Chapter 705: Renting Himself Out

"You bald donkey, you've let me down." Lin Fan was utterly dejected, never expecting to encounter such a teammate. That little fatty just now looked easy to fool, yet he hadn't managed to lure him over.

"Not at all, benefactor. Though I was seen through just now, I was ready to take him by force. But in that very second, my hairs stood on end—a will locked onto me. Clearly, an observer noticed this place. If I had acted, I might have been suppressed in an instant." The Venerable Shakyamuni, being of the Buddhist clan, had keen senses; every move was clear in his mind.

"No way, bald donkey. You're not just making this up because you failed, are you?" Lin Fan hadn't sensed anyone watching him.

"It's absolutely true," said the Venerable Shakyamuni.

"Alright, it seems robbery won't work here. We'll have to think of another way." Lin Fan believed what the bald donkey said.

The square was bustling with activity.

Moreover, opportunities had to be dug up by oneself; waiting for one to fall into your lap was simply impossible.

Lin Fan and the Venerable Shakyamuni stood in the square, watching the passersby, their minds turning.

"The main issue is that I'm out of materials. Otherwise, I could refine a spirit artifact and sell it for a good price." Back when he had an overwhelming abundance of materials, Lin Fan hadn't taken them seriously.

But now, when he urgently needed those materials he once dismissed, he found nothing left.

"Benefactor, it looks like something's happening up ahead." The Venerable Shakyamuni looked bewildered, but a commotion had caught his attention.

Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "Let's go. Where there's noise, there's trouble—and our chance to make a fortune."

Based on Lin Fan's years of experience, wherever there was conflict, there were benefits to be gained.

Once they gathered ten thousand contribution points and formed a team, they could take on missions, and then contribution points would come pouring in.

With contribution points, they could exchange for many things.

Cultivation techniques, miraculous pills, treasures, even Dao artifacts.

…

"Fang Xuan, what do you mean by this? He's already been rented by our Rose Team. With the mission imminent, how can you snatch him away?" A woman, her face cold, shouted sharply.

This woman was the captain of the Rose Team. They had taken on an Earth-grade upper-rank mission, but considering the high danger, they had spent twenty thousand contribution points to rent a powerhouse at the Seventh Heaven of the Divine Realm, the Myriad Laws Return to One stage. Yet now, just as they were about to set out, this powerhouse they had rented with contribution points refused to go, and even returned the deposit of ten thousand contribution points.

This was a blow to the Rose Team.

Earth-grade upper-rank missions were very difficult. Whoever took one had to pay a certain amount of mission contribution points as a deposit. If the mission wasn't completed within the specified time, the deposit would be forfeited.

"Liu Qiangwei, you shouldn't blame me for this. As they say, it goes to the highest bidder. Your offer was too low, so he naturally has the right to withdraw." Standing before Liu Qiangwei was a man, tall and sturdy, with dark golden skin, resembling a giant clan member, his physical body cultivated to an extremely high level.

"Fang Xuan, don't go too far. You've always been against our Rose Team. This time we've taken on an Earth-grade upper-rank mission. At this critical moment, how can you do this?" Liu Qiangwei's eyes seemed to shoot fire. Powerhouses at the Seventh Heaven of the Divine Realm were not uncommon in the Guardian Land, but now that it was time to set out, finding a satisfactory one was far from easy.

"Earth-grade upper-rank mission? Our Xuan Kui Team has taken on a Heaven-grade lower-rank mission, even more difficult than yours. So we need more powerhouses. But if you offer more contribution points, this powerhouse will naturally join your team," Fang Xuan said.

"You..." Liu Qiangwei's face turned cold. This Fang Xuan was utterly despicable. The contribution reward for an Earth-grade lower-rank mission was only sixty thousand. If they spent more contribution points on renting a powerhouse, what would be left for her own team members?

Wouldn't they be fighting tooth and nail to complete the mission only to have everything taken by someone else?

"Captain, we can do it ourselves." The Rose Team was all women, each of considerable strength, generally at the Fourth or Fifth Heaven of the Divine Realm. Together, they formed a decent fighting force.

"Fang Xuan, you're shameless and despicable." Liu Qiangwei's eyes blazed with cold light, and she shot a harsh glare at the powerhouse she had rented.

Thinking it over now, she suspected that Fang Xuan had orchestrated this whole thing to make her team fail the mission.

"Ah, your Rose Team is too weak. I've said before, if you attached yourselves to our Xuan Kui Team, you'd be much better off than you are now. Besides, a bunch of beautiful women like you—if you get caught by the ancient clans during a mission, your fate would be miserable," Fang Xuan said with a helpless shake of his head.

…

"Bald donkey, it's time to show off. You go or I go?" Lin Fan said.

"Such a trivial matter, how could it trouble the benefactor? I, this humble monk, can handle it alone." The Venerable Shakyamuni's brows showed delight, but he still spoke with a straight face.

"Then go ahead," Lin Fan said.

"Amitabha!"

Just as Liu Qiangwei and Fang Xuan were arguing, a Buddhist chant rang out.

"This female benefactor need not argue. Such a malicious person will face retribution in time." The Venerable Shakyamuni, with a solemn and dignified appearance, walked forward slowly.

"Bald donkey, what did you say?" Fang Xuan was enraged at these words, but upon sensing the bald donkey's aura, he held back.

The bald donkey's aura was very powerful, out of the ordinary.

"Benefactor, I said nothing," the Venerable Shakyamuni said with a smile.

"Greetings, Master." Liu Qiangwei, seeing that he was from the Buddhist clan, restrained her anger and spoke cordially.

"Female benefactor, since the mission is difficult, why not rent me? Though my strength is not great, I am also at the Seventh Heaven of the Divine Realm."

Liu Qiangwei was overjoyed. This Buddhist monk had profound cultivation; though also at the Seventh Heaven of the Divine Realm, he seemed even more powerful than the one she had rented earlier.

"Master, how many contribution points would that require?" Liu Qiangwei knew that renting a powerhouse would cost a considerable number of contribution points.

Although one could use Saint Sun Pills instead of contribution points to rent someone, contribution points were more commonly used, as they could be exchanged for Saint Sun Pills.

"Ten thousand is enough," the Venerable Shakyamuni said with a slight smile.

"Ah!" Liu Qiangwei was stunned, never expecting it to be so cheap.

Even Fang Xuan hadn't expected the bald donkey to be so cheap, asking only ten thousand contribution points.

"Haha, I never thought even a Buddhist would be soft on the ladies and have ulterior motives," Fang Xuan laughed. "Liu Qiangwei, don't think that just because you've found another Seventh Heaven powerhouse, your mission is guaranteed. We've looked into your mission—it's not much easier than our Heaven-grade lower-rank one. With your strength, I'm afraid it's uncertain."

Liu Qiangwei, seeing Fang Xuan's gloating expression, felt a tremor in her heart and a sense of foreboding.

"Bald donkey, have you settled it?" Lin Fan stepped forward and asked.

"Benefactor, I'm still negotiating. I'm just waiting for the female benefactor's reply," the Venerable Shakyamuni said.

Lin Fan's appearance puzzled Liu Qiangwei, who wondered what this meant.

Fang Xuan, looking at Lin Fan, frowned, unsure of his role.

"Sister, what do you think? Ten thousand contribution points, and we'll team up and go out. I guarantee your safety—out and back in one day, efficient," Lin Fan said.

"Ah!" Liu Qiangwei was stunned again, as if she hadn't quite processed it.

"Sister, give me a straight answer. If it's a deal, let's go. If not, just say so. Everyone's time is precious—don't waste it." Lin Fan couldn't understand what was wrong with these people; they all seemed slow to react, which was a bit exasperating.