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693 100 Year Lease (2)
“I’ll discuss it with the dean and the others,” Xu Jingming said.


Myriad Star Island.
...
The dean, Tower Master, Island Lord, Redmond, and Xu Jingming congregated.
“Lease it!” The dean clenched his teeth. “Although it’s exceedingly pricey, this is the optimal method for species migration on a large scale. Previously, the information was sold for a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood. Now, leasing a miniature universe is also a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood. In comparison, Gumo has already moderated his greed.”
“Perhaps he believes that we’re incapable of affording it if the price is too steep.” Eternal Tower Master smiled wryly.
“He fleeced us once for the information and is fleecing us again with the leasing of a miniature universe. More than half of the human race’s amassed resources have been fleeced by him.” Spacetime Island Lord shook her head.
Xu Jingming and Redmond listened.
They were destitute.
Xu Jingming possessed the Eight Directions Map, which was originally priceless, but its value was too exorbitant! It far exceeded a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood. If it was put up for sale
 it would likely entice a group of half-step third-realm powerhouses to vie for it and bring trouble to the human race.
“I can offer 300,000 drops of Abyssal True Blood,” the dean offered.
“I can only offer 200,000 drops of Abyssal True Blood,” Eternal Tower Master stated.
“I’m on par with the dean.” Spacetime Island Lord frowned.
Xu Jingming said, “I
”
“You don’t have to,” the dean interjected after some thought. “For instance, the original Monhado legacy is the future inheritance of the species and isn’t for sale. How about this
 We possess a total of five forbidden weapons. Two of them aren’t necessary presently, and Jingming and Redmond aren’t interested in them. Let’s sell one!”
“Agreed.” Eternal Tower Master and Spacetime Island Lord nodded.
They too possessed items that weren’t up for sale. They were the foundation of their cultivation, and even if they could sell them, they wouldn’t be adequate for a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood. They could only use forbidden weapons, which were communal property of their species.
“Jingming, accompany me to the Black Lotus Realm later,” the dean proposed.
“Alright.” Xu Jingming nodded.


In just an hour, the dean and the others pooled their treasures.
“Let’s go.”
A cyan stream of light erupted from the depths of Myriad Star Island and coalesced into a clone of Dean Chu.
“Jingming, you’ll be responsible for carrying the treasures in this transaction. If you encounter danger, abscond with the treasures,” Dean Chu instructed. “This clone of mine is solely in charge of negotiations. After all, you lack experience in dealing with the Black Lotus Realm.”
“Dean, don’t fret. I’ll certainly safeguard the treasure.” Xu Jingming nodded.
The human race had been fleeced once, and they had devised methods to amass sufficient treasures this time. They had even resorted to using a forbidden weapon. If they pushed any further, they might have to resort to using treasures like the Monhado legacy that impacted the foundation and future of their species.
Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond observed their departure.
“Let’s get going.”
Xu Jingming immediately entered the Heart Realm with the dean.
Is this the Heart Realm? The dean gazed at the boundless tumult of the Heart Realm with fascination.
Whoosh.
Xu Jingming escorted the dean as they traversed an incredibly vast distance with a single stride before beholding a colossal black lotus in the distance.
“We’ve arrived?” Dean Chu gazed at the enormous black lotus and exclaimed in astonishment, “As expected of the Heart Realm lineage. Your long-distance teleportation is truly remarkable. We reached the Black Lotus Realm in a single step.”
“It’s been said that this Black Lotus is a third-realm weapon?” Xu Jingming observed from afar.
He sensed that this Black Lotus was far more enigmatic than the Nine-Leaf Black Lotus Diagram in Red Lotus Fire.
“Gumo is renowned for two weapons. One is this Black Lotus, and the other is a beam of inscrutable starlight. One attacks while the other defends,” the dean disclosed. “I heard that to acquire this Black Lotus weapon, Gumo waged a ferocious battle in the Abyss before procuring it.”
Xu Jingming nodded in understanding.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
They quickly arrived in proximity to the Black Lotus Realm.
“One of the lotus leaves in the Black Lotus Realm is a trading center,” the dean mentioned. “The four half-step third-realm powerhouses in this dominion have erected trading centers within their sphere of influence.”
“They can amass rent and taxes by establishing commercial centers. Although they don’t dare to set the price too steep, it’s still a steady stream of income,” the dean elucidated.
They landed on the lotus leaf.
This lotus leaf was as vast as the cosmic human dominion! High-dimensional lifeforms abounded, and there were all sorts of peculiar edifices. A mere glance would reveal tens of thousands of high-dimensional lifeforms.
“This is known as the Black Lotus Leaf. It’s one of the four trading areas in this dominion.” The dean beamed. “Your Three Threads of the Heart Realm legacy and the Sin Flower were procured here.”
Xu Jingming nodded and surveyed his surroundings with curiosity.
Despite the tens of thousands of high-dimensional lifeforms present, there were only a few hundred Eternal lifeforms! Consequently, many Firstborn realm high-dimensional lifeforms regarded Xu Jingming and the dean with reverence when they descended.
In high-dimensional space, it was exceedingly strenuous for Firstborn realm high-dimensional lifeforms to subsist.
“That most conspicuous building was constructed by Gumo. It’s still quite secure to trade here, and Gumo won’t tarnish his credibility,” the dean remarked before ushering Xu Jingming toward the resplendent building.
Inside the building.
“Dean Chu, Deputy Dean Wu Ming, please take a seat.” In a chamber, Supremacy Jayu smiled at Xu Jingming and the dean. “Uke has already apprised me of your situation. Your human race is willing to lease the miniature universe, correct?”
“What we’ll be leasing is a miniature universe that’s roughly 97% similar to the laws of our home universe,” the dean disclosed.
“Fret not. We’ll eventually enter into an Abyss contract and won’t deceive you.” Jayu nodded. “Have you assembled treasures worth a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood?”
“Firstly, appraise this forbidden weapon. If the price is low, we can vend it at the other three trading centers.” The dean extended his hand, and a black sphere materialized in his palm.
Jayu’s eyes gleamed. “Forbidden weapon?”
Simultaneously, he telepathically contacted the Progenitor. “Progenitor, what’s the value of this forbidden weapon brought by the humans?”
An imperceptible force permeated the Black Lotus Realm and infiltrated the black sphere.
“Value it at 550,000 drops of Abyssal True Blood,” Gumo replied.
“Understood, Progenitor.” Jayu apprehended the unspoken implication. Anything that was too costly was assessed by Gumo personally.
Xu Jingming and the dean accepted this valuation. Based on their prior preparations, they could vend it as long as it exceeded 500,000 drops of Abyssal True Blood. They also amassed other treasures to amass a total of a million drops of Abyssal True Blood.
“This is the miniature universe. You can examine it and verify it first.” A miniature universe levitated in Jayu’s palm.
The dean extended his hand to receive it and scrutinized it. He nodded slightly and passed it to Xu Jingming.
Xu Jingming received it and inspected it. After all, he had established his inner universe and possessed a certain comprehension of the laws of a universe.
“The similarity is indeed remarkably high. I’m certain it’s above 95%,” Xu Jingming conveyed via voice transmission.
“The similarity is indeed roughly 97%.” The dean was similarly content.
“Since you’re agreeable, let’s sign this lease contract. The Abyss will bear witness.” Jayu retrieved a contract.
The dean perused the contents and exerted his strength onto the contract.
The contract between the two parties was concluded.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” Jayu expressed with a smile. “Please remember that the lease period is 100 years. Once the time has elapsed, you must return the miniature universe.”
“Don’t worry.” The dean and Xu Jingming rose and departed.


In the heart of the Black Lotus Realm.
After Gumo assessed the forbidden weapon, he ceased paying attention. His gaze alighted on the black-clad youth.
He’s Human Wu Ming? Gumo scrutinized from afar. This was his first time observing Xu Jingming up close.
The future I can discern as a half-step third-realm powerhouse is exceedingly restricted. There are too many things shrouded in mist, Gumo ruminated. I’m unsure of how far you’ll progress in the future either
 We’ll also be in disparate dominions in the future, so it’ll be arduous for us to cross paths again. Let’s regard this as reconciling the relationship between the Void Celestials and the human race.