NOVEL NEXT Chapter 251: Negotiation
Chapter 251: Negotiation
The female powerhouse snorted coldly, “I found the Demon Prison Tower. Although I didn’t manage to obtain it, I know that it’s in your hands. I also know your identity. As long as I bring this information back to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land, it will be a great merit. So what’s wrong with me saying I’m lucky?”
“You’re right, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Xu Lian replied. Suddenly, he vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of the female powerhouse, thrusting the Sword of Destruction forward with all his might!
“Boom!”
The sharp sword light shattered the space around them, carrying an overwhelming sword intent.
Unfortunately, the female powerhouse was no novice in combat. She had already prepared for this. With a pinch of the Divine Escape Talisman in her hand, she disappeared without a trace, leaving no clue as to her whereabouts.
“She can’t escape,” Xu Lian’s expression changed. He expanded his senses, but he still couldn’t detect the female powerhouse. She had obviously fled far away.
“The news has leaked out. I need to hurry back and inform her so that we can prepare ourselves,” he thought.
He crashed through the void, traversed space, and instantly returned to the Divine Clan’s ancestral land.
It had to be said, the Divine Bone of the Divine Clan’s supreme powerhouse was incredibly useful – far faster than his own void traversal.
“O,” Xu Lian called out as he walked deep into the mist, arriving at the lake where he found the Goddess of Time. “Just now, while I was practicing void traversal, I came across a family being chased by a group of cultivators. I saved them, and they gave me a treasure in gratitude. However, I was then ambushed by people from the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land who claimed it was their Demon Prison Tower. They also saw through my identity and said that the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land would stop at nothing to get the treasure back.
He recounted the entire incident and took out the small golden tower.
The Goddess of Time opened her beautiful eyes and extended her jade-like hand to take the small golden tower for inspection. “This is indeed a lost treasure of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land, and it holds immense importance to them. Its significance is comparable to what the Sword of Destruction means to the Thirteen Clans.”
Xu Lian frowned. “How powerful is the Heavenly Demon Holy Land? Can we protect this treasure?”
The Goddess of Time glanced at him. “The Heavenly Demon Sacred Land is a mysterious and top-tier force. I don’t know much about them, but this treasure has a significant origin. The Heavenly Demon Sacred Land will undoubtedly go to great lengths to retrieve it, no matter what the cost.
Since they already know that you’re from the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, they will surely negotiate with them.
This treasure has a special restriction from the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land. It’s nearly impossible for others to break it, so even if someone else obtains it, it will be useless. I suggest that you hand it over to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands and let them handle it.
If the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands were at their peak, they might have been very interested in this treasure and wouldn’t have easily returned it to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land. However, the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands are currently in a weakened state, and they probably don’t want to cause any trouble.
I suspect that the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands will decide to negotiate with the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land and exchange this treasure for a substantial benefit.”
Xu Lian understood, and his eyes lit up.
If he handed over this treasure to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, they could negotiate with the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land for a significant benefit. He could then ask the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands for a reward – perhaps 413 grains of Dustless Sand!
With the materials in hand, he could directly advance to the 9th level of the Return to Truth Realm and then receive cultivation resources for the Nine Tribulations Realm, stepping into the 6th Stage of the Nine Tribulations Realm!
“The Nine Tribulation Realm 6th Stage… that would make me a mid-level powerhouse, right?” Xu Lian thought excitedly. “Alright, O, I’ll follow your advice and give this treasure to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands.”
The Goddess of Time seemed to see through his thoughts. “You want to ask for cultivation materials in return?”
Xu Lian nodded. “I still need over 400 grains of Dustless Sand.”
The Goddess of Time said, “The value of this treasure is far beyond your imagination. The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands will undoubtedly secure a massive benefit from the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land in exchange for it. You might as well ask for more – enough resources to cover your cultivation needs up to the Nine Tribulations Realm.”
Xu Lian’s eyes widened. He realized that he had been thinking too small. “Then can I also request resources for the Unity Realm, Origin Tracing Realm, Sage Realm, and Supreme Realm?”
“Do you think that is possible?” The Goddess of Time tossed the small golden tower back to him and closed her eyes.
Was she hinting that he should kiss her? Xu Lian hesitated, but he didn’t dare to act recklessly.
He knew that it was impossible. If he could secure enough resources for the Return to Truth Realm and the Nine Tribulations Realm, allowing him to step into the Unity Realm, he would be more than satisfied.
If the Return to Truth Realm was considered a basic powerhouse, and the Nine Tribulations Realm a mid-level powerhouse, then the Unity Realm would make him a formidable powerhouse!
Second only to the top tier powerhouses of the Origin Tracing Realm!
“Haha,” Xu Lian couldn’t help but laugh.
He laughed heartily.
Holding the small golden tower in his hand, he turned and left.
As soon as he stepped out of the mist, the token given to him by the Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord activated, transmitting a voice message.
Xu Lian feigned ignorance. “Father-in-law, is something wrong?
Qianxue is doing very well here. She’s received guidance from a group of figures within the paintings, and her cultivation progress hasn’t lagged behind.
Not long ago, she became pregnant again. Soon we’ll have our third child.
Do you miss your grandchildren? In a while, I’ll bring Qianxue and the children back to the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land to visit you.”
“…” The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord was silent for a moment. “I know that you’re treating Qianxue well, and I’m at ease knowing that the children are in the Divine Clan’s ancestral land. Hand over the Demon Prison Tower to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands.”
Xu Lian pretended to be confused. “Demon Prison Tower? What’s that?”
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord said impatiently, “Stop playing dumb. The Holy Lord of the Heavenly Demon Holy Land has already come to us and said that you stole their Demon Prison Tower.”
Xu Lian retorted, “Stole? Someone gave it to me willingly. It’s my property. Why should I return it to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land?”
He couldn’t just hand over the Demon Prison Tower to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands. If they did, he would lose his leverage. Once the tower was handed over, there was no guarantee that the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands would grant him the cultivation resources he needed for the Return to Truth Realm and the Nine Tribulations Realm.
Thus, he had to negotiate the terms before handing it over.
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord said, “The Demon Prison Tower has a special restriction from the Heavenly Demon Holy Land. Even if you have it, you can’t unlock it. It’s useless for you. Hand it over to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands and let them negotiate with the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land”.
Xu Lian replied, “Just because I can’t unlock it now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to in the future. Once I become a supreme powerhouse, I’ll unlock the Demon Prison Tower, and it will become my ultimate weapon.”
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord said urgently, “The Demon Prison Tower is an ancestral treasure of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land. They will never give up on it and will surely fight the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands to the death. The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands are currently in a weakened state, with the old Supreme nearing the end of his life and a new Supreme yet to emerge. This is not the time to provoke a war with the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land. As the Holy Son of the Nine Heavens, you should understand the importance of the bigger picture.”
Xu Lian fell silent for a moment, allowing a strategic pause to make it seem like he was considering the matter.
After a while, he spoke, “I risked my life and went through great trouble to obtain this. How can I just hand it over to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land?”
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord sighed, “Qianxue has already given birth to two of your children and is now pregnant with a third. We’re a family. There’s no need for any pretense between us.
The Holy Lord of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land has already stated that you injured a Return to Truth 8th Stage female deacon from their sacred land and nearly killed her. It’s not you who risked your life, it was her!
However, your progress in cultivation is truly amazing. When I heard the news for the first time, I could hardly believe it. But since you used the Sword of Destruction, there’s no mistaking that it was you.”
Xu Lian said, “Alright, since you’ve put it that way, I’ll stop beating around the bush. I can hand over the Demon Prison Tower and let the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands negotiate a substantial benefit with the Heavenly Demon Sacred Lands. But I must also consider my own interests. I want four portions of Dustless Sand for the Return to Truth Realm, and five portions of cultivation resources for the Nine Tribulations Realm.”
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord took a deep breath. “This is enough to cultivate five or six mid-level powerhouses. This is not a small request.”
Xu Lian said, “I know, but compared to the value of the Demon Prison Tower, it shouldn’t be too much, right?”
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord replied, “I can’t make that decision. I’ll need to report it to the higher-ups.”
Xu Lian smiled. “I will wait for your good news.”
Soon after, Xu Lian received another voice transmission from the Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord. “The higher-ups have agreed. Bring the Demon Prison Tower to the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land immediately. For safety, it’s best if the Goddess of Time escorts you to prevent any ambushes along the way.”
Hearing the Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord’s serious tone, Xu Lian felt a chill run down his spine. “Are there any strong cultivators trying to capture the Demon Prison Tower?”
The Heavenly Mystic Holy Lord said, “The news of the Demon Prison Tower’s appearance has spread. When you obtained it, you used the Sword of Destruction. Now, it’s likely that many powerful figures know that it’s in your hands.
The Heavenly Demon Sacred Land has killed countless people and made many enemies over the years. These enemies will undoubtedly try to prevent the Demon Prison Tower from returning to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land. It’s only natural that they would try to seize it”.
Xu Lian had no choice but to return deep into the mist and seek out the Goddess of Time, asking her to escort him to the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land.
With a single step, the Goddess of Time brought him to the entrance of the first layer of the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land’s small world.
As soon as the Goddess of Time appeared, the disciples and followers at the entrance all looked at her with fervent admiration, bowing deeply in respect. After all, she was the most accomplished figure in the current Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands.
“Disciple Zhao Qiankun pays his respects to the Goddess of Time!”
“Disciple Bing Ying pays her respects to the Goddess of Time!”
…
What about me? Xu Lian was speechless. Standing beside the Goddess of Time, he was completely ignored.
“Boom!”
At that moment, the entire sky shattered, revealing the starry expanse beyond.
Two massive hands, as if descending from the heavens, reached down through the shattered sky!
An overwhelming pressure, vast and boundless, filled the air.
The entire thirty-three layers of the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land trembled as if on the verge of collapse.
“Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!”
The disciples and followers at the entrance of the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land all spat blood and collapsed to their knees, their faces pale and filled with terror.
“Brothers and sisters, there’s no need for such courtesy. You’re too kind,” Xu Lian said with a forced smile, though he felt a chill run down his spine. Even with his cultivation at the 6th level of the Return to Truth Realm, making him a minor powerhouse, he felt like an ant before the overwhelming pressure of a supreme powerhouse.
The laws of his Divine Kingdom erupted, radiating a sun-like brilliance, allowing him to withstand the pressure of the two supreme powerhouses.
“Do you think the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands have no one left?” An aged voice echoed from the thirty-three layers of the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land. A strangely shaped hand reached out and blocked one of the supreme powerhouses.
The Goddess of Time’s time laws expanded, turning the entire world into a shimmering white, preventing the other supreme powerhouse’s hand from descending.
“If the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands return the Demon Prison Tower to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land, you will be helping the demons. Once the Demon Prison Tower is unsealed, it will unleash chaos upon the world. The Nine Heavenly Demon Sacred Lands will be damned forever!”
A majestic and icy voice echoed from an unknown origin, as if it came from beyond the heavens, yet also seemed to be right next to them.
“Do you know what is sealed in the Demon Prison Tower?
Inside the Demon Prison Tower lies a peerless Heavenly Demon, the direct disciple of the Demon Lord sealed within the Demon Sealing Cave.
If you return the Demon Prison Tower to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land and they unseal it, releasing the Peerless Heavenly Demon, he will undoubtedly seek to open the Demon Sealing Cave and free the Demon Lord.
Once the Demon Lord is released, who in this world can stop him?
Can the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands bear the consequences of such an act?”
The disciples and followers of the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land were stunned. Xu Lian, who knew more, felt a storm raging in his heart. The Demon Prison Tower was actually sealing an incomparable heavenly demon, the direct disciple of the Demon Lord of the Demon Sealing Cave!
The Demon Lord was a mythical figure sealed by the ancestors of the Thirteen Clans. If the Demon Lord were to be unleashed, it would surely bring about catastrophic destruction!
After a long silence, the aged voice from the thirty-three layers of the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land spoke firmly, “How to handle the Demon Prison Tower is the decision of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands. It is not for you to interfere. Leave now, or we will consider it a declaration of war against the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands”.
The majestic and icy voice replied, “I have no intention of infringing on the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, but the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands definitely cannot return the Demon Prison Tower to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Lands. As long as the Nine Heavens Sacred Land agrees, I will leave immediately!”
The Old Supreme coldly replied, “As I have already said, it is up to the Nine Heavens Sacred Land to decide what to do with the Demon Prison Tower. You have no right to give orders here.
This is my last warning: you have ten breaths to leave the jurisdiction of the Nine Heavens Sacred Land!
Otherwise, I will kill you and raze your Everlasting Sect to the ground!”
Immediately.
The Old Supreme began to count, “One.”
A boundless killing intent spread across the heavens and the earth. The shattered skies rolled with dark clouds, thunder, and lightning. The fury of a Supreme was a force even the heavens could not ignore.
The imposing power of the Old Supreme remained as unshakable as ever, and the dignity of the Nine Heavens Sacred Land could not be violated. All the disciples of Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land were filled with fervor and passion.
Xu Lian also couldn’t help but silently exclaim in admiration… The Old Supreme might have aged and shown some signs of strange changes, but his martial prowess was still formidable, enough to contend with other Supremes.
This put immense pressure on the two Supremes who had made a move. Slowly, they withdrew their hands.
“Who dares to invade the Holy Land of the Nine Heavens?”
A figure wreathed in true flame that seemed to incinerate the heavens appeared – it was clearly the Supreme of the Blazing Flame Sect. “Do you not understand the rules?”
Almost at the same time, another figure sitting on a nine-colored lotus platform descended. The female Supreme of the Divine Flower Palace arrived, her holy voice echoing, “You two have crossed the line.”
Under the combined pressure of the Old Supreme, the Goddess of Time, the Supreme of the Blazing Flame Sect, and the Supreme of the Divine Flower Palace, the two intruding Supremes could no longer endure. Their colossal hands completely disintegrated, and the shattered skies returned to normal.
“Go inside.”
The Goddess of Time glanced at Xu Lian, but did not leave.
Neither the Supreme of the Blazing Flame Sect nor the female Supreme of the Divine Flower Palace departed. They stayed outside the Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land, apparently to prevent any further interference from other Supremes during the negotiations between the Nine Heavens Sacred Land and the Heavenly Demon Sacred Land.