Wu Jinliang didn't like hearing this, and retorted slightly, "What's wrong with selling to nine families? If we don't sell to them, will they easily let us go?"

The meaning was simple, either way, might as well make a move first.

In fact, Shi Chun meant just this. The thought process of the two in this situation was aligned.

However, Shi Chun still gestured to Wu Jinliang to stop and asked Young Master Nan, "Are you afraid of the Ten Great Sects?"

Young Master Nan stroked his beard at this question, "This question you ask, I really don't know how to answer. It depends on the aspect. In terms of strength and influence, I'm definitely not as powerful as they are. But if they dare to provoke me without just cause, they might not gain much advantage either."

Having known him for so long, Shi Chun was naturally aware of his background, knowing that these were not empty words. After all, the reputation of his ancestors still lingered, and some people would still show him respect when necessary.

Precisely because of this, Shi Chun decisively said, "You help me swallow it."

"..." Young Master Nan's eyes widened, almost popping out, then he waved his hands, "You really overestimate me. When it comes to their level, the Ten Great Sects, I also dare not provoke them. If it's just one family, fine, but ten families practically represent the entire Artifact Refining World, even someone like Qian She who had people in power at home suffered losses at their hands. What am I worth?"

"What are you looking at? Copy your part." Shi Chun glared at Tong Mingshan who stopped writing to listen and scolded him first. Then he said to Young Master Nan, "It's like this, the accounts will be settled clearly face-to-face. If they want to recover something, they'll come after me, not you. The reason I want you to show up is precisely to prevent them from bullying due to their strong backing.

Simply put, my dealings with them are between me and them. After the transaction, I will hand the items to you in front of them, with the reason being that I owe you a debt, and you're taking the items from me to pay it off, letting them know the items have become yours. In reality…"

He pointed at himself, giving a "you know what I mean" expression.

Young Master Nan, dealing with this type of business, understood immediately upon hearing it, and stroked his small beard while saying, "Oh, like this huh..."

Shi Chun: "We won't let you help for nothing. We'll put in more effort on our side to try to reduce the likelihood of the Refining Heaven Sect winning."

This was what Young Master Nan liked to hear. If it were when they just met, he might think this guy was boasting, but now it had real weight.

He listened, joy spreading on his face, but ultimately, his eyes rolled around as he pointed at the list being copied, "With such a large amount of stuff in my hands, and the Ten Great Sects witnessing that it's your debt, aren't you worried that I might take advantage of the situation?"

Shi Chun: "Just by the fact that Brother Nan personally went to the Divine Fire Domain to rescue us, even if you swallow us, we acknowledge it. The Ten Great Sects use their power to oppress, but not fighting back is something I can't accept."

Actually, Young Master Nan was much older than him, but now they had become friends regardless of age. They called Young Master Nan 'Brother Nan,' and Young Master Nan also called them 'Chun Tian' and 'Jinliang.'

Upon hearing this, Young Master Nan laughed heartily and also pointed at Tong Mingshan, who was raising his eyes to look, "Hurry up and copy."

Then he patted Shi Chun on the shoulder, "Don't worry, as long as I can stop the Refining Heaven Sect from winning, as long as my business remains stable, once these things are in my hands, I'll definitely secure them for you. But… are you sure you want to do this? While taking such a huge gain at once is indeed satisfying, it seems a bit reckless. Once they find out you sold to nine families, they won't let you go easily."

"The Ten Great Sects, we've already killed their people, and the enmity has been formed." Shi Chun casually said, glancing at Wu Jinliang, "Jinliang is right, without taking action, they won't let us off easily either. We've never expected to be able to not be crushed by being honest people, so we also don't want to just be honest people.

If we just wait, we won't get through this. If we can hurt them, they might even respect us a little, making it possible for things to move on. Brother Nan, our lives are cheap, we don't have the qualification to sit and wait, we can only strive for ourselves."

Wu Jinliang agreed wholeheartedly with a sound. He had no intention of letting this matter go and planned to fight to the end.

There's no choice, the fact that he killed the Black Tiger from the Extreme Fire Sect isn't a secret. Just based on this, he knows very well that the Extreme Fire Sect won't let him off easily, so he might as well seize more resources for the struggle first.

"Sigh, this matter is partly my fault. I shouldn't have gotten you guys involved. And the Stargazing Pavilion, I really have no way with that side, just hoping nothing happens." Young Master Nan sighed, not even sure how this group ended up getting into so much trouble, with each being a major one.

Speaking of the Stargazing Pavilion, Shi Chun asked: "When can the Mother-child Talisman restore contact?"

The reason he asked this was because of Mulan Qingqing, facing the Stargazing Pavilion, he had no leverage, but the Commander of the Stargazing Pavilion was Mulan Qingqing's father. In case things went wrong, the only person he could think of asking for help was Mulan Qingqing.

As for whether Mulan Qingqing would be willing to help, he was not sure.

However, regardless of uncertainty, he had to try his best, at the worst, try using some charming words. Other than that, he really couldn't think of any other way to move her. In terms of knowledge and talent, he certainly didn't stand a chance, and wealth was a joke in her eyes. In terms of family background, he was even less competitive. His only advantage might just be his good looks.

If you don't use your advantage, you're almost a fool.

Pursuing Mulan Qingqing also had another benefit. Even if Xiang Laner found out, it wouldn't matter. As long as he explained the reason, surely the Demon Path would be pleased.

In other words, he could continue pursuing Xiang Laner as well, without missing either.

Young Master Nan pointed up, "When the passage between the two realms is closed, and the Divine Fire Spirit Gate wraps up, the Mother-child Talisman can be used normally."

Shi Chun: "Brother Nan, send someone out to help me find someone."

Young Master Nan: "Sure, who are you looking for?"

Shi Chun: "Mulan Qingqing. She was on the island before, but I don't know if she's still there..."

"Her?" Young Master Nan chuckled, "Yes, she's still on the island. She was there before I came in, and there's no reason she wouldn't watch the outcome of the Divine Fire Covenant competition."

He guessed that the other party wanted to seek Mulan Qingqing for help. He also knew this man and woman had eaten together on the island before.

No kidding, he thought it was indeed a way. Facing someone like Mulan Jin, there's really not much reliable friendship.

After finishing, he added, "I say, do you guys have a direct Mother-child Talisman connection?"

Shi Chun nodded slightly, feeling a bit concerned. It was something he forced into Mulan Qingqing's hands earlier. After sending her messages, he hadn't seen her respond, so he really didn't know if Mulan Qingqing had kept it.

During their conversation, Tong Mingshan put down his pen. He picked up the last sheet, blew it gently, and stood up, "Master, I've copied it all."

"Mm." Shi Chun casually snatched a sheet from the table, turned around, and walked out the door.

Everyone in the courtyard turned to look. Gu Lianni and Yuan Yao, waiting on the steps, did the same. Shi Chun walked straight to them, handing the list to them, "Please deliver this list to your sect leader."

Both looked puzzled. Gu Lianni took it and looked, finding it was a list of artifact refining materials, with a large sum of money at the end, curiously asking, "What's this?"

Shi Chun: "My asking price."

Gu Lianni was confused, "Your asking price?"

Shi Chun countered, "Doesn't your sect want to know the source of that thing?"

Gu Lianni's heart jolted, instantly understanding, and immediately took a closer look at the list, having only glanced over it just now.

Yuan Yao couldn't hold back either and, regardless of gender differences, leaned in to see the names on the list.

Before looking closely, it was okay, but after seeing clearly, both of them gasped, and Gu Lianni raised her head in shock, "Such a huge amount of stuff, aren't you afraid it'll burst your stomach?"

Shi Chun: "This is consensual, no one is forcing it. Besides, considering our relationship, I approached you first. If you think it's expensive, you don't have to take it, I can find other sects." With that said, he reached to take back the list.

Yuan Yao quickly reached to block his arm.

Gu Lianni also backed the list behind her with a hand.

What a joke, they weren't fools. That thing, even if they thought it was pricey, couldn't be easily let into others' hands.

"I can't make a decision on this. I'll report to the sect immediately, you wait for my message." Gu Lianni said, quickly running off, glancing at Young Master Nan who was smiling with his hand on his beard, and the grinning Wu Jinliang as she left.

Yuan Yao cupped his hands and swiftly followed.

The guard Xiao Sheng nodded in courtesy to the departing guests.

From the side room, Tong Mingshan who had compiled eight copied lists came out, only to see Shi Chun, Young Master Nan, and Wu Jinliang standing in a row on the steps of the main hall watching the guests leave.

The group in the courtyard, however, was watching around curiously.

Young Master Nan suddenly mused, "I'm wondering if we listed too much on the list. Nine families, gathering so many artifact refining materials, won't we have some excess that we can't use up?"

Shi Chun was calm, "Not too much, still okay. Artifact refining sects have plenty of artifact refining materials, which are also easiest for them to gather in a short period. Once the items are in hand, we can sell the surplus, and sell it to buy other things as well. I can't just let them owe me, right? Who would go to collect debts then?"

While speaking, his eyes and thoughts seemed a bit distracted, wondering if An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin had returned to their respective sects. If they hadn't and returned, how could he let Zhu Xiangxin's Divine Fire talents go to waste? He had to let Zhu Xiangxin pick up the alchemy skill again.

Alchemy, especially for someone not yet skilled, required a massive amount of money in repeated failures and tinkering.

He also had a lot of people to support, needing money for all their cultivation resources.

Where would so much money come from? He could only carry out such a plan to earn it.

"Mm, that's true, debts may end up uncollected otherwise." Young Master Nan nodded slightly, showing he agreed.

At the temporary base on Shudao Mountain, a group of higher-ups listened to Gu Lianni's report. They immediately gathered around Gu Yanduo, looking at the list.

"Three thousand jin of Purple Mother Essence, one thousand jin of Red Meteor, five hundred jin of Heavenly Curtain Silk, fifty thousand Ghost Sleep Crystals..." Elder Tu murmured as he read through most of the list, couldn't help but snort, "What a huge appetite, dare to ask like that!"

Gu Yanduo, after browsing the list, remained silent. After a while, he looked around and, without a word wasted, said, "Everyone, gather your things, whatever we gather, the sect will reimburse later."

Elder Tu was surprised, "Really give it to him? Is he worthy to trade with our Shudao Mountain?"

Gu Yanduo: "Should we let other sects give it to him?"

Elder Tu was left speechless.

Another elder said, "He wants so much and so varied things, we might not gather enough now, even sending someone back to the sect may not be timely. We must complete the trade before he's taken by the Stargazing Pavilion, or who knows what fate awaits there."

Gu Yanduo: "The other materials might be hard to gather, but these materials here are manageable. So many artifact refining sects, it's a minor matter to gather these. Shudao Mountain borrowing some materials wouldn't be difficult. Let's gather first, and whatever is incomplete, borrow from the Li Huo Sect. If still lacking, seek other sects."

And thus, the senior group at Shudao Mountain began pooling together their belongings according to the list.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.