Chapter 443: Cooperation Conditions

Xu Yang seemed a little impatient. With a casual wave of his hand towards the sky, the immense oppressive power instantly vanished.

The Five Element Elders all wore helpless expressions, turning to look at Miss Yun Shu, somewhat at a loss.

"Miss, this person is too powerful. Even if all five of us fought with our lives, we wouldn't be able to harm him in the slightest. What should we do?"

The situation instantly became extremely awkward.

They couldn't defeat Xu Yang, and what was even more frustrating was that he wasn't attacking at all, leaving Yun Shu in an impossible dilemma, desperately needing a way out.

As expected, the considerate Xu Yang took a few steps closer to the unicorn, smiling.

"I can imagine that within your Xuanmen sect, there must be some untold history connected to Jingyun Valley. But I can responsibly tell you that the more you try to avoid certain matters, the more they tend to confront you. If I'm not mistaken, over the past few years, more and more factions have likely coveted Jingyun Valley, this auspicious land. Otherwise, you, who once wielded immense power, would have repeatedly attacked the Northern Imperial Dynasty without suddenly slowing your pace. There's no other explanation for this; it can only mean your Xuanmen has encountered other, more formidable adversaries, leaving you with less energy to deal with other matters. Am I right?"

The elders exchanged glances again, especially young Lei Zhen, who now seemed to regard Xu Yang as a true deity.

"Damn, you really are clairvoyant! You guess everything correctly!"

"Lei Zhen, hold your tongue!"

Elder Bing spoke sternly, prompting Lei Zhen to sheepishly stick out his tongue and say no more.

"Fine, since we are not your match and you bear no ill will, I might as well tell you this secret. But as a condition, don't you think you should offer something in return?"

Xu Yang smiled. "That's a reasonable request, but... if you're asking for someone, I don't have that authority."

As he spoke, Xu Yang, Long Kun, and the others simultaneously glanced at the equally handsome and dashing Murong Jian beside them, leaving the thick-headed man utterly bewildered.

Sure enough, unexpectedly teased by Xu Yang, Yun Shu instantly showed a unique blush, characteristic of a young woman, but she quickly hid it perfectly.

"My intention is for you to help us eliminate a powerful enemy faction within the Northern Domain. If you can achieve that, I will reveal everything about our clan and all matters related to Jingyun Valley. And right now, I can clearly tell you that all your previous judgments and guesses were entirely correct."

Xu Yang was astonished. He truly hadn't expected that a supreme continental heritage like a divine bloodline would be hidden within the desolate Northern Frontier!

"The enemy force you're referring to wouldn't happen to be—the Blood Barbarian Clan, would it?"

This time, Yun Shu was almost frantic. "How do you know that too?"

"Haha, that's really not hard to deduce. The entire Jingyun Valley is your Xuanmen's territory. Logically, no force should be able to easily appear in the outer region without your permission. Even if they were passing through or seeking resources, they should require your approval to proceed! Yet, not long ago, I encountered the elite Royal Army of the Blood Barbarian Clan, along with their notorious berserker leader, right here on the border. This clearly shows that the deterrence and dominion of your Jingyun Valley Xuanmen are significantly weaker than before. Or perhaps, it's the astonishing growth rate of your opponents that has made you wary. And since your Xuanmen would never leave Jingyun Valley, once you lose power in this Northern Frontier, you would immediately be encircled and annihilated by the Northern Imperial Dynasty and the other Northern Frontier clans, completely losing your foundation."

Although Xu Yang was just a cultivator, this did not mean he couldn't grasp the intricacies of worldly conflicts and interests. On the contrary, he was more adept at it than most people.

After his well-reasoned analysis, all the key figures of the Xuanmen, including Miss Yun Shu, were left completely speechless.

"Since you understand everything, there's no need for further talk. Will you cooperate or not?"

Xu Yang chuckled. "Of course, why not? The Blood Barbarian Clan is extremely brutal and highly ambitious, representing the most dangerous ticking time bomb in the entire Northern Frontier. Moreover, they've been very active lately. It's time to eradicate this hidden threat. Give me three days, and I will make sure this faction disappears from Jingyun Valley forever."

Since this transaction targeted the cruel and lawless Blood Barbarian Clan, Xu Yang was naturally free to go all out and kill as many as he pleased.

"Alright, I will lead the people who appeared before you today to the Blood Barbarian stronghold, guiding you and fighting alongside you."

As Yun Shu spoke, she instinctively cast a furtive glance at Murong Jian.

"Haha, don't worry, Miss Yun Shu, General Murong will go too. He's our sworn brother; he wouldn't abandon us, hehe!"

Even with his dullness, Murong Jian sensed the unusual atmosphere. However, compared to the camaraderie among brothers, he seemed indifferent to the unique charm and appeal exuded by women, deeply believing that so-called love was unreliable.

How could he have experienced everything that Prince Sakura and others from the Ice Snow Divine Dynasty had? If he were Sakura, he would surely have understood the true meaning of love...

After a day of simple preparations, the following day, the alliance, comprising Xu Yang's trio, Murong Jian, and the core team of the Xuanmen Five Element Elders, officially set off, proceeding from Jingyun Valley deep into the Northern Frontier.

However, the deeper they ventured into the vast plains of the Northern Frontier, the more intense the smell of blood in the air became.

"My heavens... How can it be like this here? Are the Blood Barbarians truly so cruel?"

Ling Yao could hardly bear it and had to enter a breath-holding state. The concentration of blood in the air already exceeded what a normal person could withstand. Although Ling Yao possessed a cultivation level of the Tribulation Transcension Realm, placing her among the continent's top cultivators, women are naturally very sensitive to such odors, and prolonged exposure to this environment would be extremely uncomfortable.

It's worth noting that Yun Shu, riding her unicorn, remained completely unaffected by the bloody scent. The crystalline glow emanating from her precious mount was also remarkable, seemingly possessing an innate ability to purify its surroundings.

Although this unicorn was not of divine bloodline, its rank was a notch below ancestral beasts like the Taotie, a king among them. Nevertheless, it ranked very high among spirit creatures.

This type of ancestral beast isn't skilled in combat, but it's an excellent choice for nurturing as a pet.