Chapter 2436: Conditions

Lu Ye didn't pay attention to Gong Mao. His first thought was of Cui Can.

They weren't really friends, having only met twice in total. However, the first time Lu Ye set foot in the arena, Cui Can did show him some kindness and offered some help, even if it wasn't particularly significant to Lu Ye. Yet, someone who had shown him goodwill and done nothing wrong was now being implicated by him, becoming a potential problem that needed to be dealt with. Lu Ye ultimately felt a pang of unwillingness.

"Must you do this?" he asked with a frown.

Qin Feng was puzzled. "Do you have an opinion?" He was merely dealing with a few insignificant subordinates under his command. Why did Lu Ye seem so concerned? He didn't believe the human in front of him could be so inherently pure-hearted. If he were that pure, he wouldn't have gotten this far, let alone entered the arena.

"No," Lu Ye slowly shook his head.

Qin Feng looked thoughtful, then suddenly smiled. "Lu Ye, join the Arena! As the Master of the Arena, I sincerely invite you. If you're willing to join, then the previously agreed-upon earnings will not be deducted at all!"

"I already have the Dao Integration City," Lu Ye replied calmly.

Qin Feng shook his head. "They don't conflict. Dao Integration City is Dao Integration City, and the Arena is the Arena. The two will never have a direct confrontation. If that's your concern, you needn't worry. If you're willing to join the Arena, I will spare no effort to make you the brightest star in the Harmony Realm. By then, you'll have everything you desire!"

"Not interested," Lu Ye shook his head. He had previously held some expectations and interest in the Arena, but after this incident, all that was gone.

"Are you really not considering it at all? Even if it means losing half your earnings?"

"Is Master Qin planning to use force?"

"No, I won't!" Qin Feng smiled. "Since you're unwilling, there's no need to say more."

Lu Ye nodded, clasped his hands in farewell, and turned to leave. He didn't know how strong Qin Feng was, but as the Master of the Arena, he was very likely at the peak of Dao Integration. Therefore, if possible, Lu Ye didn't want to confront such a powerful individual directly.

"Oh, by the way, take this. Consider it a small personal gift from me!" Qin Feng's voice called out.

Lu Ye turned his head and saw him slowly pushing a jade slip across the table, smiling meaningfully.

He didn't know what information was recorded in the jade slip, but he understood the principle of not accepting gifts without contributing anything, especially when facing such a powerful person. Some things were easy to take but too hot to handle.

As if discerning Lu Ye's thoughts, Qin Feng merely flicked his finger, and the jade slip flew towards Lu Ye. "There's no other meaning; just take a look yourself."

Lu Ye raised his hand, caught the jade slip, and with a slight activation of his divine sense, his expression suddenly changed!

The jade slip, surprisingly, contained the promotion method of the Soldier race. It detailed how Soldier creatures could advance from ordinary Dao Soldiers to the treasure-spirit level, which was fundamentally no different from the choices he had made when battling Que Yue. There were also some subsequent records, but many traces had clearly been deliberately erased, making them incomprehensible to Lu Ye. Only at the very end did he see a brief record of the Soldier race advancing to the ultimate treasure level!

Ultimate treasures! The Soldier race truly could advance to become ultimate treasures! Lu Ye had speculated this before, but couldn't confirm it since Liao couldn't even be considered a treasure spirit. However, upon closer thought, the Soldier race was a species, a type of living being. They had no blood or flesh but could cultivate and break through alongside their masters, meaning the treasure-spirit level was by no means the ultimate limit for the Soldier race!

Qin Feng's small gift... could be said to have directly hit Lu Ye's Achilles' heel. As for why Qin Feng possessed such detailed information, the fact that he recognized Liao as a Soldier creature at a glance indicated he had seen them before, and the Soldier creatures he'd encountered were very likely at the ultimate treasure level.

After standing there for a long time, Lu Ye finally turned and returned to Qin Feng's presence.

Qin Feng was clearly smiling smugly, an expression that seemed to say he had Lu Ye completely figured out, making Lu Ye want to rush over and smash the guy's face.

"I can join the Arena, but I have conditions!"

Qin Feng laughed. "In the Harmony Realm, I'm always the one making demands of others. It's the first time someone has come to me with demands."

"There's always a first time for everything!"

Qin Feng pondered seriously for a moment. "You make a good point. Then I'll hear your conditions!"

"First, I will join the Arena, but the Arena cannot force me to do anything."

Qin Feng said, "You don't need to worry about that. Unless someone is cultivated by the Arena itself, there are no mandatory requirements for those like you who join midway. Of course, you cannot refuse the Arena's requests indefinitely; you should carefully consider and accept assignments under reasonable circumstances."

"Understood!" Lu Ye nodded and continued, "Second, I will not stay in the Arena for long periods, nor can I guarantee when I will re-enter the Harmony Realm. So, if the Arena has any needs, you can notify me when I enter the Harmony Realm."

"You don't need to worry about that either. The Arena can contact you anytime it wishes, as long as you carry your Arena Token with you."

Lu Ye was surprised. "Even if I'm in Dao Integration City?"

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. "As long as you're in the Inner Realm!"

Lu Ye had no idea the Arena possessed such powerful means. Furthermore, this method of communication shouldn't be exclusive to the Arena; many other powerful individuals or forces likely had similar capabilities.

"Third, I want Cui Can to live."

Qin Feng, unclear about the situation, turned to Gong Mao. "Who is Cui Can?" Gong Mao quickly explained a few things.

Qin Feng understood. "Are you sure you want to do this? Her living is a hidden danger to you, and you don't seem to have much connection."

"It has nothing to do with personal connection."

Qin Feng stroked his chin, lost in thought. It seemed this condition was harder for him to agree to than the previous two. However, he eventually nodded. "It's your own business, after all. If you wish, there's no harm in me sparing her life. But remember, if someday the news that you can shatter treasure spirits gets out, it will definitely not be from the Arena."

Lu Ye ignored him and continued, "Fourth, I want complete information." He pushed the jade slip back to Qin Feng. This was the main point; everything before was just incidental.

Qin Feng smiled. "I've already prepared it for you." He knew Lu Ye couldn't resist such a temptation, and indeed, no one could. He had calculated that Lu Ye wouldn't just leave like that. As he spoke, he took out another jade slip and handed it to Lu Ye.

Lu Ye took it and eagerly began to examine it. The information inside was much more detailed this time. After reading through it completely, Lu Ye felt a sense of clarity.

"So, do you feel now that joining the Arena was a wise choice?" Qin Feng asked with a smile.

Lu Ye didn't want to admit it, but he had to concede that it was indeed true. For Liao to continue breaking through and advancing, it would require the Arena's operations; he could hardly achieve those things on his own. Of course, in Lu Ye's initial plans, he had intended for some future cooperation with the Arena. His earlier remark to Gong Mao that the battle was just the beginning wasn't casual; subsequent cooperation had always been part of his plan. However, the original plan was to earn more Dao Fish. Now, Liao's factor had to be considered, and it had become the primary factor, with earning Dao Fish becoming secondary.

"Does the Arena sell treasure spirits?" Lu Ye asked.

Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh. He was a person who loved to smile and had a very approachable demeanor. Such a person, if encountered outside, would make it hard to believe he was the renowned Master of the Arena.

"Do you think anyone would sell something like a treasure spirit? Forget the Arena; you won't find anyone selling treasure spirits in the entire Harmony Realm."

Even knowing the likely answer, Lu Ye couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. This meant he still had to find a treasure spirit himself.

"Alright, let's conclude our discussion here. Your earnings from this time have already been deposited into your Arena Token. If you need to use them, you can withdraw them yourself." Qin Feng issued a polite dismissal.

Lu Ye nodded, said his goodbyes, and left.

As the door closed, Qin Feng couldn't help but smile.

"Big profit!" the pink little octopus jumped onto Qin Feng's lap.

Qin Feng raised his hand, kneaded its head, molding it into various shapes. "Just so-so..." He had exchanged a piece of information for a very promising subordinate, and the information itself came from that old monster, meaning he hadn't actually paid anything; he was merely acting as an intermediary.

"That old monster wants to raise Gu again," Qin Feng smiled meaningfully. The old monster had transmitted such important information without a care, clearly intending for him to pass it on to Lu Ye, guiding him on his future path and efforts. The old monster had done such things countless times over the years.

"One day, he'll be consumed by his own backlash!" The pink little octopus seemed very hostile towards the old monster.

"But for so many years, he has always been the hunter. I just wonder if this time, this one can turn him into the prey." A hint of anticipation flickered in Qin Feng's eyes.

As Lu Ye exited the room, Gong Mao followed him. "Brother, do you need to withdraw any Dao Jade? If so, I can arrange it."

Lu Ye took out his Arena Token and checked it, a little surprised. "The amount isn't right." It wasn't less; it was more. According to Qin Feng's earlier statement, half of his earnings were to be deducted, but the current amount clearly hadn't been reduced.

Gong Mao showed no surprise, explaining with a smile, "When Boss Qin told you that before, you weren't one of us, so his demands were stricter. But now that you are, it's naturally different. Boss Qin is a good person; you'll understand once you interact with him more in the future."

Lu Ye didn't commit either way, but it was undeniable that Qin Feng's decision not to deduct half his earnings had dispelled some of his earlier minor frustrations. "One of us..." He truly hadn't expected that after entering the Harmony Realm only twice, he would end up joining the Arena.