As Long as the Money Is Right

"Oh? And what fault does your dog of a son have?" Gu Qingfeng looked at Gu Ruochen and said lightly.

Gu Ruochen's mouth twitched... Your dog of a son?!

He knew Gu Qingfeng was holding a grudge and deliberately making things difficult, but for the sake of the Immortal King Tribulation, he could only swallow his pride for now.

Gu Ruochen lowered his stance: "My son previously questioned Young Friend Gu's capabilities, which was truly inappropriate, especially since you are a benefactor to our Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom. It was doubly wrong. Thus, this Emperor has specially brought Minghao here to apologize, hoping for your forgiveness. Minghao! Hurry up and apologize to Young Friend Gu!"

Gu Minghao walked up to Gu Qingfeng very reluctantly, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist Gu, I was in the wrong before."

Gu Qingfeng smiled: "Is this your attitude when apologizing?"

Gu Minghao instantly flared up, glaring fiercely at Gu Qingfeng: "Then what do you want?"

"How about at least a kowtow?"

"What!" Gu Minghao's eyes widened in fury. Just as he was about to erupt, Gu Ruochen's voice sounded by his ear.

"Minghao, didn't you hear what Young Friend Gu said?"

Gu Minghao looked at his father-emperor with an expression of utter disbelief, never expecting him to actually make him kowtow.

However, upon seeing his father's stern, icy gaze, his heart sank.

After gritting his teeth and struggling for a moment, finally... Thump!

Gu Minghao knelt on the ground before everyone, utterly humiliated.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, what happened before was all my fault. I hope you are magnanimous and can forgive me."

"Ah, dear nephew, why go to such lengths? Please rise, please rise quickly. I feel an immediate kinship with your father and regard you as my own nephew. There's no need for such formality between us."

Gu Qingfeng hurriedly helped the trembling Gu Minghao to his feet.

Seeing how the other was trembling with emotion at gaining an uncle, he patted his shoulder: "Good child."

Seeing his son's state, Gu Ruochen feared he might get too emotional and speak out of turn again, so he quickly said, "Young Friend Gu, this Emperor has prepared a banquet in the palace as an apology. Please, let us proceed."

"Of course, of course."

Gu Qingfeng naturally wouldn't refuse. After all his hard work these past days, wasn't it all for this moment?

......

In the palace.

A lavish noon banquet was spread out, with dragon liver and phoenix gall, immortal wine and spirit fruits—everything one could desire.

During the feast, more than a dozen fairies with flowing sleeves danced to add to the festivities.

Gu Qingfeng drank his wine and glanced at the dancing fairies a few times, finding it utterly dull. What kind of dancing was this? It couldn't compare to Little Corpse Charm at all.

After three rounds of drinks.

Gu Ruochen clapped his hands. Immediately, a row of servants appeared, forming a long line, respectfully carrying trays covered with red cloth and placing them before Gu Qingfeng.

Seeing this, Gu Qingfeng said with a faint smile, "What is the meaning of this, Kingdom Lord Gu?"

Gu Ruochen smiled slightly: "Young Friend Gu, please look."

Then, the lead servant lifted the red cloth from the first tray.

Instantly, golden light overflowed, dyeing the entire hall in a golden hue.

As the light faded, Gu Qingfeng looked at the tray. On it was a jade cup containing a golden liquid, thick and somewhat resembling magma.

"Young Friend Gu, this is Emperor's Nectar, a treasure from immortal mansions, extremely precious. If a mortal consumes it, it can enhance their physique to rival the indestructible body of a Golden Immortal."

Hiss!

Gu Qingfeng was slightly surprised inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged.

This was truly a fine treasure. To allow a mortal's physique to rival a Golden Immortal was a qualitative transformation. If he drank it, his physique would definitely strengthen further.

As expected of a Quasi-Immortal King, starting off with such extravagance. At least, the Great Luo Golden Immortals who had undergone tribulations hadn't offered anything similar.

Next, the red cloth on the second tray was lifted.

A rich medicinal fragrance permeated the entire hall. That wondrous aroma alone could probably extend a mortal's life by ten thousand years with just one whiff.

It was a pill as white as jade.

"This is the Heavenly Heart Pill. It can help cultivators comprehend the Eternal Dao, increasing the chance of breaking through to Great Luo Golden Immortal by ten percent."

Gu Qingfeng looked at it but wasn't very interested, as he wasn't even a Loose Immortal yet, let alone talking about Great Luo Golden Immortal.

A flicker of surprise passed through Gu Ruochen's eyes. He hadn't expected Gu Qingfeng to be so composed. At the same time, he thought to himself, this is not good. The harder the other is to impress, the more he will have to pay.

But for the Immortal King Tribulation, any cost was worth it.

"The third item is called the Qiankun Sheji Diagram. It contains a Qiankun world, vast and boundless, rich with immortal energy. It is a rare world-treasure."

Even Gu Ruochen, who ruled the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom, couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache when mentioning this.

Gu Qingfeng's eyes lit up slightly. This Qiankun Sheji Diagram was good. It could be integrated into his Palm World, transforming it into a small Immortal Realm.

"The fourth item..."

......

After introducing seven priceless immortal treasures in a row—treasures that would make even Quasi-Immortal Kings fight tooth and nail—Gu Ruochen finally stopped.

He said slowly, "Young Friend Gu, to be frank, while these treasures are indeed meant as an apology, more than that, this Emperor hopes you will lend your aid to help me overcome the Immortal King Tribulation.

As long as you are willing to help, from now on, you will be the most honored guest of the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom. If you ever face difficulty, this Emperor will never refuse."

Gu Qingfeng understood Gu Ruochen's meaning. This was not only payment but also a favor owed, meaning the future Immortal King could act on his behalf later.

Although the terms with these treasures were already quite generous, he still felt somewhat unsatisfied, as if it didn't quite fill his appetite.

"Kingdom Lord Gu, it's not that this Emperor is unwilling to help. It's just that the Immortal King Tribulation is no small matter. The slightest misstep could lead to unimaginable consequences," Gu Qingfeng said with a troubled expression.

Hearing this, Gu Ruochen almost cursed out loud. Who was it that said before, 'a mere Immortal King Tribulation can be shattered with one hand'?!

Now it's 'no small matter'?

But Gu Ruochen didn't dare to curse. First, he needed the other's help. Second, he truly couldn't see through Gu Qingfeng. He appeared to be an ordinary mortal, yet he could easily crush Yuwen Xiong, and even shattered a heavenly tribulation with one hand. Even if it was only a Great Luo Golden Immortal's tribulation, it was still utterly shocking.

"What would it take for you to agree to help, Young Friend?"

"This Emperor has heard that the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom possesses a treasure called the Heaven-Shielding Umbrella. This umbrella excels at defense and trapping enemies..."

Gu Ruochen's face immediately darkened, his attitude turning somewhat hostile. "Young Friend Gu, do you know that the Heaven-Shielding Umbrella is the ultimate treasure of our Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom, the only Immortal King artifact left by our ancestors?"

Gu Qingfeng smiled slightly: "Naturally, I know. Otherwise, this Emperor wouldn't want it."

Long before he planned to extort them, he had already inquired about the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom's foundation through those who had undergone tribulations.

Their strongest foundation was precisely the Heaven-Shielding Umbrella, an Immortal King artifact. The Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom had once produced an Immortal King, though he later fell. The Heaven-Shielding Umbrella was the weapon left behind by that Immortal King, with extraordinary power.

Watching Gu Ruochen's face shift between gloom and uncertainty, Gu Qingfeng continued, "Kingdom Lord Gu, which is more important: an Immortal King artifact, or an actual Immortal King? You should understand which carries more weight, shouldn't you?"

Gu Ruochen did not reply directly. Instead, he stared at Gu Qingfeng and said solemnly, "Young Friend Gu, do you truly have the confidence to help this Emperor overcome the Immortal King Tribulation?"

"Heh heh heh..." Gu Qingfeng let out a wild laugh. "If the payment is sufficient, a mere Immortal King Tribulation is nothing. This Emperor can shatter it with one hand."

"What if you can't break it?"

"Then we die together, simple as that."

Seeing how matter-of-factly Gu Qingfeng said it, Gu Ruochen was taken aback for a moment.

Indeed, they were undergoing the tribulation together. The Immortal King Tribulation was immensely powerful. If he truly couldn't manage it, he would undoubtedly perish alongside her within the heavenly calamity.