Before anyone from the Thousand Cranes Group could respond, Zhang Yuanqing continued, "Three privileges to borrow an item, each lasting one month, rotating through each of the sacred treasures. Once a cumulative total of three months is reached, both the usage rights and total ownership of all three sacred treasures will belong entirely to the Thousand Cranes Group."
It was late July. Three months later would be late October, by which point he should have reached the peak of Level 6, waiting only for the killing trial in December to advance to Dominator.
Inside the killing trial, Dominator-grade items definitely could not be used, so whether he had the three sacred treasures at that point would be completely inconsequential.
*Once I advance to Dominator, I won't need these three sacred treasures anyway,* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
Threaten, concede; threaten again, concede again. Probing the bottom line step by step, eroding the opponent's defenses bit by bit or letting them break his own, until finally reaching a relatively reasonable, satisfactory resolution that both sides could accept.
That was essentially the art of negotiation.
Zhang Yuanqing had learned quite a lot from Fu Qingyang.
The demand he put forward was the absolute limit of what the Thousand Cranes Group could swallow.
From his perspective, the Thousand Cranes Group owed their acquisition of the three sacred treasures entirely to him; he had even shouldered the threat of Fear Heavenly King on their behalf. Were such things solvable by money alone?
For the Thousand Cranes Group to expect every scrap of loot from Takamagahara for themselves was pure wishful thinking.
Yet the ways of the world could not be measured simply in terms of profit and loss; too many variables were at play.
For instance, the location of Takamagahara was the Thousand Cranes Group's crucial bargaining chip; without them guiding him, he never could have entered Takamagahara. Nor was he their only option; if he proved as greedy as Heaven's Punishment, why would the Thousand Cranes Group choose him at all?
Wouldn't handing everything directly over to Heaven's Punishment be better? They might even receive a pat on the head from their masters.
Then, of course, there was the combat strength demonstrated by both sides, Zhang Yuanqing's speed advantage, and other factors.
In short, if talks broke down, everyone would have to fight to the death right here inside the realm, risking their lives.
Stepping back a pace offered a win-win outcome.
Besides, after learning about the hidden quest at Qinfeng Academy and realizing that the Bronze Sacred Tree was the true prize, Zhang Yuanqing had never craved the three sacred treasures that desperately in the first place.
Demanding the sacred treasures was merely a pretext for negotiation.
The Thousand Cranes Group had no idea that Yuanshi Tianzun had an ulterior motive, so seeing him willing to compromise, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
If Yuanshi Tianzun had insisted on keeping a sacred treasure, the Thousand Cranes Group would have had no choice but to break the jade rather than keep the tile whole, letting years of careful scheming go down the drain.
With Yuanshi Tianzun yielding a step, this was naturally the best possible outcome.
Kobe Ichiro pondered for a few seconds before asking, "We still need to deliberate over the usage rights of the items. Furthermore, what do you want the jade plate for?"
Zhang Yuanqing had his excuse ready. "What I truly want is the usage rights to the items, not the jade plate; it's merely an incidental addition. I bore the brunt of Fear Heavenly King's threat for your sake, and he won't let me off easily. If he catches me in the future, handing over the jade plate might save my life. Leader Kobe, this is my final concession. If you still refuse to agree..."
With a cold expression, he raised the Thunderstorm Cannon in his hands.
"Yuanshi-kun, stay calm. Allow us a moment to confer." Kobe Ichiro raised a hand in a gesture of goodwill, then stepped back cautiously, gathering his executives to whisper among themselves.
A few minutes later, as the leader, he stepped forward again. "We accept your terms, but we must add two conditions. First, until your three-month usage period concludes, the one billion yen will be withheld as a deposit. Second, you must offer another Dominator-grade item as collateral. Third, whenever we require the key to Takamagahara in the future, you must lend it to us. If you agree, we will sign a contract right now."
Zhang Yuanqing did some quick mental calculations and said, "Drop the second and third conditions. I don't have a Dominator-grade item, and even if I did, there's no way I'd offer it to you as collateral. As for the key to Takamagahara, I can't guarantee I'll be able to keep hold of it. Besides, tracking down the Thousand Cranes Group's headquarters shouldn't be difficult for Fear Heavenly King, right? Leaving the key with me actually keeps you safer."
The name Fear Heavenly King clearly carried immense intimidation; Kobe Ichiro's expression shifted slightly. "If you cannot provide a Dominator-grade item as collateral, a clause must be written into the contract: if an item is lost, you must compensate the Thousand Cranes Group with a Dominator-grade item." Kobe Ichiro spoke in a deep tone to underline his resolve. "Yuanshi-kun, this is our bottom line."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Agreed."
Immediately, Kobe Ichiro retrieved the brass book. Using his fingertip as a brush, he inscribed the terms onto the brass pages, then squeezed a bead of blood from his finger and smeared it across the surface.
The executives of the Thousand Cranes Group, including Asano Ryo, pressed their blood imprints onto it one by one.
Zhang Yuanqing nicked his fingertip and flicked a drop of blood from a distance. *Smack.* The crimson bead splattered onto the brass book, leaving a vivid, startling stain.
The brass book flared with radiant light as an unseen power bore witness to the contract.
This Knight item was of exceptional quality even among Saint-grade gear; even a Level 6 Saint would suffer severe backlash if they violated the contract.
It held no sway over a Dominator, but the Thousand Cranes Group was unconcerned; the earliest Yuanshi Tianzun could advance to Dominator was by the end of the year, and by then, the three-month window would have already expired.
With the contract sealed, Zhang Yuanqing examined the three artifacts, thought for a moment, and said, "The first item I will borrow is the Yata no Kagami."
Ame no Murakumo was the first to be dismissed; the weapon's offensive power was lethal, but it could only display its full potential in the hands of a Swordsman, and he already possessed the Purple Thunder Mallet.
The magatama's passive evasion ability was fascinating, but its divine power of the sun and healing capabilities overlapped with the items he already had.
The Yata no Kagami offered the greatest cost-performance ratio: creating a perfectly replicated clone while also foreseeing fatal scenarios provided both heavy offensive utility and a way to avoid danger, offering tremendous tactical flexibility.
Kobe Ichiro put away the brass book, turned to Furugori Magatsu, and commanded, "Hand it over!"
Furugori Magatsu ground his teeth, his face twisted with reluctance.
Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. "You're welcome to refuse!"
If he refused, the contract's power would rebound upon him.
Furugori Magatsu let out a furious grunt, flicking his wrist to toss the Yata no Kagami over.
Catching the brass mirror, Zhang Yuanqing stowed it into his backpack with a grin. "I'll return the Yata no Kagami in one month. Our venture has concluded successfully. Gentlemen, let us depart."
Both sides maintained a tactful distance as they descended the stone steps. They soon reached the foot of the mountain, stepped through the gate of light, and returned to the cavern deep within the peak.
Zhang Yuanqing remarked offhandedly, "In the future, once the storm blows over, I'll return the key to Takamagahara to the Thousand Cranes Group."
He said this first to prevent the Thousand Cranes Group from wrecking the statue in desperation, and second to ease relations between them.
As a subsidiary of Heaven's Punishment, the Thousand Cranes Group would certainly prove useful down the line.
As the Money Prince had once said, in the adult world, interests always came first; the first rule was never to back yourself into a corner.
Hearing his words, the executives glanced back toward Takamagahara, feeling a slight sense of relief.
Zhang Yuanqing transformed into a hazy, dreamlike blur of starlight, flashing up to the eye socket of the three-legged golden crow to retrieve the jade plate.
The glow extinguished, and the portal projected upon the rock wall vanished.
"Well then, everyone, until next time."
Zhang Yuanqing gave a wave, dissolving into a beam of starlight that disappeared from the cavern.
Such was the distinct swagger unique to a Starlord.
*So cool...* Asano Ryo thought from the bottom of her heart, gazing at the empty statue of the three-legged golden crow.
***
Songhai.
Along a bustling, vibrant street teeming with pedestrians, a young man in a tailored suit pedaled a shared bike with a cool, austere expression.
He was handsome and elegant, with two silver studs piercing his earlobes. The oncoming breeze tousled his fringe, bringing with it the unmistakable scent of freedom.
Fear Heavenly King loved this sensation—gliding freely beneath the sunlight, savoring the caress of the wind. Freedom in moments like this was at its purest.
He pedaled leisurely, heading toward Kangyang District.
He was still fifteen kilometers from Fujia Bay, meaning he had another half-hour to enjoy this freedom.
*Since I'm already in Songhai, I might as well rescue Demonic Eye while I'm at it. Poor Demonic Eye... just thinking about him losing his freedom ruins my appetite.* Beneath Fear Heavenly King's icy demeanor lay a surprisingly sentimental heart.
Pedestrians thronged the street. An elderly man leisurely walked his dog; a mother held her child's hand with gentle care; a vendor holding helium balloons hawked his wares at the top of his lungs; and at the intersection, cars and walkers waited patiently for the red light.
As the bicycling youth rode past, the obedient dog suddenly stood up in fury, delivered a hard slap across the old man's face, knocked him flat to the ground, and sprinted away in pursuit of freedom.
A young child wrenched his hand free from his mother's grasp, leaped into the air, slapped her across the face, and bolted after his own freedom.
The strings tethering the helium balloons snapped all at once, and dozens of colorful balloons floated up into the sky. They were free.
Every red light along the street flipped to green and stopped cycling. The drivers were free as well.
Fear Heavenly King pedaled away into the distance, concealing both his deeds and his name.
Just as he rounded a corner, dark clouds abruptly blanketed the clear sky. A fierce gale picked up, and accompanied by a crack of thunder, a torrential downpour burst forth.
The rain fell violently, rattling down like scattered beans and swiftly pooling into puddles across the pavement.
Before anyone realized it, the passersby fleeing the rain had vanished. The cars on the street were gone. The shops lining the road stood wide open, but not a single soul remained inside.
The Mirror World!
Fear Heavenly King hit the brakes and pulled over to the curb. Looking up at the dense, stormy sky, he said with displeasure, "Stop sticking your nose into my business. I gave you a chance last time, but you couldn't kill me. You were given an opportunity and couldn't even use it."
From a puddle ahead, a figure slowly rose. Formed entirely of water, its facial features were indistinct, yet its silhouette was graceful, exuding an indescribable allure.
"You should consider yourself fortunate that I came," the graceful, watery figure spoke in a gentle, cold voice. "If that girl had been stationed here, do you think she'd waste breath talking to you? Turn back. Demonic Eye falling in Songhai was his fate. You shouldn't meddle in games between Dominators."
"Demonic Eye?" Fear Heavenly King paused for a moment, brushed his bangs back, and smiled. "Did Yuanshi Tianzun tip you off and leak my plans?"
The figure did not reply, which was an implicit admission.
"I am definitely saving Demonic Eye. You may kill him, but you cannot imprison him; that crosses my line." Fear parked the shared bicycle, pulled out his phone, and settled the rental fare. Then, looking at the watery figure on the puddle, he said, "It's been a while since I stretched my limbs. Perfect timing—I'll play with you a bit."
The moment his words fell, the curtain of rain accelerated violently. Every single droplet was infused with terrifying power, blasting shallow craters into the street and rooftops as they struck.
Standing amidst the driving storm, Fear Heavenly King brought two fingers together like a sword. A streak of sword energy cleaved through the cloud layer, exposing a patch of blue sky.
While the surrounding storm raged, the three-inch space beneath his feet was bathed in brilliant sunlight.
The dark clouds in the sky coalesced into a colossal human face, its booming voice reverberating between heaven and earth:
"Fear, are you ready to resurrect?"
***
Inside the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing quietly withdrew from Commandery Princess Yinyao's sea of consciousness, his spiritual body returning to his physical form.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the princess to return.
He couldn't go back to Fujia Bay for the time being. Entering Qinfeng Academy tomorrow would give him the perfect excuse to hide out in a trial for a few days. He wondered what the hidden quest at Qinfeng Academy entailed, and whether there would be information regarding the Bronze Sacred Tree. Just thinking about it filled him with anticipation.
*Right, the Bronze Sacred Tree is connected to Musicians and Scholars. I should meet with the Palace Mistress tonight to ask about it.*
*It's the weekend today. I should take my aunt out for some shopping.*
Lost in thought, he stepped out of his bedroom and walked straight into his aunt's room, only to find it empty.
Leaving the room, Zhang Yuanqing called out to his grandmother, who was mopping the living room floor: "Grandma, where's my aunt?"
"She went over to your uncle's place. Your aunt-in-law's niece brought back a batch of skincare products from abroad, so she rushed over to freeload," his grandmother said crossly.
Then she recalled something. "Oh, right. Your aunt-in-law asked how things are going between you and Guan Ya."
"Why is she asking about that?" Zhang Yuanqing opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of mineral water.
"She wants to set you up, of course. Her niece saw your photo and seems quite fond of you," his grandmother said.
"Well, that sounds great. Let her be my second wife, and we can keep the good fortune in the family with Auntie's side." Zhang Yuanqing chugged the water with loud gulps.
His grandmother bristled with fury, raising the mop threateningly as if to strike him.
"By the way, Grandma, did you know my dad well?"
Taking advantage of having nothing on his hands while at home, Zhang Yuanqing decided to ask about his late old man.
Chapter 414