Demanding the Lion's Share!

Faced with Bai Jinge's questioning, Pan Ming hurriedly explained.

"Miss Bai, please calm your anger. I did not mean to be negligent. Although Earth-grade Blessed Land are good, most of them require the presence of a Profound Immortal Yuxiao. Even some of the lesser-known Earth-grade Blessed Land the Earth rank need several Lingxu Dao Immortal to maintain their operation. However, Your Excellency Extreme Yin is usually solitary. If you were to forcibly rent an Earth-grade Blessed Land, not only would you be unable to maintain its output and waste the high rent, but you would also easily attract covetous eyes and cause unnecessary trouble."

Bai Jinge opened her mouth, about to speak, but Song Wen spoke first.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, I know you mean well, but let's listen to Fellow Daoist Pan."

Upon hearing Bai Jinge turned her gaze to Song Wen, her eyes filled with resentment.

She wasn't angry that Song Wen had rejected her good intentions, but rather that Song Wen had actually called her "Fellow Daoist Bai".

She understood that Song Wen didn't want outsiders to know about their relationship, but she still felt somewhat troubled.

I wonder when I will be able to openly and legitimately be with 'Extreme Yin'.

"Pan Ming, you'd better recommend a Mystic-grade Blessed Land, preferably close to Central Mu City." Bai Jinge dared not confront Song Wen Wenfa with her resentment, so she could only order Pan Ming around in a condescending manner.

"Miss, I understand."

Pan Ming flipped his hand and took out a Jade Slip. After infusing it with an Immortal Essence, the Jade Slip emitted a burst of spiritual light and condensed into a map in the air.

"Please take a look, gentlemen. There are three suitable blessed lands. I have marked their locations on the map."

Song Wen and Bai Jinge's gazes immediately turned to the map in the air.

The map shows three red dots, which are clearly the three blessed lands mentioned by Pan Ming —all within a billion li of Central Mu City, located in the east, north, and southwest directions respectively.

Of these, the blessed land in the southwest is the closest, about 200 million li away from Central Mu City. The other two are about 700 to 800 million li apart.

Song Wen immediately took a liking to the blessed land in the southwest called 'Bamboo-Hidden Ravine'.

Bamboo-Hidden Ravine is located between Central Mu City and Xiao Household Ink Wind City. In the future, it will be convenient for purchasing spiritual items needed for cultivation or for visiting Jiang Wanyue and Bai Jinge.

But Bai Jinge frowned.

"These three blessed lands are far too far away. Aren't there any closer ones?"

Pan Ming said, "Miss, we do have some, but they're either of very poor quality or they've already been taken."

Bai Jinge's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant.

"Fellow Daoist Pan, please explain the situation of 'Bamboo-Hidden Ravine' in detail," Song Wen said.

Pan Ming was on tenterhooks because of Bai Jinge's displeasure, but when he heard Song Wen's question, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly explained.

"Bamboo-Hidden Ravine covers an area of approximately 30,000 li, and gets its name from a secluded mountain stream in its center. On both sides of the stream grows a large number of Purple Qi Bamboo. Purple Qi Bamboo is an excellent spiritual material for refining flying swords; it can be used to refine Law Treasure after ten years, Spirit Treasure after a hundred years, and immortal Immortal Artifact after ten thousand years."

"However, this bamboo is prone to Ming Insects and requires careful management, otherwise the bamboo will die and the roots will rot. The Ming Insects are so small that they are hard to detect, Divine Sense cannot perceive their eggs before they hatch into adults. For this reason, Purple Qi Bamboo that is hundreds or even thousands of years old is common, but Purple Qi Bamboo that is ten thousand years old is extremely rare."

"Besides the Purple Qi Bamboo, the Bamboo-Hidden Ravine rich in Immortal Spiritual Qi and has a tranquil environment, making it a true sacred place for cultivation for us Lingxu Dao Immortal. In addition, spiritual fields can be cultivated around the bamboo forest, which, if properly cared for, can also generate a considerable income."

After hearing this, Song Wen continued.

"In that case, Bamboo-Hidden Ravine quite to my liking. But I wonder how much the rent is?"

Pan Ming said, "Ten thousand Low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones per year, minimum ten years."

Song Wen's expression froze for a moment.

This rent is far too expensive.

Without sufficient output, he will run out of money in just a few years.

Perhaps sensing that Song Wen thought it was too expensive, Pan Ming added.

"Since Miss Bai is here, I will naturally give her some face; the rent can be reduced by 20%."

"No."

Before Song Wen could express his opinion, Bai Jinge decisively shouted.

"Eight thousand Immortal Spirit Stones a year is too expensive. If that patch of Purple Qi Bamboo doesn't grow to ten thousand years old, wouldn't we lose everything? Moreover, even if we are lucky enough to grow ten-thousand-year-old Purple Qi Bamboo, if the quantity is too small, we will still be unable to make ends meet. In my opinion, the price must be lowered."

A troubled look appeared on Pan Ming's face. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said.

"I'll make the decision; we can offer an additional 500 Immortal Spirit Stones discount each year."

"It's still too expensive," Bai Jinge said.

Pan Ming's expression froze.

"Miss, please understand, this is the lowest price I can offer. If you want it any lower, we'll have to report to the head of the External Affairs Hall for a decision."

"Then send him a message and ask him. Tell him that I, Bai Jinge, have come in person and shamelessly asked him for a discount," Bai Jinge said.

Pan Ming took out a Message Jade Slip, but instead of sending a message, he asked a question.

"Miss Bai, the discounts that the sect leader can offer are probably limited. At most, we can only reduce the price by a few hundred or a thousand more. I wonder if that will satisfy you?"

Bai Jinge's expression turned slightly somber.

"Of course I'm not satisfied."

"Then what is Miss's ideal price... six thousand Immortal Spirit Stones per year?" Pan Ming asked cautiously.

Bai Jinge remained indifferent and simply shook his head.

Pan Ming's expression grew increasingly troubled and heavy.

"That five thousand?"

Bai Jinge shook his head again.

Pan Ming was stunned, seemingly at a loss for what to do. After a brief silence, he simply asked directly.

"What does Miss think the rent for Bamboo-Hidden Ravine should be?"

Bai Jinge extended a slender finger.

"No more than one thousand Low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones per year."

"This... this is impossible. The Hall Master will not agree." Pan Ming rejected it without even thinking. "This price isn't even enough to rent a 'Yellow-grade Blessed Land.' With the concentration of Immortal Spiritual Qi in Bamboo-Hidden Ravine, even disregarding the Purple Qi Bamboo, just by cultivating a small spiritual field and scattering a handful of immortal-grade spirit medicine seeds, the spirit medicine will mature in a hundred years or so, and the selling price will be enough to cover that rent."

"Pan Ming, whether Hall Master Li agrees or not is none of your business. You just need to report the facts," Bai Jinge said.

Clearly, the head of the External Affairs Hall was surnamed Li, and Bai Jinge recognized him.

"Very well. I will report to the Hall Master, but if the Hall Master disagrees, please do not blame me, Miss Bai."

Pan Ming then began sending messages.

Song Wen also felt that the rental fee of a thousand Immortal Spirit Stones was too cheap. But if it could really be done, it would undoubtedly be a good thing, equivalent to getting a Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land for free.

He wouldn't refuse a bargain if there was one to be had.

After a few breaths, Pan Ming received a reply and then Bai Jinge.

"Miss Bai, the master wants to personally convey a message to you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Message Jade Slip in his hand floated into the air and drifted to Bai Jinge's front.

[Hall Master Li, I am Bai Jinge. I hope Hall Master Li will do me this favor.]

[Since Miss Bai has spoken, how could I, the master of this hall, refuse! As you have said, the annual rent for Bamboo-Hidden Ravine will be only one thousand Low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones.]

Bai Jinge directly activated the latest information received on the Message Jade Slip, allowing all three people present to hear the message.

[Then I'll have to trouble you, Hall Master Li.]

After the message ended, Bai Jinge waved his hand and tossed the Message Jade Slip back into Pan Ming's hand.

"By the way, Steward Pan, please remember to tell Hall Master Li that you must not make a fuss about my coming to rent this blessed land, especially not to my father. The rent for Bamboo-Hidden Ravine should still be recorded at the normal price on the books. As for the difference of a mere few thousand Low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones, Steward Pan and Hall Master Li should have plenty of ways to smooth things over."