"Linxi's phone call." Xie Su picked up the phone and glanced at his wife. Her graceful and charming wife smiled warmly. "She must be bored stiff, eager to leave Songhai. Don't agree right away, Lord. Hold off a bit—this young girl isn't that old yet, and her schemes have already reached me. She needs some guidance and shaping." She swayed slightly, then sat down at the table. She answered the call immediately, smiling. "Linxi, have you missed Dad?" "Dad! Come to Songhai! Come to Songhai!" The voice from the speaker was urgent, sharp, and clearly excited. "What's wrong? Are you homesick? Do you want me to come and fetch you?" Xie Su said, glancing at his wife across the round table, who kept shaking her head. "She's pretending to be hesitant—she wants me to delay my decision." With a subtle lip movement, his mother conveyed her message. Some women are naturally combative; even without sisters at home, they can find themselves in a tiff with their daughters. Xie Su never interfered in the delicate tensions between his wife and daughter, yet at times he found himself helpless—just as now. "Linxi, Dad has been busy with some matters lately and can't make it free. You stay a few more days in Songhai. Once things settle down, I'll come and pick you up," Xie Su noticed his wife gesturing toward herself. "Perhaps you could call your mother and check in?" Xie Su understood her implication. On the phone, there was a pause, then Linxi's tone instantly regained composure. "Is Mom by the side?" Shen Mother quickly shook her head. "No," Xie Su replied. "Strange—through the phone, I can even smell the aroma of tea," Linxi said, her tone turning colder. "Dad, since you're occupied, I won't bother you anymore. I'll look for another uncle or aunt. As for Mom—well, with such an important matter as the return of the Saint's infant head, how could a woman of her background, a typical homemaker, possibly represent the family in such a role?" Xie Su stood stunned, as though struck by thunderbolts. The words "the Infant Saint returns to reality" kept echoing in his mind. Suddenly, a surge of passion rose in his chest, and Xie Su sprang to his feet, urgently saying, "Lingxi, this can't be taken lightly. What have you found out? Didn't the Infant Saint's head go missing in the sea beyond Cliffs Mountain? Quickly, quickly, tell Dad properly." Every spiritual realm family must possess at least one high-tier rule-based artifact—such artifacts are the foundation and the very essence of their lineage. The loss of the Infant Saint's head had already shaken the very roots of the Xie family. If they could successfully recover the head, it would be a major achievement, securing Xie Su's position as family head with unshakable stability. Yet Lingxi refused to answer him, instead cooing, "Dad, it's been a long time since I last called you. You haven't cared about me at all, and you don't know how much I've loved the two artifacts you gave Mom last year." Xie Su boomed, "I told her to give them to you!" "Dead daughter! Those were your wedding anniversary gifts!" Xie Mom cried "Thank you, Dad!" Xie Lingxi smiled brightly. "By the way, I've been traveling far and wide lately and am quite short on funds. The family's annual dividends are managed by Mom since I'm still underage." "Then it's *my* turn!" Xie Su replied. "And don't forget the interest," Xie Lingxi added. "I don't really understand these financial matters, but I heard from Brother Yuanshi that current bank interest rates are as high as 20%." Xie Mom had already been visibly agitated, her chest rising and falling. "All right, Dad, I'll retrieve it for you," Xie Su urged. "Lingxi, don't keep me in suspense—just tell me what's going on!" "Brother Yuanshi just returned from the Sea of Cliffs, and he brought back the head of the Sacred Infant. Dad, you must come right away. If you don't, he's going to sell it to the Five Elements Alliance. I really had to go out of my way to secure your priority purchase rights." Xie Lingxi proudly announced her achievement. "Such a well-behaved daughter! Dad will be at the Song Sea "Where are you off to? Don't bother me!" Xie Su glared at her with one look and added, "Bring out the bank card and the two items—I'm about to see my little daughter right away. Move it, don't delay me while I recover the Sacred Infant's head." "...” ... Fu Family Village, a compact villa. In the living room, Xie Lingxi hung up the phone, placed her phone contentedly on the table, picked up half a watermelon resting there, and dug out the most delicious part in the center, savoring it with a satisfied smile. Zhang Yuanqing observed her, sighing, "I can't help but feel you're making too much profit as a middleman." "Once you're blessed, even your dogs and chickens rise," Xie Lingxi cooed, twisting her body playfully, swallowed the watermelon, and said, "Brother Yuan-Shi, when my father arrives, remember to charge a higher price." She thought for a moment, then opened her eyes wide. "Twenty billion in cash, and one hundred vials of life essence." "Queen," he exclaimed, eyes wide open, "Does the Xie family really have that much money? Even if they do, the Xie family surely doesn't have enough Life Primordial Liquid to spare." Zhang Yuanqing spat at her, "Go on, go on, stop being so disruptive—I'm genuinely serious about doing business with your family." Zhang Yuanqing understood: "So I should offer the highest price—no matter what, I must ensure that the Saint-Infant's head doesn't easily return to the Shé family." Xie Lingxi nodded happily: "If it's too easy to retrieve, how will I showcase my father's role?" Guan Ya pretended to suddenly realize: "Don't be fooled by our Lingxi's youth—her strategy is actually stronger than ours." Xie Lingxi's expression changed slightly, adopting a delicate, innocent tone: "Guan Ya sister has misunderstood me. All this was my father's idea. I merely happened to hear it. I'm only seventeen myself—how could I possibly understand such matters?" The Queen was deeply impressed: "You young nobles are truly clever—unlike me, who came from humble origins and always felt my mind was rather slow." Zhang Yuanqing felt he couldn't stay any longer, rose to his feet, and walked off: "I just came back from my quest. I'll rest for a while." Li Chunfeng cast a quietly malicious glance and then said, "I've secured a few decent weapons for you through my connections. The attributes are sent to your email—take a look and let me know if anything doesn't suit you." "Thank you!" Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room, took a simple shower, then pulled out his phone and opened the email. There, he found Li Chunfeng's message. Three output-type weapons in total: a dagger, a hunting rifle, and a long sword. The dagger specializes in piercing armor, causing bleeding, and inducing hallucinations—ideal for a stealthy assassin like Ye You Shen. The hunting rifle has a single function: explosive damage, with the strength of its impact being exceptional. However, it suffers from slow attack speed, poor accuracy, and an inability to fire consecutively. Against agile close-range fighters, it often only manages to fire a single shot. The long sword functions solely through toxin infusion—when struck, the victim absorbs a potent toxin that may render them incapacitated even if they survive, making it particularly effective for a Wugushi (witch-gu) specialist. "The three items are decent, but really only decent—during the Sage stage, they fall into the mid-tier range." Zhang Yuanqing didn't particularly value them. He was aiming for top-tier, even premium, Sage-stage items. Mid-tier Sage-stage items were already plentiful in his inventory and the guild warehouse; spending another one or two million just to acquire them would be far too low on return. Though he often complained that money was becoming worthless amid such strong inflation, it still required a significant outlay—several million—to make such a purchase, which most ordinary Sages simply couldn't manage. Indeed, assets and cash were two very different things. "I'd like one premium or even top-tier item. The price can be negotiated," he replied in his email. Once he sold the Yin-Yang Wheel and the Sacred Infant, he should have enough funds to secure a top-tier item. … At 7:30 p.m. that evening, Zhang Yuanqing was woken up by his phone ringing. He grumbled, picked up the phone, and found it was from Fu Qingyang. On the phone, Fu Qingyang's distinct, cool-toned voice came through: "The representatives from the Huaihai branch and headquarters have arrived, along with Xie family's head." "I'll be there right away," Zhang Yuanqing felt a surge of energy. After hanging up, he took a deep breath and mentally reviewed the afternoon's discussions. Headquarters had sent representatives—this meant Fu Qingyang's request had not been accepted by the Huaihai branch, which considered the cost too high, and thus had escalated it to headquarters. Now, headquarters was coming to Songhai to apply pressure, aiming to recover the Yin-Yang Disk through the rewards offered in the reward announcement. Such negotiations and competitions are commonplace within large organizations—some things simply won't be given to you unless you actively pursue them, and you won't receive sympathy from others. Within the established rules, competition and negotiation are precisely what Fu Qingyang excels at and consistently practices, which is why he supports Zhang Yuanqing. Master Yuan Qing, a newcomer with no solid backing, no extensive networks, and no proven track record within the official ranks, couldn't be left to have his way unchecked. It was entirely normal for the Huaihai branch to seek connections, leverage influence, and exert pressure on him. Thus, negotiation and strategic maneuvering were essential. Originally, this was a win-win situation: the official members sought recognition and achievements, while for the Huaihai branch, such recognition carried prestige—symbolizing tangible benefits funded directly by headquarters and the entire organization, requiring little out-of-pocket investment. "Sometimes, long-term gains seem less important than immediate benefits. This time, I need to make the headquarters aware that the established systems and procedures cannot constrain me," Master Yuan Qing murmured as he put on his shoes, a subtle sigh escaping him. "I was once a proud young man, unyielding to gods or men..." A streak of starlight flickered to life and then faded, leaving a lingering resonance in the room. The next instant, he found himself in a sumptuous study, seated across a spacious desk from Fu Qingyang, and observing three guests seated in the reception lounge. One of them was in his thirties, with a strong, well-defined face, deep, thoughtful eyes, and fine lines of fish-eye wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. It was clear he had once been an outstanding young man, now a seasoned, mature man whose charm had been refined by time. He wore a slightly vintage white shirt paired with black pants, loose and roomy, adding a sense of grace and flow. Was this Shé Lingxi’s father? The facial features were somewhat similar, but the resemblance wasn’t strong. Zhang Yuancheng then turned his attention to the other two. These two wore formal business attire—one with gray hair at the temples, a slightly downturned mouth, and a reserved, stern demeanor, appearing very firm and serious; the other wore black-framed glasses, a warm smile, and a gentle presence. The three guests chatting casually all glanced up simultaneously, turning their attention to the arrival of the Prime Immortal in the living room. Fu Qingyang stood behind his desk and said, “Prime Immortal, this is the head of the She family.” He then introduced the man with gray hair at the temples, around fifty years old, and the middle-aged man wearing black-framed glasses, one after the other "The detective elder from the Huaihai branch, Li, the secretary to the Grand Elder at headquarters." Ah, good morning, esteemed gentlemen... Zhang Yuanqing nearly lost control of his composure. Following the script, he maintained his composed demeanor, bowing slightly to the three guests. "I often hear Lingxi speak highly of you. Indeed, you are exceptionally well-dressed—having a talent of your caliber within the Wuxing Alliance is truly something we admire." Xie Su smiled warmly. "Please, sit by my side." Zhang Yuanqing stepped back to the desk before Fu Qingyang. "When it comes to business, one must conduct oneself with businesslike grace, Xie Master. I wonder, what price would the Xie family be willing to offer to purchase back the Sacred Infant?" He paid no attention to the elder from Huaihai or the Grand Elder's secretary, instead choosing to engage directly with the Xie family. After a few seconds of intense eye contact, Xie Su paused and said, "I would like to first examine the props." Immediately, Zhang Yuanqing produced the Yin-Yang rotating disk and the Sacred Infant's head, placing them on the desk. Both Xie Su and the detective elder rose to their feet "The Yishan Sea is an S-tier instance—matching into it is extremely difficult, and we had almost given up hoping to find the Holy Infant again..." Xie Su beamed, "A true genius at tackling instances—indeed, a true genius." The serious face of the Detective Elder softened into a smile, "Master Yuanshǐ, you're quite impressive." The Yin-Yang Rotating Disk is one of the most crucial items at Huaihai Branch, valued even higher than ordinary Master-tier artifacts due to its unique functions. At that moment, Fu Qingyang spoke up, "With the artifact now safely retrieved, it belongs back to its original owners. Master Xie, please set your price." Xie Su immediately replied, "Our price has already been set—ten vials of life essence and fifty million cash." Zhang Yuancheng shook his head, "In this world, rarity always commands value. Life essence is indeed precious, and Xie Family's production is limited, but as long as it can be produced, it's not irreplaceable. As for fifty million, money is the most readily available of all." "Use these items to purchase components for rule-based equipment... Don't think I'm young, Master Xie!" Xie Su didn't argue, but instead asked, "Then, what's your price?" Zhang Yuanqing had been waiting for exactly this sentence. "Twenty billion cash, one hundred vials of life essence, and one top-tier artifact from the Saint Realm." The detective elder and Li Secretary narrowed their eyes. Xie Su frowned, expressing his displeasure. "Master Yuanshen, why didn't you simply take over all of my Shie family's assets outright?" "Master Xie is being too generous," Zhang Yuanqing said firmly. "This is my offer. If you accept, everything will be settled. If not, the sacred infant's head will be mine." "You're outrageous!" Xie Su burst out in anger. "You're treating my Shie family like a mere junior, haven't you considered the consequences?" Master Yuanshen smiled. "Please, Master Xie, note your tone. Are you intending to threaten me before the Fu Elder, before the Detective Elder, and before Li Secretary?" Xie Su took a deep breath. "I understand your terms. I'll report this to the Elder. "Having said that, he stood up with an expression of displeasure and said, "Shi will now step down." How cooperative the Shi family head is! Zhang Yuanqing replied, "No need to see me off!" As part of the strategy he and Fu Qingyang had discussed, they needed to be firm in their negotiations with the headquarters, yet not overly so—thus, the Shi family became the ideal example to demonstrate this balance. They first established a tone of firmness, which would then allow them to negotiate more effectively. With Shi Lingxi's remarks in the afternoon, Zhang Yuanqing was confident that the Shi family head would fully support his bold demands, since that was also exactly what the family head desired. Indeed, the Shi family head proved to be remarkably smooth and cooperative. Watching the Shi family head walk out with a graceful gesture, Zhang Yuanqing turned to the two seated on the sofa. Li, the secretary, smiled warmly and said, "Yuanshi, sometimes, human relationships matter more than tangible benefits. You've asked for so much." This remark seemed to carry a subtle implication. "Secretary Li, Detective Elder, what price are you offering?" Zhang Yuanqing pretended not to have heard. The senior detective solemnly stated: "Master Yuanshi, the Huaihai branch has already issued a reward notice—B-level merit and eight million cash, officially recognized by headquarters. We won't haggle with you, Master Yuanshi. You must understand your status. You may negotiate with the Xie family, but headquarters won't budge." Zhang Yuanqing replied: "The reward details, headquarters recognizes—while I do not!"