Chapter 736: A Big Appetite

"Get up," Yuan Zhen said lightly.

"Yes." Yan Buji felt a joy in his heart, knowing that Yuan Zhen was certainly also interested.

"Hall Master Yan, what exactly is the big deal?" Yuan Zhen asked.

"Previously, the miners discovered, beneath the mine shaft, a staggering reserve of Precious Light Ore," Yan Buji said.

Yuan Zhen furrowed his brows: "Beneath the shaft? Do you realize that doing this violates sect rules!"

"Indeed, precisely because of that, I dare not act on my own, and have come to consult Elder Yuan." Yan Buji smiled: "In the end, if such a matter lacks an Elder to lead, we..."

"Stop!" Yuan Zhen furrowed his brows: "Am I the type to damage the Sect's interests for personal gain?!"

Yan Buji hurriedly lowered his head: "Yes!"

"And you, Yan Buji. The Sect Master and the Patriarch have treated you kindly, yet now you intend to use the Sect's benefits to further yourself; what crime have you committed?!"

"Elder, if the Sect's interests are severely harmed, the punishment should be death!" Yan Buji said.

"Since you know it's like that, why still intend to do this?" Yuan Zhen asked lightly.

Yan Buji laughed: "Compared to death, I'm more afraid of poverty."

Yuan Zhen stared at Yan Buji, and for a while said nothing.

Yan Buji suddenly felt a massive pressure, like a landslide, earth cracking, a tsunami sweeping in, crashing toward him like a mountain of force. That power was so strong and fierce, as if it would devour his entire being.

Yet, faced with this suffocating pressure, Yan Buji's expression remained calm and composed. He lifted his head, his gaze meeting Yuan Zhen's hawk‑sharp eyes. Yuan Zhen's stare was deep and icy, seeming able to pierce a person's soul, seeing through the true thoughts hidden deep within Yan Buji's heart.

At this moment, Yuan Zhen was clearly trying to use this overwhelming aura to force Yan Buji to show cowardice and fear before him. But what Yuan Zhen did not expect was that Yan Buji not only showed no sign of retreat, but straightened his spine and stood firmly, like an immovable mountain.

Yan Buji's mouth twitched upward, forming a faint smile that radiated unparalleled confidence and resolve. He quietly stared at Yuan Zhen, unafraid of the gaze that could chill ordinary people.

After an invisible clash, Yuan Zhen suddenly spoke: "How do you plan to handle it?"

"40% to the Sect, 20% to Elder Yuan, 20% to other Elders, the rest we split as profit," Yan Buji said.

Yuan Zhen shook his head: "50% to the Sect, I want 30%, the remaining 20% you divide among yourselves."

Yan Buji's face twitched, and he clasped his hands: "Understood."

This Elder Yuan, his appetite isn't small either.

Nevertheless, since Elder Yuan gave his approval, Yan Buji gathered the others to discuss the matter.

Upon learning of the nearly 100 million High‑grade Spirit Stones of massive wealth, everyone became impatient.

"Hall Master Yan, how do you intend to conceal this from the Sect?" Wu Yuan asked.

"Keep the accounts, tweak the ledger, and each time the ore is delivered secretly take a portion, then divide it." Yan Buji said.

"But what about the market... we can't just sell it to the Heavenly Spirit Realm, can we?"

"It can be sold to other great domains, or traded with the demon race here. As long as it doesn't circulate from our hands into Zhong Tian Zhi Yu, there will be no trouble." Yan Buji laughed.

Wu Yuan nodded; it seemed Yan Buji had already planned everything.

"In that case, Hall Master Yan will have full authority over this, and we will assist Hall Master Yan!"

"Alright!"

While speaking, Yan Buji saw the silent Li Wan Hua beside him and sneered inwardly:

"All the leverage is yours; now you all should act, right?"

At this moment, Li Wan Hua also fell into distress.

If this news were leaked and Yan Buji met misfortune, the Sect would surely investigate, and then they'd have nothing left.

But if the news is not spread...

"Fine, since Yan Buji kindly shares this cake with everyone, why inform Zhang Wang? If the Grand Commerce Guild uses this as a pretext to report to the Sect, Yan Buji's death wouldn't benefit me."

"Better to reap the benefits first, and let others worry about the rest."

Li Wan Hua thought, and for the countless Spirit Stones promised by Yan Buji, decided not to expose his deeds.

Soon after, Li Wan Hua returned to the smelting area.

Yan Buji walked over, smiling: "Hall Master Li."

"Hall Master Yan, any important matters?" Li Wan Hua's heart stirred, and he turned, smiling at Yan Buji.

"Well, regarding the development of Precious Light Ore, although we proceed together, you also need to set up smelting facilities on your side and pre‑refine a batch."

Li Wan Hua was taken aback: "Directly smelt it?"

"Yes, that will also make my accounting easier. Some loss during smelting is inevitable, after all." Yan Buji raised an eyebrow, laughing.

Li Wan Hua instantly understood Yan Buji's meaning; he wanted to skim off a portion of the Precious Light Ore revenue with him!

"This... if the loss is too great, it might be problematic, right?"

"Well, if the workers are careless and cause an explosion, or mis‑mix the ratios during transport and smelting leading to failure, that's also loss, right? It can be avoided, but it also can be not avoided." Yan Buji laughed.

Li Wan Hua suddenly understood: "I see, Hall Master Yan."

"These, Hall Master Li, just handle them yourself; I'm only mentioning it to you."

"Alright."

After Yan Buji left, Li Wan Hua breathed a sigh of relief: "Now then, indeed we can secretly take a batch of Precious Light Ore, and it will count as extra income for both me and Yan Buji..."

"Uh?"

"But if Yan Buji dies soon?!"

"That's not right. Although I can't let the Precious Light Ore matter leak out, Yan Buji must die quickly; otherwise, if he doesn't die, how can I exploit my position for personal gain?!"

Li Wan Hua's thinking seemed rather selfish, yet everyone is like that; once greed is stirred, it spreads like wild grass, hard to extinguish, growing wildly until it dominates the mind!

Thinking of this, Li Wan Hua felt Yan Buji's methods weren't particularly clever—just courting Elders, improving relations with other cultivators, then everyone shares the cake.

But when he could eat more himself, why give so much to others?

"If I were in charge of the mining, knowing the existence of Precious Light Ore, I couldn't honestly disclose the entire vein's reserves to others! Then how much to take would be entirely up to me."

Li Wan Hua laughed, "Yan Buji still isn't greedy enough; his courage is too small!"

If a cultivator is not greedy, they have no drive; the path of cultivation demands such massive resources that, without devising ways to secure them for oneself, reaching the summit is difficult.