Chapter 269

Chapter 269: The New Deal

Hearing this, Fang Lie immediately rolled his eyes and scoffed, "This thing takes years of continuous consumption to show effects. It’s already low in yield. Where do you expect me to find enough to supply a million cultivators?"

"Then how much can you provide?" Mo Wanfang quickly asked. "Can it be enough for ten thousand? Even a thousand would be fine!"

"For now, I can only provide for my little brothers and sisters," Fang Lie replied bluntly. "For anyone else, it’s face-to-face discussions."

"That’s not fair!" Mo Wanfang protested urgently. "How about we make a deal? Provide me with enough for one hundred people, and I’ll pay a high price!"

"What do you need this for?" Fang Lie asked with confusion. "Isn’t your family full of talents? Why would you want this?"

"Sigh, behind all those talents are piles of mediocrity!" Mo Wanfang said with a bitter smile. "In my Mo family, we have tens of thousands of relatives, but only about a thousand have cultivation aptitude. Moreover, most of them have low-grade spiritual roots. If we could use this to improve them to middle-grade, it would be a huge help! Come on, help me out here. I’m really doing you a favor!"

"Hmm…" Upon hearing this, Fang Lie suddenly brightened up. "Did the Bai family lower their demands?"

"Yes, but they added another condition: you must participate in the exploration of the Lost Forest Secret Realm in a few months. It’s similar to a Path Contest as the last one. This thing would be considered an early reward for you." Mo Wanfang explained.

"Hmm?" Fang Lie smiled slightly upon hearing this. "Isn’t it just a secret realm? It doesn’t seem like a big deal. Has the Bai family really changed their attitude? Why are they not making things difficult for me? Or are they just looking for a way out to save face?"

"Sigh…" Mo Wanfang sighed. "They don’t have such kind hearts. To tell you the truth, the Lost Forest may produce rare wood-element monsters, but it is extremely dangerous. Our Mo Sect has sent people to explore it several times, and all of them perished, only to watch the Demonic Path cultivators profit inside. It’s truly despicable!"

"Hehe, what do I have to fear? I possess an undying nature!" Fang Lie said nonchalantly.

"That’s the crux of the problem!" Mo Wanfang said seriously. "I now solemnly warn you: there’s a unique aspect of the Lost Forest that can prevent resurrection. In the past, major sects’ core inner gate disciples relied on treasures similar to the Puppet That Dies in Place when entering, yet none of them were revived. They are still missing to this day. I still don’t understand the principle behind your undying nature, but the Lost Forest may indeed counter your resurrection ability. You cannot take this lightly."

"Damn it!" Fang Lie cursed. "I thought the Bai family had changed their minds, but it turns out they were waiting for me. They want to use the Lost Forest to wipe me out!"

"That’s exactly right," Mo Wanfang said. "Then just forget about those formation flags. I’ll think of another way to get you a different set."

"How long would that take?" Fang Lie frowned.

"There aren’t many suitable flags for seven people. It could take a year or more before you find them," Mo Wanfang said seriously.

"That’s a bit long!" Fang Lie muttered to himself.

He immediately contacted Old Bird in his consciousness sea, asking, "Bird Bro, do you think I can go to the Lost Forest?"

"Didn’t they say that once you die there, you can’t be revived?" Fang Lie hurriedly asked.

"You are not the same as them. Your existence is fundamentally a true seed. Your current body is merely an incarnation walking in the world," Old Bird explained. "Others are different. For instance, the Puppet That Dies in Place essentially collects your soul after you die, teleports it back to the sect, and then rebuilds the body for resurrection. However, the formation in the Lost Forest possesses a terrifying force of confinement, preventing treasures like the Puppet That Dies in Place from sending souls back, so they cannot be revived. But you don’t need to worry about this."

After listening, Fang Lie curiously asked, "Why do I feel like you are quite familiar with the Lost Forest?"

"Hehe, that’s actually true," Old Bird replied with a grin. "It’s a special Small Thousand World occupied by a powerful wood-element Great Demon. He once asked Mo Ancestor to help build the formation inside, so I naturally went along and might know the place even better than him."

"Hmm?" Fang Lie was instantly elated. "Does that mean as long as I enter, it will be like going home?"

"Exactly, so just agree to him bravely!" Old Bird laughed.

"Got it!" Fang Lie immediately nodded excitedly and turned to Mo Wanfang beside him. "Alright, I accept. I will represent the Mo Sect in the Lost Forest activity. However, the formation flags I want must be delivered today, or don’t blame me for being unreasonable!"

"What? You really agreed?" Mo Wanfang frowned. "Aren’t you afraid of actually dying in there?"

"Is there anyone in the Fang family who’s afraid of death?" Fang Lie said arrogantly.

"Alright, you’ve got guts!" Mo Wanfang chuckled. "Since that’s the case, I won’t waste time. I’ll go back and have the Bai family deliver the items immediately. But about what we talked about earlier, what’s your view?"

Fang Lie thought for a moment and said, "You told me the truth and didn’t collude with the Bai family to deceive me, so I can see you’re in a relatively fair position. Since that’s the case, I won’t be stingy. If I can’t provide for a hundred people, I can at least manage ten. You can receive ten White Jade Divine Fish from me each month. Just go directly to Fang Huo for them."

"This thing is called White Jade Divine Fish?" Mo Wanfang asked eagerly. "Is ten enough?"

"That’s enough," Fang Lie replied. "By the way, this fish has to be eaten raw. You will understand when the time comes!"

"Alright!" Mo Wanfang exclaimed excitedly. "Thank you so much! You’re really a great help!"

"Hehe, it’s just a few middle-grade spiritual roots. Is it that important?" Fang Lie chuckled.

"Of course it is!" Mo Wanfang said with a bitter smile. "You’re a filled stomach who doesn’t know the hunger of an empty one! In these big families like ours, the biggest fear is that one’s direct descendants don’t have spiritual roots. You can only watch helplessly as you hand over everything you’ve worked for to your relatives. Even though they are cousins, who would be willing to let their brothers inherit everything if they have sons? Moreover, descendants without spiritual roots hold a very low position, almost like servants."

Mo Wanfang added, "To be honest, I have a son with a False Spiritual Root. Basically, his life is wasted. He’s already 14 now, and according to family rules, he’ll be expelled at 16. Even as his father, I cannot keep him. At most, I can find him a good place to pass his remaining years. But if this White Jade Divine Fish can change him to a middle-grade spiritual root, then he has the qualification to stay for cultivation and rely on family resources. He might even reach the level of Wind Tribulation Immortal! Compared to the mere hundred years of a mortal’s life, the treatment is like heaven and earth!"

"Hehe," Fang Lie couldn’t help but laugh. "I didn’t expect your family to have this side. I thought you were all quite glorious!"

"Every family has its challenges," Mo Wanfang said with a wry smile. "There are many people in similar situations. This time, I got ten slots, but excluding myself, the other nine will definitely cause a stir in the clan. I can’t imagine what kind of chaos this will create over just a few slots!"

"Hehe, it would likely be better for you if they compete fiercely, right?" Fang Lie laughed. "You can take the opportunity to reap benefits."

"Of course! Don’t worry, your share will definitely not be overlooked." Mo Wanfang said before suddenly leaning in and whispering, "By the way, tell me honestly, is there any surplus in those ten slots? If so, we could collaborate and sell one for a sky-high price. Many would be willing to pay any cost for their own child."

Upon hearing this, Fang Lie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "I might still have some, but I’m trying to cultivate and see if I can raise them to high-tier, enhancing the effect of improving spiritual roots. So for now, I can’t offer too many."

"Your idea is good and worth trying. If you manage to cultivate a White Jade Divine Fish capable of producing high-grade spiritual roots, it would change the entire cultivation world. Just wait to count your money!" Mo Wanfang then said, "As for now, there’s no need to offer too many. More would simply decrease in value. Let’s set the price for these slots at two sixth-rank magical items each. We’ll split it evenly, one for each of us. How about that?"

"Ah? So high?" Fang Lie exclaimed. "Isn’t that a bit harsh?"

"What do you know? For their own child, this amount is nothing! Even if it costs half their fortune to have their son become a middle-grade spiritual root, they would still profit. After all, the remaining half of the fortune goes to the son, not entirely to outsiders, right?"

"Alright," Fang Lie promptly nodded. "Your family’s ten slots can be exchanged for three sixth-rank magical items."

"Got it!" Mo Wanfang smiled. "Thank you very much. I’ll notify the Bai family now. Goodbye!"

With that, Mo Wanfang floated away.

Fang Lie waited only half an hour when a Wind Tribulation Immortal from the Bai family delivered a set of formation flags.

These flags were only about three feet long and entirely silver-white. Each flag featured a large star that shone brightly.

As he gently waved them, streams of starlight spread out, illuminating the room, and a terrifying wave of magic energy made Fang Lie feel a bit startled.

Unlike sixth-rank magical items, these seventh-rank treasures possessed a hint of intelligence, resembling living beings. With a slight urging, they automatically swirled around Fang Lie and occasionally bumped against him affectionately, much like adorable puppies pleasing their owner.

While Fang Lie was playing with the set of formation flags, the Wind Tribulation Immortal’s eyes shot out an expression of utter hatred.