"Sect Master Shen, forgive me, but I cannot agree to your demands. One hundred ninth-tier medicinal herbs-that is our bottom line!" the Eighth Elder said, his face dark.
"Cutting it from ten thousand to one hundred? Not even a tenth?" Shen Tingqin asked in astonishment.
"One hundred ninth-tier spirit herbs are already extraordinarily valuable!" The Eighth Elder was nearly driven mad. Was that how you did the math? Why the fuck didn't you just ask for a hundred million?
Shen Tingqin paced a few steps, then said quietly, "I am not an unreasonable man. Since Medicine Valley sincerely wishes to make peace, I can relax my conditions somewhat.
"First, my sect does not wish to be disturbed by any other faction, nor do we intend to contend for fame or profit.
"As Medicine Valley happens to enjoy great prestige, my sect would like to borrow some of that influence.
"Let our two sects simply form an alliance!
"The ten thousand medicinal herbs can also be reduced to five hundred.
"That is my bottom line!
"Accept, and we make peace. If you cannot decide, go back and seek approval. I will wait half an hour!"
Seeing Shen Tingqin's firm stance, the Eighth Elder said helplessly, "Please wait, Sect Master Shen. I will go back and seek approval."
The Eighth Elder returned to Medicine Valley and relayed Shen Tingqin's conditions.
No one gave the request for an alliance much thought. Given the Divine Origin Sect's secretive way of doing things, they probably simply wanted to use Medicine Valley's name to avoid interference from other factions.
But ninth-tier medicinal herbs were incomparably precious, so Yao Zhonglou told the Eighth Elder to negotiate flexibly.
The Eighth Elder brought their terms to Shen Tingqin. After both sides argued their cases, they finally reached an agreement