Ten Thousand Beasts Tower.
It was a newly opened restaurant in Demon-Slaying City. Rumor had it that one could taste any manner of beast delicacies there. Though it hadn't even been open for a year, it was already immensely famous.
It was a branch opened by a faction from the Central Plains that specialized in gourmet cuisine.
In the Jiangnan region of the Central Plains, it was known as the Hundred Beasts Tower.
Upon arriving at Demon-Slaying City, it had been promoted two levels to become the Ten Thousand Beasts Tower.
Liu Qinghui had reserved a Hundred Beast Feast at the Ten Thousand Beasts Tower, inviting fourteen spirit forge masters for a lavish reception.
Xu Xian attended the banquet alone.
Inside the private room, red candles flickered as cups were raised and glasses clinked in a lively atmosphere. The forgers talked and laughed cheerfully while savoring delicacies and drinking floral wine.
Throughout the meal, banter and compliments were constant.
"Boss Xu is certainly loaded! To think you've even arranged for sixth-rank beast king meat, haha!"
"Indeed, you’ve spent far too much, far too much."
Xu Xian exchanged pleasantries with utmost humility.
Times were different now.
In the past, he had the moral high ground and could use strong-arm tactics—simple and direct.
Today, he was the one asking for a favor, so he naturally greeted everyone with a smile and flattery.
Halfway through the meal, after three rounds of drinks, Xu Xian raised his glass. "I am deeply honored that all you masters have graced me with your presence today. I would like to propose a toast to everyone, thanking you for your hard work and companionship over the past two years."
The crowd raised their glasses in unison.
"Boss Xu, you flatter us."
"We should be thanking Master Xu for sparing our lives back then, right? Haha!"
"Right, right, right..."
One must play the part to suit the company; naturally, talk at a wine table was meant to be lighthearted and blurry.
"Enough talk. I'll finish this, and you all can drink as you please."
Xu Xian downed his drink in one go, and the others followed suit with equal gusto.
After the toast, Xu Xian got straight to the point. "Masters, the orders from the contracts you signed with me are nearly complete. I wonder, what are your plans for the future?"
The crowd stopped drinking, and a slight silence fell as all eyes turned toward Xu Xian.
Two years.
For two whole years, they had worked themselves to the bone for Xu Xian. Although this boss had never been short on their pay, he had never invited them to dinner either.
Tonight’s departure from the norm made his true intentions clear to them all.
"No need to be formal, everyone. Feel free to speak your minds."
Whispers broke out among the crowd, voices rising here and there.
"What else can we do? We'll go back to wherever we came from."
"Indeed, it's been over two years. I've truly stayed in this Demon-Slaying City long enough."
"Master Xu, why ask this all of a sudden?"
Li Xun asked in a gentle tone, "Master Xu, we're old acquaintances now. Why not speak plainly?"
Xu Xian didn't hide anything and confessed, "I invited everyone to dinner today for two reasons. First, to thank you for your hard work over these two years. Second, I wanted to ask if you would consider staying and continuing to work with me."
The crowd wore half-smiles, their expressions quite colorful as they leaned in and whispered to one another.
Xu Xian's proposal was within their expectations.
Someone said, "Boss Xu, stop teasing us. We've worked for you for two years, and our contracts are fulfilled. It’s time for it to end."
Another chimed in, "Indeed, Boss Xu. To be honest, I've had enough of forging swords. Now, whenever I see a forging table, I feel like vomiting."
Someone else joked, "Boss Xu, you aren't going to go back on your word and refuse to let us leave, are you? We agreed on ten thousand orders, and once they're done, you'd let us go. You can't renege on that, right?"
They didn't refuse him directly, but used the alcohol as an excuse to subtly express their dissatisfaction.
Xu Xian knew very well that this wasn't a lost cause.
He didn't want to beat around the bush and went straight to his trump card.
"You must be joking. In business, I, Xu Xian, value integrity above all else. My word is my bond. If you wish to leave, I certainly won't stop you. However, if you're willing to stay and work with me for another year, I'm not an unreasonable person. The commissions will naturally increase."
The murmurs grew louder as someone asked tentatively, "Then how much does Boss Xu intend to raise them?"
Xu Xian spoke slowly, "1,000 spirit stones for a low-grade earth weapon, 2,000 spirit stones for a mid-grade earth weapon, and 3,000 spirit stones for a high-grade earth weapon. Same as before: I provide the materials, and you don't have to worry about a thing—just focus on forging."
Hearing this, the crowd couldn't help but laugh, though they tried to restrain themselves out of respect for Xu Xian's past actions.
However, one or two who had a bit too much to drink spoke without thinking, blunt and honest.
"Boss Xu, you're too good at joking. You can't scam people like this."
"Exactly. Even the cheapest low-grade earth weapon costs at least 6,000 now. The cost of immortal gold is at most 2,000. There's a 4,000 difference, yet you only give us a thousand? Tsk tsk, not to mention the mid and high grades."
The others nodded subconsciously in agreement.
Their value was far more than that. Before, they had no choice but to work like beasts of burden, but now that they had a choice, who would want to continue? They certainly wouldn't.
Xu Xian didn't deny it. He picked up his cup, took a shallow sip, and said nonchalantly, "I know. To be honest, I won't be staying in Demon-Slaying City much longer. In less than a year, I'll have to leave and return to my sect. After all, as the Little Grand-Uncle, the burden on my shoulders is heavy. I can't stay here in Demon-Slaying City forever. Therefore, someone needs to take over the business of the forging workshop."
"In my Wendao Sword Sect's Zhujian Peak, excluding my master, there are only two seventh-rank spirit forge masters, and only about ten sixth-rank spirit forgers. Unfortunately, none of them can be spared."
"As you know, in my Wendao Sword Sect, money-making matters are handled by the Merchant Hall. Zhujian Peak focuses more on the cultivation of talent. The swords produced by the Elders and Deacons are just enough to meet internal demand. So, this sword-forging business in Demon-Slaying City..."
Xu Xian trailed off.
But his meaning was crystal clear.
The implication was that in a year, Xu Xian would return to his sect, and since no one from the Wendao Sword Sect could replace him, the sword-forging business in Demon-Slaying City would be up for grabs.
Others might not know, but these men knew very well.
After three years of operation, the business of exchanging beast corpses for earth weapons in Demon-Slaying City had formed a complete industrial chain. From exchange to sales, the profits were immense.
If they could get a piece of the pie, they could become as wealthy as Xu Xian in just a few years.
Many began to feel tempted.
Zhou Yashan tentatively confirmed, "Boss Xu, if I haven't misunderstood, you're saying you're willing to hand over the business of this forging workshop to us?"
Xu Xian glanced over and confirmed, "Correct. If you are willing to stay, when I leave in a year, this forging workshop will be yours."
"According to my agreement with the Merchant Hall, fifth-rank beasts are sold to the Central Province with a 60/40 profit split—60 for the Merchant Hall and 40 for me. If you are willing, I can speak with the Merchant Hall to change it to a 50/50 split. I, Xu Xian, won't take a single cent of the profit; you can distribute it among yourselves."
"I don't think you want to go back and work for your old masters anymore. Why not take this opportunity to strike out on your own? With my Wendao Sword Sect backing you, there’s no need to worry about success."
Zhou Yashan pondered for a moment. "Is this for real?"
Xu Xian wore a half-smile. "The reputation of my Wendao Sword Sect is known to everyone. A swordsman's promise is worth a thousand gold."
Zhou Yashan's throat bobbed. He immediately slapped the table and declared, "Fine! I'm in!"
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