Chapter 74 Influence
Several hours later.
Alkaid took a long breath and ended his cultivation.
With an exquisite control over his own body, he had somewhat recovered his physical condition.
Although he had not reached his peak, but...
engaging in another life-and-death battle with demons was not out of the question.
However, when he sensed the presence outside that had not yet dissipated, he frowned.
"They haven't left?"
While he was upstairs recovering, he had told the World Association to "send off the guests," yet they were still lingering in the garden.
Didn't this make them lose face?
At that moment, he went downstairs.
Downstairs, Ai Li was politely serving Ji Pingtian, President of the World Association, with several cups of boiled water.
Outside the courtyard, not only the World Association members who had not entered the living room, but also Leng Jun and others had arrived.
Even Yue Xingzhou had not left.
Although their strength was not on the same level as the members of the World Association, their presence here undoubtedly showed a defensive attitude.
Because of this, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
It wasn't until Alkaid came back downstairs that the awkward atmosphere finally broke.
Ji Pingtian stood up immediately and quickly took out a box: "Alkaid, I forgot that you were also wounded when strangling Zhao Sheng and those demons. Here is a batch of Health Preserving Pills I've rushed here which are quite effective in recuperating the injuries caused by martial artist battles. You might want to give them a try if you find them useful."
Alkaid did not respond immediately but just asked, "President Ji, is there anything else?"
"This…"
Ji Pingtian put on a smile: "The flow of three hundred billion Red Star Currency involves some complicated procedures, and I am here so I can coordinate and solve any issues that might arise immediately."
"Oh."
Alkaid glanced at his phone.
He had earlier set it to silent mode, and now upon checking it...
there were already several notifications of deposits.
Three hundred billion Red Star Currency, in several batches, had mostly been deposited.
And while he was looking, another large transaction had came through.
After a quick calculation...
it was almost enough.
Looking at the string of zeros in his account balance, Alkaid truly felt the impact.
Money, when it reached a certain amount, was just a number.
"That will do."
Alkaid said, "Please, make yourselves comfortable."
"Lord Alkaid,"
Ji Pingtian stepped forward, sincerely saying, "I sincerely apologize for the earlier incident…"
"It's okay,"
Alkaid waved his hand to interrupt: "You haven't done anything wrong, and I will not break the agreement because of this incident."
Ji Pingtian heard this and breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he returned to the matter at hand: "Not long ago, we received news within the World Association that Zhao Sheng's identity at the Rebirth Society... is not simple..."
"The Rebirth Society or Red Star?"
Alkaid asked.
Ji Pingtian paused for a moment, then said, "There isn't much difference in nature, but in any case, this matter might not be over yet."
"I know,"
Alkaid responded.
He, too, felt that things shouldn't just end this way.
Because...
he had not planned for it to end yet.
"To be on the safe side, Alkaid, you'd better come with me to the World Association. I can assure you that what happened with Xia Wuyuan will not occur in the World Association..."
Ji Pingtian cautioned solemnly.
"No need,"
Alkaid said: "As for the World Association, I'd rather not go."
"Not going?"
Ji Pingtian, Zong Yan, and others exchanged glances, all sensing an ominous feeling.
After a while, the president laughed and said, "Alkaid, rest assured, once you come to the World Association, the 'Heaven's Chosen' status will be confirmed immediately and within the association..."
"There's something President Ji seems to be unclear about."
Alkaid looked at Ji Pingtian: "The agreement I have signed with you is always transactional. I help you compete against the Red Star Martial Saint in the World Association martial competition, and you pay me a large sum of money… So, let's stick to facts."
Upon hearing this, Ji Pingtian was momentarily stunned.
Zong Yan also seemed to have realized something and said, "Alkaid… indeed made conditions, according to his request, we signed using the number six agreement template."
"The number six agreement template?"
Ji Pingtian instantly understood.
The obligations under the number six agreement template were indeed only to represent the 'World Association' in the World Association martial competition to fight against the Red Star Martial Saint.
All other concerns were of no consideration.
The reason why this agreement template exists in their association is because all the seniors believe that whether it's being a Martial Saint seed or a Heaven's Chosen, if one wishes to gain more cultivation techniques, more substantial resource support, and the meticulous guidance of Martial Saints of the God Realm, they must contribute, carry out the tasks issued by the World Association, and follow the rules and regulations of the association.
But Alkaid...
Needed none of that!
Cultivation techniques, not needed.
As for resources...
three hundred billion Red Star Currency deposit, he evidently could use it for quite some time.
Regarding guidance...
probably no one in the World Association could provide him with that.
In other words, the agreements, methods, and rules used by the World Association to bind the Martial Saint seeds and Heaven's Chosen were of no use to him.
"Let's leave it at that,"
Alkaid said: "Notify me when the 'World Association Martial' arrives."
Seeing this, Ji Pingtian also felt it was no longer good to stay, lest he became more of a nuisance.
He stood up and said, "Whether against the Rebirth Society or Red Star, we stand on the same side. If you ever need help, Lord Alkaid, do not hesitate to ask."
"Alright,"
Alkaid replied politely.
Immediately thereafter, Ji Pingtian and Zong Yan, along with the members of the World Association, left the garden.
Looking at the brightly lit yard behind him, Ji Pingtian felt a sense of helplessness.
"President."
Zong Yan also heaved a sigh, "At that time, I was only thinking about signing the agreement as soon as possible, after all... ten billion Red Star Currency to sign a nineteen-year-old Grandmaster."
"I understand, you didn't do anything wrong."
Ji Pingtian said.
When Alkaid sought nothing from the internal resources, cultivation techniques, or guidance of the Rebirth Society, the validity of the agreement with him depended solely on his personal integrity.
And Alkaid's intention was clear—no personal favors, just business.
"Let's end this, blaming the agreement has no meaning whatsoever."
Ji Pingtian said.
Whether for the Rebirth Society or Alkaid, the agreement itself was just a statement and had no binding force.
The key still lay in whether both parties enjoyed pleasant interactions and shared common goals.
Yet, in this matter, he as the president completely botched it.
"It's like viewing the sky from the bottom of a well."
Ji Pingtian lamented.
Alkaid was young, which naturally placed one in a paternal state of mind.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Moreover, he habitually treated Alkaid like any other member of the Rebirth Society, conversing with him with a superior's demeanor. Alkaid's non-compliance led him to feel that he had been contradicted, resulting in dissatisfaction enhanced by Fang Lu's provocation.
The end result was his own style of handling matters.
Martial Saint, breaking the human body's limits, becoming an army of one, amassing immense power in himself.
They were used to acting straightforwardly and hardly anyone dared to go against them.
Although Zong Yan had repeatedly emphasized Alkaid's strength and exceptional talent in his messages to Ji Pingtian, his understanding of Alkaid still focused mainly on the "nineteen-year-old Grandmaster."
In the end, due to his high self-regard, he missed a great opportunity.
"President."
Zong Yan carefully chose his words, "I've been at the Dayu Rebirth Society branch for so long and yet failed to detect that the Dayu Royal Family had long betrayed the Rebirth Society... This is my incompetence and dereliction of duty, and also, I am getting old and no longer have the strength to stabilize a country's situation. I hope to resign from the position of president of the Dayu branch."
"You..."
Ji Pingtian thought about the information he had seen from Fang Lu's memories, this side of the Dayu branch...
It had indeed been infiltrated through and through.
This responsibility, in any case, Zong Yan could not avoid.
Furthermore...
After mulling it over, he said, "You should rest for a while first."
Zong Yan nodded.
"Actually, you might consider a new place to go."
Ji Pingtian said.
"Hm?"
Zong Yan was startled.
But then saw Ji Pingtian pointing behind him at the Yu Garden Villa: "I have no longer any doubt about Lord Alkaid's strength and potential, but his background is too shallow. Not to mention other aspects, just his logistics team alone does not match his status."
Zong Yan came to understand, "You mean for me to apply for a position managing Lord Alkaid's logistics?"
Ji Pingtian nodded, "That way, at least we can still maintain our ties with Lord Alkaid and not become complete strangers in the future."
As he spoke, he pulled out a device and began working on it while saying, "Moreover, as expected, Lord Alkaid is likely to act against the Liao Family. I originally intended to give him the Liao Family's information right then, but after a moment's thought, I feel it would be better if you took this information as a greeting gift."
Zong Yan glanced at the specialized phone in his hand, which had just received a file.
"With things as they stand, we can only try our best to remedy the situation."
Ji Pingtian said.
After listening, Zong Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I'll try to see if I can get the job."
...
In the study room.
Because of Ji Pingtian's affairs, Yue Xingzhou had not left.
"The Noble Families all have connections, right?"
Alkaid asked.
"Yes."
Yue Xingzhou nodded, "Over the years, the Liao Family has ignored the tacit agreement of 'the Royal Family and the Noble Families sharing the world,' severely oppressing the major Noble Families. If the Noble Families had not secretly united against them, they would have been completely devoured."
"So, if the core members of the Liao Family disappear, can you ensure that no turmoil occurs in Dayu Country?"
Alkaid asked directly.
Although Yue Xingzhou had expected it, hearing these words from Alkaid's mouth still made his pupils shrink sharply.
"Lord Alkaid, you mean to..."
His voice trembled slightly.
He unconsciously used a respectful title.
"Correct."
Alkaid leaned back in his chair, calmly stating, "Since they don't wish to act as humans and turn towards demons, then they shouldn't act at all."
"Hiss!
Yue Xingzhou gasped in shock.
If Alkaid had merely broken through to become a Martial Saint, he certainly would have tried to stop such reckless behavior.
But his recent confrontation with Ji Pingtian had proven...
After achieving Martial Saint, his combat power was not beneath the God Realm!
A Martial Saint of the God Realm...
Plus the cooperation from various families, overturning the Liao Family was not a mere fantasy.
The most important thing was...
Alkaid!
A nineteen-year-old Martial Saint!
And a nineteen-year-old with the combat power of the God Realm!
What did this mean?
It meant he could certainly enter the Artifact Sect!
He could rise to great heights!
As long as they, the Yue Family, played this card right, all the Noble Families oppressed by the Liao Family within Dayu would rally to Alkaid's side at the first opportunity, striving with all their might to strengthen and enlarge the share of Dayu's resources.
Because...
If successful, this would signify that other than Red Star and Snow Dragon, a third super empire was about to rise!
And by then...
All of them would be ministers from the dragon's court!
With this thought, Yue Xingzhou responded emphatically, "We can!"
"Good."
Alkaid nodded his head, "Contact them."