Chapter 26: The Hongmen Banquet
The Soul Refining Sect had few Spiritual Stones left. If they lost these one hundred thousand Spiritual Stones, they would be severely weakened, making it difficult to cover their daily operating expenses.
However, the Pills from Wuhua Palace and the subsequent trading channels were also things the Soul Refining Sect needed.
The Soul Refining Sect found itself in a dilemma, unable to concede on either front.
Fortunately, the influential Lu Lai Demon Ancestor behind them learned of the situation and provided assistance, perfectly resolving the issue.
“Hmph,” Li Lianqing’s lips curved into a confident smile.
“Vice Sect Master, people from Wuhua Palace have arrived,” a Disciple reported.
“Oh? How many?”
“One. This Disciple confirmed, no one else is nearby.”
“Just one person?”
Li Lianqing frowned, slightly surprised.
To dare enter this dragon’s den alone, was he a little too arrogant? Did he not take the Soul Refining Sect seriously at all?
“They’re here.”
Everyone looked over. A young man gradually walked up the stairs, wearing a mask that hid his true appearance.
But Li Lianqing knew this person was the Cultivation Cauldron from Wuhua Palace.
Facing the menacing Soul Refining Sect, he showed no fear, appearing quite at ease.
Was this stupidity? He acted as if he were at home, completely devoid of any sense of crisis.
“You must be the esteemed Disciple from Wuhua Palace. Greetings, Fellow Daoist. My name is Li Ming.” Li Ming spoke first.
“Hello, I am Wuxiao.”
“Fellow Daoist, this is our Soul Refining Sect’s Vice Sect Master,” Li Ming introduced.
Li Lianqing merely glanced at Ye Changsheng, poured himself a cup of wine, and paid Ye Changsheng no mind.
He immediately adopted the grand posture of an elder, not intending to give Ye Changsheng much face, after all, he was an outstanding cultivator in the Golden Core Realm.
“I’ve heard of you, Li Lianqing,” Ye Changsheng said, sitting in the guest seat.
Li Lianqing paused his pouring hand, the air suddenly growing heavy.
The members of the Soul Refining Sect were displeased. He was merely a Cultivation Cauldron, yet showed no respect to the Soul Refining Sect.
However, the atmosphere had not yet reached the point of open hostility. Li Ming laughed heartily, “Fellow Daoist Wuxiao visits our Soul Refining Sect, and we will naturally entertain you warmly. We’ve prepared this banquet. Allow me to toast you first, as a gesture of hospitality!”
Li Ming had other Disciples pour wine for Ye Changsheng and drank his own in one gulp.
All eyes were on Ye Changsheng, but he remained seated, showing no intention of moving.
“Fellow Daoist Wuxiao, is perhaps our treasured clear wine not to your liking? Guards, fetch our Daughter Red aged liquor for Fellow Daoist Wuxiao!”
Ye Changsheng remained silent, leaving everyone bewildered. What did this person want?
“The one opposite is from Wuhua Palace. Li Ming, don’t you understand? You are not qualified to propose a toast.”
Li Lianqing sneered, poured his own wine, and flicked the cup, sending it sliding to Ye Changsheng’s front. Ostensibly a rough gesture, not a drop was spilled, showcasing exceptional skill.
“Please.”
Ye Changsheng, however, pushed the wine cup back.
“What do you mean by this?” Li Lianqing raised his eyes, fixing his gaze on Ye Changsheng.
The others dared not speak.
“I’m wearing a mask, how can I drink?” Ye Changsheng replied as if it were obvious.
“Wuhua Palace, you have quite the arrogance!!” Li Lianqing suddenly stood up, unleashing his spiritual pressure.
He was a cultivator of the Golden Core Realm. Those whose cultivation was lower, be they tigers or dragons, had to prostrate themselves!
The Disciples were pushed back by the pressure, bowing and retreating to avoid the force.
Ye Changsheng maintained his previous demeanor, his body not even trembling.
Li Lianqing was inwardly shocked. This Cultivation Cauldron from Wuhua Palace possessed such strength?
“It’s a pity for the Soul Refining Sect now. Even a Golden Core Realm cultivator can be a Vice Sect Master. How desperate for people you must be,” Ye Changsheng said, feigning pity.
But to the ears of the Soul Refining Sect, this was a blatant provocation. Anger began to dawn on Li Lianqing’s face.
“It must have been difficult for you to produce one hundred thousand Spiritual Stones, right?” Ye Changsheng further provoked them verbally. “Actually, I also think the price the Sect Master set is outrageous. You should seriously consider if you can afford it. Of course, this is just my suggestion.”
Li Lianqing had been in the cultivation world of Qixia Isle for decades, having weathered countless storms. He had eaten more salt than this youngster had eaten rice.
How could this inexperienced brat, relying on Wuhua Palace like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might, not infuriate Li Lianqing?
“Youngster, you are seeking your own death!”
Li Lianqing picked up his wine cup, condensed his True Qi, and hurled it towards Ye Changsheng.
But a figure suddenly rushed in front of Ye Changsheng, intercepting the whistling projectile and neutralizing Li Lianqing’s attack.
“Li Ming, what are you doing?!” Li Lianqing exclaimed, stunned.
Li Ming looked bewildered, as if he had no idea why he had acted.
“Ah? I, I, Uncle, I don’t know! My body moved on its own.”
“Li Lianqing, calm down. Don’t you see even your nephew can’t stand it?”
Ye Changsheng beckoned. Li Ming, as if puppeted, poured a cup of clear wine and flung it back.
“Uncle, quickly dodge! I didn’t do this! Something’s wrong with my body!”
Li Lianqing was forced to catch the wine cup. A loud crack echoed in his hand, his bones nearly breaking. He stumbled back several steps to regain his balance, almost falling to the ground.
The others, witnessing this, rushed forward. However, Li Ming, as if possessed, became Ye Changsheng’s loyal dog, swiftly incapacitating all the Inner Disciples.
The fallen disciples all looked on in shock at the nonchalant young man.
“Even if you kill me, you gain nothing. I don’t have the Pills you want on me. Instead, my companion will carry news of my death back to Wuhua Palace,” Ye Changsheng explained. “If the Soul Refining Sect kills someone to steal their possessions, and Wuhua Palace subsequently slaughters the Soul Refining Sect for revenge, other Sects won’t be able to say much, will they?”
Damn it.
Li Lianqing inwardly confirmed: the person before him was an expert, undoubtedly possessing the same Golden Core Realm strength, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so audacious.
The Demonic Path also had its rules. Disregarding certain rules openly was equivalent to cutting off all future paths.
“What do you Wuhua Palace want?”
“Wuhua Palace is here to do business, not to fight for territory.”
“Oh, I must have misunderstood your intentions, young friend. My apologies for any offense.” Li Lianqing could only lower his stance, feeling deeply humiliated.
Volume 41
“It seems the atmosphere today is not conducive to trading. How about this: three days later at noon, we shall meet at Yunshui Bridge in Shuiyun Town for the transaction.”
The area of Shuiyun Town did not belong to the Soul Refining Sect, nor to Wuhua Palace. It was under the jurisdiction of the Great Chu Kingdom and served as a major transportation hub.
Not only Demonic Path cultivators but also Righteous Path cultivators frequented it.
So that’s it. He intended to use other forces to contain the Soul Refining Sect’s actions. Li Lianqing finally understood the other party’s intentions.
“I’m sorry, we don’t have time to accompany young friend. We have many other matters to attend to—”
Li Lianqing’s words caught in his throat. He saw a blood-red Pill roll to his feet, enveloped in a bloody aura. Before he could examine it closely, a surge of Spiritual Power shattered the Pill.
Yet, even that brief glance told him: this was Chen Ye’s Blood Soul Pill!
Why was it in this person’s possession? Could it be that Chen Ye had already…
“Excuse me, I didn’t quite hear what you said just now. Could you please repeat it?” Ye Changsheng asked calmly.
Li Lianqing’s teeth gnashed, his voice as if forced out, “Understood. Three days later at noon, Shuiyun Town, Yunshui Bridge.”
“The Soul Refining Sect is truly understanding. I sincerely wish that one day, you will return to your former status as a top-tier Sect.”
Ye Changsheng stood up elegantly. The eyes of the Soul Refining Sect members were like daggers, but not a single one stepped forward to stop him.
Before leaving, Ye Changsheng seemed to recall something. He turned and said, “Oh, right, I almost forgot. I dislike the taste of cilantro. Next time, remember to ask the chef to replace it with chopped scallions.”
