"Gu Xiao, we know you're very good at fighting! But before you exhaust yourself, it's impossible for you to kill so many of us, right?"

Another young man stepped forward, Zhang Menglong remembered he seemed to be on the Heavenly Prides list as well. But this phrase, Zhang Menglong seemed to have heard it somewhere before. The last time someone said this was when the six major sects besieged Bright Summit, and the people of the six sects said this to Zhang Sanfeng.

It sounds quite impressive, but it's said in the most arrogant tone to express the most cowardly sentiment.

"Gu Xiao, I think there's no need for us to tear each other apart," Mo Lingyun said, "We've all come to this Ancient Cave Heaven just to gain some fortune. Now that this place is so dangerous, and you've created a survival base like this, we're all very grateful to you. Even if you charge a symbolic fee, say a few ten thousand Divine Crystals, we won't say anything!"

"Yeah! We were really grateful, but isn't it a bit too much to exploit us like this?"

"The cheapest apartment costs 5 million Divine Crystals; without money, we can't enter, and you're forcing us by strength. How many people are you going to push to the edge?"

The protests from the crowd rose one after another, and Zhang Menglong suddenly seemed like a villain who only had eyes for money and only knew how to squeeze value out of others.

"Then what do you want?" Zhang Menglong didn't immediately express an opinion but directly asked Mo Lingyun back.

"Now there are more than 800 million people in our survival base. We've chosen a few thousand representatives among us, and after deliberate discussion, I'm here to convey the message of these thousands of representatives, which also represents the collective will of our 800 million people!"

Mo Lingyun seemed just like a messenger, but between his words, there was an implied tone of 'if you disagree, you're going against 800 million of us'.

"Speak first, let me hear!"

"The first point, reduce the cost of accommodation. A base price of 5 million is too expensive, ordinary Martial Artist hotels are just a few Divine Crystals a night. Even if this place is special and we know you've put a lot of effort into making this survival base, I think 10,000 a night is enough to cover your losses and efforts!"

"Right, not many of us can gather 5 million Divine Crystals in a day, you could have just let us work for you directly, yet you insist on providing us with that free quality."

"I think even 10,000 is too high, there are 800 million people, 8 trillion a night, surely the construction costs are long covered?"

"Exactly, I think a few hundred Divine Crystals should suffice, one shouldn't be too greedy!"

...

"Alright, let me hear the second point!" Zhang Menglong continued to ask calmly.

"The second point is also very simple," Mo Lingyun smiled, "Cancel the transaction fees between Martial Artists. These are all voluntary trades; how can you charge a fee for this?"

"Is there more?"

"There is also a third point, and it's the most important one," Mo Lingyun said, "Everyone is trapped in this survival base, unable to move an inch. If this continues, we will gain nothing for three years. But since you can create light, I think you should contribute the treasure and let everyone use it together."

"Yes, if there are any gains, we will allocate a portion to you according to your contribution!"

...

"Are you finished?" Zhang Menglong tilted his head.

"Finished!" Behind Mo Lingyun, though there were 800 million people, he was still somewhat intimidated by Zhang Menglong's gaze, feeling like he was being stared at by a wild beast.

"Then I'll speak," Zhang Menglong continued, "I'm not very good with words, so if I say something that makes everyone uncomfortable, please bear with me!"

"Are you all damn idiots? Have you forgotten how miserable it was before? Now you come to my survival base, eat and drink to your fill, and now you think you have the right to bargain with me?"

"10,000 Divine Crystals a night? Why not just say free? Hotels in the Hong Yun Empire cost hundreds of millions to billions of Divine Crystals a night, and I didn't hear a peep from you! Why, it's not alright when it comes to me?"

"I'm not forcing you to stay here, you are free to leave if you don't want to. You want a safe life but don't want to spend, right?"

"Also, waiving the transaction fee? Without me, could you complete transactions here with peace of mind? Other trading markets charge a 3% fee, and here I charge only 1%, and it's still expensive!"

"And you still have the nerve to ask me to share my treasures, don't you have any shame? This is my personal possession, why should I share it with you? Trying to morally coerce me? Don't you know I don't even have basic quality, so where's the morality you speak of?"

...

Zhang Menglong's speech, filled with harsh words, left the scene in dead silence.

In actuality, everyone is disgruntled. Spending 5 million Divine Crystals a day might be okay for a day or two, but maintaining such a necessary expense for three years, who can bear that?

However, they also know they don't have the right to bargain with Zhang Menglong. They are only here because someone started trouble—there's a saying that 'the law does not blame the masses.' Even if they fail, there wouldn't be significant consequences. The bullet hits the first bird, and it wouldn't be them.

But what if they succeed?

As for the daily expenditure of hundreds or even thousands of Divine Crystals, that's not even a concern, they'll pay if they must.

"Gu Xiao," Mo Lingyun was already fuming, "I may not be your match one-on-one, maybe not even a few hundred people could do anything to you if Lin Yuan stood by your side, but with so many of us, calling this a negotiation is giving you face, don't be ungrateful!"

"That's right! Lower the price!"

"Support Brother Mo!"

Under Mo Lingyun's incitement, the calls were thunderous.

Seeing so many supporters behind him, Mo Lingyun revealed a proud expression.

"What should we do, Brother Gu?" Lin Yuan was also somewhat apprehensive. With his strength, even ordinary second-grade Divine Cultivators would be hesitant to face him. Though most in front of them were just fifth or sixth-grade Divine Breath, he alone could take down many.

But physical strength eventually wears out!

And most importantly, these people are already desperate.

Outside of this Ancient Cave Heaven, if Zhang Menglong didn't lower the price, people would simply not stay, going where they pleased.

But now it's different; if they leave this Ancient Cave Heaven, no one knows how long they can last. Surviving for three years would be slimmer than winning a lottery.

Under these circumstances, many would choose to fight desperately against Zhang Menglong. They're betting on a higher survival chance since either way, death could be inevitable.

"Can you still use that painting?" Long Sen asked.

Zhang Menglong shook his head. When he entered this Ancient Cave Heaven, he already tried. There seemed to be some special energy field here that prevented summoning those puppets.

"Then should we lower the price?" Long Sen suggested, "A wise man doesn't suffer immediate losses. Let's make as much as we can."

"That won't do," Zhang Menglong shook his head again, "Money earned by my abilities, why should I lower the price?"