Chapter 627 - 433: Before the Battle

"Four levels? Oh no, I misspoke. Five levels, five levels!"

Only after Cui Dong City’s quick correction did Fang Qingyuan sit back down in his chair.

The Illusion Sword Alliance’s *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* had eight levels in total. The first five were enough to cultivate to the Late-stage Golden Core.

Originally, Cui Dong City had only intended to offer the first four levels of the Cultivation Technique, enough to reach the Mid-stage Golden Core. But seeing Fang Qingyuan’s unwillingness to even negotiate, he immediately raised his offer to five levels.

Anything beyond the fifth level was not something Cui Dong City, the Crown Prince of the Illusion Sword Alliance, could authorize on his own. He would need approval from one of the Nascent Soul Ancestors above White Mountain.

Furthermore, giving Fang Qingyuan these five levels of the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* didn’t mean he could do with them as he pleased. He could only practice the Cultivation Technique himself; he couldn’t even pass it on to his own Direct Disciples. If, in the future, the Qingyuan Sect found a suitable candidate to practice this Sword Scripture, they would still require the Illusion Sword Alliance’s approval.

Upon receiving these five levels of the Sword Scripture, Fang Qingyuan would have to sign a Soul Contract or swear a Daoist True Oath.

The entire process was so troublesome and laden with restrictions because this Sword Scripture was the very foundation of the Illusion Sword Alliance. No amount of caution was excessive.

If not for the fact that the Illusion Sword Alliance had exhausted its resources over many years of continuous warfare, leaving them with nothing else of value to offer, they would never have used their scriptures. Only such texts could tempt a figure like Fang Qingyuan.

But even with the Illusion Sword Alliance in such dire straits, they were extremely serious about protecting their fundamental texts. Fang Qingyuan could practice it, but he was forbidden from spreading it.

"Five levels of the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture*. What do you want in exchange?"

Fang Qingyuan admitted he was tempted. He lacked a Cultivation Technique that would allow him to maintain his own state within a Nascent Soul Domain, and the unique nature of Sword Cultivators happened to fulfill this requirement.

This was because even a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, after unleashing their True Meaning of Sword Dao, could maintain their sense of self within a Nascent Soul Domain.

And the myriad types of the True Meaning of Sword Dao were far easier to obtain than the True Meaning of the Great Dao comprehended by Nascent Soul Cultivators.

"The Illusion Sword Alliance would like to request that Senior Bear Wind of your esteemed alliance take action on our behalf, just once, at some point in the near future."

"Absolutely not. Five levels of the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* are not nearly enough to be worth the intervention of a Nascent Soul Battle Power. Name a different price."

Hearing Cui Dong City’s demand, Fang Qingyuan refused outright. No matter how good five levels of the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* were, it wasn’t worth such a commitment.

The values were not equivalent. In the White Mountain Territory, Golden Core Cultivators were the effective ceiling of power. Since the Nascent Soul Cultivators above White Mountain currently couldn’t descend, it meant that if Bear Wind were to act, the Illusion Sword Alliance would be guaranteed victory in a future key battle.

How could Fang Qingyuan possibly agree to a deal where the price for a decisive victory was merely five copied levels of a Sword Scripture?

Rejected by Fang Qingyuan, Cui Dong City asked softly,

"Is Sect Leader Fang dissatisfied with this price?"

Fang Qingyuan stared at him. "So you’ve noticed. That’s right, I am dissatisfied with the price. You can make as many copies of something like the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* as you want. Exchanging that for the intervention of a Nascent Soul is wishful thinking."

"Then in your opinion, Sect Leader Fang, how many levels of the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* would satisfy you?"

"This isn’t about what I think. It’s about what you’re going to do. Cui Dong City, I refuse to believe you risked life and limb to come here with such a meager offer. When it comes to a Cultivation Technique, you either give it or you don’t. So if you’re asking me, I’ll be direct: I want all eight levels."

Faced with Fang Qingyuan’s outrageous demand, Cui Dong City was momentarily stunned. Seeing his reaction, Fang Qingyuan immediately continued:

"I’ll give you fifteen minutes to think it over. If we don’t have a deal, you can go right back where you came from. If you leave now, you won’t run into any hostile Cultivators on the way. Delay any longer, and things might get unpleasant. Think about it."

With that, Fang Qingyuan turned and left, heading into a hidden chamber. From there, he observed Cui Dong City’s every move and expression while sidling up to Bear Wind.

"You just sold me out like that, kid?"

Seeing Bear Wind standing with his arms crossed and a wry smile on his face, Fang Qingyuan quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Wasn’t it you who told me I lacked the means to deal with Nascent Soul Cultivators? Now that a perfect opportunity has presented itself, of course I’m not going to let it slip by. Besides, I was thinking, right now in the White Mountain Territory, there aren’t any other Nascent Soul Cultivators besides those few from the Beast Taming Sect. When the time comes, you can just treat it as a bit of exercise, how about it?"

Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s ingratiating smile, Bear Wind sighed. He thought of all those Qi Refining Bear Beasts now scattered among countless households and couldn’t help but speak.

"I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. But this is the only time."

Fang Qingyuan nodded eagerly. He didn’t want to deploy Bear Wind either, but he desperately wanted the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture*, and their demand specifically required Bear Wind’s intervention.

’Isn’t there a way to have the best of both worlds?’

’A way to get the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* without Bear Wind having to lift a finger?’

’Should I just kill Cui Dong City and use a Soul Search to rip the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* from his mind?’

Shaking his head, Fang Qingyuan dismissed the radical thought. ’If I did that, how would I be any different from a Demon Cultivator?’

’Acting impulsively for a moment of satisfaction, only to do something you’ll regret later, is the mark of a fool.’

If you asked Fang Qingyuan to abandon his vast enterprise and become a Demon Cultivator in the Barbaric Wilderness, he would refuse ten thousand times over.

’If he wanted to be a Demon Cultivator, he would have done it long ago. Who with money and power would willingly stoop to such a degenerate path? The Qingyuan Alliance was now one of the ten great powers of White Mountain. He had fought hard to build all of this; how could he possibly abandon it?’

Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye. When Fang Qingyuan entered the secret chamber again, Cui Dong City nodded.

"Eight levels it is. I just communicated with my Ancestor, and he has agreed."

Fang Qingyuan’s heart jolted. ’I didn’t sense him contacting his Ancestor at all.’

’And to do it through the Qingyuan Sect’s own Array... this Cui Dong City really has some tricks up his sleeve.’

"Then it’s settled. Eight levels of the *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* in exchange for one intervention from my alliance’s Nascent Soul. But let’s be clear on the conditions: if we encounter an opponent we truly cannot defeat, don’t blame us for retreating first."

Fang Qingyuan was adding a failsafe for the future. He was worried that if all the Nascent Souls from above White Mountain came down, Bear Wind would be dragged into that mess.

But Cui Dong City clearly wasn’t concerned about that. He immediately took a High-tier Jade Scroll from his storage bag and handed it to Fang Qingyuan. It was only then that Fang Qingyuan realized this guy had been acting the entire time. He had clearly come prepared with the complete *Mirage Dragon Illusion Sword Scripture* Cultivation Technique.

Now that his mission was complete, Cui Dong City straightened his posture. The man who had once struck fear into the hearts of the Thick Earth Alliance’s Cultivators on the front lines had returned.

...

Time flew by, and soon, the day of the duel between Fang Qingyuan and Chunyu Hua was at hand.

At this moment, in the very center of the Black River Marketplace outside the White Mountain Territory, a group of people were inspecting the venue.

The man in the lead was none other than Chunyu Hua. His eyes were somber as he stared at the massive dueling arena before him, which spanned dozens of acres. He unconsciously clenched his fists.

Beside him stood the stooped Elder Ya, the taciturn Hao Shi, two bewitchingly beautiful Golden Core Female Cultivators, and a beautiful young woman fanning herself with a painted fan.

"I must say, Young Master Hua, what are you so worried about? We’re just familiarizing ourselves with the venue ahead of time. It’s not as if we’re breaking the rules of an honor duel, is it?"

The speaker was the beautiful young woman, Nangong Ru, a person of true authority in the Black River Daoist Palace. She hailed from the Nangong Clan, and due to her assertive personality and the might of her own family, she had taken a live-in husband.

Unfortunately, while this husband had decent aptitude, his mental fortitude was only average. He failed his breakthrough from the Qi Refining to the Foundation Establishment Realm and died on the spot.

Thus, Nangong Ru became a widow, and more than a decade had passed in the blink of an eye.

Now, Nangong Ru was a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. That, combined with her origins in the Nangong Clan and her position as a Steward in the Black River Daoist Palace, gave her the standing to speak to Chunyu Hua in such a manner.

Chunyu Hua ultimately just shook his head. As a descendant of a Divinity Transformation expert from the Beast Taming Sect, he had his own principles. He couldn’t bring himself to perform an act like scouting the grounds before an honor duel.

"I heard your Nangong Family’s Ancestor, Nangong Zhi, also had some dealings with that man?"

"The way you put it... It was simply that Fang Qingyuan who offended my Ancestor Nangong Zhi. There were no ’dealings’ to speak of. It’s just that my Ancestor is magnanimous and didn’t stoop to his level."

Nangong Ru covered her mouth with a light laugh, her body swaying and sending ripples through her robes.

But none of the three men present were moved, wasting Nangong Ru’s performance.

"He’s certainly a capable one. No wonder he could start from nothing and build such a massive enterprise in just a hundred years. He has connections to so many Nascent Soul Cultivators, truly moving like a fish in water. And now he’s even roped in a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast... he’s becoming even harder to control."

Elder Ya, who was standing to the side, spoke in a hoarse voice. For the past several days, he had remained by Chunyu Hua’s side, partly for protection, and partly for special training.

"Don’t underestimate a man like that. To be able to put down roots in White Mountain and build such an empire, his mental fortitude and fortune are both first-rate. You must be exceedingly careful."

Hearing Elder Ya’s admonition, Chunyu Hua nodded solemnly. Beside them, Hao Shi’s face remained placid, but wherever his gaze fell, the very air seemed to freeze.

"Jin Zhi, Yu Ye, for the next few days, do not pester the Young Master for Dual Cultivation. He needs to conserve his strength and sharpen his spirit. Come to me during this time; I have a task for you."

Just as Elder Ya was giving his instructions, a Male Cultivator from the Nangong Family at the Foundation Establishment Realm came running from a distance. He approached Nangong Ru with a grim look on his face, but just as he was about to speak, Elder Ya’s brow furrowed, and he looked up toward the entrance.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Sister Ru? Aren’t you busy entertaining your boy toys outside the Marketplace? What brings you here to do actual work today?"

At the entrance to the Black River Daoist Palace, a group arrived in unison with the words. Next to the leading Male Cultivator stood a woman with a cold and detached expression, who immediately launched into a tirade the moment she saw Nangong Ru.

Before Nangong Ru could retort, the Male Cultivator leading the other group spoke with a smile:

"Young Master Hua, it seems we had the same idea."