Inside Pangu Hall, the atmosphere grew somewhat delicate.
The six figures fell silent, each turning things over in their minds while secretly communicating through their Primordial Spirits.
After a moment, Taiqing was still the one to break the silence. He looked at Wu Ming and said evenly, "Fellow Daoist, name your price. As long as it is within what we can bear, we will do our best to satisfy you."
Wu Ming's thoughts raced when he heard this.
Setting the price was indeed a delicate matter.
If he set it too high, the six of them would certainly be displeased.
After all, this information was important to them right now. But once they learned the method of becoming a Saint, they would surely feel the price was not worth it. Offending six future Saints for no good reason would be anything but beneficial to the Witch Clan.
Yet if he set the price too low, it would make the information seem worthless.
After a moment, Wu Ming had made his decision.
He looked at Taiqing and Venerable Lord Yuanshi and slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Taiqing, Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, my demands are not excessive."
"Your Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner must be lent to my Witch Clan for three uses."
"As for when they are to be used, members of my Witch Clan will inform you when the time comes. Regardless of when or under what circumstances, neither of you may refuse for any reason."
Venerable Lord Yuanshi's expression suddenly darkened, and even the aura around him grew unsteady. He was just about to protest.
But Taiqing gave a slight nod first, his voice still as calm as an ancient well. "Agreed."
"Big Brother!" Yuanshi transmitted, his displeasure obvious.
Taiqing replied calmly, "Second Brother, the Great Dao comes first. Three uses in exchange for a chance to become a Saint is a fair deal."
Yuanshi's chest heaved, but in the end he swallowed his words. His expression, however, remained ugly.
Wu Ming then turned to Tongtian and smiled faintly. "As for Fellow Daoist Tongtian, you and my Witch Clan have some history. Regarding the Sea Calming Divine Beads last time, you did us a favor. I will give you this information free of charge as a token of my gratitude."
Tongtian was stunned, then waved his hand. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, one matter is one matter! Last time was a fair exchange, and you even promised that the Witch Clan would owe me a favor. This method of becoming a Saint is incredibly important. If I accepted it for free, wouldn't I become a petty man who takes advantage of others? How could I establish myself in the Primordial Wilderness in the future?"
He was forthright by nature and disliked owing favors above all.
"How about this? Let the favor owed to me by the Witch Clan be canceled once and for all. Consider it the price for obtaining this information!"
Wu Ming shook his head. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, there is no need for that."
"This information means little to me. I am giving it to you simply to form a good connection."
"As for the favor my Witch Clan owes you, the time to repay it will come in the future."
Seeing Wu Ming's firm attitude, Tongtian no longer dwelled on it.
He laughed heartily and cupped his fists. "Since Fellow Daoist Wu Ming has put it that way, then I, Tongtian, will accept it without further refusal!"
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! I, Tongtian, will remember this favor!"
Wu Ming nodded with a smile, gaining an even better impression of Tongtian. This Jie Sect Leader was indeed someone worth befriending.
Wu Ming's gaze then fell on Nuwa.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, you will leave the Creation Cauldron as collateral with my Witch Clan. Before you become a Saint, the Creation Cauldron will belong to my Witch Clan, and we will use it."
"Only after you become a Saint may this cauldron be returned to you."
The Creation Cauldron?
Nuwa's brows drew together slightly as she fell into thought.
After a moment, she nodded solemnly. "Fine."
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an air of resolve. If she could become a Saint, what did it matter if the Creation Cauldron temporarily left her possession? If she could not become a Saint, having this treasure might not be enough to protect her anyway.
At last, Wu Ming turned his gaze to Jieyin and Zhunti.
"As for the two of you..." Wu Ming paused, making Jieyin and Zhunti's hearts rise to their throats.
Daoist Jieyin still wore a bitter expression, while Daoist Zhunti stared at Wu Ming anxiously, afraid of hearing some unbearable condition from him.
Wu Ming said slowly, "After the two of you establish your Dao Lineage in the future, my Witch Clan will need to take one-third of the merit obtained by your Dao Lineage at a certain point. As for when it will be taken and which accumulation of merit, my Witch Clan will decide.""
"What?"
Jieyin and Zhunti both cried out at the same time.
One-third of the merit obtained by their Dao Lineage!
And it would be taken at some point in the future!
This was practically cutting flesh from their bodies, while waiting until they were at their fattest to make the cut!
If Wu Ming were asking them for some heavenly treasure or earthly material right now, even if he demanded everything they owned, they could grit their teeth and accept it.
But this "one-third of their future Dao Lineage's merit" had far too many variables!
Who knew when the Witch Clan would come to collect it?
Who knew how much merit the West would have at that time?
This was practically a bottomless pit!
Inside the hall, the expressions of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa also changed dramatically.
They looked at Wu Ming with astonishment and uncertainty.
What an appetite this Wu Ming had!
Moreover, he could actually foresee that Jieyin and Zhunti would establish a Dao Lineage in the future and obtain merit?
What exactly did he know?
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming!" Daoist Jieyin's voice trembled slightly as he hurriedly said, "This... this condition is perhaps too..."
He wanted to say "harsh," but swallowed the word when it reached his lips.
They were the ones asking him for a favor now.
"Could you... could you change the condition?" Jieyin tried to make his voice sound calmer. "Whatever my junior brother and I possess now, regardless of what it is, as long as you take a fancy to it, we will have no objections!"
Zhunti nodded repeatedly beside him, forcing a smile onto his face that looked worse than crying. "Exactly, exactly. Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, there are too many variables in the future. Why don't... why don't we only consider what exists now?"
They were genuinely frightened.
Things in the future were too ethereal and too easy to manipulate.
Wu Ming looked at the two of them and said unhurriedly, "Since that is the case... then I will not force you."
"Fellow Daoists, hand the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit over to my Witch Clan."
The Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit!
Jieyin and Zhunti's hearts clenched again!
This was the supreme treasure that suppressed the destiny of the West!
Although it was not as terrifying to them as one-third of their future Dao Lineage's merit, it was still like cutting flesh from their bodies!
The two exchanged a glance, and both saw deep reluctance and struggle in the other's eyes.
Zhunti's eyes rolled as he cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, as you see it... the other fellow Daoists are only lending or temporarily pledging their treasures."
"Could my senior brother and I... could we also lend the Merit Golden Lotus to you for a period?"
"After we become Saints, we can take it back. How about that?"
He was trying to be vague and buy himself some time.
But Wu Ming let out a cold laugh. "Heh. Fellow Daoists, you are thinking far too simply."
"Choose one of these two conditions."
The hall fell silent, leaving only the heavy breathing of Jieyin and Zhunti.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing endless bitterness, struggle, and helplessness in the other's eyes.
The Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit was their lifeline. Without it, they would have a hard time in the present.
But the merit of their future Dao Lineage was their hope of rising. With Wu Ming interfering, their prospects had become uncertain.
After a long while, Daoist Jieyin let out a long sigh. His voice was hoarse, like a whetstone scraping against metal. "My junior brother and I... choose the first."
A satisfied smile appeared on Wu Ming's face. "Good. Neither of you should feel too aggrieved. The price the others paid was no less than yours."
"Since everyone has agreed to the conditions, then please swear your oaths."
"You are all familiar with the process, I presume."
Yuanshi frowned and could not help speaking up. "Wu Ming! We are all guests of Zixiao Palace, with the Great Dao ahead of us. Why would we go back on our word over such a minor price?" His tone carried obvious displeasure.
Wu Ming did not take it to heart. He looked straight at Yuanshi. "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, you are mistaken. It is not that I distrust you all. The truth is that in the future, all of you will be exalted Saints, looking down upon the Primordial Wilderness with every word carrying the force of law. Although my Witch Clan possesses some strength now, compared to Saints, we are nothing but ants."
"When that time comes, if we wish to demand that you honor today's promise, I fear we might not even be able to enter the gates of your Daoist sanctuaries."
"Swearing an oath is the fairest arrangement. It provides both sides with a safeguard and prevents unnecessary trouble from arising in the future."
His words were blunt and exposed the reality without reservation, yet they were so realistic that no one could refute them.
All beings beneath Saints were ants. This was no empty claim.
Taiqing's gaze was profound as he slowly nodded. "Good."
With that, he was the first to channel his own aura and swear an oath to the Great Dao, Great God Pangu, and the Heavenly Dao.
Venerable Lord Yuanshi snorted coldly. Although unwilling, he understood that Wu Ming's words were true and could only follow him in swearing the oath.
Afterward, Tongtian, Nuwa, and the ashen-faced Jieyin and Zhunti also swore their oaths one after another.