Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Young master!" Han Xue, You Qing, Yi Feng, and Qiang Shou called out to Qin Lan when he came out from the abandoned mine with some cuts here and there on his clothing. Peng Yan was following behind him too, like an obedient kitten.

'Look at lady Peng Yan... Did our Young Master captured her heart when they're inside the mine?' a few of them thought as they studied her expression. It was hard for them to believe that a little over a month ago, they're still enemies fighting on the battlefield called Ten Miles Plain.

"I've cleared most of the nest belonged to the Crimson Flame Scorpion and Bloodstone Scorpion. But still, proceed carefully, as I might have miss one or two nests in between." Qin Lan said as he slowly walked to where Lu Qing Yun is.

This girl was still meditating after taking the brunt attack from the Bloodstone Scorpion earlier.

"Are you alright, Qing Yun?" Qin Lan asked. Although there is no sign of injuries on the surface, he's still worried because it is not her first time hiding her injuries from Qin Lan.

"I'll be fine after some rest. Young Master doesn't have to worry." Lu Qing Yun smiled and replied to Qin Lan's question.

"Alright. Then give me your right arm." Qin Lan put his hand out as he asked for her arm.

"Young Master... Qing Yun is meditating..." Lu Qing Yun lowered her head as she felt like she was caught doing something wrong. Her hesitation made it clear that she was not doing well at all.

"Peng Yan, go have fun around. I'll have to give her a treatment." Qin Lan immediately sat down beside Lu Qing Yun with his palm placed beside Lu Qing Yun.

"What are you waiting for?" Qin Lan said.

...

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...

"Your highness, we're not trying to doubt the Chief Alchemist's ability, but is that even possible?" one of the hundreds of half-step Bone Experts asked. From his expression and age, it is evident that he had stuck at this level for too long.

And stuck here without a path to move forward nor retreat is the most tragic ending to most people. Usually, people like this are ended becoming cannon-fodder or slaving themselves to small to moderate families until the end of their lifetime.

Thus, it was understandable for him to asked such a question.

"Please forgive this prince for unable to answer this expert's question as I don't have the pill in my hand now. But I believe the Chief Alchemist. I dare to use my life to trust the Chief Alchemist and the miracle he could create." Sun Wu Jian answered the question uniquely.

"Since high highness dares to use his life as the bargain that this pill will be a success, it won't hurt for us to give it a chance too... After all, most of us were here because we're incapable of making that half a step further to become a Bone Reconstruction Expert." said one of the experts.

"But what is his highness's requirement for us to obtain this cultivation pill?" another expert brought up his opinion regarding this.

"Yes! We want to know the price for us to be given the right to access this cultivating resource!" the experts asked Sun Wu Jian for his price.

"Ten years of service or until this battle for the crown prince position ended. The benefits following this will only increase as my status grow further. You may also bring up to ten of your family members to join under your name to enjoy the same number of resources allocated monthly." Sun Wu Jian's selling pitch started strongly.

Ten years of loyalty in exchange for a hint of possibility to enter the Bone Reconstruction Layer is not a bad deal at all.

The experts around this square were immediately divided into three distinct groups once Sun Wu Jian brought up the requirement to enjoy this privilege. Those that accepted the deal without the need of further consideration, those willing but wanted more, and those unwilling to be tied down to Sun Wu Jian's faction.

Everything was in Sun Wu Jian's anticipation as he took three types of sycee ingots out from his spatial jade.

"Those that willing to follow me unconditionally, step forward." Sun Wu Jian asked. Only close to fifty experts from the three hundred willingly came forth to Sun Wu Jian.

Without telling them anything about their deal, Sun Wu Jian distributed fifty gold sycee to their hand and allowed them to leave.

"Your highness... We..." all of them were surprised by Sun Wu Jian's silence. Shouldn't they be the ones to be given the most benefit for willingly follow him through thick and thin without demanding anything?

Huang Ping immediately caught Sun Wu Jian's intention and escorted them away. A few of them hesitated, but in the end, they leave without bringing up anything in their mind.

'Thank you, senior brother... I'll rely on you to pacify them for now...' Sun Wu Jian turned his attention to the middle group. They were the ones that demand the proper price for their service.

"I'll be honest. Three hundred Blood Genesis Pills a month, along with one Precelestial Realm Huang Grade (Full) Offensive or Defensive Treasure. Your tenure of service will be ten years. If you think you can accept my offer, stay. For those that feel you can get better pay outside of my Demon Mountain Fort, you may leave." said Sun Wu Jian.

The remaining experts take a look at one another. Some hesitate, some decided to stay, and some left without looking back. Close to a hundred of them were gone before Sun Wu Jian made a headcount.

"Your highness..." one expert came forward.

"Feel free to speak what's in your mind." Sun Wu Jian replied.

"Then... Please allow this subordinate to speak recklessly on behalf of everyone else. Everyone demanded that your highness increased the reward by 50 Blood Genesis Pill every ten days. That will even out at 450 pills by the end of the month."

"Very reasonable. Continue." Sun Wu Jian interrupted in between as he suggested the expert continue what is still yet to come.

"We also request that we'll be given the ownership to the Huang Grade (Full) Treasure even after leaving. The tenure period shall be shortened to five years and renewable depending on your highness's ability at that time."

"We hope your highness is willing to accept our request." the expert made his request sounded proper. Because at the end of the day, those with resources are much better than not having anything at all.

Furthermore, to these groups of people, this was just a job for them. As long the pay could compensate the risk they'll be taking, they'll be willing to do anything.

"Five hundred Blood Genesis Pills and a Precelestial Realm Huang Grade (Full) Treasure. Those that serve me for ten years will be allowed to leave with the treasure. Those that choose to stay with my Ninth Prince's faction for lesser can only bring them away if their merit is high enough." Sun Wu Jian countered their offer with one of his own.

Unexpectedly, from the 150 remaining experts, only ten chooses the latter option.

After distributing the sycee to them, Sun Wu Jian went to the back of his office, seemingly eager to meet with some people.

"Your highness!" the fifty experts that left the earliest was here waiting for Sun Wu Jian while they're accompanied by Huang Ping.

"Fellow experts, thank you for your support and willingness to stand with me through thick and thin. Please trust Wu Jian that I will not waste your trust and faith towards me." he cupped his fist while facing the fifty experts with a blazing gaze.

"Your highness, this honor is ours!" everyone replied without a hint of hesitation seen from their face.

"Great... I am contempt just by hearing this word from everyone." Sun Wu Jian smiled.

"But your highness... Can we know what we will be given? If there's any accident happened in between, may our successor be given the opportunity instead?" a few experts asked embarrassedly.

"Ah! Thank you for reminding me. To think that it went through my mind before I mentioned it out." Sun Wu Jian slapped his knee as he was thankful that the expert reminded him.

"Alchemist Qin had spoken in his letter. Those that willingly follow this prince through all of this will be given priority first until they have broken through the half-step Bone Reconstruction Layer."

"Subsequently, they'll be given 1,000 Blood Genesis Pills every starting of the month for their personal use. Additional Blood Genesis Pills can be exchanged based on their merits. This advantage is applied to up to ten subsequent family members."

"Also, the Chief Alchemist will craft a tailor-made armament and weaponry of Precelestial Realm Earth Grade for each of you. The Pill Hall will also be open for you to request for a specific pill once a month, as long you can provide the ingredients." Sun Wu Jian said.

"This... This!!!" the fifty experts felt that their knees were giving up on standing as they listened to what Sun Wu Jian read from the letter in his hand. If it weren't because there's a fellow expert beside them as they listen to Sun Wu Jian, they might be seated on the ground due to all these surprises!

"Your highness! We'll be faithful and loyal to you as long we're alive! Ours and our successor's lives will be up to your highness use as to how you wish!" the fifty of them kneeled. This was more than just getting handed with an olive branch.

To them, this is a turnaround in their life!