Chapter 615 - 555: Valley Master Chen, Long Time No See

Chapter 615: Chapter 555: Valley Master Chen, Long Time No See

"Very well!"

Chen Che tapped his fingers. "However, regarding the challenge, since my Primordial Sect will be the one making the effort, after we take the pass, I want two-tenths of the Star-Picking Sect’s spoils. In addition, everything belonging to the Azure Dragon Hall will be mine."

"Impossible!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a clamor of protests erupted from the Star-Picking Sect’s side.

"This..."

Jiang Shaotian frowned as well and tried to negotiate. "Two-tenths... isn’t that a bit too much?"

Two-tenths of the spoils might sound like a small portion.

But both sects were present, and each had about ten Halls. When distributed among them, each Hall would not even get half a tenth. Chen Che’s outrageous demand was equivalent to taking half the sect’s share. How could they possibly agree?

Moreover, the Azure Dragon Hall had mobilized its full strength. Setting aside the Magical Treasures of their Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, even their Demon Beasts were treasures in their own right. Who would be willing to hand them over so easily?

The most crucial part was that Chen Che was demanding a share of the Star-Picking Sect’s spoils, while taking nothing from the Primordial Sect. Had he proposed they split the cost, the Primordial Sect would have undoubtedly been dissatisfied. As it was, the Primordial Sect would now vigorously support Chen Che’s claim for its own benefit.

But if they refused, he might just walk away from the deal entirely.

And just as expected,

the thought had barely crossed Jiang Shaotian’s mind when Chen Jiyuan spoke up calmly:

"The Primordial Sect is the one making the effort in this battle. We can’t let Chief Chen expend his energy and sweat for nothing. In my opinion, two-tenths is perfectly appropriate."

"That’s right!"

Qiu Tianshui also spoke up. "I agree as well."

Jiang Shaotian glanced at Duobao out of the corner of his eye, but the latter was staring at his nose and his nose at his heart, affecting an air of complete indifference. This made Jiang Shaotian curse him as a bastard internally. When Chen Che was nominated to lead the charge, Duobao had been all too eager.

Now that profits were on the line, he had suddenly gone mute.

However, Jiang Shaotian was naturally unwilling to part with his own flesh, so he immediately began discussing with the Star-Picking Sect and demanded that the Primordial Sect also give a share to Chen Che. The members of the Primordial Sect were, of course, unwilling, and the two sides once again fell into a heated verbal dispute.

Chen Che ordered a cup of Spirit Tea and watched the two sides argue with great relish. The Star-Picking Sect had caused him trouble, so of course, he had to make them a little unhappy in return. They would eventually reach an agreement.

After a full hour of bickering, they finally settled the matter.

After conquering the Celestial River Mountain Range, Chen Che would exclusively receive half a tenth of the spoils. Furthermore, within the pass, all resources belonging to the Azure Dragon Hall would go to Jinyun Valley, and no one else was to compete for them. Once this was decided, Jiang Shaotian looked at Chen Che with a resentful expression:

"Chief Chen, what do you think of this arrangement?"

"Acceptable. Let’s settle on that."

Chen Che put down his Spirit Tea. Although he had made an outrageous demand, it was precisely to give the other side a chance to bargain.

Half a tenth, plus the resources of the Azure Dragon Hall, should amount to more than a full tenth. The remaining twenty-some Halls would split the other nine-tenths. He was getting at least three times what a single Hall would receive. It could be considered payment for putting his life on the line.

"Good, good, good!"

With the spoils negotiated and the spearhead chosen, all that was left was to attack the pass. Jiang Shaotian’s displeasure vanished completely. Wen Yangxi was dead set on revenge; it wasn’t certain that Chen Che would even be able to claim those spoils.

He ordered servants to bring Spirit Wine, then stood up, laughing heartily and raising his cup. "Let us drink this wine together to cheer on Chief Chen! Let’s toast to his success tomorrow in taking Wen Yangxi’s dog head and conquering the Celestial River Mountain Range!"

’Is that really how it is?’

Chen Che saw through it all as if looking into a crystal-clear mirror.

’If Wen Yangxi were so easy to kill, why wouldn’t someone else have stepped up? Why was I the one being pushed into the spotlight?’

In his heart, Chen Che had already cursed the eighteen generations of Jiang Shaotian’s and Duobao’s ancestors.

’If everything really goes smoothly, then fine. But if I fail, I’ll be the one to take the blame for failing to conquer the Celestial River Mountain Range.’ Of course, the reason Chen Che had agreed was that he genuinely intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Wen Yangxi.

When it came down to it, Wen Yangxi was many times more dangerous than Duobao.

"Hear, hear!" The upper echelons of both sects also rose to their feet.

Dozens of wine cups clinked together, everything left unsaid.

Jiang Shaotian had originally planned to hold a banquet, but because the battle was tomorrow, Chen Che flatly refused. The others had no intention of participating either. After all, they had only just learned of the plan to push Chen Che to the front, so they naturally needed to go back and make their own preparations.

As soon as everyone had left, Jiang Shaotian, who had been all smiles just a moment before, angrily smashed his wine cup.

In truth, he had wanted that share from the Azure Dragon Hall for himself.

...

The night passed without incident.

「The next day.」

The first to notice something was amiss were the Cultivators atop the Celestial River Pass.

The standoff had lasted for over a month, with cannon fire exchanged between the two sides without interruption. But today, as the first rays of sunlight fell on the two sects’ encampment, Jinyun Valley was the first to cease fire. At first, no one thought much of it, but they were surprised to see the various Halls of the allied sects’ army fall silent one after another. Then, a massive white flag was raised from the encampment.

Of course, the Mist Rain Tower Cultivators immediately shot the white flag down, but a second white flag was raised right after.

Before the enemy could react,

phantasmal images of Golden Core Cultivators rose from the opposing camp like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. In just a few moments, over a hundred Golden Core auras appeared one after another.

"What a grand display!"

"What are the Primordial Sect and the Star-Picking Sect up to? Are the Golden Core Cultivators going to lead the attack? But why raise a white flag?"

Everyone began to speculate.

At that moment, the bearded Cultivator who had been in charge of the first challenge before the battle lines stood before a Horn, his voice echoing out:

"Primordial Sect! Star-Picking Sect! I advised you all before to return to your sects early. You didn’t listen, and look what happened. You can’t break through our pass, so are you finally surrendering to us? I approve! You may all retreat to your sects now!"

A wave of unconcealed, mocking laughter immediately erupted from the pass.

"What’s there to brag about when you’re hiding in a turtle shell?"

Chen Che flicked a finger. SWISH! A bolt of Strong Qi shot out. SNAP! It broke a chain on the outer wall. The Strong Qi continued unabated, piercing a pillar, blasting through the dome, and leaving behind a massive hole about ten feet across.

"You are not qualified to speak with me. Get Wen Yangxi out here."

The bearded Cultivator whispered something to the person beside him. A moment later, that person hurried down, obviously going to deliver a report. But the bearded man remained on the wall, facing Chen Che and shouting loudly:

"I know you’re Chen Che of Jinyun Valley, but no matter how great your reputation is, it’s useless against our Mist Rain Tower. If you want to see our Azure Dragon Hall’s Old Hall Master, then prove you have the ability by breaking through this Heroic Pass!"

Chen Che said no more and glanced toward the Star-Picking Sect.

Jiang Shaotian understood Chen Che’s meaning. The man had already stepped forward to lead the charge; now it was their job to provoke the enemy into appearing.

However, before he could speak, a massive figure suddenly rose from behind the pass. It was the Clawed Flood Dragon. The Clawed Flood Dragon hovered in mid-air, slowly flapping its wings, its four giant pupils fixed on the Little Chick.

And atop the Clawed Flood Dragon’s back stood Wen Yangxi, his hands at his sides, his gaze as sharp as a hawk looking down upon an ant.

"Valley Master Chen, it’s been a while! I hear you wanted to see me?"