559 A Promise
After Xu Jingming walked out of the building, he found an empty spot on the grass not far away and sat down.
Soon, service staff arrived, and Xu Jingming ordered some alcohol.
Getting people to do an exchange on one’s behalf used to have a 50% premium. A 100% premium is already considered very high, yet Inzel wanted cosmic dollars in addition… He’s trying to rip me off. Xu Jingming held his wine glass and took a sip.
As he was too talented, most Origin lifeforms cut Xu Jingming some slack when they made contact with him. However, Xu Jingming knew very well that not everyone would cut him some slack!
For example, Inzel was a terrifying existence ranked among the top Lv. 10 Origin lifeforms in Eternal Academy after all. In the entire cosmic human race, it was just beneath a cosmic legend.
Such a figure was arrogant even when facing cosmic legends from other factions.
After all, in the eyes of most people, my limit in life is probably a cosmic legend. The probability of me reaching the Paramount realm is extremely low. Xu Jingming knew that this was based on historical data.
At the end of the day, which Paramount realm expert didn’t experience all kinds of hardships? Being fast at becoming an Origin lifeform wasn’t the be-all and end-all.
“Junior Brother Wu Ming?” Suddenly, a voice sounded.
Xu Jingming turned his head and saw a youth in a gray robe walking over from behind. His face was a little similar to Lunardo’s, but his aura was deeper and more restrained. His entire body was like a black hole, deep and slightly oppressive.
“I never expected to meet you here.” The gray-robed youth walked over warmly.
Xu Jingming immediately got up and smiled. “Senior Brother Dark Star.”
The person in front of him was Lunarstar! He was Lunardo’s elder brother, a Lv. 10 Origin lifeform of the Primordial Research Institute. His alias was Dark Star, and he was also second in line for the throne of the Primestar civilization.
“Junior Brother Wu Ming, are you trying to get someone to help exchange for treasures as well?” Lunarstar smiled and said, “Is there anything I can help you with? I know some people in Eternal Academy. Perhaps they can help you.”
“I’ve already tried,” Xu Jingming replied.
“Alright, feel free to ask. I’m meeting my pals,” Lunarstar said.
Xu Jingming nodded and watched Lunarstar walk into the distance. Lunarstar also came here to get someone to exchange items for him.
Lunardo is indeed countless times inferior to his brother. Xu Jingming sat down.
Lunarstar had a good reputation in the Primordial Research Institute and was recognized as a ‘genius’ among Lv. 10 Origin lifeforms. Although he wasn’t as illustrious as Xu Jingming, the outside world believed that it wasn’t difficult for Lunarstar to become a Regis. The Primestar royal family also thought highly of him; otherwise, they wouldn’t have elevated him to second in line for the throne.
The heirs to the throne of the three advanced cosmic civilizations were also selected from the royal family. The most important factor in the selection was the achievements on the evolutionary and scientific paths. The higher the achievements, the higher the ranking!
If he became a cosmic legend, his influence in the royal family wouldn’t be inferior to that of an emperor even if he didn’t become one.
“Brother Wu Ming.” A gentle voice sounded.
Xu Jingming looked over from afar.
A short, fat, and bald elder walked over, and his smile couldn’t help but make one relax.
Xu Jingming immediately got up when he saw him. “Mr. Lancel.”
Yes, the elder in front of him was the other powerhouse Xu Jingming wanted to meet—Lancel. Mr. Lancel’s contributions were also ranked in Eternal Academy’s top five.
“Why are you here alone?” Lancel sat down opposite Xu Jingming and smiled. “Where’s Junior Brother Sakar?”
“He’s accompanying Mr. Inzel,” Xu Jingming answered.
Lancel fell into thought and glanced at Xu Jingming. “You asked him for help at the exchange, but failed?”
Xu Jingming smiled in surprise. “Mr. Lancel, you can tell?”
“If the negotiations were successful, why would you be sitting here alone?” Lancel smiled. “But don’t be angry; don’t hold a grudge against Inzel. Inzel’s character was actually much better a few years ago. It’s just that in order to become a cosmic legend, he chose to fall into the abyss. His character naturally changed, and he became a little erratic and extreme. It’s already not bad for him to maintain his rationality.”
“Chose to fall into the abyss?” Xu Jingming was puzzled.
“Of the human race’s three strongest legacies, our Eternal Academy’s Abyss Research Notes studies the abyss,” Lancel said. “Be it research, learning, or visualization, we will be increasingly affected by the abyss.”
“We can’t sink into it when we approach it; we have to keep our heads,” Lancel said. “But as we get older, some Lv. 10 Origin lifeforms take the initiative to sink into it in order to obtain greater strength. To fall into the abyss… while remaining rational is also one path, but it’s very difficult.”
“It’s already impressive that Inzel can maintain his rationality.” Lancel gazed at Xu Jingming.
“Mr. Lancel, have you been keeping your distance from the abyss?” Xu Jingming asked.
Lancel smiled and said, “Yes, I’m worried that I won’t be able to maintain my rationality if I fall into the abyss. I’m timid!”
Of the three strongest legacies, Primordial Star Conjecture had fewer latent troubles. When Xu Jingming’s mental strength reached Lv. 10, he began to be affected by the Primordial Star.
Lancel and Inzel—as the top five Lv. 10 Origin lifeforms in Eternal Academy—had mental strength that had reached high-dimensional. They cultivated Abyss Research Notes, so it wasn’t easy for them to maintain their rationality.
This was also what Sakar had said—those in the top five weren’t easy to talk to.
According to Senior Brother Sakar, it’s not easy to talk to someone ranked in the top five of Eternal Academy, but Mr. Lancel is very polite to me, Xu Jingming thought.
“The two of you are together?” The stocky Senior Brother Sakar walked over with a smile and pulled a chair to sit down. He then took a sip from the wine glass in front of him. “Senior Brother Lancel, I won’t hide it from you. We couldn’t close a deal with Inzel, so I’m counting on your help.”
“You want the Heavenly Python Scale?” Lancel looked at Xu Jingming.
“Yes.” Xu Jingming nodded.
“Alright.” Lancel nodded. “I promise you.”
Xu Jingming listened and waited for the other party’s conditions.
“The Heavenly Python Scale costs 50 million credits,” Lancel said. “In a few decades, the Primordial Research Institute will open up the exchange. When that happens, you can also use 50 million credits to exchange for the items I want in return.”
“Senior Brother Lancel, you aren’t giving it a premium?” Sakar was a little surprised.
“Let’s stick to the rules.” Xu Jingming wasn’t willing to take advantage of Lancel. He had lived with Sakar for years and had worked together to fight the Hellions, but this was the first time he was meeting Lancel.
“Of course, I have requests.” Lancel looked at Xu Jingming.
Xu Jingming and Sakar listened.
“There’s no need for any premium for the credit, but there’s an additional request,” Lancel continued. “I need a promise from you. In the future, as long as it’s within your means while not violating the Cosmic Human Alliance’s laws, you will have to help my family—the Zeyu family—when they seek your help.”
Lancel stared at Xu Jingming. “I don’t need it in black and white; I just need a promise from you.”
“No need for any black and white?” Xu Jingming was surprised.
This meant that what he did in the future and to what extent was completely up to him.
“Yes.” Lancel smiled. “I believe in the value of Junior Brother Wu Ming’s promise.”
“You think so highly of me?” Xu Jingming smiled in surprise. Logically speaking, he would’ve agreed to a premium of up to 50 million credits! Yet, Lancel didn’t want such a huge premium and instead wanted a promise from him.
Lancel looked at Xu Jingming and nodded. “I put great trust in you. Moreover, the wealth I’ve accumulated over the years is massive enough; it can do without the premium. I’m more willing to buy insurance for the family. Your promise is a form of insurance for the family.”
“Tens of millions of credits are only icing on the cake for the Zeyu family, but compared to Inzel, I’m only about 10,000 years away from the end of my life. After I die, you’ll still be very young, Wu Ming. When that happens, the Zeyu family might need your help,” Lancel said.
“Buying insurance?” Sakar smiled in understanding. “You’ve really thought it through for the family.”
“Alright.” Xu Jingming nodded and promised, “In the future, as long as it’s legal and within my means, I’ll provide your family—the Zeyu family—with my help when they request for it.”
“Then, it’s a deal.” Lancel smiled and nodded.
…
Xu Jingming, Sakar, and Lancel sat and chatted for more than an hour. They had a good time before leaving.
They returned to Sakar’s personal space.
“For everything to go so smoothly, thank you for everything, Senior Brother Sakar,” Xu Jingming said.
“It’s strange.”
Sakar sat on the sofa and muttered, “But no matter how I look at this transaction or think about it, I can’t see how he can scheme against you. A promise? There’s no black and white to tie you down. You can go back on your word and ignore him in the future.”
“He only needed a promise, and he didn’t impose any binding commitments,” Xu Jingming said. “Regardless of how dangerous Mr. Lancel is, he was very sincere in this transaction.”
“He was very sincere, so I didn’t put a stop to it the entire time.” Sakar remained puzzled. “He said that he wanted to buy insurance for the family, but how can the Zeyu family’s foundation collapse in tens of thousands of years?”
“Forget it. If there’s really a trap, just ignore him when the time comes,” Sakar said with a smile.
Xu Jingming nodded.
Xu Jingming had full say over the promise requested by Lancel. It was also the reason why he agreed.
******
In Lancel’s personal space.
Lancel sat in a chair and looked at the endless abyss in front of him—it was the Infinite Abyss he had virtualized.
“Patriarch.” The Zeyu family’s head was extremely respectful.
Lancel was the only Lv. 10 Origin lifeform in the Zeyu family. He was now in his 80,000s… making him much older than the others in the family. He was also the strongest lifeform in the history of the Zeyu family, so the family head was naturally very respectful.
“Wu Ming from the Primordial Research Institute gave me a promise.” Lancel handed a document to the Zeyu family head. “The family is to save it!”
The family head took it and took a look. “There are no written commitments?”
“There’s no need.”
Lancel said, “You may leave; you just need to save it. Remember… Only when the family is in trouble and when there’s no other way can you get his help. He might not have a good temper, so you can’t force him when making the request.”
“A bad temper?” The family head was slightly puzzled. “Wu Ming has quite a good personality.”
Xu Jingming had a good reputation among Origin lifeforms.
“The higher his realm, the more he will be affected by the Primordial Star. His temper will be different in the future.” Lancel shook his head. “You are dismissed.”
“Yes, Patriarch.” The family head immediately disappeared.
Lancel gazed at the endless abyss in front of him and thought to himself, He has such a good relationship with Sakar, who is stationed at the front line of the battle with the Hellions. Wu Ming has accumulated wealth quite quickly, and he can produce tens or hundreds of millions of credits in one shot. Is he the mysterious guardian on the Hellion front line?
This way, everything makes sense.