Outside the Heavenly Cloud Auction House, in a deserted alley, two figures stood facing each other.
"Heh... Since you don't trust Mu Han, you can just walk away. Why bother coming to me?"
After hearing Old Monster Hu's words, Xiao Yan couldn't help but sneer, his tone full of sarcasm.
"Hehe, as I just said, I came here for the money. I helped Mo Zhai because he could afford to pay me before, but now that the situation has changed, I can't afford to lose too much!"
Old Monster Hu stared at Xiao Yan with a wicked smile on his face, looking every bit the villain.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his eyes narrowed, not daring to underestimate the Old Monster Hu in front of him.
Reaching the level of Eight-Star Half-Emperor is already extremely difficult, yet Old Monster Hu is still able to be so cautious and prudent. It's not hard to see that his future might not be any less than Mu Han's.
In the narrow alley, two figures stared at each other for a long while, then both burst into laughter. After the laughter subsided, Xiao Yan's face quickly returned to a serious expression, and he smiled:
"You want to change bosses? That's certainly not a problem..."
After uttering those words, Old Monster Hu appeared much calmer, knowing that Xiao Yan had more to say.
Xiao Yan smiled knowingly, raised his gaze, stared at Old Monster Hu, and then continued:
"But the problem is, how can I trust you? What you just told me was all within my expectations. If you want me to trust you, you have to show me something convincing!"
Upon hearing this, Old Monster Hu chuckled lightly, his gaze also fixed on Xiao Yan opposite him, and said:
"As for something substantial, I naturally can't offer anything. What I can tell you is that besides the four of us you saw this time, there is another Seven-Star Half-Emperor in the Mu Manor."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan frowned. He hadn't expected that these guys would hold back a trump card in order to deal with him. Although they weren't Eight-Star Half-Emperor, they were still figures capable of turning the tide of the entire battle, and Xiao Yan couldn't afford to ignore them.
Therefore, Xiao Yan could only hope that the strength of that Seven-Star Half-Emperor was not as he had imagined.
As if he had read Xiao Yan's mind, before Xiao Yan's expression could change, Old Monster Hu grinned and poured a bucket of cold water over his head.
"That Seven-Star Half-Emperor possesses the strength of the late-stage peak, and is only one step away from breaking through to the Eight-Star Half-Emperor. As long as he enters the Void Lightning Pool, he will definitely break through to the Eight-Star level! And at that time, you will face more than just the three of us."
Xiao Yan nodded solemnly. He knew this even without Old Monster Hu reminding him: if the enemy added another Eight-Star Half-Emperor, this terrifying reinforcement would have an overwhelming effect on the battle.
Moreover, there is also Yan Bing, who is also at the Peak Eight-Star Half-Emperor. Once these two break through, even if Xiao Yan also breaks through to the Four-Star Half-Emperor, with his methods, he will still be no match for them.
Old Monster Hu's reminder allowed Xiao Yan to foresee the overall strength of Mo Zhai's side, which enabled him to make some preparations before entering the Lightning Pool. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle.
If Old Monster Hu hadn't revealed these things today, Xiao Yan would have truly believed that the other side only had three High-Level Half-Emperor. If that were the case, when the Lightning Pool opened, Mo Zhai and the others would catch them off guard, which would put Xiao Yan's side at a greater disadvantage!
Therefore, Old Monster Hu's words were undoubtedly a lifesaver for Xiao Yan at this time.
"Having said all that, let's talk about your terms."
Xiao Yun snapped out of his reverie and turned his gaze back to Old Monster Hu. He didn't believe that this guy would reveal this information to him for nothing.
Old Monster Hu grinned, his scarlet tongue smearing across his lips, before he raised his gaze and slowly said:
"You're really straightforward, much easier than Mo Zhai. I won't say much, just four Emperor Grade Pill. I guarantee I won't have to lift a finger."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately frowned, his eyes narrowed into slits, and his sharp gaze was fixed on Old Monster Hu, but the latter seemed completely oblivious to it.
"You really want to be the one who suffers the consequences, huh..."
Xiao Yan said in a detached tone.
Old Monster Hu sneered, staring fearlessly at Xiao Yan, and mocked:
"Heh... They're just material possessions, why care so much? With your current wealth, you're not short of these. Besides, if I were to intervene, you wouldn't even be able to save your life. What good would these pills do? Four Emperor Grade Pill for a life, that's a very good deal!"
Xiao Yan stared at Old Monster Hu, sneered, stretched out his hand, and casually made a grasping motion in the void in front of him. With a flash of light, a jade bottle appeared in Xiao Yan's palm.
This was the very jade bottle that Xiao Yan had tossed to the old man at the auction, containing four Emperor Grade Pill.
Upon seeing this, Old Monster Hu's eyes lit up slightly, a greedy glint flashing within them.
"Heh, the reward Mo Zhai promised you is probably only half of what you asked for from me. Four Emperor Grade Pill? You really are asking for the moon!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Old Monster Hu's expression changed instantly, but before he could speak, Xiao Yan continued:
"Four Emperor Grade Pill are enough for me to find two High-Level Half-Emperor to protect me outside, and they would definitely be the kind of people who would go all out to ensure my safety. So, why do you think you deserve four Emperor Grade Pill?"
Old Monster Hu's expression shifted. Xiao Yan was right. Four Emperor Grade Pill could indeed persuade two High-Level Half-Emperor to come, but if Xiao Yan's reward was only two Emperor Grade Pill, he would feel somewhat unwilling.
Old Monster Hu's expression shifted between light and shadow, his tightly furrowed brows constantly relaxing and then furrowing again. After a long while, he finally sighed helplessly, frowned at Xiao Yan, and said:
"Three, three Emperor Grade Pill. This is my only concession. If you still refuse, then this deal is off."
"Alright, I can give you three Emperor Grade Pill, but you have to promise me one thing..."
No sooner had Old Monster Hu finished speaking than Xiao Yan followed up with his own words, causing Old Monster Hu expression had just returned to normal, to frown again.
Xiao Yan ignored him, paused for two seconds, and then continued:
"I can't just give you three Emperor Grade Pill for free based on these pieces of information that I'll find out sooner or later. So, I need you to fight for me once during the great battle between the two sides. If you're unwilling, then this deal is off. At worst, we'll fight to the death, and you'll still get nothing."
This time, Old Monster Hu lowered his head, his face looking somewhat gloomy.
"Boy, are you threatening me?"
I was just making a request.
Xiao Yan looked at Old Monster Hu with a calm expression, his eyes as still as a deep well, revealing no flaw whatsoever.
The two remained calm, looking at each other without speaking first. For a moment, silence enveloped them, and their foreheads were unknowingly covered with beads of sweat.
Whoever loses their composure first will be the first to lose, and the outcome will be determined by the other party.
Unconsciously, their heartbeats became faster and faster as time went by, and the rapid heartbeats could be clearly heard within ten steps of each other.
The atmosphere around them gradually became heavy.
"Tick-tock..."
Large beads of sweat landed on a pebble between Old Monster Hu's feet, and more sweat streamed down the wrinkles on his old face, before another drop fell.
The same situation was happening on Xiao Yan's side as well.
"Fine, since you're unwilling, I won't force you. However, what you said to me today is a very good reason. Once you two start fighting amongst yourselves, I think it will fall apart on its own, saving me a lot of trouble."
Withdrawing his gaze, Xiao Yan seemed to have decisively given up, no longer bothering with Old Monster Hu. He turned and prepared to leave.
Upon seeing this, Old Monster Hu's expression changed immediately. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to be so ruthless, trying to harm him when the cooperation failed. Then he thought of Mu Han's ruthlessness, and looking at Xiao Yan and the three Emperor Grade Pill in front of him, Old Monster Hu finally softened his attitude.
"I promise you! I will intervene if necessary, but only once! After we cross that Lightning Pool, we'll be even!"
"Good!"
Before Old Monster Hu could finish speaking, Xiao Yan turned around and looked at Old Monster Hu with a smile. The latter could only sigh helplessly. He had originally planned to take advantage of the situation, but he never expected that he would be dragged onto Xiao Yan's boat in the end.
Seeing Xiao Yan's smug smile, Old Monster Hu sneered inwardly.
"Even without me, Nine-Star Half-Emperor cannot be defeated simply by numbers."
"Heh, whether I can handle it or not, we'll see then. I just hope that if that time comes, you won't think of betraying me again, otherwise, I'll make you suffer a terrible fate, believe me."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his eyes fixed on Old Monster Hu, Heavenly Flames flashing deep in his pupils, and the threat in his words was utterly irrefutable.
Old Monster Hu was secretly alarmed upon seeing this. Judging from the tone, it didn't seem like he was lying. Given Xiao Yan's reputation, Old Monster Hu was convinced that Xiao Yan wasn't deceiving him.
Upon realizing this, Old Monster Hu was startled, and a chill involuntarily crept into his heart...