Ji Xinghuo decisively refused, immediately stood up, ready to show Misha the door.
How precious a Red Emperor Blood Crystal was, and yet she, merely on the strength of being a Highlander who had brought him into the Blood Fury Tribe, wanted a Red Emperor Blood Crystal and even demanded to have priority? Wishful thinking!
Misha’s expression turned to one of shock, then she looked at Xia Qingyu.
Xia Qingyu was dumbfounded too.
When Ji Xinghuo had asked him to make the request on his behalf, he thought Ji Xinghuo placed great importance on it. But now that she was here, he turned her down in a single sentence.
"Xinghuo, didn’t you say you wanted Misha’s help?" Xia Qingyu tried to smooth things over, albeit awkwardly.
Ji Xinghuo spoke indifferently, "I do have a request, but I won’t be taken for a fool."
Xia Qingyu said in Common language of Ya Yuan, "She is indeed quite greedy, but it’s all negotiable. I know other Highlanders, but none as closely as I do Misha, none that can be trusted. There’s no one more suitable than her, and she knows it, which is why she’s asking for a high price."
He was laying all his cards on the table.
Ji Xinghuo nodded, then looked at Misha, "I will not give you the Red Emperor Blood Crystal, and certainly not give you priority over it."
"Why?" Misha was obviously very upset, but having witnessed Ji Xinghuo’s strength, she suppressed her anger.
Ji Xinghuo hadn’t planned to spell it out.
However, considering the traditions of the Highlanders, where strength is respected, he thought they would understand a straightforward approach better.
That was the truth in Ji Xinghuo’s heart.
All he needed was someone to get him into the Blood Fury Tribe and provide him with a cover identity; he could take care of the rest himself.
Although Misha was a Fourth Rank "Steel Warrior" and counted as a top-notch expert, she wasn’t of much help to him.
She was not worthy, nor did she have the qualification to prioritize over a Red Emperor Blood Crystal.
Misha was instantly enraged.
She had previously clashed with Ji Xinghuo, admitted that he was stronger than her, but also blamed her own oversight. To have her own worth so underestimated was infuriating.
The Highlander woman felt insulted.
She abruptly stood up, her pupils turned black, and a black gleam flowed around her body, releasing an aura of destruction. She also grasped the handle of the axe behind her and took a step towards Ji Xinghuo, aggressive and intimidating.
Ji Xinghuo remained seated unmoved.
Qing Hong leaped out of the pocket, growing instantly, its large body almost filling the living room, its head hitting the ceiling, ten Virtual Blades extending from its claws, looking down at Misha. Intense sparks of electricity danced in its mouth, ready to burst forth at any moment.
Misha’s complexion changed dramatically, and she quickly retreated outside the living room.
Xia Qingyu was speechless.
Having been in the Star Realm for many years and encountered countless monsters, his eyesight was sharp. Naturally, he could tell how terrifying the huge creature in front of him was.
"A Catastrophe-Level War Pet!"
After spending an entire day with Ji Xinghuo, he hadn’t noticed that Ji Xinghuo carried such a powerful War Pet with him.
No wonder Ji Xinghuo was so domineering. If it were him, he’d have been even more arrogant.
Misha’s face was one of horror.
Being stared down by Qing Hong, she felt a numbness in her limbs.
At that moment, she was reminded of a terrifying experience from years ago when she accidentally wandered into the territory of a wild Thunder Shocking Dragon on the plateau. The Tribal Warriors accompanying her were almost entirely wiped out, with only her and a few other lucky ones escaping with their lives.
The creature before her was not a Dragon, and its strength was not on par with the Thunder Shocking Dragon’s, but the sheer proximity and the pressure it exerted felt even more terrifying.
Ji Xinghuo glanced at Xia Qingyu, realizing he was mistaken; Qing Hong was just a Superior Spiritual Object, one evolution away from being a Catastrophe.
However, Qing Hong’s strength was not far off from a Flood Level monster.
"Qing Hong, come back."
Under Ji Xinghuo’s command, Qing Hong quickly shrank down to a few centimeters in length and crawled onto his hand, yet its pair of golden eyes still fixed on Misha.
Xia Qingyu couldn’t help but ask curiously, "What kind of War Pet is this?"
With his experience, he could not identify the species of Qing Hong, and it could shrink and grow, something he had never heard of before.
"Lizard-shaped Jiao,"
Ji Xinghuo casually replied before turning to Misha. Her pupils had returned to normal, but she didn’t dare come close again, standing somewhat nervously outside the door.
Of course, her previous fury had also vanished without a trace.
Highlanders have always respected the strong.
"There are many Highlanders who could take me into the Blood Fury Tribe at Sky Falling Cliff; it’s not that I have to have you," Ji Xinghuo spoke again, his tone still firm, "If I hire you, naturally I won’t let you work for nothing, you will be properly compensated."
As he spoke, his hand reached into the pouch at his waist, seemingly about to take something out, but in fact, he was pulling something from his Dimension Stomach.
When his hand came out, there was a hexagonal columnar Crystal about ten centimeters long, semi-transparent, reflecting a faint prismatic light.
Xia Qingyu’s gaze shifted from Qing Hong, surprised, "You have this too!"
In Sky Falling Cliff, the currency used was True Dragon Coins, and in the surrounding areas of the True Dragon Dynasty, True Dragon Coins were a solid currency. However, Ether Crystals were a notch above.
Ether Crystals were solid currency throughout the entire Star Realm and even across the Milky Way.
On Earth, an Ether Crystal was worth around ten million Ya Yuan. In the Star Realm, its value was even higher, exchangeable for fifty thousand True Dragon Coins.
That’s equivalent to more than twenty million Ya Yuan.
"Lead me into the Blood Fury Tribe, and this Ether Crystal is yours," Ji Xinghuo said, "On the battlefield, all Red Emperor Crystals are mine. If I get more than three, you can have one. The other spoils of war will also be distributed by me. Think it over."
Misha’s face was a mix of emotions. She looked at the Ether Crystal in Ji Xinghuo’s hand, then at Xia Qingyu, hesitant to agree.