Borrowing Money!

Once Qianqiusui began his breakthrough, Li Guanqi calculated that it would take at least three to four days. The timing made it certain that he would miss the auction. Sure enough, after only about the time it took an incense stick to burn, all kinds of problems began cropping up in the commerce division! Yu Hua and Xi Yunhuai had already arrived at Yunding Auction House via the teleportation array. Xi Yunhuai said in a heavy voice, "People keep coming to ask for instructions regarding all sorts of issues with the auction's preparations, but Qianqiusui has always overseen these matters personally. "Even the list of auction items and the supply channels are entirely in his hands." Yu Hua spoke with an unsightly expression. "A massive wave of returns has suddenly erupted across the Six Domains Merchant Pavilion, and quite a few instigators have whipped the crowds into a fury. "They're all claiming there are quality issues with our goods. "Not only that, Tianji Pavilion has rolled out all kinds of promotional discounts, drawing away nearly all customer traffic." Fine beads of sweat dotted Yu Hua's forehead, yet Li Guanqi remained calm as ever, showing not the slightest hint of impatience. Li Guanqi said softly, "It's fine. I'll find someone to come and help." Xi Yunhuai frowned. He could not imagine whom Li Guanqi could possibly call upon. For an enterprise of this scale, neither Guanyun Pavilion nor the Great Xia Sword Sect had anyone capable of taking the reins! Unless... Tang Ru returned in person! The thought froze Xi Yunhuai in his tracks. Parting his lips, he murmured, "Could Pavilion Master mean...?" The jade slip in Li Guanqi's hand faintly lit up. Rising to his feet, Li Guanqi said softly, "Come. Follow me to welcome him." *Buzz!* A middle-aged man walked slowly out of the teleportation array on the auction house's underground level. Catching sight of the figures before him, the man broke into hearty laughter. "Hahaha, young friend, we meet again! "Elder Xi, long time no see! And this is...?" Li Guanqi clasped his fists and said softly, "I'll have to trouble Uncle Tang this time." Tang Wei smiled slightly and waved his hand dismissively. "The feud between your two pavilions has driven foot traffic through the roof at our Baibao Pavilion. "Everyone is watching from the sidelines. You boys have quite the temper! "Besides... between you and Gu Yong, wasn't there...?" Li Guanqi cut him off. Spatial power enveloped them, whisking them silently into the study on the top floor. As the barrier of the array rose, Li Guanqi gestured for everyone to take their seats and said softly, "It's easier to talk here. "Elder Xi, introduce yourselves to one another and brief Uncle Tang on the current situation. "I have some business to attend to, so I'll be stepping out for a moment." Tang Wei nodded with a smile, and Li Guanqi made his way into the secret chamber on the top floor. This was the study Qianqiusui had set aside for Li Guanqi to conduct his affairs. Once inside, Li Guanqi took out a very peculiar jade slip and said softly, "Songsong, you there?" Waking from his cultivation, the white-haired youth curved his lips in a grin and said cheerfully, "Heh, Brother! Whatever it is, just say the word!" Li Guanqi smiled slightly and asked, "What realm are you at now?" Li Song took a swig of wine, sitting cross-legged on the stone bed in his cave abode. Rubbing his nose in embarrassment, he replied, "Uh... Nascent Soul. "Hehe, thanks to you mending my soul, Brother, I finally feel a lot better inside." A glint of brilliance flashed in Li Guanqi's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his face. He said, "You probably know that Tianji Pavilion and I have been locked in a fierce feud lately. I'm preparing to put a Profound Phantasm Sacred Soul Pill up for auction." Li Song set down his wine gourd, momentarily startled. "Ah. And then?" Li Guanqi said in a slightly complicated tone, "Originally, I had three of them. One for myself, and I planned to save one for you... "However... something happened to my master, so I used one. "Which means you might have to come over and bid for this last one yourself!" Li Song curled his lip and said softly, "Is that really necessary? Are you afraid something will go wrong when I break through to Void Refinement or Body Integration?" Li Guanqi remained silent. A warm current flowed through Li Song's heart. Just as he was about to speak, Li Guanqi's voice rang out again. Gripping another jade slip in his hand, Li Guanqi's eyes lit up! The corners of his mouth tilted up, and he said softly, "Never mind. I'll send this pill over to you later." Li Song frowned in confusion. "Didn't you say it was going on auction?" Li Guanqi chuckled. "We won't be using this one. "This pill was refined using thunder-attribute qiyin, so it suits you far better." Li Song set down the jade slip, scratched his head, and stood up, muttering to himself, "So basically you're just handing me a Profound Phantasm Sacred Soul Pill for free, huh? "Tsk, that's my big brother for you. Ah, bliss." Putting away the jade slip, Li Guanqi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed everything was still progressing according to plan. "Only five days left until the auction... "I wonder if there's enough time." At that moment, Jiang Qizhi and his two companions flew out from a mysterious pocket of nothingness and vanished in an instant. Within the Gu clan domain, heavenly flames surged, and pill furnaces were already preheated, anxiously awaiting their return. Tianji Pavilion seized upon everything Yunding Auction House was currently suffering to blow it out of proportion. "Heh, I told you this Yunding Auction would be a complete joke. Just you wait and see." "Guanyun Pavilion is going to fall flat on its face this time. I heard they took on an order big enough to destroy their very foundation, hehe." It seemed that in the eyes of everyone, Guanyun Pavilion was suffering setback after setback under Tianji Pavilion's onslaught! Yet at such a juncture, Li Guanqi chose silence and concession. Assassinations, sowing discord, ruthless predatory buyouts in the commercial war—neither side yielded an inch. Li Guanqi traveled alone to the Qin clan of the Ethereal Immortal Domain. Qin Wushang personally escorted him to see his father, Qin Xiao. Inside the antique study, Qin Xiao sat in the seat of honor, looking at Li Guanqi with an indifferent expression. "What brings you here, young friend?" Li Guanqi smiled faintly and said softly, "To borrow money." Qin Xiao was taken aback, then asked with a smile, "How much?" Setting down his teacup, Li Guanqi said softly, "Five billion." *Clatter!* Beside him, Qin Wushang's hand jerked, and tea sloshed right out of his cup. Qin Xiao's expression did not waver as he fixed his gaze on Li Guanqi. "Five billion? "Why should I believe you have the ability to repay it? "Based solely on your Guanyun Pavilion, whose total assets don't even reach four billion?" Li Guanqi's gaze was calm, his expression unchanged, and he made no mention of any backing or patrons. Meeting Qin Xiao's eyes, he said evenly, "In half a month, I will repay six billion." Qin Xiao set down his teacup and uttered two words: "A reason." Li Guanqi shook his head, stood up, and said softly, "In half a month, Tianji Pavilion will cease to exist. "It just comes down to whether Uncle Qin dares to make this wager." Beside them, Qin Wushang pressed his lips together and drew in a sharp breath of cold air. What colossal arrogance!