202: trade

After speaking, seeing that the Man in White Robes did not refute, this made Liu Rumei even more certain of her suspicions.

She continued slowly: "Fellow Daoist Qin is surely not someone who goes back on their word. The previous promise still stands—to participate in the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven matter sixty years later."

Qin Chen laughed: "So Bibo Palace and the members of Cloud Sea Sect want to occupy eight Prodigy spots for one Sect."

The Sect Master of Yunhai Sect cursed inwardly, "old bastard," and quickly spoke up to explain: "I have no such intention."

After speaking, he didn't forget to glance at Chen Xuan out of the corner of his eye.

Su Qingyi frowned deeply and admonished the Grand Elder beside her: "You've spoken a bit too much today."

"Sect Master, everything I do is for the sake of the Sect. Dao Seeking Sect may not be as unfathomable as the rumors suggest."

To this, Su Qingyi said nothing more!

Immediately after, the three Sects began their respective sarcastic remarks.

The Sect Master of Yunhai Sect would occasionally look at Chen Xuan, always steering the conversation toward Dao Seeking Sect.

Cloud Sea Sect wanted to use this opportunity to show goodwill to Dao Seeking Sect, Bibo Palace wanted to make exorbitant demands and take a big bite out of the opportunity, while Yin Shen Sect watched the commotion without minding the trouble, specifically targeting Cloud Sea Sect to annoy them.

Qin Tianxing proposed: "Since everyone has been talking back and forth without reaching a consensus after half a day, why not hear Sect Master Chen of Dao Seeking Sect's opinion?"

As soon as Qin Tianxing said this, the Sect Master of Yunhai Sect immediately agreed, a smile plastered on his face as he looked at Chen Xuan: "Fellow Daoist Qin is absolutely right! Sect Master Chen has a unique perspective and must have a more comprehensive idea for the grotto-heaven allocation."

"That would be excellent!"

Liu Rumei said coldly: "Since this Sect Master Chen has remained silent from the beginning, he probably doesn't have any worthwhile ideas. Perhaps..."

Before she could finish the word "perhaps," an extremely sharp Sword Qi suddenly shot from the side, so fast that no one could react in time!

Liu Rumei felt a piercing chill instantly shoot from the soles of her feet to her brain, her hairs standing on end. Years of combat instinct made her act without thinking, instantly summoning her most prized defensive Magic Treasure.

A jade mirror engraved with Bibo runes!

However, this jade mirror, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Soul Transformation sixth-layer Cultivator, was like paper before that Sword Qi, shattering with a "crack."

The Sword Qi continued unabated, piercing directly through Liu Rumei's forehead! Immediately after, with a loud "bang," Liu Rumei's body exploded into a mist of blood in the hall.

A thick smell of blood instantly filled the hall.

Everyone in the hall was stunned by this sudden turn of events, all staring wide-eyed in shock, rigidly looking at the Man in White Robes who had suddenly struck.

The hall, which had just been bustling with activity, was now so quiet that everyone's rapid breathing could be heard.

Everyone's faces were filled with disbelief and terror.

It must be known that this Fairy Liu was no ordinary Cultivator—she was the genuine Grand Elder of Bibo Palace, with a cultivation base reaching Soul Transformation third-layer!

Compared to a fraud like Qin Tianxing, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Qin Tianxing felt offended.

The Sect Master of Yunhai Sect turned pale, watching the dissipating blood mist, a thought suddenly flashing in his mind: Could it be that Daoist Yun Luo of Haotian Sect met a similar fate earlier?

Chen Xuan calmly withdrew his gaze: "You've been talking for so long, and you're still addicted to it. Do you really think I have a good temper?"

His tone was calm and even, but it made everyone's hearts tremble.

The most awkward was Bibo Palace's Palace Master, Su Qingyi.

Her Sect's Grand Elder had been reduced to a mist of blood right before her eyes, with not a bone left. As the palace master, what choice should she make?

Should she avenge Liu Rumei and fight to the death with the other party? But even Liu Rumei's Soul Transformation third-layer cultivation base couldn't block a single sword strike from him—if she acted, she might just add another mist of blood. Should she swallow her anger and act as if nothing happened? But where would that leave Bibo Palace's dignity?

Su Qingyi was caught in a dilemma!

Although she hadn't stopped Liu Rumei's words earlier, it was partly to test the Man in White Robes.

But Su Qingyi hadn't expected the Man in White Robes to act so domineeringly. While she could guess he was extraordinary, she hadn't anticipated such an outcome.

Just as Su Qingyi was unsettled, Chen Xuan slowly spoke, his gaze sweeping around the hall: "As for the allocation of the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven, just follow the old rules as before—no need to waste time arguing."

"However, I have one condition."

Everyone's hearts instantly tightened, all looking at this Man in White Robes who would draw his sword and kill at the slightest provocation, waiting for what came next.

Chen Xuan said solemnly: "Any Cultivators selected from the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven must not be bound by enslavement in the future."

He didn't want to be some savior; he always acted according to his heart.

Earlier, he learned that "Ascension" was just a lie fabricated by higher-level Cultivators, and enslaving prodigies was only for exploitation and oppression. Such dark rules were something he couldn't stand.

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone's faces were filled with disbelief, clearly not expecting Chen Xuan to make such a demand.

It must be known that using Slave Seals to bind prodigies was a key method for Sects to control top-tier combat power. This Man in White Robes' words undoubtedly aimed to cut off a source of their wealth!

A few people in the hall stared blankly at Chen Xuan.

They were Cultivators who had been brought from the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven to the Profound Realm in earlier years. Although their cultivation Realms were higher and they held Elder positions,

the mark on their Divine Souls made them know they were merely servants of Cloud Sea Sect.

After a moment, the Sect Master of Yunhai Sect broke the silence first. He took a deep breath; although he feared Chen Xuan's strength, he was unwilling to yield on matters concerning the Sect's fundamental interests.

"Sect Master Chen, this demand seems a bit too unreasonable. Enslaving prodigies is a long-standing rule among the Sects of Flame Continent, involving too much interest. I'm afraid I cannot agree."

Even though Chen Xuan had just killed Liu Rumei with a single sword strike, the interests involved were too great, and this Sect Master remained firm.

Su Qingyi also added solemnly: "If Sect Master Chen doesn't want to use Slave Seals to bind Dao Seeking Sect's Cultivators, that's your Sect's own affair, and we won't question it. But to demand that my Bibo Palace and Cloud Sea Sect do the same is probably not appropriate, is it?"

Could this person really challenge the entire Flame Continent's rules alone and incur everyone's wrath?

Even Qin Chen shook his head slightly, not expecting Senior Chen to speak like this.

Chen Xuan said calmly: "Everyone, hear me out—this is just a transaction."

"Transaction?"

Qi Yue casually waved her hand, and three peaches glowing red appeared out of thin air, floating before the three Sect Masters.

Qi Yue said softly: "The Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven opens once every thirty years. If you agree not to use Slave Seals to bind the prodigies selected from the grotto-heaven, my Dao Seeking Sect will give each Sect four such peaches every thirty years."

Chen Xuan had his own calculations: Although he had now reached the Soul Transformation fourth-layer Realm, Dao Seeking Sect was still a newly established Sect with shallow foundations, and even Qi Yue was only at the Nascent Soul Realm.

To accomplish something as big as changing the rules, he couldn't rely solely on force. The "chicken" to warn the monkeys had been killed; next, he should give a "sweet," using interests to win everyone over. Moreover, he knew clearly that thirty years was enough for Dao Seeking Sect to rise. He estimated that in less than ten years, Bibo Palace and Cloud Sea Sect might not have the courage to come to Dao Seeking Sect to claim today's agreement.