Chapter 41: Terms and Conditions

"Oh?" Lin Fan had already guessed their purpose, but he had to maintain appearances. He furrowed his brows, adopting a puzzled expression. "Cooperation is certainly welcome, but our Moon Embracing Sect is currently impoverished and lacks notable strengths. How could we possibly be worthy partners...?"

'This kid just keeps pretending!' Liu Xun barely restrained himself from cursing aloud.

But seeing Lin Fan's utterly 'genuine' expression, he couldn't tell whether the sect master was truly oblivious or merely acting. Ultimately, he decided it didn't matter. He'd already broached the topic—now he'd see it through to the end. Whether Lin Fan was feigning ignorance or genuinely slow, Liu Xun would lay everything out plainly. 'Let's see how long you can keep up the act!'

"Haha, Sect Master Lin, you jest." Liu Xun chuckled, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "While the Moon Embracing Sect's current strength may be modest, why demean yourselves by claiming you have nothing to offer? Have you forgotten that Miss Xiao Ling'er of your sect recently won first place in Hongwu Immortal City's alchemy conference?" He nodded approvingly toward Xiao Ling'er before shifting his gaze to Fan Jianqiang. "And furthermore… Your sect has also welcomed Fan Jianqiang, has it not? Cooperation would be mutually beneficial."

Liu Xun wasn't about to let Lin Fan 'play dumb.' He'd spell everything out himself to avoid misunderstandings! "The Liu family and Moon Embracing Sect would support one another. If the Moon Embracing Sect faces trouble, my family would naturally intervene. In return, your sect need only provide my Liu family with high-quality elixirs. What do you say, Sect Master Lin?"

'I've laid it all out. No more pretending!'

But before Lin Fan could respond, Fan Jianqiang leaped into the conversation. "My senior sister's alchemy skills are indeed exceptional, but you mustn't count on me." He extended his pinky finger, grinning sheepishly. "I'm barely a blip on the radar—just a lucky fluke. Pure luck, really."

'As if I don't know the truth!' Liu Xun nearly rolled his eyes.

Initially, he'd assumed Fan Jianqiang was talentless and had merely stumbled into refining a ninth-grade Profound Yuan Pill through sheer, heaven-defying luck. But his father insisted that 'luck is part of one's strength.' What could he do? He was stuck with this farce.

Meanwhile, Duan Qingyao and the other elders exchanged skeptical glances. They weren't privy to Fan Jianqiang's true capabilities.

Xiao Ling'er's eyelid twitched violently.

'This Junior Brother Fan Jianqiang is really…' For a moment, she couldn't find words beyond cowardly, death-fearing, spineless, and trouble-averse. 'If you don't want to contribute, just push everything onto me, huh? Good grief!'

Others might believe his 'luck' act, but she couldn't be fooled. Not anymore. Even if she misjudged him, her teacher, Liang Danxia, certainly hadn't. Fan Jianqiang's alchemy skills might not rival hers, but they far surpassed most alchemists. He was more than qualified for this partnership.

Yet he'd shoved all responsibility onto her the moment he opened his mouth!

Though Xiao Ling'er was patient with her sect mates, even she felt a pang of frustration.

Liang Danxia's voice echoed in her mind, dripping with dry amusement, 'I thought his fear of death was the pinnacle of human nature. Turns out, he's even more timid than a mouse. Whose side is he on, anyway…?'

"Ours," Xiao Ling'er muttered under her breath.

…..

While the group stewed in silent exasperation, Lin Fan adopted a pleasantly surprised expression. "That sounds excellent! Our Moon Embracing Sect is strapped for resources. Normally, our elders scavenge for herbs to craft elixirs. Any surplus is sold. If we can partner with the Liu family, we'd naturally prioritize selling to you. That said, I'm familiar with their alchemy skills. Producing a ninth-grade pill requires tremendous luck. So, if the Liu family expects ninth-grade elixirs regularly, I'm afraid…"

Liu Xun's brows dipped slightly. Lin Fan's words seemed earnest, but they carried layered implications: Want elixirs? Sure—pay in spirit stones or trade for valuable resources. No freebies. We'll only sell you what we don't need ourselves. Don't expect consistent ninth-grade elixirs. Even if we have them, they'll be rare. We lack herbs. If you want more pills, supply the ingredients. Otherwise, don't complain about shortages.

Liu Xun grasped these points instantly but dismissed them as trivial.

Free elixirs? He'd never expected that. Given the Moon Embracing Sect's meager size, extorting them would backfire—hardly aligning with his father's long-term plans.

Selling surplus? Standard practice. Every sect prioritized its own needs first. Only excess would hit the market.

Ninth-grade elixirs? Liu Xun barely suppressed a snort. Did they think ninth-grade pills grew on trees? Xiao Ling'er and Fan Jianqiang's prior success was surely a fluke—a combination of peak performance and dumb luck. Otherwise, how could two Condensing Yuan Realm cultivators reliably produce top-tier pills? The notion was absurd.

Herb shortages? Also, reasonable. The Moon Embracing Sect's territory was tiny, their spiritual fields pitiful. How many herbs could they possibly grow? Elders could forage, but they couldn't abandon cultivation to scavenge full-time. And paying for herbs upfront? Fair enough.

Thus, Liu Xun found all four terms acceptable.

His deliberation lasted mere seconds before he smiled. "Fair points. Sect Master Lin… How about this arrangement? Mutual support. If Moon Embracing Sect is threatened, the Liu family will dispatch aid. Additionally, we'll provide an initial batch of herbs for your alchemists to refine. The Liu family will purchase high-quality pills at market rates, deducting the herb costs from the final payment."

'There. I've agreed to your terms—even fronted the herbs. But don't try palming us off with mediocre pills. We'll only accept seventh-grade or higher. Fail to deliver, and you'll still owe us for the herbs. And don't think of skipping town. The Liu family's reach is long.'

As for Moon Embracing Sect 'supporting' the Liu family in crises? Liu Xun didn't even bother mentioning it.

'Just focus on being our pill factory. Your sole purpose is to fuel the Liu family's rise.'