Chapter 170 Xian Lin'er: This is impossible!
"snort!"
Kong Deming snorted coldly. Having lived to such an old age, what hadn't he seen?
Therefore, he was not "bought off" by Xian Lin'er's kind words or the small benefits she offered during her interactions with the students, and his judgment was not affected.
"No harm was done?" Kong Deming retorted in an unfriendly tone, "That's because I intervened and stopped him, otherwise my precious grandson would have been falsely accused of being an evil soul master by that Xuanzi!"
Xian Lin'er remained silent, inwardly complaining that Xuanzi's actions were too outrageous, always acting on a whim, and now it was difficult to clean up his messes.
Kong Deming then added, "Since you asked me to set conditions, then I will."
"My request isn't high, just four soul bones!"
"Two of them are over 50,000 years old, and two are over 100,000 years old."
"As long as you bring the soul bone, we'll exchange the person for the goods!"
Upon hearing Kong Deming's conditions, Xian Lin'er said without hesitation, "That's impossible!"
Her ultimate goal in coming here was indeed to redeem Xuanzi, but that did not mean she would accept all of the other party's conditions.
Besides, the results are all negotiated.
Once the real negotiations begin, she needs to be tougher; that might help her secure a better outcome.
Xianlin'er hadn't expected that Kong Deming was even more forceful than her.
After the words "This is impossible" came out of Xianlin'er's mouth, Kong Deming actually stood up.
"These are my terms. If you don't agree, you can leave now!"
Seeing Kong Deming's prelude to leaving, a hint of panic flashed in Xian Lin'er's eyes.
Whether Kong Deming was really leaving or just putting on an act, she could no longer remain calm.
Xian Lin'er took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty Silver Moon, it's not that I disagree with this condition, but the academy simply cannot produce two 100,000-year-old soul bones in a short time."
"How about this: two 50,000-year-old soul bones, plus one 70,000-year-old and one 80,000-year-old soul bone?"
Even if a soul bone that is 100,000 years old is only 10,000 years older than a soul bone that is 90,000 years old, the two are still worlds apart.
In her haste, Xian Lin'er gave this reply, considering the price of these four soul bones to be quite high.
At the same time, she also understood that the moment Kong Deming stood up, the initiative in this negotiation had already been firmly in the hands of the other party.
Kong Deming remained unmoved by the conditions offered by Xian Lin'er, and even let out a cold laugh.
"My conditions will not change. If Shrek Academy cannot produce the ransom, then there is no point in mentioning it."
"I think the soul bones on Xuanzi's body are quite good, some of them are 100,000 years old."
"If you do something wrong, you always have to be punished!"
Xian Lin'er's heart trembled upon hearing this. She finally understood where Kong Deming's conditions for the four soul bones came from. It turned out that they were calculated from Xuanzi.
Soul bones are different from soul rings; soul bones can also remain after a soul master dies.
Killing someone to extract their bones is not uncommon in the battles between Soul Masters.
Xian Lin'er intended to use threats, suggesting that saying Xuan Zi was dead would force Shrek Academy to go to war with the Sun and Moon Sect.
However, she knew the situation at the academy. Mu En was nearing his end, and if Xuan Zi, a level 98 Super Douluo, were no longer available, Shrek Academy would be left without any high-end combat power.
At that point, let alone causing trouble for the Sun and Moon Academy, the academy itself will likely face considerable problems.
Over the years, the teachers and students of the academy have become so arrogant and domineering that they've all made a few enemies.
I'm afraid that if the academy is attacked by all sides, they will be the first to suffer.
Xian Lin'er clenched her fists tightly, and even with her title Douluo cultivation, her whole body was trembling slightly involuntarily.
She was not deliberately insulted during her visit, nor was her life in danger.
But this feeling of powerlessness was even harder for her to accept at this moment.
Shrek Academy was once the top academy on the continent, a lofty and unapproachable institution. It had never been so harassed and forced to be subservient to others.
Now, for the sake of the academy's survival, it has no choice but to be "manipulated by others."
This kind of sense of disparity is unbearable for anyone.
Seeing Xian Lin'er's furrowed brows, Kong Deming did not leave immediately, but waited for her reply.
The deathly silence in the meeting room seemed to last for a very long time.
The conditions proposed by Kong Deming were like a mountain weighing on Xian Lin'er's heart, and also on the fate of the entire Shrek Academy.
Xian Lin'er clenched her fists tightly, her palms already bearing deep marks from her fingernails.
In the end, all the struggles, all the humiliation, all the resentment, all turned into a barely audible sigh from his lips.
"Your Majesty Silver Moon's conditions..." Xian Lin'er raised her eyes, all emotions suppressed, leaving only an almost icy resolve: "I can agree to them!"
"oh?"
Kong Deming was slightly surprised that Xian Lin'er agreed so readily, and sat down again.
"Didn't Dean Xian say before that Shrek Academy didn't have any 100,000-year-old soul bones?"
Xian Lin'er took a deep breath: "The academy does not have two 100,000-year soul bones, but the academy will try its best to exchange for soul bones and complete the transaction."
When Xian Lin'er said those words, her heart was bleeding; the price she paid was undeniably heavy.
Even with Shrek Academy's profound foundation, this is absolutely a devastating loss.
A soul bone that has been around for 100,000 years is an extremely rare treasure, almost a strategic resource.
After a titled Douluo fuses, their combat power will be greatly enhanced, so once they appear, they will be quickly exchanged and fused by someone else. They will not be left to gather dust in the warehouse.
Therefore, what Xianlin'er said earlier was not entirely a bargaining tactic. As far as she knew, there should only be one 100,000-year-old soul bone in Shrek Academy's collection at this moment.
Having agreed to this request, Xian Lin'er could already imagine that after returning to the academy, she would inevitably face the disapproving looks of the academy's elders, since she had agreed to this condition on behalf of the academy!
However, this was a last resort. Xuanzi had to be saved. The value of a level 98 Super Douluo cannot be measured simply by his soul bone!
Xian Lin'er suppressed her turbulent emotions: "I can agree to the conditions, but I need to see Elder Xuan."
Xian Lin'er's request to see Xuan Zi first was reasonable. After all, having given up four soul bones, she should at least be sure of Xuan Zi's safety first. Therefore, Kong Deming naturally did not refuse.
He remained calm, casually waving his sleeves towards the empty space in the conference room.
A soft silver light appeared out of nowhere, rippling out like water.
Just as the silver light dissipated, a figure staggered and suddenly appeared before everyone.
This person was none other than Xuanzi!
However, the Taotie Douluo in Xuanzi and Xianlin'er's memories at this moment, who was unkempt but had a majestic aura, was completely different from the person they remembered!
His clothes were still intact, without any obvious signs of damage, but he exuded an indescribable sense of dishevelment and dejection.
His already somewhat disheveled beard and hair were now tangled together like withered grass, appearing gray and dull.
Her usually rosy cheeks were now a sallow yellow, and her eyes were sunken.
His once bright and piercing eyes were now bloodshot, frighteningly red.
His eyes were unfocused and vacant, as if he had experienced some kind of extreme torment and had not yet recovered.
His back was no longer straight; it was slightly hunched, and he even swayed a little as he stood there.
The terrifying aura that belonged to a level 98 Super Douluo had vanished, leaving only a feeling of weakness and numbness as if his energy and spirit had been drained.
"I did not torture him; he brought this on himself."
Kong Deming spoke calmly. Since he had asked for four soul bones, he naturally had to explain himself, lest the Shrek Academy members think that he was the one who tortured them.
Although he resented Xuanzi for attacking Kong Xuan, Kong Deming disdained to use such despicable methods on him.
(End of chapter)