The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-402

Led by Fu Yunzhan, Teng Qingshan and Fu Dao headed toward the big tent where the Duan Clan’s messenger was.

“Lift the flap!” Fu Yunzhan shouted.

“Walla~” The guard immediately lifted the flap.

The reason why Fu Yunzhan had shouted was so the guests in the big tent could be notified that they had arrived.

Teng Qingshan, Fu Dao, and Fu Yunzhan entered the tent. The large tent was very spacious. The six people, who had originally been sitting cross-legged on the ground, were already standing up. The leader of the six was a slightly chubby young man. With a bright smile, he looked at Teng Qingshan and Fu Dao, then he bowed and said, “Greetings to Mister Teng and Mister Fu.”

“Are you the Duan Clan’s messenger?” Fu Dao asked as he frowned and scrutinized the young man. “Can you make decisions for the Duan Clan?” Fu Dao didn’t recognize this young man at all. Thus, it was apparent that this status of this young man wasn’t considered high in the Duan Clan.

“Of course, I can’t,” the slightly chubby young man answered, “However, the Patriarch can.”

As the slightly chubby young man spoke, one of the five armored men behind the young man took off his helmet and revealed his appearance. He was a very elegant-looking middle-aged man with a naturally amiable smile.

“Duan Shijin.” With a glance, Teng Qingshan recognized the man was Duan Shijin, the one who had commanded his subordinates to attack the Northern Short Hill yesterday.

“I didn’t expect Brother Duan to have the audacity to only bring a few men to the Fu Clan’s military campgrounds.” Fu Dao smiled and cupped his hands as he said, “Brother Duan, aren’t you afraid that the Fu Clan will treat you with hostility and capture you to threaten the Duan Clan? You are the Patriarch of Duan Clan. Therefore, the Duan Clan will definitely spend a tremendous amount of wealth for your sake.

“I trust the Thunder Blade Martial Saint’s character,” Duan Shijin smiled as he replied. “Moreover, the one who accompanied me here is…”

Duan Shijin turned and looked at the armored soldier behind him.

“Oh. Who?” Fu Dao and Teng Qingshan both directed their gaze toward the armored soldier.

The armored soldier took off his helmet. It was a bald young man carrying a war blade on his back. As he took his helmet off, he burst out in laughter. The young man looked at Teng Qingshan and grinned, “Mister Teng, long time no see!”

“Mu Yunji?” Teng Qingshan was slightly surprised.

Back then, Mu Yunji had lost both of his arms. He had then cultivated assiduously and turned his blade art into leg art. After a dozen years of painstaking cultivation, Mu Yunji had attained the Innate Realm and become the best amongst the younger generations of the Mu Clan which administered the Rising Sun Trading Company. At the price of six stone inscriptions, the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal had requested Teng Qingshan to help search for the Dreamy Cloud White Fruit which had then allowed Mu Yunji’s arms to grow back.

“Mister, this is… Mu Yunji, the member of Mu Clan who has recently reached the Innate Realm?” Fu Dao asked in surprise.

The fact that Mu Yunji had reached the Innate Realm had caused an uproar in the Mu Clan. The Mu Clan had always been an extremely enormous clan. If the number of members in the main branches and the minor branches of the clan were added together, the total would be over millions. As the Mu Clan was such a huge clan... something this big couldn’t be kept a secret.

By now, almost all the other clans in the continent also knew about Mu Yunji.

“Greetings to Mister Fu,” Mu Yunji cupped his hand and said with a smile.

“Haha, I have heard of you. You are truly admirable,” Fu Dao said with a laugh. At this moment, Fu Dao was delighted and worried at the same time… This was because Fu Dao knew that meeting Mu Yunji here meant the Duan Clan was supported by the Rising Sun Trading Company! The benefit was that if both clans allied, the total strength of both clans would be exceedingly powerful. However, the disadvantage of having a powerful ally was that the Fu Clan would obtain a smaller amount of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore.

“All of you, leave first,” Mu Yunji ordered.

Immediately, the slightly chubby young messenger and the other three guards left the tent. At this moment, Teng Qingshan, Mu Yunji, Duan Shijin, Fu Dao, and Fu Yunzhan were the only ones left inside.

“Since I’m here this time, I’m guessing Mister Fu and Mister Teng understand what’s going on,” Mu Yunji said with smile.

“An alliance?” Teng Qingshan stared at Mu Yunji as he replied.

“Yes.”

Mu Yunji responded with a nod, “This time, the emergence of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposit is a major event that has shocked the entire continent. Although the Mu Clan and the Tianfeng Clan had agreed to not participate openly in this strife for the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposit…... it’s evident that the Tianfeng Clan has sent someone here. They even dispatched one thousand members of the elite Wintry Vanguard.”

“The Wintry Vanguard?” Fu Dao was astonished.

“I haven’t seen the Wintry Vanguard make any moves.” Fu Yunzhan said in admiration, “The Xiahou Clan and the Yan Clan have great endurance.”

Although Teng Qingshan didn’t know anything about the Wintry Vanguard, he immediately understood when he saw Fu Dao’s and Fu Yunzhan’s expressions. Teng Qingshan thought, “They must be elite troops similar to the Black Armored Army of the Gui Yuan Sect.”

“The Trading Company has eyes and ears everywhere in the continent. The Tianfeng Clan has dispatched so many people. How is it impossible to keep it secret from the Mu Clan?” Mu Yunji smiled and said, “The Xiahou Clan and the Yan Clan only combined forces because of the Tianfeng Clan. This time, I am here because…... I hope that our four clans can work together.”

“Four clans? What four clans?” Fu Yunzhan was startled.

Teng Qingshan stared at Mu Yunji as well.

“The Mu Clan, the Duan Clan, the Fu Clan, and…... Mister Teng,” Mu Yunji said as he looked at Teng Qingshan with a smile.

Teng Qingshan couldn’t help but burst out in laughter.

Mu Yunji actually counted him as one clan.

“Although Mister Teng is just one person, the strength you possess is exceedingly powerful.” Mu Yunji smiled and said, “If Mister Teng and the Fu Clan can be our allies, then there’s a ninety percent chance that we can seize control of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposit. If Mister Teng is willing to exert full strength, there’s a 100% chance that we will seize the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposit.”

“100% chance?” Even Duan Shijin was surprised.

“Full strength?” Teng Qingshan frowned slightly as he thought, “Perhaps Mu Yunji knows that I can fight persistently? Perhaps he knows that I can fight against an army of one hundred thousand people? However, this secret shouldn’t be known by any outsiders.”

Mu Yunji flicked a glance outside and grinned.

“Mister Fu, Mister Teng, are you two willing to be our allies?” Mu Yunji stared at the two people and inquired.

Teng Qingshan could tell that Mu Yunji had the power to make decisions for the Mu Clan…... Currently, Mu Yunji was being trained to succeed the current Patriarch of the Mu Clan. With such talent and determination, there was a high chance that Mu Yunji could attain the Golden Dan of Innate Realm. He might even step into the Emptiness Realm and become a Martial Immortal.

“Forming an alliance is a good thing.” Fu Dao smiled and said, “But we just don’t know how the Fiery Gilt Ores will be distributed if we succeeded.”

“Fu Dao is right. It is better to discuss this to avoid any future arguments,” Teng Qingshan said with a nod.

Mu Yunji nodded and smiled as he responded, “Of course, we must reach an agreement beforehand about the distribution of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores…... Brother Duan, Mister Teng, and Mister Fu…... I will not beat around the bush and speak candidly and straightforwardly. The Mu Clan is determined to win the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores. How’s this? The Mu Clan will take 60%t! The army of the Duan Clan has over eighty thousand people while the Fu Clan only has twenty thousand people. Therefore, the Duan Clan will take 20%, while the Fu Clan will take 10%. The remaining 10% will belong to Mister Teng. What do you all think?”

“I agree to this.” Duan Shijin nodded.

“10%?” Fu Dao’s and Fu Yunzhan’s faces did not appear pleasant.

“Everyone, although the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposit has not been excavated to the deepest point, someone has inspected it beforehand and told us that the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposit is a tremendously enormous deposit. Therefore, 10% will be enough for Fu Clan.” Mu Yunji was still smiling, yet his tone expressed a slight dissatisfaction.

The Mu Clan of the Rising Sun Trading Company was an extremely powerful force which could compete with the Tianfeng Clan.

Before the Rising Sun Trading Company, even the Duan Clan would have to behave well. What about the Fu Clan? The Fu Clan was just a clan which occupied Yuyang City, one of 108 towns. Additionally, the military force the Fu Clan controlled was only 20% of what the Duan Clan controlled, yet the Fu Clan would be allocated half of what the Duan Clan would obtain.

Logically speaking, Mu Yunji had distributed the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores well.

“Brother Mu, this allocation…” Fu Dao frowned and stopped speaking. He turned and stared at Teng Qingshan, asking, “Mister, what do you think?”

“Mu Yunji.” Teng Qingshan looked over to Mu Yunji.

“Mister Teng,” Mu Yunji responded with a very humble attitude.

“I will be candid with you. I too am determined to win the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore. 10% is too little,” Teng Qingshan said coldly. The Rising Sun Trading Company’s forces were extremely great. However, the number of men the Rising Sun Trading Company had dispatched wasn’t enough for the Rising Sun Trading Company to acquire 60% of the deposit.

Teng Qingshan acted courteously, but it didn’t mean that he would be willing to suffer losses!

If the matter really came down to a deadlock, he would agree out of respect to the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal. However, he would secretly ask the Six Legged Bladelike Chi for help and excavate the ores from the underground! However, it would be extremely hard to dig from underground, and he would encounter many other difficulties as well.

“I didn’t know that Mister also value the ore deposit so greatly,” Mu Yunji responded in surprise. He then smiled and said, “Previously, I thought that Mister came because of Fu Yuping and Mister Fu. I didn’t expect that you would also be determined to acquire the ores. How’s this...... The Mu Clan will give way to you. We will take 50% and Mister will take 20%, while the Duan Clan’s and the Fu Clan’s allocations will remain the same. What do you think?”

When Teng Qingshan opened his mouth to speak, Mu Yunji took a step back. It was evident that he really showed deference toward Teng Qingshan.

“20%?”

Teng Qingshan flicked a few glances at Mu Yunji and remained silent.

Actually, out of the people in this tent, Mu Yunji feared Teng Qingshan the most…... because the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal had said Teng Qingshan possessed a flying demonic beast which was even more powerful than the Six Legged Bladelike Chi! Regardless of whether it was the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal or the Tianfeng Martial Immortal, neither of them knew how to fly. If Teng Qingshan was on Blue Luan’s back, he wouldn’t have to fear the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal or the Tianfeng Martial Immortal!

Moreover, Teng Qingshan had been very carefree in the Duanmu Continent. He had no family, just Li Jun and the others.

A man who had nothing feared nobody!

If Teng Qingshan were to be provoked, the result would be horrifying.

“Brother Mu.” Fu Dao frowned and said, “To be honest, 10% is too little.”

“Mister Fu, take what you are able to take,” Duan Shijin said with knitted brows. It was obvious that he wasn’t satisfied. The Duan Clan had dispatched eighty thousand soldiers, while the Fu Clan only dispatched twenty thousand soldiers. Yet the Fu Clan was able to obtain half of the Duan Clan’s allocation. Thus, the Fu Clan should be satisfied.

“Brother Duan, the Fu Clan has a big appetite.” Mu Yunji then smiled and glanced at Fu Dao. “Mister Fu, if the Fu Clan is willing to dispatch one thousand Divine Blade Guardians, the Fu Clan will get 15%. Otherwise, the Fu Clan can only get 10%. I gave Mister Teng 20% because of my respect toward him.”

Duan Shijin stared at Fu Dao in astonishment.

The addition of Divine Blade Guardians was enough to add five percent...? What kind of troop was this?

Even some of the large clans couldn’t nurture an elite troop like the Wintry Vanguard of the Tianfeng Clan, yet this small Fu Clan had a terrifying elite troop as well?

Fu Yunzhan and Fu Dao cast a meaningful glance toward Mu Yunji.

Mu Yunji was very courteous towards both the Duan Clan and the Fu Clan, but he still seemed to possess a natural superiority.

“Mister Teng.” Mu Yunji looked at Teng Qingshan with a smile and asked, “What do you think about this distribution?”