A Profitable Deal

Before her stood four enormous barrels, and the Elven City Lord felt a twinge of suspicion. Despite her centuries of experience, this scene was unprecedented. The precious Elven Spring Water, highly valued even among her kin, was never stored in such containers. The barrels would compromise the water's vitality over time.

Hao Tian, however, seemed utterly unconcerned.

The Elven City Lord approached one of the barrels, collected a sample in a small vial, and tasted it. The life force surged within her—this was indeed high-quality Elven Spring Water, comparable to that of her own people, though it lacked the usual earthy scent. It seemed either purified or synthetically produced, and she suspected the latter, given the absence of an Elven Mother Tree in the Golden Oasis.

After a prolonged silence, she realized that the two billion coins she brought weren't sufficient. She had purchased 15,400 bottles, yet over 4,000 remained—worth millions more. Feeling overwhelmed, she had clearly underestimated both Hao Tian and the value of his wares.

At that moment, Aila inquired if they could purchase the remaining spring water for Kayati City. Hao Tian readily agreed, his smile widening—profit was always welcome. The Elven City Lord sighed with relief; acquiring everything was a victory, albeit tinged with suspicion. Hao Tian's casual mention of additional reserves made her feel like a fish being expertly baited.

He jovially concluded the transaction, receiving a substantial sum of 260 million coins for just four barrels. This lucrative deal delighted him.

Following this, Hao Tian used his peak saint-level power to harvest silver-tailed fish from Sapphire Lake, catching 400,000 and leaving a few thousand to repopulate. This catch earned him 10 million coins—a modest sum compared to the spring water profits, but overall, he amassed 270 million coins, all tangible and immediate.

With the Elven delegation's departure, he planned to visit the Tower of Skills to acquire the Domains of Time and Space, which he had coveted for some time.

"Lord Hao Tian!" called Amy, an elf, eager to seize the moment. "Might we reside in your beautiful Golden Oasis for a while? It would be a dream come true."

Previously, she had been denied, told to return later. Her plea, echoed by the flower-crowned nature elf's hopeful gaze, contrasted with the pragmatic intentions of the City Lord and Aila, who wished to report back to their Queen on the wondrous discoveries, including the ancient War Trees and unique beings, confirming Amy's claims of the Oasis's divine blessings.

Hao Tian, however, declined with a smile, citing increased desert dangers and the need to fortify his realm against them, thereby closing the Oasis to outsiders for the time being.

"Lord Hao Tian," Amy protested, "your domain is formidable. Even demigods would hesitate to challenge you."

Her argument was not unfounded; the Golden Oasis boasted potent guardians, surpassing the defense of their own Forest City. Yet, Hao Tian insisted on the necessity of a key defensive structure.

"You mean a magical defense shield?" she inquired.

"Exactly!" he affirmed.

Amy offered a solution, explaining that their kin could construct such shields, albeit at a steep cost, but manageable for someone of his means. Hao Tian marveled at their expertise extending to magical barriers.

He turned to Aila for pricing details. After a moment's thought, she listed the costs: 5 million coins for a basic shield, 30 million for an intermediate, and 140 million for an advanced one.

Hao Tian was taken aback by the exorbitant prices, but the investment seemed worthwhile for the safety and privacy of his domain.