When Violet returned she held a thick stack of papers, which she swiftly handed to Damian. As Damian got a hold of the documents he carefully read each clause of the contract, in it the agreed terms were mentioned along with other minor benefits such as special treatment within the store among others for the promising young members of the clan. It also stated a breaching clause in which whoever breached the contract would have to pay five green spirit stones to the affected party.

This pleased Damian as this would dissuade the Markov clan from going back on their work, therefore he imbued his finger with Qi and left a thumbprint in the contract, then Violet followed suit and did the same. He then stored one copy of the contract in his storage bag.

With that, Damian took ten storage bags and twenty defensive talismans which were imbued with the seven lotuses of his “Divine Defensive Lotus” art. He handed the goods to Violet and told her the upfront payment could be sent to his house in the clan compound. He then excused himself and left the Markov auction house with Nathan and Christine.

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The day of the meeting between the four great clans had finally arrived, the four clans were seated in the main hall of the city hall, each occupying a side of the square-shaped room.

The violet sky clan was the most numerous as they had ten members as the council, the Lambert clan had three elders, and the Markov and Li clan only had the clan leaders and an elder that was accompanying them.

James was the one to open the conversation: “We can begin the discussion of the treasure found by the Violet Sky Clan and the Lambert Clan, and how it will affect the city and its inhabitants” he allowed a few moments to let his words sink in.

James then continued: “The nature of the treasure as I’m sure you perceived when you welcomed us in the city, it’s a cultivation treasure that excuses a dense and pure Qi, which can boost cultivation speed, as demonstrated by the members of the Violet Sky and Lambert clan that brought it. ” as he said that he sent an accusatory look to Tiana Markov and Li Ma, Li Ma feigned ignorance while Tiana simply rolled back her eyes.

James then continued but his voice turned into one of authority that admitted no rebuttal: “I want to make it clear to everyone present, we of the Violet Sky Clan will keep and protect the treasure. However, we will allow eleven permanent spots to be assigned as the Li and Markov clans see fit, they will have relatively free access to the tower we build around the treasure to cultivate. But access can be restricted when the treasure needs to recharge as if the treasure is abused the quantity and quality of the Qi may decrease.”

Tania Markov was the first to ask the straightforward character she was: “How many will the Lambert and Violet Sky Clan?”

James had expected this question even before it was asked “Both clans will get assigned fourteen spots as a reward for the discovery and protection of the treasure respectively”

Li Ma then added: “As the four great clans shouldn’t we get an equal number of spots? this is the way the Violet Sky Clan rewards the contributions our clans have made to the city?”

James responded: “While each clan has indeed made contributions to the prosperity of the city. we do not see this as an unfair treatment, after all, the Violet Sky clan and the Lambert clan elders carried the risk of finding the treasure, therefore they should also receive a higher reward, had your clan found the treasure, would you have shared it equally?”

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During the time they had arrived the elders of the four great clans had come to know each other. Li Ma was a crafty old fox that sought to get the most benefit out of everything, therefore he vying to get at least the same number of reserved spots didn’t surprise anyone. That way they all knew the answer to James’s question, he would not. Unless they gave something of at least equal if not a higher value.

If Li Ma lied and said that he would of course share it equally they would know immediately it was a lie, however they couldn’t directly say to his face after all, he was the head of one of the most prominent clans of the city, and was in charge of most of the food supply of the city.

Li Ma responded: “That’s an if scenario, elder James, and at least I can assure you I would have provided a negotiation ground to get some spots. Which Need I remained you were the objective of this meeting, yet from your words you provide no such friendliness.”

Li Ma said with all his reunited courage, after all, he was only a second-layer Golden Core Cultivator while the weakest among the Violet Sky Clan council sat at the fifth layer, without counting the thousands more Golden Core Cultivators they had amidst their ranks. After a brief pause to gather some more courage, he then, continued: “ I would like to request that we be provided equal spots among my clan even if my clan did not get the flame, we can surely provide something of valor to the Violet Sky Clan to earn my Li clan the few missing spots.”

Li Ma then slid into his seat, he truly had used his courage to utter such words.

James was giving some thought to the Li Ma request, after all, it was true that not providing them spots could potentially create a rupture in the city that could, later on, affect them if the sects or some of the lineages were to wage war upon them to gather more resources. Tian Long had said to them he would not intervene in whatever happened inside the world. Some would no doubt try to use their power to bully the weak, after all, humans were in one way or another of an insatiable nature.

Before the great metamorphosis, it was wealth and fame, now no doubt would be wealth and power, and power could be most easily earned with a higher amount of resources, this would no doubt at some point cause some conflicts among humanity.

Celia was the first to speak: “I have a proposal, although you didn’t let James finish the plans we have for the treasure, the truth is, we will allocate a total of fifty spots among the great clans, however, there is a slight disparity for the reasons stated by Elder James. However, another fifty spots will be distributed among the winners of a biannual tournament for the young of the city, I believe that we of the Violet Sky Clan could hand over one spot in exchange for paying the cost of the tournament, How about it?”

Charlotte, of the Lambert Clan, swiftly spoke: “We can also forgo a spot if the condition made by Elder Celia is kept.”

A palpable tension could be felt in the room, Tania Markov was the one to break it: “My Markov clan will gladly build the Stadium and pay the cost of the tournament. However, the money the tournament makes will be for my Markov clan. Of course, if the Li clan wants we can share the investments as well, as the rewards.”

The people in the room were unsurprised by Tania’s comment, after all, she was a businesswoman to the core. She had seen an opportunity to get an extra spot and even make a profit from it. While the initial investment would be huge, no doubt in a short few tournaments she would be making some big money.

Li Ma responded Tania comment“My Li clan would be honored to make this venture with the Markov clan. we can discuss the specifics of it at a later time.”

Li Ma was content he had secured an extra spot for his clan, and he would indeed make quite a profit working with Tania, after all, in his eyes, she was the reincarnation of King Midas, everything she touched became made of gold. And he knew he could not push it too much either, Damian had been giving him a look that stated that if he asked for more he would not return home. He was of course bluffing he never had killed any human being, but being the strongest in the city Li Ma felt sufficiently intimidated by Damian’s look.