Unsurprisingly, the negotiations ended on a sour note.
Given Li Chen's willful behavior, Helm Master Lin's restraint in waiting until he was far away before roaring in anger, rather than cursing him out on the spot, already showed considerable self-control. Had Li Chen been in his shoes, he too would have considered the demands excessive and utterly unworkable.
But he had done it deliberately-not to provoke them, of course, but to buy time.
Secretly reading Mei Xuan's thoughts took time. Commissioning Qi Maigu to refine the nether-origin crystal and crafting a devastating weapon took time. Repairing Xiao Die and Xiao Ying, rebuilding his foundation establishment combat power, organizing the Shaman Folk, and assembling an army all took time as well.
Time was simply too precious to him right now. If possible, he would have liked to drag things out for three to five years.
Unfortunately, Li Chen himself knew that was impossible.
Perhaps within three to five days, Helm Master Lin and the others would no longer be able to keep the matter under wraps and would have to report it. Within half a month, someone from the Mei Family would make a special trip to handle it. If he kept stalling without resolving things, all his plans would be thrown into disarray.
This time, Li Chen had also deliberately sent a signal: the price was negotiable.
He could ask for the sky, and they could counter with an offer down on the ground. Everything was open to discussion.
By the time they settled on a price, he would more or less be ready to release the captive.
This was also meant to focus their attention on his absurd demands, making them hunt for reasons to lower the price. That would dull their awareness of everything else, concealing Li Chen's