"Tell me, Fellow Daoist, how exactly is this price calculated?" Zhang Tie asked with a flicker in his eyes.
He had been worrying over how to leave the Northern Cold Immortal Domain. With identities being scrutinized so closely, who knew when he would get another chance to leave? Now that this old man had come seeking him out, Zhang Tie could not help but grow suspicious, unsure whether the old man was friend or foe.
The gray-robed old man stroked his beard and smiled, raising three fingers from within his sleeve. "Senior, the rules are simple. Thirty percent will be added to the original transmission fee."
Seeing Zhang Tie's brows draw together, he slowly added, "Inspections in the city are quite strict now, and the verification of the teleportation arrays is several times harsher than in previous years. This price is fair enough."
But Zhang Tie abruptly changed his tone. "Even so, thirty percent is rather excessive. I think I might as well wait a few days before leaving. Once they have investigated for a while, they will stop eventually. It is probably just going through the motions and putting on a show." With that, he made as if to flick his sleeve and leave.
"Please wait, Senior!" The old man hurried forward two steps to block him, snow crunching beneath his boots. "Twenty percent! That is the lowest price I can authorize."
He lowered his voice and leaned half a step closer, his white breath mingling with the wind and snow. "The City Lord's Mansion takes sixty percent of the profits, and the Sky Patrol Guard must be greased as well. What remains is barely enough to make a living..."
Zhang Tie stopped and pondered, his gaze sweeping over the faintly visible Ice Pattern Sect insignia on the old