Chapter 420

Chapter 420: Bargaining

"Naturally~" Mo Qianxun smiled. "I’ve decided—the Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship’s usage rights will be yours. Satisfied?"

Though Fang Lie was currently using the Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship, it was merely a lease. The sect could reclaim it anytime. But with usage rights, everything changed. By sect rules, such rights could even be inherited. As long as Fang Lie’s descendants remained loyal to the sect, they could use the warship indefinitely without cost—practically owning it outright.

However, usage rights differed from full ownership. Fang Lie couldn’t sell or transfer it, especially to outsiders—a safeguard the Mo Sect used to protect its treasures.

In truth, all great family clans held usage rights to high-grade warships. They could sail or battle with them freely. Even if damaged accidentally, they faced no punishment. But ultimate ownership always remained with the sect.

Deliberately losing a warship to outsiders invited the sect’s Thunderbolt wrath. Not even the Five Great Family Clans dared cross this line.

Owning an independent seventh-rank warship was undeniably tempting. Fang Lie nearly accepted immediately. But then he recalled that refusing this deal would let him claim an Eighth-rank Treasure with full ownership from the Righteous Sects Alliance—something far superior to mere usage rights.

Fang Lie pouted. "Too stingy! The Eighth-rank Treasure I’d get comes with full ownership, not just usage rights!"

"Fang Lie, it’s practically the same!" Mo Qianxun argued. "Would you ever sell the Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship? If not, it’s yours forever. Usage rights even prevent unworthy descendants from selling such treasures!"

"Curse me, will you?" Fang Lie snapped. "The Fang lineage spans hundreds of generations without a single failure! This isn’t enough—add more!"

Mo Qianxun sighed. "Fine. Your siblings now have low-grade water-element spiritual roots and can cultivate. I’ll fast-track them as inner gate disciples."

After days of White Jade Divine Fish exposure, the children had gained water-element spiritual roots—low-grade, but sufficient for cultivation. Eventually, these would mature into Middle-grade Spiritual Roots, guaranteeing inner gate entry eventually.

Fang Lei scoffed. "They’ll join the inner gate anyway. Weak offer."

"Early entry means early Sect Benefits and training from Purple Palace realm cultivators—privileges outer disciples lack," Mo Qianxun pressed.

"Fine," Fang Lie relented. Though indifferent to sect perks, expert guidance mattered for the children’s future.

Mo Qianxun exhaled. Fang Lie’s status as candidate Token Lord of the Benevolence Token made negotiations frustrating—he couldn’t pressure him like ordinary disciples.

As Fang Lie turned to leave, Mo Qianxun stopped him. "One more thing. Your divine skill—the one that revives people unharmed. Use it on Lanyun."

"Her price is a Seventh-rank Treasure," Fang Lie stated.

"Too costly!" Mo Qianxun protested.

"A Puppet That Dies in Place costs the same!" Fang Lie retorted. "My skill’s better than that broken toy. Want it or not?"

"Yes!" Mo Qianxun yielded. "I’ll have Lanyun deliver the treasure."

"And one drop of her Original Essence Blood," Fang Lie added.

"Done. How long?"

"Unclear. Days or months," Fang Lie shrugged.

"Troublesome," Mo Qianxun muttered. "The Little Demon Chamber opens in three months. Each sect sends one Core Inner Gate Disciple—a risky yet valuable opportunity. I wanted her to go."

"Each sect gets one slot. Didn’t you already pick me?" Fang Lie frowned.

"Haha, I can demand spots from others!" Mo Qianxun chuckled. "West Kunlun’s current generation is weak. Among their three Core Inner Gate Disciples, they can’t bear to send their strongest. The second is at a critical stage in cultivation, unable to leave seclusion. The third lacks sufficient strength – sending him would be a death sentence. In such circumstances, a single word from me would make them weep with gratitude while handing over their spot."

"Three months shouldn’t pose major issues!" Fang Lie nodded. "You can claim the spot in advance then."

"Splendid!" Mo Qianxun exclaimed, immediately waving his sleeve. "Since that’s settled, return home now!"

Fang Lie found himself soaring through the air like drifting smoke. When he regained awareness, he stood before his ancestral home’s gate, facing the Ancient Heroic Souls Temple where pilgrims queued outside.

"That stubborn old man!" Fang Lie grumbled, stepping onto the black altar. The platform carried him flying homeward with joyous speed.

Though Mao Mao’s figure was absent, dozens of children filled the residence with boisterous energy. Spotting Fang Lie, they swarmed like chattering monkeys, their cultivation-enhanced agility evident as they leaped and scrambled.

"Brother! You’re back!"

"Brother! We missed you!"

"Brother! I learned cultivation!"

"Brother! I can cast spells now!"

Small hands clung to his neck like persistent vines until Fang Lie, half-choking, peeled them off to address each child’s excited questions. His predicament deepened when Ice Second Brother, Fang Huo, and Longxing Tianxia arrived.

"Big Brother!" Ice Second Brother blurted. "They say you slew a demonic sect’s Thunder Tribulation Immortal at Iron-Walled Jin City and captured a large treasure weapon! Truth?"

"True enough," Fang Lie admitted. "But Bird Bro’s hidden skills orchestrated it all."

"Bird Bro?" Three puzzled faces stared back.

"The Benevolence Token’s item spirit," Fang Lie explained. "A Ninth-Rank Treasure’s spirit with wisdom surpassing most Cultivators. My achievements stem from Bird Bro’s guidance."

Understanding dawned on them. Fang Huo then asked, "Big Brother, you’ve changed since closed-door training. What cultivation level now?"

"Qi Sea a Thousand Miles!" Fang Lie declared proudly.

"That’s Inner Gate Core Disciple standard!" Fang Huo gasped. "From hundred-zhang to thousand-mile Qi Sea in two years? This would shock the cultivation world!"

"Don’t overstate it," Fang Lie laughed. "My cultivation’s built on devoured spiritual items – more feast than feat!"

"Still remarkable," Longxing Tianxia countered. "Other Talents rely on resources too." Noticing Fang Lie remained seated on the altar, he asked, "Why keep sitting there?"

"That ugly thing’s beneath you," Fang Huo added. "Get a Golden Lotus carriage instead!"

"Philistines!" Fang Lie snorted. "This plain-looking life-bound treasure surpasses Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship in value! Its power makes Semi-Immortals covet it!"

"Truly?"

"Forged from Divine Marrow," Fang Lie revealed, watching jaws drop.

"Divine Marrow? That rarity spanning millennia?" Ice Second Brother exclaimed. "The materials alone equal multiple Eighth-Rank Treasures!"

"And you’re sitting on it! Let me try!"

Chaos ensued as three brothers tumbled onto the altar, laughter shaking the hall.