Forty millenniums of cul.., p.478
Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 478
"No rapes. Never kill pregnant women and kids below ten.
"Never plunder carriers that have just experienced a cosmic storm!
"Never plunder a carrier twice in one journey. Do not touch anything and retreat immediately if you find that the starship has been looted before!
"There are five more rules besides those. Whichever pirate gang violated the rules, Yan Xinjian would be the first to ask for their trouble until they admitted to their guilt.
"At that time, everybody said that Yan Xinjian was a fool. Cultivators were their mortal enemies anyway. The self-restricting rules were completely redundant for them.
"There were even people who thought that Yan Xinjian was a spy sent by the Cultivators, even if he had caused the Cultivators a crushing defeat in the battle to protect Spider Den.
"However, despite the doubts, there was not a second fleet waging a second war on space pirates in the hundred years after Yan Xinjian passed away.
"Why? Do you think that they were really scared of Spider Den?
"Of course not. Senior Yan Xinjian merely gave Cultivators a clear message: You will pay a high price if you attack me, and your damage is very low if you leave me alone. I am just a minor disease and not worth your trouble.
"Yan Xinjian is the greatest precursor of the robbing industry in my mind.
"However, now that he has been dead for hundreds of years, you greedy, short-sighted idiots know no self-restrictions at all. The Ten Sword Rules have long been left behind!
"Today, you are even asking for your own death by promoting yourself from dermatitis into cancer for the Cultivators.
"How does it feel, Captain Luo? Your wish has been fulfilled. Great crimes have been committed, and you are a crazy devil now. All the Cultivators will come after you. You must feel comfortable and satisfied with a strong sense of accomplishment. Your life is worth it, is it not?"
Luo Jinhu felt like crying. "Boss Bai, please stop making fun of me. Help me find a way to survive!"
Bai Xinghe snorted and said, "Way to survive? We have only two ways ahead of us.
"Firstly, in several years, when the Immortal Cultivators' cause fails, Spider Den will be destroyed by Cultivators. The space pirates, who are their mortal enemies on the surface, will be the best targets. We will all be executed.
"In the meantime, the Immortal Cultivators will use our dead bodies as cover and continue lurking for their next chance.
"It is quite possible that while we are fighting a bloody battle with Cultivators on Spider Den, they will be drinking orange juice on a sunny beach in a certain world fragment and watching the live stream of the battle news.
"Secondly, despite all the unfavorable circumstances, the Immortal Cultivators might succeed, but vanguards like you won't end any better!
"They could even do such a thing as attracting extraterrestrial devils. Do you think they will honor their promise for thieves such as you and me? Hilarious!"
"Boss Bai, we had the same doubts before." Luo Jinhu finally rose from the ground. He kept kneeling on the ground and said, "But you also know that the most important thing for space pirates is the intelligence network. Our trophies can only be sold through the black market, too!
"Over the past hundreds of years, Black Spider Tower has risen up. The intelligence network and black market of Spider Den are both controlled by them. They are our eyes, ears, and mouths!
"It was not until one year ago that we learned that Black Spider Tower was a branch of the Temple of Immortals. The previous leader of Black Spider Tower is very likely the 'Black King', one of the four kings of the Temple of Immortals!
"Right now, our eyes, ears, and mouths are all in the Temple of Immortals' control. It is difficult for us to run our business without cooperating with the Temple of Immortals.
"Boss Bai, you have a lot of docks, crystal suits, and… possibly underground industries on Spider Den. Naturally, you can refuse to work with Black Spider Tower.
"But we are too poor and need to do a job every few days. We have to sell the stolen goods in exchange for resources. Without Black Spider Tower, our ears are deaf, and our eyes are blind. Our source of income will be cut off. How are we going to feed ourselves?
"Therefore, we were accidentally trapped by them. It is impossible to do without them now. We can only sell ourselves to the Temple of Immortals!"
Bai Xinghe was silent briefly. He patted Luo Jinhu's shoulder and said solemnly, "I know your difficulties, too. Otherwise, I would have crushed you instead of wasting so much time talking to you.
"These bastards are indeed clever. They've weaved such a giant net on Spider Den with Black Spider Tower. Even I fell into the net without knowing it.
"A year ago, when their real faces were revealed, the space pirates were already on their boat. The only choice we had was to sell ourselves to them.
"However, there are two ways of selling ourselves."
Luo Jinhu was dazed. "Two?"
Bai Xinghe extended two fingers and waved his index finger as he said. "Firstly, sell ourselves like Fengyu Zhong. Bite and bawl for the Temple of Immortals. The more we do, the better we are paid."
Luo Jinhu was suspicious. "Is there a second way of selling?"
"Secondly…"
Bai Xinghe retreated his index finger, leaving his middle finger pointing at the ceiling. "We tell the Temple of Immortals to give us certain benefits here and now! Otherwise, we will sabotage their cause even at the risk of our own lives!
"It is easier to wreck something than to complete it. The Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators are no gods. There are many things we can't accomplish.
"However, in this world, there are few things that a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator cannot wreck if they are determined to even at the cost of their own life!"
Bai Xinghe smiled. "How could I? They are very capable and have a lot of trump cards. There are several Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators in their pocket, too. How do I dare to piss them off?
"I will merely annihilate Fengyu Zhong."
Luo Jinhu almost choked.
Bai Xinghe narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Do you know the difference between me and Fengyu Zhong?
"The rabid dog only had several starships a year ago and barely any industries on Spider Den.
"Spider Den has never been his. If he is the one to sell it, naturally, he will sell it at a low price!
"If Spider Den is worth ten thousand dollars, he will still be making profit if he sells it at a hundred dollars.
"In such a way of selling, none of the pirate gangs will end up well if they join him. They will all become cannon fodder. Some of them more advanced and some rudimental, but cannon fodder all the same.
"I am different. Spider Den is mine. If it is worth ten thousand dollars, I'm going to sell it at a hundred thousand dollars, a million dollars!
"Right now, we are selling ourselves, not cabbages. Ah Hu, tell me, do you want the rabid dog to sell you, or do you want me?"
Luo Jinhu breathed heavily. "I—I understand, Boss Bai. You are going to take down Fengyu Zhong. When he is down, the Temple of Immortals can only count on you. You will certainly sell us at a great price!"
Bai Xinghe smiled kindly. "Ah Hu, you are finally clever now. I'm very happy!
"However, I am different from the Immortal Cultivators such as Fengyu Zhong. We've know each other for decades. You should know that I never make empty promises or write rubber checks. Eternal life, commander of a fleet. Such nonexistent things are jokes!
"Let's talk about benefits that are more materialistic."
Luo Jinhu held his head high and declared, "Boss Bai has been lenient to me. You are essentially my new parent. I don't ask for any benefits if I can die for you!"
"Bullsh*t!" Bai Xinghe kicked Luo Jinhu down again. "Cut the crap! With a decent price, you wouldn't even blink before selling your family! Also, for a decent price, I guarantee that I will sell your mother to the brothel tomorrow! We are all lawless space pirates. Are you pretending that you are a loyal knight?
"Look here! Do you know what this is?"
Bai Xinghe waved the spider pendent in front of his chest.
Luo Jinhu spat out a broken tooth, dazed. Greedy brilliance was glimmering in his eyes.
Bai Xinghe smiled. "It seems you do.
"It's understandable, the whole of Spider Den knows that I was a treasure hunter before I made a name of myself.
"It is said that I once entered the control center of the underground fortress of Spider Den and retrieved a detailed map.
"With the map, and the 'Spider Key' that can open all the secret tunnels, I have in my hands the arsenals, magical equipment, and techniques of Spider Den!
"The 'Spider Key' might not be real, but I definitely have my trump cards, considering that I could build such a large business from scratch in only a hundred years, right?"
Luo Jinhu's voice changed, like a girl who saw a diamond weighing four kilograms. "Boss Bai, what do you mean?"
Shaking the 'Spider Key', Bai Xinghe said softly, "Tell you what, in the civil war of the Star Ocean Imperium ten thousand years ago, Spider Den was so much more than a simple industrial planet. A great secret was buried deep below the ground.
"The secret has nothing to do with you.
"But the magical equipment and techniques scattered around the secret might have a lot to do with you, right?"
Luo Jinhu swallowed and cried in joy, "Boss Bai, are you planning to—"
"Bravery comes with a high reward!"
Bai Xinghe retracted his Spider Key and raised his voice, "I'm not going to lie to you now. Supported by the Temple of Immortals, Fengyu Zhong's forces are quickly expanding. A lot of pirate gangs have joined him!
"I'm not confident that I can win the fight!
"Although I'm not willing to share my trump cards with everybody, wealth, magical equipment, and techniques are merely belongings. They are only useful when I'm alive!
"Therefore, I will call for a secret meeting in a few days. All the space pirates who decide to back me will share the Cultivation arts and secret treasures I brought out from the arsenals of Spider Den!
"Half of them will be split before the battle, and the others will be divided evenly after Fengyu Zhong is dead. All the goods will be examined beforehand. They are definitely real!
"This is what Boss Bai is going to do!
"I, Bai Xinghe, always buy people and sell people honestly!"
Chapter 714: Carrot and Stick |
While talking, Bai Xinghe took out something from his pocket and tossed it to Luo Jinhu's. It rolled on the ground crazily.
Li Yao observed through Neltharion and discovered that it was a vintage jade chip as well as five shining silver metal balls.
"Ah Hu," Bai Xinghe said, "I know that you've been training with the Tiger Stripe Divine Fire Art over the past few years, but it is hard to improve when you reached the sixth level.
"This jade chip was excavated by me from the underground arsenals. It is the 'Devilish Tiger Crushing Bones' art that an elite troop of the Star Ocean Imperium trained with ten thousand years ago. It is quite similar to the Tiger Stripe Divine Fire Art that you have been training with, and you should find it very easy to get started. Your combat ability will be significantly improved if you train yourself hard!
"The Cultivation art itself is not very attractive. Right now, there are many similar versions on the Spiritual Nexus. Everybody is free to practice them as long as they do not fear mental derangement.
"However, what was stored with the Devilish Tiger Crushing Bones were nine pills that were made of the cores of dozens tiger-type demon beasts. Even in the elite troop ten thousand years ago, only those who made great contributions had the privilege to take them!
"There were nine pills corresponding to the nine levels of the Devilish Tiger Crushing Bones. Take one after you advance into each level, and you will bring out all the potential of the art and wield the strength of a tiger slayer!
"Here are the arts of the first five levels and five pills. Train with them first. After Fengyu Zhong is down, I will give you the remaining arts and the last four pills!"
Luo Jinhu exclaimed in joy and was so excited that he did not know what to say.
Bai Xinghe patted his shoulder and lowered his body, whispering, "Ah Hu, we are all in the robbing business. Our way of making money is quite dangerous. It is very important that we seize the day. Only your own strength is real; everything else is false.
"Cut off the heads of those who claim that they can live forever and mince their body into pieces! Can they stay alive? Even if you are appointed as the commander of a fleet, other people can blow up your head with a flying sword easily if you are not strong enough. Isn't that right?
"I can neither grant you an eternal life nor appoint you as a fleet commander, but I do have a lot of arts and pills that can improve your Cultivation!"
"Boss Bai!"
Luo Jinhu's eyes were burning with greed. His neck was almost twice as thick while he put the arts and the pills back into his pocket carefully. He then shouted, "I don't have anything to say except that I'm all yours, Boss Bai! Damn it. Let's fight the rabid dog Fengyu Zhong hard! Kill him and let the Temple of Immortals know who the real boss of Spider Den is! Even the Immortal Cultivators must bow and cooperate with Boss Bai!
"When you decide to take action, Boss Bai, just give me a call. The men and the guns of the Tiger Teeth Pirate Gang will fight until there are none left!"
Bai Xinghe smiled. "Alright. I'll see how you fight your battle, then.
"Remember, I can always tell who is fighting for me for real, who is merely cheering for me, and who is colluding with my enemy behind me.
"For those who fight for me for real, no matter how heavy the losses they suffer during the battle are, I will compensate all of them! Other than that, it's also possible that I will bring them to the secret arsenals that I discovered below Spider Den!"
Luo Jinhu's eyes beamed with interest. "Are you serious?"
Bai Xinghe chuckled. He raised his right hand and curled his finger.
A brutal bandit almost three meters tall, who looked like an iron tower in his crystal suit, bowed and handed over… a cup of cold juice respectfully!
Bai Xinghe sipped the juice and sighed in satisfaction.
Luo Jinhu was dumbfounded, not knowing what was going on.
In a moment, two space pirates escorted two prisoners to the bridge and threw them between Bai Xinghe and Luo Jinhu as if they were dead pigs.
Both prisoners were from the Tiger Teeth Pirate Gang. Although they were not tied up, barriers had been imposed upon them. The wrists and ankles were twisted weirdly, and their chins were essentially two balls as their jaw bone had been battered. They could not utter a single syllable now.
The moment they saw Bai Xinghe, they started writhing crazily. The utmost fear beamed out of their eyes.
Bai Xinghe smacked his lips and said casually, "These two are the core members of your gang. One of them is the accountant who manages the entire flow of your capital. However, according to my investigation, they have joined the Temple of Immortals in secret.
"Unlike you, who was simply running errands for the Temple of Immortals for money, they have been brainwashed and become Immortal Cultivators!
"They have been instigating your subordinates to join the Temple of Immortals. There is even a whole set of follow-up plans to gradually steal your power. If they were exposed, or they found that your stance was unsteady, they would immediately take you and lead the Tiger Teeth Pirate Gang to join Fengyu Zhong's Storm Prison!
"All the evidence is in the crystal processor. Read it carefully. Don't say that I've wronged a good guy."
One space pirate pushed a crystal processor to Luo Jinhu.
Luo Jinhu hesitated for a moment. He then turned on five light beams and browsed through the information quickly, his sweat pouring. In a moment, he burst into fury and lunged forward like a lunatic before he kicked the two of them in their groins.
"Bao Xueyi, Gong Laojiu, you two bastards betrayed me?"
They shook their heads hard. They seemed to have a lot to say, and even their tears were flowing out, and yet they could not open their mouths and explain themselves.
Bai Xinghe narrowed his eyes and enjoyed the juice, as if he did not care about what was happening at all.
Luo Jinhu rolled his eyes. He gritted his teeth and stomped on the ground. Opening his hands, he condensed his spiritual energy on his fingertips into sharp talons before he stabbed them into the two prisoners' chests and crushed their hearts!
The two Immortal Cultivators, who dreamed for an eternal life, were killed immediately.
Luo Jinhu heaved a long sigh of relief. He wiped his cold sweat and said dutifully, "Thank you for digging out the two bastards for me, Boss Bai. From today on, I will only listen to your command. I will do whatever you ask me to and kill whoever you want dead!"
Bai Xinghe finally put on a smile of comfort. He craned his neck and drank all the juice before he smashed the glass cup into pieces against the control panel.
"Remember your words today. I will find you when the time is right. Drag your boat to the Sanpao's dock for maintenance. As for the damage on the starship, just find an excuse to cover them.
"After all, you've slain two Immortal Cultivators. The Temple of Immortals will doubt you however hard you explain yourself. Therefore, you might as well save the trouble."
His sweat pouring, Luo Jinhu was grasped by desperation. In despair, he bowed and said, "Fare well, Boss Bai.
"However, if I can be so bold to ask, how did you know that spies of the Temple of Immortals are in the Tiger Teeth Pirate Gang, Boss Bai?"
Bai Xinghe replied without looking back, "Idiot. You don't know the answer to such a simple question?
"Of course it's because my own spies are in the Tiger Teeth Pirate Gang, too!"
"Haha. Hahahahahaha!"
In the laughter, the Abyss Pirate Gang vanished like an ebbing tide. Soon, all the intruders were gone.
Luo Jinhu, a Core Formation Stage expert, was shuddering in fear, alone in the bridge.
