Chapter 88 - 86: Bamboozling

’Actually, I’m the one who ran over here,’ Zhang Deming thought to himself.

At his current level, he wasn’t capable of pulling his consciousness over. He could only come over himself.

If his Spirit Nurturing Technique were a few levels higher, he might have a chance.

Qu Qizhong had calmed down slightly by now. "Please, Senior, go on," he said.

"The Blue Sky Alliance’s system is very lax, without many restrictions.

Rule One: You are forbidden from revealing any information about the Alliance to any person, organization, or entity, in any form. Violators will be killed.

Rule Two: Once you have joined the Alliance, you are forbidden from attempting to betray the Alliance in any way, shape, or form. Violators will be killed.

Rule Three: Alliance members are forbidden from killing each other out of enmity. When it does not harm one’s own interests, appropriate assistance may be rendered. Violators will be killed at our discretion.

Rule Four: Superiors in the Alliance have the authority to command their direct subordinates. In emergencies, they have the authority to mobilize those who are not their direct subordinates. Any complaints filed against a superior will be investigated, and punishment will be meted out at our discretion.

Rule Five: The above rules have been determined by the Celestial Department council, which reserves the right to add to or amend them. All rights of interpretation belong to the Celestial Department council."

As Qu Qizhong listened to the rules, his Heart Spirit trembled. Each mention of "killed" made his heart palpitate, but he didn’t dare ask how they would be killed.

’But why does Rule Five feel so strange? It’s like a rogue clause.’

"Alright, those are all the Alliance’s rules for now. Do you have any questions about them?" Zhang Deming asked.

Qu Qizhong quickly shook his head. "No."

"Then congratulations on becoming a Yellow-Level One-Star member, with the position of Junior Member." As Zhang Deming spoke, he waved his hand.

The grayish-white mist coalesced into the shape of lips and appeared before Qu Qizhong.

"Here. Since your path is Oratory, this will be your symbol in the Alliance."

Zhang Deming paused, then said, "Well then, that’s all for now. I have a pile of Blood Contracts to deal with, so I can’t stay and chat.

Aside from the rules, the Alliance’s management is very lax, so don’t be so formal.

Oh, right. Say hello to that kid Zhang Wu for me. I haven’t had the chance to congratulate him on his promotion to Three-Star and becoming a regional head."

Qu Qizhong nodded quickly. "Of course, Senior. I’ll be sure to pass the message to Zhang... uh, Steward Zhang."

"Haha, goodbye then." With that, Zhang Deming chose to leave.

After once again being squeezed through the twisting passage, he returned to the embryonic space of the Spirit Nurturing Ball. There were now two points of light in the space.

Looking at the points of light, Zhang Deming smiled faintly.

’With this as a foundation, given some time, I might actually be able to pull off this Blue Sky Alliance.’

Without further delay, his consciousness withdrew from the Spirit Nurturing Ball.

As Zhang Deming came back to his senses, so did Qu Qizhong.

"Finished signing the Blood Contract? Did you meet Elder Huang?" Zhang Deming asked, looking at the now-lucid Qu Qizhong.

When Qu Qizhong looked at Zhang Deming again, his expression and mindset had undergone a world-shaking transformation.

’And he was realizing... could this really be his opportunity?’

Joining such a powerful and mysterious organization seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity that many could only dream of.

"Yes, Steward Zhang. I have been informed of the Blood Contract’s regulations.

Elder Huang also asked me to send his regards and congratulate you on your promotion," Qu Qizhong said respectfully.

Zhang Deming nodded. "Thanks. Elder Huang is as easy-going as ever.

By the way, you can call me Steward from now on. That’s correct.

A Yellow-Level One-Star is a Junior Member, a Two-Star is a captain, a Three-Star is a Steward who manages a region, and a Four-Star is a High Steward who manages several regions."

"Understood, Steward Zhang," Qu Qizhong replied respectfully.

Zhang Deming continued, "As a new member, your main responsibility for now will be sales. I’ve only just arrived here and started to establish a foothold, so I’m rather short on funds. A talent like you is exactly what I need."

Qu Qizhong asked, "But Steward Zhang, what will the shop sell?

You know about our shop’s previous reputation issues..."

Zhang Deming smiled. "You can sell whatever you want. Don’t worry about the reputation. As long as you use this as your signature product, reputation won’t be an issue, and business will definitely boom."

As he spoke, Zhang Deming took out four glass-like spheres.

"Are these all Spirit Nurturing Balls with the same effect as before?" Qu Qizhong asked excitedly.

Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes. The Spirit Nurturing Masters under the Alliance are not the same as the fakes out there.

With these, as long as you use them well, have enough business savvy, and employ the right tactics...

I don’t think business will be a problem.

After all, you know how hard it is to come by a Spirit Nurturing Ball.

Oh, and because of the success rate, you can consider raising the price.

As for the shop’s profits, all revenue from the Spirit Nurturing Balls must be turned over to the Alliance. For any additional revenue from other sales, you only need to turn over thirty percent.

I’ll be quite busy in the short term and won’t have much time to look after things on your end.

So you’ll even need to keep sales low-key. Don’t attract too much attention."

Hearing this, Qu Qizhong said hesitantly, "Steward Zhang, isn’t thirty percent a bit low?"

He knew, after all, just how much traffic he could attract by properly utilizing these Spirit Nurturing Balls. To only have to turn over thirty percent of the resulting profits was indeed very little.

Zhang Deming smiled. "The Alliance never exploits its members. It treats them very generously.

Besides, I’m a Steward now. I’m not going to be greedy for your handful of Spirit Stones."

Zhang Deming wasn’t just pretending to be generous. If his only goal was to run a shop and sell Spirit Nurturing Beads, he could have exploited him to the fullest.

But if he wanted to build a faction and make it last, he had to be reasonable about the cut from additional revenue. It was a necessary choice.

Rather than face a rebellion later from excessive exploitation, it was better to take the path of generous treatment from the very beginning.

Besides, this was the kind of style a long-standing, mysterious, and powerful organization ought to have.

Hearing this, Qu Qizhong nodded. "I understand."

"Alright. I didn’t bring much with me today. Take these four Spirit Nurturing Balls and use them to get things started.

I’ll restock for you in a few days. After that, I’ll provide you with a new supply every half-month or month," Zhang Deming said.

Qu Qizhong said, "I will get the shop ready tomorrow."

Zhang Deming nodded and took out ten Spirit Stones. "You have seventeen Spirit Stones, and you’re twenty in debt. With these, you’ll have enough to pay off your debts.

Use the extra seven Spirit Stones for shop repairs and as startup capital.

This is a personal loan from me. You’ll need to pay me back when you start making money."

Qu Qizhong was deeply moved. After his parents died, one relative after another had only thought of how to bleed him dry, how to leech off his family’s legacy and suck the very marrow from his parents’ bones.

Zhang Deming was the first person willing to help him with a huge sum like ten Spirit Stones.

Regardless of Zhang Deming’s reasons, this was genuine help. Even the Alliance he had been semi-coerced into joining tonight currently seemed to offer him nothing but immense benefits.

So, even if Zhang Deming had his own motives, he now owed him a real and tangible debt of gratitude.