Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Next to the welcoming pavilion "Liuyun Pavilion" on Qingyun Mountain, a new side hall named "Xieli Hall" has been built. Unlike the main hall, it is not as grand, but it is also decorated in a refined and elegant manner, with the fragrance of sandalwood and the warmth of spiritual tea.

However, those seated inside the hall showed no trace of leisurely enjoyment of tea. An invisible tension permeated the air, more piercing than the clash of swords.

This "Assistance Hall" was specifically set up by the Qingyun Sect to handle daily affairs with the Lieyang Sect. At this moment, guests and hosts were seated in the hall.

Sitting in the main seat, Su Xiao, dressed in an elegant dress, had a calm expression, a faint smile on her lips, and clear eyes that seemed to reflect the subtle ripples in people's hearts.

Opposite her sat a middle-aged cultivator with a fair complexion and a meticulously trimmed three-strand beard, dressed in the crimson robes of the Blazing Sun Sect.

This man was Zhao Yan, the resident envoy of the Blazing Sun Sect stationed at the Azure Cloud Gate, and he was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He wore a formulaic smile and his manners seemed polite and considerate, but his slightly upturned, narrow eyes always inadvertently revealed a deep-rooted sense of superiority that belonged to cultivators from upper sects.

He gently stirred the teacup and its lid, making a crisp clinking sound that broke the brief silence in the room.

"Elder Su," Zhao Yan put down the teacup lid, speaking with a friendly smile, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable tone.

"It is a great fortune that our two sects now reside side by side, working together to ensure peace in the Southern Region. The reason we have invited the elders here today is to discuss the pricing of this 'Obsidian' mine, as well as the specific division of responsibilities for the first-class seats in the 'Flowing Fire Market.' These are important matters concerning the vital interests of both sects and must be clarified as soon as possible."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Su Xiao's calm face, before continuing, "According to past practice and the established trade practices between my Lieyang Sect and surrounding forces, the price of this obsidian... should be based on 75% of the market price."

"As for the Class A seats in the market, they enjoy a 50% tax reduction. However, according to the rules, the management fee and security patrol costs for these seats must be borne by the user. The annual fee... is tentatively set at five thousand low-grade spirit stones. What does Elder Su think?"

The young disciples of the Qingyun Sect standing behind Su Xiao immediately showed resentment upon hearing this. Obsidian was a specialty of the newly acquired mine of the Qingyun Sect, of superior quality and in high demand. For the Lieyang Sect to ask for a 25% discount was blatant robbery!

The management fee for those market seats is outrageously high, clearly a disguised form of exploitation!

Su Xiao didn't even flinch. She picked up her teacup, gently blew away the floating leaves, took a small sip, and then looked up at Zhao Yan, her smile still gentle and warm: "The 'custom' that Deacon Zhao mentioned, I presume, was established by your sect and its former vassal sects?"

Zhao Yan's smile remained unchanged: "Hehe, that's the rule. It wouldn't be right to break the rules for your sect, lest others gossip."

"Steward Zhao is overthinking it." Su Xiao put down his teacup, his voice gentle yet clear. "Although our Qingyun Sect has only been established for a short time, we are no longer the subservient vassals we once were. This obsidian mine was obtained through a bloody battle fought by our disciples. The mining and protection were all undertaken independently by our sect. A 25% discount is simply unfair."

"In my opinion, a transaction at 90% of the market price would demonstrate the sincerity of both parties in this cooperation. As for the market management fee..."

She leaned slightly forward, looking directly at Zhao Yan, her tone carrying just the right amount of doubt: "As far as I know, the top-tier seats in Lieyang Market have always been a hallmark of attracting wealthy merchants from all directions and enhancing the market's reputation. I've never heard of needing to pay such a high management fee?"

"Could it be that your sect has recently incurred huge expenses and is short of funds? If so, my Qingyun Sect may be able to provide some low-interest loans as appropriate. This would help alleviate your sect's urgent needs and also fulfill our neighborly duty."

"You!" Zhao Yan's smile froze instantly, a blush creeping onto his fair face. He never expected that Su Xiao, who seemed so gentle, would be so sharp-tongued! Not only did she directly reject his offer, but she also turned the tables, subtly implying that the Lieyang Sect was poor and stingy!

One of the disciples from the Blazing Sun Sect behind him couldn't contain himself any longer and let out a cold snort, his early Foundation Establishment stage spiritual pressure subtly fluctuating.

A disciple from the Battle Hall behind Su Xiao immediately stepped forward, his eyes sharp as knives, and glared back fearlessly, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

"Step back!" Zhao Yan suppressed his anger and reprimanded the disciples behind him, forcing a smile that was now somewhat strained. "Elder Su is joking. My Blazing Sun Sect has a deep foundation; why would we need to borrow? It's just that the rules..."

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible," Su Xiao interrupted him calmly. "Cooperation is based on mutual benefit. If we follow Steward Zhao's method, our sect will make almost no profit from mining obsidian. If this continues, the veins will be depleted, which will not benefit your sect either."

"If the threshold for market stalls is too high, scaring away merchants from all directions, then there will be stalls but no transactions, and what will be the point of talking about tax incentives? Wouldn't that be a lose-lose situation?"

Her tone shifted, becoming more candid: "Steward Zhao, our two sects are now in the same boat, sharing both glory and ruin. The Southern Region may seem peaceful, but undercurrents are surging. Burning Heaven Valley and the Five Poisons Sect are eyeing us covetously, so we need to cooperate sincerely to resist external aggression."

"If we let petty gains damage our harmony and allow outsiders to take advantage of the situation, wouldn't that only hurt our loved ones and please our enemies?"

Just then, an inconspicuous communication jade talisman in Su Xiao's sleeve warmed slightly, and an extremely faint divine thought entered her sea of ​​consciousness—it was Shen Mo's voice:

"Junior Sister Xiao, we can hold onto the obsidian price at 10% of its original price, and we can make some concessions on the market management fee, with a bottom line of 3,000 spirit stones. As for the border patrol area, we can concede 300 li on the eastern front, but we must hold onto 100 li on the western front. We should try to negotiate the priority purchase right for 'Red Copper Essence'."

Shen Mo's instructions were clear and timely. Su Xiao felt reassured, but showed no sign of it on her face.

After being thoroughly outmaneuvered by Su Xiao and confronted with external threats, Zhao Yan's momentum weakened considerably. He pondered for a moment, realizing he couldn't easily win today, so he changed the subject, softening his tone:

"Elder Su's words are not without merit. In that case, how about we each compromise on the price of the obsidian, offering a 15% discount? As for the management fee, we can reduce it to four thousand spirit stones. Also, there's the matter of the border patrol area..."

The subsequent negotiations entered into a more tedious tug-of-war. From mineral prices to trade route security, from the boundaries of intelligence sharing to the procedures for handling emergencies, both sides haggled over every single detail.

Su Xiao demonstrated remarkable patience and meticulousness, possessing a thorough understanding of all data and conventions, citing relevant sources and arguing her case logically.

Sometimes she speaks gently and persuasively, appealing to people's emotions and reason; sometimes she is subtle yet sharp, pointing out the stakes; and sometimes she makes appropriate concessions on minor details that don't affect the overall situation, giving the other party a way out.

Zhao Yan initially displayed the arrogance of an envoy, but gradually he was forced to sweat profusely by Su Xiao and had to be on high alert to deal with the situation.

He discovered that he was not facing a weak woman who could be easily manipulated, but a shrewd and experienced opponent with a mastermind behind her.

"...Therefore, the price of obsidian will be 85% of the market price. The management fee for a Class A seat in the market will be 3,500 spirit stones per year, but your sect must guarantee that our disciples will enjoy the same safety protection as the disciples of the Blazing Sun Sect within the market." Su Xiao finally made the decision, his tone leaving no room for doubt.