Chapter 29: Cooperation

"I am aware of the deal you made with Qianjun, but the Breaking Clan is not in need of money. I can return the funds to you. Can we consider that transaction null and void?"

Yang Wudi took his seat at the head of the table.

With Sword Douluo at his side, Yang Wudi did not adopt an aggressive posture; instead, he spoke to Li Xun in a consultative tone.

"Senior Yang, to be honest, the medicinal manual is secondary to the reason I came here today." Li Xun shook his head.

"Oh? Apart from this pharmaceutical expertise, what else does my Breaking Clan possess that would catch the eye of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Yang Wudi asked, feeling puzzled.

The most precious asset of his clan was undoubtedly their medicinal craft, yet this child claimed it was unimportant. Could there be something else of value in the Breaking Clan that even he was unaware of?

"I have come because my teacher entrusted me with a task: to discuss a potential partnership with you, Senior Yang." Li Xun paused for a moment, then added, "Of course, the final details would require a formal meeting between you and my teacher."

Yang Wudi frowned slightly. "A partnership is unnecessary. Ever since the betrayal by the Clear Sky Sect, our four single-attribute clans have no desire to be entangled with the Upper Three Sects ever again."

Ever since the Clear Sky Sect retreated and sealed their mountain, the four single-attribute clans had struggled immensely. They knew not what became of the Clear Sky Sect, but they themselves had been relentlessly targeted by the Spirit Hall. In the end, they had no choice but to relocate from the Heaven Dou Empire to the Star Luo Empire. When they first arrived, they were strangers to the land and had to constantly guard against the Spirit Hall. For a long time, they fought merely to survive. Had it not been for his pharmaceutical skills, their fate would have been no better than that of the Swift Clan. This was exactly why he refused to sell the medicinal manual; if the formulas were to spread, their clan's livelihood would be in jeopardy.

"Senior Yang, you have misunderstood. The partnership I propose is strictly regarding our pharmaceutical endeavors." Li Xun chuckled. He had never expected to recruit the Breaking Clan with just a few words; after all, they were sensitive about such things due to past betrayals.

"Pharmaceuticals? Tell me more, boy." Yang Wudi's brow relaxed. He had initially thought the boy wanted to turn the Breaking Clan into a vassal of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but this sounded different. Could this actually be a business proposal?

"Senior Yang, ever since I obtained the manual, I have studied it diligently. I am well aware of your methods, and even my teacher has spoken highly of your craft."

Li Xun bowed to Yang Wudi with a smile. "My teacher's proposal is for the Breaking Clan to handle the manufacturing, while our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect manages distribution across the continent. We shall move forward hand in hand."

Before arriving, Li Xun had pondered the dilemma of the Breaking Clan. He believed that only mutual interest could bind people together; if the bond wasn't strong enough, it simply meant there wasn't enough profit to be made.

Yang Wudi stroked his chin, lost in thought. He knew the financial might of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and understood that they indeed had the capacity to distribute his medicines. Yet, the fact that they had approached him so directly made it feel surreal. A man who had lived as long as Yang Wudi, he instantly considered the risks. "At first glance, this is mutually beneficial, but how do I know that once your sect has learned the craft, you won't cast the Breaking Clan aside?"

"Furthermore, as a mere junior, can you truly represent Sect Master Ning in these negotiations?" Yang Wudi glanced at the Sword Douluo.

"Xiao Xun is indeed authorized to make these decisions." Seeing Yang Wudi's questioning gaze, Sword Douluo Chen Xin managed a stiff smile. He hadn't known about this, and the conversation had taken him by surprise, but now was clearly not the time for inquiry.

Seeing Chen Xin nod, Yang Wudi straightened his posture; his estimation of Li Xun instantly rose several notches.

"Senior Yang, please hear me out." Li Xun’s expression turned serious. "Our partnership goes beyond just medicine. While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect excels at commerce, we lack the soul masters to handle security issues whenever they arise."

"Therefore, my teacher proposes that the Breaking Clan act as our security consultants for the pharmaceutical business, specifically tasked with resolving such troubles."

"Security consultants?" Yang Wudi turned the phrase over in his mind before finally grasping its meaning. He sneered, "Isn't this just another way of asking the Breaking Clan to become a vassal of your sect?"

"It is quite different. We are partners, and both sides are acting in their own best interests, are we not?" Li Xun smiled. "Senior Yang, we are not the Clear Sky Sect. Asking you to be security consultants is simply to protect our own business. To put it bluntly, I am worried that if trouble arises, you might be the first to run away."

Yang Wudi frowned in contemplation. "Even so..."

"Senior Yang, regarding the raw materials, the sect will provide seven parts and you will provide three. We will split the profits fifty-fifty. Additionally, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will provide an annual fee to cover the salary of the Breaking Clan's security consultants." Li Xun quickly added, seeing Yang Wudi still seemed hesitant.

If not for the sake of the sect's reputation, he would have offered sixty percent; he needed muscle, not money. Money could always be earned, and his sect had plenty. But the looming crisis of the Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting operation was approaching, and if he couldn't avoid it, he wanted every ally he could get.

"I have examined your manuals. Based on my rough calculations, if we open distribution channels for the medicines in the first volume alone, the annual profit will be no less than two million gold soul coins." Li Xun looked at Yang Wudi with a smile. "To the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, this is not a trivial sum."

"Boy, are you threatening me?" Yang Wudi’s face darkened, and he let out a cold snort. The books he had written were divided into two: the first volume focused on medicine, the second on poisons. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were to bypass them and sell the medicines independently, it would deal a devastating blow to his clan's livelihood.

"I have absolutely no intention of threatening you! Why do you always assume the worst?" Seeing Yang Wudi's sour expression, Li Xun quickly clarified, "What I am trying to say is, wouldn't you like to earn one million gold soul coins every year?"

"..." Yang Wudi’s brow furrowed, his fingers trembling slightly before he composed himself. He hadn't realized the potential profits were that high. One million gold soul coins were enough to support ten thousand people who did not engage in production for an entire year.

"The Spirit Hall..."

Before Yang Wudi could finish, Li Xun interrupted, "Senior Yang, once you stand with us, it signifies that the Breaking Clan has no further ties to the Clear Sky Sect. The Spirit Hall will naturally cease their harassment, and my teacher will mediate with them on your behalf. Besides, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is not weak."

"Poison Douluo is currently discussing joining us as an honored elder. With your Breaking Clan added to the mix, I doubt the Spirit Hall would dare to act against us."

There were things he left unsaid. In reality, the Spirit Hall hardly cared about their four clans at all.

"Poison Douluo is joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Yang Wudi was stunned. As a fellow master of toxins, he was well acquainted with Dugu Bo, but he never expected such a solitary Title Douluo to join the sect.

If that were true, wouldn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect soon possess three Title Douluos?