Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1687: Chapter 620: Cooperation and Marriage Alliance, Sixth Layer of Golden Core Achieved, Liu Jia Complete, Everything is Ready

Inside Peng Island’s grand hall.

The guests each took their seats, chatting pleasantly.

The two Foundation Establishment juniors, led by Zhang Jiadi, had gone outside to explore.

Inside, after some pleasantries, the conversation gradually shifted to the main topic.

”Qingyang Zi, I, Huo Fang, represent Wu Zhong Valley in inviting you to join our sect. Of course, if you prefer, the Tianqu Chen Family and Coral Sea Zhou Family can also be options for you.” Huo Fang spoke earnestly.

The answer he received, however, was an unequivocal rejection.

”Apologies, I’ve always been accustomed to independence and cannot bear the constraints of a sect. Huo Daoist, I appreciate your goodwill.”

Huo Fang wasn’t surprised by this answer. Years ago, Mo Yun Cave Lord had rejected him in a similar manner. Still, he wanted to try his best.

”Won’t you at least hear the terms we’re offering?”

Luo Chen chuckled, ”Better not, otherwise your terms might be so enticing I won’t be able to resist.”

Huo Fang was momentarily speechless. Wu Zhong Valley had indeed prepared a generous offer to win over this Tool Casting Master skilled at forging defense magic items.

At the very least, they were willing to provide a Third-Order Middle-Grade Cave Mansion, along with an annual stipend of five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Additionally, countless servants and two to five Golden Core Period concubines below Golden Core Phase could also be arranged.

If Qingyang Zi had other desires, they could also negotiate further within their baseline parameters.

Of course, such terms naturally came with corresponding expectations.

The hope was for Qingyang Zi to establish a Tool Casting Hall within Wu Zhong Valley, teaching Tool Casting Technique to lower sect disciples while custom-forging defense magic items for the Golden Core cultivators of Wu Zhong Valley.

Now that Qingyang Zi didn’t even want to hear the terms, it was truly difficult to advance the discussion.

This was, however, common behavior for rogue cultivators.

Huo Fang shook his head and sighed, ”A pity, we won’t be able to be part of the same sect, Daoist.”

Luo Chen’s face remained warm, ”Though we won’t share a sect, we are still kindred spirits. Whenever you’re free, Daoist, you’re welcome to visit me in Penghu.”

Huo Fang chuckled and proposed an alternative.

”Let’s cooperate, then!”

”What kind of cooperation are we talking about?”

”Seventy percent of the magic tools and magic items you forge each year will go to Wu Zhong Valley’s triad, priced at market value.”

”Huo City Lord, you must be joking. Tool casting is time-consuming and fraught with failure; I cannot guarantee stable production each year. Moreover, excessive focus on tool casting greatly disrupts my cultivation. I cannot pursue mere scraps of profit at the cost of delaying my pursuit of the Great Dao Path.”

Huo Fang furrowed his brows, his eyes falling on Luo Chen’s seemingly youthful face, tinged with red yet brimming with vitality.

The intelligence reports seemed to have omitted Qingyang Zi’s age.

They had assumed someone possessing such masterful tool casting artistry must be one of those ancient cultivators, easily three or four hundred years old.

If that were the case, with no hope for Nascent Soul, such individuals would typically desire wealth and enjoyment.

Watching now, he realized he had underestimated this Daoist’s pursuit of the Heart of Dao.

After some thought, Huo Fang relaxed the terms further.

”Then don’t count by years, let’s make it a ten-year period. How about that?”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, ”That’s more lenient, but what benefits will I get in return? You must understand, even if I don’t sell the defense magic items to you, there will always be buyers for them. Spirit Stones are never something I’m lacking.”

”This is simple!”

Huo Fang smiled, ”You must be quite fed up with the Demon Hunter Bureau’s mandatory tasks every five years, right?”

Luo Chen appeared hesitant, his gaze shifting to Fishing Elder and Zi Hou nearby.

The two gave him slight nods.

”What do you mean?” Luo Chen redirected his attention to Huo Fang.

Huo Fang nodded, ”Though the three of us cannot directly interfere with internal Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering matters, we do have some connections. Should you agree to cooperate, we can work things out with the Demon Hunter Bureau to ensure convenience for you. Of course, if you stop completing missions, your Demon Hunter Star Rank will likely remain at four stars.”

”Daoist Mo Yun, why don’t you explain this yourself?”

At Huo Fang’s invitation, Mo Yun Cave Lord cleared his throat.

”Rest assured on that matter, Qingyang Zi. I have cooperated with them for nearly a century, and apart from wartime conscription, I’ve never had to execute external missions. Even during beast tides, one can adopt logistical roles instead, avoiding direct frontline exposure.”

After hearing this explanation, Luo Chen fell into thought.

Admittedly, this condition was indeed tempting.

The dangers of external missions aside, the time commitment alone was extremely bothersome.

If Wu Zhong Valley’s triad could spare him from these hassles, he would have far more time to focus on his cultivation.

Evidently, they seemed capable of pulling this off.

The presence of Fishing Elder and Zi Hou said it all!

Coincidentally, to refine the Demon Emperor’s Metamorphosis, he needed to forge a batch of defense magic items in the coming days. Trading them to Wu Zhong Valley would not be an issue.

A mutually beneficial arrangement—why not proceed?

Luo Chen didn’t hesitate long and agreed on the spot.

However, he set one condition: in the short term, he would not accept any custom commissions for magic items. Whatever he chose to forge, Wu Zhong Valley would have to accept as-is.

Huo Fang, naturally, didn’t reject this.

In the Immortal Cultivation World, magic items abounded, but defense magic items remained scarce. Regardless of their attributes or styles, acquiring them was always worthwhile.

Even if the items didn’t perfectly match one individual, Wu Zhong Valley’s triad had a wealth of cultivators, so someone suitable would always be found.

After settling the primary matter, Huo Fang took the opportunity to discuss some additional collaborations.

”I observed Penghu’s Black Gold Dragon Carps, their quality appears quite outstanding. Once they mature, why not reserve half of them for us? Pricing can be discussed later.”

”As for this Spirit Land, Qingyang Zi, you haven’t fully utilized its potential. I have some suggestions. If you’re lacking manpower, perhaps you’d like to hear them.”