Madam Qian's gaze was intense and full of meaning as she appraised Ji Yuan. She then spoke with solemnity, "My family hails from Mingxin Xuan, and I am most adept at making deals and placing bets."
"At an age barely past twenty, you possess cultivation in the late Enlightenment realm, and are only one step away from the Spirit Infusion realm."
"With a single realm's cultivation, you could rally several cultivators of the second realm to defend against a demon intent on blood-sacrificing an entire city, and ultimately, slay it together."
"In less than two years of cultivation, your achievements in alchemy and talisman crafting are such that they rival those who have immersed themselves in these arts for decades."
With each point she made, Madam Qian's eyes sparkled more brightly, as if she were gazing upon a rare treasure.
This scrutiny made Ji Yuan uncomfortable, feeling like a commodity being appraised.
However, he was not surprised by what she said. With the influence of Mingxin Xuan, it would not be difficult to gather such information. He was even certain that Madam Qian possessed more sensitive intel.
But revealing all of it would not only fail to achieve his goal but would also be counterproductive, inadvertently raising suspicion.
Thus, Ji Yuan remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
Indeed, after a brief pause, Madam Qian smiled and said, "Such a youth of extraordinary talent, wouldn't it be a pity to miss out on him by not investing early?"
She looked at the young Daoist before her meaningfully, her gaze burning with a fervor rarely seen in her life.
On previous occasions when she had displayed such intensity, it had always resulted in immense wealth for Mingxin Xuan, and for herself.
"This Shanhe Bag is both the remuneration for your alchemy and a small token of my regard."
She suddenly adopted a solemn expression. "If you agree, Daoist, we will offer you a special benefactor position, a generous annual stipend, and Mingxin Xuan's full support for your cultivation."
"I can even authorize opening the main vault, allowing you to choose one magical artifact, a profound cultivation technique, and three divine abilities."
Before she finished speaking, Liu Ruyan, standing nearby, was already filled with shock. No one present, apart from this noble lady, understood better than she what such terms meant and their immense value.
A special benefactor position alone was something that ordinary third-realm cultivators could only dream of, achievable only by those with exceptional skills in a particular area.
With Mingxin Xuan's power, they currently had only three such individuals.
Any special benefactor, upon seeing anything within Mingxin Xuan that they desired, could take it directly, simply informing the head manager afterward.
Furthermore, they could use their token to mobilize Mingxin Xuan's resources and network at any time, and the annual stipend was astonishingly generous.
It was important to note that Mingxin Xuan's business was not confined to a single prefecture; they even had branches in the distant capital.
As for the promised magical artifacts and techniques, while also immensely valuable, they paled in comparison to the special benefactor position.
After a moment of shock, Liu Ruyan, standing behind Madam Qian, subtly signaled Ji Yuan, fearing he might miss this incredible opportunity due to a lack of understanding.
This was a genuine chance to soar to unparalleled heights!
"Given your talent, Daoist, with the full support of Mingxin Xuan, reaching the third realm within the next thirty years is not an issue."
Seeing a flicker of interest on his face, Madam Qian seized the moment.
Frankly, it was difficult for anyone to refuse such an offer. Even a direct disciple of a renowned sect would likely agree without hesitation.
Ji Yuan was indeed tempted. While the benefits were not as grand as the inheritance promised by the Jiu Xuan Sect, they offered more tangible immediate gains.
In the long run, the Jiu Xuan Sect's offer was undoubtedly more valuable. However, apart from an annual resource allocation and a strong foundation, there were few immediate benefits.
Even the annual resources depended on the number of disciples in a lineage and the strength of its masters, not a literal tenth of everything.
"What responsibilities would I have to undertake?"
He pondered for a long while before finally speaking.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qian's face lit up with a smile. The most feared aspect of doing business was the other party's lack of interest. Once they started asking questions, the deal was essentially half-done.
The remaining half involved the price and a bit of negotiation.
"You will not be burdened with any responsibilities, except for matters concerning the very survival of Mingxin Xuan."
She replied without hesitation, having already prepared her response. "However, since this is a business transaction, we need to see a return on our investment."
Madam Qian clarified that as a special benefactor, he would inevitably be called upon during critical junctures for Mingxin Xuan's survival. Furthermore, Mingxin Xuan would occasionally make requests during normal times. While not mandatory, he could choose to fulfill them.
However, Mingxin Xuan would have three opportunities every ten years to designate a task that the special benefactor must complete. Naturally, the compensation for such tasks would be substantial.
Most crucially, if Ji Yuan, for instance, specialized in alchemy, and accepted this special benefactor position, all future pills he refined could only be sold through Mingxin Xuan, and he could not sell them in large quantities at low prices to other shops or associations.
Of course, if he could sell them at prices significantly higher than the market rate, Mingxin Xuan would not object; in fact, they would be pleased.
"If I accept this special benefactor position, can I still join other cultivation sects?"
Ji Yuan nodded, finding these terms acceptable. He then asked the question that concerned him most.
Currently, his intention was for the future Xuantianguan to be integrated into the Jiu Xuan Sect, becoming one of its lineages.
Once he visited the Jiu Xuan Sect and witnessed certain events, this would be largely confirmed.
For this matter, even if Mingxin Xuan multiplied their offer several times over, Ji Yuan would absolutely not abandon it.
One was immediate profit, the other was a steady stream of benefits that would lead to immense future gains, possibly benefiting generations.
Anyone with foresight would know how to prioritize.
In fact, if Mingxin Xuan's promised benefits weren't so substantial, he wouldn't have listened to her any further and would have already taken his leave.
Even though Ji Yuan believed his talent was not low and his luck was exceptionally strong, he could never have too many cultivation resources. Moreover, even with his great fortune, he couldn't wander aimlessly outside.
If he could settle down in one place, he would have a continuous supply of resources. Not thirty years, but he was confident he could reach the third realm within twenty.
"There are no restrictions on that matter, Daoist. As long as you do not join any merchant association or the sect behind it that competes with Mingxin Xuan."
Madam Qian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had expected him to make excessive demands, but instead, it was merely this trivial concern.
Within Mingxin Xuan, let alone special benefactors, even most first and second-class benefactors were often affiliated with various forces.
Some held positions as elders in certain sects, others joined specific factions, and only a very small minority were direct members of Mingxin Xuan, with no ties to others.
Such a situation would be completely unacceptable for a particular force or sect, but for merchant associations like Mingxin Xuan, it was not a major issue.
In fact, any merchant association would be delighted if their benefactors held high positions, as the indirect benefits derived from this were often unimaginable.
"If that is the case, I see no reason to refuse."
Having received a clear answer, Ji Yuan nodded and picked up the Shanhe Bag from the table, playing with it.
He made no mention of needing a few days to consider, nor had he ever contemplated it.
If he didn't express his decision on the spot, there would never be a second opportunity. Unless his strength and status far surpassed theirs, at an equal footing, there was no possibility of deliberation for several days.
They were making a long-term investment, and the future was full of uncertainties. Perhaps his current talent was sufficient to warrant such immense benefits, but who knew if unexpected changes might occur one day?
This was not a transaction where results were immediate. They didn't need to pursue him alone and invest such a huge sum.
Some opportunities, once missed, are missed forever. If he didn't decide now, it would be difficult to get a second chance in the future.
"There is one point that needs clarification. Within Mingxin Xuan, I am not the sole decision-maker. Two others possess the same rights and status."
Madam Qian produced a jade token and personally placed it on the wooden table.
Her intention was to inform him that upon accepting this token, he would not only become a special benefactor of Mingxin Xuan but would also automatically become part of her faction.
Ji Yuan had no other thoughts on this matter and accepted the jade token without hesitation.
Thus, both parties had reached a preliminary agreement, and the remaining step was to find a day to sign a more detailed contract.
"We previously agreed on an annual stipend, and this Shanhe Bag already contains ten years' worth of your share."
Seeing him take the jade token, Madam Qian said with a calm smile.
Ji Yuan blinked in surprise, then subconsciously channeled a wisp of essence into the Shanhe Bag. His consciousness then entered it without obstruction.
Within a space the size of a courtyard, measuring twenty-five feet square, numerous large chests were neatly arranged. Gold and silver were in equal measure, totaling one hundred thousand taels of fine silver.
It seemed that the annual stipend for a special benefactor of Mingxin Xuan was ten thousand taels of fine silver.
This was a substantial sum. Even for an elder of the third realm in a major sect, the annual stipend might only be two to three thousand taels of silver.
However, it was understandable. As a merchant association, Mingxin Xuan lacked nothing more than silver and wealth, and at the same time, possessed an abundance of it.
"It seems Madam Qian was certain that I would eventually agree."
Ji Yuan gave a wry smile. Her actions clearly indicated she had already determined he would agree.
After all, this Shanhe Bag had previously been designated as payment for the alchemy and a token of her goodwill.
Suddenly, he slapped his forehead with an expression of realization. "No, no, I should address you as 'Esteemed Proprietor' now."
Madam Qian chuckled, seemingly amused by his expression. She also found this young Daoist to be quite a character; he had been serious moments ago, but now that he was "one of them," his attitude had naturally shifted.
However, the smooth progress of this matter had indeed exceeded her expectations. She had anticipated it would be more challenging.
After all, prodigies were often the most difficult people to deal with, their emotions hard to fathom, and they often held themselves in high regard, typically looking down on ordinary people.
Since the matter was settled, pleasantries were exchanged less, and their conversation became more intimate. After all, they were now considered part of the same circle.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruyan, who had been standing behind Madam Qian in shock, felt a growing sense of doubt.
She still hadn't figured out why one of Mingxin Xuan's three esteemed proprietors would go to such great lengths, even promising a special benefactor position, to recruit this young Daoist from Qianyu City.
She did not deny Ji Yuan's extraordinary talent, but throughout the prefecture, there were not a few such geniuses. If one were to actively search, a few could undoubtedly be found.
In fact, before arriving today, Madam Qian had only prepared to offer a first-class benefactor position. If she hadn't met a junior the previous night, she might not have changed her mind so abruptly.
She would never forget the sincere evaluation given by that junior from the Mingjian Division.
Someone who was considered by Xu Lin, the head of the Mingjian Division in Luoxia Prefecture and praised as someone who would undoubtedly reach the third realm and possessed unparalleled killing power among the prefectural enforcers, to be someone whose achievements would not be inferior to her own, was indeed worthy of the special benefactor position.
Of course, this alone would not have been enough. There were naturally her own considerations.
Looking at the young Daoist before her, who remained calm and showed no sign of elation at becoming a special benefactor of Mingxin Xuan, Madam Qian's expression was outwardly composed, but inwardly, she sighed.
She could only hope her choice was the right one. The Qian family could no longer afford further turmoil.
If they couldn't secure an opportunity to turn the tide, within a few years, the Qian family would completely lose their status as proprietors of Mingxin Xuan.
At that point, the loss would not be mere financial, but the entire Qian family would be devoured!
With this thought, Madam Qian suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. Given the current circumstances, she actually had no other options.
Even if she didn't offer this special benefactor position to Ji Yuan, within a year or two, the position he held would likely be sought after and seized by the other two factions through any means possible.
And she would be powerless to stop it. Therefore, it was better to go all in and gamble.
Madam Qian's original ideal candidate was Xu Lin from the Mingjian Division. Unfortunately, that young man was intractable and had refused multiple times.
Now, settling for the second best, she could only hope that the person before her would not disappoint her expectations, nor Xu Lin's high praise.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect Daoist Ji to be entertaining a distinguished guest. It seems Liu has come at an inconvenient time!"
Just as the two were engrossed in conversation and exchanging laughter, a boisterous laugh suddenly broke the harmony.