Lin Qingxuan nodded, "That's how it should be!"

"I want half of the refined Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid! You two can split the rest."

"This..." Lin Qingxuan hesitated.

"Alchemy Sect, this isn't what we agreed upon previously." Master Li's expression changed dramatically, showing considerable dissatisfaction.

"We hadn't settled on a share before; after all, I wasn't clear on how difficult the refinement would be back then." Luo Chen said, squinting his eyes, looking at the two with a somewhat playful smile, "Of course, if you don't want to cooperate, I won't force it."

Not clear on how difficult the refinement would be?

More like you didn't realize how effective the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid would be at that time!

Master Li looked at Luo Chen's amber right eye, hiding his anger, "The pill formula was ours, and we provided the majority of the materials. Isn't it a bit much for you to take half with just one sentence?"

Luo Chen rubbed his smooth chin, "Hearing you say that, it does seem a bit excessive."

Lin Qingxuan and Master Li both relaxed when they saw him soften.

Business is like this; haggling is part of it. A one-off deal doesn't last long.

Luo Chen pondered for a moment and then said, "How about this, our sect will take a step back. You get sixty percent, and I'll take forty percent."

Sixty-forty split?

Master Li glanced over at Lin Qingxuan.

Lin Qingxuan sighed, "I have no objections."

Master Li smiled, "Alright, sixty-forty it is!"

Thud!

The table was tapped again, and Luo Chen displayed a sincere smile.

"Now let's discuss the compensation for our sect's involvement!"

Pill transactions are long-term matters, but getting Alchemy Sect Luo Chen to refine pills is not for free, nor can it be settled by simply giving up an extra share of pills.

Especially since some of the original materials were acquired through Luo Chen's connections, allowing them to purchase from the Tianyuan Business Alliance.

Since he dared to ask for half previously, he certainly has confidence.

Master Li was also aware of this, "We have prepared a considerable amount of Sky Qi for you, which you need. Furthermore, there are some decent pill formulas and body refinement techniques..."

Clearly, Master Li had specifically inquired about Luo Chen's preferences to cater to his interests.

However, Luo Chen waved his hand.

"Sorry, currently, our sect doesn't lack Sky Qi. Regarding those low-level pill formulas and body refinement methods, heh."

Master Li furrowed his brows and quickly recalled the situation at the Shouyang Discourse Conference.

It must have been then that Luo Chen collected enough Sky Qi, so he didn't care about the little that Master Li had.

"What do you want then?"

"Don't worry, our sect won't ask for too much, only what you have in abundance." Luo Chen's gaze swept over the two, and he slowly said, "Sword Pills! Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth Sword Pills, True Device Level!"

Lin Qingxuan resolutely said, "Impossible!"

Master Li shook his head, "We don't have any!"

Luo Chen withdrew his smile, "Are you sure it's impossible? Really don't have any?"

Gazing over the two, Luo Chen's eyes were like a mountain, exerting immense pressure on them.

"Previously, our sect made concessions, and now you're responding like this. Isn't it a bit disrespectful?"

Lin Qingxuan opened his mouth, then reluctantly said, "Friend, you're putting us in a difficult position. Sword Pills are where we sword cultivators condense our Dao cultivation. Often, where the sword is, we are; when the sword is gone, so are we. Yu Ding Sword Sect has only produced two Nascent Soul True Masters in total; where would we have extra Sword Pills? Do you expect me to give you my Lifebound Magic Artifact?"

Luo Chen understood, "So, am I indeed making things difficult? Master Li, is it the same for your Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion?"

Master Li instinctively wanted to nod, but under those eyes' gaze, he found it hard to lie.

He could only explain, "My Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion indeed has extra True Device level Sword Pills, but they are left by the patriarchs and contain consciousness. Only those cultivating our sect's techniques can gain approval to use them as heritage weapons. The Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid is something I personally seek, and I've already overextended the sect's manpower and resources; I can't further deplete the sect's interests."

"Everyone has their reasons and difficulties!" Luo Chen clicked his tongue as if understanding them, but his next words brought the atmosphere in the hall to a freezing point. "Then I see no need to continue this cooperation."

Silence, silence.

Li and Lin exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.

Luo Chen closed his eyes, relaxing silently, giving them ample time to think.

The previously pierced dome now allowed snowflakes to drift down gently, adding more chill to the hall.

After a long silence, the atmosphere in the hall was finally broken.

"Friend Luo, our Yu Ding Sword Sect is inherently shallow in foundation. After experiencing the great chaos, we truly feel inadequate. As for a True Device level Sword Pill, I can't offer one. All I can provide is an Ascendant Grade Immaculate Sword Bead, which belongs to the fire element. If you take it and nurture it well, ascending to the True Device level would only be a matter of overcoming a Thunder Tribulation."

As Lin Qingxuan spoke, his gaze swept past Hong Ling, showing a look of apology.

Hong Ling bit her lip and nodded calmly.

Luo Chen opened his eyes, "I see your sincerity. And you, Master Li?"

Master Li's dual pupils revealed a look of reluctance, "I can offer a True Device Sword Pill of the wood attribute, which only has my Divine Soul Imprint inside and can be taken away in an instant. Additionally, I can provide two Immaculate Sword Beads of the water and earth attributes, also at the Ascendant Grade Magic Item tier. Alchemy Sect, this is the limit of our Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion."

One True Device Sword Pill, three Magic Item Sword Beads.

This answer left Luo Chen somewhat dissatisfied.

But obviously, this was already their limit.

After all, Immaculate Sword Beads are not nurtured personally by a cultivator but are made by expending exceptional materials, specifically refined and then awarded to talented juniors or kept as personal reserves for crucial moments.

Just like the Platinum Sword Pill Luo Chen confiscated from Feiyun Zi, it also belonged to the Immaculate Sword Beads.

Under the watchful eyes of Li and Lin, Luo Chen pondered for a long while before slowly tapping the table.

"Agreed!"

With this, the cooperation was entirely agreed upon.

To ease the previous tense bargaining atmosphere, Luo Chen voluntarily changed the subject, inquiring about the current situation of the Human and Demon War.

The two also obliged, discussing it in brief.

No banquet was set; after delivering three vials of Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid, they took their leave.

...

Three strands of Glint flew away from Danluo Mountain at a moderate pace.

Lin Qingxuan said guiltily, "I'm sorry, Hong Ling, I've given away the Immaculate Sword Bead prepared for you."

Hong Ling forced a smile, "It's fine. The Sword Pill I'm nurturing is already sufficient. Whether I can successfully ascend to Nascent Soul is still uncertain. Senior Brother, your strength enhancement is more important. With the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid, you can finally remedy your weaknesses."

Lin Qingxuan reached out and gently ruffled the girl's head, letting out a soft sigh.

"The Alchemy Sect is becoming increasingly domineering!"

"Senior Brother, your hand?" Hong Ling asked as she spotted a streak of blood as he withdrew his hand.

Faint and thin, yet it was shocking.

The girl couldn't believe it, "Was it from the sparring just now? But clearly, you won the sword path competition, didn't you?"

Lin Qingxuan's right hand trembled slightly as he tucked it back into his sleeve.

"I may have won the discourse, but as for swordplay..."

Master Li interjected in a somber tone, "In the battle with the Dead Spirit, the Alchemy Sect's Demon Sword was no ordinary item. Now that they personally requested the Sword Beads, it seems it's all for that Demon Sword!"

As he spoke, Master Li seemed somewhat discontented.

In his view, Luo Chen dared to demand such a high price because of Lin Qingxuan's disadvantage in the sword path competition.

On the surface, Luo Chen seemed slightly inferior, but that was because he had just begun refining the sword.

However, Lin Qingxuan was injured, which couldn't be hidden from Master Li.

Lin Qingxuan shook his head, "Not only that, at the moment of Qi Power collision, I sensed an enormous gap between Luo Chen and myself. He..."

The man in the azure robe showed a look of seriousness in his eyes, seemingly unable to believe the glimpse of Luo Chen's immense Qi Power beneath the tip of the iceberg.

Master Li hadn't personally sparred, so he couldn't deeply feel it.

He presumed Lin Qingxuan was intentionally exaggerating Luo Chen's strength to cover up the earlier defeat.

"As previously agreed, I take sixty percent of the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid; I take four-tenths, you two-tenths. Here you go!"

A Jade Vial was tossed to Lin Qingxuan's hand.

Thereafter, the two parties went their separate ways.

Lin Qingxuan looked at the lone Jade Vial in his hand, his other hand involuntarily clenched tightly.

Having paid the Pill Formula, Spirit Stones, and even the Sword Pill prepared for his junior sister, this was all he got?

"Senior Brother..." Hong Ling looked at the man with concern.

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