Before the members of the Chienhe Group could respond, Zhang Yuanqing continued, "Three times the right to borrow props, each borrowing valid for one month, with the three divine artifacts rotated among them. Once the cumulative period reaches three months, full ownership and usage rights of the three artifacts will belong exclusively to the Chienhe Group." Now it's late July, so three months from now will be late October. By then, he should have reached the peak of Level 6, and would be awaiting the killing quest in December to advance to the rank of Master. During that killing quest, the Master-level props will no longer be usable—so by then, whether or not the three artifacts are available will no longer matter. Once I reach the rank of Master, I won’t need the three artifacts anymore... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself silently. Threaten, yield; threaten again, yield again—gradually testing the limits, gradually breaking down the other party's defenses, either being broken or breaking them—eventually settling on a compromise that is reasonably balanced and acceptable to both sides. That, in essence, is what negotiation is all about. Zhang Yuanqing had learned much of this from Fu Qingyang. The demands he has made are currently the absolute limits that the Chiyoko Group can accept. From his perspective, the Chiyoko Group's acquisition of the three sacred artifacts is entirely due to his efforts—having even weathered the threat from the King of Fear. Can any of these be bought with money? Now, they want to claim all the gains from the Tachibana Realm, and their expectations seem overly optimistic. Yet, life isn't simply measured in terms of profit or loss; there are too many variables involved. For instance, the location of the Tachibana Realm is a crucial asset for the Chiyoko Group—without their leadership, he would never have entered it. Also, the Chiyoko Group isn't entirely dependent on him; if he were as greedy as the Heavenly Judgment, why would they have chosen him over the Judgment itself? Wouldn't it have been better to simply submit to the Judgment, who would then reward him with a pat on the back? Of course, there are also the current battlefield strengths displayed by both parties, and Zhang Yuanqing's speed advantage. In the end, if things go this way, the two groups will part ways and fight it out within the副本, each risking their lives. By making a little compromise, both parties can achieve mutual success. Of course, after learning of Qin Feng Academy's hidden mission and realizing that the bronze divine tree is truly the treasure, Zhang Yuanqing no longer harbors such strong desire for the three sacred artifacts. Requesting the artifacts is merely a pretext for negotiation. However, the Sen千 He group is unaware of the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn's true intentions—thus, upon seeing him willing to yield, they feel a great relief. If the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn insisted on securing the artifacts, the Sen千 He group would have to sacrifice everything, rendering years of careful planning in vain. With the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn now making a concession, the situation is indeed ideal. Shigetsu Ito paused for a few seconds and asked, "We still need to discuss the matter of usage rights for the props. Additionally, what exactly do you intend to gain from the jade plate?" Zhang Yuanqing had his own clear rationale: "What I truly desire is the usage rights for the props—not the jade plate, which is merely incidental." "I've taken on the threat from the King of Fear on your behalf. He won't let me go; if he catches me later, I'll surrender the Jade Disk and perhaps save my life. This is my greatest concession, Director Kōbu. If you still refuse to agree..." He spoke coldly, raising the Thunderstorm Cannon in his hands. "Master Genjō, please remain calm—let me consult with my team." Director Kōbu lifted his hand, showing a gesture of goodwill, then stepped back with cautious alertness, gathering his officers for a quiet discussion. Zhang Yuanqing thought it over and said, "Let's remove the second and third clauses. I don't have any master-tier items to pledge, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to offer them to you. As for the key to Gao Tianyuan, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep it. "After all, the Fear Emperor wants to investigate your Chiyoshi Group's headquarters—shouldn't that be relatively easy? Once he has the key, you'll actually be safer." The Fear Emperor clearly held immense authority, and Shimosato Ichiro's face slightly changed, saying, "If you can't pledge any master-tier items, then the contract must include this: should any such item be lost, you will have to compensate the Chiyoshi Group with another master-tier item." Shimosato, speaking in a steady tone, expressed their determination: "Lord Yuanshǐ, this is our bottom line." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "Very well." Immediately, Shimosato took out a bronze scroll, used his finger as a pen to write the contract on it, and then pressed a drop of blood from his fingertip onto the scroll. The Chiyoshi Group's officers, including Asano Zhang Yuanqing lightly划 his fingertip, drawing a drop of blood that he then gently expelled—crisp and clear, it splashed upon the bronze scroll, leaving a vivid, poignant stain. The bronze scroll bloomed with brilliant light, its inner power bearing witness to the binding of the pact. This knightly artifact is of a refined quality among the saintly-grade items—should even a sixth-rank saint breach the pact, he would face severe consequences. However, it would be ineffective against the Sovereign. Yet the Kanzhong Group did not mind; the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign would not ascend to Sovereign status until the end of the year, and by then, the three-month period had already expired. The pact was thus fulfilled. Zhang Yuanqing then examined the three items, pondered, and said: "My first item borrowed is the Yatsumi Mirror." The Ten-Cloud Sword was initially overlooked—though it excels in offensive power, it truly shines only when wielded by a swordmaster, and he already possesses the Purple Thunder Hammer. The self-avoidance attack feature of the Kuzuri was interesting, but its solar power and self-healing capabilities overlapped significantly with the functions of his existing equipment. The Yashimo Mirror offers the best value—capable of creating a perfectly faithful duplicate while also anticipating the scene of death. It delivers strong offensive power and ensures favorable outcomes, making it highly versatile and easy to operate. Hikaru Nakamura folded the bronze scroll and turned to Kujō Koshihiko, saying, "Give it to him." Kujō Koshihiko gritted his teeth, visibly reluctant. Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, "You can refuse." Should he refuse, the bond's power would reverse and take effect. Kujō Koshihiko growled in frustration and tossed the Yashimo Mirror toward Zhang Yuanqing. Zhang Yuanqing caught the bronze mirror, placed it in his backpack, and smiled, "I'll return the Yashimo Mirror one month from now. This journey concludes successfully. Everyone, return now." Both parties maintained a respectful distance, walking down the stone steps and soon reaching the mountain base, passing through the light gate, and returning to the cave in the mountain's heart. Zhang Yuanqing added casually, "When the current turmoil has settled, I will return the key to the Tachibana Palace to the Chiharu Group." He said this both to prevent the Chihara group from giving up and damaging the sculpture, and to ease relations between the two parties. As a vassal of the Tenpen organization, the Chihara group will certainly prove useful in the future. The money gentleman once said that in adult life, everything must be driven by interest—first and foremost, one should never block one’s own path. Upon hearing this, the Chihara group’s officers turned back to look at Takanohara, feeling a subtle relief. Zhang Yuanqing transformed into a hazy, dreamlike stream of starlight, drifting to the position of the three-legged golden crane’s eyes, and removed the jade plate. As the light faded, the glowing gate projected on the stone wall vanished. "Then, goodbye," Zhang Yuanqing waved, and dissolved into a streak of starlight within the cave. This was the unique elegance of a star official. Truly impressive... Mizuhara Ryō gazed at the now empty three-legged golden crane sculpture and sincerely thought so. ... Matsuka. On the bustling street, pedestrians flowed like a river, young men in suits walking with stern expressions, pedaling shared bicycles. He was handsome and graceful, with two silver studs embedded in his earlobes. The wind rushing toward him lifted strands of hair from his forehead, carrying with it the fresh, free air. King of Fear loved this sensation—loved the freedom of gliding through the sunlight, relishing the breeze. At that moment, freedom was purest of all. He pedaled his bicycle leisurely toward Kangyang District. The district was still fifteen kilometers away from Fujiawan, giving him half an hour of uninterrupted freedom. Since he had come to Songhai, it was the perfect time to rescue the magic eye. Poor magic eye—every time he thought about losing his freedom, I couldn't eat a single meal. Beneath King of Fear's composed demeanor lay a deeply sensitive heart. The streets were bustling with people. Elderly men strolled with their dogs, mothers walked carefully with their children, and vendors with helium balloons called out loudly. At the intersection, vehicles and pedestrians waited quietly for the red light. As the young cyclist passed by, the obedient dog suddenly stood up in anger, giving the elder a solid slap that sent him sprawling to the ground, then chased after freedom. A young child let go of her mother's hand, leaped into the air, and gave her a slap, then pursued her own freedom. The strings of the hydrogen balloons snapped simultaneously, dozens of balloons drifting upward into the sky—free at last. Every red light on the street turned green and remained steady, no longer pulsing—drivers found themselves free. The King of Fear, riding his bicycle away, quietly retired, leaving behind name and fame. Just around the corner, the clear sky suddenly darkened, a strong wind blew, and a thunderclap roared, followed by a deluge of rain. The rain fell fiercely, pattering steadily like scattered beans, quickly forming puddles across the streets. Without knowing when, the hurried pedestrians seeking shelter vanished, and the vehicles on the street disappeared too. The shops along the avenue remained open, yet the people inside were gone. A mirror world! The King of Fear braked the vehicle, pulling over by the roadside. He looked up at the overcast sky, displeased. "You've been meddling far too much. I gave you a chance last time— you couldn't kill me, and even when I offered you the opportunity, you proved useless." Gently, a figure emerged from the puddle ahead, formed of water, face blurred but graceful in posture, exuding an indescribable elegance. "You should be grateful it's me who came. If that girl had stayed here, she wouldn't have spared you a word." The graceful, water-like figure spoke softly and coldly. "Go now. The Magician's Eye fell at Song Sea— that's his fate. The games between the Sovereigns aren't meant for you to interfere." Magician's Eye? The King of Fear paused, smoothed his forehead back, and smiled. "Perhaps the Prime Sovereign sent word, tipped off my plans." The figure remained silent, effectively agreeing. "I must save the Magician's Eye. You may kill him, but you cannot imprison him— that crosses my threshold." "Fright stopped the shared bikes, pulled out her phone to settle the fare, then turned her gaze toward the figure reflected in the puddle, saying, 'It's been a long time since I've moved my body. Perfect—let's play together.' As soon as she spoke, the rain intensified, each droplet imbued with power, striking the streets and rooftops and creating shallow craters. The King of Fright stood amidst the downpour, his fingers like swords, his sword-like aura tearing through the clouds to reveal a patch of clear blue sky. While the rain poured heavily around him, a radiant sun shone three inches from his feet. The dark clouds above gathered and coalesced into a face, its resonant voice filling the heavens: 'Fright, are you ready to rise again?' ... In the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing quietly withdrew from the Lady Yingyao's consciousness, returning his spirit to its physical form. Now, all he had to do was wait for the Lady to return. The Fu family's village can't be reached anymore. I'll head to Qin Feng Academy tomorrow and plan to stay in the副本 for a few days. I'm curious about the hidden quests there—especially whether there's any information about the Bronze Sacred Tree. Just thinking about it makes me excited. Yes, the Bronze Sacred Tree is related to musicians and scholars. I'll meet with the Palace Mistress tonight and find out more. Today is the weekend, so I'll accompany my aunt out for a stroll. As he was thinking, he stepped out of his bedroom and went straight to his aunt's room, only to find she wasn't there. Zhang Yuanqing stepped out of the room and said to his grandmother, who was mopping the living room floor, "Grandmother, where is my aunt?" "She went to your uncle's place. Your uncle's niece brought back a batch of skincare products from abroad, so she stopped by to visit." The grandmother said with a sigh. Then she remembered something, "By the way, your aunt asked how you're getting along with Guan Ya." "Why would she ask that?" Zhang Yuanqing opened the refrigerator and took a bottle of mineral water. "She wants to introduce you to her niece. Your niece saw "Grandma said. "That's wonderful—let her be my junior wife, and then we'll be even closer to the aunt's family." Zhang Yuanqing gulped down the water in long, steady sips. Grandma was furious, lifting the floor mop as if to strike. "By the way, Grandma, do you know my father well?" Taking advantage of the moment when she had nothing else to do and was still at home, Zhang Yuanqing wanted to find out more about her dead father.