15: Shang Yingxue's answer

The Ten Immortal Sects of the Central Continent have Legacies spanning tens of thousands of years; even if they decline, their foundations are far beyond what Imperial Dynasties, with only a thousand years of Legacy, can compare to.

Xia Xuan's path of directly confronting the Killing Life Hall by bypassing the Killing Altar is unfeasible.

At least, he cannot do it now. If he were to wield great power, he might be able to scheme.

“I can only meet force with force.”

The situation is complex, so he will break it with power.

The Killing Altar's two assassination attempts failed; perhaps there will be a third, or a fourth.

But if the power he wields is strong enough, what is there to fear?

Thinking of this, Xia Xuan looked at the smiling Shang Yingxue and formally made an offer:

“One hundred million spirit stones, ten creation divine pills, thirty calamity crossing divine pills, plus five ancient Legacies that can Cultivate to the Peak of Divine Dharma Aspect.”

Among the conditions he proposed, spirit stones were actually the least valuable.

The creation divine pill is a rare specialty of the Wu Dynasty, unavailable on the market.

The calamity crossing divine pill is slightly less rare than the creation divine pill, but it has the effect of helping Divine Martial Realm Cultivators directly break through their Realm, with a single pill valued at over ten million spirit stones.

And the five ancient Legacies are even more priceless.

Ordinary Cultivation Techniques circulated in the Wu Dynasty can at most Cultivate to the True Martial Realm; higher-level Cultivation Techniques require obtaining an official status.

The Imperial Palace's secret archives naturally contain Dharma Aspect Realm Cultivation Techniques, but even a prince, if his Realm has not yet reached it, has no right to read them.

Such an exorbitant price, if heard by others, would surely lead to accusations against the King of Chu for making an outrageous demand.

But Shang Yingxue agreed without hesitation: “Alright.”

The rune Legacy is worth this price. The mere advent of offensive spirit talismans can influence the current pattern of the Four Seas and Five Regions, not to mention auxiliary Cultivation spirit talismans like the Spirit Gathering Talisman, which can directly increase Cultivation speed.

For the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild, the King of Chu's asking price was not harsh.

Spirit stones go without saying. The creation divine pill is actually the most difficult to acquire, but the guild's inventory can gather ten. The calamity crossing divine pill reserves are sufficient, and the ancient Legacies are simply a matter of making a copy.

“This King hasn't finished speaking yet.”

Xia Xuan observed Shang Yingxue's expression, appearing somewhat pushy as he said:

“This rune Legacy should be the only one remaining in the world, and this King only intends to sell it to your Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild. Therefore, there are additional conditions.”

Shang Yingxue sighed inwardly, a slight smile gracing her face: “Please speak, King of Chu.”

“This King wants fifty percent of the net profit from all spirit talismans sold by the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild in the future!”

Upon hearing this, even with Shang Yingxue's composure, she almost failed to suppress herself.

She frowned and shook her head: “Impossible.”

The Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild is spread across the Five Domains, with complex personnel relationships. Maintaining the guild's operations each year requires an unknown amount of capital. Giving up fifty percent of the spirit talisman business profits, what's the difference from working for the King of Chu?

“Don't be so quick to refuse.”

Xia Xuan smiled and took out another item, which was a natural talisman jade produced from the divine object of fu yu mountain.

“This King can continuously supply the Materials for inscribing spirit talismans, and guarantee that the worst quality will be like this, sold to the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild at seventy percent of the market price, how about that?”

Shang Yingxue took the talisman jade, examined it, and felt a slight tremor in her heart.

This kind of top-grade talisman jade is extremely difficult to mine. Using it to inscribe runes not only increases the success rate but also enhances the power of the finished spirit talisman.

Coincidentally, the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild did not have a good source of top-grade talisman jade, which forced Shang Yingxue to reconsider Xia Xuan's proposal.

At the same time, her previous prejudice and disdain for the King of Chu vanished.

This King of Chu, with a face like jade, handsome and refined, seemingly harmless, made her feel a profound sense of awe.

Their negotiation lasted for an hour.

Finally, it was decided that fifty percent of the profits from all types of spirit talismans sold by the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild in the future would be submitted to the King of Chu, and Xia Xuan also made a concession, reducing the price of the talisman jade he provided from seventy percent of the market price to fifty percent.

Both parties signed the agreement.

Shang Yingxue personally retrieved a purple-gold token engraved with the character “Shang” and handed it to Xia Xuan.

She explained: “The purple-gold token is the highest Rank Guest Elder token of the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild. No more than ten are issued externally. Holding this token grants Young Lord-level treatment in any of the Shang family's territories, and an eighty percent discount on all guild items.”

The purple-gold token requires a drop of blood for recognition and cannot be used by others.

The token itself is also a spatial treasure, containing a vast storage space, where one hundred million spirit stones and forty Divine Pills are perfectly sealed.

“Here is a summary of the ancient Legacies; Your Highness can choose five.”

The Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild is immensely wealthy, with unimaginable foundations. The Jade Slip Shang Yingxue handed to Xia Xuan recorded over a hundred summaries of ancient Legacies.

“Blood Slaughter Profound Technique? Improving oneself through slaughter, the stronger the strength and Luck of the person killed, the greater the improvement gained?”

Among the various ancient Legacies, there were many such quick-success Demonic Techniques from Demonic Sects, which even made Xia Xuan's eyes burn with desire, though he himself didn't particularly need to Cultivate.

Choosing ancient Legacies was mainly for preparing to Cultivate his subordinates.

Ultimately, with Shang Yingxue's suggestion, he selected five ancient Legacies.

Sword Dao: 《Azure Lotus Sword Canon》, Gold Dao: 《Indestructible Golden Body》, Dark Dao: 《Nightfall》, Blood Dao: Blood Slaughter Profound Technique, Fire Dao: 《Immortal Burning Art》.

The latter two were ones Xia Xuan could use for reference and learning, able to grasp their essence and combat techniques.

“The auction will be on the first day of next month. I look forward to Your Highness's presence.”

At the time of parting, Shang Yingxue and Xia Xuan were like close friends, sending him off with earnestness.

Xia Xuan nodded. This twenty-year auction event stirred the hearts of all parties in the Five Domains. Representatives from various forces were probably already en route. In the near future, the Imperial Capital of the Wu Dynasty would gather all sorts of formidable figures, and the situation would become turbulent.

Watching Xia Xuan depart.

Shang Yingxue's taut nerves finally relaxed a little. The previous negotiation with the King of Chu had been too exhausting.

She had never imagined that the King of Chu, who was once considered a hopeless case, would possess such business acumen, sharp in his words during their negotiation, confident, and composed.

“But this time it was a win-win, right? The profession of Talisman Master is about to rise. Our Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild has first-hand information and can be the first to attract those disgruntled Talisman Masters.”

In this era, Talisman Masters who still researched runes were all people who longed to revive the ancient glory and were very passionate about this profession.

The King of Chu's rune Legacy was enough to attract them to join.

“Yingxue, you've done very well these years, but remember, all business carries risks.”

A portly middle-aged man came behind Shang Yingxue and sighed:

“In this negotiation, you were too passive, and we conceded too much profit. Although the rune Legacy is precious, if it becomes known and spreads, or if the spirit talismans we sell are reverse-engineered, cracked, and replicated, losing our exclusive advantage, the final profits may not reach our projected prospects.”

“Father, you also taught me that business with immense profits is itself a gamble, isn't it?”

Shang Yingxue looked back and said calmly: “I'm gambling on the King of Chu himself.”