On Northsky Island, within a blessed-land property controlled by the Money Guild, strings and flutes filled the air amid soft singing and graceful dancing.
Li Ling, Shang Yuxian, Kuang Li, and the others sat opposite Shi Jizi and his companions from the Fangzai Kingdom, sipping tea.
They had arranged this gathering to discuss how to resolve the dispute over Nine-Wan Island.
Once both sides realized the other was no easy target, and that rash, excessive reactions would invite unnecessary trouble, these peace talks had become possible.
Li Ling, however, did not believe a matter this important could be settled merely by flapping their lips.
This meeting was mostly about sounding each other out.
"Master Shi, let me get straight to the point. I set my sights on Nine-Wan Island first."
"Oh? And what of it?" Shi Jizi had grown shrewd with age. Hearing Li Ling's words, he revealed a half-smile, looking as though he were inviting him to go ahead with his performance.
Shang Yuxian glanced at Li Ling and said, "Fellow Daoist Li means that everything should follow the principle of first come, first served!"
Shi Jizi laughed. "Young lady, saying that makes this rather pointless. There is nothing wrong with respecting who came first, but Fellow Daoist Li has yet to finalize the transfer or conclude the transaction."
Li Ling said, "A reservation is also part of a transaction."
Shi Jizi scoffed. "As the saying goes, business is business. Naturally, we should follow the rule that the highest bidder wins."
"The highest bidder wins?" Li Ling could not help smiling at that.
This senior, Shi Jizi, was a seasoned veteran. He had seen at a glance that Li Ling simply could not produce that much money right now.
But a spirit island was priceless. The ways in which