<h4>Chapter 578: Distance III</h4>


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Spiders could not be brought along, of course. Ye Chong settled for taking 10 shooters with him. The students had no dimension keystones for their mechs, and could not follow Ye Chong with the machines outside. 200 of the mechs lifted off and went high up into the sky. The mechs had protection systems that shielded their pilots from the thin atmosphere at high altitudes. The students flew a few hundred kilometres above the ground. Mechs were hardly visible when they flew only dozens of meters above the ground. Even shooters in their fighters could not extend their parapsychic waves so far out.


    These mechs were put in touch with Ye Chong through theirms. If Ye Chong was in danger, they would dive from the above surprise the enemy. These 200 mech pilots consisted of the best shooters in the stronghold. Many of them scored 95 or above in their sniper training, and some had even began to practice ultra-long distance sniping.


    Ye Chong''s safety was almost guaranteed with his bodyguards above him.


    Ye Chong brought the 10 shooters with him and went on his way.


    They did not linger in Ganming City. With locals like Jin Dongwei leading the way, their journey went along smoothly. In fact, Ye Chong''s security detail was extravagant. Of the 10 shooters, the weakest shooter was Level 7, as most of them were Level 8. Sha Ya was already approaching a breakthrough. Her aura was intimidating, and even a short nce from her was terrifying.


    When Level 8 shooters were approaching Level 9, their mental state would be strained. This would affect their personality and charisma. Xuan Ning, for example, was all gloomy and serious before he reached Level 9, but when he finally came through, all the suppression on his mind vanished.


    Level 7 and 8 shooters were the strongest fighters that most people would encounter. Even the Royals and nobles rarely had many with them. Shooters were aplenty, but the strong ones were rare. It was in to passers-by that the shooters protecting Ye Chong were strong. They could not help but wonder who Ye Chong was.


    Fortunately, here in Northern Lands, no one recognized Sha Ya, or Ye Chong''s identity would have been exposed.


    Ye Chong did not know how much he was standing out right now. Sha Ya and the other shooters did not anticipate it as well. When Jin Dongwei and hisrades noticed the odd nces they were getting, they realized their mistake. However, when they look back and saw Ye Chong''s indifference, they thought this was his intention all along, and did not speak up.


    They did not now that Ye Chong simply did not care about how other people saw him.


    Among all the shooters, Sha Ya was the only one who understood Ye Chong. However, she had problems of her own. She looked impatient, which was almost unheard of in strong shooters, known for their calmness. There was an urge in her gut that she could not resolve. She felt more and more pressured, and this made her agitated. She knew that she needed an opportunity, like the one when Xuan Ning was nearly killed by Ye Chong. However, Sha Yacked that kind of opportunity right now. This made her even more agitated, and the aura emanating off her changed as a result.


    She was the strongest of the 10 shooters. Her aura was unintentional, but shocking. No one dared to stay within three meters around her. Even the Level 8 shooter, Jin Dongwei, kept his distance.


    Being sensitive to parapsychic waves, Ye Chong noticed Sha Ya''s condition, but he could not help her with it. Sha Ya was like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.


    The fact that Sha Ya was improving so quickly was directly rted to Ye Chong. He had described his battle with Xuan Ning in detail to her, and then brought her into Darkniss, leading to their encounter with the powerful Mei Wu. Mei Wu''s method ofbat was curious to Ye Chong, but an important eye opener for Sha Ya.


    Ye Chong''s security detail of strong shooters had already put him on the spot, but Sha Ya''s dangerous aura drew even more attention from the people around thm.


    When Ye Chong''s group walked the streets, Sha Ya''s dangerous aura silenced all the noisy bargaining sounds around them. It was only when they left that the people wiped their foreheads, covered with sweat, as they looked at the backs of the scary group of people before continuing on with their bargaining. Sha Ya was like a legendary sword of immense power, surprising anyone who had their eyes on her.


    Ye Chong and his shooters advanced quickly, since people all gave way to the group.


    They were heading towards Maroon City, thergest and wealthiest ce in the vicinity. It was also an important city in Northern Lands, with strong military presence.


    The journey to Maroon City cannot be made on foot. They would have to fly in aircrafts. Jin Dongwei and the other seven locals had retrieved their fighters from Ganming City''snding field. Sha Ya, Albinia and Lorest had to rent three aircrafts. Jin Dongwei footed the bill, for he was well-to-do and a generous man.


    Ye Chong and Sha Ya shared their transport. Sha Ya''s aura was unsettling to other people, but hardly an itch to Ye Chong.


    Maroon City was muchrger than Ganming City, and with more people. Aircrafts and fighters cut across the skies continuously. Thending field was busy. Ye Chong and his group had to wait for five minutes to get the all-clear fornding.


    Maroon City''s perimeter walls were made of a kind of dark red colored rock. When Ye Chong and his people finally touched down, they were just in time for sunset. The evening rays spilled over the rocks like raging fire.


    Once they were in Maroon City, they could feel the life radiating from the ce. The streets were wide, and full of people. There were more strong shooters here, much more than in Ganming City. Sha Ya''s strong aura was still noticeable. Stronger shooters were more likely to appreciate the power and significance of her aura.


    In terms ofvishness, Maroon City wasparable to Su City. The people dressed in excessive and luxurious fashion. Even the buildings looked extravagant. The hotel that Ye Chong and his group checked in was even more luxurious than Sun Sieha''s quarters before he was made King.


    Jin Weidong seemed to read Ye Chong''s mind. He exined with a bitter smile, "Northern Lands is prospering. With the recent good weather, our people are able to live without worries. As our borders remain peaceful, the King and government officials take to indulging themselves in pleasure. This profligate lifestyle has spread throughout Northern Lands in recent years." The other shooters from Northern Lands were silent. This was their country. Even though they were unhappy with the Royal household, they were still concerned with the fate of their country.


    Ye Chong nodded in agreement and made noment. Western Frost was a cold wastnd, but its people were strong and resilient. Eastern Cloud always had an inclination forbat, and was now led by an ambitious King, Sun Sieha. While Western Frost and Eastern Cloud were now at war, the victorious party would definitely being for Northern Lands next.


    All this did not matter to him, however. Northern Lands was and of plenty, and that worked to his favor.


    Ye Chong said nothing more for the rest of the night.


    Early on the second day, Jin Weidong brought Ye Chong to the Yu Family''s Establishment. The Yu Family was the biggest supplier of raw materials in Maroon City, and one of thergest tradingpanies in Northern Lands. Word was the family had a good rtionship with the local military.


    "Yu Family''s Establishment" - these three words were etched deeply into the signage outside the building. There were no fancy introductions, but the sign left a strong impression.


    The person who ushered them was a friend of Jin Weidong. When the man saw the shooter, heughed. "Old Jin, didn''t you go to Darkniss? How''d you find the time to visit this store? Did you found yourself something interesting?"


    The man was warm and courteous. He had a supple body, with a small beardy patch on his chin that lent him a schrly air. He was surprised by the sight of Ye Chong, surrounded by all the shooters, but quickly contained his emotions. "And this is?"


    Jin Weidong smiled and introduced, "This is my master, Mr Ye. We''re here to offer arge business with your establishment." He said to Ye Chong, "Sir, this is Mr Yu Changqing, one of the managers of the Yu Family, and an old friend of mine."


    Ye Chong bowed in greeting. "Mr Yu."


    Yu Changqing quickly returned the gesture. "Oh, let''s not be too formal. Come in,e in." He gestured for Ye Chong and his guards to enter.


    In the waiting room, Ye Chong seated down. Yu Changqing treated him with a very expensive drink - the Cleansing Sip. No details were discussed yet, but he could see that this was a very important customer.


    "I''m here to sell this." Ye Chong never beated around the bush. He produced a metal block.


    It was a rectangr block of pure metal that gave off a dazzling lustre.


    Yu Changqing hummed quietly in surprise and took the metal block in his hands. He studied it closely and said, "I''ve never seen an ore so purified. The shape is angr, from processing, I believe." Yu Changqing sounded intrigued, but he was secretly disappointed. Was this the business that Jin Weidong was referring to? Pure ores like this were hard to find, and considered to be highly valuable. However, this tiny block was hardly arge business.


    Ye Chong said, "Mr Yu, please evaluate the worth of this ore."


    "Gravstones are rare, you can''t find them easily in the market, but a pure like this is even rarer." Yu Changqing considered for a moment, and then offered, "This piece of gravestone is worth 500 thousand ao thereabouts."


    "I see. How much can your establishment ept?"


    Yu Changqing paused in confusion, then jolted eagerly. "Does Mr Ye have many of these gravstones?"


    Ye Chong nodded without a word.


    "How many more?" Yu Changqing asked carefully.


    "Many."


    "A thousand?" Yu Changqing tried again.


    "More."


    "10 thousand?" Yu Changqing continued to ask, feeling a little anxious.


    "More."


    "50 thousand?" Yu Changqing looked shaken.


    Ye Chong finally stopped with his suspenseful single-word replies and nodded.


    Yu Changqing inhaled sharply. He had never dealt with such arge transaction before. His heart jumped wildly.


    Just then, Sha Ya turned abruptly to look behind her inside the waiting room. After a while, she looked away.


    Yu Changqing inhaled deeply and turned solemn. "You are not joking, Mr Ye."


    Ye Chong shook his head. "No."


    Yu Changqing tried to calm himself down andposed his thoughts. "If we''re talking about so many gravstones, we cannot offer a price as high as when selling a single item."


    "How much?" Ye Chong asked.


    Yu Changqing cleared his throat and said, "350 thousand for each item, at most."


    "Alright." Ye Chong did not try to bargain.


    Yu Changqing kept his ecstatic joy to himself. He then offered hesitantly, "We also hope to be Mr Ye''s exclusive buyer." He exined, "If so many gravstones be avable in the market so quickly, the price will drop. I believe that is not something Mr Ye would wish for."


    Ye Chong nodded again. "Alright."


    "As for payment," Yu Changqing continued hesitantly, "We can only pay in installments. Since the amount involved for 50 thousand gravstones is huge, we cannot produce so much cash in time."


    Ye Chong shook his head this time, and Yu Changqing''s heart skipped a beat. However, the former''s next words brought a smile to Yu Changqing''s face again. "I don''t want cash. Your payment will be made in terms of other goods."


    Ye Chong produced a long list of items for Yu Changqing.


    The man studied the list meticulously up until thest item, and then said, "This shouldn''t be a problem. However, I need to discuss with the other managers to finalize our contract."


    Ye Chong nodded. "Alright." He then left with his bodyguards to return to their hotel.


    When they finally left the shop, Yu Changqing quickly returned to the waiting room. The empty waiting room now had another upant. The man had long, narrow eyes and an aquiline nose. His expression was cold.


    "Did you figure them out?" Yu Changqing sat down heavily and massaged his temples.


    "They''re strong!" he man with the aquiline nose said coldly. "All of them were at least Level 7. The woman is the strongest! She noticed me, even without using her parapsychic waves."


    Yu Changqing was shocked. "That''s impossible! How can she notice you without her parapsychic sense? Surely it''s a coincidence?"


    "The woman is strong!" The man ignored Yu Changqing. "Jin Weidong had also improved. What do they want?"


    Yu Changqing recalled the items on the list. "Energy crystals, mainly. Food, and some other more expensive raw materials."


    The other man looked suspicious. "What do they need so many energy crystals for?"


    "I don''t know." Yu Changqing shook his head. He could not understand them either.


    "What do you think of the deal?" The other man asked.


    "I think it''s workable." Yu Changqing was calmer now. "Gravstones are rare materials. If we keep its supply under control, gravestone prices should not fluctuate too much. They''re selling it cheaply, and they only want other goods in exchange. We benefit from both parts, and it''s a huge sum."


    The other man went quiet for a while before saying, "Discuss the details with them tomorrow. I will look into their backgrounds."


    Yu Changqing nodded.