According to sina.com, the largest Chinese information and entertainment web portal, the leaked email of Xiaowei Chen explains that a "unnamed domestic operator, who is already running a joint venture with Blizzard" is demanding a transfer of all servers, worth 73 million USD for the "bargain" price of $22 million USD. 1 million USD will be added for the transfer of all current staff working on World of Warcraft.

This leaves us only to speculate how badly The9 financial situation may be and if they will still have the financial back up to work on their recently announced bullet-proof MMO 'MUX'.

The9 is, or was, the Chinese operator for the game World of Warcraft and its expansions, however, they have recently had problems with the second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King after the government rejected the game for its explicit content (mainly the undead, the DK's and a crusade against the Scourge).

Rumors are that NetEase will be the new operator for World of Warcraft which means that the expansion is still planned to come out in China. However, with The9's financial situation, server and workforce transfer, another delay is yet again expected.