Gold and crimson sparks flickered in Guh Niqiang’s eyes as she was about to reveal her power. Suddenly, Lu Qian gently tugged at the corner of her robe.
Guh Niqiang suddenly rembered the conversation from the previous night.
"Elder Guh, you must promise not to act impulsively during the eting, not even revealing your Spiritual Pressure."
"Based on what?"
Lu Qian sighed, "Well, you are too strong. If you reveal your strength, there’s a chance you’ll scare them away. If the enemy flees, who will you fight with? Only by pretending to be weak, pitiful, and helpless can you have more opportunities for battle."
"...You make a bit of sense."
Weak, pitiful, and helpless... Guh Niqiang suppressed the flas raging within her, slowly displaying a smile. This should look quite convincing, right?
Witnessing Guh Niqiang flash a chilling smile across from him, Han Wen hurriedly waved his hands, "Ah, ah, everyone, stay calm, we can discuss this peacefully."
He gently patted Yinn Hongbo’s arm, then turned to Lu Qian with a sincere expression, "Sect Leader Lu, you’re asking too much. We business people must adhere to rules. Shazhou Square was originally built with contributions from the Shahe Gang, Spirit Talisman Sect, and Chaosheng Sect, which is why Chaosheng Sect holds a twenty percent share. Now that Chaosheng Sect has been wiped out, the shares are forfeited, there’s no such thing as inheritance here."
"Even if we take a step back and discuss the inheritance of shares, Yunshan Sect isn’t the successor of Chaosheng Sect."
But Lu Qian chuckled softly, "The rules of the business world, Gang Leader Han is very familiar with, and I can’t argue with Gang Leader Han. But don’t forget, we also have the rules of the Cultivation Realm."
Ignoring Yinn Hongbo’s increasingly colder gaze, Lu Qian said in a deep voice, "Using these twenty percent dry stocks to exchange for neighborhood harmony and border security—isn’t that worth it?"
Yinn Hongbo suddenly stood up, his body radiated dazzling light, and phantom images of Talismans appeared, showing his unabated killing intent, "You, a re Qi Cultivator, dare to threaten us?"
Lu Qian’s expression remained unchanged, "It’s not a threat, just a business deal. If your two factions are unwilling, there’s nothing we can do. This deal may force Shuangye Alliance to negotiate with the Northwest Two Sects."
"You sly brute—"
Han Wen imdiately restrained the furious Yinn Hongbo, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, "Ah, Sect Leader Yinn, don’t get excited. Business discussions should be peaceful, peace brings wealth. Sect Leader Lu, you too, as a young man, should speak properly, such hostility won’t do."
He struggled to sit Yinn Hongbo back down, "How about this, let’s both take a step back. My Shahe Gang is willing to diate, and I’ll swallow the loss. The twenty percent dry shares initially belonging to Chaosheng Sect will be forfeited—ten percent to Spirit Talisman Sect, and the other ten percent for Shahe Gang will be gifted to Yunshan Sect instead."
"Chaosheng Sect also left several shops, which originally should be shared between Spirit Talisman Sect and Shahe Gang. The Spirit Talisman share will be compensated by to Sect Leader Yinn, then all the shops will be given to Yunshan Sect. Sect Leader Lu, I genuinely wish to befriend you, being at such a disadvantage, you should give so face, right?"
Yinn Hongbo’s expression eased upon hearing this. Lu Qian gave the rotund man a deep look.
"Moreover, my previous promise still stands—Gang Leader Han will act as the introducer for Yunshan Sect. In the future, our three factions will work together harmoniously for prosperity, won’t that be perfect?"
Lu Qian didn’t truly believe Han Wen was this agreeable; it was likely because their war with the Northwest Two Sects was imminent, so they wanted to appease Shuangye Alliance.
However, these two, with one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, were so well-coordinated that it was difficult to ask for more. As Yunshan Sect prioritizes recuperation for now, it’s best not to overly provoke the two factions, and focus on solving the introducer issue first.
"Gang Leader Han is indeed generous and magnanimous, it’s impressive. I am not an ungrateful person; if we can reach an agreent, your two factions can certainly rest assured heading west."
Seeing Lu Qian’s softened tone, Han Wen was overjoyed. After exchanging a few more words, Lu Qian promised to return and consult with sect elders and Shuangye Alliance allies before responding.
The eting achieved preliminary success, and Han Wen took the opportunity to invite Lu Qian to a banquet. But Lu Qian politely declined, as he preferred not to linger and risk unforeseen complications.
After a few casual exchanges, Lu Qian bid farewell to the two. Yinn Hongbo nodded slightly, while Han Wen, with a beaming smile, stood up to see them out.
After so courteous exchanges, Lu Qian left with Guh Niqiang.
As Lu Qian’s Divine Sense detected their disappearance, Han Wen cast several Talismans and sat back down.
His smile vanished, and shadows folded over the layers of fat on his face.
Yinn Hongbo asked, "What are your thoughts?"
Han Wen’s eyes turned cold and cruel, "Proceed with the second plan and act imdiately."
"Oh? Aren’t you afraid of misjudging?"
"A re inexperienced boy, while cunning, is still too naive to deceive . This test should reveal everything," Han Wen said coldly, "Think about it—were it Spirit Talisman Sect at the southern end of Chongming County, with internal stability and no rear threats, able to fully focus northward, would you ask for only twenty percent dry shares of Shazhou Square? Bargaining for ten percent indicates what?"
Yinn Hongbo exclaid, "He lacks strength!"
Han Wen nodded, "Exactly, Shuangye Alliance must be lacking strength, lacking the confidence to even ask for more."
"Besides, while we may not know about others, we do know Chaosheng Sect and Zhang Shouchang. Given Chaosheng Sect’s strength, any Foundation Establishnt Sect would bleed heavily to swallow them. If Yunshan Sect destroyed Chaosheng Sect, they must be greatly weakened; now is Yunshan Sect’s most vulnerable ti! If we don’t seize the opportunity, once Yunshan Sect recovers, who do you think will be their target?"
Yinn Hongbo stood up with a snort, "Distant foes and close combat—we would be the first target!"
Han Wen clapped his hands, his face filled with a ruthless determination, nowhere of his previous friendliness, "That’s it! With the western factions and southern Shuangye Alliance both pressuring us, the situation would be dangerous. Better to give it our all now and remove Yunshan Sect entirely!"
"Unfortunately, my recent preparations for war have exposed too many secrets to unworthy disciples in the gang, and the western factions are surely aware by now with many spies. Thus, the main force can’t move; if they head south, the western factions will certainly attack opportunistically. So this ti, we must deploy elite forces and execute a beheading strike!"
"Once the leaders are removed, and with Shuangye Alliance weak, what could they do? We can first battle the western factions, then devour this piece of fat."
Yinn Hongbo sneered, "Didn’t expect Lu Qian only had one Foundation Establishnt beside him. Earlier, you requested my Grand Elder for assistance; you were being too cautious."
Han Wen shook his head, "A lion fights a rabbit with full force. Moreover, that cultivator surnad Guh feels extrely dangerous to . Let’s act imdiately!"
He took out a Thousand-Mile Mirror, which emitted radiant glows as figures appeared, led by Shahe Gang’s second-in-command Feng Jun, third-in-command Huangfu Zhuqing, and Spirit Talisman Sect’s Grand Elder Zhuang Qing. Behind them, there were also nurous indistinct cultivators.
"Deputy Leader, execute Plan B; the target has departed. He carries Moth Fragrance on him, use the Qingfu Mother Insect to track and intercept imdiately. Just be wary, he should only have one female Foundation Establishnt cultivator with him—contact before proceeding if more forces appear."
This was Han Wen’s concern that Lu Qian might be concealing additional power unbrought to the eting, hence the reminder to prevent any mishaps.
Yinn Hongbo also nodded towards Zhuang Qing, "Elder Zhuang, assist Shahe Gang with all your might to eliminate Lu Qian! If sothing unexpected occurs, stop them—we shall arrive shortly!"
The figures within the mirror dispersed, and Yinn Hongbo and Han Wen exchanged glances and burst into laughter, swiftly leaving the marketplace, transforming into Escape Light soaring into the sky.
Lu Qian, we send five Foundation Establishnt and forty elite Late-Stage Qi Cultivators just to kill a small Qi Cultivator like you—what great honor this is. Even if you reach the Nine Netherworld, you can surely boast about it!
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