Lin Qi drew a deep breath and said with utmost seriousness, "I have come on behalf of the Dragon Mountain Empire of the Western Continent. The Empire's fleet is behind us, carrying all the Black Spirit slaves within the Dragon Mountain Empire's territory."
Spire sprawled lazily atop the Golden Scorpion King's head. "Oh? The Dragon Mountain Empire? I don't seem to have heard that name before."
"The Dragon Mountain Empire replaced the Vias Commercial Federation only two or three years ago," Lin Qi explained gently. "Taking advantage of this opportunity to reinforce the Black Spirit Empire, we have returned the Black Spirit people enslaved by the Vias Commercial Federation because we wish to forge a friendship with the Black Spirit Continent."
Xielisi leaped several yards into the air beside them, pointing at Lin Qi as she shouted, "Friendship from a follower of the Ashir Divine Clan? Little fellow, are you joking? This time, together with those long-ears, we're preparing to wipe out the Ashir Divine Clan—or at the very least, to—"
Spire slapped Xielisi to the ground, then shot out a strand of spider silk from thin air, sealing her mouth tightly shut. Xielisi flailed her limbs in protest, but Spire did not even glance at her. Her enormous compound eyes glowed with a dim divine light as they carefully studied Lin Qi's expression. Slowly, Spire nodded.
"I can sense the sincerity in your words. It seems you are a rather unusual human. You do not carry that aura that disgusts and repulses me—in other words, you are not a follower of those so-called gods. Since that is the case, we can talk. For instance, you want the friendship of the Black Spirit Continent. What is it that you want to do?"
Lin Qi looked at Spire, carefully choosing his