Liu Minghan and the Liu Family Master exchanged glances, and then with a somewhat sheepish smile, Liu Minghan said, "I should be the one to bring this up, Mr. Qin. Indeed, we have a favor to ask of you, but it’s rather excessive to put into words."

Qin Yu frowned slightly.

An excessive request?

If it’s excessive, why mention it at all?

Qin Yu understood that this was merely the other party’s tactic of feigning retreat to advance. However, having already accepted their gift, he was bound to offer assistance. He thus replied with a smile, "Patriarch Liu, please speak. I am aware of my capabilities—if it is within my power, I shall certainly help. Should it prove beyond my reach, I must forewarn you that there are matters which are simply impossible due to insufficient ability."

"Of course, that is only natural," the Liu Family Master quickly responded.

"Yun Lu, let’s get straight to the point," Liu Minghan advised from the side.

"Yes, Great Elder," the Liu Family Master acknowledged with a nod, then turned to Qin Yu and said, "The matter at hand pertains to the ’struggle for control of the transmission array.’ This contest for control occurs every hundred years, and in ten years’ time, the next battle for control will take place. We wish for Mr. Qin’s help in securing the transmission array control for our Liu Family."

Qin Yu’s brow creased slightly as he said, "Please clarify the situation. What exactly is this transmission array control?"

The Liu Family Master chuckled and explained, "I apologize for rushing my explanation. Here is the situation: Every planet has a number of transmission arrays. The revenue generated from these arrays each year comes to a staggering sum of Primordial Spirit Stones. Thus, on Fengyue Star, the three major families vie for control over the arrays every hundred years. The victorious family gains the control rights for a century."

Qin Yu nodded, "I understand, but allow me to ask one question first. Just how much wealth do each of your three major families truly possess?"

The Liu Family Master was taken aback.

"If Patriarch Liu prefers not to disclose this, that’s fine by me. I realize the question is rather blunt," said Qin Yu, smiling lightly.

Liu Minghan gestured and said, "No, I shall be the one to answer. Based on your question, Mr. Qin, it seems you have never concerned yourself with the distribution of wealth within your own family or sect, nor have you given it much thought, have you?"

Qin Yu burst into a bright smile.

"Indeed, it is precisely as Mr. Liu has said," Qin Yu could only reply in such a manner.

Liu Minghan nodded and said, "You see our family’s grandeur and splendor, yet you do not perceive the immense resources required to sustain such a vast clan, to maintain the existence of so many guards, as well as high-level cultivators like the Guest Elders. The yearly consumption of Primordial Spirit Stones is massive!"

"When it comes to a family’s wealth, even though the Liu Family has been accumulating for many years, our income barely exceeds our expenditure. Take, for instance, the invitation extended to you, Mr. Qin, to become a Guest Elder. A single Minister Token, combined with the craftsmanship and mineral materials, is worth tens of thousands. The Communication Spirit Pearl is even more precious; though it normally costs around one hundred and fifty thousand, buying channels are incredibly secretive. We also spent almost three hundred thousand to acquire it. Plus, the ten Upper Grade Primordial Spirit Stones are valued at one hundred thousand. All these three items together amount to several hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, we must supply our Guest Elders with Primordial Spirit Stones for their cultivation every year."

Qin Yu understood that the so-called "several hundreds of thousands" referred to several hundreds of thousands of Low Grade Primordial Spirit Stones.

"And that’s just for one Guest Elder. Our Liu Family currently has nine Guest Elders. In addition, we have nearly a thousand Heavenly Immortal experts, and tens of thousands of family disciples. The expenditures are enormous," Liu Minghan said with a wry smile. "And in the world of Immortals, Demons, and Spirits, there are only a few ways to earn Primordial Spirit Stones—mining ores, harvesting medicinal plants and spiritual flowers, being interstellar merchants, or controlling a planet’s transmission array. Out of these, controlling the transmission arrays of a planet likely yields the most Primordial Spirit Stones."

Qin Yu silently came to an understanding.

If a major family neither mines ores, engages in commerce, nor controls the planet’s transmission array, hardly anyone would serve the family for free, including the Guest Elders. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Moreover, without Primordial Spirit Stones, the family’s disciples would cultivate painfully slowly, making it easy for other forces to surpass them.

"Maintaining a large family is indeed quite difficult," Qin Yu exclaimed.

His own Qin Family, within the Hidden Dragon Continent, enjoyed an immense influence due to their absolute martial strength and their historical status as part of the Royal Family. As long as they maintained normal operations, the Qin Family faced no threat of complications.

The Qin Family could afford such ease precisely because the competition was not fierce.

But in the realms of immortals, demons, and spirits, major clans and powers exist. The strong ones, like Emperor Yu and Emperor Xuan who stand at the peak, also have to compete with other powerful Immortal Emperors and even the masters of the Demon and Spirit realms. And smaller powers, like the Liu Family, which dominate a planet, still have to compete with two other families.

"Mr. Liu, please continue," Qin Yu said as he looked at Liu Minghan.

Liu Minghan nodded, "Mr. Qin, you asked me earlier how much the Liu Family’s assets amounted to, and I can tell you. Our current stockpile of Primordial Spirit Stones is about one hundred million."

One hundred million Low Grade Primordial Spirit Stones is equivalent to 100 Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones.

"Without any income, this one hundred million can only sustain the Liu Family for a few hundred years. And do you know how much profit controlling the transmission array can bring in a hundred years?" Liu Minghan asked Qin Yu in return.

"I’m really not sure about that," Qin Yu replied.

In fact, Qin Yu was not even clear on how many Primordial Spirit Stones were generally required for one use of the transmission array, let alone the profits of a hundred years.

Liu Minghan’s eyes shone as he explained, "This planet’s transmission array, for nearby planets, generally requires four to ten Low Grade Primordial Spirit Stones. For farther distances, it requires about a hundred stones. The furthest distance requires nearly a thousand stones."

"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Liu, but how far can this transmission array reach at most?" Qin Yu asked.

Liu Minghan smiled, "How far can a transmission array go? The farthest distance it can cover cannot exceed a star system."

Qin Yu was taken aback.

Truth be told, he had not anticipated it being so expensive. Considering that the Blue Bay Star Domain comprises ten star systems, it seems the travel cost to traverse a star domain would exceed ten thousand, and traveling to the Demon World would require hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

"Every day, many people use the transmission array. The profit from one day can be tens of thousands, and nearly ten million in a year. Over a hundred years, that adds up to about ten billion," Liu Minghan said as he took a deep breath.

"Just obtaining control of the planet’s transmission array once can easily support the Liu Family for a few thousand years," Liu Minghan exhaled deeply.

Ten billion would suffice to sustain the Liu Family for thousands of years.

"May I ask Mr. Liu, how many times has the Liu Family controlled this transmission array from ancient times until now?" Qin Yu inquired curiously.

Liu Minghan replied with a somewhat embarrassed smile, "About that... our Liu Family has a long and storied history spanning a million years. However, during this million years, we have only controlled the transmission array... once!"

"One, one time?"

Qin Yu’s eyes widened.

Heavens!

The Liu Family is one of the three major families. Over a million years, there must have been tens of thousands of opportunities to vie for control of the transmission array. Yet, in tens of thousands of such contests, the Liu Family had only gained control once?

Can they still be considered one of the top three families?

Both Liu Minghan and the Liu Family Master were somewhat ashamed.

With a bitter smile, Liu Minghan said, "Mr. Qin, please don’t make fun of us. Speaking of which... the only time we had control was tens of thousands of years ago. Over the years, in order to sustain such a large family, the Liu Family has been actively engaged in commerce, and as for mining? The valuable mines have been depleted a long time ago. These years, our Liu Family has been living quite frugally."

The Liu Family Master nodded, "Indeed... Mr. Qin, as you have seen. Your disciple Liu Hanshu, if it were tens of thousands of years ago, all Liu Family descendants, even the younger generations, could receive a Low Grade Primordial Spirit Stone each year. But now, even a single Low Grade Primordial Spirit Stone needs to be earned by the younger clan members through competition, and only those who rank at the top are rewarded."

As he spoke, the Liu Family Master also felt a deep sorrow.

Qin Yu was at a loss for words.

"Master, they really are pitiable, aren’t they? Why summon so many troops if they don’t have that much money?" Shuo Yan’s voice echoed in Qin Yu’s heart, a form of soul communication that is possible only when there is a connection at the soul level.

Qin Yu, upon hearing Shuo Yan’s muttering, responded with a faint smile.

A family?

Could he really bear to part with so many troops?

"I must be honest with you two, I still don’t understand. Is your Liu Family’s disparity with the other two families that significant? Over the past million years, you’ve only won the fight for control once during the bi-centennial contests?" Qin Yu still wanted to ask.

Because...

Qin Yu was moved.

He coveted the wealth of the other two families. If they had frequently obtained control, it meant that their wealth could be immense. And when the time came... he would simply seize the wealth of their leaders.

Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones.

Those were precisely what Qin Yu needed most, and considering there were only a few Golden Immortals on Fengyue Star, Qin Yu didn’t take them seriously at all.

"A large disparity? No, in terms of strength, our Liu Family ranks second. The Wang Family, which ranks third, has not once gained control in a million years," Liu Minghan said immediately.

Qin Yu’s expression stiffened.

"You mean to say... the Yan Family, which ranks number one, has kept the control over the formation all these years? Their wealth and power far surpass yours?" Qin Yu’s interest was piqued by this ’Yan Family’.

Having controlled that formation for so many years, they must possess an immense fortune.

A few hundred blocks of Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones, taken at random, would allow his Sword Immortal Puppet to operate without the need to be scrupulously cautious about depleting its energy.

After all, with enough Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones, his Sword Immortal Puppet would be an undying Sword Immortal.

The resilience of a Sword Immortal Puppet was something Qin Yu was well aware of; he hadn’t seen anything that could break through its defenses.

"Yes, over the years, that family has held steadfast control over the formation," Liu Minghan nodded.

"Oh... Tell me more about this Yan Family," Qin Yu’s eyes brightened.

"Pitiful Yan Family, you’re in for it now," thought Shuo Yan and Zang Yuan, who were standing behind Qin Yu. As his servants, they were well aware of Qin Yu’s Sword Immortal Puppet and understood exactly what he was planning.

Liu Minghan chuckled: "This matter certainly needs to be discussed. If it weren’t for the Yan Family, our Liu Family would have long since controlled the formation."

"The Yan Family’s strongest expert, the current Great Elder, ’Yan Gao,’ is a Sword Immortal. Furthermore, he is... a Sixth-level Golden Immortal Sword Immortal," Liu Minghan stated gravely.

"Mr. Liu, may I ask for your cultivation level?" Qin Yu countered.

"I... am currently only at the Second Level Golden Immortal stage, and my power falls far short of Yan Gao’s," Liu Minghan said somewhat embarrassingly.

Qin Yu shook his head.

Sword Immortals are inherently powerful, and your opponent is a Sixth-level Golden Immortal, Liu Minghan; it would be strange if you could wrest control from him. However, a Sixth-level Golden Immortal Sword Immortal is still within my capabilities.

"Besides Yan Gao, the Yan Family also has another Golden Immortal, whom I have no regard for," Liu Minghan said confidently. "My worry is just this Yan Gao. If we could deal with him, all other problems would be resolved."

Qin Yu deliberately furrowed his brows.

Seeing Qin Yu’s frown, Liu Minghan and the other person’s hearts skipped a beat.

"You two want me to help you seize that control; tell me plainly how should I help you." Qin Yu spoke indifferently.

Liu Minghan immediately said, "There are two ways, one is... to help achieve victory in the competition ten years from now. That competition will consist of three contests, and whoever wins two of them gains control."

"The other method," Qin Yu prompted.

"The other is to help... kill that Yan Gao!" A cold light flashed in Liu Minghan’s eyes.

For Yan Gao, Liu Minghan had long harbored a deep hatred.

Qin Yu’s eyebrows lifted.

He intended to kill Yan Gao?

Indeed, he planned to kill Yan Gao, and to seize quite a few Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones from the Yan Family.

"Alas, a Sword Immortal, the mightiest among Immortals, and a Sixth-Level Golden Immortal at that. The challenge is enormous... truly enormous," Qin Yu lamented, "At least, it’s beyond me."

"Really no way at all?" Liu Minghan and the Liu Family Master were now worried.

Qin Yu pondered for a moment.

Liu Minghan’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "I remember Mr. Qin, you mentioned your elder from your sect is heading to the Demon World, so he must be in the Blue Bay Star Domain now... this."

"No need to elaborate, I grasp your meaning," Qin Yu waved his hand and sighed, "Indeed, my sect elder’s power is substantial; to kill a Sixth Level Golden Immortal is... within his confidence."

Liu Minghan and the Liu Family Master couldn’t help but smile.

Qin Yu forced a bitter smile, "However, how could I, a mere junior, command my sect elder? To ask an elder from my sect to kill a Sixth-level Golden Immortal Sword Immortal out of the blue, my master would reprimand me severely."

"This..." Both Liu Minghan and the Liu Family Master frowned.

"If there’s truly no alternative, tell us your conditions. The Liu Family will do anything within our power to assist," Liu Minghan immediately offered.

After all, his Liu Family had a mere one billion in assets; spending it all wasn’t of concern. In comparison to the right to control the transmission array, controlling it was far more important.

Qin Yu pondered for a moment, his eyes suddenly lighting up, "Actually, there might be a way. My master is currently refining a secret treasure and desperately needs Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones. Only energy as pure as that from Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones will suffice. So... if you provide enough Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones, you may persuade my master. Then, relying on my influence with my master, it could be possible."

Qin Yu finally revealed his ulterior motive after a roundabout discussion.

"Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones?"

Liu Minghan and the Liu Family Master felt their breath catch.

Both inwardly sighed, indeed, a person from a major power would need a large quantity of Top-Grade Primordial Spirit Stones just to refine a single secret treasure.

(Wow, I never imagined that yesterday we would reach the number one spot for the monthly tickets, brothers. You truly are spirited, and your energy is formidable! Well, today I’m pressed for time, so just two Chapters. I will update with three Chapters tomorrow to thank everyone.)

(To be continued, if you wish to know what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM. There are more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)