I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life - Chapter 434 - 283: Puppet Master
Compared to the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, the collaboration between Jin Zhaoyu and Qianji City is more in-depth.
According to the report from the second branch of the Jin family, Jin Zhaoyu has purchased fifty Tier Four Puppets from Qianji City in recent years.
Undoubtedly, such a large number of Tier Four Puppets constitute an undeniable force.
While they pose no threat to the royal family, they are a significant threat to the governor of Qingzhou and the Qingzhou defense forces.
Saying Jin Zhaoyu intends to rebel is not an exaggeration, as even three armored units in a mundane dynasty would be deemed rebellious.
However, through Consort Zhen, Jin Zhaoyu has explained the purpose of purchasing these puppets during this time.
It is solely for profit!
A few years ago, a wealthy merchant arrived at Qingzhou City and through connections met Jin Zhaoyu.
During their interactions, the merchant expressed a demand for puppets.
This merchant is the white glove of the Northern Guardian King of the Dao Yi Dynasty’s Spirit Vein Ancestral Source’s northwest, saying the Northern Guardian King defends the northwest of the Dao Yi Dynasty, frequently warring with the Northern Plain Holy Spirit tribe, resulting in heavy casualties, hence he wants to purchase specifically custom-made tactical puppets to fight the Holy Spirits.
These puppets specialized in dealing with the Holy Spirit Race require relevant demon core divine abilities, not only are they costly to produce, but also time-consuming, and when fighting regular cultivators, they even have some deficiencies.
Therefore, puppet masters generally do not create such puppets.
Since Qianji City has always held resentment against the Central State royal family, the merchant had no way to persuade Qianji City to help with customization, so he was willing to commission Jin Zhaoyu at a high level to purchase Qianji City puppets.
In addition to the high price, the merchant inadvertently revealed that he has been battling the Wood Spirit Race for years, collecting quite a bit of Wood Spirit Essence.
Ultimately, Jin Zhaoyu could not resist the lure of enormous profits and the use of Wood Spirit Marrow for his grandson Li Jizhou, secretly reaching an agreement with Qianji City.
Fifty puppets, a total price of one million Middle Grade Spirit Stones, resold to the Dao Yi Dynasty merchant for one million five hundred thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, netting a profit of five hundred thousand.
Moreover, the merchant generously paid a deposit of three hundred thousand and ten Wood Attribute Spirit Stones in one go.
However, the final result was that after the puppets reached Jin Zhaoyu’s hands, the other party disappeared without a trace.
A straightforward scheme.
But it also successfully exploited Jin Zhaoyu’s urgent desire to seek resources for his grandson, the Seventh Prince.
The result was Jin Zhaoyu being reported, caught red-handed, and the expensive purchased puppets gathering dust in the warehouse.
In addition, due to this incident, Qianji City was also offended by Jin Zhaoyu.
Because the Dao Yi Dynasty merchant stated the first batch would be fifty, the second batch would need more than one hundred.
Jin Zhaoyu even boasted to Qianji City in order to secure cooperation long-term with them.
As a result, after dispatching fifty puppets overnight and rushing manufacturing, Qianji City now has a backlog of custom puppets and cannot contact Jin Zhaoyu.
Apart from their special restraining effect against the Holy Spirit Race, these custom puppets are not even as capable as ordinary Tier Three Puppets, naturally not selling.
The personnel involved in Qianji City have long been angry, even considering issuing an assassination order against Jin Zhaoyu.
For this reason, Li Jizhou finds it impossible to act freely in Qianji City like he can in Poison City.
According to his estimates, Qianji City has at least thirty of those custom Tier Four Puppets stored, costing at least seven to eight hundred thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones.
He cannot afford the bill!
Fortunately, trade in Qianji City is not directly managed by the City Lord, but by a renowned Tier Five Puppet Master.
The most worried person now is him, bombarded by a group of puppet masters.
It has been over a month without reaching Jin Zhaoyu.
Thus, he has been restricted by the City Lord of Qianji City, unable to leave.
“Master Mu Yu, these two puppets took me two months to create painstakingly; you must accept them. I sold my personal puppet to buy materials and demon core for crafting them. If you don’t accept them, whom shall I sell to?”
“Yes, Master Mu Yu, we only made them without a deposit due to your influence, exhausting time and effort. I invested last year’s treasure hunt savings in them.”
“I staked my fortune for advancing my puppet skill to Tier Five; Master Mu Yu, you can’t cut off my path of advancement!”
…
Master Mu Yu looked helplessly at the group of high-tier puppet masters surrounding him, feeling the world is undeserving!
The puppet masters of Qianji City differ from the Gu Masters in Poison City; most are devoted to honing their craft.
They normally disregard cultivation, focusing solely on skill.
Since Master Mu Yu is a Tier Five Puppet Master, they trust him, especially after the first batch was delivered perfectly, working tirelessly.
“Everyone…” Mu Yu felt helpless but could only speak frankly.
However, just then.
“Master Mu Yu, someone outside claims to be Jin Zhaoyu’s grandson and requests an audience!”
“Who? Jin Zhaoyu’s grandson? Quickly invite him in!” Before Master Mu Yu could respond, the high-tier puppet masters exclaimed.
“Here he is, here he is, the buyer has finally arrived; there is hope now!”
“I said the Jin family in Qingzhou is a prestigious clan; how could they not keep their word?”
“Those acknowledged by Master Mu Yu must be reliable; they came after all!”
Everyone sighed in relief.
Including Master Mu Yu.
Their biggest fear was Jin Zhaoyu disappearing completely, never to be contacted again.
Once Li Jizhou and Hong Luan entered the hall, everyone’s gaze immediately focused on them.
All with expectant eyes, even friendly gazes.
“I beg all seniors to save my grandfather!”
However, once in the door, Li Jizhou immediately cried out with a sobbing voice.
Thunk~
Everyone felt a jolt in their hearts.
Master Mu Yu had been about to question why contact had not happened for over a month but swallowed those words immediately.
But you, people of the Jiuli Dynasty, coming to Qianji City asking for help? What kind of logic is that?
Moreover, our relationship is purely collaborative; it hasn’t reached a life-saving stage, right?
“What…what do you mean?”
“What happened to Jin?”
“When will your grandfather’s puppet order be delivered?”
A group of high-tier puppet masters grew anxious again.
Li Jizhou looked bewildered, glancing left and right, unsure of whom to answer.
“Silence!” Master Mu Yu felt a headache, irritably shouting.
“Whew~ Tell me, what’s the situation? What happened to Jin Zhaoyu? Will the custom puppets be accepted? Why did you come here seeking help?” After asking all the questions in one breath, Master Mu Yu finally felt a weight lifted from his chest.
“In response to Master Mu Yu, my grandfather still needs the puppets, and the number needed will double.” Li Jizhou first answered regarding these puppet masters’ most concerned questions.
“Really?”
“Double! Still these types of puppets?”
“When are they needed? Any requirements?”
The group of puppet masters immediately became excited.
“Quiet, quiet, didn’t you hear him say Jin Zhaoyu needs rescue? Quickly tell what became of Jin Zhaoyu!” Master Mu Yu again interrupted this group of single-minded puppet masters.
“In reply to Master Mu Yu, my grandfather was framed by the Red Flame Demon Division bordering Qingzhou’s Yong’an City and has already been imprisoned!” Li Jizhou’s expression was sorrowful.
