The Sword God of the Universe

Li Yong had anticipated that Gao Feng would most likely return without success, yet there remained a sliver of hope in his heart. Hearing Gao Feng say those words, disappointment was unmistakably written across his face.

Heaving a light sigh, Li Yong shook his head and then turned his gaze towards Jing Yan, trying hard to squeeze a smile onto his face.

"Is this Brother Jing Yan your friend?" Li Yong asked.

"Um..." Gao Feng wasn't sure if she could indeed call Jing Yan a friend.

"Jing Yan has enough Spirit Stones and can lend them to our adventure group first," Gao Feng quickly added.

"Hm?"

"What?" Li Yong's expression changed dramatically.

He had originally thought that Jing Yan was a Martial Artist whom Gao Feng had just met or maybe Jing Yan was looking to join the Flame Adventure Team. But he never expected Gao Feng to say something like this.

Almost reflexively, Li Yong swallowed.

"Brother Jing Yan, are you aware of the Song Family's demand for us to compensate with five hundred thousand Spirit Stones? That's five hundred thousand Spirit Stones!" Li Yong simply couldn't see Jing Yan as someone who could produce that many Spirit Stones.

Five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, that weren't just five hundred!

"I have five hundred thousand Spirit Stones," Jing Yan replied with a serious nod.

"Brother Jing Yan, are you really willing to lend the Spirit Stones to us? Rest assured, we of the Flame Adventure Team will do our utmost to return them to you as quickly as possible. I can't guarantee a time for repayment, but I assure you with the honor of the adventure team leader, I will try my best," Li Yong pledged, patting his chest.

Listening to Li Yong, Jing Yan smiled.

Since meeting Li Yong, though it hadn't been long, Jing Yan could already sense that he was a decent person. At the very least, Jing Yan didn't get the impression that Li Yong bore any resentment towards Gao Feng.

The trouble was brought on by Gao Feng, and even if Li Yong had placed all the blame on Gao Feng, Jing Yan wouldn't have been surprised.

"Team Leader Li Yong, the Spirit Stones are a minor matter. However, the conditions proposed by the Song Family are not solely compensation of five hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Therefore, I'd like to negotiate with the Song Family myself," said Jing Yan.

Li Yong and Gao Feng's faces changed in an instant.

Indeed, as Jing Yan mentioned, Song Ming from the Song Family also demanded three months of Gao Feng's company. Without going into detail, everyone understood the despicable implication of Song Ming's demand.

"Brother Jing Yan, I'm afraid that Song Ming won't be so reasonable! I've thought it through—if push comes to shove, we'll fight. At worst, we die. None of the members of the Flame Adventure Team are cowards," Li Yong paused for a moment before declaring with a sober voice.

While the three were talking, several other Martial Artists, both men and women, entered from outside.

These people greeted Li Yong and Gao Feng. Through introductions, Jing Yan learned that they were members of the Flame Adventure Team—leaders or vice-leaders of the other three adventure teams. They had heard of a guest arriving and came to see.

None of them bore any resentment toward Gao Feng either. The attitude displayed by everyone was one of solidarity.

The Flame Adventure Team seemed, indeed, to be quite united.

When everyone learned that Jing Yan was willing to lend five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, each one of them expressed their excited gratitude.

"Brother Jing Yan, you must not be from Haofeng City, right?" After the discussion, Li Yong asked again.

Jing Yan being able to casually produce five hundred thousand Spirit Stones was clearly no ordinary feat. In Haofeng City, the few major families were not named Jing. Moreover, they had never seen Jing Yan before.

"Indeed, I am not from Haofeng City; I am from Donglin City," said Jing Yan.

"Donglin City?" Li Yong's eyes focused, "I've been to Donglin City; it's home to the Black Stone Mountain Range."

For these adventurers, who mostly spend their time venturing into various dangerous places, completing different missions, or hunting spiritual beasts, being familiar with the small city of Donglin City was quite normal.

After a bit of small talk, Li Yong arranged for a room for Jing Yan to stay in temporarily.

Discussing with the Song Family was not as simple as Jing Yan wanted it to be. It would require someone to contact and get permission from the Song Family before negotiations could take place. Therefore, Jing Yan would have to reside within the encampment of the Flame for now.

After briefly parting with Li Yong, Gao Feng, and the rest, Jing Yan rested in the room prepared for him by the Flame.

Once Jing Yan had left, Li Yong, Gao Feng, and the others still gathered together.

When Jing Yan was present, they didn't find it appropriate to inquire about his background.

"Where did you meet this Brother Jing Yan, Gao Feng? And why is he willing to lend us five hundred thousand Spirit Stones?" Li Yong was the first to inquire.

The others all wore faces of confusion.

From the surface, Jing Yan appeared very young, around twenty years of age. But they couldn't confirm his age for certain. In this world, the age of Martial Artists was difficult to determine accurately. Moreover, there were some elixirs with powerful anti-aging effects, as well as some astonishing Spirit Grass fruits that could preserve one's youth.

Seeing everyone looking at her, Gao Feng frowned and said, "Well, it dates back to two years ago. At that time, my brother and I were leading an adventure team to the Moonlight Forest, and it so happened that we ran into Jing Yan in Black Wind Town. He wanted to enter the Sinful Canyon to look for a certain Spirit Grass and wasn't familiar with the area, so he hired us to guide him."

"After we reached the Sinful Canyon, we split up, and I haven't seen him since," Gao Feng briefly recounted her acquaintance with Jing Yan.

The others were stunned.

That's it?

They had met once, had no special relationship, and he was willing to lend out five hundred thousand Spirit Stones?

Who exactly was this Jing Yan, and was five hundred thousand Spirit Stones just an insignificant amount to him?

"Just like that?" Li Yong and the others found it hard to believe.

"That is the truth!" Gao Feng emphatically stated.

"Gao Feng, could it be that Brother Jing Yan has taken a liking to you?" a Female Martial Artist scrutinized Gao Feng earnestly, "It's actually possible, as you're considered one of the great beauties of Haofeng City. Perhaps, Jing Yan does fancy you."

The rest nodded in agreement.

Gao Feng's face tinged with red. She indeed hoped Jing Yan would fall for her, but she felt the possibility was slim. Jing Yan had not shown any particular affection for her. As for why Jing Yan was willing to shell out five hundred thousand Spirit Stones to help her, she had no clear explanation.

"How old is this Brother Jing Yan, and what is his Cultivation?" After some noisy commotion, Li Yong asked again.

Hearing this, everyone's expressions turned serious.

"I'm not too clear on that, but he should be about twenty years old. As for Cultivation, he's probably reached the Innate Realm by now. Two years ago, he was at the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven, but his strength was very strong, much stronger than Martial Artists of the same realm," said Gao Feng thoughtfully to everyone.

Li Yong and the others were taken aback, their eyes filled with disbelief!