The final step in sealing a cooperation deal was usually determining the payment, then paying it.
However, even with Kong Daqian granting all kinds of concessions and setting a price practically equivalent to half-price—or half a giveaway—for the Elf race, it was still an enormous sum.
The main issue was that the Elf race was simply too poor. Their current state was more or less that of an entire people working odd jobs, with very limited income.
To pay this fee, they had no choice but to sell off their family assets.
Seeing this, Kong Daqian took the opportunity to put forward a new proposal.
"By the way, if His Majesty the Elf King is willing to allow the Elves of Great Zhou to undergo the trials of the Elf Ancient Tree in the future, then this price could still be discounted a little more."
To put it bluntly, this amount of money was insignificant to Great Zhou. A few tens of thousands more silver coins or a few tens of thousands fewer made no difference at all.
As long as they had a choice, they would certainly prioritize obtaining something more useful from the Elf race in exchange.
For example, the qualifications to undergo the trials of the Elf Ancient Tree.
Previously, the Elf King had generously granted Shilke the opportunity to undergo the trial. In essence, he had taken a gamble on Shilke's future and used it as a way to win Shilke's favor.
Yet when they had gone to the Elf Forest together, Shilke had not been the only Elf there. Why had none of the other Elves from Great Zhou received this opportunity?
Forget receiving the opportunity—Leite had not even mentioned the matter.
And that was where the subtlety lay.
They were all Elves, so Leite