A Conspiracy and a Successful Deal

*Tap.* *Tap.* *Tap.* In the darkness, a slender yet curvaceous figure approached from afar, her crisp footsteps echoing through the cavernous stone hall. The wall-less stone hall loomed lofty and majestic, its vaulted ceiling supported by four square pillars, while a sacrificial altar several tens of feet high stood in its center. Her shapely hips swayed gently as she walked up the stairs, only to find three figures already seated cross-legged in the darkness atop the altar. Two men and one woman. Her gaze swept over them. All three wore strange gossamer garments, and their skin bore the deathly pallor of people who had not seen sunlight in years. Looking at the other three already in their places, the woman stepped slowly into their midst, sat down cross-legged, and looked at the woman veiled in white gauze. "Summoning the three of us in such a rush... is the Chief Arbiter preparing to take off her veil?" As she spoke, the woman leaned forward slightly, revealing a deep cleavage beneath her gossamer gown. Propping her chin in her hands, she swept her gaze toward the other two men, narrowing her eyes as a subtle note of teasing crept into her voice: "Is it Li Xing, or Qin Yuan?" In the subterranean cities, anyone with cultivation aptitude would receive a sheer face veil from the Divine Palace, which would only be removed after performing the Rite of Birth. Bai Muxi slowly opened her eyes, her crimson lips parting slightly beneath the veil. "Neither." The woman's brows twitched with burgeoning interest. "Bai Muxi, you don't mean you want both of—" "Yi Kui, shut up." One of the men opened his eyes, glaring at her with a sharp rebuke. "Every time we meet, you talk the most rubbish." At this, Yi Kui cut her eyes at him, narrowing them. "Did this official say something wrong, Li Xing? "As the mother of the Godchild, the Chief Arbiter is already the strongest among us, yet she still insists on finding someone stronger before undergoing the Rite of Birth. How is she ever going to give birth to the Godchild to save the world?" Li Xing's gaze turned slightly chilly. "The Priest's prophecy? "An old phantom who has been dead for seven years, and you still believe that so-called prophecy of a Godchild from his lips?" "Naturally, this official can choose not to believe it. But you should understand our predicament all too well. In twenty years at least, or forty at most, those aberrant ghosts will break through the Blood Nest's seal. You know how strong they are. With the cultivation of the four of us, can we truly hold off those monsters?" Yi Kui exhaled, propping her pale, lotus-root arms behind her as she leaned back, crimson lips curling into a chuckle. "So why not just enjoy ourselves while we still can? This official actually misses you and Qin Yuan quite a bit. Hmm... perhaps I am the true mother of the Godchild after all. Heh... giggle..." The words fell, followed by absolute silence. No one spoke. As the four strongest individuals in the cavern cities, they naturally knew the sheer scale of the aberrant ghost swarm within the Blood Nest. It was a feeling of utter helplessness against an insurmountable force. Looking at the three companions she had grown up with since childhood, Bai Muxi let out a soft breath and said, "This official summoned the three of you here because people have arrived from the surface." The convective draft in the underground palace was chilly, gently ruffling the silk robes on their bodies. Upon hearing this news, even Qin Yuan—the coldest of the three—revealed a flicker of astonishment and excitement in his eyes. Yi Kui pressed her crimson lips together, her voice trembling slightly in spite of herself. "The... the surface? Is it... is it the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion?" Bai Muxi shook her head gently and recounted what she had just experienced to the three of them truthfully. After listening closely, each bore a different expression, yet none spoke right away. After countless generations, amidst their current desperation, the appearance of two individuals from the surface was like a piece of driftwood thrown to drowning people. After a long while, the most rational of them, Qin Yuan, looked at Bai Muxi and said in an aloof voice, "If their identities truly match their claims, their Sumeru rings must contain an immense hoard of supplies from the surface." Pausing, his hands resting on his knees trembled faintly. "More importantly, however... what is their cultivation?" "One in the Origin Realm, one in Soul Condensation." "The Origin Realm?" Li Xing bypassed the Soul Condensation Realm entirely, his Adam's apple bobbing as a tremor seeped into his voice. "If that's the case, c-can we trade with them for the method to break through into the Origin Realm?" They were shackled at the Grandmaster realm not because of lacking talent, but because they lacked a method to advance any further. Several thousand years ago, the "Calamity of the Blood Nest" dealt a devastating blow to the paths of cultivation within the subterranean cities. The path of cultivation had been severed, and high-tier cultivation methods were entirely destroyed. Their current methods had all been pieced together from surviving ancient texts by generation after generation of geniuses within the cavern cities. Even so, the Third-rank Grandmaster realm was their absolute limit. They had only figured out that breaking through into the Second-rank Origin Realm roughly required integrating Dao Charm into oneself, but the precise method of cultivation was simply not something a single generation could stumble upon. Moreover, they possessed no method to circulate Source Qi to a higher stage. Even Bai Muxi, who was at half-step Origin Realm, had only managed to forcibly integrate Dao Charm into her body by relying on the "Blood God Stone." If... if they had the cultivation manual, they were confident they could break through into the Second-rank Origin Realm before the second Calamity of the Blood Nest. At that point, a Seven Cities Alliance with four Origin Realm experts might truly stand a chance in battle against the aberrant ghosts in the Blood Demon Cave. "..." Regarding this question, Bai Muxi hesitated slightly. Remembering the handsome young man's finger tapping against her chest, she pursed her lips. "It should be negotiable. They also showed interest in making a deal with us." Pausing for a breath, Bai Muxi added, "However, if we can truly trade for it, we will likely have to pay a steep price. Perhaps one we cannot afford." "Cannot afford it, is it...?" Qin Yuan narrowed his eyes, his fingertips rubbing together, before he abruptly said out of nowhere, "Chief Arbiter, in your judgment, if the four of us joined forces, could we... could we ambush and kill the two of them to take it by force?" The words fell, followed by silence. Perhaps out of shock, or perhaps because they were contemplating the feasibility of the proposal, all four fell silent for a time. Not knowing how much time had passed, "The risk is far too high." Yi Kui, who had been silent, scoffed and shot Qin Yuan a sidelong glance. "Qin Yuan, you've seen the might of those high-tier aberrant ghosts. A Second-rank Origin Realm expert won't be any weaker than them. If you want to die, don't drag this official down with you. I haven't had my fill of pleasure yet." With that, Yi Kui glanced sideways at Bai Muxi, lightly licking her crimson lips with a giggle as her bosom trembled faintly. "As for being unable to afford it... that might not be the case. No man is without lust. Chief Arbiter, why not suffer a little grievance..." "Yi Kui!" Li Xing's eyes turned fierce as his brow furrowed deeply. "What do you mean by that?" Yi Kui ignored Li Xing, standing up with swaying hips as she smiled with crescent eyes: "A man in the Second-rank Origin Realm ought to meet the Chief Arbiter's standards, shouldn't he? With the Chief Arbiter's peerless beauty, offering the removal of your veil as a gift should be enough to draw them closer to us." Li Xing narrowed his eyes. "Shut your mouth! Why don't you go yourself?" Yi Kui crossed her arms over her chest, her laughter crisp: "This official would love to experience an Origin Realm expert, but the customs of the outside world are most likely different from our subterranean ways. Damaged goods like me—someone from the upper realm would hardly look my way." With that, she walked in front of Li Xing, bent down, and stared into his solemn face, asking word by word: "Besides, Li Xing, the Chief Arbiter hasn't even spoken. What makes you so anxious?" Then, as if suddenly remembering something, her mouth parted slightly, and she raised a jade hand to cover her lips, looking at Li Xing in mock surprise: "Ah, I almost forgot. The four of us grew up together, and Li Xing, you've harbored feelings for the Chief Arbiter since we were children, haven't you? Heh... if you want to remove our Chief Arbiter's veil, then go break through into the Origin Realm yourself. "Li Xing, with the extermination of our people looming before us, possessiveness without the strength to back it up is truly laughable." "..." Murderous intent surged in Li Xing's eyes as he clenched his fists, Source Qi swirling around his body. Watching the two on the verge of another quarrel, Bai Muxi spoke in a faint voice: "Although the man is the one in charge, the one who possesses Origin Realm cultivation is the woman." Hearing this, Li Xing let out a breath of relief, while Yi Kui clicked her tongue softly. "How boring. This official was genuinely looking forward to seeing what the Chief Arbiter looked like without her veil..." "Indeed. This young master would also like to see." "..." Sudden silence. The pupils of all four contracted as they looked toward the voice, only to find two figures, a man and a woman, already strolling into the stone hall. Through the darkness, the man in brocade robes strode forward with his hands clasped behind his back, while the woman in black robes followed beside him, hand resting on her waist saber. Footsteps echoed through the cavernous hall. As if returning to his own home, the man surveyed the stone hall with leisurely steps. Before long, having ascended the stairs and reached the top of the altar, Xu Yuan swept a smiling gaze over the four present. "Though I guessed some of it, the relationships in your underground palace are truly a mess. Indulging your desires isn't a good habit for cultivation, you know." "..." No one responded. The four strongest figures of the cavern cities stared warily at the sudden uninvited guests. Even Bai Muxi had no idea how long the two had been standing there, or how much of their plotting they had overheard. After a moment of silence, Yi Kui tugged the scarf across her chest slightly downward and was the first to speak: "A mess, you say? With your noble status, Young Master, you must have seen plenty of such things, haven't you?" Xu Yuan raised a brow, turning his gaze toward this lavishly endowed and generous underground Grandmaster, the corners of his lips curving upward. "You say that as if you know the outside world very well." "This humble woman has spent her entire life in this underground palace, so naturally I know nothing of the outside world." Yi Kui's tone took on a delicate, helpless quality, like a young girl, as she murmured, "However, Yi Kui is well aware of an old saying: appetite and desire are human nature. When holding power, one naturally enjoys the present moment." At this, Xu Yuan looked the woman over with keen interest. As his gaze swept across her, Yi Kui smiled radiantly and thrust out her faintly quivering bosom. Letting out an amused chuckle, Xu Yuan exhaled. "I actually don't dislike your personality. If you can make it out alive, I could perhaps make you a retained elder in my household." Yi Kui's eyes flashed, her crimson lips parting slightly. "Only... a retained elder?" Xu Yuan glanced at her and asked with a grin, "Auntie, what else do you want besides being a retained elder? Want to warm my bed? I'm afraid you'd be beaten to death before you even stepped into the room." As he spoke, he glanced sideways at the black-robed princess beside him. Li Qingyan let out a cool snort, her expression austere. "..." Yi Kui was rendered speechless. Xu Yuan exhaled and chuckled. "Just a joke. Compared to your underground palace, the treatment of a retained elder in my Prime Minister's residence should be quite good. If you're interested, we can talk in private." Having said that, Xu Yuan paid no more heed to the contemplative Yi Kui, turning his gaze toward the cold man named Qin Yuan, his tone turning frosty: "As for you... if you want to ambush and kill us, you can try it right now." "..." After meeting his gaze for a second, Qin Yuan simply lowered his head and played dumb. Finding it dull, Xu Yuan shook his head and looked at Bai Muxi at the head, jutting his chin toward Qin Yuan to demand an explanation from her. Bai Muxi slowly stood up, walked over, folded her sleeves, and bowed in an unhurried manner. "Young Master, please be magnanimous regarding Qin Yuan's offense." Xu Yuan gave an odd smile. "We came to cooperate in good faith, yet you plot behind our backs to ambush and kill the two of us. If you wish to apologize, shouldn't there be some sincerity?" Bai Muxi's crisp voice remained gentle: "May I ask what kind of sincerity the young master wishes this official to show?" Hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled and prepared to raise his hand, but the moment he moved, his peripheral vision caught Li Qingyan staring at him coldly. Chuckling, he said, "The gemstone on your chest is quite pretty. This young master likes it very much." "..." After a brief silence, Bai Muxi's gaze turned slightly cold, her voice soft: "Young Master, if you truly wish to cooperate, please refrain from making such an excessive demand." Xu Yuan spread his hands and smiled. "Did I say I was asking for it for free? Since the higher-ups of your Seven Cities Alliance are all present, why don't you hear my terms first before replying?" At these words, varied expressions crossed the faces of the four cavern dwellers. Seeing this, Xu Yuan held up three fingers, lowering one for each term he listed: "First: a cultivation method to break through into the Origin Realm. Hearing your conversation earlier, you should want this dearly. Coincidentally, Her Highness the Princess happens to have it. "Second: although your physical constitutions and cultivation foundations are deep and solid, your cultivation methods are far too crude. This young master can provide a cultivation manual of Lower Grade First Class. Well... you don't need to understand what grade that is; you only need to know that this manual can boost your Source Qi circulation speed by at least fifty percent. After cultivating it for three years, the reserves of Source Qi within your bodies can also increase by fifty percent. "Third: if you are willing, as long as you follow my orders, I can give you an opportunity to go to the outside world. If you are unwilling, this young master can pay Source Crystals to hire the four of you—ten Source Crystals per person." As he spoke, Xu Yuan took out an apple-sized Source Crystal from his Sumeru ring: "Using this size as the standard." Bai Muxi lowered her gaze to look at the gem-like scarlet jade pendant at her chest, then glanced at the three "friends" beside her who were visibly tempted. Biting her lip lightly, she said, "Could you grant us some time to discuss?" Xu Yuan looked around and nodded with a smile: "Of course. But don't be in a rush—we still have another agreed-upon deal to settle first." Bai Muxi's beautiful eyes flickered. "The blood armor?" Xu Yuan smiled faintly. "Naturally. Is the Chief Arbiter prepared?" "Naturally." A smile surfaced on Bai Muxi's face. "May I ask at what price the young master is willing to purchase the blood armor?" Xu Yuan rubbed his chin. According to his estimates, the stockpile of blood armor accumulated by this cavern city should be in the range of three to five hundred suits. After pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan smiled. "Thirty suits of blood armor for one Source Crystal to purchase your entire stockpile. Likewise using Source Crystals of the size in my hand." "Done." Bai Muxi agreed in an instant without a second thought. Her crisp decisiveness without the slightest attempt to bargain made Xu Yuan's heart sink. *Damn, looks like I got ripped off.* *Well, no matter.* A glint of interest surfaced in Xu Yuan's eyes. "In that case, how many suits of blood armor do you have in stock in this city?" "By our tally, there are a total of seven hundred and thirty-two suits of living blood armor similar to those on the two of you." "..." Hearing this quantity, joy surged in Xu Yuan's heart. With this much black death creep armor, to say nothing of "blue" quality, it was very likely enough to synthesize a piece of "purple" quality. With that thought, Xu Yuan raised his fingertips slightly. *Clatter—* Dozens of milky-white Source Crystals of varying sizes clattered crisply onto the floor, their gentle white glow rippling through the dark hall. The radiant light emanating from the massive pile of Source Crystals illuminated the eyes of the four subterranean leaders. Seeing this, Xu Yuan chuckled. "This is my sincerity—the full payment is right here. I hope the quality of your blood armor does not disappoint me." "Naturally." Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Bai Muxi waved her hand and sent out a wisp of Source Qi. *Rumble—* With a rumble, an entrance opened on the stone floor of the hall. Bai Muxi bowed respectfully: "Young Master, the blood armor is stored entirely within this secret chamber." "Good. I hope that when we return, you can give me a satisfactory answer." With that, Xu Yuan turned and walked away. Halfway out, he paused, looked back at Bai Muxi, and said meaningfully, "Even if you lose this jade pendant, Chief Arbiter, this young master will not make a move against you. Killing you brings us no benefit whatsoever."