Free Web NovelChapter 345: Chapter 74: Their Respective Deals
Wang Ping looked at Le Yuan, thought for a moment, and said casually, "First, after you successfully advance, you cannot become an enemy of Qianmu Temple. Second, if Qianmu Temple faces a crisis in the future, you must provide necessary assistance."
He then added, "Of course, if you fail to advance, these conditions are void."
The conditions were a bit demanding, because the second was very broad. Normally, there would be a limit on the number of times he would have to intervene, but Wang Ping hadn’t specified any.
"Good!"
Surprisingly, Le Yuan didn’t try to haggle. He performed a Taoist fist salute, looked to Wen Yang and Yue Ziyu, and said, "You two seniors can act as witnesses. We can also draw up a written agreement."
His decisiveness stunned everyone, including Wang Ping.
"A written agreement isn’t necessary. I’m just providing the venue," Wang Ping said magnanimously, then asked, "When do you plan to advance?"
"It will be a little while yet. My disciple is about to advance to the Second Realm, so I’ll wait until after he has succeeded. Besides, I still need to secure a spot first." Le Yuan clasped his fists again and looked around. "When the time comes, I will introduce my disciple to all of you."
He was making arrangements for his succession.
Wang Ping couldn’t help but think of his own situation. Within his own lineage, he had advanced so quickly that the only disciple capable of holding down the fort was Liu Shuang—but she didn’t cultivate the *Taiyan Talisman*.
As Wang Ping was sighing to himself, Yuan Zheng Taoist spoke up. "I have news of Yuan Hu. Six months ago, he appeared in the Demon Realm helping a powerful Snake Race demon refine a Nine Revolutions Pill. He still hasn’t left."
"Wasn’t he in the Northwest? Why the Demon Realm now? It’s not easy to make a move there!" Wen Yang asked, confused.
"Don’t worry. He’s only in the Demon Realm temporarily and will leave sooner or later. I’ve already had people keep an eye on him. He won’t get away this time. When he returns to the Northwest, that’s when we’ll strike."
Wang Ping had heard his master, Yu Cheng Taoist, mention this before. He thought for a moment and said, "Can we lure him to Nanlin Road?"
Yuan Zheng Taoist shook his head. "He’s an extremely cautious person. He’ll go into hiding at the slightest hint of trouble, and he’ll stay hidden for over a hundred years. Let me put it this way: if he so much as detects a stranger approaching him, he’ll disappear the next day or just kill the person outright. We’ve lost quite a few outer disciples just trying to keep an eye on him over the years."
"Are you really sure it’s him this time?" Le Yuan asked.
"Positive!"
When a Third Realm Cultivator truly decides to hide, they are incredibly difficult to find—Artifact Cultivators being the exception. Their Primordial Spirit helps them evade surveillance well in advance. The only way to track them would be with other Third Realm Cultivators, but that’s simply not feasible.
Yuan Zheng Taoist said, "This time, I’ve set up surveillance points in advance at all the entrances from the Demon Realm leading toward the Northwest. I guarantee we won’t lose track of him."
The Demon Realm is west of Zhongzhou. Beyond it lies Zhongshan Country. For ordinary people to get to the Demon Realm, they either have to take a boat along the coastline of Hu Mountain Country or pass through its northwestern region. Cultivators, however, can also traverse several Dark Rivers within the Heaven-breaking Mountain Range west of Zhongzhou, or fly directly over the mountain peaks.
The southern part of the Heaven-breaking Mountain Range connects to the great forests of Hai Zhou and Ningzhou Roads; to the north lie Shanwu and Shangning Roads. Without an identity arranged by the Daoist Scripture Hall, anyone flying over rashly—even a Third Realm Cultivator—would be unable to conceal their presence.
"Monk, Vajra Temple has so many connections in the Demon Realm. Can you pull a few strings? I personally think that if we’re going to make a move, we should do it now to avoid any more surprises," Elder Wu spoke up.
"Very difficult."
Le Yuan stated his conclusion first, then explained, "Most people hear ’Demon Realm’ and probably think it’s primitive and chaotic, but in reality, the Demon Realm is more orderly than Zhongzhou. They rely on a strict hierarchy to govern the various tribes, and above the tribes, there is an Elder Council similar to an Imperial Cabinet."
"Although there are conflicts among the upper echelons of the Demon Realm, they have always abided by the laws set by the Elder Council. There hasn’t been any major turmoil for nearly a thousand years. They don’t interfere in the struggles of the younger generation, but there is an unwritten rule that powerful demons are not allowed to participate. In other words, their laws prohibit Third Realm Cultivators from engaging in large-scale battles!"
Wen Yang had been lost in thought ever since Yuan Zheng Taoist finished speaking. When he saw that Le Yuan was mostly done, he chimed in, "I have an idea..." He looked at Wang Ping. "We could approach the Demon Realm openly and formally. After all, Yuan Hu is a Cultivator on the Daoist Scripture Hall’s wanted list."
"Wouldn’t that just tip him off?" Elder Wu asked, puzzled.
"What’s to worry about? As long as you can provide proof that Yuan Hu is in the Demon Realm, they’ll expel him, even if they don’t help capture him!" Wen Yang said quickly. "That way, Yuan Hu will be forced out of the shadows and into the open, giving us the opportunity to corner him."
Yue Ziyu stroked the ring on her index finger and said slowly, "If Yuan Hu is expelled from the Demon Realm, he will most likely have to flee back to the Northwest Region. The Vajra Temple to the west certainly won’t let a prize like him go, crossing the sea to the Northern Continent would be the worst possible choice, and going south would lead him right into the Upper Dan Sect’s territory. He’d just be asking for death."
Yuan Zheng Taoist’s eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "I have two Divine Soul Memories from eyewitnesses who saw Yuan Hu entering and leaving the Snake Race’s territory!"
Wang Ping immediately pointed out, "If we go through the Daoist Scripture Hall, we’ll probably have to give up most of Yuan Hu’s fortune."
Yuan Zheng Taoist also declared, "All I want is the Samadhi True Flame he has mastered!"
Le Yuan teased, "He’s carrying a great treasure from your Upper Dan Sect, isn’t he? I heard it’s designated ’Yi-Shang’ grade. What is it?"
But Yuan Zheng Taoist said nonchalantly, "What the hell does that have to do with me? I don’t even know what it looks like!"
Seeing that things were more or less settled, Wang Ping concluded, "I’ll make the arrangements for this after the gathering ends. You need to keep a close watch on Yuan Hu’s movements."
"Alright."
Next, the group discussed some of the finer details.
Once matters were settled, Wang Ping brought up his own request: "I need information on the Kongshan Association. I will offer a reward corresponding to the importance of the intelligence!"
"I haven’t heard that name in a long time." Yue Ziyu’s eyes flickered, her thoughts unreadable.
"Any leads?" Wen Yang asked, looking at Wang Ping.
"The Kongshan Association was the mastermind behind the siege on our Qianmu Temple back then. The only confirmed lead we have right now is that their members have ties to Wu Ma Daoist."
Le Yuan, Yang Ye, and the newly joined Sun Shulin were completely in the dark. This was especially true for Sun Shulin; he felt this gathering was of a much higher caliber than any other cultivator gathering he had ever attended. They were discussing matters of the Third Realm and above. At that moment, his gaze toward Yuan Zheng Taoist was filled with gratitude.
"The Earth Cave Sect might have some internal information on the Kongshan Association. I’ll have someone investigate secretly when I get back," Elder Wu offered.
Wang Ping reminded them, "It must be done discreetly. They’ve been gone for so long, they’re sure to have assets placed everywhere. Plus, they have a Fourth Realm Cultivator backing them."
Everyone nodded, agreeing to have their disciples and sect members secretly investigate the Kongshan Association.
Wang Ping didn’t pursue the topic further.
Another brief silence fell before Yang Ye stated his own request: "I need Demon Race bloodlines of the wind and lightning attributes!"
"I have a lead on a wind-attribute one!" Sun Shulin replied almost instantly.
