"According to you, Star Lord, the Four Heavenly Kings descending to the mortal world to seize treasures is some well-known unspoken rule of the Heavenly Court? Their elaborate setup is merely for appearances, and even if someone discovers it, they are not afraid at all?"
"You're fairly sharp."
The Plague Emperor "nodded."
"Damn! You can play it like that?! Aren't salaries paid out by the Heavenly Court? How is there such a thing as raising one's own military funds?"
"Kid, the Heavenly Court has a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals. Their monthly salaries alone amount to far more than ten million. Even for the Heavenly Court, that is no small expense. Besides, raising one's own military funds does not mean the Heavenly Court contributes nothing. It means that thirty percent must be raised by the [Ministry of War] itself.
Since ancient times, which general stationed in a region has not had the authority to raise his own military funds?
Did you really think being the Heavenly Court's Grand Marshal of Heavenly Armies was so easy, that all you needed to do every day was issue orders?"
"Uh..." Lu Chen had learned something new again. "So, in the end, it's a matter of money?"
The Plague Emperor snorted with a laugh. "I know you possess some secret means of producing Heavenly Gold. But I advise you not to entertain that thought too much. Heavenly Gold is not Netherworld currency, and the Heavenly Court is not the Netherworld. If you dare offer up a million Heavenly Gold today, tomorrow the Great Heavenly Venerable can dispatch a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers to descend and seize you.
If you do not believe me, feel free to try.
When that time comes, even I will not be able to protect you."
Lu Chen's heart