Chapter 156: Transaction (Part 1)

Virtual Universe, Rain Phase Mountain, Public Area.

Inside a private bar room.

Jiang Chen and Uka had agreed to meet here.

"Are you sure it's the 'Blood God Fruit'? You actually have such good luck to encounter such a fine treasure in a mission world!"

As soon as Uka appeared, he eagerly said to Jiang Chen: "Quick, let me see what the 'Blood God Fruit' looks like! I've never seen a wild 'Blood God Fruit' before!"

Seeing Uka's demeanor, Jiang Chen could not help but reveal a trace of a smile.

He had previously contacted several potential buyers, but the other parties were either uninterested or offered prices that fell far short of Jiang Chen's bottom line.

However, judging by Uka's appearance, he was clearly very interested in the 'Blood God Fruit'.

And as a young prince of the Manka Planet lineage, Uka's background was sufficient to support him in offering a high price!

Even if Uka himself could not afford it, the family behind him could.

It all depended on whether his 'Royal Father' was willing to spend a huge sum of money for the growth of his own son.

"This is the video of the location where the 'Blood God Vine' is found."

Jiang Chen waved his hand, and a screen appeared before Uka, playing the video recorded in the underground space on Planet Visca.

The numerous vines caused Uka to show a look of surprise.

And the 'Blood God Fruit', only the size of a soybean, made Uka widen his eyes even further.

After a long while, Uka finally calmed down from his excitement, raised his head to look at Jiang Chen, and asked: "As far as I know, a mature Blood God Fruit is the size of a fist, and its color is much more vibrant and crimson. This 'Blood God Fruit', how long will it take before it matures? It takes hundreds of millions of years to mature, why shouldn't I just go directly to the Virtual Universe Company's treasury to buy one? Even if it's more expensive, at least I can get it immediately."

"Indeed, this is a fruit in its infancy." Jiang Chen nodded, changed the subject, and continued: "However, since you know about the 'Blood God Fruit', you should also know that it can accelerate its maturation through the pouring of a large amount of fresh blood. And I happen to have a way to make it mature within a hundred years. Hundreds of millions of years is too long, but a hundred years will pass very quickly, won't it?"

Hearing this, Uka was immediately tempted.

A hundred years of time truly could not be considered long.

A Universe-level powerhouse possessed a lifespan of over one hundred thousand years.

A mere hundred years would pass in a flash.

Some high-difficulty cultivation missions might not even be completed within a hundred years, and the harvest might not necessarily be great.

Waiting a hundred years for a 'Blood God Fruit' was definitely worth it.

Thinking of this, Uka looked up at Jiang Chen and asked, "How much are you asking for?"

"The list price in the Virtual Universe Company's treasury is thirteen million contribution points, which is thirteen million Hunyuan units. But you also know that for geniuses like us, it is easy to exchange points for Hunyuan units, but points are very difficult to obtain. In reality, the value of points exceeds that of Hunyuan units." Jiang Chen smiled lightly: "However, I can offer a discount: ten million Hunyuan units. As long as you agree, this Blood God Fruit is yours."

"Ten million Hunyuan units..."

Uka was deeply tempted, but he certainly could not produce this sum of money himself; he would have to ask his royal father for funds.

Whether his royal father would be willing to give it, Uka was not certain, so he had to say to Jiang Chen: "I need to consult my royal father."

"Very well." Jiang Chen nodded and made a gesture of invitation.

Uka did not leave; he directly contacted his royal father right in front of Jiang Chen.

However, under the shielding of the Virtual Universe system, Jiang Chen had no way of knowing what the two of them actually discussed.

A moment later, Uka closed the communication and said to Jiang Chen: "Ten million Hunyuan units, agreed. But within a hundred years at most—if I do not obtain the 'Blood God Fruit' within a hundred years, the transaction will be canceled. Furthermore, the money will only be given to you after I receive the fruit. In addition, we must sign a contract under the witness of the Virtual Universe system to guarantee that you will not leak the secret that I have consumed the 'Blood God Fruit'. If you leak this matter, the Manka Planet lineage will fight you to the bitter end."

After the 'Blood God Fruit' is consumed by a powerful being, it can be completely extracted from their body.

This characteristic led to a sharp drop in the value of the 'Blood God Fruit'.

Otherwise, how could a fine treasure capable of increasing one's gene multiplier a hundredfold be worth only a little over ten million points?

If a powerhouse or genius has consumed a 'Blood God Fruit', it must be strictly kept secret.

Once the news leaks, it is very likely to attract the pursuit of other powerhouses.

Especially for some geniuses whose strength is not yet sufficient, this is even more true.

To kill a tiny Universe-level fellow and thus obtain a 'Blood God Fruit', many Immortals would be willing to do such a deed.

The conditions proposed by Uka were all very normal and not excessive.

"That goes without saying." Jiang Chen nodded, but immediately afterward, he changed the subject and said: "However, I also have a small condition."

"Oh?" Uka raised an eyebrow, though he did not mind too much, and readily said: "Speak, as long as it is something I can do, I will certainly not refuse."

"This 'Blood God Fruit' is located in a mission world. I require you to retrieve it yourself." Jiang Chen directly stated his demand.

"Retrieve it myself?" Uka could not help frowning.

"Precisely. We will sign a contract under the witness of the Virtual Universe, after which you will pay a deposit, and I will tell you the name of the mission world. Once you arrive at the mission world, I will personally go to meet you, and then after you obtain the Blood God Fruit, you will pay me the remaining balance."

Jiang Chen stated his requirements.

Jiang Chen had no desire to personally guard Planet Visca and wait for the 'Blood God Fruit' to mature.

Seeing that Uka wanted to object, Jiang Chen directly stated: "If it weren't for the requirement that you retrieve it yourself, why do you think I would sell the Blood God Fruit at the price of ten million Hunyuan units? Do not forget that I belong to the Primordial Secret Region, and most of the treasures in the treasury can be sold by me to the Virtual Universe Company at their original price. Although I would not receive contribution points, a single Blood God Fruit could still be sold for thirteen million Hunyuan units."

"The price difference of three million Hunyuan units is not small."

Jiang Chen reminded him.

Perhaps the final sentence took effect; Uka hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "Very well, but I am currently inside a mission world. Even if I abandon the mission and come out, it will take several months to return to the Initial Secret Region. As for traveling to your location, it will depend on the distance."

Different secret regions were located at vastly distant positions in the universe and were separated by immense expanses.

From the Initial Secret Region to the Primordial Secret Region, at the speed of the F-class spaceships used by the Virtual Universe Company to transport geniuses, it would still take over a year of flight time.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly: "Very well, let us draft the contract."

Subsequently, both parties confirmed the detailed clauses of the contract. After signing the contract, Uka directly paid Jiang Chen a 'deposit' of one million Hunyuan units.

"This 'Blood God Fruit' is located on 'Planet Visca' in the Primordial Secret Region." Upon receiving the bank's deposit notification email, Jiang Chen directly informed Uka of the mission world's location.

"Planet Visca?" Uka's eyes widened: "That is a dangerous-class mission world! For someone of my strength to go there and stand guard for a hundred years, the risk is immense!"

"Rest assured, since I proposed the transaction, I can naturally guarantee your safety. When you arrive at the periphery of Planet Visca, notify me, and I will come to fetch you." Jiang Chen offered a few words of comfort.

However, how effective this comfort would be was hard to say.

Uka struggled internally for a while, but ultimately the temptation of the 'Blood God Fruit' prevailed, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Fine, I will abandon this mission right now and come out to head to Planet Visca!"

"Remember to keep it secret. If word leaks from your side, it has nothing to do with me." Jiang Chen reminded him: "Right, help me bring some World Rings; get me a hundred of them to start with, and they must be of the maximum specification. I will transfer the funds to you."

---

In the blink of an eye, twelve years passed.

Planet Visca, the underground space of the Ancestral God City ruins.

"Uka."

Jiang Chen's voice sounded, and Uka, who had been standing guard here, could not help turning his head to look.

Uka had already been here for ten years.

He had not stepped outside once, simply standing guard right here in this underground space for the 'Blood God Fruit' to mature.

In his own words, having paid a huge sum of tens of millions of Hunyuan units, he would feel uneasy in his heart if he did not keep his eyes on it every moment.

"Ah, Jiang Chen, how do you have time to come over?" Uka was quite delighted upon seeing Jiang Chen.

Cultivating bitterly here all by oneself, although watching the Blood God Fruit grow bit by bit was very thrilling, after a long time, it inevitably became boring.

When Jiang Chen occasionally came over to chat with him, Uka was quite happy.

Jiang Chen glanced at the Blood God Fruit at the center of the underground space. Ten years had passed, and it had grown from the size of a soybean to the size of an apricot.

However, it was still a long way from complete maturity.

"I came to let you know that I am preparing to leave Planet Visca." Jiang Chen said to Uka.

"Ah? You're leaving?!" Uka cried out in alarm: "If you leave, what will happen to me? The danger level of this planet far exceeds the limit of what I can handle!"

Jiang Chen smiled and said: "The powerful beings on this planet have already been killed by me. I will leave an Immortal puppet behind, which is sufficient to suppress other powerful beings and protect your safety. Once the 'Blood God Fruit' matures, you can take it yourself and then pay me the remaining balance. As for the Immortal puppet, you can bring it out when you leave, and then have the Virtual Universe Company help deliver it to my place."

The Immortal spirits on Planet Visca had been slaughtered by Jiang Chen, but there were still quite a few World Lords remaining.

If he did not leave some military force to protect Uka, the arrival of a single World Lord would mean certain death for Uka.

Moreover, leaving an Immortal puppet behind was not solely for protecting Uka; it also served to supervise Uka so he would not forget to pay.

Unless he intended to face an enemy at the Immortal level.

"Oh, oh, with an Immortal puppet, then I can rest easy." Uka nodded.

As for Jiang Chen's small ulterior motives, Uka did not care at all.

For this super second-generation heir who had never worried about cultivation resources since childhood, defaulting on a debt was something he had never even considered.

Although his royal father was very strict with his discipline, at least regarding expenditures on cultivation resources, he had never placed any restrictions on Uka.

Default on a debt and refuse to pay?

Uka could not afford to lose that kind of face.

"Oh, right." Uka suddenly thought of something, his gaze burning as he stared at Jiang Chen, and asked: "Jiang Chen, this Immortal puppet of yours—is it for sale?"

During the decade or so he had spent on Planet Visca, Uka had witnessed Jiang Chen's subordinates' Immortal puppet in action.

A peak World Lord acknowledged by the laws of origin had been obliterated in a single move.

This was definitely combat power at the level of an Immortal spirit.

Uka was exceedingly covetous of this gadget.

"An Immortal puppet? You want to buy one?" Jiang Chen had not considered this question, but after looking at Uka, he shook his head and asked in return: "Can you afford it?"

Weapons at the Immortal spirit level had truly astonishing values.

For instance, an F-class laser gun would cost over a hundred million Hunyuan units.

The value of an Immortal puppet was slightly lower than an F-class laser gun, but it could not be acquired without tens of millions of Hunyuan units.

And that was not counting the matching control system.

Ordinary artificial intelligence could not fully unleash the maximum combat power of an Immortal puppet.

It had to be an artificial intelligence that had mastered the laws.

Apart from Jarvis, whom Jiang Chen had directly linked to the database and instilled with law 'knowledge', the artificial intelligences in the universe that had mastered the laws were all intelligent life forms that had obtained a 'Heart of Evolution'.

If it were just buying an Immortal puppet alone, provided Uka's elders pampered him enough, they might still be willing to spend tens of millions of Hunyuan units to buy one to protect Uka's safety.

However, a 'Heart of Evolution' was comparable in value to the entire net worth of an ordinary封王 (King-class) Immortal. Even that 'Royal Father' of Uka's would feel his heart ache if he had to cough up so much money all at once.

Although Jiang Chen did not explicitly spell out all of this, the sheer price of the Immortal puppet itself made Uka shrink back, causing him to lower his head in disappointment: "Tens of millions of Hunyuan units... my royal father truly wouldn't give me that much money while I am still weak just to buy an external object that cannot enhance my own strength."

"An Immortal puppet cannot unleash its ultimate power without matching special intelligence to control it." Jiang Chen thought for a moment and suggested: "If you want to buy powerful technological weapons, I suggest you buy this [Gundam] mecha. Its attack, defense, speed, and all other aspects can rival a peak World Lord, and the weapons it uses can be freely chosen between long-range technological weapons and close-combat arms. The price is also much cheaper, which is completely adequate for your current strength."

"Rivaling a peak World Lord?" Uka's eyes lit up, and he asked repeatedly: "This thing is good! How much for one?"

"Depending on the modules equipped, the price fluctuates greatly, ranging from several hundred to over ten thousand Hunyuan units. It entirely depends on your requirements." Jiang Chen smiled as he produced a price list.

He separated the mecha itself and all the weapons that could be equipped, listing them item by item.

Naturally, the prices were marked up by a hundred percent.

This was not calculated by doubling the cost based on the 'fifty percent discount exchange' privilege granted to Jiang Chen by the Virtual Universe Company.

Rather, it was calculated by taking the normal market prices of various materials in the universe as the cost, and adding a hundred percent markup on top of that cost.

For technological weapons of this level, a one-hundred-percent profit margin could be considered very conscientious, and it was much cheaper than the technological weapons available for exchange in the treasury, boasting extremely high cost-effectiveness.

Do not forget that when Jiang Chen first entered the universe and was in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, he had started out by engaging in the arms trade.

There were so many geniuses within the Virtual Universe Company's core secret regions, each and every one of them either possessed extraordinary talent or astonishing backgrounds.

Not everyone could necessarily pull out huge sums of money, but purchasing a few [Gundam] mechas was a breeze.

If this product could be successfully promoted and its reputation established, it would be another substantial stream of income.

Although compared to plundering the resources of mission worlds, the profits seemed somewhat lower.

Still, mosquito legs were meat too; being able to earn a considerable amount of money without expending much effort, why not do it?

For a moment, Jiang Chen even forgot about his intention to leave Planet Visca, and enthusiastically began pitching his 'products' to Uka.

The two of them talked for a full day.

When they parted ways, both of their faces wore expressions of satisfaction.

(End of this chapter)