Free Web NovelChapter 300: Chapter 29: Splitting the Loot
Wang Ping very much wanted this Array. With a Barrier Formation, Qianmu Temple could face two Third Realm Cultivators when he was personally guarding it. Even if he weren’t present, it could hold on long enough for an evacuation.
Ganxing and Wu Quan wanted it as well; after all, they both had disciples. After some consideration, Tianshan decided against competing for it, as did Mingxin. Although Mingxin coveted the item, bringing it back to his monastery would be a hassle.
Zi Luan had no interest in it either; the Six Heart Sect possessed a better Barrier Formation.
"What do you all say?" Zi Luan asked.
"Let’s draw lots!" Wu Quan suggested.
"Are you kidding? If we draw lots, we’ll never get a fair result," Ganxing retorted.
"Then let’s have someone draw for us," Wang Ping proposed.
Soon, three clerks were gathered below the pavilion. Wang Ping, Wu Quan, and Ganxing each found a clerk to act as their proxy. After confirming their decision multiple times, Zi Luan organized the lot-drawing ceremony.
Cheating under these circumstances would be impossible.
Before the three clerks even opened the lots they had drawn, looks of regret appeared on the faces of Wu Quan and Ganxing, while Wang Ping was beaming with joy. He had won the Array.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"
Tianshan Daoist was the first to offer his congratulations. The others remained silent. Wang Ping gave a token smile before rejoining the others back in the pavilion.
"This Array, according to its current market value, is worth ten million taels of silver. After we divide that evenly and round down, Fellow Daoist, you still owe us eight million taels of silver."
Zi Luan took out a bamboo slip and carefully recorded the transaction.
"Alright!"
Wang Ping nodded. He knew Zi Luan was doing him a favor. The value of this Array couldn’t truly be measured in money. Of course, not just anyone could handle it, either. For example, resetting it after bringing it back to one’s sect was a task beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person.
"One more thing..." Zi Luan said. "In the future, you will need to take in one or two Cultivators from the Daoist Scripture Hall who are nearing the end of their lifespan, Fellow Daoist."
"That’s no problem!" Wang Ping agreed without hesitation. "As soon as I return and finish setting up the Array, I can immediately provide ten slots."
"Excellent!"
Zi Luan replied with a smile, then said, "Next up are the Corpse Soldiers and Spirit Bodies. There are one thousand intact Corpse Soldiers, twenty of which have mid-to-high grade potential. There are five thousand damaged Corpse Soldiers, and twelve successfully refined Spirit Bodies. We will divide these equally. What do you all think?"
Tianshan Daoist and Monk Mingxin frowned. They clearly didn’t want the Corpse Soldiers, but they didn’t refuse, because the items could always be resold.
After updating his ledger, Zi Luan looked around and said, "Next are the rare treasures. Let’s take out half of them to be handed over as part of our tribute. What does everyone think?"
After speaking, he turned to Ganxing. "The two Longswords you took, Fellow Daoist, are worth more than all the other rare treasures here combined. They suit you, so we won’t contest your claim. As for the rest..."
"I don’t want any of the rest either!" Ganxing readily agreed before Zi Luan could finish.
"Good!"
Then, the remaining five people spent a full hour dividing the rare treasures. Throughout the process, Yu Lian was brimming with excitement but didn’t emerge from his sleeve. She did, however, continuously advise Wang Ping from within his Spirit Sea, telling him to choose some of the highest-quality items.
After they finished dividing the treasures, Zi Luan took out two Sealed Wooden Boxes and said with a smile, "Two True Spirit Primordial Spirits. One is a fire spirit. Once its madness is purged, it will be a Second Realm conscious entity. It’s an exceptionally rare and valuable item that can be used to create a puppet as lifelike as a real person."
This time, Fellow Daoist Tianshan raised the gourd in his hand and said, "I’ve already collected a good deal of energy matter, so I’ll sit this one out."
"Then shall we draw lots, same as before? If we win, we’ll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Changqing and Fellow Daoist Zi Luan to craft the puppets for us," Mingxin was the first to state his position.
"No problem, as long as you pay a sufficient crafting fee!" Zi Luan agreed magnanimously, then added teasingly, "But perhaps you won’t be the one to win it."
Wang Ping chimed in, "My fee is a bit cheaper than Fellow Daoist Zi Luan’s. However, he’s right—Taiyan Cultivators have always had good luck. The last drawing was proof of that."
"Enough chatter. Let’s just draw. One at a time, or both at once?" Ganxing said, clearly still unconvinced.
"Let’s do both at once. Are you hoping to win two in a row?"
Soon, five clerks were once again gathered below.
The results came out quickly: Wu Quan and Monk Mingxin had won. After a brief discussion, it was decided that Wang Ping would craft Wu Quan’s puppet, and Zi Luan would craft Mingxin’s. They would provide the materials themselves, the time limit was thirty years, and the fee was one million taels.
The estimated value of a True Spirit was six million taels, mainly because crafting with them was so difficult. For one, it could affect one’s mental state; for another, the process was regulated by the Daoist Scripture Hall. If the world were to fall into chaos, perhaps such things would become more common.
After the True Spirits were dealt with, only a few miscellaneous items remained. The six of them divided these casually, after which Tianshan was the first to take his leave, followed by Monk Mingxin. Wu Quan and Ganxing left together.
As for the communication device, no one mentioned it. It was not something just anyone could touch or even ask about.
When only Zi Luan and Wang Ping were left, Zi Luan took out a special storage bag containing the Communication Spiritual Artifact. He said, "This whole affair had two purposes. The first was to disrupt Xiu Yu’s plan. The second was this item. As long as it is freed from the restraints of the Daoist Scripture Hall’s Array, it can function independently. Its communication range will just be shortened somewhat, covering only two-thirds of the southern region."
"Once you fully merge with the Heaven-Reaching Talisman, you can use the Talisman to refine it. At that point, you’ll be able to independently craft your own Communication Tokens. I estimate you can make at least twenty."
"Me?" Wang Ping asked, bewildered. ’There has to be a catch,’ he thought.
"Caution is a good thing, but this matter will only benefit you." Zi Luan offered no further explanation and handed the storage bag directly to Wang Ping.
"What about the Lord..."
"The situation in the world is at a critical juncture. The Lord is fully focused on preparing for his ascension ceremony; he has no time to deal with such trivial matters!" The way Zi Luan said this was rather treasonous.
"Where should I place it?" Wang Ping asked with a frown, choosing not to delve into Zi Luan’s sudden ’treasonous’ remark.
"Find a place and don’t tell even me. That way, our communications will be more secure."
"What do you mean?"
Wang Ping asked subconsciously.
Zi Luan let out a soft chuckle. "I can only say that there are many strange things in this world. I scheme against others, and others scheme against me. Sometimes, you might look back and discover that you’re not even human yourself!"
His words stunned Wang Ping for a moment, and then a chill ran down his spine!
Seeing that Wang Ping had understood him, Zi Luan continued, "You cultivated to this stage from a true body of flesh and blood. I can confirm this, which is why you can most likely be trusted."
Wang Ping frowned, a rare expression for him, and tried his best to sort through his thoughts.
Sensing the shift in Wang Ping’s emotions, Yu Lian emerged from his sleeve, wrapped herself around his arm, and nuzzled his cheek.
Wang Ping forced himself to digest Zi Luan’s words. As he reached out to interact with Yu Lian, he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to begin, so he simply remained silent.
Zi Luan, however, changed the subject, taking out another storage bag. "This contains all the factual intelligence on the Mozhou Road Daoist Scripture Hall. This is the truly valuable item. Let’s see just what Ren Kong has been up to."
