Tension, You Tricked Me First

On the viewing deck of the large ship, Lin Ze and East Sea King Ji Kan sat facing each other, playing chess.

Ji Qingyan sat upright to the side, watching quietly.

Given Lin Ze's status as a beginner who only vaguely understood the rules, he could actually be on par with Ji Kan in chess skills.

It was hard to say whether Ji Kan was terrible at the game but loved to play, or whether he understood how to navigate social situations.

A black piece landed, and Ji Kan narrowly won the game. Then, as if remembering something, he smiled and said to Lin Ze, "I was so preoccupied with enjoying the scenery that I forgot the real reason for inviting Zi Yi here this time. Some time ago, Zi Yi swept away the bandits in the Distant Moon Mountain Range. According to the law, the imperial court should reward you."

"On behalf of the imperial court, I bestow upon you the Stars Swordplay Peerless Skill and a scroll of the Heaven Essence Qi Sea Pill secret medicine recipe. I hope you will diligently practice them and report more victories in the future in the matter of pacifying bandits and eliminating thieves."

As he spoke, Ji Qingyan, who was beside him, held out a brocade box and opened it. Two jade books lying in the box appeared before Lin Ze.

On the jade books, many small characters were densely engraved.

With a quick glance, Lin Ze could tell that it was a profound martial art and a prescription.

Using jade books to write martial arts and prescriptions, from the selection of materials to the carving, took a long time, proving that the martial arts and prescriptions had not been temporarily altered, ensuring their authenticity.

At this time, Ji Kan introduced:

"This Stars Swordplay was created many years ago by a Peerless Expert named Stars Celestial, who comprehended the constellations. It combines the constellations with the human body's acupoints. It is not only a powerful swordplay for fighting enemies, but also has miraculous effects on cultivating the body's acupoints, which can greatly increase the upper limit of Inner Strength."

"As for this Heaven Essence Qi Sea Pill, it is a secret medicine used to assist cultivation. In addition to directly increasing Inner Breath with its medicinal power, it can also greatly enhance the functions of the internal organs, promote the body's digestion of food, and accelerate the recovery of Qi and Blood, which can greatly improve the speed of Inner Strength cultivation."

Peerless Skill-level martial arts are second only to Peerless Divine Art-level techniques.

Cultivating a Peerless Skill to the pinnacle realm offers a chance to become a Peerless Expert, which shows the preciousness of a Peerless Skill. In addition, a secret medicine that can assist martial artists in cultivation makes the combined value even more extraordinary.

Lin Ze was not polite and directly accepted the brocade box, bowing and thanking him, "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness."

Although Ji Kan sent such benefits to win him over, Lin Ze did not feel that he had received a favor.

He eliminated harm for the people and made outstanding contributions to the stability of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the opening of the Coal Mine provided many jobs and tax revenues to help the imperial court develop.

This reward was well-deserved.

Seeing that the atmosphere was right at this time, Ji Kan struck while the iron was hot and said, "Since Zi Yi has the heart to serve the country, why not take advantage of your prime years to enter the imperial court and serve His Majesty?"

Lin Ze smiled and said, "I am currently reviewing books, preparing to participate in the Imperial Examination next year."

Ji Kan took a deep look at Lin Ze, not knowing whether he was playing dumb or truly did not understand.

He simply got straight to the point:

"The foreign tribes outside the border raid and plunder the border residents every year, causing many casualties and property losses. I heard that Zi Yi has unique Firearms skills. His Majesty wants to form a Firearms army to sweep away the foreign tribes. Since Zi Yi has the heart to serve the country and eliminate thieves, why not offer the complete Firearms manufacturing skills? I wonder what Zi Yi thinks?"

Beside him, the Sixth Princess Ji Qingyan chimed in, "Zi Yi, if you offer the complete set of Firearms skills, you will be the first to contribute to the army sweeping away the foreign tribes in the future. It would not be an exaggeration to be granted the title of marquis or duke. At that time..."

Speaking of this, some shyness appeared on Ji Qingyan's cold and beautiful face, giving people a lot of imagination.

With the noble status of the Sixth Princess, the lethality to men is unparalleled.

After the two finished speaking, they both stared at Lin Ze, waiting for his answer.

Based on Lin Ze's affection for Ji Qingyan shown yesterday and today, it was thought that the persuasion effect of this remark should be extremely strong.

"Not enough."

Lin Ze's delighted expression at receiving the Peerless Skill faded, replaced by calmness.

Even when facing a beauty like Ji Qingyan, he remained composed, without the slightest fluctuation in his emotions.

"What's not enough?"

Ji Kan subconsciously asked the question, only to see Lin Ze raise the brocade box in his hand slightly, and say, "If you want to obtain the complete set of Firearms manufacturing techniques, these costs are not enough."

"The Firearms techniques are my unique skill, forged by generations of wise men over hundreds of years of painstaking effort, not comparable to a mere Peerless Skill or a secret medicine."

"More money is needed!"

Lin Ze wasn't talking nonsense either.

Gun technology is the result of countless scholars in the Main World accumulating and improving over a long period, involving knowledge of physics, chemistry, mechanics, energy, and many other disciplines, representing the power of industry.

Yesterday, Lin Ze felt that selling a gun manufacturing technology was an insignificant matter.

He could take this opportunity to build a good relationship with the Great Zhou Imperial Family, making it easier for him to operate in the Great Zhou, but after Lin Ze returned to the Main World last night and called Zhang Hai to understand the relevant processes of gun manufacturing in detail, his current thoughts have completely changed.

If the Great Zhou Dynasty wants to fully master gun manufacturing technology, they first need the relevant knowledge, right? Iron smelting, machine tools, assembly lines, power generation...

If an agricultural country obtains these, it can transform into an industrial country.

Although martial arts and secret medicines are precious, compared to the industrial system, their value is far inferior.

After all, what Ji Kan wants is not one or two guns, but a complete method of gun production and manufacturing.

This represents the more advanced productivity of an industrial society compared to an agricultural society, like a dimensionality reduction strike, not something that can be obtained with a little money.

Ji Qingyan looked at the extremely calm Lin Ze at this moment, the Lin Ze who was unmoved by her beauty, and at this time she suddenly realized that in fact, this young man had never been swayed by her beauty, he was saying what he wanted to say and could say.

Ji Kan's expression did not change, as a prince, he had experienced intrigue since childhood.

It's normal for a young talent to have some scheming and city, he can't really treat people as fools who can't walk when they see beauty, right?

Asking for more money means there is room for negotiation.

It's better than treating Firearms techniques as not for sale, it would be troublesome to obtain Firearms manufacturing techniques at that time.

"His Majesty has been expecting Firearms techniques for a long time, and is determined to obtain them. How can Zi Yi agree to offer the complete set of Firearms techniques to the imperial court? Please tell us."

Ji Kan opened his mouth, raised his hand and made a gesture of invitation.

"1 trillion taels of Silver or gold and jade stones of corresponding value, I can give you the complete set of Firearms manufacturing technology."

Lin Ze said.

"One... trillion taels of Silver???"

Ji Kan and Ji Qingyan, at this time, subconsciously repeated Lin Ze's words.

The entire Great Zhou Dynasty only has a little more than 100 million taels of income a year, 1 trillion taels of Silver would require the Great Zhou Dynasty to save for 10,000 years without eating or drinking.

At this time, whether it was Ji Kan or Ji Qingyan, looking at Lin Ze, whose expression was calm and breezy, they both felt their fists harden, wanting to punch him in the face.

"Zi Yi, are you kidding me?"

Afterwards, Ji Kan asked with a dry laugh.

"I'm not joking. If you want to buy some firearms, I can sell you some for a few hundred taels of silver each, but if you want the complete set of firearms manufacturing techniques, this is the price."

"One trillion taels of silver, no bargaining."

Lin Ze said seriously.

Gun manufacturing technology isn't just about making a gun; it represents an entire industrial system.

If Ji Kan obtains this industrial system and establishes his own industrial power, he can reach a level similar to the Second Industrial Revolution in the Main World. His productivity and combat power will increase geometrically, and his control over this Other World will reach an incredible level.

This kind of productivity represents the right to rule an entire world. Would Lin Ze still dare to come to this Other World to make money then?

Since that's the case, Lin Ze naturally wants to earn enough in one go before running away.

Reap the leeks until the roots are dug up.

One trillion taels of silver is worth about two hundred trillion in the Main World. Lin Ze estimates that he could obtain these benefits by spending many years plundering all the resources of this world.

Although giving up this world is a bit of a pity, if Ji Kan can really come up with one trillion taels worth of wealth, then Lin Ze might choose to live in another world.

With this huge starting capital, he can develop faster.

Obviously, Ji Kan can't come up with that much money.

Not to mention him, even if the entire Great Zhou Dynasty were sold, it wouldn't be worth that much. The total wealth of an agricultural society is completely insignificant compared to an industrial society.

So Ji Kan felt that Lin Ze was playing with him and directly attacked.

Ji Kan, who is now a Super-Class Expert, followed his heart and punched Lin Ze, who was sitting across from him, in the face.

He didn't intend to kill him, but he definitely wanted to let him know the price of talking nonsense.

The two were not far apart, only about a meter. Almost instantly, this punch had already reached three inches in front of Lin Ze's face, and in the next moment, it was about to hit Lin Ze's face.

But this three-inch distance was like an insurmountable abyss, and Ji Kan didn't dare to punch down no matter what.

Because at the same time as he attacked, a silver-white pistol was already pointed at Ji Kan's brow.

At the same time, another silver-white pistol was pointed at the brow of Ji Qingyan, who was next to him and was about to rescue her brother when Lin Ze attacked.

The two had never seen a pistol and didn't know the power of firearms, but they could clearly perceive the indifference and confidence in Lin Ze's eyes.

Although the other party's internal strength was weak and not even at the Essence Solidification level, he was confident that he could kill them before their attacks landed. The thousands of bandits who died at Lin Ze's hands in the Distant Moon Mountain Range were the best proof of Lin Ze's combat power.

This kind of extremely clear intuition from a martial artist made Ji Kan and Ji Qingyan, who were preparing to teach Lin Ze a lesson, dare not act rashly.

They knew that if they insisted on attacking Lin Ze's body, then the other party would definitely strike first.

"Your intuition is right. If the firearms in my hand are fired in a normal state, they can even penetrate a steel plate as thick as a thumb."

"What's more, I have specially replaced it with super-powered ammunition with increased gunpowder, which greatly increases the power. Even if your protective True Qi is strong and can withstand the bullet fired at a speed of two hundred and sixty zhang per second once, can you withstand the next fifth time?"

"Moreover, this is just one of the methods I can use."

The force of the fist stirred Lin Ze's hair.

He looked at the two people whose bodies were stiff, took the initiative to put away the firearms, and said calmly.

Ji Kan and Ji Qingyan's martial arts are indeed several major realms stronger than him, but Lin Ze doesn't need to have the power to fight them head-on, he just needs to pull out his gun.

The Inner Breath physique enhancement of a Second-Rate Peak cultivator on the verge of stepping into the Essence Solidification realm, coupled with the two mental and consciousness reaction speed enhancements brought by opening the Personal Space, gave Lin Ze enough reaction speed to pull out a gun from his Personal Space.

"Thunderbolt Young Master lives up to his name."

Ji Kan retracted his hand, his tense body relaxing, as did Ji Qingyan beside him.

On the viewing platform, there were originally only Lin Ze and the Ji siblings, but at some point, an old eunuch in eunuch robes appeared.

Unsurprisingly, this person should be a Peerless Expert, a guardian of the Ji siblings.

Lin Ze glanced at the old eunuch, his mind spreading out to guard the surroundings, while his consciousness connected with the boiling Tungsten Water he had prepared some time ago, ready to use this nearly six thousand degree metal liquid to block the opponent and then open the door to escape.

"Alright, I am just sparring with Brother Lin, step back."

A stiff smile appeared on Ji Kan's face as he waved the old eunuch away.

Ji Qingyan also nodded, and the old eunuch retreated.

The three were silent for a moment, the tense atmosphere dissipated a little, and Ji Kan and Lin Ze sat down again facing each other.

"Brother Lin, why propose an impossible condition? If you have no intention of offering the Firearms manufacturing process, you could have refused directly, why play with me like this?"

"Are you perhaps thinking that the swords and sabers in the hands of my Great Zhou Armored Soldiers are not sharp enough? With a single order from me, your subordinate industries can be reduced to ashes, and there will be no place for you in this vast world."

At this time, Ji Kan no longer had his previous politeness, and directly threatened in a cold voice.

This was referring to the condition Lin Ze had proposed, selling the complete Firearms manufacturing process for one trillion taels of Silver.

The implication was that if they couldn't come to an agreement, he would lead a large army to flatten Lin Ze's industries and send experts to hunt him down personally.

"It was you, Your Highness, who played with me first."

Lin Ze raised his hand and pushed the brocade box containing martial arts manuals and secret medicine prescriptions on the table.

To pay a small price and simply want to exchange for the opportunity to transform from an agricultural country to an industrial country, that was too beautiful of a dream.

This feeling was like Ji Kan taking one yuan and wanting to buy a gold mine from Lin Ze, and Lin Ze almost fell for it, so it was no wonder he felt a little angry.

How much blood and sweat did Qixia Country pay back then to transform from an agricultural country to an industrial country?

That was the effort of the whole country for many years.

After a pause, Lin Ze added, "Believe me, if you don't let me do business in peace, it's not me who will lose more, but you."

"The industries I have right now are only worth a few hundred thousand taels in total. Losing them all would be nothing to me, but if our relationship turns hostile, I may be able to bring you a hundred or even a thousand times that amount in losses."

"You can send Peerless Experts, Heaven and Man Experts, or even stronger beings to hunt me down, but let's see if they can stop my revenge."