White River City, Candlelight:
Due to Starlink's suppression, the originally crowded Candlelight Trading Firm gradually became deserted. Aside from the players who had come to purchase Candlelight's specialty products, there were no other players in the trading firm's main hall.
Even the number of Lifestyle players applying for Candlelight's entrance exam had dwindled. Now, only a dozen or so people were lining up to take the exam.
This scene caused the players who were passing by to sigh endlessly.
Aside from the NPC buildings, the Candlelight Trading Firm was the most eye-catching building on the commercial street. It was like a giant overlooking all of White River City. Now, however, it was deserted. Why wouldn't anyone be surprised?
In contrast, a three-story Trading Firm a short distance away from Candlelight was bustling with activity. Practically every player in the Firm was rushing inside, afraid that they wouldn't get what they wanted if they were even half a step too late.
"Starlink sure is ruthless. Every NPC city in the Starmoon Kingdom that has Candlelight is selling all of its ordinary and Candlelight -type products at half price. It's basically making no money at all. With this, Ling Yi can only watch," Purple Jade said, astonished as she watched the bustling Starlink Trading Firm on the street.
Even the Secret Pavilion wouldn't casually throw away so much money. After all, the daily expenditure would be enough to make an ordinary superpower vomit blood. Only Starlink, which was determined to destroy Ling Yi, would do something like this.
However, Purple Jade had to admit that Candlelight's money-losing strategy was extremely effective.
Not only did Candlelight's income plummet, but the income of its Lifestyle players also plummeted. In addition, Starlink had recruited a large number of high-ranking Lifestyle players, which resulted in many of Candlelight's Intermediate and Advanced Lifestyle players transferring to Starlink.
If this situation continued, not only would the Candlelight Trading Firm be destroyed, but Ling Yi's development would also stagnate due to the lack of money.
After all, Ling Yi was no longer the little guy he used to be. He was a giant. Even if he did nothing, he would spend a huge amount of money every day.
Meanwhile, while Ling Yi might not be overtaken by the neighboring powers in the short term, his future development depended on his position in a neutral map. If Ling Yi continued to stagnate and develop slowly, it was only a matter of time before other powers overtook him. Not to mention, Ling Yi was surrounded by a pack of wolves and had provoked so many superpowers.
It was fine when Ling Yi was strong, but when she was not, the surrounding forces would not let go of any opportunity.
The main reason Starlink dared to invest so much money in this endeavor was because it had considered this possibility. Otherwise, it wouldn't have paid such a high price.
"That's exactly why we're here. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to talk about the deal," Yuan Tiexin said solemnly. "Alright, let's hurry inside."
After saying so, Yuan Tiexin took the lead and entered Candlelight. Seeing this, Purple Jade hurriedly followed.
As soon as the two entered Candlelight, the various major powers' players began to pay close attention to Candlelight.
"Why are the Secret Pavilion's Yuan Tiexin and Purple Jade in Candlelight?"
"Didn't the Secret Chamber of Commerce kick Candlelight out? What are those two doing here? "
"Is Secret trying to re-invite Candlelight?"
As Yuan Tiexin and Purple Jade followed Liang Jing to the second-floor hall, the various major powers' members began to speculate.
News of the Secret Chamber of Commerce kicking Candlelight out had long since spread throughout the Starmoon Kingdom. This was why Starlink's economic suppression of Ling Yi had been so effective. Otherwise, with the Secret Chamber of Commerce's connections, even Starlink's influence would be limited.
Yuan Tiexin and Purple Jade were important figures in the Secret Pavilion. Now that the Secret Chamber of Commerce had kicked Candlelight out, they should've been too ashamed to come to Candlelight.
Now that they had shown up, the most likely explanation was the Stamina Gemstone sold in the Dark Night Empire.
The Stamina Gemstone's importance to the various major powers when exploring neutral maps was self-evident. This was especially true for the various superpowers, which had a large number of experts. Currently, only Ling Yi possessed the Stamina Gemstone. If the Secret Chamber of Commerce wanted to obtain it, it would have to show sufficient sincerity. The only possibility was that the Secret Chamber of Commerce would re-invite Candlelight to join the Chamber of Commerce and offer a higher price.
Thinking up to this point, the various major powers' scouts reported this matter to their superiors. Very quickly, news of this matter spread throughout the Starmoon Kingdom's various major powers.
"Commander, this is interesting. Starlink has gone to great lengths to kick Ling Yi out of the Starmoon Kingdom, yet Ling Yi's Stamina Gemstone has shattered all of its plans," Yexin said when she saw the report. Yi Luofei, who was currently in the FFF adventurer team's Residence in Black Dragon City, could not help but laugh when she read the report. "If they find out about this, they'll probably die from anger."
"We'll have to see if Ling Yi is willing to rejoin the Secret Chamber of Commerce," Yan Tianxing, who was wiping his short sword, said calmly.
"Does Ling Yi even need to consider this?" Yi Luofei asked curiously. "As long as Ling Yi rejoins the Secret Chamber of Commerce, the Starmoon Kingdom's problems will be resolved. Although Ling Yi will still be slightly affected, it'll be bearable. Why wouldn't Ling Yi accept it? Is he really going to abandon the Guild he worked so hard to establish just to save some face? "
"Any other Guild would definitely accept this offer, but Ling Yi has always been overbearing. I'm afraid he won't accept it," Yan Tianxing said. "Ling Yi's weakness is that he's too rigid. If Ling Yi can fix this weakness, he'll have no problem becoming a superpower in the future."
"Commander, that can't be, right? Would Ling Yi really abandon his future?" Yi Luofei asked, surprised.
"It's very likely. After all, Ling Yi has always done things this way," Yan Tianxing said, sighing. Yan Tianxing sighed. "Back then, this was also the reason I missed that step. Hopefully, Zero Wing will make the right choice."
At the same time, the various major powers began to speculate about Ling Yi's decision. However, most of them were more optimistic that Ling Yi would rejoin the Secret Chamber of Commerce. After all, this was the only way to restore Ling Yi's vitality. Choosing anything else would only lead to death.
While the various major powers discussed this matter, Yuan Tiexin and Purple Jade sat in one of Candlelight's VIP reception rooms, quietly watching the Ling YI Society's Guild Leader, Shifeng.
"President Hei Yan, the Secret Pavilion can promise that Ling Yi will become a permanent member of the Secret Chamber of Commerce. From now on, advanced members won't have the right to kick Ling Yi out of the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, as long as Ling Yi sells a large number of Stamina Gemstones to us, several superpowers will be willing to open ten additional Shops in their main headquarters. With this, Starlink won't be able to target Ling Yi even if it wants to," Yuan Tiexin said as he looked at Shifeng. "President Hei Yan, what do you think?"
Even Yuan Tiexin was surprised by the Secret Pavilion's conditions.
These ten additional Shops were extraordinary. They were all Shops located in several empires' imperial capitals. The value of these ten slots was far greater than that of the Secret Chamber of Commerce's ordinary members. With these ten additional Shop slots, the Candlelight Trading Firm's current strength would rise to a whole new level.
"The conditions are tempting." Shifeng nodded as he looked at the contract Yuan Tiexin handed him. "However, it's still not enough!"
Yuan Tiexin understood Shifeng's reaction. After all, Ling Yi was still angry after being kicked out of the Chamber of Commerce. He then asked softly, "What are President Hei Yan's conditions?"
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