Chapter 139: Recruiting Talents

　　Yunxiao frowned slightly and said to himself, ‘What the hell!’ Then, he shouted in a cold voice, “Fifteen thousand!”

　　“Haha! Here’s the show! He’s fighting against the imperial family!”

　　“It’s hard to guess who will win in the end. The imperial family certainly is richer, but would they spend so much to buy an array artifact?”

　　“I think the imperial family will win. They are richer, and they have their dignity to take care of.”

　　“Not necessarily. Would the mystery man in that room be someone ordinary, when he could take out three seventh-tier recipes to be auctioned off?”

　　Just as the crowd was speculating, Xin Ruyu thought for a moment and called, “Eighteen thousand!”

　　Everyone sucked in a cold breath while Yunxiao’s eyes burned with rage. “Twenty thousand!” he cried out darkly.

　　Xin Ruyu’s eyes gleamed, and it looked like he wanted to increase the bid again. But, Yue Jiulin could watch it no longer, so he said, with his forehead covered in cold sweat, “Your Highness, I think that’s enough. Any more bid will make the loss too tremendous to bear!”

　　The crown prince glanced at him and chuckled. “I was going to increase the bid just one more time, since our neighbor had just gotten himself twenty-two thousand superior-grade Primordial Stones. Apparently, he had sold the three seventh-tier recipes for this array artifact. Well, since Uncle Yue has said so, I’ll just let him save some money.”

　　Yue Jiulin was somewhat speechless. ‘Let him save some money? Because of you, he now has to pay ten thousand extra! Perhaps he already hates you to the bone!’

　　Even Mister Mei had a wry smile on his face. Anyone would feel pain if he had to pay so many extra Primordial Stones for no apparent reason. But, there was still a burst of joy in his heart. After all, the higher the price, the higher his commission. After shouting three times, he finally slammed his hammer on the table.

　　Yunxiao’s eyes almost spat flames as he said in an icy cold voice, “The imperial family of Firecrow Empire…I swear I will make you pay a thousand times for my ten thousand superior-grade Primordial Stones!”

　　Yin Zhaoyang shook his head with a wry smile. ‘This lad surely fears nothing and no one…’

　　By that time, Meng Wu had returned to the room. So, Yunxiao called her over and whispered into her ears. She listened and nodded, then walked out of the room again.

　　After that, Yunxiao turned to Yin Zhaoyang and said, “I thank you for the help, Elder Yin. I have to take my leave now as there’s another matter that needs my attention. I’ll look for you some other day to have a cup of tea and a chat.”

　　That gave Yin Zhaoyang a pause. “The auction is not yet finished. Don’t you want to stay to the end, Young Master Yun?”

　　“No need! I’ve gotten what I wanted. I’ll see you next time!” He signaled Xiao Qingwang and others with his eyes. Seeing that, everyone stood up and left the room, walking out the auction hall through its back door.

　　Meng Bai did not understand. “Master, where did you send my sister?”

　　“There’s something else I need her to do for me. We left early so we can make preparations.”

　　“Preparations?” Chen Dasheng was slightly taken aback, but when he saw the evil smile in Yunxiao’s eyes, he cried out shockingly, “You’re not going to rob the imperial family of Firecrow Empire, are you? Are you crazy?”

　　Yunxiao laughed. “No. I’ll deal with the Xin Family at a later time. I must get the Cauldron of Five Elements from the Zhou Family. I’ve monitored with my divine sense just now, they only sent three people—two seven-stars Martial Kings and a one-star Great Martial Master. Although their numbers are small, their strength is far greater than ours. We cannot succeed without proper planning.”

　　‘This lad is truly daring,’ Xiao Qingwang thought with a wry smile. Still, he said, “Two seven-stars Martial Kings? We can give it a try if Li Chunyang and Darkthunder were here, but how are we going to do it now?”

　　Yunxiao asked, “How long would it take you to kill one of them?”

　　Xiao Qingwang pondered a moment. “We only know they are seven-stars Martial Kings, but not their actual fighting strength. It would take at least the time for half an incense stick to burn if his strength is at the standard level, and if he determines to flee, I might not be able to kill him.” After all, he was just a peak eight-stars Martial King. Such a gap could be easily overcome with martial techniques and mystic weapons.

　　Yunxiao told him his plan, “I’ll give you an enhanced origin blasting pill later, which can boost your strength to the peak-level of Martial King realm for a short time. Don’t take it if you can finish him within the time for half an incense stick to burn, because your injury has not been completely healed, and I fear it will trigger other changes. As for the other Martial King, I will think of a way to trap him for about the same length of time. We can just ignore that one-star Great Martial Master.”

　　“Trap a Martial King for the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn?” Shocked, Xiao Qingwang said incredulously, “With just the few of you?” As an eight-stars Martial King, he knew how strong a seven-stars Martial King was, and he knew a warrior of this level could never be trapped by a few Martial Lords and Martial Masters. In fact, they might be instantly killed by him.

　　Yunxiao chuckled. “That’s why I want to leave early, because we need to lie in wait on their way back to Firecrow Empire. Qingwang, you are the key to our ambush. I can trap the other Martial King, but it would not be for too long. You need to finish your opponent within the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.”

　　Xiao Qingwang said seriously, “With the origin blasting pill as the backup, there will be no problem!”

　　“Great! Since the Zhou Family is willing to pay such a high price for the cauldron, it only means they need it urgently. They will rush back to Firecrow Empire as soon as the auction is ended. Let’s set up the ambush now!”

　　After the plan was explained, the group of people vanished outside the auction hall.

　　By then, the auction was coming to an end. With the last item auctioned off, the crowd was prepared to leave. Suddenly, Xu Zizhuo shouted in a loud voice, “Stay for a while and listen, my friends! This young lady wishes to have a word with you all.”

　　The crowd looked over in surprise and saw Meng Wu walk gingerly up the stage. After the three jade slips, everyone was somewhat interested in the power this little girl represented, so they all stopped in place, wondering what she was about to say.

　　The glances made Meng Wu nervous. “My lord is the City Lord of Yanwu, Li Yunxiao, and he has asked me to bring a few words to you all.”

　　“What? The power behind this girl is actually the City Lord of Yanwu?”

　　“How’s that possible? How could a City Lord of a small state have such an incredible reserve?”

　　“She’s bluffing, isn’t she? Let’s hear what she wants to say!”

　　Meng Wu heard those doubts and hurriedly said, “Young Master Yun said as he has just taken the office of the City Lord, and he wishes to further expand and develop Yanwu, so he needs your help. Therefore, he has asked me to announce the recruitment details here. The remunerations are as follows.”

　　“If a Great Martial Master is willing to join Yanwu, he or she will be given a second-tier mystic weapon, ten second-tier medicinal pills of any kind, and one hundred superior-grade Primordial Stones.”

　　“If a Martial Lord is willing to join Yanwu, he or she will be given a third-tier mystic weapon, ten third-tier medicinal pills of any kind, and one thousand superior-grade Primordial Stones.”

　　“If a Martial King is willing to join Yanwu, he or she will be given a fourth-tier mystic weapon, ten fourth-tier medicinal pills of any kind, and ten thousand superior-grade Primordial Stones.”

　　“If you are a warrior beyond the Five Elements Realm and you are willing to join us, you can look for Young Master Yun directly and he will certainly come up with something that satisfies you.”

　　“On top of that, all warriors who join Yanwu will have an unlimited supply of Primordial Stones, medicinal pills, mystic weapons, and other resources to aid their cultivation! However, if anyone joins us just for a free lunch, he or she will have to bear the consequences!”

　　“What! Such…such treatment!” Everyone was dumbfounded and froze on the spot. “Where does Yanwu get so many resources?”

　　“Heavens! Is this for real?”

　　“I think so? You’ve seen him bid just now. He should have deep pockets.”

　　“He is even recruiting experts beyond the Five Elements Realm! Is he trying to establish a new sect?”

　　“Even the state of Tianshui as a whole can’t afford that, can it?”

　　Xu Zizhuo was shocked as well. He did not expect that from her, and the remuneration was enough to tempt any warrior. There were many warriors who followed alchemists, and all they wanted were medicinal pills and mystic weapons, which they might not get even after working hard for the alchemists. But now, anyone who joined Yanwu would immediately get those things. It was simply a heaven-defying offer!

　　Even Xin Ruyu was slightly taken aback, but he quickly returned to normal. Meanwhile, Yue Jiulin’s face grew serious as he said, “Does this City Lord of Yanwu want to establish a new sect? But, it is plain that he can’t do that just by recruiting a motley crowd like this!”

　　With a faint smile on his face, Xin Ruyu said, ” I’m very interested to meet this City Lord of Yanwu now. I think the people of the Xingyang Family and the Cheng Family will be here to seek revenge in less than three days. He is just recruiting cannon fodder with what seems to be lucrative remunerations. He doesn’t have to pay these people when they are dead.”

　　“I see!” An understanding look jumped up Yue Jiulin’s face, and a faint sneer brushed his lips as he watched the excited warriors down below.

　　“Little girl, what would be the procedure if I wish to join you?” A warrior asked aloud, the beaming look on his face saying he was tempted. Almost all the warriors in the hall had the same thought: ‘Let’s get the things first before I consider if I want to contribute my force to you.’

　　“You just need to sign up at the City Lord Mansion tomorrow,” said Meng Wu, her cheeks flushing.

　　“All right! I’ll be the first to reach there tomorrow!” The warrior said excitedly. The rest of the people showed interest as well, and someone said, “Even if you don’t sign up, it is good to have a look.”

　　Inside the distinguished room of the Zhou Family, Zhou Chuan frowned as he looked at all the excited warriors down below. “This City Lord of Yanwu seems to be that Li Yunxiao who will have a match with Young Master, don’t you think so?”

　　Shi Ruida said in astonishment, “I heard about it too. He seems to have not shown due respect for Young Master during the appointment of Tianshui’s crown prince. Some said he is just a young man with the cultivation base of a Martial Master.”

　　“What? He wants to fight Young Master Yushan with just the cultivation base of a Martial Master? He’s dreaming!” Pang Chengwen sneered. “Since he is recruiting warriors in large numbers now, he must be planning to go back on his own word. I think he is afraid that Young Master will attack him out of rage, so he is recruiting more men to help him defend against the Zhou Family.”

　　“Hmph! A motley crowd!” Zhou Chuan said disdainfully. “After Young Master makes the breakthrough and become a Martial King, he will come in person to settle the score with this guy! Let’s delay no more and go back at once. Young Master is waiting to study the Cauldron of Five Elements!”

　　Their figures flickered, and they were gone from the distinguished room in the next instant.