Chapter 626: A Visit from the Demon Realm

Chapter 626: Chapter 106: A Visit from the Demon Realm

“What did the Third Prince say?” Wang Ping asked, getting straight to the point.

“The reply says that if we can withstand this siege, they’ll cooperate with us in a pincer attack on the Seventh Prince’s islands. They also promised that we could divide his islands equally between us!”

Before Wang Ping could answer, Yu Lian spoke up. “Is that even possible?”

Xia Wen Yi added, “The Chu Kingdom Court would divide the territory, but it would still be considered part of Lishui Prefecture’s Preaching Area.”

Yu Lian looked at Wang Ping.

“We’ll use this as a framework to begin negotiations with them.”

Wang Ping made a swift decision. “Have the Chu Kingdom Court send representatives to begin the talks.”

“Yes!”

Xia Wen Yi nodded, accepting the task.

Wang Ping then asked, “When will Daoist Le Xin arrive?”

“In three days!”

“Arrange for two of our reliable disciples to greet him, but don’t make a big show of it. We need to maintain a low profile for now.”

“Yes!”

“You may go and attend to your duties.”

Wang Ping waved his hand.

Xia Wen Yi decisively transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the front courtyard. Landing before the main hall, he ignored the disciples bowing to him nearby and walked straight to the adjacent reception hall.

Daoist Ke Yue had been waiting in the reception hall for some time.

When he entered the reception hall and saw Ke Yue, his brow furrowed slightly. His spiritual sense detected a faint burning sensation. ‘In my Inspiration Realm, half of her Primordial Spirit is a twisted fire spirit that looks like it wants to devour someone.’

“Greetings, Elder!”

Xia Wen Yi was very polite.

Ke Yue smiled. “Such courtesy is unnecessary, Daoist.”

She returned the bow with even greater courtesy.

After they discussed the intelligence in greater detail, Xia Wen Yi said, “Elder, please rest at Qianmu Temple for two days. I will take the next step after I have confirmed the authenticity of this information. How does that sound?”

“Daoist, please do not delay for too long. Our opponents are perceptive, and they have operated in Mozhou Road for a long time. If we startle them, they will likely make their move prematurely!”

“I know what I’m doing. Qianmu Temple has already assembled several hundred Entering Cultivators, ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice!”

Xia Wen Yi’s tone was casual. It wasn’t that he looked down on ‘Day One’s’ arrangements in Mozhou Road; he simply knew that with both sides posturing for a fight, the decisive battle would come later.

For now, it was merely mutual probing between their respective Entering Cultivators. In Xia Wen Yi’s eyes, these preliminary skirmishes weren’t even as important as the battle against Lishui Prefecture outside the Shang’an Prefecture port.

Ke Yue naturally sensed Xia Wen Yi’s thoughts and didn’t try to persuade him otherwise, because it was the truth. Although each of the several hundred Entering Cultivators could be considered a local tyrant in some small region, in the current conflict they were nothing more than cannon fodder—expendable pawns used to probe each other’s strength.

After finishing his discussion with Ke Yue, Xia Wen Yi summoned an Inner Sect Disciple from outside. He instructed the disciple to find a courtyard for Ke Yue in the outer sect. This wasn’t out of disrespect for Ke Yue; rather, the Inner Sect was currently overflowing with guests, and her identity was too sensitive. He couldn’t afford the consequences if an incident occurred because she was recognized.

Just as Ke Yue was leaving, an identity token appeared in the clouds above—it was Hu Qianqian’s. She flew directly past the front hall and the Inner Courtyard, heading toward the Mountain Peak Dojo.

「Mountain Peak Dojo.」

Beneath the same Spirit Wood Tree where he had met with Ke Yue, Wang Ping was now receiving a representative from the Demon Realm: a Pig Demon of the Core Formation Realm. The Pig Demon’s skin was pitch black, its face covered in bristles like steel needles. Two sharp, steel-like tusks jutted from the corners of its mouth. Clad in a suit of black armor and standing over eight feet tall, it resembled a mobile iron fortress.

“This little demon, Zhu Gang, greets Changqing Zhenren!”

The Pig Demon appeared imposing, but he still greeted Wang Ping with a proper Human Dao cupped-fist salute.

After returning the salute, Wang Ping looked to Hu Qianqian. “Qianqian, go to my wine cellar and bring out two jars of strong liquor.” As he spoke, he began to form a Spell with his hands. Zhu Gang flinched but quickly suppressed his alarm.

The next moment, the ground between Wang Ping and Zhu Gang began to swell. Countless vines burst from the earth, weaving themselves into a large Eight Immortals Table. Two vine chairs, one large and one small, sprouted on opposite sides.

“Please, sit.”

Wang Ping invited the guest to sit.

Zhu Gang first cupped his fist in thanks. “Many thanks, True Man!”

After sitting down politely, he continued, “Before my departure, the Elder Council entrusted this little demon to bring a gift for you, True Man.” As he spoke, he gestured as if to open his storage pouch, but waited for Wang Ping’s nod of approval before doing so. He then retrieved two black longswords from within.

“These are Seven-Star Swords, named after the Seven-Star Killing Array. When your esteemed sect’s Ancestral Master, Elder Yuxiao, used the Seven-Star Killing Array, he used swords like these as the formation’s core. Rumor has it that Elder Yuxiao refined forty-nine Seven-Star Swords in total. An elder of our Demon Realm was fortunate enough to acquire these two while fighting him long ago. Now, they are being returned to their rightful owner!”

Yu Lian’s eyes lit up as she stared at the two swords. Speaking within Wang Ping’s Spirit Sea, she said, “They’re forged from common Earth Vein Iron Ore, but they’ve been refined with immense Magical Power! They already possess a basic spirituality—a Wood Spirit spirituality, at that. If you refine them, you’ll be able to wield them as if they were an extension of your own arm!”

Wang Ping suppressed the avarice rising in his heart and cupped his fist. “Thank you, Fellow Daoist!”

He did not, however, reach out to take them. An awkward silence fell over them, lasting until Hu Qianqian returned with the two jars of strong liquor. After three bowls of wine were downed, Hu Qianqian took the lead, and Wang Ping and Zhu Gang finally began to discuss the true purpose of the visit.

“Spirit Veins cannot be cultivated,” Zhu Gang began, explaining, “They are the bloodline power of our Demon Race. After reaching Core Formation, one uses external forces to slowly separate them from the bloodline within one’s body.”

Zhu Gang first explained, “This is a secret of our Demon Race, one we do not share with outsiders. However, before I came to Qianmu Temple, the Elder Council specifically instructed me to be completely honest with you, True Man.”

Wang Ping naturally feigned a look of surprise, adding a hint of regret to his tone. “In that case, our deal…”

“We can sell some finished Spirit Veins to you, True Man. However, these are exceptionally rare, even in the Demon Realm; you might not find a single one in several hundred years. I assume you aren’t interested in an ordinary Spirit Vein. The best kind is a Spiritual Body that can be used directly for a Primordial Spirit’s revival, but surely you are aware of how precious that is, Fellow Daoist? We are currently prepared to offer two Spirit Veins to you as a gift, True Man!”

“A gift?”

Yu Lian’s eyes shone with excitement.

Zhu Gang nodded, stating clearly, “That’s right. A gift.”

Wang Ping, however, showed no sign of delight. He reached out to gently stroke Yu Lian’s head and asked, “What do you want in return?”

This time, Zhu Gang rose to his feet and cupped his fist. “We wish to establish normal communication and trade with the Southern Cultivation Realm. To that end, not only will we gift you these two Spirit Veins, True Man, but we will also fully support your bid to attain the Taiyan Fourth Realm.”

“You certainly hold me in high regard.”

“No, it has nothing to do with regard. It is simply friends helping one another. The Elder Council has many friends, and some of them support other candidates. However, my master and several of my martial uncles believe that you, True Man, have the greatest chance of success.”