Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 402: This thing is really amazing!

Is there a deliberate suppression of the rewards for hunting Transcendents?

Or is it that the value of Spirit Stones has already risen to such an extent within the Imperial?

"What’s the matter, Lu Luo? Not satisfied? Isn’t this reward already considerable?"

Looking at Luo Yi’s earnest expression, Lu Luo felt puzzled once more.

He did not continue to press the issue but nodded calmly instead.

"Thank you, Miss Luo Yi."

He suppressed the numerous doubts in his heart about the profitability of Transcendent hunts and expressed his gratitude to Luo Yi.

"You’re welcome. Your performance deserves such a reward. Is there anything else?"

"Indeed, there is."

"Oh?"

"Miss Luo Yi, do you know who owns the Half-Mountain Villa?"

"What does that have to do with anything? Your mission is complete; it shouldn’t matter, should it?"

"No, it’s quite important to me because I’m thinking of buying it."

Lu Luo stated his intention straightforwardly, which caught Luo Yi by surprise.

The value of Half-Mountain Villa was not something that could be summed up with just tens of thousands.

Although Lu Luo was very capable, many times his behavior resembled that of a novice just entering society.

Now he suddenly expressed the desire to buy Half-Mountain Villa?

Luo Yi felt more and more that this was merely a joke from Lu Luo.

"Lu Luo, that joke isn’t funny."

"Miss Luo Yi, I’m not joking. I really do plan to buy Half-Mountain Villa. The scenery there is beautiful, and the environment is pleasant—a very suitable place to live."

When Lu Luo said this, Yang Di, who was beside him, immediately thought of the situation at Half-Mountain Villa.

Beautiful scenery? Is he referring to the cobwebs everywhere?

Pleasant environment? Does he mean those wronged souls?

Luo Yi looked at Lu Luo, at a loss for what to say next.

Realizing Lu Luo was not joking and had no intention of backing down, she could only say helplessly, "Alright, it seems you’re serious."

"I have always been very serious."

"The original owners of Half-Mountain Villa were certain relatives of an official in Dong’an City."

"An official’s relatives? Can’t you be more specific?"

"It’s precisely because they are certain relatives of an official, and quite special ones at that. They are considered relatives, but without any specific official standing, hence the vagueness. I assume you understand what I’m implying?"

"Alright, I understand."

Luo Yi knew that Lu Luo was smart, which was why she hadn’t made the situation very clear, but Lu Luo understood.

However, if this place was being used by an official for a mistress, then my chances of acquiring it might have just increased. A haunted residence for a mistress—the official would surely not want to keep it, would he?

"Lu Luo, you have a bright future ahead... It’s best to steer clear of certain matters."

"Mm-hmm, I understand. Thank you, Miss Luo Yi."

Lu Luo cut Luo Yi off before she could say more; he knew what she meant.

Luo Yi wanted him to join the Imperial sector division, where the stage would undoubtedly be much larger than in Dong’an City.

But Lu Luo was in no hurry.

While others saw him as a rootless weed, was he really just a weed? To be honest, if he brought all his foundations to the Imperial, it would definitely constitute a powerful force that couldn’t be ignored.

Rather than rashly delving deeper, Lu Luo felt it was better to first establish a foundation here.

Especially the Half-Mountain Villa.

It was the most suitable place he had found so far to serve as a base.

Establishing a good base and setting up trade channels were the most profitable actions for him at the moment.

Once these issues were resolved, he could simply transport some troops to the Imperial.

My own people are always more trustworthy than Imperial citizens.

「Meanwhile...」

Qi Xinzhu was studying some scriptures, history, and even Secret Techniques of the Kane Secret Cult.

Sola’s care for Qi Xinzhu could be described as meticulous in every aspect.

"After darkness comes light," was fast becoming Sola’s new catchphrase.

Qi Xinzhu was filled with light; at her age, with her talent.

Her future was boundless.

If Sola could just grasp a part of that, it would be enough for her to become a major figure herself.

"Lady Qi Xinzhu, what would you like for dinner?"

"Miss Sola, I’ve told you before not to call me ’Lady.’ It feels quite awkward."

"How could I do that? Lady Qi Xinzhu, your strength is even greater than mine, and Transcendents respect strength above all. Moreover, you are so young; it’s only natural for me to address you as ’Lady.’"

"Sigh, suit yourself then."

Regarding the form of address, Qi Xinzhu had brought it up several times, but Sola stubbornly persisted in calling her ’Lady.’

It made her somewhat helpless, and since there was no way to resist, she could only silently accept it.

And the title ’Lady Qi Xinzhu’ actually sounded quite nice.

"Does Lady Qi Xinzhu want lobster for dinner tonight?"

"Lobster..."

To be honest, Qi Xinzhu, who had never seen the sea, had no idea what a lobster was.

She was quite curious. What exactly is a lobster?

"Okay, that’s fine."

"Lady Qi Xinzhu has agreed! Excellent, I will have my subordinates prepare it right away."

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Sola."

"No need to be so reserved, Lady Qi Xinzhu. Before dinner, let’s spend some time discussing the matter of the GuiXi District Association Assembly. This event is very important to the Kane Secret Cult, and as missionaries of the cult, we naturally must attend."

"An Association Assembly?"

"Yes, the Association Assembly. It’s a convention officially organized by the Imperial. At this convention, it will be the perfect time for the Kane Secret Cult to display its strength and propagate its doctrines. With your strength, you will definitely be able to take the top spot in this assembly."

Qi Xinzhu herself wasn’t very fond of large gatherings.

However, according to Lu Luo’s instructions, if she could establish more contact with Transcendent organizations, it was best to do so as much as possible.

Therefore, Qi Xinzhu paid attention to this matter.

"This so-called Association Assembly, will all the associations in the GuiXi District participate? What is the main content of such an assembly, and what is its purpose?"

"The registration qualifications for the Association Assembly are indeed not high; just one Third Tier Transcendent is required. But when the actual assembly begins, not all associations will show up. Most of the weaker associations are self-aware. They know their own weakness, so even if they come, it’s mostly to broaden their horizons, to let their younger generation see how high the sky is and how wide the sea is, to understand there’s always someone better. As for the purpose of the Association Assembly, it’s naturally resources. The Association Assembly is usually quite brutal. The struggles of the younger generation carry the long-cherished wishes of their elders. The victors will gain priority in selecting resource mining rights. This holds an irresistible allure for any Transcendent organization."

Qi Xinzhu frowned slightly. The victors of the Association Assembly will gain priority in selecting resource mining rights. This means the Imperial delegates a portion of resource mining rights to the Transcendent organizations under its purview. A resource temptation that Transcendents can’t resist... it’s highly probable that these are Transcendent resources, right? 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Transcendent resources?"

"Yes, Transcendent materials, Bizarre Hunting Grounds, and the Spirit Stones that all Transcendents need. The value of these things simply cannot be measured by ordinary money. Money plays some role when dealing with a small amount of Transcendent materials, but when it comes to large-scale Transcendent resource transactions, the most basic currency is still Spirit Stones."

Sola patiently explained this information, which most high-ranking Transcendents should already know, to Qi Xinzhu.

She didn’t ask why Qi Xinzhu didn’t know these things.

That would be too foolish and might drive Qi Xinzhu away. She was a very smart woman; she knew what to do to keep Qi Xinzhu properly by her side.

She didn’t care if Qi Xinzhu had any other motives.

As long as Qi Xinzhu remained a member of the Kane Secret Cult, and as long as Qi Xinzhu’s strength and influence continued to grow, Sola herself would sooner or later become an indispensable part of Qi Xinzhu’s advancing chariot.

This was Sola’s plan.

"What’s the current exchange rate between Spirit Stones and Imperial currency?"

"This fluctuates greatly."

"Fluctuates greatly?"

"Yes, according to the Imperial’s official decree, the ratio between Spirit Stones and Imperial currency is 1 Gold Coin = 1 Spirit Stone. That is, 1,000 Imperial Coins = 1 Spirit Stone. Gold Coins are meant to be equivalent to Spirit Stones. This is the Empire’s goal and a policy it has always wanted to enforce."

"What’s the actual situation?"

"The actual situation is that it’s unachievable, completely unachievable. Spirit Stones are a hard currency and a consumable, while Gold Coins and other currencies can be reminted. Therefore, apart from the very beginning, the values of the two have never been equal, and the disparity tends to widen. Currently, in Transcendent trading markets, the exchange rate for Spirit Stones to Imperial Coins is roughly 1 to 1,600. However, Spirit Stones are in short supply, so the actual selling price could very well exceed 1,800."

So high! Qi Xinzhu felt a surge of excitement, and her excitement was naturally justified.

Currently, the Circle Company’s largest reserve of resources is Dark Spirit Stones.

Under Lu Luo’s instructions, they convert other resources into Spirit Stones, weapons, and ammunition as much as possible.

Many people couldn’t understand his approach.

In the eyes of many, the Fifth Ring was already showing signs of becoming a new power.

The urgent task for organizations within the Fourth Ring should be to focus all their efforts on developing the Fifth Ring.

But the Circle Company seemed somewhat laissez-faire in its development within the Fifth Ring.

Apart from establishing a clear trade route, it hardly took actual control of many locations.

It now seemed that ever since Lu Luo left the Inner Ring, he had been planning to go to the Imperial. The Association Assembly should be a good opportunity to expand business channels. This chance must be seized!

"If we participate in the Association Assembly, what kind of opponents will we face?"

"Those participating in the Association Assembly are all young people. It’s said to be an assessment of how well the associations cultivate their youth, as well as a selection for the Empire’s future outstanding talents. Therefore, you won’t encounter any Transcendents over the age of twenty-eight. In previous Association Assemblies, the strongest competitors were merely at the Fourth Tier. With your strength, leading the younger generation of our Kane Secret Cult to win the championship will be effortless."

Looking at the confident Sola, Qi Xinzhu nodded slightly.

If they are only Fourth Tier, that’s indeed manageable. If I get serious, I basically have no opponents below the Fourth Tier. Even Gu Fangyi wouldn’t be an exception. Even if Gu Fangyi launched a sneak attack, he wouldn’t be able to kill me instantly. As long as he can’t kill me instantly, he will inevitably be defeated by me.

"Alright, I understand. I will take this matter seriously."

"Hehehe, that’s great. Then I won’t disturb Lady Qi Xinzhu’s meal any longer."

As Sola spoke, she backed out, leaving the space to Qi Xinzhu alone.

Qi Xinzhu glanced at the doorway and carefully mulled over this person, Sola.

A very ambitious, yet remarkably clear-headed woman. She blatantly uses me but also provides sufficient benefits. Such a clear-sighted person is rare in this world.

After finishing the lobster on her plate, Qi Xinzhu contentedly puffed out her chest.

Her eyes lit up as two words escaped her, "Delicious!"

Without clearing the dishes, Qi Xinzhu headed straight for the Kane Secret Cult’s training room.

Upon Qi Xinzhu’s arrival, several male members of the Kane Secret Cult turned to look at her.

The fact that Sola had recruited a talented female member was well-known to many.

They often heard the term ’genius.’

But they truly hadn’t expected this so-called genius to be so... beautiful? Alright, if her figure was included, ’beautiful’ was no longer enough to describe Qi Xinzhu’s current allure.

Long-term training, the illumination of Holy Radiance, and Lu Luo’s ’nourishment’ had made Qi Xinzhu not only radiant and cheerful but also incredibly alluring.

The aura of coexisting sanctity and allure left many male members stunned, their training movements unnaturally quickening.

Qi Xinzhu was already accustomed to this kind of situation.

In the Imperial, Lu Luo hadn’t yet established his own base.

So she didn’t have a suitable private training facility. Having access to the training ground here at the Kane Secret Cult was already very satisfying for her.

She didn’t ask for anything more.

I hope these guys don’t try anything foolish!

Qi Xinzhu took an unsharpened two-handed greatsword from the weapon rack in the training room.

Due to her immense strength, she wielded this sword single-handedly.

This display of strength alone was something many members of the Kane Secret Cult could not achieve.

This quickly made them realize the gap between themselves and Qi Xinzhu.

Their restless hearts gradually settled down.

Qi Xinzhu slowly swung the greatsword, starting to practice the Holy Radiance Cross swordsmanship, which she had not practiced for a long time.

Leaving Luo Yi’s office, Lu Luo quickly pulled out a stack of bills and 50 grams of Spirit Stones, placing them in Yang Di’s hands.

Yang Di was instantly stunned.

"Lu Luo, what are you doing?"

"What’s wrong? Aren’t partners supposed to split the money evenly?"

"But I didn’t do anything today, did I?"

"You did. You showed me the way, and you even paid the fare for me."

"Uh..."

Yang Di really wanted to say something principled, like not bowing for five pecks of rice or not eating food handed out in contempt.

But looking at the thick stack of money, she forcefully swallowed those words of principle.

There was no helping it... he had given too much.

"Hehehe, good partner, good partner!"

Lu Luo narrowed his eyes. Although he didn’t know the exact value of Spirit Stones here, he was certain they were very valuable in the Imperial.

If he were to bring over the Circle Company’s assets, while becoming ’wealthy enough to rival a nation’ was an exaggeration, being ’the wealthiest in a region’ would certainly be no problem.

Not to mention anything else, just Zhou Kai’s 5% share dividends and the general manager’s additional bonuses meant Dark Spirit Stones were calculated by the kilogram for him.

The people of Circle Company nowadays might lack other things, but they didn’t lack money.

Therefore, Lu Luo had no need to concern himself with this small amount of money.

"If Luo Yi asks you tomorrow where I went last night, tell her you took me clubbing. Understand?"

Yang Di was startled. So this money wasn’t free after all!

"Um, Luo Yi probably wouldn’t care where you go, right?"

Yang Di instinctively said this, but looking at Lu Luo’s calm gaze, she suddenly felt a bit scared.

"Okay, okay, I won’t ask so many questions! You go on with your business!"

Only then was Lu Luo satisfied and retracted his gaze.

"Good, then I’m off."

After leaving Wings of Blazing Sky, Lu Luo began to wander aimlessly around the area.

As the sky grew darker, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians around.

Passing a small alley, Lu Luo suddenly darted into it.

Just as he slipped in, the two figures who had been tailing him also silently followed.

The alley was narrow and winding.

After a couple of turns, they had already lost track of Lu Luo.

"He noticed us," one of them said. "Does he think he can escape? Truly naive."

"Quick," said the other. "Use the Sequence Instrument to pinpoint his location."

Having lost Lu Luo’s trail, the two unhurriedly took out what looked like an ancient compass-like device.

After taking out the compass device, they produced a small vial.

Inside the vial were a few tiny remnants of the dancer’s corpse.

When they placed these remnants in the center of the instrument and activated the Compass, its needle began to spin erratically.

"This Compass... what’s wrong with it?"

"How should I know? Is it broken?"

Suddenly! A youthful voice echoed from an unknown location!

"I don’t think it’s malfunctioning. See? When I move my body this way, it follows. This thing is really amazing!"