The Qin family’s business wasn’t about small-scale operations.

They needed a substantial presence to make an impact.

“Seven at most!”

“Eight!”

After some haggling, they settled on eight shops.

This was already beyond Qin Deming’s expectations.

In their original discussions, just getting access to the West Market would have been a success.

Getting eight shops was a significant bonus.

It also showed how much the Zhang family wanted Zhang Li back, revealing their low bargaining threshold.

Great, great. Now the Qin family could push further.

Qin Deming continued, “The last condition…”

Before he could finish, the Zhang family members all frowned.

The Qin family’s demands had been so excessive that it was physically and mentally exhausting.

Qin Deming ignored their expressions, “The last condition is that the Zhang family must cede half of the rights to the secret realm development…”

“What?”

This wasn’t just surprise; the Zhang family members were infuriated.

Zhang Xiao slammed his hand on the table, “Outrageous! Qin Wenxuan, don’t push it too far!”

The ordinary wooden table couldn’t withstand his strength and split in half, splinters flying everywhere.

Ancestor Wenxuan calmly raised a barrier to block the debris.

Ancestor Wenxuan said, “What’s outrageous about it? These are our conditions. Agree to them or prepare to collect Zhang Li’s corpse.”

“You!”

“Fine, fine, fine…” Zhang Xiao, enraged, repeated “fine” three times and then launched an attack at Qin Wenxuan.

She did not flinch and met the attack head-on.

The resulting shockwave shook the Fifth Inn.

Not fighting… was impossible.

If not for the meeting being at the Fifth Inn, these two long-time enemies would have already started a full-blown battle.

Ordinary civilians and casual cultivators inside the inn quickly retreated upon sensing the commotion.

An authoritative spiritual sense swept over them, “Qin and Zhang families, if you continue fighting, leave the inn immediately!”

The Ancestors took a step back, then calmly returned to their seats.

Ancestor Wenxuan said, “Well, do you want to sit down and properly negotiate the last condition?”

Zhang Xiao was deeply shaken.

He wasn’t foolish; he had held back during the attack due to the location.

Even so, the exchange had been a test, and it seemed that Qin Wenxuan had the upper hand.

Could her injuries have healed?

No, if they were fully healed, Qin Wenxuan should exhibit late-stage Foundation Establishment strength, not what he sensed just now.

The Zhang and Han families had previously believed Qin Wenxuan’s displayed peak Foundation Establishment strength was due to a secret technique forcibly enhancing her power.

This now seemed accurate.

Zhang Xiao’s mind raced, and he decided to personally negotiate with Ancestor Wenxuan. “Half of the development rights to the secret realm? Absolutely not! Your Qin family already took over the Han family’s share of the secret realm. Isn’t that enough for you?”

Ancestor Wenxuan smiled, seemingly candid, “If the Qin family were stronger, we would dare to ask for the entire secret realm.”

You really dare to say that!

What’s with these Qin family members now?

They weren’t like this before.

Now, each one seems more shameless than the last!

Zhang Xiao took a deep breath. “A ten-mile retreat from the border.”

Before Qin Wenxuan could respond, he added, “That’s our final offer. If the Qin family isn’t willing, we might as well go to war!”

Ancestor Wenxuan’s expression showed some dissatisfaction, and her gaze sharpened.

However, the secret realm was indeed a bottom line.

Zhang Xiao remained stubborn, ready for war if necessary.

Ancestor Wenxuan sighed, appearing somewhat regretful, but withdrew her imposing manner. “So be it. The Qin family doesn’t wish to damage our harmonious relations with the Zhang family.”

Harmonious? Since when were our families harmonious!

The Zhang family members didn’t want to stay a moment longer, but Hao Gou, after some thought, raised an important question. “How will your family release him? And how can we be sure of Zhang Li’s safety? If you’ve done anything to him…”

Qin Dexin immediately retorted, “How can you be sure of Zhang Li’s safety? What, does your Zhang family expect us to treat him like an honored guest? He’s lucky if we’ve given him some healing pills…”

Zhang Xiao was beyond furious. “You brat, just because you’ve reached Foundation Establishment doesn’t mean you can…”

“Have you forgotten who you are?” It seemed he wanted to make a move against Qin Dexin.

Ancestor Wenxuan directly stepped in front of Qin Dexin and gave Zhang Xiao a glance, making him freeze in place.

The ancestor had long seen through Zhang Xiao’s bluffing stance.

After being warned by the restaurant staff, how could he dare to cause trouble?

At this moment, Qin Deming smiled and stepped forward, saying, “If the Qin family really wanted to do something to the third elder of your noble family, why would we bother with today’s meeting? Wouldn’t it be easier to just take action?”

Ancestor Wenxuan, who never had a good temper, had lost her patience and said, “If the Zhang family believes us, fine. If not, then wait until the Qin family deals with that Zhang Li, and then come start a war with us.”

She then walked out.

Qin Dexin glanced provocatively at them and followed.

Qin Deming, who seemed the most polite, was the last to leave and added:

“If your noble family believes us, then follow today’s terms, and the Qin family will naturally hand him over. If not, do whatever you wish, and the Qin family will fully accept the consequences.”

After saying this, Qin Deming also left.

Now, only the Zhang family members were left in the private room, all fuming with anger.

Such arrogance!

How dare the Qin family? Are they really not afraid?

Hao Gou frowned and said to Zhang Xiao, “Ancestor, the Qin family’s attitude is very suspicious. Could it be that Qin Wenxuan’s injury has healed?”

Zhang Xiao’s face also looked very grim, but after thinking for a moment, he shook his head. “If Qin Wenxuan’s injury had healed, why would they go to such lengths to negotiate with us? Moreover, although the Qin and Zhang families are not on good terms, it’s just normal competition. There’s no reason for them to provoke us to the point of no return.”

“Li’er is my son, but he’s just at the peak of Qi refining. Killing him would only anger me, and the Qin family would gain nothing.”

“The Qin family is using Li’er as leverage, being greedy and wanting more. We’ve already agreed to their three conditions. What more could they want? Do they really want to become our enemies?”

Indeed, Zhang Xiao’s analysis made sense.

The Qin family had no reason to make a mortal enemy out of the Zhang family.

Everyone nodded in agreement, except Hao Gou, who frowned slightly.

He felt this matter was too “reasonable,” and this very “reasonableness” was itself unreasonable.

But seeing that the ancestor was confident that the Qin family wouldn’t act recklessly, Hao Gou swallowed his words.

The problem didn’t seem too serious, and besides, he was just a son-in-law… why make trouble and seem like he’s supporting the enemy while undermining his own family?

So be it.

Three days later, the Qin and Zhang families agreed on the handover details.

They decided to exchange at the border of the secret realm.

Zhang Li was still “unconscious,” and the Qin family specifically found a flying boat to transport him.

When the Zhang family members climbed onto the flying boat to receive him, they brought two alchemists with them, clearly afraid that the Qin family might have done something, wanting to “inspect Zhang Li” on the spot.

Seeing Zhang Li lying on the ground, covered in blood, the Zhang family’s emissary was furious.

“This is how your Qin family treats our third elder!”

Qin Dexin, arms crossed, leaned against the flying boat and rolled her eyes. “Stop yelling. We didn’t do anything to him. These injuries were from when he trespassed.”

“When he was discovered trespassing in the secret realm, we fought. What, he sneaks into our secret realm and we’re supposed to be gentle? It’s lucky we didn’t kill him.”

Qin Dexin was a Foundation Establishment elder.

The Zhang family emissary pressed his lips together, not daring to argue, and signaled for the two people behind him to check on the third elder.

Qin Dexin said, “Go ahead and check. Besides those external injuries, if you find anything else, I’ll admit defeat… We even fed him healing pills to keep him alive.”

Alchemists were essentially high-level physicians.

Among them, the Zhang family’s alchemist in yellow robes finished his examination first and said, “The third elder is indeed seriously injured, but the wounds are all from a fight. There are no signs of torture.”

The emissary whispered, “What about the pills…”

The Qin family claimed they fed him healing pills, but they could be poison.

The yellow-robed alchemist said, “They’re definitely healing pills, and potent ones at that. The third elder’s body is currently recovering.”

The emissary sighed in relief but still seemed uneasy.

He looked at the other alchemist dressed in black, clearly placing more trust in him. “What do you think?”

The black-clad alchemist, covered head to toe, responded in a low, masked voice, “His body is indeed recovering.”

The emissary nodded, hoping for more, but the black-clad alchemist said nothing else.

The emissary: …

Qin Dexin almost laughed out loud.

It seemed the Zhang family’s own alchemist wasn’t fully cooperative.

She took a closer look, thinking of the rumors that the Zhang family had recently hired a mysterious guest alchemist who had improved their Revitalization Pills. Could it be him?

The emissary politely urged, “Elder Tang, could you take another look?”

The black-clad alchemist examined Zhang Li again and stood up, speaking in the same calm, disguised voice, “He won’t die anytime soon.”

Qin Dexin snorted.

What a statement – he won’t die anytime soon, implying he might die later. Interesting.

The emissary twitched his mouth but asked no more.

At least he was sure the third elder wasn’t in immediate danger.

Once back, they could heal him with all kinds of treasures.

He waved for his people to carry the third elder onto the Zhang family’s flying boat.

While they were doing this, not far away, Qin Ruqing and her two little companions were lying on a huge tree, watching.

Qirong, at the bottom, asked, “Sister, will Zhang Li die?”

Luwei, on top of Qirong, pondered, “That black-robed alchemist is very mysterious. Could he be the one who improved the Revitalization Pills?”

Qin Ruqing, on top of Luwei, was watching the scene excitedly. “Look, they’re taking him away.”

Qirong, not hearing an answer, asked again, “Sister, will he die?”

Qin Ruqing blinked and honestly said, “Why would he die? We agreed that if the Zhang family met our three conditions, we’d let him go!”

Qirong looked at Lu Wei. “Third sister, do you believe that?”

Luwei shook her head. “No.”

Qirong said, “I don’t believe it either.”

Qin Ruqing clicked her tongue.

Nowadays, why didn’t anyone believe an honest word?

After being examined by two alchemists, Zhang Li was carried away alive.

If he suddenly died in the Zhang family’s care, it would be their negligence, nothing to do with the Qin family.

Standing on the tall ancient tree, Qin Ruqing gazed at the newly acquired ten-mile secret realm of the Qin family, sighing:

It’s still not enough…

Our Qin family is just too soft-hearted, ha ha.