Zhou Qing chuckled lightly and said, "Please convey my thanks to the President."

Jin Mantang nodded, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn’t resist asking, "Sir, are you truly a... Level Three Array Master?"

Zhou Qing nodded frankly.

After all, being able to swiftly repair the array core damaged by Zou Lun is something no Level Two Array Master could accomplish.

Seeing Zhou Qing’s admission, Jin Mantang felt a surge of excitement.

"The President anticipated you would come to see me and specifically instructed... If you are willing to become a Tributor of our house, the remuneration will be the highest, and any condition can be negotiated."

"Moreover, with the President’s protection, even if the Nangong Family has someone from the Spirit Severing Realm, they would not dare to touch you."

Zhou Qing shook his head and chuckled lightly, "Thank you for your kind intentions, but I have always preferred freedom and dislike constraints."

"It’s just a nominal position, there won’t be any constraints..." Jin Mantang tried to persuade further.

Zhou Qing shook his head again, signaling him to stop talking.

Moreover, if I take off my mask, who knows I’m "Mr. Ji"?

Where would the Nangong Family even find me?

"Alright then." Seeing Zhou Qing’s firm attitude, Jin Mantang had to give up, "Please wait a moment, I will go fetch the Spirit Stones."

Suddenly, Zhou Qing said, "By the way, Jin Shopkeeper, can you help exchange them for Wood Attribute Spirit Stones, even if the exchange rate is higher, it’s fine."

Jin Mantang, who was about to turn away, paused, showing surprise, "Wood Attribute?"

Zhou Qing nodded, saying, "Yes, Wood Attribute, the more the better."

Jin Mantang didn’t ask further, just nodded solemnly, "Alright, I will do my best!"

After saying this, he propped himself up and left in a hurry.

Zhou Qing watched his departing figure, exhaled a long breath.

Among the Five Elements Top-Grade Spirit Stones, Wood Attribute is the most rare and precious.

Its Spiritual Power is inherently nurturing, circulating like spring wind and rain, being the gentlest.

Whether for healing, assisting in alchemy, cultivating, breaking realms, or array setup, having it can yield twice the result with half the effort.

Moreover, according to the ancient records Zhou Qing consulted, the forming conditions for Wood Attribute Spirit Stones are far more demanding than other attributes.

Usually only deep within the root system of Spirit Wood that has grown for tens of thousands of years, in a pure life force zone, can Wood Attribute Spirit Veins possibly form.

And thus, a small number of Wood Attribute Spirit Stones can be mined.

"Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, you sure have a picky taste." Zhou Qing thought with a bitter smile.

"Luckily, you’re not asking for the even rarer Thunder Attribute Spirit Stone, or I would just give up!"

Zhou Qing shook his head, preparing to find a secluded place to wait.

But suddenly, his expression turned sharp, and he whipped around.

In the corridor behind him, somehow a figure had appeared.

It was a seemingly ordinary middle-aged man, dressed in a plain white robe, with only a Cyan Jade abacus hanging from his waist.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he seemed to merge with the surrounding space, clearly there, yet giving a feeling of ethereal vagueness.

"Duobao Trading House... President?"

Zhou Qing was struck with shock, his Adam’s apple moved unconsciously under the mask, but he didn’t appear too panicked.

In fact, before stepping into the trading house, he had already anticipated this encounter.

Someone who can make the Emperor retract orders, how could they not be interested in him, the "Mr. Ji" who slew the Jieyun Thieves?

Unless he was willing to give up over five hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones, sooner or later he would have to face this mighty figure.

However, since he dared to come, he was already prepared to meet, otherwise, with the Imperial Family’s involvement, their actions wouldn’t be convenient.

"My apologies for the intrusion," Zhou Qing saluted respectfully, his voice steady and powerful, "Having the President personally visit, I am truly flattered."

The man in white chuckled lightly, his smile like a spring breeze.

"You’re worthy of someone who can kill Jieyun Thieves, your Spiritual Power is incredibly sharp. You detected me just upon my arrival, such vigilance, no wonder you escaped unscathed from the Sea of No Light."

"The President overpraises me," Zhou Qing replied humbly, "I was just lucky."

The President looked at Zhou Qing with a meaningful gaze, "Lucky? To have dispatched nine Jieyun Thieves at No Light Sea, and forced the Nangong Family to suffer great losses, such ’luck’ seems unprecedented in my thousands of years of life." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Before he finished speaking, he waved his wide sleeve.

Zhou Qing felt his vision blur; the surrounding scenery faded like flowing water, and when he gathered his senses, he found himself in a magnificently splendid hall.

Nine golden palace lamps hung from the ceiling, the wick burning with Spiritual Fire, reflecting brilliantly off the Spirit Jade inlaid on the walls.

This kind of Position Shifting technique, even Zhou Qing, with his firm will, felt his heart tremble with shock.

"Is this the means of the Spirit Severing Realm?" Zhou Qing was astonished within.

He understood that the Spirit Severing Realm could tear through space, a journey of seven or eight days was but a moment’s work for them.

At this moment, he finally saw the President’s appearance clearly—wearing a plain white robe embroidered with dark gold coin patterns, with a face looking about forty.

His brows resembled distant mountains, lips like painted vermilion, while his left hand played with a simple Bronze Coin, constantly flipping between his fingers.

"I am Mo Tianheng, Young friend, if you don’t mind, you may call me Old Mo!" The President spoke gently with a warm voice.

Zhou Qing had long heard of the President’s famous name.

Duobao Trading House had branches in Thirty-Five locations across the Eight Prefectures and Seventy-Two Mansions, indicating its vast power.

Anyone with a bit of insight would be aware of this President Mo’s prestige.

But the address "Old Mo" reminded him of his senior sister calling their master "Old Mo", though merely a homophone, it added a touch of familiarity.

"I dare not be presumptuous," Zhou Qing saluted respectfully.

Mo Tianheng gestured with his sleeve, "Sit, no need for formality. I knew you would come, just didn’t expect it this soon."