Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 601: Chapter 312: The Choice

Baili Xi chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Fellow Daoist Luo, you jest. This is a matter of client confidentiality. How could I dare speak of it recklessly?"

His expression was utterly sincere, and his eyes held a look of firm resolve, as if he were demonstrating his determination to Cheng Zongyang.

Then, as if to prove he had no intention of leaking the secret, he immediately signed the agreement and pressed his thumbprint to it. His movements were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Cheng Zongyang watched Baili Xi, his expression one of surprise.

He knew this confidentiality agreement was of the utmost importance. In the future, he would use such contracts for all similar transactions to prevent any mishaps.

When he saw the agreement take effect so smoothly, he understood the other man’s intentions.

’It seems he’s truly set on these Foundation Establishment Pills.’

For him, the most important thing was that the other party could neither leak information nor investigate him after he produced the Foundation Establishment Pills. Now that secrecy was guaranteed, there was nothing to worry about. He immediately said, "In that case, this will be easy."

His tone relaxed considerably, and a faint smile touched his lips.

Cheng Zongyang took back the beast-hide scroll. "Based on the total price, twenty Foundation Establishment Pills should be enough, correct?"

His gaze locked onto Baili Xi, awaiting his response.

Hearing this, Baili Xi’s heart skipped a beat, and his breathing grew heavy. An intense wave of excitement surged through him. ’Twenty Foundation Establishment Pills!’ He struggled to suppress his elation, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "It’s enough!"

He realized the pitch of his voice had risen, and that was even with him desperately trying to keep it down.

Cheng Zongyang paid no mind to the other man’s attitude or emotional state. He was well aware that such excitement over something that wasn’t yet his meant Baili Xi had plans for the Foundation Establishment Pills.

Cheng Zongyang couldn’t be bothered with how Baili Xi might handle the Foundation Establishment Pills. In fact, it was better that he had his own plans; it would only increase the level of secrecy.

Besides, the agreement was already signed. When it came to his secrets, the other party wouldn’t be able to utter a single word. He had already tested this on a few people. Anyone who tried to leak information bound by the agreement would find the words that came out of their mouth were completely different from their thoughts.

As for whether the secret could be extracted through soul-searching, that was uncertain. However, the very intention to speak of it would constitute a breach of the contract. The consequence was not only that the spoken words would differ from the person’s thoughts, but that they would also pay for the attempt with their life!

Cheng Zongyang said, "Since this is feasible, let’s proceed. Here is the deposit."

With that, he produced a vial containing a single Foundation Establishment Pill. "This will serve as the deposit. We will complete the trade once you have collected all the materials on the list. I will return whenever you are ready."

Baili Xi immediately grew pensive. Materials like Spirit Rice, Ice and Fire Spirits, and supplies for Talisman Making and Alchemy were relatively easy to gather. However, the Spirit Gathering Array Plate had to be custom-ordered, and other materials would have to be requisitioned. He considered this, then gave a timeframe, saying:

"The main issue is that a large-scale Spirit Gathering Array is a specialized type of Array that needs to be custom-made. In total... it will take about fifteen days. You can return then."

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly. "Fine. Fifteen days it is. Oh, right. I also need three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and five million Spirit Crystals, also in exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills. You can prepare those for me as well."

Five million Spirit Crystals sounded like a lot, but it was only equivalent to fifty thousand Spirit Stones—the price of a single Foundation Establishment Pill.

Baili Xi was stunned once again. "You need that many Spirit Crystals and Spirit Stones?"

His face was a mask of astonishment; he clearly hadn’t expected Cheng Zongyang to make such a request.

"You don’t have them?" Cheng Zongyang asked, puzzled. "If not, you can exchange for them at a Sect’s Money Shop on my behalf. We can use seven Foundation Establishment Pills to cover the total cost then."

The materials were worth twenty pills, and now another seven were being added. Baili Xi no longer even wanted to guess who Cheng Zongyang was working for.

To casually produce twenty-seven Foundation Establishment Pills for payment meant the man not only had an abundance of Spirit Medicine but could also perform Alchemy to create the pills in large quantities. ’Such a grand operation... I’d bet only the Five Great Immortal Sects are capable of this!’

’Is someone from one of the Immortal Sects secretly selling them off?’

Out in the world, the appearance of a single Foundation Establishment Pill would spark an all-out war. His Baili Family was a small clan that had always sought these pills to no avail. The last time they’d acquired a few, they had spent months living in fear. And now, at this very moment, this man was using them as casually as if they were just any other rare Elixir. The irony was not lost on him.

But he quickly composed himself and said, "Fine! I can prepare them for you. But in fifteen days, the entire transaction must be completed at once. No delays. Otherwise, you will receive neither the materials nor the Spirit Stones and Spirit Crystals, and you will also forfeit the Foundation Establishment Pill you’ve given as a deposit!"

His tone was firm, and his eyes held a glimmer of sternness.

Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "Not a problem."

Cheng Zongyang turned and left, leaving Baili Xi to his thoughts.

Baili Xi watched Cheng Zongyang’s retreating figure, the questions in his mind shrouding him like a dense fog.

He had no way of knowing what immense power lay behind Cheng Zongyang, but he understood one thing clearly: this transaction was an enormous opportunity, one that could absolutely change the fate of his family.

’Twenty-seven Foundation Establishment Pills!’

The thought of taking these Foundation Establishment Pills for himself presented a huge problem—he would need the corresponding Spirit Stones to balance the accounts. Otherwise, there would be no way to explain this away.

He could probably manipulate the records to delay logging the materials, but the three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and five million Spirit Crystals alone were a jaw-dropping amount of liquid assets.