Chapter 378 ·The Transaction
Chapter 378: The Transaction
Under the silent night sky, Zhou Ming sat cross-legged before a tea table, his eyes tightly closed as he entered the Spirit Descent state.
Although he had not gone there in person, through the Spirit Descent power of the Dark Golden Snake Eyes, his consciousness had already entered his clone.
At this moment, he had learned every piece of information Fu Shiyuan had revealed.
The true purpose of the Trade Fair, it turned out, was to gather the Extraordinary experts of the Cloud Mist Sea and the Dark Domain, then use their combined brute force to forcibly open the Blood Sea Secret Realm.
Apart from obtaining the various precious resources within the Blood Sea Secret Realm, both sides' primary objective was the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.
Given the unique circumstances of the Cloud Mist Sea, the only remaining hope for the major factions to continue strengthening themselves was to obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, allowing the Evolvers within their factions to advance into Ability Users.
After the Fu Family was exterminated by the Five Great Factions, the perfected Modular Genetic Modification Technology left behind by the Fu Family's Ancestor had already fallen into their hands. The only thing they still lacked was the most crucial resource—the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.
As for the forces of the Dark Domain, whether it was the Dark Card Organization or the mixed-blood humans, the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid was of tremendous value to them.
After all, most of them relied on bloodlines or sought to enhance the bloodline potential of their Beast Tamers. The Bloodspring Spirit Liquid held tremendous appeal for all of them.
After learning the reason, Zhou Ming controlled his clone to voice the question in his mind to Fu Shiyuan.
“Why didn't your Fu Family enter the Blood Sea Secret Realm before the Five Great Factions found it and obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, which is so important to your family?”
“Reporting to Lord Zhou Ming, when Rainbow Island and the other four major factions attacked our Fu Family back then, only a very small number of our people managed to escape.”
“The information left behind by our Ancestor was already incomplete, and the surviving clansmen remained under constant pursuit.”
“By the time our Fu Family had completely escaped their pursuit and finished organizing and restoring the various records and information left behind by our Ancestor, the Five Great Factions had already located the approximate location of the Blood Sea Secret Realm.”
“Therefore, our Fu Family was unable to enter the Blood Sea Secret Realm in advance and obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid required to advance into Ability Users.”
After learning why the Fu Family had failed to enter the Blood Sea Secret Realm beforehand, Zhou Ming asked no further questions. As for the reason the other party had sought him out, he already understood it perfectly.
“Since you've come to me, you must have guessed that the Five Great Factions didn't invite me to join them. That's why you revealed the information about the Blood Sea Secret Realm, hoping I'd intervene and help your Fu Family obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.”
“And the price?”
The Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, capable of enhancing bloodline potential while also assisting with genetic modification, had already greatly piqued Zhou Ming's interest.
However, since the Fu Family wanted his assistance, he had no intention of playing the good Samaritan based on a single piece of information.
“Our Fu Family is willing to offer all the information regarding genetic modification procedures, as well as all the intelligence concerning the Blood Sea Secret Realm.”
“That's still not enough. You should know that more than twenty Extraordinary experts will be entering the Blood Sea Secret Realm this time.”
“Without me, your Fu Family won't obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid and will ultimately decline.”
Although the conditions Fu Shiyuan offered were indeed useful to Zhou Ming, they were far from enough to exchange for the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.
After all, advancing into an Ability User essentially meant stepping into the Extraordinary Realm. Both one's strength and lifespan would undergo a qualitative transformation.
After remaining silent for a moment, Fu Shiyuan finally gritted his teeth and made a difficult decision.
“If Lord Zhou Ming can obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid and hand it over to me, I am willing to bring the clansmen under my command and join the Snake King Fortress established by Lord Zhou Ming.”
At that moment, Zhou Ming's clone narrowed his eyes slightly. The condition the other party had proposed involved only the clansmen under his command, not the entire Fu Family submitting to him.
“Your clansmen?”
“Yes. There are currently three surviving branches of the Fu Family. One of those branches is under my command.”
“Why not the entire Fu Family?”
“Those old fellows would never agree to such a decision, unless Lord Zhou Ming is willing to provide enough Bloodspring Spirit Liquid for the entire upper echelon of the Fu Family.”
Zhou Ming immediately understood what the other party meant. If there wasn't enough Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, then given Fu Shiyuan's status within the Fu Family, he would never receive a share.
Since that was the case, he might as well exchange himself and the branch under his command for the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.
“I accept your terms. Now, the information regarding the genetic modification procedures and the exact details of the Blood Sea Secret Realm?”
Hearing that Zhou Ming wanted not only the information about the Blood Sea Secret Realm but also the genetic modification procedure records in advance, Fu Shiyuan immediately fell into hesitation.
“What? Afraid I'll go back on my word?”
“You should know that, at present, other than me, you won't find another Extraordinary expert capable of helping you.”
“And from our conversation just now, the branch of the Fu Family you belong to should be the weakest among all the remaining branches.”
“I can promise you that even if you fail to obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid and advance into an Ability User, I'll still allow you to join my Snake King Fortress. At the very least, you and your people won't have to continue living like rats hiding in the gutters.”
After hearing those words, Fu Shiyuan did not respond immediately and instead quietly pondered them.
If Zhou Ming failed to obtain the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, then by joining the Snake King Fortress, he and his clansmen would be exchanging the genetic modification technology for Zhou Ming's protection, and they would no longer have to worry about threats from the Five Great Factions.
After all, Zhou Ming's Snake King Fortress was located far away in the northern region of the Alliance, completely beyond the reach of the Five Great Factions of the Cloud Mist Sea.
If Zhou Ming succeeded in obtaining the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid and was willing to honor the agreement, then not only would Fu Shiyuan have a chance to advance, but Zhou Ming would also gain an Extraordinary expert in return.
“I agree.”
After careful consideration, Fu Shiyuan ultimately accepted Zhou Ming's conditions.
The primary reason was that Zhou Ming had been willing to nurture an alien Catgirl. Therefore, if Zhou Ming truly obtained the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, he would most likely still give Fu Shiyuan a portion to allow him to advance into an Ability User.
“A wise decision.”
As Zhou Ming finished speaking, a crimson glow blossomed from his fingertip, eventually condensing into a crimson token.
“You may take this token and first arrange for your clansmen to leave the Cloud Mist Sea. Once you enter the Alliance-controlled Near Sea, someone will come to receive you and your people.”
“As for the rest of the Fu Family, handle them however you see fit.”
After receiving the token Zhou Ming had given him, Fu Shiyuan immediately felt relieved. He promptly handed over a spatial ring containing the genetic modification technology and all the information regarding the Blood Sea Secret Realm.
After Zhou Ming's clone received the spatial ring, he swallowed it whole before reverting into an ordinary Iron Thread Snake and departing.
As for Fu Shiyuan, after looking at the crimson token in his hand, he eventually disappeared into the shadows beneath the night.
Meanwhile, after obtaining the spatial ring, Zhou Ming immediately relied on the Spirit Descent power of the Dark Golden Snake Eyes, using the Serpent Soul Seal as a medium to transmit a message to Aina.
Within the Snake King Fortress, ever since Zhou Ming had left to travel, Aina had effectively become half the master of the fortress.
Without Zhou Ming to restrain her, Aina had completely occupied the third floor of the stone tower, and Zhou Ming's bed had become her own little nest.
While Aina was idly passing the time by eating fruit and watching a movie, the Serpent Soul Seal on her abdomen suddenly emitted a black, ghostly glow.
With a grape still in her mouth, Aina suddenly froze in place. Only after a moment did she regain her senses.
“Hmph, you only remember me when you need something.”
Though she complained, Aina still instructed the Snake Guards to summon Su Mei, preparing to contact the Duanmu Family and have them lend a hand.