398: Chapter 398 Probing at the Negotiation Table

Qing Ming Protector was in no hurry to answer Lu Sheng's question.

Standing across the table with his hands behind his back, his gaze lingered on Lu Sheng's Face for three seconds.

With the perception of the Spirit Saint Realm, three seconds was enough to capture any change in micro-expression.

But there was nothing on Lu Sheng's Face.

It wasn't the kind of 'nothing' that came from deliberately suppressing emotions; there truly wasn't a single ripple. It was as if he really knew nothing about some ancient ruin.

Qing Ming Protector made a judgment in his heart—this man either truly didn't know, or his acting was so good it was hair-raising.

He chose to speak plainly.

"The intelligence of the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court shows that at the edge of the star sectors controlled by the Scavenger Alliance, there exists an extremely ancient Spatial Anomaly Zone. The Space Law in that area is chaotic, and the flow of time differs from the outside world. Throughout the thousands of years the Scavenger Alliance has existed, they have constantly tried to enter that area, but they never succeeded."

Lu Sheng listened without saying a word.

"The Myriad Manifestations Divine Court believes that a tomb of an ancient powerhouse or a battlefield ruin is likely hidden within that Spatial Anomaly Zone. And within those ruins, perhaps the thing the Heavenly Venerate has been searching for so bitterly is hidden—the seed of origin."

"seed of origin," Lu Sheng repeated the term. "What is that?"

Qing Ming Protector sized him up. "Your Excellency hasn't heard of it?"

"No. I don't know much about cosmic history. After all, I rose from a low-dimensional planet, so the things I've come into contact with are limited."

This statement was half-true.

Lu Sheng indeed didn't know much about cosmic history, but he had already heard the concept of the seed of origin from Li Xuan.

But he wouldn't let Qing Ming know that.

The information gap was one of his greatest weapons. The more the other party thought he was ignorant, the easier it would be for them to reveal a weakness.

Qing Ming Protector nodded.

"The seed of origin is a primordial energy crystal left over from the birth of the Universe. It contains the most primitive power of the Laws of the Universe. Legend has it that a cultivator who obtains a seed of origin can directly cross the barrier of the Spirit Saint Realm and touch upon the Spirit Immortal Realm or even higher levels."

"Sounds nice," Lu Sheng's tone was casual. "What does it have to do with me?"

"Your Excellency destroyed the Scavenger Alliance and occupied their star sectors. If that Spatial Anomaly Zone indeed exists, it is now within Your Excellency's territory. The Myriad Manifestations Divine Court hopes—"

Qing Ming Protector paused for a moment.

—to join forces with Your Excellency to explore those ruins. The findings will be distributed according to an agreement."

Join forces to explore.

Lu Sheng almost couldn't keep a straight Face.

Join forces?

He had already scoured the Old God Abyss by himself. He had eaten meal after meal of the good things inside, pushing his Realm directly from the Peak of the Spirit Venerate Realm to the Mid-stage Spirit Saint Realm.

Now the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court jumps out saying they want to join forces to explore?

What a joke.

But Lu Sheng's Face remained impassive.

He leaned back in his chair, his right index finger tapping rhythmically on the tabletop.

"Qing Ming Protector."

"I am here."

"I understand the three matters you've mentioned. First, let me ask you a question."

"Please ask, Your Excellency."

"Does the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court know exactly what level my strength is at?"

Qing Ming Protector's smile froze for an instant.

"Before I came, the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court only knew that Your Excellency was a powerhouse of the Spirit Saint Realm. Whether you were at the Early Stage or Middle Stage could not be confirmed." He looked at Lu Sheng, "But I can confirm it now."

"Confirm what?"

"Your Excellency is in the Mid-stage Spirit Saint Realm. And it's not a Middle Stage you've just broken through to. Your control over power is already quite proficient."

Lu Sheng sneered. "Your perception is not bad."

"I wouldn't dare. I am merely making an honest judgment."

Lu Sheng's finger stopped.

"Since you know I am a Mid-stage Spirit Saint, then you should also know—the first two of your three matters don't hold water."

Qing Ming Protector's expression didn't change. "Please enlighten me, Your Excellency."

"I conquered the Scavenger Alliance's star sectors. I conquered them alone. The Myriad Manifestations Divine Court wants to take half? On what basis?"

Qing Ming Protector opened his mouth—

"Don't be in a hurry to answer." Lu Sheng interrupted him. "The second matter is even more hilarious. You want the formulas or samples for the Ancient Metals? How much effort did I put in to get those things back? You ask for them just like that, and your return to me is High-dimensional Crystals and Cultivation Techniques? Do you think I lack such things?"

Qing Ming Protector fell silent.

Lu Sheng's words were very blunt. There were no diplomatic pleasantries, nor did he leave the other party any Face.

But every sentence hit the mark.

The three conditions proposed by the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court were essentially one word—robbery.

It was just that the method of robbery was more dignified.

"Your Excellency makes a valid point," Qing Ming Protector spoke after a few seconds of silence. "My conditions were indeed somewhat presumptuous. So, how does Your Excellency feel things should be reasonably arranged?"

Lu Sheng looked at him.

"Whatever you want, name a clear price. Don't beat around the bush with me."

Qing Ming Protector took a deep breath.

He knew the person in front of him was not easy to fool.

"I will speak the truth." Qing Ming Protector's tone was no longer so polite; it became much more direct. "The Myriad Manifestations Divine Court truly only wants one thing—that ancient ruin. The division of star sectors and the exchange of resources are secondary."

"The Heavenly Venerate has been in seclusion for hundreds of years, waiting for an opportunity to break through the Spirit Saint Realm. The seed of origin is his only hope."

"If Your Excellency is willing to reveal the location of that ruin and allow the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court to send people to explore—"

Qing Ming Protector lowered his voice slightly.

"—the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court is willing to sign a hundred-year non-aggression treaty with Your Excellency. Within these hundred years, the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court will not have any designs on Your Excellency's star sectors. Furthermore, the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court is willing to provide three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains as a gesture of sincerity."

Three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains.

Lu Sheng's heart rate accelerated slightly.

What did Spirit Immortal Realm Remains mean to him? They meant three big meals. The Origin content of each Spirit Immortal Realm remain far exceeded ordinary High-dimensional Crystals. If he could devour three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains, his Mid-stage Spirit Saint cultivation could be pushed up by at least a large margin.

But he did not express his stance.

Because he was calculating the accounts in his head.

Three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains were indeed valuable.

But the stellar remains in the Old God Abyss was far more valuable than three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains. That thing was his private granary, enough for him to eat until he reached the Peak of the Spirit Saint Realm or even higher.

If he let the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court know the location of the Old God Abyss, would they honestly only send people to explore?

No.

Once they discovered the value of that stellar remains, they would press the entire power of the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court upon it.

Four Spirit Saints plus a suspected Spirit Immortal Realm Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Venerate—that lineup was enough to crush any opponent.

Including him.

At least for now.

"Three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains," Lu Sheng repeated. "The sincerity is indeed not small."

Qing Ming Protector's eyes lit up slightly.

"However," Lu Sheng changed the subject.

The light in Qing Ming Protector's eyes dimmed again.

"I need time to consider," Lu Sheng said. "You rest here for a night. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

Qing Ming Protector looked at Lu Sheng, and the smile at the corners of his mouth returned.

"Of course. This is a major matter for Your Excellency; caution is only right."

Lu Sheng stood up. "Luo Tianfei, arrange a room for the guest."

Luo Tianfei stepped forward. "Please follow me."

Qing Ming Protector nodded slightly toward Lu Sheng and followed Luo Tianfei out.

Lu Sheng was left alone in the command room.

He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

His mind was spinning rapidly.

Three Spirit Immortal Realm Remains.

A hundred-year non-aggression treaty.

Very tempting.

But he couldn't agree.

The Old God Abyss was his trump card. That stellar remains was his only reliance for breaking through to the Peak of the Spirit Saint Realm or even the Spirit Immortal Realm in the future.

Giving this thing away was equivalent to cutting off his own future.

But he couldn't directly refuse either.

Refusal meant the breakdown of negotiations. If the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court judged that he had what they wanted but was unwilling to hand it over, the next step wouldn't be sending an envoy—it would be sending an army.

"I have to stall," Lu Sheng opened his eyes.

He needed time.

The more time he had, the stronger his power would become.

Once he pushed from the Mid-stage Spirit Saint Realm to the Peak of the Spirit Saint Realm, even if the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Venerate came in person, he would have the confidence to flip the table.

The key now was—how to stall?

Lu Sheng thought for a while, and a grin slowly spread across his Face.

He had a way.