294: Chapter 294 Negotiation Trap

One month later.

Red Copper Mountain.

The three Sects—the Lingxiao Sect, the Shuangyue Sect, and the Qingyun Sect—arrived one after another, leading their respective Disciples.

Fan Lang chose a relatively secluded spot on Red Copper Mountain to discuss the division of the Ganglei Sect. He had even specially built a small pavilion to serve as an elegant meeting place.

Each person left their Disciples at the foot of the mountain to remain on standby at all times.

"It has been a long time, fellow Sect Masters! I didn't expect us to be able to sit together like this, sipping tea and chatting!"

Fan Lang's face carried a hint of a Yin and Yang expression.

Gui Suer didn't bother beating around the bush with him as she had before, saying bluntly, "Sect Master Fan, there's no harm in speaking plainly. We all know we are here for the Ganglei Sect."

Since they were here to carve up the already destroyed Ganglei Sect, there was nothing elegant about this conversation.

Hearing this, Fan Lang rubbed the edge of his teacup with his fingertip.

He polished the Interlocking Lotus Pattern on the celadon cup until it shone, but a coldness like tempered ice was hidden in his eyes. "Sect Master Gui is indeed straightforward. Then I shall not beat around the bush either.

With the Ganglei Sect destroyed, its Spiritual Veins, mines, and Secret Realms shall be divided into three. My Sect will take the main vein at the South Foot; how about the rest goes to you?"

As he spoke, the air in the pavilion seemed to freeze.

Gui Suer's pale fingertips turned a faint green. She looked up at Fan Lang, her eyes full of dissatisfaction. The South Foot of the Ganglei Sect was where the Second-rank Spiritual Vein was located, the very lifeblood of the Ganglei Sect, and it was extremely precious.

Fan Lang had claimed it without a second thought. This was incredibly overbearing.

But Fan Lang said directly, "Among the three Sects now, my Lingxiao Sect is the strongest. You two Sect Masters should think carefully!"

"You! This is going too far!" Gui Suer said angrily.

Fan Lang said disdainfully, "Sect Leader of the Shuangyue Sect, I am only doing this out of our past friendship. Don't be ungrateful!"

"You!"

Seeing that the table was about to be flipped, Yun Ling said coldly, "Sect Master Fan, the destruction of the Ganglei Sect was not the work of your Lingxiao Sect alone.

If the Ganglei Sect Master hadn't been assassinated and the Sect hadn't fallen into internal strife, your Lingxiao Sect might not have been able to take it down so easily. Today's discussion on the division should prioritize fairness. For the main vein of the South Foot to go solely to your Sect is far too overbearing."

Fan Lang's face darkened as he set down his teacup. "What do you mean by that, Sect Master Yun? Do you think your Qingyun Sect has the ability to compete with my Lingxiao Sect?"

Before he even finished speaking...

A majestic spiritual power surged around Fan Lang. A pale golden light, carrying a sharp aura, pressed directly towards Yun Ling and Gui Suer. The plants outside the pavilion rustled violently, agitated by the spiritual power.

Seeing this, Gui Suer also immediately circulated her spiritual power. A pale blue chill emanated from her body, faintly echoing Yun Ling's spiritual power, forming a pincer formation.

She faced Fan Lang's pressure head-on. "Sect Master Fan, although the Qingyun Sect and my Shuangyue Sect are not as powerful as your Lingxiao Sect, we are by no means pushovers.

The Ganglei Sect's Spiritual Veins should be divided into three, with the main vein at the South Foot shared by all three Sects. The remaining mines and Secret Realms can then be divided according to strength. That is the only fair way."

"Shared?"

Fan Lang sneered, the coldness in his eyes deepening.

"Just with the likes of you? You two might have had a hand in the death of the Ganglei Sect Master yourselves, and now you want to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor?

I'll be clear. My Lingxiao Sect is determined to have the main vein at the South Foot. Either you gracefully take a step back and take the other areas, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Saying this, Fan Lang waved his hand, and a surge of spiritual power transformed into a blade. He looked coldly at the two Sect Masters. "In that case, do not blame me, Fan, for being heartless!"

The spiritual blade whistled through the air, heading straight for Yun Ling and Gui Suer's faces.

The sharp aura caused the teacups in the pavilion to buzz. Scalding tea splashed out, spreading wet marks on the bluestone floor, only to be instantly evaporated by the surging spiritual power.

Although Yun Ling had not fully recovered and the Demonic Poison at his Golden Core was still causing trouble, his expression remained steady. With a flick of his wrist...

His sword unsheathed once more. Noble Qi gathered at the tip of the blade, and a brilliant white Sword Qi burst forth, colliding violently with Fan Lang's spiritual blade.

With a loud "bang," a wave of air swept through the entire pavilion. Tiles fell from the roof, and the surrounding vegetation was snapped in half as dust filled the air.

Yun Ling let out a muffled groan, his body leaning back slightly. A trace of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth—the Demonic Poison left by Xuan Yin had not been removed, and forcing his spiritual power now caused the internal evil Qi to surge again, making his Meridians sting.

Seeing this, Gui Suer flickered forward, blocking the way in front of Yun Ling. Her Ice Soul Longsword traced an ice-blue circle, and a chill instantly filled the air.

She froze all of Fan Lang's subsequent spiritual power attacks. "Fan Lang, do you really want to fight our two Sects to the death for the sake of the Ganglei Sect's Spiritual Vein?"

Fan Lang stood his ground, the spiritual light around him becoming even more intense. "No, it is you who will die, and I who will rest! I gave you a chance, but you insisted on opposing my Lingxiao Sect! Since that's the case, go down and keep Murong Xiao company!"

Fan Lang's pressure as a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator poured down like a mountain, firmly suppressing Yun Ling and Gui Suer.

Yun Ling's eyes turned cold upon hearing this. Ye Jing had been right; Fan Lang really had conspired with the Xuanyou Sect to kill Murong Xiao.

To the side, Gui Suer immediately began to shout in anger, "Fan Lang! It really was you who killed Murong Xiao! Did you also conspire with Xuan Yin?!"

Yun Ling also said, "Currently, Xuan Yin is heavily injured. As a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator, you cannot withstand the two of us. If you turn back now, I can act as if nothing ever happened!"

"As if nothing ever happened?" Fan Lang mocked. "Yun Ling, do you take me for an ignorant child? If I let you go this time, wouldn't you just report to those Nascent Souls and have my Lingxiao Sect washed in blood once again?!"

"What do you mean by that? Was the destruction of your Lingxiao Sect's Old Sect Master not the work of the Xuanyou Sect?!"

Yun Ling felt only shock upon hearing these words.

After all, the outside world rumored that the Old Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect had been killed by the Xuanyou Sect. Furthermore, the Lingxiao Sect was known to harbor a deep hatred for demonic cultivators. That was why he felt Fan Lang was being too insane—to conspire with the Xuanyou Sect to ambush Murong Xiao for the sake of ambition.

Fan Lang suddenly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Overwhelming hatred and humiliation surged in his eyes, and his voice suddenly rose, bordering on hysterical: "The Xuanyou Sect?

If it weren't for those high-and-mighty Nascent Soul old monsters, how could my Lingxiao Sect's Old Sect Master have died so miserably?

Xuan Yin was nothing more than a pawn, a blade used by those Nascent Souls to keep us four Sects in check!"

Dead silence filled the pavilion. Gui Suer withdrew the chill from her Ice Soul Longsword, her face full of disbelief. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could Nascent Soul Cultivators, so noble and esteemed, collude with demonic cultivators to plot against Golden Core Sects like us in these Peripheral Lands?"

"Noble?" Fan Lang sneered, his laughter filled with sorrow.

"Their nobility is built upon the bones of our four Sects!"

"Why do you think our four Sects are trapped in this peripheral land? Why are the Spiritual Veins thin and resources scarce? It is all the plotting of those Nascent Soul old monsters!

They deliberately withhold resources to make us kill each other. As soon as a Sect begins to rise, they use the hands of demonic cultivators to destroy it, eliminating the threat forever!"

He reached out and touched the long saber at his waist, the blade reflecting his distorted face. "My father realized their conspiracy. He didn't want to be a beast fighting in a cage; he wanted to unite the four Sects to resist. And the result?

In a single night, the Lingxiao Sect suffered heavy casualties. The Old Sect Master was killed in one strike by a Nascent Soul Cultivator, leaving not even a bone behind!

To appear merciful, those high-and-mighty Nascent Souls supported my rise to power, but forced me to pin the blame on the Xuanyou Sect. If I revealed even half a word, the Lingxiao Sect would be completely wiped out!"

At this point, a murderous light flashed in Fan Lang's eyes, and he roared, "From that day on, I swore that even if we are fighting beasts in a cage in the eyes of those Nascent Soul old monsters, I would be the most ferocious one! So, all of you, die here!"