again, “The threshold for participation is not high. We can clearly step over it. Would it not be a bit unfair to ourselves if we do not participate?”
Mu Aotie leaned his mouth to his ear and whispered, “Ten million, ten million, ten million. That is ten million. One step over that threshold and it is gone. It is thankless and exhausting.”
Previously, they had scraped together ten million at the temple, which the two of them split in half. If they really participated, it would mean digging into his own pockets. This was the first time in his life he had so much personal wealth belonging to himself. How could he be willing to spit it out, especially for a hopeless cause?
Yu Qing also reached out, hooked his neck, and pulled his ear closer. “What if we can get the examination questions for this ‘Tongque Martial Event’?”
He had done similar things before and knew well the advantage of getting the examination questions in advance, although the result that time in the capital of the Jin State was quite embarrassing.
Mu Aotie was shocked. He turned his head, widened his eyes, and stared at the moustached face right in front of him, lowering his voice. “Are you serious? If we can get the examination questions from Kuilei City, why do we even need to participate in the Tongque Martial Event? We can just ask that connection to help us inquire about the Three-Legged Horse directly.”
“That is not the same thing.” Yu Qing waved his hand and continued mysteriously, “Do you want to experience the luxury of a rich man for once? My treat.”
Mu Aotie stared at him with a cautious gaze. This junior martial brother of the sect leader was unusually stingy with his fellow disciples. Offering to treat, and moreover to experience the luxury of a rich man, it did not sound like the truth at all. Suspecting a trap, he simply shook his head and said, “No.”
“Do not be like that. Let us go. I am really treating. If there is even a hint of falsehood, it will not be too late for you to refuse then.”
Yu Qing muttered under his breath, forcibly dragging Mu Aotie away, while the latter was filled with shock and uncertainty.
Shixin Residence was the most luxurious inn within Baizhang Court, and also the most luxurious inn in Tianji Mountain. At the same time, it was the safest. Staying here meant that even the personnel from the City Lord’s Manor would not dare to disturb them without permission.
The sun had just jumped above the horizon, brilliant and magnificent. On the east-facing terrace sat a middle-aged man with narrow eyes and thick eyebrows, drinking tea while admiring the sunrise.
This guest room with a terrace was different from ordinary guest rooms. Not only did it have an open-air terrace to view the stars and sunrise, but the other side also had an inner terrace facing Baizhang Court to view the prosperity of Kuilei City. There were not many such guest rooms in Shixin Residence. They were the most luxurious, and naturally the most expensive.
The person who could sit here and drink tea was naturally not an ordinary person. It was precisely the former master of Tongque Lake, the Sect Leader of the Shanhai Sect, Gu Renshan, a cultivator of the Upper Xuan realm.
His trusted subordinate, Wei Ji, walked out of the room, raised his hand to form a visor to block the glaring sunlight, and approached Gu Renshan’s side, bending down to say, “Sect Leader, the old acquaintance over there gave us word. Currently, only our five sects have registered.”
Gu Renshan fiddled with the metal ring on his finger. “There are still seven days left until the registration deadline. It seems that, apart from the unexpected Zhenshan Sect, it is unlikely that other sects will participate.”
Hearing “Zhenshan Sect”, Wei Ji sighed softly, because that sect had split from the “Shanhai Sect”.
Looking at the names of the two sects, one called “Shanhai Sect” and the other called “Zhenshan Sect”, one could tell that the relationship between the two sides was discordant.
The Sect Leader of the Zhenshan Sect was named Wei Yue. He was originally the second-in-command of the Shanhai Sect. His cultivation had also broken through to the Upper Xuan realm a year ago. Coupled with some dissatisfaction with the Sect Leader, after the three-year term of Tongque Lake expired this time, he took nearly half of the men and horses away, established his own sect, and now had even registered for the “Tongque Martial Event” to compete with the Shanhai Sect. They were all old acquaintances, and Wei Ji felt a hint of internal strife.
More importantly, this had divided the original strength of the Shanhai Sect, putting the Shanhai Sect in a disadvantageous position for this competition. However, things had come to this point, and there was nothing to be done.
Hearing his sigh, Gu Renshan casually asked, “What is the situation over at Wei Yue’s side?”
Wei Ji hesitated and said, “After registering, it has been quiet, with almost no movements seen.”
Gu Renshan chuckled with a snort, the smile at the corner of his mouth carrying mockery. “No movements seen does not mean no movements are being made. He is accustomed to making moves behind the scenes.”
Wei Ji said, “By the way, the Zhenshan Sect has also booked a room here. He should be moving in soon. The Sect Leaders of the five registered sects are about to be all present.”
Gu Renshan did not express anything about this. He picked up his tea cup and sipped it slowly. This was an expected matter. Everyone knew this inn was the business of City Lord Nie Rifu’s mistress. At the critical juncture of competing for the “Tongque Martial Event”, it was normal for everyone to come here to show support. Had he not come himself?
Outside the main gate of Shixin Residence in Baizhang Court, although the two martial brothers were not here for the first time, they still looked up like country bumpkins.
Shortly after, Mu Aotie turned his head to look at Yu Qing, asking with uncertainty, “Why did you bring me here? What is the meaning of this?”
Yu Qing scoffed. “I have already brought you to the door. What do you think the meaning is?”
Mu Aotie said in disbelief, “Staying here costs at least one hundred thousand taels a day. You are not thinking of staying here, are you?”
Yu Qing patted his chest. “Can we not afford to stay here? I said I would let you experience the luxury of a rich man, and there will be no falsehood.” Having said that, he pulled Mu Aotie and led him inside.
“Wait, wait.” Mu Aotie quickly planted his legs firmly on the ground, resisting moving forward, and whispered in his ear, “The examination questions you mentioned are not related to this place, are they? Please do not tell me you are planning to target City Lord Nie Rifu’s mistress.”
Yu Qing replied, “Otherwise what? Do you have any other better way?”