The Price of Information

Inside the Pangu Hall, the atmosphere grew subtly tense.

The six figures stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, rapidly exchanging messages through their Primordial Spirits.

After a moment, it was Taiqing who broke the silence. He looked at Wu Ming and spoke in a steady voice: "Fellow Daoist, name your price. As long as it is within our means, we will do our utmost to satisfy you."

Hearing this, Wu Ming's mind raced.

The price was indeed a delicate matter.

Set it too high, and these six would surely be displeased.

After all, this information was crucial to them now, but once they learned the method to become a Saint, they would inevitably feel the cost wasn't worth it. Offending six future Sages for no good reason would be far from beneficial for the Witch Clan.

But if the price was too low, it would make the information seem worthless.

After a brief moment, Wu Ming had made up his mind.

He looked at Taiqing and Venerable Lord Yuanshi, then spoke slowly: "Fellow Daoist Taiqing, Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, this humble one's demands are not high."

"Your Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner must be lent to my Witch Clan for use three times."

"When exactly they will be used, my Witch Clan will notify you two at that time. And regardless of when or under what circumstances, you two must not refuse for any reason."

Venerable Lord Yuanshi's face darkened instantly, his aura fluctuating unsteadily. He was about to retort.

But Taiqing nodded first, his voice as calm as an ancient well: "Agreed."

"Elder Brother!" Yuanshi transmitted, his voice thick with displeasure.

Taiqing replied evenly: "Second Brother, the Great Dao is paramount. Three uses in exchange for the chance to become a Saint—this is no loss."

Yuanshi's chest heaved, but in the end, he swallowed his words, though his expression remained sour.

Wu Ming then turned to Tongtian, offering a slight smile: "As for Fellow Daoist Tongtian, you and my Witch Clan share some history. Regarding the matter of the Sea Calming Divine Beads last time, you allowed my Witch Clan to owe you a favor. This time, this humble one offers this information to you freely, as a token of gratitude."

Tongtian was taken aback, then waved his hand: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, let's keep things separate! Last time was a fair exchange, and you even promised that the Witch Clan owed me a personal favor. Today, this method to become a Saint is of utmost importance. If I accept it for nothing, wouldn't I be a petty man taking advantage? How could I hold my head up in the Primordial Wilderness afterward?"

His nature was straightforward, and he hated being indebted to others.

"How about this? Let the favor the Witch Clan owes me be written off entirely, as the price for obtaining this information!"

Wu Ming, however, shook his head: "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, there's no need for that."

"This information means little to me. Offering it to you is merely to forge a good connection."

"As for the favor my Witch Clan owes you, there will be a time for repayment."

Seeing Wu Ming's firm stance, Tongtian did not press further.

He laughed heartily and clasped his hands: "Since Fellow Daoist Wu Ming puts it that way, I, Tongtian, will accept it with gratitude!"

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! This kindness, I, Tongtian, will remember!"

Wu Ming nodded with a smile, his fondness for Tongtian growing. This Jie Sect Leader was indeed someone worth befriending.

Then, Wu Ming's gaze fell on Nuwa.

"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, you will leave the Creation Cauldron with my Witch Clan as collateral. Until you become a Saint, the Creation Cauldron will belong to my Witch Clan, for our use."

"Once you have become a Saint, this cauldron will be returned to you."

The Creation Cauldron?

Nuwa's brow furrowed slightly as she sank into thought.

After a moment, she nodded solemnly: "Very well."

Her voice was soft, but carried a note of resolve. If she could become a Saint, what did it matter if the Creation Cauldron was temporarily out of her hands? If she could not, even holding this treasure might not guarantee her safety.

Finally, Wu Ming's gaze shifted to Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti.

"As for you two, Fellow Daoists..." Wu Ming paused, making both Jieyin and Zhunti's hearts leap into their throats.

Daoist Jieyin's face still bore a bitter expression, while Daoist Zhunti stared at Wu Ming with wide eyes, dreading some unbearable condition.

Wu Ming spoke slowly: "In the future, when you two have established your Dao traditions, my Witch Clan will need, at a certain time, to take one-third of the merit gained by your traditions. When that time comes, and which batch of merit is taken, will be decided entirely by my Witch Clan."

"What?"

Both Jieyin and Zhunti cried out in unison.

One-third of the merit from their Dao traditions!

And at some unspecified future time!

This was like cutting flesh from their bodies, and choosing the moment when they were fattest to do it!

If Wu Ming had demanded some heavenly treasure or earthly gem now, even if it meant bankrupting them, they could grit their teeth and accept it.

But this "one-third of future Dao tradition merit" was far too unpredictable!

Who knew when the Witch Clan would come to collect?

Who knew how much merit the West would have amassed by then?

This was nothing short of a bottomless pit!

Inside the hall, the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa were also visibly shaken.

They looked at Wu Ming with eyes full of shock and uncertainty.

This Wu Ming had quite the appetite!

And he could even foresee that Jieyin and Zhunti would establish their own teachings in the future and gain merit?

What exactly did he know?

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming!" Daoist Jieyin's voice trembled slightly as he quickly spoke, "This... this condition is a bit too..."

He wanted to say "harsh," but the words died in his throat.

Now, they were the ones asking for a favor.

"Could you... could you change the condition?" Jieyin tried to steady his voice. "As long as it's something my fellow disciple and I possess right now, anything you fancy, we will not utter a single word of objection!"

Zhunti nodded frantically beside him, forcing a smile uglier than tears. "Yes, yes, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming. The future holds too many variables. How about... how about we focus on the present?"

They were truly afraid.

Future things were too intangible and too easy to hold over them.

Wu Ming looked at the two of them and said unhurriedly, "In that case... I will not force the issue."

"You two, hand over the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit 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!

Though it didn't terrify them as much as giving up a third of their future teaching merit, it was still cutting flesh from their bones!

The two exchanged glances, seeing deep reluctance and struggle in each other's eyes.

Zhunti's eyes darted as he probed, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, the other Daoists are merely lending or temporarily pawning their treasures."

"Could we... could we also lend the Golden Lotus of Merit to you for a time?"

"After we become Saints, we'll retrieve it. How about that?"

He was trying to play tricks, stalling for time.

Wu Ming sneered at this. "Heh. You two think too simply."

"Pick one of these two conditions."

The hall fell silent, broken only by Jieyin and Zhunti's heavy breathing.

The two exchanged another look, seeing endless bitterness, struggle, and helplessness in each other's eyes.

The Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit was their lifeline. Without it, the present would be hard.

But the future teaching merit was their hope for rising. With Wu Ming meddling, the road ahead was uncertain.

After a long moment, Daoist Jieyin let out a long sigh, his voice hoarse as grinding stone. "We... choose the first."

Wu Ming's face broke into a satisfied smile. "Good. Don't feel too upset. The price the others paid is no lighter than yours."

"Since you've all agreed to the terms, please swear your oaths now."

"You all know the procedure, I trust."

Yuan Shi frowned and couldn't help speaking up. "Wu Ming! We are all guests of Zixiao Palace, with the Great Dao ahead of us. Would we break our word over such a paltry price?" His tone carried clear displeasure.

Wu Ming was unperturbed, meeting Yuan Shi's gaze. "Fellow Daoist Yuan Shi, you miss the point. It's not that I distrust you all, but in the future, you will be exalted Sages overlooking the Primordial Wilderness, your words becoming law. My Witch Clan may have some strength now, but compared to Sages, we are mere ants."

"When that time comes, if I try to collect on today's promise, I doubt I could even enter your mountain gates."

"Swearing an oath is the fairest way. It protects both sides and spares us unnecessary trouble later."

His words were blunt and bare, yet too real to refute.

All beneath Sages are ants—that was no empty saying.

Taiqing's gaze deepened as he slowly nodded. "Good."

With that, he was the first to channel his own aura and swear an oath to the Great Dao, the Great God Pangu, and the Heavenly Dao.

Venerable Lord Yuanshi snorted coldly. Though unwilling, he understood Wu Ming spoke the truth and followed suit.

Then Tongtian, Nuwa, and the ashen-faced Jieyin and Zhunti swore their oaths in turn.