Chapter 1 The Suggestion

Bai Qingxue's suggestion was undeniably tempting.

Even the Empyrean Serpent elders and Zhao Yueru beside Bai Qingxue stared, mouths agape.

Empyrean Serpent was, after all, a first-rate guild. Its vast enterprise had achieved its current status through countless years of effort. Although plagued by internal strife, its strength remained formidable, unmatched by second-rate guilds.

Yet, for a mere 20% stake in a trading firm, Bai Qingxue was willing to relinquish 30% of Empyrean Serpent's shares and provide various resource channels. It was sheer madness.

"Qingxue, you're insane. You only control 50% of Empyrean Serpent right now. Giving 30% to Black Flame? What if Black Flame and Cao Chenghua join forces?" Zhao Yueru whispered, trying to dissuade her.

It wasn't that Zhao Yueru distrusted Black Flame, but 30% of Empyrean Serpent's shares was no small matter. Bai Qingxue could use those shares to win over more elders, making it harder for Cao Chenghua to cause trouble. That was far more useful than obtaining 20% of the Candlelight Trading Firm.

"Indeed, Miss Qingxue. Please consider this carefully. These shares are the Young Master's last resort to restrain Cao Chenghua. If you give them away now, Cao Chenghua, while unable to enter God's Domain, will retain his power in the company. Without this protective charm, he can easily collude with other shareholders to deal with you," a man in his fifties, dressed in a butler's uniform, added his plea.

"There's no need to say more. I know what I'm doing," Bai Qingxue said, shaking her head as she quietly awaited Shi Feng's reply.

She wasn't a fool; she knew the offer wasn't worth it. But she was making this trade to strengthen the bond between the two guilds.

Although she was the Guild Leader of Empyrean Serpent and a major shareholder in the company, her authority and influence were limited. Sadly, despite nurturing many talents, she still had too few capable people, especially high-level experts in God's Domain.

Cao Chenghua had managed Empyrean Serpent for many years, fostering countless experts.

She, on the other hand, had only a few years and could only cultivate a limited number of people.

A premature showdown with Cao Chenghua in God's Domain would force him to take drastic measures, causing all his experts to break away and form their own factions. Coupled with his sway over many elders, he was secretly transferring personnel, subtly aiming to split Empyrean Serpent in two.

If it truly split, her 50% share would become meaningless. Therefore, she might as well use it to win over Zero Wing Guild.

Zero Wing Guild currently occupied only one city, making it seem inferior to many second-rate guilds. However, that city was now the second most populous city in Star-Moon Kingdom, far surpassing the strength of occupying three to five small towns with populations of a few hundred thousand.

Especially after witnessing Nightfall and Violet Cloud's performance.

Although Zero Wing's wings were not yet fully grown, Bai Qingxue had already glimpsed its small but sharp fangs, waiting for the opportune moment to tear apart any enemy that dared to hinder its domination of Star-Moon Kingdom.

The fact that Candlelight Trading Firm could establish itself in the golden district of Star-Moon Kingdom showed just how capable Black Flame was.

On the other side, Shi Feng was also stunned for a moment, as he hadn't expected Bai Qingxue to offer such a generous price.

As a first-rate guild, 30% of its shares was an incredible amount, representing an unknown quantity of assets. Coupled with the various channels it had cultivated over the years in the virtual gaming world, its value far exceeded that of Candlelight Trading Firm.

However, Shi Feng shook his head and said, "Miss Bai, your proposal is indeed tempting, but I must decline."

"Decline? Why?" Bai Qingxue asked, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.

Her proposal was essentially a way to give away money. A strong alliance between Zero Wing and Empyrean Serpent, complementing each other's weaknesses, would undoubtedly provide many conveniences for dominating Star-Moon Kingdom. She couldn't understand why Shi Feng would refuse.

"I know Miss Bai wants to quickly resolve Empyrean Serpent's internal problems, but I don't want Zero Wing Guild to get involved in other guilds' internal conflicts," Shi Feng said slowly. "However, I have another proposal. I wonder if Miss Bai would be interested?"

"Another proposal?" Bai Qingxue asked, curious.

"It's simple. Miss Bai leads the members of Empyrean Serpent and merges them into Zero Wing Guild. I can give Miss Bai 20% of Zero Wing Guild's shares." Although Shi Feng spoke calmly, his words were shocking.

"You're trying to annex Empyrean Serpent?" Bai Qingxue asked, slightly annoyed.

Empyrean Serpent didn't belong to her alone; it was originally her brother's. But after her brother had an accident, Cao Chenghua seized the opportunity. She had tried everything to restore Empyrean Serpent to its former glory. How could she possibly agree to merge Empyrean Serpent into Zero Wing?

"Is there a difference?" Shi Feng retorted. "Empyrean Serpent already exists in name only. Although you hold the title of Guild Leader, you don't have the power of a Guild Leader. Sooner or later, it will split in two. You might as well join Zero Wing."

Shi Feng had his own considerations regarding Empyrean Serpent.

In reality, Empyrean Serpent wasn't important to Shi Feng. The reason he offered 20% of Zero Wing's shares was entirely because of Bai Qingxue, the Valkyrie. As for everything else, it simply didn't matter.

In the previous life, Bai Qingxue had lost. Or rather, her defeat was very normal, because throughout the entire guild, apart from Bai Qingxue's confidants, no one was on Bai Qingxue's side. How could she not lose?

Even if she was very capable and her strength was famous throughout God's Domain, popularity and strength were not enough.

This time, he had helped Bai Qingxue, but Bai Qingxue's fate hadn't changed much. Compared to the previous life, she was only standing on the side of righteousness. However, most of the members of Empyrean Serpent were still Cao Chenghua's people. Cao Chenghua could completely form a new guild, but it would cost him a lot.

However, Cao Chenghua had no choice but to do so.

In the end, Empyrean Serpent would definitely disband.

What was the point of Bai Qingxue dragging things out like this? She might as well take advantage of the fact that a small portion of the guild still supported her and use this opportunity to merge into Zero Wing.

Time passed slowly.

Both sides quietly looked at each other.

Bai Qingxue's heart was very complicated at this moment.

She won the competition, but lost the guild!

This phrase couldn't be more fitting. The guild she desperately wanted to protect would ultimately not escape its final fate.

"Fate plays tricks on people!"

Bai Qingxue sighed secretly, then looked at Zhao Yueru and a few guild elders beside her. These were all her most trusted people. If Cao Chenghua took everyone away, then the guild would exist in name only, and it would be extremely difficult to survive in Star-Moon City.

After all, Empyrean Serpent and Star River Alliance were mortal enemies. Even if Empyrean Serpent existed in name only, Star River Alliance wouldn't let it go and would definitely eliminate Empyrean Serpent completely.