Chapitre 90: AZI Volume 2 Epilogue – As Expected…
With everyone seated, and the emptied plate taken away to be replaced with a teapot, Zhen Huai is the first to break the silence, as he takes out a silver medallion—that is shaped like a coin with the Zhen family's crest imprinted on its center.
Placing the medallion down, Zhen Huai slides it towards Long Hua.
"What's this for?"
"Think of it as a membership card. It's also a key to activate the hidden entrances. Since it's silver, you're allowed to take one item for free every month. But the items are limited to the first 50 pages of the catalog."
Hearing this, Long Hua takes out the catalog, and looks through it, while asking—
"Of the spirit herbs that are in the first 50 pages, which of them has the highest concentration of spirit Qi?"
"You planning to make pills out of them?"
An awkward expression appears on Long Hua's face in response to Bai Wen's question.
To the side, Zhen Huai is looking on with a curious gleam in his eyes.
"Something like that… I guess?"
The thing that Long Hua has in mind is probably uncommon in the Everlasting Spirit Realm. However, it's something that he's seen in the Leng Bing Realm.
Shrugging a shoulder, Zhen Huai says—
"I'll arrange for someone to get you a set of Purple Cloud Grass."
"How many are in a set?"
"Three."
Cutting into the conversation, Bai Wen looks to Zhen Huai with his one eye raised, while asking—
"Lao Zhen, isn't the medallion you're giving him a rank higher than the one you gave me—when we first met?"
"Your point?"
"You're playing favorites."
"I consider this a power move when conducting business."
Saying this, Zhen Huai turns to Long Hua, whereas Bai Wen thought—
(That's to say, I wasn't worthy of you using a power move against?)
Looking back at Zhen Huai, Long Hua asks—
"Business?"
"You do not have any ways to acquire spirit stones, but any cultivation methods, or divine arts that you have—can be traded in for resources."
Understanding Zhen Huai's intentions, Long Hua leans back in his chair with a smirk.
"I see. In that case, how much would you pay—for the two divine arts that you saw?"
Most of the cultivation methods that Long Hua is able to remember at this time—is tailored specifically for himself.
The value of such cultivation methods isn't much to the general masses. But divine arts are different; so long as one meets the requirements, anyone can learn them.
"As expected, doing business with a smart person is much more refreshing. I'll pay you 10,000 spirit stones per cultivation method, or divine art."
Dropping the pistachio nut in his hand, Bai Wen widens his one eye at Zhen Huai for this offer.
"10,000 spirit stones for a Heaven Manifestation realm divine art? Lao Zhen, your heart must be as black as the night. Lao Long, how about you just sell those divine arts to me instead?"
The price given by Zhen Huai can only be seen as a complete rip-off, but instead of refusing it, Long Hua turns to Bai Wen, and asks—
"Lao Bai, how much do you think those two divine arts are worth?"
"The price of Heaven Manifestation realm divine arts can't be measured in spirit stones; they're measured in immortal jades. 10,000 spirit stones are worth only one jade. It's impossible to give an accurate price—since whenever these divine arts appear, they're auctioned off."
Taking in this information, and sinking into thought, Long Hua places a hand beneath his chin.
(Now then, how will you handle this?)
With anticipation in her eyes, the Tian Cheng inside of the dreamscape, looks to Long Hua, who replies to Zhen Huai with—
"You said, you'll pay 10,000 spirit stones per cultivation method, or divine art; you never specified the level they need to be. Can I take that to mean—that regardless of their level, you'll pay 10,000 spirit stones no matter what?"
"Correct. Outer realm cultivation methods, and divine arts—have immense value after all."
"Lao Bai, price of an outer realm Qi Condensation level cultivation method, or divine art?"
"Those were also never brought outright."
"In that case, the value of those two divine arts is worth mountains of immortal jades, correct?"
As Zhen Huai nods in confirmation, Long Hua smiles, and asks Bai Wen—
"Is it possible for me to use immortal jades for cultivation right now?"
"Not possible. This is exactly why Lao Zhen is able to rip you off."
Raising a sigh, Long Hua knows that he doesn't really have much of a choice in this matter.
"Selling you those two divine arts for this price isn't impossible."
Resources at this time are of great importance, and the only way to acquire these resources without having to be in someone else's debt—is to possess personal wealth.
"But you have conditions attached to this deal, correct?"
Nodding to Zhen Huai's question, Long Hua says—
"Correct. I don't like the sour taste of seeing an enemy of mine using those divine arts against me. Hence, regardless of who you decide to pass these divine arts to in the future, you must notify me of their identity, and your relationship with them."
"What if I still wish to pass it onto an individual you're against?"
"Then you need to pay me extra per person. Naturally, I won't go against your decision every time. I'll even give you a clear-cut reason—as to why I'm against it being passed onto a specific individual."
Constricting his eyes, Zhen Huai contemplates the condition. This is a condition that he can accept, but just accepting it as it is—isn't very pleasant from a merchant's point of view.
"In that case-"
Cutting Zhen Huai off, Long Hua says—
"If you're planning to cut the proposed price of 10,000 spirit stones down, you can forget about this deal. Besides, my first condition isn't something that you're really against, so there's no need to make a show out of it. Within an influential household, there are bound to be numerous heirs—all vying for the rights to succeed it. I wonder, where do you rank in this household of yours? Is it seventh, or is it perhaps twelfth? Regardless, I do not believe it's one."
The more Long Hua said, the darker Zhen Huai's expression becomes. Just as the former had guessed, within his household, Zhen Huai's standing doesn't even enter the top fifty.
"Admittedly, I do need resources, but the resources don't need to come from you. I can just as easily do business with the Ling Yuan family through Lao Bai—even if there are a few inconveniences along the way."
With Long Hua having said that, silence looms in the air.
Eventually, Zhen Huai raises a sigh, and massages his temple, while asking—
"You said, first condition. So, what are the others?"
If Long Hua had a fan in his hand right now, he would definitely unfold it at this time. Maintaining an air of confidence, he says—
"As expected, doing business with a smart person is much more refreshing."
"Tch."
Compared to Zhen Huai—who clicked his tongue as a response to this, Bai Wen chuckles, while pouring a cup of tea for the former.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
YatogamiSakuya
YatogamiSakuya Afterword
Originally, I wanted to finish this volume at 200 pages, but after numerous delays, along with a dozen re-reads, I felt like the entirety of the volume was somewhat lacking in plot progression. In the end, it ended up being a volume with over 300 pages. Even though this story has over 530 pages’ worth of text now, I still consider it to be in its infancy because much of everything that has been written so far is meant to set up future events.
Most likely the price per eBook will increase once the story has been developed some more. Ideally, I wish to be able to write full time.
Chen Shi Yao Ying was supposed to meet Long Hua in this volume, but I severely underestimated how long it would take to get through the events that I had originally planned. Hopefully, the meeting can be next volume.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone