CHAPTER 429: CHAPTER 423: NEGOTIATION_1

The Ninth Epoch, year 3009, October 3rd!

The weather progressively turned chillier, and delegates from the various Holy Lands gathered one after another in the Imperial Capital. They were received by officials from the Ministry of Rites and accommodated in the Honglun Temple.

This arrangement immediately sparked displeasure among the delegates from the Holy Lands.

Who were they?

They were the representatives of the Holy Lands, powerful Martial Artists who wielded considerable influence. Usually, when they visited other forces, they would be welcomed with the grandest ceremony and the highest etiquette.

However, when they arrived at the Great Qin Saint’s Court, they were received by a minor official from the Ministry of Rites. They were nonchalantly housed in the Honglun Temple without even a basic banquet.

"Barbarian nation, lacking etiquette!" the representative from the Golden Cauldron Inn angrily roared.

"Damn Great Qin Saint’s Court! If I didn’t need something from you, I wouldn’t be here suffering this indignity!" the representative from the Lin Family Holy Clan complained incessantly, sitting in a simple room, feeling both helpless and frustrated.

However, more representatives of the Holy Lands wore bitter smiles. This was the Great Qin Saint’s Court’s initial display of dominance, which hinted that the negotiations would be tough!

In the Royal Study, three figures cast their shadows: Qin Wudao, Dong Zhongshu, and Wang Yangming.

Dong Zhongshu and Wang Yangming were in charge of the negotiations.

Originally, they both belonged to other departments, but to ensure the negotiations proceeded smoothly, Qin Wudao appointed them as the Minister of Rites and the Deputy Minister of Rites.

"Your Majesty, all the representatives from the Holy Lands have arrived. I have arranged for them to stay in inferior rooms to dampen their arrogance!" Dong Zhongshu, serving as the Minister of Rites, reported with a smile. It was truly satisfying to see all the representatives from the major Holy Lands being humbled.

"Your Majesty, you should have seen their crestfallen faces. It was incredibly amusing!" Wang Yangming, who sat behind Dong Zhongshu, could not help but laugh.

"Well done!" Qin Wudao highly approved of their actions and promptly cautioned them, "During the negotiations tomorrow, our bottom line is to eradicate the three major powers. The representatives from the Myriad Demon Saint Court, Supreme Unity Saint Court, and Beidou Palace will certainly oppose this.

"You don’t have to worry too much about the Supreme Unity Saint Court. Their representative is an old patriarch who doesn’t understand politics, and their main negotiator is their Minister of Rites, who has already submitted to Sima Yi.

"The main opposition you’ll face will be from the Myriad Demon Saint Court and Beidou Palace. They have paid a substantial price in the East Border and will not relinquish their interests easily.

"As for the other Holy Lands, they should not obstruct us."

Wang Yangming stood up, his face resolute. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will complete the task tomorrow!"

Qin Wudao nodded. They continued their discussion for a while before he dismissed them.

When the room was empty, Qin Wudao slowly stood up, walked to the window, and murmured to himself, My people, hang in there a little longer. I will be there to save you soon!

As for the three powers, I will make you pay in blood!

The icy voice echoed in the Royal Study, dropping the temperature of the Void to a freezing point.

「October 4th!」

The negotiations between the Qin Dynasty and the various Holy Lands officially began.

The venue for the negotiations was the Ministry of Rites.

In the vast hall, the Great Qin Saint’s Court sat on the left, while the other twenty-one Holy Lands sat on the right.

It is worth mentioning that Chu Renjie, representing the Alliance of Ten Thousand Laws, attended these negotiations.

"Today’s negotiations will be conducted under the witness of all parties present. Regardless of the outcome, once the agreement is signed, it will take effect!" Dong Zhongshu announced, standing up. He presented contracts imbued with potent Karmic Power and distributed them to the Holy Land representatives.

Once the contract was signed, they were obliged to honor the results of the negotiation. Violators would suffer a Karmic backlash. Under normal circumstances, no one dared to defy such a contract.

All the representatives of the Holy Lands meticulously examined the contract before signing their names and the names of their respective powers.

For a moment, an incredibly strong Karmic Power enveloped the entire hall.

"Now, let the negotiations begin!" Wang Yangming declared, standing up once everyone had signed.

As his voice fell, both sides remained silent. The hall fell into a temporary quiet as everyone waited for the other to reveal their hand.

"Ahem, since no one is speaking, allow me to begin. We have come here primarily to learn the ’Resurrection Method.’ Of course, the Great Qin Saint’s Court can propose some reasonable conditions," the representative from the Nine-Layered Saint Court said first.

"Agreed." Dong Zhongshu nodded, his fingers tapping on the table as he calmly responded, "The Qin Dynasty is willing to teach all the major Saint Courts the ’Resurrection Method,’ but on three conditions."

Upon hearing this, the representatives of the major Holy Lands showed no joy; instead, their expressions turned grave.

"First, each major Holy Land must pay a tuition fee of three billion top-grade Spirit Stones, plus one Heavenly-Level Cultivation Technique or Martial Technique.

"Second, the Great Qin Saint’s Court is preparing to launch a military campaign against the Thousand Demon Saint Court, Qionghua Holy Land, and Purple Sky Holy Land. The major Holy Lands shall not interfere.

"Third, while the major Holy Lands are studying the ’Resurrection Method’ within the Great Qin Saint’s Court, they must not act as enemies toward the Great Qin Saint’s Court. Should the Great Qin Saint’s Court face difficulties, all major Holy Lands must provide their utmost assistance."

After hearing the conditions proposed by Dong Zhongshu, the expressions of the Holy Land representatives were quite something to behold.

These three conditions were excessively harsh.

The tuition fee alone was three billion top-grade Spirit Stones, an amount equivalent to several years’ tax revenue for many Saint Courts. Even for the commerce-oriented Golden Cauldron Inn, this was a colossal sum.

Although the major Holy Lands were well-established and possessed great wealth, their expenditures on Spirit Stones were numerous. Over a year, they could not save much.

Without Spirit Stones, there would be no resources.

Without resources, it would be impossible to cultivate their armies and enhance their strength.

Furthermore, there was the demand for a Heavenly-Level Cultivation Technique or Martial Technique. This was even more impossible, as such techniques formed the very foundation of a power. How could they allow them to be leaked?

As for the second condition, apart from the representatives of the Supreme Unity Saint Court, Myriad Demon Saint Court, and Beidou Palace, the others did not particularly care. Just as Qin Wudao had said, they had no vested interests in the East Border.

However, the third condition was unacceptable to many Holy Lands. These were tyrannical terms. After paying the tuition fee, they would still have to be at the beck and call of the Great Qin Saint’s Court. If they agreed, wouldn’t the major Holy Lands become subservient?

"This is blatant extortion! Don’t push things too far!" the representative from the Supreme Unity Saint Court roared in anger.

"Is this too much? Not long ago, you dispatched experts to lurk surreptitiously outside the Imperial Capital, intending to snatch the ’Resurrection Method.’ Wasn’t that going too far?" Wang Yangming questioned.

"You’re asking for an exorbitant price. Aren’t you afraid of offending all of us? If that happens, you’ll end up with nothing!" the representative from the Beidou Palace said ominously.

"Still daring to threaten the Qin Dynasty? Fine then, let’s call off the negotiations! If anyone dares to cause trouble, I can guarantee that none of you will learn the Resurrection Method!" Wang Yangming retorted, slapping the table with both hands, showing no sign of weakness.

"Hmph, that’s not for you to decide. The Resurrection Method should benefit the entire continent; it’s not the exclusive property of the Great Qin Saint’s Court!" the representative from the Myriad Demon Saint Court said, a hint of murderous intent in his voice.

Sensing the murderous intent, many representatives’ faces turned ghastly pale. It seemed significant trouble was brewing.

In the next instant, an even more violent murderous intent swept out.

Chu Renjie stood up, a terrifying aura swirling around him. He coldly said, "If you want to negotiate, do so properly. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will have to answer to me!"