Chapter Eight: I’ve Hired Valon!

[Valmont: For real?]

In fact, just moments ago, Valmont had skimmed through the "Jackie Chan Adventures" content that Lu Mingfei had uploaded to the group, focusing primarily on the first dozen episodes regarding the Talismans.

He then witnessed Shendu’s act of betrayal—discarding his pawn the moment he acquired all the Talismans.

"That goddamn son of a bitch!"

If it weren't for the existence of the Shadowkhan, Valmont would have wanted to take his gold-handled cane and smash the Dragon’s head in.

Is that even something a person would do? Although Shendu isn't human, he had served him with all his might, and this was how he was treated in return?

His ill-fated connection with Shendu didn’t end there. According to that kid Lu Mingfei, after Shendu was banished to the netherworld, he was released by other demons in the form of a spirit, possessed Valmont’s body, and forced him back into servitude.

And in the end, he even lost his entire fortune and became a bus driver?!

Gah! Leaving behind the life of a wealthy man only to become a bus driver to make ends meet? Don't even think about it!!!

But Shendu clung to him like a stubborn plaster, and Valmont was powerless against him.

Therefore, he had no choice but to seek help from the omnipotent members of the chat group... and find another member to partner with who could help him strike it rich.

[Chen Mo: For real. However, I will need to return to the Main God Space before I can cash out these riches.]

[Chen Mo: But rest assured, I am not a person—er, dragon... demon... who lacks integrity like Shendu. In any case, we are all in the same chat group. If I were to deceive you or go back on my word, my credibility in the group would plummet. Wouldn't that be shooting myself in the foot?]

[Han Li: Fellow Daoist Chen is correct. In this chat group, credibility is of the utmost importance. Once lost, it would severely impact all future trades and cooperation.]

After receiving permission from Valmont, Lu Mingfei uploaded "Jackie Chan Adventures" to the chat group. To better understand the information about the group members, Han Li had also watched the show.

"Twelve Talismans... truly miraculous treasures," Han Li muttered to himself, a flash of light crossing his eyes.

Every single Talisman possessed unique power: the Dog for immortality, the Horse for curing all diseases, the Rat for bringing inanimate objects to life, the Sheep for astral projection...

Han Li naturally coveted such treasures.

"It’s just a pity..." But thinking of Valmont’s performance in the cartoon, Han Li shook his head with a bitter smile.

Valmont was a peculiar man. Even when the statue of Shendu was destroyed and he possessed the twelve Talismans, his mind remained entirely on making money. One could even say that his every endeavor was aimed solely at profit... he was truly unwavering on the path of chasing wealth.

Even with a treasure like the Dog Talisman, which could grant immortality, Valmont only thought of how to use it to make money rather than using it to live forever. Only money could stir his heart.

The cultivation world Han Li inhabited naturally lacked so-called "greenbacks." Gold existed, but cultivators held such mundane objects in contempt and would never bother to collect them. Even if he did, based on Chen Mo’s claim that he was wealthier than Shendu, Han Li would need a vast amount of gold to trade for the Talismans...

"Sigh, forget it. It seems these treasures are not meant for me," Han Li shook his head, feeling a bit regretful, though he didn't dwell on it.

Having already learned of his various opportunities in the mortal realm through the "Mortal's Journey to Immortality" novel snippets posted by Lu Mingfei, he didn't value the Talismans all that much. If he couldn't get them, so be it. With the chat group, it wasn't impossible that even better treasures might appear one day.

[Lu Mingfei: That's true. If Chen Mo is traversing the Main God Space from 'Infinite Horror,' then gold is indeed worthless there, but it holds significant value in other worlds.]

[Aqua: What?]

[Aqua: @Chen Mo, Great One!]

[Aqua: Please take care of me!]

[Chen Mo: (눈_눈)]

[Houraisan Kaguya: (｡ò∀ó｡)]

[Houraisan Kaguya: The Twelve Talismans, they look so interesting... I’m starting to want to collect them too.]

[Houraisan Kaguya: It’s just a pity that I don’t have currency from the outside world, and Mr. Valmont probably doesn't accept barter. I can only sigh at the sight of such treasures.]

Furthermore, Kaguya thought, these treasures were likely very important to Chen Mo at the moment, so she wouldn't interfere.

Seeing the comments from others in the group, Valmont pondered his current situation. Without much hesitation, he readily agreed to Chen Mo’s deal.

[Valmont: Fine! Chen Mo, as long as you don't break your word, then damn it, kill your conditions—go find your Talismans!]

Heh, it was too easy. Manipulating the thoughts of someone whose mind was filled only with greed was far too simple.

However, Chen Mo knew that he had only succeeded due to the right time, the right place, and the right people. Had he not been in the Main God Space, he wouldn't have had the wealth to offer. Had Shendu not been treacherous, Valmont wouldn't have been so easy to turn. If other group members had also been able to satisfy Valmont’s greed, it would have been nearly impossible for him—someone who couldn't pay the "salary" for seven days—to obtain the Talismans.

Nevertheless, finding the Talismans would still take time. Even with his foreknowledge and the help of the anime’s plot, the balance between good and evil in that world made it difficult for Valmont and his crew to locate them. At the very least, Chen Mo couldn't guarantee that Valmont would find the specific Talismans he needed before the aliens arrived.

Therefore, he still needed Valmont to provide some assistance.

[Chen Mo: Then, it’s a pleasure doing business with you. But before that, Mr. Valmont, I hope you can provide me with a little help...]

[Chen Mo: Also.]

[Chen Mo: @Aqua.]

[Chen Mo: Hey, Goddess of Water, are you interested in killing a vampire farmer?]

...

...

Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle.

Ares dialed one phone number after another. Because his family's influence in North America had waned, he could only handle problems that money could solve; anything more was difficult to manage. He used this time to leverage his family's influence to investigate information about his teammates.

J used his extensive connections in the African-American community to link up with underworld forces, secretly acquiring necessary firearms and ammunition, moving cautiously through the dark corners of the city.

Jenny and the blonde woman were dragging bags, loading supplies into a vehicle, and heading toward the designated warehouse location.

Everyone was busy preparing for the unknown. Despite the anxiety and tension in their hearts, this battle might concern their survival, or even the fate of the entire world. There was no room for them to rest.