Chapter 604 - 330: Are They Saying I’m a Master Strategist?

May 1st.

The Wuyun Sect provided the Cyan City Sect with a new offer. It wasn't the previous thirty percent premium, but rather the standard price. The extra thirty percent had been entirely revoked.

Faced with such an offer, the upper management of the Cyan City Sect was initially disdainful. After all, their hearts were already completely inclined toward the Evergreen Sect. However, as they continuously waited for the Evergreen Sect's representatives to arrive, they unexpectedly discovered that no one was coming. When they visited the other party's residence, they found themselves unable to enter. A sense of unease immediately washed over them. Although this Array wasn't excessively formidable and the people inside could break it before long—or the Cyan City Sect could assist in destroying it—they hadn't taken any action yet. This was a conflict between two great Sects; they couldn't rashly intervene. Still, this abnormal behavior caught them off guard. In the beginning, everything had clearly been developing favorably and was well within their control. They thought the dust had settled, never expecting things to teeter on the edge of spiraling out of control.

"What is the Great Wuyun Sect playing at?" the sword-bearing man in the main hall asked.

The others fell silent for a moment, equally perplexed. This highly abnormal behavior from the other party signaled a massive problem.

"The person in charge from the Great Wuyun Sect has been entirely focused on his Cultivation. Fairy Zhuo has been handling everything, and she was the one making the offers," the only woman among them noted after a brief silence. "But this current offer clearly isn't her style. I'm afraid that person in charge has finally spoken up."

"This person in charge should be at the Late Stage of Primordial Spirit in Cultivation," the female Elder stated after a brief silence. "By acting this way, isn't he afraid of clashing with the Evergreen Sect?

"Their overall strength is completely inferior to the Evergreen Sect's."

It was precisely because of this weakness that their actions were so incomprehensible.

"They must be getting desperate now. We need to reconsider as well; the situation is starting to look wrong," the portly man said.

"Without any other Skill or option, we can only agree to the Evergreen Sect," the burly Sect Leader said with a sigh. "Once the Evergreen Sect's people come out, we can sign the contract directly." They could no longer consider the Wuyun Sect. Besides, the Evergreen Sect's overall strength was more than worthy of their favor.

May 2nd.

The waiting higher-ups of the Cyan City Sect were once again greeted by Zhuo Qingcheng.

"Why has Fairy Zhuo returned?" the burly Sect Leader inquired.

Zhuo Qingcheng spoke softly, "I gave the Sect Leader a day to think it over yesterday. Now that the time is up, I wonder what the Sect Leader's decision is?"

"Naturally, it doesn't quite align with our interests. It isn't that we don't want to choose your esteemed Sect, but we must seek better benefits for our own Sect. I hope Fairy Zhuo can understand," the burly Sect Leader replied. He had already given this answer yesterday. For her to come back and ask again today meant she was truly just following orders—likely the idea of that person in charge. Did he honestly believe this tactic would make them anxious enough to choose the Wuyun Sect? Such methods were far too mundane. After all, the Wuyun Sect wasn't the only great Sect vying for them.

"Very well," Zhuo Qingcheng nodded, then took her leave.

However, that very afternoon, Zhuo Qingcheng returned, bringing new information. "Our proposal has changed once again."

The four upper-echelon members of the Cyan City Sect were somewhat surprised. Were they already starting to raise the price?

But how would they raise it at this point? It was previously thirty percent; would they add another thirty percent now? They had to admit, the prospect was certainly tempting, especially since the Evergreen Sect still hadn't shown up. Giving it a bit more consideration was the sensible thing to do. In the event that the Evergreen Sect never appeared, an extra thirty percent was still tangible profit. For a fleeting moment, they felt this person in charge wasn't entirely without capability.

However, their brows quickly furrowed.

Zhuo Qingcheng spoke softly, "This time, we are offering ninety percent of the original resources. I hope you will give it some thought." Before they could even voice a refusal, she turned and left, her voice drifting back, "We won't need to wait until tomorrow this time. I will return tonight to ask for everyone's opinions."

Watching her depart, the four people in the main hall frowned deeply. Ninety percent? This was an answer they never could have anticipated. Not only was the original extra thirty percent gone, but the offer had now dropped by another ten percent. If it had merely reverted to the initially agreed-upon resources, they could have continued sitting tight and waiting for the Evergreen Sect. But things were different now. The other party had lowered the price. More importantly, the Evergreen Sect still hadn't made an appearance.

"What are they trying to do?" the female Elder asked.

The sword-bearing man said, "We didn't even agree to the original resources, so why would we accept these current terms?"

"Something's not right. With the Evergreen Sect's people failing to show up, we're in a rather passive position right now," the portly man remarked. The situation had spiraled out of control.

The burly Sect Leader stood up and began pacing. After a long silence, he finally asked, "Is there any news from the people observing Moon-Gazing Peak?" Moon-Gazing Peak was the place where the envoys from the Evergreen Sect were residing.

Before long, someone was summoned inside. The newcomer was a middle-aged man, an Array Master of the Cyan City Sect.

"Sect Leader," the middle-aged man bowed respectfully.

"How did your observation go?" the burly Sect Leader asked.

"With your strength, Sect Leader, it can be broken in a day," the middle-aged man answered.

"A day?" The burly Sect Leader fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Is it the same from both the inside and the outside?"

"Yes," the middle-aged man nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

The burly Sect Leader slumped weakly back into his seat and waved his hand. "Go back to your work." Once the man had left, the burly Sect Leader sighed heavily. "It's over. The tables have turned."

The dynamics of offense and defense had completely inverted. Now, they had become the ones at the mercy of others.

The portly man lowered his gaze and said, "The people from the Great Evergreen Sect could have come out ages ago. They're refusing to emerge just to see where our bottom line is.

"They will wait until we can no longer hold out, and then they will step forward to accept us at a premium of a second or Third Layer above the offer of the Great Gao Wuyun Sect.

"At that point, we will have no other choice.

"Previously, they were outbidding each other with high prices. But now that one side is driving the offer down, the other side is conveniently using this 'entrapment' to their advantage."ℯ