"How much can you provide?"
Lang Ya land spirit asked this question while still standing among the damaged cloud soil.
The surroundings were still in poor condition. Broken formations flickered weakly in the distance, and several cloud buildings had not yet been repaired. The swamp crab had already retreated, but its earlier suppression made Lang Ya land spirit look at Fang Ming with a slightly different gaze.
Fang Ming did not answer immediately.
He looked at the damaged blessed land, then said calmly, "Two production lines' worth."
Lang Ya land spirit's expression changed slightly. "Two?"
"Stable supply. Red Junglefowl and Green Junglefowl. If cooperation goes smoothly, I can increase production later, but that will take time."
Fang Ming's tone was steady.
He did not speak like someone selling leftover goods. He spoke like someone offering a supply channel.
This was important.
His fourth junglefowl formation had no buyer yet. If he forced its output into Eastern Sea, he would only intensify the price war. The first and second formations were still being sold there, but the price had already fallen. This month, each formation's output could only sell for around seventy immortal essence stones, and next month it might fall to sixty-five or lower.
That was still profitable.
But it was not ideal.
Treasure yellow heaven was better. His third formation's output could sell for around one hundred immortal essence stones each month, but that market was unstable. It could absorb one formation for now, not everything.
Fang Ming had already calculated clearly.
The true middle price was ninety immortal essence stones per formation output each month.
Cheaper than treasure yellow heaven.
Better than Eastern Sea's suppressed price.
Fair for both sides.
Lang Ya land spirit stroked his beard and began calculating.
Lang Ya blessed land did not lack wealth, but wealth did not mean everything was convenient. This place had hairy men, Gu refinement workshops, beast groups, and desolate beast guardians. Feeding them all required constant resources.
More importantly, Lang Ya blessed land did not focus on producing food internally.
It often bought supplies through treasure yellow heaven.
Some beast groups were even kept in semi-sealed states because feeding them at full activity was expensive. After this recent attack, Lang Ya land spirit had lost beasts, formations, and storage reserves. His need for stable resources had actually increased.
After thinking for a while, Lang Ya land spirit snorted. "I can use three production lines' worth, but I will not buy all from you."
Fang Ming nodded. "Existing contracts?"
Lang Ya land spirit glanced at him. "You know quite a lot."
"Long-term suppliers do not disappear just because a cheaper seller appears."
"Hmph, that is right." Lang Ya land spirit crossed his arms. "I still have old purchase arrangements. They cover about two-thirds of my consumption. Breaking them immediately is troublesome and unnecessary."
"So one production line for now."
"One." Lang Ya land spirit raised a finger. "If your goods are stable and my old contracts are settled later, I can consider buying more."
Fang Ming accepted this result.
It was within expectation.
Taking one formation's output immediately already solved the fourth formation's problem. As for the second formation that was still trapped in Eastern Sea's price war, he would need another buyer.
"The price?" Lang Ya land spirit asked.
"Ninety immortal essence stones for one full monthly output."
Lang Ya land spirit frowned. "Treasure yellow heaven sells for around one hundred."
"So I am giving you a ten percent discount."
"Ten percent is not large."
"It is stable. It does not require treasure yellow heaven fees. It can be delivered regularly. And you do not need to search each month."
Lang Ya land spirit looked at Fang Ming.
Fang Ming continued, "You suffered an attack. You need predictable supply more than a slightly lower one-time price."
Lang Ya land spirit's beard shook.
He wanted to argue, but the words were reasonable.
Fang Ming was not offering the cheapest price. He was offering certainty.
For a blessed land that had just been attacked, certainty had value.
After a moment, Lang Ya land spirit said, "If you fail to deliver the full batch, you compensate me."
"Reasonable."
"If your beasts have disease, unstable dao marks, or chaotic raising problems, you compensate me."
"I will deliver healthy goods."
"If the quantity is short—"
"I compensate you."
Lang Ya land spirit stared at him, then nodded reluctantly. "Good. One production line per month. Ninety immortal essence stones. Trial period first."
Fang Ming nodded.
The fourth formation had a buyer.
At that moment, another voice sounded from the side.
"Friend Fang, may I ask a few questions?"
Fang Ming turned.
The speaker was a middle-aged Gu Immortal with black skin and white hair. His aura was restrained, and his bearing was not aggressive, but his eyes were clear and alert. He did not look like an ordinary guest.
Lang Ya land spirit glanced at him and said casually, "This is Mo Tan Sang, Inkman King of Northern Plains' Inkman City. He came to help me remove the seal."
Mo Tan Sang cupped his fists politely. "I have seen Friend Fang."
Fang Ming returned the greeting. "Inkman King."
He had known Mo Tan Sang's identity already, but he did not show it.
Mo Tan Sang was not merely a variant human Gu Immortal.
He was a ruler.
A person who could maintain Inkman City in Northern Plains, surrounded by human super forces and constant pressure, was not simple. In Fang Ming's eyes, Mo Tan Sang represented more than one buyer.
He represented a door.
Behind him might stand Inkman City.
Behind Inkman City might stand other variant human connections.
Fang Ming needed markets outside Eastern Sea.
Mo Tan Sang might become one.
Mo Tan Sang looked at Fang Ming carefully. "Friend Fang's food path beasts, are they only Red Junglefowl and Green Junglefowl?"
"I can provide mixed supply."
"Mixed how?"
"Red, Green, Gray, and several related junglefowl breeds. The proportions can be adjusted depending on need."
Mo Tan Sang's eyes moved slightly. "Can they survive long-distance transport?"
"If handled properly."
"Are they only suitable for ordinary consumption, or can they feed beast groups?"
"They are food path beasts. Feeding beast groups is one of their uses. Red Junglefowl have stronger dao mark density. Green Junglefowl reproduce quickly. Gray Junglefowl are more balanced and easier to store in mixed groups."
Mo Tan Sang listened seriously.
Unlike Lang Ya land spirit, he did not look only at immediate consumption. He was judging compatibility, transport, city demand, and whether this supply could be expanded.
"Can the quantity increase?" Mo Tan Sang asked.
"Later."
"How long?"
"At least three months before a new increase can be arranged."
This was not the full truth, but it was close enough for business.
Mo Tan Sang nodded. "Inkman City has some need for food path beasts, but I cannot sign a large contract immediately. I need to test whether your junglefowl suit our feeding systems."
"Samples first, then decision."
"That would be best."
Fang Ming said, "Same price if it becomes regular supply. Ninety immortal essence stones per monthly production line output."
Mo Tan Sang did not answer immediately.
This price was not low, but it was fair. It was cheaper than treasure yellow heaven, and if Fang Ming's supply was stable, it could reduce uncertainty. For Inkman City, which had to survive under pressure, stable resources were never meaningless.
"I will take samples first," Mo Tan Sang said. "If the result is good, we can discuss one production line's worth."
Fang Ming nodded. "Then I will prepare a mixed batch."
The second formation now had a direction.
It would not move immediately. Fang Ming still had Eastern Sea obligations and did not intend to vanish from that market. But if Inkman City accepted the goods, he could gradually transfer the second formation away from the price war.
Lang Ya land spirit saw the two of them reach a preliminary understanding and snorted. "You two are treating my blessed land as a market."
"Is it not one?" Fang Ming asked.
Lang Ya land spirit was speechless for a moment.
Mo Tan Sang laughed lightly, easing the atmosphere.
Fang Ming glanced at Lang Ya land spirit again.
The qi path seal on him was still present. It had been weakened, but not completely removed. This meant Lang Ya land spirit's refinement ability was limited for now.
Fang Ming had originally considered whether to use Lang Ya's refinement ability again soon, but that thought was now pushed back.
For the moment, Lang Ya was more useful as a buyer than as a refiner.
After the food supply matter was settled, Fang Ming raised another subject.
"I also have combat beasts for sale."
Lang Ya land spirit immediately looked at him. "Combat beasts?"
"You were just attacked. From the damage here, the attackers may return."
Lang Ya land spirit's face darkened.
Mo Tan Sang's gaze sharpened slightly.
Fang Ming continued, "I recently passed a heavenly tribulation. The tribulation produced fire foxes. I captured most of them."
Lang Ya land spirit's eyes brightened. "Desolate beasts?"
"Three desolate beast fire foxes. Around ten thousand mortal-level fire foxes."
Lang Ya land spirit's attitude changed immediately.
He had lost some desolate beast guardians in the previous battle. Replenishing fighting strength was urgent. Fire foxes were not the strongest desolate beasts, but they were fast, agile, and possessed natural fire path attacks. In a defensive formation, they could be useful.
"Show me."
Fang Ming opened his immortal aperture slightly.
A group of sealed fire foxes appeared on the cloud soil. The mortal-level fire foxes were bound by formation restraints, their bodies still carrying faint fire path aura. The three desolate beast fire foxes appeared separately, each suppressed by strength path bindings.
Their eyes were fierce, but their bodies were mostly intact.
Lang Ya land spirit circled them, checking their fur, limbs, eyes, claws, and fire path aura. Mo Tan Sang also watched from the side.
After a while, Lang Ya land spirit said, "Their injuries are light."
"I captured them. I did not cripple them."
"You smashed them."
"Not enough to damage their foundation."
Lang Ya land spirit snorted but did not deny it.
The three desolate beast fire foxes did need healing, but their vitals were intact. Their eyes were not blinded, their limbs were not broken, and their fire path instincts were stable. For combat beasts, this was good quality.
But Lang Ya land spirit soon frowned.
"These came from a heavenly tribulation."
"Yes."
"There is heaven's will influence on them."
Fang Ming nodded calmly. "Slight."
"Slight still needs to be cleaned. If I want to use them as guardians, I need to spend immortal essence and refinement methods to remove the influence."
"That is a cost."
"So the price must fall."
Fang Ming did not object. "How much?"
"Ten percent discount."
"Five."
Lang Ya land spirit's eyes widened. "They are injured and influenced by heaven's will!"
"The injuries are minor. Even if you do not heal them deliberately, desolate beasts recover naturally. The only real cost is removing heaven's will influence."
"You are selling them to me right after I was attacked!"
"That is why the price is not higher."
Lang Ya land spirit paused.
Fang Ming's tone remained calm. "You need fighting strength. Another attack may come. I could use that urgency to raise the price, but I am offering a discount instead. Five percent is fair."
Mo Tan Sang's eyes moved slightly.
This sentence was not only bargaining.
It was positioning.
Fang Ming was telling Lang Ya land spirit that he was not exploiting the crisis. He was also making Lang Ya acknowledge that this trade had favor value.
Lang Ya land spirit's beard trembled. "You really know how to speak."
"I prefer clear accounts."
After arguing for a while longer, Lang Ya land spirit finally accepted the five percent discount.
The final price was set.
Ten immortal essence stones for all ten thousand mortal-level fire foxes.
One hundred and eighty immortal essence stones for the three desolate beast fire foxes.
Sixty immortal essence stones each.
This price was slightly low, but not unreasonable.
Fire fox desolate beasts were troublesome because of their speed and natural fire attacks, but they were not top-tier combat beasts. They were not comparable to lightning lycans, burning lions, or wind cutter eagles. And even those were not the peak of the market. Some beasts had far greater fighting power, but they were difficult to control, did not live in groups, or could not be cultivated at scale, making them rare and expensive.
Lang Ya land spirit was not losing out.
Fang Ming was not losing out either.
The heavenly tribulation's damage had been converted into cash.
After the fire fox deal, Fang Ming delivered the fourth formation's monthly output to Lang Ya on the spot.
Lang Ya land spirit inspected the food path beasts, then paid ninety immortal essence stones.
Mo Tan Sang also received a smaller mixed sample batch for Inkman City. He did not sign a full contract yet, but he paid properly for the samples and promised to send a reply after testing their use.
Fang Ming accepted the payment without pressing further.
A sample today could become a production line tomorrow.
That was enough.
After all the transactions were complete, Fang Ming did not stay.
His Copy and Counterfeit Copy cooldowns were not ready. He had recently used them to create the fourth junglefowl formation. Lang Ya land spirit was still sealed and not in good condition for refinement work. Remaining here would bring little benefit.
Before leaving, Fang Ming made one final calculation.
Lang Ya had paid ninety immortal essence stones for the fourth formation's output.
Treasure yellow heaven would bring around one hundred immortal essence stones from the third formation this month.
Eastern Sea had paid seventy immortal essence stones from each of the first and second formations this month, for a total of one hundred and forty.
The fire fox group and three desolate beast fire foxes brought another one hundred and ninety.
Together, this cycle brought in five hundred and twenty immortal essence stones.
It was strong cash flow.
But Fang Ming did not become complacent.
The fire fox payment was not regular income. It came from a tribulation harvest. Next month, Eastern Sea prices might fall further, perhaps to sixty-five per formation or lower. The price war had not ended.
Still, the situation had improved.
The fourth formation now had a buyer.
The second formation had a possible path toward Inkman City.
Lang Ya had become both a customer and future refinement partner.
Mo Tan Sang had opened a door toward variant human markets.
Fang Ming looked once at the damaged Lang Ya blessed land.
Smoke still lingered.
The cloud soil was still broken.
The qi path seal on Lang Ya land spirit had not been fully removed.
This place was not safe.
But it was useful.
Purple smoke began rising around Fang Ming.
Lang Ya land spirit looked at him. "Come again next month with the goods."
"I will."
Mo Tan Sang cupped his fists. "I will send word after Inkman City tests the samples."
Fang Ming nodded.
The purple smoke gathered around his body, forming a faint human-shaped haze. Two breaths later, his figure vanished from Lang Ya blessed land.
Item Amount
Cost to copy 3rd + 4th junglefowl formation -540 x 2
Cost to copy Strong Lift Gu + Lift Gu -500
Formation 1 and 2 Month 1 price 90 each
Formation 1 and 2 Month 2 price 90 each
Formation 1 and 2 Month 3 price 80 each
Formation 1 and 2 Month 4 price 70 each
Formation 3 treasure yellow heaven price 100/ month
Formation 4 Lang Ya price 90/month
Fire fox sale 190 one-time
Month F1 F2 F3 F4 Fire fox sale Monthly revenue Net
Month1 90 90 — — — 180 180
Month2 90 90 100 — — 280 -260
Month3 80 80 100 — — 260 -240
Month4 70 70 100 90 190 520 -20
Total across these 4 months
Formation sales revenue 1,050
Fire fox sale revenue 190
Total revenue 1,240
Junglefowl formation copy costs 1,080
Strong Lift + Lift copy cost 500
Total copy / special costs 1,580
Net result over 4 months -340
Current regular monthly income 330
Current balance 1,300
Next month copy cost ____