Chapter 1803 - 927: Courtesy Demands Reciprocity

It's as if once certain things are known, there's no going back, and once certain words are heard, everything that follows becomes unstoppable.

The moment Ji Jue cast the bait, Yellow Beard had no room to retreat.

He no longer represents just himself.

As a Master, he could sneer and walk away, but as a courtier and overseer of the North Wind Workshop, the lord of the Northern Realm, he must bow his head and listen to the price Ji Jue offers.

"You've probably already seen the introductory Three-phase Alchemy, haven't you?"

Ji Jue stood by the shattered window, admiring the minerals rolling between the snow and frozen rocks, and slowly said, "Once you grasp the basics, the rest isn't actually that difficult.

The principle isn't complex; different theories and equipment can substitute for other aspects, and Beifeng probably holds the patent for Earth Vein Lock as well.

The most important thing is an advanced application of Gaseous Alchemy, which, when combined with the Three Phases Flow basics, can achieve over eighty percent Spirit recovery, and that's the key.

If needed, I can make it available to you."

"Why?" Yellow Beard bluntly asked.

There's no such thing as a free dinner, especially not when invited by a peer... even disregarding the average quality of Ember, based solely on Ji Jue's reputation, Yellow Beard would not easily accept.

"Consider it a collaboration."

Ji Jue said calmly, "As long as the Northern Realm slightly relaxes some control over mineral export or stops hindering me so much, I think it's worth it.

Besides, the Three-phase Alchemy is still in its formative stages, the perfect time to incorporate diverse inputs... in the future, if Beifeng gains anything new from this foundation, I hope they'll share willingly."

"Isn't the main reason just that Master Ji doesn't have much free time?"

Yellow Beard bluntly exposed Ji Jue's intent: "You're shoving all the hard work onto us, offering some technology and flowery words to play the aloof manager, profiting from it all."

"I don't deny that."

Ji Jue nodded without any concealment.

He definitely could handle the mining in the Northern Realm easily, but the key is, could he and Giant Que really squat in the Northern Realm and work as miners twenty-four hours a day?

Things can't be done that way, and profits can't be monopolized by one person.

By offering some newly completed techniques, he can easily make the Northern Realm labor for him, and Beifeng complete his theories and applications, pure profit.

"Just tell me if you want it or not!"

Ji Jue revealed his intentions without fear that Yellow Beard wouldn't take the bait.

"Why?"

Yellow Beard asked again, the same question but with a different meaning—since it involves the advancement, even the core, of Three-Phase Refining, why is Ji Jue offering it so easily?

Ji Jue's response was equally blunt:

"No reason, because I want to."

He truly believes that hiding alchemy and inheritance behind closed doors yields no good results, the lesson from Dust is still visible on the trees.

In today's age, there's no future in pondering over old papers.

In fact, he plans to personally run an open advanced training class in the future.

Anyone who wants to learn can come to learn; as long as the craftsmen and apprentices are willing to work in the park, he can provide the subsequent advancements of Three Phases and One System!

He's not afraid of people coming to learn, only worried that they won't learn enough!

If Yellow Beard can further lay a brand new foundation and direction based on the Three Phases Flow, then he is the beneficiary; if Yellow Beard can use this as capital to refine his inheritance... isn't he also acknowledging the favor?

The strength of craftsmen is not the topic, but if you've used my theory, learned my things, can you really speak boldly in front of me?

"You don't need to be apprehensive, Great Craftsman, I disdain such petty covert tricks between partners—even if one gains temporarily, wouldn't it backfire eventually?"

Ji Jue laughed: "In my view, if cooperation is required, then it ought to be conducted with mutual discussion and consideration; unilateral taking or giving isn't sustainable, and what is that but plunder worse than piracy?"

Yellow Beard couldn't help but sneer: "You're lecturing the descendants of us pirates with this reasoning?"

Ji Jue shrugged, remaining equally frank: "So isn't the consequence you're facing today exactly the result of constant plunder?"

For a moment, Yellow Beard fell silent, speechless.

The bygone days where the Northern Realm ruled the Thousand Islands with the Dragon Remains Fleet numbering sixteen, heroes heedlessly plundering and fighting, treating the entire Thousand Islands as prey. The grandeur lasted barely thirty years before the decline... eventually pushed back to their northern homeland by counterattacks, unable to cross the White River Belt for three hundred years, leaving countless descendants to die frozen and hungry, wasn't this due to the evil legacy created by their ancestors?

"So, let's cooperate, Great Craftsman, Northern Realm and Coast, Beifeng and me."

Ji Jue slowly said: "Isn't that the optimal solution?"

Yellow Beard remained silent, unable to respond.

Faced with the stakes and transaction Ji Jue presented at this moment, the esteemed overseer of Beifeng couldn't even laugh aloud and call out thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.

The only thing he could say, besides regret, was regret.

Why on earth did he get caught up with this bastard?

He never should have given this guy even a slight chance... yet he climbed the pole, walked on noses, and is about to bind Beifeng and the Northern Realm directly.