Chapter 46: Renovation
"A genius from the capital city? Is he very strong?" Li Pin asked.
"Jiang Zhenhai has the nickname Dragonfist. Which martial artist who earned themselves a nickname and became so famous isn't almost the strongest within their cultivation phase? It's said that Jiang Zhenhai can take on an Aura Force expert."
Fang Lingjue felt a little helpless.
"I used to be very confident that I'd be able to get a good ranking in the upcoming Jiang Province Martial Competition, but this had to happen. Although the Solar Vermilion Sect is only in the top three in Jiang Province, that is because they focus their development within the capital. If they had been trying to establish themselves in Jiang Province all these years, it's uncertain if the Baihe Martial Hall would still be the top martial arts faction around here."
Fang Lingjue shook his head. "Forget it, let's just take it one step at a time."
"The reason I started practicing martial arts to begin with wasn't for me to compete against others for glory. I'll be satisfied if I can get a chance to fight, allow myself to see my flaws through the fight, and then improve on my flaws. In that case, wouldn't it be more interesting if more experts could gather in the Jiang Province Martial Competition?" Li Pin replied with a smile.
Fang Lingjue looked at Li Pin with a hint of surprise. "Is that so?"
He always believed Li Pin to be an arrogant person who couldn't accept defeat. After all, he wasn't even willing to acknowledge a master.
"Of course." Li Pin nodded seriously. "As long as it's a fight that can let me sense my improvements, I'll feel heartfelt joy. Moreover, I'll be filled with anticipation while waiting for that moment's arrival."
Fang Lingjue's gaze stopped on Li Pin for quite a while.
At this moment, Zhao Mu seemed to have seen the two of them in the restaurant they were at and he walked toward them with huge strides. "Mr. Li, Mr. Fang."
There were two younger assistants behind him.
The manager went up and greeted the two of them warmly with a bow. "Mr. Li, thank you for trusting us with your mansion. We of the Star Speckle Home Interior will do our very best to give you a satisfying abode."
Li Pin threw the Solar Vermilion Sect to the back of his head and nodded.
Fang Lingjue smiled and said, "Star Speckle Home Interior's development in Jiang Province City has been rapid over the years. They've received good reviews for providing sturdy quality and good service. Their capability is undeniable.
"Their outstanding performance even earned them an investment and acquisition from the Starlight Corporation. They've now become a subsidiary company of Starlight Corporation. There's no need for me to talk about Starlight Corporation's judgment, do I?"
A thought struck Li Pin. "Starlight Corporation?"
He recalled that Li Yunyan had mentioned that his refined-looking brother-in-law, whom he supposedly only met once, worked at Starlight Corporation.
"Starlight Corporation is a big company?" Li Pin asked.
"They aren't big, they are legendary." Fang Lingjue said, "Despite having been founded for less than twenty years, they've developed from having nothing to being worth several billion now. In Jiang Province City, they are every start-up's model. Its leader, Chairman Qin, is also many businessmen's idol."
Fang Lingjue then said, "Let's go in and talk."
Li Pin nodded.
After everyone took a seat at a table, Fang Lingjue handed the menu to Li Pin.
Li Pin pushed back the menu to Fang Lingjue.
Fang Lingjue had only heard about this restaurant but had not dined in it, so he handed the menu over to Zhao Mu.
Zhao Mu immediately meticulously asked about Li Pin's preference for food.
After they were done with the order, Zhao Mu's assistants started to prepare tea with the tea leaves they brought.
Zhao Mu was beaming. "To be able to purchase a mansion with Riverscape Marvel, you are very extraordinary, Mr. Li. You must have extremely high requirements for the quality of the renovations."
"You should know that I'm a martial artist. Therefore, I only value one thing." Li Pin put out his finger. "Durability! Things must be sturdy and durable!"
"We understand, we understand. Our team had helped a few Core Formation martial artists renovate their Manor before. We also helped to reinforce the training room of an Aura Force Grandmaster with a Senior professional title. We'll ensure that everything is completed at his standards…."
"Aura Force isn't enough but…" dragged Li Pin. Considering that he would likely stay in Jiang Province for some time, Li Pin continued, "Get it prepared by Aura Force standards for now."
A moment later, however, Li Pin thought of something and changed his mind. "No, get it done at Spirit Force standards."
The moment he said this, Fang Lingjue's gaze instantly landed on him.
Spirit Force!?
Spirit Force Martial Saint!?
Fang Lingjue wasn't the only one. Even Zhao Mu looked slightly stunned.
Spirit Force Martial Saint!
He wanted them to prepare the training area based on Spirit Force Martial Saint standards!?
An unbelievable thought struck Zhao Mu, but he brushed it off quickly and got his act together.
Many people just liked to use the best things out there. Which wealthy person who just started practicing martial arts didn't start off with training rooms that were Martial Saints' standards?
It was just that…
"We've studied training room renovations catered for Martial Saints many times, so we're equipped with the relevant skillsets to get it done. However, to withstand a Martial Saint's Force explosion, the floor must be made from cloudsteel stone. And as for the walls, if we were to take into consideration sealing properties, soundproofing, heat insulation, and other factors, they'd have to be..."
Zhao Mu listed a bunch of materials and eventually said, "If renovate the room with these materials and standards in mind, just the renovation of the 100 square meters training room would be estimated at around five million."
Li Pin nodded and accepted the price.
"You..."
Fang Lingjue looked at Li Pin and seemed like he wanted to give a word of advice. However, in the end, he kept quiet.
It was one thing to have standards for the training room, and another to see if it'd be of any use in the future. Moreover, renovation was an important matter. Although it was extravagant to spend five million on only the training room, it was acceptable.
"Then we'll go based on this standard?" As Zhao Mu said this, his voice was trembling a little.
Renovation costs were unlike housing prices, which were intentionally inflated by the government to an exaggerated degree. Although labor costs in Jiang Province City were high, the average income for the population was less than two thousand. As such, 300 to 400 thousand yuan would suffice to complete the renovation of a Riverscape Marvel mansion.
Of course, some people who pursued higher quality lifestyles might spend 600 thousand, 800 thousand, or over one million just on renovations alone.
When Zhao Mu came here, he felt that if he could earn one million from this contract, the money would be able to cover his expenses for a year. However, from the looks of things, it wouldn't be a mere one million—but six!
This was simply an astronomical figure to them!
Even in Jiang Province City, where housing prices were sky-high, this money would be enough to buy two houses.
After all, for many salary workers, the average housing price of thirty thousand was something they could only afford if they worked for a hundred years without food or water.
Zhao Mu's face flushed up, and he had a strong urge to dig out his heart to show Li Pin to guarantee their reputation. "Mr. Li, don't worry. We'll definitely come up with the best proposal and put in 120% effort to help you complete your mansion's renovation. We'll definitely not let you down."
"Thank you," Li Pin said.
Zhao Mu then hosted Li Pin with great enthusiasm.
He busied himself serving Li Pin tea and making sure he was comfortable. After the meal, he even invited Li Pin for activities.
However, Li Pin rejected him saying that he had plans.
After Zhao Mu left with great motivation, Fang Lingjue glanced at Li Pin with a hint of strangeness in his gaze. "You're spending six million just on renovation... if the manager in charge of your renovation isn't Zhao Mu but a charming lady, you'd have been able to spend a wonderful night."
Li Pin looked at Fang Lingjue with confusion. "You think it's a wonderful thing to be wasting precious time on such meaningless venting of desires?"
Fang Lingjue stared at Li Pin, as if trying to assess if Li Pin really meant what he said. However, when he recalled how Li Pin didn't even flinch when he spent that amount of money on his training room, he couldn't help but feel he was serious.
Li Pin… could he be for real? Does he really believe that he can become a Martial Saint in the future?!
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