Chapter 668 - 677: Probing

In a quaint, antique-style room within Moon Ascension Mansion, a magnificent, exquisitely crafted table was laden with a sumptuous feast of delicacies from both land and sea.

Pan Jieming pointed to a wooden chair ahead and said with a smile, "Come, Brother Wen, please have a seat."

Wen Qingye nodded and sat down with a composed air.

After sitting down, Pan Jieming poured Wen Qingye a cup of wine and said with a laugh, "Brother Wen, your actions today truly displayed the might of the Celestial Profound Sect, leaving one no choice but to be impressed. As expected of a disciple from the second-greatest sect, I, Pan Jieming, am filled with admiration. To carve your name on the Celestial Ascension Stele like that... I imagine you’re the only person in history to have ever done so, Brother Wen."

Seeing Wen Qingye merely offer a serene smile at his praise, neither arrogant nor servile, Pan Jieming couldn’t help but think to himself, ’This Wen Qingye is certainly composed. In that case, I’ll just have to keep plying you and wearing you down.’

"Come, Brother Wen, drink up." As Pan Jieming spoke, he also filled his own cup. "This is a prized dace; you must try it, Brother Wen. And this is Seven-Yang Deer. Its flavor is exquisite—rich but not greasy, and it melts in your mouth. It’s a specialty of my Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty..."

Wen Qingye’s expression remained impassive, but he slowly put on an interested look. "Oh? I happen to be quite fond of fine cuisine myself. It seems I’m in for a real treat today."

Pan Jieming then began to chat with Wen Qingye about the delicious dishes on the table, studiously avoiding any mention of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s affairs or matters related to the other powers.

How could Wen Qingye not understand Pan Jieming’s intention? He wanted to know what bargaining chips the other powers had offered the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, while Pan Jieming wanted to know what the Celestial Profound Sect was prepared to offer.

But whoever lost their composure first would undoubtedly lose the initiative.

The Taiyi Pavilion was a formidable power, but if the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty were to cooperate with them, they would inevitably be constrained. It was well known that the Taiyi Pavilion had long coveted the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s vast territory, which stretched for tens of thousands of miles in the heart of the Eastern Profound Domain.

Furthermore, the Taiyi Pavilion’s influence was simply immense; cooperating with them was no different from asking a tiger for its skin.

In short, when the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty considered an alliance, they had only one inclination: profit.

Pan Jieming and Wen Qingye chatted like old friends, discussing trivial odds and ends, but every word was a probe, a mutual sounding out.

Pan Jieming said with a smile, "Brother Wen, you’ve been in my Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty for some days now, haven’t you? I wonder, how does my City of No Night compare to your Celestial Profound Sect?"

He seemed to say it casually, but for a fleeting moment, his eyes were fixed intently on Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye couldn’t help but smile. "The City of No Night is one of the four great Secret Lands of the Eastern Profound Domain. It is a masterwork of nature, a concentration of the world’s spiritual essence, the number one city in the Eastern Profound Domain. Of course it’s extraordinary. However, my Celestial Profound Sect is situated in the Celestial Profound Mountain Domain. The terrain is vast, stretching for tens of thousands of miles, and the mountains are home to countless rare Exotic Beasts and Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. I’d say the two places are quite comparable."

Pan Jieming’s seemingly casual question was, in fact, a test of Wen Qingye’s attitude toward the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. As Wen Qingye was currently the Celestial Profound Sect’s Inspection Disciple in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, his attitude was, in effect, the attitude of the Celestial Profound Sect.

Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Pan Jieming nodded inwardly.

Pan Jieming seemed to have thought of something. He looked at Wen Qingye and said, "Oh, right. Brother Wen, have you heard that the Daoist School of Non-action recently obtained an Azure Dragon Scale?"

Wen Qingye’s brow twitched slightly, a flicker of interest in his heart. "Oh? A scale from an Azure Dragon? Do you mean the legendary Dragon Scales that can open the Ancient Secret Land?"

’The Daoist School of Non-action obtained a Dragon Scale too?’

As far as he knew, only two Dragon Scales had appeared in the entire Eastern Profound Domain: one held by the Celestial Profound Sect, and one by the Taiyi Pavilion. The scale that had belonged to the Thousand Nether Valley long ago was likely now in his own hands. If that was the case, the one produced by the Daoist School of Non-action would be the fourth.

Pan Jieming nodded. "Yes. Rumor has it that the Daoist School of Non-action seized it from someone from the Dilong Dao in the Western Wilderness Domain. And there’s a rumor on the grapevine that the Daoist School of Non-action plans to display this Dragon Scale when Daoist Shangxuan’s time is up. It seems they plan to invite the Sect Leaders of the various sects in the Eastern Profound Domain, as well as experts from the Ancient Countries, to discuss the matter of gathering all eight Dragon Scales. If the Ancient Secret Land is opened, it will be a momentous event for all Four Domains!"

Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed slightly. "Daoist Shangxuan’s time is up?"

He still remembered Daoist Shangxuan giving him a Daoist Token at Hua Lie’s birthday feast. He never expected that in the blink of an eye, the man would be at death’s door.

’That Daoist Shangxuan must have divined something he wasn’t supposed to for this to happen,’ Wen Qingye guessed internally. Unbeknownst to him, his casual speculation was actually correct.

Pan Jieming continued, "I heard that Daoist Shangxuan suffered a deviation while practicing his cultivation method and is now in a coma. In any case, the Daoist School of Non-action is making hurried preparations, so his end is likely not far off. Still, the appearance of another Azure Dragon Scale is truly quite surprising."

Wen Qingye nodded, his interest in the Azure Dragon Scale growing. After all, this scale could be related to the legendary and mysterious Grand Azure Dragon Ancestor. If so, the scale was anything but ordinary.

Wen Qingye gazed at the wine cup before him, a look of doubt on his face. "I wonder why Daoist Shangxuan really fell into a coma. From my impression of him, he doesn’t seem like the type to be impatient for quick results."

Pan Jieming gave a slight smile. "That’s just the news the Daoist School of Non-action announced. But you know how these Daoist cultivators are—they love to be all mysterious and dramatic. You wouldn’t believe it, but I once met a ridiculous old diviner who told me I wouldn’t live out the year. He said I’d die a miserable death and should make preparations to avoid a terrible fate."

Wen Qingye chuckled along with Pan Jieming, but his eyes carefully examined the spot between Pan Jieming’s eyebrows.

There, he saw a wisp of black energy, so faint it was almost imperceptible. If Wen Qingye hadn’t looked closely, he wouldn’t have been able to see it at all.

HSSST!

As Wen Qingye’s gaze lingered on his brow for three seconds, a ferocious, baleful aura lunged at him like a wild beast. Wen Qingye instantly averted his eyes, and as if nothing had happened, drained his cup of wine in one gulp.

But a ripple of shock went through Wen Qingye’s heart. ’It seems this world is truly full of extraordinary individuals. To think someone actually understands the Ziwei Eight Trigrams and Plum Blossom Divination, and even managed to perceive a sliver of Pan Jieming’s fate.’

’And the fool Pan Jieming thinks the man was a charlatan,’ Wen Qingye chuckled to himself.

Pan Jieming’s tone suddenly shifted. His gaze burned as he looked at Wen Qingye and said, "Brother Wen, you are aware that various powers have gathered in my Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, and I need not elaborate on the reason. Every party has put a high price on the table. Although you and I have only just met, I feel as if we are old friends, so I will be frank with you. Gu Lian, the Inspection Disciple from the Thousand Nether Valley, has promised to provide my Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty with one Mid-Level Spirit Grade Martial Arts technique, three Low-Level Spirit Grade Martial Arts techniques, and over a hundred Emperor-Grade Martial Arts techniques, not to mention innumerable King-Grade Martial Arts. Furthermore, they offered three Primordial Stone Ore Veins and one Purple Gold Jade Linglong Mine Vein. If the Celestial Profound Sect can match this, I believe this matter can be settled..."

Wen Qingye nodded to himself as he listened. It was just as he had expected. Although Pan Jieming had likely exaggerated the numbers, the offer from the other powers was undoubtedly something the Celestial Profound Sect could not hope to match.

To offer so many resources would be a significant commitment even for a power as massive as the Thousand Nether Valley, which was a clear sign of their sincerity.