Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 452 - 458: Negotiation

Li Chenghuo, as a Golden Core cultivator, was more than capable of representing the Li family. Moreover, he was unaware of the familyʼs secret dealings with the Southern Edge Commerce Association, so there was no need to worry about the Xuanfa Pavilion discovering anything through probing.

Then, Li Zhirui used a Communication Talisman to summon Li Chenghuo over and said to him in person, ”Cheng Huo, I am entrusting you with an extremely important task. I hope you can carry out this matter well.”

Li Chenghuo was taken aback. He had just returned to Wanxian Island a few days ago and was planning to rest and recuperate before starting to work on his own Life-bound Magic Treasure. However, he hadnʼt expected the family to give him such a task.

”Please speak, Uncle. I will go all out and wonʼt let the family down!” Once he had regained his composure, Li Chenghuo quickly assured.

”Good!” Li Zhirui was very satisfied with his response and immediately told him everything from start to finish about the familyʼs decision to cooperate with the Xuanfa Pavilion, including all the conditions proposed by the family.

Li Chenghuo furrowed his brows and hesitated as he said, ”But, the Southern Edge Commerce Association...”

”Since we have decided to cooperate with the Xuanfa Pavilion, naturally, there will be no more contact with the Southern Edge Commerce Association,” Li Zhirui feigned a helpless expression.

”If the Xuanfa Pavilion doesnʼt trust us, the family can publicly declare a break off all relations with the Southern Edge Commerce Association.”

Li Chenghuo fell silent for a moment. Although he wasnʼt overly concerned with worldly affairs, it didnʼt mean he was a fool. He knew that the family had made this decision after weighing the pros and cons and had been left with no other choice.

”Uncle, rest assured, I will definitely complete this matter!” he said.

”You have my gratitude,” responded Li Zhirui with a look of relief, ”The day is already turning to evening. You can set out for Myriad Thunder State and negotiate with the Xuanfa Pavilion tomorrow.”

”Alright.”

Li Chenghuo asked a few more questions with emphasis, obtained the answers, and then stood up to leave.

”After this matter is settled, remember to tell Cheng Huo the truth,” Li Shiqing said from the side.

Li Zhirui nodded in response, ”Donʼt worry, Uncle. I wonʼt forget.”

Proactively telling him afterward and waiting for Li Chenghuo to find out on his own would, of course, lead to different outcomes.

——

”Store Manager, Li Chenghuo, a Golden Core True Man from the Wanxian Island Li family, has come to visit,” a servant clothed in gray knocked on the thick, luxurious door before him.

”Oh?” Fu Qinghuan, the Store Manager of Xuanfa Pavilion in Myriad Thunder State, raised his eyebrows slightly with a smile upon hearing the words from beyond the door. He muttered softly, ”It seems that the Li family has made the right choice this time.”

”Please ask him to wait in the parlor for a moment. I will be there momentarily!”

”Yes!” The servant responded and his footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Fu Qinghuan wasnʼt stalling; he intended to report to headquarters first, so they could make a quick decision to prevent any complications that might arise during a prolonged negotiation.

”Elder Jiu, the Wanxian Island Li family has already sent someone to discuss cooperation. It appears they have decided to work with us. I hope the headquarters can quickly provide a contract,” Fu Qinghuan said rapidly as he contacted the headquarters miles away through a special Magical Treasure.

”Alright, Iʼm aware,” responded Elder Jiu before shutting off the Magical Treasure.

This type of Magical Treasure, capable of making contact over thousands of miles, required a great deal of Spirit Stones and mana to activate and maintain, so it was rarely used.

When necessary, the use would be as brief as possible to avoid excessive consumption of time and resources.

Having done all this, Fu Qinghuan hurried to the parlor to receive Li Chenghuo, the Golden Core True Man representing the Li family.

”My apologies for the wait, Li,” Fu Qinghuan said as he entered, displaying a humble posture.

”Thereʼs no need for such words, Fu. I havenʼt been sitting for even a quarter of an hour,” replied Li Chenghuo, who was seeking cooperation and thus would not adopt a proud demeanor.

Upon hearing this, Fu Qinghuan was reassured. The Li family was indeed willing to cooperate. Without any hesitation, he directly asked, ”May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?”

The reason he didnʼt just expose Li Chenghuoʼs intentions outright was naturally to maintain the initiative, aiming to secure more favorable terms in the forthcoming contract for the Xuanfa Pavilion.

”Of course, it is to seek cooperation,” Li Chenghuo recognized the other partyʼs maneuvers but did not plan to continue playing along with them. He had no wish to waste time on pretenses.

Instead, he chose to be forthright, laying out the Li familyʼs conditions directly and saying, ”These are my familyʼs terms. If you find them acceptable, then letʼs sign the contract right away.”

As the saying goes, one starts with exorbitant demands to settle immediately for cash. Such was the nature of this contract, with most terms heavily favoring the Li family.

If they could achieve cooperation on these terms, the Li family would naturally be pleased, but if not, it wouldnʼt matter—there were several other contracts the Li family was prepared to negotiate, so long as their bottom line was not crossed.

Fu Qinghuan was taken aback; he hadnʼt expected the Li family to be so direct. Taking the Jade Slip and inspecting it, his expression quickly darkened, and his tone lost the warmth from earlier, hardened as he said, ”If this is the Li familyʼs attitude, then perhaps there is no need to discuss this cooperation!”

Dozens of stipulated conditions in the contract—none of them favored the Xuanfa Pavilion!

If he dared agree, he would lose his head the next day!

Li Chenghuo wasnʼt surprised and replied with a smile, ”If there is anything youʼre dissatisfied with, we can discuss it. Thereʼs no need for anger.”

Fu Qinghuan choked up, and after a moment, he said, ”Alright.”

While the two negotiated, the Elders at Xuanfa Pavilion headquarters were also discussing the matter.

Like the Southern Edge Commerce Association, the Xuanfa Pavilion was governed by several Elders, though not as many—in total, just nine Elders.

After intense deliberations, they agreed upon a contract slightly more in favor of the Xuanfa Pavilionʼs interests.

Considering that the Li family was the party in need, it was only natural that there should be a price to pay; otherwise, why should anyone agree to cooperate with them?

The Li family had also accounted for this and therefore gave Li Chenghuo certain negotiating powers. As long as it didnʼt severely harm the familyʼs interests, he could agree to the terms.

The idea mainly came from Li Zhirui; without cooperation with both major commerce associations, it would be impossible to proceed to the next step.

”Please wait a moment, I have an important message from headquarters,” Fu Qinghuan said quickly upon seeing an old servant appear at the door, realizing what it meant and excusing himself.

”Alright,” Li Chenghuo smiled, watching him leave.

In the current situation, both parties were testing each otherʼs limits. However, he knew that in the end, it would be the Li family that would have to concede.

Meanwhile, Fu Qinghuan stood in front of the communication Magical Treasure, rapidly listing the various terms agreed upon by the Elders at headquarters.

To his surprise, he found that headquarters hadnʼt pushed their advantage too far. Instead, it seemed they were opting for a measured approach, possibly out of concern that the Li family might turn to the Southern Edge Commerce Association instead.

After all, centered on Myriad Thunder State, in the neighboring State Domains, there was only Li Zhirui, the near fourth-tier Alchemy Master!

That meant whoever secured the Li familyʼs channel would have the ability to control, or even monopolize, the high-end Spirit Pill market in the neighboring states!