Chapter 449: Zhao Xuankang

The speaker was Nan Xuanjing, the young golden-robed cultivator from Xuanshao Dao Palace. However, his eyes suggested he was quite old, perhaps having consumed a Youth-Preserving Pill or similar. Chen Mobai was slightly taken aback by his blunt words but didn't deny them, nodding directly.

"On the battlefield, those two assisted the opposing faction against my Divine Wood Sect. They attacked our disciples, including Senior Brother Xie, without mercy. I judged them to be enemies, so I slew them both." This was public knowledge on the battlefield, and Chen Mobai had no intention of backing down, admitting it frankly.

His words surprised both members of Xuanshao Dao Palace. "Aren't you afraid of our censure?"

"Censure? On the battlefield, if one's skills are inferior, death is deserved. Are you two seniors planning to bully the weak?" Chen Mobai raised an eyebrow, beginning to assess the power disparity. Unfortunately, Zhou Shengqing had returned to Giant Tree Ridge, leaving only Fu Zongjue here. He wondered if he could take on a Golden Core True Person with his Violet Lightning Sword.

"Qiao'er and Jinzhi were my disciples. You killed them, you must give me an explanation." Nan Xuanjing spoke coldly, golden light glinting in his eyes. Just then, Fu Zongjue moved to block him.

"Then, your Xuanshao Dao Palace disciples appeared in the battle formation at Mount Shaking Peak and helped them attack my Divine Wood Sect. Shouldn't you also give us an explanation?" Fu Zongjue's tone was equally impolite.

"You are not my match; you are not qualified to demand an explanation from me." Nan Xuanjing spoke plainly, and an incredibly powerful spiritual pressure erupted, his cultivation clearly superior to Fu Zongjue's.

"Has your Xuanshao Dao Palace made plans to invade the Eastern Barrens?" Fu Zongjue frowned, warning Nan Xuanjing not to go too far.

"This mere barren land—even at the peak of your Five Elements Sect, my Xuanshao Dao Palace could easily level it. Do you truly believe your Divine Wood Sect can withstand us?" Nan Xuanjing's words infuriated Fu Zongjue, but he knew they were true. As one of the three great sects of Eastern Yi, Xuanshao Dao Palace not only had a Nascent Soul Patriarch but also nine Golden Core True Persons and hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even all six great sects of the Eastern Barrens combined couldn't match Xuanshao Dao Palace's raw strength.

"Senior Brother Nan, we are here today to discuss the settlement of Ji Zhenshi's old debts with our Chamber of Commerce. Let's set aside the matter of the two junior nephews for now." Just then, Zhao Xuankang spoke. Nan Xuanjing frowned slightly but snorted coldly and turned to walk away.

"True Person Fu, please forgive him. My senior brother is overwhelmed with grief due to the loss of his two disciples and cannot control himself." Zhao Xuankang smiled faintly as he spoke, but Chen Mobai largely understood the underlying meaning.

Fu Zongjue: "What do Ji Zhenshi's accounts with your Xuanshao Chamber of Commerce have to do with our Divine Wood Sect?"

Zhao Xuankang: "When Ji Zhenshi became an esteemed guest of our Chamber of Commerce, to acquire a body-refining cultivation technique that could lead to Nascent Soul, he mortgaged his Void Stone Mine to us. Although he is dead now, the Void Stone Mine remains. To avoid our losses, our Chamber of Commerce needs to reclaim it according to the contract."

Upon hearing this, Fu Zongjue's face darkened with anger. His Divine Wood Sect had mobilized cultivators from the sect and its four subordinate nations twice, finally destroying Mount Shaking Peak and conquering these two territories. For Xuanshao Dao Palace to simply claim the most valuable Void Stone Mine with a few words, how could he not be furious?

"True Person Zhao, do you think it's appropriate for our Divine Wood Sect to repay Ji Zhenshi's debts?" Fu Zongjue spoke coldly, clearly unwilling to agree.

"True Person Fu, if you don't agree, then this debt becomes a bad debt. The body-refining technique Ji Zhenshi obtained was taken from the Grand Elder's library. This matter will certainly be reported to the Grand Elder. If he becomes displeased, he won't be as easy to talk to as I am." The Grand Elder of Xuanshao Dao Palace was the Nascent Soul cultivator. At these words, Chen Mobai and Ma Gang's expressions changed, and even Fu Zongjue fell silent. A Nascent Soul Venerable—even in the Immortal Sect, they were top-tier existences. In a place like the Eastern Barrens, they were supreme powerhouses capable of sweeping aside all great sects.

"When I sorted through Mount Shaking Peak's ledgers, I saw that the contract Ji Zhenshi signed with your Chamber of Commerce originally stipulated only twenty percent of the Void Stone Mine's income." Chen Mobai interjected. Zhao Xuankang smiled slightly and pulled out a new contract from his storage pouch.

"Last year, Ji Zhenshi, considering that the war with your Divine Wood Sect would be prolonged, realized that his sect alone could never defeat you. So, he mortgaged all the remaining Void Stone Mine to our Chamber of Commerce in exchange for our Xuanshao Dao Palace sending forces to help his Mount Shaking Peak defeat your Divine Wood Sect." Zhao Xuankang displayed the contract; sure enough, it bore both Ji Zhenshi's and Mount Shaking Peak's seals.

"But you didn't intervene?" Ma Gang couldn't help but ask.

"Our Xuanshao Dao Palace has many procedures. Sending a large number of disciples requires layers of approval. Senior Brother Nan had a good relationship with Ji Zhenshi, so he sent a batch of disciples first."

"However, I had a meeting with your Divine Wood Sect's True Person Zhou and received some benefits from him, so I delayed things within the Dao Palace, giving you enough time to destroy Mount Shaking Peak."

"Precisely because of this, my position in the Dao Palace is now difficult. If I don't retrieve this Void Stone Mine, I'm afraid we'll have to find another way to demand it from your Divine Wood Sect." Zhao Xuankang spoke quite directly. After revealing Zhou Shengqing's transaction with him, he finally began to threaten them plainly. The implication was that if they didn't get it, the Xuanshao Dao Palace army would come, or even the Nascent Soul Patriarch would personally demand it.

"Oh, is that so? Senior Brother Zhou didn't mention it to me." Fu Zongjue frowned slightly upon hearing this but maintained his composure.

"True Person Fu can discuss it thoroughly with True Person Zhou. Senior Brother Nan and I will return in three days." After saying this, Zhao Xuankang smiled and left with Nan Xuanjing.

"That fellow is still so devious." Fu Zongjue spat as he watched Zhao Xuankang's disappearing back.

"Oh, did Patriarch also deal with him before?" Chen Mobai asked upon hearing this.

"Before our Five Branches split, this Zhao Xuankang was an honored guest of the Five Elements Sect. I've met him a few times." Fu Zongjue explained, then took out a talisman and began contacting Zhou Shengqing. A wisp of green smoke rose, forming Zhou Shengqing's phantom.

"Although I did contact him, that Zhao Xuankang fellow wanted to play both sides. He could better exploit Mount Shaking Peak's resources only if our Divine Wood Sect and Mount Shaking Peak were evenly matched."

"This fellow misjudged our methods. He certainly didn't expect Ji Zhenshi to die within half a year, which is why he rushed here, hoping to gain more benefits."

"Since they want this Void Stone Mine, let them have it. We must give face to the Xuanshao Dao Palace's Nascent Soul Grand Elder." Zhou Shengqing's tone was somewhat helpless at the end. Although the Divine Wood Sect was considered one of the best in the Eastern Barrens, it was no match for Xuanshao Dao Palace. Although he still had some connections in the Sun-Bathed Sea, after Patriarch Hunyuan's passing, it was impossible to invite a fellow Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator to stand against Xuanshao Dao Palace. So, after much consideration, he could only yield.

Three days later, Zhao Xuankang and Nan Xuanjing arrived. After receiving the expected answer from Fu Zongjue, they exchanged glances and nodded. But then, they surprisingly produced another contract.

"Besides the Void Stone Mine, Ji Zhenshi also mortgaged two small spiritual stone mines within Yan Country to us to raise spirit stones for hiring rogue cultivators and raiders." Hearing Zhao Xuankang's words, Fu Zongjue became furious.

"The three most valuable mineral veins in the entire Yan Country are these. Your Xuanshao Dao Palace is going too far!"

"True Person Fu, aren't you also bullying Mount Shaking Peak in the Eastern Barrens in the same way? In the Heavenly River Realm, isn't it always the way of cultivation for big fish to eat little fish?" Zhao Xuankang smiled and said something that made Fu Zongjue clench his fists.

"The Void Stone Mine is the absolute bottom line. If your Xuanshao Dao Palace wants these two spiritual stone mines, you'll have to fight for them." Fu Zongjue knew the meaning of insatiable greed. If he yielded again, this fellow might produce other contracts and take all the mineral properties under Mount Shaking Peak. So, he resolutely refused, expressing his determination to fight.

"Perfect. I was just wondering how to find an excuse for the Dao Palace to send troops to avenge my two disciples. Since True Person Fu says so, your Divine Wood Sect can just wait for our Xuanshao Dao Palace's army to descend upon you." Nan Xuanjing, who had been silent, said with a sneer.

Chen Mobai frowned slightly. He had thought that after taking Mount Shaking Peak, he could cultivate peacefully in the Eastern Barrens until he reached Golden Core. He hadn't expected the conflict between sects in the Heavenly River Realm to be even more direct than he imagined. The Divine Wood Sect hadn't even fully absorbed the spoils from Yan and Xiao countries, and the watchful Xuanshao Dao Palace was already preparing to strike like a fierce dragon crossing the river.

"Don't think only your Xuanshao Dao Palace has a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator backing you!" Fu Zongjue said with a cold expression. Chen Mobai was slightly surprised; he truly didn't know the Divine Wood Sect had such a backer!

"If we speak of karmic ties, the Five Elements Sect is far more legitimate than your Divine Wood Sect. If our Xuanshao Dao Palace were to approach them, I expect the Five Elements Sect's sect master would welcome us enthusiastically, eager to join forces to destroy your two traitorous branches." Zhao Xuankang said something that sent a sudden chill through Fu Zongjue's heart. Indeed, due to Patriarch Hunyuan's connections, the Five Elements Sect was the rightful inheritor. If Xuanshao Dao Palace colluded with the Five Elements Sect in the Eastern Barrens, they would be completely defenseless.

"Two spiritual stone mines are absolutely out of the question. We can give you one at most." As soon as Fu Zongjue said this, it meant he had yielded again. Zhao Xuankang and Nan Xuanjing exchanged glances, smiles on their faces, but neither relented, insisting on both the Void Stone Mine and the two small spiritual stone mines.

"I need to report this matter to Senior Brother Zhou." Fu Zongjue could only delay again.

"We will return in three days. By then, I believe we should be able to meet True Person Zhou again." Zhao Xuankang smiled confidently and left with Nan Xuanjing again.

As expected, after receiving Fu Zongjue's report, Zhou Shengqing, though angered, still rushed over via the teleportation array. This matter had reached a point where Zhou Shengqing had to personally intervene.

"True Person Zhao, some things should not be pushed too far." Zhou Shengqing said coldly after meeting Zhao Xuankang.

"These are our Xuanshao Dao Palace's final conditions. As long as we receive the Void Stone Mine and the two small spiritual stone mines, settling the bad debt left by Ji Zhenshi, the deaths of Junior Nephews Xuan Qiao and Xuan Jinzhi can also be completely cleared." Zhao Xuankang said solemnly. Facing Zhou Shengqing, Nan Xuanjing no longer had his previous cold expression. Clearly, this foremost cultivator of the Eastern Barrens could still command some respect from them.

"Agreed then, let us both make a Dao Heart Vow." Zhou Shengqing was also decisive. As long as it bought him time to reach Nascent Soul, today's losses could all be recovered with interest in the future.

"True Person Zhou is as straightforward as ever! I've already prepared everything." After getting his satisfactory outcome, Zhao Xuankang took out two identical contracts. Then, witnessed by everyone, they made their Dao Heart Vows, each taking a copy.

"Henceforth, Senior Brother Nan will lead their branch of Xuanshao Dao Palace disciples here to establish a sub-sect and separate courtyard. Consider yourselves neighbors, and please extend your care." After completing this matter, Zhao Xuankang introduced Nan Xuanjing. Chen Mobai felt as if all of his Divine Wood Sect's actions were completely within the other party's calculations. No wonder they sat idly by as Mount Shaking Peak was destroyed; perhaps even Mount Six-Armored was held back by Xuanshao Dao Palace's intervention.

"Since True Person Nan intends to establish a sect here, then remember an old saying: 'A near neighbor is better than a distant relative.'" Zhou Shengqing said with a tight-lipped smile. Nan Xuanjing frowned, and his spiritual power surged. Their energies clashed, and Nan Xuanjing grunted.

"Sirs, we senior and junior brothers shall take our leave now. The Grand Elder is waiting for our report." Seeing this, Zhao Xuankang's expression remained unchanged. He grabbed Nan Xuanjing's hand, broke through Zhou Shengqing's spiritual pressure, and turned to leave.

They flew a long distance before stopping on a mountain peak. "Senior Brother, to what extent has Zhou Shengqing's cultivation reached?"

"He pretends to be at the late Golden Core stage, but he's likely already at completion. The fact that he agreed to such harsh terms indicates he wants to make a desperate attempt to gain time for breaking through to Nascent Soul. Although with his age, foundation, and the scarce resources of the Eastern Barrens, the hope of reaching Nascent Soul is slim, it would still be better to try and disrupt him if possible." Nan Xuanjing's face had lost its initial arrogance, and he calmly stated what he had discovered about Zhou Shengqing's true strength.

"If it truly comes to that, I'll trade my life for his." Zhao Xuankang held up the contract he had sworn a Dao Heart Vow on, his voice cold.