78: Chapter 78 Agreement Finalized and Rumors of Wanbao

Lin Chen's expectation did not fail.

On the morning of the third day after the sword test at Eagle Sorrow Ravine, a formal visiting card from Iron Sword Sect was respectfully delivered to the Lin Family mansion by an Inner Sect Disciple with a solemn expression.

Unlike the sharp and aggressive challenge letter from three days ago, this visiting card was made of warm, gentle Spirit Wood. The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, yet not a shred of Sword Qi leaked out. The phrasing was also conventional and proper, inviting Lin Chen to go to the main hall of Broken Sword Peak at noon that day to discuss matters regarding the Salt and Iron Ancient Road.

Lin Chen rubbed the rough stone ring on his thumb; the texture under his fingertips gave him a sense of calm and reassurance.

He knew that the battle Lin Haoyu fought had secured five years of stability and room for development for the Lin Family.

He did not bring many people, taking only Qin Ruowei with him, while Liu Yuan led a team of elite guards to wait and stand guard at a designated location on the perimeter.

The location of the Iron Sword Sect, Broken Sword Peak, stood like a broken giant sword thrusting straight into the clouds. The mountain was steep and treacherous, exuding a sharp, murderous Aura everywhere.

On the mountain path, every Inner Sect Disciple who brushed past Lin Chen and his companion walked in a hurry with sharp eyes, carrying the bloody courage of those who had spent years fighting Yao Beasts and surviving in dangerous places.

This made Lin Chen even more certain that cooperating with such a Sect was far wiser than being its enemy.

The main hall of Broken Sword Peak was even more ancient and simple than Lin Chen had imagined.

There were no luxurious carved beams or painted pillars, only walls and columns built from massive black iron rocks. The walls were covered with sword marks of varying depths, each one seemingly recounting a tragic battle.

The air was filled with a faint smell of rust and a lingering, sharp Sword Intent, so oppressive that it made one's breath hitch.

In the main seat of the hall sat a tall man.

He wore a simple grey robe, and a wide, heavy sword like a door panel was slung across his back.

The sword was not yet unsheathed, but the heavy Aura capable of splitting mountains and breaking peaks already filled the entire space. It was none other than the Sect Leader of Iron Sword Sect, "Mountain Breaking Sword" Sect Master Shen Cang.

His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, landing on Lin Chen as if to see through him from the inside out.

Beside Sect Master Shen Cang stood Chu Yun in white robes, tall and upright. His expression remained cold, but upon seeing Lin Chen, he nodded slightly as a greeting.

"Clan Head Lin, please sit." Sect Master Shen Cang's voice was deep and sonorous, like a great bell, humming within the main hall.

He did not stand up; this was the dignity befitting an overlord of a region.

Lin Chen remained calm and composed, holding Qin Ruowei's hand as they sat on the black iron wooden chairs in the guest seats. The chairs were cold and hard, and the touch was not comfortable.

Qin Ruowei sat quietly half a step behind and to the side of Lin Chen. She took out a blank Jade Slip, and with a faint glimmer of spiritual light at her fingertips, she was ready to record the details of the negotiation.

The role she played today was that of a scribe, an observer, and even more so, Lin Chen's second pair of eyes.

"Your son has a natural-born sword bone and a resilient Heart-Nature; he is admirable." Sect Master Shen Cang got straight to the point without any pleasantries. "My Iron Sword Sect is not an unreasonable group. The southern section of the Salt and Iron Ancient Road is a place for my Disciples to temper their Sword Intent and undergo life-and-death trials. We absolutely do not allow any force to set up checkpoints and monopolize it, disturbing our quiet cultivation. However," he changed the subject, and the oppressive pressure eased slightly, "if it is only for commercial passage, it is not impossible to discuss."

This statement was both an affirmation of Lin Haoyu and a drawing of the bottom line for the negotiation.

Lin Chen knew what was going on. This was exactly the result he wanted.

"Sect Leader Shen is a straightforward man, and I admire that." Lin Chen bowed slightly and responded calmly. "The Lin Family has never had the intention of challenging Iron Sword Sect's 'sovereignty' over the ancient road. Opening a stable trade route for mutual benefit is the purpose of my visit."

He laid out the plan he had rehearsed countless times in his heart, speaking clearly and logically.

"My proposal is for my Lin Family, in conjunction with Wantong Trading Firm, to be responsible for organizing caravans and procuring goods, focusing mainly on the Medicinal Pills refined by my Lin Family and specialties from the Southern Region. As for the safety of the southern section of the ancient road, we must rely on your esteemed Sect."

Lin Chen looked straight at Sect Master Shen Cang, neither humble nor arrogant. "Your Sect only needs to be responsible for clearing out bandits and Yao Beast groups along the way that might pose a large-scale threat to the caravans, and allow the caravans to pass within the designated routes and times. In return, my Lin Family is willing to pay your esteemed Sect an annual 'road protection fee,' which can be paid in Spirit Stones or converted into Medicinal Pills refined by my Lin Family. At the same time, my Lin Family promises priority and sufficient supply of various Medicinal Pills that your esteemed Sect urgently needs."

The hall was silent, with only the sound of Sect Master Shen Cang's heavy breathing.

He was clearly weighing the pros and cons.

The conditions proposed by Lin Chen were very sincere, taking on almost all the dirty and tiring work; Iron Sword Sect only needed to lift a finger to obtain a significant and stable income.

But as a Sect Leader, Sect Master Shen Cang considered far more than that.

His deep gaze revealed his concerns. "Once the trade route is opened, the flow of people will be mixed, and large numbers of caravans will pass through every day, which will inevitably interfere with the training of my Disciples. Moreover, wealth moves people's hearts. Once the outside world knows that the ancient road is profitable, it may attract the covetous eyes of even more forces, leading to endless trouble."

This was indeed the crux of the problem.

Just as Lin Chen was preparing to explain further, Chu Yun, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up.

"Master," his voice was cold and clear, yet highly organized, "Disciple believes this matter is feasible. We can designate specific 'trade paths,' separate from the 'sword paths' commonly used by our Disciples, and stipulate that caravans must not linger in the ancient road outside of designated transit times, with heavy penalties for violators. In this way, mutual interference can be minimized."

He paused and turned his gaze to Lin Chen with a hint of scrutiny. "Moreover, the Lin Family's Medicinal Pills are of superior quality and are of great benefit to our Disciples' daily cultivation and healing from battle injuries. If this matter succeeds, it will be more beneficial than harmful to our Iron Sword Sect."

Upon hearing this, the grave expression on Sect Master Shen Cang's face eased slightly; clearly, he had listened to the words of the Disciple he valued most.

Seeing this, Chu Yun continued to add, and this time, he proposed a brand new condition.

"However, I have one more proposal." He looked at Lin Chen, his eyes becoming sharp. "If the Lin Family can promise to assist our Iron Sword Sect by refining a batch of 'Sword Tempering Pills' every year, then the matter of the ancient road cooperation can be settled today."

Sword Tempering Pills?

Lin Chen's heart stirred.

He had seen records of this pill in ancient books. It was a very niche auxiliary Medicinal Pill that could not increase cultivation, but could be used to temper Magical Artifact swords, slowly improving the spirituality and sharpness of the sword.

For a Sword Cultivator, the strength of their life-bound Flying Sword was directly related to their combat power, so the value of this pill was self-evident.

However, the refining process of the Sword Tempering Pill was extremely cumbersome, and the requirements for the temperature of the pill fire and the precise control of spiritual power output were almost harsh; the slightest carelessness would cause the furnace to explode.

Therefore, in the entire Southern Region, the number of alchemists who could stably refine high-quality Sword Tempering Pills could be counted on one hand, and most of them were treated as honored guests by top Sects and never accepted outside orders.

Chu Yun's words also made Sect Master Shen Cang realize that although Iron Sword Sect's combat power was strong, it had always been a weakness in fields like alchemy and artifact forging.

If they could obtain a stable supply of Sword Tempering Pills, the improvement to the overall strength of the Sect would be long-term and immense.

"As for the Sword Tempering Pills, my wife Su Qingyao can indeed refine them." Lin Chen pondered for a moment and did not immediately agree, but instead asked in return, "I wonder what grade of Sword Tempering Pills your esteemed Sect requires? Who will provide the necessary Spirit Medicine Materials? And what is the quantity per year?"

This was a matter of principle.

He could not make promises beyond the Family's capabilities just because he was eager to reach an agreement.

Chu Yun seemed to have anticipated this question and answered smoothly: "The Materials can be provided by our Iron Sword Sect, or converted into Spirit Stones at market price and deducted from the road protection fee. The Lin Family only needs to charge a reasonable refining fee. We need Sword Tempering Pills that can be effective for Medium Grade Magical Artifact Flying Swords, tentatively set at one hundred per year. We hope the first batch can be delivered in three months."

One hundred per year, with the first batch delivered in three months...

Lin Chen quickly calculated in his heart.

Su Qingyao was now an Earthly Spiritual Root and at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and her control over wood and fire spiritual power far exceeded that of alchemists of the same rank.

This quantity, while stressful, was not impossible to complete.

Most importantly, this condition was proposed by Chu Yun voluntarily.

This meant that he genuinely recognized the potential of the Lin Family and was attempting to upgrade the cooperation between the two sides from a simple monetary transaction to a deeper, irreplaceable technical cooperation.

This was exactly the situation Lin Chen most hoped to see.

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated. He tapped his right fingertip lightly on the stone ring, emitting a crisp, faint sound.

"Good!" Lin Chen nodded, his eyes revealing full sincerity. "As for the Sword Tempering Pills, my Lin Family agrees! Three months from now, your esteemed Sect can send someone to Qingzhou City to collect the first batch of Medicinal Pills."

Once these words were spoken, a trace of imperceptible loosening finally appeared on Sect Master Shen Cang's previously tense, rock-hard face.

His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, also softened significantly.

Lin Chen's decisiveness and sense of responsibility, as well as the alchemy strength he represented, completely dispelled his last remaining concerns.

"In that case," Sect Master Shen Cang said slowly, his voice like a great bell, "the details shall be left to Chu Yun to discuss with you. My Iron Sword Sect accepts the Lin Family as a friend."

Over the next hour, the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Under Qin Ruowei's calm and meticulous recording, both sides finalized the specific details one by one, such as the specific amount of the road protection fee, the demarcation of the transit route, the daily transit times, and how to handle disputes if they arise in the future.

Finally, a preliminary five-year cooperation agreement, evidenced by the Divine Soul imprints of both parties, was officially generated amidst the convergence of two rays of spiritual light.

Looking at the Jade Slip floating in the air, emitting a faint halo, Lin Chen knew that the Lin Family's Foundation in the Southern Region was finally stable.

However, just as the agreement had been signed and the atmosphere in the hall was at its most relaxed, an Iron Sect Disciple walked quickly into the main hall and reported with a bow, "Sect Leader, the Southern Region manager of Wantong Trading Firm, Qian Baiwan, has come to visit the mountain, saying he has an important matter to discuss."

Qian Baiwan?

Lin Chen and Sect Master Shen Cang exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of realization in each other's eyes.

This guy's arrival was truly "coincidental."

I am afraid that the eyes and ears he sent out had been staring fixedly at the movements of Broken Sword Peak from the moment Lin Chen set off.

"Let him in." Sect Master Shen Cang waved his hand, his tone indifferent.

A moment later, Qian Baiwan's portly figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall.

As soon as he entered, he was all smiles, bowing repeatedly to Sect Master Shen Cang and Lin Chen, his eyes, narrowed into slits, flashing with shrewd light.

"Congratulations, Sect Leader Shen! Congratulations, Clan Head Lin!" he said with a chuckle, as if he had witnessed everything that had just happened. "Two heroes casting aside previous grievances and joining hands to open up the ancient trade route is truly a major event for the business world in our Southern Region! My Wantong Trading Firm is willing to add icing to the cake for the cooperation between the two families!"