Chapter 274 - 203: Reunion of Old Friends

Several days later, Qin Xuan returned to Heart Rot Valley.

Carrying the Spirit Stones he had plundered from Sun Miao’s and Li He’s Storage Pouches, he headed to the Blood Loan Money Shop to find Gao Fengliang.

The Blood Loan Money Shop was situated within an unremarkable mountain peak in the northwest of the Holy Sect. It was a sprawling complex of pavilions that, in terms of style, greatly resembled a mortal pawnshop.

Only, it was far more magnificent in scale.

"Hahaha, Junior Brother Qin, congratulations, congratulations."

Gao Fengliang was extremely enthusiastic. A dignified Golden Core Blood Demon like him was actually coming out to greet him personally.

"I heard you received the Profound Turtle Demon Monarch’s approval in the Blood Pool Sword Tomb and even comprehended a Supreme Sword Talisman. I must say, I am incredibly envious!"

Seeing this, the Foundation Establishment Walkers in the Blood Loan Money Shop were all stunned, wondering to themselves who this person could be.

It was the first time they had ever seen Master Gao treat a Purple Mansion Demon Cultivator this way!

"Senior, you flatter me. It was just a stroke of luck."

Qin Xuan didn’t dwell on the matter. "I wish to formally establish my altar, and I hope Master Gao can facilitate the process..."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Gao Fengliang paused for a moment.

The smile on his face grew even wider.

"Valley Master Qin, please wait a moment. Someone, serve tea!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a Blood Loan Ghost Child wearing a bright red bib hopped over, carrying a tray of tea.

Qin Xuan accepted the teacup and carefully surveyed the interior of the Blood Loan Money Shop.

To be honest, this was his first time here as well.

He saw that most of those entering the Blood Loan Money Shop were Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators, all looking rushed. Some were even being dragged in by chains hooked through their collarbones!

"Director, I swear I can pay back the loan in this lifetime! Please, don’t make me reincarnate! I... AARGH!"

Accompanied by a series of miserable shrieks, the Divine Souls of those Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators were stuffed into jet-black Soul Vats and sent to some unknown destination.

In just a moment, Gao Fengliang returned.

Behind him was a pale-faced young Demon Cultivator holding a ledger.

"Valley Master Qin, please take a look."

The young Demon Cultivator handed over the ledger, a stiff smile on his face.

However, that smile, combined with the two strange streaks of blood-red makeup on his cheeks, became more and more unsettling the longer one looked.

Qin Xuan took the ledger and saw that it wasn’t a record of accounts, but an itemized price list.

[Details for the Establishment of the Huaizhong Altar]

[Permanent Naming Fee: (Paid)]

[Land Acquisition]: 3 Spirit Stones/acre (Not yet calculated)

[Talent Reserve Tax]: 100 Spirit Stones/Foundation Establishment, 1-12 Spirit Stones/Qi Cultivation (Not yet calculated)

[Sword Tomb Usage Fee]: 10,000 Spirit Stones/person (Not yet calculated)

...

In case Qin Xuan didn’t understand, the young Demon Cultivator helpfully explained:

"Valley Master Qin, your Magic Altar Naming Fee has been paid in full. It’s for permanent use and is not included in this list."

"However, according to the Holy Sect Altar Standard, every main altar must have at least three sub-altars under its jurisdiction. Each sub-altar must have no fewer than three Incense Masters and Vice Incense Masters, no fewer than twenty mid-level managers such as Stewards, Instructors, and Outer Sect Elders, and no fewer than one hundred Qi Cultivation Demon Cultivators. The number of Demon Disciples is unlimited."

"When you recruit Incense Masters and disciples, you must pay the Talent Reserve Tax in full annually. If you miss a payment in any given year, the Naming Fee will have to be recalculated."

???

Qin Xuan looked up, completely baffled.

’Who the hell came up with this line of business?’

’So they can just decide not to honor the money I’ve already paid, huh?’

’Good thing I looted the Storage Pouches of Sun Miao, Li He, and Tu Gang back in the Blood Pool Sword Tomb, or I really wouldn’t have enough!’

"Junior Brother Qin, have you decided how many sub-altars you plan to establish?" Gao Fengliang asked with a chuckle.

Qin Xuan’s heart was bleeding.

"For now, let’s establish four sub-altars. Each one will follow the standard. As for the location of the Magic Altars..."

Gao Fengliang said, "Rest assured, as long as you can afford it, Junior Brother Qin, you can pick any location in the entire Holy Sect. When the time comes, Mountain-moving Warriors will handle the relocation for free."

"There’s a perk like that?" Qin Xuan’s eyes lit up.

’If that’s the case, then I’ll have to choose very carefully.’

To be honest, he’d had his eye on the Plague Poison Altar Swamp on Ten Thousand Poison Peak for a long time. That was where his journey had begun.

Now that Jiang Xiaofeng was dead, it was the perfect opportunity to seize it for himself!

Gao Fengliang said, "Of course. However, I must clarify beforehand that to prevent issues with long-term seclusion, land acquisition leases for Magic Altars are typically signed for one-hundred-year terms."

Qin Xuan’s face instantly turned black as charcoal, and he was rendered speechless.

"..."

After some thought, Qin Xuan said, "Three hundred acres in the Ten Thousand Poison Peak’s Plague Poison Swamp, two hundred acres at the Black Water Pool, and one hundred and fifty acres in Heart Rot Valley. Is that possible?"

The young Demon Cultivator’s expression was stiff as he smiled. "Of course. Valley Master Qin, that’s a total of six hundred and fifty acres. The first year will cost 1,950 low-grade spirit stones. For one hundred years, that will be 195,000 low-grade spirit stones."

"The Sword Tomb Usage Fee, provisionally calculated for three hundred uses over a hundred years, will require three million low-grade spirit stones."

"For the four Magic Altars, each will be pre-staffed with three Foundation Establishment Incense Masters and Vice Incense Masters, for a total of twelve people. The first year’s advance payment will be 1,200 low-grade spirit stones."

"For the Outer Sect Elders, Instructors, Stewards, Demon Cultivators, and so on, based on an average of 10 low-grade spirit stones per person, the first year’s advance payment for the four sub-altars will be 4,800 low-grade spirit stones."

"All of the above is subject to reconciliation for any overages or shortages..."

After a rapid-fire series of calculations, the young Demon Cultivator gave him the final price.

"Valley Master Qin, to establish these Magic Altars, you will need to pay a total of three million, seven hundred and ninety-five thousand low-grade spirit stones. The same amount will be due every one hundred years thereafter."

Qin Xuan’s head was spinning from all the details.

As he started taking out Spirit Stones, he asked, "I understand making up for a shortage, but what do you mean by an overage being ’saved’?"

Gao Fengliang chuckled. "It means that any surplus Spirit Stones paid will be deposited into the Blood Loan Money Shop, earning 0.1% interest every one hundred years."

"One million low-grade spirit stones will earn one thousand in interest every one hundred years."

"Junior Brother Qin, rest assured. As the Director of the Blood Loan Money Shop’s Transportation Department, I guarantee the absolute safety of every Altar Master’s Spirit Stones!"