Li Guanqi lay on the floor, bleeding from his seven facial apertures, yet a smile touched his lips when he saw the elder's reaction.
He had won his gamble. The old man's response proved beyond doubt that the Xutian Stone was of paramount importance to the entire Xutian Palace.
At the very least, even the elder before him dared not handle this matter lightly.
Blood welled from Li Guanqi's mouth as he spoke frankly, "Senior, my condition is actually quite simple. To you, it is merely a matter of a single word.
"Yet to me, it is of the utmost importance.
"With just one word from you, junior will present the Xutian Stone with both hands, along with everything agreed upon earlier!"
The moment those words were spoken, the elder's chest heaved violently and his eyes flickered. Slowly drawing back his oppressive aura, he abruptly flicked his sleeve, sending Li Guanqi flying.
Lin Jinting's fists clenched tightly at the sight.
Ran Shiming looked anxiously toward Li Guanqi, his voice trembling in a divine sense transmission, *Why did you have to provoke him?!*
*If you plead with Elder Yang properly, this might still work out in the end. Whatever you do, do not anger him any further!*
*Just give him the Xutian Stone, and this whole matter will be over!*
Li Guanqi's body soared through the air, violently slamming into one of the grand hall's stone pillars. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and crashed to the floor.
Glancing up at Ran Shiming in the distance, his opinion of the man plummeted to rock bottom.
Ignoring Ran Shiming entirely, he heard the elder's voice ring out:
"Speak! What condition?!"
Li Guanqi crouched on the floor, remaining down for a long while. A metallic sweetness rose in his throat, but he forcefully suppressed the churning vitality and blood in his body. Only then did he push himself up with a faint smile.
"Xutian Palace must spare Qisha!
"All grievances between us will be wiped clean. Afterward, I will have the Lin and Ran families visit in person to apologize and make amends. That way, Xutian Palace will preserve both its substance and its public face.
"You receive full compensation and regain the Xutian Stone, while two major clans from two provinces come to your door to apologize, satisfying your prestige.
"And what does Xutian Palace lose?
"Merely a few disciples who have already perished."
Yang Qing's eyes flickered ceaselessly!
It had to be said that Li Guanqi was an exceptional negotiator.
The reason he had stepped forward was that Lin Jinting had been completely trapped in Yang Qing's rhythm.
Had this continued, the elder would have retained absolute control, opening his mouth to demand exorbitant concessions, plunging both the Lin and Ran families into an utterly helpless position.
With his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes narrowed into slits, Yang Qing lowered his head, pacing back and forth across the hall.
After hearing this proposal, even Luo Cheng, who stood to the side, felt the deal was not at all a losing proposition.
The Xutian Stone... was a miraculous treasure, far too crucial to Xutian Palace.
Just as Yang Qing's resolve began to waver, a clamor suddenly arose outside the hall.
Li Guanqi's brows knit slightly, a bad premonition gripping him.
He had no desire for unexpected variables to arise at such a juncture, so he pressed forward, "Senior Yang, we have demonstrated immense sincerity with this compensation.
"When we arrived in Linluan City, we did not conceal our movements; many people throughout the city already know we came here.
"With the heads of two great clans personally coming to apologize, Xutian Palace's bruised pride will be properly addressed, and your prestige will remain intact."
Li Guanqi spoke at a brisk pace, but the elder turned around, his brow furrowed.
"Why has she come?"
With a sigh, the old man raised a hand to cut off Li Guanqi, murmuring softly, "Wait a moment."
At those words, Li Guanqi's heart sank, yet he had no choice but to wait for the newcomer outside.
Lin Jinting said in a low voice, "What a pity. We were just one step away from succeeding."
Li Guanqi frowned, transmitting back, *I don't know who has arrived. Let's watch and wait. We cannot afford to provoke this old man right now.*
Beside them, Ran Shiming had long since stood up, his gaze filled with panic and unease.
He felt that Li Guanqi's approach was far too radical, terrified that it would infuriate Yang Qing.
Before the person even came into view, a woman's haughty shout rang out from beyond the doors.
"Did I or did I not tell you to pin the hairpin securely?!"
Before her voice had faded, a spray of blood splattered across the window lattice, accompanied by a muffled groan from outside.
*Thud!*
A heavy sound followed, like a weighted body crashing to the earth.
A woman in a yellow gown of graceful stature stepped into view, revealing slender, pale wrists.
A smear of bright red blood stained her wrist, and she held a green jade hairpin in her fingers.
She strode forward, her chin tilted slightly, her eyes brimming with cold arrogance.
She possessed a high nose bridge, thin lips painted an alluring crimson, and coiled hair that framed a chilly, aloof demeanor. A flowing yellow robe draped her figure, shrouded in a shimmering haze of light.
With casual indifference, she wiped the blood on the hairpin against the clothes of a disciple bowing at the entrance. The hunched disciple dared not make a sound.
Crossing the threshold, she casually pinned the cleaned hairpin into the back of her hair.
The white-browed elder walked forward to greet her, wearing a bitter smile. "Miss Su Mei, why have you come?"
Su Mei cast a cool glance across the hall, a mocking smirk curving on her lips.
"I heard someone brought the Xutian Stone to threaten Xutian Palace, so naturally I had to come see for myself."
With that, her haughty gaze swept across the several figures bowing respectfully before her.
"Let us see... just who possesses the sheer audacity to threaten Xutian Palace!!"
The woman radiated an exceptionally powerful aura. In Li Guanqi's estimation, her age could not possibly exceed thirty!
Yet her cultivation had already reached the seventh level of the Heavenly Immortal realm!!
Li Guanqi's eyes shifted repeatedly as he looked at her. Her aura did not merely belong to someone accustomed to high station.
It was more like... someone who had long held the power of life and death over others!
A single thought from her could determine whether a person lived or died!
Li Guanqi's heart sank, sensing that the clear situation was about to unravel entirely because of this woman.
Sure enough, she brushed past them without a glance, not deigning to spare them any regard at all.
This was true even though Lin Jinting and the others were True Immortal realm cultivators, figures rarely seen in the outside world!
Su Mei walked straight toward the elevated seat reserved exclusively for the Palace Master.
Crossing her legs slightly, she leaned back against the chair, her eyes sweeping over the group as she spoke softly.
"Ever since that dog of a man stole the Xutian Stone my father prepared for me, news of it has finally surfaced after all these years.
"Why has it still not been presented to me?"
These words were an outright interrogation directed at Grand Elder Yang Qing.
The old man sighed, cupping his hands helplessly as he softly recounted everything that had transpired.
"This old man also believes this proposal is the most suitable one. What is Miss's view?"
Upon hearing this, Su Mei's expression gradually darkened. She leaned forward, her back straightening, and swept a contemptuous gaze down at them.
"Are you saying... after slapping Xutian Palace across the face, they can just hand over some scraps of compensation, return what belonged to my Xutian Palace in the first place, and call the matter settled?!"
The moment she said this, Li Guanqi's eyes widened. Even without turning his head, he could vividly picture the look in her eyes.
*Damn it...*
*This woman... is not simple!!*
The moment she arrived, she turned every spearhead squarely against them!
Moreover, from her words, she clearly believed that even the compensation was something they were inherently owed...
The mutual compromise Li Guanqi had spent so much effort laying out had vanished in an instant.
Su Mei looked coldly at Li Guanqi, her hands gently caressing the armrests of the chair.
"Since when does our Xutian Palace need to negotiate with anyone when deciding what to do?"
With that, she crossed her arms and let out a cold snort.
"Men! Seize them and throw them into the Void Prison!
"If they want them released, tell the people outside to deliver the Xutian Stone, along with that wretched dog Han Sijin!"
She stood up, her icy gaze turning to the elder, who opened his mouth as if to speak, and cut him off with chilling firmness.
"If the Lin family has the nerve to wage war, Xutian Palace will gladly receive it!"
Chapter 1696