Chapter 492

Chapter 492: The Crazy Deal

According to the rules, half of the city’s income had to be handed over to West Kunlun, while the rest remained under the city’s ownership, used for defenses, rewarding personnel, and other expenses. Yet substantial surplus accumulated annually, forming a reserve for emergencies.

Over millennia, this reserve had grown staggeringly vast. Even high-rank materials could fill Fang Lie’s Flying Boat to the brim—its value beyond measure. Not even a Thunder Tribulation Immortal’s wealth could purchase it all at once!

This was why Immortal Qingning reacted with such shock.

Noticing this, Mi Qing smiled gently. "Rest assured, my master lacks no funds. We’ll trade at market prices, ensuring no trouble for you."

"This…" Immortal Qingning forced a strained smile. "You’ve already placed me in a bind. These reserves aren’t mine alone—they belong to the city, watched by countless eyes. Out of respect for your master, I can release one-tenth. More would be… difficult to justify."

"Indeed," Immortal Wulian interjected urgently. "Such high-rank materials are closely monitored by sect Higher-ups. This isn’t about wealth but sect rules—no one dares release them carelessly."

Mi Qing grasped their meaning instantly. High-rank materials were strategic reserves; no sect willingly let large quantities leave their territory. Should rivals obtain them, disaster could follow.

Thus, sects guarded their high-rank resources fiercely, rarely permitting sales. That Immortal Qingning offered even one-tenth showed exceptional generosity—a concession only made due to Master Yuan’s status as a Great Pill Master and his aid to the City Lord.

Yet even this amount carried risk. If resold to the demonic sect, Immortal Qingning would lose his position and face sect punishment. His offer already stretched propriety to its limits—a fact Mi Qing acknowledged privately.

Still undeterred, she replied smoothly, "We understand your position. My master is grateful for your generosity."

Immortal Qingning relaxed visibly. "So long as your master recognizes our sincerity, all is well."

"Naturally," Mi Qing said, her smile widening. "But there’s a misunderstanding here."

"Oh?" Immortal Qingning frowned.

"My master isn’t paying with spirit pearls." Her tone turned conspiratorial. "Knowing strategic reserves can’t be casually traded, he prepared high-grade spirit pills instead—Fifth Rank at minimum, Seventh Rank at best. Thousands accumulated over decades! Surely pills hold greater strategic value than raw materials?"

Gasps rippled through the room. Immortal Qingning’s face flushed crimson.

Normally, selling vast materials would be treasonous. But exchanging them for spirit pills? That meant merit! The Demon Domain overflowed with materials, but pill-making required rare alchemical skill. To West Kunlun, pills weren’t mere reserves—they directly boosted strength.

Master Yuan’s lifetime stockpile, painstakingly crafted, outweighed mountains of unused materials. With these pills, leaders could empower themselves and their factions—a prospect no Cultivator could resist.

The officials exchanged glances, nods sealing their silent consensus.

Yet Immortal Qingning pressed cautiously, "For pills, I’d empty our Warehouses. But one matter requires clarity."

"Name it."

"Your origins." His eyes narrowed. "Should these materials surface in Demonic Path treasures, I’d rather they moldered unused."

Mi Qing laughed brightly. "Worry not! I’ll swear a Heart Demon Oath: My master’s lineage is pure, no dealings with demonic sects. These materials are for personal use, never resold. Should I lie, may my cultivation stagnate eternally!"

Immortal Qingning exhaled in relief. A Talented Cultivator with a Qi Sea a Thousand Miles wouldn’t stake her future on falsehoods. The oath’s weight settled matters.

Although the other party still hadn’t stated their purpose, Immortal Qingning no longer cared. As long as they weren’t from the Demonic Path, it didn’t matter whether they belonged to righteous sects, reclusive family clans, or neutral sects.

Even if his sect questioned him later, those spirit pills would ensure no mistakes occurred.

Slamming the table decisively, Immortal Qingning declared, "Good! Then I’ll authorize this trade. But the spirit pill varieties must be common ones, none of those obscure types!"

"Rest assured," Mi Qing smiled, handing him a Jade Slip. "We have all the mainstream varieties – Five Elements Purple Qi Pills, Five Elements Nascent Soul Pills, Five Elements Wind Tribulation Pills, Spirit Nourishing Pills, Marrow Cleansing Pills, Barrier Breaking Pills, and more. No rare pills here!"

Immortal Qingning’s eyes widened as he scanned the list. The selection covered every common pill needed for Purple Palace, Nascent Soul, and Wind Tribulation stages, with complete Five Elements compatibility.

This was crucial since over ninety percent of Cultivators practiced Five Elements Dao magic. Comprehensive coverage meant most practitioners could find suitable pills.

"Excellent quality," Immortal Qingning nodded approvingly. "But I need to consult my colleagues before finalizing our choices."

"No rush," Mi Qing replied. "Just remember we require large material quantities. Please announce that we’ll trade pills for any materials listed on our registry."

"It’ll be known citywide by tomorrow," the City Lord promised.

After Mi Qing’s departure, the gathered immortals broke their composure.

Immortal Wulian urged, "Prioritize Seventh-rank spirit pills! They’re rarest and most valuable. Securing bulk quantities would earn great sect rewards!"

"Exactly!" Flower Sword interjected. "We must act fast – complete trades today, exhaust our surplus materials before spreading news in three days. That way we keep the advantage!"

"Agreed," Immortal Qingning nodded. The three immediately dispersed to act.

Meanwhile, Li Wan suddenly slapped his forehead. "A century stuck at Great Pill Master level because I feared innovation! Like Master Yuan daring to use burnt ingredients – that’s how one becomes an Alchemist Grandmaster! I must experiment immediately!"

Elsewhere, Fang Lie awoke unaware he’d ruined an alchemist’s career. Mi Qing arrived with updates: the City Lord’s faction had gone mad for pills, emptying city reserves and personal stashes that afternoon. Nearly 3,000 Seventh-rank spirit pills had been traded, nearly exhausting stocks.

Mi Qing maintained her smile despite inner panic. Fang Lie casually replenished her supply with another thousand pills produced recently – thanks to Fang Huo’s alchemy team using the sentient Pill Furnace and abundant Spirit Liquid. Daily production yielded dozens of top-grade pills per batch, stored conveniently in the Ancient Heroic Souls Temple’s teleportation array.

"Spend freely," Fang Lie instructed. "Even if exposed, we keep everything gathered before West Kunlun reacts."

"Understood," Mi Qing grinned. "This time, we’ll claim all treasures from the Demon Domain!"