Free Web NovelChapter 540: Chapter 494: Terms of Negotiation
Three months later, a coastal camp.
In the central army camp of the Fulong Sect, Dongqiao reclined on a Taishi chair, slamming the latest war report onto the table, his face clouded.
At that moment, Dongfang Yu walked in from outside.
Ever since the "thief calling thief" incident at Ning Zhiyuan’s cave dwelling, which made him fall out of favor with the Five Fire True Monarch, Dongfang Yu had lost face and could no longer stay in the Fulong Sect. He could only try his luck at the West Sea battlefield.
Now, the matter of True Venerable Dongqiao searching for Jiang Yuebai was Dongfang Yu’s best opportunity. He wanted to rely on this to gain the respect of True Venerable Dongqiao and find a way to become his disciple.
"Don’t tell me there’s no news again." Dongqiao said coldly without even looking at Dongfang Yu.
These three months, the Dragon Clan had not provoked war again. Except for last month when a dragon crossed a tribulation to form a Nascent Soul at sea, with a group of dragons protecting it, Winged Dragon and Jiang Yuebai had both disappeared without trace.
Dongfang Yu took a piece of memory jade from his sleeve and presented it to Dongqiao with both hands.
"Reporting to True Venerable, Biyou Palace received this today, and this junior managed to produce a copy of it."
Dongqiao glanced at it, not interested in looking further. "Just tell me what’s in it; I don’t have that much time to spare," he said.
Dongfang Yu straightened up and said, "It’s about that female cultivator who killed my master, Daoist Long Ming. In the memory jade, she said that Winged Dragon already made a life-and-death pact with her, inseparable in life and death..."
The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy; Dongfang Yu could distinctly feel the oppressive aura emanating from Dongqiao, making him involuntarily swallow his saliva.
"Continue."
Dongfang Yu took a deep breath and said, "She said as a member of the Human Clan, she is willing to negotiate peace with Biyou Palace to settle the West Sea conflict, as long as Biyou Palace can offer terms that satisfy her and ensure her absolute safety."
Dongqiao’s gaze was icy. "A mere Golden Core cultivator, and she has such a big appetite. What else?"
"She said to appease Winged Dragon and ensure smooth negotiations, she needs everyone on the West Sea coast to first retreat to Fulong Mountain and cease hostilities for three years. During these three years, the Human Clan must not allow anyone to hunt dragons in the West Sea, and she will also ensure that Winged Dragon does not attack Human Clan territory. They can negotiate terms slowly over these three years."
"She listed an inventory, asking Biyou Palace to first provide one million top-grade spirit stones, a drop of Green Dragon essence blood, and materials like Taixuan Pure Gold as a deposit. This is her list of demanded items, quite long. Lastly, she also said... she also said if anyone else can pay the price, she’s willing to talk with them too."
"Such arrogance!"
Dongqiao sneered coldly, having never seen someone so greedy before. This wasn’t negotiating peace with Biyou Palace; it was dictating terms to the entire Green Dragon Realm.
Yet, if it were indeed as she claimed, that she had made an unbreakable life-and-death pact with Winged Dragon, then to get to Winged Dragon, settling with her was necessary.
However, as long as she was greedy enough, there was a chance to lure her out. Capturing her would mean capturing Winged Dragon, which was far easier than directly confronting a Divinity Transformation Stage Winged Dragon.
With this in mind, Dongqiao stood up and said, "Keep investigating, keep an eye on Biyou Palace. I shall go seek the counsel of Star Lord Wuchang."
"Yes!"
*
At the back of the camp, the Dragon Hunting Squad’s loose cultivators set up a temporary camp at the foot of the mountain, trading goods with each other.
Jiang Yuebai, disguised as a man, painted herself as dark as coal, a stalk of grass in her mouth, watched beams of tunneling light shoot up to the sky from various parts of the camp, all heading swiftly towards Fulong Mountain.
"Looks like my memory jade worked well; they’re all heading to Fulong Mountain to discuss with those in charge."
But she never intended to negotiate. What negotiation? She wasn’t tired of living!
The Returning to the Origin and divination methods of Divinity Transformation cultivators were something her little Golden Core could not withstand. Although she had the protection of her ancestor, which prevented those people from divining her origins, she feared they might figure out other things, leading to Ao Juan’s location being exposed.
She hadn’t made a life-and-death pact with Ao Juan. Ao Juan would never agree to it.
In the memory jade, she had obscured her face. Although she was already exposed to Fuyu and Dongqiao, most people hadn’t seen her yet—better to hide as much as she could.
"Thanks to ’Ning’s Talisman Technique’ and the previously obtained ’Fengg’s Talisman Technique,’ I was able to improve the Divine Concealment Talisman and Turtle Breath Talisman, allowing for successful infiltration."
Jiang Yuebai had already combined the Divine Concealment Talisman and Turtle Breath Talisman and greatly improved and simplified them. Ao Juan helped her hunt a thousand-year-old Mystic Turtle, using its shell, blood, and soul to create a Mystic Turtle Treasure Talisman.
This Earth Level Treasure Talisman currently possessed the power of a top-grade magic treasure, usable for defense and invisibility, and could conceal one’s breath, undetectable by cultivators below the Divinity Transformation stage.
Moreover, this Mystic Turtle Treasure Talisman could be continuously refined, making the Mystic Turtle Soul and the inscribed talismans more harmonious, allowing the Mystic Turtle Soul to become a talismanic spirit, thus advancing to a heavenly grade immortal talisman.
She had spread several memory jades, and the plan was at least halfway successful. Now it depended on whether Biyou Palace could make everyone withdraw to the foot of Fulong Mountain.
By increasing distance, she could then form a Nascent Soul, giving people not enough time to reach her.
But this still wasn’t safe; Divinity Transformation cultivators could tear open the void and step in front of her in an instant.
If someone could coordinate with her from outside, it would be ideal.
Jiang Yuebai concealed her form, wandered around the market, didn’t spot Zheng Yougong, nor found anyone else she knew.
She dared not risk asking a stranger to pass messages, so after wandering for two or three days, she had to give up and leave.
"Miss Jing, I am not a good match; I hope you can explain this to Senior Sister Zhuang and not delay your prospects, Miss Jing."
After leaving the market and walking around the Biyou Palace disciples’ living quarters area, Jiang Yuebai suddenly heard a familiar voice.
She quietly moved over and saw at the entrance to one of the tents, Jing Chujun in a goose-yellow dress, elegantly dressed, holding an ancient zither, standing before Qii Siheng, who was as white as snow, seemingly there to visit and present a gift.
Having been rejected by Qii Siheng, Jing Chujun looked obviously relieved, with a light smile on her lips.
"That is well, but my mother wouldn’t believe it if I were to say it. Could you personally go and explain?"
These words stunned Qii Siheng into silence. He had assumed from Jing Chujun’s attire that she was a pampered young lady who would throw a tantrum upon such a blunt refusal. Her reaction was unexpected.
Qii Siheng was somewhat at a loss. After a moment’s thought, he said in a deep voice, "Alright, Miss Jing, please wait for a moment, and I will write a letter for you to take back."
"I would appreciate that!"
Qii Siheng returned to the tent while Jing Chujun held the zither singlehandedly and removed the uncomfortable accessory from her forehead, exhaling a long breath.
Suddenly, a peculiar breeze blew against her face.
Jing Chujun turned around to see Jiang Yuebai, as dark as coal, with gleaming white teeth, sticking half her head out from beside the tent with a smile.
Jing Chujun was overjoyed and was just about to speak when Jiang Yuebai signaled her to be quiet and used a sound transmission to arrange a meeting at a hidden place by the sea.
Jing Chujun nodded slightly, and Jiang Yuebai disappeared from view, leaving first.
About a quarter of an hour later, Jing Chujun finally waited for Qii Siheng to finish writing the letter.
The tents were made of special materials, and the curtains blocked views from outside; one couldn’t see or sense the conditions inside.
As Qii Siheng lifted the curtain to step out, Jing Chujun suddenly caught sight of a painted screen inside, which depicted a woman in white robes with red armor, holding a spear, looking heroic and dignified as an immortal.
Jing Chujun gasped sharply. Wasn’t that Jiang Yuebai?
Qii Siheng was gifted in both music and painting, capturing likenesses so well they seemed almost real; Jing Chujun couldn’t possibly mistake it.
"Miss Jing, here is the letter I have written."
Jing Chujun took quite a while to receive the letter from Qii Siheng, her heart pounding like a drum.
What should she do? Should she tell Jiang Yuebai about this?
