Scourge Messenger

Chapter 477 Cooperation Conditions (Fourth Update)

"The Scroll of Extreme Combat Records"

"Rank: Legendary"

"Effect Replay: Must be used before the start of the Secret Realm battle. If the Secret Realm is cleared this time, a corresponding record scroll will be generated. When challenging the Secret Realm again, tearing the scroll will allow you to clear the Secret Realm directly. Loot, experience points, and other rewards that can be obtained in battle will be exactly the same as those in the record scroll. This scroll can only be effective on the Ultimate Secret Realm."

"Comment: After a lifetime of dungeon crawling, can't I at least enjoy myself?"

/
"Divine Protection Amulet"

Grade: Rare

"Usable times: 30"

"Effect - Invoking the Gods: You can fill in the [Divine Strike Mode] with operations such as supernatural powers, tokens, foundations, and items. When you activate the talisman, you will automatically activate [Divine Strike Mode], with operations accurate to one frame."

"Evaluation: A modern one-button combo that doesn't reduce damage."

/
"Heartfelt Conch"

Grade: Rare

"Usable times: 100"

"Effect - Speak to the Mountain Spirit: When used, you can speak your heart to the Heartfelt Conch. Cooldown time: 24 hours. After speaking for the last time, you can summon a phantom of yourself from when you first spoke your heart. The phantom is immune to damage and uncontrollable, and can use all your supernatural powers and tokens for 60 seconds."

"Comment: When you pray to the gods, you are answered by your past self."

In addition to these, there are fifteen "Conscription Stones" and a whole bunch of miscellaneous items.

These items either have very strange usage conditions, such as the "Extreme Combat Record Scroll" which can only be used in the secret realm and requires clearing the level, or the "Heartfelt Conch" which requires speaking your heart for 100 days; or they are special items like the "Divine Strike Amulet" and the "Conscription Stone" which require a game console to use.

Regardless of the type, they are all very practical items, after all, they are the accumulation of the twelve clans of Dragon Poetry over thousands of years, and some may even have been dropped from the Seventh Rank Secret Realm.

You've given me all of this?!

Yan Qing took a deep breath and looked at Deng Guanjian and Gai Qingyun on the screen, vaguely realizing that the conversation that was about to take place might completely change his game plan!

"What are your requirements?" Jiang Shi asked.

"It's not time to make demands yet, Fairy Jubao," Deng Guanjian said. "These things are useful to you, but to us they are nothing but junk that we have studied for countless years without finding any clues. It is an honor for them to be of use to you. They should belong to you. There is no such thing as trading your things with you. Whether you agree to our demands or not, they are yours."

"Aren't you being a little too obsequious?" Gai Qingyun, standing beside him, was somewhat speechless.

“If Fairy Jubao can agree to our request, I can say ten thousand different compliments.” Deng Guanjian smiled and said, “Next is the real content of our transaction.”

“First,” he raised his first finger, “I can give you all the extreme realms of Western Xia. To be precise, I can give you the strategy guides for these realms, as well as the realms themselves. You can destroy them and seize the karmic power of natural disasters!”

“Second,” he raised his second finger, “if you need teammates, Gai Qingyun and I, along with our subordinates, can unconditionally assist you in conquering the secret realm.”

“Third,” he held up his third finger, “you need any resources, including tokens, celestial and terrestrial spirits, secret manuals, or anything else you can buy, the Twelve Dragon Poem Clans are willing to help you buy them! Hmm, the limit is set at 40% of the Twelve Dragon Poem Clans' assets. As long as it doesn't exceed 40%, Gai Qingyun and I can foot the bill for you!”

Jiang Shi remained unfazed, as if even Mount Tai had collapsed before him, but Yan Qing behind the screen had her eyes wide open. What the hell?!
In summary, the three conditions can be boiled down to one sentence: Our Dragon Poetry Twelve Clans will guarantee your ascension to the seventh level!

Deng Guanjian didn't mention the number of times, which means he meant that they were willing to help Jiang Shi fight his way from the fourth to the sixth level, destroy the secret realm along the way, and provide assistance free of charge. They would also provide the legendary tokens that Jiang Shi needed. Apart from the gold element needed for ascension, which they didn't have, all obstacles and difficulties before the sixth level of perfection would be overcome for him by the twelve clans of the Dragon Poetry!

No wonder Deng Guanjian didn't care at all about giving Jiang Shi the unknown items; compared to the contents of this deal, those items were indeed insignificant extras.

However, the twelve clans of Dragon Poetry are willing to pay such a high price, so they must be seeking a return of equal value.

"So, what do you want?" Jiang Shi asked.

Deng Guanjian and Gai Qingyun exchanged a glance, and Deng Guanjian said, "Do you know how to advance to the Golden Core stage?"

They were all prepared to explain, but Jiang Shi nodded: "I know."

"By refining the foundation of the Dao with wondrous methods and illuminating supernatural powers with the essence of metal, one responds to the tribulation of heaven and earth, and the blessed land is transformed into a grotto heaven. This is the Golden Core Tribulation Immortal!"

“That’s right,” Deng Guanjian said. “Actually, there’s not much difference between Golden Core Ascension and Mortal Ascension. Major sects in the Daoist path also have records of this, but why are there only five who have reached the Tribulation Master level in the present day?”

“Gold element,” Gai Qingyun said. “To respond to the calamity, at least four of the divine abilities must be of the metal element. Except for the fourth divine ability, which can be lit by the messenger himself by gathering the metal element, the first three divine abilities must be additionally infused with the metal element.”

"Besides, to transform a blessed land into a grotto-heaven, it also requires burning gold essence! The historical record for burning the least amount of gold essence is two points, but most Golden Core cultivators succeed by burning three points. In other words, a Foundation Establishment cultivator needs at least six points of gold essence to ascend to the Golden Core stage!"

"Leaving aside the fact that six points of gold essence could cultivate six mortal immortals," Deng Guanjian sighed. "Just accumulating six points of gold essence is incredibly difficult. The Imperial Flow Court only produces one point of gold essence on average every hundred years, and the Eternal Heaven is about the same. But this is based on the premise that they have a large number of sixth-rank True Persons willing to conquer perilous realms. However, sixth-rank True Persons conquer perilous realms for gold essence. If they don't bestow gold essence upon them, who would be willing to risk their lives in perilous realms? Only after the Golden Core Tribulation Master passed away could they persuade sixth-rank True Persons to preserve the gold essence to cultivate Golden Cores."

“For so many years, the major sects have been just getting by, only maintaining one Golden Core cultivator in charge,” Gai Qingyun said. “Only when there is a great war between realms and other Immortal Lords can they obtain a large amount of Golden Essence in a short period of time, and then plan to cultivate a new Golden Core cultivator.”

Yan Qing understood completely, so Jiang Shi asked, "What do you mean?"

"Six points of gold essence," Deng Guanjian said. "As long as you promise to give us six points of gold essence within ten years, the twelve clans of the Dragon Poem will be at your command! Even if you ascend to the Golden Core stage first, it's all fine!"

"Without any means of restraint, how can you guarantee that I will abide by the treaty?" Jiang Shi asked. "I can simply take all the benefits and discard you like worn-out shoes once I achieve Golden Core Ascension."

"But will you breach the contract?" Deng Guanjian asked.

"I won't."

“That’s enough,” Deng Guanjian shrugged. “If we rely on the two of us, Xixia might not produce a Golden Core cultivator even in a thousand years. Now, by paying this price, we might be able to bring a Golden Core Tribulation Master who can stay for three thousand years. We have no reason not to take the gamble.”

"Even if we take a step back and say that you actually advance to the Golden Core stage and then leave, as long as you don't tell anyone, everyone will still think you're our Golden Core Tribulation Master. I think you'd be willing to let us use that little bit of your reputation, right?"

"To be honest, you guys have really surprised me," Jiang Shi said. "I'm too weak, and you're too strong. I thought you would try to coerce or bribe me, and we would try to communicate on an equal footing, but I never expected you to invest in my future."

"Pity this old man; struggling alone is too tiring. It's much easier for the young people to do the work." Deng Guanjian took out three golden cups, filled them with fine wine, and handed them to Gai Qingyun and Jiang Shi: "A toast to our cooperation?"

“No.” Jiang Shi took the wine glass, but shook his head: “There is one more thing to discuss, otherwise I will not cooperate with you.”

Deng Guanjian and Gai Qingyun were slightly taken aback. "Please speak."

"Which position of tribulation do you want to prove?" Jiang Shi asked.

(End of this chapter)