Chapter 1293: The Method to Earn Dragon Essence

Li Luo's appearance drew the attention of many present, with numerous gazes cast toward him with keen interest; they were eager to know what confidence Li Luo possessed to boldly declare he would purchase the "Jade Lotus True Spirit Elixir" from the Dragon Blood Guard for sixty thousand Dragon Essence.

After all, everyone in the Five Dragon Guards knew that due to the earlier "King Pearl" incident, Li Luo had already accumulated a mountain of debt in Dragon Essence, and over these past two months, Jiang Jiang Qinge had undertaken numerous extremely perilous missions to help repay it.

Now, Li Luo had made the bold claim of sixty thousand Dragon Essence; where on earth would he find such a sum?

Continuing to borrow on credit? The Dragon Blood Guard would likely refuse; even if this matter were taken to Li Li Jingzhe, they would not be in the right.

Facing those suspicious gazes, Li Luo's expression remained unchanged; he merely smiled at Li Zhihuo and said, "Do not worry yet about whether I can produce sixty thousand Dragon Essence. If I can produce it, will you hand over the 'Jade Lotus True Spirit Elixir'?"

Li Zhihuo frowned slightly; Li Luo's attitude made him somewhat suspicious, but since he had already spoken those words and everyone was watching, he naturally could not go back on his word. Moreover, he did not believe Li Luo could produce such a huge sum of Dragon Essence.

"If you can produce sixty thousand Dragon Essence, I will of course hand over the 'Jade Lotus True Spirit Elixir' as agreed. However, I must remind you: no credit allowed. Dragon Essence first, then the Spirit Elixir," Li Zhihuo stated.

"That is good," Li Luo nodded.

Li Zhihuo stared at Li Luo and said, "Then produce the Dragon Essence now."

Li Luo shook his head and said, "Not yet."

Li Zhihuo's face grew slightly cold. "Are you playing with us?"

The surrounding members of the Five Guards also began whispering among themselves; if Li Luo were truly mocking them, it would show a distinct lack of stature.

"Do not rush; it will be ready soon."

Li Luo smiled, then suddenly stepped toward a spot in the crowd where stood a beautiful woman in a white dress, possessing a pure and charming temperament, her beautiful eyes resembling a pool of spring water. Yet, do not be deceived by her seemingly fragile appearance; she was Li Tingyue, the Guard Lord of the Dragon Scale Guard.

Li Tingyue had originally been watching the spectacle; seeing Li Luo walk directly toward her, she found it strange and smiled, saying, "Commander Li Luo, you do not intend to borrow Dragon Essence from me, do you?"

Li Tingyue and Li Luo had no particular friendship, so she did not plan to intervene in the dispute between the Dragon Fang Guard and the Dragon Blood Guard.

"Guard Lord Tingyue, there is a business opportunity; I wonder if you are interested?" Li Luo smiled.

Upon hearing this, everyone wore expressions of confusion; Li Fulu and Li Zhihuo alike did not know what Li Luo intended to do, nor what business he could possibly discuss with the Dragon Scale Guard.

"Please speak plainly, Commander Li Luo," Li Tingyue asked, puzzled.

"The next opening of the Star Fall Platform in the Boundary River will occur in three days. To my knowledge, the Dragon Scale Guard refines an average of about sixty thousand Star Pearls each time on the Star Fall Platform in the Boundary River, correct?" Li Luo asked.

Li Tingyue nodded slightly.

Li Luo smiled and said, "Our Dragon Fang Guard previously refined two hundred and sixty thousand Star Pearls."

Li Tingyue was about to say she already knew this and what did it have to do with her, but then she thought that Li Luo would not speak such nonsense at this moment, so his purpose must be...

Realizing something, Li Tingyue's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Before she could open her mouth to ask, Li Luo spoke proactively, saying, "My business is this: at the next Star Fall Platform in the Boundary River, Sister Jiang Qinge and I will refine Star Pearls for your Dragon Scale Guard. I guarantee we can refine one hundred and sixty thousand Star Pearls for you. Of course, you must pay a reward; not much, just thirty thousand Dragon Essence will suffice."

As Li Luo's words spread, the previously noisy atmosphere around them instantly became much quieter.

In the next instant, a sudden commotion erupted.

Especially the members belonging to the Dragon Scale Guard; their faces lit up with excitement. One hundred and sixty thousand Star Pearls? That was nearly a threefold increase. If they could truly refine so many Star Pearls, their cultivation progress would accelerate significantly.

In the current Boundary River Domain, ghost mist descends, the Boundary River Treasure Domain is about to open, and the even more terrifying Black Rain Ghost Tribulation follows. Therefore, being able to increase one's strength by even a fraction now means gaining an extra fraction of survival security in the future.

The cultivation on the Star Fall Platform in the Boundary River each month can equal more than half a month of their usual arduous training.

The members of the Dragon Scale Guard had not expected that, originally watching the spectacle, this matter would suddenly become relevant to them.

Refining one hundred and sixty thousand Star Pearls is a benefit for every member of the Dragon Scale Guard, so there is a legitimate reason for all of them to jointly pay the thirty thousand Dragon Essence.

Divided up, this actually means each person pays only three Dragon Essence to gain a single, superior experience of cultivation on the Star Fall Platform.

This is an extremely profitable deal!

At this moment, the eyes of the Dragon Scale Guard members surrounding them, looking at Li Luo, became bright.

This fellow is a genius!

Li Fulu, Li Zhihuo, and others were also stunned. Could one play it this way?! Could Dragon Essence be earned this way?!

The Dragon Scale Guard Lord, Li Tingyue, was also dazed for a few breaths before finally coming to her senses amidst the commotion of the Dragon Scale Guard members behind her. Her eyes shifted slightly as she said, "Commander Li Luo's idea is very creative, but I recall that a few months ago, after you helped the Dragon Fang Guard refine two hundred and sixty thousand Star Pearls, your state was already somewhat exhausted. Can you still refine Star Pearls for our Dragon Scale Guard?"

Li Luo smiled and said, "You know, that was a few months ago."

Currently, both he and Jiang Jiang Qinge are stronger than they were a few months ago; especially him, who has now evolved the Heavenly Dragon Form, achieving a substantial increase in overall strength.

Upon hearing this, Li Tingyue's gaze toward Li Luo became somewhat brighter, and the smile on her lips grew radiant: "Commander Li Luo, cannot the price of thirty thousand Dragon Essence be lowered? You are earning far too much."

Li Luo sighed and said, "We are all selling our labor; Guard Lord Tingyue, do not squeeze me."

Li Tingyue smiled and said, "Then can we increase it to two hundred thousand Star Pearls? Judging by the quantity you refined for the Dragon Fang Guard, two hundred thousand should not be difficult for you, and our Dragon Scale Guard cultivates very hard; just consider helping us."

Li Luo shook his head decisively and said, "Guard Lord Tingyue, why haggle over every detail? I approached you first mainly because the relationship between our two Guards is good, so I offered you this benefit."

Seeing that this fellow was unyielding and would not budge an inch, Li Tingyue felt somewhat frustrated; this young man was earning too smoothly. Thirty thousand Dragon Essence! Even she would have to work like an old ox for over half a year to gather such an amount.

Although this Dragon Essence certainly would not be paid by her alone, it still inevitably made her feel somewhat unbalanced in her heart.

"If Guard Lord Tingyue hesitates, I will go ask other Guards first?" Li Luo smiled.

As soon as he said this, before Li Tingyue could speak, the Dragon Scale Guard members behind her began to stir. The Dragon Scale Guard Grand President, Wen Zhu Xuan, quickly pulled Li Tingyue, signaling her not to quibble over such small details.

If this matter truly fell through, the Dragon Scale Guard members would likely harbor some small resentment in their hearts.

After all, this was a major event benefiting all of them.

Seeing this, Li Tingyue realized they had no bargaining power against Li Luo, so she hurriedly smiled and said, "Very well, very well, let it be as you say. Thirty thousand Dragon Essence. However, if Commander Li Luo fails to fulfill this later, I fear the public anger will be impossible to quell."

"No problem."

Li Luo agreed immediately, then said, "Give the Dragon Essence first."

Li Tingyue did not hesitate at all regarding this request; moreover, she understood that Li Luo's entire scheme was driven by an urgent need for Dragon Essence to exchange for the "Jade Lotus True Spirit Elixir."

Thus, she took out her Guard Lord token and directly transferred the thirty thousand Dragon Essence.

Li Luo accepted it with a beaming smile, then, under the gaze of the entire crowd, walked with a grin toward the Dragon Bone Guard Lord, Li Jushen.

This time, he spoke simply.

"Thirty thousand Dragon Essence, one hundred and sixty thousand Star Pearls. Deal or not?"

Li Jushen rubbed his chin; his personality was even more straightforward than Li Tingyue's, and he nodded directly.

"Deal!"

Another thirty thousand Dragon Essences secured.

Thus, these sixty thousand Dragon Essences were effortlessly acquired by Li Luo.

Li Zhihuo's face turned as black as a pot bottom, and shock and fury flared in his eyes—he feared not that Li Luo had gained sixty thousand Dragon Essences, but that if this boy truly could boost the Star Pearls yield for other Wards, he would surely become the most sought-after figure in the Five Dragon Wards!

At that time, in the eyes of all Ward members, even we Ward Lords might be less important than Li Luo!

Amid Li Zhihuo's shocked and furious gaze, Li Luo gathered the sixty thousand Dragon Essences but did not stop—he turned instead toward Li Boyuan, the Ward Lord of the Dragon Horn Ward.

"Ward Lord Boyuan, this time's River of Stars event has drained you too much—you likely have little energy left, so I'll guarantee you twelve thousand Star Pearls for two thousand Dragon Essences. Will you take it?" Li Luo smiled.

Upon hearing this, Li Boyuan frowned displeasedly: "Why only twelve thousand Star Pearls for us? Do you think the Dragon Horn Ward can't afford Dragon Essences? Let's make it four thousand Dragon Essences—first help our Dragon Horn Ward refine."

"Li Boyuan, do you want to die?!"

At these words, Li Tingyue, whose usual demeanor was pure and enchanting, instantly scowled, her eyes brimming with lethal intent—this bastard dared disrupt the market? If this precedent was set, what chaos would follow?

"Li Boyuan, don't cause trouble!" Li Jushen, Ward Lord of the Dragon Bone Ward, also spoke sternly.

Under the threats of both, Li Boyuan sighed and shrugged: "Fine, twelve thousand it is—but next time at the River of Stars, Li Luo, you must come to us Dragon Horn Ward first."

"Of course, of course."

Li Luo chuckled in agreement and accepted the two thousand Dragon Essences transferred by Li Boyuan.

Only then did he turn leisurely, carrying eighty thousand in total, and walked back amid the stunned stares of Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Hongyou, and Li Li Fengyi.

And most important of all, the once-casual glances from the other Wards watching the spectacle had now turned intensely hot and complex.

At this moment, Li Luo had become the most popular man in the Five Dragon Wards.