Chapter 9

If such a thing were to happen, the Third Hall Master could almost imagine what kind of punishment he would face when the Grand Hall Master returned!

Although it was just a healing medicine, it was something every martial artist needed. This market was simply astronomical.

Moreover, this was an exclusive deal, with no other branches, monopolizing the market with a clear conscience.

This kind of business opportunity only comes once in a lifetime! Once missed, there would be no place to cry.

"Sir, let's talk things over! Our Alchemist Hall is very sincere about this. Here, our Alchemist Hall will first offer 100,000 silver coins as a token of good faith, to show our respect for you. A 50-50 split, I can boldly decide, it's settled. Once the Grand Hall Master returns, we will immediately sign the cooperation contract."

Jiang Zheng was almost bursting with joy inside. But he still remembered Jiang Chen's words. Jiang Chen said that a 50-50 split was the bottom line. If more could be negotiated, the extra profit would go to him, Jiang Zheng!

Wasn't this an opportunity right at the door?

"Third Hall Master, I've already given you the chance. You didn't seize it in time. The 50-50 split was for earlier. Now, it's 60-40! If you don't decide now, it will be 70-30. I believe that even if it's 70-30, the Shen Nong Hall and the Pill King Garden would still be willing."

This wasn't a threat, but a certainty. The Shen Nong Hall and the Pill King Garden had always been eyeing the Alchemist Hall, wanting to replace it as the top giant in the kingdom's medicinal pill market. Such an opportunity, if presented, would not be missed.

The cost of a medicinal pill was only 10%. Even at a 70-30 split, there would still be a 20% profit.

Don't underestimate this 20% profit. A 20% profit from a monopoly was a staggering number. After all, this product could monopolize the markets of the surrounding sixteen countries!

The profit margin was thin, but the volume was high, making up for it.

"60-40, 60-40. Draft the contract immediately! Someone, first offer 100,000 silver coins as a token of good faith to this gentleman!" The Third Hall Master really wanted to slap himself. Why wasn't he more enthusiastic earlier? Why wasn't he more determined?

A good 50-50 split had turned into a 60-40 split in the blink of an eye.

But a 60-40 split was still good. Thinking about the prospects of this business, the Third Hall Master decided to act quickly. He didn't want to anger this gentleman again, or it would turn into a 70-30 split, losing another 10% profit.

After receiving the 100,000 silver coins as a token of good faith, Jiang Zheng felt enveloped by happiness. He patted the Third Hall Master's shoulder: "Third Hall Master is a straightforward person. 60-40, I take 60, you take 40, let's settle it this way!"

Jiang Zheng almost forgot how he got home. He was so elated that he felt like he was floating on a cloud.

He was too happy, too excited.

Excited to the point of almost doubting if he was dreaming!

The 100,000 silver coins as a token of good faith were no longer a big deal to him now. The contract was drafted, and he had seen it, a 60-40 split. He remembered the Young Lord's promise: on the basis of a 50-50 split, any additional profit would go to him, Jiang Zheng.

But he didn't sign it. This matter needed the Young Lord's decision. As a subordinate, he couldn't sign the contract without his master's command.

Jiang Zheng calculated that this 10% profit, if converted to silver, would be enough to bury him ten times over.

Mountain delicacies, fine clothes, a standalone mansion, a house full of gold and jade.

At this moment, Jiang Zheng felt that this kind of life was already within reach.

Talking and laughing with the nobles, coming and going with the aristocrats; his wife and concubines living in harmony, his children and grandchildren enjoying happiness.

This kind of life was already waving to him from afar.

A regular customer at the Songhe Tower, a major investor at the Chunhui Garden; having visited brothels with princes and drunk at the same table with ministers.

Naturally, such a scene would not be out of reach!

When he excitedly returned to the mansion to report the good news to the Young Lord, he was told that the Young Lord was in seclusion for cultivation and to wait for any matters.

Jiang Zheng was not bothered by this. He was completely enveloped by joy. He decided to stay and guard the door of the Young Lord's seclusion chamber loyally.

After sitting down, his emotions still hadn't settled. He recalled the Young Lord's previous actions and today's miraculous encounter.

Jiang Zheng couldn't help but suspect: "Could the Young Lord have been pretending all along? Were those previous dissolute behaviors a test for me? Was it a show of weakness to the enemy?"

Whether it was pretending or a divine mission, Jiang Zheng clearly realized that his wavering will earlier was very wrong.

He knew that even if the Young Lord had no other talents, with this pill formula, the future was boundless!

As the Young Lord's personal servant and steward, if he couldn't keep up with the Young Lord's pace, it would be a grave mistake!

"Earlier, I was confused. I even thought about quitting. Fortunately, the Young Lord still trusts me, Jiang Zheng. From now on, I must work hard. What's a little gain or loss? The Young Lord doesn't act unless it's a grand move! It seems the Young Lord is no ordinary person!"

Jiang Zheng's mind was filled with countless thoughts, but the most resolute one was that he would unwaveringly follow the Young Lord, ready to face any challenge without hesitation.

Isn't a steward's goal to follow the master for glory and wealth?

The Young Lord casually handed him a great fortune!

The more Jiang Zheng thought about it, the more his blood boiled. After returning home, he would have a higher status and could scold his yellow-faced wife, telling her not to be so short-sighted anymore.

Why should I, Jiang Zheng, compare myself with the stewards of other lords? Their temporary wealth and glory are nothing compared to my one-time gain!

...

While Jiang Zheng was fantasizing about a bright future outside the seclusion chamber, Jiang Chen was inside, beginning his first cultivation journey in this life.

It must be said that the previous Jiang Chen was indeed the laziest of the lazy in cultivation. His talent and potential were undoubtedly top-notch among the 108 lords' descendants.

However, in terms of effort and dedication, he was undoubtedly the worst.

"This kid, truly a first-rate wastrel. Wasting such great talent," Jiang Chen was somewhat dissatisfied with the previous owner.

In this world, the martial path began with the cultivation of true qi.

In this world, the martial common knowledge was that the human body contained twelve vital points, connected by twelve meridians. Each vital point, when opened, would connect one meridian, condensing one layer of true qi.

Therefore, the True Qi Realm had twelve layers in total.

However, in the Eastern Kingdom, no one had ever opened all twelve vital points, connected all twelve meridians, and obtained the twelve-meridian true qi.

Therefore, in the cultivation world, there were two sayings: "True Qi with twelve layers, distinguishing snakes from dragons."

A martial artist, whether a dragon or a snake, depended on how many vital points they could open in their body.

Generally, opening three was considered qualified, known as the Initial True Qi Realm. Such people were basically just a bit stronger than ordinary people, suitable for military service or protecting a household.

If one could exceed three, up to six meridians, it was considered the Intermediate True Qi Realm. Such martial artists had a higher status among martial artists. Whether in the military or other professions, they could achieve a good position.

As for those with six to nine meridians, it was the Advanced True Qi Realm.

Advanced True Qi Realm practitioners were extremely rare. Once they became high-level true qi experts, they were considered significant figures in the entire Eastern Kingdom.

Above nine meridians, they were known as True Qi Masters, a rare existence.

There were very few in the entire Eastern Kingdom.

Cultivating to the ninth meridian true qi, they were respectfully called True Qi Masters, genius martial artists.

Of course, the twelve layers of true qi were ultimately just the foundation of the martial path.

Of course, within the True Qi Realm, no matter how strong, they were still true qi-level martial artists. If they couldn't transform true qi into spirit, the martial path would ultimately be like a mirage. Once they reached 200 years of age, everything would be like a dream.

Therefore, there were two more sayings: "True qi not transformed into spirit, ultimately just a worm."

Combined with the previous, it made four sayings, twenty characters:

"True qi with twelve layers, distinguishing snakes from dragons. True qi not transformed into spirit, ultimately just a worm."

What is meant by transforming into spirit?

It means that true qi, when cultivated to its peak, opens the spirit sea, transforming true qi into spirit qi, borrowing the power of heaven and earth, and becoming supreme spirit power.

Once true qi is transformed into spirit, it breaks free from the constraints of the martial path and enters the Spirit Path.

Spirit Path experts can turn clouds with a flip of their hand, summon rain with a wave, and move mountains and seas.

It is said that even ten True Qi Masters combined could not withstand a single strike from a Spirit Path expert.

To put it bluntly, entering the Spirit Path is truly like a golden scale turning into a dragon, ascending to the sky in a single step!

In the Eastern Kingdom, there was a legendary Spirit Path expert. He lived a simple life, extremely mysterious. Even the king would call himself a junior in front of him, showing great respect.

Interestingly, in the martial cultivation world, although Spirit Path experts rarely involved themselves in the world, there were still some; but top-tier True Qi Masters were almost nonexistent.

What is meant by a top-tier True Qi Master?

It means a genius martial artist who has opened all twelve vital points and connected all twelve meridians.

Such geniuses had never been born in the Eastern Kingdom. Even in the history of the surrounding sixteen countries, they were very rare.

Top-tier True Qi Masters were rarer than Spirit Path experts.

As for those with ten or eleven meridians, each kingdom had a few.

However, for some reason, there were no top-tier True Qi Masters with twelve meridians.

Logically, cultivating to the eleventh meridian true qi, one could strive to open the twelfth vital point. But the cultivation rules were so cruel.

Some geniuses, after cultivating to the eleventh meridian true qi, pursued the grand completion of the twelfth meridian, but ultimately achieved nothing, even missing the best opportunity to enter the Spirit Path.

According to the cultivation rules, transforming true qi into spirit had the highest chance before the age of thirty. The probability would halve by the age of forty. After fifty, it would be impossible.

Therefore, after cultivating to the eleventh meridian true qi, if one did not seize the opportunity to transform into spirit, once they exceeded the age limit, they would forever lose the chance to transform.

Cultivating to the grand completion of the twelfth meridian was still within the True Qi Realm, with a lifespan not exceeding three hundred years.

But after transforming into spirit, the lifespan could be extended to seven or eight hundred, even a thousand years, and the martial path would undoubtedly offer many more opportunities.

Therefore, True Qi Masters with ten or eleven meridians would face this choice: continue to explore the twelfth meridian true qi, or seize the opportunity to transform into spirit?

This was a difficult decision, but most True Qi Masters would choose to transform into spirit, as reason would overcome impulse.

Although the success rate of transforming into spirit was also low, it was better than the vague pursuit of the grand completion of the twelfth meridian.

Once the transformation into spirit was successful, the extended lifespan alone was an irresistible temptation.

Of course, the current Jiang Chen had no time to ponder these matters.

Given his current physical condition, these were all like mirages, far from needing to consider for now.

His primary challenge now was to enhance his strength as much as possible to prepare for the upcoming Covert Dragon Examination. If he couldn't even pass the basic test and obtain the qualification to compete in the Covert Dragon Examination, this first step in his reborn life would be too depressing.