Dragon's Origin

Wang Sheng spoke lightly, but Third Elder Xia wore a continuous bitter smile. If he could really coordinate with the various families, why would he even ask Wang Sheng for help? Wang Sheng's words made it clear that he didn't want to help.

If Wang Sheng were in his shoes, Third Elder Xia guessed he would do the same. Why would Wang Sheng offend the other families and share the benefits with the Xia family without getting anything in return?

This young man in front of him was the most famous penny-pincher in the world. Trying to get benefits with empty words was a pipe dream. Not even a window of opportunity, let alone a door.

"We are willing to pay a sufficient price for this." Knowing that Wang Sheng wouldn't act without seeing tangible benefits, Third Elder Xia knew it was impossible to ask Wang Sheng for mercy, so he expressed his attitude.

"Willing to pay a price?" Wang Sheng sized up Third Elder Xia, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his eyes. "That price will probably be substantial!"

Wang Sheng would absolutely not be polite to the Xia family, who had willingly offered their neck. Daring to plot against him, and still trying to control A'Qi through her younger brother, was the price they had to pay.

"Duke, please instruct us. The Xia family will do whatever we can," Third Elder Xia said with a smile on his face.

The Xia family was truly out of options. With several hundred experts dead, if they didn't use a grandmaster-level music performance to replenish their forces, they might struggle to even defend the city, let alone counterattack. The flying mounts of the Shan Yue Kingdom were simply a nightmare.

"Fifty spots for each of the eight great families," Wang Sheng said slowly. "The royal family and the Old Lord Temple are included, making it five hundred. Two hundred for the other small vassal states, and the remaining two hundred for scattered forces like the Divine Might Prison in Worry-Free City..."

"The Xia family will take all the remaining one hundred spots." Listening to Wang Sheng's calculations, Third Elder Xia quickly figured out the remaining number and decisively claimed them all.

"Impossible!" Wang Sheng directly sneered. "Giving you half would be generous. If the Qiu family comes knocking, what do you expect me to say?"

The Qiu family's situation was similar to the Xia family's, except they were slightly better off, not directly bordering the enemy and not having lost any cities. However, their manpower losses were probably no less than the Xia family's. Since Third Elder Xia could come to him in advance, wouldn't the Qiu family do the same?

Wang Sheng didn't even bother to hide it, directly mentioning the Qiu family. This was equivalent to telling Third Elder Xia that he was clearly going to make a fortune from both the Xia and Qiu families.

Knowing this, Third Elder Xia still had to grin and bear it. Relatively speaking, Wang Sheng only wanted gold coins, which was much simpler than getting these spots from other families, and this was the price the Xia Kingdom had already anticipated.

"Talk to Mei'er about the specific price you need to pay." Third Elder Xia originally wanted to state the price immediately, but Wang Sheng waved his hand directly. "I won't worry about such trivial matters."

Talking to Mei'er… Third Elder Xia felt a chill down his spine at the thought of negotiating with Mei'er. The price Mei'er offered would definitely be more than double what Wang Sheng would ask for. If Wang Sheng was a penny-pincher among merchants, then Mei'er was probably someone who could squeeze oil from bones.

But Elder Xia had to face this situation. The only thing that made him feel slightly relieved was that the Qiu family would soon follow in their footsteps. At least the Xia family wasn't fighting alone; on the road to becoming beggars, at least they had company.

After finishing this matter, Wang Sheng didn't stand on ceremony and was about to serve tea to see the guest off. Third Elder Xia hurriedly stopped him. He was joking; asking for more tickets was just an appetizer. There was still a real important matter to discuss, so how could he be sent away?

"Duke, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you." Stopping Wang Sheng from seeing him off, Third Elder Xia didn't care about anything else and quickly stated his true purpose.

"I heard that Duke, you drew a complete map when you entered the core of the Thousand Devil Valley this time." Third Elder Xia requested in a slightly negotiating tone, "I wonder if Duke could postpone selling it? The Xia family is willing to pay a sufficient price for this head start."

Hearing these words, Wang Sheng's face suddenly turned cold, and a murderous aura emanated from his body. His eyes stared fixedly at Third Elder Xia, making Third Elder Xia not know why for a long time.

"So, you really did successfully plant a spy by my side, didn't you?" Wang Sheng said these words with a sneer, his tone seemingly carrying a gnashing of teeth. "I was wondering why A'Qi acted so strangely some time ago, as if she was afraid of something, and wouldn't say anything when asked. So that's how it is. The Xia family's good methods of controlling people's hearts, I admire it! I admire it!"

As soon as Third Elder Xia heard Wang Sheng's tone, he knew things were going to be bad. Anyone whose pillow partner betrayed their confidential information probably wouldn't be happy.

If that was all, the Xia family would be willing to offer A'Qi's head at any time to let Wang Sheng vent his anger, but listening to Wang Sheng's words, it seemed that he still had protective intentions towards A'Qi. What he hated was the Xia family's means of controlling A'Qi. Third Elder Xia suddenly felt a headache coming on. This was troublesome!

"Want a head start? Alright!" Wang Sheng sneered. "We can talk. First, send A'Qi back to me completely unharmed, and then send the heads of the elders who came up with this idea, along with their entire family, to me. I believe this is not the idea of just one elder; at least three people must have agreed. I don't want much; send three hundred heads of people with well-known names to me, and we can continue talking. I'll leave the map for you for a month while you make a decision."

Bitter! Third Elder Xia's heart instantly turned ice-cold. Wang Sheng was truly angry. The conditions he set were such that if the Xia family really agreed, then why would they even need the spots for the performance? Three hundred well-known people outside… How could the Xia family survive?

But Wang Sheng couldn't be blamed for being angry. It was clear that A'Qi had leaked the information, because the number of people who knew about it would definitely not exceed five. Outside, A'Qi was the only one, and who else was related to the Xia family besides A'Qi?

"Duke, it is indeed our fault first in this matter." Third Elder Xia's tone also became humble. "However, Duke, your conditions are really a bit excessive."

"Then is it my fault?" Wang Sheng still sneered. "It seems I have to apologize to Elder Xia!"

"Duke, please calm down! Duke, please calm down!" Hearing Wang Sheng's sarcasm, Elder Xia stood up directly and bowed repeatedly, almost crying. "Duke, you are killing me! Please calm down, please calm down!"

While desperately saying good things, Third Elder Xia cursed some people in the family in his heart. They came up with the bad idea, but he had to directly face Wang Sheng and take the blame. When had the dignified Third Elder Xia ever been so humble?

But on the other hand, if they hadn't controlled A'Qi, how could the Xia family have obtained such confidential information? Right now, they could only see how to extinguish Wang Sheng's anger.