Chapter 629: The Sincerity of the Heavenly Court Sect

Headquarters of the Nine Nether Sect.

A massive map of the Great Xia Dynasty covered the main wall. All seventeen prefectures and tens of thousands of cities in Great Xia were meticulously marked on it.

On the map, one-fifth of the cities were marked with crimson dots, signifying the Nine Nether Sect's deep infiltration into these urban centers. Even the Imperial City, the largest city under heaven, had been penetrated by the sect.

Mu Baiyi stood with his hands behind his back, silently gazing at the map. He murmured to himself, his eyes brimming with unmasked greed and ambition.

“Soon, very soon…”

“The imperial court is far too complacent; they haven’t even noticed the scale of our operations…”

“Soon, the Great Xia Dynasty will be dotted with our Nine Nether Sect’s barbecue restaurants…”

Mu Baiyi instinctively touched one of the crimson dots on the map. Each dot represented a barbecue restaurant, signaling a future influx of wealth into the Nine Nether Sect, which would help him repay his loans.

Although the sect was currently in the investment and establishment phase, with profits reinvested into building more restaurants, the future looked promising.

With this money, he would no longer have to worry about his scheme of taking out loans as a sect member to make monthly payments being exposed. This was lifeline money.

“Thanks to the Heavenly Court Sect,” Mu Baiyi mused. Having personally witnessed the ancient ancestor of the Phoenix clan defeat Supreme Zhu Tian, his awe for the Heavenly Court Sect deepened.

“According to Young Sect Master Lu, several key figures from the ancient Heavenly Court have yet to awaken. Even so, our Nine Nether Sect simply cannot compare to the Heavenly Court Sect.”

“Sect Master, Sect Master Chi of the Blazing Sun Sect wishes to meet you,” reported a Vice Sect Master named Xiang, presenting a formal invitation from the Blazing Sun Sect.

Mu Baiyi raised an eyebrow, feeling a touch of bewilderment. The Nine Nether Sect believed in reincarnation, and its cultivation methods generally leaned towards Yin attributes. The Blazing Sun Sect, as its name suggested, clearly practiced Yang-aligned techniques. The two sects rarely interacted.

“What does he want?”

A meeting was necessary; as fellow demonic sects, a certain level of courtesy had to be extended.

The location of the Nine Nether Sect’s headquarters certainly couldn't be exposed. The next day, the two Sect Masters met at a teahouse, with the Blazing Sun Sect having paid to reserve an entire floor.

Sect Master Chi arrived on time, accompanied by two protectors.

Sect Master Chi appeared to be a man in his thirties or forties, with a broad, fleshy face, a shaved head, and a single eye. A fearsome scar ran from his forehead down to his jawline over his right eye, making him quite intimidating.

“Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Mu, it’s been a long time since we last met!”

Sect Master Chi greeted him warmly, his demeanor as friendly as if Mu Baiyi were his own brother.

“State your business, or we’ll meet again another time.” Mu Baiyi responded coldly, unwilling to engage further with Sect Master Chi, whose effusive warmth was quite unbearable.

“Oh, come now, given our relationship, would I seek you out without reason?” Sect Master Chi said with a chuckle, stroking his bald head as he sat down.

“What is it?”

“I’ve noticed your Nine Nether Sect’s barbecue restaurants are quite popular lately. I’ve even tried them myself; they truly offer excellent value. It’s no wonder business is so good, given the quality of spiritual food at that price point.”

“What are you trying to do?” Mu Baiyi eyed Sect Master Chi warily. Anyone who tried to touch his money would be met with a fight to the death.

“Don’t be nervous, we’re not here to steal your business.”

“I heard that the ‘Come Again’ barbecue restaurants aren’t solely owned by your Nine Nether Sect, but also involve people from the Heavenly Court Sect?”

Mu Baiyi’s expression hardened. “You’ve planted a spy in our sect?”

Only high-ranking members of the Nine Nether Sect were aware of their collaboration with the Heavenly Court Sect.

“The feeling is mutual,” Sect Master Chi replied. Sect Master Chi also knew that the Nine Nether Sect had members within his own, though he didn't know their identities.

Sect Master Chi looked eagerly at Mu Baiyi, rubbing his hands together. “So, what I wanted to see was, since your Nine Nether Sect has such a close relationship with the Heavenly Court Sect, you must have their contact information. I was wondering if you could help us get in touch with them. I’d like to meet them and get acquainted.”

He, too, had personally traveled to the Demon City and witnessed the ancient ancestor of the Phoenix clan reigning over the demon kingdom. Coupled with the earlier defeat of the Great Yu Tribulation Period cultivators by Heavenly Venerable Dou, and Young Sect Master Lu causing a stir at the Dao Inquiry Sect, all these events indicated the Heavenly Court Sect's unfathomable strength.

While the Blazing Sun Sect was powerful, they weren't arrogant enough to oppose the Heavenly Court Sect; that would be like trying to crush a rock with an egg.

It was possible the Blazing Sun Sect would need to rely on the Heavenly Court Sect in the future, so making friends early and becoming acquainted couldn't hurt.

Mu Baiyi’s initial inclination was to prevent the Blazing Sun Sect from meeting the Heavenly Court Sect. Any benefits that might have gone to the Nine Nether Sect could easily fall into the Blazing Sun Sect’s hands instead. After all, Young Sect Master Lu had casually established a barbecue restaurant, which single-handedly got the Nine Nether Sect’s economy running.

However, among the strategies provided by Young Sect Master Lu was one: “Internally unite the Merciless and Blazing Sun Sects.” If Young Sect Master Lu learned that the Blazing Sun Sect had proactively sought contact and was rejected, Mu Baiyi feared there would be repercussions for them later.

“Helping you contact the Heavenly Court Sect is possible, but we are not a charity organization. What price is your esteemed sect willing to pay?”

Sect Master Chi had anticipated this. He signaled to a protector behind him, who then produced a piece of yellow paper from his robes and placed it before Mu Baiyi.

“I heard your barbecue restaurants offer delivery services, but because it involves inter-city deliveries, the skewers get cold and lose their flavor over time.”

“This is a unique paper from our sect, possessing heating and insulation properties. It’s also easy to produce and low in cost. If Fellow Daoist Mu is interested, I can share the manufacturing method with you.”

This paper was essentially a white elephant for the Blazing Sun Sect: useless for them, yet too valuable to simply discard. It was better utilized as a stepping stone to demonstrate goodwill to the Nine Nether Sect and establish ties with the Heavenly Court Sect.

Mu Baiyi and Vice Sect Master Shi, who stood behind him, brightened at the prospect. This was indeed a valuable item that could significantly boost their delivery volume.

“Alright, I’ll help you contact them immediately.”

Seeing such sincerity from the other party, Mu Baiyi promptly took out his Nine Nether Token.

“However, I must warn you beforehand, I can only contact Young Sect Master Lu; I don’t have contact information for anyone else in the Heavenly Court Sect.”

“Young Sect Master Lu is perfectly fine,” Sect Master Chi quickly replied. In terms of status, Young Sect Master Lu was certainly on par with the Sect Masters of demonic sects.

Mu Baiyi inscribed Sect Master Chi’s intention to meet on the Nine Nether Token. Soon, the other party responded.

“What did they say?”

“The old place, Yanjiang Prefecture, at the ‘Come Again’ barbecue restaurant headquarters.”

Upon hearing this, Sect Master Chi was overjoyed. He immediately shared the refining method for the heating paper with Mu Baiyi, who, after a quick mental deduction, knew it was genuine.

Besides, the Blazing Sun Sect wouldn't dare to deceive him on such a matter.

“Please, Fellow Daoist Mu, put in a good word for us with Young Sect Master Lu!”

“Consider it done!”

At the ‘Come Again’ barbecue restaurant headquarters in Yanjiang Prefecture, the three parties met.

Mu Baiyi and Sect Master Chi sat stiffly, barely daring to breathe, their backs sweating with nervousness.

“Fellow Daoist Mu, didn’t you say you’d put in a good word for me? Say something!” Sect Master Chi transmitted a message to Mu Baiyi.

Cold sweat trickled down Mu Baiyi’s back; his previous composure was gone.

Seated opposite them were Emperor Jiang Lianyi, the Great Emperor of Nirvana from the South Pole, and Yun Zhi, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Court Sect.

Upon learning that the meeting involved figures of Sect Master level, Lu Yang, out of respect for both the Nine Nether Sect and the Blazing Sun Sect and to demonstrate the Heavenly Court Sect’s sincerity, specifically invited his own Sect Master.