Chapter 94: Three Thousand Energy Crystals

In the reception hall.

Zhao Weiguo, Qian Wanjin, and Sun Ba, these three top figures of Suchen, now appeared somewhat restrained.

Their gazes furtively glanced at the young man seated in the chief position, his expression calm.

Lin Yue remained silent, merely tapping his fingers lightly on the table; the rhythmic "tap-tap" sound was especially clear now.

"Lin... City Lord Lin."

In the end, Qian Wanjin was the first to lose his composure, squeezing out a smile uglier than a sob on his fat face, and he ventured to ask:

"I don't know... are you still satisfied with this price?"

His voice carried a hint of caution, fearing that any wrong word might displease the fearsome figure before him.

After all, that utterly crushing battle just now had completely subdued them.

Lin Yue's tapping fingers stopped.

He slowly lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces, taking in their complex expressions.

"I know what you truly want."

Lin Yue rose and walked slowly to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the vibrant farmland within Xuanwu City.

"Clean land is the most precious resource in the apocalypse. With land, you can grow food. With food, you can feed more people. This principle, I think you three understand better than I do."

His words indeed struck a chord in their hearts.

Indeed, clean water sources are certainly important, but for a shelter of their scale, as long as they are willing to expend resources, they can barely maintain it by various means.

Especially after the battle just now between the Black Tortoise and the Abyss Terror Crocodile, the Black Tortoise also purified the waters of Tai Lake as a side effect.

This means that for a considerable period of time, Suchen no longer needs to worry about water problems!

Now the problem before them is food.

Currently, the food reserves of the three major shelters are being depleted at an astonishing rate.

If no new food source is found, these supplies will be completely exhausted within a year at most!

There is only one way to solve this problem—cultivation.

But since the apocalypse fell, all the land around Suchen, big and small, has been so polluted that not even weeds can grow, let alone crops.

"City Lord Lin..."

Zhao Weiguo's hoarse voice asked,

"You mean..."

"Exactly."

Lin Yue turned around, revealing a gentle smile on his face.

"The Black Tortoise can also purify land."

"Boom!"

This statement was like another bomb detonating in their minds!

"Real... really?!"

Zhao Weiguo sprang up from his chair, his face full of hope as he looked at Lin Yue.

"If... if Xuanwu City truly has the ability to purify land, then..."

He could hardly imagine it!

Sun Ba had long craved the Black Tortoise's purifying ability; hearing that it could also purify contaminated land, his longing could no longer be contained—if the Black Tortoise's strength were too great, he feared he might have to seize it by force!

Qian Wanjin's reaction was even worse; his fat face was written all over with greed, though he quickly concealed it.

"Of course it's true."

Lin Yue smirked inwardly; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

"However, purifying land consumes a tremendous amount of the Black Tortoise's energy. So..."

He shifted his tone and sat back down in the chief seat.

Here it comes!

Their hearts simultaneously skipped a beat, knowing the main event was about to begin.

"City Lord Lin, please speak!"

Qian Wanjin was the first to express his stance; for him, as long as he could maintain his current position, any price could be paid.

"We, the Heavenly God Group, have no second thoughts!"

"We, the Deep Blue Matrix, are the same."

Sun Ba also spoke up, eager to closely observe the Black Tortoise's purification process in hopes of discovering something.

Zhao Weiguo did not speak, but he solemnly nodded.

"Very good."

Lin Yue was very satisfied with their attitude.

He extended a single finger.

"One first-level Energy Crystal."

"One mu."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Weiguo, Qian Wanjin, and Sun Ba exchanged glances.

"One first-level Energy Crystal per mu?"

This price cannot be called expensive; it's... ridiculously cheap!

In their estimation, even if Lin Yue demanded ten, or even twenty Energy Crystals per mu—a sky‑high price—they would have to grit their teeth and accept it.

But now...

"City Lord Lin, are you sure it's just one?"

Zhao Weiguo couldn't quite believe it, so he asked again.

"I never joke."

Lin Yue said calmly.

The reason he offered this "conscience price" is that Lin Yue had given it careful thought!

Although he came to Suchen for the Energy Crystal, he is still human; perhaps he cannot be completely selfless, but as long as it doesn't affect Xuanwu City, he is willing to give a suitable discount.

"Good... great! City Lord Lin, on behalf of all survivors of Suchen, I thank you for your help!"

Zhao Weiguo was really excited; as the official refuge of Suchen, his considerations differed from the other two.

Qian Wanjin for money and status, Sun Ba for research.

These two, for their respective goals, would stop at nothing.

Zhao Weiguo, from start to finish, had only one purpose: to let more people survive.

"Our Suchen Refuge wants to ask City Lord Lin to purify a thousand mu of land for us!"

He feared Lin Yue might change his mind, so he directly gave a number.

A thousand mu equals a thousand first-tier Energy Crystals!

This is almost half of the Suchen Refuge's current Energy Crystal reserves!

But he doesn't care!

With land comes food, and then the Suchen Refuge can take in more survivors.

"Our Heavenly God Group also wants a thousand mu!"

Qian Wanjin quickly followed suit.

For him, food is the foundation of maintaining his current status.

Exchanging a thousand Energy Crystals for a thousand mu of clean land—this deal is a huge profit!

"Our Deep Blue Matrix..."

Sun Ba adjusted his glasses, pondered for a moment,

"also wants a thousand mu!"

Although for him, how much land to purify makes little difference, he does this merely to observe Black Tortoise's "evolution" ability up close.

Three thousand mu!

In total, three thousand first-tier Energy Crystals!

That number made Lin Yue's heart involuntarily speed up a beat.

We've struck it rich!

This time we really struck it rich!

Plus the three thousand Energy Crystals from earlier killing the Abyss Terror Crocodile.

His total energy points will break the hundred-thousand mark!

Lin Yue could hardly believe he would so quickly gather the energy points needed for Black Tortoise to evolve to level five.

Can only say, Hangcheng is too weak!

Lin Yue suppressed his inner joy, his face still calm and unruffled.

"Very good."

He slowly rose and nodded at the three.

"Since you three are so sincere, we, Xuanwu City, will take this deal."

"Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to handle the handover with you."

"Now, you three may leave."

"Thank you, City Lord Lin!"

"Then we won't disturb you further!"

The three stood, respectfully bowed to Lin Yue, then turned and left the reception hall.

However, just as they were about to walk out the door, Qian Wanjin's steps suddenly halted.

He turned around, looking at Lin Yue still seated in the chief seat, slowly sipping tea, his expression shifting, as if undergoing an internal struggle.

Finally, he took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and, amid the astonished gazes of Zhao Weiguo and Sun Ba, walked back.