Chapter 1571 - 649: Tie Kuang’s Night Visit (Part 2)

Chapter 1571: Chapter 649: Tie Kuang’s Night Visit (Part 2)

The door closed, and for a moment, silence enveloped the private room.

Chen San sat back in his seat, letting out a long breath, and reached into his sleeve to touch the Memory Jade Scroll—already filled with many names and deeds.

Such was the scene since Chen San had rented the private room and begun openly purchasing intelligence, a pattern often seen.

Before the Gui Xiu Bai family arrived, many had visited discreetly. The Shuangya Liu family sent an old battle map; back then, they managed a Cold Cloud Trade Route, but the Three Brave of Xiang Sect were hired to intercept and kill two Golden Core Clan Elders, forcing the Liu family to abandon the trade route, severely harming their Vital Energy.

The Broken Lamp Wanderer came at night. Clad in gray, he carried an oil lamp with a broken shade, inside which was sealed the lingering thought of his apprentice upon their death. His apprentice had merely guided others, but was casually silenced by the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, leaving not even a name. Broken Lamp Wanderer offered the "Broken Lamp Life Technique." He asked not for Spirit Stones, but wished for Ning Zhuo to let him witness the Three Brave of Xiang Sect bleed!

The Yundu Trading House also sent a shopkeeper, with a round face and plump figure, full of smiles suggesting prosperity, but he held a ledger of old debts. The trading house had nearly disbanded after losing three ships of Cloud Brocade due to an attack by the Three Brave of Xiang Sect.

A young Sword Cultivator named Jiao Chi, silent as a mute, entered with a black cloth covering his left eye, leaving behind a broken sword...

The strangest visitor was a frail old woman claiming to be a former member of the Crane Nest Old Department. She brought a bottle of blue-red medicine powder called "Starfire Ash," claiming it could counter the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, but Ning Zhuo must offer an appropriate price for it.

Initially, Chen San was confused, not expecting so many to hold grudges against the Three Brave of Xiang Sect.

Upon reflection, he found it reasonable. The Three Brave of Xiang Sect were like blades—they killed for money, murdering Nascent Souls, destroying families, cutting trade routes, and severing paths of others, known for their ruthless killings. How could they not have enemies?

Only previously, no one dared to act.

Supported by Xiang Si Sect, and as fellow sect members of Myriad Images Sect, the Three Brave possessed terrifying combat prowess, leaving their enemies to swallow their grievances with blood.

Now that Ning Zhuo publicly opposes them, accumulated grievances from decades, even centuries, finally find their cracks, surging out in streams.

From this, Chen San understood the true intent behind Ning Zhuo’s command. The private room rented at Moon Viewing Tower was not just an ordinary intelligence booth, but a target, and Ning Zhuo’s extended hand.

If someone wished to aid Ning Zhuo, they would come to him first; if they wanted to test Ning Zhuo, they would also come to him.

Feeling honored, Chen San noted that Young Master Ning Zhuo never doubted those he employed. As a mere Loose Cultivator, he wondered how he had earned the chance to represent Ning Zhuo at such a pivotal moment. He resolved to uphold Ning Zhuo’s reputation with all his might, making the most of this opportunity!

Chen San felt immense gains, his heart like a blaze of burning firewood, eager to return to the cave mansion to report to Ning Zhuo.

But Ning Zhuo’s orders were clear: leave at dusk. He forced down his impatience, remaining seated in the room until dusk sank into the window frames, and the last rays of golden light were consumed by the night, before rising.

He carefully organized the Jade Slip, visit letters, contract drafts, tokens into his Storage Bag, instructing the cultivators staying behind to continue receiving visitors, before wrapping himself tightly in his cloak and hurriedly descending the stairs.

Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion.

Ning Zhuo sat behind the desk, listening to Chen San’s report of the day’s observations. The light cast flickering shadows on his profile, his brows calm and untroubled, not a trace of surprise in sight.

Chen San stood below, presenting the Jade Slip with lingering excitement in his eyes: "Young Master, I’ve recorded the names, backgrounds, contributions, and conditions of the visitors. There are also several identities yet to be verified, which I dared not fully trust."

Ning Zhuo took the Jade Slip, Divine Sense sweeping over it like a tide. The Bai family, Liu family, Broken Lamp Wanderer, Yundu Trading House, Jiao Chi, Crane Nest Old Department’s broken breath ash, and other vaguely described or shadowy sponsorship intentions.

The young man read swiftly, fingertips lightly tapping the desk in a rhythmic manner, like a chess player pondering their next move.

"Well done," he finally spoke.

Chen San felt a surge of joy and quickly bowed his head, "It was all arranged by the Young Master."

Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, the sincerity barely concealed by its subtlety: "Now that I’ve openly opposed the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, potential allies will naturally surface. The enemy of one’s enemy is often a friend."

Ning Zhuo turned his gaze to Chen San: "Continue. But keep in mind, not all these people may have a blood feud with the Three Brave. Different factions, differing powers, using my hand to strike rivals is a common practice within the Cultivation World."

Chen San carefully noted every word, afraid to miss a single one.

Ning Zhuo waved his hand.

Chen San withdrew respectfully.

Ning Zhuo’s gaze fell upon the flickering flame, the wick bending slightly as the fire danced in his eyes.

He seemed to see his reflection within the flame.

"My situation now is akin to the former Flowing Gold Guest’s."

"Only the playing field is broader, the warfare level higher, and the intertwined interests graver."

"Those who supported me today may belong to major forces from Flowing Cloud Peak, seeking to weaken Xiang Si Sect through my hand."

"Just wait."

"The ones who can truly afford the price have yet to appear."

Outside Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion, Cloud Qi slowly meandered.

In the distance, mountain lamps connected like a constellation, forming a river of stars. The night of the Myriad Images Sect’s Main Mountain Gate was vast and profound, as if an infinite chessboard unfurled between heaven and earth.

Tie Kuang came under the cover of night!

Ning Zhuo stepped forward to meet him, bowing respectfully with confident composure: "Iron Hall Master, it’s an honor for this junior."

Tie Kuang laughed heartily: "Ning Zhuo, you are making such waves now, if I don’t come soon, I’m afraid I won’t be able to squeeze through the door of your cave mansion!"

As he sat, the hardwood chair creaked under his weight, sinking slightly.

Gongsun Yan served tea, Tie Kuang raised it to his nose and sniffed, but casually set it aside.

Ning Zhuo had Gongsun Yan withdraw, seating himself opposite Tie Kuang: "Hall Master, are you still here for the Nanming Fire Furnace?"

Tie Kuang’s eyes burned brightly like embers in a furnace: "Naturally."

Ning Zhuo spoke directly without preamble: "If Hall Master can assist me in defeating the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, I will agree to the cooperation discussed previously."

Tie Kuang laughed: "Ning Zhuo, young friend, you set quite a price."

He slapped his knee: "Help you defeat the Three Brave of Xiang Sect? That’s nearly impossible to achieve."

Ning Zhuo remained composed, his brow steady: "Why does the Hall Master say so?"

Tie Kuang raised a short, thick finger: "Your cultivation level is too much of a hindrance! Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, not even late-stage. And the Three Brave of Xiang Sect? They are each at the Golden Core Peak, well-established, forged their strength through life-and-death combat."

He extended a second finger: "You’re too young. Your combat experience is ultimately too limited. You’ve bested the Flowing Gold Guest, slain Golden Core cultivators, your reputation is noteworthy, I’m aware. But how many deadly crises, how many life-and-death sieges have the Three Brave of Xiang Sect experienced? Likely more than you’ve seen in magical duels."

The third finger slowly rose, Tie Kuang’s jovial expression faded into solemnity.

"They also possess Divine Skills ’Life and Death Together’! These three are undoubtedly Death Soldiers. Ordinary combatants always carry a hope of survival, a desire to retreat. They do not. Injuries can be shared, lifespan distributed, Soul Power, Mana, and Life Force can be transferred between them. One falls, and the other two will risk their lives to bring him back."

"That’s what’s truly terrifying."

Tie Kuang gazed at Ning Zhuo, his voice dropping like a heavy hammer: "Facing such opponents is entirely different. They dare trade a life for a single flaw, half a body for a moment of hesitation. Many Nascent Soul cultivators have fallen to them; it’s no accident."

He leaned back, sturdy fingers pressed against the tea table: "Honestly, even I might not have absolute confidence to defeat the Three Brave of Xiang Sect."

Yet Ning Zhuo inwardly sneered, not believing a word.

Tie Kuang was degrading himself, elevating the opponents, a carefully orchestrated setup.

Could the Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall, one of Myriad Images Sect’s Sixteen Halls, truly fear the Three Brave of Xiang Sect?

The gap between one Nascent Soul and another is immense.

The young man had witnessed the battle at Thousand Peak Forest, and witnessed firsthand the three-way Nascent Soul struggle at Nanming Village, Territorial Expansion Alliance, and White Cloud Village, his perspective long broadened.

The Three Brave of Xiang Sect were formidable, but to someone like Tie Kuang, they were at most troublesome, never truly overwhelming. His rhetoric was to suppress Ning Zhuo’s expectations, laying the groundwork for future negotiations.