Jun Changxiao was determined to recruit the six great chief alchemists, so he’d rather give up some profit to the Pill Hall side.
Bai Chaoyang immediately changed his thinking, switching from originally helping his own people out of their predicament to helping the other party speak. His shamelessness could compete with Gou Sheng’s.
Naturally.
Otherwise, how could he have gained the upper hand in price negotiations?
Seeing their hall master change his tune just because of one sentence from the other party, the six chief alchemists collapsed!
Hall Master!
Where’s your bottom line!
“Sect Master Jun is so sincere—how can you bear to refuse?”
“He’s the personal disciple of Senior Tonggu. Being able to hold a position at his sect is absolutely something to honor one’s ancestors!”
“If it weren’t for this old man’s advanced age, if Sect Master Jun recruited me, I’d definitely do my utmost to help!”
The Pill Hall upper echelon also joined the persuasion ranks—a complete bunch of shameless old fogeys!
During this time, they’d already done various calculations and reached the conclusion that if both parties cooperated to spread pill shops throughout the major cities, the profits obtained would definitely be extremely massive!
Now that Sect Master Jun was making concessions, even if it was just a tiny bit, it would still be considerable benefits for Pill Hall.
As long as they could benefit all living beings, what did joining the Eternal Sect matter!
Moreover.
It’s not like they were asking you to jump into a fire pit.
Chen Xiyao and the others fell into silence once again.
Since the hall master and upper echelon had said this much, if they didn’t give them face, it would really be too inconsiderate.
Pill Hall’s principle was freedom—they wouldn’t force members to do things they were unwilling to do. But being part of this system, naturally one couldn’t be too willful.
“How about this.”
Jun Changxiao said: “The six of you can stay temporarily at my Eternal Sect for one month. If there’s anything unsatisfactory, you can leave at any time. Jun absolutely won’t obstruct you!”
Having said this much, if they stubbornly refused, it would be somewhat inappropriate.
“Alright.”
Chen Xiyao said: “Then we’ll stay temporarily at Sect Master Jun’s sect for one month.”
He didn’t completely commit, obviously leaving himself an escape route in case the other party tried to cling to them later.
Cling to them?
If Gou Sheng knew, he’d definitely laugh.
Once you’ve entered the Eternal Sect, whether staying temporarily or permanently, if you still plan to leave, I’ll immediately resign from the sect master position!
With his Eternal Brand Hair-Growth Enhancer, he was just that confident!
Seeing the six chief alchemists agree, Bai Chaoyang smiled and said: “Sect Master Jun, regarding the profit-sharing ratio, how do you think we should negotiate?”
“No rush.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Let’s wait until the six of them have stayed at my sect for one month before discussing.”
Bai Chaoyang understood—this meant waiting for Chen Xiyao and the others to make their stance clear after one month before deciding how much profit to concede.
Wrong.
What Jun Changxiao was actually thinking was:
Let’s set aside matters of profit for now. Once he brought Old Yuan over, they could have a good wrangle about it.
……
Eternal Sect.
After checking and settling the medicinal ingredients and seeds sent by the various major families, Li Qingyang exclaimed in amazement: “Young Master Yuan is too amazing at bargaining. Each time is cheaper than the last. If this continues for a few more months, won’t the other party have to pay us money?”
Yuan Feng, sitting in the great hall of Linyuan City, gently sipped his tea and said: “Being invincible is so lonely.”
……
The six great chief alchemists departed first to return to Pill Hall headquarters. Alchemist masters and first, second, and third-class alchemists also successively flooded into Peerless City, which instead triggered heated discussions among the city’s residents.
“Strange!”
“Why have they all returned!”
“Even the internal Alchemy Competition held every few years doesn’t have this many participants. Could there be some major event?”
Within a few days, Pill Hall suddenly announced to the outside world that they’d signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Eternal Sect!
Once this news spread, it could be said to have caused a huge wave with one stone, immediately triggering enthusiastic discussions among martial artists from all directions!
“This is incredible!”
“This Eternal Sect can actually establish a cooperative relationship with Pill Hall!”
“Pill Hall focuses on the way of alchemy. With both parties reaching an agreement, are they planning to sell medicinal ingredients or pills together?”
While everyone was hotly discussing, the Eternal Sect and Pill Hall had already begun taking action. One side started preparing heaven-and-earth treasure-grade medicinal ingredients, while the other began dispatching powerful figures from the way of alchemy to Eternal Immortal Mountain.
The six great chief alchemists followed Jun Changxiao back to the Eternal Sect first, deciding to stay there temporarily for one month before deciding whether to take positions.
One month.
Just a formality.
……
The Realm Hall also heard about the cooperation between the Eternal Sect and Pill Hall, so it was specifically brought up for discussion at a routine meeting.
“How has this kid latched onto Pill Hall now?”
This character ‘latched onto’ was used extremely cleverly.
In fact, Jun Changxiao’s ability to cooperate with an authoritative pill institution did greatly enhance the sect’s reputation and influence.
However, it was ultimately just cooperation. Although it triggered heated discussions in the Upper Realm, it didn’t trigger any prestige value rewards.
“Who cares.”
One high-ranking member said: “As long as he doesn’t cause trouble, that’s fine.”
Jun Changxiao had disliked the Realm Hall for a long time now, and the Realm Hall likewise had disliked him for a long time. So they constantly kept watch on the former, to avoid him getting hold of any leverage.
“This fellow only has True Immortal Tonggu backing him up. He may not necessarily amount to anything in the future. Right now, we should find ways to quickly resolve the two thorny problems of the Burial Moon Pavilion and Gu Zhaoxi.” one high-ranking member said.
“Hmph.”
Someone said coldly: “She clearly found that rebel but actually let him escape. Empress Lingyao’s handling of matters truly doesn’t inspire confidence.”
The assembled upper echelon all nodded in agreement.
Back then, the Realm Hall spent hundreds of years capturing Gu Zhaoxi before succeeding. When she failed once, they started criticizing her in various ways. These old fellows were equally shameless.
“Where’s Jin Hao?”
“His injuries still haven’t healed.”
“He’s been recuperating in the Regeneration Pool for over two years and still hasn’t recovered?”
“I heard he was severely injured at the time—his chest was pierced with a gaping hole.”
“What divine technique did this Jun Changxiao use that could so easily severely wound a Nine Revolution cultivator?”
“Perhaps it was some kind of high-level supreme treasure given by True Immortal Tonggu.”
Upon this being said, everyone suddenly understood.
If True Immortal Tonggu knew, he’d definitely collapse and say: “You can speculate however you want, but can you please not drag me into it!”
……
“Glug glug glug!”
In a pool whose surface was wreathed with clouds and mist, inside the clear water seemed to be boiling. Jin Hao’s head emerged, his face pale, looking very pained.
At this moment, the vast life-attribute energy in the water was nourishing the rice-grain-sized wound on his chest. Only after it was finally completely healed did he suddenly open his eyes, with killing intent surging as he said: “Jun Changxiao, I’ll make you pay a painful price!”
Surviving the lightning rod’s bombardment was truly a miracle.
Now that he’d recovered as good as new, he naturally wouldn’t forget his grudge with Jun Changxiao—it had even evolved to the point of a fight to the death.
“Young Master.”
An old servant walked over and said: “The Realm Hall side sent word earlier, asking you to assist Empress Lingyao in searching for the rebel Gu Zhaoxi.”
“Gu Zhaoxi?”
Jin Hao said in surprise: “That guy reincarnated again?”
The old servant said: “In recent times, he’s already destroyed three Realm Hall branches.”
“Assist Empress Lingyao?” Jin Hao said: “Could it be that the Realm Hall can mobilize this woman?”
The old servant said: “I heard she volunteered to capture Gu Zhaoxi.”
“Oh?”
Jin Hao walked up out of the pool, using true energy to shed the water from his body, put on prepared clothing, and said with great interest: “This woman probably has some scheme.”
“Young Master.”
The old servant transmitted: “The Master sent a secret message.”
Having said this, he handed over a letter carved with a ‘crescent moon’ pattern.
Jin Hao took it, opened it for a glance, incinerated the letter to ashes with flames, and said: “Go tell the Realm Hall that my injuries have healed. I’ll assist Empress Lingyao in pursuing Gu Zhaoxi.”
“Yes.”
The old servant quickly withdrew.
Fastening his belt, Jin Hao thought: “This time, the Master probably can’t hold back anymore and wants to make a move against the Realm Hall, which represents the will of the Ten Great Immortal-Character Sects. I wonder if the force behind Empress Lingyao has this intention as well?”