A Sect from a Spirit Vein-Chapter 44 - 43: Who Are You?

"I have my own assurance," Lu Qian smiled and said, "We can establish a contract and make a Dao Heart Oath."

Zhou Chao slowly sat down: "That’s good, but a hundred-year lease is a bit too long. I can only lend it to you for fifty years."

Not afraid of you bargaining, just afraid you won’t lend it.

Lu Qian felt at ease in his heart; after all, what does fifty years matter? Traveling to the Ningzhou Danxia Sect is filled with uncertainties, and having a First-Level High-Tier Spirit Vein here can serve as a bottom-line guarantee.

The First-Level High-Tier is just right to help a Qi Cultivator break through to Foundation Establishment. If there’s no better gain at the Danxia Sect, a few of us can retreat here for intensive cultivation.

In fifty years, Qingfeng Baitao and I could possibly break through to Foundation Establishment. By then, why wouldn’t we be able to establish a foundation in Cangzhou? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

However, benefits shouldn’t be easily abandoned. Then, Lu Qian and Zhou Chao pulled back and forth several times, finally setting a lease term of seventy-seven years.

"Senior sister, bring paper and pen," Lu Qian nodded at Jiang Qingfeng, who woke as if from a dream, bewilderedly pulled paper and pen out from the storage pouch, and handed them over.

Walking a few steps, she felt as if her feet were on clouds, and the paper and pen in her hands seemed unreal.

Is it true that our Yunshan Sect has Spirit Veins again?

Though it’s a lease, though it’s only for seventy-seven years, but this is a Spirit Vein!

She bit her lip, forcing down the excitement in her heart.

Lu Qian spread out the paper and pen, driven by Spiritual Power, and boldly wrote down two copies of the contract.

The main contents were as just agreed: Lu Qian assists the Zhou Family in maintaining control over Yuqing Mountain, and the Zhou Family lends the First-Level High-Tier Spirit Vein of Yuqing Mountain, along with a ten-mile radius, to Lu Qian, from August 25th in the 363rd year of Jia Shen to August 25th in the 440th year of Jia Shen, a total of seventy-seven years, to be returned in the original state upon expiration. If Lu Qian cannot achieve this, the contract becomes void.

Both Lu Qian and Zhou Chao understood that signing the agreement meant Lu Qian had to provide a method to help the Zhou Family maintain long-term control over Yuqing Mountain, at least for seventy-seven years. Otherwise, if Yuqing Mountain changed hands, Lu Qian would not be able to continue borrowing the Spirit Vein.

At the end of the contract, names had to be signed, and shortly afterward, a Dao Heart Oath would be made, so false names couldn’t be used.

Lu Qian’s wrist moved, neatly signing his name on the contract, and said with a smile: "When traveling outside, one must be cautious. Last time Qi Kun was just an alias, my real name is Lu Qian, I ask for your understanding, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Zhou Chao also understood, verified there were no mistakes, and signed his own name.

The two stood facing each other, holding the contract, and made a Dao Heart Oath.

Lu Qian’s Consciousness Collection stirred, suddenly sensing an indescribable aura entwining his Spiritual Root, then it vanished without a trace, leaving him with a cold sweat on his back.

But seeing Zhou Chao with a normal expression, he sat down: "The oath is established, Fellow Daoist Lu, what plan do you have?"

Everyone listened intently, and Master Xuan Ji was also filled with curiosity. It was known that Lu Qian valued Spirit Veins highly, and now having his wish granted, what was he truly after? What was his identity?

"The so-called external strong enemy, internal dissent, isolated and helpless, ultimately boils down to one problem," Lu Qian drank a sip of tea, "Foundation Establishment battle power. If the Zhou Family could have two Foundation Establishment battle powers, external enemies would naturally retreat, dissent would calm, and vassals would return."

Zhou Chao nodded repeatedly: "That’s true, but my family can’t afford to hire Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars."

Lu Qian smiled: "Who said hiring a Foundation Establishment helper must involve Spirit Stones? Let me ask you, if your Yuqing Zhou Family valued all its assets, including Spirit Veins, in Spirit Stones, what would the value be?"

"This... I have never considered it, besides Spirit Veins being priceless, how to value them?" Although Zhou Chao did not understand his intention, he tried to think, "Right! It’s said that three hundred years ago, there was an auction of a Spirit Vein in Cangzhou, how much was it then..."

After calculating for a while, Zhou Chao hesitated: "Spirit Veins, Spirit Fields, Spirit Medicine Gardens, Alchemy, Talisman Making, various house materials... I think it’s at least four hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

Lu Qian nodded: "Then let’s value it at four hundred thousand Spirit Stones. If these four hundred thousand Spirit Stones’ assets are divided into one hundred shares, each share would be worth four thousand Spirit Stones."

Several people nodded, and Lu Qian asked again: "To hire a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Honored Guest Elder, how many Spirit Stones are needed?"

Zhou Chao answered: "The annual salary of an Honored Guest Elder depends on their responsibilities. A mid-stage Foundation Establishment involved only in sect defense affairs generally requires an annual salary of eight thousand Spirit Stones, paid in advance in full."

Lu Qian clapped his hands: "If that’s the case, give him two shares from the one hundred shares, wouldn’t that work?"

Everyone was stunned, Zhou Chao was dumbfounded: "How can it be calculated like this? Those one hundred shares are tangible, how to give them to him?"

Lu Qian slowly said: "You sign a contract with him, stating in the contract that the Zhou Family’s total assets are divided into one hundred shares, and he has ownership of two of those shares. Henceforth, he is not just an Honored Guest Elder but also a shareholder of the Zhou Family. Each year, he receives a dividend from the Zhou Family’s surplus, calculated at two percent. These shares can be sold to others, and if he wants to sell them but can’t, the Zhou Family will buy them back at market price after holding them for five years. Holding these shares only grants asset ownership, not participation in the Zhou Family’s decision-making."

This chain of information was massive, leaving Zhou Chao in a fog. Master Xuan Ji, after pondering with a full Consciousness Collection, slapped his thigh: "Brilliant! How did you come up with this, young man?"

After another cup of tea’s time, Jiang Qingfeng’s brow relaxed, her lips hinting a smile. Only Baitao, as if listening to a celestial book, simply ignored these strange adults and, somehow, found another skewer of sugar-coated haws to nibble on.