Chapter 13: Want to Make a Move?
After buying ten amethysts, Lin Lei left that counter and headed toward another. This counter occupied a large space, displaying all sorts of goods inside, and a good number of onlookers had gathered around — many were already paying for their purchases.
This was where defensive equipment was sold.
"Lin Lei, you want to buy a defensive divine artifact?" Dilia looked at him, puzzled.
"I don't need one." Lin Lei smiled at her. "Dilia, your defensive armor is only a lower-tier divine artifact — it's way too weak. Get yourself a mid-tier defensive one." Since they were planning to take the demon assessment, it made sense to boost everyone's strength.
That strength didn't just come from within — divine artifacts were part of the equation too.
If they were going to take the demon assessment, the person Lin Lei worried about most was Dilia. As for Bei Bei... when they'd left the Yulan Continent plane, Lord Belute had given Bei Bei plenty of treasures. And as for himself, he had a soul defense sovereign artifact — even if it was somewhat damaged.
"Okay." Dilia didn't refuse. She understood that the stronger she was, the more at ease Lin Lei could be — and the better she could help him.
"The prices on these defensive divine artifacts really are way higher than offensive ones," Lin Lei remarked with a laugh.
A mid-tier offensive artifact ran about a thousand blackstones, but a mid-tier defensive one typically cost five or six thousand. For Lin Lei's group, that was pocket change.
The front gate of Acacia Castle had a constant flow of foot traffic. But near the steps by the main entrance, a figure stood there, keeping constant watch.
"Those three are really slow. All they're doing is shopping," this mid-stage god muttered under his breath. "They've never been to Imperial Wings City before — they'll probably wander around for ages. They're in there having a grand time while I'm stuck out here waiting."
Lin Lei and his companions really were curious. Many of the items in Acacia Castle had opened their eyes, so naturally they wanted to take their time and soak it all in.
The mid-stage god suddenly spotted a figure in the distance and hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Lord Edmond!"
Edmond gave a slight nod. "Those three still haven't come out?"
"Not yet," the mid-stage god confirmed with a nod.
Edmond's brow furrowed. He turned to look at the main entrance. "They've already sold their things. I expect they'll still come out through this front door." He wasn't in a rush — he simply waited outside in silence.
"That's Lord Edmond."
Several Black Dragon Tribe residents emerged from Acacia Castle and, spotting Edmond standing there, gathered behind him without hesitation.
"There they are!" Edmond's eyes brightened.
"That metal lifeform really is expensive," Dilia sighed.
Lin Lei nodded. "Even the most basic one is worth several million blackstones, and the more advanced ones go for tens of millions... Those massive ones are priced at over a hundred million. Bei Bei, your grandfather really is something." He marveled, glancing over at Bei Bei.
"Obviously!" Bei Bei proudly raised his head.
Lord Belute's metal castle was indeed the highest-grade metal lifeform. Bought from Acacia Castle, it would have cost over a hundred million blackstones.
As the three of them chatted, they exited the first-floor hall and merged with the bustling crowd heading outside.
"Lin Lei." Someone suddenly called his name.
Lin Lei turned. It was Debora.
"Debora." Lin Lei smiled. "Oh, you sold your stuff?" He noticed the large group of people around her — all from the Black Dragon Tribe.
Debora smiled. "I only sold a mid-tier divine artifact. But I heard you went to the third-floor hall. Now that's impressive." At her words, quite a few Black Dragon Tribe members cast envious glances at Lin Lei.
In Hell, accumulating wealth was incredibly difficult.
"Oh?" Lin Lei gave a faint smile, carefully studying the expressions of the Black Dragon Tribe members.
Truthfully, he hadn't expected to slip past everyone's notice. It was entirely possible someone had found out... But even if they had, so what? He had no intention of ever returning to the Black Dragon Tribe.
"Alright, everyone, let's move out." Edmond spoke from the front, leading his people forward.
He didn't so much as glance at Lin Lei.
After walking roughly several dozen meters, the Black Dragon Tribe group naturally headed toward the main road, planning to exit Imperial Wings City the same way they'd entered. But Lin Lei and his companions turned and headed in a different direction.
"Lin Lei, where are you going?" Debora asked in surprise.
At the same moment, Edmond and several others stopped and turned to look.
"Oh, I won't be going back to the Black Dragon Tribe," Lin Lei said with a smile.
"Won't be going back?" A calm voice sounded as Edmond approached with several of his subordinates.
Seeing Edmond, Lin Lei sneered inwardly. This old fox — the moment he said he wasn't returning to the Black Dragon Tribe, Sturt's chief steward, a high-tier god, immediately came over. Did he think Lin Lei couldn't see through him?
They were less than a hundred meters from the front gate of Acacia Castle, and the crowd was thick. Their little group was hardly conspicuous.
"Lord Edmond," Lin Lei greeted with a smile.
"Your name is Lin Lei, right?" Edmond replied with a thin smile. "Both your friends are mid-stage gods — elite members of our Black Dragon Tribe. It would be a real shame for you to leave. By the way, I've taken a liking to you. I happen to need someone on my team — why don't you come work for me?"
Lin Lei remained humble and courteous. "Thank you for your generous offer, Lord Edmond, but truly, there's no need. My wife, my brother, and I only came to the Black Dragon Tribe because we'd just arrived in Hell. Still, I'm grateful for the tribe's care during our time here."
Edmond faltered.
Seeing the humble smile on Lin Lei's face, a surge of irritation rose through him. This guy!
He knew Lin Lei must be sitting on a fortune. Even for Edmond himself, accumulating wealth was no simple matter. After all, he'd only become a high-tier god by refining a godhead, which was why he'd been following Sturt all along. Sturt took the lion's share, while Edmond merely got the scraps.
"Well then, we'll be taking our leave," Lin Lei said with a smile, and turned to go.