Chapter 887: Discussing Grand Plans

The red-robed elder smiled faintly and politely said, "I am Chen Yan, and these two are Junior Sister Sun and Junior Brother Li. Madam Zhao, I am a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. Our Black Flame Palace wishes to join forces with your Cloud Sea Sect to deal with the Wang family. Your sect has been in constant conflict with the Wang family these past few years, and we are willing to lend you a hand. What do you say?"

The Cloud Sea Sect had indeed been in constant conflict with the Wang family for the past few years. While the two powers hadn't engaged in a full-scale war, their subordinate forces had frequently attacked each other, resulting in casualties on both sides. This was no secret; anyone paying a little attention would know about the discord between the Cloud Sea Sect and the Wang family.

Chen Yan and his companions could never have imagined that the Cloud Sea Sect and the Wang family were merely putting on a show, as the two factions were, in fact, one.

"Deal with the Wang family?"

Wang Qingjing was startled and frowned, saying, "Fellow Daoist Chen, since you are straightforward, I will be direct as well. Your Black Flame Palace wouldn't help us for nothing, would you? Don't tell me you are being kind. There's no need for those high-minded platitudes; the world bustles for profit."

"Excellent! 'The world bustles for profit,' indeed. I'll be blunt then, Madam Zhao. We've discovered a third-tier metal ore vein, but it's on the Wang family's territory. We can't mine it ourselves, which is why we want to collaborate with your Cloud Sea Sect to extract this metal ore."

Chen Yan spoke slowly, his tone sincere.

"A third-tier metal ore vein?"

Wang Qingjing's brow furrowed slightly. Logically, even if the Black Flame Palace discovered a third-tier metal ore vein, they could simply mine it secretly; there would be no need to ally with the Cloud Sea Sect.

Either the metal ore vein was very close to the Wang family's territory, or it was on an island controlled by the Wang family.

To be honest, the Wang family cultivators had thoroughly searched all the territories they controlled over the years and had not found any metal ore or spirit stones. If there truly were any, they were most likely located at great depths that Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't reach.

Chen Yan nodded, explaining, "That metal ore vein is on an island controlled by the Wang family, located several thousand zhang underground. Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot descend that deep, so the Wang family probably hasn't discovered it yet. Our Black Flame Palace is willing to develop it with your Cloud Sea Sect."

If the Black Flame Palace hadn't been too far from Silver Serpent Island, making support difficult in case of trouble, and considering the Wang family was related by marriage to the Zhang family, the Black Flame Palace would have proceeded independently.

"Develop it together? Easier said than done. The Wang family isn't so easily swayed. If we hit the Wang family hard, they'll call in the Zhang family. The Zhang family will intervene, and you'll just walk away, leaving our Cloud Sea Sect to face the Zhang family's wrath. Does your Black Flame Palace think our Cloud Sea Sect is foolish?"

Wang Qingjing said with a cold face. Since an island controlled by the Wang family contained a third-tier metal ore vein, they naturally wanted to monopolize it.

The Black Flame Palace was too powerful for Wang Qingjing to refuse them outright.

Chen Yan gave an awkward smile and said, "Madam Zhao, you jest. Our Black Flame Palace is genuinely sincere in cooperating with your Cloud Sea Sect. As you said, if we hit the Wang family hard, and they call in the Zhang family, it will be troublesome. Our Black Flame Palace's suggestion is for us to dispatch small forces to attack the islands controlled by the Wang family, occupy the island with the metal ore vein, and then we will jointly mine that metal ore."

Wang Qingjing frowned and said with a cold face, "Fellow Daoist Chen, you speak lightly. In recent years, our Cloud Sea Sect has been in constant conflict with the Wang family, with casualties on both sides. We've just managed to settle down and recuperate. You want us to instigate another conflict. If the conflict can be controlled within a certain scope, it would be fine, but if it gets out of control and escalates into a full-scale war between the two powers, then your Black Flame Palace will just walk away, leaving our Cloud Sea Sect to bear the Wang family's wrath alone."

What she said was factual and well-reasoned.

"Fairy Zhao's concern is not unfounded. Our Black Flame Palace is willing to give your Cloud Sea Sect a second-tier metal ore vein as a token of our sincerity. After the matter is concluded, that metal ore vein will be handed over to your Cloud Sea Sect for mining, and we will jointly mine the third-tier metal ore."

Chen Yan's tone was sincere. The second-tier metal ore vein he spoke of had a limited reserve, enough for only about a decade or so of mining.

The value difference between a third-tier metal ore vein and a second-tier one is vast. The Black Flame Palace was playing a shrewd game, and the Cloud Sea Sect was no fool. Without tangible benefits, the Cloud Sea Sect would not agree. Simply put, everyone acts only when there's profit to be made.

Wang Qingjing pondered for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No, what if we can't capture that island, and your Black Flame Palace goes back on your word afterward? What could we do to you?"

After some negotiation, Chen Yan promised that the Cloud Sea Sect could immediately send people to mine the second-tier metal ore. If they successfully captured the island controlling the third-tier metal ore, the second-tier metal ore would be given to the Cloud Sea Sect. If they failed, the Cloud Sea Sect could still send people to mine the second-tier metal ore vein, but would only receive thirty percent of the output. Given the significant risk the Cloud Sea Sect was taking, they definitely needed some benefits.

Wang Qingjing wanted the entire second-tier metal ore vein, but Chen Yan naturally could not agree. Even if it could only be mined for a decade or so, it was still a considerable amount of cultivation resources. Even giving the Cloud Sea Sect thirty percent if they failed was already quite generous.

If they succeeded, everyone would share the benefits. If they failed, they would simply consider it making a friend.

After reaching a consensus, Chen Yan and his Foundation Establishment disciples stayed behind, while the other two Core Formation cultivators returned to the Black Flame Palace to gather troops and prepare for the attack on the Wang family.

Wang Qingjing arranged lodging for Chen Yan and the others. She then used a dedicated teleportation array to return to Silver Serpent Island to report the situation to her family.

Wang Qiuhong was startled upon hearing this and immediately sent for Wang Qingshan, Wang Qingling, Ye Haitang, and Wang Qiuming to discuss a countermeasure.

"The Black Flame Palace wants to ally with the Cloud Sea Sect to attack our Wang family? Should we ask Grandfather and Grandmother to come out of seclusion?"

Wang Qiuhong asked cautiously. If this matter wasn't handled well, the Wang family could suffer a fatal blow.

Silver Serpent Island's current prosperity was all due to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Wang Qingshan shook his head and said, "This small matter doesn't require disturbing Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt. If we need them to handle every conflict, what's the point of us? We train for a thousand days for a moment of use. It's time for us to contribute to the family."

"Seventh Brother is right. We can handle it. If Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt have to handle everything, we would look quite useless."

Wang Qingling agreed. The Black Flame Palace wasn't planning a full-scale invasion but rather using subordinate forces to instigate conflict. The Black Flame Palace also worried about escalating the situation, as the Wang family was related by marriage to the Zhang family, and a major conflict would not benefit the Black Flame Palace much.

"I can inform the family about the plan Chen Yan discussed with me, but if I do, my identity will be exposed."

Wang Qingjing looked troubled. The Wang family had invested significant effort in cultivating the Cloud Sea Sect, and exposing her identity like this would be too wasteful.

Wang Qingshan pondered for a moment, then looked at Wang Qiuhong and said in a deep voice, "Qiuhong, you are the family head. Tell us your thoughts."

He couldn't stay on Silver Serpent Island indefinitely and would eventually go out on his own journeys. It was necessary to train Wang Qiuhong's ability to handle affairs.

"I think we should pretend to know nothing and respond as circumstances dictate. The Black Flame Palace doesn't want to escalate things, and neither should we. Let them occupy the island with the metal ore first and let them mine for a while. Then, we can send people to attack the island with the metal ore. This way, we can clear Eighth Aunt's suspicion and also gain a third-tier metal ore."

They didn't know how many Core Formation cultivators the Black Flame Palace had. If they set a trap to eliminate Chen Yan and his two companions, Wang Qingjing's identity would be exposed. Wang Qiuhong's strategy was undoubtedly the most stable.

"Brother, once they occupy the island, they will likely set up numerous restrictions. It will be very troublesome to capture that island."

Wang Qiuming frowned. If the Black Flame Palace deployed a third-tier formation for defense, it would indeed be difficult to capture. What was more troublesome was the enemy establishing a stronghold right under the Wang family's nose, which would be highly inconvenient for the Wang family.

Wang Qingling's eyes darted, and she said, "I have a plan that can clear Eighth Sister's suspicion and also secure that metal ore. We can let the Core Formation cultivators engage in a chaotic battle. When we win, we can interrogate the Black Flame Palace's Core Formation cultivators. I believe they will know when to make concessions. As long as they reveal the presence of the metal ore vein, we can confidently mine the ore. Additionally, we shouldn't take the lives of the Black Flame Palace's Core Formation cultivators, which will allow everyone to end this gracefully."