Freed from the curse, Lin Xiao Tian no longer had to flee every day and had more time to spend with his family.
As for the journey into the Death Sand Sea, Lin Xiao Tian had no immediate plans to go. Having learned from the previous incident in Kunlun Valley, he was much calmer now.
Lin Xiao Tian found several exploration teams and had them scout ahead.
However, these exploration teams were not going aimlessly. Lin Xiao Tian had already estimated in his mind the general area in the Death Sand Sea where he wanted to go.
The mission for these exploration teams was to advance to a certain depth.
To avoid suspicion from others, Lin Xiao Tian dispatched exploration teams in all directions of the Death Sand Sea. To outsiders, Lin Xiao Tian's actions appeared to be an effort to understand the topography of the Death Sand Sea.
Of course, some people speculated that Lin Xiao Tian had other intentions.
Members of the three major families even approached Lin Xiao Tian, hoping to collaborate with him.
But Lin Xiao Tian refused them all.
"Xiao Tian, the Death Sand Sea is, after all, the territory of our three major families. If you make any discoveries, it's pointless to hide them. Let me make it clear beforehand, if you deliberately conceal anything, whatever is obtained inside must be split equally with our three families."
One of the family members approached Lin Xiao Tian, his tone filled with threats.
The Death Sand Sea was under their de facto control, and if they refused, Lin Xiao Tian would definitely not be allowed to enter.
But Lin Xiao Tian was not flustered at all.
Now that the curse was gone, he was no longer as anxious as before.
"Since the three major families are unwilling, then forget it! However, I will have to reconsider the cooperation on the anti-cancer drug we discussed earlier," Lin Xiao Tian said indifferently.
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, the other party's expression immediately turned unpleasant.
"Xiao Tian, the contract has already been signed. It's unfair for you to go back on your word now, isn't it?"
"I can pay the breach of contract fee."
Lin Xiao Tian's reply left the other party speechless.
Lin Xiao Tian was no longer as impulsive as before. If it were in the past, seeing the other party cornered, Lin Xiao Tian would certainly not have yielded an inch and would have pressed his advantage. But now it was different; he had too many things to consider.
Seeing the other party's increasingly displeased expression, Lin Xiao Tian immediately smiled.
"Haha, Uncle Wang, I was just speaking casually. Don't take it too seriously. How could we go back on a signed contract? If this gets out, how will the Lin family survive in the future?"
"What Uncle Wang just said makes sense. The Death Sand Sea is the property of your three major families. As an outsider, if I find something, it's only right to pay a little interest."
"But the question is, how should this interest be paid?"
Lin Xiao Tian looked intently at the middle-aged man before him.
The other party was from the main branch of the Wang family, a cousin of the current head of the Wang family. He had some prestige in the Wang family. However, he had come to find Lin Xiao Tian in a personal capacity, so Lin Xiao Tian dared to joke with him. This was because the other party dared not speak on behalf of the family, implying he had an agenda.
Either for money or power, the other party having an agenda was actually a good thing for Lin Xiao Tian. Lin Xiao Tian only wanted the Shen Nong inheritance from within; he was not interested in other things.
And Lin Xiao Tian had deliberately used the contract to startle him earlier, which was also to confirm the other party's bottom line. The fact that the other party did not dare to refute precisely indicated that he did not have the backing of his family this time.
"Hehe, I knew you wouldn't go back on your word, Xiao Tian." The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief. "I've already thought about how this division should work."
After speaking, the middle-aged man took out his phone.
When Lin Xiao Tian took the phone and looked, it contained a meticulously drawn map.
Before Lin Xiao Tian could look further, the other party retrieved his phone.
"I know you've been sending people to scout the terrain inside recently, but as you know, the situation in the sand sea is constantly changing. The terrain today might be different in a few days. It'll probably take a lifetime to figure out the inside with exploration teams," the middle-aged man said confidently to Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes.
What the other party said was indeed true.
The Death Sand Sea was constantly eroded by sandstorms, making its terrain highly variable. Moreover, the magnetic field inside was very complex. Compared to Kunlun Valley, its magnetic field would not make compasses go haywire, but it would cause them to misjudge.
In the same location, a compass might point north at one moment, but it could point in a different direction shortly after. This would lead to incorrect judgments, and the resulting map would vary greatly.
To avoid getting lost in such a place, one could only rely on long-term experience, and the three major families undoubtedly had the most experience.
"Uncle Wang, let's get straight to the point!" Lin Xiao Tian looked at him. "If I cooperate with you, how do you propose we divide the risks and rewards?"
"How about a seven-three split?"
"Uncle Wang, the Wang family only occupies a larger portion of the Death Sand Sea's territory, but that doesn't mean the entire sand sea belongs to you. I can still choose the other two families."
"My Wang family is the most powerful of the three families, and as you just said, our territory is the largest, so cooperating with us will give you a greater chance of obtaining good things."
"No, seven-three is too much. Five-five split could be considered, and I'm the one taking the risks, while your Wang family does nothing," Lin Xiao Tian argued.
"Five-five is impossible."
"Then there's nothing to discuss?"
The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment. "Four-six. My Wang family will also contribute financially and with manpower."
Lin Xiao Tian still did not agree, and the two parties remained in a stalemate for a while.
Finally, Lin Xiao Tian agreed to a four-six split, as the map was truly important, and they would also provide guides.
The most crucial point was that the place Lin Xiao Tian intended to go was in the direction of the Wang family's controlled area. If he chose the other two families, he would have to take a significant detour.
Both parties left satisfied.
The middle-aged man obtained wealth and shifted all the risks to Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian, on the other hand, acquired the map. Once his team grasped the general situation, Lin Xiao Tian could smoothly reach his destination.
Today was only a preliminary meeting; further detailed cooperation would follow.
Besides the Wang family, the other two families had also approached Lin Xiao Tian.
The Qin family and the Lin family were in-laws, but this time Lin Xiao Tian did not choose to cooperate with them.
Firstly, Qin Yuan was among the core members of the Qin family, and Lin Xiao Tian was unwilling to take the risk.
Secondly, the Qin family was too far from the destination.
The Xiao family had demands that were too high, and Lin Xiao Tian resolutely refused.
However, the asking prices of both families were much higher than that of the Wang family.
This also made Lin Xiao Tian a little wary. The Wang family was willing to split four-six; perhaps there was some conspiracy behind it?
Recalling that the Wang family had previously collaborated with Fang Wen Hua, Lin Xiao Tian's suspicion seemed reasonable.
Meanwhile, in the Wang family's secret conference room, core members had already gathered.
At the head sat an old man with white hair and beard. Upon closer inspection, he had lived for three hundred years.