Big Data Cultivation

Faced with Master Guyue's threats, Yan Guangqi was quite helpless. No matter how powerful the Yan Family was, they still ranked behind the Four Sects and Five Wutais, only among the Two Peaks and One Valley.

However, the most suitable witness for this negotiation was still the Pine Cypress Peak Yan Family—barely strong enough, yet able to remain impartial.

The Yinsha Sect wanted to act as witnesses too, even stating they could send several Golden Cores, but when Shifangtai inquired, there were no strong Golden Cores available, so they were decisively rejected.

Business people aren't fools; they could easily guess this was Yinsha Sect's ploy to make Shifangtai take the blame.

So, in the end, they chose the Yan Family.

The Yan Family also knew the seriousness of the matter, but the rewards offered by Shifangtai were high, and this was a great opportunity to gain reputation—witnessing negotiations involving so many powers by the hands of the Pine Cypress Peak Yan Family.

Of course, witnessing wasn't without risks, as possessing a virtue unfit for one's position could create significant hidden dangers, yet the Yan Family had already considered this.

Doesn't the Yan Family know how to develop discreetly? They have stood tall in the Cultivation World for thousands of years; of course, they know how to develop. However, with the Yan Family's current reputation, it's not about discretion, but about how publicly they should act.

Discreet development? Impossible! They have no choice.

So, faced with the subtle threats of Master Guyue, Yan Guangqi could only grit his teeth and endure, "Master Guyue, the Yan Family is considering the combat strength of this plane without any personal interest."

"Hmph," Master Guyue snorted lightly, saying no more. Then, not far away, a figure flickered—it was Ji Buseng appearing. He cupped his hands toward a mid-stage Golden Core, "Greetings, Senior Brother Wu Xin… I won't participate in the Wutai alliance oath this time due to personal grievances."

"Understood," Master Wuxin nodded, speaking expressionlessly, "Junior Brother, I understand your grievance!"

Ji Buseng, knowing his senior brother was usually reserved, still emphasized, "Shifangtai's actions also block my path!"

"Damn!" Master Guyue cursed internally upon hearing this and immediately hid—Ji Buseng, you bastard!

Master Wuxin nodded again, his response even simpler this time, "I know."

Except for Ji Buseng and Master Guyue who appeared, no one else showed themselves. Xia Nichang felt there was no need to make an appearance—after all, Shifangtai knew of her existence and the Crimson Pheonix Sect's stance.

At that moment, there was a spatial fluctuation not far away, and two more Golden Cores appeared—they weren't near the mountain gate earlier, presumably seeking opportunities elsewhere, and hurriedly used the Teleportation Formation when they learned a Flying Boat was here.

However, these two had changed their appearances and concealed their own aura, making it impossible for others to discern their origins.

How did they know they were Golden Core Masters? Come on, those at the Golden Core stage who can't be sensed—aren't they typically Masters?

Yan Guangqi cupped his hands around him once again, "The Wutai alliance oath has commenced, and if all of you are willing to give Wutai face, I, Yan, am here to thank fellow Taoists for your understanding."

A voice suddenly echoed, though its origin was unknown, "Master Yan, by doing this, you truly block others' paths."

Damn, the hidden Master Guyue wanted to hit someone.

"I know who you are," Yan Guangqi responded politely, "If you are willing to understand, over at the Endless Sea…"

"Ah, forget it," the person sighed, "the Yan Family really is well-informed; I can't afford to be pestered by Pine Cypress Peak."

His retreat caused others to hesitate; no one alone wanted to provoke Pine Cypress Peak Yan Family.

There were indeed many Masters present, but… the four patrons of Tiantong were split into two camps, really a mess.

Finally, a patron from Tiantong appeared—Master Xuanji, well-known as a Golden Core from another plane. Called a patron, he was actually stationed in Kunhao as a surveillance personnel by the Tiantong Commercial Alliance.

He asked bluntly, "Have you asked Tiantong if you want to resolve the dispute?"

Not many knew of his identity, but Yan Guangqi replied earnestly, "I understand Brother Xuanji's thoughts, but suppressing Shifangtai and letting the Tiantong Commercial Alliance dominate… frankly, this doesn't meet the needs of our Kunhao Plane; I ask for your consideration."

There's no saying like "monopoly brings the greatest benefits" in Kunhao Plane, but that's only because it hasn't become a well-known theory yet; any single Golden Core lives a thousand years—what couldn't they comprehend?

Master Xuanji was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "The Yan Family's strength is astonishing, and so is their eloquence—I am impressed."

He too hid and withdrew, and as Yan Guangqi spoke out again, no one else voiced dissatisfaction.

All the Masters who come surely have their own agendas, but they are not fools either. Thinking about the commerce of the Kunhao Plane, allowing Tiantong to monopolize it… that's truly not a good thing.

Ten Directions Platform's attitude toward cultivators outside the Four Sects and Five Platforms is not particularly good, but no matter how bad it is, it ultimately remains a choice. If this choice disappears, everyone will have no choice.

The two flying boats finally swaggered to the mountain gate, with nine Masters disembarking one after another—it's certainly inappropriate to take the flying boat directly into the mountain gate of Ten Directions Platform, as guests must show basic courtesy.

One day later, the negotiation results were announced. Ten Directions Platform was willing to revoke the bounty on Feng Jun and compensate him with two thousand intermediate spirit stones.

Activating the Five Platforms' oath, Ten Directions Platform has already paid a lot. Convincing Tiantong must have cost them unknown prices, and now they still have the capacity to compensate Feng Jun two thousand intermediate spirit stones. One must admit, rich people are indeed rich people.

Feng Jun received this message at White Pebble Beach, feeling a bit amused yet helpless: what were they doing earlier?

In fact, he originally had no interest in bickering with Ten Directions Platform. Ten Directions Platform was nothing more than an accomplice. The two attacking Masters were already dead, and he obtained a lot of good things. Although the Heavenly Gate Stone Seal and Deity Confining Talisman were taken by the bigwig, his gains were still substantial.

Apart from various talismans, mid-grade spirit stones, and the Myriad Forms Gourd, that Prohibition Breaking Talisman was indeed a lifesaving tool.

Of course, the most suitable is the Longsheng Folding Fan, which can be used even at the Dustless Stage, although it belongs to the Yinsha Sect.

In short, if there are no accidents, he would at most seek some old debts from Ten Directions Platform when conditions permit—and that would be incidentally.

But Ten Directions Platform strongly declared they were not wrong and even offered a bounty to capture Feng Jun, which completely infuriated him. Otherwise, his most important target should have been revenge on the Yinsha Sect.

As the facts prove, Ten Directions Platform did this only to demonstrate their superiority, which belongs to the arrogance of the Four Sects and Five Platforms—even if I'm wrong, I'm right.

And Feng Jun's mistake was that he was not strong enough—being a loose cultivator was his original sin, meant to obediently accept being plundered.

Once they found themselves confronting a real challenge, they would naturally adjust their targets, admitting defeat was inevitable—in the history of Ten Directions Platform, this had happened more than once, but after restraining themselves for four or five hundred years, they would relapse again.

This is not accidental either. The business scope of Ten Directions Platform inherently destined them to buy low and sell high. This mentality would sooner or later lead to incidences of strong-arming and forced sales, which could only be restrained temporarily but would eventually resurface.

A comparable case is Tiantong. However, although Tiantong is also a businessman, it is precisely positioned—we are just businessmen, making money from commerce.

Tiantong certainly has incidents of strong-arming and forced sales, but not as inflated as Ten Directions Platform—Tiantong regards itself as a business entity, while Ten Directions Platform considers itself one of the Nine Great Sects, and a friend to all under heaven.

In short, Feng Jun's target was never Ten Directions Platform. It was only because Ten Directions Platform insisted on courting death itself. Now that they're standing at attention after being beaten, they've learned their lesson.

Currently, even Tiantong is planning to spare Ten Directions Platform. The key question is: will Feng Jun be willing to withdraw the bounty?

Feng Jun is somewhat satisfied with the compensation of two thousand intermediate spirit stones. He doesn't need intermediate spirit stones for the time being, but he needs to plan for his future development. Moreover… the Yin Spirit Bigwig also craves intermediate spirit stones.

Previously, it gave him one hundred intermediate spirit stones to honor him, not because it didn't care about spirit stones, but because the spirit stones it cared about were not at this quantity level—just a few hundred intermediate spirit stones. Giving you a hundred means nothing, as what I'm short of is far beyond that.

However, Feng Jun also couldn't appear too easy to negotiate with. "Removing the bounty on Ten Directions Platform is possible, but it must be placed on the Yinsha Sect, and Ten Directions Platform must also participate in the actions to hunt the Yinsha Sect."

The one responsible for negotiating with him was Master Xuanji of Tiantong. He was also pleased to see Feng Jun make such a proposal, so he smiled and asked, "Ten Directions Platform's participation, is it also saving one for every one it kills?"

"Don't even think about it," Feng Jun firmly refused. "The Dustless Stage should not be considered, Golden Core then… Ten Directions Platform must kill two Yinsha Golden Cores. That's my basic requirement. Kill two Golden Cores, and the matter is considered over. Anyway, they were also fooled by the Yinsha Sect for two Golden Cores."

Master Xuanji laughed heartily, "I like this demand. If Ten Directions Platform had any courage, it should seek recompense on the Yinsha Sect instead of finding you. But… if they kill a third Golden Core, will you help with divination?"

"Sure, I always keep my promises," Feng Jun replied without hesitation, but the next moment, he candidly expressed, "But whoever I divine for, I won't divine for anyone from Ten Directions Platform… they can consider giving it as a favor."

Not boasting, Feng Jun thought his divination was more valuable than spirit stones, maybe it was an illusion, but he truly believed that not divining for anyone from Ten Directions Platform was the strongest retaliation.

——Even if you gain the opportunity for a divination, you ultimately have to give it to others. Whether you gain spirit stones or favors, in the end, you will still regret it… because you did not get my divination.

Have I become arrogant? Maybe, but anyway, Feng Jun believed his divination was the most valuable—I would love to see myself as very ordinary, but… my strength doesn't permit it.

Coincidentally, Master Xuanji also thought so. He laughed and said, "Then this time Ten Directions Platform is at a loss."

"If he feels at a loss, I don't even know whom to complain to," Feng Jun expressed indifferently, "I'm not holding them accountable for the bounty, which already shows Ten Directions Platform face… without the Yinsha Sect, this matter wouldn't be considered over."

(Once again, triple update, shouting loudly for monthly votes during the double vote period.)