Reparations

"Reconcile." On the flying boat, Lou Yuyu looked at Ma Hong, without a trace of a smile on his face. "Yes, yes, exactly." Ma Hong nodded repeatedly. "Since antiquity, the Xuanming Sect and the Nine Cauldrons Sect have never had any direct grievances. Back in the era of the Artifact Sect, the Xuanming Sect was even one of the Artifact Sect's greatest allies. Thus, there is truly no need for the two of us to escalate to such a point of meeting on the battlefield." "Heh." Lou Yuyu chuckled softly. He did not bother to retort with why they had never spoken like this in the past. The situation in the East Sea Archipelago was complex. The Nine Cauldrons Sect today might be capable of annihilating the Xuanming Sect, but just like the Wuji Astral Palace seeking to crush the Black Feather Sect, it would inevitably take a great deal of time. If things went awry, they could become mired in a quagmire of war, unable to extricate themselves for ten or even dozens of years. Yet for the current Nine Cauldrons Sect, what mattered most was the opportunity for peaceful development. If they had ten or twenty years to let the Nine Cauldrons Sect complete the overhaul of all its Spirit Gathering Formations and help re-equip all its Great Cultivators, then coming back to deal with the Xuanming Sect would be just like when the Wuji Astral Palace crushed the Liusha Sect back then—wiping them out like dry weeds, leaving them no chance to resist or receive aid from other powers. Therefore, the Nine Cauldrons Sect did not strictly need to exterminate the Xuanming Sect right now. Of course, refraining from destroying the Xuanming Sect was one thing, but whether this operation would deal them a heavy blow was another. The choice lay in the hands of the Nine Cauldrons Sect's Lou Yuyu. The crux depended on whether the Xuanming Sect knew what was good for them. "Can you speak for the Xuanming Sect?" Lou Yuyu asked. "I can," Ma Hong said immediately. "Our sect master has recently been indisposed and has temporarily entrusted all sect affairs, large and small, to my care. I have full authority to represent the Xuanming Sect." Having said that, he continued, "I understand very well that the reason Hall Master Lou personally came to the Xuanming Sect this time is that certain instigators caused unrest and infringed upon the interests of Nine Cauldrons Sect members abroad. Please rest assured, Hall Master Lou. I have already issued orders to severely punish all those who took advantage of the situation to cause chaos and loot. Once captured, they will be dealt with under the strictest and heaviest penalties. Currently, both the Guard Hall and the War Hall are taking action to apprehend these troublemakers. We will never permit anyone to stir up trouble or fish in troubled waters any longer..." Lou Yuyu diverted a sliver of his awareness to probe the Virtual Spirit Realm. Through the Virtual Spirit Realm, he indeed saw many reports of local authorities intervening in the turmoil. Then again, it made sense. Their Qingfeng Institute and Shenwei Institute had already taken action in person. With reality staring them in the face, the Xuanming Sect had no choice but to respond. If the Xuanming Sect apprehended those instigators themselves, they could at least limit the scope of casualties. But once they let the Qingfeng Institute and Shenwei Institute act freely... They would slaughter everything wherever they went. After a moment of contemplation, Lou Yuyu said, "Very well. In that case, I will have to trouble Hall Master Ma to coordinate with us first. Notify all Nine Cauldrons Sect people within the Xuanming Sect's territory to assemble at the skyports of their respective cities. The Nine Cauldrons Sect's flying boats will take them in one by one and transport them out of the Xuanming Sect." "We will certainly cooperate fully! Furthermore, we will issue orders instructing local authorities to assist Nine Cauldrons people with their migration. If anyone needs to liquidate their assets, the local authorities will take over those properties at fair market value..." Ma Hong instantly promised. "Acceptable. In addition, Nine Cauldrons people within the Xuanming Sect number at least ten million, if not more. For ten large flying boats to evacuate all of them, it will likely take over a dozen trips. I require the skyport of a city as a temporary staging point..." Lou Yuyu waved his hand, projecting a map of the Xuanming Sect. He selected a city situated relatively close to the Nine Cauldrons Sect and asked, "How about here?" "Certainly. That skyport will be placed at the Nine Cauldrons Sect's disposal for the coming period. We will certainly do our utmost to cooperate," Ma Hong readily agreed. "Rest assured, our Nine Cauldrons Sect is not an organization that forces others into hardship. We will not use your port for nothing; consider it leased from you." Lou Yuyu said calmly, "Since we do not know exactly how many Nine Cauldrons people reside within the Xuanming Sect, screening them one by one will obviously take considerable time. Therefore, let us set the lease term for this port at thirty years. What do you think?" "Th—thirty years!?" Ma Hong froze. Then, with some trepidation, he ventured, "The Xuanming Sect will spare no effort to assist the Nine Cauldrons Sect in screening for Nine Cauldrons people... No matter how drawn out the process may be, one or two years should be enough... Wouldn't thirty years... be a bit too long?" "Do not forget, many Nine Cauldrons people have not only hidden inside the Xuanming Sect, but may also have taken refuge in subsidiary worlds under your jurisdiction. And the opening of Star Gates to subsidiary worlds often follows set cycles. For some of the longer ones, the Star Gate activation cycle begins at ten years. To ensure word reaches everyone, thirty years is already a conservative estimate," Lou Yuyu said. Ma Hong's expression shifted repeatedly. Only after quite a while did he ask, "If our Xuanming Sect is willing to cooperate with the Nine Cauldrons Sect and sign this agreement, could Hall Master Lou and First Seat Shen withdraw first?" "Of course," Lou Yuyu replied affirmatively. "Once our objective is achieved, we will naturally turn around and depart. In truth, Hall Master Ma understands the situation in the East Sea better than I do. Had the Xuanming Sect not gone too far this time, my Nine Cauldrons Sect would not have wished to bring things to this pass." "This was all because Song You failed to grasp the situation, which led to these misunderstandings," Ma Hong hurriedly explained. "Indeed, it is Song You's fault." Lou Yuyu smiled and nodded. At this moment, a portion of his mind was inside the "Divine Kingdom" brand Virtual Spirit Realm, where plans had already been drawn up through collective consultation. The Nine Cauldrons Sect would give Ma Hong some face and withdraw at an appropriate juncture, giving Ma Hong something to show his sect. Once his prestige rose, they would pit the Ma family he represented against the Song family led by Song You. This was by no means a bad thing for the Nine Cauldrons Sect. At least for the next ten to several dozen years, they wouldn't have to worry about them causing further trouble in the East Sea Archipelago. "As long as Hall Master Lou and First Seat Shen are willing to withdraw your forces, we agree to these terms," Ma Hong said. "Good." Lou Yuyu nodded slightly. "Then next comes the matter of reparations from that Sect Master Song of your Xuanming Sect." "Rep—reparations..." "Indeed. Because of that Sect Master Song's decisions, we had to mobilize our forces and travel all the way to the Xuanming Sect—two elite battle institutes, ten large flying boats, and tens of thousands of personnel deployed. The expenditure of spirit stones and resources incurred during this operation is hardly a small sum." Lou Yuyu directly presented an itemized list. "Our Nine Cauldrons Sect will not force anyone into an impossible situation, nor will we kick someone while they are down. All the Xuanming Sect needs to cover is merely some expenditure of manpower and materials. According to our calculations, this expenditure comes to a total of eight million spirit stones." "Eight million spirit stones!?" The figure made Ma Hong gasp sharply. The entire Xuanming Sect War Hall's annual budget was less than eight million! "Hall Master Lou..." Just as Ma Hong was about to say something, Lou Yuyu continued, "Please urge Sect Master Song to pay this amount, Hall Master Ma. Naturally, we know you are the War Hall Master and are not in charge of resource allocations. Therefore, we would trouble you to point the way, and we can personally seek out Sect Master Song to collect it." Hearing Lou Yuyu's words, Ma Hong instantly understood his meaning. This sum... They were only asking Song You and the Song family behind him to pay it. Since the money would not be coming out of their own pockets, things became much simpler. Moreover, draining eight million in funds would severely cripple the Song family, which would help the Ma family take control of the Xuanming Sect going forward. As for the Song family refusing to pay... That would be even better. They could let the Song family's last elite force, the Yulin Institute, clash to the bitter end against Lou Yuyu. Whether both sides suffered mutual destruction or the Song family was wiped out, it would be advantageous to them either way. If the Song family fell, it would preserve the Xuanming Sect's dignity. The Nine Cauldrons Sect would also sustain considerable damage, after which they certainly would not dare raise further demands. And if both sides ended up mutually crippled, that would be ideal—the Ma family could simply step forward and reap the harvest. With that thought, Ma Hong immediately said, "Disturbing your esteemed sect into mobilizing such a force was indeed our fault. Reimbursing some operational expenses is entirely reasonable and fair. I will accompany you to see the Sect Master right away and convey this reasonable, proper request to him face-to-face." "Very good." Lou Yuyu smiled and nodded. *** Within the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Learning of the progress in the Xuanming Sect through the Virtual Spirit Realm, the sect's high-ranking members could not conceal their joy. The Xuanming Sect! Although it had never been any great power, ever since latching onto the Wuji Astral Palace, it had pranced around endlessly, constantly stirring up trouble and agitating the situation in the East Sea. This time... They could finally hold their heads high. Reparations of eight million spirit stones. A thirty-year lease on a skyport. The former would further delay the Xuanming Sect's recovery. The latter planted a stake right inside the Xuanming Sect. From now on, should the Xuanming Sect dare make any suspicious moves, the Nine Cauldrons Sect would definitely detect them immediately. This operation was truly a resounding victory. "Hall Master Lou, splendidly done," Li Qingshan praised from the bottom of his heart. "Merely borrowing power from a tiger," Lou Yuyu said with a broad smile. "If the Sect Master and Yaoguang had not achieved that unprecedented, magnificent victory in the battle against the Great Sun Sword Sect, throwing the Xuanming Sect into panic and disarray, handling them so easily would have been far from simple." "It was also a matter of opportune timing. The Wuji Astral Palace is bogged down in the quagmire of their war with the Black Feather Sect and has no attention to spare for affairs on the Tianxing Continent. Otherwise, had the Xuanming Sect been able to call for help from the Wuji Astral Palace, they would certainly have entrenched themselves behind city walls to await reinforcements," He Xifeng said. "The opportune timing also stemmed from the accuracy of our intelligence. Had we not possessed precise information confirming that the Wuji Astral Palace would not move against us on the Xuanming Sect's behalf, we would not have been bold enough to let Hall Master Lou make such a deep, solitary thrust," Li Qingshan said. The others, including Lou Yuyu, nodded in deep agreement. Accurate intelligence! In many cases, it was far more crucial than one or two elite battle institutes. "Do you think Song You will obediently hand over eight million spirit stones?" Liang Qiu asked curiously. "He will," Grand Elder Huang Tianhao gave a definitive answer. "Handing over eight million spirit stones will at least ensure the safety of the Song family and preserve the Yulin Institute, the core pillar of their strength. Furthermore, relying on their ties to Deputy Hall Master Lei Meng of the Wuji Astral Palace's War Hall, Ma Hong would not dare truly depose him from the Sect Master's seat—at most, he would join hands with other clan leaders to reduce him to a figurehead. But if he refuses to surrender the spirit stones... we certainly will not show any mercy!" The other hall masters nodded in complete agreement. "All right, then let us await Hall Master Lou's return laden with spoils," Li Qingshan smiled. "The impact of returning laden with spoils will be far more significant than a mere glorious victory. It also signifies that, starting today, a brand-new page has turned in the history of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, opening a new chapter." Zhou Lijian, Hall Master of the External Publicity Hall, pumped his fist heavily, his voice imparting an inexplicable tremor to everyone present. "From this point on... the Nine Cauldrons Sect bids farewell to the era of passive defense. We have truly stepped beyond our sect's borders to confront external foes head-on, shifting from defense to offense!"