When Wang Jiu directly laid out his conditions, everyone was taken aback.
The Sect Leader slightly moved his long, narrow eyebrows and asked in a deep voice, "What conditions do you have? Feel free to speak, senior."
Wang Jiu said, "I want to go to Golden Cloud Peak."
"Golden Cloud Peak?" The Sect Leader was sowhat surprised by this request. He pondered for a mont, then nodded, "Alright, you can."
Zhao Chenlu imdiately frowned, "Agreeing so quickly? You just said the entrance to the relic is sealed, and no one is allowed to enter for fifty years. Changing your tune so quickly is quite suspicious, old man."
The Sect Leader said, "Why is it suspicious? Indeed, the Golden Cloud Peak relic was sealed by my hand, but that was to prevent future generations from hastily and unwisely exploring dangerous places, repeating Dean Sang’s mistakes. But if it’s the Sword Spirit senior, I believe that no matter how dangerous the relic is, he can navigate it with ease. Why should I stop him?"
Zhao Chenlu wanted to argue, but after thinking for a mont, held back.
The Celestial Divine Sword has only recently awakened, and the Sword World is still almost empty. Delving into the Primordial Ruins is certainly not easy. Even if the Divine Sword Body is indestructible, getting trapped in the chaotic currents and being unable to return to Xiangzhou Continent for hundreds of years is quite possible.
This is sothing the Saint Sect Leader might not be aware of, so it is best not to let him know.
Though over the past twenty or so years, no irreconcilable conflict has occurred between them, Zhao Chenlu has never trusted the other party, just as she has never trusted the Saint Sect.
If the Sect Leader were to learn about the true situation of the Celestial Divine Sword at this mont, it would undoubtedly add many risks. Perhaps he cannot damage the Divine Sword Body, but permanently exiling the Celestial Divine Sword in the void is not difficult. The Saint Sect has occupied the Golden Cloud Peak relic for two thousand years, organizing over a hundred large-scale explorations. Even though they have never been able to penetrate the inner layers, they are as familiar with the outer layers as if they own them. To let the enemy know one’s vulnerabilities on the enemy’s ho ground is an unacceptable risk.
Seeing Zhao Chenlu remain silent, the Saint Sect Leader smiled and said, "Ti is of the essence, let’s depart right after we finish eating."
Zhao Chenlu said, "In such a hurry?"
The Sect Leader said, "Every day you all stay in Heaven-Reaching City, the costs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are all borne by our Saint Sect. Why wouldn’t I be in a hurry?"
——
The Celestial Divine Sword is extrely efficient in its actions. In less than an hour, the al was finished, and he stood up, ready to head to Golden Cloud Peak.
Zhao Chenlu had no appetite from start to finish, only tasting a couple bites of the most exquisite dishes. Seeing Wang Jiu stand up, she imdiately followed behind him.
The quiet mount, Shen Qingming, looked reluctantly at the half-full plate of food before standing up unwillingly.
"Wait, why are you getting up?" Zhao Chenlu asked.
Shen Qingming said, "Aren’t we going to Golden Cloud Peak?"
"Did anyone say they were bringing you along?"
Shen Qingming raised her eyebrows warily, "...Are you up to sothing again?"
Zhao Chenlu was both amused and exasperated, "Am I the one plotting sothing? Even if you’re a descendant of the Shen Family, you should at least think things through sotis. Places like the Primordial Ruins, even the deans of the Three Academies could et their end. Are you, a little girl at the Cloud Surge Realm, going there to scatter your own ashes?"
Pressed by the weight of cultivation realms, Shen Qingming had no argunt but reluctantly asked, "So I just wait here?"
Zhao Chenlu said, "Well, there’s an important task I need you to handle."
"...I have a bad feeling about this."
"If you feel unwell, eat foods like bananas with high fiber. Indeed, there is important work for you. While I’m venturing into the Golden Cloud Peak relic, I need you to procure these items for in Heaven-Reaching City."
As Zhao Chenlu spoke, she handed Shen Qingming a shopping list.
"May Frost, Thunderous Soul Shattering, Vortex Gold... so many!? What are you planning to do?!"
Zhao Chenlu communicated telepathically, "These are the resources needed for the current restoration of the Sword World. Most of them are only produced in the Primordial Ruins. The stocks in my Golden Jade City’s private reserves are very limited, and he’s already cleaned them out. Now, only the headquarters at Heaven-Reaching City might have stock, so I need you to purchase them."
"If even your reserves are limited, these must be extrely valuable. How can I possibly procure them? And I don’t have that much money."
"Your expenses in Heaven-Reaching City are covered by the Saint Sect. This is clearly stated in the invitation, so there’s no need to worry about money."
"But what do these Heavenly and Earthly Treasures have to do with food and lodging?! The Saint Sect is unlikely to cover these expenses!"
Zhao Chenlu imdiately wore an expression of exasperation with Shen Qingming’s lack of intellect.
"Use your brain, must you be taught even simple things? Since the Saint Sect is willing to cover only the expenses for food and lodging, find a way to make the items on the shopping list part of food and lodging. For instance, just order a ’May Frost Sashimi’ on the lunch nu!"
"May Frost Sashimi!?"
"And then there’s Vortex Gold Rice Bowl, Cloud Sandwich, Thunderous Soul Shattering Pie... and so on, what’s the big deal?"
Shen Qingming was so stunned by the list that she felt dizzy, clutching her head and asking, "Is there a problem with your intelligence, or is it mine? Writing such ridiculous things on the nu, the Saint Sect agreeing to it would be just nonsense! Vortex Gold Rice Bowl, May Frost Sashimi, can you even eat those?"
"Whether you can eat them or not is not up to them. Since when does the Saint Sect have the right to dictate what can or cannot be eaten? Just say it’s a special dietary habit of your Li Family Mansion. Refusal to comply is disrespecting dietary habits, disrespecting the Li Family Mansion, disrespecting QingCyan Cloud City, and stirring internal conflict among the Three Academies and Seven Families." Zhao Chenlu said impatiently, "Or, if they don’t serve the dishes, you could engage in a hunger strike, a belly protest. Run naked to protest the Saint Sect for breaking their promises, refusing to deliver the agreed hospitality."
"Isn’t that too embarrassing!?"
Zhao Chenlu retorted, "What else can you do now aside from such embarrassing work? Can you explore the Primordial Ruins, can you negotiate with the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect? If you can’t do either, what right do you have to pick and choose your work? If you really don’t want to do it, you could go back to QingCyan Cloud City as your family’s young lady. As the heir of Cyan Cloud Li Family, you surely wouldn’t need to do these jobs."
After hearing this, Shen Qingming had nothing left to say.
"...Alright, alright, I agree!"
After settling with Shen Qingming, Zhao Chenlu turned around and walked over to Wang Jiu.
"Your mount has been prepared, let’s head out."
The Saint Sect Leader interjected, "City Lord Zhao, this ti, only I and the Sword Spirit elder are going to explore the ruins."
Zhao Chenlu laughed imdiately, "Got a bit muddled, huh?"
The Sect Leader explained, "The Primordial Ruins, especially the Golden Cloud Peak ruins, have the highest level of risk on record; even I dare not venture deeply into them recklessly."
"And so?" Zhao Chenlu said impatiently, "I understand the Primordial Ruins better than you. Life and death is my own responsibility on this journey, do I need you to be timid for ?"
"That makes sense, but I still cannot take you along, my apologies."
Having said that, the Sect Leader’s form gradually faded away.
Simultaneously, Zhao Chenlu stomped fiercely, causing the entire dining hall to shake, transparent space bursting into countless fine cracks, with starlight shimring within, seemingly reaching towards chaos.
And the Sect Leader’s silhouette helplessly reappeared.
"Don’t play such tricks in front of ," Zhao Chenlu sneered, "In terms of realm, you are indeed higher than ; in life-and-death struggles, you may surpass slightly. But if you want to transpose shapes right before , you’d best wait until you advance into the Earth Split Realm."
"True," the Sect Leader sighed helplessly, "Looks like I can’t convince you to stay just by myself, so... Sword Spirit elder, would you please?"
The Sect Leader wisely gave up on confronting Zhao Chenlu with force, knowing that a real fight would at best yield him only a 50% chance of victory, with little advantage indeed, so...
Wang Jiu stepped forward two steps, saying, "Chenlu, stay in Heaven-Reaching City."
Zhao Chenlu seed like a sincere person shocked by a sudden betrayal from a beloved right before his eyes, showing a petrified expression.
Wang Jiu explained, "The Primordial Ruins indeed are too dangerous, especially where the Sword Seal lies; even two Sea Overturning Realm deans of Cyan Lotus unfortunately perished. You lack an absolute guarantee of safety."
Zhao Chenlu argued, "Why compare those two bookworms to ? They’re just discarded figures whose Sword Academy branding has been removed!"
"Therefore, while perhaps you won’t die, there’s still a risk of severe injury."
"How could there be any risk? It’s rely a Sword Seal left on the battlefield," Zhao Chenlu said, "If it’s your Sword Seal, then no matter how..."
Suddenly realizing sothing, Zhao Chenlu looked at Wang Jiu, from whom he read real worry in those profound eyes.
Indeed, if it is Wang Jiu’s Sword Seal, despite the passage of years and nurous changes, there wouldn’t be much risk for the Jiu Immortal Venerables accustod to the Celestial Divine Sword.
But, what if it’s not Wang Jiu’s Sword Seal?
Thinking of the densely packed casualty information in Sector 33, Zhao Chenlu’s mood imdiately grew heavy.
The sword seal of Celestial Divine Sword shouldn’t possess such a strong killing intent towards humans—though countless have perished by it. Perhaps those Sword Seal owners are actually...
"Understood," Zhao Chenlu instantly changed his stance, "Be cautious, don’t forget to use bait when encountering danger."
"Of course, personal safety is paramount."
For the Celestial Divine Sword, nothing is ever more important than personal safety. His mission may be to wipe out the Demon Race and protect humanity, but fulfilling that mission hinges on maintaining absolute well-being. Without safeguarding oneself, how could one talk about fulfilling the mission?
And as the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect was unceremoniously used as a bait by both without reserve, he could only smile helplessly, then finally opened the channel leading to the Golden Cloud Peak ruins.
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