73: Chapter 73, Two-thirds

On Yingxia Peak, inside the Guest Welcoming Hall.

Ling Hao sat high on the main seat, his expression indifferent.

In the hall, Jing Hong, the master of Liuyun Temple, stood bowing with two Elders, his posture so humble it bordered on servile.

Jing Hong wore a deep blue Daoist robe. His scholarly face could not hide his exhaustion, and deep within his eyes lay hidden worry.

Behind him on the left was a withered old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a grey robe; on the right was a robust old man with a ruddy complexion and slightly heavy breathing, wearing the same Sect attire.

Jing Hong took a deep breath, stepped forward, and held up a storage ring with restrained radiance in both hands, offering it respectfully:

"Jing Hong, along with the Elders of Liuyun Temple, pays respects to Sect Master Ling."

Ling Hao lifted his gaze slightly and beckoned with his hand; the storage ring landed in his palm.

He swept it with his Divine Sense. Inside, lying alone, was a Spirit Medicine brimming with Spiritual Qi—a Rank 5 Spirit Medicine, the Nine-Turn Jade Marrow Ganoderma.

Although the medicinal fragrance was sealed, that pure aura of life was faintly emanating.

He gently rubbed the ring with his fingertips and nodded slightly.

Hmm? This master of Liuyun Temple is quite adept at worldly affairs.

Using a Rank 5 medicinal herb to pave the way—even if he didn't like them, he would at least listen to what they had to say.

"What is the purpose of Liuyun Temple's visit?"

Ling Hao's voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

To those unaware of the situation, this scene would surely seem absurd.

As Sect Masters of two Rank 4 Sects in the Qing State, even if there was a difference in cultivation, one side shouldn't be so humble that they even forgo basic pleasantries.

But Jing Hong only felt bitterness in his heart. He knew very well that the person above was a genuine Spirit Severing True Venerable!

Never mind that his own Old Ancestor had long since passed away; even if the Old Ancestor were still alive, facing a Spirit Severing powerhouse, he would have to accept being left standing below, not daring to utter a single word of dissent.

Jing Hong dared not hesitate and hurriedly said:

"Reporting to Sect Master Ling, Song Qingfeng, son of the Old Ancestor of the Tianhuo Sect, recently arrived at our Liuyun Temple with a Nascent Soul True Lord. His attitude was overbearing, demanding fifty percent of the spiritual mines and medicine gardens in our Hedong Region! This is the lifeline of our Sect's Foundation. We implore Sect Master Ling to consider the bonds of fellow Daoists and extend a helping hand!"

He bowed deeply, his posture extremely low.

Ling Hao tapped his fingertips on the armrest, making a rhythmic clicking sound, his tone indifferent:

"Oh? The Tianhuo Sect is demanding resources... but what does that have to do with my Moonshadow Sect?"

Jing Hong's heart sank; he knew the other party would not easily intervene.

He gritted his teeth, as if casting caution to the wind, and said:

"As long as the Moonshadow Sect is willing to protect our Liuyun Temple and help us survive this tribulation... our Liuyun Temple is willing to offer all... all of the spiritual mines and medicine gardens in the Hedong Region to the Moonshadow Sect!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the two Elders behind him changed.

The Qing River, the largest in the Qing State, flows from north to south, dividing the land into two. The Tianhuo Sect and Earth Flame Sect occupy the west bank, while Liuyun Temple guards the east bank alone.

The spiritual mines and medicine gardens in this Hedong Region account for nearly half of Liuyun Temple's annual income!

Giving them all up is equivalent to cutting off one's own arm!

Upon hearing this, Ling Hao merely shook his head gently, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth:

"The Hedong Region? Heh, Sect Master Jing, that place is thousands of miles away from my Moonshadow Sect's mountain gate; it is beyond my reach. Send Disciples to garrison there? It's time-consuming and laborious. Besides..."

Ling Hao paused, his eyes turning slightly cold, "If a conflict truly arises, I would be unable to arrive in an instant. Let's forget about this hot potato."

For the Moonshadow Sect, which possesses the tower of laws, this distance is not a problem at all.

This is not what Ling Hao wants right now; the Hedong Region can be plotted for slowly.

Jing Hong never expected that even ceding the entire Hedong Region could not move Ling Hao! His face instantly turned paper-white, his body swayed, and his voice was hoarse:

"Sect Master Ling!"

"As long as the Moonshadow Sect is willing to help, our Liuyun Temple... is willing to give anything! Whatever we have in our temple, Sect Master Ling may take it all! I only ask... I only ask to preserve the Sect's Legacy!"

This was already putting the entire Sect on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered.

"Oh?"

Ling Hao leaned forward slightly, his gaze like lightning, piercing towards Jing Hong, a half-smile appearing on his face, "Really... anything?"

Facing that gaze, Jing Hong felt a tremendous pressure rushing towards him, but he had no way back. He could only clench his teeth tightly and squeeze out a few words from between them: "Yes! Anything!"

"Good!"

Ling Hao clapped his hands, his voice echoing clearly in the hall, "I want... two-thirds of your Liuyun Temple's current stored resources!"

"What?!"

"This... this is impossible!"

Just as Ling Hao finished speaking, the robust, red-faced Elder behind Jing Hong could no longer hold back and exclaimed in shock!

And the withered, white-haired Elder also suddenly looked up, his murky old eyes filled with shock and anger!

Ling Hao ignored those two jumping Elders entirely and instead reviewed his previous thoughts in his mind.

He still had one Nascent Soul Dao Mark Resonance in his hand...

If he agreed to help Liuyun Temple, this thing would have to be used immediately.

Once used, this "trump card" in his hand would be gone.

Liuyun Temple was three thousand miles away, beyond the projection range of his Cave Heaven power.

Without the support of the Nascent Soul Dao Mark Resonance, he would only have Golden Core Stage strength left.

It was said that there were only three Nascent Soul True Lords within the Qing State, but the one he encountered last time was clearly not one of them.

At the first level of the Golden Core Stage, self-preservation was sufficient, but killing a Nascent Soul True Lord would be somewhat difficult.

However...

Ling Hao's gaze fell on the semi-transparent System screen before him.

Main Quest: Recruit 10,000 Disciples (7154 / 10000) Reward: Soul Transformation Dao Mark Resonance for twelve hours.

Side Quest: 20 Disciples reach Foundation Establishment Stage (6 / 20) Reward: Nascent Soul Dao Mark Resonance for twelve hours.

Once the main and side quests were completed, he would have his trump cards.

And after obtaining the Soul Transformation Dao Mark Resonance, he would turn back and crush those two annoying flies from the Tianhuo Sect and Earth Flame Sect!

To deal with the two who had returned from the Soul Transformation Immortal Cave, for the sake of caution, it would be best to use the Soul Transformation Dao Mark Resonance to prevent them from escaping like the Nascent Soul True Lord from last time.

Of course, the most important thing was—the Cave Heaven.

Ling Hao's thoughts stirred, and his Divine Sense sank into the System.

His will touched the [Cave Heaven] option.

The scene before him changed: (Cave Heaven Concept Art.jpg - A prototype of a miniature continent floating in a vast nebula) (Progress Bar.jpg - A brilliant band of light, the [Early Stage] label at the front lit up, the band of light had extended more than halfway, pointing towards [Middle Stage], and further ahead were [Late Stage], [Perfection (Small World)+])

Realm Bonus: Void Tempering Level 1!

Friendly Reminder: Investing Heaven And Earth Treasure can perfect the Cave Heaven Laws, accelerate evolution, and increase the Realm bonus limit (Middle Stage — Tribulation Transcendence Stage)!

Current Goal: Cultivate the Cave Heaven to [Early Stage Perfection] to obtain Void Refinement Stage Dao Mark Resonance for three hours!

Ling Hao's gaze was locked firmly on the progress bar.

From Early Stage to Middle Stage, he had already covered more than half. If he could swallow two-thirds of the stored resources that Liuyun Temple, a Rank 4 Sect, had accumulated over thousands of years...

That would definitely be enough to push the progress bar to the Middle Stage!

This deal was a massive profit, absolutely no loss!

On the other side, Jing Hong was also battling with himself mentally.

The Sect Master of Moon Shadow Sect only wanted the ready-made stored resources?

The amount was a bit large, but that was actually a good thing!

The spiritual mines and medicine gardens in the Hedong Region were the lifeline of the Sect!

As long as the Foundation was preserved, a severe injury to the Origin Qi could be slowly recovered.

The Tianhuo Sect had wolfish ambitions. Today they demanded fifty percent of the Hedong Region, tomorrow they would find an excuse to demand another thirty percent! The day after... he feared the entire Liuyun Temple would be swallowed by them in one bite!

This was like cutting flesh with a dull knife; in the end, death was inevitable! Not to mention that there was a Earth Flame Sect on the side waiting to get a share of the spoils!

In comparison, handing over the stored resources in exchange for the Moonshadow Sect's protection, while as painful as gouging out one's heart and cutting one's flesh, at least the Sect's Foundation and future would remain.

The Moonshadow Sect wouldn't take the money and then exterminate the Sect, would they? But what if... they really did that?

Jing Hong suddenly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, only determination remained in his eyes.

"Good!"

His voice was loud and resolute, "Our Liuyun Temple agrees!"

"Temple Master! You cannot!"

The withered Elder cried out urgently.

"Please think thrice!"

The red-faced Elder also hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

Jing Hong waved his large hand, unquestionable: "My mind is made up! No more words!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Hao also revealed a satisfied smile on his face: "Good! Happy cooperation!"