Chapter 496 - 248: Madam’s Night Visit! Ouyang’s Praise

Chapter 496: Chapter 248: Madam’s Night Visit! Ouyang’s Praise

Chen Sheng nodded.

"I’ve long heard that the Poison Flame Cave is one of Nanzhao’s great wonders, home to countless mysterious and poisonous creatures. I’ve grown quite curious and would like to see it for myself."

"Are you interested in poisonous creatures, Lord Chen?"

Lady Lan asked, her voice probing. Her doubts hadn’t subsided.

"You could say that. What do you think?"

Lady Lan considered this for a moment.

Although the Poison Flame Cave was a restricted area of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, outsiders weren’t absolutely forbidden from entering.

There were precedents of allied experts or Pill Masters entering to observe, search for unique creatures, or gather medicinal ingredients.

Given Chen Sheng’s current standing...

’Son-in-law of the Nie Family, a prodigy from the Dragon and Tiger List, a Prefectural Inspector... even without this deal, if he made such a request, it would be difficult for me to refuse him for both personal and political reasons. I’d likely have to make the arrangements anyway.’

"This matter... I can agree to it."

Lady Lan nodded, her agreement surprisingly swift.

"Tomorrow, I will personally arrange for you to enter the cave."

"Good."

A faint smile spread across Chen Sheng’s face. Then, his tone shifted as he made his second request:

"Second, I would like to borrow your sect’s heirloom, the Sacred Artifact known as the Bright Divine Pearl."

"The Bright Divine Pearl?!"

Lady Lan’s brow furrowed instantly, and alarm bells screamed in her mind.

"Don’t tell me you intend to use the pearl’s power to break through to the late stage of Profound Mastery, Lord Chen?"

The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect’s Bright Divine Pearl was quite famous in the Southern Border.

Its greatest function was to provide a powerful boost during the critical moment a Cultivator opened their Spirit Platform and ignited their Divine Fire. It increased the chances of a successful breakthrough and helped stabilize the newly-formed Divine Sense.

For any Cultivator stuck at the peak of the mid-stage of Profound Mastery, it was a treasure beyond their wildest dreams.

"Precisely."

Chen Sheng admitted without hesitation.

A troubled look crossed Lady Lan’s face as she slowly shook her head.

"Lord Chen... I’m afraid I cannot grant this request. It’s not that I’m being stingy or unwilling to help, but this pearl is the sect-guarding treasure of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. Its importance is simply too great.

"Using the pearl requires the unanimous consent of the sect elders. Though I am the Sect Leader, I cannot make such a decision alone. Furthermore, each use of the Divine Pearl consumes some of its fundamental power. It then takes several years of nurturing with a Secret Technique for it to recover.

"If anything were to go wrong..."

Lady Lan’s words were a mix of truth and lies.

It was true that using the Bright Divine Pearl required the unanimous approval of the elders.

But more importantly, she was deeply unwilling to lend such a priceless Treasure to an outsider.

’After all, she had only just met Chen Sheng. If she lent it to him, would he return it?’

’Could its use cause irreversible damage?’

These were risks she was unwilling to take.

Chen Sheng’s eyes flickered.

’Her answer wasn’t entirely unexpected.’

His request to borrow the pearl was more of a probe—a way to set the stage for a future discussion.

"Oh?"

Chen Sheng’s tone remained level as he pressed on:

"So, if I understand correctly, you yourself are willing to lend it, but your hands are tied by the sect’s rules and the elders?"

Lady Lan sensed something was off, but having come this far, she had no choice but to go along with his line of reasoning.

"You could put it that way. The sect’s rules are what they are, and I must abide by them."

"Then what if..."

Chen Sheng leaned forward slightly, his gaze turning deep and searching.

"What if the other elders have no objections?"

"That’s impossible."

Lady Lan shook her head firmly, her tone absolute.

"The senior elders of the sect guard that pearl with their lives. They would never agree to lend it to an outsider. You may not be aware of how complex the internal politics of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect are, Lord Chen."

"But what if?"

Chen Sheng pressed on, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.

"Nothing is ever certain. If, by some miracle, the other elders really have no objection, would you then give your consent, Lady Lan?"

Lady Lan gave Chen Sheng a long, hard look. The feeling that something was amiss grew stronger.

’But I know the die-hards in my sect. There’s absolutely no chance they would relent.’

So, with a mix of defiance and certainty, she nodded.

"If that were truly to happen—if the sect elders were to unanimously agree to lend the Bright Divine Pearl to you, Lord Chen—then... I would naturally have no reason to object. I would personally retrieve the Divine Pearl and hand it over for your use."

"Good!"

Chen Sheng clapped his hands together with a light laugh.

"I’ll be sure to remember that, Sect Leader."

"Remember it all you like, Lord Chen."

Lady Lan paid his comment no mind, as she didn’t believe for a second it was possible.

"Now, can you tell me what this ’clear path’ is, Lord Chen?"

Chen Sheng’s smile faded, his expression turning serious.

"The matter is both difficult and easy. The key is for the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect to understand its place and offer a Pledge of Loyalty that the Nie Family deems worthy."

"Please, elaborate."

"Very simple."

Chen Sheng held up three fingers.

"The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect need only cede thirty percent of its core interests to the Nie Family."

"Thirty percent?"

Lady Lan’s brow furrowed again. This was a complete reversal of what Chen Sheng had implied during the day—that such an offer was nowhere near enough.

"That’s not what you said earlier, Lord Chen. If it were only a matter of thirty percent, I would have agreed this afternoon. What would be the point of this secret midnight meeting?"

"Please don’t be hasty, Lady Lan. Let me finish."

Chen Sheng explained in a calm, unhurried tone:

"That thirty percent is merely the foundation. In addition, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect must give its full assistance to the Nie Family’s branch, helping it to truly establish a foothold in Nanzhao Prefecture, expand its power, and acquire resources.

"Just as... the Nie Family branch did in Ning’an Prefecture. What the Nie family wants is not just a tribute; they need to sink their claws into Nanzhao."

"As long as the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect can accomplish these two things—proving your sincere desire to align with them and demonstrating your value—then with me mediating on your behalf, the Nie Family will naturally accept this Pledge of Loyalty.

"In return, the Nie Family will grant you their protection and support. They will help you resist the pressure from the Profound Yin Valley with their full power. It’s not even out of the question that the Nie Family leadership might engage in high-level talks with the Profound Yin Valley to clearly define your respective territories."

When she heard this, Lady Lan fell into a deep silence, lost in thought.

’These terms... they’re far more lenient than I’d anticipated.’