Inside the stone chamber, the massive Purifier rumbled dully.
Zhou Xuan sat on the high terrace, toying with several freshly produced Top-Grade Crystal Stones.
The Crystal Stones gave off the rich fragrance of Immortal Court origin, but a trace of dissatisfaction showed on his face.
Too slow.
The Bone Dragon Old Ancestor Taichu had sent looked enormous, yet yielded a pitiful number of crystal stones.
At this rate, who knew how many ages would pass before he could feed the black-gold Dao fruit its fill?
The threat of the Heavenly Patrol Guards hung overhead, and the coordinates on the blood-red Star Map could light up at any moment. He had no time to play house with these old monsters of Central Province.
"Go call those three in."
Zhou Xuan tossed the Crystal Stones into his sleeve and called toward the door.
Before long, Old Ancestor Xuanming, Old Ancestor Cangwu, and Emperor Jiang Wu pushed open the door and entered.
All three gazed at the Purifier with undisguised longing.
"Token Master, you called for us?" Old Ancestor Xuanming rubbed his hands, his face plastered with a fawning smile.
Zhou Xuan leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers.
"The current collection rate is far too slow."
Zhou Xuan cut straight to the point and laid out the problem.
"That old bastard Taichu thought he could fob me off with one broken-down Bone Dragon. Do you really think that's all the reserves the Seventy-Two Immortal Veins have?"
Emperor Jiang Wu frowned and considered this for a moment.
"You mean they're holding out on us?"
"Obviously." Zhou Xuan sneered.
"These old monsters have lived for over a thousand years. Which of them isn't shrewd as a fox? This current pay-per-piece arrangement makes things far too comfortable for them."
"They