Inside the Dragon Scale Flowerpot was a mound of Red Spirit Soil filled to the brim.
Red Spirit Soil was the finest soil for cultivating spiritual medicines.
Every single grain of it possessed extraordinary value.
The price of a handful was no less than gold or silver ornaments.
At the center of the Red Spirit Soil stood a slender sapling.
The sapling was no longer than a thumb.
Its body glowed with vibrant emerald green color, fresh and full of life.
From the sapling emanated a faint medicinal fragrance.
A soft green radiance flowed outward from its leaves.
As the light washed over them, Alex, Alistair, and Tobias instantly felt their minds become peaceful and calm.
A profound tranquility spread through their consciousness.
"Brother Alex, you truly are remarkable!" Alistair clenched his fists and spoke excitedly.
"Our Blackwood family possesses an ancestral book called the Record of the Medicine God."
"Every spiritual medicine from ancient times until today is recorded within it."
"The description inside that book is extremely clear."
"This plant is exactly the appearance of a Hibiscus Divine Tree sapling."
"Originally I suspected you might simply be teasing this old man."
"But I never imagined that you truly possessed a Hibiscus Divine Tree sapling."
Hearing this confirmation, Alex quietly released a long breath of relief.
"This old fellow hides his knowledge deeply."
"Fortunately I did not grab a random spiritual plant to deceive him earlier."
"Otherwise I would have been exposed immediately."
Behind them Tobias remained frozen in place for a long time.
His heart was filled with excitement and disbelief.
"My heavens."
"The Clan Head truly hides things deeply."
"He obtained such an astonishing treasure yet never mentioned a single word about it."
"This is truly excessive."
"Originally this little brother felt somewhat uneasy."
"But since Elder Brother Alistair has confirmed it, my heart can finally settle," Alex said calmly with a faint smile.
"Elder Brother, since that is the case, let us discuss cooperation."
"Cooperation?"
"What cooperation?"
Tobias grew extremely anxious inside.
"What exactly is the Saint Lord thinking?"
"With such a priceless treasure, instead of hiding it carefully he deliberately brought Alistair to admire it."
"Did he not notice that old man's eyes were glowing with greed?"
"What cooperation is there to discuss?"
"He should simply send him away immediately."
Tobias continuously sent signals with his eyes and even transmitted messages secretly.
Alex ignored everything completely.
He turned toward Alistair with sincere expression.
Alistair Blackwood asked curiously, "May I ask what kind of cooperation Brother Alex proposes?"
Alex sighed slightly.
"Elder Brother possesses the Record of the Medicine God."
"Surely you understand that cultivating a Hibiscus Divine Tree requires enormous resources."
"The cost is no less than raising a Heaven Chosen prodigy."
Alex shook his head and laughed bitterly.
"In the past my Hale family wasted countless resources raising that white eyed wolf Isolde."
"For many years the clan disciples endured exploitation."
"Now that they have finally reached better days, I truly cannot bear to seize resources from them again to cultivate the Hibiscus Divine Tree."
"However Elder Brother Alistair's Blackwood family operates vast businesses."
"Your resources are piled like mountains and never exhausted."
"If Elder Brother is willing to cooperate, the Blackwood will provide the funds while my Hale family provides the labor."
"Elder Brother Alistair will supply all resources required for cultivating the Hibiscus Divine Tree."
"This little brother will personally oversee the cultivation with full effort."
"When the tree finally bears Hibiscus Sacred Fruits, our two families will divide them equally."
When Tobias heard this so called cooperation, he nearly cried from anxiety.
"How can this be cooperation?"
"This is outright robbery."
No matter how many resources a tree required, they could all be purchased with spirit stones.
But Hibiscus Sacred Fruits were treasures that could not be bought with any amount of spirit stones.
The Hale family might currently lack resources.
However as a Saint lineage with thousands of years of foundation, their reserves were extremely deep.
If necessary they could simply send disciples out on missions to earn spirit stones.
How could they possibly fail to support a single sapling?
Yet the Blackwood only needed to spend spirit stones.
Later they would receive half of the sacred fruits.
Was this not blatant robbery?
"Brother Alex, are you truly serious?"
Alistair's face immediately burst with joy.
Afraid Alex might regret his decision, he nodded repeatedly.
"Good."
"It is settled."
As he spoke, Alistair Blackwood removed the space ring from his finger.
"Brother Alex, inside this ring are two hundred thousand spirit stones and three thousand Origin Nurturing Pills."
"When ground into powder, Origin Nurturing Pills are the finest fertilizer for spiritual plants."
"As for the spirit stones, they may be used to purchase Immortal Condensation Dew and Red Spirit Soil."
"From now on every month I will send people to deliver additional spirit stones and Origin Nurturing Pills."
"As long as our two families cooperate wholeheartedly, we will become the strongest Saint lineages in the world."
"Many thanks, Elder Brother Alistair."
Alex smiled and accepted the space ring without hesitation.
Afterward he personally escorted Alistair out of the secret chamber.
Soon they reached the outer courtyard.
Watching Alistair Blackwood depart while riding clouds with radiant happiness, Tobias stood beside Alex with bitter expression.
He looked like a deeply wronged wife.
"Tobias, what is the matter?" Alex asked with amusement.
"Saint Lord, how could you act wisely your entire life yet make such a foolish decision now?" Tobias said with bitterness.
"A Hibiscus Divine Tree can produce at least twenty Hibiscus Sacred Fruits."
"If used entirely by you, they could allow you to break through into the Great Emperor Realm."
"Yet Alistair Blackwood only contributes spirit stones and Origin Nurturing Pills but receives half of the fruits."
"Is this not far too great a loss?"
Alex smiled faintly.
"Tobias, you should not say that."
"Elder Brother Alistair has already been very generous toward our Hale family."
"Go distribute all the Origin Nurturing Pills to the younger disciples."
"Oh."
"Wait... hm?"
Tobias suddenly looked confused.
"Saint Lord, were these Origin Nurturing Pills not meant as fertilizer for the Hibiscus Divine Tree?"
"What?"
Alex shrugged casually.
"Are Origin Nurturing Pills only allowed to be eaten by trees and not by people?"
"For cultivators they are extremely beneficial cultivation medicines."
Tobias stared blankly.
"But Saint Lord Alistair just said..."
"Tobias, I will tell you the truth."
Alex leaned close to Tobias's ear and laughed softly.
"That sapling is indeed a Hibiscus Divine Tree sapling."