211: Reach cooperation

Feng Xixi spoke with a hint of coldness, causing Qin Yue's face to pale.

Yun Momo's body trembled even more, and she hurriedly pleaded, "Sister Xixi, please don't do this. Brother Jingyu is a very good person..."

Lin Jingyu met her gaze calmly, his eyes clear and firm, without the slightest hint of cowardice or hesitation.

He smiled at the two of them, signaling them to rest assured.

Then he said in a clear voice, "I understand! It is precisely because of this that I had to come to find Shopkeeper Feng at the first Opportunity."

My Family's Foundation is shallow. Faced with such a heaven-defying Opportunity, it is not a blessing, but rather a sword hanging over our heads, with the disaster of total annihilation imminent.

Only by cooperating with a strong ally like Shopkeeper Feng, who possesses heaven-reaching strength and a profound background, can my Family manage to get a share of the spoils.

"Most importantly, I trust Sister Qin Yue and Momo. Since both of them trust you, naturally, I trust you as well!"

His tone was sincere, his logic clear and thorough, clearly articulating his position and demands:

"I trust Shopkeeper Feng's character and methods, and I trust the reputation and strength of Miaoling Pavilion and the forces behind you even more.

Rather than harboring a treasure and inviting trouble, only to be swallowed by an unknown leviathan, it is better to proactively choose to cooperate with a reliable powerhouse to trade for space to survive and develop."

Feng Xixi gazed at Lin Jingyu. The youth before her clearly only possessed Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivation, yet he possessed a composure far beyond his years.

And in the face of such a heaven-shaking temptation that would drive countless old monsters mad, he maintained a near-terrifying level of clarity and decisiveness.

This Heart-Nature and this decisiveness shocked and impressed her far more than the Alchemy talent he had displayed.

After a long while, she suddenly smiled beautifully. This smile was like a thawing glacier or spring returning to the earth, instantly dispelling all the gloom and oppression in the secret chamber, and even the air seemed to become lighter:

"Good! A fine Lin Jingyu indeed! You have deep fortune and are daring, but what is even more rare is this clear-sightedness and the decisiveness to remain calm even if Mount Tai were to collapse before you! This matter, I, Feng Xixi, am in!"

She walked up to Lin Jingyu, her tone becoming serious and formal, as if she were not negotiating, but establishing a solemn Alliance:

"However, this matter is of great consequence and is by no means child's play. How will the profits be distributed? How will the risks be shared? How will the exploration team be formed? How will the rights and responsibilities of each party be defined?

How will we handle the potential chain reactions that may follow? All of this must be stated beforehand, and an iron-clad blood pact must be established to avoid future discord and turning against each other. I need to know your Family's bottom line and all your demands."

"That is only natural." Lin Jingyu nodded heavily, clearly having already prepared a plan.

"My Family has no other requests; we only ask to be able to steady the helm amidst the raging storms and safely obtain a share of the spoils.

My idea is for you, Shopkeeper Feng, to personally lead and unite the most core and reliable forces in the Southeast Market Town, such as Tianfa Pavilion and the Alchemist Association, to form an exploration Alliance.

My Family will provide the exact location of the entrance and all information from the preliminary investigation. For all final proceeds, whether they be spiritual materials, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, or minerals, my Family will only take ten percent.

In addition, if knowledge-based resources such as Cultivation Technique manuals, Pill Formula diagrams, or Legacy Jade Slips are obtained, my Family must have the right to make a free rubbing or copy of one set.

As for the specific distribution among the various forces within the Alliance, that is for Shopkeeper Feng and the other shopkeepers to decide together, and my Family will have absolutely no objections. At the same time, the Family promises that without the Alliance's consent, we will never leak the entrance information to any third party."

"Ten percent?" Feng Xixi raised an eyebrow slightly, calculating rapidly in her mind.

The resources in the Secret Realm are as vast as the sea. Even just ten percent would be enough to allow a bottom-tier small Family to be reborn and accumulate a profound Foundation that would be difficult to reach even in a hundred years.

But considering that the entrance was discovered exclusively by the Family, and the Family proactively sought cooperation with a very low posture, this asking price displayed sincerity while leaving room for herself; the sense of proportion was handled extremely accurately.

This further highlighted Lin Jingyu's foresight and wisdom. He knew deeply that insatiable greed and asking for too much could instead arouse suspicion, resulting in gaining nothing, or even inviting fatal disaster.

"Very well." Feng Xixi pondered for a moment, then decisively made the decision.

"This ratio is reasonable and fair. I will do my best to secure it for your Family and write it into the Alliance treaty. However, the contract must explicitly state:

The specific location of the Secret Realm entrance and the method to open it must be listed as top-secret for the Alliance, both during and after the exploration.

The Family must unconditionally cooperate with the Alliance's actions and must not leak information or contact any third party in any form.

At the same time, the exploration operation must be under my unified command and dispatch, and operational orders must be absolutely obeyed. This is to ensure efficiency and the safety of everyone."

"That is only right. The Family will definitely cooperate fully with Shopkeeper Feng, but most of our Family's Cultivators are very weak; letting them enter the Secret Realm would only hold everyone back."

Lin Jingyu agreed without hesitation. What he wanted was tangible benefits and a safe development environment, not some illusory command authority.

However, he also stated his own request, which was not to let other members of the Family enter.

"Good, there is no time to lose!" Feng Xixi was decisive and swift, a sharp light flashing in her eyes, as if she could already see the magnificent future.

"We must act first and seize the Opportunity before the demonic Cultivators fully control the core of the Secret Realm, or before news accidentally leaks and attracts the attention of outside titans! Qin Yue!"

"Sister Xixi!" Qin Yue immediately responded, her expression solemn.

"Immediately use my name to deploy the highest-grade 'Communication Talisman' and contact Shopkeeper Shui Sheng of Tianfa Pavilion, Vice President Gu Yue of the Alchemist Association, and Old Man Li of the Hundred Weapons Tower.

The content is only one sentence: Urgent matter, come to Miaoling Pavilion's secret chamber immediately for consultation. Delays will lead to complications, do not be late!"

Feng Xixi spoke at a rapid pace, her instructions perfectly clear, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Yes! I will handle it immediately!"

Qin Yue's heart was greatly shaken, knowing that once these Communication Talismans were sent out, the top-level power holders of the entire Southeast Market Town would be completely stirred up.

Regardless of what they were doing, they would have to rush over with the fastest speed. At the same time, her mood surged; if they could obtain enough resources after the Secret Realm trip,

it wouldn't matter even if this Miaoling Pavilion were destroyed.

Her figure flashed, and like a wisp of smoke, she quickly exited the secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, only Feng Xixi, Lin Jingyu, and Yun Momo remained.

The atmosphere remained heavy, but it lacked some of the initial tension, having gained a bit of the keenness and urgency of working together to plot a major undertaking.

Yun Momo's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but ask, "Sister Xixi, Brother Jingyu, can I also enter the Secret Realm!"

Her voice was full of anticipation. When she was in the Family, she had heard plenty of stories about such Secret Realm adventures.

"You are not allowed to go!" Before she could finish, Feng Xixi issued the order.

The Secret Realm was filled with various dangers, not to mention the presence of demonic Cultivators. Even she would be in mortal danger.

Let alone a small Cultivator like Yun Momo at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer!