CHAPTER 548: 282, SO YOU’RE XU XING?_2

Although Bloody Sun Valley had many Spiritual Ores, for a Sect, it was barely enough.

The Butian Sect didn’t lack its fifty percent share of the mineral resources from Bloody Sun Valley. However, the Zuoqiu Clan still needed to show proper respect with an offering. Otherwise, Xu Xing, the dignified Sect Leader, would seem like their hired thug.

Xu Xing had previously said he would not accept any remuneration.

But just because he said he wouldn’t accept it didn’t mean it was appropriate for the Zuoqiu Clan to offer nothing.

Courteous words should not be taken seriously.

"Thirty percent will suffice."

"After all, Bloody Sun Valley is in the Zuoqiu Clan’s territory, and the Zuoqiu Clan still needs to mine these ores. Fifty percent as a dowry is a bit too much," Xu Xing’s expression softened slightly, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

If the Zuoqiu Clan were unwilling to share a portion of Bloody Sun Valley’s mineral resources with him, he wouldn’t mind. Bloody Sun Valley is a small fortune. However, after helping them this time, if the Zuoqiu Clan sought his aid again in the future, he would find an excuse to refuse.

「Five days later.」

The banquet in the Spring and Autumn Hall concluded.

Xu Xing didn’t immediately visit the Lishan Hong Family. Instead, he first dispatched Tan Shan to deliver his calling card to the Hong Family. After waiting for half a day, he then departed from Spring and Autumn Mountain towards Lishan.

The distance between Spring and Autumn Mountain and Lishan was only two hundred miles. Even though Xu Xing and Zuoqiu Lin deliberately slowed their pace, they reached the Hong Family’s residence in Lishan within one and a half hours.

"It seems the Hong Family does not wish to reconcile."

At the foot of Lishan Mountain, Zuoqiu Lin looked up at the surroundings. Seeing Lishan Mountain’s elaborate defensive arrays activated and that the Hong Family hadn’t sent anyone to welcome them from afar, a hint of worry crossed his face as he spoke.

Regarding the Bloody Sun Valley affair, although the Zuoqiu Clan hadn’t resorted to forceful buying or selling and had followed the rules, anyone could see that the Zuoqiu Clan was not in the right. That the Hong Family had become their enemies was their own doing.

He had invited Xu Xing, intending to use the prestige of both the Butian Sect and Xu Xing to pressure the Lishan Hong Family into reconciliation. Now, with the Hong Family on high alert, if any mishap occurred, the matter might be classified as an external sect dispute. If that happened, drawing the Nanhua Sect in to adjudicate would not necessarily be favorable.

After Xu Xing and his entourage paused for a moment, someone finally emerged from the Hong Family’s residence. This man had greying temples and was dressed as a middle-aged Daoist priest. He possessed an extraordinary demeanor and exuded an intimidating aura.

"It’s Hong Wenren."

"The Hong Family’s newly promoted Dao Lord," Zuoqiu Lin’s face turned serious upon seeing the middle-aged Daoist priest. He transmitted to Xu Xing via Divine Sense.

"So, it’s Daoist Hong."

Hearing this, Xu Xing took a good look at the middle-aged Daoist. A cultivator capable of condensing a Nascent Soul without a sect’s support was undoubtedly extraordinary.

A family could easily nurture a Dao Pill Daoist, provided they had sufficient resources. But a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord was far more difficult.

He himself had successfully condensed his Nascent Soul thanks to old ties with the Starfall Sect; he had borrowed their Blessed Land, thereby Achieving Dao, his cultivation reaching the Dao Lord realm.

"Daoist Xu has come to our Hong Family from afar. What might be your purpose? Are you here to plead on behalf of the Zuoqiu Clan?"

After Xu Xing and the others had waited for a short while, someone finally emerged from the Hong Family residence. This person had graying temples and was dressed as a middle-aged Daoist priest, possessing an extraordinary air and an imposing aura.

"It’s Hong Wenren."

"The Hong Family’s newly advanced Dao Lord," Zuoqiu Lin’s expression turned grave upon seeing the middle-aged Daoist priest, and he conveyed this to Xu Xing via Divine Sense.

"So, it is Daoist Hong."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xing also carefully observed the middle-aged Daoist. A cultivator who could successfully condense a Nascent Soul without relying on a sect’s resources was certainly no ordinary individual. A Dao Pill Daoist could be cultivated by a family with enough resources, but a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord was a different matter entirely. He himself had managed to condense his Nascent Soul due to past connections with the Starfall Sect, borrowing their Blessed Land to succeed, his cultivation Achieving Dao and reaching the Dao Lord realm.

"Daoist Xu... still hasn’t answered my question... Are you here to speak for the Zuoqiu Clan?" Hong Wenren’s eyes glinted coldly as he pressed.

Seeing this attitude, Xu Xing was momentarily startled. He didn’t know where Hong Wenren found the audacity to speak to him in such a tone. Just a few years ago, before he was famous, when he met Buxu Zi, an established Dao Lord, Buxu Zi had been exceedingly polite, terrified of slighting him and bringing disaster upon Chongzhen Temple. Now, his fame had spread far and wide; the Hong Family, being affiliated with the Nanhua Sect, surely knew of him—the foremost cultivator below the Primordial Spirit Realm. This reputation might be inflated, but it was still a testament to his strength.

"Daoist Hong, we are cultivators of the same realm. If you have any grievances with me, we can sit down and discuss them. There’s no need for such hostility."

Being a guest on Nanhua Sect’s territory, Xu Xing didn’t wish for conflict with this newly advanced Dao Lord, Hong Wenren. He remained composed, a calm smile on his face as before. He wouldn’t resort to shouting and fighting over such a minor issue. Besides, in the Bloody Sun Valley matter, the Zuoqiu Clan was initially in the wrong. Perhaps Hong Wenren was venting his anger about that on him.

"Daoist Xu... still hasn’t answered my question. Answer the question first, then we can discuss other matters..." Hong Wenren stated bluntly, showing no courtesy.

As his words fell, the Butian Sect elders following Xu Xing immediately seethed with disbelief. Their eyes were fixed on Hong Wenren, who stood within the Lishan array, and they wondered where he found such audacity.

"Daoist Lord Hong, our Sect Leader is now engaged to the Zuoqiu Clan’s daughter, making him their son-in-law. His visit to your esteemed family’s territory is, naturally, to discuss this very matter with your family..." an elder, seeing the situation, stepped forward, easing the awkwardness for Xu Xing as he spoke.

"The Spiritual Ore of Bloody Sun Valley originally belonged to our Hong Family. I request Master Xu to turn back. Otherwise..." Hong Wenren did not yield, a sneer on his lips, his tone remaining unyielding.

He knew his own limitations and was aware he was likely no match for Xu Xing. However, Lishan was his family’s territory, and they had already activated all their protective family arrays. Relying on these arrays, and with his own strength, he believed it wasn’t entirely impossible to contend with Xu Xing. Furthermore, both Spring and Autumn Mountain and Lishan were near the Nanhua Sect. If a major battle erupted, the Nanhua Sect wouldn’t simply stand by. He only needed to hold out until Nanhua Sect reinforcements arrived. At that point, no matter how capable Xu Xing was, it would be difficult for him to act under the Nanhua Sect’s watch.

"Daoist Hong..."

"Your ’otherwise’..."

"What exactly is this ’otherwise’? Are you telling this Xu to be careful? Warning me so I can’t claim I wasn’t told, lest I invite some fatal disaster..."

At the foot of Lishan Mountain, the smile vanished from Xu Xing’s face. He stared coldly at Hong Wenren, who stood before the Hong Family’s main gate, and spoke in an icy voice.

Indeed, his initial intention in coming for the Zuoqiu Clan was to use his power to pressure them. The law of the Cultivation World was, after all, the survival of the fittest. The Zuoqiu Clan had indeed wronged the Lishan Hong Family by deceiving them into selling Bloody Sun Valley. However, the sale was final. The Hong Family then colluding with other families to harass the Zuoqiu Clan and pilfer Spiritual Ores was hardly righteous either. Since the Hong Family and Hong Wenren were unwilling to negotiate, he couldn’t be bothered to play peacemaker. They might as well let strength settle the matter.

"Since Daoist Xu is so perceptive, why should I, Hong, spell it out..." Hong Wenren didn’t back down, returning Xu Xing’s cold stare and retorting in an equally frosty tone.

"Interesting..."

"Daoist Lord Hong, do you perhaps believe that after my sword duel with Zhongtai Dao Monarch just a year and a half ago, this Xu has yet to recover?"

"So much so that I can’t handle the likes of you, Daoist Lord Hong?"

Xu Xing’s expression was stern. It was as if steps materialized beneath his feet, suspended in mid-air, as he walked step by step towards the array set up by the Lishan Hong Family.

By the time he finished speaking, he stood before Hong Wenren, the two separated by the array, a little over ten paces apart.

"You..."

Seeing Xu Xing standing before him, his words having exposed his thoughts, Hong Wenren felt a chill run down his spine, though he maintained a facade of composure.

However, just as he was about to speak, he saw Xu Xing, standing opposite him beyond the array, whose eyes suddenly flashed with a purple light as he glanced at him.

In the next instant, clusters of black flames abruptly materialized on Hong Wenren’s body, relentlessly burning his Dao Body. They were impossible to extinguish and utterly sinister.

"Since you are a Dao Lord of the Hong Family, not a Dao Lord of the Nanhua Sect... then killing you, the Nanhua Sect will not hold this Xu accountable..." Xu Xing smiled.

If he interfered in the Lishan Hong Family’s affairs, the Nanhua Sect would intervene. But killing a Dao Lord not belonging to their Sect—even if the Nanhua Sect feigned displeasure outwardly, inwardly they would surely approve. If the Hong Family produced its own Dao Lord, and other affiliated families of the Nanhua Sect followed suit, then in thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, the Nanhua Sect might very well tread the same path as the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. Perhaps even worse than the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. After all, even the Dao Lords from the aristocratic families within the Flying Feather Immortal Palace were still considered part of the Sect.

"Daoist Xu, it’s my fault..."

"It’s my fault..."

At this moment, Hong Wenren truly felt Xu Xing’s terror—he could assail him, a fellow Dao Lord, with Divine Power without even breaching the array. A pleading look filled his face as he begged for mercy.

"Daoist Hong, my apologies."

Xu Xing ignored Hong Wenren’s pleas, focusing his full power into his Wind Fire Divine Eye, intensifying the Yin Fire.

Since he had decided to kill, he would show absolutely no mercy nor give Hong Wenren any chance to turn the tables. When one acts, one must be decisive and thorough!