Chapter 501: Conditions

The harmonious atmosphere in the stone pavilion grew noticeably colder with Baili Che's sudden appearance. Zhou Tai and the other two glared at him with hostile eyes.

Zhou Yuan, however, remained unfazed. He glanced at Baili Che and calmly asked, "What do you want?"

Baili Che set down his teacup, gazing coolly at Zhou Yuan. "My Sword Cometh Peak can still offer you protection this time," he stated, "but it comes with conditions."

His tone was condescending, a mocking sneer playing on his lips, as if he were granting a favor. This immediately drew a flicker of anger from Zhou Tai and the others present.

"Do tell," Zhou Yuan replied, intrigued. While protection from Sword Cometh Peak was of no concern to him, he was curious to hear what their chief truly intended.

"I hear Elder Shen exercised her authority as Peak Master today," Baili Che said idly, "forcing Elder Lu Hong's faction to move back to Sword Cometh Peak? Heh, Elder Shen is truly in a hurry, isn't she? Does she already consider herself the Peak Master of Saint Origin Peak?"

A trace of sarcasm laced his voice.

Without waiting for a reply from Zhou Yuan and his companions, he merely waved a hand and fixed his gaze on Zhou Yuan. "For the first condition," he stated, "I'd like Junior Brother Zhou Yuan to speak with Elder Shen and have her rescind the previous Peak Master's order. After all, Elder Lu Hong's faction has been at Saint Origin Peak for over a year; even without notable achievements, they've certainly put in the effort. Now that Saint Origin Peak is reopening its doors, are you truly so quick to burn bridges?"

Hearing this, Zhou Tai and Lü Yan burst into furious laughter. "What a 'no achievements but hard work' indeed!" Zhou Tai scoffed. "Lu Hong's faction threw our Saint Origin Peak into utter chaos! How dare they even suggest such a thing?"

Baili Che cast a cold glance at them. "If you lack strength, who is there to blame?" he retorted. "If you had been capable, would Lu Hong's faction even have been stationed at Saint Origin Peak?"

"You!" Zhou Tai and the two others rose indignantly.

Zhou Yuan gestured for them to stop. Displaying anger before Baili Che would only reveal weakness. He merely offered a faint smile. "Master Shen personally issued that order," he stated, "how can it be so easily altered?"

"While others may not have much sway, you're an exception," Baili Che said with an amused smile. "You are, after all, a great contributor to Saint Origin Peak. Without you, Elder Shen likely wouldn't have been able to take control of the peak."

"You mentioned a first condition; I presume there's a second?" Zhou Yuan prompted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"The second is quite simple..." Baili Che lightly tapped the table with his long fingers. "During this Origin Pool Festival, if you encounter any danger, my Sword Cometh Peak will intervene to help. However, upon its conclusion, you will need to hand over fifty percent of your Origin Marrow."

"Fifty percent?!" Zhang Yan exclaimed, his face darkening with anger. "Why don't you just rob us?!"

Zhou Tai and Lü Yan also fixed their gazes on Baili Che. Fifty percent of their Origin Marrow — that would essentially force Saint Origin Peak to work for Sword Cometh Peak during this festival!

Sword Cometh Peak was truly being utterly outrageous!

Baili Che leaned back in his chair, a hint of languidness about him. He completely disregarded the trio, simply fixing a half-smile on Zhou Yuan. "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan," he said, "you've truly managed to incense everyone at my Sword Cometh Peak this time. If you don't agree to these conditions, then during this Origin Pool Festival, some of my disciples might become rather difficult to control, even for me. And if they happen to cause you trouble then, well, that wouldn't be ideal."

Fury flared in the eyes of Zhou Tai and the two others. Baili Che's words were nothing short of a blatant threat.

"During the Origin Pool Festival, conflict between peaks is inherent, and no one can object. So, sometimes, it's wisest to be pragmatic."

Baili Che smiled slightly. "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan is very intelligent," he said, "I'm sure you know how to make the right choice, don't you?"

Inside the stone pavilion, Zhou Tai and the two others looked expectantly at Zhou Yuan. As the current chief of Saint Origin Peak, his decision would speak for all the disciples.

Zhou Yuan idly rubbed the warm teacup in his hand, a faint smile gracing his usually placid face. He looked at Baili Che, who seemed languid yet exuded an air of arrogance, and gently shook a finger. "The first condition," he stated, "is out."

"As for the second," he continued, "not a single percent will be handed over."

His voice was crisp and decisive.

Zhou Tai and the two others beside him let out a subtle sigh of relief. If Zhou Yuan had actually agreed, Saint Origin Peak would truly become an eternal laughingstock.

Baili Che leaned back against the chair, the playful smile on his lips unwavering. He was clearly unsurprised by Zhou Yuan's response. With a slight sigh, he remarked, "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan truly is a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. Such courage is indeed admirable."

He rose to his feet, a smile playing on his lips. "So, there's nothing left to discuss?" he asked.

Zhou Yuan picked up his teacup and gestured towards the pavilion's exit with a faint smile. "Please. In the future, unless absolutely necessary, Senior Brother Baili, you might want to visit Saint Origin Peak less often. Our humble abode is simply too small to accommodate such a grand deity as yourself."

Baili Che's eyes narrowed subtly. He leaned forward, adopting a condescending and aggressive stance as he looked down at Zhou Yuan. "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan," he said coolly, "while you may now be the chief of Saint Origin Peak, do you truly believe you're in a position to speak to me that way?"

*Boom!*

The instant his words ceased, a powerful, ferocious surge of sharp Genesis Qi violently erupted from his body. Its immense force immediately sent Zhou Tai and the other two stumbling backward.

Zhou Yuan's robes billowed from the impact, yet in that same moment, his skin emanated a jade-like glow, and faint silver light shimmered beneath his flesh. His body stood like an immovable mountain amidst the turbulent storm.

*Crack!*

The stone table between them, however, couldn't endure such an onslaught of Genesis Qi and suddenly splintered into countless cracks.

"Baili Che, this is Saint Origin Peak! Don't you dare be so arrogant!" Zhou Tai bellowed, his face turning ashen.

Baili Che gave a faint chuckle, and the terrifying Genesis Qi fluctuations receded. He had no intention of truly fighting; he merely wanted to intimidate Zhou Yuan.

Nevertheless, Zhou Yuan's ability to remain utterly unmoving under his Genesis Qi pressure did slightly surprise him. This individual, capable of defeating Yuan Hong, indeed possessed some skill.

"Does Senior Brother Baili wish to try something?" Zhou Yuan asked calmly, rubbing his palms as he looked up.

Baili Che gave Zhou Yuan a profound look. "There will be a chance," he stated. "Don't be impatient, Junior Brother. When the time comes, your Senior Brother will show you that even among chiefs, there are varying degrees of ability."

With that, he turned and walked towards the pavilion's exit.

Watching his retreating back, Zhou Yuan slowly spoke. "Senior Brother Baili, when you return, please deliver a message: Sword Cometh Peak should not be so overbearing in its affairs. Saint Origin Peak will not rely on anyone during this Origin Pool Festival."

"But if Sword Cometh Peak proves too aggressive, remember that even a cornered rabbit will bite. At that point, Sword Cometh Peak might find itself losing more than it gains."

Baili Che's steps halted. He tilted his head slightly, a mocking sneer curving his lips.

"Since you know you're a rabbit, just quietly wait to be slaughtered," he scoffed. "Jumping around haphazardly will only make you more annoying..."

"And as for wanting my Sword Cometh Peak to suffer a loss..."

"Do you truly think you're capable?"

He chuckled softly, shaking his head dismissively. With a sudden movement, he stepped on Genesis Qi and ascended into the sky.

Zhou Yuan watched his figure recede.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within them. Baili Che's visit had been less about negotiation and more a declaration of war.

He had made it abundantly clear that Sword Cometh Peak was extremely displeased this time, and that their anger would be unleashed upon Saint Origin Peak during the Origin Pool Festival.

"Sword Cometh Peak..."

Zhou Yuan tapped the stone table with a finger, and the cracked surface instantly crumbled into dust. His gaze, meanwhile, was as sharp and cold as a blade.

"Since you want to play games..."

"Do you truly believe I, Zhou Yuan, am afraid of you?"