"In the presence of Sect Master Meng, I am Zhou Shengkao. This is our first meeting, and I hope Sect Master Meng will offer me guidance in the future."
"I dare not, I dare not. As a junior, I should be seeking advice from seniors like you."
After exchanging pleasantries, Zhou Shengkao and Meng Zhang finally got to the main topic.
"We are aware of Sect Master Meng's intentions. The war with the Zhao Family is imminent, and you need to find an intermediary."
"With Elder Shan's character, he will definitely not involve himself in such matters."
"However, I've always enjoyed watching excitement. I happen to have some free time now, so I can make a trip."
Seeing Meng Zhang's skeptical gaze, Zhou Shengkao continued without displeasure, "You can rest assured. I am just a Refining Qi cultivator, but it's because of Elder Shan's face that even a Foundation Building cultivator within this domain would have to show me some respect."
"As long as I intervene personally, I can't guarantee anything else, but I can ensure fairness and prevent Sect Master Meng from being bullied."
After speaking for a while, Meng Zhang finally understood his intention.
As a Foundation Building elder of Twin Success Valley, Elder Shan Ying's identity was not suitable for meddling in such matters. However, Zhou Shengkao, being his close nephew, could step in and act as the witness for the upcoming battle on behalf of Taiyi Sect.
Of course, nothing comes for free. Zhou Shengkao wouldn't help without compensation. He named his price: four thousand low-grade spirit stones.
A newly formed First Rank spirit vein would usually be sold for around three to five thousand low-grade spirit stones.
To develop a new spirit vein, cultivate the spirit field, and manage it diligently, it would take at least ten to eight years to break even.
The price of four thousand low-grade spirit stones offered by Zhou Shengkao was not cheap.
Meng Zhang silently rejoiced that Zhou Shengkao didn't know the spirit vein was not newly formed but had risen from the ground and existed for a long time. Especially if Zhou Shengkao learned about the Black Oil Spirit Soil found within it, he might not hesitate to snatch the spirit vein openly, regardless of face.
Despite Zhou Shengkao's ambitious demands, Meng Zhang didn't feel annoyed. If the other party named a price, it meant they were willing to negotiate. Since it was open for negotiation, everything could be discussed.
Meng Zhang acted hesitant and began to bargain with Zhou Shengkao, who, in turn, portrayed himself as a shrewd businessman and haggled with Meng Zhang.
Meng Zhang kept lowering his stance, revealing his hardships, and eventually, Zhou Shengkao relented.
In the end, they settled the deal at a price of three thousand six hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Of course, Meng Zhang informed Zhou Shengkao that he couldn't produce so many spirit stones at once and needed time to gather them slowly. Zhou Shengkao didn't press him and gave him a month to arrange the payment.
Before receiving the spirit stones, Zhou Shengkao would go to witness the battle. After all, Meng Zhang didn't dare to renege on the agreement with Taiyi Sect.
After finalizing the deal, Meng Zhang took his leave. Before departing, he tentatively asked if they could cancel the battle with the Zhao Family now that he had already paid a substantial sum of spirit stones, and directly claim ownership of the spirit vein for Taiyi Sect.
Without hesitation, Zhou Shengkao rejected Meng Zhang's proposal.
The three thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones were his appearance fee as a witness, not the price to completely subdue the Zhao Family.
Given his identity and position, he could lean towards Taiyi Sect in the dispute, but at least he needed to maintain some face and not fully side with them.
After hearing Zhou Shengkao's response, Meng Zhang gave up the idea of winning without fighting and left the place.
Back at Taiyi Sect's stronghold in Singing Sand City, Meng Zhang asked Li Xuan about Zhou Shengkao's background and if he could be trusted.
Li Xuan was well-informed and directly revealed Zhou Shengkao's background.
Indeed, Zhou Shengkao was Shan Ying's relative and a puppet for Shan Ying's money-making schemes.
Don't think that Foundation Building elders of Twin Success Valley are immortal beings untouched by worldly matters; they also had a great need for spirit stones.
However, Twin Success Valley was a self-proclaimed righteous sect and had relatively strict internal regulations.
Shan Ying couldn't personally intervene, so he let Zhou Shengkao act on his behalf. Even if something went wrong, he could easily distance himself, claiming ignorance of his relative's actions.
In this particular incident, Zhou Shengkao could be trusted. Representing Shan Ying, he would ensure that other witnesses wouldn't openly trouble Taiyi Sect.
Hearing Li Xuan's words, Meng Zhang completely relaxed.
He understood that Xu Chengxian from Forest Mountain School, who had directed him to find Shan Ying, must know the specific situation. Moreover, when Twin Success Valley had shifted the blame to the Zhao Family in the past, Shan Ying was also involved.
From Shan Ying's perspective, this situation was a double advantage. He could suppress the Zhao Family, disliked by Twin Success Valley, while also earning spirit stones for himself.
Meng Zhang became more alert; until his wings were fully developed, he couldn't afford to make Twin Success Valley harbor ill feelings towards him.
The gifts prepared for Shan Ying had already cost hundreds of low-grade spirit stones, and now he had to pay another three thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones within a month, which was a considerable burden.
Originally, Meng Zhang had asked Shi Weiming to find a suitable witness for him. However, now that Zhou Shengkao was available, it seemed unnecessary.
But Meng Zhang felt a bit frustrated because Shi Weiming was unexpectedly efficient and had already found a suitable candidate.
The person was Gu Dashan, the nephew of the renowned Foundation Building cultivator among the loose cultivators, Gu Tanghai.
Loose cultivators faced numerous difficulties in their cultivation. Achieving Foundation Building was even more challenging, like reaching the heavens. Gu Tanghai succeeded in Foundation Building through great perseverance and some fortuitous encounters.
Gu Tanghai had a respectable reputation among the loose cultivators and was considered a spiritual leader and role model.
After reaching Foundation Building, Gu Tanghai didn't forget his roots and took care of many loose cultivators he knew.
Twin Success Valley had tried to recruit Gu Tanghai in the past to serve as their guest elder, but he politely declined, stating that he preferred being a carefree lone cultivator.
Gu Tanghai had a formidable cultivation base and was known to be a tough opponent even among Foundation Building cultivators. Thus, Twin Success Valley's affiliated forces didn't dare to provoke him easily.
Gu Dashan, in his seventies, had only reached the mid-stage of Refining Qi cultivation base. However, he enjoyed a good reputation in the Cultivation World due to his uncle's fame, Gu Tanghai.
He had experience in mediating disputes, acting as a guarantor, mediating between parties, and other such matters. Gu Dashan's previous clients spoke well of him, and no one had anything bad to say.
As Taiyi Sect's witness, he was trustworthy.
[Read at /maxnkoga , without ads and support the work.]