"Do you two mean for me to compensate your losses?"
Qin Sang was not surprised by this.
Having cultivated to this realm, they stood at the very pinnacle of the cultivation world. Cultivators at this level rarely fought to the death, for few could be certain of destroying their opponent.
If a Nascent Soul cultivator resorted to unscrupulous vengeance, it would give anyone a massive headache.
"Since both of you came prepared, you must have already considered your terms. You might as well speak plainly."
Qin Sang was also inclined to resolve the grievance between them.
However, while he possessed treasures comparable to the Green Luan slate, each served a vital purpose for him, making it impossible to part with any of them.
It was indeed a tricky situation.
Compensating with spirit stones would be best, but there was no need to ask to know that was impossible.
"If you can produce an ancient demon treasure of equal value, this king will swallow his anger and let the matter drop!" Qianji Demon King said coldly.
"May I ask how you intend to calculate the value of the Green Luan slate, Fellow Daoist Qianji?" Qin Sang countered. "The slate holds immense significance for descendants of the Green Luan, but in your hands, it is merely a useless trinket gathering dust in a treasury. Few other ancient treasures share such a trait."
Qianji Demon King glared, about to speak, but Snake King stopped him.
"Since Fellow Daoist Mingyue is willing to negotiate, there is no need to beat around the bush. I heard from Qianji that you subdued a fourth-transformation spirit insect before his very eyes. To be frank, although Qianji and I have lived for so many years, we had only ever read of such things in ancient records. This is our first time seeing a spirit insect that has cultivated to the point of facing a heavenly tribulation..."
Hearing this, Qin Sang's expression changed instantly, and a series of cold chuckles escaped him.
"So that's it! That is what you two are plotting! Swapping the slate for a spirit insect of the fourth transformation, one of the rarest creatures in this world—what a marvelous bargain!"
Snake King's expression remained tranquil.
Qianji Demon King said angrily, "Do you really think you are the only one in this world who can make use of that treasure? King Yu may be of the Cloud Eagle bloodline, but the Palace of King Yu has been passed down for generations and possesses countless secret arts; they might well possess a method to unlock the slate's secrets. If I had presented the Green Luan slate to King Yu, the reward I received would never have fallen short of any treasure! That spirit insect made its nest right next to my cave dwelling—it should have been mine in the first place!"
Qin Sang could not help but laugh. "By your logic, if I establish a cave dwelling in Ziwei Palace, does that mean all the treasures inside belong to me? That day, I used illusions to obscure your vision, so you couldn't see clearly. That spirit insect was raised by me from the start; I nurtured it painstakingly for several centuries, pouring endless effort into it. It was merely a coincidence that it suddenly awoke from its cocoon and triggered a lightning tribulation right next to your cave dwelling."
The two demon kings exchanged a glance, caught between belief and doubt.
Snake King said, "I was wondering how a wild spirit insect could safely cultivate to the fourth transformation unless it were in some desolate, untrodden waste. So it already had a master. Your methods are truly impressive, Fellow Daoist, to nurture a spirit insect to such a level. Fellow Daoist Zhu certainly chose the right successor! It is only human nature that you are unwilling to surrender the insect. Yet put yourself in his shoes—why would Qianji willingly give away a supreme treasure related to an ancient great demon to someone else?"
Pausing, Snake King continued in a solemn voice, "Strength reigns supreme in the cultivation world. Since that is so, in my view, the two of you should settle this through your own abilities! Have a wager match, and accept the outcome without regret. If Fellow Daoist Mingyue wins, the theft of the treasure will be wiped clean. If Qianji prevails, you will hand over the spirit insect. We will stop when the victor is decided, without souring our relationship. I will not intervene and will merely act as a witness. If you do not trust me, Myriad Demon City is only moments away; we could invite King Yu to oversee it..."
"A wager match?"
Qin Sang glanced at Qianji Demon King, pondering internally.
It seemed this had been their true purpose all along.
Determining the outcome through personal strength was by no means an uncommon way to settle disputes in the cultivation world.
Snake King had stated he would not interfere.
Facing Qianji Demon King alone, Qin Sang possessed ample confidence in his treasures and divine abilities.
Ever since condensing his Nascent Soul, he had been eager to spar with someone to gauge his standing and see how much it diverged from his previous estimates, but he had simply lacked a suitable opponent.
In the Hall of Seven Kills, although he had witnessed several Nascent Soul cultivators battling ancient demons with his own eyes, watching was merely superficial; without experiencing it firsthand, one could never truly grasp the underlying perils.
Still, Qin Sang knew very well that since Snake King and Qianji Demon King dared to propose a wager match, they were bound to have made full preparations. He could not afford to take them lightly.
After brief consideration, Qin Sang refused once more. "A wager match is acceptable, but the terms must change. This spirit insect holds extraordinary significance for me and is closely tied to my own cultivation. Under no circumstances can it be given away."
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly was his natal spirit insect and possessed astonishing potential; nothing could be allowed to happen to it.
Qianji Demon King flew into a rage. "Neither this nor that! It seems you have no intention of resolving this at all!"
Snake King's face also darkened. "Your attitude truly does not appear to be that of someone seeking to resolve a grievance, Fellow Daoist. A spirit insect tied to one's own cultivation is something I have never heard of! Even so, let us grant you the benefit of the doubt and take another step back. If Qianji wins, you will temporarily lend us the spirit insect. Once we emerge from Ziwei Palace, it will be returned to its owner."
Seeing Qianji Demon King and Snake King persistently latch onto the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, Qin Sang found the situation rather troublesome.
For them to be this unrelenting, could they be intending to use a fourth-transformation spirit insect to achieve something in Ziwei Palace?
A thought stirred in Qin Sang's mind.
If that was the case, even in the worst-case scenario, there would still be room for negotiation.
In the end, Qin Sang reluctantly agreed.
"Lending the spirit insect to you two means bearing the risk of it being injured or even perishing. Do not speak of compensation; in my eyes, no treasure can compare to it..."
Snake King saw right through Qin Sang's intentions. "Fellow Daoist, are you looking to add further conditions?"
It was merely bargaining, and Qin Sang felt no embarrassment about it. "I wonder what your relationship with the Spirit Control Sect is like, Snake King? I would like to peruse the ancient records kept in their collection."
For now, he could not fathom the relationship between the Spirit Control Sect and the demon race, but Snake King was certain to know.
"Although the founding master of the Spirit Control Sect was elevated with the backing of our demon race, they are of another race after all. Over the years, their attitude has gradually turned ambiguous. Doing so might require obtaining King Yu's personal order. However, if you only wish to view the sections regarding spirit insects, that shouldn't be difficult."
Snake King agreed readily.
Qin Sang felt a wave of self-reproach, reflecting that because he had only recently condensed his Nascent Soul, his mindset had not fully adjusted. Now that he stood at the very peak of the cultivation world, opportunities would be plentiful in the future; there was no need to fuss over fleeting gains and losses.
"Very well. I shall spar with Fellow Daoist Qianji. Snake King, set the rules."
Qin Sang waved his hand, signaling Fat Chick and the white crane to fall back.
Snake King also gestured for the demon soldiers to withdraw.
"You are not allowed to use Thunder Escape!" Qianji Demon King immediately demanded.
The memory of Qin Sang's escape technique was fresh in his mind, and he had no effective means of restraining him.
Qin Sang sneered. "Why not just tell me to bind my hands and feet?"
Snake King stepped in to mediate. "Qianji has repeatedly mentioned how brilliant your escape technique is, Fellow Daoist Mingyue, and he admires you greatly in private. If you continuously circle him with escape arts, you could remain virtually undefeated, rendering the fight pointless. However, the escape technique is your own skill, and forbidding its use is unreasonable as well. How about we restrict the boundary of the battlefield instead..."
Chapter 1170