Chapter 1357: Seeking Benefit and Avoiding Harm

The Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator possessed the highest cultivation, and destroying the Golden Sabre Sect would yield him the greatest advantages. The Wang family's sudden involvement was akin to snatching food from his hands, so naturally, he would not look kindly upon Wang Qingshan.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, this is the Firefin Sea, and this matter concerns us. It's not for your Wang family to interfere, is it? Could it be that Fellow Daoist Liu invited you here?"

The Golden Flame True Person's gaze flickered with surprise and uncertainty as he looked towards Liu Xinchao.

The Wang family and Firecloud Island maintained close relations, both being subsidiary forces to the Myriad Sword Gate. It was therefore quite reasonable for Liu Xinchao to invite the Wang family to participate and claim a share of the territory.

Liu Xinchao paused for a moment, then his eyes flickered, and he nodded. "That's right," he said, "the Golden Sabre Sect has committed many wicked deeds. I was concerned about unforeseen complications, so I invited Fellow Daoist Wang to join us in this significant endeavor."

For their individual interests, the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator and the two others were each considering the situation from their own vantage points.

"I, Wang, was indeed invited by Fellow Daoist Liu, but I am not here to join you in confronting the Golden Sabre Sect. Rather, I am here to mediate. I hope all fellow Daoists will consider our shared humanity, cease hostilities, and sit down to discuss things properly. Why endure a mutually destructive fight? According to reliable intelligence, the demon race has dispatched infiltrators to sow discord, and I suspect this entire conflict was orchestrated by them. Should this escalate into another demon invasion, the consequences would be dire."

Wang Qingshan spoke sincerely, his words containing both a public-spirited concern and a hidden self-interest.

The Five Dragon Sea, Firefin Sea, and Golden Clam Sea regions are relatively close to the demon territories. The destruction of the Golden Sabre Sect would equate to a loss of human strength. The previous great war between humans and demons largely stemmed from the human desire to jointly attack the demon race; however, news of their plans leaked, prompting the demons to ally with the barbarian and sea tribes to confront humanity.

Only a little over a century had passed since that war, and without provocation, the demon race would not instigate conflict. Wang Qingshan was exaggerating.

"Hmph, Fellow Daoist Wang is merely being an alarmist," scoffed the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator. "Don't cast all the blame on the demon race. Only a little over a century has passed, and the demon race lacks the audacity to invade again. Furthermore, it is far more difficult for demons to achieve human form than for us cultivators to form a Nascent Soul."

The Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator dismissed his words, showing no regard for Wang Qingshan.

If he truly heeded Wang Qingshan's words, he would at best secure a small portion of territory, and the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton would never fall into his possession. His plan remained to challenge the Golden Sabre Immortal under the guise of a friendly spar, seeking an opportunity to kill him. Even if this conflict genuinely incited another demon invasion, the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator was unconcerned; as long as his power was paramount, no one could truly stand against him.

"Precisely," the Golden Flame True Person chimed in, "Fellow Daoist Wang worries too much. We genuinely don't wish to trouble Fellow Daoist Sun, but he refuses to relinquish the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton. Who can be certain he isn't planning to hand it over to the demon race? In my opinion, it would be best to entrust the flood dragon skeleton to the Myriad Fire Palace."

The Golden Flame True Person shifted his argument, expressing his desire for the Golden Sabre Immortal to hand over the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton to the Myriad Fire Palace. The Myriad Fire Palace was the patron of the Seven Flames Gate, and offering such a valuable item would undoubtedly earn the Golden Flame True Person a substantial reward.

"I believe it should be given to Myriad Beasts Island," the Thousand Clouds Immortaless offered her perspective. "Myriad Beasts Island excels at controlling insects and beasts, and they might be able to research something useful from the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton." Her sect, the Thousand Clouds Sect, was backed by Myriad Beasts Island, and she hoped to present the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton to them.

Liu Xinchao shook his head. "Both of you are mistaken, Fellow Daoists," he said. "I believe it should be handed over to the Myriad Sword Gate."

The Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator frowned, his expression turning exceedingly grim. Wang Qingshan's arrival had thoroughly disrupted his plans. He had intended to leverage his mid-Nascent Soul cultivation to secure the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton for himself. According to the Golden Flame True Person and the other two, the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton should be delivered to their respective patrons, a proposition the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator found utterly unacceptable.

This was a Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton, not merely the remains of an ordinary Tier-4 demon beast.

"Hmph, enough of this useless talk," the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator growled. "Fellow Daoist Wang, this matter does not concern you. Fellow Daoist Sun, how about a one-on-one spar between us? If you prevail, I shall immediately withdraw my forces. If you lose, you hand over the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton to me, and I, too, will depart with my people."

The Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator quickly steered the conversation back to the main point, intent on finalizing the matter. If he were to acquire the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton, he would even dare to challenge cultivators in the late Nascent Soul stage.

The Golden Sabre Immortal's brows furrowed deeply as he looked towards Wang Qingshan and the other four cultivators. Winning the spar would be one thing, but losing could mean his demise. He was truly unwilling to surrender the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, could you perhaps help mediate this conflict?" the Golden Moon Rogue Cultivator transmitted to Wang Qingshan. "If you can persuade them to withdraw their forces, our Golden Sabre Sect will undoubtedly reward you handsomely."

The Golden Moon Rogue Cultivator sent a private message to Wang Qingshan. The four opposing cultivators — the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator, Golden Flame True Person, Thousand Clouds Immortaless, and Liu Xinchao — all coveted the Tier-4 flood dragon skeleton, but Wang Qingshan alone appeared to be considering the broader interests of the human race.

He understood that Wang Qingshan also harbored his own designs, yet the immediate priority was to compel the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator to withdraw his forces.

"Fellow Daoist Liu," Wang Qingshan transmitted to him, "be careful you're not being used as a pawn without realizing it. If you successfully annihilate the Golden Sabre Sect, that's one thing. But suppose you fail to eliminate Fellow Daoist Sun and Fellow Daoist Song, and one of them escapes. Who do you think they will seek revenge on? The Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator, or Firecloud Island?"

This entire affair had originated from the dispute between Firecloud Island and the Golden Sabre Sect. Should either the Golden Sabre Immortal or the Golden Moon Rogue Cultivator escape, or if the Golden Sabre Sect possessed other Nascent Soul cultivators, they would undoubtedly unleash a furious revenge upon Firecloud Island in the future.

Liu Xinchao's expression showed hesitation. He, too, harbored such concerns, though the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator had repeatedly assured him of success. His covetousness for the Golden Sabre Sect's territory and treasures had ultimately led him to agree. Wang Qingshan's words, however, served as a splash of cold water, bringing him back to his senses.

"Indeed!" he thought. "Are Nascent Soul cultivators truly so easy to kill? Who knows what hidden measures the Golden Sabre Sect might possess? If the Golden Sabre Sect were annihilated, its remnants could unleash a furious retaliation against Firecloud Island. And at that point, the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator would likely seize the opportunity to worsen our plight rather than offer assistance."

"Of course, you've come all this way, and you certainly shouldn't return empty-handed. Your losses are not insignificant either. You could have the Golden Sabre Sect compensate you with a substantial amount of cultivation resources. A crippled Golden Sabre Sect would pose little threat to your Firecloud Island. By destroying the Golden Sabre Sect, Firecloud Island would not be the primary beneficiary; instead, you would bear the greatest risk. Why pursue such a path?"

Wang Qingshan clearly explained the advantages and disadvantages to Liu Xinchao, naturally doing so via voice transmission.

"Fellow Daoist Wang is right," Liu Xinchao responded. "I, Liu, almost made a grave error. But as for Fellow Daoist Jin..."

It wasn't that Liu Xinchao failed to grasp this principle. Rather, the Golden Mirror Rogue Cultivator's cultivation and strength surpassed his own, and coupled with the instigation from the Golden Flame True Person and the Thousand Clouds Immortaless, he had consented to participate in the siege of the Golden Sabre Sect's main headquarters.

Frankly, in the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme; whoever possesses the greater power dictates the truth.

Wang Qingshan smiled slightly. "I, Wang, have long held Fellow Daoist Jin in high regard," he said. "Might Fellow Daoist Jin be willing to offer me some guidance? If I lose, I shall immediately withdraw my people. But if I win, I hope Fellow Daoist Jin will, for the sake of the human race, agree to cease hostilities and seek a peaceful resolution. What do you say?"