Chapter 400: Negotiation

Yuan arrived in the Fallen Domain, his expression turning cold as he surveyed the surroundings. Throughout his long life, he had dedicated himself to the Cultivator Faction, particularly in nurturing future generations of cultivators, more so than any other Overlord. Now, seeing over a hundred world groups plundered and many source world essences consumed, he could not possibly be in a good mood.

"The Icepeak Faction and the Born Chaos Faction are essentially the same," Yuan thought to himself. "They are both Born Chaos beings, requiring vast resources and consuming large amounts of source world essence."

The highest-ranking being in the Icepeak Faction was an undying and unperishing existence, who occasionally indulged in tasting source world essence.

In addition to this being, some Ancestors had also joined the Icepeak Faction. These Ancestors, not yet undying and unperishing themselves, were even more fond of consuming source world essence.

"The Born Chaos Faction is our greatest enemy, and our conflict with the Icepeak Faction is also significant," Yuan realized. As beings originating from within the source worlds, they had irreconcilable differences with all life forms that enjoyed consuming source world essence. Only by becoming powerful enough could they deter all forces from devouring source worlds.

Yuan thought about how the eighth Overlord had now emerged – Luo Feng, an Overlord who mastered the principle of 'breaking all laws with sheer force'. In the future, a ninth Overlord would also be born, making the Cultivator Faction even stronger.

Suppressing his anger, Yuan followed his instincts, heading directly towards the location of an Ancestor-level being within this Fallen Domain.

With the rules of the universe operating around him, each step he took covered an immeasurably vast distance. In just a few moments, he arrived. "Brother Yuan, you're here!" a warm voice exclaimed as a towering black figure greeted him enthusiastically.

Yuan looked at the majestic black figure, clad in black scales, with a single eye glowing with crimson flames, giving him a ferocious appearance. Yet, his smile was exceptionally bright.

"Ancestor Wugu!" Yuan addressed him.

Ancestor Wugu was among the top five in strength among the ten undying and unperishing beings of the Icepeak Faction. In the entire Endless Chaos Space, Ancestor Wugu's power would rank him among the top twenty, comparable to the Lord of Lotus Prison.

"I'm here to discuss your invasion of over a hundred world groups!" Yuan stated coldly. "The Cultivator Faction and your Icepeak Faction are still allies, yet you've encroached upon our territory. Is this how you treat an ally?"

"Don't worry, don't worry. Knowing you were coming, Ancestor Icepeak has already convened the highest echelons. Ancestor Icepeak and the others will manifest their avatars shortly!" Ancestor Wugu replied.

Ancestor Icepeak was also the supreme leader of the Icepeak Faction, having spearheaded the establishment of this alliance. Inside a grand, majestic palace...

Ancestor Wugu was also seated there, waiting.

In just a few moments, figures descended one after another. These were the avatars of the other twelve undying and unperishing beings from the Icepeak Faction. Their collective presence clearly indicated the importance they placed on the Cultivator Faction. "Brother Yuan," a warm voice resonated. It belonged to a figure as colossal and majestic as an iceberg, composed entirely of deep blue ice. Even as an avatar, one could glimpse the terrifying extent of his power. This was Ancestor Icepeak, an existence of power comparable to Yuan's.

He possessed a nearly indestructible body, akin to Wulan's, and wielded endless icy power, making his offensive capabilities against enemies even more formidable than Wulan's.

"Icepeak!" Yuan nodded. Ancestor Icepeak had lived far longer than Yuan, and they had once been close friends, even facing life and death together. At that time, Yuan was the sole Overlord in the Cultivator Faction. When Ancestor Icepeak established the Icepeak Faction, he enthusiastically recruited Yuan. Yuan didn't join, but it didn't damage their friendship.

However, as the Cultivator Faction continuously grew stronger, their relationship began to change.

"Brother Yuan!"

"Yuan!" The twelve beings of the Icepeak Faction were quite familiar with Yuan. After exchanging greetings, they all turned to look at a woman in a grey robe.

"Elder Sister Shazhou!" Yuan's gaze was somewhat complex. "Long time no see!"

The grey-robed woman looked at Yuan and nodded slightly.

For a very long time, Shazhou was widely considered the strongest being in the entire Endless Chaos Space. She was a loner with a reclusive nature, and her friends were few and far between. Her best friend was Ancestor Icepeak, and Yuan could be considered her second-best friend. When Ancestor Icepeak founded the Icepeak Faction, he extended an enthusiastic invitation, and Shazhou's joining tremendously augmented the faction's power.

Later, Overlord Xingmang emerged. Xingmang, who controlled two Chaos Dao levels, was considered by many forces to be the strongest existence at the time. Some forces, however, still believed Shazhou was the strongest. If the top two were to be chosen in the Endless Chaos Space, they would undoubtedly be Xingmang and Shazhou.

During confrontations between major factions, Overlord Xingmang's spatial abilities and Infinite Serpent Ancestor's void techniques mutually restrained each other, allowing both to only exert a fraction of their full power.

Infinite Serpent Ancestor clearly specialized in void power, further augmented by the Infinite World. Their combined void abilities were exceptionally potent, far surpassing even the Mother of Time and Space.

In a one-on-one fight, he was in no way inferior to Ancestor Icepeak or Mogus. Unfortunately, he was completely suppressed by Overlord Xingmang.

"Elder Sister Shazhou, our Cultivator Faction and the Icepeak Faction have always been allies. Yet, while we were engaged in battle with the Born Chaos Faction, the Icepeak Faction invaded and occupied over a hundred world groups! Elder Sister Shazhou, how do you think this matter should be handled?" Yuan asked, looking at Shazhou.

"This minor matter, you can discuss it with Icepeak," Shazhou said, clearly unconcerned about the dispute over the hundred-plus world groups.

"Brother Yuan," Ancestor Icepeak said, pulling Yuan's hand and sitting down together. "You know Elder Sister Shazhou's temperament; she wouldn't bother with these matters. The Icepeak Faction and your Cultivator Faction are indeed allies. However, you also know that our Icepeak Faction is internally fragmented, and it's difficult for me to exercise complete control! I immediately issued an order to prohibit further invasions after learning they had occupied over a hundred world groups, but it's very hard for me to make them relinquish the occupied world groups." Ancestor Icepeak looked at Yuan.

Yuan also knew that the Icepeak Faction was rather loosely organized. The twelve undying and unperishing beings each pursued their own interests; perhaps only Shazhou was indifferent to these resources. Shazhou cared most about Ancestor Icepeak, her dear friend.

Yuan was well aware of Shazhou's and Icepeak's friendship.

For Icepeak, Shazhou would spare no effort.

"Our Cultivator territory cannot lose a single one of the 3,600 world groups," Yuan said, looking around. "As you all know, we have already fully reclaimed all the Fallen Domains! Only these hundred-plus world groups that you have occupied remain. Our Cultivator Overlords will utilize the Space-Time Network to hunt down all enemies within the domain!"

"How dare you!" Two identical figures stood up, glaring angrily at Yuan.

"Fine, you dare to fight us? Your Cultivator Faction also expanded to occupy such a large territory, so what if we occupy a hundred-odd spaces?" the two identical figures retorted furiously.

After joining the Icepeak Faction, their group was the most eager to attack and occupy new territories. Nearly half of the hundred-plus world groups in question were seized by them.

Other undying and unperishing beings also spoke out angrily, while some quietly observed.

"The Three Thieves of Wind and Thunder Sea," Yuan sneered, looking at the three identical figures. "If not for the might of the Icepeak Faction, what right would a mere thief like you have to invade? What are you in the face of the Cultivator Faction's members?"

The Three Sovereigns of Wind and Thunder Sea were very weak in terms of strength, considered to be among the lower-to-middle tier of Ancestors. However, by mastering the characteristics of the highest power, they were all undying and unperishing. Relying on their immortality and the Icepeak Faction's influence, they were notorious troublemakers. In the Eternal Land, they were at the bottom, which is why they stuck together for mutual support.

Upon hearing Yuan openly call them "three thieves," Huang Zhong erupted in fury. He seemed to forget that a single Lord Moman could annihilate all three of them.

Yuan sneered; he truly looked down on these three thieves.

Despite their weakness, they constantly provoked trouble. Lord Moman had once, in a fit of rage, intervened and forcefully destroyed their bodies and seized their weapons and treasures. However, no matter how often these three were annihilated, they would always recover their power.

The Three Sovereigns of Wind and Thunder Sea were enraged, but they also knew that Lord Moman was their ultimate bane, and that Overlord Xingmang and Jin also possessed the power to destroy their bodies.

"Yuan, it's just over a hundred world groups. Why ruin our friendship over this?" Ancestor Wugu said, still smiling.

"You are the ones harming our friendship. In one word, you must return them," Yuan said, looking around.

The twelve undying and unperishing beings at the highest level of the Icepeak Faction each held their own opinions. Among them, besides the very weak Three Thieves of Wind and Thunder Sea, there were also extremely powerful individuals.

"How about this!" Ancestor Icepeak finally spoke. "You and I are allies. Our greatest enemy is the Born Chaos Faction... The resources required by the Icepeak Faction and the Born Chaos Faction are almost identical!

"You also know that the Icepeak Faction is quite fragmented, and I can't forcefully interfere in many matters. Let's try to understand each other. How about the Icepeak Faction returns more than half of the world groups, retaining sixty of them? This way, I can also appease the many undying and unperishing beings within our faction." Ancestor Icepeak sighed, looking at Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Yuan stood up. "Our Cultivator territory cannot afford to lose even a single world group!"

Yuan's gaze swept over the twelve undying and unperishing beings. "If you insist on forcibly occupying them, then our Cultivator Faction will formally declare war on your Icepeak Faction!"

The expressions of the twelve undying and unperishing beings all changed.

"Brother Yuan, you need to think this through!" Ancestor Icepeak said, looking at him.

"Call me Yuan," he replied, looking at Ancestor Icepeak. "Those who invade the Cultivator's territory are not worthy of being called my 'brother'." Ancestor Icepeak's face also turned cold. "I have already compromised. If your Cultivator Faction wishes to start a war, why would we undying and unperishing beings be afraid?"

"Very well!" Yuan nodded slightly. "However, I warn you, if war breaks out, the battlefield will not be limited to this Fallen Domain. All territories of your Icepeak Faction will become targets for our Cultivator Faction. If you dare to invade, you must be prepared to be invaded yourselves!"

Some of the undying and unperishing beings were inwardly startled. Counter-invasion?

"What?"

"Does our Icepeak Faction fear an expanded battlefield?" Ancestor Icepeak sneered.

These undying and unperishing beings were not particularly concerned about the deaths of lower and mid-tier members.

"Then just wait!" Yuan's gaze swept across them, and with a single step, he vanished.

Silence fell over the grand hall.

The twelve undying and unperishing beings each had their own thoughts. If war truly broke out, Icepeak, with anger, looked around. "So, this is your decision!"

Ancestor Icepeak said in a low voice, "You insisted on holding onto the sixty most resource-rich world groups, and now the result is clear: Yuan and the eight Overlords are going to war with us!"