Chapter 758 - 668: A Not-So-Ideal Negotiation, Getting Closer

The Saintess Pavilion.

Led by a maid named Xiaoyue, Yang Chan and Gu An arrived before a hall marked with the character for "Bing."

"This is Room Bing, the one Steward Li mentioned. Please, have a seat and wait. When the Saintess is available, someone will come and escort you."

The maid, Xiaoyue, said this after leading the two men into Room Bing.

After preparing tea for them, the maid departed.

"The Saintess is extremely busy, especially with everything that’s been happening in the Holy Land recently. We should just wait patiently!"

Gu An explained to Yang Chan as he picked up a cup of hot tea.

He was, of course, well aware of the escalating tension within the Merak Sacred Land.

Gu An had his own channels for gathering intelligence within the Merak Sacred Land, so he was up to date on the situation.

"Hall Master Gu, do you know what the current situation is?"

Since they had to wait, Yang Chan decided he might as well try to learn more from Gu An.

Unlike him, Gu An had access to information from both Chiyu Peak and the Merak Saintess, so he was bound to know much more, especially about the current situation on Saint Master Peak.

Ever since a Supreme Elder had appeared and accompanied Quasi-Saint Son Gongye Zhe and his faction to Saint Master Peak, Han Bingyu hadn’t been able to gather any new information.

If the situation turned dire, he would have to make preparations, like hiding in his secret chamber or seeking protection from the Merak Saintess.

"You must know about the incomplete Bloodline Sacrifice Array discovered in the Demon Cave Ruins. The Saint Son advocates for repairing it, while the Quasi-Saint Son and his followers are opposed!"

"The conflict is intense. A Supreme Elder has already come out of seclusion and accompanied the Quasi-Saint Son’s group to Saint Master Peak to negotiate with the Merak Saint Master."

"Apparently, the first round of negotiations didn’t go well."

"They almost came to blows!"

’Gu An’s information is more complete than Han Bingyu’s,’ Yang Chan realized. ’His sources must include not just Chiyu Peak, but the Merak Saintess as well.’

As he spoke of them coming to blows, Gu An’s brow furrowed slightly.

He knew the consequences of a clash between Blood Exchange Martial Saints. The outcome at the border city of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty was a stark reminder.

A battle between experts of that level on Saint Master Peak would likely affect a vast area, especially since the entire Merak Sacred Land was currently situated on Heaven-Reaching Supreme Mountain.

"This situation is more tense than I anticipated!"

"I’ve witnessed a clash between Blood Exchange Martial Saints before. The aftershocks alone were incredibly powerful, to say nothing of the epicenter of a battle between experts of that level!"

Yang Chan’s brow furrowed as he listened.

’To be honest, repairing the Bloodline Sacrifice Array isn’t that important to me,’ he thought. ’It can’t be fixed in a short amount of time, and the longer it takes to repair the Grand Array, the faster I can grow.’

What he didn’t want was for this incomplete Grand Array to prematurely spark a conflict between the factions.

After all, if the various factions started fighting, how could he continue to grow stronger in peace?

Therefore, he hoped the negotiations would end soon—and peacefully. The actual outcome was unimportant.

However, that was only true for Yang Chan. For the Merak Saintess, the Merak Saint Son, the Quasi-Saint Son, and the Supreme Elders, the outcome was extremely important, as it would be the result of a major clash between their factions.

"You shouldn’t worry about that, Pharmacist Yang. The Merak Sacred Land won’t go to war over an incomplete Bloodline Sacrifice Array. Besides, even if they do fight, it won’t be on Heaven-Reaching Supreme Mountain."

"There’s a venue within the Profound Void Grotto Heaven specifically for Martial Saints to duel. These experts can resolve their disputes there."

"Something similar has happened in the Holy Land before, so we’re prepared for such a contingency."

Gu An simply smiled.

Evidently, he knew something that Yang Chan didn’t.

Hearing this, however, put Yang Chan much more at ease.

As long as the Blood Exchange Martial Saints didn’t fight on Heaven-Reaching Supreme Mountain, the threat to him was far smaller. Even if the various factions’ conflict ended up affecting the Pill Pavilion, it was still within a range he could accept.

"What you’ve said puts me much more at ease, Hall Master Gu," Yang Chan said with a smile.

This chat with Gu An had made the trip worthwhile.

He could finally set aside his earlier worries.

After the two had waited in Room Bing for about half an hour, a maid came for them.

"Sirs, the Holy Daughter will see you now!"

Another maid had come to Room Bing to say this to the two of them.

"Thank you, miss," Gu An said, standing up.

The two had been chatting the whole time, seemingly in high spirits, but in reality, they were just waiting for the Merak Saintess’s summons.

Yang Chan followed behind Gu An.

If their previous Room Bing was considered large, then the reception hall where the Merak Saintess received her guests was absolutely immense.

The visible area alone was large enough to serve as a martial arts arena. The room was not empty, however; it was filled with precious decorative pieces and dotted with exotic Spirit Plants that made the vast space feel more complete.

The faint, lingering scent of sandalwood was invigorating, clearing the mind.

But then again, considering the Saintess Pavilion was nearly as large as the land of the Fifty-Eight Peaks combined, a reception hall of this size was hardly surprising. After all, everything here existed to serve the Merak Saintess. Furthermore, given her high status, it was only natural for her to receive a great number of visitors.

"Sirs, the Holy Daughter is waiting inside."

The maid led the two men to the hall’s entrance and announced their presence to those inside.

"Thank you, miss."

Gu An was polite as ever.

He was clearly aware of his own station and thus maintained a humble demeanor.