Earth Dragon Gate

"Bai Mo, that Little Fox sent you a message. It basically says that Little Moon, the girl you rescued that day, is being bullied by Shrek Academy."

Bai Mo was on his way to Earth Dragon Gate with the Snow Empress, who was disguised as a larger, female version of Bai Mo. He stopped in his tracks when he heard Ms. Herta's voice in his mind.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Let's keep going!"

Bai Mo ignored the message for the moment, since there was nothing he could do.

Even if Shrek was utterly shameless, they probably wouldn't kill a student who was so loyal to them. At most, they'd make Zhang Lexuan kneel and beg Xuan Zi for forgiveness, as in the original story.

From a practical standpoint, if Bai Mo wanted to recruit Zhang Lexuan later, this was actually an opportunity.

"Forget it! Ms. Herta, reply to Tingyun and tell her to bring Zhang Lexuan back to the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce, no matter what—even if she has to call on the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect! Even if all she can do is stall, make her drag it out for another week!"

"Ms. Herta, get in touch with Aunt Ning too. Ask her to keep an eye on Tingyun. She can also let it slip that there are other forces behind the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce. Shrek Academy isn't someone we can afford to offend, so winning this round will be enough to make a name for the Fairy Boat!"

If he wanted to scheme, he'd scheme against Shrek. What kind of ability was it to scheme against an innocent person? If Bai Mo's principles had been that low, he wouldn't have stepped in to rescue those students in the first place.

"Heh~"

A soft laugh came from within Bai Mo's mind, but he paid it no attention.

He took his "mother's" hand, pointed in the right direction, and urged her to hurry up and carry him along.

Not long after, they arrived at Earth Dragon Gate's grounds.

"Reporting to the sect leader! A mother and son from the Fairy Boat are requesting an audience outside!"

"Show them in."

Sect Leader Nan Shuishui rubbed her forehead, weary from handling official business. Although this was her first time hearing of the Fairy Boat, the name alone gave her the impression of a force with deep roots.

"Bai Mo and Hanxue, the Fairy Boat's Seventh Arbiter-General, greet Sect Leader Nan! We came without an invitation. Please forgive us!"

Bai Mo naturally handled the introductions.

But Nan Shuishui didn't look at the solemn little boy. Instead, she was so startled by the Snow Empress behind him that she leapt to her feet.

The woman had shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes that radiated indifference. Her face, so similar to Bai Mo's, was breathtakingly beautiful.

But Nan Shuishui couldn't sense her aura at all. This was a real headache!

"How could I? With two honored guests gracing Earth Dragon Gate with your presence, our humble sect is honored. How could I possibly take offense? Is Hanxue the title of this Exalted One?"

Nan Shuishui nervously and cautiously asked Bai Mo.

"Yes. My mother is Bai Xue, titled Hanxue, and serves as the Fairy Boat's Seventh General. We've come uninvited, but we do have a request."

"Please, go ahead! Oh, I was so taken by your bearing that I forgot to invite you to sit. How careless of me. Exalted One, young master, please!"

Nan Shuishui hurried over and invited the two honored guests to take a seat.

"Sect Leader Nan, to be frank, the main reason we've come to your sect is your forbidden grounds."

Bai Mo took a sip of the tea Nan Shuishui had poured and spoke slowly.

Just as she'd thought! Nan Shuishui's heart settled. The only reasons this little sect of hers might attract a Titled Douluo were her and her daughter—or the forbidden grounds.

But the silent Exalted One was a woman, and the boy was too young. So Nan Shuishui had already guessed that they'd come for the forbidden grounds.

"Do you wish to visit the forbidden grounds, or are you hoping to acquire ownership of them? If you only wish to visit, I can decide that on my own. But if you want to acquire ownership, I'm afraid I can't make that decision by myself."

As she spoke, Nan Shuishui stole glances at the Snow Empress.

When she saw that the Snow Empress showed no reaction, Nan Shuishui felt a weight lift from her chest.

"We need to go to the pool in your sect's forbidden grounds. I won't hide it from you: there are quite a few heavenly treasures down there that would benefit both my mother and Aunt Bing Yu. But since you can't reach the bottom of the pool, I can't trade you resources of equal value."

Nan Shuishui's expression turned inscrutable as she pondered what to do.

The Snow Empress still looked as unapproachable as ever, while Bai Mo sipped his tea in tiny mouthfuls.

"As the young master says, Earth Dragon Gate indeed has no way to deal with the cold pool. But what resources can you offer in exchange?"

Nan Shuishui gritted her teeth and asked Bai Mo cautiously. The two didn't look like the sort to take what they wanted by force, so they should be...

"How about a lifetime twenty-percent discount at the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce?"

Bai Mo stroked his chin and gave her his answer.

Nan Shuishui wasn't bothered by Bai Mo's grown-up act, but his offer caught her interest.

"I've heard of the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce, but I had no idea it was an enterprise under your command, young master. What goods does the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce sell?"

Bai Mo took out two nearly round objects that looked like jade and casually tossed one to Nan Shuishui.

The Snow Empress curiously took the other one from Bai Mo. She hadn't expected her "son," whom she'd only recently acquired, to have so many strange things.

"What you're holding, Sect Leader, is a Jade Abacus, the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce's flagship product, which will be released soon. It doesn't have many functions yet; for now, it can only be used to exchange messages within cities where the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce operates."

"A communication device!" Nan Shuishui curiously examined the Jade Abacus in her hand.

The Jade Abacus received its signal from Bai Mo's Emperor Scepter Martial Soul. With Herta's research and development, signal base stations had already been created. At present, of course, they were only available at the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce's branches.

That was why the Jade Abacus could only be used in cities where the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce operated.

And for that very reason, once the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce launched the Jade Abacus, it would surely grow rapidly—as long as it could withstand the pressure.

"Go ahead and try it, Sect Leader. I have a signal device with me, so you can experience it for yourself."

That was a lie! The Emperor Scepter's main server just happened to be right here.

"No need. I trust the Exalted One and the young master to keep their word. I accept the deal. But would the young master be willing to grant me one more favor?"

Nan Shuishui cared a great deal about the Jade Abacus, but that wasn't the main reason she'd agreed.

She had two reasons for accepting the deal:

First, Earth Dragon Gate couldn't possibly hold on to something the Exalted One was determined to obtain. Getting something out of it was already a very good outcome.

Second, this Fairy Boat she'd never heard of had at least seven Titled Douluos—and such formidable research and development capabilities...

Go all in! She had to go all in!

"Shuishui has a daughter named Qiuqiu. She's admired the Fairy Boat for a long time. I wonder if you could give my daughter a chance?"

Come on! Did she even hear what she was saying? Bai Mo was already complaining to himself.

"Admired the Fairy Boat for a long time"? The Fairy Boat had only appeared on Douluo Continent today!

"Of course. But only core disciples can enter the Fairy Boat's base. If you want your daughter to join the Fairy Boat, her only option for now is to go to the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce as an affiliated disciple and work her way up. I'll be staying at the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce for the next few days, though, so I can look after her a little."

The Fairy Boat was out of the question. Where was Bai Mo supposed to find a Fairy Boat for her to join? He could only bring her to the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce for now and let them get acquainted.

"Then I'll do as you say, young master!"