Chapter 36: Meeting Jing Hongchen Again (1/1)
"Why so impatient?"
Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the Ice and Snow Empresses as he spoke calmly: "Let's make it clear first—these things aren't free."
Hearing this, Ice Empress immediately flared up again, her scorpion tail pointing straight at Jiang Li's nose: "What do you mean? Are you going back on your word?"
"Split it equally?"
Jiang Li seemed to have heard a joke and said slowly: "Little scorpion, did you forget? The contract only said I would help you survive the 400,000-year heavenly tribulation, not that I would help you increase your cultivation."
Ice Empress choked, her face turning red with anger, but she couldn't refute it.
She stamped her foot and turned away arrogantly: "Even so, you can't take everything! I need this Profound Ice Marrow to undergo my tribulation! At least… at least ten strands!"
"Ten strands?" Jiang Li shook his head and held up five fingers. "At most five. Not a single one more."
"Five?!" Ice Empress's voice rose sharply, almost jumping up. "Jiang Li, that's too much! Five isn't enough to stabilize my origin!"
"You think I don't understand the details just because I don't have soul power?" Jiang Li glanced at her.
Then his tone turned calm but absolute: "Five strands of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow are enough for your tribulation."
"You, you, you!" Ice Empress was almost speechless with rage.
But Jiang Li didn't bother with her anymore and turned to look at Snow Empress, who was full of expectation.
"Xiao Xue, that Creation Pill was extremely valuable. Forty strands of Profound Ice Marrow can't offset it. So you don't get any."
Snow Empress froze, subconsciously saying: "I…"
She originally thought she would at least get ten or so strands, since the Profound Ice Marrow was most compatible with her origin. She did not expect Jiang Li to claim all of it.
Ice Empress became furious: "Jiang Li, you bastard! Snow Empress is an Ultimate Douluo, and you're not giving her even a single strand?"
"She helps me?" Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Then he said without mercy: "Little scorpion, that Creation Pill is priceless—an elixir that defies fate itself. Even if she worked for me for free for a lifetime, it still wouldn't be enough compensation. What are forty strands of Profound Ice Marrow worth in comparison?"
Snow Empress fell silent, unable to respond.
Her personality was always calm; though slightly unwilling, she knew what Jiang Li said was true.
If not for him revealing the location of the Profound Ice Marrow, she might never have found such a treasure.
Seeing Snow Empress remain silent, Ice Empress grew anxious but dared not truly attack Jiang Li.
She now understood how unfathomable Jiang Li's strength was—she was not his opponent.
"Five… then five!"
In the end, Ice Empress compromised, snatching five strands of Profound Ice Marrow from Jiang Li.
After carefully storing them away, she muttered: "You win! Next time something like this happens, I definitely won't team up with you again!"
Jiang Li ignored her obvious stubbornness and waved his hand, storing the remaining forty strands into his possession.
Then he stood up, brushing snow off his clothes, and smiled: "Alright, distribution's done. Time to leave."
He paused slightly, then glanced at Ice Empress and said with a smile: "Also, little scorpion, better go prepare for your tribulation quickly. Don't end up getting roasted into a grilled scorpion."
Ice Empress ground her teeth in anger but could only watch as Jiang Li left with Snow Empress, stabbing the snow repeatedly with her tail while muttering.
"Hmph! Humans are all cunning! Next time I'll make sure he pays!"
—
On the other side, Jiang Li walked through the vast snowy plains with Snow Empress.
Without turning back, he said: "I don't really need the Profound Ice Marrow. But if I'm in a good mood someday, I might give you a few strands."
Snow Empress paused slightly and looked at him.
Amid the wind and snow, his profile was sharp and defined, the familiar teasing smile on his lips strangely reassuring.
She nodded lightly and didn't argue further.
But the next moment, Jiang Li suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair.
Snow Empress gave him a slightly reproachful glance but said nothing.
Soon, their figures gradually disappeared into the blizzard.
—
Some time later, Sun and Moon Empire, Ming Capital.
Deep inside the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, in the dean's office.
Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow, while faint lights from various precision soul tools flickered across the desk.
Jing Hongchen was reading a soul tool design blueprint, slightly frowning.
Hearing footsteps outside, he said without looking up: "Come in."
The door opened, and Jiang Li walked in lazily, as if he hadn't traveled thousands of miles but simply gone out for a stroll.
He casually tossed a cracked ancient box onto the desk with a dull "thud."
"Hall Master Hongchen, I've retrieved the item."
Hearing this, Jing Hongchen's gaze immediately locked onto the box, a trace of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
The Sealing God Platform was a level-nine sealed soul tool. After it was stolen, he had sent dozens of top soul engineers to investigate for months with no results.
Yet this person had recovered it in less than half a year.
He quickly picked up the box, fingers brushing over the fine cracks, his expression sinking slightly: "The Sealing God Platform… is damaged?"
"No choice," Jiang Li shook his head helplessly.
He then sat down, poured himself tea, and said casually: "The thief tried to use it to forcibly seal a ferocious beast. If I had been a step later, it would've been completely ruined.
It's already lucky that the main structure is intact."
This was a lie—he obviously couldn't tell Jing Hongchen he was the one who broke it.
Jing Hongchen was silent for a moment, his fingers gently tracing the box.
He could still feel the lingering powerful sealing energy inside. Although damaged, it could still be repaired into a powerful level-nine soul tool.
He looked up again, his tone more serious: "Young friend Jiang Li's efficiency is beyond my expectations."
Jiang Li put down his teacup and smiled: "Efficiency aside, let's settle the payment. Eight million gold soul coins. Not a single coin less."
He wasn't here for compliments—money was the priority.
Jing Hongchen chuckled and took out a soul coin card from his storage device.
He handed it over: "Eight million gold soul coins, all accounted for."
"Generous as always, Hall Master Hongchen," Jiang Li nodded in satisfaction after taking the card.
He stood up, brushing dust from his clothes: "Pleasure doing business."
"Likewise," Jing Hongchen replied, watching him.
Just as he thought it was over, Jiang Li suddenly dropped a bombshell:
"By the way, Hall Master Hongchen, during this mission I ran into the former crown prince of the Sun and Moon Empire."