Chapter 324: Happy Cooperation

This arrangement meant Lu Yang's side would only supply the barbecue grills and fire seeds. The Nine Nether Sect would handle all aspects of opening and running the businesses, granting Lu Yang's faction a 60% share of the profits.

Even the Fifth Elder hadn't anticipated Lu Yang's audacious approach. This was far more lucrative than when he had, in his youth, followed Old Nine selling copies of "Size As You Wish (Partial Edition)"! A new generation of talents invariably emerges, often outperforming their predecessors.

Lu Yang wasn't concerned that the Nine Nether Sect might crack the Fifth Elder's enchantments or replicate the fire seeds, allowing them to sideline the Heavenly Court Sect and operate independently. He had already hinted that the Heavenly Court Sect, with its Sect Master and Celestial Venerable Dou, possessed strength far superior to the Nine Nether Sect. Their current amicable cooperation with the Nine Nether Sect was solely out of reverence for the Ancient Nine Nether. Should the Nine Nether Sect fail to acknowledge them, the Heavenly Court Sect would also turn its back on the Nine Nether Sect. Such an act by the Nine Nether Sect would be tantamount to courting disaster.

Lu Yang had an additional reason for proposing that the Nine Nether Sect open a chain of barbecue restaurants: to limit the activities of its disciples. Given that the Nine Nether Sect could not be eliminated at present, there was a risk that its disciples might engage in acts of murder and arson during this interim period. Rather than allowing them to commit atrocities, it was better to keep them occupied.

Having completed the task assigned by his Sect Master and concluded the cooperation discussions, Shi Huagu was greatly pleased. He believed it wouldn't be long before he could fully repay the billion-yuan debt.

The mention of the billion-yuan bill made Shi Huagu turn his gaze to the reticent Qin Yanran. He stood up and chuckled, "Presumably, this esteemed individual is the reincarnation of Sect Master Qin, whom your sect has found?"

Lu Yang also smiled. "Whether she is or isn't, hasn't Sect Master Shi already found the answer in his own heart?"

Qin Yanran remained expressionless, unwilling to utter a single word. What could she possibly say? The Nine Nether Sect was now convinced that she was Qin Haoran's reincarnation. Even if she claimed Li Haoran was the true reincarnation, the Nine Nether Sect likely wouldn't believe it.

"To think," Shi Huagu mused, "that Sect Master Qin, who once led the Nine Nether Sect, would reincarnate as a woman. The impermanence of worldly affairs truly knows no bounds." Despite his words, Shi Huagu still held considerable admiration for Qin Haoran. All indications suggested that the individual had successfully reincarnated and seemed to have a connection with the Samsara Dao Fruit. The Samsara Dao Fruit was the aspect that most captivated Shi Huagu. The three Vice Sect Masters' persistent desire to claim Qin Haoran's legacy stemmed from their suspicion that it contained clues linked to the Samsara Dao Fruit.

Shi Huagu had already decided that the cultivator he had previously put forth as an imposter for Qin Haoran's reincarnation was no longer necessary; the genuine reincarnation was now before him. When the time came to contend for the legacy, he would invite Qin Yanran to intervene.

The Nine Nether Sect and the Heavenly Court Sect had only just forged their cooperative relationship; it was not yet the opportune moment to discuss such matters. His Sect Master had instructed him to negotiate this cooperation with the Heavenly Court Sect, and he would undoubtedly be responsible for future cooperative matters. There was no need to rush things.

"Might I inquire if Qin Yanran could return to the Nine Nether Sect with me?" he asked. "Sect Master Qin governed the Nine Nether Sect for nine hundred years, leaving behind numerous traces. I imagine that if Qin Yanran were to return and see these familiar surroundings, she might recall more of her past."

Qin Yanran felt a surge of panic. Returning to the Nine Nether Sect alone would be tantamount to a lamb entering a tiger's den; the slightest misstep could lead to irreversible ruin. Observing her discomfort, Li Haoran stepped forward, his body partially shielding Qin Yanran. He spoke calmly and unhurriedly, "From what I understand, your esteemed sect's internal structure isn't entirely unified, is it? Putting aside the new Sect Master's stance on Qin Yanran, how would the veteran subordinates view her? Would they endorse her as the new Sect Master? Wouldn't this plunge your sect into utter chaos?"

"Furthermore," he continued, "the very essence of reincarnation is to sever ties with one's previous life, leaving no lingering connections. Deliberately seeking out past memories in this way would be to pursue a lesser path."

"As a Vice Sect Master," he challenged, "is your comprehension of Nine Nether and reincarnation truly limited to this extent?"

Among everyone present, the one who truly understood the Nine Nether Sect best was not Lu Yang, with his seemingly serious but often nonsensical remarks, but rather Li Haoran. Drawing upon fragments of his past life memories, Li Haoran could barely reconstruct Qin Haoran's understanding of reincarnation and the Nine Nether. After reincarnation, all karmic ties are dissolved. The Nine Nether is both the realm of transmigration and the place where karma is cleansed.

Shi Huagu didn't question Li Haoran's profound grasp of reincarnation. Given that Li Haoran was an ancient genius who frequently interacted with the Ancient Nine Nether, such knowledge was entirely expected. His initial intention was merely to test the waters, to see if he could persuade the Heavenly Court Sect to hand over Qin Yanran. Since that wasn't possible, he decided to drop the matter.

He let out a hearty laugh. "Those were all just jokes; please don't take them seriously, don't take them seriously."

Lu Yang also chuckled. "It's good that it was a joke. I actually thought your esteemed sect was trying to abduct someone from our Heavenly Court Sect – something even Immortal Ying Tian and his peers never attempted."

Shi Huagu detected a subtle undercurrent of anger beneath Lu Yang's calm demeanor and wisely refrained from further probing.

"Alright, it's good that our two sects have reached this agreement," Lu Yang said languidly. "This barbecue shop can be considered yours. Here's a jade pendant; if you need to contact me, simply crush it." He tossed the jade pendant to Shi Huagu.

Lu Yang and his group couldn't remain at the barbecue shop indefinitely, so transferring ownership to the Nine Nether Sect made more sense. If they needed to contact the Nine Nether Sect, they could simply come to this location.

Recognizing this as a sign of Lu Yang's trust, Shi Huagu dared not treat it lightly. He turned to Huo Huashen and instructed, "Take a few trustworthy individuals and manage this barbecue shop diligently here!" In the future, when the chain stores were established, this location would serve as the main branch, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to have a cultivator at the Transformation God stage overseeing it.

"Understood!" Huo Huashen resolved to seize this opportunity to earn spirit stones, reasoning that if it were ever revealed that he was the one who brought back the billion-yuan IOU, he would at least have some justification.

Shi Huagu deactivated his appraisal secret technique; maintaining it constantly imposed a significant mental strain. Throughout their conversation, he observed that Young Sect Master Lu hadn't uttered a single falsehood, secretly admiring his straightforwardness. This, he thought, was the true bearing of a future Heavenly Court ruler: acting with integrity and disdaining to use lies to obstruct or test others. In contrast, he had been cautiously employing his appraisal secret technique, a decidedly inferior method.

In truth, from the very beginning, Immortal Maiden Incorruptible had alerted Lu Yang that Shi Huagu was using a secret technique to detect lies and had inquired if he wished to block it. Lu Yang declined, deeming it too much trouble for Immortal Maiden Incorruptible. He believed he could deceive others simply by speaking the truth, so why would he fear Shi Huagu's appraisal?

On the journey back to the Nine Nether Sect, a sudden possibility struck Shi Huagu. "Could it be," he mused, "that this Young Sect Master already knew about the billion-yuan IOU and intentionally arranged for me to receive it? Did he make me shoulder a billion-yuan debt, then simultaneously present the promising future of the barbecue chain, compelling me to agree to the restaurant cooperation?"

Cold sweat beaded on Shi Huagu's brow. He realized with a jolt how profoundly clever and calculating this Young Sect Master truly was! Furthermore, this was an overt scheme, leaving him with no alternative. Truly worthy of being Celestial Venerable Dou's disciple! The future ruler of the Heavenly Court!

On the return journey to the Dao-Seeking Sect, the flying shuttle moved at a slower pace than it had on their way there. The Fifth Elder, curious, inquired, "Lu Yang, you never mentioned your analysis of the world's situation, the plans you made for the Nine Nether Sect, or the subsequent barbecue chain stores to us before. Where did those come from?" The original plan had not included a response strategy for the two questions posed by the Nine Nether Sect Master.

"Oh, I just thought of all that on the spot," Lu Yang replied.