Chapter 2751 — The Trial Map
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Kang Jinglong felt utterly humiliated. He might as well not have summoned Kang Jingming at all. What kind of Eighth Elder of the Xuan Dan Sect was this? Before Wei Zhao, he was worse than a mere underling! A moment ago, when Kang Jingming had pressured Wei Zhao into handing over the pill formula, Kang Jinglong had actually felt a thrill of satisfaction, as though he himself had become the protagonist of some wish-fulfillment novel. But in the blink of an eye, he had been reduced to a pathetic supporting character.
The discomfort gnawed at him. He wished he could turn and walk away—the shame, the sheer shame of it! He had meant to put on airs, and instead Wei Zhao had frightened him into this state!
"Heh." Wei Zhao smiled. "Then tell me—what can you offer me in exchange?"
"Me? Well... what do you want? Anything the Xuan Dan Sect has, we can trade with you," Kang Jingming said after a moment's thought.
"Oh, then I'll name my price: one third-grade medicinal cauldron, one Qi Gathering Pill, and one Ice Heart Jade Bone Pill." Wei Zhao had not gone too far—and yet these three items already amounted to an outrageous demand.
After all, the final prize for those who successfully passed the Xuan Dan Sect's trials was a single third-grade pill. Wei Zhao was asking for two at once—the Xuan Dan Sect would likely never agree! After all, he was not negotiating with the brainless Kang Jingming, but with the Xuan Dan Sect itself.
Wei Zhao could sense it: the Xuan Dan Sect's young sect master, Tian Canbian, was surely a shrewd man. It was fine for Wei Zhao to make demands, but if he went too far, the other side would certainly refuse. And the very reason they had chosen to trade with him was likely that they did not wish to simply seize what they wanted by force.
Wei Zhao reasoned coolly that the Xuan Dan Sect could not possibly be refraining from robbing him out of fear. More likely, they simply did not want the trouble, and so had chosen to trade. That was why Wei Zhao had named his terms—mostly just to scare Kang Jingming.
Kang Jingming was already cowed by Wei Zhao, and Wei Zhao's ultimate aim was merely to get Kang Jingming to agree to something within his power. As for everything else, it was not Kang Jingming's to decide.
Sure enough, Kang Jingming's expression shifted slightly, and he forced a smile. "This... isn't this a bit much?"
"Too much? Then go cure her yourself," Wei Zhao said, gesturing toward Wang Xinyan.
"All right, all right, let me go ask." Helpless, Kang Jingming could only take his phone, retreat once more into the neighboring room, and dial Tian Canbian's number.
Xiaotaohong answered again, and the call was transferred through her to Tian Canbian. After a while, Kang Jingming returned to the office of the leader surnamed Bai and said to Wei Zhao with some trepidation, "Leader Wei Zhao... I've asked the young sect master. But he says we can agree to at most one of your conditions—one third-grade pill. A third-grade medicinal cauldron is absolutely out of the question. Third-grade pills are not so easily refined, and even for that single pill, we can only give you an IOU. You'll need to supply the materials yourself. Whether it's the Ice Heart Jade Bone Pill or the Qi Gathering Pill, for the time being our patriarchs cannot undertake the refining. We must wait until half a year later, when the furnace can be opened for pill refining..."
Although Xuanzhen Patriarch and Kang Jingming could also restore their stamina and true qi through precious natural treasures, the cost was far too great. Naturally, Tian Canbian could not agree to such a thing for Wei Zhao's sake.
Wei Zhao frowned. Tian Canbian would be difficult to deal with—he had anticipated that much. But that he would be this difficult, Wei Zhao had not expected. This man was neither rash nor hot-headed; even in wanting the pill formula, he would keep the costs under control.