YM778.TV Chapter 97: Aquatic Tribe Reinforcements
Compared to Lanye, Tun Sheng was much craftier.
He didn’t rush to rebut Jiang Cheng’s words but instead chose to agree with them and extend the conversation in Jiang Cheng’s direction.
“So, Jiang, do you also believe that we must put a stop to the illegal modification of Talismans?”
Jiang Cheng responded frankly, “Senior Tun, I won’t hide the fact that in our sales contracts, our studio has already transferred the responsibility of Talisman modification to the actual modifiers. Following the principle of equivalent rights and obligations, our studio has essentially forfeited the right to pursue any further responsibility for modifications.”
The meaning behind Jiang Cheng’s words was quite simple to understand.
For Talismans sold normally, the studio would definitely be responsible for after-sales service during the warranty period.
However, once a Talisman was modified, the situation would split into two scenarios.
In the first, the modifier would bear the consequences of the modification. Under this situation, the modifier would be the first responsible party, so Jiang Cheng’s studio had no right to demand any specific actions from the modifier.
In the second, the studio would bear the consequences of the modification. In this case, the studio would still be the first responsible party for the Talisman, so the studio would need to take responsibility for the consequences of the modifications but would also have the right to pursue the modifier for any repercussions.
Jiang Cheng’s contract opted for the first scenario.
Under the first model, Jiang Cheng could not interfere with the buyer’s freedom to modify and assume responsibility for their actions.
Faced with Jiang Cheng’s argument, Tun Sheng simply smiled.
Human Race cultivators were usually extremely adept at evading responsibilities, something Lanye had learned profoundly.
Tun Sheng said, “Jiang, I’m not asking you to use your rights to hold the modifiers accountable. What I want to know is your personal stance on modification. Do you think modifiers should be held accountable?”
Jiang Cheng blurted out without any hesitation, “If the modified Talismans contravene the law and infringe upon the rights of others, then it’s unquestionable that the modifiers should be held accountable using legal measures.”
Jiang Cheng’s words of righteousness greatly improved Tun Sheng’s impression of him.
Setting aside whether this young man was sincere or cunning, he at least was consistent in his words and deeds, never contradicting himself.
Human Race cultivators capable of this were practically nonexistent.
Tun Sheng turned to Zuo Yuanhong and gave him a respectful bow, “Lord Prefect, since that’s the case, please take action.”
Zuo Yuanhong: ?
Frozen hand?
What frozen hand?
“Tun Sheng, leader of the Sea Tribe, I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what you mean,” he said.
Tun Sheng replied, “These modified Fishing Talismans are extremely powerful and have a significant impact, which has de facto endangered the survival of our tribe in the waters of the Ming River. I kindly request that Wuyue government officials take action and punish those who recklessly modify Talismans.”
At this point, Zuo Yuanhong finally understood what Tun Sheng meant.
Initially, Tun Sheng surely aimed to have Wuyue government officials ban the use of Fishing Talismans.
But after some discussion, he realized that Jiang Cheng was impenetrable, and a ban on Fishing Talismans was simply impossible.
So he settled for the next best thing, hoping the Wuyue government would crack down on the modifiers and the modification industry chain.
My goodness!
The Wuyue government was already unable to get a slice of the profits from Fishing Talismans; if they were to entirely knock down the modification business, wouldn’t that mean they wouldn’t even get the dregs of the benefits from the Fishing Talismans?
And these Talismans sell for over two thousand Spirit Stones each.
With modifications costing an extra thousand or two thousand, and the wealthy even willing to spend over five thousand Spirit Stones on the modifications.
Are those who can spend so much just for their hobbies ordinary citizens of Wuyue City?
Aren’t these people the very pillars of various industries in Wuyue?
Banning modifications would affect the interests of the entire Wuyue Talisman industry and those of the elites of various industries in Wuyue…
And even if Wuyue bans modifications, wouldn’t other cities still be able to modify as usual?
So what practical effect does Wuyue’s ban on the Fishing Talisman have, apart from putting money into someone else’s pocket?
Zuo Yuanhong did not wish to shirk this issue, nor could he—least of all could he be the one to push it forward.
Without the Immortal Sect standing at the forefront, having only him, Zuo Yuanhong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator to step out, he feared that his mind would wander far off at the slightest inattention.
Even if we take ten thousand steps back, what concerns or conflicts the Aquatic Tribe might have are for the Immortal Sect to manage. What do they have to do with us in the Wuyue officialdom?
Zuo Yuanhong said, “Tun Sheng, patriarch, your question is indeed a matter that our Wuyue officialdom should take seriously. When faced with such significant issues, we say that we must keep a clear head. We should treat problems seriously, focusing on the main issue, that is, to tackle the primary problem. The key to solving a problem lies in addressing the crux of that problem…”
Tun Sheng shook his head; seeing Zuo Yuanhong’s attitude, he knew this matter was going nowhere.
However, from the beginning, Tun Sheng had not held any unrealistic expectations of the Human Race.
After all, for humans, the Fishing Talisman is purely beneficial and harmless. There is no reason to cut off their own advantages to “kindly help” the Aquatic Tribe by prohibiting the use of the Fishing Talisman.
If there is blame to be assigned, it could only be attributed to the weakness of the Aquatic Tribe and their lack of importance. Should the Sea Tribe have stepped in, these humans would never have dared to be so dismissive.
Knowing it was futile, Tun Sheng saw no reason to stay any longer.
He clasped his hands towards those present and said, “I have urgent matters to attend to and shall not trouble you all any further. Farewell.”
Seeing Tun Sheng leave, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially Qi Huangyi, who had come to keep order.
As the General of Xiangzhou, he had been invited (deceived) by Zuo Yuanhong to come. Should a conflict arise, it would fall to him, with the highest cultivation level, to confront an adversary who was at the Great Perfection of Core Formation.
The pressure was immense.
Fortunately, nothing happened.
As Tun Sheng took his leave from the Prefect Mansion’s guest room, he passed by Liu Qing and in that moment, he felt an instantaneous threat of death.
Tun Sheng quickly turned his head, only to see the beautiful female cultivator at Jiang Cheng’s side who had not uttered a single word from start to finish.
Noticing Tun Sheng looking back, Jiang Cheng asked, “Elder, is there anything else you need?”
Tun Sheng said, “Jiang Cheng, I have a question for you.”
“Please ask, elder.”
“If there were no fish in the water, could your talisman still catch any fish?”
“Of course not.”
“If you could not, what then?”
Jiang Cheng replied with surprise, “It doesn’t matter. I am just a seller of talismans. If they work, people will buy them; if they don’t, then no one will buy.”
“Hmm. Take care of yourself.”
With that, Tun Sheng left without looking back.
However, the direction in which Tun Sheng departed was not toward the ancestral temple of the Ming River, but east of Wuyue!
Eight hundred li east of Wuyue, the Ming River flows into the Chuanqi Sea!
Tun Sheng flew above the vast expanse of the sea, leaving the land far behind him.
Calculating his location roughly, Tun Sheng plunged into the sea, diving deeper and deeper until he reached a depth of fifteen hundred meters below the sea level.
Here in the quiet, silent ocean depths,
on the desolate seabed plain stood a deep-sea fortress.
This was the stronghold of the Nascent Soul Shark Demon Qi Chi, the Wuhuan Fortress!
Tun Sheng closed his eyes tightly and sent out a Divine Sense with his Core Formation cultivation level, a Divine Sense that automatically filtered out any cultivator below Nascent Soul.
The message carried by his Divine Sense was: The Human Race harbors ill intentions, requesting kinsmen of our kind to come to our aid!