A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

Chapter 761: Martial Alliance

The Purple River Lord had walked the path of poison his whole life.

He had refined countless toxins. He had bathed in poison miasma. He had even used the most concentrated water of the Purple Poison River as his elemental pool to advance into the Core Formation realm.

Because of that, he could feel the potency of the poison in his bones. He knew how terrifying the contents of that vial were even for a late-stage Lord like him.

This was not an ordinary poison. It was not something that could be made by refining regular Spirit herbs or demon beasts. It carried a depth that made his very soul feel uneasy. A depth that did not belong to common Spirit techniques.

His gaze locked onto the vial as if it were a priceless treasure. Aksai watched his reaction quietly.

“This is just a small sample,” Aksai said calmly. “But to someone who understands poison… its value should be clear.”

The Purple River Lord swallowed. His eyes never left the vial.

Aksai watched the Purple River Lord in silence for a short while. He enjoyed the way the man’s eyes kept drifting back to the vial, even when he tried to hide it. He knew what he was feeling. To a poison cultivator, this was like placing a priceless treasure right in front of them and asking them not to look.

After letting the moment stretch just enough, Aksai moved. He placed the sealed vial gently on the table between them. The soft sound it made felt unusually loud in the quiet room.

“Lord Purple,” Aksai said calmly, “I think you understand the importance of this tiny vial very well.”

The Purple River Lord did not respond right away. His gaze stayed fixed on the vial, as if afraid that it might vanish if he looked away.

Aksai continued.

“Let’s just say that this is what I managed to obtain during my expedition into the Purple Poison Marshland,” he said. “You asked me where I was for the past ten years, didn’t you?”

He leaned back slightly in his chair.

“Even though I cannot explain everything,” Aksai went on, “you should be able to guess that I entered a secret dimension left behind by a sect from a bygone era. A place that still held Spirit resources like the one sitting in front of you now.”

The Purple River Lord’s eyes flickered.

Aksai smiled faintly.

“It’s similar to what happened when you and the other Lords of the Big Five discovered the Holy Land Torel,” he said. “You know how these things go. By the time others learn of it, most of the true treasures are already gone.”

He tapped the table lightly with one finger.

“Even so, what I have left in stock is more than enough,” Aksai said. “Enough to keep your sect standing for a very long time.”

The Purple River Lord finally lifted his eyes from the vial and looked at Aksai directly. Aksai met his gaze without backing down.

“Now tell me,” Aksai said evenly. “Are you interested in making another deal with the Emerald Cove Guild, now that we are sitting face to face like this?”

He paused for a breath before adding,

“If it helps you decide, you should know this,” he said. “The Purple River Sect stands to gain a great deal from this deal. Especially in its current situation.”

His eyes sharpened slightly.

“With the right cooperation,” Aksai said, “your sect doesn’t just survive. It has a chance to prosper more than ever before. All it needs is a stable alliance with the Emerald Cove Guild.”

The Purple River Lord took a long, deep breath after slowly processing Aksai’s words.

The tension in his shoulders slowly eased as his eyes pulled away from the vial on the table. The haze in his gaze faded, replaced by the sharp and steady look of a seasoned Lord. When he looked at Aksai again, there was no longer greed or shock in his eyes, only caution.

“What kind of deal are you talking about, Lord Turtle?” he asked in a low voice.

“We are already working together in trade. The exchange between Emerald Cove Island and the mainland is running smoothly. Are you trying to expand your business even further?”

Aksai smiled lightly and shook his head.

“Not really,” he said. “At least not right now.”

He leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed.

“The trade deals I already have with your sect, Haan Di, and a few other groups are more than what my guild can handle on its own,” Aksai said. “Growing too fast without a stable base will only hurt me in the long run.”

The Purple River Lord listened closely but didn’t say anything. Although he could guess what Aksai was hinting at, he didn’t voice his conjectures. After a brief pause, Aksai spoke again, his tone calmer but heavier.

“What I want now is not more business,” he said. “I want a martial alliance.”

The Purple River Lord’s brows creased slightly, but he did not interrupt.

Aksai continued.

“I know how the Big Five Sects work,” he said. “You compete with each other openly and secretly. You fight over land, resources, disciples, and influence. But when it truly matters, you stand together.”

He raised a finger slightly.

“That’s because the five Lords keep each other in check,” Aksai said. “You protect each other’s survival so that no outside force can swallow any one of you easily. You are bound together whether you like it or not.”

A faint smile appeared on Aksai’s lips.

“You five are like siblings,” he said. “You argue, you fight, but you still live under the same roof.”

The Purple River Lord’s expression darkened.

“But your position is already shaking,” Aksai went on. “The Purple Poison Marshland is weakening. Your sect should already be in decline.”

He paused, letting the words sink in.

“The only reason it hasn’t happened yet,” Aksai said, “is because your sect’s fate is still tied to the other Big Five Sects.”

The Purple River Lord clenched his jaw slightly.

“But times are changing,” Aksai said quietly. “Without outside support, your sect will eventually face a slow and painful fall.”

He looked straight at the Purple River Lord.

“I can understand why you wanted to target Heilam and his sect. I really get it. But I intervened because it’s useless for your sect. After all, the Iron Mountain Sect is not the only one watching your position,” Aksai said and took a deep breath before continuing.

“There are other sects waiting as well. Ones with deeper roots and stronger foundations. Take Silver Moon Palace for example. That sect is just waiting to have a Lord within its midst. Once it does, it will show its fangs to the world. Who do you think it will target once that happens?

“You are currently the weakest link among the Big Five Sects. Even though you will be stronger than any newly ascended Lord, you will still face many problems. And let’s not forget that you will have your own limitations considering the recent targeted attacks on all the Lords by an unknown force in the shadows.”

Aksai let the Purple River Lord process his words for a bit before adding further.

“What I’m saying is simple,” he said. “Desperate times need bold choices.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“I want you to quietly step away from the Big Five Sects,” Aksai said. “And form a martial alliance with my guild.”

The Purple River Lord’s eyes narrowed.

“This alliance is not just about sending disciples to help each other,” Aksai explained.

“It means sharing intelligence. Supporting each other in conflicts. And if needed…”

His voice lowered.

“…striking against the remaining Big Five Sects when the time is right.”

He straightened and looked at the Purple River Lord calmly.

“What do you say?”

The Purple River Lord let out a low chuckle after Aksai finished. He leaned back in his chair and shook his head slowly, as if he had just heard something amusing.

“Why would I need to fight the remaining four in the Big Five?” he said. “And why would you, for that matter?”

He looked at Aksai with a half-smile.

“What kind of plot are you cooking right now, Lord Turtle?” he asked. “I don’t trust the other four Lords either, but I can’t just start attacking them. Not without a solid reason.”

His smile faded a little.

“Especially not now,” he added. “My sect is already standing on thin ice.”

He shook his head again, as if dismissing the idea. But then, a thought struck him. His body stiffened slightly.

The Purple River Lord’s eyes sharpened as he looked straight at Aksai again.

“Unless…” he said slowly.

“Unless the recent attacks on the Lords have something to do with the other four sects.”

His fingers tightened on the armrest.

“Lord Turtle,” he said in a lower voice, “what do you know that I don’t?”