Chapter 544

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Staff members of Shuangtong Bank rode their mount beasts, hurrying to Xima Market.

People who frequently enter and exit the narrow market are generally unwilling to drive; on the other hand, supplies shipped from Earth are all expensive, and the vehicles currently in use are mostly those accumulated previously — newly established departments get very few.

Yin Senpi handled a 24-installment loan with some restlessness, repeatedly guaranteeing: "I will definitely pay the money back to you."

The staff member handling the matter came from the Martial Arts Hall, and could only smile even more humbly: "You are a Divine Art Knight, Lord; we naturally trust your credit."

Turning his face, he then faced the manager of "Xu Zhou Heavy Industry Flagship Store" with the arrogance of a Martial Arts Hall student and the haughtiness of a bank clerk, saying: "Our installment loan will complete formalities within 3 days, and the debt will be transferred to your account. May I ask whether it goes directly into the branch company account, or is sent to Earth?"

"It can even be sent to Earth?"

"Because this is a Divine Art Knight's purchase request, this sum of yours can be sent to Earth for free. It doesn't matter if it's not sent now; the amount will be reserved for you."

Currently, the only bank coexisting between Earth and the West Continent is Shuangtong Bank; their interbank transfers are also quite expensive. Out of cost-saving considerations, many shops are accustomed to carrying cash back and forth.

The manager also often scratched his head over this; now hearing the bank clerk's words, he couldn't help but ask strangely: "You mean, however much money in supplies we sell to the Divine Art Knight, we get a corresponding free transfer?"

"Yes. You currently have 7.8 million in free transfer permission. Additionally, consumption by Grand Knights and High Priest-level figures has the same effect." This was Chen Yi's strategy to gather funds. The West Continent has over ten thousand years of history; its pyramid structure is unbreakable because nobles control formidable martial force. Any slave armies or peasant armies attempting to rebel, aside from the initial uprising, only end up dead, so funds unsurprisingly remain in the hands of high-end figures.

These people's consumption both helps establish a foothold on the West Continent and aids the development of banks and merchant houses.

Yin Senpi listened pleasantly — if Divine Art Knights had no special privileges, who would strive desperately to become one?

If society is absolutely equal, it is certainly unfair. Illiterate peasants and skilled workers receiving the same reward — how would the sweat the latter poured into mastering their skills be reflected?

Divine Art Knights suppress their personalities to the utmost, accumulating day by day the devotion of maintaining their faith, naturally aiming for the position at the pyramid's peak.

After signing the last few documents, the manager ordered men to deliver that long spear, 35 meters long — on the West Continent, 35 meters is actually a standard length, the standard length for Divine Art Knights.

Yin Senpi, newly become a Divine Art Knight, had not yet established personal habits; using a relatively standard long spear was only proper.

The moment the long spear was unloaded onto the ground, Yin Senpi lifted it up; the instant divine power filled him, people on two nearby streets felt a sensation of their hearts stopping abruptly.

Actually, that was exactly their hearts stopping abruptly.

A human heart of 1.5 watts power cannot guarantee safety in such an abundant energy flow; abrupt stoppage is the correct adjustment step.

The shop clerk who had just thought the Divine Art Knight was a damn fool, seeing Yin Senpi lift a long spear equivalent to a 10-story building, turned pale at the lips, and said: "If a figure like this wants to rob a bank, what vault could stop him?"

"Divine Art Knights don't need to rob banks." The Shuangtong Bank clerk organized documents into bags, smiling: "They have more privileges than you can imagine; for instance, with this installment payment, the interest is paid by the Diamond Office Hall."

24 months of interest, estimated at a cool million or so; a group of people, besides envy, had no other thoughts. The West Continent Outer Hall has not yet opened to people outside the Chen Family; even if they wanted to learn Body Techniques, they have no chance. From the first day the Martial Arts Hall was built, Chen Yi firmly locked this door.

Yin Senpi returned to his residence and immediately began modifying the long spear.

Every Divine Art Knight's long spear requires his personal empowerment; the main purpose is to align the metal atoms inside the spear in a consistent order, so that energy conduction is more efficient. In addition, things like the handle position and the spear tip's sharpness need further adjustment.

To a certain extent, selling weapons and armor to Divine Art Knights is more like engineering equipment sales; manufacturing reserves modification space, and the final user modifies as needed.

About 20 Combat Knights also joined Yin Senpi's modification lineup. They are all people hoping to become Divine Art Knights; while helping Yin Senpi, they experience the application of divine power on-site — an opportunity even Yin Senpi never had.

A Family Knight from the Water Dragon Temple observed most seriously, occasionally making finger movements to simulate.

During a break, he asked quietly: "Lord Yin Senpi, was it purchased at Xima Market?"

"Of course; otherwise, where could one buy such a divine artifact?"

"I heard the price is extremely high. Didn't expect you'd save up enough so quickly; it seems even Divine Art Knight Yin Senjin hasn't saved enough."

"They probably just asked the price and left." Yin Senpi laughed proudly: "I got this through a loan."

Idle anyway, Yin Senpi explained the installment payment concept in detail, learning and selling on the spot, with quite a sense of achievement.

Hearing this, the Water Dragon Temple Family Knight shouted in sudden realization: "You mean, as long as one becomes a Divine Art Knight, Lord Chen Yi gives a long spear for free?"

"A portion must be paid every month; the money has to be repaid."

"Your money, isn't it still paid by Lord Chen Yi? In that case, isn't it equivalent to not costing money?" The West Continent doesn't emphasize salaries. Knights' equipment must be raised by themselves; only the Temple Knight Order bears part of the mount expenses — the resulting weakening of city-state power is precisely what the Temple needs. A lord like Chen Yi, who pays wages according to weekly working hours but gives almost no physical gifts, is completely incomprehensible to West Continent people.

Yin Senpi didn't know how to explain either, and could only say: "You're too stupid."

Being stupider than a Divine Art Knight isn't too shameful; the Water Dragon Temple Family Knight accepted it gladly, and said: "I'll go buy a long spear too."

"Not waiting until you become a Divine Art Knight?" Someone nearby teased with a laugh.

"I'm not a Yin Sen Family knight." He answered quite displeased. With the birth of the fourth and fifth batches of Divine Art Knights, some rules have become known to knights; although the chance to become a Divine Art Knight in West River City-State is not small, for knights outside the Yin Sen system, it's also not that easy.

Yin Senpi's long spear was modified three or four more times before finally completing; by then Yin Sen Guan and Yin Senjin had also received their custom long spears, one 35 meters, one 42 meters — the latter had no stock and took a full half-month wait.

These three long spears conclusively proved West River City-State's capability to manufacture Divine Art Knight weapons; in some people's eyes, this is even more important than the Divine Art Knights themselves.

After wasting several days on verification and information exchange, Iyar Bishop once again set foot on Xijiang Square.

If West River City-State three months ago had the layout of a small county town, today's West River City-State has the level of a prefecture-level city. Not only have fixed shops increased and luxury levels risen, but similar-type shops and roaming stalls have begun to appear — all opened by newly arrived companies. Compared to the city-state government, they have a stronger profit-seeking tendency.

After a short wait, Iyar High Priest finally saw Chen Yi; after a solemn audience ceremony, he smiled: "Divine Art Knight Lord, I request West River City-State to provide basic Divine Art Knight equipment to the Water Dragon Temple."

West Continent knight etiquette is relatively simple; the Temple's is much more complex. Chen Yi has naturally seen it many times and doesn't mind at all; Mo Shaoqiu beside him, however, is a young man newly arrived on the West Continent, looking like a cheap dandy, circling around Iyar.

"Lord?" Aside from Divine Art Knights, Iyar is polite to no one; he stared at Mo Shaoqiu with the same glare he gives commoners, a majestic, life-and-death aura that chills the heart.

Mo Shaoqiu has seen many senior leaders, but never this kind of furry native who kills by the field without changing expression. He involuntarily stepped back.

Iyar wrinkled his nose, shifted his gaze, and continued facing the smiling Chen Yi: "Divine Art Knight Lord, I carry the High Sacrificer Lord's beautiful blessings. This is his gift to you."

A beautiful staff topped with a fist-sized crystal ball, crystal clear like glass... Chen Yi said "Thank you" and took it in hand.

"This is a staff left by former alchemists; it has the ability to increase Focus."

"Focus bonus?" Chen Yi himself has such a magic wand; in the Saint Qiao Kingdom it's not expensive, but on the West Continent it's different.

This world's magic power vanished into the long river of history long ago; all that remains are some methods of bestowing magic.

A staff is also a type of bestowed power, but to the West Continent's sacrificers, it is precious enough.

Chen Yi held the staff, sensed it for a moment, and smiled: "Truly good, Level 7 Focus; even in the Magic World that's very rare."

A Level 7 Focus Staff is equivalent to constantly tearing open a Focus Scroll. Although this is a relatively cheap scroll, it is still a scroll, requiring Level 7 scroll paper and Level 7 writing materials, as well as a Red-robed Mage's production.

Iyar smiled with a slight misunderstanding: "In the Alchemy Era, this was indeed one of the alchemists' favorite scepters. Although it wasn't the best of that era, it is the best of this era."

"Please thank the High Priest on my behalf."

"Certainly." Iyar High Priest bowed again: "Allied Forces Commander Grand Duke Cnoss sends his regards to you. The supply of military rations, Gold Wound Medicine, and military feed has been very timely, saving several campaigns."

He actually wanted even more supplies; West River Association's orders of tens of millions per month were not enough to support a world war, even if it were a cold weapon era. But what he wanted even more was Divine Art Knight equipment. At such a time, no matter how sufficient the previous reserves were, the Temple did not mind purchasing more reserves.

Battles between Divine Art Knights often did not kill or injure the Divine Art Knights themselves, but rather their equipment, attendants, and mounts...

Turning around, Iyar High Priest handed over a small note: 300 Knight Long Spears, length 35 meters.

"Is that possible? Divine Art Knight Sir, this would be extremely helpful to us."

Chen Yi was not interested in helping. After considering for a moment, he said: "This would probably take a very long time to produce, unless..."

"Unless..." Iyar High Priest immediately repeated.

Chen Yi handed the note to Mo Shaoqiu, smiling: "You tell him."

He couldn't lie.

Mo Shaoqiu did not understand the situation and asked first: "Have you been to Xima Market? Knight Long Spears are sold there, right?"

"They can provide at most five long spears, and it takes one month. I hope to get more long spears and faster supply." Everyone had heard rumors because of Yin Senpi and others' purchases; although Iyar had not gone to Xima Market, he had long sent people to purchase.

In fact, Chen Clan's Divine Art Knights had absolute priority. If Yin Sen Family's Divine Art Knights bought long spears, one month would have to be extended further.

Long spears needed to be custom-made on Earth. Ordering now, the steel mill would take at least three to five days to produce, then send them to Jiangning, and wait for the nearest voyage to return to the West Continent. That was about two to three weeks. Zhang Family leaving themselves a week's margin was perfectly normal.

Of course, the most troublesome thing was channel capacity. A 35-meter long spear was not light, took up considerable space, and was easily delayed in queue due to channel efficiency...

West Continent people did not understand these things, but naturally assumed it was limited by production capacity.

Mo Shaoqiu had to ask a couple of questions before suddenly realizing: Chen Yi definitely knew the other side was pressed for time, so he said production would take a very long time to increase their bargaining chip.

This wasn't exactly a lie. Now Zhang Family certainly needed a very long time to produce.

"We can provide the quantity you want within one year. How much are you willing to pay?" Used to selling arms, Mo Shaoqiu quickly got into the state.

"One year is too long. It's best to provide monthly." Iyar was not particularly urgent, but he didn't want to drag things out.

Mo Shaoqiu nodded, returned to Chen Yi's side, and whispered: "Should we buy them and hand the order over to Zhang Family?"

Chen Yi smiled and said openly: "West River Association order."

"No wonder." Mo Shaoqiu still whispered: "What is your bottom line?"

Chen Yi made a gesture to push him away, faced Iyar directly, and said: "If you sign a treaty, during the Temple War, all military supplies, if purchased from Earthlings, can only do business with me. I guarantee to supply you 30 long spears in the first month, and no fewer than that number every month thereafter."

If he wanted to, after the second month, he could supply long spears endlessly—hundreds or thousands were fine.

Iyar had no doubts and only confirmed: "If they are non-war equipment, they are not subject to this limit?"

"Of course. Civilian goods, you can buy as you please."

"Fine, I can make this promise." Iyar signed and sealed on the table in the blink of an eye.

Mo Shaoqiu looked eagerly as Chen Yi took away all the military supplies business of the Temple War. Even though he didn't know what the Temple War was, that didn't stop him from loving the huge profits of arms dealing.

After seeing off the impeccably dressed Iyar High Priest, Mo Shaoqiu shouted in dissatisfaction: "Despotism! Then what business am I supposed to do?"

"Work for me." Chen Yi flicked the small note with his finger, sending it flying into Mo Shaoqiu's arms, smiling: "This order is yours. You pay the cost, and I'll give you 20% of the profit."

"20%?"

"This is the most high-end arms on the West Continent!"

Mo Shaoqiu pretended to accept reluctantly, but thinking that other families were still at the elementary stage of contacting natives, his mind was balanced.

This was also the first time he understood how deeply rooted Chen Yi was on the West Continent.

Arms dealing was never an ordinary border trade business!

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to come to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)