93: Qingyue shows goodwill

Clear Moon smiled faintly, and just as she was about to speak, she heard Shen Lian say again, "I can answer the doubts in your heart, but you must also give me the information I want."

Clear Moon slightly closed her eyes: "You are truly bold. After causing such a disaster, you still haven't run away.

Staying so openly within the Chess Sword Pavilion's sphere of influence—do you really think the Chess Sword Pavilion has no one left?"

Shen Lian gently shook his Folding Fan: "Are you here today to take my life?"

Clear Moon shook her head: "I am only responsible for the safety of the Chess Sword Pavilion. As long as something doesn't endanger the Chess Sword Pavilion, I won't care."

"In that case, let's skip the nonsense. Let's calmly proceed with an intelligence trade."

Clear Moon pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "I want to know, are you and the earth core strange fire truly connected heart-to-heart?"

Shen Lian shook his head: "Of course not. It was just that when I repaired the Fire Core of the earth core strange fire back then, I gained some understanding of the pattern of the Fire Core's operation,

and then, by utilizing this pattern, I activated a few Techniques, causing a slight fluctuation. That is all."

A trace of disbelief flashed in Clear Moon's beautiful eyes: "Just with this method, you managed to fool several of us Immortal Realm experts? Your courage is truly astonishing."

Shen Lian: "I can only say that the positions we stand in are different. From the beginning, I was certain that this seemingly crazy plan of mine had a success rate of over seventy percent!

The duty of the Grand Elder, as you said, is to ensure the survival of the Chess Sword Pavilion. When I used the earth core strange fire as a threat, you absolutely dared not act rashly.

And my goal, from beginning to end, was the crouching dragon marrow. Whether this item remained or not caused no loss to the Chess Sword Pavilion, but the crouching dragon marrow caused immense suffering in the Southern Domain.

I imagine that for you, this was a losing trade with no profit. So why couldn't I take a gamble?"

Clear Moon: "Do you know what the consequences would be if you lost the gamble?"

"Nothing more than a life," Shen Lian replied with a look of indifference.

"Gambling with your life?"

Shen Lian's words shocked Clear Moon once again.

"Are you truly not afraid of death?"

"From the moment one steps onto the path of cultivation, the word 'death' is destined to accompany all Cultivators throughout their lives. What good is fear?"

Clear Moon raised her beautiful eyebrow, gaining a new understanding of Shen Lian today.

"Alright, I have answered your question. Now, it's your turn to answer mine."

"Hmm, what do you want to know?"

Shen Lian: "I want to know which Territory in the Southern Domain is closest to the Outer Domain."

Clear Moon frowned: "Why are you asking this?"

"It's none of your business. You just need to answer me: Is there such a place?"

"Naturally, there is."

Hearing Clear Moon's words, Shen Lian's expression subtly changed: "Where is it?"

"You can go check out Yuntian City."

Shen Lian slightly furrowed his brow: "Yuntian City?"

Clear Moon nodded: "Yes, over five hundred years ago, a Sky Mark Rift appeared above Yuntian City, and an Ice Phoenix, pure white all over, fell from the Outer Domain.

I still remember that the Ice Phoenix's true body's Resentment Power almost completely devoured the earth qi of the entire Southern Domain.

Fortunately, the Saint Monk of the Buddhist Domain joined forces with the Dao Gate to take action, using themselves as the Ultimate Source to Seal the Ice Phoenix in the rear mountain of the Ice and Snow Sect, thus averting a catastrophe.

I think that Yuntian City might just hold the Outer Domain Realm you are looking for."

"Ha."

Upon hearing this news, Shen Lian let out a soft chuckle.

"Thank you for informing me."

After speaking, he immediately stood up, preparing to leave.

"You're just leaving like that?"

"Is there anything left for us to discuss?"

Clear Moon: "Shen Lian, I want to tell you that the reputation of the Chess Sword Pavilion has been damaged because of you. They will absolutely not let this matter rest."

Shen Lian turned back: "I welcome it anytime."

"Don't misunderstand." Clear Moon stood up, crossing her arms over her chest, "I won't lay a hand on you. I just want to negotiate a condition with you."

Shen Lian sat back down: "What condition do you want to negotiate?"

Clear Moon replied: "I will try my best, in my capacity as a Grand Elder, to placate the Chess Sword Pavilion so they won't act against you in the short term, but you must also promise me..."

"Promise what?" Shen Lian interrupted Clear Moon, "Promise that when I encounter a Chess Sword Pavilion Disciple, I'll meekly surrender and let them kill me?"

Clear Moon shook her head: "No, you misunderstood. My meaning is that you should not cause any more trouble for the Chess Sword Pavilion within the next three months."

"Hmm?"

Shen Lian closed his eyes and fell into contemplation.

"I, Wu Aozhou, and Xiao Chen signed a Contract with the Sword Emperor to guard the Chess Sword Pavilion for three thousand years. The deadline is now just three months away.

I just want to quietly pass these three months and not get involved in any more unwarranted incidents. Can you agree to that?"

Shen Lian opened his eyes: "What do you intend to gain from me?"

Clear Moon was startled, then couldn't help but smile, pressing her lips together.

"What are you laughing at?"

Shen Lian's tone immediately turned cold.

Clear Moon shook her head: "I simply admire your style and feel that you are the same kind of person as the three of us.

As for gaining anything from you, at least for now, I truly haven't thought that way. You shouldn't always think of people as so mercenary."

"So, you are pitying me?"

As a result, these words made Shen Lian's face even gloomier.

It wasn't Shen Lian's fault for having such a temper; having gone through ninety-nine lifetimes of tempering, he had long seen through the deceit and trickery of the Cultivation Path.

In one life, he was meticulously schemed against by someone he trusted and nearly lost his life.

Since then, Shen Lian stopped trusting anyone easily. Even Gu Luoqing is, so far, nothing more than a relationship of mutual utilization.

Clear Moon had completely failed to anticipate that such an ordinary statement from her would cause such a massive emotional fluctuation in Shen Lian.

"Shen Lian, I know that your situation in the Heavenly Feather Sect has caused you to have a strong sense of wariness towards everyone.

But I want to tell you that there are still some people in this world who are not as despicable as you imagine."

Shen Lian immediately retorted: "Given our current relationship, why should I expend energy discerning how much truth is in your words?

Human nature is inherently difficult to fathom. My experience tells me that the most stable way to interact with people on this Cultivation Path is through mutual benefit.

What position are you taking by being willing to stabilize the Chess Sword Pavilion for three months so they don't cause me trouble? Is it merely unconventional admiration for me?

Regardless of what you think in your heart, in my mind, Shen Lian, judging by your position, you must be under immense pressure.

Even if we take ten thousand steps back and say you are sincere, I am still unwilling to accept it. After all, doing so would mean owing you a Favor.

A Debt of Favor is hard to repay, and it is also the thing Shen Lian is least willing to accept. So, state the benefit you wish to exchange.

This way, neither of us has to bear too much psychological burden."

Clear Moon frowned in thought for a moment: "Then let's do as you say. Let's treat it as an exchange of benefits. It's just that I haven't figured out what I want to exchange for yet."

Shen Lian stood up and opened his Folding Fan: "Since it is a transaction, I will naturally give you the fairest Bargaining Chip. How about I decide the benefit to be exchanged?

You help me stabilize the Chess Sword Pavilion for three months. As long as the people of the Chess Sword Pavilion don't actively seek trouble with me during these three months, I won't deliberately act against them.

As for the reward, I will help the three of you successfully break free from the control of the Chess Sword Pavilion."

"What do you mean by that?" Clear Moon didn't quite understand Shen Lian's words.

Shen Lian: "Have you ever considered why a Sect with a Legacy spanning thirty thousand years only has three Grand Elders? Where did the Grand Elders before you go?"

Clear Moon frowned again: "The Grand Elders before us? The Sword Emperor said their Contracts expired, and they went to their respective destinations."

"Think about it carefully yourself. Furthermore, I can spare the others in the Chess Sword Pavilion, but I must kill Nangong Li.

No one can protect her. Given her current injuries, she will certainly head to the Medicine King Valley in the Spirit Realm. I need to know when she sets off. Can you pass me this intelligence?"

Clear Moon thought about it. Losing one Nangong Li to protect the Chess Sword Pavilion seemed like no loss at all.

"Alright, I promise you. But you must guarantee that, aside from Nangong Li, you will not harm any other Disciple within the Chess Sword Pavilion for three months."

"These ants don't even qualify for a glance from me. As long as they don't provoke me, I permit them to live in peace, hmph."

Having said this, Shen Lian turned and left.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

Watching Shen Lian's retreating figure, Clear Moon's eyes showed extremely complex emotions.