135: Chapter 135 Negotiation and Clash

Inside the Council Hall, the air seemed to freeze.

Mysterious Yang Master's ultimatum struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

Qinglan Sect's Sect Master Mo Chen's brow furrowed deeply, and as he gripped the armrest, the wood let out an overburdened "creak."

Star Radiance instinctively looked at Lin Yue, her eyes filled with worry.

Only Lin Yue himself remained as calm as ever.

He even picked up the spiritual tea beside him, took a light sip, and then spoke slowly:

"Elder Xuan Yangzi, what an imposing presence you have."

His tone was flat, yet it carried a bone-chilling mockery.

Mysterious Yang Master's face darkened.

"City Lord Lin, I am not here to negotiate with you. The will of the Seven Star Alliance shall not be defied."

"Is that so?"

Lin Yue set down his teacup and looked up at him.

"Then I must ask Elder Xuan Yangzi—whose will is the will of the Seven Star Alliance? Is it the will of the Tianshu Department, or the collective will of all seven departments of the Seven Star Alliance?"

Mysterious Yang Master's eyes flickered.

Lin Yue continued:

"As far as I know, the seven departments of the Seven Star Alliance are not a monolith. The Tianshu Department advocates for war, the Tianxuan Department for peace, the celestial pivot star for strategy, the Tianquan Department for defense, the Yuheng Department for engineering, the big dipper star: mizar for conquest, and the Yaoguang Department for surveillance."

"The seven departments each have their own agendas and balance each other out. May I ask, Elder Xuan Yangzi, do your words today represent the Tianshu Department or the entire Seven Star Alliance?"

Mysterious Yang Master fell silent.

Lin Yue was right.

There were indeed factional struggles within the Seven Star Alliance. Although he was an Elder of the Tianshu Department, he could not fully represent the entire alliance.

Especially regarding a major matter like taking over a power, it had to be discussed by all seven departments.

"Furthermore..."

Lin Yue shifted the topic, his tone suddenly turning cold.

"Even if all seven departments of the Seven Star Alliance unanimously agreed to take over the Southern Border's defenses—why should my Luoxia Sect agree?"

"The Southern Border is a Foundation established inch by inch by the soldiers of my Luoxia Sect. The Burial Dragon Abyss is a perilous place that I, Lin Yue, risked my life to explore. The Star Lord Inheritance is an Opportunity I obtained by passing trials."

"By what right does your Seven Star Alliance think they can just take it away with a single word?"

He spoke each word deliberately:

"Because you are the 'Anti-Spirit Devourer Alliance'? Then I must ask, over these past centuries, when the Spirit Devouring Clan was wreaking havoc everywhere, did your Seven Star Alliance ever provide timely rescue? When the Southern Border was previously infiltrated by the Black Lotus Cult, where was your Seven Star Alliance then?"

"Now that you see my Luoxia Sect rising and the Seal is about to break, you jump out to 'take over'—where in the world is the logic in that?"

His words were powerful and resonant.

Mo Chen couldn't help but inwardly shout "Well said!"

Even among the investigation team members behind Mysterious Yang Master, a few showed looks of shame.

Mysterious Yang Master's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

He stared at Lin Yue for a long time before finally saying slowly:

"It seems City Lord Lin is determined to oppose the Seven Star Alliance?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Lin Yue shook his head, but his tone did not yield in the slightest.

"I only want fairness. Luoxia City can take responsibility for the Southern Border's defenses and is willing to cooperate with the Seven Star Alliance. But the premise is—equal cooperation, not being a vassal."

"What kind of equality?" Mysterious Yang Master asked coldly.

"Simple."

Lin Yue held up three fingers.

"First, the Luoxia Sect retains its independence and autonomy; the Seven Star Alliance must not interfere in our internal affairs."

"Second, the defenses of the Burial Dragon Abyss will be led by the Luoxia Sect. The Seven Star Alliance may send personnel to assist, but the command authority belongs to me."

"Third, the Star Lord Inheritance is my private property. If the Seven Star Alliance wishes to consult it, they must exchange it for resources or intelligence of equal value."

"Three conditions, none of which can be omitted."

After hearing this, Mysterious Yang Master laughed out of sheer anger.

"Good! Well played, Lin Yue! A mere Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator dares to negotiate terms with the Seven Star Alliance!"

"It's not negotiating terms."

Lin Yue said calmly:

"It is stating facts. If Elder Xuan Yangzi finds it inappropriate, you are free to leave. But I must remind the Elder of one thing—"

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the night sky.

"The Burial Dragon Abyss Seal will collapse in only two months. Within two months, even if your Seven Star Alliance could forcibly take down the Luoxia Sect, you would never have enough time to familiarize yourselves with the terrain, set up a great formation, and integrate your forces."

"When the Spirit Devouring Clan breaks the Seal and emerges, the ones who will bear the brunt of it will be the people you sent."

"But if we cooperate..."

Lin Yue turned around, his eyes burning bright.

"I have a complete survey map of the Burial Dragon Abyss, the Seal repair plan left by the Star Lord, experience in fighting the Spirit Devourers, and this Luoxia Sect, which has been developed for two years, as a rear base."

"Which is better and which is worse, Elder Xuan Yangzi is a smart man and should be able to figure it out."

Silence fell over the hall once again.

Mysterious Yang Master closed his eyes, his fingers lightly tapping on the armrest.

He was weighing his options.

As an Elder of the Tianshu Department, he naturally knew that what Lin Yue said was the truth.

Forcibly taking over the Southern Border would be too costly, and time was tight.

But if he agreed to Lin Yue's conditions, it would be equivalent to recognizing the Luoxia Sect's independent status, which would be a blow to the Seven Star Alliance's prestige.

More importantly... the Star Lord Inheritance!

That was an ancient Legacy that led directly to Soul Transformation and perhaps even higher!

If he could get his hands on it, the Tianshu Department's influence within the Seven Star Alliance would increase significantly, and he, Mysterious Yang Master, might even hope to use it to Breakthrough to the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

"City Lord Lin."

Mysterious Yang Master opened his eyes, his tone softening slightly.

"I can take it upon myself to agree to your first two conditions. But the third... the Star Lord Inheritance is of great importance and must be handed over to the Seven Star Alliance for safekeeping. Of course, as compensation, the Seven Star Alliance can give the Luoxia Sect ten times or even a hundred times the resources."

"Impossible."

Lin Yue said categorically.

"The Legacy is the Foundation of my existence; I will never hand it over. However—"

He changed his tone:

"I can promise to share the parts of the Legacy concerning the fight against the Spirit Devouring Clan with the Seven Star Alliance."

"This includes the Seal repair method, an analysis of the Spirit Devourer weaknesses, and... the complete diagram of the Star Dragon Evil-Breaking Formation."

Mysterious Yang Master's pupils constricted.

The Star Dragon Evil-Breaking Formation!

That was an ancient great formation only mentioned in fragments in ancient texts, and it was said to have miraculous effects against the Spirit Devouring Clan!

"Are you truly willing to share this formation?" he couldn't help but confirm.

"Truly."

Lin Yue nodded.

"Fighting the Spirit Devouring Clan is not something that can be done by the strength of one person or one city. As long as the Seven Star Alliance cooperates sincerely, I will naturally not withhold anything."

"But the premise is—equality."

Mysterious Yang Master was silent for a long while.

Finally, he let out a sigh.

"Fine. I agree. The Luoxia Sect will remain independent, the defenses of the Burial Dragon Abyss will be led by you, and the Star Lord Inheritance can be kept by you, but you must share the parts related to fighting the Spirit Devouring Clan."

"However, I also have three conditions."

"Please, speak."

"First, the Luoxia Sect must join the Seven Star Alliance as an 'outer member' and be bound by the alliance's covenant."

"Second, the Seven Star Alliance may establish a 'Liaison Office' in the Luoxia Sect, with no more than fifty personnel, responsible for information transmission and coordination."

"Third, in the event of a major crisis, the Luoxia Sect must follow the Seven Star Alliance's unified deployment."

Lin Yue pondered for a moment and then nodded.

"Agreed. But the premise of 'following deployment' is that the deployment plan must have my consent and must not harm the core interests of the Luoxia Sect."

"That is only natural."

Mysterious Yang Master breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, the deal was struck.

Although he hadn't obtained everything he wanted, he had at least secured an Opportunity for the Seven Star Alliance to intervene in the Southern Border and had gained a key bargaining chip like the Star Dragon Evil-Breaking Formation.

It would be easier to give an account upon his return.

"In that case, then..."

Before he could finish speaking...

...hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the hall.

"Report—!"

A Cultivator from the Sharp Soldiers Camp rushed into the hall and knelt on one knee.

"City Lord! An unknown force has been spotted thirty miles outside the city! There are about three hundred people, with the lowest cultivation at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and the leader... is suspected to be at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!"

"What?"

Lin Yue's gaze turned cold.

"Which force?"

"The other side has not shown any banners, but their Cultivation Technique is sinister and strange, suspected to be... remnants of the Black Lotus Cult!"

"Black Lotus Cult?"

Mysterious Yang Master stood up abruptly.

"They actually dare to appear at a time like this?"

Lin Yue, however, laughed.

His laugh was somewhat cold:

"They've come at just the right time. This is the perfect chance for Elder Xuan Yangzi to see whether my Luoxia Sect has the qualifications for 'equal cooperation' with the Seven Star Alliance."

He looked at the Cultivator.

"Order the activation of the seventh, eighth, and ninth layers of the City Protecting Great Formation. Assemble the War Department and prepare to meet the enemy."

"Also..."

Lin Yue turned to Mysterious Yang Master and said:

"If Elder Xuan Yangzi is interested, why not join me on the city wall to take a look? See how the lads of my Luoxia Sect 'receive' uninvited guests."

Mysterious Yang Master gave him a deep look.

"Fine, I shall see."

...Luoxia Sect, East City Wall.

Lin Yue, Mysterious Yang Master, Mo Chen, Star Radiance, and the others stood side by side.

Thirty miles outside the city, a dense mass of figures was rapidly approaching.

That sinister aura could be clearly felt even from such a distance.

"It is indeed the Black Lotus Cult."

Mo Chen's expression was grave.

"The person in the lead... if I'm not mistaken, should be the Black Lotus Cult's 'Blood Lotus Venerable.' He is at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage, Cultivates the Blood Lotus Demonic Technique, is bloodthirsty by nature, and uses cruel methods."

"Blood Lotus Venerable?"

Lin Yue narrowed his eyes.

He remembered that this person was mentioned in the intelligence seized from the Black Lotus Cult's strongholds earlier.

It was said that this man was a direct Disciple of one of the Black Lotus Cult's founders, the "Black Lotus Ancestor," and held a very high position within the cult.

"It seems they've come for revenge."

Star Radiance said in a low voice.

"Black Fiend Lotus Venerable, Black Lotus Ancestor, and that priest from the Burial Dragon Abyss... the Black Lotus Cult's influence in the Southern Border has been almost completely uprooted by us. This Blood Lotus Venerable is likely here to save face."

"I'm afraid it's more than that."

Lin Yue shook his head.

"Choosing this time, just as my Nascent Soul Ceremony has ended and the various powers have not yet fully departed—this is an attempt to trample my Luoxia Sect underfoot in front of everyone."

"What a huge appetite."

He gave a cold laugh and looked behind him.

"Lin Hu."

"Your general is here!"

"How is the assembly of the War Department?"

"Three thousand War Department Cultivators are all in position; the Seven Star Great Formation can be activated at any time."

"Very good."

Lin Yue then looked at Lin Shi.

"Has the new equipment been distributed?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, three thousand sets of 'Star Pattern Battle Armor' and three thousand 'thunder pattern armor-piercing crossbows' have all been distributed. Additionally, as per your request, fifty 'dragon roar cannons' have been incorporated into the War Department."

"dragon roar cannon?"

Mysterious Yang Master was taken aback.

"What is that?"

"Just a little toy."

Lin Yue said indifferently.

"With dragon pattern jade as the power core and thunder pattern crystal as the conduction medium, a single shot's power is comparable to the full-strength strike of an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator. With fifty cannons firing at once, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would have to avoid their brunt."

Mysterious Yang Master sucked in a breath of cold air.

Such a Sharp Weapon of war had actually been mass-produced?

Just how high had the Luoxia Sect's Artifact Refining reached?

"Elder Xuan Yangzi."

Lin Yue suddenly spoke.

"Tell me, if my Luoxia Sect can repel or even kill this Blood Lotus Venerable today, will there still be anyone within the Seven Star Alliance who questions our qualifications?"

Mysterious Yang Master was silent for a moment before slowly saying:

"If you, at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, can repel the Blood Lotus Venerable of the Mid Nascent Soul Stage... the Tianshu Department will fully support Luoxia City."

"Good."

Lin Yue smiled.

He turned to face the approaching Black Lotus Cult army, his voice echoing throughout the city:

"Lads of the Luoxia Sect!"

"Some people think we are easy targets, that because we have just founded our sect and our Foundation is unstable, they can come and trample on us."

"Tell me—what should we do?"

"Kill—!"

Three thousand War Department Cultivators roared in unison, their voices shaking the clouds.

"Very good."

Lin Yue drew his sword.

The starfall sword was unsheathed, pointing towards the city exterior:

"Then let them see—"

"—the sharp edge of my Luoxia Sect!"

As his words fell, the ninth layer of the City Protecting Great Formation's light screen suddenly lit up.

Three thousand War Department Cultivators surged out of the city gates like a tide.

The battle was about to begin.