Chapter 769 - 367: Master’s Voice

Outside the mystical realm.

The Arcane Master pinched his fingers together, a smile tugging at his lips as he murmured to himself:

"It seems it’s been resolved."

He sensed that You Su had torn apart the Communication Talisman, and he also sensed the dispersion of the mystical realm.

The Arcane Master stood tall like a peak, his right hand lightly raised, as if bearing the weight of a thousand catties, yet appearing to handle it with ease. In the palm of his hand, suddenly, a disk formed by countless complex and mysterious lines slowly emerged, flowing with a faint light, resembling the trajectory of stars, exuding an indescribable power.

The disk gently rotated, each turn accompanied by a deep and prolonged hum, akin to the turning of real gears. The snow valley in front of him was silently and seamlessly cut open, the edges smooth as a mirror, without a single flaw.

The City Lord and the Snow Village Inn owner were dumbstruck at the sight, kneeling in submission to the Arcane Master’s precise control of power.

Within this breathtaking scene, You Su’s figure slowly emerged from the opening, with half of his face still hidden beneath his slightly loose collar, eyes cast downward, indifferent and composed, as if he had just returned from a leisurely walk, oblivious to the astonishment and disbelief around him. His steps were light, each stride firm on the snow, exuding an air of calmness.

The City Lord and the Snow Village Inn owner witnessed this, their faces full of incredulous shock. Their gazes oscillated between You Su and the Arcane Master, with their hearts awash with turbulent waves of emotion.

For You Su to come out alive from the perilous snow valley, it not only exceeded their expectations but also gave them a deeper realization and admiration of the Arcane Master’s formidable strength.

Had he planned all this from the start...

City Lord Qi Tai and the Snow Village Inn owner Li Ming, with an expression mixed with awe and reverence, stared at You Su, unscathed from the mystical realm, and the Arcane Master beside him, whose lips curved into a faint smirk. Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting an unusual radiance on the two, adding to the tense atmosphere.

They hurriedly approached, their words of praise cascading like continuous spring rain, overwhelming.

"Ah, truly a master cultivates a capable disciple! Lord Venerable, your disciple is like a god descending to the mortal world, effortlessly escaping from the perilous mystical realm, making us admire him profoundly!" Qi Tai said, bowing with hands clasped, his smile nearly overflowing, eyes flashing with a desire for power and a fear of the Arcane Master.

Li Ming wasn’t far behind, following suit, his voice tinged with a quivering excitement: "Indeed, indeed! The Venerable’s disciple will undoubtedly become a renowned figure across the Five Continents in the future, shaking all directions!"

The Arcane Master heard this, his smile deepening, yet he remained noncommittal. His gaze lingered on You Su, containing both satisfaction and helplessness. He then slowly turned to Qi Tai and Li Ming, his smile seemingly harboring unfathomable intentions and calculations.

Qi Tai mustered his courage, speaking with a probing tone: "Lord Venerable, your visit to Shuocheng for accounting checks is truly an honor for us. Now that the menace has been eradicated, and you have graciously accepted our ’small token,’ I’m confident you can deliver a satisfactory report to the Divine Mountain. As for our previous discussion about cooperation..." He deliberately dragged out the tone, eyes fixed intently on the Arcane Master’s face, trying to capture a trace of satisfaction.

However, the Arcane Master’s expression suddenly became grim, his tone filled with sarcasm:

"Oh? The menace has been eradicated? A gift? Cooperation? City Lord Qi, your words leave me utterly confused."

Qi Tai’s heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within him. He forced himself to remain calm, trying to explain: "Lord Venerable, what you said... Your disciple vanquished the menace, isn’t that as good as accepting the gift my master sent? By accepting the gift, we are surely in league... Rest assured, Venerable, gifts like these will only become more plentiful in the future."

"Your words insinuate that my disciple deserved to die in the trap you set? If he dealt with the menace himself, does that mean accepting your gift? Should my disciple have left a live menace for you? Whether it’s a gift or a power play, that’s not for you to decide."

The Arcane Master sneered, his voice like a blade in the cold wind:

"As for so-called cooperation? That’s your wishful thinking. I conduct myself with integrity; how could I associate with petty thieves like you?"

Qi Tai’s face turned deathly pale; he never expected the Arcane Master to be so straightforward. He tried to salvage the situation, his voice tinged with a tremor:

"Lord Venerable, what do you mean by this? My master is genuinely sincere... Moreover, it’s just five years of tax silver... My master promised that if you spare us this time, in five years, Shuocheng will pay back twenty years’ worth of taxes!"

Yet the Arcane Master had clearly lost all patience. He coldly interrupted Qi Tai’s words: "Is that only five years of tax silver? Do you know how many lives in the snow have been lost due to that offhand remark? Do you think I’m really here for your silver coins? Shuocheng is flourishing, but why are the surrounding villages, tribes, and even within Shuocheng, the number of deceased increasing? You can repay money, but can you bring back their lives?!"