I Was of One Heart with the System, but the System Played Mind Games with Me
Lu Ping's words struck Shen Yaoxin's Achilles' heel.
The dispute over the Mystic Marrow Jade Mine on the border between the two regions is actually a scheme orchestrated by the Blood Demon Sect.
As expected, these old monsters are all capricious. One minute they're discussing cooperation, the next they're switching sides to become rivals.
This capricious behavior actually matched Shen Yaoxin's impression of the old monster.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"
Shen Yaoxin stood up, his embarrassment vanishing and replaced by a warm smile.
The old fox changed his tune even faster than Lu Ping had anticipated.
"I wasn't trying to shirk responsibility; it's just that this Formation Technique was novel, so I asked a few more questions."
"Fellow Daoist's suggestion is practically tailor-made for my Azure Cloud Sect; it is a truly benevolent policy. How could I, Shen, possibly refuse!"
With a wave of his sleeve, Shen Yaoxin sent an Azure Jade Plaque into Lu Ping's hand.
"This is the Grand Supreme Elder Token of the Azure Cloud Sect."
"Senior Brother Lu has provided such a grand formation for the sect, his merits are immeasurable. The token contains one thousand Contribution Points as a congratulatory gift for Senior Brother Lu's entry into the sect."
One second he was calling him "fellow Daoist," the next he was calling him "Senior Brother Lu." Shen Yaoxin's speed in changing his address was comparable to Lu Ping's speed in changing his appearance with the system.
When Lu Ping obtained the Ordinary Elder Token in the last simulation, he needed to spend five million Spirit Stones to exchange for one thousand Contribution Points.
This is still considered a perk for newbie elders.
Now, Shen Yaoxin is directly giving away 1,000 Contribution Points.
Indeed, to persuade someone with reason, one still needs to rely on the "principles" of physics.
Shen Yaoxin put the Formation Plate into his Storage Ring.
"As for this Formation Technique, I will summon the elders of all halls tonight, and at the latest tomorrow, we will begin its implementation in the outer sect!"
Lu Ping held the Elder Token, his fingertips tracing the cool lines on it.
In my line of sight, the system 'Blue Light Screen silently popped up.
[KPI progress indicator: An innovative and Rationalization Proposal was proposed and has been adopted.]
[Pending implementation, rewards are pending unlocking...]
Lu Ping looked at the prompt in front of him, his expression unchanged.
The system is still trying to get him to follow the office rules of writing proposals, submitting documents, and waiting for approvals.
I can no longer work as a laborer, and I can no longer live the life of a beast of burden.
If I've already cultivated immortality, and I still follow the thinking of oxen and horses, then wouldn't my cultivation have been in vain!
Fortunately, the system was fairly disciplined. Although he used some "physical persuasion" tactics in this negotiation, he ultimately achieved his goal of having his suggestion adopted.
Only...
Lu Ping's gaze lingered on the phrase "awaiting implementation."
In the past, as long as the conditions were met, the settlement reward would pop up immediately.
But why is there a "progress notification" suddenly appearing on this panel today?
Lu Ping carefully put away the Elder Token, clicking his tongue inwardly.
He wasn't sure whether the system had upgraded or if it was a new trick designed to prevent him from engaging in such "forced buying and selling" again.
I'm connected to the system, but the system is playing tricks on me.
Lu Ping didn't linger any longer. He gave Shen Yaoxin a slight bow, then turned and stepped out of the main hall. Following the route he remembered, he used his Escape Light to fly towards the Internal Affairs Hall.
As for Han Shishan, who was still frozen by the pillar, Lu Ping didn't even glance at him, leaving it all to Shen Yaoxin to deal with.
Given Shen Yaoxin's cunning, he would never punish Han Shishan right now.
To appease people, they even put on a show, outwardly rewarding him handsomely for his recommendation.
But this benefit doesn't come for free.
The dispute over the Mystic Marrow Jade Mine to the north is imminent, and Shen Yaoxin is worried that he has no suitable pawns to discard.
Now that Han Shishan has unwittingly gotten involved in this mess, the job at the Mystic Marrow Jade Mine is probably a done deal.
However, for a mere Nascent Soul Nascent Soul to accidentally stumble upon a game of wits between gods and lords, and to overhear the secrets of the Spirit Transformation and the path to breakthrough, is already an incredible fortuitous opportunity of luck.
Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise.
Whether this fortuitous opportunity allows him to grasp the essence of things and transcend the distinction between the mortal and the sacred, or whether it completely fills the mine pit, depends entirely on Han Shishan's own destiny.
A moment later, Lu Ping landed in the Internal Affairs Hall.
The Deacon on duty inside the hall were so frightened when they saw the newcomer holding the Grand Supreme Elder Token that they immediately bowed and respectfully presented him with the geomantic map of the Seventy-Two Peaks.
Lu Ping raised his hand and gently tapped one of the spots.
They still chose Xiaolai Peak, Abandoned for Sixty Years and was heavily in Deficit.
The Deacon of the Internal Affairs Hall bowed, presented the Grand Supreme Elder Token with both hands, and said after carefully checking it.
"Patriarch Lu,"
Even the Deacon's address was tinged with utmost reverence.
"Xiaolai Peak has been closed for sixty years. According to the sect's rules, the new master must pay for the Spirit Vein Leasing and the Grand Formation Maintenance."
"However, given your noble status, the Sect Master has decreed that the Grand Supreme Elder's opening of the peak will be exempt from all offerings and rent for the first three years."
"You may freely use the Spirit Medicine Garden, Alchemy Chamber, and Earthfire Room within the peak."
The Deacon's address of "Patriarch Lu" left Lu Ping somewhat dazed.
Although he was only eighteen years old, he was already at the level of an ancestor.
Therefore, when he was playing a game with Shen Yaoxin, it wasn't entirely untrue for him to call the person who created the Little Smart Communication Formation a once-in-a-millennium genius.
Lu Ping took the jade pendant, his expression calm, and gave a nonchalant reply.
"Um."
He turned and stepped out of the main hall, his steps steady and composed, perfectly capturing the aloofness of a high-ranking monster who had lived for countless years, treating money like dirt.
But only Lu Ping himself knew that the moment the Deacon said "the rent for the first three years will be waived," it was like heavenly music to him.
Almost there, just a little bit more! The poorest Spirit Transformation Divine Lord in history was about to have his underwear exposed.
In the last simulation, Lu Ping spent a year lying low and then earned Forty Million during the Mystic Marrow Jade Financial Crisis before successfully reopening Xiaolai Peak.
Currently, Lu Ping only has a little over 70,000 self-produced Spirit Stones, which is barely enough to pay a month's rent for Xiaolai Peak.
If his rent hadn't been waived, he, a dignified Grand Supreme Elder, "Patriarch Lu," wouldn't even have been able to come up with the deposit for moving in, and he would have made a huge fool of himself on the spot.
Fortunately, although Shen Yaoxin was calculating, he was meticulous in his work, and the favor he gave was just right.
Lu Ping rode his Escape Light and sped all the way to Xiaolai Peak.
The Formation Command Token Activation, and the mist dissipated.
On Xiaolai Peak, there is Main Hall, Alchemy Chamber, Medicine Garden, and so on, but they are all somewhat dilapidated.
The Spirit Gathering Formation collapsed, the Dust-Cleansing Formation stopped working, the Illumination Formation flickered, weeds grew in the cracks between the floor tiles, and even the air was filled with a faint, musty smell.
Sixty years of dust have left their mark on Xiaolai Peak, even with the protection of the Formation Technique.