"Hehe, speaking of which, I must thank the two Masters for delivering the Hyderabad ores in time …"
Wang Chong chuckled.
After exchanging pleasantries, the trio swiftly ascended the Hyderabad mountain range. The terrain of the mountain was rugged, so Wang Chong left the majority of the Wushang cavalry at the foot of the mountain. Then, he led Li Siye and the other experts to the summit of the Hyderabad mountain range.
At the top of the mountain, thick smoke could be seen. Crude houses could be seen everywhere, and tens of thousands of Sindhis were working hard on the mountain. They held all kinds of crude tools and were hammering away at the rocks on the surface of the mountain, bit by bit.
Even further away, Wang Chong saw several massive machines. Like behemoths, they were drilling and excavating at the center of the Hyderabad mountain range.
This was the first time Wang Chong had come to the Hyderabad mountain range, and he had personally witnessed the excavation process of the world's most precious ores. Everything was shocking. However, when he saw the crude tools used by the miners, Wang Chong indiscernibly frowned, but he didn't say anything.
"Marquis, it is rare for you to grace us with your presence. Is there anything that Ablonodan and I can help you with? As long as it is within our means, Marquis, feel free to instruct us. "
Arloja was dressed in a black monk's robe, and he said respectfully.
"Is the High Priest here? I wish to discuss the matter regarding the Hyderabad ores with the High Priest. There are also some other matters that I wish to consult the High Priest on. "
Wang Chong said.
"Hehe!"
Ablonodan and Arloja glanced at each other and smiled, as though expecting Wang Chong to ask such a question.
"Marquis, please follow me. The High Priest is already waiting for you."
Following behind Ablonodan and Arloja, Wang Chong, Li Siye, and the rest quickly headed into the depths of the Hyderabad Mine.
In the depths of the Hyderabad Mountains, Wang Chong finally met the legendary Sindhu High Priest. It was an old, simple temple made of iron and steel. The temple was located at the bottom of a collapsed mine in the middle of the mountain range. It looked very simple. There were no decorations on the iron pillars of the temple. Only the rust told the story of the wind and rain the temple had experienced.
"High Priest, I've brought him here."
Within the temple, Ablonodan and Arloja stood side by side, bowing respectfully towards a figure above the temple.
Wang Chong looked up and saw a black-robed monk sitting on a square chair above the temple like a statue. His eyes were closed and he sat there motionlessly.
Even at such a close distance, Wang Chong couldn't sense any signs of life from him. It was as if he was a lifeless husk sitting there. Given Wang Chong's current level of cultivation, this was simply unbelievable!
"The High Priest has already cultivated the secret ascetic art to the highest level. If the High Priest is willing, he can even go three or four years without eating or drinking."
As if knowing what Wang Chong was thinking, Ablonodan and Arloja spoke up.
"What?!"
Before Wang Chong could say anything, Li Siye, the King Of Gangke, and the others around him all revealed looks of extreme shock.
"A person who doesn't eat or drink for three to five days will be in mortal danger. A martial artist who can last ten days is already an incredible feat. How could someone go three or four years without eating or moving?"
"Not even an Imperial Great General can do this."
"This is unbelievable! How could a human go so long without eating or drinking! "
… …
Life had its limits. Just like how humans found it very difficult to escape the pull of the earth, living beings could not go without eating or drinking. Three or four years had far surpassed their imaginations.
"There's no need to make such a fuss. There are countless secret arts in the world, and Sindhu's ascetic art is completely different from the Stellar Energy we cultivate. It is a tempering of the will and the body, and during ascetic practice, it can weaken the body's functions to the minimum. Some of the most formidable ascetic masters can be buried alive for three or four years and then dig them out. All of this is real. "
Wang Chong suddenly spoke. He had a far greater understanding of Sindhu's secret arts than anyone else. Although the High Priest's abilities were astonishing, it was not impossible.
"I didn't think that the Young Marquis would have such an understanding of us Sindhi!"
At this moment, a voice rang out in his ear. Wang Chong had never heard such a voice before. It was so complex that it was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman, old or young. For a moment, one would even wonder if they had really heard this voice, or if they had just spoken.
"High Priest!"
Unexpectedly, Ablonodan and Arloja, who were at the side, suddenly moved. They bowed down together and remained motionless.
In the main hall, everyone's hearts skipped a beat and they all looked up at the High Priest at the top. The High Priestess, who had been sitting there motionlessly like a clay statue, suddenly began to tremble. Kacha, kacha. Under the gazes of countless people, large chunks of dirt fell from the High Priestess's face and fell to the ground.
At almost the same time, Wang Chong sensed that the statue-like High Priest had sprouted like bamboo after the rain, suddenly come to life. An enormous life energy erupted from his body like a hurricane. In the blink of an eye, the High Priest's eyelids trembled and flew open.
"Lord Priest, we finally meet."
Wang Chong faintly smiled and gave a curtsy. This was not the first time Wang Chong had interacted with the Sindhi High Priest. All transactions related to the Hyderabad ore required the High Priest's approval. But this was the first time they had truly met.
"Haha, Young Marquis, you've come for the Hyderabad ore, right?"
The High Priest chuckled as he slowly stood up from his seat.
Everyone in the hall was stunned. Only Wang Chong remained indifferent, as if he had expected all this.
"The Arabs have already been defeated. More than one million soldiers have been killed, and they won't be able to mount a counterattack for a very long time. All the important routes to the east and west are under my control. If you could have said that you were threatened by the Arabs in the past, then now, Lord Priest, there is no need to worry, yes?"
Wang Chong faintly smiled. The Hyderabad ore was of utmost importance. With each additional WuZi Steel sword, the strength of the Tang Dynasty would increase. In this aspect, Wang Chong would haggle over the smallest details and not yield. Wang Chong had come this time to discuss the Arab quota.
"Heh!"
The high priest smiled faintly, but a shrewd look flashed in his eyes.
"Young Marquis should know that you can't put all your eggs in one basket. If all the Hyderabad ore is sold to the Tang Dynasty, it might not necessarily be a good thing for Sindhu."
Li Siye, the King Of Gangke, and the others paled at these words. The members of the Tang Dynasty at Wang Chong's side were especially taken aback.
The Tang Dynasty and Sindhu had an excellent partnership. Even when Talas was besieged by the Arabs, the Sindhi had sent the weapons that the Tang Dynasty needed as quickly as possible to Qixi, making an enormous contribution to the Tang Dynasty's subsequent victories. But no one had expected that the Sindhi would be so unwilling to cooperate now that the war was over.
"Lord Priest!!"
At this moment, even Ablonodan and Arloja couldn't help but raise their heads in shock. It was clear that not even they had expected this answer.
Wang Chong's expression was indifferent as he waved his hand, indicating that Ablonodan and Arloja should calm down.
"The High Priest's words are reasonable. We truly can't put all our eggs in one basket, but if I buy all the eggs, will the High Priest still have anything to worry about?"
Wang Chong said.
"The Young Marquis's words are reasonable, but …"
The High Priest's brow creased as he fell into deep thought.
"One thousand five hundred taels!"
Wang Chong faintly smiled as he suddenly announced a number.
"Marquis!"
Ablonodan and Arloja were at first dazed by Wang Chong's words, but they quickly reacted, expressions of extreme shock on their faces.
The number Wang Chong had announced was clearly the price of Hyderabad ore. Before the war, Wang Chong had already offered an astronomical price of one thousand taels of gold. After the victory, no one had expected Wang Chong to be so direct. The price of a jun of Hyderabad ore had risen by half, rising to one thousand five hundred taels. When it came to Sindhu, Wang Chong's generosity and generosity were enough to make any wealthy merchant pale in comparison, leaving them in the dust.
On the other hand, the King Of Gangke, Li Siye, and the others remained unmoved, their expressions unchanged. Although they also felt that one thousand five hundred taels was a little too much and could be bought at an even lower price, none of them doubted Wang Chong's decision. No matter how absurd Wang Chong's decision seemed, in the end, Wang Chong would prove that he was correct. The results of the past had proven this point countless times.
Wang Chong's expression was calm and composed as he stared at the High Priest.
To Wang Chong and the Tang Dynasty, money was the least important thing. The reparations from the Arabs amounted to one billion taels of gold, enough for Wang Chong to do anything he wanted. Moreover, when danger approached, gold and silver would become worthless. What was truly important were strategic resources. For example, the Hyderabad ore that could alter the course of this calamity.
No amount of wealth could compare to this.
The High Priest's brow creased. He seemed very surprised by Wang Chong's generosity, but that was all. The High Priest remained unmoved.
"One thousand six hundred taels!"
Wang Chong continued.
The High Priest remained unmoved.
"One thousand seven hundred taels!"
Wang Chong continued to raise the price. However, the High Priestess did not seem to hear anything and remained unmoved. In a flash, Wang Chong seemed to understand something. Faintly smiling, he extended two fingers.
"… Two hundred dan of grain!"
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