Chapter 379: Negotiation

Li Musheng, with his Immortal Golden Body rendering him immune to all poisons, was naturally impervious to the Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder.

He had no interest in explaining this, however. He simply lifted the immobilized young woman in green and, looking into that strikingly beautiful face, said with a quiet threat, "Hand over the antidote quickly, before I do something you will not enjoy."

At those words, the expression in the young woman's eyes shifted rapidly through a series of changes.

But in Li Musheng's grip she had no power to resist and her life was in his hands, which left her no option but to yield for the time being.

"Reversing the Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder requires a specific technique unique to our sect. Release my acupoints first, and I will treat them."

Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress Wenyue looked at Li Musheng and spoke.

She had assumed Li Musheng might release her acupoints while keeping her movements restricted in some other way.

But what he actually did caught her off guard. Li Musheng simply gave a nod and tossed her casually onto the rooftop.

At the same moment, every acupoint on her body opened at once, her meridians and true qi returned to normal circulation immediately, and he had placed no restriction on her whatsoever.

An unusual expression crossed the First Palace Mistress Wenyue's eyes, and she was not certain whether he simply held her in complete disregard, or whether his experience in the martial world was too shallow to know better than to trust people so easily.

But Wenyue looked at Li Musheng, recalled how easily he had subdued her moments ago, and felt her heart sink.

She understood clearly that this young man was simply looking down on her as the sect master of one of the seven major sects.

Wenyue's expression shifted faintly, and in the end she made no move to act. She circulated the Inviting Moon Palace's exclusive technique and quietly dispersed the Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder from the surrounding area.

A moment later, Cao Gaoshan slowly came around where he had fallen below, though his entire body was still limp and the true qi in his meridians was completely gone, with no prospect of recovery any time soon.

Rendering a Heaven-Human expert unable to move and stripping him of his cultivation in an instant truly demonstrated that the Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder's reputation was completely deserved.

The large black cat slumped across the roof ridge also came around at the same time, its eyes only half open and heavily dazed.

It gave a confused yawn, not understanding why it had suddenly fallen asleep, and finding itself with no strength in its body whatsoever.

But very quickly, the large black cat sharpened and came to alert, and immediately fixed a pair of wary, hostile eyes on the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace.

Li Musheng flicked a finger, and a breath of energy split into two threads, one settling into the large black cat's body and one flying into Cao Gaoshan.

In the next instant, the large black cat let out a meow and sprang to its feet with sudden energy, the powerless weakness throughout its body vanishing at once, leaving it feeling as though it had limitless strength to spare.

At the same moment, Cao Gaoshan rose smoothly into the air from the ground below. The aftereffects of the Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder dissolved, and the true qi in his meridians rapidly restored itself.

Seeing this, an expression of surprise crossed Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress Wenyue's eyes, and she turned to look at Li Musheng.

"Young master, that woman's poison is truly formidable. It brings to mind the Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder of the Inviting Moon Palace, a strange poison of the Great Xuan martial world that strikes fear into the hearts of martial world figures everywhere."

Cao Gaoshan came to Li Musheng's side and gave the First Palace Mistress a cautious look.

Li Musheng at this point was studying Wenyue with a faint, thoughtful expression, his brow lifting slightly, "I had not noticed before, but I feel like you look somewhat like someone I have seen."

The words had barely left Li Musheng's mouth when a figure drifted up to the rooftop in what seemed like an instant.

"She is the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace. You should have encountered her younger sister, the Second Palace Mistress, last night, young master."

At those words, both Li Musheng and Cao Gaoshan glanced sideways toward the arrival, Daoist Qingyu.

Wenyue's expression shifted visibly. She had clearly recognized Daoist Qingyu's identity, and asked with startled uncertainty, "How are you here?"

Daoist Qingyu pressed her palms together in a Daoist salute toward Wenyue and explained, "Great Palace Mistress, this poor nun was trapped in the Great Xuan imperial palace. It was only through this young lord's help that I was able to escape. I am currently staying in the inn below."

"You are actually the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace?"

Cao Gaoshan's brow creased. He had only been guessing before, and had not expected the woman before him to truly be one of the seven major sects' sect masters.

Li Musheng showed no particular reaction to this and appeared to have no special interest in Wenyue's identity. He only shifted his gaze toward Daoist Qingyu and asked, "How did you know I encountered her younger sister last night?"

By now Li Musheng had naturally recalled that the previous night in the Great Xuan imperial palace he had seen one of the emperor's strikingly beautiful consorts, whose appearance and martial aura bore a certain resemblance to Wenyue before him.

But Daoist Qingyu had not been with him at the time, had not seen that consort, and knew nothing of the matter.

He was therefore naturally somewhat curious about how she could know.

At those words, a look of apology crossed Daoist Qingyu's face, and she clasped her hands toward Li Musheng, "This poor nun must admit to having concealed something from you. In truth, from the moment we emerged from the passageway, this poor nun caught a faint lingering trace of Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder in that courtyard."

"But at the time this poor nun was not entirely certain, and so did not mention it to you."

Li Musheng raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Daoist Qingyu, "You are saying that the disappearance of those people last night was the work of her younger sister?"

"Not necessarily, but she was certainly involved."

Daoist Qingyu gave a small shake of her head, then let her gaze settle on Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress Wenyue, "The Thousand Fragrance Sinew-Softening Powder is known only to the two Palace Mistresses of the Inviting Moon Palace, and the Great Palace Mistress clearly does not recognize you, young master. Otherwise she would never have dared act against you just now."

"So the one who acted last night in the Great Xuan imperial palace could only have been the Second Palace Mistress."

At those words, the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress showed an unsettled expression. She was naturally aware that her younger sister Shiyue had slipped into the Great Xuan imperial palace, as she had known about it beforehand. The two of them had arranged to exchange information at dawn that day.

But the plan had gone wrong. She had waited and no word had come.

Having waited in vain, Wenyue had eventually withdrawn for the time being, intending to gather the Inviting Moon Palace's members and think of another approach.

And it happened that while on her way to find them, she caught sight of the large black cat leading the people from the seven major sects toward the inn.

Through a quiet private transmission with the Inviting Moon Palace disciple among the seven, she discovered that the people from the seven major sects had been pressured by the large black cat into signing a promissory note for an enormous sum of ten thousand taels of gold.

Learning this, she as the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace naturally could not stand by and do nothing.

And so she had gone to take back the promissory note and trouble the large black cat, which led to the scene that had just unfolded.

"Does the Daoist know where my younger sister is?"

Wenyue's expression shifted slightly, and she looked at Daoist Qingyu and asked.

She did not know what had happened in the palace the previous night, but she knew Shiyue would not have broken their arrangement for no reason. Something must have gone wrong.

At those words, Daoist Qingyu shook her head, "This poor nun was only making a guess. I do not know your younger sister's whereabouts."

"But there is something this poor nun is curious about. Why did the Inviting Moon Palace send the Second Palace Mistress to slip into the Great Xuan imperial palace?"

Wenyue did not reply. She looked at Daoist Qingyu with an almost imperceptible glance, and a flicker of something passed through her eyes. Then she let out a sigh and clasped her hands, "That is a private matter of the Inviting Moon Palace, and this poor nun must forgive me for not sharing it."

With that, she turned to look at Li Musheng, and her attitude suddenly changed entirely, "I acted impulsively just now, and I hope you will not hold it against me. The matter of the Demonic Core is of the greatest importance, and it is worth ten thousand taels of gold without question. You may approach the seven major sects to collect the gold at any time."

With those words, the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace had clearly conceded.

Li Musheng's expression became thoughtful, and he showed no interest in making things difficult for her. He only waved a hand with indifference to the whole matter.

The large black cat, however, was shooting fire from its eyes, and its paw was extended and gesturing furiously, clearly having no intention of letting the woman who had poisoned it off so easily.

"The Great Palace Mistress's heart is with the seven major sects and she meant no real harm. Please, both of you, overlook this matter."

At that, Daoist Qingyu spoke up and appealed on Wenyue's behalf to Cao Gaoshan and the large black cat, asking them not to pursue the matter with the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress.

Cao Gaoshan gave a nod. He was willing to let things go where letting go was possible, and genuinely had none of the large black cat's towering resentment over this.

"All right, for a cat, how is your sense of grievance this strong?"

Li Musheng patted the large black cat on the head, then gave Daoist Qingyu a long look, and paid no further attention to the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress. He turned and went back down into the inn.

When the large black cat had been seized, the only reason Li Musheng had stepped in was to use it as a convenient subject for testing the Soul-Searching Technique. Otherwise, against someone at the level of the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress, he could have scared her off without even showing himself.

As for why the Inviting Moon Palace's Second Palace Mistress had slipped into the palace, or the affairs between the seven major sects, the demonic world, and the Great Xuan court, he had no interest in getting involved.

After all, the time he would spend on such things would be far better spent studying the demonic arts. That was a great deal more engaging than all these tiresome matters.

With Li Musheng's word, the large black cat, as much as it wanted to scratch Wenyue bloody, had no choice but to swallow its frustration and accept the outcome.

It reached a paw under its belly to feel the promissory note was still there, then shot Wenyue one final withering glare, and with reluctant displeasure leaped after Li Musheng back into the inn.

Cao Gaoshan said nothing further and returned to his room as well.

"Thank you for speaking up just now, Daoist. But I must go and find Shiyue, and cannot stay to speak with you further. When time allows, I will personally visit the Azure Cloud Temple to express my thanks."

The Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress lowered her gaze and pressed her palms together in farewell to Daoist Qingyu.

Daoist Qingyu shook her head gently, "Great Palace Mistress, there is no need for such formality. The matter of the Second Palace Mistress is naturally more pressing. If there is anything this poor nun can help with, please do not hesitate to say so."

At those words, the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress gave a slight nod, something unreadable in her expression, and without further delay turned and departed at speed.

Daoist Qingyu watched the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace go, and in those eyes that were ordinarily gentle and kind, a look of faint, knowing amusement surfaced.

Then Daoist Qingyu's figure disappeared from the rooftop, returning noiselessly to her room.

...

After the large black cat's attempt to exchange the Demonic Core for gold had led the seven major sects' people to the inn and caused considerable commotion, the inn remained remarkably calm in the days that followed.

The large black cat also kept itself well-behaved, spending its days eating and sleeping, venturing out occasionally for a short wander, but not causing any more trouble.

Li Musheng continued staying at the inn, studying the demonic arts he had obtained.

The only unusual thing during those days was that every person staying in the inn, Cao Gaoshan and Shen Anran included, would occasionally wake in the deep of night for no apparent reason.

And when they did, they would catch a faint and indistinct sense of a terrifyingly vast demonic aura.

That aura was profoundly alarming, and everyone who sensed it felt a chill of genuine fear, as though some supreme demon of the ages had descended upon the entire inn.

But the aura appeared as quickly as it vanished, gone in an instant.

Everyone was left shaken and unnerved but could not quite grasp what they had sensed. As a result, many concluded they had simply experienced a nightmare. Though they woke in cold sweats each time, it did not ultimately cause any serious disruption.

The only person who truly understood the reason for it was Daoist Qingyu.

She knew clearly enough. The cause was Li Musheng's cultivation of the demonic text and the Demonic Patriarch's legacy arts.

"Several days have already passed and he still has not fully fallen into the demonic path. This young man's strength is truly beyond what anyone would expect."

Daoist Qingyu sat cross-legged on her bed, her gaze directed toward the room where Li Musheng was.

But her expression remained as calm and untroubled as ever.

...

At the same time, the demonic world figures from the three great demonic sects had not been idle either. Following the thirteen ward locations the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult had provided, they searched day and night without rest for the last Demonic Core.

Taixuan City under curfew was hushed and still. The entire Great Xuan imperial capital was draped in white mourning cloth, and the Great Xuan Crown Prince divided his days between observing filial mourning for the Great Xuan emperor and exercising the emperor's authority in the interim.

The court's Ministry of Rites was working urgently to finalize ceremonial protocols and select an auspicious day for the enthronement ceremony, managing the preparations for the Great Xuan Crown Prince's coronation.

With the Great Xuan emperor dead, Zhao Kuang ascending to the throne seemed like a matter already decided.

"That Great Xuan Crown Prince has quite a bit of our demonic world's spirit about him. Killing his father to take the throne. A truly ruthless and merciless way of doing things."

Several hall masters from the three great demonic sects moved through the night, searching for traces of the Demonic Core while speaking quietly to pass the time.

"You have that wrong. That Crown Prince is actually nothing like us from the demonic world. He did something that would draw the wrath of men and heavens alike, and yet he still managed to come away with a reputation for filial devotion in the eyes of ordinary people. A hypocrite of that caliber is not at all like us demonic types with our notorious names."

Someone gave a derisive laugh, and the other demonic experts all showed looks of scorn.

But just then, one of the demonic sect hall masters suddenly changed expression and immediately raised a hand to stop the others, "Careful."

Everyone halted at once and followed his gaze.

On the street ahead in the darkness, a woman in black was standing, loosely blocking their path.

The several hall masters showed no complacency whatsoever. Every one of them immediately circulated their demonic true qi, exchanged a look, and in a series of fluid movements fanned out to surround her.

But the woman in black showed no intention of running. She simply stood where she was and waited quietly for them to approach.