101: Chapter 101 The powerful clans were filled with envy, and their intention to cooperate was clear.

Morning light climbed over the eaves of the Council Hall. Chen Wuwang stood before a whiteboard, his gaze falling on the words 'First Transmission' as his fingertip gently tapped them.

His fingertip paused slightly. He didn't turn around, but heard the low voice of a clan guard outside the door: "Head of the Family, the envoy from the Great Clan has arrived and is waiting in the front courtyard."

He gave a grunt of acknowledgment but didn't move.

Only after a moment did he stand up, walking out at an unhurried pace. Sunlight shone diagonally into the corridor, stretching his shadow long.

His silver-white long hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and the three claw marks on his right cheek were outlined in dark contours by the light.

Below the stone steps of the front courtyard stood a person wearing a dark gold robe. The jade pendant at his waist was carved with the Cloud-Thunder Pattern, one of the seven great surnames of the Eastern Desolation.

The two attendants behind him held gift boxes with arrogant expressions, but as their eyes swept over the busy transport teams in the square and the constant flow of Jade Slip messages, a trace of uncontrollable shock flashed in the depths of their eyes.

Chen Wuwang came to a stop on the steps and did not walk down.

"Honored guest from afar, why didn't you send a formal visitation request in advance?" His tone was flat, as if asking about today's weather.

The envoy looked up, a smile forced onto his Face: "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision; I feared disturbing the peace of your noble residence. Furthermore..." He paused, "I also heard that the Chen Family has been making quite a stir lately, with Medicinal Pills reaching all directions. Even the Zhao Clan lost Face, so we could no longer sit still."

These words sounded polite but were actually thorny—you, a small clan from the borderlands, actually dared to make an established Great Clan bow their head? Your current momentum is too great; whether it's a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

Chen Wuwang didn't take the bait, only raising a hand in a beckoning gesture. A clan guard immediately stepped forward and placed the registration book on the stone table.

"Rules," he said. "No matter who comes, register your name first, then be announced, and enter for an audience in order. If you follow the rules, I will treat you with courtesy; if you want to make an exception..." He gave a light chuckle, "Then just like the Sun Family of the Northern Ridge, get the hell out and wait in line."

The envoy's expression shifted, but he ultimately didn't explode. He knew that the news of the Sun Family trying to force their way in last night had already spread, and the Chen Family's statement that "even for ten times the price, don't think of entering the door" had resonated throughout the Jade Slip network.

In the current situation, one couldn't simply crush others relying on status alone.

He lowered his head and wrote his name, purpose of visit, and clan affiliation in the book.

Chen Wuwang took the list handed over by the guard, glanced at it, and only then slowly walked down the steps.

"Please."

Inside the Council Hall, the two sat in the guest and host seats. The tea was brewed from wild mountain leaves in ordinary spiritual spring water; no rare treasures were served.

The envoy took a sip without showing any emotion and set down the cup: "Head of the Chen Family is truly no ordinary person. In just a few short months, you've actually managed to make the path of mechanical Alchemy viable, and even had forty-Seven Clans fighting for the qualification to fulfill contracts... We originally thought such things would only happen in the hands of the technological Great Clans of the Central Star Domain."

"We've simply snatched back some time." Chen Wuwang leaned back in his chair, his fingers starting to tap the table again—three long, two short, in a steady rhythm.

The envoy stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly changed his tone: "Therefore, we wish to cooperate."

Here it comes.

Chen Wuwang didn't even blink.

"The Medicinal Pill market is opening up, but a single small clan cannot support the entire chain. Resource allocation, channel expansion, cross-domain transport, risk hedging... none of these are things you can currently handle independently. We, however, have Foundation, connections, starship fleets, and a trading network accumulated over a thousand years."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice: "Why don't we build a joint workshop? We provide the resources, channels, and escort forces; you provide the technology, production capacity, and core formulas. Profits split fifty-fifty, risks shared. How about it?"

The chamber fell silent for a moment.

From outside the window came the hum of mecha being tuned in the distance, as well as the shouts of clansmen moving ore crates.

Everything was as usual, as if the words just spoken were merely a passing breeze.

But Chen Wuwang knew this wasn't an invitation; it was a hunt.

On the surface, it was called cooperation, but in reality, they wanted to prop him up on the stage and use the rules of the Great Clans to redefine the game.

Once he agreed, the formulas would become "shared assets," the channels would be in their hands, and even the power to set prices would slowly slip away.

In the end, the Chen Family would be nothing more than a node on their assembly line.

He remained impassive, only asking: "How much in resources do you plan to contribute?"

The envoy was stunned, clearly not expecting him to counter-question so directly.

"At least thirty percent to start, with more added based on production capacity."

"What share of the profit will my clan enjoy?"

"Fifty percent in the Early Stage, to be adjusted in the Late Stage based on contribution."

"Are you willing to share the risks?"

"Naturally."

Chen Wuwang smiled, but his eyes were cold: "Thirty percent in resources for a fifty percent share of the profit? Shared risks, yet you want us to hand over core technology? You certainly calculate precisely."

The envoy's expression changed slightly: "Head of the Chen Family, you can't put it that way. What we bring isn't just things; it's an entire system. Without us, your Medicinal Pills won't even leave the Eastern Desolation."

"But without my Chen Family, you wouldn't even be able to refine a single qualified Qi Condensation pill."

He stood up and walked to the window, looking at the long convoy of vehicles lined up in the square:

"You're envious, aren't you? Before, you looked down on us, thinking that with our crude Artifact Refining methods and grassroots origins, we couldn't make any waves. And now? We use machines to grow herbs, algorithms to control temperature, and data to speak. Three hundred pills a day, purity over ninety-eight percent, even a remote backwater like the Liu Family can produce those who achieve a Breakthrough."

He turned around and looked the other directly in the eye: "You didn't come to cooperate; you came to see if you could swallow this piece of meat without choking to death."

The envoy stood up abruptly: "What is the meaning of this?!"

"My meaning is simple." Chen Wuwang sat back in his chair, hands folded. "This matter is too big for me to decide alone. I need to summon the clan Elders for a joint discussion to evaluate the pros and cons and weigh the gains and losses. Within three days, I will give you an answer."

"Three days?"

"You think that's too long?" he said indifferently. "You spent thirty years underestimating us; I'm only making you wait three days. Is that too much to ask?"

The envoy stood frozen for a moment before finally suppressing his anger. He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and placed it on the table. It was milky white throughout, carved with the Cloud-Thunder double pattern, and warm to the touch.

"This is the message talisman of our branch. Whoever holds this talisman can pass unimpeded through any city of the Great Clan and can also call upon an emergency escort fleet once."

He looked at Chen Wuwang: "I hope that in three days, it can be exchanged for an opportunity to open the door to cooperation."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Chen Wuwang did not see him out.

Only when the sound of footsteps had completely vanished did he reach out and pick up the jade talisman.

The cool jade pressed against his palm, reflecting the fleeting glimmer of his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye.

He didn't look at the message talisman, but instead stared at the bustling square outside the Council Hall—the transport teams were still queuing, clansmen were counting resources, and young people were cheering around a companion who had just achieved a Breakthrough. Everything was orderly and full of vitality.

But he knew the wind had changed.

The big fish had finally caught the scent of blood.

He lowered his head, his thumb slowly rubbing the edge of the jade talisman, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The tapping sound—three long, two short—rang out again.

This time, it didn't stop.

Outside the door, the last ray of sunlight caught on the threshold, like an unclosed crack.