Emerge from Seclusion

"Greetings, Uncle."

"Has there been a result regarding the arranged duel?" Inside the Cultivation Chamber, Song Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

The Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron sat before him. Beneath it, Gold-Thread Charcoal blazed fiercely, its surface covered in a distinctive kaleidoscope of colors.

The Earth Vein refined gold had completely liquefied; this was the crucial moment for shaping it. Yet Song Changsheng was utterly unaffected, continuously adding powders of various spirit materials while dividing his attention to respond to Song Qingxi.

More than three months had passed since Song Qingxi last reported to him. He had reckoned that there should be a result by now.

"Indeed. Jingrun has reached an agreement with them.

"The duel has been set for eight years from now, at the Heaven-class Trial Ground of Myriad Manifestations Palace. True Lord Huaming of Myriad Manifestations Palace will serve as witness. There will be three matches in total—Golden Core, Purple Mansion, and Foundation Establishment. The first side to take two matches wins.

"As for the stakes, aside from the right to dispose of Song Xiangjie, there will be five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones, an island of no less than ten thousand qing with a deep-sea harbor. Although it only has a Second-Tier Spirit Vein, it lies along the border and has vast room for expansion.

"It also comes with a shellfish farm.

"Additionally, there is one year's yield from five thousand mu of Firecloud Mulberry, five pairs of Red-Bellied Unicorne Celestial Silkworms, and four Ocean Battleships."

The terms had not originally been this generous, but Song Jingrun had lowered the demands concerning the island, greatly easing what the Brocade Banner could bear. In the end, they reached this betting agreement.

To the Song Clan, the difference between a Third-Tier Spirit Vein and a Second-Tier Spirit Vein was