“Something is off about this Song Fuli… Is it just my imagination?” Ning Zhu’s expression remained unchanged, but he mused inwardly.

Song Fuli’s sideways glance at his movements went unnoticed by Ning Zhu, yet a subtle ripple of unease still stirred within Ning Zhu’s heart, sensing a peculiar strangeness emanating from Song Fuli.

Song Fuli then addressed the two, saying, “Our Cloud Merchant Caravan trades throughout the world. Wherever we go, besides selling specialty goods from the Flying Cloud Kingdom, we also purchase large quantities of local products.”

“Regarding this matter, I would like to cooperate with the two of you.”

At this point, Song Fuli first turned to Ning Zhu: “Young Master Ning Zhu, we are very interested in the Mechanical Fire Monkey you personally researched and forged.”

“This type of mechanical monkey is inexpensive to produce, and its movements are gentle and precise, capable of performing dangerous harvesting tasks like picking fiery persimmons.”

“Therefore, it can also be used to enter other perilous environments to gather rare flowers and herbs that are difficult for ordinary people to access.”

“I wonder if we would have the opportunity to purchase some Mechanical Fire Monkeys from you?”

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhu immediately showed a hint of delight.

Without hesitation, he nodded and agreed, “For me, this is naturally a good thing! I am very happy to conduct this business with Senior Song.”

Immediately, the two, with a few brief words, settled the scale and price of the transaction.

After discussing this business deal, Song Fuli turned to Zhu Xuanji and said, “Lord Zhu, I am interested in purchasing the Night Rain Demonic Weapon.”

He was naturally referring to the one in Zheng Danlian’s possession.

“I understand that you have a very close relationship with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families.”

“So, I would like to trouble you to introduce me. I would like to speak with Zheng Danlian, the Core Formation cultivator of the Zheng family, in person.”

Zhu Xuanji thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, “Alright.”

Song Fuli smiled: “This is a small token of my appreciation, intended as an introduction fee.”

Saying this, Song Fuli took out a storage bag and handed it to Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji, however, did not accept it, shaking his head slightly and pondering, “This introduction fee, if your business with the Zheng family is successful, I will accept it. If the business does not materialize, then let it be.”

After chatting for a while, Song Fuli left with Zhu Xuanji, leaving Ning Zhu to continue his purchases in the Cloud Market.

Zheng Family.

Cultivation Chamber.

Zheng Danlian was gently wiping the mechanical scythe in his hand with a handkerchief.

In the dimly lit chamber, the scythe was like a piece of black iron, completely immersed in the darkness, as still as a rock. It was impossible to associate it with the formidable might it displayed during the previous Core Formation melee.

The door to the chamber was suddenly knocked.

Zheng Shuanggou’s voice followed immediately: “Cousin, Zhu Xuanji is here with Song Fuli, the leader of the Cloud Merchant Caravan, to visit you.”

Zheng Danlian raised his eyes to the doorway, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and a hint of impatience and aversion arose in his heart.

“Wait a moment, I’ll be out shortly.” Zheng Danlian’s voice was a little hoarse, forcefully suppressing the slight unpleasantness in his heart.

He stood up, carefully put away the mechanical scythe, and pushed the door open.

Not long after, he arrived at the reception hall.

Here, he met Song Fuli and Zhu Xuanji.

Song Fuli frankly stated his purpose for the visit, which was to acquire the mechanical scythe in Zheng Danlian’s possession.

Zheng Danlian’s brow immediately furrowed, revealing a hint of anger: “What? You actually want to acquire my Night Rain Demonic Weapon!”

Zheng Danlian glared at Song Fuli, then turned his gaze to Zhu Xuanji on the side.

He was quite displeased and stated directly, “Lord Zhu, you personally guided Brother Song here to acquire my mechanical scythe. What exactly do you mean by this?”

“Do you want me to get rid of this trouble as soon as possible to deal with the potential difficulties from the Taiqing Palace?”

“You should know that I and my Zheng family have fallen into our current predicament entirely because we followed your orders and acted according to your plan.”

Zhu Xuanji showed a hint of guilt and quickly said a few words to appease him.

Song Fuli also chimed in with a few words.

However, he was immediately interrupted by Zheng Danlian: “Not selling! This is my mechanical scythe, no matter how high a price you offer, I will not sell it!”

Zheng Danlian flatly refused, his emotions becoming more agitated, and his tone was quite blunt.

Song Fuli did not mind, maintaining a smile throughout and speaking gently: “Then, Brother Zheng, won’t you listen to our offer?”

He then stated a high price.

This price indeed showed his sincerity in this acquisition!

Even Zheng Shuanggou on the side couldn’t help but be secretly tempted by this.

But Zheng Danlian’s attitude was very firm, shaking his head repeatedly: “I said I’m not selling, and I’m not selling!”

Song Fuli then said, “Then I’ll change the method of acquisition.”

“If your side can sell this Night Rain Demonic Weapon, then our side will step forward to mediate the conflict between the Zheng family and the Taiqing Palace, which might resolve the predicament your family is currently facing.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuanggou immediately showed a look of interest: “Fellow Daoist Song, please elaborate.”

Song Fuli said, “Both of you must know that I am only acquiring this on behalf of others. The real buyers of the Night Rain Demonic Weapon are those powerful cultivators.”

“These people are all existences at the Divine Transformation or Void Refinement level.”

“If I report the details here, it might induce them to step forward and mediate.”

“In fact, many things that weigh on us like mountains might just be a matter of a single word for these existences.”

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Zheng Danlian sneered, “If the Core Formation True Disciple of the Taiqing Palace hadn’t disguised himself as a demonic cultivator, why would I have dealt him a killing blow?”

“If we were to handle it this way, forcing me to willingly give up the sharp weapon that our clan has painstakingly prepared for years and finally refined!”

“And then compromise with the Taiqing Palace through a powerful cultivator.”

“Then what did our previous efforts amount to?”

“Does the death of the Taiqing Palace’s Core Formation True Disciple mean that my Zheng family has to bear the entire responsibility?”

“Isn’t the fault on himself?”

“As a result, now it is us, us Righteous Path cultivators who slay demons and eliminate evil, who have to pay a heavy price. Is this the logic of the Righteous Path?”

The series of accusations made the silence in the hall even more heavy.

Seeing that the others remained silent for a long time, Zheng Danlian stood up, flicked his sleeve, and said with a cold laugh, “When words fail, more are useless. See them out!”

With that, he walked away on his own.

He returned to his cultivation chamber alone and continued to take out the mechanical scythe and wipe it meticulously.

Zheng Shuanggou showed a hint of embarrassment and escorted Zhu Xuanji and Song Fuli to the door.

He cupped his hands and apologized, making excuses for Zheng Danlian: “After this incident, my cousin has always been indignant.”

“To be honest, I can particularly understand him.”

“This is because ever since he obtained the incomplete Night Rain Demonic Weapon and the mechanical blueprints eight years ago while entering the Immortal Palace, he has been determined to forge this weapon.”

“He has painstakingly prepared for eight years, pouring in a great deal of time and effort. Only recently, as the time was ripe, did he finally take the last step and succeed in forging it.”

“This is more than just a mechanical weapon! To be more precise, it is the result of eight years of his hard work.”

“Now to suddenly acquire his hard work, and for such a reason, it is indeed difficult for him to accept for a while.”

Song Fuli quickly expressed his understanding and also stated that his offer to trade was still valid. If Zheng Danlian’s intentions changed in the future, he could be contacted immediately.

Song Fuli left first.

Leaving Zhu Xuanji to communicate with Zheng Shuanggou alone.

Zhu Xuanji sighed deeply and told him the truth: “I have already sent a letter to the royal family.”

“To be honest, regarding the current situation, I personally cannot make the decision. It’s not that I can protect you just because I am willing to.”

“I believe that Brother Zheng and your cousin are well aware of this situation.”

“Assuming, and I say assuming, the result of the letter from the royal family is not good.”

“I believe that the line through Song Fuli of the Cloud Merchant Caravan is also a path that the Zheng family can strive to grasp.”

“It is precisely for this reason that I acted as an intermediary.”

Zheng Shuanggou nodded repeatedly and cupped his hands to Zhu Xuanji: “I can understand Lord Zhu’s sincerity, thank you, thank you.”

Zhu Xuanji showed a look of shame, nodded slightly to him, and turned to leave.

In the cultivation chamber.

Zheng Danlian had been wiping the mechanical demonic weapon for a long time.

He reached out his hand and gently stroked the Night Rain Demonic Weapon, his face showing affection and infatuation.

His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.

The bloodshot veins became denser and denser, finally transforming into a reddish glow, lingering at the bottom of his eyes.

“Oh, right.” Zhu Xuanji, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks and turned back.

“If Brother Zheng Danlian is still unwilling to give up this demonic weapon, and the royal family is also unwilling to intervene…”

“Perhaps, I can still help you.”

“I would like to ask, how did you obtain the information about this demonic weapon?”

Zheng Shuanggou thought for a moment and told Zhu Xuanji: “About eight years ago, when my cousin entered the Immortal Palace, he killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

“At that time, this Foundation Establishment cultivator was wielding a mechanical scythe and seemed to have gone mad, indiscriminately slashing and killing innocent cultivators.”

“My cousin couldn’t stand by and upheld justice, killing him on the spot, thus obtaining the damaged mechanical demonic weapon and a complete set of mechanical blueprints.”

Zhu Xuanji nodded and asked if he could borrow the set of mechanical blueprints.

Zheng Shuanggou nodded: “This blueprint has already been made public when we forged the mechanical black snake. We have already made many backups, so Lord Zhu can borrow it now.”

Immediately, Zheng Shuanggou ordered someone to retrieve the blueprint from the clan treasury.

Zhu Xuanji asked again, “Besides this set of mechanical blueprints, are there any other items?”

“I have mastered the Art of Tracing Origins, so the more relevant items, the better.”

“Perhaps I can follow the clues and find something.”

Zheng Shuanggou shook his head: “Eight years have passed. Even if something was left behind at that time, it wouldn’t have survived until now.”