Astral Pet Store (WN)

Xie Jinshui was surprised. He questioned Su Ping’s decision out of instinct. Opening his store for business… Is that a big deal? Something worth mentioning right now?

But the next second, Xie Jinshui thought of the battle pets that Su Ping had once sold. He was panting Su Ping had sold beast kings once, including the one that Qin Duhuang had. Su Ping was about to open his store right then. So, he was going to sell more beast kings!

“Mr. Su, can I buy some?”

Xie Jinshui’s voice was trembling. He was at the titled rank and he also wanted beast king battle pets. In the old days, he hadn’t had the guts to ask Su Ping because beast kings were rare; begging Su Ping for one would be unfair to the others. It would put Su Ping, as well as himself, in an awkward position. But times were different; he needed beast kings. He hoped to participate in the base city’s defense when the time came, instead of merely staying at the rear and only giving directions.

“You… I don’t have many beast kings that suit you, but you can drop by and have a look. There might be a couple for you.” Su Ping didn’t sugarcoat the facts.

Xie Jinshui felt both excited and mortified. “Mr. Su, thank you so much. I, I don’t know…”

“Don’t mention it. I’m doing business, not merely giving them away. Don’t thank me.”

Xie Jinshui forced a bitter smile.

Given his usual prices for beast kings, what was the difference between selling and giving them away? Su Ping told Xie Jinshui to prepare enough money and hung up. Then, Su Ping called Venerable the Blade and he, too, answered at once.

“Mr. Su.”

Su Ping asked, “Where are you? Do you have some time? I’ve just gotten a bunch of beast kings. Are you interested?”

“Beast kings?” Venerable the Blade could not believe that Su Ping was using “a bunch” in a sentence referring to beast kings. The others would only say one or two but Su Ping was selling in bulk…

“I’ll be right there. I’m in the Hancheng Base City,” Venerable the Blade answered.

Su Ping nodded. “Right, bring enough money. I don’t sell anything on credit and I don’t take any other items in exchange. I only take money!”

Venerable the Blade asked at once, “How much money should I bring?”

Su Ping thought about it. “As much as possible. Do you have ten billion?”

“Ten billion…”

Venerable the Blade felt his heart tremble. Ten billion was not a small number. It was almost 70% of the five major families’ assets!

Not to mention that ten billion would have to be in cash!

He remembered that Su Ping was selling beast kings at one hundred or two hundred million each. Why did the price increase?

Venerable the Blade knew that Su Ping was waiting for his reply. He said at once, “Yes. I’ll get the money ready.”

“Okay.”

Su Ping hung up.

“Ten billion…”

Venerable the Blade forced a bitter smile. He could get ten billion ready but most of his assets had to do with real estate, treasures and shops. Those things were valuable, but he would not find buyers easily on such a short notice. Cash was the most secure thing in troubling times.

After all, once a base city fell or was abandoned, no matter how good the neighborhood was, properties would be worthless!

I’ll have to borrow some money…

Venerable the Blade started to call his friends.

At the store, Su Ping then called Qin Duhuang; he could take on more battle pets and he would gladly do so.

“Mr. Su, are you selling battle pets again?” Qin Duhuang was happily surprised. “Mr. Su, how many are you selling? I want them all!”

“Not possible,” Su Ping said.

“What?” Qin Duhuang realized he might have gotten carried away. It wasn’t fair to get all of them.

“Sorry, Mr. Su, that’s not what I meant. I’ll be right over; let’s talk in person,” Qin Duhuang apologized at once. Su Ping was confused. What was that all about? He didn’t bother thinking about it. After the call, Su Ping pondered a bit and decided on two people he would give the fruits to. The first was Wu Guansheng, the one who came with Yuan Tianchen but was forced to stay.

He stayed to teach Su Lingyue as an apology and he had been behaving. Su Ping was able to tell he was a good man. He was merely working for the wrong boss.

As for the second person, Su Ping was going to choose from among the five major families. The Mu family’s leader was not one of his possible choices. That family head didn’t make the right choice when the Longjiang Base City had been struck by the Otherworld Heavenly King.

The Ye family… He wasn’t familiar with that family head.

As for Liu Tianzong, the two of them had disputes. Even though the man had apologized and they were on peaceful terms, Su Ping wasn’t sure if Liu Tianzong would still hold a grudge against him. Also, their competition in the past had taken place because he was just too full of himself… At least, that was what Su Ping thought.

So, the next one was from the Zhou family.

The Zhou family had created some difficulties for Su Ping, but he later disciplined them by charging into their territory. They had been behaving since then. From their interactions, Su Ping could tell that Zhou Tianlin was a man of principles. He could be a good choice.

Su Ping didn’t choose Xie Jinshui because of the side effects.

The Zhou family head would have a difficult time reaching the legendary rank by himself. He had been at the titled rank for years and his potential was limited.

Xie Jinshui on the other hand… His chance of reaching the legendary rank was small but the good thing was that he wasn’t fifty yet. He still had potential in him.

Su Ping also knew that the astral powers sealed in the Blue Planet would soon be released with the removal of the Heaven Lock. By then, the size of the Blue Planet and the number of astral powers would grow to unexpected proportions.

By then, maybe, reaching the legendary rank on the Blue Planet would not be that difficult. Xie Jinshui would still have a chance to break through by himself.

Su Ping called Wu Guansheng.

“Mister Su?”

It was evident that the man had not yet gone to bed.

“Wu, where are you?” Su Ping asked. Wu Guansheng asked, “Mr. Su, what is happening? I’m at the Sheng-Long Defense Line. Have the beasts arrived at the Xing-Jing Defense Line?”

“The Sheng-Long Defense Line?” This reminded Su Ping that Wu Guansheng was working for Yuan Tianchen. “Is the legendary battle pet warrior over there… the Yuan guy?”

Wu Guansheng said at once, “Yes, it is Mr. Yuan. Mr. Su, I know that you and Yuan Tianchen once had some disputes. But that’s water under the bridge; let’s just keep it friendly. We’re also faced with a special situation. We should fight the common enemy. I heard that the Nordic Continent is gone. I don’t know if that is true…”

“I was just asking. Don’t be nervous. I’m going to give you something good. Do you have money?” Su Ping asked.

“Something good?” Wu Guansheng asked, “What is it? Battle pets?”

Wu Guansheng’s eyes glowed. The fact that Su Ping had once sold beast kings in his store was well known among titled battle pet warriors. He, of course, knew of it. He had seen the beast kings.

“More or less,” Su Ping said, “and I’ll give you a chance to reach the legendary rank. Come here if you’re interested. Of course, you’ll have to have money, at least ten billion. The money will have to be in cash, not real estate.”

“A chance to reach the legendary rank?”

Wu Guansheng was perplexed.

A chance to reach the legendary rank?

Wouldn’t I have to rely on my own cultivation to reach the legendary rank?

Can Su Ping help me improve my understanding of power?

Wu Guansheng had difficulty understanding this. Su Ping had always been a man of mystery; he knew next to nothing about his background. What Su Ping said got him excited. If he was telling the truth… He would soon reach the legendary rank! “Mr. Su, are you serious?” Wu Guansheng asked.

Su Ping said grumpily, “Why would I joke around in the middle of the night?”

Wu Guansheng said at once, “I’ll be there. Mr. Su, wait for me. I’m leaving right now!”

“You haven’t answered my question. Do you have money? At least ten billion. Don’t come here if you can’t get enough money,” Su Ping said.

Once Wu Guansheng ate the fruit, he would sell Void State battle pets to him. Otherwise, giving Wu Guansheng the fruit would be pointless.

Su Ping was intending to sell him battle pets; Wu Guansheng would need to have enough money for it. “Ten billion?” Wu Guansheng’s head was clearing up. He answered after three seconds passed, “Yes, I’m getting the money ready. Mr. Su, wait for me. I’m coming!”

“Good.” Su Ping was relieved.

Wu Guansheng was at the peak of the titled rank. Getting ten billion would not be that difficult for him.

Then, Su Ping called Zhou Tianlin.

Zhou Tianlin answered two seconds after the call connected, “Mister Su?”

He added with respect, “Mr. Su, what do you need me for?”

“I’m going to open my store for business. Do you have money?” Again, Su Ping went straight to the point.

Zhou Tianlin was thrilled, “Yes, yes, yes, how much, Mr. Su?”

“Ten billion.”

“Ten… billion?” Zhou Tianlin could not believe that. He was there when Su Ping sold the beast king to Qin Duhuang and knew the price paid. The beast king was sold for less than two hundred million. Why was Su Ping asking him for ten billion?

Zhou Tianlin was thinking, hesitating. He wondered, Is Su Ping trying to dredge for money?

Or, is Su Ping doing this on purpose to get back at the Zhou family?

“You don’t have that amount?” Su Ping asked. Zhou Tianlin came back to his senses. “Yes, yes, I do! Just ten billion. Mr. Su, you’re selling battle pets. I will give up the last shot in the locker and support your business. Let me go and get the money. I’ll be there in a moment.” “Okay.”

Su Ping didn’t add another word.

“Have you collected your reward?” he then asked Joanna.

Joanna was standing by the pet room door; she didn’t look as quiet as she usually was. She smiled brightly at Su Ping and said, “Yes. A voice popped up and said that I’m an outstanding employee. As such, I’m getting a chance to tour around any world I choose for seven days.”

Su Ping knew that the voice had to be from the system. “Good. I suggest you wait a little bit. I’ll go to the Archean Divinity with you after I finish dealing with this mess,” Su Ping suggested.

Joanna nodded. “No problem.”

She wasn’t in a hurry since she had finally earned her chance. Before she went there, she would first prefer to go back to the Demigod Burial and make preparations.

I’m going to tell her to come, Su Ping said to himself.

He sensed that Tang Ruyan was sleeping in the same room with Zhong Lingtong. Su Lingyue was sitting across the hall in her own bedroom.

“Time for business,” Su Ping sent her a mental message.

Tang Ruyan opened her eyes in a daze. She was surprised about the voice in her mind. She mumbled, “Haven’t you noticed it’s the middle of the night? Who would want to come at this hour?”

She quietly got up regardless of her complaining

Zhong Lingtong was still sleeping soundly. Tang Ruyan exited the room without making a sound.

Since Tang Ruyan was on her way over, Su Ping pulled up the information page with all the cartoon avatars.

“Blood Sand Beast, Void State, combat strength 32.5, with a price of 32.50 million energy points.”

“Dark Abyss Snake, Void State, combat strength 29.9, 29.90 million energy points.” “Moon Dragon, Void State, combat strength 31.4…”

He saw the detailed information of every battle pet, including their rank, state, combat strength, as well as their skills, bloodlines, and where they were from.

Su Ping noticed that the price was related to their combat strengths.

Those with a combat strength over 30 would be priced at more than 30 million energy points.

Those with a combat strength of 29 would be priced at 29 million energy points.

“Hey, I’ve been wanting to ask. What is the corresponding state to those combat strengths?” Su Ping asked.

Soon, a form appeared in his mind.

“See for yourself.” The system sounded aloof.

It said in the form that those at the Ocean State usually had a combat strength between 10 to 20.

The Void State ranged from 20 to 30.

For the Fate State, it was from 30 to 50.

Of course, those were the basic standards.

Su Ping remembered that the Little Skeleton’s combat strength had grown to nearly 40. So, the Little Skeleton’s combat strength was close to the Fate State’s mid range.

Still, the Little Skeleton was only at the intermediate position of the ninth rank. No wonder the Little Skeleton’s aptitude rate was quite high.

Most of the beast kings were at the Void State, but many of their combat strengths had gone over 30!

Indeed, those beast kings imprisoned in the Demigod Burial’s biggest prison were outstanding Six of the beast kings had combat strengths at 36 or 37, and the most powerful beast king had a combat strength of 38.7!