Chapter 623: Tough Negotiation

Qing Yan's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. He had never expected Ning Zhuo's temper to be so "explosive," acting without a word of warning. This wasn't youthful impulsiveness; it was sheer recklessness!

Yang Sanyan was startled, his face immediately turning grim. He was about to retaliate when Ning Zhuo's subsequent attack arrived.

Fire Element — One-Hundred-Nine Sky Fire Dragon Art! Blazing flames instantly erupted, engulfing Ning Zhuo. Dragon roars echoed as three fire dragons materialized from the inferno, lunging towards Yang Sanyan. The air twisted, and the scorching heat turned Qing Yan, Qing Chi, and others' faces crimson. Yang Sanyan was enveloped in a layer of green light, completely insulating him from the intense heat outside. His face was filled with fury, his eyes gleaming sharply. How dare Ning Zhuo, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, attack him without warning? He was clearly disrespecting him! Immediately, Yang Sanyan prepared to strike, intending to teach this arrogant junior, Jiao Ma, a good lesson. But the next moment, the fire dragons' power suddenly increased, and they swallowed Yang Sanyan whole. Fire Element Heart Shrine! Ning Zhuo had deliberately held back this card, activating it now to catch Yang Sanyan off guard. But the next moment, Yang Sanyan snorted coldly, spread his arms, and a surge of green light erupted around him, forming a spherical barrier that shattered the fire dragons.

Ning Zhuo pointed his fingers like a sword, held them to his chest, and spat out a bolt of golden lightning. Gold Element — Profound Gold Slash. Gold Element Lung Shrine! Azure Scorching Army power blessing! A blinding golden flash appeared and vanished, incredibly sharp, piercing through the green light barrier and grazing Yang Sanyan's side before directly embedding itself into the wall. After leaving a hole in the wall, it vanished into the vast sky above the immortal city. As a deputy commander, Ning Zhuo naturally could draw upon the army's power.

For a moment, Yang Sanyan stood motionless. His expression changed drastically as he stared at Ning Zhuo with newfound respect. His previous arrogance and annoyance vanished, replaced by caution and admiration. Ning Zhuo also actively withdrew his attack, controlling the remaining two fire dragons. One coiled around Ning Zhuo, while the other picked up the stunned Qing Chi and flew back to Qing Yan's side. Yang Sanyan watched Qing Chi being rescued without any sign of intervening. This was because Ning Zhuo's recent Profound Gold Slash, empowered by the army's strength, had directly reached the Nascent Soul level of power. Even Yang Sanyan's proud defensive technique couldn't withstand it. Yang Sanyan, a Golden Core cultivator, could unleash Nascent Soul level combat power, making him famous for his strength within the Myriad Manifestation Sect. Yet, the yellow-faced youth before him, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, could unleash a Nascent Soul-level attack.

"His Fire Dragon Art was also beautifully executed. It's a classic aggressive and hard-to-control offensive spell, yet he manipulated it ingeniously, even able to restrain its power to rescue someone. What masterful spell control!" What impressed Yang Sanyan even more was Ning Zhuo's combat talent. "He possesses means to amplify spells, but when casting the fire dragons, he deliberately held back, calculating that I wouldn't intercept prematurely, only suddenly amplifying the power when the attack reached me." "And that was just one layer of his deception. When he unleashed the Profound Gold Slash, he employed his old trick again, simultaneously using two methods to amplify the spell, truly catching me completely off guard." "Especially the latter amplification—he actually used the army's power. This means he's already a member of the Azure Scorching Army." Thoughts flashed through Yang Sanyan's mind like lightning; he considered many things.

Qing Chi looked at Ning Zhuo with a shocked expression: "Little Ma, how did you suddenly become so powerful?" Qing Yan, meanwhile, was extremely nervous, his gaze fixed on Yang Sanyan, fearing he might suddenly lash out. He worried inwardly: "Jiao Ma's methods are certainly tough, but Yang Sanyan is definitely not someone to be easily handled. Ah, this has escalated, what can be done now?"

As if responding to Qing Yan's concerns, Ning Zhuo suddenly smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Jiao Ma pays his respects to Senior Yang Sanyan of the Myriad Manifestation Sect. Senior, I have some matters I need to explain to you privately. May I?" Yang Sanyan's tense expression suddenly changed, revealing a hint of a smile: "You're impressive, truly worthy of someone my brother would voluntarily pledge allegiance to. Very well, let's go somewhere else and talk in private first."

Yang Sanyan was proud by nature, but he also respected capable cultivators. In Hundred-Paper Immortal City, Ning Zhuo had never stopped gathering information. Yang Weida had mentioned it to him more than once. Ning Zhuo had, of course, long gathered intelligence on Yang Sanyan, knowing his personality. He had learned from Qing Yan's narration about Yang Sanyan's arrogance, and seeing the unfavorable situation, he decisively struck. The Profound Gold Slash could have completely struck Yang Sanyan, but Ning Zhuo intentionally aimed it off-target, solely to let Yang Sanyan know his strength. Yang Sanyan quickly recognized the reality and immediately changed his attitude. In terms of combat power alone, Ning Zhuo could completely threaten him. More crucially, Ning Zhuo was still very young and only at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level. This sufficiently demonstrated his cultivation talent.

Yang Sanyan and Ning Zhuo left the chaotic scene. Soon, the two began their private discussion.

Ning Zhuo was the first to pull out a storage bag: "Your brother and I got along very well. This was something Brother Yang personally gave me when he voluntarily came to join me. Now that Brother Yang has unfortunately passed away, I have no right to keep his assets. Senior, you are his elder brother; I return this storage bag to you." Ning Zhuo's first action deeply moved Yang Sanyan. He subconsciously took the storage bag, his fingers trembling slightly. He opened the bag, infused it with his spiritual sense, and quickly scanned its contents, thinking to himself: *This is completely consistent with what my brother described in his letter to me.* It also made sense; something happened to Yang Weida on the very first day after he pledged allegiance to Ning Zhuo. After Ning Zhuo learned of the tragic news, he decisively stopped using Yang Weida's assets, specifically for this moment. What Ning Zhuo didn't know was that Yang Weida had written to Yang Sanyan before pledging allegiance to him, outlining his plan in the letter.

Yang Sanyan tightened the bag's opening and placed the storage bag into his embrace. He sighed deeply, his cold expression softening considerably: "Given my nature, I wouldn't normally accept this storage bag. But it is, after all, my brother's relic. Keeping it with me will be a memento. You, young junior, certainly conduct yourself well."

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "I presented this storage bag not only to show my sincerity and intention, but also to show goodwill to you, Senior Yang, hoping that you can provide more assistance to me and help establish the Azure Scorching Army." Ning Zhuo's words once again surprised Yang Sanyan. He couldn't help but scrutinize the yellow-faced youth before him again: "It seems some local talents have indeed emerged in Hundred-Paper Immortal City." Ning Zhuo's request, seemingly unreasonable, actually perfectly aligned with what Yang Sanyan intended to do next. Yang Sanyan's arrival in Hundred-Paper Immortal City wasn't just because Yang Weida was here; he also bore a mission from his sect. One of these was to stabilize the situation as much as possible and secure more rights for the sect. The death of his younger brother, Yang Weida, filled Yang Sanyan with immense grief. But his immediate capture of Qing Chi and summoning of Ning Zhuo upon his appearance wasn't merely to outwardly vent his anger and seek revenge for his brother's death; it had a deeper purpose. That was the Azure Scorching Army! Qing Chi was a commander of the Azure Scorching Army, and Ning Zhuo's recent proactive use of military power also indicated that he was one of its commanders. Yang Sanyan acutely realized that once the Azure Scorching Army was truly established, it would undoubtedly become a pivotal force in Hundred-Paper Immortal City in the future. This force, combined with a Golden Core level commander, would possess Nascent Soul level combat power. This meant it could contend with the Hundred-Paper City Lord as equals. If properly planned, the Myriad Manifestation Sect could foster the Azure Scorching Army into one of the major powers in Hundred-Paper Immortal City. This would greatly benefit the Myriad Manifestation Sect in its future endeavors to gather cultivation resources in the misty, dark, and humid swamps. Yang Sanyan was proud but not foolish; on the contrary, he possessed considerable strategy and means. However, when he planned to manipulate Jiao Ma to influence the Azure Scorching Army, an unexpected situation arose. The combat power Ning Zhuo displayed far exceeded his expectations. Just as he was readjusting his mindset, intending to secretly negotiate with Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo), offering terms to support the Azure Scorching Army, Ning Zhuo accurately guessed his thoughts and stance, directly stating his hope that Yang Sanyan would heavily fund the Azure Scorching Army.

Yang Sanyan's eyes gleamed: "Jiao Ma, you are a clever person. I believe it will be very easy to talk with a clever person." He was about to discuss specific terms when Ning Zhuo spoke again. Ning Zhuo's next words, for the third time, surpassed Yang Sanyan's expectations: "I am not Jiao Ma; I assumed this identity. My real name is Ning Zhuo." Yang Sanyan's brow furrowed: "What?" Ning Zhuo: "I am the Deputy City Lord of Hundred-Paper Immortal City, recognized as a savior by the current City Lord." Yang Sanyan's brow furrowed even tighter: "Savior? What do you mean by that?" Ning Zhuo didn't answer, continuing: "I am not a native here; I come from the Southern Bean Nation. My mother is Meng Yao Yin." Yang Sanyan: "Meng Yao Yin?" At first hearing the name, he felt it was familiar. The next moment, he remembered, and his expression drastically changed. He couldn't help but stand up and walk to Ning Zhuo: "You are the son of Meng Yao Yin, our sect's Golden Core True Disciple?" Ning Zhuo nodded: "My mother passed away when I was two years old. This time, I traveled the world, collecting relics and clues related to her along the way, hoping to understand what kind of person she truly was. That's how I arrived in Hundred-Paper Immortal City, but unfortunately, it was right during the crisis of the Ghost Tide and the Shadow Army's siege. Senior Wen Ruanyu is unaware of this, but the Hundred-Paper City Lord knows. Perhaps it's because of my mother's contributions to the immortal city that she secretly conferred the position of Deputy City Lord upon me. To protect me, the City Lord also gifted me three paper talismans, each safeguarding one of my three Dantian." Yang Sanyan's gaze became somewhat dazed for a moment. Ning Zhuo's rapid succession of revelations was simply too dense, leaving him a bit overwhelmed.

Yang Sanyan blinked: "How do you prove—" Before he finished speaking, Ning Zhuo took out some of Meng Yao Yin's personal belongings and added: "Thanks to Senior Wen Ruanyu's high regard, once this matter is resolved, I will take his letter of recommendation to the Myriad Manifestation Sect to participate in the Cloud-Soaring Assembly and strive to join the sect. By then, I believe there will be more reliable ways to prove my identity is not false." Yang Sanyan took these relics into his hands and examined them: "These are not conclusive proof." Ning Zhuo nodded: "It's strange; my mother didn't leave any related last words for me to return to the Myriad Manifestation Sect. I was also lucky enough to gather some crucial clues to find my way back." Ning Zhuo's words, on the contrary, seemed more authentic. Seeing Yang Sanyan in thought, Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "Actually, there's conclusive proof in this mechanism scripture. Among the scriptures my mother left behind, there are many insights and achievements regarding her cultivation. One of them, regarding array camouflage, is precisely why I was able to discover an array space within the giant paper effigy!"

Yang Sanyan nodded: "Wen Ruanyu has already reported this matter to the sect. I had already learned of it before my arrival. I didn't expect the situation to be like this." Ning Zhuo: "Because there's an uninvestigated traitor in the city, I didn't trust anyone and insisted on refining the Qianmo Lamp in the array space." Yang Sanyan: "The Qianmo Lamp definitely needs to be handed over to the sect. For now, you can keep it; that's not the main point." Yang Sanyan not prioritizing the Qianmo Lamp was good news for Ning Zhuo. He was more concerned about another point: "Ning Zhuo, since you were wary of Wen Ruanyu, do you suspect he is the traitor in the city?" Ning Zhuo shook his head: "As of now, he is not. I've thought of someone, and I'm eighty percent certain he is the, or one of the, traitors!"

Hearing this, Yang Sanyan's expression sharpened, and he urgently pressed: "Tell me, who is he!" Ning Zhuo, however, smiled again, didn't answer, and leisurely took a sip of tea. Seeing his demeanor, Yang Sanyan was so angry he almost slapped him. Since when did a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dare to put on airs in front of him? But recalling Ning Zhuo's strength and the content of their recent conversation, Yang Sanyan's heart lurched. He suddenly realized that ever since their private talk began, the entire rhythm of the conversation had been firmly in Ning Zhuo's hands. Though he was a Golden Core cultivator, a true disciple of a super sect, he had been thoroughly outmaneuvered, constantly led by the nose.

Yang Sanyan took a deep breath, having grasped Ning Zhuo's demand. He snorted coldly: "You want me to fully fund the Azure Scorching Army? To be frank with you, I've brought a significant amount of resources this time, enough for your army's needs. These resources aren't mine; they are the Myriad Manifestation Sect's mission funds." Ning Zhuo put down his cup: "The Myriad Manifestation Sect truly lives up to its name as my mother's sect; it's indeed generous!" He gazed at Yang Sanyan, his tone subtly hardening: "The Azure Scorching Army is my army, and it can only be my army." The implication was that the Myriad Manifestation Sect could provide funds, but should not attempt to meddle with the Azure Scorching Army.

Yang Sanyan: "Qing Chi doesn't know your true identity yet. Do you intend to rely on this Jiao Ma disguise to control this new army?" Ning Zhuo shook his head, taking another sip of tea: "I am fully confident in this; you don't need to worry, Senior. If we reach a consensus on this point, I will tell you the traitor's identity!"

Yang Sanyan narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and ultimately, the fire of revenge outweighed other considerations: "Alright, I'll agree to your terms this time. What then?" Ning Zhuo clapped his hands in praise: "Excellent!"

Yang Sanyan and Ning Zhuo both signed the agreement. Yang Sanyan directly handed Ning Zhuo three storage bracelets filled with cultivation resources. "Quickly tell me who the traitor is!" Yang Sanyan watched Ning Zhuo put away all the bracelets, finally losing his patience.