"Is that so? " asked Pang Lai with genuine amusement in his eyes. He gently cast a Space spell and lift a near corpse from the ground behind the Fiery Empress.
Much to its dismay she could do nothing as this little human was taken from her. She could only watch patiently and guard her child.
" Then who is this? " asked Pang Lai.
"How would I know, besides don't change the subject senior and please apologise" said a Zhao Yulin who had calmed down again.
"Then ask your wife to cast her spells and we shall know the truth" said Pang Lai matter of factly.
" Senior stop this now. I won't take this anymore" said Zhao Yulin activating his fie spell.
Pang Lai merely blinked the spell far away.
"None of us will be leaving here without she casting her spell" said an aggressive Pang Lai.
" Damn it senior, Very well Jiang Feng cast your spells and let's get out of here. But remember this senior I won't forget this humiliation" said Zhao Yulin as he stared at Pang and the three little people behind him.
At this point the bandaged woman who cold hold any longer realised Pang Lai was here for the Calamity Fruit and made an attempt for it as she cast her Psychic spell at the Fiery Empress.
A white magic circle appeared beneath her as she cast her spell hoping to out speed Pang Lai.
Spirit Trap
A white light appeared behind the Fiery Empress who aggressively attacked the bandaged woman back.
Space Rhythm Time Stasis
A silver area appeared around the bandaged woman as her actions slowed down.
" Psychic elements, When did break through to the Super level, no that's impossible. Who are you" shouted Zhao Yulin briefly forgetting his shame and the looks his squad gave him.
Damn, you couldn't recognise your own wife and you were scolding us for not defeating and Advanced Commander. You... Pitiful guy
" She is a deserter of Dunhuang military, who I think should be here right .. about... now" said Pang Lai as a squad of troops led by a Major General made their way and assessed the situation before thanking Pang Lai profusely.
" Senior Pang Lai , we will taking her away with us " said the General as Pang Lai applied a few seals to Bandaged woman.
" Then my wife" Zhao Yulin came to a realisation as he ran to the injured woman near Pang Lai and called out their Healer to heal his wife.
" Senior Pang Lai, thank you for pointing out junior's mistake. Junior will excuse himself with his troops". At this point the look on Zhao Yulin's face was telling.
I assumed someone else to be my wife then listened to her advise and mistakenly attacked the actual treasure trying to destroy the actual treasure. Then I get called out by this guy. Not only do I have to thank this man, I have let him take the treasure I've almost destroyed.
Zhao Yulin's squad went far away from Cao Guang's sight before one could say 'anti-disestablishmentaniarism' aloud.
"Now how to greet you" said Pang Lai looking at the Fiery Empress who was guarding her daughter who was about to born.
Cao Guang and others stood there not casting any magic and waiting for the creature to be born. The Calamity Fruit shook fiercely and fell down from the twig that held it into her mother's arms.
The cover of the fruit split apart as a little fire spirit came out of it. A Flame Belle, a blessed creature of the fire, Empress of flames was born under the Starry skies.
The flames would blaze over Northern Burning Valley again keeping away humans and demon beasts alike. None shall defile the purity of Fire
"Cute little one" said Pang Lai looking at the Flame Belle who barely the size of his finger.
He cast a spell and summouned his contracted creature while signalling to the Fiery Empress that he was not going to harm them.
A Moon white magic circle before dragging out an enormous creature of ubreal proportions. It was larger than a three story house and covered in thick brown scales and of ferocious temper came out of it.
As it landed on the ground, cracks spread away from it as the origin.
An inferior Earth dragon.
Thought Cao Guang. He had been previously curious about the contracted beast of world's top three Summoning master. It turned out to be an Inferior Earth Dragon. Inferior dragons were directly below true Dragons.
The only things this Inferior Earth Dragon was lacking was probably size. One of its parents had to a True Dragon. Where did Pang Lai find this beast. It was a Great Monarch with its dragon body and maybe it could battle a Supreme Monarch reluctantly?
Cao Guang wasn't entirely sure of the difference in strength between creatures although he was aware of the preexisting and future classifications.
"Talk to this Flame Belle Empress for me" said Pang Lai.
" I know the Flame Belle is your daughter, but I wish to have no conflicts with you. If you can let my disciple conclude a contract with it"
As the Inferior Earth Dragon spoke to the Flame Belle Empress it grew in weariness about this man and held her daughter closer to her chest.
Pang Lai seeing the creature's wariness went on " My student will take good care of it, like his own daughter, Your Race is on the verge of extinction. There maybe what, one last Flame Belle more at this rate. I can't guarantee many Flame Belles more either. But I'll provide you with plenty of resources. Anything you need and I'll let the military close this area up and prevent any more Hunters making their way here"
Pang Lai and the Fiery Empress went back and forth before reaching a few conditions.
Pang Lai would provide resources she needed but couldn't get and close off the area.
Cao Guang's heart filled with thanks as he heard his teacher pay and vouch for him
Until the rest of the conditions came out.
Flame Belle junior would be brought to visit her mother evey year and Cao Guang's life was forfeit if she died.
Pang Lai nodded and concluded the negotiations as Flame Belle Empress put the curious little one in Cao Guang's hands and instructed.
"Listen to your father, don't burn things down. Never starve yourself. If your father can't feed you, then extort his master. If he bullies you I'll roast him..."
The Inferior Earth Dragon chuckled hearing the part about extorting it's master. Maybe he should do it too. You know like a processing fee.
Cao Guang looked at the fireball size a candy in his hand and cast his intermediate spell. The creature listened to his mother and accepted the contract.
Pang Lai nodded at him and said " I'll inform the military and bring her some resources after sending you guys back. I'll give you another fifty million of funds to feed your daughter".
" No need I picked up some Spirit grade seed fragments while teacher was busy. Should be enough till she grows to the Warrior level. I'll make do from there. No I changed my mind I am going to take fifty million as well"
Cao Guang and his friends had been busy searching for resources while Pang Lai was being a gangster. But for his friends the resources would go towards their cultivation while he was left with an infant that he needed to feed.
Pang Lai gave a rare acknowledging smile to Cao Guang's group. " Then you still owe me five billion for the resources I need to pay plus the fifty million".
Cunning old man, I saw this one coming from a mile away.
"After I pay of the debt will this area be under my jurisdiction ?" retorted Cao Guang.
"Nope" replied Pang Lai leaving Cao Guang distraught. " Afterall you are learning an important lesson here"
He knew his teacher would ask him for compensation for the resources he needed to give the Flame Belle Empress. He hoped the guy would leave this area under his jurisdiction after he payed up. But his teacher was shameless to not do that. He was sure the old man would collect some resources allocated for his rank and pay the Flame Belle Empress as well.
It was like the companies. They gave their customers redeemable points and let them pay using it. But in reality it would offset by those who didn't use their points or something else.
Only this time Cao Guang would be the one paying up.
No matter I still got a Flame Belle.
The creature pinched him and pointed at her mouth much to his friends amusement.
---
Pang Lai let them off in the city for the night. Flame Belle slept in her contract space as Cao Guang thought about life and other stuff. He organised his plans to make money.
Suddenly he felt better about taking the fifty million. That night he bought a laptop and setup a company online and hired an employee. His subordinate had decent administrative capabilities and he was convinced after an interview in the morning.