Chapter 687: Agreement

Yunhua, after buying some Spiritual Material from the Youming Realm at a high price, smiled and said, "Boss, I actually wanted to ask you about something."

"Oh, what would you like to ask, guest?"

"These Spiritual Material from the Youming Realm all came from the Great Sinful Sect, right?"

"Exactly, it's not really a secret. What do you want to know?"

Yunhua laughed, "I just want to know who's in charge of the Great Sinful Sect now."

The boss's face turned sour, and he sighed, "Alas, it's not like when Hall Master Yan was handling this; everything was orderly then. Now the Great Sinful Sect has replaced him with an Elder named Li Wan Hua, and the market prices have become chaotic."

Hm?

An Elder with the surname Yan?

Yunhua's expression changed as they recalled a former enemy.

But thinking that person might still be hidden somewhere in the Nan Ting Mountain Region, now isn't the time to bring it up.

"How does Elder Li Wan Hua conduct himself?"

"He originally tried to regulate the prices of Spiritual Material from the Youming Realm across regions, but found sales plummeting, so he reverted his plan, causing the current price chaos. Rest assured, guest, you're definitely buying at our normal price!" the boss said with a smile.

"I see, thank you, boss."

Yunhua left, then asked the owners of several other shops, and the answers were almost identical.

In the evening, they returned to the tavern.

Yunhua and Zhang Wang sat in a private room and discussed what they had learned today.

"It seems Elder Li Wan Hua doesn't know much about business," Zhang Wang said with a laugh.

If you ran into someone like Yan Buji, such a low‑level mistake wouldn't happen. Even if you wanted to raise prices, you wouldn't just blurt it out without considering the market's reaction, would you?

Yunhua nodded, "In that case, when we negotiate, could we perhaps bribe him with some perks to get him to agree to our terms?"

"Exactly, but we can't do that now."

"Why?"

"The way to run a business is to seize the initiative, not to lag behind. Yet the Great Sinful Sect has achieved great success in the original Youming Realm Spiritual Material market, showing the whole sect values this highly. If we bribe Li Wan Hua for too much profit, cutting their income, trouble will inevitably follow," Zhang Wang said, shaking his head.

"Then we…?"

"Just follow my lead when the time comes."

"Alright."

A few days later.

Zhang Wang's tribute received a reply, so he brought Yunhua inside the Great Sinful Sect and met Li Wan Hua.

Li Wan Hua is a Hua Shen cultivator; his strength isn't lacking, though his talent is a bit lacking and he's quite old. Nevertheless, he earned great merit for the sect in his youth, so He Yun assigned him to work at the Wai Mao Tang.

Recently, he tried to achieve some results to prove he wasn't just relying on his seniority, but it turned into a chaotic mess, leaving him extremely frustrated.

However, upon learning that people from the Central Heaven United Merchant Association were coming to visit, he still chose to receive them.

"Central Heaven United Merchant Association's Zhang Wang, Yunhua, we have met Elder Li."

"I am Li Wan Hua, Wai Mao Tang Hall Master of the Great Sinful Sect."

After the introductions, both sides walked to the sitting room and took seats.

Zhang Wang smiled, stood up and presented some gifts, "We arrived in haste and don't know what the Elder likes; please accept this small token with a smile."

"Oh?" Li Wan Hua raised an eyebrow, saw the gift box on the table, gently opened it and said, "This is …"

"Elder Li, you may not know, this is the Hasty Scroll painted by Lord Long Ping back then, which helps calm the mind, settle the spirit, and aids in perceiving the subtle uses of the Dao."

Li Wan Hua's eyebrows lifted with delight, laughing, "Very well, bring tea, bring the best tea!"

Zhang Wang laughed, "As long as Elder Li likes it."

"Hmm, I wonder what brings the two from the Central Heaven United Merchant Association?" Li Wan Hua, now in a much better mood, spoke even more kindly.

"Here's the situation," Zhang Wang said with a grin. "We used to trade with the Long Xu Cave and the Central Heaven United Merchant Association. They originally supplied us with Spiritual Material from the Youming Realm, but now both of them are getting less and less, while your sect provides more, so our association wants to trade Spiritual Material with your sect as well."

Li Wan Hua hesitated, "It's not a big issue, but I'm not sure how the Central Heaven United Merchant Association plans to handle this deal."

Zhang Wang smiled, "We intend to purchase from your sect each month; ordinary goods will follow your price, and if you can supply the items on our order, we'll pay a premium."

"That simple?"

"Of course. Since it's business, both sides must keep their word; we can also draft a written contract as proof. What do you think, Elder Li?"

"Well …" Li Wan Hua thought for a moment, "There's no requirement that we must supply you or give you priority, right?"

"There isn't. Treat us like any other faction seeking Spiritual Material; we'll purchase a batch each month without exception."

Li Wan Hua thought, "If that's the case, won't the inventory be cleared quickly?"

Moreover, the supply is guaranteed regardless of drought or flood, and the other side has no other hard demands, so naturally anyone would agree to this deal.

Li Wan Hua nodded, "Alright, let's sign the agreement now."

"Fine."

Both parties signed the agreement on the spot, finalizing the matter.

Li Wan Hua smiled, "If you have nothing else and aren't in a hurry, why not take a look around my sect? I'll guide you both."

"We're truly grateful, Elder Li."

Zhang Wang didn't decline and followed him out, intending to see the whole Great Sinful Sect.

The terrain's layout seemed meticulously arranged; underground there were several demon‑spirit veins, but they appeared to be gathered by a celestial formation, dispersing spiritual energy everywhere.

"Our sect may be newly established, but it has already earned recognition from many peers. The Patriarch and Sect Master reside in the great hall over there, with the Lian Dan Dian and Elder Hall beside it …"

Li Wan Hua led them around, pointing out each area as they wandered.

Zhang Wang occasionally offered praise, and Li Wan Hua laughed heartily with pride.

Soon, they were brought before the Elder Hall, where Li Wan Hua shouted, "Long Yuan! Long Yuan!"

"Who's shouting so loudly? You've eaten too much, huh? Oh, it's you, Li Wan Hua. What's this old man doing here?" Long Yuan stepped out, looking at them oddly.

"These two are members of the big merchant guild; they came today and have already sealed a deal with me!" Li Wan Hua said proudly.

"You, still doing business? You won't get ripped off, will you?!"

Zhang Wang frowned, so it seems he was the one being dragged here to be shown off?

Seeing the other side speak that way, Zhang Wang bowed his hands and said: "These seniors, I trade fairly with Elder Li; it's written in black and white, and if you don't believe it you can check for yourself."

"Hmph, no trade without deceit! This old Li Wan Hua doesn't have Hall Master Yan's brain."

Zhang Wang smiled and said nothing.

Li Wan Hua, angry to the point of spitting fire, took out the agreement: "Look for yourself whether I've been cheated!"

Long Yuan took the agreement and examined it carefully for a long time.

Indeed, he found no clause detrimental to the sect; everything written was sincere.

"That's acceptable… you do this, don't you make money?" Long Yuan looked at Zhang Wang oddly.

"Senior, you're joking. In business it's about connections and resources, not just making money; more friends, more paths." Zhang Wang said with a smile.