107: Tripartite cooperation
Mu Tian, who arrived late, was almost labeled as a Succubus's master.
Seeing that his words were failing to convince the trio, he grew anxious and directly summoned his three Demon Tamers Beasts, which finally cleared his suspicion.
“It would have been better if you did this sooner.” Ye Feiyu smiled and patted Mu Tian on the shoulder.
Mu Tian shot her a disgruntled look and snapped back, “It's all your fault! You must be the one causing trouble, you black-bellied fellow!”
Seeing the two about to argue again, Xie Ning and Su Qin pulled them apart. Xie Ning asked curiously, “Tell me your purpose. Did you come all this way so late just to bicker?”
Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu glanced at each other before saying simultaneously, “Cooperation.”
“What kind of cooperation?”
“The Houtu Secret Realm will open in a few days. I think we can cooperate.”
After Mu Tian finished, Ye Feiyu glanced at him and followed up, “That is also what I wanted to say.”
“Are you joking?” Xie Ning smiled and looked at them strangely. “Two Silver Rankers aren't cooperating with each other, but instead came to find a Bronze Rank rookie? Don't you think that's too bizarre?”
“A Bronze Rank rookie? Look at yourself, how do you look like a rookie? Who was it that suppressed me during the fight...” Ye Feiyu looked humiliated and angry, nearly drawing her spear in rage, but fortunately, Mu Tian held her back.
“That was just an accident.” Xie Ning rubbed his nose and spoke awkwardly, but his eyes unconsciously drifted toward her, almost making her explode on the spot.
Mu Tian pulled her back to the table again, wiped his sweat, and then said, “Actually, you've misunderstood one point. We've come to cooperate not just because of strength. Of course, strength is part of it—otherwise, Feiyu wouldn't have challenged you; she just wanted to test your strength.”
“Then what is it?”
“Because of the Mysterious Grade Medium Grade Beast Taming Skill you obtained when you entered the academy.” After Mu Tian finished, Ye Feiyu nodded with lingering anger and gave a muffled huff.
“It's just a Beast Taming Skill, is there something special about it?” Xie Ning asked again.
At the mention of serious business, Ye Feiyu and Mu Tian turned solemn. Mu Tian spoke slowly, “If it were any other Beast Taming Skill, or if you used it in any other setting, it would at most be a decent ability. But in the Houtu Secret Realm, it has a massive role, even concerning the ownership of the treasures within the realm's ruins.”
“Ruins?” Xie Ning heard this term again.
“Correct,” Ye Feiyu said. “The reason the energy in the Houtu Secret Realm has decreased is related to the ruins within being about to emerge. Compared to that, the various resources in the Secret Realm are nothing at all.”
Mu Tian took over and added, “According to our information, a Senior once placed some unripe holy yuan fruits inside the Houtu Ruins and used a Formation to let them absorb energy. The anomaly in the Houtu Secret Realm this year is very likely because the holy yuan fruits have matured.”
“What is a holy yuan fruit?”
“A type of spiritual fruit that can make a human powerful after consumption. By eating one, even an ordinary person without a Cultivation Technique can possess Bronze Rank strength within a single day.” Mu Tian's eyes grew fervent as he spoke.
“Hiss—” Xie Ning sucked in a breath of cold air.
Mu Tian added, “And outside the Houtu Ruins, there is a checkpoint called the Fire Source. Only fire elements are allowed there; other elements cannot remain. The Beast Taming Skill you obtained happens to be a skill that allows entry into the Fire Source zone.”
“So that's how it is. In that case, Zhao Long's conflict with me wasn't just to vent anger for his brother, but likely also for the matter of the ruins.” Xie Ning became thoughtful.
Ye Feiyu sneered and said, “Zhao Long wouldn't look for trouble with you for his brother's sake; he's only doing it for the Beast Taming Skill. To a heartless madman like him, family ties are redundant.”
“Though the words are harsh, it's pretty much like that,” Mu Tian said, looking at Xie Ning with a serious expression. “You must be extra careful of Zhao Long. Although his two younger brothers have conflicts with you, they are ultimately just two brainless guys full of bad ideas and aren't hard to deal with. The truly terrifying one is Zhao Long. He is cold-blooded, overbearing, and skilled at scheming. Those targeted by him rarely meet a good end.”
Ye Feiyu also said, “In Lingnan City, besides those at your mentor's level, there is no one in the younger generation who can surpass him.”
These words made the atmosphere in the courtyard much heavier.
Su Qin felt uneasy all over and thought for a moment before saying, “I'll go wash some fruit for you all.”
The three didn't speak, each remaining silent.
After a while, Xie Ning looked up and smiled, “It seems that Mysterious Grade Medium Grade Beast Taming Skill is quite impressive.”
“Don't tell me you haven't claimed it yet?” Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu said in unison.
“Ah, right, I forgot.”
The two didn't know what to say anymore and could only leave behind three words: “...You're truly fearless.”
“I roughly understand the goal. Cooperation is fine, but I have conditions.” Xie Ning smiled. His eyes sparkled under the moonlight.
“What conditions?”
Xie Ning said decisively, “The treasures will be split equally, but I want all of the earth cracking beast inner cores.”
“This...” Ye Feiyu couldn't help but say, “Do you know the consequences of taking the earth cracking beast inner core? It will kill you!”
“Xie Ning, the background of the earth cracking beast inner core is very complex. You'd better not set your sights on it.” Mu Tian also looked grave.
To their surprise, these words didn't scare Xie Ning off. Instead, he smiled even more brightly and said loudly, “I've already decided to step into this circle. So if you want to cooperate, these are the conditions! Think it over yourselves.”
“Whether to help me obtain the earth cracking beast inner core and then split the treasures equally, or to be no match for Zhao Long and watch him obtain the treasures in the end, with his strength then crushing you by another level—think about it yourselves.”
The two didn't respond, both falling into their own contemplations.
The Zhao Family was currently nothing to fear, but Zhao Long was indeed a threat. Once he developed further, the balance of Lingnan City would be broken.
But compared to that, obtaining the earth cracking beast inner core was a battle on another level entirely. If it was discovered that they had helped, what kind of trouble would that bring?
When Su Qin came out with the sliced fruit, a strange silence had formed between the three, making him feel uneasy. He hesitated, then carried the fruit back into the house and ate it himself.
Xie Ning wasn't in a hurry. He moved Ye Feiyu's leg aside and sat on the stone stool.
The feel was bouncy and firm.
Soon, Mu Tian spoke first. He smiled and said, “I really don't know why you're so persistent, but since I already decided on an Alliance before coming here, what else can I do?”
“Mu Tian, you...”
Mu Tian making a decision so quickly left Ye Feiyu extremely surprised.
Xie Ning grinned, said “Very good,” and then looked at Ye Feiyu.
Ye Feiyu's brow furrowed deeper. She looked at Xie Ning, then at Mu Tian, and finally locked her gaze on the former: “I need to consider it.”
“Of course, there are still a few days left.” Xie Ning replied with a smile.
Afterward, Mu Tian and Ye Feiyu prepared to leave.
Mu Tian left first. Just as Ye Feiyu was about to step out the main gate, she turned back and rushed in front of Xie Ning. Her eyes glared as she grabbed his collar: “You shameless fellow! We'll have another fight after the Secret Realm!”
Xie Ning grinned, revealing two rows of white, neat teeth.
“Hmph! A bet is a bet!” Ye Feiyu stuffed a bead into Xie Ning's hand and left in a huff.
That fiery red bead, still carrying some warmth, was precisely the Silver Grade 9 fire-type inner elixir from earlier that day.