Free Web NovelChapter 257: Chapter 231: The Golden Core Pact
The Black Tortoise Calm Sea.
At this moment, it was as if even the howling sea wind had frozen, casting the entire sea into a deathly silence. All that remained was a massive fin, like the blade of a windmill, slicing through the ocean surface as it swiftly circled two islands. It belonged to the unknown Nascent Soul Great Demon that had devoured the old turtle.
The thick stench of blood overwhelmed the natural saltiness of the sea.
In just half a day, thirty percent of the nearly ten thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators were dead. Even several Golden Core cultivators from both sides had fallen. The number of casualties was double the total number of cultivators who had fallen in the past century.
If the fighting were to continue, no one knew what the outcome would be.
How could the crowd not be terrified? Not be afraid? Not be filled with dread?
...
The island was a muddy mess, flooded by the high waters. Destruction was all the eye could see.
The island’s mountains had been flattened, and a good portion of the island itself had collapsed.
Waves crashed against the reefs one after another, but at least there was still some ground to stand on. At a time like this, stepping onto the water’s surface would likely mean instantly becoming food for the Aquatic Race.
Some Cultivators leaned on their weapons for support, swallowing Pills that still couldn’t staunch their bleeding wounds. The atmosphere was incredibly oppressive, punctuated by the occasional pained groan.
It was a massacre.
Amidst the crowd, Chen Che also felt a pang of sorrow.
’Every time a great opportunity appears, it’s accompanied by a bloodbath, a major reshuffling of power. If you’re unlucky, one of the factions might even be wiped out completely...’
This had been taught many times in the classrooms on Earth Element Star.
But cold words on a page could never capture the ferocity of war; only by experiencing it firsthand could one truly understand its cruelty.
’What a pity,’
Chen Che glanced over and saw that Thousand Eyes True Master was still alive.
’If Thousand Eyes had died too, I could finally be at ease.’
...
Taking advantage of the brief lull, Chen Che swallowed a few Pills to recover his spent stamina and True Essence. His mind began to wander. ’If it all ends here, this trip can be considered a success. Not only did I kill several Major Cultivators, but I also eliminated the future threat of Hu Haiqing.’
Chen Che calculated silently, sweeping his Divine Sense over his Storage Ring to take stock of his gains.
’No Spirit Stones? Only Hu Haiqing had a little over twenty thousand. Why so few? Right, they probably spent it all on Pills, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts... A shame the Nine Transformations Spirit Flame Technique destroyed so many of their artifacts. I couldn’t collect those.’
Chen Che felt a twinge of regret.
The old sayings are true: murder and arson are the path to riches!
Magical Artifacts and Talismans were worth a fortune. Toss them into an auction, and they would fetch a huge sum of Spirit Stones.
Including the ones from killing Croc the Third, he now had a total of seventy-four Tier Two Magical Artifacts. All but six Low Grade ones were Tier Two Middle Grade. As for Pills, he had even more. Among his loot, a certain Yellow Gourd caught his eye.
’This Gourd? I remember Hu Haiqing used it to store medicinal wine, didn’t he? This doesn’t seem like an ordinary Magical Artifact. My Divine Sense can’t even penetrate it...’
Chen Che muttered to himself inwardly.
However, with so many cultivators around, he couldn’t just take it out for a closer look.
’I’ll study it slowly when I get back.’
Thousands of people remained on the island. Chen Che withdrew his Divine Sense.
The Golden Core cultivators from both sides remained silent, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators below didn’t dare make a move, watching the standoff. Although they had rested for a while, everyone’s nerves hadn’t settled; instead, the tension only grew thicker.
"...The old rules,"
Just then, the voice of the Primordial Ancestor descended like a heavenly decree. "We split it fifty-fifty. The opportunity will be shared, five parts for the Star-Picking Sect and five for the Primordial Sect!"
SWISH!
In an instant, countless eyes turned toward the Star-Picking Sect.
Meng Changtu gripped his sword hilt so tightly it creaked. The others swallowed nervously, their hearts in their throats.
’Will they agree?’
It was precisely the division of spoils that had led to this massive battle in the first place. If not for the sudden appearance of the giant sea beast, there was no telling how long the fight would have lasted.
Although the fin had disappeared beneath the surface, a glance downward revealed the colossal shadow still lingering in the depths.
"Master, will the Star-Picking Sect... will they agree?"
Yu Sihai’s hands trembled, his face pale. He had reached Foundation Establishment less than ten years ago and this was his first time in a battle of ten thousand. Many Star-Picking Sect cultivators, seeing his low Realm, had targeted him.
If not for the few Protective Magical Artifacts he had gotten from Jinyun Valley, he would have died long ago.
"I don’t know."
Chen Che shook his head.
"If they agree, we have a truce. If they don’t, we fight again."
"If we fight again, will even thirty percent of us make it out alive?"
Lu Qinglian’s eyes were filled with worry. Her only attachment in this life was Lu Ping’an.
It wasn’t just them. Other Major Cultivators were also making their final arrangements.
Their lives and fortunes rested on a single thought from the Star-Picking Sect’s ancestor.
"Fine!"
After a long, agonizing wait, Du Zhongyi of the Star-Picking Sect spoke.
"We will proceed according to the rules."
Hearing this, the Major Cultivators from both sides stirred, but no one dared to make too much noise.
Everyone wore an expression of having survived a great catastrophe.
Chen Che also breathed a sigh of relief.
"The rules?"
Chen Che looked up, hearing Du Zhongyi’s question. The Star-Picking Sect’s ancestor no longer had the arrogance he’d displayed at the start, when he’d wanted to rewrite the rules. Clearly, after a direct confrontation, he had realized he couldn’t overcome the Primordial Sect.
Thus, he had no choice but to accept the condition of splitting the opportunity fifty-fifty.
’They had to have a fight before agreeing.’
Chen Che grumbled internally and shook his head.
"In three months, we shall reconvene here and break the Array together. Once inside the Cave Mansion, there will be no more killing each other. All opportunities will be distributed in order. The Primordial Sect will have the right to choose the first treasure..."
the Primordial Ancestor announced slowly.
Clearly, both sides had suffered considerable losses in today’s battle. And since the next steps involved dividing their gains, it naturally had to be handled with the utmost seriousness.
Therefore, a period of recuperation was necessary.
As he spoke, cascades of Divine Sense poured down from the void, rapidly forming a golden contract that hung in mid-air like a sheet of gold foil. It was filled with clauses and rules. Once the contract was formed, anyone who violated it would have their Divine Soul self-destruct.
As for whether these Golden Core True Masters had ways to circumvent the contract, that was anyone’s guess.
Du Zhongyi was silent for a moment before choosing to accept.
’We can enter the place of opportunity too?’
Chen Che glanced at the Divine Soul Gold Foil. The rules were, of course, the ones the Primordial Ancestor had stated. However, when he heard about jointly breaking the Array, his heart stirred. He already knew from Xiao Chan that the two sides had come to blows over an Undersea Palace.
But soon, Chen Che realized he had been overthinking things.
After the last Golden Core cultivator signed it, the gold foil trembled in the air, then shattered like broken porcelain, dissolving into specks of golden light that vanished into the void.
Neither the Primordial Sect nor the Star-Picking Sect had ever intended to include the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
"The contract is made! In three months, we shall gather here again!"
As the heavenly voice faded, Du Zhongyi’s figure vanished, and the numerous True Masters withdrew, streaking back to their Flying Boat.
At the same time, the members of the Primordial Sect all flew back to their Spiritual Boat.
’...This is a good thing, I suppose.’
Chen Che inwardly sighed in relief.
Knowing the way of this world, even if they had been allowed to go, there certainly wouldn’t have been any treasures for them. They’d likely have just been cannon fodder for breaking the array. After all, from beginning to end, these Golden Core True Masters had never revealed the name or location of the opportunity.
Even if others wanted to search for it, they wouldn’t know where to begin.
"It’s finally over."
Once the contract was formed, Meng Changtu ignored the mud and sat right down on the ground.
"We can go back alive..."
Yu Sihai nearly collapsed onto the ground.
The other Major Cultivators all shared a sense of relief, having survived the ordeal.
Only one Golden Core True Master remained in the void, his voice descending like a heavenly decree.
"The Primordial Sect has existed for seven hundred and thirty-two years. That we have reached this day is all thanks to you. Our sect will engrave today’s kindness in our hearts..."
The man was quite eloquent, attributing all the credit for today’s successful negotiations to the Foundation Establishment cultivators. He lavished praise on the hard-fighting crowd, speaking grandly for about ten minutes.
Chen Che summarized the man’s entire speech for him. In short, it was one sentence:
There will be great rewards in the future.
"...Today, for the battle at the Black Tortoise Calm Sea, every Major Cultivator present can take the tokens of the cultivators they have slain and go to the Primordial Sect to claim a reward."
The speaker paused slightly, and the crowd of Major Cultivators erupted in cheers. For them, this was a tangible benefit.
"Disperse!"
The Golden Core True Master’s voice cut through the cheers, and he added meaningfully,
"There are even greater opportunities awaiting you all."
As his words fell, another stir went through the crowd, and many Major Cultivators grew excited. Chen Che’s heart skipped a beat. He understood the implication: many Foundation Establishment Influences had been wiped out in this battle, making it the perfect time for annexation.
Chen Che saw from the corner of his eye that many Major Cultivators were visibly thrilled.
’That was definitely on purpose...’
Chen Che watched the Flying Boat rise into the air, muttering to himself.
As expected, no major power that could dominate a region was a simple affair. With just one sentence, he had thrown the Sixteen States into chaos. At the same time, it made the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had been complaining about the situation now secretly look forward to what was coming.
It would also eliminate another wave of Foundation Establishment Influences.
And in the aftermath, the Primordial Sect could seek its opportunity in peace.
’I really want to go to that Undersea Palace...’
Chen Che gazed at the boundless sea, but the thought was fleeting. Without wasting a moment, he mounted his Little Chick and turned to follow the main group.
...
...
For the Foundation Establishment Influences of the Sixteen States, the negotiations were over.
But for the two sects, the opportunity was just beginning.
However, the Major Cultivators who had participated in the war did not leave empty-handed, and not just with spoils of war. After surviving this battle, many found they had new insights into Cultivation Techniques they had only partially understood before. After returning from Primordial City, Meng Changtu didn’t even stop at Jinyun Valley, rushing back to his clan to enter secluded cultivation.
Even Rong Zhongxuan did the same.
Lu Qinglian, however, took a seven-day leave and remained in Primordial City.
Chen Che returned to Jinyun Valley, first summoning the major families and ordering them to prepare. The Primordial Sect had gone to great trouble to create this opportunity, and the various factions had to fight for it themselves. Of all the profits from conquest, half would be submitted to Jinyun Valley, and the rest would be distributed based on contribution.
Next, he spent a passionate night with Meng Qingxuan before finally choosing to enter secluded cultivation.
He hadn’t been at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer for long, so he didn’t expect any major breakthroughs in the short term. However, his mind kept returning to the Yellow Gourd he had obtained from Hu Chaohong.
’...This Gourd, huh?’
He took out the Gourd and studied it for a moment, then froze.
’I can’t make heads or tails of it!’
