When Gu Deshou lit up with excitement and immediately offered Fang Tianhe a generous reward, the Lord Sages in the hall all changed expression. Jealousy filled their eyes, but none dared interrupt.
Faced with Gu Deshou's enthusiasm, Fang Tianhe remained calm and modest.
"Domain Lord, you flatter me."
"As a cultivator of the Ransang Star Domain and a Star Lord under your command, it is only right that I help ease your burdens."
"I was fortunate enough to obtain some intelligence and earn a little merit. I would not dare claim undue credit or presume to ask for a reward."
Gu Deshou burst into laughter.
"Fang Tianhe, that is where you're wrong. Very wrong."
"I'm pleased that you wish to help me, but merit deserves a reward. That is my rule. If a contribution this great went unrewarded, wouldn't my people lose heart?"
"Well..."
Fang Tianhe made a show of hesitating.
Then he said, "Very well. I hadn't thought it through. Since you put it that way, Domain Lord, I'll be so bold as to ask you for a Saint King Cultivation Technique."
The moment he said it, Gu Deshou's smile faded.
The Lord Sages beside him sprang forward, each condemning Fang Tianhe's audacity.
"Outrageous... Fang Tianhe, you're far too greedy."
"All you did was obtain some information about the Blood God Cult, yet you dare use that merit to demand a Saint King Cultivation Technique from the Domain Lord? Do you know how precious a Saint King-Tier Cultivation Technique is? How could he simply hand one over to you?"
It was not that they truly thought Fang Tianhe had gone too far. They were desperate.
They were all Lord Sages and Gu Deshou's trusted confidants, yet even they had never obtained a genuine Saint King-Tier Cultivation Technique or art.